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Electrical World
A Review of Current Progress in Electricity
and Its Practical Applications
Volume LXV
January 2 to June 26, 1915
McGRAVV PUBLISHING COMPANY, Inc.
239 West 39th St.
NEW YORK CITY
li#
INDEX TO VOLUME LXV /
GENERAL INDEX
"He
£V7
Entries from the Digest of Current Electrical Literature are indicated by D (/ '
•543
shops, '1705
By
tra of organic substances in the
light of the electron theory. By N. P.
K. J. i 0.) 294
Accident
Comma I son, results, * 1 187
Danger signals on ash locomotive trolley,
Emergency cabinet lor electric power sta-
•1250
s and converters, *1307
Guards "it overhead cranes, *1250
Lamps show when men enter high-tension
compartments, 1556
Accidents:
Xew York subway. Short circuit and burn-
ing of insulation, 73,
Protection of flywheels, "1123
Accounting:
Depreciation :
\\ . II. I.awton, 1678
Treatment of by Chicago Commonwealth
Edison Co., 513
ing for depreciation. By I. R. Cravath,
imment, 202; Robert -
Advertij
— — Allian Window lighting demon-
strated free of charge, *558
Central station. Bv Arthur Williams,
•1001
Cleveland campaign with manufacturers,
Electric light bills, M694
Electrical Fourth of July, *1696
Tan mechanism as window attraction,
Minn.
iruary wind
Fixture display
rree fans and toasters to
tford Electric Light Co., Window dis-
plays, *303
m <-t advertising by jobbing house, *865
1 amp and shade demonstrator, '236
— — Magnet signs save window placard expense,
235
— Making us, - windows, M062
New Year advertisements of Byllesby prop-
erties, *46
. "1695
1 inted matter. Mill.!
ustomers' bills. '1323
pi • 1 _mm
— Pumping window display, Elmira, X. Y.,
"Snowstorm" in show window, 1707
611
ka, Km., Appealing to the land-
lord, 44
tuffers, 1705
low display I ll station.
-ii business)
134
i' nrc:
r. I n
i , 939
il i driven. Utility
•1007
itfit, Rnbbins &
l.ition and
lightnii '1605
Arternatit ■
.f, caused
■ land, "22
American 1 1h~r.i1 Sot ■
ing, 54
American Telephone & Telegraph Co.:
Annual report, 753
Stock offered to employees, 53
Ammeter, P.enford small tubular,
Ammeter and portable scries transformer,
Westinghouse Elec. & Mfg. Co., M078
Amortisseurs. By Karl Schmi-dt (D), 1614.
Anemometer, hot-wire. By L. V. King, (D.)
Antennas (See Radiotelegraphy)
Arc:
Temperature of the arc and the melting
of carbon. Review of work by O.
Lummer. Bv H. Lux, i I).) 293; Com-
ment. .';;
In longitudinal magnetic field. Bv R. F.
Earhart, (1>.) 1303
Arc lamps:
Converting shells into containers for nitro-
gen-filled units, Metropolitan Engrg.
•1131
Electrodes, patent to to II. Ayrton, (D.)
1465
Half-watt tungsten lamps as substitutes. By
\ Boje, .Hi 658
- Motion-picture four-arc lamp, *817
Statistics. Census returns. 343
Testing eriuiment for outdoor
•222
Vs half-watt tungsten. By R. Palmer,
1552
Arkansas Association of Public Utility Oper-
ators. Convention, 1437
Armature, flux distribution determination, By
niment, 1664
Armature reaction. By M. De Connich, (D.)
1245
mer cells, M689
Ash sifter. Motor-driven, 868
\-lirs. Specific licit. 1197
Associated Manufacturers of Electrical Sup-
plies:
Committees membership. 1209
Governors meeting, Xcw York, 1596
-Me, ii 621, 821
n for the Advancement of Science,
Philadelphia meeting, (DO 54
Atom model By II - 1426
Atoms and ions. By 1. I. Thomson, (D.)
1044
Australia, Electrical imports, (DO 220
Austria. Central* station troubles in war time.
Austrian and Hungarian
ciatio ' > 95
Automobile battl
Conn ihcr cells.
By 1 D
El.
Automobile batti 1 1 i hai ging
• i line, M80
•1005
Manufacturing Co., *1075
-Lr.\. voltage, St. Louis, *437
. "74S
■
II. -Nstcm, 1411
Independent
New
I 1 \ Hireling. Sill
Opportunity '
P Ken
ned)
. Oppo ■ dustry in
Tran
Kelljr,
\utomol. '
\utomohilc gear shifter. Culler I funnier. *559
'■
\iltnmol push button. I
rnps-
tungsten. V
\V.
'
\utomobil ■ 'Hi spin pulley,
■ nd cut out. *874
-. Requirements of. By T.
H. Schoepf and A. L. Broomall, |DJ
731
Automobile ring-type horn switch, * 1 745
Automobile starting device for used cars, Lamb,
•357
Automobile starting and lighting outfits, Day-
ton, '488
, * 1 706
(int. . Equipment. "1063
ill Field .v Co.,
1 lev low-priced lightweight vehicle,
Discussed it X. E, L. A. Convention, 1649
Electric vehicle service system, 1411
Experience with pole trucks in Philadelphia,
•1706
t industrial trucks in freight houses,
1706
Ladder truck, Akron Fire Dept., 1706
ling efficiency, 1052
ing
\\i
130
Commercial equipment. By
Kennedy, 1316; Comment,
1 Iperating costs, Tabulated, 1318
Ranch &.- Lang Roadster. "127
Ranch & Lang, Test runs in Louisville,
-
• mplishcd over horse drawn
. '1063
Selling on the basis of adaptability. By
P. D. Wagon..:
Testing battery jars, 1056
Automobiles, Gas-electric starting and fighting
system, General Elec. Co., "1073
Automobiles, Gasoline-electric, Gait, "358, *870
Axels, rotating, measuring distortion. By V.
Vieweg mid A. DO 1616
Babbitt metal. B> S. I . tuspin, 169
or, Electric, Electric
Batten. s. ,i,v. Bright - Co., M072
age, St. Louis,
Batlcrv ,
Batteries. Starting and lighting for gas anto-
Bearings, 423
'..,11. B> I Kischei llnncn. i D. I
146S,
Bearings. I'-v Andrew
Bells. Eli
Hells. Electric, P R,
Ii
'43 J
'1132
1 i an
Practi
B
[ut i ..
natanl ratio
lease efh-
114
. i in lur
forma, lf>24
.nee brtw
INDEX
III
Boilers: (Continued)
— I — Hard and suit patches on, 940
Heat insulation, *1049
Heating surface a measure of steaming
ability, Table, 939
High-voltage alternating-current, Kaiser,
'•430
Leak in settings stopped by paint, 483
Low-water alarm, Silvis, 111., *221
Overload capacitv, 1635
Safety factor, 115
Salt in boilers indication of other impuri-
ties. 101
Scale prevention, 119/
Shaking grates of stokers made easy, *735
Soot blower equipment, *112
Specifications of the American Society of
Mechanical Engineers, 97, 114
Steam heated, to aid quick firing, *1249
Steam space of return-tubular, 939
Stopping air leaks, 1039
Theory, transmission of heat, 1179
Tube cleaner. Matthews. *432
Unaccounted for loss. By S. U. Tuspin,
1306
Water-pipe system cools ash and breaks
clinkers, *792
Book reviews:
A School Electricity. By C. J. L. Wag-
start, 1119
A Textbook of Physics. By J. H. Poynt
ing and Sir J. J. Thomson, 1046
Advanced Theory of Electricity and Mag-
netism. Bv' W. S. Franklin and B
MacNutt, 1248
American Handbook for Electrical Eng:
neers. Bv Harold Pender, 220
Annuaire Pour L' Au 1915. By M. G
Higourdau, 1120
Constant Voltage Transmission. By Hei
bert Bristol Dwight, 1467
Cours d'Electricite Theorique. By T. I
Pomey, 38
Display Window Lighting and the City Beau
tiful. By F. L. Godinez, 1686
-Ele
its
Coal Mil
K
Their Acti.
By F. I
tldt, 404
Handbook.
C. Babstone,
By Albert S.
Shearer. 606
-Electrx Light Fitting
660
-Electric Moto
Applicatio
Morton .
-Electric Kailw
Rickey, 1
-Electric Toy Making for Amateurs. By
T. O'C. Sloane. 296
-Elementary Electricity and Magnetism. Bv
Franklin and MacNutt, 1119
-Elementarv Mathematical Analysis. Bv C
S. Slichter. 534
-Elements of Electricitv. By Wirt Robin
son, 404
-Engineering Office Svstems and Methods
Bv Tnhn P. Davies, 1555
-Examination of Lubricating Oils. By T. B
Stillman, 606
-Experiences in Efficiency. By Benj. A
Franklin, 16S6
-Experiments. Bv P. E. Edelman, 296
-Export Trade Directorv. Bv B. Olnev
Hough, 1304
-Financing an Enterprise. Bv Francis Cooper
1686
-Graphical Determination of Sags and
Stresses for Overhead Line Construe
tion. By Cuido Semenza and Marct
Semenza, 34S
—Handbook of Machine-Shop Management
By J. H. Van Deventer, 1178
— Handhauch der Elektrizitat und des Mag
netismus, 1248
-Heat Engineering. Bv Arthu
Jr., 1248
—Installations Electriques de Force et
Lumidre. By Adr. Curchod. 38
—Installing Efficiencv Methods. By
Knoeppel, 1686"
— Konstruktion, Ban und Betrieb von Funk
eninduktoren. By Ernst Ruhmer, 96,
168
-Mechanical World Electrical Pocket Book
for 1915, 920
—Mechanical World Pocket Diary and Year
Book for 1915, 920
-Merhfach-Telegraphen. Bv A. Kraatz, 296
-Metal Statistics, 1304
-Optic Projection. Bv S. H. Gage and H. P.
Gage, 479
—Pocket Edition of Diaerams and Complete
Information for Telegraph Engineers
and Students. Bv Willis H. Tones,
1555
—Practical Illumination. By Justus Eck, 296
—Practical Rate-Making and Appraisement.
By W. I). Marks, 296
-Preservation of Structural Timber. Bv H.
F. Weiss, 992
-Preventing losses in Factory Power Plants.
By D. M. Myers, 1178
-Principles of Electrical Measurements. By
A. W. Smith, 168
-Principles of Industrial Organization. By
Dexter S. Kimball, 1304
-Public Utilities Reports Annotated. 790
-Sanitary Refrieeration and Ice Making. Bv
J. J. Cosgrove, 1119
-Science and Practice of Management. By
A. H. Church. 96
-Standard Wiring for Electric Light and
Power. By H. C. Cushing, Jr.. 220
Book- Reviews: (Continued)
Technical Mechanics. By E. R. Maurer,
348
Telegraph Engineering. By Erich Haus-
mann, 1616
— ■ — T£l£phonie et les Autres, Moyens d'lnter-
communication dans l'Industrie des
Mines et des Chemins de Fer. By P.
Maurer, 38
The Art of Estimating the Cost of Work.
By William B. Ferguson, 1046
The Boy Electrician. By Alfred P. Mor-
gan, 1119
The Electron Theory of Matter. By O.
W. Richardson, 1248
Travaux du Laboratoire Central d'Electricite,
1616
Valve Gears. By C. H. Fessenden, 733
Welding. By Richard N. Hart, 1178
Wiring of Finished Buildings. By Terrell
Croft, 860
Boring machine, Collapsible hand-operated,
Henderson, *363
Boston, Electrical rules of the fire commissioner,
954
Boston Edison Electric Illuminating Company,
Capitalizat'on of welfare improvements
denied, 903
Brassware, Dark shelves for, Springfield, Mo., 44
Brazil, Trade with, 1716
Bread-pan cleaning and greasing machine,
Electric, Gottschalk, "306
Brick factory (See Industrial plants)
Bridge, Control equipment for lift. *869
Bridge for measurement of self-induction. By
D. Owen (D.) 167
Buffer batteries for alternating-current systems.
By L. Schroeder, (D.) *788
Buffing and polishing machine, Electric, At-
water, *488
Bullets, Use of Hughes induction balance for
locating, (D.) *167
Bureau of Standards, value of specifications to
industrial concerns, 1269
Bus supports. Three-way, E. E. E. Co., *489
Bushing for non-metallic flexible tubing. Metal
Specialties Co., "358
Business conditions:
(Also see Export Trade)
By W. F. Hickernell, 972
w tariff law, *972
ndustry in England. By H.
974
-Electrical industry in France, 1443
-Electrical industr
Gur
of Russia.
By P.
(D) 1303, 1465
Electrical manufacturing business, com-
ments, 1447
Financial development of Pacific Gas & Elec.
Co.. 1669
Industrial depression. By G. E. Tripp, 11
Low costs invite construction, comments,
1153
Need of home markets. Bv G. E. Tripp,
310, 517; comment, 273; C. L. Mat-
thews. 517
Opportunities for manufacturers in Russia.
Bv Ivan Xarodnv, 973
Pan-American Financial Conference. 1434
Political economy and the engineer. By
G. L. Hoxie, 1549
Price cutting. By E. N. Hurley, 301
Public policv questions before the electrical
industry. By W. W. Freeman, 16
South America. By Calvert Townley, 1136
Southern American business and America's
opportunity. By \V. T. Taylor, 205
Stabilitv of public utilitv earnings, 883
Trend of prices and trade, 973
War orders for electrical manufacturers.
1210. 1337
War's effect on regulation of public utilities.
By X. T. Guernsey, 12
Butt-welding machines, Toledo electric. *952
Buzzers, return-call. Holtzer-Cabot Elec. Co.,
•1134
Cable circuits, detector. W. N. Matthews S.
Brother. "1332
Cable fault localizer, Westinghouse portable,
*617
Cables (See Wire, wiring and conduit)
Canada declares its right to forbid the exporta-
tion of electrical energy, 311
Canada, electrical year in. By Alan Sullivan. 7
Canadian Electrical Association, Co-operative
buying by. 255
Capitalization of central stations, Census report.
467
Capitalization of unproductive improvements,
Case affecting Boston Edison Company,
897, 903
Carbon in the arc. Liquefying. Review of ex-
periments, by O. Lummer. Bv H.
Lux. CD.) 293; Comment, 275
Cars, Single-phase motor cars, Loetschherg Rv.,
(D.) 35
Census reports:
Capitalization, 467
Employees and wages, 600
Primary power equipment, 215
Central station business:
Allentown. Pa.:
Lehigh Valley Light X Power Co.,
Wiring campaign, 425
Alliance. O. :
Making use of "lost business" reports,
355
•Indicates illustrated articles.
tral station business: (Continued)
-Appliance campaigns, Suggestions. By J. V.
Guilfoyle, 541; Comment, 540
-Appliances repair department, Spokane,
Wash., 233
-Appliance repair service, 1309
-Baltimore :
Consumers' ledger sheets, *304
-Boston:
Boston Edison Co., New business cam-
paign, 883
Flat iron campaign, *233
-Bi
ndow displays for holidays,
loklyn, X. Y.:
Campaign against private plant
234
45
•174
Keeping industrial motor
tied, 175
Percolator campaign,
Post campaign, *552
-Brown & Sharpe contract for cen
tion service, 1338
-Buffalo:
Range campaign, 551
-Campaign to reduce delinquency, *9<
-Canton, Ohio:
Increasing electric service, 356
Cash discount abuses. By J. M
-Chicago :
Billing lor small customers,
Christmas campaign results,
Cincinnati, Ohio:
Increasing load of nitrogen
Kirby, 23
119
427
lamps, 42
-Cleveland:
Advertising electricity to manufactur-
ers, 547
New business co-operation, 256
\\ bring campaign in foreign language,
552
Wiring of small houses campaign, 811
-Commercial achievements of Narragansett
Electric Lighting Co., Methods em-
ployed, *1311
-Commercial practices in California. By H.
B. Pitts, 1409
-Co-operation with contractors, Brooklyn, 546
-Co-operative buying, 1309
—Cost of line extensions. 1191
-Courtesy to callers in the outer office, 301
-Credit limits, Basis of establishing, 119
-Credit to customers, 981
-Creditman's maxim, 550
-Dayton, Ohio:
Service to Federal Building. 741
-Delivery of bills by messenger and the new
mail box law, 353
-Denver, < >1
Manufacturers assist central station,
*614
-Development in table decorations, 1692
-Economy in new-business methods, 385
-Educational publicity work. Comments, 1097
-Electric service to Iowa farms. 1127
-Electric show, Kansas City. By M. T- Rus-
sell. M693
-Electric vehicle service svstem. 1411
-Electrical conditions in the Far West, Com-
ments, 1500
-Electrical Fourth of Tuly, *1696
-Eliminating unwired houses, 1316
-Employee's personal influence, 1639
-Essentials of new business development. By
John Rest, 400
-Evolution of central station commercial
man, 1691
-Farmers spend $400 to get service, 1475
-Gains in output, *1242; Comments, 1225
-Handling small consumer in Europe. By H.
Kiesenmenger, (D.) 1176
-Hannibal. Mi i.
Municipal competition in merchandis-
ing, 120
-Industrial motor users, Keeping satisfied,
175
-Irrigation practice of Wenatchee Valley Gas
& Electric Co. By A. Gunn, *1560
-Isolated plant evaluation, 641
-Japanning ovens, Sales arguments for elec-
trically heated, 43
-Kansas City:
L'se fulness of lamp counter, 356
Wiring of houses. Special offer, 487
-Lamp renewal costs, 841
-Leasing motors. 1324
-Leavenworth. Kan. :
Free wiring, 45
-Lockport, X. V.:
Service panel for temporary installa-
tion., *738
-Louisville, Kv. :
Gains, 612
Value of wiring permits, 741
-Low overhead expenses as shown by a con-
tractor. W. B. Perry Electric Co., 544;
Comment, 539
-Low rates in British central station, (D.)
1553
-Manager's private data book, 301
-Manhattan, Kan. :
Small town distribution and manage-
ment cost. Data for 1914, *338;
Comment, 330
-Mapping prospective customers, 1199
-Merchandising by central stations. Depart-
ment store methods. Average profit of
30 per cent. Bv T. I. Jones, '227;
C. mment, 225
-Merchandising electrical appliances. By
T. V. Guilfoyle, *541
-Meter showing operatine cost, to sell de-
vices. New York. *808
IV
INDEX
Central station business: (Continued)
Method of paying salesmen, 1698
.Method of wiring humbler homes, 1708
Minneapolis:
Refund on municipal bills. 119
Motion pictures to stimulate business, 173
-service layouts, reparation of, 119
r service sales methods, "1060
— New customers through employees, 1323
New York City:
Electric Light & Power Co.,
Holiday displays, *117
Increase in alternating-current serv-
ice. 568
New show room, 814
lippings to extend new business
field, Brooklyn, N. V.. 118
Night lamp operation. Inducements for, *558
Noblesville, Ind.:
Rural customer problem, M76
Order blank. Envelopcless. 236
■ Outlet for shopworn appliances, 1704
Overhead allowance, 21 per cent, 119
Philadelphia:
Co-operation between contractors and
central station, 174
Portable cooking table, #1704
Portland. '
I ounty Light & Power
.596
Price cutting. By R. S. Hale, 46
Price cutting. Effect of, 550
Prospective customers, census, * 1 199
Providence, R. I.:
use wiring campaign. Bv E. R.
Davenport, 388
Review of 1914, 353
Purchasing appliances for retail, 1704
Record system for motors for industrial
plant, '1190
Restoring dead services, 1309
-'Reserve funds for storm losses. By H. S.
Cooper 1100
Resem storm losses. By H. S.
Cooper, 1228
— — Rio de Janeiro:
Electric iron given with gas-stove pur-
chase, 2^3
Rural applications, 1414
St. Louis:
Christmas check to customers. *43
refunded, 57
1 nion 1 1" trie Light & Power Co.
P public policy and its
results, *470; Comment. 457
St. Paul. Minn.:
List of contractors for customers. 484
Sale of stock to customers, 1487, 1669
Sa 1 1
Textile mill contract, 316
Sales agent-. i I . *237
Salesmanship, Fine art of, 236
Salt Lake I
Franchise situation, 59
Schenectady. N. V.:
Repair of heating devices, 552
Selling arguments, M256
Selling exhaust steam vs. operating con-
IMF, 1556
Selling tlatirons in Birmingham, Ala., 1704
Selling gas-filled lamp in Nebraska, 1703
— Selling in irrigation country. 1414
Selling lamp'Socket appliances in Southern
i: S fid Kenm
Selling securities to consumers, Comments.
1281
Selling shopworn appliances, "1202
Selling work in North Yakima. Wash.. 1640
to manufacturers. By II. II.
Holding, 1231
Shrcvcport. I a. :
Free service, 45
1153
— -in i oblem, 1324
Small lightil I i of serv-
ice to I'.v 1. K. Cr.ivath. 148
Stage craft in elect i I 1. Rus
■ omments, 969
bution among wotm
. 1225
mtomers, 1646
Tol
en apparatus, Selling small.
om sweeper campaign, 551
ii, 117
Wired
. 303
ig, '7.18
lobbers)
mweal
p • •
Central station operation: (Continued)
Ceiling beams marked over equipment,
Chicago service interruption, 904
Clamp for jumper cable, "421
— i leaning fires under boilers, *734
Coal crusher with motor drive, "42
Color scheme for identifying
New York City, "936
Compact service board, in Bosto
Building, "1251
Condensers :
Advantages of large steam, 104
Air leakage, Effects of, <
I"I".
lines,
Telephone
109
turbine
Old condenser serves
tsed rating, 113
Constant pressure at any point on a feeder,
Apparatus for maintaining, Brooklyn,
•535
Cooling-water pond and system for city sub-
station. By F. Buch, *297
Cost accounting records, 1618
Cost of steam leak, 1632
1 langer signals on ash locomotive trolley,
•1557
Dependability, "1255
Developments in prime movers. By W. F.
Durand, 19
Economics of electric railway distribution.
By H. F. Parshall, (D.) 95
Economy in small plants. Applicability of
oil engines, Kansas experience. By G.
C. Shaad, "923; Comment, 921
Emergency cabinet for accidents, "1250
End cell operation, *224
Feed-water softening compounds, "536
Feeder cables leading to underground ducts.
Arrangements ot, New York, "300
Feeder-end voltages, Apparatus for deter-
mining, Brooklyn. "300
Feeder reactors, United Electric Light &
Power Co., New York. "483
Fire extinguished in conduit by fans. 40
Fireroom efficiency. By \V. F. Durand, 19
Four-bus switching arrangement. Compact,
Brooklyn, "937
Fuel, Locomotive cinders for, 399
Fuel waste detected through the ash-pit, 921
Fuse blocks as station transformer switches,
"535
Fuses, Porcelain-clad, high-tension, Brook-
lyn, "350
Guards for flywheel, 1356
Guards for pump pits and equipment, "172
Heating ot" high-tension galleries. "735
Heating of water tanks in Winter, 113
— — High-tension compartment signals, 1556
Home-made cable rack, M690
Intake screen unaffected by floods, "861
I-oad. Division of. between engines, 116
Load determination in branch distribution
circuits of direct-current systems. By
I.. Lewin, (D.J "165
I.OW water alarm, Silvis, III.. "221
Machine shop equipment, "1622
Maps for emergency service, 1186
Mercury-rectifier tubes. Storing and hand-
ling, "861
Motor operation. Card system for, "419
rs, Duplicate, with separate feeders
i.m tinuous service, "673
■ lining i" . . i operating battery, "1558
Off-peal; schedules and the garage owner,
331
— Oil-burniny Seattle, Wash.,
•99; Comment, 98
1 'il ' ... .oiditions of bear-
ilers, 414
Operation, Office and stock-room methods,
"-I i mi- .iii.l oily waste, Care of, "1556
I'i.i. tical opet itii g, I list us lion at Boston
■ t \. E. I
Pracn
— Prune movers m Vmerican plants
(.01
'Is. 1690
Protei itic, oj motot
i I I m, (D.) 731
llv F. n.
I- ion, "352
n. Automatic device
for timing,
lein, Brooklyn, •610
Re" i motor pulley on belt,
illation of. Bv
\ R i
' g, III . "113
i : . W II
Bl I
plants,
■
■
■ 1. 1 the public,
p and small ma-
King, \uxi1l ii
lea illustrated
i i ntral station operation: (Continued)
Studv of costs for city of Calgarv, "1181;
Comments, 1180
Switchboard equipment, Indicating ther-
mometers, "421
Temperature records, Automatic, Kansas
City, "352
Testing laboratory. Steam apparatus, New
York, "480
Three-phase system with storage battery at
municipal station of Klagenfurt, Aus-
tria. By W. Von Winkler, (D.) 293
Training the operating force, 405
Transformers, Water-cooling oil-immersed.
By F. Buch, "297
Valves. Steam, Locking to prevent acci-
dents, "11 J
Variability of inspection charges, 1708
Waterwheel housings, Disposal of condensa-
tion on, "420
— — Working cost of operating. By C. A.
Baker, (D.) 1684
Central Stations:
Beautifying surroundings, Chicago Edison
Co., "941
Brunots Island, Duquesne Light Company,
•1289: Comments,
Brunots Island station. F. Uhlenhant, Jr..
CD.) 1553
Capitalization, Census report, 467
Cedar Falls plant, Failure of penstocks,
•902
Cedar Rapids. la., Iowa Railway & Light
Co. Interconnected service, "150;
Comment. 147
City of Havana. By C. W. Ricker, "1233;
tnents, 1226
Cleveland, Accident to municipal plant, 129
Cleveland public lighting plant. *1619
Cohoes. N. Y., Hydroelectric development,
■ it, 713
Dulutfi. Minn., Municipal plant rejected,
371
Emporia Railway & Light Co., Description.
"1106
Energy supply on the Rand. Bv B. Price.
(D.) "1683
Enlargement of New York Intcrborough
74th St. Si i.mnicnts, 970
Extension, South Shields Electricity Works.
i D.i 155 1
-Flower bed beautifies interior, Downs,
!•,.,,
39
tl, ( hemins de fer du
Mi.l: rt, (D.) 346
-Great Mi
• 1 municipal station. Finances.
Hackney municipal station, (D.) 35
tensions at the Uster
Drive, (D.) 16
Manchester energy supply system, (D.)
293
Statistics. (D.) 731
i no Hydroelectric Power Co., "1599,
1671
terminal, serving de-
pot, office building, shops, vards. etc.,
• 1 468
-Manhattan. Kin.. Actual cost of supplying
i.imcnt. 330
s. 953
-Mount Holly, N C„ Southern Power Co.,
I nehronous motor
when not under load. I'.v (' V Mers.
"774; Comment. 770
ngland stations and the war. By
II
Grace plant of I'tah Tower & Light
I ■ = !
R. R . -lJ5o
buildings a: inn., Elec-
merit, 203
Operating statistics. Returns received by
1 World, 473; Comment. 457
< hitpnt ot ting stations for
1914,
_ Outputs ot Lire- si stems. J
\ ablation
inetliols By G. H
' Development: Physical Growth,
( o|,|-
Peninsular Power Mountain,
Mich , Hydroeli • nts Bv
' \
i ighl Co., Re
constructing station during continuous
service. Transmission pro!
I ..mm. .
Portland, M and operating
Plants at Bonn) Eagle, West Buxton
Portland, Mi I m Prin
' substation. Operating methods.
■niient,
Romford, M relopment.
i chemical
' ' . ."5
■lie City lighting IV
partmenl Oil-burning sti
■
gincs. Kansas experlenci
INDEX
n underground
Henney, (D.)
Coal
Central station operation: (Continued)
Southern California Edison Co., annual re-
port, 1032
Stanley plant problem; Comment, 1592
Stanislaus power house, * 137 1
Statistics, 1610; Comment, 1591
Statistics of census bureau, 93, 215
Statistics of companies in Atlantic States
for October, 1914, 92
Statistics on generating equipment and out-
put of stations, 291
Statistics for large stations for 1914, 255
— Steam reserve. Enlarging Westport Station
of Consolidated Gas, Electric Light &
Power Co. of Baltimore. By Jay C.
Lathrop, *1161; Comments, 1155.
Sterling 111., Rock River Light & Power Co.,
*156
Trier, Germany, High-tensi
transmission. By H.
293; Comment. 274
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor,
handling locomotives. Utilizatic
exhaust steam. Distributing energy
through tunnels, *646; Comment, 642
Valuation methods of Pacific Gas & Elec-
tric Co. By G. H. Throop, 569
Centrifuge, motor-driven, Shelton Electric Co.,
•1131
Chair, Electrically-operated wheel, *433
Charging receptacles for surface conduit sys-
tems, Crouse-Hinds, *490
Charging receptacle, Removable-plate yard,
Crouse-Hinds, *561
■Chart for voltage drop of alternating-current
transmission and distribution lines. By
H. B. Dwight 159; Comment, 146
Charts, Wire-gage and pay-roll, Carpenter, *561
Chicago:
Commission for public utilities suggested,
273 .
Chicago Commonwealth Edison Co., Financ-
ing, 572
Daylight-saving movement, o
— — Labor situation investigated by Department
of Tustice, 497
Rate increases, 372
Strike under city partnership franchise;
Comment, 1591
Electric-Railway Strike, 1650
Chimneys, Effective area, 423
Chime?, electrically operated. Belts & Betts
ration, *1007
China, Trade with, 1716
Circuit breakers :
Automatic reclosine. Automatic Reclosing
Circuit Breaker Co., *1134
Individual protection for motors, *1308
Oil. Bv G. Roth, (D.) 1246
Underload, Roller-Smith Co., *1566
•Civic forum medal for Edison, 1141, 1230
Cincinnati :
Valuation, S83, 1717
Circuit breakers:
Gray automatic reversed current, *121
Oil:
Arc phenomena, construction, rating
and specifications. Bv K. C. Ran-
dall, 524
Westinghouse Elec. & Mfg. Co., M645
Cities Service Company of Xew York, Annual
report, 882
Clamp for jumper cable, *421
Clamps:
Loom clamp, Machen & Maver, *429
■Cleveland municipal situation, 752, 882, 955, 1719
Clip for loom-wiring, Christo, *435
Clock, electric, Chicago's Lake front, #1127
Coal:
Analyses. Definition, 1197
Conserving supply. P. S. Thompson, 406
Crusher with motor drive, *42
Economical use of. By P. S- Thompson,
(D.) 346, 422
Fixed carbon in, 939
Fuel value, 1470
Powdered. Use as fuel, (D.) 1246
Sulphur in, 350
Supply of Great Britain. (D.) *1552
Truck, Electrically dumped, *1047
Coal burning:
Formation of clinker. By S. V. Tuspin,
1184
With much slack, 997
Without smoke, 1047
Coal drying machine, Link-Belt Co., *1130
Coal and ash handling:
Iowa Railway & Light Co., *151
Coal handling:
Electrical equipment, *994
Gravity-telpherage system, *1249
Locomotives and coal-storage yards at gen-
erating plant of University of Michi-
gan, Ann Arbor, 646
'Coating with metallic spray, Metals Coating
Co., *1003
Coils:
Coefficients of induction. By S. Butter-
worth, (D.) 1304
Losses, determination method. By A.
Hund, *1300; Comments, 1281
Self-inductance. By R. E. Shawcross and
R. I. Wells, (D.) *1246
'Color illumination (See Lighting, Three-color)
Color-matching outfit, General Electric. *361
Color matching, white light, 1710
Commutation:
Criteria. By F. W. Carter, 1028
Criteria for the quality of. By J. F. H.
Douglas. -601: Comment. A, 587. 1284
Commutation : (Continued)
Location of unbalanced reductance with
x-ray, *1122
Poor commutation and causes of. By E. H.
Martindale, *863
Commutators:
Care, method of softening mica. 1252
High-speed construction. Bv C. C. Haw-
kins, (D.) 990
Peripheral speed of commutator of rotary
converter, 940
With moulded insulation, Diehl, *488
Concentric wiring (See Wiring)
Compensators:
Leblanc-Latour-Scherbius. By T. F. Wall,
(D.) 858
Compressor for inflating tires, Hartford
machine Screw Co., "1643
Compressor, Portable motor-driven, for inflating
tires, #872
Condensers:
Large sized surface condenser, Waterside
station of New York Edison Co., *124
Leaks in surface condensers. Finding, 940
Measuring the losses of condensers. By
A. Hund, (D.) *294
Synchronous. By T. Wiener, (D.) 1465
On 130,000-volt svstem, LTtah. *1451
Conduction in thin metallic films. Theory of
mechanism of, and the electrical re-
sistance of such films. By W. F. G.
Swann, (D.) 36
Conduction, metallic, efficiencv of high tempera-
tures. By By E. F. Northrup, (D) 1614
Conductivity, Thermal, of tungsten, tantalum
and carbon, Measurement of. By A. G.
Worthing, (D.) 295
Conductivity of the earth. By L. E. Imlay;
Comment, 514
Conductors (See Wire, wiring and conduit)
Conduit (See Wire, wiring and conduit")
Conduit hushing adapters. Steel City Electric
Co., *364
Connect ine block with spring binding post,
Fahnestock, *360
Connectors:
Electric Stage Lighting Co.,
Attitude on public
commissions; Comment, 1663
Contracts, contracting, contractors and jobbers:
Advertising for electrical contractor work,
#1061
Broadening the contractor, Louisville,
Ky., 544
Business ethics for the electrical jobber.
By W. E. Robertson, 550
Checking overhead percentages periodically,
1051
Competing for appliance business, *1053
Co-operation with central station:
Bv T. L. White, 427
Brooklyn, 546
California, 1409
Cost-keeping svstem of George Weiderman
Electric Co., «797
Customers' satisfaction versus unit profit,
1691
Doing business on low overhead expense,
W. B. Perrv Electric Co.. 544; Com-
ment, 539
Estimate and proposal sheets of Contractors*
\->nciat;on, 555
Fixture displav in shons, *1705
Household-supply business, 796
— —Interdependence of store and contracting
business, *1054
Jobbing house sales efficiency, 550
Keeping account of productive hours, Bra-
man Electric Co., Perry. la.. *613
Labor estimates, Checkine. 554
License of contractors and wiremen, Massa-
chusetts bill, 496
Louisville. Ky., Electrical Clearing House
Association, 554
Manufacturers' prices converted to jobbing
hasis 301
Price policy, 1310
Reducing the jobber's losses, 795
Remove the mystery of electricity, 1051
Salesroom of Simplex Electric Heating Co.,
*800
— —Secrets of success in merchandising, M637
Store wins wiring business, 1051
Success in contracting. By T. F. Ryan, 173
■ — -The buvers of to-morrow. 1309
Value of co-operation, 1051
Value of friendship. 1051
Win the architect. 1051
Wiring on the percentage basis, 1052
Control, section insulators. Westinghouse Elec-
tric & Manufacturing Co., *1207
Controllers:
Alternating-current. Bv Arthur Simon,
1195
Drum controller for steel mill. Industrial
Controller Co., *305
Maenet-s witch controllers for cranes. Bv
H. H. Broughton, (D.) 35
Steel mill. Bv L S. Riggs. 1195
By H. F. Stratton, 1195 .
— — Taigman controller for small "motors, *748
Converters, rotarv:
By W. Linke, (D.) 1175
Historv of in America. By F. D. Newbury,
(D.) 401
Loading coils for synchronizing. *997
Polarity reversal in synchronous. Condi-
tions brought about when reversing
switch in field circuit is used. Bv E. R.
Shepard. *210
•Indicates illustrated articles.
Converters, rotary : (Continued)
Pressure wave, Effect of shape of upon
operation of rotary converters, (D.)
4/6
Cooking, Electric:
Advertising method, *1060
As off-peak load in Iowa, 1128
Coal mine kitchen, *1455
Dinner cooked by each guest at table, *354
Hospital installation, *182
London conditions. By W. R. Cooper, 859;
Comment, 842
Military equipment in London, (D.) 35
Portable table, *1704
Practical education in cooking. Equipment
in University of New Mexico. By
H. W. Alexander, *232
School at Poplar Bluff, Mo., *943
Small electric stoves, General Electric Co.,
MOOS
Stove, Hughes Electric Heating Co., M078
Wildwood. Ohio, *738
Worcester. Mass., in apartment house, 486
Copper plating. By M. C. Weber, (D.) 1466
Corona CSee Transmission lines)
Cost-keeping system for contractors, George
Weiderman Electric Co., *797
Cranes:
Controllers:
Magnet-switcb controllers. By H. H.
Broughton, (D.) 35
— — -Electric Cleveland Crane & Engineering
Co., M481
Jib crane handles transformers, *791
Trolley, Electric, Northern Engineering,
*50
Crossing specifications, Overhead, Revision of,
769
Current, high-frequencv, measurement. By A.
Campbell and D. W. Dye, (D.) 1177
Curtis Publishing Company, Electrical equip-
ment, #905; Comment, 898
Cut-out boxes. Electric Operations Co., *309
Cutouts:
General Electric primary, 121
Handguard, General Elec. Co., Ltd., *1644
Thomson Electric Company, *1333
Cyanamide. By F. S. Washburn, (D) 1303
Dams:
Concrete dam at Austin, Tex., *1460
Denatured electric current. By G. Picnerle,
(D.) 347
Depreciation (See Accounting)
Die castings of copper-base alloy, 815
Dielectric potential. By George R. Dean, (D.)
1044
Dielectrics (See also Insulation)
Diesel engines (See Gas engines)
Dimmers f See Incandescent lamps)
Dish washer, Electric:
Bromley-Merseles, *247
Domestic Utilities Co., M071
Door switch for elevators, Electric, *432
Dredging with electricity, *1544
Drills, Electric:
Crane bench drill, *180
-Operating from bottom upward, Foote-Burt,
*307
Portable, Black & Decker, *359
Portable, stand, Standard Electric Tool Co.,
•1080
Portable, A. F. Carver & Co., *1478
Stow, M82
Temco portable electric, *123
Drink-mixer. Fulton Bell Co., '1643
Shelton Electric Company, * 1 71 1
Dynamo design, space distribution of flux density.
By Alfred Still, *1679
Dynamometric ammeter and voltmeter. By J.
I. D. Ridsdale, (D.) 920
Edison medal to Dr. Bell, 1141, 1230
Education, industrial. By C. P. Steinmetz, 1646
Egg production increased by electric light, 355
Egg tester, William Rigling Egg Tester & Manu-
facturing Co., M431
"Electric dog." By B. F. Meissner, *1115;
Comments by H. C. Berger, 1450
Electric light a misnomer, 1663
Electric Power Club, Annual meeting, 1435
Electric Vehicle Association of America, Dinner
to Frank Smith, 495
Electrical appliances, Mechanical perfection, 1692
Electrical associations, clearing house. By R.
K. Sheppard, 1100; by F. B. Crocker,
1450
Electrical clearing house development, Com-
ments, 1591
Electrical code:
(See National Electric Safety Code, 845.
915)
Electrical industries in 1914, Statistics for
America. By T. C. Martin, 3
Electrical manufacturers, Need of merchant spirit,
1691
Electrical manufacturers organized, 183
Electrical precipitation. By F. G. Cottrell,
\V. W. Strong, A. F. Nesbit and Linn
Bradley, 527
Electrical science in 1914, Applied. Bv A. E.
Kennelly, 4
Electrical Supply Jobbers' Association:
Chicago meeting, 1126
Convention. 749, *823
Meeting, 1596
VI
INDEX
Electrical World:
Commercial Section, 201, 225
Medal of honor. 1591
Power and operating section, 73, 97
Electrical prosperity week:
See Nati.in.il Electrical Week)
Electrochemistry in 1914. By E. F. Roeber, 24
Electrochemistry, organic. CD.) 1118
Electrode potentials, Electrostatic measurements
of single, By A. \V. Ewell, (D.) 219
Electrolysis:
Responsibilities of owners of underground
utilities, 736
Electrolytic damage. No minimum voltage for,
940
Electromagnets:
(Also see Sell
Calculation of windings. By E. E. George
and Harold Pender, 529; Comment. 515
Pull with moving plunger, measurement.
By B. C. Batchcller, *1037; Comments,
Electro-medical apparatus, Violet ray electrode,
n Electric Co., '1569
Electron tl
— — Electric conduction in crystals of metallic
selenium. By F. C. Brown, (D.) 604
Electrons:
Emission from glowing solids. By F. Hor-
■i'.) 1554
Emissi cathode, Investiga-
tion of. By Frank Horton, (D.) 402
Electroplating, addition agents. By A. Mutschel-
D.) 1685
Electroscope, new type. By J. A. Fleming, (D.)
•1615
Electrostatic intensity on a conducting sphere in
a uniform field of force. By G. R.
Dean. (D.) 659
Electrostatic measurements of single-electrode
ntials. By A. \\ . Ewefl, (D.) 219
Elevators:
Timing device. Electric, '52
Electric, Protective device, Black-Wood
Mfg. Co., '1079
Gearless traction. By D. Linquist, 1011
Empire State Gas & Electric Association:
Convention, 1267
Employees:
Advice to. on bulletin hoards, 611
Census report on employees, salaries and
wages, 600
Cleveland. Distribution of employees' fund,
954
Courtesy poster in Atlantic City, 354
Opportunities for self-improvement, 1617
— ■ — Prizes to save materials, 1690
Stock in company, American Telephone &
Telegraph Co., 53
Subscribe for Preferred Stock, Pacific Power
8 Light Co., 1668
Technical school instruction, Detroit, 315
Telegraph Company wages, hearing, 1011
Energy flow in i Mon system. By
Robert A. Philip. '1035
Engineering Foundation:
Inauguration of, 130, 254, '310
Organization, 1433
Engine-room report forms, *1624
Engines:
Census bureau statistics, 215
tants. Purpose and calculation of, 424
Effect of vacuum and steam pressure on
economy. 979
Gas, vertical two-stroke Diesel, Southwark
Foundry & Machine Co. (See also gas
engines), *1203
Steam, Effect of back pressure on econ-
omy. Bj l ll Stevens, "1525
Steam, Indicator spring selection, 1635
Engineer:
Place of the engineer in the defense of the
nation, 496
Stain neer, 438
American Institute
■ is, 494
Englan I i
Evaluating the isolated plant. By R. P. Bolton,
901
dl Ig-line, for con-
channel,
I, '934
Exciter*. led, Westingbouse Elec-
li.icturing Co., "1261
egenerator, 940
foreign trade, 1575
n that is not combination, 385
' Foreign Trade con-
Ml
niMtlirs,
By
I 160
March. I. VIS
-
I, HK8,
. 1571
! by war, 1484
I:
>ririeal business
Export trade: (Continued)
Value " Latin-American trade,
1574
1914 statistics, 458
Kyes. Effect of light on I Sec Light)
Condensers. large steam, 104
Fan
Electric:
-"Buffalo Planoidal," Buffalo Forge Co, '1006
I irleton Company. Oscillating, "1712
Ceiling fans, Robbins ft Mvers, "246
Crocker-Wheeler, "816
Displavs, Folder of Western Electric Co.,
•237
Emerson small oscillating. »245
Knai Kg. Co., '1076
Lindstrom, Smith, "820
Menominee, M331
Table fan. '245
, "820
Plate adapter. Frank Adam Electric Com-
panv, "1332
Robbins & Mvers ceiling, "815
I i aust fan, "178
Table. Lindstrom, Smith Company, "1260
Vacuum Cai Ventilating Co.. '1568
Vertical and horizontal oscillating motion,
Allied ll-
Westingbouse ceiling fans. "308
Winter use of. By P. W. Gumaer, "229;
Comment, 226
Federal Trade Commi
. 370, 1717
Appointments, 53. 130, 439
Attitude on the tariff. 312
Conferences with. 953
Duties and responsibilities as a tariff coin-
mission. |45, 1S4
Personnel of. 336, 566. 5S5, 622
Progi,
Work of. 750
Feeder protection, British patent. (D.) 294
Feeders, protective system. (D.) *991: Com-
ments. o;o
Feeders, supporting sectionalizing taps. *994
Feed-water;
Circulating system, "1048
Filter. Reggs, '431
Softening apparatus, Harrison Safetv Boiler
. "1006
Field coils. Heating of. Bv Mac Lean. MacKellar
and Bcgg. (D.) 603
Field coils, temperature rise. Bv M. Mac Lean,
D. L MacKellar and R. S. Begg, (D.)
•990
Fields, alternating current, damping factors. Bv
A. Press. ID.) 1044
Fields rotary, determining rotation. Bv A.
KleinstUck, (D.) 1044
Films, electricity for drying, 914
Financial:
Capitalization of unproductive improvements,
897, 903
Cost and value. Distrinction between. By
K P.. Miller. 7S2
Rate of return changes. 1
Rate of return. Rochester fare case. 585
Fire alarm :
Box, Break glass. Edwards. *306
Motor-driven siren. "251
System, Autocall Co.. '1005
Fire detector, American Telephone Fire Alarm
■1478
Fire extit. micallv operated, Tustrite
Mi. Co '1132
Fire protei BtS. Bv N. II.
Daniels, 1196
Fire prevention in, "54
'537
. "433
Flashboarc
Flasher, Motorless. Ryan. "51
imps:
Federal Sign System, "1335
a. '747, "870
I uring Co . " 1334
Tel. M134
Vest-pocket. Lindstrom. Smith Co., *I2>58
trie:
Electrically illuminated, Pittsburgh Electric
Specialties Co.. '1565
Lindati
Peloure. '
Stand. Central Flatiion Manufacturing Co.,
■1335
with disappearing receptacle, Brvant.
Flour mill. fs i Nnts.)
temperature measurement. Bv F T
, oni
Flunrrs ■ . fin 1554
Flywheels:
Bursting wheels may cause boiler explosion*.
475
Bucking
f. I I l
Franklin to Thomas A.
I
ing hla currents.
Bv I
-I.oeomnti-. ■ fuel, 3°°
iSrr al.o foul, nil, a. 1. 1 C.n.t
Furnaces
'
Furnaces, Electric:
By T. F. Bailey, (D.) 1466
Papers before M. E. L. A., 1526
Relation to central stations, Comments, 1592
Steel casting manufacture. By G. Muntz,
(D.) 403
Fuse block, Transformer. Chemelectric Co.. * 178
Tester, Bremer ft Lang, '1713
Fuses:
Fuse-plug receptacle, Detroit Fuse ^ Mfg.
Co., *1641
Inclosed type, Chelton Elec. Co., *1004
Oil-filled, D. & W. Fuse Co.. "1073
Porcelain-clad, high-tension, Brooklyn, *350
Refillable. A. F. Damn Co.. "1133
Refillable, Approval of. Bv W. H. Merrill,
461
Refillable, Underwriters passive, 821
Renewable, Hearing bv Bureau of Standards,
1668
Galvanic cell which reverses its polarity when
illuminated. Bv A. A. C. Swinton, (D.)
860
Galvanon
D'Arsonval type, Leeds ft Northrup, '873
Moving coil. By P. E. Klopsteg, (D.) 1177
Garages:
Battery-charging equipment, '747
Constant-potential charging system effects
saving in Chicago.
Co-operation between garage and manufac-
turer, 810
iperative garage, New York, 553
Economy in space and cost, Jackson. Mich..
•427
New York's co-operative electric, *810
Off-peak schedules and the garage owner. 331
Garbage incinerator. (See Refuse destructor)
Fuel value, 1470
Permanent, definition, 1197
trie \ Street Railway Assn. of Okla-
homa, Convention, 1340
Gas rate-making. By G. H. Cook, 316; Com-
ment, 274
Gas engine magneto. British Thomson-Houston.
Developments of. Bv W. F. Durand. 20
Diesel efficiency for steady and fluctuating
I, "102
Diesel engine fuel. By H. Schmidt, (D.) 991
Diesel European repute. By R.
w Crowley, 665
Diesel -tvpc engine in the L'nited States. By
R. W. Crowley. 412; Comment, 405
Factors hindering production of high rated
engines, 92
Fuel cost on small oil engine, 1557
■ i fuel-oil engine.
R i; \\ hit. . '
Quantity of gas required per kilowatt-hour,
. pment, * 1047
Starting small engines, 423
Incandescent lamps)
electric lighting outfit, "420
■1075
< V
Gear for high-tension circuits. Over voltage pro-
.mbe, i in 35
Gearing, Inch ar Co.. *1476
Generating sets, Strom M4S0
General
Air-gap flux distribution. Bv Alfred Still,
Crocker-Wheeler direct-current for Ford
plant.
pment in
Bv B. G. Lamme, (D.) 476.
II, (DO 990
Delta connected, Triple-frequency currents.
u bipolar at Saulte Ste. Marie, *1559
Iriver, Universal Motor
; in\ . " 1262
— — •Gasoline-engine operated unit. 01
•1133
Heating curve. Method of finding. Bv A
. *744
Inherent regulation of alternators Bv VI
Klein. <D.1 1465
Linio i. p..ii of high-tension
.rent machines. Bv A. Scher-
H ) 04
Overheating of field coiK
Parallel operation of alternating-current
generators driven bv internal combustion
engines Rj I; 1 Dohl rtj and II C.
658
l\ tester. '102
Polyphase commutatoi machines and their
application Bv N Shiiitlrwmth. (Di
• Reactions with earning unbalanced load,
mi; Comment*.
I'.oothman. (It.)
Robbins & Mvers steel frame direct-current.
Simultaneous operation of three wire gene
is, 1 If,
Single phase. By 1 Knrrner. (T>
Generators: (Continued)
Sinusoidal voltage curve? from polyphase
alternators. Bv W. Seeman, (D.) *918;
Comment, 899
Statistics of Bureau of Census, 291
Stresses in rotor bindings. By Arthur
Morey, (D.) 94
Transient phenomena in coils with capacity
between turns. By K. \V. Wagner,
(D.) *858
Turbo. By O. Billieux, (D.) 1245
Ventilation, Pilot lamp indicating, *793
Westinghouse small belted alternator, *742
With cycle car engine, Rochester Motors
Co., M205
Germany :
Berlin Elevated Rv., Electrification. By
Zehme, (D.) 293
Copper wires. Substitution of iron for, (D.)
•218; Comment, 202
Electric industry and the war, (D.) 168
Electrical organizations. Bv I. \V. White,
Jr., 486
Glue pot, Electrically heated, Fearn, *869
Governors' messages on public utilities, 313, 372,
443
Graphite feeder, Steam-pressed-operated. Terre
Haute, Ind., *936
Grates. (See Boilers)
tnstein and Grossman.
By A. D. Fokker, (D.) 294
Great Britain:
Conditions in the electrical industry. By
P. P. Wheelwright, (D.) 168
Electrical engineers and the war. Bv
Thomas Roles, i D.) 38
Electrical industry in 1914. By Haydn Har-
rison, 8
Legislation on electrical matters in 1914,
(D.) 295
London and district electricity supply bill,
(D.) 604
London electricity supplv, (D.) 218, 533,
642
Technical education. Bv R. W. Paul, (D. )
38
Grinder for surfacing ends of arc lamp inner
globes, *535
Grinder, Electric:
Portable, Sun Electrical Co.. Ltd.. *1645
Robbins & Myers Company, *1336
Standard internal, *180
Stow, *182
Ground:
Clamps, Rilled brass, »564
Plate made from scrap material, *609
Protection of motors, 429
Wire, combined steel and copper, *610
Testing device, *995
Grounding:
Arc-lamp circuits, ""1308
Device, Spokane, Wash., *936
Guy anchors, design. By Terrell Croft. *1607
Gyroscopic compass. Bv F. M. Denton, (D.)
1616
H
Hair drier, electric:
Shelton Elec. Co., *1075
Victor, *249
Hall effect in silicon. By O. E. Buckley. (D.)
166
Hammer, Electric, Electro-Magnetic Tool Co.,
•1481
Hand lamp. Silvered reflector. Delta. *247
Hand wheels and dials for use with rheostats,
Ward-Leonard, *306
Harmonic analysis, Practical. By A. Russell,
(D.) 605
Headlamps for mine locomotives, Esterline Co.,
•1569
Non-glare lens, Lancaster Lens Co., *1569
Heat regulators, Minneapolis Heat Regulator
Co., *142S
Heaters, Electric:
Despatch portable. *435
Pittsburgh water heater, *245
Portable, Lindstrom, Smith Company, *1071
Receptacle. Harvey Hubbell, Inc., »1207
Heating, District:
Commercial possibilities. 1576
Locating overload sections. Bv H. A.
Woodworth. 1123
Indianapolis. Ind., Flexible svstem. Bv
H. A. Woodworth, *937
Winter conditions, Toledo, Ohio. Bv A. C.
Rogers, 290
Heating, Electric:
Appliances, Marketing. Bv S. M. Kennedy,
1412
Circuit made useless for lighting, ' Italian
device. By G. Pincherle, (D.) 347
Economies possible, 226
Enameling ovens, test. *1702
Hot water. Sterling Corp., '1568
Investigation at Stockholm, Sweden. Bv
C A. Rossander, (D.) 165
Pad and foot warmer, *432
"Sun Ray," '250
Shoe-treeing iron, Fearn Company, '1329
Heating, temperature schedule. Bv H. A. Wood-
worth, 997
Heusler alloys, Thermoelectricity and magneto-
striction. By L. O. Gr'ondahl, (D.) 95
Magnetic induction of, at high frequencies.
Bv H. Fassbender, (D.) 605
Hickey. Malleable-iron. Pittsburgh. '51
Hoists and hoisting. Electric:
Alternatine-current. Bv R. E. Brown, 1195
General, (D.) 1043
Hoisting tank to roof with small motor, *866
(Contii
ed)
B»
Dickii
Hoists and hoisting, Electr
Link-Belt Co.. "1206
Springfield, Mo., Costs, 43
Tests of large steam hoist. By H. E.
Spring, (D.) 790
Horse-power, Relation to the kilowatt. By S. W.
Stratton. ( D. ) 167
Hydroelectric developments:
Austin. Texas, '1460
Bombay water-power.
(D) 1302
Considerations. Bv Henry Flood, Jr., 1267
Federal legislation, 621
Investment, Bankers' attitude, 312
Legislation matters, 54, 131. 184, 496
Montana power developments. Bv T. D.
Ryan. 623
Muscle Shoals project defeated, 312
Xippashi River plant of the Inawashiro
Hydroelectric Power Co., *1599, *1671
-tics of waterpower development. 216
On the Pacific Coast, *1387; Comment, 1355
Pacific Cas & Electric Co., 1393
Pacific Light &- Power Corporation,
Pacific Power & Light Co.. *1391
Pittsford Power Co., Chittenden. Vl
Comment, 1283
Plants in France. Bv H. Bress
•1395
•1297:
CD.)
Portland Railway, Light & Power Co., «1391
Puget Sound Traction, Light & Power Co..
Southern California Edison Co.. *1394
Southern Sierras Power Company. 1397
— —Testimony at Washington on water-power
bill, 54
Legislation :
Testimony of S:dney Z. Mitchell. 187:
Comment. 145
Water-power rights and the rich, 329
West Virginia bill. 622
Hysteresis loops .Determination of. Bv Arle
Ytterberg, *212: Comment. 202. Bv
W. X. Fenninger. (D.) 1045
Ice-cream freezer. Thompson motor-driven. *
Ice-making (See Refrigeration)
Idaho, Contest for business in northern. 132
Hydroelectric Merger Authorized, 1715
Idaho Public Service Commission:
Engineer as member of, suggested. 316
Permits competitic
Illuminometer. N(S
*85; Commeni
Morgan Brooks
cago, *170
Illuminating Engineer
By C. S.
1 exhibited
Reddil g.
in Chi-
tie Society:
1 283
Comments,
1227
■Educatio
Increase
Xew grade of members, 1030
Steinmetz next president, *1572
Incandescent lamp fixtures:
Adam semi-indirect fixture. *564
— — Adams-Bagnall fixtures for nitrogen filled
street lamps. *357
Adjustable clamp. Peerless Lighting Co..
•1074
Adjustment plugs. Arrow Electric Co.,
•1134
Adjustable post fixture. Pittsburgh Lamp,
Brass & Glass Co., *1334
Attachment for pull sockets, Empire, *617
Benjamin pull socket, *360
Bracket for hotel sample rooms, Bryant, '49
Bracket for nitrogen-filled lamps. *747
Cast-metal fixture for gas filled tungsten.
Herwie Art Shade X- Lamp Co.. *1427
Clamps for semi-indirect glass bowls, *24S
Collapsible shade, *875
Combined smoker cabinet and fixture. Peter-
son, 249
-Comb'nation of lamp outlets with warm-air
diffusers. Evanston, 111.. *45
Convertible lighting unit. Dale, 490
Extension attachment, Arrow Electric Co.,
•1330
Extens:on swing brackets. General Electric
I , ! td„ M25S
Federal socket and shade holder, *562
Fittings. V. V. Fittings Co., *1565
— —Fixture for nitrogen lamp. Fares Mfg.
Co.. '1004
Fixtures for high efficiency lamps. *1568
Flush receptacle, Harvey Hubbell, * 1566
Gas-filled lamps. 203
Gas-filled unit, *1262
Glass bowl for nitrogen-filled lamps,
Lensed, *615
Hubbell reflector, switch and receptacle,
•305
Hubbell sockets. '178
Lamp guards. Electric Service Supplies Co..
•123
Lamp cord adjuster. Gowan. *252
Outdoor bracket, Herwig, *307
Outdoor fixtures, Central Electric Co.. *308
Pendant fixture for street lights. Adams-
Bagnall, '437
Pettineell-Andrews Co., *244
Plug, Harvey Hubbell, Inc., '1130
Portable fixtures with extension arm, *363
Reading lamp stand, Millar, *249
Reflectors, Beniamin Electric Co.. M428
Reflector, Simplex Conduits. Ltd.. '1333
Reflectors and ventilated hoods for nitrogen-
filled lamps. Roval. *491
Semi-indirect unit, Beniamin Electric Manu-
facturing Co., M336
•Indicates illustrated articles.
Incandescent lamp fixtures: (Continued)
Shade holders, Arrow Electric Co., * 1 64 1
Shade holder, Harvey Hubbell, Inc., M003,
Shaving lamp, A. B. Wilson, *1642
Sign receptacle. Arrow Electric Co., *1257
Socket, Benjamin Electric Co., *1332
So* ket and plug attachment, Beniamin Elec-
tric Co., M257
Spire portable, *248
Spiro portable floor fixture,
Table lamp with interchangeable shades,
Rockford Light Furniture Co.. *1258
Weber sockets. *615. *870
T. C. White Co.. *1336
Units, Electric Devices Company, 1713
Workshop standard. General Electric Co.,
Ltd., *1080
Incandescent lamps:
Adjustable portable. Aladdin, '746
Batterv-operated hand-lamp, *47
Bicv<
Carborundum shunt for series lamps. By
H. Lux, (D.) *603
Concentrated-filament, application,
Cutler-Hammer portable lamp with univer-
sal joint,
Dimmers for tungsten lamps. Bv F. E.
Waller, 469, 526
Double-filament, gas-filled lamp, H. J.
Jaeger Co.. *1481
Electric safety lamo. Bv John George,
(D.) 1245
Etching bulbs, Xew- methods, Hartford,
■
Fluctuation of light of alternating-current.
By M. Leblanc, Jr., (D.) 1246
Garage floor lamp, Morse, *179
Gas-filled:
By George Cotton, 1100
By Evan J. Edwards, 1101
Changes in details, 1110
Fixtures for. 203 (See also incandes-
cent lamp fixtures)
Integrating sphere for testing, *120
Gas-filled, Life, *1709
Life record blanks, *1240
Oscillograph tests, 1101.
Photometry. Bv D. H. Tuck, 78
Studies in Mass. Inst., 1576
Versus arc lamp for street lighting,
Half watt tungsten vs. arcs. By R.
Palmer, (D.) 731; (D.) 1552
Hand lamp, ilirsch, *362
Hand lamp, Manhattan battery operated,
•250
Heating of screw socket lamp holders. Tests
at National Physical Laboratory. By
C. C. Paterson, (D.) *532
Initial current rush of tungsten-lamps. By
D. C. Black, 1285
Life test rack and switchboard, Xew York
City, *40
Metallic-filament, Rating. Bv S. M. Powell,
(D.) 1302
Miner's lamp. General Electric, *563
Xitrogen-filled (See also gas-filled)
Automobiles, Yosburgh Miniature Lamp
Co.. *1077
Lux 100-watt and 200-watt. *616
Use in Chicago, * 173
Use in photography. Bv W. Yoege,
(D.) '1116
Overheating of nitrogen-filled lamp. By E.
J. Edwards, 844
Patent to I. Langmuir, (D.) 1425
Rating. Bv F. W. Willcox, (D.) 990
And designation. Bv E. Solomon, (D.)
1465
In lumens; Comments, 1099
Metallic filament lamp. Bv H, Arniag-
net, (D.) 346; Comment, 331
Review of the industry of 1914. Bv S. E.
Doane, 24
Sales, 1907-1914, '1520
Signal lamps. By L. Bloch, (D.) 476
Stage lamp, "Olivette," Sprague, "490
Statistics, Census returns, 343
Temperature distribution in filament
neighborhood of cooling junctio
A. G. Worthing, (D.) *217
Test socket, »222
Therapeutic lamp, X-Radio Thermo Lamp
Co., *489
Tungsten. By Paul Eyda
Chicago regulation as
filled lamps, 439
Cleaning-up reactions.
muir, (D.) 1245
Duhrssen & Pfaltz, downward light,
•364
General Electric, *435
Heterochromatic photometry. Use of
lamps for. By G. D. Middlekauff
and J. F. Skogland, (D.) 401
Initial current rush. By F. E. Austin,
1666
Life of gas-filled lamps. Determining.
426
Patents, Suit for compulsory license for
British, (D.) 788
Photography applications. Bv M. Luck-
iesh, 149
With f.lament of umbrella type. *820
Unit of candle-power in white light. By
C. C. Patterson and B. P. Dudding,
(D.) 1043
Versus arc lamps. By H. E. Clifford, 1594
By
(D.) 1043
use of gas-
By I. Lang-
VIII
INDEX
Incubator, Electric, Double-deck, Electric Spe-
cialty Co., '362
Indexing, electrical engineering subjects, ■ om-
ments, 1026: Bv Terrell (..roll, 1229;
E. Wiener, 1229.
Indian school i 213
. V.-1 '..
f, for
Baker, (D.)
By E. T.
Induction balance, Hughes, L
bullets (HI, Mor
Induction coil spam. Bj \\
534
Induction coils. Adjustment
Jones. U>.) 219
Induction coils and condensers as protective
device- '■' > ->'
Induction regulators:
Design mid operation of. By G. 11. Lard-
Inductive interference (See Transmission lmes)
Industrial Electric Heal '• Plans
for forming,
Industrial plants:
i ii ity in ore handling.
•996
Boll factory, motor service, '1188
i quipment, '1315
Springfield, III., Motor applications,
•671. T04
Shaw, electric
drive, '791 .
Control of direct-current hoists in iron and
steel nulls. By G. E. Stoltz and W. O.
I equipment. By W ■ r.
.1124
Corset factory, Improving motor drive,
•1252
i versus electricity in,
110
Cottonseed oil mill, Data on motor appll-
. '172
Dire ; ' equipment, 1124
, ,, in tin mine. By \\ . I-.lsdon-
D I 1553
ic service has made excellent show-
Electricity in building construction, '1068
Electricity in mining service. Comments,
1226
Enameling plant, Electrical equipment, * 1702
Flour mills: .
mercial Milling Co., Detroit, Mich.,
Electric motor drive. Method of
interlocking machines for simul-
■ ration of plant, * 101
Electrification. By E. P. Hollis, (D.)
402 , ..
I- Ivantages and objec-
Hollis, (D.) 476
Minneapolis. Minn.. Motor equipment,
Mn drive,
Furniture store of Paine Furniture Co.,
Class-blowing machines. Induction motor
drive for, Muncie, Ind.. '171
Ice house, electric drive, M048
Individual motor versus group driving. By
K. Loss. <1>.) 165
Locomobile power plants of the O. C. Bar-
bcr .niton,
Ohio, and ol mcrete Prod-
ucts Co., Barberton, Ohio, *407; Com-
ment.
lumber mill at Cai I ■ motor
•944
Lumber mill. World
1578
— Marble works, motor drive, 1192
Ne» Com"
n dton B
nth, 673
,ory of W. S. Hicks &
Individual motor drive, •110
■.,n by motor, Chicago,
Portland cement industry, Electric motors
in. Ill „
power in. By
,.„,,, Publishing Com-
1 equipment, '905; Com-
...
Irive, 1700
Fuse, 1121
ll equip
in build
*'.75
driving in. By
brf Willy
■1118, nvi
1108
Insulating materials: (Continued)
ifive losses in electric fields. By G. L.
Addenhrooke. (D.) 1118
Insulating properties of solid dielectrics. By
II. L. Curtis, (D.I 733
Insulation :
"Boro pon i lain," '869
Electric perforation strength of liquids,
semi-liquids and solid insulation as
affected by pressure. By F. lock (D.),
919; Comment, 897
Maintenance of line insulation, 586
— Molded insulation parts, Belden, 491
Perforation strength of oils as affected by
pressure. By F. Tock, (D.) 859
Practical problems. By B. G. Lamme, (D.)
347
Insulators:
Borosilicon. Fred M Locke. M429
Kirchberger lava insulators. *74S
Pittsburgh large-sized, for wireless
•869
Selection ol insulators tor high-voltage
transmission line. Chile Exploration ( o.
By P. II. Thomas, *30
Splicing links for pull-socket chains. "432
Third-rail, Ohio Brass Co., M642
International Electrical Safety Code:
Appeal for Criticism By S. W
1102
Outline, titles, 1103
Ionization by impact. By Bergen Di
1044
Ionization by positive rays. By Norman Camp-
bell, (D.) 1685
Ionization of air. Bv Leopold .1. Lassalle, (D.)
1043
Legal: (Continued)
Company not required to furnish low volt-
age direct-current for theater, Albany,
Bj n
By V Righi. (D.) 1684
Siemens & flalske Co.,
Ionomagnetic rotation.
Ionometer, Unn
(D.) 478
Ions, New type in air. By T. A. Polio
1466
Iron:
Magnetic testing of sheets By J. Sumec,
CD.) 1177
Total losses in iron. Bv X. W. McLachlan.
858
Irrigation:
Cost data. 1404, 1405
Data, 1407
Policies and raits in Southern California.
Bj s. M. Kennedy, M471
Practice:
Great Western Power Co., 1406
Mount Whitney Powei 8 Electric Co..
1402
Pacific Gas & Electric Co.. M399
Pacific Light S Powei i orporation.
•1408
Pacific Power & Light Company. M404
San Joaquin Lt. & Pwr. Corporation,
•1403
Southern Sierras Power Co.. '1406
— i — Selling practices, 1414
I'se of electrical energy on the western
coast. "1399: western comments, 1354
B] \ Gu
Wenatchee Valley, W
•1560
Isolated plant:
Evaluating th
A, Rollins
inc. V
844
[apan, Lake In i
Japanning ovens. Sales arguments for electrical-
ited, 43
robbers tors)
I . Sketch of. •M7
lovian I
Jovian Order. Vul.-.-ii,
Ion St Lambert,
•Mr,
nips.)
Inrai
I rduc effect in
'. Smith and Alv
Ihio Court
•hoiild
<-. Hal-
I o. 441
ItM illu.t.air.'
ervice at loss not compulsory,
. N. V.. 158
company not required to
Continuing
Fredoni
Dangers, EL_.
guard against remotely possible, 445
Difference of one letter in francnise agree-
ment involves thousands, 757
Fires caused by defects in consumers' wir-
ing, company not responsible, Pennsyl-
vania decision, 260
-Holding company must keep up property,
130
Lease for rights on State property cannot
be revalued, 190
Legality of machinery leases. 1486
Lighting company 'must protect service
against lighting, Georgia decision, 57
Massachusetts electricians' licensing bill,
i = r;
Monopolv during good service, California,
641
Municipal Light bonds. I Hiio decision, 445
— Negligence ol company not established, New-
York. 445
Rate of return. Rochester tare case, 585
Re-sale pn. I
Right of appeal in New Hampshire, 1485
Right to examine Cleveland plant accounts,
1433
Shoe machinery
Utah land case, 502
Underwriters' approval of installation, 566
Light:
Bright! sed unit,
715
For color matching, 1710
Mechanical equi 11. E. Ives. W.
W. I obi. nt: and E. F. B
CD.) 1302
Production ol light by recombination ot
ions. D i 919
Ultra-violet light in its effect on the eye.
By W E. Burgc. *912; Comment,
899
Lighting, Electric:
By V. 11. Mackinney, I'i 1425
Automobiles, automatic switch,
Elec'l Mfg. Co., -1078
Automobilt ■ ' neral rdec.
Axial chromatic aberration of the human
eye. By P. G Nutting, *625
Baggage room, Kansas City Station, *1708
Bathroom in private home, "813
Brightness of intermittent illumination. By
M. 0 Saltmarsh, (P.) 1465
-Calculation of illumination. By R. C. Pow-
ell. "1403; Comment, 1448
Car illumination. Bj W. G. Gove and L.
C. I' niiient, 713
Clock m House, '1000
Color-matching outfit. I leneral Electric, "361
Developments during 1914. By P. S. Mil-
llartman
Co..
lar.
By T.
R. Cravath,
Effect
Efficiencies of present-day illuminants.
H. E. Ives. (D.I 1614
— — Emergence battery relay,
Factory if]:;
Faultv illumination injures the eye. By W.
B. Lancestci
ine-engine outfit, Lauson-Lawton t o.,
Heal' ■ lighting. 337
Illuminating ind ideal light.
B) li
— Illumination of machinery .
Improved street lighting in Hot Springs.
Ark.
— Improving conditions m municipal buildings.
Indirect for auditorium. "1070
Indirect lighting of Philadelphia Church.
— Motion-picture theatei
Motion pit tui winking" exit
lamps, 1062
■
Pan.n "1383
\i S, I omment. 796
l ..inment, 386
Bell.
—RaiU- -ban Pa-
lo in, I, I lighting.
I, III
dv.
'
II Champion.
1028
Boat Co..
s lamps. *243
Sidewalk display p
I K Cravath, 1141
tacular illumination of Woolworth
Build '132
INDEX
IX
Lighting, Electric: (Continued)
Status of arc-lamp in street illumination,
1070
Steel mills. By G. H. Stickney, (D.) 1465
Studio entrance, Worcester, Mass., *44.
Three-color illumination, Development of.
Investigations by M. R. Pevear of Bos-
ton, *398; Comment, 386
Train, Dick system simplified. By Emil
Dick, (D.) 35, 217
Uninhabited streets, Chicago, 1000
Units of candle-power in white light. By
C C. Paterson & B. P. Dudding. (D.)
1683; Comment, 1664
Unit of brightness. By P. G. Xutting, 333;-
H. E. Ives, 460
Window lighting principles, *813
Lightning arresters:
— .... : ■ -volt, Westinghouse Electric & Manu-
facturing Co., *1335
High-voltage, for telephone lines. By E.
F. Peck, (D.) 920
- Schweitzer & Conrad automatic resistance
horn type, *122
Lightning protection devices. Bv E. K. Scott
and L. F. Fogartv. (D.) 1426
Lightning rod. Radio. By B. Scilard, (D.) 295
Linemen's protectors, *743
Load determination in branch distribution cir-
cuits of direct-current systems. Bv L.
Lewin, (D.) *165
Load- dispatching system, of Portland Railway,
Light & Power Company. By R. R.
Robley, M418
Load-dispatching system of San Toaquin Light
i: Power Corpn. By L. J. Moore,
M422
Locomobile plants in the United St3tes, 556
Locomobile power plants, American built, of the
O. C. Barber Mining & Fertilizer Co.,
Canton, Ohio, and of the Barber Con-
crete Products Co., Barberton, Ohio,
•407; Comment, 406
Locomotives, Electric :
Combination storage-battery and trolley
mine. General Electric, *252
Data and figures of equipment of various
railways. Bv E. E. Seefehlner, (D.)
402
Midi Railway, France, (D.) 293
Mine storage battery locomotive, Kellogg,
Idaho. By J. W. Gwinn. | 1 1
Norfolk & Weste'rn R. R., *1456
Ship towing locomotives on Panama Canal.
By C. W. Larson, (D.) 533
Logarithmic decrements of the seconaary of two
coupled circuits. By Louis Cohen, (D.l
•Lev.
220
97
tension," What
Lubrication :
Apparatus for feeding graphite to
*1123
Ball bearings. By A. V. Farr, 9.
Circulating oil svstem, Vacuum
*411
Luminous efficiency, determination. 1
rer, (D.) 1175
Oil Co.,
t E. Kar-
Machine shop for power plant, equipment, * 1622
Machine-tool:
Performance diagnosis. Lessons of the
power-time characteristics and value
of automatic records on analying pro-
ductive operations, *417 : Comment,
387
Power formulas for. Bv A. D. du Bois.
*928; Comment, 921 "
Magnetic field of an atom in relation to theorv
of spectral series. Bv H. S. Allen.
(D.) 219
Magnetic flux, Relation to magnetizing current.
By A. L. Tacklev, (D.) 1118
Magnetic Particle. By K. T. Compton and E.
A. Trousdale. (DA 1303
Magnetic permeability. Effect of temperature
on. By R. L. Sanford, (D.) 859
Magnetization curves. Bv T. D. Ball, (D.)
401
Magnetization of iron at high flux density with
alternating-currents. Bv T. S. Nichol-
son, (D.) 294
Magnets, permanent, Esterline Co., *1427
Mail transportation, Cities requiring automo-
biles for, 566
Maine public utilities act, 58
Manhole equipment for pulling cables. *4T
Manometer for measuring high vacuums,
Knudsen. Bv .1. W. Woodrow, (D.)
*36
Manufacturers, Electrical, Organized, 183
Manufacturers' prices converted to jobbing
basis, 301
Maps :
San Toaqu:n Light & Power Corporation's
transmission system, *1423
Transmission svstems around San Fran-
cisco. *1356
Massachusetts Board of Gas & Electric Light
Commissioners on the capitalization of
unproductive improvements. 897. 903
Mathematical eauations. Solving. Bv T. Bethe
nod. (D.) 1426
Measuring hieh temperatures bv melting o;
metallic salts, Carl Nehls Alloy Cn.
•124
Measuring high vacuums with Knudsen abso
lute manometer. Bv T. W. Woodrow
(D.) *36
Measuring low resistances. By F. Wenner and
E. Weibel, (D.) 168
Merchandising methods:
Billing for labor and material only, 740
Displaying fixtures, A method of, *867
Guaranteeing sales on a money-back basis.
By W. N. Matthews, 809
May-first exodus, Advance preparations for,
*S67
Salesmanship and advertising, 808
Secrets of success, * 1637
Shoppers handle appliances displa
-Signed orde
Mi
740
very job, St. Paul,
Soliciting electrical contracting, 808
Wiring jobs, Handling out-of-town, 866
— -—(See also Central-station business)
Mercurv vapor rectifiers, Investigation bv Gen-
eral Electric Co. By O. Kruh. (.Dj
293
Mercurv vapor spectrum in an electric field.
By C. D. Child. (D.) 36
Metallic State theory of. By F. A. Lindman,
(D.) 219
Meters:
Accuracy of 10-watt loads, 1634
Ball bearings for, 115
Flat- rate controller, Pittsburgh Electric
Specialties Co., *1478
Horizontal edgewise, Hickok Electrical In-
strument Company. *1259
Induction, (D) 1177; (D.) 1246
Design of. By W. H. Pratt, (D.) 920
Ketterer type, (D.) 1119
Rural meter service. By S. G. Hunter,
Steam, Biddle, »871
Steam-heating, Cost of reading and main-
taining. By II. A. Woodworth, 933
Switchboard. By G'. Ouaink, (D.) *1044
Trouble caused bv magnetized metal wall,
1121
-Variable resistance to motion. By S. Ever-
shed, i 1>. I 111?
Mica. Method of softening, 1252
Milwaukee public utilities, Aldermen seek local
control, 315
Mines:
Bell signals in mines. By T. G. Watts.
(D.) 295
Manners Colliery Co., Ilkeston. England,
Generating plant at mine, (D.) 658
Protective switch gear. By C. Jones, (D.)
534
Sweden, The Luossavaara Kirunavaara
Company, (DA 918
Use of electricity. Bv T. H. Rider, (D.)
1246
Minnesota Electrical Association :
Convention. v >
Meeting, 367
Missouri Public L'tilities Commission. Comment
on sale of securities, 841
Montana business conditions, 752
Motion-picture appliances:
Phantoscope Mfg. C
Reels, Apparatus for changing, *744
Reel. Electric. Northern Sales Co., *l/9
Studios, Lighting. Bv L. G. Harkness
Smith, M040
Motor drives. (See Industrial plants)
Motor-generators:
Allis-Chalmers Mfg. Co., *1567
Battery charging and signal work. Electric
Specialty Co., *1329
Electrolytic, Roth Brothers & Co., *1073
Motion-picture serv.ee, Westinghouse, * 181
Small set for charging batteries, Westing-
house, *50
Synchronous, versus rotarv converters. Bv
Hugo Ring, (D.) 35
Motor plug. Polarized, Harv
•1334
Motor starters:
Automatic, Alternating current, Allen-
Bradley Co., *1430
For induction motors, Fairbanks, Morse &
Co., M203
Motors, Electric:
Adaptability to different
By D. B. Rushmore.
Armature of induction
cuit, Best dii
Hinnen, (D.) 532
Calculation of perfor
motor. By W. V. Lvon, 1168, *1240
Card record of operation. 419
Census report on stationarv motors, 399,
405
Control, foundries and steel mills. Bv R.
H. McLain, 1081
Control, Patent to G. Ellison and M. R.
H. Mueller. (D.) 1426
Dental motor for direct-drive, Shelton, *563
Diminutive motor built bv H. F. Keeler.
By Adolph Shane. *900
Direct-current commutating-pole, British
Thomson-Houston Company, *I257
Drive for drill press. Reliance Elec. &
Engineering Co., *1208
Field coils, Heating of." Bv Maclean.
Mackellar and Besg, (D.) 603
Flour mill sizes. By T. E. Simpers. 418
Fractional horsepower:
Alternating-cuirent, Reynolds. *564
Diehl, *436
Tvpes of, for different services. By
Bernard Lester, 938: Comment, 922
'Ground protecting device, *429
—Induction, Disconnecting. Bv R. Rueden-
berg. (DA '1425
"Indicates illustrated articles.
Hubbell. Inc..
classes of work.
lotors, Short-cir-
By J. Fischer-
of induction
Motors, Electric: (Continued)
Industrial applications. By H. B. Barnes,
(D.) 1246
Kimble adjustable-speed single- phase, *619
Knapp general utility, *815
Magnetic held of the three-phase induc-
tion motor. By F. T. Chapman, (D.)
94
Mine hauling. General Electric, *125
Polarity tester, *102
Printing press alternating-current, Ameri-
can, *308
Railway, Calculation of characteristics and
capacity required. By S. V. Cooper,
(D.) 402
Railway motor design. By R. E. Hell-
mund, (D.) 731
Resistors with negative temperature resist-
ence coefficient for rotora of induction
motors, Patent of Mascarini and Con-
tardi, (D.) 603
Single-phase series. Bv Robert Moser,
(D.) 1043
Small. Bodine Elec. Co., *1003
Horsepower ratings, 1436
Knapp Elec. & Novelty Co., *1006
Marketing. By S. M. Kennedy, 1412
Requirements. Bv E. F. Henry, 1284
Robbins & Meyers Co., M075
Single-phase, Westinghouse Elec. & Mfg.
Co., M076
Speed reduction of induction motors. By
A. Winkler. (D.) 165
Squirrel-cage and wound- rotor, Companion
of, 822
Starting and operating characteristics of
single-phase motors, *433
Textile mill motors, Crocker-Wheeler. *309
Westinghouse slip-ring induction, *357
Wire and starting-fuse sizes for induction
motor service, 609
Municipal ownership:
Analvsis and reviews by municipal opera-
tion in Pasadena. Cal., 1171
Cleveland, Developments, 622
Cleveland plant developments, 1647
Cleveland plant. Report, 1010
Committee report N. E. L. A. convention,
1511
Cost of combination electric service. City
of Calgary, *1181
Duluth. Minn., Municipal plant rejected,
371
Emporia plant leased to private corporation,
*1006
Memphis Plant, Examination, 1140-1717
Movements, Grand Rapids, Mich., 1140
Operation of plants m Oklahoma. By H.
V. Bozell, 1573
Saginaw. Mich., Reports on controversy, 57
Statistics of municipal plants, Census re-
port, 161: Comment. 145
Spokane rejects, 1490
Watertown, N. V., 954
Nail-Packing Machine, A. T. Otto & Sons. '1714
National Association of Electrical Inspectors,
Convention, S24
National Association of Manufacturers of Elec-
trical Supplies, 365
National District Heatinc Association, Conven-
tion, 1576
National Electric Light Association:
Accounting committees, 312
Accounting section :
Organization, 184
By H. M. Edwards. 498: Comment,
457; L. M. Wallace. 644
Commercial section :
Meeting of executive committee, 500
Executive committee meeting, 880
Committee work. 641
Company section work, Plan to improve,
1648
Constructive work before the association.
By H. H. Scott, 5; Comment, 1
Convention :
Accident, Prevention committee report,
*1533
Analvsis of water-wheel governor ef-
fort. By E. D. Searing. M513
Analytical accounting by central station
companies. Bv O. B. Coldwell,
1531
Application of diversity factor. By H.
B. Gear, *1515
Commercial application of resistance
furnaces. By C. W. Bartlett, 1526
Company section committee. report,
1534
Plans, 314, 440
Report, 1502; Comments, 1499.
Demonstration of a power sale. Bv C.
H. Stevens, *1525
Education of salesmen. Committee re-
port, 1528
Electric furnace power loads. By F.
T. Snyder, 1527
Electric vehicle and control station.
By T. F. Gilchrist and A. T. Mar-
shall. 1524
Electric vehicle topics, 1649
Electrical apparatus report, * 15 1 7
Electrification of main-line railroads,
report, 1518
Grounding secondaries committee, re-
port. 1520
National Electric Light Association: (Continued)
High-tension apparatus, sub-committee
report, 1518
High-tension sub-committee rcpurt, 1518
Hydroelectric and transmission com-
mittee report, 1517
Hydroelectric development in the West.
By P. M. Downing, 1514
Lamps commuter, report, "1520
Merchandizing port, *1 522
Meters committee, report, *1530
Municipal regulation of public utilities.
Oil-burni plants. B. C. H.
. 1514
ruction committee
t , 1517
bureau, report, 1526
in high-head hydraulic plants.
P tallyman, 1513
President Scott, address, 1502; Com-
ment, 1499
iiiittee, report, 1516
Public policy committee on state regu-
lation, 1597
Public policy committee report, 1510;
Comment, 1500
Public utility accounting. By I.. R.
il
Public utility regulation in California.
en, 1512
Publications committee, report. 152')
Rate research committee, report, 1527
Return of Delegates from Convention
Tours. »1716
for Electrical Development, by
J. M. Wakeman, 1530
Stassano arc-furnace operation at Re-
dondo, Ca. Bv W. M. McKnight,
*1527
Street lighting committee, report, * 1 52 1
Terminology committee, report, 1534
development in
the West, report, 1526
Underground construction
report, "1519
L'niform system of accounts committee,
report. 1531
Wiring existing buildings committee,
'1523
Workmen's compensation insurance.
By V G. i .1 533
Executive committee. Meeting, 186
New England section, Boston meeting, 786,
803
Overhead crossing specifications, Revision
of, 769
Prime mover committee, Economizer figures,
•1634
Public policy, Comments, 1353
Public policy committee. Meeting. 740
Rate-research committee, Comments, 1591
Report of standardizing plugs and recep-
tacles
San Francisco convention building, 750
Wiring committee, Meeting, 570
National Elei I I
— Changes suggested by Nation I Pro
tecli" ,501
sis. 878
Desii
National Electrical Safety Code;
By Carl M. H
Description of Code for station. Inns, equip-
B]
Rosa.
ment and operatii
Proposed rules formulated by tbi
I: Rosa, 845
National Electrical Contractors Association:
Estimate ami proposed shc.-t>. 555
National electrical week:
Approved bv Society for
ooment. 404, 570
Districts, Map, •1649
I \ Britton I " I 'ark. < >. B
I. Tail. Robert
rurner, 388; W.
588
I Gibbs, \rlliur Wil
[.. LB \\ Menden
R. Call,,,- ,y, I C Mcl |u ton, I Free
. ,,. 877
tion, St I ouis.
New Yoi
no;
Miltble,
Vnnual re
■
Nitric acid and nitrates. Manufacture of from
air. By E. ' DO 403
Nitrogen, atmospheric, fixation of:
By W. S. Lan.lis, (D.) 1176
I D.) 605
By L. I.. Summers. 1109
Bv F. S. Washburn, 1109
By E. Weinwurm, (D.) 403
Cyanamide processes. Bv F. B. Washburn,
Electrical processes. By L. I.. Summers,
Nomenclature and symbols, British report, (D.)
166
Northern White I edar \~-
li, n. 369
Office buildings, Hartfoi i ,ght Co.,
1 equipment and efficient fea-
tures. *206; Commen
Association, Convention,
880
Ohmmeter with several scales. Bv H. A. W.
Klinehemer. I
Oil :
Filter. Richardson-Phenix Co., *1130
Fuel value. 1470
Selection for engines, 1618
Transformer. Bj I S I awson, (D.) 1175
Transformer and switch oil, Report of
British Institution of Electrical Engi-
neers. (D.J *345
Transformer. Life record.
Oil-engines. I See gas engines)
Oscillator:
Mercury-vapor tube. Bv B. I
(D.I 1045
Portable high-frei|u, Electric
i ,,..
Outlet-box:
National, '873
For concrete work. Steel, City Electric Co.,
♦430
For flexible Hug Foundry &
Machim
Sprague. '
Ovens, El
For baking varnish. Dispatch Mfg. Co.,
•1071
For glowing-coil stoves, "1711
The;:, tests ol B) A. E.
Kennellv. F. D. Everett and A. A.
Prior, I , 'it, 771
,'H,,n (See 1 ransn ,~sion lines
and overhi I uction )
Oxygen gas. Manufacture at Kansas City. 216.
Panama Canal, Electric towing system, "288
Panama-Pacilc exposition:
Civic auditorium, *3I3
Electricity, at,
Home electrical. ■
Illumination, •1383; Comments, 1353
Illumination L Bayh
•391; Comment, 386
International jury, membership, 1209
— Tury of Awards. M484
lighting system, 132
796
tent.
Sui .-.513
controlling batter) of washing ma-
oh, "620
'
P
— Faili m, 824
-
Peanut r tl ,,-, Rtng-
ery.
. 1287
-Memorial Services,. 1717
of powet . 11:
ilitj in iron, I' igh, (D.)
loo
Permeamel
I
Co., W, B, I ii
1043
i hompson, (D.)
1
,,g unit. Benlamin Electric Manufac-
illiamton,
h, 110
! illumina-
Intrr
Photometric Units: (Continued)
Heterochromatie, Tungsten filament lamps
for. By G. D. Middlekaulf and J. F.
ind, (D.) 401
Illumim, meter. Morgan Brooks model ex-
e.xhibited in Chicago, *170
Integrating sphere equipped for testing gas-
tilled lamps, "120
Integrating sphere photometer. Bv A.
Ci/mger, (D.) 1246
1 hotometry of Sources of light of differ-
on: , olors. By M. Pirani, i D. i 1552
I- of. Bv I. Blon-
» I -479
Pipe bending machine, Motor-driven. I. Fill-
more Cox, "125
Color scheme for identifying, *936
Pipe reaming machine. Henry Ilillegas. "1480
Pipe thawing with electricity. Bv C. E. Beck-
with, 352; A. C. Kelm. 644
Piping, steam:
Expansion, 1636
l-.xpansion loops, "1121
Heat losses and economical desig:
L. lohnston, (D) 346
Installation of. By S. V. Tuspin, "415
Water hammer, cause and prevention, 1636
Plating with metallic sprav, Metals Coating Co.,
"1003
Pliers. Electrician's, Kleii
Plov. foi laying cable, Philadelphia, "41
Plugs and receptacles:
Arrow, tor large lamps, ■
Best swivel attachment, "24S
For charging batteries, Albert \ I. M. An-
derson Mfg. Co.. "1074
Heating :>Iug Monmouthshire standard,
859
Hubbell duplex flush receptacle, '435
Manifold plug for automobile engine, In-
I i . "47
Manufacturers' com ,, lardizing.
New York. 501,
Pull socket tap, Arrow. "249
- — Signal lamps attachment plug. Hubbell, '436
Stage pockets, Sprague, *560
mdardization, 877
Standardizing. Report of N. E. L. A . 25«
I\»o-»:o plug, General Elec. Co.. Ltd.,
•1071
Polarity reversal in synchronous motors. Bv
E. R. Shepai I
Polarity tester of British \\ cslinghouse Electric
& Manufacturing Co., *102
Pole line equipment, St. Louis, *876
Poles:
— Combined concrete poles and lighting stand-
ards, Salem, Ohio, "739
Crete, Advantages and disadvantages.
Test and construction details. By R.
D. Coombs. "341
tecting pole but i -
Porcelain:
trie. By E. E. F. Creightou.
( hernyshoff and
is 1554
1 ine making fifty an I
Potentiometer alti
le, (D.) 1554
R. D. Gilford.
(D.) 1177. (D.) 1685
By A. 1>
nt. 921
See 1 i'strial plants*
Prjmarj Bellini, (D.) 930
Prime movers, ltevclopments in. Bv W. F.
Dura.
Prime movers in American plants. i
Poller and \\ A Buck, 668; Com-
ment, 661
See Industrial plants)
Telegraph*
\ Fleming. I D. >
1'iony h i name. 939
Protection, balanci Garrard,
- on lines*
trrnating-current
II VVefl
more,
I 'i i' ■ faci .on v,
New Y..ik City, ii 185: Com
■lions. 1715
licity for rcgul . 1648
omments.
omnient of Missouri
84 1
om regulation
t i . Humphi
Floy, 1 S
:,ns:
ke of Philadel-
phia,
t, (D.) 731
■ ,tes. Bv F. G
Hani,
,-, ol B) M, I . Cooke. 755
443
Nfonopol) upheld In California, 641
Krw-
XI
corporations.)
By H. H.
M. Wake
; of, 97
x, Luit-
'1206
z pumps,
iler-feed
Public service corporation: (Continued)
Reports to public authorities too numerous,
897
Vital problems in regulation. By T. N-
Vail, 770
Public utilities (See Public service corporations)
Publicity, Letting the public know.
Scott, 5 ; Comment, 1 ; J.
man, 148
Pulley, Cut-out, Cutter *618
Pumps and pumping, Electric:
Automatic control of step bearing oil
pumps, Brooklyn, *297
Centrifugal pumps, Operating featu
Columbus automatic house pump,
Gould centrifugal, *430
House pump, *562
Mine pump, Weinman, *429
Motor-drivers double-acting triple
weiler Pumping Lngme Co.,
Sewer trench draining with elect ri>
Salt Lake City, *171
Turbine-driven centrifugal b<
pumps. Advantages ot, 116
Villa Grove, 111., Chicago & Eastern Illi-
nois R. R., *39
Push buttons for call system, Desk form, Ed-
wards, *247
High-voltage Russell, *357
Pyrometers, High- resistance, Bristol Co., *1477
Pyrometry, Electric resistivity of molten metals
and their use for pyrometry. By E. S.
Northrup, (D.) 733
R
Rack and switchboard for life tests on series
incandescent lamps, *40
Racks tor cables, Insulated, *952
Radiators, Electric:
Appel \ Jansen, '815
\\ estinghouse mantle type, "48.8
Radiological Institute of the University of
Heidelberg, Annual report. By P.
Lenard and C. Ramsauer, (D.) 294
Radiotelegraphy :
By Fracque, (D.) 1304
British patent on Marconi and Round re-
ceiving system, (D.) 295
Communication between substations, 1490
Development of 1914. By J. L. Hogan,
Jr., 27
— .—Directive systems. By E. Bellini, (D.) 168
Double-audion type of receiver. Station in
North Dakota. By A. H. Taylor, '652;
Comment, 643
Efficiency, comments, 969
Electrical constants of antennas. Form-
ulas for determining induction and
capacity of aerials and frequency of
oscillations. By Louis Cohen, *286;
Comment, 274
Experiments at Arlington, \'a. By I.. W.
Austin, (.D.) 606
Long-distance, discussion. By L. F. Fuller,
983
Low horizontal aerials. Experiments with.
L'se of single and multiple earth-wire
systems. By C. A. Culver and J. A.
Riner. *723; Comment, 714
Measuring strength of wireless signals. By
E. \V. Marchant, (D.) 1616
Measuring wave lengths. By F. A. Klos-
ter, (D.) 478
Operators, Requirements
Greaves, <D.) 168
Patent litigation. 1288
Patent suit on tuning, *1263
Proposed work by the International Com-
mission on Wireless Telegraphy. Bv \V.
Duddell, (D.) *347
Quenched spark transmitter, Operating
characteristics of three-phase, 500-cycle.
By E. T. Simon and L. L. Israel,
(D.) 37
Seasonal effects, comments, 1448
Sensitiveness of heterodyne receiver. By
Marius Latour, 1101
Sensitiveness of the heterodyne receiver in
wireless telegraphy. By Marius Latour,
1039; Comments, 1027
Strength of signals in conditions affecting
variations in. By E. \V. Marchant,
(D.) 660
Time receiver, De Forest "Audion," *81S
Transmission speed. Bv H. Abraham, A.
Dufour and G. Ferrie, iD.) 1247
— — Ultraudion detector for undamped waves.
By Lee De Forest, 465; Comment, 458
Radiotelephony, Development of 1914. By J.
L. Hogan, Jr., 27
Radio-transmission, pure electron discharge. By
Irving Laugmuir, (D.) *1247
Railways: (Continued)
Italy, Electrification possibilities. By Aldo
Righi, (D.) 604
Italv, Three-phase system on Giovi line.
By F. Sanatoro and L. Calzalori, (D.)
V.
Radii
W. Bothe, (D.) 920
tive deposit of ra-
fields. By H. P.
Determination of. Bv
Distribution of the a
dium in electric
Walmsley. <D.) 95
Rails, Finishing temperature of. Bv \Y. R.
Shimer, (D.) 731
Railw-ays :
Austria. Vienna to Pressburg. By E. E.
Seefehlner, (D.) 95
Cab signals on British railways, (D.) 293
Electric traction on trunk railways. By
\V. S. Murray, (D.) 1303
Electrification of steam roads, Operating
results, 756
■ Federal valuation, Cost of. By James Mac-
Donald. 589
electrification, * 1456 ;
By W. Betlige,
731
Norfolk & Western,
Comment, 1449
Rapid transit in cities.
(DO *H76
Selection of car equipments for city and
suburban service. By T. F. Layng,
(D.) 533
Three-phase. Bv Maurice d'Auste, i I >. i
1246
Ranges (.See Stoves, Electric)
Rate-making for gas. Demand principle. By
C. E. Cook, 316; Comment, 274
Rate of return (See Financial)
Rates for electrical energy:
Art of rate-making. By Alex Dow, 17; R.
S. Hale. 149
Rates, changes in various cities, 1000
. Chicago, Increase, 372
Cincinnati Gas & Electric Co., 202
Cincinnati temporary service rate extended,
444
Combined flat rate and meter rate. By
Franklin Punga, (D.) *788; Comment,
771
Detroit agreement, 315, 442
Effect of bv-products on rates. By T. R.
Cravath. 1029
Factors in rate making. Bv A. S. Ives,
655, 7S3, 987: Comments, 971
Factors in rate-making. By J. R. Cravath.
1028
— — Germany, double-rate schedule at Stuttgart.
By'Bueggeln, (D.) 859
Increase in Missouri comments,
Irrigation in Southern California. By A.
M. Kennedy, *1471
Legal return upon investment in New York,
comments, 969
London, Possible increase in charges, (D.)
603
Massachusetts rate bill opposed at Boston,
441
New schedule of New York Edison Co., 1159
New York Edison Co., 1012
New York rate reduction, -828, 841
New York rate schedules multiplied, 371
New York State Public Service Commission,
Order concerning uniform compilation,
329
Prussia, Charges for energy sold from rail-
way power plant to private consumers.
By Bruno Thierbach, (D) 402; Com-
ment, 387
St. Louis, Mo., Average rates in cents per
kw-hr, 470
St. Louis, Reduction in motor service rates,
372
-Springfield.
-L'niform, Based
1666
-Value of service
cost. By Win. Adams,
rate-making, 1031
Kates, special for telephone, 1719
Razor blade sharpening machine, Hyfield Manu-
facturing Co., *1329
Reactance coils, Metropolitan protective. *945
Reactors. By H. Chireix, (D) 1119
Rectifiers:
Aluminum. By G. Schulze, (D) 1552
Commutator tvpe driven bv synchronous
motor, Standard Metal Mfg. Co.. *48
Mercurv vapor, Investigation by General
Electric Co. By O. Kruh. (D) 293
Reflection from painted surfaces. By Louis Bell,
211
Refrigeration :
Absorption svstem of ice-making, Advan-
tages. By H. Cochrane, 943
"Could not exist without ice business," 173
Electrical cost, *1202
Machine electricallv operated, Arctic Ice
Machine Co., M204
Massachusetts Commission reports against
central-station ice-making, 457
St. Paul and Minneapolis ice-making, 866
Refuse destructor, Barmen, Germany. Bv T.
Festner, (D.) 35
Regulation of public utilities. (D.) 731
Regulators:
Automatic voltage regulators. By W. H.
Acker, *127
General Electric regulator for 5000-kw
turbo-generators, 123
McDonnough feed-water regulator, * 123
Mercury stream regulator. By Franz
Beutl, (D.) '477
Relays :
Alternating-current reverse relays. By C.
C. Garrard, (D.) 919
Installation of reverse energy. By A. R.
Haynes, *221
Overload protection on alternating-current
curcuits bv tripping devices. By C. C.
Garrard. I'D.). '476
Selective time element of. *Bv Paul Mac-
Gahan, *597
Timing operation. Automatic device for,
*608
Resistance, Electrical, of thin metallic films and
a theory of the mechanism of conduc-
tion in such films. By W. F. G. Swann,
(D.) 36
Resistance of pure iron. Electrical. By G. K.
Burgess and I. N. Wellberg, (D.) 789
Resistance material, "Koppat," *491
'Indicates illustrated articles.
Resistance test set, Thompson-Levering Co.,
*1427
Resonance, Features of. By R. C. Clinker,
(D.) 478
Rheostats:
Field rheostat for small generators and
motors, Ward Leonard, *125
High-voltage water rneostat. By L. I.
Clark, *669
Inductive rheostats. By F. Andre, iD.)
403
Variable range suitable for large currents.
By k. G. \an Name, (,D.) 295
Water rheostats, Test of Large at Spokane,
Wash.. *41
Roentgen Kays:
ADsorption coefficients. By W. H. Bragg
and S. E. Peirce, (D.) 95
— -Examination of engineering materials. By
C. M. Moore. <1>. > 659
To locate blow-lioles. 1122
Secondary effects. By Paul T. Weeks,
(D.) 1044
Tube. By Sidney Kuss, (D.) 992
Coolidge, Data on wave form of current
passing through tube. By Ralph
Brown, '3>J6
Cooling arrangement. Automatic (D.) 478
Metallic. By L. Zehnder, (D.) *605;
Comment, 58S
Roof replacement while station in operation,
*792
)del. By F. M. Denton, (D.)
Rotating held m
477
Rural s.
Demand for
Meter servic
Noblesville, Ind.,""176,
Russia; opportuiut.es tor i
J. G. Koppel, 773
Electrical Development
Schmidt, 1719
al service,
By S. G. Hunter,
ufacturers. By
By Ludwis W.
vealth Edison
W. Den-
By B.
orth, (D.)
n, 733
■elude. By
Sieg and
Safety plan for Chicago Comn
Co., 661
Salesrooms. (See Central Station Bu
Contractors)
Saws, electrically operated, Reno-Kaetker Elec-
tric Co., *1568
Scandinavia, Electric supply in, (D.) 91S
Searchlamps:
By C. S. McDowell, 526
British Navy, Austin Motor Company,
•1262
Crompton & Company, Ltd., *1262
Projector improvements. By C
ney, (D.) 858
Spiral wire. Tungsten lamps
Dushnitz, (D.) 658
Selenoids (Also see Electromagnets)
Self-induction. By C. Butteru
1685
Selenium:
Conductivity of. By I\ C. Brow
— Cells:
For operating self-propelled '
B. F. Meissner. -1115
Light action in. By L. P.
F. C. Brown, (D.) 295
New construction of ceils due to
Pfund. Bv D. S. Elliott, (D.)
•478
Service houses for ground and pole mounting,
•1641
Sewing machines. Electric Wisconsin, *250
Ship-purchase bill and public ownership, 495,
1718
Ships:
Electric propellsion of California, 1139;
Comments, 1098
Electricity on board. By H. L. Hibbard,
(D.) 1246
Shops, Confectionery, Novel use of electricity,
.Minneapolis, *614
Short circuits and their prevention. By I. W.
Gross, *163; Comment, 147
Siam. Bangkok. Electrical trade, (D.) 918
Siberia, Opportunities for electrical manufac-
turers. By Frank Dabney, 516
Sign and decorative lighting:
— - — Boston regulations, 371, 740
Chicago Merchants' Association, *244
Cleveland, Emphasizing the service idea,
*867
Columbus ordinance, 868
Economical swinging sign, Quebec, *356
Flashing coal sign, Toledo, *612
Flood lighting by gas-filled lamps, 1682
Gas-filled lamps attract attention to prop-
erty, "427
Giant thermometer, *1475
Glass sign illuminated by invisible means,
*565
Lighting with large nitrogen-filled lamps,
•1564
New York, "Kleanwell" sign, *243
Port Arthur, Texas, Novel sign, *426
Shutter background for large roof sign,
741
Taunton, Mass., Central station sign in
city square, *487
Typewriter sign with 2400 keys, 944
Signaling systems, protector, New form of. By
Dr. Fritz Schrbter. 842
Signals, Cab signals on British railways, (D.)
293
By
XII
INDEX
Silicon, Hall effect in. By O. E. Buckley,
■ I'.i 166
Silver burnishing machine. Tahara electric,
•127
Silvering quartz fibers. By II. B. Williams,
I 295
Skin effect' in bimetallic wires. By John M.
Miller. 1612; Comment
Sluicegate indicator, M632
Smoker cabinet and lighting fixture combined,
II, '249
Society of Automobile Engineers, Annual
meeting,
Societv for Electrical Development:
Annual meeting. Report of I. M. \\ akeman,
1265
Electrical prosperity, committees organiza-
tion. 1009
Electrical Prosperitj Week. Sectional com-
mittees, 1570
Paper by I. M. W akeman, 1530
Publicity work of. By J. M. W akeman, 148
Sales and educational campaign, 183
Work of,
Society I of Engineering Educa-
tion, Annual meeting,
Society . 1719
Soldering equipment, Portable, '112
Soldering tool holder, Vulcan.
ern Electrical ft Gas Assn., Conven-
tion. 1435
Spark-over voltages of bushings, leads and in-
s, Effect of altitude and tem-
I. W. Peek, Jr., (D.)
477
Fahnestock Elec. Co.,
Spark-plug connect
♦1077
Spectrum from mercury vapor in an electric
field. By CD. Child, (D.) 36
Speed indicator, electric, Esteriine Co., "1206
Speed variation recording methods. By F. B.
Steele, "1687
Standard Gas & Electric Co., Annual report, 956
Standardization rules:
American, (I).) 1245
A. I. E. E.. discussion. Bv E. Schufler,
(D.) 990
British, (D.) 1245
Germany and the United States. By L.
Schueler, (D.) 1116
Statistics:
Capitalization of central stations, 467
Census reports, 93
Census returns on generating equipment
and output of stations, 291
Central-station companies serving San
Krancisco, '1357
Central-station operations. Gain in. Com-
parison of 1913 and 1914, 726; Com-
ment, 713
Central-station returns, * 1242
Central-station returns, Atlantic States for
October, 1914, 92
mercial stations. State of Iowa, 1129
Distribution of power in electric generat-
ing stations. By A. A. Potter and W.
A. Buck, "995
Electrical equipment. Northern California
I Co., 1380
Electrical industries in 1914 in America.
By T. C. Martin, 3
Electrical exports, 1083
Equipment of Inawashiro Hydroelectric
Power Co., 1603
Equipment of Great Western Power Com-
pany, 1368
Equipment, Transmission plant of the
Inawashiro Hydroelectric Pwr. Co., 1676
l r.iting equipments of Pacific Gas &
Electric Co., 1360
tput of the central station
for the United States, *981
■ lis. Electric, Census returns, 343
■ port on stationary, 399,
Municipal of Bureau of
. 161 ; Comment, 145
npal stations, State of Iowa, 1128
uting costs of commercial electric
1318
of central stations, Re-
turns trcrivcd by Electrical World.
473; Comment, 457, 1610; Comment,
1591
i large gencrat
I i 918
CO Power
. 1.172
im and electric equipments. Sierra &
San I 1373
oent. Northern Califor-
, 1379
systems, 769,
Stopper
spinn
ing
Storage
batteries:
Charging
3ets
For
ibine<
red
curre
Gas
olinc
aut<
1 e r y
Me
rcurj
v a i » . m
Alley lighting. »356
by half-watt tungstens,
ly. By A. Boje, (D.)
1196
Steel: (Continued)
Magnetic properties and chemical composi-
tion. By W. 1 Under, ill.) 1044
Permanent magnetism of chrome and
tungsten steels. By Margaret B. Moir
(D.) 347
Structural and hvsteresies loss in medium-
carbon steel. By I". C. Langenberg
".i 5.14
Steering gear. Electric, Scott patent. (D.) 604
Sterilizer, electric:
Cereal manufacture. Despatch Mfg. Co.,
•1072
Stoneware. Santiseptic Manufacturing Co.,
•1260
Victor, '246
By W 1' . i i
Stoker, Underfe* ition Engineering
Corp., '950
machine. Protective. '434
Lincoln Electric Co., M258
I alternating-current and di-
nt svstem. '1305
mobiles, Gould Storage Bat-
"1132
. r charring outfit. Westing-
house Electric & Manufacturing Co.,
•1257
Mounting for oil switch battery, * 1558
Voltage regulation. Bv C. S. Redding,
•1134
Storm ties up transmission systems on At-
lantic seaboard, 902
Stoves, Electric:
Hotpoint. '873
Oven lifter for range, *868
Range with glass-front oven, Standard, *51
Street lighting:
Alliance, ()hi<
Arc lamps repla
Stettin. Gel
346
Arc lamps versus incandescent lamps. 1594
Arkansas City, Kan., Tungstens supplant
arc lamps, *1 18
By Ely. (I).) 1117
Chicago:
Boulevard arcs replaced with nitrogen-
filled tungstens. *480
Concrete standards, American Cement Prod-
ucts Co., -874
Gas-filled lamps in Dubuque. Ia„ 1635
Gas-filled lamps in I '1201
Gas-filled units for New York, '1639
Incandescent versus 1594
Indianapolis contract upheld. 1140
Isle-of-safetv lamps. Temporary, Chicago,
•351
Lafayette. Ind.. Levee lighting '868
Milwaukee. 1718
Nitrogen-filled lamps, cost compared with
arc, '1174
Nitrogen-filled lamps. Cost with, 74(1
Nitrogen-tilled lnmps in Chicago. *1173
Ottumwa, la., Christmas tree lanes. 43
Philadelphia, Contract renewed. 131
Portland. Ore.. Terwilligei Boulevard, *612
Salem
Sectionalized circuit for series tungsten.
•1633
Seattle. Wash., Mayor arranges policy, 53
Standards. I M331
— Time switch for svstem,
. Wash. By I P. Byron, l223
"White-way" installations in Ohio. '1709
Street sprinkler- I in., "238
Submarines, motor driven. By N. H
1614
i switching and protective units.
Delta Star, '430
tions:
llr ii of
ted, 145
Detroit. Mich.. Tin. •
St at i "i
1 1 itcbway guard. Removabl
In.i oelectt ii P ■ i
•607
Lancast. r ! rmet and
I ight & Power
■ in
i lutdoor, Delta Star Elec Co . '1644
P.urkhnl.ler and Nich
I
Switi b and met< i
tan. - 1 M 1
Switchbo
\utomobile charging. (D
II Wed
=>«iirh. Western Power Co
three-
rotary
■1672
Switches: (Continued)
Automatic protective switchgear. By E. B.
Wedmore, (D.) 991
Candelabra. Cutler-Hammer, *16.42
Combination cut-out, Trumbull Elec. Mfg.
Co., M007
Double-throw horn-gap switch, Railway &
Industrial Engineering Co., *949
Hartman automatic switch for small light-
ing plants, '122
Horn-gap for Brush contact, *1714
Inclosed oil-break, British-Thomson Hous-
ton, M26
Inclosed service switch and meter protec-
tive device. Metropolitan, *49
Interlocking to keep down demand, M563
Oil, explosions. By A. Weinberger, (D)
1176; Comments, 1154
Protection, M559
Oil starting, for induction motors. Condit
Electrical Manufacturing Company, *1260
Oil switch and fuse terminals, Condit Elec-
trical Manufacturing Company, '1004
— —Panel Board, Arrow Electric Company, '1712
Pendent type, Union Electric Company, "49
Remote-control device for knife switches,
Tittle, '51
Pouting, Harvey Hubl.ell. Inc.. "1429
Series trip for high-voltage, oil switches.
General Electric, "434
Time, electrical wound, Minerallac Electric
Company, M431
Albert & J. M. Anderson, *618
series-tungsten, street lighting system.
By J. P. Byron, *223
With clock face, "816
Tripping mechanism for oil switch, *39
Trumbull push switch, '309
: switch, "1632
Switching phenomena. By W. Linke (D-), 165
Switzerland:
Exhibition in Bern. By E. Winkler-Buschler
Incandescent lamp purchases for ten years.
■:l>.) 294
Synchroscopes, large size, M251
1688
Tachograph, Detecting production losses with, S62
Tap block, Hart ,* Hcgeman, '50
Wisconsin, Increased taxation and its
effect upon public service companies. Bv
Edwin GrubJ, 259
Technical literature, classification committee, 1434
Telegraphy:
~ liness conditions. By Newcomb Carlton,
755
-Cable telegraphy. By H.
1466 (D.) 1616
W. Malcolm, (D.)
Cable tefegraphv. Future progress of. Bv
It W. M oo6, (D.) 1685
Census report, 625
Disturbances caused by single-phase rail-
roads. By (i- Brani
High-speed. By O. Arendt, (DA 1555
Interference from power circuits. By S. C.
Bartholomew, (IM 478: Comment, 45"
Loaded telegraph cable. By II. W. Mai-
n.) 660
Printing telegraph system. Apparatus devcl-
ern Union Co. Bv F. M
I omment, 843
Progress of cable telegraphy. Bv II W
■ii. (D.) 920
Quadruplex system, Efficiency of the Amcr-
Kates. Higher, suggested. By C. II. Mackav..
497
Relavs of Ileurtlev and Orling. Bv II. W
' '403
Repe i -t office tvpe. Bv A C
103
rn Union multiplex printing. By Don-
Telephone manufacturing con
Telephone valuation in New York, 624
Telephoi
rt of American Telephone 4
. 753
Artificial line. By G. M. B. Shepherd, (D.)
220
— Vudion repeater, Its importance. Bv F, M.
Williamson, 900
Automatic connecting switches, patent to F.
R Mi
Vutomalk systems for private buildings. Bv
Balancing of telephone cables. (D
signalling, Danger in mines,
1304
tt, 625
Common-bar. nut 10 1 W
drum. 1046
(ut ui for transmitters, patent to A. R.
i, 1120
Desk-stand set. patent to N. Pedrrson, 1046
Bj I' W
Disui- pstent to R. H
I Well, and II. 1 1
neering economic Bj II A Smith.
1177
Exchangs design work Bv H I". E
Gang krv. patent to \ I Carter 993
Inductive system, patent to J. H. Reinekc.
i. patent to S A
Koltonskl, I17S
Commission, inquiry
Telephony: (Continued)
Interstate Commerc
stopped, 1025
Jack ana signal, patent to A, F. Dixon, 993
Key, patent to E. B. Craft, 993
Listening circuit, patent to S. B. William,
993
Loading telephone lines, patent to Pleizel
and A. H. Olsson, (D.) 1426
Long-distance, over unloaded and loaded
lines. By J. A. Fleming, (D.) 404
Manual-exchange systern, patent to F. R.
Parker and E. R. Corwin, 993
Manual service in large exchanges. By W.
Pinkert, (D.) 220
New York Telephone Co., Valuation, 496,
572
Polarized bell, patent to E. B. Craft, 993
Private branch-exchange, signal, patent to
B. G. Jamieson, 993
Rate case in New York City, 441
Receiver, Investigation of vibrations of dia-
phragm. By L. Bouthillon and L. Drou-
et, (D.) 534
Receiver support, patent to K. H. Atherton
and M. N. Rodgers, 1178
Repeater, patent to C. Stille. "993
Repeating device, patent to D. H. Wilson,
993
Resistance of carbon-contacts in transmit-
ters. By L. A. Clark, (D.) 478
Reverting test for party lines, patent to C.
C. Bradbury, 993
Simultaneous signaling, patent to M. J. Car-
ney, 1120
Sound tubes, patent to F. L. Jensen and E.
S, Pridham, 1046
Step-by-step call, patent to H. O. Rugh, 1120
Step-by-step control relay, patent to A. H.
Dyson. 993
Step by-step selector, patent to A. E. Case,
1178
■ Statistics for 1913 and 1914. By W. H.
Gunston, (D.) 295
Telephone relay. Bv R. Lindemann and E.
Hupka, (D.) 1616
Telephone troubles in the tropics. Bv W. L.
1'reece. (D.) 992
Termal telephone. By M. de Lange, (D.)
*96; Comment, 73
Toll-trunk circuit, patent to E. E. Hinrich-
sen and J. F. Toomey, 993
Transcontinental service inaugurated. Dem-
onstrations at New York, Boston and
San Francisco. Dr. Bell talked to Mr.
T. H. Watson. 3400 miles awav, *279;
Comment, 273
Vacuum tubes for line protection. By Fritz
Schroeter, (D.) *790
Water-tight loading coil case, patent to F.
B. Jewett and Thomas Shaw, "1046
Western Electric automatic and semi-auto-
By G. H. Green, (D.)
matic
168
nperatures:
-Absolute zero.
-Estimation bv
and B. P.
-Measurements
C. S. Jeff,
corder, "Wil
Bv S. Dushman. (D.) 477
color. By C. C. Patterson
Dudding, (D.) 1119
in modern power house. Bv
ey, (D.) 1176
on-Maeulen. *871
Tenney companies. Convention, 499
Terminal block for lamppost circuits. Colonial
Sign & Insulator Co., Ml 33
Test clip, R. S. Mueller & Company, *1334
Thawing sleet on transmission lines by electric-
ity. By J. B. Dorais, 516
Thawing water pipes with electricity. *607
Thawing pipe with electricity. Bv C. E. Beck
with. 352: A. C. Kelm, 644
Thawing pipes bv electricity, Sault Ste. Marie.
Mich.. 866
Thermal conductivity of tungsten, tantalum and
carbon. Measurement of. Bv A. G.
Worthing, (D.) 295
Thermal e.m.f. of iron oxide
By 5. Leroy Brown :
magen, (D.) 1615
The
-Gi:
neters:
ele
sign. "14
Resistance Thermometer.
(D.) 860
Thermophone apparatus. By M. de Lange, CD.)
*96: Comment, .73
Thresher operated from transmission line. 943
Third harmonic in voltage wave, Effect of. Bv
K. C. Powell, 157: Comment. 146
Timber:
Northern White Cedar Association. 369
Time switch, Yenner Time Switches, Ltd., ' 1333
Tools for cutt:n? threads, Borden. *S19
Electrically operated, Stow, *745
-Portable electric. United Mfg. Co., '493
Tov
(Se
Tractor, three-wheel electri
Co.. *1076
Trade with Latin-America, 166C
Training for the industrial side of engii
By A. P. M. Fleming, (D.) 860
Train lighting. (See Lighting)
Transformers:
Asbestos board cells. "1689
Bell, Jefferson Electric Manufacturi
*1429
Bclt-rineine. P:ttsburgh Transformi
•1711
Calculation. By Roger Chavaunes (D.) 1116
Care, rules, 1198
■ Construction practice
Edler, (D.) 532
Cooling coils, Rate of
Mfg.
Co.,
Co.,
Germany
INDEX
Transformers: (Continued)
Current and potential, phase angle determi-
nation. By R. D. Gifford, (D.) 1467
Dimensions. By A. R. Low, (D.) 1116
Double fuse protection, "1557
Drying large units electrically. *736
Efficiency cost. By VV. E. Burnand, (D.)
1175
Explosive gases generated in transformer,
South Africa, 41
Fiber conduit used in installation, *1633
High voltage dangers. By J. L. Thompson
and S. A. Stigant, (D.) 217, 346
Oil, Fort Wayne, '818
Open delta connection of. By G. P. Roux,
(D.) 476
Outdoor instrument transformer, "1530
No load losses, avoiding. By Br. Thierbach,
(D.) *111>
Non-symmetric loads. By M. Vidmar, (D.)
1043
"Phasing out," 115
Portable station, *1193
Radiator-type, New Haven road, *491
Series. Theory of. By M. Rosenbaum, (D.)
606
Series transformers, Mathematical discus-
sion. By A. G. L. McNaughton, (D.)
Theory. Bv J. Lissner. (D.) 1116, (D.) 1302
Third harmonic in voltage wave. Effect of,
By R. C. Powell, 157; Comment, 146
Water-cooling oil-immersed, for city sub-
Bv F.
ich,
?rhead construction:
:s. By C. E. Magnus-
and R. Rader, "1545;
Transmission lines and
Artificial line 200 mi
son. T. Gooderhai
Comments, 1501
Cables, Single-core conductor. Use of. By
C. F. Proos, (D.) *218
Calculation. By G. R. Dean, (D.) 1684
Calculation of voltage drop and power loss
in alternating-current lines. Bv R. W
Adams, (D.) 347
Cedar Rapids-Massina line in service. 439
Central Illinois Light Co., Peoria, 111., '281;
Comment. 275
Chart, Labor-saving. Bv H. B. Dwight, 159;
Comment, 146
Chile Exploration Co., Chuquicamata, Chile.
110.000-volt ins*alla>ion at elevation of
10,000 feet. By P. H. Thomas, *29, "87;
< lomment, 2
Corona. Bv Donald MacKenzie. (D.) 1303
Corona-loss "curves, Tomnarison of calculat-
ed and measured. By F. W. Peek, Jr.,
534- Comment, 515
Corona losses under various conditions. Chile
Exploration Co. By P. II. Thomas, »32
Corona phenomena. By E. II. Warner.
CD.) 477
Cost of 66,000-volt line. Springfield Mass..
904
Cost of construction, itemized. 1244
Crossing specifications. Revision of over-
head, 769
Distribution box on underground system,
W*terMVM. r'avan->. Cuba, *224
Distribution-line loss, 1634
-Distribution system patent (D. ) 1465
Hydroelectr
•1599,
-s as protective
<D. i 217
n transmission,
: -
aient.
Inawashii
•1671
Induction coils and condense
devices. Bv E. Pfiffner,
Inductive interference betwei
telephone and telegraph circui
C. Bartholomew, l D. I 4TS;
459
Inductive interference. Prevention, British
patent, (D.) 918
Insulation of line. Maintenance of. 586
Insulators, Chile Exploration Co. By P. H.
Thomas, "30.
Iowa Railway & Licht Co., 184 miles of
high tension lines, *150; Comment, 147.
Line and tower construction. Chile Explora-
tion Co. By P. H. Thomas, *87
"Low tension." What is? 97
Marking the "dead" wire, 997
Portland. Me., Cumberland County Light &
Power Co., "592
Protection of high-tension circuits against
dangerously high voltages. Bv Kenelm
Edgcumbe, (D.) *94: Comment. 74
Protective coatings for line structure and
equipment. Bv R. D. Coombs, 730
Review of work of 1914. By Louis Bell, 21
Rock Falls, III., Lines under railroad in-
stead of over, *299
Sag in overhead conductors. Determining
effect of ice, wind loads and tempera-
ture changes. By K. L. Wilkinson. 336
Sleet damage to telegraph lines in Wisconsin
and Michigan, 438
Special cross-overs, "980
Special structures. By R. D. Coombs, "980
Static electricity from transmission lines. By
C. O. Poole, *773
Steel Tower Substation, Self-contained,
Delta Star Electric Co., "1714
Storm guys attached to towers by means of
eye-bolts, "538
Storm losses, comments, 969'
Studv of artificial line. By C. E. Magnus-
son, J. Goodenham and R. Rader. 1545
Swinging-conductor, elimination, * 1 251
Thawing sleet by electricity. By J. B. Do-
rais. 516
Theory of differential equations. By G. R.
Dean, (D.) 166
Torsional strength of guy anchors. By
Terrell Croft, *1607
•Indicates illustrated articles.
XIII
lines and overhead construction:
(Continued)
Towers:
Guard to protect wires from boys, Day-
ton, Ohio, *483
Foundations. By Ira W. Dye, (D.)
1426
Protection at ground line, *737
Raised by oil-well derrick, *537
Weakness of steel. By V. Haskell,
204, 516; R. D. Coombs, 388
Troublemen maps, *1690
Underground transmission at high-tension.
Trier, Germany. By H. Henney, (D.)
293; Comment, 274
Under-voltage protection. By F. L. W.
Peebles. 148
Transmission plants:
Chile Exploration Co.. Chuquicamata, Chile.
110,000-volt installation at elevation of
10,000 feet. By P. H. Thomas, "29, *87;
Comment, 2
Energy supply on the Rand. By B. Price,
(D.) "1683; Comments, 1665
Great Western Power Company, *1367
lnawashiro Hydroelectric Power Co., *1599,
•1671; Comment, 1663
Pacific Gas & Electric Co.. "1358
Montana Power Co. Bv Max Hebgen, "1535;
Comments, 1501
Northern California Power Co., 1378
Sierra & San Francisco Power Co., "1371
Serving San Francisco, "1357; Comments,
1354
Serving San Francisco, Map, "1356
Southern Power Co., Mount Holly, N. C,
Steam auxiliary station. By C. A.
Mees, "774; Comment, 770
Storm damages on Atlantic seaboard, 902
Turners Falls, Mass., Cost of 66,000-volt
line, 904
Utah Power & Light Co., "1451
Underground. 23,000-volt, 1183
Trucks. Electric:
1 vco-Lectric delivery vehicle, "361
Industrial:
Hospital service. *1066
Light Delivery, Milburn Wagon Co..
•1711
Operating costs, 567
Three-wheel tractor. Mercury Mfg. Co.,
"1076
Wagon with two-motor concentric-gear
drive, •74(,
Marshall Field & Co., Chicago, 120
Parcel post, Conditions in various states, 225
Shop, Waverley, *742
Street sprinklers, Calgary, Can.. "238
Ward Bread Co., Cambridge, Mass., Charg-
ing installation, "239
Trust legislation. By J. E. Davies and W. H.
Childs, 497
Trusts and monopolies:
roval of merger by Idaho Public Utility
Commission, Comment, 1663
Harvester Trust Case to be Reheard, 1716
Idaho merger, 1212, 1715
Policy of new Department of Justice, 1647
Tubular woven fabric, Chernack Mfg. Co.. 47
Turbine, steam:
Consumption of bleder-tvpe, "1622
Developments of. Bv W. F. Durand, 20
Effect of vacuum and steam pressure on
economy, 979
Gland packing, "416 _
Improvements in auxiliaries, 97
Small non-condensing, steam consumption.
By W. I. A. London, 1048
Statistics of development, 215
Water rates affected by worn blading, 1634
Turbines, water. 22,500-hp., 1389
Turbo generators:
M. M. Manufacturing Co., 126
With impulse turbines, Ridgway, "951
u
Ultraudion detector for undamped waves. By
Lee de Forest, 465: Comment, 458
United Gas Improvement Co., Investigation of,
438, 496. 621. 881
Units, electric, dimensions. Bv H. Maurer, (D.)
1615
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Central
generating and heating plant, "646;
Comment, 642
Utilities Bureau, Organization, 131
Vacuum Cleaner:
Atwood stationary, motion-driven, "95:
Cylinder press cleaners, Britton & I
"360
Electric, Pneuvac Company. "1712
For cleaning pool tables, 1704
General Electric, *817
Light-weight, -564
Rented bv the day. Chicago, "303
Santo Manufacturing Co., 1430
Spencer Turbine Cleaner Co., *113J
With vertical motor, Thurman Va
Cleaner Company, "1259
Valuation of public utilities in Ohio, 171
Valuation of railways. Cost of Federal.
Tames MacDonald, 589
Valve Gears, leakage, 1179
Valves:
Composition disc for globe valves, lei
•362
Motor-operated installation, 1626
XIV
INDEX
vater regulator, Kitts,
Valves: (Continued)
Pilot valve for feed
•436
Vector diagram produced experimentally. By
A. E. Kennelly and ft. G. Crane, '985
Ventilator:
Gerdes & Company, M329
Portable, for steam pipe tunnel, '1250
Vibrator, electric. Shelton Elec. ( o., M080
Vibrator for automobile ignition set, New Era,
•745
Voltage regulation. By G. E. Grau, (D.) 991
Voltage wave. Effect of third harmonic in. By R.
C. p mment, 146
Volt-ammeter:
Automobiles. Roller-Smith Co., "1565
— — Roller-Smith portable alternating-current for
signal systems. "181
Vulcanizer, electric, Flaherty Mfg. Co., '1478
Port.r I ursey Company,
•1336
w
War and Engineering. By Marquis of Graham,
i I), i 404
Warships, Motor-drive on, Experiences of the
American Navy. <I>
Washing machines, electric:
Capital Elec. Co., '1008
Dodge & Zuill, -1072
ici, '40
lohnson Elec. Washer Co.. M078
Pittsburgh Gage ,V Supply Company, '1260
Thor, lr. Hurley, "489
With inverted drive. Haag, '618
Water, Electric decomposition of, (D.) 534
Water gage for forebay levels, *1250
Water hammer, Cause and prevention, 1636
Water heater. Electric, Apfel & Jansen, *876
1 1 oelectric developments)
Water power. New England. By II . I. Harri-
nian. 751
Water sterilizer. (II) 1555
1. el nral control of pressure on.
Waterwhecls, governing, analysis of governor
effect. By E. D. Searing, '1513
Watt-hour meter--:
Duncan small-sized direct-current, *361
In maintenance, 1690
Mcr ...rv Nrwfrc I- \ A. Radtkt c39i
i nl. 387
Prepayment type. Westinghouse. M477
Tc-ting polyphase. Bv F. R. Innes, "927
Wave-form of flux. Derivation of, from the
irm of electro-motive force. By
:. II and R. Brown. (D.) 476
Waves, Prop igal I ante, (Dl 1466
Wehnclt cathode, Investigation of action of. By
Frank Horton, (D.) 402
Welding, El Principl By I. F.
Lincoln, 861
Welding, i By C. E. Skinner
D i 1177
Welding oxyacetyline. Welding exhaust connec-
Wcst, Call of the. 385
Western Electric Co., Changes in directors. 954
Western Union Telegraph Co., Annual report,
917
1. Presentation of Perkin medal,
CD.)
' ing arrangement. By R
■6116
iment, 329,
385
Windings:
Calculations of electric data from external
dimensions of wound coils. By G.
Maye, (D) 476
Electromagnet windings. Calculation. By
leorge and Harold Pender, 529:
Comment, 515
Window displays. (See
Winnipeg Master Elect
ciation. 953
Wire clamp or grip, Klein, *51
Wire-stranding machine, Highspeed
Butt Co "'
■95(j
Eng-
\\ i
es. wiring and conduit:
-American versus Continental wiring stand-
ards. By IT. K. Richardson, 1157
-Cable and conduit hanger, Minerallac Elec-
tric Co.,
-Cable currents due to earth's magnetic held,
397
-Cable joint failures, causes, '1122
-Cable laying plow. Philadelphia. "41
-Cable puller operated with storage-battery
-Cheap wiring. By W. W, Lewin, 716; Leo
t, 717"
-Chicago i lianges, *353
-Clamps for stranded wire. Steel Citv Elec-
tric Co., "1330
-Concentric wiring, 201, 514; By H. A. Fell,
132 G. W. Borst, 516; C. W. Abbott,
R S. Orr, 717: Committee meeting, 828
Advantages and opportunities in use of
wire. By R. II- Hale. 570
ion hv electrical interests. New
York, December, 129, 185
For interior lighting! Stannos, "177
In Great Britain. By A. H. Seabrook.
"1156
Insurance saving and wiring. Discus-
at Illinois Electrical Con-
tractors Association, 254
. : , , . B I ; B B<
389; L, II. Si
Preliminary draft of rules, 365
Underwriters passive, 821
-Conduit of ne.v form, Perfects s
Tube & Condu '
i niiir.il u iring "ii narrow panel, '737
-Cooling underground cables, Niagara Falls
Power Co. By L. E. Imlay. 523; Com-
ment, 514
-Copper wire in Germany. Substitul
iron for, (D.) "218; Comment. 202
—Device for bending conduit, "1193
—Drying out cable with electricity, "1194
-Effect of insulating resistance on armored
cables. By ^.
-Electric wiring. By George C. Shaad, '1067.
•1326
-Emporia, Kan., Price schedule. 240
—Faults. Analysis of. 116
-Feeder protection. British patent. (D.)
-Fittings. V. V. Fitting
-Flexible tubing fastener. Thomas E. Hop
1 208
-Heating of buried cables, (D.) 732
tor, in Metal M
i pany, "1712
-Home made cable rack.
-Independent circuit for individual lamps.
•1193
—Installation of to switch com-
— Insula! For wires and
. 1 050
—Laying armored cable in frozen earth. 140
ires, wiring and conduit: (Continued)
— Laying cables from Tyssedal power plant on
Hardanger Fjords to factory in Odda,
•36
— Load determination in branch distribution
circuits of direct current systems. By
L. Lewin (D.) "165
— Manhole equipment for pulling cables, *42
—Master-switch, lighting circuits. By V. N.
Heath. "811
—Metal-covered cable, Packard Elec. Co., *1131
— Method of breaking porcelain tubes. By A.
Gorman, "1707
— Modern methods. By D. S. Munro, (D.)
Mi r. idd, i D > 732
— Modern work in bad situations. By H. C.
Toficld, (D.) 659
—Municipal Electrical Code, New York City,
Hearim-
— National Electric Light Association, Activi-
ties, 367
Elimination of, 367
' 'Id frame building. Wiring at three dollars
an outlet. By Terrell Croft. '240
— i 'Id house wiring campaign, Providence. R. I.
By E. R. Davenport, 388
— Phasing out after cable joints are made.
— Protection of cable, 424
— Receptacles for concealed wiring, Bryant
Electric Co., *1479
— Report of N. E. L. A. committee. 877
— Resistance of irregular shape of conductors.
By I. F. H. Douglas. (D.) 95
-Rules. Austria and Germany. By R. Beron.
(D.i I
— Safer and cheaper systems. By W, II.
Fr„ W. II Reed, 76: Charles
Wirt. 77 D. A. Course, Geo. Weider-
msii, K. S. Hale. 204: William Handley,
332
— Safety first and concentric wiring, 225
Saving time in decorative wiring, *240
— Service connections in industrial plant,
M188
Short circuits and their prevention. Bv I. \\ .
•163: Comment. 147
Single-core conductor cables. Energy trans-
— Steel and bimetallic conductors as substitute
d aluminum, (D) 1466
Stringing long wires. 424
tution of iron and steel wii
for copper, in Germany, i D.)
"732: Comment. 714
Switch boxes for knob and tube installations.
Rv A. Gorman, "1564
Testing high tension cables bv direct-current.
Bv L. I ichten- ' omment. 2
Tool for tving wire, Smith & Hemingway.
•52
Wiring for coal mine lighting. P
tt, ( p.) 1«26
Wiring machine tools, 117°
Zinc cables insulate. 1 with reclaimed rubber,
(D.I 1614
Wisconsin Electrical Contractors Association,
Annual meeting. 512
V'oven fabric to cover cable, hose. etc.. Cher-
';
X ray. (See Rocntger
7crm.ui effect. By II. R. Wooltjer. (DA 347
AUTHOR INDEX
ABBOI I. ( W. due of the hazards in con-
. 716
Acker. W. II. Automatic voltage regulators,
"127
Adams, Win Uniform electric rates based on
Alexander, II. W. Practical education in elec-
i tungsten
Batchellr. with ■ Plunger
•1(1.17
Bayley, G. 1 II
•i wok of 1014,
R.
War on foreign com-
panii
lluck, Fred. Cooling-water pond and system for
in, *297
Itiiek, W A Prune movers in American plants,
Distribution of power in electric generating
Bui i- W -'lira-violet
light.
Byron, .1. P. Time switch foi series tungsten
Champion, I n Selei tins ligliiiny. units
II \ tional
I, High \oii igi
Cliffoid, II I oc lamps,
i ..hrn. i intennas,
station
1 531
R
18S
"ire and
rtletes.
Cooper, II I Testimony on water-power bill,
Reserve funds for central sta-
tions, 1100
i it.istrophc" reserve for central stations,
les, i 158
I \ i heap ii
i ..» Irs. W. C, Workmen's compensation injur-
i i.inr, II. G. Producing
mentally, '985
Cravath, J. R. The small lighting consumer. 148
lunting for dei
I laking. 1028
— The lighting oi vm,l| interiors, 1141
in and lighting effects. 1228
earing house for
: trams ouilding,
In I. il engineering subjects,
lengths of guv anchor rods,
i rowly, B \\ ine in the 1'nited
. s. 412
nr in European repute,
I I. V Kincr Kadiotelegraphy
without elevated antennas.
INDEX
DABNEY, FRANK. Electrical manufacturers
in Siberia, 516
Daniels, N. II. Fire protection in electric plants,
1196
Davenport, E. R. Old house wiring campaign.
388
DeForest, Lee. Ultraudion detector for un-
damped waves, 465
Doane, S. E. Incandescent lamp industry, 24
National electrical week, 277
Dolkart, Leo. Cheap wiring versus cneap elec-
tricity, 717
Dorais, J. B. Thawing sleet by electricity, 516
Douglas, J. F. II. Criteria for the quality of
commutation, *601
Criteria of commutation, 1284
Douthitt, H. N. Electrical markets in Brazil,
1598
Dow, Alex. Art of rate-making, 17
Downing, P. M. Hvdroelectric development in
the West, 1514
Du Bois, A. D. Power formulas tor machine
tools, *928
Duffield, G. H. National electrical week, 278
Durand, W. F. Developments in prime movers,
19 ■ ,-
Dwight, H. B. Labor-saving transmission-line
chart, 159
T. Feb
window displays,
heating of nitrogen-filled
EDGELL
"234
Edwards, E. T. O
lamp, 844
Gas-filled lamps, 1101
Edwards, II. M. Accounting section of the
National Electric Light Association, 498
Eidlitz, C. L. National electrical week, 278
Einstein, A. C. National electrical week, 277
Everett, F. D. (See Kennelly, A. E.)
FAKK. A. V. Lubrication of ball bearings, 925
Fee, H. A. Concentric wiring, 332
Finney, J. H. Testimony on water-power bill, 55
Fisher, W. L. Testimony on water-power bill, 55
Flood, Henry, Ir. Hvdroelectric development,
1267
Floy, Henry. Results of the war for public
service commissions to consider, 15
Flynn, D. T. Testimony on water-power bill, 55
Freeman, Earnest. National electrical week, 277
Freeman, \Y. W. Large questions for public
policy before the electrical industry, 16
Fuller, L. 1'". Long-distance radiotelegraphy, 983
pALLOWAY, .1. K. National electrical week,
Gaskill. D. L. National electrical week, 276
Gear, H. 11. Application of diversity factor,
*1515
George, E. E., and Harold Pender. Calculation
of electromagnet windings, 529
Gibbs, L. D. National electrical week, 276
Gilchrist, J. F. Opportunities for the central
station in the electric vehicle industry
in 1915, 9
The electric vehicle and the central station,
1524
Gooderham, I. 200-mile artificial transmission
line, *1545
Gorman, A. Switchboards for knob and tube
installations, *1564
A method of breaking off tubes, *1707
Gove, W. G., and L. C. Porter. Car illumina-
tion, 729
Gross, I. W. Short circuits and their preven-
tion, 163
Gruhl, Edwin. Increased taxation in Wisconsin,
259
Guernsey, N. T. Effect of the war on regulation
of public utilites, 12
Guilfoyle, J. V. How to merchandise electrical
appliances, *S41
Gumaer. P. W. Electric fans in the winter, *229
Gunn, .V. Irrigation in the Wenatchee Valley,
*1560
HALE. R. S. Rate making, 149
Cheap house wiring, 204
Bare concentric wire, 570
Bandley, William. Cheap electric wiring, 332
Hansen, t arl M. Proposed national electrical
safety code, 1229
Harrison, Haydn. Electrical industry in Eng-
land in 1914, 8
Electrical industry in England, 974
Harriman, H. I. Water powers of New Eng-
land, 751
Harrington, R. E. (See Odav, A. B.)
Haskell, B. Weakness in steel towers. 204, 516
Haynes, A. R. Installation of reverse energy
relavs, 221
Hays, W. S. National electrical week, 58S
Heath, V. N. Master-switch lighting circuits,
♦811
Hebgen. Max. Montana Power Co. system, M535
Henry, E. F. What does the user of a small
motor require? 12S4
Hickernell, W. F. Business cond'tions, 972
Hogan, T. L., Jr. Radiotelegraphy and radio-
telephony, 27
Holding, H. H. Evaluating the isolated plant,
772
Manufacturers and central-station service,
1231
Hoxie, G. L. Political economy and the engi-
neer. 1549
Hund, August. Differential method for the de
termination of losses in coils, "1300
Hunter, S. G. Rural meter service, 388
Hurley, E. N. Price cutting, 301
Ives, A. S. Enactors in rate making, 655, 783,
987
Ives, H. I. Unit of brightness, 460
TOLLYMAN, J. P. Practice in high-head hy-
J draulic plants, 1513
Jones, T. I. Merchandising by central stations,
♦227
National electrical week, 276
KELLY. G. H. Training dealers to sell ve-
hicles, 553
Kelm, A. C. Pipe thawing, 644
Kennedy, S. M. National electrical week, 5S8
Selling lamp-socket appliances, 1412
Irrigation policies and rates in Southern
California, *1471
Kennedy, W. P. Review of the electric vehicle
field, 25
Kennellv, A. E. Applied electrical science in
1914, 4
F. D. Everett and A. E. Prior. Thermal-
insulation tests of electrical ovens, *779
Producing vector diagrams experimentally,
♦985
Koppel, J. G. Opportunities for manufacturers
in Russia, 77i
LANCASTER, W. B. How faulty illumination
injures the eye, 624
Lathrop, Jav C. Enlarging a steam reserve sta-
tion, -1161
Latour, Marius. Considerations on the sensitive-
ness of the heterodvne receiver in wire-
less telegraphy, 1039
Lawton, Willard H. Depreciation Accounts,
1678
Lavman, W. A. National electrical week, 333
Leilich, F. T. Measurement of flue-gas tempera-
ture, 901
Leslie, E. A. Evaluating the isolated plant, 844
Lester, Bernard. Types of fractional horse-
power motors to employ in different
services, 938
Lewin, W. W. Cheaper wiring, 716
London, W. J. A. Steam consumption guaran-
tees of small non-condensing turbines,
1048
Luckiesh. M. Tungsten lamp in photography.
149
Lyon, W. V. Calculation of the performance of
an induction motor, 1168, *1240
V/lcCABE, E. F. Lighting of country roads,
McCollum, Burton. Responsibilities of owners
of underground utilities in electrolysis
prevention. 736
McDowell, C. S. Searchlamps, 526
McKnight, W. M. Stassano arc-furnace opera-
tion at Redondo, Cal.. '1527
McQuiston, J. C. National electrical week, 277
Mat-Donald, 'Tames. Cost of valuation, 589
MacGahan, Paul. Selective time element of re-
lays, *597
Magnusson, C. E. 200-mile artificial transmis-
sion line, *1545
Marshall, A. T. The electric vehicle and the
central station, 1524
Martin, T. C. American electrical industries in
1914. 3
Martindale, E. H. Causes of poor commutation
and remedies, ^863
Matthews, C. L. Business conditions, 517
Mees, C. A. Auxiliary station for transmission
system, *774
Meissner, B. F. The "Electric Dog" and pos-
sibilities of torpedo control bv beams
of light, ♦HIS
Mendenhall, B. W. National electrical week, 276
Merrill, W. H. Aporoval of refillable fuse, 461
Millar, A. R. Developments in illumination dur-
ing 1914. 22
Miller, Tohn M. The Skin Effect in Bimetallic
Wires. 1612
Miller, K. B. Distinction between cost and value,
Mitchell, S. Z. Testimony on water power bill.
187
Montgomery, Robert. National electrical week,
Moore, L. T. Supervising 840 miles of lines,
♦1422
Murray. Donald. The Western Union multiplex
printing telegraph, 1284
for manu-
Near, N. G. Why are switchboards elevated'
460
Nutting, P. G. LTnit of brightness. 332
Axial chromatic aberration of the human
eye, +625
Photometric units, 645
♦Indicates illustrated articles.
ODAY, A. 1L, and R. E. Harrington. Illumina-
tion systems for office lighting, *814
Orr, R. S. Concentric wiring, 717
Oudin, M. A. Future prospects of the electrical
export business, 14
PEEBLES, F. L. W. Under-voltage protection,
148
Pender, Harold. (See George, E. E.)
Pitts, H. B. . Commercial Practices in California,
1409
Poole, C. O. Static electricity from transmission
lines, *77i
Porter, L. C. (See Gove, W. G.)
Potter, A. A. Prime movers in Amer.can plants,
668
Distribution of power in electric generating
stations, #995
Powell, R. C. Effect of third harmonic in volt-
age wave, 157
Calculation of illumination, M463
Powelson, W. V. N. Testimony on water-power
bill, 54
Prior, A. A. (See Kennelly, A. E.)
nile artificial transmission
w-type mercury watt-hour
printing telegraph system,
circuit breakers, 524
n illumination photometer,
R
ADER, R.
200-
IN
line ♦
1545
Ri
idtke,
A. A.
N
meter,
♦395
Ri
liney,
P. M.
"848
Nov
Rand;
K. C.
Oil
R.
adding
, C. S.
Ni
•85
Storage-battery voltage regulation, M134
Reed, W. B. Cheaper house wiring, 76
Reynolds, L. R. Public utility accounting, 1531
Richardson, H. K. American versus Continental
Wiring Standards, 1157
Kicker, ( . W. New power station tor City of
Havana, 1233
Riner, J. A. (See Culver, C. A.)
Robertson, W. E. National electrical week, 27S
Robley, R. R. The work of the load dispatcher,
•1418
Roeber, E. F. Electrochemistry in 1914, 24
Roemer, J. II. Municipal regulation of public
utilities, 1511
Rollins, R. W. Evaluating the isolated plant,
772
Root, F. S. Window display for the central sta-
tion, ^302
Rosa, E. B. National electrical safety code,
845, 915
Rushmore, D. B. Characteristics of electric mo-
tor involved in their applications, 523
Russell, M. T. Stage Craft in the Electric Shop,
♦1693
Scherck, L. H. Concentric wiring. 390
Schmidt, Ludwig W., Electrical Development in
Russia, 1719
Scott, A. C. Motor-driven plant of the "Dallas
News," M62
Scott, H. H. Constructive work before the
N. E. L. A., 5
Seabrook, A. II. Concentric Wiring in Great
Britain, M156
Sealy, Robert. Accounting for depression, 460
Searing, E. D. Analysis of water wheel gov-
ernor effort, -1513
Shaad, G. C. Small electric generating stations,
•923
Electric Wiring, *1067, *1326
Shane, Adolnh. Diminutive motor, ^900
Shepard, E. R. Polarity reversal in synenronous
converters, ^210
Sheppard, R. K. Clearing house for electrical
associations, 1100
Smith, G. O. Testimony on water-power bill, 55
Smith, L. G. Harkness electric lighting for
motion-picture studios, M040
Snyder, F. T. Electric furnace power loads,
1527
Steele. F. B. Records of Speed Variation, *1687
Stevens, C. H. Demonstration of a power sale,
♦1525
Still, Alfred. Space Distribution of Flux Den
sity, M679
Stratton, S. W. Electrical safety rules issued,
1102
Strohm, R. T. Air-space of graves, 103
Sullivan. Alan. Electrical year in Canada, 7
Summers, L. L. Fixation of atmospheric nitro-
gen, 729, 1109
Svkes, F. G. National electrical weeK, 333
TAIT. F. M. National electrical week, 388
Taylor, A. 11. Double-audion type of re-
ceiver, #652
Taylor, W. T. South American business and
America's opportunity, 205
Thelen, Max. Public utility regulation in Cali-
fornia, 1512
Thomas, P. H. High-voltage transmission at
high altitude, *29, #87
Throop, G. H, Valuation methods of Pacific
Gas & Electric Co., 569
Tripp, G. E. Present industrial aepression, 11
Business conditions, 310. 517
Tuck, D. H. Photometry of gas-filled lamns, 78
Turner, O. C. National electrical week, 388
XVI
INDEX
Tuspin, S. U. Babbitt metal, 169
Installation of steam piping, *4I 5
Stresses in steam pipes, 926
The formation of Clinker in Coal, 1184
The unaccounted for loss, 1306
flNDERWOOD, \V B. Electricity for steriliz-
*-* ing purposes. "34
WAGONER, P. D. Selling trucks on the basis
of adaptability of the work, 1322
Wake-nan. T. M. Letting the public know. 148
Society for electrical development. 1530
Wallace, L. M. Accounting section of the X. E.
L. A.. 644
Washburn, F. B. The cyanamide process. 729
Washburn, F. S. Fixation of atmospheric nitro-
een, 1109
Weiderman, George. Cheap house wiring, 204
\\ eintraub, E. Fibrox. 1108
I W., Tr. Electrical organizations in
Germany, 48«
White, R. B. Operating and Test Data for a
Fuel Oil Engine and Generator. *1688
Wiener. A. E. Indexing of electrical engineer-
ing subjects, 1229
Wilkinson. K. I.. Sau in overhead conductors,
336
Williams, Arthur, National electrical week, 276
Evaluating the isolated plant, 772
The value of advertising. '1001
Williamson. F. M. Anduri telephone repeater,
900
Wirt. Charles. Concentric wiring 77
Woodwortb, ... A. Cost of reading and main-
taining steam-heating meters, 933
Flexible central-heating system, "937
Allowance for holiday habits, *997
Locating overloaded sections in a central-
heating system, 1123
yTTERBERG, ARLE. D
1 teresis loops, #212
ination of hys-
The consolidatic
of Electrical World and Engineer and American Electrici.<
Published by McGraw Publishing Company, Inc.
Vol. 65
NEW YORK, SATURDAY, JANUARY 2, 1915
No. 1
The Business Problems
CONDITIONS in the industry during 1914 and the
hopes and prospects for the new year are discussed
by authorities of experience and high standing in the
articles published in this issue. The foremost of these
problems are business rather than engineering in char-
acter. From the beginning of the European war the
economic effects have borne upon this country, not so
heavily as upon other neutral parts of the world but
more heavily than many competent judges thought
would be possible. Having warded off serious disaster
by prompt banking precaution, the country has drifted
through five months of the war without that definite
improvement in its affairs which is needed for sus-
tained prosperity. The question of what governmental
or private constructive policies are necessary to indus-
trial health is the one that demands the earnest con-
sideration of all who have our commercial welfare in
mind. Mr. Tripp dwells on the fact that the welfare of
home industry and labor depends upon home markets.
This diagnosis is wholesome and suggestive. Let us
put our own house in order. The governmental authori-
ties, national, state and municipal, can encourage busi-
ness, and if their attitude is helpful business will meet
them more than half-way.
The Rate of Return Changes
SOME of the contributors to the symposium in this
issue discuss the effect of the war upon conditions
that must influence regulative policies of state commis-
sions. The first conspicuous result of this kind was, of
course, the complete change in front of the Interstate
Commerce Commission in the steam-railroad rate case.
With this stimulus from the leading regulative commis-
sion of the country, which had not yielded previously to
the arguments for generally higher rates, it is confident-
ly to be expected that state commissions will show en-
lightenment. Mr. Guernsey speaks of the plain fact
that the cost of service includes the cost of capital and
that the cost of capital will be higher in the future.
Because many of the state commissioners have not
had experience in financing or even in commercial bor-
rowing they do not realize the profound truth that sup-
ply and demand regulate money rates, that money is a
commodity which flows to the best and safest market,
and that in order to get money in times of scarcity it is
necessary to bid higher than other borrowers. Conser-
vation of capital is of world-wide importance. Natural
demands will be increased by the abnormal demands for
reconstruction in Europe as soon as destruction shall
have ceased. Ample supplies of capital for needed ex-
tensions of public utilities will be secured only by the
promise of rates of return that are better than the
rates obtainable in other channels of investment involv-
ing equal risk of principal. That the conditions of sup-
ply and demand will undergo changes for the entire
world is a consideration which commissioners eager to
encourage development will not ignore.
Dissatisfaction with Public Service Commissions
JUST as the principle of regulation is becoming estab-
lished and almost all of the states have provided
themselves with public service commissions, there are
murmurings of discontent with some of the existing
regulatory bodies. In New York, Ohio, Indiana, Idaho
and other states the rulings of the commissions evi-
dently are not drastic enough to suit, or what is still
worse the commissions may have become the playthings
of politicians while still in their infancy. This is re-
grettable because an excellent principle is made to suffer
by reason of abuse. A vast amount of costly detail
work performed by commissions is unknown to the gen-
eral public, work which is not spectacular in its nature
and which cannot be staged in a way to impress the aver-
age man. Moreover, in its efforts to remedy evils and
effect reforms the public becomes impatient at delays
and unreasonable at times in its demands. Reasonable
or unreasonable, however, there is no escape from public
wrath once it gains momentum, and creatures of the
public must stand or fall by public whims. Weak com-
missions have no reason for existence. They are dan-
gerous alike to the public and to the utilities, and if the
principle of regulation is jeopardized because of them,
the sooner they are replaced the better it will be for the
industries of the country.
Letting the Public Know
THE suggestion of President Scott of the National
Electric Light Association that there is a work
to be done in leading people to understand the value of
electrical service has excellent possibilities. In his
article on the constructive work before the association,
published elsewhere in this issue, Mr. Scott says that
the public does not know that, while everything else
has gone up in price, central stations are giving much
more in service than they did and that their prices are
lower, "although their costs of lab^r, materials and capi-
tal are higher. One reason why many people do not
realize this is that it has never been told to them. It is
the idea of Mr. Scott that Class A memt 2rs should make
it their duty to explain the facts to the public. This is
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 1
a much-needed work. If it is not done from within the
industry, it will never be done from without. If those
who are responsible for furnishing the service cannot
testify to the indespensable value of it, they will find
that the world is too busy to do anything else than take
what they furnish as a matter of course without any
thought of its real value. The community interest in
prosperity for the central station can be strengthened
by the policy outlined by Mr. Scott. The proposal to
inaugurate a movement at the 1915 convention is a most
hopeful expression of a desire to bring the public in
closer contact with the business aims and accomplish-
ments of the central station.
A Noteworthy Transmission System
The plant of the Chile Exploration Company de-
scribed by Mr. P. H. Thomas in this issue is noteworthy
on account of the unusual character of the installation
and the service it will be called upon to perform. The
mines of the company are situated high up on the
Andes at an elevation of between 9000 ft. and 10,000
ft., the range lying within 100 miles of the sea. The
territory is in northern Chile toward the northern end
of the nitrate district, in a country that is desert from
the sea to the mountains. The mines contain immense
quantities of low-grade copper ore which is readily
treated by electrolysis and is of a character to yield a
particularly pure product when thus treated. Fuel at
the mines is commercially unattainable.
There being no available water-powers within reach,
the transmission plant is one of the few long-distance
systems receiving energy from steam power, in this
case at the sea, where fuel oil can be obtained at a rea-
sonable price. The seacoast point chosen for the plant
was Tocopilla, and the generating station erected there
has an equipment rating of 40,000 kva in four 10,000-
kva turbo-generator units, delivering energy at 5000
volts and fifty cycles. Pressure is stepped up to 110,000
volts for transmitting the energy over a suitable tower
line across the desert to the mines, where are seven
2500-kw motor-generator sets, three with synchronous
motors and four with induction motors.
The transmission line, with which we are chiefly con-
cerned, is somewhat out of the ordinary in design. Use
is made of galvanized-steel towers spaced about eight
to the mile and designed to carry the three wires in
a horizontal plane. As compared with the usual stand-
ard types employed in this country, the towers are
stubby and wide, being only 47 ft. in height to the
ground wire, while the base of the tower is 13 ft. by 16
ft. The spacing of the-'- wires 12 ft. 11 in. apart is much
r than is U li work. The advantage of
the construction is its great mechanical solidity, which
is more than usually necessary on account of the high
winds which sometimes sweep over the mountainous
desert country- ^n *"«' Other hand, the low position
of the wires is Unobjectionable, because there is nothing
to fall across the wires, and no risk would be avoided
by increasing the height of the lines.
Use is made of insulators of the suspension type with
seven two-part disk units. Arcing horns to protect the
conductor and lowest disk are fitted to each cable clamp.
To insure continuity of service the insulators have had
the most rigorous series of tests of which we have yet
heard. Every shell and each cemented disk when com-
pleted was tested up to the flash-over point, and the
flash-over was continued as a stream of sparks for half
a minute. Barely more than 2 per cent of the com-
pleted units broke down under this severe treatment.
Moreover, puncture tests under oil were carried out, on
insulators that had withstood other tests, in order to
detect any serious want of uniformity in the product,
and every unit was subjected for five seconds to me-
chanical strain 10 per cent above that expected in serv-
ice. Finally, completed insulators were strained until
broken. The mechanical factor of safety was between
four and five. In addition to all these, a heavy con-
denser discharge under a transformer emf of 300,000
volts was repeatedly thrown across sample insulators
to afford an idea of their performance with transient
discharges such as accompany minor disturbances from
lightning. Under all these tests the insulators held up
well, evidence enough of their skilful design and good
construction.
Testing Cables in Service by Direct Current
The use of high-tension underground cables in city
distribution networks calls for the testing of such
cables for acceptance. At the same time, such tests
are difficult to make, except on very short cables, owing
not only to the high voltage which has to be used but
also to the powerful charging currents which the test-
ing apparatus is called upon to deliver. On overhead
aerial lines the charging currents and high voltages
encountered in present long-distance energy transmis-
sion are not so serious as to handicap the alternating-
current system by comparison with the direct-current
system, which has troubles of its own to meet when high
voltages are employed. But in the case of long under-
ground cables the handicap of the alternating-current
system may become serious. If in the future high-ten-
sion direct-current transmission systems come into use,
the incentive for the change will probably arise from
the needs of the transmission call
In a recent number of the Klcktrotcchnische Zcit-
schrift an article, referred to in this week's Digest, was
contributed on the question by Pr. Lichtenstein. The
author showed that by the use of a synchronous rectifier,
operated in a testing wagon, with a high-tension alter-
nating-current transformer, it becomes possible to ap-
ply a suitable testing voltage to a fairly long cable after
laying, without any of the difficulties from reactive
current and power which beset the use of the corre-
sponding alternating-current test. In order to employ
a suitable direct-current testing voltage, equivalent in
its dielectric stress to an alternating-current testing
voltage 50 per cent In the working voltage, it
is necessary to use three and nine-tenths times the
root-meas-square working vi 11
January 2, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
American Electrical Industries in 1914
By T. C. Martin*
A STEADY and in many respects a notable advance
was made in the restoration of American elec-
trical industries in 1913 to the active and progres-
sive conditions that had prevailed up to 1907; and all
counted gladly on a full measure of prosperity for 1914
that should mark the completion of the period of seven
lean years. It was little anticipated that before half
of the now-expired year had run the largest part of
Europe, and incidentally the largest part of the rest of
the world, would be plunged into war. It is some conso-
lation to know that amid these cataclysms industries
survive and can exhibit even some measure of growth.
It will be admitted that under the existing circum-
stances it is well-nigh, if not quite, impossible to pre-
sent figures and estimates that will correctly portray
the real outcome of 1914. One-half of the year was
brightened by growing sunshine; the second half has
been thrown into the blackest gloom, and he who can
find the resultant curve at this moment must be the
Prophet himself and not his son. The great monu-
mental fact confronting any economic student is that
the electrical industries of America have needed and
will need millions of dollars every week for their legiti-
mate and automatic expansion. It is has been a small
sum perhaps, compared with the horrid, crazy waste of
war, but the trouble is that while a bankrupt nation can
still put up a fight for destruction with an empty treas-
ury, a constructive corporation has to quit unless it can
pay its bills for labor and material. This should be one
of the great underlying arguments against government
ownership.
United States Census Returns
In reaching some fairly accurate statistics for 1914,
we are assisted by having available in several instances
the returns of the United States Bureau of the Census
for 1912. Thus, for electric street railways in that
year a total gross income was reported of no less than
$586,000,000. This, however, does not include electrical
operation on main lines or in their suburban territory,
so that the figure given in these columns in January,
1913, for the whole — $625,000,000— would appear to be
remarkably near the mark. A rate of 8 per cent growth
since 1912 would give about $730,000,000 for 1914, and
it is believed that this is well within the range of plausi-
bility. It cannot be far wrong.
The central-station figures are somewhat more diffi-
cult to arrive at with reasonable approximation. An
average rate of increase has been maintained for years
far in excess of normal American rates, and the push
and punch of the industry, aided by its growing diver-
sity-factor, have yielded remarkable results. It would
seem to stand to reason that an industry so interwoven
with all others would feel the pressure of bad times.
The fact is that it naturally does, but by no means so
strongly as might be expected. Over the whole indus-
try an average gain in gross of from 15 to 20 per cent
per annum has been maintained. From 1907 to 1912
the total income rose from $175,000,000 to $302,000,000.
We get, therefore, somewhere around $400,000,000
for 1914, not so much as was predicted, but undoubtedly
it bulks up near the real figure.
Telephone figures are also very difficult to arrive at
owing to the perplexing complication introduced by the
existence of "independent" systems in various parts of
the country. The Bell system reported in 1913 gross
earnings of $215,572,000, and it is understood that while
it gained in that year some 8 per cent over 1912, the
gain in 1913 was only 5 per cent. That, however, was
worth while in such a frightfully "off" year. Assuming
that the Bell system has more than a good half of the
whole telephone business of the country as evidenced
by other figures— in 1912 74 per cent of the wire mile-
age and 58.3 per cent of the telephones — a total of $350,-
000,000 for 1914 would seem moderate, especially as it
is the same estimate as was made in these columns for
1913.
Electrical Manufacturing Statistics
As to electrical manufacturing, a United States cen-
sus is now in progress under the five-year period sys-
tem, but probably no true figures will be available
from it for a year. The total for the last census year,
1909, was $221,000,000, leaving out many items that are
really electrical in their nature, and the rate of growth
per annum was then shown to be 10 per cent. Evi-
dently the lowest total to be considered would work out
at around $375,000,000, while a more comprehensive
estimate, including many branches of work not con-
tained in the government returns, would justify a total
of $450,000,000.
Along the lines thus suggested, and subject to the
closer study and checking of anyone interested, a table
may be drawn up as follows as to the total expenditure
in the United States on electricity in 1914:
GROSS INCOME, ELECTRICAL INDUSTRIES 1914
Electrical manufacturing *J52'XS2'SS2
Electric railways Inn' '
Central stations .Sn'nnn'nnn
Telephone service 12'SSS nnn
Telegraph service iSt'nn!!'!!!!
Isolated plants 125,000,000
Miscellaneous 1^5,000,000
Totai $2,265,000,000
•Secretary National Electric Light Association.
This is only about $100,000,000 more than the total
gross estimate given in these pages in January last for
1913. The figures cannot be much out of the way.
They have been checked up from a great abundance
of data and from the views and opinions of many differ-
ent authorities. At one point they may be somewhat
high and at another rather low. Taken en bloc the
writer is ready to stand by them, and it is a source of
pleasure and pride to him to note that on the average
they show every living soul in these United States to be
spending voluntarily about $20 per annum for elec-
trical materials and service, of which he would not
spend a single cent if he did not benefit thereby.
The growth in population would thus seem to afford
some measure of the increase in electrical service and in
the use of energy from the circuits, or in the consump-
tion of material. This may be relatively true, but a
number of disturbing factors come into play, and it is
never quite certain what the population is from year to
year. Moreover, the calculation is governed to a great
extent by the fact that hitherto the commercial develop-
ment of electricity has been based very largely upon
an abnormal growth in the urban population. This
tendency has not declined but still shows intensification.
On the other hand, one of the most notable social and
economic changes of the last few years is that due to
the extension of electrical service of every kind to rural
districts, and this condition has by no means yet reached
its fullest manifestation. In fact, it may be said to have
barely begun. Hence the population electrically con-
sidered is a much larger percentage of the total popula-
tion each year.
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. i
Applied Electrical Science in 1914
By A. K. Kennelly
THF year 1914 will undoubtedly be signalized in
the history of our world by two great epoch-
making events, namely, the opening of the Pan-
ama Canal and the opening of the worldwide war. Both
events may be classified as relating to engineering or ap-
plied science, the one being an engineering event of
international constructiveness and the other an engi-
neering event of international destructiveness. Both
have distinct relations to electrical engineering, and
both are doubtless destined to leave their impress upon
human affairs for many generations. Nevertheless, we
may well hope that, in the long run, the constructive
effects of the canal upon international activities will out-
weigh the destructive effects of the war.
Influence of the Panama Canal
The influences of the Panama Canal are manifestly
destined to be more potent on civilization than those of
the Suez Canal because, to use an electrical analogy, the
route short-circuited is greater. The Cape of Good
Hope lies approximately in south latitude 35 deg..
whereas the Magellan Straits lie in south latitude 53
deg. By means of the new short-circuit the whole world
is virtually made smaller and the nations of the Pacific-
are brought into greater relative prominence. Elec-
trical machinery and long-distance electrical control,
with their concomitant modes of thought, not only actu-
ate the locks of Gatun but will carry their stimulating
influences to all parts of the Pacific. The center of grav-
ity of the world's engineering activities must necessar-
ily undergo some displacement.
The War's Effect on Electrical Engineering
The war has already exercised notable effects upon
electrical science. On research, pioneer investigation
and all that goes to pave the way for advancing engi-
neering knowledge it has laid a heavy hand of repres-
sion, many young men having been taken from the
laboratories of Europe to trenches, fortifications and
graves. The influence of this setback is likely to be felt
in scientific research for many years to come.
On the other hand, the war itself has had a remark
able influence upon particular branches of electrical en-
gineering, and notably on radiotelegraph engineering.
This has been stimulated by the needs of maintaining
communication between co-operating forces separated
by considerable distances, especially as submarine
cables have been intentionally cul in a number of places.
Hostile cruisers have commandeered and erected radio
stations, while they have also been captured by means oi
■.-. sent <>ut through other radio stations. For the
time in the world's history we have witnessed the
regular use of radio transmission across the Atlantic, bj
of the belligerenl powers, tor the dissemination of
daily war bulletins. Radio communication has also been
employed In the Held along the astonishingly long lino-
running over hundreds of kilometers, while aeroplane-
have also been equipped radiotelegraphically. Battle
kept their ships in touch with radio Bignals,
and "lamming" between hostile signalers is now p
liar weapon in the new ethereal WB1
i di peodi ' pon engineering a
This is a petrol war, in which transportation to the
the field beyond rail head has depended
vital aobiles, advances of troops on the ranges
,,f the mi roved type oi rapid Are cannon, and
•prof, riltj
naval contests on the results of shooting at distances not
less than 6 km. It is manifest that next to discipline
and morale engineering is most important in war.
Another instance of the stimulus which war may give
to engineering is afforded by the decision which has
been recently announced in the press that, in view of
the satisfactory experience last year with the electro-
magnetic drive on the United States naval collier Jupiter,
the United States Navy Department intends to try elec-
tromagnetic variable-speed drive between steam turbines
and propellers on a new battleship. On such a ship the
demand for high fuel economy over a wide range of
speeds is particularly great. Nevertheless, if the elec-
tromagnetic drive proves very satisfactory on warships,
it may be possible to extend its application to com-
mercial vessels.
Immense Field for Electromagnetic Research Opening Up
Turning to more tranquil themes, the year just passed
has witnessed a remarkable development in the elec-
tronic theory of the atom. It is only about two years
since Dr. Laue discovered the remarkable effects of the
interference of Roentgen rays passing through thin
crystal plates. This discovery appears to have set ajar
the door of a new world, which many pioneers such as
Moseley and Bragg are rapidly opening.
The world of our immediate recognition may per-
haps be described as commencing with the linear mag-
nitudes revealed by the ordinary microscope and ending
with the linear dimensions of the earth's diameter, a
range in round numbers from a micron or meter-sixth
up to some 10,000 km, or a meter-seven, a total range
of ten million millions. Beyond this we recognize a
telescopically revealed world of upper magnitudes com-
mencing, say, at a meter-seven and going up to what
limit we know not, but employing measures of decades
of light-years, and light is supposed to travel in one of
our years through nearly ten millions of millions of
kilometers, or a meter-thirteen ; so that the upper mag-
nitude world may lie estimated in round numbers as
from a meter-seven to a meter-fifteen, or through an
explored range of about one hundred million. There is
now opened to our comprehension a third and lower-
magnitude world, commencing, say, at a micron, where
the ordinary microscope stop-, owing to the relative
coarseness of light waves, and descending to we know
not what lower limit, but already it is said to an infini-
besimal part of a micron: that is, to the X-ray wave-
length. The world of our immediate cognizance thus
comes between an upper-magnitude telescopic world,
with no known upper limit, and the new lower-magni-
tude X-ray microscope world or under world, with no
known lower limit. The under world is also an elec-
trical world in the -euse that its dynamics and modes
of exploration are essentially electromagnetic. Already
the explorers in the under world are explaining to us,
from the results of their measurements, some oi tin'
mysteries of crystalline structure and holding out
possibilities as to the yet deeper mysteries of atomic
structure An immense field for electron
be opening on the borderland between
ours and the under world as the result of discoveries
during 1914.
While notable progress has been made in the invest i-
n of extremely short electric waves, progress has
also been made during 191 I at the other end of the
spectrum, or in the extreme]} long electric waves of
lonp radiotelegraphy. Ranges, powers and
January 2, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
wave-lengths have all been advancing. Moreover,
marked advances have been made in the construction of
very high-frequency machines for radio communication.
It would seem as though the progress of engineering in
long-distance radiotelegraphy called for the design of
exciters of sustained oscillations in the sending antenna,
as distinguished from exciters of oscillations in sepa-
rate groups.
Steady progress has been witnessed during the year
in the direction of the manipulation, control and knowl-
edge of high-tension phenomena in relation to trans-
mission lines, including corona losses and over-voltages.
Energy-transmission lines have increased in voltage,
number and length.
Applied Science of Illumination
In the applied science of illumination, there has been
a tendency to increase the use of the lumen or unit of
luminous flux and to diminish the use of the candle or
unit of luminous intensity. The tendency has been
fostered by the difficulty which presents itself in the
photometric measurements of certain new types of lamp,
in which the zonal distribution of light is more than
ordinarily complex. In so far as the tendency is parallel
to similar movements in the past development of elec-
trics and magnetics, it is presumably to be regarded
as an advance.
In the direction of standardization of electrical ma-
chinery the publication by the American Institute of
Electrical Engineers of a new edition of its Standardiza-
tion Rules constitutes a distinct step in advance. The
new edition is not only a great improvement upon the
old but it also covers much more ground, owing to the
collaboration of many specialists in the various branches
of electrical engineering. The new rules have not only
presented a fine series of technical definitions, but they
also abolish the antiquated preceding notion of an over-
load capability to be expected in electrical machinery,
like a bonus on a stock transaction. The new order of
ideas in regard to thermal rating allows of no overloads
in regard to temperature, but it establishes clearly the
principle that each and every type of electrical machine
inherently possesses a certain hottest-spot temperature
that should not be exceeded if the particular insulating
material entering into the machine is to be preserved
from injury. Consistently with maintaining this limit
of temperature, the capability of the machine to carry
load depends upon the temperature of the machine and
the cooling powers of its environment so that in win-
ter weather, with low surrounding temperatures, a ma-
chine may be capable of carrying considerably more
load than in a hot engine room or at a summer tempera-
ture. Under specified conditions of ambient tempera-
ture the rated load may be obtained.
Constructive Work Before the N. E. L. A.
Bv Holton H. Scott*
THE National Electric Light Association is a co-
operative body and its operations cover a very
wide field. Its membership embraces practically
all central-station companies in cities of 10,000 or more
in the United States and Canada and in addition many
companies in cities of less than 10,000. Its proceedings
and reports are a minute history of the development of
the electrical business. The committee reports have
established the latest authoritative standards in ap-
proved, suggested or recommended practice, as, for ex-
ample, in the classification of accounts, overhead-line
construction, meter work, rules for resuscitation from
shock, and the formulation of rules for accident preven-
tion. The public policy committee deals with a wide
range of subjects such as the relations with public serv-
ice commissions, national departments of the govern-
ment, state boards and bureaus, relations with the pub-
lic, and relations with employees in regard to such mat-
ters as pensions, sick and accident relief and profit
sharing.
Last year a new committee, namely, the educational
committee, was created to bring about closer relations
between our industry and the technical universities and
colleges. This is important because from 30 per cent
to 50 per cent of the graduates of the electrical engi-
neering courses enter the central-station field and here-
tofore no effort has been made by the association to sug-
gest possible ways to make the courses more valuable.
The committee will also arrange to have leaders of the
industry make addresses from time to time before the
larger universities, and it is hoped that this will result
in much good.
Our association has the means of reaching more
people than any other body because each month a repre-
sentative of our Class A members comes in contact one
or more times with a property owner or a renter of
property. The total number of consumers of our com-
pany members forms a list that would be considered a
•President National Electric Light Association.
valuable asset by a mail-order house or bond house.
It will be the aim of the present administration to
formulate a plan which will stimulate our Class A mem-
bers to teach their consumers something about the value
of electrical service. This is the biggest constructive
thing we can do because it is the inability of most of the
public utility companies always to finance themselves
that prevents the more rapid development of electric
sales. Much has been said about the duty of the public
service corporation to the public, but too little has been
said about the duty of the public to the public service
corporation. The public does not know that, notwith-
standing the fact that practically everything else has
been going up in price and notwithstanding the fact
that we are paying more for our raw materials, for labor
and for capital, we are literally giving three times as
much for a dollar as we were fifteen years ago, to say
nothing about the wonderful improvement in service in
other ways. The public could not have possibly forced
by legislation any reductions in rates which would have
been the equivalent of the benefits it has derived from
the installation of more efficient energy generating and
consuming apparatus.
Need of Public Understanding of Problems
If the electric industry is to grow in the future as
rapidly as it has in the past, the public must be taught
that central stations are not selling a commodity, they
are not selling kilowatt-hours, but they are selling a
service. The public, or at least a portion of it, must
be made to understand that the passage of drastic legis-
lation and the hampering of the legitimate operations of
central stations only makes it harder for the company
to finance itself and makes it harder for the company to
serve its community properly.
If the N. E. L. A. can in a proper way through its
Class A members cause that portion of the public to see
matters in their true light, it will have accomplished a
wonderful work. The writer has asked all the Class A
6
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. l
members to give this matter of service serious thought
and has invited suggestions, and it is the intention to
devote considerable time at the 1915 convention to this
broad question.
The San Francisco Convention
Our 1915 convention will be held at San Francisco
from June 7 to 11, and arrangements for the meetings
are well in hand. The transportation committee has
already practically settled on the itineraries of the spe-
cial trains, and the local hotel committee in San Fran-
cisco has been at work for several months. Mr. John
A. Britton, who was a recent visitor in New York, prom-
ises that, notwithstanding the fact that it is the expo-
sition year, the delegates to the convention will be well
taken care of. He also expresses the belief that all visi-
tors to the exposition will be agreeably surprised at
the beauty, completeness and magnitude of the grounds
and buildings, and we therefore hope to have a very
large attendance. Notwithstanding the distance many
will have to travel, this opportunity to visit the Pacific
Coast will meet a widespread acceptance.
Outlook for Central Stations in Pacific Northwest
By 0. B. Coldwell*
THE growth and development of practically all
lines of industry in the Pacific Northwest during
the decade ended with the year 1912 were with-
out precedent.
Throughout this period there was an increase in the
demand for central-station service, which in some com-
munities in individual years was as high as 30 per cent,
the increase during the decade being such as to require
the enlargement of the electrical facilities about five-
fold. Those who were employed in central-station work
in this section of the country were engaged busily in an
endeavor to keep abreast of the rapidly increasing de-
mands upon generating plants, transmission lines, sub-
stations and distributing facilities which come into play
in rendering electric service. The class of service given
by the central station in 1902 was not so good in quality
as is expected and furnished to-day. Hand in hand
with the expansion of facilities there were carried out
comprehensive plans for improving the quality of the
service. This has resulted in the elimination of much
of the apparatus of older types and the substitution
therefor, at large expense, of new and more efficient ma-
chinery, together with amplification of transmission
and distributing facilities.
Extension of Central-Station Lines
During this period central stations have extended
their lines into many new communities and have thereby
been instrumental in bringing about a more rapid de-
velopment of the country. This is especially noticeable
in the expansion of the central-station systems operat-
ing in eastern Washington, Oregon and certain sections
of Idaho. Many rural communities in these States have
actually been put on the map by the coming of the elec-
tric supply lines of central-station systems. Electrical
energy has entered into and become a part of rural life
and is ever finding a wider application. It is unneces-
sary to cite all of the various farm operations which are
now taken care of easily and readily by electrical energy.
Activity along these lines will continue.
At the time many of these extensions were made the
business in the community erved was hardly
sufficient to justify the expenditui ry to carry
out the construction work, but, having faith in the ulti-
mate outcome and appreciating their obligations as pub-
lic utilities, the central-station interests In the Mi
li.-ive done their full duty in this very important
work of helping to upbuild the communities.
Water jiower plants are the eommon source of power
n systems in this region, steam plants
; il rule for Only relay and •
" Ith an abundai i
streams which fall rapidly in their course, ;m<! while
the Bgures usually quoted about the quantity of power
available represent what mipht be called the extreme
ultimate potential possibilities, there is, even on the
basis of present-day economic conditions, an abundance
of water-power projects available for feasible commer-
cial development.
Time Needed to Develop Hydroelectric Projects
It takes time, possibly one and one-half to three
years, to develop one of these water-power sites and
build transmission lines from the hydroelectric plant
into communities where the market is located. It is
essential, therefore, that central-station interests an-
ticipate their requirements a sufficient time in advance
so that the new plants may be built and ready by the
time they are demanded.
At the end of the above-mentioned decade of unusual
activity at a time when economic conditions the world
over were such that business was beginning to be
affected, the companies in the Northwest, in many in-
stances, with due regard for the demand which previous
growth had led them confidently to expect, had entered
upon the construction of additional facilities in gener-
ating plants, transmission lines, etc. With the comple-
tion of these additional facilities in 1913, there was
something of a let-up in business and a resultant de-
crease in the demand for central-station service. The
result is that the central-station systems in the North-
west find themselves with facilities somewhat in excess
of immediate needs, and they are, therefore, in an excel-
lent position to take care of new business in the near
future, to which all are looking forward.
Increased Population for Future Development
It is generally appreciated in the Pacific Northwest
that our greatest need for future development is an in-
creased population. We are ambitious to attract more
people to come here. Above all we desire the indus-
trious farmer to help us introduce more intensive farm-
ing met ;
The Pacific Northwest abounds in undeveloped na-
tural resources, which, through the opening of the
Panama Canal, are over 5000 miles nearer the markets
of the world. With the demand for manufactured prod-
ucts which has already started and which will doubt-
less grow to large proportions as the result of the Euro-
pean war, these natural resources are hound to he an im-
portant factor. Having unbounded faith that with the
coming of the year 1916 there will be an increased de-
mand for electric service, the central stations of the
Pacific Northwest extend a cordial welcome to the home
builder, the farmer and the manufacturer to come into
our community and grow Up with us. We have demon-
ted in the p.-i^t our ability to take care of am res
sonable demand for ■'. our policy for the
future will be to extend our S) Btems in such a waj
take care properly of increased loads ;is they mate-
rialize.
January 2, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
New England Central Stations and the War
By Howard T. Sands*
THE declaration of war in Europe in the midsum-
mer carried to America a feeling of uncertainty
regarding the effect upon business which can
never be measured. The faith of the central-station in-
dustry in the fundamental stability of electric service,
however, has been justified by the experiences of the
last five months, and unless developments in interna-
tional affairs not now apprehended arise, there is every
reason to believe that 1915 will bring increased prosper-
ity to electric light and power companies in this
country, particularly to operating organizations which
enjoy or are in a position to cultivate a diversified load.
Varied Industries Served
Many New England central stations supply energy to
communities of varied industries. Such cities and towns
have felt the effects of the war much less than munici-
palities dependent upon a single large industry. The
supply of electrical energy means so much to the gen-
eral public that as a rule even the shock of hard times
has failed to prevent growth of service, although prog-
ress would be faster with more favorable conditions in
the business world. In the Tenney companies in New
England the number of new electric meters set since
Aug. 1, 1914, has increased 2 per cent over the number
placed in service in the period between Aug. 1 and Dec.
1, 1913, and there has been no decrease in the average
of kilowatt-hours used per meter in service. Since the
war began our New England companies have gained
some 1500 new customers, and in some instances the
October and November gains were greater than at any
previous time in the history of the individual organiza-
tions reporting to the headquarters office.
The economies of electric drive are winning recogni-
tion in all branches of industry. Manufacturers who
seek to reduce expenses and increase output per ma-
chine are turning to central-station service with an in-
terest heightened by present business conditions, and
in the lighting and appliance fields the popularity of
electrical energy has continued to increase practically
without reference to conditions in many other lines of
industry. Between Aug. 1 and Dec. 1, 1914, these com-
panies connected 1872 hp in new motor business. Sales
departments have been remarkably successful in extend-
ing service in the most varied fields.
Few persons outside of the central-station industry
and allied activities realize the extent to which electric
service pervades modern affairs, and even many who
are within the field of electrical supply fail to appreciate
the great opportunities for further development. A
study of diversity factors in different industries and in
the field of appliance service and commercial lighting
shows that the eventual date on which a growing and
live community can be considered electrically saturated
cannot be predicted. Within the last few years the price
of electrical energy has been generally reduced, and
this, combined with decreasing cost of appliances be-
cause of production on a larger scale, special campaigns
and better adaptability to the needs of the average man
and woman, is contributing powerfully toward the en-
during success of the industry.
Electrical merchandising is more prominent than ever
before, and in the motor-service field the savings in net
operating cost per unit of product are, with the other
advantages of the electric drive, responsible for the
steady expansion of this class of service toward limits
that cannot be foreseen.
A Good Showing Despite Adverse Conditions
The rapid advance of electrical energy as a necessity
of modern life, which has enabled the companies to
make a good showing despite almost unparalleled ex-
ternal adverse conditions, will be continued in the new
year with beneficial results to public and investor alike.
It would be futile to claim that a business depression
has little effect upon the electrical industry, but, so
far as New England is concerned, that effect has been
rather to restrict extensive new construction in indus-
trial fields offering a wider market for service than to
curtail expansion of central-station loads in existing
enterprises. That the industry has shown a positive
growth under the conditions of the last five months
ought to encourage everyone's faith in the outlook for
the future.
The Electrical Year in Canada
By Alan Sullivant
IN Canada the sale of electrical energy proceeded in
an entirely satisfactory way until the latter part
of the year, when business became affected gen-
erally by the war. Until that time progress had been
excellent. At the end of July one of the largest corpo-
rations reported a yearly increase of 15 per cent in
energy sold. The same corporation reported later that
the amount of its October, 1914, business was identi-
cal with that for the same month in the previous year.
Since August, however, both manufacturers and
private individuals have decreased materially their con-
sumption of energy. Merchants are displaying unusual
economy in lighting their shops and citizens have re-
duced their entertaining to a minimum, with the result
that the revenues of electricity-supply corporations
have been reduced.
The business of the privately owned light and power
companies has been handicapped further by competi-
tion with municipally owned enterprises, which pay
neither taxes nor dividends. This peculiar governmen-
tal competition has had a deterrent effect upon the in-
vestment of foreign capital. This influence and the
current tightness of money mean a double burden upon
private enterprise. The light and power companies of
Canada are making every effort to secure public recog-
nition of the fact that they should have conditions of at
least equality with those of their rivals for business.
As tending to offset these difficulties there has been
evolved a type of management unsurpassed in effi-
ciency and in practical interpretation of the essential
meaning of "service." In fact, it might be stated that
the service given by privately owned companies in
Canada has secured and will continue to hold for them
the most profitable business in their communities.
The report of the Department of Inland Revenue for
the year ended March 31, 1914, indicates that six of the
largest hydraulic generating stations produced over
1,500,000,000 kw-hr., of which about one-half was for
8
ELECTRICAL WORL D
Vol. 65, No. 1
export. Out of 128,471 electric meters tested by the
government, only 224 were rejected. This is an excel-
lent showing.
Business on the Pacific Coast has been about the
same as in the East. A few manufacturers are work-
ing double shift on foreign and domestic war orders,
but most have curtailed their activities.
Notable New Development
New development of note has been confined prac-
tically to that of the Cedars Rapids Company, on the
St. Lawrence River above Montreal. Here the ultimate
output will be 180,000 hp. It was expected that the
first units would be in operation by January, 1915, and
they have, in fact, already been completed. The Elec-
trical Development Company, now controlled by the
Toronto Power Company, has installed two additional
generators, yielding about 20,000 kw.
Owing to the unprecedented lowness of water during
1914 many hydraulic plants on northern rivers have been
short of power. This result is attributable largely to
the lack of adequate snowfall during the preceding
winter and to an exceptionally scanty rainfall. This com-
bination has made costs of generation more than usually
high for the companies affected. In western Ontario,
however, electrical energy is being developed by gas
engines supplied by natural gas at a cost of $14 per kw-
year. It is difficult to see how energy transmitted 180
miles from Niagara at a cost of $32 per kw-year can
compete under these circumstances. Yet this is what
certain municipalities are attempting to do in the pur-
chase of energy from the Hydro-Electric Power Com-
mission of Ontario.
Co-operative Movement
All through Canada there has been a movement on
the part of privately owned companies to co-operate.
Thus a system of co-operative purchasing of electrical
supplies is about to be established, by means of which
not only a high standard and a thoroughly standardized
article but also a low price which will benefit directly
the ultimate consumer, the man in the street, will be
secured. This will comprise part of the work of the
members of the Canadian Electrical Association for the
coming year.
The association, through the close watch which it
keeps on legislation that may affect privately owned
companies, was successful in securing a reduction of
50 per cent in the proposed amount of the corporation
tax in the act passed recently by the Ontario government.
As is generally known, the association is a sister or-
ganization of the National Electric Light Association,
with which it is in affiliation. Col. D. R. Street, secre-
tary-treasurer of the Ottawa Electric Company, is
president. The membership extends across the conti-
nent.
The Electrical Industry in England in 1914
By Haydn Harrison*
GREAT BRITAIN has now been at war since
August, and it is a proof of the importance of
the electrical industry that our factories are as
full as ever of electrical work of all descriptions, while
those which are provided with suitable tools are work-
ing day and night to produce the seemingly endless list
of electrical and mechanical contrivances needed in
modern warfare.
The perfecting of manufacturing methods which has
been carried out by those producing electrical machinery
has naturally led to these works being particularly effi-
cient for rapid production of war materials. Thus
many of our works now present an altered appearance.
In place of stocks of electric motor covers, piles of pro-
jectile cases are to be seen, and accurate machines which
in times of peace were turning out parts of electrical
appliances are now rotating day by day grinding out
essential parts of engines of war.
The War and Electrical Workers
When Lord Kitchener decided that it would be neces-
sary for tins country to prepare millions of men for the
fighting line recruits came forward from all classes arid
trail'' ; bul it ooii became obvious that volunteers taken
from engineering workshops would seriously affect the
supply of war materials; or. in other words, thai a
mechanic working at the lathe or the bench, doing his
share in the production of war electrical or other ma
rhin> more value to the country than tin
inic behind a rifle al the front. Thus volunl
from this source are now being thanked for their ex
i init are asked to
remain al I heir posts in the workshops. This show:, Imu
important the electrical n the protection of
.mil it mil Li I ion to I he
lournal to know how well provided for
pa t. on bo "nni of the effl
of her engineering woi ind the men
•
who work in them. To all engineers it cannot fail to be
gratifying to know that the importance of their indus-
try will be more than ever realized by the world at
large.
Growth of the Industry
In order to appreciate the growth of the electrical
industry in Great Britain during 1913-1914 it is only
necessary to note the increase in capital invested,
namely from £435,100,000 to £458,700,000, or by £23,-
600,000. In the previous similar period the increase
was under £12,000,000, and it is therefore obvious that
considerable development has taken place.
This increase is partly accounted for by the steps
taken by the main-line railways to electrify such of
their systems as are de\oted to carrying the millions
of daily workers backward and forward to London.
This can hardly be called suburban traffic since, for ex-
ample, the London & North Western Railway is in
process of electrifying its line as far as Watford. IS
miles from the city. The London & South Western
Railway is similarly occupied in connecting the river-
side residential districts. The success of electric trac-
tion mi the London. Brighton & South Coast Railway
has no doubt led to tin' others following suit; but.
despite this success, it is noticeable that neither of the
other lines mentioned has adopted the same system,
namely, inch tension single-phase with stationary
transformers on the trains. They have preferred I
substations and transform the high-tension supply from
iinr stations to direct current at 500 volts.
' ail, in place of an overhead conductor
\\ ith the exception of the Brighton line, the railways
are putting Up their own generating stations. This
. at a time when bulk supply schemes are r.
Ing bo much favorable consideration, must appear to
man] as incomprehensible, it can only be concluded
that difficulties of Intel n between the various
compar I ave arisen.
\ further source of increase to the electrical Indus-
Jam aky 2, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
try is the more general use of electric drives in factories
and workshops. This is especially noticeable in the
manufacturing districts, where the lighting load is be-
coming relatively insignificant.
The effect of the reduction in output due to the intro-
duction of the tungsten lamp is now being compensated
for by the large increase in lighting consumers and also
by the demand for improved lighting. However, the
high cost of installing electric circuits is still largely
preventing the use of electricity among the lower mid-
dle classes. The result is that municipalities owning
electricity undertakings are awakening to the advan-
tage to be gained by obtaining the right to borrow
money to wire premises and install fittings on the hire
or hire-purchase basis, as their competitors, the gas
companies, having such rights, are to a large extent
able to hold their position among the less wealthy
classes by virtue of them.
Progress of Electric Cooking
This remark applies particularly to electric cooking,
which is now beginning to make progress in England.
It has been the custom of the gas companies to rent gas
cookers and other appliances at such reasonable rates
as to allow of their use among all classes down to that of
the artisan. In order that electricity may compete in
this direction it is evident that a similar policy must be
adopted.
To encourage electric cooking many of the supply
companies now charge 0.5d. per kw-hr. plus a small
charge on the ratable value of the house, or, as an alter-
native, a minimum charge. At these rates there is no
doubt that the cost of electric cooking and heating com-
pares favorably with, and is in many cases less than,
that of gas, but the cost of the appliances and wiring
still bars the way to its general adoption.
The supply of electricity to small towns and villages
is receiving more attention owing to the prejudice
against overhead mains being slowly but surely over-
come. This branch will soon represent an important
field of development, as small gas companies are not in
a position to work economically and cannot compete
with electricity generated by means of internal-combus-
tion engines. The number of such towns in England is
very large. Few of these can be reached by bulk
supply companies, and in any case small local under-
takings are proving a sound financial investment,
which, when money is more available for the purpose,
will no doubt be sought after by the investing public.
The Nitrogen-Filled Lamp
The advent of the nitrogen-filled lamp has failed to
have any appreciable effect for the moment. The pro-
duction of it in England has only just begun, and its
most important field, namely, street lighting, is now
receiving little attention on account of the precautions
being taken against the enemy's aircraft by reducing
the lighting of the streets.
Steps are being taken by the supply undertakings to
popularize the electric road vehicles — more particularly
the slower-speed delivery vans. This development is
progressing slowly, but it is anticipated that by this
time next year it will form an appreciable factor in the
electrical industry.
At the present moment the government is busy erect-
ing winter quarters for the thousands of men who are
being prepared for the fighting line, and it is a sign of
the advance of electric lighting that nearly all these
camps, temporary as they are, are being lighted through-
out by electricity. Many of them are in the very heart
of the country, out of reach of any supply, and are
therefore being provided with generating plants of
their own. Nevertheless, before this article is in
print the majority of these camps will be built, drained,
heated and lighted throughout, which is in itself an in-
dication that the Britisher can meet an emergency when
called upon. The emergency which the British nation
is having to meet now cannot fail to awaken those in-
stincts in the individual which lead to rapid develop-
ments in the arts of peace. There can be no doubt that
the whole world looks forward to an early cessation of
war. When this wish is granted, the development of
all industries, including our own, will go foward with
renewed vigor in this country.
Opportunities for the Central Station in the Electric-
Vehicle Industry in 1915
By John F. Gilchrist*
SUBSTANTIAL commercial progress is promised for
the electric vehicle during the twelve months to
come. Already we have seen the uses of the pas-
senger car broaden until it is finding more and more
favor with business and professional men. The recent
business depression and consequent personal retrench-
ment on the part of many of the people have, in the case
of the electric automobile, only served to bring out more
strongly the latter's advantages and economies in com-
parison with the gasoline car. Well-to-do business men
who formerly owned and used cars of both kinds but
have latterly felt it to be the course of prudence to
give up the use of one or the other have, almost invari-
ably, retained their electric cars for personal and busi-
ness purposes. No better testimony than this could be
asked for the economy of the electric vehicle — to say
nothing of all its obvious advantages of convenience,
simplicity, reliability and ease of operation compared
with other vehicles.
•President Electric Vehicle Association of America.
One of the most important features in the develop-
ment of the passenger vehicle has been the garage fa-
cilities offered owners of electric cars in the larger
cities. In comparison the commercial truck has suf-
fered from the lack of such facilities, and if the develop-
ment of the commercial truck business has latterly
fallen short of the optimistic expectations of a few
years ago, the fault may be laid, very largely indeed, to
this lack of garage facilities.
Greater Charging Facilities Needed
Few garages doing an electric passenger-car business
are in suitable locations for handling trucks, nor do
they have the charging facilities for supplying the large
currents required by the truck batteries. And where
the progressive garage man considerately takes the elec-
tric truck under his roof he is often confronted with
protests from women owners of pleasure vehicles, who
declare that they will not have their favorite cars kept
alongside delivery wagons, the protesters seeming to
fear that damage to their vehicles will ensue.
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. l
On the other hand, the electric truck stabled in a gar-
age with gasoline trucks is placed at a disadvantage
from the outset. Not only does it suffer from the ab-
sence of experienced attention, but as it sometimes has
to withstand the prejudice of the garage "hikers," a
poor performance showing is often made to the owner
of the truck.
Operated in fleets under experienced supervision, the
electric truck has invariably fulfilled the most optimistic
promises made by its adherents and has given every
satisfaction to its owners. To give the user of one or
two trucks the same advantages, it is evident, therefore,
that we need more commercial garages, catering exclu-
sively to the electric truck business, and manned with
attendants experienced in the care of batteries and
electric vehicles.
Possibilities of the Electric Passenger Car
But it is in the development of the electric passenger
car that the greatest possibilities seem to lie just ahead.
Limiting its usefulness as a man's car, the electric has
for years suffered from the handicap of a lack of va-
riety in body design.
In mileage, speed and performance the electric vehicle
has long fulfilled all the requirements of that ideal uni-
versal utility car which its advocates predict that ulti-
mately it will become. But in designing the bodies
along the single line so closely followed thus far the
broadest development of the electric car has been seri-
ously trammeled. If the five-passenger arrangement of
seats employed on gasoline cars has been proved to be
the most useful after fifteen years' experience on hun-
dreds of thousands of automobiles, we should not hesi-
tate to apply a similar design to the battery-driven
chassis, even if at the risk of being called imitators of
gas-car models.
To repeat, the mileage, speed and economy of the
electric vehicle are already highly satisfactory, but we
need a more workaday design of body, for the banker,
the professional man, the business man and the sales-
man making city calls properly demand models differing
from the luxurious cars which ply the boulevards.
I lility Passenger Cars for Central-Station Work
If a movement which is now receiving some consider-
ation by the Electric Vehicle Association of America
be adopted and prove successful, it will open the way
for the introduction of practical electric passenger cars
of enlarged usefulness in many cities and towns of the
country. As the first step it has been proposed that
100 central stations each agree to purchase during 1915
one electric vehicle which may be a standard car or
may be of a special design considered particularly serv-
iceable for central station work by a committee of cen-
tral-station engineers. Special prices have been ob-
tained for these i of twenty-five.
With these practical electric passenger cars in use
by electric companies scattered over the country, ex-
amples would lie Bel for local owners, and. it is believed,
there would result a great demand for electric vehicles
of a type to replace the present popular two seated gas-
car model, but with all Hi ■ inherent advantages of elec-
tric- operation.
Viewing the transportation requirements of the elec-
trical industry for a minute, there certainly appears no
n why an ition organization in this
country should have h ;i single gasolint
when t he el. 1 1 in- vehicle [a capable of performing ■■
duty required bj the business. An
■ made, perhaps, in the case of the com-
pany • men must
large territories, But try-road work the
need Is for a machine of Small lise and weight, rather
than for one of any particular type of motive power, and
thousand-mile tours have already demonstrated the de-
pendability of the electric for the widest variety of road
service.
Have the Central Stations Done Their Share?
Although many central-station companies have helped
in the work of introducing the electric vehicle, the fact
remains that as a whole the central-station industry has
not done its share in popularizing the electric automo-
bile. Not only have the central stations failed to push
vehicle sales among their customers, being content to
sit back and take the vehicle-charging revenues when
these have come through the efforts of others, but, as al-
ready intimated, the electric companies have ignored
their own duty to use themselves the machines they
prescribe for others.
This condition has been brought about in part by the
lack of confidence of company executives and in part by
the prejudice of the men lower down. With thoughts of
a Sunday spin in the country, too often the man whose
work requires the use of a car during the week very
humanly picks his machine with the week-end joy ride in
view, rather than the sober requirements of his daily-
job. These men need training in loyalty to the elec-
trical industry, if, indeed, they are not lacking in knowl-
edge of the possibilities of the electric vehicle. Their
superiors also, perhaps, need to know more about the
vehicle to give them courage to insist on the use of elec-
tric vehicles at all times when such cars can perform the
company's service satisfactorily.
An End to Bickering in the Industrv
We have been witnesses long enough to the bandying
of charges and counter charges between central stations
and manufacturers, on the one hand, that vehicles should
be sold at lower prices, and on the other that lower rates
should be offered for vehicle-charging service. Instead
of assuming agreement with the extreme positions of
these claimants, let us take the word of each on the
operation of his own business and admit, for the sake
of the industry, that electric cars of the quality which
the makers say the purchasing public demands cannot
be built more cheaply than those now offered. Let us
also concede that the central station is justified in the
rates which it is forced to charge to deliver energy to
the private garage. The cost of electricty, like the cost
of gasoline, is, after all, but a fraction of the cost of
running an automobile. Let us put aside these dissen-
sions within the electric-vehicle industry, and let us
silence the carping claims of those who seek to evade
responsibility ami effort by the familiar process of
blaming others.
Co-operation That Will Bring Reandta
"Co-operation" has been a much-used word in the
electrical industry of late a word dinned into our ears,
in. Iced, until it has almost lost its meaning. But there
HOW ami real significance in the kind of co-operation
which will follow if, while the vehicle maker
freebj to the central station active assistance in the de-
velopment of the Im-al field, the cent ral- station staff, from
executive to salesman and troubleman. will in return
specify electric vehicles as the onlj cars for their work,
and thus set an example to the community which they
With dOSer cooperation in this was between
. and with bet-
iraging facilities for both commerical and passen-
ars, the electric vehicle is bound to come to the
front and ultimately to serve the general public in an
overwhelmingly large proportion of cases calling for
the use of a motor-driven conveyance either for bust-
January 2, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
The Present Industrial Depression
By Guy E. Tripp'
THERE is little difference of opinion about the
extent and intensity of the present industrial
depression, but there is much about what has
caused it.
It is laid at various doors — the war, tariff reduction,
"unliquidated" condition of labor, troubles of the rail-
roads, anti-trust legislation, competition, monopolies,
and some make up combinations of these to suit them-
selves.
What follows may be interesting if only for pur-
poses of comparison with other ideas that have been
expressed.
The effect of the war on world industrial conditions
has been full of surprises. English manufacturing
concerns generally are now unusually busy, not alone on
war materials but in the production of usual supplies,
because English shipping has not been greatly inter-
fered with and manufacturing orders throughout the
world that had been given or were about to be given
to Germany have been canceled and generally placed in
England; and, as a result, strange to say, a greater de-
pression probably exists in the manufacturing indus-
tries of the United States than in England.
Shock to Capital Caused by War
The effect of war orders that have been received here
has been more than offset by the unparalleled shock to
capital and the world-wide disturbance of financial cur-
rents and exchanges, the war being a revelation to many
of us of the extent to which we are a debtor nation.
This country will probably receive further war orders
and to that degree will derive benefit ; but should the
Allies be victorious the nation that will receive the
greatest impetus and permanent business increase will
probably be England.
This does not say that our foreign commerce, partic-
ularly with South America, cannot be increased ; but, in
my opinion, the conditions after the war will be sub-
stantially what they were before — that is to say, the
foundation-stone of American manufactures will be our
home market, and anything that weakens it will do
damage that will not be offset by any increase that is
likely to come in our foreign trade.
We shall still be a debtor nation, and England, if she
wins, will still be rich and her ability to do foreign
financing practically unimpaired. Her possessions and
colonies will tend to trade with the mother country out
of patriotic feelings and the rest of the world will be in
sympathy with her and largely financed by her. Nor
will the situation be much different if Germany wins,
for she will probably regain her trade very rapidly.
Therefore, I repeat, the welfare of home industry
and labor will depend upon home markets quite as much
or more after the war than before. So much for the
effect of the war.
One of the important factors in determining our in-
dustrial future is the so-called "liquidation" of labor.
This is ordinarily understood to mean a reduction in
the rate of wages, but there probably will be no perma-
nent reduction in wages.
Variations in wages go hand in hand with the cost of
living. Higher wages mean higher costs of production
and consequent higher prices for necessities. Another
contributing cause to higher wages and cost of living is
the lesser intrinsic value of the "yardstick" by which
"cost" is measured, namely, the gold dollar.
•Chairman of the board of directors, Westinghouse Electric &
Manufacturing Company.
In the last few years the amount of gold per capita
has greatly increased, principally on account of the
enormous new output of African mines, and this means
that the "yardstick" of exchange has shrunk accord-
ingly.
Another cause contributing to the high cost of living
is education and advance in civilization, with the accom-
panying increasing demands for comforts and luxuries.
One other cause contributing in some cases to higher
wages, and thus to higher cost of living, is the arbitrary
raise demanded by labor unions.
If, as a result of any of these factors, wages are rel-
atively too high and cannot be reduced, and the cost of
living cannot be readjusted in any great degree, it seems
obvious that the effect can be offset only by a reduced
return to capital or increased prices or greater effi-
ciency of labor.
An increase in prices would have a temporary effect,
but that again would increase the cost of living.
Whether or not this would, in turn, tend to increase
wages would depend largely upon business activity and
the supply of labor available to meet the demand.
Speeding up machines and other devices to get more
work out of employees, while it may in effect tempo-
rarily reduce wages, creates unrest and does not perma-
nently increase the efficiency of the man. His efficiency
can be increased only when he is willing to have it in-
creased, and human nature is such that he must be
offered a reward before he is willing, which means that
a portion of the savings effected through extra exertion
or care must be given to the workmen. A great deal
is now being done in that direction by manufacturing
concerns, and the more progressive employers in other
industries are adopting the theory more and more.
A concrete case is that of an electric-light company
whose manager, as an illustration of his methods, de-
scribed recently how he had fixed a standard for read-
ing meters. He adopted the simple method of multi-
plying the number of meters read by the standard price
and deducting the meter readers' payroll from the sum,
dividing the difference between the company and
the meter readers, with the result that for several years
(although his business has increased at a normal rate)
it has not been necessary to employ any new men in this
department. That is real efficiency work and the only
light that I see in the direction of permanently "liqui-
dating" labor.
Competition Versus Monopoly
Perhaps the next important question to be adjusted
(if it can be adjusted) is competition versus monopoly.
Very few believe in an uncontrolled business monopoly
under our political institutions, but unfortunately dur-
ing the last decade the public mind has settled into such
a suspicious condition that many business methods, and
even agreements and contracts, which are not only
harmless but desirable from the standpoint of the pub-
lic welfare are prohibited and business is certainly more
or less hampered.
However sympathetic one may be with this hypersen-
sitive public opinion, in view of many indisputably
obnoxious business methods which brought it about, he
must certainly stop short of approval of present laws
when they protect the foreign buyer against the Amer-
ican seller.
The methods now fostered by these laws have been
set out by Mr. John D. Ryan in his description of the
tactics adopted in copper purchases by a foreign ring
of buyers. The operation was simple — a group of large
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 1
copper buyers would get together in London or Ham-
burg, pooling their needs and advising small purchasers
throughout England and Germany to place copper pur-
chases in their hands for the purpose of getting lower
prices. Then, as a next step, they would sell a few
million pounds of copper short in the London market in
order to establish a low quotation. With these prelim-
inaries they would appear in the New York market for
an astoundingly large order for copper and "shop it
around." Naturally, the American producers, being
forbidden by law to combine in submitting a price and
equitably dividing the order, entered into fierce compe-
tition, with the result, as Mr. Ryan says, of a loss of
about $00,000,000 annually to an American industry.
Foreign-Trade Exemption from Anti-Trust Acts
There is no valid argument against excepting foreign
trade from the operations of the Sherman and Clayton
anti-trust acts.
So far as the railroads are concerned, since they can
do so little of their own free will or without previous
approval by the Interstate Commerce Commission, they
certainly cannot be blamed for failing to secure a suffi-
cient amount of net earnings to pay return enough on
capital to attract it to their needs; and, since there is no
way of compelling investors by law to invest their
money in railroads, it has been obvious that an increase
in rates must be approved; but it has taken a very long
time to get the relief, and in consequence it comes at
a time when financial conditions could hardly be worse.
It seems quite certain that there is not, and probably
will not be for some time, any European buying power
of American railroad securities, and it is doubtful
whether there is surplus capital enough in the United
States to supply the railroads and at the same time do
all the other work that is waiting if the work is to be
done upon an essentially cash basis.
But we have ample labor desirous of employment,
needing food and clothing; we have ample wheat for
food, cotton for clothing, mills and factories anxious
for orders, railways eager for traffic.
The present need, then, is the movement which will
put labor at work producing, thus not only providing
labor with means to purchase its food and clothing, but
at the same time setting in motion the idle mills, fac-
tories and railroads.
This can be done only if, first, the wage demanded by
the laborer is sufficiently less than the value of his prod-
uct to allow the employer a fair margin of profit, and,
second, if the employer either has or can obtain by
credit the capital required to bridge the period until he
receives returns for his products sold. By "capital" is
meant not necessarily gold but accumulated stores and
supplies useful to others, of which gold is merely the
unit of measurement, being not in itself capital.
Therefore, with our accumulated wealth of wheat,
cotton, manufactured materials and the like, our abun-
dance of labor and facilities for manufacturing and
transportation, we have sufficient instruments for bring-
ing about general prosperity, provided only that confi-
dence be restored and sufficient credit extended.
One other thing is essential, that while the laborer is
worthy of his hire, he is not entitled to receive reward
greater than value given. He must be content with fair
and not relatively too high wages. On the other hand,
he is entitled to, and must receive, a fair wage, suffi-
cient for his support and something over.
Likewise, the railroad is entitled to receive fair com-
pensation for the services rendered, sufficient for its
support and enough over to pay a fair interest upon the
wealth invested in it by its stockholders.
If the rates recently established by the Interstate
Commerce Commission are high enough for this and to
thus induce further capital investment, then capital and
credit will be forthcoming; otherwise it is doubtful if
the railroads, notwithstanding the rate increase, have
yet solved their problems.
Effect of Tariff Reduction
The effect of the reduction in the tariff has been ob-
scured by the war conditions, but the balance of trade
was running against the United States when the war
broke out. The tariff went into effect in October, 1913,
with the result that the balance of trade (which in every
month of 1911, 1912 and 1913 ran largely in our favor)
began in April, 1914, to be against us. What the re-
sult would have been in the end is hard to say, but the
immediate effect would probably have been very de-
pressing even if there had been no war.
This year we were fortunate in having great crops.
Those of the West and Northwest are finding a ready
market and are creating a great buying power in that
section. The South is not so fortunate in the cotton
conditions, which have resulted in great depression
there. However, the cotton will eventually be sold.
I have not the figures at hand, but the surplus of a
crop which is 10 per cent above normal will build a good
many miles of railroad, and every year we are nearer
being able to furnish our own capital for our own needs,
but until we accumulate surplus capital it will be a mis-
take to stop encouragement and protection of our home
trade on the erroneous theory thai we can seize, from
either England or Germany as the case may be. enough
export trade to make up for it.
Effect of the War on Regulation of Public Utilities
By Nathaniel T. Guernse]
Tin: total wealth of the United state, is roughlj
estimate (mo, i.oon. oi this aggre-
gate, more th.-.n $28,000,000,000 la represented by
h ■• ire common d a public
utilities, Including the telephone, the telegraph, eli
el© light, heal and
and property employed in furnishing water
power, water, gas and t ran- portal ion.
■ ha taught the public thai competition,
• n local public utilities, | | a public Inn
■ of a public benefit that it means hiss and
e, with eventual consolidation i the remedy.
ed i rom competil Ion to regulal Ion,
and to-daj practically all of the utilities in the United
States are subject to regulation DJ one or more tri-
bunals, federal, state or municipal.
Regulation Governed l>> Public interest
Broadly, what determines the scope of this regula-
tion i . the public interest, which is that the service fur-
nished h\ the8e utilities In' good and ellicient service,
available to the entire community, thai there be no dhv
nation between members of the community, and
that the price charged for the service be reasonable. Die-
crimination has never been a factor of great
qiience from the public poinl of view, excepl in connec-
tion With the operation Of the railroads, and as to them
it has peon target) eliminated It may be noted in
January 2, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
13
passing that in what was its most offensive form,
namely, rebating, it was the outgrowth of competition
for business. Questions as to service still arise, and will
continue to arise, but they are not and will not be of
controlling importance. The modern public utility is
well managed and has thoroughly learned the lesson
that it is to its advantage to give to the public the very
best service which the rates paid by the public will
permit.
The serious, vital question which is involved in this
experiment, because regulation has not yet passed be-
yond the experimental stage, is presented in connection
with the determination of the return which must be
earned upon this enormous investment. The indirect
effect of the concrete experiences growing out of the
present European war promises, in connection with the
solution of this question, the most lasting and im-
portant influence of the war upon the utilities of the
United States.
The direct effect of the war upon the utilities has been
obvious, but will be merely temporary. Because the
utilities are essential parts of all business transacted
in this country, war between the principal nations of
Europe, with which we have most intimate business re-
lations, could not fail to react to some extent upon the
business of this country and of its utilities; but this
war cannot permanently impair business conditions in
the United States. The effects of the sudden readjust-
ments which the war made necessary are already begin-
ning to disappear. Ultimately, the result of the war
should be to increase and not to decrease the business
and commerce of the United States.
Fundamental Truths Demonstrated by War
But the war has afforded a striking, concrete appli-
cation of some of the fundamental propositions under-
lying the adjustment of rates of public utilities which
should demonstrate the soundness of the views of the
commissions which have commenced to recognize these
principles, and which should be of immense permanent
educational effect in connection with the matter of rate
adjustment.
There have been grave and fundamental misconcep-
tions as to what in fact determines the amount of the
returns which public utilities must earn. These mis-
conceptions have been due largely to a failure to cor-
rectly apprehend two fundamental facts — first, that a
public utility requires continual additions to its capital,
and, second, that this capital must be acquired in a com-
petitive market.
Theorists, in discussing these matters, have looked at
the investment in a public utility as a fixed thing, and
have discussed the amount of the return upon the as-
sumption that this investment is already made, is used
for the benefit of the public, and cannot be withdrawn.
This is fundamentally wrong, in that it ignores the big,
persistent, practical question in financing public utili-
ties, which is, how shall the new money be obtained to
provide for the constant additions to the plant which
are necessary if it is to serve the public properly and
keep pace with the development of the community?
This is a live, vital question, which arises year after
year, and every year.
It is useless to theorize as to what money invested in
utilities ought to earn. It is impossible to establish any
fixed rates, as 7, or 8, or 9, or 10 per cent. The question
is a practical and concrete one. It is, what rate of re-
turn is essential in order to enable the utility to secure
the new money that is absolutely necessary if the utility
is to perform its functions efficiently? This rate is not,
and cannot be, fixed, because conditions affecting the
money market are not permanent but are constantly
varying. This proposition underlies the conclusion of
the Interstate Commerce Commission in the "five per
cent case," filed Dec. 16, 1914. The commission says:
"The conflict in Europe will doubtless create an
unusual demand upon the world's loan fund of free
capital, and may be expected to check the flow of for-
eign investment funds to American railroads. It ap-
pears that our railroads represent the bulk of European
investment in this country. The rate of interest — the
hire of capital — has risen during the last decade, and
may rise still further. It is computed that in the years
1915, 1916 and 1917 the carriers in official classification
territory must arrange for the payment or refunding
of securities aggregating over $500,000,000 * * *
But we do not doubt that the financial problems of the
carriers have been made much more acute by reason of
the war, and if we are to set rates that will afford rea-
sonable remuneration to these carriers, we must give
consideration to the increased hire of capital as well as
to other increased costs."
The new money for public utilities must come from
the general fund seeking investment, made up of the
combined savings of the public. The investors who own
this money are not controlled by philanthropic purposes
in making their investments. The money will go where,
all things being considered, it will receive the largest
profit. Public utilities will not obtain the portion of this
fund which they require unless they are allowed a re-
turn which will successfully bid for this money in this
competitive market. The most important effect of the
■ war upon the public utilities of the United States is
that it has brought these things out into sharp relief,
through actual experience. This experience has demon-
strated the unsoundness of the contention that there is
some standard return which is adequate for money in-
vested in public utilities. The declarations of war
created conditions so radically affecting the money mar-
ket that securities were offered in such quantities that
it was necessary to close the exchanges of the world to
avert a panic. This demonstrates conclusively that a
profit which will make an investment attractive under
some circumstances is utterly inadequate where the
conditions have radically changed, and that this profit
must and will vary with the variations of the condi-
tions affecting the money market.
Again, this experience has thoroughly exploded the
fallacy underlying the contention frequently made that
because the money invested in public utilities is de-
voted to a public use it is not entitled to as much profit
or return as money devoted to private uses. The money
which supplies the fund for investment in public utili-
ties comes from the aggregate of the small savings of
the entire community. The very great proportion of
these investments is in small amounts. Most of these
investors could not afford to furnish this money for the
public for less than it is worth in the market, and none
of them are disposed to do this.
The Investor and the Utilities
In the final analysis, the investor determines the
price which the utilities must pay for his money. It is
he who finally determines whether the prospective profit
is attractive enough to induce him to part with his
money.
The regulation of public utilities will not be estab-
lished upon a sound basis until these propositions are
understood and recognized. Their soundness will be
conceded by the public as soon as they are brought to
the attention of the public in such a way that it clearly
understands them. The public utilities cannot furnish
service at less than it costs. Regulation may bankrupt
some utilities, but it cannot, in the long run, obtain
service for less than it costs, and as a part of that cost
there must be reckoned the cost of the money.
14
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 1
The prompt recognition of these propositions is to
the interest of the public as much as it is to the interest
of the utilities. The enormous investment in these
utilities is the investment of the public ; it represents
the savings of the public; its protection is the protec-
tion of the public. And there is another equally im-
portant public interest. The public requires efficient
service available to all. Such service cannot be rendered
by a public utility which is not receiving adequate com-
pensation. It would be a short-sighted public policy,
that could only result in failure, which attempted to
secure this service for less.
Future Prospects of the Electrical Export Business
By M. A. Oudin*
AN analysis of our electrical exports, as far as the
rather unscientific method of classification per-
mits of such examination, discloses the fact that
the United States holds a most important position in re-
spect to the exports of apparatus of large capacity, and
especially of electrotechnical machinery which demands
engineering and designing talent of a high order in
its production. In Japan, India, South America, Mex-
ico and Canada — in fact, all countries but those of
Europe where water-power development has been a
striking industrial feature — American hydroelectric
machinery will be found to be generally preferred to
similar apparatus of other countries.
America Outdistanced by England and Germany
On the other hand, the record shows that the United
States is far outdistanced by both England and Ger-
many in the export of small apparatus and electrical de-
vices. The proportion of exports of such electrical ap-
pliances and energy-consuming apparatus to machinery
of large capacity is in an inverse ratio to the employ-
ment of these two general classes of electrical products
in the United States.
The inference to be drawn from this aspect of the
electrical trade, foreign and domestic, is that the
former is largely carried on by manufacturers
who by means of their resources have advanced the
art and design of electrical manufactures and estab-
lished effective selling organizations abroad, and in con-
sequence have been enabled in the world's markets to
overcome partially the competition of other great manu-
facturing nations. Another and more important in-
ference is that the future development of the export
trade in electrical machinery and supplies, on any great
and comprehensive scale, depends upon the extent to
which the very numerous small manufacturers will
recognize the necessity for a broader export market for
their goods and will apply themselves to the task of
winning it.
So long as the war lasts, and probably for some time
after its close, American export trade in all lines of
manufacture, save those for which the war has pro-
duced a direct demand on the part of the belligei
will more or less languish, following the trend of inter-
national trade. The reasons for this arc well known,
principally the diminished purchasing power of
neutral countries and the paralysis of business activi-
ties as a result of the war. The future prospects of the
electrical business after the war is over particularly
concern us, and they will be briefly considered.
Conditions When tin- War Is Over
Regardless of the duration of the war and of th<
tent of Its devastation and of the financial exhaustion
produced I It, o long ■ the phj ileal properties and
plants of our principal competitors are not
nanufacturing pn will nol be
I and their competition, potentially and
ill remain most formidable. Both sides will
i mpany, ind
emerge from the wreck and ruin of the war with a
keener desire for foreign trade and a corresponding skill
and alertness and a greater determination than ever to
win it. But both sides may not then be in a position to
compete on the same footing as before, either with
each other or with the United States, because of the
conditions which the victors may possibly impose upon
the vanquished. The future foreign trade of the United
States may be greatly affected by the outcome of the
war.
Should the dual alliance finally win, a number of im-
portant markets which have been shared by England
with the whole world would be hard to hold. It is con-
ceivable that our most formidable Continental trade
rival might become industrially so powerful as to make
competitive and commercial opposition very difficult.
The expansion of our business abroad would then be
attempted under a greater handicap than any which
now exists.
The greater opportunity of the United States lies in an
international condition which will maintain the world's
markets as free and as open as they are to-day. It
seems to be evident that on account of racial feelings,
unfortunately aroused by the war, the countries at
war with Germany, their colonies and some neutral
countries will either cease to purchase German goods
or will greatly lessen their dealings with that country.
Germany will then be partially eliminated, for a more or
less indefinite time, from participation in the trade of
a number of countries which have been large purchas-
ers of her. The contest for this trade will be largely
between England and the United States. To-day Eng-
land is making a most effective campaign to capture
the trade Germany has hitherto enjoyed. In addition
to the war now waged by means of her armaments on
land and sea, she is making a most vigorous war on
German trade. To this end the English government is
taking a very active part.
Energy and Resourcefulness Needed
The present is a time when the energy and resource-
fulness of American manufacturers must bo put forth
in an effort to capture foreign markets, with at least
the same intensity that has been shown in the develop-
ment of our industries at home. We should first of all
address ourselves to reducing the cosl of production.
Generally speaking, our selling prices in the world's
markets arc too high. We should adopt a new attitude
toward foreign credits and financing foreign enter-
. remembering thai a very large percentage of the
export manufactures of England and Germany is the
result of their having invested their savings in the
enterprises of other countries. We should adopt as far
as applicable to our industrial organization the meth-
i selling abroad employed by our competitors. We
should invoke government assistance as far as is con-
it with our domestic problems. Especially would
it pay us to give particular attention to the activities
now being displayed by England in the commercial war
upon her greatest competitor.
Another very important point for consideration is the
January 2, l!)lf>
ELECTRICAL WORLD
obstacles to the extension of our foreign trade arising
from the existence of certain federal laws upon our
statute books. In the first place our antiquated marine
laws impose burdens and conditions on steamships fly-
ing the American flag so that they cannot be operated
economically or in competition with ships of foreign
registry- The laws distinctly discourage any increase
in our merchant marine. Again, the anti-trust laws,
while passed for the protection of the American con-
sumer, so read as to tie the hands of American export-
ers and prevent their competing with the foreigner on
the same terms.
There should, of course, be no restriction upon the
proper and reasonable enterprise of American manu-
facturers, whose aim is to increase the foreign trade of
the United States by united effort. Yet export associa-
tions and combinations to this end are prohibited by the
present laws. The removal of this handicap will enable
small manufacturers to seek in a competitive manner
foreign markets from which they are now expressly pro-
hibited.
Factors Which Govern Electrical Export Trade
The factors governing the export trade in electrical
products are the same as those which influence the trade
in other lines of manufactures. Consequently the gen-
eral conclusions to be drawn from this brief survey of
the export situation are applicable to the electrical in-
dustry. We may conclude that the future prospects
for the American manufacturer of electrical machinery
and supplies are bright. An increase of any conse-
quence in electrical exports cannot be expected at the
present time. We can confidently look forward to real-
izing in the future broader export markets for electrical
machinery and supplies, provided always, however, that
the present is devoted diligently and intelligently to in-
vestigation and adequate preparation, with this object
steadily in view.
Results of the War for Public Service Commissions
to Consider
By Henry Floy*
TO the casual reader of the above title there would
seem to be no connection between the European
war and the regulation of our public utilities in
America. But to one who weighs the matter it will be
seen that not only must the war affect the practices of
public regulating bodies but that it has' already begun
to have such an influence.
Within a few months the European war has shown
what would ordinarily have taken years to demonstrate
clearly, namely, that the regulations and decisions of
our public utility commissions are but ephemeral and
must be revised from time to time. It has shown that
questions answered by public regulating bodies with the
best light available and with more or less assurance that
permanent solutions have been reached cannot be con-
sidered as finally settled, but must rather be held to
have been answered for only the time being, and will
always require amending and re-settling, depending
upon shifting conditions and fluctuating financial mar-
kets.
The professional philanthropist has been accustomed
to argue that once regulation became effective the rates
of any corporation could be so fixed as to permit earn-
ings that should provide an exact and minimum so-called
fair return on the property used, and that under such
circumstances there would be no need for further con-
sideration of the subject, except possibly to order re-
ductions in rates from time to time as inventions, im-
provements or increased business allowed increasingly
larger earnings to be realized.
Higher Interest Rates
Interest rates are likely to continue higher than in the
recent past, owing not alone to the conditions which have
prevailed since the war was started but also to the in-
evitable after-effect of greater demands for capital for
reconstruction and the re-creation of property lost and
wasted. In common with other corporations, utilities
have felt the results of the general public demand for re-
duction in the profits of corporate properties ; and many
utilities operating under public regulation have found
that the cost of money is too high now to permit them
to make additional capital investments with assurance
that public regulating bodies would permit the
•Consulting engineer. New York.
higher rewards demanded at present by capital. Con-
sequently new construction has been curtailed to the
minimum, and expenditures for improvements that were
absolutely necessary have been financed through short-
time notes or similar obligations.
Almost uniformly the precedents and decisions of
state commissions and courts have held thus far that,
while it was necessary to provide for operating expenses,
an allowance for depreciation and a return on the value
of the property, nothing at all, or at least no special al-
lowance, was required to cover exigencies or contingen-
cies. The result is that utilities generally have been
forced to pay out all of their earnings to maintain their
standing and conserve the market value of their securi-
ties. Now that the European war has created unusual
demands for money and that capital is insisting upon
increased rewards, prevailing rates for services in all
the markets of the world must be increased if public
utility corporations are to be enabled to secure the addi-
tional capital required for their constantly growing
properties.
One Reason for Public Utility Troubles
Aside from the war, the primary reason for the
pinched position in which some of the public utilities
find themselves is the failure of the individuals on some
of the state public service commissions to adopt a
statesmanlike attitude toward the problems brought be-
fore them. When it is possible for men who have never
shown any particularly great business sagacity or engi-
neering ability, mediocre lawyers and individuals whose
chief recommendation has been activity in behalf of
municipal ownership or increase in the number of
federal, state or municipal employees, to be selected as
public service commissioners, the policy of regulation is
in serious danger.
Executives and managers in charge of public util-
ity properties, having devoted their time and en-
ergies from youth up to the construction and operation
of such properties, usually have won their present posi-
tions, paying as much as $25,000, $50,000 or even higher
salaries per year, as a result of competition and proved
qualifications. In some states public service commis-
sioners receiving $2,500 to $5,000 a year are passing on
business matters involving $100,000,000, although these
men have never evinced ability to originate or partici-
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 1
pate or co-operate in any large business enterprise.
Such men cannot be expected to understand and ap-
preciate— and, as a matter of fact and common knowl-
edge, they do not — the necessity for scope, flexibility
and allowance for some freedom of action in large
affairs. Sometimes men are appointed to membership on
commissions who have the ability to grow, and they en-
large their viewpoint so that after a few years of serv-
ice they develop the proper judicial attitude and render
decisions that are constructive, liberal and fair to both
the public and the companies. The result of the Euro-
pean war upon these public servants must be to make
them appreciate that rates for capital will vary with
money conditions; that while commissions may be able
to force reduction of rates, they cannot compel invest-
ors to put their free capital into unattractive or unre-
munerative enterprises. Rates for capital must be made
attractive and comparable with returns allowed in other
and equally risky enterprises, or no money will be forth-
coming to provide the necessary additional extensions
of property required by utilities.
Conclusions
The European war has therefore hastened recogni-
tion and appreciation of the facts that:
First — Rates of return allowed public utilities are
controlled primarily by current demands and rates for
money, without regard to regulating or law-making
bodies.
Second — Decisions of commissions made at a speci-
fied time under a particular set of conditions may have
to be revised promptly when these conditions are
changed.
Third — The limitation of rates of return to 6, 7 or 8
per cent, as has been held fair by public authorities
under past conditions, must be increased under existing
and probable future conditions if utilities are to secure
the additional capital they require.
Large Questions of Public Policy Before the
Electrical Industry
By W. W. Freeman'
ONE of the problems confronting the industry at
the present time is that of educating the public
to the importance of stabilizing the earnings of
public service companies as a matter of advantage to the
people.
For several years the public policy committee of the
National Electric Light Association has devoted much
time and effort in urging upon the industry the im-
portance of recognizing and practising the most modern
ideas as to the obligations of public service companies
to the communities which they undertake to serve.
The "humanizing" of the industry lias been the burden
of several reports and recommendations which have been
cordially received and generally followed. While this
educational work among ourselves has been timely and
useful, it may not lie amiss to consider whether there
is not special justification and necessity just now to
point out the duty which the public owes to itself to
enable the public service companies to serve the public
satisfactorily and adequately. There is possible dan-
ger that the liberality of companies toward their em-
ld their customers may lie misinterpreted as
indicating unusual prosperity, and that the very mani-
festation nt efficiency and liberality may invite unjust
ml attack.
Fundamental Facta
There are certain fundamental fad affecting i he re-
lation of the utilities companies and the public that
before the public. It should
be better ui ban it appeal to be generall] that
all public service companies t ii.it arc properly perform-
ing their functions are doing a real and necessary
service,
If it were nol ompanie . I h
would have to provide the capital and perform the
In man., it not this WOUld be impos-
Where private capital pri the
municipality Is nol only relieved of all Anancial burden
and ri k but additional revenue is provided tin
on of the company. This is a twofold advantage
to the public, provided, of course, that the service fur-
i Itj Itself would
■
be able to supply. To those who are in position to know
the facts no proof on this point is necessary.
In enlisting the service of a public utility company for
its people the municipality should be principally inter-
ested in seeing that the service provided is adequate and
first-class in every particular.
The rates charged should be reasonable, but they
should be high enough to earn and secure a proper
standard of service. As between low rates and poor
service, on the one hand, and reasonable rates and good
service, on the other hand, the public will generally
choose the latter, if it really understands the situation.
The trouble in some cases is that the ignorant or prej-
udiced are misled into thinking that the company would
like to charge the highest rates obtainable for the poor-
est possible service.
The time has come for the intelligent people in everj
community to realize and preach that the public owe it
to their servants, the utility companies, to recognize
their services at their face value, and not expect to re-
ceive loyalty and efficiency in the inverse ratio of the
distrust and abuse meted out to them.
What Profll Reallj N
When the proper relationship between the quality and
the i"l of the service has been established the other
e comparatively easy of adjustment. Even
the question of profit otters no real difficulty when it is
appreciated that the company merelj seeks the measure
of profit necessary to provide proper and adequate
ice, What is called profll is in realitj an unavoid-
able element of expense. It is the wage the Company
must pay for the capital employed in the liusiness, just
as it must paj wages to its employees. If the w
paid are inadequate, the employees will seek work •
where, and similarly if the ware, to capital, or the divi-
dends, are below the prevailing standards, the companv
will be unable either to retain its full present capital,
because of shrinkage in market value, or to obtain the
additional capital which a public Bervice company must
Continually have to further the development of its
busim
If in a private business the enterprise is unable to
its CUStomen, that business al. i as the
•■■ elsewhere for then- n Is, but in
January 2, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
l?
the case of a public service company with an entire com-
munity depending upon it the people are as much the
losers by reason of poor and insufficient service as are
the stockholders of the company.
It is strange how many sincere persons think that the
profits earned by utility companies are very large,
whereas the same people would not be satisfied in their
own business with several times the rate of return
which is received by the investors in public utility
securities.
Possibly the best proof of the sincerity and good in-
tent of utilities companies generally is the fact that the
rates have not been materially affected by reason of the
drastic regulation of rates and methods which has been
applied throughout the country in recent years. While
rates have been reduced in some places, they have been
ordered raised in others, and it is safe to say that such
forced reductions as have been secured have been no
more radical than the purely voluntary reductions in
former years.
In short, regulation by the public has served more to
emphasize than to change the policies of the industry.
This is a fact that we are justified in making known as
entitling our companies to receive the good will of the
public.
"Service First" Should Be the Actuating Motive
The slogan "Safety first" has recently been used very
effectively, in our industry and others, in arousing inter-
est in the important object of accident prevention.
Possibly the words "Service first" may be used to ex-
press the underlying thought that should actuate both
the public and the utility companies in their mutual
relations. If service in its fullest sense be considered
the first requisite, there can be no excuse for refusal
or unwillingness to grant to any companies an earning
capacity which should be sufficient at all times, and
under all recurring conditions of ease or stress, to ren-
der a service uniformly good and correspondingly valua-
ble to the public.
The Art of Rate-Making
By Alex Dow
WHEN an electric-light company was only a light-
ing company, selling light at night in competi-
tion with gas and trying hard to sell enough
energy to pay for the coal used on the day run, rate-
making by guess was fairly safe and was likely to be
equitable. People who bought electricity for lighting
were paying for a novelty, an advertisement or a lux-
ury. People who bought electricity for motor service
were paying for convenience and knew it. And the
highest price obtainable was in most of the early ven-
tures too low to be profitable.
Now that electricity supply has established itself as
a public service in the broadest sense, when the smallest
apartment and the largest industry are alike dependent
upon the central station, when at one end of the rate
schedule the service must compete with that given by
highly efficient steam plants and at the other end must
be within the reach of the workman's family, the mak-
ing of rates is an art guided by rules which are shaping
themselves into a science.
Rate-Making an Art
Rate-making will continue to be an art, because rates
are made for the future. Science can show exactly
whether last year's rates were fair or unfair, adequate
or inadequate last year. It needs art, and skill in the
art, to estimate the undeterminable factors that will
control costs and sales next year and in years there-
after.
What is given below is based upon twenty-five years
of personal experience. For the first seven years of
that period my rate-making was empirical — not to say
haphazard. For the last eighteen years it has been in-
creasingly methodical, following rules which I have held
to be in accordance with the underlying equities. These
rules are given here, not as a code of the law or the
equities, neither as a challenge to discussion, but for
what they may be worth to others studying the same
problems. In my case they have served their purpose,
apparently to the complete satisfaction of everyone con-
cerned.
A rate schedule must, when applied to the total serv-
ice to be dealt with — that is to say, the total business of
the company for any given period — provide for the pay-
ment of all the costs of performing all the service and
in addition thereto must provide a reasonable return,
•President Edison Illuminating Company of Detroit.
for that period, upon the total investment devoted to
the service.
Reasonable Return Upon Investment
It is convenient for our present purpose to consider
the reasonable return upon investment as something
separate from the cost of performing the service. But
the reasonable return is truly part of cost. It is the
cost of the necessary capital. A reasonable return is
that return which will bring freely the necessary capital
into the service — neither less, else the capital will not
come, nor more, else an excess of capital will be in-
vited.
The cost of service includes the maintenance of the
operating efficiency of the plant and also the mainte-
nance unimpaired of the invested capital. These main-
tenance costs must be collected as they accrue, not as
they fall in. Else future service will have to pay part
of the cost of past service, which is unjust. Therefore
a depreciation reserve, or other acceptable method of
insurance against coming impairment of efficiency or
impairment of capital, must be taken into the reckoning
in rate-making.
Each Class Shall Pay Its Cost
If a rate schedule provides for classification of serv-
ice— as practically every schedule does — the respective
class rates must be such that each class shall pay its
own costs. Otherwise one class must pay the cost of
service to another, which would be unjust. This may
be put concisely thus : No class of service may be per-
formed at a loss. It would be well that no single cus-
tomer should be served at a loss, but that would require
a meticulous exactness of rate-making and of account-
ing impossible in public service. The law disregards
trifles. Public service may well do likewise when as-
sured of their triviality.
The converse to the requirement that no class of serv-
ice may be performed at a loss is: The rate schedule
must not require from any class an excessive return
upon investment. Between these limits — that no serv-
ice may.be done at a loss and that none must be called'
upon to pay an excessive return — the adjustment of the
rate is a matter for business judgment.
Value of the Service
Here the much-discussed factor of value of the serv-
ice enters into rate-making, and here only does it enter..
L8
ELECTRICAL W 0 R L D
Vol. 65, No. 1
Simultaneously and equally there is required consider-
ation of the value of prospective business to the estab-
lished business in giving a broader basis for the bur-
den of costs. It is permissible to take business at a
rate which merely repays to the utility the costs (in-
cluding capital costs) incurred by the addition of this
business. But it is not desirable to do so. Low incre-
ment cost is an index of desirability, but to make the
business desirable it must not only pay its increment of
cost but must contribute to the good of the utility as a
whole. That term, the utility as a whole, means that it
takes customers as well as investors and organization
and plant and management to establish a complete
utility.
The interest of customers in new business is that by
increasing the use of an existing investment, or by
sharing in overhead expense, it will reduce the costs to
be borne by existing business and thereby tend to re-
duce rates. The interest of investors in new business
is that it tends to greater stability or greater rate of
return.
The value of service to the customer is the upper
limit of any possible rate. The increment of cost
is the permitted but undesirable lower limit. The value
of accepted business to the utility as a whole — the new
customer and the old customers as well as the company
— is the measure of skill in rate-making.
The Determination of Class Costs
Obviously the determination of class costs calls for
an analysis of expense over and above that contained in
any state or association classification of accounts. The
principles of such an analysis have been published many
times. The differences in practice are many and the
possible refinements are legion. But a comparatively
simple analysis will serve for the making of an equi-
table rate schedule and will prevent any business being
taken at a loss or any being asked to pay an unreason-
able profit. The first essential is a separation of all
costs (including capital costs) into the three basic cost
classes — costs varying with the number of customers
served, costs varying with demand, and costs varying
with the use of energy; that is to say, with the kilowatt-
hours sold.
The second step is to assign these separated costs
properly to each class of service to which is offered a
different rate, according to the number of customers,
the class demand and the energy used by each class.
Every company knows how many customers there are in
a class and how many kilowatt-hours are billed, but few
companies have measured or estimated the demand
chargeable to each class. A close estimate can usually
be made and will serve for a first analysis.
Iiistrilmtion of Depreciation Reserve
Be it noted that depreciation reserve (or whatever
substitute therefor is adopted) must be distributed to
all three of the cost classes. Some items of deprecia-
tion, notably on meters and service connections, vary
with the number of customers and must be assigned
accordingly. The depreciation of certain other parts is
a function of their use — that is to say, it varies with
the kilowatt-hours sold and must be reckoned accord
ingly: but this pi lly minor. The major part
depreciation Charge is naturally assignable to the
i d column.
i .ii-ity, and thus the capital Cl
with demand; but it must not be overlooked (as already
noted) that meters, service connections, and so mi. vary
with tin' number of customers and little or not at all
with demand, and their capital costs must be assigned
accord ;
What the Completed Analysis Will Show-
Having thus separated and redistributed the costs
and set costs opposite earnings for each class of service,
the completed analysis will show many things. It will
show whether any class is failing to pull its share of the
load, or whether it is carrying the burden of other
classes. It will show where a lower rate is earned and
where any claim for a lower rate ought to be resisted.
It will show what any proposed service would have cost
last year, and so guide the management in judging its
prospective value to the utility. It goes without saying
that it will prove the Hopkinson and Wright dicta
(which no longer need proof) as to the comparative
costs of long-hour and short-hour business. But it also
will prove other things less well known, or even denied
— for instance, that the energy costs are almost negli-
gible in the total cost of serving the average residential
customer while the service or customer costs may be
one-half of the total ; that the customer costs are almost
negligible in average commercial service, and entirely
so in industrial power service; that in a metropolitan
city served by efficient steam-electric plants, where
taxes are high and real estate brings big prices, and
all mains and services are underground, the cost of cap-
ital may be the greater part of the cost and that it may
equally be so in a village served by a transmission sys-
tem from a water-power.
Discrimination Disguised as Classification
For the study of an existing rate schedule, analysis
according to existing rate classes is sufficient. For the
making of a new rate schedule or for the study of some
particular service additional classification may be
needed. Classification may lie insufficient or may be
excessive. It is insufficient if it throws into the same
class divers groups of customers whose group costs are
essentially different. It is excessive if it selects one
or a few customers to form a favored class in recogni-
tion solely of the superior trading ability of these cus-
tomers. Excessive classification in this manner is the
fault for which the railroads of the United States have
been most bitterly assailed and most severely punished.
As to the justice or the injustice of the accusation and
punishment, I have nothing to say here. What I have
to say is that discrimination, disguised as classification,
is unsafe as well as unjust.
Feature of Adequate Classification
An adequate classification, then, will separate serv-
ices having essentially different cost characteristics —
such as lighting service requiring close regulation and
maximum reliability, industrial power where the cost of
exact regulation is unnecessary and reliability is I
tive, wholesale delivery of servii bral points,
retail deliver] scattered here and there ever a county,
residential service with its deferred peak and its char-
acteristic time difference between the individual maxi-
mum demand and the class maximum demand, and com-
mercial lighting where the class and individual maxima
are coincident. Individual differences in load-factor do
•nit ion by classification and are better
taken care of by a Hopkinson or Wright form of rate.
'I'he rule i- thai the classification must be based upon
trail-defined class characteristics, the definition to be
dear enOUgfa to leave no doubt as to the class in which
any customer belongs.
To conclude, these are the principal rules which I
have followed in making rates. Of minor rules and of
minor preferences there la no space heir t.> write and
there is in them the making of many bunks from which
1 pray to b<
January 2, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
V.i
Recent Developments in Prime Movers
By W. F. Durand*
THE insistent and unchanging demands in the field
of central-station engineering are economy and
reliability, and the activities of the central-station
engineer are continually to be judged with reference to
these two fundamental demands.
The past year has been one of unremitting effort
toward advancement along these lines of progress,
though without results of a spectacular or epoch-
making type. It is perhaps not too much to say that so
long as thermal-power engineering has to deal with the
present known methods of heat liberation and trans-
formation no further great advances will be possible.
So well developed have been the possibilities of our
present accepted methods that further improvement
must of necessity deal with the outlying margin of loss
which we have not yet learned to control. In fact, in so
far as economy is concerned, the work of the power en-
gineer is now primarily concerned with the diminution
and prevention of a series of losses more or less sec-
ondary in character with reference to the main problem
of power development.
Boilers and Fuels
Thus in the boiler room the available fuels remain,
as hitherto, coal and oil, with occasional use of gas
(natural or producer) where special conditions permit.
The principles of ordinary combustion are well under-
stood and the further work of the power-plant engineer
is concerned chiefly with the attempt to realize, as closely
as practicable, physically perfect conditions. Some
progress has been realized through the year in a wider
understanding of these principles and in a better ap-
preciation of the part which indicating and measuring
instruments may play in determining the actual condi-
tions of operation. Thus flue-gas analyses with flue and
stack temperature recorders are more and more de-
pended on to furnish the indications on which an intelli-
gent study of loss control must depend. In certain large
stations which have recently come under the reviewer's
notice the leading firemen have been provided with flue-
gas analysis outfits and are instructed in their use,
quite empirically and with no real understanding of the
chemical principles involved. They are taught simply to
make observations and to control the fuel and air sup-
ply in accordance with the results. In other cases, in
increasing numbers, automatic flue-gas analyzers are
provided and the graphic results indicate similarly the
proper control of fuel and air supply.
Saving in the Fireroom
This all indicates a widening appreciation of the pos-
sibilities of saving in the fireroom and in connection
with the fundamental problem of heat liberation. In a
broad way boiler economies of 80 per cent or a little bet-
ter are now realized. The remaining 20 per cent escapes
primarily by way of the stack. There are here two
large and important problems which confront the power
engineer. These are the raising of the best boiler effi-
ciency and the raising of the average with reference to
the best. With reference to the first of these, certain
hopeful possibilities were held out some few years ago
by the work of Professor Bone, of Manchester, England,
through the method of surface combustion. This
method seems not yet to have reached the stage of prac-
tical application on a large scale, though we may hope
for such development as a result of continued study. As
a matter of national conservation it is undoubtedly far
more important to raise the average of boiler efficiency
well up toward 80 per cent than it is to demonstrate in
individual and detached cases efficiencies of 85 per cent
or thereabouts. Such an advance in the average effi-
ciency of boilers throughout the country would mean
enormous savings in fuel and a corresponding economy
in the use of a limited natural resource.
As an incident in the struggle for higher boiler effi-
ciencies with oil fuel, reference may be made to the
continued search toward improvement in methods- of
atomization. The whole program of atomization and
introduction into the furnace is fundamentally one of
preparation of fuel, and as such it stands as a charge
against the steam produced. With steam or air as an
atomizing agent, the toll in terms of steam is about 3
per cent under good average conditions. With mechanical
atomization by means of jet orifices of various forms,
the cost in terms of steam may be reduced to about 1
per cent. It remains as an outstanding fact, however,
that the thermal efficiency of the boiler with steam or air
atomization seems a shade better than with mechanical
atomization so that the final result is somewhat inconclu-
sive. The general subject of mechanical atomization
for oil fuel is, however, attracting keen attention on the
part of engineers and inventors, and we may confi-
dently look for such improvements as shall raise the
thermal efficiency of the boiler to an equality with that
realized in steam or air atomization, thus leaving a
margin of 1 or 2 per cent saving in over-all fuel ex-
pense.
Some attention has also been given to automatic time-
indicating devices for controlling the firing program
with large batteries of boilers. Time-controlled firing
has long been a feature of marine service, and with a
reasonably steady load there should be an excellent op-
portunity to apply this method to central-station work.
Smoke Prevention
The subject of smoke prevention or smoke combus-
tion continues to attract serious attention in some of the
large manufacturing centers, and a number of special
furnaces have been brought forward for use in the
campaign for smokeless combustion. The principle of
these furnaces involves generally some method of mix-
ing the smoke in the furnace, after formation, with
sufficient air for combustion and of then passing the
mixture through some form of combustion chamber
where the temperature is above the point of ignition.
Thus all the conditions for combustion are realized, the
carbon is consumed, and the gases pass on smoke-free.
Some interest has been noted in the oft-tried problem
of the economical combustion of pulverized coal. Coal
in this form burns readily with an intense heat, and the
method, if reduced to a thoroughly practical basis,
would open up enormous supplies of low-grade or refuse
fuels. The control of the temperature presents difficul-
ties, and this feature together with troubles of detail
with the pulverizing and feeding apparatus renders the
present over-all economy somewhat problematical. The
time will doubtless come, however, when this general
method or some other equivalent one will be required to
make available the enormous deposits of low-grade fuels
which so far we have been able to discard.
Some progress should be noted in boiler design for
high-pressure steam. One new design has been re-
ported on during the year, representing the results of
several years of investigation and intended to provide
steam at working pressures up to 600 lb. and with 300
deg. of superheat. Thus far these boilers have only
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. I
been built in small sizes, but hopeful indications are re-
ported looking toward a combination of such a type of
boiler with engines of the una-fiow type, promising still
higher economies for the steam-driven prime mover of
the reciprocating form.
Steam Turbines
The steam turbine remains, as during the past few
years, supreme in the field of large central-station work.
There has been some progress in structural details and
some advance in the size of units. The 30,000-kw unit
may be said to have arrived and the 50,000-kw unit has
at least entered into the field of the designer's computa-
tions and plans.
A report to the American Institute of Electrical Engi-
neers in June last, reported in abstract in the Electrical
World of July 4, gives an excellent resume of the pres-
ent status with special reference to large central-station
practice. In the report the thermal efficiency is recom-
mended as the only just criterion, a point which has
often been insisted upon in these columns. Reference
is further made to the economic performance under
standard conditions of 175 lb. pressure, 100 deg. super-
heat, and 28.5 in. vacuum expressed in terms of a water
rate. From these results it appears that a rate of 14
lb. per kw-hr. is passed at an output rating of about
5000 kw. while a rate of 13 lb. is reached only at an out-
put of about 30,000 kw. This indicates the wide range
of capacity over which the rate changes but slightly, and
by inference, also, the comparatively small further im-
provement in economy to be anticipated from advancing
sizes.
A recent development of interest with some of the
largest-sized turbine units shows a combination of two
or more elements with motors at different speeds, taking
steam in series ; as, for example, a high-pressure single-
flow element at 1500 r.p.m. combined with a double-flow
low-pressure element at 750 r.p.m. In this manner full
advantage is taken of the best rotative speed for each
element, and the gain is considered more than to counter-
balance any small loss due to the subdivision of the
generator.
In medium sizes and small sizes no great advance has
been made in the turbine so far as efficiency is con-
cerned, and in small sizes it remains distinctly inferior
to the reciprocating engine of the more economical
forms. In this field of work the use of the turbine will
be justified nol by any advantage in efficiency but rather
by considerations of first cost or of availability for high
rotative speeds, or by some combination of the two.
In this connection n aid be made to a well-
defined downward tendency in the cost of turbine and
turbo-generator units in relation to rated output. As a
result of this tendency the turbine is the better holding
its own in competition with high-economy prime movers
of the internal-combustion type, of which the firsl cost
is necessarily high.
The Reciprocating Steam Engine
The chief interest during the year in prime mi
of tip ng steam-engine type has been in
ucb as the una-tlow or loco-
mobill I in' conventional and standard form of
rocating enj sen improved and standard-
i ms hardly possible to
nsiderable further impi n this
rial prime n
The "una-flow" attracting Berious attention
in the United states, and in Europe it is displacing com
pound e Several lead
log engine builders In the United States are now bulld-
his type, with a umption of
from 1 1 lb. or 12 It, per hp-hr. for high pros 111
:n\ condensing operal Ion upward to 20 lb. or I
about for more moderate pressures, saturated steam and
non-condensing operation. The significant fact which
seems to have been demonstrated by this engine is that
the characteristic economy of the compound or multi-
stage engine can be closely approached or substantially
realized by a single cylinder acting on the "una-flow"
principle. This development in the reciprocating en-
gine has now assumed important proportions, and no
power-plant engineer who is concerned with a problem
involving small units with the need for high economy can
afford to overlook the possibilities offered by this type
of prime mover.
Mixed-Flow Turbines
Combinations of reciprocating engines with turbines
continue to occupy the attention of engineers and seem
admirably adapted to the requirements of certain special
cases. This combination has found its ordinary appli-
cation in the case of extensions to existing stations
already equipped with reliable prime movers of the
reciprocating type. Many such have been noted from
time to time, one of the more recent as well as one of the
largest being the Commerce Street station in Milwau-
kee, with a total equipment rating of 61,900 kw. In
other cases of new design where power for industrial
purposes is required and where the mechanical charac-
teristics of the reciprocating engine may be of value
the mixed system offers peculiar advantages and has
met with a measure of favor.
Internal-Comhu-lion Engines
The tendencies which recent years have shown in the
development of this form of prime mover have continued
with increasing emphasis during the past year. So far
as central-station practice is concerned, the use of
internal-combustion engines is limited to those of small
size and where small units will meet the conditions. In
a few cases large power is developed with a large num-
ber of units of moderate size, but only in the case of a
supply of fuel practically as a waste product could such
installation be justified.
There are two well-marked types of internal-combus-
tion engine competing with other forms of prime mover
for small or moderate unit service the gas engine using
producer gas of some form and the Diesel engine using
liquid fuel. Activity with each v\ these types has been
noted.
An interesting method of increasing the permissible
output of gas engines which has been brought forward
during the year consists in special provision for
scavenging out the burned gases and then introducing
the fresh charge under pressure. This secures the in-
troduction of an increased amount of fuel in relation to
cylinder volume and a corresponding increase in output.
Interesting combinations have been worked out
whereby the work of compression of the charge is fur-
nished bj steam generated by heat from the exhaust of
the engine, thus securing a direct saving and an in< p
in over all economy. A limit to the application of this
d will, of course, be found in the rising pressures
at the end of compression and in the limit at which
nition is liable to occur. Within this limit the
i would seem to offer hopeful possibilil
With tin' Diesel engine there continues to be marked
•v and some extension in the field of application.
In the mind of many engineers there remain residual
doubts regarding reliability oxer long-time operation and
with heavy gravity oil of asphalt um base. First ■
uluiue high, and thus the quest i tself
into the weighing of low fuel coal against high fixed
chargi ome uncertainty as to costs «( upkeep
ime doubt regarding general reliability. The gen-
eral conclu drawn from the trend of recent
plainly, however, that an increasing
January 2, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
21
number of engineers are becoming satisfied as to the
over-all advantage offered by this type of prime mover
within certain limits as to sizes and conditions of opera-
tion. For small stations of capacity up to 1000 kw or
perhaps 2000 kw the possibilities of the Diesel engine
are such as to merit the most careful study and com-
parison with other methods of design. In the matter of
size record may be made of a 600-hp four-cylinder Diesel
engine of American make recently completed for pump-
ing service in the Hawaiian Islands. This is the largest
engine of this type yet constructed in the United States.
This engine was furthermore built and has been
accepted on a guarantee of continuous operation for 710
hours out of 720 hours per month on California
asphaltum-base fuel oil of gravity 14 deg. to 18 deg.
Baume.
A recent development of oil-burning engines in mod-
erate sizes of the hot-bulb ignition type may be noted.
These engines are attracting wide and favorable atten-
tion, especially in Europe. The compression pressures
are moderate, not exceeding 200 lb., and the engine is
simple in construction and moderate in first cost. While
not equal to the Diesel engine in economy, the more
ready adaptation to small sizes, the lower first cost in
relation to power and the greater simplicity all repre-
sent advantages which may well justify their increas-
ing use for many types of service.
In central-station design generally increasing recog-
nition may be noted of the possibility of over-all econ-
omies by combining various thermal programs in series
and rejecting the final residue of heat always at the
lowest possible temperature. Thus if steam is required
for heating or industrial purposes, such steam should
be passed through a prime mover down to the pressure
at which it is required and then tapped out. If all the
steam passing through a prime mover could be so used,
then the heat charge against power would be only the
heat equivalent of the power generated. Again, where
practicable internal-combustion exhausts may with ad-
vantage be utilized for heating water, making steam for
heating or industrial use, keeping boilers warm, or even
for generating power by low-pressure turbines. In
brief, no stream of heat should be allowed to escape
from a power house unless it is at a temperature too
low to represent any possible salvage. This principle
is gaining clearer recognition, and many illustrative
applications have been noted in recent central-station
design.
The Energy Transmission Work of 1914
By Louis Bell*
ON account of the impossibility of separating from
the total mass of work that which is to be credited
to a particular twelvemonth, one is able merely
to run over the ground and make note of certain ten-
dencies which have become more or less prominent dur-
ing the period under consideration. For example, the
tendency of transmission voltages has been clearly up-
ward, although no actual sensational advances have been
made. The top records belong to a group of three
plants rated at from 140,000 volts to 150,000 volts. This
range has hardly been more than touched experi-
mentally, the full pressures not yet being required by
the conditions of service. A larger group, above a
score, operates at rated voltages of from 100,000 to 130,-
000. It is doubtful whether more than a dozen of these
are worked day in and day out at above 100,000 volts,
although all are ready to operate at their rated voltage
when required.
An interesting feature in high-tension transmission
is the diversity of practice with regard to transformer
connections. Of some thirty plants, American and
foreign, rated at 100,000 volts and over, more than one-
half use the delta-delta connection and nearly all the
rest the delta connection at one end and star at the
other. Very few use the star-star connection which was
once rather popular, but these few are rather im-
portant. The results seem to indicate that any of the
connections is satisfactory in practice when properly
installed.
As to distances of transmission now accomplished, it is
not easy to make a proper classification. Three systems
operating at the very highest voltage carry energy ap-
proximately 240 miles over practically straight-away
transmission lines. However, when one considers the
actual distances covered, the distance just named is
often exceeded in the connected links of a network. For
instance, one Southern network reaches practically
from the Atlantic to the Mississippi, over a distance of
roughly 1000 miles. As a physical network its range is
thus prodigious, but from an electrical standpoint the
network is fed with energy from several plants operated
•Consulting engineer, Boston, Mass.
with a certain degree of independence. In other words,
in this and similar cases of less extent, one does not en-
counter the typical line conditions pertaining to con-
tinuous conductors of the length described. There are
several or many stations connected to the same network,
energy is used in large amounts at many points, and the
operating conditions are those of plants interconnected
temporarily or permanently to assist each other in
emergency. It is this condition which makes operation
comparatively easy and greatly simplifies the problems
of regulation.
The Big Creek System
One of the striking pieces of work in connection with
regulation is the installation of a very large syn-
chronous-condenser equipment at the receiving end of
the Big Creek system, to control the 240-mile line. The
plan of using variable excitation on a synchronous ma-
chine to control the voltage and the power-factor is an
old one, dating indeed from the very first use of three-
phase synchronous motors a score of years ago. But
in the lengths of line ordinarily used acute conditions
of capacity rise of voltage do not exist, an extreme case
like that of the Big Creek system being required to make
the scheme worth considering as a general method of
automatic regulation. With 240 miles of line to deal
with, the charging conditions are formidable and the
terminal voltage is at times a matter of concern. With
a pair of 15,000-kva machines floating on the line, in-
ductance or capacity can be added at will, and in fact
automatically, so that the voltage and the power-factor
are under good control. The scheme is a costly one, as
the capacity of the machine indicates, and whether the
game is really worth the candle remains to be seen. In
the Southern Sierras system of about the same length
use is made of reactors at the receiving end to control
the charging and light-load difficulties and obtain regu-
lation in the ordinary ways. Certainly it would seem
worth while to load the machines usefully if possible,
unless the conditions are so severe as to call for the
extremest efforts in regulation, which conditions exist
only on lines far longer than either of the above.
Fortunately, no straight-away line not carrying in-
22
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 1
termediate loads has a length anywhere near the quar-
ter-wave-length distance, so that the best method of
dealing with a line of this length is as yet chiefly of
academic interest. Usually loads at various points
greatly modify the reactance and conductance condi-
tions, so that the theoretical side of the case drops out of
sight and is replaced by a symptomatic treatment
based on things as they are.
Line Construction on Extensive Systems
Concerning line construction on long systems, there is
to-day fair agreement as to sound standards. No line
worked at 100,000 volts or more is carried on anything
but suspension insulators, from five to ten disks being
used as the pressure reaches or exceeds 100,000 volts.
The conductors are always carried on steel towers usu-
ally 50 ft. to 70 ft. in height with spans averaging
about 600 ft. and spacing generally from 8 ft. to 10 ft.
The conductors are commonly of stranded copper, al-
though it should be noted that in several very recent
and important plants use is made of steel-cored alumi-
num cable, which seems to give excellent results.
One of the notable tendencies in practice is in connec-
tion with switching and substation work. Of late there
have been installed many outdoor substations and nu-
merous outdoor switches. In fact, in Southern and Coast
plants this practice is almost usual. The high cost of oil
switches for very high tension and the recognition of
the fact that high-tension switches are opened under
load only at rare intervals have encouraged the use of
the simpler apparatus. That such a plan is theoretically
open to criticism admits of no dispute, but it seems to
give satisfaction to the users who have to deal with the
practical conditions of operation.
As regards the very important matter of protection
against lightning, the story of the year is one of regu-
lar installation of ground wires along the system and
of aluminum arresters at the important points, with a
few horn-gap arresters for the more moderate voltages.
However, it is noteworthy that at least two large sys-
tems are operated practically without lightning protec-
tion, perhaps on the theory that the protective devices
are as hard to keep in order as are the lines them-
selves. Anyhow, not much has been heard during the
year of serious trouble from lightning, so that the pres-
ent methods may be considered to be reasonably
effective.
Experimenting with Frequency
There has been little tendency of late to experiment
with frequency. Sixty cycles per second is practically
the standard as in the past, although one of the largest
plants uses a frequency of fifty and another twenty-
five. The last-named is that of the Lehigh Navigation
Electric Company, very notable as being designed for
the use of otherwise unmarketable coal. Starting off
with some 50,000 hp in turbo-generators and transmit-
ting energy at 110,000 volts, it comes nearer to the reali-
zation of the dream of "energy directly from the coal
mine" than any enterprise yet inaugurated. The fre-
quency selected in this case fitted conveniently the tur-
bine design and permitted the economical use of direct-
current motors at the receiving end of the line. In spite
of the large amount of evidence showing that a well-
organized steam plant on a large scale can actually fur-
nish energy at a lower cost than most hydroelectric
plants, capital seems shy about going into independent
enterprises of this sort. The one here mentioned
should soon be the forerunner of many another.
To summarize the transmission situation, it may
be said that the year has been one of steady and healthy
growth in electrical energy transmission, unmarked by
anything sensational. In fact, there has been little of
the sensational in the art since the introduction of the
suspension insulator and the aluminum lightning arres-
ter. Practice has fallen into sound lines, and with few
exceptions the plants installed have been operated under
circumstances which give promise of success from both
the technical and the financial point of view. Perhaps
the best tendency in the art is the increasing inclination
to look upon a transmission plant as a conservative en-
terprise to be installed solely with a view to permanent
dividends. The few failures which have occurred have
been attributable to the neglect to take this sound and
apparently self-evident view of the situation.
Developments in Illumination During 1914
By Preston S. Millar*
I
N chronicling the events of 1914 in the field of
illumination, the development and improvement of
illuminants must receive first place.
Illuminants
The gas-filled tungsten lamp was announced in the
autumn of L9l3. Widely heralded aa a half-watt lamp
all the simplicity and convenience of the in-
candescent lamp type, it created an instantaneous de-
mand from rs which the manufacturers
found it difficult t<> meet. During 1911 it entered into
commercial use, although at the end .if the year [t
ei emerged from the developmental stage. The
high temperatures at which mi the pre
of an inert gas in the bulb have occasioned difficulties in
the manufacture, testing and USe ol tin' lamp which
have introduced problems not previously experienced
with -it lamps ami requiring time for lolu
he available lizes of the gas tilled lamps there
idded durin I and 800 watt
multiple I.' imps of 60 cp, 10 cp ami 82
in w itli an auto
I Upon a 15 amp circuit Lamps I
from a specific consumption of about 0.63 watt per mean
spherical candle-power for the 1000-cp series lamp of
20 amp to about L.25 watts per mean spherical candle-
power for the 32-cp series lamp of ?.."> amp. In the
multiple type the specific consumptions lie between the
extremes of 0.72 watt per mean spherical candle-power
for the 1000-watt size and I. US watts per mean spherical
candle-power for the 200-watt Bize. The average gas-
filled lamp as manufactured at the close of 1914 prob-
ably operates at a specific consumption approximating
0.9 watt per mean spherical candle power, or at an out-
put of II lumens per watt, this figure, of course, apply-
ing to a new bare lamp. This represents an increase in
efficiency of about io per cent over the vacuum type of
tungsten lamp of the same size available at the end
of L913. While the gas-tilled lamp is BUpplanting
vacuum-type tungsten lamps in the smaller street i
it is of interest particularly as a competitor of the
arc lamp.
tanong modern an- lamps the long-burning flame in
unit and the magnet ite-tv pe arc unit are chielh to lie
considered. During I hi i improve
ment in the long-burning flame-arc lamp has been re-
ported, though there have been improvements in
January 2, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
23
electrodes and doubtless in minor details of construc-
tion bettering operation. In the magnetite type
of lamp there have been improvements and exten-
sions of the system. New electrodes have been pro-
duced by means of which the efficiency is increased
something like 50 per cent over that of the standard
type of electrode heretofore used. Moreover, the con-
struction of the lamp has been modified somewhat, and
a refractor has been made available by means of which
a larger proportion of the light from the arc may be
utilized. At the same time the available systems at
4 amp and 6.6 amp have been supplemented by a new
system for operation at 5 amp. It is reasonable to say
that the improvement in the magnetite-arc lamp during
the past year parallels in time and extent the improve-
ment in tungsten lamps due to the use of an inert gas
in the bulb.
In the vacuum type of tungsten lamp improvements
in manufacture have made possible an increase of about
10 per cent in efficiency during the past year.
The use of metallized-carbon lamps is diminishing
rapidly, and plain carbon-filament lamps have practically
disappeared from the demand.
No improvements have been reported during the year
in commercial mercury-vapor lamps of either the low-
pressure glass type or the high-pressure quartz type.
Other forms of the tube lamps remain as before. Some
interest was aroused last summer in the announcement
of a "targon" lamp, this being a large incandescent
lamp having a metal filament operating in an atmos-
phere of inert gas. However, there have been no com-
mercial developments in this connection.
Considerable impetus has been given to the artificial-
daylight movement by the development of the gas-
filled tungsten lamp. Artificial daylight equipments are
now available in the form of the Moore tube, intensified
carbon-arc lamp with color filters, and gas-filled lamp
with color filters. In all of these equipments the effi-
ciency is very low and the lighting is so costly that it
is practicable to employ it only for the illumination of
small areas. Other approximation equipments are
available for producing from gas-filled lamps a light
which approaches daylight closely enough for some pur-
poses at an efficiency which is not prohibitively low
when the lighting of large areas is contemplated.
Lighting Auxiliaries
The year has witnessed a continued growth in the
variety and use of lighting accessories. Sufficient time
has elapsed since the earlier discussions of direct, semi-
indirect and indirect lighting equipments to allow mis-
conception to be righted, and it is now evident that all
three forms of lighting have a place, but that in most
cases extremes in any one of the three types are to be
avoided. Hence modern forms of these three kinds of
lighting have been designed with more or less the same
principles in view and tend more than did the earlier
examples to embody the same purposes to such an ex-
tent that the separation of lighting equipments into
the three classes is no longer significant. Stock fix-
tures and glassware produced during 1914 probably at-
tained higher merit than ever before with correspond-
ing advantage in new lighting installations. Very lit-
tle has been accomplished, however, in the remodeling
of older installations other than those of a commer-
cial nature where sales effectiveness is concerned, or
of an industrial nature where production efficiency is
involved.
The gas-filled tungsten lamp has introduced its own
problems in lighting auxiliaries. The filament bright-
ness is so high as to make use of some form of diffusing
medium essential. It has created at the same time a
demand for a ventilated fixture to keep down tempera-
tures of the lamp itself in order to secure best life per-
formance. For outdoor service these fixtures must be
weatherproof as well.
Perhaps the most notable development in lighting
auxiliaries has been the production of the prismatic re-
fractor, applying the principles of prismatic glassware
design to street lighting by constructing the globe with
directing prisms and diffusing ribbings within a sealed
chamber and presenting smooth exterior surfaces which
do not promote the collection of dust or introduce diffi-
culties in cleaning.
Lighting Practice
In comprehension of lighting fundamentals the prin-
cipal advance during the past year has been in growth
of knowledge with regard to contrast limitations.
Avoidance of excessive brightness has been one of the
leading tenets of illuminating engineering for a num-
ber of years, but a new appreciation of the importance
of regulating brightness contrasts, even after excessively
bright sources have been concealed, has been brought
about by added experience and by the use of portable
photometers in brightness studies.
Two significant developments in lighting practice
during the year are "flood lighting" of buildings and
the lighting for recreation purposes of outdoor places
such as tennis courts, portions of golf links, etc. Both
are made practicable by the availability of the higher-
efficiency illuminants.
In street lighting the upward tendencies in intensities
continue to manifest themselves, though in some cities
the increase is considerably less marked than the in-
creasing efficiency of illuminants would appear to war-
rant. Cluster lighting for "white ways" appears to have
seen its greatest growth, single illuminants being em-
ployed in many of the more recent installations. The
"ornamental" type of arc lamp has mcde notable prog-
ress, and the large globe installations in the city of
Washington are especially noteworthy.
Central-Station Lamp Policies
Information from several sources including conven-
tion discussions makes it appear that in the modern view
of most central-station men the control of lamps sup-
plied to central-station customers should be in the hands
of the central station. While there are notable excep-
tions to this general view, it is becoming increasingly
apparent that no other course is consistent with the
best lighting results and therefore with the best devel-
opment of the companies' lighting business. In some
cases tungsten lamps are being sold at list price, in
other cases at cost price, and in some of the largest
cities tungsten lamps of 60 watts and above are given
in free renewals. It has been shown possible in various
localities to control the supply of lamps by each of the
methods indicated. That the central station should
control the supply by some means is clearly indicated.
Photometry
The three principal developments of the year in
photometry are progress in the production of color
niters for heterochromatic photometry, progress toward
the adoption of a flux rating instead of a candle-power
for lamps, and increasing use of portable photometers
in the study of illumination.
The gas-filled lamp has introduced problems not
previously encountered in photometry. The simple
solution of some of these problems requires a flux
rating. For purposes of comparison with arc lamps the
same requirement exists. Lamp manufacturers and
users, as well as the technical societies, are rapidly
coming to the view that nothing less than a flux rating
will serve.
Standardization of heterochromatic photometry is in
24
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 1
a fair way of being accomplished, at least upon some
arbitrary basis. It is understood that several labora-
tories, including the Bureau of Standards, are at work
upon this problem and that the Illuminating Engineer-
ing Society is continuing the efforts begun in 1910 to
facilitate the adoption of some form of standardiza-
tion.
Engineering Societies and Research
For the first time in 1914 the Illuminating Engineer-
ing Society received more able papers than its Transac-
tions could accommodate and was compelled to post-
pone the acceptance of some papers until a later date.
It is further interesting to note an excess of scientific
and research papers among those offered to the so-
ciety. Both are indications of an excellent state of
affairs in the field of illumination and augur well for
further development in the near future. As the Illumi-
nating Engineering Society is the official exponent
of proper lighting practice in this country, it affords a
means of testing the strength of the constructive forces
in the field. The society's annual report indicates
greatly extended activity along educational and research
lines as well as intensified interest on the part of exist-
ing members. It fails to record an increase in member-
ship which its activities and the general interest in the
subject would appear to warrant. Its progress appears
to be derived from the expanded activities of a mem-
bership of 1500, which has remained stationary for the
past three or four years.
There are now four or five laboratories in the coun-
try engaged in organized research in the field of
illumination. Numerous individuals are conducting less
completely organized investigations. All work thus ac-
complished tends to find an outlet through the Trans-
actions of the Illuminating Engineering Society. These
Transactions include as well practically all that is sig-
nificant in advance in lighting practice and are accord-
ingly becoming more valuable and extensive year by
year.
The United States national committee of the Interna-
tional Commission on Illumination has organized for
effective work. As all international effort has had to be
suspended temporarily, but little further progress has
been made.
The Incandescent Lamp Industry
By S. E. Doane*
THE policies of retrenchment and conservation of
resources so generally adopted throughout this
country upon the outbreak of hostilities abroad
caused sales of incandescent lamps for this year to fall
somewhat below the expected value. The reduction in
sales has been due principally, I believe, to the reduction
of lamp stocks in consumers' hands and to the fact that
lamp consumers have allowed their lighting installations
to deteriorate to a point somewhat below the normal
level. Burn-outs are not replaced as quickly in many
instances as heretofore, the change-over from carbon to
tungsten lamps has been retarded, and lamps are
allowed to remain in service longer than has been cus-
tomary.
I have discovered in conversation with many central-
station nun that throughout this period there has been
a very considerable increase in connected load without
a corresponding increase in maximum demand or out-
put. This would possibly indicate a restriction of the
use of light in certain industries or businesses which
have been forced to operate under their normal rate.
While all this has reduced the demand for lamps dur-
ing the past few months, a large part of the apparent
loss will be made up as conditions assume their normal
state and as lamp stocks are again replenished and
lighting installations overhauled. The rate at which
new sockets are being added at present will assist in
rapidly bringing up the lamp demand with further im-
provements in general conditions.
The lamp industry is storing up. as it were, a vast
amount of potential business energy, which will be con-
verted into the kinetic energy of actual sales just as booh
as the present temporary restriction on its outlet is
removed.
Electrochemistry in 1914
By E. F. Roebert
THE work of the electrochemist is directed toward
two aims. One is the production of electrical
energy from chemical energy — that is, the field
of the primary battery and the storage battery. The
other is the production of chemicals and of chemical
effects by electrical means, the storage of electrical
energy in chemicals for "chemical energy transmis-
sion."
There is not much t<> be said about primary batteries
anil storage batteries. In the past year, as for a long
time, no radically new or revolutionary advance has
been made in this field, but the battery industry has
in quite a satisfactory condition, and. as is natural in
l which has become more and mere standard
i made quietlj along the tinea of per
etl of applical
been i i to be attributed
to the electrical engineer rather than to the el©
chen phasizea the fact thai the old
•
problem of the "carbon cell" is still unsolved. In view
of its importance a concise statement of the problem
may not be amiss here. Commercial primary batteries
an' essentially baaed on the use of zinc as "fuel." Rut
there is not the slightest chemical reason why this
should lie BO. As a matter of fact, cells with iron as
"fuel" can be built and have been built. But the favor-
ite visionary problem of electrochemists has been to
substitute carbon for zinc and devise a carbon cell. An
analogy exists in the ordinary Daniel! cell. The chemi-
cal reaction utilized in it is the reaction between zinc
and copper sulphate, yielding zinc sulphate and copper.
This reaction could be brought about by placing
tine directly in the copper sulphate. The reaction
then proceeds, but all of the reaction energ)
ra in the form of heat, in the Daniel) cell
an entirely different arrangement is used. The
sine is not placed direct l\ in copper sulphate, bu1
the utmost can la taken to keep the two away from
each other. Zinc is used as one electrode and o
sulphate is placed around the other electrode, so that
January
1915
ELECTRICAL. WORLD
25
the reaction between the two is not direct, but, as
Ostwald calls it, a "chemical action into the distance"
through the intermediary of ionic migration. The re-
sult is that when the reaction proceeds the reaction en-
ergy is obtained not as heat but as electrical energy.
Consider now the analogous problem for the combus-
tion of carbon. At present coal is burned under boilers
used in connection with steam engines and generators
to produce electrical energy by a roundabout method
with a low efficiency. There would be no corresponding
limitation with a carbon cell, in which the combination
of the carbon with the oxygen would be brought about
not by direct contact and therefore without produc-
duction of heat, but with direct production of elec-
trical energy. The trouble is that a cell arrange-
ment which would represent the carbon analogy
to the zinc cell has not been discovered. The carbon
cell is still a dream. Theorists and practical men have
attempted the solution of the problem, but have failed
equally here and abroad. It seems appropriate here to
emphasize that if this problem has a solution its dis-
covery would mean the greatest revolution possible by
electrochemistry not only in electrical engineering but
in the whole industrial system of the world.
Chemical Production by Electricity
From this, the greatest disappointment which must
be recorded in the past development of electrochemistry,
we may well turn to the other problem of producing
chemicals and chemical effects by electrical means. In
this field the last two decades have witnessed an un-
broken series of glorious successes; of all American
chemical industries none is more specifically American,
made and born in the United States, than the American
electrochemical industry. There are very few imported
processes in it. As a monument to this activity are the
large and firmly established industries of aluminum
and sodium, artificial abrasives, artificial graphite, cal-
cium carbide and chlorine, electrolytic copper refining,
etc. During the past year all of them made quite
steady effective progress along conservative lines until
the European war broke out. None of these industries
has been shaken in any fundamental point by the war.
although the general commercial situation created by
the war has affected some of them more or less, espe-
cially by cutting off the export trade. Most notably
affected has been electrolytic copper refining, like the
whole copper industry, because with an export trade
equal to the home consumption it has been necessary to
cut the production in half. On the other hand, electro-
lytic caustic soda and chlorine plants have profited by
the cutting off of imports of bleach from Europe, and
the sole American manufacturer of calcium cyanamide,
who formerly sold the cyanamide exclusively for fer-
tilizing purposes, is now erecting a plant for the pro-
duction of other chemicals from cyanamide as the start-
ing material.
Developments Along New Lines
Electrochemical developments along two distinctly
new lines deserve at least brief mention. While not
many years ago the hydrometallurgy of copper was re-
garded with suspicion, now the tables are turned and
some of the best talent in the country is engaged in
experimental work on the leaching of low-grade copper
ores and tailings, with reasonable prospects of success.
As to the precipitation of copper from solutions, opinions
seem to differ most. Electrolysis, hydrogen sulphide
and metallic iron are the three precipitating agents thus
far proposed and used. One of the largest undertakings
of this kind is the plant under erection by the Chile Ex-
ploration Company, in which electrolytic precipitation
will be employed with magnetite electrodes.
The second interesting development is in connection
with industrial applications of electrostatic principles.
To electrostatic ore separation has been added the elec-
trostatic precipitation of dust or any solid or liquid
particles from gases. While originally designed for
cleaning obnoxious smelter fumes, the Cottrell process
is finding application in a much wider field. Only a
few instances may be mentioned — the precipitation of
sulphuric acid mist, the collection of abrasive dust,
cement dust, etc., the recovery of gold and silver par-
ticles from the fumes of slime furnaces in copper re-
fineries, the detarring of illuminating gas and producer
gas, etc.
Again it may be pointed out that these two new broad
and important developments are distinctly American.
Review of the Electric-Vehicle Field
By William P. Kennedy*
UNDER the conditions that have prevailed in the
business world during the past year progress in
the introduction of electric vehicles has naturally
been somewhat restricted. The restriction has been
less pronounced in the passenger-vehicle field than in
that of the commercial car ; as a matter of fact, the
progress made with the former type of machine has
afforded considerable encouragement in a situation
which would otherwise have undoubtedly presented
many hardships.
Trial periods of this character enforce severe tests
upon the stability of any industry, and it is particularly
interesting to observe that the electric-vehicle business
is so conservatively organized that it can adjust itself
to sub-normal conditions following a term of somewhat
unusual expansion. Another assurance toward larger
development following the present reduced activity is
that, notwithstanding the immediate low returns, there
has been considerable preparation of an organizing and
constructive character to broaden the missionary efforts
very evidently necessary to make the public recognize
•Consulting transportation engineer. New York.
the superior advantages of this type of machine in busi-
ness or personal service.
The extension of the Electric Vehicle Association of
America is particularly significant. It has more than
doubled its membership and has established sections in
every important center of the country. The activity
thus generated in widely separated localities which
have heretofore been dormant on the subject of electric-
vehicle expansion is certain to have a great cumulative
effect upon the industry. Co-operating along similar
lines are the National Electric Light Association, the
Society for Electrical Development, Inc., the Ohio Elec-
tric Light Association and the Southwestern Electrical
and Gas Association, which are exerting a particular and
valuable effort to enkindle interest and broaden the
sphere of influence in the general project of increasing
the use o.f electrically driven conveyances.
Vehicle Development
The progressive development of the vehicle has not
abated in the least. During the year efforts were exert-
ed by many manufacturers to put upon the market new
models of both passenger and commercial machines
20
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 1
which would specifically meet requirements indicated by
the demand in new directions. With passenger vehicles
there are new designs particularly serviceable for men's
use, as against the closed-carriage designs preferred by
women. Some reductions have been made in the weight
and price of closed carriages without seriously curtail-
ing the luxurious equipment still desired by those who
prefer elegance and refinement. With the downward
trend of the price of gasoline passenger cars the electric
carriage is becoming more distinctively exclusive and is
likely to satisfy the permanent demands of that great
proportion of our communities who have the ability and
inclination to select the more refined types of any con-
venience in general use. The majority of experienced
manufacturers therefore continue to exploit their busi-
ness in the direction of the high-priced car, instead of
pursuing the phantom demand in the opposite direction,
to which much attention has been directed during the
past year. Much has been said as to prospective accom-
plishments with the low-priced passenger cars, but there
are so many obstructions to manufacturing or market-
ing the quantities necessary to make this a profitable
reality that no serious effort has been made in such a
development.
With commercial machines the conditions are some-
what different, as the market is assured by economic
considerations, and the production of low-priced cars is
becoming more and more feasible with the growth of the
automobile industry at large. As a matter of fact, some
actual progress has been made during the year in this
direction and the volume of business secured seems to
accelerate rapidly as the project advances.
As to the modification or improvement of electrical or
mechanical equipment in general, little change has
taken place. The worm type of driving gear has gained
a little in both the commercial and passenger field, by
virtue of a desire for smooth, quiet operation and in-
closed mechanism rather than from any necessity or
from any scope for marked improvement. Body designs
in the commercial types, particularly in the lighter sizes,
are gradually assuming a distinctly artistic appearance.
Refinements of this kind, easily possible with electric
delivery vehicles, render them increasingly popular
among the better class merchants, who consider the
appearance and performance of their delivery equip-
ment an advantageous means of business extension.
Manufacturing Methods
Among manufacturers the question of more complete
standardization of equipment and parts has recently
been under consideration in a very energetic manner.
Many of the unnecessary irregularities can be elim-
inated with material advantage to both the maker and
the user. Limitation in the variety of wheel sizes is
already a recommended practice. This alone will have
a marked influence on tire price and tire operating ex-
pense. Standardized practices will very shortly be
applied to the number of cells in batteries employed in
both types of machines, with such grouping of these
in trays as to provide for a wide range of inter-
changeability which will lie of particular advantage in
large commercial installations. Lack of this inter-
changeability results in considers investment
in spar iiiipment. and anything which may bt
ducive to lowering the operating cosi of large installs-
will tend materially to expedite the more extensive
hides.
i Iperatlni < oats
inusual activity during tin' year to
information concerning the operating
mercial machines. Thi for authen-
ticated data arranged in such form ■> to be lerviceable
for comparative purposes has become so accentuated
that several agencies are at work making compilations
which will acquaint the user with his own operating ex-
pense as well as render the results developed available
for promotion purposes. Many owners have been made
to realize that their system of accounting is inade-
quate, and many who have properly recorded their ex-
pense but who have been reluctant to make it available
beyond the limitations of their own organizations have
been persuaded to assume a broader attitude. They have
begun to realize that in this field, as in others, a mani-
festation of the experience of many in the cost of oper-
ating industrial equipment usually results in develop-
ments which have, retroactively, an advantage to those
who aid in such movements. Consequently, the time is
not far distant when the cost of operating each size of
electric vehicle will be well known and universally
accepted.
Low Rates
There has been a steady decline in the rates for elec-
trical energy, the decrease being about 25 per cent gen-
erally throughout the country. This fact constitutes a
strong inducement toward the use of electric vehicles,
because the tendency of the price of fuel for gasoline
machines is in the opposite direction. In New York
City the minimum purchase of energy necessary to se-
cure the low rate has been reduced from $25 to $10 per
month, thereby practically opening the door of electric-
vehicle use and economy to the owner of small trans-
portation equipment. An associated move has been the
persuasion of livery-stable keepers to furnish accom-
modation for small vehicles, with individually metered
energy supply, thereby permitting the small butcher or
baker to use electric delivery cars at such cost as has
heretofore been possible only in large installations.
.Municipal Service
For municipal employment, and particularly in street-
cleaning service, the electric vehicle is beginning to re-
ceive serious consideration, and one may expect within
the near future some developments which will be inter-
esting and profitable. European cities have been in the
advance in this direction, and the economy obtained has
finally induced consideration of similar applications
here. New York is taking the lead in a large way by
setting aside a sufficient appropriation to equip com-
pletely one section of the city with practically all electric
motor-vehicle apparatus. As this proceeds it will prob-
ably be well advertised and will attract such attention
from other cities that similar apparatus will be em-
ployed in many other localities.
Parcel Post
It may be said that in the parcel post service there is
a large potential opportunity which if industriously pur-
sued will yield a considerable number of quantity instal-
lations and which should lie of advantage alike to the
manufacturers of vehicles and the central stations in
cities in which such applications could he effected.
I luring the earlier pari of the year a comprehensive
campaign was instituted in a very general way to ac-
quaint those associated with parcel-posl operation in
the various departments of the government, as well as
the central stations, concerning the man; advantages of
trie-vehicle employment, and to urge co-operation
between the government and the central stations 1 ■'. -.
planatory literature which was prepared and distributed
ted in a general expression of willingness to pro-
mote the employment of this type of machine wherever
it might be feasible to do BO.
The earlier operation of parcel posl developed the
fact that many of the practices in use with mail matter
would require change before a smooth co-operative
January 2, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
27
working of the system could be effected. One of these
is the method of securing vehicular service for the dif-
ferent forms of transportation required in cities, and
this has recently had consideration with recommenda-
tions for such modification in the proposals of con-
tractors as will combine all vehicle service to be ren-
dered under one contract. Heretofore separate
contracts have been made for each separate division of
transportation. The combination service will eliminate
certain losses.
Invitations to bid upon this new character of vehicle
service are at present being printed and will shortly be
issued, covering the requirements for some thirty cities,
in which the present service will terminate on June 30,
1915. This is a rare opportunity for those who are
really interested in the project, and success will depend
upon the degree of intelligence exerted to solve the prob-
lems involved. Opportunity for change of vehicle equip-
ment comes only once a year, and unless prompt action
is taken at this time by those interested the chance to
do something effective disappears for a long interval,
during which interest in the project is likely to lag.
Industrial Trucks
Increasing progress is being made in the substitution
of small electric vehicles for manual labor at docks, ter-
minals and warehouses, where little improvement in the
methods employed has ever before been shown. The
margin for reduction of existing expense is very large,
as those who have already made use of the new equip-
ment will willingly testify. It stands to reason, there-
fore, that as the missionary efforts of those engaged in
this field become more extended the rate of increase in
this specific application will become more pronounced.
The General Prospect
There need be no particular apprehension as to the
ability of the passenger vehicle to continue to secure a
fair amount of patronage from those who prefer it for
its own inherent advantages, aside from any competitive
consideration as compared with the gasoline type of pas-
senger car. The volume of business which has been
secured in the past may continue and will probably in-
crease, but competition against the gasoline car is be-
coming more and more difficult as the refinement of the
latter lessens the margin of advantage which the elec-
tric vehicle has enjoyed.
Competition of the Gasoline Truck
The immediate situation with the commercial car is
more serious on account of the decline of the demand for
any kind of motor truck in this country due to general
business conditions. There has been produced in the
electric commercial field a state of suspended animation
and no one can foretell under what conditions resuscita-
tion will take place. One serious competitive change is
certain. The gasoline-truck manufacturers are gaining
an experience in the interval which places them on a bet-
ter footing than ever before. Until very recently they
did not receive such large quantity orders as the elec-
tric-vehicle manufacturer enjoyed. The quantity
orders placed during the last few months by foreign
governments with our gasoline-truck manufacturers
give them an enormous advantage. Many of them are
clearing their factories of all stock which they have had
on hand, and the new experience gained in actually pro-
ducing large lots on single orders will put them in pos-
session of information they have not previously had.
The net result to be expected is the lowering of prices
all along the line and a new eagerness to secure the
quantity business for which their appetites have been
whetted, so to speak. The electric-vehicle manufactur-
ers may thus be more seriously handicapped than ever,
and it will require some extraordinary effort to keep the
business from becoming decadent.
Merchandise transportation in the large cities will be
handled completely by motor vehicles within ten years.
It has taken less time than this to bring about the
almost complete change now accomplished in passenger
transportation. During the next few years the relative
position of the two competing types of machines for this
service will be determined.
Radiotelegraphy and Radiotelephony
By J. L. Hogan, Jr.*
DURING the year 1914 the development in radio
transmission seems to have been in the direction
of extending the application of well-known funda-
mentals of practice, rather than in the adoption of any
radically new methods or apparatus. Marked advances
in the technique of long-distance radiotelegraphy have
been made, and even in the less important instruments
used normal and satisfactory progress in design has
been shown. As would seem natural, the great Euro-
pean conflict has already forced the completion of valu-
able service improvements, but it has also put an end
to equally or more valuable researches into many radio
problems.
Safety at Sea
The lives of nearly 1000 persons saved from some
ten merchant vessels by radio-directed rescue forces
may be added to the already long list to the credit of
this potent factor in increasing safety at sea. The
value of federal licensing and inspection of radio sta-
tions has been further demonstrated by the discovery
of a number of violations of the existent "wireless" laws
and prosecution of the offenders, who often are not only
guilty of legal misdemeanors but also of infractions of
a common moral duty toward passengers aboard their
•Chief research engineer National Electric Signaling Company.
vessels. Notable progress has been made in the adop-
tion of well-designed auxiliary radio transmitters, sup-
plied with power by special installations of storage cells
and capable of sending distress signals some 200 miles
under usual daylight conditions, to take the place of the
feeble induction-coil plain-aerial emergency senders
which were almost universal a year ago. Many ships,
however, have insufficient storage-battery equipment, or
even none at all. Any of these may at any time increase
the number of vessels which have sunk "before the S. O.
S. call could be sent out," since as soon as the engine
room is flooded power from the dynamos is cut off and
the radio equipment is most effectively gagged.
Radio Signaling on Trains, Submarines and Aircraft
In its application to signaling to, from and between
moving trains, radio has found another field of useful-
ness. During the past year it has been demonstrated
that a small power transmitter installed in an ordinary
railway coach and using a low horizontal aerial of wires
strung along the roofs of adjoining cars can be relied
upon to telegraph some 50 miles. The installations
which have been made, however, have not been operated
continuously, perhaps since the expense of maintaining
a trained telegrapher for each train more than offsets
the convenience of such equipment. Elimination of the
L'.s
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 1
"fixed charge" in operator's salary may be the result of
some experiments in wireless telephony to and from
trains which are now being planned, since if speech can
he satisfactorily transmitted and if the apparatus prove
reasonably rugged in service, the train crew can be de-
pended upon for handling messages.
Similarly, the use of radiotelegraphy upon sub-
marines and aircraft is growing from day to day. The
large Zeppelins are said to be equipped with instruments
giving possible operating ranges of several hundred
miles, and aeroplane installations capable of signaling
some 50 miles are not thought unusual. The distances
reached from submarine boats are of this same order,
and for exchange of messages under some conditions
when wire aerials could not be erected submarines have
used as antennas jets of salt water pumped vertically
into the air and "insulated" from the sea by passing
through spiral tubing forming the coupling coil.
Long-Distance Communication
In competition with and as a substitute for line and
cable telegraphy over long and short stretches of sea,
radio has become of still greater importance. Early in
the year the cable to Nassau, in the Bahamas, was in-
terrupted; and since excellent service to that island has
been given from the wireless station at Miami, it is an-
ticipated that the cable will not be replaced. Radio
transmission over this short link of about 180 miles is
not, however, to be compared to the wireless communica-
tion direct between the United States and Germany,
some 4000 miles, which has existed to some useful de-
gree ever since the cutting of the Emden cable near the
Azores, and which now permits regular exchange of
commercial messages by way of Tuckerton, N. J., and
Eilvese, near Hanover. At the time of enforced cessa-
tion of cable service direct with Germany these two
plants had just about completed their experimental
transmission tests and were preparing to open for the
sending of paid messages. Some complications of title
and censorship then made it desirable for the federal
government to take over the operation of the Tuckerton
station, and public service in competition with the in-
direct cable routes was begun. The radio service was
interrupted by an unfortunate accident to the Tucker-
ton radio-frequency alternator, and although temporary
communication was obtained by the successive installa-
tion of two arc generators of the type in use for signal-
ing between San Francisco and Honolulu, regular serv-
■ 'ild not be had until a new alternator received
from Germany was put in operation early in December.
During the same period of several months good trans-
mission was had from the powerful station at Naiion.
near Berlin, to Sayville, L. I., by the use of continuous
waves, though the Sayville -park sender proved too
feebli Germany reliably. It is stated thai the
Sayville plant is now being equipped with a sustained-
wave generator similar in size and principle of operation
to that at Nauen, and therefore there probably will soon
be two pair- of radio stations linking the United States
and Germany. The fact that reasonably good inter-
change of i effected at the present time, hen
ever, must nol be considered an assurance that the com-
munication will extend through the summer months of
tui mce i' . <'■■•■ erthi le
- ce In radio practice to operate an actual
men I ne 1000 mil<
erful duplex spark tele
graph Installations at New I N\ J., and
viiles apart. Is of in''
for the handling
of public n • Welsh plant Is held bj the
ted "ii good aut'
that messages are interchanged with such ease that they
may be phonographically recorded at high speeds. A
pair of similar stations at Koko Head, Hawaii, and near
San Francisco are in operation and compete for public
messages with the Pacific cables and the sustained-wave
arc-generator radio service which was established sev-
eral years ago over this span of approximately 2000
miles. The Clifden-Glace Bay service between Ireland
and Nova Scotia has been duplexed, and although some-
what limited in operation by reason of strict govern-
ment supervision, seems to be working satisfactorily.
In seeking the solution of problems involving long-
distance transmission through severe interference from
"static" and from external stations, engineers are stead-
ily working toward sustained-wave generation by arc
or machine alternator combined with receivers depend-
ing upon the "beats" or heterodyne principle. Several
types of high-powered generators of sustained radio-
frequency alternating current are in use, but each ap-
pears to have definite commercial disadvantages. It is
hoped that these defects will be overcome during the
next few years, and work is proceeding with that end in
view. The musical-tone persistence-selecting receiver
involving the production of oscillations at the receiving
station and their combination with the incoming signals
to cause amplified responses has become generally
known only recently, but is already largely used for
long-distance working. During the past twelve months
the varied phenomena of gas conduction have been ap-
plied to an interesting group of amplifiers and low-
powered oscillation generators, and the several gaseous
detectors have found wider use than in previous years.
It must constantly be borne in mind, however, that noth-
ing is to be gained by unduly increasing the sensitive-
ness of receiving instruments, since their responsiveness
to atmospherics (the real bane of the long-distance
radiotelegrapher) is likely to become disproportionately
great.
The Patent Situation
A large number of radiotelegraph and radiotelephone
patents were issued in 1014. but by far the majority of
them appear to have been granted on early applications
for improvements in detail which have little if any cur-
rent value. Patent litigation has been quite general;
basic claims of Marconi and Fessenden have been
broadly upheld and injunctions issued. It appears that
for a time the federal courts will lie kept busier than
ever, since a number of new and unlitigated patents
have recently been thrown into the group which are
'I to be infringed. The criminal courts have not
been called upon to consider any further eases involving
fraudulent stock manipulation and the like, so it max
he considered that the earlier convictions have acted as
a warning to those who delighted in exploiting the pub-
nsity to invest in romantic and mysterious
pseudo-bonanzas.
The problem of radintelcphony is still to devise in-
struments eajiable of impressing vocal modulation upon
large amounts of radio-f rei|iienc\ power. The
tained waves necessary for long-distance wireless speech
transmission can be generated with comparative ■
but no controlling apparatus has been demonstrated.
Short-distance telephony using substantially continuous
wave, generated by sparks occurring at group frequen-
little attention, but is limited in application by n
pendence upon microphones for modulation. Until
dei Ices for the imp' the si
wave curve" upon the high frequency radia-
tion can be produced there is little hope
radiotelephony or, in fact, even reliable voice signaling
over moderate disti
January 2, 1915
ELECTRICAL W O R L D
High- Voltage Transmission at High Altitude— I
The Chile Exploration Company's 110,000-Volt Installation at Chuquicamata in the Andes,
Reaching an Elevation of 10,000 Ft.
By Percy H. Thomas
ONE of the most notable of the large engineering
enterprises now being actively developed is the
huge copper reduction plant of the Chile Explora-
tion Company at Chuquicamata, Chile. This installa-
tion is situated high in the Andes Mountains, at an
elevation of over 9000 ft., in a district practically a des-
ert for many miles around. Here the company pos-
sesses an enormous deposit of low-grade copper ore
which is to be treated on an unusually large scale. The
Chuquicamata ore is of such a nature that it may be
treated with acid or "leached" without previous roast-
ing or smelting. The recovery of the copper from the
resulting solution is accomplished by electrolysis, which
operation serves at the same time to purify the product.
It is expected that the copper thus electrolytically pro-
duced will have an electrical conductivity exceeding 100
per cent as compared with the Matthiessen standard.
Obviously, for the electrolyte process there must be pro-
vided a large amount of electric energy in the form of
direct current. It has been estimated that to deposit
the copper contained in 10,000 tons of ore to be mined
each day will require approximately from 60,000 amp
to 70,000 amp at 235 volts with the equipment operat-
ing continuously for twenty-four hours daily.
There being no reasonably cheap fuel in that part of
LI? *'? "a -
L2? x2? x,k
13{4' x 6'J">
SECTION E-E
n'L3 *3 "S ..
3tol na
L2fxZ?x,%
M
•l2X
FIGS. 1 AND 2 — PLAN OF TRANSMISSION TOWERS
Chile, the most satisfactory and reliable source of
energy has been found to be fuel oil burned under boil-
ers at the seacoast. Electric energy generated there-
from by steam turbo-generators is to be transmitted
over a 110,000-volt line to the mine. The purpose of the
•Consulting electrical engineer.
present article is to describe some of the more interest-
ing features of this transmission line.
The generating station at Tocopilla on the seacoast is
distant by 87 miles from the mine substation at Chuqui-
camata, the altitude of which is approximately 9000 ft.
The generating station and substation and the appa-
ratus in the stations were designed, built and installed
by the Siemen-Schuckertwerke of Berlin. The gen-
erating station contains four 10,000-kva, 5000-volt, fifty-
cycle turbo-generators and four three-phase, 10,000-kva
transformers to raise the pressure to 110,000 volts. The
normal load on the line will be approximately 30,000
kva. During the initial development stage it has been
decided to install only a single three-wire circuit, which
FIG. 3 — ARRANGEMENT OF INSULATORS
is sufficient for transmitting this amount of power with
about 7.5 per cent loss. Later there will be installed a
second circuit carried on a second line of towers.
In the substation are seven 2500-kw motor-generator
sets, three being equipped with synchronous motors and
four with induction motors. Each motor drives two
direct-current generators, each having a maximum cur-
rent rating of 6000 amp.
The transmission line is unique in passing from sea
level to an elevation of 10,000 ft. Moreover, it traverses
for its full length a country utterly barren of all vege-
tation or animal life. That is the "nitrate district" of
Chile, and the line passes in the neighborhood of some
of the present workings. While the barrenness elimi-
nates certain difficulties in operation such as the falling
of limbs of trees across the line and malicious interfer-
ence, it leaves the line unprotected from the free sweep
of high winds and exposed to dust deposits.
Physical Structure of the Line
Use is made of galvanized-steel towers with a stand-
ard span of 200 m (656 ft.), giving five towers to the
kilometer, or about eight towers to the mile. The three
conductors of No. 000 seven-strand medium hard-drawn
copper cable, lie in a horizontal plane and are separated
by 12 ft. 11 in. Two 3s-in. galvanized Siemens-Martin
30
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 1
steel cable ground wires are used. The arrangements of
conductors and ground wire, together with the appear-
ance of the face of the tower, are shown in Fig. 1. The
side view may be seen in Fig. 2.
In laying out the line there was assumed a maximum
wind pressure of 30 lb. per sq. ft. on flat surfaces, cor-
responding to a velocity of 87 miles an hour actual and
The line insulator used is of the Locke No. 3266
type, a new two-piece suspension insulator with a 10.5-
in. outside diameter and a 6-ft. spacing. Seven units
are employed in the suspension string. The insulator
string is shown in Fig. 3 and the single unit in Fig. 4.
Eight units are employed "in strain" where the line is
dead-ended.
The regular or "standard" towers are 47 ft. high to the
ground wire and 43 ft. 9 in. to the cross-arm. The base
is 13 ft. by 16 ft. The towers are guyed at regular in-
tervals on tangents and wherever desirable on angles.
As far as practicable the tower construction has been
made strong enough to stand without guys under any
ordinary conditions of service, the guys being relied
upon only for safety in case of extraordinary stresses.
The line is transposed by a one-third turn at five points,
there being two complete revolutions of the conductors.
Insulators
As the most important link in a transmission line,
next to the conductors and the towers themselves, the
400
FIG. 4 — SECTION OF INSULATOR
ever 110 miles indicated. The assumed range of tem-
perature was from — 5 to + 55 deg. C. As Chuqui-
camata is just under the Tropic of Capricorn and rain
is practically unknown, no allowance was made for sleet.
The stress permitted in the conductor with the maxi-
mum wind pressure on the cable as noted above is 2700
lb. at the tempeiature of — 5 deg. C, giving a sag
of 3 per cent in the standard span of 200 m with a tem-
perature of 55 deg. without wind. The elastic limit, as
determined by tests on sample of the actual cable, is
4000 lb., so that there is a margin of 50 per cent over
2700 lb., which is sufficient to take care of injuries,
joints and other variations without exceeding the elastic
limit of the material. The ultimate strength of the
cable is 7000 lb., corresponding to 53,000 lb. per sq. in.
The ground-wire cable is stressed to 3000 lb. under
the most severe conditions outlined above, giving 36,000
lb. per sq. in. The elastic limit of the cable was 4400
Hi. or 53,000 lb. per sq. in. by test, and the ultimate
strength was 9000 lb. or 108,000 lb. per sq. in. Thus
DETAIL SHOWING ARCING HORN
the line conductor has a factor i two
and one-half and the ground wire a factor
nearly threi These values Bhould be compared with
the fa of two often used. The extra mar-
gin in the design is ible on account of the
. output involved ami tin mm ual importan
continuity in operation.
£ 200
100
FIG. 6-
2 4 6 8
UNITS IN STRING
RESULTS OK TESTS OF TWO-PIEd SUSPENSION
INSULATORS
insulators require careful attention. The Chile Explor-
ation Company's insulators embody a Dumber of inter-
esting features. Experience with suspension-type
insulators during the last five years has brought out
certain salient characteristics. As compared with the
pin insulator, the suspension typ< possibility
of a larger margin of safety in insulation and permits
the use of a far higher line voltage. Moreover, the BUS-
n t\ pe offers several times tin' mechanical strength
of the usual pin insulator and permits at least doubling
the length of span. On the other hand, the suspension
type has the great handicap of permitting the line to
swiiur in any horizontal direction, As a result of this
bined with the necessity of supporting the
Insulator from above there is required a higher, wider
and considerably more expensive tower than need be
used with a pin-t\ pe insulator
January 2, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
The disadvantage of mechanical swinging and excess
tower cost attributable to the suspension insulator does
not exist when the insulator is used as a strain unit, that
is, with the axis of the insulator string in line with the
cable. When such strain insulators are used the tower
would differ little from that used with the pin-type in-
sulator, although the greater mechanical strength of
the suspension insulator would permit proportionally
longer spans and heavier towers. However, the strain
arrangement necessitates the use of two insulator
strings at each point of support. In heavily construct-
ed lines it would not be possible to use towers of as low
a weight with insulators placed in the strain position
as with insulators in the suspension position, on account
of the partial relieving of the stress on a tower by the
side deflection of the insulator string in case a wire be-
comes broken.
It has been stated that disk insulators in the strain
position are more likely to fail electrically than when in
the suspension position. It is very doubtful, however,
whether a good porcelain insulator, properly designed
and used, with a sufficient mechanical factor of safety,
will have any less electrical strength in the strain than
in the suspension position. However, on account of the
disadvantage under which the insulator skirts act in
the up-turned position of the strain insulator another
unit is often added to the suspension string.
In the Chile Exploration Company's line use is made
of the usual arrangement of suspension insulators for
normal tangent portions that are reasonably level, but
strain insulators are employed for dead-ending when
any occasion therefor arises. The same type of insul-
ator units are used in both positions, seven in suspen-
sion strings and eight in strains. The length of the
suspension string, while greater than is often used, is
short considering the unusually high puncture and sur-
face resistance provided. The short length of string is
greatly to the advantage of the tower mechanically,
both in keeping down its physical dimensions and in
reducing the amplitude of swinging of the conductors,
thereby lessening the stresses and reducing the tendency
of wires to come in contact.
Selection of Insulators
An outline of the conditions upon which was based
the selection of the insulators for the Chile Exploration
Company's line may be of interest. In the first place,
the importance of the line and the great premium put
upon continuity of service made reliability, and not in-
sulator cost, the chief consideration. However, there
is not so great a difference between the cost of the best
and of inferior insulators as might be supposed. Had
the cheapest insulator that could have been permitted
from the most lenient point of view been adopted for
this line, the actual saving in cost would have been from
$5,000 to $7,000.
Mechanical and electrical ruggedness was made the
prime requisite for the insulators. Mechanical relia-
bility was insured by providing an unusually large
factor of safety and by choosing the simplest and most
favorable mechanical shapes. The two shells of which
the insulator is made have no double or auxiliary petti-
coats and their outlines are smooth curves with very
moderate maximum dimensions. The maximum me-
chanical stress expected on the insulator is 2700 lb. The
insulator is guaranteed by the manufacturer for 10,000
lb., and the tests showed a strength averaging in the
neighborhood of 12,000 lb. Manufacturing difficulties
were reduced by not selecting shapes and proportions
for the porcelain shells regarded as difficult or unde-
sirable from the point of view of fabrication. It is to
be noted that there are no thin edges or flanges on the
insulators, the skirts being very heavy and strong. In
order to reduce as far as possible any bursting effect
from temperature expansion in the pin the cement re-
ceived its initial set in an atmosphere of steam.
Electrical ruggedness was sought first and foremost
by requiring a large factor of safety in the puncture re-
sistance of the insulator over its flash-over voltage. In
the actual insulator this factor was shown to exceed two
as determined by the puncture test under oil as de-
scribed below. Electrical reliability was sought by the
use of a two-piece insulator, with the idea in view that
if one of the shells should contain a defect not discov-
ered in the routine factory tests the other shell would
contain no such defect and the insulator would still be
able to resist puncture at the flash-over voltage. Pre-
cautions were taken by inspection and tests as far as
possible to insure careful firing and uniformity in the
product. For this purpose special tests were made on
selected lots of insulators from time to time as de-
scribed below during the actual course of the manufac-
ture to check the quality of the insulators actually com-
ing through the factory.
It is believed that the above outlined method of select-
ing a high-tension insulator is more likely to lead to
satisfactory results than the formal competitive test in
which the principal stress is laid upon high flash-over
voltage, upon the economical use of porcelain or upon
corona phenomena.
The Chile Exploration Company's insulator is mod-
eled after the well-known two-piece insulator used by
the Southern Power Company and several other com-
panies, but is so modified in its proportions as to have
quite different characteristics. To prevent arcs that
may result from flash-overs on the insulators from
cracking the skirt of the lower insulator unit or burn-
ing the conductor, an arcing horn (shown in Fig. 5) is
attached to the cable clamp, thereby offering a dis-
charge gap about 1.5 in. shorter than the jumping dis-
tance from the ground to the insulator pin. This is be-
lieved to be a very helpful expedient, as many insulators
capable of resisting puncture have been destroyed by
arcing over.
The following factory tests were made on the Chile
Exploration Company's insulators:
Routine Tests. — (a) On all shells as they came from
the kiln and again on all cemented insulators voltage suf-
ficient to produce occasional flash-overs (not oftener
than once in two seconds) was applied for a period of
two or three minutes, and the voltage was then raised
somewhat to produce a practically steady succession of
flash-overs, this latter adjustment being continued for
one-half minute. The purpose of the two-minute period
was to submit the porcelain to continuous sixty-cycle
stress and the purpose of the one-half-minute period to
produce an impact or "high-frequency" effect. The in-
sulators stood up very well under the routine tests dur-
ing manufacture. The percentage of electrical failures
in the routine factory tests was unusually low, being
0.5 per cent on the small shell and 2 per cent on the large
shell before cementing and 2.2 per cent on the finished
insulator. The very small percentages were attribut-
able, no doubt, in part to the high factor of safety in the
design.
(b) All insulators were subjected for five seconds to
a mechanical pull of 3000 lb., or 10 per cent in excess of
the maximum strain expected in service. The mechan-
ical pull was set far below the real strength of the in-
sulator to avoid the possibility of injuring mechanically
the insulators that were to go into actual service. It is
believed, however, from some of the tests reported be-
low, that at least double the above stress, or 6000 lb.,
might safely have been applied to the insulators. Not
one insulator in the 18,000 tested failed under the 3000-
1b. test.
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 1
Design Tests. — The curve of flash-over voltage, dry
(shown in Fig. 6), was obtained in the usual manner
by means of the manufacturers' test apparatus, reliance
being placed on a needle-point gap to measure the volt-
age. Xo special attempt was made to insure the use
of a sine voltage wave in this test.
In Fig. 6 is shown a curve of wet flash-over voltage
obtained under the artificial condition of the rain test.
which usually means little. Failure under the wet test
is an uncertain and indeterminate phenomenon; it starts
as a leakage of current and finally becomes a "power"
sulators on account of rain. This statement is appli-
cable to rain, but it must be clearly understood that it
has no bearing upon the effect of dust or salt deposits
and fog, which may sometimes be very serious. As
there is no known method of even roughly approximat-
ing in the laboratory the dust and fog conditions along
any particular transmission lines, no attempt was made
to predetermine the effect of the climatic conditions in
Chile.
Uniformity Test. — The uniformity test originally
proposed by Mr. F. W. Peek, Jr.. as incorporated in the
m. Z00°
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MO 115 12
KILO-VOLTS AT POWFK
-CHART SHOWING CORONA NDRR VARIOUS CONDITIONS
arc with no definite or reproducible point of break-down
between. The production of such a power arc requires
an abnormally high voltage sustained i rtain
period. Only under th ditions can such a
tained high voltage be produced on a ti n line
the other limitations of the laboratory
rain I i thai of the variation
in purity i ductivity of the "
perience little or no trouble
is encountered Is • over on line in-
high-tension test specifications presented at the recent
annual convention of the American Institute of Elec-
trical Engineers, was applied t ■ » the insulators at four
different times during the progress of the work with
nteresting results. For carrying out t hi
twenty two insulatcr units were selected at random from
ilatora thai had passed all routine l
These were punctured under oil, the puncture voltage
being carefully noted. The manufacturer was then
permitted to cast out any two of the results and the re-
January 2, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
maining twenty were averaged. The maximum varia-
tion of puncture voltage between the highest and the
lowest of the twenty remaining results was then not
allowed to exceed 20 per cent of the average.
The reason that the manufacturer is permitted to
cast out two of the twenty-two puncture values is that
this test is intended to check the uniformity of the clay
mixture and of the burning, and not to detect the occa-
sional weak insulator.
In making the puncture tests the rate at which the
voltage is raised is of the greatest importance, since the
porcelain itself under an electric stress near the punc-
ture point heats up very rapidly, the puncture
resistance of the material being greatly reduced
thereby. Since the high puncture resistance is de-
sired chiefly against transient stresses which can-
not last for a time sufficient to produce heating,
the test voltage should be raised as quickly as is
consistent with reliable readings. In the first uniform-
ity test the test voltage was raised at the rate of
approximately 1000 volts per second; in the later tests
approximately six seconds were allowed to elapse from
the time of passing from 30 per cent of puncture voltage
to the full puncture voltage, the rate of increase being
about 20,000 volts per second, although a little lower
rate was used toward the puncture point. The results
of the four uniformity tests were as shown in Table I.
TABLE 1 — TEST OF GROUPS OF TWENTY INSULATORS
Mean puncture voltage
i puncture voltage .
i puncture voltage . .
variation, per cent
155,000
170,000
13S.000
20.7
190,000
204,000
165,000
20.5
207,000
222.000
18S.000
16.4
191,000
208,000
180,000
14.7
The above puncture values are to be compared with the
flash-over voltage of a single insulator, namely, 90,000
volts. The puncture tests were made on the regular
testing apparatus of the manufacturer, and the voltage
values were checked by the use of a needle-point gap.
No claim is made to a sine voltage.
Impact Test. — Several impact or "high-frequency"
tests were made on the unit insulators. Some of these
tests were made in New York and others at the insu-
lator factory. The tests were substantially like the test
described before the American Institute of Electrical
Engineers in a paper by Messrs. P. H. Thomas and L.
E. Imlay in December, 1912. A large air condenser was
caused to discharge across a considerable series gap
onto the insulator under test, thereby providing an elec-
tric impact shock of the same nature as lightning.
The series gap in these tests was 20.5 in., equivalent
to 200,000 volts, requiring for the discharge a trans-
former emf of 300,000 volts. The area of each con-
denser plate varied from 40 sq. ft. to 60 sq. ft., with a
separation of plates of approximately 3 ft. No induct-
ance other than that of the few feet of connecting wire
was introduced in the discharge path from the con-
denser to the insulator.
Tests were made by applying single discharges or
groups of discharges to the insulator with intervals of
rest between to prevent the heating of the material of
the insulator, this test being intended to be purely an
impact test and not to involve the element of heating of
the porcelain by repeated or sustained high-frequency
stresses. The results of the test are shown in Table II.
The last insulator was heated considerably during the
repeated tests and the puncture may have been caused
by the heating.
The impact test, which is new, is believed to give a
good indication of the effect of transient or "high-
frequency" voltages caused by lightning, which are so
apt to puncture insulators. The insulators tested stood
up well under the exacting test.
Mechanical Pull Test. — Several insulators were me-
chanically pulled to destruction, the stress as shown by
TABLE II-
-ELECTRICAL IMPACT
TEST OF INSULATORS
Insulator
No. of Shocks
Result
No. 1
200
No damage
No. 2
200
No damage
No. 3
17,500
No damage
No. 4
13,031
(Large
shell punctured; had very
slight blistering)
a dynamometer being as follows: No. 1, 12,730 lb.;
No. 2, 14,000 lb. ; No. 3, 12,990 lb. ; No. 4, 12,670 lb. ; No.
5, 11,800 lb.; No. 6, 11,530 lb.; No. 7, 11,080 lb.; No. 8,
11,660 lb.; No. 9, 9590 lb.; No. 10, 9350 lb.; No. 11,
9490 lb.; No. 12, 11,060 lb.
Insulators Nos. 9 to 12 failed by the pulling out of
the pin; the cement had been set for only two days.
Insulators Nos. 5 to 8 had previously been punctured
and oil-soaked.
Omitting those in which the cement had set for only
two days, the average stress at destruction was 12,310
lb. The noteworthy uniformity of the mechanical
strength shown in these tests corresponds with the uni-
formity in puncture strength shown by the tests under
oil.
Simultaneous Mechanical and Electrical Tests. — Sev-
eral insulators were pulled to destruction mechanically
while an electrical potential approximately flash-over
voltage was simultaneously impressed on the insulators.
Under these conditions the insulators will fail electric-
ally as soon as any part of the insulator is injured by
the mechanical strain. Under a test of this sort some
types of insulators have been known to fail electrically
after the application of perhaps one-third of their ulti-
mate mechanical strength. The results obtained are
given in Table III. These tests show that, at least for
TABLE III — SIMULTANEOUS MECHANICAL AND ELECTRICAL
INSULATOR TESTS
No. of Insulators
11,000
11,000
11,000
12,000
11,900
11,600
such mechanical stresses as were applied, the electrical
strength is not greatly affected by mechanical stress.
Temperature-Expansion Tests. — In order to ascertain
whether the design of insulator selected was able to
resist considerable changes in temperature without
cracking, two insulators were packed in snow for two
hours and then immersed in cold water, which was grad-
ually heated until the temperature reached approxi-
mately the boiling point. The insulators showed no
signs of weakness after this treatment.
Shipment
These insulators were packed three or four in a
crate and were shipped without additional precautions
other than the use of extra heavy crates with iron hoops
on the ends. No breakage during shipments has been
reported.
34
E L E C T R I C A L \Y ORLD
Vol. 65, No. 1
As the Chile Exploration Company's line reaches an
altitude of approximately 10,000 ft. and operates at
from 100,000 volts to 110,000 volts, the corona loss must
be most carefully considered. A study was made of
the existing data on the subject, and calculations were
finally made by means of the formula derived by Mr.
F. \V. Peek. The results were then compared with the
published results on the Central Colorado Company's
line, which is very similar thereto in many features.
(See Mr. G. Faccioli's A. I. E. E. paper.) ' The Peek
formula values are plotted in Fig. 7 covering the whole
line under various conditions of temperature and line
voltages. From these curves it is seen that the size of
wire chosen, No. 000, is about as small as could be safely
used.
The great influence of atmospheric temperature on
the corona loss is readily seen from the curves. This
effect of temperature is not always recognized in spite
of its importance. On the other hand, the importance
of keeping the line voltage below the critical corona
voltage is often over-estimated. The loss under what
Mr. Peek calls "storm" conditions also is shown: this
term refers particularly to precipitation.
The conditions on this line are especially favorable
for low corona loss on account of the wide spacing and
the horizontal arrangement of the conductors. It is
interesting to note that the horizontal arrangement as
compared with the delta arrangement shows a lower
corona loss, just as it shows a reduction of about 4 per
cent in the capacity of the line. The lesser corona loss
and lower capacity result from the fact that the two
outside wires considered as a pair are twice as far apart
as are the other pairs.
Electricity for Sterilizing Purposes
By W. B. Underwood
New uses for electricity in hospitals are continually
being found, but only within the past three or four
years have any successful attempts been made to heat
hi, I BATTI hi 01 I I i -i nUI STERILIZERS
stean . tricitj . Electri<
llisei ally well adapted for use m Institutions
■uch isylums, en perating depart
menta of Industrial p te operating
apparatus ih mi
quently employed, Thej are also useful In hospitals
> limited amount available.
Steam sterilizers may be heated by a central-boiler
system, electricity, gas, kerosene, gasoline or alcohol.
The latter three fuels are in the emergency class and
are never used if any other fuel is available. Gas is ob-
jectionable because of unavoidable fumes and dirt and
because of the danger of the water in the sterilizer
evaporating and therefore destroying the apparatus
, — : — i — i — 1
__irL-J
f— —
\ ; i
.
■
~"
i ' '
T
_i
V— n
'.p—
PIG. 2 — AVERAGE DAILY ENERGY CONSUMPTION
It is said that, with some types of apparatus, gas at $1
per 1000 cu. ft. is equivalent to electricity at 1.5 cents
per kw-hr. It is probable that this comparison approx-
imately holds good on new apparatus when the efficiency
of the gas heaters is a maximum. As the apparatus
grows old, however, lime and sediment deposits seri-
ously retard the passage of heat, and as a result it is
not unusual to find that the time for heating a sterilizer
after a year or more of service is more than doubled.
In the accompanying illustration is shown the elec-
trically heated sterilizing equipment recently placed in
the De Graff Memorial Hospital, North Tonawanda, N.
Y. This is a typical installation, and the total rating is
27 kw, although usually a maximum of only 12 kw is
taken. The apparatus consists of an instrument ster-
ilizer, a utensil sterilizer, a pair of water sterilizers and
a dressing sterilizer.
The instrument sterilizer consists of an electrically
heated reservoir for boiling water. The surgeon's in-
struments are kept in this water for fifteen minutes be-
fore using. The device takes from 8 kw to t> kw. The
utensil sterilizer is made up of a larger reservoir than
that used with the Instrument steriliser and Is used for
pans, basins, etc. It takes from 6 kw to 12 kw. The
water sterilizers consist of two reservoirs, one being
used for cold water and the other for hot water. To
sterilize the water it is subjected to B temperature
which corresponds to B steam pressure of 1 •"> lb. to IS \\<
per Bq. in. The maximum rating Of each reservoir is
:: kw to 18 kw. The dressing Bterilizer is a steam-jack-
eted cylindrical chamber for steriliiing bandages, dn
ings, etc. These materials usuallj are subjected to moist
steam at a pressure of approximately i"> lb. per sq. in.
for a period of about twenty-five minutes. The maxi-
mum rating of this device is :'. kw to 12 kw.
In each of these Bterillsers the process Is purely one
of heating water. The hMting units are interchange-
able. The accompanying diagram shows the average
dail] energ] consumption in s hospital equipped with
from fifty to Beventy beds
January 2, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
35
DIGEST OF ELECTRICAL LITERATURE
Generators, Motors and Transformers
Synchronous Motor-Generator Versus Rotary Con-
verter.— Hugo Ring. — The author discusses the ques-
tion whether the increasing tendency to favor the syn-
chronous converter as a substitute for the synchronous
motor-generator is justified. He first emphasizes that
a synchronous motor-generator can easily be operated
with other direct-current generators; moreover, the
power-factor is adjustable and, independently of this,
the direct-current voltage is also adjustable without any
further auxiliary devices. For the same purposes the
synchronous converter requires the use of various auxil-
iaries. With a synchronous converter it is necessary
to know far more accurately in advance the detailed
conditions of operation than with synchronous motor-
generators. When installing a synchronous converter
it would be fatal to hope that any defects may be rem-
edied later by means of a choking coil or an auxiliary
compound winding. In this case wattless current plays
a role in the operation and the synchronous converter
may be subjected to an overload for which it was not
designed.— Elek. Zeit., Nov. 5, 1914.
Lamps and Lighting
Train Lighting. — Emil Dick. — The first part of an
illustrated article on the electric lighting of passenger
trains by the simplified Dick system. The illumination
is somewhat higher when the train is running than when
it is at rest. It was found that with metallic-filament
lamps the storage batteries could be operated at surpris-
ingly low voltages. These facts make it possible to use
an arrangement in which the lamps are connected in
parallel with the battery and the dynamo, the voltage of
which is adjusted by a special regulator. There are no
energy-consuming resistors in series with the lamps
and the batteries, no lamp regulators, no iron-wire re-
sistors, relays or other complications. In the present
instalment the author describes the results of tests on the
charging of storage batteries. The general results are as
follows, for batteries in good normal condition: The
charging emf should be not more than 2.4 volts per cell,
if damage is to be avoided. For a full charge of the
battery a charging emf of 2.25 volts per cell is just suf-
ficient. The ratio of the charging ampere-hours to the
discharging ampere-hours is always higher than unity
if the charging has been continued for a sufficiently long
time and charging pressures above 2.25 volts per cell
have been used. The battery may be maintained in
operation for long periods with relatively low charging
voltages without danger of damage. As the initial
charging current is rather high, charging of the bat-
tery at constant voltage is unsuitable. The charging of
the battery should not start with constant voltage, even
if only 2.25 volts per cell is used, but the charging volt-
age at start should be automatically adjusted to a lower
value, the more the battery has been discharged, if
melting of the fuses and overloading of the generators
and the apparatus are to be avoided. The author begins
to discuss the method of regulation and the characteris-
tics which the generator must have. The article is to
be concluded.— Elek. Zeit., Nov. 26, 1914.
Generation, Transmission and Distribution
Refuse Destructor. — J. Festner. — An article on the
garbage incinerator in the city of Barmen, Germany,
which has 172,000 inhabitants. It was erected in 1907
and has proved quite satisfactory. The garbage is
burned to a slag which is later ground into sand used for
brick and building purposes. The gases resulting from
the burning of the garbage have a temperature from
1200 deg. to 1500 deg. C. and are used for raising steam
under boilers in connection with a 400-kw turbo-genera-
tor. The electricity is sold at vs cent per kw-hr. to the
municipal electric station, which sells it at 2.75 cents.
One ton of garbage yields 0.5 ton of slag and 77 kw-hr.
of energy. During one year 22,000 tons of garbage is
burned, yielding 11,000 tons of sand and 1,700,000
kw-hr. of energy. — Science, Dec. 18, 1914.
Traction
Alternating-Current Traction. — A fully illustrated
description of the single-phase motor cars used on the
Loetschberg mountain railway operated at 15,000 volts.
—Elek. Zeit., Nov. 26, 1914.
Installations, Systems and Appliances
Crane Controllers. — H. H. Broughton. — A fully illus-
trated article on magnet-switch crane controllers. In
this article the author describes the construction, opera-
tion, arrangement and connections of remote-control
systems, and shows how these are applied to heavy
cranes. Speed control, dynamic braking and automatic
acceleration are dealt with, and a number of typical
magnet-switch control systems applied to the several
motions of a crane are described. — London Electrician,
Nov. 27 and Dec. 4, 1914.
Protective Gear. — Kenelm Edgcumbe. — The first
part of an illustrated article on over-voltage protective
gear for high-tension circuits. In the present instal-
ment protection against disturbances due to external
causes is discussed. The article is to be continued. —
London Elec. Review, Nov. 27, 1914.
Cooking Installation. — An illustrated description of
a military electric cooking equipment recently installed
by a London central station. — London Elec. Review,
Nov. 27, 1914.
British Central Station. — A fully illustrated descrip-
tion of the large new extension of the Hackney munici-
pal electric station. The plant was opened thirteen years
ago with a direct-current supply, but for the extension
a three-phase system at 6000 volts and fifty cycles and
distribution from substations has been adopted. The
substations feed energy to the existing direct-current
network, except in the case of very large consumers.
who are supplied with energy directly from the high-
tension alternating-current system. For the three-
phase generating plant one 3000-kw turbo-alternator
has been installed and a 5000-kw set has been ordered
Each of the three substations contains two 500-kw
Lacour converters. — London Elec. Review, Dec. 4. 1914.
Wires, Wiring and Conduits
Testing High-Tension Cables by Direct Current. — An
account of the discussion which followed the reading of
the paper of Lichtenstein, recently abstracted in the
Digest, on the use of the Velon system for testing alter-
nating-current cables by means of high-tension direct
current. Apt asked about the size of the testing ma-
chine, since a certain minimum of capacity serves to
break a cable down. He also asked as to the connections
of the cable to the positive or the negative poles of the
machine, since there should be a difference in these two
cases on account of osmosis. In reply to the later ques-
tion, Lichtenstein said that no special pains had been
taken to investigate the polarity of the connections, so
that probably each conductor had been connected as
often to the positive pole as to the negative pole. No
particular difference had been observed. Riidenberg and
36
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. l
Bercovitz also participated in the discussion. As to the
capacity of the testing plant, Lichtenstein said that the
Delon rectifier of the Siemens & Halske company was of
10-kva rating. The power consumption in the test de-
pends primarily on the current passing in continuous
operation through the cable insulation. Let it be as-
sumed that the insulation resistance of a fault in course
of formation is 12,000,000 ohms. At 150,000 volts there
is then a fault current of 0.0125 amp, which is super-
posed on the normal insulation current. If the testing
plant can supply this current without an appreciable
drop of voltage, the Joulean heat at the fault is 1875
watts, or 1.875 kw. Under these conditions the fault re-
sistance will soon be reduced to zero, so that it is pos-
sible to locate it. The Delon rectifier of the Siemens &
Halske company has a sufficient capacity to supply the
necessary current without considerable voltage drop. —
Elek. Zeit., Nov. 5, 1914.
Cable Laying. — An illustrated description of the
methods employed in laying the cables from the Tysse-
dal Power Plant on the Hardanger Fjords to the carbide
factory in Odda. On account of the mountainous char-
acter of the country the laying of the cables was
rather difficult. Two parallel cables, each of 3 X 120 sq.
mm., for 1250 volts are employed.— £7e/c. Zeit., Nov.
5, 1914.
Electrophysics and Magnetism
The Electrical Resistance of Thin Metallic Films and
a Theory of the Mechanism of Conduction in Such
Films.— W. F. G. Swann.— The theory which attributes
electrical conduction to the presence of free electrons
requires, in order that the variation of the resistance of
a metal with the temperature T shall be explained, that
the mean free path of an electron shall vary as T~\
The original object of the present work was to test this
fact by direct experiment. Patterson has shown that
the specific resistance of a very thin film is abnormally
high, and, moreover, that it increases very rapidly as
the thickness diminishes below a certain critical value.
Sir J. J. Thomson has shown that a rapid increase of
this kind can be explained as due to the fact that when
the dimensions of the film get comparable with the
mean free path of an electron, those electrons which at
any instant are moving in a direction inclined to the
plane of the film do not get a chance of traveling for
their complete mean free path, so that the electric field
does not produce in them the full velocity which it would
produce if the true mean free paths were described.
From this theory and the 7" law it would follow that
when a film is cooled down to liquid-air temperature
there should be a distinct displacement of the distance
of the bend of the curve from the origin of thickness.
It was found that no such displacement of the bend took
place, and apart from certain relatively small variations
of the resistance of the films with temperature, the
curves at the two temperatures were practically coinci-
dent, at any rate in the neighborhood of the bend. The
experiments are not taken as necessarily proving that
the free path does not vary as 7", but rather as show-
ing that the explanation of the sharp bend is to be
found from another standpoint than that which explains
it as due to the thickness Of the film comparable with
the mean free path, The author gives a new theo-
retical explanation. — Phttoa. Mag., October, 191 l.
Tht from Mercury Vapor in mi Electric
D. Child, The vapor rising from a mer-
cury are is luminous and the relative Intensity Of the
different lines in the spectrum of the light can be modi
tied by an electric Held. This may be done by changing
the potential difl i red by the mean free path
of the electrons. The greater this potential difference
the more prominent the green line as compared with the
yellow ones. This may be explained by assuming that
certain lines are produced by the union of electrons with
positive ions which lack one electron, while other lines
are produced by the combination of electrons with posi-
tive ions lacking more than one electron. — Phys. Rev.,
October, 1914.
Units, Measurements and Instruments
Measuring High Vacuums. — J. W. Woodrow. — A de-
scription of a very sensitive Knudsen absolute mano-
meter. The gage is shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and the
electrical circuits in Fig. 3. The glass rods GG serve
as supports for the metallic parts of the gage. All the
internal electrical connections and adjustments, with
the exception of the final leveling, are made before the
outer glass wall OO is sealed on at SS. The suspen-
sion W is a phosphor-bronze ribbon. The movable van
VV consists of a rectangular frame of aluminum. The
heating plates PP are platinum strips. The deflections
of the movable vane are obtained in the usual way by
the reflection of a beam of light from the mirror M.
The phosphor-bronze suspension is connected at both
FIGS. 1 AND 2-
-DESIGN OK MANOMETER KOR MEASURING
HIGH VACUUMS
ends by threading through three small holes drilled
into the flattened extremities of the platinum and alum-
inum wires respectively. The small loops DD are so
placed that they support the movable vane V except
when the gage is leveled for taking readings. This
makes the gage readily portable. The moving system
BCtrically connected through the suspension to that
terminal of the heating strips which was grounded, the
whole being screened from external electrical disturb-
ances by an earthed silver coating on the outside of the
glass walls. A small electromagnet, shown at E in Fig.
1. is employed In bringing the moving vane to rest.
The temperature of the heating strips is determined by
the method shown in Fig. .'?. The potentiometer leads
77' are elcvt rieally welded to the very extremities of
the platinum heating vanes PP. The heating current
is regulated by the resistor of variable resista:
and its value [| read on the ammeter A. The resistance
r, is kept constant at 10,000 ohms and r varied to ob-
tain a balance of the sensitive galvanometer O, The
potentiometer battery (' consists of a carefully cali-
brated Weston Standard cell, This arrangement gives
an accurate method of measuring the resistance of the
January 2, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
37
platinum strips PP, plus the heavy platinum wire ab.
According to the theory of Knudsen, the gas pressure
2K
within the gage is P
, where K is the uni-
y/TJTt — V
form pressure in dynes on each square centimeter of
the movable vane and T1 and T2 are the absolute temper-
atures of the heating strips and of the moving vane
respectively. If the difference in temperature is small
as compared to the absolute temperature, the formula
T
may be written P = AK,= ^ . This formula is inde-
pendent of the nature of the gas or vapor to be meas-
ured. For the dimensions of the author's instrument
T
the formula becomes P = 2.2 X 10" ^ — ^ " mm °f Hg>
where d is the deflection in milimeters on a scale at a
mM/T^{a)— ji
P B Kl
FIG. 3— WIRING CONNECTIONS OF MANOMETER
distance of 1 m from the mirror. As it is easily possi-
ble to obtain a temperature difference of 100 deg. C,
and since a deflection of 0.5 mm can be observed, the
gage will measure a pressure as low as 3X10"8 mm of
Hg. Radiation pressure has no appreciable effect.
Some notes are added to the article which deal with the
production of very low vacuums. — Physical Review, De-
cember, 1914.
Ohmmeter with Several Scales. — H. A. W. Kline-
hamer. — While many firms build ohmmeters, their use
is not very extended, probably because they are mostly
designed for one single scale. The simplest ohmmeter
consists of an ammeter in series with the resistance to
be measured and a source of constant emf. The am-
meter may then be empirically calibrated in ohms. The
author discusses the problem how it is possible to de-
sign an ohmmeter so that by a simple turn of a switch
the scale divisions represent 10 or 100 times greater
values. If the relation between the unknown resist-
ance x and the current i is given by the equation x =
cf(i), the problem is that, by simply operating a switch,
c be changed from 1 to 10 or 100, etc. The author dis-
cusses the very general case of a network with con-
stant electromotive forces containing in different
branches the ammeter, the battery and the resistance x
to be measured, and shows that if the deflections a of
the ammeter are proportional to the current through
the ammeter, then the general relation holds true that
W
a0-
, where x is the resistance to be measured,
W the total resistance of the network without the re-
sistance x, and a the deflection of the ammeter when
the resistance x is inserted. a0 is the deflection of the
ammeter for the resistance x = 0 and a00 the deflection
of the ammeter when the resistance x is infinitely large.
Evidently a0 and a00 are the end marks of the scale. Ac-
cording to the above formula the unknown resistance x
is found when the ratio of the distances of the posi-
tion of the ammeter needle from the two end marks of
the scale is multiplied by the total resistance W of the
whole network. This result is independent of the spe-
cial arrangement of the connections. It follows that
the scales of all ohmmeters must be similar, whatever
their connections. They differ only in the position of
the end marks and in the value of the constant W. If
the end marks are fixed (that is, if i0 and i00 are main-
tained constant), a change of the total resistance W
of the network will change the constant of the propor-
tionality. Many solutions are possible, but not all are
equally good in practice. The problem is greatly sim-
plified if the resistance to be measured is connected
either in series or in parallel with the battery and am-
meter.' For the series connection iuu = 0, where the prob-
lem is to find an arrangement by which the total re-
sistance of the network can be changed without chang-
ing t0| the simplest arrangement is the Wheatstone
bridge as shown in Fig. 4. The ammeter in series with
the resistance x to be measured is in one side branch
of the bridge. The bridge is so adjusted that with the re-
FIG. 4 — ARRANGEMENT OF WHEATSTONE BRIDGE
sistance z short-circuited there is equilibrium. This
equilibrium will not be disturbed and the current i0 in
the ammeter will not be changed (as long as resistance
x is short-circuited) if the resistance of the diagonal
branch of the bridge is varied by the movement of a
switch as indicated in the diagram. But the total re-
sistance of the network may be greatly changed there-
by. In this way it is possible to let the constant W as-
sume the values of 10, 100, etc., the arrangement being
very suitable for an ohmmeter.— Elek. Zeit., Nov. 26,
1914.
Telegraphy, Telephony and Signals
Quenched-Spark Transmitter. — Emil J. Simon AND
Lester L. Israel. — A paper read before the Institute
of Radio Engineers on the operating characteristics of
a three-phase, 500-cycle quenched-spark transmitter.
The attempt to produce a nearly continuous radiation
of energy and high-tone frequencies by the use of poly-
phase transmitters is historically considered. The work
of Eisenstein and Seibt is described. Experiments
were made with two-phase and three-phase transmit-
ters. It was found that the wave trains produced by
successive discharges in adjacent phases overlapped in
the antenna, thereby causing unmusical tones in the re-
ceiver and a diminution of transmitter efficiency. This
decrease in efficiency is attributable to the increased
reaction of the antenna on the closed oscillating circuits
and the consequent disturbance of the regularly spaced
spark discharges of the transmitter of each phase. By
increasing the antenna damping, thereby lessening the
overlapping of successive wave trains, the musical qual-
ity of the tone was improved and the transmitter effi-
ciency markedly increased. Tests on dummy antennas
and actual long-distance tests were made. The produc-
tion of practically sustained radiation, susceptible of
reception by the use of the ticker or analogous devices.
:;s
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 1
and produced by polyphase transmitters, is favorably
considered. The limitation of quenched transmitter
efficiency by the overlapping of rapidly successive wave
trains is discussed.- — Proceedings, Institute of Radio
Engineers, September, 1914.
Miscellaneous
Svnss Exhibition. — ERNST WINKLER-BUSCHER. — The
conclusion of his report on the Swiss exhibition in Bern.
The author gives an account of exhibits of various Swiss
manufacturers in the Machine and Apparatus Building
and then describes the Transportation Building and the
Hydroelectric Building. An indication of the size of
the exhibition is the fact that on a weekday there were
43,000 visitors without any crowding being noticed. —
. Zeit., Nov. 5, 1914.
British Electrical Engineers and the War. — THOMAS
Roles. — His address, as chairman, to the Yorkshire
Section of the (.British; Institution of Electrical Engi-
neers. He first discusses the conditions under which
electrical engineers should go to the front. He empha-
sizes that many members, to do their duty, must per-
force remain to control and run their undertakings,
however martial may be their spirits. "Those who are
actually engaged on work required for military pur-
poses should at this crisis remember that much, very
much, may depend on the work of the humblest worker,
and that time is the essence of the contract just now."
He then takes up the question how employers should
handle the situation, and suggests that those of the
members who have not up to the present arranged to
do so should set aside regularly during the period of the
war, and as long as necessary after, a definite percent-
age of their incomes weekly or monthly for the benefit
of relief funds formed to assist persons affected by the
war. The motto, "Business as usual during the war,"
is a good one, but one that can be acted upon only to a
limited extent. He refers to the capture and retention
of foreign and colonial trade from Germany and
Austria, and emphasizes "the tremendous extent to
which the British industry has relied on foreigners for
the design and supply of electrical and even mechanical
apparatus." To change matters he suggests that meth-
ods of technical education in Great Britain should be
changed. "Better results might be obtained if the
higher branches of electrical and mechanical engineer-
ing were taught at a few extremely well-equipped cen-
ters in this country by well-paid professors having the
very highest technical qualifications, instead of each
town of any size endeavoring to provide such facilities
at technical schools." — London Electrician, Nov. 13.
1914.
British Technical Education.— RoEER"! \V. PAUL.—
["he author thinks that the average British electrical
student who applies for employment in the factory lias
been trained neither to work strenuously nor to think
and plan clearly. His ideas of first principles anil prac
tical requirements are hazy. "If the teaching authori-
ties fail to appreciate the fad thai narrow but thor
ouffh vocational training must be the basis for t h<-
future culture of the majority ol lads, the manufactur
ingly or jointly, will be forced (in fact, arc being
. ,i , to pro i ducation ti n with
their factories." The author thinks thai the British
manufacture] are no! to be blamed. His point Is thai
the present electrical training In Greal Britain >; no1
the beal adapted to develop British trade nor di
the manufacturers, London EUc-
L91 I.
Electrical I • •■ i many. An arl icli
a statistical table and a diagram of t> ■ ; elec
my to other European
• to 1918 n.L. Zeit., Nov. 12, I'.M i
Book Reviews
Installations Electriques de Force et Lumiere. By
Adr. Curchod. Paris: H. Dunod and E. Pinat.
222 pages, 80 illus. Price, 7.5 francs.
This book contains a useful collection of connection
diagrams in direct-current and alternating-current en-
gineering. There are forty diagrams relating to direct-
current systems, twenty-three relating to alternating-
current systems, and seventeen to miscellaneous sys-
tems. From a practical standpoint the book might be
improved if opposite to each diagram were printed the
explanatory text pertaining to it. As the volume is
arranged the explanatory text is collected by itself in
the first section of forty-five pages, and then come the
plates by themselves, occupying eighty double pages,
each being alternately a blank and a diagram. Con-
sequently the reader has to oscillate between a diagram
and its text. The diagrams are well executed, detailed
and carefully worked out. The book will recommend it-
self to electrical engineers and students of circuits gen-
erally, especially those interested in European practice.
Cours d'Electricite Theorique. Vol. I. By J. B.
Pomey. Paris: Gauthier - Villars et Cie. 396
pages, 90 illus. Price, 13 francs.
This is an interesting volume on the theory of elec-
tricity and magnetism, drawn up in the form of a
college textbook by an engineer. It is seldom that an
engineer devotes himself to the mathematical theory of
electromagnetics on what might be called the purely
theoretical and mathematical side. He more frequently
devotes himself to the side of applications. The book is
divided into nine chapters, relating to the following re-
spective subjects: Electrostatics, electrokinetics, mag-
netism, elements of vector algebra, electrodynamics,
theory of induction, general equations of the electro-
magnetic field, the theory of Lorentz, the propagation
of electromagnetic waves. Despite the strictly theoret-
ical character of the work, which resembles that of Mas-
cart and Joubert, the treatment leans somewhat toward
the concrete, as, for instance, in the orientation of co-
ordinates eastward, southward and upward. Several
problems of a concrete character are also discussed. The
book will recommend itself to students of electromag-
netic theory interested in the presentation of this won-
derful subject by French scholars.
La Telephonie et les Autres Moyens "'Intercom-
munication dans l'Industrie des Mines et des
CHEMINS DE Fer. By P. Maurer. Paris: H.
Dunod & E. Pinat. 282 pages, L15 illus. Price,
9 francs.
A good practical treatise on electric signaling, with
particular reference to wire telephony in industrial,
mining and railroad service. It is addressed to those
who are Interested in the installation or maintenance
UCh Sy8tems, and especially to those who have some
knowledge Of electric mechanisms but are not engi-
neers. The chapters deal with the following subjects:
Electric generators; acoustic signals; optical signals:
telephony; automatic telephony: transmitters; Indica-
tors; mine signals; telephone and telegraphy; railway
telegraphs; aerial lines; subterranean lines, installa-
tions, faults and tests; telephone gj stems; intercom
municating systems. The book is well illustrated, and
the variou ' apparatus are explained in sim-
ple terms with no mathematics beyond arithmetic. The
volume will Interest those who desire to become In-
formed concerning the elements of electric signaling,
lall] in Europe
JANUARY
ELECTRICAL WORLD
POWER AND OPERATING SECTION
Flower Bed to Beautify Station Interior
When a new electric-lighting station was erected at
Downs, Kan., a portion of the power-house floor, later to
be occupied by an additional prime mover, was left un-
finished. In that condition it presented an unsightly
appearance compared with the clean concrete floor in all
other parts of the engine room. As a temporary and in-
expensive means of hiding the ugly hole the engineers
have planted a flower garden on the spot where a future
engine unit will stand.
Electric Pumping Plant
A motor-driven pumping installation presenting sev-
eral interesting features has recently been installed by
the Chicago & Eastern Illinois Railroad at Villa Grove,
111. The equipment is designed to supply water for
passenger and freight trains, locomotives and the rail-
road roundhouses and shops at this place. The plant
consists of three 5-in. double-suction, split-shell, in-
closed-impeller, motor-driven, centrifugal pumps, made
by the American Well Works, Aurora, 111. The instal-
lation is in a pit extending 6 ft. below the station floor
level. Water is taken from the Embarras River, which
is about 100 ft. distant. The pump shown at the far
end of the accompanying illustration takes water from
the river and delivers it at the rate of 500 gal. per
minute against a total head of 21 ft. into a surface
reservoir and settling basin of several acres area, near
the pumping station. The discharge pipe from this
pump passes through a side wall of the pit and is sub-
merged in the reservoir.
The other two pumping units are duplicates and are
automatically controlled by pressure governors. These
pumps operate separately, and deliver water from the
reservoirs to a 100,000-gal. elevated tank situated 1200
ft. distant, near the railroad shops. A pump starts
when the tank is half emptied and delivers an average
of 750 gal. per minute until the tank is full. The pump
then stops and remains inactive until the tank is again
half emptied.
The low-head pump operates continuously for several
ELECTRIC PUMPS AT VILLA GROVE, ILL.
days, or until the reservoir is filled. The pipe is so ar-
ranged that the low-head pump can deliver from the
river to the reservoir while the other pumps are either
idle or delivering to the tank, singly or in parallel, one
automatically and one manually controlled. The mid-
dle pumping unit is designed to deliver from the river
to the reservoir, from the river to the tank, or from the
river to an auxiliary reservoir, through the long pipe
shown at the top of the illustration. The motors are
designed for three-phase, sixty-cycle, 440-volt operation.
The low-head motor is rated at 5 hp and operates at
570 r.p.m., while each of the others is rated at 25 hp and
operates at 1740 r.p.m.
Improved Tripping Mechanism for Oil Switch
The tripping mechanism of a certain well-known type
of oil switch proved unreliable when installed in isolated
stations of the Washington Water Power Company, of
Spokane, especially in cases where the mechanism had
trip full lir.
Rod Old Trip Chain
lien trip chain
TRIPPING MECHANISM OF OIL SWITCH
not operated for months after it had been adjusted in
localities where there is considerable range of tem-
perature, or dust in the air, or when the weather is
damp and foggy.
The operating factor was too low to overcome the
effects caused by these elements on the mechanism,
which tended to corrode, rust and bind it.
In the original arrangement, a spring 14 operated a
hammer 10 to break the main toggle 12 and permit the
switch to open. When the center joint of the main
toggle was set far enough below the center line of its
end bearings to permit the closing of the switch, how-
ever, it was supposed that it could still be tripped by the
blow of the hammer 10 acting under the force of the
spring 14, but after the switch had been set for weeks
or months under severe weather conditions it was
found impossible to knock the switch out with this ham-
mer blow.
On increasing the strength of the spring 14 to
strengthen this hammer blow, greater force was put on
the small toggle 11 and trouble was experienced in hold-
ing or breaking this toggle with the force of series re-
lays. Recourse was then had to an arm and adjustable
weight 5, this arm being pinned solid with the hammer
10 to a shaft.
It will be seen that in the closed position of the
switch, the force holding the small toggle 11 is very
slight, allowing it to be broken easily, thus permitting
the arm and weight 5 to drop to the right, and strike
toggle 12 with hammer 10 a blow of great force.
On experimenting with the redesigned mechanism it
was found that the small toggle 11 could be broken with
considerably less force than in the old arrangement.
The large toggle 12 can also be easily broken when set
V4 in. below the center line of its end bearings, with
the main torsion springs set up to the limit. Nearly
all the switches of the Washington Water Power Com-
pany have been equipped with this device for over one
year, and there have been no failures with it.
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 1
Fans Employed to Extinguish Fire in Underground
Conduit
Ventilating fans were employed recently at Cleveland,
Ohio, to force a fire-extinguishing compound through
underground ducts containing burning cables. Exhaust
fans were installed at the opposite end of the duct run
to remove the highly inflammable gases which were pro-
duced by the volatilization of the rubber and paraffin
insulation. It was not until after the cables had burned
several hours, however, that this novel use of electric
fans could be made, as the burning gases issuing from
the conduits prevented men entering the manholes.
While the underground cables were being replaced
emergency service was furnished through temporarily
installed aerial conductors.
Rack and Switchboard for Life Tests on Series
Incandescent Lamp
The Electric Testing Laboratories, New York City,
has recently installed equipment for conducting life
tests on any type of series incandescent lamp. The ap-
paratus consists of three racks supporting six electric-
ally distinct circuits of 192 sockets and a bench-type
switchboard for feeding each circuit separately and
simultaneously or in any combination. Each rack con-
sists of vertical iron pipes supporting eight offset hori-
zontal rails made of asbestos board. On the lower side
of each rail are fastened eight series-type sockets which
will accommodate any incandescent lamp now made. On
the upper side of the rails above each socket and con-
nected to the terminals thereof are spring lips. Be-
tween the lips can be inserted film cut-outs which short-
circuit the lamp sockets when a lamp is removed or
hi;. I IPFABATU! ini; CONDUCTING LIVE TESTS <>N
tNDESCKNT LAMPS
burned out The lip i ted in series by bran
to the asbestos board. A fiber duct
fnvm which a longitudinal strip has been removed li em-
ployed to cover the upper Bide of each rail, thereby pre-
venting accidental contact with the lips and connectors.
Wires feeding each group of sockets are conveyed to the
rails through the metal uprights and thence through
asbestos blocks to the end sockets. It is planned to in-
crease the total number of sockets supported on the
racks to 328 by installing additional rails between those
FIG. 2 — DIAGRAM OF RACK AND SWITCHBOARD
now used, but offset so as not to interfere with the lamp
bulbs.
Any single rack or group of circuits can be supplied
with constant-value current of 4, 5.5, 6.6, 7.5, 9.6 or 20
amp by inserting plugs in receptacles on the front of the
upper panels of the control board. The current in each
circuit can be varied by turning switch handles on the
lower panels and can be measured by ammeters on the
horizontal part of the switchboard. The wiring connec-
tions on the control board are indicated in the diagram
shown herewith. The terminals of each rack circuit are
connected with the vertical busbars. Crossing these
bars but insulated therefrom are six pairs of constant-
current busbars in which the values of current given
above can be maintained. On the front of the panels
opposite the points where the busbars cross are recep-
tor screw-tip, arc -circuit-type plugs which are
used to connect the rack circuits in series with the de-
sired feeding busbars. For instance, if it is necessary
to supply 4 amp to rack No. 1 plugs are inserted in the
holes over the intersection of the lamp and No. 1 rack
busbars. If several racks are to be supplied with the
same current, they are connected in series by inserting
plugs in the upper holes marked with the rack numbers
and also in the reeeptaelea over the intersection of the
terminal and feeding busbars.
The horizontal busbars ;ire connected as shown to five
auto transformers joined in series with the secondary
of s Blngle constant-currenl transformer. The auto
transformers are rated at i. 5.5, 7.6, 9.6 and 20 amp. the
imp unit being designed to feed the 6.6-amp and
7. .Vamp busbars and the !».6-amp unit either 9.6-amp or
10 amp circuits. A variation of 2 or .'? per cent can be
made in the value of the currents supplied to each cir-
cuit by means of switches which connect the busbars
January 2, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
41
to different taps on the auto-transformers. The am-
meters are rated at 7.5, 10 and 25 amp, the first being
employed on the 4-amp circuits, the second on 5.5, 6.6
and 7.5-amp circuits, and the third on 20-amp circuits.
Switches operated from the front of the board permit
connecting these meters in the circuits without break-
ing the continuity thereof. Another selector switch
allows the connection of any one of the ammeters in
series with a standard instrument for the purpose of
checking readings during operation. Cut-out plugs
operated from the lower panels permit short-circuiting
the auto-transformers when they are not in service,
thereby eliminating their iron and copper losses.
Explosive Gases Generated in Transformer
.Recently a large transformer in South Africa broke
down, and a chief electrician with three assistants
started to disconnect the defective transformer and
empty out the oil preparatory to lifting the core out of
the case. It was considered necessary first to empty
the expansion tank above the transformer, and although
a gage glass showed the level of the liquid in the tank,
one of the men held a lighted match over a pipe hole to
discover the contents. A severe explosion occurred and
all were killed or badly burned. The tank was burst,
and the oil scattered in all directions, setting fire to
everything inflammable in the transformer chamber.
The oil in the tank is not hotter than about 34 deg. C,
and as its flashing point had been proved to be about
140 deg. C, the explosive gas could not have been mere
oil vapor. Experiments were conducted with extra
high-tension discharge on the transformer oil, and a
sample of the resulting gas was collected. On analysis,
this proved to contain at least 62 per cent hydrogen,
showing that transformer oil tanks, and in fact all
tanks used for oil switches, etc., should be considered as
possibly containing explosive gas. If the transformer
and switch tanks are unventilated, it would be prudent in
view of the above accident not to approach either with
a naked flame.
Cable-Laying Plow
A considerable part of the money invested in under-
ground distribution systems has usually been expended
in installing the cable. To reduce the expense of laying
drum and drawing in a cable from a reel supported on
large-diameter wheels. A closer view of the plow is
given in Fig. 2. The frame of the plow consists of two
channels fastened back to back but several inches apart.
Between them at each end is a wide-faced roller for sup-
porting the plow on the surface of the earth. Just back
FIG. 2 — VIEW OF PLOW
of the front roller and attached to the under side of the
channels is a knife-edged steel roller disk for cutting the
sod in front of the plowshare. Fastened to the channels
in front of the rear roller is the plowshare or knife-
edged plate. The plate is shaped so that it merely cuts
a groove and does not throw out any earth. After the
cable is installed it is only necessary to tamp the top of
the groove. The cable being drawn into a groove is
fastened to an eye in the rear lower corner of the plow-
share. This machine has been used for a number of
installations and has proved very satisfactory in cutting
down the labor and time of completing a job.
Large Water Rheostats
For making an overload test on a 13,200-volt, 3000-
kw steam turbine set the engineers of the Washington
I4 Suspension
Pipe.
,4 Gusset Plate
13200 VLine
Ins. Wood Pin
FIG. 1 PLOW LAYING CABLE
FIG. 1-
5-0 --
7-1 "
WATER RHEOSTAT
ARRANGEMENT OF WATER RHEOSTAT
cable in the bare earth the construction department of
the Philadelphia (Fa.) Electric Company has developed a
special plow for cutting a deep groove in the ground and
drawing in the cable at the same time. Fig. 1 shows the
plow being pulled by a portable gasoline-engine-driven
Water Power Company employed an iron-pipe rheostat
in the Spokane River alongside of its steam station.
Three 6-in. pipes, 4 ft. long, placed in a triangle were
suspended on insulators from a framework arranged to
be raised and lowered along a fixed guide by means of
12
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 1
a cable fastened to a hand winch. This arrangement
dissipated 2600 kw when immersed 42 in., as shown by
Fig. 1. The temperature of the water in the river at
the time was about 55 deg. Fahr. To increase the
carrying capacity of the rheostat, 8-in. pipes, 4 ft. long,
were slipped over the 6-in. pipes and when this rheo-
stat was fully immersed almost 6000 kw was carried
0
T1>:^
10
^
X
20
\C
I
lectrodes:6"Pipe 4
Spaced 5' on A
i'Lo
'9
\
H
40
ciprocating steam engines are used. The accompanying
illustration shows a coal crusher which this company
has converted from direct steam drive to motor belt
drive. This change became necessary as car couplings
and pieces of steel frequently passed into the crusher
along with the coal, stopping the rolls and reciprocating
engine almost instantly and subjecting the parts to ex-
cessive stresses. With the present equipment the
crusher or motor cannot be subjected to very great
stresses as sufficient slack is left in the belt to allow it
to slip in case the crusher becomes clogged.
Manhole Equipment for Pulling Cables
When constructing manholes it is advisable to pro-
vide facilities for drawing cables through ducts so that
special guide supports do not have to be used. The ac-
10 30 50 70 90 110
AMPERES PER PHASE 13.200 V.
FIG. 2 — TEST OF WATER RHEOSTAT AT SPOKANE
€yC Sol t sreec Fcftei*c
PlATC SrctL
in a very steady manner with a separation of 40 in.
The location chosen in the river was opposite the dis-
charge tunnel for the circulating water used in the
condenser. The addition of this warm water raised the
natural river temperature at this spot to 55 deg. Fahr.
FIG. 1 — DETAILS OF EYE-BOLT AND BEARING PLATE
companying illustration shows how the manholes in the
underground distribution system of the Pittsburgh
Crucible Steel Company's plant at Midvale, Pa., are
equipped for this purpose. In the wall opposite and
about 12 in. below each duct entrance is an eye-bolt
which extends through the wall and is bent over on the
end to bear on an iron plate which reduces the unit
Belt-Drive Preferable for Coal Crushers
A number of central-station operators consider it more
economical to drive station auxiliaries by steam, as the
exhaust therefrom may be employed in heating boiler-
feed water or in driving low-pressure turbines. In
operating coal crushers, however, the Edison Electric
_-_ "
pbmmbi •
One bolt A to be placed opposite
C.L of Conduit a ton elevation to
clear bottom of conduit opening
by at least 12"
■.■: •■■•■■' *'■,•''-■'
rOAl CRUSHER CONVERTED FROM BTEAM ENGINE DRTV1 TO
N)R DRIVE
Illuminating Company of Brooklyn, N. Y.. has found
it better ti the plant efficiency obtained by
• .1 use motor drive With belt trans-
mission, us any obstruction in the crusher will either
throw otT the belt or open the motor circuit-breaker in-
of breaking p;irts of the machinery as when re
D »«auMrr. 12 Soil Pipe
in. 2 DIAGRAM BHOWING EQUIPMENT OF MANHOLE To
l \. n PTAT1 I \i'-i r i n im;
pressure on the manhole wall. This eye-bolt may be em-
ployed to Bupporl ■ guide block during the usual installa-
tion of cable or it may be connected to a Mock and tackle
when it is necessary to draw a cable into place for
splicing in cases where suffkienl length has not been
left for this operation.
January 2, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
COMMERCIAL SECTION
Electric Christmas-Tree Lanes at Ottumwa, la.
The holiday decorations installed by the merchants of
Ottumwa, la., took a new form this year. Evergreen
trees were installed throughout the business district,
and on the branches of these trees miniature incan-
descent electric lamps were mounted to be lighted during
the evening hours. By sprinkling the trees with water
during freezing weather icicles were formed which
added to the holiday aspect of these unusual decorations.
Coincidentally with the display, the local electrical sup-
ply dealers and the Ottumwa Railway & Light Company
co-operated in an electrical exposition to stimulate the
sale of household devices.
A Christmas Check from the Electric Light Company
The several thousand customers of the Light & De-
velopment Company, of St. Louis, in more than twenty
Middle Western cities received a non-negotiable check
for $1 as a Christmas gift from "Bill Smith." In every-
\$b"
f.
THE ELECTRIC LIGHT COMPANY
Ist^
w^ShL
Where purchase, of clectru- appliances of more than $3.00 is made
CH£l
»._;...•»» TSJ&LtZe-
A CHECK GOOD AT THE STORE OF THE ELECTRIC-LIGHT
COMPANY
day life Bill Smith is Mr. W. A. Smith, vice-president
of the Light & Development Company, but to the com-
pany's patrons who read its human-interest advertising
he is just "Bill Smith." With each check there came a
letter, one paragraph of which suggested that any one of
several electric appliances named would be an ac-
ceptable Christmas gift. The letter stated that the in-
closed check was a Christmas token and closed by wish-
ing the customer a merry Christmas and a happy, pros-
perous New Year.
Building Contractor Favors Electric Hoists Over
Steam
Mr. D. P. Duncan, construction engineer for the
L. W. Dumas Construction Company, Columbia, Mo.,
used electric motor-driven equipment wherever power
applications were practicable in building a ten-story
office structure at Springfield, Mo. A 0.5-yd. concrete
mixer driven by a 10-hp motor, a concrete hoist driven
by a 22-hp motor, a double-platform hoist driven by an
8-hp motor and a general-utility saw driven by a 5-hp
motor were chief among the labor-saving and time-
saving electrically operated machines. Electricity for
the motor was taken from the 220-volt, sixty-cycle,
three-phase mains of the Springfield Gas & Electric
Company.
The average cost of operating these motors was only
about $1 a day. In summing up his reasons for adopt-
ing electric drive, Mr. Duncan says that electricity is
cheaper than steam, it is more convenient, and no time
is lost in "firing up" in the mornings, reasons which
are convincing to him.
The "Electric" as a Man's Car
No factor has so interfered with the rightful develop-
ment of the electric vehicle as the impression which has
become general that it is a woman's car, said Mr. D. E.
Whipple, Anderson Electric Car Company, Chicago, in a
recent talk before the Chicago Section of the Electric
Vehicle Association of America. For the business and
professional man's use no car is so convenient and prac-
tical as the electric, but regrettably the tendency of
many manufacturers and salesmen has been to encour-
age the idea that the battery-driven vehicle is distinctly
a woman's equipage. To offset this impression Mr.
Whipple urged a campaign of advertising designed to
establish the status of the "electric" as the car for the
business man and for the whole family. If the em-
phasis can be laid on the utility of the vehicle for the
man's use primarily, a much wider usefulness of the
car will result.
Sales Arguments for Electrically Heated Japanning
Ovens
Before the convention of the committee on new-
business co-operation of the Ohio Electric Light Asso-
ciation, Cincinnati, lately, Mr. Dexter Rollins, of the
Simplex Electric Heating Company, presented in-
structive data for central-station men to use in discuss-
ing industrial electric heating with prospective
customers. Referring particularly to japanning ovens
as a desirable class of business, Mr. Rollins said:
"The prospective customer wants accurate data on
first cost and maintenance. High first cost is not gen-
erally a serious obstacle, but operation and main-
tenance charges need careful consideration. Ten cents
expended for the several common fuels will produce
more pound-Fahrenheit heat units than the same
amount expended for electricity. The electrical heat,
however, can be used more efficiently.
"Suppose a customer complains of having trouble
with gas ovens used for lacquering metal. He says he
can't get uniform heat. The quality of the work pro-
duced is poor, making it necessary to rebake from 15
per cent to 50 per cent of his product. This customer
can be promised a number of things if he takes electric
service. Guarantee to increase the production, to raise
the quality and increase the uniformity of his product,
to better the working conditions of his plant and to save
him dollars at the end of the year. He is willing to be
shown, he informs you, but thinks that the cost will be
prohibitive. Upon examination the customer is found
to be operating a metal oven, probably with very poor
insulation, heated by an open gas flame working at less
than 40 per cent efficiency and using the other 60 per
cent to heat the surrounding air, the workmen, and
everything, in fact, but the japan on his metal product.
To save a portion of the first cost electric heaters may
be installed in his present ovens, but that method is not
consistent with an attempt to save him money by in-
creased efficiency. Recommend new ovens.
"Assume that it is desired to bake japan on 800 lb.
of metal, and that the truck holding this material is
also of metal and weighs 200 lb. In the customer's
present ovens there is a weight merely in the oven itself
of 2000 lb., or 3000 lb. of metal altogether. All this
metal must be heated, with the walls of the ovens radi-
ating and conducting heat uselessly, to the outside. In
this case recommend an oven constructed of insulating
brick, plastered on the outside. If the truck runs on a
44
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. I,
track, the inside need not be lined with sheet steel, for
the latter is costly to heat and the metal in the product
is of sufficient weight for heat-storage purposes. An
oven of this construction, with 4-in. walls, will have a
heat conductivity of not more than four heat units per
square foot per degree difference in temperature per
twenty-four hours. In the case of the customer's old
metal oven, however, most of the heat is radiated
through the walls. The cost of building such an oven
will average $50 per 1000 for 4-in. brick, $1.50 to $3
per kw for heaters, and the labor of installing. An
existing installation of nine ovens, 8 ft. by 8 ft. by 3 ft.,
cost only $3,000, including elaborate control apparatus.
"With the ovens constructed as suggested, 25 kw is
sufficient to bring the temperature to 400 deg. Fahr. in
one hour, and, allowing for differences in ventilating,
from 5 kw to 7 kw will maintain this temperature.
Computed on a kilowatt-hour basis the cost of this
service will probably amount to more than the gas bill,
but compared with gas the electric way has many more
convincing points to offer. In the ovens an even heat,
varying not more than 10 deg., can be maintained. It
will be possible to turn out more bakes in a specified
time, and at least 98 per cent of the product turned out
of the new ovens will be of a high-quality finish,
whereas only 60 per cent would be of this quality by the
old method and the rest would have to be baked a sec-
ond time. An absolute case is recalled in which the
production was increased in quantity 20 per cent in the
same period of operation, while the quality of finish
was of much higher grade. Another feature favoring
electricity is the ease of control. There are standard
panelboards on the market, built especially for this
work. They are equipped with pyrometers, contactors
and relays, which all go toward making a complete in-
stallation and a satisfied customer."
Electric Lighting of Studio Entrance
A fine example of the adaptability of electric light-
ing to artistic service is shown in the accompanying
illustration take at the front of the Louis Fabian Bach-
rach photographic studio in Worcester, Mass. The en-
trance of the studio is beneath a pergola flanked by two
Colonial photograph display cabinets, each of which is
DIO i NTRANI i UOH n ED ki ECTBICALLY
1 !t. 8 in. hiph. ".", in. wide and 1.". In. dwp. TWO OTD1
mental columns at the endi carry C>o watt tm
lamps, g ft. fi in. above the ground, in translucent
globes 12 in. in diameter, Bach cabinet la Illuminated
by two J"> watt tubular lamps mounted in a concealed
Frink horizontal reflector :it the top of tin- cabinet, The
back and bottom "f each cabinet an- finished in rreen,
the sides being painted white. The cabinets and
standards are controlled by a key switch mounted in
the rear of one of the former, and energy is supplied
through a 110-volt circuit run in %-in. underground
pipe conduit from the station side of the studio meter
through the yard to the cases. Service is furnished at
a flat rate of approximately $4 per month by the Worces-
ter Electric Light Company, which provides a patrolman
who switches the display into operation at dusk and
cuts it out of service at 11 p. m. daily.
Inclosed Shelves Keep Brass from Discoloring
Many electrical contractors save money by buying dis-
sembled fixtures and assembling the parts in their own
shops. Sometimes the brassware of these fixtures be-
DARK SHELVES FOR BRASSWARE
comes discolored because it is exposed to the sunlight.
Mr. J. T. Coon, manager of the Electrical Equipment
Company, Springfield, Mo., avoids the expense of clean-
ing tarnished brass by keeping all brassware on shelves
fitted with swinging doors. The shelves are built against
the wall and standard 2-ft. 8-in. by 6-ft. 8-in. white-pine
paneled doors attached to vertical jambs are used to
shut out the light. All doors swing in the same direc-
tion.
Public's Demand Is for Utility Electrical Appliances
The tendency toward personal economy and thrift
which is noticed generally as a result of the recent
depressed condition of business is well reflected in the
character of sales of electrical appliances, according
to the manager of a metropolitan company carrying a
very large stock of electrical devices and catering chiefly
to the more discriminating classes of customers. Peo-
ple are now buying utility appliances rather than mere
novelties, he reports. The expensive art lamps, for ex-
ample, are moving slowly, but the gain in the sale of
electric irons, washing machines, cooking devices, etc.,
has more than made up for the loss in the more esthetic
stocks.
Advertising to the Landlord
Among the many "catchy" phrases used in the adver-
tising campaigns of the Topeka (Kan.) Edison Com-
pany is one which is deemed particularly effective.
This phrase is "The For-Rent Sign Comes Out Where
Our Electric Light Goes In." On the street ears, in the
newspapers ami everywhere a landlord is likely to look
in Topeka he sees this sign, and if his house lacks ten-
ants the hint is timely,
rhoSC who live in rented houses also see these signs,
and it has been found that tenants who want electric
light are excellent new-business solicitors for the elec-
ervice company. Hence the advertisement ad-
■ d directly to the landlord sometimes reaches him
directly and sometimes Indirectly. The ultimate result
in both instances is generally the same; the tenant gets
alectrk light and the company >rcts a new customer.
fANUARY 2, 1915
Free Electricity with Each Appliance
During the week of Dee. 12 to 19 the electrical con-
tactors of Shreveport, La., co-operating with the local
staff of the Southwestern Gas & Electric Company,
vhich furnishes electric service in Shreveport, put on
in electrical show similar to the one held the preceding
rear. A feature of the appliance sales made from the
:ontractors' booths was the donation of free electric
service with each device. The appliances were tagged
vith coupons good at the electric company's office for a
jiven number of kilowatt-hours, the quantity in each in-
stance depending upon the cost and energy consumption
)f the apparatus. This energy was donated by the elec-
;ric company to stimulate the sale of electric appliances
n the city.
ELECTRICAL WORLD
•15
Combination of Lamp Outlets with Warm-Air
Diff users
In laying out the lighting of the offices of the Evan-
iton Railway Company, Evanston, 111., use was made of
;he metal diffusing boxes which admit warm air to the
room from the building heating system as supports
FIGS. 1 AND 2 — FIXTURES MOUNTED ON WARM-AIR
DIFFUSERS
from which to suspend the electric fixtures. The latter,
as shown in the accompanying illustrations, are of both
the direct and semi-indirect type. The diffusers serve
as outlets for a Sturtevant hot-air system, and each
sheet-metal boxing measures'20 in. in diameter and 6 in.
deep.
In the case of the indirect fixture the bowl, which
contains four 60-watt lamps, is hung comparatively low
so that the light is well diffused over a wide area of
ceiling area and the efficiency of reflection is not im-
paired. The direct fixture contains a single 100-watt
lamp. The rubber-covered fixture wires are inclosed in
conduit where they pass through the diffuser and pip-
ing, and as the heated air leaving the diffuser does not
exceed 80 deg. to 85 deg. Fahr. in temperature, no spe-
cial provision is made to protect the wires against the
heat. One diffuser suffices for a room 16 ft. by 16 ft.,
while two are required for another room measuring 16
ft. by 32 ft.
Free Wiring Offer Proves Good Investment at
Leavenworth, Kan.
Some time ago the Leavenworth (Kan.) Light, Heat
& Power Company offered to install free of charge four
single outlets with cords for drop lamps in any unwired
house. In case more than four outlets were desired the
first four were installed free and a charge was made for
the additional labor and material. The central station's
workmen did some of the wiring, but the larger jobs
were turned over to electrical contractors. All material
was purchased through the contractors. After this
plan had been in operation a few months it was found
that 238 homes had been wired with an average of five
and one-half outlets per house. Data compiled at the
same time showed that it had cost the central-station
company $3.83 per house to secure this business, includ-
ing total sales expense and wiring costs. Of course, this
does not mean that the company was able to give away
and install four outlets for $3.83, for there was a cer-
tain amount of profit on jobs in which more than four
outlets were installed, and this reduced the average cost.
Attractive and Clear Reports Assist in Displacing
Private Plants
The success of any attempt to induce consumers of
private-plant energy to use central-station service de-
pends to a considerable extent on the manner in which
the comparative report regarding both systems of oper-
ation is presented. In the reports submitted to pros-
pective consumers by the Edison Electric Illuminating
Company of Brooklyn, N. Y., the estimated costs of
operation with both systems are computed and printed
in detail and reasons for any assumptions made therein
carefully set forth. Instead of stating that so many
pounds of coal must be burned to produce so many kil-
owatt-hours of energy at the switchboard, this company
explains the intermediate steps by which it arrives at
conclusions, so that no one can argue that energy can
be produced more economically in the particular private
plant referred to in the report without pointing out the
conditions which would have to exist. With the facts
printed in black and white, arguments for private plants
can generally be answered in favor of central-station
service. In the reports as prepared by this company
the costs of operating with each system are given in
detail first and followed by a recapitulated report which
can be employed more conveniently in finally closing the
contract.
Reports to owners of installations larger than 50 hp
are bound in flexible morocco-leather covers bearing the
names of the prospective consumer and the electric-
service company. Being submitted in an attractive and
permanent form, these reports will be kept by the pros-
pective consumers even if they do not sign for service
immediately. The name of the electric-service com-
pany will therefore be brought to the private-plant
owner's attention every time he has occasion to inspect
the report and may eventually cause him to consult it
again with a change of service in view.
Copies of these reports are kept by the industrial
engineering department and filed with reports of inter-
views with owners of private plants, setting forth also
the ultimate outcome of the campaign. Whether a con-
tract for service is or is not closed with the owner, the
information contained in the office report may be of
considerable value to new-business solicitors in nego-
tiating with persons engaged in similar industries. If
a contract is not closed, a solicitor is usually instructed
to visit the prospective consumer again after some time
has elapsed. With the information regarding previous
46
ELECTRICAL W02LD
Vol. 65, No. 1
interviews available the solicitor may be able to shape
subsequent campaigns so that the prospective consumer
is induced to make a change. While the leather-bound
reports are rather costly to prepare, it is declared that
the expense is warranted as the cover has considerable
advertising value.
New Year's Advertisements Urge Mutual Faith
Reproduced herewith is the copy which was employed
by all Byllesby public utility properties in their news-
paper advertisements on or about New Year's Day.
Prosperity in 1915 Depends Upon
Faith in Our Country
GjOur Nation is being penalized by a crisis of
European methods and ideals.
1 We cannot escape entirely the bitter fruits of a war founded
in governmental systems where Monarchy, Paternalis
Public Ownership and Autocracy go hand i
(| Now as never before we have opportunity to compare
American ideals and methods with those practiced in Europe
and to measure what American systems and institutions
have gained for humanity.
<1 Probably we will learn more and more each day of the
coming year to appreciate "all we have and are," to regard
our citizenship in a more precious light to see our problems
more clearly, more tolerantly.
The war has made materia! pro-
gress difficult throughout the
United States. It has added to the
obstacles of financing construc-
tive effort. It hasenforced econ-
omies upon the large and small,
has laid on the shelf plans for
many desirable things.
Prosperity in this country during
the coming year demands above
everything else faith in our Re-
public and faith between man and
man. It cannot be had in suspi-
If this military calamity teaches
us a deeper and more useful pa-
monsm; if it serves lo advance
understanding among us of one
another's rights and wrongs; if it
removes prejudice and strikes
down distrust - — then this war
will not be without benefit to the
cilizens of the United States.
We hope for prosperity the com-
ing year. To have it will require
hard work, courage and faith
(Name of Company)
(Name of Manager)
A CENTRAL-STATION APPEAL TO PATRIOTISM
The text points out that America's future prosperity
depends upon faith not only in our country and in its
institutions but between man and man. The burden of
the plea is for useful patriotism and removal of preju-
dice and distrust.
Price Cutting
At a recent dinner given by the Edison Electric Illumi-
nating Company of Boston, Mass., to electrical con-
tractors of Boston Mr. R. S. Hale addressed those pres-
ent upon the subject of "Price Cutting." Referring to
the wiring campaign conducted by the company by
which residences and stores are equipped on a unit-
price basis (see Electrical World, Sept. 5, 1914, page
457), the speaker pointed out that, although Borne > con-
tractors think the Edison price list low, the price really
saves the contractor some of the expense of estimating
and selling, besides all the expense of collecting, bad
bills, and some interest on the contractor's money; but
that no matter how low the Edison price may be, it is
not price-cutting if the contractor sticks to these prices.
The price-cutting that hurts business Is when one COD
tractor make a price, the nexl contractor shades it.
the next one cuts a little more, and io Ml until tin' job
i Then each contractor who Losl Hie job says, "I
must cut a little more next time." while the contractor
who yet tin- |ob says, "I must skimp on this job and
I must catch a sucker next time."
Fixed prices such as those of the Edison list are not
price cutting, even if they are so low that the con-
tractor loses money. The contractors who do work at
too low a fixed price will finally drop out, as they should,
and those who insist on a higher fixed price and stick to
it will be all right. The harm is done when the con-
tractor first tries to get a high price and then cuts to
a lower one, and then tries to get more profit on the
next job, and keeps shifting all the time. The Edison
prices apply to only a certain class of work, and scores
of contractors are doing that kind of work and making
money. These prices are perhaps too low for another
class of work in nice houses with hard-wood floors and
special wall papers; but the contractor should name his
price for that class of work to give himself a fair profit
only, and then if he sticks to the price and does not cut,
he will get that kind of business at a fair price. If the
contractor cuts on one job only, he is hurting the busi-
ness. Closing, Mr. Hale said:
"To-day you yourselves wouldn't deal with a grocer or
department store that was not on a one-price fixed-
price basis. Only the smallest, cheapest stores will
dicker with you over a can of tomatoes or a piece of
cloth, and this is true, though the high-class stores
have one fixed price and the second-class and third-class
stores others. Nearly all the fixed-price stores make
money, and only the little storekeeper who spends his
time dickering on price is a failure. Let us put the
wiring business on the same high basis."
Electric Vehicles in Independence, Kan.
It has been seven years since the first electric vehicle
was sold in Independence, Kan., and during the inter-
vening period orders have been placed for a total of
thirty-eight others, all of which are now in service.
Considering the fact that the population of the city
numbers only 11,000, the above record is notable. Still
more unusual, however, is the high percentage of home
garaging, for only five owners among the entire thirty-
TYPICAL CHARGING OUTFITS AT INDEPENDENCE, KAN.
nine do not keep their cars at home and do their own
charging.
Several circumstances seem to have combined to make
Independence an electric-vehicle city. In the first place,
there are 27 miles of brick-paved streets in Independ
ence. Mr. \v. K. Murrow, manager of the local central
m. who sold the first vehicle, has always been an
ardent advocate <>f the "electric."
January 2, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
47
NEW APPARATUS AND APPLIANCES
Electric Hand-Lamp
A small lamp which can be attached to an ordinary
dry cell is illustrated herewith. It is provided with a
handle as shown so that it can be easily carried from
place to place. Use is made of a tungsten lamp, and a
2-in. "bull's-eye" reflector is employed. The lamp can
BATTERY-OPERATED HAND-LAMP
be tilted at various angles as desired. It has recently
been developed by the Metal Specialties Manufacturing
Company, 736 West Monroe Street, Chicago, 111.
Steel-Tower Outdoor Substation
Herewith is shown an outdoor substation of the
double-throw or selector type designed for 66,000-volt
service. The station has an initial rating of 100 kw
and an ultimate rating of 1000 kw. In order that the
three-phase transformer used with the equipment may
66,000-VOLT OUTDOOR SUBSTATION
be energized from either of two sources of energy, a
standard transmission tower is set off the right-of-way,
directly opposite the line tower shown in the illustra-
tion. One set of three-phase line conductors is carried
to the right-hand tower, thus "splitting" the system
and offering a ready means for carrying taps to the sub-
station without crossing the line wires. The switches
are of the interlocked selector type. Protection is se-
cured by means of choke coils, horn-gaps and carbon-
tetrachloride fuses on the high-tension side. The low-
tension side is controlled by an automatic 2200-volt oil
switch in a small cement house at the base of the sub-
station. Meters, spare parts, distribution switches.
etc., are also in this house. The transformer rests on
a transfer table. The 2200-volt secondary leads are
carried under the transformer platform into the cement
house, and then pass through conduit to the overhead
secondary or town distribution. The three-phase trans-
former used in this installation was manufactured by
the Packard Electric Company, Warren, Ohio, the re-
mainder of the equipment being made by the Delta-
Star Electric Company, Chicago, 111.
Electric Manifold Plug
An electrically heated plug for use in the manifold
of an automobile engine, through which gasoline from
the priming cup on the dashboard is passed before
cranking the engine, has been developed by the Inter-
state Electric Company, New Orleans, La. The gaso-
line from the priming cup passes through the plug, and
it is not only sprayed, the manufacturers declare, but
actually boiled and vaporized into the manifold. As the
^^0
**v
^S^^*;-^-' % \Z^ ^/t
^Y
sj^^i **?§^cr
-vf i
^zjy^\£
.. km
PLUG ATTACHED TO ENGINE MANIFOLD
engine is cranked over, a charge of hot vaporized gaso-
line rushes into the cylinders. The device is designed
to make the starting operation of gasoline engines
easier in cold weather. The plug may be connected to
either dry cells or storage battery. In the accompany-
ing sketch is shown how the plug is attached to the
manifold and connected to the priming cup.
Tubular Woven Fabric
Various kinds of material can be woven in tubular
form by looms made by the Chernack Manufacturing
Company, Pawtucket, R. I., the fabric being used to
cover cable, hose, etc. The weave may be compact so
that when saturated it is almost metallic, or it may be
of an open texture similar to that of a basket weave, or
the weave may vary in texture between those of the two
above types. The following advantages are claimed for
a woven cover: Each end of the warp increases the
tensile strength ; with a tensile pull the walls do not
collapse; the thickness of the wall is governed only by
the size of yarn used ; the warp and filler both used un-
der tension make it possible in using the tube as a cover
IS
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 1
to apply it as tightly as desired without impairing its
flexibility. Successful weaving has been accomplished
with cotton, cotton and paper, cotton and wire, jute,
jute with marline, jute with wire, marline, marline with
wire, asbestos yarns, asbestos yarns with wire inser-
tion, linen yarn and wire.
Rectifier Operated by Synchronous Motor
A rectifier of the commutator type driven by a syn-
chronous motor has just been developed by the Standard
Metal Manufacturing Company, Newark, N. J. The
rectifying commutator consists of as many conductor
segments as there are field poles in the motor and just
RECTIFIER AND SWITCHBOARD
as many non-conductor segments. It is keyed to the
armature shaft in such a way that the centers of the
conductor segments line up with the centers of the field
poles when the line voltage is at a maximum and they are
centrally located between the pole pieces when the volt-
age is at its zero value. The rectifier brushes are so placed
that they bear upon the center of the conductor seg-
ments when the voltage is at a maximum and on the
center of the non ■ aductor segments when the voltage
is at zero. The mm conductor segments are of such size
that the voltage at the time the conductor segments
come in contact with the brushes and also when the
brushes leave the segment is the same as that of the
battery.
B vertical-shafl single-phase machine
and is started by connect ing I he commutator to the bat-
tery ami operating it aa a direct current machine. The
speed i- adjusted bj mean oi the Held rheostat wheel
shown in the accompanying illustration until it re*
nchronous value as indicated by the synchronizing
lamp shown at the top of the switchboard. Then by
pushing the button shown in the center of the rheostat
wheel the direct-current brushes are withdrawn from
the commutator and the synchronizing lamp is short-
circuited. The charging switch being closed, the sup-
ply of alternating-current energy is adjusted by means
of an auto-transformer to obtain the current desired in
the battery.
A circuit-breaker of the double-pole overload type
having a trip coil attached is provided. The trip coil
is connected to a relay at the rear of the board. The
magnet of the relay is in series with the line circuit of
the motor, and in case the circuit is opened the trip coil
will be energized and the circuit-breaker will open. The
trip coil is so arranged that it will open the circuit-
breaker when the charge is complete. The trip coil can
also be arranged to open the breaker at any time de-
sired. A governor on the end of the shaft short-cir-
cuits the field rheostat when the motor is at rest, thus
making it impossible to start the motor with a weak-
ened field. The short-circuit is removed by a device
operating by means of centrifugal force after the motor
has attained a speed of approximately 500 r.p.m. The
efficiency of the outfit varies from 74 per cent to 93.5
per cent, depending upon the lead, and the weight of
the 5-kw set is 40 lb.
Expanded-Truss Steel Pole
The pole shown in the accompanying sketch utilizes
the principle of the expanded steel truss, the flanges,
webs and lacing pieces being all formed from a single
piece of steel. In preparing the material beams of suit-
able form are first sheared cold at intervals along the
web. The metal is then heated and placed in a machine
which grips the outer members along their entire
lengths and by the application of tension draws out the
bar laterally, thus separating the sheared members and
throwing the central members into the zigzag form of a
trussed structure.
According to the owner of the patents, the Bates Ex-
panded Steel Truss Company, 208 South LaSalle Street,
POLE WITH EXPANDED STEEL TRUSS
Chicago, an expanded-truss pole of the same size and
strength as a '2:2-i't. fabricated steel pole made up of
ftftj one different pieces weighs to? lb. less than the
built up pole, representing a saving of 40 per cent in
hi The cost of the new form of steel pole is said
to be about one-third that of the built-up structure.
nd
1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
4:1
Pendent Switch
In the accompanying illustration is shown a switch of
the pendent type, which, the manufacturers declare, is
provided with quick, positive action. The spring con-
SWITCH OF PENDENT TYPE
tacts are of phosphor bronze metal. The switch is be-
ing made by the Union Electric Company, Hamilton
Avenue, Trenton, N. J.
Inclosed Service Switch and Meter Protective Device
An inclosed three-pole service switch recently devel-
oped by the Metropolitan Engineering Company, Forty-
second Street Building, New York, is shown in the ac-
companying illustrations. The device consists of a
switch cut-out equipped with standard plug fuses and
is inclosed in a metallic box which can be sealed if de-
sired. The switch mechanism is of the double-break
plunger type and is actuated by springs. The fuses and
all accessible energy-carrying parts are dead when ex-
posed, and the danger of shock when installing fuses is
consequently eliminated. The switch mechanism may
be sealed in the "closed" or "open" position. The box
in which the unit is mounted is equipped with inter-
changeable conduit openings at each end and at both
sides, so that several sizes of conduit may be employed
INCLOSED THREE-POLE SERVICE SWITCH
if desired. Suitable openings are also provided on the
house side of the switch for open wiring. Provision is
made on the end of the switch box to fasten a metallic
meter-protecting device, called an adapter, the device
being made to conform to the shape of the watt-hour
meter used. The adapter protects all the conductors.
Nitrogen-Filled Automobile Head-Lamp
A nitrogen-filled bulb designed for use with automo-
bile head-lamps is being made by the H. J. Jaeger Com-
pany, 68 Hudson Street, Hoboken, N. J. The filament
GAS-FILLED AUTOMOBILE LAMP
of this high-efficiency lamp is made of drawn-tungsten
wire coiled into a helix and mounted within a very small
space, concentrating the light. The lamp is in two
sizes. In the illustration is shown a full-size draw-
ing of the larger lamp. The lamps operate on from
6-volt to 14-volt circuits, giving 24 cp and 32 cp for
the larger lamp and 15 cp and 21 cp for the smaller.
The average specific consumption of either lamp is
0.5 watt per cp.
Removable Bracket
The bracket shown herewith is designed particularly
for use in hotel sample rooms and is provided with a
receptacle from which it can be removed at will. The
receptacles are of the disappearing door type and are
equipped with eyelets to receive the hooks of the bracket.
Each receptacle accommodates one bracket. The recep-
tacles can be entirely covered if desired by a hinged
section of a picture molding. With such equipment it
BRACKET FOR HOTEL SAMPLE ROOMS
is possible to transform the sample room to an ordinary
living room or bedroom. With one of these receptacles
placed near the head of the bed, the bracket can be used
in connection with a bed reading lamp. The bracket is
being placed on the market by the Bryant Electric Com-
pany, Bridgeport, Conn.
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Large-Sized Washing Machine
Vol. 65, No. 1
An electric washer designed for use in laundries, hos-
pitals, hotels, etc.. is shown in the accompanying illus-
tration. The machine is of steel throughout, and every
part is non-corrosive. The outer cylinder is of ^-in.
forged steel and the inner cylinder of 1/16-in. steel
plate, with the inside covered with porcelain enamel.
ELECTRIC-LAUNDRY WASHING MACHINE
The inner cylinder rotates on ball bearings and is pro-
vided with over 10,000 holes to produce a powerful suc-
tion. One lever is used to control the moving of the
machine forward and backward and for stopping it.
This lever is also employed to operate a brake for
emergency stop. An automatic timing device provided
with a quick-reading dial, 15 in. in diameter, is pro-
vided for timing different kinds of washing. With this
device the wash wheel can be reversed automatically
from a half revolution up to twelve revolutions each way.
The machine is equipped with steam valve, cold-water
valve, hot-water valve and discharge valve. Two 42-in.
compartments are provided and their contents are 56.9
cu. ft. Either belt or direct drive may be used, and the
motor may be mounted vertically, as shown in the ac-
companying illustration, or horizontally if desired. The
total weight of the machine is 4000 lb. The washer is
being made by the Henrici Laundry Company, Bos-
ton, Mass.
Tap Block
A block designed for use with so-called pipe "taplets"
is shown in Fig. 1. This tap block, the manufacturers
declare, eliminates the necessity for soldering either of
branch wires to the main wire or of tap wires for fit-
tings. The main wires are bared for % in. and arc
)
^
<qp,
FIGS. I AND 'J CONNECTING WIRES
'.•■,1 to the bindin of the tap block. The
tap or branch wii bened to the i innet ; ins bind-
ing ci used with 0 5 in. <•>
The block if bring made by the 11. T. P
i ompany, Philadelphia, Pa., for which the Hart & Hege
man Manufacturing Company, Hartford, Conn., is the
selling agent.
Motor-Generator Set for Charging Batteries
A small motor-generator set designed for charging
storage batteries for use with gasoline automobiles is
shown in the accompanying illustration. The alternat-
ing-current motor and the direct-current generator are
mounted within the same frame. The motor is designed
to operate at 110 volts and sixty cycles. The generator
SMALL MOTOR-GENERATOR SET FOR CHARGING BATTERIES
is rated at 10 amp, and it can charge one or two 6-volt
batteries or one 12-volt battery. Its emf can be regu-
lated from 6.3 volts to 12.6 volts by means of a field
rheostat. The generator is wound so that its voltage
rises automatically at the end of the charge and each
cell receives 2.5 volts. The length of the apparatus is 19
in., width 7.75 in. and height 8.375 in. The total
weight is 140 lb. The set is being made by the Westing-
house Electric & Manufacturing Company, East Pitts-
burgh, Pa.
Electric Crane Trolley
Certain improvements have been made in the type "E"
electric crane trolley made by the Northern Engineer-
ing Works, Detroit, Mich. The machine has been made
stronger and the gears and other moving parts more
accessible. The moving parts are completely inclosed,
and they run in an oil bath. The machine is so designed
that the covers of the gear cases must be in place before
they can be operated. Each train of back gears -is
mounted on a single frame. The hoisting-gear train
from armature to drum gear is inclosed in one casting.
As the gear covers are castings, joints of the inclosed
gear cases are planed so as to make a perfectly tight
construction, thus preventing the leakage and dripping
of oil. By lifting the cover of either gear case the cap
is removed, and any gear with its shaft can be quickly
lifted out without disturbing other parts. Large man-
holes are provided in each cover so that it is not neces-
sary to remove the gear covers I'm- the purpose of in-
CRANE TROLLEY
gpecting or oiling the gearing. The hoisting-gear be* is
an integral part of the main trolley frame, and thus,
it is declared, the alignment of all gears and their
shafts is secured. A double-brake system is employed
on this trolley. The wiring for the trolley is inclosed
in iteel conduit. Trolleys with ratings of from 2 tons
■ tons are being made.
1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Wire Grip
A wire clamp or grip designed for handling plain or
stranded wire or cables up to a diameter of 0.75 in. is
being placed on the market by Mathias Klein & Sons,
562 West Van Buren Street, Chicago. Use is made of a
WIRE CLAMP FOR HANDLING STRANDED WIRE OR CABLE
swing latch which engages with a stud on the lower jaw,
thus centralizing the pressure on the cross-bolt, which
is of machine steel. The body and handle of the clamp
are made of steel forging and the eccentric of hard-
ened tool steel.
Motorless Flasher
A flasher consisting of solenoid-operated switches, the
pilot circuits of which are controlled by a thermo-
stat, is being placed on the market by the M. C. Ryan
Company, Phoenix, N. Y. The thermostat is connected
across the line. From one to four switches are used,
operated simultaneously or alternately. Arcing at the
contact points is reduced to a minimum, it is claimed.
TWO-SWITCH FLASHER
by an induced magnetic field. The points are made from
a composition metal which, the manufacturers declare,
will neither weld nor corrode and will last several
years when used on rated loads. The flasher is
mounted in a No. 16 U. S. gage steel cabinet. The
size of a one-switch flasher is 12 in. by 9.5 in. by 4.25
in., and its weight is 15 lb. ; the size of the two-switch
flasher is 12 in. by 11.25 in. by 4.25 in., and the weight
is 20 lb.; the size of the three-switch and four-switch
flashers is 14 in. by 16.25 in. by 4.25 in., and the weight
complete is 30 lb. A two-switch flasher is shown in the
accompanying illustration.
Electric Range with Glass-Front Oven
The electric stove shown in the accompanying illus-
tration is equipped with two luminous-disk heaters and
two aluminum-lined ovens. One oven has a full glass
front in the doors and is used for quick baking, roasting
and toasting, while the other oven is a perpendicular
compartment with "water-seal" cover. Each gear is pro-
tected by fuses, and a separate switch is used in case
it is desired to operate the stove with or without an au-
ELECTRIC RANGE
tomatic clock regulator. The range is made of gun-
metal and has nickel-plated trimmings. Provision is
made for ventilation in the oven so that the glass in the
door will not be covered with condensation vapor. The
range is being placed on the market by the Standard
Electric Stove Company, Toledo, Ohio.
Malleable-Iron Hickey
In the accompanying illustration is shown a malle-
able-iron hickey which has been passed by the Under-
IRON HICKEY
writers* Laboratories. The hickey is used with insu-
lating joints and the iron utilized in making it shows
an average tensile strength of over 37,000 lb. per sq. in.
The device is tapped to Briggs' standard gage and has
been developed by the Pittsburgh Valve & Fittings
Company. Barberton, Ohio.
Remote-Control Device for Knife Switches
A device designed for the remote control of knife
switches of any size or any number of poles has been
developed by H. S. Tittle, 245 Minna Street, San Fran-
cisco, Cal. The device will operate on either alternating
current or direct current at pressures of 110 volts or
220 volts. If the device is used with a three-wire, 220-
110-volt system and either side of the circuit is open.
52
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 1
the energy supplied to the system will be cut off. In the
illustration the switch is shown closed; on being en-
ergized the plunger pulls the hook away from the switch
and releases it, thereby opening the circuit. The de-
REMOTE-CONTROL SWITCH
vice is adaptable to use in buildings where ordinances
require that a switch for opening the circuit shall be
placed near the entrance of the building.
Electric Timing Device for Elevators
The motor-driven timing device shown herewith rings
a bell at intervals of a few seconds, serving as a guide
for the elevator "starter" in maintaining the schedules
of the cars under his supervision. In other cases the
attendant is wholly dispensed with and the timing de-
vice alone is depended upon to give the signals for the
elevator operators.
A small motor drives a commutator wheel through re-
ELECTRIC TIMING DEVICE FOR ELEVATORS
duction gearing and a friction transmission. By ad-
justment of the friction disk between the center and
periphery of the disk, the interval of the contact-making
mechanism can be varied from ten seconds to ninety
seconds. In another type of timing device made by the
same company, the Elevator Supply & Repair Company,
561 West .Monroe Street, Chicago, the adjustment of
time interval is made by introducing resistance in series
multiple with the motor armature, thus securing the
speed control electrically instead of mechanically.
Connector for Tying Wire
The tool shown in the accompanying illustration has
been designed for tying two wires together. The tool
can be used with No. 8, No. 10. No. L2 and No. M wire.-.
tool is spring-tempered and is provided with a joint
which is also hardened and tempered. The connector is
being made by Smith & Heminway Company. 146 Cham-
bers Street, New York.
TOOL l ol: TYING wire
The 0] tool in one hand and twists the
wire with the other. For use w ith large wire
special openings are provided, The tools can also be
used with Maclntyre waterproof joint-. Koltzer-Cabol
i American Fuse Company joints. The
Motion-Picture Machine
In the accompanying illustration is shown a machine
for projecting motion pictures. With this projector
the flicker is eliminated, the manufacturers declare, by
increasing the picture impression on the eye of the ob-
server. The film-handling mechanism is inclosed in a
box with a glazed door cover. All gears are placed in a
FIG. 1 -MACHINE FOR PROJECTING MOTION PICTURES
gear case. The film tension members are long, hardened-
steel runners, which bear lightly against the film. The
reels are supported in the base of the machine itself, and
with a single screw a vertical adjustment of the line of
projection, for high or low screen is accomplished.
The switches and rheostats are inclosed in the hollow
pedestal. The rheostat is used when a motor-generator
3e1 i- not employed. A three-lens condenser system is
used, there being one meniscus lens and two convex
lenses. A lever handle on the left of the pedestal near
the top of the machine closes and opens the main switch,
and the lever on the right is used to adjust the rheostat.
A three-electrode lamp is used with this machine, the
arrangement of the electrodes being shown in Fig. 2.
FIG. 2 UtRANGEMENT of THREE ELECTRODES AM' LENSES
Two 0.25-in. electrodes are connected to the negative
lead ami a 0.5-in. electrode to the positive side of the
line. The small electrodes are placed at angles of about
L20 dee. on either side of the positive electrode. This
arrangement is used to present the largest possible area
of the so-called "incandescent spot" to the condensing
lenses without permitting the negative electrode to cast
too large a shadow on the screen. With the electrodes
in this position, the two hot arcs attract each other and
bring the incandescent spot on the end of the positive
electrodi and therefore in the exact focus of the con-
ni! lens. The electrode- are mounted horizontally.
The motion-picture machine described above is being
placed on the market by the Phantoscope Manufacturing
Company, Washington. D. I
January 2, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
53
CURRENT NEWS SECTION
Mayor of Seattle Arraigns City's Lighting Policy
In vetoing a bill appropriating $10,000 from the light-
ing fund for extending the city's lighting system to
Tukwila, Foster and Riverton, Mayor Hiram C. Gill of
Seattle, Wash., sent with his veto a communication in
which he scathingly arraigned the measure, the City
Council and the entire lighting policy as conducted dur-
ing the last three years. In denouncing the plan, Mayor
Gill gave voice to the following sentiments :
"To say that the Seattle lighting plant is a money-
making concern in the sense that it earns money for
the general purpose of reducing taxation is wrong.
From its inception the lighting plant has controlled the
rates of this city. It has saved our business men, tax-
payers and residences many millions of dollars and will
continue to do so unless it is brought into disrepute and
made a political plaything.
"Under this theory of outside extensions there is no
reason why the city of Seattle should not engage in any
other commercial business and conduct grocery stores,
dry-goods stores, and other profit-making concerns. If
I believed in this theory, I believe I should have the
courage of my convictions and announce myself to be
a socialist, pure and simple. All there is embodied in
this bill is pure socialism and opportunity given to set-
tle the grudges of certain persons arising from real or
imaginary grievances against a private corporation.
"Contrary to the statements of Councilman Erickson,
the lighting plant was not built from the proceeds of
the plant, but from the' proceeds of federal bond issues
which are a lien against every foot of property in Seat-
tle. Even though the lighting fund has paid the inter-
est on these bonds up to the present time, there is no as-
surance that its earnings will continue to do so, par-
ticularly in view of the fact that the fund at the present
time owes the general fund several hundred thousand
dollars. The financial condition of our lighting depart-
ment at the present time is due to gross financial mis-
management by the councilmanic body for the past
three years. The Council refused to comply with the
recommendation of former Chief of Police Austin E.
Griffiths and myself and light down-town alleys, giving
as a reason that it had no money, although it is now
proposing to become 'wet nurse' for suburban districts
outside the city limits, notwithstanding that it is far
worse off financially now than then.
"I always have maintained that the plant should seek
a fair return on the money invested, and the amount so
earned be expended within the city of Seattle, to the
end that all our people should have light at the lowest
cost consistent with good business management. The
tax rates of the city during the past few years have in-
creased at a highly unprecedented rate, and we have
nothing to show therefor except a street-car line which
was not intended to accommodate the public and which
did not even accomplish the purpose of its principal pro-
moters of harassing a private concern, and upon this
we are now losing thousands of dollars each month.
As a matter of fact, there is no money in the light fund.
The appropriation attempted is an illegal one and has
been from its inception."
After denouncing the Councilmen for squandering the
city's money, the Mayor concluded as follows:
"Not in any spirit of tumult or defiance, but in order
that the people affected by this bill may not be disap-
pointed, I desire to say to your honorable body that I
recognize your right by ordinance to direct the actions
of the light superintendent. However, though it may be
unfortunate from the standpoint of the world uplift,
your jurisdiction does not extend to Tukwila, Foster or
anywhere else outside the limits of the city, and so long
as I occupy my present position the departments of the
city shall confine their operations within the limits of
the city of Seattle."
The Federal Trade Commission
President Wilson is expected to send to the Senate
any clay the names of the appointees to the Federal
Trade Commission. No less than 350 names were pre-
sented to the President from all the States. The facts
in regard to all of these men were gone over by the
President.
Among the men most likely to be named are the fol-
lowing: Messrs. Joseph E. Davies, Commissioner of
Corporations; Albert D. Nortoni, a St. Louis lawyer
and former Progressive candidate for Governor of Mis-
souri; Henry J. Waters, president of the Kansas State
Agricultural College; George F. Peabody, a New York
banker and business man; Edward N. Hurley, of Chi-
cago, president of the Hurley Machine Company and of
the Illinois Manufacturers' Association ; Thomas S. Fel-
der, of Georgia, formerly Attorney-General of that
State; former Governor Ansel of South Carolina, and
Governors West of Oregon and Hodges of Kansas.
Commissioner of Corporations Davies of the Depart-
ment of Commerce, whose bureau, under the Federal
Trade Commission act, is to be merged with the commis-
sion, has not prepared any statement of policy for the
bureau for the ensuing year in his annual report, made
public in Washington on Dec. 28, but has instead in-
corporated an analysis of the powers and duties of the
commission.
American Telephone & Telegraph Company Offers
Stock to Employees
The American Telephone & Telegraph Company has
made arrangements by which employees of the Bell Sys-
tem who have been in the service two years or more
may purchase stock of the company at 110 on easy terms
of payment. No employee can purchase more than one
share for each $300 of annual wages he receives, or
more than ten shares whatever his wages. The terms of
payment will be $2 per share per month beginning with
March, 1915, and the quarterly dividends will go toward
paying for it after the deduction of interest at 4 per
cent per annum on the unpaid balances.
The company has paid 8 per cent dividends for seven
years, and it is calculated that dividends at this rate
and the $2 per share per month payments by employees
will pay for the stock in full by November, 1918. After
March 1, 1917, but not before, any employee who so de-
sires may pay the balance on his stock and receive his
certificate. Should an employee leave the service or die
before his stock is fully paid, the amount he has paid in
plus the accumulated dividends ( less 4 per cent interest)
will be paid back. The company in its offer to its
54
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 1
employees makes it plain that none of them is un-
der any obligation to buy stock, but it is believed that a
considerable number of employees will take advantage
of this opportunity to save and invest. The company
has 160,000 employees.
Joint Meeting of Physical Society and Association
for Advancement of Science
There was held during the present week in the city
of Philadelphia a joint meeting of the American Physi-
cal Society and the American Association for the Ad-
vancement of Science. The meeting was the sixty-sixth
of the American Association for the Advancement of
Science, and its sessions were held in Weightman Hall,
Gymnasium of the University of Pennsylvania. The
meeting was the seventy-fifth one of the American
Physical Society, and all of its sessions were held in
Randall-Morgan Laboratory of Physics of the University
of Pennsylvania. Section B of the American Associa-
tion for the Advancement of Science met in joint ses-
sion with the American Physical Society. The follow-
ing papers and addresses were scheduled for the week:
Tuesday Morning. — "An Alternating-Current Bridge
for the Measurement of the Dielectric Loss and Dielec-
tric Constant at High Voltages and Low Frequencies,"
by Mr. Chester A. Butman, research department, West-
inghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company, Pitts-
burgh, Pa. ; "Influence of the Concentration of Electro-
lyte upon Electrode Potentials," by Mr. Arthur W.
Ewell, Worcester Polytechnic Institute ; "A New Method
of Obtaining a Hysteresis Loop," by Mr. W. N. Fen-
ninger, Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, N. Y. ; "On Rotation
and Magnetization," by Mr. S. J. Barnett, Ohio State
University ; "Note on Thermo Emfs in Which the Re-
sultant Peltier Effect Is Zero," by Mr. H. C. Barker,
University of Pennsylvania ; "Linear Resistance Change
with Temperature of Certain Molten Metals," by Mr.
E. F. Northrup, Princeton University; "The Effect of
Temperature on the Dielectric Strength, the Dielectric
Loss and the Dielectric Constant of Paraffine Oil," by
Mr. Chester A. Butman, research department, Westing-
house Electric & Manufacturing Company, Pittsburgh,
Pa.; "A Preliminary Note on the Variation of Stray
Power Losses in a Dynamo," by Mr. W. N. Fenninger.
Pratt Institute.
Tuesday Afternoon. — Address of Vice-president A. D.
Cole before Section B on "Recent Evidence for the Ex-
istence of the Nucleus Atom" ; address of President
Ernest Merritt before the American Physical Society,
on "Luminescence."
Tuesday Evening. — Public lecture by Prof. Dayton C.
Miller on "The Science of Musical Sounds."
Wednesday Morning. — "Relation Between the Energy
of the Cathode Rays and the Frequency of the X-Rays
Produced by Them," by Mr. William Duane, Harvard
Medical School; "Thermionic Currents from a Wehnelt
Cathode," by Mr. W. Wilson, research labors
American Telephone & Telegraph Company and West* rn
Electric Company, New York City; "Mobility of Ions
at Different Temperature and Constant Gas I tensity."
by Mr. Henry A. Erikson, University of Minnesota;
"The Radioactive Content of Certain Minnesota Soils."
by Mr. James C. Sanderson, University of Minn.
"Conducting Gas Layer at a Metallic Surface." DJ Mr,
G. W. Stewart, state University of [owa; "X-Rays from
the Electrical I1 \ii Elizabeth R. Laird,
Mount Solyoke College; "X-Rays Produced by slow
athode Rays," by Miss Elizabeth R. Laird.
Mount l|o|
Wednesday ifternoon. Symposium on the use of di
ional equations, led by Mr. E. Buckingham, Bu-
reau of Standards, Washington; "Light Due to Recom-
bination of Ions," by Mr. C. D. Child, Colgate Univer-
sity ; "Electric Furnace Evidence on the Relation of
Spectrum Lines Having Constant Differences in Wave-
Number," by Mr. Arthur S. King, Mount Wilson Solar
Observatory; "The Mechanical Equivalent of Light," by
Messrs. H. E. Ives, W. W. Coblentz and E. F. Kings-
bury. United Gas Improvement Company, Philadelphia,
Pa.; "Fluorescence of the Uranyl Salts under X-Ray
Excitation," by Miss Frances G. Wick, Vassar College,
Poughkeepsie, N. Y.
Thursday Morning. — "The Efficiency of Energy
Transformation in the Corona Method of Precipitating
Fumes," by Mr. W. W. Strong, Mechanicsburg, Pa.;
"Leakage of Gases Through Quartz Tubes," by Mr. E.
C. Mayer, Cornell University; "A New Method for
Measuring Gravity at Sea, with Some Transpacific Ob-
servations," by Mr. Lyman J. Briggs, United States Bu-
reau of Plant Industry, Washington; "The Oxidation of
Nitrogen," by Mr. W. W. Strong, Mechanicsburg, Pa.;
"The Alleged Dissymmetrical Broadening of the D Lines
of Sodium," by Mr. E. A. Eckhardt, University of Penn-
sylvania ; "Exhibit of Mechanical Models Illustrating,
( a ) Subdivision of Alternating Current between Two
Branches in Parallel, (b) the Alternating-Current
Transformer, (,c) Coupled Circuits in Wireless Teleg-
raphy," by Mr. W. S. Franklin, Lehigh University;
"Some Causes of Variation in the Sensitivity of Moving
Coil Galvanometers," by Mr. Paul E. Klopsteg, Uni-
versity of Minnesota (presented by Mr. A. Zeleny) ; "A
New Standard Phone and Phonometer for any Pitch,"
by Mr. A. G. Webster, Clark University; "The Excep-
tions to the Law of DuLong and Petit." by Mr. J. E.
Siebel, Chicago, 111.
Thursday Afternoon. — "A New Form of Radiation
Pyrometer," by Mr. S. Leroy Brown, University of
Texas; "The Doppler Effect in X-Ray Spectra and Ap-
plication to the Kinetic Theory of Solids." by Messrs. L.
Gilchrist and D. A. Keys, University of Toronto; "On
Acoustic Impedance, and an Approximate Theory of
Conical Horns," by Mr. A. G. Webster, Clark Univer-
sity; "Vapors with Positive Specific Heat in Energy
Conversion," by Mr. J. E. Siebel, Chicago. 111.
Senate Committee Told Water-Power Bill Would
Retard Development
In addition to the testimony before the committee on
public lands of the United States Senate on the water-
power bill which has been published in recent issues,
other views have been given. Abstracts of other testi-
mony follow :
Mr. \\ . V. N. Powelson
Mr. Powelson, consulting engineer, of New York, said
that the proposed legislation should accomplish three
main purposes — first, the delivery of power to the pub-
lic on the lowest possible terms; second, delivery under
conditions that insure the greatest reliability of service;
third, delivery of power in the greatest volume that the
market can absorb, that is to say, cheap power, good
power and all the power that any one can use. If the
legislation accomplishes those three main purposes, it
has done all that the public interest could expect or re-
quire. Senator Clark asked whether there should lie
Some obligation upon the government to grant the per
mit if the regulations were fulfilled by an applicant,
Mr. Powelson said that he was absolutely in accord with
that proposition because he thought thai it would make
money less expensive. Anything that makes financing
expensive will increase the cost ot energy. Between
so and 90 per cent of the cost of generating water-
January 2, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
55
power is made up of fixed charges. Operating ex-
penses are therefore substantially negligible. The pro-
posed prohibition to limit the amount of energy to be
sold to any one customer to 50 per cent of the total out-
put would tend to retard development.
Mr. H. L. Cooper
Mr. Cooper, consulting engineer, of New York, said
that the water-power business in general has suffered
greatly in respect to profit from two very great oppos-
ing natural difficulties. The first is that the water-
power business, as applied to hydroelectric work, is a
new art, being scarcely over twenty years of age. In
the last ten or twelve years plants with a capacity of
more than 600,000 hp built upon navigable streams and
upon public-land permits have been absolute financial
failures to the extent that the investors therein cannot
be appealed to again for the support of similar invest-
ments. In general, the water-power investments have
not been a success up to date. The list of plants given
by Mr. Cooper is shown in the accompanying table.
partial list of water-power developments which
have either been through receiverships
or proved bad investments
hT
Hudson River, Spiers' Falls. N. Y., Mechanicsville, X. Y. . 52,000
Michigan Lake Superior Power Company. Sault Ste. Marie.
Mich 23,000
Great Shoshone & Twin Falls Water Power Company.
Pocatello, Idaho 10,000
Animas Power & Lighting Company, Durango, Col 4,500
Central Colorado Power Company, Denver, Col 40,000
Wisconsin Railway, Lighting & Power Company, Hatfield,
Wis 8,000
McCall's Ferry Power Company. MeCalTs Ferry, Pa 80,000
Hantord Irrigation & Power Company. Priest Rapids,
Wash 4,000
Y'adkin River Power Company. Rockingham, N. C 25,000
Hauser Lake (Mont.) Power Company 15,000
Chattanooga & Tennessee River Power Company. Chatta-
nooga, Tenn 40,000
St. Lawrence River Power Company, Massena, X. Y 60,000
Austin Dam. Texas
Stanislaus Electric Power Company. San Francisco 50,000
Whitney plant, on Y'adkin River 20,000
Miscellaneous small water-powers 50.000
Alabama Power Company 70,000
Appalachian Power Company 40,000
Total 616.500
Hydroelectric securities are very unpopular in the
American market. A large amount of hydroelectric se-
curities have been sold in Europe, but the war has closed
this field completely. Practically all of the $16,000,000
bonds for the Keokuk (la.) enterprise w-ere placed
abroad. The next difficulty in the way of wTater-power
investment is the very serious one of competition from
steam. The water-power engineer has met everyw-here
each six months some new invention to bring down the
cost of steam power. When Mr. Cooper first went into the
business $125 was a good, fair estimate of the capital
cost per horse-power for a complete steam plant, and
to-day it is $40. The steam engineers have not been
content in reducing the cost on the capital side but have
increased the efficiency of their steam units so that the
amount of coal consumption per horse-power is less than
one-half what it was fifteen or twenty years ago. The
steam generating stations of to-day require much less
repair, much less oil, much less labor than used to be
the case. Steam power with all charges paid does not
cost more than 40 per cent of the cost fifteen or
twenty years ago. The water-powers of the United
States that have to compete against the steam energy
have been constructed at an average cost of about $160
per hp. Mr. Cooper emphasized the fact that he meant
real dollars instead of stocks or bonds.
The present cost of the Keokuk plant is about $175
per hp. When the present possible output is all sold
and the rest of the power is developed the cost will be
about $120 per hp. The average cost per horse-power
at Niagara Falls is about $110. Some recent extensions
there have brought the average cost down. Mr. Cooper
said that the average cost by steam in the vicinity of
the Keokuk plant would be $24 or $25 per hp. The
energy is sold in St. Louis at $18 per hp per year. Mr.
Cooper presented a table showing that since March 2,
1909, new water-power plants constructed and operated
on national forests and founded upon revocable permits
have aggregated 15,520 hp. Outside of the public do-
main since 1909 plants with a rating of over 700,000 hp
have been built.
Mr. John H. Finney
Mr. Finney, a director of the American Institute of
Electrical Engineers and manager of the Washington
office of the Aluminum Company of America, in order
to show what a modern hydroelectric system comprises,
described the Southern Power Company, Charlotte, N.
C. With a connected load of about 100,000 hp, this
company had to put in steam plants so as to have a re-
liable supply for the entire system. Mr. Finney said
that the bill would prevent the sale of energy to a dis-
tributing system which would actually be the principal
source of business for a hydroelectric company. By
prohibiting the sale of more than 50 per cent of the
energy to any one user it would take away the market
for the large consumer. Mr. Finney said he did not
know how, under these two sections, a hydroelectric
company could get its business. The bill would not
permit the development of a single important hydro-
electric system in the United States. The term of fifty
years is not too long and in a great many cases it is too
short to develop a given water-power.
Mr. George Otis Smith
Mr. Smith, director of the United States Geological
Survey, said that if the law strikes the mean between
what will invite capital and what will protect the con-
sumer it will be workable. Mr. Smith discussed the
issues arising from the proposal to construct a hydro-
electric plant on the Green River to provide for irriga-
tion and for the electrification of part of the Denver &
Rio Grande Railroad.
A statement regarding this project was made by Mr.
S. Z. Mitchell, president of the Electric Bond & Share
Company, who was attending the hearing. He said that
it was proposed to supply the energy for the Denver
& Rio Grande Railroad from several projects, including
the Utah Power & Light Company and the Green River
projected plant. In the winter time, Mr. Mitchell said,
there was a very large amount of power which could not
possibly be used for irrigation that wTas absolutely
wasted and it was this that was wanted.
Mr. Walter L. Fisher
Mr. Fisher, ex-Secretary of the Interior, said that it
would be in the nature of a public calamity to the
country as a whole, and especially to the West, if the
opportunity to pass a fair and reasonable wTater-power
bill should fail either through the unwillingness of cer-
tain of the power interests to accept what seem to be
not only right but inevitable provisions in the public
interest or through any failure of the Senate or the
House to understand the view of those who have been
attempting to advocate that sort of public protection.
The fact that the transmission of hydroelectric energy
over long distances has now progressed to such a point
that this business is tied up and has become largely in-
terstate in character cannot be changed by any legisla-
56
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 1
tion. It can only be recognized and dealt with by legis-
lation. It is exactly the same as the situation has been
in the railroad world. It is an inevitable economic de-
velopment.
Mr. Fisher expressed the opinion that this bill, if
enacted and accepted by the power people in good faith
and administered as it will be in good faith, will be of
incalculable financial advantage to them and will permit
development and investment. If things that are really
in the public interest are not inserted in the law, there
will be public dissatisfaction and unrest until they are
put in. The assurance of stability in the enterprises on
a fair basis is of far more importance to the investor
than any of the reservations in the bill. If the power
people will cease to oppose those things which are in
the public interest and direct the attention of the public
to such things as the importance of obsolescence, how
the investments are required to be replaced and the un-
certainty of the market, and matters of that kind, all of
which affect the question of compensation to be exacted
and the question of how far the rates should be lowered
by regulation, they will protect their interest far better
than by raising questions about matters which, on cor-
rect theory, ought to be in the grant.
Commenting on the statement of Mr. Fisher, Mr. S.
Z. Mitchell said that the most important matter is to
get the capital. If the money cannot be obtained, all of
the other points are of no avail. Stability is of very
much more importance than yield. It is vital to have a
law under which the people feel that the government
has some solicitude, not as to how much will be obtained
on the value of the securities but on the machinery that
goes into the property. With this cloak of government
solicitude around it people will have confidence in it,
and then the monev can be obtained more easily and at
a much lower rate. Mr. Mitchell asked Mr. Fisher if
the policy of the city of Chicago in its franchise nego-
tiations with electric railways had not created confi-
dence and been effective. Mr. Fisher replied that it had.
Mr. Mitchell said that the law ought to be so designed
in the first place that the investor would be perfectly
safe in feeling that nobody would confiscate the invest-
ment at the time of acquisition. The statute ought to
make this so clear that there should be no question
about it. Every possible safeguard ought to be thrown
about the proposition so that, because provision has
been made for obsolescence and other charges, the in-
vestor will be certain to get his principal. There is a
good deal of question as to whether if the investor were
not able to amortize the investment and provide for
obsolescence during the last four or five years he would
get his money back. Mr. Mitchell said that in case
of acquisition of the electric railways in Chicago the
purchaser would assume the outstanding bonds. Mr.
Fisher said that such a provision ought to be included
in the water-power bill.
Mr. Mitchell said that nothing of that sort wa in
the bill. Of course, the clearer the security is the
cheaper is the capital cost.
Mr. Dennis T. Plynn
Mr. Plynn, a banker of Oklahoma City. Okla., testified
from the standpoint of one who has been interested in
electrical propertie and who has purchased for his own
use and boo. •tit .electrical M this bill as it
bhe llousr should go on the statute
it would mean oi bureaucracy, more
jn v, n, Million- of more hard earned
(joflj mm who undertake to make development
by compelling many a lonely pilgrimage to the brine oi
the Departmenl of the interior. The committee should
not pass a bill applyirig only to interstate corporations
that deal with government proper) <. and leave til
poration that is doing an interstate electric business on
private property free from Congressional regulation.
Mr. Flynn took up the provision that "leases for the
development of power by municipal corporations solely
for municipal use shall be issued without rental charge."
He said that the language should be more specific in
defining "municipal use." He is interested in a com-
pany that furnishes electrical energy generated by
steam. The opinion prevailed among many people who
were not dissatisfied with the company that they wanted
a municipal plant. They built a dam and a small power
plant which furnished the energy for the city and took
the best of the market in the business district. The
consequence is that the company lost $30,000 in the
operation of its plant and the city lost in the operation
of its plant. Unfortunately the city does not keep its
books as the company does. When it has not sufficient
money the difference is lost in the general taxes. Mr.
Flynn declared that cities ought not to be encouraged to
vote bonds unless for municipal public use and that
Congress ought not to authorize a city to take rights
free as against an individual and by public taxation to
make up a deficit.
In states where there is a public service commission
the report made to that commission should be accepted
by the Secretary of the Interior.
Mr. Clarence M. Clark
Mr. Clark, of Messrs. E. W. Clark & Company, Phila-
delphia, said that unless the bill is so drawn as to at-
tract capital it will absolutely defeat its own purpose.
Procedure has been had upon incorrect premises, one
of which is that there exists in the country a great
water-power trust, sometimes called an electric trust.
The evidence of this is given in the shape of interlock-
ing directorates, and very inaccurate testimony has
been submitted before the committee which has con-
sidered this question and in magazines and other public
prints. Mr. Clark said that for the twenty years that
he had been in this business and the longer period that
his firm had been in it he had never known of any such
trust. The evidence which has been submitted to demon-
strate that such a trust exists is absolutely incorrect.
Men are chosen for directors because of their knowledge
of the business and their ability to be of service and
their intelligence in that line of business.
In view of what he had said in regard to the appre-
hension that such a trust exists in the country, Mr.
Clark thinks that the bill is drawn to prevent operation
under it by existing corporations and with the idea that
additional capital and new men can be induced to take
up this line of development. The experience of the last
few years has shown that the actual construction cost
of water-power has been much more than was contem-
plated by the original conceivers of the enterprises.
The cost of coal-generated and steam-generated power
is constantly decreasing at a really remarkable rate.
As an evidence of that Mr. Clark said that he had re-
fused in the last few weeks to consider a proposition in
the center of one of the greatest markets in an Eastern
-late because a steam-generated power plant can fur-
nish power cheaper and better than a hydroelectric plant
or a number of hydroelectric plants. The enterprise
was one which would have cost $8,000,000 to (10,000,
(Mill.
The value oi water -powers developed on public lands
• presented by what they can get for their output.
The price which they can get for their output depends
upon the price at which a similar output developed by
hydroelectric plants not situated upon the publ
main can be obtained and the price at which a similar
output can be purchased when generated by steam.
The development of hydroelectric plants as a separate
ELEC T R I C A L W-0 RLD
distinct enterprise without an established market or
without connection with a market is almost invariably
a failure. In this country not one large hydroelectric
plant that has been put in operation within the last year
or two has earned 6 per cent interest on its actual cost.
There is a very great misapprehension in regard to the
value of the plants. There has never been a time in
the history of the country when the details and condi-
tions of new construction enterprises have been scruti-
nized so carefully and closely as they are to-day. The
regulatory measures which have been passed have great-
ly reduced or largely eliminated the profit in the public
utility business and the banker who is going to invest
money will consider that element very carefully. The
money which has been lost in the depreciation of the se-
curities of public utility companies as a whole through-
out the country amounts to hundreds and hundreds of
millions of dollars.
The reasons which Mr. Clark outlined demonstrate
the necessity for legislation free from unnecessary re-
strictions in order to induce the investment of capital
in the development of the enterprises. Financing by
bonds and the issue of stock as a bonus has been largely
or almost entirely superseded in this country by con-
servative methods. To enable the bankers of an en-
terprise to obtain the capital there must be long tenure
of title.
The building up of the water powers of the West is
desirable for three reasons — first, to conserve the coal
and oil resources of the country which when used up
are exhausted; second, to assist in bringing manu-
facturing enterprises to the Western country; third, to
supply the requirements of public utility companies
which are so intimately connected with the progress and
upbuilding of the Western States.
I
Lighting Company Must Protect Its Service
Against Lightning
The Supreme Court of Georgia in the case of the
Columbus Railroad Company versus Kitchens (83 S.E.,
529) affirmed the judgment given by the Superior
Court against the defendant and held that where an
electric-light company maintains overhead wires to
supply light to a residence it must employ such ap-
proved apparatus as is reasonably necessary to prevent
injury from electricity generated by a thunderstorm.
The action was brought against the company for per-
sonal injuries due to a shock received by the plaintiff
when lightning struck the apparatus used by defendant
in conducting the electricity to plaintiff's residence. A
demurrer filed by the lighting company complained that
no cause of action was set forth in that the petitioner
did not allege (a) any breach of duty to petitioner,
(b) or that the defendant was not in exercise of all
ordinary care and diligence due the plaintiff, (c) or any
fact showing that the wires were not in a safe condi-
tion, (d) or specifically any acts of negligence or de-
finitely how or in what manner the defendant was negli-
gent. Other grounds of demurrer were that it appeared
from the allegations of the petition that the injury was
a result of an unavoidable accident and that it was the
result of a stroke of lightning ; that there were no alle-
gations that the injury would have been averted by any
kind of installation, ground wires or lightning arrest-
ers, and that it was not alleged that the wires running
into the plaintiff's residence were not properly insu-
lated, nor was it alleged what it takes to constitute
proper installation. The court ruled that a petition in
an action against an electric-light company for personal
injuries due to a shock received by the plaintiff when
lightning struck the apparatus used by defendant in
conducting the electricity to plaintiff's residence was
not demurrable for failure to state a cause of action.
St. Louis Company Refunds Customers' Deposits
Announcement was made on Dec. 14 that the Union
Electric Light & Power Company, St. Louis, Mo., would
not thereafter require the customary $5 deposit from
applicants for residence service and would refund all
such deposits then on hand with interest at 6 per cent.
The total amount to be thus refunded was about $10,000.
Coming at the holiday season, the money returned
seemed almost like a Christmas present to many of the
recipients who had made their deposits several years
ago and had partly forgotten the matter.
In speaking of the company's determination to assume
without a guarantee deposit the risk entailed in cus-
tomers' accounts, Mr. A. C. Einstein, vice-president and
general manager of the electric company, said that the
average bill of residence customers was only $2 a month
and that the smallness of the bills and the general hon-
esty of the patrons rendered it unnecessary to require
a deposit.
Reports on Municipal Controversy at Saginaw, Mich.
Reports on the suggested municipal electric plant and
the proposal of the Saginaw Power Company, of Sagi-
naw, Mich., have been made by Messrs. R. F. Johnson,
commissioner of light, water and sewers, and Herman
H. Eymer, city engineer, and Prof. M. E. Cooley, of
Ann Arbor, Mich. Mr. Eymer says that it is deemed
possible for the city to obtain energy from some power
company at wholesale, delivered at the switchboard at a
rate less that that at which the city can produce it
Therefore it would be unwise to construct a power sta-
tion for the purpose of generating energy before it is
determined whether or not the energy can be purchased
at a less unit cost than that at which the city could
produce it. There is a further possibility of govern-
ment ownership of hydroelectric plants.
In investigating the plans and estimates of Mr
Eymer, Professor Cooley availed himself of the servicer
of Prof. H. C. Anderson and Prof. C. H. Fessenden, of
the University of Michigan. After study of the figures-
of cost, which included for power house, power equip-
ment and distribution system 8 per cent for con-
tingencies, 5 per cent for engineering, supervision and
inspection, and 2V2 per cent for insurance and taxes,
and for lamps 10 per cent for contingencies, engineer-
ing, supervision and inspection and 2% per cent for in-
surance and taxes, they recommended that there be
added the following additional percentages: Organiza-
tion, administration and legal expenses, 2172 per cent;
interest during construction, 4 per cent. The one great
chance, he said, for misunderstanding in estimates of
the costs of public utility plants arises in connection
with the overhead charges. With the possible excep-
tion of a few items, costs of construction and putting
into successful operation a utility plant are the same
whether the plant be built and owned by a private cor
poration or by a municipality. The superior credit of a
municipality ordinarily results in reduced costs of financ-
ing and lower bond interest, and there may be some other
saving due to the more friendly attitude of the people
toward what they themselves own. But offsetting these
are sources of possible losses in operation which those
best acquainted with municipally owned plants are fa-
miliar with. The lack of incentive to save often results in
placing the municipally owned plant at a disadvantage
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. (55, No. 1
when compared with a privately owned plant. City
taxes, paid by a private corporation, must also be paid
by the publicly owned plant, if not directly then by an
equal amount spread on the tax roll. The cost to run the
city has not necessarily been decreased. Likewise there
must be at hand the necessary stores and supplies to
keep the plant running and a sufficient working capital
to meet the pay roll and current obligations and to make
necessary repairs. Then, too, there is the cost of
establishing the business. The early losses are usually
referred to as the cost of establishing the business or
the cost of procuring a going concern. There are other
costs of establishing the business, such, for instance, as
are involved in securing patronage.
Professor Cooley also raised a point regarding the
advisability from an economic standpoint of duplicating
capital already in the field. The plant proposed will do
a part or the whole of the work now being done by the
present privately owned plant. Only one plant is neces-
sary. Would it not then be a wise precaution, before
making this duplication, to exhaust to the very end every
possibility of getting together? If no satisfactory
agreement is found possible, would it not then be bet-
ter to try first to buy the existing plant outright or such
part of it as may be needed to carry out the city's plans?
The whole thought is the saving of several hundred
thousand dollars at a time when a waste of money ought
not to be afforded.
Professor Cooley also suggested that the Railroad
Commission, if it has not the power now, no doubt will
after the next Legislature has met have the power
to adjust just such differences as confront the city and
the company. A year's delay with such a possibility in
prospect ought to be worth considering. His estimates
of cost are as follows: Power house, $226,527; distri-
bution system, $378,692; lamps, $159,095; total, $764,-
314; office furniture and fixtures, $1,686; horses,
vehicles, etc., $10,000; stores and supplies, $20,000;
working capital, $40,000; total, $836,000.
Maine Public Utilities Act
At the recent general election in Maine the public
utilities act passed by the 1913 Legislature was
accepted by a referendum vote. The statute provides
for the appointment by the Governor of a board of three
members to be designated the Public Utilities Commis-
sion, the chairman having a salary of $5,000 per year
and the other two commissioners $4,500 each. The
chairman first appointed is to have a term of seven
years and the other members five and three years re-
spectively, subsequent appointments being for seven
1 years. The clerk is to receive $2,500. The office is to
be at the Capitol in Augusta. The right to employ ex-
pert assistance is accorded.
Power is given to the commission to inquire into the
management of all public utilities, including common
carriers, gas, electric, telephone, telegraph and water
companies, wharfingers and warehousemen. The board
or its representative receives power to inspect books,
papers, etc., to require the production of these, to in-
vestigate any neglect or violations of law by public util-
ities or their em] ad agents, reporting all viola
tions to the Attorney-General, who, with county attor
neys, is required to aid the commission.
All rates are to be reasonable and just, taking into
account the value of the property with a fair return
thei ••■■ ate and plant as a going concern, busi-
ness risk and depreciation. ire to be kept in
the manner and form prescribed by the board, consider
ation being given by the latter to sj
by federal law, commissions or departments, and any
system authorized by a national association of utilities.
The board may order separate accounts for subsidiary
business. Utilities having no property within the
State other than is employed there in transit are ex-
empted from keeping accounts in the manner pre-
scribed by the commission, but are required to appoint
a resident agent. Accounts other than those prescribed
or approved for use by the commission are expressly
prohibited.
Copies of rate schedules must be on file in every sta-
tion and office of each utility and open to the public. Ex-
tended provisions are made against rebates or other
preferential rates, although carriers may grant free or
reduced rate transportation as provided by Congress
and utilities may make special rates to employees or in
emergencies and, on approval of the board, reduced
rates for benevolent purposes. The commission is re-
quired to provide a comprehensive classification of serv-
ice for each utility, which may take into account quan-
tity, time of use, purpose, etc.
Provision is made against the furnishing of service
by newly organized corporations without consent of the
commission in places where a similar service is being
provided. Fatal accidents must be reported by wire.
The commission is required to make early investigation
of accidents and in its discretion to investigate acci-
dents resulting in personal injury or property damage.
Power to value property is given, and the issue of se-
curities is placed under the board's jurisdiction. No
order authorizing the issue of securities shall limit
rate-making powers. Notes for less than one year may
be issued without reference to the board. The commis-
sion may order physical connections, joint rates and
the joint use of equipment for a prescribed compensa-
tion.
Complaints in writing signed by ten parties against
rates, service, regulations, etc., require action by the
board if it is satisfied that the petitioners are responsi-
ble. No order can be issued without a public hearing
after at least ten days' notice to the utility. Full power
to fix rates and regulate service is vested in the board,
which may investigate upon its own motion and enforce
its orders.
Appeals from decisions may be taken to the Supreme
Court. The burden of proof is placed upon parties ad-
verse to the commission and upon advocates of rate in-
creases. The act abolishes the Railroad Commission and
State Water Storage Commission and vests their
powers, duties and privileges in the newly created
Public Utilities Commission.
Governor Haines of Maine has appointed members of
the commission as follows : Messrs. Benjamin F.
Cleaves, Biddeford; William B. 1). Skelton, Lewiston.
and Samuel W. Gould, Skowhegan
Model School Room Lighting at Springfield, Mass.
In the new High School of Commerce at Springfield,
Mass., the electric-lighting installation will be selected
Oil the basis of competitive installations of fixtures in
so-called model rooms, each of which will represent the
best efforts of a single manufacturer. The city prop-
erty committee has arranged with a number of firms
for the equipment of several rooms with combinations
of indirect ami direct lighting, and the trial installs
tionfi will lie made in a very short time. The city an
thorities have been making extensive studies of school-
room lighting during the past year with a view toward
reducing eyi md obtaining more efficient illumi-
nation for a given energy expenditure. The service is
generally supplied by the United Electric Light I
pany.
January 2, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
59
Daylight-Saving Movement at Chicago
The Chicago Association of Commerce has instituted
a campaign to give Chicago Eastern time in an effort to
start the local business day an hour earlier, thus adding
an hour of natural daylight at the close of the working
period and reducing the use of artificial illumination.
At a meeting of bankers, business men, manufacturers,
railroad executives, merchants and others, held at the
LaSalle Hotel Dec. 7, the advantages and disadvantages
of the plan were discussed by a number of speakers.
Trade Prospects in South America
That the European war has opened the way to manu-
facturers of this country for the establishment of per-
manent business relations in South American countries
is the opinion of officials of the National Lamp Works in
Cleveland. They believe that merely to make arrange-
ments to take orders for the present and supply mer-
chandise that has heretofore been purchased in Europe
would be of little benefit. Possibilities in those coun-
tries must be cultivated and the first buyers must be
made customers, so that they will not use our manufac-
tures only as a makeshift until the factories of Europe
are opened, but will look to them for the future.
The manufacturer who will establish himself in
Latin-American countries in such a manner as to give
the service that goes with his business in this country
will succeed, they believe. Up to this time nothing
seems to have been done but to take orders and deliver
merchandise, with the exception of providing financial
accommodations for customers; but if American corpo-
rations would give the service there that they give here
they would be far ahead of any Europeans in the es-
timation of customers. This service would make per-
manent customers and would hold them in competition
against other countries.
It is possible, they believe, that American banking
facilities would be extended to those countries if indus-
trial concerns should develop business that would war-
rant such a step. Bankers might be willing to estab-
lish themselves and grow with the extension of other
lines of business. The Germans have owned most of the
banks for some years, and they were established to take
care of the business of German exporters. It would be
impossible for them to meet the demands of business
from American or other exporters and, from the stand-
point of the American business man, this would prob-
ably not be desirable.
Business should be established in a conservative way,
and development should take place as rapidly as condi-
tions warrant. Germany has built up its business in
those countries as a result of most careful preparation.
Its consuls are trained. They are taught their duties
carefully and study the way business is done in the
countries to which they are to be sent, the articles pro-
duced there, the cost of production, the merchandise
imported and where it is secured, the cost and quality
of such articles or merchandise, and many other par-
ticulars that will aid them in developing business for
the manufacturers and exporters of their own country.
A constant supply of information is thus going forward
and is used not only in the improvement of the manu-
factured goods and handling of merchandise, but in
opening new avenues and developing new articles.
Several languages have been taught in the German
schools. This knowledge is very important to those who
are engaged in foreign countries and in offices at home
where extensive correspondence is conducted. School
children gain some idea of people and countries through
the study of languages and are better prepared for du-
ties which thev mav be called upon to discharge in later
life.
Some of the universities and schools of Germany
have made a practice of sending students on tours of
various countries. They are thus imbued in their for-
mative years with the idea of extending business over
the world and secure knowledge that they could not
get in any other way. When their student days are
ended they are in position to enter upon work that
would be difficult or perhaps impossible to the ordinary
college-trained man here.
Business methods have not been developed along these
lines in this country to the extent of the progress in
Germany, but there is little doubt that with co-opera-
tion between business interests and the government sur-
prising results could be achieved.
Utah Franchise Situation Settled
The officers of the Utah Light & Traction Company
and the City Commission after more than two months
of negotiations have reached an agreement with refer-
ence to consolidating the franchises of the Utah Light
& Railway Company and the Merchants' Light & Power
Company, both of which have been acquired by the Utah
Light & Traction Company. In consideration of the
transfer of these franchise rights to the new company
substantial reductions in rates are made to the citizens
of Salt Lake City amounting to as much as 20 per cent
in the case of certain customers, the minimum reduction
being 10 per cent and the average about 12 per cent.
Under the ordinance as passed by the City Commission-
ers on Dec. 21, the company agrees to furnish the stan-
dard 4-amp luminous-arc lamp at a price not to exceed
$4.75 per lamp per month when fed from underground
circuit and $4.50 per lamp per month when fed from
overhead lines.
Standard multiple-arc lamps for commercial purposes
are to be furnished at a rate not to exceed $8 per lamp
per month for all-night service, $5 per lamp per month
for midnight service and $4 per lamp per month for 10
o'clock service. The base rate for incandescent lighting
service by meter is reduced from 10 cents per kw-hr.
to 9 cents per kw-hr. and a minimum charge of $1 per
month is provided, also a discount of 10 per cent if bills
are paid within seven days from date. The company
agrees to furnish the city with twenty-five standard arc
lamps free, and also to furnish free electrical energy for
lighting purposes up to any amount not exceeding 400,-
000 kw-hr. per annum. The furnishing of this free
service, however, is conditioned upon the company re-
ceiving and having the contract to furnish the municipal
street lighting. The company further agrees to fur-
nish the city with 62% hp of electrical energy free for
motor purposes and to furnish such additional energy as
the city may require for pumping and other municipal
purposes up to 125 hp at a price not to exceed 1 cent per
kw-hr. for service twenty-four hours a day, provided
that none of the energy purchased or obtained is used
for lighting purposes. From Jan. 1, 1915, to Aug. 24,
1937, the company must pay an income tax at the rate
of one-quarter of 1 per cent upon the gross revenues of
the company derived from the sale of electrical energy
for lighting purposes. For the remaining period of the
franchise the tax is increased to one-half of 1 per cent
upon the gross revenues from electric lighting.
It is further provided that should the volume of the
company's business increase to an extent that will re-
duce the cost of furnishing electricity the city and the
company shall jointly appoint an arbitration commit-
tee to determine an equitable rate, such rate to be
accepted by the company.
60
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. tin
N
Miscellaneous News Notes
Proposed Change in Patent Law. — The American Patent
Law Association has prepared a bill for presentation to
Congress which provides for the temporary extension of
the time of filing applications for letters patent and regis-
tration in the Patent Office and fees therefor.
Efforts to Bond Electrical Contractors in Michigan. —
Upon the recommendation of the Michigan Builders and
Traders' Exchange, a law will be proposed that will compel
all electrical contractors to give a bond where the amount
of a contract totals $2,000 or over. This is said to be for
the purpose of eliminating the unreliable contractor.
Special Street Lighting for San Diego. — Plans for pro-
viding arches of electric lamps over two of the principal
streets in San Diego (Cal.) have been favored in an ordi-
nance recently passed by the City Council. The special
street illumination is intended for the exposition. Energy
will be supplied by the San Diego Consolidated Gas &
Electric Company.
Gas and Electric Club for Louisville Company Employees.
— Manager Donald McDonald, of the Louisville (Ky.) Gas
& Electric Company, has appointed a committee to organ-
ize a gas and electric club for the employees of the com-
pany. It is planned to broaden the objects of the commer-
cial meetings which have been held every Saturday after-
noon so that every employee will be interested. Accident
prevention will be included in the scope of the club.
Single Residence Requires 171 Hp. — The late Charles G.
Gates' residence at Minneapolis, Minn., has one of the
largest connected electrical loads of any home in this
country. The lighting load alone is over 90 kw and the
motor load is about 50 hp. Among the purposes for which
electricity is used are the following: Ventilation, operating
elevators, driving laundry and refrigerating machinery,
and pumping air for a pipe organ. The interior illumina-
tion is very elaborate.
Keeping Food Hot in Electric Delivery Wagons. — Elec-
tric delivery wagons equipped with electrically heated com-
partments are being used in Germany for conveying hot
foods from bakeries, caterers, municipal kitchens, etc., to
customers' premises. The foods are kept in pots, cans or
other suitable containers and are warmed by electric heat-
ers while they are being transported. Large institutions,
such as hospitals having several scattered buildings, can
thus avoid maintaining small kitchens in each building by
employing electric delivery wagons equipped with electric
heaters. Delivery wagons so equipped also enable caterers
to supply hot food for banquets without setting up tempo-
rary kitchens at the serving place.
Examination for Junior Telegraph and Telephone Engi-
neer.— An open competitive examination for junior tele-
graph and telephone engineers will be held by the United
States Civil Service Commission on Jan. 20, for positions in
the Interstate Commerce Commission. The salary for grade
No. 1 is $1,200 to $1,680 per annum; grade No. 2, $720 to
$1,080 per annum. Competitors will be examined in the
theory and practice of telegraph and telephone engineering,
including overhead and underground construction, office
equipment, systems of operation, and in mathematics used
in this branch of engineering not including calculus. Those
interested should apply for Form 20.19 for the examination
for junior telegraph and telephone engineer. United States
Civil Service Commission, Washington, D. C.
Temporary Electric Danger Signals. — Cicero, Ind., is not
a Latin village but a very wide-awake Hoosier town in
which sand heaps, brick stacks and lumber piles occupying
the streets in front of buildi - construction are
designated at night by electric lamps incased in red cover-
ings. The smoky oil lai I by a fragment of
discarded re rrom Cicero, and when
the workmen leave work for the day they have but to turn
a snap switch placed in a bos on . ■
that the wra i will not present a menace to the
street traffic in the night. Energj foi operating
lamps come from the ition of the Nobli
(Ind.) Heat, Light A Power Company, about 6.6 mile
distant, and is sold thi tributing system owned
by a citizen ..f Cicero.
Telegraph and Telephone Inspector. — The United States
Civil Service Commission has announced an open competi-
tive examination for telegraph and telephone inspector for
Jan. 12. As a result of this examination three registers of
eligibles will be established with salaries ranging from
$1,200 to $1,800 per annum. It is desirable for eligibles to
have had general experience in the construction, mainte-
nance and operation of telegraph and telephone plants and to
be qualified to enumerate and to determine the quantities
and the class or grade of materials used in such construc-
tion and the quantity, character and cost of the labor re-
quired in the installation thereof. Applications should be
made to the Civil Service Commission, Washington, D. C,
for Form 1800 for the examination for telegraph and tele-
phone inspector.
Research Fellowships at the University of Illinois. — At
the close of the current academic year there will be avail-
able four research fellowships in the engineering experi-
ment station of the University of Illinois. These fellow-
ships, for which there is an annual stipend of $500, are
open to graduates of approved American and foreign uni-
versities and technical schools. Nominations are based
upon the character, scholastic attainments and promise of
success in the principal line of study or research to which
the candidate proposes to devote himself. Application
should be made not later than Feb. 1. Preference is given
to those applicants who have had some practical engineer-
ing experience following their undergraduate work. Addi-
tional information may be obtained from the Director
Engineering Experiment Station, University of Illinois
Urbana, 111.
Kentucky Municipalities Sue on Street -Lighting Con-
tracts.— Two Kentucky municipalities are at odds with the
electric-lighting companies which have been serving them,
and both have brought suit for reparation for alleged over-
charges. In both cases there is involved the question of
whether lamps that do not give the candle-power specified
in the contract fulfil that contract. One overcharge claim,
that of Frankfort against the Kentucky Public Service
Company, is for approximately $52,000, the city alleging
that this amount has been overpaid to its predecessor, the
Capital Gas & Electric Light Company. The other case is
that of the city of Princeton against the Princeton Electric
Light & Power Company for about $7,000. In the latter
case it is asserted that though the contract has called for
2000-cp lamps at $72 per annum for the last five years
the city has been getting only 400 cp. for that price.
Happy Termination of a Rate War. — In a certain little
Kansas city having a population of less than 1000 there
are two electric-light plants. One is owned by the city
and the other by private interests, and for some time a
vigorous and aggressive rate war has been waged, bring-
ing prices down to 2 cents per kw-hr. and less. With such
rates prevailing there was, of course, little probability that
either plant would make ends meet. It seemed fair t.i
suppose that one if not both would soon be bankrupt, but a
compromise has so far postponed the day of double default,
for now each of the plants is taking its turn at serving tfle
entire number of electric-service customers in the com-
munity. The municipal plant operates twelve hours a day
carrying all of its own and the other company's customers,
and the privately owned plant takes the load for the next
twelve-hour shift.
What Is a Kilowatt? — In plain language the Greenville
(Tenn.) Sun offers its readers the following explanation of
the method of figuring one's electric-lighting bill. First,
"multiply the current by the conscience of the proprietor
of the electric-light plant, divide this by the meter on the
Wall, and add whatever you can't multiply. The answer
will come in dollars and cents. Just divide these by the
price you pay per kilowatt and multiply again and find
out what a kilowatt is. It is something you can't see, that
you pay for according to what some one tells you wh(
'! know what be is talking about, and he proves it by
the meter that runs by guess and by thunder and is at-
tached to the wall by a hired man with machine grease on
his nose. You know just how many kilowatts you hav«
had, just what they cost you apiece, but you don't know
what they are, what they look like, who made them, or what
ihape they are."
January 2, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
61
Associations and Societies
Utah Electric Club Lunch. — The regular luncheon of the
Utah Electric Club at the Commercial Club, Salt Lake
City, Dec. 24, was given over to "high jinks." A musical
program was furnished by the Fred C. Graham Lyceum
Bureau, consisting of popular songs, in which the members
joined. Mr. "Hy" Dunbar, the popular comedian of the
line and service department of the Utah Light & Traction
Company, furnished one of his characteristic monologues
containing numerous hits and take-offs on local electrical
celebrities.
American Institute of Consulting Engineers. — The an-
nual meeting of the American Institute of Consulting En-
gineers, Inc., will be held Jan. 19 at the City Club, New
York City. Three members of the Council will be elected,
reports of the Council and of special committees will be
presented, and ballots will be canvassed for the adoption of
amended constitution and by-laws as prepared by the special
committee appointed at the last annual meeting. The
meeting will be preceded by an informal dinner of the
members of the Institute at the same place. Mr. Eugene
W. Stern, 101 Park Avenue, New York, is secretary.
Woes of the Electric Garage Man. — Some of the troubles
of the electric garage owner who attempts to give his cus-
tomers on-the-minute service at any time of the day or
night were narrated by Mr. Harry Salvat at a recent
meeting of Chicago electric-vehicle men. About 1 o'clock
one rainy night a woman customer living two miles away
telephoned for her electric car, requesting that the boy
who delivered it ring her doorbell on his arrival. As the
night was a bad one and the nearby railroad crossing was
without a watchman after midnight, the proprietor deter-
mined to go himself. Upon ringing the doorbell as re-
quested, a dime and a stamped letter were thrust into his
hand with the request, "Here, boy, mail this, and then go
oack to the garage." On the return trip the garage man
had ample opportunity to reflect on the cost to him of the
dlowatt-hours consumed, re-washing of the car, and the
time of one man, incidental to the mailing of that letter.
Another woman who had let her car become nearly dis-
charged drove to the garage one afternoon, bringing with'
her a big jug. As she could wait only a few minutes on
account of social engagements, she requested that the at-
tendant put the rest of the charge in the jug so that she
ould take it home with her.
Pooling of Prospective Truck Customers. — A plan for in-
erchanging among competing electric-truck salesmen the
names of prospective purchasers was proposed by Mr. J. W.
McDowell, chairman of the Chicago Section of the Electric
Vehicle Association, at a recent meeting of the section, and
aroused some interesting discussion. Mr. McDowell declared
that when one electric-truck salesman endeavors to make a
truck sale to a customer, in competition with fifteen or
twenty gasoline-truck salesmen, the overwhelming compe-
tion often serves to discredit the electric truck in the mind
of the "prospect." The number of gasoline-car represent-
atives in any city field is usually so many times the number
of electric-vehicle salesmen that the prospective customer
is likely to gain the impression that the electric car is of
minor importance. Consequently the electric vehicle suffers
from the outset. But if the customer in the market for a
truck receives calls from a number of electric-vehicle men
he is sure to acquire a more substantial regard for the bat-
tery-driven car. Mr. McDowell therefore proposed that any
electric-vehicle salesman getting information of a "prospect"
should not only call on the customer himself but also turn
the name in to the local Electric Vehicle Association section
secretary, who could distribute it to all the local firms in-
terested. As the result of the succession of calls by electric-
car representatives which would follow, the customer would
!>e much more likely to buy an electric type of machine than
if he had been confronted only with the selling arguments
of the first salesman. Each succeeding visitor would pre-
sent new sales arguments for the electric vehicle, reinforc-
ing the efforts of the original representative. Mr. McDow-
ell declared that his own experience had been that the
prospective customer invariably made his selection and pur-
chase more quickly when a number of competing salesmen
were interested in the case.
Public Service Commission News
New York Commissions
The Second District commission has decided the West-
chester Lighting Company cases, these being complaints of
residents of White Plains, Port Chester, Tarrytown and
North Tarrytown, Irvington and East Chester against the
Westchester Lighting Company. The opinion is by Com-
missioner Martin S. Decker. The decision holds that the
maximum electric rate of 15 cents per kw-hr. in the districts
affected is excessive, unreasonable and unjust and that for
the future the rate should not exceed 12 cents, and also that
the minimum monthly rate of $1 is excessive and should
be reduced to 75 cents.
As to the gas rates in these districts, the commission
holds that, upon the valuation record as made, the com-
pany's income does not afford a rate of return which can
be reduced by lawful order in these proceedings. But the
commission strongly recommends the company to reduce
its gas rate in these districts to $1.25 per 1000 cu. ft. as a
general rate and establish even lower rates in the thickly
settled portions of the Port Chester, White Plains and
Tarrytown districts.
The company's figures of valuation for its gas and elec-
tric properties in the Port Chester, Tarrytown and White
Plains districts and in East Chester were $6,800,000. The
commission in determining the amount on which the com-
pany was entitled to return reduced this to $4,300,000, a re-
duction of $2,500,000.
The gas rate in East Chester is treated separately, and it
is recommended that some material reduction be made in
the East Chester gas rate. The present rates in the several
districts are: Port Chester, $1.40 per 1000 cu. ft., and $1.25
for fuel; White Plains, $1.40 for both light and fuel; Tarry-
town, $1.50 for light and $1.25 for fuel when prompt pay-
ment is made; East Chester, $1.50 for both light and fuel.
The commission says that the Westchester company has
extended many of its gas mains out from the villages proper
into thinly populated territory, comparatively speaking,
thereby making unprofitable capital investment for the
present and for some time in the future, and in taking all
of its property together in these districts as the basis for
a return there is some substantial disregard of the property
and its return in the more densely populated, and therefore
the better paying, parts of these districts.
The commission, without taking it into account as limiting
its decision, also says it is greatly to be regretted that the
company's enormous interest charges, arising out of securi-
ties having little, if any, relation to the actual property
account, tend to force the company to secure every penny
possible in gross earnings and limit the margin with which
it might freely undertake gas-rate reductions that would
place its large business in some districts upon a basis of
rates whereby customers would have some greater induce-
ment to indulge in much freer use of gas for fuel purposes
and also for light. The commission also points out that gas
is competitive with coal and that the impression made upon
the customer by these high gas rates is doubtless continu-
ous and becomes stronger monthly as the bills are paid.
In the electric department the commission finds that the
business is profitable. The commission says there is fair
reason to believe that in the reasonably near future re-
spondent should contemplate seriously still further reduc-
tion of its maximum electric rate as applying over its whole
territory, though it points out that the rates in Mount Ver-
non and New Rochelle are not embraced in these proceed-
ings.
The company's operating income covering its entire ter-
ritory, both for electric and gas service, was greater in
1913 than in 1909 by $71,954, but deductions from that in-
come increased during the four years to the extent of over
$314,000. With such deductions from income it had a book
deficit in 1913 of $188,000, using round figures. The com-
mission points out, however, that the great bulk of the in-
terest charge increase during the four years results from
the increase in the interest rate on New York & Westches-
ter Lighting Company outstanding mortgage bonds of $10,-
000,000. The interest on these bonds has increased under
the terms of the mortgage from 1% per cent in 1908 to 4
per cent in 1914. This mortgage of $10,000,000, together
with debenture bonds of $2,500,000, was placed on the prop-
62
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 1
erty in 1904 in carrying out a plan for transfer of the con-
trol of the property, and the commission is unable to find
that such bonds represent any actual expenditure of money
upon the property. These bonds and the interest thereon
are guaranteed by the Consolidated Gas Company of New
York, which owns all of the stock of the Westchester Light-
ing Company. Control of the property was deemed of great
consequence to the Consolidated company since the West-
chester company was in possession of franchises capable of
being used in the city of New York and in adjoining West-
chester County territory.
Respondent's total valuation figures for the gas and elec-
tric property in its Port Chester, Tarrytown and White
Plains districts and East Chester for gas amounted to more
than $6,800,000. This is cut down by the commission to
something over $4,300,000, a reduction of $2,500,000. The
reduction in valuation made by the commission amounts
to $1,300,000 on gas and $1,167,000 on electricity.
Wisconsin Railroad Commission
The first part of the annual report of the Wisconsin Rail-
road Commission for the year ended June 30, 1914, has
been completed.
A total of 541 electric, heating, water and gas utilities re-
ported to the commission during the year, a gain of 120
since 1910. Of this number 278 were electric utilities. The
commission heard a total of 644 cases, or an increase of 171
over the year previous. Of this number 237 were utility
cases. A total of 100 formal decisions on utility cases were
issued; 1840 complaints were received, an increase of 535
over the year ended June 30, 1913.
Authority was granted by the commission for the issue
of $552,563,414 securities, as follows: Stock, $5,148,214;
bonds, $546,047,200; equipment trust certificates, $1,280,000;
gold bond certificates, $80,000; notes, $8,000.
The report notes a substantial increase in all utility busi-
ness. In the electric utility business the operating reve-
nues increased 11.29 per cent over a year ago. Gas utilities
showed an increase of 5.2 per cent; heating utilities, 16.61
per cent. The new construction during the year showed an
increase of 11.75 per cent for the electric utilities and 6.8
per cent for the gas utilities. The water utilities showed a
decrease of 26 per cent.
Attention is called to the fact that since 1910 there has
been an increase in the ratio of operating expenses to oper-
ating revenues for all utilities except electric lighting and
gas. In the electric railway business the operating ratio
increased from 68.9 per cent in 1910 to 72.88 per cent in
1914. The heating utilities show an increase from 79.86 per
cent in 1910 to 87.68 per cent in 1914. In the case of the
electric-lighting utility the ratio has remained practically
constant at 65.5 with a tendency toward a decrease.
A certificate of convenience and necessity has been grant-
ed to the Milwaukee Light, Heat & Traction Company to
operate a second electric utility in the town of Delafield to
furnish energy for light, heat and power. It developed at
the hearing that the existing plant is not able to furnish
adequate service at reasonable rates.
Massachusetts Commission
The Gas and Electric Light Commission has dismissed the
petition of consumers of the Boston Consolidated Gas Com-
pany for a reduction in prices, on the ground that the slid-
ing-scale act (Chap. 422, Acts of 1906), under which the
company supplies gas in Boston, was not repealed by the
consolidation of laws affecting gas and electric companies
embodied in Chap. 742, Acts of 1914. Under the terms of
the sliding-scale act, the company's dividend rate was stan-
dardized at 7 per cent, with the allowance of an increase
of 0.2 per cent in the rate for every 1 cent of reduction in
the maximum net price below the standard of 90 cents per
1000 cu. ft. The petitioners claimed that the sliding-scale
act was repealed by Chap. 742, Acts of 1914, on account
of the inconsistency of the former with the latter. The
boards holds that the Legislature of 1914 had no intention
of superseding by the act above named all inconsistent pro-
visions of special laws relating to gas and electric com-
panies and to municipal lighting plants and. while refusing
to express any opinion upon the merits of the sliding-scale
plan, the reasonableness of the prices involved or thi
duct of the company's affairs, it dismissed the complaint
Personal
Mr. Richard Sachse has been appointed chief engineer
of the Railroad Commission of California.
Mr. F. S. Armstrong, district superintendent at Macomb,
111., of the Central Illinois Public Service Company, has
been engaged as manager of the plant at Brookfield, Mo.
Mr. Armstrong succeeds Mr. Louis D. Kelsey, who has re-
signed as manager of the Brookfield Light & Gas Company
to accept the position in Oklahoma.
Mr. C. E. Groesbeck has been appointed vice-president
and general manager of the Utah Power & Light Company,
with headquarters at Salt Lake City, as successor to Mr.
P. B. Sawyer, who has resigned. Mr. Groesbeck has been
connected with the Electric Bond & Share Company for
some time past and prior to that was about eight years in
the organization of H. M. Byllesby & Company, princi-
pally with their Pacific Coast properties. He has spent
the last two months in Salt Lake City familiarizing him-
self with the organization and operation of the company
preparatory to assuming the duties of this important posi-
tion.
Mr. R. L. Fitzgerald, an electrical engineer and a 1912
graduate of Purdue University, has been appointed busi-
ness manager of Winnetka, 111., a Chicago North Shore
residential suburb with a population of about 5000. Under
the new plan of town management just inaugurated by the
local board of trustees, the manager will have full charge
of municipal affairs under the supervision of the board.
His appointment continues during good behavior and he is
paid a salary of $2,400 per year. The town will continue
to operate its 200-kw municipal electric plant. Mr. Fitz-
gerald has had experience in both engineering and ap-
praisal work. He was formerly employed by a firm of
consulting engineers at Madison, Wis., and by the Gary
(Ind.) Light, Heat & Water Company, of which his brother.
Mr. Leonard Fitzgerald, is vice-president and manager.
Mr. Kempster B. Miller, who, as announced in these
columns on Dec. 5, was appointed chief engineer for the
receivers of the Central Union Telephone Company, is
president of the engineering corporation of McMeen &
Miller, of Chicago. Mr. Mil-
ler, who is one of the best-
known telephone engineers in
the country, was born in Bos-
ton Aug. 14, 1870. While he
was still young his parents
went to Washington, where
he entered the Washington
High School. From high
school he entered Cornell
University, taking the course
in electrical engineering,
from which he graduated in
1893. During college vaca-
tions he was employed at the
Thomson-Houston works at
Lynn, Mass. For two years
after his graduation Mr. Mil- K. B. MILLER
ler was employed as as-
sistant examiner in the electrical division of the United
States Patent Office at Washington, and from 1894 to 1896
he had charge of telephone patent applications. Mr. Miller,
an incorrect portrait of whom was published by mistake
in the Dec. 5 number, is widely known as the author of
"American Telephone Practice" and also collaborated with
his partner, Mr. McMeen, on the "Telephony" series of
papers on telephone engineering subjects. On leaving the
service of the government, Mr. Miller first took employ-
ment with the Westinghouso company, and from 1896 to
1898 he acted as chief electrician of the Western Tele-
phone Construction Company of Chicago, later becoming
engineer for the Kellogg Switchboard & Supply Company
of Chicago. Mr. Miller's work for the last ten years has
been chiefly in the telephone field, although more recently
his practice has become more diversified, including also
street-railway, lighting and hydroelectric work. He is a
member "f the American Institute of Electrical Engineers.
the Engineers' Club of New York, the Engineers' Club of
Chicago and the Union League Club of Chicago.
January 2, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
63
0. R. JONES
Mr. Owen R. Jones, for the past twelve years chief elec-
trician at the plant of the Youngstown (Ohio) Sheet &
Tube Company, resigned re-
cently to accept the position
of electrical superintendent
of the new open-hearth plant
of the Youngstown Iron &
Steel Company, now under
construction at Lowellville.
As an expression of their
good will toward their for-
mer chief, the members of
the electrical department of
the Youngstown Sheet &
Tube Company presented
Mr. Jones with a gold watch,
chain and charm in addition
to a fountain pen. Mr.
Jones, who was at one time
connected with the Youngs-
town Gas & Electric Com-
pany, was recently elected president of the Association of
Iron & Steel Electrical Engineers.
Mr. John Joseph Carty, chief engineer of the American
Telephone & Telegraph Company and one of the foremost
figures in telephone development in the world, was born in
Cambridge, Mass., April 14, 1861. Because of difficulty
with his eyesight he was
obliged to forego a college
training, and at the age of
eighteen entered the old Bos-
ton Exchange as a telephone
operator. For thirty-five
years he has been connected
with the Bell system, and he
has worked assiduously in
behalf of its growth and de-
velopment. In 1887 he was
placed in charge of the cable
department of the Western
Electric Company in the
East, with headquarters in
New York City. He studied
cable manufacture as well as
cable laying and introduced
many improvements in meth-
ods. One of his engineering developments resulted in cut-
ting the cost of cable manufacture in half. His work in
this respect as well as what he did in Boston, where he de-
signed and installed the first metallic-circuit multiple
switchboard to go into regular service, afforded early proof
of his ability to master any subject on which he put his
mind. In each department of telephone work he found
some field for improvement and then provided the im-
provement. A short time after he took charge of the cable
department of the Western Electric Company the switch-
board deparment was also intrusted to him. Under his
direction were installed most of the large switchboards of
that period, among which was the original Cortlandt Street
multiple board. He also made a number of important im-
provements in switchboards, which have since become stand-
ard equipment. Mr. Carty was the first to demonstrate
practically how to operate two or more telephone circuits
connected directly with a common battery. About 1888 he
installed for the supply of operators' telephones common-
battery systems in a number of central offices. From these
early experiments has grown the modern system generally
employed. While his work has been that of an engineer,
Mr. Carty has followed wherever the path of research has
led him in his work along the line of telephone improve-
ments. The result of his investigation into the nature of
the disturbances to which telephone lines are subject was
set forth in a paper entitled "A New View of Telephone In-
duction," which was read before the Electric Club, Nov.
21, 1889. On March 17, 1891, Mr. Carty made additional
contributions to the general knowledge of this subject in
a paper read before the American Institute of Electrical
Engineers on "Inductive Disturbances in Telephone Cir-
cuits," in which he explained for the first time why twist-
ing or transposing telephone wires renders them free from
inductive disturbances. When the Metropolitan Telephone
JOHN J. CARTY
& Telegraph Company (now the New York Telephone Com-
pany) recognized the necessity for reorganizing its entire
service Mr. Carty was called upon to undertake the task.
In 1889 he reorganized all of the technical departments of
the company, built up its staff and reconstructed the entire
plant, converting it from overhead grounded circuits and
series switchboard to metallic circuits placed underground
and to the then new bridging switchboards. In carrying out
this work he selected and trained a large staff of young
men fresh from college, many of whom have since attained
positions of prominence in the te.ephone field. In solving
a problem presented by the New York Central Railroad Mr.
Carty devised what is known ts the "bridging bell," where-
by any number of stations might be placed upon a line
without in any way impairing the transmission of speech.
This made possible the farmers' telephone. For his work
on the bridging bell Mr. Carty had conferred upon him
the Edward Longstreth medal of merit by the Franklin
Institute. Mr. Carty's work in connection with the devel-
opment of the plant of the New York Telephone Company
has been most successful and far-reaching in its conse-
quences. To a large extent what he has done for the tele-
phone in the United States has contributed to the pre-emi-
nent standing which the American telephone industry holds
in all foreign countries. In recognition of his achievement
as an engineer and in view of the service he rendered the
Japanese government he was decorated by the Emperor of
Japan with the Order of the Rising Sun. More recently
he was created a member of the Order of the Sacred Treas-
ure by the Emperor of Japan. As chief engineer of the
American Telephone & Telegraph Company, Mr. Carty is
responsible for the standardizing of methods of construction
and operation of the vast plants of that company, which
extends into almost every community of the United States,
and through its long-distance wires into Canada and Mexico
At the meeting of the International Conference of Euro-
pean Telephone and Telegraph Administrations, held at
Paris in September, 1910, Mr. Carty was one of the invited
guests, and he represented the United States in the pres-
entation of a splendid review of the features of manual and
automatic handling of telephone circuits and connections
with an explanation of the ideas upon which the great en-
gineering plans of the corporation with which he is con-
nected are based. Mr. Carty is a fellow of the American
Institute of Electrical Engineers, a past-president of the
New York Electrical Society, a member of the Franklin
Institute, a member of the Society of Arts, an honorary
member of the American Electro-Therapeutic Association,
the Telephone Society of Philadelphia, the Telephone So-
ciety of New England and the Telephone Society of New
York. He belongs to the Engineers', Electric and Railroad
clubs of New York and to the Baltusrol and Casino crabs
of Short Hills, N. J.
Mr. Paul B. Sawyer has resigned his position as vice-
president and general manager of the Utah Power & Light
Company of Salt Lake City. Mr. Sawyer has held the
position as general manager of this company since its
organization a little over two
years ago, when the Electric
Bond & Share Company ac-
quired the control of many
of the electrical properties
in the State of Utah and in
Southern Idaho and merged
them to form the Utah
Power & Light Company
The task of welding together
the numerous separate and
/ 'n dissimilar properties with
m it their great difference in
operating conditions and com-
" ¥ mercial policies and rates
devolved largely upon Mr
Sawyer, and the results
- P. B. sawyer secured, considering the busi-
ness and financial conditions
which have obtained during this period, are a strong testi-
monial to his forcefulness and ability. He resigned to
accept a position in the organization of Mr. Harrison
Williams, of New York City, with offices at 60 Broadway.
Mr. Sawyer was born in Lafayette, Ind., on May 8, 1879,
64
ELECTRICAL WORLD
5 No l
was graduated from Purdue University in 1900, and took
a post-graduate course in electrical engineering at the
-ami institution. He then entered the employ of the Des
Moines (la.) Electric Company and worked his way up to
the general managership, which he attained in 1907. On
Jan. 1, 1912, Mr. .Sawyer became general manager of the
Union Electric Company, of Dubuque, la., where he had
charge of the street-railway and electric-service interests.
He took an active interest in the affairs of the Iowa Elec-
trical Association for several years and in 1912 was elected
to the presidency of that body. Mr. C. E. Groesbeck has
been appointed to succeed him
Obituary
Edwin H. Farr, chief electrician of the Northern Con-
necticut Light & Power Coampny, Thompsonville, Conn.,
died at his home on Dec. 24 after a long illness. He had
been engaged in local central-station work for twenty-
four years and was a native of Bridgeburg, Pa. For a
number of years he had held the position of superintendent
of fire alarms in the Thompsonville fire district.
John Jacob Myer, widely known in New England elec-
trical circles as "Bill Myer," died suddenly on Dec. 13 of
pneumonia at his apartments in Boston, Mass. Mr. Myer
was born in Maryland about fifty years ago, and his early
business experience included a term of service as the Texas
representative of the Columbia Lamp Company. For the
last nine years he had been New England sales representa-
tive of the American Circular Loom Company, with head-
pjarters at 45 Milk Street, Boston. He was unmarried.
Funeral services were held on Dec. 15 at St. Cecilia's
Church, Boston.
Fred A. Nash, formerly president of the Omaha (Neb.)
Electric Light & Power Company and president of the
Citizens' Gas & Electric Company of Council Bluffs, died at
his home in Omaha Dec. 11. Mr. Nash became president
if the Thomson-Houston Electric Light Company in 1890
and in 1903 became president of the successor company, the
present Omaha Electric Light & Power Company. This
position he held until Oct. 20 of this year, when he resigned
because of ill health. He was elected chairman of the
board of directors, and the presidency of the company was
given to Gen. George H. Harries, whose headquarters are
at Louisville, Ky.
Charles Martin Hall, inventor of the electrolytic process
for the manufacture of aluminum and vice-president of the
Aluminum Company of America, died on Dec. 27 in Day-
tona, Fla. Mr. Hall was born in Thompson, Ohio, Dec 6,
1863, and was graduated
from Oberlin College in 1885.
He became interested in the
manufacture of aluminum
through an old textbook
which told of its commercial
possibilities if the cost of
manufacture could be re-
duced. At that time alum-
inum was worth about $25
per lb. He began his ex-
periments in 1885, and a
year later discovered the
process which materially re-
duced the cost of manufac-
turing it and is now univer
sally used. He began to
produce aluminum in his own
factory at Kensington, near
Pittsburgh, later erecting larger factories at Niagara I
Priority was conceded to the Hall patent in IS'.):;. Mr. Hall
received the honorary degree of LL.D From Oberlin College
in 1910, and the following year he wa - awarded the Sir
William Perkin gold medal. He was a member of the
University Club of New York, the University Club of
Buffalo, the American Association for the Advancement
of Science, the Institution of Electrical Engineers at G
Britain, the American Philosophical Society, the Franklin
Institute of Philadelphia and the American Electrochemical
Society. Mr. Hall made his home at Niagara Fall II
was a bachelor.
C. M. HALL
Corporate and Financial
Fort Worth Power & Light Bonds. — Harris, Forbes &
Company of New York are offering first mortgage 5 per
cent gold bonds of the Fort Worth (Tex.) Power & Light
Company, at 94.
American Gas iV Electric Bonds. — Moyer & Company, of
Philadelphia, Pa., are offering at a price to yield about
6 per cent American Gas & Electric Company gold collateral
trust 5 per cent bonds due Feb. 1, 2007.
Comparative Worth of Public Utility Bonds. — E. F. Hut-
ton & Company of New York have prepared an interesting
booklet on the comparative worth of public utility bonds.
Public utility bonds are compared with railroad, industrial
and municipal bonds.
Rockland Light & Power Bonds.— The Rockland (N. Y.)
Light & Power Company has been authorized to use the
proceeds from a sale of $100,000 of 5 per cent mortgage
bonds approved in August, 1911, for improvements to its
gas and electric service. The sale of the bonds will net
$93,000.
Sidney Electric Authorized to Issue Securities. — The Pub
lie Utilities Commission of Ohio has authorized the Sidney
Electric Company to issue $42,500 common stock and $60,-
000 of 6 per cent mortgage bonds at not less than 85. The
proceeds are to be used for the acquisition of the Sidne\
Electric Light Company.
Washington Water Power Dividend Reduced. — A quarterly
dividend of 1% per cent has been declared on the stock of
the Washington Water Power Company, Spokane, Wash.,
payable on Jan. 2, 1915. The quarterly dividends from
April, 1911, to July, 1914, inclusive were 2 per cent and
the dividend last October was 1% per cent.
Western States Gas & Electric Notes. — William P. Bon
bright & Company, of New York, and H. M. Byllesby &
Company of Chicago are offering $588,500 of three-year
6 per cent coupon notes of the Western States Gas & Elec-
tric Company of California at 97 !4 and interest. The pro-
ceeds will be used to retire floating debt and for additional
extensions.
Texas Power & Light Bond Offering. — Harris, Forbes &
Company of New York are offering at 91 Texas Power &
Light Company first mortgage 5 per cent gold bonds. The
mortgage provides for a sinking fund of the following
amounts: 1915 to 1917 inclusive, 1 per cent of the bonds
outstanding; 1918 to 1920 inclusive. 1% per cent, and 192!
to 1936, 2 per cent.
Hannawa Falls Water-Power Authorized to Issue Bonds.
— The New York Public Service Commission, Second Dis-
trict, has approved an issue of the 5 per cent first and
refunding mortgage collateral trust thirty-year gold bonds
of the Hannawa Falls Water Power Company used for the
purchase of machinery and equipment. The bonds are to tie
sold at not less than 80 and should net $44,880.
Midland Counties Public Service Corporation to Renew
Notes. — The California Railroad Commission has issued a
supplemental order authorizing the Midland Counties Pub-
lic "Service Corporation to renew two notes held by the
United States Aluminum Company for $78,000 at not to ex
ceed 7 per cent interest. The company was previously given
permission to renew these notes at 6 per cent.
Tulare County Power Reduced Stock Liability. — By buy
ing 1500 shares of its common stock which had been de-
linquent in assessment payment, the Tulare County (Cal.)
Power Company has reduced its stock liability to approxi
mately $400,000. The fixed capital of the company as passed
upon by the California Commission is now $767,579. An
issue of $1,000,000 bonds has been authorized, and when
financial conditions improve $500,000 will be sold. The
proceeds from this sale will be us,.,! for the payment of
current obligations, for extensions and improvements.
United Illuminating New Financing. — The United Illunn
nating Company of New Haven. Conn., is offering to stock
holders of record on Dec. II. 1914, the right to subscribe fd
6000 shares of stock at par, at the rate of one new share
for every three and one-half now held by them. The right
in subscribe "ill expire at the close of business on Jan. 15
1916, Payment is to be as follows: $20 per share on Feb
15, June 16 and Oct 16, 1916, and April 15 and Oct. 15. I91fi
January
ELECTRICAL WORLD
65
The new stock is to participate in dividends on Jan. 15,
in] 7, and thereafter.
New England Power Note Offering. — Baker, Ayling &
Company of Boston, Mass., are offering $600,000 New Eng-
land Power Company's 6 per cent guaranteed gold coupon
three-year notes, dated Nov. 1, 1914, and due Nov. 1, 1917.
These notes are part of an authorized issue of $700,000, and
the proceeds will be used to reimburse the company for im-
provements, additions and extensions and also for the
acquirement of 6 per cent notes of allied companies, with
which the company is closely affiliated in the generation and
distribution of electrical energy. The notes are being of-
fered at 97% and interest.
Valley Power Company Bonds. — L. H. Cook & Company,
of New York, have underwritten and are offering for sale
$200,000 of Valley Power Company 6 per cent first mort-
gage sinking-fund gold bonds at 87 and interest. The com-
pany owns a hydroelectric plant on the Shenandoah River,
Virginia, and expects to be able to install machinery within
a month or two after the frost is over. The company has
many contracts in this region, which contains large copper
mines, hardwood forests and large quarries. The capital
stock of the company is $100,000, and it is owned by Mr.
E. J. Thayer, of J. E. Kerr & Company, Ltd.
International Power Assets. — The probable assets of the
International Power Company of New Jersey were given
as $200,000 in an involuntary petition in bankruptcy filed
against the company in the United States District Court.
The creditor is Mr. Alfred M. Hoadley, on an assigned
claim by Mr. Joseph H. Hoadley, formerly president of the
company, for $55,465. On Dec. 11 Mr. Wilbur F. Sadler,
Jr., was appointed receiver in equity. Notwithstanding that
an appeal has been taken to the Court of Appeals against
the appointment of a receiver, Chancellor Walker has issued
an order permitting the receiver to continue winding up the
affairs except as to the sale of the company's properties.
East St. Louis & Suburban Note Issue. — Smith, Moore &
Company, St. Louis, Mo., are offering $450,000 East St.
Louis (111.) & Suburban Company's one-year 6 per cent
collateral gold notes, dated Dec. 15, 1914, at 100 and in-
terest. The proceeds will reimburse the company for money
advanced to the East St. Louis (111.) Light & Power Com-
pany and spent by it in the construction of a large power
house on the Mississippi River just above Alton, 111., and a
high-tension transmission line from that point to East St.
Louis. The growing demand for electricity has necessitated
the purchase of energy generated at Keokuk. The notes
are secured by the deposit of $600,000 East St. Louis Light
& Power Company first mortgage 5 per cent gold bonds.
Interstate Public Service Corporation Purchases Proper-
ties.— The Interstate Public Service Corporation of Dela-
ware has recently purchased the electric light and power
properties at Kane, Pa., Johnsonburg, Pa., and Ridgway,
Pa. Mr. J. G. Kaelber, president of the company, states
that negotiations are pending for the acquisition of several
other properties. The total capital stock as authorized is
$2,000,000, of which $1,500,00 is common stock and $500,000
preferred stock. Only $750,000 of the common stock is
authorized to be issued at this time. The officers of the
company are Messrs. J. George Kaelber, president; Charles
W. Smith, vice-president; F. W. Zoller, treasurer, and Carl
F. W. Kaelber, secretary. In addition to the officers, Messrs.
T. J. Swanton of Rochester, N. Y., and Selyn S. Blake of
Providence, R. I., are members of the board of directors.
Nevada-California Electric Corporation. — Mr. Delos A.
Chappell, president of the Nevada-California Power Com-
pany, writes that "The Nevada-California Electric Corpora-
tion, whose charter was filed recently in Delaware, is an
organization primarily for the purpose of refinancing the
following companies: The Nevada-California Power Com-
pany of Denver, Col.; the Southern Sierras Power Com-
pany of Denver, Col.; the Corona (Cal.) Gas & Electric
Light Company, Bishop (Cal.) Light & Power Company,
Hillside Water Company, and Interstate Telegraph Com-
pany. Eventually all of the bonds and all of the stocks
of all of these companies will be sold to the Nevada-Cali-
fornia Electric Corporation, which in turn will issue its first
lien obligations, with all of the underlying bonds and stocks
of these companies as security. Only a small portion of
the holding company's bonds will be offered for sale during
the coming year."
Westinghouse Companies to Be Merged. — Stockholders
of the Westinghouse Machine Company have been notified
that they may exchange their holdings until Jan. 26, 1915,
for stock of the Westinghouse Electric & Manufacuring
Company on the basis of three shares of the machine com-
pany's stock for one share of the electric company stock.
The step was brought about by Messrs. Charles H. Terry,
Walter D. Uptegraff and H. Herman Westinghouse, execu-
tors of the estate of the late George Westinghouse, who of-
fered their holdings in the machine company to the electric
company on the basis stated, provided that the other stock-
holders should receive the same permission. The executors
of the Westinghouse estate took this step because the busi-
ness of the machine company could not be carried on profit-
ably without a substantial amount of additional capital,
which it has been impracticable to procure under present
financial conditions and the large mortgage debt of the
compafiy. The outstanding stock of the machine company
amounts to $7,500,000, which if all exchanged would increase
the outstanding stock of the electric company from $36,700,-
000 to $39,200,000. The outstanding funded debt of the
machine company is approximately equal to its outstanding
stock.
German Company's Ante-Bellum Report. — The annual re
port of the Allgemeine Elektricitats Gesellschaft covering
the year ended June 30, 1914, states that, despite the de-
pressing conditions that existed for some time previous to
the war, the company did a larger business than in the
previous year. On account of the war, however, the busi-
ness of the company has already been seriously affected,
and in some foreign countries almost entirely destroyed —
especially Argentina, Mexico and South Africa. In view
of the foregoing considerations, the directors decided that
out of the net earnings of $4,723,160 there should be paid
a dividend of only 10 per cent on the capitalization of
$38,750,000. The output in machinery and transformers
comprised 123,162 pieces with a combined rating of 1,840,-
273 kw. This compared with 122,456 pieces and 1,973,987
kw for the previous year. The rated capacity of turbines
increased from 569,908 kw to 564,033 kw, the largest unit
having a 22,500-kva capacity. The business in aeroplane
and searchlamp apparatus was exceptionally good. The
company found it necessary to install more equipment for
the manufacture of its insulating material. Progress is
also reported in the manufacture of the half-watt lamp,
especially in smaller sizes. The company's business in self-
propelled cars is now devoted almost exclusively to military
vehicles. Among the contracts in hand are transmission
lines for 50,000 volts, 80,000 volts and even 100,000 volts
New Company's Bond Offer. — N. M. Seabrease & Com-
pany of Philadelphia, Pa., are offering $400,000 Logan
County Light & Power Company first mortgage 6 per cent
sinking fund gold bonds. The company, which was incor-
porated recently in West Virginia, to supply energy to coal
mines in Logan County, has already contracts for over 6000
hp. It has also taken over the property of the Logan Light
Company and will supply energy to a population estimated
at 28,000. The authorized capitalization of the new com-
pany is $3,500,000, of which $1,650,000 is non-outstanding,
including the present bond issue; $100,000 additional bonds
are held in the treasury and can be issued when needed
only after the plant is completed and in successful opera-
tion. The remaining $1,500,000 bonds can be issued only at
85 per cent of the actual cost of necessary additions and
extensions when the net earnings for the preceding twelve
months have been at least one and one-half times the
fixed charges on bonds issued and to be issued. Seven
per cent preferred stock to the amount of $2,500,000 which
becomes cumulative after Sept. 1, 1915, has been sold for
cash. From Nov. 1, 1917, to Nov. 1, 1925, a sinking fund
will be maintained equal to 1% per cent of the outstanding
bonds, and from Nov. 1, 1925, to Nov. 1, 1934, the amount
will be 2 per cent. All bonds purchased or drawn for the
sinking fund will be kept alive for the benefit of the fund
This is in addition to a reserve fund of 2 per cent of the
gross income per annum commencing Oct. 1, 1915, kept
separate from reserve and depreciation charges and avail-
able only for emergencies. The General Utilities & Operat-
ing Company of Baltimore, Md.( which controls the Logan
County Light & Power Company through ownership of
common stock, has agreed that the plant should be in suc-
cessful operation by Nov. 1, 1915.
66
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65. No. i
Manufacturing and Industrial
Ernest J. Andrews. Chicago, 111., patent attorney, has
changed his address from 539 Monadnock Block to 1616
Monadnock Block.
C. G. Robin. 4s Warren Street, New York, dealer in elec-
trical specialties, is the name of the firm formerly known
as Charles G. Robinowitch.
The Electric Tachometer Company, Philadelphia, Pa.,
has transferred its offices from Board and Spring Garden
Streets to the Perry Building. The factory of the company
is at 435 North Broad Street.
The Keystone Electrical Instrument Company, Philadel-
phia, Pa., has changed its address from Ninth Street and
Montgomery Avenue to Wayne Avenue and Windrim
Avenue.
The Riley Electric Company, Kansas City, Mo., has
opened offices at 503 Midland Building. F. H. M. Riley,
formerly with the Kansas City Electric Light Company, is
the founder of the company.
Mr. E. E. Wallace, for the past five years in charge of
the electric division of the service department, New Eng-
land district, General Vehicle Company, has been promoted
to a position in the sales department.
The American Manufacturers' Agency, Inc., Ill West
Monroe Street, Chicago, of which William H. McKinlock
is president, has taken the agency for the Burnley Battery
& Manufacturing Company, Northeast, Pa., manufacturer
of soldering salts, sticks and paste.
Tool-Manufacturing Business Picking Up. — T. J. Cope,
of Philadelphia, Pa., manufacturer of underground electrical
construction tools, reports that during the past sixty days
business has materially improved, and judging from inquir-
ies being received he feels that the coming year is going
to be a good one from every standpoint.
The Electric Supply Company, Worcester, Mass., has been
formed to do a jobbing business and is connected with the
C. C. Coghlin-Wilson Electric Company, which is engaged
in the contracting business. The officers of the Electric
Supply Company are as follows: C. C. Coghlin, president;
W. R. McLoughlin, vice-president; A. W. Wilson, clerk; E. F.
Coghlin, treasurer.
Electric Furnaces for Making Steel. — The United Steel
Company, Canton, Ohio, manufacturer of vanadium steel
for automobile parts, has installed in its plant two 6-ton
electric furnaces for the making of steel. Six hours are
required for a single charge and the furnaces are operated
continuously. Each unit takes 1000 kw at the start of a
run and 600 kw after the metal has melted. Energy is
being obtained from the Canton Electric Company.
Arc-Lamp Controllers for Panama Exposition. — Eight
controllers for motion-picture arc lamps have been ordered
from the Speed Controller Company, 257 William Street,
New York, for use at the Panama-Pacific Exposition. The
controller was described in the Electrical World of Oct.
24, 1914. This device has been meeting with considerable
success and is being used in a number of the motion-picture
theaters in New York City and vicinity. Among these are
the Strand Theater, the Vitagraph Theater and the Broad-
way Theater.
Business in Recording Instruments Good. — The Roller-
Smith Company, 203 Broadway, New York, is noting quite
a demand for its recording meters. The business in its
automobile instruments is especially good, and on account
of the elimination of German competition the company's
wireless apparatus is also faring well. The Roller-Smith
Company is agent for llartman & Braun, Frankfort, Gel
many, who manufacture vibrating-reed frequency mi
variation alarm systems and relays. Shipments have beer
irregular for obvious reasons, but an improvement in this
respect is expected in the future.
The Marsden Electric Company, 67 Center Street, Rul
land, Vt., recently formed, with principal office at Rutland
and branch v, Yt., and Fair Haven. Vt.,
is engaged in a general wiring business and the sale of
fixtures, lamps and appliances, covering the territory in and
about Rutland. Mr. A. B. Marsden is president of the con-
cern, Mr. L. C. Davis vice-president, and Mr. R. L. Marsden
secretary and treasurer. Mr. A. B. Marsden has been super-
intendent of the Manchester Light & Power Company at
Manchester, Vt., for the past ten years, and Mr. Davis has
been engaged in the wiring business at Manchester for a
similar period.
Manufacturer of Flexible Conduit Working Day and
Night. — The Tubular Woven Fabric Company, Pawtucket,
R. I., maker of a non-metallic flexible conduit called "dura-
duct," it is reported, is working its plant several nights a
week to keep up with orders. The company is shipping the
conduit in a special case, which was described in the Elec-
trical World of May 30, 1914, page 1273. This method of
making shipments, it is claimed, has been very successful
and has helped materially to increase the company's busi-
ness. The conduit is of woven fabric, which is manufac-
tured with looms made by the Chernack Manufacturing
Company, of Pawtucket.
Wide Usage for Commutator Truing Device. — Jordan
Brothers, Inc., 74 Beekman Street, New York, manufac-
turers of a device for truing commutators which does not
necessitate the removal of the armature from the generator
or motor, report a wide demand for this device. Among
the companies using it are the following: The Hartford
(Conn.) Electric Light Company, the Northern Ohio Trac-
tion & Light Company, Akron, Ohio; the Locomobile Com-
pany of America, Bridgeport, Conn.; the Amicable Life In-
surance Company, Waco, Tex.; the Dayton (Ohio) Power
& Light Company, the Tennessee Coal & Iron Railroad
Company, the Long Island Railroad Company, the Penn-
sylvania Railroad Company, and the New York Central
& Hudson River Railroad Company. Besides selling the
machine, Jordan Brothers, Inc., use it to repair commuta-
tors for various companies. This repair business, espe-
cially in New York City, is quite extensive. Recently the
concern trued the commutators of six motors used in one
of the New York post offices.
Prepared to Make Gas Mantles on Large Scale. — As was
reported in these columns some time ago, because of the
cutting off of imports from Germany as a result of the
European war, the gas-mantle industry has been seriously
affected. Prior to Aug. 1, the Lindsay Light Company,
Chicago, 111., manufacturer of gas mantles, was importing
its thorium nitrate and cerium nitrate from Germany, but
since that time it has undertaken to make the above
nitrates itself from monazite sand imported from Brazil.
The company is also securing from China ramie or China
grass, which is used in the manufacture of inverted mantles.
This product was formerly degummed, spun and twisted in
Germany; these processes, however, are now being per-
formed in the United States. President C. R. Lindsay as-
serts that his company is prepared to make more than 15,-
000,000 of the 70,000,000 mantles used annually in this
country. The Lindsay Light Company is also manufactur-
ing inverted magnesia mantle rings and fire-polished air-
hole glassware, which were formerly imported.
Orders for Turbine Units and Accessories. — The Westing-
house Machine Company, East Pittsburgh, Pa., has recently
received a number of important contracts, among them be-
ing one for two 20,000-kw turbine units and two large sur-
face condensers from the United Electric Light & Power
Company, New York. Two large surface condensers were
also recently sold to the Public Service Corporation of New
Jersey, Newark, N. J. A 20,000-kw unit made by the West-
inghouse company has just been installed in a station of
the Pennsylvania Tunnel & Terminal Railroad Company at
Long Island City, N. Y. Another turbine unit of the same
rating, together with condenser equipment, will shortly In-
installed in the Edison Electric Illuminating Company1
station at Bay Ridge, N. Y. Three 30,000-kw turbo-genera-
tor units manufactured by the Westinghouse company are
now being installed for the Interborough Rapid Transit
Company, New York, one of which will be ready for service
in a lew days. The business in medium-sized turbines and
condensers is fair considering general conditions. The
\\ i iinghouse Machine Company is noting a slight improve-
ment in the industrial situation and is expecting to see bet-
ter times in the near future.
January 2, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
67
Mr. R. O. Bright, who has been appointed president of
the American Rotary Valve Company, Anderson, Ind..
manufacturer of Jenny type motors and stationary vacuum-
cleaning machines, was formerly general sales manager
of the Root & Vandervoort Engineering Company, Moline,
111., having been appointed to that position after first serv-
ing as manager of the company's Minneapolis office. From
1902 to 1908 Mr. Bright was associated with the Racine-
Sattley Company and with its predecessor, the Racine
Wagon & Carriage Company, beginning with shop experi-
ence, followed by advertising and sales work. From 190G
to 1908 he acted as assistant to the sales manager of the
central district.
Mr. Francis V. McGinness, sales engineer of the Edison
Storage Battery Company, Orange, N. J., has been ap-
pointed assistant manager of the railway department,
taking the position of Mr. William F. Bauer, who was re-
cently made manager of the company's Chicago office. Mr.
McGinness is a graduate of Columbia University's Schools
of Applied Science, class of 1910, and before graduation
had considerable practical experience with the New York
& New Jersey Telephone Company. After a few months
in the engineering department of the New York & Queens
Electric Light & Power Company, Long Island City, he
joined the sales force of the Edison Storage Battery Com-
pany. For the past two years he has been identified with
the railway department, where he has formed many friend-
ships with car-lighting engineers.
Riley Stoker Test in Toronto. — In a test made recently
at the Scott Street steam station of the Toronto Electric
Light Company, at Toronto, Can., a 554-hp Babcock &
Wilcox boiler, equipped with a Riley stoker, was brought
up to 354 per cent of its rating in seven minutes. The plant
is used as a reserve for hydroelectric plants at Niagara
Falls. The station contains four 554-hp Babcock & Wilcox
boilers, each of which is equipped with a six-retort Riley
self dumping underfeed stoker. Before starting the test
the boiler was on a live bank, that is, the boiler pressure
was just below the normal pressure of 150 lb. per sq. in.,
and sufficient coal was being fed to maintain this condi-
tion. The steam pressure at the start of the test was 5 lb.
per sq. in. below normal. The load on the boilers was
figured from the number of kilowatts recorded at the
switchboard. Five minutes after the test began the output
was 900 kw, which was equivalent to 95 per cent of boiler
rating. A few seconds later the output was 1700 kw,
which was equivalent to 201 per cent of boiler rating. At
seven minutes after the stoker and fan started the output
was 3000 kw, or 354 per cent of boiler rating.
Orders for Electrical Apparatus. — The following orders
have recently been received by the Westinghouse Electric
& Manufacturing Company, East Pittsburgh, Pa.: The city
of Buffalo, for the Massachusetts Avenue pumping station,
one 125-kva motor-generator set and one 100-kw, 125-volt
direct-current turbo-generator set with one switchboard;
the Central New York Gas & Electric Company, for ship-
ment to Geneva, N. Y., three 1000-kva, sixty-cycle oil-
insulated, self-cooled outdoor transformers, three 165-kva,
sixty-cycle, oil-insulated, self-cooled transformers, one 500-
kw rotary converter, together with switchboard; the Hock-
ing Sunday Creek Traction Company, for shipment to
Nelsonville, Ohio, one 400-kw, 1200-volt rotary-converter set
consisting of two machines on common bedplates, each hav-
ing a rating of 200 kw, and three 135-kva oil-insulated, self-
cooled transformers with one switchboard; the Steubenville
& East Liverpool Railway & Light Company, for shipment
to Steubenville, Ohio, one outdoor transformer substation
consisting of two 1500-kva oil-insulated, water-cooled, three-
phase, sixty-cycle outdoor radiator-type transformers, one
set steel work and towTers, and outdoor switching equip-
ment. For the Steubenville substation of the Steubenville
& East Liverpool Railway & Light Company orders have
been received for three 500-kva transformers, six 24-kva,
single-phase automatic induction regulators with accesso-
ries, one 500-kw, sixty-cycle six-phase rotary converter,
one 550-kva, sixty-cycle, three-phase oil-insulated, self-
cooled transformer, and two 330-kva, three-phase, sixty-
cycle oil-insulated, self-cooled transformers with switching
apparatus. For the latter company's substation at Toronto,
Ohio, two 24-kva automatic induction feeder voltage regula-
tors with accessories and one switchboard have been ordered.
New Industrial Companies
The Maximum Power Transmission Company, of Port-
land, Maine, has been chartered with a capital stock of
$25,000 to manufacture and deal in motor cars, trucks, trac-
tion engines, etc. A. F. Jones is president, and T. L. Cro-
teau, treasurer, both of Portland.
The Ross Electro-Therapeutic Manufacturing Company,
of New York, N. Y., has been incorporated by S. B. Hunck-
ley, C. M. Nichols and W. Ford, of New York, N. Y. The
company is capitalized at $25,000 and proposes to manu-
facture electro-therapeutic appliances, etc.
The U-H Magneto Company, of Harrington Park, N. J.,
has been incorporated with a capital stock of $100,000 to
manufacture magnetos, machinery, etc. The incorporators
are C. Bergner, of Harrington Park; J. Scherer, of West
Norwood, and E. Sandman, of New York, N. Y.
The A. W. R. Electric Manufacturing Company, of New
York, N. Y., has been incorporated with a capital stock of
$100,000 for the purpose of manufacturing all kinds of elec-
trical designs. The incorporators are A. Roesener, M. Roes-
ener, of New York, N. Y., a-nd W. H. Bauer, of Danton, N. Y.
The Tubrim Manufacturing Company, of New York,
N. Y., has been incorporated with a capital stock of $50,000
for the purpose of manufacturing hardware, electric cut-out
boxes, machinery, motors, etc. The incorporators are L.
B. Brodsky, D. Greenbaum, of Brooklyn, and L. R. Feine,
of the Bronx.
The Engineering Products Company, of New York, N. Y.,
has been incorporated with a capital stock of $12,000 by
G. Tiernan, R. G. Redlefsen and F. H. Parcells. The com-
pany proposes to manufacture all kinds of electrical ma-
chinery, foundry and factory supplies, etc. Beardsley, Hem-
mens & Taylor, 50 Wall Street, are attorneys.
The Edward S. Engel Company, of New York, N. Y., has
been incorporated with a capital stock of $2,000 to manu-
facture metal articles and to carry on an electrical and
mechanical engineering business. The incorporators are E.
E. Engel W. Kerruisch and Meyer Liebman; Gettner, Simon
& Asher, 299 Broadway, New York, N. Y., are attorneys.
The Storms Electric Car Company, of Detroit, Mich., has
been organized with a capital stock of $5,000 for the pur-
pose of manufacturing a low-priced electric automobile de-
signed by William E. Storms, who is president and manager
of the company. Ferdinand H. Zillisch, of Milwaukee, Wis.,
is vice-president, and Fred T. King is secretary and treas-
urer.
The Electro Chemico Corporation has filed articles of in-
corporation under the laws of the State of Delaware. The
company is capitalized at $5,000,000 and proposes to carry
on the business of purification and sterilization of water,
sewage and other substances. The incorporators are W.
J. Maloney, H. E. Latter and O. J. Reichard, of Wilming-
ton, Del.
The Van Vechten Machine Company, of New York, N. Y..
has been incorporated with a capital stock of $10,000 by W.
Martin, George Satler and E. J. Coughlan. The company
proposes to manufacture mill supplies, machinery and to
do a general contracting and mechanical and electrical engi-
neering business. Hunt, Hill & Betts, 165 Broadway, are
attorneys.
The Julian-Beggs Signal Company, of Portland, Maine,
has been chartered with a capital stock of $10,000,000 for
the purpose of manufacturing and dealing in mechanical,
electrical, pneumatic, automatic or any mode of signaling,
train-controlling and safety appliances for railroads. A. F.
Jones is president of the company and T. L. Croteau is
treasurer, both of Portland.
The Kentucky Revivo Battery Company, of Louisville, Ky..
was recently organized with a capital stock of $200,000 and
will manufacture the "Revivo" battery under license of the
Cook Railway Signal Company of Denver, Col. The com-
pany intends to distribute its products in Indiana, Ken-
tucky, Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, South
Carolina, Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas and Florida. R.
M. Kelly, Jr., is president of the company, O. M. Billing-
vice-president and J. T. Guthright secretary and treasurer.
The directorate includes the three above officers and J. C.
Paker and C. H. Parker.
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 1
Trade Publications
Toaster Stove. — "Triangle Lektrik Toaster Stove" is the
title of a folder sent out by the Western Electric Company,
New York.
Boiler-Tube Cleaners.— The Lagonda Manufacturing Com-
pany, Springfield, Ohio, has recently issued a bulletin
entitled "Lagonda Boiler Tube Cleaners."
Insulating Joints. — The Yost Electric Manufacturing
Company, Toledo, Ohio, has prepared a booklet which
describes several types of insulating joints.
Electric Washer. — The Grinnell Washing Machine Com
pany, Grinnell, la., is sending out a folder which describes
and illustrates some of its latest types of washers.
Automobile Signal Lamp. — The Auto Signalite Company,
735 Seventh Avenue, New York, has issued a booklet de-
scribing its combination tail-lamp and signal lamp.
Historical Outline. — "Thirty Years of Progress" is the
subject of an attractively illustrated book being sent out
by Pawling & Harnischfeger Company, Milwaukee, Wis.
Nitrogen-Filled Automobile Lamps. — Bulletin No. 5,
issued by the H. J. Jaeger Company, Hoboken, N. J., con-
tains information on a nitrogen-filled automobile headlamp.
Electric Crane Trolley. — The Northern Engineering
Works, Detroit, Mich., are sending out an illustrated folder
which contains information on its type "E" electric crane
trolley.
Hair Drier. — Bulletin No. 12-C issued by the Victor Elec-
tric Company, Jackson Boulevard and Robey Street, Chi-
cago, 111., contains information on an electrically operated
hair drier.
Portable Electric Drills. — The Standard Electric Tool
Company, Cincinnati, Ohio, has recently issued a folder
which describes and illustrates several types of electrically
operated drills.
Rectifier for Motion-Picture Service. — "For Better Pro-
jection" is the title of Folder No. 4205-A, which describes
the Westinghouse-Cooper Hewitt rectifiers for moving-
picture service.
Cranes.— Bulletins No. 500, No. 503, No. 504, No. 505,
Mo. 506, recently issued by Maris Brothers, Philadelphia,
Pa., contain information on electrically operated and hand-
operated cranes.
Electric Stoves. — The Standard Electric Stove Company,
Toledo, Ohio, is sending out an illustrated catalog containing
illustrations and descriptions of electric ranges and other
coking equipment.
Color-Matching Outfit. — Apparatus consisting of a conical
hood, a colored-glass screen and an arc lamp is described
in a folder being sent out by the General Electric Company,
Schenectady, N. Y.
Watt-Hour Meters. — Folder No. 4292, published by the
Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company, East
Pittsburgh, Pa., contains information on and illustrations
if watt-hour meters.
Large-Sized Electric Washer. — The Henrici Laundry Ma-
chinery Company, Boston, Mass., has published a folder
which describes its electric washer designed for use in
laundries and hotels.
Automobile Lighting Generator. — The Carlton Company,
170 Summer Street, Boston, Mass., has issued a leaflet
describing its No. 68 generator equipped with "porcupine
drive," as it is called.
Motor-Generator Sets. — Bulletin No. 1090 issued by the
Mlia-Chalmera Manufacturing Company, Milwaukee, W i .
una information on and illustrations of variou
of motor-generator sets.
Lightning Arresters. — Bulletin No. 45,602 sent out by
the General Electric Company, Schenectady, N. Y., con-
tains information on and illustrations of lightning at
ers for aeries-lighting eircuil .
Mtachmenl for Pull Sockets. -The Empire Engii ring &
tnpany, 227 Fulton Street, New York, has pub
lished a leaflet containing information on a pull socket at
tachment which lift< the chain and train off the
ockel
Lighting Fixtures.— -Bulletin No. 23 sent out by the Faries
Manufacturing Company, Decatur, 111., lists a number of fix-
tures for nitrogen-filled lamps.
Time Switches. — The Empire Engineering & Supply Com-
pany, 227 Fulton Street, New York, has issued a bulletin de-
rriptive of its automatic time switches.
Battery Lamp Attachment. — The Burchwell Manufactur-
ing Company, St. Louis, Mo., has issued a leaflet which de-
scribes a lamp which can be fastened to an ordinary dry cell.
High-Frequency Generators. — The Eastern Electric Com-
pany, 21 Pine Street, San Francisco, Cal., has issued a book-
let which describes and illustrates several types of high-fre-
quency machines.
Electrical Devices for Automobiles. — The Interstate Elec-
tric Company, New Orleans, La., is sending out a booklet
which contains descriptions of an electric steer warmer and
an electrically heated manifold plug.
Electric Mine Lamp. — The Hirsch Electric Mine Lamp
Company, 314 North Twelfth Street, Philadelphia, Pa., has
published several folders which describe and illustrate its
miner's "safety" lamp and hand lamp.
Alternating-Current Motors. — Pocket Catalog No. 11,
published by the Advance Electric Company, St. Louis,
Mo., contains information on alternating-current motors
varying in rating from 0.125 hp to 7.5 hp.
Electric Water Heater. — "Boiling Hot Water Instantly" is
the subject of a leaflet recently issued by the Mosteller Nov-
elty Company, 229 West Illinois Street, Chicago, 111., which
contains information on an electric water heater.
Small Motors. — A folder designated as No. 21 and en-
titled "The Advantages of Westinghouse Electric Small
Motors" has just been issued by the Westinghouse Electric
& Manufacturing Company, East Pittsburgh, Pa.
Electric Trucks. — "Truck Talk" is the subject of Catalog
No. 5, recently issued by the General Motors Truck Com-
pany, Pontiac, Mich, which contains information on a num-
ber of different types of electrically operated trucks.
Conduit Boxes and Fittings. — Pamphlet No. 442, issued
by the Sprague Electric Works of the General Electric
Company, 527 West Thirty-fourth Street, contains informa-
tion on various types of conduit boxes and accessory
fittings.
Transportation with Electric Vehicles. — "Efficient Motor
Transportation with G.V. Electrics" is the title of an at-
tractively illustrated thirty-two-page catalog recently pub-
lished by the General Vehicle Company, Long Island City,
New York.
Bakers' and Confectioners' Machinery. — "Motor-Driven
Bakers' and Confectioners' Machinery" is the title of Cata-
log 3002-A, Section 3141, recently published by the West
inghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company, East Pitts
burgh, Pa.
Instrument Manufacturers' Plant. — The Brown Instru
ment Company and the Keystone Electrical Instrument
Company, Philadelphia, Pa., have recently issued a folder
containing illustrations of their new plant at Wayne June
tion, Philadelphia.
Electric Automobiles. — "Through Sixty Years" is the sub
ject of an attractively illustrated catalog issued by the
Rauch & Lang Carriage Company, 2180 West Twenty-fifth
Street, Cleveland, Ohio, which contains information on
several electrically operated passenger cars.
Electrical Apparatus. — The Western Electric Company,
New York, has recently issued folders which contain in
formation on adjustable telephone brackets, "emeralite"
reading lamps, "all nite lite" miniature transformers, two
ball, [amp-cord adjusters and enameled sheet-steel cut-out
boxes.
Electrical Apparatus. — The following publications have
recently been issued by the Westinghouse Klectrtc & Man-
ufacturing Company, Pittsburgh, Pa.: Leaflet No. 2485-A.
ii lie |n. mi. turbines; Leaflet No. 3523, on a commit
tating-pole motor designated as No. 328; Leaflet No. 3519-A.
on direct current motors for group drive of sewing ma-
chines; Leaflet No. 3781, on large slip-ring induction mo
tin ; Leaflet No. 3707, on direct current motors for driving
job printing presses, and Leaflet No. :'.7S3. on lightning
protection for cars.
January
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Construction News
New England
BANGoK, MAINE. — Contracts have been
awarded by the Water Board for two ver-
tical 125-hp turbine waterwheels and a gen-
erator, to be installed at the pumping sta-
tion. The S. Morgan Smith Co., of York,
Pa., was awarded the contract for turbines
and the General Electric Co. will furnish
the electrical equipment, including gener-
ator, switchboard, wiring, etc.
BROOKFIELD, CONN. — A movement has
been started to secure electrical service for
Brookfield. It is proposed to ask the New
Milford El. Lt. Co. to extend its transmis-
sion lines to furnish electricity here.
Middle Atlantic
ROCHESTER, N. Y. — The Interstate
Pub. Ser. Corpn, Granite Building, Roches-
ter, has recently purchased the electric
properties in Kane, Pa., Johnsonburg, Pa.,
and Ridgway, Pa., and negotiations are
pending for the acquisition of several other
properties. The corporation contemplates
large extensions to the plants as soon as
the weather permits, including the erection
of transmission lines, etc. J. George Kael-
ber is president and Charles W. Smith is
vice-president and treasurer, both of
Rochester.
UTICA, N. Y. — The Public Service Com-
mission has granted the Utica Gas & El.
Co. permission to issue $500,000 in bonds, to
be sold at not less than 90, to provide for
extensions and improvements.
YORKTOWN HEIGHTS, N. Y. — Bids
will be received by William B. Osgood
Field, president of the board of managers
of the New York State Training School for
Boys, No. 2 West Forty-fifth Street, New
York, until Jan. 12 for construction, heating,
plumbing and electric work for seven cot-
tages ; for construction work of power
house and coal pocket (this does not in-
clude boiler plant, plumbing or electric
work) and for water supply system for the
New State Training School for Boys. Y'ork-
town Heights. Drawings and specifications
may be consulted at the New Y'ork office of
the Department of Architecture, Room 12 2 4,
Woolworth Building, and at the Department
of Architecture, Capitol, Albany. Drawings
and specifications and blank forms of pro-
posals may be obtained at the Department
of Architecture, Capitol, Albany, for which
a deposit of $10 will be required, to be re-
funded upon return of same.
FRANCONIA, PA. — Application has been
made to Governor Tener by H. R. Fehr,
Charles N. Wagner and A. H. S. Cantlin
for a charter for a corporation to be known
as the Franconia Township El. Lt. & Pwr
Co. to supply electricity for lamps, heaters
and motors in the township of Franconia.
GETTYSBURG, PA. — In reply to a ques-
tion raised by the Gettysburg Ltg. Co.
against the proposal of the town of Gettys-
burg to light its own streets, the Public
Service Commission has handed down a
decision that a municipality has the right
to construct and operate an electric-light
plant without consulting the commission.
HARMONY, PA. — The Public Service
Commission has approved the contract of
the Harmony El. Co., of Harmony, for
supplying electricity for lighting the streets
of Koppel.
IRWIN, PA. — The entire plant of the
Penn El. & Mfg. Co., of Irwin, was
destroved bv fire on Dec. 24, causing a loss
of about $40,000. D. M. Wagoner, of
irwin, is one of the owners of the plant.
LANSFORD, PA. — The Panther Valley
Lt.. Ht. & Pwr. Co.. of Lansford. has
I a contract for the construction of
a. substation (to cost $10,000) to Andrew
Breslin, of Summit Hill.
CAMDEN, N. J. — The Victor Talking
.Machine Co., it is reported, has asked for
bids for the erection of a power plant, to
cost about $150,000. The new building will
be situated on Cooper Street near Front
Street. Ballinger & Perrot, of Philadelphia,
are architects and engineers.
NEWTON, N. J. — The State Board of
Public Utilities Commissioners has issued
an order authorizing the Newton Gas <fc E!
make certain improvements to its
plant.
PATERSON, N. J. — Plans are being con-
sidered by Mayor Robert H. Fordyce for
the installation of an electric-lighting plant
in the destructor plant to supply electricity
for lighting the streets of the city.
WILMINGTON, DEL. — A committee, con-
sisting of Councilman Weller E
chairman, and Messrs. Kane and
has been appointed by the Council to confer
with the Board of Water Commissioners
relative to installing machinery whereby
the water-power of Brandywine Creek
could be utilized to generate electricity for
the new municipal and county building.
GLASGOW, VA. — Bids will be received
by the city of Glasgow until Jan. 29 for
sale of franchise to construct and operate
an electric-light and power plant in Glas-
gow.
RICHMOND, VA. — The Administrative
Board has adopted a resolution authorizing
E. W. Trafford, superintendent of the mu-
nicipal electric-light plant, to make investi-
gations as to the feasibility of supplying
electricity for lamps and motors to the gen-
eral public from the municipal electric-light
plant.
WASHINGTON, D. C. — Bids will be re-
ceived at the office of the chief signal offi-
cer, War Department, Washington, D. o.,
until Jan. 4 for furnishing the Signal Corps
with 10,000 ft. paper-insulated aerial cable,
type 401, in 1000-ft. reels, specificationa
197-C and 334-C. For further information
address Charles S. Wallace, captain Signal
Corps, United States Army.
WASHINGTON, D. C. — Foreign trade op-
portunities as announced by the Bureau of
Foreign and Domestic Commerce in the
Daily Consular and Trade Reports : No.
1 4,ST 1 — A representative of public garages
in a Canadian city has informed an Ameri-
can consular officer that the local authori-
ties intend to require taxicabs to use taxi-
meters, and that he desires to communicate
with manufacturers of or dealers in taxi-
meters. No. 14,^72 — An American consular
officer in Europe reports that a company
in his district has filed an application for a
franchise to build an electric tramway. The
railway is to be 31 miles in length. Nit. 14,-
S76 — An American consular officer in Asia
Minor reports that a commission in his dis-
trict desires to place orders for electrical
supplies of all kinds, including
lamps and bulbs, electric motors and dyna-
mos, oil and water pumps, horizontal and
vertical Diesel engines, gas pipes and high-
pressure pipes. It is explained that the firm
does not require credit ami wishes to es-
tablish relations with manufacturers of the
highest-class goods. Correspondence should
be in Russian, German or French, and
prices should be c.i.f. destination. No. 14.-
ss.'i — A manufacturer in Russia informs an
American consular officer that he is desirous
of importing brass tubes, bra
wolfram
filament Catalogs,
price lists ami discount shei
Prices should be c.i.f. destination if pos-
sible. Correspondence should be in Russian
or German. No. II.- ll reports
that an importing firm is desirous of pur-
chasing arc-lamp globes, eld
electric-light accessories. Illustrations of
arc-lamp globes desired accompanied the
report and may he examined at the Bureau
ign and Domestic Commerce and its
branch offices. No 14. 895 — A firm in
Europe has asked an American consular
officer to put it in touch with \
manufacturers and exporters of machinery
of all kinds. References are given. Cor-
respondence should be in Italian oi
No. 14.SS9 — An American consular officer in
Asia Minor reports the names and addresses
of dealers in his district who are in the
market for electric household appliances,
such as fans, irons, heaters, table and hang-
ing lamps, brackets, bulbs, wire, sockets.
etc. No. 14.S91 — An American consular
officer in Italy advises that a firm in his
district desires to receive catalogs, etc.
from American manufacturers of service,
combustion, pressure and temperature re-
corders and other like devices. Correspond-
ence may be in English. No. 14.mi4 — A
commission firm in Russia informs an
American consular officer that it desires to
establish direct relations with American
manufacturers of hardware, tools and im-
plements, petroleum kitchen and heating
stoves and electrical supplies and lamps.
Correspondence should be in Russian,
French or German. No. 14.S12 — The man-
ager of a municipal electric plant in Europe
desires to be placed in communication with
manufacturers of electrical sup:
fittings, including lamps. Further informa-
tion mav be obtained on application to the
Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce.
Department of Commerce. Washington, D
C, or to the following branch offices :
Room 409, United States Custom House.
New York. N. Y. : R29 Federal Building.
Chicago. 111. ; Association of Commerce
Building. New Orleans. La.: 310 United
States Custom House. San Francisco, Cal. :
521 Post Office Building. Atlanta, Ga. : 1207
Alaska Building. Seattle, Wash., and 752
nih-er Building, Boston. Mass
North Central
DETROIT, MICH. — The general contract
tor the construction of three substations
for the Public Lighting Commission has
been awarded to Corrick Brothers.
FREMONT. MICH. — A special election
will be held Jan. 4 to submit to the voters
the proposal of selling the municipal dis-
tribution system of $13,000 to the Grand
Rapids-Muskegon Pwr. Co. and granting
the company a lighting franchise.
JACKSON, MICH. — The present arc
lamp lighting system in the business district
will be replaced with ornamental lamps
The city will own the lamps but will secure
electricity to maintain them from the Com-
monwealth Pwr. Co. The contract is for a
period of three years, beginning Jan. 1.
RED JACKET, MICH. — The installation
of an ornamental street-lighting system in
the business district is under consideration
The Houghton County El. Lt. Co. furnishes
the street-lighting service here.
BUCY'RUS, OHIO. — Plans are being pre
pared by the Bucyrus Lt. & Pwr. Co. for
doubling the output of its plant in the
spring. The company also contemplates ex
tensions to its rural transmission lines.
CLEVELAND, OHIO. — Bids will be re
ceived at the office of the commissioner of
purchases and supplies. Room oil, Cit>
Hall. Cleveland, until Jan. 7 for piping
power house and tunnel at the City Hospi-
tal, in accordance with specifications which
mav he obtained at the office of the secre-
tarv to the director of public welfare. Room
209, City Hall.
CLEVELAND, OHIO. — Bids will be re-
ceived at the office of the commissioner of
purchases and supplies, Room 511, City
Hall, Cleveland, until Jan. 8 for electric-
light poles, paper-insulated, lead-covered
cable and service switches for the munici-
pal electric-light department, in accordance
with specifications which may be obtained
at the office of the commissioner of light
and heat division, 1443 East Third Street
A R. Callow is commissioner of purchases
ami supplies.
UII.I.SBORO, OHIO — The proposal of the
Hillsboro Lt. & Fuel Co. for street lighting
has been rejected by the voters. Plans are
now being considered by the Council for
lighting the town, one of which is the in-
stallation of new fixtures. A municipal
plant has also been suggested.
LIMA. OHIO. — The merchants on West
Street have submitted a proposal
to the City Council offering to install an
ornamental lighting system on that thor
oughfare, provided that the city will pay
fur electricity to maintain the lamps. The
tor 43 standards carrying
five-lamp clusters.
YOUNGSToWN. OHIO.— Work, it is un
d, will start immediately on the con-
struction of the new electric light, heat and
power plant of the Mahoning County Lt. Co
pany was recently granted permis-
the State Utilities Commission to
issue $fi00,000 in bonds, to be sold at not
less than 90, and $400,000 in capital stock at
par. Harry Engle is secretary and treas
urer.
GARY, IND — Bids will be received at the
the supervising architect, Treasury
Department, Washington, D. C, until Jan
15, for the construction, including mechan-
ical equipment, interior lighting fixtures and
approaches, of the United States post office
at Gary, Ind. Drawings and specificationa
may be obtained from the above office or
from the custodian of site at Gary. O
oth is supervising architect.
MONTPEL1ER, IND. — The Public Serv-
ice Commission has granted the Montpelier
Utilities Co. permission to issue $28,500 in
bonds. John P. Boyd is manager.
TERRE HAUTE, IND. — Bids will be re
ceived at the office of the supervising archi-
isurv Department, Washington, D
C., until Jan. 22, for repairs to plumbing, a
conduit and wiring system, lighting fixtures.
.-tc nt the United States post office at Terre
Haute, Ind. For details see proposal col
umns.
ELGIN, ILL — The proposal to issue
in bonds for the installation of a
municipal electric-light plant, it is reported
will be submitted to the voters.
LEWTSTOWN, ILL. — The property of the
Lewistown El. Co. has been bought by W
H Parlin. of Canton, 111. A transmission
line is now being erected from the station in
Lewistown to a point 3>4 miles east to serve
the farmers along the line. C. D. Ingersoll
is general manager.
STERLING, ILL. — The Illinois Northern
Utilities Co., of Dixon, has accepted the
ordinance recently passed by the City Coun-
cil granting the company permission to
erect its high-tension transmission line
through Sterling.
DELAFIELD, WIS. — The Wisconsin
Railroad Commission has granted the Mil-
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 1
i . Ht. ft Trac Co . of .Milwaukee,
a certificate of convenience and necessity
ite a second electric utility in the
Delafleld to furnish electricity for
lamps, heaters and motors
I [.AIRE, WIS Vll bids for the in-
stallation of the ornamental lighting sys-
tem, it is reported, nave been rejected.
LAKE GENEVA. U IS Bids will be re-
■eived by John S. Allen, manager of the
Equitable El. L leneva, it is re-
ported, until Jan. 5 fi one 150-hp strain
engine and steam pipe with pipe covering.
MILWAUKEE, WIS— bids will be re-
I the office of the supervising archi-
tect, Treasurj Department, Washington, D.
C, until the installation, com-
iii electric freight elevator in the
United 3 at Mil-
waukee, Wis. For details see proposal col-
umns.
DULUTH, MINN.— At a special
to be held Jan. 19 three proposals will be
submitted to the voters as follows
jndum on ordinance appropriating
ruction of first unit of municipal
plant . initiative ordit.
inter in; contract with the Du-
for 6-cent rate, and alterna-
tive ordinance providing for 4-cent rate.
ELK KIVEK, MINX— The Council, it is
. has awarded F. D. Waterman a
franchise to furnish electricity for lamps
and motors in Elk River, and also a con-
tract for street-lighting. Under the terms
of the contract 50 street lamps are to be
installed at once.
FARIBAULT, MINN.— The Consumers'
Pwr. Co., of Faribault, has just completed
a 12-mile extension of its 13,200-volt sys-
tem to the village of Kenyon, where it will
supply electricity to the local company for
distribution throughout the village and op-
erating a flour mill. The company is also
completing an extension of its 33,000-volt
transmission line (about 40 miles long),
which will connect Northfleld and St Paul
This line will serve the villages of Farm-
lngton and St. Paul and other small vil-
lages along the line B. W. Cowperthwait is
manager.
GILBERT, MINN— The installation of
an ornamental street-lighting system in
Gilbert is reported to be under considera-
tion.
LAMBERTON, MINN.— The local elec-
tric plant has been purchased by R. F.
Wherland. of Redwood Falls, and H. L.
Wherland, of Faribault. The new owners,
it is understood, will make some radical
changes in the operation of the plant.
ST PAUL. MINN.— The A. H. Stem Co..
if St Paul, has been engaged as ari hitect
for the new club house of the St. Paul Ath-
letic i 'lull, the .ust <,t which is estimated
II W Terry, con-
sulting elei i rical engineer of the Stem
work in the proposed building.
COLLINS, IA.— The Maxwell El. Lt ft
Pwr. Co., it is reported, has applied to the
City Council for a franchise to supply elec-
r lamps and motors in Collins.
STORM LAKE, IA.— The Storm Lake El.
Lt. & Pwr. Co. has just installed a new
200-hp Murray engine anil a 125-kw, three-
wire generator and switchboard. Edgar E.
Mack is president and manager.
SPRINGS, Mil -Plans are being
considered by the Commercial Club for the
Installation of an ornamental street-lighting
system on Main Street.
EDGERTON, sin The McComas Hydro-
Electric Pwr. Co., of Edgerton, it is re-
ported. Hi.' construction of a
ros: i 'latte River and the Installation
of a h power plant. It is cx-
that work will be started on the
■ ..I ly in 1 !H 6,
ST. LOUIS, MO.- Ii on handed
McQulllIn
.1.111 ft Pwi
given the rigl
111 the City Of St LOUlS outside i.f the so
called underground district The di
I will perm.* ompanles
■
SLATER, M'i Within the I
rig unit in the muniei
Is supi
.i. r con
,uncll has
NEBRASKA CITY, NEB.— The Board of
Education has adopted a resolution requir-
ing all school buildings to be lighted by
electricity.
TRENTON, NEB. — The installation of an
electric-lighting system in the town of Tren-
i-ui is under consideration.
CHANUTE, KAN -Mids will be received
at the office of the supervising ai
Treasury Department, Washington, D. C,
until Jan. 29 for the construction complete,
including mechanical equipment, lighting
of the United
States post office at Chanute. Drawings
and specifications may be obtained at the
above oil- the custodian of site
at Chanute. < I. Wenderoth is supervising
architect.
DOWNS, KAN— The Downs El. Lt. &
Pwr. Co. is installing a series street-lighting
system, consisting of 57 lamps: material for
system has already been purchased. A. G.
Blankensky is manager.
HORTON, KAN -A 250-kva Allis-Chal-
. .erating unit (directly connected)
is being installed in the municipal water and
light plant. W W, Wood is superintendent.
WINFIELD. KAN. — The City Council
has authorized the Electric Light and Water
Commission to advertise for bids for an
additional 500-kw electric generating unit
with auxiliaries. Plans and specifications
will be completed within the next
at which time bids will be called for W J
Welfelt is superintendent.
Southern States
WHITEVILLE, N. C— The City Council
is reported to have granted a franchise to
H. D. MacNair, of Maxton, to construct
and operate an electric-light plant in White-
ville. Mr, MacNair was also given a con-
tract for street lighting for a period of ten
years.
WILMINGTON, N. C.— Bids will be re-
ceived at the office of the supervising archi-
tect. Treasury Department, Washington,
D. C, until Jan. 14. for the construction
complete, including mechanical equipment,
of medical officers' quarters at the United
States .Marine Hospital, Wilmington, N. C.
- and specifications may be ob-
tained at the above office or from the cus-
todian of site at Wilmington. O. Wen-
deroth is supervising architect.
ALLENDALE, S. C. — Contracts have
been awarded for the construction of an
electric-light plant and water-works system
in Allendale, for which bonds to the amount
been voted.
MACON, GA— The Macon Ry. & Lt. Co.
is planning to replace the present arc-lamp
street-lighting system in East Macon with
new arc lamps of 1700 cp. It is understood
that equipment has been ordered.
ROCKMART, GA. — Contracts have been
awarded by the City Council for new ma-
chinery for the municipal electric-light
plant. The Ames Iron Works, of i IswegO,
N. V., will furnish the boilers and the Allis-
i'.i. hi Milwaukee, Wis, the gen-
eraton A 24-hour service will be estab-
lished as soon as improvements are com-
pleted.
WADI.EV, GA.— The contract for the
:.on of the municipal electric-light
or which bonds were recently voted)
has been awarded to the Singleton-Smith
Co., "i Mai mi, Ga. s. W Ovastreet is city
clerk.
TARPON SPRINGS, FLA The City
council has granted h a
act and
■-in plan! m Tarpon
Springs
KNOXVILLE, TENN Plans are being
red for replacing the present orna-
mental lighting system on Gay street with
nitrogen filled lamps The presei
lighting contract expires in Octobel
.1 \' IKS! IN, MISS provid-
bonds for
" Introduced in thi
. .1, ha \ I
Building, Oklahoma City, for the
•lit plant and water
DO in bonds •■
will I..
i tallas Tel I
Improvi
■ r addi
• • Lull will begin
from $500,000 to 51,000,000, it is reported,
are contemplated by the Texas Pwr. & Lt.
Co., of Dallas, to its properties in Texas
The work will include the construction of a
plant in Paris, to cost about $300,000 and
the erection of the transmission line to sup-
ply energy to the Texas Trac. Co., at a cost
of about $150,000. It is also proposed to
begin work on the large plant at Waco, the
cost of which is estimated at $1,000,000.
The cost of the transmission line for the
Texas Trac. Co. to Jenkins Station, north of
Dallas, from the plant at Norwood, and the
outlay for the electric plant at Paris with
extensions and feeders will cost about $500,-
000.
ENNIS. TEN — Bids will be received at
the othce of the supervising architect.
Treasury Department, Washington, D. C.
until Jan. 2.". for the construction complete,
including mechanical equipment, lighting
and approaches, of the United
States post office at Ennis. Drawings and
specifications may be obtained at the above
office or from the custodian of site at Ennis
O. Wenderoth is supervising architect
GALVESTi IN, TEX— Bids will be re-
ceived by the Board of City Commissioners
Galveston, until Jan. 7 for electric wiring
and elevators for the new combined city
hall and auditorium.
LONGVIEW, TEX —The capital stock
of the Longview Ice & Lt. Co. has been in-
creased from $50,000 to $75,000.
UVALDE. TEX. — Bids will be received al
the office of the supervising architect. Treas
ury Department, Washington. D. C, until
Jan. 22 for the construction, including me-
chanical equipment, interior lighting fixtures
and approaches, of the United States post
office at Uvalde. Drawings and specifica-
tions may be obtained at the above office
or at the office of custodian of site at
O. Wenderoth is supervising archi
tect.
Pacific States
TACOMA, WASH— The City Council has
authorized the installation of a new system
of lamps on C and other streets, according
to specifications prepared by the city engi-
neer. The plans provide for metal
standards mounted with a single lamp, to
cost $17,2(1.
GRANT'S PASS, ORE.— The Rogue Rivei
Pub. Ser. Corpn. has submitted a proposition
to the City Council to furnish energy on a
wholesale basis, the city to install a dis-
tributing svstcm and operate the same
George W. Swansor is secretary of the com-
pany.
ALHAMBRA, CAL — A committee has
pointed by the City Council to make
lions in regard to establishing
a municipal electrical distributing system in
Alhambra. E. L. McCormack is a member
of the committee.
ESCONDIDO. CAL. — Bids will be re-
ceived by the Board of Supervisors of Sai
Diego County until Feb. 3 for the sale of a
franchise to construct and operate electric
transmission lines under and over the pub-
lic highways in Township 10 for a period of
.'•0 years Application for the franchise was
made by the Escondido Wtr. Co.
FRESNO, CAL.— The City Council has
adopted a single-lamp standard for the city
electrolier lighting system The standard
will be either all cast iron or post with
bases and tops of cast iron and shafts of
pressed steel
LONG BEACH, CAL.— The City Coun.il
has passed an ordinance authorizing the
mslallatioii of ornamental (cast-iron) lamp
da on the principal business streets
iv, also providing for plai
electric wires underground In the city, the
work to begin not later than July 1, 191".
WCKI.ES. .' \i. Surveys are be-
ing made by the Engineering Department of
tin- route for the proposed franchise for
street railway extension from Nortl
i Pritchard Street through Scmiet-
,-en Park nid H.-rmon District to South
Pasadena City limits.
MOORPARK, CAL Steps have beer.
• Commerce to m
It is proposed
ii aid. to extend its transmission lines to
M. hi ■■
S \\ I'll. in. C\I. The City Council, it
is reported, will soon ask for informal bids
Of I
.md on Fifth Stt
illumination during exposition year.
SALT I \KI' CITY. DTAB 1
trlc-llghting fixtures for the
Newhous. II.. i warded to the
Salt Lake El. Blip, Co.
mi. i. IN' IS, Mi 'N'T Work will i ■•
■ ..w,r house (to
MontaCnatepw0rn ro°'lh Broadway) "t the
£lf "heJrOU\d?'a-' ^Vmpariv Sufr*
sume work 9n the erection of he high-ten
son transmission line, connect,"! w?th the
vf.le ""at'Var'k Ci'uUS" V" ^>'°'^tonee
F^mLr|tandrjoHet3 ;""1 «tent,i^ to
CULBERTSON, MONT. — An electric
light plant, it is reported, will be installed in
Donaldson Brothers' garage ivhich ,1
supply electricity for tht citv V1"
GLASGOW, MOXT.— Plans are being con-
sidered for the installation of a muSctoa
electr.c-hght plant during the coming velr
Th?°inS?,?0,K' N eM- (not a P°st office).-
the installation of an electric-light plant
and ice factory in Holbrook is under con-
Gaflun Fl T^°,"iS Sn Frith, manager of ?he
^allup El. Lt. <_o., Gallup, is reported to be
interested in the project.
WORLA.XD. WTO— Arrangements are
being made by the Worland Lt & Pwr Co
J0eStrreobyUedVtnrePlam' WhiCh WaS TeCen^
SILVER CITY. X M.— Work on the con-
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Sisals
el'?c5,'rf0rf Which wi" 1« furnished by an
electric transmission line, running from
Hanover, the main camp of the EmD?re
companj empire
Canada
SSnetrof°5- P0Wer '.)UI'l>osesl The proposed
point of diversion is approximately 3 miles
from the junction of the Moose arid Fraslr
Rnrers, at the foot of the first fa Is It Is
proposed to build four dams. The offices of
the company are at 415 Winch Building
Vancouver. u!llg'
PORT ARTHUR, ONT— A by-lav
■ill
Directory of Electrical Associations
71
he submitted to the ratepayers authorizing
extensions and improvements to the mu-
nicipal telephone system, to cost about
$40,000.
WELLAND, ONT.-A by-law authoriz-
ing a bond issue of $5,000 for the installa-
tion of an electric fire-alarm system will be
submitted to the ratepayers in" Januarv
Miscellaneous
PANAMA. — Bids will be received at the
office ot the general purchasing officer, the
Panama Canal, Washington, D. C , until
Jan. ,, for furnishing electric cable,
wrought iron or steel pipe, coal shovels, etc
Blanks and general information relating to
this circular (No. 887) may be obtained
;«S^=he above, offlce or tne offlces of the
assistant purchasing agents, 24 State
street. New York. X. Y. ; 614 Whitney
Pomt'n#tVNtW i"'1™,"*' La" and 10S6 North
Point Street, San Francisco, Cal. Major
*. C. Boggs is general purchasing officer
Alabama Light and Traction awhi-,,
tion Secretary-treasurer H j H^son"
Mobile Gas Co., Mobile, Ala. "anson,
American Association tor the Advanob
SEHowarSdCI§NC?i, Pe'manent ^S^t
mgSSr!) c ' Instltutio". Wash!:
American Electric Railway Associa
3^St.Sexreewa%rkE' * BurrI"' ^^
American Electrochemical Societt
^^S^S^ugen?^^^
laik Ave., Xew York City.
American Institute of' Electrical En-
gineers. Secretary, F. L Hutchinson M
West 39th St., New' York Board of direc
n'thT'princin?,111'?'- ,S-ecVons and SaSSE.
SrtttelSSKS eleCtnCal centers throuSh-
American Phtsical Society. Secretarv
nTbusV O^hio0016" °hi° State D««?S:
Nassau St., New York Citv. ' a4
American Society for Testing Materi-
als. Secretary-treasurer. Edgar MarbuTe
University of Ppimsviv^V, i?,'Y, ',.a_r.Dur&.
Universi.Y- Af r> , e1, Eiogar Marbui
university of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
timti^T Society of Heating and Yen-
S3T3 W^Sst.^ew^rk^^ *
„,rAR4CANSAS Association of Public Utili-
Dtt.?PRRoAcrArk.SeCretarJ-' W" J- Th-P.
Association of Edison Illuminating
companies. Assistant secretary Walte?
To"™ ' ing PlaCe and 15th St .New
Association of Iron and Steel Electri-
S&223TKL S6Cretary' W" TESLnyCaer,
Association of Railway Electrtcat b„
EZT& Secretary-treasurer SsT In"
Chicago1' ChlCag° & Northwestern RSilwiy,
Association of Railway Telegraph Sn
perintendents. Secretary, P W grfw
112 West Adams St., Chicago. '
so?i^TTo0NNrA«ELE(rrEICAI^OXTRACTO«s' As-
Canadian Electrical Association Affil
Colorado Electric Light. Power and
r FW£InASHS0CIA£0N- Secretary-treasurer"
r. F. Kennedy, 900 15th St., Denver, Col
Commercial Section, x. e. L A Seere-
ary. J. F. Becker. 1170 Broadway/ NY
Eastern Xew York Section. X E L \
Secretary, c. S. Van Dyck. Sch'enectad'y,
Electrical Contractors' Association of
Iassachusetts. Secretarv. H D Temple
10 Foster St., Worcester. Mass. lemple'
CE^Tr^l?^ Contractors- Association of
el jj °*£ wAJE-,oS,ec/etary. Geo. W. Rus-
ei. Jr.. .., West 4 2d St., Xew York
xEiE<?R'?rAI- Contractors' Association of
.tate of Missouri. Secretary. A. J. Burns
18 West Tenth St., Kansas Citv. Mo
r;t";CTRicAi. Contractors' Association of
MMuErt Secretary. Albert PetermanrT
leetini. 5AfiSt-- , MllnTaul<ee. Wis. Annual
Milwaukee, Jan. 18-21.
Electrical Salesmen's Association
I^cKca^'ia Raymond- 125 Mich^
Electrical Supply Jobbers' Association
general secretary, Franklin Overbagh 4li
South Clinton St., Chicago, 111. '
Electrical Trades Association of Can-
ada. Secretary. William R. Stavelv, Roval
Insurance Building, Montreal. Can
Electrical Trades Association of the
AC'hC \OAST„ Secretary, Albert H. Elli-
ott, Harding Building. 34 Ellis St.. San
FJ^TZZ CaI- J/eeting. San Fraricisco.
second Thursday of each month.
Electric Vehicle Association of Amer-
ica. Executive secretary, A, Jackson Mar-
shall 29 West 39th St., New York. Sections
i i . \"rk',New England. Chicago. Phila-
delphia. Washington and Los Angeles.
Empire State Gas and Electric Asso-
ciation. Secretary, Charles H. B Chanin
29 West 39th St, Xew York. «-naPin.
Gas, Electric and Street Railway As-
sociation of Oklahoma. Secretary-treas-
urer. Prof. H. V. Bozell. Norman, Okla
Georgia Electrical Contractors' iaso-
ciation. Secretary. J. M. Clayton, Atlanta,
Illinois State Electrical Association
Secretary. H. E. Chubbuck. Peoria. 111.
Illuminating Engineering Society
S™ secretary C. A. Littlefield, 29 West
■jytn fet., New York.
Independent Telephone Association of
, J":,n'\.-, Secretary, W. S. Vivian. 19 South
St, ( Imago. Annual meeting. Min-
neapolis. Minn.. Jan. 19-21.
Indiana Electric Light Association
Secretary. Thomas Donahue. Lafayette, Ind.
Indiana State Electrical Contractors'
i.f.f^'TV*' t Secretary, George Skilman,
Indianapolis, Ind.
Institute of Operating Engineers Sec-
Yorky' HoumiI1er. 29 West 39th St.. New
Institute of Radio Engineers. Secre-
tary, E. J. Simon, 71 Broadway, Xew York.
Internal Combustion Engineers' Asso-
ciation. President. Charles Kratsch. 416
West Indiana St., Chicago. Meeting second
Friday of each month at Lewis Institute.
International Association of Munici-
HoLusKo,El TTexAN8' Secretarj' C- R George.
International Engineering Congress.
R6^^7" QeaSU5eJ' W- A' Cattell, Foxcroft
Building. San Francisco. Cal. Congress,
San Francisco, September.
International Electrotechnical Com-
mission (international body representing
rtV^S natl?na' electrical engineering so?
secreetSar?n rbU>tinV° ^ su?P°rt)- Genera'
secretarj. C. le Maistre. 28 Victoria St.,
Westminster. London, S. W., England
Meeting at San Francisco. Sept. 9-11
witi!\- ^I^fTP-'CAL Association. Affiliated
^n rV' \,^- A r Secretary. W. H. Thom-
son, Des Moines, la.
Iowa Electrical Contractors' Associa-
tion Secretary, M. T. Humphrey. Water-
loo, la.
Iowa Street and Interurban Railway
export""!' 'X Secretary, H. E. Weeks, Dav-
HnmerANp 5-RDER- ^ Jupiter (president).
Homer E. Xiesz. Chicago. Ill ■ Mercurv
gHSpi) ET- C, Bennett. Syndicate Trust
Building, St. Louis, Mo.
Kansas Gas. Water. Electric Light and
Street Railway Association. Secretary-
wIchUaTkan" Tl"J'"aS' 2" *°Uth Main St"
socSor A SEe^RAC.ALJCTTRZAifgieRrS' &
?Tb°DW,V Meeting every Wednesday. Au
dubon Building, Xew Orleans.
Maine Electric Association. Secretarv
treasurer, Walter S. Wyman, Waterville
Maine.
Michigan Electric Association. Affili-
ated with N. a L. A. Secretary, Herbert
troit6 Mich Washington Boulevard. De-
Minnesota Electric Association. Sec-
f€iiah?'"^reasurer' R A """• st Paul Gas
Light Company. St. Paul. Minn Annual
meeting. St. Paul, March 23-J5. Annual
Mississippi Electric Association Affih
ated with the Xational Electric Light Asso
ciation Secretary-treasurer. 11. K. Wheelei
Hattiesburg, Miss. Xext annual meeting
Hattiesburg, April 12-14.
Missouri Electric, Gas, Street Railwa1
and Water Works Association. Se,-ivtar\
treasurer, F. D. Beardslee, Union Electri,
Light & Power Co., St. Louis.
.National Arm, Pin and Bracket Asso
InAlTI0N' Secretary- J- B- Magers, Madison
National Association of Electrical In
spectors. Secretary-treasurer, Wm L
.smith. Concord, Mass.
National District Heating Association
Secretary, D. L. Gaskill, Greenville. Ohio.
National Electric Light Association
Executive secretary, T. C. Martin Engl
neering Societies Building, 33 West 39th St
New York. Annual meeting, San Francisco'
June .-11
National Electrical Contractors' As
SOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES Secre
tary, George H. Duffleld. 41 Martin Build-
ing, Utica, N. Y. Annual meeting, San
Francisco, July 1S-24.
Xational Electrical Credit Associa
tion. Secretary, Frederic P. Vose 134 3
Marquette Building, Chicago.
National Fire Protection Association
Secretary of electrical committee, Ralph
Sweetland. 141 Milk St.. Boston, Mass
Open meeting, Xew York, March
Xational Independent Telephove Asso
ciation Secretary-treasurer, J. B. Earle
vv aco, Tex.
Nebraska Section. X*. E. L A Secre
tary-treasurer, S. J. Bell, David City, Neb
Xew England Electrical Credit Asso-
ciation. Secretary, Alton F. Tupper 60
State St., Boston, Mass.
Xew England Section. Electric Vehi
cle Association of America. Secretarv
L. L. Edgar, 39 Boylston St., Boston, Mass'
Xew England Section. X. E L A Sec-
retary. Miss O. E. Bursiel. 149 Tremont St
Boston. .Mass
-New York Electric Railway Associa
o!°?- o Secretary, Charles C. Dietz, 365 East
21st St., Brooklyn, X. Y.
Xorthwest Section. X. E L A Secre
&e%ash. Br°Cke"' Pi0neer kuildins
Northern White Cedar Association
Secretary. R. X. Boucher. 743 Lumber Ex-
change, Minneapolis, Minn.
Ohio Electric Light Association Sec
retary, D. L. Gaskill, Greenville. Ohio.
Ohio Society of Mechanical, Electri
cal and Steam Engineers. Secretarv
Prof. F. E. Sanborn, Ohio State Universitv
Columbus. Ohio.
Oregon Electrical Contractors' Asso
ciation. Secretary-treasurer. J W Oher
ender, Portland, Ore.
ELECTRICAL WORLD
\ ox (55. No. 1
Pennsylvania Electric ASSOCIATION
(State Section N. E. I.. A.). Secretary-
treasurer, H. N. Muller, Pittsburgh
Railway Signal Association. Secre-
lary-treasurer. C. E. Rosenberg, Times
Building, Bethlehem, Pa.
Society for Electrical Development,
Inc. General manager, .T. M. Wakeman, 29
West 39th St., New York.
Society for the Promotion op Enoi-
veertng Education. Secretary, Dean F. L.
Bishop, University of Pittsburgh, Pitts-
burgh. Pa. Annual meeting, Ames la..
June 22-25
.Southeastern Section. N. E. L. A.
Secretary-treasurer, Geo. H. Wygant,
Tampa, Fla.
Southwestern Electrical and Gas As-
sociation. Secretary, H. S. Cooper, 405
Slaughter Building, Dallas, Tex.
Vermont Electrical Association. Sec-
retary-treasurer, C. H. West. Rutland, Vt.
Western Ass"> iatio.n of Electrical In-
spectors. Secretary, W. S. Boyd, 76 West
Monroe St., Chicago, 111. Annual meeting.
Minneapolis, Minn.. Jan. 26-28.
Western Society of Engineers. Elec-
trical Section. Secretary, J. H. Warder.
1737 Monadnock Block, Chicago.
Wisconsin Electrical Association. Sec-
retary, George Allison, 1410 First National
Bank Building, Milwaukee, Wis. Annual
meeting, Milwaukee, Jan. 18-20.
Weekly Record of Electrical Patents
UNITED STATES PATENTS ISSUED
DEC. 22. 1914.
I Prepared by Robert Starr Allyn, 16 Ex-
change Place, New York, N. Y.J
1,121,601. Electrical Conductor; T. B.
Allen and 1.. B. Coulter, Niagara Falls,
N. Y. App. filed Nov. 21, 1911. Silicon
carbide impregnated with fine graphite.
1,121,607. Hanger for Trolley Wires;
G. H. Bolus, Mansfield, Ohio. App. filed
Feb. 9, 1912. Quick, detachable, catenary
type ; made of sheet metal.
1,121,619. Method of Making Valves:
R. L. Ellerv, Toledo, Ohio. App. filed
Feb. 10, 1914. Welding tungsten-steel
valve heads to carbon-steel shanks.
1.121.625. Swivel Arrangement for Elec-
tric Terminal Plugs; M. Herskovitz,
Chicago, 111. App. filed July 12, 1913.
Two-part, separable swivel attachment
plug.
1.121.626. Means for Measuring the Fre-
quency of an Alternating Current;
C. E. Hiatt, East Orange, N. J. App.
filed Feb. 21, 1911. Has a measuring
capacity ranging from only a few cycles
to hundreds of thousands per second.
1.121,635. Controller for Heating Sys-
tems ; F. T. Kitchen, West New Brigh-
ton, N. Y. App. filed June 7, 1913. For
railway cars.
1.121,649. Elevator Signal; C. A. Mcln-
tyre, Philadelphia, Pa. App. filed June
11, 1913. Opening of door bleaks circuits
through signals previously shown.
1,121,664. Pi. i hazka, Detroit,
Mich. App. filed Feb. 13, 1914. Can be
quickly engaged with and positively
locked in the socket,
1,121,666. AUTOMATIC Telephone Ex-
change : F. N. Reeves, Newark, N. J.,
and A. E. Lundell, New York, N. Y. App
riled July 5, 1912. Multi-office "satellite
system."
1,121,674. Rheostat-Resistance Car
Heater ; J. T. Skinner, Lawrence, Kan.
App. filed Feb. 7. 1914. The control re-
• ■ supplies tin- heat for the car.
1,121,725. Electromagnetic Brake-Oper-
ating Mechanism: G. E. Hindlev. Pari.
Ridge. X. J. App. filed Mai h
i
tun - of electromagnets.
i TOLL-LINE System
F. A. Lundquist, Chicago, ill App. Bled
Nov. li, 1912. Central office is apprised
of the denominations of the coins de
posited by subscriber.
1,121,71:: Heati
orating, Volatilizing or Distilling
Liqi ids B i Elhctricit? : T. Mc( llella nd,
Jr.. Glasgow, Scotland. App. filed Nov
30, 1912
a iner.
1,121,750. El I hanging
Switch; T. I; Miller, Seattle, Wash.
App filed Sept li, 1912 Applied to tun
Ing roil of wireless-telegraph bj
1 ,121,754 \ ■ I a i. ; F.
Pastor, Hero
1914 Turnli « heel iieM^-
"i ear.
1.121. 7(1 I Mii i rrrs FOR
Recti i
li i Is nd, ■ >hlo \pp Bled
1,121,769
ance i r, Law
I'm.' 16, I'M I
i witii ventilating openings
1.121,77
died Dec newable
prim
num. Ipp Bled .Inn.
1 , l 909 Rei
I . V M 1 N A -
.1 W III own.
I, i ihio \ •;. I'M 2
:
1.121.79S. Drum-Armature Winding Ma-
chine ; P. E. Chapman, St. Louis, Mo.
App. filed March 19, 1908. Adjustable
to take various sizes and styles of arma-
tures.
1,121,802. Method of Coating Projector
Lamps with Reflecting Surfaces : E.
L. Clark, Lakewood, Ohio. App. filed
Jan. 11, 1913. Condenses a vapor of the
coating material on the interior of the
lamp.
1,121,823. Time-Announcing System ; M.
F. Geer, Rochester, N. Y. App. filed
March 1, 1912. For railway-dispatch
telephone systems.
1.121.834. Electrical Measuring Appar-
atus; C. E. Hiatt, Philadelphia, Pa. App.
filed May 25, 1909. Frequency meter
having a thermo-junction.
1.121.835. Comparator; C. E. Hiatt. Phila-
delphia, Pa. App. filed May 25, 1909. For
comparing two electromotive forces or
currents.
1,121,859. Composite Magnetizable Mate-
rial; E. H. Messiter, Brooklyn, N. Y.
App. filed Nov. S, 1912. Pole piece or the
like made up of a bundle of magnetizable
wires brazed together.
1,121,874. Zinc Furnace; O. E. Runoff,
Madison, Wis. App. filed March 26, 1914.
Electric ; handles the cheaper ones and
effects recovery of metals other than the
zinc.
1,121,876. Rechargeable ELECTRIC Fuse
A. Schippcr. Ogdeii, ('tab. App. filed Jan
16, 1914. Ventilated-fuse strip clamped
by the terminal screw caps.
1,121,754— Automobile Lamp Signal
i,i2i,s77. Elect rii u M Scott,
or, Pa. : .1 H. w yatt, Philadelphia,
Pa., and T. \v, Greathead, Mortar, Pa,
\i" mi. i i :.. 1912. Terminal has a
ed bj He- laminas of
the movable switch member.
. : si stem : C.
i; Beach, Binghamton, N v. Vpp. filed
iilomati-
cally controlli i
Relay; E B. Craft, H ickensack.
N. .1. App. Bled Sepl 23, 1913. S lal
mei h construction,
System ;
mpson, Swamscott, Mass App. filed
Bled Feb i .. 1912 Records length of
i tiling hi i Instrument is
:
m . i . . i i : i Same ; w i :
W'bii m tady, N v l.pp. filed
:in incorporated lubricant contaii
phur and molybdenum,
H I
Bail, hii fli Id, m ■
tel
, . ,1 , , , .
I
■ tady, \ \ Mm
HI.-, I Oct !"•. 1913 for resistance fur
i CUITS ; A. S. < "i 1 1 . 1 1 1 . Si i>-
I, L90S For
1,121,986. Subaqueous Audible Signaling
Apparatus ; S. M. Davison, London, Eng
App. filed April 13, 1914. Transmitter is
out of high conductive connection with
hull of vessel, and receiving medium con-
sists of paraffin wax in inductive connec-
tion with the water.
1.121.996. Electrical Circuit-Breaker.
E. Gassmann, Brooklyn, N. Y. App. filed
Oct. 31, 1913. For ignition devices.
1.121.997. Electrical Cut-Out; E. G. Gil-
son, Schenectady, N. Y. App. filed Feb
1, 1912. Metallic plates consisting largely
of lead and an interposed layer containing
graphite, a metal of the tungsten group
and a binder.
1,122,001. Ignition System for Internal-
Combustion Engines ; J. O. Heinze, De-
troit, Mich. App. filed May 22, 1914. In
eludes an interrupter and a vibratoi
which can be rendered inoperative.
1.122,010. Lock Circuit-Closer: J. F
Lesko, Chicago. 111. App. filed May 20.
1914. Causes alarm to be given when the
lock bolts of a door are withdrawn.
l,122.nii. Process and Apparatus for
Producing Roentgen Rays; J. E. Lilien-
feld, Leipzig. Germany. App. filed Oct. 2.
1912. Uses a heating element.
1,122,016. Portable Protecting Appar-
atus: E. L. Maltby, Brooklyn, N. Y. App
filed I i.e. n, 1909. Burglar alarm for
chest containing valuables.
Electric Switch: E. B. Mer-
riam, Schenectady. N. Y. App. filed Aug
15, 1912. Tendency of the arc to blow
the oil away from the contacts is effect
ively resisted.
1,122,021. Safety Chest: L. Mvers. New
ark. X. J. App. filed Oct. 10, 1910
the chest gives alarm
when chest is disturbed.
1,122,027. Method of Tuning Alternat-
ing-Current Circuits; M. Osnos, Ber-
lin, Germany. App. filed June 6, 1913
By regulating the magnetic condition of
the electrical apparatus included in the
circuit.
ii ' IECT0R ; F. I:
go, m \pi> filed Nov. '
dently holding one or
several wires.
>\- Insulator Eye
holt: J, A. Sanford, Jr.. E
Ohio. App Bled Jan. 21, 1912, Has :i
corrugated shank secured in cement
KBT : H. l-\ Sargent
and T Koch, Schenectady, N. Y App
tiled July 8, P.' 12. Details of chain
guide and spindle support.
I ikiuit-Closer ; J. F
Scheuer, Two Rivers, Wis. App. filed
Jan. 26, 1914. fusible for elect!
naling apparatus.
I Bt Stanley,
and H, P, Pill.
Pittsfleld, Mi-- \ pp Bled Nov. I, 1912
For ranges of the heat-storage type.
Switch; F. L. Tem-
ple. Cedar Grove, N. .1. App. tiled net
2i. i9ii Rotary-type; maintains one
branch nit closed while the
switch Is "pen.
Apparatus . C
lam App filed I >ee
:>. 1906 Has a subsidiary positive elec-
trode
pun. Support; b. a. Behrend
. . Wl Vpn Bli
nd turns of the
1,122,19 - ■ :OUPI.INO : .1
Ingeles, Cal app. tiled July 21
Combined with thi
coupling of a train
Lamps i ! W Drake, Chicago, 111 app
filed 1 >as flutet
Older has inwaiilh pro
ribs engaging the ridg, -
I .1 22,21 2. A.DJU8TA1
mo- Electric Machines . E, Mattn
wood, Ohio. App hi,, 1
111, ding lb.- se
curing bolts pel mil the neo
ment.
The consolidation of Electrical World and Engineer and American Electrician.
Published by McGraw Publishing Company, Inc.
Vol. 65
NEW YORK, SATURDAY, JANUARY 9, 1915
No. 2
Our Power and Operating Section
IN this issue we begin a new departure in the in-
terests of our readers. We publish a larger number
than usual of articles relating to the generation and
industrial utilization of electrical energy as well as to
the installation and operation of electrical machinery of
all kinds, grouped in a department designated as the
"Power and Operating Section." These articles will
be found particularly interesting to the engineers and
operators in power plants who wish to acquire the
latest information concerning the practical and more or
less technical phases of their work. They will prove
interesting and instructive also to men in charge of
electrical installations in industrial plants, such as the
engineers and electricians in manufacturing establish-
ments, large office buildings and hotels as well as in
the generating stations, substations and reserve plants
associated with the large interconnected electrical dis-
tributing systems. The "Power and Operating Sec-
tion," which will be published in each week's issue of
the Electrical World, will appear in greatly enlarged
form in the second issue of each month.
The Thermophone
AN appliance of exceptional scientific interest, based
on thermal action, was described in a recent paper
before the Royal Society. As our readers are well
aware, thermal action as a feature of certain telephonic
apparatus has been known for a good many years. In
fact, it was utilized in the days of Hughes and his con-
temporaries, and has been employed more recently in
some of the forms of receiver used in connection with
wireless telephony. The thermophone apparatus de-
scribed in the Digest in this issue acts not by indirec-
tion but in immediate response to the varying heat
supplied to a very small inclosed body of air by a
platinum wire of extremely small diameter. It is, in
fact, essentially a loop of platinum wire of 0.002 ram;
or a little more, in diameter, inclosed in a small cavity
under a tiny thin cover, the receptacle acting as a
resonator for the variations in air pressure produced
by the heating and cooling of the wire when receiving
the telephonic variations of current. The whole re-
ceiver for telephonic purposes may be slipped into the
orifice of the ear, and from all reports operates ex-
ceedingly well in spite of its small dimensions. The
general theory of the instrument has not been worked
out at all accurately, but it is known that the acoustic
effect varies approximately as the square of the cur-
rent strength and the variations of heating take place
isochronously with the vibrations in the transmitting
microphone. It is a beautifully simple application of
thermal action to telephony, and while the principle is
by no means new, it has been applied in the present
instrument in a very striking and efficient fashion.
Damage by Short-Circuit
A SHORT-CIRCUIT in a cable is not an uncommon
-**- happening in every-day electric service. On
Wednesday of this week the splendid rapid transit sub-
way system of New York with its daily traffic of over a
million was completely shut down from such a cause.
Many passengers were overcome by the fumes of burn-
ing insulation, and as a consequence suggestions have
been made that some form of fireproof insulation be de-
manded. The cables damaged by the short-circuit were
insulated in accordance with standard practice, and
like the rest of the Interborough system were main-
tained in good shape. However, no insulation can with-
stand a short-circuit maintained by generators capable
of supplying many hundred thousand kilowatts to it.
The temperature of such an arc is high enough to melt
asbestos, stone, porcelain or any other substance having
any insulating value whatsoever. It is apparent, how-
ever, that no cable vault or manhole subject to such mis-
haps should open or communicate in any way with a
subway of such importance. Separate and distinct en-
trances will without doubt be provided hereafter for
such manholes.
New York Commissions
THE subway fire in New York this week has given
an unexpected momentum to the movement of
the Republicans for reorganization of the Public Serv-
ice Commissions. Since Mr. Whitman was elected
Governor there have been reports that the Republican
party plans a new law abolishing the two present com-
missions and creating in their place one commission
with authority throughout the State. The first definite
public act confirming these reports is the introduction
of a resolution in the Legislature on the day of the sub-
way fire providing for an investigation of that occur-
rence and of the commissions. Undoubtedly the causes
of the fire will be investigated, but it is the commis-
sions that are the real target. Governor Whitman and
his party are undertaking a grave responsibility, and it
is highly important that their action shall be for the
best interests of the State as a whole, and not for the
advancement of political fortunes. The first appoint-
ments made by Governor Hughes to the commission in
1907 were free from political taint. Succeeding Gover-
74
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 2
nors appointed politicians for political reasons. The
public interest needs able, competent and impartial men
having the public good as their sole aim. Political ap-
pointments to a public utility regulating commission,
if persisted in, are sure to cause the ruin of the policy
of regulation to which the country is committed. Gov-
ernor Whitman is in duty bound to see to it that regu-
lation in New York is taken out and kept out of politics.
A New Illuminometer
Within the last few years the requirements of illumi-
nating engineering have produced a considerable num-
ber of illuminometers, or more precisely portable
photometers adapted to illumination measurements. In
an article in the current issue is described the latest of
these, the Macbeth instrument, the result of consider-
able study on the part of an experienced illuminating
engineer, and as such a welcome addition to the line
of portable instruments. All portable photometers con-
sist essentially of three elements, a standard of light,
a means for varying the intensity of the illumination
derived from that standard, and a photometer screen
enabling the instrumental illumination to be balanced
against that received from the outside. Speaking in
general terms, the only serious difficulty resides in the
portable standard of light. No trouble whatever is ex-
perienced in obtaining a good photometric screen, any
one of many well-known forms of photometer screen
being capable of sufficient accuracy for all illumination
measurements. This part of an illumination photometer
may therefore be considered as involving no technical
difficulties when reducing the instrument to a portable
form. Likewise there are divers thoroughly practicable
means for varying the illumination on the instrumental
side of the screen.
The Macbeth instrument represents the result of a
commendable attempt to solve the problem of developing
an accurate portable photometer. It consists essentially
of a Lummer-Brodhun prism used as a photometer
screen, a working standard operating by varying the
distance from the instrumental screen, and a standard
lamp held at constant value by means of adjustable re-
sistances, used in connection with a storage battery.
Like other instruments of its class, it may be used either
with an attached or a detached test plate as circum-
stances may make desirable. Its notably unusual fea-
ture is the provision of a primary standard lamp fur-
nishing light to a test plate with which the working
standard can be compared from time to time, a feature
of obvious convenience. Such a device is useful in
reducing the personal equation which results from dif-
ferent habits of balance, since the observer uses the
primary standard by the method of substitution in the
field. In cannot, of course, eliminate the personal equa-
tion resulting from color difference any more than
would be possible in a photometer room calibration by
imc observer; however, a set of screens for deal-
ing with color difference is provided to reduce trouble
from this source. Altogether, it looks like a very
useful addition to portable photometric equipment
Difficulties with all such instruments reside in the
necessary complications in obtaining suitable values for
the working standard. Attempts have been made in
several foreign illuminometers to reduce these by
eliminating the measuring instrument and depending
on the constancy of voltage of the storage battery
which furnishes current during the period in which the
photometer is in use. This procedure is sufficiently suc-
cessful, provided that the instrument is regularly so
employed that the storage battery is always kept in its
best working condition. Under these circumstances an
instrument may be used for an evening without ap-
preciable error, but if used only occasionally it is safe to
assume that the storage battery will not be in prime
condition, and there is a likelihood of introducing con-
siderable errors. The device for calibrating the Mac-
beth instrument in the field by means of a subsidiary
primary standard appears to be very useful when the
illuminometer is to be employed for periods of some
length, and it really constitutes its distinctive feature.
Protection Against Over-Pressure
In an important article abstracted in the Digest in
this issue Mr. Kenelm Edgcumbe discusses at length
protective gear for dealing with the abnormal pressures,
whether of external or internal origin, which occur in
high-tension circuits. Such disturbances he divides into
two classes — first, those due to causes external to the
system and including so-called static discharges and
those associated in one way or another with lightning,
and, second, abnormal rises of potential due to direct
resonance, to the violent electromagnetic disturbances
occurring at sudden changes of load and the miscella-
neous group associated with partial stationary waves at
points of electro-dynamic discontinuity, and similar
phenomena. The essential difference between them, as
he points out, is that the external disturbances, and
particularly the severe ones associated with lightning,
are very sudden, involving extremely steep-fronted
waves and sometimes high frequencies. It used to be
believed that lightning was ordinarily a high-frequency
disturbance, but more recent studies have led to the
conclusion that the dimensional limitations imposed by
the capacities and resistances involved in lightning dis-
charges are such that one usually deals with a discharge
which may be regarded as of high frequency only in vir-
tue of its having a very steep front, and such high-
frequency oscillatory action as may be noted is usually
of very minor magnitude. Internal disturbances, on
the other hand, although sometimes of most formidable
character, do not cause enormously steep wave-fronts.
l>ut rather those corresponding to the moderate frequen-
cies of the system. Hence the means adopted for deal-
ing with these two classes of phenomena are necessa-
rily somewhat different.
Mr. Edgcumbe analyzes the performance of various
(lasses of apparatus designed to protect against exter-
nal disturbances. Both in theory and in experience
grounded win- commonly used aa a protective device is
useful, but it is a palliative rather than a cure, and the
January 9, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
protection of apparatus must still be insured by other
devices. As is well known, lightning discharges have a
strong tendency to puncture the external turns in
transformer windings and the like, and may produce
very serious damage. Of the various devices used for
protection Mr. Edgcumbe has no very flattering opin-
ion, with the exception of the choking coil, which he
aptly compares to the removal of the external turns of
a transformer and their establishment in such form that
they cannot readily be damaged and will provide for
discharge to earth. Of the discharging devices he is
rather inclined to rely on the horn-gap in series with a
carbon-powder resistor. He has a good word, however,
to say for the aluminum lightning arrester which is so
largely used in this country, his only objection to it be-
ing based on the care required, which renders it suit-
able for station work rather than for general applica-
tion. Resistance rods and liquid resistors he holds in
very small esteem. With respect to "static," another
well-known form of external disturbance, Mr. Edgcumbe
pins his faith on a permanent high-inductive resistance
to earth as the best remedy, a device not yet widely
used, at least in our own country. Obviously it is
capable of carrying off a purely static rise of potential,
but we are inclined to think that what is commonly
known as "static" is often of a different character and
may be handled by the ordinary protective devices.
With respect to the internal disturbances the situa-
tion is different. The discharges produced are less sud-
den, but the amount of energy to be dealt with is often
very large. Resonance of the fundamental frequency,
except under particular circumstances on very long
cables, is extremely unusual, but resonance of the har-
monics may easily occur and lead to serious results. He
specially mentions the harmonics of considerable ampli-
tude which may arise when a short-circuit occurs on one
branch of a three-phase line with resulting resonance
in the other phases. Another group of troubles from
over-pressure is familiar as arising from sudden
switching on or off of circuits containing inductance
or inductance and capacity, and formidable voltage rises
now and then occur too on an unloaded line from
cumulative reflected waves. Fault between lines or line
and earth may lead to over-pressure in a way analogous
to switching operations, and in most plants the danger
from the inside is considerably greater than the danger
from the outside. The amount of energy to be dealt
with is commonly quite too great for the apparatus
installed readily to endure, and every one with experi-
ence in such matters can recall instances where devices
installed for protective purposes have been literally
blown to pieces by the concentration of energy upon
them in the discharge. Mr. Edgcumbe advocates the
use of the horn-gap with a suitable carbon-powder resis-
tor as, on the whole, the most reliable and generally effi-
cient means of protection. He does not at all share
the fear of many engineers that breaking the arc at a
horn-gap may produce considerable disturbance on its
own account, basing his opinion on various oscillographic
determinations of the conditions. We are hardly in-
clined to agree broadly with his view of the case as con-
siderable evidence to the contrary has been accumulated
in this country. Yet the horn-gap has elements of de-
pendability that have brought it into large use. Our
own view is that a good deal remains to be done in pro-
tection against surges, the horn-gap advocates to the
contrary notwithstanding.
The protection of systems including both cables and
overhead lines affords the most serious problems in rela-
tion to both internal and external disturbances, and
although many palliative measures have been somewhat
successful, every operating engineer can call to mind a
long series of apparently inexplicable failures, some of
them producing results of extreme gravity. Only long
and patient study of the conditions, with frequent help
of the oscillograph, is likely to clear up the difficult ques-
tion of protection. We earnestly advise, however, a
careful reading of Mr. Edgcumbe's article, as it gives
a capital presentation of the phenomena in their gen-
eral relations.
The Rumford Falls Power Station
The hydroelectric plant on the Androscoggin River at
Rumford, Maine, represents a capital example of the
reorganization of an old plant for higher efficiency and
greater output. The hydraulic site was utilized long
ago, on one of the most reliable streams in the East,
the Androscoggin River being the outlet of the great
Rangeley Lake group, in which the flow is well regu-
lated. Rumford is largely a town of paper mills; in
fact, it is one of the most important centers of this
industry in New England. Hence a large part of the
power developed is devoted to the paper industry.
Originally of modest output with belted units, the plant
has been improved from time to time and has now
undergone an important reconstruction. By a dam
some 400 yd. above the station the river is diverted into
a canal which provides a working head of approximately
100 ft. for water for three turbines, two of 5000 hp
each and one of 2700 hp. As a protection against the
cold weather the penstocks, which are of steel, are
sheathed with inch boards, this protection being in-
creased near the station by felt and asbestos roofing.
The energy supplied by the plant is in part sold at the
station to the local central-station organization but in
the main is delivered to the large paper mills in the
town. Energy is distributed at 11,000 volts in order
economically to reach the scattered paper mills. These
are supplied through 2300-volt substations. A part of
the energy in the various mills is delivered in the form
of 220-volt direct current from motor-generators for
operating the variable-speed motors necessary in driv-
ing some of the machinery. Much of the load extends
over the whole twenty-four hours, so that the plant has
an abnormally high load-factor, reaching in fact the
probably unique figure of 90 per cent. The total yearly
output for this reason is astonishingly great for a plant
of its magnitude, reaching 40,000,000 kw-hr. annually.
The present plant is the result of intelligent evolution,
and the changes made in it have greatly increased both
the output and the efficiency.
7.;
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 2
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Safer and Cheaper Wiring Systems
To the Editor of the Electrical World:
Sir: — That there is a demand for cheaper wiring
methods no one can doubt; the suggestion of using a
bare concentric grounded system should bring about the
desired result. I have long advocated the mandatory
grounding of secondary alternating-current systems,
and I believe that the use of the bare concentric sys-
tem will hasten the day of universal grounding. I am
interested in this subject primarily because of the addi-
tional safety which its use insures and also because of
the lower cost of installation. When this system is
properly installed and when polarity extension plugs
are used it will be an absolute impossibility for a per-
son using electric light to receive an accidental shock
of any kind. Not only will it be impossible for him to
get a high-potential shock but he cannot get a shock at
110 volts unless he does it deliberately by putting a
screwdriver into the center of the lamp socket while
holding on to the outside of the socket or by other sim-
ilar means.
If such a system can make electric-lighting cir-
cuits perfectly safe and at the same time reduce the
cost of installation, then there is every good reason
why it should be encouraged. The demand for in-
creased safety and for cheaper construction comes
directly from the electric-lighting companies and no
manufacturing interest is in any way responsible for
it. I am informed that the patent situation is such
that any manufacturer in this country is free to make
the wire. Detail patents on the fittings can be and
probably will be obtained by the different manufactur-
ers, but the field is open, and all wishing to enter have
an equal show.
The sub-committee of the National Fire Protection
Association, of which I am chairman, has made a first
draft of rules covering the installation of the system,
and a revised set of rules undoubtedly will be brought
out in the very near future. The committee's final
draft will be printed in the "Bulletin" sent out by the
N. F. P. A., will be distributed broadcast and will be
considered at the March meeting when other proposed
changes in the Code will also be considered. I feel
personally that honest criticism at this time is most
desirable and should be welcomed by all interests. If
the concentric wiring system has merit, it will undoubt-
edly be adopted; if there are serious objections, these
objections will be brought out. There are no interests
more vitally concerned in safe wiring than the central-
station companies, and if this proposed system is to add
any hazard the electric-lighting companies will be the
first ones to demand that the system be set aside.
From the account which I read in the Electrical
World it would seem that the electrical manufacturers,
jobbers and contractors who met in New York on Dec.
22 feared that the use of this system might be author-
ized before the electrical interests would have time to
adjust themselves to the change. On this subject I
would say that no action will be taken on the matter
until March, 1915. If the rules as presented by the
sub-committee of the National Fire Protection Associa-
tion carry, the use of the grounded concentric system
will not be mandatory but will be permissive and sub-
ject to the "approval of the inspection departments hav-
ing jurisdiction." There will be no desire on the part
member of my committee, I am sure, to force the
immediate use of this system, and a delay of six or nine
months, or even ;i year, might very properly be made to
allow manufacturers and jobbers time in which to dis-
pose of their present stocks. It will take the manufac-
turers, I am informed, six months or more to get out
any appreciable amount of wire or to develop lines of
fittings which would be applicable to this system. This
whole matter, I believe, is in the line of progress and
will tend greatly to increase the business of manufac-
turers, jobbers and contractors. I had personally feared
that it might temporarily decrease the sale of the
smaller sizes of conduit and of metal molding, but one
of the largest jobbers in the country assures me that he
fears nothing of the kind and thinks that his business
will be materially increased and that the sale of lamps,
sockets, heating devices, electric fans, etc., will be stim-
ulated.
Any step which can be taken to popularize the use of
electric lighting will not only be of advantage to the
central stations, the manufacturers, the jobbers and the
contractors, but will also meet the approval of the
Underwriters and be appreciated by the general public.
If the grounded concentric wiring system is a good
thing, let us do everything we can to make its use per-
missive; if it has any dangerous aspects, let us find out
what they are and see that they are eliminated before
the system is allowed to come into general use.
Boston, Mass. W. H. Blood, Jr.
Cheaper House Wiring
To the Editor of the Electrical World :
Sir: — In connection with the article in your issue
dated Dec. 12, 1914, entitled "Cheap House Wiring," by
Mr. W. H. Blood, Jr., N. E. L. A. insurance expert,
attention should be called to patents Nos. 645,011 to
645,015, issued on March 6, 1900, to Messrs. Warren
B. Reed and Lyman C. Reed. Their patents cover not
only a system of interior wiring such as described by
Mr. Blood but also the detailed methods for distributing
the energy from the generator to the appliances.
To those who fifteen years ago solved the problems
involved, it is gratifying to learn, even at this late date,
that the engineers of the National Electric Light Asso-
ciation are considering this distributing system seri-
ously, although we labored in vain for its acceptance
by those wielding the destinies of the insurance hazards
in this country.
The writer suggests that all engineers now having
the matter under consideration obtain copies of the
above-mentioned patents, which contain much informa-
tion concerning the entire field of electrical distribution.
Neio Orleans, La. Warren B. Reed.
[Of the five patents issued on March 6, 1900, to
Messrs. W. B. and L. C. Reed, the first in date of
application (Sept. 13, 1899) related to an under-
ground system of electrical distribution in which the
neutral conductor cable of a three-wire system of dis-
tribution is dispensed with and the metallic sheathing
of the cable is utilized in its stead. The sections of
sheathings are permanently bonded and grounded at
all available points of the system, thereby producing a
neutral equal in practical effect to one of infinite cross-
section. The second patent related to the application
of this principle to overhead wires, the third to the
series-arc system of electrical distribution, the fourth
to alternating-current transmission and distribution,
and the fifth to electric-railway feeders. In the latter
the sheathing, which is insulated from the interior
conductor, is grounded at every available point and con-
nected to the rails wherever practicable. — ED.l
January 9, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
77
Concentric Wiring
To the Editor of the Electrical World :
Sir: — Referring to the article on "Cheaper House
Wiring" and its discussion at the meeting of manufac-
turers and contractors at the Hotel Biltmore, New York
City, on Dec. 21 (see Electrical World, Dec. 26,
1914), it is a matter of great regret to the writer
that Mr. Luther Stierenger, who had so much to do
with the development of safety methods and devices
for incandescent wiring, could not have been present
at the meeting to have told us something of the earlier
development in methods, devices and safeguards which
it is now proposed to "chuck overboard," apparently
with very slight consideration. One of the speakers
at the meeting mentioned stated that the changes pro-
posed would mean going back twelve or fifteen years.
Possibly the speaker's experience did not enable him to
tell the entire truth, which is that it would be going
back about thirty years or more. The Mills Building
in New York was the first building of importance wired
for incandescent lighting during the construction of
the building. This work was done in 1881-1882. At the
same time numbers of old buildings in the old Edison-
Pearl Street district, in New York City, were being
wired.
At this time only single-pole fuses and single-pole
switches had been designed. Switches and fuses were
placed on one side of the two-wire system throughout,
beginning with the central-station switchboard. This
arrangement made it possible to test and keep one side
clear of grounds, locating the grounds which occurred
by disconnecting sections at the fuses and switches.
Therefore we had practically a grounded system, as
little effort was necessary to keep the continuous line
free from grounds.
Insulating joints had not been thought of, or at
least had not been made. It is worth while to com-
pare the material, the methods and the workmanship
which have been developed to-day in incandescent light-
ing with the lack of perfection found in the early style
of work.
It seems like a curious bit of inverted logic to speak
of using grounded circuits or earth return for incan-
descent lighting to-day. In every kind of electrical
distribution grounded circuits and earth return have
been attempted, invariably with inferior results. For
a generation at least earth return has been used on all
telegraphic lines. To-day metallic circuit is used for
telegraphing, at least for the more important lines.
Early telephone work was all done with grounded cir-
cuits. To-day only a small portion of this remains,
practically all telephoning being done with continuously
insulated metallic conductors. On all of the earlier
electric-railway systems earth-and-rail return was em-
ployed. The troubles resulting from each were so
numerous and so serious that every effort has been
made to get away from the grounded circuit, some cities,
for instance Cincinnati, forbidding absolutely the use
of earth return, in spite of the great difficulties involved
in the use of complete metallic circuit in connection
with a moving contact.
Iron ships appeared to offer an ideal opportunity
for the one-wire system by using the steel skin of the
ship for return, and many ships have been wired in
this way. I am not really posted on the history of
ship wiring, but believe that the one-wire system has
been practically abandoned in favor of the completely
insulated metallic copper circuit, and I have no doubt
that the cause of this would be found in the frequency
with which faults would develop where only a single
thickness of insulation interposed between the ground
return and the copper conductor. A ship is not the
place to take the risk of fire. We are told that with
the concentric conductor exposed wiring may be per-
mitted, and that the concentric wire with bare copper
conductor outside can be run on the wall and ceiling
and papered over, etc. Now there is no doubt that
this arrangement can be made to work very nicely for
a while, but those of us who have been in the incan-
descent-lighting business for more than a few years
have a realizing sense of the time element. Many
things which work very beautifully for a short while
subsequently work very badly, and one of the insidious
troubles which develop at times in geometric ratio is
electrolysis. Dampness is encountered everywhere, in-
cidental, accidental, varying with weather, with time
and with local accidents. The concentric two-wire con-
ductor, with conducting copper exterior, will suffer
from continual electrolysis, even with a very slight de-
gree of dampness and even though the insulation on
the inside wire is perfect. Wherever current flows
there is a voltage drop from point to point. This dif-
ference will be slight but certain in the interior of a
single building. It will be certain, and not so slight,
between different points in a large distributing system.
The concentric wire, which is so neatly concealed by
the paper-hanger, will develop various kinds and de-
grees of discoloration, according to the degree of damp-
ness and the material present for the current to work
upon. The discoloring in electrolysis will mean actual
metallic corrosion, and this may in time lead to the
severing of the outside conductor and to heating and
arcing, which in some situations would mean a serious
fire risk, even though the insulation of the central con-
ductor had not suffered in the least.
I do not think it has been pointed out that with a
single insulating sheath a larger quantity of insula-
tion would be required actually than with two separate
insulating sheaths. It has not been proposed, so far
as I know, to lower the voltage in connection with a
grounded concentric wiring system. Therefore, with
the same voltage as before the same thickness of in-
sulation on the wire will be needed in order to pre-
vent an undue number of failures. As cross-sectional
area and weight vary with the square of the radius,
the single wire, with double thickness of insulation,
will require an additional weight of insulation. The
expense of the added insulating material will be worth
considering.
It seems pertinent to ask why American electrical
engineers should go to Europe for improvement in
incandescent lighting applications. Many good things
in the way of scientific development and new discov-
eries have come from Europe, but in the electrical dis-
tribution of energy the United States is so far ahead
that we feel a sort of pity for the European lighting
engineers when we see how badly they do many things ;
most of all, when we see how badly they do interior
wiring. We are certainly many years in advance of
Italy, France and England in methods and material for
interior wiring. It is true that we build our houses
to burn up, whereas most European buildings are rea-
sonably safe from danger of fire. Still, it is a fact that
in our most modern and perfectly fireproof office build-
ings and public buildings we have not found it desira-
ble or necessary to be less particular in regard to wiring
devices and methods. In fact, in our large buildings,
which we claim contain not enough wood to make a
lead pencil, the wiring will be found to be as con-
scientiously done according to fire insurance rules as
in cheaper and poorer buildings.
The irritation produced by the red tape and fussy
methods of our fire insurance wiring rules is largely
cured by an inspection of wiring methods in Italy and
ra
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 2
Engku where no such rigid authority exists and
where such rules and inspection as are made are of gov-
ernmental origin and enforcement. In England the
concentric wiring system of Andrews has been care-
fully developed but has not been largely used, probably
on account of the difficulty in making joints and con-
nections. It would seem to have been very perfectly
worked out in detail and ought to be satisfactory in
use if installed by skilled workmen.
The writer feels like urging very strongly caution in
making sweeping changes in our present wiring
methods. We have arrived at a high degree of excel-
lence by going slowly and taking short steps and by
trying out each improvement before demanding change.
We have the very great advantage of central authority
over the whole United States, as compared with local
authorities.
The work of the Underwriters' Laboratories has been
of great educational value to both the manufacturers
and the contractors. We should like to see the com-
mittee on rules of the National Board of Fire Under-
writers and the skill and facilities of the Underwriters'
Laboratories broadened and strengthened until they
would command the confidence of every educated engi-
neer. This result would be hindered by any bad mis-
take, such as the promulgating of hastily considered
rules.
Philadelphia, Pa. Charles Wirt.
The Photometry of Gas-Filled Lamps
To the Editor of the Electrical World :
Sir: — Coincident with the commercial success of the
high-efficiency tungsten lamps new difficulties have been
presented to the science of photometry. In consequence
of the adoption of this lamp for standard illumination
practice it has become necessary to make standards
with which to compare the commercial product. In
studying the general principles which were employed in
the construction of these lamps when first placed on the
market, I realized that certain difficulties would arise
when it became necessary to obtain their photometric
constants for the purpose of making standards for com-
parison. The photometrical difficulties which will be
encountered in making these standards and in the sub-
sequent comparison with the commercial product are, I
believe, not generally recognized.
It is common practice in photometrical laboratories
to measure the constants of a lamp while it is rotating,
the speed of rotation varying from approximately 80 to
120 r.p.m. When a high-efficiency lamp is burned in a
stationary position there are definite constants for cur-
rent, voltage and candle-power which will satisfy the
operating equation for any given lamp. (Owing to the
distortion of the filament, from its expansion on heat-
ing, the constants of the lamp are not absolute, and
changes in the current and the candle-power in a par-
ticular direction, will not be uncommon. By careful se-
lection of lamps and proper orientation this difficulty
may be partly overcome.) When the lamp is rotated
two primary opposing phenomena take place, and per-
haps several secondary phenomena, to affeel the con-
tfl of a lamp more or less perceptibly. The filament
changes in n i tance because of its mechanical con-
struction. The filament of the lamp is made up Of several
loops of a helical spring of tungsten wire. When an
angular velocity of u> is imparted to the filament a force
dF equal to r is imparted to an elementary parti
cle (if the filament. The direction of this force is such
as to cause the filament to lengthen in direct proportion
to the square of the angular velocity for limited values
dF
of o). The ratio -^- approaches infinity as a limit for
comparatively large values of co (dl is the change in
length of the filament due to the force dF). Owing to
this stretching action of the filament when rotated,
there is attained a condition the characteristics of
which is expressed by the general curve shown in Fig. 1.
As the angular velocity increases the values of the re-
sistance become asymptotic to a limiting resistance Rx.
Such a phenomenon would cause the current character-
istic of a high-efficiency lamp to assume the conditions
shown by the general curve of Fig. 2, where 10 is the
value of the current when the lamp is stationary. The
current becomes asymptotic to the value lx for increased
values of co.
The counter primary phenomenon is the increased
cooling effect on the filament due to the rotation of the
lamp. This cooling effect would be produced by the
action of the air external to the bulb on the periphery
of the bulb. This action would accelerate the dissipa-
U)
FIGS. 1 AND 2 — CURRENT CHARACTERISTICS OF LAMP
tion of heat from the glass surface, and consequently
the filament, approximately as to,/S. The convexion cur-
rents within the bulb would suffer little change due to
the low viscosity of nitrogen and the low values of u>
used in practice.
Thus two primary effects are produced by rotation
of the lamp. For the first phenomenon the current
would vary approximately as -j and for the second
primary phenomenon the current would vary approxi-
mately as u),/s. It is evident that there will be a critical
value of io for which the current will equal the statio-
nary value /„.
The combined effect of the two primary opposing
phenomena would lead to different values for the criti-
cal value of a), depending on whether the lamp is rotated
with its tip up or tip down, due to the change in the
conduction constants of the lamp in the two different
positions.
On account of the lack of suitable apparatus, an ex-
tended study has not been attempted by the writer. It
is hoped, however, that by calling attention to the above
principles interest may be awakened to such an extent
that some of the well-equipped photometrical labora-
tories will undertake a research which will develop
equations connecting the constants of a high-efficiency
lamp with the speed of rotation and determine analyti-
cally and experimentally the exact nature of the reac-
tions that take place to produce the variations in the
constants of a high-efficiency lamp when operated at va-
rious speeds of rotation.
Washington, D. C. Davis H. Tuck.
| The manuscript for the above discussion reached us
practically simultaneously with the manuscript of the
article by Messrs. (J. W. Middlekauff and .1. P. Skog-
land relating to the same subject, published in the ELEC-
TRICAL WORLD dated Dec. 26, 1914, but could not be used
in that issue on account of the extra time required for
preparing the illustration. — Ed.]
FIG. 1 — HYDROELECTRIC DEVELOPMENT OF RUMFORD FALLS POWER COMPANY
Hydroelectric Development at Rumford, Maine
Utilization of Flowage of Androscoggin River at Falls — Central-Station Energy
for Paper-Making and Chemical Plants
THE electrification of the Androscoggin River at
Rumford, Maine, affords an interesting example
of water-power utilization. As the outlet of the
famous Rangeley Lakes this stream is an exceptionally
reliable power producer, with a minimum flow con-
served by the Aziscohos dam in the lake region, built
a few years ago through the co-operation of the Rum-
ford Falls Power Company, the Union Water Power
Company, the Berlin Mills Company and the Interna-
tional Paper Company, all users of power on the river
in New Hampshire or Maine. Rumford, a thriving in-
dustrial town of 7000 inhabitants, is one of the chief
paper-making centers in Maine. Here are situated
mills of the International Paper Company, the Oxford
Paper Company, the Continental Paper Bag Company,
the Maine Coated Paper Company and the Fort Hill
Chemical Company, all being substantial power users.
With the exception of the first-named concern, all are
customers of the Rumford Falls Power Company, whose
general hydraulic development is illustrated in the head-
piece on this page.
The station has passed through an evolution in which
belted units have yielded to directly connected outfits ;
the head utilized has been increased to 100 ft. and the
station rebuilt along modern lines which give little
evidence of the changes effected from time to time. As
the flow of the river exceeds that necessary to the pres-
ent development, and as the latter has reached its maxi-
mum with the present station, 9750 kw, the power com-
pany plans ultimately to build a new station a short
distance downstream, with a total rating of 24,000 kw
in six generating units.
About 1200 ft. above the station the river is diverted
by a timber and rock-fiilled dam 250 ft. long, which
backs up the water for 8 miles. Approximately at
right angles to the dam a retaining wall 60 ft. from
the cliff forms with the cliff wall a canal about 100 ft.
long and 18 ft. deep. At the lower end of the canal
double sets of racks are provided, and behind these is a
narrow forebay with two sluicegates on the river side
and two main gates on the downstream side, with con-
nections to two steel penstocks leading to the power
house. The gates were built by the Holyoke Machine
Company, Worcester, Mass., and are shortly to be
equipped with motor drive, hand operation at present
being employed. Vent ducts are provided in the con-
crete wall carrying the gates, and provision is made in
the shape of vertical pipes surmounted by funnels
through which hot water can be poured to keep the
vents free from ice. Galvanized iron guards are in-
stalled over all gearing to prevent ice formation.
Station Equipment
In the generating plant are one 2700-hp and two
5000-hp Holyoke horizontal turbines directly connected
to the main generators, all of which are Westinghouse
2300-volt, three-phase, revolving-field alternators, mak-
ing 400 revolutions per minute and delivering sixty-
cycle energy to the switchboard through cables carried
in floor ducts. To the smaller turbine are directly con-
1
i'
Jg4r^lM
J*^..
■ 'iV
FIG. 2 — DAM AND HEADWORKS
FIG. 3 — GUARDS OVER GEARS AND FUNNEL CONNECTIONS
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 2
nected three generators of 400-kw, 550-kw and 800-kw
rating respectively, these machines having been used in
the earlier station construction and being equipped with
shaft couplings, with a 10-kw directly connected and a
45-kw belt-driven exciter running at 900 r.p.ra. The
two larger wheels each drive a 4000-kw generator, one
being equipped with an 85-kw belt-driven exciter run-
ning 725 r.p.m. Between the larger units and the
smaller set is a 100-kw exciter directly driven by an
independent waterwheel. These machines are mounted
in a row in an operating room 200 ft. long by 30 ft.
wide and 17 ft. high. The station is of brick and con-
crete construction, the penstocks being brought down
to the roof and carried vertically to the wheels as
shown in the illustrations.
One penstock is 13 ft. in diameter and is carried
through to the 4000-kw unit nearest the downstream
end of the station. The other is 14 ft. in diameter,
being carried through in this size to the second 4000-kw
cold weather by woolen felt and asbestos roofing. The
Holyoke Machine Company's "Improved" governor is
used, and the gate openings on each wheel are recorded
on Barrett and Lincoln hydro-chronographs.
System Control
The main switchboard consists of twenty-one marble
panels mounted on the floor of the operating room near
the northern end of the station, machine cables being
run to it in floor ducts, with generator oil switches of
the hand-operated type at the rear of the panels. All
the energy sold by the local central-station organiza-
tion, the Rumford Light & Water Company, is metered
at this board and the distribution is by 2300-volt, three-
phase circuits run down the valley on a wooden frame
pole line. A No. 6 arc circuit is also run from the sta-
tion, supplying 6.6-amp alternating-current inclosed-arc
lamps, but a trial installation of nitrogen-filled lamps is
being made for street illumination, with the prospect of
FIG. 4 — SMALLER UNITS IN RUMFORD FALLS POWER COMPANY'S PLANT
unit, with a 10-ft. branch leading to the 1750-kw three-
generator unit and a 3-ft. branch supplying the inde-
pendently driven exciter. Double-draft tubes lead from
the wheel casings to the tailrace. The penstocks are
supported on masonry piers, and each of the main pipe
lines is provided with a full-diameter branch leading
to a relief outlet carried in the middle of a concrete
inclosing structure provided with steps and runways
for the discharge of the spilled-over water into the
river without damage.
Below the station a canal is utilized by the Inter-
national Paper and Fort Hill Chemical companies, the
discharge from local wheels in these mills being con-
ducted to a second or lower canal utilized by the Oxford
company, with final discharge into the river below the
town. A total fall of 180 ft. is utilized in the town,
including that of the power company's plant. The
penstocks are covered with 1-in. wooden sheathing at
present throughout a large part oi their lengths, the
runs close to the station being further protected from
its early extension. All switchboard panels are provided
with knife switches at the top, by which they may be
disconnected from the buses when necessary. A single
set of buses is installed, and the feeder oil switches are
mounted in a fireproof compartment on the roof. A
noteworthy feature of the board is the extended use of
recording instruments, both Bristol and Westinghouse
outfits being installed.
A separate panel is provided for the station heaters,
the entire plant heating being by electrical energy.
For this service twelve Simplex grid-type heaters are
installed, each consuming 7.2 kw at 110 volts and being
controlled by a separate switch on the heater panel.
Graphic ammeters are used on the circuits supplying
the light and water company, on the outgoing power
lines and on the station auxiliary service lines and
totalizing panel, graphic wattmeters being used on the
Light and Water service and on the generator totalizing
panel. Graphic power-factor and frequency meters are
used on the totalizing generator panel. The synchro-
January 9, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
81
FIG. 5 4000-KW GENERATOR
FIG. 7 — ENTRANCE OF PENSTOCK TO ROOF
scope, power-factor indicator and voltmeters on the
usual bracket at the end of the board are illuminated
by two 25-watt tubular lamps carried in horizontal re-
flectors concealing the lamps from the floor level. Re-
cording wattmeters are also provided along the usual
lines of practice.
The station lighting is by twenty-nine units hung
15 ft. above the floor of the operating room, each con-
sisting of an Alba globe 14 in. in diameter containing
four 40-watt lamps. The station is provided with a
tile floor, pressed-brick walls and smoothly finished con-
crete ceiling. The heaters are carried on angle-irons
with 14-in. by 18-in. arms from 1 in. to 3 in. thick and
attached to the wall by a %-in. bolt at the top of the
angle in each case, the heater being mounted 10 in.
above the floor and usually under the window. No
FIG. 6 — 100-KW EXCITER
FIG. 8 — HYDROCHRONOGRAPH CONNECTIONS AT WHEEL
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 2
FIG. 9 — RELIEF PIPE AND SPILLWAY
FIG. 11 — OPERATING ROOM
steam heat is employed in the building, and the vitiated
air is removed by two motor-driven fans controlled by
starting boxes on the main switchboard. A small ma-
chine shop is installed just outside the operating room,
and the chief operating engineer's office, which is
reached by a winding stairway leading from the shop,
and the walls are utilized for the storage of supplies
of small size, steel shelves and racks with unit sections
having been provided for this purpose. On account of
the arrangement of the penstocks, the station has no
fixed traveling crane, but machinery is handled by a
traveling hoist which is assembled upon a frame of
10-in. and 12-in. steel I-beams when work of this nature
has to be done, the capacity of the hoist being 5 tons.
When not in use the members of the frame are stored
under a shelf at the side of the operating room.
Distribution System
The outgoing feeders are dead-ended by turnbuckle
connections and strain insulators in a wire tower shown
in the general view of the station, each line being pro-
vided with a choke coil and lightning arrester connec-
tions carried on a wooden and steel frame about 10 ft.
above the floor. An insulating section cut into each
FIG. 10 — VIEW FROM BELOW IN WIRE TOWER
FIG. 12 STORAGE COMPARTMENTS
January 9, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
FIG. 13 — LOCAL DISTRIBUTION CIRCUITS
FIG. 15 — RHEOSTATS IN WIRE TOWER
line terminates at each end in a short tap leading to the
choke coil. Three 75-kva station service transformers
are mounted in this tower, with two tub transformers
for street lighting. The generator field rheostats are
also placed here, on a concrete platform illustrated in
the accompanying photograph. The approach to the
station is by a handsome concrete stairway running
along the river bank, this being illuminated by five Mott
iron standards carrying five 16-cp incandescent lamps
each above the balustrade.
The 11,000-volt lines which supply energy to the
mills, and incidentally to Dixville, cross the river near
the dam, where a substation has been built to raise the
pressure from 2300 volts as received from the station
proper for the short transmission to the principal users.
■n
■
•
sl
^B^J \
-**"*• iw SS VL
The substation contains three 2500-kw Allis-Chalmers
water-cooled transformers, with lightning arresters for
incoming and outgoing lines, two 0.8 hp motor-driven
centrifugal circulating pumps and disconnecting
switches for the entering and departing lines. The
lightning arresters are of the Westinghouse low-equiva-
lent type on the 2300-volt side and of the General Elec-
tric aluminum-cell type on the outgoing-line side of the
substation. The main plant is connected with the sub-
station by three three-phase circuits, each leg consist-
ing of two 300,000-circ. mil cables in parallel.
The 11,000-volt wiring is arranged so that if desired
the choke coils and lightning arresters can be cut out
by disconnecting switches carried on the higher tension
framework, and a disconnecting switch is provided for
FIG. 14 — STAIRWAY-APPROACH LIGHTING
FIG. 16 — TRANSFORMERS IN SUBSTATION ABOVE PLANT
84
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 2
FIG. 17-
-CIRCULATING PUMPS FOR TRANSFORMER COOLING
WATER
each leg of the incoming 2300-volt lines. The outgoing
lines are dead-ended on strain insulators carried on a
steel frame on each side of the river, as shown, the span
being 375 ft. The line is carried on 30-ft. to 60-ft.
cedar poles set in a right-of-way about 125 ft. apart.
The Dixville line is tapped off one circuit through Delta-
Star pole switches, and Burke horn-gap switches are
employed in the line just outside the substation of the
Oxford Mills. The Dixville line is equipped with "wish-
bone" cross-arms carrying insulators spaced on a 30-in.
equilateral-triangle, cedar poles from 30 ft. to 35 ft.
long being used. The 11,000-volt lines are all of No. 00
copper and are designed for ultimate operation at
22,000 volts.
Industrial Applications
The various mills are supplied with energy at 2300
volts from two substations, one containing three 300-kw
transformers and the other three 2500-kva units. The
former supplies the Continental Bag, Maine Coated
Paper and Fort Hill companies, the last-named having a
FIG. 19 — MOTOR-GENERATOR SETS IN THE OXFORD PAPER
MILL
twenty-four-hour demand in the manufacture of chlo-
rate of potash. In the Maine Coated Paper plant local
distribution is at 550 volts from a private substation,
with a 250-volt direct-current service for variable-speed
motors derived from a 200-kw synchronous motor-gen-
erator set. The contract provides a bonus to the user
dependent upon the power-factor of the installation,
which ranges between 90 and 95 per cent. Besides two
lighting transformers of 15-kw rating each, the plant is
operated by three 15-hp induction motors driving six
coating machines and carriers, three 75-hp variable-
speed direct-current motors driving calenders, and va-
rious smaller motors driving cutting machines, a box
department, screen, air-pump, elevators and small tools.
The calender drive is new in the use of a hand control
associated with the variable-speed feature which enables
the speed of the paper at joints and other places to be
closely regulated.
The Oxford Mills consume about 80 per cent of the
output of the Rumford Falls Power Company, having a
fig. ik ir
FIG. 20 — SUBSTATION ABOVE POWER PLANT
January 9, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
SS
large twenty-four-hour demand. The local substation
for the plant supplies eighteen beaters driven by motors
rated at from 100 hp to 450 hp, with rope and belt
drive, with three refining engines driven by independent
motors rated from 100 hp to 150 hp, an electric bleach
plant supplied with 220-volt direct current from five
325-kw motor-generator sets, and other paper machin-
ery. The motor-generators were built by the Western
Electric Company and the motors in the plant include
Allis-Chalmers, Westinghouse and General Electric
equipment. An interesting combination drive is that
of a constant-speed shaft run by a steam engine and
belted to a 180-kw generator wired to a 240-hp variable-
speed motor directly connected to another shaft requir-
ing a speed range of from 60 to 360 r.p.m. The mer-
cury-cell electric-bleach process is employed. The line
feeding the mill substation is carried on Coombs steel
towers. A 125-hp municipal pumping load is a feature
of the local central-station service, and the output of
the hydroelectric plant averages about 40,000,000 kw-hr.
per year, the station load-factor being approximately 90
per cent.
Mr. Charles A. Mixer is the chief mechanical
and hydraulic engineer of the Rumford Falls Power
Company.
A NEW ILLUMINATION PHOTOMETER
Portable Equipment for Determining Natural or Artificial
Illumination Values Easily and Accurately
By C. S. Redding
A PORTABLE photometric equipment complete in
all details essential for making the desirable
determinations of illumination values in light-
ing installations, either natural or artificial, is shown
in the accompanying illustration. By means of this
equipment measurements of illumination or of surface
brightness within the range of the eye can be made
conveniently, easily and with a high degree of photo-
metric accuracy. The usual color difficulties have
been largely overcome and intensities up to many
thousands of foot-candles have been brought within
the range of convenient measurement.
A complete illuminometer weighing, including carry-
ing case, from 14 lb. to 18 lb., depending upon the
kind and size of battery used, surely answers the first
requirement of portability.
The equipment shown in Fig. 1 consists of three
main parts and various accessories.
The illuminometer proper (Fig. 2), weighing only
20 ounces, may be described as a vest-pocket edition
of a modified Weber photometer. A Lummer-Brodhun
cube with circular concentric fields is mounted in the
head. The tungsten working standard lamp is fixed
in a diaphragmed carriage which is moved up and
down in the aluminum-tube body. The square brass
rod projecting from the lower end is rigidly fastened
to the lamp carriage and is operated with a substan-
tial rack and pinion by either the right-hand or left-
hand knurled handles at the end of the tube. The scale
engraved upon the square rod is convenient for ob-
servation and is graduated to read directly from 1 ft.-
candle to 25 ft.-candles. This scale follows the in-
verse square law and is theoretically correct and not
experimentally determined for each instrument. The
range may be considerably extended above 25 ft.-
candles or below 1 ft. -candle, over a range of 100,000
to 1 if desired, by means of neutral absorbing screens
of various densities, the actual ratio being practically
limited only by the necessities of the operator. Special
color screens have also been developed for use where
great color differences exist, such as measurements
with daylight, or where incandescent gas-mantle lamps,
gas-filled tungsten lamps, flame-arc lamps, Moore tubes
or mercury-vapor lamps are installed.
The controller, which is an addition to the usual
portable photometer but a part of this equipment, is
shown in the center of Fig. 1. This unit contains the
battery, a Weston mil-ammeter with knife-edge pointer,
two close-regulating rheostats and a reversing switch
FIG. 1 — PORTABLE PHOTOMETER
as well as substantial connections for the various plug
receptacles.
The third main part is the reference standard, shown
diagrammatically in Fig. 3. This device provides a
direct and simple means for each operator to stand-
ardize the working standard lamp within the illumino-
meter at any time or place. This convenience of stand-
ardization does away with all uncertainty as to the
every-day condition of the working standard lamp, the
dark room and auxiliary photometric apparatus, and,
of still greater importance, it eliminates the personal
factor which depends upon each operator's idea of a
photometric balance. An operator is not given a cur-
rent value for the working standard lamp, the light
output of which will change throughout a compara-
tively short life, but is furnished with a certified cur-
FIG. 2 — 20-OUNCE ILLUMINOMETER
rent value for this reference standard which will be
used for only a few hours a year. The reference
standard delivers a definite intensity of illumination in
foot-candles on the test plate used with the equip-
ment. The operator's personal peculiarities in relation
to a photometric balance are considered thus in estab-
lishing the current value for the working standard
lamp. Standardizing against a known illumination in-
8^
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 2
tensity steps over the well-known personal differences
of various photometric observers.
The illuminometer may be used in the usual manner,
attached horizontally to a tripod with a rotating horn
covered by a translucent test plate, the body of the
operator being below the test plane, or measurements
may be made as shown in Fig. 4, the operator standing
in an easy, natural position and observing the bright-
ness of the test plate, attached to a light-weight tripod.
Particular attention has been given to brightness
measurements, a field of considerable importance which
is receiving increased attention. By a simple change
in calibration of the working standard lamp, consider-
ing the "apparent foot-candles1 emitted" from the test
plate with the reference standard, brightness measure-
ments of all surfaces where the color differences are
not prohibitive may be conveniently made by merely
looking through the instrument toward the surface.
This method renders the regular foot-candles scale di-
rect reading without the use of factors for multiplying
or dividing the scale values excepting where results
are desired in terms of candle-power per square inch,
per square foot, per square centimeter or per square
meter. That part of the prism taking in the outside
field is very small — about 3 32-in. diameter — and the
angle subtended is also small. The distance between
the observer and the surface is not a factor, however,
so long as the surface is of uniform brightness over an
area having a diameter of approximately one-tenth the
distance. A surface 10 ft. in diameter will fill the
FIG. 3 DIAGRAM SHOWING REFERENCE STANDARD
photometric field when observed from any distance up
to 100 ft.
A white glass with a special light diffusing finish is
used for the test plates. This material and its sur-
facing were the result of an extended investigation.
In the use of all ordinary test plates errors are in-
variably introduced as the angles of incidence of the
light on the test plate or from the test plate to the
illuminometer become greater with respect to the line
perpendicular with the plate. The character of the
test plate should be such that its coefficient of reflec-
tion is as nearly as possible independent of the angle
of incidence of the lijrlit falling upon it or the position
from which it is observed. With a given illumination
a perfect plate would be of equal brightness when
viewed from all directions. Such a Burface has not
been secured. An important advance, however, has
been made beyond previou practice.
As is well known, the reflecting characteristics of
surfaces vary with different materials and also with
different surface conditions Of the same material. Fig.
5 shows curves of four different materials from among
a large number tested. Curve A represents the results
obtained from a surface of smooth fresh-set plaster of
paris. At an angle of incidence of 20 deg. there is
an error of over 2 per cent. Curve B represents the
results from block magnesium carbonate. This mate-
rial gives good results up to an angle of 20 deg. but
FIG. 4 — THE INSTRUMENT IN USE
poor beyond that point. Moreover, it is not a practical
material to use for test plates. Curve D, which was re-
produced directly from a paper by Edwards and Harri-
son5, relates to the usual test plate heretofore in use.
Curve C, representing the material adopted for the
test plate in the illuminometer described herein, shows
practically no error up to an angle of 25 deg., and from
that point the error is much less than with the other
materials indicated.
The plate selected may, if care is used, be washed
with soap and water without danger of changing the
character of the surface. It is preferable, however, to
clean the test plate with a dilute acid solution in
!:=i
?!
t
w.
I
/■I
i\
■;
In
. i s
FIG. 6 — CURVES FOR FOUR MATERIALS TESTED
order to remove any traces of grease from the surface.
The above-described photometric equipment, known
as the Macbeth illuminometer, is the result of nearly
four years of development work by Mr. Norman Mac-
beth, illuminating engineer. New York, and by mem-
bers of the staff of the development laboratory of the
Leeds & Northrup Company, Philadelphia, Pa.
I / 8 Vol B, par
January 9, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
87
High- Voltage Transmission at High Altitude— II
Conclusion of the Description of the Chile Exploration Company's 110,000-Volt Installation
in the Andes— Details of Line and Tower Construction
By Percy H. Thomas, Consulting Engineer
AS a guide to the operating force in making effective
use of the line, a chart of curves was plotted for
the operator in the generating station to show
the voltage, current, power-factor, kilovolt-amperes and
kilowatts at the far end of the line, as well as the line
efficiency for any given combination of current, voltage
and power-factor. A similar curve chart was made for
use in the substation.
The curve sheet designed for use in the generating
station is reproduced in Fig. 10, and that for use in the
.'(•0 0
\
l^5
^
"IUJ
^
10
tJ
J5X;
15
2000
j -
\
\
\
tv?-
x\
soo
^/-~
^_
\s
I";
J^— —
^:
^
j£-
,t^f3s
«
^
>
■;■'. HIHB
5.
100
200
300
400
HORIZONTAL DISTANCE: BETWEEN SUPPORTS IN METERS
FIG. 8 — CURVES SHOWING RELATION OF SAGS TO SPAN AND
TEMPERATURE
substation in Fig. 11. From these curves it will be seen
that the line is unusual in two or three features. First,
its efficiency is very high for the load of 25,000 kw or
thereabouts which it will be called upon to deliver. In
the second place, the line almost perfectly balances,
since the "leading power" effect of its electro-
static capacity nearly equals the "lagging power"
effect of the line inductance at full load. Under non-
inductive full load the line will operate at approximately
unity power-factor throughout. The three synchronous
motor-generators have sufficient capacity to raise the
total power-factor to 95 per cent lagging. As a result
of this condition the line drop is only a little in excess
of that due to its ohmic resistance alone, which adjust-
ment is the most efficient possible.
Stringing and Sagging of Cables
The field curves for stringing the conductor cable and
showing the effect of temperature on sag for various
spans are reproduced in Fig. 8. These curves have
been calculated on the assumption that the cable is to
be so drawn that in any span the stress would become
2700 lb. in case the conditions should change to the
maximum wind at — 5 deg. C. already selected as the
worst condition. These relations are plotted in a new
form, which is more convenient, since the stress in the
cable is the main feature of interest in fixing the sag.
The determining of sag by temperature alone is uncer-
tain since small errors in the temperature make large
differences in the sag. It will be noticed that in this
particular line, for temperatures between 30 deg. C. and
40 deg. C, the tension to which the cable should be
stressed is nearly the same regardless of the length of
span. It should be noted also that for very short spans
the stress in the cable is the same regardless of whether
the wind pressure exists or not. This is an interesting
theoretical point and seems to involve an inconsistency.
The correctness of the chart becomes clear, however,
when it is remembered that the infinitesimal stretching
that will be caused by the addition of wind pressure
in a perfectly tight span to relieve the extra strain will
not materially change the stress on the conductor,
which has already been stretched to 70 per cent of its
elastic limit. On the other hand, in very long spans the
stress on the wire is practically directly proportional to
the resultant loading and is almost entirely independent
of temperature, because the sag is so great in the long
spans as not to be largely affected by small changes in
length.
Sag and Stress Calculations
All sag and stress calculations for the cables were
made by the graphical method described by the writer
at the annual convention of the A. I. E. E., Chicago,
1911. As compared with other methods this method
represents a great saving of labor. The results were
frequently checked by other methods.
Special approximate curves were derived for deter-
mining clearances between the line wires and the ground
where adjacent towers were not on the same level.
These curves are shown in Fig. 9, where each curve is
drawn to represent the curve taken by a conductor in
some assumed span when given such a sag at + 55 deg
C. as will cause a stress of 2700 lb. when the conditions
change to — 5 deg. C. with the maximum wind. These
curves were plotted on tracing cloth to the same scale
as the profile of the line. To determine the clearance
on any span the transparent curve sheet was laid over
the profile with the point A on the curves directly over
the position of attachment of the insulator on the high
tower and with the axes of X exactly parallel on the
curve sheet and on the profile. The profile of the
— — ^ — — ■
*io
xnT^^-^
■>
XN^ T+-
s
.^
.
s
-
\
s
\
METERS SPAN
FIG. 9 — CLEARANCE CURVE SHEET
ground between towers was then seen through the trans-
parent cloth on which the curve was plotted, and one
could readily see along what curve the conductor must
lie to give the necessary clearance and determine at
what points the second tower can be placed to hold the
conductor at the proper height. Where the high tower
is on the left instead of the right, as shown, the tracing
was turned over, although, of course, the same curves
might have been plotted reversed on another sheet. In-
ss
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 2
POWER- FACTOR
95
i Currtnl
j I no Load
110.000
00000
AMPERES AT
POWERHOUSE
( 110 KV.
BUS-BAR)
220
VOLTS AT
POWER HOUSE
I 20,000
12000 16000 20.000 24.000 28000
KW. AT POWER HOUSE (IIO KV. BUS-BAR)
KIG. 10 — REGULATION CURVES FOB POWER HOUSE
32000
56.000 40.000
January 9, 1915
POWER- FACTOR™
AT POWER
HOUSE.
(IIOKV.BUS-8AR)0.95
Loqqinq
U
Leading
KVA.ATSUB-STA
(I00KV BUS-BAR)'
ELECTRICAL WORLD
so
100000
AMPERES AT
SUB-STA.A
(100 KV. BUS-BAR)
KVA. AT POWER
HOUSE
(110 KV BUS-BAR)
l«X» ZO0OO 240OO Z8.000
KW AT SUB-STATION A.(5O0OV BUS-BAR)
FIG. 11 — REGULATION CURVES FOR SUBSTATION A
90
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 2
terpolation between curves may be resorted to. This
arrangement of span curves on transparent cloth, which
was devised by Mr. Walter Dickson, was found
very convenient. The results obtained with it are, of
course, only approximately correct, since the assumption
has to be made that the change in the sag due to the
change in temperature from + 55 deg. C. to — 5 deg. C.
Conductor, *2
•ing rod *l f~s^"ils^
-/
FIG. 12-
-OUTLINE OF TRANSPOSITION AND SECTIONALIZING
TOWER
occurs in the full-length span, which, of course, is not
the case. It is believed, however, that the clearances
determined by this method are always on the side of
safety.
Transpositions
The method of making transpositions in the line is
shown in Fig. 12. The transpositions are made on one
side of and close to a dead-end tower. At all points
two strings of insulators lie between any two line
wires, and a minimum clearance of 6 ft. is main-
tained between the lines. The transposition was made
close to the tower in order to avoid the crossing of one
wire over another in the middle of a long span. The
arrangement is such that one side of the tower is free
for the installation of sectionalizing switches and an
operating platform whenever necessity may arise.
Tower Tests
The tower designs were arrived at as follows: Tenders
were called for to meet a certain specification in which
a general tower outline and no structural details were
o, but in which a specified loading was set down.
When the best tender with detail design had been
elected a single tower was built and tested, and a
slightly modified design was adopted as a resull of this
According to the original specifications, any three of
the five cablet on one tower could be assumed broken
with a " nit, nit pull of iToii lb. on each of the insulator
I he conductor wa umed broken and
2500 lb. on each ground-wire lupporl where the ground
wire was assumed broken. This condition was to !"•
withstood simultaneous!} with a wind pressure ol BO
Hi. per q ft, mi flal urfaci ( he line, a i rans-
pull "i BOO lb. on each insulator Buppori and
lb. on each ground-wire support representing the wind
pressure in the cables, together with a pressure of 1000
lb. downward on each insulator support to represent the
dead weight of the cables and the downward component
of the pressure on vertical angles. The test tower was
mounted on rigid foundations, since it was hardly feasi-
ble to establish proper competitive conditions on towers
placed on field foundations ; moreover, the soil conditions
along the actual route of the line were not at that time
known.
When loaded in accordance with the specification the
tower showed no distress. The load was made greater
by increasing first the transverse and then the longi-
tudinal stresses until the tower finally failed by buck-
ling of one main leg, under which conditions the trans-
verse load was double the specification load and the
longitudinal load was 30 per cent in excess of the speci-
fication load.
Additional tests were made by stressing each insula-
tor support separately to 3000 lb. and each ground wire
connection to 5000 lb. without signs of distress.
Tower Foundations
A great deal of care was taken with the tower founda-
tions. Obviously, no tower, however strong or well de-
signed, will give good results unless each and every
foundation supporting point is properly placed and
maintained. The displacement of one of the four
points of support by only an inch will produce very con-
siderable internal stresses in the towers. The accuracy
of the setting of the four points of support depends
almost wholly on the care exercised in the field, but
where steel foundation stub angles are used to support
the tower weakness may be inadvertently introduced in
4x-fx,{ Ls
ELEVATION ON LINE D-D
SxSX^l ; 2x2* f-^L
PLAN OF GRILLAGE
FIG. 13 — DESIGN OF ANGLE TOWED
the tower structure even when the four foundation stubs
are placed in exactly the COrrecl relative positions.
Whatever horizontal pull, either longitudinal or trans-
verse, exists (in the tower must be resisted by a hori-
i lone at the top of the foundation stub angles,
and the overturning moment of the force on the tower
be balanced by an upward thrust on the near stubs
January 9, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
.)!
and a downward pull on the far stubs. Unless the re-
sultant of the upward (or the downward) and the
horizontal thrust lies along the axis of the stub angle, a
bending movement will be produced on the stub. There
is nothing to resist the bending of the tops of the stub
other than its natural strength except the resistance of
the earth, which resistance is small near the surface of
FIG. 14 — CLAMP FOR HOLDING CABLE
the ground. Consequently a foot or more of the top of
the stub may be largely unsupported and hence may be
required to resist bending like a cantilever beam. To
reduce the stress in the stub produced by such forces
use was made of two sets of shear plates located about
8 in. below the surface of the ground to support the
stubs, both across the line and with the line. The shear
plates resisting the transverse stresses were mounted
above the other shear plates because the transverse
bending stresses were exerted far higher than the longi-
tudinal bending stresses in the towers.
/
Bending Stresses in the Stubs
Since a tower is by no means a perfectly rigid struc-
ture and the horizontal thrusts are not divided between
all four stub angles equally but are largely concen-
trated on two of the stubs, the bending stresses in the
stubs are high. The horizontal thrust is transmitted
to the bottom of the tower legs by the tower diagonals,
and these are much more rigid in tension than in com-
pression, so that the stubs to which the tension diag-
onals are attached are subjected to the greatest stress
of all.
In the Chile Exploration Company's towers ( see Figs.
1 and 2) longitudinal stresses produce very little bend-
ing moment in the stubs, while transverse stresses on
the tower cause very material bending stresses in the
stubs. A resultant longitudinal stress applied at the
peak of the tower in Fig. 2 would develop stresses on
the tower legs directly along these members without
exerting a bending component. Now, the actual re-
sultant longitudinal stresses in service are applied
closely enough at the peak so that no material bend-
ing is produced. However, a transverse force at the
apex of the tower in Fig. 1 will be seen to cause
a force on the stubs (which are vertical in this
plane) having a very considerable bending com-
ponent on the top of the stub. This bending moment
was counteracted, as already explained, by mounting an
8-in. by 12-in. shear plate a few inches below the sur-
face of the ground.
Special bases or extensions were used on towers
higher than standard erected on tangents, and to the
legs of the extensions was given a slant in both direc-
tions at such an angle as practically to eliminate the
bending moment in the stubs across the line as well as
with the line.
In angle towers, in which the stress across the line
is considerably greater than the transverse stress in
the standard tower, use was made of a braced stub, as
shown in Fig. 3, or the foundations were made of con-
crete, on which, of course, the bending moment would
have no effect.
Overhead Ground Wire
The overhead ground wire has two functions, to guard
against lightning and to act as a mechanical support in
case of the failure of a main member in a tower. From
an electrical point of view there is nothing particularly
novel in the Chile Exploration Company's ground wires
except that an unusually wide separation between these
wires and the conductors is provided at the tower and
a still greater separation is secured in the middle of the
span in order to maintain a large discharge distance for
lightning between the ground wires and the conductors.
Of course, a much wider distance is required in the
center of the span than at the tower, since the tower
acts as a ground connection to discharge any electricity
accumulating on the ground wire.
The duty of the ground wire and the ground-wire
clamp, as a mechanical support, in a tower line is an
exacting one. While laying out the specification and the
tests of the Chile Exploration Company's towers it was
assumed that the ground wire offers no support to a
tower, although in fact when a tower is stressed longitu-
dinally beyond its elastic limit and some part of it or of
its foundation fails partially, the top of the tower will
yield toward the stress and very quickly tighten up the
ground wires and no further yielding will be possible
without breaking the ground wires, which have suffi-
cient strength to resist very heavy stresses. A com-
plete failure of the tower will thus often be prevented
by the ground wires, and the tower may afterward be
replaced at leisure. In order to serve as a reserve in
such a case, the ground-wire cable must be clamped to
the tower so securely as not to slip under stress, at
least up to the elastic limit of the cable, and preferably
not to slip even when the cable is actually pulled apart.
Moreover, the clamping should be accomplished without
injury to the cable, and the clamp must hold the cable
without causing it to be injured by swinging in the
wind.
For use on the Chile Exploration Company's line there
FIG. 15 — TWO POSITIONS OF CABLE WHEN HELD BY NEW
CLAMP
was developed a new clamp which meets this condition
and will hold the cable without injuring the strands. This
clamp is shown in Fig. 14. The cable, which is of seven
strands, lies in a 60 deg. groove in the lower of two cast-
ings, the upper casting being bolted down onto the cable.
_<>
FIG. 16 — TWO POSITIONS OF CABLE WHEN HELD BY
ORDINARY CLAMP
The adjacent surfaces of the two castings, with the cen-
ter line of the grooves, are curved similarly and in such
a way that a depression or valley runs across the mid-
dle of the clamp at right angles to the cable, as indi-
cated by the dotted line in the upper part of the cut.
When a tension exceeding the elastic limit is applied on
92
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 2
the cable to the right of the clamp, for example, the cable
will stretch and thus reduce its diameter, but will merely
draw deeper into the V groove at the right of the valley.
It will still be held by the V groove at this point with
such force that the stress remaining to be taken up by
the portion of the clamp at the left of the valley will be
less than the elastic limit, and hence this part of the
cable will not scratch and slip.
The test of the clamps showed that, while a marked
point on the cable on the stressed side of the clamp
pulled some 0.5 in. before the cable broke (outside the
clamp), the cable on the slack side of the clamp had not
moved. Thus the 0.5-in. motion of the cable under the
stresses was the stretch of that portion of the cable
within the clamp lying to the right of the valley.
An advantageous characteristic of this clamp is
the relatively long distance that separates the cable
groove and the third bolt, which introduces a cer-
tain amount of spring in the casting and takes care of
temperature changes. The castings are of galvanized
steel. The bolts (% in. in diameter) must be drawn
very tight to hold a %-in. galvanized cable stressed up
to 9000 lb., its ultimate limit. On account of the shape
of the clamp the cable is absolutely uninjured by the
pressure except for the scratching of the layer of gal-
vanizing.
The advantage of the 60-deg. V groove can be seen
from Fig. 15, showing two positions of the cable in the
clamp, while Fig. 16 shows the grip on the cable in the
ordinary shallow groove clamp. In Fig. 15 the middle
strand of the cable is firmly gripped, while in Fig. 16
the cable may be crushed through the movement of the
middle strand or the spreading of the top and bottom
pairs of strands. The various features of the line that
have been described include most of those of general
interest. In other respects the transmission line fol-
lows pretty closely the usual types of construction.
The entire development of the Chile Exploration Com-
pany's property is in charge of Mr. Pope Yeatman as
consulting engineer, Mr. E. S. Berry and Mr. George P.
Bartholemew being assistant consulting engineers. The
metallurgical process is under the supervision of Mr. E.
A. Cappelin Smith, who has developed it in detail. The
general manager of the property is Mr. Fred Hellmann,
who is stationed in Chile. The transmission line was
designed by Mr. Percy H. Thomas, consulting electrical
engineer. The erection of the transmission line is in
charge of Mr. Norman Rowe.
Factors Hindering Production of High-Rated
Internal-Combustion Engines
A prominent English engineer says that three funda-
mental factors are chiefly responsible for the difficulties
which are encountered in designing internal-combustion
engines of existing types and especially those having
high ratings. These factors are: that the heat per unit
of surface radiated by the flame to the cylinder walls in-
creases with the size of the cylinder while the thickness
of metal through which the heat has to reach the cooling
im also increases; that the weight per horse-power
increases with the size of the cylinder, and that forces
are called into play which are useless because they are
either stationary and do no work or even produce nega-
tive work.
Among the causes of useless forces are: pressure on
the cylinder covers which must transmit their stresses
to the engine frame, negative work during the compres-
sion stroke which in Blngle-acting engines produces re-
■ d stresses in the crank shaft, and inertia fop I
suiting from lack of balance and Imperfecl cushioning.
CENTRAL-STATION RETURNS FOR OCTOBER
Companies in Atlantic States Show Gain of 1.6 Per Cent
in Income and 2.2 Per Cent in Output
Statistics of central-station companies of the Atlantic
States for October, 1914, according to the returns re-
ceived by the Electrical World, indicate a gain in that
TABLE I— RETURNS RECEIVED FROM CENTRAL STATIONS IN THE ATLANTIC
STATES OVER AN EIGHT-MONTH PERIOD
Income Derived prom Sale of
Energy
Energy OrTPUT in
Kw-hr.
1914
1913
Per
Cent
In-
crease
1914
1913
Per
Cent
In-
crease
February (64
per rent of in-
dustry)
$7,288,792
16,655,011
9.8
231.790,165
205,726,060
12 6
March (60 per
cent of indus-
tryi.
6,021,269
5.661,027
6.4
246,306.123
223,156,161
10.5
April (65 per
cent of indus-
try).
6,731.495
6.106,634
10 3
261,133,882
252.069,127
3 7
May (68 per
cent of indus-
try!.
6,492.767
5,628,718
14 5
259,098.542
238.733,320
8.4
June (70 per
cent of indus-
try)
6,067,780
5,728,311
6 0
244,936,886
221.315.464
10.8
July (70 per
cent of indus-
try.
6.152,169
5,583,309
10.2
263.580.299
235.068,939
11.8
August (71 per
cent of indus-
try!.
6,224,896
5,755,515
8.2
264,717,319
237,984,80S
11.2
September (71
per cent of in-
dustry)
6,608,221
6.221,000
6.1
270,974,533
252.648,550
7 :l
October (83 per
cent of indus-
try)
7.4JS.471
7,334,836
1 6
358,487,447
351,341,169
2 2
section over October, 1913, of approximately $135,000 in
gross and over 8,500,000 kw-hr. output. The figures are
based on the returns from companies which produce 83
per cent of the output in that section and are shown
in Table I. A comparative estimate of the operations
TABLE II -COMPARATIVE FIGURES FOR THREE LARGE COMPANIES REPRE-
SENTING 35 PER CENT OF INDUSTRY OF MIDDLE ATLANTIC STATES
Incohi Dhutid PBOU Sale or
I'm. RQ1
Energy Oittit in
Kw-hr.
1914
1913
Per
i '.-ni
In-
1914
1913
Par
Cant
In-
crease
! cl.r.i.ir*
Mini]
April.
May
Jll!l"'
.!.
AuRlMt
Btptamber
Ootober
1
3.386,190
2,844,048
; a
8 i
3 7
11! B
8.0
2 8
ii 1,894,808
Ms 171. Mill
114,136,574
UH.:fi7,71s
1 i
4 2
7 2
3 8
5 7
9.5
6.8
15
1 7
during the first three months of the war and the cor-
responding three months of the previous year, based on
these returns, shows an average monthly increase in
gross of roughly $400,000. In the months preceding the
war the monthly gain in gross was roughly $600,000, or
January 9, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
93
one and one-third times the average gain during the
early months of the war. In output the average gain
for August, September and October was somewhat over
24,000,000 kw-hr., while during the previous three
months it was approximately 35,000,000 kw-hr.
Figures for companies of large, medium and small
earnings have been compiled. The increase in in-
come for the large companies was 9.7 per cent in July,
7.5 per cent in August, 4.3 per cent in September and
1.1 per cent in October, while the gain in output for the
corresponding months was, respectively, 9.7 per cent,
8.3 per cent, 2.8 per cent and 2 per cent. The companies
of medium size showed a gain in income of 10.7 per cent
in July, 7.6 per cent in August, 8 per cent in September
and 6.3 per cent in October and in output of 16 per cent
in July, 15.7 per cent in August, 13.2 per cent in Sep-
tember and 11.5 per cent in October. The small com-
panies showed gains in income of 16.4 per cent, 18.7
per cent, 9.7 per cent and 7.7 per cent and in output of
9.3 per cent, 19 per cent, 13.4 per cent and 10.9 per
cent for the respective months.
STATISTICS IN THE CENSUS RETURNS
Main Figures for Four of the Branches of the Electrical
Industry
A forthcoming report on the electrical industries by
the Bureau of the Census will contain many statistics
which amplify the data contained in Bulletin No. 124 on
the census of 1912. The report was prepared under the
supervision of Mr. William M. Steuart, chief statistician
for manufactures. Statistics published earlier by the
Bureau of the Census were mentioned in articles pub-
lished in the Electrical World of Jan. 10 and March
14, 1914.
The 1912 census of electrical industries covers five
distinct industries, which were designated as follows :
(1) central electric light and power stations; (2) street
and electric railways; (3) telephones; (4) telegraphs;
(5) municipal electric fire-alarm and police-patrol sig-
naling systems. The first of the large reports to be is-
sued by the bureau will contain the statistics for the
central electric light and power stations and street and
electric railways. The other groups will be covered in
a separate report. A table published herewith shows
the main statistics for the first four of the industries
named. Statistics of this character are not available for
the municipal electric fire-alarm and police-patrol sig-
naling systems because they are not operated commer-
cially.
The capitalization stated for central electric light and
power stations compares with $1,096,913,622 in 1907
and $504,740,352 in 1902. The percentage of increase
in capitalization during the period of five years ended
with 1912 is shown to have been greater than the rate
of increase in either gross income, expenses or net in-
come. The percentage rates of increase in gross and
net income and expenses are very close together. The
percentage rate of increase in expenses during the
period of ten years ended with 1912 was less than the
gain in gross or net income. During the period of five
years ended with 1912, however, the expenses gained at
a rate a little greater than the increase in gross and net
income.
The statistics indicate a capitalization of $7.20 per
$1 of gross income for central electric light and power
stations, $8.13 for street and electric railways, $3.89 in
the telephone industry and $3.49 for land and ocean
telegraphs.
Isolated electric plants are mentioned in the report.
The time and means available did not make a thorough
canvass of all isolated plants practicable. However, re-
ports were collected by special agents engaged in the
field work from a few isolated plants and were supple-
mented by additional returns obtained by mail. The
figures for 121 plants of this character show the follow-
ing: Total primary horse-power, 102,187; kilowatt ca-
pacity of dynamos, 68,466; estimated number of lamps
wired for service, all varieties, 152,958.
The returns of central electric stations include those
of a number of electric-railway companies which have
special departments for the sale of electrical energy and
therefore made separate reports. There were, however,
169 electric railways which operate electrical plants and
sell energy that were unable to make full separate re-
ports corresponding to the regular reports. The total
income in the light and power departments of these com-
panies in 1912 was $31,515,582, an increase of $25,045,-
856 over 1902. In addition, a number of companies
which were not able to furnish statistics of electric ser-
vice, even of the brief character given by the 169 com-
panies, reported an income from the sale of energy of
$5,515,475.
The rate of increase in central electric station devel-
opment has been much greater than that of gas plants.
A comparison of the returns of central electric stations
for 1902, 1907 and 1912 with the returns from the gas
plants for 1899, 1904 and 1909 shows the rapid develop-
ment of the former class of properties. The combined
gross income of the two industries for the earliest years
stated was divided between 54.8 per cent for the electri-
ELECTRICAL INDUSTRIES* IN 1912
Electric Light
and Power
Street and
Electric
Railways
Telephones
Telegraphs
(Land aDd
Ocean)
Number of companies, sta-
Employees, salaries and
wages:
; ruber
Salaries and wages
Capitalization'.
Per cent of increases .
Per cent of increase' •
m as
$61,161,94!
12,176 678,261
331 0
98 3
tt$302, 115,599
252.5
72.0
J234.419.47S
24! 3
71 7
$67,690,121
260 8
63 3
1.260
282,461
$200,890,939
$4,708,568,141
104 .0
24 7
(579,208,436
131.2
35 7
$497,782,682
145 7
39.0
$8 1.425.74S
69 8
18.5
n.au
183,361
196,040,541
$991,294,115
184.8
30.8
$255,081,234
193 8
44 4
$203,754,909
212.6
50 4
$51,326,325
137 0
24.5
127
37,295
$24,964,994
1226,386,810
38 9
2.8
$64,762,843
Percent of n -
Per cent of increase"
Expenses — Total, includ-
ing salaries and wages,
interest, taxes and fixed
58 2
25.5
$58,378,952
Percent of increase? ■
Per cent of increase"
88 6
39.4
$6,383,891
Per cent of increase** .
It — 36 0
8-34.2
'Not including municipal electric fire-alarm and police-patrol signaling systems.
tExclu- : orting an annual income of less than $5,000.
{Includes the Commercial Cable Company of Cuba.
' I nsl of construction and equipment.
51912 c. ■
"1912 o- '
ttln addition. $36,300,030 was reported by street and electric railway companies as income
from sale of electric energy for light and power, or from sale of energy to other public-service
corporations.
tt A minus sign ( — ) denotes decrease.
cal industry and 45.2 per cent for the gas industry. For
the latest years named the percentages were respective-
ly 67.4 and 32.6. From 1899 to 1909 the gross income
of the gas plants gained 120.3 per cent; from 1902 to
1912 central electric station gross income gained 252.5
per cent.
The tendency toward the corporate form of ownership
for commercial central electric stations is indicated by
the figures. The small extent of the properties con-
trolled otherwise than by incorporated companies is
shown by the relative figures of gross earnings in 1912,
as follows: Incorporated, $274,389,808; firm, $1,575,-
096; individual, $2,931,706.
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 2
DIGEST OF ELECTRICAL LITERATURE
Generators, Motors and Transformers
The Magnetic Field of the Three-Phase Induction
Motor. — F. T. Chapman. — The saturation of the teeth
of stator and rotor introduces harmonics into the rotat-
ing flux wave of the induction motor. Some effects of
the third harmonic are illustrated, and some causes are
indicated which tend toward the suppression of this and
the other harmonics in certain cases. Although the
main flux wave of the induction motor may contain im-
portant harmonics, notably a third, only the fundamen-
tal contributes to the effective back emf of the motor.
The third harmonic causes a considerable distortion of
the currents in the stator windings of a delta-connected
motor, which leads to an appreciable reduction of this
harmonic. In a loaded squirrel-cage motor the slip
causes currents in the rotor windings, which go far
to suppress the third and other harmonics altogether.
The reluctance of the teeth can be calculated as though
it were constant at the value it would have with a mean
air-gap density equal to 1.36«p//S where 9 is the total
number of lines of force per pole in the fundamental
wave and S the polar area of the air-gap path. — London
Electrician, Dec. 11, 1914.
Stresses in Rotor Bindings. — ARTHUR Morley. — A
mathematical article in which the author develops
formulas for the stress set up in the binding wires on
the rotors of electric generators. The centrifugal
forces induce in part an increase of tension in the bind-
ing and in part a diminution in the compression of
the rotor, which compression initially balances the ten-
sion of the binding. The calculation of the stresses is
illustrated by the simple case, of which there are occa-
sionally practical examples, for easy removal of a thin,
hollow bronze hub, containing uniformly distributed
loose, free mases, the hub being bound with a layer of
thin steel wire and rotated at high speed. A numerical
example is added. — London Engineering, Dec. 18, 1914.
Limitations in the Construction of High-Tension
Direct-Current Machines. — A. Scherbius. — An illus-
trated English translation in abstract of his German
paper on this subject abstracted some time ago in the
Digest. — -London Electrician, Dec. 18, 1914.
Generation, Transmission and Distribution
Protection of High-Tension Circuits Against Dan-
gerously High Voltages.— Kenelm Edgcumbe. — A long
illustrated article in which the author reaches the fol-
lowing conclusions: As a protection against static
charges, all long overhead lines in exposed positions
should be provided with "permanent leak" inductive re-
sistances. On all overhead systems the plant should be
protected by line-choking coils. As a protection against
steep-fronted waves due to lightning, condensers can be
used, but they are expensive and are of no use as a
protection against any other form of disturbance,
whether on overhead or underground systems. 1
quently, if condensers are used at all they must in all
be supplemented by some form of discharge gap
capable of dealing with other forms of disturbance.
targe gaps installed in conjunction with line-
choking coils are quite capable of dealing with disturb
of both kinds, so thai the extra cost of installing
condensers is seldom justified, The discharge gap
nin t not break the circuit too suddenly and should be
sufficiently robust to allow of its being connected di-
rectlj to the line without the interposition of a fuse.
The horn disch fulfils these requirements.
When acting, the discharger mu 1 nol con titute b dead
earth or short circuit and mu it, therefore, have a limit-
ing resistor in series. The limiting resistor should be
robust, non-inflammable, unaffected by heat or frost,
not liable to deterioration under long or recurring dis-
charges, and should require no attention over long
periods. The Brazil form of carbon-powder resistor
best fulfils these requirements. The resistance of the
SURGE DISCHARGERS
BETWEEN LINES
FIG. 1 — WIRING CONNECTIONS FOR OVERHEAD SYSTEM
resistor must be high enough to prevent undue disturb-
ances to the system and low enough to afford relief to the
line. One ohm per volt for cable systems and 0.1 ohm per
volt for overhead systems has been found to meet prac-
tical conditions in every way. For lines subject to atmos-
pheric disturbances the path to earth should be as
straight as possible, and even for cable systems it
should be reasonably non-inductive. With properly pro-
portioned protective gear internal surge discharge gaps
may be set as low as 50 per cent, and atmospheric dis-
turbance gaps from 100 per cent to 200 per cent, above
the line pressure. On the insulated systems internal
disturbances normally arise between lines, and the dis-
«_^
TO GENERATORS
PIG. 2— WIRING CONNECTIONS FOR UNDERGROUND SYSTEM
chargers should be connected accordingly. At the same
time it is best nol to dispense with the earthed arrester
on this account. Discharge indicators, with or without
graphic attachments, should be installed at various
points on the system. Fig. 1 shows the connections for
a complete set of protective gear for an overhead system
January 9, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
or one partly overhead and partly underground. Fig.
2 gives the connections for an entirely underground
system with insulated neutral. The three earthed ar-
resters may in this case be omitted, although this is
not recommended. If the neutral point of the gen-
erator is earthed, the dischargers between lines can be
dispensed with. — London Elec. Review, Nov. 27, Dec. 4,
11, 18, 1914.
Traction
Economics of Electric Railway Distribution. —
Horace Field Parshall. — An abstract of a paper read
before the (British) Institution of Civil Engineers.
The author gives curves showing the relation of eco-
nomical substation spacing to traffic density for differ-
ent voltages. Other curves show the reduction in an-
nual substation and track equipment cost with increased
voltage. Another diagram shows the relation of most
economical substation spacing to traffic tensity for
single-phase systems at 5000 volts and 10,000 volts and
for a three-phase system of 5000 volts. — London Elec-
trician, Dec. 11, 1914.
Austrian Electric Railway. — E. E. Seefehlner. — The
conclusion of his illustrated article on the electric rail-
way from Vienna to Pressburg. The author describes
the telegraph, telephone and signal system and gives de-
tails of the equipment of the rolling stock. — Elek. it.
Masch. (Vienna), Nov. 29, 1914.
Installations, Systems and Appliances
General Meeting of Association of Austrian and
Hungarian Central Stations. — A report of the proceed-
ings of the last general meeting held in June in Cra-
cow. The association comprises 113 stations. Various
legal matters were discussed as well as regulations,
standardization rules, etc. A committee was appointed
to provide measures to prevent the commercial position
of the central stations from being hurt by the introduc-
tion of the half-watt lamp. The same committee is to
consider also the tariff problem and means for using
electrical energy for other purposes. J. Riedl presented
a report on protective devices in high-tension installa-
tions against dangerous rises of voltage. Lunzer dis-
cussed electricity supply by a flat-rate tariff with the
use of power-limiting devices. Other discussions re-
lated to oil switches, boilers, and the use of the Diesel
engines in central stations. Papers were presented by
Lederer on new developments in electric lighting and
the use of vacuum tubes, filled with noble gases, at
220 volts, by Kesseldorfer on the theory and construc-
tion of the mercury motor meter, by von Winkler on
the operation of hydraulic plants in ice and snow, and
by Reiner on the damage done by stray currents from
tramways to gas and water pipes. — Elek. u. Masch.
(Vienna), Nov. 29, 1914.
Bradford Central Station Account. — An abstract of
last year's financial account of the Bradford municipal
electric central station. The generation expense per
kw-hr. sold was 0.670 cent (against 0.690 cent a year
before) ; distribution expense, 0.104 cent (against 0.110
cent) ; management expense, 0.142 cent (against 0.146
cent). The total cost including capital charges was
2.210 cents (against 2.382 cents) ; the total revenue per
kw-hr. was 2.466 cents (against 2.548 cents) ; the bal-
ance was therefore 0.256 cent (against 0.166 cent).
The output was just over 28,000,000 kw-hr. The year
was a record year. Considerable progress was made
toward popularizing the use of electric-cooking appa-
ratus.— London Electrician, Dec. 18, 1914.
Elect rophysics and Magnetism
Distribution of the Active Deposit of Radium in
Electric Fields. — H. P. Walmsley. — The distribution
of the active deposit of radium between the electrodes
in an electric field is independent of the concentration
of the emanation for small quantities but depends upon
the dimensions of the apparatus. No negatively
charged active deposit exists. Radium A is first posi-
tively charged and is then subjected to recombination
like any other positive ions. Such neutralized active
matter then diffuses to the metal surfaces irrespective
of their potentials. From a comparison with the dis-
tribution in the case of actinium, it is shown that the
anode activity consists of two parts — first, the active
matter neutralized by recombination, and, second, a
constant activity due to uncharged deposit which is in-
dependent of the field and only varies with the dimen-
sions of the apparatus. The constant anode activity is
not due to absorbed emanation or to a surface con-
densation of emanation on the electrode. It is sug-
gested that radium A, which is responsible for this
constant activity, is capable of forming a partition be-
tween the metal surfaces and the space in the appa-
ratus, at ordinary temperatures. — Philos. Mag., Octo-
ber, 1914.
Absorption Coefficients of X-Rays. — W. H. Bragg
AND S. E. Peirce. — A paper in which a general formula
for the relation between wave-length and absorption
coefficient is developed. — Philos. Mag., October, 1914.
Resistance of Irregular Shape of Conductors. — J. F.
H. Douglas. — A mathematical article in which the
author gives a new method for determining approxi-
mately the resistance of two-dimensional conductors of
irregular contour. — Phys. Rev., October, 1914.
Thermoelectricity and Magnetostriction of Heusler
Alloys. — L. O. Grondahl. — An account of an experi-
mental investigation of various Heusler alloys. The
general results are as follows: The magnetostriction
curves up to a field of 1600 gausses show no maximum
and are always positive. Some of the curves showing
the effect of the magnetic field on the thermoelectro-
motive force pass through a maximum negative value
and reverse. The magnetostriction decreases as the
temperature rises and disappears as the substance
passes through the transformation range. The effect
of the magnetic field on the thermoelectromotive force
changes but does not disappear even at temperatures
considerably above the transformation range. Hence
the two effects seem to be entirely independent of one
another. Although the effect of the magnetic field on
the thermoelectromotive force in these alloys is very
pronounced, Professor Ingersoll has found that they
show no Kerr effect. — Phys. Rev., October, 1914.
Units, Measurements and Instruments
Permeameter. — Charles W. Burrows. — An account
of a careful investigation of the accuracy and reliability
of the Koepsel permeameter. This instrument is based
on the action upon a coil carrying a known current of an
electromagnet, made up of the iron to be tested with a
known applied magnetomotive force. After a descrip-
tion of the construction of the instrument, various tests
are described, and the results are summed up as fol-
lows: The Koepsel permeameter has several valuable
characteristics. It gives direct readings of the mag-
netizing force and the magnetic induction, both for
normal induction and for hysteresis data. It is easy of
manipulation and does not require greater care than the
usual deflection instruments. It repeats its readings as
consistently as could be desired. The readings may be
very useful in indicating relative values of different
materials or the degree of non-uniformity of similar
materials. The fact that the observed values of the
magnetizing force may differ by as much as 100 per cent
from the true values does not destroy the value of this
instrument for purposes of comparison. From the ex-
perimental consideration of the different factors which
Dfi
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 2
may affect the accuracy of the readings the following
detailed conclusions were drawn: U) Readings on the
two sides of the zero of the instrument may differ con-
siderably, but the mean of the two values thus obtained
show satisfactory consistence on repetition. (2)
Shearing curves for different grades of material show
that the correction to be applied to the observed mag-
netizing force is not constant for a given induction but
depends upon the nature of the test specimen. This cor-
rection is usually subtractive for points below the knee
of the induction curve and additive for points above the
knee. (3) An increase in the cross-section of the test
specimen tends to increase the observed values of the
magnetizing force for points below the knee of the in-
duction curve and to decrease the observed values for
points above the knee. (4) The length of the specimen
projecting beyond the yokes produces no noticeable
effect for points below the knee of the induction curve.
For points above the knee the projecting ends increase
the observed value of the magnetizing force. (5) If
the bushings are not pushed all the way into their proper
position, a higher apparent value of the magnetizing
force is observed, due to the increased length of the
portion of the bar under test. (6) Hysteresis loops
obtained by the Koepsel permeameter always show a
low observed residual induction and a high observed
coercive force. (7) A theoretical and experimental
study of the distribution of the magnetic fluxes through
different parts of the magnetic circuit shows that shear-
ing curves of the form observed are to be expected. If
the apparatus is to be used for the determination of the
absolute values of the magnetic quantities, it is necessary
to apply a correction to the readings. Since the appa-
ratus gives consistent results on repetition, the whole
error may be charged to errors in the correction or
shearing curve. As this shearing curve varies with the
dimensions and quality of the specimen, it is essential
that shearing curves be prepared for each size and
quality of specimen to be tested. With extreme care and
the use of proper shearing curves the apparatus is able
to give quantitative results within 5 per cent of the
true value of the magnetizing force for a given induction.
Uncorrected hysteresis data for hard steels show values
of the residual induction that are too small; the error
may be as great as 10 per cent. Values obtained of the
coercive force are systematically too large ; the error may
be as much as 40 per cent. — Scientific Papers, Bureau of
Standards, No. 228.
Telegraphy, Telephony and Signals
Thermal Telephone. — M. de Lange. — An abstract of
a Royal Society paper and a description of his new
thermal telephone. The first thermophones were in-
vented thirty-six years ago by T. Wiesendanger and
two years later by Sir William Preece, the variations
in the length of a platinum wire due to changes of
temperatures being transmitted to a diaphragm. In the
de Lange instrument there is no diaphragm. "The wire
speaks without a diaphragm." While in open air the
sound of the wire is very weak, yet when it is placed in
a cover with one or several small openings the sound
becomes clear and distinct. The cover acts as a resona-
tor. The arrangement is shown in Fig. 3. The Wollas-
ton wire (treated with acid according to Gwozdz's
method i is seen at A, attached to two small brass half-
circular Mocks H, from which there project two small
pins. These inns lit Into a small socket, embedded in
ebonite, to form the complete receiver. The metal cap,
with a very small opening at the top, is slipped over
the terminal blocks H and forms a resonator. An ebo-
nite cap completes the whole. If a larger receivi
ed, such as can be placed against the ear in the
ordinary way, half a dozen platinum wires are arranged
in parallel. The platinum wire, which may be as small
as 2 microns (0.002 mm), is, of course, actually much
finer than the lines in the diagram, being invisible.
The illustration shows the thermophone in full size for
direct insertion in the ear. This receiver is intended
to be worked simply in series with the transmitter, and
therefore the usual transformers would be omitted. Mr.
de Lange is confident that long lengths of line can be
worked in this simple way. There should, therefore, be
a cheapening of line material. In regard to the cost of
the receiver itself it is obvious that it must be very
much cheaper than the usual electromagnetic type. As
to the theory of the instrument, it is simply said that
the decrease and increase of heat on the platinum wire
of the telephone takes place isochronously with the vi-
brations in the microphone. The air surrounding the
nil
FIG. 3 — THERMOPHONE FOR USE IN THE EAR
platinum wire is thereby immediately heated or cooled
in accordance with the increase and decrease of heat in
the wire, and, if that air is retained within a close com-
pass of the cover, the expansions and reactions are no-
ticed as sound. — London Electrician, Dec. 18, 1914.
Book Reviews
The Science and Practice of Management. By A.
Hamilton Church. New York: The Engineering
Magazine Company. 536 pages. Price, $2.
Persistent efforts are being made to reduce to system
and law the management of large organizations. Most
of these efforts spring from the very laudable impulse
of trying to subject certain processes to rule and for-
mula. The book before us furnishes an example of such
effort. To reduce the problems of organization and
operation to elementary axioms and doctrines would
seem to most people to be a very wearisome, if not a
futile, task. While trying to find general rules, the prob-
lems change, the personnel is altered, new conditions
arise, and the laboriously built-up theory may become
of little value. The book, none the less, is interesting.
Konstruktion, Bau und Betrieb von Funkeninduk-
toren. Vol. I, Funkeninduktoren. By Ernst
Ruhmer. Berlin: Der Mechaniker. 232 pages,
328 illus. Price, 6.5 marks.
An elementary treatise on the spark coil giving promi-
nence to the design, construction and operation of such
coils. The book is excellently and abundantly illustrated.
The mathematics are simple and prepared from the
technical rather than the physical point of view. The
twelve chapters of the book relate to the following sub-
jects: Introduction, mathematical principles, physio-
logical induct ion coils, small spark coils, large spark coils,
direct-current and alternating-current interrupters, fre-
quency measures, sources of energy, auxiliary appa-
ratus, assembling apparatus, additional methods of
operation, experiments with spark coils. The book will
be of service to all who are interested in the construc-
tion and use of induction coils, especially large coils, as
distinguished from spark coils.
January 9, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
POWER AND OPERATING SECTION
Improvements in Auxiliaries
COINCIDENT with the increase in output rating
and the accompanying improvement in the effi-
ciency of steam turbines there have been corresponding
changes in the output and efficiency of the auxiliaries,
the most important of which is the condenser. By rea-
son of refinements as well as improvements in design
of both the turbines and the condensers turbo-units
rated at 30,000 kw are now being adopted, whereas
20,000 kw was considered the maximum possible rating
several years ago. The steam consumption in the mean-
while has been reduced from 13 lb. to 11 lb. per kw-hr.,
a saving of more than 15 per cent. Credit for the re-
duction in steam consumption is usually given to the
turbo-generator, but sight should not be lost of the fact
that without adequate refinements in the design of the
condensers and other auxiliaries required for main-
taining those conditions under which the turbine oper-
ates with the best efficiency the reduction noted would
have been impossible. It is of prime importance that
improvements in condensers have kept pace with those
in turbines and generators.
Uniform Boiler Specifications
IN all probability uniform specifications for steam-
boiler construction will soon be a reality in the
United States. The long-continued and much-discussed
report of the boiler code committee of the American So-
ciety of Mechanical Engineers is approaching its end,
and the construction code is rapidly assuming form.
The society is to be congratulated on this work, in which
its own committee and an advisory committee repre-
senting all organizations interested in boiler practice in
any form have been long engaged. It would be too much
to expect perfection of a code that represents com-
promises, yet there can be no doubt that such a code
will suffice for legislative purposes. The particular fea-
ture of the movement in which we are most interested,
however, is that national professional bodies are slowly
realizing their obligations in guiding legislation for
r which they are eminently fitted and the aim of which is
neither mercenary nor selfish but the protection of
society considered as a whole.
What Is "Low Tension"?
IF an old-time operator — one who used to attach a
rope to a 1000-volt switch and get behind a friendly
station partition to open the breaker — were to visit cer-
tain modern hydroelectric plants and observe the offhand
manner in which the operators speak of 13,200-volt ap-
paratus as "low tension," he would no doubt question
the sanity of the younger men. A few years ago any
potential below 2300 volts — more specifically, 110 volts
or 550 volts — was spoken of as low-tension, but with the
coming of transmission circuits of 100,000 volts and over,
and with 13,200-volt distribution lines being carried into
transformer banks of industrial plants, as is now fre-
quently done, the comparative expression "low tension"
has taken on a pretty broad application. Owing to the
increased number and effectiveness of protective devices,
it is probably true that the operator of to-day is safer
while handling lines carrying 13,200-volt energy than
was the pioneer who attempted to work with potentials
of 1000 volts. Nevertheless, for the sake of the utmost
safety and to avoid acquiring that contempt which famil-
iarity is likely to breed, we should encourage the selec-
tion of language more accurately describing 13,200-volt
energy than the words "low tension," as now commonly
applied by those whose idea of "high tension" is perhaps
110,000 volts and whose duties bring them, through re-
mote control, in daily contact, so to speak, with the lower
potential.
Operating Features of Centrifugal Pumps
CENTRIFUGAL pumps have come into extensive use,
owing to the simplicity of their parts. The cen-
trifugal pump is ordinarily devoid of valves or opening
and closing ports. It consists essentially of an inverted-
action water turbine. A rotary impeller receives the
water through a suction pipe, at a certain internal di-
ameter, and delivers it at a larger external diameter
and velocity. The energy of motion absorbed by the
rotating impeller is delivered to the water in terms of
the head. In order that such a pump may operate with-
out undue energy loss, the geometrical forms given to
the blades of the impeller must be such as will cause the
rotary energy to be absorbed by the water smoothly and
without shock. This can occur only when the angular
velocity and the total head of delivery just satisfy the
required conditions. Any one pump may be able to work
over a wide range of speeds and heads, but in order to
work at the best efficiency, suited to its proper design,
there is only one proper driving speed and one total head.
In general, therefore, a change in head or a change in
the rate of water delivery calls for a change in speed of
driving, if approximately the best efficiency is to be se-
cured. Otherwise, if the speed is to be kept constant, a
change must be made in the design proportions of the
pump. When centrifugal pumps are driven by electric
motors; and particularly by alternating-current motors,
the speed is fixed within fairly narrow limits. This
makes it difficult for the centrifugal pump designer to
meet wide ranges of demand in delivery of water quan-
tity and head. It is manifestly most economical to con-
OS
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 2
struct as few designs and types of pump as possible, and
yet, if the demand for a certain rate of pumping up to a
certain lift happens to fall between the speeds for which
motors are available, a new design of pump may be
specially demanded.
Steam-Plant Efficiency
Many steam plants at the present time are installed
with provision for bonus or penalty in case the contrac-
tor exceeds or fails on the specification undertaken. In
other words, it is not unusual at the present time, and
particularly abroad, to buy a plant on a specification
which requires a very exact test to determine the final
payment. Under these conditions tests which are not
accurate to the highest feasible degree are likely to
work injustice. It is quite easy to test a plant to with-
in 3 or 4 per cent and extremely difficult to test it to
1 per cent, yet when one considers the amount of money
involved in 1 per cent of needless error he realizes that
something more than approximate methods are neces-
sary. One point which has often been mentioned in
the Electrical World is the advantage of boiler and
furnace design with relation to the fuel used. In a
paper presented recently before the (British) Institu-
tion of Electrical Engineers, Mr. W. M. Selvey empha-
sized the fact that a boiler and furnace does its best
work on a particular grade of fuel. Fuel better or
worse than this standard of excellence handicaps a plant
so that it may even happen that an admirable boiler and
furnace will do rather badly on a lot of coal which from
its analysis and general properties might be expected
to give first-class results. On the electrical side of the
problem the suggestion that efficiency tests should be
conducted under conditions insuring unity power-factor
whenever practicable is one to be taken rather seri-
ously. There are cases in which, for one reason or an-
other, tests at some other power-factor have to be made,
but it is usually decidedly preferable to operate as near
as possible to unity power-factor merely to facilitate
precision in the electrical measurements. To be certain
of high precision when measuring energy at a low
power-factor requires an enormous amount of care.
It is a safe general rule in testing of every kind to
eliminate variables as far as possible and to make the
correction factors as small as possible. In most cases
they cannot be dropped out of sight entirely, but they
can be brought to a point where the outstanding errors
of measurement will not be serious.
Mr, Selvey made a sensible suggestion concerning the
design of the condenser system. There is a tendency to
operate condensers too near the limit in the interest of
low first cost. If a condenser ia to be depended on to
operate at the highest efficiency, it la nol safe to run it
BO close to (lie limit that a small hut perfectly possible
change in the temperature of the water or in the sus-
pended matter it carries may seriously damage the
vacuum. Turbo-generator plants in particular depend
for high economy on exceptionally good condenser per
formance, and we quite agree with Mr. Selvey thai
money invested in a < OUgh to run
for long periods without exceptional trouble in clean-
ing is well spent. The author made note of the fact
that turbo-generators in particular should carry their
commercial load for some little time before being tested
because some turbines have shown at least a 5 per cent
better efficiency shortly after installation than at a later
period. Hence it seems desirable to subject the machine
to real service for some little time and then test it, after
ample opportunity has been given to inspect the ma-
chine to make sure that it is in suitable working con-
dition.
The Seattle Steam Auxiliary
Elsewhere in this section is printed a description of
the admirably designed new steam station of the Seattle
City Lighting Department, which has been installed as
an auxiliary to its water-power plants. The present
station is adjacent to the small water-power plant and
operates in parallel with it. In fact, the hydraulic equip-
ment is controlled from the switchboard in the steam
station. The first unit of the new plant was placed in
operation a few months ago. It represents advanced
practice in several interesting particulars. In the first
place, the boiler equipment is in four units, each of
nearly 1500 actual horse-power. The furnaces as at
present used are provided with complete oil-burning
equipment, although room is left in the boiler setting
to install automatic stokers in case it should be desired
to use coal at some later time. The boiler equipment
feeds steam to a single turbine with a nominal generator
rating of 7500 kw, but deliberately designed to carry
from 10,000 kva to 12,000 kva under emergency condi-
tions.
The design of the turbine is such as to give maximum
economy at 7500 kw, and above that point the load can
be forced at the peak by admitting high-pressure steam
to the intermediate stages of the turbine. The boilers
are able to generate the necessary steam. In fact, the
three boilers now in use have gone to 8100 kw without
an excessive temperature rise. An attempt has been
made in this equipment deliberately to push the gen-
erating equipment far over its normal rated output at
times of peak — in fact, as far as the safe temperature
conditions will permit, losing a little in efficiency if
necessary, but yet giving good economy under rated
load conditions. At full load the turbo-generator is
guaranteed for 12.95 lb. of steam per kw-hr., a very
good record for a unit of this size.
The generator is of the two-phase, instead of the more
usual three-phase, type, much of the distribution being
by single-phase feeders. The main water-power supply
of the city is thus relieved by the steam plant, which is
able to carry the heavy winter peak; in fact, during the
first month of operation Of tlie steam plant a period of
extremely low water well proved its value. The present
Bingle unit can even carry the full load of the system in
case of accident to the water-power, and the increasing
load lenders it likely that its equipment will be en-
larged to serve as B complement to the pending increase
in the main hydroelectric plant.
January 9, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Oil-Burning Steam Station in Seattle, Wash.
Auxiliary Turbine Plant of the Seattle City Lighting Department on Lake Union —
Station Wall Area Almost All Glass
THE first unit of the new 7500-kw auxiliary steam
generating station of the Seattle City Lighting
Department was placed in operation Sept. 6,
1914. The station is on the east shore of Lake Union
between Fairview and Eastlake Avenues at the foot of
Nelson Place. The site is adjacent to the Lake Union
water-power auxiliary of the Lighting Department
FIG. 1 — STEAM-TURBINE UNIT
built in 1911 and is near the geographic center of Seat-
tle. Lake Union furnishes an unlimited supply of
water for boiler-feed and circulating purposes. With
the completion of the Lake Washington canal oil or coal
may be brought directly to the plant by steamer. At
present the plant receives fuel by oil truck and by the
Lake Union belt-line railway. A first-class apartment
and residence district is on the hill above the plant,
while along the lake shore are factories which may be
supplied with steam for heating and industrial use.
Station Building'
The building is of reinforced concrete, designed and
built by the Department of Buildings of the city of
Seattle. Its most striking feature is the open, day-
light appearance inside, due to the fact that all the space
between columns is occupied by windows. The building
is 98 ft. 6 in. by 89 ft. with basement floor 19 ft. 3 in.
below the Eastlake Avenue sidewalk, main floor at the
sidewalk level and roof 45 ft. above the main floor.
The generating unit, carried on a foundation entirely
independent of the building, is installed on the Eastlake
Avenue side of the building, on the main floor. The
boilers occupy the Lake Union side of the same floor,
while the condenser and auxiliaries, with the transform-
ers and oil switches, are placed in the basement. The
footings of the building rest on piles driven 30 ft. into
the clay and gravel which forms the subsoil in this dis-
trict. A concrete retaining wall extending 23 ft. below
the street and containing 810 cu. yd. protects the build-
ing from possible sliding of the hill above Eastlake
Avenue. All floors are designed for a load of 600 lb. to
the square foot except the firing aisle, which is designed
for 300 lb. The roof is of thin concrete steel slabs
supported on steel roof trusses. The cornice is con-
crete with red paving brick inset for ornament. Prac-
tically all of the wall area is glass. An idea of its
extent may be gained from the fact that 2.5 tons of
putty were required to fasten it to the steel sash. A
Whiting crane of 25 tons capacity and 30-ft. span is
placed over the turbine room. The northwest floor
panel of this room is provided with a removable steel
floor plate so that apparatus may be lowered into the
basement by the crane.
Boiler Room Equipment
Three 822.6-hp Stirling boilers, guaranteed for con-
tinuous operation at 180 per cent of normal load, or
1480 hp, are installed. These boilers operate at 77 per
cent efficiency at full load. The fourth boiler is to be
added immediately. The boilers are placed two in a
bank, and each bank has a 90-in. steel stack extending
170 ft. above the boiler-room floor. Oil-burning equip-
ment is installed with Lehigh burners. The boilers are
set high enough to permit stokers to be inserted in case
it is desired to burn coal, and the stoker tracks are in-
stalled. Room is left in the basement for ash hoppers
and cars, so that the coal-burning equipment may be
put in with a minimum of expense.
Oil-storage tanks have been erected on the lot next
to the boiler room and behind the water-power station
referred to above. They consist of two horizontal 15,-
000-gal. cylindrical steel tanks — the maximum allowed
by city ordinance — and one cylindrical service tank
7 ft. in diameter by 24 ft. long, divided into two sec-
tions by an oil-tight diaphragm. These tanks are placed
in a concrete inclosure and separated by a concrete
wall and are buried under 4 ft. of earth. Connection
FIG. 2 — EXTERIOR FROM EASTLAKE AVENUE
is made from each tank to each of two motor-driven,
double-acting, duplex, inside-packed oil pumps made by
the Fairbanks-Morse Company, rated at 16,000 gal. per
hour and installed in the basement under the boilers,
directly opposite the tanks. An 8-in. suction header is
installed with the piping arranged for pumping oil from
the oil truck on Eastlake or Fairview Avenue, or from
100
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 2
oil barge or tank car. For the accurate measurement
of oil scales will be installed on which a tank wagon
may be weighed before and after unloading or on
which a tank may be placed for receiving oil from a
barge or a tank car. Oil is drawn from the service
tanks by burner-oil pumps on the boiler-room floor back
of the boilers, where also are placed the oil heaters.
Uehling carbon-dioxide recorders are being installed
with chart in the turbine room and with indicator in
the fire room, to enable the fireman to regulate his
burners to the most efficient and smokeless flame. The
plant is designed especially for a complete system of
records, and recording as well as indicating instruments
are supplied for the measurement of CO, gas, tempera-
ture of flue gases, temperature of superheat and feed
water, steam flow, feed-water flow and everything from
the oil to switchboard feeders.
Water Supply
Feed and circulating water is taken from the lake
through a 30-in. intake extending 120 ft. out into the
lake and leading through a concrete screen box at the
west side of the building to the cold well at the end
maximum economy at full load, or 7500 kw, at which
point an auxiliary valve admits high-pressure steam
directly to the intermediate stage of the turbine. Lu-
brication is insured by a circulating-oil system which
is mounted on the turbine itself.
A Wheeler rectangular jet condenser is suspended
directly beneath the turbine. This condenser gives
28% in. vacuum referred to a 30-in. barometer when
condensing 97,500 lb. of steam per hour. Circulating
water is supplied through an 18-in. inlet from the cold
well. The circulating and air pumps are mounted on
the same shaft directly beneath the condenser and are
driven by a 225-hp Terry steam turbine. The air pump
is a Wheeler turbo-air pump of the new rotary
hydraulic type. Circulating water is drawn in by the
vacuum and discharged by the centrifugal circulating
pump. In starting, a jet of water from the city mains
is used to condense the steam and start the vacuum.
City water is also piped to the feed-water heater for
boiler use if desired and is piped wherever needed
throughout the building. A service pump of 400 gal.
per minute rating, driven by a Terry turbine, supplies
water to the feed-water heater from the hot well, which
FIG. 3 — BOILER ROOM
of the condenser, whence the circulating water is drawn.
A Cochran 2500-hp heater with V-notch recorder is
placed in the basement of the turbine room next to the
boiler-feed pumps. The boiler-feed pumps, in dupli-
cate, are multi-stage centrifugal units made by the
Piatt Iron Works, each driven by a 100-hp Terry steam
turbine. The boilers are designed for 200 lb. pressure,
and Foster superheaters are placed between the first
and second banks of tubes to give 125 deg. superheat.
The boilers are connected to a 12-in. superheated steam
header, whence a 10-in. tap is taken to the turbine.
The header is on a platform in the basement under the
back of the boilers, and the turbine tap runs under the
floor. General Electric indicating steam-flow meters
are installed on each boiler, and a recording meter of
the same type records the steam supplied to the turbine.
Steam Equipment
The generating unit consists of an Allis-Chalmers-
operating on L90 lb. pressure al L25
directly connected to an Allis-Chalmers
p.m., two-phase generator.
This set is i ~>0-deg. rise in temperature and is
guaranteed (or continuous operation at 11,720 leva at
SO per cent tor with 66 deg. rise. The tui
bine is guaranteed for .-i steam consumption of 12.96
U>. per kw-hr. at 7600 kw output, it is designed for
FIG. 4 — SERVICE PUMP
is a concrete tunnel 4 ft. wide by 10 ft. deep, dis-
charging through a 30-in. cast-iron pipe at the west
wall of the building.
All auxiliaries at present operate from a 4-in. auxil-
iary header but are made for superheat if it is desired
so to connect them later. This system was chosen
from the standpoint of reliable service rather than ex-
treme efficiency. The same idea was followed through-
out the plant. The plant is expected to give 245 kw-
hr. per barrel of oil of 6,216,000 lb. Fahr. thermal units
per barrel in the tests soon to be conducted.
Electrical Equipment
The generator is of the revolving-field type, totally
inclosed and ventilated by forced circulation of air,
which is drawn through a duct from outside the build-
ing into the machine from below and discharged into
the turbine room from the top of the machine. Exci-
tation is furnished at L26 volts bj a 2500-r.p.m. Allis-
Chalmers turbine-driven exciter of 60 kw rating, which
is installed in the turbine room next to the main set.
The generator lias eighl resistance elements placed in
the slots back of the coils, which are connected to a
resistance thermometer on the switchboard so that the
operator may know the exact temperature of the hot-
it of i he generator a1 all times.
The generator is installed with the expectation that
January 9, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
101
it will deliver 10,000 kw. On the three boilers now in-
stalled it delivers 8100 kw maximum with a tempera-
ture rise of less than 20 deg. over peaks. An attempt
was made to rate the machine on the total tempera-
ture allowable, which was established at 90 deg. C,
and the resistance coils placed in the hottest parts of
generator coils were to determine this temperature,
which the resistance thermometer on the switchboard
will not be allowed to exceed. The carrying capacity
of the generator will now depend on the temperature
of the incoming air, and the air duct is carried out of
the building to the coolest point available. It is the in-
tention of the department to adopt this system of rating
and temperature control on all machines in future, since
the output of a machine is what it will deliver and not
what it is rated at. The generator is connected through
oil switches, with concrete cells and bus structure,
are to be installed in the same room. Provision is also
made for feeder regulators for the 2500-volt feeders,
and for the necessary disconnecting switches and in-
strument transformers. This electrical apparatus will
be separated from the ash-handling equipment and
the steam piping by a concrete wall. Lightning ar-
resters for the 15,000-volt lines will be installed in
the space back of the water-power station over the
oil tanks.
The switchboard, of Monson slate, 32 ft. long and
7.5 ft. high, is placed in the turbine room parallel to
Eastlake Avenue. All apparatus is remotely con-
trolled, and 125 volts is the maximum potential on the
switchboard. Control for both the water-power plant
and the steam plant is placed on this board so that
both plants are under one operator.
Purpose of the Steam Plant
The steam plant is intended as an auxiliary to the
water-power station at Cedar Falls. It will be used to
help carry the heavy winter peaks, which now are
above the present capacity of the Cedar Falls plant,
and to help supply energy through a possible low-
water season, as well as to be ready to take its full load
any instant in case of accident to the water-power
plant or transmission system. It thus serves as a gen-
eral safeguard and guarantee of the city's service as
well as an addition to the system. Although danger
from low water is not anticipated on account of the
completion of the new Cedar River dam, the steam
plant has already proved its value as an auxiliary. The
water in Cedar Lake during September was abnormally
low, and but for the timely completion of the steam
station the water plant would have been overtaxed.
The building was begun on April 28 and the station
was delivering energy on Sept. 6. Its cost to date has
been $241,000. There will be some additional expense,
but the cost properly chargeable to the steam plant, it
is said, will be less than $300,000.
So rapidly has the load on the city plant grown that
a new concrete dam has been built at Cedar Falls at
a cost of $1,500,000, which increases the storage so as to
admit of a final development of 40,000 kw. It is planned
to install the first 10,000-kw unit of this new develop-
ment in the near future. Mr. J. D. Ross, superinten-
dent of lighting, is in charge of the Seattle municipal
plant.
FIG. 5 — FEED-WATER HEATER AND BOILER-FEED PUMPS
reactance coils in each phase. These coils are made by
the Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company
and give 5 per cent reactance drop on full load. They
are mounted in the concrete pier on which the genera-
tor rests.
The station will be used both as a generating and a
distributing station and operates in parallel with the
water-power station adjacent to it. This water-power
station has already been described in the columns of
the Electrical World. It delivers 1500 kw to 1800
kw from the overflow of the Seattle water system and
will be controlled from the steam plant switchboard.
Provision is made for four 15,000-volt lines from the
station and two two-phase and six single-phase, 2500-
volt feeders, besides two 2500-volt, two-phase tie lines
connecting with the main substation at Seventh Ave-
nue and Yesler Way. The step-up transformers are
of the Allis-Chalmers water-cooled type in welded
boiler-iron cases. They are rated at 9400 kva per bank
of two and guaranteed for 14,100 kva per bank for two
hours. One bank of two is installed, with one spare
transformer. They are installed in the basement on
the lake side, and the generator, transformer and line
Presence of Salt Indication of Other Impurities in
Boiler Water
At one of the large generating stations in New York
City where salt water is employed to cool the conden-
sers condensate is tested every hour to determine
whether any salt is present. If any is found, it indicates
that the condensers are leaking and must be immediately
attended to or all of the boiler water will be contami-
nated. The test is also valuable in that it forewarns
when additional feed-water compound may be required
to precipitate impurities which are carried into the
boilers along with the salt. Not only is the condensate
tested but also the boiler's contents. This, however, is
done only once a day as leakage of scale-forming com-
pounds into the feed-water system is usually noted by
analysis of water from the condensers. The standard
titration test of adding silver nitrate to the water is em-
ployed. This is much simpler than testing for the pres-
ence of other impurities. To remove scale-forming im-
purities from the water it is treated by adding sodium
carbonate and the precipitate is removed by blowing
off the boilers when the fires are banked.
102
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 2
POLARITY TESTER
Convenient Device for Locating Faults in Motors and
Generators
The accompanying illustration shows a simple and re-
liable polarity tester used by the British Westinghouse
Electric & Manufacturing Company on the test floor.
An ordinary search coil, preferably with a small iron
core and completely insulated on the outside, is used.
The coil is fastened to the end of a wooden handle and
filrc Di-. Clued in flace
r
Hoodrn Handle
600 Turns 032 Di
POLARITY TESTER
flexible wires connect the ends of the coil to the ter-
minals of a direct-current millivoltmeter. If the coil is
moved toward a magnet, a certain electromotive force
is induced in the coil and the needle of the millivolt-
meter shows a momentary deflection. A greater deflec-
tion can generally be obtained if the coil after being care-
fully brought quite near to the pole is quickly with-
drawn. Naturally, the direction in which the needle
moves depends on the polarity of the magnet from which
the coil is withdrawn. If it is withdrawn from a north
pole, the needle will move say to the right, and if with-
drawn from a south pole, to the left. Thus, by testing
all the poles in rotation, it is possible to ascertain
whether the connections have been made correctly or in-
correctly.
If the armature of a six-pole generator is rotating in
a clockwise direction, then the commutating pole which
stands in the position corresponding to the 11 o'clock
mark of the clock should have the same polarity as the
main pole corresponding to the 12 o'clock mark and so
on all the way round. On the other hand, each commu-
tating pole of a motor should have the same polarity as
the main pole preceding it in the direction of rotation.
With a six-pole motor running in a clockwise direc-
tion, the commutating pole in the 11 o'clock position
should have the same polarity as the main pole in the
10 o'clock position. Perfectly satisfactory results are
•obtained by keeping the search coil to a part on the poles
near the yoke where there is no danger of accidental
contact with the rotating part, but care must, of course,
be exercised to see that no part of the flexible cord
touches any part of the rotating machine. Sometimes
the commutating poles of a machine show correct polar-
ity when there is a good load on the machine but be-
have irregularly on light loads, and this may be due to
slight irregularities in the mechanical construction of
the machines. If a commutating pole is not in the cen-
ter ni it- neighboring poles, but is nearer, say, to the
main north pole than to the main south pole, then the
commutating-pole tip will show south polarity without
any current going through its windings, and therefore,
with a very light load, the current passing through the
commutating-pole winding, and tending to make the
pole, say, a north pole may not he strong enough to over-
come the polarity caused by the unequal setting. The
thing will occur if the air-gap between the arma-
ture and north pole is smaller than that between the
armature and south pole.
The search coil is of considerable assistance in making
accurate magnetic adjustments, which is. of course, nec-
essary in order to secure good commutation. It ill
ers the reasons for imperfect commutation in a simple
and convenient way, and should prove very useful to
those who have to locate faults in electrical machines.
The search coil gives in many cases quite reliable results
even with the machine not running, the residual mag-
netism being strong enough to cause with quick move-
ment of the coil a small but distinct reading on the milli-
voltmeter scale. For instance, in an interpole railway
motor, with the armature removed, the polarity not only
of the main poles but also of the commutating poles
could be determined. If the last direction of rotation is
known, the polarity of the interpole gives a clear indica-
tion of whether the machine was last run as a motor or
as a dynamo, and this may in certain cases serve to clear
up points in connection with railway accidents.
When winding a search coil of given size it is advis-
able to take a wire of such diameter that the total re-
sistance of the search coil corresponds approximately
with that of the millivoltmeter, which is usually from 1
ohm to 2 ohms. For the test in the Westinghouse works
a coil has been used with an outside diameter of 1.75 in.,
inside diameter of 0.75 in. and 2 in. long, the core con-
sisting of a 0.5-in. iron rod 2.50 in. long. The spool is
wound with 580 turns of single cotton-covered wire,
0.032 in. in diameter and giving a total resistance of
approximately 1.5 ohms. If a thinner wire had been
used, the advantage gained by increasing the number
of turns would not have outweighed the disadvantage of
increasing the resistance. But, after all, the disadvan-
tage of high resistance simply means that the deflection
of the needle is reduced. Quite useful results can be
obtained with a wide range of coil resistance. If no
millivoltmeter is at hand, then a moving coil ammeter
with the shunt disconnected may be employed. A low-
reading voltmeter — 1 volt or 3 volts — may also give dis-
tinct readings, but in this case the search coil must be
wound with many turns of the thinnest wire, because
the internal resistance of a 1-volt or 3-volt instrument
is several hundred ohms. A very suitable instrument
to use is a Weston galvanometer, which is very sensitive.
In some cases a search coil with an outside diameter of
1.75 in. may be too large to reach every pole, but if a
millivoltmeter or Weston galvanometer is at hand, a
smaller coil may be employed.
Diesel Efficiency for Steady and Fluctuating Loads
The accompanying curves compare the fuel consump-
tion of a 225-hp Busch-Sulzer Diesel engine under con-
ditions of steady and fluctuating loads. The tests were
made by Dr. A. C. Scott. Dallas. Tex., at the plant of the
Hugo i()kla.> Ice & Light Company, where the engine
■
— | —
~ . ~r ,
'
J L
.
I
.
&B
:
-1
o
5J»
.
..-*+-♦
^
—
—
"
•
—
NET BRAKE HORSE-POWER
FUEL CONSUMPTION UNDER STEADY AND FLUCTUATING
LOADS
is employed to drive a 200-kva alternator. The fuel con-
sumed contained lit, 000 lb.-Fahr. heat units per pound
of oil and cost 2.9 cents per gallon.
The solid curve traces values obtained under steady-
load conditions, the engine being operated for three
hours at each of the loadings indicated by the circum-
January 9, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
103
scribed points, viz., 58.2 hp, 116.7 hp, 168.6 hp, 228.5 hp
and 254 hp.
For the second set of tests, the results of which are
shown by the dotted line, the engine was started with a
load of 36.2 kw, which at the end of the first half-hour
period had been gradually increased to 62.4 kw. Similar
load increases were made during each following thirty-
minute period until a load of 170.4 kw was reached. At
average full load the fuel consumption was at the rate
of 0.425 lb. per net brake-hp-hr., or about 5.98 gal. per
100 net brake-hp-hr. At the price paid for oil. the fuel
cost therefore represented only 1.75 mills ($0.00175)
per brake-hp-hr.
AIR-SPACE AREA OF GRATES
Its Effect Upon the Temperature of Furnace Gases and the
Efficiency of Fuel Combustion
By R. T. Strohm.
If the grate of a steam boiler had no other object
than to serve as a support for the fuel, a firebrick floor
resting directly upon the earth would probably answer
the purpose; but in order that there may be efficient
combustion, the combustible must be brought into inti-
mate contact with oxygen, and this is most easily ac-
complished by causing air to pass upward through the
bed of fuel. For this reason grates are made with
openings instead of with unbroken surfaces. Again,
the openings in the grate allow the ashes to drop out
of the fire, thus keeping the fire clean.
As the principal purpose of the grate is to support
the fuel, the air spaces must be of such size as to pre-
vent the fuel from dropping through ; or, in other
words, the width of the air spaces must be determined
by the nature of the fuel used. The coarser the fuel,
the larger may be the openings for air.
At first thought it would seem as though the air
spaces should form as great a proportion of the grate
surface as possible, so that the amount of air admitted
to the fuel bed might be large, to insure an ample sup-
SIZES OF COAL USED FOR BOILER FUEL
Kind of Coal
DlA
ItlTKR <
r Ring
Sqi
tre Mesh
Over
Through
71K
%
Vis
%2
Barley
ply of oxygen. But the greater the area of the air
space, the width of the spaces remaining the same,
the narrower must be the metal parts of the grate, and
these cannot be made too thin without inviting trouble.
In the first place, it is difficult to cast grate bars if
the thickness of the metal is made very small. The
sand that forms the air openings is apt to bake and
crack and thus allow fins to span the air spaces; also,
in cooling, the thin metal parts are very apt to break
away from the heavier parts of the bar.
As a consequence, it has not been found wise to at-
tempt to make the metal sections very thin. A thick-
ness of V± in. at the fire surface is probably the usual
lower limit. To make the pattern draw easily from
the sand, the webs are made thinner at the bottom;
but these thinner parts are not exposed to the direct
action of the hot fuel. Another objection to the use
of very thin webs is the trouble that may ensue through
warping under the effect of heat.
The sizes of anthracite used for steam-boiler fuel are
pea, buckwheat, rice and barley. The actual sizes of
these grades, however, depend on the nature of the
screens through which they are run. The accompany-
ing table gives the approximate sizes of the several
kinds. In other words, the buckwheat size will pass
over a screen having 7/16-in. round holes and through
one having 5s-in. round holes. The same size will pass
through a 7/16-in. square mesh, but over a %-in. square
mesh.
Anthracite is a fuel that contains a very small per-
centage of volatile matter, and to insure successful com-
bustion the pieces should be of approximately the same
size, as the air can then most easily pass through the
voids. It is for this reason that coal is sized by
screening.
In selecting a grate to burn any one of these sizes
of anthracite, therefore, the width of air openings
should be less than the diameter of the screen opening
through which that size of coal will pass. This is nec-
essary in order to prevent waste of unburned fuel. The
ratio of air space to grate area, however, is not fixed
by any arbitrary rule. As a usual thing, the width of
the air space and the thickness of metal in the grate
bar are made equal, so that practically half of the grate
area represents air-opening area. In some types of
grates the percentage of air space is even greater than
50 per cent.
It is well to bear in mind the fact that a large per-
centage of air space is not an absolute necessity, and
that instead of serving to increase the efficiency of com-
bustion, it may operate to produce the opposite effect.
This is explainable on the grounds of excess air ad-
mitted to the furnace.
One of the most common faults in the firing of
steam boilers is the admission of too much air, with the
result that the temperature of the furnace gases is
lowered and their quantity is greatly increased, caus-
ing a loss of heat. By reducing the amount of open-
ing through which air can enter the furnace, as by
decreasing the width of air spaces in the grates, the fur-
nace temperature is raised, the gases are in contact
with the boiler for a longer period, and a greater per-
centage of the heat generated is utilized in making
steam.
The extent to which cutting down of the air space
may be carried is limited by the nature of the draft.
With natural draft considerable area is required to ad-
mit the necessary air supply. With forced draft it may
be possible to reduce the air-space area to a small frac-
tion of the grate area. One writer, in describing the
use of low-grade anthracite with a forced draft of from
3 in. to 5 in. of water, states that grates containing as
low as 5 per cent of air space are in use. This means,
of course, that the velocity of air through the grates is
correspondingly large.
It is extremely doubtful whether bituminous coal
could be burned properly under such conditions. The
volatile matter is given off during the early stages of
combustion of the green fuel, and to insure efficient
burning it must be thoroughly mixed with air before
it is cooled to a temperature below the igniting point.
This necessitates the admission of air above the grate
in addition to that which enters through the grate.
Now, in certain tests of boilers using bituminous and
semi-bituminous coal, it has been found that a reduc-
tion of the air space in the grate has been followed by
increased efficiency of combustion. The reason for the
better performance may have been the cutting down
the air supply from a previously excessive and waste-
ful amount to a more nearly normal amount; or possi-
bly the restriction of flow through the grate caused a
greater amount of air to be drawn in above the grate,
104
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 2
where it would be of greater value in burning the gases.
Air could enter above the grate by passing through the
openings in the firedoors and boiler front, past the
joints of the doors, and through the brick setting of
the boiler.
Automatically Maintaining Constant Ratio Between
Air and Coal Supplied to Furnaces
In the Gold Street generating station of the Edison
Electric Illuminating Company of Brooklyn there is ap-
paratus for automatically maintaining a constant ratio
between the coal and air supplied to the furnaces under
all loads. This is done by changing the speeds of the
turbine-driven blowers and mechanically operated stok-
ers simultaneously with fluctuations in steam pressure.
As two sets of blower units are installed at each end of
the firing aisle and as separate stoker engines are em-
ployed with each set of eight boilers, it is necessary to
control the driving units from a shaft extending the
full length of the boiler room. This shaft is operated
by a hydraulic piston the position of which is deter-
mined by a diaphragm connected with the main steam
header.
The arrangement and connections of the equipment
are shown in the accompanying illustration and line
drawing. To prevent live steam reaching the pressure
diaphragm the pipe leading to it is bent in the shape of
a long U which is kept full of water. The diaphragm
acts directly on a lever which bears against a knife
edge at one end and is counterweighted at the other.
Attached to the lever is a rod which operates a pilot
valve admitting water to hydraulic apparatus operating
the control shaft. This in turn is connected with the
turns the blowers and stokers decrease in speed until the
pressure drops to normal, when the pressure valve pre-
vents further movement of the hydraulic piston. A
drop in steam pressure causes the reverse action to that
described. An abrupt change in steam pressure causes
the hydraulic piston to move more quickly, thereby
FIG. 1— APPARATUS CONTROLLING FURNACE BLOWERS AND
STOKERS
throttles of the stoker engines, the shunt-field rheostats
of the stoker reserve motors, and the regulating valves
of the blower turbines.
When the steam pressure rises water is admitted to
the lower end of the hydraulic cylinder and that in the
other end is allowed to discharge. As the control shaft
Rod operating
Control Shaft
Water Supply
_J< Water Discharge
\Yu-tube to steam header
FIG. 2 — DETAILS OF CONTROL APPARATUS
changing the blower and stoker speeds more rapidly.
This apparatus has been in use for some time, and it
is reported that the boiler-room efficiency has been main-
tained very satisfactorily thereby.
Advantages of Large Steam Condensers
According to a prominent English engineer the effect
of vacuum on turbines is so great that a given weight
expended on the condenser end is far more profitable in
power production that a similar weight expended at the
boiler end. The aims of an efficient condenser are to
have the maximum of heat transferred from the steam
to the circulating water — that is, a minimum difference
between the temperature due to the vacuum and the
temperature of the circulating water leaving the con-
denser— and also to deliver the condensate to the hot-well
as near the temperature due to the vacuum as possible.
And here it is important to consider the steam consump-
tion of the auxiliaries and the air-withdrawal arrange-
ments, which comprise air pumps in some form, to-
gether with the withdrawal of the condensate from the
condenser. As the driving power of air pumps is at
most only about 1 per cent of the power of the turbine
at full load, and in general much less, the importance
of the steam used per unit of power required for driv-
ing an air pump is negligible compared with its vacuum-
producing qualities. The steam required by the circu-
lating pumps depends on the steam consumption in
pounds per water horse-power-hour of the engine driv-
ing the circulating pumps, the ratio of the circulating
water to the steam condensed, and the total head on the
pumps.
Without allowing for condensation it may be said that
in this case the temperature of the feed, after it has
condensed the steam from the circulating pump, is
largely independent of the quantity of circulating water,
and this has to be considered in making up the final bal-
ance sheet, which alone enables the most difficult prob-
lem of the best vacuum to be solved.
January i), 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Electric Motor Drive of a Large Flour Mill
Method of Interlocking Machines for Simultaneous Operation in the New Plant
of the Commercial Milling Company, Detroit, Mich.
THE new flour mill of the Commercial Milling
Company, Detroit, Mich., which is one of the
largest and most up-to-date installations in the
country, is now operating entirely with electrical energy
generated in the company's private steam plant. A
single turbo-generator is relied on to furnish energy
for the entire mill, there being no emergency gener-
ating apparatus or throw-over connection with the cen-
tral-station company. The present mill is interesting
because it is one of the first in this country to be
equipped throughout with motor-driven apparatus.
While most manufacturers have responded quite
readily to the movement toward electrification of fac-
tories, owners of flour mills until now have been back-
ward in adopting motor drive because of conditions
which, inherent in the industry, have limited the exten-
sive application of electric motors.
One objection to group motor drive in flour mills has
been that all flour-making machinery must operate
simultaneously, since otherwise the wheat in one of the
stages of milling may choke up the entire system.
Another objection has been that sparks at electrical con-
tacts may cause an explosion of the flour dust which is
generally present inside such a mill. The latter objec-
tion has been removed by using combination wound-
rotor and squirrel-cage induction motors and by em-
ploying dust collectors wherever necessary. The first
objection, which is really the most vital one in this in-
dustry, has been eliminated at the Detroit mills by elec-
trically interlocking all group-drive motors connected to
a consecutive set of milling machines. By installing
motors near the machinery which they drive this com-
pany has avoided the use of long belt transmissions and
countershafting, which are usually required in large
steam-engine-driven mills unless several prime-movers
are distributed about the building, as may be done
easily with the motors.
All of the operations in this mill, including the un-
loading of grain boats, moving of boats, spotting of
freight cars on private sidings, distribution of grain
among elevators, milling and packing, are performed
by motor-driven apparatus.
General Description
The flour mill, which is designed for an ultimate out-
put of 2500 bbl. per day, occupies a structure built en-
tirely of reinforced concrete and is 50 ft. wide, 353 ft.
long and has a maximum height of ten floors. Milling
machinery for producing only 1200 bbl. a day is in-
stalled now in one half of the building, the other half
being reserved for future equipment. The mill is situ-
ated on the northern bank of the Detroit River, where
grain can be unloaded directly from the Great Lake
boats into the grain reservoirs, of which there are six-
teen cylindrical-shaped and ten diamond-shaped, hav-
ing altogether a total content of 275,000 bushels.
FIG. 1 — FLOUR ROLLS DRIVEN BY A SINGLE MOTOR
ion
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 2
A mammoth electric sign advertising the brand of
flour manufactured is placed on top of the building on
the river-front side so that persons on passing vessels
and ferries as well as those on the Canadian shore can
see it.
The boiler room contains a double-setting of 350 hp
Edge Moor boilers equipped with steam-driven Jones
underfeed stokers and Foster superheaters. From the
storage space coal is conveyed to a 200-ton overhead
hopper in the boiler room by an endless belt and a bucket
elevator driven by a 15-hp induction motor. The latter
also operates a crusher.
Connected with the boilers is a 7-in. header feeding
three take-offs — one for the turbo-generator, the second
for the auxiliaries and the third for steam heating.
Steam from the auxiliary header is also used for drying
and heating grain in the elevators.
Engine Room
In the room adjoining the boilers there are installed
a 600-kw General Electric horizontal turbo-generator, a
six-panel motor-feeder switchboard and several auxil-
iary engines. The turbine unit operates on 175-lb. pres-
sure and exhausts into an Alberger Spiroflo condenser in
the basement. Energy is generated at 480 volts and
sixty cycles and distributed at the same pressure to
some twenty-one motors having a total rating of about
930 hp. For the lamp circuits the generated pressure
is stepped down to 220/110 volts by three 15-kva trans-
formers.
The switchboard in addition to having generator and
exciter panels contains four motor-feeder panels, one
of which supports the feeder oil switch connected to the
motors, which must be operated simultaneously. The
accompanying diagram shows the scheme of interlock-
ing the motors, which can be extended at any time to
include more units. If one motor oil switch in the
interlocked system opens owing to an overload or energy
interruption all the rest will do likewise. This oper-
ation is effected by reconnecting the no-voltage relays
and contacts on the feeder oil switch and on each motor
compensator as shown. A, B and C represent the con-
tactor upon opening will thus trip the no-voltage relays
on the other motors, either directly or indirectly, by first
tripping the main oil switch.
Distribution System
All wires in motor and lamp circuits are inclosed
in conduits which are run exposed along the ceilings,
FIG. 3 — DIAGRAM SHOWING SCHEME OF INTERLOCKING
MOTORS
passing around the girders in most cases rather than
through them. Porcelain clamp insulators are used ex-
clusively for supporting the conduits. Metal distribut-
ing cabinets are employed, and where circuits enter
them the holes are fitted with porcelain bushings to
segregate the conduits and prevent the metal of cabi-
nets from becoming energized by an accidental con-
nection between a conductor and a conduit. The dis-
tributing panels are made of slate and all distributing
switches are of the knife type.
Grain Unloading
The apparatus for unloading the grain boats consists
of an endless-chain bucket elevator supported vertically
at the end of a movable cantilever beam so that its lower
end may be lowered into the vessel's hatchway. The
arm supporting the unloading apparatus is hinged at
PIG. 2 TURBO GENERATOR FURNISHING ALL ENERGY
PIG. 1 CONVEYOR DISTRIBUTING GRAIN TO ELEVATORS
ductora of the three-phase motor circuit. Across one
phase i- connected a series circuit consisting of all the
relay contactors, a scries resistance ami the no-voltage
relay COil Of the main feeder switch. The no-voltage
coll "ii each motor cunt ml oil switch is connected in
Willi a definite resistance as shown, while the
overload coils are connected as usual. An\ relay con-
its lower end so that it may be folded up into a con-
crete tower at one end of the building. One 50-hp in-
duction motor operates the grain-unloading elevator and
also raises the cantilever beam, the former through a
wire cable drive and the latter by a cable wound on a
drum. The motor may be connected to drive either by
shifting a clutch lever. Although the weight of the
January 9, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
107
bucket elevator automatically lowers the supporting
arm as the vessel's cargo is removed, men are employed
to see that the lower end of the elevator is always sur-
rounded with grain. The buckets scoop up the grain in
the ship's hold and as they tip over at the top of their
travel deliver the grain to a gravity chute (emptying
into an automatic weighing hopper) which discharges
/Grain hoppe,
gear-driver,
FIG. 5 — MOTOR-DRIVEN DISTRIBUTING CONVEYOR
OVER GRAIN TANKS
into an endless-belt conveyor running beneath the grain-
storage tanks.
Belt Conveyors
There are two endless-belt conveyors in the building,
the one just mentioned below the storage tanks which
receives grain from the ships or freight cars by gravity
chutes and another above the tanks which distributes the
grain among the tanks. When grain is shipped by rail
it is unloaded from the cars by motor-driven grain
shovels and dumped into the gravity chutes discharg-
ing on the lower conveyor. A 5-hp motor operates the
shovels, while the receiving conveyor is driven by a
15-hp motor. The latter transfers its charge to bucket
elevators (belt-driven by a 100-hp motor) which deliver
the grain to a hopper at the top of the building. From
this hopper the wheat is fed into the distributing con-
veyor which removes the dust, chaff, etc., and then dumps
shown in the accompanying diagram. The belt is driven
by a 10-hp motor geared to the smaller end-pulley.
Grain is delivered on the upper run of the conveyor
belt at the large-pulley end, and as the belt passes
around the small pulley in the carriage the grain is
thrown into the carriage hopper by its momentum,
while the chaff which is lighter follows the belt tempo-
rarily and drops off into a separate compartment. The
distributing carriage runs on a narrow-gage track
over the tanks, and two chutes attached to the carriage
at right angles to the track discharge the grain into
the tanks below. The distributing carriage is moved
along the track by transmitting the power delivered by
the moving belt to the drive wheels through friction
clutches.
As the grain is required for milling it is drawn off
at the bottom of the tanks and delivered to a number
of small bucket elevators which convey it to the top
floor of the "cleaning" section of the building, where
it is started in the process of cleaning. The purifying
apparatus is grouped on different floors so that gravity
can be employed to carry the grain through the ma-
chines in the proper order.
Distributed through the grain-cleaning section of the
building are magnetic separators which remove any par-
ticles of iron or steel which may have collected in the
grain. The latter then passes through oat separators,
scouring machines, mustard-seed separators and other
cleaning and purifying machinery. After passing
through any machinery which loosens chaff or dust the
grain is cleaned by a blast of air which deposits its bur-
den in a dust collector. These dust collectors are con-
spicuous throughout the building.
After being cleaned the grain passes through auto-
matic recording weighing hoppers and thence to gover-
nors which regulate the rate at which the grain is fed
to the milling machines by small bucket elevators.
There are sixty-three of these elevators, including those
serving the cleaning section of the building. The grain
to be milled is also conveyed to the top of the building
by elevators after being cleaned and is delivered by
gravity to the milling machines, which are arranged in
FIG. 6 300-HP MOTOR DRIVING FLOUR ROLLS
FIG. 7 — GROUP-DRIVEN FLOUR PURIFIERS
the clean grain into any one of the twenty-six grain-
storage tanks.
The distributing conveyor is shown in operation in
an accompanying illustration. The conveyor belt ex-
tends the full length of the tank compartment, passing
around pulleys of different diameter at each end and
over two small pulleys in the distributing carriage as
the proper descending sequence. Among the machines
through which the grain passes before it finally becomes
flour are dividers, wheat heaters, bolters, purifiers, reels,
graders, scrolls, bran and shorts dusters, mixers, rolls
and packers.
The several grades of flour in their finished form are
packed by motor-driven packing machines which weigh
108
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 2
which they are supplied, and the machines which they
drive. All of the motors are of the 440-volt, sixty-cycle,
three-phase induction type. The 300-hp, 200-hp and
100-hp sizes have wound rotors, whereas the others have
squirrel-cage secondaries. The circuits to each motor
are entirely inclosed in conduit, and the slip-rings on
FIG. 8 — MOTOR OPERATING GRAIN UNLOADER
FIG. 10 — GASOLINE-ENGINE-DRIVEN GENERATOR
the flour and automatically shut off the flour chute un- the three larger motors are short-circuited to prevent
til the next package is in place to be filled. sparking when operating at full speed. Each motor is
. supplied from its individual distributing box, the
quipmen squirrel-cage type being equipped with oil-switch corn-
Very few pieces of machinery in the building are pensators and the wound-rotor type with an oil-switch
driven by individual motors, as on each floor there are and starting controller. The 300-hp and 200-hp motors
ss'-a-—
Boiler Roon
37V- »* —
Turbine Room
-
Basement Plan Cleaning Machinery Dept
■ea-ii'-
Grain Storage Tanks
• Bracket Lights
<=» Circuit Panels & Switches
— • Wires
— Feeder •
• Risers
— Feeder Wires to Power Pond Bo/res
or Motors
• Risers to Power Panel Boxes or Motors
FIG. 9— PLAN AND ELEVATION OF FLOUR MILL, SHOWING LOCATION OF PRINCIPAL MOTORS
several machines which perform the same operation and
can consequently be driven economically in a group by
one motor. The motors are placed so as to drive these
groups with the least possible amount of shafting and
belting. The accompanying table gives a list of some
of the motors, their rating, the feeder circuits from
which drive through wire cables are also equipped with
elaborate cable tighteners.
Mill Illumination
The equivalent of 650 25-watt tungsten lamps are in-
stalled in the new building. Bracket supports are used
January 9, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
109
in some parts of the building, while Holophane steel
reflectors supported about 6 in. below the ceiling are
used over the shipping platform. The ninth floor of
the building will be devoted to office rooms and will
be lighted more elaborately. All lamps under the scale
pits, in the boiler room and outside the building are pro-
tected by cages. The large electric sign advertising
Henkel's flour, which is supported on top of the concrete
tower at the river end of the building, contains 600 10-
watt lamps. About 250 25-watt lamps are yet to be in-
stalled in the old mill.
DATA ON ELECTRICAL OPERATION OF FLOUR MILL
Motor Rating
Machine Driven
Loca-
tion,
Floor
Full-
Load
Speed
Belt
Belt
Belt
Gear
Above
tanks
S65
Out-
Bide
860
7
860
Base-
ment
S
To be
install-
ed later
1130
Belt
Belt
Belt
Gear
2 Milling separators
26 Allis rolls
1 Scourer
2 Prinz dust collectors
1 Automatic weighing machine
9 Invincible flour packers
1 Grain conveyor
3 Invincible magnetic separators
2 Prinz dust collectors
7 Fraser dividers
11 Fraser bolters
One Double-rotor suction fan
36-in.
2 Prinz wheat scourers
1 Hock wheat heater
1 Fraser aspirator
3 Prinz dust collectors
14 Fraser purifiers
2 "Little Wonder" reels
1 Prinz four-reel wheat grader
1 Prinz oat grader
2 Fraser aspirators
:i McFrrly scrolls
2 Niagara bran dusters
1 Niagara shorts duster
One Double-rotor suction fan
36-in.
1 Prinz mustard and flax separ.
5 Prinz dust collectors
2 Frasrr feeder mixers
63 Burmeister elevators
Elevators
1 Grain elevator
1 Otis elevator
4 Allis reels
1 Mustard separator
1 Attraction mill
Coal and ash handling
Pancake flour machinery
1 Belt conveyor
2 3-tou car pullers
5 "Little Wonder" bolters
Grain shovels
4 Mixers
Man elevators
Base, to
top of
tanks
to hop-
pers
FIG. 11 — UNLOADING GRAIN WITH MOTOR DRIVE
A 15-kw, 110-volt direct-current generator directly
connected to a Westinghouse gasoline engine which was
installed in the old building has been transferred to the
new mill to be used as an emergency lighting set.
Data for Five Weeks' Operation
Over a period of five weeks' operation the following
data were collected: With a 28-in. vacuum the turbine
generated 1 kw-hr. of energy per 17.1 lb. of steam. West
Virginia pea, nut and slack coal, costing $2.10 per ton,
is used. The usual day load is about 700 amp at 480
volts. An average of 1200 bbl. of flour has been milled
and packed with a consumption of 18,450 lb. of coal.
The mill operates night and day.
The plant was designed by the Fraser Company, Mil-
waukee, Wis., the electrical apparatus was supplied by
the General Electric Company, and the electrical work
was done under the supervision of Mr. William C. Blag-
den. Mr. F. H. June is chief engineer of the plant.
The officers of the Commercial Milling Company are:
President, Mr. Robert Henkel; vice-president, Mr. Will-
iam V. Brace; secretary and treasurer, Mr. F. G. Em-
mons; superintendent, Mr. John Holtorf.
i the circuits denoted by letters in Column 1 may be interlocked
Effect of Air Leakage on Jet Condensers
Unless special care is taken to remove air which may
leak into exhaust mains leading to condensers, the
vacuum may be considerably reduced. In a paper pre-
sented before the Engineers1 Society of Western Penn-
sylvania, Mr. C. L. W. Trinks pointed out that the
vacuum produced by one jet condenser tested dropped
from 28.5 in. to 23.2 in. when air weighing 1.4 per cent
of the steam entering was admitted. With two other
types of condensers only 1 per cent of air by weight re-
duced the vacuum considerably. Sometimes injection
water cbntains as much as 2 per cent air by volume or
0.125 per cent of the weight of the steam. Air may
also leak into the exhaust-steam mains. Mr. Trinks de-
clared that there need be no drop in the vacuum due to
the leakage of a small amount of air if the air pumps
are designed to remove the correct amount.
110
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 2
Individual Motor Drive in Pen and Pencil Factory
The plant of W. S. Hicks & Sons, 235 Greenwich
Street, New York, manufacturers of gold and platinum
pens and pencils, has until recently been operated by
one large motor, and a complicated system of line and
counter shafts was employed. With the shafting many
stalled. The motors were installed by the C. C. Bohn
Electric Company, of New York. Energy is obtained
from the New York Edison Company.
FIG. 1 — OLD BELT-DRIVEN SYSTEM
belts had to be used, and the workrooms were neces-
sarily noisy and dusty. In order to eliminate the
overhead shafting and belting individual belted-motor
drive has been adopted throughout the plant, except in
what is known as the pen shop, where a 0.5-hp motor is
used for local drive. A number of small high-speed
turning lathes are used in this establishment ; the
motors which operate them are provided with speed-
regulating and reversing devices, and foot-treadle
switches are used to control the machines. Separate
motors are also provided for the draw-benches, furnace
blast and polishing machines. The motors for the draw-
benches and furnace blast are operated by remote-
control push-button switches, placed at points along the
machines convenient to the operator. The motors oper-
FIO. 2 NEW INDIVIDUAL-MOTOR EQUIPMENT
ate on 220 volts and were made by the Robbii
U er Company. There are sixteen 0.12-Vhp motors.
tWO 0.25-hp motor,, tw.. 0.6 hp motors, one 1 li ] ' motor
;uicl one 7-hp motor. A 2000-watl plating generator la
in the plant. Pigs. I and 2 show the plant
with the old shaft and bell arrangement and the plant
as it appeared after individual motor drive had been in-
Steam Versus Electricity in a Corset Factory
A New England central station recently investigated
the comparative cost of steam and electrical operation
in a corset factory, with the result that the owner was
convinced that the motor drive offered sufficient ad-
vantage in running expense and convenience of service
to warrant early installation. The plant had a friction
TABLE I — COST OF PRESENT STEAM PLANT OPERATION.
ONE YEAR
Coal $l,S00.0i>
Labor 1,000.00
Gas and maintenance 522.00
Water 10.",. no
Interest on boiler plant at 5 per cent 75.m>
Depreciation on boiler plant at 10 per cent 150.00
Electric lighting 80.00
Repairs and supplies 90.00
Total (steam) J3.S22.0O
load of 37.2 hp, the average load on the 100-hp engine
in service being only 40.1 hp. This excessive loss in
transmission, combined with a poor engine load-factor,
made the demonstration of superior economy by the use
of central-station service comparatively easy.
With the proposed electric drive twenty-two three-
phase, 440-volt induction motors aggregating 49 hp are
required, the range of the motors being from 2 hp
to 6 hp. In the new layout a 2-hp motor is provided
for each sewing machine table, there being twenty
machines per table; two 6-hp motors are called for in
connection with the elevator service, and three tape
winders are provided with a 1-hp motor in each case.
A 3-hp motor is to drive a cutter and a 1-hp motor
will operate a grindstone. The power layout provides
for placing the motors under the tables with a silent-
chain drive to the machine countershaft, the chains and
sprockets being inclosed to avoid accidents and greasing
the material handled by the employees. Switches are to
be placed either under the tables or on the walls and
inclosed in fireproof boxes to guard against contact.
The installation of sixteen 650-watt electric irons in
place of an equal number of gas irons was figured in
the operating cost, supplying the irons on the power
rate. The necessary lighting installation was found to
TABLE II — ESTIMATED COST OF ELECTRICAL OPERATION
Coal for heating, 136 tens at $i v. <•
' lays .o S2 10
Water
Interest on boiler plant, 6 per cent
Di ilation on boiler plant, 5 percent (steam heating)
Repairs 10. oo
Supplies
int. i . i Ipment, 10 pet
Central-station energy, total Input, 1416 kw-hr. per month 1,674 04
i (electric) $3,103.79
total 7 kw connected load, the usual unit being a 100-
watt lamp equipped with an enameled-steel reflector and
plai 'il directly over the machine.
The installation cost of the motor-driven service was
found to he $2,800, including wiring for motors, lamps
and irons, a lighting transformer of aboul 7 ' g-kw rating.
twenty-two motors, silent chains and housings, lamps,
irons and all machine work necessary to equip the ele-
vators and other apparatus in the plant. From the
tables herewith it will lie seen that the net estimated
saving in operation by electricity is $718.21 a year, or
25.7 percent on cost of installing central-station service.
January 9, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Operating Cost Analysis in an Underwear Factory
In a study of energy costs recently made in an under-
wear factory in New England the engineers of the local
central station found that with mechanical drive about
60 hp was required to run the installation. The esti-
mated yearly operating costs of the plant as a whole,
on the steam-engine basis and with electric motors, are
given in the tables. They show a saving in operating
cost by electricity of $546.60.
TABLE I — PRESENT COST OF STEAM POWER OPERATION
Coal. 250 tons at $5 $2,250.00
Labor in plant 1,040.00
Water 64.80
Oil, waste, etc 45.00
Repairs 50.00
Removal of ashes 28.00
Total $3,477.S0
The survey showed that with electric drive an
average load of only 31.6 hp, with a maximum of 42 hp,
would be required, including an allowance for energy
used in lighting and in the operation of an elevator
pump and deducting the power lost in shafting, hangers
and belts. The cost of the electrical installation, in-
cluding individual motor drive, was estimated at about
$3,000, so that, even allowing 10 or 12 per cent for
depreciation, insurance and taxes, there would still be
a saving in the electrical service of this factory.
The power report advocated the use of motors under
the machine tables, with silent chain drives guarded
from contact by employees, and pointed out that the
TABLE II— ESTIMATED COST OF ELECTRICAL OPERATION
Coal, heating only, 150 tons at $5 $750.00
Water 10.00
Supplies 10.00
Repairs 20.00
Fireman 168.00
Electrical energy purchased 1,663.20
Removal of ashes 10.00
Total $2,931.20
adoption of electric service would not only assist in
the better routing of the material and insure great
cleanliness in departments at present subjected to stock
damage from lint, dust and oil thrown by belts, but
would get rid of five countershafts, sixty-five hangers
and thirtv-nine belts.
Electric Motors in the Portland Cement Industry
Data on a local cement mill recorded under the direc-
tion of Mr. Gordon Weaver, "power-sales" manager of
the Kansas City (Mo.) Electric Light Company, over a
period of one year and four months, show that in this
plant an average of 20.05 kw-hr. of energy is used to
manufacture a barrel of cement. The number of kilo-
watt-hours used per month per horse-power connected
was for the same period 309. The rating of the plant
is 2000 bbl. of cement a day, and the average daily
plant output during the year ended Aug. 1, 1914, was
1924 bbl., thus showing that the plant after reaching
its stride had operated near its full rating at all times.
One hundred and sixty men are employed at the cement
factory, which operates twenty-four hours a day and
365 days a year. Exclusive of the lighting the con-
nected load at the mill is 3668 hp and the maximum de-
mand is 2500 kw. The load-factor on a 720-hour-a-
month basis is 65 per cent. All of the motors are of the
Wagner induction three-phase, twenty-five-cycle, 440-
volt type, and an effort has been made to obtain inter-
changeability by purchasing as nearly as possible all
motors of the same speed, 750 r.p.m. Most of the large
motors are started on reduced voltage. Electrical en-
ergy is delivered from the central station to the cement
plant over a double transmission line operating at 33,-
000 volts and terminating in a bank of three single-
phase, 750-kva transformers.
TABLE I— DATA ON ENERGY USED AND CEMENT PRODUCED
Month
Kw-hr..
Total
Kw-hr.
Main
Mill
Kw-hr.
Coal
Mill
Bbls.
Cement
Main
Mill,
Kw-hr.
per Bbl.
Kw-hr.
per hp
Con-
nected
Kw-hr.
per Bbl..
Total
1913:
April
May
June
Julv
801,400
1.093.4(10
1,104.000
1. HI. 000
1,18(1,000
1.014,000
1.041,000
1,119.000
1,115.000
1,104,000
955,000
1,233.000
1.260,000
1,318, i
1,278.000
1,318,000
692. 6S0
954,920
974,160
970,300
1,024,960
870.240
890,520
975,240
1,079,880
1.027.6S0
832,120
1,086,120
1.023.200
1.175,920
1,133,280
1, 159,360
103,720
138, 180
129, S40
140,640
161,040
143,760
150,480
143,760
135.120
136,320
122,880
146,8811
136,800
142.080
141.720
41,534
55.615
50,272
55,047
64,050
57,049
53.168
53,336
50,010
53,020
45.366
57.824
60.827
67.055
16.67
17 17
19 37
17 60
16.00
15.25
16 74
18 32
21 59
Id 38
18.34
18.78
is 46
17 53
16 64
16 67
218
298
300
302
323
276
284
305
304
317
261
332
343
359
349
359
19 29
Id oii
21 95
20 18
Augus!
September
October
November ...
December
1914:
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
ii, 95
17.77
1!) 57
20 98
22 2g
21 95
21 05
21 32
20.71
19 65
18.76
18.95
Total.
Average. .
18,110,800
1,129. (Kill
16,870,640 |2,233.240J901,803
1.051.000 139,300 56,250
284.51
17.77
4930
308
321 03
20.05
When the former steam installation at the mill was
abandoned for electric drive, Griffin mills were dis-
carded and tube mills and "slypeb" mills were installed.
Other new equipment was also added. Of the old steam
TABLE II— MOTOR APPLICATIONS
\'(. Hp R p "
750
7.M i
760
750
750
l.'n-. tube mill.
Finish tube mill.
Raw comminutor mill.
Finish comminutor mill.
B3 Ipeb" mill.
750 Rook crusher (7 5 lustin)
750 Span- motor.
75(1 Blower.
75(1 Hoist
750 Spare.
750 Rock drier.
375 Kiln: variable speed motor-
750 Clinker cooler.
750 Tube mill elevator and conveyor (raw).
7511 Drier, blower
Comminutor elevator and Ci
Tube mill elevator and conveyor (finish).
Screv conveyi ir -' >ck hou
Gypsum and coal bell conveyor.
( loaJ crusher.
Mam rock belt and elevator.
Spare
Packing-house conveyor '
Ri ick elevator.
"Sylpeb" elevator
Clinker belt (finish)
Rook, pan conveyor.
Pump motor.
Shovel "-
Shovel.
I -hop
Winder, electric repair shop.
Quarry, blacksmith shop.
Clinker elevator.
haker.
Single phase; iabi ratory.
New rock crusher
Synchronous; direct to Sullivan" 1 5'
Westinghou i ullii an 1500 ft. i
Commimutor coal mill
Elevator, coal mill.
Conveyor, coal mill
Conveyor, coal mil!.
* Installed since July 1. Consumption not included in data.
installation one 300-hp Oil City boiler was retained, and
it is now used for heating the office in winter and for
supplying steam to atomize oil burned under two driers
in the plant. Coal is burned in four kilns.
75' I
750
75(1
750
750
750
750
751 1
7511
75(1
1500
1500
7.511
750
112
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 2
Operating Kinks
Locking Steam Valves to Prevent Accidents
To protect its employees from being scalded by steam
while working in boilers or repairing prime movers, the
Edison Electric Illuminating Company of Brooklyn,
N. Y., has established the practice of locking steam
FIG. 1 — STEAM-HEADER
VALVE LOCKED
FIG. 2 — BLOW - OFF AND
FEEDER VALVES LOCKED
blow-offs, drain and feeder valves with a padlock and
chain, as shown in the accompanying illustration. By
doing this and requiring all employees to get permis-
sion from the engineer on watch before opening any
valves accidents have been prevented which might
otherwise have occurred. In locking a valve a chain is
wound around the rim and spoke of the hand wheel and
locked to the yoke. All of the padlocks can be opened
by one key which is kept by a man who is fully ac-
quainted with any repair work that may be going on in
the station.
It has been found to be especially desirable to lock
valves in pipes leading to prime movers which are
being repaired or in boiler headers to prevent any acci-
dental opening of valves and thus allow steam to leak
into a unit which is being repaired or is having the
boiler scale removed or the grate bars renewed.
Boilers Permanently Equipped with Soot Blowers
All boilers in the 201st Street Station of the United
Electric Light & Power Company, New York City, are
equipped with soot blowers so that deposits on the water
tubes can be removed every twenty-four hours. The
blower equipment of each boiler consists of seven hori-
zontal pipes equally spaced above the upper row of water
tubes. Each of these pipes is equipped with twenty-
one nozzles which arc inclined so that they will blow
diagonally through the nest of tubes. The nozzle head-
ers are connected with a common supply header above
the boiler by vertical pipes. As the soot blowers are ex-
l to intense heat they had to be protected from
melting by allowing air to circulate through the supply
pipes and nozzles during the normal operation of the
boiler. As a partial vacuum is maintained over the
grates anyway, il ble to obtain the desired air
ition by installing a ball valve in the Bupph pipe
leading to the nozzles. Tins valve allows cool air to be
" into the blower pipe bj the vacuum in the fur-
nace but does not allow a reverse current when com-
pressed air is supplied to the nozzle for removing
from the tubes.
Drying Wipers by Generating Room Exhaust
At the hydroelectric generating plant of the Rumford
Falls (Maine) Power Company wiping cloths used in-
stead of waste in cleaning machinery are dried after
DRYING WIPERS BY ENGINE-ROOM EXHAUST
being put through an electric washing outfit by exposing
them to warm air discharged from the operating room,
as shown in the accompanying photograph. To the dis-
charge duct leading above the roof is attached a home-
made lateral galvanized-iron box 4 ft. high, 2 ft. 7 in.
deep and 3 ft. 10 in. wide, with eighteen louvers 5% in-
wide each, hung on wires terminating in bent ends on the
sides of the chamber. The cloths are pinned to a line
fastened to a %-in. pipe frame carried outward in front
of the louvers, and a small fan motor in the further side
of the chamber forces air through the louvers and facili-
tates rapid drying. The louvers are of the swinging
type to prevent back drafts and the entrance of rain or
snow, in case the motor is not in use. Cloths have been
used eighteen times by utilizing this outfit, a combina-
tion of the electric washer and of cleaning powder hav-
ing done away entirely with the use of waste. The
plant is heated electrically throughout.
Portable Equipment for Soldering
When it is impossible to employ gasoline blow torches
in heating metal which has to be soldered a small motor
PORTABLE AIR COMPRESSOR FOR SOLDERING TORCH
may be used to drive a rotary pump delivering air to
a blowpipe burner. So that the equipment may be
portable Hie pump and motor should be mounted on a
common base provided with casters. To avoid aligning
January 9, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
113
the shafts of the units they can be connected with flexi-
ble or universal couplings. Energy can be supplied to
the motor through flexible conductors. The method of
connecting the equipment is represented in the accom-
panying drawing.
Wiring Safeguards in Sterling (111.) Station
To make it impossible for an operator in the hydro-
electric station of the Illinois Northern Utilities Com-
pany at Sterling, 111., to close oil switches on the 2300-
FIG. 1 — 33,000-VOLT APPARATUS AT STERLING STATION
volt switchboard without first knowing that the ap-
paratus he is connecting is in synchronism, the 125-volt
circuits actuating the switches are connected through
the synchronizing sockets. If the synchronizing plug
is not in place, the oil-switch control circuit is open, and
therefore an operator's first action when he wants to
throw a switch must be to put the synchronizing plug in
The 2300-volt board in this station is also equipped
with a relay bus arranged near the top of the switch-
board framework. Disconnecting switches mounted in
neat alignment beneath this bus may be thrown upward
to make connections through the relay bus and thus de-
energize the oil switches, instrument transformers and
wiring, so that men may work on any apparatus near
the lower part of the board without fear of receiving a
shock.
As a part of the 33,000-volt equipment, the larger dis-
connect switches have been arranged with back posi-
tions so that energy may leave the station without pass-
ing through the high-tension oil switches. The latter
units, therefore, may be inspected or repaired without
danger at any time. The illustrations herewith show
the 750-kva transformers and 2300-volt board on the
first floor and the high-tension equipment in one of the
upper galleries of the station.
FIG. 2 — TRANSFORMERS AND MAIN SWITCHBOARD
the socket provided for it. While this action makes the
oil switch operative, it also connects the synchroscope
and lamps in the circuit and calls attention to the fact
that synchronism either does or does not exist.
Old Condenser Serves New Turbine with Increased
Rating
When a 5000-kw vertical turbine in the power house
of the Metropolitan Street Railway Company, Kansas
City, Mo., was recently replaced by a 10,000-kva, 6600-
volt, twenty-five-cycle, three-phase horizontal turbo-gen-
erator the condenser which had served the old machine
was used with the new unit. The condenser is a three-
pass unit with 20,000 sq. ft. of cooling surface, and it
is estimated that it can easily maintain sufficient vacu-
um, since the steam guarantee on the old machine was
21 lb. per kw-hr. and the guarantee on the new machine
is about 14 lb. per kw-hr.
Heating of Water Tanks in Winter
In the operation of a small power plant it frequently
happened that an insufficient supply of steam was deliv-
ered to the various points at which this was to be used.
This was due to a minor though vital method of opera-
tion.
It was the practice of the engineer on extremely cold
days to open the valve on a 1%-in. high-pressure steam
line which discharged into an exposed water tank. This
was done in order to prevent freezing of the tank water.
The amount of steam that can be supplied by a 1%-in.
line blowing directly into a body of water is enormous,
and it was sufficient in this case to cripple the service
at other points. As the service was already over-
burdened and subject to varying demands, it was only
after repeated occurrences that the difficulty was traced
to its source.
The supply of steam to the tank could have been lim-
ited by the throttling of the supply valve, but this would
have meant more or less supervision with the possibility
of the water freezing in the meantime.
A better method for such a condition is to install a
14-in. or V2-in. steam line connected to such a tank and
arranged to deliver steam continuously from the start
of winter, by which means the temperature of the water
may be maintained at such a point that sudden demands
for steam on the colder days would be unnecessary. In
other words, it is better to supply steam continuously
to a tank in small quantities than to attempt to supply
a large "amount in a short period, unless the capacity of
the station is arranged for such emergencies, which is
usually not advisable. In the latter event the tank
should have a direct connection from the tank to the
steam header in the boiler room, and not be connected
to piping that is used for other purposes.
114
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 2
Extracts and Abstracts
Preventing Bursting of Flywheels
Statistics show that the percentage of flywheels
which burst is larger than the percentage of boilers
which explode. It appears, therefore, that conditions
causing the bursting of flywheels should be as carefully
studied and prevented as those producing boiler explo-
sions. According to the monthly bulletin of the
Fidelity & Casualty Company of New York, flywheels
in themselves have not been found to be defective very
often but some accident to or disarrangement of the
speed-governing mechanism allows the engine to race
and thereby burst the flywheel. By giving attention
to governing apparatus accidents may therefore be pre-
vented.
Peat as a Source of Power
In a paper on "Sources of Power" read at the Lenox
(Mass.) convention of the National Association of Cot-
ton Manufacturers, Mr. F. W. Dean, consulting engineer,
Boston, Mass., commented upon the value of peat as a
fuel in power development. Peat is widely deposited,
occurring in shallow, wet depressions. It is estimated
that there are 13,000,000,000 tons of it in the United
States, exclusive of Alaska, and that its potential value
is about $3 per ton. Peat is always wet and contains
from 85 to 95 per cent of water, necessitating aid-drying
before use. If exposed to the atmosphere, water is im-
mediately re-absorbed. Atmospheric drying for a few
days reduces its weight 50 per cent, and continued dry-
ing in sun and wind will reduce its weight from 8 to 25
per cent. It must be compressed for use commercially,
as air-dried peat requires from eight to eighteen times
the space of good coal and when fired in boilers calls for
almost continuous shoveling. The heating value varies
from 5200 to 9300 lb.-Fahr. heat units per lb., surpass-
ing wood and lignites. Peat burns with a clear flame,
forming a hot, responsive fire, a small amount of ash and
no clinkers. Producer gas from peat contains from 132
to 175 lb.-Fahr. heat units per cu. ft., compared with
144 to 156 from coal.
Prevention of Boiler Scale and Corrosion
The prevention of boiler scale and corrosion does not
depend so much upon the compound employed appar-
ently as on the method of using it. At a meeting of the
American Society of Mechanical Engineers held re-
cently in San Francisco Mr. A. H. Babcock described the
method used for preventing boiler-tube trouble in the
Fruitvale (Cal.) power plant of the Southern Pacific
Company. The compound employed consisted of anhy-
drous sodium carbonate, 76 per cent; tri-sodium phos-
phate, 10 per cent; starch, 1 per cent; tannic acid. :!
per cent, and water, 10 per cent. The constituents were
dissolved in hot water and added to the boiler-feed
water in such quantities as always to maintain a con-
central ion of :! per cent normal alkaline strength. In
order to maintain a uniform concentration it was q<
Bary to treat each boiler individually, as it was found
to add a certain number of pounds of
ompound per pound of coal burned or per gallon of
feed water supplied to the boilers. Instead, a chemical
analysis of each boiler's content was made before pre-
determining the amount and to be added. The
water had to be ' da- in order to make up for
deficiency in alkalinity, as some compound was re-
moved when (lie boilers Were Mown oil and some was
lost by combination with impurities in the teed water.
In practice the percentage of alkalinity of the water
was determined by multiplying by 0.002 the number of
cubic centimeters of one-tenth normal sulphuric acid re-
quired to neutralize 50 cu. cm of the boiler water.
Methyl orange and phenolphtalein were used as indi-
cators.
The effectiveness of this boiler compound is shown by
the following figures. Before boiler-water treatment
was employed tubes were being replaced at the rate of
1400 a year, while in the three months following the use
of the compound tube replacement was rapidly de-
creased to zero. The treatment costs less than $100 a
month as compared with $10,000 a year, the former ex-
pense of replacing tubes.
Besides preventing pitting due to the presence of
sodium carbonate, the compound also prevents the for-
mation of scale as solid particles are kept in suspen-
sion until the boilers are blown off. All salts are pre-
cipitated in colloidal form as the tannic acid prevents
crystallization. Priming is minimized by the tri-
sodium phosphate. When the compound is first used
it loosens the rust and may start leaks. To remove solid
matter the boiler should be washed frequently.
At the Fruitvale plant it is usually necessary to add
from 4 lb. to 20 lb. of compound to each boiler during
a watch. For treating the water employed in the loco-
motives operated by the Southern Pacific Company it
has been customary to add 3 lb. of compound per 1000
gal. of feed water. In some localities it may not be pos-
sible to maintain a concentration of 3 per cent because
of priming, in which case corrosions may be consider-
ably retarded with boiler water averaging as low as
0.5 per cent alkalinity.
A. S. M. E. Boiler Report Receives Considerable
Attention
The importance of the problem that has arisen in the
formulation of the Boiler Code was emphasized by the
attention that was given to the report of the boiler
specifications committee of the American Society of
Mechanical Engineers at its recent annual meeting. Six
separate sessions having an aggregate duration of
twenty hours were devoted exclusively to the discus-
sion of the Boiler Code and the work of the committee.
At the first session Mr. John A. Stevens, chairman of
the Boston specification committee, called attention to
the need for a boiler code, outlined the progress of the
committee considering this code, and explained how pro-
visions have been made for receiving further sugges-
tions or criticisms of the report. During the discussion
which followed a number raised objections to the
method of procedure employed by the committee, and
others expressed themselves against including legis-
lative requirements in the code, saying that it should
concentrate upon technical rulings and engineering fea-
tures only. The majority of those attending the meet-
ing, however, favored the general plan and commended
the committee for its work.
The safety-valve requirements which had been ap-
proved at a conference of safety-valve manufacturers
and the boiler committee, and had been considered an
important advance in this direction, were not well re-
ceived by practical men. Those who had had actual
experience in inspecting boilers criticised the require-
m. n:s on the ground that they were too complicated
and cumbersome for convenient use and also because the
method of basing the steam producing ability on the
heating value of the coal would in certain cases re-
quire a larger safety valve to be applied if boilers were
moved to states where different fuels would be em-
ployed. As the criticism on the modified requirement
January 9, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
of this section was so strong, it was decided to refer the
entire problem back to the safety-valve conference at
which the requirements were proposed. /
Owing to a diversified opinion on the welding of shell
joints, this section of the report was slightly modified.
The materials specifications in their present form are
acceptable to the society, but where they differ slightly
from those of the American Society for Testing Mate-
rials it is probable that the specifications of the latter
will be made to agree with those of the American So-
ciety of Mechanical Engineers. Amplification of speci-
fications to cover iron rivets, staybolt steel, bar iron
and bar steel was referred to the committee representa-
tives of steel manufacturers with instructions to select
specifications from the standards of the American So-
ciety for Testing Materials to cover the requirements.
The new tube specification which was the result of the
first complete conference of boiler-tube manufacturers
of America was favorably commented upon.
The quality of steel for various parts of boilers was
considered more thoroughly than it has ever been be-
fore, with the result that the section relating to it was
completely modified and settled to the satisfaction of all
In general, the ruling now stands that furnaces, shells,
combustion chambers, or any part of boilers under pres-
sure and exposed to the products of combustion, have to
be made of firebox-grade steel. It was suggested that
the specifications for heating boilers be separated from
those for power boilers so that the particular require-
ments of each class of boilers can be adequately treated.
This matter was referred to a representative commit-
tee of heating-boiler manufacturers for further study.
Various requirements unintentionally limiting the size
of boilers or enforcing unnecessary hardships on manu-
facturers received careful attention at this time. The
clause limiting the length of longitudinal joints was
stricken out and that referring to the process of form-
ing butt-straps radically modified.
Questions of factor of safety and age limit were
referred to a committee consisting of Profs. A. M.
Greene, Jr., and William Kent and Messrs. Frederick
Sargent, F. H. Clark, Thomas E. Durban and H. G.
Stott. A motion was made and carried that a new set of
tables on the efficiencies of riveted joints be prepared,
using a tensile strength of 55,000 lb. only and the new
revised shearing-strength values for rivets. A motion
was also made that the code be re-drafted so as to elimi-
nate all legislative requirements and to include techni-
cal rulings and engineering features only.
Factor of Safety for Boilers
For high-pressure boilers a factor of safety of five
is none too high. During service they are subjected to
intermittent stresses due to expansion and contraction
caused by alternate heating and cooling. Varying
stresses are also set up by a "breathing action" caused
by the irregular rate at which steam is supplied to re-
ciprocating engines. The Fidelity & Casualty Company
of New York advises increasing the factor of safety
with length of service as intermittent stresses gradu-
ally fatigue metal. The factor includes a true factor of
safety and also a factor of ignorance. The latter allows
for non-uniformity of strength in material, deteriora-
tion resulting from abuse during construction, and
varying qualities of workmanship. The true factor of
safety takes into consideration changes in load and the
yield point of the material. If the factor is based on the
ultimate strength of the material, the actual margin of
safety is considerably lower than it would be if the
yield point or elastic limit were considered as the basis
for estimating.
Questions and Answers
Ball Bearings for Meters
Is there any relatively inexpensive, reliable and frictionless
substitute for diamond bearings in meters? P. M. A.
One of the large central-station companies is equip-
ping all of its direct-current meters with ball bearings.
These have been found practically equivalent to steel
points bearing on diamond cups so far as friction is con-
cerned. Ball bearings last practically indefinitely, and
are less expensive than diamonds.
"Phasing Out" Transformers
Frequently we are required to interconnect different designs of
single-phase transformer to furnish three-phase service. Please
describe a simple method of determining their relative polarities.
A. G. K.
In a single-phase transformer the high-tension and
low-tension voltages must be either in phase or in op-
position, therefore it is a simple matter to determine the
relative polarity of the terminals. Assuming that A
and B are the high-voltage terminals and C and D the
low-tension taps, connect B and C and apply a low volt-
age to A and B. If the voltage across AD is greater
than that applied to AB, the primary and secondary
pressures act additively. If the pressure across AD is
less than that across AB, the primary and secondary
voltages are opposed to each other. All transformers
giving the increased voltage reading with this test may
have their corresponding terminals marked with oppo-
site signs. If the over-all voltage is less than that ap-
plied, corresponding terminals may be marked with
similar signs. These signs will indicate how the trans-
formers should be connected. For instance, if the pri-
maries are to be connected in Y, all primary terminals
of one sign are connected together and those marked op-
positely connected to the three supply wires. Similarly
if the secondaries are to be connected in delta, the posi-
tive terminal on each transformer should be connected
to the negative tap on the next.
Rate of Water Flow to Cool Transformers
What is the most economical rate at which water should be
circulated through transformer cooling coils? H. G. P>.
Water of ordinary temperature should be circulated
through transformer cooling coils at the rate of 0.25 gal.
per minute per kilowatt loss. As 1 kw will raise the
temperature of 3.8 gal. of water 1 deg. C. in one minute,
the temperature difference between water inlet and out-
let should be about 15 deg. C, provided that the sepa-
rating medium is a good conductor. Increasing the rate
of flow will decrease the temperature rise of water in
inverse ratio, while the temperature of the windings is
lowered approximately one-half the amount by which
the temperature of the water is lowered. On the other
hand, decreasing the water rate increases the tempera-
ture rise in inverse proportion and the temperature of
the windings is raised about one-half the amount that
the water temperature is increased. For example, if
the rate is increased from 0.25 gal. to 0.375 gal. per
minute per kilowatt loss, the difference between water
inlet and outlet temperatures will be reduced from 15
deg. C. to 10 deg. C, making the average temperature of
the water 2.5 deg. lower for the higher rate, and the
winding temperature will be correspondingly lower.
Therefore it can be seen that no great gain is made by
increasing the water rate. If, however, a heavy over-
load is placed on the transformer, it will be advisable to
116
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 2
increase the rate of flow. The initial temperature of
the water will, of course, have to be taken into consider-
ation.
turbo-generator units and reciprocating-engine units of
either the low-speed or the high-speed type can be oper-
ated in parallel provided that proper adjustment is
made in the load-speed characteristics.
Simultaneous Operation of Three-Wire Generators and
Balancer Sets
Can balancer sets and three-wire generators be operated on the
same system? O. B. H.
Balancer sets and three-wire generators cannot be
operated on the same system at the same time as the
compensator used with the latter will make a short-
circuit across the balancer set. If both types of ma-
chines must be operated together, the neutral of the
compensator must be disconnected and all load unbalanc-
ing taken care of by the balancer sets. The latter will
allow shifting of the neutral while three-wire generators
will not.
Advantages of Turbine-Driven Centrifugal Boiler-Feed
Pumps
What advantages are possessed by centrifugal boiler-feed water
pumps which make their installation so common nowadays?
W. S. C.
Centrifugal pumps operate with very little attention,
have a minimum of maintenance charge, and rating for
rating occupy much less space than a reciprocating
pump. Automatic control, while desirable, is not neces-
sary, because if the pump be left running with all of
the boiler-feed valves shut tight it merely churns up the
water in its casing without injury. Being a rotary
pump and operating at high speeds, it is especially suit-
able for connection to steam turbines or electric motors.
Usually steam turbines are employed in preference to
electric motors because the condensate from the turbine
can be used for heating the feed water. Besides, the
condensate does not contain contaminations in the shape
of oil.
Division of Load Between Engines
In a certain generating station containing a 75-kw, sixty-cycle,
three-phase unit driven by a Corliss engine and a 150-kw, sixty-
cycle, three-phase unit driven by a high-speed reciprocating engine,
it has been found that, although the units can be synchronized,
they will not operate properly together. When the load increases
the equilibrium is upset and the Corliss unit comes almost to a
standstill, and the attendant must open the circuit to prevent the
cross-current between the units from blowing the fuses. What can
be done to cause the units to operate satisfactorily in parallel?
D. F. F.
Doubtless the trouble encountered in operating the
generators in parallel has been caused by the lack of
similarity of the load-speed characteristics of the two
engines. In order for the two generators to divide the
load in proportion to their rat,ed output, the two engine
governors must be so adjusted that under load condi-
tions the drop in the speed of the one acting alone is
identical with the drop in speed of the other acting alone
carrying the same percentage of its full load as the
other engine. Unless there is an appreciable drop in
speed under load, the division of load between the units
in parallel will be unstable. Moreover, if the impulses
of the engine occur at time periods corresponding to
the vibratory periods of the two generators when con-
nected together electrically, then the units will "hunt."
That is, first one and then the other will take the load
with an accompanying interchange of large croa
rents between the generators, until Anally the two units
will be thrown out of step and the currents will increase
to th' lui Bj equipping the govern-
ors with dash-pots and adjusting them to give equal
"dropping" load-speed characteristics the trouble can
i • ome, provided thai I in- ret istance of
the interconnecting circuits is sufficiently low. Steam
Analysis of Cable Faults
Please describe how conditions in faulty cables may be de-
termined and how fault resistance may be reduced prior to locat-
ing the defects. X. E. L.
For the analysis of cable faults prior to their actual
location the following equipment may be employed:
Some form of bridge capable of measuring 0.1 ohm to
300 ohms, a sensitive voltmeter having a resistance of
200 ohms to 500 ohms per volt, and a direct-current
source and a 32-cp lamp of the same voltage. It is ad-
visable to provide at each cable terminal short flexible
conductors for connecting feeders or grounding them.
If three-conductor cables are used extensively the con-
nectors may consist of three conductors joined to a
common lead for grounding and equipped with clips for
clamping to the cable conductors. The preliminary ex-
periments consist of testing for continuity, crosses and
ground. The cable conductors should be tagged and
numbered and a chart made on which results of the test
can be noted. In cables containing more than one con-
ductor ruptures are usually accompanied by crosses and
ground. With both ends of the faulty cable clear and
other than test connections removed the far end of a
conductor and one side of the energy supply should be
grounded and the other side connected with the near
end of the conductor through the lamp to see if it burns
with the usual intensity. If there is any doubt, the
bridge should be employed to measure the conductor re-
sistance, which should be compared with the value as
computed from the length and size of the cable. In this
test the return circuit should be completed through a
good conductor to determine the resistance of the
"open" if there is one. Each conductor should then be
tested separately for insulation resistance by the well-
known series method employing the voltmeter. If any
conductor shows low resistance to ground the insulation
should then be measured with a bridge. Conductors
having a similar insulation resistance should be tested
in pairs for crosses by grounding one conductor and
seeing whether the insulation resistance is considerably
diminished. This should be done first by the series
method, then with the bridge. If the tests indicate
that any of the faults have more than 100 ohms resist-
ance, it should be reduced before proceeding with the
tests. The apparatus necessary for breaking down
faults depends largely on the size of the system. If high
voltage is required, the apparatus should be capable of
carrying the charging current. It is not necessary to
form a metallic connection at the fault, nor is it often
possible. The object should be to carbonize the paper
insulation at faults so that localizing tests can be con-
ducted. It is best to assume the paper wet or damp
and to dry it with 3 amp to 5 amp for about ten minutes
before carbonizing. Dry paper will carbonize in from
five to ten minutes with 1 amp flowing, giving a path of
10 ohms resistance, which is practically stable for test
currents of a few amperes. In any case a current-limit-
ing device should be inserted in the circuit to prevent a
surge. When special apparatus has to be provided for
break-down the most satisfactory results will usually be
obtained with a single-phase transformer supplied from
a low-tension system through a water rheostat. What-
ever scheme is followed, ammeters, voltmeters and watt-
meters should be employed for following fault condi-
tions and a direet-eurrent voltmeter should be connected
in series with the conductor for quickly checking the
fault resistance at frequent intervals.
January 9, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
117
COMMERCIAL SECTION
New York Appliance Salesroom Attracted Many
Christmas Shoppers
Crowds of Christmas shoppers visited the appliance
salesroom of the United Electric Light & Power Com-
pany, New York City, during the first three weeks in
December. While the purpose of the appliance-sales de-
partment is primarily to increase the load on the com-
f GIVE ,
USEFUL' J*
A GIFTS s> 9
Ui»-'£.' U112 Make this an Electrical Xmas
.V
hdd
ii.
136 HamiltonPlace \
Amsterdam Ave 4 H3rd St
r,
FIG. 1 — ILLUMINATED SIGN URGING ELECTRICAL GIFTS
pany's own lines, it is reported that over 30 per cent of
the articles sold during the last holiday season were sent
to other parts of the country. Sales ran especially high
on portable lamps and were also large on irons, toast-
ers, percolators and chafing dishes. The attention of
the public was attracted to the company's display of
electrical devices by the window displays and the il-
luminated signboard shown herewith, by appropriately
decorated signs on delivery wagons, and by holly-dec-
orated mailing folders representing Santa Claus point-
ing to a number of devices suitable for Christmas gifts.
Across the top of the folder were printed the words
" 'I'll stand by any United Electric gift!' says wise old
Santa." For the convenience of persons who were un-
able to call at the salesroom the company offered to send
appliance demonstrators on request. Also printed on
the folder were the words "The gift electrical, the kind
that always has a use."
All articles sold during the holiday season were
wrapped in holly-decorated tissue and wrapping paper,
bound with green tinsel cord and sealed with Christ-
mas stickers. Each purchaser was also provided with
a Christmas card on which his name was artistically
inscribed by an expert penman engaged by the com-
pany.
The display windows were too shallow for elaborate
decorations, so the one on the left in the accompany-
ing illustration was ingeniously extended as follows:
At the front of the window was erected a wide flat-
topped frame arch, from which shirred bands of red
and green cloth were stretched to a very small frame
several feet back of the window to form an appropriate
with Christmas colors and cotton flannel sprinkled with
artificial snow. The tapered ceiling had the effect of
making the window look considerably deeper than it
actually was. In the foreground were placed a num-
ber of well-worded signs such as "Gifts that please,"
"Make a sensible gift this Christmas," etc. A small
image of Santa Claus was placed in a holly wreath in
the center of the foreground.
The two remaining windows had no backgrounds so
that the passers-by might be attracted by the interior
decorations as well as the articles displayed in the win-
dows. A miniature electric locomotive and train was
kept in operation in one of the windows to attract chil-
dren's attention. In the window was also a miniature
lamp-letter sign worded "This Christmas give some-
thing electrical." Inside the salesroom where it could
be seen from the street was a large evergreen tree dec-
orated with electrical ornaments. Other interior dec-
orations and methods of displaying stock are shown in
the third illustration.
As this display room occupies space in an apartment-
FIG. 3 — INTERIOR OF SALESROOM DECORATED FOR HOLIDAYS
house building in the residence portion of the city and
was never wired for extensive electrical decoration, the
results which were obtained should be of interest to
dealers similarly handicapped.
FIG. 2 — DISPLAY WINDOWS OF APPLIANCE SALESROOM
ceiling and background. At the apex of the cone thus
formed was placed a tungsten lamp concealed by a
translucent disk bearing the company's seal. This
source furnished enough light to illuminate household
appliances and small portable lamps displayed in the
window. The electrical devices were set on steps draped
How 700 Houses Were Wired in One Year at
Topeka, Kan.
Without employing a single new-business solicitor the
Topeka (Kan.) Edison Company has made a net gain of
700 wired houses during the last year. By the use of
posters, street-car and newspaper advertising, persistent
circularization of a well-kept list of 5000 prospective
customers and the able aid of seven electrical contrac-
tors, the company's service and the 40-cent minimum
bill were kept constantly before the public. To show
absolute fairness and to aid the contractors in every
way the electric-service company keeps an information
card handy at all times to answer the often-repeated
question, "Who can do a good job of wiring for me?"
This card, both sides of which are reproduced herewith,
on one side tells something of the company's service, the
prevailing prices of lamps and the net rates. On the
opposite side it carries the names of the seven electrical
contractors co-operating with the company, together
118
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 2
These
with their addresses and telephone numbers,
cards may also be used as envelope stiffeners.
Practically all of the 700 customers gained during the
last year at Topeka were connected to existing distribu-
tion lines, very few extensions being made. Although
the efforts of the new-business department in using
INFORMATION
FOR l/SERSAND PROSPEC 1 tl
ELECTRICITY
torvo.it HuMEoi MORI-... Simplj pha
or call at our office, and your order will
cient to «l a meter and connect the amice
THECOMPANV Furnishes the meter,
I M from the lines 10 ihe Hot
Prices on New Mazda Lamps :
25WM1 -Joc.ir(dle powerl
indie power] 25 c<
GO Watt 48 candle power)
.. 10 1
up. .11 1 an
> al the E
t read approximately the 20ili of each
. i uti Discount for pr..n , ■
allowed if paid by 10th of month following.
SET RATES.
Minimum bill, 10c per month
Residence lighting, 9c per lOOO watt noun
Commercial light inc. it to 9c per 1"00 watt hour*.
■-.' for Everything in the
i ■ ied by—
The TOPEKA EDISON CO.
Office, 808 Kansas Avenue
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BUSINESS-GETTING CARD OF TOPEKA COMPANY
judicious advertising and circular letters have been
quite successful, the early worth of house-wiring solici-
tors, who first educated the public electrically, is not
discounted.
water-front loft buildings, transportation and freight
rates, labor costs, and all other essentials which go to
make up a successful manufacturing location. We offer
to supply this information with absolutely no obligation
on your part. Our object in doing this is, first, to see
you locate in one of the most progressive industrial cen-
ters in America, and, second, to supply you with electric
current from our mains for the complete operation of
your plant. Will you please give us your opinion of this
offer and let us know what data you would be interested
in receiving?"
By assisting manufacturers to find a desirable site
the company gains their confidence and increases its op-
portunities to close a contract for electric service. A
card-index system is employed to keep track of the cor-
respondence held with each prospective consumer and
of the ultimate outcome of the company's efforts to
secure his business.
Tungsten White-Way Lighting Supplants Arc
Lamps at Arkansas City, Kan.
Ninety five-lamp ornamental lighting standards car-
rying one 100-watt and four 60-watt multiple tungsten
lamps were recently installed to illuminate fourteen
blocks in Arkansas City's business district. The resi-
dential streets are also lighted, 250 7.5-amp high-
efficiency series-tungsten lamps being used for this pur-
pose. Lamps on the multiple circuits are controlled by
five time switches which light the entire installation at
dusk and extinguish all but the top lamps at 11 p. m.
The top lamps are extinguished at daylight. Situated
as it is on top of a hill surrounded on all sides by broad
valleys, the town may now be seen for many miles at
night.
Energy for operating the street-lighting system is
supplied by the Arkansas City Gas & Electric Light
Utilizing Newspaper Clippings to Extend New-
Business Field
It is considerably less difficult to persuade an indus-
trial organization which is just preparing to build a
factory to use central-station energy than it is to dis-
place a private plant. The Edison Electric Illuminating
Company of Brooklyn has therefore subscribed to news-
paper-clipping bureaus for the purpose of informing it-
self of persons who are searching for manufacturing
sites. To these persons the company sends letters and
data pointing out the benefits of locating in Brooklyn
and incidentally calls attention to the service it fur-
nishes.
Not only are clippings collected regarding the ex-
pressed intention of changes in location, but also
articles relating to new incorporations and to destruc-
tion of factories by fire, flood and hurricane, etc. In
fact, any information is utilized regarding manufactui
ers who may of necessity or choice be waiting for an
opportunity to locate where shipping, receiving, labor
and manufacturing conditions are more desirable,
A copy of one of the first letters sent to manufa<
hirers who may be forced to seek a new location because
of lire follows:
"We have learned from a reliable source that a lire
curred ir factory. This may prove
:i good opportunity for you to consider a change in loca
tion, and we are writing with the view of inducini
to locate in the borough of Brooklyn, New Yorl i
in an enterprise such as yours the cosl oi power is an
impoi deration, and we believe thai the low
■power' r.ii offering hould play an important
pari in inducing you to locate in Brooklyn. Owing to
data on Ale In this office, we are in a po
to give you invaluable information on factor]
LIGHTING STANDARDS AT ARKANSAS CITY
Company, of which Mr. A. L. Newman is secretary,
treasurer and manager. The city pays for the energy
at a llat rate of $.'5 a post per month, under the terms of
a ten -\ear contract. Before the lighting system was
rehabilitated arc lamps with overhead wiring were used,
but the present installation is served by a three-con-
ductor lead covered cable laid in fiber conduit.
January 9, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
119
Voluntary Refund by Central-Station Company
The Minneapolis General Electric Company has noti-
fied the municipal authorities that it will refund more
than $1,000 on bills rendered for electric service in fire-
engine houses and other municipal buildings during the
past year. This refund is the fulfilment of a promise
by the central-station company to allow the city a dis-
count on all except street-lighting bills, as the munici-
pality is a large consumer in the aggregate. Account-
ants who are checking the monthly bills for electric
service have reported through General Manager R. F.
Pack that the refund will exceed $1,000 and may
reach $1,200.
If a series of layouts is presented, the prospective
customer can have his choice of the layout above and the
layout below the salesman's recommendations, and thus
the customer is spared the feeling that something is
being sold to him in which he has no voice.
Desirability of National Electrical Code
From the fire insurance man's point of view the elec-
trical code and careful inspection of electrical installa-
tions are altogether desirable, and at the same time,
though these requirements may sometimes seem irk-
some, they are aids to electrical contractors' success,
according to Mr. YV. D. Gilsdorf, who recently addressed
a joint meeting of the Louisville (Ky.) Electrical Clear-
ing House and the Jovians, held in the assembly room
of the Louisville Gas & Electric Company. It is the
careful supervision of things electrical that has kept
fires of electrical origin down to 2% per cent, he said,
while fires from other classes of causes run to as high
a figure as 10 per cent. One effect is to make the
electrical contractor's business a better business.
Less Frequent Billing for Small Customers
In discussing the problem of so popularizing the use
of electricity that central-station service might be sup-
plied to every household, however humble, Mr. Peter
Junkersfeld, assistant to the vice-president of the Com-
monwealth Edison Company, Chicago, remarked at a
recent joint meeting of the Chicago engineering socie-
ties that his company now has more than 250,000 cus-
tomers. Among these a large percentage are small cus-
tomers, and to continue to extend the service to such
patrons, who for the time being do not return a profit,
outside investors must be attracted. To attract this
capital in the future, plans will have to be devised to
decrease present high fixed charges. Mr. Junkersfeld
suggested as possible solutions of this problem reduction
in the frequency of billing, the increase of the customer
density, and increased use of appliances by present cus-
tomers.
Preparation of Motor-Service Layouts
In speaking on "Vital Points in Motor-Service Sale- "
before a convention of new-business solicitors in Ohio,
Mr. R. A. MacGregor, Toledo, commented upon th?
necessity of carefully balancing investment cost against
cost of operation.
A good way to strike an economic balance, he said, is
to lay out a plant with a motor for every machine, figure
the total investment for motors, wiring and installation,
then estimate the amount of energy necessary to run
such an installation, and thus arrive at the cost of oper-
ation. The same operation should then be gone through
from a one-motor standpoint. This should give respect-
ively the lowest and highest values for energy cost and
the highest and lowest values for the investment. Dif-
ferent arrangements of grouping can then be laid out
between these two extremes and a means determined
which will give the largest percentage of saving on the
investment for the money the prospective customer can
be induced to spend.
General Overhead Allowance 21 Per Cent.
Too often the electrical contractor who has had his
early training with pliers and soldering torch, rather
than as a business man, overlooks the necessity for
making adequate provision for the "overhead costs" of
doing business when scheduling the prices of supplies
and appliances which he installs or puts on his counter
for sale. Figuring closely, he is likely to fix selling prices
which do not include any allowance for rent, light,
heat, store attendance, office accounting, and the other
numerous costs of doing business — let alone any pro-
vision for profit on the transaction. A successful elec-
trical contractor in a Wisconsin city of 30,000 has made
it a point to include in all cost prices of supplies an
allowance of at least 21 per cent to cover "overhead,"
before the item of profit is added. This figure of 21
per cent is applied to all wiring supplies, devices, etc.,
but even this amount has been found insufficient in the
case of reflectors and glassware, where it has been
proved necessary to charge at least 25 per cent on ac-
count of breakage and damage incurred in handling.
The Basis of Establishing Credit Limits
Speaking before the recent meeting of the Electrical
Credit Association of Chicago on the subject of credit
limits as viewed from the standpoint of the wholesale
dealer in electrical supplies, Mr. Thomas I. Stacy, Elec-
tric Appliance Company, Chicago, remarked that in
some offices a credit limit is placed on the customer's
account as soon as it is opened and becomes almost as
much a part of the account as the name itself and
almost as unchangeable.
The man who pays when his account is due, said Mr.
Stacy, soon establishes unlimited credit, while, on the
other hand, the customer from whom collections are
made with difficulty will soon have his credit with-
drawn. If a credit limit is to be established in the case
of any customer, said the speaker, it should be only
tentative and its use should be chiefly that of a warn-
ing signal in the event that the value assigned is much
exceeded.
In many lines of general business the rule has been
that the credit allowance of a customer should not ex-
ceed 30 per cent of his net worth. But this propor-
tion cannot apply in the electrical business, said Mr.
Stacy, for some customers, as, for example, electrical
contractors, have doubtless carried credit favors
amounting to more than even their entire tangible
assets. Every fact which bears on the customer's char-
acter should receive consideration. Particular caution
must be exercised in the case of the over-ambitious
customer who wants to run before he has learned to
walk. On the other hand, the manufacturer or jobber
can afford to increase to the limit the credit allowed on
the account of the conservative man whose business is
management.
Mr. Alex. Klein, of M. Klein & Sons Company, Chi-
cago, declared that any deficiency in the moral char-
acter of the customer makes him a dangerous risk as a
creditor. If the candidate for credit is reckless in his
business methods, he is not entitled to credit. One rule
suggested by Mr. Klein for the assignment of credit
i'mits was that 10 per cent be considered a fair value.
120
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 2
Integrating Sphere Equipped for Testing Gas-Filled
Lamps
Some photometrists have objected to rating gas-filled
lamps on their total flux per watt required on the
ground that it is impossible to use an integrating sphere
rapidly. At the Electrical Testing Laboratories, New
>t
FIG. 1 — CONSTRUCTION" OF PANEL AND LAMP BRACKET
York City, an integrating sphere has been equipped so
that lamps can be rapidly inserted or removed without
danger of breaking the bulbs. From one side of the
sphere a rectangular section has been removed and a
panel supporting a lamp bracket and socket has been
FIG. 2— INTEGRATING SPHERE EQUIPPED FOR RAPIDLY
TESTING GAS-FILLED LAMPS
hinged to the exterior of the sphere so it can be swung
ird for inserting or removing the lamp and can be
i 'luring the teat to prevent leakage of light
through the opening. The roust nut inn of the panel
and lamp bracket la dearly shown In the accompanying
illustration and drawing The lamp bracket, lamp
leads and concave surface of the panel are coated with a
substance similar to that used on the interior of the
sphere so that no errors will be introduced in the test
results by the conversion of the flux-measuring appa-
ratus. When the panel is swung outward it opens a
switch in the lamp circuit, thereby extinguishing the
lamp. The panel is held in its extreme outward posi-
tion by a notched lever. Energy is conveyed to the lamp
socket through a flexible cable. When the panel is
closed it automatically closes the lamp-circuit switch
so that the photometrist has very little to do besides
taking measurements.
Marshall Field Electric Trucks Save 40 Per Cent
Marshall Field & Company, Chicago, operate a fleet
of more than 200 electric trucks and delivery wagons.
After experience with both gasoline and electric trucks
for haulage and delivery work, Mr. Stanley Field, first
vice-president of the company, recently made the com-
ment that with electric trucks operated at an expense
of $8 per day Marshall Field & Company are able to
perform delivery service which cost $13 per day with
gasoline trucks.
Keeping Wired Houses Connected
Men sent out by the Topeka (Kan.) Edison Company
to carry out disconnect orders are provided with tags,
both sides of which are printed with the inscription
in the illustration herewith. The tags are tied to elec-
ELECTRIC LIGHT
WILL BE TURNED ON PROMPTLY
MINIMUM BILL. NOW 40 CENTS NET PER MONTH
25, 40 and 60 Watt Mazda Lamps. 25 Cents Each
CALL TELEPHONE NUMBER 4080
THE TOPEKA EDISON CO.
808 KANSAS AVENUE
TAG FOR ELECTRIC FIXTURE
trie fixtures in conspicuous places so that the attention
of a prospective renter or a new tenant will be attracted.
"By thus calling attention to the company's prompt serv-
ice and the 40-cent minimum bill," says Mr. B. J. Long,
contract agent, "the tags are instrumental in securing
without solicitation many reconnections in wired houses
occupied by renters."
Municipal Competition in Electric Merchandising
Hannibal, Mo., has a population of 18,341 and owns
its electric plant. The electric plant is under the direc-
tion of a municipal board of public works appointed by
the Mayor to serve six years at annual salaries of $100.
To encourage day service a municipal supply store was
installed in the office of the Board of Public Works in
the city hall. The store carries a full line of supplies,
has a clerk on hand all the time to wait upon customers
and to demonstrate the appliances, and makes sales at
cost plua 5 per cent for profit The price feature, how-
ever, is not the only item through which the municipal
store competes with local equipment stores, for the mu-
nicipal board advertises liberally in the daily papers in
competition with the retail merchants, the displays
emphasizing the conveniences and economy of elec-
tricity and thus stimulating the business generally.
January 9, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
121
NEW APPARATUS AND APPLIANCES
Automatic Reverse-Current Circuit-Breaker
An automatic reverse-current circuit-breaker designed
for use with small storage-battery lighting plants has
been developed by the Gray Electric Company, Spring-
field, Ohio. When the engine is run at normal speed this
REVERSE-CURRENT CIRCUIT-BREAKER
circuit-breaker automatically connects together the bat-
tery, dynamo and lamps, so that the battery is properly
charged and the energy for the lighting circuit is taken
direct from the dynamo. If the engine should slow-
down or stop, the circuit-breaker automatically discon-
nects the d\ namo from the battery and the lamps and
connects the battery to the lamps. A 15-amp circuit-
breaker is shown in the accompanying illustration. No
springs or resistors, it is declared, are used in the con-
struction of this device.
Primary Cut-Out
Several expulsion-type primary cut-outs with rat-
ings of 15 amp at 6600 volts, 75 amp at 6600 volts and
100 amp at 2500 volts, designed for outdoor use, have
recently been developed by the General Electric Com-
pany, Schenectady, N. Y. When the door of the de-
vice is opened the fuse holder is automatically dis-
connected from the circuit. The ring bolt and latch
with which the door is fitted are separated from all
6600-VOLT PRIMARY CUT-OUT WITH EXPULSION FUSE
live metal parts. The box is of well-seasoned ash,
which is oil-impregnated, and is coated on the outside
with black japan. On the bottom of the box is an in-
dicator in the form of a brass card receiver which is
placed under the gas outlet of the expulsion fuse. Into
this receiver can be slipped a white card, a piece of
oiled paper or a very thin sheet of white celluloid,
which forms a white target against the black back-
ground of the box and which can be readily seen from
the ground. The blowing of the fuse causes a dis-
charge of gas which dislodges the card from its re-
ceiver. This feature obviates the necessity of climb-
ing the pole on which the cut-out is placed to ascertain
the condition of the fuse.
Vehicle Battery-Charging Outfit
To meet the demand for low-cost easily operated bat-
tery-charging apparatus, adaptable for use in private
garages, the Lincoln Electric Company, Cleveland, Ohio,
has developed the small motor-generator set shown in
the illustration herewith. The motor is a single-phase,
four-pole, squirrel-cage machine, and it drives a com-
pound-wound interpolar generator. Connected to the
set by a six-wire cable is a control cabinet which con-
tains a four-pole knife switch and a field rheostat. The
two middle switch poles are equipped with extra clips,
to which are attached the terminals of the shunt field, in
CHARGING SET FOR PRIVATE GARAGE
the circuit of which is the rheostat. The set is started
from the battery.
When the switch is closed the two clips connected to
the generator field are engaged, and therefore the shunt
field is excited ; then the battery is thrown across the
armature and starts the generator as a motor. When
the set is brought up to speed the alternating-current
circuit is closed and the generator starts to charge the
battery. The generator is so compounded, the manu-
facturers declare, as to give practically constant-poten-
tial charging, thus providing automatically the tapering
charge with a low finishing rate which is essential to
the long life of the battery. Guide marks are provided
on the field rheostat so that each set may be arranged
for any four combinations of cells, such as thirty, thirty-
two, thirty-five and thirty-six cells or thirty-eight, forty,
forty-two and forty-four cells. A rheostat handle with
a limited travel is provided so that the field strength
may be varied in order to regulate the finishing rate of
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 2
the battery from 3 amp to 7 amp. In case the energy
supply is cut off, the set continues to run, the generator
acting- as a direct-current motor fed from the battery;
when the alternating-current supply is restored the gen-
erator resumes the charging operation.
Automatic-Resistance Horn-Type Arrester
The function of a lightning arrester is to offer instan-
taneous relief from abnormal voltages and to prevent
the flow of dynamic or generator current, after
AUTOMATIC-RESISTANCE HORN ARRESTER
the abnormal voltage has been relieved, without pro-
ducing any disturbances on the system which it pro-
tects.
The automatic-resistance horn arrester recently
placed on the market by Schweitzer & Conrad, 1770
Wilson Avenue, Chicago, for use on circuits of from
11,000 volts to 66,000 volts, is an ingenious device for
accomplishing the above function. As seen in the il-
lustration, the arrester consists essentially of a horn-
gap and a number of resistance units so arranged that
as the arc rises up the horn's resistance is automatically
cut in, step by step, into the circuit. Thus, without
any moving parts, the current is rapidly reduced so that
the arc breaks easily and without any serious voltage
rise. A sphere-gap is also inserted in pai-allel with the
horn-gap to assist the dissipation of very high fre-
quency waves such as occur from charging an adjacent
line, switching and other similar causes.
The chief difficulty experienced with simple horn-
gaps has been that of breaking the arc rapidly and
permanently, without setting up oscillations and dan-
gerous pressure rises. The current is often so large
that the arc is slow to break, and when it does finally
break the rupture comes so suddenly that a high volt-
age rise occurs, which may cause the arc to start across
the bottom of the horn again.
The height of the gap illustrated is comparatively
small for a given voltage. Unlike most horn-gaps, the
sides of these horns riBe parallel to each other until the
resistance units are passed, above which the horns di-
verge. As the dynamic current rises up the horn!
'it down in value ae the increasing resistance
comes effective and the strength of the arc is weakened
accordingly. When the divergent portions of the horn
are reached the thermo-dynamic and electro-dynamic
forces co-ad to drive the arc, or what remains of it.
up the horns to iction. It should also be
noticed that while the dischargi
the horn or sphere-gap to earth, the dynamic current,
after the first instant, will, owing to the arc's ten-
dency to rise upward, necessarily go to ground through
resistance.
When an arc exists in a circuit containing inductance
and capacity, oscillations tend to be set up. Such os-
cillations can, however, be prevented and the oscillation
dampened out if a resistance equal to, or greater than,
the critical resistance be connected in series. This the
arrester described accomplishes automatically.
Adjustment for different operating voltages is made
by decreasing or increasing the horn-gap, a matter of
loosening two screws. The resistance units are strong,
of ample carrying capacity, and unaffected by weather.
The arrester, it is explained, has a very large dis-
charge capacity and thus is not only able to discharge
large quantities of lightning but can take care of both
continuous and recurrent discharges with ease. It is
also sensitive to voltage rises and hence is recom-
mended as efficacious for the protection of equipment
and for installation at entries to stations and substa-
tions, whether of the indoor or outdoor type. For the
latter class of stations, where the arrester may be iso-
lated and forgotten after being once installed, the sub-
stantial construction, the absence of moving parts, and
the fact that the device described needs no regular at-
tention, makes it particularly desirable. The insulators
used on these arresters are so chosen that the spill-
over voltage is several times that of the arrester. The
insulators are thus able to withstand successfully the
piling up of steep-front traveling waves of such poten-
tial as the arrester is designed to discharge.
The arrester is securely mounted on a substantial
steel channel frame. It is low in first cost and in-
volves no subsequent expense for maintenance.
Automatic Cut-In and Cut-Out Switch
An automatic switch designed for use on low-voltage
switchboards of small lighting plants is shown in the
accompanying illustration. It is placed between the
generator and battery and automatically connects the
generator to the line when the voltage reaches a pre-
determined value, usually 38 volts. In the same way it
automatically breaks the circuit when the battery volt-
age exceeds that of the generator, or, in other words,
when there is a reversal of current. The moving con-
I [i SVi I ii ii FOR SM Ml l IGHT1NG I'l INTS
tact is in the form of a disk which is cupped and slotted
to insure a tight, even contact. The disk is
weighted and cup-shaped to prevent sticking and conse-
quent burning of contact points. The device is being
made by the llartman Bled rical Manufacturing Com-
Mansiield, Ohio.
January 9, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
12::
Regulators
For regulating the exciting current of large genera-
tors two regulators of the rectangular and the face-plate
or circular type have been designed by the General Elec-
tric Company, Ltd., London, England. A recently devel-
oped rectangular regulator is shown in the accompany-
ing illustration, the resistor of which consists of strips.
If the size of the generator permits, the resistor is
made of wires. A framework of steel is employed to
provide for the expansion and contraction of the strips.
Means have also been provided for adjusting the strip
REGULATOR FOR 5000-KW TURBO-GENERATOR
tension to eliminate the sag of the strip, and instead of
one adjustment for the whole length of the strip, an in-
dividual adjustment is provided for each turn of the
strip. By means of two sets of screws the pressure on
the contact brushes and the position of the brushes can
be adjusted independently. The regulator shown in
the illustration is designed for use with a 5000-kw turbo-
generator.
Guards for Portable Lamps
Two types of non-detachable guards for portable
lamps are shown in the accompanying illustrations, that
illustrated in Fig. 1 being equipped with an open end
and that in Fig. 2 with a closed end. The open-end
guard is designed chiefly for pit work. In the closed-
end guard the end piece is hinged to the cage by means
of a rivet to allow for replacement of the lamp. A
thumb nut is employed to hold the end piece fast. The
open-end guard is equipped with a side hook as shown
in the illustration. The cage is of steel and the wires
are electrically welded. The closed-end guard is 15 in.
long, including hook and handle, and weighs approxi-
mately 25 ounces. The open-end lamp guard is 10 in.
LAMPS EQUIPPED WITH NON-DETACHABLE GUARDS
long over all, including handle, and weighs 20 ounces.
Both guards are substantial in construction and are
designed for use with circuits, with pressures up to 600
volts. The guards are being placed on the market by the
Electric Service Supplies Company, Seventeenth Street
and Cambria Street, Philadelphia, Pa.
Electric Breast Drill
The electric drill shown herewith operates on bc'.h
alternating current and direct current, and the spindle
speed is regulated automatically by the amount of pres-
sure the operator places back of the drill. The switch
is operated by the lever outside of the switch cover and
is used to start, stop and reverse the motor. The lever
is spring-seated on the off or neutral position, and by
throwing it to either extreme position the motor is run
forward or in the reverse direction, according to which
direction the lever is turned. The motor can be reversed
PORTABLE ELECTRIC DRILL
no matter whether it is running at full speed or not.
The drill is being manufactured by the Temco Electric
Motor Company, Leipsic, Ohio.
Feed-Water Regulator
A thermostatically controlled feed-water regulator
made by the McDonough Automatic Regulator Company,
Detroit, Mich., is illustrated herewith. It consists of a
feed valve, two headers and two expansion tubes, which
are connected in parallel through links to the feed-valve
THERMOSTATICALLY CONTROLLED FEED-WATER REGULATOR
stem. Adjustment of the valve is provided by the turn-
buckle shown, and a pointer indicator shows the position
of the valve while the regulator is in operation. The
regulator is installed in an inclined position and is sup-
ported by the feed pipe with the connections made to the
water column as illustrated. When in operation the
124
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 2
lower ends of the tubes are filled with water and the
upper with steam. As the water falls or rises in the
boiler it moves up and clown a corresponding distance
in the regulator tubes, thereby presenting a greater or
less area in the tube surface to the hot steam, causing
the tubes to expand or contract accordingly.
A vacuum greater than 29 in. ( referred to a baro-
metric pressure of 30 in.) has been maintained at full
load, and the hot-well temperatures closely approach
those of the entering steam. In the accompanying ta-
Large-Sized Surface Condenser
What is said to be the largest surface condenser ever
built was recently installed in the Waterside station of
the New York Edison Company to serve a 30,000-kw
General Electric tandem-compound turbine. The con-
denser is of the radial-flow type and was made by the
Westinghouse Machine Company, East Pittsburgh, Pa.
The unit has a condensing surface of 50,000 sq. ft.,
and the solutions of some new and difficult problems are
represented in its design. Long or restricted passages
for the steam are avoided in order to keep the pressure
drop as low as possible. The nest of tubes is placed non-
concentric to the condenser shell so that steam enters
around the whole periphery. Such an arrangement is
said practically to double the area for the admission
PERFORMANCE DATA OF CONDENSER
Output of turbine in kw 19,000 30,000
Vacuum at turbine exhaust i in. ) 29.20 29.07
Vacuum at air pump (in.) 29.23 29.09
Injection temperature (deg. Fahr. ) 54 53
Discharge temperature ((leg. Fahr.) 60 64
Hotwell tempeiature (deg. Fahr.) 75 SI
of steam and hence produces a velocity one-half that of
smaller-sized units in which the shell and nest of tubes
are concentric. The air offtake consists of two parallel
plates extending the entire length of the condenser, and
the air is removed, it is asserted, when the temperature
is the lowest and its density is the greatest.
In Fig. 1 the condenser is illustrated with the end
plate removed prior to its installation. The water en-
ters the condenser at the side, passes through the central
section and returns through the outer annular section.
Heat removal is thus facilitated because the tempera-
FIG. I 50,000-SQ. FT. RADIAL-FLOW SUBFACE C0NDE1 E!
ture difference or "heat head" between the steam and
water remains more nearh constant throughout the con-
I he two small openings on the side of the up-
pei hall of the shell are for the air-pump connections.
A Westinghouse Leblanc air pump is employed with the
apparatus.
FIG. 2 — SECTIONAL VIEW OF CONDENSER
ble are given some data of tests, including those ob-
tained with the turbine, giving its full-rated output of
30,000 kw and also an output of 19,000 kw.
Measuring High Temperatures by Melting of
Metallic Salts
A method for measuring high temperatures, which
has just been developed by the Carl Nehls Alloy Com-
pany, Detroit, Mich., is based on the principle that when
various kinds of metallic salts are mixed in different
proportions they will melt at different temperatures.
The method can be employed in place of pyrometers and
temperatures varying between 425 deg. Fahr. and 242"i
deg. Fahr. can be determined. By melting the salts in
this manner pyrometers may also be checked. The
salts may be kept in solid cylinders, 7/16 in. in diam-
eter and % in. long, similar to those shown standing in
the accompanying illustration.
El ^ \
Prmp
Veeo
METHOD 01 MAKING I'P MIXTURES OF SALTS
The cylinders shown wrapped up are marked with
numbers which designate the temperature at which they
will melt. For all temperatures below 932 deg. Fahr,
the "Sentinel" pyrometers, as they are called, can lie
used in air-tight glass tubes, similar to the one shown
standing up in the accompanying illustration, and the
January 9, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
125
salts can be used over and over again. By means of the
porcelain saucer shown the salts are not wasted.
The salts are also made up in the form of a paste.
Enough paste is inclosed in one of the tins shown in the
illustration to make two or three hundred determina-
tions. Pastes with various melting temperatures can be
placed on a steel bar and inserted into furnaces, ovens,
retorts, flues, gas mains, steam pipes, etc., to deter-
mine the temperature at which they are operating. The
salts that melt down and those that remain solid will
indicate the difference in temperature between the two
substances.
Field Rheostat for Small Generators and Motors
A field rheostat for small generators and motors
which is equipped with eighteen control steps is being
made by the Ward Leonard Electric Company, Bronx-
SMALL FIELD RHEOSTAT
ville, N. Y. The device is 6 in. in diameter and is fin-
ished in enamel. The rheostat can be mounted on thj
front or back of the board and can be quickly changed
from one kind to the other. A hand-wheel is provided
when the device is attached to the back of the board.
Motors for Mane-and-Tail Hauling System
Large-sized motors designed for hauling purposes in
coal mines have been developed by the General Electric
Company, Ltd., London. England. In the accompanying
illustration is shown a 600-hp motor directly conn
to a large mane-and-tail outfit designed to draw its loaxl
at a mean rope speed of 10 miles an hour. The moU
operates on a 3000-volt, forty-cycle, three-phase supr
Improved Motor-Driven Pipe-Bending Machine
The problem of bending pipes and tubing for power-
house installations and various conduit systems, for
which many kinds of bends are employed, often neces-
I-TG. 1 — MOTOR-DRIVE PIPE-BENDING MACHINE
sitates considerable thought and attention, especially if
the process is done by hand. Some twenty-two types of
machines for bending pipe cold without filling, ranging
in size Irani a small portable bench machine suitable for
electricians or plumbers to large motor-driven and hy-
draulic machines which will not only bend pipe but chan-
nel beams. I-beams, etc., as well, are being made by the
•I. Fillmore (ox Engineering & Tube Bending Machine
Company, Bayonne, X. J.
In Fig. 1 is shown a recently developed machine of the
semi-automatic quick-change type driven by a 5.5-hp
variable-speed, reversible General Electric motor. The
machine is equipped with an automatic degree stopping
device, emergency lever and safety clutch. It is also pro-
600-HP MOTOR FOR MANE-AND-TAIL HAULING
FIG. 2 — VARIOUS TYPES OF BENDS
and runs at a speed of 400 r.p.m. It is equipped with
slip-rings which are inclosed in flame-proof covers. The
gearing between the motor and the drums is of steel.
Rolls 6 in. in diameter are employed, the length between
flanges being 3 ft. and the diameter of the flanges being
9 ft. The drum shaft is 12 in. in diameter.
vided with a quick-setting arrangement and a special
duplicating device.
A U-bend with 18-in. centers can be made by this ma-
chine on a 4-in. steel or iron pipe which is threaded at
both ends, the manufacturers claim, in one minute. The
apparatus is designed to bend pipe into conical helices.
126
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 2
open or closed coils, or radical or die bends. In Fig. 2
are shown some typical bends made for power-station re-
quirements. The pipes are of various materials and
range in size from 1 in. in diameter to 6 in. The radii
of the bends are from 3 in. to 3 ft. and the time taken
for each operation was from 0.5 minute to 2.5 minutes.
Gear-Tooth Turbine Driving Portable Electric
Lighting Outfit
A turbo-generator set which will operate on any
steam pressure between 30 lb. and 50 lb. is being man-
ufactured by the M. M. Manufacturing Company, In-
dependence, Kan., for use in lighting oil-well drilling
outfits and small coal mines and for night work about
threshing machines, on steam shovels and in quarries.
The moving elements in the turbine consist only of
two gears, which revolve with minimum clearance in
iron housings. Steam enters the turbine on a hori-
zontal line, striking the gears at the point where they
are in mesh, and emerges at the opposite side of the ma-
chine as the gear teeth turn, permitting intermittent
flow of the vapor. The 110-volt, 0.5-kw compound-
wound generator which is direct-connected to one of
the gears is driven at 2000 r.p.m. A muffler similar to
the type used with gasoline engines is attached to the
turbine exhaust to reduce the howling noise produced
by the intermittent flow of steam through the gears.
In equipping the outfit to withstand rough handling
it has been arranged so that the turbo-generator need
not be taken from the box. Steam-pipe connections can
be made from the outside, and plug-socket connections
are provided for all lamps, so that no knowledge of wir-
ing is necessary. Ordinary 100-watt tungsten lamps
are used in the projectors, it being the common prac-
tice to set these reflectors in a position adjacent to the
work so that they throw a flood of light on the area
of operation.
Inclosed Oil-Break Switches
Fully inclosed oil-break switches for three-phase ser-
vice are shown in the accompanying illustrations. The
switching apparatus is mounted on a sliding carriage
and is connected to the busbars or cables through plugs.
When the carriage is withdrawn the circuit is broken.
Two types of switches are being made, that shown in
Fig. 1 being designated by the manufacturers as the
"O Jl" type and that illustrated in Fig. 3 as the "O J2"
model. The former has a rating of 120 amp with
pressures up to 650 volts and of 50 amp with pressures
of from 2200 volts to 3300 volts. The rating of the lat-
ter is 500 amp for pressures up to 650 volts and 120
amp for emfs of from 2200 volts to 3300 volts.
On withdrawing the switch and removing the oil tank,
the contact-delaying devices, overload-adjusting devices
and low-tension fuses are made accessible, and by re-
moving four screws the entire switching apparatus may
be removed in one piece, when every part is fully ex-
posed. Access to the connecting chamber is obtained
by removing a large cover plate at the back and cover
plates on the sides or top and bottom where exposed.
The handles are interlocked so that it is impossible to
withdraw or close the contact unless the oil switch is
in the off position. The box cannot be opened and the
oil tank cannot be removed unless the circuit is open.
The cover must be first closed before the circuit can be
closed, and it is impossible to close the switch acci-
dentally without first replacing the oil tank. Catches
prevent the switching part being removed entirely.
The switch is closed by means of a handle at the side.
All live switch parts above the oil level are insulated
with porcelain. The tripping device is delayed by means
of a self-aligning plunger in a small dash-pot. Large
flange joints are provided between the castings to in-
sure good ground connection throughout the frame. The
switches are being made by the British Thomson-Hous-
ton Company, Ltd., Rugby. England.
PIO. 1 SMAI.I. OIL-BREAK SWITI H
wil li CARRIAGE WH HDRAWN AND
( OVER OPEN
FIG. 2 BWITI H \tl< ll VN1SM FOB
i u«;i- switch in OPEN POSI-
I ins
PIO. 8 LARGE SWITCH WITH CAR-
KIN':! wit ;\\\\. COVER OPENED
AND TANK LOWERED
January 9, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
127
Electric Roadster
A 1915-model light-weight electric car designed
chiefly for business men is shown in the illustration
herewith. The car has a wheel base of 92 in. and is
LIGHT-WEIGHT ELECTRIC PASSENGER VEHICLE
worm-driven. Steering is accomplished by means of a
side lever. The tires are 33 in. by 4.5 in. The battery
equipment consists of 41 "Exide" cells. The car is
being placed on the market by the Rauch & Lang Car-
riage Company, Cleveland, Ohio.
Electric Silver-Burnishing Machine
The machine shown in the accompanying illustration
consists of a wooden cylinder, which is three-quarters
filled with smoothly polished steel balls, varying in size
from about 0.25 in. in diameter to about the size of a
very small pinhead, and smooth blunt plugs, and is used
to polish silverware. Steel plates divide the cylinder
into several compartments for different classes of mate-
rial. The silverware is placed in the cylinder and is cov-
ered with hot soapsuds. The pieces of silver are moved
MACHINE FOR POLISHING SILVERWARE
to the center by centrifugal force, and the steel balls and
slugs roll over and around them. The machine has re-
cently been placed on the market by the Tahara Com-
Ipany of America, Glenwood Avenue and Second Street,
Philadelphia, Pa., and is operated by a motor made by
:he Bobbins & Myers Company, Springfield, Ohio.
Test Runs with Electric Passenger Cars
Test runs were recently made in Louisville, Ky.( with
two Rauch & Lang electric passenger vehicles, one car
being a 1911 model brougham and the other a 1911
TABLE I — RESULTS OF TEST RUN WITH ELECTRIC BROUGHAM
Mileage
Volts
Standing
Volts
Running
Amp.
Sp 1. Miles
per Hour
Start
88
84
27,
11.5
11.15
82.5
25
11.5
IS. 45
si
82
25
11
24 . 65
82
25
11
31.85
83
81
25
11
84 65
76
25
111
94 25
68
25
!>
model coupe. Each car was equipped with a forty-cell
"Revivo" battery, made by the Cook Railway Signal
Company, Denver, Col., a description of which appeared
in the Electrical World of Jan. 4, 1913.
Before the test with the brougham its battery was
charged for ten hours at a 15-amp-hr. rate, the charg-
TABLE II — RESULTS OF TEST RUN WITH ELECTRIC COUPE
Voltt
Volts
Speed. Miles
Mileage
Standing
Running
Al
1" i Hour
Stan
si
25
17.
l.i
SI
25
15
20
S3
:jii
82
25
15
34 6
si
in
sj
■>:,
1 1
;,ii
si
25
1 1
51.2
s.l
tin
80
25
1 1
70
78.5
25
II
78.4
SO
go
77
18
90
72
22
13
05 ..
7s
96 6
55
21
III
103. 1
.v.
211
in
10 i !
68
is
8
ing emf being 96 volts and the standing emf 88 volts.
In Table I are shown voltages at various periods of the
run and other data. In Table II are shown the results
obtained on a test run with the coupe. A total mileage
of 105.1 miles was obtained with the coupe and 94.3
miles with the brougham.
Automatic Voltage Regulators
By W. H. Acker
The voltage regulation of lamp and motor feeders is
a phase of central-station operation that is being recog-
nized more and more as one of the essential factors of
successful operation. Perhaps no feature of the service
more easily creates dissatisfaction among customers
than do wide fluctuations in voltage. The amount of
compensation required to maintain constant potential at
the individual lamp is different in every feeder, depend-
ing upon the length of the feeder and the amount and
duration of the load. It is evident, therefore, that the
only satisfactory method of obtaining good regulation
on any system is by the independent regulation of each
feeder. The exceptionally good voltage regulation which
forms a part of the service rendered its customers by
128
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 2
the Mahoning & Shenango Railway & Light Company
in the city of Youngstown, Ohio, and vicinity, is due
primarily to the use made of automatic induction regu-
lators.
At the North Avenue power station there are installed
sixteen large motor-driven automatic induction feeder
regulators, together with primary and secondary relays,
shunt and series instrument transformers and line-
FIG. 1 — FEEDER REGULATORS
drop compensators. The regulators are positive in
action and are free from the detrimental effects due to
"overrunning" or "hunting," which are eliminated by
the use of a quick-acting magnet brake and of com-
pounding coils in the primary relay. Normally the brake
is locked against the drum on the shaft of the motor by
a strong spring, but at the instant current is applied
to the operating motor circuit the brake is magnetically
energized and holds the contacts firmly closed until the
voltage of the line has changed to within a certain defi-
nite percentage of the normal relay setting.
The degree of refinement of the voltage regulation ob-
tained at the center of distribution, which in some in-
stances is two or three miles from the station, is well
shown by the two graphic meter records reproduced
herewith. These records, covering a period of two days,
were taken at the same time and are placed side by side,
in order to show more clearly the actual conditions. The
ammeter chart shows accurately the load in amperes at
approximately 2200 volts on a certain single-phase
feeder supplying energy to both lamps and single-phase
motors and by connection with another feeder, to two-
phase motors. The day load consists principally of mo-
tors placed in service about 6 a.m. and taken off about
5 p.m., with a slight drop in load for approximately
thirty minutes at noon hour. The night load consists
principally of lighting, which begins to come on at
about 6 p.m., reaches a maximum around 8 o'clock and
then gradually falls off until midnight, when it becomes
very small and continues so until about G a.m. It is
readily seen from the chart that the feeders are carry-
ing an average load of approximately 150 amp for
eighteen hours per day, this being the usual load for
six days per week. It will also lie noted that for about
five hours during the afternoon the regulator is oper-
ated at approximately ?»:'. per cent overload, the normal
rating being 150 amp.
The voltmeter chart was taken at a customer's lamp
socket near the center of distribution of this particu-
lar feeder, which is approximately three-fourths of a
mile from the station. The voltage regulation, as indi-
cated by the graphic record, is exceptionally good con-
sidering the large proportion of day-motor load carried.
In connection with this chart it should be noted that the
regulators require approximately sixteen seconds to
travel from the position of maximum "buck" to the
position of maximum "boost."
One of the noteworthy features of this installation is
its compactness and accessibility, as may be seen from
Fig. 2. The regulators, which are mounted on a gallery
having a width of only 50 in., are so arranged that each
one can be entirely disconnected from the feeder circuit
in a few seconds, the feeder then receiving energy di-
rectly from the busbar.
The relays are placed on the wall at the back of the
regulators, while the transformers and auto-transform-
ers are mounted on the ceiling directly above. This ar-
rangement minimizes the space required without
impairing the accessibility "( the apparatus, the entire
installation having a neat and uniform appearance. Con
siderable ingenuity was required to install the sixteen
in;. 2— VOLTMETER \\l> AMMETER RECORDS
llowing t hi' motor to start quickly and with
(lie minimum starting current. Chattering Of the pri-
mary relay, which is one cause of "hunting," is elimi
nated by thi use ol compounding coils, These roils arc
connected In series with the relay circuit, bo that when
the contacts close in a certain direction the coil bei
regulators and accessories, as no provision had been
made originally for such equipment
The regulators and auxiliary apparatus described
in this article were built by the Westinghousfl
Electrii & Manufacturing Company, East Pittsburgh,
Pa.
January 9, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
129
Conference on Concentric Wiring Rules
The special committee appointed at the meeting of
electrical interests on Dec. 22 in the Biltmore Hotel,
New York, to confer with the sub-committee of the
National Fire Protection Association on rules regarding
concentric wiring for interior work met with that com-
mittee in the rooms of the National Electric Light
Association in New York on Jan. 1. Mr. W. H. Blood,
Jr., of Boston, presided as chairman of the Under-
writers' sub-committee having the matter in charge.
Others in attendance included Messrs. G. S. Lawler,
Washington Devereaux, J. C. Forsyth, A. M. Paddon,
J. R. Strong and Dana Pierce, of the National Fire Pro-
tection Association's committee; R. K. Sheppard, C. E.
Corrigan and H. B. Crouse, of the special committee
appointed by the electrical interests, and R. S. Hale and
H. R. Sargent, of the committee on the wiring of exist-
ing buildings appointed by the National Electric Light
Association.
Mr. Sheppard presented the case of the electrical in-
terests and dwelt at length on the various sides of the
question at issue especially as brought out in the Bilt-
more Hotel meeting of the previous week. Both he and
Mr. Crouse asked for delay in the promulgation of any
rules which would permit the installation of concentric
wires by inspection boards having jurisdiction as covered
in the preamble of the proposed report of the sub-com-
mittee of the National Fire Protection Association. The
Underwriters, on the other hand, felt that trial installa-
tions of the system would have to be made in order that
the necessary field experience could be obtained, yet they
were willing to meet the wishes of the manufacturers
and contractors if the latter could suggest some other
way in which the field experience could be acquired. The
tentative rules, Mr. Blood said, were devised for the
guidance of manufacturers and others who desired to
delve into the matter, and while the use of concentric
wire would enable the lighting companies to reduce the
cost of wiring, the fact that such a wire possesses other
features of merit besides cheapness, notably in that it
permits a safer electrical installation, was sufficient rea-
son for the Underwriters to look upon its use favorably.
Mr. Pierce intimated that it would not be long before the
"safety first" movement would compel more radical
changes in wiring methods than that involved in the
adoption of a concentric wiring system.
Mr. Sheppard and Mr. Crouse both brought out, in
urging delay, that manufacturers have devoted their en-
ergies toward the improvement of systems already in
use and that the inventive genius of the country is con-
strained to work along standard lines. It was suggested
that if time were given this American inventive genius
would doubtless produce something better than the
Stannos wire or Kuhlos wire of Europe.
The Underwriters' committee thanked Mr. Sheppard
and the members of his committee for their painstaking
presentation of the matter and for the moderation of
their requests. Tentative changes were made in the
preamble of Mr. Blood's committee's report which met
the approval of Mr. Sheppard's committee and it was
agreed that differences of phraseology could be settled by
correspondence. There was no doubt in the minds of
any present as to the desirability of some less expensive
wiring system than those at present in vogue ; the ques-
tion at issue had to do with the time when such systems
would be indorsed by the Underwriters for universal use.
All that the manufacturers desired was to have time
given them to adjust themselves to any radical change.
Mr. Crouse said that since the meeting of Dec. 22 many
manufacturers have put their inventive forces to work
on the problem.
Accident to Cleveland Municipal Plant
A break in a cable of the municipal electric-light plant
at Cleveland made a large part of the West Side and
South Side dark on the evening of Dec. 31. The break
occurred in an overhead cable near the West Forty-first
Street substation. Three hospitals, several theaters and
a number of places where New Year's Eve celebrations
were being held had no light and the streets in a large
district were dark. Mr. F. W. Ballard, commissioner
and chief engineer of the division of light and heat, de-
nied a report that the cable had been cut, but said that
the cause of the break was a mystery.
Serious Interruption to New York Subway Traffic
The longest interruption to subway traffic in the his-
tory of the Interborough Rapid Transit Company, New
York City, occurred Jan. 6 during the morning rush
hour following the burn-out of a number of cables
supplying energy to the system. The cause of the burn-
out has not been determined, but the following official
statement was given to the press:
'About 8:10 o'clock this (Wednesday) morning a
short-circuit was established on the cables in the man-
holes at Fifty-third Street. These manholes are on
either side of the subway and the cables in them come
from the substation in Fifty-third Street, east of
Eighth Avenue.
"An examination of two manholes shows that prac-
tically all the cables have been short-circuited and de-
stroyed. These short-circuits made a tremendous arc
and created considerable gases and smoke from the
burning insulation and the molten metal. The short-
circuits automatically tripped circuit-breakers in the
substation, which cut off the power. This automatically
took the power away from the third-rail and the trains
stopped."
As a result no trains could be moved in the section
fed by these cables, tying up local and express trains
running in both directions. As the cable burn-outs oc-
curred in compartments opening into the tunnel soon
after 8 a. m., when several hundred thousand persons
were hurrying to business, the accident was of more
than usual significance. Not only were these persons
imprisoned in cars in the tunnel between stations and
delayed in reaching their destinations, but several hun-
dred were overcome by the suffocating fumes caused
by the burning insulation and had to be removed
through manholes and gratings in the street. About
200 were injured in the panic, but only one fatality was
reported. Simultaneously with the task of transferring
people to the street, attention was given by the Inter-
borough company to restoration of service. Damaged
cables were located and burn-outs pr weakened sections
130
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. I
replaced. By 4 p. m. the system was repaired suffi-
ciently to operate local trains. These, however, were
not run at scheduled speed for fear of overtaxing the
cables. Normal service was re-established by 2 a. m.
Thursday morning.
The Engineering Foundation
On Jan. 25, in the auditorium of the Engineering
Societies Building, New York, there will be held the
inauguration of the "Engineering Foundation," which
is the name given to a fund to be administered "for the
advancement of the arts and sciences connected with
engineering and the benefit of mankind," the basis of
which is the initial gift of a considerable sum by a noted
engineer for this purpose. The American Institute of
Electrical Engineers, the American Society of Civil
Engineers, the American Institute of Mining Engineers
and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers are
to be represented equally in the administrative board of
the Engineering Foundation by election by the board of
trustees of the United Engineering Society, which has
been made the custodian of the fund. The inaugural
ceremonies will be open to all members and friends of
the engineering profession.
Electric Cars and Accessories at New York Auto-
mobile Show
The wider use of the battery for ignition, the prac-
tically universal adoption of electric starting and light-
ing, improvements in electric gear-shifting mechanisms
and the introduction of electric transmission systems
were features of electrical interest at the fifteenth an-
nual National Automobile Show held in New York,
Jan. 2-9. The total number of exhibits was 336, and,
among the manufacturers of passenger vehicles repre-
sented, eighty-one were makers of gasoline cars and six
of electric automobiles. There were also 236 exhibits
of accessories and thirteen of motorcycles. The lowest
price asked for a car was $295 and the highest $7,000.
The development of electric accessories for 1914, as
evidenced by various devices shown, has been directed
chiefly toward greater simplicity and wherever possible
a reduction in weight. This has been particularly the
case with magnetos. Among the starting apparatus
there were a variable-speed compound-wound machine
of improved type and several new devices for starting
Ford cars. With lighting systems the lamps have been
made simpler in appearance. Many devices were also
shown for dimming the brilliance of headlamps.
Holding Company Must Keep Up Properly
Judge Stewart filed an opinion in Easton, Pa., last
week in the case of the Edison Illuminating Company
versus the Eastern Pennsylvania Power Company and
Pennsylvania Utilities Company. It appears that the
Edison Illuminating Company leased its plant to the
i Power Company on Feb. 1, 1900. The Easton
Power ' lompany was the predecessor in title of the pres-
ent defendants. They were to pay $30,000 a year rental
and to maintain the general efficiency of the plant. The
Edison Illuminating Companj admitted that it had re-
ceived the rent each year, but alleged that the defend
ants had abandoned the plant and allowed it to deteri-
The evidence was taken Wei hit the late Judge
Stott and was that the plant had deteriorated at the
time of the trial to the amount of $98,105.16. The de-
fendants claimed that the BdlBOn Illuminating Company
had acquiesced in the changes and that there was too
great delay in asserting its rights. Judge Stewart
overruled these objections and directed that the defend-
ant companies should restore the plant to the condition
in which it was on Feb. 1, 1900, within six months from
date, and directed that the defendant should pay the
costs.
Dr. Humphreys Declares Commissions Extend Powers
from Regulation to Control
Dr. A. C. Humphreys, president of the Stevens Insti-
tute of Technology, of Hoboken, N. J., made an address
in connection with the 150th anniversary exercises of
Brown University, Providence, R. I., on Jan. 4, in which
he discussed commission regulation. He declared that
the tendency of the Interstate Commerce Commission
and of the state public utilities commissions has been
to extend their powers from regulation to general con-
trol of business enterprises. While the commissions
have instituted some much needed reforms, they have
done much which has been unnecessarily injurious to
the industrial and commercial life of the nation.
"One of the most apparent defects in the operation of
commission control, state and federal," said Dr. Hum-
phreys, "is the inability of the commissioners to master
the technicalities involved in the grave and complex
questions which, lawfully or unlawfully, are found in
their hands for settlement. Questions of engineering
and industrial management are involved in the great
majority of these questions, while the personnel of the
boards is made up generally of lawyers and theoretical
economists conspicuously deficient in practical experi-
ence."
Progress in Federal Trade Commission Appointments
Some doubt is expressed in Washington as to the
prospect that the Federal Trade Commission will begin
its work soon. The situation has been complicated by a
difference of opinion between the President and the
Senate as to their respective rights in appointments.
This and other conditions, notably the disinclination of
Congress to pass the ship purchase bill, may bring about
an extra session of Congress after the present session
ends by statutory limitation on March 4.
Senator Cummins and others have given notice that
the discussion of appointees will be prolonged and thor-
ough. Notwithstanding the fact that Congress has been
in session for a month, not one of the appropriation
bills has been passed. On Jan. 5 the President hinted
in his conference with newspaper men on duty at the
White House that an extra session of Congress might
be necessary.
It is understood that the President is not making the
progress he would like in his selections for the commis-
sion. He would like to nominate Mr. George Foster
Peabody, the New York banker, but Mr. Peabody has
been averse to leaving his business.
Progressive senators and representatives, headed by
Senators ('lapp and Poindexter and Representatives
Chandler of New York, Bryan and Falconer of Wash-
ington, and Kelly of Pennsylvania, have united on
Mr. Hugh Gordon Miller, of Norfolk, Va., for a place on
the commission, and are urging his candidacy. For the
last eight years Mr. Miller has been a practising attor-
ney of New York. He had been a republican but left
the party with Colonel Roosevelt. Other Progressive
senators and representatives are urging Mr. A. D. Nor-
toni, Progressive candidate for Governor of Missouri in
1912.
Senators Smith and Hardwick of Georgia are urging
that the President appoint Mr. T. S. Felder, former
January 9, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Attorney-General of Georgia. The President has him
under consideration. The name of Mr. Edward N. Hur-
ley, president of the Hurley Machine Company and
of the Illinois Manufacturers' Association, is in favor
with the President. His work as trade commissioner
to the Latin-American republics received the high ap-
proval of the President.
Organization of the New Utilities Bureau
Trustees of the new Utilities Bureau held their first
meeting at the University Club, Philadelphia, on Dec.
30. The following trustees were present: Messrs. Louis
D. Brandeis, Frederick A. Cleveland, Samuel S. Fels,
Charles F. Jenkins and Fred W. Taylor and Dr. Charles
R. Van Hise.
Officers were elected as follows : President, Dr.
Charles R. Van Hise, president of the University of
Wisconsin; secretary, Dr. Clyde L. King, University of
Pennsylvania; treasurer, Mr. Samuel S. Fels, manufac-
turer, of Philadelphia. Mr. Morris L. Cooke, director
of public works of Philadelphia, was made acting direc-
tor of the bureau.
The bureau has been established as an agency for
municipalities in their dealings with public utility com-
panies. It was started in connection with the confer-
ence of mayors, held in Philadelphia on Nov. 12 to 14,
and reported in the Electrical World of Nov. 21, 1914.
Testimony on Water-Power Bill
Abstracts of testimony on the water-power bill in
addition to that mentioned in recent issues of the Elec-
trical World, given before the committee on public
lands of the United States Senate, follow.
Mr. Gifford Pinchot
Mr. Pinchot, president of the National Conservation
Association, declared that if water-power development
has been checked in the United States the water-power
interests are directly responsible. What the water-
power men have been fighting for is to have the enor-
mously valuable water-power grants given to them for
ever and for nothing. They were willing enough to
have the law changed for their benefit but refused to
permit any corresponding concessions to the public.
Rather than accept anything else than a free and per-
petual gift of public property they have kept the pres-
ent law in force. Of late years the principal efforts of
the water-power interests have not been to develop
water-power sites but to acquire and hold them unde-
veloped.
Mr. Pinchot expressed himself as being strongly im-
pressed with the necessity for power development. He
agreed that it would be very much better, if it were pos-
sible, to issue non-revocable permits, but said that nev-
ertheless the permits in force now in national forests
are such that the water-power development in these for-
ests in 1914 was more than double what it was in 1913.
In 1911 the ten greatest groups of water-power inter-
ests had developed and under construction 1,821,000 hp.
In 1913 they had 2,711,000 hp, an increase of 890,000
hp. In 1911 the ten greatest interests held undevel-
oped 1,450,000 hp, which had risen to 3,500,000 hp in
1913, an increase of 2,050,000 hp in two years. These
figures show that in the last two years the great power
interests have increased their control of power held un-
developed more than twice as fast as they have in-
creased their control of developed power. In 1908 the
total developed water in the United States was 5,400,000
hp, and in 1913 it was 7,000,000 hp, an increase of
about 33 per cent. In 1908 the thirteen greatest groups
of interest controlled a total of 1,800,000 hp developed
and undeveloped, while in 1913 a smaller number — ten —
of the greatest groups controlled a total of 6,300,000 hp
developed and undeveloped, an increase of 240 per cent.
Thus concentration in ownership of water-power in the
United States has increased in the last five years about
seven times faster than power development. These fig-
ures were quoted by Mr. Pinchot to show that, instead
of spending their money to develop the power sites they
have, the great water-power interests have been spend-
ing money to acquire and hold power sites undeveloped
to meet not a present but a future demand.
Mr. Pinchot suggested that the control of water-
powers in the national forests be left in charge of the
United States Forest Service.
Mr. Paul M. Lincoln
Mr. Lincoln, president of the American Institute of
Electrical Engineers, filed the suggestions made by the
public-policy committee of the Institute before the
House committee in May, 1914. Mr. Lincoln called
attention to the popular fallacy that the cost of water-
power is usually very much less than the cost of com-
peting power generated by steam. An engineer advised
the installation of a steam plant in the city of Buffalo
for the purpose of assisting the plant of the Niagara
Falls Power Company. The latter plant was to take
the best part of the load and the steam plant the daily
peak load.
There is no question, Mr. Lincoln thought, that a
combination of that kind can be worked out to make the
total cost of power cheaper than the cost of power from
the Niagara Falls Power Company. With Pennsyl-
vania coal costing, as it does, about $2.50 a ton in Buf-
falo and the Buffalo load-factor as it is, power can be
supplied from Niagara Falls cheaper than the cost of
development by steam in Buffalo. The selling price of
Niagara energy is approximately $20 per kw per year.
The price per kilowatt-hour is considerably less than 1
cent and probably would come much closer to V4 cent,
but Mr. Lincoln could not give the exact figures.
Philadelphia Street-Lighting Contract Renewed
The contract between the city of Philadelphia and
the Philadelphia Electric Company for arc street light-
ing during 1915 has been renewed at the rate which
prevailed in 1914, about $89 per lamp per annum.
Mr. Joseph B. McCall, president of the company, said
that the prices, terms and conditions are those named
in the proposal made to the city by the company in
June, 1914. The contract contains a clause that its
execution shall not prevent either party from contend-
ing before the State Public Service Commission that the
terms may be modified. If, on the presentation of the
facts, the commission shall determine that any changes
are essential, the changes authorized are to become
effective as of Jan. 1, 1915. Mr. McCall said that, in
accordance with the agreement made at the last hear-
ing before the commission, an effort was made to reach
an understanding with the city officials, but after sev-
eral conferences it was impossible to agree upon
mutually satisfactory terms.
Mayor Blankenburg of Philadelphia has written to
Mr. Nathan T. Folwell, president of the Keystone Tele-
phone Company, stating that investigations of the city
indicate that under existing circumstances a city-owned
and city-operated plant for street lighting affords not
only the most economical method but will also insure
efficient and satisfactory service. He quotes the decision
of the Public Service Commission of Pennsylvania in
132
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 2
the case of the Gettysburg Light Company versus
Gettysburg as removing any obstacles to full considera-
tion of a municipal electric-lighting plant for Philadel-
phia. Mayor Blankenburg requested Mr. Folwell to
appoint some person to discuss terms with the city for
the use of the conduits. He asked for an option and
declared that, barring the terms to be agreed upon for
use of the conduits, the city's estimates are complete.
Upon request of the Philadelphia Electric Company,
the Public Service Commission has postponed the ad-
journed hearing on city lighting rates in Philadelphia
from Jan. 7 to Jan. 20.
Panama-Pacific Exposition Illumination Scheme
Completed
The engineers and workmen who are installing the
illumination system of the Panama-Pacific Exposition
have virtually completed work on it. Nightly tests in-
dicate that the success of this department of the Exposi-
tion work will meet all expectations of the engineers.
The lighting of the interior of Festival Hall, which
is accomplished by the use of a deep light well beneath
the floor of the building, has been tested, as has the
illumination of the Palace of Horticulture. In Festival
Hall a battery of searchlamps at the bottom of the light
well sent up a flood of varicolored light, through a dif-
fusing glass, which filled the huge dome with a soft
radiance the source of which could not be seen. The
task of hanging 100,000 jewels on the Tower of Jewels
was completed Dec. 22.
Mr. W. D'A. Ryan, who was loaned to the Exposition,
with a staff of illumination experts, to plan and install
the illumination system, said that the lighting effects,
so far as they had been tested, had not fallen short in a
single detail.
The only salient feature of the system which yet
awaits completion is the battery of forty-eight pro-
jectors, known as scintillators, installed on Morro
Castle, on the west wall of the yacht harbor. These
giant reflectors will be used in the creation of wonder-
ful pyrotechnic effects on the clouds above the Exposi-
tion site, the fog banks rolling in through the Golden
Gate and upon artificially created banks of steam.
Contest for Business in Northern Idaho
The long-expected power war that promises to involve
northern Idaho and its great mining interests for an
uncertain period was started before the Public Utilities
Commission when the Washington Water Power Com-
pany, of Spokane, made application to that body for an
injunction directed against the Montana Water Power
Company, the Thompson Falls Power Company, the
Federal Mining & Smelting Company and the Tamarack
& Custer Consolidated Mining Company, to prevent the
two named electrical companies from delivering elec-
trical energy to the mining companies.
The application raises a new issue before the com-
mission. All three of the electrical companies are non-
resident corporations. Ever since electrical energy
has been used to any extent in the mining regions of
the Coeur d'Alene district and in the towns and cities
there the Washington Water Power Company has fur-
nished it and has had exclusive control of the territory.
The Montana Power Company negotiated for con-
with some of the larger mining companies. These
companies are now customers of the Washington Water
Power Company. As in previous cases, the commis-
sion has refused to permit competition in territory
where another company had an investment and was giv-
ing satisfactory regulated service. The Montana Power
Company, it is alleged, decided not to ask for the right
to enter the northern Idaho mining field, but instead
made arrangements with the Federal and Tamarack
companies by which it built its transmission lines in
Montana to the Idaho line. The mining companies
built lines from their property to the boundary, and a
connection will be made.
The Washington Water Power Company classes this
as a conspiracy to rob it of valuable business and a sub-
terfuge to enter Idaho without complying with the pro-
visions of the public utilities act requiring a certificate
of public convenience and necessity to be issued before
construction by a public utility can be begun.
Spectacular Illumination of Woolworth Building
At midnight on Dec. 31 the new system of decorative
lighting installed on the Woolworth Building in New
York, the tallest office building in the world, received its
initial trial. At 11 o'clock the first floor of the building
was lighted, and every two minutes thereafter another
floor flashed into light. Just at midnight, when the din
attending the passing of the old year and the welcoming
of the new was at its height, the light of the topmost
pinnacle flared out. Seen from any angle the huge shaft
WOOLWORTH BUILDING AT NIGHT
made an imposing appearance. Specially designed re-
flectors are employed to direct the light against the
structure so as to bring out all the beauty of its Gothic
spires. Nitrogen-filled lamps are used throughout, and
these are supplied with energy from the power plant in
the basement.
January 9, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Miscellaneous News Notes
Time Off with Pay for Education. — The educational com-
mittee of the Edison Electric Illuminating Company of Bos-
ton is arranging details of plans whereby employees of the
company will be allowed to devote a certain number of their
regular office hours to studies which will benefit them in
their work. No reduction in pay will be made for time thus
occupied.
Large Wholesale Grocery Employs Battery Trucks in
Building. — Austin, Nichols & Company, Brooklyn, N. Y., one
of the largest wholesale grocery concerns in the world, is
employing more than a dozen 4000-lb. storage battery
trucks to transfer raw produce from lighterage or freight
cars to the receiving department as well as to move crated
goods about the building. Electricity is being supplied to
this company by the Edison Electric Illuminating Company
of Brooklyn.
Night Courses in Electricity. — The Washington University
has announced two courses in electricity, commencing Jan.
18, to continue for eighteen weeks, and to cover the "prin-
ciples of direct-current and alternating-current machinery"
and "general electrical engineering practice." The courses
will be open to students of more than eighteen years of age.
The first course requires a knowledge of algebra, while the
second course requires the applicant to have a general
knowledge of arithmetic.
"White Way" for Hot Springs, Ark. — The Board of Alder-
men of Hot Springs, Ark., has passed an ordinance author-
izing the Board of Public Affairs to enter into a contract
with the Citizens' Electric Company of that city for the
purpose of lighting certain streets under the system known
as the "white way." The contract will cover a period of
ten years and provide for the erection by the electric-light
company of 100 or more steel poles with four-lamp orna-
mental brackets and fifteen standards with one lamp. Each
of the four-lamp clusters will burn from dusk until mid-
night, and one of the lamps will be kept burning from
midnight until dawn. The lamp in the one-lamp fixture
will burn from dusk until dawn. The company will receive
$5 a month for lighting each of the four-lamp clusters and
$2 a month for lighting each of the single-lamp standards,
the lamps in each case being rated at 50 cp.
Use of the Telegraph in Great Britain. — The annual re-
port of the Postmaster-General of Great Britain for the
year ended March 31, 1914, records the number of telegraph
offices as 14,152, and the number of telegrams transmitted as
over 87,000,000. Improvements are being made with high-
speed apparatus. The Gell perforator and the Creed reper-
forator and printer are being more extensively used; a new
Siemens instrument is being tested, sextuple working has
been applied to the Baudot apparatus between London and
Birmingham, and quadruple duplex sets are to be installed
between London and Liverpool and between London and
Glasgow. A new form of Murray multiplex apparatus is
also being worked experimentally between London and
Manchester. The lines from London to the landing places
of the French, Belgian, Dutch and German cables are now
all underground.
Electric Shot-Firing Systems in Oklahoma Mining. —
Secretary Lane of the Interior Department approved the
recommendation of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs and
the Director of the Bureau of Mines that the order of May
4, 1914, requiring the use of permissible explosives in the
coal and asphalt mines on the segregated coal and asphalt
lands belonging to the Choctaw and Chickasha Nations in
Oklahoma or, in lieu thereof, the use of an electric shot-
firing system operated from without the mine, should go
into effect on Jan. 1, 1915. The Bureau of Mines conducted
demonstrations in twelve typical coal-mining operations out
of the forty-four coal mines on segregated lands, and made
an exhaustive study of electric shot-firing systems. A lib-
eral postponement will be allowed in individual cases so
that no undue hardship will be imposed. The depressed
financial condition makes it difficult for coal companies to
raise any extensive amount of money at present in order
to install mining machines. Electrical energy is not avail-
able at the present time to a considerable number of
operators.
Associations and Societies
New York Section, I. E. S. — At the next meeting of the
New York Section of the Illuminating Engineering Society,
to be held Jan. 14, Mr. M. Luckiesh will present a paper en-
titled "The Application of the Tungsten Lamp to Photog-
raphy," and Mr. R. F. Pierce will discuss gas lamps for
photography. Mr. John B. Taylor, of the General Electric
Company, Schenectady, N. Y., will give a demonstration of
color photography. At a meeting to be held on Feb. 11
papers will be presented by Mr. W. H. Rolinson on "The
Gas-Filled Lamp for Street Lighting," and by Mr. C. A. B.
Halvorson, Jr., on "The Magnetite Lamp for Street Light-
ing."
New York Electrical Society. — On Wednesday, Jan. 13,
Mr. William A. Blonck will deliver a lecture before the
New York Electrical Society on "European Boiler Room
Practice and Boiler Efficiency Methods in the United States,
with Reference to Electric Light and Power Plants." Mr.
Blonck will discuss the construction and performance of
high-duty boilers, as used in electric plants of Europe. He
will also take up the practical question of the more rational
and economical use of coal in the boiler rooms of electric
power plants by means of definite indications of the com-
bustion process which are simple and comprehensible to the
firemen, so that guesswork and waste shall be entirely elim-
inated.
The Cottrell Dinner. — The American Institute of Mining
Engineers, the American Electrochemical Society and the
Mining and Metallurgical Society of America will give a
complimentary dinner on Friday, Jan. 15, at the Hotel
Plaza to Dr. Frederick Gardner Cottrell, of the Bureau of
Mines, in recognition of his contributions to research. It
is well known that Dr. Cottrell assigned the patents for
his process of electrostatic precipitation of fumes to the Re-
search Corporation, the receipts from licenses to be used
for the furtherance of research. As a result of this gift
the Research Corporation is now in a flourishing condition.
The speakers at the dinner will be Mr. W. L. Saunders for
the American Institute of Mining Engineers, Mr. Walter R.
Ingalls for the Mining and Metallurgical Society of America,
and Mr. F. A. Lidbury for the American Electrochemical
Society.
Electric Trucks in Winter Time. — "Operating Electric
Trucks Under Winter Conditions" was the subject of dis-
cussion at the monthly meeting of the New York Section of
the Electric Vehicle Association of America on Dec. 30.
The need of preparation before inclement winter weather
sets in and the importance of properly educating the
operators and garage men as to the problems peculiar to
winter time were emphasized by all the speakers. Mr.
F. N. Carle told of the efforts of central stations and
manufacturers in New York City to warn the owners of
electrical vehicles beforehand of unusually severe operating
conditions that are likely to take place in winter time.
Mr. E. A. Graham spoke of cold-weather operating condi-
tions in Winnipeg, Canada, and how the electric truck was
able to hold its own with the gasoline car, and in some
respects even to surpass it. Mr. W. A. Donkin, chairman
of the Pittsburgh Section, stated that on account of the
hills in Pittsburgh skid devices are used throughout the
year and that during severe snowstorms the electric truck
gives exceptionally good service.
Western Association of Electrical Inspectors. — The tenth
national convention of the Western Association of Electrical
Inspectors will be held at the Hotel Radisson, Minneapolis,
Minn., Jan. 26 to 28. The sessions will be opened Tuesday
morning with an address of welcome by Mayor Nye of
Minneapolis. Mr. Waldemar Michaelson, former city elec-
trician of Omaha, Neb., is scheduled to respond. At the
afternoon session the following papers will be presented:
"Elevator Motor Controllers," Mr. J. H. Miller, general
superintendent Otis Elevator Company, Chicago; "Fire-
Alarm Systems," Mr. Frank F. Stover, Star Electric Com-
pany, Binghamton, N. Y. Reports from the committee on
induction motors, Mr. K. W. Adkins chairman, and the
committee on signal systems, Mr. J. R. Morrisey chairman,
will be presented. On Wednesday morning the program
will be: Report of committee on underground systems,
134
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 2
Mr. Guy W. See chairman; address, "Electric, Steam and
Water Power in a Modern Flour Mill," Mr. Charles A.
Lang, superintendent Northwestern Consolidated Milling
Company, Minneapolis; report of committee on electric
traction systems, Mr. Frank R. Daniel chairman; address,
"Electrolysis, Its Detection and Mitigation," Mr. Burton
McCullom, electrical engineer Bureau of Standards, Wash-
ington, D. C. Thursday morning: Report of committee
on laws and ordinances, Mr. W. S. Boyd, Chicago, chair-
man; address, "Approved Fittings and the Label Service,"
Mr. J. E. Latta, Underwriters' Laboratories, Chicago; report
of committee on the National Electrical Code, Mr. F. D.
Varnam chairman; address, "How to Deal with the Public,"
Mr. John S. Taylor. Thursday afternoon: Report of com-
mittee on rubber-covered wire, Mr. Victor H. Tousley
chairman; address, "The Manufacture of Rubber-Covered
Wire," Mr. Everett Morse, engineer Simplex Wire & Cable
Company, Boston, Mass. The association banquet will be
held on Wednesday evening with Mr. W. I. Gray as toast-
master. On Thursday evening the association will hold a
joint dinner with the Minnesota Section, A. I. E. E., after
which Mr. Charles L. Pillsbury, consulting engineer, Minne-
apolis, will speak on "Principles Entering into the Valuation
of Public Utilities and Rate Making." In celebration of this,
the tenth or "tin wedding" meeting of the association, a
special invitation to attend has been extended to the wives
of members, and the local entertainment committee, Mr.
Emil Anderson chairman, has provided an elaborate enter-
tainment program for both members and guests. Mr. Ben
W. Clark, Detroit, Mich., is president of the association,
and Mr. William S. Boyd, 175 West Jackson Boulevard, Chi-
cago, is secretary.
Wisconsin Electrical Association. — The Wisconsin Elec-
trical Association will hold a joint convention with the Wis-
consin Gas Association at Milwaukee Jan. 20 to 22. The
sessions of Jan. 20 will be devoted to gas topics, those of
Jan. 21 to subjects of common interest to both the gas and
electric-lighting industries, and those of Jan. 22 to topics
of interest to electric-railway and electric-utility men. A
paper on "The Wisconsin Railroad Commission's Method of
Rate Making" is listed on the advance program, and there
will be other papers on the subjects of financing utility
properties, operation, office efficiency and public-service cor-
poration regulation. Mr. P. H. Korst, Janesville, Wis., is
president, and Mr. George Allison, Stephenson Building,
Milwaukee, Wis., is secretary-treasurer. Following is the
program for the electrical sessions: Thursday, Jan. 21,
morning: "Financing of Public Utility Properties," by Mr.
Andrew Cooke, consulting financial expert, Chicago, formerly
vice-president Harris Trust & Savings Bank, Chicago; "The
Continuous Meter-Reading and Discount System," by Mr.
F. J. Maxwell, auditor Eastern Wisconsin Railway & Light
Company, Fond du Lac, Wis.; "Advertising Influence of
Public Service Employees," by Mr. R. O. Jasperson, adver-
tising agent Milwaukee Gas Light Company. Afternoon:
"The Wisconsin Railroad Commission's Method of Rate
Making," by a member of the Wisconsin Railroad Commis-
sion, Madison, Wis.; "Practical Effect of the Workmen's
Compensation Act," by Mr. Carl Muskat, attorney, Milwau-
kee; "Increased Taxation in Wisconsin and Its Effect on
Public Service Companies," by Mr. Edwin Gruhl, Water-
town Gas & Electric Company, Watertown, Wis. Friday,
Jan. 22. morning: "One-Man Electric Car Operation in a
Small City," by Mr. R. M. Howard, general manager Minne-
sota Division Wisconsin Railway, Light & Power Company,
Winona, Wis.; "Latent Water-Powers and Difficulties of
Development Under tlio Now Wisconsin Water-Power
■ by Mr. Daniel W. Mead, Madison, Wis.; "Latest Ten-
dencies and Developments in Street Lighting and Incnn-
nt Lamps," by Mr. S. L. E. Rose, General Electric
n my, Schenectady, N. V. Afternoon: "How to Overcome
Operating Difficulties of Small Utilities," by Messrs.
J. N. Cadby and ('. B, Hayden, electa tailroad
Commission of Wisconsin, Madison; "Experience and 9ug-
.■ the New-Business Departments of a Small
tility," by Mr. C. M. Oxford, commercial deparl
men! Wisconsin Public Service Company, Green Bay, Wis.;
for Increasing the Efficiency of
Small Stem,, Electric Plant ." by Mr. William F. Lathrop,
,,f the Wisconsin Gas & Electric Company, of Racine,
Wis.
Public Service Commission News
New York Commissions
Plans of Governor Whitman and the Republican party for
an investigation and reorganization of the New York Pub-
lic Service Commissions have been brought to a head by
the fire in the subway on Jan. 6. After conferences with
the leaders in the Legislature Governor Whitman stated
that he expected to see definite steps taken to start an in-
quiry preliminary to a general reconstruction of the com-
missions within a short time. The general plan now under
discussion is to have an investigation made by a committee
of the Legislature. In case action is not taken by the Legis-
lature and a committee, it is stated that the Governor will
act independently under the Moreland law and appoint a
commissioner himself to make an investigation.
A resolution was offered in the Senate on Jan. 6 by Sen-
ator William M. Bennett, providing for an investigation of
the fire in the subway as well as of the two commissions. It
provides for the appointment of five members of the Assem-
bly by the Speaker and three Senators by the Lieutenant-
Governor. An appropriation of $25,000 is made. The im-
mediate adoption of the resolution was urged by Senator
Bennett, but as a general agreement had been made that the
Senate should do nothing more than organize and receive
the Governor's message on the opening day, the resolution
was laid on the table.
The Second District commission has adopted the first
changes in its rules of procedure since its organization
in 1907, designed to provide for the new functions imposed
on the commission by the Legislature when such activities
as those of the telegraph and telephone companies, auto-
bus lines, the steam corporations and the baggage transfer
companies were put under its jurisdiction.
Ohio Commission
In its annual report, made to Governor Cox on Dec. 31,
the commission suggested that railroads and public utilities
should be required to notify the commission immediately
of any change in the personnel of their responsible officers.
It was suggested that a law be enacted authorizing the
commission to order the refund of illegal or unreasonable
charges by railroads or utilities. The members also wish to
be exempt from testifying in civil cases that grow out of
matters that have been investigated officially.
The report states that the commission has initiated many
physical valuations at the request of city councils. In
most instances, the report assumes, these valuations were
desired in rate-making. The new uniform classification of
accounts went into effect on Jan. 1.
The commission desires power to suspend rates or sched-
ules pending investigations. Under the present law it can-
not initiate investigations of such rates or schedules until
they have gone into effect. It asks that utilities be required
to give thirty days' notice of changes made in rates or
schedules.
The Youngstown & Sharon Street Railway Company has
secured permission to intervene in the case of the Mahoning
Light & Power Company, which was granted permission
recently to purchase a small private company in Youngs-
town and issue securities. When the order is ready to be
issued, the company will enter objections and ask for a
rehearing. Failing in this, it will carry the case to the
Stale Supreme Court. It bases its objections on the ground
that ito service is satisfactory and sufficient for the terri-
tory served.
New Jersey Commission
The Board of Public Utility Commissioners has dismissed
I he complaint of Mr. J, F. Davison against the Lakewood
Water, I.iirht & Power Company, based upon his refusal to
permit the company to teBl his water meter and a Subse-
quent refusal of the company to render service. The board
holds that it is not only a right but a duty of a company to
ill meters and to examine and test them whenever
iry. Referring to the contention that a charge for
the meter made it the property of the consumer, the board
thai the actual ownership of the meter does not affect
the company's control over it, the fact that a patron is re-
quired to pay for the meter being one affecting only the
rates charged for service and not the company's control.
January 9, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
135
The following committee of the Legislature has been
appointed to study the rate-making powers of the Board
of Public Utility Commissioners: Senators Rathbun, Gaunt
and Hutchinson and Assemblymen Runyon, Randall, Wolver-
ton, Barrendale and Stevens.
Michigan Commission
The Railroad Commission has ordered the appraisal of
the property of the electric light and power companies con-
trolled by the Commonwealth Power Company interests.
The appraisal will be made by Prof. M. E. Cooley, of the
University of Michigan, and his assistants. The appraisal
is made in connection with the application of the Consumers'
Power Company of Maine to be admitted to Michigan.
Pennsylvania Commission
Gas and electric light and power companies have been noti-
fied by the commission that when a company names a period
in which a discount will be allowed on bills the discount
period must be observed rigidly, and all bills not paid by the
«xpiration of the last discount day must be paid in full.
Idaho Commission
Retention of the Public Utilities Commission as a means
of offsetting federal control of Idaho's resources is advocated
by Senator Borah in a letter just received from him by Mr.
C. F. Koelsch, Representative-elect from Ada County. Sena-
tor Borah points to pending national legislation and shows
why a public utilities commission will be necessary for the
State if such legislation is to be passed in order that the
State may combat a radical conservation policy. His letter
says:
"I am much opposed to the leasing system covering, as it is
now intended to do, all of our natural resources, not only
because in my judgment it will retard the development of the
State, withholding from taxation a vast amount of property
which ought to be taxed, but because the royalties which
will be collected will ultimately be passed over and charged
up to the citizens of the State and will constitute in the final
effect a new tax and a new burden laid specially and alone
upon the public land states. But I am of the opinion that
such a system is going to be tried and that these bills will
be ultimately passed, and I feel quite certain that we will
find a public utilities law and an efficient public utilities
commission of very great service to us under such circum-
stances.
"There is another feature of the controversy, and that is
as to the legal right of the national government to fix rates
to be charged for power where the power is used wholly
within the State. I do not believe it can attach to the leasing
of its public lands any provision which will take away from
the State its right to regulate and control its domestic
affairs. But one thing is quite certain, that unless we had
some means and some method by which to test the question
we should not be in a position to challenge the authority
of the national government. Moreover, I believe the State
would not want these public service corporations to go with-
out any regulation and control whatever, and unless we had
an efficient public utilities law they would prefer federal
regulation rather than no regulation at all."
An answer has been filed with the Public Utilities Com-
mission to the complaint of the Attorney-General against
the Idaho-Oregon Light & Power Company. In his com-
plaint the Attorney-General asserted that the company was
discriminating in rates, and that it was not following the
schedules filed with the commission. These charges are de-
nied by Mr. W. J. Ferris, receiver for the company, who ex-
plains that the company is furnishing energy in accordance
"with certain special contracts and oral agreements outside
its regular rates, but says that not only are all these con-
tracts on file with the commission, but that they show no
unreasonable difference in rates and no failure to observe
the rules of the commission.
Missouri Commission
On application of the Springfield (Mo.) Gas & Electric
Company the United States District Court for the Western
District of Missouri has granted a preliminary injunction
restraining the Public Service Commission of Missouri from
enforcing the order recently made by it reducing electrical
Tates.
Personal
Mr. Howard A. Huey has been appointed assistant man-
ager of the Oklahoma Gas & Electric Company, Oklahoma
City, Okla.
Mr. I. M. Stover has been appointed manager of the Key
West (Fla.) Electric Company as successor to Mr. B. L.
Grooms, who has been transferred to Savannah.
Mr. J. Harry Pieper, assistant general agent of the
Southern California Edison Company, Los Angeles, Cal.,
has been elected president of the Los Angeles Advertising
Club.
Mr. Peter J. Beisel has been appointed city electrician of
Allentown, Pa. He will have supervision over the fire and
police call systems and all other electrical activities entered
into by the city.
Mr. Timothy C. O'Hearn, for the past eleven years city
electrician of Cambridge, Mass., has sent in his resignation
to Mayor Good, to take effect April 1, 1915. He is an in-
structor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Mr. B. L. Grooms, recently manager of the Key West
(Fla.) Electric Company and for some years chief inspector
of the Savannah (Ga.) Electric Company, has been trans-
ferred to Savannah, where he will become superintendent
of transportation of the company.
Ex-Gov. Samuel W. Pennypacker, a member of the Public
Service Commission of Pennsylvania, has been appointed
chairman of that body to fill the uncompleted term of the
late Nathaniel Ewing. By this action the term of each of
the commissioners is advanced one year.
Mr. J. S. Hendrie, for some time a member of the Hydro-
Electric Power Commission of Ontario, and at present
Lieutenant-Governor of the Province of Ontario, has been
elected a director of the Canadian General Electric Com-
pany, succeeding the late Senator Jaffray.
Mr. Thomas T. Logie, for the past three years manager
of the Westfield (Mass.) municipal lighting department,
has resigned to enter private business. Mr. Logie was
formerly assistant superintendent of the South Norwalk
(Conn.) division of the United Electric Light & Water
Company.
Mr. J. D. Ross has been reappointed superintendent of the
Seattle City Lighting Department by Mayor Gill for three
years at a salary of $5,000. In reappointing Mr. Ross the
Mayor referred to him as an indefatigable worker and a
man of ability. The best proof of his merit, he said, was
the fact that Mr. Ross has managed the municipal plant
successfully in spite of many obstacles and against strenu-
ous opposition.
Mr. Walter H. Gaither, of Pittsburgh, Pa., has been
appointed a member of the Public Service Commission of
Pennsylvania by Governor Tener for a term of two and
one-half years, beginning on Jan. 19, 1915. The newly
appointed commissioner was born in Foxburg, Clarion
County, Pa., forty-five years ago, and was engaged in news-
paper work in Pittsburgh for several years. He was secre-
tary to Governor Tener during his term as Congressman,
and has served in the same capacity since Mr. Tener became
Governor.
Mr. Thomas P. Riley, judge of the Maiden (Mass.) Dis-
trict Court, has been appointed a member of the Massa-
chusetts Gas and Electric Light Commission to fill the
vacancy created by the advancement of Mr. Alonzo R. Weed
to the chairmanship, following the death of the late chair-
man, Forrest E. Barker. The new nominee was born at
Medford, Mass., in 1875, and after being educated at Boston
Univeristy Law School was admitted to the Massachusetts
bar in 1901. He has served a number of terms in the
Legislature and was appointed associate judge of the Maiden
Court in 1911. For two years he was chairman of the
Democratic State Committee and served as Assistant At-
torney-General of Massachusetts until the expiration of the
recent term.
Mr. T. C. Martin, secretary of the National Electric Light
Association, will proceed from New York on Jan. 14 to San
Francisco to confer with the committees there and help
consummate the local arrangements for the next annual
convention, to be held there during the first week in June.
Other points on the Pacific Coast will also be visited in
136
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 2
this connection. Mr. Martin is also to give attention to
company section work in the cities passed through on his
return route. He will be accompanied to San Francisco by
Mr. George W. Elliott, master of transportation, who is
now organizing four special tours to the convention, and
has to settle many points in regard to them at the other
end of the line. They will be engaged on this work until
early in February.
Mr. Philip E. Hart, mechanical and electrical engineer
and associate member of the American Institute of Elec-
trical Engineers, is now in England and expects to leave
for the front shortly, having received orders to join his
regiment (artillery), in which he has received a commis-
sion. Mr. Hart received his training at the London Uni-
versity and joined the testing department of the General
Electric Company in Schenectady. He has been connected
with the West Kootenay Power & Light Company, Ross-
land, B. C; the Allis-Chalmers-Bullock Company, the
Pacific Gas & Electric Company, and the Dorada Railway
(ropeway extension), Colombia, South America. Mr. Hart
was acting as resident engineer for this last company when
war broke out. He left for England in October.
Mr. Rodolfo Roth, formerly manager of the machinery
business of Buxton, Cassini & Company, of Buenos Aires,
Argentina, and now a consulting engineer in that city and
a professor in the National University of La Plata and
secretary of the Argentine Association of Electrical Engi-
neers, is spending a few weeks in the United States making
a special investigation for the Argentine National Board of
Sanitary Works. At the same time he is studying matters
connected with the business relations existing between the
United States and Argentina. Mr. Roth was graduated from
Cornell University some years ago in the course in electrical
engineering, and at about the middle of the course he went
into business for about three years in Mexico. He was an
engineer with Braschi & Company in Mexico City and
assistant manager of the Aguas Calientes Electric Light &
Power Company of Mexico. In Argentina he has also been
superintendent of the Compania General de Illuminacion y
Ornato. He expects to return to Argentina in February.
Mr. John J. Gibson has been appointed manager of the
detail and supply department of the Westinghouse Electric
& Manufacturing Company at East Pittsburgh, to succeed
Mr. G. B. Griffin. Mr. Gibson was born in York, Pa., and
after attending the Collegiate
Institute at that place entered
Lehigh University at Bethle-
hem, Pa. After graduation
he entered the employ of the
Westinghouse Electric &
Manufacturing Company and
was engaged in work on
meters, arc lamps and switch-
boards. From 1896 to 1900
Mr. Gibson was employed by
the American Telephone &
Telegraph Company as in-
spector, and later as district
manager at Norfolk, Va. In
1900 he re-entered the em-
ploy of the Westinghouse
company as chief corre-
spondent of the Chicago of- j. j. gibson
fice, and later as salesman
in the same office. Mr. Gibson was transferred in 1905 to
the Philadelphia sales office, in which capacity he remained
until his appointment as district manager in 1906.
Mr. Joseph B. Eastman, of Boston, has been appointed
a member of the Massachusetts Public Service Commission,
succeeding Mr. George W. Anderson, resigned. Mr. East-
man has been secretary of the Public Franchise League
of Boston since 1905. He was born in 1882 at Katonah,
N. Y., and was graduated from Amherst College in 1904,
when he received a fellowship which permitted him to study
I and political condition for B time at the South End
House, Boston. After becoming associated with the Public
Franchise League, Mr. Eastman handled the rate petition
of that body relative to the Edison Electric Illuminating
Company of Boston before the Gas and Electric Light Com-
mission about five years ago and was active in regard to the
adoption of the sliding scale of rates by gas companies,
besides appearing upon other matters. In 1912 he helped
draft the bill which became the public utilities act of 1913,
and he has given much time to work as counsel for labor
organizations in the electric railway and lighting fields.
Mr. H. W. Cope, formerly assistant manager of the indus-
trial and power department at East Pittsburgh, has been
appointed director of the Westinghouse Electric & Manu-
facturing Company's exhibit for the Panama-Pacific Inter-
national Exposition, and is
now stationed in San Fran-
cisco. Mr. Cope was born in
North Vernon, Ind., and is a
graduate of Purdue Univer-
sity. Prior to his attending
the university he was en-
gaged in electrical construc-
tion and sales work. In
^l^^fc September, 1898, following
j^K ^^^^^ his graduation, he became
$S , ( ^H associated with the Westing-
»\ f ^ jfl house Electric & Manufac-
Sfcl jfl turing Company at East
Sji jfl Pittsburgh, with which com-
pany he has remained ever
since. Mr. Cope took the ap-
prenticeship course and was
H. W. COPE engaged in the engineering
department in connection
with the design of alternating-current switchboards, the
layout of power houses and substations, and in 1905 he was
made the head of the alternating-current correspondence
department. A short time after this he was made assistant
manager of the industrial and power department.
Mr. G. Brewer Griffin, formerly manager of the detail and
supply department of the Westinghouse Electric & Manu-
facturing Company, has been appointed manager of the
automobile equipment department. Mr. Griffin has been
connected with the electrical
business for some years, hav-
ing started in 1889 with the
Thomson-Houston Company,
at Lynn, with which company
he remained until 1894, when
he became associated with the
Narragansett Electric Com-
pany at Providence, R. I.
While with this company he
aided in entirely rebuilding
and rearranging its distrib-
uting system. In 1896 he
went to Elmira, N. Y., and
became manager of the job-
bing and contracting and
new-business departments of
the Municipal Improvement
Company, which was engaged
in a general construction sup-
ply business in connection with the water, street-railway
and electric-light plants. In 1900 Mr. Griffin became con-
nected with the Manhattan General Construction Company
of New York as special representative, opening an office
in Boston as New England manager one year later, which
position he held until the company was absorbed by the
Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company. In 1902
he went to East Pittsburgh as assistant manager of the
retail and supply department, succeeding to the position
of manager in 1909.
G. B. GRIFFIN
Obituary
John Henry Clark, for many years connected with the
power and mining sales department of the General Electric
Company at Schenectady, N. Y., died Jan. 3. Mr. Clark
was born in Cornwall, England, in 1859. He became con-
I with the Thomson-Houston Company in 1890, and
with the General Electric Company when that company took
over the former company a few years later. He was a mem-
ber of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, the
Boston Engineers' Club and the Engineers' Club of New
York.
January 9, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
137
Corporate and Financial
Corning Light & Power Initial Dividend. — The Corning
(N. Y.) Light & Power Corporation has declared an initial
dividend of 1 per cent on the $375,000 stock.
Midland Counties Public Service to Renew Notes. — The
Railroad Commission of California has authorized the Mid-
land Counties Public Service Corporation to renew $24,796
notes.
Philadelphia Electric Company Election. — Mr. Sidney F.
Tyler has been elected a director of the Philadelphia Elec-
tric Company to fill the vacancy caused by the death of
Thomas Dolan.
Portsmouth Street Railroad & Light Company's First
Mortgage Bonds. — Baker, Ayling & Company, of Boston, are
offering $500,000 of 6 per cent first mortgage gold bonds of
the Portsmouth Street Railroad & Light Company.
Listings on New York Exchange in 1914. — According
to the Wall Street Journal, $20,913,000 of 5 per cent elec-
tric utility bonds and $42,267,600 of stock, a total of $63,-
180,600, were listed on the New York Stock Exchange dur-
ing 1914.
Western States Gas & Electric to Issue Bonds in Lieu of
Notes. — The Western States Gas & Electric Company has
been authorized by the California Railroad Commission to
issue $101,000 of 5 per cent bonds at not less than 82%
and interest in lieu of $142,700 of the three-year 6 per cent
notes previously authorized.
Great Western Power to Renew Notes. — The Railroad
Commission of California has issued a supplemental order
authorizing the Great Western Power Company to renew
a note for $150,000 in favor of the Old Colony Trust Com-
pany of Boston. This note is secured by a pledge of $225,-
000 of first mortgage bonds.
Rodeo Land & Water Company Properties to Be Sold. —
The Rodeo Land & Water Company has been authorized
by the California Commission to sell its water, gas and
electric systems to the Beverly Hills Utilities Company of
Los Angeles, which is authorized to issue 100 shares of
capital stock at par in payment for the property.
Electrical Securities Corporation Bond Offering. — Jackson
& Curtis, of New York and Boston, are offering at 98 and
interest $500,000 collateral-trust sinking fund gold 5 per
cent bonds of the Electrical Securities Corporation, due
Feb. 1, 1943. The common stock of the company is owned
by the General Electric Company, of Schenectady, N. Y.
Dayton Power & Light to Purchase Cedarville Plant. —
The Dayton (Ohio) Power & Light Company has been
granted authority to purchase the plant and business of the
Cedarvilie (Ohio) Light & Power Company for $20,000.
The Cedarville company has a water-power plant at Clifton,
Ohio, and a steam plant at Cedarville. These will be
operated in conjunction with the Dayton company's plant.
Empire Gas & Electric to Purchase Weedsport Company.
— The Empire Gas & Electric Company, Auburn, N. Y., has
been authorized by the New York Public Service Commis-
sion, Second District, to purchase the $15,000 stock of the
Weedsport (N. Y.) Electric Light Company for not more
than $19,000. The order provides that the Empire company
must amortize the stock at the rate of $500 for 1915 and
$1,000 for each succeeding year until it is carried on the
books in 1920 at $13,500.
Alabama Traction, Light & Power Option. — Holders of
certificates of option to purchase at $15 shares of the
Alabama Traction, Light & Power Company were given
the privilege to extend the option from Dec. 31, 1914, to
Dec. 31, 1915, on the payment of 10 shillings per share. As
an alternative, the holder may extend the option until
twelve months after the conclusion of peace, or on the
expiration of the court's acts of 1914, whichever is sooner,
by the payment of £2 per share.
Montpelier & Barre Light & Power Capital Increase. —
The Montpelier & Barre Light & Power Company of Bos-
ton, Mass., has increased its authorized capital stock from
$2,131,000 to $4,810,000. Mr. A. B. Tenney, president of
the company, writes that this issue is necessary owing to the
conversion privilege in an issue of $2,500,000 convertible
bonds authorized. The bonds are issued for funding and
refunding outstanding indebtedness and to provide for ex-
tensions and future needs under conservative restrictions.
Associated Gas & Electric to Acquire More Stock of Sub-
sidiaries.— The New York Public Service Commission, Sec-
ond District, has authorized the Associated Gas & Electric
Company to buy at par $22,400 stock of the Homer & Cort-
land Gas Light Company to be issued under the authority
of an order of the commission granted in August, 1913, and
also to acquire $36,600 outstanding stock of the Norwich
Gas & Electric Company and $33,400 additional stock of
the Norwich company to be issued under an order of the
commission dated Dec. 9, 1914.
New York Receiver for International Power. — Upon ap-
plication of Mr. George W. Hoadley, Supreme Court Justice
Hendrick appointed Mr. Charles H. Ridder receiver of the
International Power Company. The action was taken to
prevent Mr. Sadler, the New Jersey receiver, from removing
the assets of the company from New York to New Jersey.
The suit was brought in behalf of a subsidiary company,
the American & British Manufacturing Company, of Bridge-
port, Conn., of which Mr. Hoadley is president, which com-
pany claims that $100,000 is due it for loans to the Inter-
national Power Company and moneys paid out at its re-
quest.
San Joaquin Light & Power to Acquire Other Properties.
— The Selma Water Works, Madera Water Works, Madera
Light & Power Company, Lemoore Light & Power Corpora-
tion and Bakersfield Gas & Electric Light Company have
been authorized by the California Railroad Commission to
transfer their properties to the San Joaquin Light & Power
Corporation. The San Joaquin company is to cancel all of
the capital stock of the companies with the exception of
the Bakersfield Gas & Electric Company. This company
has an outstanding bond issue and, with the exception of
sufficient shares to qualify directors, all of its stock will be
canceled.
Boston Edison Company Prosperous. — New business con-
tracted for during the calendar year 1914 by the Edison
Electric Illuminating Company of Boston, Mass., exceeded
all previous records and surpassed that booked in 1913 by
25 per cent. The output for the week ended Christmas
Day was 7 per cent ahead of the corresponding week a year
ago, the peak load of the year being 65,342 kw, compared
with 63,131 kw last year, a gain of 3.5 per cent. The
largest daily output in the company's history was on Dec.
21, when 777,000 kw-hr. was generated. Little evidence of
retrenchment in the use of electricity for lighting and
motor service appears in the 700 square miles of the com-
pany's territory.
New Company Formed in Maine. — The Maine Railways,
Light & Power Company, which was formed in Maine in
June, 1914, owns 86 per cent of the outstanding shares of
the Rockland, Thomaston & Camden Street Railway and
the entire stock of the Norway & Paris Street Railway. In
addition, it operates two miles of electric road connecting
the towns of Norway and Paris, owns and operates a gas
plant in the city of Rockland and furni-hes electric service
in Rockland, Camden, Rockport, Warren, Norway and Paris.
The company has a long-term contract with the Central
Maine Power Company for hydroelectric energy. The
directors of the company are Messrs. W. T. Cobb, R. C.
Bradford, H. J. Chisolm, E. W. Cox, C. G. Allen, W. Petten-
gill, E. W. Clark, A. L. Bird, M. S. Bird, and S. B. Larrabee.
Hodenpyl, Hardy & Company Incorporated. — Hodenpyl,
Hardy & Company, of New York, have been incorporated
with a capitalization of $2,000,000 to manage public utilities
and do a stock and bond business. There will be no change
in policy or practice from the old partnership firm. The
new company will continue the management of the con-
trolled properties and the financing of the same. The prin-
cipal property managed by the company is the Common-
wealth Power, Railway & Light Company, which serves
communities in Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and Wis-
consin. This property is operated jointly with E. W. Clarke
& Company. The officers of the company are: Messrs. A. G.
Hodenpyl, presdent; G. E. Hardy, B. C. Cobb, J. C. Weadock,
W. S. Barthold and A. H. Johnson, vice-presidents, and
Jacob Heckma, secretary and treasurer.
138
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 2
Manufacturing and Industrial
The Condensite Company of America has moved from
Glen Ridge, N. J., to Bloomfield, N. J.
Balcom & Darrow, engineers, have moved their offices to
10 East Forty-seventh Street, New York.
The New York Insulated Wire Company, 114 Liberty
Street, New York, has appointed Mr. L. O. Brewster general
manager.
The American Manufacturers' Agency, 111 Monroe Street.
Chicago, 111., has taken the agency for the Novelty Incan-
descent Lamp Company, of Emporium, Pa.
The Multi-Lux Company, 0712 Union Avenue, Cleveland,
Ohio, is the name of the concern formerly known as Pease
& Smith and before the adoption of that name as the Multi-
Lux Illuminating Company.
The Partrick & Wilkins Company, 51 North Seventh
Street, Philadelphia, Pa., has purchased all the assets of the
Partrick, Carter & Wilkins Company, formerly manufactur-
ers of needle annunciators and electrical house goods.
The Bearings Company of America, 250 West Fifty-
fourth Street, New York City, is the successor to J. S.
Bretz Company, New York, Fitchel & Sachs, Lancaster, Pa.,
and the Star Ball Retainer Company, Lancaster, Pa.
The Electrical Alloy Company, Morristown, N. J., has
opened an office at 180 North Dearborn Street, Chicago, 111.,
which is in charge of L. L. Fleig & Company, who have
been appointed the Western representatives of the company.
The Wagner Electric Manufacturing Company, St. Louis,
Mo., has opened a sales office in the Pioneer Building, St.
Paul, Minn., which is in charge of Mr. C. K. Hillman, who
for some time has been identified with the sales of Wagner
apparatus in this territory.
Condition of Flashlamp Company in England Normal. —
According to Mr. F. F. Phillips, export manager of the
American Ever-Ready Works, 304 Hudson Street? New
York, the concern's establishment in London is operating
normally and is in a position adequately to supply the needs
of the English market.
The Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company,
East Pittsburgh, Pa., has organized a separate department
for the production and sale of automobile accessories, to be
known as the automobile equipment department. Mr. G. B.
Griffin, formerly manager of the company's detail and sup-
ply department, is manager of the new department.
Off Season for Decorative Chains. — The Owen Walsh
Manufacturing Company, 525 West Twenty-sixth Street,
New York, maker of decorative chains and lighting fixtures,
is noting a decrease in the demand for its products, which
it is declared will continue throughout January, as this
month and June are off months for the business.
Business in Wiring Devices Slow. — On account of the
curtailment in building operations there is not a great de-
mand for wiring devices. According to one manufacturer
there is no immediate prospect of an improvement, and even
though the building business should pick up, it will be some
time before the buildings reach the state of completion
where such material would be required.
No Complaint to Make. — Mr. A. L. Eustice, treasurer of
the Economy Fuse & Manufacturing Company, Chicago, III..
wrote to the Electrical World that his company had no
cause for complaint regarding the amount of business which
had been secured during the last year. In general, he de-
clared, the Economy Fuse & Manufacturing Company is
expecting a decided improvement in the business situation,
Nothing Wrong with Business Conditions. — Fundament-
ally there is nothing wrong with business conditions, Mr.
L. I.. Brastow of tin Trumbull Electric Manufacturing Com
pany, Plainville, i rted in a recent letter to the
Lie ,M. World. "When things do start," he remarked,
"they will start heavily. We certainly believe that the com-
ing year will be a bet! year than the one just
I. Still, we do not think it will be so good as the
1918, although we hope o."
Steel Boxea Selling Well According to Mr. \- . \. Cleary,
,,f the i Ilei trie Op Bush Terminal, B
lyn, N. Y., there i quit for hi ompany's tee!
Among recent purchasers are the following: L &
Comstock & Company for the Rosenbaum Building in Pitts-
burgh, Pa., and the Albany (N. Y.) Main Telephone Build-
ing; the Western Electric Company, the Sprague Electric
Works of the General Electric Company, the Safety Car
Heating & Lighting Company, Elliot Lewis, Philadelphia,
and the H. I. Sackett Electric Company, Buffalo.
The Coil Manufacturing & Repair Company, Cleveland,
Ohio, is the name of the concern formerly known as the
Cleveland Coil & Manufacturing Company. The new com-
pany took charge of the business on Dec. 31, and will be
engaged in making armatures, field and induction-motor
coils and a general rewinding and repairing business. Until
about three years ago the business which the above com-
pany has assumed was conducted by the electrical depart-
ment of the Van Dorn & Dutton Company. The principal
owner and manager of the Coil Manufacturing & Repair
Company is Mr. H. A. Kuehle, formerly with the Cleveland
Switchboard Company and the Electric Wiring Company, of
Cleveland.
Electric Appliances Selling Well in Kansas City. — Mr.
C. H. Talmage, sales manager for the Kansas City (Mo.)
office of the Western Electric Company, states that the
sales of ranges and other appliances for cooking in his
territory has been very large. The increase is said to be
about 1000 per cent over that of other years. Mr. Talmage
feels that the time is close at hand when electricity for
heating and cooking will come into its own, although in
Kansas City, on account of the low cost of gas, the com-
petition is keen where the cost element is considered. Mr.
Talmage is very optimistic regarding the future and expects
the business of the Kansas City office to be even better
than that of the banner year of 1914.
Developments in Washing Machines. — The Capital Elec-
tric Company, 231 Insurance Exchange Building, Chicago,
111., manufacturer of washing machines, is working on two
models of electric washers, which will soon be ready for
the market. The company has also improved the machine
described in the Electrical World of April 18, 1914, by the
addition of a handle to the cylinder so that the latter can
be easily lifted from the tub or raised above the water line.
The arrangement is such that when the machine is in
operation the handle does not impede the motion of the
cylinder. According to Mr. H. D. Payne, sales manager
of the Capital Electric Company, the recent general de-
pression has not appreciably affected the business of the
concern.
Big Year for Northern Equipment Company. — The annual
report of the Northern Equipment Company, Erie, Pa.,
manufacturer of the "Copes" boiler-feed water regulator
and pump governor, shows that 1914 was the greatest year
in the history of its business, the amount of sales exceeding
that of the next best year by 9.5 per cent. The above com-
pany has combined with the Erie Pump & Engine Works,
and Mr. J. H. Dougherty, formerly with the International
Steam Pump Company, will be placed in the charge of
centrifugal pump design. The new combination will he
known as the Erie Pump & Equipment Company. The
officers of the new company arc: President and treasurer,
E. VV. Nick; vice-president, D. H. DuMond; secretary, V. V.
Venschoten.
Record Output of Domestic Lead. — According to prelimi-
nary figures compiled by the United States Geological Sur-
vey, there was an increase of nearly 100,000 tons in the
production of lead in the United States for 1914 over that
of any preceding year. There was a heavy decrease in
the tonnage of lead of foreign origin treated in the United
States, and for the flrsl time in years, it is declared, a
great increase in tin- quantity of domestic lead exported to
European countries was noted. At the same time the
average price of lead in the United States was the lowesl
since 1 S: IS. The production of retined lead, desilverized
and soft, from domestic and foreign ores in 191 1 was ap
proximately 537,079 short tons, worth at the average New
York puce $41,892,162, compared with 462,460 tons, worth
$40,696,480, In 1913, and with 480,894 tons in 1912. The
total production of lead, desilverized and soft, from do-
li ores, was about 511,784 tons, almost 100,000 tons
than in any previous year and 25,000 tons more than
the total output of the country from both domestic and
foreign sources in any previous year.
January 9, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
139
Motor-Driven-Appliance Exhibit in Department Store. —
The Crocker-Wheeler Company, Ampere, N. J., will place
on display a number of its motors at the "Made in Newark"
exposition to take place in the L. Bamberger department
store, Newark, N. J., Feb. 23-27. The company will main-
tain four model rooms — a laundry, kitchen, dining room
and business office. A number of different appliances will
be shown in connection with the exhibit. It is the intention
of the Crocker-Wheeler Company to make the display as va-
ried as possible, and it is endeavoring to interest a num-
ber of manufacturers in the show.
Manufacturers' Prosperity Depends on Ability of Public
Service Companies to Sell Securities. — In a letter to the
Electrical World Mr. C. L. Matthews, vice-president and
secretary of W. N. Matthews & Brother, St. Louis, Mo., de-
clared that many people do not seem to realize that pros-
perity cannot exist with the manufacturers who supply the
needs of the public service corporations unless the latter
can properly dispose of their securities. "Those who have
studied financial cycles," he writes, "know that the sale of
securities invariably follows an increase in banking funds
in this country to some extent, but more particularly in the
Bank of France. It does not seem that regular 'boom
times' are due until after the end of the war and after the
holding funds in the Bank of France get well above normal.
So far as I can find from a search of the past, prosperous
times in this country have not existed when the Bank of
France has been extended. This is owing to the fact that
the greater part of our securities are floated in France and
to a lesser degree in other European countries. I believe
we are going to see a gradual improvement in the electrical
business. In fact, I may say that our business has shown
an upward trend since the first of November."
Gas-Electric Vehicle Patents. — In recent years the gas-
electric transmission for the propulsion of heavy vehicles
both upon roads and rails has slowly but steadily grown in
favor. It has shown itself particularly advantageous as
regards reliability and the cost of maintenance, and the
value of these two factors is now being appreciated for the
first time. In the present European war the motor-driven
vehicle has been a most important factor and frequent ref-
erence has been made to what is known as the "four-wheel
drive and steer." Many of the desirable features of gas-
electric transmission, one of which is the "four-wheel drive
and steer," seem to be covered in a group of four patents
issued on Dec. 15, 1914, to Mr. H. Ward Leonard based on
applications filed in the Patent Office more than ten years
ago. In these patents, which relate especially to the prob-
lems of heavy road vehicles, are disclosed means for elimi-
nating many of the most serious difficulties of the "straight
gasoline" type of vehicle, with especial reference to the con-
trol problems which become serious as the weight of the
vehicle increases when use is made of change gears, clutches,
etc. Although the "gas-electric" vehicle weighs somewhat
more and costs somewhat more than the "straight gasoline"
type, yet it is claimed that for heavy service it is better.
Orders for Electric Equipment. — The Hershey Transit
Company, of Hershey, Pa., has just purchased several four-
motor equipments and control apparatus from the Westing-
house Electric & Manufacturing Company, East Pittsburgh,
Pa. These equipments will be used on cars operating from
Hershey to Hummelstown and Campbellstown, connecting
with the Harrisburg Railway Company at the former point.
The apparatus just ordered is to be an addition to Westing-
house equipment already installed. The Detroit United
Railways Company has placed an order with the Westing-
house company for a 50-ton Baldwin Westinghouse locomo-
tive. This machine is to be used between Royal Oaks, just
outside the city limits of Detroit, and Flint, a distance of
about 55 miles. Other companies which have ordered trac-
tion equipment are the following: The Danville Traction &
Power Company, operating between Danville and School-
field, Va., and the Birmingham-Tuscaloosa Railway &
Utilities Company. The order from the latter company
includes a 500-kw rotary converter, three 185-kva trans-
formers, a switchboard and one quadruple equipment with
control apparatus for a combination baggage, express and
freight car. This company has also placed an additional
order for substation and car equipment to be used in con-
nection with the electrification of a portion of the road
near Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Electric Trucks for the United States Government. — The
Waverley Company, of Indianapolis, has under construction
for the navy yard on Puget Sound, Wash., a 3-ton electric
truck and a 3-ton trailer which will be designed for handling
plates and angles from storage to machines and from
machine to machine in the Naval Repair Shop. The wheel-
base of the tractor will be 66 in. and the platform of the
car 5 ft. by 11 ft., the principal overhang being in front of
the front axle. The battery will consist of forty-two cells,
which will be divided between two battery boxes, one be-
tween the wheels and the other under the forward over-
hang. Mounted on the platform of each car will be a turn-
table 5 ft. 2 in. in diameter running on rollers and operated
by hand spikes for the quick and convenient unloading of
the heavy plates or beams that it will be designed to carry.
Production of Copper Decreased in 1914. — According to
figures and estimates collected by the United States Geo-
logical Survey, the copper production of the United States
in 1914 showed a marked decrease from that of 1913. At
an average price of about 13.5 cents per lb. the 1914 out-
put has a value of $152,400,000, compared with $189,795,000
at an average price of 15.5 cents per lb. for the 1913 output.
According to the statistics and estimates received, the
output of blister and Lake copper was 1,129,000,000 lb. in
1914 against 1,224,484,000 lb. in 1913. The output of re-
fined copper from primary sources, both domestic and for-
eign, for 1914, it is estimated, was 1,493,000,000 lb., com-
pared with 1,615,067,000 lb. in 1913. According to the
Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce, the imports
of pigs, ingots, bars, etc., for the first eleven months of
1914 amounted to 187,433,676 lb., and the copper contents of
ore matte and regulus amounted to 97,348,866 lb., a total
import of 284,782,542 lb. This compares with an import
for the twelve months of 1913 of 409,560,954 lb. The ex-
ports of pigs, ingots, bars, plates, sheets, etc., for the first
eleven months of 1914 amounted to 780,048,777 lb., com-
pared with an export for the twelve months of 1913 of
926,441,142 lb. At the beginning of 1914 there was about
90,000,000 lb. of refined copper in stock in the United States.
This added to the refinery production gives a total avail-
able supply of about 1,583,000,000 lb. of refined copper.
On subtracting the export from this, with an estimate for
December, it is apparent that the supply available for do-
mestic consumption is materially below the 812,000,000 lb.
of 1913, without taking account of stocks held at the close
of the year.
Walker Vehicle Company Adds Passenger-Car Depart-
ment.— The Walker Vehicle Company, Chicago, has pur-
chased the factory and business of the Chicago Electric
Motor Car Company, adding the latter's line of electric
passenger cars to its own business, which has been hereto-
fore confined exclusively to commercial electric trucks.
Salesrooms have been opened in a modern structure built
for the purpose at 2700 Michigan Boulevard, Chicago, for
the display and sale of electric passenger cars, and Mr.
Gail Reed, formerly secretary and sales manager of the
Chicago Electric Motor Car Company, has been appointed
sales manager of the Walker company's new passenger-car
division. The manufacture of "Chicago electrics" will be
continued at the Walker factory, 531 West Thirty-ninth
Street, Chicago, with modifications and improvement in de-
signs from time to time. The Walker company is also pre-
pared to continue service to present owners of Chicago
Electric cars. Later it is planned to bring out a business
man's electric passenger car which will, it is believed, have
a wide field of usefulness, and which can be sold at a rea-
sonable price. The Walker Vehicle Company has been en-
gaged in the manufacture of electric commercial cars for
the last six years, and a number of its officers are promi-
nent in the management of the Commonwealth Edison Com-
pany of Chicago. Mr. W. A. Fox, president of the Walker
Vehicle Co., is vice-president of the Commonwealth Edison
Company, and Mr. G. A. Freeman, of the Edison company,
is vice-president of the Walker Company. Messrs. J. F.
Gilchrist and J. H. Gulick, vice-presidents of the Edison
company, are members of the board of directors of the
vehicle company, together with Messrs. Fox and Freeman
and Mr. G. R. Walker, the designer whose name the con-
cern bears. The Walker Vehicle Company has sales offices
in Minneapolis, Boston, New York and Cincinnati.
140
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 2
New Industrial Companies
The Pettibone-Mingay Electric Supply Company, of
Niagara Falls, N. Y., has been incorporated with a capital
stock of $5,000 by C. P. Mingay, L. A. and L. W. Pettibone.
The New Light & Supply Company, of Boston, Mass., has
been incorporated with a capital stock of $50,000 by W. B.
Wheeler, F. A. Kidder and D. A. Freeman, of Boston, Mass.
The Royal Incandescent Supply Company, of New York,
N. Y., has been chartered with a capital stock of $1,000.
Henry Hartman, 20 Vesey Street, New York, N. Y., is at-
torney.
The Electric Storage Battery Service Company, of Tulsa,
Okla., has been incorporated with a capital stock of $1,000
by H. M. Prewett, J. E. Washington, Jr., and John Y. Mor-
gan, Jr., Tulsa.
The Electric Ricket Machine Company, of Chicago, 111.,
has been incorporated with a capital stock of $100,000 to
manufacture machinery and appliances. The incorporators
are E. W. Mosher, E. H. Tillson and F. R. Wescott.
The Edwards Lighting & Fixture Company, of Chicago,
111., has been incorporated by L. J. Georgen, J. L. Cushing
and L. V. Hult, of Chicago, 111. The company is capitalized
at $25,000 and proposes to manufacture machinery and ap-
pliances.
The Current Saving Electric Sign Company, of New York,
N. Y., has been incorporated with a capital stock of $16,000
by George F. Hummel, 1478 Broadway; Lawrence L. Brown
and Joseph G. Williams. C. L. Clune, 2 Rector Street, New
York, is attorney.
The York Products Company, of New York, N. Y., has
been chartered with a capital stock of $55,000 to manufac-
ture electrical and mechanical machines, and supplies, etc.
The incorporators are J. J. Donohue, E. F. Phillips and J.
Lee, of New York, N. Y.
Habacht & Weiss, of New York, N. Y., have filed articles
of incorporation with a capital stock of $3,000 for the pur-
pose of manufacturing gas and electric fixtures. The direc-
tors are Harry Habacht, Max Weiss and Solomon Brinn.
S. Brinn, 63 Park Row, New York, N. Y., is attorney.
The California Beacon Miniature Electric Company, of
New York, N. Y., has been incorporated by M. L. Kaplan,
S. I. Posen and W. Rosin, 1823 Eighty-second Street, Brook-
lyn, N. Y. The company is capitalized at $25,000 and pro-
poses to manufacture and deal in appliances, machinery,
lamps, batteries, etc.
The Quaker City Engineering Company has filed articles
of incorporation under the laws of the State of Delaware.
The company is capitalized at $50,000 and proposes to do
a general electrical and mechanical engineering business.
The incorporators are H. E. Latter, W. J. Maloney and O. J.
Reichard, of Wilmington, Del.
The Terminal Electrical Utilities Company, of New York,
N. Y., has been incorporated by Max M. Kotzen, Abraham
A. Kotzen, and Henry Amster. A. A. Kotzen, 51 Cham-
bers Street, New York, is aatorney. The company is cap-
italized at $1,000 and proposes to do general electrical
work and deal in appliances, etc.
The Electric Ticket Machine Company, of Chicago, 111.,
has been incorporated by E. W. Mosher, and Frank R. West-
cott; correspondent, Alvan L. Ringo, corporation counselor,
Security Building, 189 West Madison Street, Chicago. The
company is capitalized at $100,000 and proposes to manufac-
ture and deal in machinery, appliances, etc.
The Minirallac Electric Company, 400 South Hoyne
Avenue, Chicago, has purchased the business of the Altman
Company, formerly at 69 Dearborn Street, Chicago, and will
manufacture the Altman weighted desk pushes in improved
ili- igns. These pushes are made with one to nine buttons,
and can be furnished in mahogany, oak and sycanioi •• tO
match office furniture.
The Universal Welding & Manufacturing Company, of
Queens, has been tni with :< capita] stock of $10,000
to manufacture lamps, heat and lighting appliances (gas and
ric, etc.); also to manufacture metal articles, etc. The
incorpor.'itm ily. 616 Twelfth Street,
lvn; William F. Fund, 26 \venue, New York,
N. V.. and Thomas F. Doyle, 9X Elm Street, Astoria, N. Y.
Trade Publications
Bench Drill. — A motor-driven bench drill is described in a
leaflet sent out by H. G. Crane, Brookline, Mass.
Battery Charging Apparatus. — The Esterline Company,
Indianapolis, Ind., is sending out a booklet entitled "Profit
in Storage Battery Charging."
Small Lighting Set. — Fairbanks-Morse & Company, Chi-
cago, 111., have published a folder which is descriptive of a
gas-engine-operated lighting plant.
Reamer for Bearings. — The Harding Distributing Com-
pany, Boston, Mass., has issued a booklet which describes the
"Martell" aligning reamer for bearings.
Attachment Plug. — The Best Electric Company, Pitts-
burgh, Pa., is sending out a leaflet which describes its re-
cently developed swivel attachment plug.
Electric Sterilizer. — The Victor Electric Company, Jackson
Boulevard and Robey Street, Chicago, 111., has recently issued
a leaflet which describes an improved electric sterilizer.
Storage Battery. — "What Owners Say About Ironclad
Exide Batteries" is the title of a booklet recently published
by the Electric Storage Battery Company, Philadelphia, Pa.
House-Wiring Plan. — The Edison Electric Illuminating
Company, Brooklyn, N. Y., has issued an illustrated folder
which describes a plan for wiring homes on an easy-payment
plan.
Electric Washing Machine. — "The Capital Safety First
Electric Washer" is the title of a booklet issued by the
Capital Electric Company, Insurance Exchange Building.
Chicago, 111.
Fans. — A booklet designated as B-3328, recently issued by
the General Electric Company, Schenectady, N. Y., contains
information on a number of different types of electrically
operated fans.
Direct -Current Generators. — The Robbins & Myers Com-
pany, Springfield, Ohio, has issued Bulletin No. Ill, which
contains information on its type "S" steel-frame direct-
current generators.
Electric Incubators. — The Electric Specialty Company, 154
South Main Street, Salt Lake City, Utah, has issued a cata-
log which contains information on its double-deck and single-
deck electrically operated incubators.
Electrical Devices. — Catalog No. 3 issued by the
Fahnestock Electric Company, 129 Patchen Avenue, Brook-
lyn, N. Y., contains information on several types of spring
binding posts and other electrical devices.
Brush-Holder Equipment. — "Commutation Troubles and
Their Elimination" is the title of Bulletin No. 516 issued
by the Baylis Company, Bloomfield, N. J., which contains in-
formation on the company's reaction brush-holder equipment.
Woven Fabric. — The Chernack Manufacturing Company,
Pawtucket, R. I., has issued a folder entitled "Weaver versus
Braid," and Bulletins Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7, which con-
tain information on woven fabric and the looms for making
the product.
Ornamental Standards and Brackets. — The Electric Rail-
way Equipment Company, Cincinnati, Ohio, has issued an
attractively illustrated catalog which contains information
on ornamental standards and brackets for high-efficiency
tungsten lamps.
The Steel City Electric Company, Pittsburgh, Pa., is send-
ing out several loose pages which are additions to its Bulletins
No. 26, No. 26, No. 27 and No. 28. These pages contain
tables on prices and information on beam straps and hickey
fixture hangers.
Pull Switches and Reflectors. — Harvey Hubbell, Inc..
Rridgeport, Conn., has issued Bulletin No. 15-6, which de-
and illustrates a fixture pull switch, and Bulletin No.
l.r>-.r>, which contains information on small half reflectors for
LU-watl and 16-watt lamps.
Diesel. Engine Tests. — The Busch-Sulzer Rrothers Diesel
Engine I ompany, St. Louis, Mo., has published results of
conducted by Dr. A. C. Scott, Dallas, Tex., to determine
comparative economies of a 225-hp Diesel engine set at
Hugo, Okla., under conditions of steady and fluctuating
loads.
January 9, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
141
Construction News
New England
AUGUSTA, MAINE— The Central Maine
Pwr. Co. has submitted a proposal to the
City Council offering to replace the 60-cp
lamps now in use with 2G0-cp lamps and the
arc lamps with new nitrogen lamps of 600
cp, provided the city will sign a contract
for five years' service. The proposal also
included replacing the 32-cp lamps at South
Gardiner and on the Gardiner and Randolph
bridge with 100-cp lamps.
BANGOR, MAINE.— The city of Ban-
gor has placed a contract with the S. Mor-
gan Smith Co., of York, Pa., for two 45-in
vertical wicket-gate wheels for the munici-
pal water-works station. The wheels are to
be controlled by a Lombard governor and
drive a 150-kva generator from a jack-
shaft. The power to be developed is to be
used in connection with the water-works
system. The electrical equipment will be
furnished by the General Electric Co.
BELFAST, MAINE. — The Penobscot Bav
El. Co., it is reported, is contemplating de-
veloping the water-power at the Sherman
lower mill site for use at its East Side sta-
tion. If the power is developed, the water
will be carried to the station through a tube
about 3500 ft. long.
MANCHESTER, N. H. — Plans are being
prepared by the Manchester Trac, Lt. &
Pwr. Co. for placing its wires underground
in the business section of the city.
JOHNSON, VT.— The Ithiel Pwr. Co., re-
cently incorporated with a capital stock of
$150,000, is developing 4000 hp on the
Lamoille River at Johnson, Vt. The com-
pany has not yet decided upon equipment
for its proposed plant, or length of trans-
mission line, as it has two markets
for its entire output. F. ' A. Walker, of
Barre, is engineer in charge of the work.
The Light, Heat & Pwr. Corpn., 77 Frank-
lin Street, Boston, Mass., has the contract
for construction of plant. Charles H.
Thompson, P. O. Box 453, Montpelier, is
treasurer and manager of the Ithiel Falls
Pwr. Co.
LYNDONVILLE, VT.— Contracts have
already been placed by the village of Lyn-
donville for complete hydroelectric equip-
ment for the new municipal power station.
Two 450-hp Francis type turbines in cast-
iron spiral cases, each turbine to be regu-
lated by Woodward oil-pressure governor,
will be furnished bv the S. Morgan Smith
Co., of York, Pa. The General Electric Co.,
of Schenectady, has the contract for the
entire electrical equipment.
MONTPELIER, VT. — The stockhold-
ers of the Montpelier & Barre Lt. & Pwr.
Co. have authorized an increase of capital
■tock from $2,310,000 to $4,810,000.
ATHOL, MASS. — The Massachusetts Gas
and Electric Light Commission has granted
the Athol Gas & El. Co. permission to issue
$320,000 in capital stock, the proceeds to be
used to meet the cost of extensions to plant,
including the development of steam and
hydraulic stations and the purchase of the
property of the Orange El. Lt. Co.
BOSTON, MASS. — Plans have been ap-
proved for extending the ornamental light-
ing system through Copley Square and
down Boylston and Tremont Streets to Scol-
lay Square.
BOSTON, MASS. — The contract for elec-
trical wiring at the Nurses' Home and two
ward buildings at Long Island, Boston Har-
bor, has been awarded to the Carlisle Con-
nor Co., 25S Washington Street, Boston.
SPRINGFIELD, MASS.— The United El.
Co., of Springfield, has applied to the State
Board of Gas and Electric Light Commis-
sioners for permission to issue 2500 shares
of new capital stock at the par value of
$100 a share, the proceeds to be used to
pay off outstanding indebtedness incurred
in making extensions and improvements to
system and for further extensions and im-
provements contemplated.
EAST HADDAM, CONN.— The East
Haddam El. Lt. Co. has filed a petition with
the Secretary of State asking that legisla-
tion may be granted authorizing the com-
pany to extend its lines to and furnish elec-
trical service in the town of Lyme, and es-
pecially in the northerly portion of Hadlyme
and vicinity.
Middle Atlantic
BIN'GHAMTON, N. Y. — The Binghamton
Lt., Ht. & Pwr. Co. (operating under an en-
tirely new management) has requested the
Board of Contract and Supply to grant the
company a hearing, in order that it may
present its position in regard to furnishing
the city with electricity. The communica-
tion states that the company is ready to
make a contract with the city for any
length of time desired at a cost to the tax-
payers lower than can be obtained by
building a new municipal electric-light
plant. S. H. Dailey is general manager.
BUFFALO, N. Y. — The Aldermanic water
committee has recommended that the con-
tract for electrical apparatus for the new
pumping station at the foot of Porter Ave-
nue be awarded to the Buffalo El. Construc-
tion Co., at $48,900. The cost of the plant
complete is estimated at about $95,000.
HANNAWA FALLS, N. Y. — The Public
Service Commission has approved an issue
of bonds by the Hannawa Falls Pwr. Co. to
provide funds for the purchase of equip-
ment and machinery, including a 51-in.
Allis-Chalmers waterwheel and governor
and a General Electric 4500-kva, three-
phase, 60-cycle, 4400-volt generator (di-
rectly connected), water-cooled transform-
ers, with panels, switches, accessories and
equipment, and other transformers, circuit
feeders, switches, insulators, etc.
LA SALLE, N. Y. — The village of La
Salle is contemplating the installation of a
municipal electric-light plant.
NEW YORK, N. Y.— Bids will be re-
ceived by Robert Adamson, fire commis-
sioner, Headquarters of the Fire Depart-
ment, Municipal Building, New York, until
Jan. 15, for furnishing four motor-driven
fuel wagons. Blank forms and further in-
formation may be obtained at the above
office.
NEW YORK, N. Y. — Bids will be received
by the Board of Trustees of Bellevue and
Allied Hospitals, Department of New York
City, Twenty-sixth Street and First Avenue,
borough of Manhatan, until Jan. 15, as fol-
lows: (1) For furnishing all labor and ma-
terials required for excavation, masonry,
carpentry, steel and iron work, metal work
and roofing, painting and glazing, hardware,
electric work, refrigerating and drinking
water and all other work for the alterations
to the present main building of the Harlem
Hospital, 136th and 137th Streets and Lenox
Avenue; (2) for alterations and additions
to plumbing and gasfitting for main building
of Harlem Hospital; (3) for plumbing work
for alterations to the power house and am-
bulance station of the Harlem Hospital ; (4)
for heating and ventilating work for altera-
tions to the power house and ambulance sta-
tion of the Harlem Hospital. The bidder
will state one aggregate price for the whole
work described under Nos. 1. 2 and 3, and a
separate price for the heating and ventilat-
ing work. Blanks and further information
may be obtained at the office of the con-
tract clerk and auditor, No. 400 East
Twenty-ninth Street, borough of Manhattan.
NYACK, N. Y. — The Rockland Lt. & Pwr.
Co., of Nyack, has been granted permission
by the Public Service Commission to issue
$100,000 in bonds, the proceeds to be used
for the erection of new electric distribution
and service wires, cooling-pond construc-
tion, new gas mains, service pipes, meters
and connections, the payment of obligations
already incurred on these accounts ; for
land in Spring Valley for substation and
district office building, and the right-of-way
for the proposed transmission line from
West Nyack through Spring Valley and
Monsey to Hillburn.
PORT JERVIS, N. Y. — The installation of
an ornamental lighting system in the busi-
ness district is under consideration.
SCHODACK, N. Y. (not a post office). —
The Public Service Commission has granted
the Albany Southern R. R Co., of Hudson,
permission to supply electricity for lamps,
heaters and motors in Schodack.
STAMFORD, N. Y. — The Town Board
has granted the application of the taxpay-
ers of South Kortright for establishing an
electric-lighting district in that village.
BRISTOL, PA. — A permit has been
granted for the construction of a power
house and cold-storage plant for the W. H.
Grundy Co. The building will be 56 ft by
175 ft., two stories high; engine room, one
story, 52 ft. by 105 ft., including smokestack
12 ft. in diameter. The equipment will con-
sist of mechanical stokers, engines, boilers,
generators, pumps, etc. J. M. Whitman is
engineer.
DALLASTOWN, PA — Arrangements have
been made whereby the streets of the bor-
ough will be lighted by electricity instead
of gas, the service to be supplied bv the Edi-
son El. Lt. & Pwr. Co.. of York. The con-
tract is for a period of five years and pro-
vides for 60 lamps of 80 cp.
HONEY BROOK, PA. — The electric light-
ing ordinance recently passed by the Coun-
cil has been approved by Burgess E. J.
Long, and work will soon begin on con-
struction of the proposed plant.
JENKINS, PA. (not a post office.) — The
Township Supervisors have awarded the
contract for street-lighting to the Jenkins
Township El. Lt. & Pwr. Co.. recently or-
ganized. The contract is for a period of five
years and provides for 72 or more lamps of
250 cp. Work will begin immediately on
the installation of an electric plant and dis-
tribution system. The service is now sup-
plied by the Citizens' El. Ulg. Co., of Pitts-
ton.
KITTANNING, PA.— The Public Service
Commission has approved the contract of
the Kittanning El. Lt. Co., of Kittanning,
and the borough of Ford City, for the in-
stallation of an electric-light plant in that
borough.
PHILADELPHIA, PA. — Bids will soon
be asked for equipment for the power plant
to be erected at the Home for the Indigent
at Holmesburg. Proposals for the construc-
tion of the building will be opened on Jan.
12. R. H. Harte, M. D., is director of pub-
lic health and charities, and Philip H.
Johnson, 1S24 Land Title Building, is archi-
tect in charge.
SEVEN VALLEYS, PA. — The local elec-
tric-light plant, it is reported, is being re-
built for the purpose of furnishing electrical
service in New Salem, Paradise, Loganville
and Hanover Junction. A new company, it
is understood, will be organized to take over
and operate the plant.
HIGHTSTOWN, N. J. — Owing to the un-
satisfactory service furnished by the
Hightstown Lt. & Pwr. Co. a movement hai
been started to establish a municipal elec-
tric-lighting plant here.
NEWARK, N. J. — Bids will be received
by the Board of Education until Jan. 12 for
the construction of the new McKinley School
on Eighth Avenue, including electric work,
heating and ventilating, lighting fixtures
and vacuum cleaning system. R. D. Argue,
City Hall, Newark, is secretary of board.
UNION HILL (WEEHAWKEN), N. J.—
Arrangements are being made by the City
Council for the installation of a new street-
lighting system by the Public Ser. El. Co. to
replace the present arc lamps. The new
contract provides for 43 nitrogen lamps of
1000 cp and 114 400-cp nitrogen lamps.
DENTON, MD. — The Peninsular Lt &
Pwr. Co., of Denton, is erecting a new
power house, contracts for which have been
awarded. T. Pliny Fisher is president.
CHESTER, W. VA. — The city clerk, it is
reported, has been authorized to advertise
for bids for the installation of a municipal
electric-light plant.
BUCHANAN, VA. — Arrangements have
practically been completed whereby the Vir-
ginia-Western Pwr. Co., of Clifton Forge,
will be granted a 30-year franchise to sup-
ply electricity in Buchanan.
DAYTON, VA. — At an election to be held
Jan. 19 the proposal to issue $30,000 in
bonds for the installation of an electric-
light plant, water-works and sewer system
will be submitted to the voters.
WINCHESTER, VA. — The Northern Vir-
ginia Pwr. Co., of Winchester, is reported to
be preparing plans to raise the concrete
dam across the Shenandoah River at Mill-
ville, to increase the output of its hydroelec-
tric plant there.
WASHINGTON, D. C. — Bids will be re-
ceived at the Bureau of Supplies and Ac-
counts, Navy Department, Washington,
D. C, until Jan. 19 for furnishing at the
various navy yards and naval stations sup-
plies as follows : Brooklyn, N. Y., Schedule
7759 — 36 trolley hoists for handling 14-in.
shells, 10,000 lb. hard-rolled sheet copper;
Schedule 7756— Miscellaneous switches and
mates, frogs, etc. ; Schedule 7762 — one
smoke indicator system; Schedule 7775 —
Miscellaneous interior communication
cable, 400,000 ft. silicon bronze aerial wire,
miscellaneous double-conductor wire for
portables, miscellaneous plain wire, miscel-
laneous magnet wire, 1400 ft. rattail wire ;
Schedule 7772 — 1750 lb. copper trolley wire.
Charleston, S. C, Schedule 7756 — Three
water weighters for measuring condensed
steam. Norfolk, Va., Schedule 7772 — 2000
carbons for Adams-Bagnall lamps ; Sched-
ule 7762 — 86 telephones, type CN ; Schedule
7767 — 74,500 steel boiler plate, class B.
Washington, D. C, Schedule 7758 — One 100-
hp induction motor; Schedule 756 — Two
120-kw oil-cooled transformers. Boston,
Mass., and Norfolk, Va., Schedule 7767—
214,400 lb. steel boiler plate, class C. Bids
will also be received at the same place until
Jan. 26 as follows : Key West, Fla., Sched-
ule 7779 — 2200 ft. single-conductor cable.
Newport, R. I., Schedule 7782 — Miscellane-
ous air pressure gages. Washington, D. C,
Schedule 7782 — Miscellaneous pressure regu-
lators. Brooklyn, N. Y., Schedule 7789 —
2800 lb. seamless brass tubing ; Schedule
7790 — Miscellaneous unfinished composition
unions; Schedule 7779 — 66,000 ft. telephone
wire; Schedule 7791 — Miscellaneous steel
boiler plates. Bids will also be received at
the same place until Feb. 2 for the following
supplies : Puget Sound, Wash., Schedule
779:. — Nine contact makers, 49 telephones,
type CN. Brooklyn, N. Y. ; Norfolk. Va..
and Puget Sound. Wash., Schedule 7794 —
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 2
Miscellaneous separators, insulators and
battery jars. Applications for i
should designate the schedule desiied by
number.
WASHINGTON, D. C— Foreign U
potumties as announced by the Bureau of
Foreign and Domestic Commerce in th< I >ailj
Consula Reports: No. 14,925— An American
consular officer in a neutral country has
transmitted a request from a government
agent for immediate offers of ships' elec-
ppliances, submarine mines, etc No.
14,666 — A neutral government advises an
American consular otricer that it is in the
market for six or eight seachlights for
army and navy; also portable searchlights,
with gasoline engines, or with Edison ac-
cumulators. It is stated that the search-
lights should be of 60 cm to 90 cm and 1 m
to 50 cm in diameter; that thej should be
provided with the necessary electric power
— 14 hp for the smaller and 35 hp for the
larger lights. Catalogs oi photographs and
price lists should be sent to the American
consular officer. No. 14,968 — A firm in the
West Indies informs an American consular
t it desires to be placed in com-
munication with American turns exporting
electrical supplies ot all kinds. Materials
for wiring houses, etc., are desired in par-
ticular. Xo. 14,950 — A business man in the
East Indies informs an American consul that
he wishes to receive catalogs and price lists
from American exporters of electrical goods,
dynamos, engines, furniture, labor-saving
devices, etc. -No. 11,971 — An American com-
mercial attache in a foreign capital states
that there is a market in that country for
.and llashlamps for the usi
destrians. The lamp should retail for about
|1. No. 14,975 — An import agent in North-
ern Europe advises all American consular
officer that he desires to hear from Ameri-
can exporters of electric pocket lamps and
dry batteries. No. ll.'JTT — A merchant in
a European capital has informed an
American consular officer that he d
act as agent in his country for an American
manufacturer of electric supplies, such as
accumulators, electrical appliances for auto-
mobiles, dynamos, transformers and wire in-
stallation. The merchant offers references
as to his financial responsibility and is
willing to give banker's security for such
goods as he takes. No. 14. '.OS—An import
agent in Frame has inform)
consul that he wishes t" form connections
with American manufacturers of
for bells for telgraphic and telephonic use,
. -t lamps ami also of small elec-
trical apparatus. He is desirous of obtain-
ing terms to cover a stock of dry eels to be
held at a distribution point. Xo
A civil engineer, owner and manager of
two stores in a European country, informs
an American consular olficer that he would
like to hear from Ameiican manufacturers
of insulators with a view of undert
exclusive sale of such goods in tie
in which he lives. No. 14,
sion merchant in Europe informs an Ameri-
can consular olficer that he wishes
sponrl with American manufacturers of
naked copper wire (electrolytic
mercial), silicium bronze wire, copper lubes
and sheets, brass tubes and sheets, silver.
new silver anil lead wire, tin, Bine
and tinplate. dynamos, large and small
electrometers, electric fans, stoves, kitchen
. material for electric-light if
bells, telephones and apparatus, and
all accessories for high-tension and low-
transmission .
may l»- in English No. 14,981— An import
agent in Europe informs an Amei
sular officer that he wishes to hear from
lor arc
lamps, etc. No. 14,982- An Amerli
lar offll ■
of .. Hi m which •■ I
complete outfits lor aerial cable ways for
i ,,n of ralnei i
,-, hould i
firm in an insular flvices an
n ui.tr officer that it desires
catalog 'i - of payment, etc . tor
engines using oil as fuel, The engines arc
: .vmiU machinery
and thro hmg machines, et
..ill, I be ill Poi ■ 1 1.990-
\n Ami u officer In Europe re-
ii thai country
ilish a business for the repre
i I Hi
na m elec-
iiiliistn.il. agrli ultural and mining
machinery No. I 00S Vn
....
firm it
ml stamping lathes The firm
', .1 in lathes '
for lamp holders and fu
. should be
I H \,, American
■■'i Am. n
aluminum cross-bars to be used as wire con-
tacts on trolley poles. No. 15.014 — An
American consular officer in Europe reports
that a firm in his district desires to be
placed in communication with manufactur-
ers of barbers' supplies, including electrical
apparatus. Catalogs and prices should be
sent. No. 15,041 — An engineer in a for-
eign country has advised an Ameiican
consular officer that he desires to confer
With American manufacturers of street rail-
wav equipment The engineer expresses the
opinion that American firms should get the
contract for building the proposed subway,
which, it is estimated, will cost about $40,-
000,000. The inquirer has indicated a de-
sire to receive general information concern-
ing rolling stock and equpipment for street
railways, together with literature relating to
electrii motor power in general. Corre-
spondence preferred in Russian, otherwise
in French or English. Further information
may be obtained on application to the Bu-
reau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce.
Department of Commerce, Washington,
D C, or to the following branch offices ;
Room 4 09, United States Custom House,
New York, N. Y. ; 629 Federal Building,
Chicago, 111. ; Association of Commerce
Building, New Orleans, La.; 310 United
States Custom House, San Francisco, Cal. ;
."21 l'ost Oltice Building. Atlanta, Ga. ; 1207
Alaska Building, Seattle, Wash., and 752
Oliver Building, Boston, Mass.
North Central
BATTLE CREEK. MICH. — Improve-
ments are contemplated by the City Com-
mission to the Verona pumping station,
including the installation of 5-hp motors
and a transformer, to cost about $3,500.
BAY CITY, MICH. — The contract for a
1200-kw generator for the municipal elec-
tric-light plant has been awarded by the
electric-light committee to the Westinghouse
El. & Mfg. Co., of Pittsburgh, Pa.
CARLETON, MICH. — At an election held
the proposal to grant the River
Raisin El. Co., of Monroe, a 30-year fran-
chise to supply electricity for lamps and
motors in Carleton was carried. Energy
to operate the proposed system will be sup-
plied from a hydroelectric plant at Grape.
FLINT, MICH. — A substation is being
erected on North Saginaw Street for the
Michigan Lt. Co. The station will have an
output of 1500 hp and will furnish energy
for the local lines of the Detroit United
Ry. Co. and for its suburban lines as far
south as Atlas.
KALAMAZOO, MICH. — Further exten-
sion to the municipal lighting service to in-
clude the energy for lamps at the county
building is now being considered by the city
officials and Board of County Supervisors.
LANSING, MICH. — The installation of
ornamental lamps on Washington. Michi-
gan and Franklin Avenues, is under con-
sideration.
TOTTERSVILLE, MICH. — The village
Council Is considering the question of light-
ing the streets of the village by electricity.
AKRON, OHIO. — The City Council has
decided to eliminate gas lamps for lighting
sets and alleys in Akron and has
authorized II \\\ Jones, city electrician, to
icts with tie Northern Ohio
Tin. & l.t i'o. for the Installation of elec-
candescent lamps in all downtown
alleys and In courts and alleys in the outly-
t ions.
CANAL DOVER, OHIO— The city Coun-
cil has authorized F. Watlur. chief engi-
neer of the municipal electric-light plant, to
tor the installation of a third
■ix unit in the municipal plant. The
Council is also considering the Installation
of a new pump in the water-works station
i:\ii. i.e. i inn », The I du., Public
i •oinmission il i/.cd the
i ii r. & Lt. Co on, to pur-
el,.,.,. (J 11. 1,1 ,v
Pwr. ic
, .,ii {unction with the | i i ny'a sys-
CINCINNATI, OHIO. \" electrlc-llght-
lllr 1,1 ::
Jackson In Avondale, at Reading
\ irenm
CINCINNATI, 'Him A
"t (30, '. DJ
John w Welnlg and others The plans
,i for the build-
ing, Zettle a > niecis,
tlO The i-ii.c slum
of Cleveland, hai
i Jan 2r.
to vote on the propo
.lis,, to amend its chai tei io thai
tion and distribution of electricity for
lamps and motors.
CUMBERLAND, OHIO — Arrangements
are being made by C. A. Yansickle, who was
recently awarded a contract for street-
lighting in Cumberland, for the installation
of an electric plant. The equipment will
consist of one 100-hp boiler, a 75-hp steam
engine and one direct-current generator and
accessories; for distributing system 125
white cedar poles will be required and S
miles of wire. The street-lighting system
will consist of 25 2H0-watt nitrogen tungs-
ten lamps.
MASON, OHIO. — Contracts have been
awarded for equipment for the municipal
electric-light plant in Mason. The cost of
the plant when completed will be about
$11,523.
PORTSMOUTH, OHIO. — The Portsmouth
Street Ry & Lt. Co., it is reported, has
issued $500,000 in bonds, the proceeds to be
used to extend its lines from Sciotoville to
Ironton, a distance of 22 miles, and to make
other improvements to its system. The ex-
tension of the interurban railway will be
built by the Ohio Valley Trac. Co.
SALEM, OHIO. — The City Council is
considering the question of installing an
electric-generating plant in connection with
the water-works pumping station to supply
electricity to maintain the municipal elec-
tric-lighting system. Energy is now fur-
nished bv the Salem El. Lt. & Pwr. Co. I.
N. Russell is director of public service.
Si IUTH CHARLESTON, OHIO. — The
Dayton Lt. & Pwr. Co., of Dayton, has ap-
plied to the Village Council for a franchise
to supply electricity in South Charleston.
YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO — A resolution au-
thorizing the director of public service to
advertise for bids for furnishing and main-
taining a new electric-lighting system in ac-
ii. -e With plans prepared by H. Whit-
ford Jones has been passed by the City
Couni il
STURGIS, KY. — The power plant of the
West Kentucky Coal Co., we are informed,
was not destroyed by Are, as reported in
the issue of Dec. 26.
ANDERSON, INT' —The Board of Pub-
lic Works has awarded the contract for
generator and other equipment for the
municipal electric-light plant to the West-
inghouse El. & Mfg. Co.. of Pittsburgh.
Pa., at $43,700.
AURORA, ILL. — The State Public Utili-
ties Commission has authorized the Western
United 'las & EL Co., of Aurora, to issue
$18,000 in bonds.
EMDEN, ILL. — The installation of an
electric-lighting system in Emden is under
FAIRBURY, ILL. — Plans are being con-
sidered for the installation of a municipal
electric-light plant in Fairbury.
BARTSBURG, ILL— The Town Board
has awarded the Orville Township El. Lt.
& Pwr. Co. (recently organized) a contract
to light the streets oi the town with elec-
LEBANON, HJL. — Plans, it is reported.
are bi I by Prof. A. M. Topping
i University, Lafayette. Ind., for
the installaion of a cluster-lamp lighting
MARION, ILL. — The State Public Utili-
ties Commission lias granted the Ohio Val-
ley El. Co., of Marion, pi apply
electrical service in Norris City, Enfield
and Omaha, 111.
MATTOON, ILL- Application has been
ii. il Illinois PUb. Ser. Co.
to the State Public Utilities Commission for
certificate Of convenience and necessity
,1 maintain a high-tension trans-
mission line from Astoria to Ipava. 111. The
companj has also applied for permission to
const i net and operate a high-tension trans-
from a connection with the
present lim upany. from llills-
to R Ihouae, to the pumping station
,,!' the llattwcll drainage and bv listnot
\ i \\ HOLLAND, ILL Plans are under
wax it is reported, for lighting the slt.ets
,.t the tow a v.
\ WIS Plana are being con-
sidered bv the Berlin I'ub Set 00 for the
,, ,.i a ti ansmlsslon line to Red
inaction with the Neshknrn
■ , c, t,, furnish energy to the
Both companies pro-
furnlab electrical service to resl-
11 the 1" opnscd line
OR \NTSHI Rl ;. \\ 19 At an
held r ntlj the citizens voted
the prop ''"' municipal
ml The village la content-
i i> uctlo "" wood
the municipal plant
bj water power.
LANCASTER, WIS The Stale Railroad
Commission has authorized the Lancaster
El Lt CO 10 issue $3 1.371 in capital stock.
to be used to purchase the
January 9, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
143
MILWAUKEE, WIS.— The City Council
has directed the commissioner of public
works to purchase and erect the necessary
equipment to light the streets in the Twen-
ty-second Ward, which is now without street
lamps. The lamps will be erected and main-
tained by the city and energy to maintain
them will be purchased from the Milwaukee
El. Ry. & Lt. Co.
NEW RICHMOND, WIS. — The New Rich-
mond Pwr. Co. has been granted permission
by the State Railroad Commission to issue
$10,000 in capital stock, the proceeds to be
used for erection of transmission lines and
purchase of electrical equipment.
TURTLE LAKE, WIS. — Plans are being
considered for the installation of an elec-
tric-lighting system in Turtle Lake.
BREVATOR, MINN. — The Cloquet El.
Co., of Cloquet, has applied to the Town
Council for a franchise to supply electricity
In this town. The company has commenced
work on the erection of a transmission line
from Cloquet to Brevator.
ELY, MINN. — Bids will be received by the
School Board of the Independent School
District No. 12 of St. Louis County, ad-
dressed to Thomas E. Miller, sercetary of
board, Ely, until Jan. 12 for furnishing and
installing lighting fixtures in the new 24-
room school building at Ely.
HERMAN, MINN. — The installation of a
municipal electric-light plant in Herman is
under consideration.
MAPLETON, MINN. — A company has
been organized by local business men to
take over the local electric-light plant,
owned by C. L. Sellers. The company will
be known as the Mapleton El. Co. ami will
apply to the Village Council for a 30-year
franchise to operate in Mapleton. After
the franchise is granted the company pro-
poses to make arrangement to secure elec-
tricity from the Rapidan company to oper-
ate its system. V. J. Creiner is president
and E. Sellers manager of the Mapleton
company.
GRAND JUNCTION, IA. — The local elec-
tric-light plant has been purchased by the
Iowa Ry. & Lt. Co., of Cedar Rapids, which
will take possession at once.
DONNYBROOK, N. D. — The installation
of an electric-light plant in Donnybrook is
reported to be under consideration.
MANDAN, N. D. — The City Commission
is considering the installation of an orna-
mental street-lighting system in Mandan.
AURORA, NEB.— A 33,000-volt electric
transmission line is being erected between
Aurora and Hampton with the intention
of extending it to York in the spring. The
Aurora El. Co. will supply electricity to
operate the municipal electric system in
Hampton.
BLAIR, NEB. — Plans and specifications
have been completed for the proposed mu-
nicipal electric-light plant.
GRAND ISLAND, NEB. — The Central
Nebraska Pwr. Co. has applied to the State
Railroad Commission for permission to
Issue $900,000 in capital stock and $600,000
In bonds. The company has a grant of
1000 cu. ft. of water per second from the
Middle Loup River and proposes to build a
hydroelectric power plant at Boelus, at a
cost of $1,500,000. It is estimated that
5000 hp can be developed, which will be
transmitted to Grand Island. St. Paul, Loup
City and possibly other' towns in Central
Nebraska. The Grand Island El. Co. is said
to be behind the project. T. H. Fritts is
manager of the Grand Island company.
McCOOK, NEB. — Bids will be received
at the office of the supervising architect,
Treasury Department, Washington, D. C.,
until Jan. 26 for the construction complete.
Including mechanical equipment (except ele-
vator, lighting fixtures and approaches), of
the United States post office and court house
at McCook, Neb. Drawings and specifica-
tions may be obtained at the above office or
from the custodian of site at McCook. O.
Wenderoth is supervising architect.
OMAHA, NEB. — The installation of an
electric-light plant in connection with the
Florence water-works plant is recommended
by R. B. Howell, general manager of the
Metropolitan Water District. It is proposed
to begin in a small way after authority is
granted by the Legislature and gradually
extend the service, taking over first the
public lighting system.
CORNING, KAN. — The City Council is re-
ported to have awarded a contract for the
erection of a transmission line from Cen-
tralia to Corning to supply electricity here.
LYONS, KAN. — Within the next three
months the Lyons El. & Mfg. Co. expects to
install a 100-kw to 150-kw generating unit
driven by a Corliss or four-valve automatic
belted engine. Dwight Chapin, Jr., is su-
perintendent.
Southern States
WADLEY, GA. — The contract for con-
struction of municipal electric-light plant
has been awarded to Singleton-Smith Co.,
of Macon, for which bonds to the amount
of $6,400 were recently voted.
MASON, TENN. — The City Council, it is
reported, is contemplating the installation
of a municipal electric-light plant.
GLENWOOD, ARK. — Options on land and
frontage on Caddo River have been closed
by O. E. Grimes, of Tulsa, Okla., and as-
sociates for the purpose of constructing a
hydroelectric power plant to develop about
2n00 hp. The cost of the work is estimated
at about $250,000.
CONROE, TEX. — The plant of the Con-
roe Gin, Ice, Lt. & Pwr. Co. was recently
destroyed by fire, causing a loss of about
$15,000. The plant, it is understood, will be
rebuilt at once.
DENTON, TEX. — At an election to be
held on Feb. 2 the proposal to issue $12,000
in bonds for extensions and improvements
to the municipal light and water systems
will be submitted to the voters.
GAYLORD, TEX. — The installation of a
street-lighting system, to cost about $7,000,
is reported to be under consideration.
MISSION, TEX. — The City Commission
is considering the question of calling an
election to submit the proposal to issue
bonds for the installation of a municipal
electric-light plant to the voters.
Pacific States
SEATTLE, WASH.— The City Council
has directed Mayor H. C. Gill and C
troller Carroll, through the Legal Depart-
ment, to make immediate application to the
federal government for power permits on
the Sauk and Suiattle Rivers, in tin- Wash-
ington and Snoqualmie National Forests,
with a view to the possible development of
a municipal power site in the two watei
sheds It is estimated that 200,000 hp
could be developed.
TACOMA. WASH —The City Council has
Instructed Superintendent B. W. Collins to
submit an estimate of the cost of replacing
the transmission line on the east side of
Commerce Street and cost of putting the
wires underground.
WATERY I LLP:, WASH.— The contract
for lighting the town, it is reported, has
been awarded to Gray & Son, of Entait.
It is understood that work will soon begin
on the construction of an electric plant and
distributing system.
MEDFORD, ORE. — The Rogue River
Pub. Ser. Corpn. has submitted a proposal
to the City Council offering to supply elec-
tricity in Medford, the city to install and
operate the distributing system.
PILOT ROCK, ORE. — Plans are being
considered for the installation of an electric-
light plant in Pilot Rock. H. Freuler, of
Walla Walla, Wash., engineer, is interested
In the project.
RED BLUFFS, CAL.— Petitions have
been presented to the City Trustees for the
Installation of electroliers on Main Street.
SACRAMENTO, CAL— The Great West-
ern Pwr. Co. has recently closed a contract
with the city of Sacramento to supply
energy to operate the sewage pumping
plant. The total capacity of the pumping
plant will be 264,000.000 gal. in 24 hours,
which will be delivered by six centrifugal
pumping units of 40,000,000-gal. capacity
each, and by two centrifugal units of 12,-
000.000 gal. capacity each. Each of the
larger pumps is to be directly connected to
a 350-hp vertical squirrel-cage induction
motor, and the small ones to 150-hp vertical
motors. The total rating of motors will be
2430 hp. The plant is expected to be in
operation by Feb. 1. The company has re-
cently connected 1300 hp for draining Re-
clamation District 1000, consisting of 52,000
acres. The present installation consists of
only 250-hp motors, but the complete instal-
lation will be five 650-hp motors.
STOCKTON, CAL. — Plans are being con-
sidered for the installation of electroliers
on West Main Street.
TULARE, CAL.— The City Council has
decided to install the electrolier-lighting
system on 17 blocks (six to a block) in the
business district, for which bids have
already been asked.
SODA SPRINGS, IDAHO.— At a special
election held recently the proposal to issue
$15,000 in bonds for the installation of a
municipal electric-lighting plant was car-
ried. Paul Tipton is city clerk.
TUCSON, ARIZ. — At an election held re-
cently the proposal to issue $8,000 for the
installation of a municipal electric-light
plant in Tucson was carried.
MOGOLLON, N. M. — The Socorro Mining
& Milling Co., it is reported, will expend
about $90,000 in completing its electric
power plant near here. The plant when
completed will supply electricity to operate
machinery in the mines of the company and
also to operate a number of industrial
plants in this section.
Canada
VANCOUVER, B. C— A. M. West, city
engineer, has submitted a report to the Mu-
nicipal Council of North Vancouver, provid-
ing for an ornamental street-lighting sys-
tem from Ferry Wharf to First Street, sin-
gle units to be used : 300-watt nitrogen
tungsten lamps have been recommended.
CHATSWORTH, ONT.-A by-law will be
submitted to the ratepayers at the January
election authorizing the Council to negotiate
with the Hydro-Electric Power Commission
of Ontario to supply Niagara power.
PETERBOROUGH, ONT.— William Ken-
nedy, Jr., of Montreal, Que., has been en-
gaged to make investigations relative to the
installation of a steam auxiliary plant for
the town.
SANDWICH, ONT. — Petitions are being
circulated in the township of Sandwich East
and the village of Tecumseh for extension
of the transmission lines of the Hydro-Elec-
tric Power Commission of Ontario. It is
proposed to have one line extend along the
Tecumseh road to the village and another
along the river front.
ST. CATHARINES, ONT.— At a meeting
of the joint Hydro-Electric Union of Ni-
agara district held recently in St. Cath-
arines it was decided to petition the Hydro-
Electric Power Commission of Ontario to
make additional surveys for hydro-radial
electric lines from si. Catharines by way of
Power Glen and Smithville, through the
townships of Caistor, Binbrook ami Barton,
to Hamilton, also from Niagara Falls
through the townships of Thorold and
Stamford West, also to continue the survey
for a line for Port Colborne north on the
easl -ill- of Welland Canal, through Thorold
Township and town, and to furnish esti-
mates for same.
Si 'A UBOROUGH, ONT. — The Scarborough
Township Council has asked the Hydro-
electric Power Commission of Ontario to
submit a report on the cost of installing a
distributing system for lighting Birchcliffe
and Kalmar Heights.
STRATFORD. ONT — The Light and
Heat Commission has decided to erect nitro-
gen-filled tungsten lamps on wooden poles
now erected from Ontario Street to St.
Patrick Street, and on every other pole from
St. Patrick to the railway tracks beyond
the Allis-Chalmers Co.'s plant.
OKA, QUE. — Fred M. Hoadley, consult-
ing engineer, of Montreal, has been engaged
by the Bishop of the Monastery at Oka to
make investigations into the possibilities of
developing a hydroelectric power plant on
the river running through the property ad-
jacent to the monastery. Electricity gener-
ated at the proposed plant will be used for
different purposes in the institution, includ-
ing lighting.
Mexico
GUANACEVI, DURAXGO, MEX.— The
Mexican Consol. Mining & Milling Co., it
is reported, is contemplating the installation
of an electric power plant at its mines here.
Miscellaneous
PANAMA — Bids will be received at the
office of the general purchasing officer, the
Panama Canal, Washington, D. C, until
Jan. 13, for furnishing switchboard, trans-
former, cable clips, hasps and staples, strap
hinges, brass tubinr etc. Blanks and gen-
eral information relating to this circular
(No. 2010) may be obtained at the above
office. Major F. C Boggs is general pur-
chasing officer.
PANAMA — Bids will be received at the
office of the general purchasing officer, the
Panama Canal, Washington, D. C. until
Jan. 21, for furnishing cast-iron lamp-posts
and porcelain receptacles and lamp sockets
for same, electric cable, steel cable, steel
pipe and pontoons for same, cast-iron wash-
ers, power hack saw, anchor lamps, etc.
Blanks and general information relating to
this circular (No. 890) may be obtained
from the above office or offices of the as-
sistant purchasing officers, 24 State Street,
New York, N. Y. ; 614 Whitney-Central
Building, New Orleans, La., and 10S6 North
Point Street, San Francisco, Cal.
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 2
Weekly Record of Electrical Patents
UNITED STATES PATENTS ISSUED
DEC. 29, 1914.
1.122,259. Motor Control; William M.
Cummiskey, Honesdale, Pa. App. filed
April 6, 1911. A circuit-closer for a slow-
down resistor is operated automatically in
accordance with the speed of the arma-
ture and position of the starting rheostat.
1,122,261. Circuit Controller; William
W. Dean, Chicago, 111. App. filed Jan. 21,
1911. Operated by means of a push-but-
ton.
1,122,287. Charging System for Storage
Batteries; James F. Lincoln, East Cleve-
land, Ohio. App. filed Jan. 5, 1912.
Charging generator driven by an alternat-
ing-current motor controlled automatic-
ally by the battery.
1,122,290. Junction Board; Hereward M.
Mack and Wallace P. Andrick, New York,
N. Y. App. filed Jan. 21, 1913. For con-
necting cable ends.
1.122,297. Spark-Plug; Frank J. Muldoon,
West Bend, Wis. App. filed May 22, 1914.
A fireproof and oil-proof plastic filler com-
pound surrounds the core.
1,122,326. High-Potential Insulator;
Louis Steinberger, New York, N. Y. App.
filed Aug. 10, 1912. A metallic sleeve
encircles the pendent portion of the in-
sulator for attaching purposes.
1,122,332. Centrifugal Switch; Charles
F. Sullivan, Des Moines, la. App. filed
Nov. 18, 1912. Lugs are thrown out-
wardly to engage the contact members.
1,122,347. Attachment for Telephones ;
Charles C. Wright, Camden, N. J. App.
filed Feb. 9, 1914. Arranged for holding
fresh paper in front of the mouthpiece.
1,122,351. Binding Post; Henning F.
Adickes, Jr., Biltmore, N. C. App. filed
Jan. 16, 1914. Contains longitudinal and
spiral grooves.
1,122,358. Detector ; Lester Stewart Barr,
Washington, D. C. App. filed Sep. 10,
1913. Crystal floating on a mercury sur-
face for use in radio signaling.
1,122,380. Electromagnetic Friction
Coupling ; Paolo Forster, Turin, Italy.
App. filed June 5, 1913. Magnet used to
force magnetic and non-magnetic portions
Into frictional contact.
1,122,383. Working Submarine Cables;
John Gott, Brighton, England. App. filed
May 17, 1913. Upon opening the key a
relay is operated by the discharge of a
condenser to reverse the connections of a
battery to the line.
1,122,406. Bushing for Electrical Con-
duits ; Adnah McMurtrie, New York,
N. Y. App. filed April 25, 1907. Provided
with an aperture to receive either an
armor sheath or a closing device.
1,122,424 Portable Electric Flashlight;
Charles J. Sagebrecht, Brooklyn, N. Y.
App. filed May 21, 1914. Details of a
portable battery lamp with reflector.
1,122,430. Circuit-Breaker; William M.
Scott, Berwyn, Pa. App. filed Feb. 5,
1912. Provided with means for restoring
the armature to normal position.
1,122,446. Portable Electric Light;
Charles Wachtel, Brooklyn, N. Y. App.
filed May 21, 1914. Details of a battery
lamp with reflector.
1,122,468. Electrical Piano Plater;
Charles E. Brown, Columbus, Ohio. App.
filed Sept. 2, 1913. Means for controlling
from a distance the selection and opera-
tion of one or a group of clutches asso-
ciated with music rolls.
1,122,478. Electric Safety Fuse: Robert
C. Cole, Hartford, Conn. App. filed April
7. 1914. Fuse material is connected with
spring heat colls.
1,122,483. Electromechanical Variabi.e-
DBVICB; Henry H. Cutler, nnd
Fredrlc S. Wllholt, Milwaukee, Wis. App.
filed Nov 30, 1908, Several clutch mem-
bers .-i t . irranged toad Independently or
conjointly according to the ipeed desired
1,222,488. Circuit-Controlling Apparatus ;
John w. Eakholme, Weatfleld, N. J. App.
file. i Bept 28, i ontrollei h
advanced by nanism.
1.122.490. Method of Operatino Alternat-
ing-Current lie a I'vnti,
St I. r. Ills. Mo. App, file. I M in I ' I B 1
In the rotor, whir I |i culted
t start, is in'
i ds, wtnie the
r'.ir.r i» complete! ilted al
synchronous
1.122.491. Am Motor ;
Valere a Fynn, si Louie, Mo Ipp filed
1 . i 'H i Prln it with
winding having different poll numbers,
i and :i
high resistance for tho Othei
1,122,495. Electrical Connection ; Eugene
Gindee, Paris, France. App. filed Nov. 11,
1912. A metallic tube is secured in the
aperture of the brush, the conductor being
held in the tube by compression.
1,122,521. Electrically Heated Flatiron ;
Charles P. Madsen, Chicago, 111. App.
filed April 3, 1912. The heating unit is
embedded in the insulating compound and
housed in a recess in the iron.
1,122,534. Generator; Ward S. Perrv, Chi-
cago, 111. App filed Sept. 19, 1910'. The
resistance of coils around the magnets is
varied directly with the change in speed.
1,122,556. Automatic Trunking System;
Franklin J. Truby, Chicago, 111. App. filed
Jan. 18, 1911. Line wipers of a non-nu-
merical trunking switch are always in en-
gagement with the trunk line last em-
ployed by the switch for extending a call.
1,122,568. Electric Incandescent Lamp;
Edward P. Beckwith, Garrison, N. Y.
App. filed Jan. 22, 1912. The filament
holder is coated with a refractory ma-
terial having high electric and heat-in-
sulating qualities.
1,122,594. Art of Transmitting Sounds by
Means of Hertzian Waves ; Walton Har-
rison, New York, N. Y. App. filed June
2, 1902. Involves the use of a selenium
cell.
1,122,615. Sender; John A. Kropp, Newark,
N. J. App. filed July 29, 1913. The ini-
tial movement of the operating member
from its normal position is ineffective,
the complete return of the member to
normal causes the actuation of the circuit
interrupter, but the partial return is in-
effective.
1,122,626. Selector Switch ; James L. Mc-
Quarrie, Montclair, N. J. App. filed July
30, 1913. The brushes are brought to
rest on a predetermined set of terminals
by means of mechanical stops.
1.122.632. Connector for Electric Con-
duits : James C. Phelps, Springfield, Mass.
App. filed June 18, 1913. Each end cap
is formed with a rib to register with the
ribs on the base member.
1.122.633. Dynamo-Electric Machine;
Edwin S. Pillsbury, St. Louis, Mo. App.
filed Jan. 19, 1912. Mechanical details of
magnetic structure.
1,122,642. Multiple Brush Selector; John
N. Reynolds, Greenwich, Conn. App. filed
July 30, 1913. Revolving drums are ar-
ranged to be driven in one direction or
the other.
1,122,657. Controller for Electric Mo-
tors ; Harry F. Stratton, Cleveland, Ohio.
App. filed July 17, 1913. Means for con-
necting the motor for dynamic braking
to retard the motor.
1,122,665. Spot Welding Machine; Elihu
Thompson, Swampscott, Mass. App. filed
May 10, 1913. Use Is made of converging
welding electrodes and a co-operating
mandrel within them forming the opposite
electrode.
1,122,693. Electrical Regulator; Frank
Conrad, Swissvale, Pa. App. filed Oct. 5,
1911. Comprises co-operating contact
members, two actuating devices for one
of them, and a yielding connection be-
tween one of the devices and the actuated
contact member having a time-element
function.
1.122.743. Motor Control System; Jay H.
Hall, Cleveland, Ohio. App. filed April 5,
1906. A series of switches for cutting out
resistance operating windings therefor
energized by current in the controlled
circuit and means for de-energizing the
windings at will.
1.122.744. Motor Control System ; Jay B
Hall, Cleveland, Ohio. App. filed Sept. 5,
1913. Means whereby the closure of one
■witch energizes the winding of a second
■witch and means controlled by the second
■Witch for de-onergizing the winding of
the first switch.
1,122,762. Signaling and Indicating Sys-
tem FOR Ki.kvators : William A. Hoene-
man. New York, N Y. App Bled Maj
29, 1913. An electrical Signaling appa-
ratus provided with tn
■witching device* for signaling the car
from any floor, operated by a snake wire.
Terminal CUP ion Fuse Blocks ;
Duncan C, Hooker. Farming-ton, Conn
App. tiled April 7, I9it Mechanical de-
tail*,
1,122,77 1. Method of Controlling Ei.ec-
Tine Eni roi ii w i ,eonard, Bronxvllle,
N v. app tiled a, u,i 16. L91S Means
i.. r producing rhythmic Fluctuation! in
ii..- battery-charging energy whlli
Of lie em-rent
1.122.777. Electric Switch; Anker S.
Lyhne, Bridgeport, Conn. App. filed Sept.
10. 1913. Details of a push-button switch
for a pocket lamp.
1.122.778. Portable Electric Lamp; Anker
S. Lyhne, Bridgeport, Conn. App. filed
Aug. 7, 1914. Details of a dry-battery
lamp.
1,122,788. Motor Control System ; Jacob
F. Motz, Pittsburgh, Pa. App. filed July
21, 1913. Arrangements for utilizing the
dynamic braking action of the motor to
bring it to rest.
1,122,828. Switch Movement; Benjamin C-
Webster, Bridgeport, Conn. App. filed
Feb. 17, 1914. Details of a lamp socket.
1,122,S43. Lamp; E. G. K. Anderson, Chi-
cago, 111. App. filed Aug. 29, 1913. For
dental and surgical uses, being provided
with a transparent tubular shield through-
out substantially the entire length of the
lamp.
1,122,S63. Electrical Conductor: Palmer
Clingman, New York, N. Y. App. filed
June 29, 1914. Arrangement of section
insulator in a high-tension railway circuit
1,122,892. Electric-Heating Apparatus;
Dudley Farrand, Newark, N. J. App. filed
March 16, 1910. The fluid to be heated is
passed through coils forming the secon-
dary of a transformer.
1,122,931. Motor Controller; A. J. Horton,
White Plains, N. Y. App. filed Nov. 22,
1913. Use is made of two push buttons
for starting and stopping the motor for
limited or continuous operation.
1,122,942. Electric System for Transmit-
ting Angular Positions ; Paul Kaminski,
Nonnendamm, near Berlin, Germany.
App. filed Aug. 15, 1913. A sending ele-
ment for fine adjustment and a sending
element for coarse adjustment, with cor-
responding receiving elements controlling
electric motors between which a differ-
ential gear is interposed.
1,122,962. Electrically Operated Drop
Hammer: John D. MacDonald, Pitts-
burgh, Pa. App. filed June 4, 1913. The
ram head is reciprocated electrically, the
movement being controlled both manu-
ally and automatically.
1,122,975. System for Generating Elec-
tric Currents of High Frequency ;
Thomas B. Miller, Seattle, Wash. App.
filed Nov. 16, 1912. Means for controlling
the magnetic leakage in transformers em-
ployed in wireless-telegraph systems.
1,122,980. Dynamo-Electric Machine;
Soren H. Mortensen, Milwaukee, Wis.
App. filed Sept. 16, 1909. Supports for
the collector leads.
1,123,002. Separable Attachment Plug;
Clarence D. Piatt, Bridgeport, Conn. App.
filed July 25, 1913. Mechanical details.
1,123,085. Coil Support; Arthur J. Brown
and Robert B. Williamson, Milwaukee,
Wis. App. filed Sept. 6, 1910. Means for
supporting the end turns of stator coils.
1,123,098. System of Distribution for Os-
cillatory Electrical Currents ; Louis
Cohen, Cambridge, Mass. App. filed Dec
14, 1912. Comprises a tuned antenna
circuit, a second tuned circuit and an in-
dependent condenser of relatively small
capacity to the tuning capacity.
1,123, IIS. Signaling System; Lee DeFor-
est, New York, N. Y. App. filed July 8,
1907. A carbon arc electrode arranged
in ■ high-frequency oscillation circuit has
a solid body forming a core of hydro-
carbon material.
1.128.119, Secrecy System for Wireless
Communication: Lee DeForest, New
Yi.iU. N. Y. App. filed July 8. 1907.
Minns are employed to convert received
oscillations Into low-frequency currents
at the receiving station.
1.123.120. Arc Mechanism for Systems of
Space Communications; Lee DeForest,
New York. N. Y. App. filed Jan. 20.
1909. For combination with arc electrodes
having an air space between their proxi-
mate portions of means for causing a con-
tinuous How of liquid to the air space
between the electrodes
1,128,147, Instrument for Magnetically
Recording Bound Vibrations; John c.
Sherman, Hrookllne, Mass. App. filed
Nov. 21, 1908. A recording wire passes
between the pole-plecea of magneto,
1,128,161, Dynamo-Electric Machine .
.1. Andrews, Chicago, 111. App
tiled July ■'. 1907 The armature is pro-
vided with :i plurality of normally open
Inductive coils permanently conn
:i commutator associated with a circuit
r for placing them In series or In
parallel,
1,128,187. atta.'hmk.nt I'M i. Henry R
B "i. ii. P i App tiled June 27.
1913. Mechanical details of a floor plug.
Vol. 65
ectrical World
The consolidation of Electrical World and Engineer and American Electrician.
Published by McGraw Publishing Company, Inc.
NEW YORK, SATURDAY, JANUARY 16, 1915
No. 3
A Commission with a Great Opportunity
WHAT are to be the policies of the Federal Trade
Commission? Will it check or will it help busi-
ness men struggling with great trade and administra-
tive problems? Will it follow the lead and imbibe the
spirit of the several commissioners of corporations
who have gone before it, or will it adopt a broad,
statesmanlike policy that, while firm with violators of
the law, will always strive to advance in the large the
commercial well-being of the country and of those who
are conducting its business affairs? What business in-
terests need is not the attitude which the reports of
the commissioners of corporations have revealed, but a
sympathetic understanding of the economic problems
of the times and a strong constructive governmental
force to promote energetic and reputable trade prac-
tices. The opportunities which the commission will have
to promote a larger business are of far greater im-
portance to the future of the nation than the oppor-
tunities which it will have to regulate internal trade
practices.
Protection of Water-Power Investors
IN the discussion on the water-power bill before a
Senate committee at Washington a striking degree
of insistence has been laid on the necessity of such leg-
islation as will make the principal of investments safe.
Mr. Sidney Z. Mitchell, an abstract of whose testimony
is published in this issue of the Electrical World,
told how bankers are scrutinizing the foundations of
utility securities with greater care than ever before.
This is fortunate, because jeopardizing the rights of
security holders with the expiration of limited fran-
chises ought soon to become a thing of the past. The
responsibility for seeing that these conditions cease
to exist is not one to be disregarded idly; it belongs to
lawmakers, bankers and corporation officials, to each in
part. When new legislation is undertaken, as in this
case, the way to a constructive policy is easy. The law
can be made so explicit in regard to water-power rights
on public lands that the banker shall know reasonably
well to what extent the investor is protected and to
what extent he must accept risk. While banking esti-
mates as to the relative proportion of protection and
risk must be largely guess-work, the risk is the factor
that looms the larger. That bankers will reduce rates
on capital as the degree of protection under the law in-
creases is important enough to encourage reasonable
legislation, but it is not so important as the plain fact
that protection means plenty of capital for water-
power development and therefore real conservation by
utilization.
A Problem in Substation Design
SOONER or later every city equipped with a 220-volt
direct-current system is forced to adopt the alter-
nating-current system of distribution. With many
cities there comes a time in the development when for
the sake of economy it is necessary to abandon an old
generating station in favor of a new one equipped with
large turbo-generators and to convert the old station to
a substation. In such instances an interesting question
of design arises. Does it pay to install motor-generators
with storage batteries for the sake of providing direct
current to the distributing network, or should polyphase
current be used throughout? What is the relative effi-
ciency of the direct-current system compared with a
system for distributing three-phase energy with proper
reserve generators or in case of need even with a re-
serve of battery and reversed motor-generators? A
good many well-informed engineers feel very strongly
that if it were possible to start afresh in a city of con-
siderable size and area the distribution chosen would be
three-phase, direct current being left entirely out of the
reckoning. Other engineers, equally firm in their con-
victions, hold to the opposite opinion. Certainly the loss
of energy in the regular use of a substation with motor-
generators and batteries is so considerable as to raise
at least a legitimate question as to whether it might not
be wiser to take the long step at the start and distribute
three-phase energy from the substation. Aside from
possible local questions which often decide such mat-
ters, polyphase distribution throughout would seem on
the whole to be best suited for the purpose.
The Small Municipal Plants
WHEN the small totals of gross revenues of munic-
ipal electric central stations are considered, the
development of these properties in this country lacks
impressiveness. The returns of the Bureau of the Cen-
sus for 1912, published elsewhere in this issue, show
that of the total revenues the municipal plants received
7.7 and the commercial stations 92.3 per cent. The com-
mercial stations had twelve times the income of the
municipal plants. This is evidence that private capital
has sought mainly the centers of greatest density of
population. The census figures show that the municipal
plants comprise 29.9 per cent of the total number of
plants. When 29.9 per cent of the number of plants
earn only 7.7 per cent of the gross revenues, it is clear
that they are operated on a relatively small scale. Of
the total number of municipal plants, 84.9 per cent are
in communities of less than 5000 population. The ten-
dency is so strongly in the direction of centralization
146
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 3
of generating facilities and long-distance transmission
that it is likely before the expiration of the next census
period in 1917 many of these small communities will
be served by large systems. When they can be served
from large distributing systems having satisfactory
diversity in load, they become inviting to private capi-
tal. Development in this direction is economic progress
and cannot be prevented.
Labor-Saving Transmission-Line Chart
The predetermination of the size of wire required for
direct-current energy delivery, at a given distance, volt-
age and loss in transmission, is relatively very easy.
The current strength in amperes to be delivered is
the delivered watts divided by the delivered volts, be-
cause there is no indeterminate power-factor question
with direct current. The line-voltage drop is known by
assumption, and this divided by the delivered amperes
gives the value of the ohms resistance in the line cir-
cuit. Hence the line resistance per mile follows at once,
and a suitable wire table does the rest, by showing the
size and linear weight of the needed wires.
In the case of an alternating-current transmission
line one must include the fractional power-factor of
the load and the induction as well as the resistance of
the line. The result is that, although the problem may
still be considered as comprised within the limits of
simple arithmetic, yet the solution is lengthier to ob-
tain and must be worked out by selection from among
a number of trial cases, so that a considerable amount
of paper, plumbago and midnight oil may have to be
expended in any actual important case before the de-
signing engineer is fully satisfied with the efficiency
and economy of the projected line. In the case of a
long transmission line, any gross mistake made in the
predetermination of the conductors is likely to be costly.
Consequently, engineers who have much to do with line
computations are pretty sure to develop short cuts and
labor-saving devices which will assist in carrying on
the work.
A particular form of such labor-saving device is pre-
sented by Mr. H. B. Dwight in a chart on page 160
of this issue. It consists of what is technically called
a "straight-line diagram," wherein a straight edge con-
necting two selected points on a pair of parallel grad-
uated lines intersects another graduated line or lines
in the point or points giving the required result. In
this chart there are in all thirty-five parallel graduated
lines. By the use of the diagram there is obtained a
factor showing the voltage drop with but little addi-
tional computation. When the line exceeds 30 miles in
length the effect of the capacitance is taken into account
as a simple corrective term. In the case of very long
lines, the author points out that a still further correc-
tion is needed for the effects of distributed capacitance,
according to the simplr hyperbolic-function theory. In
practice, this correction is very small when dealing with
frequencies of sixty cycles per Becond or less, and one
does not have to include a consideration of higher har-
monic frequencies. Hence for most of the practical pur-
poses of energy transmission one may ignore the effects
of distributed capacitance or the seductions of hyper-
bolic-function theory and treat the line as though its
capacitance were lumped comfortably at the two ends.
Effect of Third Harmonic on Three-Phase
Transformers
In the philosophy of alternating currents these
always enjoy the attributes and blessings of an infinite
number of harmonics, and the only question is how
much enjoyment exists. A perfectly pure simple sine
wave of alternating current, if it could exist, would be
an absolute ascetic, and its enjoyment of its natural
rights and privileges in upper harmonics would be nil.
This is the compensating misfortune that Fourier fast-
ened upon mankind when he bestowed on them the valu-
able heirloom of Fourier's theorem. Prior to his
time, an alternating wave was just a wave, smooth
or rough, and nothing more. He revealed the intrinsic
capability of any wave to possess harmonics, as well as
the methods for measuring them, and now we are unable
to think of a wave as being without them. We have to
think of them as inherently present, although in an ex-
treme case it may happen that their magnitudes will
be all zero.
It is a known property of an n-phase symmetrical
alternating-current system that any such system, con-
nected up polygonally into a closed circuit, cancels all its
internal emfs except the wth and its multiples, the
3«th, 5nth, and so on. Hence, in a three-phase system
connected in delta, the triple-frequency harmonic emfs
and their multiples are the only emfs not canceled out.
These unite into a resultant emf which will tend to pro-
duce a short-circuit current in the delta.
In the article on page 157 Mr. Richard C. Powell
shows that when transformers are connected on a three-
phase system in star-delta arrangement of primary and
secondary windings there should be no triple-frequency
harmonic short-circuit, because the star-connected
primary tends to suppress these harmonics, but if there
is an active neutral conductor on the primary side, the
triple-frequency currents are permitted to flow and in-
duce corresponding triple-frequency harmonics in the
delta-connected secondary, which will then act as a short-
circuit to them and give rise to heating.
The proper behavior of transformers in any connec-
tion is, of course, to deliver the energy they receive,
except for the suitably small percentage of energy loss
to which they are entitled by their designer and which is
their admitted perquisite for performing their regular
functions. The absorption of triple harmonic energy
internally is p. most improper behavior, and one which
no well-constituted system should permit for one mo-
ment. But the moral of Mr. Powell's article is that if
transformers are star-delta connected, and the primary
has an active fourth wire or neutral conductor, and the
impressed primary emfs enjoy the very common luxury
January 16, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
147
of a marked triple harmonic, then the powers of dark-
ness will convoke and the secondaries will refuse to give
up their triple harmonic energy. The inference is
strong, therefore, that such an arrangement of primary
and secondary circuits does not form a well-constituted
system.
The Upbuilding of a Network
An extended account is given in this issue of an ex-
tremely practical and useful network distributing energy
in twelve counties over 184 miles of high-tension lines.
Like most such systems, there has been an aggregation
of stations and smaller systems, resulting in a very ef-
fective network with nine generating stations, seven
operated by steam and two by water power. The chief
station, which is the main object of interest, is at Cedar
Rapids, la., where fuel is readily obtained and there is
an ample supply of water for condensation purposes. At
this point 15,000 hp is available, including as the chief
generating units two 4500-kva steam turbines in addi-
tion to one smaller turbine unit and two engine-driven
units. The reconstruction of the station equipment has
led to some interesting engineering features.
In the first place, the company operates a steam-heat-
ing system, steam being taken from the third stage of
the large turbines for this purpose. The supply of cir-
culating water for the condensers involves some un-
usual particulars. Water is taken from a lake, about
100 yd. distant, through a reinforced-concrete tunnel
by means of three independent pumps, any or all of
which can be used according to the output required.
Thus arranged, it is easy to save considerable pumping
during times of low-water temperature and readily to
adapt the power required to the water demand. The
scheme, of course, is not unfamiliar, but it is worth
emphasizing. In the earlier stages of operation of this
station, the condensing water was brought in and dis-
charged from a duplex tunnel, the streams in which
were separated by a brick partition. It was found that
the brick was so inefficient as a heat insulator that the
outflow water warmed the intake to an inconvenient
degree, and when the present large turbo-generators
were added entirely independent tunnels were built. In-
creased efficiency of operation gives apparent evidence
of the gain made.
The coal-conveying machinery for the plant, too, is a
little out of the ordinary. A monorail crane fitted with
a grab-bucket is operated upon a structural iron run-
way reaching the tracks of the two railways over which
coal is brought. Some of the coal comes in hopper-bot-
tom cars and is easily managed, but when it comes in
ordinary cars the grab-bucket takes it in and drops it
into a link-belt conveyor which carries it to the hoppers
over the stokers. The same conveyor dumps the ashes
into a concrete hopper, from which they are removed to
be used as ballast on the various electric-railway lines
owned by the operating company. The installation of
this coal-handling apparatus is reported to keep the cost
of handling a ton of coal from cars to boilers, including
the removal of the ash, down to about 9 cents a ton.
A few features of the electric equipment of the sta-
tion demand comment. In addition to the usual switch-
board arrangements use is made of a relay bus with a
large oil switch so arranged that by properly setting the
disconnecting switches the spare switch can be sub-
stituted for any other main switch in use, thereby
greatly facilitating the maintenance of the switch equip-
ment.
The pole lines are for the most part of the ordinary
wooden construction with steel wish-bone cross-arms
and pin-type insulators having a large factor of safety.
The lightning protection consists in the main of a sin-
gle ground wire and aluminum-cell arresters. These
lines deliver energy to twenty-eight substations, large
and small. It will be interesting to watch the further
evolution of the system, involving as it probably will
the abandonment of some of the smaller stations and
increase of equipment in those giving best promise of
economy.
Short-Circuits on Transmission Systems
An eminent scientist once expressed the opinion that
one knows thoroughly only that which he can state in
numbers. The wisdom of this remark when applied to
engineering facts is beyond question, yet many engi-
neers are prone to content themselves with a "qualita-
tive" notion rather than to exert the effort necessary to
obtain a "quantitative" conception of phenomena which
manifest any degree of complication. Particularly is
this true in regard to the effects which occur in trans-
mission lines under abnormal conditions caused by
lightning discharges and short-circuits. The paper
presented by Mr. I. W. Gross at the January meeting
of the American Institute of Electrical Engineers is
worthy of careful study by every engineer who is con-
cerned with the transmission or distribution of electric
energy.
The author first deduced formulas for express-
ing the forces of repulsion set up between the conduc-
tors of a cable or between the busbars when a short-
circuit occurs. The numerical values of these forces,
which are due to the magnetic field around the wires,,
may reach surprisingly large values, as much, for exam-
ple, as 2.5 tons per foot in a cable or 0.5 ton per sup-
port in the case of a busbar. The temperature rise in
cables due to the enormous power input at the begin-
ning of a short-circuit was also treated by the author in
a quantitative manner. It was shown that the limiting
feature in selecting the proper size of cable may some-
times be the temperature rise which a short-circuit may
occasion. A detailed analysis was made of the sys-
tem of inserting reactances described by Mr. H. G.
Stott at the midwinter convention of the Institute last
year. Its many advantages over the feeder-reactance
or bus-reactance schemes were shown by numerical ex-
amples. This system bids fair to supplant the other
systems in the future. By means of Mr. Gross' analysis
the merits of any possible arrangement may be expressed
numerically and compared with the merits of any other
system in use or contemplated.
148
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 3
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Under- Voltage Protection
To the Editor of the Electrical World:
Sir: — Tie lines run between a station and its sub-
station are usually designed to work under the heaviest
requirement for service, with the natural consequence
of their being worked at a lower safety factor than
any other part of the copper distributing system. Cir-
cuit-breakers on these lines are generally set to operate
far above the normal continuous load, to say nothing of
the more or less common practice of "blocking" the
breakers in times of the heaviest demand.
It is not difficult to foresee a situation where there
may come a leak in a tie-line cable such as may com-
pletely destroy the cable at the remote end without
tripping the breaker at the station end. Suppose that
at a time when the load is normally light the insula-
tion fails at a point so far from the station that the
resistance will, in a measure, limit the rush of cur-
rent. The conditions are then ideal for a slow "burn-
out."
As a means of insuring against this contingency,
suppose the line to be equipped with several breakers,
each having an "under-voltage" element so set that the
breaker will operate in the event of a short-circuit with
the attendant abnormal voltage drop. As may be read-
ily seen, the near breaker would operate first, so that
if the tie line happened to be a feeder the unaffected
part would continue to operate. It is not hard to see
the situation in a crippled system where the short-cir-
cuited part would be automatically "cut out," leaving
the remainder of the system operative.
St. Louis, Mo. F. L. W. Peebles.
Letting the Public Know
To the Editor of the Electrical World :
Sir: — Referring to your editorial "Letting the Public
Know," in the issue of Jan. 2, I beg to call your atten-
tion to the fact that the Society for Electrical De-
velopment is telling the public that "while everything
else has gone up in price, central stations are giving
much more service than they did and that their prices
are lower although their costs of help, material and
capital are higher."
You say "one reason why many people do not realize
this is that it has never been told to them." As a mat-
ter of fact, the Society for Electrical Development sent
out to the daily press throughout the country short
articles on this subject as far back as December, 1913,
and has been repeating the statement in various ways
in magazines throughout the year 1914. This is not
said in any way to detract from the merits of President
Scott's efforts to get the Class A members of the Na-
tional Electric Light Association to carry on an educa-
tional campaign along these lines. Such a campaign
is sadly needed. Any and every way in which this
truth can be brought to the attention of the public is
more than welcome, no matter from what source it may
come.
I sincerely trust that President Scott will succeed in
arousing the central stations to a realization of the
ity and value of such a campaign, bu1 I also want
the Electrical World readers to recognize the fact
that the Society for Electrical Development is. and lias
been, working along tho e lines.
.T. M. Wakeman,
Nem York N V ° '' "" '"'
The Small Lighting Consumer
To the Editor of the Electrical World:
SIR: — The very live question of how profitably to
extend electric-lighting service to smaller consumers
than are now generally enjoying such service was re-
cently discussed at length in a joint engineering meet-
ing in Chicago following the presentation of a paper
by Mr. S. E. Doane. This discussion served both to
bring out forcibly the exact lines of development needed
to make possible the service of the small consumer at a
profit and also to indicate that gratifying progress is
being made toward a realization of these ideas. It is
now generally agreed by all students of this problem
that the mere cost of electrical energy for operating
modern incandescent lamps is so small that it need not
stand in the way of the use of electric light in the small-
est homes. The great obstacle to progress is the in-
vestment needed both by the company and by the con-
sumer to get ready to serve such small consumers.
Some rather striking figures were brought out in the
discussion referred to as to the investment and conse-
quent fixed charges for various parts of the system
from power plant to consumers' lamp sockets. The in-
vestment required in power plant and distributing
equipment to bring service to the street in front of a
consumer's premises seems surprisingly small, to those
who have never analyzed the matter, when it is com-
pared with the investment in equipment between the
street mains and the lamp sockets where the ordinary
meter system is used. In one specific case for which
figures were given, assuming a four-outlet consumer,
with a maximum demand of only 130 watts, which
would be typical of many small cottages and apartments,
it was shown that the total central-station and distribu-
ting system investment necessary to bring the service
to the consumer was only $8, or about the equivalent of
the price of a meter installed. These figures were based
on an estimated cost of $500 per kw of peak load for
the central-station generating and distributing equip-
ment serving residence consumers and a diversity factor
of 18.1 per cent, the latter being that determined for a
group of Chicago residence consumers. It was sug-
gested that the diversity factor of a group of small
four-room cottages or apartments would probably be
considerably higher than 18.1 per cent, possibly 40 per
cent or more, which would bring the investment up to
$18 or $20 for such a consumer, provided the plant in-
vestment remained the same. Even then, the cost. of
the equipment, from the street mains to the lamp
sockets, under conditions and costs existing in most of
our large cities, is likely to be about double that in the
power station and distributing system.
In small towns the costs on the consumers' premises
are considerably less than in large cities, but the central-
station investment costs are also likely to be less. A
part of the items of equipment between the street mains
and the lamp sockets must be furnished by the central-
station company and a part by the private consumer,
but in the end the consumer must pay the fixed charges
upon this investment, whoever owns it. Especially in
the larger cities, the tendency has steadily been toward
more t- i vr i < 1 wiring specifications and increased cost of
wiring. This, together with higher labor costs in cities,
makes wiring prices much higher than in country towns,
which doubtless has much to do with the more extensive
development of the small-residence business in some
countrj towns than in large cities. In country towns a
record of one consumer for every five inhabitants is
I mies attained, while in large cities a record of one
January 16, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
149
consumer to ten inhabitants is considered remarkably
good.
The consumer's end of the installation being so ex-
pensive, the logical way to attack the problem is to
reduce the first costs. Both the methods of wiring and
metering need attention. As is well known, the meter-
ing problem has been taken care of in a number of
European cities by the use of the automatic maximum-
demand limiting device commonly known as a flat-rate
controller and by selling the service at a flat rate, with
the limiting device to prevent abuse of the contract.
Numerous American devices of this kind have been put
on the market from time to time during the past
twenty years, but the majority seem to have fallen by
the wayside either on account of unreliability or high
first cost — the two evils between which the designer of
such devices must steer.
. A complete revolution of wiring methods is essen-
tial if the wiring is to be made as safe as at present and
considerably cheaper. Of course, some of the present
cost of wiring is due to "red tape" in our large cities,
in the shape of overhead and soliciting expense of the
contractor or central station and of inspection fees.
Nevertheless, it is gratifying to learn that efforts of
the National Electric Light Association committee on
residence wiring are bearing fruit to the extent that
manufacturers are developing wiring systems with the
aim of cutting down the cost of wiring small houses
and apartments. It goes without saying that if the
cost is to be reduced radical changes must be made in
our present methods, and these will doubtless be op-
posed on general principles by a certain class of con-
servatives; but it is to be hoped that the majority of
those with whom rests the approval of any new systems
proposed will approach the matter in an open-minded
way and will consider all the propositions upon their
merit rather than with prejudice. American ingenuity
should be able to meet the requirements of safe wir-
ing at lower cost provided that it is not too much ham-
pered by some of the present rather inconsistent re-
quirements which have gradually grown upon us.
Simplified billing is another essential to such small
service. City water-works departments in our Ameri-
can cities have for years been submitting their bills
from two to four times a year instead of twelve times.
The payment of such accounts at the office or at
agencies also helps to reduce the cost of collection.
Chicago, III. James R. Cravath.
If, however, more importance be placed on the value,
the result is that no one is prevented from using if he
can be served at a profit from the existing plant, or if
he could be served at a profit by a competing plant ; and
this is surely much better than if a cost theory is al-
lowed to keep up rates.
The second place where Mr. Dow places a wrong em-
phasis is in regard to the costs of getting ready either
for the demand or for the customer. Both of these are
important, but the cost of actually producing energy, or
kilowatt-hour cost, is more important than would appear
from a cursory reading of Mr. Dow's article. If the de-
mand be kept the same but kilowatt-hours be reduced,
then a great deal of expense often assigned to demand
turns out to be really a kilowatt-hour expense. Further,
the kilowatt-hour bears a much closer relation to the
value of service than does the measured demand; and,
still more important, the density, or number of custom-
ers in a given area, is often more important than either
kilowatt-hours or demand, or such customers' costs as
meters and billing.
These points are all either covered in Mr. Dow's arti-
cle or are a natural corollary from his discussion, and my
only disagreement is in regard to the emphasis to be
laid on them, and to the inferences which an unskilful
rate-maker might draw if he read the article too hur-
riedly.
Boston, Mass. R- s- HALE.
The Tungsten Lamp in Photography
To the Editor of the Electrical World:
Sir:— In my article on "Adapting the Tungsten
Lamp to Photography," published in your issue of Nov.
14, 1914, I state that the data in Fig. 3 apply to the
ordinary photographic plate (in this case Seed 30).
However, these data apply to a plate made truly ortho-
chromatic by the special screen described in a previous
article. The data intended for Fig. 3 are indicated in
the accompanying illustration, which shows the effect od
Mr. Dow's Article on Rate-Making
To the Editor of the Electrical World:
Sra: — Any disagreement with Mr. Dow's interesting
and closely reasoned discussion of rates [see Electrical
World of Jan. 2, 1915, page 17] would be like the dis-
pute as to whether the lame man had one leg longer than
the other or one shorter than the other. Nevertheless,
there are two points on which he might have put a dif-
ferent emphasis. The first is in regard to the value of
the service. When rates are computed from costs along
the lines laid down by Mr. Dow most excellent rates re-
sult— in fact, substantially the same rates that would
be reached if the method outlined in the report of the
rate research committee of the National Electric Light
Association were followed — but the danger is that the
necessary modifications of the computed costs are not
always considered, and undue emphasis on the impor-
tance of costs is with the average manager apt to result
in rates that are either so high that too few people take
the service or so low that the central station cannot pay
all its costs, and this again prevents development and
is an injury to the public.
P«
y
m
—
La
M
. 5 6 8 10 20 30-40 60 80 100 140 180
relative illumination
effect of voltage on actinic intensity of a 1000-
watt, 115-v0lt nitrogen-filled tungsten lamp
an ordinary plate (Seed 30) of increasing the voltage
of a 1000-watt, 115-volt gas-filled tungsten lamp. In
the case of the truly orthochromatic plate, obviously
the actinic value of the radiation varies directly as the
luminous intensity. However, ordinary plates being
most sensitive in the violet region of the spectrum, the
actinic yalue for these plates increases more rapidly
than total luminous intensity as the voltage is in-
creased. This is shown by comparing the two illus-
trations which are involved in the foregoing state-
ment.
Cleveland, Ohio. M. LUCKIESH.
150
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 3
Interconnected Electric Service in Iowa
Combination Electric Railway and Lighting System Uniting Steam and Water
Power Stations on a Growing Transmission Network
GENERATING electrical energy in a series of
modern steam turbine stations, augmenting
their output with smaller water-powers, and dis-
tributing the high-tension product into twelve counties,
the equipment of the Iowa Railway & Light Company
presents a notable example of the prevailing trend
toward centralization of generating equipment for elec-
tric service. With its headquarters and main steam
station at Cedar Rapids, Iowa, a pretty inland city with
a population of 32,811, the company enjoys the advan-
tages and transportation facilities offered by main lines
of the Chicago & Northwestern and the Chicago, Rock
Island & Pacific Railroads and branch lines of the
Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul and the Illinois Central
Railroads. The Cedar River and Cedar Lake furnish
natural advantages in the way of a constant and
dependable water supply, which not only is of value to
the company for steaming and condensing purposes but
also adds to the attractiveness of the city and the
country in its vicinity.
184 Miles of 33,000-Volt Lines
The company's comprehensive transmission system, as
now planned and for the large part completed, extends
in a westerly direction from Cedar Rapids to the town
of Perry, a distance of about 105 miles as the crow
flies, but perhaps 25 miles farther following the trans-
mission-line right-of-way. East and northeast from
Cedar Rapids high-tension lines extend to Central City,
Oxford Mills and Lowden, while electric railways reach
Mount Vernon to the east and Iowa City to the south.
When present plans are completed the company will own
and operate 288 miles of 33,000-volt transmission lines,
and at present 184 miles of this line are in service,
serving a population totaling about 125,000.
Recently the company's main steam station at Cedar
Rapids has been rehabilitated, another steam turbine,
additional boiler equipment and a new switchboard
being placed in service. As it now stands, the gen-
erating equipment of this station consists of two
4500-kva General Electric steam turbines, one 1500-kva
Allis-Chalmers turbine, one 800-kw cross-compound Cor-
liss engine and one 400-kw cross-compound Buckeye
engine. Generators directly connected to all of these
machines supply energy at two-phase, sixty cycles, 2300
volts. The engine-driven machines are designed to
operate at 80 per cent power-factor. Inasmuch as the
company supplies steam heat to the city of Cedar Rapids,
the 4500-kva General Electric turbines are of the bleeder
type, the steam for heating being taken from the
third stage.
Wheeler condensers of the two-pass type, each with
10,500 sq. ft. of cooling surface, receive the exhaust
steam from the 4500-kva turbines. The exhaust from
the 1500-kva turbine is received by a Baragwanath ver-
tical condenser with 5000 sq. ft. of surface. An
Alberger condenser serving the 800-kw Corliss engine
has 1600 ft. of cooling surface.
Circulating-Water System
Circulating water for these condensing units is
brought to the station from Cedar Lake, about 100 yd.
distant, through a reinforced-concrete tunnel. One
35-hp, 220-volt Westinghouse motor and two 75-hp,
2300-volt General Electric motors, connected to pumps
capable of delivering 5000 gal. a minute and 10,000 gal.
a minute respectively, deliver this water from the intake
tunnel into a common circulating header. By this
arrangement any or all of the pumps may be used to
supply water to the condensers at rates varying from
PIG. I INTKRIOK OK PLANT AT CEDAR K\l'll>-
January 16, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
151
Llli. If r
If gjjj
FIG. 2 — TELEPHONE EQUIPMENT AT CEDAR RAPIDS
FIG. 3 — FEEDER SWITCHES AT CEDAR RAPIDS
5000 gal. a minute to 25,000 gal. a minute. With
variable weather conditions and consequent different
water temperatures, this arrangement effects quite a
saving, as the large pumps need not be started when
cold weather will allow a small amount of water to pro-
vide the proper amount of condensing medium. These
pumps are situated in the basement of the station, which
has ample headroom, the generator room floor having
been raised about 4.5 ft. during the process of rehabili-
tation. Visual signals, consisting of a pair of carbon-
filament lamps for each set of pumps, have been
arranged on the generating-room floor to keep operators
informed as to what circulating pump is in operation.
The vacuum pumps for the condenser are of the Mullin
type and are driven by steam engines.
Two Tunnels Better Than One
Formerly the condensing water was brought in and
discharged through a tunnel containing a brick parti-
tion. However, it was found that with this arrange-
ment the incoming water was warmed by the outgoing
water to a degree which made it ineffective, and hence
another tunnel was built to be used entirely for dis-
charged circulating water, the increased efficiency of
operation seemingly showing this arrangement to be
advantageous.
Excitation for the alternators is supplied by one
150-kw General Electric interpole engine-driven exciter
and one 50-kw Bullock compound engine-driven machine.
A 600-kw, 2300 650-volt synchronous motor-generator
set comprises the only other direct-current apparatus in
the station. The direct-current end of this machine has
recently been insulated for 1200 volts, anticipating the
increased operating voltage on one of the company's
railways.
Features of the Boiler-Room Equipment
With the addition of two 638-hp Edge Moor boilers
equipped with Taylor underfeed stokers, the boiler
equipment has a total rating of approximately 6000
boiler hp. The remainder of the equipment is made up
of six 600-hp Edge Moor boilers and two Babcock &
Wilcox 500-hp units, all equipped with Foster super-
heaters and chain-grate stokers. All of the units deliver
steam at 225-lb. pressure and 100 deg. superheat. One-
half of the chain-grate stokers are driven by steam
engines, while the other half are equipped with in-
dividual 5-hp motors. The Taylor stokers, which are
of the seven-retort type, are steam-driven, and the fan
and engine equipment supplied by the American Blower
Company for furnishing forced draft are designed to
operate the boilers at 300 per cent of their normal
rating. Indicating steam-flow meters attached to each
boiler unit supply the firemen with accurate information
concerning the performance of each boiler.
In operating chain-grate stokers it is important that
the fire be kept well up toward the front of the grate.
By the ingenious arrangement of a small mirror set at
an angle to a mica-covered hole in the boiler setting
near the front of the grate, firemen are enabled to deter-
mine conditions in the furnace without opening the
tuyeres and staring directly into the blaze.
At present feed water is heated in a 5000-hp
Baragwanath open-type heater, but it is expected that
in the near future a similar unit of 6000-hp rating will
be installed. Feed water is delivered to the boiler by
two boiler-feed pumps, one of which is a Canton Hughes
unit capable of delivering 400 gal. of water a minute,
while the other is a Worthington three-stage pump
driven by a Terry steam turbine and is able to supply
475 gal. of water a minute.
Handling Coal and Ash for S Cents a Ton
A monorail crane equipped with a motor-driven grab
bucket has been installed upon a structural iron runway
so that it may reach the tracks of both the Illinois
Central and the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Rail-
roads. When the coal is not delivered in hopper-bottom
cars it is lifted by means of the grab-bucket to a link-
belt conveyor which delivers it to the hoppers over the
stoker. The same link-belt conveyor also handles ashes,
depositing them in a concrete hopper, from which they
152
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 3
are dumped in cars and used as ballast on the company's
electric railways. The greater part of the coal, however,
is not delivered to the station in hopper-bottom cars,
and it is said that the average cost of handling a ton of
coal, passing it to the coal bunkers through the stokers
and delivering the ashes to the car, is approximately
9 cents a ton.
FIG. 4 — COAL-HANDLING APPARATUS AT CEDAR RAPIDS
Only the boilers equipped with Taylor stokers operate
on forced draft, natural draft for the remaining units
being supplied by two reinforced-concrete stacks meas-
uring 210 ft. in height and 13 ft. in diameter at the top.
These stacks were built by the General Concrete Con-
struction Company.
Synchronizing Plugs
A twenty-five-panel black oil-finished slate switch-
board, consisting of five machine panels, three exciter
panels, one motor-generator panel, one high-tension
panel, one blank panel, one totaling panel and thirteen
local feeder panels, controls the operation of the station.
Quite a complex problem was involved in installing the
new switchboard, as it stands in the same vertical plane
occupied by the former board but at a height 4.5 ft.
above the old switchboard site. However, by sawing
the 2300-volt busbars into many sections and removing
the circuits from one panel at a time, the entire transfer
was made without an interruption to the service. Con-
sidering the character of the changes, it is notable that
no one received the slightest injury during the progress
of the work.
Throughout the company's system standard switch-
boards have been used, and an effort has been made to
wire each board similarly to those in all other stations.
Calibrating links on all series transformer leads elimi-
nate the necessity of cutting the switchboard wiring for
instrument calibration, thereby effecting a great saving
in labor and increasing the assurance that the switch-
board wiring will always remain as neat as when first
Installed. On the board at Cedar Rapids two i
points installed on the synchronizing plugs and sockets
are connected in series with the operating circuit of the
generating switches. With this arrangement it is im-
possible for the generator oil switch to be operated
unless the synchronizing plug is in place. This pre
caution has been taken by the company's engineers to
nl any uninformed person tampering with the
switch and interrupting the service of a large generator,
The panels of all the company's switchboards rest on a
2-in. by 4-in. timber footing laid on the concrete floor of
the stations to absorb vibration.
A Relay Bus and Extra Oil Switch
All switches are of the electrically operated remote-
control type and are mounted together with discon-
necting switches on iron-pipe framing in the northeast
corner of the station under the gallery carrying the
equipment for the outgoing high-tension line. In order
to insure continuity of operation and to allow oil
switches to be taken out of service for inspection or
repairs, a relay bus and extra oil switch of sufficient
capacity to carry the load from the largest of the oil
switches have been installed. By manipulating the dis-
connecting switches this extra oil switch can be made
to take the place of any other. Each of the disconnect-
ing switches used with these oil-switch units is equipped
with a safety latch to prevent its opening under heavy-
short-circuits. Protection from lightning is afforded
by an aluminum-cell arrester on the 2300-volt bus and
General Electric graded-shunt lightning arresters on
each of the outgoing feeders. Varnished cambric cables
terminating in potheads have been used throughout the
works, and in designing the wiring layout cable sizes
were selected to give a factor of safety of ten.
The high-tension equipment in the station supplying
the outgoing 33,000-volt lines consists of two 600-kva,
2300-volt to 33,000-volt, two-phase to three-phase, sixty-
cycle delta-connected, water-cooled transformers. Each
outgoing line is equipped with a post-type 33,000-volt
ammeter and disconnecting switches. Lightning pro-
tection is afforded by aluminum-cell arresters equipped
with charging resistors and discharge recorders. The
33,000-volt bus structure consists of 0.25-in. copper
tubing, the outgoing lines leaving the building through
Thomas roof bushings. The features of the installation
are the two-phase to three-phase connections and the
liberal use of disconnecting switches allowing apparatus
to be taken out of the circuit for repairs or inspection.
Other Generating Stations and Their Ratings
In addition to the 15,000-hp station at Cedar Rapids,
the company owns and operates eight power houses, six
of which are steam stations and two water-power
stations. The rating and location of each of these
stations are given in Table I.
The fact that the company is operating such a com-
paratively large number of small plants may be won-
I 1 11
1
FIG. 6 — GENERATOR ROOM IN BOONE POWER HOUSE
dered at. In this connection it is to be said that at
Marion and Perry, where the company operates central-
station heating systems, the generating stations are
shut down in the summer time, when no exhaust steam
is needed. At Anamosa and Oxford Mills advantage is
taken of .small water-powers which have been developed,
and these plants supply energy to the system throughout
January 16, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
163
w
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ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 3
about nine months of the year. The stations at Belle
Plaine and Nevada are being operated temporarily, but
it is planned that transmission service will supplant the
generators there in the near future.
Modern Steam Station at Boone
Within the past two years a modern steam generating
station has been erected at Boone, which is almost at
the extreme western end of the company's transmission
system. Here the main generating units consist of two
TABLE I — GENERATING
STATIONS OUTSIDE CEDAR RAPIDS
Location
Rating in Kw
Population
500
300
23O0
250
2300
360
450
300
4.400
Oxford Mills
1000-kw Allis-Chalmers steam turbines delivering
energy at 2300 volts, three-phase, sixty cycles, and
designed to operate at 80 per cent power-factor. A
300-kw cross-compound Buckeye engine is the only other
prime mover in the station. All of the units operate
condensing, a part of the exhaust steam being used in the
central-station heating system. Excitation for the main
generators is supplied by two direct-current units, one
being a 35-kw machine driven by a Curtis turbine, while
the other is an Allis-Chalmers motor-generator set of
the same rating. Either of these machines is capable
of supplying sufficient energy for all of the direct-cur-
rent apparatus in the station. Three 400-hp Edge Moor
boilers supply steam to the turbines and also to the high-
pressure steam mains of the Rockwell Brothers Ice
Company. Draft for these units is furnished by a
175-ft. concrete stack measuring 8 ft. in diameter at the
top. The coal is fired on chain-grate stokers, being
shoveled to the hopper by hand.
A portion of the energy generated in this station is
delivered over a 33,000-volt transmission line to the city
of Perry. It is a notable fact that twenty-four-hour
voltage charts taken at the end of this line show a varia-
tion in potential of less than 2 volts above and below the
normal, 110 volts.
Liberal use of disconnecting switches has been made
in the station at Boone. Disconnecting switches for the
manually governed remote-control oil switches operated
from the twelve-panel board have been placed on a slate
base above the oil switches and behind the switchboard.
Here they are near the apparatus they serve and also
within easy reach of the operator.
The Company's Property at Marshalltown
In the city of Marshalltown the Iowa Railway & Light
Company owns and operates the electric-light, gas and
street-railway properties, and within the past year has
spent approximately $70,000 making improvements
within the city. The generating station here contains a
1500-kw, three-phase, sixty-cycle Wostinghouse turbine
exhausting into a Wheeler condenser. In addition to this
large unit, there are a 500-kw, three-phase, sixty-cycle
turbine and a 300-kw synchronous motor-generator set.
The latter is so arranged that iii times of emergency it
can be driven by a Corliss engine through a clutch.
Steam is furnished by three ">00-hp Edge Moor boilers
equipped with chain-grate stokers and operating tinder
the natural draft supplied by a 175-ft. by 8-ft. stack.
The average daily output of the three main generating
stations of the company is as follows: Cedar Rapids,
75,000 kw-hr. a day; Boone, 12.000 kw-hr. a day, and
Marshalltown, 12,000 kw-hr. a day. On account of the
character of the loads of large customers in Cedar
Rapids, the peak load on the station in that city comes
on at about 2 :30 o'clock in the afternoon.
Supplementary Water-Powers
Flowing south and east to join the Mississippi, the
Wapsipinicon River passes through Anamosa and Ox-
ford Mills. At these two points the company is
operating small water-power stations. The plant at
Oxford Mills is equipped with four waterwheels driving
a 300-kw generator which is unique in that its terminal
potential is 3300 volts. The station at Anamosa, with
450-kw rating, contains five wheels belted to an Allis-
Chalmers and a Bullock generator. In seasons when the
TABLE II — SUBSTATIONS OF THE IOWA RAILWAY & LIGHT
COMPANY
Location
Ratine in Kw
Population
3,000
400
40
90
120
30
50
30
525
900
35
35
450
1 . 150
90
35
525
1.200
250
50
375
90
75
150
225
Madrid
Luther
Shrl-lahl
Boone . . .
Chicago & Northwestern shops
Gladbrook
Darwin
Marian
Olin
Oxford Mills
Boone Brick Til-- A Pai ii
375
11.015
flowage of the Wapsipinicon River is sufficient these
plants operate at about a 9-ft. head, but at other times
the machines are taken out of service and energy is
supplied to the local systems through step-down trans-
formers.
During the early part of 1914 the company recon-
structed practically all of the distribution lines in the
town of Anamosa. Co-operating with the Bell Telephone
Company, all wires on the main street of the city were
either placed underground or were replaced by lead
cables through the alleys. Considering the jungle of wir-
ing which formerly appeared both in the alleys and along
the main street, it may be truthfully said that the recon-
struction has worked wonders in beautifying the town.
Poles which formerly carried primary and secondary
wires without consideration for phase relations or volt-
ages have been replaced with neat line construction.
Transformer banks have been so arranged as to enable
linemen to work on one side of the pole without fear of
coming in contact with lines of high potential. The
telephone company has installed cable wherever prac-
ticable, using multiple can-top terminals for bringing
out the customers' service lines.
January 16, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
The 33,000-Volt Transmission System
With 184 miles of wooden-pole line in service and a
little more than 100 additional miles in prospect or
under construction, the company has a high-tension
transmission system of which it is justly proud. Upon
100 miles of this 33,000-volt, three-phase, sixty-cycle
line steel wishbone cross-arms have been used, while the
FIG. 7 — HYDROELECTRIC STATION AT ANAMOSA
remaining 84 miles is equipped with wooden cross-arms.
Most of the poles are of cedar, 30 ft. high with 7-in. tops,
but where the transmission line follows the rights-of-
way of the company's interurban roads 40-ft. cedar
poles with 8-in. tops have been used, so that the neces-
sary space will be provided for span wires and trolley
brackets. About 100 cedar poles along the interurban
line reaching Iowa City have been strengthened with
Orr reinforcing. Poles along interurban roads are
spaced approximately 100 ft. apart, while in the open
country 150-ft. spans are used.
Throughout the entire system an effort has been made
to space the high-tension wires at the vertices of an
equilateral triangle measuring 52 in. on a side. The
line wires in the main transmission line from Cedar
Rapids to Boone are of No. 2 stranded copper, while
other lines to the north, east and south of Cedar Rapids
and the line from Boone to Perry are of No. 4 copper.
Thomas, Pittsburgh and Locke insulators of the three-
petticoat type tested for 120,000 volts dry and 70,000
volts wet are used on the system. In most cases the
insulators are installed with steel pins. The single
ground wire used throughout the system is of No. 6
copper-clad steel and is supported upon a 2.5-in. by 2.5-
in. by 5-ft. angle-iron bayonet.
On the same poles with transmission lines a No. 8
copper circuit has been strung to provide telephone con-
nection. As a rule, the telephone circuit is placed 10 ft.
beneath the high-tension lines. Transpositions in the
telephone line at intervals of 600 ft. render it unusually
quiet. Insulating transformers have been used in tele-
phone stations to protect the users from shock. All
telephone switchboard apparatus was supplied by the
Western Electric Company.
Long Spans at River Crossings
Two river crossings afford practically the only unusual
construction on the transmission system. One of these
is a 750-ft. span across the Cedar River in the city of
Cedar Rapids. A single pole was used at each side of
the river, 0.625-in. messenger wires holding each pole
in three directions. The two-phase, four-wire circuit
fastened to the cross-arms by means of wood strains
exerts a pull in the fourth direction and establishes a
stable condition. Each of the four wires of the feeder
circuit is made of eight No. 12 copper-clad steel wires.
Another river span, 900 ft. in length, has been erected
over the Des Moines River on the line connecting Boone
and Perry. Here a structure consisting of two poles
held together by heavy timbers and guyed four ways
constitutes the terminal of the span. Straight poles
45 ft. high with 10-in. tops were selected. for this service,
and all of the anchors consist of creosoted railroad ties
buried 6 ft. in the ground and held in place by several
feet of concrete. In crossing the river the lines main-
tain their positions at vertices of an equilateral triangle
measuring approximately 10 ft. on a side.
Indoor and Outdoor Substations
To travel by train and visit each town, each substation
and each power house connected by the transmission
lines of the Iowa Railway & Light Company would
require a little more than two weeks. Of the twenty-
eight substations in operation at present eight are of
the outdoor type. Table II gives a list of the company's
substations, and where towns are served gives the
population of the community as shown by the 1910
census.
Most of the substations with ratings of 90 kw or less
are of the single-phase type, while the larger ones are
three-phase installations. Fixed charges on the original
installation are usually an important item in deciding
whether an indoor or an outdoor type substation shall
be put in service. The high first cost of aluminum-cell
lightning arresters, which the engineers of the company
have adopted as standard lightning protection for indoor
substations, increases the cost of each installation con-
siderably and is one of the first things to be considered
in the substation layout. The outdoor-type substations
are as a rule protected by fuses of the explosion type or
the horn type.
The Financial and Franchise Situation
In its financial organization the Iowa Railway & Light
FIG. 8 — BANK OF BOILERS AT BOONE
Company differs from many other large electric-service
properties in that it is not a holding company. It owns
all of its properties outright and not through under-
lying companies. Under the management of local
capitalists who give the affairs of the company their
personal attention, the company's gross revenue has been
increased from less than $90,000 in 1903 to more than
156
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 3
$1,011,000 in 1913. Table III, included as part of a
report to shareholders at the end of the year 1913,
shows how well the finances of the company stood at
that time.
TABLE III — CAPITALIZATION, EARNINGS AND EXPENSES
Capitalisation
Authorized
Outstanding
$10,000,000
3,000.000
3,000,000
1,700,000
EARNINGS AND EXPENSES 1913
Gross earnings $1,011,273. 15
Operating expense, including taxes, maintenance and renewals, . 590,210.22
Net earnings $421,00:. 23
Annual interest charge on outstanding bonds 172,759.53
Balance $248,302.70
The franchise situations in the various towns in which
the company operates is unusually satisfactory, both
from the standpoint of the company and from that of the
holders of its securities. With but two minor excep-
tions franchises containing no burdensome provisions
have been granted for a period of twenty-five years.
During the latter part of 1913 the city of Cedar Rapids
entered into a contract with the company agreeing to
construct a hydroelectric station on the Cedar River
and sell the entire output of the station to the Iowa
Railway & Light Company for a consideration of $10,000
a year. A part of the consideration of this contract
was that the city should purchase all of its energy
for street and municipal lighting from the company for
the term of the contract, twenty-three years. This con-
tract was approved by the City Council, and at a special
election Dec. 15, 1913, the people authorized an issue of
bonds to build a dam, raceways and other necessary
structures. Thus the municipal-plant bugaboo in Cedar
Rapids has been crowded far into the future, and the
company's business has been placed in a secure position.
Connections with Other Companies and Organization
In addition to supplying energy for its own substa-
tions, the company sells energy at wholesale to other
transmission companies, among which is the Wapsie
Valley Light & Power Company. This company sup-
plies the towns of Lisbon, Mechanicsville, Stanwood,
Clarence, Lowden and Tipton. With their connection
to the mains of the Iowa Railway & Light Company,
these towns are receiving their first twenty-four-hour
service.
Mr. William G. Dows is president and manager of.
the Iowa Railway & Light Company, and in his work he
is assisted by Mr. John A. Reed, vice-president and
general manager; Mr. Isaac B. Smith, vice-president
and treasurer, and Mr. C. S. Woodward, secretary.
Mr. R. C. Dows and Mr. R. C. Cook are purchasing
agents. The engineering problems of the company are
handled by Mr. P. W. Lass, mechanical engineer, and
Mr. John M. Drabelle, electrical engineer. Mr. J. C.
Young is manager of the new-business department. Mr.
E. W. Lewis is superintendent of city transmission lines,
and Mr. J. T. Hamilton is chief engineer of the Cedar
Rapids power house, it Is notable thai In each of the
cities and towns where properties are operated by the
company the services of a local physician are ratal
at he may render aid to the employees and others
in times of emeri"
Hydroelectric Station on Government Dam
Some years ago the United States government erected
a dam across the Rock River about a mile above Ster-
ling, 111., to divert water into a feeder for the "Henne-
pin" or Illinois & Mississippi Canal. Conceding that
the building of this dam above the smaller existing dam
of the Sterling Hydraulic Company had in a measure
FIG. 1 — INTERIOR OF POWER STATION
interfered with the water rights of the latter, permis-
sion was granted for the Sterling company to build a
power house at the government dam. The Sterling Hy-
draulic Company then leased its rights for twenty-five
years, with an option of twenty-five years additional, to
the Rock River Light & Power Company. The power
house, containing five 340-kva, 2300-volt, three-phase,
sixty-cycle Allis-Chalmers alternators, was built by the
Rock River Light & Power Company, and its output is
being sold at wholesale to the Illinois Northern Utili-
ties Company. Energy is delivered to Sterling at the
generator voltage, and to Dixon and Prophetstown at
33,000 volts.
Fig. 1 shows an interior view of the station with one
of the large, slow-speed alternators in the foreground.
With the low head available — 8.5 ft. — the 60-ton ro-
tating elements of these machines operate at 60 r.p.m.
Room has been provided for a sixth unit of similar size,
and the station arrangement has been planned so that
one governor can serve two generators. The switching
equipment, transformers and high-tension apparatus
are installed on galleries along the tailrace side of the
P10. 2 QOVEBNMBN1 LOCK AND TAINTER GATES
power house, and the outgoing 33,000-volt leads leave
the building through roof bushings and are connected
to the main line, which is deadened at a steel structure
on the roof. The counterweighted tainter gates and the
government link, which are on the opposite shore of
the river from the power house, are shown in Fig. 2.
January 16, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
157
Effect of Third Harmonic in Voltage Wave
Examination of Results When Triple-Frequency Voltage Is Impressed on Three-Phase
Transformer Banks Connected in Various Ways
By Richard C. Powell
WHEN three transformers connected in star on the
primary side and in delta on the secondary side
are used in connection with a three-phase gen-
erator giving a voltage per phase containing only a
small third harmonic a very large triple-frequency cur-
rent may be set up in the transformers if the neutrals
of the generator and of the primary of the transformers
are interconnected. Calling e3 the percentage value of
the third harmonic in the generator voltage, it can be
shown that a triple-frequency current equal in value to
full-load current will be set up in the transformers,
even though there is no external load, when e3 has the
values given in the following table. This table applies
to 2400 = 120/240-volt, sixty -cycle, single-phase trans-
formers connected Y-delta.
THIRD HARMONIC VOLTAGE TO PRODUCE FULL-LOAD
CURRENT
Sire, Kw
ei, per Cent of
Rated Voltage
Size, Kw
j ei, per Cent of
Rated Voltage
1
3.1
10
5.5
3
4.7
15
6 9
4
5.7
20
7.1
E
4.8
30
8.5
7»
4.9
50
8.8
Values of es for 6600-volt and 11,000-volt transformers
will be somewhat highe.-, since transformers for these
voltages have a somewhat higher per cent reactance.
Inasmuch as it is not uncommon to find a 10 to 15
per cent third harmonic in the phase voltage of a three-
phase generator, it is evident from the above table that
the actual value of the triple-frequency current set up
in the transformers under the conditions stated may
greatly exceed the value of the full-load current. For
example, a 10 per cent third harmonic will produce
approximately 200 per cent load current in a bank of
three 5-kw, 2400-volt, sixty-cycle transformers. The
writer has observed in a bank of three 100-kw trans-
formers a triple-frequency current as high as 125 per
cent of the rated current with no external load on the
secondaries.
When load is applied to the secondaries the copper loss
due to the load current and the triple-frequency current
will be equal to the sum of the losses which the two cur-
rents would produce separately. For example, in a bank
of three 5-kw transformers supplied with voltage hav-
ing a 5 per cent third harmonic full-load current taken
from the bank will produce a copper loss approximately
40 per cent greater than that due to the load current
alone.
When transformers are connected Y-delta it is there-
fore preferable to operate the system without any con-
nection between the generator neutral and the trans-
former neutral. If the transformer neutral is ground-
ed, the generator neutral should not be grounded, and
vice versa. If the generator voltage contains a third
harmonic, it may be impossible to operate satisfactorily
with the neutrals interconnected.
The explanation of the action above described and the
derivation of the formulas used for calculating the third
(1)
3tot -
5^U
harmonic voltage necessary to produce full-load current
are given below.
Theory. — If the generator voltage contains har-
monics, the equations of the three phase voltages, e„,
e0, and eM, may be written:
en = Essin tot + E'.sin (3u>t — a3) + Z^sin
(5ojt — a,)+
e„ = E,sin (ut + — ) + tf.sinj 3u>t — at, + 3. ~ J
-f £>in j 5oit — as + 5- -g- ) +
cM = Efiinl ojt — J + E,sinl
4 E„ sinl 5a>t — a, — 5. -=- J
It is to be noted that for the third and multiples of
the third harmonic the term corresponding to these har-
monics in e„„ or in eM reduces to the same value as in em,
since the sine of any angle plus or minus a whole mul-
tiple of 27i is the same as the sine of the original angle.
It is to be noted also that
sin ( 5wt — a, rt 5. -^- 1 = sin j 5u)t — a, h=-s~ I
sin| 7 tut— a,rt7. -^ )= sinj 7a>t— a,=t-^ J, etc.
Whence the three voltages may be written :
e„ = 2?,sin o>t + E,sin (3o)t — a,) + £"Bsin
(5u)t — a„) +
|+ E,sin (3a>t — a,) 4- E,sin
£\sin|
(6-t-« •-%■)+■
^E^smtut ^-j+fi'.sin (3a>t — a,) 4- E,sh
Ao>t — a, +^-\ +
L (2)
The voltages between the terminals of the trans-
former bank, neglecting the impedance of the connec-
tions, are
eta = en = ex + en = en — e„,
e„c = eis = e10 4- e01 = em — em (3)
«e& = ea = C3o + eo, = eoi — eot
Substitution in equations (1) gives:
eba = V3 ZT.sinJ ojt ~ \+ E^in
ettr = \/3| £, sin/ tot ^ ^ )?, sin| 5wt— «,
. *T+x)+ ]"
eCb = V3| ^sinjcot 5" + -g" ) + E>sin
(«-1*+t-t)+
(4)
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 3
Hence, when the neutral O of the generator is not con-
nected to the neutral N of the transformer bank, no
third or multiple of the third harmonic current can flow,
either as an exciting current or as a load current.
Therefore no third harmonic or its multiples can be in-
duced in the secondaries, no matter how they may be
interconnected, whether in star or in delta.
Next let the neutral 6) be connected to the neutral N
Generator Transformer
FIG. 1 — THREE-PHASE TRANSFORMER BANK WITH PRI-
MARIES CONNECTED IN STAR
and let the secondaries of the transformer bank be con-
nected in star (Fig. 2) and consider conditions at no
load.
Acting around the loop 02bN there will then be a
voltage era, which will produce a current in the trans-
former bank bN and in the neutral NO equal in effective
value to the effective value of e„, divided by the open-
circuit impedance of the transformer. Similarly, for
the loops OlaN and 03CN, the voltages acting around
these loops will be em and era respectively. The currents
thus produced in the transformers will, however, be
small ; in fact, equal only to the normal exciting current
of each transformer. In the neutral the resultant cur-
rent will contain only the third harmonic and its mul-
2
b
■
J|n
3|
f\
c^
1
T
FIG. 2 — THREE-PHASE TRANSFORMER BANK WITH SECOND-
ARIES CONNECTED IN STAR
tiples, since the sum of the fundamental currents en-
tering the neutral will be zero, and similarly for the
fifth and other harmonics not multiples of the third.
The voltages induced in each of the secondaries of
the transformer bank will contain the third harmonic
and its multiples, because these harmonics appear in
the exciting current. However, these secondaries are
Y-connected, and hence the voltage between any pair of
terminals, say b'a', will not contain these harmonics,
since this voltage is the difference between the voltage
from b'N' and the voltage from a'N', and because the
third harmonics (and their multiples) in these two
voltages are in time-phase.
FIG. 3 — THREE-PHASE TRANSFORMER BANK WITH SECOND-
ARIES CONNECTED IN DELTA
When the secondaries are delta-connected, as in Fig. 8,
with the neutral O connected to N, the third harmonic
voltages (and their multiples) induced in the three sec-
ondaries will act around the delta in the same direction,
since they are in time-phase, and the delta therefore
forms a short-circuit to these harmonics. The effective
value of the current which will be set up in the trans-
former by the third harmonic voltages will be equal to
the effective value of the third harmonic voltage in any
one phase divided by the short-circuit impedance of the
transformer to triple-frequency voltage.
Let r be the equivalent resistance of the transformer
on short-circuit, and x the equivalent short-circuit re-
actance at the rated frequency. Then, assuming that x
varies directly as the frequency, which is approximately
the case, the short-circuit impedance to triple frequency
*, = V* + (3*)\
Let 7 be the rated full-load current of the transformer
and E its rated voltage ; then the "per cent resistance"
of the transformer is
100/7
and the "per cent reactance" at the rated frequency is
100^7
The triple-frequency voltage required to send full-load
current through the transformer with the secondary
short-circuited, or the triple-frequency voltage required
in each transformer to establish full-load current when
the connections are as shown in Fig. 3, is then e, per
cent of the rated voltage, where
1002.7 //lOOr/y
E
V(^)'+p^)'
e,= \>e/+ {3es)'
This is the formula used in calculating the table given
at the beginning of this article.
Since the delta of the transformers forms a short-
circuit to the third harmonic in the voltage wave, this
harmonic will not appear in the secondary terminal volt-
age, and therefore the load current will not contain the
third harmonic. The resultant current in the primary
of the transformer is
7 = V77+77"
where 7, is the load current (reduced to the primary)
and I is the third harmonic current (reduced to the
primary) due to the short-circuiting action of the delta.
When the triple-frequency current 7, is equal to the full-
load current 70 the transformer will be overloaded ap-
proximately 40 per cent, and the copper loss will be 100
per cent greater than it would be if there were no third
harmonic in the impressed voltage.
Continuing Service at Loss Not Compulsory
In the suit brought by the village of Fredonia, N. Y.,
against the Fredonia Natural Gas Light Company to
make the defendant forfeit its special franchise, Judge
Pound, of the Supreme Court of Chautauqua County,
ruled that the public service company had not improperly
suspended the exercise of its rights because it could not
furnish gas in competition with others, and that there-
fore it could not be made to forfeit its franchise (149
N. Y. S., 964). There were no conditions in the fran-
chise, he said, either expressed or implied, which re-
quired the company to furnish gas at a loss, and one
would have been incurred had the defendant continued
to manufacture a supply. Besides, no demands had been
made on defendant to furnish gas since it ceased manu-
facture. Forfeiture is a punishment for fault, not for
misfortune. In commenting still further on the case, the
judge declared that the village is not injured by the
existence of unused pipes in its streets nor will it be by
the reopening of streets to lay new pipes. A franchise to
do business as distinguished from that to use the
streets cannot be forfeited at the suit of the village, but
Only in action by the State.
January 16, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
159
A Labor-Saving Transmission-Line Chart
Simplification of the Work Involved in Calculating Voltage Drop
on Overhead Alternating-Current System
By H. B. Dwight
THE calculation of the voltage drop for a certain
power load is perhaps the most common problem
connected with the design of overhead electric
power lines. While the calculation is not very diffi-
cult, especially for lines of moderate length, it involves
a certain amount of labor and the use of line constants
for alternating-current lines. It has been found that
for estimating purposes this labor can be greatly re-
duced, and reference to tables practically avoided, by
making use of a transmission-line chart. A chart is
here presented which is comparatively easy to under-
stand and to use and which is so designed that it ap-
plies to loads of leading power-factor as well as lagging
power-factor.
Synchronous condensers are being increasingly used
with transmission lines as a means of overcoming volt-
age variation and thereby adding largely to the power
rating of the lines. The variations of excitation give
rise to problems of line drop over a range extending
from zero power-factor lagging to low leading power-
factors. For such cases there is need for a line chart
of very wide range such as the one herewith shown.
The effect of the capacity of very long lines must be
expressed by formulas based on the hyperbolic theory,
which generally do not show at a glance the nature of
their results. However, it is interesting to note that
for lines up to 100 miles in length the effect of capacity
can be calculated within 0.1 per cent of line voltage, in
the manner shown on the chart, by means of the simple
constant K, which is independent of the size or spacing
of the conductors. For short lines the regulation —
that is, the change in receiver voltage from full load to
no load — is the same as the voltage drop along the line,
but for long lines the term involving K must be
omitted from the expression for voltage drop in order to
determine the regulation. In other words, within the
limits of the chart, line capacity has no effect on the
regulation, since the capacity is present at both no load
and full load.
Explanation of Chart
; The instructions given on the chart make it prac-
tically self-explanatory. A straight-edge is placed
across the chart from the point on the left correspond-
ing to the spacing of the conductors to the point on the
right corresponding to the resistance of one con-
ductor per mile. The factor, V, is then read di-
rectly from the chart for the power-factor of
the load considered. This factor is equivalent to
the change in received voltage per total ampere per mile
of line, due to the line impedance, and by means
of it the line drop can be quickly found with a
slide-rule according to the formulas on the chart. The
line drop is expressed as a percentage of E, the re-
ceived full-load voltage, according to the usual custom.
The drop given by the chart is that due to the line
alone and does not include drop due to transformers or
reactance coils.
The resistance points for standard conductors
marked on the chart are for B. & S. gage (American
wire gage) cables at 20 deg. C. (68 deg. Fahr.). The
straight-edge may be set to any other values of re-
sistance, and the chart is thus applicable to all kinds of
copper and aluminum conductors, except those having
a steel core. It is to be noted that for lagging power-
factor the lower resistance scale is to be used, and the
upper scale for leading power-factor.
The spacing point is to be selected according to
whether the frequency is twenty-five cycles or sixty
cycles and whether the conductor is copper or aluminum.
The spacing points are the same for solid wire or cable.
When the conductors of a three-phase line are not
equidistant, but are at irregular distances a, b and c
apart the effective spacing
s = (abc)h
should be used. With regular flat spacing, where the
COMPARISON OF CALCULATED WITH CHART VALUES
.Mr,
alt
. mil
No. 0 copper
No. 00 aluminum-
No. 3 copper ....
No. 00 aluminum ..
No. 2 copper
No. 5 copper . .
250.000-circ.mil cop-
per. . . .
No. 000 copper.
I tt
10. Him
3.000
15,000
2,500
120
1 1X1,000
11,000
88,000
66,000
100.000
11,000
2,200
120,000
2,200
0 lagging
50 lagging
85 lagging
90 lagging
95 lagging
100 ...
98 leading
80 leading
0 leading
o.
a
q|
0-5
3.0
a,
13.8
13.67
6.3
6 40
7.1
7.13
7.1
7.08
8.8
8.81
14 4
14 21
12 0
11. 7S
-6 7
-6.45
-142
-14 22
Small]
Smallf
+0.2
+0.2
-0.25
Small
middle conductor is at a distance a from the outer
ones, the effective spacing is simply
s = 1.26a.
It makes no difference whether the plane of the wires
with flat spacing is horizontal, vertical or inclined. The
effective spacing of a two-phase line is the mean dis-
tance between wires of the same phase.
The problem of finding the size of conductor required
for a given load and a given line drop is the converse
to the problem discussed above of finding the voltage
drop of a given line. A direct solution of this converse
problem cannot be obtained by any of the usual methods
of calculation. Hence it is an important advantage of
the chart that it solves directly this useful problem.
First, V is calculated by means of the formulas on the
chart, and then a straight-edge is placed through V
and the point for the spacing to be used, and the re-
quired size of conductor can be seen at a glance on the
resistance scale at the right.
The accuracy of the chart is given as approximately
0.5 per cent of the line voltage when the load is not large
enough to produce more than 15 per cent resistance or
reactance volts. It is easy to test whether this con-
dition is met, by finding the percentage drop with the
same kva load, at 100 per cent power-factor for the ap-
proximate resistance volts, and at zero power-factor lag-
ging for the reactance volts.
The chart printed on the next page should be judged
by its convenience in use and by its accuracy for usual
problems. In order to assist in determining whether
160
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 3
987.
90 V T
-17 |7^
~* 5 Copper
Correct within approximately /e o/ / 7. of line voltage go °^_
- 1.6
-it
-1* '«-
W
for lines up to /GO mi lei long and /or toads firing ^ 75
- iS
- 1 5
^5 ^i
not more than 157. resistance or reactance
volts ,eo»
r,zF
-13
_
- 1 A
-IS |-5-
Lag a straight- edge across the chart
-ii
-
"5<!
from the spacing pant to the resistance
r.f** 5i*
-12
-13
-P4 |4-
~2/l/um
point, and read V."
po",e 4
0
F '6
- 9 :
-1-0 .
-II
-U
-'5 13-
~*4 Copper
30
- 8
: -
_
;
07. leading '0 10
- 4
- 5
- 9 L
-if
-
-II
-M mJ
*•
p^O r
- I
2
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■ € -7 r
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>: v. S
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ill
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. -3000CCA
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r £
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30-if
07.
tm
- 9
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■ -9
10
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"9 -9.
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~e _
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B ■
9
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-- 300000 A
- »t>00 C
-•isoooo*.
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—
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If 0%
%£ Lagging
— M
- ••
-
-12 -IZ .
"II
i i
-
.0 -s
- 8
(
■7-,
Short Lines
Voltage drop, in per cent of £
/OO t>00 HvaXlV n.r rent
£*
10
I
- w
0
13
-
-IJ 41 L
-14 M-
■ M I
' -u _
" -14 _
■
II "It
VI -'
13 -"
- 9
■u
-II
- .'ICapptr
- **~0V4tmm
-
..." '-? Copper
Drop m, aits = 'O00#£*-XlV
v>Cs
- 1-4
)
- Vi -U
- -15 L
-ij
I'-
-
-M
w-
•apA/um
where
£ 'm Line voltage at load, or receiver, end
*<-
LO
- ».« -1*
- -16 _
ll
"
15 -1-
t -ij
M-j*
.* 3 Copper
\-'»l Alum
foa = Xva o/ load (at receiver end)
I = length of line in miles
0 -17
- -1-7 _
i T
16 -l
5 -14
«J'
y - factor read /rom chart if repre-
sents o drop i n voltage when it is read
<0^ ^
- -H-
5 I
M
17 - 1-
5 -15
13- '■
:-
on the sane side of the 7erc line as the
resistance point, and a rise in voltage
70 _
75
1=1
-18 -I*
-16
Mi1
j .f-OCa^er
when it is on the opposite side
■ 19 -i
> -17
.5-'
-+l Al«m
Z mes Over JO Miles Long
85
•
- ^
For long lines, (>' line capacity decreases the
drop, or increases the rut, ts fount above. *y
tOOKf/ch)' **r '•**
or {"(daT,)' ""'"
Sffec
s -
The
ti v* Spacing of J ' f^hase
. l/abc
■ f 26 a for f/at sp
turn ^
acmg
2 0 -1
95
9 -.8
9n
,7-'
7- _ fS Capper
above equations are
tor
arhere ft' 2 16 for 60 cycles
2 and 3 phase It nes . For single
. -~P3Alu0t.
and X • 375 for 25 cycles
phase use £V~m place of K H B Puright
'0<?/K
■*
January 16, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
161
the chart is useful for a given class of work, an example
is worked out in detail, and the results of a number of
problems are tabulated, with the percentages of error
due to the chart.
Problem. — Find the voltage drop for the following
line: Length of line, 100 miles; conductor, No. 00 B.
& S. copper cable; spacing, 8 ft.; load (measured at re-
ceiver end), 6000 kva, 60,000 volts, 85 per cent power-
factor, lagging, three-phase, sixty cycles.
Lay a straight-edge from the 8-ft. spacing point for
sixty cycles, copper conductor, to the point on the lower
resistance scale for No. 00 copper cable. It is found to
cross the 85 per cent power-factor line at the reading
0.78, and since it is on the same side of the zero line as
the resistance point used, it represents a drop in volt-
age.
Then the per cent drop
100,000 X 6000 V 100X0.78 „„ 2.16
= '. c± — . 100 V
60,000X60,000 A 100
= 13.0 — 2.16
= 10.8 per cent approximately.
The voltage drop, calculated according to the hyper-
bolic theory of transmission lines, is 10.99 per cent, and
hence the error involved in using the chart is 0.2 per
cent of the line voltage, which is less than the stated
limit of error.
CENSUS OF MUNICIPAL PLANTS
Although City-Owned Plants Comprise 29.9 Per Cent of the
Total Central Stations in Number, Their Gross Earn-
ings Are Only 7.7 Per Cent of the Total
The returns of the Bureau of the Census from elec-
tric central stations for 1912, which are in course of
preparation for publication, show the relative develop-
ment of commercial and municipal plants.
As indicated in the statistics published in the Elec-
trical World of March 14, 1914, the number of com-
mercial stations is 3659, as compared with 1562 munic-
ipal plants. These figures, however, are not indicative
of the relative importance of the two classes of plants.
While the number of commercial stations was 70.1 per
cent of the total number of plants, the gross income of
the commercial stations was 92.3 per cent of the total
income of all stations. The municipal plants, compris-
ing 29.9 per cent of the total number of plants, earned
but 7.7 per cent of the total gross earned by both classes
of plants. The difference in the actual figures of earn-
ings is shown by the fact that of the total income of
$302,115,599 in 1912 commercial stations had $278,896,-
610 as compared with the municipal plant income of
$23,218,989. The municipal plants had 18.2 per cent
of the estimated number of arc lamps wired for serv-
ice as compared with 81.8 per cent for commercial sta-
tions, showing the large extent to which the municipal
plants are used for street-lighting purposes. Table I,
published herewith, shows the totals for a number of
items embraced in the census, divided between the two
classes of stations.
The groupings of States in the census report are as
follows :
North Atlantic Division: New England — Maine,
New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island
and Connecticut; Middle Atlantic — New York, New Jer-
sey and Pennsylvania.
South Atlantic Division: Delaware, Maryland, Dis-
trict of Columbia, Virginia, West Virginia, North Caro-
lina, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida.
North Central Division: East North Central — Ohio,
Indiana, Illinois, Michigan and Wisconsin; West North
Central — Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, North Dakota,
South Dakota, Nebraska and Kansas.
South Central Division: East South Central — Ken-
tucky, Tennessee, Alabama and Mississippi; West South
Central — Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas.
Western Division: Mountain — Montana, Idaho, Wyo-
ming, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, Utah and Ne-
vada; Pacific — Washington, Oregon and California.
The change in the relative position of commercial
TABLE I— STATISTICS FOR COMMERCIAL AND MUNICIPAL ELECTRIC
CENTRAL STATIONS
< 'ummercial
Stations
Municipal
Stations
PER CENT OF
TOTAL
Com-
mercial
Munici-
pal
3.659
(278,89
S264.317.150
114,579,460
$217,502,313
71,395
6.969,320
5,820
4.539,866
2,664
2,340,820
833
88,634
4,766,012
10,995.436,276
413.544
69,449,293
413.578
3,966,328
1.562
$23,218,989
122,663,708
$555,281
$16,917,165
7,940
559,328
2.024
406,666
269
130,261
283
22,401
368,677
537,526,730
91,851
7,057,849
21,895
164,291
70 1
92 3
92 1
96.3
92.8
90.0
92 6
74.2
91.8
90.8
94.7
74.6
79.8
92.8
95.3
81.8
90.8
95.0
96.0
29.9
Total income
Light, heat and power, including free
7.7
7 9
All other sources
Total expenses, including salaries aod
3.7
7.2
Total number of persons employed
Total horse-power
Steam eugines and steam turbines —
10 0
7 4
25.8
8.2
Waterwheels —
9.2
5.3
Gas and oil engines —
25.4
20.2
Kilowatt capacity of dynamos
Output of stations, kilowatt-hours
Estimated number of lamps wired for
7.2
4.7
IS. 2
Incandescent and other varieties ...
Stationary- motors served:
9.2
5.0
4 0
"In addition to salaries and wages, includes the cost of supplies and materials used for
ordinary' repairs an-1 replace 'it. R Ivertisillg, fuel, mechanical power, electrical energy pur-
chased, taxes, charges for depreciation and charges for sinking fund, and all other expenses
incident to operation and maintenance.
and municipal stations is shown by Table II. This indi-
cates that the commercial stations comprised a smaller
percentage of the total stations in 1912 than in either
1907 or 1902 and, conversely, that the municipal sta-
tions comprised a larger percentage of the total in
1912 than in either 1907 or 1902. Slight though the
changes in the relative proportion of gross income of
the two classes of stations are, the commercial stations
have increased their proportion of the total while the
municipal stations have decreased. The commercial
TABLE II-PERCENTAGES OF TOTAL FURNISHED BV COMMERCIAL AND
MUNICIPAL PLANTS
Number of stations .
Total income
Light, heat, and power, including free service
All other sources
Total expenses, including salaries and wages
Total number of persons employed
Total horse-power
Steam engines and steam turbines
Waterwheels
Gas and oil engines
Kilowatt capacity of dynamos
Output of stations, kilowatt-hours
Estimated number of lamps wired for service
Arc
Incandescent and other varieties
Stationary motors served:
Number
Horse-power capacity
1912 191
73.4
92.0
92.0
93.4
92.3
88.3
92.2
1912 1907 1902
stations furnished a slightly higher percentage of the
total income in 1912 than in either 1907 or 1902. In
1912 there were 310 more municipal central stations
than in 1907. From 1907 to 1912 301 new municipal
central stations were started; 106 commercial stations
became municipal ; 80 central stations that were munic-
162
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 3
ipal in 1907 became commercial in 1912; there were
17 active municipal stations in 1907 that were out of
business or not operated in 1912. Of the increase of
310 in municipal central-station plants, 125 were in the
West North Central group of States. In the group of
States classified as the East North Central, West North
Central, East South Central and West South Central,
comprising a total of twenty States, there were 230
new municipal central stations in 1912 as compared
with 1907. The smallest number of new municipal cen-
tral stations in any of the groups of States was three
in the Middle Atlantic States.
Table III, taken from one of the tables in the census
returns, shows the development of municipal stations
of the groups of States is in the Western States, which
reported an average of 1.3 lamps per inhabitant. The
North Atlantic States were a little below this average,
having an average of 1.1 per inhabitant.
Western States Ahead in Ratings
The Western States were far ahead in horse-power
rating of engine and waterwheels and kilowatt rating
of dynamos per 1000 population. The most highly devel-
oped sections of the country show the largest number of
central electric stations. The North Atlantic and North
Central divisions of States, which represented 60.3 per
cent of the estimated population in 1912, reported 67
per cent of the total primary horse-power in that year
TABLE III— MUNICIPAL CENTRAL ELECTRIC STATIONS, BY POPULATION OF CITIES IN WHICH THEY ARE SITUATED AND BY GEOGRAPHIC DIVISIONS
Division and
Population Group
Total
I'ndir.i.OOO . .
inder 25,000
25.000 but under 100,
000 ..
100.000 but under
600.000
500.000 and over.
North Atlantic. . . .
South Atlantic
North Central
South Central.
Western
Cost of
Construc-
tion and
Equipment
All
Tot a
Electric
Other
Service
42,879.447
22,020,473
15,953,305
9,01)077
7.134,097
12,212.002
S.25H.719
9,845 119
(23,218.989
14,011 999
11,026,579
6.014,722
3.226.157
Z 851,941
11,656,482
2,870.011
S22.663.7 i-
13 614 134
5,861,287
■vir v.:,
12S.240
347.79!)
153.43-1
2.792.212 39.772
3,136.497
-'.v7.i'.-,7
2,831,077
14,789
S9.669
24,884
341,483
■■ ■
Total
Expenses,
Annual
SI 6.917.165
4.741,182
8,412,993
1,103,721
2.032.825
2.I7.i,.Vl9
2.IK9.511
l.725.Mi2
Total
Primary
Horse-
power
■ - ■
321.351
Hi 1,02s
257 184
128,506
91,327
77,698
2(55,159
Direct- |
Current,
Voltage
and Am-
perage
Annual
Output of
Stations.
Kw-hr.
91.696
62.341
.54,031
'■■
44.645
4 s. 55s
44,564
45,993
25,803
7,030
2.371
324 113
103.023
59,970
6.355
48.976
48,346
142,961
4 1.499
2-9.4i',2,7sS
55.838.060
68,625.617
49.325,343
55,645,999
Bshmahd
nchbkr of
Lamps Wired
tor Service
91.851
;
I ■
19.970
15.537
11,704
6.192
descent
and .All
Other
Varieties
4.001,318
1,577,451
3395,703
2.010.446
652.059
1,052.379
.' -■
653,383
873.162
by the population of the cities in which such stations
are situated and by geographic divisions in 1912. Of
the 1562 municipal central electric stations 1327 were
in cities of less than 5000 population. Only eight were
in cities of 500,000 population or more. While there
was an increase in the number of central stations in
each group of the cities as they are classified in the
census returns, the largest increase was in com-
munities of under 5000. The increase in the number
of municipal stations in the communities of the small
size named was 97.8 per cent in ten years. The munic-
ipal stations in the cities which are covered by Table
III reported in 1912 47.5 per cent of the total income,
46 per cent of the primary power, 46.8 per cent of the
total kilowatt capacity of dynamos, 34.7 per cent of
the output of stations, 25.1 per cent of the arc lamps
and 55.2 per cent of the incandescent lamps. In each
case these proportions are considerably less than the
corresponding percentages for 1907 and 1902. The
North Central group of States contained 873 of the
municipal stations, or 55.9 per cent of the total reported.
Great Extent of Progress
Table IV shows the development per 1000 population
for the United States as a whole and the division ac-
cording to the census groupings of states. The greal
rt of the progress is indicated by the fad thai
where the number of Encandescenl lamps per 1000 i I
population was 232 in 1902 and had increased to 485
^'7. it was hoo in L912. The progre
was much greater during the decade than tl
figures indicate; for Instance, the South Central and
South Atlantic groups increased from 70 to 57 n
tivelv m 1902 to 804 and 309 respectively in 1912. The
largest proportion of incandescent lamps held in an]
and 67.7 per cent of the total kilowatt rating of dyna-
mos. The Western division, which had 7.8 per cent
of the population in 1912, had 18.8 per cent of the pri-
mary horse-power and 18.3 per cent of the kilowatt
rating of dynamos. The Western division of States,
which had 7.8 per cent of the total population in 1912.
was third in all the main factors of central-station
TABLE rv— CENTRAL I U INI I SI ITIONS -RELATION OF LEAI1IN I ITEMS
TOPOrn,\TM\, BY GEO SRAPHIC DIVISIONS PER 1000 POPULATION
Horso-
Kilowatt
1
and
Rating
Stat loan.
Kw-hr.
Incan-
wheels'
Art
descent
1912
79
'>!
•
4^
i.'
1903
23
15
102
164.319
I I
mi
■ utic
1912
4)1
M "M
1 7
m
North Central
1912
32
103 612
South Central
17
I 1
MM
Western
. 1912
191
366.134 |
5 5
1371
•Includes capacity of auxiliary engine*, amounting to 65,823 hp in 1907 and 14.454 bp is
nun, npor, etc., 23.010 in 1912. aci.l 10.'. Us
ral station! to hchi their on
r. ported
equipment and first in all of the proportions shown
per 1(1(111 of population except for are lamps, in which
it was third. The number of arc lamps per 1000 of
population, which was 4.9 for the entire United States
for 1902 and had increased to <'>.•"> in 1907. decreased
to 5.9 in 1912.
January 16, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
163
SHORT-CIRCUITS AND THEIR PREVENTION
Abstract of Paper Presented Before the A. I. E. E. at New
York and of the Discussion Thereon
The effect of short-circuits on the heating of and on
the mechanical forces between conductors, together with
the advantages or disadvantages of placing reactors in
different circuits, were discussed in a paper entitled
"Theoretical Investigation of Electric Transmission
Systems Under Short-Circuit Conditions," presented by
Mr. I. W. Gross, on Jan. 8, before a meeting of the
American Institute of Electrical Engineers in New
York. The resultant force acting on each conductor
of a three-phase cable when all three legs are simul-
taneously short-circuited was expressed by the formula
F„ =
4.67/2l(r
a (inches)
F0 is expressed in pounds per foot when / is the cur-
rent per phase expressed in the root-mean-square value
and a is the distance between conductors in inches. The
negative sign indicates that the force is repulsion. By
substituting values in this formula it can be seen that
with a cable in which the conductors are 0.9 in. apart
a force of 208 lb. per ft. would be exerted upon each
conductor if 20,000 amp per phase is flowing, while
5200 lb. per ft. is exerted with a current of 100,000
amp. Three-phase busbars arranged in a triangular
manner and subjected to a three-phase short-circuit
may therefore exert excessive stresses on the insulating
supports. In a system where the short-circuit current
per phase is limited to a definite value for three-
phase short-circuits the current per phase on a sin-
gle-phase short-circuit will be 13.4 per cent less;
therefore the mechanical force acting on the con-
ductors will be only 86.6 per cent of that indi-
cated by the formula just given. In other words,
a three-phase short-circuit at a given point in a system
will subject the conductors to 15.5 per cent greater
stresses than a single-phase short-circuit at the same
point. If the three conductors of a three-phase cir-
cuit are arranged in the same plane, the average forces
acting on the outer conductors will be only 86.6 per
cent of those acting with the conductors separated by
the same distance but arranged at the vertices of an
equilateral triangle.
A short-circuit in a conductor develops a considerable
amount of heat in a short time, and as radiation re-
quires time only a brief interval need elapse to permit
the temperature to rise sufficiently to injure the cable
insulation or even melt the conductor itself. Curves
were shown to Indicate the temperature rise in a No.
000 cable under short-circuit conditions producing cur-
rents from 20,000 amp to 60,000 amp after small frac-
tions of a second had elapsed. One set of curves was
plotted with the assumption that the current was sym-
metrical with respect to the axis of reference, while
the other curves were plotted for an unsymmetrical
current wave. From these curves the author came to
the conclusion that an oil switch opening 0.18 second
after the short-circuit has occurred will prevent melt-
ing of the conductors but may not prevent injury to
the cable insulation unless the maximum current is
limited. It was shown that an unsymmetrical current
wave may cause from one and two-fifths to two and
one-half times the temperature rise that a symmetrical
current wave will cause. Attention was also called to
the fact that for any given current, material and radia-
tion the temperature rise is inversely proportional to
the square of the conductor cross-section.
Several methods of employing reactors to limit short-
circuit currents were referred to, the characteristics of
the system suggested by Mr. H. G. Stott at the last
midwinter convention of the A. I. E. E. being discussed
at length. The arrangement of reactors is illustrated
in the accompanying diagram. The conclusion was
drawn that the synchronizing reactors will have more
effect in reducing short-circuit currents if the feeder-
bus reactance is comparatively low. When the latter
reaches 5 per cent or more the effectiveness of the syn-
mil
111
a «x»
S 4SO0
§ 4000
1500
\
1
l\
•
iSOO
iOOO
ISOO
\^
p
x^
§
5-
"%^t^b^tr^?S
: CONDUCTORS
FIG. 1 — REPULSIVE FORCE BETWEEN CONDUCTORS IN
SHORT-CIRCUITED THREE-PHASE CABLE
chronizing reactors in further reducing current be-
comes practically negligible. It was also pointed out
that if the synchronizing reactor is not used the feeder-
bus reactor will rapidly lose its effectiveness after 5
per cent is reached. For reducing short-circuits be-
yond the oil switches it is not necessary for the syn-
chronizing reactors to have a reactance exceeding 3
per cent, and when the generators have high inherent
reactance the synchronizing reactance need not be over
1 per cent. The accompanying curves show the ratio
required between the synchronizing reactance and the
FIG. 2 — FEEDER BUS AND SYNCHRONIZING REACTORS
inherent reactance of the generators to limit the syn-
chronizing current to the normal short-circuit output
of the machine. Among advantages ascribed to the sys-
tem suggested by Mr. Stott are: The feeder-bus volt-
ages are little affected by short-circuit on one of them;
all generators can deliver energy to a single feeder bus
without a considerable drop in voltage; the machines
164
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 3
are not easily pulled out of step by short-circuit, and
with a short-circuit on the bus an excessive flow of
current to the fault is prevented by reactors. When
feeder reactors are employed short-circuit troubles are
isolated. Busbar reactors reduce short-circuit currents
between bus sections but introduce considerable reac-
tance to generators supplying other than their own
^
-
ISO
90
/
/
/
/
/
: GENERATORS F
16 18 20 22 24 26
FIG. 3 — CONDITIONS FOR PROTECTING AGAINST POOR
SYNCHRONIZING
buses, thereby producing a voltage drop. If the short-
circuit current in a feeder is to be limited to a low
value it is impracticable to interconnect substation
feeders.
Discussion
In the discussion of the paper abstracted in the fore-
going paragraphs particular attention was paid to the
advantages and disadvantages of different arrange-
ments of reactors. Among those taking part in
the discussion were Messrs. H. G. Stott, Philip Tor-
:hio, C. M. Davis, H. R. Woodrow, James Lyman, J. B.
Taylor, R. W. Atkinson, C. L. G. Fortescue and Hans
Lippelt.
Mr. Stott described conditions which led the Inter-
borough Rapid Transit Company, New York City, to
adopt the arrangement of reactors shown in the accom-
panying diagram. lie inferred that to obtain equal
protection during a short-circuit the use of feeder re-
actors is more expensive and requires more space than
reactors arranged as shown. He also declared that
busbar reactors make voltage regulation extremely
difficult.
Mr. Torchio referred briefly to a lock for holding
disconnecting switches closed under short-circuit con-
ditions and spoke more extensively on the advantages
of feeder reactors. He called attention to the small
amount of space occupied by the 3.5 per cent reactors
which are being installed in the sixty-cycle feeders at
the generating station of the United Electric Light &
Power Company, New York City. Figures were given
for a system in which the feeders were paralleled to
show that for the same expense feeder reactors can
be installed which will limit the short-circuit current
to a smaller value than reactors arranged according to
Mr. Stott's plan. The speaker also stated that cm
ence has shown that reactors have never caused trou
ble by producing resonance. He outlined the system
lerlin, where the substations are operated inde-
pendently, so that any trouble arising in one dial
will be confined to that district and not affect the entire
city.
Mr. Davis called attention to the number of approxi-
mations which must be employed in preparing a paper
like that of Mr. Gross, and also gave a list of assump-
tions which have to be made. He expressed the belief
that Mr. Stott's arrangement of reactors would give
greater protection than feeder reactors. He pointed
out that in analyzing short-circuit conditions too many
have confined their attention to the energy which
could be supplied from the generator end without tak-
ing into account the energy which could be fed back
from the substations. The speaker also explained the
use of two formulas for estimating the temperature
rise in cables by much simpler methods than those
described in Mr. Gross' paper.
Mr. Woodrow pointed out that only large and ex-
pensive oil switches are capable of breaking a current
of 36,800 amp at 11,000 volts, and hence a further re-
duction of the maximum short-circuit current is often
warranted to permit the installation of a cheaper and
smaller switch. He also pointed out that the maximum
forces exerted on conductors during short-circuit are
about twice the average value. The speaker declared
further that it is impossible to have maximum asym-
metrical currents in all three phases during a three-
phase short-circuit and hence the forces produced by
single-phase short-circuit in a given circuit may be
more severe than with a corresponding three-phase
short-circuit. Rearrangement of buses will therefore
not always reduce the maximum stresses, although the
direction of the force may be changed to reduce the
strain on the insulators. Mr. Woodrow declared that
paralleling substations will not produce so marked an
effect on the short-circuit current in a feeder as held in
Mr. Gross' paper.
Mr. Taylor insisted that it is necessary to include
the temperature-resistance coefficient in the formula
for the temperature rise of cables on short-circuits un-
less the temperature is prevented from rising above
100 deg. C.
Mr. Atkinson declared that the maximum forces ex-
erted on conductors carrying asymmetrical short-cir-
cuit current waves are somewhat more than four times
the value expressed by the formula in Mr. Gross' paper.
He said that on examining the insulation of a No. 8
cable which had been subjected to a current which
melted it in about four seconds it was found that only
one or two layers of paper next to the conductor were
charred, while all the rest were apparently unaffected.
If the copper had been heated for a longer time prior
to fusing, enough gas might have been formed by char-
ring of the paper to cause the destruction of the lead
cover.
Mr. Fortescue said that as short-circuits are more
frequent in feeders than on station busbars more atten-
tion should be paid to protecting the former than the
latter. He expressed the belief that a combination of
feeder reactors with the arrangement evolved by Mr.
Stott would have distinct advantage over either ar-
rangement used alone.
Mr. Lippelt said that many difficulties could be over-
come by employing high-voltage direct-current instead
of alternating-current energy. For protection against
short-circuits on a direct-current system he suggested
employing iron-core reactors in combination with re-
lays which would insert current-limiting resistance in
the circuit before the short-circuit current reached an
excessive value.
In closing the discussion Mr. Gross expressed the
belief that Iron-core reactors would not be effective in
delaying excessive increases in current in a direct-cur-
rent system oven if designed to operate at low flux
density on normal loads as a short -circuit would quickly
saturate the core, thereby decreasing the effectiveness
of the coil.
;ANUARY 16, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
165
DIGEST OF ELECTRICAL LITERATURE
Generators, Motors and Transformers
Speed Reduction of Induction Motors. — A. Winkler.
— An English translation in abstract of his German
article, noticed some time ago in the Digest, in which
the problem of regulating the speed of induction motors
driving ventilating fans by means of slip resistance is
discussed, and the loss entailed thereby ascertained. It
is found that this method is often preferable to the
use of variable-speed sets. — London Electrician, Dec.
25, 1914.
Generation, Transmission and Distribution
Automatic Protective Switch Gear for Alternating-
Current Systems. — E. B. Wedmore. — An illustrated
paper in abstract read before the (British) Institution
of Electrical Engineers. The author concludes that to
meet all the ordinary and emergency requirements of
electric supply there are now available a series of de-
vices simple in character, well proved in service and
giving a degree of protection hitherto quite unattain-
able. The series is as follows: (.a) For the protection
of all closed feeder circuits, the split-conductor system ;
(b) for the protection of all open-ended feeder circuits,
including individual motor circuits, isolated transform-
ers, rotary converters and the like, the core-balancing
system; (c) for the protection of generators and banks
of transformers, the circulating-current system. — Lon-
don Electrician, Dec. 11, 1914. An account of the dis-
cussion which followed the paper is given in London
Electrician, Dec. 18, 1914.
Individual Motor Versus Group Driving. — Karl Loss.
— A brief mathematical article on the efficiency of indi-
vidual-motor driving and group driving, with considera-
tion of the period for which the machines are in actual
operation. The general result is that each case must be
considered for itself. For machines which require a high
starting torque and no wide speed regulation induction
motors are more favorable and may be the only per-
missible ones for individual motor driving. For ma-
chines which require speed regulation within wide
limits direct-current motors are preferable. But three-
phase commutator motors are now being built for large
capacity, permitting speed regulation at constant torque
and having otherwise advantages over induction motors.
—Elek. u. Masch. (Vienna), Nov. 29, 1914.
Electrical Driving in the Woolen Trade — J. F. Crow-
ley.— An abstract of a paper read before the Halifax
Textile Society in which the author discusses the suit-
ability of electric driving in the woolen trade and the
advantages and disadvantages of groups and of indi-
vidual driving. The driving of looms, mules and cen-
trifugals is considered in turn. — London Electrician,
Dec. 18, 1914.
Electric Power in Printing Office. — Frank Broad-
bent. — An illustrated abstract of that part of his paper
read before the (British) Association of Engineers-in-
Charge which deals with the use of electric power in
the printing office and discusses individual or group
driving, the best type of motor to use, the best method
of driving, the switch gear, rotary newspaper machines,
single-motor diverter control, two-motor equipment,
variable voltage control, etc. — London Engineering.
Dec. 18, 1914.
Installations, Systems and Appliances
Stockholm Investigation on Electric Heating. — Carl
A. ROSSANDER. — The central station of Stockholm,
Sweden, is a steam plant, but a hydroelectric plant is
in course of erection at the Dalalven River from which
energy will be transmitted to Stockholm. The steam
plant will then be used for furnishing the peak load
and as a reserve. A commission was appointed to in-
vestigate the economy of electric heating of houses and
of the new Stockholm city hall. Comparative tests
were made in the office rooms of the building depart-
ment in the new city hall as to the cost of heating with
fuel and of electric heating, the temperature of the
rooms being maintained constant at 18 deg. C. For
six months the suite of offices was heated alternately
one week by means of a fuel-fired hot-water system and
the next week by an electric heating system. The
amount of coke used was measured as well as the elec-
trical energy. Electric heating was carried out in two
different ways. The electric-heating system was either
connected to the circuit during the whole twenty-four
hours of the day or it was disconnected after 5 p. m.
when the offices were closed and the circuit was closed
again at 7 a. m. With the latter method the tempera-
ture of the rooms decreased considerably during the
night, but with the exception of a few very cold days
the temperature had reached again the correct value at
9 a. m. With the continuous electric-heating system
the same heating effect was obtained with 198 kw-hr.
as with 100 liters (2a/2 bushels) of coke for the hot-
water system. With the intermittent electric-heating
system the same heating effect was obtained with 120
kw-hr. as with 100 liters (2]/2 bushels) of coke. There-
fore, if the condition of the case permits the use of the
intermittent heating system it should be used, as it
means a saving of 40 per cent of electrical energy.
The second problem discussed by the commission was
how high a rate it would be possible to pay for electric
energy if electric heating were not more expensive
than hot-water heating. At the time of the test the
coke sold at the high price of 28 cents per 100 liters
{212 bushels), so that with the continuous electric-
heating system the economic limit oL the price of the
kilowatt-hour would be 0.25 cent and for the inter-
mittent electric-heating system 0.425 cent. These
figures prove that even with hydroelectric energy elec-
tric heating of houses can be seriously considered only
in cases in which there is a large excess of energy
which cannot be used otherwise, and in such cases some
system of storage of heat should be used. For the local
conditions of Stockholm the cost of electric heating is
prohibitive.— Elek. Zeit, Dec. 3, 1914.
British Central Station. — The first parts of an illus-
trated description of recent extensions at the Lister
Drive municipal electric station in Liverpool. A new
7500-kva turbo-generator set has been installed which
brings the capacity up to 17,000 kw, but this is to be
raised in the near future to 35,000 kw. The new
generator has a normal full-load output of 7500 kva at
80 per cent power-factor, 16,600 volts, the frequency
being fifty cycles per second. — London Electrician, Dec.
18 and 25, 1914.
Switching Phenomena. — W. LlNKE.— An illustrated
English translation in abstract of his German paper,
noticed some time ago in the Digest, on switching
phenomena in connection with electric machines and
transformers. — London Electrician, Dec. 25, 1914.
Wires, Wiring and Conduits
Determining the Load in Branch Distribution Cir-
cuits of. Direct-Current Systems. — L. Lewin. — In dis-
tribution systems it becomes often important to meas-
ure the load in a branch circuit without interrupting
the service. For this purpose the author uses a simple
method in which, with only a millivoltmeter without a
shunt (but perhaps with a small series resistance), it
166
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 3
is possible to determine the intensity and direction of
the currents in the different conductors branching off
from a distribution point. The fuse inserted in each
of the circuits is used in his method as the shunt for
the millivoltmeter. The method is based on the fact
that in a large cable network only a comparatively
limited number of types of fuses are employed. In a
Det
lejcfion
_,
120
100
/
A /
\r )c
80
60
/)/*
HO
y^^
20
s^0^
0
^*^ %- Load
20 <i0 60 80
FIG. 1 — CALIBRATION CURVES
100
city network of 220 volts, for instance, most distribu-
tion lines (50 to 70 sq. mm cross-section) are protected
by fuses rated at 200 amp, while a number of the cir-
cuits (95 to 150 sq. mm) are protected by 300-amp
fuses. When the different types of fuses (silver, lead
and alloys) are considered there are usually not more
than eight or ten different types. In order to use the
fuses as shunts to the millivoltmeter, they should be
calibrated for this instrument, and the author deter-
mined how nearly uniform different samples of one type
of fuse are. The uniformity was satisfactory as shown
by a test of a number of fuses in series. Out of this
number one fuse was then selected which was nearest
the average value, and for this fuse the calibration
curve was determined. A constant current was then
passed through the fuse with a millivoltmeter connected
to its terminals, and after ten minutes the reading of
the millivoltmeter was taken. The current was then
raised to a high value and maintained constant again
for about ten minutes, and another reading was taken.
In this way a curve was plotted giving the deflection
of the millivoltmeter as a function to the current (or,
expressed in other words, as a percentage of the maxi-
mum current rating or as a percentage of the load).
Fig. 1 gives two calibration curves of this kind. Curve
o refers to a 100-amp "britannia" alloy fuse and curve
6 to a 200-amp silver-wire fuse. While deflections of
the instrument are a little different with increasing and
decreasing load, it is generally possible to figure on an
error of not more than 5 per cent. If it is desired to
get very exact results, the following method may be
used: At the time of maximum load the cable box is
opened and the millivoltmeter is connected to the ter-
minals of the fuse in the circuit to be tested and the
rating of the millivoltmeter is taken. On the next day,
at a time when the load is low, the fuse is taken from
the cable box and tested hi the testing room with a
current so as to give the same deflection at the milli-
voltmeter that ft d the day before. This gives
almost as high an accuracy as a precision instrument.
This method may also be u>r<\ in the case of a fuse for
which no calibration curve is available. With proper
modifications this method ma) be used for determining
the load distribution in three-wire and polyphase net-
works and for determining faults. /.'/</,. Zeit., Dec.
3, 1914.
Electrophysics and Magnetism
Production of High Permeability in Iron. — A note on
a recent Royal Society paper by Prof. Ernest Wilson,
dealing with some further investigations on the pro-
duction of high permeability in iron. It had been
shown that if stalloy in laminated-ring form was sub-
jected to a magetizing force due to a direct current
while it was cooling through the temperature at which
it regained its magnetic properties, and was at the
same time shielded from the influence of the earth's
magnetism, the permeability recovered at atmospheric
temperature had a maximum value of over 10,000 when
the magnetic induction was of the order 6000 c.g.s. units.
It had been shown previously that high values of the
permeability could be obtained without the use of a
special magnetizing force, due to an alternating cur-
rent, during the time that it cooled through the tem-
perature at which it regained its magnetic properties.
As, however, in the last-mentioned case an iron tube
was used to inclose the specimen and became heated
with the specimen, it was thought desirable to discover
whether the high value of the permeability could be
obtained when there was no question of magnetic
shielding. In the present experiments the specimen of
stalloy in ring form was allowed to cool inside a sealed
fire-clay crucible, when subjected to a magnetizing
force of 13 c.g.s. units, and at atmospheric tempera-
ture a permeability of over 10,000 was again obtained.
Further experiments had been made with stalloy in the
form of straight strips. The specimen, which con-
sisted of a number of strips side by side, was wound
with a magnetizing coil and then placed inside an iron
tube. On allowing it to cool, through the temperature
at which the magnetic quality was regained, when sub-
jected to a magnetizing force due to a direct current,
the improvement in maximum permeability when at
atmospheric temperature was small, and it had ap-
parently disappeared when re-tested at the maker's
works. — London Electrician, Dec. 11, 1914.
Hall Effect in Silicon. — O. E. BUCKLEY. — An account
of an experimental investigation in which the Hall
effect, Nernst effect and resistance of four specimens
of silicon were measured at several different tempera-
tures. The reversal of the Hall effect, which is con-
nected with a reversal of its thermal emf, is not accom-
panied by a reversal or peculiarity in size of the Nernst
effect nor by a peculiarity in the resistance. The tem-
perature coefficients of the Hall and Nernst effect are
found to be similar but do not bear any relation to the
temperature coefficient of resistance. The extraordi-
nary large Ettinghausen and Leduc effects in silicon re-
ported by Gottstein are not confirmed. The change of
resistance of silicon in a magnetic field of 10,000 gausses
is less than 0.05 per cent. — Phys. Review, December.
1914.
Theory of Transmission.— GEORGE R. DEAN. — The
second part of a highly mathematical paper on the dif-
ferential equations of long-distance transmission. —
London Electrician, Dec. 18. 1914
I'nils. Measurements and Instruments
Nomenclature and Symbols.— A report has been pub-
lished by the committee of nomenclature and symbols
of the (British) Physical Society with a view to a
general discussion. As to the terms "magnetic induc-
tion" and "magnetic flux density," it is proposed to re-
tain both terms at present. As to "inductance" and
"coefficient of self-induction," it is urged to use the
term "inductance." As to "permeability" and "induc-
tivity." it is urged to use the term "permeability." A
to the terms "electric polarization," "displacement" and
"electric flux density," it is recommended not to use
"displacement." As to "specific inductive capacity,"
January 16, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
167
"dielectric constant," "dielectric coefficient" and "per-
mittivity," it is urged to use the term "electric induc-
tivity," and not to use "permittivity." As to "capacity"
and "permittance," it is urged not to use "permittance."
As to "dielectric strength," "dielectric rigidity" and
"electric strength," it is urged not to use "dielectric
rigidity." As to "specific resistance" and "resistivity,"
it is urged to use the term "resistivity." 103 is kilo
(fc), 10"3 is milli {m), 10" is micro ([*.), 10"" is milli-
micro (mpi), 10"12 is pico (p or \j.<x). Symbols for units
are recommended as follows: Ampere, A, volt V, ohm
Q, coulomb C, joule J, watt W, farad F, henry H, watt-
hour Wh, volt-ampere VA, ampere-hour Ah, milliampere
mA, kilowatt kW, kilovolt-ampere kVA, kilowatt-hour
hWh. A statement of the definition of capacity is
added. In a paper by Charles Chres attention is called
to notations in common use in terrestrial magnetism
and atmospheric electricity. — London Electrician, Dec.
25, 1914.
The Relation of the Horse-Power to the Kilowatt. —
S. W. Stratton. — The horse-power is taken by the Bu-
reau of Standards to be 746 watts. So denned, its
equivalent in foot-pounds per second varies with lati-
tude and altitude in a determinate manner given in a
table. The horse-power defined as 746 watts is very
nearly equivalent to 550 ft.-lb. per second at London,
where the original experiments were made by James
Watt to establish the equivalent of the horse-power.
The "continental horse-power," which is used in Ger-
many and France and generally on the continent of
Europe, is equal to 736 watts, or 75 kilogram-meters
per second at Berlin. It is thus more than 1 per cent
different from the horse-power as used in the United
States and Great Britain. It is considered desirable
that the watt and kilowatt be used as the units of
power, whenever possible, for all kinds of scientific,
engineering and other work. — Circular 34 of Bureau of
Standards (Aug. 1, 1914).
The Use of the Hughes Induction Balance for Locat-
ing Bullets. — The announcement that the Hughes in-
duction balance is being used to locate bullets in the
wounded victims of the war recalls the fact that this
instrument was first employed for this purpose when
President Garfield was shot by Guiteau. The idea of
using the instrument in this way seems to have origi-
nated with Prof. Graham Bell, the inventor of the tele-
phone, who, in view of the difficulty found by the doc-
tors in determining where the assassin's bullet had
FIG. 2 ARRANGEMENT OF INDUCTION BALANCE
lodged in the President's body, cabled to England, asking
Hughes to cable back whether his balance could be used
for the purpose of finding the situation of the bullet,
and, if so, to add instructions for the assembling of a
suitable instrument. This was done, and, with an in-
duction balance, improvised on Hughes' directions, the
position was rapidly and accurately determined. The
rapidity with which the observations can be made con-
stitutes one of the greatest advantages of the balance
for use in military hospitals. The general features of
the Hughes induction balance are represented in Fig.
2, in which A and B denote two parallel equal coils of
wire similarly wound and so arranged that the distance
between them is adjusted at will. These coils are con-
nected by flexible leads, as shown, with another pair
of equal coils C and D, oppositely wound, mounted paral-
lel to each other at a fixed distance. Into the circuit of
A and C is interpolated a battery and a microphone F ,
while a telephone G forms part of the circuit which in-
cludes B and D. A clock H mounted on the frame of
the microphone gives rise by its ticking to a succession
of variations in the microphone current, and by induc-
tion a current corresponding to each tick of the clock
is generated in the telephone circuit. Since, however,
the coils D and C are oppositely wound, while A and B
are similarly wound, the current induced in D tends to
oppose that induced at B, and by adjusting the distance
between A and B the one can be caused absolutely to
neutralize the other, in which case the ticking of the
clock is inaudible in the telephone. If, however, after
this balance is secured, the pair of coils CD are brought
near a piece of metal, such as a bullet, currents are also
induced in this metal, and some of the energy which
would otherwise produce current in D is dissipated in
the bullet. The consequence is that the balance is
upset and a new adjustment of the distance between
A and B must be made in order that the telephone may
remain silent. The nearer the coils are brought to the
bullet, the more exactly their center line intersects the
bullet, the louder is the sound in the telephone. Hence,
by bringing the coil over the body of a wounded man
the direction in which the bullet lies can be ascertained,
while by noting what adjustment of A and B is neces-
sary to reduce the telephone to silence the depth below
the surface can be found, since it is only necessary to
find the distance from CD to which a similar bullet must
be brought in order that the telephone shall be again
reduced to silence, after the coils CD have been re-
moved from the neighborhood of the patient. — London
Engineering, Dec. 18, 1914.
Bridge for Measurement of Self-Induction. — D.
Owen. — An abstract of a (British) Physical Society
paper in which the author gave a summary of an alter-
nating-current bridge method which is proposed for the
determination of self-induction in terms of capacity and
resistance. The inductance L is given by the relation
L = K3r,R; in addition to which it is also necessary
for balance of the bridge to satisfy the condition
Klr1 = K,rr The two conditions of balance may be
secured in practice without mutual interference. The
end point is, therefore, rapidly attained. The possibili-
ty of effecting a balance is unlimited by the value of the
unknown L. The method is independent of frequency.
This has the accompanying advantage that it is unneces-
sary to employ a pure sine voltage. Very good results
may be attained with a buzzer as source and a telephone
receiver as detector, at, say, 500 cycles. The dependence
of sensibility of the bridge on the frequency is dis-
cussed, and it is shown that over a wide range (say,
100 cycles to 1000 cycles) the sensibility is high. The
effects of residual inductance in the resistance coils
and leads, and of absorption in the condensers, may be
simply and correctly allowed for, the formula then be-
coming L = #3r, (R — R0) . This fact is of special im-
portance' in the accurate determination of very small
inductances. Tests are quoted showing that with the
same pair of condensers measurements over the full
range from one microhenry upward may be made. For
inductances of the order of 10 microhenries the error
may be kept within a few parts in 1000, while if the in-
168
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 3
ductance is as high as a few millihenries the error of
any measurement may be reduced below one part in 10,-
000. The application of this bridge to the determina-
tion of capacity in terms of self-inductance is discussed,
and an example is given of a test of the temperature
variation of capacity of a standard mica condenser over
the range 0 deg.-30 deg. C. — London Electrician, Dec.
11, 1914.
Measuring Low Resistances. — F. Wenner and E.
Weibel. — The authors discuss the desirability of mak-
ing certain adjustments in addition to those necessary
for establishing the principal balance of the Thomson
bridge, in case the resistances under comparison are
extremely low. — Scientific Papers, Bureau of Standards,
No. 225 (May 25, 1914).
Telegraphy. Telephony and Signals
Telephone System. — G. H. Green. — An illustrated
description of the automatic and semi-automatic tele-
phone systems of the Western Electric Company, not-
able features of the system being the construction of
selectors used, the method of controlling them by so-
called "sequence switches," and the use of selectors
serving a larger number of lines than usual. — London
Electrician, Dec. 25, 1914.
The Radio Operator Problem. — V. Ford Greaves. —
The most important characteristics of the good radio
operator are proficiency in the use of the code, skill in
the care and adjustment of the apparatus, and reliabil-
ity in an emergency. The requirements of the commer-
cial companies of the navy in these directions are con-
sidered. The American Morse code is compared criti
cally with the Continental, and is adjudged superior.
The use of the "omnigraph" for test sending is favora-
bly discussed. The requirements for an operator's li-
cense of any grade are given, and the problem of ap-
propriate and searching examinations therefor is dis-
cussed. The age distribution of radio operators is
given graphically and numerically. The salaries and
conditions of promotion of operators in the United
States Navy, the American Marconi Company and the
United Fruit Company are compared. — Proceedings, In-
stitute of Radio Engineers, September, 1914.
Possibility of Sharp Directive Wireless Telegraphy.
— E. Bellini. — The author first discusses briefly the
methods of Brown, Blondel, Stone, Braun, Bellini and
Tosi and gives diagrams for these systems and then
finds whether it is possible to imagine directive aerials
giving sharper diagrams, approaching those obtained
with parabolic mirrors and luminous waves. By coup-
ling two aerials a sharper diagram is obtained. The au-
thor shows mathematically that by coupling more and
more aerials the sharpness can be still further in-
creased.— London Electrician, Dec. 18, 1914.
Miscellaneous
The German Electric Industry and the War. — The
first part of an article giving details of the arrange-
ments made by the German electrical manufacturing
companies for the families of their employees who have
gone to the war. For instance, the Bergman Electricity
Company has given an extra month's pay to its em-
ployees who received monthly salaries and were called
to the front. Moreover, at the end of each month the
wife of the employee has so far received 50 per cent
of the monthly salary, and each child below sixteen
years 5 per cent. Those employees who received week-
ly salaries, as well as the workingmen, have ro
their salaries up to the date when they were called to
the front, and their wives have received so far $1.50 a
week and each child below fourteen years 25 cents a
week in semi-monthly payments. EUk. Zeit., Nov. 26,
1914.
Chairman's Address. — P. P. Wheelwright. — The
chairman's address to the Manchester Section of the
(British) Institution of Electrical Engineers. He
thinks that the inducements offered in Great Britain at
present to young men to join the electrical engineering
profession are insufficient. With respect to the war,
the British industry is passing through an extremely
critical period, and the future will depend upon the
present attitude of the individual, particularly with re-
gard to any imported material. It is hoped that one of
the results of this war will be the diversion of German
trade into other channels, and it is for Englishmen to
secure, with other countries, the trade that has hitherto
been carried on with Germany. The British manufac-
turing works must be kept open. "The wave of prac-
tical patriotism which is rolling over this vast empire
requires only directing to the sphere of trade to have
far-reaching effects. The creation of a nucleus of a de-
mand at reasonable prices, in this country and its
dominions, by governments, municipalities and large
purchasers setting the example of buying in the home
and colonial markets, would provide electrical manufac-
turers with a sound foundation upon which to build and
extend the industry. The moral influence of such an
example set by these large purchases would be very
great and an encouragement to other industrial con-
cerns to do the same." The author finally refers to
headway made in electric-railway operation, the use of
labor-saving appliances, and the problem of smoke abate-
ment.— London Electrician, Nov. 20, 1914.
Book Reviews
KONSTRUKTION, BAU UND BETRIEB VON FUNKEN1NDUK-
TOREN. Part 2, Roentgenstrahlentechnik. By
Ernst Ruhmer. Berlin : Der Mechaniker. 444
pages, 223 illus. Price, 6.5 marks.
The second part of a treatise on the design, construc-
tion and operation of spark coils, abundantly illustrated.
This part relates to X-ray tubes and their operation.
In addition to the introductory material the book com-
prises eleven chapters dealing with the following topics :
Roentgen radiation, apparatus for suppressing the clos-
ing current impulse, X-ray measurements, connections
between coil and tubes, diaphragm apparatus, X-ray
pictures, X-ray kinematographs, X-ray apparatus on
alternating-current circuits, X-ray regulation applica-
tions. The treatment is clear and fully illustrated. The
book will recommend itself to all who are interested in
the technics of X-ray apparatus.
Principles of Electrical Measurements. By A. \\.
Smith. New York: McGraw-Hill Book Company.
Inc. 246 pages, 99 illus. Price, $2.
This book deals with units and measurements from
the point of view of the physicist. In other words, it
treats of principles underlying electrical measurements
and pays little attention to matters of construction and
design. Its contents, however, should be understood by
every electrical engineer, and it is a valuable contribu-
tion to the literature of electrical engineering. The
book has been written mainly for the instruction of stu-
dents beginning their course in electrical engineering.
The formulas used are developed logically from first
principles, thus training the reader to use his reason
rather than his memory. The ground covered includes
ammeter and voltmeter measurements, condenser meth-
ods, using the ballistic galvanometer, measurement of
resistance, power and capacity. The magnetic circuit is
briefly described, after which follow methods of testing
iron and steel, measurement of inductance, and a final
chapter on alternating currents.
January 16, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
169
POWER AND OPERATING SECTION
Auxiliary Equipment for Charging One to Twenty
Cells
To provide for special charging of from one to twenty
cells of its storage-battery reserve the Edison Electric
Illuminating Company of Brooklyn employs an auxil-
iary switchboard in a room adjacent to the storage bat-
from zero to 50 volts, thereby keeping the current at the
proper value. Discharge tests are made periodically on
the batteries, to which are also given weekly refreshing
charges.
To Ce/I charging Bus
FIG. 1 — CONNECTION OF SPECIAL CELL-CHARGING
APPARATUS
tery. The board is connected with bare busbars sup-
ported above each row of storage batteries. To these
busbars can be attached any cell which needs special
charging.
To avoid using a special charging generator, the com-
pany has connected the switchboard with a 50-volt
FIG. 2 — SWITCHBOARD DESIGNED FOR SPECIAL CELL
CHARGING
direct-current booster which is ordinarily used during
heavy loads to maintain the proper voltage at the deliv-
ery end of the feeders. The machine is therefore avail-
able a number of hours each day for charging batteries.
On the battery-charging switchboard are positive and
negative switches, an ammeter and a remote-control
master switch. The remote-control switch operates a
ratchet rheostat, which varies the voltage of the booster
Babbitt Metal
By S. U. Tuspin
Originally babbitt metal had one fixed composition,
being made up of 90 per cent of tin and 10 per cent of
antimony and copper; but at the present time the term
babbitt metal signifies no definite composition, for there
are almost as many different kinds of babbitt as there
are companies engaged in selling bearing metals. In-
stead of being used to denote an alloy of tin, antimony
and copper, the name now covers practically the whole
field of white metals, that is, those composed of tin,
lead, copper, zinc and antimony in various combina-
tions.
The reason for this diversity in the components as
well as in their percentages is the endeavor to obtain a
bearing metal possessing the desired properties at a
lower cost than the original babbitt. As a consequence,
the cheapest of the babbitts are found to contain a
great proportion of lead. The mere fact that a bearing
metal is cheap, however, is not to be taken as evidence
that its quality is also low. The test of the value of a
bearing metal is the way in which it stands up to its
work, and so it will be discovered that nearly every one
of the different kinds of babbitt has its champion, be-
cause some one has found it satisfactory in service.
There has been a great deal of trouble in connection
with the selection and use of babbitt metal, caused by
lavish statements regarding the value of advertised
metals or by the inability of the users to choose kinds
suited to their needs. It would scarcely seem necessary
to state that a bearing metal of one fixed composition
cannot be equally good for all forms of service; yet the
mistakes made in selecting grades for different classes
of work would seem to indicate that no thought had
been expended on the nature of babbitt or on the prop-
erties produced by varying the proportions of the con-
stituents.
A satisfactory babbitt metal for a given purpose must
be hard enough to retain its form under the load or
pressure that may be put on it. It should possess good
anti-friction qualities; that is, the coefficient of friction
between the babbitt and the journal should be low. Of
course, the quality of the lubricant used on the bearing
will determine the amount of friction, but there is
abundant evidence that the composition of the babbitt
also has an influence on the friction. The melting point
of the babbitt metal should be lower than that of the
shaft or journal, and even if the babbitt should melt,
through overheating by friction, it ought not to adhere
to the shaft. In order that the lubricant may be en-
abled to do its best work, the surface of the babbitt
should be easily wetted by the lubricant and should hold
the film of lubricant well. If the surface repels oil or
is not easily covered with a coat of lubricant, heating
is apt to occur.
The chemical composition alone is not a safe guide as
to the quality of a babbitt, for the reason that the man-
ner of making and pouring the metal will affect its
properties. Babbitt is particularly sensitive to over-
heating, and care must be taken not to heat the con-
stituents or the finished product to such a temperature
as to cause volatilization or burning. The safe tem-
perature will depend somewhat on the relative amounts
170
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 3
of the different constituents, but a temperature of from
840 deg. to 880 deg. Fahr. may be safely used in pour-
ing babbitt metal. In the process of alloying the vari-
ous constituents when making babbitt metal, tempera-
tures of less than 925 deg. Fahr. have been found suf-
ficient. During any melting process the surface of the
metal should be kept covered with a layer of powdered
charcoal so that oxidation may be prevented.
There are two main classes of babbitt, known as lead-
base babbitt and tin-base babbitt, so called because of
the predominating elements in them. Of the two, the
lead-base metal is the cheaper, because of the fact that
lead costs from one-quarter to one-fifth as much per
pound as tin. Lead-base babbitt is softer than tin-base
babbitt, as a general rule. There is also a difference in
color, the lead-base metal showing a bluish tinge, as
compared with the yellowish tinge of the tin-base metal.
So far as friction is concerned, lead has the advan-
tage over tin as a bearing metal; but a lead-lined bear-
ing is not practicable, except in unusual cases, because
lead works loose in the grooves of the box, and also
because it is so soft that it may be squeezed out under
pressure. To remedy these faults, lead is alloyed with
other metals, such as tin, antimony and copper.
In any alloy the properties of the combined metals
are present in the product, but not in the same degree
as in the original metals. Therefore, as tin is tough
and melts at a low temperature, its effect on a babbitt
is to give a tough metal and to lower the melting point.
Tin does not possess as excellent anti-friction qualities
as lead, and therefore tends to increase the coefficient
of friction when alloyed with lead.
The effect of antimony is to reduce the coefficient of
friction and to harden the alloy; but, as it is a brittle
metal, its addition introduces a certain brittleness into
the alloy. It possesses the valuable property of having
no shrinkage when poured and allowed to cool, and it in-
duces a similar property in the babbitt, so .that the
metal, when poured into the box or bearing stays tight
in the slots or grooves.
Type metal is an alloy of lead and antimony, there
being about eighty parts of lead to twenty of anti-
mony. These proportions produce a metal that has ex-
cellent anti-friction properties and that may be used
with good results for bearings in which the pressure
is not great and in which the speed of the journal is
not high. The large percentage of lead in the composi-
tion makes this a cheap metal and therefore in great
demand. As a result, the refuse metal of type foun-
dries has been worked up into blocks and bars and sold
under various names as babbitt.
Copper in babbitt increases the friction; but, as it
is a tough metal, it is added in order to toughen the
alloy. Only small percentages of copper are used in
babbitt metals, although the various brasses and bronzes
used as bearing metals contain large proportions of
copper.
Zinc is useful as a constituent of babbitt because it
wears so well. But its anti-friction properties are low
and it shrinks greatly while cooling after being poured.
It must therefore be alloyed with some other metal, as
tin, to counteract the shrinkage. Babbitt containing
zinc and tin will wear well under heavy loads at mod-
erate rotative speeds, but it should not be used for high-
speed work.
A good babbitt must be homogeneous ; that is, it
must be of uniform structure and composition through-
out. To attain this end it is necessary to use great care
in alloying the various m< •' mg the babbitt.
It is also w high grade raw materials.
Rut even n good grade <>f babbitl may be utterly
spoiled in pouring, either ' ited or by
being poured at tor, |,,\v a temperature. If the pour
ing temperature is too high, the metal will be softened,
and if the pouring temperature is too low, the metal
will have a coarse crystalline structure. Of the two
general classes of babbitt, the lead-base metal is more
likely to be injured by carelessness during pouring
than the tin-base metal. Blow-holes and shrinkage of
the babbitt away from the shell of the bearing may be
reduced by heating the shell to a temperature of from
200 deg. to 300 deg. Fahr.
Other things than an unsuitable babbitt metal may
cause bearing troubles, however. Failure of lubrica-
tion or an unsuitable lubricant for the pressure and
speed conditions will cause trouble. Poor alignment
of shafts or binding due to badly fitted bearings will
cause heating, as will a dirty or gritty lubricant. Ab-
normal pressure on the bearing, caused by unneces-
sarily great belt tension, will have a similar effect.
Rapid Illuminometer Exhibited Before Chicago
Section, I. E. S.
A rapid illuminometer for rough measurements of
light intensity, in which a screen of black silk, illumi-
nated from the rear, is compared with tinted sectors on
which falls the illumination to be measured, was ex-
hibited by Prof. Morgan Brooks, of the University of
Illinois, before a meeting of the Chicago Section of the
Illuminating Engineering Society recently. In the
model constructed by Professor Brooks from a hand
flash-lamp and a camera shutter mechanism, as sketched
herewith, the degree of illumination from the battery
Tinted comparison
: Sectors n . .. ,
Opening to black
, silk screen
Black silk screen
White diffusing paper screen
■ ' , Iris Diaphragm
r .J ,, Lens '■ I ever controlling illumination
foot Candles of silk screen
HAND ILLUMINOMETER USING BLACK-SILK SCREEN
lamp reaching the translucent black silk screen through
the intervening diffusing paper is controlled by the
manipulation of the iris diaphragm. The lever is moved
until the apparent brightness of the silk screen by
transmitted light approximates the illumination on the
annular comparison cards surrounding the silk-screen
target. The illuminometer is originally calibrated by
marking positions of the iris lever corresponding to va-
rious known intensities along a photometer beam.
By the provision of the tinted comparison screens it
is possible to secure close matching of the silk-screen
illumination with the reddish rays of a carbon lamp as
well as with the whiter light of a tungsten unit. When
measuring carbon-lamp illumination the silk target is
compared with the pale-green sector, and when judging
tungsten lighting, with the yellow or buff-colored sec-
tors. Professor Brooks also exhibited a large-size demon-
stration illuminometer model in which the lamp source
was controlled by a rheostat. With his hand illuminom-
eter the speaker estimated that ordinary room illumi-
nation could be measured with an aeeuraey of 10 per
cent.
In the discussion Mr. J. K. (r.ivath expressed doubt
Whether the accuracy of practical field work with even
a Sharp-Millar portable photometer averages within 10
pei- cenl of error, or reaches values within 5 per cent
of error. Chairman W. A. Durgin mentioned the early
Marsh illuminometer. based on a somewhat similar
principle but without the tinted comparison sectors,
January 16, 1915
ELECTRICAL. WORLD
which he thought especially valuable. He suggested the
use of storage cells to operate the illuminometer lamp,
since tests of flashlamp batteries have shown that there
is a comparatively rapid fall of voltage during the first
fifteen minutes of operation, after which the pressure
remains fairly constant for a one-hour run. Such a bat-
tery after a one-hour run and one-hour rest recuperates
to nearly the same voltage and will then repeat its
former discharge curve at a depressed potential. Dr.
M. G. Lloyd pointed out the fact that since the silk
threads making up the transmitting screen cannot ab-
sorb all of the incident exterior light, the silk screen will
be illuminated to a slight extent from the outside. This
constant error is compensated for, however, by the
method of direct calibration by comparison. Mr. Al-
bert Scheible spoke of the need for a portable illuminom-
eter for rough work. Such a device should be easily
manipulated.
In closing the discussion, Professor Brooks mentioned
that to obtain constant results with the new illuminom-
eter the target should be viewed directly from the
front. The presence of the lens helps to insure this
condition. A small mirror or prism might be added to
avoid shadow on the comparison screen caused by the
head of the observer. Fine lines photographed on glass
and halftone screens used by photo-engravers have been
suggested as improvements on the black silk.
nected to a 5-hp, three-phase or single-phase motor. The
portable substation shown in Fig. 1 is employed to
transform the high-voltage energy to low-voltage energy
for the motors operating the pumps. Portable cables,
Electric Pump for Removing Water from Sewer
Trenches
The Utah Light & Traction Company, Salt Lake
City, recently entered into a contract with the Ulen
Contracting Company to supply energy for pumping
water out of sewer trenches which the contractor is
digging for a large sewer-pipe system, covering about
70 miles of pipe, ranging in size from 6 in. in diameter
to 60 in. in diameter. The electric company has pre-
pared a map showing the location of the sewer line to
be installed and the location of its primary circuit, both
three-phase and single-phase, in the same territory. It
has been found that the three-phase lines are not far-
ther than two blocks from every trench which the con-
tracting company will build, and that there are single-
phase lines not farther than one block from every
trench.
The district to be covered by the sewer-pipe system is
heavily watered, and in some places the ground water
PORTABLE SUBSTATION
comes within 2 ft. of the surface. In places where the
inflow of water is heaviest, the pumping outfits will be
operated in batteries of from six to ten units, each unit
consisting of one 4-in. centrifugal pump directly con-
FIG. 2 — PUMPING WATER OUT OF TRENCH
2000 ft. long, are used to transmit the energy from the
substations to the pumps. In Fig. 2 is shown one of
these pumps in operation.
Induction Motor Drive for Glass-Blowing Machines
One of the largest customers of the Muncie (Ind.)
Electric Light Company is the Ball Brothers Glass
Manufacturing Company. More than 1800 hp in
motors is connected to the central-station company's
lines at this factory, and still other motors are oper-
ated from the glass company's own oil-engine direct-
current plant. Changes have been continually going
on in the factory, adding more motors to the electric
company's lines and decreasing the number of direct-
current motors. The most recent of these transfers
occurred when adjustable-speed induction motors were
applied to Owens automatic glass-blowing machines
making fruit jars.
At first the Owens company was opposed to the use
of adjustable-speed induction motors, because of the
lack of close speed regulation. A thorough investiga-
tion of the service required, however, developed the
fact that a speed variation of two to one would be
satisfactory. At maximum speed the Owens machine
turns out thirty-six fruit jars a minute, while the mini-
mum is eighteen jars a minute. The exact speed neces-
sary to get the greatest production depends on the
outside temperature, and as these machines must run
at this maximum the steps in speed control could not
make a difference of more than one jar a minute.
Tests showed that a motor was needed with an out-
put at full speed of 2.6 hp and an output at half speed
of 2.3 hp. The controller required eighteen steps be-
tween full and one-half speed and an automatic push-
button attachment, so that the machine could be
stopped or started from several points.
A standard 5-hp, 1200/600-r.p.m. motor with a
special controller and contactor panel was recommended
for this service. Each glass machine also required a
7. 5-hp, 900-r.p.m. motor with heavy starting charac-
teristics. ' A standard constant-speed slip-ring type
motor was suggested for this work. Besides this a
3-hp adjustable-speed motor was used for turning the
glass pot of each outfit.
When the motors were installed it was found that
the 5-hp motors were too light, owing to the fact that
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 3
14.5 hp was needed at starting. These motors were
replaced with 7.5-hp machines of the same type, and
after some changes were made in the special controllers
the outfit proved a complete success. The speed con-
AUTOMATIC GLASS-BLOWING MACHINE
trol is as close as it was with the direct-current motors,
and 75 per cent of the motor trouble has been elimi-
nated.
Eleven sets of three motors each have now been pur-
chased. Two sets are for the glass company's plant
at Wichita Falls, Texas, while the remaining nine sets
are being used at Muncie, adding 162 hp of twenty-
four-hour load to the lines of the electric-service com-
pany.
Guards for Pump Pits and Equipment Therein
Since pumping apparatus is usually installed in darker
places than any other equipment used in generating
stations, it is highly important that guards be provided
around the machinery to prevent employees becoming
injured thereby. In the stations of the Edison Electric
Illuminating Company of Brooklyn much care has been
taken to prevent accidents. Where centrifugal pumps
driven by turbines or motors are employed the couplings
Power Data on Cottonseed Oil Mill
One of the industries which supply a twenty-four-
hour load for the Kansas City (Mo.) Electric Light
Company is a mill producing cottonseed oil and its by-
products, cotton and hulls. The rated capacity of this
mill is 100 tons of seed in a twenty-four-hour day, but
data compiled show that the average output is actually
MOTOR APPLICATIONS IN COTTONSEED-OIL MILL
750 715
750 715
750 715
750 715
750 715
750/715
750/715
750 715
Belted to 10-ft. shaft (two bangers); motor pulley 16 in. by 10 in.;
driven pulley 32 in. by 10 in., driving 160 ft. of 12-in. and 14-in.
conveyor.
Belted to 90-ft. shaft (eighteen hangers!; motor pulley 21 in. by 17 in.;
driven pulley approximately 50 in., driving nine linters, three hullers.
screen anil I elevators, one saw-filing machine, one
shaker, one 2-kw generator for magnets.
Belted to 12-ft. shaft (two hangers); motor pulley 12 in. by 14 in. ;
driven pulley 42 in. by 14 iii., driving one roll machine.
Belted to 85-ft. shaft (sixteen hangers); motor pulley 16 in. by 14 in.;
driven pulley approximately 42 in. by 16 in., driving nine linters,
four beater- me sand screen and 150 ft. of 12-in
conveyor.
by 8 in.; driven pulley 30 it
in. by 9 in.; driven pulley 20 i
Belted to gearing; motor pulley 8 in
ing triplex oil pumps.
Belted to 12-ft. shaft: motor pulley 9
14 in., driving cake breaker.
Belted to 12-ft. shaft (two hangers); motor pulley 13 in. by 9 in.; driven
pulley 60 in. by 9 in., driving 100 ft. of 12-in. conveyor and one ele-
vator.
Belted to 25-ft. shaft (four hangers); motor pulley 7 in. by 6 in., driving
100 ft. of 10-in. conveyor.
Belted direct; motor pulley 7 in. by 14 i
in., driving one set of five cookers.
Belted to 90 ft . of 10-in. conveyor and <
Belted direct to grinder; motor pulley 13
17 in. by 12 in.
Belted direct to grinder; motor pulley 13 i
17 in. by 12 in.
; driven pulley 42 in. by 14
elevator.
in. by 12 in.; driven pulley
•Only one grinder is in operation at a time.
95 tons. The mill runs on two twelve-hour shifts and
gives steady employment to twenty-five men. As shown
in the accompanying table, the total connected load at
the mill is 522.5 hp, and tests which have been conducted
showed the maximum demand to be 288 kw. The load-
factor based on the operating period was shown during
the same set of tests to be 64.3 per cent, and the power-
factor of the installation, as indicated by a three-phase
RAIL AROUND PUMP PIT AND Gl'AKD OVER COUPLING
ELECTRICALLY OPERATED COTTONSEED-OIL MILL
and governors are covered with shields as shown in the
accompanying Illustration. Railings have also been
provided around the pil containing hot-well pumps to
prevent persons falling therein.
power-factor meter, was 92 per cent. With motor equip-
ment installed as shown in the table herewith, it has
been found that an average of 73.2 kw-hr. is needed to
handle a ton of cottonseed.
January 16, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
COMMERCIAL SECTION
"So the Public May Understand"
In the offices and about the properties of central sta-
tions which continue the once-a-month plan of reading
meters and issuing all bills, heavy work falls on the
meter readers, accountants, cashiers and others about
the first of the month. "So the public may understand"
if delay is encountered at this time in the payment of
bills or the adjustment of complaints, the manager of
one Alabama central station has had the following
notice posted at the side of the cashier's cage, where
it meets the attention of every visitor to the office:
"The first ten days of the month and the last ten days
of the month are our busiest periods. In ordering new
service connections please give us, where possible,
plenty of time."
How the Contractor Can Benefit Himself
Contractors are rapidly developing into the medium
through which manufacturers, jobbers and central sta-
tions are able to reach the ultimate consumer. A
number, however, have not awakened to the fact that
they can benefit themselves as well as the electrical
business as a whole. The manner in which this can be
done was outlined in a paper presented recently before
the Oregon Electrical Contractors' Association by Mr.
John F. Ryan. In opening his paper the author pointed
out that success in contracting as well as in other
branches of the electrical industry can be obtained by
constructive co-operation.
By co-operation is not meant the banding together of
contractors for the purpose of regulating or controlling
prices nor the forcing of a weaker competitor to dis-
continue business. On the other hand, every contractor
should co-operate with his business associates by
becoming a member of any organization whose object is
to uplift or develop his particular line of business.
Broad-minded contractors who realize the advantages
of exchanging ideas should try to persuade narrow-
minded fellow workers to share the benefits from co-
operation. Of course, there are a number of so-called
contractors who cannot see beyond the sphere of their
own little business and who never can be educated to
co-operate. This type of contractor is a detriment to
the entire electrical industry. He knows nothing about
overhead expense or the cost of doing business and ac-
cepts contracts at such a low margin of profit that he
must employ the cheapest grade of material. As a re-
sult legitimate contractors who use better material
cannot offer such attractive prices and central-station
companies will be criticised for interruption of service
if the low-grade equipment burns out. Contractors
employing these poor business methods will eventually
become so heavily involved that the jobber must carry
the burden of their failures. Contractors of this sort
should be shunned by all branches of the electrical
business, as their work is destructive rather than con-
structive.
By interchange of experiences contractors may be-
come acquainted with the most economical methods of
conducting business. To uplift the standard of the
electrical business, contractors' associations should en-
courage their members to work in harmony with the
National Board of Fire Underwriters by using noth-
ing but approved material. Each contractor should
take a personal pride in the appearance of his retail
store, thereby demonstrating to the central station,
jobbers and manufacturers that he is capable of
properly handling the distribution of energy-consum-
ing devices. Furthermore, he should endeavor to give
his support to the electrical jobber distributing in his
territory. If a contractor purchases his material di-
rectly from the manufacturers, he will have to invest a
considerable amount in stock in addition to providing
space for storage. This may increase his overhead
expenses to such an extent that it will retard the prog-
ress and development of his business. When contract-
ors concentrate their efforts and specialize along their
own particular line electric-service companies in this
country will undoubtedly discontinue their wiring de-
partments and concentrate their efforts on the genera-
tion and distribution of electrical energy.
"Could Not Exist Without Ice Business"
The small central station which has trouble "making
ends meet" might take a profitable lesson from the ex-
perience of a Texas plant where a 10-ton ice machine
was installed to eke out the earnings of the 40-kw elec-
tric generator. Of the fifteen-thousand-dollar business
now done annually by this company, the ice plant alone
returns a gross earning of $10,000, and of this amount
$3,000 represents actual profit above the extra cost of
labor, fuel, delivery and accounting. The entire prop-
erty is now paying a return of 17 per cent on the in-
vestment, whereas, according to the manager, "we
could not have existed without the ice business." The
demand for ice during many months of the year in
this Texas town makes electric service possible, al-
though it is admitted that without the ice-making ad-
junct electricity might be out of the question at
ordinary rates.
Circulating Motion-Picture Films to Stimulate
Electrical Business
Some electric manufacturing and central-station
companies have spent large sums of money producing
motion-picture films advertising their business, but
owing to the obvious purpose thereof they have been
unable to secure the circulation that would be obtain-
able if the films were made primarily for entertainment
with the advertising presented less prominently but in
such a manner as to develop the electrical business.
Not only are these advertising companies compelled to
pay motion-picture producers large amounts for dis-
playing the pictures, but in many cases they are re-
fused circulation entirely because the public will not
pay admission to see pictures of an advertising charac-
ter and for which the producing company has already
been paid a large advertising fee. To display such pic-
tures at all it is therefore usually necessary to produce
them at electrical meetings, conventions, lectures, or in
the advertiser's own building. For presenting pictures
which are not easily circulated it has been suggested
that the owners maintain or rent theaters in the local-
ity where the pictures will have the best effect and issue
complimentary admission tickets to residents in differ-
ent sections of the city for successive performances.
By producing human-interest pictures which stimu-
late electrical business without laying too much empha-
sis on it,. Mr. L. G. H. Smith, of the Society for Elec-
trical Development, Inc., has succeeded in circulating
five reels through some of the leading motion-picture
circuits in this country. Not being connected with any
particular electrical manufacturing or central-station
company, the society has not been required to pay any
174
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 3
advertising fee. Its success in conducting this propa-
ganda has been due to the fact that no particular com-
panies' goods were displayed in the pictures and the
scenario was made of popular interest without forcing
the electrical features into prominence. Actors of one
of the large film-producing firms were employed to pose
for the pictures, their expenses, salaries and property
being paid for by the Society for Electrical Develop-
ment.
How the Curbstone Meter Reader Works
Sound argument against providing meter readers with
previous readings of customers' meters was presented by
Mr. M. J. Flynn, Kansas City, Kan., before the conven-
tion of the Kansas Water, Gas, Electric Light & Street
Railway Association. He said that unless the meter
readers are known and can be absolutely trusted, which
is generally the case in smaller cities, trouble is apt to
arise on account of the men filling in readings based on
customers' previous monthly bills. Also, the meter
reader, even though cautioned against the practice, is
likely to disclose the size of the other bills in the neigh-
borhood to certain customers, causing discontent if the
person informed happens to have paid more for service
that month than his neighbor. The practice of giving
the customer an estimate of his bill should also be dis-
couraged, for if the meter reader gives a wrong esti-
mate the customer is sure to believe that the company is
defrauding him.
Dealers Offered Commission by Central-Station
Company in Percolator Campaign
Different household electrical appliances are offered
each month at greatly reduced prices by the Edison
Electric Illuminating Company of Brooklyn, which is
encouraging the dealers to do likewise by giving them
commissions on each unit sold. The commission is
allowed by furnishing appliances to the dealers at lib-
eral discounts and allowing them to conduct their sales
independently but at the campaign price. During
November a coffee percolator was featured at $5. The
special sale was advertised on electrically illuminated
billboards, in newspapers and on folders which were
distributed with the electric-service bill. The last
method of reaching the consumers directly is consid-
ered very satisfactory by the appliance-sales manager,
as the expense of delivering the bill and folder attached
is no greater than for the bill alone. On one-half of the
folder is a description of the percolator with a state-
ment of its advantages and cost of operation. The
±H QO Kl YN.
SSPO-FIVE DOLLARS -*5P9
r>
Hi. I BILLBOARD ADVERTISING PERCOLATOR CAMPAIGN
other half is a posl card addressed to the central-sta
tion company winch can be filled in bj the consumer
deairii lator at the special price Ordj a lim-
ited number i ■• | ■ old each month al the
a] price, which ceases to be effective after the
month is 01
To attract the attention of persona who raaj pass bj
or visit the company's buildings the electric shop and
branch office show windows were equipped to display the
percolator prominently. Other devices are also exhib-
ited to arouse interest in the general use of electrical
appliances. The windows are dressed each month by
one of the leading window decorators in Brooklyn.
While the devices are sold at prices which are very at-
FIG. 2 — DISPLAY WINDOW IN BRANCH OFFICE
tractive to the public, the appliance-sales department
makes a desirable profit on each unit sold. The gross
profits are reported to average about $1,000 a month,
so that the appliance department is self-supporting.
Deliveries are made with an electric vehicle capable of
traveling about 75 miles on one charge.
Contractors and Central Station Co-operate in
Monthly Campaigns
Each month the Philadelphia (Pa.) Electric Com-
pany features some electrical appliance in a campaign
participated in by local contractors. In one campaign
recently conducted washing machines were offered at
about 82.5 per cent of the regular list price. All adver-
tising material was furnished by the electric-service
company. Contractors were required to act only as
agents, so it was unnecessary for them to go to any
expense in maintaining stock, preparing advertise-
ments and making deliveries.
Return post cards attached to green folders describ-
ing the washer and the terms of the special sale were
sent to each residence consumer with his monthly bill
for electric service. By signing and mailing the card
to the company consumers were enabled to reserve ma-
chines at the special price, provided they purchased
them within the month. Newspaper advertisements
were run for a period of ten days, using a different
paper each day, in the smaller newspapers double-col
unin announcements were published. A small amount
Of space was also employed in weekly editions to reach
certain localities. In each of these advertisements wen
published the names and location of branch offices and
conl factors taking part in the campaign.
To each agent having display i I nt a sam
pie washer for demonstration and also suitable da
tions for show windows. Display cards present ing
briefly the facts of the campaign were also distributed.
One feature of the campaign which made it especialb
sful was the six months' deferred payment al-
lowed. Consumers were allowed to pay $10 on receiv
January 16, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
175
ing the machine and to give $5 when paying electric-
service bills each month until the washer was paid for.
While washers were not offered on trial, this was done
in a number of cases with good results.
Outside demonstrators employed by the electric-serv-
ice company followed up all leads received through re-
turn post cards and other sources. They were allowed
YOU CAN SAVE
$15:22
on the price of this
Washing Machine
DURING September only, we offer our
customers a standard, guaranteed
Western Electric Washer and Wringer — regular price $85.00 — at
the very low price of $70.00, an actual net saving to you of $15.00.
Washing the Electric way is a boon to the housewife—it is the easiest,
quickest, the most thorough, s.uui.lm and economical way, and this is true
whether you do your own washing, have a servant to do it, or send it to a
laundry. Convince yourself — a demonstration in our Electric Shop or District
Offices places you under no obligation whatever.
Orders for the Electric Washing Machine and Wringer may be sent direct to
the Philadelphia Electric Shop at Tenth and Chestnut Sts., or turned in at
any of the following locations:
The Philadelphia Electric Company
NEWSPAPER ADVERTISEMENT WHICH INCLUDES CONTRACT-
ORS' NAMES
a liberal commission on each sale, as were also the con-
tractors. During the campaign 103 washers were sold,
probably 75 per cent of which were placed in homes on
the part-payment plan. Toaster stoves and percolators
were sold at other times on a similar basis, about 500
of the former and 250 of the latter being disposed of,
it is reported.
Keeping Industrial-Motor Users Satisfied
To secure a contract for supplying energy to large
motor users usually involves considerable time and ex-
pense, therefore every effort should be made to retain
their business by keeping them satisfied with their
electrical equipment as well as with the electric service.
The importance of keeping a consumer satisfied should
not be underestimated. Sometimes the customer's
grievance is of a kind which, after being investigated,
can be easily alleviated. At other times complaints may
be justly founded and require considerable effort to
clear up. In general, attending to small grievances
leaves as lasting impressions on the consumer as per-
forming greater services. A satisfied consumer is one
of the best business builders of the central station, as
he will employ more electrical equipment as occasion
demands and will often recommend the utilization of
electrical energy to others.
The facts mentioned above are realized by the Edison
Electric Illuminating Company of Brooklyn, N. Y.,
which makes it a point to keep in close touch with all
consumers using more than 50 hp in motors or whose
revenue is $2,400 a year or more. This is done by hav-
ing representatives of the service inspection bureau
call on the consumers periodically to inquire as to the
satisfactoriness of the service and to suggest, if pos-
sible, how the contracts can be adjusted to be more
advantageous to the consumer. In this way the central-
station company acquires the confidence of each con-
sumer and also prevents his receiving advice from un-
scrupulous engineers who may suggest changes whereby
they will profit personally. The chief object of this
consulting service is to develop additional business,
therefore it is especially important where only partial
service is being supplied. In such cases it may be only
necessary to explain advantages of modern electrical
equipment to effect the gradual electrification of the
complete plant.
To facilitate conducting the service inspection
bureau, a card-record system is employed. Copies of
both sides of one of the cards are shown herewith. One
side is for data relating to the customer's installation,
energy consumed, amount of bills, maximum demand,
form of contract, date of service connections, and ex-
piration of contract. The reverse side of the card is
devoted to the notation of results of inspection calls and
advertising material sent out. Every electric-service
bill of a consumer under the supervision of the service-
inspection bureau is checked by representatives thereof,
and the amount of the bill noted on the corresponding
SERVICE INSPECTION REPORT
191 K W. H.
M.D.
BILL .91 . K.W H
M. O.
BILL
........ I L«», [ "...
•-«•
«■»■' ' "-" i| '•'•"' i •"'—
« "
M..
...
J...
«...
...
oc
No.
OK
TO...
.... .»...„
tsx :::.*... :".'..»..,o.
no" 1 """"".....«-..
IT" IIZL 1
FIG. 1 — ONE SIDE OF CARD USED BY SERVICE INSPECTION
BUREAU
report card in the spaces provided for that purpose.
After comparing the card and bill to see if any appre-
ciable increase or decrease in energy consumption has
....
MR.
RESULT OF CALLS
«;:;..
FIG. 2 — REVERSE SIDE OF CARD USED BY SERVICE INSPECTION
BUREAU
been made, the manager of the bureau sends the bill
to the fiscal department, where it is mailed to the cus-
tomer. By this procedure occasions for complaints re-
garding incorrect billing are prevented. The card also
indicates whether the consumer is obtaining the maxi-
mum amount of possible service from the equipment
installed.
In selecting men to interview the owners of large
176
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 3
industrial installations the company gives consideration
to the following qualities: The representative must
have a personality and address which will enable him
to meet on equal terms the largest customers of the
company; he must have sufficient initiative and tact to
handle these customers without stirring up complaints,
and he should be able to anticipate grievances and have
them settled before they become realities. Further-
more, it is essential that the men be versed in engineer-
ing as well as salesmanship and be always alert
to the possibility of securing new business. In addition,
the representative must be of sufficient caliber to com-
prehend the full intent and purpose of the company in
making these interviews, and must realize his responsi-
bility in obtaining satisfactory results.
When the inspection service was first established
many of the consumers were curious to know why the
company inquired into the satisfactoriness of its serv-
ice. This opportunity was therefore taken to point out
to the consumer that the company desired to offer a
service which would assure them of the customer's
business in future years. Some of the complaints which
were settled to the satisfaction of the consumers follow:
In one case, where the consumer's bill was based on
the maximum demand, the motors were re-grouped to
give an increased output for the same expense. At
another place, where a private generating plant had
been shut down and the customer was heating his own
building, suggestions were made which reduced the
fuel cost approximately 50 per cent. Another customer
who was paying for energy for motors and lamps on
separate contracts was advised to sign a new contract
for the combined service to reduce his monthly bill.
Special Privileges for the Popcorn Man
A vender of popcorn and crackerjack in Leavenworth,
Kan., has the local central-station company's permission
to take electrical energy for lighting his wagon from
any outlet he can reach along the city's "white way."
Having secured this liberal arrangement, the popcorn
man is not obliged to conduct his business in any one
place, but can move about along the six blocks of "white
way," keeping his wagon always where trade is best.
Economics of the Rural-Customer Problem
Lines of the Noblesville (Ind.) Heat, Light & Power
Company constructed along country roads to supply
the farmers of Hamilton County with electric service
are built of 25-ft. poles spaced 200 ft. apart. Follow-
ing the company's standard practice, using No. 8 bare
hard-drawn copper wire and 30-in. telephone cross-
TABLE I — COST OF A MILE OF RURAL-SERVICE LINE.
131 OS
126 Ill
n 7n
high with -Vm lop)
■rire
i en telephone oro
.:t -
Fifty-tow i
Kifty-fnur
Flft v-fnnr
• 'itiv nnrl.i
m«l labor
arms, the average cost of a mile of line is as shown in
Table I.
This table of expense includes nothing for super-
vision, use of tools, insurance or interest, and it is
mated that the actual cost, including everything, is
about $300 a mile. The company therefore starts with
an initial investment of $100 a mile, since the farmer
customers deposit $200 a mile, and the company's in-
TABLE II — FINANCIAL DATA ON RURAL-SERVICE LINE.
Monthlv
Bill per
rtomer
Annual
Gross
per Mile
Annual
Net
jier Mile
Annual
Interest
Annual
Surplus
$1.00
*l> III!
$19.20
136
-$16.80
1 . 51 1
72.00
28.80
36
- 7.20
2.00
96.00
38.40
36
+ 2.40
120 00
48.00
36
+ 12.00
3.00
57.00
36
21.60
4 00
192.00
76 00
36
40.80
3fi
60.00
vestment is later increased to $300 a mile when it ac-
quires the line according to the plan outlined in the
ELECTRICAL WORLD of Oct. 11, 1913.
Assuming that 60 per cent of the gross revenue from
this line is used in operating expenses, then 40 per cent
"THE OLD HOMESTEAD" — A TYPICAL RURAL CUSTOMER
is left for interest, depreciation and profit. If interest
is assumed at 7 per cent and depreciation at 5 per cent,
then 12 per cent of $300, or $36, will need to be charged
against each mile of line. Table II, worked out on this
basis, shows how much revenue must be received from
each customer before his account is profitable.
From these data it will be seen that until the custom-
er's bill averages nearly $8 a month rural lines are not
a paying experiment under these conditions as the in-
terest and depreciation charge includes nothing for the
generating station. After the customer has passed the
$3 a month average bill, however, he becomes a profit-
able patron. During the development period the deficit
shown is somewhat offset because of the interest charge
being lower as the customer has had only a part of his
advance payment refunded.
January 16, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
177
Concentric Wire for Interior Lighting Circuits
Concentric wire such as is being advocated by many
as a means toward reducing the cost of electric wiring
and thus overcoming the greatest obstacle met by cen-
tral stations in soliciting the small consumer has been
FIG. 1 — T-JOINT BOX, SHOWING COMPONENT PARTS
used with success in England and on the European con-
tinent for some time.
In England Stannos wires manufactured by Siemens
Brothers & Company have come into extensive use for
this purpose, having been introduced in that country for
the same purpose as concentric wire is advocated in
America.
Stannos wire consists of a single or stranded tinned-
copper wire insulated with pure and vulcanized India
rubber, taped and then lapped round twice by a closely
fitted, compressed sheet of tinned copper, the whole
being rendered homogeneous by a special process and
tested at a pressure of 1000 volts. Two conductors are
hence available, the one being the wire core and the
other the sheathing. When used as concentric wire
both the core and the sheathing are utilized as conduc-
tors. In such a case the sheathing, the sectional area
of which is slightly greater than that of the inner con-
FIG. 2 — CONTINUITY BUSBAR FOR FUSE BOARD
ductor, is grounded. In the case of a three-wire system
two concentric wires are employed, their sheathings
being connected together and grounded.
This wire may be used for either surface or concealed
work. When used for surface work it is attached to
the walls, ceilings, etc., by means of clips taking one
or more wires. Being small in size, the presence of the
wire is often not objectionable. When the wire is used
for concealed work chases are first cut into the plaster
and the wires are laid in them, being held in place, if
necessary, by cushion clips. The chases are then filled
with plaster and the wire thus concealed.
FIG. 3 — TINNED-COPPER EARTHING CLIP
In installing wires care is always taken that an effi-
cient grounding connection shall be made at every dis-
tribution board or fuse box with the nearest water main.
Some idea of the fittings employed can be attained from
the accompanying illustrations. Fig. 1 shows a T-joint
box. The sheathings, it will be noticed, are electrically
connected, and the shell of the box and the inner con-
ductors are fastened together by means of solder and a
special clip.
Fig. 2 shows a typical continuity busbar. The sheath-
ings are all clamped as shown to the metallic busbar,
and the inner conductors of the concentric wire are
allowed to project for connection to another busbar or
terminal.
In Fig. 3 is shown a tinned-copper earthing clip suita-
ble for bolting to a continuity busbar or for earthing
the sheathing before looping in and out of a meter, or
when connected to any piece of apparatus with two
terminals. The concentric wire is inserted in the sec-
tionalized cylindrical portion of the clamp and is firmly
held in place when a bolt is passed through the clamp-
ing tongues.
Fig. 4 shows a typical house-service box for this type
of wire. By using a box, a row of contiguous houses
can be served from one feeder. The box is of galvan-
FIG. 4 — HOUSE-SERVICE BOX
ized cast-iron and is suitable for bolting vertically to
a wall in an exposed location, if necessary. The low-
tension concentric service cable enters the sealing
chamber forming a part of all fittings at the bottom.
The lead sheathing of the cable is wiped to the box and
the armoring is bonded to the box by means of a
wrought-iron clamp as shown. The outer conductor of
the concentric cable is bunched and sweated into a fit-
ting which is bonded to the upper part of the box.
Stannos wire is supplied in coils having a diameter of
about 21 in. When being unwound from the coils the
wire is fastened immediately to its supports by means
of saddles .or clips. The wire can be bent by hand or by
means of bending tools. Bends and elbows are hence
unnecessary, and no large stock of fittings need be
maintained by the electrical contractor. Erection of the
wires is easily and cheaply done, and perfect continuity
is obtained by means of special fixtures provided.
178
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 3
NEW APPARATUS AND APPLIANCES
Socket for Large Incandescent Lamps
The "mogul" socket shown herewith is of the brass-
shell type and is designed for use with nitrogen-filled
incandescent lamps. The device is rated at 1500 watts
at a pressure of 600 volts. It can be provided with a
shade holder, which is permanently attached or not, as
desired. Caps of two sizes are employed, the diameter
BRASS-SHELL SOCKET FOR LARGE-SIZED INCANDESCENT
LAMP
of one being % in. and that of the other Vfc 'n- The
shell and cap are fastened together by means of a screw
thread and held in place by a steel set screw. The de-
vice is finished in brush brass and is being placed on
the market by Harvey Hubbell, Inc., Bridgeport, Conn.
Exhaust Fan with Inclosed Motor
The accompanying illustration shows an exhaust fan
with motor fully inclosed recently developed for use in
spraying booths. The fan removes from the booth the
vaporized air and objectionable odors which arise from
the spraying materials and which are injurious to the
health of the operator. The body casting and the front
and • rear heads are made solid, and they prevent the
spraying materials which are drawn to the motor by suc-
tion from accumulating on the working parts and affect-
ing the operation of the motor. The motor can also be
used for any class of service where protection is neces-
sary, and especially where the air contains grease, grit,
acids and other substances which are injurious to the
windings and commutator of the motor. Both 12-in.
EXHAUST KAN FOR SPRAYING Hon
and 16 -in. fan:- arc being made, and the motors operate
on dired current and i urrent The 12-in.
fan has an ail il of L600 CU. ft to 2000
cu. ft. of air per minute, while the L6-in. (an displaces
I'rom 2200 cu. ft to 8800 CU. ft. per minute. Th<' tans
leing placed on the markel bj the Robbins & Myer
' lompany, Springfield, Ohio
Transformer Fuse Block
In the fuse-block for high-voltage operation shown
herewith the fuse link is carried between two blocks of
limestone which are held together by two springs. When
the fuse blows the molten metal is immediately flattened
out to a non-conducting state by the 14-lb. pressure of
the springs. The rapid quenching of the arc, due to an
action somewhat similar to that of the oil in an oil
switch, together with the absence of air pockets, makes
the amount of gas generated insignificant, preventing
any possibility of explosion. The tendency for the re-
1 — TRANSFORMER FUSE
BLOCK AND PLUG
FIG. 2 — COMPLETE TRANS-
FORMER CUT-OUT
movable plug to be blown out is also avoided. The bar-
riers shown in the sectional view also assist in quench-
ing the arc and increase the effective air-gap. The lat-
ter advantage is of special value when men are working
on a "dead" transformer.
Thin strips of metal alloy, cut by dies, form the fuse
elements. These fuse strips are inexpensive, and by
reason of the relatively great length of working ma-
terial in the fuse link, the exclusion of air currents, the
restricted radiation of heat and the liberal area of con-
tacts the fuses are extremely accurate in operation. The
blocks themselves are formed of glazed porcelain and are
very substantial. Such a block as that illustrated is
capable of withstanding the explosive effects incidental
to interrupting 1000 kw or more, at 2400 volts.
At small cost these fuse blocks may be shunted with
horn-gaps for protection in sections where lightning
conditions are severe. The practice of installing light-
ning arresters on the same poles as grounded trans-
former cases has resulted in an increase in the number
of fuse blocks destroyed, but the use of the horn-gap
device referred to has, it is declared, reduced to a negli-
gible quantity some of the worst troubles of the kind
reported from the severest thunder zones of the Middle
West.
Protection against the entrance of moisture and smoke
is afforded by the absence of breathing action in these
fuse blocks. The fuse strips arc also covered with
FIG. •". PLUG DISASSEMBLED, SHOWING
enamel which guards the metal against corrosion. The
plug handle is so proportioned thai it can be grasped
firmly by the lineman when wearing rudder gloves. A
wide shield atl'onls the operator protection should the
CUl "lit be replaced while a short circuit exists. To
prevent the plug tailing to the ground while out of the
block the handle is provided with a cord by which it is
January 16, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
179
held while the fuse is being renewed or while the line-
man goes elsewhere hunting trouble.
To meet especially destructive atmospheric conditions,
the Chemelectric Company, 4327 Kenmore Avenue, Chi-
cago, maker of the "S. & H." fuse block above described,
has also brought out an oil-filled fuse block in which the
porcelain and current-carrying parts are entirely sub-
merged in oil while the entire block is inclosed in a
strong metal case. Several of these oil-filled fuse blocks
have been in service for several years in industrial dis-
tricts. Their use is recommended in the vicinity of gas
works, ore crushers and unloaders, mines, smelters, etc.
The cut-out is being placed on the market by the G. &
W. Electric Specialty Company, 6306 Blackstone Ave-
nue, Chicago, 111.
Electrically Operated Motion-Picture Reel
A method by which a motion-picture film may be
drawn from the inside of the reel rather than from the
outside, thus eliminating the need of rewinding the
film by hand, has recently been devised. The apparatus
developed is shown in the accompanying illustration.
The outside face of the reel is stationary. The inside
face and the spool around which the film is rolled are
removable and are geared to a small motor through a
magnetic clutch. The film passes from the reel over a
movable roller which is connected to a small switch.
When the film becomes taut the switch closes, the mag-
netic clutch is energized, and the reel is revolved by the
motor, thus loosening the film. When the film becomes
sufficiently loose the switch opens and the reel stops re-
APPARATUS FOR ELECTRICALLY OPERATING MOTION-
PICTURE REEL
volving. Thus the film is fed out at just the right rate
of speed, it is declared, and never becomes so tight as
to break or so loose as to tangle.
The apparatus is being placed on the market by the
Northern Sales Company, Toledo, Ohio, and the motor
used in its operation is made by the Westinghouse Elec-
tric & Manufacturing Company, East Pittsburgh, Pa.
Public Electric- Vehicle-Charging Station
A compact charging station for electric automobiles,
which is inclosed in a weatherproof box and is mounted
on a pedestal so that it can be placed near the curb, is
shown in the accompanying illustration. A charging
cable and plug are provided, and while the battery is
being charged the door can be closed and locked. A
FIGS. 1 and 2-
-CURB CHARGING STATION FOR ELECTRIC
AUTOMOBILES
regulating rheostat, ammeter, polarity indicator, lamp,
switches, etc., are mounted on a slate panel as shown
in Fig. 1. The box is of sheet steel and is electrically
welded. The pedestal is of cast iron. Connection with
the direct-current supply is made through conduit pass-
ing underneath the sidewalk. A prepayment meter may
be used if desired, but on account of the numerous sizes
and kinds of batteries and varying conditions an at-
tendant is usually required.
This device for charging electric cars at the curb is
made in two sizes with ratings of 100 amp and 150 amp
and is being placed on the market by Clarence E. Ogden,
514 Mercantile Library Building, Cincinnati, Ohio.
Garage Floor Lamp
The fixture shown in the accompanying illustration
is designed for garage use and is equipped
with a heavy cast-iron base 22 in. in
diameter. The device is also provided with
heavy telescopic brass tubing by means of
which the height of the lamp can be adjust-
ed from 3.5 ft. to 6 ft. A reflector is pro-
vided for the lamp cluster, and the lamps
are protected by a heavy guard. The re-
flector is attached to the upright by a
swinging joint, so that it can be tipped up
or down or swung in any direction. The
fixture is equipped with 20 ft. of waterproof
■cord and a two-piece plug. The complete
weight of the device with its various ap-
^~\»-j purtenances is 25 lb.
The stand described above is being
manufactured by Frank W. Morse, 516 Atlantic Ave-
nue, Boston, Mass.
180
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 3
Electric Internal Grinder
An electric grinder designed for grinding gasoline-
engine cylinders, air cylinders, etc., has been developed
by the Standard Electric Tool Company, Cincinnati,
ELECTRIC GRINDER
Ohio. An attachment is provided so that the grinder
can be fastened to the tool post of a lathe. A universal
motor operating on both alternating current and direct
current operates the grinder. The emery wheel is 3.5 in.
in diameter and has a 1-in. face. Ball bearings are used
throughout. The weight of the tool is 35 lb.
Small Battery-Charging Outfit
A dynamo for charging 6-volt and 12-volt batteries
has been developed by the Esterline Company, Indian-
apolis, Ind. The dynamo is equipped with a pulley
which can be belted to a line shaft driven by an electric
motor. It is fully inclosed to keep out dust and dirt
and is fitted with large-sized ball bearings running in
oil. Dynamos with ratings of 12 amp and 18 amp are
being made.
The switchboard has been provided with an ammeter
and an automatic switch for connecting the batteries to
the generator and for disconnecting them in case the
generator should for any reason be shut down. Pro-
vision is also made on the board for connecting four
MOBILE BATTERY-CHARGING OUTFH
batteries to the dynamo al one tunc. The switchboard
n. ami can be mounted mi the wall or
near t<> the wall. All permanent conni made
m the rear of the board and the battery connections on
the front of the board.
Gas-Engine Magneto
A magneto designed for use on internal-combustion
engines has been developed by the British Thomson-
Houston Company, Ltd., Rugby, Eng. The device is
equipped with a base and end plate of aluminum and is
completely inclosed. A small opening in the top of the
magneto covered with fine gauze is provided so that air
can reach the armature, thereby dissipating any vapors
which may be formed. The magnets are of tungsten
steel. For safeguarding the armature insulation in
«-»-'"
EXPLODED VIEW OF GAS-ENGINE MAGNETO
case the voltage rises to an abnormal value a spark-gap
is provided.
In the accompanying illustration is shown an exploded
view of a magneto designed for use on motor cycles.
The high-tension slip-ring is on the left of the arma-
ture, and the condenser on the right. The end cover on
the extreme right of the illustration shows the arrange-
ment of the high-tension terminal, which is waterproof.
The magneto is made in three models, a small type be-
ing used for single-cylinder motor cycles and two larger
sizes for use on four-cylinder automobiles.
Electric Bench Drill
The motor-driven bench drill shown herewith is
equipped with a movable table 6% in. in diameter and a
fixed table 6.75 in. wide by 7.5 in. long. The drill is belt-
Klc AMY OPERATED BENCH DRILL
connected to a ' g-hp motor operating at 1750 r.p.m. The
bell is i m. wide and may be tightened by thumb-screw
adjustment. The switch is at the ide Ol the drill press
as shown in the illustration. The weight of the device
is »'>!> Hi. and the height is 22 in. The maximum (lis-
January 16, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
181
tance from chuck to the movable table is 8 in. and maxi-
mum distance from chuck to fixed table is 13.5 in. The
distance from the column to the spindle is 4% in.
Spindle speeds of 925 r.p.m. and 2900 r.p.m. can be ob-
tained. The head, with motor attached, can be lowered
and swung through 180 deg. so that the drill will clear
the base. The drill is being made by H. G. Crane,
Brookline, Mass., and is operated by a Holtzer-Cabot
motor.
Combination Switch and Meter Protective Device
Because of the movement to inclose and to protect the
various energy-carrying parts of a circuit, an interlocked
service switch and meter-protecting device have been
developed by the Metropolitan Engineering Company,
Brooklyn, N. Y. The switch is shown in the open posi-
FIG. 1 — INCLOSED SERVICE SWITCH IN OPEN POSITION
tion in Fig. 1. In this illustration the plug fuses util-
ized are plainly shown. The switch mechanism can be
sealed in the closed or open position, or it may be left
unsealed so that the consumer can renew the fuses when
they blow out or become defective. Open wiring may
be employed in place of conduit when so desired. Use is
made of a double-break plunger switch which is actu-
ated by springs. The switch box is provided with
FIG. 2 — METER AND PROTECTING DEVICE AND INCLOSED
SWITCH IN LOCKED POSITION
knock-outs at both ends and sides, and several sizes of
conduit may be employed. At the top of the box pro-
vision is made for a metallic cover for the conductors
leading from the box to the meter. This cover or
"adapter," as it is called, is made in various sizes to
take various types of meters. In Fig. 2 the meter and
its protecting device and the switch in the closed posi-
tion are shown. The box is locked and the switch can-
not be tampered with.
Motor-Generator Set for Motion-Picture Service
A motor-generator set designed for motion-picture
service is shown herewith. The set will supply sufficient
energy to feed the arcs of two moving-picture machines
at one time, such an operation often being necessary
where two reels are used and it is designed to maintain
continuous service. The generator is designed to give
an emf of 75 volts at all loads, the manufacturer de-
MOTOR-GENERATOR FOR MOTION-PICTURE APPARATUS
clares, so that there will be a drop of 25 volts in the
ballast resistor, leaving a potential of 50 volts for the
arc. The outfit has been developed by the Westinghouse
Electric & Manufacturing Company, East Pittsburgh,
Pa.
Portable Alternating-Current Volt-Ammeter for
Signal Systems
A portable volt-ammeter designed for use in testing
alternating-current railway signal systems has just been
placed on the market by the Roller-Smith Company, 203
Broadway, New York. The instrument is inclosed in an
FIG. 1 — ALTERNATING-CURRENT VOLT-AMMETER
oak case which is provided with a leather handle, hinged
cover and snap catch. Use is made of heavy binding
posts having non-removable tops and a zero adjuster
conveniently placed for manipulation. Each binding
post is marked with a numeral corresponding to the
182
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 3
scale value obtained when that binding post is employed.
A feature of this instrument is the method of indicating
by diagrams on the scale, as shown in Fig. 2, the ranges
or direct-current motor as desired, operating on 110
volts or 220 volts. A Jacobs chuck is used with the No.
1 spindle, which can be used to drill holes up to J 2 in.
in diameter. The No. 2 spindle can be utilized for
holes up to % in- in diameter. The maximum speed of
the former is 450 r.p.m. and that of the latter 225 r.p.m.
The tools described above are manufactured by the
Stow Manufacturing Company, Binghamton, N. Y.
Electric Cooking Installation in Hospital
The large-sized electric range and boiler shown here-
with were recently installed in Mount St. Mary's Hos-
pital, Niagara Falls, N. Y. The range is equipped with
FIG. 2 — DIAL OF VOLT-AMMETER
and data covering the values for each scale division.
The instrument is calibrated for the frequency on which
it is used. The dimensions are 6"s in. by 7 in. by 4%
in., and the weight is 7 lb.
Electric Grinder and Drill
The electrically operated grinder shown in Fig. 1 is
of the tool-post or center type. The grinder may be
provided with a slide or used without one as desired.
Improved bearings have recently been developed for the
grinder so that accurate work can be produced. There
is no tendency, the manufacturers declare, for the arma-
ture shaft to crowd into the bearings. The device oper-
ates on alternating current or direct current at pres-
sures of 110 volts or 220 volts as desired.
In Fig. 2 is shown an electric breast drill also re-
cently placed on the market. The switch is conveniently
placed in the handle. The diameter of the body is 5%
in. and the height above the chuck is 13 in. The drill
may be used with alternating-current circuits or direct-
current circuits. The weight of the alternating-current
device is 22 lb., and that of the direct-current device
is 20 lb. Holes with diameters up to ] 2 in. can be
drilled in iron or steel and up to 1 in. in wood. A
Jennings bit is employed with the drill. The reduction
ELECTRIC KITCHEN IN HOSPITAL
four ovens and is constructed with the necessary baf-
fles and insulated walls and doors. The top plates are
of polished steel. Use is made of both high-heat and
low-heat units which are arranged in series so that both
lie. 1 ELECTRIC Tool rosr GRINDER PIG. 2 ELECTRII BREAST DRII.I
FIG. 3- ELECTRIC TWO-SPINDLI i>i:n I
ued bo thai the power is transc
equally from opposite points of each gear.
The drill shown in Fig-. :'. is a two-speed, two
device and is provided with screw feed and a breasl
plate, It may be equipped with an alternating-current
the top plates and the ovens may be operated either
jointly or independently of one another.
The installation of the electric cooking apparatus
described above was made by the Bernard Gloekler
Company, Pittsburgh, Pa,
January 16, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
183
A National Electrical Week
The success which attended the celebration of Edison
day, coupled with the rapidly growing impulse of the
electrical industry to express itself and exploit the pos-
sibilities of service to the public, has caused a good
deal of quiet discussion in the last few months. This
discussion has gradually produced a sentiment in favor
of a nation-wide celebration, preferably a celebration
throughout an entire week next fall. On the call of Mr.
J. M. Wakeman, general manager of the Society for
Electrical Development, a meeting was held at his office
in New York City on Friday, Jan. 8, attended by pub-
licity men and representatives of manufacturers, central
stations, jobbers, contractors, dealers and trade and
technical journals.
As a result of its deliberations the meeting decided
to recommend to the board of directors of the society
the inauguration of a vigorous sales and educational
campaign during the week of Oct. 18, 1915. The plan
contemplates the co-operation of all affiliated interests
in the electrical industry with national manufacturers
and with civic bodies to promote the better lighting of
streets, stores, factories, schools and homes, all with
. the aim to show how general business in each commun-
ity may be advanced by the larger use of electricity in
all its applications.
Those present at the meeting, in addition to Mr.
Wakeman and his staff, were Messrs. L. D. Gibbs, Edi-
son Electric Illuminating Company of Boston; E. W.
Lloyd, Commonwealth Edison Company of Chicago; H.
K. Mohr, Philadelphia Electric Company; George Wil-
liams, Henry L. Doherty & Company : F. H. Gale, Gen-
eral Electric Company ; J. C. McQuiston, Westinghouse
Electric & Manufacturing Company; W. D. Lindsey,
Western Electric Company; W. H. Tapley, Crocker-
Wheeler Company; Elliott Reid, Westinghouse Lamp
Company; H. E. Dawson, Edison Lamp Works; J. R.
Strong, Tucker Electric Construction Company; Hugh
M. Wilson, Electrical World; H. C. Cushing, Central
Stations; N. W. Gage, Electrical Record; Norman Mac-
beth, Lighting Journal, and E. E. Whitehorne, Electri-
cal Merchandise.
Among the suggestions made as to ways and means of
promoting the plan was to enlist the co-operation of
the Jovian Order and other electrical societies and asso-
ciations, and of national advertisers who might use their
space in the magazines to arouse the interest of the
public and to get their customers to make special win-
dow displays during electrical week; the co-operation
of mayors and other functionaries of towns and cities;
the co-operation of boards of trade, chambers of com-
merce and like civic organizations ; the inauguration of
"white way" lighting and similar attractions to bring
people into the cities ; a campaign on the part of elec-
trical contractors to encourage all merchants to increase
greatly their window illumination and display during
the week; activities on the part of central stations in
the way of offering prizes for the best lighted stores,
best display of electrical merchandise, best illumination
of displays of other merchandise, as well as liberal ad-
vertising campaigns in local newspapers prior to and
during the electrical week; parades of electric vehicles,
floats, etc. It was suggested also that the society pre-
pare special posters for billboard and other use to be
sold at cost to those desiring to use them in advertis-
ing the carnival, prepare special literature for distri-
bution by central stations, supply dealers, contractors
and others, arrange for lectures, special meetings, arti-
cles in trade papers, newspapers, popular magazines, etc.
If the board accepts the suggestion, a special commit-
tee will probably be appointed to take charge of the
work under the direction of the general manager of
the society, sub-committees and local committees all
over the United States and Canada taking charge of the
details.
Electrical Manufacturers to Organize
Acting on the suggestion of the special committee of
electrical interests at a meeting in the Hotel Biltmore,
New York, on Jan. 12, representatives of various elec-
trical manufacturing companies met in the same hotel
last Tuesday afternoon to discuss the formation of an
organization of manufacturers whose function it would
be to deal with the commercial problems of the indus-
try. Mr. R. K. Sheppard, of the B. F. Goodrich Com-
pany, Akron, Ohio, who was chairman of the special
committee of electrical interests from which the sugges-
tion emanated, was chosen chairman of the meeting, and
Mr. H. R. Sargent, of the General Electric Company,
secretary.
Although the situation arising over the activity of the
lighting companies in pushing consideration of a
grounded concentric-wiring system was the immediate
reason for calling an organization of manufacturers into
being, the thought was expressed by many present,
notably Messrs. A. W. Burchard, of the General Electric
Company, L. A. Osborne, of the Westinghouse Electric
& Manufacturing Company, and C. Eidlitz, of the Metro-
politan Electric Manufacturing Company, that a manu-
facturers' organization must have a much broader scope.
The Electric Manufacturers' Club and the Electric
Power Club were both cited as manufacturers' organiza-
tions already in existence and doing excellent work.
Neither, however, was large enough or comprehensive
enough in organization to meet the situation. It was
felt that any new organization should co-operate with
both existing organizations so that duplication of work
could be avoided.
The discussion centered in the recommendations of
the special committee of electrical interests made to the
general meeting held Tuesday morning. The three
definite recommendations made by the special commit-
tee were taken up and voted on. It was decided to place
the matter of organization in the hands of a representa-
tive committee of nine, which will report to a general
meeting to be called later. With reference to the for-
mation of a committee of commercial and technical ex-
perts to investigate and pass on the relative efficiencies
of the concentric-wiring system and the systems at
present in use in this country, it was voted that a com-
mittee of five be appointed to draft for the next meet-
ing nominations for such a committee to take in the
work outlined in the report at the morning session of
electrical interests given elsewhere in this issue.
The proposal to have a publicity committee which
would distribute broadcast information obtained on all-
insulated systems of wiring and on all-grounded sys-
tems of wiring, and which would in addition give out the
184
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 3
findings and recommendations of the committee of
commercial and technical experts, was laid on the table
by divided vote. It was the sense of the meeting that
the committee on organization report at a general meet-
ing to be called on Feb. 9 to which electrical manufac-
turers from all over the country would be invited.
Accounting Section for the N. E. L. A.
The accounting committee of the National Electric
Light Association met in New York on Jan. 12. Mr.
H. M. Edwards, the chairman, presided. Definite steps
were taken toward the organization of an accounting
section of the association. By-laws were framed and
will be filed with the executive committee of the N. E.
L. A. for approval. It is proposed to conduct the sec-
tion as an internal organization within the N. E. L. A.
rather than as a separate association. As this form of
organization is experimental and the committee had no
rules to serve as a precedent, the extent to which the
new section will be autonomous was not worked out.
After the approval of the executive committee of the
main body the new section will be ready to complete its
organization as to officers and work at the June con-
vention, at which Pacific Coast conditions will be dealt
with.
Members of standing committees were appointed.
The committee discussed the question of interdepart-
mental charges. This was referred to the committee
on the uniform system of accounts with the idea that it
shall be taken up with similar bodies in other classes
of utilities so that uniform progress may be made in
the distribution of interdepartmental charges. It is
proposed to call attention through a notice in the N. E.
L. A. Bulletin to the organization of a question-box com-
mittee which will promote the consideration of account-
ing questions through that publication.
Water-Power Legislation in Congress
The Senate committee on commerce has reported a
substitute for the Adamson water-power bill, and the
Senate committee on public lands has reported the
Ferris water-power bill with a number of changes.
Mr. Gifford Pinchot, president of the National Con-
servation Congress, has issued a statement in Wash
ington attacking the substitute for the Adamson bill.
This substitute Mr. Pinchot calls "the Shields bill,"
because the name of Senator Shields is attached to the
report on the Adamson bill. The Adamson bill was
stricken out by the committee and a new bill written.
.Mr. Pinchot says, in part:
"The Shields bill ostensibly provides for a method of
terminating the water-power grant at the end of fifty
years. As a matter of fact, it appears to have been care-
fully drawn so as to make it practically impossible for
the United States to resume its rights. The Shields bill
gives to the water-power interests the right to condemn
any land, public or private — a right which they should
never have."
Patent Office Congestion
On Jan. 5, 1915, there were issued by the United
States Patent Office L08S patents, the largest number
ever issued in one week. The accompanying table shows
that u the congestion in the Patent Office
is greater than it has been for many years, new cases
in some divisions being badly neglected in favor of
old cases.
On Jan. 1, 1907. the Patent Office was less than two
months behind on new amended cases, and there were
only 10,674 applications awaiting Patent Office action.
On Jan. 12, 1908, the office had fallen over five months
behind on new work and four and a half months behind
on amended work in some divisions, and 18,540 cases
were awaiting action. The conditions improved some-
what during 1909 and 1910, but since then they have
become rapidly worse except in old cases. Action on
old cases is now very prompt — some being taken up
within a week or ten days. Some examiners are now
very strict in admitting amendments in old cases and
are inclined to give final action even when amendments
of a substantial character have just been made, the idea
being to close the prosecution at once.
Twenty-two divisions out of forty-three under which
the work is conducted are now less than one month
behind on amended cases and seventeen are less than
CONDITION HI APPLICATIONS IN PATENT OFFICE
Year
Number of
Patent*
Issued
Number of
Applications
Filed
Applications
Awaiting
PiitOIl! 1
Dec. 31
Months Behind on
Oldest t'\sr* Awuting
Al no\ on IlKr. 31
Not
1910
.;:, [68
3.6
3.0
1911
32.917
07.370
iv ;n
4.0
3.0
1912
36,231
68,968
7.8
6.0
1913
13,842
68,117
8.8
4.5
1914
39.946
70,1 ■
10.0
•Approximated.
two months behind. The four others are less than three
months behind on old work. On new work two divisions
are about ten months behind on some cases. One
division is nine months behind; two, eight months;
three, seven months; nine, over six months; three, over
five months ; three, over four months ; twelve, over three
months ; one, over two months ; four, over one month,
and three are about one month behind.
The printing of the patents has been so greatly de-
layed that the record of electrical patents dated Jan. •">.
1915, which should have appeared in this issue of the
Electrical World, has had to be postponed for one
week.
Federal Trade Commission as a Tariff Commission
President Wilson's announcement in his Indianapolis
speech that he believes that the Federal Trade Com-
mission which is soon to come into existence has the
powers, duties anil responsibilities of a tariff commis-
sion has created a profound impression among leaders
in Congress. Members of the finance committee of the
Senate and of the ways and means committee of the
House of Representatives take the President's words to
mean that there may be a revision of some schedules
of the tariff during the present administration.
It is said in Washington that unless such a revision
were in mind there would have been no reason why
President Wilson should lav such emphasis on the prob-
able tariff-making powers of the commission. The dis-
closure in Washington, following the President's speech,
that it was Representative Underwood, now chairman
of the House ways anil means rommittee, and as such
one of the leaders in framing the present tariff law. who
was responsible for the phrases m the Federal Trade
Commission law under which the President says the
commission will be so empowered has lent strength to
I he belief that a revision of some of the tariff schedules
i< at least contemplated
January 16, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
185
The President's views as to the powers of the Federal
Trade Commission still further explain the very great
care and amount of time he is devoting to selecting
members of the commission. It is readily understood
in Washington that if President Wilson is obliged to
look into the tariff opinions of possible members of the
commission, in addition to other opinions which pos-
sible members may hold, he has a much larger task in
selecting the commission than was at first supposed.
Some progress has been made in regard to composing
the differences of opinion between Senators and the
White House over appointments to public office.
Mr. Joseph E. Davies, Commissioner of Corporations,
and Mr. Dudley Field Malone, Collector of the Port of
New York, have introduced to President Wilson former
Representative Alfred Lucking, of Detroit, Democratic
candidate for Senator two years ago against Senator
William Alden Smith, of Michigan, as a possible
appointee to the commission.
Further Discussion on Concentric Wiring by Elec-
trical Interests
On Tuesday of this week there was a meeting of the
general committee of electrical interests at the Hotel
Biltmore, New York City, to hear the report of the
special committee appointed Dec. 22 to confer with the
sub-committee on concentric wiring appointed by the
National Fire Protection Association. As stated in
these columns last week, the former committee met with
the sub-committee of the Underwriters on Jan. 1. After
a thorough presentation of the case by Mr. R. K. Shep-
pard, the sub-committee on concentric wiring, of which
Mr. W. H. Blood, Jr., is chairman, offered to modify the
proposed preamble which it had drawn up for presenta-
tion at the March meeting of the National Fire Pro-
tection Association at which changes in the National
Electrical Code will be considered. The preamble as
revised is as follows:
Grounded Concentric Wiring Systems
"The committee reports progress and desires to be
continued for further investigation of the subject. As
a matter of information, at the present time, however,
the following statements and a set of suggested require-
ments illustrating the rules for one possible form of
system are presented.
"The committee does not at this time recommend
these or any rules for concentric wiring for inclusion
in the National Electrical Code, but recommends that
this report in full be filed with the secretary of the
electrical committee of the National Fire Protection
Association and with the Underwriters' Laboratories,
Inc., and that by them copies of it may be furnished
upon request to applicants therefor.
"The interest in a system of grounded concentric
wiring has arisen chiefly from two considerations —
first, a desire for a system of wiring possessing advan-
tages of low cost, ease of installation and good appear-
ance; second, a desire to protect persons against injury
by the use of a grounded system having no ungrounded
exposed carrying parts.
"It is the intent of the following suggestions and
illustrative rules to prescribe only for possible experi-
mental and development purposes the general conditions
for a system of grounded concentric wiring. These illus-
trative rules are, therefore, only a partial outline of
possible furture requirements and are subject to
revision, modification and extension resulting from fur-
ther information and experience when such is obtained.
A system which fulfils the condition outlined below and
no more will not necessarily be acceptable, and sugges-
tions for the further development of similar systems and
the requirements applying to them are invited. All
appliances and systems should be submitted to the
Underwriters' Laboratories for inspection and report."
In the opinion of the special committee of electrical
interests the proposed preamble with rules drawn up
by Mr. Blood's committee, if it were adopted by the
National Fire Protection Association, would, whether
so intended or not, permit such free use of the authority
to place in service trial installations that the system
would promptly find commercial uses beyond the possi-
bility of control by the inspection departments of the
National Board of Fire Underwriters or inspection
departments of other governing bodies either national,
state or municipal.
Committee of Business and Technical Experts Recommended
Mr. R. K. Sheppard, as chairman of the special com-
mittee, also formulated and presented for consideration
specific suggestions looking to the ultimate, wisest solu-
tion of the entire problem of concentric wiring as his
committee saw it. Acting on the suggestion of Mr.
H. R. Sargent, a member of the sub-committee on con-
centric wiring, the special committee of electrical in-
terests recommended that for the purpose of studying
rapidly and thoroughly both the present practice of all-
insulated circuits and, coincidently, the principle of
grounded-return circuits, and endeavoring to produce
something better, the electrical manufacturers appoint
a representative committee of business and technical
experts, possibly including in its personnel representa-
tives of research and development departments of manu-
facturing and other enterprises, including the Under-
writers' Laboratories and the National Electric Light
Association.
The committee suggested that to that committee the
industry should intrust: First, the determination of the
relative efficiencies of the two systems, (a) as to safety
to persons, (b) as to protection against fire, (c) as to
the possible provision of methods of wiring at low cost,
combined with ease of installation and sufficiently
attractive appearance to obtain popular approval;
second, the presentation to the entire industry of the
results of its investigation, in the form of concrete
recommendations including standard systems, standard
devices and standard appliances.
Publicity Committee Suggested
The second suggestion of the special committee was
that the electrical manufacturers be requested to
appoint a publicity committee to search out, obtain and
publish in the trade journals and through other suitable
mediums as many facts as can be discovered having
either an interesting or an important bearing on the
subjects "Concentric Wiring," "All-Insulated Return
Circuits for Interior Wiring of Structures in America"
and "All-Grounded Return Circuits for Interior Wiring
of Structures in America." It was also suggested that
to this publicity committee the proposed representative
committee of business and technical experts be directed
by the electrical manufacturers to deliver frequently for
publication in the trade journals and through other suit-
able mediums full accounts of the progress of the in-
vestigations, stating results obtained and, as rapidly
as formulated, the recommendations which ultimately
will be assembled into the final, complete report of the
representative committee of business and technical ex-
perts to the electrical manufacturers.
Manufacturers' Organization Urged
The third specific suggestion of the special committee
pertained to organized co-operation throughout the elec-
trical industry, to be arranged only in complete com-
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 3
pliance with the laws of the land, both federal and state.
The committee pointed out that the central-station in-
erests have the National Electric Light Association, the
fire-insurance companies of the country their National
Board of Fire Underwriters and their National Fire
Protection Association, the electrical jobbers their Elec-
trical Supply Jobbers' Association, the electrical con-
tractors their National Electrical Contractors' Associa-
tion, and that apparently the manufacturers are not now
equipped with the machinery for concerted action. The
committee suggested the wisdom of immediate consid-
eration of this problem by the manufacturers then
present.
Assuming that an association of manufacturers can
be satisfactorily maintained under federal and state
laws, a direct and prompt return from a proper organ-
ization into a working body of the many different sec-
tions of the manufacturing branch of the electrical
industry was described to the committee by Mr. W. H.
Merrill, manager of the Underwriters' Laboratories, Inc.
More than 1000 factories included in fully 100 different
industries in the United States are working with and
are served by the laboratories. Of those 100 odd indus-
tries several already are enjoying the abundant benefits
of the different industry conferences organized by the
Laboratories. The rubber-insulated wire manufacturers
participate therein through the rubber-covered wire-
industry conference. To those industry conferences the
Laboratories present for consideration all matters which
have or may have, directly or indirectly, either favor-
able or adverse effects on the portion of the industry
involved. Manufacturers so equipped with their proper
industry conference are assured of positive control
against hasty or ill-advised action by the Underwriters'
Laboratories, Inc., or by other authorities who depend
upon the laboratories for investigation of the problems
which confront them from time to time.
The Resolution
As a terse embodiment of the co-operative spirit with
which the Underwriters' Laboratories, Inc., will welcome
an organization of the manufacturers, the committee
presented the following resolution :
"Whereas, conference committees made up of repre-
sentative committees of manufacturers and representa-
tive committees of Underwriters' Laboratories have been
appointed from time to time to serve the interests of a
number of sections of the electrical industry, and
whereas, the practical results obtained through the
operation of these conferences have been of decided
benefit to the sections served,
"Be it resolved, that a committee be empowered to
take the steps necessary to secure the appointment of a
conference committee representing the industry as a
whole which may deal with those broader questions
affecting manufacturers in more than a single line."
There was quite a discussion on the report of the
special committee, and Mr. Sargent, of the General
Electric Company, who explained in detail the Stannos
wire and the study made by him of its use in England,
was plied with questions of all sorts on its cost, char-
acteristics, etc. The report of the committee was
accepted and the committee was continued as well as the
larger committee of twenty six of which Mr. C. Eidlitz
is chairman.
The attendance was quite large, and in view of the
recommendations of the special committee that the
maim irganize for concerted action it was sug-
gested by Mr. C. E. Corrigsn, of the National Metal
Molding Company, thai a conference of manufacturers
beheld In the afternoon of Jan. 12 to discuss the subject,
An account of that meeting is printed elsewhere in this
issue.
United Gas Improvement Company Investigation
Mr. George Carroll Todd, assistant to the Attorney-
General, characterizes as inaccurate reports which have
been published to the effect that the Department of
Justice has completed an investigation of the business
of the United Gas Improvement Company of Philadel-
phia and that the government is to institute a suit
against the company under the Sherman act.
Mr. Todd informed a representative of the ELECTRI-
CAL WORLD in Washington this week that it is true that
an investigation has been conducted, "which has re-
sulted in a very substantial amount of information being
gathered" in regard to the company, but that it is not
proper to say that it has been completed. So far as the
government's intentions are concerned, these, he pointed
out, are never revealed in advance of any action it may
become necessary to take.
Washingtonians familiar with the procedure of the
Department of Justice point out that any difference of
opinion which may arise between the Department of
Justice and the company would, in the ordinary course
of events, be the subject of negotiation between the de-
partment and the counsel for the company, to seek the
basis of an agreement whereby the company would not
continue to do business which had been the subject of
complaint that might, in the view of the department, if
supported by evidence, show the business to be con-
trary to the Sherman law. Such agreements usually
result in the filing of a decree agreed to in advance by
counsel, as was the case with the incandescent lamp
companies several years ago.
It is stated at the Department of Justice that the in-
vestigation of the company has been the result of com-
plaints of alleged combination in the lighting of streets,
principally in connection with the using of appliances
of the Welsbach company, shipped back and forth from
one state to another under circumstances, complainants
alleged, contrary to the Sherman law.
Meeting of N. E. L. A. Executive Committee
A meeting of the executive committee of the National
Electric Light Association was held at the headquar-
ters in New York on Jan. 8, and a great deal of business
was transacted.
The financial report as of Dec. 31, 1914, was pre-
sented. Running expenses for the year 1914 were
$93,321. Convention expenses, including publication of
the Proceedings, were $29,490, making a total of $122,-
811. The revenue from fixed dues was $83,892. Mis-
cellaneous revenue from the sale of publications, etc.,
was $25,511; revenue applicable to convention expenses
was $26,924, making a total revenue of $136,327. The
surplus for the year was $13,516. The total balance-
sheet surplus on Dec. 31, 1914, was $19,732.
Mr. J. B. McCall, chairman of the finance committee,
submitted a schedule of the proposed dues for manu-
facturing members, which was adopted.
Mr. Douglass Burnett, representing Mr. E. L. Calla-
han, chairman of the Commercial Section, submitted
the budget of the Commercial Section for the year end-
ing June 30, 1915. Mr. Burnett said that for three
years, through the committee on the education of sales-
men, the section has been considering the question of
the establishment id' courses tor the education of sales-
people, especially tor all of those engaged in commer-
cial work. He had a report from Mr. F. R. Jenkins,
chairman of the education committee, indicating that
a tentative program has been prepared with the idea
that it' the plan receives the approval of the executive
committee of the main body and the executive com-
January 16, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
187
mittee of the Commercial Section, the committee will
prepare a course which will be self-supporting. The
course prepared by the National Commercial Gas Asso-
ciation for employees of gas companies was mentioned,
and it was suggested that many of the educational
principles of this course and of the proposed course
for employees of electrical companies might be the same
and that a great deal of expense and work might be
saved if the two associations should co-operate. Mr.
Burnett said that this would be done. The committee
approved the plan with the understanding that it
should be self-supporting.
Standardizing Plugs and Receptacles
Mr. R. S. Hale, chairman of the committee on wiring
of existing buildings, presented a report on standardiz-
ing plugs and receptacles, which has been approved by
his committee and the executive committee of the
Commercial Section. The report will be presented
at the convention in June, but Mr. Hale asked that
it be published at this time so that it may have
discussion before the convention. The report will
be published in advance. Mr. Hale spoke of the
movement in connection with concentric wiring, stat-
ing that one manufacturer has a system partly worked
out which might take at least a year to get on the mar-
ket. After some discussion the following resolution
was adopted:
"The executive committee believes that the central-sta-
tion industry is vitally interested in any reduction of the
cost of wiring that will be safe and approves the action
of the committee on wiring of existing buildings and of
the insurance expert in taking steps toward the devel-
opment of wiring systems with this in view. The ex-
ecutive committee believes that while changes should
not be made a permanent part of the Code without due
consideration, yet that proper action should be taken
as soon as possible so as to warrant manufacturers,
contractors and central stations in acquiring actual
field experience of any promising development."
A membership report as of Jan. 8 was presented,
showing a total membership amounting to approxi-
mately 12,000.
The following committee was appointed to attend the
convention of the National Foreign Trade Council to
be held in St. Louis, Mo., on Jan. 21 and 22: Messrs.
A. C. Einstein (chairman), W. A. Layman, M. A. Oudin
and Maurice Coster.
Mr. W. H. Blood was authorized to submit to the
Underwriters the rules regarding bare concentric wir-
ing as proposed by the committee on that subject when
the committee shall have completed the rules.
At the request of President Scott, Secretary T. C.
Martin made a statement as to the general condition
of preparations for the convention to be held in San
Francisco on June 7 to 11. Mr. George W. Elliott, mas-
ter of transportation, made an extended statement re-
garding the transportation plans and the four special
trains to be run from the East. Mr. Martin and Mr.
Elliott started the last of this week for California in
order to make further plans in connection with the
convention.
President Scott stated that the Electrical World
had tendered its services in connection with the Daily
to be issued at the San Francisco convention but had
suggested that, in view of the attractions at the exposi-
tion, the little leisure for reading and other incidental
reasons, it might be better this year to publish the Daily
in more condensed form. The offer was accepted unan-
imously with thanks. The Daily will be limited largely
to registration lists, committee lists, the daily program
of sessions and entertainments and general official an-
nouncements.
Testimony of Mr. Sidney Z. Mitchell on the
Water-Power Bill
Testimony on the water-power bill has been presented
before the committee on public lands of the United
States Senate at Washington by Mr. Sidney Z. Mitchell,
president of the Electric Bond & Share Company, and
also by a number of others. An abstract of Mr.
Mitchell's testimony follows:
The object of the bill, as Mr. Mitchell takes it, is to
remove the handicap to power development which now
exists wherever any government land is involved and
to secure for the people the greatest commercially prac-
ticable development of water-powers in the least pos-
sible time and on a basis which will secure permanently
for the people a maximum of service at a minimum
of cost. With this theory Mr. Mitchell is heartily in
accord. There seems to be a notion that all water-
power is cheaper than steam-power and that water-
powers are exceedingly scarce and accordingly are in
every case of immense value and that investors are
eager to get into the business. All of these notions are
fallacious. In some cases water-power is much cheaper
than steam. In many cases the reverse is true. Each
case must be analyzed and considered in the light of
surrounding circumstances. Contrary to the general
notion, water-powers are, as a rule, large and numer-
ous in the Western States. Yet it is far from easy
to persuade investors to put money into them. It is
entirely right that the Secretary of the Interior should
be able to remove obstructionists who do not go ahead
and make actual developments within some reasonable
time, which should be specified in permits. After the
investment has been made the slightest impediment, be-
yond the restrictions of the States themselves, to the
transferability and salability of any property by public
utility concerns will do great harm to financing. Ob-
structions to the ready sale and purchase of securities
always increase the cost of money for initial develop-
ment and subsequent extensions.
Mr. Mitchell said that the section regarding pro-
vision for obsolescence will be the most dangerous clause
affecting the whole matter of water-power development
if it is passed as contained in the bill. There may be
a great many charges that could be amortized in four
or five years and perhaps in less time. On the other
hand, there will be a situation where it would be a phy-
sical and absolute impossibility to collect from the con-
sumers any rate which would amortize the charges in
ten years, or possibly in fifteen or even twenty years.
The people of the West do not like anything that raises
their rates. They do not want to have them disturbed
at all unless they are disturbed downward. The way
to make a provision for amortization or increased profit
is not by raising rates but by, first, getting cheaper
money and, second, cutting down operating expenses
and, third, getting more volume. This stabilizes the
business and makes securities marketable, thus giving
cheaper money again in almost direct proportion to the
volume and diversity of use and again reducing the
cost of money in almost inverse ratio. This again gives
cheaper operation in direct proportion to the volume and
diversity of business, which again means cheaper money
and lower consumers' rates, etc.
Looks for Volume of Business
The way to get volume is to look for it, if necessary
in another state, continued Mr. Mitchell. Credit would
be affected instantly if a company had only one line of
business in one community that depends on one industry
and that industry should be shut down. Instead of
that, the Utah system covers 1400 miles of high-tension
line. It is in three states. It is agreed that farmers
188
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 3
should diversify. There are many more reasons why
power companies should diversify. A market is more
important than the water-power. Money and market
are the first two things to get. Water-power is second-
ary because steam can be put in at many places. The
Utah company acquired a number of small companies
having many small hydroelectric plants. Some of the
plants were comparatively new, and yet the operating
and maintenance expenses per unit of output of these
plants, which were thought to be perfect eight or ten
years ago, were in one case just a little more than
twenty times the similar cost of the same items at the
new plant at Grace, Idaho. This is an extreme case.
Some of the others were about ten times.
Mr. Mitchell cited an instance of development in
Texas where his company furnished capital two years
ago for the establishment of a rural power business.
About forty towns and villages are served. Many small
communities did not have electrical service at all. Some
had no service later than midnight. Very few plants
were operated in the daytime. Some towns did not have
as high a load factor as 10 per cent. A few had about
7 or 8 per cent. The highest did not exceed 30 per cent.
In the last eighteen months there have been built in
that territory over 200 miles of high-tension transmis-
sion lines. Nearly 100 miles of additional transmission
line are under construction now. By tying the plants
together and diversifying the load the company is get-
ting an average load of 71 or 72 per cent. During the
first summer season, when twenty-four-hour rural serv-
ice was given, about 5000 fans were sold in seventy
days. In addition to that, cotton gins throughout the
belt were connected. Mr. Mitchell said that he had not
the slightest doubt that inside of five or ten years, cer-
tainly before twenty years, there would be a network
of wires covering the black land belt entirely, 250 miles
by 150 miles, affording service for nearly every farm-
house and rural community in the district.
Water-Power Plentiful
Mr. Mitchell added that the known amount of avail-
able water-power will be growing constantly just as
the estimate of available coal supply has been growing.
Where there are mountains, rain or snow, reservoir
sites and elevations of land there are water-powers.
Somebody with a little creative genius and experience
will find them. In comparisons of the cost between
water-power and steam-power it must be borne in mind
that the water-power costs are practically all interest,
maintenance, taxes and obsolescence. The steam-power
costs are mostly fuel, labor, taxes and obsolescence.
The water-power may have a handicap due to the long
transmission line as compared with steam near custom-
ers. Mr. Mitchell said that in discussing costs per
horse-power it is important to know the conditions. The
investment is based on the highest peak load at any
time within the year, and it is this load for which the
company must make the investment.
If the proposed federal tax was not intended as a
revenue measure, there is no possible excuse for it. The
idea that the federal government is levying a personal
tax on the plant output in order to reduce the cost to
the consumer is, of course, too absurd to be considered
seriously by anybody. The bill goes far beyond a par-
ticular project built wholly or partially on government
and undertake to reach out and depreciate the
values underlying millions of dollars' worth of other
erty which may have been in private ownership
for years and has absolutely nothing to do with any
new development on government land beyond a con-
nection by transmission lines. In effect it seeks to
coerce investors in existing property to give the govern-
ment an option on their property for lil'tv years or
longer. Options given are not assets, they are clouds
on the titles, they are liabilities. The bill attempts to
force an option to take over old, well-established and
very valuable property under less fair conditions than
those which are already guaranteed under the consti-
tution of the country.
A Service, Not a Commodity
If any law is made to cover interstate electric busi-
ness, Mr. Mitchell said that he hoped it would be a gen-
eral law applying to all power companies alike, no mat-
ter where they are situated or how the power is gener-
ated. He also hoped that if such a law were made it
would be prepared very carefully so as to provide for
the inherent differences between electrical power and
freight and other commodities whose shipments are
regulated by the Interstate Commerce Commission.
There may be a power line in one state that runs into
another state, and the modern tendency is growing very
rapidly toward having three or four or five states inter-
connected and interchanging power with each other.
Mr. Mitchell spoke of interconnected properties in the
South which have a total of about 1200 miles of trans-
mission line. It is not a matter of common ownership,
but the properties have interchange power contracts.
In the case of electrical energy transmitted between
different states both generation and selling proceed in
each state, and it is impossible to tell where any par-
ticular power originates. Electricity is not a commod-
ity, it is a service. The time and the rate of speed are
frequently much more important than the amount of the
service.
In showing that every public service concern is in-
herently a monopoly in the particular field which it
serves exclusively, Mr. Mitchell said that competition
with such a property would have an exact parallel if
every railroad train had a duplicate mail car and two
sets of railway mail employees and every town two
post offices and two sets of mail carriers.
On the subject of regulation of security issues, Mr.
Mitchell said that some of the people who are in favor
of such regulation are influenced a good deal because
sometimes bond houses send out circulars stating that
the securities have been passed upon by the public
utility commission of a state. That merely puts a
brand of respectability on the securities. There is no
guarantee as to the actual physical value back of them,
how good they are, or as to how marketable they are
going to be. It is not possible to get cheap money and
plenty of it unless there are both the brand of respecta-
bility and the brand of quality. Respectability means
only that the people are honest in putting out the se-
curities and that they have told the truth as they saw
it. It does not mean that the securities have been in-
vestigated thoroughly and have the approval of the
most experienced and successful houses that always
dig below the surface of things. It does not mean at all
that the securities are safe and profitable. The best
way to get cheap money is not to put too much store
upon yield and speculative values. It is a great deal
better to be conservative and understate rather than
overstate the facts.
Obstacles to Water-Power Development
Continuing, Mr. Mitchell said that his experience has
been thai the three greatest obstacles to water-power
developments, especially for other than extensions of
the business of existing companies, are (1) the pres-
ent unworkable laws where government land is involved,
(2) the difficulty in securing capital, which with wholly
new enterprises is greatly increased by regulation
[ally of security issues, and (8) lack of market.
He has never known of so great a change and, in fact,
January 16, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
almost universal about-face in financial practice as has
occurred in public utility financing by the best invest-
ment houses during the last eight or nine years. This
change has been particularly marked during the last
two or three years and has been influenced to a large
extent by the modern methods of public utility regula-
tion.
Undoubtedly, the regulation of security issues
by commissions has had an effect upon the financing
of entirely new enterprises. There are some operators,
particularly of the old school, who say that there is
nothing left in the utility business, that it no longer
offers a profitable field for pioneering with wholly new
enterprises. On the other hand, there are others who
are still optimists, who believe that if the companies
will put all their cards on the table face up and be
frank and open in every respect with the public and
with the legislators, a square deal will be given, and
that the investors who devote their money to the serv-
ice of the people under regulation will have their inves-
ment protected by law and will certainly be allowed to
earn enough on their money to induce them to continue
to furnish money for the service of the public. Mr.
Mitchell is in the optimistic class.
One thing is certain, said Mr. Mitchell. In the pub-
lic utility business shoestring methods of finance and
fancy profits, which were usually promised but seldom
realized, are absolutely a thing of the past. With such
a close limit of profit no one can afford to pioneer in
a way which exposes him to large losses. The only
way to make money in the public utility business to-day
is by following the idea which involves large volume
of business, low cost of operation, low cost of money,
low rates to consumers and small margin of profit.
Under the old plan a water-power pioneer did not balk
at losing 40 or 50 per cent on one risky hydroelectric
enterprise provided he could make a quick profit of
15 or perhaps 20 per cent on another such enterprise.
Now that it is impossible to make a return of more
than 8 or 10 per cent in any enterprise, it has become
absolutely essential to proceed with the greatest cir-
cumspection and care to avoid making losses on any of
them.
The essentials in investment in the order of their
importance are: (1) safety of principal; (2) safety
and consecutiveness of yield; (3) marketability; (4)
amount of yield; (5) possibility of enhancement in mar-
ket value.
The possible injustice and, if the law is made man-
datory, the probable certainty of confiscation, in the
interest of the government or some subsequent lessee,
of a substantial portion of the initial investor's princi-
pal in these properties is the most disturbing feature
of the entire bill. Mr. Mitchell expressed the hope that
the bill will so be changed as to limit discretionary pow-
ers of government officials to matters of engineering
details or administration ; that as to all essential mat-
ters of title or business the law shall be made as plain
and as specific as it is possible to write it. Investors
in water-power securities, where government land is
involved, are particularly sensitive at this time as to
the question of tenure. The revocations by the federal
government and pending ejectment suits are matters
of common knowledge and have resulted in widespread
skepticism and fear where water-power development on
government land is involved.
Integrity of the Investment
The protection of the integrity of the investment is
the most important thing in the whole bill. Powers
can be developed only if legal rights under the terms
of the law are made as secure and clear and fair as any
other investments on privately owned land. The com-
panies will never require less capital but will constantly,
year by year for all time, require in an ever-increasing
ratio more capital. For this reason amortization of the
capital is a financial impossibility, particularly for
fixed-term tenures, without the imposition of rate bur-
dens on consumers, which in most cases they cannot
possibly stand. No power company or other public util-
ity can, over a long period, take care of its cash re-
quirements for obsolescence and for an average growth
of 12 per cent or more out of its net earnings and at
the same time pay one cent of interest or dividends
Many of them cannot grow 6 per cent a year and do it.
This means that new capital must be secured constantly.
Any unfair treatment of the utility by governmental
agencies increases the hazards of the business and re-
sults necessarily in an increase in the yield which the
man with money will insist upon receiving if further
funds are to be provided. This means one of three
things: (1) The rates will be raised; (2) reductions
in rates which would otherwise be made will be de-
ferred, or (3) no more money will be forthcoming te
take care of the growth of the community. In any
event it is the consumers who suffer.
Where operating companies show exceptional zeal
and ability in extending the power systems, improving
the service and lowering the rates they should be al-
lowed to earn a little extra compensation. If this pol-
icy should be adopted by commissions generally, it might
offer a strong probability of enhancement in prices of
utility securities and thus add to them an increased or
prospective value to be realized, provided only that the
company earns it through good conduct and efficiency.
There are many cases in which consumers will be repaid
manyfold by holding out an inducement of this kind
as an incentive for exceptional personal effort and abil-
ity in public service.
The rate of expenditure to take care of the ordinary
growth in the public utility business, more than $400,-
000,000 a year now, is increasing by leaps and bounds.
There is not the slightest doubt that within the next
seven or eight years the expenditures for such improve-
ments and extensions will amount to at least $800,000,-
000 and in fact they may amount to $1,500,000,000 a
year.
If this bill is passed as drawn, Mr. Mitchell ex-
pressed the opinion that it is quite likely that but lit-
tle, if any, money will be obtained for power develop-
ments where public land is involved, and if money is
obtained from the public at all for such purposes it
will be very difficult to obtain and will certainly cost
not less than 2 per cent per annum more than would
be the case if investors were protected adequately.
There are many utility properties to-day representing
cash investments in excess of $40,000,000, and within
the next twenty years Mr. Mitchell expects to see dozens
of utilities with properties which have cost in cash in
excess of $100,000,000.
Others Who Testified
Among others who testified were Messrs. G. M. Dah).
vice-president Electric Bond & Share Company; F. T.
Homer, of Bertron, Griscom & Company, New York;
John D. Ryan, president Montana Power Company;
Frank H. Short, San Joaquin Light & Power Corpora-
tion, and George A. Snow, Salt Lake City, Utah; Gov-
ernor Spry of Utah ; Mr. O. C. Merrill, chief engineer of
the Forest Service of the Department of Agriculture;
Governor Ammons of Colorado, Governor-elect Carlson
of Colorado, United States Senator Shafroth of Colo-
rado, Representative Mondell of Wyoming, and United
States Senator Jones of Washington. Mr. Franklin K.
Lane, Secretary of the Interior, wrote a statement of
his views.
190
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 3
Miscellaneous News Notes
Binghamton Municipal Bonds Not Approved. — The munici-
pal plant bonds issued by the city of Binghamton, N. Y., and
sold to a New York banking house have not been approved by
the attorneys of the city on legal grounds and the transac-
tion with the bankers has been canceled.
Temporary Injunction in Cincinnati. — The Diamond Light
Company of Cincinnati has secured from Judge Oppen-
heinier of the Superior Court a temporary injunction to
prevent the Union Gas & Electric Company, the John C.
Weber Company and the John Hauck Brewing Company
from interfering in any way with its feed wires.
Developments in Cleveland Situation. — City Solicitor John
N. Stockwell of Cleveland, Ohio, appeared before the Ohio
Supreme Court on June 7 in the suit of the city to enjoin
the board of sinking-fund trustees from selling $500,000
electric-light bonds at less than par, and asked a review
of the case, which was brought from the Court of Appeals
from Cuyahoga County. The case was brought to deter-
mine the right of the sinking-fund trustees to sell the bonds
at less than par. The city of Cleveland will install 550
new ornamental street lamps, but the time when this will
be done depends somewhat upon the condition of finances.
Director of Public Service Sidlo says that an additional ap-
propriation may be made.
Extension of Baltimore Underground System. — The Elec-
trical Commission of the city of Baltimore, Md., installed
last year 1,600,000 duct ft. of conduit at a construction ex-
pense of $576,391. This also included 682 house connec-
tions, 194 pole connections, 68 trolley-pole, connections and
643 arc-lamp connections. In connection with the conduit
construction there were erected 237 manholes, 35 junction
boxes and 269 distributing boxes. Since the beginning of
the underground conduit system construction the commis-
sion has removed from the streets approximately 9000
wooden poles. The total number of feet of underground
cable in use on the first of the year was 3,360,870 ft. The
city's revenue from rentals from the system was $135,522
last year.
Lease for Rights on State Property Cannot Be Revalued.
— Attorney-General Timothy S. Hogan of Ohio has rendered
an opinion that the lease of the Union Gas & Electric Com-
pany of Cincinnati for pole-line rights along the banks of
the Miami & Erie canal within the limits of Hamilton
County cannot be revalued. The company is paying $600 a
year for the rights. Under an act of 1911 the part of the
canal within the limits of Cincinnati was turned over to
the city to be used for boulevard and subway purposes. As
the company is allowed to maintain its lines along the city
streets free of charge, it was thought that the rental might
be reduced somewhat. The Attorney-General, however, says
that when this property was turned over to the city reser-
vation of the rights of the company was made and it has
been protected. Therefore, there is no reason for a reduc-
tion in the rental.
Portraits by Electric Light Without Negatives. — Mr. A.
Werner, of Cleveland, Ohio, has produced a photographic
paper on which portraits may be reproduced directly with-
out the preparation of the usual negative. Experiments
made by light from tungsten lamps at Camp Nela, Cleve-
land, Indicate that, the paper operates at about the same
speed as the plates ordinarily used for portraiture. The
time required for developing is only a few minutes, so that
the paper is well suited for the uses of photograph gal
nes are made ready "while you wait." For
ion by the light of tungsten lamps the paper is
treated with a dye which makes it particular]
to the yellow raj tungsten filament. Mr. Werner
is now developing an emulsion for his paper which will be
suitable for X-ray work, thus enabling the X-ray operator
. prints Immediately and without the
trouble am. Intermediate negative
principle underlying the preparation of the positive print
is the dissolving away of the negative linage and the re
of th lual po It making it alone
This operation does not correct, of course, the
original right-and-left reversal of the lens, and pit
with the paper nre th ror images of tin-
original.
Associations and Societies
Heating and Ventilating Engineers. — The Association of
Heating and Ventilating Engineers will hold its annual con-
vention at the Engineering Societies Building, New York
City, Jan. 20 and 21.
National Independent Telephone Association. — The annual
convention of the National Independent Telephone Associa-
tion will be held at the Hotel LaSalle, Chicago, Feb. 3, 4
and 5. The headquarters of the association are permanently
at Room 244, Hotel LaSalle.
Missouri Electrical Contractors. — A meeting of the Elec-
trical Contractors' Association of the State of Missouri will
be held in Kansas City on Jan. 23. It is probable that
efforts will be made to bring about the passage of a State
law requiring the licensing of persons engaged in electrical
construction work. Mr. A. J. Burns, Kansas City, Mo., is
secretary of the association.
Electrical League of Cleveland. — More than 200 members
of the Electrical League of Cleveland and their friends
were present at the "watch party" held in the league rooms
at the Hollenden Hotel on New Year's Eve. Professional
and amateur vaudeville acts were given during the evening.
At 12 o'clock the party drank a "dry" toast to the new
year. Only water and coffee were served.
Chamber of Commerce Meeting. — The annual meeting of
the Chamber of Commerce of the United States will be held
at the New Willard Hotel, Washington, D. C, on Feb. 3 to
5. A large part of the program will be devoted to foreign
trade, the elimination of undue restrictions, the upbuilding
of the merchant marine and the aid that can be rendered
by the Federal Reserve Board. The business legislation
enacted recently will be discussed thoroughly. Secretary
of Commerce Redfield will address the convention.
Chicago Electric Garage Owners to Join Chicago Section.
E. V. A. — The Chicago Electric Garage Owners' Association
has voted to include its own membership with that of the
local section of the Electric Vehicle Association of America.
Since the constitution of the latter organization will not
permit the affiliation of the garage men's association as a
body, the sixteen members voted to join as individuals. Mr.
T. B. Lillie has been president of the electric garage owners'
association, and Mr. J. E. Rhodes has been secretary.
Western Efficiency Society. — At the annual meeting of
the Western Efficiency Society, Auditorium Hotel, Chicago,
Jan. 8, Mr. G. C. Dent, of the Delta Electric Company, 72
West Adams Street, Chicago, was re-elected secretary-
treasurer, and Mr. J. F. Henning, Chicago surface railways,
was named as a director. The society was formed about
two years ago by Chicago interests to promote efficiency in
commercial, financial, public-service and industrial organi-
zations. A number of electrical men are members. Meet-
ings are held semi-monthly.
Chicago Jovians. — Messrs. E. N. Hurley, of Chicago; T. H.
Bibber, of New York City; Ell C. Bennett, of St. Louis, and
H. E. Niesz and W. R. Pinckard, of Chicago, spoke at the
meeting of the Chicago Jovian League on Jan. 11. Mr.
E. N. Hurley, the speaker of the day, told of the trip he had
made to South America with the Illinois Manufacturers'
Association and reiterated the statements he has made many
times to the effect that American merchants should seek
broader markets so that their business may be less affected
by domestic business depressions.
Battery Maintenance Systems in Europe. — Mr. E. W.
Lloyd, general contract agent of the Commonwealth Edi;on
Company, Chicago, addressed the local E. V. A. section,
Jan. 5, on the subject of "Battery Maintenance Systems and
What We Can Learn from European Experience." The
speaker ascribed the total absence of electric pleasure cars
in Berlin to the different social conditions surrounding well-
to-do German women in comparison with American women
Users of electric vehicles. A review of Mr. Lloyd's I
rations in Europe was presented in the Electrical World
of Aug. 16, 191 1. shortly after his return from abroad.
Western Society of Engineers. — The letter-ballot election
n Society of Knginecrs, Chicago, re-
i as follows: President, Mr. William B. Jackson, of the
i I i i A W. B. Jackson; vice-presidents, Messrs. C. B.
Rurdick, hydraulic engineer, and Prof. P. B. Woodworth,
January 16, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
191
head of the electrical engineering department, Lewis Insti-
tute; treasurer, Mr. C. R. Dart, Sanitary District of Chicago.
Mr. O. P. Chamberlain was elected a trustee for three years.
The annual meeting and dinner of the society was held at
the Auditorium Hotel, Chicago, Jan. 13, and on Jan. 14 a
smoker was held in the society's rooms in the Monadnock
Block.
Meeting of Brooklyn Company Section, X. E. L. A. — A pic-
torial review of the past year's business of the Edison Elec-
tric Illuminating Company of Brooklyn by Mr. T. I. Jones,
general sales agent, was the feature of the January meeting
of the Brooklyn Company Section held Jan. 12. The work
done in residences with the company's house-wiring plan, on
public streets, in manufacturing plants of every description,
and in subway construction, was illustrated and described,
as well as its effect on the revenue of the company during
the year. The gross business done in 1914 was very satis-
factory. Mr. W. F. Wells, vice-president and general man-
ager of the company, spoke on the 1915 outlook, which to him
appears to be laden with promise of commercial activity and
of increasing business for Brooklyn. The meeting was
opened with a paper by Mr. T. W. Flowers on "Central Sta-
tion Auditing," which was very generally discussed.
Wisconsin Electrical Contractors' Association. — The Elec-
trical Contractors' Association of Wisconsin will meet at
Milwaukee, Wis., Jan. 18 to 20. Open sessions will be held
on Jan. 19. In the morning Mr. H. P. Andrae, Julius An-
drae & Sons Company, Milwaukee, Wis., will speak on
"The Jobber in the Field," and Mr. D. Elmer Roberts will
discuss "The Contractor in the Field." At the afternoon
session Mr. L. G. Morgan, National X-Ray Reflector Com-
pany, Chicago, will discuss the subject of "Illumination
from Concealed Sources," and Mr. Earl A. Anderson, Na-
tional Lamp Works, Cleveland, Ohio, will describe "The
Incandescent Lamp Developments of 1914." At the time of
the informal dinner in the evening Mr. William T. Goffe
will speak. At 1:30 p. m. next day, Jan. 20, Mr. C. R.
Kreider, Kohler Brothers Company, Chicago, will speak on
the subject of "Estimating." Mr. Albert Petermann, 626
Lloyd Street, Milwaukee, is secretary.
A. I. E. E. Panama-Pacific Convention. — On account of the
indefinite postponement of the International Electrical Con-
gress, which was scheduled for San Francisco in September,
1915, the American Institute of Electrical Engineers will
hold a Panama-Pacific convention in San Francisco during
the week beginning Sept. 13, 1915, in conjunction with the
International Engineering Congress, which will be held
during the week beginning Sept. 20, 1915. This congress
has been organized under the auspices of five national en-
gineering societies, namely, the American Society of Civil
Engineers, the American Society of Mechanical Engineers,
the American Institute of Mining Engineers, the American
Institute of Electrical Engineers, and the Society of Naval
Architects and Marine Engineers. Since the A. I. E. E.
constitution requires that the annual convention be held
each year prior to Aug. 1, the annual convention will be
held in the East, at some place not yet selected, during the
latter part of June.
"Question-Box" Convention for Xew England Section. —
President L. D. Gibbs of the New England Section of the
N. E. L. A. is completing plans for a "Question Box" con-
vention at Boston, Mass., on March 9 and 10, 1915, with
headquarters at the new Boston City Club building, Ash-
burton Place and Somerset Street. On the first day there
will be an informal discussion of central-station problems
without scheduled papers or addresses, with a visit to the
Boston Automobile Show- in the evening. The second day
will be devoted to discussing electric-vehicle matters, with
particular reference to central stations and co-operation,
and the meeting will close with an evening assigned to the
general discussion of traffic regulations as affecting the
growth of electric-vehicle service and sales. It is planned
to eliminate "red tape" to the last possible degree, and the
convention, while taking the place of the annual "get to-
gether" spring meeting of the section, is designed to com-
bine opportunity for good fellowship with an intensely
practical business program.
Society for Electrical Development. — A meeting of the
staff of the Society for Electrical Development, Inc., was
held at the offices of the society at 10 a.m. on Friday, Jan.
8, at which members of the various sections reported on
their work during December. These monthly meetings are
held for the purpose of keeping all members of the society's
staff posted upon its activities and of developing the team
work of the organization. Mr. George B. Muldaur, report-
ing upon the work of Section 1, called attention to the fact
that every city of 100,000 population or more in the coun-
try has been visited by representatives of the society during
the past four months. Since the last meeting Mr. H. C.
Spaulding has resigned, being succeeded by Mr. H. W. Alex-
ander. Miss Grace T. Hadley since Jan. 1 entered upon
her duties in charge of the publicity work of the society
dealing with household electrical devices, and particularly
with the work intended to appeal to the women users of
such devices. On the afternoon of the same day the staff
of the society met with a number of representatives of
members for the purpose of discussing among other things
the plans for a proposed national electrical week to be cele-
brated in October next.
Ohio Xew-Business Men to Meet at Cleveland. — A meet-
ing of the committee on new-business co-operation of the
Ohio Electric Light Association will be held at the Hotel
Hollenden, Cleveland, Wednesday, Jan. 20. Following an
address by Mr. Mathias E. Turner, of the Cleveland Electric
Illuminating Company, at 10 a. m., Mr. T. E. Simpers, of
the Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company, East
Pittsburgh, Pa., will read an illustrated paper on "Applica-
tions of Electric Drive in Flour Mills." After luncheon Mr.
W. A. Wadsworth, of the Union Gas & Electric Company,
Cincinnati, will speak on "Securing Business with the Nitro-
gen-Filled Lamp." A representative of the General Elec-
tric Company w-ill discuss "Applications of Motors up to
25 Hp," and Mr. J. C. Matthieu, power engineer of the
Dayton Power & Light Company, will read a paper on "In-
dustrial Trucks." Mr. Thomas F. Kelly, Dayton Power &
Light Company, is chairman of the committee. A general
invitation is extended to central-station men and manufac-
turers to attend these meetings. A conference of meter
men of the Ohio Electric Light Association is scheduled for
Zanesville on Jan. 22. The session will be held at the
Chamber of Commerce, beginning at 1 p. m. Mr. J. L.
Wright, Toledo, is to read a paper on "Diplomacy of Meter
Men in Dealing with the Public," and Mr. Wilford Judy,
Newark, will describe "Some Common Mistakes in Meter
Connections."
Midwinter Convention of the A. I. E. E. — The midwinter
convention of the American Institute of Electrical En-
gineers will be held in New York on Feb. 17, 18 and 19.
The tentative program calls for six technical sessions. At
the morning session of Feb. 17 Prof. E. E. F. Creighton,
Schenectady, N. Y., will present a paper entitled "High-
Frequency Testing of Insulators." Written communica-
tions on this subject will be submitted by Messrs. A. O.
Austin, Barberton, Ohio; J. E. Way, Columbus, Ohio, and
Frank Brookfield, New York. At the afternoon session the
following papers will be read: "Carrying Capacity of Cables
in the Soil," by Mr. L. E. Imlay, Niagara Falls, N. Y.;
"Circuit-Breakers," by Mr. K. C. Randall, East Pittsburgh,
Pa.; "Comparison of Calculated and Measured Corona Loss
Curves," by Mr. F. W. Peek, Jr., Schenectady, N. Y., and
"A 100,000-Volt Portable Substation," by Mr. C. I. Burk-
holder, Charlotte, N. C, and Mr. N. Stahl, Pittsburgh, Pa.
There will be a discussion on the status of the engineer at
the evening session in which a number of prominent en-
gineers have promised to take part. At the morning session
on Feb. 18 there will be papers on "The Distortion of Alter-
nating-Current Wave-Form Caused by Cyclic Variation in
Resistance," by Mr. E. C. Mayer and Prof. Frederick Bedell,
Ithaca, N. Y.; "Dimmers for Tungsten Lamps," by Mr.
Alfred Waller, Bronxville, N. Y., and "Searchlamps," by
Lieut. C. S. McDowell, Brooklyn, N. Y. During the after-
noon of Feb. 18 it is planned to visit the 201st Street station
of the United Electric Light & Power Company and other
places of -engineering interest. Friday morning's session
will be devoted to a discussion of the electrical precipitation
of smoke and dust. A historical sketch on these subjects
will be followed by one devoted to theory, and a third will
relate to the commercial precipitation of dust, fumes and
fmoke. The discussion at the final session on Friday after-
noon will relate to motor applications.
192
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 3
Public Service Commission News
Ohio Commission
The hearing on the appeal of the Union Gas & Electric
Company of Cincinnati from an ordinance ordering exten-
sions of lines to annexed territory, which was to have taken
place on Jan. 7 last, has been continued, counsel for both the
city and the company having agreed to the step. The
company, it seems, is now extending its service to Delhi,
Sayler Park and Fernbank, as the ordinance specified, and
there seemed to be little need of going further with the
hearing.
In the case of the Mahoning County Light Company the
commission has decided that it has no authority to prevent
other light companies from entering into competition with
existing companies. In the final decision it was pointed
out that the Legislature vested in the commission authority
to maintain a regulated monopoly in the case of only tele-
phone companies. In case the Legislature had intended to
extend this authority to light and power companies, the
fact would have been expressly stated in the law, accord-
ing to the opinion of the commission.
New Jersey Commission
In 1914 the commission investigated 606 complaints, many
of which were settled without formal hearings. The number
of formal complaints heard was 456, one of them requiring
twenty-seven days to hear. There were fifty-nine applica-
tions for the issue of securities granted, the par value of
the securities involved amounting to $88,106,750. There
were forty-nine sales of public utility properties and eighty-
two petitions for approval of ordinances granting privi-
leges to utilities approved. There is now under way
a valuation of the properties of the Public Service Electric
Company, to be used by the commission in its investigation
of rates. In referring to the decision of the Court of Ap-
peals in the 90-cent gas case the commission recommends
that consideration be given to the advisability of amending
the law so that it shall clearly appear, as the legislative in-
tent and as an authoritative declaration of State policy,
that the board in fixing just and reasonable rates to be
charged by a public utility shall not value the franchise of
such utility in excess of the amount the commissioners find
to have been legitimately spent in procuring it.
The board recommends legislation clearly conferring on
the board power to put into effect classifications and classes
of rates, so that it cannot be contended that the board's
power is limited to the regulation of existing rates and
classifications of rates. Another recommendation is that
the board be empowered to require proof, when its approval
to proposed security issues is asked, that there has been
adequate attempt on the part of the petitioners to ascertain
and to obtain the highest price at which such securities may
he sold.
California Commission
The Railroad Commission of California has been advised
by Mr. Bela Gati, manager of the Royal Hungarian Post
experimental station, that the report of the joint committee
on inductive interference has been translated into French,
German and Hungarian. Mr. Gati reports that much in-
terest has been manifested in Europe in the work of the
committee, and he proposes the formation of a permanent
international organization for the study of inductive inter-
ference.
The personnel of the new Railroad Commission of Cali-
fornia, which took office on Jan. 4 under appointments from
Governor Johnson, is the same as heretofore with the excep-
tion of Mr. Frank R. Devlin, who was named to fill the
vacancy caused by the election of Mr. John M. Eshleman,
former president of the commission, as Lieutenant-Gov-
ernor. As now organized the members of the commission
and their terms of office are as follows: Messrs. Max Thelen.
president, six years; Edwin O. Edgerton, six years; II. A.
l.nvilnnd, four years; Flank R. Devlin, four years, and
Alex. Gordon, two years. Mr. Douglas Rrookman has been
named as attorney for the new commission, which announces
that all present employees will be retained. Mr. Devlin was
a member of the State Senate in 190.'?-0.r> and \va elected
judge of the Superior Court of Solono County in 1900 H«
<l later to resume the practice of law.
Personal
Mr. J. E. Hughes has succeeded Mr. C. A. Dow (retired)
as superintendent of the municipal water light and power
plant at Alliance, Neb.
Mr. C. K. Chapin, electrical engineer of the Memphis
(Tenn.) Consolidated Gas & Electric Company, has been
elected president of the Memphis Jovian League.
Mr. Howard Heathman, who has been connected with the
office of the Dayton (Ohio) Power & Light Company, has
been appointed commercial manager of the company at
Xenia.
Mr. Timothy C. O'Hearn, city electrician of Springfield,
Mass., has resigned to accept a position with the Star Elec-
tric Company of New York. Mr. O'Hearn will act as New
England agent of the company.
Mr. Samuel Insull, president of the Commonwealth Edison
Company of Chicago and of other utilities in Illinois, sailed
last week from New York for Europe. Mr. Insull expects to
return again to this country on Feb. 9.
Mr. A. J. Cole, who has been Chicago sales manager for
the Westinghouse Lamp Company, will be transferred to the
general offices of the company, New York City, Feb. 1, as
assistant to Mr. T. G. Whaling, general manager.
Mr. C. V. Salisbury has been appointed manager of the
Columbus and Seymour plants of the Central Indiana Light-
ing Company vice Mr. G. B. Thomas, resigned. Mr. Salis-
bury has been connected with the commercial department of
the company for some time and will make his headquarters
at Columbus.
Mr. John D. Mickle, formerly manager of the Syracuse
office of the Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Com-
pany, has been elected president and general manager of the
Chatham (N. Y.) Electric Light, Heat & Power Company.
Mr. Mickle was formerly connected with the Deposit (N. Y.)
Electric Company and retired from that company after sell-
ing out his interest in it.
Mr. Guy E. Mitchell has been appointed manager of the
Westfield (Mass.) Electric Light Department, succeeding
Mr. Thomas T. Logie, resigned. Mr. Mitchell is a grad-
uate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and has
had an extended experience in light, heat and power engi-
neering, including service for nine years as chief drafts-
man in the motive power department of the Boston & Maine
Railroad and electrical work on various electric railways
in the Berkshire district of Massachusetts.
Mr. Frank E. Watts has been appointed district manager
of the Hart Manufacturing Company of Hartford, Conn.,
with offices at 203 Broadway, New York City. Mr. Watts.
who was formerly Eastern manager of the Electrical
World, and who is widely
§ known throughout the indus-
try, has had a rather remark-
a able career. Born in San-
dusky, Ohio, in 1878, he was
educated in the public schools
of Delaware County, Ohio,
Wesleynn University and
Ohio Northern University
and for eight years followed
the profession of teacher. He
entered the incandescent-
lamp business in 1907 after
two years' experience in sell-
ing machinery and for some
time was manager of the
Sunbeam lamp department of
the Western Electric Com-
F. E. WATTS pany. While serving in that
capacity he was elected
Jupitei of the Jovian Order at the meeting in Pittsburgh in
I'M.' He had already served as statesman of the order for
New York. He left the Western Electric Company to join
the advertising staff of the ELECTRICAL WORLD. Last No-
vember Mr. Watts was appointed first tribune of the Jovian
Order for New York City, and the BUCCeBB thus far attend-
ing the luncheons of the Jovians in New York is a tribute
to his popularity anil to his ability in marshaling men.
January 16, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
193
E. L. CALLAHAN
Mr. Errett L. Callahan, chairman of the Commercial Sec-
tion of the National Electric Light Association, and for the
last six years manager of the new-business department of
H. M. Byllesby & Company, Chicago, has resigned his posi'
tion with the Byllesby com-
pany to become Chicago
district manager for the
Westinghouse Lamp Com-
pany. Mr. Callahan's work
in organizing and directing
the new-business . staffs and
in building up the gas and
electric business served by
the Byllesby utility proper-
ties has been extremely suc-
cessful and has been charac-
terized by many original
campaigns and sales features
which secured quick results.
The commercial departments
of all thirty-five Byllesby
service organizations have
been under Mr. Callahan's
direction. Although a young
man, Mr. Callahan has had a long and varied experience in
the electrical industry. He was one of the founders of the
Commercial Section of the N. E. L. A., and served it suc-
cessively as member of the executive committee, secretary,
vice-chairman and chairman. He has contributed much
effort toward the success of the section and has been a
frequent contributor to convention programs and to the
technical press. Mr. Callahan is a member of the Jovian
Order, the Chicago Jovian League, the Electric Club of
Chicago, the American Institute of Electrical Engineers
and other bodies. He was born at Scio, N. Y., May 19, 1876,
and was educated in the Central High School of Cleveland,
Hiram College and the Case School of Applied Science, re-
ceiving the degrees of B. S. and E. E. from the last-named.
After leaving college Mr. Callahan received a commission
in the War Department as electrical expert assigned to work
in connection with a proposed submarine cable from Nome
to St. Michaels, Alaska. Later he was engaged for two
years in the experimental laboratories of the Crehore-
Squier Intelligence Transmission Company, and was with
the Postal Telegraph Company in experiments with auto-
matic telegraphy between New York and Chicago. In 1902
he joined the staff of Westinghouse, Church, Kerr & Com-
pany, engineers, assisting in the electrical equipment of in-
dustrial plants and preliminary work on the electrification
of the Pennsylvania Railroad terminal at New York. Mr.
Callahan next spent four years with the Simplex Electric
Heating Company and the Prometheus Electric Company,
retiring as manager of the latter to become manager of the
heating department of the Chicago district office of the
General Electric Company in 1906. Here he originated plans
for instructing central-station companies in the pioneer
sales work of household electric appliances and quickly ac-
quired a reputation in this particular field, leading to his
selection by H. M. Byllesby & Company in 1909 to organize
and direct the business-getting department for the proper-
ties under its management.
Obituary
Herbert Nicholas Fenner, president of the New England
Butt Company, manufacturer of insulated wire and cabling
machinery, died Jan. 5 at his home in Providence, R. I., in
his seventy-second year. Mr. Fenner was born in Provi-
dence on March 13, 1843, and succeeded his father in the
New England Butt Company. He served as treasurer of
that concern for many years, and at the time of his death
was president. He was also a director in the Industrial
Trust Company and the Joslin Manufacturing Company. He
was a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engi-
neers, the Agawam Hunt, the Audubon Society of Rhode Is-
land, the Providence Chamber of Commerce, the Hope Club,
the Providence Art Club, the Rhode Island Country Club, the
Rhode Island Historical Society, the Rhode Island School of
Design, the Squantum Association and the Turk's Head
Club, and a director of the Puritan Life Insurance Company.
Corporate and Financial
Federal Light & Traction Elects Director.— Mr. Guy P.
Gannett has been elected a director of the Federal Light &
Traction Company of New York.
San Joaquin Light & Power to Renew Notes. — The San
Joaquin Light & Power Corporation has been authorized by
the California Railroad Commission to renew $92,500 notes
Idaho Electric Properties Asseseed Value. — The twelfth
biennial report of the State auditor of Idaho gives the
assessed valuation of electric utilities as $6,274,308 in 191 a
and $10,520,362 in 1914, an increase of 68 per cent.
Southern California Edison Bond Offering. — Harris.
Forbes & Company and E. H. Rollins & Sons are offering
$518,000 general mortgage 5 per cent bonds of the Southern
California Edison Company of Los Angeles, Cal., at 92.
International Steam Pump Receiver. — Former Judge Gil-
bert Collins has been appointed receiver in New Jersey for
the International Steam Pump Company by Vice-Chancellor
Stephenson of New Jersey in the suit brought by Mrs.
Ethel Elms of England.
Northern Ontario Light & Power Bonds. — A. D. Converse
& Company of New York are offering the unsold portion
of an issue of Northern Ontario Light & Power Company,
Ltd., first mortgage 6 per cent sinking-fund gold bonds due
April 1, 1931, at 88 and interest to yield 6.82 per cent.
Cumberland Edison Company to Issue More Stock. — The
Maryland Public Service Commission has authorized the
Edison Electric Illuminating Company of Cumberland to
issue $200,000 additional stock for the acquisition of more
property and the construction and maintenance of a larger
plant.
Mexican Electric Light Defers Coupon Payment.— Owing
to continued unsatisfactory conditions in Mexico the Mexi-
can Electric Light Company, Ltd., a subsidiary of the Mexi-
can Light & Power Company, has deferred payment of
the semi-annual coupon on its first mortgage bonds of the
company.
Santiago Gas & Electric to Renew Notes.— The Railroad
Commission of California has rendered a decision authoriz-
ing the Santiago Consolidated Gas & Electric Company to
renew three promissory notes totaling $55,000 held by
H. M. Byllesby & Company and bearing interest at the rate
of 7 per cent.
Elmira Water, Light & Railway Offering Over-Sub-
scribed.— It has been announced that the issue of first pre-
ferred stock of the Elmira (N. Y.) Water, Light & Railway
Company, recently offered by Bodell & Company of Boston,
has been over-subscribed. The company is a subsidiary of
the United Gas & Electric Corporation of New York.
Merchants' Heat & Light to Issue Bonds. — The Publh
Service Commission of Indiana has granted authority to the
Merchants' Heat & Light Company of Indianapolis, Ind., to
issue $281,232 of 5 per cent bonds at not less than 85 to
provide funds for improvements made since Aug. 31, 1914.
The company is also authorized to issue $75,206 stock.
Winnipeg Electric Railway Note Issue. — William A. Read
& Company of New York are offering $1,500,000 Winnipeg
Electric Railway 6 per cent one-year and two-year gold
notes dated Jan. 15, 1915, $750,000 being due on Jan. 15.
1916, and the remainder on Jan. 15, 1917. The one-year
notes are being sold at 100 ',4 and the two-year notes at 100.
Western Canada Power to Modify Mortgage. — The West-
ern Canada Power Company, upon approval of bondholders,
has modified the mortgage by which certain lands are re-
leased from the lien of the mortgage and has closed the
mortgage at $6,000,000, with provision for an ultimate in-
crease to $10,000,000. The step was taken at the request
of intending purchasers of bonds.
Tulare -County Power Company's New Plan. — At the re-
cent meeting of stockholders of the Tulare County (Cal.)
Power Company a plan was arranged whereby stockholders
will raise $300,000, taking a mortgage on the entire property
of the company, such as is now held by Mr. C. G. Wright-
man. The money is to be used in paying off Mr. Wrightman's
loan and other advances by private individuals.
194
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 3
Athol Company Granted Stock Issue.— The Massachusetts
Gas & Electric Light Commission has authorized the issue
of s::^0,000 additional stock by the Athol (Mass.) Gas &
Electric Company to meet the cost of extensions of plant,
including the development of steam and hydroelectric sta-
tions and the purchase of the property of the Orange Elec-
tric Light Company.
Manchester Traction Acquires Stock Control of Nashua
Company. — With the approval of the Public Service Com-
mission of New Hampshire the Manchester (N. H.) Trac-
tion, Light & Power Company has acquired approximately
94 per cent of the capital stock of the Nashua (N. H.) Light,
Heat & Power Company. At present the two companies are
being operated separately.
Depew & Lancaster Light, Power & Conduit Company's
Mortgage. — The Depew & Lancaster (N. Y.) Light Power
& Conduit Company has filed a mortgage for $1,000,000 to
the Fidelity Trust Company of New York. The mortgage
was given to secure a present loan of about $258,000, to be
used in retiring existing obligations of the company and
for the improvement of its property.
Cleveland Electric Bonds Sold. — Spencer Trask & Com-
pany of New York announce that they have sold $1,000,000
Cleveland (Ohio) Electric Illuminating Company bonds at
prices ranging from 99 to par and interest. The block was
part of $7,500,000 outstanding first mortgage 5 per cent
bonds of an authorized issue of $30,000,000. The bonds
are secured by property showing a cost on June 30, 1914, of
$17,504,750.
Oro Electric Corporation Officers.— The Oro Electric Cor-
poration of California has elected the following officers:
Messrs. Luther J. Holton, president; R. Leo Van der Naillen,
vice-president and general manager; W. G. Jack, secretary.
The following, together with the president and the vice-
president, are the directors: Messrs. A. O. Leuschner,
Samuel Shannon, T. J. Lyons, C. M. Smith and F. B.
Peterson.
Northern Light, Power & Coal Bondholders to Meet. —
Approximately 10 per cent of the bondholders of the
Northern Light, Power & Coal Company, Ltd., of Dawson,
Yukon Territory, have signified their intention of meeting
to consider the removal of trustees under the first mort-
gage, to appoint new trustees and to take possession on
behalf of the bondholders of the company's properties and
assets. The meeting will take place Jan. 14.
Philadelphia Company Scrip Dividends. — The Philadel-
phia Company of Pittsburgh, Pa., has declared a quarterly
dividend of 1% per cent on the common stock payable in
scrip, redeemable at the option of the company on or
before Feb. 1, 1918, and bearing 7 per cent interest. The
first scrip dividend was paid by the company on Nov. 2,
191 1, to mature in eighteen months. The company later
redeemed the scrip from holders of ten shares and under
at par.
Midland Counties Granted Time Extension on Bond Issue.
— The Railroad Commission of California has extended to
May 31, 1915, the time in which the Midland Counties Pub-
lic Service Corporation may issue $275,000 of its first and
refunding 6 per cent forty-year bonds to be used in retir-
ing a like amount of bonds of the Midland Counties Gas &
Electric Company. The corporation is also granted a
similar extension of time within which to issue $546,000 of
the same bonds to be used in retiring a like amount of bonds
of the Coalings Water & Electric Company.
South Carolina Light, Power & Railways Increase Pre-
ferred Stock. — The South Carolina Light, Power & Rail-
ways Company, Spartanburg, has increased preferred stock
from 5000 shares to 7000 shares. The proceeds from the
additional 2000 bares which are to l><- oon by
\, I'.. Leach & Company of New York will be used In per
manently finance $290,000 of inn . $90,000 of
which was paid for nut of the earnings of (be company.
The remaining $200,000 was taken up by a bond issue.
Tin-. .-lied by the proceeds from the sale
of the new
mmera' Pow< r ( ompanj offers Notes. — H. M. Byllesby
& Company. Inc., and William I'. Bonbright <v Company are
offering $100,000 of Co Power Company of Min-
nesota collateral trnsl 8 per cenl notet doe May i. 1917,
at 97% and interest, netting 7 per cent. The present offering
is a new block of an authorized issue of $3,000,000, of which
there is outstanding at present $934,500. These notes are
secured by $1,059,000 general mortgage 5 per cent bonds
of the company and $87,300 cash deposited with the trustees,
which cash can be withdrawn only by the deposit of $109,125
general mortgage 5 per cent bonds.
Havana Electric Railway, Light & Power Notes. — The
Guaranty Trust Company of New York is offering at 99
and interest $2,000,000 Havana (Cuba) Electric Railway,
Light & Power Company two-year 6 per cent secured gold
notes due Sept. 1, 1916. The notes are secured by a deposit
of $4,000,000 of the company's general mortgage sinking
fund 5 per cent gold bonds due 1954, being the entire amount
of the issue outstanding. The company is a consolidation
of the Havana Electric Railway Company and the Cia de
Gas y Electricidad de la Habana, both American companies.
The company recently made an installation of 37,500 kw.
Texas Public Service Bond Offering. — Spizter, Rorick &
Company of New York are offering $375,000 first mort-
gage sinking-fund 6 per cent gold bonds of the Texas Pub-
lic Service Company, Mount Pleasant, Tex., dated July 1,
1913, and due July 1, 1933, at 103 and accrued interest.
Spizter, Rorick & Company bought the bonds a year and
a half ago and have held them until the company is able
to show net earnings for over twice the bond interest. The
proceeds of these bonds have been used to rebuild and
largely extend the company's plants in Vernon, Mount
Pleasant, Gilmer and Bay City, which constitute the prop-
erty of the company on which these bonds are now a joint
lien. Beginning in 1917, the company will have an annual
sinking fund of 2 per cent to purchase these bonds, and
this fund will be sufficient to retire over one-half of the
bonds by maturity.
Ontario Power Bond Issue. — Blodget & Company, of Bos-
ton and New York, are offering at 96 and interest $1,660,000
of Ontario Power Company of Niagara Falls 6 per cent
second mortgage convertible bonds, dated Nov. 2, 1914, and
due on Nov. 1, 1919. These bonds will be secured by a
second and closed mortgage of $5,000,000 on all the prop-
erty owned. The total first and second mortgages of the
company will be about $90 per electric horse-power installed.
The proceeds from the sale of the bonds will be used to
retire the notes due on July 1, 1915. Bondholders will have
the privilege of converting their bonds into the common
stock of the company as follows: From Nov. 1 to Dec. 31,
1915, at 80; from Jan. 1 to Oct. 31, 1916, at 85; from Nov.
1, 1916, to Oct. 31, 1917, at 90; from Nov. 1, 1917, to Oct.
31, 1918, at 95, and during the remainder of the time until
maturity at 100. The rest of the $5,000,000 second mort-
gage bonds were taken up by $400,000 of 6 per cent con-
vertible debentures and $2,940,000 of 6 per cent bonds due
in July, 1931, of which $60,000 have been canceled by sink-
ing fund.
Pacific Gas & Electric Stock Distribution. — The Pacific
Gas & Electric Company of San Francisco, Cal., has issued
a statement showing the distribution of 70 per cent of the
$12,500,000 issue of first preferred stock as announced Aug.
16, 1914, since which time a considerable amount more has
been sold. The $8,750,000 worth of stock was taken by
3495 subscribers, as follows: 1621 subscribers were em-
ployees of the company, the par value of whose shares was
$548,600; L162 subscribers were customers of the company.
whose shares had a value of $1,325,600; the remaining 712
subscribers were stockholders of the company, the par value
of whose subscriptions amounted to $6,875,800. The 1621
employees who subscribed to the issue constituted approxi-
mately in per cenl of the permanent staff of the company.
Phe company has now outstanding approximately $51,-
000,000 pai- value of Btock, both common ami preferred, of
Which there are 608,592 shares distributed among 5792
'holders. The following shows the geographical (lis
tribution of the stock: Pacific ("oast. 3976 shareholders.
holding 234,761 shares with a par value of $23,476,100;
Middle West, 768, holding 86,874 shares with a par value
. (87, It'll; I I . holding 165,469 shares
with a par value of $16,646,900, and Europe, 883, holding
10 hare- with a par value nl' $4,260,900. During the
la,t six months the proportion of the holdings on the
I'aeiii per cent. Of the total
January 16, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
195
number of individual stockholders, 3976, or almost 10 per
cent, are residents of California.
Public Utility Bonds Gain in National-Bank Favor. —
According to the annual report of the Comptroller of the
Currency for 1914 the national banks of the country had
increased their holdings of public utility bonds on June 30,
1914, 11.05 per cent over June 4, 1913. Public utility bonds
represent slightly over 11 per cent of their entire holdings
of bonds. Not only did public utility bonds show the largest
percentage of increase of any of the classes of bonds, but
they showed the largest gross increase, namely, approxi-
mately $21,000,000. The holdings of government bonds
increased about $7,000,000, or slightly over 1 per cent; state,
county and municipal bonds increased less than $1,000,000,
or 0.1 per cent, while railroad bonds and foreign securities
Total
Holding
Public Utility
Bonds
Per Cent
Total
$388,300,000
1,855,500,000
$50,800,000
83,600,000
Mutual savings banks (634)
4.50
1 148,700,000
4,900,000
0.427
16.300.000
1,261,300,000
1,700,000
224,700,000
10.43
Loan and trust companies (1564)
17. S2
National banks (7525)
1,914.800.000
218,200,000
11.40
$5,584,900,000
$583,900,000
showed decreases, the former of 1 per cent, or $3,500,000,
and the latter of over 27 per cent, or $5,800,000. The total
gain in bond holdings was 1.015 per cent, or $28,000,000.
Thus the gain in public utility bond holdings was 75 per
cent of the total gain. The accompanying table shows the
proportion of the total bond holdings of 26,765 banks, mak-
ing reports to the comptroller, represented June 30, 1914,
by public utility bonds.
Preparations Made by German Electrical Companies for
War. — The London Electrical Review has published ab-
stracts from recent issues of German newspapers showing
financial conditions of German electrical companies. With
one exception the reports of the companies were for the
year 1913-14 and covered mostly periods preceding the war.
The Telephon Fabrik A. G. vorm. J. Berliner, Hanover,
having regard for foreign investments, made provision for
exceptional internal reserve before arriving at net profit,
thereby taking full account of any possible deficiency and
reducing the dividends from 12 per cent to 10 per cent. The
A. G. fur Elektricitats Anlagen, Berlin, which operates
central stations and railways, reports favorable results for
the year 1913-14, internal reserves having been made to
provide for the war situation. The Siemens & Halske
Company, after placing £100,000 aside for a special reserve
fund and £25,000 for the disposition fund, showed a net
profit of £68,000 less than for the previous year. The
company purposes to reduce its dividend from 12 per cent
to 10 per cent and to carry forward £60,000 as in 1912-13.
The Siemens Elektrische Betriebe A.G., Berlin, one of the
few German companies which have no interest in central
stations in hostile territory, intends to distribute the same
dividends as in the previous year, the net profits having
been £20,000 more in 1913-14 than in 1912-13. The Siemens-
Schuckertwerke reduced the dividend from 10 per cent to
7% per cent, although the results for the year ended July
31, 1914, would have permitted the payment of the original
amount, £125,000 having been allotted to the reserve fund.
The Elektricitats A.G. vorm. Schuckert & Company, Nurem-
berg, reduced dividends from 8 per cent to 6% per cent and
carried forward £66,000 as compared with £63,000 in the
previous year, the net profits having decreased £60,000.
The Elektricitats A.G. vorm. H. Poge, Chemnitz, declared
a dividend of 4 per cent in contrast with 7^2 per cent of
the last year, having placed £8,000 in reserve for war risk.
The Elektrische Licht und Krafts Anlagen A.G., Berlin,
reduced dividends from 7% per cent to 5 per cent for the
year ended Sept. 30, 1914, net profits having shrunk £44,000
in spite of an increase of £1000 in gross profits.
Manufacturing and Industrial
The Gould Storage Battery Company, 30 East Forty-
second Street, New York, has opened an office in the Kerr
Building, 100 Beaubien Street, Detroit, Mich.
The Kerr Turbine Company, Wellsville, N. Y., has ap-
pointed Mr. B. G. Fernald district manager of the New
York office. The office is in Room 801, Singer Building.
Calendar with Map of War Area. — The Stuart-Howland
Company, Boston, Mass., is sending out a calendar which
shows a map of Central Europe with the fortified cities
marked with red ink.
The Metalyte Company, New York, has appointed Mr.
J. J. Steinharter, formerly in charge of the Winnipeg
branch of the Laco-Phillips Company, second vice-president.
Mr. Steinharter will look after the business of the company
in Canada and in the northwestern section of the United
States.
The Trumbull Electric Manufacturing Company, Plain-
ville, Conn., has opened an office in San Francisco, Cal., the
address being 595 Mission Street. Mr. W. P. Naser, for
some years Western representative of the company, will
be in charge of this office. It is the intention of the above
company to have a large stock of its products in San Fran-
cisco.
Last Year a Good One for Small-Motor Manufacturer. —
The Bell Electric Motor Company, Garwood, N. J., manu-
facturer of alternating-current motors, reports that its
business for 1914 was about on a par with that for 1913
and was generally very good. The company is making
single-phase machines up to 15 hp in rating and polyphase
machines up to 40 hp.
Mr. E. W. Phillips, who formerly represented the Ex-
cello arc-lamp interests in this country, has been appointed
to the detail and supply department staff of the Chicago
office of the Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Com-
pany. Mr. Phillips will assist Mr. W. R. Pinckard, head of
the department, who was recently elected president of the
Chicago Electric Club.
Mr. George Kirchgasser has been appointed advertising
manager of the Cutler-Hammer Manufacturing Company,
Milwaukee, Wis., succeeding Mr. Charles L. Benjamin, who
recently resigned to take up advertising work in Milwaukee.
Mr. Kirchgasser has served as assistant advertising man-
ager of the company for the last four years. Besides his
advertising work, Mr. Kirchgasser has also contributed to
the technical press a number of articles on wiring and other
electrical subjects.
"Live-Wire" Club. — An organization composed of fore-
men and heads of various departments of the Burke Electric
Company, Erie, Pa., and known as the Burke Electric Live
Wire Club, recently held a meeting in the office of the
company, and plans for wider social activity and more
efficient co-operation among the employees of the various
departments were discussed. This club has a membership
of seventy-three. It holds an annual banquet during the
winter months and also takes care of the shop picnic in the
summer.
The Year 1914 a Big One in New York City for Elec-
trical Instruments. — According to Mr. Stanley Brown, man-
ager of the New York office of the Weston Electrical In-
strument Company, Newark, N. J., the amount of business
done by his office is only 2 per cent behind that of the best
year the office has ever had and is 15 per cent better than
that of the next best year. If it were not for the slack-
ness in the building industry, Mr. Brown stated recently to
a representative of the Electrical World, the year would
have been the best the company ever had in the New York
territory.
Electric Washer Company Sustains Slight Loss by Fire.
— Fire which broke out on the evening of Jan. 9 in a print-
ing plant occupying a part of the same building with the
factory of" the Hurley Machine Company, 19 South Clinton
Street, Chicago, destroyed about $15,000 worth of lumber
and other raw materials belonging to the washing machine
company. When interviewed by a representative of the
Electrical World, Mr. E. N. Hurley, president of the
company, stated that the loss would in no way delay ship-
ments and that the factory would be operating again under
196
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 3
normal conditions within two or three days. The material
destroyed and damaged was fully covered by the insurance
policies.
Import Duties on Automobiles and Accessories. — The
Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce of the United
States Department of Commerce recently issued a report
giving the rates of import duties on motor vehicles of all
kinds and accessories in practically all foreign countries.
The rates are given in both foreign quantities and weights
and their American equivalents, inclusive of surtaxes and
similar items which serve to increase the cost of impor-
tation. There is in addition a summary table in which the
rates are arranged so as to facilitate comparison between
various countries.
Insulated-Wire Business Slack. — .According to an official
of a prominent wire-manufacturing concern, the demand
throughout the country for insulated wire at present is
below normal. The number of employees in this company's
plant has been reduced to about 35 per cent of what it
usually is. The above official also declared to a repre-
sentative of the Electrical World that there are no pros-
pects of immediate improvement. So far as foreign busi-
ness is concerned, he stated, American manufacturers whose
product conforms to Underwriters' regulations cannot com-
pete successfully in foreign countries where requirements
are different.
Recording-Instrument Business Outlook. — The last week
of 1914 was a particularly good one for the Bristol Com-
pany, Waterbury, Conn. Considerable business has also
been done since the first of the year, especially in New
York and vicinity. Among recent orders received for the
company's instrument have been several from worsted mills
in New Jersey. The Bristol Company is benefiting by the
war as European competition has been practically elimi-
nated. This is especially the case in Australia and Africa,
where there is quite a demand for Bristol instruments. In
South America and the Philippine Islands the company is
finding business slow.
Electric Gear-Shifting Device at Automobile Shows. —
The Cutler-Hammer Manufacturing Company, Milwaukee,
Wis., exhibited at the recent New York automobile show
an electric gear shift for gasoline automobiles. The opera-
tion of this device, which eliminates the hand shifting of
gears, is controlled by push-buttons mounted in the center
of the steering wheel. The Winton 1915 six-cylinder car
is provided with one of these electric gear-shifting mech-
anisms. Single-button push-and-pull automobile lighting
switches and radiator caps, switch sub-bases, fuse boxes
and motor terminal blocks made of "Pyroplax" were also
shown. A similar exhibit will be placed on display at the
coming Chicago automobile show.
Orders for Lighting Standards. — The Ornamental Light-
ing Pole Company, 114 Liberty Street, New York, manu-
facturer of plain and ornamental cast-iron poles for street
lighting, railways and transmission systems, has recently
received the following orders: City of Easton, Pa., 117
single-lamp units for nitrogen-filled lamps; city of Pitts-
field, Mass., fifty-five single-lamp units for luminous-arc
lamps; city of Bridgeport, Conn., Ill single-lamp units for
luminous-arc lamps; the Cortland (N. Y.) County Traction
Company fifty-two poles for street-railway service, twenty-
seven of which are equipped with lamps. The company
anticipates a prosperous year. Inquiries both from foreign
countries and this country are being received. The com-
pany has been shipping some standards to South America,
through New York commission merchants.
Garment Makers Using Sewing-Machine Motors. — The
General Electric Company, Schenectady, N. Y., is noting a
demand for its motors designed to operate electric sewing
machines. In this class of service the tendency is toward
group drive and direct connection to the machine. Al-
though the above company's business in other types of
small motors has fallen off, that in sewing-machine motors
has more than held its own. The general improvement in
the manufacturing facilities of garment makers and also
to some extent the need for more equipment on account of
large war orders are said to have created a demand foi
these machines. With direct connection and group drive
the motor is usually placed under n table, out of the
way, and the noise and tendency to raise dust are reduced
to a minimum. Among other kinds of service for which
the small motor is adapted, the General Electric Company
is expecting a demand this spring for machines to operate
ice-cream freezers. This business is seasonal and is most
extensive in the early summer.
Lamp Manufacturers' Window Displays. — The Edison
Lamp Works of the General Electric Company, Harrison,
N. J., are preparing material for window displays for Lin-
coln's Birthday, St. Valentine's Day and Washington's Birth-
day which they will send to dealers. The Edison Lamp
Works are endeavoring to encourage the all-night use of
lamps in homes to prevent burglary. One of the decora-
tive schemes for windows includes a colored poster repre-
senting an armed burglar and two cardboard houses, one
of them illuminated and the other dark. The burglar is
placed between the two houses and his attitude is one of
hesitancy. On a large placard is printed, "If you were a
burglar which house would you choose?" Other placards
announce that "A dark house is a temptation to thieves
to break in and steal" and "The best burglar insurance is
an Edison 'Mazda' lamp burning all night." The Edison
Lamp Works are devoting much thought and attention to
co-operative publicity and are prepared to send to the deal-
ers a variety of booklets, bulletins, price lists with im-
prints, post cards, electrotypes for newspaper advertise-
ments, lantern slides, street-car cards, material for lec-
tures, etc.
Large Field for Small Generating Plants. — Fairbanks,
Morse & Company, Chicago, 111., makers of gas-engine-
driven generating sets for both direct-current and alter-
nating-current service, are disposing of a number of outfits
in the West for the operation of town-lighting systems and
industrial plants. The apparatus is designed for parallel
operation, so that the rating of a plant may be increased
by adding one or more units. The small direct-current sets
are used extensively on estates and farms and by the
United States and Canadian governments for lighthouses,
naval and military stations, etc. Fairbanks, Morse & Com-
pany are also making various types of small motors, de-
signed chiefly for industrial plants and for operating irri-
gation pumps. On account of the wet season in the West-
ern States last year, the business in equipment for irriga-
tion purposes fell off considerably. Recently Fairbanks.
Morse & Company have resorted to the use of ball bearings
on their direct-current motors. These bearings have al-
ready been successfully employed on their alternating-cur-
rent machines. Direct-current motors with ratings up to
15 hp are being equipped with ball bearings, and it is the
intention of the concern to make use of them on the larger
machines. Another new development by Fairbanks, Morse
& Company is an alternating-current drum-type controller.
The contacts of the controller and the transformer are
immersed in oil.
Mr. Charles L. Benjamin has resigned as advertising
manager of the Cutler-Hammer Manufacturing Company,
Milwaukee, Wis., to join Klau-Van Pietersom-Dunlap, Inc.,
Milwaukee, an advertising organization in which he has ac-
quired an interest. Although Mr. Benjamin is perhaps best
known among advertising men as an authority on technical
and trade-paper advertising, his career in the general field
has been an interesting one. He was the first editor of
Printer's Ink when that journal was started in 1888, and
he later became general publicity manager for the Century
Company, publishers of the Century Magazine and the Cen-
tury Dictionary. In these connections Mr. Benjamin was
associated with Messrs. George P. Rowell, Richard Watson
Gilder, T. L. De Vinne and other famous figures of the pub-
lishing field. In 1898 he enlisted as a volunteer soldier,
serving in the Porto Rican campaign. After the withdrawal
of the United States troops from Cuba he was retained
by the Cuban government to supervise the instruction of the
native employees. Later he returned to New York and
edited The Suburbanite, issued by the Central Railroad of
\Yw Jersey. This publication achieved remarkable results
in encouraging the migration of city dwellers to suburban
homes in Now Jersey. For the last eight years Mr. Benja-
min has been advertising manager for the Cutler-Hammer
company. He is a past-president of the Milwaukee Adver-
tisers' Club and has been in demand as a speaker at many
conventions of advertising and business men.
January 16, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
197
New Incorporations
The New Holland Light & Power Company has been
incorporated with a capital stock of $6,000 to construct and
operate an electric-light plant. The incorporators are Henry
Cooper, James Ryan and G. A. Trenkle.
The Lower Milford Township Electric Light & Power
Company and the Lower Macungie Township Electric Light
& Power Company have received charters to supply elec-
tricity for lamps, heaters and motors in the districts for
which they are named. The incorporators are H. R. Pehr,
Charles Wagner and A. H. S. Cantlin, respectively presi-
dent, treasurer and general manager of the Lehigh Valley
Light & Power Company, of Allentown.
New Industrial Companies
The Kanaky Electric & Manufacturing Company, of Los
Angeles, Cal., has been incorporated with a capital stock of
$25,000 by H. P. Kanaky, S. E. Goar and E. E. Hull.
The Hucks Auto Electric Company, of Los Angeles, Cal.,
has been incorporated with a capital stock of $10,000. The
directors are C. W. Sahland, A. M. Sahland and H. S.
Laughlin.
The Wyre Sales Company, of Lima, Ohio, has been incor-
porated by J. J. Wyre, D. R. Wyre, J. L. Cable, C. M. Cable
and W. B. O'Conner. The company is capitalized at $5,000
and proposes to deal in electrical supplies.
The Champion Electric Manufacturing Company, of New
York, N. Y., has been chartered with a capital stock of
$50,000 by Frank and Salvatore Scognamillo and Muro
Lamparelli, 2312 Hughes Avenue, New York, N. Y.
The Four-M Tractor Company, of Chicago, 111., has been
incorporated with a capital stock of $100,000 by George A.
Chritton, Oscar W. Youngquist and Albert Pack. The com-
pany proposes to manufacture and deal in dynamos.
The Williamson-Johnston Company, of McKeesport, Pa!,
has been chartered for the purpose of manufacturing all
kinds of electrical appliances. The incorporators are G. S.
Williamson, A. T. Johnston and H. Marwitz, of McKeesport.
The Self-Raising Seat Appliance Company, of Newark,
N. J., has been incorporated by S. M. Eisner, L. Lasser, of
Newark, N. J., and O. W. Jackson, of Brooklyn, N. Y. The
company is capitalized at $100,000 and proposes to manu-
facture mechanical and electrical tools, devices and appli-
ances.
The Motor Ignition & Device Company, of Clarksburg,
W. Va., has been organized by Ellis R. Diehm, Ernest Angell,
C. C. Owens, W. L. Fleming and Harold T. Clark, all of
Cleveland, Ohio. The company is capitalized at $400,000
and proposes to manufacture ignition systems for gasoline
motors.
The Pavey Electric Company, of Dunbar, W. Va., has been
incorporated with a capital stock of $100,000 for the pur-
pose of manufacturing electrical machinery. Samuel Pavey,
Frank Pavey, of Indianapolis, Ind.; W. T. Moore and Fred
Paul Grosscup, of Dunbar, W. Va., are interested in the
company.
The Electric Protection Company, of Columbia, S. C, has
filed application for a charter with the Secretary of State.
The capital stock is placed at $5,000 with privilege to in-
crease it to $25,000. The incorporators are B. F. Taylor,
Wilie Jones, Joseph Norwood, Ashley C. Tobias, Jr., and
W. B. Stuart.
The National Lighting Products Company, of Pittsburgh,
Pa., has recently filed application for a charter with the
Secretary of State. The company proposes to manufacture
and deal in electric-lighting fixtures and accessories. The
incorporators are F. C. Murdock, George E. Lanz, Robert
E. Gannon, Vincent E. Truxell and W. E. Walsh.
The Asbestos Wood Manufacturing Corporation, of Pough-
keepsie, N. Y., has been incorporated with a capital stock of
$250,000 for the purpose of manufacturing fireproof and
weatherproof materials, insulating material, etc.; also to do
a general contracting and engineering business. The incor-
porators are H. H. Vail, R. F. Butts and C. J. Connally, of
Poughkeepsie.
Trade Publications
Soldering Tool Holder. — The Vulcan Electric Heating
Company, Buffalo, N. Y., has recently issued a leaflet describ-
ing its soldering tool holder.
Small Battery-Charging Outfit. — A small automobile bat-
tery-charging set is described in a catalog recently issued
by the Lincoln Electric Company, Cleveland, Ohio.
Binding Posts. — Circular No. 21 sent out by the States
Company, 19 New Park Avenue, Hartford, Conn., describes
and illustrates several types of binding posts.
Outdoor Lighting Fixtures. — The Metal Arts & Crafts
Company, Chicago, 111., has issued a folder which lists and
illustrates a number of cast-metal outdoor lighting fixtures.
High-Frequency Generator. — Bulletin No. 8-C sent out by
the Victor Electric Company, Jackson Boulevard and Robey
Street, Chicago, 111., describes a high-frequency generator.
Sockets for High-Efficiency Lamps. — Harvey Hubbell,
Inc., Bridgeport, Conn., has issued Bulletin No. 15-3, which
is descriptive of a large-sized socket for nitrogen-filled
lamps.
Electric Cord Adjuster. — The "Gowan" automatic lamp-
cord adjusting device is described and illustrated in a cir-
cular issued by S. G. Forst & Company, 116 Church Street.
Toronto, Ont.
Storage Batteries. — The Kentucky Revivo Battery Com-
pany, Louisville, Ky., has published a booklet which contains
a number of letters commending the "Revivo" battery for
electric vehicles.
Electric Sign. — Harvey, Deschere & Company, 1501 Gar-
den Street, Hoboken, N. J., have published Catalog No. 7,
which contains information on electric signs illuminated by
miniature lamps.
Centrifugal Pumps. — The De Laval Steam Turbine Com-
pany, Trenton, N. J., has issued a 298-page catalog with
more than 300 illustrations describing a number of different
kinds of centrifugal pumps.
Reading-Lamp Fixture. — A stand equipped with a rack
over which may be placed a reading lamp is described in a
folder published by the R. M. Millar Electric Works, 9
South Clinton Street, Chicago, 111.
Lighting and Ignition Battery. — The Electric Storage Bat-
tery Company has issued a catalog, designated as Section
LI, which contains information on its "type LX Exide" bat-
tery for lighting and ignition service.
Steel Base for Battery Bell.— The P.R. Manufacturing
Company, 621 Bellevue Avenue, Detroit, Mich., is sending
out a folder the subject of which is a pressed-steel base for
its "Eclipse" battery-operated bell.
Floor Outlet Extension. — The Bryant Electric Company,
Bridgeport, Conn., is sending out a folder which is descrip-
tive of a water-tight floor box connected by means of rigid
conduit to a disappearing door receptacle.
Soldering Paste. — The M. W. Dunton Company, 150
Niagara Street, Providence, R. I., has issued a folder en-
titled "Soldering Kinks," which enumerates some of the
uses to which its soldering paste can be put.
Signal System Testing Volt-Ammeters. — Direct-current
and alternating-current testing volt-ammeters for railway
signal systems are described in Bulletin Sheet No. 86, issued
by the Roller-Smith Company, 203 Broadway, New York.
Watt-Hour Meters. — Bulletin No. 40, issued by the San-
gamo Electric Company, Springfield, 111., is attractively il-
lustrated and contains information on alternating-current
watt-hour meters for single-phase and polyphase service.
Jobber's Yearbook. — The 1915 yearbook issued by the
Western Electric Company, New York, contains 1216 pages
and is profusely illustrated. Uniform list prices are given,
to which uniform discounts can be applied. The catalog
also contains information on numerous selling helps.
Lungmotors. — The Life Saving Devices Company, 1009
Times Building, New York, has issued a card, 9% in. by
11 in., containing fac-similes of clippings from various news-
papers relating to the work of the lungmotor in restoring
many persons overcome by smoke in the recent New York
subway accident. An illustration on the card shows a lung-
motor giving air to an asphyxiated adult.
198
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Construction News
New England
GREENVILLE, MAINE. — The Greenville
Lt. & Pwr. Co. has applied to th
Utilities Commission for permission to pur-
chase the property, rights and franchises
of the Sebec Pwr. Co.. the Sangerville Im-
provement Co. and the Dover .y Foxcroft
Lt ,y lit. Co. Charles L) Shaw, ol
ville. is president of the Greenville company.
FITCHBURG, MASS. — The town officials
and the Board of Trade are considering the
installation of new nitrogen tungsten lamps
on Monument Square and through the en-
tire business section, provided the merchants
will co-operate.
LUNENBURG. MASS. — Application has
been made by the Municipal Light Board
of Lunenburg to the town of Leominster for
a franchise to erect a transmission line
from Lunenburg into Leominster.
SALEM, MASS. — The Salem El. Ltg. Co.
has closed a contract with the Naumkeag
Cotton Mills Co. to supply electricity to
operate the plant of the latter company.
The electric company will build an addition
to its plant to enable it to supply the addi-
tional service.
WEST BOTLSTON, MASS. — Within the
ne^t four months the town of West Boyls-
ton expects to erect 3 miles of transmission
line and to purchase meters, transformers
and lighting arresters in connection with
the municipal electric-lighting system.
Arthur I. Hunting is superintendent.
HOKE VALLEY, R. I. — The Westerly Lt.
& Pwr. Co., of Westerly, is contemplating
extending its transmission lines to Hope
Valley in the near future.
BRIDGEPORT, CONN.— Bids will be
received bv the Board of Contract and
Supply, Room 28. City Hall, Bridgeport,
until Feb 1 for the construction of alms-
house building, including electrical work
and mechanical equipment. Drawings and
specifications may be obtained upon appli-
cation to the Board of Contract and Supply
upon deposit of $25, which will be re-
funded upon return of same within ten
days.
TORRINGTON, CONN. — Extensions are
being made to the power plant of the Tor-
rington El. Lt. Co., including the installation
of one 1250-kva Parsons Westinghouse tur-
bine, with Edwards air pump, Wheeler con-
denser and two 250-hp Beach boilers. Con-
tra :s have been placed for all equipment.
WINSTED, CONN. — The Winsted Gas
Co. is installing one Ludlow waterwheel
governor, two Tirrill regulators and one
250-hp Bigelow boiler. All contracts for
equipment have been awarded.
Middle Atlantic
HATH, N. T. — Bids will be received by
Joseph A. Goulden, president of board of
trustees. New York State Soldiers and Sail-
ors' Home. Bath, until Feb. 2 for alterations
to electric plant. Drawings and specifica-
tions mav he consulted at the New York
State Soldiers anil Sailors' Home, Bath ; at
the New York office of the Department of
Architecture, 1224 Wool worth Building,
New York ; at the Department of Archi-
tecture, Capitol, Albany. Drawings and
itions and blank forms of proposal
obtained at the Department of
Architecture, Capitol. Albany, upon deposit
of $10. which will be refunded upon return
of sun.- Lewis F i'ilcher is state archi-
BINGHAMTON, N. Y — Bids will be re-
,. the State Hospital Commission.
Capitol. Albany, until Jan. 21. for con-
i,l limbing and electric
ng f,,r chronic patients,
and for new bi
, nit.-. i at
hamton Stati the New
and at the Department of An h
md blank foil
. at the l '■
It of fin
i, division of the work, to be re-
funded upon return of same Lev
iKLTN, N Y Bide will be
I
n, corner
of pari ninth Strei t, New
York, until J
equipment in
ough '■
branch office, 131 Livingston Street, Brook-
lyn.
MINETTO, N. Y. — Several parcels of land
have recently been transferred to the Co-
in i Mills Pwr. Co., which is buying up
property in Minetto for a large power de-
velopment here.
NEW YORK. N. T. — Bids will be received
by William Williams, commissioner of water
supply, gas and electricity, Room 234-. Mu-
nicipal Building, New York, until Jan. IS
for furnishing and delivering incandescent
electric lamps. Blank forms of bids, pro-
id contract. Including specifications.
may be obtained at Room 2324, Municipal
Building.
NEW YORK. N. Y. — Bids will be received
bv C. B. J. Snyder, superintendent of school
buildings. Department of Education, corner
of Park Avenue and Fifty-ninth Street. New
York, until Jan. 18 for electric work for
workshop in cellar in Public School 1«9. 219
East Ninety-ninth Street, borough of Man-
hattan. Blank forms, plans and specifi-
cations mav be obtained or seen at the of-
fice of the superintendent, Hall of Board
of Education, Park Avenue and Fifty-ninth
.Street, borough of Manhattan.
PORT CHESTER, N. Y. — The Board of
Trustees, it is reported, has decided to es-
tablish an ornamental lighting district in
North and South Main Streets. The plans
provide for the installation of 67 standards
carrying four lamps each.
POUGHKEEPSIE, N. Y— Bids will be
received bv the State Capitol Commission,
Capitol, Albany, until Jan. 21 for furnish-
ing motor for laundry at the Hudson River
State Hospital, Poughkeepsie. Drawinp
and specifications may be obtained at the
Hudson River State Hospital, Poughkeepsie ;
at the New York office of the Department
of Architecture, Room 1224, Woolworth
Building, New York, and at the Department
of Architecture, Capitol, Albany. Lewis P.
Pilcher is state architect.
TROY, N. Y. — The extension of the orna-
mental lighting system on Third Street
from Congress Street to Ferry Street is
under consideration.
WW. DEN, N. Y. — The Public Service
Commission has granted the Wallkill Valley
El Lt & Pwr. Co., of Walden, permission
to issue $23,500 in bonds, of which the
proceeds of $4,075 will be used for the
erection of a transmission line between
Pine Bush and Walden.
ALLENTi IWN, PA. — The contract for
the electrical installation (except fixtures)
for the rear wing of the new Lehigh County
court house has been awarded to the Com-
mercial Construction Co., of New York.
N. Y. The grand jury has recommended
that the construction work for the entire
building be started as soon as the portion
now under way is completed. The entire
building when completed will cost more
than $1,000,000. R. S. Rathburn is super-
vising engineer.
BATH, PA — Plans are being considered
by the Council for the installation of a mu-
nicipal electric-light system.
EASTON, PA. — The City Council has
recently awarded the contract for the in-
stallation of the ornamental street-lighting
svstem to the Macan Jr. Co., of Easton.
The contract provides for 117 single lamp
standards carrying fiOO-cp nitrogen tungsten
lamps, maintained by underground wires.
The cost of the work is placed at $15,000,
Of which $6,600 is for the standards com-
plete and $8,500 for installation of system.
A T Koehler, of Easton, consulting and
electrical engineer, has charge of the work.
MEA nvil. I.E. PA — Plans are being con-
sidered bv the County Commissi,,
lighting the court house by electricity.
PHILADELPHIA, PA.- Bids will be re-
STge W. Norns. , lire, tor I >,-
and Ferries
,i i . Building, Phlladi Iphia, Pa . until
BV i, i , for furnishing electric I
River be-
I itherlne and Christian Stn
propos&l columns.
. .i \ki;i:ti IWN, PA The
Council is considering plans (or the Installa-
tion Of a new tire alarm system
UNION DEPOSIT, PA The Installation
ni in the
spring is nn.ier consideration
NEWARK, N. .1 .- The Ma. is A Waldsteln
i -,, . ,i i reported, contemplate!
i its fao-
: \ %. mi. i; Mi,i Passa la River.
, nig con-
I. by the Trenton.
Oo fot the
railway, contract for
Which was recently award, d The pi,, pose. I
Will run from Trenton t.. Point
nl. via l.akownod
Vol. 65, No. 3
WESTON, W. VA., — The Weston El. Lt.,
Pwr. & Wtr. Co. has awarded a contract
to the Triumph Ice Machine Co.. of Cin-
cinnati, lor a 20-ton ice plant.
GRUNDY, VA. — The City Council is con-
templating the installation of a municipal
electric-light plant, it is also proposed to
build an ice factory in connection with the
electric plant.
WASHINGTON, D, C— Plans and specifi-
cations for a central heating, lighting and
1 lower plant to be erected in the city of
Washington, under the direction of the
supervising architect's office, will be ready
for delivery on or after Jan. Is. Bids
mav be submitted for the entire work or
for'anv of the following sections: Power-
plant building complete, with steel smoke-
stacks ; boilers: generating apparatus,
pumping equipment ; condensers ; coal and
ash handling apparatus; steam and water
piping . switching gear ; tunnels ; substation
apparatus, etc. The department will be
able to allow only 15 days for preparation
of estimates. For details see proposal
columns. O. Wenderoth is supervising archi-
tect.
WASHINGTON, D. C— Bids will be re-
ceived at the Bureau of Supplies and Ac-
counts, Navy Department. Washington,
D C until Feb. 2. for furnishing at the
various navy yards and naval stations the
following supplies: Brooklyn, N. Y..
Schedule 7803—4000 searchlight carbons,
100 000 ft. double conductor, 36,000 ft tele-
phone card, 5500 ft. twin c?n£iu,^tor .]*'"•
1300 ft. brass conduit : Schedule , son—, 2,000
ft lamp cord: Schedule 7S13— miscellaneous
steel boiler tubes, Norfolk, Va., Schedule
7Si6 — miscellaneous induction motors. New-
port R I.. Schedule 7S09— 500 lb. sheet
copper, 105,000 brass tubes, 2000 lb. brass
tubing East and West, Schedule 779S— mis-
cellaneous positive and negative tandem
plates. Boston. Mass.. Schedule 780a—
miscellaneous unions, Boston, Mass., and
Brooklyn, N Y. Schedule 7805 — miscel-
laneous composition pipe fittings. Applica-
tions for proposals should designate the
schedule desired by number.
WASHINGTON, D. C. — Foreign trade op-
portunities are announced by the Bureau of
Foreign and Domestic Commerce In the
Commerce Reports as follows: No. 16,129—
An American consular officer in the I mted
Kingdom reports that a dealer in his dis-
trict desires to be put into communication
with manufacturers of copper, brass and
phosphor-bronze wire, and any other prod-
uct of the allied branch of electrical trade.
1 — An American diplomatic officer
in a foreign country reports that his co-
operation has been solicited in an endeavor
to secure shipments of copper from 1 mted
States to two foreign governments No.
The Bureau of Foreign and Do
Commerce is in receipt of a commu-
nication from a business man in South
America who desires to establish commer-
cial relations with manufacturers of gaso-
line and electric motor cars for railroad
He states that he now has an in-
quiry for two cars and trailers. No. 15,061
A' firm of- wholesale merchants and im-
porters in Canada has informed an Ameri-
can consul that it desires to be put in
touch with manufacturers and d.
miniature auto and flashlight tungsten
lamps No 15. 076 — An American consular
officer in the East Indies reports that a gas
company In a city in his district is in the
market for vcllow-tlame carbons for maga-
zine arc lamps, size 12 in. by 7 mm. The
company desires to form commercial t.-la-
r future business. No. 15.0S2 — An
American consul in one of the British pos-
n ports the name and address of an
electric-light company which will soon be
in the market for carbons. No, I
business man in Southern Europe informs
an American consular officer that he de-
[mport coal, typewriters, tool grind-
ers, automobiles, lighting fixtures, vacuum
, pianos ana piano-players He ne-
sires to consider agencies for other lines of
American goods Correspondence should be
in Spanish it" possible. The consular officer
that bis office be supplied with du-
Of the catalogs. No. 15,140—
An American consular officer In one of the
neutral European countries states that a
firm in his district wishes to communicate
With American manufacturers of wireless-
urns which maj be used In
- and prices should lie
9enl at o jpondence mav be In
English. NO 15,141 -V firm in France in-
forms an American consular officer that it
to s. . in • names and add- -
American manufacturers of soft-steel win
in the following dimension
r0S26 In in -
mdence should be In French
Weights, sizes and measurements should be
i In the metric system prices
quoted in hrani ' French port
I 13 A merchant In Spain Informs
.,n American consul that he wishes t.. com
mimical, wiiti American manufacturers of
January 16, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
electrolytic copper wire. Catalogs, prices
and samples should be sent immediately.
Correspondence should be in Spanish. No.
15,144 — An American consular officer in the
East Indies reports that a navigation com-
pany in his district is desirous of being
placed in communication with manufactur-
ers in the United States of carbons for
searehlamps. The firm, it is stated, can
furnish satisfactory references. Corre-
spondence may be in English. No. 15,164 —
A business man in New Zealand has in-
formed an American consul that he is de-
sirous of getting into communication with
manufacturers and exporters of optical
goods and electrical appliances for wireless
telegraphy. It is explained that he is par-
ticularly anxious to do business with firms
on the Pacific Coast. No. 15,165 — An Ameri-
can consular officer in the Far East re-
ports that a dealer in his district desires
to receive price lists, etc., catalogs of sheet
and galvanized iron, sheet iron for boilers,
electric lamps, etc. Catalogs, etc., should be
in Russian or German. The consul states
that if catalogs in the English language are
sent through the consulate he will assist in
making translations for the prospective
buyer. No. 15,173 — An American consular
officer in Europe reports that he is in re-
ceipt of a communication from a corporation
in his district, which operates five electric
power plants throughout the country, re-
questing to be put in communication with
American manufacturers and dealers in cop-
per cables, copper wire and drawn copper
tubes. No. 15,182 — An American consular
officer reports that a royal decree has been
published authorizing the purchase of four
electrically operated cranes for use in the
port of Valencia, Spain. Plans and speci-
fications are on file in the office of the Sec-
retaria de la Junta de Obras del Puerto de
Valencia, Valencia, and in the office of the
Ministerio de Fomento, Secion de Puetos,
Madrid. A list of persons who are in a
position to represent American firms may be
obtained on application to the Bureau of
Foreign and Domestic Commerce and its
branches. No. 15,184 — An electrical engi-
neer of one of the leading cities in South
America has requested an American con-
sular officer to secure for him catalogs, etc.,
of electrical supplies, including wire, cable
and conduit, etc. Prices should be f.o.b.
New York or, preferably, c. i. f. destination.
Catalogs in Portuguese are preferred. No.
15,198 — A business firm in Italy reports to
an American consul that it wishes to re-
ceive offers, accompanied by catalogs, etc.,
on movable and stationary vacuum clean-
ers, with a view of securing the exclusive
agency for that country. Correspondence
may be in English. No. 15,203 — An agent
in Europe informs an American consular
officer that he desires to obtain offers ac-
companied by catalogs for refrigerating
and ice-making machinery for large plants.
He desires to secure an exclusive agency for
that country. No. 15,220 — An American
consular officer in Canada reports that a
firm in his district desires to be put in
touch with American manufacturers of
electric-lighting fixtures, with a view of
representing them in that market on a com-
mission basis. No. 15,231 — An American
consular officer in one of the neutral coun-
tries has transmitted a detailed report
covering a number of opportunities for the
sale in his district of metals and metal
alloys, shovels, spades, jacks for automo-
bile trucks, magnetos and spark plugs,
leather for automobiles and boot and shoe
making, and wheat. A copy of the report
may be obtained upon application to the
Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce
or its branches. No. 15,243 — A firm in
South America has informed an American
consul that it desires to import electrical
appliances in general, telephone and tele-
graph supplies, rubber goods for automo-
biles, pharmacies and industrial purposes.
Correspondence should be in Spanish. No.
15,251 — An American consul in South
America reports the name and address of
a firm which is negotiating with the gov-
ernment for the installation of a modern
telephone system. One member of the firm,
it is stated, is an American. No. 15.260 —
An American consular officer in Russia re-
ports that a business man in his district
desires to secure names and addresses of
firms in the United States manufacturing
or dealing in electric lamps, electric mount-
ings, dynamos, coupling for engines, steam
engines, tools of every description, hand
and steam pumps, belting, etc. Correspond-
ence may be in Russian, French or Ger-
man. No. 15,265 — An American consular
officer in the Far East reports that a firm
in his district desires catalogs, price lists
and discounts on steam engines and boilers
for electric power plants and electrical ma-
chinery (direct current). Correspondence
may be in English. No. 15,270 — An im-
porting company in the United Kingdom
advises an American consular officer that it
wishes to purchase large quantities of
porcelain electrical fittings. It is stated
that this firm has formerly transacted ex-
tensive business with American exporters
and manufacturers. No. 15,274 — An Ameri-
can consular officer in the Far East has
transmitted the name and address of a
business man in his district who wishes to
get into communication with American
firms which export carborundum. He also
wishes quotations on carborundum similar
to each of the samples, which may be in-
spected at the Bureau of Foreign and Do-
mestic Commerce or its branches. The
commodity should be packed in boxes of
125 lb. net weight each. He desires to
enter into a yearly contract for monthly
shipments and would also like to receive
counter samples. Further information may
be obtained on application to the Bureau of
Foreign and Domestic Commerce. Depart-
ment of Commerce, Washington, D. C, or
to its following branches: Room 409, United
States Custom House, New Y'ork, N. Y. :
629 Federal Building, Chicago, 111. ; 1020
Hibernia Bank Building, New Orleans, La. ;
310 United States Custom House, San
Francisco, Cal. : 52 Post Office Building,
Atlanta, Ga. : 922 Alaska Building, Seattle,
Wash. ; 752 Oliver Building, Boston, Mass.,
and 402 Third National Bank Building,
St. Louis, Mo.
North Central
FREMONT, MICH. — At a special elec-
tion held Jan. 4 the citizens voted in favor
of granting the Grand Rapids-Muskegon
Pwr. Co. of Grand Rapids a franchise to
supply electricity in Fremont. The power
company will take over the municipal elec-
tric-light plant at $13,000.
GLADSTONE, MICH. — Within the next
30 days the managers of the municipal elec-
tric-light plant expect to purchase an elec-
tric fire whistle, 10 closed-circuit single-
stroke bells and one electro-mechanical bell
for closed circuit. G. A. Fragoner is su-
perintendent.
HILLSDALE, MICH. — The City Council
has authorized the Board of Public Works
to dismantle the old 80-hp boiler in the
municipal electric-light plant and install a
new 350-hp water-tube boiler with stoker
and equipment. The cost is estimated at
$7,500.
PORT AUSTIN, MICH.— The Village
Council is considering the question of es-
tablishing a municipal electric-light plant
in Port Austin.
SAGINAW, MICH. — A petition is being
circulated by John C. Davies asking the
City Council to call a special election on
Feb. 23, 1915, to vote on a proposal to Issue
$750,000 in bonds to install a municipal
electric-light plant and distributing system
in Saginaw.
BUCYRUS, OHIO — Preparations are be-
ing made by the Bucyrus Lt. & Pwr. Co.
for the installation of additional equipment
in its plant, including turbo-generators,
boilers, condensers, etc. Contracts for ma-
chinery have already been placed. A. G.
Moser is superintendent.
CLEVELAND, OHIO.— The city of
Cleveland will install 550 new ornamental
street lamps. It is not yet decided when
the work will be done.
CLEVELAND, OHIO. — Bids will be re-
ceived by A R. Callow, commissioner of
purchases and supplies, 513 City Hall,
Cleveland, until Jan. 22, for furnishing in-
sulated lead-covered cable for the municipal
electric-light department. Bids will also
be received at the same time and place for
electric meters for the municipal electric-
light department. Specifications may be ob-
tained at the office of the commissioner of
the light and heat division, 1443 East Third
Street, Cleveland.
ELY'RIA, OHIO. — The construction of a
joint municipal electric-lighting plant by the
cities of Elyria and Lorain has been pro-
posed by the Councilmen of both cities.
MARTINS FERRY, OHIO — Improve-
ments are contemplated to the municipal
electric-lighting plant, including the instal-
lation of new arc machines and engine.
TIFFIN, OHIO. — Bids will be received at
the office of the supervising architect. Treas-
ury Department, Washington, D. C, until
Feb. 8, for construction complete, including
mechanical equipment, lighting fixtures and
approaches, of the United States post office
at Tiffin. Drawings and specifications may
be obtained at the above office or from the
custodian of site at Tiffin. O. Wenderoth
is supervising architect.
TOLEDO, OHIO — Bids will be- received
bv the Board of Commissioners of Lucas
County, Court House, Toledo, until Jan. 29
for construction of power house and fur-
nishing equipment for a new heating, light-
ing and power plant for the Lucas County
Children's Home. E. Bayer, Nicholas Build-
ing, Toledo, is engineer.
BRADENBURG. KY. — W. D. Coleman,
it is reported, has purchased the electric-
light franchise and will install an electric-
light plant in Bradenburg.
DANVILLE, KY. — The installation of an
ornamental lighting system on Lexington
Avenue is under consideration.
LOUISVILLE, KY. — The Louisville
Bridge & Iron Co., it is reported, is con-
templating changing all of its motors from
direct to alternating current and will soon
purchase new motors aggregating several
hundred horse-power.
NEWPORT, KY. — Plans are being con-
sidered by the City Council for operating
the municipal water-works pumping sta-
tion by electricity. Estimates of cost of
pumping the water by electricity are being
prepared by the Union Lt., Ht. & Pwr. Co.,
of Cincinnati.
ROCKPORT, KY. — The Town Council, it
is reported, has granted a franchise for the
construction of an electric-light plant and
water-works system in Rockport.
INDIANAPOLIS, IND. — The Indiana Pub-
lic Service Commission has authorized the
Merchants' Ht. & Lt. Co., of Indianapolis,
to issue $2S1,232 in bonds and $75,206 in
capital stock, the proceeds to be used to
carry out its contract with the city for
street-lighting, etc.
CARRIERS MILLS, ILL.— The State
Public Utilities Commission has authorized
the Carrier Mills Utilities Co. to issue
$5,000 in capital stock.
CHICAGO, ILL. — Bids will be received
by J. F. Neil, secretary of the South Park
Commissioners, Fifty-seventh Street and
Grove Avenue, Chicago, until Jan. 20, for
one year's supplv of incandescent lamps, be-
ginning Feb. 1, 1915.
GALVA, ILL. — The Galva El. Lt. Co. has
applied to the State Public Utilities Com-
mission for a certificate of convenience and
necessity to erect and maintain a transmis-
sion line from the village of Victoria to the
junction with the existing line of the com-
pany for the purpose of supplying elec-
tricity in Victoria.
HOOPESTON, ILL. — Plans are being con-
sidered fo>- the installation of a municipal
electric-lighting plant in connection with
Hi. city water-works system.
MIDDLETOWN, ILL — Plans are being
considered for the installation of a munici-
pal electric-light plant to furnish electricity
for lighting the streets and for commer-
cial purposes.
ROCHESTER, ILL. — Application has
been made to the Village Board by the
Haas El. Co., of Springfield, for a franchise
to install and operate an electric-light plant
for a period of 20 years.
STREATOR, ILL. — A committee has been
appointed by the Commercial Club to make
investigations relative to the installation of
an ornamental lighting system in Streator.
WARREN, ILL- — The Warren Lt. & Pwr.
Co has applied to the State Public Utilities
Commission for permission to erect a trans-
mission line from Warren to Apple River
and also to construct a general distributing
system in Apple River.
GRANTSBURG, WIS. — A petition has
been presented to the City Council to have
a survey made to ascertain the feasibility
of damming the Wood River In Grants-
burg to obtain power to operate the mu-
nicipal electric-light plant.
MANITOWOC, WTS. — All bids received
for furnishing a 500-hp steam plant for the
municipal water and lighting plant, it is re-
ported, have been rejected by the City
Council New bids will not be called until
a decision has been reached on the offer of
the Busch-Sulzer Brothers-Diesel Engine
Co, of St. Louis, Mo., to install an oil-
engine-driven generating unit. Henry Stolze
is Mayor.
OREGON, WIS. — The installation of a
municipal electric-light plant in Oregon is
reported to be under consideration.
ELMORE, MINN. — The installation of an
electric-lighting system in Elmore is re-
ported under consideration. H. Mernfield
is said to be interested in the project.
HENNING, MINN. — The Village Board
is reported to have granted a franchise to
V Herman, of St. Cloud, to install an elec-
tric-lighting system in Henning.
MILLVILLE, MINN.— The installation of
an electric-lighting system in Millville is
reported to be under consideration.
MINNEAPOLIS. MINN. — A detailed
statement covering the public work to be
recommended by the Minnesota State Board
of Control to be done in the next two years
has been completed by the board for pre-
sentation to the Legislature, which con-
venes this month. The specific electrical im-
provements, aside from the electrical work
involved in other buildings under considera-
tion, are as follows: To be completed in
1915 and 1916 — School for the Blind, Red
Wing rewiring main building, superintend-
200
ent's residence, hospital and barn, $2,000 ;
power plant at School for Feeble-minded,
Falrbault. $30,000 ; State Fublic School,
Owatonna, heating and power plant, $100,-
000, underground electric feeder system,
$5,000 , Home School for Girls, Sauk Cen-
ter, wiring hospital attic, $350 ; State Re-
formatory, St. Cloud, underground feeders
and ground lighting system, $4,000 ; State
Sanitarium, Walker Roentgen-ray installa-
tion, $5,000, ground lighting, telephone sys-
tem and electric service extension, $6,500 ;
Hospital for Inebriates, Willmar, power-
plant improvements, $1,000. To be com-
pleted 1916-1917, School for Deaf, Fari-
bault, rewiring laundry and hospital, $2,000 ;
School for Feeble-minded, Faribault, rewir-
ing laundry and hospital, ground lighting
system, $2,000 ; State Training School, Red
Wing, ground lighting system and under-
ground feeders, $10,000.
RUSHMORE, MINN. — An electric-light-
ing system is being installed in Rushmore.
Electricity to operate the system will be
obtained from the municipal electric plant
at Worthington, 10 miles distant. A 6600-
volt transmission line is now being erected
to supply the service.
WINDOM, MINN. — At an election held
recently the proposal to issue $25,000 bonds
for improvements to the municipal electric-
lighting system was carried.
CEDAR FALLS, IA. — Plans are being
considered by the Union Milling Co., of
Cedar Falls and Waterloo, for developing
the water-power of Cedar River to supply
electricity to operate its mills and also for
other industries.
DES MOINES, IA. — The Continental Gal
& El. Corpn., of Cleveland, it is reported,
will soon apply to the City Council for a
franchise to construct and operate a cen-
tral heating plant and an electric-lighting
system in Des Moines. W. H. Abbott, Cuya-
hoga Building, Cleveland, is president of
the company.
PRAIRIE HOME, MO. — The Town Board,
It Is reported, has granted Kelly Simmons
a franchise to construct and operate an
electric-light plant in Prairie Home for a
period of 20 years.
ST LOUIS, MO. — Bids will be received
at the office of the supervising architect,
Treasury Department, Washington, D. C,
until Jan. 30, for new plumbing, new conduit
and wiring system and interior lighting fix-
tures for the United States custom house at
St Louis, Mo. Drawings and specifications
may be obtained from the above office or
from the custodian of site at St. Louis. O.
Wenderoth is supervising architect.
GRANO, N. D. — Steps have been taken
by the local business men to install an
electric-lighting plant in Grano.
TRENT, S. D. — Application has been
made to the Town Board by the Flandreau
Lt. & Pwr. Co., of Flandreau, for a fran-
chise to supply electricity in Trent. The
franchise will be submitted to the voters.
VERMILION, S. D. — The City Commis-
sioners are considering the proposal to pur-
chase the electric plant owned by the Ver-
milion Milling & El. Co., to be owned and
operated by the municipality.
LINCOLN, NEB. — Bids will be received
at the office of the supervising architect.
Treasury Department, Washington, D. C,
■■I, is for interior lighting fixtures
for the United States post office and court
house at Lincoln. Drawings and specifica-
tions may be obtained from the above office
or from the custodian of site at Lincoln. O.
Wenderoth is supervising architect.
GREAT BEND, KAN. — Plans are being
considered by the merchants of Great Bend
for the installation of an ornamental light-
inn system in the business district.
Southern States
M8BORO, N. C. — The Revolution
Cotton Mills, which is enlarging its plant at
to I"- completed in
May, it is reported, ea pe< ti lat« l
■ I At (list energy will
red from the transmission I
ih* Southern Pwr, <'<•., or charlotte, N. c
CHARLESTON, s C Preparations are
being m. .,!.■ I,'. Hi. Charleston Consol. Ry. &
line from the
inn. ii distance
it 2 miles.
TOCCOA, t'.A The Installation of a mu-
nlclpal electric-lighting plant in Toceoa is
under consideration,
fku \ Pi ins an being
considered, it is reported, I
for the Installation of an Isolated
light plant, to be o] by power (mm
well.
DTBR8BURO, TENN The city of
Dyerstmrg is . ..nsldorlng the purchase of
ELECTRICAL WORLD
one 1,000,000-gal., two-stage centrifugal
pump, directly connected to a 2300-volt,
three-phase motor, one 40-gal.-per-minute
vertical centrifugal pump, directly connected
to a 20-volt, three-phase motor, and also one
carload of poles. S. R. Blakeman is superin-
tendent of water and light plant
EMBREEVILLE, TENN. — The erection
of a transmission line from Jonesboro to
Embreeville (a distance of 8 miles), it is
reported, is under consideration by the
Tennessee Eastern El. Co., of Johnson City.
The company proposes to furnish energy to
operate the zinc mines in Embreeville.
SHELBTVILLE, TENN. — The Jacobs
Auto Co., of Shelbyville, it is reported, is
contemplating the purchase of a generator
set for recharging storage battery.
BLYTHEVILLE, ARK. — The power houso
of the local electric-light plant and ice
factory, it Is reported, is being remodeled
and the capacity of both plants doubled.
W. W. Hollipeter is manager.
AMITE, LA. — Improvements are contem-
plated by the Central Lt. & Pwr. Co., of
Amite, It is reported, including the instal-
lation of two oil engines in its power house
and the erection of arc lamps on the princi-
pal streets.
NEW ORLEANS, LA.— The New Orleans
Ry. & Lt. Co., it is reported, is preparing
plans for building about 11 miles of new
track in New Orleans. M. S. Sloan is gen-
eral manager.
LAWTON, OKLA — Bids will be received
at the office of the supervising architect,
Treasury Department, Washington, D. C,
until March 6 for construction complete, in-
cluding mechanical equipment (except ele-
vator and approaches), of the United States
post office and court house at Lawton, Okla.
Drawings and specifications may be ob-
tained after Jan. 23 from the custodian of
site at Lawton, or from the above office. O.
Wenderoth is supervising architect.
GAINESVILLE, TEX. — The City Council
has appointed a committee to secure esti-
mates of the cost of installing an electric-
lighting plant in connection with the water-
works system.
TEMPLE, TEX. — The installation of a
new fire-alarm system in Temple is under
consideration by the City Council.
WOLFE CITY, TEX. — The Wolfe City
Lt. Co., recently organized, with a capital
stock of $6,000, is contemplating the con-
struction of an electric-light and power
plant. M. Tasker is reported interested.
Pacific States
ENUMCLAW, WASH. — An option on the
local electric-light plant has been secured
by the Puget Sound Trac, Lt. & Pwr. Co.,
of Seattle. The plant, it is understood, will
be remodeled and new machinery installed.
When improvements are completed the serv-
ice will be extended to Wilkeson, Carbon-
ado, Burnett and other points in this sec-
tion.
SEATTLE, WASH. — The Puget Sound
Trac, Lt. & Pwr. Co., a subsidiary of the
Stone & Webster Management Association,
of Boston, Mass., has recently purchased
about 3000 acres in Skagit County, to-
gether with water rights on Baker River,
with a view of developing the water-power.
SEATTLE, WASH. — A preliminary per-
mit has been granted, it is stated, to the
city of Seattle for the development of
water-power on the Sauk and Sulattle
Rivers in Skagit County. The city eriKi-
neering department has reported favorably
on the feasibility of developing the project.
TACOMA, WASH. — Bids will be received
by James C. Drake, commissioner of light
and water, until Jan. 20. for furnishing
material for local improvement district No.
5501, according to plans and specifications
on file in the office Of Hi immissinner of
light and water as follows: For 87,000 ft.
N., iii lead covered, galvanised, armored
parking cable ; eight Ii trans
formers to operati on !S00-vol< multiple
circuit, delivering 8.8 amp t.. series circuit,
i mi i 28 lamp i i ndards,
l lALLAS, 1 1KB 'i h nell is ne-
gotiating with the Oregon Pwr
n with 100-cp
I .Mips.
Vol. 65, No. 3
delia, of Oroville, who is building a gold
dredger at Gold Hill, for the erection of a
10,000-volt transmission line from Ophir to
the dredge. The proposed line will be from
3 to 4 miles long and will tap the mam
high-tension lines from Drumm to Ophir.
About 600 hp will be required to operate
the dredge.
GREENVILLE, CAL. — The Plumas Lt. *
Pwr. Co. has applied to the State Railroad
Commission for authority to issue $100,000
in bonds and to sell $52,000 of them at not
less than 80, the proceeds to be used to con-
struct an electric plant to supply electrical
service in Greenville, Crescent Mills, Tay-
lorsville and the surrounding territory. The
company is already furnishing electricity
for lamps in this district. By a lease with
the Round Valley Wtr. Co. the Plumas com-
pany has secured control of about 1000 hp
of potential electrical energy and proposes
to develop same.
WILLIAMS, CAL.— Plans are being con-
sidered for lighting the streets of the town
with electricity. The Northern California
Power Co., of San Francisco, has offered to
supply the service.
HOLBROOK, ARIZ, (not a post office).—
Louis S. Frith, of Gallup, is contemplating
the installation of an electric-lighting plant
and ice factory in Holbrook. The present
plans provide for the Installation of one
75-hp to 100-hp boiler, one 75-hp engine,
one 50-kw, three-phase, 60-cycle generator,
switchboard and about 10 transformers
from 1 kw to 5 kw; about two miles of
wire for distributing system will be re-
quired and from 75 to 100 meters.
PHOENIX, ARIZ. — The Falls Pwr. & El.
Co, a co-operative company composed of
farmers residing northeast of Phoenix, has
obtained a franchise to erect a transmission
line from the Arizona Falls power plant to
supply energy to a number of irrigation
pumping plants and for other industrial
purposes.
MILES CITY. MONT. — Bids will be re-
ceived at the office of the supervising archi-
tect Treasury Department, Washington,
D C, until Feb. 27 for construction com-
plete, including mechanical equipment, light-
ing fixtures and approaches, of the United
States post office at Miles City, Mont. Draw-
ings and specifications may be obtained at
the above office or from the custodian of
site at Miles City, Mont. O. Wenderoth Is
supervising architect.
PUEBLO, COL. — An ordinance is being
prepared bv the Council to submit an $80.-
000 bond issue to the taxpayers at the
election next spring for the purpose of
establishing a municipal electric-light plant
in Pueblo.
Canada
BROCKVILLE, ONT. — Plans are being
considered bv the Hydro-Electric Power
Commission of Ontario for furnishing the
rural district west of Brockville with elec-
trical energy from the local plant. It is
proposed to include the area of several sum-
mer resorts along the river for a distance of
7 miles. The transmission line will be
erected by the commission. Electricity will
also be supplied to many of the large
farmers along the line.
ILDERTON, ONT. — The by-law authoriz-
ing debentures for the installation of hy-
droelectric power will be submitted to the
ratepayers on Jan 25.
MERRICKVILLE, ONT.— The dam, now
being constructed at Merrlckville, by the
Dominion government to maintain naviga-
tion is nearly completed. The Rldeau l'wr.
Co., of Merrlckville, has been permitted to
install twin pipes 8 ft. in diameter through
the .1 nn for the purpose of developing
power to generate electricity. The mini-
mum quantity to be developed Is 1600 hp.
The power plant will be equipped with •
generating capacity of about 2000 hp. The
post Of the power house Is estimated at
about $10. OHO Contracts have been placed
for turbines and electrical apparatus.
MI.MU'o. ONT.— The by-law providing
for .-in issue of $3,000 In debenture
to the hydroelectric system of the
. pa] era,
SANDWICH, ONT, — At an election held
recently the bj law providing for the In-
stallation of hydroelectric power was
Weekly Record of Electrical Patents
STATES
JAN
•A TENTS
. LB16
our Cui rent News Bectlon, the
number of United States pati nl
i in ... rii ... .. Issued in
One „. . : nit of the delay III
printing these patents, copies were r Ived
from Washington too late to be abstracted
in this issue of the ELBCTBICAL
Abstracts Will appear In our next
issue
Electrical World
The consolidation of Electrical World and Engineer and American Electrician
Published by McGraw Publishing Company, Inc.
2J0 (
Vol. 65
NEW YORK, SATURDAY, JANUARY 23, 1915
No. 4
Our Commercial Section
IN this issue we publish a larger number than usual of
articles relating to the sale of electrical apparatus
and electrical energy grouped in a department desig-
nated as the "Commercial Section." These articles will
be found particularly interesting to all persons wishing
to acquire accurate information concerning those
methods of merchandising electrical supplies and ap-
pliances which have proved successful in various parts
of this country and abroad, as well as to engineers who
are called upon to design, install or maintain wiring,
lighting and similar equipments in homes, offices, etc.
Business methods and business principles will be dwelt
upon for the benefit of jobbers, dealers and contractors
and the commercial and illuminating engineers of cen-
tral stations. Merchandising activities in the elec-
trical field will be covered adequately and accurately.
This department will be conducted in such a manner as
to stimulate the interest in all classes of apparatus and
appliances the use of which will tend to cause electric
service to be looked upon as an every-day necessity by
the general public. The "Commercial Section," which
is published in each week's issue of the Electrical
World, will appear in greatly enlarged form in the
fourth issue of each month.
Concentric Wiring
TO work effectively for the small consumer and to
make him a paying investment it is necessary so
to minimize the costs per service and increase the den-
sity of service as to recoup the station for its invest-
ment in the distribution system. An effective wiring
campaign is part of the necessary program for obtain-
ing small business, and in order that this should be suc-
cessful the costs of wiring must be decreased to an ir-
reducible minimum. Abroad, as has often been ex-
plained in these columns, a great deal is being done along
this very line, and progress has been much helped by the
remarkably cheap schemes of wiring especially familiar
on the Continent. When an American engineer first
examines the concentric-wire or twisted-conductor in-
stallation he is forcibly impressed with its simplicity
After making careful inquiry among those who actu-
ally have had first-hand experience in the matter for a
considerable time, he begins to realize that methods are
to be judged by their results as well as by their costs.
Concentric wiring is looked at rather askance as yet in
our own country. It doubtless has its faults, which ex-
ponents of other and more familiar wiring material are
not bashful in explaining. The point of the matter is
that concentric wiring and similar cheap wiring devices
must be taken seriously, first because they have already
proved satisfactory on a considerable scale in foreign
practice, and secondly because they point the way
toward making electric service emphatically a neces-
sity instead of a luxury, and this very thing is what
may help to save the central-station business in the fu-
ture. As improvements in lamp efficiency continue,
making every kilowatt-hour sold do increased duty in
results, the importance of universal electric service with
all the possible outlets for energy becomes more evident.
It is imperative, therefore, that concentric and other
simplified and cheapened forms of wiring be put to
service test.
Choking American Enterprise
THERE is a volume compressed in the few words
which account for the diminished output of the
Niagara Falls Power Company last year, given on page
255. That great enterprise, which has meant so much
to the electrical industry and also to the industrial wel-
fare of New York State, has been constantly harassed
not only by the State itself but by the federal govern-
ment as well. For some unaccountable reason the fed-
eral government seems to be more solicitous for people
other than its own, because it not only checks develop-
ment on the American side of the falls but stipulates
exactly how much electric power can be imported into
the country from Canada. The demand for Niagara
energy in New York State has been greater than the
supply, with the result that American industries have
been forced over the border into Canada, where their
electrical needs could be met. Sentimentalists will, of
course, contend that no private enterprise shall be per-
mitted to detract from the majesty ard grandeur of
Niagara Falls, entirely oblivious of the fact that the
roar of the mighty cataract is as nothing compared to
the hum of the innumerable industries kept in motion
by the energy wrested from its water
Foreign Trade Promotion
THE second National Foreign Trade Convention,
held in St. Louis this week, gave forceful expres-
sion to the needs of exporters. The results will benefit
electrical manufacturers in common with other manu-
facturers: As we have interpreted it before, the Na-
tional Foreign Trade Council is the public policy coin
mittee in export trade. A number of the largest manu-
facturers in the country, including electrical manufac-
turers, are members. Many others were represented by
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. H5, No. 4
delegates. The council is trying to remove legal, gov-
ernmental and private obstacles to foreign trade, and it
finds wholly unnecessary difficulties. To put the diffi-
culties before the public clearly will certainly promote
popular understanding and further that wholesome, con-
structive governmental attitude which is so essential.
A single industry acting alone would be open to the
charge of self-seeking. So large and representative a
group of the greatest industries of the country as is
found in the council bases its great movement on the
commercial interest of the entire nation and will not
be denied a hearing.
pel recognition. What companies should do is to apply
knowledge, judgment and experience so that the accounts
may be as close to requirements as fallible human nature
can determine.
Iron Conductors
A brief note abstracted for our Digest from the
Elektrotechnische Zeitschrift brings to the front the
somewhat unfamiliar idea of using iron and steel
wires for overhead conductors and even for other pur-
poses. The effect of the war in cutting off the importa-
tion of copper from Germany has been considerable,
just how great it is quite impossible to tell, but great
enough to raise the question here discussed. Tests made
both for direct current and alternating current have
shown that in using relatively small wires with low-cur-
rent densities the iron conductor can be made surpris-
ingly effect i"e, even for alternating currents, when the
matter of cost is taken into account. So effective is it.
indeed, that at a possible ratio between the cost of iron
and that of copper conductors of the former material
may pay well. It is only when the conductors are of the
larger diameters and carrying considerable current that
the serious effects of the change in material become
conspicuous. While at home the cost ratio of iron as
compared with copper is unfavorable, yet, if a recent
quotation reported from Germany of $600 a ton be cor-
rect, the balance may well be turned in the other
direction.
Accounting for Depreciation
Much progress has been made in accounting for de-
preciation. Many more companies are trying to pro-
vide for it than before the era of commissions. Com-
missions have made company officials realize the neces-
sity of showing all elements of cost. When depreciation
is a factor in the cost of service it is a factor in rate-
making. If depreciation is not part of cost, an astute
public can fairly argue that it need not be considered in
rate-making. In the article published in this issue Mr.
Cravath advises companies so to separate their accounts
that estimated depreciation and the amount applied for
■ ements may be ascertained readily. In some cases
this wniild involve an estimate of heavy accrued depre
•irovided for, which it is unpleasant but wise
front. If an established concern is bankrupt, it
is not helped by piling fresh losses on the old losses.
hinn to do is to put the business on .1 sound
iiasis, to create profits where losses grew, to face the
fact that if all elements of cost are considered some
apparent profit did not exist What commissions have
really done is to enforce depreciation accounts, to mm-
Direct Determination of Hysteresis Loops
In measuring the hysteretic power loss within rings
of iron or steel by the ballistic method, it is a common
practice to vary the magnetizing force, or ampere-turns,
on the ring by successive steps, observing the corre-
sponding ballistic galvanometer deflections, until the
maximum desired ampere-turns are reached, and then
to retreat by similar steps through zero to the full
negative value, again returning to zero, and so on
through each cycle. If a number of such steps are
followed, it is quite likely that the sum of the steps of
magnetic induction recorded for the ring in the posi-
tive direction is distinctly different from the corre-
sponding sum in the negative direction. This means
that the hysteresis loop appears to be dissymmetrical
and will not close up — a result which is apt to have a
depressing effect after much experimental and arith-
metical effort.
A well-known method of avoiding the above men-
tioned discrepancy consists in bringing the ampere-
turns on the steel ring back each time to the full maxi-
mum value in, say, the positive direction, and to take
successive steps of increasing magnitude from that ex-
treme value up to the full negative maximum. One
method of carrying out this plan is to employ two wind-
ings on the ring, one excited permanently and the other
by steps in the reverse direction. In an article by Mr.
Arle Ytterberg on page 212 is described a simple modi-
fication of the plan employing two rheostats with but
a single winding. Equivalent single-winding methods
have indeed been used before, but the particular ar-
rangement described in the article has certain advan-
tages in technique.
Capital for Cincinnati
In negotiations with the City Council on rates the
Cincinnati Gas & Electric Company has raised the in-
sistent question that no public utility can dodge? — the
supply of fresh capital for extensions. The old public
was that if a utility were started its capital was
sunk, the community could do what it liked, and service
would be furnished forever thereafter. This was short
sighted, and it ignored altogether the unexpected large
growth of both communities and properties. The origi-
nal investment is sunk, it is not recoverable, but the
problem is to Ret additional capital for a live, developing
community, .lust how seriously this has been accentu-
ated by the fearful destruction of people and capital in
Europe cannot be known. When the Cincinnati compain
plans to spend $15,000,000 within twenty years, a large
part of which will be in the next five years, it is defi
nitely certain that it will have to compete with borrow
ran Europe and from other countries previously
financed hv Europeans Whether this competition will
Januakv i'i, 1916
ELECTRICAL WORLD
affect the price bankers pay, or the interest rate of the
bonds, or both, and whether an influence will be for five
or twenty years, are immaterial in comparison with the
fact that we shall do more of our own financing and de-
pend less on the peasant thrift of Europe. Cincinnati
cannot expect investment in its utilities unless it allows
rates that permit, not a living return, but a return that
shall attract capital from other ready borrowers.
Fixtures for Gas-Filled Lamps
The arrival of a new illuminant always disturbs the
normal progress of affairs not only in the source of
light itself but in all the accessories that go with it.
The gas-filled lamp has come to stay. Perhaps in the
smaller sizes it may not fulfil all the expectations of its
friends, but certainly as a powerful source of light it is
a valuable addition to the resources of the illuminating
engineer. The high degree of incandescence which
characterizes it has, however, its embarrassing fea-
tures, since it makes thorough screening more than
ever necessary. The ordinary tungsten lamps, it is
true, require for most uses pretty thorough screening,
but they can be endured under circumstances which
would be quite intolerable with the gas-filled lamp ;
hence there is need of proper fixtures and shades for the
newcomer. The difficulty is that in the gas-filled lamp
the filament is placed in a position within the bulb
totally different from that occupied by the filament in
ordinary tungsten lamps of similar candle-power. The
result is that no substitution of the gas-filled for the
ordinary lamp can be made without a corresponding
change in the accessories.
The use of gas-filled lamps within doors is not yet
common, but it is going to be so, and the same diffi-
culty in substitution arises in a very acute form. The
fact that at present the new lamps must be used with
the socket at the top is a serious hindrance to their
adaptation to many fixtures, such as to many ball fix-
tures and ornamental bowls adapted for semi-indirect
lighting. In fact, so far as semi-indirect lighting is
concerned, an entirely new line of fixtures must be used
with gas-filled lamps, the important points being so to
place the lamp with reference to the glassware that the
brilliancy of the latter shall not be too high and that the
shadow of the socket shall not be thrown on the ceiling.
Moreover, owing to the fact that the socket is at the
top, it is difficult adequately to conceal the lamp, and
on most types of fixture, if anywhere nearly concealed,
the filament is brought so low as to produce a bright
spot. In semi-indirect work the color of the glassware
cannot be ignored. Many materials used for this pur-
pose have a slight degree of selective absorption, per-
fectly unobjectionable with the somewhat yellowish
light of the ordinary tungsten lamp but injurious to the
very quality of the gas-filled lamps which makes them
for some purposes so valuable — that is, the much closer
approximation of the light to white. Again, in in-
direct illumination the modification of color by the dif-
fusing surfaces must be carefully attended to. A de-
gree of tinting quite permissible with the ordinary
tungsten is deleterious to the color values produced by
its whiter rival. In fact, there is hardly a single illu-
minating accessory now regularly employed which does
not require modification for employment with the gas-
filled lamp.
To get the best results out of the highly concentrated
and brilliant filament now available the shades will re-
quire no small amount of study. One advantage the
concentration gives is the possibility of far more per-
fect focusing shades than have yet been available.
Some capital work has already been done on headlamps
and searchlamps with the new incandescent units, and
one may reasonably hope for a group of commercial
shades showing uniquely valuable properties for accom-
plishing certain difficult feats in illumination.
An Up-to-Date Central-Station Building
The office building which the Hartford Electric Light
Company has recently erected as its local habitation
well bears out the reputation of the company as a leader
in every department of central-station activity. It is
a very complete and dignified structure of concrete and
steel, erected last year at a cost of about $300,000. It
is five stories in height, accommodating the appliance
and contract department on the first floor, offices on the
next two stories, and the lighting department on the
fourth, with storage space at present upon the fifth.
The basement is used for heavy stock, the boiler plant
and various other heavy equipment.
The lighting of the building is particularly effective,
use being made of a very striking cornice equipment
and four dignified lamp-posts at the front, each contain-
ing a 1000-cp gas-filled lamp. For the interior light-
ing use is made chiefly of the semi-indirect system with
400-watt lamps on the ground floor and 150-watt lamps
as a standard in the offices above. Special attention has
been paid to the equipment of the lighting department,
which contains facilities for testing under service con-
ditions any alternating-current or direct-current meter,
and in addition a storage battery to give any voltage
from that of a single cell to 129 volts, which is the high-
est working pressure. A well-equipped photometer
room and a large fireproof lamp rack for life tests were
also provided for the working activities of the lamp de-
partment.
Another admirable equipment is a motor-testing ap-
paratus consisting of a modified Prony brake capable
of giving closely adjustable and steady loads for testing
motors of any rating up to 75 hp. A machine shop with
individual motor drives gives adequate facilities for all
the lighter construction and repair work which has to
be done. A well-equipped lecture room, a very complete
electric-cooking outfit and quarters for recreation pur-
poses are also provided. Altogether the new building
forms a remarkably useful and suitable home for a com-
pany which has always stood in the front rank of ef-
ficiency.
ELECTRICAL WORLD
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Veil.. t>5. No. 4
Cheap House Wiring
To the Editor of the ELECTRICAL WORLD:
Sir: — I note with considerable satisfaction the favor-
able discussion that is taking place on the subject of
cheapening the system of house wiring.
A few yeare ago, when the movement for permanent
grounding of secondary distributing lines was slowly
reaching a substantial footing, many "doubting
Thomases" came forward with adverse criticism, but
the members of the National Board of Fire Under-
writers were apt scholars in this instance, and where
grounding was once prohibited it was first permitted
and finally recommended. Grounding the neutral point
of three-wire Edison systems to water mains has been
common practice for several years, and central-station
managers quickly realized the benefit in the reduced
copper investment, the absence of static disturbance
and the elimination of dangerous voltage due to crosses
between wires.
The present movement for bare concentric wiring
represents merely a natural step in the general progress.
With the secondary system permanently grounded and
with mandatory grounding of the bare wire on the cus-
tomer's premises, little of advantage could be sacrificed
by its introduction. To be sure, it will involve a question
of polarity of the same importance in both direct-cur-
rent and alternating-current systems, but the incon-
venience will be trifling when compared with the re-
duction in the cost of installation.
D. A. Course,
Wamego, Kan. Superintendent Lighi and Water Plant
To tin Editor of the Electrical World:
Sir; — Although an electrical contractor, I am unable
to understand why the electrical contractor or the
manufacturer objects to the introduction of the pro-
posed cheap European method of wiring small build-
ings in locations where it is now impossible to intro-
duce electric service by reason of the expense. The
N. E. L. A. committee on the wiring of existing build-
ings, of which I am a member, has given the subject
considerable study for almost two years. An investi-
gation showed that in European countries where the
cheap wiring is employed the percentage of loss by fire
is only one-twentieth of that in this country. The
cheaper wiring will be used only in small installations
as a neat and cheap substitute for wooden and metal
molding. It will not be used in fine apartments and
residences where concealed circuits are now employed.
It is not to be expected that the introduction of the
cheaper wiring systems will cause a diminution in the
amount of wiring done by present methods. On the
rary, its introduction will result in a great stimu-
lus tO the older methods as well as to the new. It will
in up to the central stations and wiring contractors
an immense field not now covered on account of the
expense of the present methods.
It seems to me that the objections of the contractors
to the cheaper wiring ..terns are about as reasonable
rould be the objections to the use of a Ford car by
who cannot i ard.
Brooklyn, v. v GEOROI Wi iderm vn
as safe as, and in many ways safer than, present meth-
ods. If the new methods were likely actually to cause
the displacement of any large investment in tools or
make any large stock on hand unavailable, then there
would be reason for taking into consideration the vested
interests. In case of the concentric wiring it will be
several months, or possibly a year, before the new wire
and fittings can actually be placed on the market.
Moreover, there will be no broad patents to interfere
with the general manufacture of the wire by any maker,
although there may be secondary detail patents on some
of the fittings. It is to be expected that the concentric
wire will be used in installations where the more ex-
pensive systems would not be employed. The stimulus
to the industry, and the increased use of electricity
everywhere as a result of the spreading of its use into
the smaller houses and among the class of people who
can only pay small rents, will result in more work for
everybody, rather than less.
There has been no desire on the part of anyone to
"spring" a new plan on the public or to interfere with
any business. The National Electric Light Association
committee on the wiring of existing buildings asked
more than one manufacturer to take up the matter with
the Underwriters, and— as in the case of its action in
plugs and receptacles — has been very careful not to
commit itself in any way to any patented article.
The fact that a large sale for the new system and
wire is expected by those opposing its introduction is
a thorough proof of its desirability, especially when
taken in connection with its extensive use abroad.
R. S. Hale,
d„„*«« ji/f„„„ Chairman x. E. h. A. Committee on ""
Ronton, Mass. Wiring of Existing
To the Editor oj tht Electrical World:
Sir: — Inexpensive wiring systems have been dis-
. ears, and also m the
the National Electric Lighi Association. It
,. ..i, there mould be anj objection to
ii, |, imp) tht art. e peel ally when they are
Weakness in Steel Towers
To the Editor of the Electrical World:
Sir: — My attention was recently called to the failure
of some steel poles carrying a valuable transmission line
of a certain power company. I understand that these
poles were constructed of shapes rolled from scrap
high-carbon-steel rails, and it occurs to me that if
this was a fact it may have caused the failure. There
are poles on the market that are made of this material.
Light angles for tower construction have also been
rolled from scrap rails. There is absolutely no way of
determining the value of stock rolled from this class of
material without testing each individual rail, which
would be impracticable. Steel of this character has
been subjected to various heat treatments to bring it
up to the standard required, but the heat treatment it
receives ill B scrap-reducing mill is crude and the cool-
ing is governed by atmospheric conditions, the amount
Of water used on the finishing rolls and the thickness
of the section.
The chemical analysis is also changed. When rolled
in .1 thin section it cools quickly and becomes hard and
brittle according to the amount of carbon contained.
h amount is unknown. Hence the material is of
unknown value and is treacherous in extreme cold and
frosty weather. Most of the breaks in rails m railroad
[ce occur during such weather I have seen a sec-
tion rolled from this material break like glass when
run through straightening rolls. I believe that engi
neers would not consider seriously the use of shapes
rolled from this class of material in the construction Q&
tee! bridges, buildings and other similar structures
It would seem unwise to use this material id' unknown
md Chemical value in the construction of an
January US, i»io
ELECTRICAL WORLD
•406
important and vital part of a valuable transmission line
like a pole or tower, when such structures can be made
of the best structural steel.
The use of poles, towers and other structures made
of hard or bedstead angles for carrying valuable high-
tension transmission lines is certainly dangerous. I
believe there are some pole users that do not know that
this class of material is being used for the purpose indi-
cated. Various shapes are being rolled from scrap
steel-car axles and used as a substitute for good struc-
tural steel. The price of car axles is not uniform, hence
it is safe to assume that the quality and strength are
not uniform. Any structure made from scrap steel
rails or axles is one of unknown strength and value. Its
strength cannot be accurately computed, hence users of
poles and towers should insist upon the use of the best
structural steel.
Franklin, Pa. B. HASKELL.
South American Business and America's
Opportunity
To the Editor of the Electrical World:
Sir: — At present practically all South American
business, industries and mines are suffering because
of the lack of supplies which formerly came from
Europe. Germany, England and France, particularly
Germany, controlled the lion's share of business. With
the exception of a little from England, all supplies have
ceased so that now a unique opportunity is presented
to the North American manufacturer.
Now or never is the time for the American manu-
facturer to step into the South American market. With
or without American mercantile marine and American
banking facilities, the present is the best time ever
presented, and probably the best that ever will be pre-
sented.
Much has been said about the great opportunities in
South America, but they should not be overestimated.
There are grand opportunities, particularly at this time
of writing, for the reason that the past few months
of the European war and the regular operation of sev-
eral of the largest industries, works and mines, etc.,
have practically stripped the entire continent of sup-
plies and other necessities.
The effective development of export trade by manu-
facturers with special reference to South America re-
quires the co-operation of the banks, and probably the
government, such as Germany had previous to the war.
However, it is not the lack of banks and shipping facili-
ties that has handicapped American manufacturers.
The difficulty has been the insufficient knowledge of
South American customs and the strong hold of Euro-
pean manufacturers and banks, particularly those of
Germany.
German banks and manufacturers sent their best
business men and engineers to South America to make
studies of local conditions and co-operate with the most
influential Latin-Americans and others of equally in-
fluential government standing to secure large electric
light and power concessions, etc., or to develop existing
business houses which they would finance and soon
afterward literally own and operate themselves, so that
all of the purchases of these houses afterward were made
in Germany.
At present the rate of exchange in all South Ameri-
can republics is so high that it is almost prohibitive
to remit money on goods as the purchase of exchange
would turn profits into losses.
Extended credits have long been necessary in South
American markets and all who are not prepared to
allow them will be better off to confine their activities
to home markets. Monev is very scarce, and the life-
long customs of the people cannot be changed so quickly
as American manufacturers would like. It is true that
long-time credit is a factor in any sale and very closely
related with the cost of materials, but it has to be al-
lowed in South America for the general customer. Of
course, if a buyer gets long-time credit he is generally
quite willing to pay a much higher price. It cannot
be said that South America is a new market, because
big business with European manufacturers has been
carried on for upward of fifty years; nevertheless it is
always a wise and safe plan to expect undue risk of
principal.
Cash collection before the goods are shipped is prac-
tically impossible except with a few well-known South
American business houses. Even with the largest busi-
ness houses the usual credit terms are 30 to 50 per cent
cash on the closing of an order, the remainder to be
paid in six to eighteen months' time from the date of
signing the order.
So firm is the German hold of the electrical industry
in South America that some of the largest cities have
adopted as standard German manufactures. For ex-
ample, in the capital of Chile, Santiago, the American
incandescent-lamp socket is condemned entirely as well
as American wiring conduit and certain kinds of insu-
lated wires, etc., and the German manufactures are
made standard. This practice is followed strictly wher-
ever a city or town has installed German machinery and
plants for electric light and power purposes.
The price is the all-important factor. Quality is
generally ignored, and this is the principal reason why
German goods are used so generally throughout the
republics. American goods in general are of excellent
quality and well thought of; throughout the republics
of South America German goods are acknowledged gen-
erally to be very inferior. For a long time past the
attitude has been to avoid German goods as people have
found from long experience that American and English
goods are the best and and most reliable and cheaper
in the end. But the question has almost always been
one of price and credit, which the American manufac-
turer rarely cared to meet.
A great deal is being said about the immediate neces-
sity for an American mercantile marine. This, of
course, is warranted. But why is it that up to the
present time available ships leaving the eastern ports
of the United States for South American ports invari-
ably go without full cargoes?
South American representatives in North America
are practically worthless to American manufacturers.
Customers must be seen and, preferably, known per-
sonally. Reliable customers want to know manufac-
turers and get as close to them as possible through the
representatives from whom they order direct. The
doubtful customers, who are plentiful, should always
be known by the representatives of the American
manufacturers.
The suggestion for the formation of export associa-
tions among manufacturers of allied lines is very good,
because it will help the smaller manufacturers and
those who have not sufficient plant, equipment or busi-
ness to send their own representatives to South
America. Such organizations must be fruitful, though
not so effective as the long-standing German associa-
tions in which keen competitors have combined success-
fully to secure foreign business, particularly American
business.
American manufacturers should also be warned
about sending ordinary American "drummers" to South
America. Only engineer-salesmen familiar with the
languages, customs and business practices should be
considered.
Pvlacayo, Bolivia. William T. Taylor.
ULECTRiCAL WORLD
Vol. b6, No. 4
Electricity in Central-Station Offices
Outline of the Electrical Equipment and Efficient Features of the New Office
Building of the Hartford Electric Light Company
ONE of the most complete central-station office
buildings in the country was placed in service last
summer by the Hartford (Conn.) Electric Light
Company. The structure embodies many excellent ideas
with reference to the needs of a business concern, in-
cluding the installation of semi-indirect lighting and the
provision of elevator, vacuum-cleaner, air-washing and
general power service for fan operation ; but aside from
LfS^^^I
'J t
"1
im
FIG. 1— NEW OFFICE BUILDING OF COMPANY
these it contains a large number of interesting equip-
ment details which deserve special description. An un-
usually well-arranged display room is also an important
feature.
The new building, five stories in height, 130 ft. long
by 97 ft. wide, stands at 266 Pearl Street, the site for
many years of the company's offices under the former
presidency of Mr. A. C. Dunham. It represents a total
cost of about $300,000 and is a concrete and steel struc-
ture with brick and stone trimmings. A night view re-
produced in this article shows the present display light-
ing, which consists of 118 25-watt cornice lamps, six
60-watt lamps in globes carried on short standards just
above the first story, and four 1000-cp nitrogen-filled
units mounted on posts on the sidewalk. The street
floor is occupied by the appliance and contract depart-
ments, the second and third stories being devoted to of-
and the fourth floor to the lighting department,
including a meter-testing room, laboratory, photometer
.'ind stink rooms. The top floor is at present used for
borage, and ■■< commodious basement contains a heavj
stock room, boiler plant, accornmodat ions for inanito
nance forces, and various mechanical and electrical
equipment. At the rear is a private garage operated
by the company.
The mechanical equipment of the building includes
nlet fan directly driven by a 20-hp motor, eight
outlet fans of from V4 hp to r, hp. a motor-driven Auto
matic Refrigerating Company's water-cooling system
supplying drinking water throughout the property, a
sump pump, one 5-ton freight and two 2000-lb. electric
passenger elevators, and an air-operated Lamson car-
rier system. A concrete floor is provided at the top of
the elevator shaft to reduce noise, and the motors and
control apparatus, which are of the alternating-current
type, are installed in penthouses on the roof. The cor-
nice lamps are each housed in a copper truncated cone
5.5 in. in diameter and 3 in. deep, with flexible-cord
connection and a sliding cover facilitating renewal from
the roof, the lamps being supported in a box-like struc-
ture accessible from above. A blueprinting room is
provided on the third floor, which also is designed to ac-
commodate quarters for employees' recreation in the
future, and contains a lecture room with table equipped
with electric service outlets. Weekly luncheons are
held, the menu being prepared by electric range, and
the company will probably conduct courses in electric
cooking at some later time.
The main display room, a view of which is shown, is
104 ft. long by 24 ft. wide and occupies nearly the en-
tire front of the building on the street floor. It is
illuminated by ten 400-watt semi-indirect fixtures of the
Bradley & Hubbard type, spaced 20 ft. apart longitu-
dinally and 12 ft. apart laterally, each lamp being hung
14 ft. above the floor. Opposite the entrance are eleva-
tors leading to the offices on the upper floors. These are
flanked by four cashiers' windows and four lamp-ex-
change windows, the office of the contract agent being at
the eastern end of the room and that of the head of
the appliance department at the opposite end. Four
large display windows with built-up recesses 4 in. deep
occupy the front of the room, and the central portion
is equipped with desks and display tables, the latter
being 7 ft. 1 in. long, 3 ft. 3 in. wide and 2 ft. 7.5 in.
high, with %-in. plate-glass tops. Each table is pro-
vided with two end and three side outlets and is wired
from a floor outlet through a %-in. copper pipe termi-
FIG. 2 — 1500-AMP TEST BOARD
IaNUAKV 23, iyj.6
ELECTRICAL WORLD
FIG. 3 — DISPLAY ROOM OF THE COMPANY
nating at a condulet from which the table distribution
is effected. Each table is also provided with three
drawers for holding appliance parts, small fittings, etc.
The halls of the building are in general lighted by
60-watt lamps centered in Doric fixtures. The typical
office is about 15 ft. by 18 ft. and lighted by four 150-
watt semi-frosted lamps installed in a semi-indirect
fixture manufactured by the United States Art Glass
Company, Hartford, the standard height of fixture above
the floor being 8.5 ft. Holophane steel reflectors are
used in the basement, and by special permission from
the insurance authorities the building was wired for
alternating-current and direct-current service in ac-
cordance with the 1320-watt rule with No. 14 rubber-
covered wire. In the first eight weeks that the new
building was in service with the display room in use
the appliance sales increased by 150 per cent.
The lighting department is equipped with five test
tables designed and built by the States Company, Hart-
ford, and illustrated herewith. The wiring for these
tables is carried downward to them from the ceiling
in 1.25-in. pipe conduit, which also serves to hold the
tables in place. Any alternating-current or direct-cur-
rent meter can be tested under service conditions. Three
standard single-phase 50-amp tables are in service, using
low-voltage current. One table is of 25-amp rating,
using a 250-volt resistor load, and is also equipped with
a phase shifter for testing meters at various power-
factors. Another table is arranged for testing poly-
phase meters, using for load three banks of 250-volt
resistors, which may be combined for either two-phase
or three-phase balanced or unbalanced loads. Two po-
tential phase shifters are provided and the total capac-
ity of the table on single-phase testing is 75 amp. The
fifth table may be used by two observers working inde-
pendently up to 750 amp, or a total load of 1500 amp
FIG. 4- GENERAL VIEW OF TEST HOARDS
JOK
KLECTRICAL WUKLD
Vol. t>5, No. 4
may be obtained for one meter. The table may be used
for both alternating-current and direct-current testing
The load current is taken at low voltage, a constant-
potential transformer being used for alternating-cur-
rent work and a storage battery for direct-current
service. This table was specially designed for the Hart-
220V
Ammeter
SOAmp Fuse
Voltmeter
ffiffiffflf
^tmerqiighk
9 \_tfe/erTest
BusD '
FIG. 5 BACK VIEW OF WIRING CONNECTIONS
ford company and is also equipped with two phase
shifters.
A special battery room is provided with racks de-
signed to hold 129 cells, and to provide a flexible means
of using these cells a special switchboard has been in-
stalled. The board is arranged with four sets of buses,
and each cell or group of cells in sets of four is wired
to a double-throw switch by which it can be thrown
upon the bus in multiple or in series with other cells, as
shown on the diagram. All buses are connected to
terminals on the front of the board, where test connec-
tions may be taken off, the buses multipled, etc., to a
maximum rated output of 1200 amp, the diagram
-hmving a possible voltage range from the potential of
nne cell all the wa> tu the full voltagw racing of the
hattery.
A special testing frame of convenient design is used
in the meter laboratory. Attached to each table is a
wooden cross-piece 6 ft. long and 2.5 in. square in cross-
section, supported on uprights, the entire frame being
slotted to the full depth of the frame member. The
slots are about 30 in. long and are '4 in. wide. Meters
or other instruments can be quickly attached at any
convenient height above the table by bolting through
the slots as shown.
One of the illustrations shows a home-made motor-
testing apparatus in use by the company. This consists
of a platform to which the motor is bolted, a hollow
pulley 12 in. in diameter, a canvas belt 6 in. wide, and a
steel bar supported on knife edges, with adjustable
weights and a steel screw with a 10-in. hand wheel by
which the tension on the belt may be increased when the
motor is running. The device absorbs the energy de-
livered at the motor shaft by heating the belt, and water
is turned into the hollow pulley by a hose line near by.
It is provided with various-sized split tapered couplings
to fit different motor shafts, and when in operation a
balance is obtained by sliding the weight along the
steel bar until the right-hand end of the bar (not shown
in the photograph) indicates equilibrium. The steel
bar is raised and lowered by minute amounts as re-
quired, and the hand-wheel adjustment gives very fine
gradations in the power output absorbed. The knife
edges are exactly 1 ft. apart, to simplify the calculation
of horse-powers absorbed from the weights, lever arms
and speeds observed. The frame timbers are 6 in. by
6 in. in section; the steel bar is 6 ft. 4 in. long, 0.5 in.
wide and from 2.5 in. to 3 in. deep. The motor plat-
form is 5 ft. square and the belts vary in size for dif-
ferent motors, the largest being 11 in. wide, with wooden
friction bands attached. The steel power-adjusting
screw is 1 in. in diameter, and the hollow pulley
has a 7.25-in. opening, with a copper drip pan 2 ft
wide. 5 ft. long and 3 in. deep at the side. The frame
is 5 ft. 6 in. high, and the apparatus, which will test a
motor of 75-hp maximum without difficulty, cost ap-
proximately $400.
VfTCHROARJI PIQ 7 LABORATORY TESTING FRAMF FIG « MOTOR-TESTING FQl'IPMENI
January 23, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
209
A fireproof temp rack for life tests has been built of
2-in. by %-in. steel angles. It clears the wall by about
1 ft. and the ceiling by about 30 in. It is provided with
eighty-six outlets wired between lamp bases with bare
copper, the feeds being from condulet and conduit as
shown. The lamp bases are attached to the frame by
porcelain knobs. Use is made of "No-ark" combina-
tion fuse and switch boxes, and the voltage and current
variations required for testing are derived from a bank
of auto-transformer coils shown herewith. The lamp
rack is about 12 ft. long and 5 ft. wide, the lamps being
about 8 ft. above the floor.
In the stockroom use is made of a simple meter stor-
age rack of strap-iron. In a space 11 ft. high and 8 ft.
wide 130 single-phase meters of from 5-amp to 150-amp
rating can be carried. The 5-amp size is shown in the
halftone. The meters are hung on i/i-in. screws and
are 10 in. apart vertically on centers, the vertical straps
being 9 in. apart on centers. The straps are 2 in. by
% in. in cross-section. The same size of strap is used
in storing polyphase meters. These are spaced 14 in.
apart on centers horizontally and 16 in. on centers ver-
tically. The straps are provided with lateral members
3 ft. 5 in. apart, and they are all bolted into the wall by
a/2-in. lag bolts. With the largest meters a clearance of
from 4.5 in. to 6 in. is easily obtained between the
casings.
An effective method of safeguarding the employee
in the testing of arc lamps is employed. A fiber plug
is pushed into the switch box to connect the lamp in
circuit. The plug is attached to the box cover by a
short leather strap, which prevents operating the switch
unless the cover is down, protecting the user from ac-
cidental contact with live parts at the moment of mak-
ing or breaking the lamp circuit.
Fig. 11 shows a flexible method of mounting a 1-hp
motor which drives a pipe-cutting and pipe-threading
machine in the fixture assembly room. The motor, like
the others in the building, is a two-phase, 220-volt in-
duction outfit, and being geared to the machine, which
is driven by silent chain, can be adjusted by changing
nuts on a bolt at the right-hand end of the motor bed-
plate. This adjustment is a convenience in tightening
or replacing the chain, which is guarded by an angle-
iron, and the motor itself is equipped with an oil guard
of sheet iron. The left-hand end of the bedplate is
arranged to rotate about an axis which facilitates fur-
ther adjustment of the motor. The pipe threader can
handle tubing having a diameter of from Vg in. to 2 in.
Another feature of the building is a machine shop,
FIG. 9 — ECONOMY COILS FOR TESTING LAMP LIFE
all the tools being driven by individual direct-belted
or geared motors. There are in use a Whitcomb &
Blaisdell lathe, with 1.5-hp motor; a 2-hp drill press,
0.5-hp upright drill, 3-hp shaper with Westinghouse
motor, and a double emery grinder directly driven by a
1.5-hp motor. Usually these machines are started by a
two-phase knife switch mounted in a sheet-metal box
carried on or near the frame, with push-button control
at the operator's post. The latter is energized by a
110-volt alternating-current circuit wired to a solenoid
switch on the machine which makes and breaks one wire
in each phase as the operator pushes the button, start-
ing and stopping the machine without the loss of time
required to go from the working position to the switch
box.
Fig. 12 shows a typical push-button, with flexible
conduit wiring, solenoid case and switch box on a drill
with independent motor.
FIG. 10 — POLYPHASE METERS STORED FIG. 11 — MOTOR-DRIVEN PIPE CUTTER
FIG. 12 — MOTOR-DRIVEN DRILL
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 4
Polarity Reversal in Synchronous Converters
Experimental Study of the Conditions That Are Brought About When the
Reversing Switch in the Field Circuit Is Used
By E. R. Shepard
IT is a matter of common knowledge that in starting
synchronous converters from the alternating-cur-
rent side the direct-current polarity may build up
in either the correct or the reversed direction, depend-
ing upon chance. In order to correct reversed polarity.
a reversing switch is placed in the field circuit of each
converter. The up position of this switch is the run-
ning position while the down position is used only for
the purpose of correcting a reversed polarity. Throw-
ing the switch down is said to cause the converter to
"slip one pole," thus changing the polarity. Just what
happens when the switch is thrown down and the precise
manner in which the polarity is thereby reversed are not
discussed in textbooks. Many articles on this subject
have been consulted by the present writer. Without an
exception they contain the brief statement that the
polarity in a converter may be reversed by reversing the
field switch, and with one or two exceptions the reader is
left with the impression that only one reversal is neces-
sary and that either position of the field switch may be
the running position. As to a detailed theoretical dis-
cussion of the subject almost nothing is available.
In an experimental study of this subject use was made
of a 10-kw, four-pole, three-phase synchronous con-
verter in the electrical laboratory of the Oregon Agri-
cultural College. The alternating current in the wind-
ings of a polyphase converter produces a magnetic field
which rotates with respect to the armature at a speed
equal to the synchronous speed of the armature irre-
spective of the actual speed of the latter and in the op-
posite direction to that in which the armature rotates.
In order to show visually the relative speed of the arma-
ture and of the rotating field produced by the alternat-
ing current supplied to it, a stroboscopic disk, consist-
ing of four black and four white sectors, was attached
to the end of the shaft. This disk was illuminated by
an arc lamp supplied with alternating current from the
same source as the armature. With the armature run-
ning at synchronous speed this disk appeared to stand
still. Any change in the speed of the armature was
shown by an apparent turning of the disk from this
normal position. The slightest hunting could be de-
tected by an apparent oscillation of the disk about this
OH, and the slipping of a pole or half pole was
made strikingly realistic by the apparent turning of the
disk through a corresponding angle. A voltmeter was
onnected to the direct-current brushes and a small
corapa rovided for testing the polarit] of the
fields.
Upon supplying the converter with alternating cur
rent at half voltage with the field switch open, the arms
■ up quick!] to synchronous speed The
pic disk showed thai it ran slightly past its
final position, then swung bach a lew degrees and locked
■•■]i. With the Held switch open the voltmeter read
72 volts arnl the compass showed the poles to be alter-
north and south, Upon closing the field switch in
the up or running position the emf increased to 84 volts.
There was no apparenl shift of tin- armature as Bhown
by the disk, and do change In the polarity of the fields,
Upon <losing the held switch in the down or wrong po i
In field i the direct current anna
oltage dropped to sero and reversed to 6 volts
lip .it"
one-half pole in a direction opposite to the direction of
armature rotation. Each pole w-as now found to con-
tain a north tip and a south tip, the two adjacent tips
of adjacent poles being of the same polarity. More-
over, when two pilot brushes connected to the terminals
of the voltmeter were touched to the commutator mid-
way between the main brushes the voltmeter read 72
volts. This indicated that the neutral point of the com-
mutator had also shifted half a pole. Upon opening the
field switch the disk slipped another half pole in the
same direction and the voltmeter came up to 72 volts in
the negative direction. The poles had also reversed
polarity.
With the switch in the down position the main
brushes were shifted along the commutator. Violent
sparking ensued and the armature fell out of step and
began slipping poles at a slow but constant rate, the
voltmeter meanwhile swinging alternately from positive
to negative. Upon opening the field switch this slipping
was instantly stopped and the armature again assumed
ROTATING FIELD IN THREE POSSIBLE POSITIONS
synchronous speed. Again, with the switch in the
down position the armature was loaded by retarding
the pulley with a lever. This mechanical shock pro-
duced the same result as the electrical shock due to
shifting the brushes, and the slipping of poles began
again and continued after the brake was removed. It
was [n8tantly stopped by opening the field switch.
With full voltage across the slip-rings of the con-
verter and the field switch open, the direct-current volt-
meter showed 18(1 volts. Upon closing the field switch
in the down or wrong position violent sparking at the
brushes resulted and the emf dropped to about 20
volts. Upon opening the field switch the voltmeter read
as before, showing that a reversal could not lie effected
with lull voltage across the Blip-rings.
An attempted explanation of the phenomena here de
Scribed 18 given below.
When alternating current is supplied to the slip
rings of tin' converter a rotating magnetic field travels
around the armature at synchronous speed. This mag-
netic RuX induces v<\i\\ currents in the pole faces and in
the damping windings of the converter, and this action
together with the hysteresis lag of the magnetism in
the poles brings the armature up to synchronous Bpeed
The direction of rotation of the armature is opposite
to that of the rotating field, so that when the armature
rtating at BynchronOUB speed the rotating field will
.1 vm an 28, 1916
ELECTRICAL WORLD
211
stand still in space. As the armature approaches syn-
chronous speed the polarity of the fields will be con-
tinually reversed, the reversals becoming slower and
slower until the poles of the rotating field lock with
the salient field poles. Referring to the accompanying
figure, S„ S, and S, represent the rotating field in three
possible positions. P, and P, are normally north and
south poles respectively. B, and P. are normally nega-
tive and positive brushes respectively. P, will be nega-
tive if the armature locks in the position S, but positive
if it locks in position S , that is position S, corresponds
to normal operating conditions. With the rotating field
in position S, a north pole is induced in P,, while in
position ,S the rotating field will induce a south pole in
P,. If the field switch be closed in the up or normal
position with the armature in position S„ then P, will
be strengthened in its polarity, owing to the field cur-
rent, and the machine is in normal operation. If, how-
ever, the field switch be closed in its up position when
the armature is in position S , then P, will be strength-
ened in its polarity, but P, will be positive instead of
negative; that is, the polarity of the brushes is reversed.
If the field switch be closed in its down or reverse
position when the armature is in position S,, a current
will be produced in the field coils which tends to re-
verse the polarity. If the magnetomotive force of the
shunt-field circuit is greater than that of the armature,
the polarity' of the field poles will be reversed. One of
two things will happen, namely, the armature will slip
half a pole and take up some such position as S,, or it
will continue to slip poles at a rate depending upon the
inertia of the armature and the time-constant of the
field circuit. As soon as the fields are reversed or the
flux in them is reduced to zero the armature will begin
to slip, and as soon as it reaches the position S2 no
current will exist in the field windings, as P, and P, are
then at the same potential. In this position the ad-
jacent tips of P, and P, are both north and the adjacent
tips of P, and P, are both south. This will allow the arm-
ature to slip still farther. As soon, however, as it passes
the position S3 P, becomes slightly positive and P.
slightly negative, thereby producing a field current
which will give P, a north polarity and P, a south polar-
ity. Thus the armature will be held from further
slipping. If, however, the time-constant of the field cir-
cuit be sufficiently great or the inertia of the armature
sufficiently small, the position S. might be reached be-
fore the field current attains a value great enough to
lock the armature. Under these conditions the arma-
ture will continue to slip poles at a definite rate. The
same thing may result from a violent mechanical shock
to the armature such as the sudden application of a load.
If the field switch be opened while the armature is in
position S.„ it will slip a half pole and lock into position
S,, and when the field switch is thrown into the normal
position the normal polarity of the brushes P, and B, is
established.
Starting Compound Converters
The above discussion relates to a shunt-wound ma-
chine. In regard to starting compound converters it is
stated in the "Standard Handbook" that "if other con-
verters are carrying load the separate excitation of the
series field through the equalizer will tend to give cor-
rect polarity."
Where one converter is to be paralleled with others,
provision is often made for obtaining current for the
shunt field circuit from the bus or trolley. This should
insure correct polarity without further precaution, al-
though at least one well-authenticated case is known
where a machine started under these conditions was
connected to the bus with disastrous results because the
armature "slipped a pole."
REFLECTION FROM PAINTED SURFACES
Examination of th.- Coefidenfl of Reflection of Different
Tints in Its Relation to Indirect and Semi-
Indirect Lighting
By Dr. Louis Bell
SEVERAL calls tor information on the coefficient of
reflection to be expected from painted surfaces
have suggested to the writer the propriety of
recording some of his experiments of the past few
years. He has examined a great number of samples
ranging from white to dark buffs and greens, and the
range of coefficients to be found in them is about the
same as that recorded in an I. E. S. paper* on coeffi-
cients of diffuse reflection based on the examination
of wall-papers.
The point of special interest as respects the coeffi-
cient of reflection of paints is associated with their
use for ceilings and walls from which artificial light
is supposed to be reflected. Ceilings, as a rule, are
fairly light in tone, but walls are sometimes painted,
through ignorance or an eccentric idea of esthetics, in
colors so dark as to render lighting exceedingly diffi-
cult. Just now, when there is a strong tendency
toward indirect and semi-indirect illumination, the im-
portance of choosing the proper paints comes to the
front. For these methods are none too efficient even
under the most favorable circumstances, and by the
choice of an improper wall color it is very easy quite to
defeat the design of the illumination.
The experiments made on paints,hy the writer were
very simple. The coefficient of samples laid upon firm
cardboard was determined in the following manner :
The ordinary diffusing disk was removed from a Lum-
mer-Brodhun screen on the photometer bar and re-
placed by two slips of white bristol board cut to fit,
the similar surfaces of the two slips being placed to-
gether and the slips in addition being cut side by side
from the same sheet. Then, with the carriage placed
at the center of the bar, an incandescent lamp, usu-
ally a tungsten lamp of medium power, was placed at
each end of the bar, and to the voltage on one of them
such slight variation was then given as might be neces-
sary to balance the illuminations on the bristol-board
screens. After this^ was done the samples of paint
laid on cardboard were trimmed to the necessary size
to substitute for one" of, the bristol-board standards,
and the photometer was then balanced in the ordinary
way, giving the relative reflecting power of the two
surfaces for light incident at 90 deg. and returned at
moderate degrees of obliquity. The reflecting power
of the standard cardboard having been ascertained in
absolute measure by direct observation, the coefficients
of the samples of paint were at once ascertained.
The above method is very easily applicable* for all
light shades because the color difference involved is
not enough to make any considerable disturbance of
the settings. Even on the dark shades the color was
seldom strong enough to make trouble, for as a rule
paints used for interior finish are not brilliant enough
in color to interfere in photometry. The. annexed table
from the author's notebook contains a list of coeffi-
cients for such colors as are commonly used on ceilings
and walls where any attempt is made to secure a light
surface such as one would choose in painting with some
regard to the effect on the illumination. It will be
noted that the highest percentage obtained is 65.7 for
a practically white oil paint of medium gloss and se-
lected for the purpose of being a good reflector. It is
difficult to get much above this figure with commercial
paints adapted to general use. The next in the order
'Trims: let i, ins. [Humiliating Engineering Society, Vol. 2. page 653.
212
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 4
of excellence is the same paint with the very faint-
est trace of cream tinge. Less than half the samples
tested showed coefficients above 50 per cent and all of
those that did so were of very light creamy or yellow-
ish tones. They include both water and oil paints,
though the indications are that a carefully selected oil
paint is rather the better of the two as regards reflec-
tion. The deeper tones of yellowish and the faint
green tones fell decidedly below in reflecting power, and
those of stronger tint in the same direction lower still,
ending with an apparently rather light olive water color
at the bottom of the list with 32.7 per cent.
As to the composition of the colors, all those which
showed a good value for the reflection were tinted, if
at all, with the merest trace of yellow pigment, pre-
sumably chrome or stone yellow. The least trace of
black in the pigment, such as would give only the faint-
est suggestion of a gray tone, is fatal to good reflec-
tion, and the same is true to almost an equal extent
of red. A very light gray "warmed a bit" with red,
as the painter might say, gives a tone that is extraor-
dinarily deceptive, since to the casual observer it looks
very light and it really absorbs an astonishing amount.
The greens are found to be distinctly worse than the
yellows, but a good deal better than the blues, even the
lightest of them. Blues, however, are rarely used on
account of the general cold tone.
REFLECTION FROM PAINTED SURFACES.
material difference if one room has, for example, light
buff walls and the other fairly dark green walls. The
coefficients of the darker paints, of course, may be very
low.
Kind
of
Paint
Per-
cent
Reto
linn
Remarks
Oil
Oil
u atei
Oil
B5 7
1,1 II
r.'.i 2
56 i
52 B
Faint cronm
Faint cream
Light rr*'rim
Light ere
Light cream
Pale yell
Faint huff
Pale yellowish
Water
Water
Oil
\\ RtCT
Oil
52 n
, ■ i,
:,1 1
:.l (i
51 I
w bite with stone yellon
w bite, lei i, i hi ime yell i
Light yellowish
Pale yellowish
lint greeni*'i
Very faint itr
Faint gray
Oil
Watei
ml
w ,i, .
Oil
15 (1
16 s
16 n
15 s
is n
w bite, rtone yellow.
i .mi' yellow, chroii
yellow, black.
green
Hon : i ■
Light greenish
Light greenish
w atei
\\ .l.-i
Water
15 'i
II •■
II n
13 7
w iiit,', ehro
White, Chi
■ '11 m
Light greenish
i bufl
■
Light olive
w ater
w ater
i.; i
m
The accompanying table is intended merely as a
tough guide with respect to the tones fairly adapted
ndireel and semi-indirect lighting. One
must remember thai the values given are for abso-
lutely fresh and clean samples. The effect of dust
to darken any of the painted surfaces.
thereby lessening the reflection in no inconsiderable
tter the water-color paints are more
,:•■ than the oils because they will not with-
tand cleaning so readily. Except in the case of an oil
painti : uated thai i
cleaned ral to be unsafe t<i rely on
an ■ ! efficient of reflect ion greater thai
per ■ i o particular i ea ion m h
hi, ulil not h I e at the start, but walls
llj tinted, often to fairly dark tunc, and in
ral lighting, even when
the i must be borne in mind.
. with white ceilings, lighted to very nearly
the ame degree in ii itial intensity will show very
DETERMINATION OF HYSTERESIS LOOPS
A Simple Method Giving Accurate Results When Use Is
Made of Only One Exciting Coil
By Arle Ytterberg
IN the so-called "step-by-step" method of determin-
ing the hysteresis loop the exciting current is
changed by small steps from a positive to a nega-
tive maximum and back again, and the corresponding
changes in the induction are determined with a ballistic
galvanometer. The total induction corresponding to
any given current is found by summing up the meas-
ured changes in the induction for the several steps, with
the result that errors of observation or calculation are
cumulative.
In the method proposed by Evershed and Vignoles
this difficulty is avoided. In this method two windings
are placed on the sample of iron to be tested. In one
winding is established a constant current corresponding
to the maximum induction desired. A current of suit-
able strength, producing a magnetomotive force in the
opposite direction to that of the first coil, is then sud-
denly sent through the second coil, and the correspond-
ing diminution of the resultant induction is determined
by means of the ballistic galvanometer. This current is
then broken and the original mmf is re-established, and
the process is repeated with successively smaller values
of the current in the second coil. The latter coil must
be capable of carrying a current which will produce an
APPARATUS FOR OBTAINING HYSTERESIS-LOOP DATA
mmf twice as great as that of the first coil, in order to
obtain the negative half of the loop.
After each point on the loop is found, the current
through the first exciting coil may be reversed several
times to insure the re-establishment of the original
maximum induction, although if this maximum induc-
tion is well above the knee of the curve such reversals
may not be found necessary.
The advantage of the method of Evershed and Vig-
noles over the step-by-step method is that every point
on the cycle is determined independently. The chief ob-
jection to this method is that a second exciting coil is
necessary. As the space for the coils is usually limited,
it follows that when two coils are used they must be
made of smaller wire than would be required for a sin-
gle coil, and therefore the windings heat up more rap-
idly. The effect of this heating is to increase the
resistance, producing the slow change in the exciting
nt and in the induction, and since the change in
induction is slow it is not recorded bj the ballistic gal-
\ anometer.
Bj using the connections described below all the ad-
vantages of the Evershed and Vignoles method may be
secured with a single exciting coil. The connections are
shown in the accompanying illustration, wherein C is
.] un ure -■!. 1915
ELECTRICAL Wo HI.])
213
the exciting coil in Beriea with tin- ammeter .1 and S
is ■ doable-pole reversing switch. A rheostat connected
• iev with tiie batter] /•' is Bhown at R,. A single-
pole knife switch is shown at S, and a resistor of vari-
able resistance at R ,
The procedure when these connections are used is as
follows: At first the resistor R is short-circuited and
the switch S is closed. The switch S is then closed,
making contact at e and <-,. and the exciting current is
regulated to the proper amount by means of the rheo-
stat R,. The current through the coil is then reversed
several times by throwing the switch N hack and forth,
and switch S is finally closed on the contacts <• and c„.
The switch S is then opened and the resistance of R,
is regulated to a suitable value. The switch S is then
turned until the blades touch simultaneously all four
contacts. A strip of wood placed under the blades of
the switch makes a convenient stop for the purpose.
Throwing the switch S, into this position connects R
in parallel with the exciting coil C, and therefore re-
duces the current through it. The swing of the gal-
vanometer then registers the corresponding diminution
of the induction in the sample.
To obtain the next point on the loop, the switch S, is
turned back to its original position, the resistance of
R. is set at a lower value, and the operation above
described is repeated, and so on for as many positive
values of the mmf as may be desired. The point corre-
sponding to zero value of the mmf is found by
short-circuiting the resistor R,. Points on the loop
corresponding to negative values of the mmf are deter-
mined by closing the switch S,, and for the first point
putting R, to its maximum value. The switch S, is then
quickly thrown all the way over until the blades are in
contact with C, and c, only. This reverses the current
through the exciting coil and puts this coil in series
with both R, and R,. The next point on the curve is
then found by throwing S, back to the contacts c3 and
c„ setting R, to a lower value, and repeating the process,
finally short-circuiting the resistor R, for the negative
maximum of the mmf.
It should be noted that at no step in the procedure
above described is the current through the exciting
coil interrupted, but it always passes from one value to
the next in virtue of a more or less complete short-cir-
cuiting of the coil. That is, the current changes grad-
ually (along a logarithmic curve, the slope of which
depends on the time-constant of the circuit) from one
value to the next. The cycle of changes produced by
this method of operation therefore approaches more
closely the cycle produced by an alternating current
than is the case with any method in which the current
through the exciting coil is suddenly interrupted.
Electricity in an Indian School
South of Arkansas City, Kan., just over the Okla-
homa line, is the Chilocco Indian Industrial School,
where boys and girls between the ages of fourteen and
twenty-one years receive instruction in practical engi-
neering, the various trades, agriculture, domestic sci-
ence, art and music. Natural gas, piped from the Okla-
homa fields, is used as a source of power for the school's
heating and electric-service plant. Applications of elec-
tricity have been made to the machines in the shops
where the Indian boys receive instruction and in the
sewing-rooms used by the girls. Members of the Kan-
sas Electrical Association visited the school at the time
of the recent convention at Arkansas City, and many
were surprised to note the dexterity of the Indian chil-
dren from the reservations in handling electric irons
and other electrical devices.
ACCOUNTING TOR DEPRECIATION
Advantages of Methods I hat Conduce to a Clear I'nder-
itanding on the Pari of Examiners
By James R. Cbavath
THE object of this article is to call attention to cer-
tain methods of keeping depreciation accounts
which are conducive to a clear understanding on
the part of the examining engineer or stockholder, as
opposed to other common methods that do not readily
show essential information. With the exception of a
few electric public utility properties which are very
large and have widely scattered interests, most prop-
erties have so great a proportion of total capital in-
vested in apparatus or plant which will call for a heavy
renewal expense at one time that it would be entirely
unsafe not to lay up a depreciation reserve. As an ex-
treme example, take an electric-light plant in a small
town. Its power plant may represent approximately
one-half the total investment. The day may come
when nearly all of this power-plant investment will have
to be set aside or written off because the plant is worn
out or inadequate. In such a case a heavy deprecia-
tion reserve in addition to ordinary maintenance ex-
penses is evidently necessary.
Much of the discussion on depreciation during the
last few years has been due to the fact that the neces-
sity of provision therefor was ignored by many com-
panies for many years. Rate regulation has brought
companies to a realization of the importance of making
provision for depreciation in their accounts.
The necessity for calling attention to the importance
of proper accounting for depreciation has been brought
home to the writer during investigations of various
public utility properties, in some of which deprecia-
tion had been written off annually, while in others no
allowance had been made. In some cases where de-
preciation had been written off it involved consider-
ably more labor to determine the true state of affairs
by going back through the books than in cases where
nothing whatever had been done with the item of de-
preciation.
The balance sheet should either show the following
figures or make it easy to obtain them :
(A) The total first cost of all plant and property
without deduction for depreciation.
(B) The total estimated accrued depreciation irre-
spective of renewals made and paid for.
(C) Depreciation actually paid by the replacement or
renewal of certain parts.
Item A, total first cost of property, should not in-
clude any costs of renewals. It should include only the
first cost of all plant and property plus additions and
extensions. This will show at a glance the total amount
on which depreciation is to be estimated. Item B rep-
resents, of course, merely an estimate of the loss in
value due to depreciation, but if it be given in full the
person making the examination can make whatever
allowances he desires above or below the figure given.
In some cases the entries for this item are involved to
such an extent with the depreciation that has actually
been paid or made good that no fair judgment can be
formed as to the amount of either. As to item C, it is
obviously desirable to know how much is actually being
paid out to make good the estimated depreciation.
If the foregoing items appear on the balance sheet
and the full accrued depreciation is stated as a liabil-
ity, it is evident that such portion of the depreciation
as has already been paid should appear as an asset
to offset part of this liability. Another way of han-
dling the matter would be to give the total cost of the
property and to set down as a liability only such por-
tion of the depreciation as is still payable or accrued
214
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 4
and not paid. In such a case the current operating
account must be consulted to determine the total
amount allowed for depreciation accrued; this is
equally satisfactory provided the operating account
shows the totals for a considerable number of years.
On the theory that the property account at all times
should show the value of the property after the deduc-
tion of depreciation, some accountants credit it with
accrued depreciation each month or each year so that
the balance shows the first cost of the property, less
depreciation. This, in itself, is not incorrect, but it
leads to considerable inconvenience. When, however,
this practice is followed by an estimate of depreciation
as a certain percentage on the depreciated value of the
property it is obvious that it will lead in time to an
error of considerable magnitude because it would mean
writing off an amount for depreciation that decreased
year by year instead of a certain percentage of the
original cost. For example, by the time the property
had been depreciated to 50 per cent of its original
value the yearly accrued depreciation would be figured
as only one-half the yearly amount taken at the begin-
ning.
If the actual first cost is shown, the amount upon
which depreciation must be figured is available imme-
diately. The examiner avoids the troublesome process
of finding the amount deducted for depreciation and
adding it to the book value of the plant and property
in order to determine the value upon which deprecia-
tion is to be figured. Furthermore, it frequently hap-
pens that the examiner wishes to assume a different
rate of depreciation than that assumed by the com-
pany. It is usually easier to figure anew, beginning
with the actual first cost of the property, than to un-
ravel previous assumed depreciation figures, which may
or may not be correct.
Simple Methods of Accounting
As to the actual accounting necessary, there are
various ways of accomplishing the result, but two of
the simplest are the following:
One is to keep a regular ledger account called
"'depreciation paid" or by a similar term, indicating
that the object of the account is to show only the money
actually paid for replacements and renewals necessi-
tated by depreciation. As this account applies only
to renewals actually made, it should not be confused
with the estimated accrued depreciation, which for a
given year may be more or less than the depreciation
actually paid. If such a "depreciation paid" account
is the only ledger account kept relating to deprecia-
tion, this account should be charged and cash should
be credited with all expenditures on renewals and
replacements. In annual or monthly statements and
balance sheets accrued depreciation can be entered as
a liability with paid depreciation as a partially offset-
ting asset, in which case the accrued depreciation will
not appear on the ledger account but only on the bal-
ance sheet.
If the total "depreciation accrued," whether paid or
unpaid, is to be kept as a ledger account, one of the
simplest ways to get the desired information is to
keep with the "depreciation accrued" account an ac-
count which may be called "depreciation payable."
Such an account is of the same character as notes pay-
able or accounts payable. Having started a ledger
with "depreciation accrued" and "depreciation pay-
able" accounts under an ordinary double-entry system,
the following entries should be made: At the end of
each month or each year depreciation accrued should
be debited with the estimated amount of depreciation,
itemized as fully as may be desired. If depreciation
is estimated on the property as a whole one entry will
suffice. If each class of property is figured at a differ-
ent rate of depreciation, an item should be provided
for each class, preferably showing the amount upon
which the depreciation is figured and the percentage.
As a corresponding entry "depreciation payable"
should be credited with the same items. When replace-
ments and renewals are paid for, there are two meth-
ods of correct handling with such a classification. One
is to charge "depreciation payable" with the amount
of such renewal and credit cash. If the renewal is not
only a renewal but also an enlargement, as for example
where a large generator is substituted for a small one,
"depreciation payable" would be charged with only
that part of the renewal which was represented by the
original cost of the generator replaced, and the re-
mainder of the cost would be charged to plant and
property as an enlargement. The other method, which
is preferred by some, is to charge plant account with
the entire cost of the renewal and debit cash. To off-
set the charge against the property account, the prop-
erty account is credited with the real or estimated
original cost of the apparatus replaced, and at the same
time "depreciation payable" is charged.
With such an arrangement of depreciation accounts
a balance sheet might be made to show total deprecia-
tion accrued as a liability, and from this the deprecia-
tion payable could be deducted to indicate as an off-
setting asset the depreciation paid. If depreciation
payable appears as a liability, as would be preferred
by some because it involves no irregularities in mak-
ing up a balance sheet, the desired information as to
accrued depreciation and the depreciation actually paid
would not appear on the balance sheet but could be
obtained quickly by deduction of the balance shown
on the "depreciation payable" account from the bal-
ance shown on the "depreciation accrued" account.
Should the depreciation actually paid in a year ex-
ceed the depreciation estimated as accrued, it is evi-
dent that either the accrued depreciation is not esti-
mated high enough or that some temporary abnormal
condition has increased the depreciation paid above
the proper average. If the latter is the case, the "de-
preciation paid" account will show a debit balance
which, in effect, is equivalent to "depreciation pre-
paid."
Importance of Accurate Terminology
There is opportunity for considerable confusion in
the use of terms in connection with depreciation ac-
counts. Sometimes the word "accrued" is applied only
to an amount payable, and again (as here) it is applied
to the total sum accumulated regardless of how much
is paid. Some companies keep a depreciation reserve
account, which may or may not mean that a reserve
fund is actually put aside. In many cases it simply
means the estimated accrued depreciation correspond-
ing to the "depreciation accrued" account as herein
suggested. The simple heading "depreciation" applied
to an account gives little idea of its real nature. It
may be used to show accrued depreciation or deprecia-
tion paid, or both. In the latter case depreciation is
charged and the property account is credited yearly
or monthly with the estimated accrued depreciation,
and when money is put back into the property to make
good past depreciation the property account is charged
and cash is credited. The result shows the book value
of the property less the accrued depreciation, including
both that which has been paid and that which has not
been paid. No fault is to be found with the accuracy
of this method, but it does not give results in con-
venient form. It is impossible with a single deprecia-
tion account to provide the information desirable.
Opinions may differ as to the desirability of show-
.1 vm \n\ 28, L916
ELECTRICAL WORLD
216
ing on lialan. e sheets and statements the first cost of
the property, the total depreciation accrued to date,
and the depreciation paid to date, but the intelligent
reader of such statements could form a much better
idea of the real treatment of depreciation if these fig-
ure obtainable readilv.
CENSUS OF PRIMARY POWER EQUIPMENT
Development in Steam Turbines and Large Units Shown by
the Census Returns
The Bureau of the Census returns on primary power
equipment of central stations in 1912 cover steam en-
gines, steam turbines, gas and oil engines and water-
wheels. The classification was changed somewhat in
the return for the three census periods of 1912, 1907
and 1902. Steam turbines were shown separately in
1907 and 1912 but were included with steam engines
in 1902. Auxiliary engines were shown separately in
1902 and 1907 but were not reported separately in 1912.
Progress has caused the abandonment of generating
equipment in many small stations. In 1912 9.7 per
cent of the stations making returns reported no gener-
ating equipment, while in 1907 only 4.8 per cent of the
stations reported no generating equipment.
Central stations and electric-railway plants combined
showed in 1912 a total horse-power rating of engines
of 11,193,699. This is an increase of 69.4 per cent
over 1907 and 249.3 per cent over 1902. The gain in
horse-power rating was greater in central stations than
in electric railways. From 1907 to 1912 the gain for
:s/yy*syyyyyyxssssssj
Q2'8'2 ES3'907 £221902
PRIMARY-POWER CHART, 1902-1912
central stations was 83.7 per cent as compared with
45.4 per cent for electric railways. From 1902 to 1912
the gain was 308 per cent for central stations and 169.6
per cent for electric railways. Of the total horse-power
rating in 1912 72.5 per cent was in steam units. The
distribution of the horse-power rating in percentages
in 1912 was as follows: Steam engines, 32.1 per cent;
steam turbines, 40.4 per cent; gas and oil engines, 1.2
per cent; waterwheels and turbines, 26.3 per cent. The
total number of steam turbines in 1912 increased 138
per cent over 1907 and the increase in horse-power
rating was 233.9 per cent. The number of central-
station machines increased from 10,998, with a total
rating of 4,098,188 hp, in 1907 to 11,893, with 7,528,648
hp, in 1912. The number of electric-railway machines
decreased from 3637 with 2,519,823 hp in 1907 to 2695
with 3,665,051 hp in 1912. Thus while central stations
increased to a small extent in number and a large ex-
tent in horse-power rating electric railways actually
decreased in number but greatly increased in total
horse-power rating. The average capacity per machine
was 767 hp in 1912 as compared with 452 in 1907 and
301 in 1902. Electric-railway plants increased from an
average rating of 484 hp in 1902 and 693 in 1907 to
1360 in 1912. The gain in central stations was not so
large, being from 235 hp in 1902 and 373 in 1907 to
688 in 1912.
The accompanying diagram shows the primary power
by the character of power in 1912, 1907 and 1902.
Primary Horse-I'ower
Table I published herewith shows the average pri-
mary horse-power per station and per machine in com-
mercial and municipal central electric stations in the
TABU 1 COMMERCIAL AND MUNICIPAL CENTRAL ELECTRIC STATIONS
AVERAGE PRIMARY HORSE-POWER PER STATION mn PER M \< illXI.
Km i of Power
Commercial
Ml MC1PAL
1912
1907
1902
1912
1807 1902
Total power:
1905
748
780
678
324
7614
3204
171
1091
421
427
593
301
4694
2293
209
601
253
253
623
253
131
76
S06
327
78
41
358
217
201
257
160
159
165
240
157
134
139
198
139
Steam engines and steam turbines:
Steam engines —
Steam turbines —
Gas and oil engines:
115
79
1086
484
t
t
109
78
341
198
33
21
64
53
224
137
32
23
Waterwheels and turbines:
2558 1606
879 , 566
t 228
Auxiliary engines:
"In 1902 steam turbines w
fNot reported separately.
i included with steam engines.
three census periods. This indicates the larger aver-
age rating per station and per machine of the com-
mercial plants as compared with municipal stations.
Thus the average per municipal station in 1912 was
18.8 per cent of the average per commercial sta-
tion; the average per municipal machine was 29 per
cent of that of the commercial machine. The average
primary horse-power per station in commercial plants
increased from 1907 to 1912 74.6 per cent. The aver-
age primary horse-power per municipal station in-
creased from 1907 to 1912 39.3 per cent.
Steam Engines and Turbines
Table II published herewith shows steam engines and
steam turbines by horse-power rating in the three cen-
sus periods, divided between commercial and municipal
electric central stations. From 1902 to 1912 the rating
of steam engines and steam turbines combined in both
classes of stations increased from 1,379,941 hp to
4,946,532 hp, or 258.5 per cent. The 1912 statistics of
horse-power rating may be grouped as follows: 500 hp
and under, 22.1 per cent; over 500 hp and under 2000
hp, 19.7 per cent ; 2000 hp and under 5000 hp, 17.1 per
cent; 5000 hp and over, 41.1 per cent. The horse-power
reported for the engines of 2000 hp and over comprises
58.2 per cent of the total horse-power in 1912 as com-
pared with 10.8 per cent in 1902. The municipal central
stations reported no steam turbines or steam engines
of 5000 hp and over in either 1912 or 1907. From 1907
to 1912 the total of the reciprocating engines in com-
mercial and municipal stations combined increased
82,036 hp, or only 4.5 per cent. The total of recipro-
cating engines with a rating of 5000 hp or over de-
creased by 10,246 hp, or 8.9 per cent during the five
years.
Unfortunately, data for steam turbines were not ob-
tained separately in the 1902 census but were included
in the totals for steam engines. In commercial and
municipal stations combined the rating of the steam
216
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 4
turbines was increased from 1907 to 1912 by 2,237,046
hp, or 273.7 per cent. The tendency toward increase
in the use of turbines of large rating is shown by the
fact that while the turbines of 5000 hp or more com-
posed 49.8 per cent of the total rating in 1907, they
aggregated 63.1 per cent in 1912. Turbines of the dif-
TABLE n-COMMERCIAI AMD MUNICIPAL CENTRAL ELECTRIC STATIONS-
STEAM ENGINES \M> STEAM T0RBINE8, BY HORSE-POWER RATING—
miJ. 1907 AND 1902
• i- According to Hmrse-Powe
I'la-s of Stat ii.ii-
Total 1912
1902.
Commercial, 1912
Municipal, 1912. .
Commercial 1912
Municipal. 1912
Commercial. 1912
Municipal. 1912. .
1,091,370
1,035,5X3
XI9.330
1,037.655
I. ills, .'in.;
X49.336
97s. 55 1
661,746
3X1.055
4X9. 119 1
381,055
2000 and
Under 5000 Hp
5000 Hp and Over
845,381
(07,695
149,550
240.794
1X1'., 2SII
149.550
•Included in "2000 and Under 5000 Hp." The class "5000 Hp and Over" was not called
(or at the census of 1902. . .
tSteam turbines were included with steam engines in 1902.
ferent classes of rating, however, showed an increase
in each case in number and horse-power from 1907 to
1912.
Water-Power Development
The development of water-power is shown by Table
III. The total water-power of commercial and munici-
pal electric central stations increased from 438,472 hp
in 1902 and 1,349,087 hp in 1907 to 2,471,081 hp in
1912. The increase in the decade was 463.6 per cent.
In the two later census periods waterwheels and water
turbines contributed approximately one-third of the
TABLE III-COMMERCIAL AND MUNICIPAL CENTRAL ELECTRIC STATIONS-
WATERWHEELS AND TURBINES. BY NUMBER AND HORSE-POWER
RATING— 1912, 1907 AND 1902
for the generation of electrical energy in all states ex-
cepting Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Dakota
and the District of Columbia. Including the returns
from electric railways the rating of all waterwheels in-
creased from 1907 to 1912 104.2 per cent. The water-
power reported for New York, California, South Caro-
lina, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Montana combined
was 60 per cent of the total for the United States.
Water-power was reported as used by 1035 central sta-
tions in 1912, and of these 496 reported having only
water-power. Of the latter number 225 stations re-
ported water-power each of 1000 hp or more. These
were tabulated separately in the census returns as rep-
resenting the hydroelectric stations. Their cost of
construction and equipment was $922,954,341 and their
total income was $72,717,582. These stations form only
4.3 per cent of the total number of central stations, but
they reported 42.2 per cent of the aggregate horse-
power, 92.6 per cent of the water-power, 38 per cent of
the dynamo capacity, 50.8 per cent of the kilowatt-hour
output, 31.1 per cent of the horse-power of stationary
motors, 42.4 per cent of the cost of construction and
equipment, and 24.1 per cent of the income. That much
of the business of these plants is the sale of energy in
bulk is indicated by the fact that they had only 12.4
per cent of the arc lamps and 17.5 per cent of the in-
candescent lamps. They reported 46 per cent of the
total income for energy sold to other public service
corporations.
Internal combustion engines were reported for 713
central stations in 1912 as compared with 294 in 1907
and 101 in 1902.
Class of Stations
Total 1912
1009
...I. 1912..
Total 19
1907-1912..
1902-1012
1907-1912
Municipal. I
112 .
Machines Grouped According to Horse-Power
I It
17-1, 559
Ovi i '
HI, I I ml' I
' lip
594, no
357,671
150.013
257 5
1.917 0
2000 .oi.l
I ii, I. r
5000 Hp
lls.7i.ll
830,980
107,300
222 0
•Included in ■•2000 and Under 5000 Hp." The class "5000 Hp ud Owl
for at the census
total primary power of central stations. The great in-
crease was in the large units. The total rating of water
turbines rrf 5000 hp or more increased from 1907 to
1912 222 per cent. Of the total horse-power rating of
uatcrwheels and turbines in 1912, commercial stations
had 94.7 per cent and municipal stations 5.3 per cent.
The census returns show that water-power was used
Manufacture of Oxygen Gas at Kansas City
Next door to a substation of the Kansas City (Mo.)
Electric Light Company the Oxygen Gas Company has
been operating a forty-cell electrolytic-process oxygen-
gas factory for more than a year. Direct current at
110 volts is supplied to the oxygen company in consider-
able quantities, the factory operating twenty-four hours
a day. In the accompanying table are indicated the
amounts of energy which have been required for the
electrolytic process and the amounts taken by two 5-hp
motors used for compressing the gas. During the sum-
mer and fall, according to statements made by the plant
operator, about twenty-six 100-cu. ft. tanks of gas have
been made daily, indicating that the specific energy con-
sumption— that is, the number of kilowatt-hours used
DATA IN OXYGEN-GAS MANUFACTURE
1 ..,.,1 111
Electrolytic Process,
Kw-hr
. fol
Kw-hr.
16,770
17,810
10,340
;i '.mi
3 1.7 Id
:t:>.'.uii
in 580
37, ISO
178
575
502
Marofa
April
June
Julj
1517
1516
1375
per cubic foot of gas — fluctuated between 0.5 and 0.55.
No use is made of the hydrogen gas, which is given off
wiih the oxygen. A pipe is provided through which it
escapes up an unused chimney.
An account of the manufacture of oxygen gas by
factories in St. Louis using the electrolytic process was
printed in the ELECTRICAL WORLD for Dec. 26, 1914.
Jam \k\ 23, 1916
ELECTRICAL WORLD
217
DIGEST OF ELECTRICAL LITERATURE
Generators, Motors tnd transformers
','<//< Flux Distribution in Dynamo-Electric Gt
Alfred Still. — A method of designing el
machinery— whether continuous-current or alternating-
current generators which involves the plotting of the
tltix distribution curves has much to recommend it not
only to the student but also to the professional designer.
The author's discussion is based on earlier work of
\V. K. Goldsborough and Charles R. Moore. But the
method of deriving the curves giving the distribution
of mmf over the armature surface is original with the
present author. The subject is discussed under the fol-
lowing headings: Air-gap flux distribution with toothed
armatures; correction for taper of tooth; variation of
permeance over pole pitch ; effect of neighboring poles ;
open-circuit flux-distribution curves as influenced by
tooth saturation; effect of armature current in modify-
ing flux distribution; armature mmf in polyphase gen-
erators; armature mmf curve of single-phase alter-
nator; predetermination of flux curve in high-speed
alternators with distributed field winding. The general
advantage of the study of the flux distribution by plot-
ting curves lies in the fact that new types of machines,
or radical departures from existing types, can be de-
signed, and their performance predicted, without refer-
ence to empirical formulas or test data, the application
of which would be a difficult matter for the designer. —
Journal Franklin Institute, January, 1915.
High-Voltage Dangers in Transformers. — J. Lindsey
Thompson and S. Austin Stigant. — The first part of
an article on the presence of high-voltages on the low-
pressure windings of static transformers. This danger
is the direct outcome of operating conditions in con-
junction with the electrostatic capacities of the wind-
ings to the core and also to one another. The author
first discusses single-phase transformers and three-
phase transformers. The article is to be continued. —
London Elec. Revieio, Jan. 1, 1915.
Lamps and Lighting
Temperature Distribution in an Incandescent-Lamp
Filament in the Neighborhood of a Cooling Junction. —
A. G. Worthing. — The filaments of incandescent lamps
are subject to end losses which result from the cooling
effects of supports. These losses are sometimes of con-
siderable magnitude and must be determined if it is
desirable to study certain of the properties of the fila-
ment. The variations existing near such a cooling junc-
tion may, indeed, afford the opportunity for the con-
venient measurement of certain other properties, such
as the thermal conductivity or the Thomson electro-
motive force. A knowledge of the temperature distri-
bution in such cases is of considerable value. After
outlining the theoretical considerations, the author de-
A B C D E F G
FIG. 1 — ARRANGEMENT OF PYROMETER
scribes his experiments, in which he used the Holborn-
Kurlbaum optical pyrometer. The arrangement is
shown in Fig. 1, in which A is the background, B objec-
tive lens, C entrance cone diaphragm, D pyrometer fila-
ment, E eyepiece diaphragm, F eyepiece, G monochro-
matic glass filter. The filaments studied were of tung-
sten mounted as U-shaped loops in evacuated bulbs.
The lamps, which were well aged in order to remove
. were installed at .4. The necessary measure-
ments consist in balancing in brightness the pyrometer
filament I) against the background filament .4 in the
neighborhood of the cooling junction as that filament,
heated to incandescence by a constant current, is raised
or lowered. With exactly the same arrangement of
f- '5°<
<r<
4.4 -15 — ♦« ' — tr- — iS ' ■& ' iP ' V
Distance along the filament in cm. from an arbitrarily chosen zero.
FIG. 2 — RELATION BETWEEN TEMPERATURE AND DISTANCE
apparatus, excepting that a black body is substituted
at A and is operated at various temperatures, a calibra-
tion of the pyrometer-filament current as a function of
the black-body temperature of the background was then
obtained. Then with the aid of a black-body tempera-
ture— true temperature calibration of the background
filament, taking account of the glass of the bulb of the
lamp placed at A — one easily ascertains the surface
temperature distribution along the filament placed at
A. An exponential series relation between surface tem-
perature and distance was found. How nearly this rep-
resents the distribution experimentally obtained in a
particular case may be seen from Fig. 2. The solu-
tion is applied to a special case. — Physical Rev., Decem-
ber, 1914.
Train Lighting. — Emil Dick. — The conclusion of his
illustrated article on the simplified Dick system of elec-
tric lighting of railway cars. — Elek. Zeit., Dec. 3, 1914.
Generation, Transmission and Distribution
Induction Coils and Condensers as Protective Devices.
E. Pfiffner. — When induction coils and condensers
are used as protective devices on transmission lines,
they reflect the traveling waves back on to the line.
Campos and Ruedenberg have recently urged that the
protective device should contain an element in which
the energy of the traveling wave is changed into heat
and thereby made harmless. Ruedenberg concludes that
the ideal protective device would be a combination of
a self-induction and a capacity with a resistance. The
present author shows, however, that if an ohmic re-
sistance is connected in parallel to a self-induction the
latter loses its most valuable property as a protec-
tive device; that is, its ability to flatten the steep front
of the traveling wave. The resistance increases only
slightly the natural damping of the traveling waves on
the transmission lines. Another proposal of Campos
and Ruedenberg was the use of an ohmic resistance in
the condenser circuit. The present author points out
that such a combination is entirely unsuitable since the
effectiveness of the condenser is due to the fact that
it represents a short-circuit in the first moment when
the traveling wave arrives, as it represents in general
218
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 4
a very small resistance to high frequencies. The use
of a resistance in series with the condenser, of course,
destroys this desirable result. The author concludes
that this combination is not only useless but dangerous.
—Elek. Zeit., Dec. 10, 1914.
Energy Transmission by Single-Core Conductor Cables.
— C. F. Proos. — In large cable transmission systems the
use of single-conductor cables is becoming necessary
since three-phase cables can at present hardly be built
for more than 30,000 volts. With a single-conductor cable
the magnetic flux of the current in the conductor in-
duces voltages in the lead sheath. With large distances
and an insulated lead sheath the voltage difference be-
tween the lead sheath and the surrounding ground may
become appreciable. In order to maintain this poten-
tial difference within safe limits, the lead sheaths of
the two cables of a line may be connected together
FIG. 3 — CONNECTION OF CABLES
either directly or through a resistance both at the be-
ginning of the line and at the end of a line, as shown in
Fig. 3. But this method changes the characteristic
constants of the transmission line. The author de-
scribes a simple graphical method by means of which
the new characteristic constants of the line may be
determined.— Elek. Zeit., Dec. 17, 1914.
Installations, Systems and Appliances
London Electricity Supply. — Particulars have been
published of a bill promoted by a number of the supply
companies in London — whether in opposition to the
scheme of the London County Council or to fill a niche
provided in this scheme remains to be seen. The capital
of the proposed company is $30,000,000 and it is the
intention to transfer and vest in this company the un-
dertakings of ten existing companies, among them a
number of the most powerful companies, but not all
of them. The area affected is very' large, being in some
respects more extensive than that of the London County
Council, for it includes the whole of the administrative
county of London and also portions of other counties.
The dividend on the ordinary stock is limited to 8 per
cent per year, a proportion of profits is to go to reduc-
ing the charges to consumers, and the undertaking is
to be subject to purchase by the London County Council
at the expiration of fifty years. — London Electrician,,
Jan. 1, 1915.
Wires. Wiring and Conduits
Substitution of Iron for Copper Wires in Germany. —
An announcement of the German Association of Elec-
trical Engineers, signed by the secretary, G. Dettmar.
Since on account of the war the imports of copper
into Germany are restricted, it is recommended to use
iron wires instead of copper wherever possible. This
is especially the case fur uninsulated overhead lines,
long lines will hardly be built now in Germany.'
For direct current the conditions of the use of iron are
rather simple, while for alternating current they are
complicated by the skin effect and the increase of
impedance. A list of references to literature on the
subject is given. For iron wire with a tensile strength
of 40 kg per s<|. mm and steel wire with 80 kg per
sq. mm the following values may lie assumed in general:
Specific resistance, iron wire 0.126, steel wire 0.204;
conductivity, iron wire 7.;». Bteel wire 1.9; apecifli
weight, iron wire 7.7, steel wire 7.9. The temperature
coefficient is about 0.0046. The Felten & Guilleaume
Carlswerk gives the tabulated values of the conduc-
tivities of its iron wires in thicknesses from 1 to 5 mm
diameter for 15 deg. C. The first row gives the con-
ductivities, the second gives them in per cent of the
conductivity of copper. The increase of resistance, due
FIG. 4 — CURVES SHOWING INCREASE OF RESISTANCE
to skin effect at a frequency of fifty, is shown in the
four curves of Fig. 4. The ordinates give the per-
centage increase of resistance, the abscissas the current
density in amperes per square millimeter. The four
curves refer to wires 2, 3, 4 and 5 mm in diameter,
respectively. A few data on stranded wires are also
given. Some results of tests made by the Allgemeine
Elektricitats Gesellschaft with steel-wire ropes with
a tensile strength of 120 kg per 0.9 mm are given in
Fig. 5. The ropes were tested with direct current
and alternating current, and in each case the voltage
drop was determined. The temperature of the testing
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AMPERES
FIG, 6 — RESULTS OF TESTS WITH STEEL-WIRE ROPES
in was from L6 deg. to 20 deg. C. Fig. 5 gives
the voltage drop per kilometer as function of the cur-
rent for 50, 100, 150, 200, 300 and 450 sq. mm diameter,
respectively. The dotted lines refer to alternating
current, the drawn-out lines to direct current. To
prevent rusting, the wires must be well zinc-plated or
tinned. The cross-section is determined in many ease-
I
Jaw \u\ 28, l ; ' i .",
K LECT RII A I. WORLD
219
by the voltage drop. If this is not the case, it is recom-
mended to make the iron cross-section two and one-half
or three and one-half times that of the copper cross-
section required. Of great importance is proper joining
VALUES OF CONDUCTIVITIES FOR IRON WIRES
■ i /.!*« -Plated or
Tomm)
Ml u Steel
/.in' -Pi *tki> oh Tl*.*»:l-
■oft,
37 kg
■ft,
40 kg
I 87
14.80
He*
hard.
70 kg
8.81
14 70
11 .
soft,
40 kg
7.77
12 90
hard.
12 20
UK I
hard.
70 kg
HT IVp. HT IVp.
blue, bard.
95 kg | 130
9 98
IS. 80
6 11
10.20
5.61 5.95
9 40 9.90
of the iron wires to existing copper wires. — Elek. Zeit.,
Dec. 10, 1914.
Elect rophysics and Magnetism
Theory of the Metallic State. — F. A. Lindemann. —
A theoretical paper in which the author shows that the
free electrons in a metal may not be treated as a gas,
for a gas can conduct heat well only when its heat capac-
ity is large. Experiment proves that the free electrons
conduct heat well but that their heat capacity is too
small to be measured. The assumption of a large free
path to compensate a small number leads to contradic-
tions with the optical properties of metals. It is sug-
gested that the free electrons in a metal form a space
lattice, which corresponds to a crystal at a very low
temperature, as the small mass of the electrons leads
to a high frequency. The point of view from which
this theory would explain the various metallic phe-
nomena is indicated. Although it explains the excep-
tional behavior of alloys and the general outlines of
the photo-electric effect, special assumptions are needed
to arrive at the Wiedermann-Franz law. The contra-
dictions entailed by the old theory do not arise. — Philos.
Mag., January, 1915.
Magnetic Field of an Atom in Relation to Theory of
Spectral Series. — H. Stanley Allen. — A theoretical
paper in which the author shows that the core of an
atom gives rise not only to an electrostatic field vary-
ing inversely as the square of the distance from the
center, but also to a magnetic field such as would be
set up by an elementary magnet. The steady states of
motion of an electron in the field of the atom are deter-
mined by the ordinary laws of electro-dynamics, com-
bined with specified assumptions as to the angular
momentum and the energy of the electron. The energy
of the radiation, as in Bohr's theory, is given out in
quanta, which represent the differences between the
energies in two steady states of motion. When, how-
ever, the numerical value of the appropriate constants
in the formula of Ritz is considered, it is found that
the magnetic forces set up by the atom are not in them-
selves sufficient to account for more than a small frac-
tion of the effect that would be necessary to give the
observed distribution of lines in the spectral series. —
Philos. Mag., January, 1915.
Electrochemistry and Batteries
Electrostatic Measurements of Single-Electrode Po-
tentials.— A. W. EWELL. — An abstract of an American
Physical Society paper. Determinations of the absolute
values of single electrode potentials have often been
sought from electro-capillary phenomena, "dropping
electrodes," endosmotic phenomena, etc. Considerable
uncertainty attaches to the values obtained. Recent
work by Billitzer gives values for electrode potential
approximately 0.7 volt lower than the absolute values
commonly given in tables. The writer has been seeking
for several years to obtain absolute single electrode
potentials by an electrostatic method. The final ap-
paratus, in brief, consisted of a glass or quartz flask
covered on the outside with metal which is connected to
a Dolezalek electrometer. The flask contained the elec-
trolyte, and from the change of potential of the metal
outside was determined the potential acquired by the
electrolyte when the earthed electrode was dipped into
the electrolyte. Observations with zinc and zinc sul-
phate, copper and copper sulphate, silver and silver
nitrate, with glass and quartz flasks, and silver and
aluminum films on the outside, all gave values for the
absolute single potentials which are consistent among
themselves and are about 0.2 volt higher than Billitzer's
values, that is, approximately 0.5 volt lower than the
values found in recent tables. Errors from leakage and
from conduction through quartz or glass were easily
detected and corrected. Volta effects were proved to
be zero by the substitution of mercury for the elec-
trolyte.— Physical Rev., December, 1914.
Units, Measurements and Instruments
Adjustment of Induction Coils. — E. Taylor Jones. —
The author has formerly shown that the secondary po-
tential and spark length developed by an induction coil
when a given current is interrupted in the primary cir-
cuit are greatest under the following conditions: First,
the ratio n.. nt of the two frequencies of electrical oscil-
lation of the system should have one of the values 3,
7, 11 ... ., and, second, LlCl= (l — lc)L2C2. The
first is the condition that maxima of the two potential
waves in the secondary circuit should occur simul-
taneously, the second that the sum of the amplitudes
of the two waves should be a maximum for a given
value of k. The most effective of the ratios is njn =
3, and in this case the conditions are satisfied by the
adjustment fc=0.756, L,C= 0.429 L.C,. The physical
meaning of these results is further considered, and it
is shown that any induction coil in which the coupling
is greater than 0.756 can be improved in spark length
by connecting external series inductance in the pri-
mary circuit so as to reduce the coupling to this value.
An induction coil should not be constructed so that the
coupling is less than 0.756, for there is no convenient
way of increasing the coupling to this value. Nor
should the coupling coefficient of the primary and sec-
ondary coils have precisely this value, though if no
external coils are used this is the best arrangement.
Better effects are obtained by coupling the coils more
closely than this and adding series inductance to the
primary circuit so as to reduce k to this value. The
ratio LjC„ is thereby increased, and it is upon this
quantity, when the chief adjustments are effected, that
the maximum secondary potential for a given primary
current chiefly depends. Another experiment is de-
scribed as to the working of an induction coil when in
its most effective adjustment. The experiment con-
sisted in increasing the self-inductance of the primary
circuit by the addition of air-core coils, and varying
the capacity of the condenser, until the longest spark
was produced by a given primary current. — Philos.
Mag., Jan. 1, 1915.
Meter. — An official communication of the Reichsan-
stalt by which the magnetic motor meter for direct
current of Landis and Gyr is admitted for calibration.
The principles of operation, construction and calibra-
tion are described and illustrated. — Elek. Zeit., Dec. 10,
1914.
Meter. — An official communication of the Reich-
sanstalt admitting for calibration a single-phase induc-
tion meter of the Danubia company. The construction
is described and illustrated and the methods of opera-
tion and calibration are explained. — Elek. Zeit., Nov.
5, 1914.
220
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 4
Telegraphy, Telephony and Signals
Manual Sercice in Large Telephone Exchanges. — W.
Pinkert. — A discussion of the telephone system in
use in Hamburg and a comparison with American prac-
tice. The author concludes that of all systems of man-
ual service in telephone exchanges the American A-B
system and the Hamburg system are the best for a
large telephone system. However, even these two sys-
tems have some shortcomings which may partly be over-
come by suitable technical and administrative devices. —
Elek. Zeit, Dec. 10 and 17, 1914.
Logarithmic Decrements. — Louis Cohen. — The
Bjerknes method of determining the logarithmic decre-
ment of the secondary of two coupled circuits is criti-
cally discussed. The author suggests a new method for
determining this decrement. An additional known re-
sistance is inserted in the secondary < or resonant) cir-
cuit, instead of in the primary circuit as is the case in
the Bjerknes method. An expression for the logarith-
mic decrement of the secondary circuit in terms of the
logarithmic decrement of the primary, and known or
measurable quantities, is given. The practical applica-
tion of the method is described. — Proceedings, Institute
of Radio Engineers, September, 1914.
Artificial Telephone Line. — G. M. B. Shepherd.— An
illustrated article on an artificial equivalent of an open-
wire line of 200 miles length for telephone experiments.
—From the (British) Post Office Electrical Engineers
Journal, reprinted in abstract in London Electrician.
Nov. 27, 1914.
Transmitting Signals to a Distance. — E. Gold-
bacher. — The conclusion of his illustrated description
of the electric signal apparatus for the heating and
ventilation systems of a hospital in Vienna. In the
present instalment the method of indicating in the office
the humidity at different points in the building and the
various electric control arrangements are described. —
Elek. u. Masch (Vienna), Nov. 1, 1914.
Miscellaneous
Australia. — Statistical tables of the imports of elec-
trical and allied goods into Australia during the year
1913, with a comparison with the preceding year. At-
tention is called to the footing which the United States
has gained in the trade. Although among the figures
under review there are some noticeable declines in the
United States' share, these are not important when
considered in relation to the general decline. — London
Elec. Review, Jan. 1, 1915.
Expiring British Patents. — A list of patents of in-
terest to electrical engineers which will expire during
1915. — London Electrician, Jan. 1, 1915.
Book Reviews
American Handbook for Electrical Engineers. By
Dr. Harold Pender. London: John Wiley & Sons,
Inc., 2024 pages, illus. Price, $5.
Were it not that the treatment of the subjects in-
cluded in this handbook is somewhat different from what
we have been accustomed to in the handbooks of e
lished reputation, and that some new features have
been included, th<> Question of the necessity or desirabil-
ity of publishing yet another reference handbook for
electrical engineers would naturally arise. After verj
carefully examining this new book, the reviewer has
come to ^\>' conclusion thai the vast expenditure of time
and effort which has obviously been devoted to its prep-
aration will probably be justified by results. No prac-
tising electrical engineer, whatever the line of work he
may follow, can afford to be without a handbook of this
description for occasional reference, and with the ad-
vent of the American Handbook for Electrical Engineers
there will now be in this country three publications of
the first rank from which the engineer can select the
one best suited to his needs. The ground covered by this
book is considerable, as an attempt has been made to
include not only the electrical field but also other engi-
neering subjects closely allied to electrical enginering.
The result is a book of 2024 pages in which the limit of
size so far as thickness is concerned appears to have
been reached. It is not suggested that the articles on
purely electrical subjects are too long, but it is perhaps
questionable whether some of the material, such as steel
structures (forty pages), reinforced concrete, and simi-
lar articles, might not have been omitted or treated more
briefly. The most striking feature of the book is prob-
ably the arrangement of the articles in alphabetical
order. This, at first sight, appears to be a desirable, and
indeed a rational, departure from the usual method of
treating the various branches of engineering in differ-
ent sections ; but until the reader has become thoroughly
familiar with the headings to the articles he will not
reap the full benefit of the alphabetical arrangement, as
he will have to refer very frequently to the index at the
end of the book. The reviewer does not understand
why, if the alphabetical arrangement is adopted, it
should not be carried out thoroughly as in a dictionary
or encyclopedia, which is not furnished with an index
simply because the book itself is its own index. Select-
ing a few words at random, such as "cables," "coal,"
"dynamo," "magnet," there are no articles under these
headings, and the reader is compelled to refer to the
index in order to find the titles under which these items
are dealt with. It would surely enhance the value of the
book without increasing its bulk if the index formed
part of the body of the book instead of forming an ap-
pendix to what is nearly, but not quite, an alphabetically
arranged encyclopedia of electrical engineering. Two
commendable features are the attention paid to cost
items and the bibliography with which every article is
concluded. Without wishing to criticise in detail the
features of a publication which as a whole is excellent, it
must be said that the references to books and papers
which conclude the various articles appear to be based
largely on the particular author's acquaintance with the
publications referred to, thus leading to the omission
of many important writings with which he does not
happen to be familiar. It is, of course, practically im-
possible, and indeed undesirable, to include a complete
bibliography, but some systematic and less haphazard
method of selecting suitable references might have been
followed with advantage. In conclusion, the excellent
work done by Dr. Harold Pender and his assistants as
editors is seen throughout the book. It has led to a
systematic treatment and arrangement of all articles,
which must inevitably be of the greatest value to the
reader once he has become familiar with the general plan
upon which the work as a whole has been based.
Standard Wiring for Electric Light and Power.
Twenty-first edition. New York: H. C. Cushing,
Jr. Pocket size, leather cover, 320 pages. Price, $1.
In addition to the revised explanation of the rulings
of the National Board of Fire Underwriters embodied
in the latest edition of the National Electrical Code, the
present edition of Cushing's manual contains a new
chapter of fifty pages on house wiring in the prepara-
tion of which the publisher received the co-operation of
the N. E. L. A. committee on the wiring of existing
buildings. The book has been adopted also by the So-
ciety for Electrical Development, Inc.
.J \m u<v 28, 1915
EL E< T lili A I. W oil I. D
221
POWER AND OPERATING SECTION
Low-Water Maim
In the accompanying sketch is shown a closed-cir-
cuit, low-water alarm installed at the Chicago, Rock
Island & Pacific Railway Company's shop at Silvis, III.
The necessity of a very dependable alarm arose when
a two-compartment settling basin was built and a steam
pump was installed in the power house for raising the
Overhead Lines
. Relays
Two Position Snap
Switches
ARRANGEMENT OF LOW-WATER ALARM
water from this basin to a high service tank. Al-
though the water-level gage was visible from the boiler-
room window, it was considered unsafe to depend on the
fireman in charge to watch this gage as a signal to
stop the pump when the water became too low.
The path of the continuous relay current is from
the copper terminal to the ground through the water.
In case the water in either compartment becomes low
enough to leave the copper terminal, the respective re-
lay is de-energized, thereby ringing the alarm bell in
the boiler room. If either compartment is to be left
empty any length of time for repair or washing, the
bell can be silenced by means of the two-position snap
switch, which lights a lamp to indicate that the alarm
is not in circuit for that compartment. This change
•does not interfere with the working of the alarm on the
other half of the reservoir.
Improved Method of Etching Lamp Bulbs
The accompanying halftone illustrates the method em-
ployed by the Hartford (Conn.) Electric Light Com-
pany in etching dates upon its incandescent lamp bulbs
before delivering them to customers. As is the usual
MKTHOD OF ETCHING LAMP Hl'LKS
practice, this is done by a rubber stamp and a dilute so-
lution of hydrofluoric acid, but in place of the Bunsen
burner ordinarily employed the bulb is warmed before
the application of the etching stamp by an electric
heater on which the bulb is placed for a few seconds.
The heater consists of two 250-watt elements mounted
in a box insulated with ;^ in. of asbestos wood, the
transmission of heat being through two iron castings
coming close to the lamp when the latter is being
warmed. The box is 10 in. long, 6 in. wide and 6 in.
deep and is mounted on porcelain knobs to provide an
air space between it and the asbestos-covered table on
which the work is done. The cost of the castings was
36 cents; of the two units, $2.50; of the asbestos wood,
SI. and about one day was required to build the device,
making the total expense about $6. With this ap-
paratus 250 lamps per hour can be lettered, and there
is no comparison in safety as against the alcohol lamp
or gas burner generally used, both of which are slow,
dirty and hard to regulate in comparison with electric
heat.
An Installation of Reverse-Energy Relays
By A. R. Haynes
A large power company in the Northwest recently
installed instantaneous single-phase reverse power re-
lays at the receiving end of two transmission lines nor-
mally operated in parallel. The transmission lines are
three-phase with isolated delta. Two relays were used
on each line and the usual wiring for this case is shown
in Fig. 1. It will be noted that the potential coils are
to be connected from the middle points C and D of the
potential transformers to the open-delta end of the oth-
ers, thus giving a phase displacement of 30 deg. and
bringing the current and potential in each relay itself
in phase for 100 per cent power-factor three-phase.
This is shown in Fig. 2 where E„ and Eb are parallel
to, that is, in phase with, currents /, and I, respectively.
The power setting is therefore definite as with single-
phase circuits and uninfluenced by the power-factor of
the three-phase line.
In this installation, however, the expense of bringing
out the middle points of the potential transformers and
FIG. 1 — SWITCHBOARD CONNECTIONS
wiring, as in Fig. 1, was prohibitive. The relays were
therefore wired from the potential resistances to the
point O (Fig. 1). Each relay consequently behaved as
a single-phase wattmeter on a three-phase circuit and
the line power setting varied with the power-factor of
222
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 4
the line. Curve 1 in Fig. 3 shows how the torque in
each relay varies with the line power-factor. Curve 2
shows how the reverse power to trip the relay with the
1
^TOSTO-
i,-i,-i,
— ► >s
1
I,
u s^ j
1
2
E3
t
1
-^samnr-
*■
/
*
u
/ 'l
\U
(
50°
EA
\
* ' /
c\
\e„
+ \1 1
>;
k ^N.
C = Mi dc/le poin tof
Potential E,
D = Middle point of
Potential E3
eally, thereby obtaining a polyphase action, which, of
course, is independent of the line power-factor. This
is now being done and no further trouble is to be ex-
pected.
Lamp Issuer's Test Socket
An ordinary lamp socket which has been converted so
that a lamp can be quickly inserted therein without
screwing it into place is being used in the incandes-
cent lamp-issuing department of the Public Service
Electric Company of New Jersey at Newark for test-
LAMP SOCKET FOR TESTING PURPOSES
ing the continuity of lamp filaments prior to issuing the
bulbs. To facilitate the speed at which lamps can be
so tested the threaded sleeve ordinarily forming one
of the lamp contacts in the socket has been replaced by
spring-brass fingers which slip over the lamp base when
it is inserted. These afford sufficient contact to carry
the current required by most lamps. For convenience
the test socket is attached to a goose-neck condulet over
the lamp issuer's counter.
FIG. 2 — DIAGRAM FOR THREE-PHASE UNITY POWER-FACTOR
higher torque falls off with the line power-factor. This
effect was noted while setting the relay.
Shortly after putting the relays in service, one of
the transmission lines opened up while the generating
station was shutting down, and it was concluded that
Desired point of operation
1000 ^
L Curve 1
'*
y I
Circuit with varying PowerFactor
Curve 2- Watts line to Trip Relay ftA of
hiqher Torque, setat 1000 watts
:
NS-.
<
■
/
Ct
~^-
re
/
■<.
.;
s
<j»-
0.9
500 05
0.5
0.1
0 0
-0.1
-0.J
"05l00 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 io"
POWER FACTOR
in,.:: RELATION Of POWER-FACTOR TO TORQUE
this was due probably to a heavy current of low power
Factor just before the last generator was to be cut off
the line.
It was decided, therefore, to conned tin' two moving
elements of the relays on each line together mechani-
Outdoor Arc-Lamp Testing Equipment
For testing street-type arc lamps under actual service
conditions the outdoor rack and portable integrating
sphere shown in the accompanying illustration are em-
ployed at the Electrical Testing Laboratories, New York
City. The rack, which is situated on the roof of the
laboratory building, will accommodate eighteen series
lamps. Each lamp is connected so that it can be cut out
INC \i;i I wtl's cnpkk OPERATING CONDITIONS
of circuit by removing a porcelain jack attached to the
rack above the lamp. During mean spherical candle-
power tests each lamp is lowered into a 40-in. integrat-
ing sphere the accuracy of which has been verified by
• omparing results obtained with it with those secured
Jam Ain 28, 1916
ELECTRICAL WORLD
-
by three other standard methods. When the sphere is
not being used it is rolled into the compartment shown
at one side of the rack.
The rack is made of four vertical iron pipes support-
ing a horizontal iron pipe frame around the edges of
which are attached the series wiring, porcelain-plug cut-
outs and lamp-support pulleys. Ropes supporting each
lamp pass over these pulleys and thence over pulleys at
each corner of the rack to hooks in the platform.
Time Switch for Series-Tungsten Street-Lighting
System
By J. P. Byron
In many of the smaller towns served from its cir-
cuits the Washington Water Power Company of Spo-
kane is using the PittsburKh system of series tungsten
lighting for the streets. The company found it neces-
sary to devise some convenient way of switching the
lamps on at night and switching them off again in the
early morning, and as all apparatus used in this sys-
tem of street lighting is of the outdoor type, it installed
a double-pole single-throw pole-top oil-break switch as
shown in the engraving. This switch in most cases is
installed 30 ft. from the ground in the primary circuit
of the transformer. For operating the switch a "Big
Ben" alarm clock is used. The operating arm of the
oil-break switch was changed to the position shown, the
wooden handle was removed, and a }4-in. pipe was at-
tached to the operating arm. This pipe-operating rod
The -witch is held in its closed position by a collar on
the operating rod resting on the pawl, which is held
in position by the toggle. When the alarm, set for a
given time, goes off, the cam on the alarm key breaks
up the toggle, thereby permitting the pawl to release
the collar, whereupon the operating rod drops, thus
pulling down the switch-operating arm and opening the
switch. In closing the switch the attendant uses the
handle on the rod and at the same time resets the cam
which has been stopped at one-half turn by a stop. This
cam must be reset before the switch can be left closed,
and a mirror is provided to guide the attendant in set-
ting the hands on the clock.
The cone-shaped bonnets on the operating rod just
above the guides are intended to protect the latter from
ice forming in them. The Washington Water Power
Company has a number of these switches in use which
have gone through the winter of 1913 and 1914, and
thus far the company has not experienced any trouble
whatsoever with them.
I'nbalanced Damper for Preventing Back Feed
Under the hand-fired furnaces at the Gold Street gen-
erating station of the Edison Electric Illuminating
Company of Brooklyn are automatically controlled tur-
bine-driven blowers which discharge into a common air
duct. To prevent air being fed back through any of
these blowers an unbalanced damper has been placed in
the discharge duct from each unit which automatically
closes when the air is not being delivered to the main
duct. The axis about which the damper swings is
nearer one edge than the other, so that when the supply
pressure rises above that in the main duct a resultant
ARRANGEMENT OF TIME SWITCH
AUTOMATICALLY CONTROLLED DAMPER IN BLOWER DUCT
extends down the pole through guides to the operating
mechanism, which is placed in a box about 6 ft. from
the ground.
This latter mechanism consists of an anchored pawl
held vertical by a toggle anchored at the extreme right.
torque will be produced which opens the damper. To
prevent gravity closing the damper when the supply
pressure decreases slightly a counterweight is attached
to the shaft to bring the weights of the opposite halves
of the damper nearly to an equality.
224
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 4
Water-Tight Cases Used in Havana Under-
ground System
Wherever transformers are placed and wherever
branches are taken from mains in the underground
electrical distribution system at Havana, Cuba, cast-iron
water-tight cases are used to shield the equipment from
WATER-TIGHT DISTRIBUTION BOX
the tropical moisture. The primary lighting lines of
the Havana Electric Railway, Light & Power Company
are operated at 6000 volts, and the secondary lines at
220 volts. The illustration herewith shows a workman
opening up a water-tight case at a point where a sec-
ondary 220-volt line in the street is being tapped to
provide service for more than one building.
End-Cell Indicator
The accompanying drawing shows the principle of
operation of the end-cell indicators employed in the
Pearl Street substation of the Edison Electric Illumi-
nating Company of Brooklyn. The indicator mechanism
consists of three electromagnets arranged with their
axes 120 deg. apart in the same plane and intersecting
at a common point. Attached to a shaft at right angles
Operating Mecnanism
INDICATOR MECHANISM AND OPERATING switch
tothi four-pole soft-iron armature which can
rotate past the inner pule- of the magnets. On the shaft
pinion which meshes with a gear moving the instru-
ment pointer. One terminal from each electromagnet
is attached to a common conductor which, together with
the three remaining terminals of the coils, is connected
with the operating switch as shown. Both the oper-
ating switch and indicator mechanism are constructed
so that one complete revolution corresponds to a change
of three cells.
With the indicator armature in the position shown
the poles 2 and 4 are within 30 deg. of magnets C and
A respectively, therefore as end cells are cut out or
added one of these magnets must be energized first.
For instance, if the arrows indicate the directions in
which the switch and indicator are to turn with an in-
crease in end cells the electromagnets will have to be
energized in the order A C B A. With a reduction in
cells the coils will be energized in the order C A B C. It
can be seen by examining the drawing that while the
coils are 120 deg. apart the armature never has to be
drawn magnetically through more than 30 deg., so the
air-gap is exceedingly small.
Removable Hatchway Guard in Substation
The handling of equipment in an industrial sub-
station is greatly facilitated by the use of the remov-
able railing illustrated in the accompanying halftone,
surrounding a hatchway opening into a low basement
containing cable outlets and wiring. The railing is of
the usual pipe construction and is set into a flat frame
REMOVABLE HATCHWAY GUARD IN SUBSTATION
which ties the structure into a single unit, the outfit
being light enough to be easily removed by hand when
it is desired to handle equipment by overhead hoisting
blocks With B tree floor space ill a rather narrow com-
partment. Planking laid over the hatchway protects
the operator under these conditions.
Janiary 28, L916
ELECTRICAL WORLD
COMMERCIAL SECTION
Merchandising for Profit
CONTRACTORS, jobbers, dealers and central sta-
tions doing a merchandising business begin to
realize that much is to be learned from department
stores whose experience with the public is of longer
duration. Not only must show windows be so decorated
as to possess selling force but the interior of the store
must also be arranged with that end in view. The
question of profit is, of course, a rock upon which many
an enterprise has been wrecked. Inasmuch as unwar-
ranted price cutting has been charged against central-
station companies, the article by Mr. T. I. Jones printed
elsewhere in this issue will help to clarify the situation.
However, another situation also confronts the industry.
Unless those engaged in the merchandising end of the
business make an effort, to obtain and to retain the
trade which should legitimately be theirs, the business
will fall into the hands of the department stores and
hardware stores of the country. The sales of electrical
merchandise become larger and larger every year, and
the principles that make for success in other merchan-
dising business also apply to the electrical trade.
Safety First in Wiring
IN connection with the progress on concentric wiring
rules it has been suggested that at some future day
the public will require that "safety first" principles be
applied more rigorously to wiring methods. Although
this is not imminent, it should not be disregarded. It
is one of the possible developments which manufactur-
ers should be prepared to anticipate. The safety first
movement is so extensive that it now touches most, if
not all, industries involving hazards to life or limb. Pri-
marily it is a movement undertaken by the companies
to reduce the hazards of employment or use of their
service. No matter how much has been done to pro-
mote safety, ways of doing more will be devised. The
development of safety measures is necessary and de-
sirable but it can be carried so far as to interfere with
operation. If trains were not run, no lives would ever
be lost on railroads, but even the most conservative
would not advocate abolishing them. To safeguard the
use of electrical energy manufacturers will do well to
bear in mind the public tendency toward safety
measures.
Demand for Rural Service
REPLIES numbering 24,000 received to 55,000 letters
sent out by the Secretary of Agriculture to the
farmers of the United States show that running water
is the one improvement most desired to make the farm-
er's home more attractive. Better household equipment,
appliances to lessen labor, improved sanitation, and fire-
fighting facilities were also specified. With electric
service on the farm, all of these longings might be satis-
fied. The telephone, good roads and automobiles and
rural free delivery have banished the pall of rural isola-
tion, and with electric service in his home the farmer
will be on a plane of independence, comfort and con-
venience far above his city brother. Letters and other
data in the hands of the Department of Agriculture,
as well as the experiences of progressive central-station
companies, indicate that the farmer is willing to pay for
such service. There are enough farms near existing
circuits in the East which experience in the West would
indicate would make profitable loads.
Electric Vehicles in Postal Service
AT a time when opportunities to install electric com-
mercial vehicles are very rare on account of the
prevailing conditions, manufacturers and others inter-
ested should take advantage of the occasion which now
exists in over thirty cities in Ohio, Indiana, Illinois,
Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa and Missouri to
secure the use of electric machines in postal service.
The Post Office Department is now inviting proposals
for service to begin July 1, 1915, when the existing con-
tracts expire. Much missionary work has been done in
this direction, the advantage and economies to be se-
cured are clear and well defined, but the inclination of
the uninformed is to proceed in other directions. Unless
earnest and determined efforts are made to enforce the
consideration of electric vehicles, the opportunity in the
territory indicated will be lost for the period of four
vears.
Sidewalk Display Lighting
VERY little has been done as yet to develop the pos-
sibilities of display lighting on sidewalks beyond
the marketing of small projector lamps and the occa-
sional equipment of basement windows close to the
street level with illuminated recesses in which small
goods may be shown to advantage. There is a field of
service here which the electrical advertising man will
do well to cultivate. Cove lighting of basement window-
can be done on a surprisingly small expenditure of en-
ergy if the window is lined with light-colored material.
and the appeal of such displays to the eye is very strong.
In the future more will be done along the lines of side-
walk transparency lighting, with terse, compelling sen-
tences under the foot of the passer-by, illuminated from
below through appropriately designed bull's-eye or other
heavy glass. Even the coal-chute cover may discharge
the functions of a display advertisement burning on the
long hour plan, and the opportunities to develop some
226
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 4
high-class directed illumination at or near the ground
level are not to be scoffed at. Time was when the past-
ing of advertisements on the risers of elevated railway
station stairs in large cities was looked upon as the
height of boldness by visitors from less intense business
centers, but to-day we are only on the threshold, so to
speak, of a development in distinctive localized lighting
which should yield large revenue to central stations and
to merchants.
Economies of Electrical Heating
From time to time engineers have made careful
studies of the economies of electric heating, but seldom
through experiments on a sufficient scale to give a good
practical idea of the situation. Electric heat applied
for various minor purposes of utility has already proved
successful and needs no comment. For certain partic-
ular work it has proved thoroughly practicable, as in
heating of street railway cars. Some recent experiments
bearing directly on the comparison between electric heat-
ing and heating by ordinary hot-water apparatus were
carried out in one of the public buildings in Stockholm.
The exposed surface dealt with was about 32,500 sq. ft.
of a modern city building. The temperature for both
electric and hot-water heating was held constant at 18
deg. C. (64.4 deg. Fahr.), so that the practical work
done in each case was the same. The hot-water-heating
equipment was fired with coke from the gas works.
The electrical heating was carried out in two ways —
first, through the entire day steadily, and, second, by
shutting off heat at the close of business at 5 o'clock
in the afternoon and turning it on again at 7 o'clock in
the morning, so that the temperature remained at the
proper height when the rooms were in use.
An interesting figure derived by the experiments was
on the efficiency of the hot-water-heating system. Prac-
tically all of the heat which entered the circulating
water was utilized, just as all the electrical energy
delivered in the heating system is utilized. The elec-
tric heating has the advantage of less loss in the leads
which reach the radiators, while in the hot-water sys-
tem the real point at issue is the efficiency of the boiler
in delivering heat to the water. When the pipes are
well lagged the losses in the mains, so to speak, are
small. When the electric heating was continuous through
the twenty-four hours 198 kw-hr. were required as the
equivalent of one hectoliter (2.87 bushels) of coke. In
the case of discontinuous electrical heat 120 kw-hr.
were equivalent to a hectoliter of coke, thus showing the
characteristic advantage in electrical heating of in-
stantaneous application and no loss in the banking of
fires. As a comparative test of electricity and coke the
data are complete. For the case making best use of the
advantages of electric heating — that is, discontinuous
work — the equality of cost would require 42 kw-hr. to
be delivered at the price of a bushel of coke. With
coke at 25 cents a bushel, a common enough price here,
the results indicate that heating can be done with econ-
omy by electricity in competition with hot-water heat
at practically any price under 0.6 cent per kw-hr. On
the other hand, coke is used largely as a matter of con-
venience, and on account of its cleanliness and smoke-
lessness commands a relatively high price. Assuming
an efficiency of, say, 60 per cent in the heating appara-
tus, it is painfully evident that since a pound of high-
grade coal should produce nearly 8000 heat units avail-
able for heating as against about 3400 units per kw-hr.,
the chance of electricity competing with hot water
when coal is used as fuel is very remote.
Even taking full advantage of discontinuous work-
ing with electricity, one would still have to furnish
nearly 2 kw-hr. for the price of a pound of coal to ob-
tain an economical success. Therefore, unless the price
of coal is very high, electric heating on any consider-
able scale is not commercially advantageous. We are
inclined to think, however, that the case for electricity
is better than it seems at first sight, since it is extreme-
ly doubtful whether the average heating apparatus in
a house is even approximately 60 per cent, particularly
in moderate climates where much fuel has to be wasted
in banking. Probably 30 or 40 per cent more correctly
represents the average, year in and year out, in small
systems, so that cheap electric energy from hydro-
electric sources still has a chance for success under fa-
vorable conditions.
Winter Uses for Electric Fans
Indispensable in summer time, the electric fan
has also a number of useful applications during the
cold months of the year. A fan in a show window will
keep the plate glass clear of frost and attract purchas-
ers to the store on days when the displays of neighbor-
ing merchants not so equipped are effectively concealed
by icy crystals. Parts of a room remote from the means
of heating can be made comfortable by arranging an
electric fan to deliver warm air from the more favored
section. In the same way a small steam radiator can
be made to do the work of one twice its size by directing
the draft of a fan onto its heating surface. By thus
removing the heat and cooling the metal surface more
steam will automatically enter the radiator and condense
in its coils, thus increasing the effectiveness of the radi-
ator. Where a room is insufficiently equipped with
radiation the resulting discomfort on very cold days can
be avoided by operating an electric fan for a few hours
daily in this way. A fan also proves a useful adjunct
to the old-fashioned system of heating by means of hot-
air ducts. Where the flow of air through the ducts is
not sufficient owing to its heat alone, the fan can often
be used to advantage to create a strong artificial draft.
Much valuable information relating to this use of the
fan is contained in an article by Mr. Percy VV. Gumaer
in this issue. In addition to the saving effected in the
coal consumption, the "forced-draft" arrangement pos-
sesses the invaluable advantage over the "induced-
draft" arrangement of delivering the heat where it is
most needed, namely, on the windward side of the
house, the part always difficult, and sometimes practi-
cally impossible, to heat with the old-fashioned hot-air
system.
Jam ARY 23, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
227
Merchandising by Central Stations
Department-Store Method- Used in the Display and Handling of Electrical
Appliances (ioods Sold at Average Profit of 30 Per Cent.
By T. I. Jones
THE rapid development of electrical applianci
household use has forced the attention of the
management of central-station properties to a
il consideration of the best means for their ex-
ploitation and sale.
The sale of electric appliances by a central station
may result in a twofold benefit to it :
First — The inducement which it offers to prospective
customers to install electricity in their homes, with
the -consequent increase in the number of consumers
and hence in kilowatt-hour sales.
Second — The profit which may accrue to the central-
station company not alone from the sale of the goods
per se but also from the sale of the energy which the
various appliances use.
Until recent years only the first of these advantages
was generally considered. Of late the value of selling
pretty much exploded by the selling facts which show
advertising and publicity methods, capably applied, to
have resulted in more sales at a satisfactory profit than
when these goods were sold at a nominal figure.
Then, too, the sale of appliances by a central station
must be conducted in a manner satisfactory to various
other dealers in electrical supplies in the community,
and to adopt a policy for appliance sales at merely
nominal prices is not only no advantage, from a gross
amount of sales standpoint, but it is positively harmful
in killing that co-operation which the central station
always should foster with the electrical contractor and
the supply dealer.
Cost of Merchandising
The cost of merchandising electrical appliances fol-
lows pretty closely the cost of merchandising dry goods.
FIG. 1 — ATTRACTIVE ELECTRIC SHOP OF BROOKLYN EDISON COMPANY
the appliances for profit has had much consideration,
and it is particularly with respect to that phase of
the matter that this article is written.
Study of Principles
A careful study of the principles underlying the mer-
chandising of electrical appliances reveals many points
in common with the merchandising of stocks in a de-
partment store, and the methods applicable to the lat-
ter may be successfully employed in the sale of appli-
ances.
The theory that the appliances sold can be disposed
of only at a nominal profit for the energy which they
may draw from the central-station system has been
Inquiries sent broadcast throughout the country two
years ago by the merchandising committee of the Na-
tional Electric Light Association gave figures of par-
ticular interest, and an endeavor was then made to
ascertain how much must be added to the actual cost
of an appliance in order to arrive at a gross cost which
might properly be used as a basis on which to calculate
profit. A summary of the answers received showed that
approximately 20 to 25 per cent is a proper figure to
add to the cost of the appliance.
Department-store costs usually run about 27 per cent,
electrical jobbers' about 20 per cent, as an average,
so that it would appear, therefore, that if a central
station is to do business on a profitable basis, with the
228
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 4
• -*k
1 "J
jL 3
JJFjA
H
\ '' m
Pi
'^
3r"lj-s«-rjr 1
FIGS. 2 AND .j— SHOW WINDOWS OF BRANCH OFFICES OF THE BROOKLYN EDISON COMPANY
•nation of the contractor, jobber and department
-tore, it should first add at least 20 per cent to its cost
price as its gross cost of marketing articles.
Xow as to the profit. It would appear that the aver-
age dealer, working in co-operation with the central
station, marks his goods at a profit of at least 30 per
cent over the gross cost. Therefore, if this dealer is to
be protected, such a figure should properly be placed
upon the goods by the central station.
This does not mean that all goods must be sold at
an advance of 30 per cent above cost. There are cer-
tain articles, such as Christmas-tree outfits and other
irticles of seasonal sale, for which much higher rates
may be obtained, while, on the other side, it is often
possible to dispose of large quantities of a given arti-
cle in a special sale at a price where the 30 per cent
margin may be reduced; but the average profit should
not be less than 30 per cent on the gross cost.
Electrical Showrooms
.Most central-station companies have come to recog-
nize the showroom as a necessary adjunct to their busi-
ness-getting quarters. The showroom may be an ade-
quately equipped store in a convenient location or the
street floor in the company's office building. Electric
in retail centers where the crowds go have been
opened with much success by some of the largest cen-
tral stations in the country, and at each hranch office,
where such are maintained by central-station compa-
nies, displays of appliances should be made, to interest
the prospective customer in the use of electricity.
Wherever situated, these appliance sales bureaus, under
whatever name, being a part of the revenue-producing
work of the central station, should most advantageously
be operated as a part, and under the jurisdiction of, a
selling organization.
As a type of display room, Fig. 1, showing the Edi-
son Shop of the Edison Electric Illuminating Company
of Brooklyn, is of interest. This shop was decorated
at Christmas time, featuring a display of electrical
Christmas goods, together with tree lighting.
It will be noticed on scrutiny of this picture that there
are a desk and cashier's cage at the far end of the room
so that when contracts are to be signed or bills paid in
this room the customer passes the showcases and the
goods for sale twice.
Figs. 2 and 3 show two windows in separate branch
offices of the Edison Electric Illuminating Company of
Brooklyn, featuring special sales — in one case of perco-
lators and in the other case of lamps.
So satisfactory have been the results from window-
displays that the Brooklyn Edison Company now em-
ploys a trained window dresser to trim its five branch-
office show windows, with special-sale advertising, a
change of display being made monthly.
EDISON
LIGHTS, POWER
FA M CO.
i W : 1
FIGS. 4 AND 5 — HOW THE BROOKLYN EDISON COMPANY WORKS IN CONJUNCTION WITH ELECTRICAL CONTRACTORS
Jam \h, 23, L916
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Special Monthlj Sales
An experiment has been tried in Brooklyn within the
last \ear which has resulted most satisfactorily, and
that is the featuring "1' smne particular appliance for
sale during a given month. In order to give publicity
to such sales, billboard and other advertising is used.
Electric Vacuum Cleaner Sale
9 m » #
February Price
$29^2
Regular Price
$48.50
B
Y special arranfcn.ent with the manufacturer of the $48.50
Electric Vacuum Cleaner we aie able to offer il to our custo*
mti during February at $29.00.
ECONOMY OF ELECTRIC CLEANING
ty be cleaned every d«)
yihttig ii cleaned wilhoi
TKi. rrfl«n. th.i the eniirc hou* o.
Using down jr.-l
quKker. seller and wir.
The price is 529.00 for February only. On March 1st and there,
after the machine will be iold for $48.50. For the convenience ol
tuitomrn who do not care to outlay the entire coil at one time, we
will accept payments of $9.00 on delivery of machine and $10.00 a
month for two month*.
,:J r
Edison Electric Illuminating Co. of Brooklyn
360 PEARL STREET
7.34 Broadway 1308 Fulton Street 5114 Fifth Ave
Demonstrations at all offices
February
Sale
of
Vacuum
Cleaners
Plea« -end n
my eccounl al Ihe
• ,our $48
Special F
Name
50 EkOric Vacuum Cleaner and charge rl lo
ebru.ry Sale Price of $29.00.
Add.c
FIG. 6 — OVER 500 VACUUM CLEANERS WERE SOLD ON THIS
MONTHLY SALE
and a post card, such as shown in Fig. 6, is included
with each bill sent to the company's customers. As a
result of such advertising methods during the month
of February, 1914, over 500 vacuum cleaners were sold,
and during another month 2000 electric irons.
This method of stimulating appliance sales along
standard merchandising lines should have careful con-
sideration from the wide-awake central-station man-
ager.
Contractors' Window Plan
In conjunction with the window displays in the com-
pany branch offices, the Brooklyn Edison Company also
encourages the display of appliances in contractors'
windows and even goes so far as to light contractors'
windows in good locations without charge, in return
for the placing of a sign in the contractors' windows
reading "Edison light and power. Applications received
here."
Not only are appliance sales stimulated in this man-
ner, but contracts are received and signed with the
co-operation of the contractor, who, in addition, gets
the wiring contracts and a profit on the appliances
which he sells.
Two such windows, one showing Hebrew wording.
are featured in Figs. 4 and 5.
tMiiing ol Appliance! on Trial
In connection with the window displays above noted.
it is the practice of many companies to send to each new
omer an electric iron for thirty or sixty day.-' I
With the iron is usually sent a polite note calling atten-
tion to its merits, and this is followed by a call from
a demonstrator, who explains the use of the iron to
the customer. Figures compiled as a result of this
method of placing irons show that approximately 7''
per cent of such irons are sold, and at 10 cents per
kw-hr. they produce a monthly revenue on each iron of
not less than 60 cents.
In the sale of all these appliances, the matter of
proper delivery, preferably by electric shop wagons,
should be considered; stock records should be kept care-
fully, and strict clerical routine installed along modern
merchandising lines.
This article is not meant to deal with the method of
accounting in connection with the goods sold, but rather
to present a few facts in connection with the methods
of display, selling prices and the results obtained
Two reports from central stations for the year 1914
show, in one case, over $100,000, and in the other over
$60,000, worth of appliances sold, at a profit commen-
surate with the figures noted in this article.
ELECTRIC FANS IN THE WINTER
How They May Be Installed in the Cold-Air Intakes of
Furnaces to Increase Temperature and Reduce
Coal Consumption
By Percy W. Gumaer
At this time of the year the electric fans which were
considered so necessary to our comfort five months ago
... 2-GI. !4"x/6" "-..
< . i . : i ■ "• •" ""',"
Pipe to 8. Room
-
3
Concrete Floor
10 Concrete Wall .
FIG. 1 — BASEMENT PLAN
have been retired to their winter of idleness. Although
each electric fan represents an investment of from $10
to $20, it is used for only a small part of the year,
and few persons have considered the possible uses to
which an electric fan can be put during the winter.
A steam or hot-water radiator usually has only suffi-
230
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. Go, No. 4
cient heating surface for the average minimum outdoor
temperature, and hence the radiator is too small to raise
the temperature of the room to the desired value on
an exceptionally cold day. If, instead of calling the
janitor names or helplessly shivering, the electric fan
were brought into operation the temperature of the
room could easily be increased to a comfortable degree
within a short time. Placing a fan on the floor so as
to blow cool air against the radiator increases greatly
the heat convection from the radiator. The effective
heating surface of the radiator can thus be increased
at a time when it is most needed. In offices, apart-
ments and private dwellings this application of elec-
tric fans will be found very convenient and useful.
An electric fan is also very serviceable in connec-
tion with a hot-air furnace. Placed in the cold-air
intake the electric fan will not only cause the rooms
to heat more quickly but it will actually increase the
efficiency of the furnace. The ventilation of the house
will be improved by the increased circulation of the
air, and the coal bill will be decreased.
A series of tests conducted last winter by two senior
engineering students of the University of Missouri
showed definitely the saving in coal to be obtained by
the use of an electric fan in the cold-air duct of a hot-
air furnace. While the exact figures obtained apply
only to the house in which the tests were made, the
construction of the house and its arrangement are so
near to that of the average American home that the
results of the tests are thought to be of general
interest.
The tests were conducted in an eight-room frame
house, the plans of which are shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3.
The electric fan was placed in the cold-air duct and
held in place as shown in Fig. 4. The method used in
the tests was to determine the amount of coal neces-
sary to be fired to maintain an average house
trarily as fifteen minutes. The method of firing, the
rate of stoking and the setting of the dampers were
the same for all the tests. The coal used in the tests
was Illinois lump with an average heating value of
FIG. 3 — SECOND-FLOOR PLAN
13,500 heat units per lb. The coal was broken up
into lumps the size of a hen egg, picked over by hand,
and only the pieces of a uniform size were used. The
coal used each time was carefully weighed on a pair
of platform scales. Readings were taken of the amount
of coal "fired," temperature of each room, outdoor tem-
perature, temperature of the air in the cold-air duct,
velocity of the air in the cold-air duct, temperature of
the air leaving the hot-air registers, watts input of
the fan, and the line voltage.
Each test was begun with the average house
Cold A ir Register
R= Regitttr
26-5
FIG. 2 — FIRST-FLOOB PLAN
FIG. 1 -POSITION OF FAN
temperature of 71 deg. Fahr. for various outdoor
temperatures. The difference between the coal fired
with the electric fan and without it for B given out-
door temperature represented the saving of fuel due
to the use of the electric fan.
The interval between sinkings was chosen arlii-
temperature in the neighborhood of 71 deg. Fahr.
Readings were taken every fifteen minutes until the
average house temperature had remained constant for
at least an hour. If this average temperature was
above 71 deg. Fahr., the amount of coal fired every
fifteen minutes was reduced, and if below 71 deg.
Jam aky 23, L91S
ELECTRICAL WORLD
231
the amount of coal fired was increased. Thus the
proper amount of coal required to maintain the aver-
age house temperature at 71 deg. was determined
for various outdoor temperatures with and without the
fan running.
Table I shows the readings taken for an outdoor tem-
perature of 15 deg. with the fan running and with
the fan at rest. The room temperatures were deter-
TABI.E I
-TEST WITH EXTERNAL TEMPERATURE OF 15 DEG.
FAHR.
Room Timperiti res, Deo.
F<HR
Weight
Out-
Tem-
Average
door
Tem-
Tunc of
Day
Room
Tem-
turae in
I.1V-
Bad-
Bed-
Bed-
pora-
pera-
15
inx-
room
roon
room
Air Duct
tures
Min-
'u.mi
room
No. 3
utes
68.0
67 5
65 0
67 0
69 5
ls 0
62 5
9 00
67 4
4 lb
69 5
68 5
68 0
70 0
68 1
4 1b.
70 5
69 5
U 0
71 .'.
11 0
63.0
9.30
4 1b.
:=-
71.2
70S
69 0
7ll 6
72 n
11 II
54 ,,
9 i:,
•
4 1b.
ra o
68 5
7(1 3
72 5
15 »
64.5
10 00
70 6
4 11,
72 0
70 0
70 0
71 .5
15 .0
65 7
10.15
71 10
\ Hi
72 5
70 ii
Til 2
15 0
66 0
10 30
71 14
41b.
~
72 0
70 0
70 1
ra -■
15 0
67.0
10.45
71 3
4 Hi
72 0
72 0
700
70 4
72.5
15 0
67 5
11.00
71 3
4 1b.
71 5
71 5
69 0
70 0
72 ii
15 0
65 5
11 IS
70 80
4 lb. So.
71.5
71.5
69 0
711 0
71 8
15 0
66 0
11.30
70 7n
4 lb. 8 oi.
••■
71.8
71 7
69 5
72 2
69 5
16 0
65.8
11.45
70 90
4 lb. S oi.
§.
72 2
72 2
70 ii
70 0
71 6
15.5
65.8
12 IK>
71 20
4 lb. 8 oa.
72 4
72 0
7(1 l)
70.0
71 4
16 0
65 5
12 15
71 50
4 lb. 8 oi.
72 4
71 8
70 0
70.0
72 ii
16.0
65 8
12.30
71.2
4 lb. 801.
5
72 0
71 8
7n ii
70 0
72 0
16 0
65.5
12 45
71.16
41b.8oi.
72 1
71 8
70 0
70 5
72.0
16 0
65.5
1 00
71 2(1
4 lb. 8 oi.
72 5
; i o
70 0
70.0
16 0
65 5
1 15
71.30
4 lb. 8 oi.
for the trouble of installing a fan in the cold-air duct.
Table III shows the air velocity obtained in the cold-
air duct and the temperature of the air leaving the
hot registers with and without the fan. It will be
a
<
o
o
fez
</>
D
-z.
■ ^
\^
^^^
3 '
0
IC
1
5 20
25 30 35
OUTDOOR TEMPERATURES IN DEGREES.FAHR
FIG. 5 — RELATIVE AMOUNTS OF COAL NEEDED TO KEEP
HOUSE TEMPERATURE 71 DEG. FAHR.
noticed that the temperature of the air leaving the
registers was lower with the fan than without it. The
increased efficiency of the furnace is attributable in
mined by means of mercury thermometers hung
in the center of each room 5 ft. above the floor. It
will be noticed from the data that, although the out-
door temperature had increased 1 deg. in the second
part of the test, the furnace required 8 ounces more
coal every fifteen minutes to maintain an average room
temperature of 71.3 deg.
The tests were repeated for outdoor temperatures
of 4, 25 and 35 deg. Fahr. with the results shown in
Table II.
TABLE II — RESULTS OF TESTS AT VARIOUS TEMPERATURES
-TEMPERATURE AND VELOCITY OF AIR AT THE
REGISTERS
Outdoor
Dog Fahr.
Poi-nd Coal Fired Every 15
Minutes
Pounds i,i Coal Saved in
a Day "1 16 Hours by Us-
ing the Fan
\\ ith Fan
\\ ithout Fan
4
25
35
6.0
4 0
2.5
2.0
6.5
4.5
3.0
2 25
32
32
32
16
With coal at $4 per ton the amount saved per day
in the cost of coal was 6.4 cents. With electricity at
$0.06 per kw-hr. the cost per day of running the fan,
which consumed 47 watts, was 4.6 cents. The net sav-
ing obtained by using an electric fan in the cold-air
duct of a furnace was, therefore, 1.8 cents per day at
the above prices for coal and electricity.
While the saving obtained alone would not perhaps
warrant a person in buying a new fan especially for
use in connection with his furnace, the use of last sum-
mer's electric fan will be found advantageous. Besides
the saving in fuel resulting from the use of the fan,
the ventilation of the rooms is improved, and it is
possible to raise the temperature of a cold room in
one-fourth the time required without the fan. The
rapidity with which the house can be heated on cold
mornings when one has overslept will more than repay
Register Temperatures, Dec. Fahr.
166 II
ins u
176 0
176.0
17s ll
181.0
182.0
is) II
184 0
187.0 179 0
182 8 174 0
182 0 174 0
182.01 173.0
173.0
172 0
169 0
169 0
11,7 I)
1H6 il
107 0
iin ii
in ii
112 0
114.0
115 n
116 ii
116 5
115.0
114 E
114 5
114 5
114 0
113 5
1 I 2 5
112 5
112 II
114 5
nil ii
119 n
120.5
123 l.l
124 II
121 - -i
127 5
125 0
126.0
12.', II
124 5
124 5
124 5
123 ll
122 f,
122 .0
121 5
110 0
11.-, II
114.2
115.0
116. 0
118.0
119 ii
120.0
121.0
119 0
116 0
115 ll
115.0
115.0
113.0
112 ll
112 0
111, ll
Room Tempera tvres, Deg. Fahr.
part to this lower temperature of the air in the ducts.
The increase in the air velocity also increases the
efficiency by causing better heat convection inside the
furnace.
Display in Railway Waiting-Room
Excellent results are obtained by the Cumberland
County Power & Light Company, Portland, Maine,
from the display of electrical appliances in the room
occupied by persons waiting for the cars operated by
the company. A large percentage of the women spend
the waiting time examining the electrical appliances,
learning of their uses and ascertaining their prices.
Many sales result from the curiosity aroused during
the waiting period.
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 4
Practical Education in Electric Cooking
Model Equipment Installed in the Domestic Science Department of the
University of New Mexico
By H. W. Alexander
STUDENTS of the University of New Mexico's do-
mestic science school are not only learning how to
"do it electrically," in so far as cooking is con-
cerned, but they are learning exactly what it costs for
electrical energy to brew a cup of coffee, for each piece
of bread toasted, for each bit of food prepared.
The Albuquerque Gas, Electric Light & Power Com-
fig. 1-
-DOMESTIC SCIENCE DEPARTMENT, UNIVERSITY OF
NEW MEXICO
pany recently equipped the domestic science department
of the university with a complete installation of elec-
trical cooking apparatus. Mr. A. F. Van Deinse, gen-
eral manager, had charge of the work and saw to it that
nothing was overlooked to make it most complete and
up to date in every respect, all that could be done for
the amount of the appropriation.
Representatives of the company reasoned that if a
5-amp or 10-amp watt-hour meter was attached to the
different electrical appliances it would be very easy for
each girl to keep an accurate record of the amount of
electrical energy required for each article of food cooked.
This record could be turned in each day to the in-
structor, who would mark the pupil accordingly. It was
thought that such a method of "keeping tab" on cooking
costs would be sure to engender a spirit of competition
among the students, who would strive to prepare the
best cooked food with the least possible amount of
electricity.
It worked. The system was instituted to the com-
plete satisfaction of the university authorities. The
watt-hour meter tells just what it costs to prepare a cer-
tain dish, and the best record established is set as a
mark for the other pupils to attain.
So many housewives have an erroneous idea that cook-
ing with electricity is very expensive that to teach girls
in school the contrary is a most valuable aid to the
lighting companies, for as these girls leave school they
will go out with the idea that cooking electrically, all
things considered, is the best and really most economical
method. While residing at home they will be most likely
to urge their parents to install electrical devices in the
kitchen and elsewhere in the house. When the girls
become mistresses of their own homes it is only reason-
able to suppose they will rernember their early training
and electrify their homes to the fullest possible extent
they can afford. Thus is the educational work passed
on to the next generation.
There is another side to this matter which greatly
favors the electric companies. When the question of
electrical cooking costs comes up in the sewing circle,
the club or among housewives the student or graduate is
in a position to state authoritatively just what the true
costs are, and her words will carry weight every time.
People are prone to think that when representatives of
the company make similar statements they are biased,
whereas they will probably believe without hesitation
the statements of one whom they know. And, too, cook-
ing records established at the university, as announced
in official publications, will greatly assist the company
in its educational work. It all helps.
The illustration shown herewith will give an idea of
the equipment of the university's domestic science
school. Owing to the floor and ceiling being concrete, it
was decided to put the wires in open conduits, with
FIG. 2 — ELECTRIC RANGE IN USE
drops for each table. The table itself is novel, embrac-
ing as it does Mr. Van Deinse's suggestions for the elec-
trical installation and the cooking instructor's ideas of
drawers for flour, sugar, etc.
The Hotpoint oven is featured on the table, though
much of the cooking is done on General Electric ranges
and Westinghouse and Hughes disk stoves. Coffee is
.1 uiUAin 88, L916
ELECTRICAL WORLD
-
brewed in percolators of Landers, Frarj & Clark make.
The next science school appropriation will include a sum
with which to purchase washing machines, vacuum
cleaners and other useful household equipment — and
"I in it electrically" will then become the slogan of the
new department.
The Albuquerque Gas, Electric Light & Power Com-
pany is com rolled by the Federal Light & Traction Com-
pany of New York. This holding company also operates
t\\<> other properties in New .Mexico, the Las Vegas
Light & Power Company and the Deming Ice & Electric
Company. There are domestic science schools estab-
lished in these cities, the movement having started, as
in the case of Albuquerque, with the respective light-
ing companies. Las Vegas has a population of about
7000, Deming has 3000 people, and Albuquerque's total
is 14,000. The. latter city is the metropolis of the State.
The Federal company has always been very active in
the movement to establish "electrical" domestic science
schools and in electrifying schools which had other
methods of doing household work. This is the partic-
ular hobby of the publicity-sales department. Out of
the eleven cities in which the Federal company oper-
ates central stations, six have had domestic science
schools established within the past two years. The edu-
cational value to the lighting companies is inestimable.
The Federal companies are all members of the So-
ciety for Electrical Development, Inc., which has ren-
dered to its constituent Federal companies valuable co-
operation in the general "Do it electrically" educational
movement.
i ral manager of the properties in Rio.
The capital behind these enterprises is largelj Canadian.
Dr. F. S. Pearson, of New York, is in control, and the
Mackenzie and Mann interests of Toronto are also
largelj concerned. Their sympathies are British rather
than American, as is natural, although most of their
equipment has been purchased from American firms.
All modern electrical appliances are used' and special
selling campaigns are conducted similar to those of
American central stations. Goods are sold on monthly
payments and an endeavor is made to educate the people
to the advantages of labor-saving appliances. The cam-
paign in progress during Mr. Hurley's visit was rather
novel. The company was giving an electric flatiron free
with each gas stove purchased during a given period,
and those responsible for the management of the com-
pany declared that the campaign had been a great suc-
cess.
Striking Flatiron Campaign at Boston
In three recent campaigns of four weeks' duration
each the Edison Electric Illuminating Company of Bos-
ton, Mass., has added nearly 3000 electric flatirons to its
connected load. The latest campaign, which resulted
in the sale of 1200 irons of Simplex, General Electric,
Westinghouse and Landers, Frary & Clark make, was
the most successful and was noteworthy on account of
the making by the company of a price of $3.50 per iron
on condition that the purchaser should bring to the
company's offices one flatiron in each case, for which an
allowance of $1 was made toward the price of the new
Central-Station Maintaining Appliance-Repair De-
partment
Realizing that an appliance load cannot be maintained
at its maximum value if the devices which have been
sold are allowed to become inoperative, the Washington
Water Power Company, Spokane, is conducting a repair
department where consumers' appliances can be fixed up
much cheaper than they could be by the average con-
tractor. During 1913 the department repaired 6477
cords and 2777 flatirons at a total cost to the company of
$453.24, or 4.9 cents per job, for which no charge was
made the consumers. In the same period non-guaran-
teed devices and complex apparatus were repaired at an
average expense to the consumer of $1.33 per job. Even
on these jobs, however, the labor expense was only 13
cents per job. Not only was this department self-
supporting, but many devices which might have been
left on the shelf unused were again made revenue pro-
ducers. Another advantage of this practice is that con-
sumers are convinced that they will be well repaid for
investments in electrical apparatus, as their devices will
not be allowed to become useless.
An Electric Iron Given Free with Every Gas-Stove
Purchase
Following his return from the South American coun-
tries, Mr. E. N. Hurley, of Chicago, has related many
interesting stories of the customs and practices of busi-
ness men in the Southern Hemisphere. Referring to
a recent new-business campaign conducted by the public-
utilities company in Rio de Janeiro, Mr. Hurley ex-
plained that the light, motor-service, street-railway and
gas companies are probably the most active, successful
and influential businesses in Rio. They are managed
by Americans, Mr. F. A. Huntress, formerly of Boston,
being the vice-president, and Mr. Carl Sylvester, of
MOBILIZATION OF DISCARDED FLATIRONS
equipment. For $3.50 net a new 6-lb. iron of the
purchaser's choice was offered, and the ages, colors
and previous conditions of servitude illustrated by the
second-hand, third-hand and fourth-hand specimens re-
turned are indicated by the accompanying photograph,
which shows some 3 tons of the discarded units mobil-
ized en route to the junk dealer. A reduction of $1
below $4.50 was credited in every case, whether the
iron was one of the deadly charcoal burners of the
"siege-gun" type or a new 23-cent sadiron, scores of
the latter being purchased at a neighboring department
store and turned in by exultant patrons who thus saw
an opportunity to "strike a bargain" with the company.
A few electric irons returned for the sake of new ones
were sent by the company to the factory and will soon
be on the firing line again. The last campaign was
waged along the lines of selective newspaper and win-
dow display advertising, with little extra solicitation,
and a similar sale is now under way with respect to
electric percolators, one being sold for "$5 plus any old
coffee pot" during October.
234
ELECTRICAL W 0 R L D
Vol. 65, No. 4
FEBRUARY WINDOW DISPLAYS
Lincoln's Birthday. Washington's Birthday and Saint Valen-
tine's Day Offer Opportunities for Appropriate Settings
By A. J. Edgell
January has been the occasion for sales of all kinds.
On every side show windows have been filled with sales
goods and cards calling attention to "mark-down sales,"
"pre-inventory sales," "white sales," "clearance sales"
or other sales. As a result the coming of February with
The large letter addressed "To My Valentine" can be
obtained from a sign maker or show-card writer. A
large heart cut from bright red cardboard has a red
crepe-paper bow attached to it, and from the heart to a
corner of the letter loops of red "baby-ribbon," with
small hearts, are hung. Other small hearts are hung
from the large envelope in the manner shown. The
small hearts may be purchased in stationery stores.
For a Saint Valentine's display red should be the pre-
dominating color.
-SUGGESTED WINDOW BACKGROUNDS FOR LINCOLN S BIRTHDAY
BIRTHDAY
SAINT VALENTINE'S DAY AND WASHINGTON'S
three days that may be featured offers a welcome
relief from the over-abundance of marked-down sales
windows.
Some dealers feel that they are wasting effort in try-
ing to get additional business in February. It is cer-
tain that the lion's share of whatever business there
is will go to the man who makes the best effort to
attract it. The merchant who stirs himself into action
and makes an effort is apt to be surprised at the re-
sults he can obtain, even in February.
The best effort can be made through the show win-
dow, for several reasons. It requires little additional
expenditure to make it a result getter. The window
display when properly made operates at high efficiency.
The customer is near the place where the goods are
sold, the goods are there ready for sale, and the sales-
man is just inside, ready to serve. These three condi-
tions exist whenever a customer looks at a well-arranged
show-window display.
To secure the attention of the passer-by some feature
is frequently necessary. Features such as those enu-
merated below give a "different" appearance that se-
cures this attention.
Three occasions for unusual displays may be used.
The anniversary of Abraham Lincoln's birthday ( Feb.
12) is observed to some extent and an effective display
can be built around this idea. The sketch shows a
background arrangement for use at this time. A large
shield cut from blue cardboard or composition board
has a large Lincoln profile mounted on it. A band of
red, white and blue ribbon runs between two rosettes
of the same material. The Lincoln profile can be cut
from a picture obtained from a stationery store. The
remainder of the decorative unit consists of a card with
the date of Lincoln's birth (Feb. 12, 1809) bordered
with red, white and blue ribbon and with a rosette on
the upper corner. From each rosette strings of silver
or gold tinsel are hung.
Saint Valentine's Day (Feb. 14) depends for its ob-
servance on sentiment. While this sentiment has no
direct connection with business, the use of features
symbolic of the day will attract favorable attention, and
the attention thus secured can be turned to the mer-
chandise shown by using show cards that will link up
the goods with the decorative feature. The background
arrangement shown in the sketch can be used with a
display of any of the household appliances.
Washington's Birthday (Feb. 22 i is generally ob-
served, and for this and Lincoln's Birthday patriotic
displays with red, white and blue predominating are
suitable. Because of the story of George Washington,
his little hatchet and the cherry tree, hatchets and
cherries are symbolic of the day. How these may be
used in a background arrangement is shown in the
sketch.
A large profile of Washington, obtained from a sta-
tionery store, is mounted on a circle of cardboard, and
artificial cherries and leaves are arranged around the
circle, which is fastened to the background. On either
side of the background is a hatchet cut from cardboard
fig. 2-
-BOSTON EDISON COMPANY S WINDOW
WASHINGTON'S BIRTHDAY
GETTING FOR
or composition board. This hatchet has a large bow of
red ribbons or red. white and blue ribbon bow tied to it.
Artificial cherries and leaves are grouped around the
hatchets.
A much simpler arrangement as used last year by
the Boston Edison company i> shown in Fig. 2. In this
instance, as will be seen from the illustration, an ef-
fective setting was obtained by simply employing a
large lithograph of Washington over which two Amer-
ican Hags were crossed. The effect might be height-
ened by employing an electric fan to cause the tlags to
flutter in the breeze.
Jam un 28, 1816
ELECTRICAL WORLD
236
Merchandising Methods
The Electrical Dealer of the Future
"The time will soon he here when the retail electrical
business will he handli
ing on some principal retail street ol the city a neat,
well-appointed store where lie will make suitable dis-
plays and demonstrations of the lines of electrical de-
trices which appeal to the shopping trade," said .Mr.
-J. I.. White, local manager for the Oregon Powei !
pany at Albany, Ore., in an addre the Oregon
Electrical Contractors' Association recently.
"This dealer of the future will do practical!
contracting but will confine himself strictly to retailing,"
continued .Mr. White. "The installation end of the busi-
ness he will leave to the general contractor, who will con-
duct his business from an office building. These con-
ditions will, of course, only occur in cities of the larger
size. In many smaller places where the contractor is
compelled to carry on a merchandising business we
to-day find very complete lines of stock, and such stores
compare favorably with the best stores in other lines in
our cities."
Magnet Signs Save Window-Placard Expense
Expert window trimmers say that no show window-
is complete without a placard. But in windows in which
the displays are changed often the expense for painting
window placards is generally a considerable item in the
advertising account. In fact, some electric companies
pay from S3 to $7 a week for the painting of cards with
catchy phrases which they claim supply a finishing touch
to their displays. To reduce such expense several cen-
tral-station companies in Ohio, among which is the
Ohio Light & Power Company at Tiffin, have purchased
changeable magnet signs. The letters used with these
signs consist of metal patterns faced with heavy baked
white e'namel. To the back of each letter is attached
a small permanent bar magnet, about 0.75 in. long. The
backgrounds for these letters are made of iron of such
thickness that it can be handled easily and can, to en-
hance its appearance, be placed in picture frames of
narrow design.
When a placard for a window is wanted it can be
made at a moment's notice with this outfit by placing
the letters in any desired position against the black iron
background, the small bar magnet holding the letters
in place. With this system the placard wording can
be changed as often as is desired without additional
expense. The outfits are made by the National Mag-
netic Sign Company, of Cleveland, Ohio, and are sold
in neat black cases, which afford a convenient place for
storing the extra letters and iron backgrounds not in
use.
A Vacuum Cleaner for Every Shoe Store
Retail dealers in ladies' fine shoes suffer a loss each
year because good shoes that are scratched in the
process of "trying on" must be sold at reduced prices.
Awoman will not pay a high price for a pair of shoes
that are scuffed ; hence the retail dealers try to keep their
heavy carpets and rugs free from sand and grit. Many
a merchant thinks he does his best to have the store
clean when the "boy" sweeps and dusts the store every
day. However, when a shrewd shoe dealer in Alliance,
Ohio, saw- the amount of grit and sand which his wife's
electric cleaner brought out of his supposedly clean rugs
she lost her vacuum cleaner. It was through the mer-
chant's wife that the story leaked out, for when she
came to the office of the All . Power Company
to buy a second cleaner the salesman was naturally
curious to know what had happened to the first one he
had sold her. When later he called on her husband
he heard a remarkable account of savings in damaged
shoes. Tin- •- d news tilled him with so mucn en-
thusiasm that he sold a vacuum cleaner to practically
every other n sponsible shoe dealer in the city. The
merchants are well pleased with their cleaners and are
thanking the electric company's new-business man for
the saving he has made for them.
Abuses of (ash Discounts
Customers who seek to secure cash-discount allow-
ances on their accounts after the expiration of the cash-
discount period agreed to in the original conditions of
sale were severely arraigned by several speakers at the
recent meeting of the Electrical Credit Association of
Chicago.
Mr. John M. Kirby, Consumers' Rubber Company,
Cleveland, Ohio, defined the cash discount as a certain
premium given to the customer in order that cash may
be kept working. In the beginning, he explained, it
was probably conceived that time would be required
for the transmission of mail, the making of invoices by
the customer's clerical force, etc., and hence a grant of
first five and then ten days was allowed the customer.
The Growth of the Evil
From time to time various business exigencies sug-
gested the addition of five days to the original period,
until finally it became the fashion to extend the discount
date to the first of the following month, all pending ac-
counts being meanwhile stopped after the twenty-fifth of
the first month for extension on to the bill of the second
following month. Later the discount date was changed
to the fifth and finally to the tenth of the month, until
now, said Mr. Kirby, the terms "tenth proximo" are
probably the most popular in ordinary business use.
Some firms even put the burden of the transportation
period on the seller and require that the goods be placed
on the customer's platform before the discount period
begins. There is a remedy for this evil, said Mr. Kirby.
but it will require courage to put it in effect. The cure
he proposed was publicity among credit men, and he
also suggested that credit men agree on the extremes of
necessity and determine some fair allowance for dis-
count dates.
Mr. A. 0. Kuehmsted, Gregory Electric Company.
Chicago, said that an effective solution of the evil will be
found in the practice of returning to the senders with a
polite note all checks which do not bear the full amount
after the lapse of the discount period.
Remedies Proposed
Mr. Benjamin George, Beardslee Chandelier Manu-
facturing Company, Chicago, said that checks should
be returned for the principle of the thing regardless of
the amount. He recited an incident where a customer
had commented on one company passing over a de-
faulted discount of 3 cents on a bill of $1.50, although
a discount of $2 on a larger bill was protested. Some
credit men would not think of returning checks, said
Mr. George, for they declare that the cash in hand is
worth too much to risk offending a customer.
Mr. F. W. Seywert, Erner Electric Company, Cleve-
land, Ohio, said that the custom of cash discounts has
become a great business evil and one which causes much
embarrassment. At the present time many customers
consider it sharp practice to take advantage of the cash
discount after the lapse of the discount period. The
236
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 4
seller, however, should insist on a proper observance of
the terms of the contract and should explain to his
customers that a new era of business ethics has arrived.
Such a policy of education, declared Mr. Seywert, will
go far toward correcting the abuses described.
Handy Lamp and Shade Demonstrator
Of the many types of lamp and shade demonstrators
to be found in appliance stores and central-station sales-
rooms, the design shown herewith is perhaps most sim-
ple in construction. It is also effective, being sufficient-
ly individual to command the attention of the customer.
The entire frame is built of conduit and conduit fittings.
Br* ''
^^^■^•v
P^
. i
■•■■-J
'afkdi
*
■
" «*•*•■
*
'*— ^ '• T
* ■
^Lrm.
wm^Kjr^ VI
1 1
IP*
LAMP AND SHADE DEMONSTRATOR
Resting on four pipe-flange feet, the demonstrator may
be moved about the salesroom of the B-R Electric Com-
pany, St. Louis, where it is used, to any point where
an electric outlet makes electricity available. This de-
sign of demonstrator is particularly well adapted for
exhibiting glassware in both pendent and inverted posi-
tions.
Double Co-operative Campaign Proves Big
Success
Between Dec. 4 and Dec. 14 the Toledo (Ohio) Rail-
ways & Light Company, in co-operation with the Toledo
office of the Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing
Company, conducted an extensively advertised and vigor-
ous electric-appliance campaign. Between Dec. 14 and
Dec. 24 another equally vigorous and equally well-adver-
tised campaign was conducted in co-operation with the
local office of the General Electric Company. The idea
of following one large general appliance campaign imme-
diately with another was a new one, but the results
obtained by this "double-header" Christmas sale were
startling. In the first ten-day interval 1500 appliance
were made, and in the ten da fore Chriat-
' 100 sales were made.
In these campaigns the salesmen were instructed to
call upon non-users as well as users of electric service,
and in this way many appliances were sold to people in
nnwired homes who wished to give electrical presents
to their more fortunate friends. The slogan of the
tors was. "Don't 1"' a piker! Sell from tWO to a
dozen electrical gifts to each prospective customer."
In totaling up the sales it was found that the most
useful appliances, such as irons, toasters and percola-
tors, were the best sellers, although almost every type
of electrical appliance from bell-ringing transformers
to chafing dishes was in demand. When it is considered
that the Toledo company has now 24,000 electric-service
customers, of whom 18,000 are residence customers, and
that 2500 appliances were sold to these same customers
in the month of July, 1914, the results obtained from
this double sale are still more surprising. The Toledo
men believe that there must be no point of saturation.
In conducting the sales Mr. A. K. Young, new-business
manager of the central-station company, was aided by
Mr. H. W. Brooks, of the Westinghouse Electric &
Manufacturing Company, and Mr. A. W. Little, of the
General Electric Company.
An Envelopeless Order Blank
A St. Paul (Minn.) jobbing house furnishes its cus-
tomers with mail-order blanks which can be folded up,
sealed and mailed in to the home office without an en-
velope. The form, which is patented, has on one side
the usual order blank with spaces for the customers
name, address, routing of shipment and items wanted.
On the other side the jobber's name and address are
handily printed. A side flap is already gummed, so that
all the intending customer has to do is to write his order,
fold up the sheet and seal it, affix a two-cent stamp and
drop the blank in the mail box.
The Fine Art of Being a Salesman
The qualifications of character and ability necessary
to successful work as a salesman of electrical apparatus
or electric service were discussed by Mr. Charles A.
Munroe, vice-president of the Public Service Company
of Northern Illinois, Chicago, in an address before the
Chicago Jovian League on Dec. 28.
First among the requirements for successful selling
is enthusiasm for the work, said Mr. Munroe. It is
the love of his job which enables the salesman to with-
stand the rebuffs and discouragements which come in
the course of the day's effort. Without such enthusi-
asm, he is almost sure to be a failure. But the degree
of the salesman's success depends, in the ultimate, upon
his equipment of brains and will power. The high-
grade salesman is an educated man, able to talk in-
telligently to many men on many subjects. The broader
his interests, knowledge and sympathies, the more op-
portunities will he find to increase his own usefulness
and selling ability.
The Faculty of Unconscious Instruction
The successful salesman need not be a fluent talker.
Many able commercial representatives are men of few
words, yet each word spoken counts with effect upon
the person addressed. Most of these men also have
the valuable quality of imparting their ideas to others
while leaving the impression that these convictions were
original in the minds of the auditors. In the words of
Franklin, as quoted by Mr. Munroe:
"We should i ich them aa if we taught them not; •
Things unknown should be proposed s.s II things forgot."
The close relation between the personal life of a man
and his work during office hours is now being appre-
ciated by the business world in making its estimates of
a salesman's qualifications. Unless a man is scrupulously
honest he should have no part in the profession of the
il' man. The field work of the commercial represen-
tative, a large pari of which must be without super-
vision, is a test indeed for a man's moral fiber. He
January 28, 1916
ELECTRICAL WORLD
must take care to see that DO "padding" creeps into
his expense account, that his reports are accurate and
correct, and that he filches for personal ends no part
of the time which rightfully belongs to his employer.
No sooner will the line between right and wrong be-
come blurred than his usefulness as a sale-man will
begin to wane.
Enthusiasm Essential Above All Else
All the foregoing qualities of ability, brains, will
power and character the salesman must have; "but en-
thusiasm," concluded Mr. Munroe, "is the heat which
fuses these elements together and effects success."
The salesman must love his work, and when he talks
he must talk as if he meant it, for he does mean it.
The complex field of modern business offers no greater
opportunities than those open to the salesman. If the
demands upon the high-quality salesman are severe,
certainly the rewards given to the successful salesman
are commensurate with those demands.
Central-Station Sales Agents
T. I. Jones
Few men in the central-station commercial field are
better known than Mr. T. I. Jones, general sales agent
of the Edison Electric Illuminating Company of Brook-
lyn and former chairman of the Commercial Section of
the National Electric Light Association. Mr. Jones was
educated in electrical engineering at the Massachusetts
Jobber Offers Dealers Prizes for Rest Kan Display
To prompt dealers to prepare attractive fan displays
when the warm weather arrives the Western Electric
Company has issued a folder entitled "Selling Fans" in
which it offers six prizes amounting to $100 for the most
attractive window displays featuring electric fans. The
first prize is $50 and the successive ones are respec-
tively $25, $10, $5, $5 and $5. The company will fur-
nish on request the background shown in the accom-
panying cut. Rules governing the contest follow: The
foreground of the window display must be originated
and dressed by a member of the firm taking part in the
contest or by an employee; the window must contain
as a basis a fan display, the fans to be supplied by the
dealer; no electrical dealer shall receive any help from
the Western Electric Company's representatives in plan-
ning the display ; the display is to remain in the show
windows not less than one week; every contestant must
send at his own expense a photograph at least 5 in.
by 7 in. to the company which will also have the right
to the negative; photographs must be in the hands of
the Western Electric Company by Sept. 1, 1915, at or
about which time the prizes will be awarded; displays
Here Is Your Opportunity
to win one of these prizes, and,
at the same time, obtain the
best fan window display outfit
ever offered.
It will bring business into
vour store.
PRIZES
$50.00 Fust Prize
$25.00 Second Pnze
$10.00 Thud Pme
$5.00 Fourth Pnze
$5.00 Filth Prize
$5.00 Sixth Prut
Wnh this
shown above. The fan is to
n your own slock, with this material you consliuct your window dis-
play. Many beautiful and atlrartive effects may be obtained; sand may be used on ihe
window floor to continue the beach ; kewpie dolls, miniature tents, boats, flags, etc.. may
be used to advantage. Colored lights oan be used so as to give good lesultsloi a night display.
A miniature boardwalk equipped with small electric lights for a night display would
attract attention. These ate only suggestions. You arc lo use your own ingenuity and
originality in lining up the display.
The Follows, Rule Will Covens the Conteit:
Institute of Technology and is a lecturer on electrical
subjects for the New York Board of Education.
Mr. Jones' experience in the electrical industry has
been wide and varied. After being identified with the
telephone industry for six years he joined the
Nernst Lamp Company as illuminating engineer
and while thus engaged was called upon to organize the
sales department of the United Electric Light & Power
Company of New York City, becoming its first sales
manager. After two years' work with the United com-
pany he was invited to direct the sales activities of the
Brooklyn Edison company.
He is a stanch believer in merchandising electrical
appliances at a profit and in working in harmony with
local electrical contractors. Since Mr. Jones headed the
sales force of the Brooklyn Edison company five years
ago, its gross business has increased from less than
$4,000,000 to $6,240,000.
of award will consist of a representative of the
Electrical World Electrical Reoieal Electrical Record
National Electrical Contractor Society for Electrical Development
Order Your Background and Wave Cut-Out Today.
Check Number 43 on the Enclosed Card and Mail Today.
ANNOUNCEMENT OF FAN DISPLAY CONTEST
will be judged by their probable ability to attract genu-
ine interest to electric fans; freak displays will not be
entitled to consideration unless they have a strong in-
terest-creating value outside their freakishness. The
company also offers attractive newspaper advertising
electrotypes, window-display and street-car cards, mail-
ing folders and attractive motion-picture theater lantern
slides.
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 4
Electric Vehicles
ELECTRIC STREET SPRINKLERS
Motor Vehicles Will Replace All Horse-Drawn Equipment
for Municipal Department AYork in Calgary, Canada
Two of the eight electric trucks used for nearly a
year by the several municipal departments of Calgary,
Canada, have effected a daily saving of $24 in the cost
of sprinkling and flushing streets. Cost records for
at a saving of about $24 per day of seventeen hours
over horse-drawn machinery. During winter months
the tanks are removed and replaced by boxes which will
hold 6 cu. yd. of refuse.
Calgary has 1,300,000 sq. yd. of pavement, covering
54 miles of paved streets. The full equipment for
keeping this clean consists of four horse flushers, four
rotary brooms, two squeegees, five horse sprinkling
tanks and two 5-ton electric motor trucks. In a test
the two trucks used by the street-cleaning department
averaged 38 miles each per day of nine hours sprinkling
OPERATING COSTS AND BOXED CHARGES FOR EIGHT ELECTRIC TRUCKS IN CALGARY, CANADA
Vehicle
Number
Monthly
PER V
:hicle
1
2
3
4
»
8
7
8
For March
To Date
1 iapacity, tons
Hepairs
1
so ;,ii
23 71
11 liN
10.00
28 7.".
80 on
1117 22
50.83
14.58
171' 63
1933 03
_'ii 78
20
796
7170
'.>
1
10.50
36 39
1 1 '.17
i
28 7:,
75.60
16S 11
:,o 83
14.58
228 52
1955.85
LM7 32
2(i
11 HI
7III1I
9
3
vn 65
13.37
10 7s
1 1
37 7:,
99. 15
177 70
68.23
23 ill
269 64
210s 7'1
274 31
27
525
50S0
9
3
nii 65
ins on
14.63
10 (III
37 77.
72 I.',
304.38
68.33
23 I'l
396 32
2417. 52
268,61
24
562
.-,37.".
'.I
SO 77.
370 29
.-.1 01
10.00
12 77,
SO. 00
557 80
sl 1(1
27 78
669 71
2997.29
233.03 ;
26
696
4581
11
5
SO 77.
::s7 36
19 82
10.00
12 77.
Ml (III
.'.III lis
92 91
27.78
6(51 . 37
3 133 .51
337 06
11
180
5856
9
5
t0 77.
11 '.is
12 34
10 (III
12 77,
Ml 00
157.82
92.91
27.78
278.51
2564 58
284.95
2li
403
521 is
9
1
$0.50
1 87
10.00
28 77.
20 70
61.82
50.83
1 I 58
127.23
885 59
177. 12
Hi
140
1477.
SO 6 :
120 56
17.89
10.00
36.25
73.49
25s S2
69.88
21 711
350.49
2282.08
203 39
491
$0.63
14.45
1
42.01
Drivers' wages
79.24
177. 23
Into i. -i , sinking tiiinl. depreciation
71.01
22.21
rot.il chaws, month .
Total charges to date
Average coal per month
Days in service
Miles, month.
Total miles
Months in sen?
268.45
20S 47.
20s. 47.
615
615
these and the other six machines have indicated such
a substantial saving by the use of the electrically pro-
pelled vehicles that they will replace all of the horse-
drawn equipment as the latter wears out.
There are three 1-ton trucks for the electric-light,
stores and street-railway departments, two 3-ton trucks
for the water-works and stores departments, one 5-ton
truck for the sanitary department, and two 5-ton trucks
for the street-cleaning department.
The electric sprinklers and flushers cost $11,440.
Each sprinkler does the work of three teams and each
flusher the work of two teams.
During the summer months the sprinklers and flush-
ers are operated in day and night shifts of nine hours,
sprinkling by day, and eight hours, flushing by night,
and 17 miles each per night of eight hours flushing.
This work cost $1.30 per truck for energy during the
seventeen hours.
Truck Specifications
The specifications of the 5-ton electric sprinkler truck
follow: Water capacity of tank, 1200 U. S. gal.; total
length of tank, 160 in.; inside diameter, 51 in.; air com-
partment in forward end of tank, 36 in. long — 25 per
cent of tank volume; pressure in air tank, 65 lb.; total
weight of tank, 3600 lb. ; tank provided with air and
water pressure gages and safety valve in by-pass con-
necting water space with air chamber. The tank is
filled by means of a 21o-in. water-intake valve in the
center of the rear drumhead. The water discharge
is controlled through lever gate valves operated by hand
DRIVEN STREET-SPRINKLING WAGONS OF CALGARY
.J \m via 23. 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
at the driver's seat. The two Busher nozzles may be
worked together or independently. The main outlet
connection ia a 4' _-in. standard pipe; the flushing nozzle
connections are 2 ' _-in. pipe.
The interest, sinking fund, depreciation and special
battery depreciation are not charged direct to the dif-
ferent departments, a special fund being set aside for
this purpose. In the report from the electric vehicle
department, summarized herewith, vehicle repairs for
the month of -March. L914, were $387.36. This included
a new set of rear tires for one of the sprinkling trucks,
at a cost of §380 the pair.
The trucks were supplied by the General Motors Com-
pany.
Large Charging Installation for Cambridge (Mass.
Bakery
One of the largest and most interesting battery-
charging stations in New England has recently been
completed at the plant of the Ward Bread Company at
Cambridge, Mass., which uses about seventy electric
vehicles in its transportation service. As shown in the
accompanying photograph, the equipment consists of a
switchboard composed of thirty-five duplex unit sec-
tions and a separate board of six unit sections for
charging, discharging and forming lead batteries.
Energy for battery service is obtained from three-wire,
115-230 volt generators in the Ward company's plant
and the battery-charging rheostats are installed on a
gallery in the engine room adjacent to the garage
proper.
Each duplex charging unit is self-contained and pro-
vided with a double-pole, double-throw knife switch, a
fifteen-step slider-type rheostat, reverse-current circuit-
breaker, inclosed fuses, and an indicating lamp for each
of the two sets of batteries charged from one of these
units. The double-throw switches enable the operator
to charge the battery from either side of the neutral
of the three-wire system, which greatly facilitates close
balancing. These switches are provided with special
BATTERY-CHARGING SWITCHBOARD IN BAKERY
clips arranged so that the charging current and voltage
across the battery can be read simultaneously and with-
out interrupting the charging circuit. The slider-type
rheostats are each designed for charging a battery of
forty-two lead cells at 30 amp to 8 amp, the resistances
being of the cast-grid type and being carried directly
on the back of the duplex units.
The reverse-current circuit-breaker on each unit
serves to separately disconnect each battery from the
busbars in case the power goes off the system, or should
the current through the battery be reversed from any
cause. As the circuit-breaker is mechanically inter-
d with the rheostat slider, it is impossible for an
attendant to begin the charge on the battery without
first placing all the resistance in the rheostat in series
with the battery. Each of the charging outlets is
rateb protected by the inclosed fuses. The pilot
lights are of 2 cp each and show when a battery has
been plugged in for a charge. Four duplex volt-am-
meters are included with the board, none of which is
connected into circuit, however, except during the oper-
ation of taking a reading, as indicated above. Over the
er of the charging board a small slate panel has
added which carries a 300-amp, central-zero am-
meter, with overload relay. The meter and relay are
tapped into the neutral bus and the relay rings an
alarm bell in case the out-of-balance current rises above
a predetermined value. The system can be rebalanced
by the double-throw switches on the duplex units.
The six-circuit charging, discharging and forming
panel is similar in general construction to the foregoing
equipment. Each section is provided with a thirty-step
rheostat, and besides the 30-amp to 8-amp charging
control a 30-amp to 15-amp discharging control is pro-
vided. A separate volt-ammeter is installed.
The entire equipment can easily be extended, and
soon it will probably be necessary to take care of forty
additional vehicles. The Cutler-Hammer Manufacturing
Company furnished the entire equipment.
Vehicle "Hiker" Service in Business District
Since Dec. 15 Mr. Harry Salvat, who operates a large
electric-vehicle garage in an outlying residential dis-
trict of Chicago, has been furnishing patrons of his
establishment with a special call and delivery service
while they do their shopping in the downtowTn depart-
ment stores. Two men in uniform are stationed at a
well-known store in the business district where they
await the summons of car owners who wish to have
their vehicles taken care of while down town. Calls
are sent in by telephone, or the vehicle users stop by
the store, pick up the "hiker," and continue to their
destinations, the "hiker" driving the car back to the
garage or returning it to the owner at an appointed
hour and place.
Since this special service has been available the num-
ber of car owners taking advantage of it has aver-
aged eighteen a day. The Salvat garage houses 180
electric cars. No charge is made for the service, but
the obliging "hiker" is usually rewarded with a "tip"
from the car owner. The plan has worked out so well
that the local section of the Electric Vehicle Associa-
tion is considering the establishment of a more com-
prehensive "hiker" service of similar kind, to be avail-
able to all Chicago users of electric vehicles on call
from down-town hotels and department stores.
Jovian Electric Double Page at Toledo, Ohio
Co-operative newspaper advertising by electrical in-
terests in Toledo, Ohio, reached such proportions just
before the holidays that the weekly electrical page was
increased to a double-page spread. This successful cam-
paign of electrical advertising was started by Toledo
Jovians during the reign of former Statesman C. H.
Felker, and has been continued for more than a year.
At present none but Jovians advertise on the page, and
this advertising is handled by a committee consisting
of Messrs. E. R. Kelsey and H. E. Adams.
240
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 4
Interior Construction
Schedule of Contractors' Wiring Prices at Emporia,
Kan.
During the last three years the number of wired
houses in Emporia, Kan., has been practically doubled,
owing to the activity of the new-business department
of the Emporia Railway & Light Company, coupled
with the joint efforts of the local contractors in estab-
lishing a schedule of wiring prices. Contractors who
have been and are now participating in the scheme
WIRING PRICES FOR FRAME HOUSES
t ive rooms with drop-cords $13.00
Five rooms with drop-cords and porch lamp and switch. . . . 17.00
I iv. rooms with three drop-cords, two two-lamp fixtures
with shades, and porch lamp and switch 21.80
.Sin rooms with drop-cords 15.85
Six I ooms with drop-cords, porch lamp and switch 19.85
.Six rooms with four drop-cords and two two-lamp fixtures
and shades 20.65
Six moms as above with porch lamp and switch 24.65
Eight rooms (two-story) with drop-cords 20.55
Eight rooms (two-story) with drop-cords and two two-
lamp fixtures and shades 25.35
Eislit rooms (two-story) as above with three-way switch.. 32. 3T,
Eight rooms (two-story) as above with porch lamp and
switch 36.35
appear unanimous in declaring that their business has
never been better than since the co-operative plan has
been in force. The schedule of wiring prices used by
the representatives of the central station and the con-
tractors is given herewith. Lamps are not included
in the prices given in the table.
the sockets, the plug connection was made with the
permanent outlet, and the decorations were put into
position after the wiring had been completed and tested
for faults.
WIRING AN OLD FRAME BUILDING
How a Seven-Room House Was Profitably Wired in Ap-
proved Fashion at $3 an Outlet
By Terrell Croft
It is the object of the writer to describe in detail the
procedure followed and the methods used in the
recent wiring of a seven-room frame residence that
was erected about twelve years ago. The floor plans of
FIG. 1 — VIEW OF SEVEN-ROOM HOUSE
Saving Time in Decorative Wiring
At the beginning of the holiday season one of the
large department stores in Chicago, adopting a color
scheme of yellow, placed large electrically lighted pump-
kin-like decorations on the many columns in the store.
The problem of securing energy for each decoration was
simplified by the fact that there is a permanent outlet
on each column at a convenient height above the floor.
LIGHTING 01 HKPARTMENT-STORE DECORATIONS
In preparation for the job, many strings of lamp sockets,
fitted witli connection plugs and insulator cud pieces,
were prepared in advance by the wiring force, With
strings of ockel ready it was an easy task to
attach a light piece of wire to the two insulators at the
end of the string and to adjusl the strings al the proper
height on the column, Later on lamps were placed in
the building are shown in the accompanying illustra-
tions. While there is nothing particularly novel in the
installation, it is typical of many that are now being
made throughout this country and of a great many more
that must be made before the field that is now available
to the central stations is saturated.
The desideratum in this instance, as is frequently the
case with frame buildings of the type illustrated, was
to get a fairly good electric-lighting system in the
house. It was piped for gas when built, but the owner
had difficulty in renting it without electric lighting. He
put in the simplest possible electric outfit and omitted
all frills.
n-*-g
A
FIG. 2 — PLAN OF BASEMENT
It was decided to install Hush wall switches only in
the principal rooms. The living-room, library and din-
ing-room were to have them, but the kitchen, bedrooms
and bathroom were to be provided with pull-socket fix-
tures. The two hall lamp outlets, one up-stairs and one
down-stairs, were to be controlled by two flush three-
way switches, one in the first-story hall and the other
Jam ari 28, 1916
ELECTRICAL WORLD
24i
in the second story at the head of the stairs. For the
cellar one porcelain key socket was to be provided, con-
trolled by a surface wall switch in the cellar-stair entry.
A porch lamp, baseboard outlets and the like were
omitted to minimize cost ; but provision was made for
ultimately placing them with little difficulty provided
that conditions necessitated their installation.
CaNorStoin
Entrant S»iKh' "Sv\
Entrance
FIG. 3 — FIRST-FLOOR PLAN
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the residence, and
Figs. 2, 3 and 4 show respectively floor plans of the
basement and first and second floors. Fig. 5 is an .iso-
metric view and delineates the arrangement of the entire
installation. This illustration is not quite correct in
certain minor particulars, which will be indicated later,
because it could not be made strictly accurate without
confusing complications in drawing.
In an installation of this kind before any actual
w-ork is done the first step should be to make a sur-
vey of the premises. The "lay" of the floor beams
and partitions should be noted and the wireman should,
if possible, plan the run for every wire before he makes
any openings in exposed places and before he locates his
entrance. The cellar and the attic should be visited
and all of the closets inspected. By thus carefully
analyzing a building it is frequently possible to econo-
mize in labor and material. Sometimes a raceway, built
for pipes or due to some builder's freak, can be located
extending from basement to attic and which will accom-
modate the risers. Horizontal paths may frequently be
similarly located. It may be necessary to bore some
holes in the attic or cellar and to remove a few boards
in closets or in other unexposed locations and to probe
Porch ftoo f
_, 1 ' , ~
FIG. 4 — SECOND-FLOOR PLAN
with a fish wire to determine the most suitable routes
for the wiring. In any case no holes for switch boxes
or electrolier outlets should be made in walls or ceilings
until the wireman is reasonably sure that he can get his
conductors to them. Some skilful old-building wiremen
never make a hole for a switch outlet in a wall until the
raceway for the conductor is complete to the switch and
a fish chain has been dropped down and sounded within
the partition for verification.
In the particular installation being described the first
step was to survey the residence carefully. It was dis-
covered by probing with the fish chain (a heavy linen
cord having a couple of feet of small chain tied to one
end) that a vertical raceway, indicated at A in Figs.
2, 3 and 4, sufficiently large to accommodate several
conductors, extended from the basement ceiling to the
roof. This was obviously the logical location for the
risers. It was found that there were no obstructions in
the attic, that it had no floor and that from it the entire
ceiling of the second story could be reached, rendering
the installation of the principal part of the work on that
floor easy. The floor boards of the second floor ran
lengthwise of the building, and enough of them were
taken up to indicate that a branch circuit could be read-
ily carried within the first-floor ceiling the length of the
house, as outlined in Fig. 3, to serve the wiring for the
first story. The selection of the routes for the con-
ductors for the two hall outlets, one on the first and one
on the second story, and for the three-way switches con-
trolling them gave some trouble. Finally, however,
after cutting a couple of exploring pockets, one in a
closet (B, Fig. 4) and the other in the inconspicuous
corner C, the wire route shown was determined.
FIG. 5 — ISOMETRIC PLAN OF WIRING
The general lay-out of the wire routes having been
decided upon, the next move was to locate the point of
entrance of the conductors into the building and the
best location for the meter and the entrance switch.
As shown in Figs. 3 and 5, the entrance was made near
the rear of the house into the back hall. The local cen-
tral-station company specifies that the interior wiring
between the point of entrance and the meter shall be as
short as possible and also that the meter be placed where
it will be clean and dry and where it can be easily in-
spected and read. The rear-hall location satisfied all of
these requirements. The actual arrangement of the
equipment about the point of entrance is detailed in
Fig. 6. This portion of the job was very quickly placed
because the interior of the rear hall had never been fin-
ished. The outside wall at this point consisted merely
of clapboarding nailed to 2-in. by 4-in. studs. The
loom-incased entrance wires were brought into the hall
and to the entrance switch each through a 3s-in. hole
bored through the clapboarding. A vertical cleat was
nailed to the face of each of two adjacent studs (see
Fig. 6), and to these cleats were spiked two boards.
One was for mounting the meter and branch blocks and
the other was for the entrance switch. The entrance
switch is of the porcelain-base, knife-blade type and is
provided with receptacles for Edison plug cut-outs. The
retail price of one of 30-amp rating, the size used, is
50 cents. From the inner side of the entrance switch
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 4
the conductors pass to the meter and from the meter
to the branch blocks, which in this installation consti-
tute the distributing center. Where there was any pos-
sibility of the conductors coming closer together than
the minimum distances specified by the Code they were
incased in loom. It is cheaper in a confined situation
of the sort illustrated in Fig. 6 to cover the conductors
entirely with flexible tubing or loom than it is to use
loom on part of the wiring and support the rest on
porcelain.
Another feature that must be considered before much
work is done is the assigning of the different outlets to
branch circuits — that is, how many branch circuits
should be used and what portion of the building each
branch circuit should serve. The Code specifies that
there shall not be more than sixteen sockets, or, instead,
660 watts of incandescent lamps served by any one
cut-out. In the installation under discussion there are
exactly sixteen sockets, or, assuming that a 40-watt
lamp would be used in each socket, the total load would
be 16 x 40 = 640 watts. Evidently it would be possible
CHjpboardmg .. Bracket-
FIG. 6 — SERVICE ENTRANCE
to connect all of the sockets in the building to one branch
circuit and yet have the installation meet Code require-
ments. However, if this were done there would be no
means available for outlets that might be added in the
future, and the installing of an additional branch circuit
after the job had been completed and the floor openings
closed would be very expensive. Hence it was decided
to provide two branch circuits. One circuit was ar-
ranged to feed the second story and part of the first, and
the other most of the first story. The cellar lamp outlet
was connected to the branch serving the second story
because in the second story there are seven sockets while
in the first story there are, including the second-story
hall outlet, which must be fed from the first-story
branch, nine. Furthermore, a large proportion of lamps
on the first floor are likely to burn at one time, whereas
this is not so apt to be true of the lamps on the second
floor. The outlet in the kitchen was also connected to
the second-story branch circuit to diminish the load on
the first-, tory branch.
Ordinary two-wire porcelain Edison-plug cut-outs
costing 25 cents each were used for the branch blocks,
as indicated in Fig. 6. Edison plug fuses of 10-amp
rating were used for the protection of each wire. Both
branch circuits were of No. 14 rubber-cnr-ed wire, and
No. 10 wire was used from the outside of the building
to the entrance switch.
Frequently it is desirable to locate the distribution
center at a point near the center of the building that la
served. In the case being considered this would have
cost more and the desirable feature of having the dis-
tribution center near the entrance switch would have
been lost.
In installing the wiring for the first floor outlets the
first operation was to remove three floor boards the
entire length of the building as indicated in Fig. 3.
The course of this long "pocket" was so selected that it
passed directly oVer the living room electrolier outlet,
rendering the cutting of a separate pocket for this outlet
unnecessary. The pocket passed through the doorway
at D but under the partition at E. Pockets were cut
over the library and dining-room outlets, and the tap
conductors for them were readily fished between the
joists to the branch conductors in the long pocket.
These branch conductors extending the length of the
building within the second-story floor were threaded
through tubes resting in holes in the joists. The tap
conductors to the outlets were supported on porcelain
knobs held to the faces of the joists with nails driven
through leather washers and then into the knobs. For
carrying the wires to the two single-pole flush switches
for the library and dining-room outlets respectively it
was necessary to cut a pocket over the partition between
the dining-room and the library. The conductors were
carried down within the partition in circular loom. The
outlet for the living-room electrolier was wired from
the long pocket and its single-pole flush switch was
wired by cutting a pocket over the partition between the
hall and the living-room. The method of getting the
conductors to the hall outlets and to the three-way
switches controlling them will be described later.
All of the wiring for the second-floor outlets, with the
exception of that for the hall lamp, was placed with little
difficulty. One of the branch circuits from the distribu-
tion center was continued as a riser from the point A
(Fig. 3) in the first-story ceiling to point A (Fig. 4)
in the attic over the second story. Then the branch was
extended horizontally almost the length of the building
— far enough to tap the outlet for the front chamber.
In the attic the conductors were supported on the upper
edges of the joists on split porcelain knobs held in posi-
tion with nails. The attic could be entered by a trap>
door in the bathroom ceiling, and there was ample space
in it for the wireman to move about and do his work.
Although the method of wiring for the hall outlets,
and of connecting the two three-way switches con-
trolling them is shown in the floor plans and in the
isometric view, it is better illustrated in the detail of
Fig. 7. It will be noted from a study of the floor plans
that it was not feasible to route the conductors required
for these lamps and switches along as short a path as
would have been possible with a job in a building under
erection. An inspection of the construction of the resi-
dence disclosed that the most economical wiring would
be as suggested in Fig. 7. The conductors for the first-
story three-way switch were carried down from the
ceiling within the partition incased in circular loom.
Then all of the conductors were carried, incased in loom,
within another partition between the second-story floor
and its ceiling (Figs. 3, 4 and 7), and then the three
conductors for the second-story three-way switch were
carried back down still another partition. The reason
for adopting this routing is not altogether obvious from
Fig. 3 because parts of it are not drawn quite to scale.
Actually the down-stairs hall outlet is so close to the
pocket C that it was readily wired from C. Also the-
bottom of the partition in which the four risers to the
attic arc installed was available from C. Hence it was
easier and cheaper to carry all of the hall lamp wiring
up inside the partition at C, and then to bring the switch
wires back again in partition F. than it was to carry
the conductors over to F within the first-story ceiling,.
J AN LAKY 23, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
243
which would necessitate cutting another pocket in the
second-story floor under F and the removal of more floor
boards. The conductors for the hall wiring were in-
cased in circular loom within the partitions. In ceiling
spaces they were carried by knobs and tubes, and in the
attic they were supported on porcelain split knobs nailed
to the joists.
For illuminating the cellar only one porcelain socket
was installed in the beginning. It was placed midway
FIG. 7 — ECONOMICAL ARRANGEMENT OF CONDUCTORS
between the furnace and the coal bin. The tap circuit
for the cellar outlet was connected to its branch at the
point A (Fig. 3) in the little attic over the kitchen, and
the riser was dropped down within the. partition A to
the cellar, where the tap was carried to the socket and
to the surface wall switch in the cellar stairway, as indi-
cated in the basement wiring plan (Fig. 2). As previ-
ously suggested, the cellar lamp was connected to the
up-stairs branch circuit. The connection was effected
at the point A (Fig. 3) because there was a straight
runway, left by the house builder, direct to the cellar
from this point. This route could be followed without
any boring or cutting, hence the loom-incased risers
were drawn into it. In the cellar the wires were run
at right angles to the joists and threaded through holes
that were bushed with porcelain tubes. Where running
parallel to the joists the wires were supported by split
knobs nailed to the joist faces. Where the conductors
were carried up within the partition to the surface wall
switch they were incased in loom.
The isometric view of Fig. 5 is included to give a
general idea of how the wiring for the entire installa-
tion was routed and of how it was connected. However,
the basement branch circuit actually connects to the
second-story branch circuit near the point where the
kitchen outlet taps off, instead of at the branch block as
shown by the drawing. The routing for the wiring for
the hall lamps and their switches is actually arranged as
shown in the floor plans and in Fig. 7, instead of as
indicated in the isometric view, although the circuit of
the isometric view is correct.
The installation was made by a local electrical con-
tractor. His price for roughing in — that is, for the job
complete with switches but without fixtures — was $48.
This is at the rate of $3 an outlet, counting each switch
and lighting fixture position as an outlet. The work
required the time of a wireman and one helper for two
days and netted a comfortable profit for the contractor.
Lighting Practice
Concealing Lamps in Corner Show Windows
Displays in corner show windows offer problems in
lighting which do not enter when the window faces only
one street, because lamps which are entirely invisible
from one side of a corner window often shine directly
into the eyes of an observer standing on the other side.
.* Soffit,.
ttfltclcrj.
-AX ^L, ^ompa
BAFFLES TO HIDE LAMPS IN CORNER WINDOWS
One Chicago store has eliminated this objectionable
glare in its corner windows by using white-enameled
baffles in front of the reflectors. The general arrange-
ment of the baffles, reflectors and lamps, which in this
particular installation are suspended near the top of the
show window, will be made clear by reference to the
drawing reproduced above.
New York's Latest Spectacular Sign
The accompanying illustration shows the "Kleanwell"
sign recently erected by the O. J. Gude Company at
Broadway and Forty-third Street, New York City. The
sign fronts directly upon the heart of Long Acre Square,
one of the busiest places in New York City after dark.
It is 38 ft. high by 90 ft. long and contains more than
3000 lamps.
In action the two Brownies in the sign tug at the
ANIMATED SIGN OVERLOOKING LONG ACRE SQUARE, NEW
YORK CITT
rope, trying vainly to pull out the bristles. Finally the
rope breaks. The second Brownie sits down hard and
his eyes roll in astonishment at the unyielding nature
of the queer plant.
244
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 4
Electric Signs for Merchants' Associations
Almost every city in the United States is the home
of some sort of merchants' association, and the more
progressive of these bodies are constantly on the alert
advocating improvements which will make their busi-
ness streets attractive. Some of these associations have
been instrumental in securing paved streets, some own
and operate ornamental street-lighting systems, but the
Belmont Avenue Merchants' Club, Chicago, in addition
ELECTRIC SIGN ADVERTISING NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER
to paving and lighting the street, has gone even one
step further than the rest. It has purchased a Federal
electric sign reading "It pays to trade on Belmont
Avenue" and erected it over the street in the geograph-
ical center of the Belmont Avenue business district.
Charges for energy and lamp renewals for the sign
are deducted from the fund made up from regular
dues of the association's members, the remainder of the
fund being used for maintenance of street lamps and
for general expenses.
Mr. E. W. Schiddel, 1048 Belmont Avenue, secretary
of the association, recently said that while the first cost
of the sign was about $400 the operating expense was
but $10 or $12 a month and that all association members
were well pleased with the purchase. He also declares
that the Belmont Avenue Merchants' Club was one of
the first, if not the first, to adopt this type of co-oper-
ative electrical advertising.
Successful Fixture Campaign
To enable solicitors and dealers to complete figures
giving the cost of fixtures for residence service without
delay when talking with prospective customers, the Pet-
tingell-Andrews Company, Boston, Mass., recently pre-
pared a special fixture campaign booklet of sixteen
pages, designed to overcome the difficulty formerly en-
countered by salesmen in being unable to show complete
sets of practical equipment for domestic service at low
prices, ready for prompt delivery. The campaign fix-
ture sets were selected on the basis that 99 per cent of
all residences have a living room, a dining room and a
hall, while the conditions in the other less important
rooms vary in almost every house. The sets advertised
in the booklet consist of three fixtures, one for each of
these common rooms, separate fixtures for chamber,
kitchen, pantry, cellar, bathroom and porch use being
shown independently.
The booklet points out that in utilizing these fixtures
the contractor has the advantage of knowing his costs
completely, with an added economy in handling equip-
ment carried in stock for immediate shipment and
wired complete with key or pull sockets and glassware.
It states that there are over 200,000 unwired houses in
New England, and emphasizes the importance of being
able to approach the prospect with an attractive, con-
crete proposition involving no guesswork as to fixture
costs, in contrast with the usual uncertainties and esti-
mates. All fixtures are shipped within forty-eight
"•Exemplar'! Campaign fixture Sets
Exemplar Set. No. 15
I lull. I.iriiit! llaom&Diniim Koom
S2.H.-OH
SAMPLE PAGE FROM CAMPAIGN BOOKLET
hours after the receipt of the order. Each booklet con-
tains a net price list printed on a blue sheet and a trade
price list printed on pink paper. There are nine sets of
fixtures shown in attractive halftones, with tabulated
costs ranging from $7.50 to $41.75 per set. Some of
these sets enable the small householder to take advan-
tage of semi-indirect lighting. In compiling the book-
let the company placed the contractor in possession of
sufficient data to enable an average home to be figured
on the spot and within a few moments, and as a re-
sult upward of $10,000 worth of the fixture sets and
accompanying individual pieces have been sold within
the last six weeks.
Working the Office Light at Night
Contending that some of the best advertising space
obtainable is often thoughtlessly wasted, a new-businoss
manager in a Middle Western city has set out to induce
office tenants in downtown buildings to use their win-
dows as lighted signboards at night. To accomplish the
latter, he explains, it is only necessary to place a shaded
desk lamp back of the sign painted on the window, so
that the lamp will illuminate the lettering. This pro-
gressive new-business manager also makes practical
suggestions to prospective customers concerning ways
of securing the help of the building watchman in turn-
ing off the lamps after the evening crowds have gone.
Jam win 23, 1915
ELECT III ("A I. WORLD
NEW APPARATUS AND APPLIANCES
Electric Water Heater
A small electric heater, which, it is claimed, will boil
a gla- r in a minute and a half, has recently
been developed and placed on the market by the Pitts-
burgh Electric Specialties Company, Pittsburgh, Pa.
The heating element is embedded in a cylinder 1"> 16 in.
in diameter and 4.3 in. long which is surmounted by a
are removable from the outside, a screwdriver being the
only tool necessary. The arc of oscillation is adjustable
from 90 deg. to 15 deg., through a range of six posi-
tions. A non-oscillating position can also be secured.
A safety device is provided so that the arc of oscilla-
tion is automatically reduced if the hand guard or motor
body strikes an obstacle. By means of a hinged desk-
bracket base, the fan can be turned from a straight
position to an angular position by removing a screw in
WATER HEATER
FIG. 2 — 9-1N. OSCILLATING FAN WITH HINGED BRACKET
metal top large enough to cover the glass vessel in
which the cylinder is inserted. The metal cover serves
to keep out the dirt and facilitates the heating process.
A metal holder is also provided for lifting the glass ves-
sel. The switch is attached to the cover as shown in
the accompanying illustration. The device is designed
to consume 450 watts.
its spherical portion. The fan can also be tilted up
or depressed if desired. An adjusting collar permits the
motor to be swiveled instantly to change the direction
of breeze without changing the position of the base.
An automatic lock is provided on the adjusting collar
which is secured in any one of five positions by spring
on the latch handle.
Small-Sized Oscillating Fan
An interesting development for the fan season of
1915 is a 9-in. oscillating fan designed by the Emerson
Electric Manufacturing Company, St. Louis, Mo. The
fan is adapted particularly to home use, the manufac-
turers declare, and it has been made light and portable
and practically noiseless in operation, especially for this
class of service. For alternating currents an induction
motor is used which operates at a maximum speed of
1550 r.p.m. With a direct-current motor a maximum
Table Fan
The electrically operated fan shown herewith, is de-
signed particularly for use on dining-room tables. The
base has been given a vase-like appearance, in order to
harmonize with the usual settings of the table, and is
finished in white enamel, while the blades and guards
are nickel-plated. The motor will operate on either al-
ternating-current or direct-current circuits, and so-
FIG. 1 — 9-IN. OSCILLATING FAN ON PEDESTAL
ELECTRIC FAN FOR TABLES AND DESKS
speed of 1600 r.p.m. is obtained. The net weight of the
fan is 13 lb., and at full speed it takes 35 watts.
The oscillating mechanism is similar in design to the
1914 12-in. and 16-in. models. The mechanism is of the
single-link type and is operated by worm and wheel-
and-gear and pinion which are inclosed in a gear case
at the back of the motor. All parts of the mechanism
called oilless bearings are employed. The fan can also
be utilized on office desks, especially those of the flat-
top type, as the air is forced along the plane above the
desk and does not disturb papers that might otherwise
be blown away. The fan is being placed on the market
by the Menominee Electric Manufacturing Company,
Menominee, Mich.
246
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 4
Floor-Outlet Extension
A watertight floor box made by the Bryant Electric
Company, Bridgeport, Conn., to which a disappearing
door receptable can be connected by means of a piece
of rigid conduit as shown herewith, has recently been
placed on the market. When not in use the box is sealed
by a blank cover. When electrical connection is desired
this blank cover is replaced by one having a tapped and
threaded hole, into which is screwed the conduit, the
other end of which carries the receptacle. A connecting
block is provided in the floor box for connecting the
on short legs so that there is no danger of injuring the
woodwork or other material on which it may rest. The
sterilizing chamber of the No. 1 device is 5 in. by 10 in.
by 2.5 in. and the warming chamber is 5 in. by 10 in. by
2.5 in. The latter chamber is for medicaments, dress-
ings and instruments. The dimensions of the steriliz-
ing chamber of the No. 2 model are 6 in. by 13.5 in. by
2.5 in. and those of the warming chamber 6 in. by 13.5
in. by 2.75 in.
Ceiling Fans for India
In the accompanying illustrations are shown two of
several types of ceiling fans designed particularly for
FLOOR BOX WITH DISAPPEARING RECEPTACLE
FIG. 1 — FAN WITH THREE CONCAVE ALUMINUM BLADES
branch wires which extend through the conduit to the
receptacle. Thus the installation or the removal of an
outlet does not disturb the main wires. The boxes are
finished in black enamel and are provided with brush-
brass plates and a brush-brass plug.
Electric Sterilizers
Two improved electrically operated sterilizers con-
sisting of a sterilizing and warming chamber and des-
ignated as type No. 1 and type No. 2 by the manufac-
turer, the Victor Electric Company, Jackson Boulevard
and Tobey Street, Chicago, 111., have recently been de-
veloped. The heating element is entirely self-contained
and can be utilized for heating water in any receptacle.
The sterilizing chamber of the No. 1 model holds 3 pt.
of water, which, it is claimed, can be boiled in less than
two minutes. The sterilizing chamber of the No. 2
type has twice the capacity of the No. 1 chamber, and
water is brought to the boiling point in about fifteen
minutes. To lessen the danger of "burn-outs" the
service in India by the Robbins & Myers Company,
Springfield, Ohio. In Fig. 2 is illustrated a fan with
four wooden blades pitched at steep angles and in Fig.
1 one with three concave aluminum blades. The sweep
of the blades is 60 in. and upward. Large motors are
employed, and ample space is devoted to special insula-
tion on the windings, which is necessary because of the
climatic conditions prevailing in India. For the serv-
ice which the fans are designed good lubrication is es-
^
ELECTRICALLY OPERATED STERILIZER
FIG. 2 — FAN WITH FOUR WOODEN BLADES
floor of the sterilizer is tilted so that the last drop of
water drains into the trough in which the heating unit
rests. In case the water is evaporated down to an
ounce or less, there is a low hissing sound which is
audible several feet away. The sterilizer is of copper
heavily tinned on the inside and nickel-plated on the
outside. It is equipped with a hinged cover and rests
sential, and both bearings of the motor are immersed
in oil reservoirs which are accessible without disassem-
bling the motors. The motors are designed only for
direct current as that is the current generally utilized
in India. The fans operate only on one speed and are
controlled by B wall switch. The fans are finished in
white enamel or black japan.
January 23, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
247
Desk Push-Buttons for Call System
The push-button block shown in Fig. 1, which may
be placed on a desk and form the central station of a
calling system, is equipped with connectors with formed
FIG. 1 — DESK PUSH-BUTTON STATION
ears to prevent the wire from spreading or slipping out.
The ends of the button-head screws are upset so that
they cannot be backed entirely out and lost. The con-
tact bridge and all energy-carrying parts are insulated.
Phosphor-bronze contacts of the saw-tooth, scraping,
self-cleaning type are used. The cards for each button
are held fast by phosphor-bronze springs. The mech-
FIG. 2 — COVER REMOVED, SHOWING MECHANISM
anism of a calling station is shown in Fig. 2 with cover
removed. The apparatus is being placed on the market
by Edwards & Company, 140th Street and Exterior
Street, New York.
Boxes for Loom-Wiring
To meet the demand for outlet boxes which can be
employed at outlets where loom or knob and tube wiring
is used, the Sprague Electric Works of the General Elec-
tric Company, 527 West Thirty-fourth Street, New
York, have developed eighteen different types of boxes.
Nine of these boxes are provided with ears so that a
special octagonal cover or standard round or octagonal
covers may be utilized. These boxes embody practically
all the usual combinations of outlets, the manufacturers
claim, and in each box is sufficient room to make the
necessary splices and joints in the wire. The knock-
outs are % in. in diameter, and they can take standard
0.5-in. loom. The center knockout is 1 1 '16 in. in
Reflector for Hand-Lamp
A silvered reflector designed for use with a small
hand-lamp operating on a single dry cell has recently
been developed by the Delta Electric Company, Marion,
OCTAGONAL BOX AND ROUND COVER
diameter, and therefore is large enough for a standard
%-in. gas-pipe cap ; the removal of the cap is not neces-
sary when installing the box. The conduit knockouts
are designed for 0.5-in. conduit. The boxes may be
galvanized or may be finished in black enamel, as de-
sired. For shipping purposes the boxes are packed in
packages containing ten boxes or 100 boxes.
HAND-LAMP EQUIPPED WITH SILVERED REFLECTOR
Ind. In the accompanying illustration is shown the
reflector used with a lamp made by the above company.
Motor-Driven Dishwasher of Household Size
Practically all modern hotel kitchens are provided
with motor-driven dishwashers, but few private house-
holds have yet adopted this sanitary and labor-reducing
method of cleansing tableware. An electric dish-wash-
ing machine measuring 64 in. in height, 24.5 in. in depth
and 22.5 in. in width, and equipped complete with an
iron stand and dish racks, has been recently put on the
market primarily for household use.
Beneath this small machine a 0.1-hp motor, with its
shaft extended into a depending water tank, drives a
small centrifugal pump which forces hot, soapy water
through a set of overhead revolving nozzles at the rate
of 20 gal. per minute. This hot water is used again and
again, the centifugal pump lifting it from the small tank
HOUSEHOLD-SIZE ELECTRIC DISHWASHER
which forms a part of the bottom of the washer. When
the dishes have been washed thoroughly with soapy
water the black-handled valve at the side of the washer
is turned, admitting scalding hot water for rinsing the
clean dishes. The rinsing water passes revolving pro-
peller blades as it enters the washer and is thus evenly
and completely distributed. The rinsing water upon
248
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 4
being admitted also raises the level of the soapy water
in the washer tank, and as the water level rises, the
grease from the top of the used water escapes through
a drain pipe, leaving only clean, soapy water to be used
if a second rack of dishes is to be washed. An electric
lamp suspended beside a window outside this washer
illuminates the interior while dishes are being washed,
and is equipped with a long, flexible cord so that the
lamp may also be used to examine the interior of the
machine. The door has been made easily detachable so
that all parts of the interior may be reached with ease.
All piping connections are designed to be permanently
connected to the kitchen plumbing, but the photograph
herewith shows how temporary water connections were
made in a Chicago kitchen. This machine is called the
"Crescent" household dishwasher and is made by the
Bromley-Merseles Manufacturing Company, 1328 Broad-
way. New York City.
Portable Lighting Fixture
The fixture shown herewith is equipped with a clamp
so that it can be attached to a desk, table, chair, piano,
bed, etc. The wires are concealed in a universal joint,
and the light can be thrown in any direction desired.
PORTABLE FIXTURE CLAMPED TO TABLE
White and black buttons are employed with the socket
switch. The shade and re/lector are adjustable. The
"Spirolote," as it is called, is being made by the C. Spiro
Manufacturing Company, 68 East 131st Street, New
York.
Swivel Attachment Plug
A swivel attachment plug which is wired without dis-
assembling the device has recently been placed on the
market by the Best Electric Company, Pittsburgh, Pa.
Clamps for Semi-Indirect Glass Bowls
More than forty kinds of ornamental clamps and
fasteners have been designed by the Metal Arts &
Crafts Company, 617 Jackson Boulevard, Chicago, 111.,
for use with large semi-indirect lighting bowls. In the
ORNAMENTAL CLAMPS AND FASTENERS
accompanying illustrations are shown several of these
fittings. The clamps are of brass and are designed to
conform with the shape of the bowl. They are at-
tached to flanges extending from the upper edge of the
bowl or to screws passed through holes drilled through
the glass. A hinged or pivoted nipple, a felt washer
and a wide jamb nut are provided for use with clamps
employed with bored globes. Three or more points of
bearing on the exterior of the globe, the manufacturers
declare, are obtained with these clamps; the tightening
screw or lever, which can be adjusted without tools,
bears against the interior surface of the globe. Suit-
able hooks are provided for the supporting chains or
spindles and also for holding pendent lamps in case a
spread of outside lamps is desired. Two hooks may be
utilized for the chain so that a wide or narrow spread
can be obtained. A threaded connection is provided to
which the lamp socket is attached.
Soldering-Tool Holder
In the accompanying illustration is shown a cage for
holding a soldering or branding tool when not in use.
The holder is designed to prevent workmen touching or
taking hold of a hot tool and to keep inflammable
material away from the hot iron. The device is finished
ATTACHMENT PLUG
HOLDER FOR SOLDERING TOOLS
The plug is of asbestos composition and brass screws
are used throughout. The binding posts, the manufac-
turers declare, are easily accessible, and there is plenty
of room for wiring. There are two leads from the cap,
one for each wire to its binding post.
in nickel and is equipped with a black-enameled base.
Rubber feet or pads are provided to prevent the holder
from scratching a polished table or switchboard. The
soldering tool holder is being made by the Vulcan
Electric Heating Company, Buffalo, N. Y.
Jan laky 28, l'.'l.".
ELECTRICA L W ORLD
249
Combination Smoker Cabinet and Lighting Fixture
In the accompanying illustrations are Bhown com-
bination smoker cabinets and fixtures for reading
lamps made of quartered oak and equipped with green
01 amber art-glass shades. The fixture shown in Fig.
FIGS. 1 AND 2 — COMBINED LIGHTING FIXTURE AND SMOK-
ING CABINET
1 is 49 in. high and 14 in. wide, and that illustrated in
Fig. 2 is 53 in. high and 18 in. wide. Both sets, which
have been developed by the Peterson Art Furniture
Company, Faribault, Minn., are provided with ash
trays.
Electric Hair Drier
A portable motor-driven hair drier, from which hot
air can be obtained if desired, is shown herewith. An
aluminum base is used with the heating element. The
heating wire is insulated from the base, around which
it is wound. In order to make the device as light as
possible, the fan and where practicable all other parts
.-peeling the fan and the heating element. The device
is finished in black japan and nickel. The drier may
also be employed for polishing shoes, drying furs and
feathers, gloves, photographic plates, etc. The Victor
Electric Company, Jackson Boulevard and Robey Street,
Chicago, 111., is making the drier.
Pull-Socket Tap
A tap which consists of a pull socket with a lamp-base
attachment and an outlet for an extension is being
made by the Arrow Electric Company, Hartford, Conn.
TAP WITH A PULL-SOCKET AND LAMP-BASE ATTACHMENT
The exfension is controlled independently of the lamp in
the pull socket. The device is shown in the accompanying
illustration.
Stand for Reading Lamp
A reading-lamp stand consisting of a brass standard
to which is attached a rack of sufficient size and strength
to hold a magazine or large book is shown in the ac-
companying illustration. The rack is adjustable to any
angle and its height can be varied from 2 ft. 3 in. to 4
ft. It is designed so that it may be used on either the
right-hand side or the left-hand side. It can also be
removed by loosening one screw in case it "is desired
to use the lamp only as a floor lamp. The height of the
lamp can be adjusted from 2 ft. 6 in. to 6 ft., and it may
be removed altogether when the stand is used in the
daytime. By means of a friction joint and revolving
ELECTRICALLY OPERATED HAIR DRIER
READING-LAMP FIXTURE
are of aluminum. Approximately 10 per cent of the
air drawn in by the fan passes through the motor, the
manufacturers declare, keeping it cool at all times even
when hot air is being utilized. By removing five screws
the side casing can be taken from the machines for in-
reflector the light can be directed at any angle desired.
The feet and rack are removable, so that it is easy to
ship the fixture. All metal parts are finished in brush
brass. The stand is being made by the R. M. Millar
Electric Works, 9 South Fifth Street, Chicago, 111.
250
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 4
Sewing-Machine Motor
The sewing-machine motor recently placed on the
market by the Wisconsin Electric Company, Racine,
Wis., is declared to consume no more energy than a 16-
cp lamp and is arranged with an automatic switch by
which it can be stopped and started at the will of the
SMALL MOTOR FOR USE WITH SEWING-MACHINES
operator. This "Dumore" motor in no way interferes
with the ordinary working of the sewing machine. The
bobbin is filled in the usual way and the original belt
is left in place on the machine. The motor, which
operates on either direct or alternating current, is fin-
ished in black enamel and has its other metal parts oxi-
dized. Packed in its carton for shipment by parcel
post or other means, the motor outfit complete weighs
only 6.5 lb. No tools are required to attach the motor
to the sewing machine, and connection can be made to
any electric-lamp socket.
Flexible Electric Heating Pad
The new "Sun Ray" electric heating pad, which has
been developed by the P. & B. Manufacturing Com-
pany, Milwaukee, Wis., is soft and flexible as an ordi-
nary piece of cloth. Consequently the pad can be ap-
plied with comfort to any part of the body, while the
patient may even lie on it without feeling grooves,
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heat. At these steps the power demands are respec-
tively 18 watts, 36 watts and 54 watts. A single-heat
pad is also made by the same manufacturer. Both
types of pads measure 12 in. by 16 in. and are covered
with heavy, soft eiderdown, rich brown in color. A
10-ft. flexible cord is furnished with each pad, together
with a washable slip cover and a separable plug ready
for attachment to any socket.
Portable Floor Fixture
The floor lamp shown in the accompanying illustration
is of the flexible-shaft style and is 4.5 ft. high. The fix-
ture is equipped with a wide iron base and a reflector,
and is finished in brushed brass. White-enamel finish
PORTABLE FLOOR LAMP
is also employed when the device is designed for use in
hospitals, dental parlors, etc. The fixture is being
placed on the market by the C. Spiro Manufacturing
Company, 68 East 131st Street, New York City.
Battery-Operated Hand-Lamp
A small lamp which can be attached to a dry cell as
shown in Fig. 2 has recently been placed on the market
:DRYBATWRi
ELECTRICALLY OPERATED HEATING PAD
FIGS. 1 AND 2 — BATTERY HAND-LAMP
ridges or wires. Two thermostats protect the pad
against excessive temperature rise. The three differ-
ent degrees of temperature are controlled by two push-
buttons in the pendent switch on the cord. Pushing one
button turns on low heat, pushing the second button
gives medium heat, and closing both buttons gives full
by the Manhattan Electrical Supply Company, 17 Park
Place, New York. The device is of nickel-plated brass.
A push of the finger on a sliding button connects the
lamp in circuit, and another push disconnects it. One
dry cell, it is stated, will give twenty hours of continu-
ous service and forty to fifty of intermittent service.
January _'.;, 1916
ELECTRICAL WORLD
251
Automatic Electric House Pump
The small electrically operated pumping set shown
herewith is designed for use in residences where not
more than 120 gal. of water per hour is required and
where the supply is not more than 22 ft. lower than the
apparatus. A double-acting pump, which is belt-con-
ELECTRIC PUMP FOR RESIDENCE USE
nected or rope-connected, as desired, by means of a 20-in.
pulley, to a 16-hp motor, is utilized. It is equipped with
a 1.5-in. cylinder and has a stroke of 2 in. An automatic
switch opens the circuit when the pressure in the tank
is 40 lb. per sq. in. and closes it when it falls to 20 lb.
per sq. in. The tank is galvanized and has a capacity of
42 gal. The entire apparatus is mounted on a heavy
cast-iron base as shown. The floor space occupied is 18
in. by 20 in., the height is 48 in. and the weight is 300
lb. The pump is made by the Columbus Pump Supply
Company, Columbus, Ohio.
Motor-Driven Siren Fire Alarm
To supply the demand of towns and small cities for
a means of sounding a general fire alarm, and indicat-
ing the locality of the fire, without utilizing a steam
whistle, an electrically operated siren has recently been
developed. The device is shown herewith and consists
of a siren operated by an alternating-current motor.
The speed can be changed and the pitch varied accord-
ingly by frequently closing and opening the switch. The
range of pitch is practically the same as that of a piano,
or seven octaves, running from a deep sound of about
sixteen vibrations per second to one of about 700 vibra-
MOTOR-DRIVEN SIREN
tions per second, which is about the same as high C
(two octaves above middle C on the piano). It can be
heard, the manufacturers claim, for a distance of five
miles. The revolving part of the siren is of aluminum,
mounted on Hess-Bright ball bearings, and the outside
portion or stator of bronze. The siren gives the best
results, it is declared, when operated by a three-phase
induction motor. The motor is protected from the
weather by a close-fitting metal hood.
The siren is usually placed upon a building or tower
near the center of a town, and a roof is built over it
to prevent snow clogging up the siren in the winter
time. With a motor-driven siren of the type described
switches can be placed at various points, from any one
of which an alarm can be sounded in case of fire. The
siren is made in two sizes, one being operated by a
3-hp motor and the other by a 5-hp motor. The smaller
siren occupies a space of 40 in. by 20 in. by 15 in., and
the larger one of 55 in. by 24 in. by 21 in. The weight
of the smaller is 300 lb. and of the larger 400 lb. The
siren is being made by the Hendrie & Bolthoff Manufac-
turing & Supply Company, Denver, Col.
Electric Bells
Several types of recently developed electric bells are
shown in the accompanying illustrations. In Figs. 1 and
2 are shown electric signal bells protected with grids to
prevent tampering with the hammer rod. The bell gong
shown in Fig. 3 is designed for operating on low cur-
rent, and the mechanism is entirely insulated from the
case. Connectors for line wires are at the side of the
FIGS. 1, 2 AND 3 — BELLS PROTECTED WITH GRIDS, AND
GONG
conduit box. The entire upper half of the conduit box
may be removed by taking off two screws. The box is
designed for use with surface conduit y2 in. in diameter.
For each winding of the mechanism the gong can be
operated 350 times.
So-called riot bells are illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5.
The bells are operated by small motors which may be
FIGS. 4 AND 5 — RIOT BELLS
run by batteries or on alternating-current or direct-
current circuits. The "Liberty" riot bell is designed
for use on fire-department vehicles only, and is con-
trolled by the driver from a push-button on the steer-
ing wheel. Additional buttons may be placed on other
parts of the vehicle if desired, enabling others than the
252
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 4
driver to operate the bell. These bells are the product
of Edwards & Company, 140th Street and Exterior
Street, New York.
Socket and Receptacle for Large Incandescent Lamp
The socket and receptacle shown herewith are de-
signed for use with nitrogen-filled incandescent lamps.
Both devices are being made by the Arrow Electric Com-
pany, Hartford, Conn. The socket with yoke is of the
same over-all length as a brass-shell socket designed for
UFffcj
PORCELAIN SOCKET AND RECEPTACLE FOR NITROGEN-FILLED
INCANDESCENT LAMP
use with high-efficiency incandescent lamps already
placed on the market by the company, and it can be used
with fixtures designed for these brass-shell sockets.
The receptacle is adapted for exposed wiring, the man-
ufacturer claims, and is so designed that the porcelain
lugs projecting below its bottom surface allow an air
space between it and the surface to which it is attached.
Combination Storage-Battery and Trolley Mine
Locomotive
A definite demand has been noted, it is declared, for
the storage-battery locomotive for gathering work in
mines, as it has been demonstrated that in this service
each locomotive will effectively displace at least two or
three mules. Heavy units are not as a rule required, and
the locomotives of this class so far provided have been
rated at from 3 tons to 7 tons. Most of these locomo-
tives are of the straight storage-battery type, but a
( nMBINATION STORAGE BATTERY AND TROLLEY LOCOMOTIVE
limited number have, in addition, been so equipped
that they can operate from a trolley wire when in the
main headings of a mine. The advantages of this ar-
rangement are obvious, since by means of a small self-
contained motor-generator set the battery may be auto-
matically charged while the locomotive is running on the
trolley. When the locomotive is working in the rooms
gathering the cars a varying percentage of the battery
charge will be consumed, but as soon as the operation
of the locomotive on t In- trolley is resumed these losses
lutomatically compensated for. With this dual sys-
tem of operation, the battery need never be entirely dis-
charged, and if the available space is limited it permits
the use of a smaller battery than would otherwise be
ary. A machine of this type has been in oper-
ation in a West Virginia mine for a period of about
four months. It runs on a 42-in.-gage track and its
over-all height does not exceed 30 in. It was built by
the General Electric Company, Schenectady, N. Y.
Lamp-Cord Adjuster
A device for varying the length of a lamp cord has
been developed by the Gowan Electric Adjuster Manu-
facturing Company, Toronto, Ont. It consists of a
porcelain base, a drum around which the cord is wound,
a shell, supports for the drum, a clutch equipped with
steel balls, and a spring. The base is 4.5 in. in diam-
FIG. 1 — CLUTCH ARRANGEMENT WITH STEEL BALLS
eter and % in. thick. It has three holes for the mount-
ing screws and four holes for fastening to an outlet
box. Two :';s-in. holes and channel on the back are also
provided for the line wires. The spring resembles a
clock spring and has a similar action to that of the
spring of a shade roller, excepting that it is operated
FIG. 2 — DROP LAMP WITH CORD ADJUSTER
with a clutch arrangement rather than a ratchet.
soft-rubber bushing through which the cord is slipp<
is utilized as a "safety stop." The shell is of spun
brass, 0.032 in. thick and is insulated. It is attached to
the base by a bayonet fastening. All screw heads and
nuts are sealed in countersunk holes with a compound
which will not melt below 150 deg. Fahr.
ed
Jam \u\ 23, L916
ELECTRICAL WORLD
The National Foreign Trade Convention
The second National Foreign Trade Convention waa
held at the Planters' Hotel, St. Louis, Mo., on -Ian. 21
and 22. It was called by the National Foreign Trade
Council in co-operation with the Business Men's League
of St. Louis and crystallized the work done by the coun-
cil during the last year. In addition to the general ses-
sions, there were several group conferences which dis-
cussed various problems affecting foreign trade. Among
the papers presented were the following:
Adequate Ocean Facilities b> Private Initiative
.Mr. James J. Hill, chairman of the board, Great
Northern Railway, said, in speaking on "Freedom for
Our Foreign Trade," that the one indispensable con-
dition of the restoration, extension and maintenance of
our foreign trade is the provision from some source of
adequate ocean carriage. There are but two resources —
one a merchant marine owned and operated by the gov-
ernment, the other a merchant marine provided by and
for the people. The former, just now urgently advo-
cated, is an unwise and would certainly be a disastrous
experiment. Aside from the complications almost cer-
tain to drag us sooner or later into the European con-
flict, owing to the uncertain and conflicting claims of
national neutrality, this policy would be followed by the
total destruction of the private shipping interests. An
attempt at public operation would be scarcely less disas-
trous financially than a war. There remains then only
the resource, as old as human experience and as unfail-
ing, of dependence on private initiative. Give it a chance.
Put it on an exact equality with the other shipping sys-
tems of the world. Let the American citizen be author-
ized to procure and to operate vessels on the same terms
as the citizen of any other country is under its laws,
and his ability and enterprise will do the rest.
Co-operative Selling
.Mr. H. C. Lewis, general manager National Paper &
Type Company, New York, in a paper on "Co-operative
Foreign Selling for Smaller Manufacturers," said that
Germany has made its goods widely known through the
sale of a large number of small articles. The German
manufacturer has been enabled to do this by methods
which are economically wise and beneficial but contrary
to the anti-trust policy of this country.
Mr. W. C. Downs, United States commercial attache
for Australasia, in a paper on "Problems of the Smaller
Manufacturer and Merchant in Development of Foreign
Trade," said that rather than intrust the future of
export business to an inferior representative, it would
be better for a manufacturer to place himself in the
classification of those manufacturers who feel that while
they are not justified in assuming the heavy expense of
an exclusive traveler they could undertake a portion of it
in co-operation with other manufacturers. This method
of introducing goods has been tried successfully by sev-
eral groups of American manufacturers. It was also
recommended that the travelers be empowered to appoint
in the principal trade centers permanent representa-
tives.
Education for Foreign Trade
Prof. Edwin F. Gay, dean of the Graduate School of
Business Administration of Harvard University, in
speaking of "Commercial Education for Foreign Trade,"
said that the United States is just entering upon that
transformation in its external trade and its internal
economic balance which England experienced over a
century ago and which Germany has been accomplish-
ing during the last thirty years. The apparently deep-
rooted disinclination for foreign service may be ex-
plained or justified by the national economic and social
history, but the fact remains that the United States,
unlike its European competitors, has at present no con-
siderable surplus of ability for exportation. With its
other deficiencies in capital, equipment and organization,
its deficiency in experienced men is a serious item. It
must be reckoned with and remedied if the United States
is to play any great and active part in the world's com-
merce. It is in response to a demand from business itself,
conscious of the growing complexities of modern busi-
ness operations and of the need for trained intelligences,
that American colleges from the Atlantic coast to the
Pacific are organizing courses and establishing schools
of business administration.
Co-operation Among .Manufacturers
Mr. W. L. Saunders, chairman of the board, Ingersoll-
Rand Company, New York, in discussing "Government
Regulation of Commerce as Affecting Foreign Trade,"
said that legal advice from those who have studied the
subject and are most competent to interpret the situa-
tion is to the effect that there is nothing in the Sher-
man law that prohibits price-fixing, pools and trade
combinations of American producers in selling goods for
delivery into foreign countries. Apart from legal opin-
ions, it would seem plain that the United States govern-
ment has no authority in the matter of sales made for
delivery to foreign countries. It is not within its prov-
ince to regulate them, as the concern and control of the
government of any country are limited to its own ter-
ritory. Nor is it necessary for competitors to be estab-
lished at the foreign point of delivery, for so long as
the proof exists that delivery is made outside the limits
of the United States it seems plainly within the prov-
ince of any one to co-operate to the fullest extent in
negotiating sales. Price fixing is not in itself immoral
nor is a monopoly immoral. They are both wrong when
they are unfair or are contrary to the public welfare
or when they are construed as unlawful acts, and in this
case unlawful acts are such only as are unfair or con-
trary to the public welfare. In all the suits brought by
the United States under the anti-trust acts there is no
single instance of prosecution because of conditions in-
volving export trade nor are any suits likely to be
brought. It may be best for those who doubt the in-
terpretation of the law to bring a test case rather than
to expect Congress to pass permissive legislation.
Financing Foreign Trade
In talking on "Foreign Banking, Loans and Credits."
Mr. John J. Arnold, vice-president First National Bank
of Chicago, said that reciprocal banking arrangements
for the purpose of financing transactions between the
two countries concerned have undoubtedly proved
very successful and satisfactory, but where such
countries are both interested in the development of
trade with a third nation it is absolutely illogical and
unreasonable for one country to be successful when it
is compelled to do its financing with the third party
254
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 4
through the banking institutions owned and controlled
by its competitor. This is exactly what we have had
to contend with in our efforts for trade development in
Central and South America and the Orient. Mr. Arnold
would like to see the banking laws amended so as to
permit American banking institutions to subscribe not
more than an aggregate amount equal to 5 per cent of
their respective capital toward the capitalization of for-
eign banks.
Mr. John Bassett Moore, formerly counselor of the
State Department, in discussing "Problems of War and
Commerce," said that if, instead of the naval supremacy
now exercised in its own interest and in that of its allies
by the largest consumer of our agricultural products
and foodstuffs, the control of the seas were actually
contested by powerful hostile fleets it is almost appalling
to reflect upon what might be the present state of our
commerce.
More Liberal Drawback Laws Required
Mr. Maurice Coster, manager of the foreign depart-
ment of the Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing
Company, in discussing the need of more liberal draw-
back laws, said that the United States government to-day
authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to refund part
of the duties paid on materials used in the manufacture
of articles exported. These refunds are known as the
drawback of duties. More liberal laws controlling the
subject are required in order to encourage our export
trade and to put this country on a competitive basis
with other nations. Since the first drawback law was
passed in 1789, much has been done to simplify it and
to make it work for the benefit of the American pro-
ducer, especially in 1890 when the McKinley tariff act
was passed, increasing the amount of refund from 90
per cent to 99 per cent.
It behooves us now, however, to continue the good
work already started and to have a law enacted which
will either eliminate entirely the payment of duties on
materials used in the manufacture of articles exported
or, where duties have been paid, refund the entire
amount of such duties.
Why not eliminate this 1 per cent of duties altogether?
asked Mr. Coster. All internal-revenue taxes paid on
alcohol are refunded when articles of which alcohol
forms a part are exported. If these internal revenue
taxes are refunded, why should not all import duties
be refunded? Any retention of duty by the government
is a handicap to the exporter and a loss to American
labor. What is needed is the appointment by the gov-
ernment of a commission which would, upon request by
the manufacturer of exported goods, look into his re-
sponsibility and the importance of his factory. In the
case of a favorable report, finding the manufacturer to
be responsible and to have good credit, he should be
allowed to import any articles which are intended for
export at a later date duty free, without having to pay
the duty as now required under Section 0 of the present
tariff act. Corporations or firms of doubtful credit
or responsibility should be made to furnish a bond equal
to or larger than the full amount of duty, but should
not be asked to pay the duties if they can furnish
proper bonds. One year should be permitted the import-
er of the material to export the same, with a possible
extension, upon request, of three months, making a total
of fifteen months within which to export the manufac-
tured article. In case of failure to export within the pre-
Bcrlbed time, duty ahould be required to be paid in full
with a penalty or additional duty of, say, 26 per cent.
Where importers are not sure of being able to export
all the material imported, they should have the option
to pay the duty in full and lecure B cert ideate of im-
portation, which certificate could be sold to exporters,
to whom the full duties should be refunded when it can
be proved to the satisfaction of the government that
the articles produced from duty-paid materials are
actually exported, no limit of time of exportation to be
imposed in the latter case.
A great many governments encourage their export
trade by paying liberal bounties on exported material.
There are objections and good objections to paying
bounties, but the government, by enacting more liberal
drawback laws, could obviate all objections and secure
all advantages attached to the payment of an export
bounty.
The Engineering Foundation
At the ceremonies to be held on Jan. 27, in the En-
gineering Societies Building, in connection with the in-
auguration of the "Engineering Foundation," to which
reference was made on page 130 of the ELECTRICAL
World dated Jan. 9, the following speakers will be
heard: Mr. Gano Dunn, president of the United Engi-
neering Society and past-president of the American In-
stitute of Electrical Engineers; Dr. Henry S. Pritchett,
president of the Foundation for the Advancement of
Teaching; Dr. Robert W. Hunt, past-president of the
American Institute of Mining Engineers, and Dr. Alex-
ander C. Humphreys, past-president of the American
Society of Mechanical Engineers.
The initial gift for the Engineering Foundation has
been made by a noted engineer whose name will be an-
nounced at the ceremonies.
Insurance Saving and Concentric Wiring Discussed
by Illinois Contractors
At the midwinter meeting of the Illinois Electrical
Contractors' Association held at the new Morrison
Hotel, Chicago, Jan. 15 and 16, Mr. H. N. Tolles, of the
Sheldon School of Salesmanship, Chicago, opened the
first session with a forceful and enthusiastic talk on
selling. Mr. Charles Umbach, president of the R. Wil-
liamson Company, also addressed the contractors on
"Practical Organization Work." Others who spoke in
the open session were Mr. G. B. Muldaur, of the Society
for Electrical Development, and Mr. G. W. Hill, special
representative of the National Electrical Contractors'
Association.
In the closed sessions Mr. E. J. Burns, secretary and
treasurer of the Illinois association, submitted some
data showing that during ten months the Illinois con-
tractors' plan of liability insurance had saved those
members adopting the plan in Illinois an average of
$66.23 apiece. By the same plan Iowa contractors have
succeeded in saving an average of $27.20 apiece. In
Illinois the total saving to the thirty-eight members
subscribing was $2624.30, and in Iowa, where nineteen
contractors entered into the plan, $516.90 was saved.
However, the association itself was shown to be some-
what in debt owing to the fact that the falling off in
the majority of the contractors' business had decreased
the association's revenue, some of which is derived from
an assessment of one-twentieth of 1 per cent upon the
gross receipts of members. Forty-four members with
enthusiasm and generosity donated a total of $220 to
meet the existing deficit.
Besides aiding its members in securing reductions in
insurance premiums during the past six months, the
Illinois association has succeeded in securing segrega-
tion of the electrical contracts from the general con-
tracts in all State work. It is estimated that this move
on the part of the State authorities has turned over tc
January 23, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
255
the electrical contractors about $250,000 worth of work
that would have gone to the general contractor. While
this change is of direct benefit to the electrical con-
tractors, it is also beneficial to the State, for in the past
it has been common practice for the general con-
tractor securing a job to sublet the electrical work for
a set price to the electrical contractor. On all jobs the
electrical contractor, of course, tried to secure a profit,
and then the general contractor generally made twice
as much profit on the electrical work as the electrical
man. Hence the electrical work done through a general
contractor really carried a threefold profit. With the
present arrangement it is said that better work will be
secured at a more reasonable price.
Contractors Oppose Concentric Wiring
One topic upon which practically all delegates agreed
was that the advent of concentric wiring at this time
is undesirable. After listening to a review of the recent
developments along this line by Mr. Ernest Freeman,
■of Chicago, a resolution was passed declaring the Illi-
nois contractors "to be opposed to the manufacture and
use of concentric wire on account of the inferior con-
struction and consequent danger likely to attend its in-
stallation." It was generally conceded that the intro-
duction of concentric wiring would reduce the contrac-
tors' business. Those who expressed themselves as
being opposed to the use of this wire were Messrs. Wil-
liam McGuineas, Ernest Freeman, W. A. Jackson, J. H.
Pierce and A. M. Wilmersdorf, Chicago; Guy Carlton,
Bloomington, and W. J. Ball, Moline.
The entertainment features of the convention were
unusually elaborate, and the registered attendance,
reaching 204, broke all records. The next semi-annual
convention of the association will be held at Peoria in
June.
materially but that manufacturers will also be assisted
substantially by the fact that the association has now
standard specifications for practically all the require-
ments of most of the Canadian operating companies.
Convention Plans Discussed in San Francisco
Plans for the San Francisco convention of the Na-
tional Electric Light Association, to be held on June 7
to 11, were discussed at a meeting held in San Fran-
cisco, on Jan. 20. Messrs. T. C. Martin, secretary, and
•George W. Elliott, master of transportation, went from
New York to meet with the local San Francisco com-
mittees. Reports were made to the general convention
committee by the chairmen of the sub-committees on
entertainment, finance, hotel, local transportation,
ladies' auxiliary, local registration, information and
publicity. It was decided that the convention shall not
be held in the Exposition auditorium at the civic center
but in the Native Sons' Hall, which has a central loca-
tion and a main hall capacity for 1500 people.
Co-operative Buying by Canadian Electrical Asso-
ciation
The Canadian Electrical Association has completed
plans for co-operative purchasing by member companies.
Mr. Alan Sullivan, secretary-treasurer, writes to the
Electrical World that the association is in the mar-
ket for a very large quantity of carbon and tungsten
lamps, meters, transformers and rubber-covered and
"weather-proofed wire. The purchasers will be operating
companies in good standing, and they will include
the largest organizations in Canada. Copies of speci-
fications, etc., may be secured for bona fide tenders from
Mr. Sullivan at his office at 10 Adelaide Street East,
Toronto, Ont.
The new movement of the association is the result of
a good deal of work. It is felt by the association that
not only will the central-station companies be benefited
Output of Large Generating Systems
The accompanying table gives statistics for 1914 on
the output, peak load and load-factor of the large
generating systems of the country. Similar data for
the year 1913 were published in our issue of Jan. 10,
1914, excepting that this year we give information on
the Pacific Gas & Electric Company of San Francisco,
the Ontario Power Company of Niagara Falls, Ont.,
and the Pennsylvania Water & Power Company of Holt-
wood, available for the first time this year. The On-
tario Power Company's development is situated on the
Canadian side of Niagara Falls and the output is trans-
DATA ON URGE GENERATING BYE
I-EM8
Peak
Load
Kw.
Date
of
Peak
Load
Yearly
Output
Kw-hr.
Yearly
Load
Factor,
per Cent
Niagara Falls Power Company
131,520
Jan. 5
906,513,620
78.7
Ontario Power Company
130.500
Sept. 23
781,664,400
68.4
New York Edison Company
329,787
Dec. 23
719,193,535
35.7
Pacific Gas <fc Electric Company
124,000
Oct. 29
658,298.000
60 6
Penn. Water & Power Company
74,000
Dec. 17
277,200,000
42.5
Philadelphia Electric Company
77.728
Dec. 1
250,697,952
36.8
Boston Edison Company
B,342
Dec. 21
194,137,400
34
Brooklyn Edison Company
49.300
Dec. 9
153,946.900
35 6
Commonwealth Edison Company*
*No data received.
mitted across the border into the United States beyond
Syracuse by the Niagara, Lockport & Ontario Power
Company and throughout the Province of Ontario chiefly
by the Hydro-Electric Power Commission of Ontario.
Somewhat more energy is used in Canada than in the
United States, the ratio being about sixty to forty. The
energy from the Pennsylvania Water & Power Company
is transmitted for the most part to Baltimore, Md.,
where it is used by the Consolidated Gas, Electric Light
& Power Company and by the United Railways & Elec-
tric Company.
Owing to the restrictions imposed during the year
by the War Department on the diversion of water in the
United States and by the Canadian government on ex-
portation of electricity from Canada, the yearly output
of the Niagara Falls Power Company, which includes
that of the Canadian Niagara Power Company, the
stations being operated in parallel, is lower than that
for 1913 by over 43,000,000 kw-hr. The output of the
other systems has increased materially during the year.
Of particular interest are the data on the Pacific Gas
& Electric Company's system. The output of that com-
pany last year was greater than the combined output
of the Philadelphia, Boston and Brooklyn Edison com-
panies, and the load-factor on the system was over 60
per cent, which is a much better showing than that of
any of the other companies listed with the exception of
the two companies at Niagara Falls.
Apparently the diversity of the loads along the At-
lantic seaboard does not vary greatly, since the annual
load-factors of the Boston, New York, Brooklyn and
Philadelphia companies are not far apart. The Pacific
Gas & Electric Company with its greater territory and
greater diversity of load, including as it does agricul-
tural, mining, manufacturing, civic, railway and do-
256
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 4
mestic service and with hydroelectric and steam stations,
uses its generating equipment to excellent advantage in
carrying that load.
Company Not Required to Furnish Low-Voltage
Direct Current for Theater
The New York Public Service Commission, Second
District, has decided that it would be unreasonable to
order the Municipal Gas Company of Albany to supply
all the kinds of electrical energy that might be needed
by its consumers, and it has dismissed the complaint of
Mr. F. Ray Comstock, lessee of Harmanus Bleeker Hall,
which asked that the company be directed to supply
low-voltage direct current suitable for use in the "spot-
light" on the theater's stage.
Commissioner Irvine, who wrote the opinion, points
out that the company does not refuse to supply several
kinds of energy, namely 500-volt direct current for
motor service, and four kinds of alternating current
for lighting and motor service. The company is willing
to supply all of these standard kinds and sizes if the
theater will install its own apparatus for transforming
the current. If, in response to this complaint, the com-
pany were to be compelled to install the special appa-
ratus needed either at its plant, thence to be transmitted
over special lines, or on the premises, any consumer de-
siring any special variation of energy might compel
the company to furnish it or else be subject to a charge
of discrimination. This policy would obviously involve
a ruinous duplication of plant and lines throughout the
city.
The theater complained that the alternating current
in the spotlights sometimes produces a sharp buzz in
the spotlight apparatus and that the lights had to be
watched very closely lest this sound, said to somewhat
resemble that of human osculation, interrupt perform-
ances.
Large New-Business Meeting in Cleveland
The committee on new business co-operation of the
Ohio Electric Light Association met at the Hotel Hol-
lenden, Cleveland, on Jan. 20. More than 100 Ohio
central-station sales managers and salesmen were pres-
ent. Following an address of welcome by Mr. R. H.
Wright, Cleveland, the chairman, Mr. Thomas F. Kelly,
of Dayton, introduced Mr. T. E. Simpers, Westinghouse
Electric & Manufacturing Company, who spoke on "Ap-
plications of Electric Drive in Flour Mills." The paper
was discussed by Messrs. F. B. Steele, Dayton ; H. G.
Bonner, Elyria; L. Beecher, Hillsboro; R. J. Busey, Al-
liance; R. T. Kaigin, Cleveland; F. E. Schornstein, Cin-
cinnati; J. E. North, Springfield; H. B. Bixler, Akron;
0. A. Aceef, Massillon, and J. C. Matthieu, Dayton.
A joint lunch was held at noon with the Electrical
League of Cleveland and the Jovian chapter. President
Morris A. Black of the Cleveland Chamber of Commerce
addressed the guests.
Nitrogen-Lamp Bnsinesa
A paper by Mr. W. A. Wadsworth, of Cincinnati, on
"Securing Business with the Nitrogen-Filled Lamp"
aroused lively discussion at the afternoon session. Mr.
Wadsworth told how his company has installed 1200
new high-efficiency units, with the result of increasing
its load by 050 kw of additional business. Lamp life,
renewals, effect on other business, appearance of bare
units, etc., were mentioned during the ensuing discus-
sion by Messrs. E. A. Beckstein, Sandusky; N. Boyn-
ton, Cleveland; F. C. Morrison, Newark; G. A. Lowther,
Sandusky; R. H. Wright, Cleveland, and A. K. Young.
Toledo.
Mr. L. E. Smith, General Electric Company, L\ nn,
Mass., discussed "Applications of Motors up to 25 Hp."
Mr. J. C. Matthieu, power engineer of the Dayton Power
& Light Company, closed the program with a paper dis-
cussing opportunities for central stations in the acqui-
sition of industrial truck business from factories, rail-
roads, etc.
In the evening a joint meeting with the Cleveland Sec-
tion of the Electric Vehicle Association was held, fol-
lowed by attendance at the automobile show, where
"electric-vehicle night" was celebrated.
Twenty-six of the sales staff of the Toledo Railways
& Light Company attended the convention, making the
trip in a special car.
The Argon Lamp
There was some discussion in the anterooms regard-
ing the 100-watt argon lamp, which is nearly ready for
the market. It was learned that the associated lamp
companies expect to announce on Feb. 8 their readi-
ness to supply commercially the new 100-watt argon-
filled lamp on which their research laboratories have
been working. The new gas-filled unit will have a spe-
cific consumption of 0.75 watt per candle, approximat-
ing that of the present 200-watt nitrogen-filled lamp.
Argon, one of the rarer, inert elements of atmosphere,
is concentrated by a liquid-air distillation process. Ow-
ing to its physical properties, specific heat density, etc.,
argon is found to be superior to nitrogen for use in
bulbs of smaller sizes. A tremendous demand is ex-
pected for these lamps, and already, it is learned, large
advance orders have been booked.
N. E. L. A. Report on Standardizing Plugs and
Receptacles
A provisional report on plugs and receptacles has
been adopted by the committee on wiring existing build-
ings of the Commercial Section of the National Electric
Light Association. It has been submitted to the execu-
tive committees of the main body and the Commercial
Section and is given out for publication in advance of
its presentation at the June convention in order that it
may receive consideration before that time. Mr. R. S.
Hale is chairman of the committee.
The task of standardizing plugs and receptacles was
assigned to the committee two years ago. Largely on
account of patent difficulties, the committee made no
progress at first. It was found, however, that in some
cities underwriters and other inspectors were forbid-
ding the use of receptacles on lighting circuits and re-
quiring that they be installed on separate circuits. In
past reports the committee has made suggestions which,
if adopted by the underwriters, would have obviated
this difficulty but they refused to take any action
"Plug" in the report means the cap of separable
plugs as well as the whole plug whether separable or
non-separable. The committee recommendations are:
"Plugs attd Receptacles for Lighting Circuit* Alone
Considered. — For the moment we should confine our-
selves to the class of small plugs and receptacles suitable
for use on lighting circuits. The line of demarcation at
present is 660 watts, or 6 amp, at 110 volts. Plugs and
receptacles of larger capacities are chiefly for charg-
ing storage batteries and are being standardized by
other committees. In any case they are not considered
in this report except as noted.
"Articles on List. — The committee has prepared the
following list of the small plugs and receptacles. Some
of these have in the past been rated as good for higher
wattages than would be allowed on lighting circuits, but
it is understood that the manufacturers of the articles
Jam \k\ 23. 1915
ELECTRICAL WOK I. I)
257
here listed have agreed to use all reasonable effort to
keep their plage off any devices taking more current
than is allowed on lighting circuits, even if such plugs
and receptacles are actually sate with a higher current
than the highest permissible load on a lighting circuit,
in other words, all the plugs and receptacles in this
li<t will hereafter be nominally rated as good only for
660 watts or less, and as not proper for use on devices
that take over 660 watts, so long as this remains the
capacity allowed on lighting circuits.
"Ill this report the various types are referred to by
the manufacturers' names, on the understanding that
this describes them sufficiently for all practical pur-
poses. The output of a given manufacturer may, for
instance, include wall receptacles, floor receptacles,
separable plugs and receptacles, angle receptacles, etc.
They will all be considered as being in this list so long
as the manufacturer does not claim for any plug con-
necting to such receptacles a capacity greater than the
capacity allowed on lighting circuits by the National
Electrical Code.
"Polarity Receptacles and Plugs. — None of these are
at present included in the list, and unless included in
the list these should in future be installed on other than
the ordinary lighting circuits. There is good reason,
however, why polarity receptacles should be included in
this list as approved types, provided the manufacturer
of such agrees to attempt to keep them off any de-
vice of higher capacity than is allowed on lighting
circuits.
"Plugs and Large Devices. — It is understood that
such plugs (polarity or ordinary) as these firms may
make of larger capacity ( 15 amp or over) will be made
so as not to fit the small-size receptacles.
"Re-rating. — Some of the small-size plugs now made
by these firms have in the past been given a rating of
10 amp, but it is understood that ratings of not over
6 amp at 110 volts (660 watts) will hereafter be adver-
tised for the small-size plugs and receptacles in this
list. This will not involve any change in the design or
manufacture.
"Future Change of Rating. — The limit of 6 amp at
110 volts, or 660 watts, is the present limit allowed by
the National Electrical Code on lighting circuits. If
the limit allowed by the code should be changed in fu-
ture, a similar change would naturally be made in the
maximum rating of this class of small plugs and recep-
tacles.
"Practice of Members. — It is recommended that N.
E. L. A. members (both company and individual) refuse
to purchase for use on lighting circuits any receptacles
or plugs that do not connect to any of the plugs and
receptacles on this list.
"To Manufacturers. — A complete outfit consists of:
A, wall or baseboard receptacles; B, plugs that fit in
such receptacles (this including the cap of separable
plugs), and also C, connectors that have on one side an
Edison screw plug similar to a lamp base for use in
lamp sockets, and on the other side the receptacle for
the cap, the connector and cap together making a so-
called separable plug. If the output of any manufac-
turer does not constitute one portion of a complete
outfit, such manufacturer should take note of the fact
that his product will be omitted when final standardiza-
tion is effected, and should make early arrangements
accordingly.
"Future Improved Devices. — If any new type of plug
and receptacle should be developed or presented to the
N. E. L. A. (even if not interchangeable with any of
those on the list), the N. E. L. A. should, nevertheless,
until further notice, be prepared to add it to the list;
but the committee hopes that the progress of the in-
dustry and the expiration of patents will lead to the
universal adoption of only and that one of
the types already in use.
"Largt Recept or Large Devices
Not Suitable for Use -The com-
mittee recommends that no outlets other than lamp
sockets, Edison screw-base receptacles or the recepta-
cles on this list be allowed on lighting circuits, and the
committee considers that the underwriters and inspec-
tors will be justified in requiring separate circuits, pilot
lights, etc.. for receptacles not on this list.
"Result if the N. E. /.. A. Accepts This Report. — The
result of acceptance of this report should be a first
step toward standardization. The next step will come
when any of the plugs and receptacles on this list cease
to be made and give place to better ones, and the final
result will be arrived at when only one is left. On ac-
count of the patent difficulties alone it would be unde-
sirable for the committee now to select any one type
from the list, but if the holders of patents will only
license other manufacturers on reasonable terms, the
final standardization of plugs and receptacles (similar
to the present standardization of the screw lamp base
and socket) will be sooner arrived at.
"List.— The ordinary Edison screw-base receptacle
is, of course, allowed, and the solid or swivel plug for
use in such receptacles or in a lamp socket is, of
course, allowed whenever a non-separable plug may be
used.
"The other types are as follows : Bryant, Chelten,
Cutler-Hammer, Federal, General Electric, Hart Manu-
facturing Company Diamond H, Hubbell, Paiste,
Trumbull."
To this list names have been added and other manu-
facturers may be included later.
"Since the provisional adoption of the report the fol-
lowing have been presented," Mr. Hale adds, "and
should for all practical purposes be considered as in the
report: National Metal Molding. This will connect
with the Hubbell and, of course, the Hubbell will con-
nect with the National Metal Molding. Benjamin has
also applied and may possibly connect with one of the
others on the list.
"I am also glad to state that I understand some of
the manufacturers are negotiating among themselves
with a view to making their plugs and receptacles in-
terconnec table.
"I understand that some of the manufacturers whose
plugs and receptacles have certain weaknesses are mak-
ing plans to drop the manufacture of such and instead
to adopt one of the other types, all of which leads toward
the standardization of a single type.
"This report does not take up particularly the ques-
tion of polarity receptacles. The importance of this
question is before the committee and will be considered
at their next meeting."
Electricity at Panama-California Exposition
The accompanying illustration shows a night view
of the Panama-California Exposition, which was form-
ally opened at San Diego, Cal., on New Year's Eve. Al-
though electricity is very generally used throughout the
exposition, the spectacular lighting characteristic of
former expositions is lacking. The outline system of
lighting not fitting in with the Spanish style of archi-
tecture followed, some other system of lighting was
devised. Arcades on all structures line both sides of
every street in typical Spanish style, and in the center
of each arch, the arches being spaced 13 ft. on center,
is an indirect fixture consisting of an ornamental plaster
bowl in which are four 25-watt tungsten lamps. The
arches have a warm light tint, giving a pleasing reflec-
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 4
tion. The Prado, streets and plazas have acacia trees,
spaced 16 ft. apart, and between every pair of trees
on the Prado and plazas, or at 32-ft. intervals, is an
ornamental staff post surmounted with a 500-watt tung-
sten lamp. The spacing on other streets is increased to
a maximum of 60 ft., and 250-watt lamps are used in an
extensive pepper grove where the series system is em-
ployed. Outline lighting prevails on the Isthmus, where
the concessions are housed, and it is estimated that
some 50,000 10-watt tungsten lamps are connected on
the decorative circuits in that section. All distribution
is underground except along the Isthmus, where poles
are erected on both sides of the street behind the con-
cessions.
An 11,000-volt line runs from the station of the San
Diego Gas & Electric Company to a 2500-kw substation
on1 the grounds of the exposition. Here the potential is
stepped down to 2200 volts and distributed to trans-
control of a utility is that which develops an eagerness
and ability on the part of the company to furnish the
service and an equal eagerness and ability on the part
of the consumer to purchase the service.
How are we to determine the best way in which to
develop this eagerness and ability on the part of the
company and the consumer? In answer, Mr. Baum
said:
(.1) There must be developed a diversified use of elec-
tric energy. (2) Fair public service commissions must
act as boards of arbitration between the company and
the consumer. (3) The rate of return on the invest-
ment must be liberal. (4) There must be confidence
in the company and its rates, and class rates are abso-
lutely necessary for the development of the business.
(5) There must be some incentive for the company to
make economies in construction and operation.
All the early companies risked large sums in the early
Itji
wv*wi
-r"
PANAMA-CALIFORNIA EXPOSITION AT SAN DIEGO ON OPENING NIGHT
former rooms in the buildings, where it is further trans-
formed to 110-220 volt, three-phase energy for motor
circuits, the lamp circuits, of course, being single-phase.
From the transformer rooms secondaries are run to the
street and arcade lighting systems. Four circuits issue
from each transformer room — a three-phase system for
motors, a twenty-four-hour lighting system, street-
lighting system and arcade-lighting system. The last
two are switched on at dusk and are switched off again
when the grounds are closed.
The Best Control of Public Utilities Through
Class Rates
Mr. Frank G. Baum, of San Francisco, presented a
paper on "The Best Control of Public Utilities" before
the San Francisco Section of the American Institute
of Electrical Engineers on Jan. 22.
The paper is especially timely because the people of
California have adopted an amendment to the consti-
tution placing public utilities throughout the State
under the jurisdiction of the Railroad Commission.
It must be evident to anyone who has given serious
consideration to the subject of the control of public
utilities, Mr. Baum said, that it is necessary always to
have in mind the following as an axiom: The best
stages of the electrical business, Mr. Baum said, and
this should not be lost sight of in fixing rates at the
present time. A certain manufacturing company at
one time had a possible loss of about $10,000,000 facing
it before it made its type of steam turbine a success.
The price at which turbines are sold must, of course,
absorb this amount, but the gain in efficiency obtainable,
of which the public gets the benefit, makes the $10,000,-
000 insignificant. If the manufacturers are entitled
to something for their risk, is not the electricity supply
company that installed reciprocating engines to be re-
placed by turbines entitled to something for its risk?
Usually we penalize the company and make it stand the
loss on its books. Another manufacturing company
stood to lose at one time about $500,000 before the in-
duction motor was made a success. It is certainly en-
titled to a large return for this risk, especially when we
consider the enormous value of the induction motor to
the world. Similarly the early transmission companies
stood to lose the entire first investment made. And yet,
in spite of the enormous value of this pioneer work,
many people say there shall be a return on only the wise
investment. Who is to judge what was a wise invest-
ment in water-power twenty years ago?
The lighting consumer's rate is much higher than the
rate to the power consumer because: (1) The invest-
ment and cost of operation to serve the lighting con-
Jam un 28, L91G
ELECTRICAL WORLD
259
sumer are greater than the investment and cost of
operation to serve the power consumer, and (2), much
more important, the total energy consumed by the powex
.mers is much greater than that used by the light-
ing consumers for the same peak demanded.
It is believed, Mr. Baum said in conclusion, that the
.success of the electric-power business depends upon de-
veloping a diversified load. To obtain a diversified load
it is necessary to have "class rates" in order that the
power business may be developed parallel with the light-
ing business. Class rates, as determined by the method
described in the paper, it is believed, are equitable to
all consumers and will result in the lowest rates to all
consumers as business is developed.
The eagerness and ability which it is desirable to
create on the part of the public utility company and the
consumer, then, primarily depend upon two things: (1)
Liberal rates of return on investment so that the com-
panies will make extensions and economies. (2) Class
rates determined by the method outlined, applied to
develop all the possibilities of the business.
Uniform class rates are necessary to build up a
diversified business, to give the lowest stable rates to
all consumers and to form an incentive to the com-
panies to reduce financing, construction and operation
costs. It is believed that the application of the above
will result in an "eagerness and ability on the part of
the company to furnish the service and an equal eager-
ness and ability on the part of the consumer to purchase
the service," and it is confidently believed that this will
result "to the best interest of the business," consider-
ing the company, the consumer and the community as a
whole. If it does that, as it is confidently believed it
will, there will result "the best control of public
utilities."
Mr. Gruhl on Increased Taxation in Wisconsin
A paper on "Increased Taxation in Wisconsin and its
Effect Upon Public Service Companies" was presented
before the annual convention of the Wisconsin Electrical
Association at Milwaukee on Jan. 21 by Mr. Edwin
Gruhl, assistant to the president of the Watertown
(Wis.) Gas & Electric Company. Mr. Gruhl said that
the increases in taxes of public service corporations
during the last few years have been proportionately
greater than the general increase in taxes. The in-
creases have, moreover, far exceeded the rate of growth
of the business whether measured in terms of new
capital or in terms of gross or net earnings.
The summarized reports of the several utilities to
the Railroad Commission show that during the period
1910 to 1914 taxes paid by gas utilities increased 44.72
per cent as compared with an increase in operating rev-
enues of 24.79 per cent and an increase in gross in-
come before deducting taxes of 14.97 per cent. Where
in 1910 gas companies paid 6.07 per cent of their oper-
ating revenues in taxes this ratio has increased steadily
to 7.04 per cent of their operating revenues for the
fiscal year 1914. The percentage of taxes to gross in-
come before deducting taxes shows a similar increase
from 21.26 per cent to 26.76 per cent. An examination
of the returns of all electric utilities to the Railroad
Commission discloses the same tendency to increase,
Mr. Gruhl added. Where during this five year period
operating revenues increased 80.33 per cent and gross
income before deducting taxes increased 35.83 per cent,
taxes paid increased 112.74 per cent. Where electric
utilities in 1910 paid 4.45 per cent of their operating
revenues as taxes this ratio increased to 5.25 per cent
in 1914, while the proportion of gross income available
for taxes and return upon the investment which has
been paid in taxes increased from 10.17 per cent to
15.92 i»r cent Electric railway operating revenues
during the five years increased 19.30 per cent, and gross
income available for taxes and return upon the invest-
ment decreased io.:;7 per cent, while taxes continued to
increase L5.82 per cent.
Mr. Gruhl declared that much of the reason for in-
creased assessment of public service corporations rests
'Hi the theory that the intangible values of such cor-
porations are peculiar in themselves and are entitled
to special classifications and special treatment. These
intangibles are frequently referred to in statutes as
"rights," "privileges," "franchises" or "corporate ex-
cess." Before the advent of commission regulation
there was greater reason why unregulated monopolies
should be taxed in excess of the amounts contributed
by competitive businesses or other classes of property,
but such taxes are not levied upon the theory that they
were a proper and fair contribution of the corporation
to the conduct of government but as a compulsory form
of profit-sharing.
While these general descriptive titles may have had
their use in the past as a justification for placing larger
tax burdens upon public service corporations, the con-
ditions justifying their use have largely disappeared,
continued Mr. Gruhl. Under regulation both the com-
mission and the public are demanding that service should
be furnished at cost to the utility plus a fair return
upon the investment, and in Wisconsin more than in any
other state the element of cost has been the controlling
factor in the regulation of rates of service. Special
taxes, whether in the form of large assessed valua-
tions attributed to franchises or as other public bur-
dens, merely increase the cost and are ultimately shifted
upon the customer. It is a mistaken notion, prevalent
in many quarters, that this is merely taking money
from one pocket to put it in another.
Were even a part of the $1,315,000 contributed by
gas companies in taxes last year, the $2,642,000 con-
tributed by electric companies and the $2,412,000 con-
tributed by traction companies applied to finance addi-
tional miles of gas mains, electric lines and new tracks,
Mr. Gruhl suggested, there would be less of criticism
that there has been no expansion of the utility business
in Wisconsin. Considering that taxes paid in 1914
amount on an average to 7 cents of the cost of gas per
1000 cu. ft. to one-half a cent on the cost of electrical
energy, to $4 on the annual cost of an arc lamp, and
to nearly one-half a cent on the cost of carrying a
passenger, it is very apparent that the imposition of
such indirect taxes has a far-reaching effect upon the
average customer's use of the service.
Mr. Gruhl said that there has been much discussion
of the reasons why valuations for purposes of taxation
should be different from valuation for purposes of rate-
making. Years ago, when a joint engineering staff was
established to serve both the Tax and the Railroad Com-
missions, publicists in other states applauded the un-
usual sagacity of such a plan. It is probable that no
one then believed that the valuations for taxation would
largely exceed the values for rate-making purposes. The
reason for these differences lies in the special treatment
accorded franchises. Franchises apparently have value
for purposes of taxation and no value for purposes of
rate-making. It seems clear that there should be no
conflict in the State's policy with respect to franchise
values in its administration of regulation and taxation
laws, particularly where the results to be achieved by
these laws are in conflict. Nor is it necessary to point
out the moral of the Consolidated Gas, the Baltimore
Electric and the recent Passaic Gas cases to illustrate
that tax values and franchise values as fixed by the
State sometimes intrude themselves in rate cases
despite a definite State policy to disregard such values.
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 4
Miscellaneous News Notes
Power Company to Buy .Municipal Plant. — The village of
Fremont. Mich., has voted to sell its electric-lighting plant
to the Grand Rapids-Muskegon Power Company for $13,-
000, at the same time giving the company a thirty-year
franchise. The plant, which has been in operation for
eighteen years, was badly in need of repairs.
One Bill for Gas and Electricity. — The New Orleans
(La.) Railway & Light Company, beginning with the first
of the year, inaugurated a system whereby customers using
both gas and electricity had both meters read at the same
time and one bill presented for both. In this way the un-
necessary, annoyance of paying two bills to one company at
different times will be avoided.
Objection to Licensing Contractors in Cincinnati. — It is
said that more than 500 firms and civic organizations have
entered signed protests against the enactment of the pro-
posed ordinance requiring that electrical contractors at Cin-
cinnati, Ohio, must be licensed. A public hearing will be
held before the Council committee to which the ordinance
was referred. Opponents of the measure claim that prop-
erty is safeguarded against defective electrical work by the
inspections of the Cincinnati Inspection Bureau and other
underwriters' organizations.
Rats Gnawed Copper Wire, Opening Circuit. — Electri-
cians investigating an open circuit in the wiring of a
Chicago hotel found that the insulation and the No. 12 cop-
per wire had been eaten away by rats. The hotel was an
old structure which had been wired without conduit, and in
the passageway in which the open circuit occurred the wire
was incased in loom. Marks of rats' teeth were plainly
visible along the few inches of copper which had been bared,
and the break finally occurred near the center of the bare
wire where the gnawing had been most frequent.
Where They Grow the Poles to Fit the Circuits. — A tele-
phone company operating in the country south of Arkansas
City, Kan., has a unique line on the road which marks the
division between Arkansas and Oklahoma. The line, consist-
ing of one full-metallic circuit, is supported on poles which,
forking at the top, afford two well-separated prongs on
which small glass insulators are screwed. No brackets are
therefore needed. Noting this unusual construction while
on a convention automobile tour, a number of members of
the Kansas Gas, Water, Electric Light & Street Railway
Association voted it to be the cheapest as well as the most
inexpensive type of construction they had ever seen.
Variable-Speed Constant Current Battery-Charging Sys-
tem.— A patent issued on Dec. 29, 1914, to Mr. H. Ward
Leonard, Bronxville, N. Y., relates to a motor-vehicle
battery-charging system by means of which the current is
kept at a constant average valve throughout a wide range
of speed of the charging generator. When the current in
the work circuit reaches a certain maximum, the voltage
is reduced automatically until the current reaches a certain
minimum, whereupon the voltage is again increased until
the maximum condition is reached, the cycle being rejected
in such a manner as to maintain a substantially constant
average current in the total work circuit. Use is made of
an electromagnetic switch which serves to limit the speed
of the generator to a proper amount irrespective of the
speed of the vehicle and to limit the current to an amount
within the range of the battery.
Unsuccessful Damage Soil Against Electric-Service Com-
pany.— An electric-service company is not responsible for
electrical fires caused by defects in its consumers' wiring
according to a decision rendered by the Northumberland
County (Pa.) Court of Common Pleas in a suit brought
against the Northumberland County Gas & Electric Com
pany. The necessity of sharply defining where a central
station company's service and responsibility end was em-
phasized. CrOBS-eXamination indicated that the suit was
really brought l>y the in lUrance companies and was entered
about a year after the Ore occurred, when all evidence of
the can e were removed except for photographs taken by the
insurance company, owing to the evidence produced .ludge
II. W. Cnmminga decided thai the central station company
had no responsibility for construction beyond the point
where the consumer's equipment was connected to the wires
supplying en>
Associations and Societies
Northern White Cedar Association. — As already noted
in these columns, the annual meeting of the Northern White
Cedar Association will be held at Minneapolis, Jan. 26 and
27. Mr. N. E. Boucher, 743 Lumber Exchange, Minneapolis,
is secretary.
New York Jovians. — At the midday meeting of the
Jovians of New York City on Jan. 20 an address was de-
livered by Dr. M. I. Pupin, professor of electromechanics
at Columbia University, on "Servia and the Present Euro-
pean Conflict."
Milwaukee Efficiency Society. — At a meeting of the Mil-
waukee Efficiency Society, Jan. 14, Mr. Charles L. Benjamin,
former advertising manager of the Cutler-Hammer Manu-
facturing Company, Milwaukee, Wis., spoke on the subject
of "Advertising as an Aid to Business Efficiency."
Chicago Section, I. E. S. — Dr. Clayton H. Sharp, technical
director of the Electrical Testing Laboratories, New York
City, will address the Chicago Section of the Illuminating
Engineering Society, Jan. 29, in the rooms of the Western
Society of Engineers, Monadnock Block, Chicago.
Annual Meeting of Iowa Section, N. E. L. A. — The annual
meeting of the Iowa Section of the National Electric Light
Association will be held at Keokuk, April 20, 21 and 22.
Mr. Rex H. Fowler, Des Moines Electric Company, Des
Moines. la., is assistant secretary of the section.
St. Louis N. E. L. A. Bulletin Now "Wire and Pipe." —
With the January, 1915, issue the monthly publication of
the employees of the Union Electric Light & Power Com-
pany, St. Louis, Mo., the St. Louis County Gas Company
and the Electric Company of Missouri, formerly the Union
Kiel-trie Bulletin, takes its new name, Wire and Pipe. A
prize of $3 was awarded to Mr. E. F. Stevens, who sug-
gested this title.
Special to Western Inspectors' Convention. — A special
car for members of the Western Association of Electrical
Inspectors will leave Chicago over the Chicago, Milwaukee
& St. Paul Railroad Monday, Jan. 25, at 6.35 p. m., reaching
Minneapolis, Minn., next morning in time for the opening
of the association's annual convention, which will be held
at the Hotel Radisson, Jan. 26, 27 and 28. The program
and arrangements for the convention were referred to fully
on page 133 of our issue of Jan. 9.
Chicago Section, E. V. A.— Mr. E. B. Forslund, of the
Northwestern Electric Company, Chicago, described a
rotary converter for vehicle charging before the Jan. 12
meeting of the Chicago Section of the Electric Vehicle
Association. At the Jan. 19 meeting Mr. George A. Arnold,
of the Lincoln Electric Company, Cleveland, Ohio, ab-
stracted a paper read by Mr. J. F. Lincoln at the recent
Philadelphia convention. The Chicago Section holds weekly
luncheon meetings at the Railroad Club, Karpen Building,
900 South Michigan Avenue.
"Rules of the Road" for Electric-Vehicle Drivers. — The
Chicago Section of the Electric Vehicle Association is pre-
paring to send to all users of electric passenger cars in that
city a pamphlet abstracting the more common traffic rules
formulated by the police department. Suggestions wil 1 also
be offered for the proper operation of electric vehicles, and
particular emphasis is to be laid on the point that slow-
moving vehicle; should keep to the side of the roadway,
surrendering the crown of the pavement to faster traffic.
Mr. I). C. Arlington has the preparation of the booklet in
charge.
Six Hundred at Annual Meeting of Chicago Electric Club.
— Six hundred members and guests of the Electric Club of
Chicago filled to overflowing the great banquet hall of the
Hotel LaSalle in that city on Thursday evening, Jan. 7, for
the club's annual meeting, which followed a light supper.
Brief addresses and reports were made by the officers of
the retiring administration — Mr. A. R. Bone, president; Mr.
W. C. Berry, vice-president; Mr. P. W. Harvey, treasurer,
and Mr. II. Ehrlieh. secretary. President Bone was pre-
ented with a monster watch-fob in recognition of the
growth of the club's membership during his term. The in-
coming officers, headed by the new president, Mr. W. R.
Pinckard, were then installed.
Jam \i;v 28, i : » 1 r.
E LEC T R 1 c A I. WO !:i. I)
■i<;\
Meeting <>f Chamber <>i Commerce of United states. —
The annual meeting of the Chamber of Commerce of the
United States will be held in Washington on Feb. :; to ">.
President Wilson will make an address at the dinner on
the evening of Feb. -i. Three members of the Cabinet will
be beard at different Bessions, Secretaries Bryan, McAdon
and Redfield. Governor Charles H. Hamlin of the Fed-
eral Reserve Board will discuss the federal reserve bank
law, and Commissioner of Corporations Joseph E. Davies
the federal trade commission law. Dr. Edward K. Pratt,
chief of the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce,
and .Mr. Samuel McRoberts, vice-president of the National
Bank of New York, will be among the other speakers
at the meeting-
Joint Meeting Of New ^ ork Section of I. B. S. and Pro-
fessional Photographers. — The application of electric lamps
to photography was discussed by a number of speakers on
Jan. 14 in New York City, at the joint meeting of the New
York Section of the Illuminating Engineering Society and
the Metropolitan Section of the Professional Photographers'
Society of New York. Among those who spoke were Mr.
M. I.uckiesh on "The Application of the New High-Effi-
ciency Tungsten Lamp to Photography," Mr, J. E. William-
son on "Submarine Photography," Mr. J. B. Taylor on
"Color Photography," and Mr. M. B. Buckman on "Applica-
tion of Mercury- Vapor Lamps to Photography." Following
the presentation of these subjects, photographs were taken
under the light furnished by the electric lamps which were
exhibited to show their relative merits.
Annual Meeting of Mining Engineers. — The American
Institute of Mining Engineers will hold its next annual
meeting in New York from Feb. 15 to 17. On Wednesday,
Feb. 17, there will be a technical session devoted to elec-
tricity in mines, at which the following papers will be
presented: "Hydro-electric Development of the Peninsular
Power Company," by Mr. Charles V. Seastone; "Under-
ground Haulage by Storage-Battery Locomotives in the
Bunker Hill and Sullivan Mines," by Mr. J. W. Gwinn;
"Testing and Application of Hammer Drills," by Mr. B. F.
Tillson; "Mining Methods of the Arizona Copper Company,"
by Mr. P. B. Scotland; "Mining Methods at Park City,
Utah," by Mr. James Humes, and "Some Defects of the
United States Mining Law," by Mr. Courtenay DeKalb.
Mr. Bradley Stoughton, 29 West Thirty-ninth Street, New
York, is secretary of the American Institute of Mining
Engineers.
European Boiler-Room Practice. — In a lecture on Jan. 13
before the New York Electrical Society Mr. William A.
Blonck spoke on "European Boiler-Room Practice and the
Boiler Efficiency Methods in the United States with Refer-
ence to Electric Light and Power Plants." He pointed out
the features in German generating stations, calling special
attention to the large coal-storage space and small over-
head bunkers, the unit boiler system, the substitution of
economizers for the last passes in boilers to reduce stack
temperature, the use of ejector draft producers, and the
practice of connecting all auxiliaries to one turbine. The
speaker also devoted considerable time to the discussion of
methods of indicating or recording boiler performance. The
lecture drew out an interesting discussion, in which the fol-
lowing took part: Messrs. C. O. Mailloux, R. J. S. Pigott
and Frederick A. Scheffler. An abstract of the lecture and
discussion will appear in a later issue of the Electrical
World.
New York Electric Vehicle Association Procures Co-oper-
ative Garage. — The often-talked-of plan of a co-operative
garage for electric pleasure vehicles has become a reality
with the signing of a lease by the New York Electri?
Vehicle Association for a building on the southwest corner
of Central Park West and Sixty-second Street. A number
of the leading manufacturers of electric pleasure vehicles
are co-operating with the New York Electric Vehicle Asso-
ciation in this undertaking and all concerned are sparing no
efforts to make it a big success. The Rauch & Lang, De-
troit and Baker companies will have showrooms in the
building, making it their headquarters. The various manufac-
turers will have their showrooms in the building, and these
are being rapidly fitted up for occupancy, while the garage
itself is being equipped so as to make it in every way an
ideal garage for electric cars. The garage will start in with
accommodations for 150 cars, of which more than 100 have
already been eenred 1' is planned that there shall be a fixed
charge hi" $46 a month, which will include battery charg-
ing, care of the car and taking the car to and from the
owner's residence to the garage. The object of the plan is
to provide a large, centrally located garage where electric
pleasure cars will have a home of their own and receive
special care and attention.
A. I. [■'.. E. Activities. — At a meeting of the board of di-
tectors of the American Institute of Electrical Engineers on
Jan. 8 authority was granted to hold Institute meetings in
Cleveland on March 18 and 19 and in Pittsburgh on April 15
and 1(1. These meetings will be conducted under the auspices
of the industrial-power committee with the co-operation of
the Cleveland and Pittsburgh sections. Upon the petition of
Prof. S. R. Pritchard, of the Virginia Polytechnic Institute,
Blacksburg, Va., the organization of a student branch at that
institute was authorized. Past-president Gano Dunn was
unanimously reappointed one of the American Institute of
Electrical Engineers' representatives upon the board of trus-
tees of the United Engineering Society for the term of three
years. Secretary Hutchinson announced that, in accordance
with Section 21 of the Institute by-laws, President Lincoln
would become a member of the John Fritz Medal board of
award on the third Friday of January, to succeed Past-pres-
ident Dugald C. Jackson, whose term will expire on that
date. Past-president Ralph D. Mershon was appointed a
member of the Edison Medal committee to fill the vacancy
caused by the resignation of Mr. W. D. Weaver. Mr. Harry
Parker Gibbs was appointed local honorary secretary for
India for the term of two years, to succeed Mr. Clare F.
Beanies, who recently returned to the United States from
that country.
Washington Section, E. V. A.— The Washington (D. C.)
Section of the Electric Vehicle Association of America met
on Jan. 14 at the offices of the Potomac Electric Power Com-
pany. Mr. W. H. Haycock, superintendent of mails, Post
Office Department, read a paper on the means that have
been employed in Washington to transport the mails and
their relative merits. The screen wagon is used to handle
the mails between the railroad stations and the post office
and between the post office and its various substations. Ve-
hicles for this service are of from 1500-lb. to 6000-lb. capacity
and should have heavy haulage and mileage capacity rather
than speed characteristics. Since the institution of the par-
cels post a new type of delivery service has been inaugu-
rated. It is necessary to handle such mail by vehicles of
from 1000-lb. to 1500-lb. capacity, and such vehicles should
have the following characteristics: The operating expenses
during stops should be small, the acceleration and decelera-
tion should be large, the speed should be high, and the
mechanical construction should be such that the wear and
tear incident to frequent stops and starts will be a mini-
mum. For parcel-post service contracts have been let which
provide for gasoline-automobile delivery, steam-automobile
delivery and horse-and-wagon delivery. The average cost
per package to deliver by automobile was 6 cents, and at the
expiration of the contract the contractor refused to renew
his contract except at a higher rate. The horse-and-wagon
service, by contract, cost 2.5 cents per package. In order
to save time and to build up the load-factor of the com-
bined city transportation service the Post Office Depart-
ment prevailed upon Congress to grant an appropriation
for fifty-two gasoline machines to be used by the Washing-
ton post office for such service as it may deem best. As a
result of the government ownership of delivery automobiles
the load-factor has been increased to about 80 per cent and
the dead mileage has been much reduced. In December,
1914, these automobiles traveled 11,506 miles, with only
620 miles of dead milage. Screen-wagon service, which cost
37.5 cents per mile under contract, costs 13 cents per mile
under government ownership of vehicles, and parcels post,
which cost 6 cents per package by contract, now costs 3 cents
by government-owned machines. At the present time there
are 1700 vehicles used in screen-wagon service in the United
States, and less than 5 per cent of these are motor vehicles.
There are 2485 vehicles in city delivery service, and less
than 10 per cent of these are motor vehicles. Of 43,814
vehicles used in rural delivery, only 10 per cent are motor
vehicles.
262
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 4
Public Service Commission News
California Commission
The Railroad Commission of California has issued an
order suspending its previous decision and calling for a
further hearing in the matter of the application of the
Coast Valleys Gas & Electric Company to issue $100,000
first mortgage 6 per cent bonds. The new hearing, which
will be held before Commissioner Gordon at San Francisco
on Jan. 29, has been called for the purpose of determining
the relationship of the company to the guarantee on the
bonds of the Monterey & Pacific Grove Railway.
Washington Commission
The commission has decided that the water rights held
by the Pacific Power & Light Company form an integral
part of the physical property, and that they must there-
fore be included in determining the valuation for rate-
making purposes. That part of the property of the Pa-
cific Power & Light Company which is under consideration
is worth $4,700,000, says the decision, and on this valua-
tion a hearing will be held in the near future with the ob-
ject of establishing rates for the eight counties of the
State of Washington which form part of the territory
served by the company.
Maryland Commission
The commission, in its report to Governor Goldsborough
for 1914, shows that there are 203 corporations under its
jurisdiction, or one less than in 1913. Of these thirty-six
are electric light companies and eighteen are gas and elec-
tric light companies. During the year 396 cases were en-
tered with the commission and 307 were closed. Of those
entered 169 were placed on the formal docket, 118 on the
correspondence docket and 109 on the short-notice and
reparation docket. One of the most useful phases of the
work of the commission appears to have been the corre-
spondence docket. Cases involving minor complaints as to
rates or service are placed upon this docket and are made
the subject of correspondence between the commission and
the complainant and the utility against which the complaint
was directed. In most cases it has been found practicable
to bring about settlement without serious loss of time or
inconvenience either to the person complaining or the
utility affected.
Reference is made to the conference on gas standards,
and it is stated that the commission's efforts are to bring
about a settlement of the question of gas standards in the
city and the counties upon such a basis as will produce the
most permanent and scientific results and will be fair to
both companies and consumers.
New York Commissions
The present plan of the Republican party and Governor
Whitman is to investigate the public service commissions
and conclude the inquiry by Feb. 15. A resolution was in-
troduced in the State Senate on Jan. 18 by Senator Elon
R. Brown, leader of the majority, providing for the ap-
pointment of a joint legislative investigating committee
of four senators and five assemblymen. Senator George
F. Thompson of Niagara County, chairman of the new
public service committee created in the Senate, will be the
chairman of the investigating committee. The bill was
introduced at the request of Governor Whitman. The
committee will investigate charges that have been made
against the commissions and consider recommendations as
to reorganization.
The First District Commission, in its anual report to the
iature for the year ended Dec. 81, 1914, says thai its
running expenses amounted to practically $3,000,000. Of
this amount $2,500,000 was chargeable to rapid transit.
The remainder, about $500,000, was incurred in connection
with regulation.
The total number of employees at the end of the year
was 2100. Of these 1800 are engaged exclusively on rapid
transit work, the remainder, 300, in regulation work. This
represents an increase in two years' time of approximately
1400 employees, and during this period the commission has
awarded about $80,000,000 worth of additional rapid-transit
construction contd
During 1913 the gas companies sold $34,835,210 worth
of gas to the public, or $6.70 per capita. For electrical
energy $32,897,659, or $6.32 per capita, was paid. This
makes a total of $161,886,544, or $30.45 per capita, for
transportation, gas and electric service.
Gas meters tested upon complaint numbered 2880 for the
year, and of these 1064, or 36.9 per cent, were more than 2
per cent fast, and 383, or 13.3 per cent, more than 2 per
cent slow. Of the 701 electric meters tested, twenty-four,
or less than 4 per cent, were found more than 4 per cent
fast.
The Second District Commission has decided that it can-
not prevent the Mohawk Gas Company from shutting off
the supply of Mr. C. Martin, of Schenectady, if he con-
tinues to refuse to pay a bill for gas used in excess of that
paid for in a 25-cent prepayment meter. Commissioner
Van Santvoord writes an opinion, concurred in by Com-
missioner Emmet, in which it is held that the commission
is without power to make the order asked by Mr. Martin.
Commissioner Decker's opinion holds that the commission
has this power, but that the company has a right to shut
off the gas if the bill is not paid. Commissioner Irvine, in
an opinion concurred in by Commissioner Hodson, holds that
the commission has the power to prevent the company
from shutting off the gas and that such an order should be
made. Thus three commissioners agree that no order
should be issued; for, though three commissioners hold that
the commission can issue such an order, only two think this
should be done.
The Second District commission in presenting its report
to the Legislature for the year 1914 says it "expressly re-
frains from any academic discussion of the value to the
State of such a regulative body, under the conviction that
its most useful contribution to such a discussion will be
found in a simple recital of its work during the past year."
The record of cases handled indicates that 298 entire days
of the calendar year were devoted to hearings, 630 in num-
ber, in Albany, Buffalo, New York and throughout the
State. Notwithstanding that during every day of the ordi-
nary business year the commission or one of its members
was thus holding public sessions, 2195 formal and informal
cases were settled between March 16, 1914, the date the
present personnel of the commission was organized, and
the first of the year.
During the latter period 1756 new cases were filed with
the commission — slightly more than the usual number for a
like period in other years. The accumulation of cases
that piled up previous to March 16, 1914, when the member-
ship of the commission was reduced by unfilled vacancies,
has been wiped out, and the calendars are now free of all
but strictly current business. On March 16 there were 390
formal and 558 informal cases pending. On Jan. 1, 1915,
there were but 182 formal cases and 327 informal cases,
all in active process of settlement.
Notwithstanding many additional functions imposed on
the commission by the Legislature since 1908, such as the
regulation of telephones and telegraphs, baggage transfer
and autobus lines and the growth of business in other fields,
the expenses have increased but 44 per cent, which, with
one exception, is a smaller increase than that of any other
department. These figures do not include appropriations
for grade-crossing elimination, which form the subject of
special recommendations in the report, nor the $100,000
appropriated last year for the inventory and appraisal of
the New York Telephone Company's property in New York
City; ^92.000 of this special appropriation remains unex-
pended.
Important changes in the Public Service Commissions
law are recommended. These include the extension of the
authority to suspend proposed rates, pending determination
of their reasonableness, to the rates of telephone, tele-
graph, gas, electric and all corporations subject to rate
regulation.
It is recommended that the sale or transfer of telephone
or telegraph properties and the acquisition of stock or bonds
in one telephone or telegraph company by another be made
subject to the approval of the commission as are like trans-
actions of other public service corporations, and that all
telephone companies in the public service be subjected to
regulation under the statute.
The appropriation asked for this year is $423,685.
Jam aky 23, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Personal
Mr. Char lei A. l.ilham. formerly manager of the Central
Indiana Light, Heat & Power Company of Bloomington,
I mi., has been recently made vice-president of the New York
Steam Company.
.Mr. H. P. Cameron, of the Westinghouse Lamp Com-
pany's New York office, has been appointed executive in
charge of the Lake Charles (La.) Railway, Light & Water-
works Company.
Mr. J. Guinney, of Los Angeles, has been appointed man-
ager, contract agent and superintendent of the Gallup
(N. M.) Electric Light Company as successor to Mr. Louis
8. Frith, resigned.
Mr. Sanford J. McAgee, manager of the Ithaca (X. Y.i
Electric Light & Power Company and of the Ithaca Gas
Light Company, has been appointed manager of the Beaver
County Electric Light Company at New Brighton, Pa.
Mr. L. A. Osborne, vice-president of the Westinghouse
Electric & Manufacturing Company, sails for England from
New York to-day. The trip is for business purposes, and
Mr. Osborne will be away from New York for several weeks.
Mr. \V. L. Davis, formerly connected with the Texas
Traction Company and Southern Traction Company of
Dallas, Tex., as auditor, has resigned his connections with
these companies to enter the public accounting field in Cin-
cinnati, beginning about Feb. 1.
Mr. Carl J. Fechheimer, who for nearly five years had
charge of the design of alternating-current machinery of the
Crocker-Wheeler Company, resigned from that position on
Nov. 30 of last year in order to accept a position in the power
division of the engineering department of the Westinghouse
Electric & Manufacturing Company at East Pittsburgh, Pa.
Mr. A. T. MacDonald, former sales manager of the old
Louisville Lighting Company, Louisville, Ky., has been ap-
pointed general manager of the local agency of the Com-
monwealth Life Insurance Company. Mr. MacDonald, who
edited the Louisville company's attractive publication.
Chained Lightning, will also assume charge of a publicity
campaign for the Commonwealth company. He recently
served as secretary of the Louisville Commercial Club.
Mr. Fred Hanemann, vice-president of the Commercial
Electric Company of New Orleans, La., and one of the
progressive members of the Louisiana branch of the Na-
tional Electrical Contractors' Association, was elected a
director of the national body at a general meeting held Jan.
6. Mr. Hanemann has been identified with the electrical
construction business for many years, and he was among
those who formed the State branch of the national body.
Sir Herbert S. Holt, of Montreal, Quebec, who was re-
cently honored with a knighthood, is one of the power and
transportation giants of the Dominion. Herbert Holt went
to Canada in 1875 as a nineteen-year-old immigrant from
Ireland. He had had a training in mathematics and engi-
neering at Trinity College, Dublin, and a job was given to
him on the Victoria Railway by James Ross, of Montreal.
The road was a crude lumbering line extending north from
Lindsay into the forests of Haliburton. When Mr. Ross
moved to Toronto as superintendent of the Credit Valley
Railway, later absorbed by the Canadian Pacific Railway,
Herbert Holt went with him. In 1883 Mr. Ross went West
as superintendent of construction on the prairie division
of the Canadian Pacific Railway, and again he took young
Holt with him. About the same time William MacKenzie
and D. D. Mann went West, and young Holt soon saw that
there was more money in the contracting business than in
working on salary as an engineer. He spent seven years
in that business, being all the time more or less in touch
with MacKenzie, Mann and Ross. Returning to Montreal,
he directed his energy to getting control of the city's power
and light facilities. He first bought out the old Montreal
Gas Company, then he acquired the Royal Electric Company,
and by degrees buying out competing companies he evolved
the present Montreal Light, Heat & Power Company, with
its $17,000,000 capital and its almost absolute monopoly in
the city and districts of Montreal. Besides being president
of the Montreal Light, Heat & Power Company, Sir Herbert
S. Holt is president of the Royal Bank and a director of
the Canadian Pacific Railway.
Mr. \\ illiam 15. Jackson, consulting engineer, Chicago, who
has been elected president of the Western Society of En-
gineers, is one of three brothers well known among elec-
trical engineers, the other two being Prof. Dugald C.
Jackson, head of the elec-
atrical engineering depart-
ment of the Massachusetts
itute of Technology, Bos-
ton, and Prof. John Price
Jackson, dean of the school
of engineering, Pennsylvania
State College, and commis-
sioner of labor and industry
for the State of Pennsylvania.
William Benjamin Jackson
was born June 22, 1870, at
Kennett Square, Pa., and was
graduated in 1890 from "Penn
State," where his father was
professor of mathematics.
During the three years fol-
lowing graduation he en-
w. B. jackson gaged in the banking business
at Colorado Springs, Col. In
1893 he took charge of the Pennsylvania mining exhibit at
the Chicago World's Fair, and the next year he joined the
staff of the United Electric Light & Power Company, New
York City. In 1895 he received the degree of M. E. from
his alma mater, and shortly afterward he became engineer
in charge of the specification department of the Stanley
Electric Manufacturing Company. Later he entered the
central-station field as manager of a water-power plant
transmitting energy to Grand Rapids, Mich., the first high-
tension transmission system to be started east of the Rocky
Mountains. While in this position he devised a readiness-
to-serve system of rates for electric service. In 1898 he
assumed the duties of superintendent and chief engineer of
the New York & Staten Island Electric Company, and in
1899 he was appointed general superintendent of the Colo-
rado Electric Power Company. Rejoining the Stanley or-
ganization in 1901, Mr. Jackson, among other work, laid out
in detail the electrical equipment of the 20,000-hp York
Haven (Pa.) plant of the Susquehanna River and also
carried out engineering work in Austria and Hungary. In
1902, with his brother, Mr. Dugald C. Jackson, he organized
the consulting engineering firm of D. C. & W. B. Jackson,
with offices at Madison, Wis. In 1907 the main office was
opened in Chicago, and later another office was opened in
Boston. To the work of this firm Mr. W. B. Jackson has
since devoted all his time. He is a director of the Cutler-
Hammer Clutch Company, Milwaukee, and is a member of
both the American Institute of Electrical Engineers and
the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. He holds
memberships in the American Society of Civil Engineers,
the American Gas Institute, the National Electric Light
Association, the American Electric Railway Association and
other engineering organizations, and is a member of the
Union League, Engineers', City, Midday, Press and Floss-
moor clubs, Chicago; the Milwaukee and University clubs,
Milwaukee, and the Engineers' Club of Boston.
Obituary
H. Howard Stannard, for many years connected with
Mr. G. M. Gest, underground-circuit contractor of New York,
died at his home in Jersey City, Dec. 24, of pneumonia.
Mr. Stannard was born in Oak Hill, Greene County, N. Y.,
forty-eight years ago, and his early life was spent in that
town and in Albany. His business career started with the
Weyant Brick Company of that city. Afterward he was with
Norcross Brothers of Boston. He was connected with Mr. G.
M. Gest for the past ten years and acted in various capacities
during that period, being at the time of his death commercial
engineer. Mr. Stannard was a man of wide acquaintance,
knowing men in every phase of the electrical field, for in his
travels around the United States and Canada, and at the
conventions, few of which he missed, he was continually add-
ing to his circle of acquaintances. He was a man possessing
admirable business qualities as well as of a genial personal-
ity which, linked with his wide acquaintanceship, made him
a host of friends. He leaves a wife and two children.
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 4
Corporate and Financial
Jersey Electric Stock Issue Approved. — The New Jersey
Board of Public Utility Commissioners has approved the
issue of $30,000 capital stock by the Jersey Electric Com-
pany.
Ohio Service Company Note Issue. — Brooks & Company,
Scranton, Pa., are offering $667,000 three-year 6 per cent
convertible gold notes of the Ohio Service Company, dated
Nov. 1, 1914.
Byllesby Company Offering. — H. M. Byllesby & Com-
pany have issued a small booklet describing the securities
of the Byllesby properties. The latest earnings of these
companies are included in the booklet.
Cost of Additions to Henderson Plant. — The cost of ad-
ditions to the electric light plant of Henderson, Ky., from
June 1, 191.3, up to and including Dec. 15, 1914, amounted
to $66,281. Of this $45,852 was spent in 1913, and $20,-
429 in 1914.
San Joaquin Light & Power to Issue Bonds. — The San
Joaquin Light & Power Corporation, Fresno, Cal., has been
authorized by the California Railroad Commission to issue
by June 30, 1915, $150,000 of series B first and refunding
mortgage forty-year 5 per cent bonds.
Portsmouth Street Railroad & Light Company's Bonds
Sold. — John Nickerson, Jr., of New York, announces that
he has sold the entire issue of 6 per cent first mortgage
gold bonds of the Portsmouth (Ohio) Street Railroad &
Light Company. Of these bonds $500,000 were sold to
Baker, Ayling & Company, of Boston.
Western Union Earnings Report. — The earnings report
for the Western Union Telegraph Company for the year
ended Dec. 31, 1914, December estimated, shows a total
income of $47,051,417; expenses, $40,552,745, and interest
on bonded debt, $1,337,250, thus leaving a net income of
$5,161,422, which compares with a net income of $3,167,099
for the year ended Dec. 31, 1913.
Westfield Power Reduced Dividend. — The Westfield
(Mass.) Power Company has declared its semi-annual
dividend of 2% per cent, thus making a total for the year
of 5 per cent as against the customary 6 per cent. One
reason for reducing dividends was that the increased valu-
ation of property increased the tax rate, materially re-
ducing the income of the company.
York Railway Scrip Dividend.— The York (Pa.) Rail-
ways declared a scrip dividend of 2% per cent on the pre-
ferred stock for the six months ended Nov. 30, 1914, pay-
able on Jan. 30. The scrip will be dated Jan. 30, 1915,
and run for three years with 5 per cent interest. With the
exception of one-half share the company owns all the stock
of the Edison Light & Power Company, York, Pa.
Detroit Edison Debentures Subscribed. — The $2,645,000
issue of 6 per cent convertible debenture bonds of the De-
troit (Mich.) Edison Company offered to the stockholders
on Dec. 10 has been taken up. At the office of the North
American Company, the controlling company, it was stated
that the outlook for the year 1915, on a basis of the January
operations up to date, is very encouraging. Business for
the year 1915 promises to be far ahead of that for 1914.
Growth of Consumers' Power Company of Minnesota. —
The gTOWtb of the Consumers' Power Company of Minne-
sota is indicated by the following connected load statistics
Oct 81: Electric customers, 55,106 in 1914, 45,982 in
L913; incandescent lamps (16-cp equivalent), 1,119,335 in
1914, 972,420 in 1913; municipal arc lamps. 3660 in L914,
n 1918; horse-power in stationary motors, 71,i):i7 in
I'.'l 1, 62,730 in 1913; total connected load, 129,000 kw in
L91 l, 1.09,056 lew in L913.
Dayton Power it Light Progress. — During 1914 the Hay-
ton (Ohio) Power & Light Company made arrangements
i" nippl] even municipalities near hayton. The towns
of Osborne, Carlisle, Cedarville, Clifton and Yellow
Springs were placed on the company's lines, and the towns
of Fairfield and Bowersville will be supplied with energy
in the spring. In both 0 borne and Carlisle streel light
ing contrai ired, the company having purcl
the municipal plant in the former place,
Coast Valley Gas & Electric Subsidiary Defaults In-
terest.— The Monterey & Pacific Grove Railway, Monterey,
Cal., has defaulted interest due Jan. 1, 1915, on its first
mortgage 6 per cent bonds. The company is controlled by
the Coast Valleys Gas & Electric Company, San Fran-
cisco, which is controlled by the California Railway &
Power Company, a subsidiary of the United Railways In-
vestment Company. Of the $300,000 of bonds issued, $18,-
000 are in the sinking fund, $12,000 are in the treasury
of the company, $72,000 are held by the Coast Valleys
Gas & Electric Company, and $198,000 are owned by the
public.
United Light and Railways Note Issue. — N. W. Halsey &
Company of New York are offering $1,500,000 of the United
Light & Railways Company (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 6 per
cent gold coupon notes, dated Jan. 1, 1915, and due Jan.
1, 1918, and Jan. 1, 1920. The proceeds from the sale of
these notes are to be used to complete payment on proper-
ties heretofore acquired and to reimburse the treasury of
the company for the cost of improvements to subsidiary
properties. The notes will be secured by $3,000,000 first
refunding 5 per cent bonds of the United Light & Railways
Company. Net earnings for the year ended Nov. 30, 1914,
were $2,352,660.
Pacific Gas & Electric Sells Bonds Subject to Commis-
sion Approval. — The Pacific Gas & Electric Company has
filed an application with the Railroad Commission of Cali-
fornia requesting authority to issue $4,000,000 of 5 per cent
one-year gold notes to be dated Dec. 15, 1914, and to be
used in refunding $4,000,000 of its 5 per cent one-year gold
notes dated March 25, 1914. The company purposes to
issue these notes at not less than 98 and to pledge as
security for their payment $5,000,000 of its convertible
general lien bonds and $5,000,000 of its general and re-
funding mortgage gold bonds. The notes have been sold
to New York bankers subject to the approval of the com-
mission.
Eastern Pennsylvania Power Redeems Coupons. — It was
stated at the New York office of Lee, Higginson & Com-
pany that the Eastern Pennsylvania Power Company,
Easton, Pa., had redeemed the coupons on the first and
refunding 5 per cent bonds which the bankers had pur-
chased. According to a statement of the bankers at the
time of purchase, they redeemed the Oct. 1 coupons on
the outstanding $1,880,000 bonds in order that the bond-
holders might suffer no inconvenience at that time, and
the company's action in deferring the coupon payment at
that time was due to the existing financial stringency and
the consequences attendant thereon. The company has
also since made the required sinking-fund payment.
Columbus Companies to Merge. — At a special meeting of
the stockholders of the Columbus (Ohio) Light, Heat &
Power Company it was voted unanimously to sell the prop-
erty of the company to the Columbus Railway, Power &
Light Company, according to the plan described in the
Electrical World Dec. 1, 1914. This action assures the
consolidation of all commercial light, power and railway
properties in Columbus. The railway property is operating
the light, heat and power property under a fifty-year lease
dated September, 1908. The Columbus Light, Heat & Power
Company has outstanding $715,300 stock and $750,000 bonds.
About a year ago the merger of the Columbus Edison Com-
pany with the Columbus Railway, Power & Light Company
took place.
Opinion on Bond Prices. — Mr. John Moody, president of
Moody's Investment Service of New York, in his review
Cor 1914 and forecast for 1915, says in regard to the
effect of the war on bond prices: "War, destruction and
impoverishment in Europe will so decrease the purchas-
ing power of the world's population as to lower the pet-
capita consumption of goods and commodities. This will
finer commodity prices downward. Falling prices [or
goods mean increased purchasing power for bond in-
COmeS, and therefore bond values will tend to rise. This
very decrease in per capita consumption will shortly re-
duce all demand for new capital and thus cause rates to
fall. With money cheap it pays better to buy bonds than
to loan money, and this buying will tend to maintain and
rai e bond prices."
.1 \m ahv 28, 1916
ELECTRICAL WORLD
265
I nited light «v Power Reorganization. — The reorganiza-
tion plans of the United Light A Power Company of San
Francisco, Oil., when completed, will place the company
in the control of the Great Western Powi . the
operating subsidiary at the We tern Power Company. Under
the plan a new company will be formed to which will be
transferred all the properties of the United Light & Power
Company of New Jersey, consisting of the United Light &
Power Company "f California, the Consumers' Light &
Power Company, the Central Oakland Light & Tower Coin
pany, the Southside Light & Power Company and the
Equitable Light & Power Company. The authorized bond
of the new company will he $3,000,000, of which
o.oOO will he issued immediately in payment for the
properties of the old company. In addition the new com-
pany will a.sume $100,000 floating debt, making the total
obligations $2,450,000. The total obligations of the old com-
panies amounted to $3,598,000, thus making a loss for the
creditors under the organization plan of $1,148,000. The
United Light & Power Company of California has $3,060,000
of bonds, of whirl) $2,022,000 are deposited to secure
$1,018,000 notes of the United Light & Power Company of
New Jersey, now in default, thus leaving $1,031,000 in bonds
out standing. The company also has a floating debt of
$700,000 and $243,000 of underlying bonds. The plan
proposes to take care of the defaulted notes of the United
Light & Power Company of New Jersey at 90 by exchang-
ing them for the bonds of the new company. Of the floating
debt, $100,000 held by the general public will be assumed
and special arrangements made with those outside of the
company who are holding bonds, the amount being $1,037,000.
The underlying bonds will be taken care of at par. When
the $200,000 of floating debt has been assumed, there will
be left $651,000 of the new bonds to take care of $1,037,000
bonds and $600,000 floating debt. Under this plan the con-
trolling interests in the old company will lose practically
all they had placed in the company, but the loss by the
general public will be small. All bonds of the new com-
pany are to be guaranteed by the Great Western Power
Company, which will hold all the stock under an agree-
ment with the trustees of the new bonds.
Atlantic Gas & Electric to Be Sold. — Committees repre-
senting the bondholders and stockholders of the Atlantic
Gas & Electric Company of New York, for which a receiver
was appointed recently, have approved a plan submitted by
W. S. Barstow & Company, Inc., under which the properties
of the Atlantic Gas & Electric Company will be taken over
by the General Gas & Electric Company of New York. The
plan contemplates the purchase by exchange of securities of
the properties of the Atlantic Gas & Electric Company,
which will go out of existence on completion of the pur-
chase. The Atlantic company's series A bonds will be ex-
changed for 5 per cent gold bonds of the General Gas &
Electric Company, secured by the same collateral or its
equivalent that the series B bonds formerly held. The
series B bonds of the Atlantic company will be paid off. A
6 per cent five-year secured note i~sue of the General Gas
& Electric Company has been created to retire $650,000 of
the old General Gas & Electric 6 per cent notes and to pro-
vide for the construction fund for 1915. The unsecured
creditors and the preferred stockholders who subscribe in
cash for blocks of securities of the General Gas & Electric
Company under an alternate plan, for 22 V2 per cent or 25
per cent of holdings, will receive General Gas & Electric
Company convertible preferred stock. The plan also pro-
vides that the Atlantic common-stock holders may subscribe
for new securities, in which event they will receive 50 per
cent of their present holdings in common stock of the
General Gas & Electric Company. For further future con-
struction requirements of the consolidated company a com-
prehensive plan of financing has been prepared. Using
examinations and estimates made by Stone & Webster, en-
gineers, Hawkins & Sells, public accountants, and engineers
and accountants of W. S. Barstow & Company, Inc., the
combined companies will show for 1915 earnings of $173,-
932 applicable to dividends on the convertible preferred
stock, which is entitled to 3 per cent in 1915, 4 per cent in
1916, 5 per cent in 1917, 6 per cent in 1918 and thereafter
is non-cumulative. These estimates, it is stated by the
Barstow company, are borne out by the past year's earnings
of the various companies and are thought conservative.
Manufacturing and Industrial
The Esterline Company, Indianapolis, Ind., has appointed
Firth & Marshall. M New Street, New York, its Eastern
This concern will handle the company's
ess in New York and the New England States.
Sales Conference. — The Wesco Supply Company, St.
Louis, Mo., has just closed its annual sales conference.
Salesmen from various districts throughout the country at-
tended and topics of interest to the company were thorough-
ly discussed.
The National Carbon Company, Cleveland, Ohio, has ap-
pointed Mr. \Y. H. Arkenburgh, formerly publicity manager
for the Union Switch & Signal Company, to a position in
its sales department, and he will have charge of its railway
and signal work in Canadian territory.
Preparing for Fan Season. — Although the Hunter Fan
i^ Motor Company, Fulton, N. Y'., has not developed any
new types of fans this year, it is actively preparing for the
coming season. The above company has a number of
agents in this country and foreign countries. The company
reports that the prospects for both foreign and domestic
business this year are good.
Mr. Arthur J. Cole, recently district manager of the
Westinghouse Lamp Company in Chicago, has been ap-
pointed vice-president and general sales manager of the
McGraw Company, electrical jobbers of Sioux City, la.,
and Omaha, Neb. Mr. Cole prior to his connection with the
Westinghouse interests was sales manager of Kohler Broth-
ers, electrical contractors of Chicago. Mr. Cole will make
his headquarters in Omaha.
Foreign Concerns Order Wire by Samples. — In connec-
tion with orders received by the Safety Insulated Wire &
Cable Company, 114 Liberty Street, New Y'ork, for material
from foreign countries, especially South America repub-
lics, instead of specifications outlining the kind of wire
desired, samples of wire or cables are often sent. These
samples are usually ef European manufacture, indicating
that the above manufacturer's products are displacing those
made by foreign companies.
Wire Manufacturer's Plant Damaged by Fire. — Part of
the Trenton plant of the John A. Roebling Sons Company
was badly damaged by fire on the night of Jan. 18. That
part of the establishment formerly known as the Buckthorn
Fence Company's plant and a building in which insulated
wire was manufactured was destroyed. The main plant of
the company is at Roebling, N. J., so that production, though
slightly handicapped, will go on as usual, especially in
products used by the electrical industry.
The Brown-Woods Electric Company, Houston, Tex., has
moved its showroom from 709 Fannin Street to 709 Travis
Street. The floor space has been doubled, and two floors
are now utilized, the first floor being devoted to electrical
appliances and specialties and the entire second floor to
lighting fixtures. The second floor is divided into rooms in
which the different types of fixtures are displayed. The
above company is optimistic regarding the future and is
expecting business to become normal within sixty or ninety
days.
Production of Rutile. — According to the United States
Geological Survey, rutile, which is used in the manufacture
of electrodes for arc lamps, was produced by only one com-
pany during 1914. This concern is known as the American
Rutile Company, Roseland, Nelson County, Va., and it pro-
duced 94 tons of rutile. Rutile-bearing rock is worked in
open cuts by the company, and the rutile forms about 5 per
cent of the rock worked. Concentrated rutile sells for $50
to $400 a ton, depending on quality, quantity and prepara-
tion.
Mr. R. H. Manwaring has been elected vice-president of
the Philadelphia Electrical & Manufacturing Company, Phil-
adelphia, Pa. He has been connected with the company for
the past ten years and since 1910 has acted as assistant
secretary and sales manager. Mr. Manwaring has had a wide
experience in the electrical field and is well known through-
out the entire country through his activity in the sales end
of the business, having spent his first five years with the
company covering every state east of the Mississippi River,
as well as southern Canada.
266
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 4
Orders for Lighting Plant. — The Barber-Dwinnell Elec-
tric & Manufacturing Company, Kansas City, Mo., reports
that it has recently received orders for six large 110-volt
plants. According to Mr. C. L. Dwinnell, secretary and
treasurer, the company is specializing in storage-battery
plants for towns up to 500 inhabitants. It manufactures
its own storage batteries for use with these plants where
they are adopted.
Alloy Company Faring Well. — The Electrical Alloy Com-
pany, Morristown, N. J., reports that all of its departments
are busy, some of them operating fourteen hours a day.
Two additions have been made to the company's plant in
the past year, and on account of the continual growth of
the business the capacity of the plant and the amount of
equipment will again be increased in the near future. The
company is looking for a 100 per cent increase in its busi-
ness during 1915. The demand for its "Calido" wire and
ribbon made of nickel and chromium is large, and these
articles are supplied to a number of manufacturers for use
with electric-heating appliances. The above company has
appointed L. L. Fleig & Company, 180 North Dearborn
Street, Chicago, 111., its Western representative.
Fan Motors Perform After Passing Through Severe Fire.
— Several hundred fans were stored in a building adjoining
the foundry of the Robbins & Myers Company, Springfield,
Ohio, which was recently destroyed by fire. The storehouse
was also destroyed. After the fire an 8-in. alternating-cur-
rent desk fan and a 12-in. alternating-current oscillating
fan were dug out of the ice and debris and connected to a
supply circuit. Both fans were full of ice and the rotors
were frozen fast. The enamel was entirely burned off, and
the guards and blades were warped and twisted out of
shape by the heat. After the energy supply had been
turned on sufficiently long to melt the ice on the motors,
both fans started up and threw out considerable spray.
The motion was somewhat jerky, owing to the twisted and
unbalanced condition of the blades, but the motors con-
tinued to operate without mishap as long as the current
was on. Apparently their operation was not affected by
the unusually severe conditions to which they had been sub-
jected.
Large Number of Motors for Printing Industry. — The
motors made by the American Rotary Valve Company, Chi-
cago, 111., are used chiefly in the operation of printing
presses, linotype machines and other printing-plant equip-
ment. Some 800 machines are sold yearly alone to the
Mergenthaler Linotype Company. To operate the presses
of the Nor York American, 60-hp "Jenny" motors manu-
factured by the above company are utilized. A 7.5-hp
motor is employed on each machine for starting purposes.
The equipment in the several plants of the above news-
paper includes thirteen sextuple presses, six octuple presses
and one colored press, and to operate these machines use
is made of twenty 60-hp motors and twenty 7.5-hp motors.
Motors made by the American Rotary Valve Company are
used to print all the Hearst papers throughout the country,
and one of its 60-hp motors will also operate a double sex-
tuple colored press, said to be the largest press of its kind
in the world, which will be exhibited by W. R. Hearst at
the Panama-Pacific Exposition. Other papers using motors
made by the American Rotary Valve Company are the fol-
lowing: Boston Herald, Sun Francisco Bulletin, Los An-
geles Herald, Chicago Evening Post, Indianapolis News,
afield Republican, Pittsburgh Gazette, Toledo News-
Bee, Detroit Free Press, Kansas Cihy star. Houston Ch row-
Conference of Western Electric Credit Men. — The credit
managers of the Western Electric Company held a six-day
conference at the Auditorium Hotel, Chicago, Jan. 4 to 9.
Every branch office was represented and the entire week was
given over to discussion of credit topics, the interchange of
methods and ideas, and the presentation of papers. Ad-
dresses were made by Mr. Gerard Swope, vice-president and
general sales manager of the company; Mr, W. P. Sidley,
general counsel; Mr. J. W. Johnston.
urer, and Messrs, 0, D. street and E, w Rockafellow,
tant Bales managers. Mr. M. A. Oman, general credit
manager. New York City, acted Bfl chairman, iiiid papei
were read bj Sl< i \V K. Hire. NVw York; W. H. Wallace.
Atlanta, 6a.; A. V. Willett, Dallas, Tex; K. w. Wolfstyn,
Cincinnati, Ohio; E. W. Shepard, Cleveland, Ohio; J. J.
O'Reilly, Buffalo.N. Y.; L. R. Browne, Philadelphia, Pa.; G.
Williamson, New Y'ork; W. A. Williford, St. Louis, Mo.; I.
D. Warrington, Pittsburgh, Pa.; E. L. Myers, Omaha, Neb.;
H. R. Weisiger, Richmond, Va.; E. R. Gilmore, Chicago; J.
H. Kelly, Seattle, Wash.; W. H. McNulty, Minneapolis,
Minn.; John Bray, San Francisco, Cal.; R. P. Tracy, Boston,
Mass.; C. E. Vandel, Kansas City, Mo.; I. E. Stiles, Chicago,
and W. F. Gibbs, Los Angeles, Cal. At the luncheon meet-
ing of Tuesday Mr. Frederick P. Vose, secretary Electric
Credit Association of Chicago, spoke on "Personality in Busi-
ness," and at the Thursday luncheon Mr. Edmond D. Hul-
bert, vice-president Merchants' Loan & Trust Company, Chi-
cago, discussed the federal reserve act. A number of enter-
tainment features occupied the attention of the credit men
between sessions. On Monday afternoon there was an inspec-
tion trip through the Hawthorne plant of the company. The
present conference was the first of the kind ever held by the
Western Electric Company's credit men, and so far as is
known it is without precedent in any other electrical or in-
dustrial organization of similar character.
Exporting Dynamos and Motors to South America. — In
a recent discussion of electrical sales experiences in South
America with a representative of the Electrical World,
Mr, A. O. Kuehmsted, vice-president and sales manager of
the Gregory Electric Company, Chicago, explained that his
company issues circulars printed in Spanish and Portuguese
and sells in South America by mail only. It advertises in
Brazilian, Argentine and Cuban papers devoted to the in-
terests of the engineering industries and expects satisfac-
tory results from this source in the future. In answer to
questions Mr. Kuehmsted continued: "It is a good thing
for American business men to remember that the export
business is a long time in the building. However, once it
is established it is a very satisfactory business and the
orders come easier. We have encountered a fine spirit of
co-operation in government officials at Washington. Many
of the government foreign-trade publications are excellent,
and anyone contemplating going into the export business
should put himself in touch with government authorities.
However, one thing needed is a good list of electrical con-
cerns buying apparatus in South American and Central
American countries. Any one who will compile such a list
will do a real service to the electrical exporters of this coun-
try. We have received no complaints from the packing of
our machinery for export and we have had no trouble about
collections. We consider foreign business very desirable
when handled as an adjunct to domestic sales. We think
that in years to come we shall do much more of it and that
other American electrical concerns will do likewise. We
have found in many cases that our prices were about 50 per
cent less than those asked by European manufacturers and
dealers. It is to be remembered, however, that the price
is not the only factor. Quality is essential, and as a rule
foreign buyers are willing to pay a fair price for a good
article. Speaking generally, the dealers in South American
countries get larger profits than prevail in the United
States. I am free to say that it is probable that our ex-
port business was first started by our advertising in the
Electrical World. Encouraged by our first orders, we
have given some attention to the matter of exports and
the business has grown slowly. I think that the first step
to be taken by the American manufacturer desiring to en-
gage in foreign trade should be to obtain a list of the pos-
sible foreign buyers. Information as to credits in foreign
countries may very often be obtained through one's local
bank, as banking connections are widespread. Furthermore,
the banks are waking up. The National City Bank of New
York has already opened a bank at Buenos Aires, and has
close connections at Rio de Janeiro, Havana and other
points BO that credit information can often be obtained
quickly by communicating with the home bank at New
York. Eventually it would seem likely that some sort of a
clearing house of American manufacturers engaged in the
export trade in the Chicago area will be formed for the
exchange of information. As to the making of shipments,
I would advise that this be done, at least at first, through
custom-house brokers, as these people relieve the shipper of
a lot of worry. It is astonishing often to the shipper to dis-
cover to what distant points through bills of lading may be
obtained."
J \.m ucv 23, L91E
ELECTRICAL WORLD
267
Manufacturers' kgeilCJ I iml- Ilu-in. ■-- Improved. —
Speaking of the condition of business since Jan. 1, Mr. J.
on, vice-president of the Ohio Distributing Company,
220 Lomax Place, Chicago, remarked to a representative of
the Electrical World that the office staff had been so busy
with orders recently that lunches had to lie brought in in or-
der to save time. Wire, porcelain, armored cables and outlet
boxes, he said, have been in such great demand that the
■ stock on hand would have been shipped out had not
the firm placed prompt telephone orders with its factory
connections and insisted on immediate shipments. Mr.
Gleason said that the orders were coming, in the main, from
electrical jobbers, contractors and central stations.
Opportunities for Electrical Manufacturers in
Siberia
Great opportunities for American electrical trade develop-
ment exist in Siberia to-day, according to Mr. Chester W.
Purington, a consulting mining engineer associated with
the Lena Goldfields Company, Ltd., of London, England,
who is on a short visit to Boston. To a representative of
the Electrical World Mr. Purington said that as a direct
result of the European war, the strong position held hith-
erto by Germany in supplying electrical apparatus to
Russia has been overthrown, and there are remarkable pos-
sibilities for American manufacturers anxious to extend
foreign business and build up a clientele which can be held
for many years. The resources of Siberia will bear inves-
tigation on the ground by Russian-speaking representatives
of the American electrical industry.
In the past Germany had a powerful hold upon the ma-
chinery markets of Siberia. Not long ago a generator of
American manufacture was purchased to supply energy for
the operation of an 8-ft. drecjge on a property familiar to
Mr. Purington, but almost insuperable difficulties were en-
countered in getting the machine into the country and in
service, until special permission was finally obtained from a
prominent German manufacturer of electrical equipment
for the use of the apparatus. Germany for a good many
years will find it exceedingly difficult to sell equipment in
the Russian Empire. American houses represented by Ger-
man agents should realize this situation.
On the line of the Trans-Siberian Railway, between Petro-
grad and Vladivostock, are upward of a dozen growing
cities of from 50,000 to 75,000 inhabitants. Electric lighting
is used in these places on a rather limited scale, service
being furnished frequently by municipal plants of small
capacity. Within economical transmission radius of about
one-half of these cities are potential water-powers which
are likely to be developed in the not distant future to supply
energy to mining districts or to populous towns which as
yet have only begun to appreciate the possibilities of elec-
trical service. Much success has attended the use of steam-
power units of the German locomobile type in this part of
the Russian Empire. Wood is a common fuel, the cost
varying usually from $1.25 a cord along the railway route
to about $5 at remote points in the mining district. The
superiority of electric power is sure to lead to its wide ap-
plication as the country develops. Figuring all charges,
the cost of electrical energy last year as developed at the
busbars of four representative small hydroelectric power
plants of the Lena Goldfields Company, Ltd., was about 3
cents per kw-hr.
All through eastern Siberia are mountain ranges with
maximum elevations of 3000 ft. to 4000 ft., and streams
abound with a winter flow of from 100 second-ft. to 300 sec-
ond-ft. and a summer flow of ten times these figures. Con-
trary to the prevailing impression, many parts of Siberia are
like southern New Hampshire in scenery and topography.
The winters are severe in the extreme, a temperature of
— 50 deg. Fahr. being nothing extraordinary.
The Lena Goldfields Company, Ltd., with property 1200
miles north of Irkutsk, operates five small hydroelectric
plants of about 500 kw average rating each. Most of these
are run the year around, and the present annual output of
four stations is about 4,000.000 kw-hr. The usual head is
30 meters. Development with low-head turbines is the
proper engineering solution of most Siberian water-power
problems. Mr. Purington pointed out that the method of
blanketing over canals by ice to give continuous power
service in winter, utilized later in the Klondike, has been
common in Siberia for many years. In this scheme a tem-
porary dam is built in the canal and the surface allowed to
freeze at the beginning of the cold season. The dam is
then knocked away, and the water flows under the icy
covering without interruption for the rest of the season.
In the Altai Mountains iron, lead and gold mines are
being developed by the Irtysch, Russo-Asiatic and Russian
Mining corporations, with headquarters in London, Eng.,
and in the Ural Mountains are large copper mines under
development which will require electrical equipment, these
being under the control of the Kyschtim, Tunalyk and Sis-
sertsk companies, also of London. American engineers are
in the service of these organizations. About 200 miles
north of Vladivostock is the Tetuke mine, operated by Brun-
ner, Kuznetsof & Company, which will need electrical
equipment in the near future, all the previous equipment
having been of German make. On the island of Sakaline,
one-half of which belongs to Russia and one-half to Japan,
are large coal deposits controlled by the Brunner interests,
and the opportunities here for power equipment are good.
Mr. Purington said that the war is taken as a matter of
course in the Russian Empire and that it does not stir the
emotions found in America. The Russians are waking up
to the fact that their importations of electrical and other
machinery from Germany have been cut off and that they
must look to America and England. The importance of
properly packing goods shipped to Siberia and Russia can-
not be exaggerated. Mr. Purington said that he had per-
sonally imported over $250,000 worth of machinery and
supplies into Siberia and that the Singer Sewing Machine
and the International Harvester companies appear to be
the only American concerns that have learned the secret
of adequate packing. Heavier stock should be used in pack-
ing boxes, and goods consigned to travel half way around
the earth cannot be packed as for a trip across the street.
Drills imported from Holland are packed like jewelry, while
American drills, a product more suited to the needs- of the
mines, were packed with insufficient care.
A reasonable way of shipping from America would be
from San Francisco or Portland, Ore., by direct lines to
Vladivostock, or to Vladivostock from New York and
through the Panama Canal. The freight rate from New
York to Libau or Windau by the transatlantic boats and
thence to Irkutsk by rail is about $48 a ton, and from
Portland, Ore., to Irkutsk via Kobe, is about $51 per ton.
Northern Siberia will be developed greatly in the next half
century and all-water shipments from Hull, Eng., to Kras-
noyarsk via Nova Zembla and the Yenesei River are now
rated at $20 per ton, the trade route being kept open a
part of the year by ice breakers. Along the Amur River
great lumber developments are under way, with a market
for power-driven machinery. In conclusion, Mr. Puring-
ton said that there are possibilities in the way of electric
irrigation in Russian Turkestan and urged the importance
of investigating by personal visits from Americans.
NEW YORK METAL MARKET PRICES
, Jan. 12 — , Jan. 19 ,
Selling Prices Selling l'ricea
Bid Asked Bid Asked
Copper : £ s d £ s d
London, standard spot* 59 15 0 60 is o
Prime Lake 13.62 V. to 1 3.75 13.75 to 14.00
Flectrolvtic ' 13.50 to 13. 60 13.65 to 13.75
Casting " 13.85 to 13.46 13. 50 to 13.60
Cooper wire base 14.62 V6 to 14.75 *°„15-00
Lead 3.70 3.70
Nickel ' 40.00 to45.no 40.00 to 45.00
Sheet lino, I .o.l>. smelter 9.00 „r9;00 ,, ,.
Spelter, spot 6.10 to 6.25 to 6.30
Straits tin 33.50 33.S7l2
Aluminum, 98 to 99 per cent 18.75 to 19.25 18.75 to 19.25
•OLD METALS
Heavy copper and wire 1?,52,, 'Hr
Brass, heavy !•?? ™ „]»,,
Brass Light 7.50 7.62%
l.ea.i.hefvy.... 3.62% 3.52^
Zinc, scrap 4-62M! *-76
COPPER EXPORTS
Exports ol' copper in form Of pins, ingots, liars, plates.
and BCrap for week ending Jan. 9, 1915 16. .SS 4,783 lb.
•From daily transactions on the New York Metal Exchange.
268
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 4
New Incorporations
The Electric Light & Power Company, of Stratford, la.,
has been chartered with a capital stock of $10,000 by 0. T.
Quick and V. Lander.
The Boulevard Light & Heat Company, of Cleveland,
Ohio, has been incorporated with a capital stock of $1,250
by G. B. Harris and others.
The Wolfe City Light Company, of Wolfe City, Tex., has
been granted a charter with a capital stock of $6,000. The
incorporators are M. Tasker, Edward Tasker and Frank T.
Becker.
The Brown & Harris Electric Company, of Holmesville,
Ohio, has been incorporated with a capital stock of $3,500
to construct and operate an electric-lighting plant in
Holmesville. The incorporators are S. C. Brown, J. B.
Harris, B. C. Brown and B. E. Cleary.
The Altos Light & Power Company, of White Oaks,
N. M., has been incorporated by Allen A. Lane, Edward L.
Queen, David L. Jackson and Elmer E. Slaughter. The
company is capitalized at $150,000 and proposes to erect a
transmission line from the mines at White Oaks to Carri-
zozo.
The Central Power Company has filed articles of incor-
poration under the laws of the State of Delaware with a
capital stock of $1,750,000 for the purpose of distributing
electricity for lamps, heaters and motors; also to erect
power plants, etc. The incorporators are N. P. Coffin, W. J.
Maloney and H. L. Mullin, of Wilmington, Del.
New Industrial Companies
The Car Lighting Company, of New York, N. Y., has been
chartered with a capital stock of $100,000 by Lloyd O.
Wilson. 55 Liberty Street; William H. Black and* William P.
Horn, New York.
The Witelite Electric Company, of New York, N. Y., has
been incorporated with a capital stock of $10,000 by Bernard
I. Kambn, 45 Cedar Street; S. S. Ostertag and Max B.
Rabinowitz, of New York, N. Y.
The Baker Electric Motor Service Company, of Brooklyn,
N. Y., has been incorporated with a capital stock of $20,000
by Frank A. Jannicky, 906 Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn;
Frederick Bowers, of New York, and B. R. Shears, of
Brooklyn.
Edward T. Caldwell & Company, of New York, N. Y.,
have been incorporated with a capital stock of $150,000 to
manufacture gas and electric fixtures, ornamental ironwork,
etc. The incorporators are E. T. Caldwell, W. Kiehr and L.
Livingston, of New York, N. Y.
The Wilson-Maeulin Company, of New York, N. Y., has
been chartered with a capital stock of $60,000 by C. E.
Wilson, C. H. Wilson, of Mount Vernon, and C, J. Brown, of
Jamaica. The company proposes to manufacture electric
and scientific instruments, tools, etc.
The Danvers Tungsten Company, of Danvers, Mass., has
been incorporated by Charles P. Danvers, Michael II. Barry,
of Danvers, and William F, Barry, of Salem. The company
is capitalized at $100,000 and proposes to manufacture and
sell all kinds of incandescent and electric lamps.
Almirall & Company, of Kddvville, N. Y., have been incor-
porated by Juan A. Almirall, William C. Adams and Walter
J. Wood, of New fork, N. Y. The company is capitalized
at ?200,000 to manufacture heating, ventilating, power and
electric plants, plumbing and automatic lire extinguishers.
The Modern Electric & Machine Company, 986 Fort
Wayne Avenue, Indianapolis, Ind., has recently been formed,
to engage in the electrical, contracting, repairing and man-
ufacturing business. The company repairs motors and
generators, rewind armatures, sells new and used motors,
makes switchboards and electric healing devices, and is
agent for the Knestner A rlechl Company, manufacturer
of elevators. The plant of the company includes a ma-
chine Bhop f"t making dies, tools anil sncrial machinery,
Mr. T. A. Meyer i Dm Ident, Mr. II. W. Ransdall vice-
pi r ident, and Mr. I.. II Knue ecretai
Trade Publications
Fans. — The Hunter Fan & Motor Company, Fulton, N. Y.,
has issued a catalog designated as No. 104 which lists a
number of electric fans.
Electric Fans. — The Emerson Electric Manufacturing
Company, St. Louis, Mo., recently issued its 1915 catalog
on fans for both alternating-current and direct-current
service.
Battery-Charging Apparatus. — A small automobile bat-
tery-charging equipment is described and illustrated in
Catalog No. 361 issued by the Esterline Company, Indian-
apolis, Ind.
Samples of Tapes. — The M. W. Dunton Company, Provi-
dence, R. I., is distributing a folder which contains samples
of a number of different kinds of tapes for armature and
field windings.
Watt -Hour Meters. — The Sangamo Electric Company,
Springfield, 111., is sending out a folder which contains illus-
trations of some of the large buildings in which its meters
have been installed.
Fan-Selling Campaign. — The Western Electric Company,
New York, is distributing a folder which contains informa-
tion on various advertising helps and a prize contest that
it has recently inaugurated.
Motor-Driven Siren. — An electrically operated siren de-
signed for sounding fire alarms is the subject of a circu-
lar issued by the Hendrie & Bolthoff Manufacturing &
Supply Company, Denver, Col.
Lamps for Motion-Picture Studios. — Bulletin No. 57, is-
sued by the Cooper-Hewitt Electric Company, Hoboken,
N. J., contains information and illustrations on a number
of lighting installations for motion-picture studios.
Composition Gears. — The General Electric Company,
Schenectady, N. Y., is distributing a catalog designated as
Bulletin No. 48,702, which describes its "Fabroil" gears and
contains a number of illustrations of typical installations.
Air Compressors. — The Allis-Chalmers Manufacturing
Company, Milwaukee, Wis., is sending out a bulletin desig-
nated as Repair-Part Price List No. 1906, which contains
information on various types of electrically operated air
compressors.
Small Motors. — The Westinghouse Electric & Manufac-
turing Company has issued a booklet designated as Folder
No. 4321 and entitled "Westinghouse Motors," which con-
tains information on a number of applications of small
motor drive to machinery.
High-Tension Indoor Eouipment. — The Delta-Star Elec-
tric Company, Chicago, 111., is distributing Bulletin No. 15,
which comprises eighty pages, contains a total of 188 illus-
trations, and lists approximately 1200 different types of
switches, fuse mountings, choke coils, etc.
Electric Instruments. — The Metropolitan Engineering
Company, Brooklyn, N. Y., is sending out several loose
leaves to be added to binders which have been previously
sent out. These leaves include Section 20, pages 9, 11 and
13, on typical service installations. Section 17, page 2. on
direct-current cable-testing ammeters, and Section 11, pages
1-0, on an alternating-current network protector.
Electric Governors. — The Allis-Chalmers Manufacturing
Company, Milwaukee, Wis., is sending out Bulletin No. 1091
which contains information oh its type OB-4 governor for
regulation of pressure for air-brake equipments and air
compressors. It is also sending out bulletins designated as
Repair-Part Catalogs No. 1903 and No. 1904, which de-
Clibe and illustrate its types OB, OB-2, OB-3 and OB-4
governors.
Electric Trucks. — The General Vehicle Company, Long
Island City, New York, is distributing a booklet entitled
"Pull of Information." which describes and illustrates a
number of different types of electric vehicles for brewery
service. The above company has also just issued a catalog
entitled "Electric Coal Trucks," and reprints from an
article which appeared in the Electric Railway Journal,
Sept. 5, 1914, entitled "Electric Motor Trucks for New
York Railways," and another from the Dry Goods Econo-
mist of Aug. 22, 1914, entitled, "A Low-Cost System."
Jam \i>.\ 28, 1916
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Construction News
New England
GREENVILLE. MAIM! The Public
has granted the
Greenville LI .* Pwr. Co. perm
purchase the property and franchisee of the
Bangei Wile Imi Co., the Bebec
Pwr. i !o and the D oft Lt,
in .v Pwr. Co
BURLINGTON, VT. -The prop
ntal lamp standards, carry-
. at a cost "i about
on I Ihurch St i eet, is under coi
t n is proposed ti> maintain the lamps
with nnderground «
ki TLAND, VT.— The Rutland By. Lt ft
has entered n.t'> a contract with
iii. Vermont Marble ■ '•• . "i
whi 1,-i.v a high-tension transm!sslon line
will !>•• erected connecting thi
Uon with the Mendon station of
land company, providing a line
exchange of power between the
GLOUCESTER, mass The Gloucester
El i'o has applied to the Board of Gas
and [Clectrlc Light Commissioners i
in issue $95,000 in capital stock.
the proceeds to in- used to pay for ou
ing Indebtedness and for further extensions
in itt plant
WALTHAM, -MASS A power plain to
furnish light, heat and power to the hos-
pital Moldings, a nurses' home and a mo-
tor ambulance is recommended by the
board of trustees of the Waltham Hos-
pital.
OLNETVILLE, R, I.— The Town Council
has accepted the offer of the Narragansett
Ll. Ltg. Co., of Providence, to replace the
present 60-Cp street lamps with lamps of
y <> cp, at no additional expense to the town.
ROCKVELLE, CONN. The Rockville Gas
a l.i i'o. it is reported, is contemplating
extending its transmission lines from Rock-
ville to Vernon Center to furnish electricity
in that section.
Middle Atlantic
BATH, X. v. — Plans are being prepared
h\ Charles I. arrows, engineer-in-charge of
the •■' instruction of the municipal electric-
lighting plant, for installing the new street
lamps The plana provide for 200 lamps.
<, ,1 lampc will be erected in East
Steuben, Liberty and Washington Streets.
CLAVERACK, N. Y. — The Albany
Southern R R Co., of Hudson, has applied
to tli • I i Mil- Service Commission for per-
mission to erect transmission lines in
:K to supply electrical service here.
COHOES, N. Y— The Council his en-
gaged V. C. Wynne, of Albany, electrical
engineer, to investigate the street-lighting
system as well as the advisability of grant-
ing the Cohoes Co. a franchise to erect
high-tension transmission lines over the
i the city A movement has been
Started l" place the lamps on ornamental
standards In the business district.
HOLTSVILLE, N. Y. — Nathan Myers,, 39
Hillside Avenue. Newark, N. J., has been
ed as architect for the construction
01 the first group of buildings to be erected
at Hnltsville, Long Island, fur the Suffolk
Tuberculosis Hospital, consisting
of an administration building, two medical
buildings, a laundry and power plant and
.i i ll. hen I. milling, to cost approximately
| ii, The institution when completed
will consist Of 15 buildings and will cost
about $250,
LETCHWORTH VILLAGE, N. Y.— Bids
will be received by Frank A. Vanderlip,
president of board of managers. Letch-
worth \ ill Street, New York,
N. V. until .fan. HO, fur construction of
laundry building, including heating, plumb-
ing, electric worn and laundry machinery;
also tor construction of power bouse, in-
cluding heating plant and underground pip-
ing, plumbing and drainage and electric
work al the Letchworth Village, Thiells,
N. Y. Drawings and specifications mav lie
Obtained at the New York office of the De-
partment of Architecture, Room 1224, Wool-
worth Building, and at the Department of
Architecture, Albany. Lewis F. Pilcher,
Capitol, Albany, is state architect
NEW FORK, N. Y.— Bids will be n
-i l.i i.\ Mucus M Macks, president of
ill borough of Manhattan, at the offices of
the commissioner of public works. Municipal
Bullfllng, New York, until Jan 28, for fur-
nishing and installing an electric-lighting
in the Washington Market Building,
at Washington, Vesey, Pulton and West
Streets, borough of Manhattan. Blank
forms, s] iiicaiinns ani plans may be
obtained at the office of Charles H Hlg
cur . 111! 1 'lunch Street. New York.
rORK, N V Bids M
1 : I I. IMS. c.ilnri
inn. Municipal BuiM-
mg. New York, until Jan. 27 for furnishing
material and 1
in the warden's quarters, Clt
.. separate bids to be submitted, as
follows 1 A I
(B) plumbing work, h'i Bteam-beatlng
woi k . 1 . fork ' Jompli .
of plans and specifications and blai
for proposals may be obtain,-, I at the office
111 P. B. ,x a War., architects, 1 1 :
W York, upon deposit of S", to be
refunded upon return of sal
NEW FORK, N. Y.— Bids will be re-
Bellevue
and All;- rtment of New
ntj -sixth SI 1 •• 1.
New Fork, until Jan. 29. for furnl
labor and .1 1 ion
struct the existing branch circuit
us and furnishing and
iiimal gas biping, and fur-
nishing and connecting gat
tixtures for the main building of U
Ii mi Hospital Luil. ling. 136th and
Streets and Lenox Avenue, borough of
Mi nhattan. Luis will Iso be reci
the same time and place for X-ray plates
and tulie-
forms and further infoi
tained at the office of the contrail clerk and
auditor, lir, East Twenty-ninth Street, New
York.
NORTH TONAWANDA, N, Y— The
Ti.nawamla Pwr. Co. has applied to the
I'ublic Service Commission for approval ol
its electric franchise and permission to
erect a distributing system and exercise
said franchise in the town of Pendleton,
Niagara County.
SALISBURY CENTER, N. Y. — Plans are
being considered for establishing an elec-
tric-lighting s\stein in Salisbury Centei
Tic Brooklyn Cooperage Co., it is under-
stood, will supply electricity to operate the
proposed system.
SYRACUSE, N. Y— The Syracuse Park
Commission is planning to install a new
lighting system in all the large parks.
WATKRT11WN. N. Y— Extensive Im-
provements, it is reported, are contemplated
by the Watertown Lt. & Pwr. Co., which
include the development of water-power on
the Beaver River, fur which, it is said, sur-
veys have been made; also to increase the
output of the Black Liver plant to 1000 h,p
As soon as the weather permits work will
begin on replacing the wooden-pole line be-
tween Carthage and the Beaver River de-
velopment with a new steel-tower transmis-
sion line.
WATERTOWN, N. Y. — According to the
report submitted by Horace Sweet, engineer,
of [Ttica, the cost of installation of a mu-
nicipal electric plant for street-lighting
would be $109,756. The plans provide for
setting the waterwheels in the power house
and a new distributing system to maintain
the same number of lamps now in use. Tf
the city acquires 'he present street-lighting
system from the Witertnwn Lt. ,^- l'wr. Co.
under a Clause in the existing contract, the
cost would be $63,892.
WEEPSLORT, N. Y.— The Public Service
Commission lias authorized the Empire Gas
& El. Lt. Co., of Geneva, to purchase for
not more than $19,000 the Jla.000 capital
stock of the Weedsport El. Lt. Co., of
Weedsport. Tin- headquarters of the Em-
pire Gas & El. Co. are in Auburn.
ALLENTOWN, PA.— The board of trus-
tees of the Allentown College for Women
has authorized He- installation of a lighting
in] heating system for the new college
building now being erected at Cedar Crest,
i suburb of 'bis eitj Webster Grim is
chairman of board
ALLENTOWN, PA— Bids will be re-
ceived by the Lehigh County Commission-
ers, Allentown. until Feb. B I'm- the elec-
trical Installation and construction of the
new refrigerating plant at the County
Home, near Wescosvllle. L S, Rathburn,
uf Allentown, county engineer, is in charge
of the work
ALLENTOWN, PA.-— The trustees of the
Muhlenberg College contemplate increasing
the output ui the power plant from 250 hn
in ST,o hp to supply electrlclt] to the new
preparatorj school, now being erected on
thi tract aiiioining tl iiliee,.. a new
generator anil other electrical eauinment
will be reuirr-il Mr .1 A W Haas is
president uf Muhlenberg College
ALLENTOWN, PA— Bids will be re-
ceived by the Board uf Education, Alien
town, until Feb. 10 for electrical equipment
and construction, power-plant equipment,
heating ami ventilating system and
vacuum cleaner fur the new High School
Building in Allentown, now under eon
StniCtion. The cost uf the building is esti-
Plans and speciflca-
obtalned at the oihce of
liunyon & a. irk. N. J., engineers.
■ .1 Lube ,v i.ange. architects,
t, Allentown.
EA8TON, PA — The contract for the con-
eph'S Catholic Church
awarded to A. A.
Betchel, of Baston. The proposed building
The- plans provide for
borate lighting system.
HARRISBURG. LA — Preparations are
being made bj Superintendent Rambo to
ITC lamps in Capitol
Park with incandescent nitrogen lamps of
■ the number from 24
The lamps will be placed on stand-
BRANCHVILLE, N. J —The installation
of an electric-lighting plant in the alms-
- under consideration
Board of Chosen Freeholders.
BALTIMORE, MD.- Plans have been
completed by the Department of Lamps and
Lighting for extending the ornamental
lighting system on North Howard Street.
Tin- plans provide for about 30 lamps to be
maintained by underground wires.
CUMBERLAND, MD.— The Baltimore &
'■urn L It Cic, it is reported, has awarded
the Edison 101. Hlg. Co., of Cumberland, a
cunl r.ul to supply electricity lor lamps
.mil motors lur its plant here for a period of
ten ye
BERLAND, MD— The Public Serv-
ice Commission has authorized the Edison
EI. Hlg. Co. of Cumberland to issue $200,-
aiiii hi additional capital stock, the proceeds
to i" used lur I he acquisition of more prop-
erty and the construction and maintenance
"i a 1.1 1 e..t plant.
North Central
ALMONT, MICH. — The village of Almont
has granted the Edison El. Co. of Detroit
a franchise to install an electric-lighting
system here. The company has taken over
lie local plant owned by James Bishop,
which will lie remodeled and new equipment
installed.
CADILLAC, MICH. — A committee has
1 appointed by the Merchants' Associa-
tion tn look into the matter of establishing
an ornamental lighting system in the busi-
ness district.
DETROIT, MICH. — Work, it is reported,
will begin at once on the construction of a
now substation for the Edison Illg. Co. of
Detroit to cost about $125,000, on Congress
Street. The initial installation will pro-
vide for 5000 lav. which will ultimately be
increased to 10,000 kw. The company is
also contemplating the construction of a
new heating plant to be erected near the
substation.
HUDSONVTLLE, MICH. — Plans are
being considered by B. and T. Hughes to
install an electric-lighting plant for their
hardware and lumber establishment.
MONROE, MICH.— The River Raisin El.
Co., of Monroe, recently granted a franchise
in supply electricity in Carleton, is planning
to build electric plants at Raisinville and
Petersburg. Equipment has not yet been
decided upon as the extent of the territory
to be covered is yet indefinite. W. H.
Knapp, of Monroe, is engineer-in-charge.
RAVENNA. MICH. — A preliminary sur-
vey is being made in Rock Creek Valley
along the creek from the village of Ra-
venna to the site of the proposed dam.
about 3 miles from the village, by Clifford
S. Gamble, former city engineer, of Mus-
kegon. The work is being done under
the auspices uf the Ravenna Improvement
Association.
RTVERDALE, MICH.— Plans, it is re-
ported, are being considered by local busi-
ness men for the installation of an electric-
lighting plant in Riverdale. If the project
is carried through, it is proposed to extend
the transmission lines to Elm Hail to sup-
pic electrical service there and to residents
in the rural districts.
BOWLING GREEN, OHIO —All bids
submitted for the erection of a power
house for the Bowling Green State Nor-
mal College have been rejected by the
board of trustees. New bids, it is under-
stood, will be asked.
CINCINNATI, OHIO— The Cincinnati
1 las .v.- 101. Co. has submitted certain aevel-
0] ml plans to the City Council, which if
accepted will result in the expenditure of
ab. nit $15,000,000 by the company within
the next 211 years, a large part of which
will be expended in the first rive years.
The proposed work will include the erec-
111111 uf a large power house on the Ohio
River to take the place of the present
plant on the canal at Plum Street. The
estimated cost of the rapid-transit scheme
is $11,000,000.
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 4
CIRCLEVILLE, OHIO — The Circleville
Lt. & Pwr. Co. has applied to the State
Public Utilities Commission for permission
to issue $250,000 in bonds, of which $70,000
is to be issued at once, the balance to be
used for improvements and extensions to
its system.
CLEVELAND, OHIO. — Bids will be re-
ceived at the office of the commissioner of
purchases and supplies. Room 511, City
Hall, Cleveland, until Jan. 27 for furnish-
ing and installing two 250-hp water-tube
boilers for the City Hospital ; also for
stokers, bunker and ash hoppers for City
Hospital. A. R. Callow is commissioner of
purchases and supplies.
CLEVELAND, OHIO. — Bids will be re-
ceived at the office of the commissioner of
purchases and supplies, Room 511, City
Hall, Cleveland, until Jan. 28 for two
traveling cranes for the Department of
1'ublic Utilities, division of water. Bids
will also be received at the same place until
Jan. 29 for weatherproof copper wire for
the municipal electric-light department.
Specifications may be obtained at the office
of the commissioner of light and heat divi-
sion. No. 1443 East Third Street. A. R.
Callow is commissioner of purchases and
supplies.
HAMILTON, OHIO. — Estimates are
being prepared by James O'Toole, superin-
tendent of the municipal electric-light
plant, for the 'West Side Commercial Club
relative to the cost of installing ornamental
street lamps in that section.
NORWOOD, OHIO. — Incidental to the
change of the municipal electric-lighting
plant from direct to alternating current
several thousand consumers will be forced
to make changes in their wiring and equip-
ment in order to utilize the new service.
Several of the larger manufacturing plants
objected to the change and will install their
own generating plants in order to avoid
making the change. Of these firms Palm
Brothers are one.
ST. CLAIRSVILLE, OHIO. — The Board
of Public Affairs has decided to make im-
provements to the municipal electric-light-
ing plant. Several proposals have been
made by private companies to furnish elec-
tricity to the town.
SANDUSKY, OHIO. — Preparations are
being made by the Sandusky Gas & El.
Co. for the installation of an ornamental
street-lighting system, for which it was
recently awarded contract by the City
Council. The plans provide for the installa-
tion of 190 posts carrying two lamps of 250
<'P each, 900 lamps of 100 cp and 100 lamps
of 60 cp, all of the nitrogen type. The 190
posts are to be maintained by underground
wires, the 1000 small lamps by overhead
wires. The work will be done by the com-
pany. The cost is estimated at about $100,-
noo. E. A. Bechstein is manager.
SHELBY, OHIO. — Improvements, it Is
reported, are contemplated to the municipal
electric-lighting plant.
SPRINGFIELD, OHIO. — Preparations
are being made by the Springfield Lt.. Ht.
& Pwr. Co. and the Western Union Teleg.
Co. to place their wires underground in the
business section of the city. Wiree of
the municipal lighting system will soon be
placed in conduits for the purpose of main-
taining the ornamental street-lighting sys-
tem which is to be installed. Arrange-
ments arc being made by the property own-
ers to Install the lamps.
WOODSTOCK, OHIO, — The Village
Council has awarded a contract to the
Urbana Lt. Co.. of Urbana. to furnish elec-
tricity fnr lighting the streets of the village
and also for commercial lighting:.
YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO. — Bids will be re-
ceived by Service Director Heasley until
Jan. 29 for lighting the streets of the city.
will not only include Street-light-
ing:, bu1 Installing the new system, plans for
which have been prepared by li whltford
■ insulting engi
ADAIRVTLLE, KT. — Plans are being
considered, it is reported, to install an
'n;htlng plant In Adairvillc, to re-
place the acetylene gas plant, which was
recently burned.
LOUISVILLE. KV- The Louisville Gnu
A El Co has submitted B pro] al to the
Cerlng to
IS lamps now
! kways rind In
Park with eleetrie lamps The
neci iltei >tions to
nl lamp standards and provides for
Of l'«7 lamps,
KY Tin- Town Bl
sold a frate h l.'oekpnrt
to install an slectric-ltghl
eks In Rockport
■
; Public Works of Hammond
until Jan. 27 r ■ pump house,
furnishing and Installing two centrifugal
pumps snd motors, complete with piping
control, panels, etc.
DECATUR, ILL. — Property owners on
West .Macon Street have petitioned the
City Council to install ornamental lamps
on that thoroughfare from Union Street to
Deanla Avenue.
HOYLETON. ILL.— The Village Board
has granted a franchise to William Rix-
man, of Irvington, to supply electricity in
Hoyleton for a period of 20 years. Elec-
tricity for operating the system will be sup-
plied by the Nashville El. Lt. Co. A con-
tract was also awarded for lighting the
streets of the village with 20 lamps of
100 cp.
MATTOON, ILL. — The State Public Utili-
ties Commission has granted the Central
Illinois Pub. Ser. Co., of Mattoon, a certifi-
cate of public convenience and necessity to
construct and operate a transmission line
in McDonough and Fulton Counties. The
proposed line will run from Astoria to a
point near Bushness, where it will connect
with an existing line, and from Table Grove
to Ipava.
QUINCY, ILL. — Bids will be received
at the office of the Edmund T. Perkins En-
gineering Co., First National Bank Build-
ing, Chicago, until Feb. 19, for furnishing
all materials, machinery and labor for the
installation of an electrically operated
pumping station for the South Quincy
Drainage and Levee District, Adams
County, Illinois. The work consists of
pump house, substation, suction and dis-
charge bays, laying of about 180 ft. of cast-
iron pipe, erection of machinery and wiring
for machinery and lighting. Bids for
pumping machinery will be received as a
whole or for each part. The plans call
for two centrifugal pumps, equipped with
chain drive and necessary auxiliaries, a
5-ton traveling crane, two 200-hp motors
and auxiliaries and three 150-kva trans-
formers. Walter P. Martindale is secre-
tary of the commissioners.
SULLIVAN, ILL. — At a special election
held recently the proposal to issue $18,000
in bonds was carried.
ODANAH, WIS. — Plans are being con-
sidered, it is reported, for the installation
of an electric-light plant and telephone sys-
tem in Odanah.
PRAIRIE DU CHIEN, WIS.— An orna-
mental street-lighting system covering a
distance of 5 miles, it is reported, will be
installed here in the spring.
PRESCOTT, WIS. — The City Council, it
is reported, has granted the Minnesota,
Wisconsin Pwr. Corpn., of Wabasha, a
franchise to install an electric-lighting sys-
tem in Prescott.
OILMAN, IA. — Local business men, it Is
reported, are contemplating the Installation
of an electric-lighting plant in Gilman.
WILTON JUNCTION, IA. — The Musca-
tine Ltg. Co., of Muscatine, has submitted
two proposals to the City Council for light-
ing the city. The first was to extend
its transmission line from Moscow to Wil-
ton Junction and to supply energy to
operate the municipal electric system ; the
other was that the company make an ap-
praisal of the municipal plant and take
over the property, and build a complete
new system. H. C. Blackvvell is general
manager of the company.
MORRISON, MO. — The installation of a
municipal electric-light plant in Morrison is
reported to be under consideration.
ST. LOUIS, MO— The Laclede Gas Lt.
Co., of St. Louis, is installing an electric
generating plant in St. Louis, on the Iron
Mountain railroad to supply electricity for
coke ovens now under construction. The
equipment will consist of three 500-hp Edge
Moor boilers. Link licit Marhinoii i',,
(plvoted-bucket type) coal-conveying ma-
chinery, two Westinghouse turbo-genera-
tors (500 kw each), three-phase, four-wire,
no cycle, HfiO-voit (neutral grounded]
or, Transformers, arc lamps and
Incandescenl lamps not yet decided upon.
George B. Evans, chief engineer of the
C pany, has charge of the work.
UNIVERSITY, MO — The proposal to
"ti.000 In bonds for the installation
of a municipal electric-lighting system will
be submitted to the voters. The project pro
vides for underground conduits.
w EBB CITY, WO v new street-lighting
system is being Installed by the Empire
District i:i i o., ol Webb City, consisting
ol BO 6 8 amp magnel Ite,
lamps, ten suspension type arc lamps and
seven series tungsten lamps, maintained by
Lies The plans al
< el. lie II imp lamps for future Ill-
em
DRAKE. N I' The installation of an
lighting system in Drake is under
i! lull
MADISON, s. !> improvements sre
electric-
light plant. Including the Installation of ft
directly ting unit, con-
sisting of ft 450-hp or .'.en hp pi." li
er gas engine and a 350-kw or 400-kw
alternating-current generator. Bids will
be asked for equipment in the near future.
William Rae is city auditor.
BLAIR, NEB. — Plans are being prepared
by the Martz Engineering Co., First Na-
tional Bank Building, Lincoln, for the con-
struction of a municipal electric-light plant
in Blair, to cost about $35,000. Bids for
construction of the system will be asked for
in about 90 days.
OMAHA, NEB. — A bill will be introduced
to the State Legislature asking permission
for the Omaha Metropolitan Water District
to generate and sell electricity, upon the
affirmative vote of the citizens of the dis-
trict, giving the district a full opportunity
to compete with private enterprise.
KANSAS CITY, KAN.— An ordinance has
been passed by (he Board of City Commis-
sioners providing for the installation of
electric lamps and water service in St.
Margaret Park.
NATOMA, KAN.— The contract for the
construction of the proposed municipal elec-
tric-light plant, it is reported, has been
awarded to the F. D. Martin Construction
Co., of Kansas City, Mo. W. K. Collins &
Co., of Kansas City, Mo., are engineers.
WILSON, KAN. — Within the next three
months the Wilson El. Lt. Co. expects to
purchase a steam-driven generating unit
(from. 50 kw to 125 kw), directly con-
nected ; also oil-burning equipment for
boilers.
Southern States
COLUMBUS, GA. — The Bibb Mfg. Co., it
is reported, will install electrical equipment
and make other improvements to its Colum-
bus plant, involving an expenditure of
about $75,000.
LANETT, ALA. — The Lanett Cotton
Mills expect to purchase within the next
three months, one 200-kva, three-phase, 60-
cycle, 600-volt generator with exciter,
switchboard equipment, etc., and 2r. watt-
hour meters ; also to extend the street-light-
ing system and add nbout 40 100-cp series
street lamps. W. Oscar Orr is superin-
tendent of the electrical department.
NEWPORT, ARK. — Negotiations, it is
reported, are under way between the offi-
cials of the Arkansas Pwr. Co., of Malvern,
and the Co-operative El. Lt. Co., of New-
port, whereby the former will take over the
property of the local company. If the deal
goes through, it is said that improvements
will be made to the electric plant and
water-works system in Newport.
WINNFIELD, LA. — The Johnson Ice &
Lt. Co., of Winnfield, it is reported, is con-
templating the installation of an electric-
light system, ice factory and cold-storage
plant in Winnfield.
DALLAS. TEX. — The Stone & Webster
Engineering Corporation, of Boston, Mass.,
has completed financial arrangements for
the construction of extensive terminals for
its interurban railway system, including
the erection of a passenger station and
office building in Dallas, to cost about
$2,000,000.
SAN ANGELO. TEX.— The San Angeto
St. Ry Co. is contemplating the construc-
tion of a new power station and extensions
to its railway. J. D. Sugg Is owner.
Pacific States
. < urKYIl.l.K. WASH.— A company has
t n organized in Coupevllle for the pur-
pose of constructing an electric power plant
(to cost from $25,000 to $30,000) to supply
electricity in the town and adjacent terri-
tory for lamps and motors. A site for the
proposed plant. It is stated, has been se«
lected and work will soon begin on con:
Struct ion of same.
MONTESANO, WASH. — Preparations
are being made by the Northwest El. A
Waler Works. ... in build an
electric power plant on the Chehalls
River, I mile south of Montcsano. The
equlpmenl of the proposed plant will oon-
slst of one i mi hp and one 1 76-hp
tube boiler, one S50-hp and one 250-hp
200-kva, one ir,0-kva
and KU1 kva, three phase, 8
three switchboard
ter and one feeder. Raymond J.
Andrus, vice-president and general man-
ager, will have charge of the construction
itlon.
SEATTLE, WASH The Stone * Web-
ster Engineering Corpn., of Boston, Mass.,
it it reported, will begin work In the spring
..li n instruction of a large hydroelectric
development on the Skagit River, 2! miles
above Marblemount.
Januakt 23, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
271
SEATTLE, WASH— At a recent meeting
. a the ordinance ap-
ng $10,000 for the purpose of ex-
tt-rnij ri« the municipal lighting .-■ i
nd surrounding territory over the
Mayor Gill. If toe residents of the
outlying districts want to utilise
generated at the municipal plant
(Jill stale* that they will have
transmission lines to the city limits.
BEDFORD, ORE. — The Rogue River
Pub. Scr. Corpn., of Grant's 1'ass. has sub-
mitted a proposal to the city of U
offering to supply electricity in
on a wholesale basis, the city to install and
Hie distributing system. If the city
(.1 Medford accepts the proposition. It will
mean the installation of an additional 2000-
kva generating unit at plant of the corn-
Gold Hill, now under construction.
An item was published In the issue of Jan.
2 stating that the Rogue River Pub. Ser.
Oorpn, had submitted a proposition to the
City Council of Grants Pass, which should
Ben Medford.
HI iNMOUTH, ORE— The Council is con-
sidering a proposal for improving the
-hting system submitted by A. L.
Martin, local manager of the Oregon Pwr.
Co.
I iSWEGO, ORE.— The Oswego Lake Wtr.,
I.t * Pwr. Co., recently incorporated with
I stock of |5,000, proposes to install
a power plant and furnish water to the city
Of I iswego. The Incorporators are A. S.
Pattullo. Frederick H. Strong and Isaac D.
Hunt, all of Portland.
SALEM, ORE. — The installation of a
municipal electric-lighting plant in Salem
is under consideration. According to esti-
mates prepare-', the cost would be from
■ to $2." 0,800.
SILVERTON, ORE— The Portland Ry.,
Lt. & Pwr. Co., of Portland, has notified
the City Council that it is ready to enter
into negotiations relative to the installa-
tion of a new street-lighting system in Sil-
verton.
AUBURN. CAL. — Preparations are being
made by the Pacific Gas & El. Co., of
San Francisco, to resume work on its tower
line between its Xo. 4 and No. 5 power
houses. The power houses are between 4
and 5 miles apart, and ditches are to be
dug to carry the head water from Lake
Spaulding through the two plants The
power stations are also to be constructed.
The towers are to be SO ft high.
v-REKA, CAL. — The franchise recently
sold by the Hoard of Supervisors was pm-
r-hneed by the California-Oregon pwr. Co,
for the purpose of extending its tranamie-
alon lines from Ce Stella to the Cofte
district, a .list, line ol about 25
'I be company proposes to supply
tj to the mines and dredgers in the
Coffee Creek district and also to the towns
•.die and Trinity Center.
I'AIKVIKW. Mi i.\T— Application has
been in ■>. Council by C. W.
Of Kairview, for a 30-year fran-
chise to construct and operate an electric
light and power plant here.
PLENTTWOOD, MONT— A company is
being formed by local business men to
r the local electric-light plant and
water-works system, lt is proposed to «n-
large the plant and extend the transmission
lines into the surrounding territory.
Canada
YMIR. B. C. — The company operating
the Yankee Girl Mine, it is reported, is con-
templating the construction of a hydroelec-
tric plant at Wild Horse Creek. Sufficient
power could be developed for the company's
requirements and for lighting the town of
Ymir.
BOTHWELL, ONT. — The by-law author-
izing the authorities to enter into a con-
tract with the Hydro-Electric Power Com-
mission for hydroelectric power was ap-
proved by the ratepayers.
DUNDALK, ONT. — At an election held
Jan. 4 the by-law authorizing an expendi-
ture of $5,000 for the installation of a dis-
tribution system to utilize energy to be
supplied by the Hydro-Electric Power Com-
mission was carried.
LONDON, ONT. — Estimates have been
prepared by the Hydro-Electric Power Com-
mission of Ontario for the construction of
an electric railwav from London to Tillson-
Viurg. The cost is placed at SS92.009. W.
W. Pope, Continental Life Building, To-
ronto, is secretary of the commission.
ST. MARY'S. ONT. — The purchase of a
gas engine for the municipal water and
light plant is reported to be under con-
sideration by the Water and Light Board.
ST. MARY'S. ONT. — Estimates have
been prepared by the secretary of the
i.ight and Heat Commission of the
cost of erecting a transmission line from
Bt Mary's to Hannock. The cost is esti-
mated at $20,000 per mile, including poles,
wires, etc
SHELBTTRNB, "NT. — At an election re-
cently a b.T-law authorizing an expenditure
of 115,000 for the installation of an electric
distributing system was carried.
TORONTO. ONT. — Plans are being pre-
to extend the hydro street-lighting
of Toronto to Scarlett Plains and
I~inibton Park.
TORONTO. ONT. — Plans have been
completed by the Canadian Electrical As-
sociation for co-operative purchasing by its
member companies. The association i.« in
i.et for a large quantity of carbon
and tungsten lami*. meters, transformers
and rubber-covered and weather-proof wire.
The purchasers will all be operating com-
panies in good standing and will include the
largest organizations in Canada. Specifloa-
tions, etc., may be secured upon applica-
tion to Alan Sullivan, secretary and treas-
urer, 10 Adelaide Street, Toronto.
WALLACEBURG. ONT. — At an election
held recently the by-law authorizing the
Town Council to appropriate $9,000 for hy-
droelectric water-works was carried.
WELLAND. ONT— At an election held
recently the by-law providing $5,000 for the
installation of a fire-alarm system was
carried.
ROBERVAL, QUE. — Debentures to the
amount of $45,000 will be issued by the city
of Roberval for the installation of an elec-
tric-lighting system.
Miscellaneous
PANAMA. — Bids will be received at the
office of the general purchasing officer, the
Panama Canal. Washington. D. C. until Jan.
29. for steel cable, sheet brass, etc. Blanks
and general information pertaining to the
circular (No. S94) may be obtained at the
above office or the offices of the assistant
purchasing agents, 24 State Street, New
York, N. T. ; 614 Whitnev-Central Building,
New Orleans, La., and 10S6 North Point
Street, San Francisco, Cal. Major F. C.
Boggs is purchasing agent.
Weekly Record of Electrical Patents
UNITED STATES PATENTS ISSUED
JAN. 5. 1915.
[Prepared by Robert Starr Allyn, 16 Ex-
change Place, New York, N. Y.]
1,123,225. Electric Resistance Device and
Jlt.'.ss for Regulating the Same: G. E.
Bernecker, Chicago, 111. App. filed Oct.
31, 1911. Heating coil zigzagged through
openings in flat insulating base.
Transformer for Use with
Current-Rectifying Apparatus ; F. Con-
rad, Swissvale, Pa. App. filed April 10,
1908. Auxiliary devices are dispensed
with.
1,123,251. Electric Regulation : J. L.
Creveling, New York. N. Y. App. filed
Nov. 17, 1911. Battery charging.
CIRCUIT Interrupter; H. P. Da-
vis. Pittsburgh, and C. Aalborg. Wilkins-
burg. Pa. App. filed June 25, 1906. De-
signed for outdoor service.
1,123,264. Safety Device tor Marine En-
gines; G. C. Ellerton, United States Navy.
App. filed Dec. 27, 191" Warning device
sounds whenever engineer fails to obey
the signals he receives.
1,123,267. Gathering Locomotive with
HAULAOE Mechanism ; P. T. Fisher, Co-
lumbus, Ohio. App. filed March it. 1909
Has a conducting cable which can be used
for haulage purposes.
1,123,275. Regulating Switch for Stor-
age Batteries ; J. H. Gulger and M. Lin-
den), Milwaukee, WHs App. filed Nov
11, 1911. For regulating the charging of
the end cells.
1,128,277. Thermostatic Regulating De-
vice; E. Haagn, Hanau-on-the-Main,
my. App. filed Jan. 18, 1914. Cir-
cuit-closer rocks on projection of the two
thermostatic elements.
1,123,282. Circuit Interrupthr ; F. W*.
Harris. W7ilkinsburg, Pa. App. tiled Oct
5, 1907. Operates by predetermined suc-
cessive movements.
1,1 23.2S.3. System of Electric Distribu-
tion and Circuit Control ; F. Wr. Harris.
Wilkinsburg, Pa. App. filed Oct. 7. 1908.
Circuit interrupter with visual Indicators.
1.123.2SS. Automatic Circuit-Breaker;
R. E. Hellmund, Hinsdale, 111. App. filed
Jan. 16, 1905. Operates tardily upon
certain current conditions and instantly
under other conditions.
1,123,299. Process of Electrolytic Depo-
sition of Metals from Solutions : N. V.
Hybinette, Christiania. Norway. App.
Hied May 22, 1913. Electrolyzing copper
solutions containing iron.
1.123.305. High-Speed Railroad; T. L.
Johnson (deceased), Cleveland, Ohio.
App. filed April 20, 1905. Magnetic pro-
pulsion.
1.123.306. High-Speed Railway: T. L.
Johnson (deceased), Cleveland. Ohio.
App. filed Aug. 23, 1905. Decreases nor-
mal friction by developing an upward lift.
1.123.307. Synchronous Rectifier: C. H.
Kicklighter, Newberry, S. C. App. filed
Aug. 25, 1909. Polyphase alternating
current converted into direct current, with
sparkless commutation.
1,123,30s. Method of Electric Welding:
C. H. Kieklighter. Atlanta. Ga. App. filed
Jan. 26. 1914. An intermediate metal is
softened and forced into grooves in the
welded bodies.
1,123,309. Method of Electric Welding ;
C. H. Kicklighter, Atlanta, Ga. App.
filed Aug. 29, 1914. Pressure and heat-
ing current employed to force the inter-
mediate metal into grooves.
1,123.319. Dynamo-Electric Machine;
F. R. Kunkel, Edgewood Park, Pa. App.
filed Dec. 29, 1909. Core and frame
structure of fan motor.
1,123.321. Method of Operating Poly-
phase Induction Motors; b. G. Lamme.
Pittsburgh, Pa. App. filed July 6. 190S.
Obviates necessity for auto-transformers.
1,123,339. Telephone Exchange System;
1' ■; Martin, Chicago. 111. App. filed
June 16, 1906. Automatic or semi-auto-
matic party-line system.
Telephone Exchange System;
F. R. McBerty, Antwerp, Belgium App.
Died Aug. 21. 1913. Test or controlling
circuit for systems utilizing automatic
switches.
1,123,341. Electrical Control Ststem ;
W X. McComb, New York. N. Y. App.
filed June 5, 1911. Thermal sign flasher.
1,123,343. Electromagnetic Rail Brake;
G. Mertens, Dresden, Germany. App. filed
Julv 31, 1912. Braking effect is in-
creased without increasing the number
of the poles.
1,123,370. Voltaic Body Battery; A. A.
Pratt, Los Angeles, Cal. App. filed Aug.
4, 1913. Different metals seoured in face
of disk of insulation.
1,123,373. Electric Circuit Controller;
F. Ptok, Munich, Germany. App. filed
Sept. 23, 1913. Make-and-break mechan-
ism for flashing signs.
1.123.3S0. Radiator: F. T. Riley, Kansas
City. Mo. App. filed May 11, 1914. For
autos ; has electric heater controlled by
thermostat.
1,123,381. Telewriter Apparatus: F.
Ritchie. Acton. England. App. filed Dec.
10,1910. Paper-shifting details.
1,123,384. Incandescent Electric Lamp:
J. J. Rooney, New York, N. Y. App. filed
Jan. 5, 1910. Turn-down lamp operated
by pull.
1,123.393. Burglar Alarm: J. A. G.
Schmiedeberg, Hamburg. Germanv. App.
filed April 6, 1914. Readily portable.
1,123,411. Electromagnetic Power De-
vice : A. K. T. Smith and P. Good, Lon-
don, Eng. App. filed April 29, 1911. Es-
pecially for operating railway points,
signals, etc.
1,123,413. Electric Switch; J. C Smith,
Louisville. Ky. App. filed July 31. 1911.
For reducing speed of elevator at prede-
termined point.
1,123,436. Operating Mechanism for Os-
cillatory Ignition Machine ; R. Wag-
ner, Stuttgart, Germany. App. filed Dec.
16, 1912. Mechanical details of oper-
ating lever and cam
1.123.44S. Ignition System : P. R. Wer-
ner, Philadelphia, Pa, App. filed Aug.
25, 1911. Novel contact mechanism,
means for short-circuiting and spark
control.
1,123,452. Ebctromagnetic Switching
SYSTHM; L. L. White, Dorris. Cal. App.
filed Nov. 4, 1912. Thermostatically
controlled.
1,123,476. Telephone Ststem: O. Brisbois,
Chicago, 111. App. filed Jan. 7, 1913.
Prepay or coin box is used.
1,128,484. Controller for Electric Cir-
cuits ; C. II. Carter, Colon, Panama.
App. filed Feb. 15, 190S. Pull switch
controlling a plurality of circuits.
1,123,491. Power-Conversion Plant: E.
A. Corbin, Philadelphia, Pa. App. filed
272
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vul. 65, No. 4
May 12, 1913. Adapted tor submergence
,i) rapids. . —
1 123,506. Telephonk EXCHANGE APPAR-
ATUS and System ; .1. Erickson, Chicago,
111. App. filed July 31, 1906. [mpraved
- lor relaying switch-operating im-
pulses from one section of a line circuit to
another.
i 123,520 Elbctric Laundrt Iron; M. k.
Golden, Detroit. .Mi.h. App. flled July 6,
l'.'lJ. Made of sheet metal with heating
wire embedded in body sand therein.
Electric-Current Collector;
T i; Janssen, Minister. Germany. App.
Bled March -'7, 1914. Automatic adjust-
ment.
1 123,551 ( iverhead Trolley Apparatus ;
' w H Kempton, Mansfield, Ohio. App.
filed Feb. 2i>. 1312. Improved trolley
frog.
Electric Welding Apparatus;
' 1, 's Lachman, New York. N. Y. App.
filed April 18, 1914. For spot welding.
1 123,614. Automatic Fire Alarm . A. L,
' Stewart, L. O. Hawkins and A. E Mosher,
Madera, Pa. App. filed Oct. 2d, 1913.
Embodies an inflammable strip.
1 123 621 Electric Ignition System; J- A.
' Struthers. Jersey City, N. J. App. filed
March 10, 1913. Motor for cranking,
capable of operating as regular ignition
magneto.
1 123 624 Method for Electric Seam
' Wei ding; E. Thomson, Swampscott,
Mass App. filer! May 10, 1913. Avoids
buckling in spot-welding operation.
1 123 625 i -.lower for Electrical Incan-
' descent Lamps; O. M. Throwless,
Newark, N. J. App. filed Jan 20 1911.
Employs tungsten vapor and dry hydro-
gen.
1 123 626. Electrical System of Distribu-
' tion ■ W A. Turbayne, Lancaster, N. Y.
App 'filed Oct 16. 190S. Battery booster.
1,123,491 — Power-Conversion riant
1,123,629. Drip-Pan Alarm ; G. R. Waid.
Pegram, Idaho. App. filed Jan. 26. 1912.
Adapted to be placed beneath an ordinary
refrigerator.
I 123,631. Sparking Plug ; T. M. and 1 1. T.
Wayman, Pittsburgh, Pa. App. filed
March 1, 1913. Has pneumatically oper-
ated movable electrode.
1 123 fir, 4. Telephone-Receiver Attach-
ment; G. J. Arfsten, Denver, Col. App.
filed April 20, 1914. Pads of sanitary
paper from which sheets can be torn.
1 123,677. Limiter and Interrupter for
Alter sating Electric Currents; A.
w Kurke, Wilkinsburg, Pa. App. filed
March 11, 1912. Special transformer con-
struction.
l 123,683 Process cop Extracting Metals
'from living Bodies . T M Clague, New-
Tvne. Eng. App. filed Sept.
urrent through the
body.
Bri sii Selector ; E.
i and J. N Rej nolds, llnekensack,
N. J. App. filed Nov. 29, 1912, Improved
i mting for the brush sets.
I'.risii Selector ; E.
[ . i: ids. Hackensack,
N" 3 App. filed Nov. 29, 1912, Improved
. i ivity of the brush sets
i* selectively controlled
I m ice ; A,
11,1, I IhlO. App. filed
June 19, 1912 Foi assorting straight
bona from beni carbons.
l 12::. Tin;. Multiple Brush Belb
F Dixon, Newark, N. .1 App filed Nov.
1 1 1 For automatic or semi auto-
matic teli phi
1,123,722, Gab Controllii
Apparatus; E N and E
South Deerfleld, Mass App filed June
16, 1910 For automoblli
\pp tiled May it. 16)14
telepho
; I
' Klnm Hi i, ipp hied Sept
rei
WlthOUt del
ind \pp filed Deo
11, 1913. Has plunger which can be
shifted to complete several different cir-
cuits.
1,123,789, Electric-Heating Element; R.
J. M. Parke and E. D. Brand, Toronto,
Ontario, Canada. App. filed Dec. 11,
1913. Resistance is coiled through notches
of a metal spider.
1,123,799. Multiple Brush Selector; J.
N. Reynolds, Greenwich; Conn. App. filed
Nov. 16, 1912. Adapted for use either as
B selector or a connector.
1,123,809. Circuit-Breaker Tripping ap-
paratus; W. M. Scott, Radnor, Pa. App.
filed June 23, 1913. Acts upon change
phase relation.
1,123,818. Electric Bell; F. S. Tucker,
Boston, Mass. App. filed Feb. 6, 1914
Improved striker mechanism.
1,123,826. Telephone System ; H. G. Web-
ster, Chicago, 111. App. filed Sept. 20,
1906. Improved means for i necting
subscribers' line to an idle link circuit.
1,123,829. Circuit Switch; J. C. Wrasse,
Mishawaka, Ind. App. filed Oct. 30. 1913.
Prevents flickering of lights caused by-
surge of current.
; :.; Depolarizer for Galvanic
Cells; P. Burger, Berlin, Germany.
App. filed July 2, 1913. Manganese di-
oxide and acetylene soot.
I,123,sri5. Electromagnetic Measuring In-
strument; W. J. Davis, Enfield, ICng.
App. filed June 20, 1913. Extra damp-
ing chamber is provided,
1,123,870. Switch; B. Haskins. Milwau
kee, Wis. App. filed Feb. 4, 1910. Oil
switch.
1.123.909. Telephone Sheath; O. W.
Messimer, New York, N. Y. App. filed
May 4, 1912. Leather cover for "desk"
telephone.
1.123.910. Interference Preventer for
Use in Wireless-Telegraph Systems.
T. B. Miller and A. H. Cox. Seattle.
Wash. App. filed Nov. 16, 1912. Lubri-
cated contact between metal electrodes.
1.123.925. Traffic Guides; R. W. Roder-
ick, Akron, Ohio. App. filed Jan. 27,
1914. Operated by crossing policeman to
regulate traffic.
1.123.926. Electrical Switch-Throwing
Mechanism; J. S. Ross, Altoona, Pa.
App. filed June 28, 1910. Controlled by
the motorman.
1,123,931. Machine for Making WELDED
Chains; M. B. Ryan, Boston, Mass. App.
filed Nov. 3, 1909. Welded portions are
subjected to pressure.
1,123,942. Stereoscopic N-Ray System:
H. C Snook, Cynwyd, and E. W. Kelly,
Philadelphia, Pa. App. filed Aug. 15,
1912. X-ray tubes brought alternate!}
into circuit with transformer secondary.
1,123. 962. Process of Htdroqenatino Fats
and Oils and Waxes: T. E. Walker,
Austin, Tex. App. filed May 22, 1913.
Subjected to heat, hydrogen and cata-
lyzing agent in presence of electrical dis-
charge.
1,123,971. Distributer for Ignition Dy-
namos; H. H. Wixon, Chicago, 111. App.
filed March 4. 1910. Kotatahle spark-
gap in parallel with the spark plugs.
1,123.979. Telephone Attachment for
Cars; M. J. Bartol, Beaverdale, Pa.
Ap;i. filed March 17, 1914. Live wires
along track engaged by shoes in car.
1,123,985. Insulating Material; F. Boil-
ing, (iherursel, Germany. App filed
Mas 81, 1913. Mica flakes pasted to
gether.
1,124,003. I j i i i in ■ Li '"i i> B with
Cable-Reeling Mechanism; D, T.
Fisher. Columbus, i duo App. filed July
22, 1911. Has drum for collector cable
and drum tor haulage cable,
1.124.021. Impulse Transmitter; w F,
Hoffmann. Springfield, Ohio. App. filed
i , |6, 1911. For automatic telephone
system.
1.124.022. Ignition tob M
der Combustion Enoineb Having I sou
i.ar Order of Ionith .-. . G Monoid.
Stuttgart, ' lei man] \pp filed Sept 27.
1910 Special Ignition sj stem
1,124,023 1 " ic\ [TION System Q
11. n a, id. Stuttgart, Germans App. filed
Sept 21, 1911 1 nclud 'hanical
Interrupter and a busier, but no battery.
i . Electric Watkr-Li
w 1; Morefleld and \ J Bi id
1 [inton, w \ 1 \pp filed April 6, 1912.
h,,ii, 1 ■■. rent 1 el ire m
ii nut 111 in as the « 1
1
1,12 1,060 Test Guard
Switching APPARATUS; .1 N Reynolds,
, i ieh. Conn. App. filed I U
1 : 1;.,, h line la 1 aui • d to test busj
while In use.
I 1 ■• |,08 I I I FOB MBASt 1
.., B01 1 I [1 I ' '•!• M US-
ING a Photographic Record Thereof ;
H. M. Smitt, Utrecht, Netherlands. App.
filed Sept. 24, 1913. Gyroscope prevents
rotation of the level.
1,124,072. Electromagnetic Track Brake;
D. Storjohann, lmmigrath, Germany.
App. filed July 30, 1914. Adjusts itselt
to occasional irregularities in the rails.
1,124,075. Electric Pocket Lamp; J. G.
Swallow, New York, N. Y. App. filed
Sept. 4, 1913. Has a pivoted lamp car-
rier by which direction of beam is con-
trolled' and lamp is switched on and off.
1.124.0S6. Controlling Means for Elec-
tric Motors; G. H. Whittingham and W.
T. Holmes. Pikesville and Baltimore, Md.
App. filed March 27, 1911. Control of
motors for driving reciprocating beds of
printing presses, etc.
1,124,105. Impulse Transmitter; W. M.
Bruce. Jr.. I'rliana. Ohio. App. filed
Dec. 7, 1911. Calling device for auto-
matic telephones.
1,124,119. Telegraph Instrument: H. A.
Emrick Casey, 111. App. filed Aug. 1,
1913. Employs the main key to trans-
mit "dashes" and sends "dots" by a
supplemental key.
1,124,129. Means for Regulating Clocks
by Hertzian Waves; G. A. Goodson,
Minneapolis, .Minn. App. filed Feb. 21,
1910. Has time-controlled means for
starting the gas engine which drives the
11 ator.
1,124,133. Safety Fuse for Electric Cir-
cuits; H. C. Hershey. Hanover, Pa.
App. filed Jan. 25, 1913. Can be re-
newed with a fuse member of the same
capacity.
1,124,137. Diaphragm Horn; M. R. Hutch-
inson. Deal Beach, N. J. App. filed Oct
26, 1909. Rotary actuator is yieldingly
sustained against diaphragm.
1,124,142. Speed-Dependent Motor-Con-
trolling Apparatus ; S. H. Keefer 1 de-
ceased), Plainfield, N. J. App. filed May
29, 1911. Motor circuit opened when cur-
rent in armature or field exceeds prede-
termined amounts.
1,124,003 — Electric Locomotive with Cable-
Reeling Mechanism
1,124,169. Burglar Alarm for Safes; T.
Prushey, Tacoma, Wash. App. filed Aug.
16, 1811. Safe walls charged with com-
pressed air.
1.124.179. Circuit-Breaker Tripping Ap-
paratus: W. M. Scott, Radnor, Pa. App.
filed July 12, 1913. Operated on charge
in phase relations.
1,124,189 Motor-Control system; G. h.
Whittingham, Bancroft Park. Md. App.
tiled Aug. 28, 1912. Reverses moto
reversing current in armature circuit
while armature is running at normal
speed.
1,124,192. Electromagnetic Selecting
Apparatus ; G. L Anders, Sydenham,
London, Eng. App. filed Nov. 7. 1907.
Mas a plurality of electromagnets and a
universally movable armature in common
1,124,194. Fuse \\ C II. inks. New York.
N. Y, App, died March 11, 1918, Re-
newable cartridge fuse construction.
1,124,211. 1:11c ■ Locomotive; f. c.
Coseo, Columbus, Ohio, App filed Julj
29, 1911. Mas improved winding mech-
anism with drum tor conductor cable and
drum for haulage cable.
Incandescent Elbctric Lamp;
II C anj i. Ml ■« I mi., N. Y. App. tiled
Nov ::. 1918, Miners lamp; upon hreak
lens the lamp circuit is opened.
in 1 Mis \ pins \M> Sounding
Sign OB INDICATOR; J \ I >einp.-e\ , New
York, \ J \i>p filed July 2, 1913.
Clock tor "Bilks ceremony.
Electric Fusible cut-out.
m P i.im rsldge, Bala. Pa App. tiled
\piil ''. 1913 Expulsion type; gas is
. ,1 In l.liiw cm
1 8,858 1 >• lssu< c A11 Testing
s r.n: \.a B v pteri Circuits C El
Blnghamton, N. Y App filed I let
1914 (Original patent No 1 ,099,909,
dated June ifi. 191 1 1 Measurln
menu ma] I nnecte 1 ti sting and
11 , .nil protected during such testing.
1 8,881 i reissue 1. M ■ cturb 0
\\ l; Walker. New York. N i IPP
iii,.,i 1 let, B, 1914 (i irlglnal patent Mo
I. HI 1,425, dale, I .Ian 9, 1912.)
carbon ot pig Iron, recarburlses and then
treats In electric furnace.
Vol. 65
Electrical World
The consolidation of Electrical World and Enoini Electrician.
Published by MeGraw Publiahli
\l.\\ 1TOBK, SATURDAY, JANUAR1 30,1915
No. 5
Transcontinental Telephony
A NOTEWORTHY accomplishment in telephone
transmission over a distance of 3400 miles is
recorded on page 279 of this issue. In many cases of
electrical transmission increase in distance involves a
change in magnitude but not in character of the prob-
lems to be solved. Such, however, is not true in tele-
phonic transmission over wires, extra long distances
giving significance to problems that can safely be ig-
nored in short-distance work. Early attempts to over-
come the difficulties encountered in extending the range
of telephone lines were concentrated on the transmit-
ting and receiving apparatus as a result of the belief
that what was needed was transmitters of greater power
and receivers of greater sensitiveness. That the limita-
tion did not lie in the transmitter was demonstrated in
a thoroughly convincing manner on Jan. 25, when Dr.
Bell made use of an exact duplicate of his original
transmitter to talk from New York to San Francisco
with Mr. Thomas A. Watson, who had constructed the
original telephone and heard the first words transmitted
from it nearly forty years ago. Many improvements
have been made in both the transmitter and the re-
ceiver, to be sure, but the really effective work in long-
distance telephony has been that expended upon the line
and its accessories. For directing attention to tele-
phone transmission-line problems and finding solutions
to some of them much credit is due to Dr. Pupin, whose
"loading coils" are used in every long-distance telephone
line properly so designated. For the solution of a very
great many additional line problems credit must be
given to the engineers of the American Telephone
& Telegraph Company, of whom Mr. J. J. Carty is chief.
To his untiring leadership in investigation, design and
construction is to be credited the accomplishment re-
corded in this issue. Not one but many improvements,
each adding its part and co-operating with the others,
have contributed to the results obtained. Among the
more important improvements upon which the engineer-
ing and financial success of the undertaking have de-
pended have been not only the introduction of loading
coils but also the substitution of copper for iron wire,
the superposition of "phantom" and physical circuits,
the simultaneous utilization of the line copper for teleg-
raphy and telephony, and the development of satisfac-
tory telephone repeaters — about which doubtless much
will be heard later. Most noteworthy of all is the fact
that the work of development has been accomplished
under private ownership — a fact the significance of
which will be more fully appreciated when one considers
the results obtained in other countries under govern-
mental ownership and operation.
A Chicago Commission for Chicago
GOVERNOR DUNNE of Illinois has suggested to
the Legislature the creation of an ancillary com-
mission to control public utilities in Chicago. This is a
concession to the "home-rule" sentiment which sought a
separate commission for Chicago when the Illinois com-
mission law was enacted. The complaint is not that
the State commission regulates utilities badly but that
the city, jealous of its rights, should retain control over
properties in its borders. The advocates of this policy
feel that the city has satisfactorily settled electric-rail-
way matters, regulated gas rates and adjusted relations
with the electric central station. If this be granted, it
still does not mean that satisfactory results would be
secured in the future. When a city regulates, the vital
rate-making power lies with the user of the service;
the buyer decides what price he shall pay. A state
commission, ideally directed, is unprejudiced and dis-
interested, acting fairly with regard to both buyer and
seller. No one with knowledge denies that rigid regu-
lation prevails in California, yet voters of that State
have just placed all territory under the Railroad Com-
mission. Previously large cities, except as they elected
to have their utilities regulated by the State, kept the
control themselves. The suggested action in Illinois
represents a step backward.
Time to Begin
IN addressing the New England Street Railway Club
Mr. Guy E. Tripp emphasized the statement made in
the Electrical World on Jan. 2, that our principal need
is good home markets. He suggests that "it would help
if we all agree that it is time to let up a little on con-
servatism and take some chances by beginning some of
the work which is being held back." Central-station
buying was curtailed last summer because securities
could not be sold. Notwithstanding close money, a num-
ber of utilities sold sufficient securities even during the
acute autumn to meet their needs. Buyers are now ab-
sorbing bonds, and money is much easier. Needed ex-
tensions and improvements can be financed better now
than at any other time during the last six months.
These conditions promote development. Business has
lost heavily by apprehensions and fears, and it is time
for the quiet, strengthening confidence which prevails
to assert itself. To all classes the war has been a shock
that will long influence buying habits. The lesson has
been learned, however, and production is necessary to
replace goods consumed during a half-year of uncertain-
ty. To stimulate production slowly will be much more
wholesome for buyers than to withhold orders until
274
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 5
skies are finally cleared, until manufacturing plants are
in operation day and night, and until prices reach the
top notch.
Rate-Making for Gas
The commercial success of electrical rate-making
is pointing the way to the abandonment of flat rates
for gas. A paper read by Mr. G. H. Cook, of Kenosha,
before the Wisconsin Electrical Association and the
Wisconsin Gas Association, contains the most recent
plea for a change in gas rate-making. It cites the slow
progress of Wisconsin gas utilities in five years as com-
pared with electric utilities. The former increased 25
per cent in gross, the latter 80 per cent. Whereas in
1909 Wisconsin gas and electric utilities reported gross
incomes of $4,000,000 and $4,400,000 respectively, five
years later they showed respectively $5,000,000 and
$8,000,000. The gas man is tempted to feel that if elec-
trical utilities had not been in existence this great
increment in revenue would have gone largely to his
properties. Such a conclusion overlooks the highly di-
versified uses of electrical energy for which gas is
neither adapted nor inviting and the commercial spirit
and salesmanship in the electrical industry. The elec-
trical industry has the impetus that comes from sus-
tained success, and it can encourage better rate-making
in gas utilities.
Radio Antenna Constants
Many experimenters in radiotelegraphy have been
sorely puzzled by observation of a change in antenna
capacity when measured according to the usual methods.
By exciting an aerial system at two different wave-
lengths and calculating its capacity, inductance and
natural frequency from the data thus secured, it is
always found that the numerical values obtained vary
considerably when the pair of chosen excitation fre-
quencies is changed. The common impression has un-
fortunately been, it appears, that this variation is due
to a difficulty in making accurate measurements; in
general the instruments used have been distrusted,
rather than the method.
In an interesting article in this issue Mr. Louis Cohen
develops a mathematical proof of the cause of these
measurements' deviations from absolute values. When
the inductance and capacity of a radiating antenna are
properly considered as distributed quantities the hiatus
at once vanishes, and it becomes possible to assign
definite values to antenna constants and to determine
the variation in resulting resonant frequency as the
ratio of lumped to distributed inductance is changed.
The mathematical treatment of an antenna according
to the practice of transmission-line calculation is worthy
of note and extension. The present numerical relations
are applied to aerials in which the capacity and in-
ductance—except the inductance of the loading coil —
are ideally distributed. To consider the existing radiat-
ing structures, in which the distribution of capacity
and inductance is usually different in the vertical and
approximately horizontal sections, would, of course.
further complicate the problem. It is hoped, however,
that in spite of its evident difficulty, a more general
solution will be attempted and presented to the radio-
engineering profession before long.
It should be noted that when comparatively large
loading coils are used in the resonant determination of
antenna constants the agreement of observed results on
the assumption of lumped quantities and those calcu-
lated from the expressions stated by Mr. Cohen is quite
good. Thus for the ordinary determination of antenna
capacity it is not necesssary to resort to complete com-
putation, though without doubt radio engineers will find
it interesting to check their physical measurements
against the values calculated from the relations given
in Mr. Cohen's article.
High-Tension Underground Transmission
As our readers are well aware, the overhead trans-
mission line as used in general practice here is viewed
with some suspicion by foreign engineers. Of course,
many high-tension overhead lines are in use on the Con-
tinent, but there is a strong tendency to use under-
ground service as is well exemplified in a paper by Mr.
H. Henney abstracted in the Digest. The case described
is that of the City Electricity Works of Trier on the
Moselle. These comprise a well-ordered modern steam
station with turbine equipment and a water-power plant
on a tributary of the Moselle about 15 miles from the
city. Of the steam station little need be said except
that it is a type not uncommon here. The water-power
station, which operates under a somewhat variable head
of nearly 100 meters, contains three three-phase gen-
erators, each rated at 1870 kva, 5500 volts and fifty
cycles per second, with room for a fourth set of similar
character. The generators are directly coupled to
Francis type turbines in spiral housings rated at 2000
hp each. The station represents an excellent example
of hydroelectric construction in no wise radically differ-
ent from plants familiar in this country.
The striking point about the system is that the main
transmission line consists of an underground cable, con-
necting directly with the 25,000-volt city distributing
system. There is also an overhead line which can be
used as a reserve but which presents no special features.
The cable used for this transmission is of the three-
wire, paper-insulated type, consisting of three seven-
strand conductors each of 35-sq. mm cross-section indi-
vidually insulated with paper 14 mm thick laid together
in insulating material and again laid with paper, over
which is a lead covering. Outside of this is a layer of
paper and jute, surrounded by a steel armor which is
itself served with jute on the exterior. This cable was
tested for half an hour at 75,000 volts, three-phase.
fifty cycles. When tested for dielectric loss it showed
only about 250 watts per km. This cable equipment,
which has been in very successful use for a year, ap-
pears to have fulfilled all requirements. It is buried 3
ft. underground in a trench, with a telephone cable laid
about 8 in. from it. This transmission is a first-class
January 80, 1916
K I. ECT RICAL WO K I. D
example of the work recently accomplished on the I
tinent in underground transmission. It is rather ex-
pensive and hence does nut particularly appeal to en-
gineers in this country, but it gives good evidence of
the practical elFectiveness of such a transmission sys-
tem when required.
The Temperature of the Arc
In the Digest appears an abstract of an exceedingly
important report on the melting of carbon and the tem-
perature of the arc, based on experiments by that past-
master of the photometric art Prof. Otto Lummer. It
has been long believed that the crater of the electric
arc reaches for a given pressure a maximum tempera-
ture which corresponds to the boiling point, so to speak,
of carbon. Above this no further excess of energy sup-
ply seems to be able to raise the temperature. On this
principle is based the use of the crater of the arc for a
photometric standard in connection with a suitable
screen for cutting off everything except the middle of
the crater. This standard light source, which was sug-
gested by Blondel more than twenty years ago, was dis-
cussed at some length in a paper before the British As-
sociation for the Advancement of Science at its 1913
meeting. Professor Lummer has made an extended in-
vestigation of the subject, using his interference pyrom-
eter as a measuring instrument.
The most interesting portion of the research deals
with the variation of surface brilliancy of the crater
with the pressure in the surrounding medium. As a
starting point, so to speak, Lummer found that the
steady temperature of the pure carbon arc at normal
atmospheric pressure is 4200 deg. absolute in the posi-
tive crater, the extreme temperature which is reached
in the negative electrode being probably 100 deg. less.
He found also that the arc radiates, like the carbon in-
candescent filament, as a "gray body," so that the tem-
peratures can be expressed from the photometric bril-
liancies in the form of a simple exponential equation.
By experimenting at pressures of from 1 atmosphere
down to 0.1 atmosphere he found an extreme difference
from 4200 deg. absolute down to 3900 deg. absolute.
For 0.1 atmosphere difference in pressure below normal
the decrease in brilliancy was only 1 per cent. From
this it is obvious that in using the arc crater as a pho-
tometric standard the barometric correction would be
practically negligible. Carbon does not lend itself read-
ily to extreme pressures in suitable formation of the
arc, and, following the matter up with impregnated car-
bon electrodes to give a proper arc stream at high
pressures, Lummer was able to reach at 22 atmospheres
pressure twenty-three times the surface brilliancy of
the normal arc, and a temperature which he estimated
at 6090 deg. absolute on the assumption that the im-
pregnated carbon electrodes used by him gave a "gray-
body radiation" so far as the crater was concerned. It
is the possibility of reaching such extraordinary tem-
peratures which lends the greatest interest to Professor
Lummer's research, since this maximum temperature is
practically that of the solar service as nearly as it can
i ••in the character of its radiation as-
sumed as that of a "black body" — which it probably is
not. However, in spite of the necessarily hypothetical
matters thus introduced, there is good reason to believe
that Professor Lummer has reached experimentally
temperatures quite comparable with that of the sun.
In any event he has developed a method which will en-
able the character of the radiation from vapors to be
investigated at a temperature approximating solar con-
ditions, although burdened with pressure conditions
which BOmewhat complicate the situation. From what-
ever aspect it is viewed, the research is a most important
one.
A Network for Small Consumers
.Many readers interested in central-station develop-
ments will find much worth considering in the descrip-
tion of the work done by the Central Illinois Light Com-
pany in the reorganization of its system, the center of
which is in Peoria, 111. The network now connected ex-
tends about 55 miles east and west and perhaps half this
distance north and south, supplying electrical energy
to twenty-seven cities and towns, with an aggregate pop-
ulation of about 140,000. The chief station now contains
10,500 kw in turbo-generators and two engine-driven
sets aggregating 1400 kw. Some very practical changes
in the steam generating plant were necessary in recon-
structing the main station. A revolution in the supply
of condensing water became necessary. As finally ar-
ranged, many piping complications were suppressed, and
the water is delivered by five circulating pumps, any or
all of which can be used as the load and temperature
of the circulating water varies.
The transmission system is operated at 13,000 volts
and 6600 volts, and provision is made for operating at
33,000 volts when necessary. The problem in transmis-
sion which confronted the company was that of supply-
ing energy economically to many small communities.
A large part of the line is carried on wooden poles of
standard type 35 ft. in height spaced 135 ft. apart.
Through the suburbs of Peoria the transmission lines
are carried on angle-iron extension tops borne by the
poles of the distributing system. At one point a series
of deep gullies presented almost insuperable difficulties
in the construction of a wooden-pole line and use had
to be made of tower construction. The towers are not
of the ordinary kind, being merely 30-ft. flexible A-
frames placed at the high points between gullies, over
which are spans of from 400 ft. to 800 ft. At the
longer spans the A-frames are guyed back and forward
to afford extra resistance. Rural service is an im-
portant feature of the system. Transformers for this
service are operated mostly at 6600 volts primary, with
the secondaries at 220 volts for motors and 110 volts for
lighting. It has been found by experience that the aver-
age rural customer in this territory yields something
like $30 a year in revenue. Being sufficiently numerous,
the rural customers represent no inconsiderable addi-
tion to the service of a system which deals, in the nature
of its work, especially with small loads.
276
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 5
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
National Electrical Week
To the Editor of the Electrical World:
Sir: — I, personally, think the possibilities indicated
by the plans affecting an "electrical development
week" are most inspiring. One kind of co-operation
makes a revolution ; another kind of co-operation
makes a war. Our kind of co-operation can make a real
war on darkness and a revolution in our living. Let's
have a hundred million people in this conflict.
L. D. GIBBS,
Rnetnn \fnoe Superintendent Advertising Dent, the
DVbivn, mass. Edison Electric Illuminating Co. of Boston.
To the Editor of the Electrical World :
Sir: — In answering your note concerning the pro-
posed "national electrical week," it occurs to me that
possibly the celebration, if carried out in October, would
conflict with the growing recognition of "Edison Day,"
which is also an October event. I should think it would
be difficult to carry any kind of industrial or commer-
cial celebration through an entire week. If in the judg-
ment of those who are behind the movement, however,
the "electrical week" idea should prevail, would it not
be better to substitute one of the earlier months of the
year? Arthur Williams,
\7/>ut VnrL \7 V ffenerol Inspector New York
To the Editor of the Electrical World:
Sir: — I take great pleasure in approving the proposed
"electrical week" and will place the Ohio Electric Light
Association at the disposal of the electrical interests
of the State to make such an occasion a success.
Not only do these things occasion an increased use
of electricity, but I believe the most crying need of the
present day is the education of the people not only upon
the uses and advantages of electricity, but about its dis-
tribution and disposal. I think we have suffered greatly
because the nature of electricity is so little known. The
average person with whom we do business looks upon
the whole subject as one of mystery, and naturally with
suspicion, knowing nothing about it. If we can edu-
cate people not only as to its advantages but also as to
its cost, generation and distribution, I believe it will
be a good thing for those who are engaged in central-
station work. D. L. Gaskill,
Greenville, Ohio.
To the Editor of the Electrical World:
Sir: — The proposed "national electrical week," as re-
ferred to in your issue of Jan. 16, will, I believe, meet
with a hearty response from central-station men, and
the Society for Electrical Development is deserving of
much commendation for this most excellent suggestion.
The success which has attended special electrical days
and electrical weeks, as accomplished by individual com-
panies, indicates in a small measure at least the tre-
mendous advantages which will accrue to the entire in-
dustry if all of its component parts unite in one grand
effort to drive home the slogan "Do it electrically." Our
experience with special days of this nature in the past
leads me to believe that much greater returns will be
obtained from the large sums of money which will be
spent in advertising if price reduction either on an en-
tire line or on certain specialties in the line be offered
by each manufacturer during this week as far as pos-
sible. Unless the public can see some concrete advan-
tage in the way of a price reduction on the commodities
offered, it is much more difficult to attract its attention,
arouse its interest and induce it to buy. As every new
appliance sold becomes a center of disturbance from
which waves radiate in all directions, thus selling sev-
eral additional appliances at the regular price after the
special campaign is over, we believe the price reduction
during the special week is fully justified.
I am quite sure that central stations everywhere will
heartily welcome this most commendable move and co-
operate with all of the other branches of the industry
in making it a huge success.
Bayard W. Mendenhall,
Salt Lake City, Utah. (:<" ''' ^I',";,/'/^,^' *
To the Editor of the Electrical World:
Sir: — In answer to your note I should state that
the idea of a "national electrical week" is nat-
urally very attractive to those interested in the com-
mercial activities of our industry. Any effective means
of exploiting the advantages of electric service, and of
increasing the sale of electrical energy and of electrical
merchandise, is highly commendable.
The publicity that would attend a "national electrical
week" could not fail to be of advantage in developing
increased interest in our product. In striving for such
a celebration two questions arise:
First — What are we going to celebrate?
Second — Hoiv are we going to celebrate?
It will be easier to pass intelligently upon the advis-
ability of holding such a week after some of the plans
have been elaborated in detail. Many of the suggestions
made as to the promoting of the plan, as noted in your
article, are excellent; but it seems to me that we must
specifically decide upon one definite thing to celebrate
and specifically advertise that one thing. To define the
activities of many things without some specific idea
would not, in my opinion, result in any material gain.
T. I. Jones,
C/i/iM,.** at v General Sales Agent Edison Electric II-
BlOOKiyn, 1\. I. laminating Company <if Brooklyn.
To the Editor of the Electrical World:
Sir: — The suggestions made as to the ways and
means of promoting the plan of a meeting held in New
York on Jan. 8 seem to indicate quite an interest in the
subject evidenced by those present, but it would appear
that something more distinctive than a general hurrah
on the subject for a week should be our aim if the plan
goes through. It will hardly be practicable to get the
co-operation of city authorities, boards of trade, cham-
bers of commerce and civic organizations in this effort,
and I am afraid we are aiming too high.
The electrical trade or the utilities are no more en-
titled to such recognition than any other line of trade
would be. The inauguration of "white way" lighting
and similar attractive displays throughout the country
during that week will result in creating material inter-
est, but whether or not this will bring additional busi-
ness in proper relative proportion to the expense is, of
course, again the question.
The electrical industry or business is not as a whole
one of seasons. Truly, our lighting period commences
in October and extends throughout the winter. On the
other hand, this does not mean any increased activity or
the employment of more help, nor is it in any way com-
parable with the activity at certain seasons in other
commercial lines of business. For this reason I question
whether the outlay and the effort of one week along the
January SO, 1916
ELECTRICAL WORLD
liberal lines proposed will be conducive to the results
in proportion to what could be accomplished by continu-
ous activity spread over the entire year.
However, we are always in a receptive mood for any
and all suggestions along this line, and should the plans
work out and the consensus of opinion be favorable you
will not find us missing if we can see our way clear to
say "present." A. C. EINSTEIN,
St. Louis. Mn. ireetteni and Central Manager
Unton Electric lAght *i Power Company.
To the Editor of the Electrical World:
Sir: — I consider your article on the "National Elec-
trical Week" most interesting and timely. I am quite
sure the result from this article will be surprising. I
assure you of my best efforts and earnest co-operation
to make the "electrical week" a great success.
John R. Galloway.
Washington, l>. c.
To the Editor of the ELECTRICAL WORLD:
SIR: — To me the idea of a "national electrical week"
is one having wonderful possibilities in stimulating the
growth of the industry in which we are so much inter-
ested. That it is an immense undertaking and one that
entails a large amount of work there is no doubt what-
ever. However, it is, I believe, just such a big move-
ment, properly planned long enough ahead of time, that
will enable every organization in the electrical indus-
try to contribute the best ideas and the greatest amount
of substantial hard-working co-operation, the results
of which cannot fail to be far-reaching and most bene-
ficial.
It seems to me that the national electrical week pre-
sents a splendid opportunity to visualize the actual re-
sults of a national co-operative effort made in accord-
ance with the well-known Jovian slogan, "All together,
all the time, for everything electrical." We hear "elec-
trical sermons" preached from this text time and time
again ; now here is a chance to show our faith by our
works.
Imagine, if you will, every city and town from Maine
to California in a holiday attire of illuminated streets
and stores for a whole week, the store windows being
attractively dressed, festoons of lamps and other
decorations being properly installed, the civic authori-
ties brought in line, and all other interests in the city
stimulated to join the "light brigade." What will be
the result? People will be living, for the week at least,
in an electrical atmosphere, thinking and talking of
things electrical, which must necessarily prompt their
use. The result will be far-reaching; the discussion
among the women of electrical dishes easily and
economically prepared can but lead to an exchange of
ideas on this subject, resulting in an increased use of
the devices themselves. The suggestion alone of the
progress made by the industry will be worth much be-
cause it will popularize the subject, causing it to be
discussed pro and con by the people at large.
Then consider the merchant who has been induced to
participate. Possibly he has never before been brought
to see the advantage of properly illuminating his win-
dows and store. He will undoubtedly be so much im-
pressed that it is hardly possible that he will desire to
return to a poorly lighted store, less attractive and
interest-compelling. Even a week will be sufficient to
teach many a merchant the error of the way he has been
pursuing.
The town as a whole should receive an inspiration
for brighter things that will be lasting, because as a
result of a concentrated effort it will be transformed
in the twinkling of an eye to a city of beauty, which the
citizens, unci- they have grasped its advantages, will
want tu make a "joy forever."
In any event the industry as a whole is bound to re-
ceive a stimulus from such an effort, and, like "clean-
up day" practised in so many cities, once we see our-
selves as we should like to be seen, we shall wonder
how we could ever have been satisfied with our previous
condition.
However, let us not lose sight of the fact that such
an undertaking means work, hard work, and lots of it.
It will mean co-operation, and that of an unusually un-
selfish kind, and lots of it. It will necessitate frequent
conferences all over the country and careful planning,
because it should not be undertaken unless it can be
carried through with the certainty of a successful con-
clusion.
The electrical industry has too much at stake to risk
a failure, but it will not fail if we all put our shoulder
to the wheel, and we may rest assured the more we put
into it, the more we shall get out of it.
There is so much work for each of us that each
should begin early to plan, making such plans harmonize
closely with the branches of the industry. Plans can
be made long in advance for securing the co-operation
of the merchant, how his window can be brightened,
how his store can be made more attractive, how the
streets can be better lighted, and hundreds of other
suggestions that will readily occur once we get started.
But to delay this would be fatal because of the special
work to be done at the last minute, and, incidentally,
the simpler the wiring plans the greater the success of
the undertaking.
Summing up, then, here is a magnificent opportunity
for showing the public in an effective, practical manner
the advantages to be gained from an increased use of
electricity, for the unqualified success of which we must
have the unselfish assistance of every branch of the
electrical industry. J. C. McQuiSTON,
Pittsburgh, Pa.
Manager Westinghouse Department
of Publicity.
To the Editor of the Electrical World :
Sir: If the manufacturers, jobbers, central stations
and contractors would all "work together," a "national
electrical week" could be made a grand success. I am
for it. Ernest Freeman.
Chicago, III. President Freeman-Sweet Company.
To the Editor of the Electrical World:
Sir: — The idea of a "national electrical week" is
most excellent. It seems to me, however, that we could
choose some better date than the week of Oct. 18. The
history of lamp sales indicates that this week falls
during the peak of greatest lamp sales. That is, this
period is the peak of the season's business of the whole
electric-lighting industry. It seems to me that we should
celebrate "electrical week" at an off-peak date, when
we shall all have a little more time to attend to it and
when the stimulation which will result therefrom need
not further burden our facilities, which in this par-
ticular year will probably tax our resources to the great-
est extent in our history.
To explain the remark just made I would say that
I have heard enough comment from our central-station
friends to indicate that the connected load is increasing
all the time and that it is going ahead this year, while
the maximum demand is not, and that consequently the
ratio between the connected load and the maximum de-
mand is so changing that were the industry suddenly
to celebrate by utilizing a larger percentage of its con-
278
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, Nc. 5
nected load, even though it utilized no greater percent-
age of the connected load thai, would be predicted from
past history, we should find ourselves embarrassed
rather than benefited by the "national electrical week,"
simply because we chose a peak period for its observa-
tion.
It seems to me that if we are to have such a
week we should select the middle of August or the lat-
ter part of January, which are off-peak periods of the
year's activities. S. E. Doane,
Cleveland, Ohio. Chief Engineer National Lamp Works
of General Electric Company.
To the Editor of the Electrical World :
Sir: — Concerning the proposed "National Electrical
Week," my idea is that the concentration of thought
on things electrical for one week by the millions of
buyers in the United States will not only tremendously
increase the sales of electrical devices, appliances and
materials for that week but will leave a lasting impress
on the minds of the consumer everywhere that the one
best way is to "do it electrically."
George H. Duffield,
Tl*inn \T V Secretary National Electrical Contractors'
Ulica, iv. I. Association of the r. S.
To the Editor of the Electrical World:
Sir: — I heartily favor the idea of a "national electri-
cal week," believing that a concentration of effort along
well-directed lines will create a profound impression
upon the general public, followed by an increased use
of everything electrical.
My first impression was that an "electrical week" in
the spring of the year would result in a more substan-
tial benefit to the industry than a week in the fall, but
upon reflection I have come to the conclusion that Oc-
tober is, after all, the best month in the year, because
then the days are getting shorter and everyone's
thought is naturally turning to light, and as electric
light is the best, so it is easy to carry the mind to
some extent to the use of the best light and the use of
the most convenient and efficient devices.
W. E. Robertson,
Buffalo, N. Y. Robertson-Cataract BlectrU Company.
To the Editor of the Electrical World:
Sir: — Referring to your article entitled "A National
Electrical Week," in your issue dated Jan. 16, I heartily
approve the plan to stir up the public in the matter
of better lighting. The idea of enlisting the co-opera-
tion of the Jovian Order is certainly a novel one. The
Jovians have been looking for something to do that
was worth while ever since they were organized, and
I feel sure that if an opportunity is given to them, un-
der proper direction, most effective work will be
done by them. Charles L. Eidlitz.
New York N Y President Metropolitan Electric
ivew i otk, i\ . I. Manufacturing Company
To the Editor of the ELECTRICAL WORLD:
Sir: — Concerning the subject of "A National Elec-
trical Week," as covered in an article in your issue of
•Ian. Hi, incidental to a meeting of prominent electrical
men held Jan. 8 on the invitation of the Society for
Electrical Development, it is almost needless for me to
hat I am heartily in favor of a movement of this
character and believe that it possesses large possibilities
if properlj organized ami promoted, inasmuch as the
basic principles of the thought were first given voice
by the Commercial Division of the Jovian Order in its
annual report made last October and in the issue of
The Jovian which was mailed to subscribers on Dec. 28.
In that issue, under the editorial caption "Capital-
izing Opportunity," the idea is promulgated in the fol-
lowing words:
"In this issue we describe at some length the clever
plan adopted by our Chattanooga Jovians to capitalize
the publicity given Edison Day. They backed up a
national advertising campaign with a specific, local cam-
paign having commercially valuable features, thereby
securing the advantage of the cumulative effect of the
national work, which without such crystalized, concrete,
local backing loses much if not all of its commercial
value, except from the standpoint of general publicity —
a most indefinite reward.
"We have had some thoughts along this line in con-
nection with our own 'Jovian Day,' or some other day
which can be set up by the society and on which, follow-
ing national publicity, concentrated effort shall be made
in each city. This may be in the form of special sales
at all electrical retail stores, exhibitions, parades in
connection with the electric-vehicle association and other
organizations, co-operative advertising, and a variety of
other methods tending on this special day particularly
to call to the attention of the entire nation the con-
venience, economy, safety, cleanliness and efficiency of
electricity in all its applications.
"In Buffalo they attempted something of this nature
by co-operative advertising just preceding Christmas.
The manner in which this was prepared in our opin-
ion is far superior to the usual method of making up
co-operative pages. It will be interesting to note what
actual results are traceable to this effort.
"If a plan of that character is practical and profitable,
followed in each locality in connection with other meth-
ods of attracting attention within the power of our
local organizations, we can see the possibility of each
year, or twice each year, putting over a big commercially
profitable scheme at a very small expense by using the
machinery of the order."
In the above paragraph, referring to the efforts of
Buffalo Jovians, the Commercial Division conveyed the
thought that not only special "electrical days," inaugu-
rated by national advertising and made commercially
profitable by concentrated local effort, are possible, but
the cumulative value of all the national advertising and
effort that is expended to instil into the minds of the
public the desire to "make it an electrical Christmas"
could also be capitalized by local "follow-up" work dur-
ing the holiday season.
The Society for Electrical Development should be con-
gratulated upon its alertness in adopting the electrical
day suggestion, and in somewhat broadening its scope
by lengthening the period of contemplated activity from
several days during different months to one week each
year, although it is more than probable that in addition
to the "electrical week" the same plan would be profitable
for a period preceding Christmas, as above noted, with
little more advertising nationally than would be given
in any event to the greatest of all the open-pocketbook
times.
That central stations, manufacturers, jobbers, deal-
ers— the entire industry — will lie a unit in working for
the success of a movement of this kind, provided the
organization actively promoting the plan is in a posi-
tion to enlist earnest, enthusiastic and, most important
of all, organized local effort throughout the whole
United States, cannot be justly doubted.
In brief, in my opinion, it is difficult to picture failure
for the idea if competently handled by a body command-
ing widespread, organized, local co-operation, but even
more difficult to visualize success without that abs<
lutely essential element. Ell C. Bennett,
St. Loins. Mo. '" ■'""■"
Ml
jANtAin 80, L91G
ELECTRICAL WORLD
279
Inauguration of Transcontinental Telephony
Impressive Demonstrations at New York, Boston and San Francisco Mark the Beginning
of Oral Communication Between the Atlantic and Pacific Coasts
ELABORATE ceremonies marked the formal open-
ing of telephone service between the Atlantic and
Pacific coasts on Jan. 25, when Dr. Alexander
Graham Bell, the inventor of the telephone, talked from
New York to San Francisco, 3400 miles away, to Mr.
Thomas A. Watson, who constructed the first telephone
instrument in 1876 under Dr. Bell's direction. During
the conversation between these two men use was made
of an exact reproduction of the original transmitter as
built by Mr. Watson and used by Dr. Bell to speak to
him in an adjacent room at No. 5 Exeter Place, Boston,
<>n March 10, 1876.
Over the transcontinental line, 3600 miles in length.
other distant point — Jekyl Island, off the Georgia coast.
In addressing the persons assembled in New York
t<> witness the first formal demonstration of transcon-
tinental telephonic communication, Mr. Union N.
Bethell, president of the New Y'ork Telephone Com-
pany, stated that in round numbers the Bell system to-
day includes 9,000,000 subscribers' stations joined to-
gether by 21,000,000 miles of wire at a total cost of
$850,000,000. In the employ of the associated tele-
phone companies are 160,000 men and women, giving
service in 25,000 cities and villages and 60,000 railroad
stations. The average load on the system is 26,000,000
messages per day. In San Francisco and New Yrork
DR. ALEXANDER GRAHAM BELL
MR. THEODORE N. VAIL
DR. MICHAEL I. PUPIN
MR. JOHN J. CARTY
PERSONS PROMINENTLY IDENTIFIED WITH AMERICAN TELEPHONE DEVELOPMENT
spoke also President Wilson from Washington, D. C,
to President Moore of the Panama-Pacific International
Exposition in San Francisco. Greetings were also ex-
changed between Mayor Rolph in San Francisco and
Mayor Curley in Boston and Mayor Mitchel in New
York. To all of these conversations and many others
between public officials and engineers of the telephone
company in Boston, New York and San Francisco Presi-
dent Theodore N. Vail of the American Telephone &
Telegraph Company was an interested listener at an-
there are 685,000 telephone stations, which number is
larger by 50,000 than the number in London, Paris,
Berlin, Vienna, Brussels, Amsterdam and Petrograd
combined, although their population is three times that
of New York and San Francisco.
In the development of the Bell telephone system of
the United States, which now serves to connect the ex-
treme East with the extreme West, there has been ex-
pended twice as much money as on the Panama Canal—
the water route which connects the East and the West.
280
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 5
Mr. Bethell stated that to no one man could credit
be given for the work of development culminating in
the transcontinental telephone system, but he called at-
tention to the excellent service rendered by Mr. J. J.
Carty, chief engineer of the American Telephone &
Telegraph Company, who during his thirty years of
association with the company has contributed more
than any other one man toward the development of the
Bell system, having made many valuable inventions
and standardized the methods of construction and
operation.
On being presented to the assemblage, Mr. Carty
said that the original Bell-Watson telephone trans-
mitted speech over the 3400-mile circuit to San Fran-
cisco with greater clearness than was possible over the
first "long-distance" line of two miles between Boston
and Cambridge, Mass., over which the first conversa-
tion took place on Oct. 9, 1876. He stated that a great
many minds have worked together to bring about this
result, and claimed that honor should be bestowed on
every person who had contributed, his share to insure
the success of the undertaking.
Mr. Carty remarked that the Bell system is watched
over continuously by 1200 men, any one or all of whom
can be commanded from a room at 15 Dey Street, New
York. The forces are so arranged that the most in-
accessible point anywhere on the three line fronts can
be reached in less than two hours. With few excep-
tions, almost any part of the line or a particular part
fr-
transcontinental telephone service must be attributed,
not the least important is the use of the so-called "load-
ing coils," the invention of Dr. Michael I. Pupin, of
Columbia University. In the form actually utilized the
coils differ markedly in mechanical details from the
loading coils first built. The earlier coils were as large
as nail kegs, whereas the present coils are from 4 in. to
5 in. in diameter. They vary in size with the character
PROGRESS IN TELEPHONE TRANSMISSION
FIG. 1 — ROUTES OF TRANSCONTINENTAL LINES
of this great length of circuit, and all of the apparatus,
can instantly be reached by an engineer, line man or
cable man. The preparations are made to move one
man or a gang. All means of conveyance are employed,
from snowshoes to automobiles. These include saddle
horses for inaccessible mountain regions where roads
are found to be bad, automobiles, motorcycles and
wagons drawn by horses. Any one of this large force
of people can instantly be reached from the Dey Street
headquarters, and the whole force, spread out over
twenty-five states, is under perfect control, from one
point.
The work of completing the last link of the trans-
continental line from Salt Lake City to San Frai
imed only two years, but in the system as actually
installed have been embodied numerous improvements
made during many years. Since Dr. Bell produced his
first telephone there have been introduced seventy-three
different transmitters, lii'ty-three of which have ap-
peared since 1877. Moreover, switchboards, metallic
circuits, hard drawn copper wire and "loading coils"
have all been developed especially for the transcon-
tinental service. Progress in long-distance telephony
is strikingly shown by the accompanying table.
Among the improvements to which the success of the
1876
2
Boston-Cambridge
1882
45
Bostoor-Providenoe
1884
235
New York-Boston
1892
900
New York-Chicago
1911
2100
New York-Denver
1913
21300
New York-Salt Lake City
1915
3400
New York-San Francisco
of the line in which they are placed. There has been
developed for use in the core of the coils insulated
iron wire 0.004 in. in diameter, of which 13,600 miles
is used in the coils erected in the New York-San Fran-
cisco line.
Between New York and San Francisco there are now
being operated two physical telephone circuits and one
phantom circuit. The physical circuits are formed of
hard-drawn copper wire of No. 8 B. W. G. 0.165 in. in
diameter. The total weight of the four 3400-mile
copper wires in use between New York and San Fran-
cisco is 5,920,000 lb. These wires are mounted on a
total of 130,000 poles. Not over ten miles of the cir-
cuit is in underground cables. It is estimated that
when a conversation is being carried on over the 2400-
mile line equipment valued at $2,000,000 is "tied up"
temporarily for this service. However, sight should
not be lost of the fact that three conversations can be
carried on simultaneously between New York and San
Francisco, while several telegraph messages can be sent
at the same time over portions of the wires. When
the line was extended to Denver in May, 1911, nine
intermediate conversations could be carried on simul-
taneously over various parts of the system and twenty-
eight telegraph messages could be sent simultaneously.
In the Denver-San Francisco link the circuits are ar-
ranged for "phantom" operation, and similar super-
position can be accomplished.
A noteworthy feature of the demonstration on Jan.
FIG. 2— ARRANGEMENT OF PHYSICAL AND PHANTOM
CIRCUITS
25 was the simultaneous utilization of numerous tele-
phone receivers at the seaboard terminals for the bene-
fit of persons invited to listen to the conversations
carried on between New York and San Francisco. This
result could have been achieved only by means of re-
lays, to which beyond doubt much of the success of
the long-distance telephonic transmission must be at-
tributed.
Januaby 30,
ELECTRICAL \V ORLD
281
Electric Service In and Near Peoria, 111.
Reconstructing a Generating Station During Continuous Service and Solving
Transmission Problems of the Central Illinois Light Company
HAYING rebuilt its former generating station at
Peoria, 111., and extended its transmission sys-
tem to cover the greater part of five counties,
the Central Illinois Light Company is delivering
twenty-four-hour electric service to twenty-seven cities
and towns. Chief among these is Peoria, the headquar-
ters of the company. Reaching out from this center,
high-tension lines of the company extend approximately
55 miles east and west, and the lateral territory cov-
ered is about one-half this width at its broadest point.
The total population of the district within which the
company operates is 140,000.
Rebuilding the Old Station
In reconstructing the generating plant practically no
changes were made in the coal-handling equipment. The
1-ton grab bucket driven by a three-phase motor still
lifts the coal from the cars and delivers it into the
bunkers over the firing aisle. Ashes from the grates
are raked and shoveled into cars operating on the track
beneath the firing-aisle floor and are dumped into a pit
beneath the grab-bucket structure. From here they
are lifted into cars at such times as the coal-handling
equipment is not otherwise occupied.
Changes in the boiler room itself were slight, the
main feature being the addition of four 570-hp Geary
boilers made by the Oil City Boiler Works. These,
with the ten 300-hp steaming units of the same type
which had been previously installed, bring the total
boiler rating of the station up to 5280 hp. The new
units and all but two of the old units are equipped with
Green chain-grate stokers. Two boilers were never
equipped with stoking apparatus, as it was thought
that hand-firing made them more efficient for meeting
sudden peak-load demands. The 300-hp and the 570-hp
units are set respectively 5 ft. and 7 ft. above the
ground level. In every case the boilers are horizontally
baffled.
In burning Illinois coal on the chain grates a consid-
erable quantity of water must be added. This is sup-
plied from a perforated pipe running along the face of
the boiler just above the stoker hopper. A Sturtevant
economizer with 10,756 sq. ft. of heating surface was
installed in connection with the two banks of larger
boilers. The multivane exhaust fan used in connection
with this unit is driven by a 12-in. by 14-in. throttling
steam engine.
Natural draft for the furnaces is supplied by two
stacks. One of these, a steel stack, measures 185 ft. in
height and 9 ft. in diameter, while the other, a concrete
structure, is 200 ft. high and 13 ft. in diameter.
On account of the fact that a considerable portion of
the exhaust steam is used in the exhaust-steam heating
system the percentage of make-up water required is
high. Water taken directly from the Illinois River
behind the station is treated for hardness in the com-
pany's Kennicott ground-operated water softener.
Soda-ash and iron sulphate are the principal chemicals
used in the softener. The capacity of the purification
plant is about 15,000 gal. of water an hour. It is said
that in the winter time about 80 per cent of the water
going into the boilers has to be made up from the puri-
fication plant. Two 5000-hp Vater feed-water heaters,
made by the Power Plant Specialty Company, receive
exhaust steam from all the station auxiliaries.
The Turbines and the Steam-Heating Arrangement
Four turbines and two engines compose the present
prime-mover equipment of the station. The largest of
these is a horizontal 5000-kw General Electric turbo-
generator set. Of the other turbines, two are Allis-
Chalmers machines rated at 1500 kw and 3000 kw. The
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FIG. 1 — GENERAL VIEW OF TURBINE ROOM FACING SWITCHBOARD GALLERY
282
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 5
fourth turbo-generator is a 1000-kw General Electric
unit of the vertical type. Two Allis-Chalmers cross-
compound engines, rated at 600 kw and 800 kw re-
spectively, compose the remainder of the generating
equipment. For convenience in connecting these turbo-
sets to the system an engineers' panel carrying a speed
FIG. 2 — THE OLD STATION
indicator and an indicating wattmeter has been in-
stalled near each generator.
Excitation for the main generators may be supplied
from any one of three sources, a 100-kw turbo-gen-
erator set, a 100-kw motor-generator set, or a 1120-
amp-hr., 500-volt storage battery. At present this
battery has but one-half its full quota of plates and,
floating on the company's 500-volt system, is rated at
560 amp-hr. To secure emergency 125-volt excitation,
taps are taken from only a portion of the cells.
Supplying practically all of the steam for the central-
station heating system, the 3000-kw turbine is not pro-
vided with a condenser, and for this reason it is seldom
operated during hot weather. The other two horizontal
turbines, however, exhaust into Wheeler surface-con-
densers, both of which are of the two-pass type. On
account of the improbability of both reciprocating en-
gines being in service at one time, exhaust piping has
been arranged so that a common condenser of the
Worthington two-pass type serves both. A Worthing-
FIG. •''. NKW STATION ANI
II TION RACK
too barometric condenser is connected to the vertical
turbine so that it may be operated either condensing or
non-condensing as conditions dictate. Auxiliaries serv-
ing these condensers arc of several types, ranging from
reciprocating wet-air pumps to the later types of tur-
. en rotative dry-vacuum pumps.
Rearranging the Pump-Pit Equipment
Attempting the simplification of piping in the con-
denser and pump pits, the company's engineers met a
difficult problem. However, by careful measuring and
pipe cutting conditions have been changed so that the
piping contains far fewer complications than before.
With the present layout circulating water for con-
densers is brought in through a common circulating
header to which any or all of the five circulating pumps
may be connected. Driven by a 180-hp Kerr turbine,
the largest of these pumps is capable of delivering
10,000 gal. of water a minute from its tri-rotor
hydraulic element. Another 100-hp turbine-driven
pump with a single rotor is rated at 5000 gal. a minute,
while the remaining three units are Worthington duplex
pumps whose cylinder dimensions are respectively 10
in. by 14 in. by 10 in., 12 in. by 15 in. by 15 in., and
12 in. by 17 in. by 15 in. As the load and temperature
of the circulating water varies, the pump whose rating
most nearly approaches the circulating-water demand is
placed in operation. Arrangements have also been
made so that the barometric condenser can be served
from an individual pump.
Perhaps the best idea of what has been accomplished
in redesigning and reconstructing this generating sta-
FIG. 4 — OLD DOUBLE-DECKED SWITCHBOARD
tion is to be had by a comparison of Figs. 4 and 5, show-
ing the old and the new switchboards. Gradual growth
of the old station, necessitating the addition of a panel
here and there, had resulted in a switchboard built upon
two levels. The double deck made operation of the sta-
tion convenient, but the real difficulties were encoun-
tered in changing over the wires from this board to the
new switchboard on the operating gallery. As will be
seen from the exterior view of the old station, wires for
the underground and overhead systems left the building
proper by several routes, and in the reconstruction this
system was changed so that now all wiring leaves the
station through underground ducts. Leads which serve
the overhead distribution system are conducted to the
top of the terminal rack by means of iron pipe risers.
Not only has this enhanced the exterior appearance of
the station but it has also given the company a distri-
bution rack upon which an experienced lineman can
work with comparative safety. In changing the old
wiring a considerable amount of temporary work had to
be installed in the corner of the building shown in the
foreground of Figs. 2 and 3. Inasmuch as the brick-
work of the station was being carried on at the same
time and this wiring was on the temporary wall, lintels
had to be laid, bridging the temporary work so that the
masons could continue their operations above the tern-
.) \m un 30, 1916
ELECTRICAL WORLD
283
porary structure. Later the temporary wiring was torn
from the walls and the brickwork completed to fill in the
space which had been left vacant.
Divided into three portions, the new switchboard on
the operating gallery presents a neat and businesslike
appearance. The control of all the main generators and
alternating-current feeders is effected from a six-
section benchboard. Practically all of the city lighting
outside of the main business district is accomplished
riea arc lamps, and the energy for this lighting is
distributed through a nine-panel blue Vermont switch-
board which may be seen with its stall switches in the
extreme background of Fig. 5. In the foreground is a
thirteen-panel new black-slate switchboard which con-
trols all of the direct-current apparatus in the station,
including three 165-kw, 500-volt motor-generator sets
supplying direct current for motors in the down-town
district of Peoria. These direct-current generators are
driven by 2300-volt, three-phase synchronous motors,
which operate to raise the general power-factor of the
station.
Switches have been installed in the station bus so that
it mav be divided into four sections. These sections
FIG. 5 SWITCHBOARD GALLERY
STATION
IN RECONSTRUCTED
are then connected to an auxiliary feeder bus by means
of heavy oil switches with rupturing capacities of
25,000 kw each. Oil switches on the feeders are of a
lighter type. By this expedient, reducing the number
of heavy-duty oil switches to a minimum, considerable
money was saved. Oil switches and buses are all in-
closed in concrete compartments, this switch-cell struc-
ture being situated behind the direct-current switch-
board, a part on the operating gallery and a part on the
main floor of the station.
In the circuit of single-phase feeders supplying that
portion of the city outside of the underground district
ten induction regulators have been connected. Situated
upon a gallery above the switchboard, these machines
have been adjusted so that they will regulate the feeder
potential within 10 per cent above and below normal.
Thirteen alternating-current feeders supplying the
down-town or underground district are supplied from
eight transformers in the basement. These feeders
leaving the station occupy ducts in the company's clay-
conduit line. At the station this conduit line contains
fifty-four ducts.
Aside from the reconstructed- generating station, the
system of the Central Illinois Light Company possesses
many novel and interesting features. Transmission
lines traverse territory rich in coal and agricultural
possibilities, and along their routes small generating
stations are being replaced with transformer and sub-
stations receiving energy from the main steam plant.
Two substations of the company, almost identical in
their exterior appearance, stand within view of the
main generating station, one being upon the same prop-
FIG. 6 — WATER-PURIFICATION PLANT AND LIBERTY STREET
SUBSTATION
erty and the other just across the Illinois River. The
substation in the rear of the generating plant contains
three three-phase banks of transformers aggregating
3500 kw and raising the voltage from 2300 to 13,000
for the outgoing transmission line. The high-tension
side of the transformers in these substations is pro-
tected by electrolyte lightning arresters mounted upon
a balcony where all live parts will be above the heads
of workmen in the station.
Submarine Cable Crossing
Being served from the main generating station by
means of submarine cables, the substation in East
Peoria is of particular interest. Traversing the 1500
ft. between the substation and the generating station
are two three-phase cables, the conductors of which are
fig. 7-
-TRANSMISSION TOWERS ON OLD BRIDGE PIERS AT
PEKIN
No. 4 copper. One of these cables is of sufficient rating
to carry the entire load, the other being installed as a
spare cable to be used only in times of emergency. All
operations in the substation, which is without attendant,
are controlled from the switchboard in the main gen-
284
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 5>
erating station. Circuits for these operations are car-
ried in a seven-conductor control cable traversing prac-
tically the same path as the main cables. When these
cables were laid all three reels were set upon a barge
and the three cables paid out as the boat crossed the
stream. Arriving at the opposite bank, the cables were
run to the substation in an underground trench. After
the cables had been laid a diver spent four days exam-
ining them on the river bottom to make sure that none
was resting upon sharp projections in the riverbed.
An Economical Power Plant at Pekin
Operating in connection with a steam-heating system,
the power plant at Pekin will ultimately be the only
other generating station on the company's present sys-
tem outside of Peoria. One 100-kw and two 200-kw
General Electric generators driven by reciprocating en-
gines compose the entire energy-producing equipment
of the Pekin station, and in the winter time, when the
steam-heating load in the city of Pekin is heavy, these
machines are operated at approximately their full rat-
ing. If, however, the demand for electricity in Pekin
falls short of the output, the excess is delivered over the
high-tension line to the company's customers at Peoria.
With the steam-heating system in operation, the recip-
rocating-engine plant at Pekin is capable of producing
electrical energy cheaper than it could be put out by the
turbines in the main generating station at Peoria. In
the summer, however, when there is little or no steam-
heating business, this is of course not true, and the
FIG. 8-
-ril ARACTER OF COUNTRY WHERE A-FRAME TOWERS
ARK USED
greater part <<\ the electrical energy used in Pekin is
supplied over the transmission line from the main gen-
erating station.
Between the ci of Peoria and Pekin the major
portion of the tin Ion line, about 7 miles, is car-
ried upon 35-ft. pole while the remainder, 3 miles,
traverses the suburbs of Peoria on a 45-ft. lead. On
the latter portion of this line four-pin arms carrying
three No. 2 copper wires spaced at 14-in. intervals are-
mounted upon angle-iron extension pole tops above the
city distribution system. Pole spacings of 135 ft. have
been used throughout the entire line except at the river
crossing at the outskirts of Pekin.
if jCruger
"Kington
EAST\fEORIA
pekin <"™'"*~'r %
EAST DIVISION A°
FIG. 9 — DIVISION MAP, SHOWING TRANSMISSION SYSTEM
OF CENTRAL ILLINOIS COMPANY
Angle-iron towers mounted upon the piers of an old
bridge lift the wires at this point 80 ft. above the water,,
the towers themselves being 100 ft. in height and about
5 ft. square at the base.
Company Tries Experiment in Ground Wires
Transmission lines between Peoria and Eureka are-
carried on 35-ft. poles spaced 135 ft. on centers. This
three-wire circuit of No. 4 copper, although at present
operating at 13,000 volts, has been insulated for 33,000'
volts. The main-line wires are carried on a 10-ft. by
5.5-in. by 4.5-in. cross-arm, and the 0.375-in. stranded-
steel ground wire is supported upon angle-iron bayonets
about 4 ft. in length. Where this ground wire is used
an earth connection is made at every fifth pole. How-
ever, from Eureka to Washington the company is ex-
perimenting with a grounded angle-iron bayonet on
each pole, dispensing with the continuous ground wire.
The extremities of this line extending from Eureka are-
erected upon 25-ft. poles and operate at 6600 volts. At
the junction shown upon the accompanying map the
line divides, a single phase being taken to Metamora
and another branch of the line going to Roanoke. No. 6-
copper wire is used on this line.
Flexible Towers Solve Transmission Problem
Supplying the Off Mine with electrical energy pre-
sented one of the most perplexing transmission prob-
lems in the building of the company's system. East of
Peoria in a densely wooded and almost inaccessible
country, seamed with gullies washed out by water rush-
ing rapidly to the Illinois River, the mine entrance
could only have been reached on wooden pole lines by
traversing a roundabout route approximately 4.5 miles
in length. The steep sides and sheer depth of the gullies
themselves precluded the possibility of building a
wooden-pole line direct to the mine. However, pur-
chasing fifteen 30-ft. flexible A-frame towers and erect-
ing them at the high points in the rough territory, a
line was strung to the mine over a route approximately
a mile in length. Spans in this line vary from 400 ft.
to 800 ft., and where the longer of these spans occur the
A I i ame towers have been guyed ahead and back with
0.375-in. messenger wire. Trees along the right-of-way
have been cleared from beneath the line so that the
towers and material could be taken to desired positions.
Even after this precaution was taken, however, the task
ELECTRICAL Wo I: LI)
285
of transporting the towers to their respective positions
proved one of no mean importance, for the character of
the country is such that wagon travel is impossible.
Hence the towers occupying the most inaccet
points had to be dragged in without the intervention
of a wheel conveyance.
Weai ■ ' Peoria, 40-ft and 45-ft. poles, spaced 140 ft.
FIG. 10 — LIGHTNING ARRESTERS FOR OUTDOOR SUBSTATION
apart, carry the lines to the outskirts of the city, and
from there to Farmington 30-ft. poles equipped with
standard 10-ft. arms and an angle-iron brace beneath
conduct the three-wire No. 2 copper lines to the city of
Farmington. Here again the expedient of grounding
each bayonet has been adopted. The line is storm-
guyed every tenth pole. In connection with storm
SUBSTATION RATINGS AND POPULATION OF COMMUNITIES
Liberty Stri
Ofl Mine
an
Kun-kri
Supplied at 6600 volts from Eureka:
Cruger
■ra
Roanoke
Felcin
". and mine
Trivola
Cramer
FarminfrtoD
Middl<
Flat I
London Mills
U:i|»:iT. e
Bin
Douglas
Moquin
Brimni-M
Monica
Princevilli*
3,500
600
350
150
150
1,000
225
300
576
240
7 s.-.
cities was not erected by the present management, but
was recently purchased and has been connected to the
remainder of the system by a short line extending north
from Farmington.
Taking over small lighting plants and transmission
nis between villages, the company has acquired a
considerable number of farm customers. Service lines
generally carried upon the same
pole line with the high-tension circuits, from one to six
i arm installations being connected to each transformer.
Ordinarily the high-tension side of rural transformers
"pirates at 6600 volts, the secondary lines delivering
220 volts for motor service and 110 volts for lighting.
In one case, however, a two-wire, 220-volt secondary had
been adopted, both lamps and motors operating at this
potential in a very satisfactory manner. The fact that
motors are largely operated in the daytime when no
lighting is needed was taken into consideration in in-
stalling this type of circuit. The average rural cus-
tomer in central Illinois uses about 230 kw-hr. a year
and pays from $27 to $34 for the service.
Organization
The Central Illinois Light Company, being one of the
Hodenpyl-Hardy properties controlled by the Union
Railway, Gas & Electric Company of New York, is
under the management of President B. C. Cobb and
Vice-president W. H. Barthold, New York City. Resid-
ing at Peoria, Mr. R. S. Wallace is vice-president and
general manager, Mr. E. E. Corken is secretary, and
* Lm+ *Jr A
U
K jjf-
' ^-
I,
1
\ M
^"w
i'
f
- 1
11
Si ■ ■ n
in
'■ 1 ^ A
1
/I
> 1
13
FIG. 11 — A TYPICAL OUTDOOR SUBSTATION
guys and other strain supports of this character it is
planned that in the future no strain insulators shall be
used, the guy-wire being a continuous conductor from
its upper position to the anchor rods in the ground.
From Farmington single-phase lines are extended to
Cuba and to London Mills. That part of the company's
property embracing Elmwood, Yates City and other
Mr. T. A. Schlink is treasurer. Mr. Wallace is widely
known and highly esteemed by his electrical confreres
in the Middle West. In the electrical department of
the company he is assisted by Mr. L. Owen, superin-
tendent of electric department; Mr. G. C. Daniels,
superintendent of power plants, and Mr. J. R. Yocum,
distribution superintendent in charge of small towns.
286
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 5
The Electrical Constants of Antennas
Accurate Formulas for Determining Inductance and Capacity of Aerials and
Frequency of Oscillations in Radiotelegraphy
THE determination of the inductance and capacity
of antennas and of the frequency of the oscilla-
tions sent out constitutes one of the important
measurements in radiotelegraphy. Several methods are
available for the measurements of the electrical con-
stants of antennas, but all of them are inaccurate be-
cause of the neglect to take into account the distributed
character of the inductance and capacity of the anten-
nas. Formulas taking into account the distributed na-
ture of the constants are here given, and it is shown
that the error made in assuming that the inductance
and capacity are lumped may be considerable, amount-
ing to as much as 20 per cent in some cases.
For the purpose of comparison the theory of one of
the methods generally employed is first given, which is
as follows : Two loading inductance coils are separately
introduced in the antenna circuit, oscillations are ex-
cited by a buzzer circuit, and the corresponding wave
lengths' are measured by a wave meter. If it be assumed
that the total inductance and capacity of the antenna
may be considered as lumped and if their values be
denoted by L, and C„ and the inductance of the loading
coils be denoted by L„ and L/, and the corresponding
wave-lengths of the oscillations excited in the antenna
by the buzzer circuit when the two different loading
coils are introduced be denoted by X„ a„ the following
relations are obtained:
X, = 2xii\/ (L, + Lx) C,)_ (1)
X, = 2«« V(L/ + L,) Cj
where u is the velocity of light in air, and L and C are
expressed in henries and farads.
Squaring and taking the ratio of the above equations,
we have
Vi _L0 + L, (2)
X\ L'„ 4 L,
From equation (2) can be evaluated L„ the inductance
of the antenna, in terms of the known quantities, viz..
>A — '>-,
Substituting the value of L, from equation (?>) into
either equation of (1) gives the value of C,.
Consider now the effect of the distributed character
of the inductance and capacity of an antenna. The
wave-length of free oscillations set up in a circuit of
localized inductance and capacity L, C, is
X = 2KU,y/Lfix (4)
In the case of uniformly distributed inductance ami
capacity, the fundamental wave-length of oscillation set
up in a line, grounded at one end and open at the other
end, is*
where L, and C, are the total inductance and capacity
of the line.
In the case of a loaded antenna (Fig. I) :< lumped
inductance is in scries with a distributed inductance
and capacity and the wave-length of oscillations set up
in a circuit of such a character has a value which is be-
tween the extremes given by equations (4) and (B '
h( Cal I I Utornattng
By Louis Cohen
psnding on the ratio of the loading inductance to the
distributed inductance.
Let L and C be the inductance and capacity per unit
length of antenna, then, neglecting the resistance, the
following fundamental equations are obtained:
dl dv -J
~di~ ~ ~ds
dv _ _dl
di ds
(6)
By differentiation and substitution of each of these
equations in the other, the following are obtained :
., d'i d~'i -1
<Fv drv
dt! ~ ds'
The solutions of equations (7) are well known,
has
j 'i^$ (A, „ cos p„< 4- A. „ sin $nt)
j£J (B, „ cos K„s + B; „ sin K„s)
where
V-I
(A, „ sin p„t —
(£, „ sin K„
(7)
One
(8)
A, nCOS fj„t)
— B;n cos K„s)
\'LC
The current and potential on the line are complex
waves consisting of a fundamental wave and harmonics.
Considering only the fundamental, one obtains:
/ = (A, cos p* + A, sin PO
(5, cos KS + B, sin KS)
(.4, sin pi — A, cos PO
(B, sin KS— B, cos KS) \
vf
(9)
(10)
and
P
K
The frequency of the oscillations, corresponding to the
fundamental wave-length, is given by
JJ K Kl
2r.
f
(11)
2ic\ LC 2 * \/LxCx
where I is the length of the antenna, L, = LI total in-
ductance of antenna, C, = CI total capacity of the an-
tenna. The fundamental wave-length is
2«yL,C,
Kl
(12)
The frequency or the wave-length is a function of the
inductance and capacity and the constant A' which is to
be determined from the boundary conditions of the
problem.
When the antenna is grounded at one end, say at
S I, through a coil having an inductance L0 and neg-
ligible resistance, and is open at the other end, say at
S 0, the terminal conditions are the following:
at S /. / = 0
at S = 0, v + L,
dt I
(13)
Substituting the values from (18) into (10), there
obtained:
.! \m ucv 30, 1918
ELECT I: I ( A 1. WORLD
287
V - #, sin Kl
B y '■ /: v/. 0
B
(14)
Eliminating from equations (14), there is ob-
tained the following:
cot A7 $L
Kl
JC_ KL
\ L ~ ' L " L,
The above is a transcendental equation from which to
determine A7, which can be done only graphically. One
may put
yx = cot Kl I
*-£«[ """
and plot curves with Kl as abscissa, and yt, y _ as ordi-
Dates. The points of intersection of the two systems of
curves give the values of A7 which satisfy equation I 15 i,
and hence the conditions of the problem. In Fig. 2
curves yi and ;/ are plotted for different values of
Considering the inductance and capacity of the an-
tenna as localized, the fundamental frequency becomes
/ = — ' l ',,200,
2-x /. /. - ' 2- 1" 10"'
a difference in the two cases of about 16 per cent. One
may also look at the problem from a different angle.
Suppose there be set up electrical oscillations in the
antenna circuit, let the frequency be measured by a fre-
quency meter. There would be obtained the correct fre-
quency, which is in this case 585,700. If the inductances
of the antenna and loading coil be known, in this case
i arli 0.05 mh, and the capacity be determined by the
formula / = =^, then there is obtained for the value
2- Li
of the antenna capacity, C 0.00073 mf, while the actual
capacity of the antenna is 0.001 mf, an error of 27 per
cent. The neglect in this case to take into account the
distributed character of the inductance and capacity
leads to a considerable error in the determination of the
antenna capacity.
L0
40
/
«,
/
/
vS
c
in
•*/
*/
*
T
g 1 vv
13
Is <■
i/
y
O""6^
><^<a
_— - — '
^>
i"""" "
■ 2
FIG. 1 — CIRCUITS OF LOADED ANTENNA
z kl AXI5
FIG. 2 GRAPHICAL REPRESENTATION OF ANTENNA CONSTANTS
-j1 ■ The points of intersection on the first curve yt
give the values of Kl corresponding to the fundamental
frequency of the oscillations, and the points of intersec-
tions on succeeding curves give the values of A7 for the
different harmonics.
Calculation of the Frequency of a Loaded Antenna
The calculation of the frequency of a loaded antenna
is readily effected by the use of the curves given in Fig.
2. The procedure is best shown by a numerical example.
Let the inductance of the loading coil have the same
value as the inductance of the antenna, then-=J1= 1, and
the curve y, corresponding to this value intersects the
first curve y, at the point A7 = 0.82. Using this value
of Kl in equation (11), there is obtained for the funda-
mental frequency :
0.82
2- \ Lfi, '
Assume the following values for the inductance and ca-
pacity of the antenna,
L, = 0.05 mh,
C, = 0.001 mf,
then
/ = °82 = 585,700.
2it\/5 X 10"s X 10"
Referring in Fig. 2 to the point of intersection of the
I with the second curve yu it is found
curve y.
{*-)'
that Kl = 3.44, which introduced in formula (11) gives
a value for the frequency four and two-tenths times the
fundamental frequency. By extending the straight-line
curve y3 and noting the values of A7 for the succeeding
intersecting points with the curves 1/,, one can determine
the values of the frequencies of the different harmonics.
It is to be noted that they are not whole multiples of the
fundamental.
For the value -=A = 3, there are obtained from Fig. 2
for the first intersecting point, which corresponds to the
fundamental frequency, Kl = 0.54 and
0.54
/ =
= 385,700.
2;rV5X 10° X 10"
On the assumption of localized inductance and capac-
ity, one would have
/
1
356,700,
2vty2X 10' X 10"
a difference in the two cases of about 8 per cent.
Measuring the frequency by a wave meter
and determining the capacitv by the formula
/= \
2n\' (£„ + £,) C,
one gets for the value of the an-
288
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 5
tenna capacity C = 0.00084 mf. The actual capacity is
0.001 mf, and the error in this case would be 16 per cent.
It is to be observed that, on the assumption that the
antenna inductance and capacity may be considered as
localized, the value of the capacity at frequencies 585,700
and 385,700 would be 0.00073 mf and 0.00084 mf, re-
spectively, which would indicate a variation of capacity
with the frequency. This, however, is only apparently
so, and, as was pointed out, arises from the fact that
the distributed character of the capacity is not taken into
account.
In using larger values of -=i the apparent capacity ob-
tained by measuring the frequency and using the
formula / = — — approximates more closely
2~\ (L0 + L,) C,
the actual capacity. It may be concluded, therefore,
that in measuring antenna constants the assumption of
localized inductance and capacity is permissible only
when the inductance of the loading coil is comparatively
ELECTRIC TOWING SYSTEM FOR PANAMA
Difficulties Encountered in Getting Ships Safely Through
the Canal Locks Met by Specially Designed
Locomotives
AFTER a very thorough study of the entire problem
of maneuvering ships through the locks of the
Panama Canal, it became evident that ships
should not proceed through the locks under their own
power because of the danger of collisions with the locks.
A substitute for the ship's power should embrace the
following requirements: It should place the ship in
proper relation to the lock. It should keep the ship to
its course. It should accelerate and retard the ship
without rupturing the lines. The lines when once at-
tached should be used without change for lockage in
flight. It should require a small number of skilled op-
eratives rather than a large number of unskilled men.
The towing system which was adopted is described in the
following pages. It was designed and patented by Mr.
Edward Schildhauer, electrical and mechanical engineer
FIG. 1 — FIRST TRIAL TOW APPROACH IN
large, about twenty times or more the inductance of
the antenna. When high frequencies are used in the
measurements, with small loading inductance coil, for-
mula (11) and the curves given here must be made
use of.
As a check on the results obtained by the use of the
curves, consider the extreme case ■ ' — 0; that is, no
loading coil, a simple antenna. In this case the curve
y, coincides with the abscissa axis, and the point of in-
tersection with the first curve y, is at Kl = = .
Then
- - 1
2z\ /,/ I /. '
(17)
and X = 4\/L,C„
which is formula (5), as is to be expected, since in this
the antenna is simply a line grounded at one end
and open at the other end.
of the Isthmian Canal Commission. The forty towing
locomotives and all the electrical apparatus for operating
the locks were built by the General Electric Company.
Towing System
The main features of all the lock sites are identical.
Two ship channels, one for traffic in each direction, are
provided at each lock. The channels are separated by a
center wall, the total length of which is 6330 ft. Each
of the outer walls has two systems of tracks, one for the
locomotive when towing and the other for the locomotive
when return i UK idle. For the center wall there is one
return track in common for both the towing tracks. The
towing tracks arc naturally placed next to the channel
aide. Four locomotives running along the lock walls are
normally employed. Two of the locomotives are opposite
each other in advance of the vessel, and two run oppo-
site each other to the rear of the vessel, as seen in Fig.
2. The number of locomotives is, however, increased
when the tonnage of the ship demands it. Cables con-
nect the locomotives to the vessel as shown.
Jam mci 30, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
The lengths of the various cables are adjusted by a
al winding drum on the locomotive bo u to plan'
the vessel substantially in mid-channel. When the lead-
ing locomotives are started they will tow the vessel.
The trailing locomotives will follow and keep all the
cables taut. By changing the lengths of the rear cables
the vessel can tic guided. To stop the vessel all the loco-
motives are slowed down and stopped, thus bringing the
rear locomotives in action to retard the ship. The illus-
tration in Fig. 1 shows how effectively the four loco-
motives keep the vessel under control and in the center
of the channel, while Fig. 3 shows a trial tow approach-
ing the second level. The water in the middle lock or the
second level is at sea level, a condition not obtained in
regular operation.
Rack Rails
The towing tracks have a specially designed rack rail
extending the entire length of the track and erected
centrally between the running rails. It is through this
rack rail that the locomotive exerts the traction neces-
sary for propelling large ships and climbing the steep
inclines. Rack rails are also provided on short por-
tions of the return track so as to lower the locomotives
safely from one level to the next, the steepest slope being
26 deg., or 44 per cent.
Another feature of the rack rail is the projecting
edges, which permit thrust wheels attached to the loco-
motive to run along the under side and prevent over-
turning of the locomotive in case some unforeseen oper-
ating condition should produce an excessive pull on the
towline. These thrust wheels serve to counteract the
lateral component of the tow-line pull, and the flanges
serve only as an emergency feature, as the weight of
the locomotive is sufficient to prevent overturning with
a normal pull of 25,000 lb. on the towline.
A three-phase, twenty-five-cycle, 220- volt alternating-
current system is used for supplying the locomotives
with energy through an underground contact system.
The collecting device is adjacent to the running rail
on the side remote from the lock. Two T-rails form two
legs of the three-phase circuit, and the third leg is
formed by the main track rails. A specially designed
contact plow slides between the two T-conductors and
transmits the power from the rails to the locomotive.
Locomotive Design
The working parts of the locomotive are supported by
two longitudinal upright side frames of cast steel con-
nected by transverse beams. Each of the two axles of a
locomotive is driven by its own motor, independent of
the other. Each of the two motors is of the three-
phase, slip-ring type, inclosed, and identical with the
rugged steel-mill design. Each is geared by a pinion
and spur gear to a countershaft, which carries a pinion
meshing with a spur gear keyed to a jack shaft. On
the outer side of the spur gear keyed to the jack shaft
are formed clutch teeth which co-operate with similar
teeth on the adjacent side of a gear which is sleeved
upon the jack shaft and can be moved lengthwise there-
on to engage and disengage the clutch teeth. The slid-
ing gear is capable of meshing with a pinion on the axle
when in contact with the clutch teeth on the spur gear.
When the gears are in the position named the motor
will propel the locomotive by means of the adhesion be-
tween the wheels on that axle and the rails of the track.
This only occurs when running without load and between
inclines.
When the locomotive, however, reaches one of the
inclines between the locks, the grade of which may be
as great as 44 per cent, or when it is towing a ship,
the cog-rail system is utilized to enable the locomotive
to climb the grade and exert the traction necessary for
pulling large ships. The cog or rack rail is laid be-
tween the track rails, and the locomotive is provided
with a cog wheel or rack pinion, which is secured to a
sleeve rotating freely on the axle.
An elastic arm serves to throw the clutches for the
gearing automatically. In most cases the four-jaw
dutches employed do not mesh when thrown, but the
operating handle is thrown full stroke and locked. This
puts a set of springs under heavy tension. The loco-
motive is then started slowly, and when the clutches are
in alignment the springs automatically cause the gears
to mesh.
The two traction motors are controlled by suitable
controllers installed in the cabs at the ends of the loco-
motives. The circuits are such that both motors can be
controlled from either cab and can be operated singly
or in multiple as desired. Energy is taken from the
supply conductors by means of a special shoe.
Brakes
Each motor is provided with a powerful brake. Since
the motors are at all times geared either to the axles or
to the cog wheels, the truck wheels are not provided
with any brake rigging. On the motor shaft is keyed
a brake disk or drum, and to opposite sides thereof are
applied the brake shoes which are carried by the brake
levers. These levers are pivoted in such a way that
the solenoid controlling them will release the brake when
energized. The first point of the controller raises the
brakes without applying power to the motors, thereby
FIG. 2 — ARRANGEMENT OF TOWING CABLES AND
LOCOMOTIVES
providing a coasting point. But should the motor cur-
rent be shut off, either intentionally or accidentally, the
core will instantly drop by gravity and apply the brakes.
This action occurs simultaneously on both motors, and
the braking force is powerful enough to stop the loco-
motive within two revolutions of the wheels.
In addition to this automatic brake, means are pro-
vided for applying the brakes manually in order to sup-
plement the action of the automatic feature, if neces-
sary, when descending a grade or where approaching a
rack rail. These brakes are of the chain type and utilize
the levers and shoes of the automatic brake. Both
brakes may be applied at once if necessary to effect a
very sudden stop.
The drum on which the cable is wound is placed mid-
way between the ends of the locomotive. The cable can
hence be led off on either side of the machine and
through a wide range of angles to the line of travel. A
motor with a bevel-gear pinion is used for driving the
drum at a high speed when coiling the cable that has
been cast off, and it remains permanently in gear. An-
other motor with worm-gear drive is used for taking in
the cable when it is under load.
Owing to the greater gear reduction, the worm-
geared motor rotates the drum at a much slower speed
than the bevel-geared motor. Consequently, with motors
of approximately equal size, a greater force may be ex-
erted on the tow line than would be possible with the
lower speed reduction which is used with the high-speed
coiling motor. The worm-gear drive is connected with
the drum when in use by means of a solenoid-operated
clutch.
The guide which directs the cable, as it pays out or
winds up, is mounted so as to revolve on the axis of
the drum. It comprises two angularly adjustable por-
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 5
tions, the former being a circular bell which serves as
a cover for the winding drum. At one ^ide the shell is
cut away to admit the cable to the drum. On either side
of the opening are two upright guide rolls having cylin-
drical faces. Rollers are also provided to assist in the
rotation of the guide. The other guide member is a
radial casting, having one end turning freely on the
hub of the drum. The outer end of this guide member
is an upright rectangular frame, at the top and bottom
of which is journaled a swivel carrying two grooved
sheaves. The edges of these sheaves are in close con-
tact, so that their grooves form an opening through
which the cable passes, approximately, in line with the
middle of the guide rollers. The rectangular frame is
supported by rollers running in a circular track. When
the cable is pulled either forward or backward from its
middle position the swivel permits the grooved sheaves
to move with it, and the guide member swings also, so
that the sheaves continue to support the rope in a line
with the middle of the guide rollers without being them-
selves subjected to any side strain. All lateral strains
are sustained by heavy guide rollers, the cable moving
up and down between them as it winds on the drum.
The latter is in the form of a deeply grooved wheel, the
groove being U-shaped.
The cable guard is a steel casting having a thickness
FIG. 3 — SHIP ENTERING LOCK UNDER TOW OF ELECTRIC
LOCOMOTIVE
of only % in. The diameter is 4.5 ft. and the circular
flange is 17 in. deep. The castings were produced in the
contractor's electric furnace. No failures occurred.
With the exception noted, all other principal steel cast-
ings for these locomotives were produced at the plant of
the Wheeling Mold & Foundrv Companv, Wheeling,
W. Va.
One of the most important parts of the locomotive
is the "slip-friction" device, consisting of two special
alloy rings mounted on the spider. Between these rings
a steel disk is fastened to the rope drum. The amount
of tension on the tow line is adjusted by the pressure
between these three disks and is obtained by tightening
the spiral springs on a clamping ring. In order, there-
fore, to make the slipping tension of the tow line pro-
portional to the pressure between the friction disks, a
rubbing surface having an absolutely constant coefficient
of friction is essential. A low-friction metal having an
almost constant coefficient of friction of 0.1 was selected
for the work. This metal showed but very little differ-
ence in its coefficient of friction at starting and in mo-
tion. The results of the special tests were furthermore
amply verified by the final test of the friction disks of
each machine under a full-rated tow-line pull of 26,000
lb. All machine-: passed the government requirement
not to exceed a variation of 6 percent above or below the
normal of 25,000 lb.
The rapid-coiling motor is permanently geared to the
drum and is of the same type, size and capacity as the
winding motor. It is subjected to its maximum load
when accelerating the heavy drum to the high speed re-
quired for coiling or paying out the rope, this being six-
teen times the slow-winding speed at full load, or about
200 ft. per minute.
The slow-winding and the rapid-coiling motors are
operated by similar controllers, and the circuits are
electrically interlocked so as to prohibit application of
power to either motor unless the controller of the other
motor is in the "off" position.
Each of the two main traction motors has a rating
of 75 hp and is of the slip-ring induction type, oper-
ated by a system of contactors with a master controller
in each cab. The motors, by means of the change in
gearing from straight traction to rack-rail towing pre-
viously described, drive the locomotive at a speed of 2
miles per hour when towing and 5 miles per hour when
returning idle. These motors act as induction gener-
ators running above synchronous speed when the loco-
motive is passing down the steep inclines and thereby
exert a braking effect to keep the speed uniform.
The locomotives have a net weight of 86,300 lb. and
a gross shipping weight of 92,500 lb. They were mount-
ed on specially designed skids and shipped by rail to
New York, where they were loaded on board the ships
as deck cargoes by means of a Merritt-Chapman 125-
ton floating derrick.
During the first three months of commercial operation
of the canal, from Aug. 15 to Nov. 15, the cargo trans-
ported through the canal and towed through the locks
by the locomotives amounted to 1,079,521 tons. During
the fiscal year ended June 30, 1914, the Panama Railroad
carried 643,178 tons of through freight between the two
seaboards, and in the preceding fiscal year 594,040 tons.
From this it is seen that between six and seven times
as much cargo is passing over the Isthmus now as passed
over this route when goods were transshipped by rail.
Central-Station Heating in Winter Conditions
According to Mr. A. C. Rogers, who is in charge of
the central-station heating department of the Toledo
(Ohio) Railways & Light Company, only four or five
times in the last forty years has the month of Decem-
ber produced more severe weather conditions than those
of 1914. The sudden changes in temperature, ranging
from 45 deg. Fahr. above zero to several degrees below
zero, made it particularly difficult to render uniformly
satisfactory heating service, because, following a sud-
den drop in temperature, the average person desires
greater warmth in his house or office than he would
if the same outdoor temperature had been arrived at
gradually or had been continuous over a period of sev-
eral days.
Exactly the opposite condition prevails when the mer-
cury in the thermometer jumps from zero to 40 deg.
Fahr. in a few hours. A man under these conditions
is apt to consider an office temperature of 70 deg. Fahr.
too hot, while under ordinary circumstances the same
man would be comfortable in a room where the ther-
mometer registered 75 deg. Fahr.
Having observed these conditions frequently, Mr.
Rogers has suggested that central-station heating com-
panies might obtain credit for maintaining better serv-
ice if during times of rapidly falling temperature they
temporarily increased the normal temperature of the
outgoing heating medium by, say, 6 deg. or 10 deg.
Fahr. Then, when the mercury column was rising they
could reduce the temperature of the station output by
the same amount.
Janiakv 30, 1916
ELECTRICAL WORLD
291
CENSUS OF GENERATING EQUIPMENT
Large Increase in .Number and Rating of Alternating and
Polyphase Current Dynamo* in Central Stations
The Bureau of the Census returns on generating
equipment and output of stations in 1 1 » 1 2 show dynamos
of three classes — direct-current constant-voltage, direct-
current constant-amperage, and alternating and poly-
phase current. The total number ol dynamos of all
classes in 1912 was 1 .">.:!'.»:; with a rating of 7,642,756 kw.
The total number was almost the same in the other two
census periods, being 15,297 in 1907 and 15,786 in L902;
the total rating for 1912, however, is an increase of
72. 1 per cent over the rating of 4,432,641 kw for 1907
and of 2ti2.1 per cent over the 2,110,597 kw for 1902.
The most significant change in the figures is the in-
crease in alternating and polyphase current dynamos
from a total number of 5563 and a rating of 909,320 kw
in 1902 to 7740 with 3,003,687 kw rating in 1907 and
9606 with 6,399,390 kw rating in 1912. These figures
represent an increase of 39.1 per cent in number and
230.3 per cent in kilowatt rating from 1902 to 1907 and
of 24.1 per cent in number and 113.1 per cent in kilowatt
rating from 1907 to 1912. The total increase in rating
from 1902 to 1912 is 603.8 per cent.
In the ten years the direct-current constant-voltage
dynamos decreased from 6684 in number in 1902 to
4967 in 1912, although the rating increased slightly,
from 1,055,411 kw in 1902 to 1,161,213 kw in 1912.
Direct-current constant-amperage dynamos decreased
from 3539 in 1902 to 820 in 1912, while the rating de-
creased in that period from 145,866 in 1902 to 82,152 in
1912, or 43.7 per cent. Although the decrease in the
number of dynamos in central electric stations and
electric-railway stations combined from 1902 to 1912
was 2.5 per cent, the total rating increased in that
period 262.1 per cent. Of the increase in rating 70.9
per cent was contributed by central stations. Of the
total kilowatt rating alternating-current machines
showed 83.7 per cent in 1912 and 43.1 per cent in 1902,
while the direct-current dynamos represented 16.3 per
cent and 56.9 per cent respectively at the two periods
named. Table I shows the different classes.
Direct-current constant-voltage dynamos in central
stations increased between 1907 and 1912 in rating
23,202 kw, or 5.7 per cent ; in electric railways there was
a decrease in the same period of 209,951 kw, or 22.3 pet-
cent. Constant-voltage dynamos formed 15.2 per cent
of the rating of all classes for central stations and elec-
tric railways combined in 1912, as compared with 30.4
per cent in 1907 and 50 per cent in 1902. The percent-
ages for central stations alone for the years named were
respectively 8.4, 15 and 27.2 and for electric-railway
plants 29.2, 54.6 and 80.7. The increase in the use of
alternating-current dynamos is shown by the fact that
they represented in 1912 for all stations combined 83.7
per cent of the total kilowatt rating, as compared with
67.8 per cent in 1907 and 43.1 per cent in 1902. For
central stations the percentages were 90.8 in 1912, 82 in
1907 and 60.7 in 1902, as compared with 69.3, 45.4 and
19.3 respectively for electric railways. The average
number of dynamos for all central stations is a little
more than 2. The number of stations using direct-
current constant-amperage dynamos decreased from
1902 to 1912 941, or 81.1 per cent. These figures were
made up of a reduction of 716, or 82.9 per cent, in com-
mercial stations using this type of dynamos and of 225,
or 76 per cent, in municipal stations. The number of
stations having alternating-current dynamos increased
1095, or 41.6 per cent, from 1902 to 1912. Commercial
stations contributed 493, or 45 per cent, and municipal
stations 602, or 55 per cent, toward this decrease.
The total average kilowatt rating per station for all
clas.-es of dynamos combined increased between 1902
and 1912 from :::!"> kw to 983 kw, equal to 648 kw, or
198.4 per cent. The average rating for commercial sta-
tions increased in this period 910 kw as compared with
97 kw for municipal stations. The average rating of al-
ternating and polyphase current dynamos per combined
commercial and municipal station was 1250 kw in 1912
as compared with ti45 kw in 1907 and 280 kw in 1902.
The average per machine was 552 kw in 1912 as com-
pared with 326 kw in 1907 and 144 kw in 1902. While
the average rating of alternating and polyphase current
dynamos per commercial and municipal station com-
bined increased 346.4 per cent from 1902 to 1912, the
average rating per machine increased 283.3 per cent.
The total kilowatt rating of dynamos installed in
central electric stations increased 3,922,454 kw, or 323.6
per cent, from 1902 to 1912. Of this increase 3,667,157
kw, or 93.5 per cent, came from commercial stations and
255,297 kw, or 6.5 per cent, from municipal stations.
Of the total kilowatt rating reported for 1912, the
Middle Atlantic, East North Central, Pacific and New
TABLE I CENTRAL ELECTRIC STATIONS AND ELECTRIC RAILWAYS— NHM
BER. KIND AND KW RATING OF DYNAMOS— 1013, 1907 AND 1902
Kind uf Dynamos
Total
1 rireet-1 hirren!
1 lonstant-
Direct-Current
Constant -
Amperage
Alternating and
Polyphas
Current
Num-
l>er
Kilo-
watt N mo-
Rating ' her
Kilo-
watt
Rating
Num-
ber
Kilo-
watt
Rating
Num-
ber
Kilo-
watt
Rating
Total 1912
1907
1902
15,39:1
15,297
15.786
7,642,755 J. 967
1, 132,041 5,872
2,110,597 0 684
1.161,213
1,347,902
1,055.411
820
1,685
3,539
82,152
Ml, 992
145,866
9,606
7.7411
5,563
6,399,390
3,1X13,687
909,320
Commercial 1912
1907
1902
9,837
9.77s
10,662
4,766.012
2,5011,209
1.09s. 855
2,821
3.169
:: in'.
398,046
379,706
312,509
518
1,246
2,957
30,880
6 l,75:i
117,695
6,498
5,363
4,300
4.337,086
2. 058. 7511
668,651
Municipal 1912
1907
1902
2.769
2.395
1 . B22
36s. 677
2119.016
113,380
580
511
418
31,316
26,754
17.556
227
439
582
12,948
19.239
28,171
1,953
1,445
822
324,113
163,023
67,653
Electric railways 1912
1907
1902
2.796
3.124
3,302
2.508,066
1.723.416
S9S.362
1,566
2,192
2,861
731,551
911,502
725.346
75
38,324
1 , 155
932
441
1,738,191
781,914
173,016
Per cent of increased
Total 1902 to 1912...
1907 to 1912
1902 to 1907.
-2.5
J
-3.1
262 1
72.4
110 0
-25.7
-15 4
-12 1
10 0
-13.9
27.7
-76.8
-51 3
-52 4
-43.7
1.4
-44.5
72.7
24.1
39.1
603.8
113.1
230 3
*Not reported separately. +A minus sign ( — ) denotes decrease. {Less than one-tenth of 1
per cent.
England groups of states contributed 73 per cent. The
South Atlantic division reported an increase of 31.3 per
cent in the number of stations and 111.3 per cent in kilo-
watt rating. The Pacific group of states reported a de-
crease of 5 per cent in the number of stations and an
increase in kilowatt rating of 101 per cent. From 1907
to 1912, when the number of stations in the United
States as a whole increased 10.8 per cent, the kilowatt
rating of dynamos increased 89.5 per cent. Of the total
number of stations in 1912, municipal and commercial
combined, with a rating of 5,134,689 kw in dynamos,
161 stations having dynamo ratings of 5000 kw and over
showed an aggregate rating of 3,610,240 kw, or 70.3
per cent of the total. The Middle Atlantic group of
states had 32 of the stations having a dynamo capacity
of 5000 kw and over, with an aggregate of 1,095,267 kw.
The totals of the kilowatt rating of dynamos of central
electric stations by states in 1902 and 1912 show great
differences in development. New York, with a total
rating of 772,030 kw in dynamos, is first, and is followed
by California with 588,281 kw, Illinois with 449,917 kw
and Pennsylvania with 427,304 kw. The smallest states
in kilowatt rating of dynamos are New Mexico, Wyom-
292
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 5
ing and North Dakota, with respectively 7981 kw, 8212
kw and 10,824 kw. The largest increase in rating of
dynamos in any state from 1902 to 1912 was in New
York, 584,778 kw. California was not far behind, with
an increase of 504,465 kw. The percentage of increase
in New York in ten years was 312.3, while in California
it was 601.9. Illinois increased 349,597 kw, or 348.5 per
cent. The smallest states in increase were Wyoming
with 6381 kw increase in ten years, New Mexico with
48.5 per cent in 1902. Municipal plants furnished 3.1
per cent in 1912, 2.7 per cent in 1907, and 4.1 per cent
in 1902. Electric railways had 34.4 per cent in 1912,
44.8 per cent in 1907, and 47.4 per cent in 1902. The
output of the municipal stations, which composed 7.8
per cent of the total for central stations in 1912 and 4.9
per cent in 1907, amounted to 4.7 per cent in 1912.
Table II published herewith shows for central elec-
tric stations and electric railways the kilowatt-hours of
TABLE II— CENTRAL ELECTRIC STATIONS
AND ELECTRIC RAILWAYS— PURCHASED ENERGY, KILOWATT-HOUR8, AND
AMOUNT
PAID POH PURCHASED ENERGY, BY GEOGRAPHIC DIVISIONS— 1912
Total
Central Elbctbic Stations
Electric R wi.w *y
Division
Purchased
Energy,
Kw-hr.
Amount
Paid for
Purchased
Energy
Average
Cost per
Kw-hr.,
Cents
Purchased
Energy,
Kw-hr.
\ mount
Paid for
Purchased
Energy
!
Kw-hr.,
Cents
Purchased
Energy,
Kw-hr.
Amount
Paid for
Purchased
Energy*
Average
Cost per
Kw-hr .
Cents
United States
321,386
142,620,874
0.8
2,613,502 605
$18,074.:; 11
0 7
2,967318,781
$24,546,530
0.8
V-u England
Middl. Atlantic
East North Central
West North Central..
South Atlantic . .
232.3S2.iilJ
1,884,722,386
1,073,512,511
18 • 167,448
656,623,987
2313,501
13,778,379
9,584,184
3,945,449
3,207,015
1.2
0.7
0.9
1.0
0.5
136,821,236
989,404,314
276,742,512
183,535,438
4117.716,658
1.394.330
5,982,590
2,933,041
2,135,914
1,831.265
1.0
0,6
1.0
1.1
0.4
95,560,776
895,318,072
796,76!
199,632.(110
148,907,329
1,424,171
7,795,789
6,651,143
i 309,505
1.375.7.50
1.5
0.9
0.8
0.9
0.5
1 last Booth Central...
i, i ientral
Pacific . .
57,811.11 1
02.4S7.7SS
259,796,097
940,317,743
507,933
952,253
1,590,136
6,237,024
0.9
1.0
0.6
0.7
15,948,772
38,763,468
188,201,530
368,677
131,697
311,664
1.032,516
2.321,297
0.8
0.8
0.5
0.6
11,862,642
53,724,320
71,594.567
563,949,066
376.236
640. 5S9
557.620
3,915,727
0.9
1.2
0.8
0.7
♦Includes a small
amount paid for i
ower other tha
n electric.
6995 kw increase, and North Dakota with 8782 kw
increase. The largest states in percentage of gain in
ten years were Nevada with 1276 per cent, Idaho with
1185.4 per cent, and Oklahoma with 1168.7 per cent.
The smallest percentage gain was by North Carolina,
which showed 4.1 per cent. Virginia showed 5.9 per
cent.
In 1912 507 central electric stations, or 9.7 per cent
of the total number, had no generating equipment, as
compared with 22.7, or 4.8 per cent, in 1907, or an in-
crease of 123.3 per cent. In 1902 2.2 per cent of the cen-
tral electric stations were without generating equipment.
This indicates the greater dependence on larger generat-
purchased energy, the amount paid therefor and the
average cost per kilowatt-hour by the census geographic
divisions in 1912. The names of the states composing
the different divisions were given in the ELECTRICAL
World of Jan. 16, 1915, page 161. The total of 5,580,-
821,386 kw-hr. purchased brought an average rate of
0.8 cent per kw-hr. The highest rate shown for either
class is for energy purchased by electric railways in the
New England group of states, which averaged 1.5 cents
per kw-hr. The lowest rate in the table is reported by
central electric stations of the South Atlantic group of
states, 0.4 cent per kw-hr.
Table III published herewith shows the primary
T-ABLE III— CENTRAL ELECTRIC STATIONS AND ELECTRIC RAILWAYS— PRIMARY POWER. DYNAMO. RATING, AND OUTPUT OF STA-
TIONS, BY GEOGRAPHIC DIVISIONS AND STATES— 1912 AND 1907
Census
Primary Power
Kilowatt Ratixo or Dtnaium
Dm
Total Up
Steam Engines
and Steam
Turbines
mil i )il
Engines
Watcrwheels
Total
Direct
Current
Alternating
Current
1 lutput
i ions.
Kw-hr.
No
Hp
v.
Hp
No.
Up
1912
1907
II , 19:;, 699
6,618,011
III, HIS
1 1 , 122
8,116,086
5,104,800
1 .16 1
i04
135,225
72,163
3.316
2,709
I 942,888
1. 111. Ills
7.6 12,755
1, 132,641
1.213.365
6.399.390
17 585,662,01 1
10,621, ino,s:t7
New England
Middle itlantii
■
■ ntral
South Atlantic
1912
1912
191.'
1912
1 157,182
2,991 ."211
■ ,i . roe
929,220
i ,004,038
885
i ,961
2.627
,:
946
903,601
2,291,573
2 is:;, hoi
5S7 , sss
55
192
121
60
1(1,017
33,939
26,710
29,578
11.373
563
595
703
272
885
248,511
665,508
,,, , 905
132. 7211
101.777
820 828
2,047, L34
6 11 .315
682,325
210,017
340,876
312. iss
113.222
79.616
6111.611
III 1,880
528.121
602.709
it si l, I7s
5.371
1,158,144
1,209,359.546
1,074,027,912
ntral
191
1912
19 12
164,33
5 Is, 721
i , ;7s 726
S9II
365
118,767
568,976
18
1 53
JO
i 080
1 7 . 35 1
2, 179
17
35
313
10 :
37.630
s o7s
211.317
2 12 OK
317.176
so; sl7
IS.2S6
IT 089
13.163
194,009
176,150, is7
;il2.675
980.641 ,612
2 197
ing stations and the transmission of energy and also
shows further concentration of control.
In 1912 the total amount of electrical energy gene-
rated was 17,585,662,014 kw-hr. This is an increase of
65.6 per cent from L907 and 268.8 per cent from 1902.
The increase from L902 to 1907 was greater than during
the last census period of live years, being 122.7 per cent.
Of the total output central commercial stations fur-
nished 62.5 per cent in HH 2. 52.5 per cent in 1907. and
power, kilowatt rating of dynamos, and output of sta-
tions by the main geographic divisions, with the totals
for the United States, of central electric stations and
electric railways combined in 1912 and 1907.
Except fur dynamos in isolated plants and equipment
in telegraph and telephone offices, comparatively small,
the totals given for electric central stations and electric
railway plants represent practically all the dynamos in-
stalled for commercial and municipal use.
Jam \ia SO, 1016
K I. EC T RICAL WOK 1.1)
DIGEST OF ELECTRICAL LITERATURE
Generators, Motom and Transformers
Mercury-Vapot U. Kuril. — An account of
an investigation carried out a few years ago in the re-
search laboratory of the General Electric Company by
the author, partly in conjunction with Weintraub. The
author discusses first the differences of behavior of the
anode and cathode in a mercury-vapor lamp and the
action of such a lamp when supplied with alternating
current. Its use as a rectifier is discussed at some
length, different methods of connection being described
and methods of starting discussed. Finally, commercial
types of mercury-vapor rectifiers are described. — Elek.
u. Match. (Vienna), Dec. 6, 13 and 20, 1914.
Lamps and Lighting
Liquefying Carbon in the Arc. — H. Lux. — A review
of the researches by Prof. 0. Lummer on the carbon arc.
He made extended investigations of the temperature of
the carbon arc by means of his interference pyrometer.
He showed that the incandescent arc carbon radiates as
a "gray" body. The true temperature of the evaporating
solid crater of the positive carbon at atmospheric pres-
sure is 4200 deg. absolute. The temperature of the
negative crater is lower by several hundred degrees.
When the atmospheric pressure is increased the tem-
perature of the positive carbon increases, and even if
the pressure is increased to only 5 atmospheres, the effi-
ciency of the arc lamp is increased "enormously." At
a pressure of 22 atmospheres impregnated carbons
showed such a surface brightness that a temperature
of more than 6000 deg. (temperature of the sun) is
estimated to exist. If the pressure is decreased below
one atmosphere the temperature of the positive crater
decreases. The lowest temperature of the evaporating
solid positive crater which was obtained in Lummer's
experiments was about 3900 deg. absolute. At reduced
pressure a peculiar phenomenon was observed which is
considered by Lummer as the melting of carbon. This
takes place especially at 0.5 atmosphere with a current
a little lower than normal. What he observed is a move-
ment of "fishes" in the "liquid." The "fishes" are as-
sumed to be graphite crystals produced by melting of
the carbon. That this phenomenon is really the melting
of carbon is only a hypothesis, although not improbable.
It is so far only of scientific and not of technical impor-
tance.— Elek. Zeit, Dec. 17, 1914.
Generation, Transmission and Distribution
Three-Phase System with Storage Battery. — W. VON
Winkler. — A long account of the development of the
municipal electric station of Klagenfurt in Austria, and
especially of the use of a storage battery in conjunction
with a three-phase system and the technical and eco-
nomical results obtained thereby. — Elek. u. Masch,
(Vienna), Dec. 20 and 27, 1914.
Traction
Electrification of Berlin Elevated Railway. — Zehme. —
The Prussian Parliament granted in 1913 the sum of
$6,250,000 for a preparatory investigation on th'e elec-
trification of the Berlin Stadt-, Ring- und Vorortbahnen
(Berlin Elevated City, Loop and Suburban Railways).
Trials of the single-phase system are being made on the
Dessau-Bitterfeld road. In the meantime greater inter-
est is being taken in the development of the high-ten-
sion direct-current system, and it has been established
that for the direct-current system trains consisting of
motor cars and supplied with energy from a third-rail
represent the most suitable system. A trial with this
system will be made on a line from Wannsee to Stahns-
dorf with direct current at 1600 volts. The experi-
mental train- will cor r motor cars, each with
four axles, and six trailers. Current supply from over-
head lines for a traction system, as used in the new
installations of Buenos Aires and Melbourne is consid-
ered as antiquated. Not only for 1200 volts but for
higher voltages the third-rail should be used. On the
present trial line it is proposed to make arrangements
so that it will be possible to have available not only 1600
volts but also 3000 volts.— Elek. Zeit, Dec. 24, 1914.
Installations, Systems and . Appliances
Austrian Central Stations in War Time. — Ed. Pick. —
The author sketches the troubles of the Austrian cen-
tral stations in war time. They must run continually,
although the mobilization of the army has suddenly
taken away managers, engineers and workmen. There
is also a difficulty in the supply of the necessary ma-
terials. Less suitable coal must be used which can be
obtained in the neighborhood. The American lubricat-
ing oils are missing. The stations operated with Diesel
engines are in great difficulty on account of lack of oil,
the price of which is four times that before the war.
The operating cost is greatly increased, while the sale
of electrical energy is somewhat affected. The con-
tracts which were made with municipalities or private
parties under normal conditions must now be adhered
to.— Elek. u. Masch. (Vienna), Dec. 6, 1914.
Cab Signals on British Railways. — Illustrated ab-
stracts of five papers presented before the British In-
stitution of Mechanical Engineers. W. C. Acfield, sig-
nal superintendent of the Midland Railway, dealt with
audible signaling on railway trains in motion; Leon P.
Lewis, of the Caledonian Railway, with automatic sig-
naling on trains; Vincent L. Raven, of the North-East-
ern Railway, with an electrical system of cab signaling ;
W. A. Stainer, of the Great Western Railway Locomo-
tive Works, with the combined automatic train control
and audible signal system in use on the Great Western
Railway of England, and W. Willcox, of the London
Metropolitan Railway, with signaling on railway trains
in motion. — London Electrician, Jan. 8, 1915.
Electric Locomotive. — An illustrated description of
the electric connections on the 15,000-hp electric single-
phase locomotive for the Midi Railway in France. The
motors are of the compensated series type. — London
Engineering, Jan. 1 and 8, 1915.
Trier.— H. Henney.— A long and profusely illus-
trated description of the electric generating station of
Trier in Germany. This is a steam-power station con-
taining one 180-kw and one 300-kw direct-current gen-
erator supplying energy to the direct-current system at
2X220 volts in connection with a battery of 266 cells
with a capacity of 1000 amp-hr. There is also a three-
phase generator of 1500 kw and another one of 1850
kw. The Dhorn water-power station contains three
1870-kw, three-phase generators. The total first cost of
the power station and network was $2,000,000, the re-
ceipts in 1913 were $235,225, and the expenses $59,234,
so that the net earnings were $175,991, or 8.74 per cent
of the first cost. A review of the developments of the
street railways is also given. It was taken over by
the city as a horse-car line in 1902 and electrified in
1905. — Elek. Kraftbet. u. Bahnen, Oct. 14 and 24 Nov
4 and 14, 1914.
Manchester. — An illustrated article on the energy-
supply system of Manchester, England. At the present
time energy is obtained from three generating stations
— Dickinson Street and Bloom Street stations, which
supply direct current in the center of the city, with
a combined equipment rating of 14,000 kw, and the
294
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 5
Stuart Street station, in the Clayton district, which sup-
plies alternating current at 6600 volts pressure to nu-
merous substations and has an equipment rating of
55,500 kw. In connection with the Stuart Street sta-
tion there are twenty-two substations — excluding those
on consumers' premises — with an installed capacity of
33,000 kw. One of these is at Dickinson Street, where
the generating plant was unequal to meeting the de-
mand for electricity in the adjoining area. To meet
the requirements of the large power users, the city cor-
poration has also equipped fifty-eight substations on
consumers' premises, with an installed capacity of 34,-
500 kw. A fourth generating plant is now to be erected
to be available in 1917. The ultimate capacity of the
new Barton station will be some 160,000 kw. The pro-
posed equipment is described at length. As proposed
the first four generating units will be turbine sets of
15,000 kw each, and the remaining -four will be similar
sets of 25,000 kw each, making a total of 160,000 kw.—
London Elec. Review, Jan. 8, 1915.
Swiss Electrical Society. — A report of the meeting
held in Berne on Oct. 25 by the Swiss Electrical Society
jointly with the Association of Swiss Central Stations.
Prof. J. Landray presided. The number of members of
the Swiss Electrical Society is 1159. Committee re-
ports were presented on heating and cooking apparatus,
high-tension apparatus, oil switches and protection
against dangerously high voltages. The Association of
Swiss Electric Central Stations comprises 306 sta-
tions, and the buying bureau of the association reported
that incandescent lamps were bought during the last
ten years as shown in the table reproduced herewith.
INCANDESCENT LAMP PURCHASES FOR TEN YEARS
Yoar
i :ii ii in Lamps
Metallic-Filament
Lamps
I'll i| 0.')/06
1906 "7
1807 ns
384 , 322
278,929
100, 70S
HIIIS ll'l
1909 10
1910/11
323,821
393.3*8
200 388
189,934
1911 12
1912/ 13
1913 1 1
105,511
324,512
165,382
547,377
982,478
1 ,078,274
The committee on protection against dangerously high
voltages is working out a set of regulations. — Elek.
Ze.it, Dec. 24, 1914.
Wires, Wiring and Conduits
Feeder Protection. — A note on a recent British patent
(No. 29,984, 1913) of the British Thomson-Houston
Company, J. Whitcher and F. B. Wedmore for a pro-
tective system in which the feeder is composed of paral-
lel connected sections, one surrounding the other. The
relays and trips are arranged on a balance principle,
the current in the two parts of the feeder normally
balancing. Disconnection is effected when the current
in the outer section predominates. The inner conductor
may be of smaller section than the other, and the bal-
ance relay may be set with a bias in favor of the inner
conductor. — London Elec. Eng'ing, Dec. SI, 1914.
EHectrophysicB and Magnetism
Theory of Gravitation. — A. D. Fokker. — A mathe-
matical paper giving a concise account of the principal
features of Einstein and ( Jrossmann's gravitation
theory, leaving aside as far as possible the mathe-
matical complications but emphasizing the simple and
fundamental physical points. — PhUos. Mag., January,
1915.
Absorption Spectra o) Organic Substances in the
Light of the Electron Then,,,, n. p. k. J. o'\\ McClel-
and. — The large number of experimental results now
available has made it possible to trace a qualitative and
quite empirical relation between the constitutions of
organic substances and their absorption spectra. Thus
it has been found that certain groupings of atoms are
likely to give rise to bands in particular regions of the
spectrum, but all theories which have hitherto been pro-
posed to explain this fact appear to have postulated a
characteristic type of vibration within each kind of
group. In the present paper a theory is proposed which,
starting from the atom, builds up the spectrum in a
perfectly general way and makes it possible to predict
the positions of absorption bands with reasonable ac-
curacy from the constitution, given certain fundamental
constants. — Philos. Mag., January, 1915.
Radiology. — P. Lenard and C. Ramsauer. — The third
annual report of the work of the Radiological Institute
of the University of Heidelberg. The report first deals
with physical researches on radiology, namely, cathode
rays, photo-electricity, electric conduction in flames,
positive rays, light emission, electricity at waterfalls,
phosphorescence, radio-activity. The second part of the
report deals with recearches on the uses of radiology
in medicine.— Elek. Zeit., Dec. 24, 1914.
Magnetization of Iron at High Flux Density with
Alternating Currents. — J. S. NICHOLSON. — An abstract
of a paper read before the Scotch section of the (.Brit-
ish) Institution of Electrical Engineers. In the first part
of this paper the author deals with the difficulties ex-
perienced in obtaining a simple sine wave of flux in the
iron core of an alternating-current tester at high flux
densities. If the flux does not so vary, it is difficult
to determine its maximum value. The difficulty was
largely eliminated in the experiments described by sup-
plying the third harmonic from a separate source. An
explanation is given of the presence of harmonics, and
in the concluding portion the author deals with the
relationship existing between the various harmonics in
the magnetizing current. — London Electrician, Jan. 8,
1915.
Units, Measurements and Instruments
Measuring the Losses of Condensers. — AUGUST Hund.
— An illustrated description of a differential method
by means of which one is able to measure very small
decrements of condensers up to the highest frequencies
for both the damped and undamped waves. The author
uses a differential transformer in which two equal
coils 1 and 2 (Fig. 1) wound in opposite directions are
placed over the secondary coil 3. The two differential
primary coils have the same effective resistance, the
same sell-induction, as well as the same inductive effect
on the secondary coil. In Fig. 1, Cs is the condenser
FIG. 1 — ARRANGEMENT OF DIFFERENTIAL TRANSFORMER
under test — for instance, a Leyden jar, the di-
electric loss of which is to be determined. It is com-
pared with Co, which is an air condenser which has no
dielectric loss. The condenser (' may be considered as
a combination of an ideal condenser without dielectric
loss with a resistance in parallel. Adjustment is made
so that no current exists in the secondary of the differ-
January 30, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
295
ential transformer. The theory "f the method of meas-
urement is given. In order to determine when the cur-
rent in the secondary of the differential transformer
is zero, a "thermo-cross-bridge" arrangement is used,
own in Fig. 2. "The thermo-cross bridge is based
on the superposition of two currents, from which we
assume the one as being constant. Suppose two equal
FIG. 2 — "THERMO-CROSS-BRIDGE" ARRANGEMENT
thermo-crosses are inserted in the branches AB and AC
of the bridge. There are then in each branch two ther-
mal elements soldered together at one point. The heavy
lines represent maganin wire and the dotted lines wire
of constantan. The bridge is so balanced that the re-
sistances of all branches have neither inductive nor ca-
pacity effects. The author finally describes how to
determine the logarithmic decrement. The author
found that the logarithmic decrement of an imperfect
condenser is a constant for the same specific strain of the
dielectric for all frequencies used in wireless telegraphy.
Measurements carried out up to 0.5 amp condenser
current have shown that the fictitious loss resistance is
also a constant for a definite frequency. — London Elec-
trician, Jan. 8, 1915.
Measurement of Thermal Conductivity of Tungsten,
Tantalum and Carbon. — A. G. Worthing. — A paper in
which the author describes a method based on optical
pyrometry for obtaining the thermal conductivity of
certain solid substances at incandescent temperatures.
The thermal conductivities of tungsten, tantalum and
carbon were determined in the region from 1500 deg.
K. to 2500 deg. K. — centigrade degrees above absolute
zero. The results on carbon check well with results by
Hansen. Values for the function A- xT ( k thermal con-
ductivity, x electrical conductivity, T absolute tempera-
ture) are determined for the same substances and for
the same temperature ranges. Large temperature co-
efficients of the function were found, in contradiction
to what would be expected from electronic theories. As
a preliminary determination of the relation between the
radiation intensity E and the absolute temperature T
for tungsten, the equation E = oT*3 = , where p = 5.35
ind n — 6.2 X 10" watts cm : X deg.''3'', has been found
to hold. — Physical Rev., December, 1914.
Adjustable Rheostat. — R. G. Van Name. — An illus-
trated description of a rheostat of variable range suit-
able for large currents. The rheostat consists essen-
:ially of a curved rod of graphite submerged in water
ind so mounted that its effective length is varied by
rotating an axle which serves at the same time as one
)f the current leads. — American Journal of Science;
ilso reprinted in abstract in London Electrician, Dec.
I, 1914.
Silvering Quartz Fibers. — H. B. Williams. — An il-
ustrated description of the method for silvering quartz
ibers for use in delicate electrometers and similar in-
itruments. The layer of silver is applied by means of
the cathode spray. The silvering is effected by pa
a direct current of about 0.012 amp through the tube
in an atmo dry hydrogen at a pressure of
approximately 0.2 mm December, 1914.
.— L. P. Sieg and F. C. Brown. — A
paper on wave-length sensibility curves of certain crys-
tals of metallic selenium, and a partial explanation of
the complexity of light action in selenium cells. — Phys.
R* v., December, L914,
Reichsanstait. -An account of the work of the Ger-
man Physico-Technical Reichsanstait during the year
1913.— Ehk. Zeit, Dec. 24, 1914.
Telegraphy, Telephony and Signals
Wireless Telegraphy.— A note on a recent British
patent (No. 28,413, 1913) of Marconi's Wireless Tele-
graph Company, Ltd., and H. J. Round for a receiving
system in which use is made of an oscillation valve
detector consisting of a vacuum tube containing a hot
filament, together with a cylindrical grid completely
surrounding the filament and a third cylindrical elec-
trode completely surrounding the grid. The oscillating
circuit is tuned to a frequency slightly different from
that of the received wave and is connected between the
filament and the third terminal. The cylindrical form
of the grid and third terminal prevents the glass be-
coming electrified by the cathode stream and producing
polarization effects, and the slight difference in tuning
enables signals produced by continuous waves to be
heard in the telephone. — London Elect. Eng'ing, Jan. 7,
1915.
Telephone Statistics. — W. H. Gunston. — A statisti-
cal article on the telephone stations of the world at the
beginning of 1913, with some statistics relating to 1914.
London Electrician, Nov. 27, 1914.
Bell Signals in Mines. — Thomas G. Watts. — An arti-
cle on electric bell signaling in collieries with special
reference to a system which is safe in-gas and air mix-
tures.— London Elect. Review, Jan. 1, 1915.
Miscellaneous
British Electrical Legislation. — A long editorial on
electrical legislation in Great Britain in 1914. The
outstanding feature of the 1914 session of Parliament,
and of the new session which commenced in November,
was the extraordinary output of emergency legislation
and administrative regulations necessitated by the war.
By the "defence of the realm" acts and the orders in
council and regulations made thereunder the naval and
military authorities have been empowered to control
and (if necessary) take possession of and make use
of means of transmitting intelligence, systems of trans-
port, electricity supply works, lighting, etc. Another
group of emergency acts and regulations relates to
patents, designs and trade-marks, and (inter alia) they
confer power to suspend the terms of patents held by
alien enemies or to grant licenses under them to British
manufacturers. Apart from the emergency legislation
referred to above, there was only one new act of the
1914 session which affected the electrical industry.
This was the merchants' shipping convention act, which
confirms the international convention for the safety of
life at sea, signed by the delegates to the London con-
ference in January, 1914, and which introduced im-
portant reforms in regard to the use of radiotelegraph}-
and signaling apparatus on board ship. Forty-nine
provisional electric lighting orders were issued by the
Board of Trade and were confirmed by acts of Parlia-
ment. In regard to electricity supply bills, one of the
features of the session was the number of gas com-
panies which succeeded in obtaining powers to supply
electrical energy. — London Electrician, Dec. 25, 1914.
Radio Lightning Rod. — B. Scilard. — In contradistinc-
U'.Mi
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 5
tion to the ordinary lightning arrester, one equipped
with a disk provided with radium below the point of the
lightning arrester has a larger sphere of action. —
Comptes Rendus, Vol. 158, page 695, 1914; abstracted
in Elek. Zeit., Dec. 17, 1914.
New Zealand. — An article giving brief statistical
tables of the imports into New Zealand of various ma-
terials and machinery from the United Kingdom and
other countries. In another article an abstract is given
of a recent report of the British Trade Commissioner,
W. G. Wickham, dealing with the general trade posi-
tion, criticism of British methods, methods of distri-
bution, need for local representation in New Zealand,
and the trend of import trade. — London Elec. Review,
Jan. 1 and 8, 1915.
Book Reviews
Electric Toy-Making for Amateurs. By Prof. T.
O'Conor Sloane. New York: The Norman W.
Henley Publishing Company. 210 pages, 77 illus.
Price, $1.
An interesting and suggestive little book, presenting
in a popular but not unscientific manner the essentials
of various electric toys, instruments and appliances,,
most of which can be constructed with little difficulty
by amateurs. The book must not be classed with certain
compilations prepared for the consumption of inquiring
youth in which the essential information is very fre-
quently omitted owing to the writer being unfamiliar
with the first principles of his subject. The amateur
without technical training should derive both pleasure
and profit from this book. As a gift for boys who de-
light in experimentation along scientific and mechanical
lines it can be strongly recommended. The apparatus
described includes primary and secondary batteries,
permanent magnets and electromagnets, electric bells,
small motors and generators, sparking coils, and other
interesting and instructive electric toys, appliances and
experiments. The chief value of the book lies in its un-
doubted power to nourish and stimulate the inquiring
mind of the youthful reader.
Experiments. By Philip E. Edelman. Minneapolis:
Philip E. Edelman. 256 pages, illus. Price, $1.50.
This little volume claims to give " a complete account
of experimental work in science, invention, the indus-
tries and the amateur field, with practical instructions
and working directions." Although it cannot be said
that the process of condensation has been carried to the
point which would justify this claim, the book is un-
questionably of value to those of an inquiring turn of
mind who have the gift of originality and who "delight
in doing things." The volume is divided into two parts.
In the first part are described many simple experiments
covering a wide range of .subjects, from kite-making
and simple chemical experiments to alternating-current
transformers and a complete working model of a flour
mill. The second part deals with the principles of re-
search and invention and, although very short, contains
much that is new and suggestive. The charm of the
book lies less in the nature of the miscellaneous ('acts
presented than in the personality of the author, which
imbues the written page. If it be true that the value of B
book, whether it deal with Action or with science, lies
in its power to evoke new thoughts and figures in the
reader's mind, then this is a valuable book. It will not
appeal to all classes of readers, bill the spirit of optim-
ism and scientific enthusiasm which pervades it. t.i
gether with its ability to awaken and stimulate the
normally somnolent mind, should insure for it a wide
circulation among an appreciative circle.
Practical Rate-Making and Appraisement. By Wil-
liam D. Marks. Published at the Office of the
President's House, South Hadley, Mass. 270 pages.
Price, $2.
This book was written by Mr. Marks shortly before
his death with the intention of collating, digesting and
systematizing what he called a new branch of engineer-
ing science, "rate-making and appraisement." In the
preface there are some interesting views on commis-
sions. The writer acknowledged indebtedness for prac-
tical data to the admirable reports of the Massachusetts
Gas and Electric Light Commission, which "even in its
lack of aggressiveness" "appears to have proved itself
on the whole both safer and wiser than other commis-
sions." The author criticised "partisan public service
commissions" and expressed the belief that better re-
sults will be reached by a larger measure of home rule in
metropolitan communities. The book includes several
reports on rate cases made by the author and discussion
on the various questions involved. With the exception
of the reports mentioned, the book is mainly a presenta-
tion of the points of view tenaciously held by the author.
Practical Illumination. By Justus Eck. London,
England : S. Rentell & Company, Ltd. 86 pages, 32
illus. Price, 1 shilling.
This small volume is simple in its character and the
aim in its preparation has been to present in a practical
way some of the problems confronting the lighting con-
tractor and the user of electric light and to outline
methods applicable to their solution. General features
of illumination, including the matters of direct and in-
direct lighting, are briefly discussed, after which con-
siderable very useful information is given under the
heading "Planning of the Installation." This section
includes several tables of data covering the illumination
to be obtained with different numbers and arrange-
ments of the standard electric lamps, but it gives rather
undue emphasis to lighting by means of arc lamps.
Some space is given to the cost of installations and the
maintenance of lamps, and these data, of course, apply
to conditions as they exist in England and cannot be
used directly for American practice. A more complete
index would prove useful in connection with this book.
Mehrfach-Telegraphen. By A. Kraatz. Braun-
schweig, Germany: Friedr. Vieweg & Sohn. 228
pages, 212 illus. Price, 10 marks.
This book, the eleventh of a group on the technology
of telegraphy and telephony edited by Chief Telegraph
Engineer Karrass, of the German Post Office, covers the
operating theory of several of the better-known systems
of multiple high-speed telegraphing over lines. In a
brief introduction consideration is given to the general
features of multiple transmission, which are not treated
in the text because of their disuse at the present time,
and mention is made of the work of Picard and Merea-
dier. The remainder of the book is divided into two
sections, relating to the two broad methods depending,
respectively, upon distribution of operating time be-
tween several pairs of instruments and upon simul-
taneous working. Each part is opened with a discus-
sion of the fundamentals of the system considered. To>
the Baudot apparatus are devoted the remaining 111
pages of the first section, while in the second part are
described the duplex methods depending upon differen-
tial action and upon bridge connections, including the
arrangements of Klopfer, Hughes. Whcatstone and
Siemens-llalske. In an appendix the author discusses
effects of resistance, inductance and capacity and cur-
ient distribution in the several systems, and concludes
with descriptions of the Murray and Rowland tele-
graphs.
Jaki-aky 80, l£15
E LEC T RICAL WORLD
POWER AND OPERATING SECTION
Automatic Control of Step-Bearing Oil Pumps
A~ the <>il for step bearings in the Gold Street station
of the Edison Electric Illuminating Company of Brook-
lyn is forced through filters and used over and over
without replenishing, it is extremely important that the
circulation be not interrupted. Duplicate motor-driven
centrifugal pumps are therefore employed with each
: -—. :
o
Discharge from step
Bearings
*"-"-'—.—""
Centrifugal |
Pump ^
FIG. 1 — AUTOMATICALLY CONTROLLED STEP-BEARING OIL
PUMPS
step-bearing oil-receiving tank, only one unit normally-
pumping oil to the filters, but in case it becomes inopera-
tive the reserve pump is automatically substituted. The
construction of the receiving tank and the mechanical
connections of the pumps are shown in the accompany-
ing drawing and illustrations.
FIG. 2 — TWO SETS OF DUPLICATE STEP-BEARING OIL PUMPS
The tank is divided into two compartments by a low
partition. Oil from the step bearings discharges into
the right-hand compartment and is removed normally
by the pump connected thereto. This pump is running
all the time, and should the oil accumulate in this com-
partment it will eventually flow over the partition into
the left-hand compartment, thereby raising a float which
starts the reserve motor.
Both pumps discharge into a common pipe leading to
the filters. To prevent one motor pumping back through
' 1
1
v •
- m
% /
FIG. 3 — APPARATUS CONTROLLING OIL-PUMP MOTORS
the other, check valves are installed in each pump cir-
cuit. Gate valves are also installed in the suction pipes
of each pump to facilitate repair work in case either
pump requires it. Each pump is amply capable of re-
moving oil from the tanks at twice the rate it is de-
livered.
Cooling- Water Pond and System for a[City Substation
By Fred Buch
A somewhat novel system with unusual features for
water-cooling the oil-immersed transformers in a sub-
station, recently designed and installed, is described
below.
The substation is & building approximately 40 ft. by
60 ft. in plan, with an additional 10-ft. by 14-ft. space
for overhauling and erection purposes. It is situated
in the city served. Energy is transmitted from the
main station some 12 miles distant, and the pressure
is stepped down from 44,000 volts for distribution.
The present installation of apparatus consists of three
banks of transformers, while two more banks are to
be added at a future date. The present banks are
made up of three 2000-volt, two 1000-volt and four 500-
volt transformers of the oil-immersed type. The future
installation will consist of five 2000-volt transformers.
All apparatus will be water-cooled. The total amount
of cooling water for the present installation was stated
by the makers as 115 gal. per minute, and the tempera-
ture rise of the water due to the heat in the trans-
formers as 18 deg. Fahr. For economic reasons re-
cooling and re-use of the water were decided upon and
a storage pond was provided. A narrow strip of
ground which, owing to its exposure to floods and its
298
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 5
disadvantageous location, could be of little use for
other purposes was reserved for the pond. The water
supply for the latter was taken from a near-by canal.
Re-cooling was effected entirely by spray nozzles, the
pond serving merely as a basin large enough only to
catch the spray. The pond water was used for no
other purpose than transformer cooling, and a loss of
only 2 per cent, due to wind and evaporation, was
anticipated. A diagrammatic plan of the piping is
Angle Valve
Pressure Gage
Relief Valve
Suction from Pond
Return to Pond
Emergency Discharge
DIAGRAM OF PIPE CONNECTIONS
shown in the accompanying illustration. The dimen-
sions are, of course, greatly exaggerated to give clear-
ness.
Pumps
Two 4-in. by 6-in. Dean triplex plunger pumps of
60 gal. capacity each were installed. They were rated
with a discharge head of 80 ft. and a suction lift of
10 ft. and were geared to 3-hp motors of the direct-
starting type. These pumps were installed on a gal-
lery floor, 6 ft. above the main floor on which are the
transformers and approximately 2 ft. above normal
water level in the cooling pond. This elevated location
was necessary to prevent the pumps from being flooded
at high water, the flood waters rising at times almost
4 ft. above the main floor. No pump foundations
were provided, but the bedplates were lined up with a
1-in. grouting directly on the floor. The holding-down
bolts pass through the 6-in. concrete floor slab with
4-in. by 4-in. plate washers on the under side. Holes
for these bolts were drilled to suit the pumps and the
bolts were afterward grouted fast. The pumps have
.''■in. suction and a 2.5-in. discharge pipe and in this
case are arranged for tapped connections only. It is
essential, however, to have the connections flanged,
with companion flanges, as at times it is impossible to
use unions to advantage owing to the crowded condi-
tions and the close pipe connections. The suction
ends at the pumps are cross-connected to a common
header, as are the discharge ends, and cut-out valves
are placed where they can easily and quickly be
reached by the operator, so that in case one pump or
pump motor breaks down the other may be brought
into action instantly without the operator leaving the
gallery floor. As the entire system is a pressure sys-
tem with no gravity flow, this plan was very essential.
The pressure in the discharge line was fixed at 6 lb.,
this being all that is necessary to effect the required
cooling at the spray nozzles. To increase the pressure
above this value would simply circulate the water
faster than necessary and spray it to a greater height,
wasting it over the walls of the pond.
The cut shows diagramraatically the connections at
the pumps. Unions are placed between the cut-out
valves and the pumps as shown, so as to enable the
overhauling or removal of a pump while the line is
under pressure. A by-pass connection from the dis-
charge end of each pump back to the suction side is
provided, and this is used in starting the pump. This
connection is further fitted with a pressure relief valve
and a discharge around the cut-out valve in the by-
pass, this arrangement relieving the line at the de-
sired pressure and returning the surplus water back
to the suction end of the pump. A pressure gage and
suction gage are fitted to each pump as shown.
It will be noted that the pumps draw directly from
the cooling pond, discharge to the transformers, and
force the water on through to the spray nozzles at
the pond, thus forming a complete cycle. For emer-
gency purposes, however, a direct connection was pro-
vided to the city system from the distributing header,
on the discharge side of the pumps, and an emergency
discharge was provided from the return line to the
sewer. It was thus possible to cut out the pond,
should the latter require overhauling, and it was also
possible to dispense with both pumps entirely, should
they break down simultaneously. This latter condition
is hardly to be expected, but the possibility of the pond
needing a cleaning or waterproofing is not so remote.
These emergency connections were made at a very
small expense. The connections from the suction and
discharge headers to the pumps were made with more
or less flexible joints, so that crawling of the headers
would be taken up by the leverage in these connections
and in no way cause a strain on the pumps.
Transformer Connections
The two cooling-water headers and the waste-oil
header are carried directly on the floor at the rear of
the transformers, where they are entirely out of the
way. This eliminated pipe hangers and stools, and
therefore made an economical arrangement that was
easy to install.
The transformers were set on rails, mounted on con-
crete piers. The latter are 16 in. in width in order
to allow ample concrete over the holding-down bolts
and the washers. The distance from the finished floor
line to the top of the rail was kept 18 in. throughout
to meet the height of the transformer transfer truck.
This uniformity in height not only greatly facilitates
removal of apparatus to the truck but provides liberal
allowance and a very good arrangement for connecting
up and leading away the large oil drain pipe from the
bottom of the transformers. The heaviest transform-
ers are the 2000-volt type. These, including the oil,
weigh about 45,000 lb. and therefore require not less
than a 60-lb. rail. To obtain uniform construction
use was made of the 60-lb. rail throughout on all piers,
without regard to the weight of the smaller appara-
tus.
The oil drain pipe, being installed with the water
piping, may also be described here. The drain con-
nection from the larger transformers was fitted with
a 2.5-in. flanged angle valve which was supplied with
the apparatus. Connection thereto was made with a
companion flange and heavy paper gasket soaked in
shellac. By using an angle valve a shorter and closer
connection could be had than with a valve of the
straight-way type. The disadvantage is of course that
the valve cannot be opened so quickly in an emer-
gency. However, transformer fires are of such rare
occurrence, and the apparatus in this case so small, that
angle stop valves were considered amply safe. The
oil-header connection and also the water-pipe connec-
tions were made in branches more or less flexible, as
it is less work to turn or swing the pipes at the joints
to meet the transformers than to jack the heavy ap-
paratus over to meet the pipes.
The cooling-water supply and return headers being
Janiaky 80, 1916
ELEi'Tllh A I. WORLD
299
under pressure, plug cocks and unions were fitted in
the branches next to the headers. This arrangement
will allow cutting out any of the transformers and re-
moving them from the line when overhauling becomes
Mary, without interfering in the slightest with
the system. Plug cocks were used in preference to
valves as they are cheaper and give the full opening
<>f the pipe. They are, however, used only to cut out
the apparatus from the line. For throttling the How
in the supply line a globe valve is fitted next to the
union. A flow indicator is fitted between the globe
valve and the inlet connection on the transformer to
indicate to the eye a sure flow' of water. Where a
transformer has more than one cooling coil a separate
valve and indicator should be fitted for each such coil,
and a plug cock should be provided in the discharge
line from each coil. This is necessary to allow fre-
quent cleaning of the reading glass on the flow indi-
cator, which could otherwise not be done on a pres-
sure system unless both water lines were temporarily
shut off.
An oil header for filling the transformer tanks was
not considered necessary, the tanks being filled through
a 7-in. portable filter press and pump, driven by a
suitable motor and fitted with an electric drying oven
for the blotters. The extra oil supply, if any, is to be
kept in barrels, and therefore it was not necessary to
provide a storage tank.
Cooling Pond
As stated before, re-cooling is effected through
spraying the water into the air, the surface contact
of the pond water with the air not coming into con-
sideration. A smaller pond area is thus obtained. The
pond serves as a basin only, and the spray area of the
nozzles determines the minimum width or diameter of
the pond. This minimum was fixed at 40 ft. by the
makers of the nozzles. The pond was made octagonal
in shape and the inclosing walls were brought to 6
in. above the maximum known flood-water level. The
inside nominal depth of the pond was fixed at 2 ft.
8 in. This depth, however, was purely arbitrary. The
sides and bottom are 12 in. thick and are reinforced
against temperature cracks with No. 27 triangle mesh.
One-two-four concrete was used, and a 12-in. thickness
decided upon. As the pond is subjected to flood waters
and an upward pressure, the concrete was set on filled
and hard tamped ground. It was waterproofed with a
1-in. coat of cement and sand in the proportion of one
part cement to three parts sand.
A cluster of five spray nozzles, connected to the
discharge line, was fitted at the center of the pond.
A sump 2 in. deep was provided and the bottom was
graded toward this sump. The pump suction pipe from
this sump was fitted with a brass strainer at the end.
In addition a box strainer was fitted in the line and
provided with a by-pass connection to be used while
the strainer is being cleaned. Water for the cooling
pond was taken from the canal through a Kinney
rotary pump of 10-gal. rating, with a discharge head
of 50 ft. and a suction lift of 10 ft. This pump was
installed outside of the station. It was connected to
a 1-hp direct-starting motor. The pump was pro-
vided with a by-pass from the discharge side back to
the suction. The suction end in the canal was fitted
with a 0.75-in. foot-valve and strainer. The discharge
was piped to a small flow-regulating tank and then
to a sand filter into which the amount of flow was
regulated by an automatic regulating valve. From
the filter the water was piped to the pond. Owing to
the very small loss of water (2 per cent to 5 per cent),
this pump will be in operation only a part of the
time. There are no connections other than the cool-
ing system from this pond, the washrooms being in an
adjacent older station.
Pipiag, Valves and Killings
The water piping is of standard galvanized wrought-
iron pipe, and the waste-oil header is of stand-
ard black wrought-iron pipe. Screwed fittings and
screwed unions made with ground joints are used
throughout. The flanged connections from the oil
header to the angle valves on the transformers are
made with standard flanges and heavy paper-ring gas-
kets soaked in shellac. The valves for the waste-oil
header are of the standard screwed straight-way type,
with outside screw and yoke. Those for the water
headers are standard screwed globe or angle valves
where throttling of the flow is essential; in other
places plug cocks were used. The suction header from
the cooling pond to the pumps is of 3.5-in. pipe; the
return line of 3-in. pipe. The emergency connection
from the city main to the supply header could not be
made larger than 2.5 in. The emergency discharge,
however, was made 3.5 in. to conform with the re-
turn header. The box strainer was made with a 6-in.
inlet and outlet to provide a free flow of water
through the brass gauze of twenty mesh. Special
flanges were provided to connect to this strainer. The
by-pass around the strainer was made 3.5 in. to con-
form with the suction header. The oil header from
the transformers is of 3.5-in. pipe, and is carried to
a convenient point outside of the building, where the
broken-down oil mav be finallv wasted.
Choice of Right-of-Way Saves Money
The 2300-volt lines from the hydroelectric station at
Rock Falls, 111., which carry energy to the nearby city
of Sterling are required to cross the double-track rail-
road which runs parallel to the river. An overhead
crossing might have been made by using high poles set
in the low ground on each side of the railroad, but to
LINES UNDER THE RAILROAD INSTEAD OF OVER IT
avoid the excessive expense and the hazard which such
a crossing would entail, an "underground" right-of-way
was selected, as shown herewith. A culvert constructed
by the railroad to drain a deep gully not far from the
station offered a safe passage for the wires and was
free from the difficulties presented by other paths.
Accordingly the lines were strung along the railroad
to the culvert and then taken under the railroad on
cross-arms suspended by means of braces anchored to
the stone arch overhead.
300
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 5
Apparatus for Determining Voltage at Feeder Taps
in Network Systems
By running pilot wires from each feeder tap in its
direct-current network system to a pressure cabinet in
its substations the Edison Electric Illuminating Com-
pany of Brooklyn, N. Y., has enabled its operators to
tell the voltage at different points in the system. In-
**' " "
TZ W-- ■•--.
STATION NOOOi.
e m ■
i . '
FIG. 1 — OPERATOR'S PLUG-BOARD FOR DETERMINING FEEDER-
END VOLTAGES
stead of keeping the station busbar voltage constant,
the operators maintain a constant pressure at the feeder
tap-in points. Four different voltages are maintained
in the station on as many busbars for raising the pres-
sure at the distant feeder ends.
On the pressure panel are two voltmeters showing the
pressure on opposite sides of the neutral wire. For con-
necting these instruments to any feeder a plug board
is employed. It is installed below the instruments and
at the back of the operator's desk. Arranged across
1 24
123
122
\0
'U
jjii
i^
1 21
,ioi»2*
_j
,v>
>
f.*2
1 19
rjjV
1 16
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1 17
116
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6 10 14 18 22 20 50 34 38 42 46
TOTAL STATION BUS AMPERES, THOUSANDS
FIG. 2 — PEARL STREET FEEDER-END VOLTAGE CHART
the panel are three horizontal rows of receptacles for
receiving the contacts of a three-contact plug which <;m
be inserted by the operator. It is considered by the
operating department of this company that the best l"
cation of the panel is at the back of the operator's desk,
as it is then- thai the station log sheets and all reports
are made out.
In order to determine what voltage should be main-
tained at the feeder end or tap-in point it is necessary
to know the drop in the network and the characteristics
thereof. Curves taking these facts into consideration
have been plotted for and installed in each station. All
the operator has to do is to consult the chart, and by
observing the voltage-current curve he is able to read
the voltage which should be delivered at the feeder end
to maintain the proper pressure in the network. The
chart also shows the maximum and minimum voltage
which should be applied to the feeders.
Arrangement of Feeder Cables Leading to
Underground Ducts
Entrances to underground ducts leading from sta-
tions should be arranged so that additional outgoing or
incoming feeders may be readily installed or the route
of existing cables easily traced thereto. The accom-
panying illustration shows how these advantages have
been obtained at the 187th Street substation of the
CABLES LEADING FROM REGULATORS TO UNDERGROUND
DUCTS
United Electric Light & Power Company, New York
City. Ducts connecting with the underground system
are installed along the floor of a passageway running
parallel to and directly below the feeder regulator com-
partment. Separate runs of the duct nest terminate
under each regulator. The cables from the latter pass
through the floor of the regulator room and connecl
with the outgoing-feeder potheads, which are supported
on a steel framework just below the ceiling of the duct
compartment. From the potheads the cables run down
the wall and follow a gradual curve to the entrance of
their respective ducts. These portions of the cables are
wrapped with asbestos and protected with a spiral cov-
ering of galvanized-iron ribbon which is painted red,
this being the color adopted by the company for its dis-
tributing feeders. The entrances to the ducts are sealed
with concrete. On the wall beside each cable is painted
in black the number of the feeder.
J \m un SO, 1915
E I. ECT RICAL Wo R I.D
801
COMMERCIAL SECTION
Manager's Private Data I took
one successful central-station manager in the Middle
West keeps a very interesting pocket data book for his
own personal use. In it are recorded up-to-the-minute
data on the valuation of his property, the property tax,
plant equipment, plant output, curves showing the trend
of rates, output and earnings, tables following the trend
of different classes of business based on long years of
actual experience, and many other instructive tables and
curves which are always kept up to date and which can
be used to refresh the manager's memory at an in-
stant's notice. When asked how he determined what he
should put into such a book, this manager said: "I keep
in that book the things I need to know. When I leave
town I put that book in my grip or my pocket, and if
anyone at our central office asks a question, I answer it
with specific and accurate data, always from the book."
In size the book is small, so small in fact that it seems
impossible that it can contain so much information.
It measures about 8 in. long by 4 in. wide, and is now
about 1 in. thick with black leather covers. The secret
of its compact construction lies in closely tabulated type-
written data on loose leaves. Tables can be revamped
if necessary. The curve sheets and larger tables are
sometimes folded.
Mr. E. N. Hurley on Price Cutting
Mr. E. N. Hurley, president of the Illinois Manufac-
turers' Association, in a recent paper giving his general
impressions of the foreign trade situation, placed espe-
cial emphasis on the evils of price-cutting, saying:
"One of the reasons why the German, English, French
and other Europeans have succeeded in getting the
large contracts to furnish the South American countries
with most of their electrical material and appliances is
because the Europeans have been engaged in their re-
spective businesses for a number of years. Their plants
are well organized and they are most thorough in arriv-
ing at the actual cost of producing their goods, as well
as at the cost of selling them. Having this information
almost at their finger-tips, they know absolutely what
quotations to make whenever an order is to be placed
in any foreign country.
"The American manufacturer has been busy at home
making a substantial profit on a small gross business
and has been rather indifferent about increasing it so
long as his profits were reasonably large. But the day
of large percentages of profits on a small gross business
is over. To-day competition is more keen, and if we
want big profits we must find them in big volume. To
get this increase in volume of sales we must go into
the foreign markets. All of us are anxious to increase
our business, but too many of us are inclined to pay
undue attention to what our competitors are doing, bor-
rowing trouble about dull times and worrying over the
future of our country. If we paid more attention to our
own affairs, we should have ample time to ascertain the
actual cost of producing our goods and the cost of sell-
ing them. If we were to put our houses in order, get
at the real facts regarding the cost of our products,
establish up-to-date methods of accounting, charge off
liberally for depreciation and present balance sheets in
accordance with good business practice, we should be in
a position to compete with any country in the world
in any market of the world. The manufacturer who
does not know what his goods cost is generally the fel-
low that is cutting prices and demoralizing the industry
in which he is engaged."
CoorteS) to Business Callers in the Outer Office
The value of a pleasant reception and of courteous
and businesslike treatment of visitors in the offices of
electrical concerns was emphasized by Mr. Frederic P.
Vose in a recent talk before the Chicago Jovian League.
tng his experiences at the offices of two Chicago
electrical houses, Mr. Vose told how at the first of these
places, alter waiting some time, he was finally able to
attract a portion of the attention of the young woman
at the telephone switchboard. The remainder of her
attention was divided between her chewing gum and
two messenger boys waiting for telegrams. She finally
managed, however, to say to Mr. Vose, "What'll you
have?" He replied, "When you are sufficiently at
leisure I should like a little courteous attention," and,
presenting his card, he continued, "I should like to
speak to Mr. Blank.' Inasmuch as the man named was
one of the officers of the company, the girl stopped talk-
ing to the boys long enough to say that Mr. Blank was
busy but would see Mr. Vose in a minute.
In direct contrast to this reception, however, was the
polite and respectful greeting Mr. Vose received at the
second electrical concern. The woman at the door, as
the caller entered, said, "Good afternoon, Mr. Vose. Mr.
Dash is here. He is not engaged. Will you be seated?"
Her manner was that of the refined business woman
which always commands respect. She had remembered
the name of the caller, although he had been there but
once before. She remembered on whom he had called be-
fore, knew that Mr. Dash was not engaged, and made
the visitor feel at ease by asking him to be seated.
The difference between the two experiences had been
so marked that the speaker made inquiry concerning
the woman at the second concern. Mr. Dash answered
by saying that the woman in his outer office received
the highest salary paid any woman employee of the
company. She was picked for the position because she
was alert-minded and naturally of a courteous disposi-
tion.
Mr. Vose also referred to the need for greater cour-
tesy in telephone conversations, driving his point home
forcibly by asking his audience, "What kind of man
does 'central' know you to be?"
Manufacturers' Prices Converted to Jobbing Basis
In estimating the cost of obtaining electrical equip-
ment made by different manufacturers, contractors and
dealers have usually had to refer to lists of prices sub-
ject to different discounts. If a variety of materials is
to be purchased, such as wire, porcelain, fixtures, etc.,
computing the total cost may require considerable time.
The Western Electric Company, 463 West Street, New
York City, has therefore prepared for distribution
among contractors and dealers a catalog in which all
manufacturers' prices have been converted to a jobbing
basis with uniform discount. From this list purchasers
can quickly add up the prices of all articles desired and
deduct the discount, thereby simplifying the work of
their estimating, purchasing and billing departments.
Included in the catalog is a list of selling helps which
the jobbing company will furnish to any dealer. Among
helps offered are suggestions for window displays, lan-
tern slides, literature describing electrical apparatus
and electros for newspaper advertisements and street-
car cards. The book contains 1200 pages besides an
alphabetical index. Revised editions of the catalog will
be issued at the beginning of each year.
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 5
A Window Display for the Central Station
By F. S. Root
It is becoming more and more difficult every day to
prepare a window display suitable for central-station
use that will be original and attractive without going
to considerable expense. The following display, how-
ever, although it took some time to prepare, was very
II •
IN
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M^.^k^te^^^H^^B_
Jtt-.-.
FIG. 1 — DISPLAY WINDOW
inexpensive, being built almost entirely of cardboard and
colored paper, braced with wooden strips. Like every
moving display, it created a good deal of interest.
Although the photograph does not show the details
as well as could be wished, it will be noted that the
display consisted of a large model of a generating sta-
tion, having on its roof a "winking" electric sign, with
the front cut away, revealing the moving part of the
display.
Upon an endless belt, driven by a small motor, were
mounted a constantly moving line of factories and mills,
interspersed with "billboards," each one bearing one
or more words of the query "Why not let us run your
plant by electric power?"
A background of trees and sky, cut from "landscape"
wall-paper, and a sunset glow produced by colored lamps
illustrates the manner of mounting the little buildings
(which were sawed from thin board) upon the endless
belt.
Growth of Rural Electric Service at Noblesville, Ind.
Outside of the incorporated cities and towns and the
township in which Sheridan is situated, Hamilton
County, Ind., has a population of 13,868. All of these
inhabitants and about 2000 more in Madison County,
it is confidently expected, will eventually be served from
the central station of the Noblesville Heat, Light &
Power Company. Originally a few farm customers were
connected to the company's transmission lines between
the small towns served, but within the last two years
a definite policy has been pursued to develop rural busi-
ness. The map herewith shows to what extent the com-
pany has been successful in covering the county with
its lines.
The contract under which these lines were built pro-
vides that the company shall build and maintain a line
where a minimum of four customers a mile is available.
Each customer pays the company $50 toward the ex-
TIPTON
Horton
IS
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Eogletown
Westfield
'Atlanta
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f~f Arcadia
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j \Cicero
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lHAMILTON -J-q ; ^j w
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MADISON
(.''Fishers burg
Lapel ©
1045
11.000
2,100 Volt Line
■4,400 "
Population U.S.Census 1910
O Humber of Rural
Customers
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i 5°il sSsd BjM
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FIG. 2- APPARATUS FOR MOVING DISPLAY
concealed above the endless belt gave a natural touch
to the scene. Some of the mills were painted to repre-
sent red brick, while others were of gray stone.
Motors of different types end sizes were grouped
about the front of the show window, and raw cotton
was scattered about, as the cotton mills were the ones
it was desired to interest. The accompanying drawing
MILES
SYSTEM OF NOBLESVILLE COMPANY
pense of this line and later has the entire $50 refunded
to him in electrical energy. Each customer pays for and
maintains his own transformer, service connection and
wiring. Primarily the customer figures on lighting only
and he estimates his expense about as follows:
Interest lost on deposit $6
i-k« transformer and service connection 50
House wiring (minimum) 50
Total $106
Against this expense he considers an acetylene light-
ing outfit costing from $100 to $250. With the electri-
cal equipment, however, he has the advantage of being
able to use irons and motors, and hence the company's
farm customers have grown in number this year to 214.
Twenty-three of the customers have been connected to
the company's lines for a full year, and the average
income from each of these for the first twelve months
was $17.58. As revenue for the first year this amount
is considered satisfactory but not profitable. It will
become profitable as these customers' demands increase.
This average is really notable in view of the fact that
the company's minimum bill is but 50 cents a month.
Jam ary 30, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
303
Co-operative Power Customers' Display at
Hartford
To increa.se the good-will of its industrial customers
and spread abroad the knowledge of the extensive use
of central-station service in the manufacture of local
products, the Hartford i Conn. > Electric Light Company
is running a series of interesting exhibits in one of
FIG. 1 — VALVE MAKER'S DISPLAY
the show windows of its new-office building. The win-
dow space is given free of expense to each customer,
including all the electrical energy required to operate
and to illuminate the displays, and customers are booked
for one week. Prominent local concerns have taken en-
thusiastically to the plan of thus showing their products
to the public, and these industrial "attractions" are
booked up to March 20, 1915, with more to follow. The
lighting company's only advertisement in the window is
a transparency 15 in. square equipped with a 40-watt
lamp illuminating the slogan of the campaign, "Made
in Hartford, U. S. A., with Central-Station Power."
Among the exhibitors have been the Mantermach Com-
pany, engraver, a concern formerly not well known to
the community on account of the inconspicuous location
of its offices, which received a one-hundred-and-fifty-
dollar order as a result of the display ; the Royal Type-
writer Company, which exhibited with its products a
FIG. 2 — DROP-FORGING DISPLAY
motor-driven enlarged machine costing $2,000, with a
salesman on duty; the Maxim Silencer Company; the
Arrow Electric Company, maker of sockets and wiring
specialties; the Billings & Spencer Company, manu-
facturer of drop forgings, and the Pratt & Cady Com-
pany, valve maker.
The Billings & Spencer display featured a realistic
skeleton made of drop forgings, with an electric "eye"
which was caused to wink frequently at passers-by by
means of an automatic socket switch. The Pratt & Cady
display showed among other subjects a motor-operated
valve which exposed and concealed the campaign emblem
as the gate was opened and closed. The name of the
exhibitor in each case is set forth by a transparency
extending across the window front and illuminated by
six 60-watt lamps mounted in front of reflectors at the
rear. Practically no limitations are placed upon the
customers arranging these exhibits, but so far as pos-
sible they are planned to show the interior of the com-
pany's salesroom as a background for each display.
Electric Vacuum Cleaner Rented by the Day
A big, husky negro, who runs a combination shoe-
repair shop, shining parlor and rug-cleaning establish-
ment in Chicago, owns an electric vacuum cleaner val-
ued at $125 which he rents to his customers at $2 a
day. For $1 an hour he will supply the machine and
the services of a man. In either case energy is taken
from the customer's own meter circuit. An inquiry
about the cleaner set the shine-boy and salesman talk-
ing. "Do you-all live in dis neighbo'hood?" he asked.
"Ah certainly mus' han' you one of my cahds, an' Ah
hope you-all will call on me when youah house needs
VACUUM CLEANER RENTED BY HOUR
OR DAY
Sam C. Nelson
FIRST CLASS RUG CLEANING
1322 EAST 55th STREET
PHONE BLACnSTONE 2115
CHICAGO
|Q?I 191
CARD OF MAN RENTING VACUUM CLEANERS
cleanin'. Ah has lots of regular customers." The card
which he presented is reproduced herewith, the thought
being that perhaps electrical interests might profit by
supplying both the cards and the cleaners on a time-
payment plan to men operating small businesses in the
residential districts of cities.
Wichita (Kan.) Mill Uses 4.5 Kw-hr. per Barrel of
Flour
The new-business department of the Kansas Gas &
Electric Company, Wichita Kan., has been very success-
ful in securing flour mills as electric-service customers.
A total of five mills are now connected to the company's
lines. One of these, at Wichita, makes about 950 bbl.
of flour a day. At this particular mill a 250-hp slip-
ring motor drives the milling machinery through rope
drives, counter-shafts and belts. The remaining elec-
trical equipment consists of a 50-hp motor driving an
elevator, a 7.5-hp motor driving a man hoist, and a lib-
eral supply of tungsten lamps in enameled-steel re-
flectors. The mill is in operation twenty-four hours a
day, and since the men have become accustomed to the
new and modern machinery it has been possible to pro-
duce a barrel of flour with the consumption of 4.5 kw-hr.
When the mill was new the records showed an average
specific consumption of 4.9 kw-hr. per barrel.
Mr. T. Harvey, sales manager of the electric company,
304
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 5
says that with the company's rates as they are, requir-
ing a fixed charge of $1.50 per kw of maximum demand
and an energy charge varying from 7 cents per kw-hr.
for the first 100 kw-hr. a month to 6 mills per kw-hr.
for all energy over 35,000 kw-hr. a month, the average
rates earned by the mills on the company's circuits
range from 0.9 cent per kw-hr. to 1.5 cents per kw-hr.
Electric Consumer's Ledger Sheets
The Consolidated Gas, Electric Light & Power Com-
pany of Baltimore will place in use next March a new
set of ledgers to record all consumers' accounting, energy
service and merchandise sales for the four years begin-
ning March 1, 1915. A reproduction of the sheet as
finally adopted after going over all suggestions from
group heads is given herewith. The sheet is 13.5 in.
satisfactorily recorded, thus placing before the billing
clerk all data necessary to effect the accounting for the
month's electric service from skeleton bill received from
stenographic department, bearing readings, difference
and constant.
The three "paid" columns for posting credits under
current sales, deferred-payment sales and other charges
are a guarantee that analyses of payment can be readily
made and balance due quickly determined.
But one line is required each month to execute the
complete billing, thus giving the ledger sheet a life of
four years.
The reconciliation or balancing of consumers' accounts
with general ledger in auditing department will be
greatly facilitated by reason of separate debit and credit
columns, making the proving of debits and credits very
simple against supporting summaries and tabulations.
Horizontal billing lines were intentionally ruled al-
FAC-SIMILE OF ELECTRIC CUSTOMER'S LEDGER SHEET
high by 15.75 in. wide and possesses the following ad-
vantages :
Merchandise is billed simultaneously with electric
service on the same bill with a minimum of additional
labor and great clearness in original record.
The debiting and crediting of the service charge and
merchandise are so recorded as to avoid any uncertainty
in analysis or issuance of statements from the account.
The three separate credit columns will especially aid in
maintaining the clearness of the ledger from an analysis
standpoint.
The method of recording the principal sum under de-
ferred-payment sales is novel yet very satisfactory, as
these entries could not be recorded in the body of the
sheet without confusing other billing.
The billing of "other charges" is executed at a mini-
mum of labor and space. This is made possible through
a system of billing such charges in detail on a separate
bill attached to and listed on service bill in total only, a
of which ia retained in the office for detail refer-
ence When desired.
The changes in service-billing factors and meters are
ternately heavy to facilitate carrying unpaid items on
current month's bills. This was considered desirable in
view of the absence of a distinct "balance" column.
The company's commercial service schedule "B" pro-
vides for credit adjustment of minimum charge of $12
a year, and with a view of applying this credit monthly
with a minimum of accounting entries the gross debit
and credit amount of bill is posted in the blank column
to the left of current sales amount, extending only the
net in this latter column — thus the ledger gives all de-
tail appearing on customers' bill but accounting is for
net debit only.
The company's method of using the same ledger sheet
for changes in contract relations at the same address
treated a demand that in some definite way the sheet
should show where each customer's account began and
ended, therefore opposite the name of the customer will
be placed the number of the billing line upon which the
predecessor's account terminated and successor's be-
gan. This will facilitate a general analysis of the ac-
count, for in many instances four or five changes have
been made in contract relations at one address.
J \m un 30, 1915
ELECTRICAL WOULD
305
NEW APPARATUS AND APPLIANCES
Lar^e Drum Controller
What is said to be the largest drum controller ever
built is illustrated herewith. It was made by the In-
dustrial Controller Company, Milwaukee, Wis., for use
in an electric steel plant. The controller is 8 ft. 5 in.
Electric Bacteriological Incubator
An electric bacteriological incubator recently devel-
oped is shown herewith and is, according to the manu-
facturers, BUperior to the gas-heated devices now gen-
erally used on account of the uniform temperature reg-
ulation obtained. When once adjusted to the desired
temperature, it is claimed, it will operate for days at
a time without any attention. The incubator is heated
with electric resistance coils in the top of the device.
LARGE DRUM CONTROLLER FOR STEEL MILL
FIG. 1 — BACTERIOLOGICAL INCUBATOR WITH DOORS CLOSED
long and 3 ft. high and weighs approximately 5000 lb.
A special ratchet arrangement was built for operating
the cylinder as it is impossible for one man to turn
the cylinder by means of the usual drum handle. The
fingers of the drum are of cast copper and are pro-
vided with removable tips. Each of the twenty-eight
fingers weighs 16 lb.
Incandescent -Lamp Reflector, Pull Switch and Wall
Receptacle
In Fig. 1 is shown a small lamp reflector designed for
tungsten lamps of small ratings. The reflector is made
of tin or brass as desired. The pull switch illustrated
in Fig. 2 is designed for use with indirect-lighting fix-
tures. It is a single-pole device and has a rating of 3
amp at 12.ri volts and 1 amp at 250 volts. The device is
equipped with an ornamental lock bushing, and caps
varying in diameter from 's in. to % in. are used. The
FIGS. 1, 2, 3 — REFLECTOR,
PULL SWITCH, AND POL-
ARIZED WALL RECEPTACLE
device is finished in polished brass, old brass or brush
brass. In Fig. 3 is shown a polarized wall receptacle
for three-wire work. The base is of porcelain and in-
closes brass terminals. The cap is also of porcelain and
is equipped with a brass cover having a brush-brass
finish. The devices described above are being placed on
the market by Harvey Hubbell, Inc., Bridgeport, Conn.
A wafer thermostat inside the machine expands with
rise in temperature and pushes a piston stem which
raises and lowers a balanced lever arm carrying two
electric contact points. These two contact points dip in
mercury cups which are connected in series with one
side of the circuit. When the temperature inside the in-
cubator reaches the desired point, the contact point is
lifted out of the mercury, thus opening the circuit.
When the temperature falls just a small fraction of a
degree, the contact points are lowered back in the mer-
cury and the circuit is closed, thus bringing the ma-
chine back to the proper temperature. A variation of
less than 0.1 deg. is said to cause the device to oper-
ate and to open or close the circuit. Temperature ad-
justment is obtained by means of a small screw. The
incubator consists of a double-walled box having a
0.5-in. air space between the outer and inner walls.
The box is finished in mahogany and is equipped with
double doors, the inner door having a glass panel so
that the contents of the machine may be readily in-
spected without opening the door. By touching a but-
FIG. 2— BACTERIOLOGICAL INCUBATOR WITH DOORS OPEN
ton a miniature lamp inside the incubator can be turned
on. The maximum input into the machine is 50 watts,
and the average input per hour is about 25 watts. The
inside dimensions of the incubator are 8 in. by 16 in.
by 10 in. The incubator is being made by the Electric
Specialty- Company, 154 Main Street, Salt Lake City,
Utah.
306
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 5
Hand-Wheels and Dials
Inexpensive hand-wheels and dials for its rear-of-
board type of field rheostats have been developed in two
sizes by the Ward Leonard Electric Company, Bronx-
ville, N. Y. The smaller devices are designed for the
HAND-WHEELS AND DIALS FOR USE WITH RHEOSTATS
■company's 6-in. enameled rheostat and the larger de-
vices for the 8-in., 12-in. and 15-in. rheostats. The
hand- wheels and dials are finished in polished black.
Electric Machine for Cleaning and Greasing Bread
Pans
The machine shown in the accompanying illustration
is designed for cleaning and greasing bread pans. The
pans are cleaned by means of a set of stiff brushes, and
then soft brushes are used to grease the pans. It is
claimed that with J jj lb. of lard 2000 pans can be
greased. The apparatus may be equipped with either
a direct-connected or a belt-driven motor. The direct-
a ■ J 3
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MOTOR-DRIVEN HREAD-I'AN-CLEANING MACHINE
connected motors are provided with back gears operat-
ing the brushes at a speed of from 70 r.p.m. to 80 r.p.m.
The motor is mounted OH the frame of the machine be-
low the brushes and is protected from crumbs and
grease by a metal cover. The outfit la mounted on cas-
tors so that it can be moved about easily and connected
to any lamp socket. The floor area required is 3 ft. by
5 ft. The machine may be equipped with either a 0.25-
hp or a 0.5-hp motor. The machine is being made by
Gottschalk & Company, Reedsville, Pa., and is operated
by a motor made by the Robbins & Myers Company,
Springfield, Ohio.
Fire-Alarm Box
A fire-alarm box of the break-glass type, devel-
oped to meet the requirements of recent fire-prevention
laws, is shown in the accompanying illustration. The box
is equipped with a mechanical movement which when
started in operation opens and closes an alarm circuit
the proper number of times to announce by a series of
single strokes on alarm apparatus the number of box
operated. After the glass is broken, it cannot be re-
placed until the box is rewound and set for another
alarm. The mechanism is insulated from the case, and
BREAK-GLASS FIRE-ALARM BOX
contact is of the scraping self-cleaning type. The box
is designed for use with surface conduit installations and
is drilled and tapped for 0.5-in. conduit. The box is fin-
ished in red enamel and the raised letters are finished
in white. The box has recently been developed by Ed-
wards & Company, 140th Street and Exterior Street,
New York.
Motor-Driven Peanut Roaster and Corn Popper
A peanut and popcorn car "de luxe," glittering in
nickel and plate glass, illuminated with electric lamps
at night, has been developed by the Kingery Manufac-
ELECTRIC PEANUT AND POPCORN CART
turing Company, Cincinnati, Ohio. A Westinghouse
motor is used to operate the peanut roaster and the
rotary corn popper, heat being obtained from a gas or
gasoline burner. Energy is obtained through a plug
at the vender's stand.
January 80, 1916
ELECTRICAL WORLD
307
Outdoor Lighting Bracket
A section of a cast-metal weatherproof bracket for
incandescent lamps is shown in the accompanying illus-
tration. The bracket is designed to take a sign-recep-
tacle socket and an outer globe for the lamp. The
CAST-METAL OUTDOOR BRACKET
Herwig Art Shade & Lamp Company, 2141 North
Halsted Street, Chicago, 111., has recently developed this
fixture.
Automobile Generator Equipped with Spur Pulley
The small automobile lighting generator shown in the
accompanying illustration is equipped with a pulley
with spurs which fit into holes in the belt. Three or
four of these holes are always occupied by spurs and
consequently no slippage results. The pulley on the
AUTOMOBILE LIGHTING GENERATOR WITH SPUR PULLEY
generator is really a sprocket and the belt is the equiva-
lent of a leather chain. The "porcupine" drive, as it is
called, has been designed for automobile lighting out-
fits developed by the Carleton Company, 170 Summer
Street, Boston, Mass., for use on Ford cars.
An Inverted Drill
The drill shown in the illustration herewith operates
from the bottom upward instead of downward as is the
usual practice. The machine is designed for drilling
ninety-point carbon billets, 20 in. long and 4 in. or 5 in.
in diameter. In drilling the pieces in an inverted posi-
tion the driving spindle, it is claimed, is rigidly held at
ELECTRIC DRILL OPERATING FROM BOTTOM UPWARD
the bottom of the machine and vibration is reduced to a
minimum. The head of the machine is really a jig for
holding the pieces, and two sets of jaws are provided to
grip the upper and lower parts of the billet and insure
centering. The machine described is being manufac-
tured by the Foote-Burt Company, Cleveland, Ohio, and
is driven by an 8.5-hp Westinghouse direct-current ad-
justable-speed motor, controlled by a Westinghouse drum
controller.
Combined Mirror and Automobile Searchlamp
In the accompanying illustration is shown an auto-
mobile searchlamp equipped with a mirror so that in
daytime the driver can be warned of vehicles approach-
ing from the rear. The switch is in the handle of the
lamp. The lamp is equipped with an adjustable bracket
AUTOMOBILE SEARCHLAMP WITH MIRROR
which automatically locks at any angle desired, and also
with a detachable back reflector by means of which the
bulbs can be removed or replaced without fingering or
soiling the polished surface. The Wood Manufacturing
Company, Fairfield, Conn., is making this device.
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 5
Alternating-Current Motor
In the accompanying illustration is shown a 5-hp,
sixty-cycle, three-phase, 220-volt "Jenney" motor made
by the American Rotary Valve Company, Chicago, 111.,
which is especially adaptable for printing-press drive.
to include a separate attachment plug and 8 ft. of cord
with each desk-and-bracket fan. Drawn metal is em-
ployed in making the frames and is also used for the
motor base.
In the accompanying illustration are shown several
Equally spaced tapped holes are provided in the outer types of ceiling fans. The new 56-in. direct-current fan
■■BW ■■■
5-HP INDUCTION MOTOR
ring of the frame so that the base, shown separate in
the illustration, can be attached to the frame in any
one of twelve different positions without affecting the
relation of the rotating and stationary parts. With a
frame of this type, special brackets for back gears can
be attached to the frame either at the top or sides.
Special supports may also be utilized for attaching the
motor to the machine drive so that special frames are
not required with the machines.
CEILING FANS
is provided with a combination fiber and tool-steel bear-
ing which is immersed in oil. For lubricating the mo-
tors of the 56-in. and 32-in. alternating-current ceiling
fans and the motors of the 56-in. direct-current fans
oil is poured into a hole at the top of the motor and
runs into a reservoir around the bearings. The bear-
ings are therefore immersed in oil. When the motor
is in operation the oil is pumped upward along the
shaft by means of a spiral groove on the shaft and
flows back into the reservoir.
New Form of Screwed Conduit
A new form of screwed conduit has been introduced
in Great Britain by the Perfecta Seamless Tube & Con-
duit Company, Ltd., Birmingham, England. In place
of providing both ends of lengths of conduit with male
threads for the purpose of joining lengths of conduits
by means of nipples, only one end of each length of
conduit is provided with a male thread. The other end
of each length is bulged out and tapped with a tapered
female thread. This permits two lengths of conduit to
be joined without the use of a nipple. When it is
necessary to use an odd length of pipe the short length
is always cut off from the bulged end and the cut end
of the piece to be used is tapped for the usual parallel
male thread. A nipple is then employed to join the
lengths. It is claimed that with the improved ends ab-
solutely watertight joints are made because of the tap-
ered construction of the female thread.
Electric Fans
Various types of oscillating and swivel-and-hinge
desk-and-bracket fans ami ceiling and column fans will
be placed on the market for the coming season by the
\\ e tinghouse Electric & .Manufacturing Company,
Pittsburgh, Pa. A few changes have been in-
augurated, notably in the direct-current ceiling fans.
which have been made larger, the 56-in. and 68-in. types
being substituted for the 64-in. and 57-in. models of
former years. The increasing use of fans in the home,
the manufacturers declare, has also made it advisable
Fixture for High-Candle Power Incandescent Lamp
In the accompanying illustration is shown one of sev-
eral fixtures called "maxolites" which have recently
been developed by the Central Electric Company, Chi-
cago, 111., for large incandescent lamps. The unit illus-
trated is designed for lamps with ratings of 200 cp and
£
OUTDOOR FIXTURE FOR HIGH-EFFICIENCY INCANDESCENT
LAMPS
300 cp. The reflector is a one-piece ventilated, weather-
proof stamped-steel porcelain-enameled device and is
finished blue outside and white inside. It is 18 in. wide
and 10.5 deep.
A SO-called type "K" fitting is used with the fixtures,
and it consists of a malleable-iron reflector seat with
Deck al the top, which is threaded both inside and out
side, the inside thread taking the conduit and the out
side thread a lock nut. The reflector is held bet wee
.i had washer on top and a cork washer beneath.
split porcelain socket is employed, the upper part bein
fastened to the reflector seat. A thin rubber gasket is
placed between the two parts of the socket to make it
waterproof.
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Jam un 30, 1916
E I. ECT R tC A I. Wo R I. D
Push Switch
A rugged push switch, shown herewith, has recently
been placed on the market by the Trumbull Electric-
Manufacturing Company, Plainville, Conn. The device
is made from as few parts as possible, in order to lessen
friction and concentrate the strength where it is must
PUSH SWITCH
needed. The design of the mechanism is shown in the
illustration, and smooth and easy action is claimed for
it. The device has been passed by the Underwriters and
is called the "circle T" push switch.
Textile Motors
On account of the varying conditions of manufacture
in textile mills, motors intended for this class of serv-
FIG. 1 — INDUCTION MOTOR FOR TEXTILE MILLS
ice must be designed to operate under sustained over-
load. Dust-proof bearings, elimination of parts which
might be clogged with flying lint and freedom from
fire hazard are also necessary. In some cases slow ac-
PIG. 2 — OIL SWITCH WITH COVER AND TANK REMOVED
celeration is required to prevent breakages, and with
others very rapid acceleration to secure similar results.
Polyphase squirrel-cage motors recently placed on the
market by the Crocker-Wheeler Company, Ampere, N. J.,
have been developed to cover the above requirements.
The machines are built with ratings of 0.5 hp to 2 hp,
and they are designed to develop high or low torque ac-
cording to the service for which they are employed. In
Fig. 1 is shown one of these motors and also a switch
designed particularly for textile service. The motor is
equipped with large journal boxes and large oil wells,
an essential feature for textile service. A standard box
provided with knockouts is placed on top of the motor
FIG. 3 — MOTOR WITH PARTS DISASSEMBLED
as shown. Large bearings are used throughout. The
rotor is of solid construction, the end rings being
riveted to the laminations. All bearings are of the oil-
ring type. All contact making is done under oil.
Pressed-Steel Service and Cut-Out Boxes
One of the features of the pressed-steel box shown
herewith is the depression provided for the ring-type
handle for the cover, which when not in use can be
placed so that it is flush with the surface of the cover.
The box is electrically welded and the door overlaps the
box on all four sides. Four 5 lG-in. holes in the bottom
1 in. from each corner are provided for fastening the
cabinet in place. Boxes similar to the above are made in
METAL CUT-OUT BOX
a number of different standard sizes by the Electric
Operations Company, Bush Terminal, Brooklyn, N. Y.,
and are provided with %-in. knock-outs for V^-in. con-
duit pipes.
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 5
CURRENT NEWS SECTION
Inauguration of the Engineering Foundation
At the exercises held in the Engineering Societies
Building, New York, Jan. 27, in connection with the
inauguration of the Engineering Foundation, it was an-
nounced that the initial gift had been made by Mr.
Ambrose Swasey, past-president of the American So-
ciety of Mechanical Engineers, who donated $200,000
for "the advancement of the engineering arts and sci-
ences in all their branches to the greatest good of the
engineering profession and for the benefit of mankind."
Addresses were made by Mr. Gano Dunn, president of
the United Engineering Society; by Dr. Henry S.
Pritchett, president of the Foundation for the Advance-
ment of Teaching; by Dr. Robert W. Hunt, past-presi-
dent of the American Institute of Mining Engineers,
and by Dr. Alexander C. Humphreys, past-president of
the American Society of Mechanical Engineers.
In arranging for the administration of his gift, the
interest upon which is to be devoted to the purposes
indicated, Mr. Swasey insisted that his name be not
associated therewith in order that equal credit may be
bestowed upon all donors who will contribute to the
general fund to be used as indicated. The administra-
tion of the fund will be intrusted to the Engineering
Foundation Board, elected by the trustees of the United
Engineering Society and composed of eleven members,
nine from the American Society of Civil Engineers, the
American Institute of Mining Engineers, the American
Society of Mechanical Engineers and the American
Institute of Electrical Engineers, and two members
chosen at large.
The donor of the initial fund is widely known as a
member of the firm of Warner & Swasey, prominent
machine-tool builders and foremost builders of tele-
scopes in the world. Among the instruments they have
designed are the famous Lick, Yerkes and United States
Naval Observatory telescopes, as well as the 72-in. re-
flecting telescopes for the Canadian government, now
under construction. Mr. Swasey is also known for his
practical efforts toward scientific education and the
advancement of his profession. Mr. Swasey is a fellow
of the Royal Astronomical Society and past-president
of the Cleveland Engineering Society. In 1900 he re-
ceived from the French government the decoration of
the Legion of Honor for his achievements in the design
and construction of astronomical instruments. On Jan.
26 a testimonial dinner to Mr. Swasey was given by the
president and board of trustees of the United Engineer-
ing Society. A number of speeches were made by lead-
ing engineers representing the civil, mining, mechan-
ical and electrical branches of the profession, thus help-
ing to cement further the close relationship now existing
and giving promise of hearty co-operation in future on
all matters affecting the profession in general.
Mr. Tripp on Business Conditions
In an address before the New England Street Rail-
way Club in Boston on Jan. 21 Mr. Guy E. Tripp,
chairman of the board of directors of the Westinghouse
Electric & Manufacturing Company, discussed general
business conditions. He said in part:
"A most serious situation confronts us. The country
finds its industries generally in an unparalleled state
of prostration, and it is worth while to speculate a
little over what, if anything, we can do to mitigate
this paralyzing depression. It is quite probable that
we should have had very great business stagnation or
worse even if there had been no war, and the effect of
the war itself has been a surprise.
"The prevailing feeling in England and France, when
the war broke out, was that a terrible situation con-
fronted Europe, but that great benefits would come
to the United States; nevertheless, after six months,
we find the situation just the reverse. So far as I can
learn, the experience of the companies I represent is
typical of present manufacturing conditions in the
countries where we are situated.
"Our company in England is running at full capacity,
while in this country our works are operating between
50 and 60 per cent of normal output. The English
company is not working upon war orders but upon its
usual character of goods. This, of course, is due to the
fact that England has been able to keep the seas clear
for her commerce and that her colonies and other coun-
tries, which had been in the habit of dealing to a con-
siderable extent with Germany, have transferred their
entire business to England. It seems to me that this
will be a permanent condition ; that is to say, if the
Allies should win, England will derive greater perma-
nent commercial benefit from the war than the United
Slates will do. Our works in France are running full
time, but to a very large extent on orders for the French
war department. Our Italian works are running full
time; and, judging from the very infrequent and vague
news we can get through from Austria, our Vienna
company is enjoying usual prosperity.
"Therefore, so far as our own interests are con-
cerned, they are very much more prosperous in Europe
than in the United States. It is true that there have
been some war orders received in this country, but the
effect has been a great deal more than offset by the
great disturbance of foreign exchange and the difficulty
of handling our large indebtedness to Europe.
Jam auv SO, 1916
ELECTRICAL WORLD
311
"The war has also obscured the effect of the recent
anti-trust legislation and tariff reduction, and will ob-
scure the effect of the proposed bill for government
ownership of a merchant marine, should such a bill
pass Congress, which I hope it will not do. We are
asked to believe that these laws remove all barriers and
that it only remains for us to get busy and seize the
markets of the world from England and Germany.
"Anything that helps our export trade is good and
we are all trying to increase foreign commerce, but our
prosperity still rests upon our home markets. There
are 100,000,000 people in the United States, and in com-
parative consuming capacity they weigh a great dial
heavier than their numbers; and the removal of any
measure of encouragement and protection of home in-
dustries on the theory that the injury will be repaired
by any increase in foreign trade that we are likely to
retain permanently in competition with England and
Germany is a colossal mistake.
"The recent reduction in the tariff had, before the
war, shifted the balance of trade against us; that is
to say, the new tariff went into effect Oct. 4, 1913, with
the result that, after many years with the balance of
trade being continuously in our favor, in April, 1914,
it swung the other way and imports began to be greater
than exports. In addition to depriving the government
of revenue, which resulted in the income tax law, this
would have had a very severe effect on our home in-
dustries, and upon the market for labor, even if there
had been no war. It is true that the balance is now
in our favor, owing to exports of raw materials needed
by the countries now at war, but the period between
April 1 and Aug. 1 of last year may have been a demon-
stration of the real effect of tariff reduction. It should
be remembered that the export of raw material as dis-
tinguished from manufactured goods is a distinct dis-
advantage to labor.
Desirability of a Tariff Commission
"It is vital that this great market of ours should be
in a fair degree protected against foreign competition
even if we have to let export trade take care of itself,
and to that end I believe your organization and we
ought to co-operate in encouraging a popular demand
for a tariff commisssion which can intelligently pass
upon this complicated and delicate question. While
this is being done, and it will take some time, say until
1916, home industry needs a stimulant; and, after all,
the most important thing for us to do, and the most
sensible way in which we can co-operate at this time,
is to join hands in bringing about a better business
state of mind.
"When we come to think of it, there have been plenti-
ful crops to feed and clothe the people, the railroads are
ready and anxious to transport them, the mills are
waiting to fabricate them, and labor is waiting to do
the work. Is there not something we can do to help
set these agencies in motion/ It will help if we all
agree that it is time to let up a little on conservatism
and take some chances by beginning some of the work
which is being held back. If there should be a general
movement and everybody should make a cautious start,
taking a little but not too much risk, the result would
be surprising.
"The manufacturer might begin the manufacture of
a reasonable reserve stock of standard goods, and you
can all utilize these dull times to overhaul and repair
your roadbed, plant and machinery and make small
additions against future growth. I hope you will not
think that these ideas are impracticable and mere idle
theorizing; for, if there can be such a thing as co-
operation in the business world which is worthy of
name, this suggestion is the simplest form it can take."
Canada Voices Its Right to Forbid the Exportation
of Electrical Energy
Holding that the interests of Canada are paramount,
and that whenever the Canadians feel that they can use
to advantage the energy now generated for export they
can, and no doubt will, cancel the licenses permitting
its export into the United States, the Privy Council of
the Dominion of Canada has declared that a contract
to export electrical energy from Canada to the United
States may be revoked at any time.
As is well known, the Dominion government grants
licenses yearly to certain electrical corporations of
Canada near the border to export electricity into the
United States. In the report of the committee of the
Privy Council on this custom it is declared:
"The effect of these laws and the procedure is clear,
and it must be abundantly apparent what the object
of this government has been and is. Power or energy-
generated from streams in Canada has been, as it must
be, regarded primarily as a natural resource of the
country to be developed and utilized to the utmost pos-
sible extent for the benefit of the country; and it was
recognized that, while it was consistent with that view
to permit exportation so long as the demand in Canada
for power should not be sufficient to absorb the whole
production, yet it could be permitted only in such man-
ner and on such terms as did not conflict with the ulti-
mate necessity of securing and preserving this natural
resource for the use of the people of Canada, if and
when needed by them."
All of the large generating systems at the Niagara
frontier line export a large part of the energy gen-
erated into New York State, and when the Canadian-
American Power Company applied to the Public Service
Commission, Second District, New York, about a year
ago for the right to issue stock on a contract made with
the Electrical Development Company of Ontario for a
large block of electricity to be used in the United States
there was a sharp difference of opinion between the
commissioners as to whether the companies should be
allowed to capitalize the contract.
In granting the right of the company to capitalize
the contract Commissioner M. S. Decker, who wrote
the majority opinion, said: "As to the nature of the
contract, it must be held that by such a contract the
purchasers of this power acquire a valuable right. . . .
Rights acquired under an assignable contract of this
character are salable for value. . . . There is noth-
ing to indicate that these purchasers are standing in
the light of mere brokers for the Electrical Develop-
ment Company."
Commissioner Decker's discussion at the time on the
yearly licenses from the Dominion government is also
of interest now in view of the decision of the Privy
Council. Mr. Decker wrote:
"The formality of securing a license yearly from
the Dominion government is required by the Dominion
law, but such license has been granted yearly to the
great producing electrical corporations of Canada, and
no reason appears for apprehension that any discrim-
ination will be made against the Electrical Develop-
ment Company or the Toronto Power Company, lessees.
We have nothing before us but the suggestion that the
Dominion of Canada may at some future time forbid
this exportation. This commission must assume that
international relations affecting so important a subject
as the means of continuing great industries which
have grown up in reliance upon the use of this im-
ported power, and as well the interests of the Canad-
ian producing companies, thus have become fixed
and subject only to such changes as will protect the
great commercial and industrial interests and rights
312
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 5
now served by this power brought from Canada. The
time has long since passed when governments proceed
ruthlessly from purely national rashness or anger to
destroy the settled, accepted commercial relations and
formal vested rights of business corporations. . . .
Without going into details it seems sufficient to say
that the prohibition of exportation from Canada of this
present electric power which now comes into this coun-
try would paralyze business and industries of many
kinds, and would deprive numerous localities • of elec-
tricity for light."
wireless control of local electrical circuits. During the
closed sessions of the convention Messrs. Z. Netzham-
mer presented a paper entitled "Where to Put It and
Where to Find It," and Mr. C. B. Kreider, of Chicago,
presented a paper on "Estimating." The election of
officers resulted as follows: President, Mr. L. W. Burch,
Madison; vice-president, Mr. F. L. Natwick, Grand
Rapids ; secretary, Mr. Albert Petermann, Milwaukee ;
treasurer, Mr. George Knoerr, Milwaukee; director for
two years, Mr. Paul F. Harloff, and director for three
years, Mr. W. R. Johnson, Wausau.
Defeat of Muscle Shoals Project
Interest in water-power developments in Washington
recently has centered in the defeat in the House of
Representatives of an item in the rivers and harbors
appropriation bill which provided a preliminary ex-
pense of $150,000 toward the $18,000,000 project to
remove Muscle Shoals in the Tennessee River between
Brown's Island and the Railroad Bridge below Flor-
ence, Ala.
Notwithstanding championship by Mr. Underwood of
the project, which has been approved by the chief of
engineers of the army, a fight on the item, led by Rep-
resentative Lenroot, was successful, the vote to throw
it out of the bill being 77 to 62. In passing the rivers
and harbors appropriation bill at midnight on Jan. 19
the House was told by Mr. Lenroot that the item carry-
ing $150,000 was merely an entering wedge for an
eighteen-million-dollar water-power project under which
the government would advance the capital for the con-
struction of three dams to be leased by a water-power
company.
N. E. L. A. Accounting Committees
The following committees for the proposed new ac-
counting section of the National Electric Light Asso-
ciation have been appointed:
Committee on uniform system of accounts — Messrs.
J. L. Bailey, chairman; R. H. Ballard, J. H. Gulick,
L. M. Wallace, C. L. Campbell, E. J. Allegaert.
Library committee — Messrs. E. J. Allegaert, chair-
man, and C. E. Murray.
Convention committee — Messrs. F. J. Blanchard,
chairman, and R. H. Ballard.
Question-box committee — Messrs. E. C. Scobell,
chairman; R. W. Symes, C. E. Foster and H. R. Kern.
Cost-accounting committee — Messrs. J. H. Gulick,
chairman; C. L. Campbell, E. J. Allegaert and R. W.
Symes.
Annual Meeting of Wisconsin Contractors
The twelfth annual meeting of the Electrical Con-
tractors' Association of Wisconsin was held at Mil-
waukee, Wis., Jan. 18, 19 and 20. The program covered
a wide range of subjects, from bookkeeping systems on
the one hand to wireless telegraphy on the other.
Papers were presented by Messrs. H. P. Andrae, of Mil-
waukee, who defended the position of the electrical
jobber; L). E. Roberts, of Racine, whose subject was
"The Contractor In the Field"; G. W. Hill, representa-
tive of the National Electrical Contractors' Association,
who described its bookkeeping system; G. B. Muldaur,
who told of the work of the Society for Electrical Devel-
opment; L. G. Morgan, of the National X-Ray Reflector
Company; Bar! A. Anderson, of the National Lamp
Works of the General Electric Company, and C. L.
Chaffee, a student of the School of Engineering of Mil-
waukee, who gave a demonstration of long-distance
Investment Bankers on Water-Power Development
The board of governors of the Investment Bankers'
Association of America, at its meeting in New York
on Jan. 22, passed a resolution declaring that "in any
law intended to permit or encourage the development
of water-power on the public lands of the United States
a provision for the taking over of the property of any
company developing such water-power at any value
excluding value as a going concern or at any value other
than the then fair value would tend to discourage such
water-power development because of the confiscation
of a large part of the value on which the integrity and
marketability of securities on any such project must
depend, and in its opinion would inevitably make it
necessary to charge higher rates to the public for
such service in order to cover amortization of the
investment."
The Federal Trade Commission and the Tariff
Much of the interest in the Federal Trade Commis-
sion last week has centered around a speech made in
the House by Representative Whitacre of Ohio in
which he disagreed with President Wilson's Indian-
apolis statement that the commission under the New-
lands act will have the powers, duties and responsibili-
ties of a tariff commission. Mr. Whitacre is a Demo-
crat and voted in favor of the Underwood-Simmons
tariff law.
Mr. Whitacre has introduced a bill, H. R. 20,248, to
add to Section 6 of the Newlands act, authorizing the
Federal Trade Commission specifically to gather infor-
mation for the ways and means committee of the House
and the finance committee of the Senate on tariff
matters. He is likely to have the support of all Repub-
licans, notably Representative Mann, the minority
leader, who has introduced a bill providing for the ap-
pointment of a tariff commission, and will also have
the support of some Democrats, not a few of whom are
dissatisfied with the way the present tariff law has
worked out.
Mr. Whitacre's expressed idea is that there shall be
a "scientific" revision of some schedules of the tariff,
and that the Federal Trade Commission shall be in-
structed to make a "scientific" report.
A new name mentioned in Washington in connection
with possible appointment to the Federal Trade Com-
mission is that of" Mr. Will H. Parry, of Seattle, Wash..
a Progressive in politics. It is now being reported in
Washington that Mr. Joseph E. Davies, Commissioner
of Corporations, will most likely be chairman of the
new commission. The chairmanship is an elective posi-
tion. Southern candidates for membership on the com-
mission were said to be Mr. Thomas S. Felder, former
Attorney-General of Georgia; former Governor M. F.
Ansel of South Carolina; former Governor O'Neil of
Alabama, and Mr. J. E. Richardson, a former judge of
the Supreme Court of Tennessee.
Jam un 80, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
313
Messages of Governors on Public Utilities
In messages to the legislatures now beginning their
sessions governors of states refer to public utility af-
fairs as follows:
Governor Dunne of Illinois
"The beneficent effects of the operation of the utilities
law are already apparent on every hand. Discrimina-
tions in rates and service have been eliminated, and it
may now be said that strict rate uniformity prevails
among all the utilities of the State. The question of
rates has probably been most often brought to the atten-
tion of the commission; for while rates and service are
fundamentally joined in almost every case, the majority
of complaints coming to the commission thus far have
found their expression in terms of rates.
"While the operations of the commission have been
satisfactory throughout the entire State, including
Chicago, and while there seems to be no sentiment at
the present time in favor of local commissions to regu-
late intra-urban utilities down the State outside of
Chicago, there is considerable sentiment in that great
city in favor of a local ancillary commission, to take
charge of and control the intra-urban municipal utilities
of that city, and, I, therefore, favor the creation of
such an ancillary commission for the city of Chicago
to take charge of and control the intra-urban utilities
of that city."
Governor Ferris of Michigan
"We now have a Railroad Commission to which is
given the power to fix rates and regulate the practices of
railroads, telephone and power companies. I would recom-
mend the enlargement of the powers of this commission
to cover all public utility corporations of the State.
Furthermore, as there can be no intelligent fixing of
charges without a knowledge of the real value of the
properties, I would recommend that the commission be
authorized to make physical valuation of all such proper-
ties as it may deem advisable, that the rates fixed
may return reasonable dividends on actual cash invest-
ment."
San Francisco's New Exposition-Civic Auditorium
The Panama-Pacific International Exposition Memo-
rial Auditorium, which has just been completed and
dedicated, gives to San Francisco one of the best
equipped buildings of its kind in the United States. A
four-story structure, covering an area of 404 ft. by 265
ft., it occupies an entire block (Grove, Larkin, Hayes
and Polk Streets) in the city's new Civic Center and is
a feature of the architectural cluster of Civic Center
buildings.
The building with its equipment cost $1,250,000, and
the ground it occupies was provided by the city at a
cost of $701,000. Following the close of the Exposi-
tion, at the end of 1915, the auditorium will be pre-
sented to the city of San Francisco as a permanent
memorial to the Panama-Pacific International Exposi-
tion. It will then become the city's great public forum.
During the Exposition year the building will be the
scene of many of the 300 or more congresses, represent-
ing national and international associations of every
character, that make up one of the most interesting
portions of the Exposition program.
The auditorium compares favorably with Madison
Square Garden in New York City and the Auditorium
in Chicago. The interior forms a complete quadrangle
with balconies on three sides. The seating capacity is
i 11,000. The main auditorium occupies the center sec-
tion of the building, shown by the offset in the photo-
graph, and this is flanked on each side by large banquet
rooms on the ground floor and committee and exhibit
rooms on the second and third floors. The building
also contains a large number of offices and is in every
way well adapted for handling the conventions. Four
electric passenger elevators are provided.
The lighting of the main auditorium is by means of
forty-eight 500-watt tungsten lamps, which are placed
in the octagonal center portion of the roof. This light-
FIG. 1 — CIVIC AUDITORIUM IN SAN FRANCISCO
ing is supplemented by single-unit fixtures above the
balcony. The space underneath the balcony is lighted
with bowl-type fixtures. The lighting throughout the
building is of the exposed type, and no indirect units
are used. Semi-indirect lighting is used in all the small
halls, reception rooms and committee rooms in the
building.
The Lighting Arrangements
The lighting scheme as laid out for the Civic Center
Plaza, toward which the auditorium faces, will provide
sufficient illumination to bring out all the architectural
features of the building, and for that reason all decora-
tive lighting was omitted from the exterior. The light-
ing scheme, which has proved highly successful, is due
to Mr. W. W. Hanscom, consulting engineer of San
Francisco.
The heating and ventilating plant is one of the larg-
est in the United States and is motor-driven through-
out. There are nineteen direct-current motors, aggre-
gating 240 hp. The amount of steam required, with all
of the equipment in use, will be about 1000 boiler-hp.
The main supply fans for the auditorium, of which
there are two, deliver air at the rate of 290,000 cu. ft.
FIG.
-MAIN ASSEMBLY HALL OF AUDITORIUM
a minute. The exhaust fans in the attic remove an equal
amount of air per minute.
The heating and ventilating plant was designed by
Messrs. Hunter & Hudson, local engineers, and in-
stalled, with modifications, by the Division of Works
of the Panama-Pacific International Exposition, Mr.
G. L. Bayley being chief mechanical and electrical en-
gineer.
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 5
The United Electric Light & Power Company
Leases New Showroom
The United Electric Light & Power Company, New
York City, has entered into a term lease for a large
store and basement, with office facilities on the second
floor, in the new building in course of erection at the
northeast corner of 146th Street and Broadway, and
on or about June 1 will remove its up-town branch
office and salesroom from the present location at 143d
Street and Hamilton Place to the new quarters.
All of the electrical development on Manhattan Is-
land north of 135th Street is from the mains of the
United company. The growth in the business and the
company's desire to establish better and more adequate
facilities for the convenience of its customers led
to the opening of the new office. The premises will be
handsomely fitted up and equipped as the "United Elec-
tric Shop," and here the company's policy of merchan-
dising electrical appliances of all kinds will be con-
tinued on a broader scale.
The past year has noted an increase of over 100 per
cent in the sales of energy-consuming devices, the com-
pany believing in carrying on this business under
strictly mercantile conditions in co-operation with elec-
trical contractors and supply dealers within this terri-
tory.
The new "Electric Shop" will carry a full line of
supplies properly displayed. The showroom will be
open to the public in the evenings until 10:30. Ade-
quate facilities for the application of service, payment
of bills, making of complaints, renewal of lamps and
the carrying on of all the ordinary business of a cen-
tral-station supply company will be arranged for at the
new location.
The company has in mind the establishment of an
additional, but somewhat, smaller, branch office at a
later date. This additional office will be established
perhaps 21- miles to 3 miles further north for the
accommodation of the company's customers, particularly
those in the extreme northerly Washington Heights
section, which is so rapidly building up.
Special Tours Arranged for N. E. L. A. Convention
Mr. George W. Elliott, master of transportation of the
National Electric Light Association, has announced four
circular tours to the convention of the association to be
held in San Francisco, June 7 to 11. These trips will
be arranged on the "all-expense plan," similarly to those
arranged for the Seattle convention of the association
in 1912, and the following have been tentatively
planned:
Tour A— Red Special. — Leaving New York (Grand
Central Terminal) about May 24, stopping for passen-
gers at Albany (to receive Boston and New England
passengers), Utica, Syracuse, Rochester, Buffalo and
Cleveland ; thence to Chicago, and from there to Keokuk
to visit the hydroelectric plant of the Mississippi River
Power Company ; from there to Kansas City and then
over the Santa Fe Railroad, stopping to visit the Indian
Museum at Albuquerque, N. M.; next a day's stop at the
Grand Canyon of Arizona; from there to Riverside,
Cal., for a few hours, and thence to San Diego, Cal., for
a halt of two days to visit the Panama-California Ex-
position and to rest at Coronado Beach. The special
will then proceed to Los Angeles and Pasadena. The
latter beautiful spot will be the headquarters for two
days, and the many beautiful points of interest in and
around these two cities will be visited during the stay.
The tour will then be continued up from Pasadena to
Yosemite National Park for a two-day visit. The hy-
droelectric plant known as the Big Creek development
of the Pacific Light & Power Corporation, of Los An-
geles, is situated at Cascada, and for those desiring to
inspect this immense piece of engineering it is necessary
to change at Fresno on this route and journey to El
Prado (18 miles), and from El Prado to Cascada (56
miles) ; time consumed, seven and one-half hours going
up this distance. Those making this trip will either
miss seeing Yosemite Valley or leave Los Angeles ahead
of the special train. After the visit to Yosemite the
special moves up to San Francisco, arriving on the
morning of June 5.
After the stay of one week in San Francisco,
the special will travel over the Shasta Route to Portland
and Seattle. From Seattle the party will go by steamer
to Vancouver, making a short stay at Victoria, and
from Vancouver the party will return over the wonder-
ful scenic route of the Canadian Rockies to Chicago and
back to New York. Time, including stay at San Fran-
cisco, thirty days.
Tour B — Green Special. — Will start from Chicago
May 25 and follow the same route as the "Red Special"
to San Francisco. The two train contingents will be
together at all the important stops and will be like one
party until San Francisco is reached. This train will
leave San Francisco June 13 and will return by a dif-
ferent route from that of Tour A ("Red Special").
This tour will make its first stop at Lake Tahoe, and
will then include the great hydroelectric system of the
Pacific Gas & Electric Company at Lake Spaulding.
The party will be conveyed there by automobile, and
from Lake Spaulding will go over the famous scenic
boulevard to Lake Tahoe. The party will then journey
to Yellowstone National Park, entering at the Y'ellow-
stone gateway June 16 for a four days' trip through this
reservation. After leaving Yellowstone, stops will be
made, returning, at Salt Lake City, Glenwood Springs,
and then through the Royal Gorge to Colorado Springs,
Denver, and back to Chicago. Time, including stay at
San Francisco, thirty days.
Tour C — Blue Special. — This train will make an espe-
cially fast run for the convenience of those who cannot
participate in the earlier tours. It will leave Chicago
June 4 and reach San Francisco on the morning of June
7. Passengers from New York will leave on the evening
of June 3. This will be a going trip only, but those
using this train desiring to join any of the circular
tours returning may do so by specifying the returning
route when arranging for transportation westward, pro-
vided sufficient notice is given in order to insure accom-
modations on the returning tour.
Tour D — Pink Special. — This train will leave New
York (Pennsylvania Terminal) June 2 and will stop to
receive passengers at Newark, Philadelphia, Harrisburg
(for Baltimore and Washington), Pittsburgh, Colum-
bus (Cincinnati connection), Indianapolis, and St.
Louis and Kansas City ; thence to Denver, Colorado
Springs and through the Royal Gorge to Salt Lake
City. The first "stay-over" will be at Lake Tahoe, Cal.,
to visit that beautiful spot and also the hydroelectric
system of the Pacific (las & Electric Company at Lake
Spaulding. The entire party will be conveyed to Lake
Spaulding over the beautiful scenic boulevard by auto-
mobile, returning to the train and reaching San Fran-
cisco early on the morning of June 7. This train will
leave San Francisco on Saturday evening, June 12, and
proceed up over the Shasta Route to Portland, thence
to Spokane, and from there to Yellowstone National
Park, entering at the Gardner gateway for a complete
tour of the park, and returning out through the Gard-
ner entrance, back to the Eastern destinations. Time,
including stay in San Francisco, twenty-three days.
Complete printed itineraries and total cost of tours will
be ready Feb. 15.
.1 \m un 80, 1916
E LECTRIC A I. \\o K LD
ai5
Technical-School Instruction for Detroit Edison
Employees
More than 250 employees of the Edison Electric
Illuminating Company of Detroit are taking advantage
nf the company's offer to let them attend afternoon
sea one day a week at the Cass Technical High
School on the company's time. Special courses have
been arranged which will be of value to employees in
their work for the company. Candidates for this spe-
cial instruction are named by the foremen and heads
of departments, and every effort is made to encourage
the men in their studies. Mr. S. C. Mumford, controller
of the company, is a member of the Detroit school board
and has taken a leading part in arranging the special
curriculum, which includes courses in physics, chem-
istry, general science, accounting, etc. From the ac-
counting department alone sixty employees are attend-
ing the once-a-week afternoon courses. At an electric-
ally cooked dinner held at the Delray station of the
company on Jan. 19 the high-school faculty and officials
of the company conferred together on future plans for
the employees' courses.
Idaho Commission Reverses Itself and Permits
Competition
Reversing the decision of Nov. 7, 1914, the Public
Utilities Commission of Idaho has granted the Idaho
Power & Light Company a certificate of convenience and
necessity in the Twin Falls section in competition with
the Great Shoshone & Twin Falls Power Company. The
first decision, which was construed as being the policy
of the commission at that time, was written by
Mr. D. W. Standrod and concurred in by Mr. John A.
Bromquist, president of the commission. The present
decision is written by Mr. A. P. Ramstedt and is con-
curred in by Mr. John W. Graham, who succeeded Mr.
Standrod. Mr. Ramstedt did not participate in the
first hearing, so that the decision is not a reversal of his
opinion but is rather a change in policy as a result of
the resignation of one member and the retirement of
another. In explaining the decision the commission
says :
"We do not wish to be understood as holding, or in-
tending to hold, that the door of competition shall be
thrown wide open in this State; but, unless it is shown
that the utility desiring to enter a competitive field can
give such service as will be a positive and material ad-
vantage to the public, it will not be allowed to enter a
field already occupied, provided always that the existing
utility is furnishing the public in its territory with ade-
quate service with reasonable rates at the time of the
threatened competition. Each case must be decided on
its own particular merits."
Public sentiment in Idaho has been somewhat ad-
verse to the denial by the commission of the necessity
for competition in certain parts of the State where new
companies have sought to enter the field occupied by
existing properties. This sentiment has been reflected
in the recent decision of the commission setting aside
its former ruling denying the Idaho Power & Light
Company the right to enter the Twin Falls district. It
is indicated in a bill introduced in the Legislature on
Jan. 5, the purpose of which is to repeal Section 48 of
the Public Utilities Commission act, which makes it
necessary for public utilities to secure certificates of
convenience and necessity before entering any competi-
tive field. This bill was introduced by Senator Thomas.
In speaking of it he said:
"I believe that the right to destroy competition in
any field should be eliminated. Competition is abso-
lutely necessary in a great many cases. It men wish to
take a chance and enter any chosen field in competition
with other companies, 1 believe that no restriction
should be put upon them. If, later on, one of the com-
panies should eliminate the other as a competitor, I be-
lieve the commission should then have the right to regu-
late the prices of the winning company and not let ex-
orbitant prices be levied."
Rate Agreement in Detroit
A new rate agreement has been made between the
city of Detroit, Mich., and the Edison Illuminating Com-
pany. A reduction is made to 16,182 customers, includ-
ing stores, small factories, hotels, churches and busi-
ness houses, of 2 cents per kw-hr. in the lighting rate,
or from 12 cents to 10 cents. It is to go into effect
on July 1, when the present contract expires. The total
reduction in the rates charged to the class of customers
affected is estimated at $155,000.
No reduction is granted to residences, but the com-
pany intends to replace all carbon lights with 40-watt
tungsten lamps. A total of 1,400,000 lamps will be sup-
plied. For newly wired residences the company will
furnish twenty tungsten lamps without charge, with the
understanding that they are to be renewed when worn
out. There are 73,626 residence customers in Detroit,
on which basis Mr. Alex Dow, president of the company,
says the offer of free tungsten lamps is equivalent to a
bonus of $5 to each customer.
Aldermen Seek Local Control of Milwaukee
Utilities
By a vote of twenty-five to eleven, the Common
Council of the city of Milwaukee on Jan. 18 approved a
bill to be presented to the State Legislature asking that
the Wisconsin Railroad Commission be relieved of all
jurisdiction over the public utilities in Milwaukee, and
that the control of these utilities be placed within the
jurisdiction of the Council. Debate on the bill revealed
the fact that most of those aldermen who voted against
the measure did not do so because they favored con-
tinuing the city utilities under the jurisdiction of the
present commission but because they believed that a
separate commission should be created to handle Mil-
waukee's utilities exclusivelv.
Plan for Publication of Commission Decisions
The utilities publication committee of New York has
sent to public utility companies in the United States
an announcement in regard to the scope and character
of the plan for publication of "Public Utilities Reports
Annotated." This plan was described in the issue of
Dec. 5, 1914. The reports are to be published by the
Lawyers' Co-operative Publishing Company of Roch-
ester, N. Y., beginning as of Jan. 1, 1915. The enter-
prise is indorsed by the National Electric Light Asso-
ciation, the American Electric Railway Association and
the American Gas Institute.
The committee says that the amount of material
issued by the public service commissions in the country
is so voluminous and a large part of it is necessarily
of so temporary a character as to make publication in
its entirety co.nmercially impracticable. All material
of general interest and permanent value, however, will
be contained in the reports. The committee adds: "In
order that such a set of reports may be a success it is
obvious that the public service companies in the coun-
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 5
try must very largely subscribe therefor. In order to
insure the success of the undertaking assurances have
been given the publishers of substantial support from
the public service corporations."
In order that these assurances may be carried out, a
committee has been formed, of which Mr. E. W. Bur-
dett, counsel of the N. E. L. A., is chairman. The cir-
cular is sent in behalf of the committee, the other mem-
bers of which are as follows: Messrs. Randal Morgan,
United Gas Improvement Company; J. W. Lieb, Jr.,
New York Edison Company ; Anton G. Hodenpyl,
Hodenpyl, Hardy & Company; Owen D. Young, counsel
General Electric Company ; 0. B. Willcox of William P.
Bonbright & Company, New York; Bernard Flexner,
counsel Middle West Utilities Company; Charles F.
Mathewson, counsel Consolidated Gas Company of New
York; L. D. H. Gilmour, counsel Public Service Cor-
poration of New Jersey, and Z. K. Graham, secretary.
Demand Principle in Gas Rate-Making
Mr. G. H. Cook, Kenosha manager of the Wisconsin
Gas & Electric Company, presented a paper before a
joint meeting of the Wisconsin Electrical Association
and Wisconsin Gas Association at Milwaukee on Jan.
20 to 22 on "Commercial Aspects of the Application of
the Demand Principle to Rates for Gas Service." He
showed that in the five-year period ended June 30, 1914,
operating revenues of gas utilities, as reported to the
Railroad Commission of Wisconsin, increased from
$4,009,205 to $5,002,909, or a little less than 25 per
cent. During the same period the combined electric
utilities increased in operating revenues from $4,443,930
to $8,013,844, or a little more than 80 per cent.
Mr. Cook spoke of the importance of a revision in the
principle of rate-making in order to promote the acqui-
sition of business and consequent increase in the popu-
larity of gas service. He laid stress upon the inclusion
of 5 per cent of the output expenses of gas plants in
the computation of demand costs. He also suggested
that the demand on a gas service be obtained over a
period of approximately five minutes by observation of
the meter test dial rather than over a period of fifteen
minutes' observation of the watt-hour-meter test dial
in the electric utility. The decrease in the time of ob-
servation appears to be justifiable because gas service
does not lend itself to momentary and intermittent serv-
ice as does electric service. These points are considered
by Mr. Cook as the vital elements in the preparation of
a demand rate applicable to any location.
consequence their services are requisitioned more and
more for the betterment of efficiency, expedition and
service.
"We know that there are in Idaho many accomplished
engineers. We therefore desire to call your attention
to the preceding facts and to suggest respectfully that
when you fill the present vacancy in the Public Service
Commission of Idaho you consider favorably the ap-
pointment of one of your engineers."
Urge Engineer for Idaho Commission
A committee of Spokane (Wash.) engineers, mem-
bers of the American Institute of Electrical Engineers,
American Society of Civil Engineers, American Society
of Mechanical Engineers and American Institute of
Mining Engineers, has written to Governor Alexander
of Idaho urging the appointment of an engineer as a
member of the Public Service Commission belonging to
that State.
The letter expressed the belief "that there is a well-
founded tendency of late among State executives and
legislative bodies in the appointment of members of
utility and other regulative commissions to recognize
that engineers are well fitted tor such positions. Their
training, education and experience render them more
peculiarly qualified to deal with the large economic, in-
dustrial and development questions incident to state
government than any other body of trained men. As a
Salem (Mass.) Central Station Gets Large
Textile-Mill Contract
The Salem (Mass.) Electric Lighting Company, one
of the Tenney properties, has contracted to supply elec-
trical energy for a term of years to the Naumkeag Steam
Cotton Company, the largest industrial concern in the
city. In the fire of June 25, 1914, the Naumkeag com-
pany plant, including a private steam generating sta-
tion of about 6000-hp rating, was destroyed. Since the
fire the Salem company has been supplying part of the
energy for motor service in the temporary manufac-
turing plant which was erected. The Naumkeag com-
pany is erecting a four-million-dollar mill of the most
modern character, in which individual-motor drive will
be employed on a scale requiring delivery of between
12,000,000 kw-hr. and 13,000,000 kw-hr. per year, based
on 2800 hours' operation, an average load of about 5000
hp and a maximum load of about 7000 hp.
It is probable that there will be about 3000 motors
in the weave shed alone, the usual size being % hp, for
individual driving of looms. The four-frame motor
drive will probably be used on the spinning frames. All
the motors are to be of the three-phase, sixty-cycle in-
duction type, wound for 550 volts and 220 volts. In
general, the motors in the weave shed are to be of the
220-volt type, others being wound for 550 volts. To
meet the requirements of the mills, the Salem company
will enlarge its generating plant from about 5000 kw
to a total rating of 15,000 kw, probably installing two
new turbo units with necessary boilers and switchboard
equipment. This will make the central station the sec-
ond largest taxpayer in the city. The expansion of
plant illustrates the benefits of centralized management,
as the Tenney interests point out the difficulty a single
company under local management and financing would
have encountered in carrying such a proposition through
to a successful issue. The contract has no off-peak or
other special features limiting demand, but calls for the
delivery of the full amount of energy covered by Jan.
1, 1916.
This is probably the first instance in New England,
if not anywhere, in which so large a cotton mill will be
operated exclusively by energy generated in a steam-
driven central station. The Naumkeag company made
an exhaustive investigation of the possibilities of cen-
tral-station service for textile-mill operation before
reaching an agreement, and the management in reach-
ing a decision gave much weight to the following points
of advantage: Independence of power problems requir-
ing executive consideration; flexibility of energy supply
with respect to future conditions of production; release
of large investment in generating plant equipment,
building and land for profitable use in textile produc-
tion; removal of evils of mechanical drive and assurance
of realizing higher efficiency in individual operation of
machines by direct-connected motors; reliability of
central-station service from a plant which passed prac-
tically unscathed through the conflagration, and a motor-
service rate close to the most efficient figures realized
in textile-mill service.
Jani-ary 30, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
317
Miscellaneous News Notes
l ninn Gma \ Electric Company's Employees Will Ailili-
ttv with N. E. L. A.— At a meeting of 100 employees oi the
L'nmn Gas & Electric Company, Cincinnati, Ohio, and the
Union Light, Heat it Power Company of Covington, Ky.,
last week, plans were made to form an organization to
affiliate with the .National Electric Light Association.
President W. W. Freeman told the men that, in order to
encourage them in gaining information, the companies will
pay half their initiation fee in the association.
Evening Classes in Applied Electricity at Lehigh lniver-
sily. — The electrical engineering department of Lehigh Uni-
versity has ortranized a ten weeks' evening class in applied
electricity, meeting twice a week in the Physics Building
on the campus at South Bethlehem, Pa. It is the intention
to follow this general course by others in the specialized
branches of electricity. Mr. S. R. Schealer, associate pro-
fessor of electrical engineering at Lehigh University, is
in charge, and many employees of the Lehigh Valley Light
& Power Company and of the Bethlehem Steel Company's
electrical department are enrolled.
Comers Creek Plant, Detroit, Nearing Completion. — By
March 1 it is expected that the first 20,000-kw steam-tur-
bine unit in the new Conners Creek plant of the Edison
Electric Illuminating Company, Detroit, will be ready for
operation. A second 20,000-kw unit is also being installed
ami will be ready for service shortly after the first. The
station has been laid out in units, and each great turbine
is served by a pair of nominal 2300-hp boilers like those
at the company's Delray plant. The turbine units generate
energy at 4600 volts, but this pressure is stepped up to
23,000 volts for transmission to the substations of the
Edison Illuminating and Peninsular Electric companies.
Tie lines will connect the new plant with the Delray station.
Middle West Utilities Salesmen Discuss Appliance Sales
Methods. — Methods of encouraging the sale and use of elec-
trical appliances in the properties operated by the Middle
West Utilities Company were discussed at a meeting of
commercial representatives of the various local properties
held at the Chicago Beach Hotel, Chicago, Friday, Jan. 22.
Twenty-six attended the all-day session and took part in
the general round-table discussion. Mr. John F. Gilchrist,
vice-president of the Middle West Utilities Company, and
Mr. Mike S. Hart, general manager of the company's com-
mercial department, spoke on the aims of the conference.
The Middle West company's various properties in Maine,
Vermont, New York, Virginia, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky,
Missouri and Oklahoma were represented at the meeting.
Electrical Bills Before Massachusetts Legislature. —
Among the electrical matters being considered at the pres-
ent session of the Massachusetts Legislature are bills to
abolish the Gas and Electric Light Commission and to
transfer its power and duties to the Public Service Com-
mission; to prohibit the sale of electricity by any public
service corporation at less than 5 per cent above the cost
of production and distribution, and requiring that the maxi-
mum price shall not exceed 25 per cent in excess of the cost
of production and distribution; ordaining that the minimum
charge shall be abolished by both gas and electric com-
panies and that municipal lighting plants may be established
by a majority instead of by a two-thirds vote, as provided
in the existing law defining the conditions under which
municipal ownership may be adopted.
What the Society for Electrical Development Has Done.
— The report of the Society for Electrical Development,
just issued, illustrates by means of appropriate engravings
the work the society has done. Among the services which
have been performed in the last eight months have been
the circulation of a number of motion-picture films, stimu-
lating electrical business in general, publication of articles
i on various electrical subjects in trade journals, preparation
of advertising copy for member companies, organization
of local development societies in every city having 100,000
population or .nore, collection and dissemination of correct
information on technical and non-technical electrical sub-
jects, ordinances, etc., and furnishing information on how
to decorate display windows and secure new business. The
last part of the report outlines a proposed campaign of
education and profit.
• liamher of Commerce Meeting. — The preliminary pro-
gram for the third annual meeting of the Chamber of Com-
merce of the United States, to be held in Washington,
D. C, on Feb. 3 to 6, shows that a number of government
officials will participate. Among the speakers and subjects
arc: Secretary of State Bryan on "American Investments
Abroad"; Mr. Samuel McRoberts, vice-president National
City Bank of New York, and others on "The Federal Re-
Act in Relation to Trade Expansion"; Mr. A. W.
Douglas, chairman of standing committee on statistics and
irds, on "The 1914 Census of Manufactures and the
Present Status of Government Export and Import Statis-
tics"; President Woodrow Wilson; Secretary of the Treas-
ury McAdoo and Senator Burton on "Development of the
Merchant Marine of the United States"; Mr. William H.
Douglas, chairman special committee on merchant marine;
Commissioner of Corporations Joseph E. Davies, on "The
Federal Trade Commission"; Mr. Paul T. Cherington, chair-
man special committee on maintenance of resale prices,
Mr. Harry A. Wheeler, of Chicago, and others on "Suc-
cessful Methods of Commercial Organizations"; Dr. E. E.
Pratt, chief of the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Com-
merce, on "Recent Work of the Bureau of Foreign and
Domestic Commerce"; Mr. E. A. Filene on "Trade Expan-
sion and the European War"; Mr. R. G. Rhett, chairman
special committee on trust legislation, on "Should Business
Be Free to Enter Into Combination for the Development of
Foreign Commerce?" Other subjects to be discussed are
"Development of Foreign Commerce" and "How May We
Secure Materials Needed in American Manufacture for
Which We Are Now Dependent on Foreign Countries?"
Secretary of Commerce Redfield and Governor Hamlin of
the Federal Reserve Board are to speak at the banquet
on Feb. 4.
Associations and Societies
Detroit Jovians. — "The Edison System" was the topic of
a talk by Mr. J. W. Bishop, superintendent of substations
of the Edison Electric Illuminating Company of Detroit, at
a luncheon meeting of Detroit Jovians held Jan. 23 at the
Detroit Chamber of Commerce.
Electrical Section of Western Society of Engineers. —
At a joint meeting of the Chicago Section of the American
Institute of Electrical Engineers and the Electrical Section
of the Western Society of Engineers, Jan. 25, the annual
election of the executive committee resulted as follows:
Messrs. H. M. Wheeler, of the Chicago Railways Company;
C. A. Keller, of the Commonwealth Edison Company; F. J.
Postel, consulting engineer; G. T. Seely, Chicago Elevated
Railways, and E. W. Allen, of the General Electric Company.
Annual Meeting of New York Contractors. — The New
York State Electrical Contractors' Association held its
annual meeting in Albany, N. Y., Jan. 19, and elected
officers as follows: President, Mr. L. A. Wood, New York;
secretary, Mr. George Russell, New York; treasurer, Mr.
James Burns, Schenectady; members of the national board
of directors, Messrs. James Strong, New Y'ork, James Hil-
ton, Syracuse, and Rudolph Schmidt, Rochester. Mr. George
Weiderman, Brooklyn, and Prof. Henry Neuberger, of Co-
lumbia University, read papers.
Baltimore Consolidated Section, N. E. L. A. — At the Jan.
20 meeting of the Consolidated Gas, Electric Light & Power
Company's section of the National Electric Light Associa-
tiontion Mr. Washington Devereux, chief of the Board of
Fire Underwriters of Philadelphia, spoke on "Impressions
of Thirty-five Years in the Electrical Industry and a Fore-
cast of Its Future." After the lecture a gold prize was
awarded to the winners of a vocal quartet contest. Enter-
tainment during the meeting included mandolin and guitar
music, motion pictures and singing.
Annual Banquet of Lynn Section, A. I. E. E. — Over 160
members and guests of the Lynn (Mass.) section of the
A. I. E. E. assembled at the American House, Boston, on
Jan. 28 for the fourth annual banquet of the branch, which
now has 540 members. The table decorations, which were
especially effective, were arranged by the arc-lamp engi-
neering department of the Lynn Works, General Electric
318
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 5
Company At the head table were Chairman William H.
Pratt of the section; Mr. Walter C. Fish, toastmaster; Prof.
Albert Bushnell Hart, of Harvard University; President
Paul M. Lincoln of the Institute; Mr. H. A. Hornor, chair-
tnan of the sections committee, A. I. E. E.; Prof. Comfort
A. Adams, of Harvard University, and Prof. Elihu Thom-
son, Lynn, Mass.
Michigan Electrical Association Membership Campaign.- —
A membership campaign is on in earnest to swell the en-
rolment of the Michigan Electrical Association, which is a
State section of the National Electric Light Association.
The help of traveling members of the Jovian Order has
been enlisted to secure new members, and to the man
obtaining the greatest number of such members for the
association there will be awarded a gold watch valued at
$50. The second prize is a silver watch. According to the
secretary, Mr. Herbert Silvester, Edison Electric Illumi-
nating Company, Detroit, Mich., the association expects
this year to hold another convention on board ship, prob
ably making a cruise on Lake Michigan in June.
American Wood Preservers' Association. — At the eleventh
annual convention of the American Wood Preservers' Asso-
ciation held at the Congress Hotel, Chicago, Jan. 19, 20 and
21, a number of papers were presented on the treatment
of ties, paving blocks and structural timber, although prac-
tically no discussion was accorded to poles. Officers for
1915 were elected as follows: President, Mr. J. H. Water-
mann, superintendent of timber preservation, Chicago, Bur-
lington & Quincy Railroad; vice-presidents, Messrs. H. S.
Loud, United States Wood Preserving Company, New York;
Lowry Smith, Northern Pacific Railroad, Brainerd, Minn.,
and F. D. Beal, St. Helen's Crossing Company, Portland,
Ore. Mr. F. J. Angier, Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, Balti-
more, Md., was re-elected secretary-treasurer. The next
convention of the American Wood Preservers' Association is
to be held in Chicago.
Annual Meeting of St. Louis League of Electrical Inter-
ests.— At the annual meeting of the St. Louis League of
Electrical Interests, St. Louis, Mo., Jan. 12, officers were
elected as follows: President, Mr. F. D. Beardsley, sales
manager Union Electric Light & Power Company; vice-
president, Mr. F. Johnson, Wagner Electric Manufacturing
Company; secretary, Mr. F. D. Phillips, Wesco Supply Com-
pany; directors, Messrs. E. C. Bennett, A. C. Einstein and
F. E. Brinner. Addresses were made by Messrs. A. C.
Einstein, S. A. Hobson, C. L. Matthews, R. E. Lee, A.
Guardia and E. C. Bennett. Mr. C. L. Brainard rendered
a vocal solo, and the Bell Telephone orchestra played. A
moving-picture film entitled "Safety First" was exhibited
by the United Railways Company. The organization has
voted to change its name and will in future be known as the
St. Louis Jovian League.
Meeting of Wisconsin Electrical Association. — Papers
which should be of interest to all public utility men and
subjects relating exclusively to electric service were pre-
sented at Milwaukee on Jan. 21 and 22 before the seventh
annual convention of the Wisconsin Electrical Association.
Among the papers which were presented were the follow-
ing: "The Advertising Influence of Public Service Em-
ployees," by Mr. R. O. Jasperson; "Financing Public Utility
Properties," by Mr. Andrew Cooke; "Continuous Meter
Reading," by Mr. F. J. Maxwell; "Rate-Making for Both
,.l Electric Utilities," by Mr. E. N. Strait; "Increased
Taxation in Wisconsin and Its Effect on Public Service
Companies," by Mr. Edwin Gruhl; "Statistics on Work-
men's Compensation Act," by Mr. Carl Muskat ; "Rural
Electric Service," by Mr. W. E. Haseltine; "Latent Water
rs and the Difficulties of Development Under the New
main Law," by Mr. J. S. Allen; "Advance in Street
Lighting," by Mr. S. L. E. Rose; "How to Overcome Some
tin:' Difficulties <>f Small Electric Utilities," by Mr.
J. N. Cadby and Mr. C. B. Hayden; "Practical Suggestions
for increasing the Efficiency of Small Steam-Electric Power
riant .." by Mr. William F. Lathrop, and "Seeming New
Basinet ," hy Mr. C. M. Axford. Officers for the ensuing
olkr* President, Mr. M. C. Ewing,
Wausau; first vice-president, Mr. W. E. Haseltine, Eipon;
president, Mr. B. F. Lyons, Beloit; third rice
•„i. Mr. V E. Pierce, Ban Claire; secretary-treasurer,
Mr George Allison, Milwaukee.
Public Service Commission News
Kansas Commission
United States Senator Joseph L. Bristow will be appointed
a member of the commission when his term in the Senate ex-
pires on March 4.
California Commission
The commission has ordered that the Coast Valleys Gas
& Electric Company charge consumers in Monterey and
Pacific Grove 8 cents per kw-hr. for the first 20 kw-hr.
with a minimum service charge of $1 per month. The serv-
ice charge is to be refunded if the customer receives energy
continuously for twelve months at one location.
Oregon Commission
The commission has ordered the Molalla Electric Com-
pany to amend its schedule so as to provide that domestic
heating appliances and small motors not exceeding 2 kw to-
tal connected load may be used as a part of the consumer's
installation on his regular lighting meter.
Heretofore it has been the practice of the company in
cases where small motors and domestic heating appliances
are used on the premises of residence consumers using en-
ergy for lighting to insist upon the application of a sepa-
rate schedule for energy consumed by such small motors and
appliances. The resulting rate for domestic heating appli-
ances and small motors (not exceeding 2 kw total connected
load) is regarded by the commission as unjust and unreason-
able.
Wisconsin Commission
In order to bring their capitalizations up to the values of
their properties, the Wisconsin commission has authorized
the West Allis Gas Company to issue $95,000 stock and the
Manitowoc Gas Company $65,000 stock.
The Milwaukee Gas Light Company has been authorized
to issue $1,500,000 first mortgage twenty-five-year 4 per cent
gold bonds to replenish the depreciation reserve, against
which expenditures for new construction, extensions and ivn
provements have been charged. The bonds are to be sold
for not less than 80.
The Madison Gas & Electric Company has been author-
ized to issue $650,000 bonds to be sold for not less than 90 to
provide funds for extensions and improvements.
The confirmation by the State Senate of the appointment
of Mr. Carl D. Jackson, of Oshkosh, as member of the com-
mission has been postponed. Mr. Jackson, who is an attor-
ney, was appointed to succeed Mr. John H. Roemer, the res-
ignation of whom was announced recently.
Indiana Commission
Several bills have been introduced in the Legislature which
provide for amendments to the utility law. Governor Ral-
ston seems to be determined that the present law shall be up-
held. Representative Lochry has introduced a bill seeking to
place stock yards under the regulation of the commission.
Certain sections of the appropriation bills apply to the com-
mission, and some members, it appears, will attempt to re-
duce salaries of the commissioners, now paid $6,000 annual-
ly. A bill is proposed which would keep every member of
the commission from taking part in politics. It is declared
that Governor Ralston is backing bis close friend and per-
sonal appointee, Mr. Thomas Duncan, of Princeton, chairman
of the commission, for Governor in 1916. A bill has been
introduced in the Senate to create a board of finance for the
city of Indianapolis which would take over many of the pow-
ers of the City Council. The bill sought to take the control
of rates and service of Indianapolis public utilities from the
State commission, but will, it is declared, be so amended as
in protect tin- authority ot' the state Commission,
Manila Commission
The Board of Public Utility Commissioners of Manila has
rendered a decision dismissing the complaint of Mrs. E.
Moffat against the Manila Electric Railroad & Light Com-
pany. The complainant contended that the consumption
of electric energy as registered by six different meters in-
stalled in different premises should be combined in order
dial a cumulative discount might be received.
In its decision the commission upholds the minimum
monthly charge as " a just compensation for the gratuitous
.1 \m \n\ SO. 1916
ELECTRICAL WORLD
319
installation and use of the meter." It declared that to
uphold the contention of the complainant would "constitute
an unreasonable discrimination or preference" and "would
iae to combinational difficult to avoid, on the part of
the consumers, and to the detriment of the company, for
the purpose of securing from the latter the largest cumu-
lative discount possible in their respective electric-light
bill.-."
New ^ »rU Commissions
The Westchester Lighting Company filed an application
on Jan. 25 for a rehearing of the case in which a decision
Mas rendered recently by the New York Public Service
Commission, Second District. An abstract of the decision
of the commission in this case was published in the Elec-
rnCAi Wobj d on Jan. 2, 1915.
The Second District Commission has issued an order re-
quiring electrical corporations to have rate schedules printed
and filed before Feb. 15. The order requires one title page.
Where more than three rates are required a separate page
must be provided for an index to service classifications. If
it is impossible to get the full description of the territory
covered on the title page, a separate page is to be provided
for that. Another page is to be used for general instruc-
tions relating to the plan of the schedule. One page is
used for rules and regulations of the company. A
page is to be used for definitions, explanations, abbrevia-
tions and reference marks. A page is to be used for each
rate which is known as the service classification. The min-
imum number of pages required in the order as issued would
be five, which would apply to the schedules of the smallest
companies.
The investigation of the commissions by the special
committee of the Legislature was scheduled to start on
Jan. 30 at a hearing to be held by the committee in the
City Hall, New York.
Washington Commission
The fourth annual report of the commission, covering the
year ended Nov. 30, 1914, says in part:
"Electric service in this State, with minor exceptions, is
supplied through a few large companies by means of high-
power lines extending in some instances hundreds of miles
from the source of power to the point of consumption, and
each community served is connected as a part of the whole
system. For the commission to value such systems and equi-
tably and justly apportion such value of the property used
and useful in furnishing service to the different localities is
a. delicate task, requiring the most arduous and painstaking
effort.
"The commission is now bringing to a close one such case,
namely, the valuation of the property of the Pacific Power &
Light Company. This company's holdings extend from Port-
land, Ore., throughout the Yakima Valley, running as far
east as Walla Walla, Dayton and Pomeroy, and supplying
light and power to forty different cities and towns, in addi-
tion to numerous irrigation plants. The segregation of the
value of this property, the division between communities and
the further division as between states, brings before this
commission new principles of rate-making such as few, if
any, commissions in the United States have been confronted
with.
"Similar in the elements and conditions surrounding it is
the property of the Washington Water Power Company of
Spokane. This company, in addition to supplying Spokane
with light and power, also furnishes service to cities and
towns throughout the Inland Empire and to several towns
and industrial plants in Idaho. Several of the towns that
are being supplied with light and power by this company
have filed petitions requesting an adjustment of rates. The
commission has, therefore, filed a complaint for the valua-
tion of the property of the company, and engineering work
will soon be commenced.
"The complaint filed by the city of Spokane against the
Washington Water Power Company for a reduction of rates
was brought to a close through the efforts of the commission,
the latter consenting to the dismissal of the case provided
that a substantial reduction was made in rates to the con-
sumers. The compromise schedule finally agreed upon car-
ries a reduction in residential lighting rates of from 20 to 40
per cent, which, measured in dollars, will run considerably
over $100,000 per year reduction."
Personal
Mr. \. L Martin, manager of the Dallas division of the
Oregon Powet Company, Dallas, Ore., has been elected a
member of the board of governors of the Dallas Com-
mercial Club. ,
Mr. K. 1. Stone, superintendent of light and power for
the Arkansas Valley Railway, Light & Power Company,
has been appointed chairman of the Manufacturers' Bureau
of the Pueblo (Col.) Chamber of Commerce.
Mr. S. J. Dill, for many years connected with the Elmira
i X. Y.) Water, Light & Railroad Company, and vice-presi-
ted Gas & Electric Corporation of New
York, will on Feb. 1 transfer his office to New Orleans, La.,
and will assume charge of the work of the United Gas &
Electric Engineering Corporation in the South.
Mr. J. S. I'evear, vice-president of the New Orleans
(La.) Railway & Light Company, will on Feb. 1 transfer
his headquarters to New York to become president of the
United Gas & Electric Engineering Corporation as suc-
r to Mr. George Bullock, who becomes chairman of the
executive board. Mr. Pevear is already a vice-president of
the engineering corporation. This transfer does not in-
volve any change in the personnel of the United Gas &
Electric Corporation, of which Mr. Bullock is still the presi-
dent.
Mr. Howard C. Blackwell, who has been appointed to
succeed the late H. H. Stannard as commercial engineer
for G. M. Gest, New York, is a graduate of Cornell Uni-
versity. He has followed conduit and cable work from the
time of his graduation in electrical engineering, first in
the underground department of the Brooklyn Rapid Tran-
sit Company, and for eight years in Mr. Gest's organiza-
tion. He has acted in various capacities for Mr. Gest and
has supervised conduit and cable construction in more than
seventy-five of the large cities in the East and in Canada.
He was closely identified with Canadian work for the past
four years, representing Mr. Gest as engineer in charge
of the municipal work at Winnipeg and also for the city
of Montreal, which work is still in process of construction.
Mr. M. C. Ewing, newly elected president of the Wis-
consin Electrical Association, was born in Cleveland, Ohio,
in 1869. He entered the pub-
lic utility business at Wausau
in 1906, aiding in the promo-
tion and construction of the
Wausau Street Railroad
Company. In 1908 the elec-
tric-service and street-rail-
way properties in Wausau
were consolidated, and Mr.
Ewing was made manager of
the combined properties,
which now consist of a 4500-
hp water-power plant, a
steam auxiliary station and
a street-railway system with
about 9 miles of track. In
addition to his work in the
public utility business at
Wausau, Mr. Ewing also
helped to promote and build the street-railway system at
Grand Rapids, Wis., and the small system at Mankato,
Minn.
Dr. Michael I. Pupin, director of the research laboratory
of Columbia University, well known as the inventor of the
Pupin loading coil universally employed in long-distance tel-
ephone service, was born Oct. 4, 1858, in Banat, in the south-
ern part of Hungary, of pure Serb ancestry. Early in 1874,
at the age of fifteen, he came to the United States, where
he engaged in various lines of work and attended the eve-
ning schools in preparation for a college course. Five years
later he entered Columbia University, from which he was
graduated in 1883. He then studied mathematics and physics
in the Universities of Cambridge, England, and Berlin,
Germany, receiving from the latter the degree of doctor of
philosophy in 1889. He returned to Columbia Univer-
sity as an instructor in mathematical physics and
was made professor in 1891. Together with Prof.
F. B. Crocker, he developed the electrical engineer-
M. c. EWING
320
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 5
ing department of Columbia, in which he does a large share
of the work to-day. Among- his first original work was the de-
velopment of electrical resonance during the period from
1890 to 1895 before the introduction of wireless telegraphy.
Patents issued to him on electrical selectivity were sold to
the Marconi Wireless Telegraph Company in 1902. The
Pupin "loading coil" or conductor was developed between
1894 and 1899. Several patents on loading coils issued to
him during the following year and transferred at once to
the American Telephone & Telegraph Company covered the
broad principles of inserting inductance coils into telephone
and telegraph wires and cables, and also methods of con-
structing the coils with iron cores sufficiently efficient for
this kind of work. The machine necessary to put the wind-
ings on the coils was invented by Dr. Pupin and sold to the
American Telephone & Telegraph Company. He devised the
method adopted by the telephone company for testing the
coils. The loading coils have been used for the last four-
teen years all over the world and are considered by tele-
phone and telegraph engineers as the most important devel-
opment for long-distance work. In England, France and
Germany his name is so linked with the discovery that new
words have been introduced to designate the use of the tele-
phone or telegraph conductors constructed in accordance
with his invention, such as "Pupinized conductor," "ligne Pu-
pinee" and "Pupinizirte Linien." For the past two years Dr.
Pupin has been developing a system of wireless telegraphy
based upon a new method of electrical selectivity. The
work, which is progressing extremely well, would have been
completed several years ago had the second Balkan war and
the present European war not occurred. When Servia is at
war Dr. Pupin abandons all scientific work and devotes him-
self entirely to the service of that country, of which he is
now the honorary consul at New York.
Mr. Thomas Fitzgerald Kelly, the leading spirit in new-
business co-operation of the Ohio Electric Light Associa-
tion, was born at Hamilton, Ontario. In 1900 he entered
the employ of the Hamilton Electric Light & Power Com-
pany as office boy and quick-
ly advanced through the
various departments to be
contract agent of the com-
pany. That position he held
from 1907 until January,
1913, when he resigned to be-
come sales manager of the
Dayton (Ohio) Power &
Light Company. While at
Hamilton Mr. Kelly was very
active in civic affairs and in
the work of the Canadian
Electrical Association and
the National Electric Light
Association in Canada. He
was the first chairman of the
Commercial Section of the
Canadian Electrical Associa-
tion and organized a com-
pany section of the National Electric Light Association
among the employees of the Hamilton Electric Light &
Power Company, being appointed its first president. He
was unanimously re-elected for the second term, resigning
upon going to Dayton. Mr. Kelly was also one of the
organizers of the Hamilton Ad Club, being its first secre-
tary. At Dayton he has been very active in the affairs
of the city, the Ohio Electric Light Association, the National
Electric Light Association and the Jovian Order. Mr. Kelly
is an active member of the Dayton Advertising Club and
Greater Dayton Association. In 1913 he was appointed
chairman of the committee on new-business co-operation of
the Ohio Electric Light Association, and because of his
interest in this work he was re-elected chairman last
year. In October, I'M 1. he was appointed by President
If H. Scott of the National Electric Light Association to
be chairman of the Ohio membership committee of the
association. Early last year Mr. Kelly was appointed
man for Dayton of the Jovian Order by Jupiter W. N.
Matthews, and at the annual convention at St. Louis last
October he was appointed statesman for the state of Ohio.
Mr. Kelly is also a member of the Engineers' Club of Day-
ton and of the Dayton City Club.
THOMAS F. KELLY
Corporate and Financial
Republic Railway & Light Notes.— White, Weld & Com-
pany of New York are offering at 98% secured 5 per cent
gold notes of the Republic Railway & Light Company of
New York.
Nevada-California Power Not to Issue Bonds. — At the
request of the Nevada-California Power Company, the Cali-
fornia Railroad Commission has dismissed the application
to execute an open mortgage to secure an issue of first and
refunding 6 per cent fifty-year gold bonds.
Yolo Water & Power Bond Offering. — White & Company,
Inc., of New York, are offering at 90, with 40 per cent
bonus of common stock, the unsold portion of the $2,500,000
Yolo Water & Power Company of Yolo County (Cal.) first
mortgage 5 per cent sinking-fund gold bonds, due on Jan. 1,
1952.
Intermountain Railway, Light & Power Bonds. — Liggett,
Hichborn & Company, of Boston, are offering at par and
interest first mortgage 6 per cent gold bonds of the Inter-
mountain Light & Power Company. The company is con-
trolled and managed by the Associated Engineers' Company
of Denver.
Baltimore Consolidated Supply Orders. — During 1914 the
Consolidated Gas, Electric Light & Power Company of Bal-
timore, Md., received 11,948 orders for electric service in
comparison with 10,745 orders in 1913 and 9207 orders in
1912. The company made its best daily record on Sept. 30,
1914, with 104 orders.
Vermont Company's Exchange Agreement. — The Rutland
(Vt.) Railway, Light & Power Company and the Vermont
Marble Company have entered into an agreement whereby
the two companies will exchange energy when desired. For
this purpose a line is being constructed between the Proctor
power station and the Mendon station.
American Light & Traction Dividends. — The American
Light & Traction Company of New York has declared, in
addition to the regular 2% per cent dividend on the common
stock, a stock dividend of 2% per cent. The company also
declared the regular 1% per cent dividend on the preferred
stock. The dividends are payable on Feb. 1.
Consolidated Gas Debentures. — The stockholders and
others having the right to subscribe have subscribed to ap-
proximately 99 per cent of the $25,000,000 issue of con-
vertible 6 per cent debenture bonds of the Consolidated Gas
Company of New York. There are some stockholders in
the Far West and Europe still to be heard from.
Pacific Gas & Electric Notes Sold. — .Bond & Goodwin and
Wm. A. Read & Company, both of New York, announce that
the $4,000,000 of 5 per cent one-year gold notes of the
Pacific Gas & Electric Company which they purchased re-
cently have been sold. The proceeds will be applied to the
redemption of the remaining $4,000,000 of one-year 5 per
cent notes maturing on March 25, 1915.
Quebec-Jacques Cartier Electric Protective Committee. —
The Quebec-Jacques Cartier Electric Company, having de-
faulted in the interest due on its first refunding mortgage
5 per cent thirty-year gold bonds, Dec. 1, 1914, the following
bondholders' committee has been formed: Messrs. James
B. Taylor, Alfred Wagstaff and William Thorne. Bondhold-
ers are requested to deposit their bonds with the Bankers'
Trust Company of New York.
Southern Utility Bond Issue. — Shapker, Anderson & Com-
pany, of Chicago, are offering $925,000 Southern Utility
Company first mortgage sinking fund 6 per cent gold bonds
due on April 1, 1933. The issue, which is the entire amount
outstanding, is part of an authorized issue of $20,000,000.
The company owns and operates nineteen electric light and
utility companies in Florida and two in Georgia, under the
supervision of the J. G. White Management Corporation.
Consumers' Power Notes Sold. — The balance of the $953,-
000 issue of the 6 per cent bond-secured notes of the Con-
sumers' Power Company of Minnesota having been sold as
soon as they were offered at 99, by William P. Bonbright &
Company of New York, and many applications left unfilled,
the company sold an additional block of $500,000 to the
bankers, which they are offering at the same price. The
proceeds from the sale have been deposited with the trus-
tees to provide for extensions and additions during 1915.
Jam-aky SO, 1916
ELECTRICAL WORLD
321
(ilir- S.rNic- ~ t ..<k Decreased.— The outstanding stock
of the Cities Service Company of New York has been de-
creased by $1,200,000 preferred stock and $1,000,000 com-
mon stock, owing to the redelivery to the treasurer of the
company of stock held to finance the purchase of the stock
of the St. Joseph Railway, Light, Heat & Power Company.
The balance due is now being put into bills payable, ex-
tended over a period of one-half year.
American Gas Offers Slock to Shareholders. — The Ameri-
can Gas Company of Philadelphia has offered to stockhold-
ers of record Jan. 'J.">, 1916, the right to subscribe to new
stock at par to the extent of 20 per cent of their holdings.
The proceeds will be used to pay for improvements and
extensions. Payment for the stock is to be made as follows:
50 per cent on Feb. IT, 1916, and 50 per cent on or before
June 1, 1915. For all payments made on Feb. 17, 1915,
negotiable temporary receipts will be issued paying interest
at 7 per cent up to June 1, 1915, when regular certificates
for stock will be issued. The right to subscribe expires on
Feb. 17, 1915. The entire issue has been underwritten.
Westinghouse Machine Deposits Time Extension. — The
time for the deposit of the Westinghouse Machine Com-
pany stock to be exchanged for Westinghouse Electric &
Manufacturing Company's stock, which expired Jan. 26,
has been extended until Feb. 9. A letter to the machine
company's stockholders stated that 87 per cent of the out-
standing stock of their company had assented to the agree-
ment dated Dec. 26, 1914, providing for the exchange of the
machine company's stock for common stock of the electric
company at the rate of three shares of machine stock to one
share of electric company's stock. A committee of minority
stockholders who have not yet agreed to the exchange of the
stock has been appointed to confer with Mr. H. H. Westing-
house.
Virginia-Western Power Note Offering. — The Chicago
Savings Bank & Trust Company is offering $50,000 Virginia-
Western Power Company two-year 6 per cent notes due on
July 1, 1916. The company serves exclusively in Virginia
the towns of Lexington, Buena Vista, Clifton Forge, Iron
Gate and Covington, and in West Virginia Ronceverte,
Lewisburg and Alderson. The purpose of the note issue is
to provide funds for connecting all of these cities on the
transmission line which will distribute energy from a central
plant at Clifton Forge. The work has been completed from
Clifton Forge to Alderson, and it is the intention of the
company to complete the work from Clifton Forge to Lex-
ington and Buena Vista this spring. The company's earn-
ings are already beginning to increase, although the work
was retarded somewhat by financial conditions last year.
Idaho-Oregon Light & Power Sold. — The property of the
Idaho-Oregon Light & Power Company, Boise, Idaho, was
sold on Jan. 18 for $2,605,000 to the Electric Investment
Company, a Delaware concern organized for the purpose.
The purchasing company is controlled by a group known as
the minority bondholders, which was organized by Mr. A.
W. Priest, Appleton, Wis., who secured later a majority of
the bonds of the Idaho-Oregon company. The sale was
made under the direction of Mr. R. M. McCracken, special
master appointed by Judge Dietrich of the federal court.
The only opposing bidder was Mr. Niel A. Wethers, who is
said to represent owners of the rival company in Boise. It
is stated that the purchasers will improve the property and
complete the Oxbow plant, which is expected to furnish
most of the energy. It is estimated that 30,000 hp will be
required.
United States Public Service Note Offering. — John Nick-
erson, Jr., of New York, is offering $1,200,000 of 6 per
cent collateral-lien gold notes of the United States Public
Service Company of St. Louis, Mo. The notes are dated
April 1, 1913, and due April 1, 1915. The United States
Public Service Company is controlled by the Light & De-
velopment Company of St. Louis, through stock ownership.
The company operates properties in a number of cities in
Missouri, including St. Louis, and also in Kentucky, South
Dakota, Illinois and Ohio. The value of the company's
property, as estimated by H. M. Byllesby & Company, using
depreciating values for the physical property, is $2,509,672.
Since the Byllesby valuation the company estimates that it
has acquired new property to the value of $1,000,000.
The common stock of the United States Public Service
Compa ding amounts to $4,550,000, and the pre-
ferred stuck amounts to $2,025,000. The funded debt, in-
cluding the tirst issue, amounts to approximately $1,900,000.
Duquesne Light Convertible Note Issue. — Blair & Com-
pany and I.adenhurg, Thalmann & Company, both of New
York, are offering at B7M and interest $2,500,000 of Du-
quesne Light Company of Pittsburgh three-year 5 per cent
convertible gold notes, due Feb. 1, 1918. The notes are
ertible at any time until maturity into the 7 per cent
cumulative preferred stock of the company, par for par.
The company is capitalized for $21,092,000 common stock,
the present issue of $2,500,000 5 per cent convertible gold
notes and $2,500,000 6 per cent notes. The proceeds from
the sale of the present issue are to be used to retire $208,-
661 of floating indebtedness as of Dec. 31, 1914, incurred
in construction work and to pay for improvements, exten-
sions and betterments to the company's property. A state-
ment for the year ended Dec. 31, 1914, showed net income
applicable to interest charges of $1,840,655.
Annual Report of Lehigh Valley Transit Company. —
Owing to the State requirement of a form of income state-
ment for the fiscal year ended Nov. 30, 1914, different from
previous years, the usual three-year comparison has been
omitted. Figures are given for only one year. President
H. R. Fehr states that the light and motor-service business
continues to be satisfactory. During the year the company
acquired all the outstanding stock and bonds of the Lehigh
County Electric Company, the Northampton County Elec-
tric Company and the Cementon Electric Light & Power
Company, thus having control of electric service in Catasau-
qua, North Catasauqua, Northampton, Coplay, Egypt and
Cementon. Companies were incorporated in Bethlehem,
P'reemansburg, Hellertown, Lehigh Township and Walnut-
port. The company has also made applications for charters
for companies in the townships of Franconia, Lower Maeun-
gie, Lower Milford and West Rockhill. Outstanding stock
amounts to $7,977,037 and the outstanding funded debt
amounts to $11,448,447. The income statement for the year
ended Nov. 30, 1914, follows:
Transportation revenue $1,524,770
Energy-sales revenue 344,236
Total $1,869,006
Expenses, including taxes 1,150,655
Operating income $718,351
Other income 122,948
Gross income $S41,299
Interest, rent, amortization, etc 633,178
Net income $20S,121
Manufacturing and Industrial
The American Industrial Company, 30 Church Street, New
York, has appointed Mr. N. S. Whitehead president.
Mallory, Mitchell & Faust, advertising agents, is the
name of the concern formerly known as Mallory & Mitchell.
Mr. E. P. Roberts will open an office for consulting-engi-
neering work about Feb. 1. His temporary address is 2053
East Ninety-sixth Street, Cleveland, Ohio.
The Fairmount Electric & Manufacturing Company. Phil-
adelphia, Pa., has changed its address from 2202 Pearl
Street to Fifty-ninth Street and Woodland Avenue.
Mr. Roger Williams, agent for the Simplex Electric Heat-
ing Company in New York, recently moved from 25 West
Forty-second Street, to 120 West Thirty-second Street.
The Adams-Bagnall Electric Company, Cleveland, Ohio,
has appointed Mr. V. M. Marker in charge of its Chicago
office. Mr. Marker was formerly in charge of the Min-
neapolis office of the company. He will still have super-
vision over the Northwestern territory besides that cov-
ered by the Chicago office, his district extending from
Chicago to the Pacific Coast.
The Quaker City Engineering Company, Philadelphia, Pa.,
which was recently formed, is a firm of electrical and
mechanical engineers and contractors. The company is
engaged in the installation of mechanical and electrical
apparatus and general machine work, both mechanical and
electrical. Mr. E. H. Danzeisen is superintendent and
Mr. H. A. Pickel is consulting engineer for the company.
322
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 5
Automobile Company Signs Magneto Contract. — One of
the sensational announcements made at the Chicago Auto-
mobile Show was given out by the Splitdorf Electrical Com-
pany, Jan. 25, stating that the Willys-Overland Company,
of Toledo, Ohio, had contracted to use Splitdorf magnetos
and spark plugs exclusively in its 1915 output. This order,
according to Mr. C. W. Curtis, general manager of the
Splitdorf Company, is one of the largest ever placed for
automobile ignition accessories.
Roebling's Trenton Plant to Be Rebuilt. — According to Mr.
F. J. Newbury, of the John A. Roebling's Sons Company,
Trenton, N. J., that part of the company's plant which was
recently destroyed by fire will be rebuilt as soon as possible.
In a recent letter to the Electrical World Mr. Newbury
stated that the fire wiped out the company's weatherproof
department, telephone-cable department, paper-insulated-
eable department and lead shop. Mr. Newbury also said
that the company has made arrangements to supply its
customers with the materials that they have been buying
from it heretofore.
Consolidation of Electrical Contracting Companies in
Chicago.— The birth of the Hub Electric Company, 1819
Carroll Avenue, Chicago, to which articles of incorporation
were granted Jan. 1, marked the cessation of the business
of the following well-known Chicago contracting firms:
Samuel Benson, 2205 North California Avenue; J. P. Kerns,
3758 West Twenty-second Street; Alex M. Knauber, 1642
West Madison Street; R. C. Bierdemann, 4621 North Clark
Street; F. L. Decker, 2806 Sheffield Avenue, and Franklin
Waidner, 1619 Juanita Street. All buying and distributing
is now done from the one central source. Mr. W. J. Collins
is manager of the new company, and the owners of the
discontinued businesses are all members of the new firm.
Bronze Department for Alloy Company. — The Titanium
Alloy Manufacturing Company, Niagara Falls, N. Y., has
recently organized a bronze department for the production
of various types of brass and bronze castings. This de-
partment will be under the management of Mr. W. M.
Corse, formerly works manager of the Lumen Bearing
Company of Buffalo. The above company has also ap-
pointed Mr. H. R. Corse its sales representative, with head-
quarters at 912 Ford Building, Detroit, Mich. The company
is specializing particularly in aluminum bronzes. Its
titanium-aluminum bronze, it is reported, has a tensile
strength of 70,000 lb. per sq. in., an elongation of 20 per
cent, and a specific gravity of 7.5. Aluminum bronze is
one of the two bronzes with high tensile strength on the
market at the present time, the other alloy being man-
ganese bronze.
Mr. James H. Hughes, secretary of E. B. Latham & Com-
pany, recently resigned his position with that company to
assume the general managership of the Alpha Electric
Company, Inc., 116 West Twenty-ninth Street, New York
City. Mr. Hughes has been identified witn the electrical
business for the past twenty years and has a wide ac-
quaintance in that field. He ber.'an his career twenty years
ago when he entered the employ of J. H. Bonnell & Com-
pany. After being with this company for some time, he
identified himself with the Manhattan Electrical Supply
Company, then at 36 Cortlandt Street, New York City, act-
ing in the capacity of buyer for this company for three
years. In 1899 he accepted an interest in the firm of E. B.
Latham & Company and continued with that company in
ipacity of secretary for fifteen years, when he re-
signed to enter his present business.
The Kennedy-Stroh Corporation, Pittsburgh, Pa., has re-
cently been formed with a capitalization of approximately
.000, and has taken over the Kennedy Manufacturing
gineering Company of New York, the Stroh-Steel
Hardening Process Company, the Lawrence Steel Casting
Company and the Beal .Manufacturing Company of 1'iH-
burgh, Pa. The main plant of the company will be at
Oakmont, Pa., and will include the buildings formerly owned
by the Best Manufacturing Company. The plant of the
■ >i<l Lawrence Steel Casting Company will also be operated
and will be known as the Lawrence department. Mr. \V. II.
Schoen, formerly with the Schoen Pressed Steel Company
(now the Pres cii Steel Car Company), Is president of the
new company. Mr. J. K. Kennedy is vice-president, Mr.
J. L. Kendall treasurer, Mr, .1 D. Ililes. for the past four-
teen years with the Best Manufacturing Company, secre-
tary, and Mr. W. Y. Stroh, of the Stroh Steel Hardening
Process Company, general manager and metallurgist. Sales
will be handled by Mr. C. L. Straub and Mr. H. A. Johann
for the Kennedy manufacturing and engineering depart-
ment, by Mr. John M. Sherrard and Mr. O. L. Mills for
the Stroh steel-hardening-process department, by Mr. W. H.
Green for the Lawrence steel-casting department, and by
Mr. B. Floersheim and Mr. J. W. Prenter for the Best
manufacturing department Extensive additions are being
made to the two above plants, and when the improvements
are completed some 2000 men will be employed.
Automatic Electric Company Celebrates Twenty-third An-
niversary.— At the annual meeting of the employees of the
Automatic Electric Company, Chicago, manufacturer of
automatic telephone equipment, held at the Auditorium
Hotel Jan. 16, Mr. H. D. Critchfield, president of the com-
pany, announced that eighty-five cities have now been
equipped w-ith the company's automatic telephone system,
making a total of 85,000 lines. Five of these cities are in
Australia, one is in India, two are in Canada, and one is
in the Argentine. President Joseph Harris presented gold
watches to fifteen employees as rewards for valuable sug-
gestions made by them during the year which have in-
creased the efficiency of the manufacturing methods of the
company. Thirty-four other employees were rewarded with
gold-handled and silver-handled knives. The Automatic
company has just reached its twenty-third anniversary.
Motion Pictures in New York Subway with Twin-Arc
Lamps. — Twelve twin-arc lamps were used on the evening
of Jan. 25 to take motion pictures in the New York sub-
way. These lamps represent a recent development and
are equipped with especially treated electrodes for pho-
tographic work. The electrodes are arranged in series and
the lower pair is stationary and the upper pair movable.
The upper pair of electrodes are kept in position by means
of a solenoid. Each lamp takes 1500 watts at 100 volts,
and according to Mr. J. W. Allison of Allison & Hadaway,
the makers of the lamp, gives 8000 cp. The pictures were
taken by the Vitagraph Company of America, and they will
be shown in connection with New York City's exhibit at the
Panama-Pacific exposition. Between 5:45 p. m. and 6:15
p. m. pictures were made of the crowds on the north-bound
side of the Grand Central station of the subway. Later in
the evening the twelve lamps were installed on a flat car
and were arranged in two groups, six of each group being
connected in series to the third-rail circuit. The motion-
picture apparatus was also mounted on this car and pictures
were taken of various parts of the subway while the car
was moving. Pictures were also recently made of the
McAdoo tunnel by the Vitagraph Company. According to
Mr. Tefft Johnson, director of the Vitagraph Company in
charge of the taking of the pictures in the subway, it has
only recently been possible since the development of the
twin-arc lamps to take such pictures
Jan. 26 ,
s.-lliiiR Prices
NEW YORK METAL MARKET PRICES
, Jan. 1 9 » ,
Selling
Bid Asked
Copper : £ 8 d £ s d
Mm i. hi, Btandard spot* ,;" ' -"'0
Prime Lai , L3 76 to I 1.00 l 1.26 to 1 I 60
Electrolytic I
Casting I U.87% to 14.00
b :sc to 16.00 to 16.60
10.00 i" i
Sheet /.iii. . i .. b mm. 'iter 9.00
pot
40.00
3.70
98 to 99 I'.i ■•■■lit i - ■
•OLD METALS
- pei nd rtri '
heavy ••«
B. llKht
Lead," heavy •
•/inc. Bcrap
i 76
COPPER EXPORTS
Kx i- .a copper in form ot pigs. Ingots, bare, plates, _
and bci ip km week ending Jan. 16, 1916 r.BSfl rm.
•Prom flallj transactions "" the New York Metal Exchange.
XmIMIII .1
Jamakv 80, 1915
ELECTKH'AI. WORLD
323
New Incorporations
i in' Manning l.i«hi & Ice Company, of Manning, -
ha- been chartered with a capital stock of (16,500 by I. II.
Harvin and S. Oliver O'Bryan.
The Qnattlebanm Light \ la I ompany, of Conway, s. « ..
has been incorporated with a capital stock of $30,00(1 bj
Paul Quattlehaum, .McQueen Quattlebaum and C. P. Qnal
tlebatun.
The .Mutual Klectric (ompany. of Flat Kock, Ind., has
been incorporated by Roy M. Nading, Bruce D. Wright and
J. M. llarrod. The company La capitalized at (2,500 and
proposes to supply electricity in Flat Rock.
I lu- Dallas Electric Company, of Dallas, Wis., has been
organized with a capital stock of §10,000 for the purpose
of supplying electricity for lamps and motors in Dallas.
A. S. Peiton is president of the company and Dr. Thacher
secretary.
The Mutual Electric Company, of Middleport, Ohio, has
been incorporated with a capital stock of $10,000 by O. E.
Harrison and others. The company is capitalized at $10,000
and proposes to install a distributing system in Middle-
port. Electricity to operate the system will be obtained
from the plant in Floodwood.
The New Brighton Electric Company, of New Brighton,
Minn., has been incorporated by Fred Jesner, W. M. James,
I' . M. Searles, James E. Treat and J. W. Jandell. The com-
pany is capitalized at $10,000 and proposes to generate
electricity and distribute same for lamps, heaters and
motors; also to operate a telephone system.
New Industrial Companies
The Western Storage Battery Company, of Lincoln, Neb.,
has been incorporated with a capital stock of $2,000 by F. C.
Miller, E. D. King and J. R. Robb.
The Manitowoc Electric Implement Company, of Mani-
towoc, Wis., has been granted a charter with a capital stock
of $20,000 by George P. Brunner, Joseph Brunner and
Frank Brixius.
The Turbine Engine Manufacturing Company, of Chi-
cago, 111., has been incorporated by W. S. Stewart, S. B.
Hill and J. A. Brown. The company is capitalized at $100,-
000 and proposes to manufacture turbine engines.
The Sylvan Electric Bath, of Brooklyn, N. Y., has been
granted a charter with a capital stock of $100,000. The
incorporators are George Beuckle, John G. Singer, William
G. Herx and others. Kiendl, Smyth & Cross, 215 Montague
Street, Brooklyn, are attorneys.
The Car Lighting Company, of New York, N. Y., has
been chartered with a capital stock of $100,000 for the
purpose of dealing in railroad equipment, electrical work,
fixtures, etc. The incorporators are L. W. Young, W. H.
Black and W. P. Horn, of New York, N. Y.
The Wilson Automatic Call Company, of Cooperstown,
N. Y., has been incorporated with a capital stock of $100,-
000 to manufacture electrical devices and telephone sys-
tems, etc. The incorporators are W. E. L'Hommedieu, J. W.
Wilson and J. M. Lynch, of Cooperstown, N. Y.
The C. H. B. Advertising Company, of Brooklyn, N. Y.,
has been incorporated with a capital stock of $10,000 by
Agnes R. May, E. M. James and M. M. Eisenberg, 457
Hopkinson Avenue, Brooklyn, N. Y. The company proposes
to manufacture and deal in electrical and mechanical de-
vices and novelties.
The Imperial Chandler Company, of New York, N. Y.,
has been incorporated with a capital stock of $5,000 by
Annie Phillips, Nicola De Marco, 332 West Twenty-sixth
Street, New York, and Louis B. Sherman, 673 Snediker
Avenue, Brooklyn, N. Y. The company proposes to deal in
brass gas and electrical fixtures.
The D. G. C. Trap & Valve Company, of New York, N. Y.,
has been chartered with a capital stock of $25,000 by A. A.
Cryer, of New York; J. H. Eastwood, of Belleville, N. J.,
and G. Livingston, of Jobstown, N. J. The company pro-
poses to install plumbing, steam heating, ventilating, elec-
tric apparatus, drying and refrigerating systems.
Trade Publications
< upper Data.— "Copper History as Told in Prices" is the
title of a leaflet compiled by the Rome Wire Company,
Kome, X. V.
Steam Valrea. — Jenkins Brothers, 80 White Street, New
York, have issued a booklet which describes a number of
steam valves.
Reflectors. — A number of reflectors for incand.
lamps arc listed in a folder being sent out by Harvey Hub-
bell, Inc., Bridgeport, Conn.
Scale Knocker. — \V. X. Matthews & Brother, St. Louis,
Mo., have issued a leaflet describing and illustrating a de-
vice for knocking the scale off boiler tubes.
Klectric Iron. — The Pelouze Manufacturing Company, 'S',^
East Ohio Street, Chicago, 111., is sending out a folder which
describes its 500-watt electrically operated iron.
Boring Machine. — The Henderson Electric Company, Am-
pere, N. J., is distributing several leaflets describing its
portable machine for boring holes for wiring purposes.
Circuit -Breakers. — "When a Fuse Blows Replace It with
an I-T-E Circuit-Breaker" is the title of a catalog re-
cently issued by the Cutter Company, Philadelphia, Pa.
Electric Pump. — Bulletin No. 119, distributed by the
Goulds Manufacturing Company, Seneca Falls, N. Y., con-
tains information on a recently developed motor-driven
pump.
Electric Search- Lamp. — The Carlisle & Finch Company,
Cincinnati, Ohio, has issued a folder which lists and illus-
trates several types of search-lamps for yachts and motor
boats.
Porcelain Insulators. — The Pittsburgh High-Voltage In-
sulator Company, Derry, Pa., is sending out its Catalog
No. 3, which contains information on high-potential por-
celain insulators.
Electric-Railway Line Material. — The General Electric
Company, Schenectady, N. Y., has recently issued Bulletin
No. 44,044, which lists a number of devices for electric-
railway direct suspension.
Waterwheels. — Various kinds of waterwheels and a num-
ber of waterwheel installations are described and illus-
trated in Bulletin No. 8 issued by the Peiton Water Wheel
Company, San Francisco, Cal.
Oil-Testing Set. — The General Electric Company, Sche-
nectady, N. Y., has just issued Bulletin No. 49,901, describ-
ing an oil-testing set by means of which the dielectric
strength of oil can be determined.
Sign Equipment. — The Reynolds Electric Company, 422
South Talman Avenue, Chicago, 111., is distributing a
placard designated as Suggestion No. 11, which contains
information on electric-sign equipment.
Fluoroseope. — The Kelley-Koett Manufacturing Com-
pany, Covington, Ky., is sending out two folders, one of
which contains illustrations of its vertical fluoroseope and
the other of accessories for the instrument.
Diesel-Engine Plant. — "A Complete Power Plant" is the
title of Bulletin No. 55 issued by the Mcintosh & Seymour
Corporation, Auburn, N. Y. The bulletin describes the
complete equipment of a Diesel-engine plant.
Horizontal Steam Turbines. — The construction and oper-
ation of horizontal steam turbines and methods of lubri-
cating and caring for oil are described in a folder recently
prepared by the Vacuum Oil Company, Rochester, N. Y.
Adjustable-Arm Lamp Holder. — The American Electric
Company, Chicago, 111., has issued a booklet entitled "The
Remarkable Growth of an Idea," which contains informa-
tion on its adjustable-arm lamp bracket and other devices.
Line Transformers. — The Pittsburgh Transformer Com-
pany, Pittsburgh, Pa., has issued Bulletin No. 1380, which
is entitled "Experiences with Line Transformers," and is
a reprint of a paper read before the A. I. E. E. on May 29,
1914.
Hydraulic Turbine. — The Hydraulic Turbine Corporation
Company, Camden, N. J., has issued an attractively illus-
trated forty-page catalog designated as Catalog D, which
describes various types of hydraulic apparatus that it is
placing on the market.
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 5
Construction News
New England
AUBURN, MAINE. — The Installation at
a municipal eleciric-iighi plant In Auburn
is reported to be under consideration, Tne
use of a vacant school bunding has been
suggested for a Bteam-dnven eiecti
eraimg plant; aiso tne construction 01 a
power station on Taylor Brook on the
Nezinscott River to develop the water-
power to generate electricity. The cost of
equipping the school building with
plant is estimated at $50,000.
BRI1 iGEWATER, CM >NN. — Application
made to the State Legislature for
it for the Bridgewater Pwr. Co. by
.1 it Lancaster and others, ot Lancaster.
Authority is asked to construct a dam 4 <>
ft high, across the Housatonic River in the
towns of Bridgewater and Brookfield. The
company proposes building a hydroelectric
plant and supplying electricity in the towns
,ii Bridgewater and Southbury; also to
transmit and sell energy to the boundarj
lines of any city, town or borough in the
counties of Litchfield. Fairfield and New
Haven The capital stock is placed at
1500,
MERIDEN, CONN.— The Meriden El. Lt.
Co. expects to erect a liiuO-volt, thrce-
80-cycle transmission line to 8 city
reservoir, 4 miles distant, to suppl'y elec-
tricity for pumping station, in the early
spring. The company also contemplates an
extension to its underground conduit system
this year, the work to begin about April 10.
Charles A. Learned is general manager.
NORWICH, CONN. — The City Gas and
Electric Department has begun work on
the erection of a transmission line to the
town of Yantic to supply electricity for
lighting the town. The street-lighting sys-
tem will consist of 27 nitrogen incandes-
cent lamps. S. J. Kehoe is superinten-
dent.
YVALL1NGFORD. CONN.— Within the
next six months the Board of Electric Light
Commissioners expects to erect a single-
phase transmission line to Clintonville. a
distance of about 5 miles ; also to install
about 12 miles of fire-alarm circuits, a new
four-circuit switchboard (Gamewell) and
to rebuild the present system completely.
Steps will also be taken to promote the use
of electrical appliances, including heating
and cooking apparatus, vacuum cleaners.
washing machines, etc. A. L. Pierce is su-
perintendent and electrical engineer.
Middle Atlantic
BALDWINSVTLLE, N. Y. — The Village
Trustees are negotiating with the Seneca
River Pwr. Co. for the installation of a
new street-lighting system. The plans
provide for replacing the arc lamps now in
use with incandescent lamps, the number
of lamps to be doubled.
BINGHAMTON, N. Y — The Board of
Contract has voted to accept the proposal
ot the Blnghamton Lt, Ht. a Pwr. Co. for
street lighting for one year. The board re-
serves the right to continue the agreement
for three years if the city should wish to
BROOKLYN, N. v.- Bids will be re-
.. i B. J. Snj di r, superintendent
i lepartmenl of Educa-
orner of Park Avenue and Fifty-
ninth street. New fork, until Feb l. for
. ■ rlc equipment in m
Mile and
South Third Street. Brooklyn Blank forms,
pia ns b nd Bpeciflcat Ion* maj be obi lined 8 I
the above office, ami al o at bra IJl
i ;; i i a\ Ingston Street, Brookl] n
LA BALLE, N, V The village Board
Iged W .1 Miles. . led! ,.
LlO, to prepare pi.
plans for a municipal electric-lighting plant
In La Salle.
NEW YORK, N. J Bids "ill bi r«
ipei intendenl
of scl i n( oi Education, i 'a i k
< i ii Street, New ^ ork,
until Feb i. tot
- at Public S< hi
and 58, borough of tl
stalling electric equipment In new Public
■ i . Central Avenue, betwei
and Foadlck Avenues. Qlendale, boi
inis. plans and
■ i ions may be obta Inert at I
o at brs m h offli e 89 Bi
.
NEW YORK, N V Bids will be n-
i of trusties ol
of New-
York City, 416 Bast Twents sixth street.
New York, until Feb. 5, for furnishing
id materials neccsnrj for the e\
cavatlon, masonry, carpentry, rti
iron work, metal work and rooting, paint-
ing ana glazing, hardware, electric work,
refrigerating and drinking water, and all
other work for the alterations to the pres-
ent main building Of the Harlem Hospital.
136th and 137th Streets and Lenox Avenue,
borough of Manhattan. Bids will also be
for plumbing and gastitting for
additions and alterations to the present
main building of the above hospital. Blank
forms and further information may be Ob-
tained at the office of the contract clerk,
ton East Twentj -ninth Street, borough of
Manhattan.
ALLENTOWN, PA. — The electrical con-
tract for the nurses' home anil for the ad-
ministration building of the State Homeo-
pathic Hospital for the Insane at Kitters-
ville. near this city, has been awarded to
l;. W. Keck & Co., of Allentown.
DUNLO, PA. — Plans are being prepared
by local business men for the installation
Of a new lighting system to replace the
service now furnished by the Dunlo Lt.. Ht.
.V: Pwr. Co. Options have been taken on a
site and a charter will soon be applied for.
lt is proposed to supply electrical service
to nearby towns as well as in Dunlo.
HARRISBURG, PA. — The electrical de-
partment of the Harrisburg Pipe & Pipe
Bending Works was damaged by fire on
Jan 22. causing a loss of about $15,000.
Reconstruction work, it is reported, will be
started in the near future.
MOUNT WOLF, PA. — The Borough
Council is considering the question of sub-
mitting the proposal to issue $5,000 in
bonds for the installation of an electric-
lighting plant.
PHILADELPHIA. PA. — The contract for
the construction of power house at the
Home for the Indigent at Holmesburg has
been awarded to W. W. Anstine & Co., of
Philadelphia, at $56,537, and for the me-
chanical system to Charles E. Monday, for
$72,400.
PHILADELPHIA, FA. — Plans have been
prepared, it is reported, by W. F. S. Dyer,
architect and engineer, Land Title Build-
ing, Philadelphia, for the construction of a
power station and boiler house, at Hancock
and Berks Streets, for the Philadelphia I've
Works. The equipment will include gen-
erators, boilers, smokestacks, motors, etc.
WILKES-BARRE, PA. — The board of di-
rectors of the Wilkes-Barre Private Ward
Hospital has awarded the electrical con-
tract for the proposed new hospital build-
ing to Shepard & Rust, electrical engineers
and contractors, of Wilkes-Barre. The
plans provide for an indirect lighting sys-
tem throughout the building, power instal-
lation for motors, heating apparatus, vac-
uum cleaning system, ventilating system,
nurses' signaling system, passenger and
freight elevators ami for electrotherapeutie
work and X-ray apparatus.
ALLENHURST, N .1. — Plans are being
prepared, ii is reported, by Joseph B Rider,
29 Broadway, New York. N Y., for the
construction of an electric-light plant in
Allenhurst.
BUTLER, N. J. — Bids will be received by
the lighting committee of tic borough of
Butler, addressed to I >. D Smith's in a n.
borough clerk, Municipal Building, Butler,
until Feb IB for furnishing material and
Inboi for the construction of the municipal
electric-lighting plant In accordance with
titans ami specifications prepared bj Run-
van & Carey, consulting engineers, B46
Broad Street. Newark Proposals may be
sub nntied for anj one of two divisions or
for the entire Installation as follows: (1)
For power station building, including ex-
CRVatiOn, septic tank. building and ma
riilnerj found o Ions (2) oil Ines, gen
orators, switchboards, constant current
liners and wiring between genera-
tors, exciters and switchboard to Inside
tion With lightning arresters: (HI
electrical work. Including station-lighting
outside distributing system, includ-
ing lightning arresters, pubs, wii
etc
PERTH wtl'.ii',. N .1 \u ordinance
lb thi i I ol
authnrlzlt 000 In bonds
for the const rucl Ion of a munlclna I
oi imber election
In favor of municipal
owner-hill of the electric -lighting, system
RED BANK N J The Boroui
Cll has I i EC1 Co
■ . i t fot ■ in ii ' i period
i,t rue years The new contract provides
for replacing the arches no^ In
10(1 CP "id i: tp indosoent
I 60 1 ip lamps will
MIDDLETOWN. DEL Within I
six months the Water and Light Ciuiimis-
ainl 50-hp engine D W Stevens Is clerk.
FREDERICKSTOWN, MD. — The local
electric-light plant is reported to have been
purchased by W. R. and Perry Patterson.
The new owners, it is understood, will build
LCtory and bottling plant in connec-
tion with the electric plant.
MOUNT AIRY, MD. — Plans are being
considered by Robert L. Runkles and C. C.
Riddlemoser for the installation of an elec-
tric plant in connection With their ice plant.
They propose to supply electricity for lamps
in Mount Airy and Ridgeville.
HAMPTON. VA. — The City Council is
considering the question of extending the
electric-lighting system.
KENBRIDGE, VA. — The franchise for an
electric-light plant, recently sold by the city,
has been purchased by W. H. Erlckson, of
West Virginia. Machinery for the proposed
plant, it is understood, has already been
purchased. An ice factory will also be
operated in connection with the proposed
electric plant.
WASHINGTON, D. C. — The House com-
mittee on accounts has voted to recommend
,i appropriation of $30,000 to install an
electrical voting device in the House of
Representatives. The device was invented
by Representative Walsh of New Jersey.
WASHINGTON, D. C. — Bids will be re-
ceived at the office of the supervising
tcct. Treasury Department, Washington,
D. C, until Feb. 12 for supplying to the
various public buildings under the control
of the Treasury Department portable
vacuum cleaners during the fiscal year end-
ing June 30, 1915. For details see pro-
posal columns.
WASHINGTON, D. C. — Bids will be re-
ceived at the office of the supervising archi-
tect. Treasury Department, Washington,
D. C, until Feb. 15 for furnishing and in-
stalling lighting fixtures in the United
States post office at Bangor, Maine; United
States post office at Berkeley, Cal. : United
States post office and court house at Chick-
asha. Okla. : United States post office and
court house at Clarksdale, Miss. : United
States post office and court house at
Minot. N. D. United States post office at
New Bedford. Mass. . United States post
office at Piqua. Ohio, and United States
post office at Winston-Salem. N. C. For
details see proposal columns.
WASHINGTON, D. C. — In view of the
disorganization or cutting off of sources of
supply of electrical machinery and ap-
pliances imported into South Africa, a
series of tables has been prepared for the
benefit of American manufacturers giving
all available details concerning the various
electric lighting and power plants. 5 1 in
number, in operation in South Africa at
the end Of 191S. A few additional plants
were installed during 1914, particulars with
regard to which will lie forwarded when ob-
tained. Copies of the lists may be ob-
tained from the Bureau of Foreign and
Domestic Commerce. Department of Com-
merce. Washington, D. C, or its branches
WASHINGTON. D. ('—Foreign trade
opportunities are announced by the Bureau
of Foreign and Domestic Commerce in the
Commerce Reports as follows: No. 15,312—
An American consul in Europe has trans-
mitted a detailed report relative to posst-
bilities tor the sale of American electrical
supplies, excavating, hydraulic and mining
materials in his district. No. 1 :.."
American consular officer in Latin America
reports the name of an engineer in his dis-
trict who has recently been put in charge
Of all government construction work. The
engineer desires to receive catalogs, price
lists, etc.. in English, on roi
rock crushers, sump cars, instruments for
surveyors, etc . electrical meters, etc. No
\n American consular officer in a
foreign country reports that the managing
director of an - pa ny in bis dls
trlct has requested that be be pi
communication with American manufac-
turers ol' carbon black. It is stated that
the eiiinpain is now in the market for from
80 tons tn an tons of carbon, and that if
satisfactory arrangeme iU can be made it
will require from 820 tons tO
annum Cort'espnndec,-, should be in Rus-
sian. French or German No. 15.374 — An
American consular Officer in Canada re-
ports that a firm in bis district wishes to
purchase
liable of Sustaining 150 lb. pressure and
supplying i'i ni. ft. of free air per minute
,856 \ business man in Russia in-
forms an American consul that ho is inter-
ested ill electric lamD8, oil Stoves. keys.
etc. He desires the names and .
of American firms which are in a position
to offer him an agency in these lines Cor
respondem em gllsh, French or
Furl her Infoi mat Ion may he ob-
i nued on application to the Bureau of For-
eign and 1 »ou It n artment
of Commerce, Washington, D C, or to its
following branches: United Stairs Custom
BJOUSe, New York. N Y : 762 Oliver Build-
ing, Boston. Mass : Federal Building. Chi-
January :so, 1916
ELECTRICAL WOULD
325
Third National Bank Building,
hiding, Atlanta.
Qa Hi. .m.i Hank Building, New Or-
La . United States Cuaton
San Francisco, CaL, and Alaska Building,
Wash.
North Central
DETROIT, MICH Plana for the new
municipal courts building, t.. cost jGOO.ooo,
Mji.imti,.! bj Smith, HTnchman .v Grylla,
i: approved b) the Council commit-
tee on buildings. It la announced that
work will beg I ruction of the
building will.
ESSEXVILLE, MICH The Installation
of a nt >w street-lighting system In Essex-
villo is under consideration.
JACKSON, Mien The city of Jackson
deling the advisability of relaying
several blocks of pavement on Main Street
m the downtown section, and If n is done
• will probably Install underground
eon. huts for the ornamental light
ten As yet nothing deflniti
elded upon. C. E Cnapell is dry manager.
LANSING, MICH.— The report of Prof.
K. W. H I niversity,
chairman of the prison commission, tiled
with Governor George H Hodges, recom-
mends the installation of a new power plant
l about $50,000) at the state Peni-
tentiary in Lansing.
SAGINAW, MICH.— The City Council
has called a special election to be held Feb.
17 to vote on the proposal to issue $500,000
in bonds for the installation of a municipal
electric-lighting plant.
ATHENS. OHIO.— The Davis Paving
... is reported to be planning the
construction of a large plant west of the
city. The works will cover 11'- acres and
will provide for factory, kilns, drier, etc.
Arrangements, it is said, will t.e made with
dng Pwr. Co. of Nelsonville to
supply energy to operate the proposed
plant.
BOWLING GREEN, OHIO.— Bids will be
received bj D C. Brown, of Napoleon, sec-
retary of hoard of trustees of Bowling
Green State Normal College, Bowling
Green, until Feb. 12, for construction of a
on, stack, tunnel, tun-
nel system, water supply and softening
plant, eleetrieal work, gas fittings, steam
mains, pumps. ing to plans and
Specifications on file at the office of the sec-
t>f the board. Napoleon; also at the
office of Victor Donahey, state auditor.
Columbus, and Howard & Merriam, archi-
tects, ! East Broad Street, Columbus.
CANTON, OHIO.— Extensive improve-
nd extension of lines, involving an
expenditure of (250,000, are contemplated
by the Canton Gas ft El. Co. during the
coming year. The work will include the
installation of several new boilers, new
machinery for central heating plant nnd
'handling machinery, and possibly
an additional generator. W. C. Anderson
Is maii:
CINCINNATI, OHIO.— The contract for
Ing the temporary power house of
pttal on Burnett Avenue has been
awarded to J. B. Sehmitt at $5,305.
CLEVELAND, OHIO.— The appropria-
tion for the division of light for the city
of Cleveland for 1915 amounted to $691,-
I"". ..i which $141,400 is for new equip-
in, til in. lulling meters and settings, $18,-
000: poles, line, transformers, $74,000; arc
i". : service connections. $16.-
i underground construction, $5,000.
CLEVELAND, OHIO.- Bids will be re-
eeived at the office of the commissioner of
purchases and supplies. Room 511, City
Hall. Cleveland, until Feb. 4, for furnish-
ing two 3-ton motor trucks for the division
of street repairs. Specifications, plans and
blanks may be obtained at the of-
p rll i. i ..f street repairs.
311 S rlor Avenue. X. E., City Hall.
CLEVELAND, OHIO.— Bids will be re-
t the office of the commissioner of
purchases a ml supplies. Room 511, City
Ball, Cleveland, until Feb. 5, for storage
batter] sel to operate electric switches and
signals lor substation, for the Municipal
Light Department, in accordance
■with specifications which may be obtained
■ H in. ..Mice of the commissioner of light
bad heal division, I 143 East Third Street
COLUMBUS, OHIO.— rians are being
considered by the commissioners of Frank-
i ii - ounty for the Installation of an electric
plant to supply electricity to light the court
house, county morgue, Memorial Hall and
the infirmary buildings.
BTNDLAT, OHIO.— The Modern Lt. &
Pwr. Co., recently incorporated with a capi-
tal stock of $10,(100, it is reported, is
planning to build an electric-light plant to
supply the local demand. R. C. Bishop.
n.| i: it Na
Gt IMER, OHIO
-
the installation ol a munli
plant to the voters.
HAMDEN, i 'Hh ■ i
installation of a municipal
plant in llamden, it Is n poi ted,
LISBON, "HI' ' Thl ■-• ■
applied to the Publ ■
mission for permlssloi
bonds, the proceeds to be usi
outstanding bonds and foi
plant, to cost about .;
MTDDLEPORT, "III" The Mutual El
■ .1 with
a capital stock of $10,000, Is planning to
install an electric distributing
the Bys-
tem, it is understood, will be obtained from
the Floodwood plan!. " K. Harrison and
others are inter.
MILLERSBURG, OHIl I. --The Public
Utilities Commission lias granted tl
sens' Lt. ft Pwr. Co., of Millersburg, permis-
sion to issue $ir..iiiiii in capital stock, the
pi... is to be used to purchase the p
and holdings of the Millersburg El. Lt, Co
The company was also authorized to Issue
$10,000 in bonds, the proceeds to be used
for extensions and improvements to the
plant and system.
NEW BREMEN, OHIO.— The Village
Council has granted the Western Ohio Trac.
Co. a franchise to extend its high-tension
transmission lines along several streets in
this town. Arrangements have been made
by the company with the village >.f Port
Laramie to furnish electricity for lighting
In order to furnish the service
the company will erect a transmission line
from its power house at St. Mary's The
headquarters of the company are in the
New England Building, Cleveland.
OAKWOOD, OHIO. — Work has begun on
the installation of an electric-light plant in
Oakwood. The street-lighting system will
consist of 20 100-watt incandesdent lamps.
A. D. Friend is reported interested in the
project.
SHAKER HEIGHTS. OHIO (not a post
office). — The Village Council has awarded
a contract to the Cleveland El. Illg. Co..
of Cleveland, for lighting the streets of the
village for a period of ten vears. The con-
tract calls for 300 lamps at $49. SO each per
year.
SOLON. OHIO.— The Washington Gas &
El. Co.. of Washington C. H., it is reported,
has submitted a proposal to the Village
Council to supply electricity in Solon. G. N.
Clapp is manager of the company.
TWTNSBURG, OHIO. — The Northern
Ohio Lt. & Trac. Co., of Akron, is reported
to be contemplating extending its transmis-
sion lines to Twinsburg to supply electrical
service there.
WINDHAM. OHIO. — The Windham El.
Co., recently incorporated with a capital
stock of $10,000, contemplates the con-
struction of a small electric-lighting plant
in Windham. F. H. Walden. F. A. Eber-
wine and others are interested in the pro-
ject.
DANVILLE. KY.— The Citv Council has
contracted with the Danville El. Lt. Co. for
the erection of lamp standards on portions
of Main, Maple and Walnut Streets. The
Council, it is understood, contemplates re-
placlng the arc lamps now in use in the
residential district with the same style
lamp standards.
LIVERMORE, KY— The Smith Cooper-
age Co., of Livermore, has sold its electric
plant to w. s. Trunnell and A. M. Hackett,
who have organized a new company under
the name of the Public Service Co. Within
the next three months the Pub. Ser. Co. ex-
pects to purchase one cold-water pump,
having a capacity of 500 gal. per minute.
The company has recently placed an order
with the General Electric Co. for 40 5-amn.
and four 10-amp meters. Arrangements
are being made by the company to furnish a
day service in three months.
SOMERSET, KY -The Kentucky Utili-
ties Co., of Somerset, Is planning to extend
its transmission lines to Burnside, a dis-
tance of 7 miles.
CHICAGO, ILL Bids will be received
by the clerk of the Sanitary District of
Chicago, 70(1-0 1 0 South Michigan Avenue.
Chicago, until Feb. 4, for pole erection and
line construction in the streets of that city.
For details see proposal columns. Thomas
A. Smyth is president of hoard of trustees.
COLLTNSVTLLE. ILL.— The power plant
of the Southern Illinois Lt ft Pwr. Co. in
Collinsville is being remodeled to provide
space for the high-tension equipment for
the new 33.000-vnlt transmission line to be
erected to Carbon and O'Fallon. A new
400-hp boiler wdll also be installed in this
plant.
Tl'R, ILL. — The Board of Local
templating the instal-
lation of aii ornamental street-ligl
tem lo COSt about J7.""". Ti..
\ in of 150 orna-
t.uidards mounted with a 100-watt
lamp, maintained by underground wires.
. ■ I when contracts will be let
Segal la city clerk.
ELGIN, ILL. — At B -ion the
proposal to install a municipal
lighting plant was carried. Complete plans
Hcations for it hav< '
and have been approved by the City Coun-
Injunction was died against the
city in the Circuit Court and appealed to
the Illinois Sup The city is
now awaiting a decision.
HILLSBORO, ILL. — The Southern 1111-
,v l'wr. Co. is rebuilding its 16,-
transmisslon line to the towns of
Irving. Witt, Butler. Ki. 1. I!
Moi risville, and is changing the main line
the Hlllsboro and Morrisville gen-
erating stations from single-phase to three-
phase
HOOPESTON, ILL.— The city of Hoopes-
lon, we are informed, does not contemplate
the installation of a municipal electric-
lighting system at present, as reported in
ie of Jan. 16.
NEW HOLLAND. ILL. — A company has
been organized by local business men, under
Hit: nam.- of the New Holland Lt. i: Pwr.
Co., to supply electricity in New Holland.
The company is capitalized at $6. I
to purchase energy to operate its
system from the McKinley interests. Work
has not yet been started on the plant
MADISON, WIS. — The Wisconsin Rail-
road Commission has authorized the Madi-
son Gas & El. Co. to issue $650,000 in
l.on.ls. to be sold at not less than 90, to
provide funds for extensions and improve-
ments,
AUBURN, LA — The City Council is con-
sidering the installation of a municipal elec-
tric-lighting system in Auburn.
BRIGHTON, IA. — Preliminary arrange-
ments, it is reported, are under way tor the
installation of a municipal electric-lighting
system in Brighton. Electricity to operate
the system will probably be obtained from
the electric plant m Washington.
FAY'ETTE, IA. — The municipal electric-
lighting plant has been purchased by C.
Miller & Sons, of Clermont. Electricity for
operating the local system will be supplied
from the hydroelectric power plant at Cler-
mont. When connections are completed a
24-hour service will be furnished in Fayette.
FORT DODGE, IA. — The Central Iowa
Lt ft l'wr. Co., of Fort Dodge, is reported
to be contemplating extensions and im-
provements to its power plant in Fraser,
at a cost of about $100,000.
GRAND JUNCTION, IA.— The Iowa Ry.
& Lt. Co., of Cedar Rapids, which recently
purchased the local electric-light plant,
owned by the G. W. Nicholson Co., expects
to erect a high-tension transmission line
from Perry to Grand Junction. Electricity
to operate the system will be supplied from
the plant at Boone.
IMOGENE, IA — Plans are being consid-
ered by the City Council for the installa-
tion of a municipal electric-lighting plant.
Electricity to operate the system will prob-
ably be secured from the Shenandoah plant.
KALONA, IA. — Steps have been taken, it
is reported, to organize a company in Ka-
lona to establish an electric-lighting plant.
The company will be capitalized at $10,000
and will ask for a franchise here.
LAKE CITY. IA. — Preliminary plans, it
is reported, are being prepared for the in-
stallation "f a municipal electric-lighting
system in Lake City.
MASON CITY, IA -The extension of the
lighting system on Powder Street and on
other streets, to be owned by the munici-
pality, is reported to be under considera-
tion.
RICHLAND, IA The installation of a
municipal electric-lighting plant in Rich-
land is reported to be under consideration.
SCHLESWIG, IA. — The city of Schleswig
has appropriated $16,000 for the installa-
tion of a municipal electric-lighting plant.
KNOBNOSTER, MO.— Preparations are
being prepared by the Standard Engineer-
ing Co., Republic Building, Kansas City,
Mo., for the construction of an electric-
light plant in Knolinoster. to cost about
$15,000. Bids will be asked for equipment
about Feb. 15.
NEW HAVEN, MO— A committee has
been appointed bj the town of New Haven
to Investigate the question of establishing
a municipal electric-light plant here.
POPLAR BLUFF, MO. — Preparations are
being made by the city of Poplar Bluff for
the installation of a municipal electric-light
plant, for which bonds to the amount of
$75,000 were voted in March, 1914. Bonds
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 5
will soon be offered for sale and electrical
nt purchased. Edwin C. Thomee is
engineer.
GRAND PORKS, N. D.— Kids will be re-
ceived by the city of Grand Forks until
March 1 for laying underground conduits
and installing lamp-posts and extension to
ornamental street-lighting system. W. H.
Alexander is city auditor.
EDGAR, NEB. — Plana are being prepared
lor remodeling the municipal electric-light-
ing plant.
ST PAUL, NEB. — The proposal to issue
f23, in bonds for the installation of an
electric-lighting plant and water-works
system is under consideration. The plans
provide for pumping station, steam engine,
I machinery, electroliers in the
business part of the city, etc.
FRANKFORT, KAN— The organization
ol a new company to take over the local
electric-light plant is under consideration,
The plans include the erection of a trans-
mission line to secure electricity from the
plant of the Marshall County Pwr. i- Lt.
Co., of Blue Rapids. It is also proposed
to establish an ice factory in connection
with the electric plant.
GARDNER, KAN.— A proposal has been
submitted to the City Council, it is reported,
by the Automatic El. Lt. Co., of Kansas
City, .Mo., for the installation of a munici-
pal electric-lighting plant in Gardner.
GARNETT, KAN.— A decision handed
down by Judge Smart in the District Court
specifies that the city of Garnett shall pay
$12,980 to J. Q. McAfee for the local elec-
tric-light plant. Bonds to the amount of
$15,000 were authorized some time ago for
the purchase or construction of a municipal
electric-light plant.
KANSAS CITY, KAN.— Bids will be re-
ceived at the office of the supervising archi-
tect. Treasury Department, Washington,
D. C, until March 1 for a hydraulic freight
lift, pumping plant, etc.. in the United
States post office in Kansas City, Kan.
For details see proposal columns.
OTTAWA KAN— Plans are being con-
sidered by the Franklyn Retailers' Associa-
tion for the installation of an ornamental
street-lighting system on the principal
streets of the city.
l'AOLA, KAN— The City Council will
soon award contract for the installation of
an ornamental lighting; system on Peoria
Street. Estimates have been submitted to
the Council by Herbert Stockwell, city en-
gineer, of the cost of erecting ornamental
lamps on South Pearl Street and South
Silver Street and all streets for one block
from the public square.
Southern States
ATLANTA GA.— The trustees of the
Georgia School of Technology, il is reported
will build the power laboratory contem-
plated last year, at a eosi of aboul $200,000,
including machinery costing $100,000 do-
nated by Northern corporations.
GRIFFIN, GA.— Within the next tin or
four months the Towallga Falls Pwr. Co
• ipects to build a substation to be equipped
with six 500-kva, 26, -volt, 60-cycle, sin-
oll led transformers and two
Oil switches and switchboard F
Mayes is superintend! nl
BONIFAT, FLA The Bonifay Lt. &
inning to construe! a water
and light plant, 10 COSl aboul SX.000. The
plans provide for a development of from
60 hp to 70 hp The contract toi thi
i ■ ■ I! ' undi r' i has bei n awarded
COVINGTON, TENN.— Bids will be re
'i the office of the supervising archi-
tect, Treasury Department, Washington
D ■ ' . until F( b 20, for the construction
n i equipment, Interioi
i approaches, of the
i nited State i post office at i tovlngton
Drawings and specifications may
li rl fi ,ii,i the ihoi i offii
isti i • ii. at Co* Ington 1 1
upervtslng at -
BIRMINGHAM. ALA The Pa >
" ctric Pwr ' lo . recent! i
will :, capital stock of (20,000, is
planning a development on the Coo
passing over TOT Islands. Whiseninl
1 ■ .,il,,
,i and power I
I 1 I'M I. Ill,, lei |he ,,,|
, pei
eminent Ft, ii Cobb is presldi
manager and s H Richardson secretary
both of i
WETUMPK V, \l.\ The Wetumpkn 1,1
ft Wtr. Pwr. Co ■ within
I of g0 II poles
s ,r McMonis, Jr., is supetintem
' M M. \l:l< \ new 160-kva,
e turbo generate! . with 1 1
and switchboard, is being installed in the
municipal electric-light plant. W. H.
Walkup is superintendent.
BLTTHEVILLE, ARK— We are advised
that no additions are being made to the
lighting plant, owned bj Hollipeter
8 Jontz. Improvements are being made to
the building and additional ice machinery
is being installed. Reported in the issue of
Jan. 16 that the output of ice and electric
plants would be doubled.
HEBER SPRINGS, ARK.— Within the
next six months the Heber Springs Lt. Co
expects to purchase two 12-in. by 30-in.
Corliss engines, two 60-kw generators, com-
plete switchboard equipment for same, one
boiler (66 in. by 16 ft.) with rocker grates,
one heater and two separators. The com-
pany expects to erect within the next 30
days line for addition to street-lighting sys-
tem consisting of 25 Mazda lamps of 60 cp,
making a total of 6.r>. H. N. Case is man-
ager.
KISoN, AUK.- -The City Council is con-
templating the installation of a municipal
electric-lighting plant and water-works svs-
tem, to cost about $25,000. A. C. Moore.
of Joplin, Mo., is engineer.
SEARCY, ARK. — A franchise has been
granted to H. E. Hill, of Searcy, to con-
struct and operate an electric railway-
between here and Kensett, a distance o'f
about 4 miles, and also over some of the
streets in this town. The power plant for
the proposed railway will be in Searcy.
SILOAM SPRINGS, ARK. — Within the
next three months the Electric Light and
Water Commissioners expect to purchase
one 125-hp boiler. R. L. Neelv is superin-
tendent.
PINEVILLE. LA.— The Town Council
has granted the Electric Light Department
of Alexandria City a franchise to supply
electricity in Pineville for a period of 25
years. The transmission lines connecting
the two cities will be carried across the
Red River, either on the traffic bridge or on
poles.
RINGLING, OKLA. (not a post office).—
The installation of an electric-lighting
plant in Ringling is reported to be under
consideration. H. E. Foster and associates,
of Ardmore, are reported interested in the
enterprise.
MATADOR, TEX.— L. B. Hubbard &
Brother, it is reported, are installing an
electric-light and power plant in Matador.
PRAIRIE VIEW", TEX.— An appropria-
tion of $2(io,( has been asked for im-
provements to the Prairie View Normal
School, which include a steam and electric
plant, to cost about $30,000; laundry
building, $20,000, and water mains for
water protection, $12,600.
SNYDER, TEX. — E. F. Renken. who re-
cently purchased the local electric light and
power plant, it is reported, contemplates
the installation of new machinery, includ-
ing an oil engine. The cost of the proposed
Improvements is estimated at $15,000
Pacific States
TACOMA, wash. The Molander-Ha-
waiian Pwr. Co., of Tacoma, Wash., a sub
sldiary of the Molander Pwr Co., o! Call
fornia, is contemplating the construction
of an electric power plant. The proposed
plant will be driven by a wave-motor ma-
chine (about 7500 hp) : the installation of
a .ri000-kw generator is also under consid
• i Itlon. The location of the plant i
decided u
SALEM, ORE The Installation of a
municipal electric-lighting plant n Salem
is under consideration. According to esti-
mates prepared the cost would be from
• 100, to >-T.0.000.
FRESNO, CAL. — A resolution ordering
work and calling for bids for the proposed
electrolier system in Fresno i.
bj the ( tttj ' louncU
PALO ALTO, CAL The , ,i, ,,r r.,1,,
Uto iii ■ r 'nils Installi ,i , I ,i. Koei t
ing Diesel engine (four cylinders, four-
cyi Ii . horizontal i directly connected to e
For! Wayne generator, and maj possibly
I ii ther i ilesel ens If 1 1
one is satisfactory. Within the nexl 12
months I he dtj expects to purchase trani
poles, « ne, meters, in, Mi,, i
pparatus
A V You, us is city elect rieia n
SAN JACINTi i. CAL u Ithln the m ixl
three months the Southern Sierras Pwr,
' !o . of s.ui Jacinto, expectc to
i ■ mile o! ' 100 \"ii dlstrlbu-
Inei to Bupplj elei tricitj In i
heretofore Without electrical service | lin-
ing the past three months the company has
Installed an outdoor transfo
160 l<w. to redui e thi
volts to 8200 volts R ii Mateer is super-
intendent and commercial agent
KuISE, IDAHO.— The cost of installing
an electric lighting system on the South
Side is estimated at $4,639. The City
Council, it is reported, will ask for bids for
material and installing the same in the
near future.
BOISE, IDAHO.— The property of the
Idaho-Oregon Lt. & Pwr. Co. has been taken
over by the Electric Investment Co., a
Delaware corporation, organized for the
purpose of purchasing the svstem The
new company, it is understood, will make
improvements to the property and complete
the Oxbow plant.
KAMIAH, IDAHO.— Plans are being
considered by the Rawson Works Lumber
Co., of Kamiah, for the installation of an
electric-lighting plant here. Electricity to
operate the system is to be supplied bv the
plant in its planing mill, situated about 1
mile north of the town.
TWIN FALLS, IDAHO. — Reversing the
decision handed down by it Nov T
the Public Utilities Commission of the
State of Idaho has granted the Idaho Pwr.
& Lt. Co. a certificate of convenience and
necessity in the Twin Falls section in com-
petition with the Great Shoshone & Twin
Falls Pwr. Co. The Idaho Pwr. & Lt. Co
has taken over the property and rights of
the Beaver River Pwr. Co., which has
hydroelectric plants on the Beaver River
and the Malad River.
GREEN RIVER, UTAH.— The contract
tor the construction of the municipal elec-
tric- ight and power plant has been awarded
to the Green Construction Co., of Tooele
City, at $20,000. The proposed plant will
he situated on the Green River, 7 miles
from the city, and will supply electricitv in
Green River. Elgin and other towns
throughout the valley. Energy will be sup-
plied especially for irrigation pumping
plants.
PAROWAN, UTAH— steps have been
taken toward the organization of a com-
pany for the purpose of installing an elec-
tric light and power plant in Parowan. It
is proposed to turn the plant over to the
city when it is ready to operate it.
CASA GRANDE, ARIZ.— Application
has been made to the town of Casa Grande
by F. H. Brackett, Colin Cameron and
Frank H. Hitchcock for a franchise to con-
struct and operate an electric-lighting plant
here. The plans provide for the erection
of a plant to cost about $100,000 and may
include an ice factory and water-work's
system.
JEROME, ARIZ.— The Upper Verde Pub.
Utilities Co., of Jerome, expects to purchase
within the next :!(> days a complete new
arc-lamp street-lighting system for Jerome.
T. C. Roberts is chief engines]
PRESCOTT, ARIZ— Within the next
three months the Arizona Pwr. Co. of Pres-
COtl experts to elVet 3 miles of 45,000-VOlt
transmission line and to install a substation
at Carlisle, with an output of 2000 hp.
M. V. Watson is manager.
SPRINGER, N. M.- Charles O'Malley, of
tin- i.as Vegas Lt. .v- Pwr. Co., of Las
Vegas, is contemplating the installation of
in electric-light plant in Springer.
WHITE OAKS, N. M— The Altos l.t. ,v
I'wr. Co., of White daks, recently incor-
porated with a capita] stock of 1150,000, is
planning to erect a transmission line from
the mines at White i inks to Carrizozo. The
Incorporators are Allen v Lane, Edward I.
Queen, David I. Jackson and Elmer B>
Slaughter.
Canada
HAWKESBURY, ONT. The Bawkea
burj 1:1 it ,V !'\% i i -,, his issue,!
in bonds, the proceeds to i"- used to take up
outstanding Indebtedness and to finish a
second development on the Rouge River, 5
miles above the present plant ti ,
pany furnishes olectricin in Hawkesbur]
V. ml, leek Hill ami Calumet, and
lighting the Greenville Canal. Tie
will probabl] be extended to Uexandrla
UP01 inplclion of the new plant
Miscellaneous
PANAMA Hids will be received at the
office of the general purchasing officer, the
canal, Washington, D. C., until
Feb, -i tor material tor pumping plan! of
Drj Pork No 1. Kail,,,., terminals. Blanks
and general information relating I,, this
circular (No B91) maj be obtained from
'Ii- '<■>"■ HO 01 Hi, Offices of the assist-
ant purchasing agents, L'l State Street.
New York, n v . g] i Whitnes ' • ntral
Building, New Orleans, La., nnd 1080
North Point street. San Francisco, CaJ
Jam Am 30, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Weekly Record of Electrical Patents
I NITED 8TATR8 PATENTS
JAN 12. 1
Allyn, 16 Ex-
change Place, N.w fork, N v.]
ELECTRIC
V Andcrhcrg, < Mk Park,
111 App Bli II I. Method of
iuii uniformity in twisted conduc-
ung Mi' in .
_•... 111. App. filed Nov. 13,
Ull. ling of wire rings.
I IISTR1BLTION : J. Bi-
jur. New York, N. V. App, Bled Nov. 1».
Ull. Controlling the connection of the
i lor with the load.
Electric - Motor - Controlling
Brackett, i 'in, -ago. 111. App.
filed March 15, 1911 For web printing
RRENT-CONTROLLINa DEVICE
kctric Circuits : G. A Burnham,
. Mass. App. filed Nov. 9, 1910.
- of current above a maximum de-
mand Is visually indicated.
Electric Flatiros- ; W. H. Dal-
- I.-m. Mass App. filed April 10,
1912. Reversible iron with two ironing
surfaces either one of which can be used.
1,121,311. Automatic Telephone-Ex-
change System ; F. R. M.Berty, Antwerp.
Belgium App. tiled June 3. 1913. Speed
at which a given connection can be made
is increased
Process for Electrolytically
Refining Tin : G. Mkhaud and E.
son, Montreuil. France. Anp. filed
Sept IT. 1912 Electrolyte of proto-
ride of tin.
1,121,333. Manufacture OJ Light Htdro-
carbons or the Like: I. Sabatier and
A Mailhe, Toulouse, France. App. filed
March 31, 1914. Vapors of the hydro-
carbons passed over metals maintained at
red heat by passage of electric current.
1.124.352. Electrical Indicator fob Mail
Boxes : R. Stegemann and A. Johannes,
Two Rivers. Wis App. filed April 17,
1914. Sounds alarm and operates visual
indicator.
1.124,401. Telephone RECEireR : H. C.
Egerton, Passaic, N. J App. filed Oct.
■".. 1912 Loud-speaking .
1,121.410. Fire Alarm ; F. Frinek, Chug-
water, Wyo. App. filed Jan. 10. 1914.
Embodies a celluloid ball carrying a
wick.
1.124.41.!. Transmitter; H. Gernsback,
New York. N Y App. filed May 15,
1913. Attached to telephone in vertical
position and without using binding
screws.
1.124.42V Trolley-Wheel Guard: J. C.
Hanson. Moville, Iowa. App. filed June
20, 1914. Mechanical structure of guard.
L124.456. Device for Securing Armature
K and J. A. Misland.
n. N V App. filed Feb. 8, 1911.
Circumferential wrapping for ends of
coils.
Indicating Device for Motor
Vkhici.es ; H. Kramer. New York. N. V.
app tiled April 23. 1914. For instruct-
ing chauffeur; also provides a rear signal.
1,124.470. Interrupter fop. Electromag-
netic Reciprocating Devices; a Le
Blanc, New York. N. Y. App fill
•in. Make-and-break construction
for riveting hamtners and the like.
1,124,488. Semi-Mkchanical Telephone-
Exchange System ; F. R. McBertv. New
l;.,, belle, N. Y. App. filed July 3
Improved sending apparatus.
1,124,525. Mechanical Bell-Ringing De-
vice ; H. Von Reppert, Columbus. Ohio
App. filerl Dec. 23. 1913. Friction clutch
and motor control for imparting the
■Winging movement to the bell.
1,124. .".11 Thermostat; II. D. Si-
ll V. D. IT;. ii. Hospital. III. App Bled
11, 1911. Maintains vacuum in the
thermometer tube regardless of adjust-
ment of the upper terminal.
1,124, .".47. Mouthpiece for Transmitters;
l.. Steinberger, New York. N. Y. App.
filed Oct l*. 1910. Has improved
acoustic characteristics.
1,124,648. Electric-Heating Attachment
for Radiators ; T. A Steller, Houghton,
Mich. App. filed Sept. 11, 1913. Can be
inserted in the base of an ordinary steam
or hot-water radiator.
1,124,555. Method of Exhausting Vfs-
sels : C. .T Thatcher. Upper Xyack. N. V
App tiled March 11, 1910. By non-vol-
atilized and inexpensive gas absorbents.
Process for Saturating 1'n-
SATURATED FaTTY ACIDS AND THEIR
MINING TlIKM WITII-
many. App Bled Feb. l". 191
electrical discharge maintains catalytic
SUb.-I
1,124,561. Coin Box; H 1 Utter. Chicago.
ill. App. Hied Feb -. 1911. i ■■
coin in the coin box controlled from either
the main or extension telephone.
1,124,580. Method of and Means for Lo-
calizing Sound Reproduction ; E. H
A i d. App. filed
July .!. l'UI For moving pictures
1,124,598. Telegraphy ; P. K. Delany,
South Orange. N. .1 App, Bled
1908. For distribution of news among
a plurality of way stations
Electric circuit-protecting
Apparatus . G. I; Feasenden, Jr., Lan-
caster, N. Y. App. tile I Oct. 1. 1913. For
alternating-current induction motors
1,124. Bos. Automatic Telephone System .
G. Grabe, Berlin. Germany. App. tiled
Feb N. 1913. Selector terminals not ar-
ranged according to the decimal system.
1,124,617. Electric Signaling Apparatus
and Circuits Therefor; k. B. Herzog
..li. N.w York, N. Y'. App. filed
April 8, 1889. For hotels or telephone
systems.
1,124,624. Retrieving trolley; C. E.
Dang, Los Angeles, Cal. App. filed Jan.
2, 1912. Mechanical structural improve-
ments ; occupies minimum space.
1.124,939 — Electric-Lamp Fixture
1,124,630. Dynamo-Electric Machine; h
Liippelt, New York, N. Y. App. filed Oct.
IS, 1909. Sparking obviated at all loads.
L124.ij.32. Elevator Signaling System;
W. B. Lucas, River Forest, 111. App.
filed Feb. 25, 1910. "Up and down" sig-
nals announce in advance arrival of car
at floor.
1,124,653. Outlet or Junction Box; J. C.
Phelps, Springfield, Mass. App. filed May
l -i . 1913 improvements in box-and-
onstruction.
1,124,666. Electric Lock; W. a. Schutz-
mann, N.w Iberia, La. App. filed Oct, 28,
l :< i .: for Coilei doors of railway ears.
operative only when train is in motion.
1,124,676 Automobile Body; j. t. Trum-
bule, Saginaw, Mich. App. filed April
29, 1912. Wiring located in conduits
formed in the body.
1,124,678. I'm. tit Controller; t. Varney,
Pittsburgh, l'a. App. filed Feb. 1, 1912
Auto-starter lor induction motors.
0 Selective signaling Device;
.i. A. Won. .11. Cranford, N. J. App. filed
Aug. 31, 1911. Selector contact structure.
1,124,681. Lamp Signal Apparatus FOR
Automobiles; J. T. Wright, Metuchen.
N. .1. App filed ''.I, 17. 1912. Details of
switch which controls the signals.
1,124,683. Percolator; T. Abtmeyer, YVil-
kinshurg. Pa. App. filed June .".. 191:;
with both ii
outer heating surfaces.
1424,704. Electric Typewriting
.a; uii Apparatus . G. C. Clark. Fruit-
• .1. App, iti,.,i Keb. 28, 1910. Com-
iter, receiver and recorder.
1.121,712. Trolley Hanger; C. H. Davis.
Pittsburgh. Pa. App filed Jan. 7. 1911
Aim which supports trolley wire
ti.ally yield
1.121,72- Electric Mo-
tors; F. \V. Harris, Wilkinsl.urg, Pa
APP tiled Sept 26, 1910. Motor-line
■witch -• d only under propel
voltage and phase conditions.
1.124.751. .Skni.kr; J. A. Kropp. Newark.
N. J. App. tiled Sept 2", 1913. Includes
a speed-controlled motor mechanism
Electromagnetic-ally Operated
Device; H. G. lap.-, N.w York, N. Y
App filed May 27, 1914. Telephone
"drop."
Signaling system ; c. h. Pool.
amton, N. Y. App. filed Jan. 12.
1911. Special fire-alarm system.
1,124,809. ClRCUlT-CoNTROLLING APPARA-
TUS; F. \V. Roller, Bast Orange. N. J.
App. filed o,t. lv, 1911. Shown applied
met! l-nieltillg crucible.
1,124,814. Controlling Device for Auto-
matic Musical Instruments; J. W.
Scharold, Cincinnati, Ohio. App. filed
Aug. 30, 1910. "Slot machine."
1,124,832. Time-Limit Circuit-Breaker.
C. C. Badeau. Bethlehem, Pa. App. filed
Aug. 18, 1908. Time of operation is de-
pendent upon the amount of overload.
1,124,849. Electrically Energized Heatek
C. B. Brush, Joliet, 111. App. filed Sept.
24. 1913. For eliminating the static elec-
tricity from paper on printing presses.
1,124,865. Multiple Lightning Ar-
rester; <". E. Cox, Eaton, Ohio. App.
filed Oct. 2", 1912. Mounted on cross-
arm and takes care of all lines carried by
that cross-arm.
I.12I.9H1. Artificial Line; R. S. Hoyt.
Brooklyn, N. Y. App. filed April 30.
I Te-computed resistance and re-
actance units.
1,124,910. Electrical Heater; E. D. John-
son and G. A. Cathev. Klamath Falls,
Ore. App. filed Oct. 15, 1914. In form
of plug adapted to be connected with an
automobile radiator.
1,124,913. Signaling System Particu-
larly for Artillery Purposes ; P.
Kaminski. Berlin, Germany. App. filed
May 20, 1911. Two transmitters move
through different distances when the one
is driven by the other.
1.124,939. Electric-Lamp Fixture . T
Nelsen. Chicago. 111. App. filed May 27.
1914. Waterproof side bracket for out-
door use.
1,125,004. Potential starter for Alter-
nating-Currfnt Motors; H. W. Cheney.
Norwood, Ohio. App. filed June 7. 1905.
Adapted for use on either two-phase or
three-phase.
1,125,028. ELECTRIC Vaporizer; F. Kuhn,
Detroit, Mich. App. filed April 5, 1912.
In form of a gasket adapted to be inter-
posed between the abutting sections of a
gas-engine Intake.
1,125,030. Rear Indicator for Vehici.es:
i 1. A. Laubersheimer, Los Angeles. Cal.
App. tiled Nov. 24. 1913. Semaphore arm
shifted by magnets.
UNITED STATES PATENTS ISSUED
JAN. 19, 1915.
[Prepared by Robert Starr Allyn. It; Ex-
change Place, New York. N Y ]
1,125,039. ELECTRIC Motor ; W. J. Beuroth.
Columbus, Ohio. App. filed Dec. .. 1901
Improvements in armature shaft, bearings
and casing structure.
i 16,059 SPARXXE8S Thermostat: c. P
Carroll. Bridgeport, Conn., and P. N.
Roehrich. Jersey City. N. J. App. filed
July 14, 1910. Contacts within a closed
rocking device which is shifted by the
thermostatic arm.
1,126,077. circuit-Breaker ; R. R. Dun-
lop. Columbus, Ohio. app. filed Sept. 23,
1'. in For mine locomotives.
1,125,080. STORAQB - Battery - Charging
Switch FOR Act. ..mobiles . E. Eisemann.
Stuttgart, Germany. App. filed Nov. 9.
mil Includes contact-controlling arma-
ture which oscillates in polarized fields
328
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 5
Makin.; Arsenic Acid and
Arsenical COMPOUNDS; G. P. Fuller,
Niagara Falls, N. v. App. filed June l.
1914. Electrolyses aqueous solution of
alkali metal kalide containing arsenious
oxide in susp-
1,125,121. Support for Incandescent-Lamp
Filaments; A. S. Knight, Newark, X. J.
App. filed July 19, 1909. Tubular lamp
Willi straight filament extending from end
to end.
i.a.mp Lock ; w. E. McLaughlin,
Middletown, Ohio. App. filed Feb. 7.
1914. Includes a rotatahle screw socket
which can be held when lamp is to be
removed.
1,126,152. Cable-Reeling .Mechanism for
ELECTRIC Locomotives ; N. A. Newdick,
Columbus, Ohio. App. filed Nov. 29, 190S.
Has a friction clutch which can operate
as a friction brake.
1,125,195. Starting Device; A. Simon,
Milwaukee, Wis. App. filed June 12,
1907. For alternating-current motors.
1,125,201. Reinforced-Concrete Cell for
the Electrolysis of Salt, etc. ; N.
Statham, Yonkers, N. V. App. tiled Nov.
1, 1913. For producing caustic soda,
chlorine, etc.
Process for Producing Reac-
tions in Gases at High Temperatures
and Apparatus FOB PRACTISING the
Same; L. L. .Summers, Chicago, 111. App.
filed June 14. 1913. Synthesis of gaseous
compounds by use of electric arc.
1,125,223. Means for Cooling Vacuum
Tubes; H. F. Waite, New York, N. Y.
App. filed Sept. 22, 1913. Circulates a
cooling gas around the cathode tip and
neck.
1,125,242. Automatic Switch ; J L. Wood-
bridge, Philadelphia, Pa. App. filed Dec.
2, 1911. For battery charging.
1,125,267. Electric Regulation; J. L.
Creveling, New York, N. Y. App. filed
Sept. 22, 1911. Battery charging, includ-
ing control means having differentially
wound coils.
1,126,273. Key-Controlled Registering
Apparatus; A. F. Dixon. Newark, N. J.
App. filed May 17, 1912. Selector con-
trolling arrangement for semi-automatic
telephone systems.
i,i 2.7,279. Electro-Responsive regulator;
J. B. Entz, Cleveland, Ohio. App. filed
, 1910. Includes a movable part
controlled liy the algebraic sum of the
spring tensions of two controlling springs.
1,125,312. Integrating Electricity Meter;
c. I. Hall. Chicago, 111. App. filed Aug.
24, 1911. Indicates and records time ami
amount of maximum consumption of
energy.
1,125,321. Secondary or Storage Battery ;
C. Hodge. Radnor, Pa. App. file.] May
I';, l.i 12. The plates are connected by
"burning."
1,125,349. Magneto; o. h. Lemke, Mil-
waukee, Wis. App. filed July 2, 19 1:: Re-
! of the engine does not impair the
efficiency of ignition.
1,12.7. 3.73. Trolley Guard; J. A. Love,
Roanoke, Va. App. filed Sept. x, 1911.
Pull on trolley cord opens the guard.
1,12.7,3711. Connector: E C. G. Mueller,
Elizabeth, N. J. App. filed Aug. 2s,
1918. Plug looked in socket when con-
nection is made.
1,12.7.121. AUDIPHONB TRANSMITTER STAND
and BOUND! BOARD; C. I S. Williams.
o, iii App Bled Jan. l i. 1911. in-
mitti ' carrying leaves
Inclined from the vertical
1,125,462. Testing Apparatus; C N.
■. rii Bled
i ■■ ■ | ■. i :i i ::. apparatus box toi ■•■. Ire
men's fault-locating sets.
i.i _':.. 1717 Systi I..
I IE8CBN1 ■: Claude, Paris,
App. Bled Nov, 9, P'li Tube
lining previously purified neon.
, 1
in and Signal sys-
tem . a V 1 1 i, N. Y.
Bled Sept. 1:., 1 ■ 1 mbo
ml mie divided track rail.
1 .0 System ;
\ v T 1 is v. New Rochelle, N S App
filed Ant- 28, 1 808, Separati Jti
current generators feed tin- track rails at
Intervals
1 I : W
W. Di
tou '
mie i.r telepti
I 1 UNO I W W
Dean Elyria, Ohio Nop Bled
1906 Harmonic telephom
which tee, 1 is adjui md to its
own natural frequi
1.125.491. Protective Device; W. W. Dean,
Elyria, Ohio. App. filed May 19. 1906.
"Heat coil" for protecting against "sneak
currents" in telephone work.
1.125.492. Signaling Device for Polysta-
tion Circuits; W. W. Dean, Elyria, Ohio.
App. filed Aug. 9, 1905. Polarized ringer
with armature held neutral by a strong
spring.
1,12.7,493. Harmonic Signaling Device for
Telephone Systems ; W. W. Dean, Elyria,
Ohio. App. filed Sept. 9, 1905. Struc-
tural details.
1.125.494. Harmonic Signaling Device for
Telephone Systems ; W. W. Dean, Elyria,
Ohio. App. filed Sept. 9, 1995. Length,
tension and mass of clapper rod deter-
mines period of ringer.
1.125.495. Harmonic Signaling Device
for Telephone Systems ; W. W. Dean,
Elyria, Ohio. App. filed Sept. 9, 1905.
Armature secured upon a prismatic
spring.
1,12.7,496. Wireless-Telephone Trans-
mitting System ; L. De Forest, New
York, N. Y. App. filed Sept. 17. 1910.
Employs slowly damaged radiated waves.
1,125,518. Support for Trolley Wheels;
A. W. Hampshire, Haddon Heights, N. J.
App. filed April 29, 1914. Vertically
yieldable pair of toggle members.
1.127,720. Circuit-Breaker; F. W. Harris,
Wilkinsburg, Pa. App. filed Jan. 10, 1908.
Compensates for the wearing away of the
engaging contact members.
1,12.7,541. Inherent Power Return Sig-
naling Device : W. K. Howe, Rochester,
N. Y. App. filed March 6, 1911. Sema-
phore system.
and Electric
ii 15,579. Telephone-Exchange System;
F. K. McBerty, New Rochelle, N. Y. App.
filed March 1, 1911. Automatic line se-
lection.
1,125,580. Trolley; I. E ticCracken, Pitts-
burgh, Pa. App Bled Maj 1::. L91 1.
Lies close to car roof when pulled down.
1,125,606, Pm'g for Incandescent Elec-
tric Lamps; W. I '. Tregoning, Cleveland.
Ohio. App. filed May 18, 1912. Con-
I so that the cord will untwist
>,, hi n iii mi is 1 emoved from plug.
1,125,608. 1. 10111 INQ Fl Tl RE . !•'. W. Wake-
field, Vermilion, Ohio. App. tiled Sept '■>.
1912. May he supplieil liy (he dealer
willi :i selected number 11I' arms.
1,125,612. Plug Fuse: E, w. Wells, Pitts-
burgh, fa. \pp tiled March 1'.. 1914.
Fuse wire .:in readll} '"■ renewed.
1,12 .,i:i 1 Ti 1 prone Attach u i
\\ Intnl.. 1 . PI ilphla, Ps \pp Bled
.1 in 80, 191 1 Hangs up the
Whet t ill Use.
1 . 1 25,6 16 1 ! ■■•' in ddi ro Materia Elbc
iimi Heati g UN its . s, p. Wilbur,
Pittsburgh. Pa. App. tiled Nov. 1::. phi.
i larblde all Is and water.
1 'i El BC
ii n 1 hits . s, p \\ mi. in-.
Pittsburgh. Pa tap Bled No\ 1 ::. 1911
ml water.
I ,11 \i u:xi . P. H. and M. ('.
man, ' leorgetotR n, Mai App. Bled
julj ::. L918 lladi 1 ompacl so as to
i,.. installed at a nj polnl
1,125,6 ' '■ ■■■ P. Fors-
berg, Yonkers, N Y \|.p Bled -Inn 13,
1913. Brush, terminal blocks, frame mem
. etc
1,125,694. Incandescent Damp; A. S.
Knight, Newark, N. J. App. filed April
10, 1909. Straight filament with means
for maintaining it taut.
1,125,699. Electrical Recorder; M. E.
Leeds, Philadelphia, Pa. App. filed Nov.
22, 1912. For recording electrical, chemi-
cal, mechanical, physical or other
quantities. (Fifty-one claims.)
1,125,711. Electrical Measuring Instru-
ment ; J. W. Record, Manchester, Eng-
land. App. filed Dec. 23, 1912. Eliminates
the polar-junction magnetic flux.
1,125,715. Circuit-Breaker for Magnetos :
J. H. Richards, Newark, N. J. App. filed
Aug. 26, 1914. Supporting and lubricat-
ing the breaker arm.
1,125,717. Electric Regulator; F. E.
Ricketts, Derwood, Md. App. filed Nov.
13, 1907. Regulating generator coin-
cides with or opposes field circuit of main
generator.
1,125,720. Fire Alarm ; C. E. Rogers, Den-
ver, Col. App. filed March 12, 1913. In-
terconnected alarm boxes on different
floors.
1,125,728. Alternating-Current Synchro-
nous Dynamo-Electric Machine, J.
Sachs, Hartford, Conn. App. filed Nov.
27, 1911. Starts and brings into synchro-
nous operation without using
motor, mechanical power, special wind-
ings, etc.
1125 742. Cable-Supporting Insulator:
' E. O. Sessions, Chicago, 111. App. filed
Feb. 9, 1912. Two-piece tubular insulator.
1 135 744. Incandescent Lamp; C. F. Scott,
' Pittsburgh, Pa. App. filed May 19, 1909.
Tensioning of straight filament.
1125,74.7. Circuit-Breaker; W. M. Scott,
'Philadelphia, Pa. App. filed March 27,
1908 Has main and shunt members
pivotally mounted independently of each
other.
1125 704 Telephone Transmitter; C. C.
' Terhune, Platte, S. D. App. filed Oct.
::,, l:H 3. Permanent magnet adapted for
attachment to standard instrument.
1125,783. Electro-Power Plant; H. F.
Waters, Colorado Springs, Col. App. tiled
Sept. 24, 1913. Wind-operated driving
mechanism cut out when battery is
charged.
1 125 815 Controller for Electric Mo-
tors; H. W. Cheney. Milwaukee, W is.
\pp filed Dec. 29. 1909. For induction
motors ; controller drum shifts with a
snap action.
1 126 S16 Trolley-Wire Splice; W. Clark.
' Bulger, and T. Beadling, Carnegie, Pa.
App. filed Feb. IS, 1914. Can be length-
ened or shortened.
1 125,823. Telephone; F. Q. Dutton, Phila-
delphia, Pa- App. filed March 22, 1912.
Plug lor mouthpiece of transmitter.
1 125 832 Telephone Repeater System;
' r 'W Fry, Seattle. Wash. App, Bled
April 2 1913. Voice smin. is transmitted
from either end of line without interfer-
ence.
1126 861 Hotel Call Hell: K. Kawano
' and K NiShlmotO, Seattle, Wash. App.
tiled April 23. 1911. For calling guests
at predetermined times.
1 125,862 Means fob Mounting Current
' Distributob Blocks; G. I* Lang, New-
ark and A, !'• T. Llbby, East Orange,
N J. App- Bled Vug 86, 191 1. Permits
attachment to ami detachment
Lgneto.
I ]■•■, g58 1 ' U 1 \ BHICLB I.ii'.hts :
"ft V: Mci'ov mill k Nash, N'w Harmony,
l„,l.' App. Bled Mai 1, L818. Trouble
lamp with reel,
I 126 859 X I W IBB CONNBCTOB ; C. P.
m, 1 id '■ and Junction, Col. App,
Bled Maj 11, 19H yield
tl, compen »te foi 1 onti action and expan-
trolley wire,
Steering
R S, Smith, Kansas City, Mo App
1,1, ,1 March 14, 1918
laced to steering wheel
1 1 26 900 1 IZON i 1 "i \ R Dai ling,
' moll , Iml. App. filed April 9, 1918 Has
a winding e\posed to atmosphere so that
air can pass thereover,
I 126 ''" , Combinai ion Gas vno I
\ 11 Humphre] . New 5 01 k, N, Y.
,1 Sl pi '. I''l I. Indirect 0
Indirect type
1,125,913 I Machine ; .1. IV Roche,
Grand Rapids, Mich. App, filed Jan, 21,
ni 1 Por treating llclnal pur-
poses ; mounted in carrying ease.
1 126,914 Rotary Converter and Trans-
w !•■ Rosebrock. Fargo,
N d. app Bled \": 19, 1918. Small
and compact , for use upon a motor car.
Electrical World
Tin- ■
Put
\,,l. 65
M w VORK, SAT1 i;i>\1. I I BR1 \K1 6, 1915
No. 6
The President <m Service and Reward
PRESIDENT WILSON'S talk to the American Elec-
tric Railway Association last week is heartening
to all fair-minded public utility operators. Addri
tly to public utility managers, it is also a reas-
surance to "big business." Outside of the prediction
of prosperity, the remarks carry weight because they
were made to an industry that has been specially beset.
The "rules of the game," as seen by the President, are
general rather than specific, but if fundamental policies
are right, details are apt so to be. First is publicity.
Fur year.- people within the industry have recommended
publicity as the infallible cure; from without the in-
dustry an unprejudiced detached observer now warns
all who still hold to secrecy. The Executive puts sec-
ond a full equivalent in service for money received.
The fair corollary to this is, of course, that the public
shall give full equivalent in money for service received.
The third rule is conscience, the knowledge that so far
as we get money from it "we are employees of the
public." To exactly the same degree is the public the
employer of companies. If employee must have con-
science, so must employer. Fourth, the "spirit of serv-
ice" is "to see to it that the thing that you do for the
public and get money for is the best thing of that kind
that can be done." These are not idle words. They
are part of the sound and wholesome doctrine of service
and reward.
For a National Electrical Week
THE proposal for a national electrical sales and edu-
cational week finds instant and willing support.
The encouraging responses are a promise of that co-
operation which alone can make a campaign electrical
week successful. The bare outline of the plan discussed
at the meeting called by the Society for Electrical De-
velopment, as published in our issue of Jan. 1G, prelim-
inary and tentative though it is, has aroused widespread
approval. Letters from central-station representatives,
manufacturers, jobbers and contractors, published in the
Electrical World, uphold the movement. Since the
ndustry heartily indorses the general plan, the essen-
:ial step is to determine what real work is necessary to
•arry it forward triumphantly. If the achievements of
.he "national electrical week" are to be creditable no
;ime can be wasted. Before all branches of the indus-
;ry can be vivified to do their part it is necessary to de-
:ide upon details concerning which fair differences of
udgment will arise. All are not of one mind as to the
)est date. The week of Oct. 18 was selected after thor-
iugh discussion because the already celebrated "Edison
Pay falls in that week ; a time in the autumn was pre-
ferred because that season is best adapted to lighting
effects. These reasons appear to be sound and conclu-
sive, but if the reasons advanced for another time are
better they should control. The public will like a date
in mild weather when evening walks on brilliantly
lighted city streets permit enjoyment of the air and the
"sights."
Rate Schedules in New York
THE order of the New York Public Service Com-
mission. Second District, requires all plants, mu-
nicipal and corporate, large or small, to file schedules
of rates uniform as to method of compilation. The plan
is based upon the report of the committee on gas and
electric schedules, presented to the commission two years
ago, although the recommendations have been modified
a little by the commission. Substantial uniformity is
assured by the arrangement of the Empire State Gas
& Electric Association to send blank forms to each
company and municipality concerned. These will ac-
cord with the wishes of the commission, and the rates
will be printed therein by typewriter or similar method.
This is co-operation that not only saves money but also
assures prompt compliance by officials of small plants
whose unfamiliarity with schedules would lead to unin-
tentional disobedience. The practice of up-State com-
panies will differ from that of Greater New York com-
panies, which file exact copies of contracts with the
First District commission. If it is to be the universal
practice of commissions to order the filing of rate
schedules in uniform form, co-operation will mean sub-
stantial saving.
Water-Power Rights and the Rich
MANY signs of a better attitude toward corpora-
tions brighten the outlook. There is more plain
speech from public men. This attitude was well shown
in a minority report of Mr. Patrick E. McCabe,
member of the New York Conservation Commission.
"Think of having something to sell," he says; "you
won't sell it to a rich man and a poor man can't
buy it." This commissioner, a practical man facing the
facts, also says that "there is an element of politics in
all public questions in this country. . . . which makes
it impossible for this country to compete in a commer-
cial enterprise with private corporations." The simple
remedy proposed by Mr. McCabe is a bill providing for
the highest private development of the State water-
powers with commensurate return to the people. This
businesslike solution is precisely the one that is not
favored by many of the modern conservationists for
the people. The Executive of the coqntry, in ideal
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 6
language, urged "use with conservation." The trouble
with the recent policy of New York State on water-
powers is that it has rigidly stood for conservation on
such terms that "use" was impossible. Consequently the
energy that could have been generated is irrecoverable.
The Integrating Sphere and Arc-Lamp Photometry
In the early days of incandescent lighting lamps were
so nearly uniform in type and performance that their
mean horizontal candle-power was a sufficient and satis-
factory criterion of comparison. It was known that the
mean spherical candle-power of a lamp was the only
true basis of comparison between light sources in regard
to the output of light, but the differences between the
various types of lamps available were not sufficiently
great to make refinement on mean horizontal candle-
power necessary. More recently, however, the types
of electric lamp have increased in numbers and in dif-
ferences of light distribution to such an extent as to
render necessary the recognition of mean spherical
candle-power, or, what is equivalent thereto, the total
emitted flux in lumens. There are two methods of
measuring the total lumens of light given out by a lamp.
One is to measure the distribution of mean candle-
power in a number of successive zones above and below
the horizon, following this up with a suitable integration
process. The other is to employ a photometric device
for measuring mean spherical candle-power directly.
The latter method has great advantages in swiftness
and in simplicity, provided that only the total luminous
flux is wanted. The former method may be preferable
when the distribution of light, as well as the total quan-
tity, is required to be known.
A well-known device for measuring spherical candle-
power directly is the Ulbricht integrating sphere. It is
a hollow sphere of suitable size, carefully coated on
the inside with dull diffusing white. The lamp to be
photometered is supported inside in such a manner that
the light emitted is scattered to and fro in all directions,
thus raising the illumination of the inner wall to a con-
siderably higher value than would be obtained by direct
illumination unaided by diffuse reflection. A little win-
dow of milk glass is cut into the wall at some con-
venient point, and the illumination on this window is
measured photometrically. It should be directly pro-
portional to the mean spherical candle-power of the lamp
inside the sphere.
If the dull white paint on the inside of the globe could
be made sufficiently non-absorbing, the Ulbricht sphere
would be theoretically nearly perfect, but the best
paints absorb about 20 per cent of the light at each inci-
dence, and this gives rise to certain errors which under
al conditions may become serious. Thus the test
window has to be protected from the direct light of the
lamp inside the sphere lest this direct illumination
should influence the total too greatly. A screen has,
therefore, to be supported inside the sphere between
the lamp and the test window. But this screen has the
effect of cutting down the illumination on the test win-
dow too much. The amount of the error is very difficult
to compute and is best determined by experimental
methods. Some photometrists claim that opaque screens
are preferable to the translucent screens very gen-
erally employed in this country. This is, however, a
matter of degree in precision which depends upon a
number of factors. It seems likely that under one set
of conditions better results would be obtained with an
opaque screen and under other conditions with a trans-
lucent screen. The greater the diameter of the sphere
the less it matters whether the internal small
screen is translucent or opaque. The question of cost
enters largely into the construction of large Ulbricht
spheres. The spherical shape is always expensive. It
remains to be seen whether the octahedron or one of the
regular solids with yet more numerous faces might not
be used in place of a sphere, with almost as good
photometric results and with manifest advantages in
construction, assembling and cleaning.
Distribution Costs in a Small Plant
A brief article in the current issue contains a
very instructive report on the analysis of the operat-
ing expenses in Manhattan, Kan., a town of some 7800
people. Like many small places, there is an exception-
ally large proportion of residence customers. The
amount of business lighting is not great and the motor
service is not large. In making the analysis the total
costs were apportioned to the several classes of cus-
tomers in the following way: A certain part is propor-
tional to the number of meters, another to the invest-
ment, and a third is made up of some special items
which belong only to a particular class of consumer.
Without going too far into the details of the investiga-
tion, it appears that, including everything but the cost
of energy, the cost of residence lighting reached 8.95
cents per kw-hr., the business lighting 5.15 cents, street
lighting 2.45 cents, and motor service 0.221 cent.
The prices actually paid by these various classes of
consumers are not here of record, but it is safe to say
that none of them is served at a loss. It would be
rather interesting to know the relative total profits paid
by the several classes of customers, adding in the cost
of energy. It is very clear that the residence customers
should pay, as they probably do, a liberal price for their
accommodation, and yet in estimating the cost of serv-
ing them one is too apt to forget that they furnish in
the aggregate a large amount of business. In fact, it
is an open question whether this particular concern
could stay in business if it lost its residence customers,
expensive as they apparently are, or, to put the matter
in another way. if it had never acquired them it prob-
ably would never have succeeded. It is instructive to
analyze somewhat the distributing costs here consid-
ered. Those due to metering, accounting and charges
against meters in service rise to about 60 cents per
meter per month. It seems to us that the question here
raised is not whether the small lighting consumer really
pays as a customer, but how to make him pay by reduc-
ing the meter charge. There is no question whatever
ELECTRICAL WOULD
331
that for very small consumers the distribution costs are
a heavy burden on the company, and one instinctively
whether in a .-mall place like this some form of
contract system, such as is used in Hartford, Conn.,
and other places, plus the simplest possible methods of
inting and billing, might not in the long run reduce
lerably the cost of handling the very small loads.
In Hartford at last reports about 125,000 lamps were
out on contract, the contract being arranged so that
the larger residence consumers find it better to buy
energy on the metered basis. Thus the logical merits
of metering are not neglected.
Off-Peak Schedules and the Garage Owner
This i- the time of year when the electric-garage
owner who is purchasing central-station energy on an
off-peak schedule may find occasion to blaspheme the
company management in general for instituting such a
rate, and himself in particular for becoming a party to
an agreement which, he feels, penalizes him for service
taken at a time when he needs it most. Consider a
typical case. A big truck draws up at the garage about
4 o'clock on a winter's afternoon, and the driver calls
for a boosting charge which will enable him to complete
an unexpected special trip. But the clock shows that
the hours of the "peak" are at hand, and to furnish the
ponderous wayfarer with the electric refreshment it
requires means to the garage owner a tax of a dollar
(or often $12 per year) for every kilowatt of demand
during those inhibited peak hours, however short the
period of the boost or however few the kilowatt-hours
actually consumed. The driver, therefore, must pre-
pare to stand by while the truck waits until the passing
of the peak at 8 or 8:30 o'clock. Deliveries are, as the
result, delayed four hours or more, and it is long after
midnight when the driver finishes his task. If the
garage owner expresses dissatisfaction with the off-
peak system after such an experience, it is, in contrast,
likely to be mild indeed compared with the observations
of the driver and the owner of the truck so tied up.
A similar difficulty confronts the owner of the electric
passenger car who has been shopping or calling all day
and at 5 o'clock wants a freshening boost put in the bat-
teries for an evening trip to the theater or to a social
gathering across town. Again it is the hour of "the
peak." Too often the innocent victim of such a non-
humorous hoax is allowed to go his way with a new and
limited conception of the usefulness of the electric car
when charged under a peak-load form of contract. The
guilt is the garage man's for leaving this impression,
but part of the blame must also rest on the shoulders
of the central station if its agents do not take the pains
to explain to the garage men how to avoid turning cus-
tomers away with batteries unreplenished. First, the
garage man should be taught to contract for a certain
limited amount of service continuously throughout the
peak. The quantity should be sufficient to furnish
emergency boosts to any car or truck likely to visit tho
garage. Probably the garage owner already pays for a
few k : lighting load on such an unrestricted
ot likely that he objects to the use of
the lamps lining a winter's afternoon. Taken on the
yearly basis, the total increased cost of contracting for
a small n of the garage's demand at the unre-
stricted, wholesale rate will amount to a very slight
differenci the unit cost of energy. Especially will
the difference be slight if care be taken to utilize the
small peak demand to the fullest extent during all
twenty-hours of the day. In this way, by distributing
the charging of cars so as to load the small demand to
its full extent, a low equivalent rate will be earned on
this energy by utilizing the demand element of the rate
to its limit, while at the same time the total demand
needed will be accordingly decreased. With such ar-
rangement the occasional car may be charged by the
garage at any time, and the slight difference in annual
cost to the garage owner, if any, will be offset by his
gain through the increased satisfaction and convenience
of his customers.
The Rating of Incandescent Lamps
An article by Mr. H. Armagnat, noted in the Digest
in this issue, contains a considerable amount of useful
information regarding the distribution of light from
various kinds of incandescent lamps, with respect both
to the horizontal rating and to the mean hemispherical
candle-power attained. For the older types of lamps
such data are very familiar and well known, but for the
new metallic-filament lamps with their great variety in
the arrangement and working of the filament the facts
ascertained from actual measurement have been rather
scarce. In particular, the photometry of these recent
lamps, as has been shown by more than one investigator
recently, is most troublesome and unsatisfactory. For
a comparatively simple form of lamp thoroughly stand-
ardized and extensively investigated there has been sub-
stituted a great group of more or less experimental
forms, changing with kaleidoscopic rapidity and giving
all kinds of trouble to the photometrist who has gained
his experience along strictly conventional lines.
The author appears not to be familiar with the sphere
photometer, or gravely underestimates its convenience.
In the present state of things there is only one logical
method for rating incandescent lamps, and that is upon
their total light flux in mean spherical candles or, pref-
erably, lumens, which rating can be ascertained quickly
and accurately by a single measurement in the sphere
photometer. In the early days of electric lighting when
lamps were hung up in any way which seemed conven-
ient, with only the slightest attention to reflectors, the
distribution of light around the axis and in the vertical
plane was a matter of some consequence. At present,
when no intelligent person thinks of using lamps with-
out suitable shades or reflectors, the total light flux is
the only feature to be given serious consideration, and
the sooner the mean horizontal ratings for incandescent
lamps follow into oblivion the hypothetical "2000 cp" of
the old arc lamps the better it will be for the science of
illumination.
332
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 6
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Concentric Wiring
Tii the Editor of the Electrical World:
Sir: — The present attitude of a few of the manufac-
turers and jobbers toward the introduction of concen-
tric wiring would lie amusing were it not that it threat-
ens to delay the introduction of what all who have
Riven the subject a little consideration agree will result
in increased business and profit not only to the central
stations but. with very few exceptions, to the manufac-
turers, jobbers and contractors as well.
That much of the opposition is due to the efforts of a
comparatively small part of the interests who think they
are threatened is well known, and it is to be hoped that
better counsels will prevail before the next meeting of
the Underwriters' committee, to the end that tentative
approval, at least, be given to the use of the new system.
The introduction of the system is inevitable unless a
combination in restraint of trade be formed that will
resist public opinion and law as well, and certainly no
one believes the Underwriters will become a party to
any such combination.
It is to be hoped, however, that sufficient time will
be allowed for the development of the conductors and
fittings so that when the system is ready for general
use all devices will have been standardized so far as
possible.
There is no reason why all conductors having a uni-
form carrying capacity should not have a uniform out-
side diameter, no matter who makes them. All fittings
should conform to such diameter, and obviously all such
fittings should be of the so-called polarity type. There
are other features that should be settled before the
system is thrown open to general use. In so far as
possible the system should be standardized, and I be-
lieve that everyone will agree that the question of
standards should be determined by a joint committee
made up of representatives of the Underwriters, the
National Electric Light Association and the manufac-
turers, rather than by the latter alone. Certainly we
must avoid the totally unnecessary confusion that exists
at present in separable attachments plugs and recep-
tacles.
The introduction of the concentric-wiring system
promises to do as much for the extension of electric
service as has the tungsten lamp. It is now time to
start, but let us start right. H. A. Fee,
Adrian, Mich.
The steel industry was originated in England, but
Americans were not slow to conceive methods which
enabled them to make rails cheaper and better and to
supply the English people with a product as good as
their own at a lower cost. Our electrical industry may
not yet have reached that point, but it is certainly trav-
eling in that direction. We are not only compelled to
be up to date in our manufacturing methods and produce
the best we can, but we are severely driven by heavy
competition to reduce the cost of our product. We are
striving so to equip ourselves as to meet the require-
ments of low cost which dominates so strongly our pres-
ent tendencies in manufacturing. It seems best, there-
fore, to be content with this logical evolution of indus-
try and permit an actual desire for improvement and
the keen competition to develop a wiring system that
exactly suits our conditions, that give us better pro-
tection from fire and other damages, that represents
the typical American products. We should not discard
our present excellent system in favor of something that
has been developed under radically different conditions
for satisfying different needs. Are we not liable to be
the losers in the end? William Handley,
Pairtiirket R I ' -1'""".""' Tubultir
i an mi /,< r, ti. l. jiauv
Lighting of Country Roads
To the Editor of the Electrical World :
Sir: — In connection with the editorial on the "Light-
ing of Country Roads" in your issue of Dec. 26, con-
taining the statement that "even 40-watt or 50-watt
lamps spaced twenty to the mile are a great deal better
than nothing," the older operators of lighting properties
will recall several towns and villages of 5000 and 6000
inhabitants that up to a few years ago were lighted by
the Thompson-Houston system series incandescent car-
bon lamps of 25 alleged cp, placed at the intersection
of the streets, usually about 400 ft. or 500 ft. apart.
When the street lamps failed, as was frequently the
case in those days, quite a difference was noted in the
community, I assure you.
Modern 40-watt lamps series lamps giving about 36
cp, placed twenty to the mile, or 264 ft. apart, would, in
my judgment, give adequate illumination for outlying
streets or suburban roads. E. F. McCabe,
Titusville, Pa. r""*rf%^,;C ,""'*'
Cheap Electric Wiring
To tin Editor at lin Klectrical World:
Sir: — From time to time there have appeared arti-
cles in the electrical press in which the American sys-
tem of wiring is compared with that of Europe, and the
latter system is frequently favored on account of its
cheapness. While one cannot deny the fart that cheap-
ness is the fundamental basis of modern commercial de-
velopment, yet we should nut ignore the fact that a
Iderat ions mui I i"1 carefully taken
into account before we can adopt European meth-
: wiring and lie reasonably certain of obtaining an
improvement, At present we have a system Bupi
to those of Europe which has been gradually developed
ill tli in accordance with our needs and the
nature ,,| our buildings. The latter ire more subject
to fire risk than those abroad. The fact that we have
d anj other system is not to be attributed to
our ignorance, but to other cs
The Unit of Brightness
To the Editor of the Electrical World:
Sir: — In your issue of Dec. 12, 1914, Mr. James R.
Cravath calls attention to a defect of the ordinary unit
of brightness, candle-power per unit area; namely, that
it is inconvenient to express in such a unit the bright-
of any body in any direction. He suggests that
"lumens per unit area, such flux being emitted accord-
ing to the cosine law," is a much more useful and
rational unit of brightness.
I unite agree with .Mr. Cravath's statements, but it
appears to me that his proposed modification stops just
short of a yen simple and practical unit of brightness.
What the eye sees and estimates as brightness is pro-
portional not to lumens per unit area of emitting sur-
face hut to lumens per unit projected area.
In practical work on relative brightness, and in theo-
retical work on the diffusion and intensity of lijrht pass-
ing from one surface to another, whatever units be used
one quantity is constantly recurring, namely, the num-
ELECTRICAL
333
■ light units per unit solid angle per unit projected
area. Thii .uetly with visual estii
nf brightness, whether of a luminetu Burface <>r soch an
object as the sky, where both distance away and in-
clination of surface are meaningless terms. The desig-
nation is a cumbersome one, and I prefer to speak
brightness as of so many "lamberts." This term is now
well underst I in our laboratory. Where requn
IS easily translated into lumens and any desired units
of area.
In trying out systems of units to find which are the
-ary and sufficient photometric quantities in
practical photometry, diffusion and lens work as well as
in theoretical work, we are now using the three follow-
ing and find them quite satisfactory:
Quantity (light watts), visibility times radiation in
watts.
light watts per unit solid angle.
ghtnesB (lamberts), lumens per unit projected
area.
Both quantity and brightness are connected through
the lumen to the flux unit preserved by our standard
lamps. P. G. Nutting,
Rochester N V Laboratory,
National Electrical Week
To the Editor of the Electrical World:
Sir: — I am heartily in sympathy with any movement
that promises to be for the benefit of the electric indus-
try as a whole, and as the "electrical week" seems to be
of this nature I am thoroughly in sympathy with the
proposal. F. G. Sykes,
\Toi,< Vn*-l- M V President American Potvrr if
I\ew lOlh, /V. X. Light Company.
To the Editor of the ELECTRICAL WORLD:
Sir: — The suggestion of a "national electrical week"
next fall is novel, interesting and worth while. I am
to-day writing the chairman of the local League of
Electrical Interests, advising him that if it is found
feasible and expedient for the league to support such
a movement in the city of St. Louis, we will be ready
to lend our cordial support. W. A. Layman,
C/ T tvuia Mi\ President and General Manager Wagnw
ot. L,vuii>, mo. . , ,„ company
Ti> the Editor of the Electrical World:
Sir: — It appears to me that the suggestion of a
"national electrical week" is a splendid one, and par-
ticularly applicable here in San Francisco and imme-
diate territory, owing to the Panama-Pacific Exposition,
which has certainly opened up a new field of illumina-
tion heretofore unthought of. I shall be very glad to
co-operate in any general plan that may be outlined in
this matter. I am sure that other companies in this
district, together with the manufacturers and jobbers,
will also be glad to take a hand. I trust the plan may
come to a very ripe fruition. John A. Britton,
San Francisco, Cal.
To the Editor of the Electrical World:
Sir: — We believe that the proposed "national electri-
cal week" movement will be productive of a great deal
of good and shall be very glad indeed to co-operate by
referring to the "electrical week" in our October adver-
tising in national magazines and by calling the movement
to the attention of our dealers throughout the country.
standard expression which all
I - can use in their general
publicity, in referring to this "electrical week." as the
cumu i will be much greater if this lie done
than 11 .'. ■ advertiser handles the campaign
differently. C. 11 « i.akk.
Ohio.
Hull,:,,
To tht Editoy o) tht ELECTRICAL World:
SlR: — The proposal that there be held throughout an
entire week of next October a nation-wide electrical
jubilee naturally attracts attention and leads to specula-
tion as to the possible benefits to the industry at large.
In many lines it has long been the custom to set aside
special periods for the express purpose of exploiting cer-
tain classes of goods. We are all familiar with "Fri-
day surprise sales," "June white days," etc., as desig-
nated by department stores the country over. In the
West we have "Apple Day," "Raisin Day," "Salmon
Day," etc., set aside for the purpose of doing homage
to these important articles of food, and thereby creating
an additional interest in them and promoting their sale.
Why not a "national electrical week"?
It goes without saying that in these times no unneces-
sary additional burden of expense should be imposed
upon any of us, and it is quite essential, therefore, that
those applying themselves to the exploitation of such an
undertaking should be inspired with the determination
to formulate plans that will secure extraordinary bene-
fits at the very minimum of expense.
In the case of the "Edison Day" celebration, when
the incandescent lamp only was given especial promi-
nence, the success was notable. Mr. Edison's name is
frequently on the tongue of almost every American, he
is the idol of many a schoolboy, he is almost an institu-
tion, and anything with which his name is associated is
immediately brought into prominence. There is no
doubt that the success of "Edison Day" was largely due
to the desire on the part of the country to do honor to
Edison the man through the medium of his pioneer elec-
trical invention, the incandescent lamp.
Will the designation "national electrical week" excite
an equivalent interest on the part of the general public?
That remains to be seen. I am of the opinion that with
the proper enthusiastic co-operation of all the allied in-
terests of the electrical industry, both major and minor,
there can be worked out by the committee a general plan
of procedure which, when applied to individual com-
munities throughout the country, will enable the local
federations of electrical interests to make their celebra-
tions a part of the successful whole.
It is difficult for one to form a conception of the tre-
mendous possibilities of such a force as this nation-
wide movement undoubtedly will be. The results should
be twofold — the stimulation of a better and more ex-
tended use of electricity in all lines by those already
using it, and the conversion to the ranks of electricity
users of many of those who at present are uninformed
of its many advantages.
In order to concentrate the minds of all engaged in
the industry, from those in the most responsible posi-
tions down to those engaged in the humblest occupa-
tions, upon the problem of making the "national elec-
trical week" a success of magnificent proportions, it
seems to me essential that those in charge should formu-
late plans of the most ingenious and novel character.
The measure of success will be the extent to which
everyone in the industry lends active aid.
0. B. Coldwell,
foHiana, Ore. Portland /.'.'. Light d Power Co
Illumination Features of Montreal Station
Improved Lighting Systems Installed in Concourse, Waiting-Room and Train
Shed of Reconstructed Windsor Depot of the Canadian Pacific
ONE of the most interesting features of the Wind-
sor station of the Canadian Pacific Railway at
Montreal, P. Q., which has lately been recon-
structed, is the improved illumination effected in the
concourse, train shed and main waiting-room. The
terminal is one of the largest in the Dominion. It
houses the general offices of the company in addition to
the facilities provided for passenger, mail and express
traffic. The building is 1100 ft. long over all, with a
total width of 350 ft., including the main concourse.
Energy for lighting and motor service is supplied by
the Montreal Light, Heat & Power Company to a dis-
tributing substation in the basement. All wiring is
run in conduit, and tungsten lamps are used throughout.
The main concourse is 330 ft. long inside and about
70 ft. wide, with an arched roof of combined concrete
and wired-glass monitor construction carried on steel
trusses. The illumination is provided by twenty-seven
units, composed of six 100-watt lamps each, mounted
in hemispherical diffusing globes carried by chains at
a height of 19 ft. above the floor. The lighting units
are hung in two rows about 36 ft. apart, the individual
fixtures being 22 ft. apart longitudinally. One row
is carried along the concourse above the ticket offices,
telephone and telegraph offices, news stand and prin-
cipal entrances to waiting-rooms, the other being
nearly above the gates leading to the train shed. This
distribution greatly reduces the amount of special light-
ing required at lower levels in the concourse and pro-
vides an even and thoroughly satisfactory illumination
from one end of the concourse to the other. The train
bulletins are of the Hutchinson type, with double in-
clined panels and a central destination rack in each case,
every bulletin being provided with six 15-watt lamps
screened from the public by close-fitting horizontal
opaque shades. Two lamps and one reflector are pro-
III.. I VIEW SHOWING LIGHTING OK TRAIN SHED
Febrcakv 6, 1916
ELECTRICAL \V ORLD
335
FIG. 2 — WINDSOR STATION, MAIN WAITING-ROOM
vided for each section of the bulletin board, the lighting
being merely sufficient to accentuate the time of train
departure, track number and names of stations.
Eleven parallel tracks enter the train shed, each pair
in general being separated by a passenger aisle. The
roof is supported by columns set in alternate aisles, and
the disposition of lamps conforms to the aisle condi-
tions. Throughout the train shed the illumination is
provided by 100-watt lamps carried 14.5 ft. above the
platform and mounted in
Benjamin steel enameled
reflectors fitted to Crouse-
Hinds condulets. Six plat-
forms are clear and six are
provided with columns.
The platforms on which
columns are erected are 16
ft. wide, those clear being
10 ft. in width. Above the
clear platforms the lamps
are carried in a central row
28 ft. apart, there being a
standard arrangement of
thirty-seven lamps per
platform. The columns are
spaced 28 ft. apart longi-
tudinally on centers, and
between each pair are
mounted two lamps spaced
12 ft. apart, there being a
total of seventy-two lamps
per platform. Between the
bumper posts and the con-
course a midway 26.5 ft.
wide runs the entire width
of the station, with a wired-
glass partition separating
it from the concourse. The
lighting of the midway is
provided by a pair of 100-
watt lamps in line with each
FIG. 3 — TYPICAL MAIN-CONTROL-BOARD PANEL
track, the lamps being hung 14.5 ft. above the platform
and spaced 19 ft. apart, each pair being symmetrically
disposed with reference to the center line of the mid-
way. The reflectors of all train-shed lamps are enameled
on both surfaces. The longitudinal rows of lamps in
the train shed are spaced 22 ft. apart, and the illumina-
tion of the platforms forms a notable contrast to
the dimly lighted walkways usually associated with
railroad stations. In passing from a well-lighted car
to the platform there is no
material drop in illumina-
tion so far as convenience
of movement is concerned.
In the main waiting-
room the company's engi-
neers have relied entirely
upon the illumination fur-
nished by standards carry-
ing a cluster of seven globes
each, sixteen of these fix-
tures being placed along the
walls of the room. The
waiting-room is 129 ft.
long, 58 ft. wide and 25 ft.
high ; the clusters are
spaced 19 ft. apart, and the
lower lamps of each group
are mounted 9 ft. above the
floor. Six 10-in. globes and
one 12-in. globe of translu-
cent glassware are used in
each case, the lamps being
rated ; t 100 watts each.
Energy is fed to the lamps
through conduits laid in the
floor, with connection to a
panelboard in the main cor-
ridor. All the lamps in the
station are operated on
110-volt alternating - cur-
rent circuits.
336
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 6
Sag in Overhead Conductors
Brief and Accurate Method of Determining the Effect of Ice and Wind Loads
and Temperature Changes Upon Them
By Kenneth L. Wilkinson
A NUMBER of articles have appeared recently on
the method of solving problems relating to the
sag and tension in wires under various condi-
tions of temperature and loading. Some of these solu-
tions have been graphical and others analytical. The
graphical methods, while simple and readily understood,
are to a certain extent objectionable, because they
necessitate the use of a sheet of curves which may
not always be available when wanted. The analytical
methods thus far presented have either been too com-
plicated to permit of easy solution or else have sacri-
ficed accuracy in the attempt to simplify the solution.
The treatment of the sag problem given in this
article considers the wire in its original condition, that
is, in its unstressed length. This condition forms the
basis from which the sag of the wire under any condi-
tions of temperature and loading can be determined.
The writer believes this to be the most simple analytical
solution of the sag problem that has been given thus far.
Notation:
L = span length in feet.
l„ = unstressed length of wire in feet per foot of span.
I, = stressed length of wire in feet per foot of span
with external load (i.e., with ice and wind on
wire).
/, = stressed length of wire in feet per foot of span
without external load but at same temperature
as for lr
Tt = tension in pounds in wire with external load.
T, = tension in pounds in wire without external load
but at same temperature as T,.
D, = sag in feet in wire with external load.
D2 = sag in feet in wire without external load but at
same temperature as D,.
W, = weight in pounds per foot of conductor with ex-
ternal load.
W, = weight in pounds per foot of conductor without
external load.
a = cross-sectional area of conductor in square
inches.
M — modulus of elasticity of conductor material.
In designing a transmission line the following things,
among others, must be known :
I I The moat unfavorable conditions of temperature
and loading that the wires must withstand.
(2) The tension to be allowed in the wires under
these load conditions.
The length of span.
(4) The mechanical properties of the conductor.
Thus, in a design problem are given L, T„ Wlt 11' .
i/ and a.
The relation between sag and tension in the loaded
span is given by the following well-known formula:
" "r
I L)
The length per fool of span of the suspended con-
r is given by the following formula:
The uns; '-essed length of the wire pel foot of span
that is, the length per loot of span that the wire would
assume wh< n taken down and laid on the ground — is
equal to the stressed length per foot of span minus
the contraction due to releasing the tension in the wire,
viz.,
Tl (3)
k = l —
Ma
The stressed length of the wire per foot of span with
the external load (.ice and wind) removed will be equal
to the unstressed length per foot of span plus the ex-
tension due to the tension in the wire loaded only with
its own weight, viz.,
Ma
whence
Wp (5)
8D,
Substitution of the value T, from equation (5) in
equation (4) gives
WJJl0 (6)
SDMa
The value of l. can also be found from the formula
for the length of a suspended wire, viz.,
&D\ (7)
TV
Equating (6) and (7) gives
W\ , , WX\ (8)
T, =
k = k +
1=1 +
1 +
:;/.-
k+
8D.Ma
D\ + D,
SU
U — U =
SWJLX
(9)
8 " 64A/a
From equation (9) the sag in the conductor when the
ice and wind load is removed can be determined.
This equation at first glance may appear to be compli-
cated, but upon closer observation it is found to be quite
simple, being of the form
D\ + BDt = C,
where B is usually a small number and C in most cases
is less than 10,000. This equation can be quickly solved
by trial substitution; that is, by inspecting the equa-
tion an approximate value of D, can be determined.
This value is then substituted in the equation, the work
being done on the slide rule. If it is found that the
value assumed for D, is too large, a smaller number is
tried. Thus by three or four trials D. can be closely
determined. The ease with which the solution of equa-
tion (9) is effected is illustrated in a problem given in
this article.
Changes in temperature are cared for by adding to
(or subtracting from) l„ the amount of elongation (or
contraction) in the unstressed wire due to an increase
(or decrease) in temperature. That is, for an increase
of .)• degrees.
{', I, h(H xc) (10)
where c is the coefficient of expansion for the conductor.
( This method can also be reversed and used to de-
termine what the sag and tension will be in a wire
under the worst conditions of temperature and loading
when the sag under normal conditions is given.*
The use of this method can best be illustrated by con-
nig the following problem.
\ry 6, 1915
K LECT RICAL Wo R I.D
Problt m: To find the Bag of a No. 0 B. & S. stranded
r wire at 60 deg. Fahr. in a 400-ft. Bpan, such that
th»- wire will have a factor of safety of two at 0 deg.
Fanr. when loaded with ice '; in. thick all around the
TABLE I — PROPERTIES OF WIRE MATERIAL
rial
12,000
Aluminum
22,000,000
29,0
TABLE II — COPPER WIRE, STRANDED
Ultimate Tension
Ma
Diam-
Area.
H ,t -
eter.
Square
Inched
per Foot
Hard-
Soft-
Hard-
drawn
drawn
drawn
drawn
0000
0 530
0 645
9.970
5.650
2,659,
1. .'ii. mm
000
0 470
0 I31S
0 513
7.910
4.4mi
.'.lmi.mm
1.5-.2.IHHI
00
ii 1045
0 406
6.270
3 . 555
1. 672,000
1,254,000
0
0 375
n 0829
0 323
4.970
2.820
1,326,000
945,000
1
0 330
0 0657
0 255
3.940
2,235
1,051.000
7,v>,un:>
2
0 291
0 0521
0 203
3.130
1.770
834,000
625.000
3
0 281
0 0413
0 160
2.480
1.405
661.000
496.000
4
0 231
0 0328
0 127
1.970
1.115
525.000
3P4.000
5
0 206
0 0260
0 101
1.560
885
lln, nun
312. 010
8
ii 184
0 0206
0 080
1.235
700
330,000
247.000
TABLE III — COPPER WIRE, SOLID
Ultimate Tension
1
Diam-
Area,
eter.
Bquan
Weiuht
B. AS
Inches
Inches
per Foot
Hard-
Soft-
Hard-
So't-
drawn
drawn
drawn
draw.i
0000
0 460
0 1662
il 641
8,310
5,650
2,659.000
1.994.000
000
il lln
0 1318
0 509
6.590
4,480
2,1 19,000
1,582,000
00
0 365
ii 10(6
il 403
3.555
1,672 000
I, 254,
0
0 320
4,560
2.820
i a >e o ii
945.000
1
0 289
ii 253
3,7411
2.235
1,051
788.000
2
ii 358
0 0521
0 202
3,120
1,770
334,000
625,000
3
0.229
n 0413
0 159
2,480
1,405
661,
496,000
4
0 204
-
0 126
1.960
1,115
525,000
394.000
S
ii 182
ii 0260
(1 11)11
1,560
885
Hi'.,
312,000
6
0 0206
0 079
1,240
700
330,000
247,000
TABLE IV — ALUMINUM WIRE, STRANDED
1 iiam.Tt r.
Wefchl
per Fool
Inches
Inches
Tension
It a
100,000
ii -11
0.3924
0 460
460,000
ii ;;.'
0 3535
0 414
8,130
3 1-.'.
0 3141
'
2,827,000
n 2750
0.322
6,325
2, 175. nun
100,000
ii 621
0 2360
5,430
2,124,000
250,000
oooo
0.567
n ]'n.:.
1
4,520
1,769 000
ii 522
ii 1662
ii 195
3,820
1. 196,000
000
ii KM
ii 1318
0 165
3,160
1. 186,200
00
ii 111
ii 1045
0.122
2.510
941,000
0
n 368
0.0879
n 097
1
746,000
J
0 |2{
0.0657
0.077
1.575
591,000
2
0 291
ii 0521
ii iii.i
1,250
469,000
3
0 0413
0.049
990
Ii 0
4
0 31
'■■
n 039
7' III
295 000
wire and a wind pressure of 8 lb. per sq. ft. of projected
area; the breaking strength of the wire is 4980 lb.
The data and calculations are then as follows:
T, = 2490 lb.
W, = 1.26 lb. (resultant load of ice, wind and weight of
conductor).
tr 0.823 lb.
q. in.
.1/ 16,000,000.'
/. 40
1 26 100
- 2490
1> ln.l ft. sag at 0 deg. Fahr. under maxi-
mum load.
10.1s
mo
/ 1.0017 ft.
2490 X 1-0017
(1)
D. =
l. = l +
(3) {,= 1.0017
I 0.99983 it.
19) D- D, '
16,000,000X0.083
0.99983) =
3 0.323 ■ 400' X 0.99983
(14 ■ 16,000.000 X 0.083
D\ 4- 10.2D, = 292.
Upon inspecting this equation it is seen that the value
of D will be such that its cube will be less than 292.
Take D2 = 6, then
216 + 61.2 = 277.2, which is too small.
Take D2 = 6.2, then
238 + 63.3 = 301.3, which is too large.
From this it is seen that D. is nearly 6.2 ft. This is
close enough for all practical purposes, but if more accu-
rate results are desired another trial can be made.
Take D, = 6.13, then
230 + 62.5 = 292.5,
whence D, = 6.13 ft. sag at 0 deg. Fahr. with load off.
To find sag at 60 deg. Fahr. the calculations are as
follows :
(10) l'„ = 0.99983 (.1 + 60X0.0000096),
and
D\ — 24.4Z), = 292,
from which
D2 = 7.85 ft. sag at 60 deg. Fahr. with load off.
Unless it is desired, it is not necessary to determine
the sag at 0 deg. Fahr. with the load off. After the
unstressed length at 0 deg. Fahr. is determined the
temperature change as expressed in equation (10) can
be applied directly to equation (9) and the sag at the
desired temperature with the load off can at once be
determined.
The results found by this method check the results
found by using the graphical method described in the
June, 1911, Proceedings A. I. E. E., "Sag Calculations
for Suspended Wires," by Percy H. Thomas.
The acompanying tables will be found of assistance in
solving sag problems.
Proper Lighting as a Factor in Good Health
The importance of proper illumination as a factor in
maintaining the health of the individual and the com-
munity was emphasized in several of the exhibits of the
Cit3 Club Public Health Exhibition recently held at
Chicago. Operating models showing schoolroom, shop
and living-room lighting were loaned by the Illuminating
Engineering Society for the exhibition. Placards told
the story of the proper lighting in graphic language
and pointed out the poor judgment displayed in impair-
ing the services of a good workman earning, say, 50
cents per hour, by giving him improper illumination
when the best lighting does not cost more than 2 cents
per hour. The exhibit was in charge of the club's com-
mittee on environmental conditions.
338
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 6
Small-Town Distribution and Management Cost
Data for the Last Fiscal Year Apportioned to Show the Actual Expense Incurred by
the Manhattan (Kan.) Company in Supplying Electricity to Customers
AT the close of the fiscal year last June, Mr. E. A.
Wright, manager and contract agent of the
Manhattan (Kan.) Ice, Light & Power Company,
sought to apportion among the various classes of
customers the company's approximate distribution and
overhead expense. In order that the data given might
correspond more closely with the figures to be expected
under the conditions of a normal year, Mr. Wright re-
vised some of the individual items, making the neces-
sary additions and reductions. That, on the whole, the
approximations thus arrived at correspond closely, how-
ever, with the actual operating expenses of the company
will be evident from a comparison of the totals. Since
the Manhattan company is a distribution organization,
purchasing most of its energy from a water-power com-
pany, production costs were not considered in Mr.
Wright's analysis. The actual operating expenses, in-
cluding interest and depreciation but exclusive of energy
production and purchase, were $29,292.42, while the
total as used in this analysis was made $29,290 for the
sake of round numbers.
Manhattan boasts of a population of 7800 people, not
including 2500 students who reside in the city nine
1 mini *|il !■*
Y
Wj^^^^^ -{i
F r
months of each year. The Manhattan Ice, Light &
Power Company had on its lines last year an average of
1472 meters, of which number 1179 were used for resi-
dence-lighting installations, 252 measured energy for
business lighting, and 41 served motor users.
Method of Classification
In making the analysis the service was classified un-
der the heads of residence lighting, business lighting,
street lighting and motor service.
The operating expenses and fixed charge accounts
were divided into three classes, as follows: Class A,
those which can be apportioned on a connection or meter
basis ; Class B, those which should be apportioned ac-
cording to the investment; Class C, those which are
wholly chargeable to any particular class of service.
This classification was made, of course, purely for the
purpose of this analysis and is not actually followed in
the routine accounting of the company.
Under the head of Class A the items in Table I are
included. In Table I several accounts have been thrown
together for convenience. For instance, under "main-
tenance of commercial customers' installations" are in-
FIC. 1— FEEDER LINE NEAR PLANT
PIG. 2 TOPICAL DISTKIIUTING LINE IN ALLEY
pKBKI ui 6, 1916
E LECT R K' A I. WORLD
eluded free renewals of carbon lamps, replacing of fuses
blown out by lightning or other causes beyond the cus-
tomer's control, inspection of customers' premises, and
such other free is rendered to customers.
Under "accounting" are placed salaries of clerks, post-
age, stationery, etc. "tleneral office expense" includes
janitor service, office lighting and such other items of
expense as are chargeable to the maintenance of the
office. Under "general expense" are included care of
TABLE 1 — ITEMS APPORTION ED ON A METER BASIS
. and removing meters $:,n
l :.
■ f meters 110
1 customers' installations 430
.5 in. u-rs 360
1,800
accounting ex] 2,615
office expense 955
ty insurance 240
1,570
• paid on guarantee deposits 20
A $S,16S
Apportionment of Expenses
.Many utility managers will agree that practically all
of the above expenses can be apportioned equally among
the company's consumers at so much per consumer or
so much per meter. For instance, an electric-light cus-
tomer with a 50-cent monthly bill will take up just as
much of the clerks' and manager's time as a $100-a-
month lighting customer or a $200-motor-service cus-
tomer. The office will receive about as many trouble
calls from the 50-cent customer as from the $100 cus-
tomer. The meter of the 50-cent customer requires as
much attention as that of the $100 customer, and for
these reasons the above total of $8,165 can be appor-
tioned among the various classes of service according
to the number of meters. The apportionment is given in
Table II.
TABLE II — APPORTIONMENT OF CLASS A EXPENDITURES
I 1 T'.i meters) $6,542
ters) 1,395
(41 meters) 228
Total, Class A J8.165
horses, horse feed, horse shoeing, maintenance of har-
wagons, etc. The other accounts, which are, it is
believed, self-explanatory, follow the practice recom-
mended in the report of the accounting committee at
the 1913 convention of the National Electric Light As-
sociation.
For the reason that the street lighting requires but
one connection and one account, none of the above oper-
ating expenses has been charged to it. Although this
class of service should bear its share of the manage-
ment and accounting expenses, the charge would be so
small as to be negligible in the total results.
FIG. 3 — JUNCTION POLE IN BUSINESS DISTRICT
FIG. 4 — FIXTURE USED IN RESIDENCE DISTRICT
340
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 6
Figures for Class B, including fixed charges and op-
erating expenses which should be apportioned accord-
ing to the investment for each class of service, are given
in Table III.
TABLE III — EXPENSES APPORTIONED ACCORDING TO
INVESTMENT
ind distributinK system $390
Mainti ■ ,,
L.480
t on investment at S per cent
6,110
Total, Class B (2
The portion of the plant of the Manhattan Ice, Light
& Power Company used in the manufacture and distri-
bution of electricity has been valued at approximately
$155,000 by a reputable firm of consulting engineers.
This investment has been apportioned among the vari-
ous classes of service in Table IV.
TABLE IV — APPORTIONMENT OF CAPITAL ACCOUNT
Residence lighting (90,
Business lighting .-,,1,1
Motor service 5 000
Street lighting 10,000
Total $155,000
The investment in the generating station was ap-
portioned by analyzing the peak load. The maximum or
peak load comes on Saturday night, and at that time the
business lighting is all in operation while the resi-
dence lighting is less than normal owing to the fact
that a great many of the students and townspeople are
down town. The motor-service load is all off-peak load
and therefore none of the investment in power plant
can be properly apportioned to this class of service.
The street-lighting load is constant and continues over
the peak load; therefore it should take its portion of
the power-plant investment. The investment in power
plant was apportioned in the ratio of 60, 30 and 10 per
cent to residence lighting, business lighting and power
respectively. The apportionment of transformers, meters
and service wires was arrived at by a division of the
actual value of transformers, meters and material used
in each class of service. Division of the investment in
the distributing system required considerable calcula-
tion and some arbitrary assumptions. On the basis of
the division of investment, Class B operating expenses
and fixed charges can be apportioned to the various
classes of service as shown in Table V.
TABLE V — EXPENSE CHARGEABLE TO INVESTMENT
nee lighting |1
Bti t lighting
.Moii. i jei lea
Total CI B J
Under Class C operating expense there is but one
item, namely, maintenance of street-lighting service,
Including patrol service, renewals, trimming of arcs
Mid, in fact, all material and labor which is chargeable
hi tiic operation oi the Btreel lighting system The total
"i thi expen
The recapitulation of the expenses shows th*e appor-
tionment i>r the total operating expenses chargeable to
residence lighting from Class A I" be $6,820, from i
B $11,900, and from Class C nothing. The total is
$18,220.
During the year the energy consumed in residence
ligjiuiig as measured by customers' meters was 244,913
kw-hr., so that the overhead charges and distribution
charges per kw-hr. are equal to $18,220 divided by
244,913, or approximately 7.45 cents per kw-hr.
Apportionment of expenditures chargeable to business
lighting from Class A was $1,305, from Class B $6,620,
and from Class C nothing, making the total $7,925.
Meter records show that 184,784 kw-hr. was consumed
in business lighting, so that the operating expenses per
kw-hr. equal $7,925 divided by 184,734, or approxi-
mately 4.29 cents per kw-hr.
Operating expenses apportioned to street lighting
-ONE OF FORTY-TWO "WHITE-WAY'
TOWN
POSTS DOWN
were as follows: From Class A nothing, from Class B
$1,386, and from Class C $605. The total is $1,9 10.
During the year the energy consumed in street light-
ing, including the losses in the street-lighting circuits,
was 79,200 kw-hr.; therefore the distribution charges
and overhead expense per ku Hr. equal $1,940 divided by
79.200. or approximately 2.46 cents per kw-hr.
The operating expenses apportioned to motor seme!
were: Class A $220, Class B $665, and Class C nothing
Hence the total is $885.
The total annual energy consumed in motor service
w;is 178,884 kw-hr.; hence the fixed charges and operat-
ing expenses per kw-hr. are equal to 885 divided by
its. ssi. or approximately 0.1846 cent per kw-hr.
In arriving at these figures no consideration has been
Fkhki ai:i 6, 1915
E I. ECT R ! C A L Wo U I. I»
341
et lighting.
ir the line li
Not having separate station meters
deter-
mine the exact proportion of this each
ile to
-e that the loss for r
lighting is in excess of 20 per cent, while that lor motor
considerably less than 20 per cent. But. as-
suming that each class ol service, with the exception of
■ lighting, bears the same percentage of distribut-
ing losses, the costs as determined should be incre
0 per cent, which would bring the cost of residence
lighting up to 8.95 cents per kw-hr.. business lighting
to 5.15 cents per kw-hr.. street lighting to 2.45 cents per
kw-hr., and motor service to 0.221 cent per kw-hr. If
the energy costs 2 cents per kw-hr. at the switchboard,
■ nee-lighting customers should pay a net average
per kw-hr. of 10.95 cents; business lighting, 7.15 cents;
motor service, 2.221 cents, and street lighting, 4.45
cents.
What the \nahsis Showed
In drawing conclusions from this analysis at the re-
cent convention of the Kansas Gas, Water, Electric Light
and Street Railway Association, Mr. Wright said: "it
should be borne in mind that the average cost per kilo-
watt-hour at the switchboard has been greatly reduced,
to the benefit of the lighting customer, by the sale of a
large amount of motor service at a very low price. In
fact, where nearly all energy is purchased from a water-
power company, and where the principal item of operat-
ing expense in the station consists in maintaining the
steam auxiliary plant and keeping an operating crew on
duty at all times, as is the case at Manhattan, the unit
cost at the switchboard is not so greatly affected by the
output as in the case of a plant operated wholly by steam.
But even in the case of the Manhattan company the
lighting customer is receiving almost the entire benefit
of the reduction in the cost of energy at the switchboard
by reason of the sale of a large amount of energy for
motors. At the same time he is being benefited in-
directly through the sale of energy to the city at a price
less than cost for pumping water, it being assumed, of
course, that he is receiving water from the city at cost.
"Concerning the actual management and clerical ex-
pense per meter," continued Mr. Wright, "by referring
to the operating expenses under Class A it will be found
that this disbursement amounted to $8,165 for a total
of 1472 meters, which is approximately $5.55 per meter
per year, or 46.5 cents per meter per month. To arrive
at a minimum charge which will not result in a loss to
the company the interest and depreciation on meter and
service should be added to this figure. The average cost
of the service may be taken to be approximately $4,
while the cost of an ordinary 5-amp meter, including
first installation, may be taken approximately at $7,
making the total cost of a service $11. Assuming depre-
ciation at 6 per cent and interest at 8 per cent, we have
a fixed charge of $1.54 a year, or 12.8 cents a month, to
add to the management expense, making a total of ap-
proximately 60 cents a month. If this 60-cent minimum
charge be added to the cost of energy, the result seems
to indicate that a minimum of 75 cents per month per
meter for lighting service is in this case none too high."
A good idea of the Manhattan Ice, Light & Power
Company's system may be had from the illustrations
accompanying this article. Fig. 1 shows a feeder line,
Fig. 2 a line running through an alley, Fig. 3 a junction
pole in the business district, Fig. 4 a street-lighting
fixture in the residential section, and Fig. 5" one of the
forty-two handsome fixtures that are installed along the
"white way" in the down-town district.
CONCRETE II: WSMISMON-LINE POLES
tdvanlages and Disadvantage* of Ihiir Employment —
Method "i l ■ -i and Construction Details
i;v k. d. Coombs
Now thai experience has shown concrete poles to
supporting conductors, the method
of their construction depends on their location
or importance in the line. The characteristics of
wooden poles which have supported and are still sup-
porting wires will serve as a guide in designing con-
crete poles which are to be used in similar service.
When steel is embedded in well-made concrete the life
the reinforced structure is practically indefinite.
Chief among the advantages of concrete poles are that
they can be spaced farther apart than wooden poles, that
they resist fire, and that they are not attacked by fungi
or insects in damp climates. By forming an axial pas-
sage through concrete poles while molding, wires can
FIG. 1 — LOADING CONCRETE POLES
be run concealed from the tops to the bottoms at very
little additional expense. Reinforced-concrete poles
when subjected to an overload do not fail by breaking
off like wooden poles, but bend and are held in place by
the reinforcement. If properly designed, a concrete pole
will deflect to equalize moderate unbalanced loads with-
out cracking.
One disadvantage of concrete poles is their weight
and its effect on the cost of transporting and erecting.
Some construction engineers claim that this objection
can be avoided by casting the poles in place. The writer
believes, however, that no advantage can be derived
from this procedure as it would require considerable ex-
pense and labor to transport forms, water and other
materials from one location to another.
A number of freak designs have been developed, but
none of these poles appears to have qualities which com-
mend it. Concrete-incased poles are neither theoretical-
ly nor practically desirable, and it is doubtful whether
another trial will be given to them. Triangular poles,
which are rather hard to climb, are weaker in one di-
rection than in the opposite direction. Paneled poles,
which are employed to some extent in Germany, are
light in weight, but the same advantage can be obtained
from hollow cylindrical poles, which are generally more
desirable.
Poles with unsymmetrical sections — that is, thicker
in the direction of the greater stress — may be employed.
342
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 6
but they may be objectionable because of their appear-
ance. In general, square, octagonal or circular poles
are preferable, being more sightly and easier to con-
struct. The minimum diameter for pole tops should be
6 in., which should be increased for strength and ap-
pearance in cases where long poles or heavy lines are
employed.
If small surface cracks develop in concrete poles dur-
ing seasoning they may be filled with cement, but this is
not effective if the cracks are caused by faulty design,
as a subsequent application of load will open the crevices
again. Cracks in poles are objectionable because they
allow moisture to attack the reinforcement. To pre-
vent this condition poles should have considerable
strength provided for local stresses and should be
manufactured under competent supervision. On the
New Jersey meadows along the Pennsylvania Railroad
is one of the heaviest concrete-pole installations in the
Construction Details
When considerable reinforcing metal is employed it
is important to tamp or puddle the concrete as deposited
to prevent air pockets and provide the maximum adher-
ence of metal to the concrete. Mechanical bond or de-
formed bars (twisted square rods, etc.) are superior
to smooth bars for reinforcing as stresses in the con-
crete affect them more uniformly and rapidly over their
entire area. The metal may be medium-grade steel
with an ultimate strength of 60,000 lb. to 70,000 lb.
per square inch and an elastic limit of 30,000 lb. to 40,000'
lb. per square inch and capable of being bent cold about
its own diameter, or it may be high-carbon steel with
an ultimate strength of 80,000 lb. to 100,000 lb. per
square inch and an elastic limit of 40,000 lb. to 60,000
lb. per square inch and capable of being bent cold with-
out fracture about a radius of four times the diameter-
of the rod. Poles having similar dimensions and dis-
a *
\
"\
FIG. 2 — CONCRETE POLE
FIG. 3 — POLE UNDER 6000-LB. TEST PULL
FIG. 4 — STAR-SECTION POLE
country. It was designed by the writer to withstand
moisture in the peaty bog, which is fairly dry only in
the summer.
Distribution of Reinforcement
It is now generally conceded in reinforced-concrete
work that the finer the distribution of metal the greater
will be the homogeneity and strength of the structure.
However, in poles where concrete is deposited in nar-
row forms other conditions modify the distribution. If
the metal in a square pole is concentrated in four equal
areas, at each corner, the pole will be equally strong
either in the direction of or at right angles to the
line.
Other or finer distributions of reinforcement to give
equal strengths in the same directions require more
material. Furthermore, const met ion is simplified if
the metal is concentrated. Ample web reinforcement
resists vertical shearing stresses. As high-carbon steel
with a high elastic limit and a correspondingly richer
mixture of concrete are being used in other fields of
ninforced-ooncrete work to permit high working
stresses, it seems reasonable to follow this practice in
pole construction.
tribution of reinforcement but made of each of these
materials will not be similar in characteristics, as the
elastic limits are different; hence tension surface cracks
occur at different stresses. When poles are subjected to
torsion, diagonal or spiral reinforcing should be em-
ployed, although closer spacing of the longitudinal liars
will help appreciably. Horizontal tics are needed pri-
marily to restrain the rods from buckling and thereby
prevent the concrete spalling off and depreciating the
bond. Cast-iron rings or bands should never be used
for horizontal ties as they have low tensile strength.
Removing Poles from Forms
Concrete poles should not be removed from forms
until they have been allowed to set firmly. The forms
should lie kept covered during setting, particularly when
exposed to direct sunlight in hot weather. After remov-
ing from the forms the poles should be well sprinkle
and kept under canvas for several days. A freshly
made pole cannot bo rolled or handled with impunity
until it is well set. When poles are moved it should be
done h\ attaching slings to two separate points. Bolt
holes and step-bolt sockets should be cast in the poles.
Hardwood bUx'ks may he molded in the concrete to re-
\KY 6, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
343
ceive step bolts, but cast or -jural sockets are prefer-
able. Plastering the surface of a pole to remove pockets
and produce a finished appearance is particularly ob-
jectionable. Much better and more desirable results
can be obtained by rubbing the concrete to a fine sur-
face.
The most commonly used concrete mixture for poles
consists of one part Portland cement, two parts sand
and four parts broken stone or gravel. It should be
mixed wet and tamped and churned to eliminate air bub-
bles, insure good contact between the reinforcement and
concrete, and obtain a good surface. When bo made a
pole has an average compressive strength of about 1000
FIG. 5 — CONCRETE POLES SET IN PEATY BOG
lb. per square inch after seven days' seasoning, 2400 lb.
after one month, 3000 lb. after three months and 3500
lb. in six months.
Water-Power Development on Oregon Public Land
The annual report of the Oregon Conservation Com-
mission says that the controversy which for some time
has engaged the attention of those interested in the
development of water-power and the use of public lands
in connection therewith has apparently reached the
point where a settlement of the divergent views seems
not only possible but probable. The commission says
in part:
'"Assuming that all stand on the same platform —
protection of public rights, encouragement of invest-
ment and development — how are investment and devel-
opment to be secured? In but two ways — public owner-
ship, or private ownership subject to governmental
control. At the present time it is becoming increasingly
difficult to induce investment by individuals in public
service utilities. If this country is to rely upon the
national treasury for all its development of a public
and quasi-public character, we fear it will be a long
time before the West will be opened up. Indeed, it
may be doubted, in view of the pressing problems in
other directions, and even should the desire for public
ownership of all utilities become infinitely more pro-
nounced than it now is, whether the government could
possibly meet the requirements and demands that would
be made upon it. Therefore, unless public ownership
is to be accepted as a settled policy, the investor must
have fair consideration if his capital is to be depended
upon for development. Generally speaking, in the
[aces two problems — the development
■ ■ t and the creation of a market for ;t. In many
. unless there is power development, large sections
of the West are doomed to remain a desert.
"If provision be made for diligence in use and devel-
opment, prevention of unregulated monopoly, for con-
trol of rates and service by states on state business
and by the federal government on interstate business,
with the right on the part of the state or nation to
take over the physical property at its fair value after
the expiration of a fixed term, it would seem the public
interest will be properly protected. Such value should
not include the franchise, good will or water rights.
On principle we believe the national government has
the right to exact a charge for the use of national prop-
erty, as have the states for state property. However,
as a matter of good business policy, from a public
standpoint and from that of the farmer, the miner and
the manufacturer, we believe it inexpedient and un-
wise to make any substantial charges either directly
or indirectly for the use of the rights under discussion
now or for vears to come."
CENSUS RETURNS ON ELECTRIC LAMPS
Great Development of Incandescent Type and Decrease in
Arc Lamps in Service
Statistics of electric lamps wired for service are given
in the returns of the Bureau of the Census for 1912.
Owing to the absence of perfect records, the numbers of
lamps are estimated. Lamps are grouped in three
classes — arc, incandescent and, lastly, other varieties
such as Nernst, vapor, etc. The only gain from 1907
to 1912 was in incandescent lamps. Arc lamps, which
for all stations reported increased from 419,561 in 1902
to 635,815 in 1907, decreased to 560,981, or a loss of
11.8 per cent, in 1912. In all three of the census periods
the larger proportion of the total arc lamps in use were
in public service, although in 1907 almost as large a
number were in commercial use; in 1902 54.7 per cent
of the total were in public use; in 1907 50.1 per cent; in
1912 69.3 per cent.
The great development of the incandescent lamp is
showrn by the fact that the estimated number in use in
1907 was 134.2 per cent greater than in 1902. In 1912
the gain was 86 per cent over 1907. The increase in the
decade from 1902 to 1912 was 335.7 per cent. The larg-
est proportion of the incandescent lamps in use were
reported for lamps in commercial service, although the
number in public use showed large increases in percent-
age; in 1902 97.6 per cent of the incandescent lamps
were in commercial use, in 1907 98.1 per cent and in
1912 97.5 per cent. The number of incandescent lamps
in public use in 1912 was about two and one-half times
the total reported for 1907; the 1912 total represented a
gain of 353.5 per cent over that reported ten years
earlier. The number in commercial use in 1912 was
335.3 per cent greater than in 1902. The number in
commercial use in 1912 showed a gain of 84.8 per cent
over 1907.
The large extent of the use of incandescent lamps is
shown by the total estimated number in 1912 of 85,557,-
819. Of this total 76,484,096 were reported by commer-
cial and municipal central stations combined and 9,073,-
723 by electric light and power departments of electric
railways. The large proportion of the total were reported
by commercial central electric stations, which showed
69,428,356, or 90.8 per cent of the aggregate for all
central electric stations, leaving 7,055,740, or 9.2 per
cent, for municipal stations. The relative increases in
incandescent lamps reported by municipal and commer-
344
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 6
cial stations were not widely different. Incandescent
lamps reported by municipal stations gained 156.9 per
cent from 1902 to 1907 and 74.1 per cent from 1907 to
1912. The corresponding figures for commercial sta-
tions were 125 per cent in the earlier period and 85.7
per cent in the later period. Different tendencies, how-
ever, were shown in arc lamps, where municipal stations
increased 63.3 per cent in 1907 as compared with 1902
and 10.7 per cent in 1912 as compared with 1907. Com-
TUII.K I— CENTRAL ELECTRIC SI I [TON IND STATIONS OPERATED IN CON-
\ WITH ELECTRIC RAILWAYS— ESTIMATED NUMB]
LAMPS WIR1 R a
Total 1912
1907
Commercial cen-
tral station -
1903
Municipal cen-
1912
1912
1907
1902
.Wl.'isl
in .-.hi
172.77::
'.I.s.-.l
50,795
55,586
80,102
38,863
118,819
267,113
216.:;ii'.i
itlvun'i v.. :.,-,;. sin
. 991,836
190 158 19,636,729
146,431
.'.-.., I.. I
li'.s.lsn
7.106
■
ls,vi2
50,674
16,185
7,055,740
4,052,448
1,577,461
i..-ii:..v:;'i
1, 142,685
. i:.2.ni2
366,851
174,686
.li'll'.sV,
638, 156
.;:_'. 7 in
i:m.'i7i.
170,23'
s2.!>2ll
118,781
.is.l.iS
19,026
Other
Varieties —
NTrrnst,
83,405,207
I'.. 124,985
19.162,043
fi7.S25,.ini
36,755,093
n..2t:i,s.v;
6.624.764
:'..ss2.211
1.494,531
s. 954. 942
I.4S7.6SI
1.423.659
*V.i reported separately.
mercial stations reported an increase from 1902 to 1907
of 41.2 per cent and a decrease from 1907 to 1912 of
12.5 per cent. Commercial central stations reported,
therefore, a decreasing proportion of the arc lamps
shown by the two classes of central stations combined.
In 1902 they reported 86.8 per cent, in 1907 the propor-
tion was 85.1 per cent, and in 1912 it had been reduced
to 81.8 per cent.
The increasing importance of incandescent lamps and
the decreasing use of arc lamps are shown further by
the statement that of the total number of lamps of all
TABLE II COMMERCIAL \M> MUNICIPAL CENTRAL STATIONS
ESTIMAT] D M MBEB OF LAMPS WIRED FOR SERVICE
IN DIFFERENT GEOGRAPHIC DIVISIONS
1 .hie divisions
Middle Atlantic
i 1. Central
1912
1907
I'll 12
I'll 2
I'll 2
llll 2
1012
14,682
M ,682
18 165
10,645
7.. 507 I 12
is. 1'H, "1 1
17,018
22,10
Is 'Jin, n72
8,887, 112
2. 1 17. 161
,640
ways reporting for their electric light and power de-
partments.
Table II shows the estimated number of lamps of all
kinds wired for service, as reported by central stations
according to the geographic divisions which are followed
in census reports. The names of the states composing
the different divisions were published in the Electrical
World on Jan. 16, 1915, page 161. The Middle Atlantic
and East North Central States reported 63.2 per cent
of the arc lamps and 53.2 per cent of the incandescent
lamps. Of the total of 76,507,142 "incandescent and
other varieties" of lamps a few states reported large
individual totals. New York was first with a total of
12,884,911, or 16.8 per cent of the entire amount; Illi-
nois had 7,375,539, or 9.6 per cent ; California, 6,793,200,
or 8.9 per cent; Pennsylvania, 6,257,665, or 8.2 per cent,
and Massachusetts, 4,687,246, or 6.1 per cent.
For municipal and commercial electric central stations
combined there was an average of ninety-seven arc
lamps per station in 1912 as compared with 118 in 1907
and 107 in 1902. The average number of incandescent
lamps per station was 14,649 in 1912, 8792 in 1907 and
5026 in 1902.
Lamps Used in Street Lighting
The schedule for the 1912 census contained for the
first time since the census of the electrical industry
started an inquiry as to the number of arc and incan-
descent lamps used for street lighting. Out of the total
of 505,395 arc lamps reported by commercial and munic-
ipal central electric stations, 348,643, or 69 per cent,
were for street lighting. Of the total number of arc
lamps used for street lighting, 75.8 per cent were re-
ported by commercial stations and 24.2 per cent by mu-
nicipal stations. Out of the total of 76,484,096 incan-
descent lamps reported by both classes of central elec-
tric stations, 681,379, or 0.9 per cent, were street lamps.
Of the total number of incandescent street lamps 474,-
048, or 69.6 per cent, were reported by commercial sta-
tions, and 207,331, or 30.4 per cent, by municipal sta-
tions.
Of the total number of incandescent lamps used for
street lighting California had 75,802, or 11.1 per cent;
TABLE m— COMMERCIAL AND MUNICIPAL CENTRAL ELECTRIC STATIONS-
LAMPS USED FOR STREET LIGHTING, BY GEOGRAPHIC DIVISION'S. 1912
l id. ir . «rn pro]
Arc Lamps
PlR Cent DtSTRtBl TI.1N Of
Incanpescbnt ! Each Cl
Lamps* Street Lamp
Total
for All
Pur-
poses
Street
Lamps
Total
Total
for All
Arc
Incandescent
Total
Com-
mer-
cial
Mn-
nici-
pal
Com-
mer-
cial
Mu-
nici-
pal
i 'i IState
■ ■ i ,
ind
Middle ll
\\ nl Noi
Strata Ul :
14,882
l IS. 04 '
348,643
K . i
16,247
•
125,044 92 5
102.152 73 ii
18.816 711 6
21 2
9.6
7 5
IS 7
27 II
II I
19 1
22 7
69 6
77 B
is ;
51 8
68 1
22 1
6 6
.-.1 7
11 :.
4> 2
II 'i
u -
lampa of other vnrii
kimls, the number of arc lamps, which amounted I
t In 1902 and to L.3 percent in 1907, was but 0.7
i L912. Table I tatistica of lampa
■ ■ for all i lasses of station
Cial central
ations, n micipal central stations, and electric rail
Massachusetts, 67,872, or 9.9 per cent; New York,
62,706, or 9.2 per cent, ami Illinois, 11,066, or 6 percent.
Table 111 shews the number of lamps reported by com-
ial and municipal electric central stations, the to-
. eil for street lighting and the percentage of dis-
ition as between commercial and municipal.
>-KiiKi'\m 6, 1916
ELECTRICAL WORLD
34.'.
DIGEST OF ELECTRICAL LITERATURE
Generators, Motora and Transformer!
Transformer •nnl Switch Oil An extensive report oi
■ Bub-committee of the British Institution of Electrical
Engineers signed by \V. P. Digby and summing up the
replies received to a number of inquiries. Sludge for-
mation in transformer oil is first taken up. It is sug-
d that to a certain extent it is possible that modern
transformers with large oil surfaces in contact with
the atmosphere may undergo profound modification in
character, and that the Continental European practice
of employing closed transformers with expansion vessels
having only a small surface in contact with the air is
likely to be widely adopted in England. T. C. Thorn-
sen's method of carrying on laboratory tests is con-
sidered sound as far as it goes. It is described by
Thomsen as follows: Consider a transformer contain-
ing, say, 1000 gal. of oil, having a free oil surface of
FIG. 1 — APPARATUS FOR HEATING TRANSFORMER (III
20 sq. ft. and working at a maximum oil temperature of
160 deg. Fahr. To reproduce one year's service on a
100-cu. cm sample of transformer oil (about 0.02 gal.)
this sample would require to be heated for one year in
contact with air covering a free surface of 20/50,000
sq. ft., and if this test is to be carried out during twenty-
four hours, the free surface in contact with the air
should be 365 times as great, or approximately 20 sq, in.
This would mean heating the oil at a temperature of 160
deg. Fahr. for twenty-four hours in a bottle with a flat
bottom, about 5 in. in diameter (see Fig. 1) and bub-
bling a very slight known quantity of air through the
oil, say 2 liters per hour. Michie has shown that on
blowing the air through the oil in which copper is pres-
ent this metal has a catalytic effect, increasing the rate
of oxidation to about four times what it would have
been had the copper been absent under the conditions
existing during his tests. If, therefore, the air were
introduced through copper gauze of the area, mesh and
weight described by Michie, the test on 100 cu. cm of
oil as suggested would represent about four years' actual
service. The use of oxygen or ozone, instead of air, as
an oxidizing medium might be permitted in order to
quicken the rate of oxidation, and tests could be carried
out which would indicate the increase in the rate to be
expected compared with air alone. Fig. 2 illustrates
graphically the formation of sludge at 130 deg. C. and
150 deg. C. produced by blowing air for forty-five hours
through different kinds of oils, as tested by Michie. If
these tests were carried out at more than two tempera-
tures, it would be possible to obtain diagrams which
would illustrate very clearly at which temperatures
sludge formation would commence to take place. This
point seems to be of great importance, because if the
actual curves are as indicated this would be a strong
point in favor of laboratory tests being made at con-
siderably lower temperatures than those used by Michie.
From Fig. 2 it would appear that the oil E, which gave
the greatest amount of sludge at 150 deg. C, is for
practical purposes probably better than the oils C, D and
ioo no i20 iao 140 150 160 ijo 180 190 200°C.
Temperature
FIG. 2 — CURVES SHOWING SLUDGE FORMATION
F, but if no tests had been made at 135 deg. C. the oil E
would undoubtedly have received the worst character.
Before sludge is produced the oil darkens considerably
in color, which, if measured by a tintometer, could pos-
sibly be used as a help to compare the oxidizing effect
on various oils. From a few experiments it would ap-
pear that transformer oils heated to high temperatures
do not produce sludge if the air is prevented from com-
ing in contact with the oil, and it also seems probable
that blowing carbonic acid, nitrogen or other inert gases
through the oil has no apparent effect. These experi-
ments should be carefully carried out, because if the
formation of sludge is found to be due entirely or mainly
to oxidation it would seem desirable that transformers
should be re-designed with a view to excluding air, seal-
ing the cases hermetically and possibly introducing an
inert gas over the free surface of the oil. The author
of the report suggests that in this test definite areas
should be standardized for the exposed surface and for
the copper foil. He also suggests that the Thomsen test
should be so modified that, while accepting a lower test
temperature than is used by Michie (taking instead 60
per cent of the flash point of the oil), the test should be
conducted in a 110-cu. cm flask with a long neck but con-
346
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 6
taining copper foil of a total area of 400 sq. cm. The
oxidizing effect due to contact with the atmosphere will
then be negligible, but there should be a suitable rate
of air flow — say, 2 liters per hour — definitely standard-
ized. The second part of the report deals with the
absorption of moisture. If electrical tests are favored
rather than chemical standards, a satisfactory minimum
requirement as to what constitutes a dry oil at 15 deg.
C. would be defined by a specific resistance of not less
than 2,000,000 megohms per cubic centimeter and a
dielectric strength of not less than 10,000 volts between
a needle-point and a disk 0.5 in. in diameter, the disk
and needle-point being 100 mils apart. An oil passing
this test will not show any signs of moisture if tested
by any of the usual chemical methods. Methods of
measuring dielectric strength and specific resistance are
then taken up, and the opinion is expressed that the
needle-point and disk are preferable as electrodes.
Thermal transference and the results of an arc in oil
are finally discussed. — Journal Institution of Electrical
Engineers (London), Jan. 1, 1915.
High-Voltage Dangers in Transformers. — J. Lindley
Thompson and S. Austen Stigant. — The conclusion
of their illustrated article on high-voltage dangers pres-
ent in static transformers due to electrostatic capacity
of the windings. The authors conclude that to safe-
guard against the accumulation of excessively high elec-
trostatic potentials on the low-pressure windings, and
consequent danger to insulation, it is necessary to earth
either solidly the low-pressure mid-point or one of the
low-pressure terminals, or through a multiple spark-gap
or static earthing device. The advantage, chiefly on ac-
count of human safety, apart from the reduction of
stresses in the insulation, lies, in the authors' opinion,
with the static earthing device, since this apparatus
causes an earth only when high static potentials exist
and not during normal operations. The danger to the
human element if it should accidentally come into con-
tact with the low-pressure winding is much less than
if a solid earth were existent, causing a definite voltage
always to be maintained above earth, particularly if the
earthed point was one terminal of the low-pressure
winding. — London Elec. Review, Jan. 1 and 8, 1915.
Lamps and Lighting
Rating Incandescent Lamps. — H. Armagnat. — The
article points out that with the advent of the metallic-
filament lamp the rating of these lamps has become very
arbitrary. Formerly with a carbon lamp the ratio of
maximum candle-power in one direction to mean candle-
power had a nearly constant value, but with the great
variety of arrangements of the metallic-filament this is
no longer the case. A solution of the difficulty would
be to rate all lamps according to the mean spherical
candle-power, but there is no photometer now available
which permits one to determine the mean spherical
candle-power by a single reading with the same facility
as the mean horizontal candle-power. — La Revue Elec.
Vol. 22, No. 259, "Oct. 2, 1914 (published Jan. 1, 1915)."
Replacement of Arc Lamps by Half -Watt Tungsten
Lamps. — A. BOJE. — The author first discusses the re-
sults obtained with more than 200 different arc lamps
installed in the distribution system of the city of Stet-
tin in Germany. They included arc lamps with pure
carbon electrodes connected in sets of two, sets of four
and sets of five, and also flaming-arc lamps. The author
also determined under identical conditions the illumina-
tion obtained with half-watt tungsten lamps. The main
result is that by the substitution of half-watt tungsten
lamps for arc lamps not only was the illumination im-
proved but quite a considerable saving was obtained. In
the present instalment figures are given for lighting
bridges in Stettin. — Elek. Zeit., Jan. 7, 1915.
Generation, Transmission and Distribution
French Power Station. — T. Pousert. — The railroad
line from Villefranche to Bourg-Madame, which forms
part of the Chemins de fer du Midi, is operated by
direct-current energy at 850 volts from substations
which are fed with 20,000-volt, three-phase energy from
the 6000-hp water-power station of La Cassagne. For
the operation of the line from Perpignan to Villefranche
the single-phase system will be used and energy will be
supplied from a new water-power station at Fontped-
rouse. The hydroelectric development is described.
There are to be two generator sets, each consisting of a
2200-hp turbine coupled to a 1375-kva single-phase al-
ternator. The emf is 13,500 volts and the frequency
sixteen and three-fifth cycles per second. Since the plant
contains no transformer, coils of high self-induction are
installed at the starting point of the line in order to
protect the alternators against dangerously high volt-
ages from traveling waves. — La Revue Elec, Vol. 22,
No. 259, "Oct. 2, 1914 (published Jan. 1, 1915)."
Coal. — P. S. Thompson. — A paper read before the
Newcastle Section of the (British) Institution of Elec-
trical Engineers on coal and its economical use. After
a brief introduction on by-products obtainable from
coal, the author discusses the use of coal as a fuel, the
selection and testing of coal, the characteristics of bitu-
minous coal, principles of combustion, control of com-
bustion in the furnace, heat losses, and boiler efficiency
as affected by variation of the carbon-dioxide percentage
and the final temperature of the exit gases. An account
of the discussion which followed is also given. — Journal
Institution of Electrical Engineers (London), Jan. 15,
1915.
Formula for the Windage of Flyivheels. — E. BUCK-
INGHAM.— The author first discusses critically the for-
mula by Becker and a more general one and gives a
third one of his own which he considers preferable. It
is as follows: P = 10" n'D5 [1.45 + 742 (B 'Z))']
where P = the windage in English horse-power, n = the
speed in revolutions per minute, D = the diameter in
inches, B = the width of the rim in inches. — London
Electrician, Jan. 15, 1915.
Motor Drive on Warships. — An article giving the
practice and experiences of the American navy with
respect to electric driving. The hydraulic system with
the use of electric pumps for putting water under pres-
sure is preferred. — Elek. Zeit.. Jan. 7, 1915.
Steam- Piping.— A. Langstaff Johnston, Jr. — An
illustrated article on heat losses and economical design
of steam piping. — Engineering Magazine, February,
1915.
Traction
London. — A long abstract of last year's financial
statement of the London County Council Tramways. —
London Electrician, Jan. 15, 1915.
Installations, Systems and Appliances
Liverpool. — Continuation and conclusion of the illus-
trated article on the recent extensions at the Lister
Drive station in Liverpool. The new steam turbine is
designed for a normal continuous full-load output of
6000 kw at 1500 r.p.m., with steam at 200 lb. per square
inch, superheated 200 deg. Fahr. and exhausting into a
vacuum of 28 in. (barometer 30 in.), this vacuum being
measured at the exhaust branch of the turbine. The
alternator is of the three-phase revolving-field type and
is designed to give a normal full-load output of 7500 kva
at 80 per cent power-factor, 6600 volts, the frequency
being fifty cycles per second. The condensing plant is
of the Mirlees- Watson type and is capable of dealing
with 88,000 lb. of exhaust steam per hour and maintain-
ing a vacuum at the turbine exhaust branch of 28 in.
Febri'ary >>, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
347
(barometer 80 in.) when applied with 11,000 gal. of
cooling water per minute at a temperature of 80 deg.
Fahr. The condei special design and contains
1 l, Bq. ft. of cooling surface. — London Electrician,
Dec. 25, L914, and Jan. 1, 1915.
"Denatured" Electri <;. PiNCHERLB. — An
illustrated description of an Italian device due to Pro-
■ Arno by which a heating circuit is made U •
fur lighting. A lighting attachment is rendered in-
operative "ii a circuit intended for heating or power
purposes. The method employed depends upon the fact
that heating and power appliances will continue in
operation for brief intervals without any supply of
energy, while electric lighting is entirely inadequate
unless the supply of energy is continuous, lamps being
incapable of storing energy. Based upon this principle,
circuits which are intended for heating are connected
through the usual form of watt-hour meter and then
through an interrupter which periodically opens the cir-
cuit. By experiment it has been found that by an in-
terruption of two seconds, at intervals of twenty sec-
onds, lighting is absolutely intolerable while heating
devices are practically unaffected. The contact device
is made up of metallic, carbon or mercury contacts, or
an\ combination of the three. The period may be main-
tained by clock-work connected indirectly to the inter-
rupter or at a distance and acting as a master clock to a
number of interrupters. It has also been found prac-
ticable to utilize the expansion from heat for interrupt-
ing the circuit periodically, and such an apparatus could
be made at very low price. For large installations the
interrupter should be motor-driven. Tests extending
over a period of two months on four different types of
interrupter have demonstrated the practicability of the
system. The thermal interrupter proved to be the most
efficient, having a loss so small as to be absolutely
negligible < not more than an ordinary ammeter or volt-
meter).— From L'Industria-Rwista Tecnica (trans-
lated in abstract in the Engineering Magazine, Feb-
ruary, 1915).
Tariffs for Electrical Energy. — A brief article, in
reply to a former one by C. S. Reid, on theories of elec-
tric rate schedules. — Engineering Magazine, February,
1915.
Units, Measurements and Instruments
Instrument Factory. — An illustrated description of
the works of the Cambridge Scientific Instrument Com-
pany, Ltd., which have recently been extended. — London
Electrician, Jan. 15, 1915.
Wires, Wiring and Conduits
Transmission-Line Calculator. — Robert W. Adams. —
The transmission-line calculator described in this article
was developed to simplify the calculation of the voltage
drop and power loss in alternating-current transmission
lines. The author condenses the preliminary work
necessary for a graphic solution of vector diagrams and
then explains how, by means of the curve and charts,
the succeeding steps necessary to a complete solution
of the problem are arrived at. — Gen. Elec. Review, Jan.
15, 1915.
Insulation. — B. G. Lamme. — An article on some prac-
tical insulation problems. The effect of temperature on
electrical insulation is first discussed, with reference to
the chief insulating materials in commercial use. It is
then pointed out that insulating materials also serve
another purpose, namely, to shield the conducting or live
parts of the machines from other foreign conducting
materials, such as dirt, grease, oil, water, etc. Troubles
arising from these causes are then discussed, especially
troubles from water or oil getting into the insulation.
The drying out of coils is finally dealt with. — Elec.
Journal, January, 1915.
Btectrophyaia and Magnetism
Permanent Magnetism of Chrome and Tungsten
Steels.— MARGARET B. Moir. — The author has investi-
gated the permanent magnetic properties of certain
chrome and tung The magnets are subjected
to repeated mechanical shocks and alternate heating and
cooling, and the loss of residual magnetism during and
after these and other "maturing" processes is examined.
A comparison is made between the different steels used
in the experiments. Four tungsten steels were tested
containing :'.. 6, 8 ami 12 per cent tungsten respectively.
Though none of these specimens is so satisfactory from
the point of view ol permanency as the chrome-steel
magnets containing 8 per cent chromium and upward,
they are all, even after being submitted to shock and
change of temperature, much superior in magnetic in-
tensity to even the best of the chrome steels. The most
striking thing about the results obtained for the four
tungsten steels is, however, the extraordinary similarity
between them. It seems very remarkable that when
quenched at 900 deg. C. a specimen containing as much
as 8.72 per cent tungsten should be hardly superior to
one containing only 2.88 per cent, while one containing
11.65 per cent is actually inferior. When a tungsten
steel is quenched from 900 deg. C no advantage is gained
either in intensity or permanence of magnetism by in-
creasing the percentage of tungsten. — London Electric-
ian, Dec. 25, 1914. The complete paper is published in
Philosophical Magazine, November, 1914.
Zeeman Effect. — H. R. Wooltjer. — A contribution
to the problem whether the temperature has an influence
on the Zeeman effect. Wood and Zeeman's method of
obtaining fine absorption lines for investigations in a
strong magnetic field is used for the comparison of the
magnetic resolution of the D lines at low temperatures
(vacuum tube at 300 deg. C.) and at higher tempera-
tures (the temperature of the oxy-acetylene flame and
the electric spark) . The amplitude of the resolution is
the same at all temperatures within the limits of error.
But in the ratio of intensities of the external and in-
ternal rectangular components of D there seems to be
a difference. — Phys. Zeit., Dec. 1, 1914.
Telegraphy, Telephony and Signals
Wireless Telegraphy. — W. Duddell. — A discussion of
the proposed work to be undertaken by the Interna-
tional Commission on Wireless Telegraphy. At the
sending station it is necessary to measure the antenna
current, which requires ammeters suitable for high fre-
fig. 3 — device for measuring current in antenna
quencies and strong currents up to 150 amp at least.
Hot-wire instruments must be used. The author pro-
posed the arrangement shown in Fig. 3. It consists of
two copper tubes, on each of which a series of notches is
made. A thin wire passes in zigzag fashion from one
notch to another, as shown in the illustration, so as to
form a kind of squirrel cage. The two tubular elec-
trodes are given a rotatory movement with regard to
:;4h
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 6
one another, causing the wires to fall on the surface
of a hyperboloid of revolution. Two wires are stretched
along the axis of the hyperboloid and joined together
in such a way that the weld (giving a thermocouple) is
at the central part of the narrowing or contraction.
These wires are taken to a millivoltmeter. With an
instrument of this kind, an emf of 5 millivolts is ob-
tained when a current of 150 amp passes. In order to
obtain results quickly and satisfactorily, it is necessary
to place the cold junction of the thermo-electro couple
in the neighborhood of one of the tubular electrodes.
The author then discusses the measurement of the
damping of the antenna at the sending station. The
nature of the antenna to be used at the control station
requires very careful consideration, in order that
changes, for instance, in the earth may not affect the
accuracy of the results. Probably Lodge's type of an-
tenna, as shown in Fig. 4, is best. On the other hand,
it might be well to see whether a receiver with closed
••ircuit, such as has been described by F. Braun, might
not be better. Among its other advantages is the fact
Book Reviews
FIG. 4 — LODGE'S ANTENNA
'hat the properties of the circuit could be defined very
exactly and kept constant. At the different receiving
stations it is necessary to determine the strength of the
signals that are received, partly with a view to com-
paring results from day to day and partly to compare
the results which are obtained at the different stations
on the surface of the earth. The author proposes that
'.he commission should approve of the following course
of action. The first point would be to see whether it
is possible to standardize existing antennas in such a
way as to obtain comparable results, or whether on
the other hand it is necessary to construct special an-
tennas for the purpose. It is thus of importance to
have a standard method of measurement or an instru-
ment, which need not be very sensitive, with which the
others could be compared. A closed or nearly closed
radiating circuit must also be designed, capable of ra-
diating definite quantities of energy of different wave-
lengths. A closed or nearly closed receiving circuit
must be had, which can be used in connection with the
standard measuring apparatus, so as to determine the
radiation of the circuit.— London Electrician, Jan. 8
and 15, 1916.
Miscellaneous
British Patents. A list of British patents of in-
terest to electrical engineers which will expire during
15)15, the term of their life having been reached. Lor
don Electrician, Jan i. 1916
Graphical Determination of Sags and Stresses for
Overhead Line Construction. By Guido Semen-
za and Marco Semenza. Translated from the Italian
by C. 0. Mailloux. New York: McGraw-Hill Book
Company, Inc. 24 pages, 13 charts. Price, $3.
Ever since electrical engineers have adopted tower
construction for supporting their overhead transmis-
sion lines they have demanded that these lines should
be installed by carefully prepared engineering methods,
as distinguished from careless guesswork. The volume
before us represents the results of careful investiga-
tion, guided by experience, in producing a series of
curve sheets from which either the proper sag or the
proper tension can be found by direct inspection for
any given case of line installation. The charts are
very practical and well adapted to engineering needs.
They have been converted from the metric system of
the original Italian to the English measures of American
usage, and from Centigrade to Fahrenheit tempera-
tures. It is doubtful whether this has not been an
unnecessary labor. Most electrical engineers of recent
graduation know more about the metric system than
English measures and are more accustomed to Centi-
grade than to Fahrenheit scales of temperature. More-
over, there is more chance of miscalculation in using
English than in using metric quantities. However, the
book is a very valuable asset to the overhead-line con-
structor. The skill and accuracy of the translator in
dealing with technical Italian are well known. Both
the original authors and the translator are to be com-
plimented upon the work.
Technical Mechanics. Statics and Dynamics. By
Prof. Edward R. Maurer. New York: John Wiley
& Sons, Inc. 356 pages, 547 illus. Price, $2.50.
This is the third edition of Professor Maurer's book,
the title of which has been so worded as to distinguish
it from both theoretical and applied mechanics. The au-
thor claims that the book is not comparable with books
bearing the other titles, but it is of little interest to
compare identical things, and in this particular case the
author denies his critics the privilege of making any
comparisons, seeing that the title "Technical Mechanics"
appears to be his particular monopoly. This title is
not, however, ill chosen, because it will be found that
almost every subject treated has an important bearing
on some aspect of engineering. The fact that the book
has been used during the past ten years is in itself suffi-
cient proof of its merit. This edition includes many
changes, the result of experience in teaching the subject.
These changes include a new collection of problems. The
text has, in fact, been almost completely rewritten. The
requirements in the matter of previous mathematical
training are not very severe, but a sound knowledge of
the elements of the calculus is necessary to the under-
standing of the chapters on dynamics. The different
sections of the subject are taken up in the following
order: Composition and resolution of forces; forces in
equilibrium; simple structures; friction; center of grav-
ity; suspended cables, etc; rectilinear motion; curvi-
linear motion; translation and rotation; work, energy,
power; momentum and impulse; two-dimensional mo-
tion; three-dimensional motion; Appendix A, theor\ of
dimensions of units; Appendix B, moment of inertia of
plane areas. The problems are collected together at the
end of the book. The diagrams and illustrations are
numerous and very clear, only what is essential being
shown a matter of considerable importance in books
dealing with fundamental principles.
Fkhki \h\ 6, 1916
ELECTRICAL WORLD
POWER AND OPERATING SECTION
Spray-Type Air Washers and Coolers for New York
Station
• Spray-type air washers and coolers are being installed
in the generating station of the United Electric Light
& Power Company, New York City, at the entrance to
each of the three 15,000-kw generator ventilating ducts.
Each unit is capable of handling 50,000 cu. ft. of air per
minute and under full load, it has been reported, will
remove 98 per cent of the dust and cool the air to the
wet-bulb temperature of the air entering the washer.
For their duty the units are very compact, having an
over-all length of 17.5 ft. arranged end to end, a height
of 4 ft. and a depth of 6 ft.
\ r
FIG. 1 — SECTION OF SPRAY NOZZLE
The principal reason for employing the washers is
to remove brick dust, which is quite prevalent in the
air around the station, there being a brick factory close
by. If the air was not purified, the ventilating ducts
through the generator windings would soon clog up
unless the passageways were blown out frequently, and
the machine might overheat or even burn up. In some
plants deposits of dust became so saturated with oil that
they caked into a solid mass which could be removed
only with a chisel.
Another advantage which will be obtained from the
air cooler will be the ability to operate the generators
at a higher rating in hot or even in moderate weather.
The extent to which air cooling will increase the gen-
erator ratings can be shown by considering actual con-
^J J!
&m
£4mP~^ Hlr
4
^ "*■
\9i
1 1 m
■
i ;
A
1 IS
L^
S.j
■%
'^^fftff^
H
FIG. 2 — ONE OF THE WASHERS FOR A 15,000-KW MACHINE
ditions which existed on the hottest day in New York
last year. The temperature as given by the United
States Weather Bureau was 95 deg., the relative humid-
ity 42 per cent and the corresponding wet-bulb tem-
perature 76 deg. With a cooling-air temperature of 95
deg. a generator can carry only 79 per cent of rated
load, whereas if the air temperature is 77 deg. the ma-
chine could carry full rated load. Hence the output can
be increased 26.6 per cent under similar conditions
without extra generating equipment, as the air cooler
will lower the temperature to within 1 deg. of the wet
bulb.
Cross-sections of a washer and cooler unit are shown
herewith. Air enters the apparatus as shown by arrows
iifHaii
fLiMINfiTQB Pum$\
FIG. 3 — PLAN OF WASHER
and in passing through the first compartment is sub-
jected to a fine dense mist of water by the atomizer
sprays, which are equipped with diffusing screens. The
air-propelling sprays which are installed between the
atomizers assist in driving the air through the cooler
The efficiency of the apparatus is declared to depend al-
most entirely on the nozzles used. Because of their
design these nozzles will produce a solid conical spray
instead of a hollow one.
Across the compartment in front of the nozzles is a
wire screen which breaks the spray and causes the
water to drop in a sheet across the air current. Back of
the screen are baffles which separate the water from
the air. The nozzles are made of bronze, the screen of
brass and the baffles of aluminum. The water which
drops into the bottom of the washer is withdrawn by £
-*~r
t=3&
FIG. 4 — THREE-SECTION ELEVATION
centrifugal pump and recirculated through the nozzles.
Mud can be drawn off periodically from the settling
basin. Unassisted by a ventilating fan, the water jets
alone will force air through the washer. The normal
rate of air flow is 720 linear ft. per minute, but purifi-
cation and cooling can be effected with the air passing
as fast as 1050 ft. per minute.
350
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 6
In practice the sprays are never started until the
machine which is to be cooled has warmed up, hence
water will never condense on the insulation as it will
always be hotter than the saturated cooling air. Some
manufacturers of electrical apparatus have even thought
of advocating injecting a mist of water into cooling air
to assist in carrying away heat.
To obtain purified air and still prevent water freez-
ing in the washers during the winter, part of the warm
air withdrawn from the station will be by-passed into
the air-supply duct. The washer and cooler equipment
is being furnished by the Spray Engineering Company,
Boston.
Brooklyn Company Employs Porcelain-Clad High-
Tension Fuses
The Edison Electric Illuminating Company of Brook-
lyn, N. Y., is employing the Metropolitan Engineering
Company's porcelain-clad high-tension fuses, which it
has found very satisfactory because they do not en-
danger persons near by when an overload occurs and be-
cause the units can be readily replaced by hand. Two
33- ir*
FIGS. 1 AND 2 — 6600-VOLT PORCELAIN-CLAD FUSES AND
2400-VOLT PLUG-TYPE FUSES
types are used, both of which are entirely inclosed, those
used on 6600-volt potential transformers consisting of
a porcelain inclosing tube with plug contacts at right
angles to each end. On the 2400-volt circuits plug-type
fuses are employed. These units are provided with por-
celain handles and inclosed fuses which can be inserted
in a receptacle without any danger to the person in-
stalling them. Tests have I n made on the 6600-volt
fuses by connecting them directly across a 400-kw gen-
erator's step-up transformer. While the amount of
energy which must have been dissipated in the fuse was
considerable, it is declared thai there was no outward
demonstration of the facl and that the porcelain was
not visibly injured by the short-circuit. On opening a
burned out fuse it was found that the arc-extinguishing
powdi I Bllghtly discolored. These fuses have
been employed for about a year and a half and during
tbat I .ported to have given complete satisfac-
tion. The accompanying illustrations show potential
transformers equipped with the 6600-volt fuses and a
rear view of a 2400-voll switchboard where the other
type are installed.
Sulphur in Coal
Sulphur is not often found in a free state in coal;
that is, it does not usually exist uncombined with other
substances. Instead, it commonly occurs in chemical
combination with iron and calcium, in the form of iron
pyrites, sulphate of iron and calcium sulphate, the last
named being known familiarly as gypsum. Iron py-
rites, which is a disulphide of iron, is a mineral that
has a brilliant luster and a pale brass-yellow color, the
latter characteristic giving it the name of fool's gold.
It is extremely heavy, its specific gravity being about
5, and its structure is crystalline. It may be present in
the coal in scattered masses, or it may form partings
along the cleavage planes. Calcium sulphate, or gyp-
sum, shows as small white flakes. Of the two com-
pounds, the one more commonly found in coal is pyrite.
Still another form of sulphur that is found in coal is
organic sulphur, which is a compound of sulphur and
carbon, or of sulphur, carbon and hydrogen.
When the fuel is burned in the boiler furnace a tem-
perature of from 2000 deg. to 2500 deg. Fahr. is pro-
duced. At a temperature about half as great as this,
the iron pyrites is changed from a disulphide to ferrous
sulphide, the heat breaking up the compound FeS, into
FeS and S. In other words, from every molecule of
pyrite one atom of sulphur is freed. This free sulphur
then burns, taking up a part of the oxygen entering in
the air and forming sulphur dioxide. The burning of
this sulphur does not add greatly to the heat value of
the coal, for the simple reason that the calorific value
of a pound of sulphur is only 4000 lb.-Fahr. heat units.
And as only half of the sulphur is set free, the increase
of heat value is small.
If the sulphur exists as sulphate of iron or calcium,
it possesses no heat value. Instead, a part of the heat
of combustion is used in breaking up the sulphate, or
decomposing it, and this heat is not subsequently re-
stored by the burning or recombination of the sub-
stances formed during the decomposition. From a
thermal standpoint, therefore, a fuel containing sul-
phur has little to recommend it.
On the other hand, the presence of sulphur is a posi-
tive detriment in various ways. For example, one effect
of it is to cause rapid deterioration of the grate bars,
particularly with coal that clinkers badly. A grade of
coal that produces much clinker usually has a small per-
centage of ash in proportion to the percentage of sul-
phur. Under the effect of heat, the ash and the pyrite
are melted together, and the resulting slag runs into the
air spaces in the grate, hardens and forms clinker, and
nrevents air from passing up freely through the grate.
Now, one of the functions performed by the supply
of cool air that enters the ash-pit is the cooling of the
grate. As the air rises through the air spaces it comes
in contact with the metal and is heated, the metal at the
same time losing heat at an equal rate. This serves a
doubly desirable purpose, as the air supply is preheated
and the grates are prevented from being overheated.
When much slag and clinker are formed, however,
and the air spaces become choked, the restriction of the
air supply causes this cooling to be reduced or even
eliminated at parts of the grate, and the heat is con-
ducted into the metal of the grate, increasing until the
bars or sections are warped or twisted. This action is
accelerated by the presence of sulphur in the fuel. Sul-
phur has a strong affinity for iron, and under the effect
of the high temperature the sulphur combines with the
iron of the grate, making the metal soft. The molten
slag produced by fusion of the impurities in the coal
runs down on the softened metal and cuts it away, so
that in a short time a grate may be ruined by the com-
bined action of slag and sulphur.
February 6, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
351
The sulphur dioxide formed by the combustion of free
sulphur or organic sulphur in coal has been blamed for
the corrosion of boiler plates and tubes. It is true that
the dioxide, when brought into contact with water, will
form sulphurous acid, which may take up more oxygen
and become sulphuric acid. Either of these acids will
attack iron and produce corrosion. But the point to be
observed is that the sulphur dioxide exists as a gas, at
a temperature equal to or greater than that of the gases
in the chimney. At such a temperature water would be
vaporized; hence it is difficult to see in just what way
an acid could be formed during the normal working of
the boiler.
In addition to the formation of sulphur dioxide, oxide
of iron may be produced by the effect of heat and oxy-
gen on the pyrite. The iron oxide thus formed may
possibly combine with other substances contained in
the ash of the coal and produce clinker. Alone the
oxide would have no such effect; but as the coal con-
tains silicious materials, the oxide unites with these,
forming easily fusible compounds. The heat of the fur-
nace thus produces slag, which cools and becomes clink-
er. So, while the silica and the oxide separately would
not be affected by the heat of the furnace, together they
may form clinker, and the greater the furnace temper-
ature, the more likelihood is there of clinker.
This explains why trouble with clinker must so fre-
quently be guarded against in plants using low-grade
fuels. Such fuel contains a large percentage of ash and
is burned with strong draft. The rate of combustion is
high and the temperature is likewise great, so that the
conditions are favorable to the production of clinker.
Such trouble has been overcome in many cases by using
a jet of steam below the grate. The steam, in passing
upward through the fuel bed, is decomposed, and the
heat required to break it up is apparently sufficient to
keep down the temperature of the grate and the clinker
to such a point that the latter is not fused on the grate.
The ferrous sulphide that remains after a part of
the sulphur has been driven off from the pyrite may
cause the formation of clinker. The fusing point of
this compound is comparatively low, and if the pyrite
occurs in masses in the coal, it is probable that the
ferrous sulphide will be fused before it can burn. The
fused material thus becomes the start for the formation
of clinker.
It is not safe to put the blame for clinker wholly on
the sulphur content of coal, nor is it wise to conclude
that the danger of clinker increases as the sulphur
content increases. Free sulphur and organic sulphur
will not cause clinker, and pyrite will change to ferrous
sulphide and sulphur dioxide; but if silicates are
present with the pyrite, it is probable clinkering will
occur. In any case it is unwise to condemn a grade of
coal merely because the analysis shows a high percent-
age of sulphur. The state in which the sulphur exists
in the fuel should be determined, as well as the nature
and distribution of the other minerals. From these
facts a better idea can be obtained as to whether the
coal will clinker when burned. The relative amounts
of iron, sulphur, lime, silica, etc., and the rate of com-
bustion of the fuel are the factors on which the forma-
tion of clinker depends.
Again, sulphur has been blamed for aiding the spon-
taneous combustion of stored coal. Although there is
no conclusive proof that it has no part in the production
of spontaneous combustion, yet the investigations that
have been made indicate that its effect is negligible.
Spontaneous combustion is a slow process of oxidation
occurring where there is enough air to support oxida-
tion but not enough to carry away all the heat gener-
ated. Now, if sulphur is the cause of spontaneous com-
bustion, it must be present in the coal in an oxidizable
form. As iron sulphate or calcium sulphate it cannot
possibly undergo oxidation. Yet tests of coal taken
from places where spontaneous combustion has oc-
curred show that less than one-fourth of the total sul-
phur has been changed by the oxidation. If sulphur is
regarded as the cause of this action, or even as an in-
fluential factor, it would seem that a greater proportion
would be active.
In the United States the coals that contain the great-
est percentages of sulphur are those from Ohio, In-
diana, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas and Missouri. They con-
tain from 3 to 6 per cent, with an average of about 4
per cent.
Temporary Isle-of-Safety Lamps for Chicago
Boulevards
When a nocturnal joy rider drives his automobile into
one of the lamp-posts provided as traffic guides at cross-
ings on Chicago boulevards the lighting standard is usu-
ally more nearly completely demolished than is the reck-
Red Olobe
Thumbscrew
to hold Olobe
UL
■■■Four Carbon-
Filament Lamps
Spring
Leaves
Gas Pipe
Hand Hole Cover
4^=
Fuses and
Connection
Terminals
\ J J
TEMPORARY ISLAND-OF-SAFETY LAMP
less driver's car. Furthermore, the "isle of safety,"
which was formerly a secure refuge for the dodging
pedestrian, becomes now a dangerous unlighted block
of concrete and stone, a menace in the pathway of the
careful and the careless alike.
To relieve dangerous conditions caused by such acci-
dents the trouble-men on duty at the Lincoln Park
headquarters keep available temporary lamp standards
which are designed for speedily replacing the damaged
danger signals. The temporary units are simple in con-
struction and easy to install. An upright piece of pipe
forms the standard. At the lower end a hand-hole cover
is fastened to the pipe, and spring leaves attached to
the cover are set in such positions that when they are
forced into the hand-hole they will sustain the lamp
standard upright. Connection terminals underneath
the hand-hole cover provide a convenient method of
joining the damaged circuit to the temporary lamps,
which are supplied with energy by means of circuits
running through the upright pipe. The wiring of the
■ \b-Z
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 6
temporary standard is arranged so that the four lamps
may be operated from one circuit or from two circuits,
if the latter number is available.
Mr. Claude H. Shepherd, engineer for the Chicago
Lincoln Park Commissioners, in speaking of the rapid
work by trouble-men in installing these temporary
units, recently said that with the automobile convey-
ances which the men use in such emergencies an isle-of-
safety lamp can be replaced anywhere on the boulevard
system in thirty minutes.
Automatic Temperature Records at Kansas City
Mr. John Fritz, chief engineer of the Metropolitan
Street Railway Company, Kansas City, Mo., is an ardent
advocate of automatic recording devices in the power
station. The accompanying sketch shows how four re-
■Bearing
rn
10,000 kv-a 25 Cycle
Turbo ■ Generator
Recording ._
Thermometers
Bearing
[Z3—
. - I :..
Step Bearing
Condenser
CONNECTIONS BETWEEN THERMOMETERS AND BEARINGS
cording thermometers have been connected to the
three bearings and to the condenser connection of a 10,-
000-kva vertical turbine. The instruments are of a
type which requires attention only once in each seven
days, and Mr. Fritz says that the records of bearing
temperatures and vacuum obtained in this manner are
much more accurate than those kept by the station
attendants.
Pipe Thawing
By Charles E. Beckwith
In the past two years numerous articles have ap-
peared in the Electrical World on the subject of thaw-
ing water pipes with electricity. In all cases where
transformers were used the primary was connected to
its rated voltage, and a choke coil or rheostat was used
in series with the secondary to hold the current within
a reasonable load limit.
This method entails a large waste of energy which
would not be necessary were the same amperage at
command with just sufficient voltage to force it through
the pipe to be thawed.
At first thought it might seem impossible to obtain
the desired results without a special transformer, and
for this reason, no doubt, the method has not been
tried.
The writer, who had occasion recently to do some
pipe thawing, experimented with low voltage obtained
in the following way: A 1100 or 2200-volt to 110 or
220-volt transformer of the proper size was used with
the secondary windings connected in multiple and the
primary windings in series and subjected to 220 volts.
This arrangement gave 11 volts on the secondary. The
secondary of the transformer was connected to the pipe
to be thawed in the usual manner, but without choke
coil or rheostat. In most cases 11 volts is sufficient to
do the work, but in case it is not the primary windings
may be connected in multiple to give 22 volts for the
thawing circuit. There appears to be no reason why
better results cannot be obtained by this method than
by the old one. A 220-volt feeder is generally accessi-
ble in many parts of a residential district where 2200
volts is not. The danger factor ever present in making
2200-volt connections is eliminated by using 220 as the
primary voltage.
While I have had an opportunity to try the above
plan in only a small way, the results have been very
satisfactory, and I believe they would be equally so on
any scale.
Portable Rectifier in Factory Substation
To enable the rectifier illustrated in the accompany
ing halftone to be removed quickly from an adjacent
factory substation in case of trouble, the apparatus has
been mounted on a frame carried on 1%-in, diameter
rollers. Extension rods sectionalized and provided with
set screws enable the charging current to be adjusted
portable rectifier in factory substation
from the front of the switchboard panel, and the leads
to the rectifier can be readily disconnected from the
circuit wires just above the apparatus. The clearance
behind the switchboard was made large enough to han-
dle the equipment with facility in emergencies.
FXBS1 \h\ •'•, L916
ELECTUH Al. WO R LD
COMMERCIAL SECTION
Delivery of Bills by flflWMIUf I and the New .Mail-
Box Law
A recent order of the Post Office Department that all
- and receptacles installed in apartment h"
dwellings and other buildings, and along rural delivery
routes, for receiving individual addressees' mail shall be
considered under the jurisdiction of the department in
the same way as any other public mail-box has been
interpreted in Chicago to mean that it will hereafter be
illegal to deposit in such a box unstamped envelopes.
bills, advertising matter, or material other than that
received through the regular mails. Such boxes become
a part of the post office establishment, and as such it
is declared that persons depositing in them matter other
than that properly addressed and sent through the mails
may be subject to a fine of $1,000 and three years' im-
prisonment. According to Postmaster Campbell of Chi-
cago, no official interpretation has yet been received in
that city concerning this new postal law, which puts
private mail boxes under the protection of the federal
government, and he expressed his personal doubt that
the rule would be applied as rigorously as it has been de-
fined. Many electric-light companies have found it
cheaper to have their bills delivered by messenger than
to send them through the mails. The general auditor
of one large central-station company said that his com-
pany would willingly comply with the law if this re-
quired that its messenger system be abolished and that
bills be sent out by mail, but he expressed doubt that the
Post Office Department would interfere with the deliv-
ery of bills directly to the householders or to the door-
sills of its customers.
Half a Million Dollars to Rehabilitate Wiring at
Chicago Stock Yards
About two years ago the bureau of electrical inspec-
tion of the city of Chicago notified authorities at the
Union Stock Yards that the practice of stringing wires
over the tops of buildings and other structures in "the
yards" must be discontinued and that existing over-roof
construction must be removed. In justifying its demands
for these changes the inspection department cited the
fact that firemen fighting conflagrations are afraid to
mount roofs carrying electric wires, as it is impossible to
FIG. 1 — WIRES OF SEVERAL POTENTIALS STRUNG OVER ROOFS
tell what voltage a given circuit may be carrying. The
tracing of circuits to de-energize those in the danger
zone is likewise an almost impossible task. Even firemen
standing on the ground were said to be in danger from
falling wires when the latter's supports burned away.
It was also pointed out that the wiring as it existed rep-
resented an ever-present fire hazard.
Some of the stock yards firms had already admitted the
justice of the inspection department's demands and had
made changes, but it is only recently that all have agreed
to place their wires underground. It is estimated that
fully $500,000 will be required to complete this work.
FIG. 2 — OVERHEAD WIRING CONDITIONS IN STOCK YARDS
The nature of the changes to be made will vary widely,
for while most of the stock yards industrial plants are
provided with alternating-current equipment, others
have 110-220-volt direct-current systems. Mr. Victor
Tousley, chief electrical inspector of Chicago, estimates
that the entire work of rehabilitation of the wiring in
"the yards" will probably be completed within two years
Central-Station Business Breaking Records at
Providence
The Narragansett Electric Lighting Company, ol
Providence, R. I., has completed the best year in the his-
tory of the organization. Although the jewelry trade
and some other manufactures have been depressed since
earlier in the year, the sales department has more than
offset any shrinkage in one quarter by new business se-
cured elsewhere. During the first half of the year the
motor load secured exceeded that for the entire year
1913, and the diversity of industries in the company's
territory has been an important factor in the growth
since the war began. Early in November an 800-hp
contract involving the shutting down of three Corliss
steam engines in the plant of the Davol Rubber Com-
pany was signed, and an electrically driven pumping
installation for the city water-works at Pettoconsett
is now ready for service. In the former plant three
200-hp induction motors wound for 2300-volt service
and several smaller motors will be required, with an
extensive improvement in the driving conditions. The
contract with the city for pumping service requires the
use of a 1300-hp synchronous motor driving a centrif
ugal pump on an off-peak schedule, the capacity o;
the pump being 30,000,000 gal. in twenty-four hours
This contract was secured after the city had planned
to install a second steam-driven pump at Pettoconsett
for auxiliary service in the summer at a total esti-
mated cost of $150,000. The estimated cost of the
electrical installation is about $50,000, and the city se-
cures a rate of 8 mills per kw-hr. with a service charge
of about $3,500 per year, approved by the Rhode Island
Public Utilities Commission.
Not long ago a fleet of eight electric vehicles was
purchased by the Outlet Company, one of the largest
department stores in the city, through the co-operative
efforts of the Narragansett company. This installation
will supersede twenty-five horses and includes one 2-ton
354
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 6
freight truck, two 1-ton furniture delivery wagons, and
five 1000-lb. delivery wagons. The freight truck will
serve the company warehouse and railroad terminals.
The larger delivery wagons are equipped each with
sixty cells of Edison "A6" battery, a size ordinarily
used on 2-ton trucks. It is expected that these furni-
ture-hauling equipments will perform work similar to
that of gasoline trucks owned by the Outlet Company,
a 50-mile daily guarantee having been received. The
fleet represents a total investment of about $25,000 and
was supplied by the Commercial Truck Company of
America. The batteries will be charged in a private
garage of the owner on central-station service at an
off-peak rate of about 8 mills per kw-hr. In connection
with the equipment a motor-driven package bolt system
will be installed to cut the cost of handling merchan-
dise between the stock room and the trucks. Nine
trucks and wagons will be eliminated as a result of this
electric motor-car service. For the present the delivery
wagons will be required to make about 500 deliveries
per day within a radius of 5 miles from the store, while
the furniture wagons will run out into the country
probably 15 or 20 miles on occasion.
During "Edison anniversary week" the company sold
over 21,760 tungsten lamps, compared with a normal
sale of 2500. For this short period a reduction of 25
per cent below the list price was made. Last year the
company sold 140,000 tungsten lamps, a gain of 40 per
cent over 1913. The company purchased 1000 portable
lamps last year and supplied free a 60-watt lamp for
each outlet, the range in prices of portables displayed
in the company's Electric Shop being from $2 to $150.
These are sold on the basis of 20 per cent down and
10 per cent a month on the balance. For the holiday
trade the company adopted the best ideas of department-
store practice, billing appliances purchased for Christ-
mas on Feb. 1 statements to customers, providing spe-
cial Christmas boxes at a nominal increase in cost with
Electric Shop seals and giving combination sets of ap-
pliances for the Christmas season only at 25 per cent
below list price. Any three "Hotpoint" appliances, or
two of these and a vacuum cleaner, were sold in this
way, including in the former case one interchangeable
cord and plug. Recognizing that many merchants raise
prices at Christmas, the company made special effort
to lower the cost of electrical appliances at that season.
A special discount of 20 per cent was made on chafing-
dishes and egg cookers. Flatirons were sold on the
basis of nothing down and $1 a month, and a holder by
which a flatiron can be reversed and used as a toaster
or hot-plate was given with each purchase. The window
display was changed every three days during the holi-
day season, with a central moving attraction constantly
on exhibition. A Christmas circular was also sent to
each of the company's 16,000 customers offering bar-
gain prices on appliances, and advertisements were also
run on the December bills. The sales in the Electric
Shop were 108 per cent greater in October and 48 per
i int greater in November than in the corresponding
months of the preceding year.
Where to Begin to Cheapen Service
In a discussion before the Chicago Section of the
American Institute of Electrical Engineers bearing on
the small-customer problem, Mr. J. R. Cravath, Chicago,
pointed oul thai the place to begin in making service
cheaper is at the customer's installation. Assuming a
customer's installation with four outlets equipped with
two 25-Watt and two 40-watt lamps, and taking the di
versity factor as 18 per cent, it will be seen, said he. thai
the maximum demand which this customer's L80-wati
installation will impose on the station and distributing
system is 23 watts. It has been estimated that $340
per kw will cover the cost of a city lighting system, ex-
clusive of meters and service wiring ; therefore the cus-
tomer with 23 watts maximum demand can be said to
represent a plant investment of $8. The customer's
installation — that is, the meter, wiring and service con-
nection— costs, however, about $40, or five times as
much as the plant investment necessary to serve him.
Viewing the problem from this angle, Mr. Cravath de-
clared that the present tendency to increase the cost of
wiring in cities should be discouraged and all efforts
striving to make service more inexpensive should begin
at the customer's installation.
Courtesy Defined
In the most conspicuous places in the offices of the
properties of the American Gas & Electric Company
a poster similar to that shown in diminutive form here-
with is displayed. The managers of the companies
whose employees have read and are governed by these
COURTESY
The business of this company Is to soil
Service. (Electric Heat. Light and Power) and
a part of Service— good Service, Is Courtesy.
Customers will receive from every member
of this organization every consideration.
Failure on the part of any employee of this
company to be respectful, must not be con.
strued as representing the conduct of this
company, and should be reported immediately
to the management.
Courtesy Is not bowing and scraping. It Is
a standard of right thinking and right acting.
Courtesy Is not mere politeness; II Is the
cornerstone of Individual character.
Courtesy, as defined here, is an Imperative
rule of this company.
Atlantic City Electric Company
P. H. Goldlnd. \ icr-FW,. •od General M*.
"COURTESY" POSTER OF A UTILITY COMPANY
rules hold the firm conviction that this definition of
courtesy is the correct one. They also believe that when
employees have gained a clear comprehension of this
definition misunderstandings between the public and
the employees of the company will be practically elim-
inated.
Each Guest Cooks His Own Dinner Electrically
One evening during the holiday season the new-
business department of the Toledo Railways & Light
< 'ompany gave a unique electrical banquet to the mem-
bers of the department and to a few other electrical
men. As the guests tiled into the banquet hall all lights
were turned low and each found his place by the light
of small electric-sign letters which formed the initials
of those present. The light was then turned on and
the guests had another surprise, for at each place there
was a three-way electric socket, and each man was pro-
vided with his own electric utility grille, electric cigar
lighter, chafing-dish and coffee percolator. At each
place was an individual steak, and at the sound of an
electric gong the grilles were inverted and placed on
the steaks. At another ring of the gong the steak
February 6, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
355
\v;i- turned, and at another the grille was taken off.
The steaks were found to be beautifully done. Another
ring from the gong was the signal for the guests to
lift the cover of the chafing dishes, and there they found
^teaming hot. At one side of the room was an
electric oven, from which baked potatoes were supplied
to even table. Bach man was served with electrically
AX INDIVIDUALLY COOKED DINNER
percolated coffee from his individual percolator. In
fact, nothing edible was brought from the kitchen.
Everything was cooked by the men themselves, and,
as was stated by the company's genial publicity man-
ager, Mr. E. R. Kelsey, "it served to show the guests
the great utility of electric appliances and fairly startled
them as they realized that the dreams of Jules Verne
have at last become realities."
Making Good Use of "Lost Business" Reports
Speaking of the very satisfactory sale of electric ap-
pliances during the holiday season, Mr. Edward Quillan,
new-business manager of the Alliance (Ohio) Gas &
Power Company, said that while the company had not
made any particularly vigorous advertising effort to
increase Christmas sales, many electric appliances had
been disposed of in December. The cumulative effect
of the whole year's advertising, soliciting and mission-
ary work, said he, was felt at this time. One idea used
by the solicitors at Alliance, however, was rather unique
and was considered very successful. Records had been
kept during previous campaigns showing why prospec-
tive customers did not buy certain appliances. Of
course, a large number of women had said that they
liked electric vacuum cleaners, for instance, but could
not purchase one at the time of the campaign because
of lack of funds. Such reports gave the solicitors a
chance to call upon the men of these households and
suggest a vacuum cleaner as a Christmas gift. Many
sales were made in this way, proving the "lost busi-
reports to be really of the greatest value.
Egg Production Increased by Electric Light
According to the testimony of Mrs. George C. Newell,
•of Brookfield, 111., a suburb of Chicago, the effect of
using artificial electric light in her chicken house to
simulate the long days of summer has been the tripling
of the egg output of her hens. In their tungsten-
lighted compartments these estimable chickens now
average 150 eggs per hen per year. A total of 18,000
■eggs was produced in the Newell coops last year.
The increase in the productiveness of the hens has
resulted, it is explained, from the duplication of sum-
mer lighting conditions during the dark days of win-
ter. It was Mrs. Newell's theory that the hens did not
;lay many eggs during the winter months because they
spent more time on their roosts and had less oppor-
tonitj for scratching about for food. At a nominal
o.st the el( Ice of the Public Service Company
of Northern Illinois was extended to the henhouse.
Each of the two sections is provided with a 2-cp lamp
and a 100-Cp cluster.
At 6 a. m. on dark winter mornings when the family
- the lamps are switched on in the coops. At once
the feathered occupants are roused to the day's activity
of scratching for food. After the appearance of day-
light outside, the lamps are turned off. With the re-
turn of dusk in the late afternoon they go on again,
and they continue to burn until 8 o'clock, when all are
turned off except the 2-cp units. These lamps give a
low illumination, simulating dusk, and the hens at once
prepare to go to their roosts. Fifteen minutes later,
when all are in place, the small "dusk" lamps are ex-
tinguished and darkness reigns in the chicken house
until the next morning.
Two weeks after the present lighting system was
installed the daily egg output had risen from twenty-
six to eighty-three, according to the owner. Fifty eggs
a day are now obtained during the molting season, in
comparison with eleven eggs a day secured under the
former artificial lighting conditions.
The Electric Display Truck
Some of the special advantages possessed by the
storage-battery-driven truck over gasoline trucks were
recently demonstrated in a striking manner in Pitts-
burgh in connection with a "Mardi Gras" parade.
Effective use was made of the regular battery of the
truck to obtain simultaneously five different voltages
for advertising display and propelling the truck. The
cells are of the "Exide" type connected in series to
deliver 80 volts. An emf of 80 volts was used to drive
the truck and to supply energy to the head and tail
lamps. Fifty volts was used to drive a small motor-
generator set which provided 110 volts for the "Du-
^5B
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Li I ^WvvmWBHlUF"'" ««■
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1 9
ILLUMINATED ELECTRIC DISPLAY TRUCK
quesne Light Company" sign across the front. This
sign was made up of Federal letter units. Twelve volts
was used to light the 265 5-watt, 11-volt sign lamps
which outlined the truck and illuminated the sign at
the top and the dozen suspended pumpkin faces. Six
volts rang the bell used in place of a horn. A striking
;• (1 startling effect was produced at frequent intervals
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. H
by an operator who touched together two heavy copper
electrodes connected through a suitable resistance to
the full voltage of the batteries. The long green arc
produced when the electrodes were slowly separated
gave the same effect as when a trolley pole comes off
the wire. Being very close to the faces of the closely
packed spectators, the effect was startling.
Mr. C. W. Ward, superintendent of the laboratory of
the Duquesne Light Company, was responsible both for
the idea of entering a truck in the parade and for the
scheme of display used.
Shortening the Walk from "Movie" to "Movie"
Two moving-picture shows in Alliance, Ohio, are
owned by the same man. They occupy exactly similar
positions on parallel streets just two blocks apart, and
LIGHTING THE ALLEY BETWEEN "MOVIES"
whereas through the alley it is only two blocks from
show to show, by way of the streets the distance is
somewhat longer. Since the alley is paved, the owner
of these shows decided to make the passage as good and
as safe a thoroughfare as the streets. He did so by in-
stalling six 500-watt gas-filled tungsten lamps in inex-
pensive "promotion type" fixtures on the telephone pole
in the alley. The first night these alley lamps were
lighted a partial count showed that more than 150 people
came out of one show and followed the shoveled pathway
through the lighted alley to the other "movie." The
owner of the two picture shows and the alley lighting
is well pleased with his latest electrical business getters,
and declares that there is nothing so attractive as
"bright lights" to a pleasure-seeking crowd.
Increasing the Usefulness of the Lamp-Counter
On the lamp-exchange counter and on the contract
iter in the Kansas City (Mo.) Electric Light Com-
pany's office electric irons and toaster stoves are con-
tinually displayed. Every visitor and every person
acting business at either of these two counters is
politely invited to inspect the appliances, the clerk as-
ng by manipulating the switch controlling the cur-
rani and at the same time pointing out the advantages
of the electrical device . Pro pa tive customers are of-
i irons on thirty days' free trial. If at the end of
that p. -rind the Iron has not been returned, the cus-
tomer i billed for the device and may, if he so elect, pay
for it in three instalments.
Since this plan has been put into effect an average of
fi\ [rOHS a day has been put OUl OR trial, and surpris-
ingly few have been returned. Mr. C. F. Farley, who is
in charge of the company's lighting and appliance busi-
ness, praises this selling plan highly and states that it
reaches new customers promptly and reaches old cus-
tomers who might never be reached by other means.
Increase in Electric Service at Canton, Ohio, in
Spite of Cheap Gas
During the year 1914 the new-business department
of the Canton (Ohio) Electric Company secured prac-
tically twice as many residence-lighting contracts as
had been obtained in 1913, and this record was made
in spite of the fact that natural gas is available locally
for lighting at 32 cents per 1000 cu. ft. As an example
of how thoroughly house wiring has been solicited, Mr.
Robert E. Lane, new-business manager of the company,
cites an instance in one district in the city wherein 139
out of the 142 houses erected were wired and are now re-
ceiving the company's service. In order to make sure
that no opportunity of securing a lighting contract
shall escape, the new-business department keeps a very
close watch on all building permits issued by the city.
The idea that every building should be wired for elec-
tric light was ingeniously worked out in the company's
double window display during Christmas week. In one
window a lighted Christmas tree formed the chief deco-
ration, and in the other window there was an electrically
lighted log cabin with the company's distribution lines
traversing the "snow-drift"-covered road in front of the
house.
An Economical Electric Sign
An electric sign advertising a Chinese restaurant in
the French language is shown in the accompanying illus-
tration, the photograph having been taken recently on
the streets of old Quebec, that quaintest of Canadian
cities. The establishment pictured is a thoroughly up-
to-date one, however, and its proprietor appreciates the
attractions of electric lighting, fan-motor and telephone
service no less than the publicity device shown. The
sign is 18 in. by 30 in. in dimensions and is economically
FRENCH SIGN FOR CHINESE RESTAURANT
illuminated by eight 2-cp lamps, service being supplied
to the establishment by the Dorchester Electric Com
pany. Quebec is bi-lingual, and the successful cen-
tral-station solicitor is obliged to speak French and
English equally well in order to "hold his job" in this
town of historic contrasts.
Febki-ary 6, 1915
K I. KCTRIC A I. WORLD
357
NEW APPARATUS AND APPLIANCES
Electric Starter for Used I an
An electric starting device which can be attached to
the engine shaft of an automobile engine to eliminate
hand cranking is being made by the F. Jos. Lamb Com-
pany, 940 Jefferson Avenue East, Detroit. Mich. The
-IHTRIC STARTING DEVICE FOR GASOLINE AUTOMOBILES
apparatus consists of a motor and generator which are
connected to a battery. The motor is connected to the
front of the car through worm-gear reduction. The
generator is a 12-volt machine and can be driven either
by chains or belts. The energy output is automatically
controlled.
Fixtures for Nitrogen-Filled Street Lamp
The outdoor lighting units shown herewith are de-
signed for use with high-efficiency incandescent lamps
arranged in series. The fixtures consist of a porcelain
HO. 1 — FIXTURE WITH REFRACTOR FOR 250-CP, 400-CP AND
600-CP LAMPS
insulator carrying a series-film cut-out socket and cast-
iron canopy for support either from center span or
bracket. Two kinds of concentric-ring reflectors are
employed, one being 18 in. in diameter and being de-
K
FIG. 2 — FIXTURE FOR 60-CP,
-CP AND 100-CP LAMPS
signed for use with lamps with ratings of 60 cp, 80 cp
and 100 cp, and the other 20 in. in diameter and being
designed to take 250-cp, 400-cp and 600-cp lamps. A
6.5-in. Holophane refractor may be used with the 60-cp,
80-cp and 100-cp lamps, and a 8.5-in. refractor with
the 250-cp, 400-cp and 600-cp lamps if desired. Ample
ventilation is provided, the manufacturers declare, and
cooling air flows upward over the lamp bulb and socket,
through the porcelain insulator, and comes out under the
ron canopy at the top of the hood. The fixtures
.bed are being made by the Adams-Bagnall Elec-
tric Company, Cleveland, Ohio.
High-Voltage Push-Button
A push-button which is similar in size, design and ap-
pearance to the ordinary battery push-button and is
designated as the "push easy" button has been devel-
oped by the Russell Electric Company, Danbury, Conn.
It is rated at 6 amp at a pressure of 110 volts and 3
PUSH-BUTTON ATTACHED TO OUTLET BOX
amp at a pressure of 220 volts. The push-button is de-
signed for use with bells, horns, relays and other elec-
trical devices of the open-circuit type. The button
closes the circuit only when held in by the finger and
opens the circuit when the finger is removed. The but-
ton is shown in the accompanying illustration attached
to an outlet box made by the above company.
Slip-Ring Induction Motors
Large slip-ring induction motors recently developed
for continuous service, such as for operating pumps,
blowers, compressors, hoists and other machinery re-
quiring heavy torque at starting, are being made by the
Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company, East
Pittsburgh, Pa. One of the chief characteristics of
these motors, the manufacturers declare, is great
strength. The frame is massive, and the bearings and
FIG. 1 — SLIP-RING INDUCTION MOTOR
shaft are very large. The windings are securely braced
against vibration. The bearings are dustproof and
rest on three machined seats, a construction that is said
to be particularly adaptable for steel-mill service. All
coils are form-wound and are insulated to ground before
being placed in the slots. The stator slots are straight
358
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 6
open, while those of the rotor have an overhanging lip
which assists in holding the coils in place. The shaft
can be removed without disturbing the rotor winding.
The bearing shell may also be removed and can be re-
is only 12 in. in over-all length and weighs 250 lb. The
total weight of the car is approximately 5000 lb., but
the company is also expecting to build automobiles of
2800 lb. and 3000 lb. The battery is of sufficient rating
-ROTOR OF SLIP-RING
placed without taking off the lower half of the bearing
bracket. The brushes are readily accessible, as shown
in Fig. 1.
Gasoline-Electric Automobile
An automobile which is equipped with a 5-kw gasoline-
engine-driven generator, a series-wound motor and a
storage battery has recently been developed by the Gait
Motor Company, Gait, Ont. A two-cylinder water-cooled
engine which is cast in block form is utilized. The
engine is of the crank-case compression type, the crank
shaft of which is formed with cored-out crank disks,
which nearly fill the crank case, thus reducing its volume
and raising the initial compression. Use is made of a
single transfer passage which communicates with an
integral manifold, the distribution of the charges be-
tween the cylinders being effected by means of a cross
intake piston valve which is actuated by the alternate
pressures and vacuums in the crank chambers. A so-
called "combustion cartridge" is provided which consists
of a tubular chamber extending above the cylinder into
which the charge is compressed. The spark occurs at
the base of the chamber and in the cylinder proper, and
the combustion flame backs into the tube slowly, pro-
ducing a gradual rise in the expansion pressure, which
is said to give an effect more like that of a steam engine
than that usually obtained when the entire charge is
ignited at once.
The generator operates at 50 volts and the motor at
SSSL1-
. PflflNLMf
FIG. 1— '
rORAGE GASOLINE KI.K( I Kit AUTOMOBILE
48 volts and 35 amp, at 1300 r.p.m. The battery is
divided into two groups and is carried on each side ol
the chassis outside of the frame. The motor is din
connected to the rear tgh a double uni1 1
jointed shaft and four-to-one reduction. The engine
FIG. 2 — GASOLINE-ENGINE-DRIVEN GENERATOR
to operate the car for 20 miles over ordinary roads with-
out the assistance of the engine. The car is geared for
speeds up to 40 miles per hour.
Tests with the car shown herewith have shown a fuel
consumption of 58.5 ton-miles per gallon of fuel. The
fuel consumption of the power plant alone is claimed
to be % pint per kw-hr. Aside from the claim for
economy, this car is recommended by the builder for
general contractor's use and for all other purposes
where a portable power plant is needed, since the
electrical energy of the generator can be readily applied
to numerous uses without encumbering the machine it-
self with appliances. A special detail incorporated in
the automobile described above is a swivel headlamp,
which is mounted between the frame horns in front of
the radiator and is swung to right and left automatically
with the movement of the front wheels.
Bushing for Non-Metallic Flexible Tubing
A bushing which is designed for use with non-metal-
lic flexible tubing employed with outlet boxes and
switchboxes having r,s-in. knockouts is shown herewith.
BUSHING FOR FLEXIBLE TUBING
No tools are required to install the device, and it may
easily be snapped on the tubing, the manufacturers de-
c-hire, and inserted in position with the thumb and
finger. The bushing is being made by the Metal Spe-
cialties Company, Kansas City, Mo.
February 6, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
359
Porcelain Knobs
The reversible square knob shown in Fig. 1 is
equipped with a curved wireway. which, the manufactur-
ers declare, draws the wires very tight. It is also provided
with a heavy central shoulder which gives strength at
the weakest point. The knob shown in Fig. 2 is de-
signed for rubber-covered wire in sizes up to and in-
cluding No. 8. Tie wire can also be used with this
FIGS. 1 AND 2 — PORCELAIN KNOBS
knob. Only one screw or nail is necessary to fasten the
device. Both knobs are the product of the Illinois Elec-
tric Porcelain Company, Macomb, 111. The latter knob
was designed by the Snyder-Hunt Company, of Belle
Plaine, la., for which the above company is manufactur-
ing the device.
Portable Electric Drill
The drill illustrated herewith is designed particularly
for drilling in corners or close to obstructions. The
drill is balanced with relation to the grips so that it can
be easily handled, and control is accomplished by means
of one finger. The housings of the drill are cast from
an aluminum alloy. The drill is designed for both oil
and grease lubrication, and all gears are constantly
bathed in non-fluid grease in a grease-tight compart-
ment.
The motor operates on both direct current and alter-
nating current, and will, it is claimed, carry heavy over-
loads. A forced-draft ventilating system is employed
to keep the motor cool. The bearings and brushes of
the motor are carried on a separate inner spider, and
the commutator and brushes can be inspected while the
drill is running. If desired, a breast plate or combina-
tion spade handle may be utilized in place of the rear
grip shown in the accompanying illustration. With the
larger sizes a second removable side grip is placed op-
posite to the switch grip, and for heavy drilling an "old
man" is employed in addition to the rear grip. The
ELECTRIC DRILL DESIGNED FOR WORKING IN CORNERS
drill is being made in two sizes for operation on 110
volts and 220 volts by the Black & Decker Manufactur-
ing Company, Baltimore, Md., and is operated by a
motor built by the Robbins & Myers Company, Spring-
field, Ohio.
Small Lighting Plants
In Fig. 1 is shown a 30-volt lighting outfit consisting
of a shunt-wound 32-42-volt generator, belt-connected
to a 1-hp gasoline engine, a switchboard and a sixteen-
cell battery. In Fig. 2 is shown a switchboard and the
battery of a < "mbined alternating-current and direct-
current 110-volt lighting set. The 30-volt outfit was
developed for residence use, and the 110-volt set for a
hospital, by the Barber-Dwinnell Electric & Manufac-
turing Company, Kansas City, Mo.
The above company is making two types of 30-volt
plants, one for residences and the other for business
FIG. 1 — 30-VOLT LIGHTING SET
houses and small institutions where most of the lamps
are turned on at one time and are used for a certain
period after which only a few lamps are required. For
the latter a battery with rating much smaller than that
needed with the former set is utilized. Provision is
made so that the lamps can be operated either directly
from the generator or from the storage battery, or the
battery can be charged at the same time that the lamps
are being used. The switchboard for the 30-volt plant
is built as simply as possible, the manufacturers de-
clare, and is equipped with voltmeter, ammeter pilot
lamp, field rheostat, switches and automatic self-restor-
ing circuit-breaker. The battery is of the sealed-in-
glass-jar type, and is made by the above company. The
battery is floated on the line at all times.
The Barber-Dwinnell Electric & Manufacturing Com-
pany is also making two types of 110-volt plants, one
for large farms and small institutions and the other for
FIG. 2 — BATTERY AND SWITCHBOARD OF 110-VOLT PLANT
villages and towns. The former is equipped with a
battery of fifty-six cells of the open type and a 40-volt
generator. The cells are charged in series, and if the
lighting circuit is closed while the battery is charged,
the pressure is reduced from 140 volts to 110 volts by
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 6
means of the rheostat. The latter outfit includes a
battery having from fifty-six to sixty-four cells, which
is charged by dividing the cells into two groups of the
same number and charging them in parallel. When
energy is taken from the battery the cells are in series.
Connecting Block for Spring Binding Posts
The connecting block shown herewith was recently
designed by the Fahnestock Electric Company, 129
Patchen Avenue, Brooklyn, N. Y., for the Western
Union Telegraph Company. It consists of a glazed-
porcelain base 10 in. long, 1.25 in. wide and 1.25 in.
CONNECTING BLOCK WITH SPRING BINDING POSTS
high. On this base are mounted ten spring binding
posts, 1 in. between centers. There is a lug on one side
of the connector to which one wire is soldered, the other
wire being held by the spring. The connector stands
on three small legs so that surface leakage is reduced
to a minimum.
Weatherproof Pull Socket
In the new outdoor-type pull-chain socket developed
by the Benjamin Electric Manufacturing Company, 128
South Sangamon Street, Chicago, the chain comes down
in the annular space inside the outer shell so that when
a shade or reflector is in place on the socket the chain
falls inside the reflector and can therefore be operated
by a straight pull from beneath. The chain is thor-
Electrically Operated Vacuum Cleaner for Cylinder
Presses
In the accompanying illustrations is shown a vacuum-
cleaning outfit designed for use on any printing, litho-
graphing or offsetting press of the cylinder type. The
WKATIIKKPROOF PULL SOCKET
oughly insulated from all electrical parts of the recep-
tacle. My means of the threaded ring on the lower part
of the socket, shades, globes and reflectors of various
types may be attached. The metal shell is furnished in
ml aluminum. This weatherproof pull
■t ha« I" "ii approved by the Underwriters.
FIG. 1 — MOTOR-DRIVEN BLOWER
outfit consists of a series of vacuum cleaning nozzles
which are connected to a series of manifolds graduated
in size to insure uniform velocity of suction at all points.
A hose is attached to these manifolds, which runs out
and down alongside the press to a motor-driven suction
fan which can be installed either under the press or
to one side. The nozzles extend the full length of
the cylinders, and they are placed in such position and
at such an angle that as the paper leaves the press a
KIG. 2— CLEANING APPARATUS INSTALLED ON PRESS
suction action along the surface and edges is produced
which removes all the loose dirt and foreign matter. On
the second revolution of the press all the dirt left over
from the under side of the sheet is collected before it
has a chance to reach the forms. In this way the forms
air kept clean, thus insuring clean inking rolls and
February <;, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
361
clean ink. The nozzles are of aluminum and are faced
with brass. The manifolds and fan are also of alumi-
num, while the Mower is of east iron. The motor used
in the operation of this outfit is a 1-hp direct-current
high-speed machine made by the Robbins & Myers Com-
pany. Springfield, Ohio. The outfit is known as the
Doyle vacuum sheet cleaner and is manufactured by
Britton & Doyle. 205 Caton Building, Cleveland, Ohio.
Color-Matching Outfit
Apparatus for producing light having a daylight value
has been developed by the General Electric Company,
Schenectady, N. Y. The equipment consists of an arc
lamp, a reflecting hood and a color screen. The colored
COLOR-MATCHING APPARATUS WITH SCREEN LOWERED
glasses forming the screen are 16 in. in diameter and
are placed in the large end of a conical hood which is at-
tached to the casing of the lamp. The hood surrounds
the inner globe and is provided with a reflecting surface.
Binding Post
In the accompanying illustration is shown a binding
post designed for use with electrical instruments and
other kinds of apparatus. The device consists essen-
tially of a hollow bolt threaded both outside and inside
into which is screwed another bolt with an insulated
head. A hexagonal nut is employed to fasten the hol-
SECTIONAL VIEW OK HINDING POST
low bolt to the switchboard or other base with which it
may be used. The threaded part of the smaller bolt is
Vh in. long. The rear connection is made by means of
a screw and washer. All metal parts of the device are
of brass. The binding post is being made by the States
Company, Hartford, Conn.
Light-Weight. Low-I'riced Electric Delivery
Vehicle
In the accompanying illustration is shown a 500-lb.
low-coal electric parcel car. The car operates at a speed
of 15 miles per hour, and it will travel 45 miles to 50
ELECTRIC PARCEL CAR
miles on one charge, depending on the load carried and
the road conditions. Wooden wheels equipped with
solid rubber tires are utilized, and the wheelbase is 68
in. Worm-and-gear drive is employed. The car is op-
erated by a General Electric motor, rated at 28 volts
and 40 amp. The battery equipment consists of either
twelve lead cells or twenty-four Edison A-4 cells and
is carried under the driver's seat, which is at the back
of the car as shown. The frame of the car is of pressed
steel, and the body consists of metal panels mounted
in a wooden frame. Provision is made so that a charged
battery can be substituted for one that is discharged
if desired. The car is being placed on the market by
the Cyco-Lectric Car Company, 1790 Broadway, New
York.
Direct-Current Watt-Hour Meter
A small-sized direct-current watt-hour meter has
recently been developed by the Duncan Electric Manu-
SMALL-SIZED DIRECT-CURRENT WATT-HOUR METER
facturing Company, Lafayette, Ind., with ratings of
2.5 amp, 5 amp, 7.5 amp and 10 amp for 110 volts and
220 volts. The framework to which the series field
coils, the upper bearing and the registering train are
attached is of channeled brass and is fastened to a
hard-drawn sheet-brass back support by means of a
362
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 6
series of strong legs. Instead of supporting the per-
manent magnets from the bottom these are supported
from the top, which arrangement, it is declared, allows
ample space for adjusting the magnets and permits
greater access to the aluminum disk and the lower jewel
bearing. The compensating coil and switch are made
in one unit and the registering train is in the center
of the meter, thereby allowing free access to the com-
mutator and brushes. The meter weighs 10.5 lb. and
the ratio of torque to weight remains the same as in
the larger types made by the company.
Electric Iron
With the electric iron shown herewith a stand is not
required, as an attachment is provided so that it can
be tipped on end when not in use. A quick-break switch
plug is utilized, and to operate the switch it is necessary
ELECTRICALLY OPERATED IRON
to pull the knob on the tension spring. The handle is
ebonized and the iron may be finished in bright nickel
if desired. The iron is well balanced, the manufactur-
ers declare, and consumes 500 watts. It is being placed
on the market by the Pelouze Manufacturing Company,
232 East Ohio Street. Chicago, 111.
Composition Disk for Globe Valves
An improved composition disk has recently been de-
veloped by the Jenkins Brothers, 80 White Street, New
York, for globe, angle, cross and radiator valves. The
material from which this device is made is very hard,
it is declared, but becomes tough and flexible in service
FIGS. 1 AND 2— DISK AND GLOBE VALVE
when under steam pressure. The composition disk is
used in place of a solid metal clapper and is contained
in a brass disk holder. When the valve is closed the
disk rests upon a raised brass seat in the body of the
valve. The disk presents a slightly yielding surface to
the valve seat and adapts itself to any roughness or
unevenness of the seat. In case there is grit or scale
on the seat, it tends to embed itself in the composition
material, without injury to the metal seat. In case the
disk should wear out, a new one could be substituted
in a very short time. The disk is provided with a flat-
tened hole as shown, which corresponds in shape to the
projection on the disk nut shown in the sectional view
of the valve in Fig. 2.
Electric "Safety" Lamp
An electric hand-lamp provided with an attachment
so that if the glass breaks or the reflector is crushed
or punctured the circuit is opened before the bulb
breaks is shown herewith. The battery and lamp are
Double-Deck Electric Incubator
In order to obtain an even distribution of heat, the
electrically operated double-deck incubator shown in the
accompanying illustrations is equipped with two heat-
ing units, one of which is at the top of the device and
the other at the bottom. The sectional view given in
Fig. 1 shows the arrangement of the egg tray and chick
tray and heating coils. The dotted lines represent the
y.-^:--y v^:-v i's;4K.-.y
a*- , v \ r a — ■
ELECTRIC II VND I IMP
FIG. 1 — SECTION OF DOUBLE-DECK INCUBATOR
Enclosed in an air-tight and water-tight aluminum case.
The electrolyte of the battery is plastic and therefore
will Dot spill or leak out. The lamp will burn twelve
hours on one charge. It is being placed on the market
by the Hirsch Electric Mine Lamp Company, 314
North Twelfth street, Philadelphia, Pa,
paths of the heated-air currents. The temperature of
the coils is never more than 250 deg. Fahr. A regu-
lating device is employed to maintain a constant tem-
perature of L08 deg. Fahr., which has been found to be
the most suitable temperature for hatching the eggs.
A button-controlled lamp is also provided with the incu-
UtY 6, 1915
KI.Ei'TKICAL WORLD
363
bator. Moist-sand trays are phioed beneath the eggs to
t too rapid evaporation of the liquid conti
the eg;.'. Ventilation is obtained by means of a hole in
the bottom of the device as shown in Fig, 1, which may
FIG. 2 — 200-EGG DOUBLE-DECK INCUBATOR
walled, and between the walls is a layer of granulated
cork. An inner front door is provided, which is of
glass. The incubator is being made by the Electric
Specialty Company, 154 South Main Street, Salt Lake
City, Utah.
Collapsible Hand-Boring Machine
A light-weight hand-operated machine for boring
holes for electric wires which can be collapsed from a
working length of 28 in. to one of 18 in. so that it can
be packed in a tool bag has recently been placed on the
market by the Henderson Electric Company, Ampere,
FIGS. 1 AND 2 — BORING MACHINE
N. J. The device will bore holes at any angle, the
manufacturers declare, through studding, bridging,
plates, floors and joists. The above company also makes
a large machine similar in design to the collapsible ma-
chine, although it is only used for boring holes in joists.
All working parts of the two types are interchangeable.
The larger machine stand* on the floor, while the Bmall-
be employed in a manner similar to that
in wh I drill is used. The collapsible machine
weighs only 6 lb. Use is made of ball bearings, drop
unless tubing. The device is operated
by pulling on a chain, causing the drill to revolve.
Portable Lighting Fixtures with Extension Arm
The fixture shown in Fig. 1 is equipped with a heavily
weighted base and an extension arm. and by means of
various adjustments the lamp can be placed in prac-
FIG. 1 — FIXTURE WITH WEIGHTED BASE
tically any position desired. The lamp shade is so at-
tached that it can be revolved around the lamp and the
lamp itself can be tilted at any angle desired. The arm
can be extended from a length of 5 in. to one of 25 in.
An adjustment is also provided so that the arm can
be tilted from a horizontal to a vertical position and
from a vertical to a horizontal position in the other di-
rection. Finally another adjustment is provided which
permits the revolving of the whole fixture on the base.
The fixture shown in Fig. 2 is designed for use with
a device called a telephone mounting, which consists
of a receptacle that may be attached to a bracket or
pedestal into which the arm of the fixture fits. The
FIG. 2 — FIXTURE WITH SPECIAL RECEPTACLE FOR ARM
fixture has the various adjustable features with which
the device shown in Fig. 1 is provided.
Both fixtures are finished in oxidized-copper or brush-
brass and are being made by the American Electric
Company, State Street and Sixty-fourth Street, Chi-
cago, 111.
364
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 6
Conduit Bushing Adapters
Devices designed for fitting conduit of a certain
diameter to holes of larger diameters or to holes of
smaller diameters as the case may be are shown here-
FIG. 1 — ADAPTER ATTACHED TO 0.5-IN. CONDUIT FOR
FITTING TO 0.75-IN. HOLE
with, and an adapter, as it is called, for the former
case is shown in Fig. 1, and one for the latter in Fig. 2.
The devices are of malleable iron and are sherardized.
FIG. 2 — ADAPTER FOR FITTING 0.5-IN. CONDUIT TO 0.375-
IN. HOLE
They are being placed on the market by the Steel
City Electric Company, 1207 Columbus Avenue, Pitts-
burgh, Pa.
Electrical Devices for Gasoline Automobile
A device for decreasing the glare of automobile head-
lamps was described in the Electrical World of Feb.
7, 1914. This device has been improved and in its new
form is shown herewith. The "Nodaz," as it is called,
consists of a number of translucent shutters which may
be opened and closed by means of a solenoid operated
from the driver's seat.
A new type of belt for automobile lighting outfits is
also illustrated herewith. It consists of a number of
units with leather-covered elastic cores. This arrange-
ment has been adapted, the manufacturers claim, to se-
cure maximum tractive effort. The combined lighting
switch and dimming device for automobiles shown has
recently been developed. The handle can be moved to
o
n
DEVICES FOB AUTOMOBILE LIGHTING OUTFITS
the "off," "very dim," "dim" and "full" positions. A
small porcelain disk is provided <>n which the resistance
wire is enameled. The disk caniet the operating lever
and is Inclosed in B spun-brass case.
The automatic dynamo controllers illustrated arc ds
signed for automobile-lighting dynamos with low field
current and high field current. The controllers are
equipped with self-cleaning vibratory contacts. Con-
trollers designed for low field currents have one set of
vibrating contacts. The other controllers have two sets
which are operated by a single vibrat::.g keeper so as
to utilize two steps of resistance. The latter are de-
signed for fields taking 10 amp at 6 volts.
The devices described above are being made by the
Ward Leonard Company, Bronxville, N. Y., and were ex-
hibited at the recent New York automobile show.
Downward Light Tungsten Lamp
Duhrssen & Pfaltz, Inc., of 19 East Seventeenth
Street, New York, are marketing in this country the
"Sunlite" reflector Pope-Holland lamp shown herewith.
A horizontally concentrated spiral-tungsten filament of
rugged construction is used so that the largest part of
the light of the lamp is projected downward. To the
same end the lamp is equipped with an opaline glass re-
flector which is detachable. The latter fits snugly over
FIG. 1 — TUNGSTEN LAMP SENDING LIGHT DOWNWARD
the base of the lamp and is held in place by a small cap
which screws on a threaded skirt insulated from and be-
low the shell of the base. Owing to the construction of
the filament, the turnip shape of the lamp bulb and the
glove-fitting reflector, the maximum amount of light
falls immediately below the vortex of the lamp. Thus
in the case of a lamp rated at 25 cp the distribution
PIQ. 2 -DIAGRAM SHOWING DISTRIBUTION OF LIGHT
from a regular pear-shaped tungsten lamp and a tungs-
ten lamp of the "Sunlite" type is claimed to be as shown
in the diagram herewith. The lamp is especially adapt-
ed for use in factories, machine shops, printing offices,
show windows, etc. It is made in standard sizes in rat-
ings from 25 to 300 watts, with or without reflector.
Kkbri AKV >'., 1916
ELECTRICAL WORLD
365
National Association of Manufacturers of Elec-
trical Supplies
Mr. EL K. Sheppard, of the B. F. Goodrich Company,
Akron, Ohio, who is chairman of the special com-
mittee of electrical interests which met at the Hotel
Biltmore in New York on Jan. 12 to discuss the pos-
sibility of forming an electrical manufacturers' associa-
tion, has made appointments to the two committees
called for by that meeting as follows: Committee of
nine of organization, Mr. W. T. Pringle, Pringle Elec-
tric Manufacturing Company, Philadelphia, chairman,
and .Messrs. Walter Cary, Westinghouse Lamp Com-
pany, New York; D. C. Durland, Sprague Electric
Works of the General Electric Company, New York;
W. C. Robinson, National Metal Molding Company,
Pittsburgh; E. R. Harding, Holtzer-Cabot Electric
Company, Brookline, Mass.; George A. Cragin, Amer-
ican Steel & Wire Company, Worcester, Mass.; N. C.
Cotabish, National Carbon Company, Cleveland; J. W.
Perry, H. W. Johns-Manville Company, New York; J.
E. Way, R. Thomas & Sons Company, East Liverpool,
Ohio.
The committee of five to draft nominations for a com-
mittee of commercial and technical experts to pass on
the relative efficiencies of the concentric-wiring system
and the systems at present in use in this country con-
sists of the following: Mr. Leroy Clarke, Safety In-
sulated Wire & Cable Company, New York, chairman,
and Messrs. H. B. Crouse, Crouse-Hinds Company,
Syracuse, N. Y. ; L. W. Downes, D & W Fuse Company,
Providence, R. I.; Gerard Swope, Western Electric
Company, New York, and W. C. Bryant, Bryant Electric
Company, Bridgeport, Conn.
February Meeting Postponed
The organization committee finds that the task given
to it is of such moment to the electrical industry that
more time will be needed than the period first contem-
plated. The result is that the chairman of the meeting
of electrical manufacturers has postponed from Feb. 9
to March 9, 1915, the call for the next meeting of the
manufacturers.
At a meeting of the organization committee on Feb.
1, 1915, that committee unanimously adopted the fol-
lowing resolution:
"Whereas the manufacturers of electrical apparatus
already are admirably equipped with a working organi-
zation— the Electric Power Club; and whereas the Elec-
trical Manufacturers' Club, comprising in its member-
ship most branches of the electrical manufacturing
industry, has from time to time dealt with general
problems affecting the entire electrical manufacturing
industry ; and whereas the manufacturers of electrical
supplies are not similarily organized; and whereas the
necessity of active co-operation throughout the entire
electrical manufacturing industry is apparent;
"Be it resolved, that this committee shall recom-
mend to a meeting of the electrical manufacturers of
the United States to be called by this committee to con-
vene in New York at the Biltmore Hotel:
"First — A plan for the formation immediately of a
National Association of the Manufacturers of Electrical
Supplies;
"Second — That subsequent to such organization said
association appoint a committee of five members who
shall request a conference with a similar committee of
five members of the Electric Power Club, to consider
jointly with the Electrical Manufacturers' Club the
practicability of utilizing the Electrical Manufacturers'
(lull as a governing body to deal with the larger ques-
tions affecting the entire manufacturing industry, em-
bracing both manufacturers of electrical supplies and
manufacturers of electrical apparatus."
Co-operation of All Electrical Manufacturers Desired
Mr. Sheppard welcomes communications from all
electrical manufacturers who are interested in the con-
templated organization and desires to disseminate
widely the invitation to the meeting to be held March
9, at which gathering the organization committee will
give its report. At that same meeting the nominating
committee will also report suggestions for the per-
sonnel of the proposed representative committee of
business and technical experts, which committee is to
study thoroughly present practice of all-insulated cir-
cuits and coincidently the principle of grounded and re-
turn circuits and endeavor to produce something better
than concentric wiring. That committee will probably
include in its personnel business and technical experts
and representatives of research and development de-
partments of manufacturing and other enterprises, in-
cluding the Underwriters' Laboratories and the National
Electric Light Association. It is suggested that to
such a committee the industry should intrust the de-
termination of the relative efficiencies of the two sys-
tems (a) as to safety to persons, (b) as to protection
against fire, (c) as to the possible provision of methods
of wiring at low cost, combined with ease of installa-
tion and sufficiently attractive appearance to obtnin
popular approval.
The committee is also to present to the entire in-
dustry the results of its investigations in the form of
concrete recommendations, including standard systems,
standard devices and standard appliances.
Preliminary Draft of Concentric-Wiring Rules
The sub-committee on electric wiring of the National
Fire Protection Association, of which Mr. W. H. Blood,
Jr., of Boston, is chairman, has prepared a preliminary
draft of suggested requirements for concentric wiring,
subject to discussion at the March meeting of the elec-
trical committee of the association. The sub-committee
does not at this time recommend these or any rules
for concentric wiring for inclusion in the National
Electrical Code, but recommends that the fullest dis-
cussion be given to the tentative regulations and that
copies be supplied on application by the electrical com-
mittee and by the Underwriters' Laboratories.
The introduction to the draft points out that the in-
terest in a system of grounded concentric wiring has
arisen chiefly from two considerations:
First — A desire for a system of wiring possessing
advantages of low cost, ease of installation and good
appearance.
Second — A desire to protect persons against injury
by the use of a grounded system having no ungrounded
exposed current-carrying parts.
366
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 6
It is the intent of the following suggested and illus-
trative rules to prescribe, only for possible experi-
mental and development purposes, the general condi-
tions for a system of grounded concentric wiring.
These illustrative rules are, therefore, only a partial
outline of possible future requirements and are sub-
ject to revision, modification and extension resulting
from further information and experience when such
is obtained. A system which fulfils the conditions out-
lined below and no more will not necessarily be ac-
ceptable, and suggestions for the further development
of similar systems and the requirements applying to
them are invited. All appliances and systems should,
in the opinion of the committee, be submitted to the
Underwriters' Laboratories for examination and re-
port.
Suggested Requirements of Grounded Concentric System
A. Must be connected only to normally grounded sys-
tems where the difference of potential between any
wire and ground does not exceed 150 volts.
B. Must be used only for branch circuits of not over
660 watts each nor more than sixteen sockets or re-
ceptacles.
C. Must be used for exposed work only. Must never
be run on or in floors or in concealed spaces except
where passing directly through floors or partitions.
Where passing through a floor must be carried through
an iron pipe extending from the ceiling below to a
point at least 3 in. above the flooring. Additional me-
chanical protection may be required by the inspection
department.
D. Must be continuous from outlet to outlet without
splices or taps unless approved splice or tap fittings
are used.
K The radius of the inner edge of any bend to be
not less than 3' 2 in.
F. The outer conductor or sheath must be perma-
nently and effectively connected to the grounded supply
wire at or near the point of supply of the concentric
m, and on the house side of the service switch
and fuse.
G. Must be equipped at every outlet, splice or tap
with a fitting approved for this purpose.
The ends of the outer conductor or sheath must be
secured at every outlet, splice or tap so as to secure
electrical continuity between all portions of the outer
conductor or sheath.
No soldered connections shall be made to the outer
conductor or sheath at any point, but approved clamp-
in;' devices or binding posts on terminal plates in fit-
tings shall be used for all tap wires to sockets or other
connected fittings.
H. No switches shall be placed in the outer con-
ductor or sheath, and no switches in any part of the
m to which the concentric wiring is attached shall
In- of a type or so installed that the outer conductor or
sheath can be disconnected from the grounded wire
Of the supply system without simultaneously di
Meeting the inner wires.
I. Puses must not be placed on the outer conductor
or sheath of the concentric system nor in the grounded
wire Of the supply thereto within the building in such
■ way thai their operation can under any condition
break the connection of the outer conductor or sheath
with the grounded wire of the supply system within the
building.
An approved fuse of capacity nnt larger than 10
amp placed so as to protect the inner con-
ductor of each 660 watt circuit.
.1 At all outlets or junction points approved fittings
must be used, which shall provide for the Buitabh
sulation of the inner conductor and secure electrical
continuity of the outer conductor or sheath through
the fittings.
K. Where concentric wires enter or leave metal out-
let or switch boxes or cabinets the outer conductor or
sheath shall be mechanically and electrically secured
thereto by suitable clamps or other approved means.
Where liable to come into contact with water or gas.
pipes or other grounded metal the outer conductor or
sheath must be effectively connected electrically there-
to or insulated therefrom by some reliable means.
L. Must be securely supported at least every ] •> ft.
by means of approved clamps.
Construction Rules
M. Must comply with the requirements of the Na-
tional Electrical Code Rules Nos. 49, 50-a, b, c, e, g and
i. except that insulation resistance and voltage tests
shall be made without immersion and between the inner
and outer conductors.
N. Concentric wires for systems of this type must
be of approved form and construction, and the inner
conductor must be of copper of No. 14 B. & S. gage.
O. Between the insulation and the outer conductor
there must be a firm continuous tape or braid of ap-
proved material.
P. The inner and outer conductors must be of cop-
per and the inner conductor must be thoroughly tinned.
Q. The outer conductor or sheath must be so applied
as to fit closely and tightly and must be continuous.
The conductivity of the outer conductor or sheath must
not be less than that of the inner conductor. The com-
pleted wire must be of approximately circular section
at all points.
The report is signed by the members of the sub-
committee on concentric wiring of the National Fire
Protection Association — Messrs. J. C. Forsyth, New
York; Washington Devereux, Philadelphia; Dana
Pierce, New York; A. M. Paddon, Syracuse, N. Y. ; G.
S. Lawlor, Boston; James R. Strong, New York; H. R.
Sargent. Schenectady, N. Y., and W. H. Blood, Jr.,
chairman, Boston.
Slate for the Federal Trade Commission
The latest "slate" at Washington for the Federal
Trade Commission includes Mr. W. J. Harris, of
Georgia, Director of the Census, who is said to be in
favor with President Wilson because the commission
will require important data and statistics. Mr. Harris
is a Democrat. The other members of the "slate" are
Messrs. Joseph E. Davies, of Wisconsin. Commissioner
of Corporations, and E. N. Hurley of Illinois, both Dem-
ocrats ; Mr. George L. Record, of New Jersey, Progres-
sive, and Mr. W. H. Parry of the State of Washington,
a "Progressive Republican."
It is said in Washington that the old-line Republicans
in the Senate will never consent to the confirmation of
Mr. Parry and that they will hold up the confirmation
of the whole commission if a Progressive or two "Pro-
gressive Republicans" are named to the exclusion of a
straight-out Republican. This, however, does not apply
to Senator Jones of Washington, a regular Republican,
who recommended one of his own political faith for ap-
pointment. Mr. Parry will not be objectionable to Sen-
ator Jones, who might smooth Mr. Parry's way with
other old-line Republican Senators.
The fight on the ship purchase hill in the Senate is
expected to play a part in the confirmation of mem-
bera of the Federal Trade Commission, inasmuch as
President Wilson has been seeking the support of Re-
publican- for that hill to take the place of Democrats
who have withdrawn their support. The President's
un •'•. 1915
K L EOT RIOAL WORLD
367
•• may suggest that he appoint a
Republican of the old school on the commission n
it becomes apparent that Progressives cannot be con-
firmed.
Minnesota Electrical Contractor-
A number of valuable papers relating to the work
of the electrical contractor were presented at the winter
meeting of the .Minnesota Electrical Contractors' .
ciation. held at the Hotel Radisson, .Minneapolis, Jan.
27. Following the morning closed session, Mr. <;. B.
Muldaur. New York, spoke before the contractors at
luncheon on the subject of the Society for Electrical
Development, outlining the work the society is doing
which will be of especial benefit to the electrical con-
tractor.
At tin- afternoon session there was a brief discussion
on bare concentric wiring, and several speakers de-
clared that the introduction of such a system '
isly embarrass the contractor-' business, besides
revolutionizing electrical fittings and complicating
Stocks. Before declaring themselves for record, how-
ever, as either favoring or opposing this form of con-
struction the contractors present voted to secure further
information and to give the subject careful study.
Several construction kinks were described in a paper
read by .Mr. R. E. Russell, Minneapolis. Organization
routine for handling out-of-town jobs was discussed by
Mr. A. YV. Lindgren, Duluth. The work-order system of
the Electric Construction Company of St. Paul was out-
lined by Mr. C. M. Converse. Close attention to details
of specifications when preparing estimates was urged
b; Mr. M. J. La Valle, Minneapolis. He recommended
that the plans and estimates of all jobs figured be kept
for reference at least five years. "Credits, Collections
and Discounts" was the topic of a paper by Mr. \V. H.
Vilet, Minneapolis. The useful function of a "moral-
risk club" among electrical credit men where first-hand
ledger experience can be exchanged, supplementing or-
dinary financial ratings, was esphasized in his remark--.
The problem of poor specifications was also discussed by
Mr. A. W. Zahm, Minneapolis, and others.
Mr. A. L. Abbott, St. Paul, is president of the Minne-
sota Electrical Contractors' Association, and Mr. G. M.
Jones, Minneapolis, is secretary. Duluth has been
selected as the place of the annual summer meeting.
Elimination of Old-Code Wire
A report was presented recently before the Western
ciation of Electrical Inspectors which showed that
while the use of "old wire" has been constantly decreas-
ing, "old wire" cord and fixture wire are still employed
to an alarming extent in the cheaper devices and fix-
tures sold by hardware, department and small supply
stores. The use of this sub-standard wire on portable
apparatus where, roughly handled, it comes into contact
with the hands of persons and with inflammable ma-
terial constitutes one of the greatest hazards to-day.
Of thirty-eight wire manufacturers canvassed by a
committee of this association, twenty-five replied that
they do not keep "old-code" wire, and three reported
having limited stocks of such wire, from which, how-
ever, practically no sales are made for electric lighting
purposes. Seventeen of these manufacturers make "old-
code" wire on order, this demand coming chiefly from
concerns dealing in automobile supplies. The remain-
ing eleven manufacturers make no such sub-standard
wire under any conditions. The present output of "old-
code" wire amounts to hardly 1 per cent of the country's
total rubber-covered wire production, and the manufac-
turers reporting were quite unanimous in expressing
their wish to discontinue altogether the making of sub-
standard products. With four exceptions, all believed
the present-code wire satisfactory.
In accepting the report of the committee the associa-
tion voted to ask the Underwriters' Laboratories to urge
wire manufacturer- to discontinue making sub-standard
wire for lighting, heating and motor service and to
designate "old-code" and sub-standard wire by suitable
markings or labels.
Wiring Committee Activities
Mr. R. S. Hale, Boston, Mass., chairman of the X. E.
L. A. committee on the wiring of existing buildings,
lias sent a letter to manufacturers of plugs and re-
ceptacles asking for a conference at the N. E. L. A.
rooms, 3.*5 West Thirty-ninth Street. Xew York, on
Feb. 15, at 10 a. m. The latest draft of the com!!
report on plugs and receptacles appeared in the Jan.
2.". issue of the Electrical Would, and Mr. Hale
points out that this report has been criticised by the
central stations as not going far enough in the direc-
tion of standardization. It has been intimated that
xhree or four large central stations are ready to get
together and adopt a single plug and receptacle regard-
less of the patent question and of the effect on the
market in case the committee cannot make further
progress.
The time seems ripe for all the manufacturers to
get together for a general discussion, followed by a
thorough study of the plugs and receptacles now in the
market, with a view toward weeding, out those which
are sure to fall by the wayside in time and of seeing
what changes can be made to make interconnectable
any now of the same type but of slightly different di-
mensions. Other points for discussion are the best
means of establishing a standard type without hurting
more than is inevitable the business in those types
which are doomed to die; the consideration of patents,
and the possibilities of making any arrangement within
both the letter and the spirit of the present laws and
in accordance with the feeling against combinations in
restraint of trade. As a result of the report the Ben-
jamin and Trumbull companies have agreed to manu-
facture interchangeable plugs and receptacles.
American Fittings Applicable to Concentric Wire
The study of grounded concentric wiring is being
continued by the committee. Samples of the "Stannos"
wire manufactured by Siemens Brothers & Company,
Ltd., London, were recently tested by a prominent Bos-
ton wiring contractor, who came to the conclusion that
American fittings can be used to advantage with this
wire, although it is appreciated that new fittings may
be developed in this country at low cost to meet the
requirements of such systems, resulting in a further
saving in installation cost. About 5000 ft. of concen-
tric wire have been ordered by this contractor in the
hope of securing permission, with central-station co-
operation, to make a few experimental installations in
houses. A current of 12 amp passed for four hours
through a 1-18-in. Stubbs gage sample twisted joint
of Stannos wire and sheathing developed so little heat
that the finger could be placed upon the joint without
discomfort at the end of the test. No sign of heating
developed in a twenty-four-hour test with 8 amp.
Where a soldered joint is required a soft solder
liquefied by a match must be used, as concentric-wire
sheathing and insulation are not adapted to heating by
a torch flame. A possible application of value for con-
centric wire is in lighting turbo-generators, the cost
of the conduit wiring as now installed, with numerous
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 6
bends, reaching as high as $10 an outlet. There has
been no decision as yet whether the practice approved
by the English insurance companies in the installation
of concentric wire will be applied in detail in the trial
equipments contemplated in this country.
The next meeting of the committee on the wiring of
existing buildings will be held in Boston either on Feb.
26 or March 5.
President Wilson Addresses American Electric
Railway Association
President Woodrow Wilson talked on business at the
midyear meeting of the American Electric Railway
Association, held at the New Willard Hotel, Washing-
ton, D. C, on Jan. 29. Some of his striking remarks
were:
"I have met many men whose horns dropped away the
moment I was permitted to examine their character.
"It seems to me that I can say with a good deal of
confidence that we are upon the eve of a new era of
enterprise and of prosperity. Enterprise has been
checked in this country for almost twenty years be-
cause men were moving among a maze of interrogation
points. All sorts of regulation were proposed, and it
was a matter of uncertainty what sort of regulation
was going to be adopted.
"All sorts of charges were made against business,
as if business were at fault, when most men knew that
the great majority of business men were honest, were
public-spirited, were intending the right thing, and the
many were made afraid because the few did not do
what was right.
"You cannot demoralize some of the forces of a com-
munity without being in danger of demoralizing all the
forces of a community.
Now the Era of Confidence
"I feel that the mists and miasmatic airs of suspicion
that have filled the business world have now been blown
away. I believe that we have passed the era of sus-
picion and have come now into the era of confidence.
Knowing the elements we have to deal with, we can deal
with them, and with that confidence of knowledge we
can have confidence of enterprise.
"And that enterprise is going to mean this: Nobody
is henceforth going to be afraid of or suspicious of any
business merely because it is big. If my judgment is
correct, nobody has been suspicious of any business
merely because it was big, but men have been suspicious
whenever they thought that the bigness was being used
ike an unfair advantage. Bond having been given
for the big fellow, we can sleep o' night.
"There is a new atmosphere for business. The oxy-
gen that the lungs of modern business takes in is the
oxygen of the public confidence, and if you have not
got that your business is essentially paralyzed and
asphyxiated.
"My liberty consists In a sorl of parole. So
ie, "You may do what you pli ase until
. thing thai is in violation a mon under-
ling of the public interest; then your parole is
ted.'
"You are not going to lie barred from the contest be-
are big and strong and you are nol going to
tenalized because you are big and strong, but yon
are v made to ob ales of the track,
and not get iii anybody's way < ou can keep
out of his way by having more vigor and skill than he
has.
"When we get that understanding, that we are all
: that we are not going to ask for, not only.
but we are not going to condescend to take advantage
of anything that does not belong to us, why then the
atmosphere will clear so that it will seem as if the sun
had never shone as it does that day.
"Some men are going to get beaten because they
have not the brains, they have not the initiative, they
have not the skill, they have not the knowledge, they
have not the same capacity that other men have. They
will have to be employees; they will have to be used
where they can be used.
Rules of the Game
"First of all is the rule of publicity, not doing any-
thing under cover, letting the public know what you
are doing and judge of it as it is. There are a great
many businesses in this country that have fallen under
suspicion because they were so secretive, when there
was nothing to secrete that was dishonorable.
"The minute I keep everything in my pocket and will
not show anybody what is there, they conjecture what
may be in my pocket; whereas if I turn my pockets in-
side out the conjecture is, at any rate, dissipated. If a
business is being honorably done and successfully done,
you ought to be pleased to turn it inside out and let the
people whom you are inviting to invest in it see exactly
how it is done and with what results. Let us see how
you are running the game.
"In the second place, there is a full equivalent for
money you receive, the full equivalent in service, not
trying to skimp in the service in order to increase profits
above a reasonable return, but trying to make the profits
proportioned to the satisfaction of the people that you
serve.
"In the third place, this game requires something
more than ordinary sports. It requires a certain kind
of conscience in business, a certain feeling that we are
after all in this w?orld because we are expected to 'make
good' according to the standards of the people we live
with.
"The fourth rule, as it seems to me, is the rule of
having the spirit of service. I am not meaning a senti-
ment, I am not meaning a state of mind; I am meaning
something very concrete — that you want to see to it
that the thing that you do for the public and get money
for is the best thing of that kind that can be done.
Scientific Ideals
"I have known many a man who gave up profit for
mental satisfaction. There are men in the scientific
bureau of this government whom I could cite who could
make very big salaries, but who prefer the satisfaction
of doing things that will servo the whole community,
and doing them just as well as they possibly can be
done.
"I, for one, am proud of the scientific bureau of this
government. There are men in it of the most self-
Bacriflcing spirit and of the highest scientific efficiency
who do things on a petty salary which some other men
would not do at all, because if VOU nave to pay a man
a salary to produce the best product of his brain, then
ales the product down to the salary. Here are men
who scale the product up to the highest standards of
scientific ideals.
Profits as llitrh as the Rockies
"They have hitched their wagons to a star, and the
star is about to lift their names above the names of the
i us, So 1 Bay that if your earning capacity is
the capacity to earn the public confidence, yon can gt
about you? business like free men. Nobody is going to
I and everybody is going to Bay, if yon earn
big profits, if VOU have treated the people from whom
you are making your profits as they ought to lie treated,
Pebbi \u\ 6, L916
E L ECT R I C A I. \\o R I. I.
369
if you treat the employees whom you use in earning
ight to lie treated, if your methods
mpetition arc clear and above reproach, why, then,
you can pile these profits a- high as the Rockies and
uobody will be jealous of it.' Because you will have
• <! them in a sense that is the handaonv
all.
"The onl) reason we quarrel with reformers some-
times i> because thej are. or suppose they are, a little
more enlightened than the rest of us, and they want us
all of ;i Midden to lie just a- enlightened as thej are.
and we Cannot stand the pare. If we could get our
second wind, if we could keep up the pace as Long as
they do, we might be aide to run as fast as they do, but
we are more heavily weighted with clay than they are.
And we like companionship. We want to wait for the
real of them. W'e do not want to be in a lonely advance
climbing some heights of perfection where there is no
good inn to stop at over night.
"All I ask is that if anything is being done that
ought not to be done, the fault in it be conclusively
pointed out and the way to correct the mistake be
explicitly shown. There is an old rule that ought to
obtain in politics as in everything else, and it is e.\-
ied in a very homely way. It is the rule of 'Put
up or shut up'."
disposal of all additional water-power it may create.
Whether the sorely needed development of v..
power shall proceed under public or private aus-
ls a question s., vital to the welfare of the State
that i and thoughtful atten-
tion of the Legislature, the commission declai
New York Conservation Commissioner MeCabe
Differs from Colleagues
The fourth annual report of the Conservation Com-
mission of New York includes a statement of "Why
Commissioner MeCabe Differs from His Colleagues."
Mr. MeCabe believes in development of the State
water-powers by private capital and is wholly opposed
to governmental operation. He says in his statement
in part :
"Germany and Canada seem to be much quoted as to
the success and failure of governmental operation of
public utilities by hydro-power in these countries. It
is difficult to understand the quoting of conditions in
foreign countries to prove the possibilities of a situa-
tion here. There is an element of politics in all pub-
lic questions in this country which has no place in the
affairs of foreign countries and which makes it impos-
sible for this country to compete in a commercial en-
terprise with private corporations.
"This is a business question pure and simple, and
must, if settled right, be settled by the rules of busi-
ness. Think of having something to sell; you won't
sell it to a rich man and a poor man can't buy it. The
result is you must keep it — which is the case in this
affair. If the price of the water-power of the State
could be brought within the reach of the poor man,
every poor man in the State would claim and want it.
It is for this reason, and upon this principle, that fran-
chises are given to the highest, not the lowest, bidder.
"I believe a measure can be drafted protecting to
the fullest every interest of the State and, at the same
time, not embarrassing the contractor, causing him fear
and trepidation sufficient to paralyze his best efforts.
Success for one is success for both, while failure for
one is failure for both. Let another step be taken.
Allow the criminal waste of the valuable water-power
of the State to go no further. Nothing has been done,
no progress has been made and no move forward can be
made along the old lines — if it could have been it would
have been."
The report of the commission as a whole declares that
authority to control and regulate the material resources
provided by nature is a necessary attribute of State
sovereignty. The State should own and regulate the
Meeting of Northern White Cedar Association
Twenty firms producing white-cedar lumber and poles
were represented at the nineteenth convention of the
Northern White Cellar Association, held at Minneapolis,
Minn., .Ian. 26 and 27.
General business conditions during the last twelve
months have put a severe strain on the white-cedar in-
dustry, said President L. A. Page, Jr., in his official
address. The stagnation produced by the European war
will, he predicted, continue to hold up business in all
lines for some time to come. If the financial reports are
to be credited, the worst of the depression is now over,
but the country is still far from normal. A gradual
awakening of business is in sight, but when this comes
the pole people expect to see the short-pole and post
trades affected first.
Present Pole Stocks Ample for Probable Demand
A careful study of pole stocks now on hand, said the
president, indicates an ample supply to take care of the
probable demand. The salvation for the condition in
which the cedar men are placed lies, indeed, in the fact
that their own production for the present season has
been so materially lessened. On the whole, declared
President Page in closing, the cedar men may shortly
look for a general resumption of business in all lines,
coming gradually but surely.
During the year just closed the association has car-
ried on a publicity campaign to interest and instruct
users of white cedar. Similar exhibits will be extended
to include conventions and local fairs. Mr. H. S. Gilkey
is chairman of the committee having charge of this
work. The report of Secretary N. E. Boucher referred
to association matters, extensions of freight rates, ex-
change of credit information, etc.
Establishing Standards for White-Cedar Shipments
Tuesday afternoon was occupied with a discussion
relating to the report of the committee on "war on sub-
stitutes" for white cedar. The members of this com-
mittee are Messrs. L. L. Hill, T. M. Partridge, E. L.
Clark, J. E. Gerich, W. B. Thomas and M. Sperry.
Means of securing closer co-operation between pole
producers, distributers and users were discussed. The
importance of shipping to customers only first-class
stock, and thus establishing a standard of excellence
for white-cedar products, was emphasized by several
speakers.
In describing the work of the railroad committee,
Mr. H. F. Partridge, Minneapolis, Minn., mentioned that
the matter of increasing the allowance for stakes used
on open cars is soon to be brought before the Inter-
slate Commerce Commission for a formal hearing, in
order that the shippers may prosecute claims for what
they feel to be their rights.
At the close of the convention the following officers
were elected for 1915: President, Mr. L. A. Page, Jr.,
Minneapolis, Minn.; vice-president, Mr. H. F. Part-
ridge, Minneapolis, Minn.; treasurer, Mr. W. B. Thomas,
Manistique, Mich.; secretary, Mr. N. E. Boucher, 743
Lumber Exchange Building, Minneapolis. Directors,
Messrs. J. E. Gerich, Milwaukee, Wis.; M. J. Bell,
Minneapolis, Minn.; William Patch, Menominee, Mich.,
and L, A. Furlong, Minneapolis, Minn.
370
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 6
Mr. Davits on the Federal Trade Commission
Commissioner of Corporations Joseph E. Davies
made an address on "The Federal Trade Commission"
before the Chamber of Commerce of the United States
at the annual meeting, held at the New Willard Hotel,
Washington, on Feb. 3 to 5. It is generally accepted
that Mr. Davies will be a member of the commission, if
not the chairman.
Mr. Davies referred to the power given to the com-
mission to secure information, "to classify corporations
and to make public, with due regard to the protection of
trade secrets and lists of customers, so much thereof as
is necessary in the public interest." "The justification
of the commission," he added, "will be found in large
measure in the extent to which the assembling, digest-
ing and interpreting of these data shall develop into
constructive aid to business enterprises of the country,
and in the extent to which it will render service in giv-
ing a broad, sympathetic and accurate basis for the
action of this governmental agency in the discharge of
its functions in the service of the general public."
In referring to the practice which has grown up in
connection with trust cases in the administration of the
Department of Justice, of entering "consent decrees,"
Mr. Davies said :
"This method of accommodation of business to the
requirements of the law contains possibilities for great
good and equally great possibilities for disastrous harm.
It has been used with the greatest of care and discern-
ment by the Department of Justice in the past, and it
is but natural that it would be used generally with a
great deal of reluctance. By the Trade Commission act
there is provided an additional agency available to the
Department of Justice for bringing into harmony with
the law the business practices of corporations. The
Trade Commission furnishes a non-partisan body of
men familiar with the whole field of industry to which
matters of this kind may be referred for investigation,
examination and recommendation. By reason of its
non-partisan character and by reason of its technical
knowledge it may be assumed that the recommendation
of such a body would fortify the judgment of the
Attorney-General in the estimation of the public, would
relieve a single individual from the imposition of such
a responsibility as this process necessarily involves, and
might be productive of great good in the accommoda-
tion of business to law in the changing forms of our
economic and legal development. This situation con-
tains the suggestion of promise of a body of admin-
istrative law being built up which will be of great aid
to business and of service to the country."
Commenting on the urgent representations that the
Sherman law should not be applied to efforts of manu-
facturera to develop foreign trade, Mr. Davies observed:
"This phase <<( the controversy is a comparatively new
one and is fraught with great importance. The in-
formation on this subject is sparse and largely based
on hearsay. What is necessary in the situation are the
facts, and the Federal Trade Commission is intrusted
with the duty of investigating in foreign countries com-
binations and other trade conditions which may affect
the foreign trade of the United states. Undoubtedly,
in conjunction with the Department of Commerce and
with the Department <>( Slate, a large amount of in
formation can lie obtained which will give authorita-
tive information a- t., Die facts which will enable the
law-making power of the government to address itself
to the problem with •■ urity ami confidence."
The enactment of Die trade commission law was at-
tributed by .Mr. Davie , mop than t" any other single
mpatlietic understanding, the genius
Constructive statesmanship and the vision of Die
President of the United states."
President Wilson on Combination for Foreign Trade
President Wilson referred during his talk to the
Chamber of Commerce to the subject of combination for
foreign trade, saying:
"I speak of competition in foreign markets as be-
tween the merchants of different nations with a certain
degree of hesitation, because the thing farthest from
my thought is taking advantage of nations now disabled
from playing the full part in that competition, and seek-
ing a sudden selfish advantage because they are for the
time being disabled. Pray believe me that we ought to
eliminate all that thought from our minds and consider
this matter as if we and the other nations of the world
were in the normal circumstances of commerce. There
is a normal circumstance of commerce in which we are
apparently at a disadvantage. The anti-trust laws of
the United States apparently make it illegal for mer-
chants in the United States to form combinations for the
purpose of strengthening themselves in taking advan-
tages of the opportunities of foreign competition. That
is a very serious matter, for this reason : There are some
corporations and some firms, for all I know, whose busi-
ness is great enough and whose resources are abundant
enough to enable them to establish selling agencies in
foreign countries, to enable them to extend the long
credits which in some cases are necessary in order to
keep the trade they desire — to enable them, in other
words, to organize their business in foreign territory in
a way which the smaller man cannot afford to do. His
business has not grown big enough to permit him to
establish selling agencies. The export commission mer-
chant, perhaps, taxes him a little bit too high to make
that an available competitive means of conducting and
extending his business. The question arises, therefore,
how are the smaller merchants, how are the younger
and weaker corporations, going to get a foothold as
against the combinations which are permitted and even
encouraged by foreign governments in this very field of
competition?
"There are governments which distinctly encourage
the formation of great combinations in any particular
field of commerce in order to maintain selling agencies
and to extend long credits and to use and maintain the
machinery which is necessary for the extension of busi-
ness. American merchants feel that they are at a very
considerable disadvantage in contending against that.
The matter has been many times brought to my atten-
tion, and I have each time suspended judgment, because
in this matter T am from Missouri' and I want to be
shown how that combination can be made and conducted
in a way which won't close it against the use of every-
body who wants to use it. A combination has a tend-
ency to exclude new members. When a group of men
get control of a good thing they do not see any partic-
ular point in letting other people into the good thing.
What I should like very much to lie shown, therefore, is
a method of co-operation which is not a method of com-
bination, not that the two words are mutually exclusive.
but we have come to have a special meaning attached
to the word 'combination.' Most of our combinations
have a safety lock, and you have to get the combination
to get in. I want to know how these co-operative meth-
ods can be adopted for the benefit of everybody who
wants to use them, and I say frankly, if I can be shown
that, I am for them.
"It I cannot be shown that, I am against them, and I
ha ten to add that I hopefully expect that I can be
shown that. Sfou probably cannot show it to me off-
hand, but by the methods which you have the means of
using you certainlj ought to be able to throw a vast
deal of light, because the minute you ask the small mer-
chant, the small banker, the count rymnn, how he looks
Upon these things and how he thinks they OUght to be
E I. ECT R I (A I. WO RLD
:;Tl
arranged in order that he can use them, if he is like
some oi the nun in country districts that 1 know, he will
turn out to have had a good deal of thought upon that
• ! and lie able to make some very interesting sug-
gestions whose intelligence and comprehensiveness will
surprise boom city gentlemen who think that only the
cities understand the business of the country."
.Municipal Plant Rejected in Duluth
Voters of Duluth, .Minn., at a special election on Jan.
19, rejected an ordinance providing for the appropria-
tion of $85,500 for the erection of a municipal plant to
serve a district in West Duluth. They passed at the
same election an ordinance providing a maximum rate
of 6 cents per kw-hr. for electrical energy for the Du-
luth Edison Electric Company and rejected another or-
dinance providing for a maximum rate of 4 cents per
kw-hr. The vote on the construction of the municipal
plant was close. It stood 4652 opposed and 4335 in
favor, giving an adverse majority of 317. An error is
claimed in these figures which would reduce the major-
ity against the plant to 270. There were 4391 votes in
favor of a maximum rate of 6 cents per kw-hr. and 3860
votes for the rate of 4 cents per kw-hr. It is announced
that the Duluth Edison Electric Company will introduce
the 6-cent rate without delay.
The action arises from negotiations between the city
and the company which have been under way for some
months. The City Council passed a resolution on Aug.
7, 1914, offering to buy the property of the company at
$1,107,940. This offer was refused. Thereupon an or-
dinance was passed providing for the appropriation of
$85,500 for a municipal plant. On Oct. 10 prominent
business men asked the City Council to make a contract
for two years with the company, stating that the com-
pany would be willing to give a fair rate during that
period. The city authorities refused, and a request for
a referendum on the municipal plant was presented.
Over 4000 voters signed a petition asking for a refer-
endum on the proposed contract for a 6-cent rate. Later
an ordinance was passed fixing a rate of 4 cents per
kw-hr., and it was decided that the three ordinances
should be put to the vote of the people on the same
date. An active campaign followed and continued up to
the night before election day.
Mr. E. W. Doty, then a member of the commi-
said that the appraisements will be valuable in bring-
ing to light property the companies did not know they
^sed. He urged utility men to make valuations in
the itemized form provided by the commission. Mr.
Doty complimented the committee of representatives
of Ohio utility companies which established form-
appraising prop' i ally the portion pertaining
to depreciation, and said that the report disposed of
every other theory that had been advanced.
Mr. Lawrence K. l.angdon, recently appointed counsel
for the commission, said that regulation is bringing
recognition of public utilities as natural monopolies.
Legislation may be enacted in the near future which
will encourage capital to invest in the State by vesting
the commission with authority to prevent competition
where there is no necessity therefor from a service
standpoint. This will be a step in the interest of con-
sumers as well as companies.
Electric Sign Regulations at Boston
A set of preliminary regulations relative to the instal-
lation of roof signs of electric and other types has been
drafted by Metropolitan Fire Prevention Commissioner
John A. O'Keefe, Boston, Mass. Among the require-
ments is a provision that every electric sign used on a
roof shall be equipped with a conspicuously marked
switch, easy of access, on the first floor of the building
near the entrance. Mr. W. H. Blood, Jr., insurance expert
of the National Electric Light Association, has sent a
protest against this rule to the commissioner, pointing
out that it increases the hazard and complicates present
wiring regulations calling for the use of a main switch
controlling the entire service of each building and in-
cidentally governing the supply of energy to signs. Mr.
Blood contended that the construction suggested in-
creases the number of exposed wires and switches, that
it adds materially to the cost of installation and is not
in accordance with the National Electrical Code. At a
public hearing the proposed regulations, which specify
various details of construction and arrangement, were
also opposed by Mr. G. H. S. Young, of the Boston Edi-
son Company, and by Mr. Sheldon H. Wardwell, counsel
for the Massachusetts Electric Lighting Association.
Ohio Commissioners on Valuation
In speaking before a district meeting of the Ohio In-
dependent Telephone Association at Columbus on Jan.
22, Mr. Charles E. Marshall, member of the Ohio Pub-
lic Utilities Commission, expressed the belief that a
more sane interpretation of the laws relating to super-
vision of public utilities must be made. Otherwise, he
said, the incentive to create these properties and main-
tain and develop them will be lost, and such a loss will
involve the service itself. Mr. Marshall said that the
commission is a judicial body and that its duty is to
protect companies as well as consumers. The require-
ment of the new utilities law that makes an appraise-
ment of the 1500 or more service companies in the
State necessary was criticised severely by the speaker.
This will result in economic waste, and it is entirely
unnecessary and in many cases will benefit no one.
Some companies that will never have a rate contro-
versy were compelled to pay out large sums of money
for appraisements that will be of no value to them.
Specific cases could be handled under the old law, and
those companies that had no questions would have been
saved the money they are compelled to pay out.
Order for Filing New York Rate Schedules Modified
The New York Public Service Commission, Second
District, has modified its order directing that schedules
of rates be filed by gas and electric properties. Com-
panies and municipalities are to be allowed until March
15 to comply with the order, and the schedules may be
typewritten on standard forms instead of printed. The
expense of compliance with the order will be reduced
materially, but all the information which the commis-
sion specified in its original order will be provided.
In a letter addressed to gas and electrical corpora-
tions and municipalities the Empire State Gas & Elec-
tric Association, through Mr. Charles H. B. Chapin, the
secretary, mentions the modification of the order. The
association has sent to each commercial and municipal
plant a set of the seven forms approved by the commis-
sion. It also sent some general suggestions in regard to
the preparation of the schedules and detailed explana-
tions of the use of each of the forms. These sugges-
tions and explanations have been submitted to, and
meet the approval of, the chief of the bureau of tariffs
of the commission.
The association will furnish without charge such
number of each of the forms as may be necessary for
372
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 6
the properties in order that they may comply with the
order. The letter adds:
"We are also prepared to assist you in the prepara-
tion of your schedule, to the end that when you finally
file it with the commission it shall, as far at least as the
form is concerned, be immediately acceptable without
further correspondence or revision. If you so desire
you can fill in one set of the forms, such as in your
case will constitute a complete schedule, and send it to
us for inspection and comment before submitting it to
the commission. Probably, in the end, time and trouble
would be saved by this method of procedure. We hope
you will feel entirely free to ask about any matters
which are not altogether clear, and we shall be glad
to answer such questions promptly and to the best of
our ability.
"Please understand that all statements in this letter
apply to all gas corporations, electrical corporations
and municipalities in the State, entirely independent of
whether or not they are members of this association."
Western Society of Engineers Protests Against
Criticism of Cooley Commission
The action of certain members of the Chicago City
Council and of the Sanitary District of Chicago in offi-
cially rebuking Mr. John Ericson, city engineer, and
Mr. William Artingstall, engineer for the harbor com-
mission, for signing the report of the Cooley commis-
sion which recommended increases in rates for the
hydroelectric energy sold by the Sanitary District to
the city of Chicago for street-lighting purposes, was
censured in an unusual resolution passed by the West-
ern Society of Engineers, Chicago, at a meeting Feb. 1.
In the words of the resolution: "The engineer's first
duty to his client is to tell him the truth, no matter
where it may lead nor how unpalatable it may be. En-
gineering and engineering economics are subject to
natural law, which cannot be altered to meet the whim
of human nature. The most serious disgrace that can
come to an engineer is to conceal, pervert or distort
natural and economic law, either to please a client or to
advance temporarily his interests and so ultimately to
lead his client into difficulties. An experienced engineer
of standing ranks as a confidential professional ad-
viser, who feels keenly his responsibilities and whose
integrity and conscientiousness when properly estab-
lished should be appreciated and upheld by his client."
Mr. Lyman E. Cooley acted as chairman of the com-
mission which made the report to the Sanitary District
board, and Mr. L. K. Sherman was secretary.
quirements rather expensive. Many of such installa-
tions, it has been found, seem willing to adopt electrical
energy for motor service, as they, under the circum-
stances, find it more convenient, and, with the rates
this reduction offers, more economical.
Reduction in Motor-Service Rates in St. Louis
The Union Electric Light, & Power Company of St.
Louis, Mo., has announced a new schedule of rates for
motor service, effective on Feb. I. The minimum charge
will be $50 a month for L600 kw-hr. For energy in
of thai amount the rate will be - cents per
kw-hr., less the regular discount for prompl payment.
The reduction means a saving of from ;> per cenl to
".■". i :; per cent to con amen of energy for motor serv-
ice, depending upon their requirements, It is the in-
tention to extend further reduction to all classes of
• indition permit.
.Mr. A. Ci Binstein, vice-president and general
ager of the company, said that m the face of prevailing
businei conditions it ha. been found thai requirements
inj manufacturers having steam generating |
have been curtailed materially, thus making the o\
tion of thi :..i then- more limited re
Messages of Governors on Public Utilities
In messages to the legislatures now beginning their
sessions many governors of states refer to public utility
affairs. In last week's issue we published extracts from
the messages of the Governors of Illinois and Michigan.
Abstracts from three other messages follow:
Governor Withycombe of Oregon
"Legislation permitting the establishment of hydro-
electric power districts would tend, I believe, to a
speedier development of the State. I would favor the
creation of districts somewhat along the line of exist-
ing irrigation district procedure, whereby groups of
individuals in a community may band together for the
co-operative development of the water-power resources
of their neighborhood. By such a pooling of interest
and community bonding, so to speak, small communities
and farmers could put to beneficial use natural resources
now entirely wasted. The same method could also be
applied in the reclamation of unimproved areas, notably
stump and undrained land, by the establishment of
some system of land-improvement districts."
Governor Curtis of Maine
"The dominant party is pledged to legislation for
the development of our water-powers for the use of
Maine, under such regulation as will be fair and rea-
sonable toward private capital, while fully protecting
all public interests, and to this end it favors careful
and systematic protection of our vast timber areas.
It denounces the public utility law as a measure de-
signed to foster monopoly, rather than to protect the
public interests, but, as it has received the sanction of
the people by popular vote, it yields to their mandates."
Governor Kendrick of Wyoming
"The need of a public utilities commission in Wyom-
ing is quite apparent, and since such a commission is
urged by all of our political parties, the demand may
be said to be universal, and the Legislature's respon-
sibility is clear and conclusive. We must bear in mind
that no greater injury could be done to the industrial
life of our State at this time than to enact a law that
might be used in a spirit of hostility against the cor-
porations. The form of commission best adapted to the
specific needs of Wyoming at her present stage of de-
velopment is quite clear in my mind. I am aware that
many of our sister states, in creating these commis-
sions, have provided for salaried commissioners, either
elective or appointive. The principal work of a com-
mission of this nature is with the railroads and is con-
fined to intrastate traffic, both passenger and freight.
Since such traffic is comparatively light in our State,
it is my conviction that an expensive commission would
lie extremely inadvisable. I would recommend, there-
lore, the creation of a commission to be composed of
three of the eltvtive Stale officers, such commission to
be provided with a salaried secretary or rate expert,
whose duty would be to provide full information for the
use of the commission, who would be competent to make
adequate investigations and recommendations to the
commission and who would be able to initiate, with the
approval of the commission, work of original inquiry.
While this secretary should have Unquestioned ability
and integrity, he should not have a vote on the board."
Febri-ary 6, 1916
ELECTRICAL WORLD
.Miscellaneous News Notes
Inspection ( barges DMT) r I. r.. illy. — A report recently
tion of Electrical
bowi a wide range in inspection charges .sched-
uled in diffi example, a fifteen-lamp in-
stallation costs 50 cents in one city and $2.25 in another.
Similarly, the charge for approving a 1-hp motor installa-
tion ranges from fl.50 to
Proposed IJrense Law s( Cincinnati Head. — <>. EC. Jones,
chairman of the committee on law. contracts and claims
of the Cincinnati City Council, has announced that indefinite
postponement will be recommended for the proposed ordi-
reqniring electrical workers to be licensed. Strong
opposition to the measure by various organizations and busi-
I the committee to take this action.
Central-Station Men of New Mexico to Organize. — A
ing of the representatives of various central stations
in New Mexico will be held in Albuquerque Feb. 15 and
16 for the purpose of forming a state organization. The
movement to form the association is being promoted by
Manager A. I". Van Deinse, of the Albuquerque Gas, Elec-
tric Light & Power Company, and Superintendent C. M.
Einhart, of the Roswell Gas & Electric Company.
( itj Responsible for Death of Lineman Working on Its
Lines. — The Supreme Court of Iowa recently ruled (149
N. W., 616) that where it is the duty of a line foreman
to de-energize a line before setting employees to work
thereon failure to do so is an actionable negligence on the
part of his master (the city in this case). Moreover, a
lineman following his foreman's instructions to work on a
line is justified in believing that the line is de-energized
and cannot therefore be considered negligent.
Electrical Codes in Various Cities. — In answer to re-
quests by the Society for Electrical Development regard-
ing electrical codes employed, 319 municipalities have sent
answers. Of these 111 had adopted the municipal code of
electrical construction, 93 refer to the National Electrical
Code, and 44 now have codes in preparation. A degree of
success is now being attained in educating architects on
electric-service topics, through the sale of a handbook,
whereas the former free distribution of literature failed
to interest the architect.
Huron, Ohio, Limits Its Municipal-Plant Expenditures. —
Huron, Ohio, has fixed a limit upon monthly expenditures
for its electric venture. Stating that no more drafts upon
the light fund, which is now $4,500 overdrawn, would be
allowed, the Council agreed to pay the plant $220 a month
for street lights, and indicated that this sum, with receipts
from domestic and other consumers would have to do. The
board in charge of the plant estimates that the allowance
will be sufficient, with the other revenue, to pay operating
expenses, but not to pay interest on the investment or make
any allowance for depreciation.
Municipal-Corporation Contract Must Accord with City-
Charter. — The Supreme Court of Oklahoma has recently
decided (144 P., 1071) that an oral contract which was en-
tered into by a commissioner on behalf of the city of
Wagoner to furnish electricity is not binding on the city
as the municipal charter provides that no contract shall
bind the city unless signed by the mayor and countersigned
by the city clerk. The case arose over the failure of the
city to furnish electricity to the owner of a cotton gin
after a verbal agreement thereto had been entered into by
the commissioner of water, light and sewerage.
Demand for College Graduates Indicates Approach of In-
creasing Prosperity — Prof. P. B. Woodworth, who is in
charge of the electrical engineering course and the employ-
ment department of Lewis Institute, Chicago, remarked to a
representative of the ELECTRICAL WORLD thai the demand
for men had been increasing rapidly. Although between Oct.
1 and -Ian. 1 "> the Lewis Institute employment department
received almost no applications for men. since Jan. 1 5 more
men have been requested than the Institute has been able
to supply. Draftsmen, manual-training teachers and men
with a general electrical training have been in greate I
demand.
Mayor Baker on Cleveland Situation. — Mayor Newton D.
Baker of Cleveland, Ohio, sent a communication to the
City Council on Feb. 1, in which he advised against any
attempt on the part of the city to purchase the property
of the Cleveland Electric Illuminating Company until after
the Public Utilities Commission has made a report on its
appraisal, lie asserted that the delay in completing this
appraisal emphasizes the need of municipal regulation.
The new municipal light plant, he said, will shortly have
an income adequate to pay operating expenses, insure mod-
ern and efficient service, meet interest and depreciation
charges and set by a surplus for betterments.
Cleveland Municipal Plant Appropriation. — The appropri-
ation for the division of light of the city of Cleveland for
1916 amounted to $691,100. Included in this amount is a
total of $141,400 for equipment. Among the items compos-
ing this total are the following: Meters and settings,
000; poles, line and transformers, $74,000; arc lamps,
$10,000; service connections, $16,000; underground con-
struction, $5,000. The appropriation for labor for operation
is $75,000; for labor for maintenance it is $100,000; for sup-
plies a total of $220,800 is given, and the largest item in
this amount is $165,000 for fuel, light and power. For
maintenance of equipment $70,300 is appropriated. The
total estimated expenditure for 1914 was $520,276, a net
increase over 1913 of $266,932.
Dissolution of Temporary Injunction Refused in Cin-
cinnati.— The Superior Court of Cincinnati has overruled the
application of the Union Gas & Electric Company for a
dissolution of the temporary injunction granted the Diamond
Light Company, restraining the Union company from inter-
fering with wires and conduits of the Diamond company.
The basis of the decision is the legality of the lease of the
Diamond company on the basements through which its wires
extend. This lease has been disavowed by the lessor in
favor of a later lease to the Union company. The court
held that it was not necessary to pass upon the question of
whether the owner of the property could have the lease set
aside, in view of its ruling on the right of the Union com-
pany to secure a similar lease in order to oust its rival.
Prominent Men Address Chicago Central Station Insti-
tute.— The Chicago Central Station Institute, conducted
under the auspices of the Insull group of properties, has
begun a series of evening lectures on engineering and com-
mercial topics. Each course will continue with weekly ad-
dresses until June. A fee of $10 is charged for each
course. On Feb. 1 Mr. Louis A. Ferguson, vice-president
of the Commonwealth Edison Company, spoke on the de-
velopment of the central station, and on Feb. 5 Mr. John
F. Gilchrist was scheduled to discuss "The Working Or-
ganization of Public Utility Corporations." On Feb. 8
Mr. A. D. Bayley of the Edison company will speak on
the generation of steam in power plants, and on Feb. 12
Mr. Frank F. Fowle, one of the receivers of the Central
Union Telephone Company and a former associate editor
of the Electrical World, will discuss "The Theory of Or-
ganization in Utility Corporations." Mr. Fred R. Jenkins,
72 West Adams Street, Chicago, is in charge of the course.
Merchants' Association Opposes Federal Ownership. —
Directors of the Merchants' Association of New York, on
the recommendation of the committee on public utilities
and law, have adopted a resolution recommending that the
property of the New York Telephone Company in the
entire State be appraised in connection with the revision of
rates in New York City. The committee in its report says
that the New York City property of the company is not
used solely for local purposes but is used conjointly with
the property of the company in other parts of the State
for communication between New York City and areas else-
where. Moreover, a very considerable part of the cost of
supplying service is due to various capital and general
expenses incident to the operation of the property as a
whole. A true apportionment of the general and capital
expenses can be made only by (1) ascertaining the aggre-
gate of general and capital charges incident to the entire
operations of the company; (2) ascertaining the value of
all the company property; (3) computing the ratio of such
aggregate general and capital expenses to the value of the
entile property; (4) ascertaining the value of property used
by any operating division and charging thereto its pro rata
share of the aggregate general and capital expenses in-
curred in the operation of the company as a whole, as dic-
tated by scientific methods of accounting.
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 6
Associations and Societies
New York Jovian Lunch Club. — Dr. William Torrence
Stuchell spoke on "The New America" at the meeting of
the New York Jovian Lunch Club held at the Hotel Mar-
tinique, New York, on Feb. 3.
Commonwealth Edison Section, NT. E. L. A. — At the Jan.
26 meeting of the Commonwealth Edison Section of the
National Electric Light Association Mr. P. Junkersfeld
spoke on the subject "What Electricity Has Done and Can
Do for Transportation in Chicago.' '
.Meeting of Empire State Meter Committee. — A meeting
of the meter committee of the Empire State Gas & Elec-
tric Association, to which all companies are invited to send
representatives, will be held at the Technology Club, Syra-
cuse, N. Y., on Feb. 10, beginning at 10 a. m. While vari-
ous subjects will be discussed, the principal topic on the
program will be methods of metering multiphase circuits.
Boston Section, A. I. E. E.— Mr. D. B. Rushmore, head of
the power and mining department, General Electric Com-
pany, addressed the Boston Section of the A. I. E. E. on
Jan. 22 upon the "Economics of the Electric Motor." In a
comprehensive survey of the rise of powefr he emphasized
the importance of instituting savings in distribution, where
a kilowatt-hour gained is worth about three times as much
as in the generating plant.
Philadelphia Meeting of the I. E. S. and A. I. E. E.— On
Monday, Feb. 8, a joint meeting of the Philadelphia sections
of the Illuminating Engineering Society and the American
Institute of Electrical Engineers will be held at the En-
gineers' Club, 1317 Spruce Street, following a dinner at.
<> p.m. Prof. George A. Hoadley will present a paper on
"'A Year's Progress in Illumination," and Mr. George H.
Stickney will speak on "Recent Developments and Applica-
tions of Incandescent Lamps." There will be an exhibi-
tion of lamps at the meeting.
Independent Telephone Association at Minneapolis. — At
the convention of the Independent Telephone Association
of America held at Minneapolis, Minn., Jan. 19 to 21, Mr.
E. B. Fisher, Grand Rapids Mich., was re-elected presi-
dent of the association, and the following officers were
named for the coming year: Vice-presidents, Messrs. E. D.
Schade, Johnstown, Pa., and W. H. Bryant, Mobile, Ala.;
secretary-treasurer, Mr. W. S. Vivian, 19 South La Salle
Street, Chicago. The Minnesota Independent Telephone
Association held its meeting at the same time.
Chicago Electric Club. — Addressing the Chicago Electric
Club Jan. 28, Mr. C. S. Cutting, formerly probate judge
in Chicago, likened the growth of federal and state regula-
tion of business to the swing of a gigantic pendulum oscillat-
ing from one extreme of its path of travel, through its
meridian, and across to the opposite extreme. Just now, he
said, the pendulum has reached its zenith and has begun
the backward sweep. Care must be exercised or it will
again pass the meridian, wiping out all of the good which
K en accomplished. The reason for the change in senti-
ment, the speaker said, is to lie found in the fact that the
of operating commissions is beginning to be seen upon
the tax bills, bo that the lain voters in general
have come to say: "We formerly got along pretty well with-
out the e commissions, and if they are so costly we 1"
we C8 -in."
Electric Vehicles l»r Department-Store Delivery. — On .Ian.
i . Edward Callan, of the Callan Department Store,
Third Avenue and I21s1 Street, New York, read a paper en-
titled "Electric-Vehicle Performance in Department Store
Service" before 'lie New York Section of the Electric Vehicle
iation. Mr. Callan outlined the experiences of his
in with horse-drawn vehicles and with -
ii dei lared that be Favored the electric auto
I ec mica] operation.
;li elo. tin killed meed
quired, and it ha- been found thai Is not
,d delivery man. In order to em
■ bated ( h ii in concern
awards monthly I" men on whose ,:n , the I
ill. Among those taking pari in the discussion
E. I. ii"v. land, D, C. Pi
i: i Lloyd and F. B. Pink.
Chicago Section, I. E S. — "The Known and Unknown of
Physical Light" was the title of an address in which Dr. C. H.
Sharp, technical director of the Electrical Testing Labora-
tories, New York, reviewed some of the accepted theories
of illuminating engineering before the Chicago Section of
the Illuminating Engineering Society, Jan. 29. Speaking of
the "unknowns," Dr. Sharp expressed the opinion that a
means of producing cold light would sometime be discovered.
Those who spoke in discussion of the paper were Messrs.
W. A. Durgin, J. R. Cravath, E. H. Freeman, J. B. Jackson
and F. A. Rogers, of Chicago, and F. A. Vaughn, of Milwau-
kee. At the next meeting of the society Dr. Nelson M.
Black, of Milwaukee, will speak on what is known about
vision.
Bill to Separate Electrical Work in Building Contracts. —
The Electrical Contractors' Association of New Jersey at
its ninth annual convention in Passaic, Jan. 23, indorsed
a bill providing for the segregation of the electrical work
from that of other parts of a building contract. It is pro-
posed to have the bill introduced in the Legislature in the
near future. The following officers were elected: President,
Mr. E. P. Strang of Camden; vice-president, Mr. C. R. New-
man of Passaic; treasurer, Mr. P. H. Jaehnig of Newark,
and secretary, Mr. John Van Dyke of Asbury Park. Messrs.
C. F. Adams of Trenton, R. P." Ward of Dover, C. R. New-
man of Passaic, B. F. Sprague of Long Branch and H. C.
Heidrick of Newark were elected to the board of directors.
The speakers were Messrs. W. A. Cox, of the new-business
department of the Public Service Electric Company; C. C.
liar vinson, inspector of the Public Service Electric Company;
H. H. Newman, manager of the Passaic district of the Pub-
lic Service Electric Company; J. E. Alexander, of the Gen-
eral Electric Company; G. A. Collinson, of the New Jersey
Underwriters' Association; Assistant Chief W. S. Gibson,
of the Passaic Electrical Bureau; S. H. M. Agneus, of the
Jovian Order, and T. S. Dorris, of Newark.
Western Association of Electrical Inspectors. — The tenth
annual meeting of the Western Association of Electrical
Inspectors was held at Minneapolis, Minn., Jan. 26 to 28.
The meeting consisted chiefly of committee reports on the
following subjects: "Induction Motors," by Mr. K. W. Ad-
kins, Kansas City, Mo.; "Signal Systems," by Mr. J. R.
Morrisey, Joliet, 111.; "Underground Systems," by Mr. Guy
W. See, Minneapolis, Minn.; "Electric Traction Systems,"
by Mr. Frank R. Daniels, Chicago; "Rubber-Covered Wire,"
by Mr. Victor H. Tousley, Chicago; "Laws and Ordi-
nances," by Mr. W. S. Boyd, Chicago; "Revision of the
National Electrical Code," by Mr. F. D. Varnam, St. Paul.
Other interesting information was also presented in talks
on "Elevator Motor Control," by Mr. George H. Malcolm,
of the Otis Elevator Company, New Y'ork; on "A New
Grounded-Case Fire-Box System," by Mr. F. F. Stover, Star
Electric Company, Binghamton, N. Y.; on "Power Installa-
tions in Flour Mills," by Mr. C. Lang, superintendent of
the Northwestern Milling Company, Minneapolis; on "Elec-
trolysis," by Mr. Burton McCollum, of the United States
Bureau of Standards, Washington, D. C; on "Principles
of Conduct and Character Which Attain Success in Human
Affairs," by Mr. John S. Taylor. Minneapolis; on the
"Label Service of the Underwriters' Laboratories," Chi-
cago, by Mi-. .1. E. Latta, and on the "Service of the So-
ciety for Electrical Development," by Mr. tl. B. Muldaur.
Mr. .1. S. Mahen, Chicago, presented a draft of proposed
rules for carhouse wiring. The matter of preparing speci-
fications for transformer rooms was referred to the com-
inil m architects' specifications. It was also announced
that membership in the association is to be extended to
wiring inspectors employed by central-station companies.
The following is the list of officers elected for the coming
year: President, Mr. II. M. Maxwell, Dayton, Ohio; vice-
idents, Mr. 1''. II. Moore. Indianapolis, Ind., and Mr.
Emil Anderson, Minneapolis, Minn.; secretary-treasurer,
Mr. \v. s. Boyd, 176 West Jackson Boulevard, Chicago.
111.: executive committee Messrs, J. R. Morrisey, Victor
ii. Ten ley. I', ii. Moore, Charles Reasoner, K. W. Adkins,
R, .1. Swain and George Cotton. An elaborate entertain-
ineiil program was carre.l out. At the banquet Wednesday
evening Mr. W. I. Cray. Minneapolis, acted as toastmas-
ter, and among those who spoke were Messrs. Waldemar
Michael en, u T white and 0 \. Rofelty.
It.HKi vi:-> >:. l'.'l.'i
ELECTRICAL WORLD
375
Public Service Commission News
Nt» \ ork ( (>iiinii--iuii»
The investigation by ■ committee of the Legislature into
the New York Public Service Commissi*. gun on
Jan. :i0, when the first hearing was held in the City Hall,
■ ity. .Mr. Travis II. Whitney, secretary of the
District commission, was the first witness. He testi-
fied at length in regard to the affairs of the commission.
In reply to questions he said that at present orders of the
commission are being violated and actions have been taken
to enforce them.
Mr. William Hayward, counsel to Governor Whitman,
who is conducting the investigation, read an extract from
the message of Governor Hughes on Jan. 2, 1 :»07. dwell-
ing upon the need of legislation for the regulation of
public service corporations and emphasizing the idea that
any commission that might be created should have power
to proceed, upon its own motion, to correct abuses. Mr.
Hayward asked if the commission had ever conferred with
district attorneys of the various counties making up the
city with a view to criminal prosecutions in cases of viola-
tion. Mr. Whitney said that he did not recall that any
commissioner had ever so conferred with a district at-
torney.
Mr. George F. Daggett, head of the complaint bureau
of the First District commission, was called as a witness
on Feb. 1. He had had twenty-four years' experience in
the post office inspector's department and with the com-
mission, and declared that complaints were handled by the
commission more efficiently and received more care and re-
sulted in more insistent demands for redress than any he
had ever known. Out of 8716 informal complaints, Mr.
Daggett said that 3393 had been satisfied; no action was tak-
en on 2201; 1342 were "ill-founded"; 230 were defaulted;
were covered by' formal hearings, and in 212 the com-
mission had no jurisdiction. These complaints were against
corporations other than gas and electric from 1910 to 1914,
inclusive.
The First District commission has granted the petition
of the Merchants' Association of New York to intervene in
the Stadtlander and Ewoldt rate cases, which have been
pending for some time against the New Y'ork Edison Com-
pany. Mr. Julius Henry Cohen said that the Merchants'
iation believed that rates are unreasonable and profits
excessive. The association believes, Mr. Cohen said, that
the profits are not due to charges paid by small con-
sumers but to the business done with large consumers.
He declared that in certain cities in Canada where there
i> a municipal plant the private plants do a better busi-
and have larger profits after the small consumers
have gone to the municipal plant. He said that an ap-
praisal of the property ought to be made.
Commissioner Maltbie, under whom an investigation has
been in progress for about three years, has stated, al-
though not officially, that he expected to report sub
tially in favor of the demands of the petitioners, who
asked that the maximum rate be reduced from 10 cents
per kw-hr. to 6 cents per kw-hr. Chairman McCall, after
-consultation with the other members of the commission,
announced that the motion to intervene was granted and
that an opportunity to introduce testimony was to be
given to the association. The commission did not pass
upon the question of appraisal. Commissioner Maltbie de-
clared that it will take at least eighteen months to make
an appraisal, and he opposes it on the ground of the delay
that would be incurred.
The Second District commission has approved the exercise
of franchises for furnishing electrical energy in the town
of Claverack, Columbia County, by the Albany Southern
Railroad Company, but restricts such exercise to the terri-
tory east of a line one mile west of the meridian numbered
70 deg. 40 min. on the United States Topographical Survey
map of the town. The territory to the west of this line
is reserved for the Chatham Electric Light, Heat & Power
Company, which is now doing business there. Neither com-
pany can now do business in the territory of the other
without first obtaining the permission of the commission,
granted after a hearing of which the other company shall
have been notified.
Ohio ( ommi-Mon
The city ind the Sandusky Gas & Electric
Company asked the commission to dismiss the appeal from
the ordinance making rates. An agreement has been
reached on the ordinance passed in 1918, making rates of
5 cents and :; cents jier kw-hr., and there was no need of
further consideration by the commission.
The hearing in the case of the Cleveland Electric Illumi-
nating Company against the 3-cent ordinance passed by the
and Council has been postponed to March 31.
City Solicitor Walter M. Schoenle, of Cincinnati, ap-
peared before the commission to urge the completion of the
appraisal of the property of the Union Gas & Electric
Company. Mr. L, 6. White, who is in charge of the work,
stated that the report should be ready in six weeks or two
months and that good progress is being made. He said
that it was found to be expedient to take the inventory
of the company and investigate it instead of employing
a large force to look up each separate piece of property.
Chairman O. H. Hughes took exception to some of the
questions asked by Mr. Schoenle and replied to recent state-
ments of Mr. Schoenle which appeared in newspapers. In
this work, he said, there will be neither needless delay nor
unnecessary expense.
It is understood that bills will be introduced in the Legis-
lature providing for a reduction in the salaries of members
of the commission from $6,000 to $4,000 a year.
Pennsylvania Commission
The Municipal Home Rule League, which is back of the
Graff-Maurer bill to repeal the Pennsylvania Public Service
Commission act, has decided to offer another bill which
would provide for a commission with limited powers. Under
this plan there would be a commission of five men with
duties restricted to the supervision of common carriers and
other public utilities serving in the State at large. Local
authorities would have jurisdiction over the affairs of local
companies. At the meetings of the league it was pointed
out that the expense of sending witnesses to Harrisburg
to meet with the commissioners was so great in many cases
that justifiable complaints could not be made.
In the matter of the petition of the Lehigh Navigation
Electric Company for the approval of an ordinance in the
borough of Wind Gap the commission approved the ordi-
nance, which grants the right to erect high-tension wires
over and across Broadway in that borough. The Pennsyl-
vania Utilities Company filed a protest against the ap-
proval of the ordinance, stating that the proposed trans-
mission lines are for the purpose of providing facilities and
serving the public, not only in Plainfield Township, but also
in Wind Gap Borough, Pen Argyl, Stroudsburg and East
Stroudsburg, communities now served by the protesting
company and other utility companies, and that there is no
necessity for competing service. The commission announced
that it wanted to have it understood that in issuing the
certificates it expresses no approval of the use or occupa-
tion or entry upon any of the streets of the borough of
Wind Gap by the Lehigh Navigation Electric Company for
the purpose of furnishing service to or within the borough.
Wisconsin Commission
The Wisconsin Senate has confirmed the appointment of
Mr. Carl D. Jackson, of Oshkosh, to succeed Mr. John H.
Roemer on the Railroad Commission.
The name of Mr. Walter Alexander, of Milwaukee, has
been sent to the Senate for confirmation as member of the
Railroad Commission to succeed Mr. David Harlowe. For
the last five years Mr. Alexander has been district master
mechanic for the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway
Company, with headquarters at Milwaukee. Previously he
served on the faculties of the University of Wisconsin,
Armour Institute and the University of Missouri.
The commission has authorized the Ironwood & Bessemer
Railway & Light Company to issue $48,000 5 per cent
bonds for the construction of a transmission line from
Saxon Falls to Montreal.
The Wisconsin-Minnesota Light & Power Company has
been empowered to issue $167,000 stock and $90,000 bonds
to be applied to the capital account for expenditures made
in acquiring the properties which have been added recently
to the system.
376
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 6
Personal
Mr. C. W. Rosello, formerly electrical engineer of the
Tri-County Light & Power Company, has been appointed
local superintendent of the company at Woodhull, 111., suc-
ceeding Mr. J. N. Lindell.
Mr. It. P. Benedict , chief engineer of the Northampton
i. Mass.) Electric Lighting Company, has tendered his resig-
nation, effective Feb. 1, with the intention of locating else-
where. As a mark of their appreciation, the employees of
the company presented Mr. Benedict with a gold watch-
chain and charm.
Mr. Walter P. Schwabe, general manager of the Northern
Connecticut Light & Power Company, Thompsonville, Conn.,
has been elected vice-president of the Thompsonville Board
of Trade. Mr. Schwabe is also president of the Thompson-
ville Water Company and general manager of the Windsor
Water Company, Windsor, Conn.
Mr. Beecher W. Waltermire, of Findlay, has been ap-
pointed a member of the Public Utilities Commission of
Ohio, to succeed Mr. E. W. Doty, whose term has expired.
Mr. Waltermire is an attorney. His name had not been
mentioned for the position and the announcement came as
a surprise since several other men were avowed candidates.
Mr. Albert S. Scott has resigned as secretary-treasurer
of the Public Service Company of Northern Illinois to
establish an office as public accountant. Mr. Scott came to
Chicago from England in 1909 and was appointed accountant
with the Commonwealth Edison Company. Afterward he
joined the staff of the Illinois Valley Gas & Electric Com-
pany and in 1911 became auditor of the Public Service
Company of Northern Illinois, being promoted to the post
of secretary-treasurer about twelve months ago.
Mr. E. P. Roberts, commissioner of smoke abatement,
Cleveland, Ohio, resigned on Feb. 1 to reopen his office as
consulting engineer. From 1893 to 1912 Mr. Roberts acted
as consulting engineer for a large number of electric rail-
roads, electric light and other public utility corporations and
also many manufacturing plants. In addition he will now
make a specialty of smoke abatement. He is a member of
the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and the
American Institute of Electrical Engineers, past-president
of the Cleveland Engineering Society and an associate of
the American Electric Railway Association.
Mr. W. R. Pinckard, the newly elected president of the
Chicago Electric Club, was one of the charter members of
the club and has always been closely identified with its
activities. He is the Chicago manager of the detail and
supply department of the
Westinghouse Electric &
Manufacturing Company,
with which company he has
been identified ever since
January, 1898. Mr. Pinckard
entered the electrical busi-
ness in Chicago in 1887,
where he has lived ever since.
lb' possesses a wide circle of
friends among members of
the profession. One of his
first duties after entering the
employ of the Westinghou e
company was selling watt-
hour meters, a device un-
familiar to the electrical
onary work
he did in this connection by
always taking a sample with him and explaining it- opera
tion to the lighting companies of the Middle vVest wa
an important factor in winning companies over From a Mai
rate t" a meter charge.
Mr. Leon II. Scherck, who was recently elected president
<>f the Eastern New York Section of the National Eli
Light Association, i the general sales manager of the Cen
1 ! pans oi Poug hkeep le,
X. Y. Mr. Seherek WBS born and educated at New Orleans.
■ .1 attended I ceh Ing the d<
ami M.E. Immediately after leaving the univ<
Mr. Schercs became ■ ociated with the local Edison Elec
[nominating Company, In whose employ he remained
W. H. I'INCKARP
A. WAGNER
for a period of seven years, rising from lamp repairer to
assistant business manager. In 1903 he became associated
with the banking house of I. Newman & Sons, as well as
with the engineering firm of Ford, Bacon & Davis, and for
six years represented these concerns in connection with a
lighting interest throughout the South and Southwest. In
1909 Mr. Scherck became associated with the Newburgh
(N. Y.) Light, Heat & Power Company ana the Pough-
keepsie (N. Y.) Light, Heat & Power Company, which
afterward were the consolidated companies of the Central
Hudson Gas & Electric Company.
Mr. Herbert A. Wagner, heretofore vice-president in
charge of the electric division of the Consolidated Gas,
Electric Light & Power Company of Baltimore, has been
elected president of that organization in place of Mr. J. E.
Aldred, who, however, retains
his active interest in the com-
pany as chairman of the
board. Mr. Wagner is a man
of long experience in the
utility field and has been
identified with the Consoli-
dated company since 1908.
No small share of its great
success has been due to his
vigorous and effective work.
Mr. Wagner is a native of
New Jersey and a graduate
of Stevens Institute, Hobo-
ken. His first association
with the Consolidated com-
pany was in 1908, when he
undertook the direction of the
electric division of the com-
pany's business, which has
made great progress since that time. In 1911 he was elected
a vice-president of the company. Mr. Wagner is second
vice-president of the National Electric Light Association.
Mr. Arthur J. Cole, whose resignation as district manager
of the Westinghouse Lamp Company of Chicago was
announced in the Electrical World Jan. 23, has taken
a substantial financial interest in the McGraw Company,
operating electrical and
mill-supply jobbing houses at
Sioux City and Omaha, and
will become its vice-president
and general sales manager.
Mr. Cole was born in London,
England, in 1882, and spent
the early years of his life
and secured his grade and
high-school education in Ot-
tawa, 111. He spent a period
of about three years in Mon-
tana in search of health and
on returning to Ottawa com-
pleted his high-school educa-
tion. In 1908 he entered
Armour Institute, Chicago,
taking up the study of elec-
trical engineering. Shortly A ■'• com
after leaving Armour Insti-
tute he entered the employ of Kohler Brothers, prom-
inent electrical engineers and contractors in Chicago.
as a clerk in the switchboard department. During his
ral years' connection with this concern he was
accessively manager of the different departments, and
at the time of his resignation from that company
he was sales manager. Upon his resignation from the
firm of Kohler Brothers he was appointed district man
igi i of the We tinghouse Lamp Company in charge of the
I entral w. I .h trict, with mam office at Chicago and sub-
offices at Milwaukee, Minneapolis, Omaha and Kansas City.
and in this connection he became Very well accpiainted with
ill.' large central-station and j < d > I . i n tr interests. In his new
ion with the McGraw Company Mr. Cole's technical
eneral electrical experience, gained during his connec-
tion with Kohler Brothers, combined with the merehandis-
• ined while in charge "f the Westinghouse
Lamp Company's interests in the Central \Ve,t, Oioiild be
Fkbki aky 6, 1916
K I. ECT R I c A L WO R I. D
Corporate and Financial
I -. niidulo I tUHiea in Issue Notes.— Th< Escondida
Utilities Company has been authorised by the California
Railroad Commission to is.^ue (29,000 notes for a period
not to exceed two .
San Joaquin Light >V Power Bonds. — In reference to the
$150,000 first refunding mortgage bonds of the San Joaquin
Light & Power Corporation recently authorized by the
California Railroad Commission, a supplemental order states
that authority shall apply to bonds Nos. 1383 and 4894 to
4642 inclusive.
Greenville Ughl & Power Companj to Purchase Prop-
cm. The Greenville Light £ Power Company has been
permission by the Public Utilities Commission of
to purchase the Sangerville Improvement Company,
the Sebec Power Company and the hover (Maine) it Fox-
ight £ Heat Company.
Bucyrna Light A Power to Issue Bonds. — The Bucyrus
(Ohio) Light & Power Company has been authorized by the
Ohio Public Utilities Commission to issue $41,000 first mort-
gage 5 per cent bonds, of which $29,000 will be used to pay
for construction, additions and extensions during the past
three years and $12,000 for payment of obligations.
Coast Count] <ias & Electric to Renew Ndes. — The Cali-
fornia Railroad Commission has granted authority to the
Coast County (las & Electric Company to renew a promis-
sory note for $15,000 held by the Bank of California Na-
tional Association. The note shall extend not longer than
six months and shall bear interest at a rate not exceeding 6
per cent.
Indiana Railways & Light Operations. — The compara-
tive light and power revenues for the years ended Dec. 31,
191 1 and 1913, are as follows:
19H 1913
Ing revenue $174,681 $151,038
59,024 56,000
Net op< rating revenue $1 15,657
Ohio Traction to Issue Notes. — The Public Utilities Com-
on of Ohio has authorized the Ohio Traction Company
to issue $1,500,000 of 6 per cent notes to run from one to
five years. The proceeds of the issue are to pay for im-
provements that have been made to the property during
the past three or four years and to take care of current in-
debtedness.
Western States Gas & Electric Bonds.— The California
Railroad Commission in a supplemental order has authorized
the Western States Gas & Electric Company to issue $93,-
500 first and refunding 5 per cent bonds, being part of an
issue of $219,000 previously passed upon by the commission.
The present order was necessary because the time of is-
suance in the original order had expired.
South Carolina Light, Power & Railway Preferred Stock.
— A. B. Leach & Company of New York are offering at 95
the 6 per cent cumulative preferred stock of the South
Carolina Light, Power & Railway Company of Spartanburg.
The outstanding capitalization is now $3,000,000 first mort-
gage 5 per cent gold bonds, $700,000 6 per cent cumulative
preferred stock and $2,500,000 common stock.
Northern Ohio Traction & Light Sells Bonds.— The
Citizens' Savings & Trust Company of Cleveland, Ohio,
ha purchased $300,000 Northern Ohio Traction Company's
consolidated mortgage 5 per cent bonds held in escrow to
ret i,e $300,000 of Akron, Bedford & Cleveland first mort-
gage 5 per c cut bonds due on March 1. The entire $3,000.-
000 issue is now outstanding as a first mortgage.
Citizens' Light & Power to Issue Securities. — The Public
Utilities Commission of Ohio has granted authority to the
Citizens' Light & Power Company of Millersburg to issue
(16,000 common stock and $10,000 first mortgage 6 per
cent bonds at not less than par. The proceeds of the stock
are to be used for the purchase of the Millersburg Electric
Light Company, and the proceeds from the bonds are for
additions, extensions, improvements and betterments to the
property.
Mont pel ii-r \ Barre Light & Power Bonds. — The stockhold-
ers of the Montpelier (Vt.) & Barre Light & Power Company
have been offered the privilege of subscribing for $450,000
first and refunding mortgage ■ > per cent thirty-year con-
vertible gold bonds dated Oct. 1, 1914. The bonds are part
of a $2,600,000 issne. The mortgage will require that
$1,049,ihmii •. ed for refunding underlying bonds,
that $800,000 be r rved for use only in the acquisition of
the propert a .iterbury Light & Power Company,
Montpelier. Yt., and that S'.'Ol.OOO be held for exte:
and improvements at 7.". per cent of cost. The present
$250,000 of bonds are convertible into 0 per cent cumula-
tive preferred stock at par on and after the date of March 1,
1916.
Lawrence Gas Increases Stock. — The stockholders of the
Lawrence (Ma- -.i Gas Company have been notified that the
ny has increased its capital stock from the par value
! .'.'00,000 to a par value of $2,500,000. Shareholders of
I. June 4, 1913, on which date the increase was voted,
may subscribe to the 6000 new shares at 140 at the rate
of one share of new stock for every three and one-sixth old
shares. Assignments of the right to subscribe for the new
stock will be recognized by the company. The right to sub-
will expire Feb. 13, 1915, and subscriptions must be
paid for by Feb. 17, 1915.
Mount Whitney Power Ai Electric to Issue Preferred
Slock. — The Railroad Commission of California authorized
the Mount Whitney Power & Electric Company to issue at
not less than 95 $418,000 of 7 per cent cumulative pre-
ferred stock for the purpose of paying floating indebted-
ness. The company will issue this stock to its holding
company, the Mount Whitney Power & Electric Corpora-
tion of New York, which will then issue its shares in
corresponding amounts. The order of the commission pro-
vides further that the company may issue $750,000 com-
mon stock to cancel a like amount of preferred stock now
outstanding.
New York Utility Growth. — Figures contained in the an-
nual report of Public Service Commission of the Second
District, New York, showed for all classes of light and power
corporations an increase in operating revenue of 5.7 per
cent for 1913 over 1912, an increase of 9.2 per cent in ex-
penses and 10.9 per cent in taxes, and a decrease in oper-
ating income of 0.4 per cent. The figures show that the
electric corporations are constantly gaining, that the gas
departments of the gas and electric corporations are about
holding their own, and that the gas corporations are show-
ing a large decrease in net revenue owing to increased
expenses and taxes.
Ohio & Western Utilities Company. — The Ohio & Western
Utilities Company was incorporated in Delaware in Novem-
ber, 1914, and has taken over the Fort Scott & Nevada
Light, Heat, Water & Power Company, Nevada, Mo., and
the Chillicothe (Ohio) Electric Railroad, Light & Power
Company. It is expected that the company will acquire
many more properties. The outstanding capitalization con-
sists of $1,000,000 common stock, $140,000 preferred stock,
$565,000 6 per cent first lien bonds and $60,000 5 per cent
first lien bonds. The officers are Messrs. P. W. Brooks,
president; L. M. Symmes, vice-president and secretary, and
E. H. Van Wick, treasurer.
Consolidated Light & Power Receivership Statement. —
The Detroit (Mich.) Trust Company has sent to the credi-
tors, stockholders and bondholders of the Consolidated Light
& Power Company, Mount Pleasant, Mich., and the Chip-
pewa Construction Company, an associated company, a
short history of the work done in the past year by the re-
ceiver. The trust company was appointed receiver for both
companies on Oct. 29, 1912. The gross income of the light
and power company for the year ended Nov. 1, 1914, was
$58,478, in comparison with $50,203 for the previous year.
Expenses, exclusive of depreciation or fees, for 1914
amounted to $47,452 and in 1913 to $40,132, thus leaving a
net income for 1914 of about $11,(126 and for 1913 of $10,071.
The Chippewa Construction Company is the owner of a
portion of the high-tension line and some of the local dis-
tributing systems, and it is thought that in all probability
the court will authorize a payment to it of a reasonable
charge for the use of its property by the light and power
company, and in that way reduce the net income of the
operating company for both years. The receivers state that
inasmuch as the consolidated company is serving inhabitants
of a number of cities it will be necessary to use all the net
378
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 6
income to meet the expenditure necessary for maintenance,
.service and public demand. Since the appointment of re-
ceivers customers have increased 25 per cent.
Federal Sign System (Electric) Reduces Preferred Divi-
dends.—Stockholders of the Federal Sign System (Electric)
have been notified that the company will make no dividend
payment on Feb. 1, 1915, thus leaving the dividend for the
year o ' , per cent. The directors believe it unwise to con-
tinue the present 7 per cent dividend rate, and so long as
existing conditions continue they hold that dividends should
not exceed 5 per cent per annum and that net earnings in
excess of those required for the dividends should be kept by
the company as working capital and to supply the necessary
new money for rental investment purposes. The reason
given for this step was the very great curtailment of pur-
chases by electric utility companies, which are the com-
pany's principal customers.
Interstate Railways Preferred-Stock Plan.— The Interstate
Railways Company of Camden, N. J., through President John
A. Rigg, has asked preferred-stock holders to exchange their
holdings for a like number of shares with the same par value
without the redemption clause in order to make the same a
permanent investment. The company was incorporated in
December, 1902, with an authorized capital of $10,000,000, of
which $2,291,050 was issued at par for money. The company
acquired, for $10,776,600 of Interstate 4 per cent bonds, con-
trol of the United Power & Transportation Company, which
operated railways and lighting companies in New Jersey,
Pennsylvania and Delaware. Not having sufficient income in
1907, 1908 and 1909, the company defaulted its bond interest
and, as a last resource, adopted a system of leases and issued
••>1,000,000 of preferred stock to meet the interest, holders of
the coupons receiving payment in preferred stock. In a let-
ter of March 28, 1913, Mr. Rigg stated that this issue had
been authorized and over-subscribed and the 6 per cent divi-
dends earned and paid. Inasmuch as the preferred stock was
issued to the coupon holders, it was noted at this time that
no dividends could be paid upon the common stock until the
principal of the preferred stock had been fully paid, and for
this reason the preferred-stock holders at that time were
asked to exchange their holdings for preferred stock which
would be permanent. Sufficient stockholders, however, did
not consent to the plan, and it was abandoned temporarily.
It is pointed out in the present letter of Mr. Rigg that after
,'iod of five years the lessees have paid all obligations
promptly and have expended about $4,500,000 in betterments
and improvements.
Commonwealth Power, Railway & Light Annual Report.
The annual report of the Commonwealth Power, Railway
& Light Company for the year ended Dec. 31, 1914, showed
that the greatest advances were made in the electric serv-
ice department. Sales of gas increased 4.03 per cent over
1913. Sales of electrical energy increased 7.72 per cent,
the number of electric meters in use at the end of the year
being 13.96 per cent more than in the previous year. The
revenue from railway passengers decreased 1.23 per cent.
The company had an output in 1914 of 208,490,680 kw-hr..
against 193,644,666 kw-hr. in 1913. The company divided
its percentage growth report into two parts, one showing
the increase in the first seven months of 1914, the other
the increase in the last five months of 1914, the period cov-
ered by the European war. In the first part of 1914 the
gas sales increased 3.08 per cent, in the last part 2.71 per
cent. Sales of electrical energy in the first part increased
8.4 per cent, in the last part 6.59 per cent. The railway
i nger fares decreased 0.43 per cent in the first part
and 2 'in the second part. The year I'M I was
the first calendar year in which all of the companies (except
.,ii together under one ownership. The
following statement excludes all inter-company transac-
"•"''•"•,M
i dividends, rei
• 9f,0-oon
S 1
Manufacturing and Industrial
The Hydraulic Turbine Corporation, Camden, N. Y., is
the new name for the concern formerly known as the
Camden Water Wheel Works.
The American Manufacturers' Agency, Inc., Chicago, of
which Mr. William H. McKinlock is president, has taken
the selling agency for the Crawford Cedar Company of
Menominee, Mich.
The Central Electric Company, Chicago, 111., has ap-
pointed Mr. A. J. Sulzer, formerly in charge of the Chicago
office of the Adams-Bagnall Electric Company, as its gen-
eral sales manager.
Mr. Albert Scheible, who until recently was a member
of the firm of patent attorneys, Lotz & Scheible, has
opened an office at 1012 Rector Building and will continue
the practice of patent law. Mr. Scheible is a mechanical
and an electrical engineer.
Electric Company to Erect Office Building. — Within a
short time the Lincoln Electric Company of Cleveland, Ohio,
will let the contract for the construction of a three-story
office building as an extension of its factory building at
Kelley Avenue and East Thirty-eighth Street. It will cost
about $10,000.
The Terry Steam Turbine Company, Hartford, Conn.,
has appointed Mr. E. F. Scott as its representative in the
State of Georgia. Mr. Scott's offices will be at 702 Candler
Building, Atlanta, Ga. The company's Pittsburgh office is
now at 1624 Oliver Building and is in charge of Mr. H.
A. Rapelye.
The Pettebone-Mingay Electric Supply Company, Niagara
Falls, N. Y., which was recently formed, is in the business
of house and factory wiring and electrical contracting.
Mr. L. W. Pettebone is president of the company, Mr. L. A.
Pettebone, formerly engaged in the hydroelectric work at
Niagara Falls, N. Y., and in Ontario, is secretary, and
Mr. C. P. Mingay, formerly electrical foreman at Niagara
Falls, treasurer.
The Asbestos Wood Manufacturing Corporation, Pough-
keepsie, N. Y., which was recently formed, is engaged in
the business of manufacturing "Eterno" asbestos lumber
and "Eterno" ebony boards. The company is making these
products according to a patented process, using asbestos
and cement as the principal ingredients. The products offer
a high electrical resistance, it is declared, and will with-
stand a 2800-deg. (Fahr.) fire test.
.Manhattan Electrical Supply Company Conference at
Chicago. — Twenty-five salesmen of the staffs of the Man-
hattan Electrical Supply Company's Chicago and St. Louis
offices held an all-week conference at the Hotel Sherman.
Chicago, Jan. 18 to 23. The meetings were in charge of
Mr. Clarke H. Methot, sales manager, 114 South Fifth
Avenue, Chicago. On Thursday the members of the sales
conference attended the luncheon of the Chicago Electric
Club in a body.
Mr. Charles B. Poyer has been appointed assistant gen-
eral sales manager of the Edison Storage Battery Company.
Orange, N. J. Mr. Poyer has been with the Edison interests
four years, having served first on the persona!
engineering staff of Mr. Edison in the development of
ipecial application of the alkaline battery and later as
i. nit advertising manager. For the last two years he
lias been manager of the house-lighting department, and
the rapid development of this branch of the business from
both an engineering and a commercial standpoint is at-
tributable to his ability.
Cleveland Automobile Show.— A number of electrical con-
cerns were represented at the reo obile show at
land, Ohio. The Baker Motor Vehicle Company ex-
hibited two coupes, two broughams and tWO trucks; the
Ranch A Lang Carriage Company, a brougham and a road-
the Anderson Electric Car Company, two broughams
and a cabriolet, and the Milburn Wagon Company, one
Among the manufacturers of electrical accessories
the following were represented: The Osgood Autolite De-
flector Company, the Forest City Kloctric Company, the
trie Products Company and the Konsn Electric
( ompany.
\u\ i'.. 1915
E I. ECT RICAL VD KL D
I. an,-.- Submariae i» Be Built at Qnincy.— The United
N'a^y Department lias awarded a contract to the
Electric Boat Company for the largest seagoing subn
ever liuilt in the country and probably in tin- world. The
i raft will be constructed at tin- Pore River shipyard in
Qoincy, Mass., and will coat $1,350,000. It will have a dis-
placement of 1000 tons, a raiiius of action of 3000 miles, B
surface speed of 20 knots and a submerged speed of 11
knot.--. By the us< batteries alone the vessel will
be abll inder water for twenty-four hours. Seven
smaller submarines for coast defence will also be built by
the Electric Boat Company at a cost of from S4J7,000 to
"00 each, the construction to be done at the yard of
the Lake Torpedo Boat Company at Bridgeport, Conn., and
also at Seattle, Wash.
Sales Force oi Kansas ( itj Jobber Meet. — The sales force
of the B-R Electric & Telephone Manufacturing Company,
• mbled from various points outside
the city, Saturday, Jan. 9, to hear discussions of the firm's
Selling policies. Four visiting representatives and one resi-
dent manager of other firms whose products are handled
through the wholesale and retail departments of the B-R
Company spoke to the salesmen assembled. The speeches
chiefly concerned the products of each manufacturer and
the best methods of promoting sales of the goods. Mr.
P. E. Widwer represented the Brilliant Electric Company
of Cleveland, Ohio, and Mr. H. M. Merrithew the American
Ever-Ready Company. Mr. F. X. Boyer, district manager
in St. Louis for the General Electric Company; Mr. W. M.
Doming, manager of the supply department, and Mr. W. M.
Hand, Kansas City manager of the same company, were
also present. Mr. F. M. Bernardin, president of the B-R
company, presided.
Orders for Electrical Equipment. — The Westinghouse
Electric & Manufacturing Company, East Pittsburgh, Pa.,
reports receipt of the following orders: The Xevada Valley
Power Company, Oakland, CaL, three 625-kva, single-phase
outdoor transformers, three 400-kva, single-phase outdoor
transformers, three 100-kva, single-phase outdoor trans-
formers and three 37.5-kva, single-phase outdoor trans-
formers; the Puget Sound Light, Power & Traction Com-
pany, Seattle, Wash., two 500-kva, thres-phase outdoor
transformers; the Philadelphia Electric Company, Phila-
delphia, Pa., four 300-kva, single-phase transformers; the
Potomac Electric Company, Washington, D. C, one 150-
kva, three-phase transformer; the Virginian Power Com-
pany, Charleston, W. Va., three 500-kva, single-phase out-
door transformers, three 250-kva, single-phase outdoor
transformers, three 150-kva, single-phase outdoor trans-
formers, three 100-kva, single-phase outdoor transformers
even 75-kva, single-phase outdoor transformers; the
ling Traction Company, Cushing, Okla., one 500-kw
i current generator, one turbine equipped with reduc-
tion gear, ci etc., one three-panel switchboard, one
50-ton locomotive, two double-car equipments composed of
motors, control and air-brake apparatus; and the Wash-
ington-Virginia Railway Company, Washington, D, C, a
ii pie equipments including motors and con-
trol apparatus for interurban cars.
Experiences in South American Trade. — In talking with
tive of the Electrical Would on the subject of
trade with the Latin-American republics, Mr. W. D. Steele,
vice-president of the Benjamin Electric Manufacturing Com-
pany, Chicago, recounted that about five years ago that com-
pany united with two other American concerns in allied but
not competitive lines in engaging a salesman to travel in
South American countries. The salesman is a graduate of
an American engineering college and speaks Spanish and
Portuguese. II'' calls principally on importers and the
jobbing trade in large centers, but also does some mission-
ary work with central stations, dealers and consumers.
Catalogs are printed in Spanish and Portugue ie. The sales-
ponds from six to eight months of the year in the
tield. He devotes his time principally to Brazil, Argentina.
Uruguay and Chile, but he also makes calls occasionally in
other South American, Central American and West Indian
countries. Mr. Steele said that it is possible that up to the
present time better results might have been obtained had
the same amount of time and money been expended in in-
tensive cultivation of some parts of the United States. The
people of i ..n countries are slow about
changing their commercial relations. Once their confidence
is obtained, however, it is hard to shake it. Therefore Mr.
Steele thinks that the results of the work the company has
been doing for the last live or six years, while fairly satis-
factory now, will prove to be of much greater importance
in the future. In the Spanish and Portuguese catalogs
issued by the company all dimensions are given in the metric
system, but for dimensions of stems and small threaded
fittings English units are also given. Prices are not in-
cluded in the regular catalog, but distributers are given
separate price lists in which the list prices are given in
American gold. This permits the use of the catalog in all
South American countries, the distributer making his quota-
lion to the trade in local currency. New editions of the
are issued al two years. The
catalogs are not so large as those circulated by the company
in the United States. No trouble has been experienced in
having them prepared and printed in Chicago in idiomatic
Spanish and Portuguese. Customers' instructions are fol-
lowed implicitly and packing is done with great care. As to
credits, the company has not lost a dollar from South Ameri-
can customers in five years, and losses from other Latin-
Vmerican countries have been small. In making sales de-
pendence is placed largely on the salesman's judgment. The
opinion of Mr. Steele is that, if reasonable care is exercised
in extending credit, the percentage of losses from bad debts
in the South American trade will not exceed the correspond-
ing loss in the United States. A large proportion of the
South American business of the Benjamin company is done
at ninety days' sight. Very often the forwarding agents in
New York arrange for the collections, and the remittance
comes in the shape of a New York draft from the forward-
ing agent. However, collections are sometimes made
through the Chicago banks. As to competition, it has been
found, said Mr. Steele, that in the more ornate types of
electric-lighting fixtures the French manufacturers have
been the most active bidders for trade in the South Ameri-
can markets. In the simpler types of fixtures the Germans
have obtained a large share of the business. The Edison
screw-base lamp is used almost exclusively throughout
South America; consequently the English have not figured
very largely in the fixture trade there, their standard
sockets being of the bayonet catch type. One feature of the
international-trade situation in some South American coun-
tries that is worthy of attention has to do, Mr. Steele said,
with the ownership of the electric-service companies. Ger-
man capital controls a number of central-station utilities.
In some cases it has been reported that central stations
where German influence predominates have been reluctant
to supply electrical energy for the operation of motors or
large consuming devices coming from non-German sources
However, instances of this character have been few, and the
objection was to non-German electric motors of considerable
size, rather than to small appliances. Mr. Steele declared
that the company would continue to develop its South
American trade.
NEW YORK METAL MARKET PRICES
, Jan. 26 * , Feb. 2 x
Selling Prices Selling I
' loppei .1 Hid Asked
£ s d £ s d
London, standard spot* fi3 5 o 63 it 6
Prime Lake 14.25 to 1 1.50 14.75 to 16.00
Electrolytic 14.12% to 14.25 14.60 to 14.70
Ca mm 13.87% to] 1.00 1 1.25 to
Copper wire base to 15.50 15.75 to 15.87%
Lead 3.70 3. so
Nickel I to 45.00 40.00 to 45 00
Sheet /.oi''. f.o.b. sn Itei .... 9.50 10.00
Spelter, spot to !.'•»'< 8.00 to 8.12Uf
Tin. straits
i .nil . . is.:;, to in 85 I B.75 to
•OLD METALS
M. is \ copper and wire 12.50 12.50
Brass, heavy 8.76 8.76
Brass, light 7.75 7.75
■ I 3.50 3.60
Zinc, sci :ii. ."..'.':. 5.37 'j
COPPER EXPORTS
Exports ol copper <•< • bars, plates,
ii. i era] eek end L5 1.6S9.614 lb.
•Prom daf ons or the New Fork Metal Exchange.
; \ . . 1 1 1 1 1 1 . i !
380
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 6
New Incorporations
The Southern Ohio Electric Central Station Company, of
Athens, Ohio, has been incorporated with a capital stock
of $10,000, by 0. E. Harrison, H. C. Allread and others.
The Franconia Township Electric Light & Power Com-
pany, of Norristown, Pa., has been granted a charter with
a capital stock of $5,000. The incorporators are C. N.
Wagner, A. II. S. Cantlin and H. R. Fehr, all of Allentown,
Pa.
Paul H. Jaehnig. Incorporated, of Newark, N. J., has
filed articles of incorporation with a capital stock of $50,000
lor the purpose of operating light, heat and power plants.
The incorporators are P. H. Jaehnig, of Newark; F. H.
Walsh, of East Orange, and L. W. Jaehnig.
The Electric Investment Company has filed articles of
incorporation under the laws of the State of Delaware.
The company is capitalized at $50,000 and proposes to
generate and distribute electricity for lamps, heaters and
motors. The incorporators are H. E. Latter, W. J. Maloney
and 0. J. Reichard, of Wilmington, Del.
The People's Hydroelectric Power Company, of Birming-
ham, Ala., has been incorporated with a capital stock of
$20,000 for the purpose of constructing a hydroelectric
power plant at the upper end of Wood's Island to develop
the water-power of Ten Island Shoals, Whisenant and
Leota Shoals on the Coosa River. The company purposes
to supply electricity in Jefferson County and also in Gads-
den, Anniston and Talladega. The officers are R. H. Cobb,
of Birmingham, president; Clem Jowers, of Ohatchie, vice-
president and treasurer, and S. H. Richardson, secretary.
Trade Publications
New Industrial Companies
The Richman Protective Alarm Company, of New York,
N. Y., has been incorporated by J. Richman, of Brooklyn;
F. Wachtel and D. Wachtel, of New York. The company
is capitalized at $10,000 and purposes to manufacture an
alarm device for lock and electric machinery.
The Delta Electric Company, of Worcester, Mass., has
been incorporated with a capital stock of $10,000 for the
purpose of dealing in electrical machinery and apparatus,
including generators, motors, lamps, etc. Henry H. Ham,
5 Barton Place, Worcester, is president and treasurer of the
company.
The Campbell Lamp & Light Specialty Company, of
Brooklyn, N. Y., has been incorporated by E. C. Abell, H.
W. Van Allen and C. A. Campbell, 1450 President Street,
Brooklyn. The company is capitalized at $15,000 and in-
tends to manufacture and deal in fixtures, chandeliers and
novelties.
The Newton Manufacturing Company, of New York,
X. Y., has been chartered with a capital stock of $25,000
to manufacture and deal in electrical appliances, dynamos
and motors. The incorporators are W. R. H. Hardingham,
I' Sinnott and Hruce Falconer, 701 Madison Avenue, New
York. X. V.
The Godley < on-t ru<l ion A Contracting Company, of Al-
bany, N. Y., has been incorporated with a capital stock of
$5,000 to m electrodes, carbon, graphite, pen-
cils, crucibles and accessories for electric furnaces. The
Incorporators are F. Angeloch, M. Wheeler and J. B. Kil-
Ww York.
The Brooklyn Medical Battery iV. Instrument Company,
<>f Brooklyn, X. Y., has been chartered with a capital stock
1,000 to m: facturc violet ray and high-frequency
current batteriet ami Phe Incorpo-
rator! art G i' Clan . H. B. Biergersell ami P. W. Tunison,
1118 B Brool lyn, X. Y.
I in- Electrical Contractor!' Association, of Lynn, U
has been Incorporated with a capital stock of (20,000 for
tin- purpose of manufacturing ami dealing in gas and elec-
Ing, lighting -■-;, at-
tachmenti ami machinery; also It
repairing • ' pso 184 Uni
Lynn. t, ami Albra I. W.-utt. 18 l'.al.i-r Street,
Lynn, i
Yacuum Cleaners. — The Atwood Vacuum Cleaner Com-
pany, Rockford, 111., has issued a booklet describing its
stationary vacuum-cleaning apparatus.
Transconlint ntal Telephoning. — "The Transcontinental
Voice Highway" is the title of a folder just issued by the
Western Electric Company, New York.
Wiring Devices. — Fish wire, outlet boxes for concrete
work, conduit bushing adapters and hickey fixture hangers
are described in Bulletins 25, 26, 27 and 28.
Single-Phase Motors. — The Century Electric Company,
St. Louis, Mo., is sending out a folder which illustrates
applications of its small single-phase motors.
Electrical Bocks. — Frederick J. Drake & Company, 1325
Michigan Avenue, Chicago, 111., have issued a catalog de-
scribing a number of mechanical and electrical books.
Bushings for Flexible Tubing. — The Metal Specialty
Company, Kansas City, Mo., has issued a leaflet containing
information on bushings for non-metallic flexible tubing.
Electric Starter. — An electric starting device for used
automobiles is the subject of a circular published by the
F. Jos. Lamb Company, 940 Jefferson Avenue, Detroit,
Mich.
Refillable Fuses. — Catalog No. 3, recently prepared by
the Star Fuse Company, 448 Broome Street, New York,
contains information on several types of refillable cartridge
fuses.
Fire Extinguisher. — The Electric Operations Company.
Bush Terminal. Brooklyn, X. Y., has published a circular
which contains information on a recently developed fire ex-
tinguisher.
Electric House Pump. — Bulletin A-16 and a folder pub-
lished by the Columbus Pump Supply Company, Columbus,
Ohio, describe and illustrate several types of electrically
operated house pumps.
Turbines. — "Turbines for Pump Drive" is the subject of
a sixty-four-page illustrated catalog published by the Terry-
Steam Turbine Company, Hartford, Conn. The catalog is
designated as Bulletin 19.
Magnet-Switch Starters. — Descriptive Leaflet 3767, issued
by the Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company.
East Pittsburgh, Pa., describes a magnet switch starter for
alternating-current motors.
Anodes and Plating Salts. — The Munning-Loeb Company,
Matawan, X. J., has issued Bulletin 600, which describes and
illustrates various types of anodes for electroplating and
different kinds of plating salts.
Machinery Paint. — "Machinery Finishes" is the title of a
cloth-bound booklet being sent out by the Glidden Varnish
Company, Cleveland, Ohio. The booklet contains samples
of a number of different finishes.
Motors for Textile Mills. — The Crocker-Wheeler Com-
pany, Ampere, X. J., has issued a booklet entitled "Power
Transmission in Textile Mills," which" contains a reprint
from "Silk Manufacturing and Its Problems," by James
Chittick.
Electric Fans. — A number of types of electric fans being
placed on the market by the Western Electric Company,
New York, are described and illustrated together with
other kinds of electrical apparatus in a catalog recently
published.
Electrical Apparatus. — The Western Electric Company is
ending out folders and catalogs on "Geyser" dish washers,
"ChaU-Phone" apparatus for closed automobiles. 1> & W
oil fuse cut-outs, small rectifiers for ignition batteries,
i vibrators, intercommunicating telephone apparatus,
telephone apparatus for apartment houses, and small light-
h g plants.
Wireless-Telephone ami Wireless-Telegraph Apparatus. —
The Do Forest Radio Telephone & Telegraph Company, nil
Park Avenue, New York, has issued Bulletin C ii. entitled
ep Audiophone Amplifiers and the (Jltrau-
dion"; Bulletin C 14, entitled "Audion Detector;" Bulletin
\ i... entitled "Receiving Apparatus for Radio ami High-
Frequency Work," ami Bulletin D-14, entitled, "Radiotele-
phone Appai
l-'KHHI AKY 6, 1916
ELECT R] ( A I. WORLD
381
Construction News
Niu England
M1LLINOCKETT, .MAIM
■
FAYVILL1 '. \l \s-
iinpliio.
-i •■■ 1 bid* I equlp-
Clinton, who has i hai |
i in Southboro.
LOWELL, MASS.— Plan*
mitted bj the Lowell EL i.t. Co
Hurph) for the Insl
ornamental lighting system tor the business
The plans provide for the •■ -
.1 standards mounted
wiiii a single arc lamp maintained by
underground
BAST NORWALK, CONN.— A new cen-
n ploted for the
municipal electric-lighting plant, equipped
wiiii two Huttlnger gas engines and gas
producers Elmer Llngard Is superintend-
ent
LONG Illl. I.. CONN. Within the next
*i\ months h A I louse, .ii . propi
the local electrlc-llghi plant, expi
for lighting six houses
and alao electrical appliances and labor-
saving devices for same.
Middle Atlantic
IKLTN, N. V- Bids will be received
bj the Park Board, Department ol Parks,
Municipal Building, New Fork, until Feb.
id di
Pi ospect i 'ark
borough of Brooklyn. Blank forms may be
obtained from Department of Parka,
boough, nf Brooklyn, Litchfield U
■ Park.
IKLYN. N. ST.- Bids will be re-
ceived by the Board of Health of the De-
partment <if Health, corner ol Centre and
Walker Streets, New York, until Peb. 9 for
furnishing and installing lighting, ventila-
Ing pumps and all neo
alterations and all other work Incidental
i the sewer tank building on the
ground of the Kingston Avenue Hospital,
borough of Brooklyn. Plans may be seen
and blank tonus and further information
may be obtained at the office of the chief
clerk ol the Department ol Health, corner
i and walker Streets, New York.
CLAVERACK, N. Y -The Public
i ommlssion has granted the Albany
Southern I: l: Co., ol Hudson,
u nlsh electi Icity In Claverack, bul
restricts the territory in which it can
NEW SORK, N. V. An Australian firm
which ha been purchasing electrical
1 (ermanj desires to transfer
its busim nited Stati and is in
■ posit Ion to ask for on dupli-
ihe German switches Full par-
■ oncoming the switches and their
manufacture can be obtaini fj fi the
of Foreign and I iome tii I '
loom 109, United Stati -
New York, n jf,
NEW FORK, N. S Bids "HI l
reus M. Mark... presldi
■lie Ofitl • ' 01 1 in
■• loner ol public works. i:< . ■
■ I Build i.e. New York, until Peb, 8 ( tor
ng the lighting R I m i
Idrei . out I Building, situated
at 187 Baal Twenty-second Street, borough
ol Manhattan. Blai Hi H Ions
and plans may be obtained at tl
Crow, Lewis ,v Wlckenl i . archltei ts, 200
..v. •>.,,!
ME \i>\ II. i.i:, PA. The city Council is
■ on ni ■ i.i.. i, i... i hi Installation of an
■ I.. I lighting system on Watei and
Chestnut Streets. it Is also proposed to
improve the lighting system In outlying por-
tion -I i he city.
PITTSBURGH, PA— Bids will be re-
ft '■■■ ed ..i the offic ' thi ■-.. m trchl
I e |...i tin. ni
l ' ' ' . until March I I, for the Ini tallatlon
complete of an electric paasengei elevator
in the experimental station, Bur u
Mines. Pittsburgh, Pa. Por del ill
posal columns,
TRENTON, N .1. Plans ..,. i., ,,,
in the I
vVASHINGTt IN, I ■ C— 1 i be re-
I lepartment, Washington.
■
Scheduli pneumatic moto
S ' ' . Scheduli
l in. til. tube ■ ton, .Mass., and
N Y . Si In dule 786
Washington,
Schedule 7 s 7 l' two silent-chain
Scheduli laneous steel shafting,
■ flexible copper tub-
ing. Norfolk, \ a . Scheduli
Bteel-wlre rope; Schedule 7882—
tour deck batters covers; Schedule 7884
n Ire Si tubing.
N, ST., Schi
■ or and telegraph
s.h. dule 7gg] 0U8 lighting and
power wire, miscellaneous rubbei
.,"" ft. telephone wlrt P
phia, Pa., Schedule 7^7^ -miscellaneous
ipper. Charleston, S. C, Schedule
■ opper pipe.
brass tubing. Tolls ulli. N II., S
■ ■• li. i ue. .us i...ii. 1 1 ui.es . Schedule
i879 miscellaneous composition unions.
■lass. Schedule 7876 — miscellaneous
malleable. iron unions I lids will also
celved at the same place until Peb 23 as
Bast and West, Schedule 7828
tubular gasket material. Puget
Sound. Wash., Schedule 7861 one vertical
simplex pump, Bids will also be received
at the same place until March 2 for the fol-
lowing' supplies: Pearl Harbor, II. T.
Schedule ?»-* miscellaneous voltmeters.
wattmeters and watt-hour meters. Bids
will also I,,- received until Feb. 9 as fol-
lows: Mare Island, Cal., Schedule 7820 —
Six exhaust portable fans. Brooklyn. N. T.,
Schedule ;,\r,ii :iiin standing lamps; Sched-
ule 7850 -850 lb. material for blading for
turbines. Norfolk, Ya., and Charleston,
S. T. Schedule 7 s 1 7 — miscellaneous circu-
lar B. & S, wire gages. Portsmouth. N. H.,
Schedule 7824 — one Roentgen X-ray ma-
chine Annapolis, Mil,. Schedule 7825 — one
turbini pump. Washington, D. C, Schedule
Iscellaneous carbon vanadium. Ap-
plications for proposals should designate the
desired by number.
WASHINGTON, D. (".—Foreign trade op-
porl unities are announced by the Bureau
of Foreign and Domestic Commerce in the
Commerce Reports as follows: No. 15,-
\nioncun consular otlicer in the
N.-ar East has transmitted a report rela-
n opportunity to secure contracts
installation of an extensive tele-
•i. in. A copy of the complete
report niai be ha. I on application to the
Pur. -an ,,r ForciKii .iii.l liomestic Commerce
11 us branches No, i:,,l-7 — An American
.'•nsul in i 'ana. la reports that an engineer-
ing and contracting company in his dis-
trict wish. to get iii touch with Amer-
fa surface condenser
to ml-..- care Ol three high-pressure engines
on i dredge Catalogs, etc., are desired.
No, 15,429 A business man in Spain in
lot ms mi American consul that he wishes
to iniim. .ue wiiii American manufac-
turers Of Copper wire, lubes, bars a nil sheet
...pper Pries and catalogs should be sent
mim.iiiat. k Correspondence should be in
Spanish No. 15,473— An American con-
BUlar Officer in ll.aU reports that a firm in his
district desires to communicate with Amer-
ican manufacturers of electrical machinery,
fixtures and supplies, < "orresi ■
should, if possible, be in Italian. No I .. I , .
iai traveler with engineering
experience has informed an 'men. i
nil. Officer I hat lie desires lo ..Main an
■ ■ ■ lui It •■ agencj foi sail ol Imi rii mi li
in spam He i: Inti ■ ■•■■ ted In ga .
" ■ and i. .ni engines, pumps and
pumping machinery, electric motors, and
ml celli ..us t....is an. I accessories I le
■■■■ iii travel at bis own expense and p
to ass all act nis of his customers.
No. 15,482 A dealer in sporting go. ..is. etc
In Prance, lias informed an Am. ri.an e..n
sular officer thai he wishes to receive cats
log a u. i price lists on pocket electric lamps
and s.wing machines. Correspondence
should be in French. Further Inform itlon
ma | be obti I pplli at Ion to the
Bureau ol F gn and i 'omes tic i 'ommerce,
I '. pail m. Ill ol . ■ me. c. . Washington, IV
1 ' . or Its follow Ins i, ranches : i halted States
ii'i Slew \ ... i . \ y , i iliver
Building, Post Mass. : Federal Building,
ill : Third National Bank Build
Ing, St. Louis, Mo P li,.-. Building,
Atlanta, Ga. ; Hlbernla Bank Building. New
. La, : United States i lustom I tou ■
San Francisco, Cal„ and Alaska Building,
Seattle, Wash.
North < tntral
■ IT, MICH
will I..- Install! .1 In tl ■
tOIT, MICH non of
for the
the ii a Jo
HILLSDALE, MICH Bids will
celved b
Feb. 24
is manager of the municipal •
plant.
OXFORD, MICH The Edison Illg. Co.
proposal to the
B to purchase the
municipal electric-light plant for $20,000.
U HITEHALL. MICH The Prug
Co., oi Whitehall, • M ts within the next
three months to erect about 5 miles of high-
■ii line:
a., has. within tl,.- n.xt six months
li bines, from :,iiii hp to 1000 hp, and
waterwh.el governors P. II
president and manager.
\ IDOVER, OHIO.— The Village Council
i.d John Lore, of Mais.
franchise to install and operate an ■
lighting plant in Ami
CLEVELAND, i >l 111 ).— Plans are being
prepared by the Municipal Lighting De-
partment to extend the ornamental lighting
■a I neb. I i.VI mi. as far east as
East Twenty-second Street, and cables are
now being laid. The cost of the svstem is
estimated at $200,000.
CLEVELAND, OHIO.— Bids will be re-
ceived at the office of the commissioner of
purchases and supplies, .',ii Citv Hall,
Cleveland, until Feb. i", for fiber 'conduit
for the Municipal Electric Light Depart-
ment Specifications may be obtained at
the office of the commissioner of light and
heat division, 1443 East Third Street,
Cleveland.
CLEVELAND, OHIO.— Bids will he re-
ceived at the office of commissioner of
purchases and supplies, 511 City Hall,
Cleveland, until Feb. 10 for piping, valves,
etc., in connection with 1000-kw turbine for
the Municipal Electric Light Department.
Specifications may be obtained at the office
ol the commissioner of light and heat divi-
sion, 1443 East Third Street
DAYTON. OHIO.— The city of Dayton
lias awarded the Piyton Pwr. fi l.t. Co. the
contract to furnish electricity to operate the
new garbage destructor plant now under
construction a few miles from the city.
DAYTON. OHIO. — Electrical power equip-
ment, motor and wiring will be required in
istruction of a five-story building to
be erected for the Araile Kimes Co., of Day-
ton, which manufactures pumps, trolley
equipment, etc. H. W. Kimes has charge
of the work.
I " il 'Si i.N VILLE i R. F. D, HILLSBORO).
OHIO. — A movement has been started to
secure the installation of an electric-light-
ing system in Dodsonville. It is proposed
to procure energy from the traction com-
pany to operate the system. Henry ' "re-
baugh Is Interested In the project.
BAST PALESTINE, OHIO— The City
Council has authorized the Board of Trus-
tees Of Public Affairs to purchase new
equipmenl for the municipal elect, ii
ing plain The new machinery will nearly
double the output of the plant.
i LLION, Ol 'reparations are being
mad.- bs the < lalion Iron Wks ,^ Id
to install an electric light and power plant
at its works on South Street. Work on
the building will begin as soon as the
weather will permit.
iin.l.sp. up i. i .in. i ,\n agreement has
l n reai hed between the \ ill ige i !ou
and the Hills),,,,-,, I.I fi |.-,,, I
Ing the streets of the v lllage I rider the
terms of Hi ntruot the company is to
nips, of which 16 are
tO bl 2 a. op a ml the ivm.i oi.ler of 1 00 CP,
the fixtures to be provided bj the company
an. I I he lamps bj the ' '..ini.nl. The vil-
1 ■ has i ii h iii street-lighting serv-
ice tor several months.
INDEPENDENCE, kl Negotiations
in under waj bet « een the Citj I louncil
.no i hi i in.... i.i in .v Pwr ' '.... .a' , 'on
Ington, with a view of establishing an
alectrli light Ing sj si, an In [ndepend
LAWRENCEBURG, K"S \ nmlttee
has been appoint, ..I |,. secure funds for the
installat ' i rnamental street-lighting
system In the business district. i >. L,
noon ii , Is a member of the committee.
' '' LI WB1 V CITY, INI" The Wabash
\ ,11,. i ni, i |i -, . ■,, . of Port Wayne, has
submitted a proposal to the Cltj Council
offering to supply electrii II , rate the
municipal lighting Bystem. The company
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 6
offers i" ■ i ■< I -i high-tensio
orpoi
mbia City. At the present time
the Council la considering a proposition to
enlarge the municipal electric plant. In-
cluding the installation of new boilers and
machinery, to cosl approximate!]
GARRETT, IX I >, -Bids will be received
by the City Council, Garrett, Ind., until
.March 4 for furnishing and Installing one
. three-phase, SO ej cle, 23
200-r.p.m., steam-engine-driv*
unit, with exciter, switchboard and other
accessories, at the municipal electric-lighting
plam. Proposals should state sepaj
combined price of engine, generator and
ies. W. W, Mounts is city clerk.
HINTIXGBURG, IXD. — The Hunting-
burg El. Lt. Co. has sold its plant and hold-
ings to the city of Huntingburg, to be trans-
ferred Feb, -l. Within the next three
months the City expects to erect a new
power house and install two boilers, one
engine and generator and feed pump ; also
to purchase switchboard, exciter and pro-
tective devices ; one car load of poles, sev-
eral miles of No. 6 wire, several 10-kw
transformers and one tub transformer, and
all kinds of electrical household devices and
supplies. F. o. Katterhenry is secretary of
the Huntingburg El. Lt. Co.
MARTIXSYIR1.K, END. — Within the next
SO days the Martinsville Gas ft El. Co. ex-
pects to purchase a new LT.O-kw alternating-
current generator, and to change the system
from direct currenl to alternating current
within ttie next two months. The direct-
current line will be retained for consumers
lectricity for power purposes. J. H.
Stewart is secretary and general maj
WARREN, 11.1,.— The Warren Lt. & Pwr.
Co. is planning to erect a transmission hue
from Warren to Apple River and to
a distributing system there. A sub
of the pole type will be installed in Apple
River. G. W. Scheidecker, general man-
ager, has charge of the work.
WILMETTE, ILL. — The installation of
a new street-lighting system is under con-
sideration by the Council.
ASHLAND, WIS. — The Wisconsin Rail-
La granted the lronwTood
nar Ry. & Lt. Co., of Ashland.
permission to issue $48,000 in bonds, the
i in he used for the erection of a
ISSion line from Saxon Falls to
Montreal, Mich.
JANESVTLLE, WIS.— Plans have been
I I for the insta
lighting system in the business district.
POTNETTE, WIS— The Turtle Lake El.
I.t .X- Pwr. Co. has Changed its name to
the Poynette El. Co. and its location to
Poynette.
XASHWATK. MINN Steps have been
Northern i 'wr. I !i i . "i
Duluth for the erection of us proposed
transmission Urn from Hibbine, in Nash-
wauk. work on which will begin early in
the spring Ti:e companj "ill supply elec-
io several mini inn
OSSEI '. MINN. Bo: mi oi
SO, 000 have been voted for the installation
of a municipal electric-lighting plant. W.
i' Buck, 1821 Fremont Avenue South,
Minneapolis, is engineer.
LARCHWt " d i. I.\ Kids, it is reported,
will be i... iv . d :i i once tor Ha
i tic-lighting plant in Larch
ntly voted.
-. city. i.\ -Extensive h
involving aa expenditure of about
COl , dated b>'
the Sioux Cil
ai.tami ixt, mii Application h
made to the Co "e to in-
Ctrl
motif
PLEASANT HILL, MO The Installa-
in Pleas-
i ion
SENTINEL BUTTE, V D, The Installa-
■ tinti For fur-
I . Sen) Inel Butte
i clal i 'Inb
ABERDEEN, '•■ i in Rj
the eon
ii a, i [on i,r it nd power
plant
now aet ui ■
from the Aberdeen si Ry i to
FLANDREAU, S D The Flandreau l.t
K- I'wi
■
The distribution ■;
Including
a .a tin-
work.
GREAT BEND, KAN. — Plana
mental street-lighting i.ystem
for the erection of .".-'• ornamental
standards carrying incandescent lamps, to
be maintained by underground wires.
WINNFIELD, BAN.— -Bids will be re-
ceived at the office of the city clerk, Winn-
Ltil Feb. Ill for furnishing a
nd auxiliaries
and switchboard. For details see p
columns
Southern States
DUKE, X. i'. — Preparations, it is re-
ported, are being made by the Ervin Cot-
ton Mill Co., of Duke, to install a luge
electric plant.
SPRING HOPE, N. C. — The East Caro-
lina Pwr. & l.t. Co., it is said, contemplates a
water-power development about :: miles
from Spring Hope. The company h
granted a Franchise to supply electricity in
this city and has also submitted a proposal
to furnish electricity in Nashville.
ANDERSON, S. C. — The development of
water-power on Eighteen-Mile Creek to
generate 100-hp is contemplated by J. J.
Fretwell ; also the construction of a roller
and corn mill and gin. The cost of the
entire project is estimated at about 510,000.
CUTHBERT, GA. — The Electric Light
and Water Commissioners expect to pur-
chase within Hie next 12 months a 125-kW
generator and a 14-in. by la-in. Harrisburg
engine, directly connected, and also one
regulator. E. A. Turner is super-
intendent
I" I 1. 1, A, GA. — Within the next two
months the city of Ocilla expects to pur-
chase two carloads of poles and give the
distill. in ion system a general overhauling,
i Wilson is superintendent.
CAMDEN, TENN. — The local electric
ligl g plant, owned by J. S. Madrey &
Sons, was reci d by Are.
CUMBERLAND GAP, TENN. — The Cum-
berland Mountain Mineral Co., recently
incorporated with a capital stock of $100,-
contemplates the construction of elec-
tric plant and developing mines. Among
the incorporators are G W. Montgomery,
Henry Spilker and J. D. Temlin.
OZARK, ALA. — Improvements to the
municipal electric-Mght plant and water-
works system are nearly completed. All
it for extension has been pur-
chased. A water purifier for the boilers
0 -ably he needed in the near future.
R. C. Howling is superintendent.
CLARKSDALE, MISS.— Bids will be re-
celved It the office of the supervising archi-
I'reasury Department, Washington,
D. C, until Feb. :!.., for Installatii
plete of an electric passenger elevator in
the United States post office and court bouse
1 1 i 'i.i i i."ri do, Mi' c. 'i details
lumns,
STEPHENS, ARK Tin- Arkansas l.t.
& Pwr. Co. is reported to he contemplat-
ing the installation of an electric-lighting
• lo operate the
• ill be obtained fr I la mden.
WOLFE CITY, TEX, The Wolfe City
i.i i '.. . 1 1 1 oi ganized, has pui ■ b ised
the piani oi iii. Wolf.- em ki i.t. * Pwr,
. ■,, Tii. will purcha!
|o ,,|,. l lie til'' K\ Stelll II Olll 111. w oi
Milling Co Thomas .T. Kelly is Bi
Pacific States
T \i a ,\| \. w \SII The •
of Pierce County have granted the Puget
ii. i Ti .».■ , Lt. ft F
hue into
lb. I ...
TOPPENISH, WASH, ThePaclflcPwr A
ontemplates considei ablt extei
hi I... ,,i,i ...a, terri-
tory, which will be started at soon as the
weather will permll tti exten-
sion will I "a: South ( ; Street to
supply elect! nil ) for lamps and |.n
on to the 1 1 I he same
BAR ER, I »RE The I :itj Count II
elded nol
p. private consumers, the 1
i.t ,x P d to mile.
OR WTS PASS. OR1
Pui. Ser i '.a j. ii . of ' Ira nts |
• it Cold Mill.
I With Hire,.
100-hp turbines (already purchased), oper
ating in General Electric
ore. 1 060 kva, three phase,
750-kva generator and '■', ft. of armored
duplex cable will be required. Specifications
for transformers and substation equipment
have not vet been completed. P.obert E.
Gaut, of Chicago, 111., and F. W. Dodge, of
Gold Hill, are engineers in charge of the
work. George W. Soranson is secretary of
the company,
LEXINGTON, ORE.— Plans are being
considered by J. B. S Kington,
for the installation of a small electric-light
and power plant to supply electrical service
in this city and surrounding territory.
MuRARLA, ORE. — The Portland
& Pwr. Co. has applied to tin
for a franchise to supply electricity in
Molalla.
LONG REACH. CAR— The contract for
the installation of an ornamental street-
lighting system on the principal b
streets has been awarded to Woodill &
Hills. El. Co.. of Ros Angeles. The plans
provide for the erection of -47 ct
standards carrying one 60-watt and four
20-watt tungsten lamps, to be maintained
by underground wires. The total cost of
the system will be (25,415.
LOS ANGELES, CAR.— The contract for
the lighting fixtures for the new depot at
the foot of Fifth Street has been awarded
by the Southeri ompany to the
Meyburg Co., of Los Angeles, at about
$10,
LOS ANGELES, CAR.— Bids will he re-
ceived at the office of the United States
Reclamation Service. Federal Building,
Ros Angeles, Cal., until Feb. 12, i
nisbing electrical apparatus for small
power plant. Elephant Butte dam. Rio
Grande project, N. M. For particulars
address United States Reclamation Service,
Ros Angeles, Cal., or Washington. D. C.
PASADENA, CAR. — Property owl
South Marengo Avenue fia
Citj Commissioners to start proci
under the Vroman act for the installation
of an ornamental lighting system on tin-
avenue from Colorado Street to Glenn m
A petition has also been
for lamp >n of Mareng.
north from Colorado Street to Wa
Street.
POMONA CAR. — Plans have been ap-
proved by the City Council for an orna-
i .I lighting system for the business
section of the city. The plans provide foi
the installation of standards carrying three-
lamp clusters.
1 IE \KV. IDAHO -The Council has
granted a franchise to Roy Drury. of Peary,
to install and lighting
system here A small plant, it is under-
stood, will be installed in the plant of the
Deary Lumber Co. to supply energy for the
fort BEXTOX. MONT.— Bonds to the-
linn. nut . . u sold by the
city of Fort Benton, of which the proceeds
I will be used for the pi
..f the electric plant ol the Port Benton El.
l.t. c... The City, it is understood, wall
build a new system
CANON cm
ley Ry.. Rt. & Pwr. Co.. of Canon ■
contemplating the installation of an orna-
mental street-lighting system or a curb-
lighting system. W. X. Clark is local
superintendent.
FORT LUPTON. COL.— Wlthlll the next
three months the Fori Lupton l.t ,x- Pwr.
... t :: mii.<s of transmission
lines. W. C. S
FORT MORGAN, cm.. Within the next
Ontha the town of Fort Hoi
pets to purcha i nating-
1 engine for r
Iectrlc lighting plant I It -
i 'ox is superintendent of water and light
plant.
W El I.IN'i :Ti >\. i a llaPon
,i in electric-lighting system in Fo
Una is reported under consideration, it
.
system from the plan! in Fort Collins,
Canada
WETASKEWIN, \RT.\ Owing to the
rebuilding of the Uberta government t. le
tern throughout the town the die
tributing system of the municipal elect le
system will have t.. be rebuilt
of the work is SSI minted at about
.tes for tn lln-
talnlng the lighting
'. bicll in-
law lamps, to
est ,<:.
T. IR( i\'Ti >. i (NT ' ■ lb ien
i . into Suburban
foi He construction of three substations
on its Toronto to Guelph line, at Islington.
Georgetown ami Guelph The Georgetown
1 bbsi M"i 6, 1916
ELECTRICAL WORLD
383
I kw, in
.w units, while each of thi
I with a single
inlt, with pri
of a Blmflar unit in tho future.
down and delivered to the
UHTHOFF,
Corpn. i i 8. Wollurd to take
lant at Its quarries at I'lit-
liofr.
Miscellaneous
KETCHIKAN, ALASKA Bldl will be
..i the llghtb
for furnishing two lnt<
combustion hoisting ■
Ellas light Btatlon, Alaska. Blank pro-
obtained
plication to 1 1 1 ■
PANAMA Bid! will be received at the
i purchasing
■
Feb. 18, for lurnishing d> I
., pinion quill
rubber tubing, insulating *
• ling to
ilai i No. I i ma i tx
from the above or the ■
York. N. V . '-.li Whitney-Central Building,
La., and 1086 Nortl
or P. C.
'ifflcer.
Directory of Electrical Associations
i v Light and Thai
mrer, II. O. i
Mobile, Ala.
I
■ tary, L.
• i. Smithsonian Institution, Waah-
■ )■ • ting, San Franc.
American Electric K VII. way
. E. B. Burritt, 29 \\ ■ si
59th Bl . New
Axaaii 'iiKMicvi.
. Prof. J W Richards, Lehigh
ith Bethlehem, Pa.
American INSTITUTE OF Consulting En-
W Stern, 101
Park Ave.. New Tori -
RITBTfl '•!■ ELECTRICAL EN-
Secretary, F, L. Uutehinson, 33
Ith Si .. New York. Board of direc-
s and branches
In the principal electrical centers through-
out the country.
American Physical Society. Si
Prof. A. D. Cole, Ohio Slate University, Co-
lumbus, Ohio.
American Society op Refrigerating En-
oinbdbbs. Secretary, William n. Boss, 154
SI . New Vipi I
30CIETY FOB TESTING M.VTERI-
irer, Edgar Marburg.
University Ol Pennsylvania. Philadelphia.
American -Society ok Hkatino and Ven-
tilating Engineers. Secretary, Edwin A.
W< Bl 88th St., New York.
Arkansas Association of Public Utili-
: vtors. Secretary, W. J. Tharp,
Pock, Ark.
Association of Edison Illuminating
Companies. Assistant secretary, Walter
N'eumulltr, Irving Place and 15th St., New
York.
Association of Iron and Steel i
CAL Engineers. Secretary, W. T. Snyder,
MoKeesport, Pa.
.ri'i.N o» Railway Electrical En-
• uneers. Secretary-treasurer, Jos. A. An-
droucettl, Chicago & Northwestern Railway,
Chicago.
OF Kail wav Tei.ec.raph Su-
perintendents. Secretary, P. W. Drew,
112 West Adams St., Chicago.
California Electrical Contractors' As-
sociation. Secretary, W. S Hanbridge,
] 108 Merchants' National Bank Building,
l.os Angeles, I
Canadian Electrical Association. Af-
wlth N. !•:. [,. A Secretary-treas-
urer, Alan Sullivan, 10 Adelaide Street
I -. Toronto, < !an.
I") ELECTRIC Limit. POWER and
p vii. w.vv Association. Secretary-tn
T F Kennedy, 900 15th St., Denver, Col.
E I A. Secre-
tary, J. I'' Be 1 5th St , New
i n New York Section, n. B. l. a
ry, C. S Van Dyck, Schenectady,
X. Y.
ratCAL CONTRACTORB' Association of
kubetts. Secretary, H. D. Temple,
ler St., Worcester. Mass.
i n'Ai, Contractors' Association of
oi a State. Secretary, Geo, W, Rus-
■el, Jr., 25 Wesl 12d St., New York.
Electrical Contractors' Association of
State of Missouri. Secretary, A. J. Burns,
II West Tenth St.. Kansas City, Mo.
ISBOCl VTION OF
3TLVANIA, Si
M. G, Sellers, 1618 Sansom St., Philadelphia,
Pa.
Electrical Contractors' Association of
Wisconsin, Secretary, Alberi lviei maim.
620 Lloyd St., .Milwaukee, Wis.
m. Salesmen's association.
Secretary, Francis Raymond, 1-.. Michigan
Ave., Chicago, in.
Electrical Supply Jobbers' Association.
General secretary, Franklin Overbagh, 1 1 1
South Clinton St., Chicago, til. Ni
lng, Chicago, March,
Electrical Trades Association of Can-
, William p. Stavely, Royal
i Mi real, Van.
Electrical Trades Association of the
Pacific i Ubert li EU1-
Building, 31 Ellis St., Ban
Francis., deeting, S.m Francisco,
• ach month.
association of Amer-
ica. K\. V Jackson Mar-
shall, :'!i West 3Hth St.. New York. Sections
in New Y.nk. New England, Chicago, Phila-
delphia, Washington and Los Angeles.
Empire State Gas and Electric Asso-
ciation. Secretary, Charles H. B. Chapin,
29 West 3'.nli St, New York.
Gas, l Street Railway As-
i iklahoma. Secretary-treas-
urer, Prof. H. V. Bozcll, Norman, Okla.
Georgia Electrical Contractors' Asso-
ciation. Secretary, J. M. Clayton, Atlanta.
US State Electric v.
I E. Chubbuck, Peoria, 111.
Illuminating Engineering Society.
General secretary, c. A. Littlefield, 29 Wesl
89th St., New York.
Independent Telephone Association of
Secretary, W. S. Vivian, l'J South
LaSalle St., Chicago.
\ Electric Light Ass. k
iv, Thomas Donahue, Lafayette, I ml.
Indiana State Electrical Contractors'
i I. in. Secretary, George Skilman,
Indianapolis, Ind.
Institute of Operating Engineers. Sec-
retin \, L. Houmiller, 29 West 39th St., New
York.
Institute OF RADIO Engineers. Secre-
tary, E. J, Simon, 71 Broadway, New York.
Internal Combustion Engineers' Asso-
ciation. President, Charles Kratsch, 416
Wesl Indians St., Chicago. Meeting second
Friday oi" each month at Lewis Institute.
iationax Association of Munici-
pal ELECTRICIANS. Secretary, C. R. George,
Houston, Tex.
International Engineering Congress.
/-treasurer, W. A. Cattell, Foxcroft
Building, San Francisco, Cal. Congress,
San Francisco. September.
NATIONAL Ei.ectkote. 'HNIoai, COM-
MISSION (International body representing
various national electrical engineering so-
cieties contributing to its support). General
ry, C. le Maistre, 2S Victoria St.,
nster, London, S. W,, England.
Meeting al San Francisco, Sept. 9-11.
Section, N. E. l. A Secretary, W.
H. Thonis lies .Moines, la. Annual meet-
ing, K.okuk. In.. April 20-L'J.
Iowa Electrical Contractors' Associa-
tion. Secretary, M. T, Humphrey, Water-
loo, la.
Iowa Street and Interurban Railway
Association. Secretary, H. E. We
i nport, la.
Jovian Order. Jupiter (president),
Homer E Nlesz, Chicago, 111.; Mercurj
(secretary), E C. Bennett, Syndicate TTUst
p. illding, si. Louis, Mo.
Kansas Has, Watek. ELECTRIC Licmt ash
Street RAILWAY Association. Seer. I
urer, Ivor Thomas, L'37 South M
w |i hlta, Kan.
1.01 isiana Electrical Contrac-i
bociation. Secretary, J. .1. Zlegler, 221
Bourbon St. Meeting every Wednesday, \u
ilulioii I lull. ling, New Orleans.
.Maine ELECTRIC Association. Si
treasurer, Walter s. Wyman, Watervilte,
M ■
\i lit . Bl i . i in. ASSOC] vii. in. AffUi-
■ii..l with \ E I A. Secretary, Herbert
Silvester, In Washington Boulevard, I>e-
trolt, Mich.
Minnesota Electric Association. Sec-
retary-treasurer. F. A. Otto, St, Paul Gas
Light Companv, St. Paul. Minn. Annual
meeting, St Paul, March 23 26
Mississippi Ki.ectrii \ sociation. Affili-
ated with the National Electric Light Asso-
ciation. Secretary-treasurer, ll F, Wheeler,
llattiesburg. Miss. Annual meet:
. April 1J-14.
Missouri Electric, Gas, Street Railway
and Water Works Association. Secretary-
F, 1 1, Beardsli e, i fnlon Electric
Light A Power Co., SL Louis.
vi. Arm, Pin and Bracket Asso-
ciation. Secretary. J. B. Magers, Madison,
In. I.
National Association of Electrical In-
irer, Wm. L.
Smith, Concord. Mass
Nation I [eating Association.
i ' ill. Greenville, Ohio.
National Electric Light Association.
T. C. Martin, Engi-
Societies Building, 33 Wesl
New Yoik. Annual meeting, San Francisco,
June 7-11.
National Electrical Contractors' As-
. of the United States. Secre-
tary, George H. Duffield, 41 Martin Build-
in--, ii.a, N. Y. Annual meeting, San
Fi ancisco, July 1 8-24.
National Electrical Credit Associa-
tion. Secretary, Frederic P. Vose, 1343
Marquette Building, Chicago.
National Fire Protection Association.
Secretary of electrical committee. Ralph
Sweetland, 141 Milk St.. Huston. Mass
Open meeting, New York. March.
National Independent Telephone Asso-
ciation. Permanent headquarters, Room
10 !. M.I 1 LaSalle, Chicago, 111.
Nebraska Section, N. E. L. A. Secre-
tary-treasurer, S. J. Bell, David City, N. I
New England Electrical Credit Asso-
ciation. Secretary, Alton F. Tupper, 60
Slate St., Boston, Mass.
New England Section. Electric Vehi-
cle Association of America. Secretary,
L. L. Edgar, 39 Boylston St., Boston, Mass.
New England Section. N. E. L. A. Sec-
retary. Miss O. E. Bursiel, 149 Tremont St.,
Boston, Mass.
New Y'ork Electric Railway Associa-
tion. Secretary, Charles C. Dietz, 365 East
21st St., Brooklyn, N. Y.
Northwest Section, N. E. L. A. Seere-
tarv. N. W. Brockett, Pioneer Building.
Seattle, Wash.
Northern White Cedar Association.
Secretary, R. N. Boucher. 743 Lumber Ex-
Change, -Minneapolis, Minn.
Ohio Electric Light Association. Sec-
retary, D. L. Gaskill, Greenville, Ohio.
Ohio Society of Mechanical, Electri-
cal and Steam Engineers. Secretary.
Prof. F. E. Sanborn, Ohio State University.
Columbus, Ohio.
Oregon Electrical Contractors' Asso-
ciation. Secretary-treasurer, .1. W. Ober-
.ii.i.i , ! 'ortland, Ore.
Pennsylvania Electric Association
(State Section N. E. L,. A.). Secretary-
treasurer, H. N. Midler, Pittsburgh, Pa.
Railway Signal Association. Secre-
tary-treasurer, C. E. Rosenberg, Times
Building, Bethlehem, Pa,
SociBTi fob Electrical Development,
General manager, J. M. Wakeman, 29
w . si 39th St., New York. Annual meeting,
New York, May 1 1, 1916,
Society for the Promotion of Enqi-
m i ia \,; I j.i C '. riON. Seeretarv . I lean F. L.
Bishop, University of Pittsburgh, Pitts-
burgh, Pa. Annual meeting, Ames, la.,
June 22-25.
Southeastern Section, N. E. l A,
S. .,-r. ini -v '-treasurer, Geo. H. Wygant,
T imp i. Fla.
Southwestern Electrical and Gas As
bociation, Secretary, li. s. Cooper, 40".
Slaughter Building, Dallas, Tex
Vermont Electrical Association. Sec-
retary-treasurer, C. II. w.si. Rutland, Vt.
Western Association ok Electrical In
Secretary, W. s. Boyd, 76 Wesl
\l..i St., ' 'in. .I.'... 111.
Western Society ... I Bers,
trical Section. Secretary, J. H. Warder,
i Monadnock Block. Chic
Wisconsin Electrical Association. See
retary, George Allison, 1410 First N nal
Banl i luilding, Milwaukee, w Is
384
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 6
Weekly Record of Electrical Patents
UNITED STATES PATENTS ISSUED
JANUARY 26, 1015.
[Prepared by Robert Starr Allyn, 16 Ex-
change Place, New York, N. Y.]
Electric safety appliance ;
t, Bellvale, N. Y. Ap].. Bled
Jan. 2."), 1913. For protecting t(
and like apparatus A electricity.
1,125,947. Indicator for Party-Line Tele-
phones; 10. Bowman, Klmwood, Ontario,
i.pp. filed July 23, 1912.
Sounding device operated when third
party lifts receiver from hook.
Elevator safety Device ; T. T.
Detroit, Mich. App. filed Aug.
118. Prevents car starting before
door is closed.
Switch Support; H. H. Brown,
li . x. J. App. filed March 14. 1914.
steering column supports
horn button adjacent to steering wheel.
1.125.964. Telephone-Exchange System;
S. H. Browne. Pittsburgh, Pa. App. filed
Dec. 19. 1904. Incoming calls grouped
and forwarded to attendants In manner
to be most expeditiously handled by
them.
1.125.965. Automatic Switching System ;
E. H Clark, Austin. 111. App. filed Jan.
20, 190S. Includes main office or offices
supplemented by one or more outlying
"sub-ollices."
1.125.970. Primart Battery; H. Csanyi,
Xew York. X. Y*. App. filed May 14. 1013.
Non-leaking but provided with a vent.
1.123.971. Ignition Apparatus for Inter-
nal Combustion Encines ; I. J. Daily,
Indianapolis, Ind. App. filed Jan. 21,
1913. Furnishes spark at any speed so
that battery for starting can be dis-
pensed with.
1,125,997. Selective Signaling System ;
J. C. Field. Orange, N. J. App. filed
Aug. 23, 1912. Special condenser com-
bination.
1,126.007. Electric Signaling Apparatus
Circuits; E. B. Herzog (deceased).
New York, X. Y. App. filed April S, 18S9.
For use in hotels, etc.
1,126,009. Selective Signaling Device; R.
X. Hill, Montclair, N. J. App. riled
Aug. 7, 1912. Has novel arrangement
of circuit-closing ratchet wheel.
1,126,016. Electric-Current Economizer;
W. L. tmlay, New Y'ork, N. Y. App filed
Jan. 2, 1914. Includes a brush carried
by a rotarv member and movable into
contact with distributer only upon attain-
ment of proper speed.
1,126,027. Apparatus for Detecting Pipe
Leads or Other Metallic Masses Em-
in Masonry: M. Jullig. Vienna.
igary. App. tiled Nov. -'•"'.
I in hides opposing coils acting in-
ductively on each other.
1,126,043. Circuit Controller; A. C LlV-
ermore, Edgewood Borough, Pa. App.
filed March 12, 1913. Contact finger is
positively locked in any one of its three
positions.
1,136,046. Tf.i.ei i ■ ' , F. It. Me-
x. v. Rochelle, N. Y. App. Bled
J7, 1908. Combines tl
features of the automatic system ami of
the manual system (fifty-two Clal
l,12fi. "17. Tki.f.pii,.nf.-E\,iianc.e System;
i R McBerty, New Rochelle, N. T. App
lil.d Nov. 16, 1909. Control of automatic
selectoi
1,136,048 Switching Appa-
atus ; !•' R. McBertl . New I
x. v. App. Bled i !
IS illlsl.
1.1: ['Transmission System
w Mo U'l'. filed
i transmission acting
clutch.
1,121 .Tlill rilAl.l.Y RSOULATBD
POWER Transmission System; W. Mor-
\pp. tile, i Sep)
IgnetlC ClUtCh assisted
entrlfugally operating mechanical
ments.
1,131 ! ■ W,
tpp. filed
ors of Ihe
gully operating friction-clutch i
. 109 Metal
Up ttllollcli nozzle IntO
Switch :
. Pittsburgh. Pa. App Hied
i by trolley of
K car.
Transmitting apparatus for
:ini Signals; J. SctaleMtar. VI-
enna, Austria-Hungary. App. filed May
number of compara-
tively weak syntonized separate impulses
cmplov. ■ 1 waves sent
simultaneously with the sound waves.
1 126,122. Electric-Railway Safety Sys-
' Tim ; M. Strang, Tecumseh, Mich App.
filed July 29, 1913. Sections of third
rail are segregated in case of danger.
1 126 143 Resilient Driving I
'tion; J. E. Webster. Pittsburgh. P
filed May 27. 1912. Between motor and
car wheel of street cars.
1 I2i; 145 SIGNAL Apparatus: W. H. Wells
and J. R. McCumber, Victoria, Va. App.
filed Feb. 28, 1914. For giving "stop-
over" signals to engineer ; alarm sounds
when stop-over station is reached.
1 126 163 System of Electric-Motor Con-
'trol; W. Cooper, Pittsburgh. Pa. App.
filed Dec. 21, 1910. Arrangement of ac-
celerating switches.
1 136,173 Telephone-Exchange System:
J L Wright, Cleveland, Ohio. App. filed
Nov. 13, 1907. Semi-automatic.
1.126.17S. Train-Signal System ; W. E.
Benn, McAdam Junction, New Brunswick,
Canada. App. filed Jan. 30, 1914. Air-
brake hose sections carry the conductors.
1 126,184. Automatic-Storage Battery
' Lighting System ; C. A. Dawley, Plain-
field, N. .1. App. filed March 14, 1913.
For maintaining constant voltage on ex-
ternal circuit.
1,126,193. Spring-Jack ; O. M. Glunt, Ruth-
erford, N. J. App. filed Aug. 28, 1913.
Rigid, compact and readily attached con-
struction.
1 126,198. Control System for Electric
Motors ; A. J. Hall. Wilklnsburg, Pa.
App. filed Feb. 17, 1913. Pneumatically
operated multiple-unit type.
I 136,199. Fire-Alarm Transmitter; W.
R. Hamilton, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
App. filed April 12, 1913. Single trans-
mitter for both the alarm and trouble
signals.
1,126,200. Fire-Alarm Transmitter Move-
ment YV. R Hamilton, Montreal, Quebec,
Canada. App. filed April 12, 1913. Has
two tripping magnets of different resist-
ances.
1126,206. Railway Signaling System;
L. A. Hawkins. Schenectady. X. Y. App.
filed Nov. 8, 1911. Alternating
normal danger system with minimum
number of live wires.
i 126 211. Process and Means for Secur-
' ing Metallic Coats on Ceramic sur-
faces; L. Heller, Teplitz, Austria-Hun-
gary. App. filed March 24, 1914. Metal
elec'trodeposited on graphite composition
coating.
1,126,221. Switch-Latching Mechanism:
E H Jacobs, Schenectady. N. Y App.
filed Aug. 19, 1911. Rotatable actuating
shaft locked in either switch-closed or
switch-open position.
1 126 266. Igniting System : H. c, 0
Pittsburgh. Pa. App. Bled May 22, 1911.
Dual spark-generating equipment
67 i iiti.et Fixture : 11. T
Philadelphia, Pa. App. filed Aug
i-,ii attaching snap switches, etc., to con-
dull fixtures,
i 126 272 Signal; a. <;. Remhllt, Philadel-
phia, P "'■■'•• v'-
Ignal.
\i , I i:'. \ , ,
. i n , i' w Roll'
\ I \|,|, tiled Jan.
over wide
Batteri \ i. Baits-
man, East Orange, N. J.
i i, i9i ■ \n elements Buspendi
>i jar.
• ; B
ctady, x. y \pp filed July
, dynamic brake.
nectady,
\ J \,,,, filed .lui'. 17, I
: lej and J. B
in. App, filed June
1 1 v
■ ing S3 n-
, iling on Sim
Pass for ;
ip circuits . E and N. R.
v. England App filed Dec
26, 1913. Applied to the base of the
1,126,394. Electric Cord Plug; T. F.
Clark, West Hoboken, X. J. App. filed
June 27, 1914. The two parts of the
base interlock by transverse movement.
1,136,423. Storage Battery; R. Dram-
bourg and J. E. Reid, New York. N. Y.
App. Bled June 19, 1913. Single-cell
battery of almost unlimited voltage.
1,136,434. Controller for Electric Cir-
cuits : A. F. Feller, Berkeley, Cal. App.
riled Dec. 9, 1913. For gas machii
compressors and the like.
,455. Electric Snap Switch: H. H.
Hansen, Chicago, 111. App. filed Jan. 11,
1912. Indicating dial structure.
1,136,459. Block-Signal System; L. A.
Hawkins, Schenectady, N. \". App. filed
Nov. 26, 1909. Alternating current: re-
duced number of live wires.
1.126.4S3. Relay and Method of Oper-
ating Same; C. Kinsley, Chicago, III.
App. filed Aug. 30, 1909. For high-speed
telegraphy.
1,136,494. Electric Switch: M. Levison.
Chicago, 111. App. filed July 17. 1911.
For signaling from bedside of hospital
patient.
1,126,546. Brush Holder: E. Mattman,
Norwood, Ohio. App. filed July 27, 1906.
Brush resilientlv held against commuta-
tor.
1,126,594. Rotor for Motors; W. G. Viall.
Bridgeport, Conn. App. filed March 9,
1912. Stamped up from sheet metal.
1,126. 60S. Toy Railway: P. H. Woodruff,
Chicago, 111. App. filed March 4. 1912.
Operates by attraction between magnet
on car and magnetic elements on track.
1,126,620. Electric Regulation; J. L.
Creveling, New Y'ork, X. Y. App. filed
Jan. 30, 1911. Charging storage bat-
teries.
1 126,623. Alternating-Current Block
Signal System : C D. Ehret, Ardmore.
Pa. App. filed Feb. 11, 1905. Employing
commutatorless motors.
1,126,627. Process for Electrolyzing
Alkali-Chloride Solution ; YV. Gaus,
Ludwigshafen - on - the - Rhine, Germany.
App. filed Nov. 11. 1912. Electrolyte
passed through vertical filter dia-
phraghms from anode to cathode.
1 126 641. Method of Electric Signaling ;
' C Kinsley, Chicago. 111. App. filed Feb.
2. 1903. High-speed telegraphy.
1126,642. System of Telegraphic Com-
' munication : C Kinsley, Chicago, 111.
App filed Nov. 26, 1907. Combines me-
chanical printing telegraph with chemical
recorder.
1 126 655. Method of Uniting Sheets of
' Brass. Aluminum and Other Metals
of High Conductivity for Heat ; N.
Prostier, Berlin, Germany. App. filed
Nov 11, 1918, Melts or fuses the metals
together under an electrode pressure of
about 66 lb.
Method of charging Storage
'Batteries; D. H. Wilson, Ridgewood,
X ,1 App. Bled July 17. 1913. Reduces
the charging time of batteries having
low resistance leading-in wires in their
plates.
L 126,666 Method OF CHARGING S
'Batteries; D. H. Wilson. Meadville, Pa.
App. filed April 24. 1911. Heavy current
during charging avoids "forming" action
unt deterioration.
, r, row Storaos
meadville, Pa.
An, filed May 6, 1911. Heavy charging
current
i 136 668 APPARATUS for Charging Stor-
, ,-. -lies , D, H. Wilson, Rldi
\m. tiled xov. 21. fell. Time-
oiled means to step current from
,,, down from higher to lower
amounts.
APPARATUS FOR CHAROTM
n sn b i'H Wilson. Rid
N .i \,,|, flled Xov. 21. 1911. Auto-
reaiBtance d<
1 136.670 Apparatus for charging Stor-
age Batteries D. H. Wilson R dee-
med Nov 21. 1911.
■ nlr, died means for progressively
Charging the battery.
1136,671 Storvc.e Battery . D II
wood, N. J. App filed Nov. 31.
I'M l Rigid construction and cal
being charged by abnormally heavy
i rent.
rRIC-LAMF FlXTI I
indy, Troy, x v App. fii;d June
i ins.
b-.NITIoN 1>YN Ul„ I C T
' Sumter. S C API' filed July 26. 1913.
pllfled construction
Electrical World
ti nsolldation ol World and Bnoinskh and Ambbican Elsctbician.
Published bj McGraw Publishing Company, I
Vol. 65
\i:\\ YORK, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 13 1915
No. 7
Co-operation That Is Not Combination
PRESIDENT WILSON'S promise to promote legal-
ized approval of united action on foreign trade
appear- to real on the discovery of "a method of co-
operation which is not a method of combination." With
all other industries, so long as co-operation on export
business is not encouraged the electrical manufacturing
industry is under an irremovable handicap in attempts
to develop overseas commerce. When the Executive
goes so far as to state that the problem is not to avoid
doing the thing but to find a way of doing it that shall
refrain from offending public sentiment, he steps for-
ward with seven-league boots. What is really needed
for permanent destruction of this insistent, vexatious
obstacle is not only an administrative interpretation
of policy that shall be permissive but a law to tell busi-
ness men plainly that they can go ahead without danger
of prosecution on civil or criminal charges. If a later
President or Attorney-General should begin suits, and
the indicted offenders claim only "co-operation," the
courts will act independently if the arrangement proves
to be a "combination" in any inhibited sense. If Presi-
dent Wilson will give sympathetic support to a definite
movement to place our manufacturers on an equal foot-
ing with European manufacturers by permitting united
action in whatever form may be made clearly legal, he
will effectively further foreign trade.
Investigating Automobiles and Libraries
THUS far the New York legislative investigating
committee has not brought out leading facts to
show that the Public Service Commission, First Dis-
trict, is either effective or ineffective. To hear that
rapid-transit facilities are inadequate does not startle
New Yorkers. Daily experiences harden them to a
point of view that up-State visitors do not understand.
New York City could have had more facilities years ago,
but it procrastinated. Now the agreed-upon improve-
ments are being pushed earnestly. Until they are in
operation it is difficult to increase service. By his own
testimony the chairman of the commission has traveled
in official automobiles to his Long Island country home
and to baseball games. If no other public servant had
ever done this, the selfish folly of it would be startling;
but in common practice automobiles go with jobs. That
the public has slight conception of the usual facts is
shown by daily newspaper display of Judge McCall's
jaunts. It has also been shown that the chairman gave
time to private law practice. Probably the develop-
ments assure the political effect on the public that the
investigators, who have a purpose, want to accomplish.
If this were not so, they would not continue as they
have been doing, nor would they talk about the "seven-
thousand-dollar library of the commission which costs
in salaries $5,000 a year." The value of the library
rests in the classification and use of the fine collection
of books, pamphlets and articles. If this helps the com-
missioners, it is necessary. Whatever the committee
may do later, it is evident that in the first hearings only
a partial case has been made.
Economy in New-Business Methods
NOTWITHSTANDING the industrial effects of the
war, some large central-station companies in
this country continued in 1914 to make a good showing.
Combined operating revenues of the Edison Electric
Illuminating Company of Brooklyn and the Kings
County Electric Light & Power Company gained 10.5
per cent over 1913. The annual report indicates that
the experience of these properties was the common lot
of central stations in districts that did not suffer such
undue depression as fell upon the South. Rate of
growth was reduced, economies were introduced, and
extraordinary efforts were made to get new business.
Although expenses of the two companies named were
so much higher as to absorb most of the increase in
gross and the aggregate dividend payments were larger,
the surplus was only a little below the previous year.
The number of contracts signed increased 15.6 per cent,
which is a conclusive demonstration of activity in new-
business solicitation. The lesson which these figures
offer is that the best economy for a growing business
in a large community lies in redoubled energies for busi-
ness to replace the load that drops away in times of
business depression. This policy is not only more
profitable immediately but it also means strengthened
diversity of load for the future.
The Call of the West
OF the many reasons why a trip to the Pacific (oast
next June will well repay those making it, the com-
ing convention of the National Electric Light Associa-
tion is only one. While that in itself were enough, there
is the magnificent exposition on the shores of San Fran-
cisco Hay as an added incentive. More interesting than
both, however, especially to the central-station mana-
ger and operator of the East, is the great West itself,
with its men of vision, its pioneers of industry and
progress, its great transmission systems and its inten-
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 7
sive loads. Instances of courage, stamina and grit
abound in practically every community on the Pacific
slope. There years ago engineers saw with eyes of
faith the development of the great tracts lying between
the mountains and the sea and extended long lines over
desert lands to distant and infantile town sites little
more than map-born. Events have justified the visions
of the seers, and all along the coast and in the fertile
valleys back of it electric arteries and veins course
through cities, towns and villages as nowhere else in
this country. California herself uses more electricity
per capita than any other state in the Union, and her
power systems have load-factors easily twice as large
as those possessed by generating systems in the East.
Her irrigation loads are immense, and there are few
houses along the great stretch of coast line wherein the
advantages of electricity are not known. These are the
bare bones of fact; the pulsating, vital tissue must be
seen, for the West is an inspiration that few can afford
to miss. There the power of the melting snowflake on
the Sierras has been utilized to the full to lift the load
resting on human shoulders.
Progress in Synthetic Illumination
For some years the production of "fast" colors of
the highest purity has been the objective of investiga-
tors in the field of synthetic illumination, and the real-
ization of this desideratum, as outlined by Mr. M. R.
Pervear before the New England Section of the Illumi-
nating Engineering Society, is cause for genuine con-
gratulation. A real advance seems to have been made
over what has hitherto stood for the best practice in the
production of color filters.
The work has involved long and arduous examina-
tions of dyestuffs and other color-making chemicals in
the search for primary color coatings which will with-
stand the heat of the lamp without peeling or fading
during the life of the lamp, and which meet one final
test of color purity through their complete opacity to
light transmission when superimposed. By means of
these colors innumerable blends and tints can be ob-
tained by rheostatic variation of the lamp brilliancy,
combined with the diluting effect of white light. It is
becoming apparent that we are on the threshold of a
world of luminous beaut] comparable in some degree to
the appeal of harmonious sounds to the ear, and the
possibilities of appealing to the eye through Bynthetic
illumination are worthy of serious study.
It would li.' idle to claim that finality has been at-
tained in color synthesis, and yet enough has been done
to Indicate valuable new lines of development commer-
cially on the basis of the tungsten lamp. Show-window-
lighting can be almost revolutionized by the use of
proper!} designed coloi i hemes in lamps and Alters
and of automat i and switching mechanism.
It has long been reab/ed by Illuminating engineers that
theater property men and electricians have made splen-
did use of rather crude material in the past, but now
there are available possibilities of color tone gradation
and approximations of natural lighting conditions hith-
erto not readily attainable. Improvements in stage-
lighting control are being developed to reduce the labor
cost of lighting a performance artistically, and even the
types of reflectors used in border and strip lighting
are being overhauled in the interests of more even
light distribution. Progress in the manufacture of ar-
tistic fixtures and filters is placing electric lighting on
a new plane, and each new form of equipment introduces
fresh possibilities of useful and stimulating service.
Panama-Pacific Exposition Illumination
We publish in this issue an illustrated article on the
remarkable and unique lighting effects obtained at the
Panama-Pacific International Exposition, to give it its
somewhat long formal title, which will be officially
opened on Feb. 20, 1915. The illumination of exposi-
tions is a branch of the art which stands to some extent
alone. It resembles stage lighting more than any other,
in that it is concerned with effects rather than with
magnitudes, with harmony in intensity and color rather
than with foot-candles. Following old Spanish prece-
dents, which fortunately still linger on our Western
coast, the buildings at San Francisco are distinctive in
that free use has been made of color in both the archi-
tecture and the scheme of decoration. Just why color
in architecture should have been somewhat under the
ban it is difficult to understand. Saracen and Moor
used it with effects which have been the wonder of the
East, and of Europe wherever in the Dark Ages the
Eastern civilization touched it with light. So the pres-
ent exposition buildings are rich in color, and the light-
ing scheme has been planned to make the colors effec-
tive by night as well as by day.
Unquestionably the distinctive feature of the illumi-
nation of the Exposition is that the buildings are lighted
and are not merely outlined or decorated with lamps.
The major portion of the illumination is obtained from
concealed sources, the purpose being to bring out by
night the architectural features of the splendid struc-
tures that have been erected. Hence a very extensive
use has been made of search-lanterns and reflector
lamps of various kinds to flood the buildings with light
in such a way as to give the utmost value to their deco-
ration without dazzling the spectator by the blaze from
the light sources themselves. Here and there where
lamp standards possessed a distinctive decorative value
the] were used without hesitation, as, for example, in
two tine illuminated columns which form the bases to
great fountains.
Perhaps the most unusual and distinctive novelty in
the illuminating effects is the Tower of Jewels. This
main tower. 486 ft high, is decorated with colored
jewels of special glass cut in facets and so suspended as
lo tremble in the wind and thus give additional sparkle
to the light retl. 'cted from them. There are more than
100,000 Of these glittering points of color, which are
illuminated at night by fifty 18-in. and four 80-in.
li lanterns placed on the roofs of various build-
February 13, li>15
ELECTRICAL WORLD
387
ing> and so hidden u to Bet the tower ablaze with light
when they are put into service. Use is also made of a
battery of forty-eight 36-in. Bearch-lanterna fitted for
color effects to play upon a Bcreen of steam, forming a
veritable aurora of li^'ht u a background to the Exposi-
tion proper and repeating with enhanced beauty the
spectacular illumination so notable at the Hudson-
Fulton celebration. Altogether the lighting of the Ex-
position is such as could have been produced only by
co-operation between a master of the art of illumi-
nation and architects and decorators inspired by real
genius for form and color.
Power Records on Machine Tools
In a short article in the current issue are given
some very valuable hints regarding the use of graphic
wattmeters as indicators not only of the power con-
sumption but also of the efficient use of motor-driven
tools. The particular operation here studied was the
turning to dimensions of the rough casting for a 12-in.
projectile. A brief inspection of the data given will
show that the power record marks out in the plainest
possible manner any failure to utilize the tool to the
best advantage. In principle the speed and feed should
be so adjusted as to produce a steady load while taking
off the metal at the best pace possible. If the power
falls off, it is clear that the amount of cutting per min-
ute might be increased and should be if the tool will
withstand the treatment. Within this limitation the
power chart taken from the tool gives much important
information concerning the way in which that tool
should be used, and also furnishes a complete record of
the time in which the tool is not doing work. In other
words, it shows all the time necessarily or unnecessar-
ily taken off from the period of actual cutting. A lit-
tle experience in the making and interpretation of such
power charts should materially increase the output ef-
ficiency of the various motor-driven tools employed.
The plan described is worth following out, for it seems
both simple and effective.
Mercury Watt-Hour Meter
In the ordinary type of mercury-motor watt-hour
meter a rotatable disk immersed in mercury serves as
the moving element of the meter, and the line current,
or a fixed proportion of it, passes through the disk. The
mercury serves as a means of making contact between
the disk and the external circuit, and also supports the
weight of this disk and shaft, or at least a part of this
weight. The field coils, which are connected across the
line, set up a magnetic field in the disk at right angles
to the direction of the current through the disk, and the
reaction of this field on the current in the disk produces
the rotation.
The watt-hour meter described by Mr. A. A. Radtke
on page 395 of this issue is identical in principle with
the ordinary type of mercury-motor watt-hour meter,
the only difference being that in Mr. Radtke's type the
current is caused to pass through the disk in a direction
perpendicular to the plane of the disk and the mag-
netic field is parallel to this plane, whereas in the ordi-
nary type the current is parallel to, and the field per-
pendicular to, the plane of the disk. The advantage,
if any, gained by interchanging the directions of the
current and field relative to the disk is not altogether
apparent. Mr. Radtke's meter, like the ordinary mer-
cury meter, can be used on alternating-current as well
as on direct-current circuits, but, owing to the large
cross-section of the current path, the "skin effect" in
the disk will certainly be pronounced. This would tend
to make the reading of the meter much more sensitive
to changes in frequency than is the ordinary mercury
type, and would, of course, make a direct-current cali-
bration useless for alternating-current working. The
ordinary mercury type as an alternating-current watt-
hour meter leaves much to be desired, and it is not im-
probable that this new type would be still less satis-
factory as an alternating-current instrument.
Filling Up the Load Curve
A note in the Digest contains some useful sugges-
tions which may be of service to energy-transmission
companies. The Prussian State Railway Department,
operating a large electric railway, announces itself as
anxious to furnish 30,000,000 kw-hr. per year to pri-
vate consumers under certain specified regulations. The
important feature is the schedule of prices arranged on
the basis of off-hour use of the service. There are two
proposed schedules, one of which permits the taking of
energy at any time but with a 50 per cent increase in
rate for energy consumed between 6.30 a. m. and 10
p. m. The rates are low enough in any case, 0.4 cent
per kw-hr. for the night load and 0.6 cent for the day
load, but the difference is enough to encourage the use
of energy during the hours of low price. The consumer
has to agree that he will take a certain minimum num-
ber of kilowatt-hours per year within a certain maxi-
mum power for which an automatic limiting device is
applied. From the stated price a discount is then al-
lowed depending not on the total energy consumed but
on the ratio of consumption to maximum, encouraging
thereby the utilization of the energy at the most favor-
able load-factor.
A second form of contract involves the sale of energy
at certain hours, the no-load hours being specified in
the agreements with separate consumers. This form
enables the central station to take on loads at certain
times when customers can be found who deem it prac-
ticable to agree to this limitation. The prices quoted in
this case, however, are very low, so that the consumer
has a considerable incentive to arrange his use of the
energy, if possible, to fit the station requirements.
Selling energy from railway transmission lines is, of
course, not a novelty, the essential point of the pres-
ent instance being the careful fitting of the rate schedule
to insure the obtaining of an off-peak load which the
station can well afford to carry at a low price.
388
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 7
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Weakness of Steel Towers
To the Editor of the Electrical World:
Sir: — Referring to the letter by Mr. B. Haskell on
"Weakness in Steel Towers" in your issue of Jan. 23,
and assuming that the line in question, which we will
call line A, is correctly identified by the writer, it should
be noted that the greatest extent of failure was in flex-
ible structures (A frames), and not in steel poles or
steel towers. The writer understands that there was no
failure in a steel pole (or semi-flexible structure), and
that the failure of certain steel towers (or rigid struc-
tures) was due not to any inherent weakness in the gen-
eral type of structure but to a possible lack of strength,
or guys, for the unusual conditions of load encountered.
One hesitates to believe that an installation of this
character was built of re-rolled material. Such grades
of steel are, as Mr. Haskell assumes, prohibited in bridge
and building specifications and in the various building
codes. In addition to the irregularity in the strength of
re-rolled material, such steel is very difficult to fabri-
cate, and under the ordinary methods of fabrication in
such work would be liable to injury.
The writer believes that in almost every instance in
which steel transmission-line structures of the better
classes have failed the trouble was due more to faulty
design than to poor material or workmanship.
In the case of a line which we will call line B failure
was due to the absence of adequate guys or stiffening
structures, while in line C the weakness was confined
to the corner supports. In both of these cases there
were contributing causes, such as inadequate or tem-
porarily weakened foundations, but the installation of
a proper system of guys would unquestionably have ren-
dered any of the above structures more nearly adequate
to withstand its maximum loading.
R. D. Coombs,
New York, N. Y. Consulting Engineer.
National Electrical Week
To the Editor of the Electrical World:
Sir: — With reference to the proposed "electrical
week" to be observed all over the country in October,
1915, please be advised that I think this is a splendid
idea. I have discussed the matter with our sales man-
ager, his assistants and a number of our staff, and I
feel sure that the Dayton Power & Light Company in
its whole district can be counted upon to co-operate
igly in this movement. It should result in a
tremendous activity and impetus to the electric light
and power business throughout the country. We shall
be interested in noticing what progress is made looking
toward carrying this matter to a successful conclusion,
and shall plan for the early carrying out of the details
necessary to make it a great success. F. M. Tait,
Dayton, Ohio. ''" tyton Potsar
To thi Editor of the ELECTRICAL WORLD:
Sir: l read with much Interest of the proposed "na-
tional electrical week" in your issue dated Jan. 30.
About six months ago I wrote to Mr. Ell C. Bennett, who
is in charge of the commercial division of the Jovian
order, st. Louis, to the National Electric Vehicle A
nation and to Beveral others, suggesting thai b n
ment be started to have "Jovian Day," Sept. 16 of each
celebrated by aU electrical Interests, to be known
ei ition ■ ■
men led me to believe that all news-
papers in the United States would be glad to issue an
electrical edition on that occasion, reviewing the prog-
ress and development during the past year. The edition
would also naturally contain an unusual amount of elec-
trical advertising. I further suggested that on that day
an electric vehicle parade be held and the vehicle own-
ers be induced to participate by prizes which would be
awarded by the central stations, and that all of the firms
engaged in the electrical business display appropriate
pennants.
Whether it is decided to have an electrical day or an
electrical week, I believe I can safely say that all elec-
trical interests in Louisville are ready to co-operate in
the movement and help to make it a great success.
Robert Montgomery,
Louisville, Ky.
ii magi r Commi rcial Di poi tmenl
Louisvilh o'"s (I Eli
To the Editor of the Electrical World:
Sir: — The proposed "electrical week" movement
should appeal to everyone in the electrical fraternity.
The Jovian Order is a magnificent means of promot-
ing it. I believe the co-operation of all the electrical
workers can be enlisted toward a splendid success. The
celebration of this week would soon become a yearly
event looked forward to by all the "live ones" in the
electrical line. The plan is most interesting and should
prove highly successful. Oscar C. Turner,
Birmingham, Ala. Preri* lectric
Supply Company.
Rural Meter Service
To the Editor of the Electrical World:
Sir: — In connection with your article entitled "Meter
Practice on Rural Electric-Service Lines" it may be of
interest to note that for the past two years the Malone
Light & Power Company has required the village cus-
tomer to provide the necessary wiring so that the
meters can be placed on the piazza, and the rural-line
customer to provide wiring for installing the meter
either on the piazza or in the barn. The registration of
the meters has been found to be just as exact in these
localities as when installed inside. The meters installed
in the above-mentioned places are equipped with glass
covers, although the thermometer often registers from
20 deg. to 40 deg. below zero in this section of the
country. S. G. Hunter,
Malone N. Y. Intendent Malone Light .f
Poio< r Company
Old-House-Wiring Campaign
To the Editor of the Electrical World:
Sir: — We have in service over 20,000 meters, of which
approximately 12,000 are for residential customers.
Statistics have placed residential connections for the
average central station at approximately 10 per cent of
the total number in the community, and it is hardly pos-
sible that our figures are much, if any. better.
If the statistics be true, we have within the limita-
tions of our territory 100,000 prospective electrical con-
sumers. I have previously estimated that there are
within the territory we serve From 10,000 to 50,000 un-
wired houses, which seems conservative enough if the
former more carefully prepared statistics are to be re-
lied upon.
.Many owners of property are represented in our esti-
mate of possibly 50.000 houses and without doubl Can
be interested in the wiring of their property. Some of
it is logically business that ought to be ours to-day; the
UN 13, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
389
houses are somewhat better than the average and should
be wired for electric light. When these houses were
built electric light was in its infancy and provisions
were not made for using electricity, and to-day the
owners of the hornet have no inducement to encourage
wiring and the expenditure necessary to equip electri-
cally ia a serious handicap t<> all but the more prosper-
ous. Flu- latter class are represented in our connections
from time to time in straggling numbers, but some-
thing is needed to awaken the interest of those less
favored with the world's goods.
Electricity is fast becoming a public necessity. Its
manifold uses and many conveniences are being sought
out by the housekeeper to-day, and the opportunity to
Dee it ia being demanded of the landlords. That they,
too, recognize the trend of public opinion is borne out
by the great percentage of new houses erected during
the past two years that have been equipped for our
service. Some inducements of cheaper wiring and
fixtures or a time proposition on wiring must be made
before any progress is noticeable in increasing our per-
centage of residential connections among the present
unwired class. Aside from the question of the rela-
tively small proportion of unwired houses in our terri-
tory, there seems to be some justification for the con-
sideration of the subject of house wiring by central-
station interests, and that is the seeming lack of any-
thing like standardized prices on the part of the con-
tracting interests for work of this kind. In marked con-
trast to this, owing to keener competition and standard-
ized method, are the prices quoted on new-house work.
We prosper by one class of business and "mope along"
by the other.
Success attending such campaigns has been marked
wherever they have been instituted, as is shown by the
record of connections made. The conditions in Provi-
dence are not different from those elsewhere. What has
been successful in one community should be successful
here. If houses can be wired successfully in Europe
with the concentric system, there is no question but that
the same thing can be done in this country. On the
whole, our conditions generally are similar to theirs.
This class of business is desirable to central stations and
■electrical contractors and may be made extremely prof-
itable by the installation of lamp-socket devices, which
are daily becoming more popular and are invariably in-
tended for day-load or off-peak use.
A possible ultimate return of only $12 each per year
from 20 per cent of the available prospective customers
would yield the tidy sum of $237,000 per annum. This
at least, at the lowest calculation, is our prospect. The
possible return is an amount large enough and attrac-
tive enough to outweigh any of the disadvantages such
a campaign might possess and great enough to yield a
net return of sufficient proportions to recompense us
amply for all expense incurred. I believe that this fig-
ure is an ultimate future possibility — not this year, or
even the next year, but I do believe it not unreasonable
or impossible of achievement.
Experience of central stations in England in this field
should serve as a very important guide for the com-
panies in this country. We are indeed fortunate in
being able to profit by such large experiences on the
other side.
To my mind the whole matter simmers down to a
lack of appreciation on the part of the contractors of the
latent possibilities of the unwired-residence field. The
majority have been unable, and still are unwilling, to see
the opportunities before them, and are not satisfied with
a smaller margin of profit per contract secured for this
<:lass of work.
The vast majority of the "little fellows" in the busi-
ness world are content to "mope along" from one year
to another, obtaining a decent living from their business
and a fair yearly increase in the volume transacted.
Occasionally one arises with a broader conception of
his possibilities than his fellow merchants, one who de-
sires a large volume of business, frequent turnovers of
his stock, and is content with a small margin of profit.
He reduces his overhead charges, systematizes his busi-
makes former wastes yield a profit, and sets a pace
the "little fellow" is unable to follow. He is the suc-
cessful man in his line, and it ia his type that has
evolved the "chain-of-stores" idea, the one who devel-
ops until finally he comes to be referred to as a "trust."
There are, I believe, as great opportunities among the
contracting interests as there have been in other lines
already developed to a high degree, but the man of the
hour has not yet made his presence felt. Who will be
the Moses of the contracting field?
E. R. Davenport,
Providence, R. I. Sales Vanager Narraganaett
Electric Lighting Company.
Possible Dangers of Concentric Wiring
To the Editor of the Elf.ctrical World:
Sir: — The proposed "Stannos" or concentric wiring
system, now being advocated by the National Electric
Light Association and certain manufacturers of elec-
trical generating and central-station apparatus, not only
presents important problems affecting the hazards of
life and fire but, if adopted, bids fair seriously to dis-
turb many lines of manufacture.
As to the merits of the system, it would be difficult
at this time to deal very specifically with them, as noth-
ing definite has yet been proposed.
The proposed system presents three probable sources
of danger to life and property :
I 1 ) Danger of electric shock, due to personal con-
tact with the bare conductor of a supposedly grounded
system where the ground connection has been omitted
or improperly made and where the central conductor has
become accidentally grounded, or where the continuity
of the return conductor has been broken.
(2) Danger of fire, due to poor connections between
adjacent lengths of return conductor, cracks around the
conductor where kinked or otherwise damaged, or to
short-circuits caused by accidental damage to insulation
because of the light wall of conductor.
(3) Danger to iron structures and piping systems,
due to electrolytic action.
If the return conductor, which in most cases would
be exposed, is properly installed, with all joints and
grounds properly made, the danger from shock would
be less than in the present system; but if a wireman
failed to make the ground connection, or made it im-
properly, the danger to life would be greatly increased.
The fire hazard, involving life hazard as well, would be
confined more largely to the wire itself and the wiring
connections, and this would naturally depend much upon
the character of the return conductor and the means
provided for making connections with it.
I believe that considerable danger resides in the use
nt the proposed concentric wire in which the return
conductor consists of a light copper tube surrounding
the insulation. It is only natural to suppose that in
practice this wire would receive a good many kinks in
being handled, and that these kinks would be straight-
ened out by the wiremen and the wire be installed with-
out close inspection to determine whether this conductor
was cracked at the point where it had been bruised or
kinked. If suspended by staples or held by nails, as
would sometimes be the case, some of these weak places
would be likely to open up, owing to vibration, and to
390
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 7
cause an imperfect contact, resulting in an arc, with the
danger of starting fire or at least destroying the wire.
Setting a staple too tight might often partially cut the
conductor, or a misblow of the hammer might seriously
damage it. In many cases there would be no means of
replacing the wire, if plastered in or concealed, as has
been advocated. It would be impossible for an inspector
to know that the wires were run in perfectly good con-
dition, as such defects become apparent only after the
system has been in use for some time.
The question of electrolysis is one that should receive
careful consideration from those competent to judge in
such matters. It would appear that the ground return
system would inevitably increase the trouble from this
source.
It should not be forgotten that the more simple the
installation of a system the more likelihood there is of
its being installed by inexperienced people, and in spite
of any restrictions which may be placed upon the instal-
lation of such a system in the early stages or at any
future time, so long as the devices are on the market
and are cheaper than devices previously used, they will
be purchased and installed by the public without regard
for rules.
Is it not almost certain that in a great many cases
extensions of concentric wire and fittings will be made
in existing ungrounded installations and many new cir-
cuits run without any attempt to ground? The flexi-
bility of the wire would suggest to the amateur, as well
as the electrician, the convenience of running it con-
cealed by "fishing." In our judgment, the use of this
system, if once introduced, cannot be controlled, and
hence if it is unsafe for concealed work it should not
be placed on the market.
The concerns that would be most likely to be detri-
mentally affected by the adoption of such a system ap-
pear to be numerous manufacturers of wire and elec-
trical and mechanical devices used in distributing sys-
tems. Some of these manufacturers would, temporarily
at least, be affected greatly.
The disposition of the manufacturers generally ap-
pears to be to have the system thoroughly studied and
considered to determine whether or not it represents a
real advance in the art before it is permitted to be put
into service to any extent. Such consideration, in order
to be effective, should extend over a considerable period
of time. If the system should then be proved to be
reliable and desirable, due public notice should be given
by the Underwriters as to the date upon which the ap-
proval will go into effect, ample time being allowed for
the manufacturers who would be affected by such a
radical departure from present standards to adjust their
business to the new conditions. I believe that such
careful consideration would require approximately two
years' time, and if the system be passed upon favor-
ably by the electrical committee of the Underwriters,
another year's time should be given to the manufac-
turers in which to prepare for the change.
If the concentric system should be adopted, it would
seem appropriate to place the responsibility for making
proper ground connections upon the central station, and
in order to eliminate as far as possible the danger to
life due to the unauthorized use of concentric wire, it
would appear desirable that all circuits in all buildings
be thoroughly grounded and solidly connected without
iii the return conductors. This would be
equivalent to grounding the secondaries of all '<
form i
The use of this system would require a large line of
new fittings. W'hich would replace very many of those
now in the market, insulating joints for lamp circuits
would di appear; ti 1 nr 1 i ncrl socket- w.iilil lie replaced
with cheaper forms; present forms of outlet b
would yield to more convenient forms; fuse boxes and
panelboards would become single-pole, with no fuses
for the neutral conductor.
The advocates of the concentric system state that
they are not necessarily working for the adoption of
this particular system, but for some system that will
cheapen the cost of installation and thereby make it
possible for the central stations to secure a large in-
crease in load by obtaining customers who are unable
to pay the present price for wiring their buildings. It
occurs to me that, since the cost of installation is a
small item as compared with the cost of energy and
charges often made by central stations for bringing
the service to the buildings, unless some suitable re-
duction is made in the rates the new system will not
bring the results desired.
Assuming that it is safe to adopt grounded systems,
it would be safer and disturb present conditions less
to use rigid or flexible steel conduit in smaller sizes
(0.25-in. or %-in.), a single conductor, corresponding
to the present No. 14 rubber-covered wire, being used
for conduit purposes, thus making it possible to pull
in and replace burned-out wires where concealed, at the
same time giving proper protection to the wire by
means of the heavier return conductor in the form of
flexible or rigid conduit. A flexible conduit would serve
practically all purposes for exposed work for channel-
ing in plaster and fishing through partitions, etc., with-
out danger of becoming kinked in the process of in-
stalling. This plan would not disturb the manufac-
turer of wire to a great extent, and would admit of the
continuance of the use of outlet boxes, condulets, uni-
lets and a great variety of fittings of this character,
with the addition of suitable means for electrically con-
necting the various runs together, grounding the fix-
tures, etc.
While this system might not be so cheap as the con-
centric system, yet it would be far safer, and it should
be considerably cheaper than the present system.
R. B. Benjamin,
Chicaao. III. Pnaident Benjamin Electric
^ ' Mannfacturtnfj Company
Concentric Wiring
To the Editor of the Electrical World:
Sir: — From a safety standpoint the recommendation
regarding the concentric system of wiring by such an
authority as Mr. W. H. Blood, Jr., insurance expert of
the N. E. L. A., certainly carries great weight.
One consideration to be borne in mind, however, is
whether this particular class of wiring would tend to
bring to electric companies a class of customers whose
revenue would not carry the charges involved in their
service. This is especially important to companies that
have no minimum bills, though the remedy for this would
probably lie in a proper rate, rather than in an attempt
to prevent economical methods of wiring. Every new
development always possesses certain disadvantages,
but, on the whole, I think the introduction of the con-
centric wiring would represent a distinct advantage to
the central-station business because it would certainly
aid in securing large residential business along existing
lines which cannot be secured now on account of the
high price of wiring.
It is well known that the proportion of residences se-
cured by any central station is pitifully small. If the
cheaper method of wiring brings forward a class of cus-
tomers who under existing rates do not pay their cost,
the rates should lie adjusted to render the service profit-
able. Leon H. Scherck,
Pnimhl-rrnsir N V '''"' (toed
rougnKeepste, i\. i .
FIG. 1 — BIRD'S-KYK VIEW OF PANAMA-PACIFIC INTERNATIONAL EXPOSITION AT SAN FKA.M [& 0
Illumination of Panama-Pacific Exposition
Flood-Lighting and Screened Arc Lamps Used for the Purpose of Bringing Out
Architectural Features of Palaces
By G. L. Bayley,
Chief of Mechanical and Electrical Department, Panama-Pacific International Exposition
AS an index of the preparedness of the Panama-
Pacific International Exposition to open its doors
on schedule time, it is interesting to note that the
illumination was given a trial one month in advance of
the official opening day — Feb. 20.
The general scheme adopted was to feature the
beauty of the buildings, courts, paintings and decora-
tions and make the lighting subservient to this end.
Flood-lighting from screened searchlamps has been
used on a large scale, and other light sources have been
hidden as far as possible, except in formal gardens,
where the treatment admits of the use of incandescent
standards.
In general, the outside walls of the buildings are
lighted from a series of 30-ft. standards, spaced 60 ft.
to 75 ft. apart, parallel with the building walls. Two
types of standards have been used, one having a large
shield of staff with three openings covered with
orange-colored translucent fabric (see Fig. 7), the
other type consisting of three canvas banners painted
with heraldic designs. Magnetite-arc lamps have been
used for both types, and the construction is such that
the lamps are so inclosed by the decorations as to be
hidden from general view.
Where the standards are within 50 ft. of the build-
ing walls three lamps are used, and five lamps where
the distance is 100 ft.
All building walls are plastered in imitation of Ro-
man travertine marble, which has a soft cream color
and a stratified texture. A good example of this type
of plaster work is found in the inside of the Pennsyl-
vania Railroad Station in New York. Many special
features of the palace exteriors are richly treated with
cast-staff ornaments and sculpture to correspond to the
plastic surfaces. Color and mural paintings are also
incorporated into the decorative scheme.
Uniform wall illumination prevails, and the colors
and decorations which mark the entrances to the build-
ings and courts are given their true tone and definition
by this form of lighting. The light which filters
through the translucent fabric openings in the staff
standards and the canvas banners adds a pleasing bit
of color to the night picture quite in harmony with
the general color scheme. The staff shields are shown
in Fig. 7, and the banner standards in Figs. 6 and 8.
A moderate amount of light is reflected from the
building wall surface to the adjacent roadways, but not
sufficient for traffic requirements. To augment this
©QM. „/•,-,
• il
FIG. 2 — COMPLETED PANAMA-PACIFIC INTERNATIONAL EXPOSITION BY NIGHT
^J^iiiUiKlUAL, W U K L U
VOL. 65, NO. 7
FIG. 3 — ITALIAN TOWERS AT ENTRANCE TO COURT OF PALMS
reflected light incandescent standards have been in-
stalled along the curbs of the roadways. Each of these
standards carries an 18-in. Beaux Arts glass ball and a
250-watt lamp.
Enough incandescent standards of the candelabra
type, carrying from one to twenty-one glass balls, light
the South Gardens — a large area in front of the main
group. These may be seen along the edges of the mir-
ror pools in Figs. 4 and 5. The architectural treat-
ment of this garden is French Renaissance, and the
lighting plan harmonizes perfectly with the architec-
tural treatment. Three large mirror pools in this gar-
den heighten to a remarkable degree the interest of the
night effects.
The Court of the Universe, an elliptical-shaped area,
depends primarily for its lighting upon two great light-
ing shafts at the foci of the ellipse. These shafts are
in reality the columns of large fountains and are 5 ft.
in diameter by 30 ft. high, being made of a special
glass bent to represent the flutes. The daylight im-
pression is that the shafts are of marble. Each shaft
contains ninety-six 1500-watt nitrogen-filled lamps, dif-
FIG. 4 — PALA( K ill HORTICULTURE WITH ITS IMMENSE GLASS DOME ILLUMINATED FROM WITHIN
Kkbrlakv 13, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
FIG. 5 — TOWER OF JEWELS, THE CENTRAL TOWER OF THE EXPOSITION, ON WHICH ARE 100,000 VARICOLORED JEWELS
fusion being secured by sand-blasted glass screens
placed between the lamps and the glass forming the
shaft. Fans are used to carry away the heat produced,
and means are provided to switch off the lamps auto-
matically in the event of failure of air supply. The
intrinsic brilliancy of these great pillars of light is
sufficiently low for comfort, and at the same time a
sufficient volume of light is furnished to cover an area
of approximately 247,000 sq. ft. adequately. The colon-
nades of this court and its approach are lighted from
lamps concealed in the flutes of each column, and a
very uniform and satisfactory illumination has been
secured.
Minor court lighting has been made to harmonize with
the architecture, color and treatment of each court.
Concealed light sources have been used generally for
this purpose. A decided departure, however, is to be
found in the Court of Abundance, where, to carry out
the idea of the architects and artists, free-burning gas
torches and steam have been used to supplement the
electrical effects.
Tower Lighting
Towers, of which there are four, in addition to the
Tower of Jewels and the Organ Tower of the Court of
Abundance, are illuminated by searchlamps having wide
FIG. 6 — COURT OF UNIVERSE, LOOKING NORTH, AND LAGOON
394
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 7
FIG. 7 — FAgADE OF FOOD PRODUCTS BUILDING LIGHTED FROM ARC LAMPS IN STANDARDS
angle doors arranged to produce a flood of light in-
stead of a narrow beam. Fig. 5 shows the main tower,
and Fig. 3 shows two of the four minor towers.
Perhaps the unique feature is the illumination of the
435-ft. Tower of Jewels, which requires fifty 18-in. and
four 30-in. searchlamps for its illumination. These
projectors are placed on the roofs of various buildings
and concealed on top of the Exposition gateways. The
upper portions of this tower are trimmed with imi-
the rays of the searchlamps, show a remarkable change
of color and action. At each level of the tower con-
cealed lights are installed which tend to relieve the
shadows and introduce a shading of color.
The gala effect of the night picture is heightened by
the illumination of the flags which line the parapet
walls of the main group of buildings. This is accom-
plished by wide-angle 500-watt incandescent projectors,
three being required to produce a field of illumination
FIG. 8 — FESTIVAL HALL
ROTUNDA NEAR FINE ARTS BUILDING
tation jewels of various colors, ranging in size from 21
mm. to 47 mm. The jewels were made in Austria, of
special glass, and more than 100,000 are used for the
decoration of the tower. The jewels are suspended so
as to be free to swing with the air currents and, under
for each flag. The scene is further enlivened by the
lighting from within of the domes, minarets and clere-
story windows of the various buildings.
Flood-lighting by seventeen 18-in. projectors placed
on the roofs of nearby buildings marks the Palace of
p|G- 9 — NORTH END OF PALACE OF FINE ARTS REFLECTED IN ITS LACOON
February 18, 1916
ELECTRICAL WORLD
395
Fine Arts. The only lamps on the building proper are
concealed within the colonnade. Fig. 'J shows a
portion of this building, which borders on ;i lagoon,
and the reflections produced at night form a picture
which every visitor to the Exposition will remember.
The photographs give no conception of the color of the
Structure and the foliage surrounding the lagoon. Fig.
10 shows the illumination within the colonnade pro-
duced by lights placed along the cornice line.
Spectacular lighting features are concentrated in a
battery of forty-eight 36-in. searchlamps placed on a
promontory jutting out into the Bay of San Francisco.
Fig. 11 shows the battery in action, but a number of
the rays do not show up in the picture, owing to the
fact that color screens were being used. As seen from
the hills of San Francisco, these beams ordinarily pro-
F1G. 11 — BATTERY OF PROJECTORS ON SAN FRANCISCO BAY
duce a wonderful aurora as a background for the Ex-
position. On special occasions they are used to
illuminate various steam effects and pyrotechnic dem-
onstrations. The size of this battery of searchlamps
is most impressive, and while it is not a part of the
illumination proper, it will doubtless contribute much
to its success, particularly during periods of high fog,
when various colors can be thrown on the fog and re-
flected upon the Exposition.
The illumination will doubtless prove to be one of
the greatest of the Exposition's attractions, particu-
larly as its arrangement admits of many changes and
combinations of colors and varied light intensities.
Ideal exposition illumination is one that secures a
lighting effect which harmonizes with the work of each
architect, sculptor and artist and one that supplements
the feeling which each of these is endeavoring to ex-
press. Fundamental considerations are those of scale
and mass, particularly where detached units, such as
standards, are associated with architectural features.
Above all, the means employed and the devices used
must not be prejudicial to the daylight picture. With
color added, another important and difficult element is
introduced. Details of the decoration of standards and
color in the light itself should not introduce notes for-
eign to the harmony of the general esthetic scheme.
Such processes of reasoning were employed in the solu-
tion of the illumination problem in the present instance.
In brief, the foregoing requirements are set forth
to indicate the many points of view from which the il-
lumination must be considered and the necessity of the
representation of each of the artistic interests con-
cerned in the settlement first of the general scheme and
later of the numerous details required to put it into ef-
fect. That the illumination of the Exposition is an
artistic triumph is due to the same co-operation which
produced the architectural plan.
The lighting of the Exposition was handled by the
mechanical and electrical department, under Mr. G. L.
Bayley as chief; the plans for the lighting were pro-
duced by .Mr. W. D'A. Ryan, chief of the bureau of
illumination, and the work was installed under the im-
mediate direction of Mr. L. F. Leurey, assistant chief
of the mechanical and electrical department. The staff
ornamentation of the standards, both as to design and
execution, is due to Mr. Paul Denivelle, superintendent
of texture and modeling. Mr. Jules Guerin, as chief
of color, was responsible for the color scheme used and
contributed many valuable suggestions, based on his
long experience with stage productions. Mr. George
Kelham, as chief of architects, lent valuable aid in the
design and arrangement of standards relative to the
architectural features. Constructive criticism was also
rendered bv other members of the division of works.
NEW-TYPE MERCURY WATT-HOUR METER
Principle of Operation Somewhat Different from That of
Meters at Present in Use
By A. A. Radtke
READING an article by E. Hagenbach, "Elektro-
magnetische Rotationsversuch," in the Annalen
der Physik, and one by E. F. Northrup, "Forces
in the Interior of an Electric Conductor," in the Physi-
cal Review, suggested the possibility of a motor watt-
hour meter having a principle of operation somewhat
different from that of the watt-hour meters used at
present. As a consequence two models were constructed
which, on being operated, gave some interesting results
of which this article is only a partial discussion.
Watt-hour meters in general are constructed in such
a manner as to utilize, or depend for their operation
on, the magnetic fields surrounding or linking conduc-
tors which carry currents. In the meter described in
this article this is only true of the pressure side of the
structure, the current side exerting its force to produce
rotation through the means of the field within a con-
ductor.
The motor portion of this meter, a vertical section of
which is shown in Fig. 1, consists of a rotatable soft-
FIG. 1 — SECTION OF MERCURY-TYPE WATT-HOUR METER
iron disk mounted within a mercury chamber formed
by fastening two heavy circular copper plates to the two
sides of an annular insulating ring, and two associated
field coils. These field coils are placed directly above
the upper plate and beneath the lower plate forming the
mercury chamber and are wound with fine wire. The
other features of the meter are quite usual, consisting
396
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 7
of a set of drag or damping magnets, a damping disk
and a counting mechanism.
The two field coils are connected in series across the
line in such a manner that the magnetic fields due to
the current in them "buck," and thus magnetize the
disk radially, producing, say, a north pole at the periph-
ery and a south pole at the center. Since the two
coils are equidistant from the disk, their vertical pulls
on the soft-iron disk balance each other, and conse-
quently there is no end thrust on the bearings due to
the field coils.
When the mercury chamber is so filled that the mer-
cury stands a little higher than the bottom of the upper
copper plate of the chamber and entirely fills the space
between the two plates a current will traverse the disk
in a direction parallel to the shaft. In its passage
through the disk the current therefore sets up a mag-
netic field of concentric circular lines of force having a
maximum intensity at the periphery of the disk and
zero intensity at its center. The operation of the meter
is then as follows: At the periphery of the disk there
is a magnetic pole of a strength proportional to the cur-
rent in the field coils and therefore to the line voltage;
FIG. 2— PERFORMANCE CHARACTERISTICS AT VERY LOW
SPEEDS
acting on this pole in a circumferential direction is a
magnetic field proportional to the current through the
disk and therefore to the line current; the torque acting
on this pole is proportional to the product of the
strength of the pole by the intensity of the field and
therefore to the power supplied to the load. A magnetic
pole also exists at the center of the disk, but since the
field due to the current through the disk is relatively
weak in the central portion of the disk, t ho torque pro-
duced on the pole at the center is negligible compared
with that on the pole at the periphery. The action of
the motor element may. in short, be looked upon as due
to a pole at the periphery of the disk which is urged
along the concentric lines of force due to the currenl
through the disk, whereas the opposite pole at the
of the disk, being situated in a aero field, Has do
exerted on it.
A variety of te t made with this device led to the
following conclusii
in.- the length of currenl elemenl within the
the thickness of the disk, is small, the
torque for small current! is noi sufficient to produce a
good energy-measuring instrument, hut for large cur-
the torque is ample.
(2) The construction is adapted to measure both
alternating and direct currents.
(3) A meter of this kind designed for large currents
will start on a very small percentage of its rated load.
In Fig. 2 is shown the lower portion (from zero to
10 per cent full-load) of a load-speed curve when the
meter is operating on sixty-cycle alternating current.
From the curve some idea may be gained of the starting
qualities of the meter and of the probable accuracy on
light loads. In considering this curve it should be borne
in mind that it represents only the lower tenth of the
range of the meter.
THE COOLIDGE X-RAY TUBE
Preliminary Data on the Wave-Form of Current Passing
Through It
By Ralph Bown
VARIOUS attempts have been made to measure the
wave-form of the current passing through the
ordinary X-ray tube, both by direct and by in-
direct methods. Duddell and Snook' have given a few
curves obtained by connecting an oscillograph element
of high sensibility directly in series with the tube. The
accuracy of these curves has been questioned by
Wertheimer, who used a point-to-point method in his
determinations. The object of this article is to record
some rough preliminary data which have been obtained
FIG. 1 — COOLIDGE X-RAY TUBE
on the new Coolidge X-ray tube by a method which it is
believed has certain advantages over methods previous-
ly in use.
The perfection of the Coolidge tube' marks a new
departure in X-ray operation. It changes the produc-
tion of X-rays of a given intensity and penetrating
power from a matter of experience and guesswork to a
matter of exact and predetermined performance, and
it facilitates the production of large amounts of Roent-
gen energy. The tube, of which an illustration is given
in Fig. 1, consists essentially of a cathode formed of a
spiral of tungsten ribbon, surrounded by a molybdenum
cylinder which helps to focus the cathode ray on the
wrought tungsten target. All parts of the tube are
treated so as to remove fully the occluded gases, and the
extremely high initial vacuum is thus maintained during
the operating life of the tube. The electrons of the
cathode stream are not furnished by the ionization of
residual gas but are obtained directly from the tungsten
spiral, which is heated to incandescence by an insulated
storage battery outside the tube. The rate of electron
emission from the hot Spiral is a function of its tem-
perature, so that by regulating the current which heats
the spiral and by regulating the potential impressed on
the terminals of the tube the Operator can accurately
control the number and velocity of the electrons and
therefore the intensity and penetrating power of the
Roentgen radiation.
i] >!,i Jul} . 1908, pp. inn-
ill, Klin insiiiui. , i ictober, 1907, pp
Mir. .1 Wertheimer, .'•>"> • '.1011.
No i. Jan 84, 1914, p 220, •" the original article by W i>
Coolidge, PI '• ol 2, N" •;. ' ■
ber, i
Febri.-ary IS, 1915
ELECTRIC A I. WORLD
The energy efficiency of an X-ray tube is secondary
to questions of performance. A desirable characteris-
tic of an X-ray outfit is the ability to produce good
photographic records through dense media with very
short exposures. It is believed that a study of the
form of the current in the tube may indicate
MERCURV
INTERRUPTER
MOVOLT3 D C
HI
L
INTERRUPTER
n
i
INDUCTION
COIl-
P
line of the current has been displaced below the center
of the plate in order to include the peaks in the record.
It is not unlikely that the oscillations which are charac-
teristic of circuits of this type are caused by the action
of the capacity and self-induction of the tube, batteries
and coil. The primary current recorded in Fig. 6, cor-
responding to the secondary current in Fig. 3, shows
how these oscillations are impressed back on the pri-
mary circuit.
All secondary current records are to the same scale,
the mean value of the current in each case being about
20 milliamperes and the plate velocity such as to make
the frequency in Fig. 8 about sixty-four impulses per
second. Figs. 7 and 8 are records taken under the same
tube conditions as for Fig. 5 but using the mercury tur-
bine interrupter operating at two different speeds. The
impulses are thus more regular, but the wave-form does
not radically differ from that obtained when using the
YVehnelt interrupter.
The writer desires to acknowledge his indebtedness
to Prof. J. S. Shearer, of Cornell University, whose co-
operation made the taking of these records possible.
KIG.
•ARRANGEMENT OF APPARATUS
methods of developing such characteristics. The ac-
companying curves are presented here as a matter of
general information with the hope that more detailed
results and conclusions may be presented later.
Fig. 2 shows the connections of the apparatus used in
these measurements. It consisted of an induction coil,
operated either with a Wehnelt or a mercury turbine in-
terrupter, a Coolidge X-ray tube and a step-up series
transformer the secondary of which was connected to
a Duddell high-frequency oscillograph. The series
transformer allows the use of a standard oscillograph
Cable Currents Due to Earth's Magnetic Field
On cable-laying ships during rough weather the ef-
fect of the earth's magnetic field sometimes makes it
extremely difficult to take the galvanometer readings
which are watched continuously to detect faults in the
cable insulation. On board the vessel the cable, before
being laid, is usually coiled in large tanks which are
filled with water since if the covering of the cable is
allowed to get dry its insulation becomes impaired. By
means of a galvanometer the insulation resistance is
measured continuously while the cable is being paid out
from the stern, and any leakage fault present is imme-
diatelv made known by a deflection of the instrument
FIGS. 3 TO 5 (TOP ROW) AND 6 TO 8 (BOTTOM ROW) — COOLIDGE TURK CURRENTS
and makes it possible to obtain large-size records of
very small currents.
Figs. 3, 4 and 5 are oscillograms of the secondary cur-
rent of the induction coil using three different immer-
sions of the Wehnelt interrupter. At each break in
the primary circuit the secondary current which passes
through the tube rises rapidly to a maximum and then
drops, with a few oscillations, back to zero. The zero
as the faulty part comes out of the tank of water and
into the air. When the sea is rough and the ship rolls.
the cutting of the lines of force of the earth's field by
the many miles of cable coiled in the tanks produce- ail
emf in the cable which causes the galvanometer to swing
in synchronism with the vessel, necessitating the appli-
cation in bad weather of a high-resistance shunt to damp
out the effect.
398
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 7
Development of Three-Color Illumination
Recent Progress in Color Synthesis by the Use of Pure Color Screens
and Special Apparatus for Demonstration Purposes
NOTABLE advances in the synthesis of colored
light were shown at a meeting of the New Eng-
land Section of the Illuminating Engineering So-
ciety held on Feb. 5 at the Engineers' Club, Boston,
Mass., the speaker being Mr. Munroe Rhodes Pevear, of
the architectural firm of Foss & Pevear, Boston, who has
been investigating this subject for about four and one-
half years and who as the result of his researches
has developed methods of screen coloring which yield
values of 100 per cent effectiveness as primary stand-
ards and which have overcome the perishable qualities
of dyes formerly employed in this branch of illuminat-
ing engineering. A resume of Mr. Pevear's discussion,
with a brief description of the apparatus employed, is
given below.
All colors of the solar spectrum are present in day-
light, but at different times of day these vary consider-
ably in intensity. The famous "yellow day" undoubt-
edly lacked blue and violet light, so that all blue and
violet objects looked black or nearly so. Within the
past few years the production of artificial daylight has
been studied with scientific care. Dr. Herbert E. Ives
uses lightly tinted filters which dim the brighter red
and green until their intensity matches that of the blue
given out. The sources of our artificial illumination
give out less blue and violet light than red, yellow and
green rays, with the exception of the mercury arc,
which, as is well known, is rich in blue and violet. Dr.
C. P. Steinmetz has attempted to reduce the loss in
efficiency which occurs where color filters are employed
by using the mercury arc in conjunction with glow
lamps, building up with the combined rays to produce
the qualities of daylight. The Welsbach mantle gives a
color balance nearest daylight, being 4.1 per cent
brighter in red, 4.5 per cent brighter in green, and
dimmer by 8.5 per cent in blue, considering red, green
and blue of 33.3 per cent value each.
Most of the work toward securing artificial daylight
has been aimed to realize a more accurate color discrim-
ination at night or in poorly illuminated rooms, to give
sunlight color qualities to fabrics, or to cigars, color
printing, chemical reactions, etc. Even sunlight does
not permit extremely accurate color matching, which
means the same appearance under all conditions of
illumination. Matching can be successfully done by
using merely the three primary colors — red, green and
blue-violet — provided these colors are pure. Over 1500
dyes have been tested in the past four and one-half
years in the search for pure colors which will endure
through the life of the tungsten lamp, and exhaustive
researches have also been made with pigments. Colors
of extreme purity have been produced as a result of
these investigations. The preparations now available
will not fade or peel during the life of the dipped lamp,
and the open B new field of service in connection with
the lighting of theaters and show windows, the match
ing of textiles in manufacturing plants, and in many
other applicat
Apparatus devised by the author and his partner to
synthetize colors for demonstrative purposes is illus-
trated In the accompanying half-tone, it consists of
an [/-shaped bos -I In. high, 22 in. long and 17 in.
wide, with a switchboard panel of 0.6-in, ebonized as-
best id, a central!] mounted screen or targel
6 in. square for tde exhibition of color values, rheo
and concealed lamps. In the upper part of the box and
at the left-hand end are three light-proof compartments
containing respectively a 40-watt lamp behind a filter of
pure red, a 40-watt lamp behind a pure green filter, and
a 60-watt lamp behind a blue-violet filter. The axes of
the lamps are parallel to the plane of the reflecting
screen shown in the half-tone, which is about 14.5 in.
distant from the central compartment. On the under
side of the box and concealed from view is a 25-watt
clear tubular lamp which furnishes white light for tint-
ing. To take off eye strain in watching the vertical
screen a translucent contrast border 0.5 in. wide is
provided around the screen, illumination being effected
by a 15-watt spherical bulb lamp in the rear of the box.
APPARATUS FOR SYNTHETIZING COLORS
In the front of the box at the left-hand end is set a dif-
fusing plate 5.5 in. long by 3.5 in. wide, with a 1-in.
metal shelf and 0.5-in. groove along the front and bot-
tom of the plate in which filters can be set for examina-
tion of their color value. A removable slide is provided
with a second diffusing plate between the window and
the compartment lamps, so that the compartments will
be light-tight when the window is not in use.
Each lamp is in circuit with a dimmer consisting of
"Nichrome" wire wound in a torus and mounted by
fiber supports on the panel at the end of the box, through
which project the handles of the rheostat contact arms.
Although all lamps are operated from a 110-volt supply,
the heating of the rheostats is negligible. A switch is
provided for the compartment lamps, one for the tint-
ing lamp and one for the lamp at the rear of the target.
A metal cover at the top of the box is provided with
five 0.5-in. holes above each lamp to dissipate heat. By
the simple expedient of adjusting the rheostats and cut-
ting lamps in or out of circuit the production of a wide
range of color values is easily effected.
An example of the range of the apparatus is evi-
denced bj the manifestations of color phenomena shown
at the Boston meeting: First, the three colors at their
full intensity, singly or in pairs; when two are mixed
they produce yellow, magenta or cyan-blue, the three
pigment primaries. Second, starting with pure green
light and varying the Intensity of one color at a time,
all the colors of the spectrum were produced, plus the
purples. Third, white light obtained by the three filters
in simultaneous operation was compared with light of
Febriakv i:r, L915
E I. ECT RICAL WORLD
899
the same intensity from an undipped bulb. Fourth, a
normal spectrum made with the same three colors.
Fifth, tints and shades of the colors first seen were
shown, the tints being produced by adding undipped
white light. The action of lights upon colored pictures
was then shown, followed by the illumination of a model
theatrical drop.
For show-window and picture-gallery illumination
use can be made of colored lamps with efficient reflect-
ors. The reflectors not only intensify the light but dif-
fuse the color, so that it becomes mixed in a short or
restricted area. While such illumination is not inex-
pensive, it gives the user a very even and good "day-
light" quality, which when used at night would give a
more truthful display of costly goods or fine works of
art. But in these cases the three colors must be unfad-
ing and the arrangement and number so chosen that
when the lamps are switched on the objects illuminated
will receive a perfect blend of light.
In the illumination of ballrooms or reception rooms
the three colors and undipped lamps should be placed
BO that the lamps are invisible, but the rays should be
blended and reflected from a white ceiling or wall, dif-
fusing the whole room with colored light by which a
simple arrangement of dimmers could be made to change
in color through the whole spectrum, plus the purple
colors. The undipped lamps would be used for fixed
illumination or for tinting the varying colors. For the
ceremonial work of secret orders cove lighting can well
be used. In the same way, the three pure colors can be
used in sign lighting, hiding the lamps and blending the
colors on the white background of the letters, using
mechanically operated dimmers, and not flashers.
Stage lighting, in which colored light is extensively
used, involves one of the most interesting problems in
three-color illumination, for it not only embraces varia-
ble color illumination, but the varying of colored light
upon colored pigments as well. Lamps used in Ameri-
can theaters are colored by dipping, and the coating
under the action of light and heat fades or peels off, so
that re-dipping must be done every two or three weeks.
The use of red, blue and amber lamps does not give the
refined results now possible. The true primaries of
light are mutually exclusive in color, none containing ;:
trace of another. The ordinary stage colors are not mu-
tually exclusive in color, some containing traces of
another. Hence, when they are mixed, the result is not
a true mixture but a reinforcing of the one by the trace
of it contained in the other. In the average theater
there are eight or nine separate locations from which the
same or totally different color blends could be made.
The application of pure primary colors to practical
illumination is in its infancy to-day, and the results of
investigation indicate that an extended development is
to be expected in this field in the near future.
Locomotive Cinders for Fuel
A small central station in the Middle West having a
maximum load of about 120 kw at its December peak is
situated a few miles from a division headquarters of a
railroad, from the roundhouse of which a considerable
amount of locomotive cinders are taken each day. As
the town is some distance from coal mines, these loco-
motive cinders seemed to offer a cheap fuel with proper
provision for burning, so that several years ago the cen-
tral-station company installed equipment for burning
this fuel and has used it regularly over long periods of
time. The plant has two common horizontal fire-tube
boilers, 6 ft. by 18 ft. and 6 ft. by 16 ft. respectively,
equipped with the ordinary height of stacks and common
settings. The only unusual thing about the equipment
is the ash pit, which is tightly closed and supplied with
air from a 24-in. fan blower driven by a 6-hp engine.
A thick bed of cinder fuel is maintained over the grates,
this bed being ordinarily about 6 in. in depth. The
station output is not metered, but from the figures
available it is estimated that the fuel consumption is
from 10 lb. to 15 lb. of cinders per kw-hr.
STATIONARY MOTORS IN CENSUS REPORT
Kt'turns Show Large Increase in Both NumbiT and Total
Rating
Stationary motors in service in 1912, as reported by
central electric stations to the Bureau of the Census,
show a large increase, in both number and rating, over
preceding years. The number reported for the United
States in 1912 was 435,473, with a total rating of 4,-
130,619 hp. The number compares with 167,184 in 1907
and is therefore an increase of 268,289, or 160.5 per
cent. The 1907 total number compares with 101,064 in
1902, an increase of 65.4 per cent. The total rating for
1912 compares with 1,649,026 hp for 1907, an increase
of 150.5 per cent. The total rating in 1907 compares
with 438,005 hp in 1902, an increase of 276.5 per cent.
In the ten years the number of motors increased 334,-
409, or 330.9 per cent, and the rating 3,692,614 hp, or
843.1 per cent. The average number of stationary
motors per central electric station in 1912 was 83, as
compared with 35 in 1907 and 28 in 1902. The average
rating of stationary motors per station in 1912 was
791 hp, as compared with 350 hp in 1907 and 121 hp in
1902. The average rating of stationary motors per ma-
chine in 1912 was 9.5 hp, as compared with 9.9 hp in
1907 and 4.3 hp in 1902. The averages for commercial
TABLE I— COMMERCIAL AND MUNICIPAL CENTRAL ELECTRIC STATIONS
— STi.TISTK S ON STATIONARY MOTORS SERVED
t Vn-ii-
Total
Commercial
Municipa
f
1912
1907
1902
S3
35
28
113
17
35
14
4
2
Avenge horse-power per station.
1912
1907
1902
791
350
121
1084
4H7
155
105
25
4
Average horse-power per machine.
1912
1907
1902
9 5
9 9
4 3
9.6
9.9
4 4
7 .i
7.0
I 7
stations were higher, particularly in number per station
and horse-power rating per station, than the averages
for municipal stations. Table I shows the averages
divided between the two classes of stations.
Table II shows the number and rating of stationary
motors in 1912, 1907 and 1902 for the United States as
a whole and for the different groups of states. The
census classification of states was published in detail
in the Electrical World on Jan. 16, 1915, page 161.
The Middle Atlantic States showed in 1912 the larg-
est totals in number and rating of stationary motors,
124,416, with an aggregate of 1,213,681 hp. The East
North Central States were not far behind in number of
stationary motors with 114,404, but were materially
lower, with a total rating of 799,421 hp. The Pacific
States, although showing a much smaller number, 32,-
865, ranked next in rating, with 647,733 hp. The larg-
rst percentage of increase in rating in the last census
period of five years was shown by the South Atlantic
States, 278.5 per cent.
The Middle Atlantic States in 1912 had 29.4 per cent
of the total horse-power rating of stationary motors in
the United States; in 1907 they had 33 per cent and in
400
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 7
1902 34 per cent. This group of states, together with
the East North Central group, which had in 1912 19.4
per cent of the total rating of stationary motors, and
the Pacific States, which had 15.7 per cent, had 64.5
per cent of the total for the entire United States.
Of the total rating of stationary motors served by
central electric stations in the United States in 1912,
4,130,619 hp, New York had a larger proportion than
any other state. It had 795,256 hp, or 19.3 per cent of
the total. California was next with a total rating in
Table IV gives statistics from electric railways and
both classes of central electric stations, commercial and
municipal, on rotary converters and motor-generator
sets, boosters and transformers. Electric railways had
61.9 per cent of the total kilowatt rating of rotary con-
verters and motor-generator sets in 1912 as compared
with 72.2 per cent in 1907 and 48 per cent in 1902.
Of the total kilowatt rating of these machines installed
in central electric stations commercial plants had 98.8
per cent in 1912 and slightly larger percentages in the
TABLE II— CENTRAL ELECTRIC STATIONS— NUMBER AND HORSE-POWER RATING OF STATIONARY MOTORS— 1912, 1907 AND 1902
Division
1912
190?
1902
Av
.rack Rating
Per C
pat nr Increase
BoRSB-FOWBR
Per Cent or Total
Horse-power
Num-
Horse-
power
Num-
ber
Horse-
power
Num-
ber
Horse-
power
1912
1907
1902
1902-
1912
1907-
1912
1902-
1907
1912
1907
1902
United States
136 i?a
4,130,619
167,184
1,649,026
101,064
9 49
9.86
4 33
843.1
150 5
276 5
100.0
100 0
100. 0
li visions:
55,042
124,416
114,404
47,540
26,163
391,308
1,213,681
7!i'.i.l21
316,113
361,011
23,841
34,108
49,315
19,027
8,948
154,720
544,020
1 18,027
12,736 62.163
7 11
" 76
6 91
6 65
13.80
6 49
15 95
6.23
7.25
10.66
4.88
4.98
3 45
3 41
6 57
529.5
714 1
895.5
848.4
2,082.5
152 9
123.1
159 9
129.0
278.5
lis 'l
264.9
314.4
476.6
9.5
29.4
19 4
7 7
8.7
9 4
33.0
18.6
8 4
5 8
14 2
'antic
East North Central ....
West North Central
South Atlantic
29,938
23,257
9,767
2,516
149 us",
SO, 304
33.331
16,541
ill 0
18.3
7.6
3.8
East South Central
, Central
Mountain
Pacific
7,592
15,337
12,111
62,081
103,765
3,039
7.220
6.091
21,656
12,607
'II. 'Mil
250,205
3,935
10,633
2,394
5,888
7,510
11,021
20,953
57 096
8 18
0 77
19 44
19 71
7.13
5.89
15 59
16 07
1 91
1.04
8.75
9.70
726.6
841.3
1,024 n
1,034 5
186 7
144 1
148.0
158 9
188 4
285.6
353 2
1 5
2.5
5.7
16 7
1 3
2 6
58
15.2
1.7
4 v
13 0
stationary motors of 603,742 hp, or 14.6 per cent.
Pennsylvania had 333,414 hp, or 8.1 per cent; Illinois,
315,659 hp, or 7.6 per cent; Massachusetts, 228,868 hp,
or 5.5 per cent, and Michigan, 174,009, or 4.2 per cent.
The California figure represented a gain from 200,067
hp in 1907 and 50,296 hp in 1902. The New York
record represented an increase from 393,955 hp in 1907
and 109,277 hp in 1902. The largest average horse-
power capacity of stationary motors shown by any of
the states in 1912, 38.3 hp, was reported for Montana.
Utah showed an average of 35.9 hp, South Carolina 28.5
hp, Georgia 25.8 hp and Nevada 22.4 hp. The average
rating in other states named was as follows: New
York, 9.6 hp; California, 20.8 hp; Pennsylvania, 11.5
hp; Illinois, 6.8 hp; Massachusetts, 6.7 hp; Michigan,
9.5 hp.
Table III shows the totals of stationary motors re-
TABLE m— CENTRAL ELECTRIC STATIONS 1ND 51 LTION! OP] 0AT1 D l\
HON WITH I i I CTRIC ttAILfl 11 - 8TATT0NAR1 MOTORS
AND TOTALS 01 MET] RS VND CI STOMERS
Clasa pi
Stationari S
Numba o!
i lustomers
Number
1
415.473
I i 10,619
I 807,949
3,311,870
170,191
■ .vs. 1912
in 049
earlier years. The rating of the transformers increased
3,634,643 kw, or 128.6 per cent, from 1907 to 1912.
From 1902 to 1907 the increase was 2,194,757 kw, or
347.3 per cent. The electric railways had 36.5 per cent
of the aggregate kilowatt rating of transformers in
1912, as compared with 40.1 per cent in 1907 and 33.6
per cent in 1902. The commercial stations had 98.4
per cent of the kilowatt rating of transformers in 1912
and slightly larger percentages in the earlier years.
The average rating of transformers for all stations in-
creased from 183 kw in 1902 to 256 kw in 1907 and 290
kw in 1912. The average rating of transformers in
central stations increased from 233 kw in 1902 to 296
kw in 1912. In commercial stations the increase was
from 237 kw in 1902 to 311 kw in 1912. In municipal
stations the increase was from 37 kw to 72 kw. The
average rating of transformers reported by electric rail-
ways increased from 128 kw in 1902 to 279 kw in 1912.
The number and kilowatt rating of boosters increased
TABLE IV COMMERCIA1 IND MUNICIPA] CENTRAL ELECTRIC STATIONS
IND I I i: ti.m u\ll.« IY3 SUBSIDIARY EQUIPMENT
ed by centri ttiona divided between com-
r] and municipal The totals were not
reported for electric railways in the L912 census, bu
these properties in 1907 and 1902. The
table gives the number of meters on consumption cir-
and the number of custon d by com-
! and municipal ■ ' "lis.
Cen-
1 1
■ MOTOR-
Bo
Tiumroiuma
N um-
bel
Ratine
bcr
Ratinst
Nnm-
Kilowatt
Rutin;
1912
1,661
712
611
11,062
1 . B27
1. ,136
191]
1.781
I'll.'
183
from 1907 to 1912, although the figures in 1907 showed
a decrease from 1902. The total rating of boosters
was divided between central stations and electric rail-
ways in the proportion of, respectively, 17.9 percent and
62.1 per cent. Statistics of boosters for L907 and \'.W-
are probably incomplete because the schedules used in
those years did not specifically ask for data on this item.
1 -,i:\ 13, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
401
DIGEST OF ELECTRICAL LITERATURE
Generators, Motors and Transformers
Frequency Changer. -J. Jonas. The lirst part of an
illustrated article in which the author tirst critically
discusses the two principal methods now in use for
producing high-frequency currents. He then describes
a new method, the principle of which is indicated in
Fig. 1 MM/ is an alternator. G a mercury-vapor recti-
f.
HSP-i
'
FIGS. 1 AND 2 — ARRANGEMENTS FOR FREQUENCY CHANGER
tier with anodes a and a while the cathode is connected
with the wire which joins the two primary windings
p, and p3 of the two transformers T, and T, in series,
the secondaries of the transformers being connected in
opposition. On account of the presence of the rectifier
<i, the magnetizing current does not pass uniformly
through the two transformers 7" and T ,, but for one-
half period the transformer T is short-circuited by the
rectifier, and the total emf is impressed on the trans-
former T , while for the next half period the situation
is reversed. The emf E, has double the frequency of E,.
The ordinary mercury-vapor rectifier is not the most
suitable apparatus for this purpose, but a new mercury-
vapor rectifier with magnetically controlled arc is pre-
ferred. The arrangement is shown in Fig. 2. The ar-
ticle is to be concluded. — Elek. u. Maxell, i Vienna), Jan.
10, 1915.
Rotary Convt rter. -F. L). NEWBURY. — In a further in-
stalment on the engineering evolution of electrical ap-
paratus the history of the rotary converter in America
is given with special reference to the work of the West-
inghouse company in this field. Elec. Journal, January,
The Simla of tin Pressure Ware in Electrical Ma-
•i. S. P. Smith and R. S. H. Boulding. — The
first part of a mathematical article illustrated by numer-
ous diagrams in which the emf induced in windings is
determined analytically and the effect of (lux-swinging
is investigated. The importance of the winding factor
is emphasized. The subject is discussed from the point
of view of classification of windings, llux distribution,
effect of slots and effect of flux pulsations. — London
Electrician, .Ian. 15, L915.
Magnetization Curves. — John D. Ball. — Three brief
notes on magnetization curves. For designing machines
and for various other purposes it is often necessary to
know the value of magnetization for higher inductions
than are usually given by test. But care must be taken
in extrapolation, since in extrapolations of magnetization
IT
curves the equation /■' ,, introduces large errors.
a sll
Jl
It is necessary to use B ,'■ H or some other
a„ -I Soil
form that provides for the metallic density to which the
// values are added. The second note relates to the so-
called knee of the magnetizing curve, and it is pointed
out that the knee is not entirely a magnetic phenomenon
but is largely a function of the scale selected to repre-
sent the magnetizing forces. In the third note the ad-
vantages of plotting magnetization curves on logarith-
mic paper are pointed out. — ff< ". EU C. Review, January,
1915.
Heating ('inn oj Electrical Machines and Trans-
formers.— Arthur Mueller. — A description of a
method which permits one to find from two single
measurements the final excess of temperature which an
electric machine will assume when the temperature be-
comes constant. The method permits of saving a great
deal of time. The fundamental feature of the method
is that the excess of the temperature of the machine
i over the temperature which the machine has when
unloaded) is measured first at a certain time after the
machine has been inserted in circuit and again after
an elapse of exactly the same period of time. If the
time is measured from the moment when the machine
is connected to the circuit, the first measurement may
be made after x hours; the second measurement must
then be made after 2x hours. If the first measurement
gives a temperature of y and the second measurement a
temperature of yl deg., the excess temperature T which
the machine will assume when the temperature becomes
if
stationary will be T == — ■ . If, for instance, the ex-
Zy — y^
cess temperature measured after three hours is y = 53
deg. C. and after six hours is y, = 78 deg. C, the final ex-
cess temperature will be 53v -^ 1 106 — 78) = 100 deg. C,
as indicated in Fig. 3. Of course, a sufficient length of
100
_
90
eo
70
. /
BC
50
~ /
M'J
30
/ V
\
20
10
' i ,
0 1 2 3 •". 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 K, 15 16 17 18 Hours
PIG. •'? — TEMPERATURE CURVE OF ELECTRIC MACHINE
time must be allowed until the first measurement is
made; if it is made shortly after the machine is con-
nected to the circuit, there is a liability of error. — Elek.
a. Masch. (Vienna), Jan. 10, 1915.
Lamps and Lighting
Tungsten-Filament Lamps for Heterochromatic Pho-
try. G. \V. .MlDDLEKAUFF AND J. F. SKOGLAND. —
The results found in this investigation show that for
100-volt to 130-volt vacuum tungsten lamps of the or-
dinary sizi's an equation of the form y„ = A„X' +
BnX I C expresses the voltage candle-power and the
voltage watt-per-candle relations to well within 0.3 per
cent and the voltage-wattage relation to well within
0.05 per cent of the observed values over the whole
range investigated, namely, from 0.7 watt per candle to
3.3 watts per candle, the latter limit extending some-
what beyond the watt per candle corresponding to color
match with 4-watt-per-candle carbon lamps. It is,
therefore, possible, after carefully standardizing a turg-
402
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 7
sten lamp at color match with the 4-watt-per-candle car-
bon primary standards which maintain the international
candle unit, to calculate with a high degree of precision
its candle-power, voltage and current at any desired
watt per candle (or color) within the range mentioned.
In this manner groups of standards at different values
of watt per candle may be established in terms of the
primary standards without making a single measure-
ment with a color difference. Further, any standard-
ized tungsten lamp of the size and voltage investigated
is virtually a standard for use at any watt per candle
(or color) within the range specified, because its candle-
power and current at that color can be completely de-
termined from a knowledge of the corresponding ob-
served voltage. By this method of standardizing lamps
all measurements are made at color match without the
use of color screens, which may be entirely discarded
except in so far as they may be of use as auxiliaries in
making check measurements. A set of tables of the
characteristic relations is appended. — Scientific Papers,
Bureau of Standards, No. 238 (Oct. 10, 1914).
Traction
Electric Locomotive. — E. E. Seefehlner. — An ar-
ticle giving in a table data and figures of equipment of
various electric trunk railway locomotives and discuss-
ing the effect of different mechanical and electrical
factors on the weight of the locomotive. — Elek. u. Masch.
(Vienna), Jan. 3, 1915.
Car Equipment. — S. B. Cooper. — An article illus-
trated by diagrams and tables on the calculation of the
characteristics and capacity required in a motor equip-
ment to perform a given service. — Elec. Journal, Feb-
ruary, 1915.
Installations, Systems and Appliances
Charges for Energy Sold from Railway Power Plant
to Private Consumers. — Bruno Thierbach. — The Prus-
sian Railway Department, which operates the electric
railway between Magdeburg, Leipzig and Halle, has an-
nounced its desire to sell yearly 30,000,000 kw-hr. of
single-phase energy at 60,000 volts and sixteen and two-
third cycles per second under favorable terms to private
consumers. There are two entirely different rates, de-
pending on whether a consumer wants to be able to take
energy at any time he pleases or is willing to agree in
advance that he will not take energy at certain hours.
In the first case, in which there is no restriction as to
hours of energy consumption, a double rate is employed
with unit charges of 0.6 cent per kw-hr. for the
fifteen and one-half hours from 6.30 a. m. to 10 p. m.
and 0.4 cent per kw-hr. for the eight and one-half night
hours from 10 p. m. to 6.30 a. m. The average cost of
the kilowatt-hour, therefore, does not depend on the total
quantity of energy but on the ratio of the kilowatt-
hours consumed during the expensive day hours to the
kilowatt-hours consumed during the cheap night hours.
If this ratio [g 0.6, the average cost of the kilowatt-
hours is 0.4675 cent. If the ratio is 3, the cost is 0.65
cent. With an absolutely uniform load curve over the
whole twenty-four hours, the cost is 0.53 cent. On
wever, a discount is allowed. Every
consumer has to agree in advance, first that he will con-
sume a certain minimum amount of kilowatt-hours per
year anil, second, thai he will never consume more than
a certain maximum amount i say Zi of kilowatt-am-
peres. To insure the latter condition an automatic
power-limiting device [g provided, if the total con
sumption in the year is L kw-hr. (greater than the
ed minimum amount), the discount paid back to
the consumer at the end of the year is H* per,
8760 Z
The amount depends OH /, / (the ratio of kilowatt
hours to maximum kilovolt-amperes) and not on the
amount of energy. As the year has 8760 hours, L Z
cannot be greater than 8760 and the discount cannot
be more than 25 per cent. It is 2.85 per cent for
L Z = 1000, 11.4 per cent for L/Z = 4000, and 22.8
per cent for L/Z = 8000. In the second kind of
schedule the department is willing to allow still lower
rates if the customer agrees not to use energy for cer-
tain hours. Again, a double rate will be made, the
specifications being as follows: "First, energy is fur-
nished from 10 p. m. to 6 a. m. with an exception of a
total of hours. Second, energy is furnished from
10 p. m. to 6 a. m. with an exception of a total of
hours." Special agreements as to unit prices, hours
of exception, etc., are to be made for each case. The
prices will be lower than with the first schedule and
may vary between 0.325 cent and 0.475 cent per kw-hr.
Such prices have not been known before in Germany.
It is thought the chemical industry should be particu-
larly attracted and benefited by this cheap energy. —
Elek. Kraft, u. Bahnen, Jan. 4, 1915.
Electrification of Flour Mills. — ERNEST P. HOLLIS —
An article discussing the various operations in a flour
mill, analyzing critically the objections which are
usually raised against their electrification, and explain-
ing the advantages of such an electrification. — London
Elec. Review, Jan. 22, 1915.
Wires, Wiring and Conduits
Temperature Rise in Twin Flexible Wires. — S. W.
Melsom and H. C. Booth. — An abstract of a paper,
based on a report of the (British) National Physical
Laboratory to the wiring rules committee of the British
Institution of Electrical Engineers. The authors deal
with the temperature rise in flexible wires, (a) due to
the current passing through them, (b) due to heating
from a pendent lamp, (c) when used for connection to
electrical heating apparatus. — London Electrician, Jan.
22, 1915.
Electrophysics and Magnetism
Wehnelt Cathode. — Frank Horton. — An account of
an experimental investigation of the action of a Weh-
nelt cathode — that is, of the large electron emission
which takes place when a lime-coated cathode is heated
in a vacuum. The author gives a comparison of the
electron emission from lime heated upon a Nernst fila-
ment with that from lime heated upon platinum and
then discusses the liberation of gas from a Wehnelt
cathode. The chief results are as follows: The electron
emission from a Wehnelt cathode has its origin in the
lime itself, and the lime does not merely serve to help
the electrons to escape from the metal. When an elec-
tric current passes through lime at a high temperature
the amount of oxygen liberated is only a very small
fraction of what would be expected if the conductivity
of the lime were entirely electrolytic. It has
been suggested that the conductivity is entirely
electrolytic, and that the products of electrolysis
diffuse through the lime and recombine; but it
appears to the author to be improbable that such re-
combination should go on, so rapidly and completely,
through a layer of solid lime, especially as the charged
oxygen atoms would be liberated on the vacuum side of
the oxide layer and with a strong electric field tending
to drag them away from the cathode. The chemical
Combination of calcium and oxygen does not by itself
give rise to any detectable electron emission. — London
Electrician, Jan. I, 1916.
Electrochemistry nnd Halt cries
Automobile Batteries. K. T. Mitchell. — An ab-
stract of a paper read before the i liritish) Association
of Engineers in Charge on electric storage batteries
ihy 13, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
and their application to automobile traction, with spe-
cial reference to the Edison battery. A comparison be-
tuvfn the lead cell and the Edison cell was given in
calculated form, and it was stated that Edison cells are
good for ■ of charge and discharge.
Taking a mileage of 50 per discharge, this would mean
a distance of 175,000 miles of effective service per bat-
London Electrician, Jan. 22. 1915.
Fixatioi of Atmospheric Nitrogen, E, Weinwurm.
— The author describee the making of nitric acid and
nitrates from air by the processes of Birkeland and
. Schoenherr and Pauling; also the production of
ammonia and pure alumina by the Serpek process and
the ammonia synthetic process of Haber, and finally
the calcium - cyanide industry. — Elek. U. Masch.
I Vienna I, Jan. 3, 1915.
Electric Steel Furnace. — G. MUNTZ. — An article in
reply to a former one by Rennerfelt. The author en-
deavors to show that the electric furnace for steel east-
ings has certain commercial limitations and tries to
make out a case for the small converter. — Met. and
Client. Eng'ing, February, 1915.
Units, Measurements and Instruments
Inductive Rheostat. — F. Andre. — If in am ordinary
rheostat the non-inductive ohmic resistance coils are re-
placed by inductive resistance or reactance coils and the
handle of the rheostat is turned from one position to the
next, the current assumes its new value with greater
rapidity than in the case of purely ohmic resistance.
Fig. 4 shows the connections of this method for the
FIG. 4 — WIRING DIAGRAM
regulation of the shunt excitation current of a genera-
tor. The excitation winding is in series with a rheo-
stat, consisting of a number of reactance coils, all
wound in series around the same iron core with an air
gap so as to have practically constant permeability.
The handle of the rheostat makes connection with the
successive knobs. The author goes on to discuss the
problem of dimensioning the different portions of the
rheostat coils and discusses the two cases depending
on whether the handle is turned to one or the other
direction. The conditions are not the same in both
cases. The conclusion of the author is that this method
permits one to reach the desired current by turning the
rheostat handle much more quickly than is possible with
the ordinary rheostat form of pure ohmic resistance.
With respect to the dimensions of the different por-
tions of the rheostat, the most convenient solution is
that in which the potential energy of the circuit always
has the same value whatever may be the position of the
regulator. The mathematics of the problem is given. —
La Revue Elec, Vol. 22, No. 259, "Oct. 2, 1914 (pub-
lished Jan. 1, 1915)."
Telegraphy, Telephony and Signals
Telegraph Repeaters. — A. C. Booth. — An article on
the British post office type of telegraph repeaters and
recent modifications made to meet the require-
ments in connection with the introduction of the Baudot
duplex on the Anglo-German cable circuits and the ex-
tended application of high-speed apparatus to the long
underground cable circuit between important centers. —
Poet Offict Elec. Eng. Journal London), January, L915.
Telegraph Relays. — H. W. MALCOLM. — In a continua-
tion of his long illustrated serial on the future progress
FIG. 5 — CONNECTIONS OF MAGNIFIER
of cable telegraphy, the author deals with relays of
Heurtley and Orling. In the magnifier invented by Mr.
E. S. Heurtley, shown in Fig. 5, the motion of the
receiving coil is communicated through silk fibers to an
aluminum cradle. This cradle carries two fine plati-
num wires (0.5 mil in diameter), which are heated by
current from a local battery and from two arms of a
Wheatstone bridge. The tubes 7\ and T2 communicate
with some source of cold air; they are slit down their
entire length where they are adjacent to the wires W,
and IF,. The positions of the tube slits are so adjusted
that a deflection of the coil in one direction brings 11
into the cold blast, W, remaining out of the cold blast —
tide view of flat plate
bcaraig siphon-tube
Class.keptwetbyjet
FIG. 6— VARYING-RESISTANCE TYPE OF JET RELAY
that is, remaining hot — while a deflection in the oppo-
site direction brings IF into the cold blast, W, remain-
ing out. In this manner reversal currents received
from the cable are caused to alter the bridge balance
in one direction or the other, thereby producing re-
versal signals on the local recorder. Similar results
may be obtained by the coil being caused to move
104
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 7
screens over one slit or the other. To compensate for
the time-lag in tlie heating and cooung oi me wires,
inductances — or capacities — may be inserted in the
bridge arms to square up the signals. This instrument
is said to be capable of receiving at the rate of seventy-
five words a minute with an actuating current of 0.7
mfd. It is in use continuously on the long cables of no
fewer than five companies. In the magnifier invented
by Axel Orling the receiving coil is caused to deflect a
jet of water, through the instrumentality of a quartz
liber. In the latest form of this instrument, shown in
Fig. 6, the jet of conducting water impinges on an
inclined plane which carries a number of fine glass tubes.
In series with the jet is a local battery, and the current
from it through the local recorder is balanced by a
second, smaller battery through a resistor of adjustable
resistance. Alternatively a second winding may be used
on the recorder coil. When the jet is moved by the
quartz fiber from its normal position du to make contact
with the inclined plate rf„ the length of the jet is reduced
and its resistance decreases; when the jet is moved to
d the resistance increases. The current fluctuations
produced by these changes of resistance actuate the local
recorder. It is a peculiar and characteristic property
of the instrument that a microscopic deflection of the
..•oil and quartz fiber suffices to produce a large deflection
• if the jet. The sensitivity of the instrument may be
varied in different ways. Thus, conveniently, the angle
if incidence of the jet on the plate may be adjusted by
altering the angle of inclination of the plate to the verti-
cal Again, a fixed deflector may be placed between the
moving deflector and the plate, and this process may be
repeated without limit and without the moving coil being
called upon to perform any extra work. The instrument
may obviously be used as a make-and-break relay, in
which all contact trouble has been eliminated. Employed
in this way it is stated to require a current of only 0.01
microampere to give good signals. A modified form of
this relay is also described. — London Electrician, Jan.
22, 1915."
Quadruplex. — J. M. Fernandez Lamothe.— An illus-
trated article pointing out the advantages in efficiency
of the American quadruplex system over the British. He
shows that the arrangement in itself is more effective
in correcting the breaking of signals and permits quad-
ruplex working on longer lines, other conditions being
equal. Post Office Elec. Eng. Journal (London), Jan-
uary, 1915.
hong-Distance Telephony.— J. A. Fleming.— An ab-
stract of a lecture before the Royal Institution in Lon-
don in which the author described the cord-vibrating
apparatus and experiments demonstrating wave propa-
ii over unloaded and loaded lines. By his apparatus
he demonstrated the correct Bpacing of loading coals and
also gave an illustration of reflection. Post Office Elec.
Eng. Jo, mini (London), January, 1916.
Miscellaneous
Edward Weston. An account, with portrait, of the
•it;, t inn of the 1'erkin Medal by the allied chemical
: this country to Dr. Edward Weston. The
spec F, Chandler, L. II. Baekeland and Carl
Bering are given almost in full and an account is given
,,f Weston' ■'- ' and Chem. Eng'ing, February,
L916.
ic„c and '•'!■ Marquis of Graham. His
presidential address to the Junior Institution of En-
He pointed oul thai war ha largely
a matter of engii pecially with re peel to trans-
,!,..,,, The motor tractor lias solved some problems.
Enormous efforts bad been made by the textile Indus-
to provide clothes for large armies. London Elec-
m, Jan. 22, L916.
Book Reviews
The Elements of Electricity. By Wirt Robinson.
New York: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 596 pages,
373 illus. Price, $2.50.
This textbook has been prepared for the use of the
cadets of the United States Military Academy at West
Point. The present volume, the second edition of this
work, consists of forty-seven chapters under six main
headings, as follows : Static electricity, magnetism, vol-
taic electricity, electromagnetics, electromechanics, and
high potentials. The treatment is simple and clear, and
the illustrations are numerous, these being indeed
worthy of special praise. Halftone photographic repro-
ductions are avoided, and simple line drawings, admir-
ably adapted to illustrate the essential points of the
apparatus described, have been specially prepared. The
necessary diagrams have also been very carefully drawn
to avoid the confusion so often caused by unnecessary
lines and figures. Although this may be considered an
elementary text, it covers the whole field of electricity
and magnetism very completely, giving the student a
general yet correct understanding of the subject. The
point of view is that of the physicist rather than that of
the engineer, as it should be in a work designed to give
the student a broad view of the whole subject which
may serve him as a sound and correct basis for more
advanced study. The author has obviously taken pains
to produce a really useful text, which, mainly on account
of the arrangement of the subject and the clearness of
the presentation, is better than a mere compilation of
previously published matter. Students of the art of
electricity will, in the reviewer's opinion, find this a
helpful and interesting textbook.
Electric Motors, Their Action, Control and Appli-
cation. By Dr. Francis B. Crocker and Morton
Arendt. New York: D. Van Nostrand Company.
306 pages, 169 illus. Price, $2.50.
This is the second edition — revised and enlarged — of
Professors Crocker and Arendt's well-known book. It
is more advanced and more scientific than the type of
I iook intended to give advice and assistance to those
responsible for the proper running of electrical machin-
ery. It goes down to fundamental principles and ex-
plains clearly the reasons of things, making use, wher-
ever necessary, of arguments and methods which would
not be readily understood except by engineering stu-
dents or trained engineers. Matters of only theoretical
or special interest have been deliberately omitted, and
the authors have confined themselves strictly to their
subject, giving the reader what they profess to give
in an attractive and interesting manner. Those who
wish to pursue the subject further or to branch out in
lines of study allied to the matter here treated will find
useful lists of reference at the end of each chapter.
The bibliography relating to electric machine design
at the end of Chapter II is not complete. This list
might with advantage be enlarged, or — what in the re-
viewer's opinion is generally preferable — reduced to
cover only those publications which are approved by the
authors and in which the manner of presentation and
treatment is generally similar to theirs. The most im-
portant BUbjecl covered is that of speed control, and
this matter is admirably presented. The different meth-
ods of obtaining speed variation with any kind of motor
are studied and the underlying principles explained.
Part IV, which treats of the application of electric mo-
tors, under the headings "Service Conditions" and
"Power Requirements of Various Tools," is a practical
and useful feature of the book.
] ebri un 13, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
405
POWER AND OPERATING SECTION
Training the Operating Force
AX analysis of operating records shows that very
many interruptions to service and accidents to
machinery and equipment are attributable to defects in
organization. Duplication in generating equipment,
feeders, etc., is of no effect if the operating force is not
properly trained in handling the apparatus. With con-
solidations of properties and extensions to distribution
systems operating complications grow and liability to
mistakes increases. .Moreover, accidents due to mistakes
of the operating force become more costly with increase
in the size of equipment or load. What is needed to
meet such emergencies is a staff trained with all the
precision of a military organization, but with greater
resourcefulness. Excellence in operation must keep
pace with excellence of equipment, and the necessity for
constant service is so great that the selection, organiza-
tion and training of an efiicient operating staff tran-
scends in importance oftentimes the purely engineering
problems involved in the design of the system.
Increase in Stationary-Motor Service
WHEN it is learned from the census returns that
the average number of stationary motors per cen-
tral electrical station in 1912 was eighty-three the im-
pression made is encouraging if viewed from the stand-
point of the small station; it may be dispiriting if, from
the outlook of the large station, we compare the business
secured with the large volume awaiting. Another side
is presented by comparison of the average for 1912 with
that for 1907 of thirty-five, and that for 1902 of twenty-
eight. The increase from 1902 to 1907 was 25 per cent;
from 1907 to 1912 it was 137 per cent. It is proper to
say that another large increase will be shown in the
next census report, but the really vital question is
whether the enlargement of business in this direction
will prove that central stations have made the most of
their opportunities. The extent of the field now occu-
pied and the progress in the last census period of five
years are an example of what can be done in the future
with study of new methods of motor application.
Safety and Service
WITHOUT attempting to belittle the nation-wide
movement to reduce the number of preventable
accidents, Mr. W. H. Blood, Jr., insurance expert of the
National Electric Light Association, rightly contends
that, in the electrical industry at least, service of neces-
sity is the more important. Reasonable safety is at-
tainable without impairing service, but absolute safety
is impossible. Zealots of the "safety first" movement
should ponder .Mr. Blood's remarks, published in ab-
stract elsewhere in this issue, because it is so easy for
them to defeat the very object they seek by overworking
the principle. No device however perfect can take the
place of vigilance, and both combined render safety only
reasonably sure. The BUCCess that has attended the in-
stallation of safety devices in many industries is due
primarily to the fact that their use has permitted in-
creased service or economies. Our industry is not lack-
ing in these, and if attention can be directed toward
improving construction and apparatus to safeguard life
the gain will be immense. Rather a thousand times a
motor-operated oil switch than a knife-blade switch with
a railing around it and an insulated platform on which
to stand.
Advantages of Electric Motor Drive
IN the movement toward greater economy in indus-
trial operations the electric motor plays an indis-
pensable part. Production can be increased greatly by
its use, not only by reason of better and more constant
speed, but also because the expert workman, relieved of
worry and physical exertion incident to other forms of
drive, can concentrate all his energy and ability on the
task before him. Besides the advantages which are in-
herent in the electric motor itself, there are other desir-
able features oftentimes overlooked of more convenient
and responsive control, which in some instances is so
skilfully applied as to render the machine almost
human in its operation. Convenience is the great asset
of electricity, and while that fact is recognized in the
case of lighting, it is not always accentuated when
applying motors to industrial uses.
The Diesel Oil Engine
IN his article in this issue Mr. R. W. Crowly throws
much light on some of the causes which have
checked the adoption of the Diesel oil engine in this
country. They are causes, too, which have been note-
worthy in connection with the introduction of not a few
European devices into American practice. In principle
an internal-combustion engine using heavy oil should
naturally thrive in a great oil-producing country like
the United States, just as it has in Russia. As a mat-
ter of fact, despite its notable lack of skilled labor, the
latter country has gone ahead in oil-engine work at a
rather remarkable pace. Mr. Crowly notes that at the
present time Diesel engines in use over the world have
an aggregate rating of more than 2,000,000 hp. One
is justified in stating broadly that a prime mover which
has pushed its way against the competition of others
into use to this extent is very far past the experimental
406
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 7
stage and must be taken seriously. The principal ob-
jection urged against it in this country is that it is
expensive in first cost and somewhat "tender" in oper-
ation. The pressures are high, the temperatures excep-
tionally great, and the need for exact fitting and thor-
ough lubrication very pressing. It still has its way to
make in this country, and its success, as Mr. Crowly
shows, depends chiefly on the care with which it is man-
ufactured and the intelligence with which it is exploited.
Prime movers of moderate size and high economy are
badly needed, and if the oil engine displays the virtues
here which it is reputed to have in Russia, for example,
the next census of motive power should show a substan-
tial addition attributable to American activity.
Conserving the Coal Supply
In a paper read before the Newcastle Section of the
(British) Institution of Electrical Engineers, Mr. P.
S. Thompson brought forward a considerable amount of
useful information about the theory of boiler operation,
but its chief interest to the engineer resides in some of
the collateral suggestions both in the paper and in the
discussion following its presentation. As regards the
ordinary lines of steam practice, perhaps the most note-
worthy feature of the paper was its outspoken advocacy
of forced draft in burning the ordinary grades of bitu-
minous coal. The author of the paper, abstracted in this
issue, mentions the somewhat familiar but often for-
gotten fact that from 10 to 12 per cent of the energy of
the fuel is consumed merely to secure the necessary
draft for free combustion by maintaining the requisite
difference in temperature between the flue and the ex-
terior air. Moreover, one must reckon on the added fixed
charges due to the building of an expensive stack. In
these days, when boilers must often be forced to meet the
requirements of economy in central-station operation, it
would seem that during some parts of the run a draft
created by motor-driven blowers would be more economi-
cal than natural draft. At least the chance of economy
by this method is sufficiently great to encourage follow-
ing it up, especially in parts of the country where it is
most economical to use a relatively poor grade of fuel. A
forced-draft system can be easily adjusted to meet the
requirements of economical firing with almost any grade
of fuel consumed at almost any possible rate, while the
natural draft must in a measure be planned to meet the
average requirements.
More far-reaching than this discussion of draft, how-
ever, was the consideration of the use of coal indirectly
through coking or producer-gas operation. In the dis-
cussion it was pointed out that by coking at a low tem-
perature there is presented the opportunity for obtain-
ing electrical energy as a by -product among other valu-
able material. For Instance, according to the figures
reported, one ton of ordinary bituminous coal will yield
about 0.7", ton of coke, 8.6 gal. of motor spirit, 9.5 gal.
of heavier oils, 20 II.. of pitch, -1 lb. of ammonium sul-
phate anrl other by-products in smaller quantities, the
total value of which at current prices amounts to about
$7.75 for about $5 of operating and fixed charges. Over
and above the products mentioned, about 5000 cu. ft. of
gas would be generated, of quality sufficient to give at
least 100 kw-hr. of electrical energy as an additional by-
product. Such a utilization of fuel looks promising,
particularly since such of the coke as seemed worth
while could be used for generating additional electrical
energy by steam.
The Locomobile in America
We have repeatedly called attention to the very inter-
esting "locomobile" type of prime mover, which has met
with great success abroad. Fundamentally, as our
readers know, it is simply a self-contained boiler and
engine equipment in which all the heat losses are cut
down to a minimum by the compact construction, with
high steam pressure and high superheat, and also the
gains in economy that scientifically designed valve gear
and good condensing equipment can give. The perform-
ances of these small equipments abroad have been little
less than astounding, and we have hoped to see them
introduced in sufficient numbers in this country to allow
a practical judgment to be formed of their success
under American conditions. At least two experienced
manufacturers in this country have undertaken the con-
struction of locomobiles following somewhat closely
after the foreign models. From the information con-
veyed in an article published in the current issue only
one of the eight locomobile units to-day in use in this
country is of foreign manufacture, and the aggregate
rating of the whole group is considerably less than
2000 hp.
We take pleasure in presenting in this issue data
relating to fuel consumption tests on two 150-kw loco-
mobile plants which have recently been put in service.
Each is a single unit of a separate 300-kw plant. The
economy of space secured by the locomobile equipment
is notably great since each unit with its generator oc-
cupies an area of barely 500 sq. ft., and the whole power
plant can therefore be made extremely compact. The
steam pressure in each case is about 225 lb. and the
superheat about 200 deg. The engines run at approx-
imately 200 r.p.m., giving about 250 indicated horse-
power. The fuel consumption per kilowatt-hour in each
case was very close to 3 lb. of not very good run-of-mine
coal. It is greatly to be regretted that the figures re-
ported do not include the consumption of steam either
per kilowatt-hour or per brake-horse-power-hour, to en-
able proper comparison to be made between the per-
formance of these particular engines and that of their
German prototype. In the case of the latter a consump-
tion of 10 lb. of steam per brake-horse-power-hour un-
der test is a guarantee not uncommonly fulfilled under
suitable conditions of condensation. The war. suspend-
Ing as it has most importations from abroad, should
give the American manufacturers of such machinery a
clear field with every encouragement to exploit a type of
unit which has already proved its usefulness and which
has had successful tests in practical operation.
Few \k\ 18, 19M
i: I. ECT RICAL WORLD
407
Two American- Built Locomobile Power Plants
Test Data on the Performance of Two 150-kw Units Showing Consistent and
Remarkably Low Specific Consumption of Fuel
REl nRDS of 3.03 lb. of fuel per kilowatt-hour at
the switchboard were shown in the acceptance
made upon two new 150-kw locomobile power
plants recently completed in Ohio. The forked run-of-
mine coal used as fuel in both cases tested 10,555
pound-Fahrenheit heat units per pound in one instance,
and 11,416 units per pound in the other. The plants
referred to are owned respectively by the O. C. Barber
Mining & Fertilizer Company of Canton, Ohio, and by
the Barber Concrete Products Company of Barberton,
Ohio. Situated at Limeton, Ohio, about 8 miles south
of Canton, the station of the first-mentioned company
occupies a central site on the company's 5000-acre tract
of mineral-bearing land. The second plant is situated
in the outskirts of Barberton.
At Limeton, on the property of the mining and fer-
tilizer company, there are three valuable mineral strata,
namely, coal, limestone and fireclay. Of these three
The Power House Is a Comparatively Small Building
These two stations are very similar in design, and
the equipment which they contain is of identical rating.
A drawing reproduced in Fig. 8 shows a plan and a
sectional view of the 50-ft. by 60-ft. by Hi-t't. concrete-
block power house at Limeton, containing two 150-kw,
440-volt, three-phase Crocker-Wheeler generators, each
driven by a locomobile made by the Buckeye Engine
Company. The floor space of the combined engine and
boiler room in which these two self-contained power
plants are installed measures only 38 ft. by 57 ft., and
even then there is plenty of vacant space around the
walls, for each prime mover with its generator occupies
a space only 24 ft. 11 in. in length by 20 ft. in width by
12 ft. 4 in. in height. The remainder of the building
is taken up by the 48-ft. by 8-ft. coal-storage room, an
office for the engineer and a small machine shop. In
laying out the openings in the walls of the building,
FIG. 1 — 300-KW LOCOMOBILE POWER STATION AT BARBERTON
the coal forms the middle stratum, with the limestone
above and the fireclay beneath. The business of the
mining and fertilizer company is to bring out the middle
stratum, the coal, for producing power and for the
market; then to cut down and remove the limestone for
conversion into lime, and lastly to remove the fireclay.
The many grinding and conveying operations necessary
in this industry are performed in two mills receiving
power from the Limeton station. The connected load at
the two mills is about 700 hp.
Energy generated in the Barberton plant is used to
drive the machinery in the concrete-products factory
and also will be used to operate the extensive electrical
equipment at the Anne Dean farm, the home of Mr.
O. C. Barber.
doors were placed opposite each end of the locomobiles
and thus some floor space was saved, since in installing
or removing the boiler tubes or the superheater and
reheater tubes the doors can be opened to provide suffi-
cient end clearance for the operation.
Coal Slides from the Mine to the Firebox
At Limeton the problem of supplying coal to the sta-
tion is an easy one. The fuel is simply dug out of the
hill back of the power house and dumped into a chute,
through which it slides into the long narrow concrete
storage room. To prevent dribbling the coal over the
engine-room floor sheet-iron hoppers on low wheels are
used to bring the fuel from the storage room to the
firing doors. Each of these wheeled hoppers holds about
408
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No.
1000 lb. of fuel, and their use eliminates the necessity
of heating coal before the firing door as is sometimes
the practice in stations with hand-fired boilers. As the
ashes drop or are shaken through the grates they fall
into the suspended sheet-iron ashpan, from which they
are shoveled into a wheelbarrow and hauled to the
dump. Water is also near at hand, and a supply of
The boiler is of the internal corrugated-furnace fire-
tube type. The furnace, tubes and tube sheets consti-
tute the entire active heating surface; therefore any
possible deterioration and need of repairs is confined
to these parts which are attached to the boiler shell by
studs and nuts, making them readily removable for
FIG. 2 — FLKXIBLE COUPLING ACTS AS PULLEY
boiler-feed water and of water for the condensers is
taken from the small stream which runs within a few
yards of the station and is pumped into a tank supported
on an iron framework in the power house near the peak
of the roof.
Since there are but eight locomobile installations in
the United States, a brief description of one of these
Buckeye-mobiles, as they are called, may be of in-
terest and may lead to a clearer understanding of the
accompanying acceptance-test data.
Interesting Details of the American-Built Locomobile
The Buckeye-mobile is a self-contained power plant
designed for the effective utilization of high-pressure
superheated steam. In its elements it consists of an
FIG. 4 — ARRANGEMENT OF AUXILIARY APPARATUS
inspection and cleaning. Boilers of this type, it is
said, suffer less from mineral and other harmful sub-
stances in the feed water than any other type, since
sediment collects in the bottom of the boiler, which is
the coolest part, and can be readily blown off before it
has been baked hard. The boiler, with its equipment
of gages, valves, etc., is built to conform to both state
and city laws, 225-lb. steam pressure being carried. In-
duced draft for the furnaces is supplied by a fan driven
by a 5-hp motor. The arrangement of "underground"
breeching, the draft fan, stack and fan motor are shown
in Fig. 5. Fig. 7 illustrates the arrangement of fur-
nace and grate for high-grade, low-volatility coals. For
high-volatility coals and low-grade fuels requiring an
increased grate area furnaces of the extended type
FN;. :: I i l:\ U 1 AMI ASHPAN
i rite 1 1, 1 tubular boiler of the non-return or "gun-
ho.it" type, on which is mounted a Compound engine.
An Insulated sheet-metal smoke boa incloses the tubu-
lar superheater, both engine cylinders, all steam piping
and valves, and B secondary superheater which imparts
heat to tlie steam as it pas,,- from the high piessurc
to the low pressure cylinder,
FIG. 6 UNDERGROUND BREECHING \np DRAFT APPARATUS
shown in the illustrations are used. A single continu-
ous coil of seamless steel tubing comprises the initial
superheater. The steam passes through it in a direc-
tion counter to that of the hot gases. i)n its way from
the high-pressure to the low -pressure CJ linder the steam
through a secondary superheater or single-pass
reheater built up of a large number of small tubes ex-
K I. KCT K I (' A I. WORLD
panded into Both the Buperheater and the re-
heater axe suspended from rollers on an overhead track
which allows freedom for expansion of piping and also
affords an eaaj means of removal from the smoke box
the barring gear provided to facilitate turning the
engine by hand. The flywheels are notched on one
edge so that the point of a crowbar may be inserted
at any point on the circumference.
should occasion require it. Provision is made for The engine exhausts through a closed feed-water
rivtgosti unm into mm
FIGS. 6 AND 7 — LONGITUDINAL SECTION OF LOCOMOTIVE, SHOWING TWO TYPES OF FURNACE
cleaning the soot and dust from the tubes of the boiler, heater into a 16-in. Connorsville jet condenser, which is
superheater and reheater by the installation of a steam- provided with a 6-in. by 6-in. rotary air pump. This
jet soot blower. Superheated steam is used and the air pump and the 2-in. by 3-in. Demming triplex boiler-
TABLE I — PLANT DATA AND RESULTS OF TEST*
Plan!
iler, square feel
13 5
13 5
Heatinic surface "i boiler approximately .. square feel
180 n
480.0
1 to :!■> 6
1 to 35 ii
Superheating surface approximately) , square feet
336 '1
140 0
1 in n
Ratfil bone-power • »( engine
J.':, ii
225.0
- ii
9.0
in. i,. b) 20 in bj 21 in
jets may be revolved at will by means of the hand-
wheel which is shown at the end of the boiler.
Engine Mount t-d on Top of the Boiler
The engine is of the compound center-crank type.
Its bedplate is rigidly bolted at its main bearing end to
a massive saddle which spans about one-third of the
boiler's circumference. The guide-barrel end rests on a
smaller saddle and is free to slide thereon, relieving
TABLE II — AVERAGE PRESSURES
St. -an, preeaui 214 00 21B 0
inch gage 19.0 -ii I'
Draft infurnaa . inch i watei 0 28 h 31
n-atri 0 70
25.00
the bedplate from the effects of boiler expansion. Each
cylinder is equipped with a single piston valve. The
low-pressure valve is opened by a fixed eccentric, and
the engine is governed through the high-pressure valve
only. One of the unusual features of the engine is
TABLE III — AVERAGE TEMPERATURES
Barberton
Plant
Limeton
Plant
649 B
610.0
256 1
215 0
Temperature of steam i" low-pressure cylinder in leg
440.6
181.7
42] II
162.0
116 0
254.0
290.3
500.0
526.0
feed pump are installed in the shallow condenser pit.
The former is driven from the engine half of the flexible
coupling between the prime mover and its generator.
Thus the coupling serves as a pulley and at the same
time insures that the condenser pump will always start
with the engine. The boiler-feed pump is belted to the
engine shaft.
Connected to each locomobile in these two plants is
a 150-kw, 440-volt, three-phase engine-type Crocker-
Wheeler alternator. A flexible shaft coupling inter-
TABLE IV — MISCELLANEOUS AVERAGES
per minute
Indicated h >i * i I i n dne
ilowatl output per hour
Moiaturein team,pei cent
.'I I llll
257 11
.1 62
244 08
150 55
1 82
posed between the engine and the generator relieves the
generator bearing from the effects of boiler expansion.
Belts for both the condenser pump and the exciter are
driven from this coupling, conserving pulley space and
reducing the necessary length of the shaft. The pump
410
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 7
is driven from the engine half of the coupling and the
exciter from this generator half so that each auxiliary
always starts with the unit it serves.
TABLE V — TOTAL
QUANTITIES
l'.:irl uTtun
Plant
Limeton
Plant
4117.00
1098.0
fj r,l
3815 00
5.2
3885 0
Total ash and refuse as weighed from test, pounds
720 "'i
728 0 i
Percentage ash and refuse from test on coal a
s fired
17.63
Is ll
Percentage ash and refuse from test on dry c
ial
18.88
Is 7
Percentage ash by analysis on coal as fired
17.111
Percentage ash by analysis «,n dry i 1
is 85
L3 ss
Combustible from test, pounds
3119.00
3159.00
Combustible from analysis, pounds
3120.00
3345.0
Total kilowatt-hour output
1355.00
1355.0
TABLE VI — HOURLY QUANTITIES AND RATES
Coal as fired per hour, pounds
Dry coal per hour, pounds
Combustible per hour from test pounds
Combustible per hour from analysis, pounds
Dry coal per square foot erate surfai
Dry coal per square foot heating surface per hour, pound:
Kilowatt output per hour
514.6
480.0
389.9
390.0
35.6
1.0
169.38
155 33
131 70
351.00
371.7
32 0
0.9
150.5
Results of Acceptance Tests Please Owners
Acceptance tests on a single unit in each of these
two stations were made for the owners, Mr. 0. C. Bar-
ber and Mr. H. V. Briggle, by Mr. F. G. Estep, of the
Carnegie Technical Schools at Pittsburgh. Samples of
the coal fired during each test were sent to the Pitts-
burg Testing Laboratory, and the results of the labora-
tory tests follow the acceptance-test data. During the
tests indicator cards were taken every fifteen minutes,
TABLE VII — ECONOMIC RESULTS
Coal as fired per indieated-horse-power-hour, pou
t i il :is tired per kilowatt-hour, pounds
Dry coal per indicated-horse-power-hour, pounds
Dry coal per kilowatt-hour, pounds
Combustible per indicated-horse-power-hcur from t*st
pounds
Combustible per kilowatt-hour from test, pounds
' ' mbustible per kilowatt-hour from analysis, pounds
Beating value of coal as fired in pound-Fahronh<-it hea!
value of dry coal in pound-Fahrenheit heat
Pound-Fahrenheit heat units per kilowatt-hour
Pound-Fahrenheit heal units j,,.. 1 adicated-horae-power..
Efficiency between engine cylinders and switchboard per
centage
» rver-all I hernial efficiency per cent
[ndicatedhot i powi i per kilowatt
2.00
3.03
1.87
2.84
1.52
2.31
2.31
11,302.0
32,098.0
21,136.0
88. 3
10.63
1.52
1.865
3.03
1.77
2.87
11,416.0
12,148.0
34.834.0
21,486.0
82.5
and the load on the engines was maintained practically
constant by shifting the electrodes of a water rheostat
as an indicating wattmeter showed fluctuations in the
load. The total electrical output was measured by a
watt-hour meter.
Both of these plants have been in operation now for
several months, and the owners, after having viewed the
test data and the daily operation of the machines, have
8 &, 0 Tracks
'
For removing Furnace For removing Furnace
and Tubes and Tubes
loor Switchboard Door
Cold Storage
-■■
:
. .„ J
60 0' — *j
FIG. 8 — PLAN \NH BECTION UK LIMETON POWER HOUSE, SHOWING POSITION OF APPARATUS
Ih'.im ur IS, 1916
K 1. KCTRIC AL WORLD
411
expressed themselves as being well pleased with the
performance of the units.
Securing a test average of 3.03 lb. of coal per kw-hr.,
FIG. 9 — LIMETON LOCOMOBILE STATION
they point out, is a record to which a fair-sized power
plant might well point with pride, and since both tests
TABLE VIII COAL ANALYSIS
directly to the bearings or to an elevated tank from
which the oil can be distributed by gravity. If an ele-
vated tank is used, an overflow pipe should connect it
with the settling tank. Both tanks should be provided
with drain cocks through which water and sludge may
be removed. Elevated tanks are nearly always omitted
except in very large installations.
With the direct-pressure system the Vacuum Oil Com-
pany, Rochester, N. Y., suggests connecting a pressure-
regulating valve in the delivery pipe near the oil tank
so that an adequate supply of oil at constant pressure
will be furnished under all conditions, the surplus being
returned to the tank. It is also good practice to have
oil-flow indicators in return pipes from each bearing.
Test cocks fitted in the middle of the bearing caps fur-
nish another method of determining whether an ade-
quate supply of oil is being furnished.
If oil is used for lubrication only, the pressure re-
quired may amount to 3 lb. to 35 lb. per sq. in., depend-
ing on the size of the machine, the design of the jour-
nals, etc. Frequently, however, the same circulating
system is required to furnish oil for operating the
governing mechanism. In this case pressures as high
as 85 lb. may be required. If the oil pressure drops, the
turbine will usually come to a standstill automatically
before the bearings can be injured by insufficient lubri-
cation. Elevated tanks should be designed to hold
Moutore, in per '--lit
Volatile matter, per cent
Ash. perci-M . .
Bulpbur, pet cent
Pound-Fahrenheit heal units per pound of dry
have shown consistently that this character of per-
formance is possible with these 150-kw units using coal
as it comes from the hill, they feel well satisfied with the
results of their experiment in this regard.
Circulating-Oil System of Lubrication
On small turbines the sight-feed drop oiler has been
superseded by ring-oiled bearings, but turbines rated at
' Pump Oil Return Pipe
Fit;. 1 — GRAVITY-FEED LUBRICATING SYSTEM
300 hp and up are usually lubricated by the circulat-
ing-oil system. The governor spindle can be employed
to drive a centrifugal oil pump which takes oil from the
settling tank and delivers it through an oil cooler either
FIG. 2 — CENTRIFUGAL-PUMP OIL-CIRCULATING SYSTEM
enough oil to lubricate for at least half an hour so that
failure of the tank-filling pumps will not require imme-
diate stopping of the lubricated machinery. When a
direct-connected pump is employed to circulate oil
through the bearings the supply will not be adequate
until the turbine is running at one-quarter speed or
higher. Therefore, before starting a turbine oiled in
this manner it may be necessary to supply lubricant
temporarily with a hand-operated pump or from an
auxiliary system.
Utility of a Water Trap
Where leakage of water into an oil system cannot be
prevented a water trap attached to the lower oil tank
may be of great service. The trap should be drained
before starting machines and about twice every twenty-
four hours, letting the sludge and water run until clear
oil appears. The suction of oil pumps should be from
4 in. to 6 in. above the bottom of their respective oil
tanks so that water will not be drawn into the pumps
when the contents of the reservoirs are agitated. When
small oil-storage tanks are employed or when consider-
able water becomes mixed with the oil it is advisable to
draw off 3 gal. to 6 gal. each day for purification and
replace it immediately with an equal quantity of oil
which has been treated. Water can be distilled from
oil by treating it in a steam-heated separating tank.
Other solid impurities can usually be removed with
mechanical filters. Wherever possible it is good prac-
tice to have large settling tanks and to allow the oil
plenty of time to separate from water and other im-
purities before it is re-circulated.
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 7
The Diesel-Type Engine in the United States
Some Reflections Upon the Slow Adoption, the Inadequate Recognition and the
Promising Future of the High-Economy Oil Engine in This Country
By R. W. Crowly
TO thoughtful and well-informed engineers who
have a knowledge, or at least an appreciation,
of the extensive service being rendered through-
out the world by the Diesel type of oil engine it is a
matter of wonderment that a prime mover commanding
such respect, confidence and favor in other countries
should have earned so little patronage from American
engine users. There are no instantly obvious reasons
to account for this relative lack of support, and the
seeming indefiniteness of the situation unfortunately
breeds and fosters to some extent an underlying sus-
picion that the engine is not suited to the conditions of
the United States.
Many engineers — most, in fact, of that large num-
ber to whom the Diesel type of engine is but a name —
dare in their ignorance to commit themselves to the ex-
pression of unfavorable conclusions as a ready key to
the contrast between the American and European adop-
tion of this engine. Not infrequently one actually hears
the assertion made in dogmatic fashion that the engine
should be regarded as a failure, being unreliable to a
high degree. Too seldom are good words said of it.
The American atmosphere surrounding the Diesel type
of engine is unhealthful. It has been fouled, chiefly by
the ignorant, partly by the enemies of the engine, and
to a certain extent and unconsciously by some of those
who were most friendly toward it. In these surround-
ings the engine has not thriven. To purify and cleanse
this atmosphere there could be no better agent than
light, the light of knowledge. This is difficult to spread.
Ingrained objections and prejudices are hard to over-
come, and moreover the sort of knowledge that counts —
namely, the knowledge arising from familiarity with
these engines and with their regular daily work — can
grow only with time. Sure it is, however, that much
can be told to instil confidence and to banish the igno-
rance that so largely prevails.
How the Introduction of the Engine in Europe and America
Differed
In Germany two of the most honored names in the
industry were bound up with the engine from its incep-
tion, and to these were added others directly the com-
mercial production started. Such ties were of the very
greatest value as guarantees of the engine, for not
merely was it evident that linns of this rank would
support only an engine of provable satisfaction but it
was clear also that the productions would lie durable.
The early confidence displayed in the Diesel type of
engine in Europe was undeniably due in a very large
measure to confidence in the linns that produced it, and
these firms, being careful and jealous of their reputa-
tion and good name, could not afford to take, and did not
desire to take, the slightest risk in their work. In
Switzerland, in Belgium and in England, ami very little
later both in Holland and Denmark, a similar influence
prevailed, the Diesel engine becoming linked with lead
ing manufacturers, who card lor it and guided it
through the difficult days when the number of those who
could attend to it and who could diagnose and cur
ailment titling!} lew.
To the countries named above there remains to be
added Russia, which I I COnSidei lion, for it
OUntry where such "skilled labor" as can be ob
tained falls far short in quality of that available in other
lands. The Russian licensees had always been com-
pelled to work under this handicap, which was no nov-
elty to them when they undertook Diesel-engine con-
struction, but with the assistance of foreign foremen and
at the cost of much material they have habitually over-
come the disadvantage, and their Diesel sets have per-
formed always very satisfactorily.
In Sweden the unique case was seen of a new factory
established purposely and solely for the production of
this class of oil engine, and that factory has earned for
its various stationary and marine sets a reputation that
is unexcelled in Diesel circles, the Swedish engines hav-
ing been always among the very soundest and most
conscientiously built.
Alone in this country and in France were no special
arrangements made with prominent engineering firms,
the rights being held instead by "office" companies,
which ordered engines by contract, now from one factory
and then from another. The continuity of work needful
to detailed progress and advancement was absent from
the constructor's efforts; the interest and tradition were
lacking, and no trained experience accumulated in the
workshops. The French Diesel Company went into liqui-
dation about 1904 or 1905, when all the other European
Diesel concerns were prospering greatly; nor was the
American Diesel Engine Company successful.
Writing with personal knowledge of the opinions held
by the Diesel engineers in the various European coun-
tries, I can state that the slow adoption of this class of
oil engine both in France and in the United States is
attributed by them to the numerous disadvantages aris-
ing from the manner in which the patents were ex-
ploited in these two countries. These disadvantages
were far-reaching and affected both the sales and the
character of production, consequently influencing also
the later performances of the engine sets in their in-
dustrial service.
In the United States the patents originally granted to
I liesel were never challenged. In many of the European
countries, however, their validity was disputed, and,
although from about 1903 onward some of the manufac-
turers ceased to pay royalties, no legal steps were taken
to enforce whatever rights the patents conferred, and
newcomers of high standing entered the business with
some freedom before the year in which the patents were
supposed to expire. Naturally this competition was
more stimulating to business than was the American
monopoly, and it is reasonable to suppose that had the
holders of the United States patents promoted and en-
couraged various sound engineering firms to build under
license the volume of Diesel-engine trade in this country
would have been greater.
Again one may turn to Russia for an interesting com-
parison. By the terms under which the patent rights
were transferred to the Russian firm unrestricted free-
dom of sale was reserved to the M. A. N. company of
Germany, which has profited considerably thereby. The
Ru i.oi factory that had the privilege of building this
class of oil engine found it advisable at a later date
not merely to grant a license to a second firm within
tin- country, but it also supplied the orders to start the
Ho- elengine business of the newcomer and at times
even bought engine sets in Sweden in order to be able
\l:l 18, 1915
E I. E CTRICAL WORLD
11
to give rapid delivery in times of pressure. The result
has been that these two firms in combination of output
have produced a greater horse-power for Russian river
boats alone than is installed on United states territory
for all purposes, and in the stationary style of engine
their aggregate is several times beyond the United
stat.-. figure That result was obtained not only with
competition between those two firms but with a third
very strong competitor also in the field.
In the lack of powerful and responsible engineering
associations behind the introduction of the engine and
in the protracted absence of competition to stimulate it
one finds the two fundamental factors that retarded the
adoption of the Diesel-type motor in the United States.
The first factor, of course, takes into account the short-
comings charged against the original American engines,
and undoubtedly the first of the American-built sets
were far from the equals of the European contemporary
types. Perhaps also the class of attention and super-
vision devoted to the motor was not of a character
favorable to the best results, but one must not over-
look that in the early days of the Diesel engine in
Europe no other men were found to tend them than the
ordinary "drivers" from steam plants.
The Establishment and Scope of the Engine
A large school of thought in this country professes
to find in the steam turbine and in the water turbine
two unconquerable opponents to the commercial advance
of the Diesel oil engine in the United States. While.
however, it is perfectly true that the hydroelectric
plants loom large in the power economics of this coun-
try, and while also the period of development and the
spread of the steam turbine have coincided with those of
the Diesel engine, it is absurd to shut from one's view
the far more numerous installations and potential in-
stallations where neither style of turbine could, or
would, be taken into account.
By virtue of the great power of some of the later
units the steam turbine has attracted and compelled an
amount of interest and attention out of proportion to
the part it plays in the industrial economy of the nation.
For similar reasons the hydroelectric schemes have
captivated the minds of very many people, and, more-
over, no small amount of publicity has been earned for
them by the interested financial parties. The glamour
surrounding the steam turbine and the water turbine
has elevated them to heights they would not have
reached and would not occupy on material results alone.
The 30,000-kw turbo-generator and the 300,000-hp
hydroelectric plant do not constitute the entire power
machinery of the country.
The small factory, the isolated pumping works, the
generating station of the small town, the power house
of the remote quarry or mine — these are not turbine
possibilities. The small turbine is largely an engineer-
ing affectation, and should be restricted logically to the
low-pressure type for economizing exhaust steam. For
sets of less than 1000 hp there is a reactive tendency
among thoughtful engineers to consider the oil engine,
the gas engine or the steam engine, and below 500 hp
the circumstances must be particularly favorable to
coal if steam is to have the advantage over oil or gas.
In any case the oil engine should not be left out of
account merely for the sake of prejudice.
Fuel economy alone does not govern the relative
superiority of the oil engine or of its competitors, yet
only too often upon that basis alone is the oil engine
taken into consideration. The Diesel engine has indeed
certain specific advantages that should earn for it a
place in every electric generating station. If only for
the fact that it is always ready to start as quickly as one
can open a few cocks and handle a few levers, it should
:he goodwill of every station engineer. Not often
does one meet the emergency when extra power is re-
quired suddenly and unexpectedly before extra boilers
can be forced, but when the need arises it generally
makes itself felt very badly. It was with this in mind
that the chief engineer of one of the largest electric-
supply companies in the United States told me that if
he could get an oil engine of 30,000 hp he would buy it
at once, for the sake of the assistance it would give him
in times of sudden stress.
In Europe it is becoming regular practice for the
electric light and power companies to provide themselves
with this useful form of reserve. The large companies
install Diesel engines in their substations, the plant oc-
cupying little more space than a rotary converter or a
motor generator, and the substation thereby becomes en-
dowed with a certain small measure of independence,
which in case of trouble on the cables can prove useful.
Smaller companies install the Diesel engines in the cen-
tral station, and it has very generally been found that
owing to the splendid economy shown by the Diesel-type
engine at all loads a great saving is effected by running
the oil engine during the night to deal with the small de-
mand that occurs when practically no motors or domestic
lamps are in use. Even with the high price of fuel oil
in the United Kingdom, the Diesel engine has become an
accepted prime mover for the central station. In Ger-
many, where the domestic tar oil is obtainable at a price
lower than the cost of duty-free imported fuel oil in
England, a similar tendency is shown.
Indeed, in Germany there are several instances where
large sets of 1600 brake-hp have been installed in central
stations, this power being considerably in excess of any
English practice. Italy also furnishes an outstanding
example of the modern tendency. Inasmuch as, the
hydroelectric plant for the city of Rome having been
loaded to the due capacity of the falls, it became neces-
sary to erect an auxiliary generating station within the
city, for that purpose three Diesel-engine sets of 1500
hp each were selected. In Russia, of course, there are
numerous generating plants where only oil engines are
in service, and other European countries exhibit the
tendency to a greater or lesser extent.
The relative prices of coal and oil and the relation
between the best fuel consumption of the turbine and
that of the oil engine are not the alpha and omega of the
problem. The relative fuel consumption at low loads,
for instance, may be far more important — it depends
upon the local conditions. Instant readiness for service
may prove of the greatest value and yet not be trans-
latable into figures. Price of real estate may determine
whether an oil engine squeezed into a small available
space is cheaper than an extension of the boiler house
and engine room to take extra steam machinery. If
water be valuable, the very small demand which an oil
engine makes upon the supply will be an outstanding
benefit. If labor be expensive, the saving with the oil
engine will be considerable. Again, the absence of fire,
smoke and smell in connection with the compactness and
smooth-running qualities of the engines and the absence
of stand-by losses render this class of engine specially
suitable for the power plants of hotels, department
stores and other great city buildings.
In Europe scarcely any great edifice is erected in any-
city that does not have its own Diesel generating equip-
ment. It is said that the steam heating required in
winter in the United States cities renders the steam-
power plants the more advantageous, but this certainh
needs qualification, for the combination of steam plant,
and Diesel engines is in such cases most frequently the
more economical and more convenient. In the northern
cities of Europe, where vigorous winters prevail, requir-
ing the regular steam-heating system as practised in
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 7
this country, the oil-engine generating plant has been
proved to have the balance of merits. In the Tietz de-
partment stores, for instance, in the big German cities
the Diesel engines are a regular feature, the average
installation being of about 500 hp and the largest (in
Berlin) being about 1000 hp.
Among other applications of the Diesel-electric plant
in Europe only one more will be mentioned, its interest
being altogether special. In the electrification of the
suburban lines of one of the railroads running out of
London a proposal is under consideration to equip sev-
eral outlying substations with generating machinery
turned by Diesel engines, the intention being to employ
these sets to boost up the distant sections during periods
of heavy traffic, thus permitting considerable economies
to be made under the item of feeders alone, while also
an element of decentralization is introduced into the
system, affording some protection against dislocation of
traffic by transmission faults.
Future of the Diesel Engine in the United States
It cannot be doubted that in the United States the
Diesel engine must in future years find a more wide-
spread adoption than in any other country. It is strange
to contemplate that in this territory, whence is derived
about two-thirds of the oil supply of the globe, there
should be not more than 5 per cent, and probably less,
of the total Diesel engine power operative throughout
the world. Some twelve months ago I computed that
Diesel engines were developing an aggregate of 1,800,-
000 hp. This figure is not strictly accurate, but is a
close estimate, for it is largely composed of definite
totals supplied to me by various manufacturers, and
where a guess had to be made I sought estimates from
various competing firms and took the mean. During the
year 1914 the aggregate has increased probably to little,
if any, short of 2,250,000 hp.
Definite influences have retarded the progress of the
Diesel engine here. They are now being removed. The
industry is becoming so established that the shortcom-
ings of the less competent and less high-minded will be
far outweighed by the successful achievements of the
serious, conscientious and able firms. The growth of the
industry must of itself establish confidence among en-
gineers. One can point around the world to indicate
that by no possible process of reasoning can the Diesel
engine be regarded as experimental. It is to-day as
firmly proved as the steam turbine, and when this con-
crete fact shall have impressed itself upon American
engineers this high-economy oil engine will begin to as-
sume the place it deserves in the American power world,
where its opportunities and possibilities are of huge
volume.
It does seem that the number of American engineers
who seek enlightenment about Diesel engines and are
open to conviction is increasing at a noticeably more
rapid rate than has previously been known here. Some
dozen manufacturers arc either now manufacturing or
have announced their intention to construct Diesel en-
gines, and this display of manufacturing activity seems
to have quickened the interest of power engineers. Un-
fortunately, it is to be feared that not all of these pro-
ducers will pursue their task with the seriousness, ear-
nestness and deep reaped which the Diesel engine de-
mands of its constructors if success is to crown their
efforts.
As a piece of machinery the Diesel oil engine is more
fruitful of Intense problems than any class of engine
that has preceded it. The high gas pressures impose
en with the lavish use of metal, re-
quire bearing surfaces to be operated more heavily than
in previous engine practice, whence the need for more
rigid, truer and smoother bearings and journals, with
the minimum of slack, and the need for regular, even-
spreading and unfailing lubrication. Everywhere the
pressures are so much higher that the fit of every work-
ing part must be true and conscientious if hammer and
wear is to be avoided. Depending for its very operation
upon the maintenance of the gas pressures, the engine
must have absolute tightness at every part subjected
to gas pressure. There must be no warping, straining
or play. Rigidity and true workmanship impose their
need at every point and at every part. Over and above
all, more important than the rest, more difficult to deal
with are the problems arising from the intense heat
conditions.
These in themselves are a study of years. It is they
which bring inexperienced firms to grief still at the
present day. To overcome them has cost many a firm
a small fortune, and in the largest engines they have
not yet been overcome. They are so intense that they
jeopardize the existence of the two-stroke-cycle types of
Diesel engine, where their influence is so much greater
than it is in the "four-cycle" types. Their subjection is
the greatest secret of Diesel-engine construction, and
it is in order to take the short and sure cut to success
that some firms pay license money to experienced Euro-
pean builders. The profound and intimate experience of
years of Diesel-engine construction counts greatly also
in the mechanical design, for it is only by eliminating
the failures in petty details during the course of years
that the leading builders have succeeded in making their
Diesel engines as trustworthy and dependable as any
form of prime mover of these latest days.
Oil Temperatures Indicate Conditions of Bearings
and Coolers
It is just as important to maintain safe bearing tem-
peratures as it is to furnish an uninterrupted supply of
steam to an engine, therefore it is advisable to take
temperature readings frequently and periodically. On
high-speed machines it has been suggested that read-
ings be taken every half hour and never farther apart
than every hour. To minimize the work of reading tem-
peratures, and to furnish information which may be re-
quired in tracing causes of overheating, temperatures
might be taken at the following places : At each main
bearing or in the oil return from each bearing, at the
oil entrance to the oil coolers, at the oil outlets from
the cooler, at the cooling-water entrance to the cooler,
and at the cooling-water outlet.
Under normal conditions the temperatures of oil leav-
ing each bearing should not exceed 180 deg. Fahr. If
it does and the temperature of the cooling-oil outlet is
fairly low, there may be steam escaping at the bearing,
the oil may have broken down or may not be circulating
fast enough. If the temperature of the oil delivered to
the bearings has risen considerably, it may have been
caused by too slow a How of water to the cooler, by the
oil depositing impurities on the cooler tubes, or by the
water causing the formation of scale which hinders the
transfer of heat.
Too Blow water circulation will be indicated by an un-
usually large difference of temperature between the
water inlet and the water outlet. Poor heat transfer
is indicated by the oil outlet temperature being high,
the difference between water inlet and outlet tempera-
tures being smaller than usual. By making a record of
temperatures under different conditions when the ma-
chine is operating properly and the cooler is known to
lie clean, and referring to it when readings seem to be
at variance, the cause can generally be determined with
accuracy.
February 13, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
415
INSTALLATION OF STEAM PIPING
I'oinls (0 Be 01mm I ml in Arran^iti); the Mains and
Fittings
By S. U. Tuspin.
A steam pipe has just one purpose, namely. to convey
■team from one place to another; however, it should
accomplish this purpose with efficiency and safety. The
element of safety depends on the quality of the piping
and its fittings, the arrangement of the various parts,
and the nature of the workmanship displayed in the
erection of the piping.
So far as safety due to the quality of the materials
is ((interned, there need be little apprehension, provided
that the piping and the fittings are purchased from firms
of recognized standing and good reputation. Their
products have been thoroughly standardized and tested,
si i that they may be relied on to withstand all the
stresses for which they were designed.
When the matter of arrangement is considered, how-
ever, there are many things that may arise to render
impossible if the pipe C had been properly drained
by a drip pipe connected just in front of the valve D
and led away to a steam trap; also, it would not have
happened if either of the methods of arrangement
shown in Figs. - and :! had been used.
It is not always possible to avoid the formation of
pockets in piping, owing to the lack of head room, inter-
ference with walls or other parts of the building, and
similar reasons. In every such case the pocket should
have a drain pipe leading to a steam trap, so that the
condensation may be removed as fast as it forms. Even
then, (lie traps Bhould lie inspected to see that they are
in working order. A trap that is inoperative is worse
than none at all, because it lulls the attendants into as-
suming that all is safe and secure, when in reality no
safety or security exists.
Another point to be observed in connection with the
condensation that occurs is to slant the pipe so that the
water of condensation (lows in the same direction as
the steam. If the pipe is inclined in the opposite direc-
tion, the water will run back, counter to the steam cur-
r*
FIG. 1 — FAULTY CONSTRUCTION, WITH
DANGER OF WATER HAMMER
FIG. 2 — CONSTRUCTION WHEN
HEAD ROOM IS LIMITED
FIG. 3 — CONSTRUCTION WHEN
HEAD ROOM IS AVAILABLE
the installation unsafe and make it a constant danger to
the attendants. The most common of these is improper
provision for the drainage of pipes. Great care should
be taken to put up the piping, if possible, so that there
will be no low spots, or pockets, in which water can
collect. If this be neglected, there will always be
danger of disaster through water hammer.
The rate of travel of steam in pipes is in the
neighborhood of a mile a minute. Now, if a body of
water is allowed to collect in some part of the piping
system and steam is then admitted, the water will be
picked up and carried along by the steam current.
Water is practically incompressible, and if a slug of it
is swept along a pipe at a velocity of a mile a minute and
strikes an elbow or a valve, the effect is the same as
though the fitting had been struck by a metal hammer
weighing as much as the water and moving at an equal
speed. The result of this action may be a cracked valve
or fitting, a split pipe, or an injured employee.
An example of faulty connection inviting water ham-
mer is shown in Fig. 1. From the main steam pipe A is
lid the supply pipe B, which joins a horizontal run C
mi which the valve D is located. The pipe E on the
farther side of the valve leads down to an engine. Now,
when the valve D is closed, the piping between the main
and the valve is filled with live steam and all conden-
sation that occurs collects in the horizontal pipe C. If
the valve l> is suddenly opened, the rush of steam will
carry the water along and will throw it violently against
the valve, putting a heavy stress on it as well as on the
pipe C.
An installation containing an arrangement like that
shown actually failed by rupture of the pipe C at the
side, near the valve D, and the attendant who was open-
ing the valve was directly in the line of the escaping
steam and was scalded to death. Such a result would have
rent. The rapid flow of steam may retard the flow of
the condensation to such an extent that a slug of water
will be formed at some point. This, picked up and
driven by the steam, will produce water hammer and its
attendant dangers.
The construction of the straightway globe valve is
such that in certain positions its seat may form a pocket
in which water will collect. For this reason it is well
to avoid the use of this form of valve, and to install
proper drips whenever any other valve must be placed in
such a position that, when closed, it traps water in
the pipe.
To insure safety, provision must be made for the
movement of steam pipes under the effect of expansion
and contraction due to changes in temperature. In
the case of pipes leading from the boiler nozzles to the
main line, the change of length may be taken up by the
natural spring or elasticity of long-radius bends; or a
long riser from the boiler and a long horizontal pipe to
the main, with an angle valve at their junction, will
serve the same purpose.
In the case of a long, straight steam main, however,
the movement is all in the direction of the axis of the
pipe and cannot be taken up by bends. The pipe may
then "be anchored rigidly at a point near the middle,
and the ends be left free to come and go, roller brackets
or long suspension rods being used to permit this
movement.
Another way is to anchor the ends of the main firmly
and to insert a slip joint or an expansion joint near the
middle. Any arrangement, whether by accident or de-
sign, that holds the pipe rigidly throughout its length is
dangerous. The forces set up by heating or cooling a
line of pipe are very great, and proper allowance must
be made for them.
When erecting piping it frequently happens that the
4 Hi
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No.
flanges do not come truly in line with each other, so that
when the Mange Dolts are tightened a bending stress is
set up in the pipe. If bends of long radius are used, this
stress will be taken up by the bending of the pipe; other-
wise the flanges should be faced so that they will meet
evenly, without causing any bending stresses in the
piping.
In order that the steam shall be conveyed with effi-
ciency, the losses on account of the drop in pressure
due to frictional resistance and condensation due to
radiation must be made as small as possible. The re-
sistance to the flow of steam through a pipe is caused
by the roughness of the inside of the pipe and its
fittings, the contracted openings through valves, and the
changes of direction of flow due to elbows, tees, valves
and other fittings. To reduce the friction to a minimum,
therefore, there should be as few fittings and changes of
direction as possible.
Of course, the simplest and most efficient way would
be to use a straight pipe leading from one point to an-
other; but the layout of the plant, the connection of
several units and matters of a similar nature may
necessitate the use of many curves and fittings. As a
consequence, it is advisable to use bends of long radius
in preference to short elbows, as they will retard the
flow less and thus cause less drop in pressure.
There is an additional advantage in using direct lines
and long-radius bends, there being a reduction in the
amount of piping and consequently in the first cost for
material and labor. Moreover, the number of joints is
decreased, so that the expense of keeping the piping free
from leaks and in good condition will be lessened.
The diameter of the pipe has a definite relation to the
friction, and hence to the drop in pressure. The smaller
the diameter, the smaller the cross-sectional area of the
pipe, and the more rapidly must the steam travel in
order that a given amount of steam may be transmitted
in a given time. The more rapid travel results in an
increased loss of pressure between the entering and dis-
charge ends of the pipe.
On the other hand, the use of large sizes of pipe has
its disadvantages; for, while the velocity of flow and the
drop in pressure may thereby be reduced, there will be
an increase in the weight and cost of the pipe and its
fittings and in the loss of heat due to greater radiating
surface. It therefore becomes necessary to compromise
between excessive loss of pressure and excessive cost
and radiation loss. The result has been that live-steam
pipes are usually made of such size that the steam will
have a maximum velocity of 6000 ft. per minute.
The valve equipment for a system of steam piping is
expensive and forms a large item in the total cost. For
this reason unnecessary valves should not be used. To
this objection must be added the increased cost of up-
keep. The packings of valve stems harden and crack,
and leaks develop. The larger the number of valves.
the greater will be the chance for leakage and the
greater will be the cost of keeping valves in good con-
dition. Moreover, needless valves add to the resistance
to the flow of steam.
More thought should be given to the location of valves
on steam lines. As far as possible, they should be placed
in easily accessible positions. Too often it is necessary
to maintain a precarious balance at the top of a ladder
or to lean out from a platform or gallery to reach the
hand-wheel. The safety of the workman should be con-
sidered. In closing or opening a valve he should Q01
be required to stand in such a position as to be in
danger of being scalded if B pipe or valve should burst.
Above all. he should not be compelled to go down into a
'I pit to adjust a valve carrying steam. The valve
should be carried up to the floor, where it can be
reached without risk or trouble.
Gland Packing
As steam leaking out of the high-pressure stages
of a turbine or air leaking into the exhaust passages
would greatly decrease the efficiency of the machine, it
is important that the glands be properly packed. To
seal the glands, many engineers employ carbon rings,
labyrinth packing or water seals. Carbon rings, which
are usually arranged as shown in the accompanying
drawing, are made of several segments which can be
held in place by long, helical springs. Steam can be
FIG. 1 — CARBON-RING PACKING
admitted to the pipe opening into the chamber sur-
rounding these rings to increase the pressure between
the segments and the journals. Where the pressure on
the rotating shaft is liable to be large it is sometimes
customary to feed oil into the gland to prevent wear of
the shaft and also to improve the sealing effect of the
packing.
Labyrinth packing is usually employed at both the
high-pressure and low-pressure ends of a turbine.
Where this packing is to be employed the shaft has to
be provided with a number of collars as shown in the
accompanying sketch. Packing rings are then fitted
into grooves in the surrounding casings so as to lie
between the collars on the shaft and offer only a zigzag
path for steam which may tend to escape that way.
Whatever steam may leak past the rings should be al-
lowed to escape through a pipe attached to the casing.
Low-pressure labyrinth packings are similar to the
one just described except that the pipes connected to
the casings should be used to introduce steam at low
pressure into the packing so that when the latter leaks
Water Seal
FIG. 2 — WATKR SKAL AND LABYRINTH PACKINGS
steam will be admitted and not air. Water seals usually
consist of a collar on the shaft which is revolved inside
a easing into which a constant supply of water is ad-
mitted under pressure. The water which is thrown by
centrifugal force to the periphery of the circular cham-
ber forms a barrier to leakage along the shaft.
Pbbri \hi 18, 1916
ELECT RIC A I. \V() R LD
Machine-Tool Performance Diagnosis
Lessons of the Power-Time Characteristic and Value of Automatic Records on Analyzing
Productive Operations
WHAT the indicator is to the steam engine the
graphic wattmeter may soon become to the
motor-driven machine tool. Records of this
valuable instrument afford a simple and accurate basis
for judging machine performance and diagnosing the
causes of delays and of inefficient use of control equip-
ment, checking the fitness of a given motor equipment
for the existing service, and illustrating the effective-
ness of various brands of tool steel, special shapes for
cutting, grinding, etc. Tests show that the actual ac-
curacy of a graphic wattmeter may be about 90 per
cent, although the relative accuracy of different parts
of the same record may run still higher.
An example of the usefulness of this equipment is
afforded by the following record of operations by a 42-
FIG. 1 — CASTING ( NOT TO SCALE i
in. engine lathe 24 ft. long, the work comprising the
rough turning of a 12-in. projectile, the finished weight
of which is 1046 lb. The lathe was manufactured by
the Pond Machine Tool Company, and was driven by a
Diehl interpole, shunt-wound 20-hp, 230-volt motor hav-
ing a speed range of from 400 to 1200 r.p.m.
The shape of the casting is shown in the accompany-
ing sketch, and the various operations associated with
rough turning are indicated by the letters on the dia-
grams, reproduced from the instrumental record.
Description of Graphic Record
A — Start of first roughing cut a. Round-nose tool
of high-speed, bearing trade name "Rex AA." Speed is
5.2 r.p.m. Feed is about 0.14 in. Diameter of cut is
12.5 in.
D — Ends of first cut of 23-in. length. Owing to the
taper of the casting, the tool is next drawn back to
- Starr
FIG. 2 — SECTION OF POWER CHART
give a diameter of 13 1 16 in. for cut b. Speed is 2.9
r.p.m., and feed is as at A.
F — End of cut b, length of which is 14.5 in. A sec-
ond cut is now taken over b to reduce to 12.5 in. Tool
breaks at beginning of run and is replaced. Speed is
5.5 r.p.m., with feed as above. This is a cut of constant
depth because b has already been turned to an even
diameter.
H — Tool breaks owing to water crack. A new tool
(1% I'RBC) is inserted and set for a greater diam-
eter.
M — End of second cut on b.
N — The step left by withdrawing the tool at // i-
reduced to a diameter of 12.5 in. The length of this
cut is about 6 in.
FIG. 3 — CONTINUATION OF POWER CHART
U — End of this cut.
P — Circuit-breaker opens twice owing to too rapid
starting of motor during adjustments.
Q — Start of second roughing cut on bourrelet of pro-
jectile.
R — Shut-down for lunch.
S — Continuing cut on bourrelet, with tool 1 ' '2
P R B C. Speed, 5.3 r.p.m. Diameter of cut, 12^ in.
Feed, about 0.14 in.
T — Cut on bourrelet is completed and tool is fed in to
cut on body at a diameter of 12 1/16 in., with same
speed and feed.
V — End of second roughing cut.
W-X — Adjustments.
Y — A small cut is made at C with the same tool.
Z — Stop for different style tool, P R S B, for cut on
ogive.
1 — First roughing cut on ogive. Speed, 13 r.p.m.
Feed, about 0.04 in. Maximum diameter, 12% in.
FIG. 4 — CONTINUATION OF POWER CHART
with-
2 — Owing to heavy nose of casting, the tool
drawn to reduce the cut.
3 — End of first roughing cut on ogive and start of
cut to remove step left by previous operation.
4 — Second roughing cut on ogive. As the diameter
increases the motor speed is increased at 4 a, b.
5 — -End of second cut on ogive.
6 — Adjustments for cut on D. (See sketch.)
418
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 7
7 — Cut D is from base to bourrelet. Tool, 1^4
PHLH. Diameter of cut, 11 9/16 in. Feed, about
0.04 in.
8 — Stop to caliper work.
9 — Speed increased to 21.5 r.p.m.
10— End of cut.
11— Cutting off tool % PCFE in post. Speed is
5 r.p.m. at surface, which was increased to about 10
r.p.m. near center of piece.
12 — End of operation and work removed from lathe.
Analysis of Diagrams
The ideal power record from A to F would be a
straight line, representing the maximum rate of re-
moval of metal at all parts of the cut. The slope is
caused by the increasing depth of the cut due to the
taper of the casting. More metal could be removed at
A by increasing the feed or the speed, the latter being
a practicable method. On the assumption that the
power required is in a direct proportion to the cubic
inches of metal removed per minute, the time of the
operation would be reduced by about ten minutes. The
cutting speed at A is about 17 ft. per minute. To re-
move the same metal as at C it would have to be 45 ft.
per minute, a speed which might be prohibited by the
scale and sand on the casting. The tool speed for the
cut T-V is about 17 ft. per minute. If this is the lim-
iting speed, the work could be done in a shorter time
by increasing the feed. The question then becomes
"-90
"-60
\90
-TO
HR'Readmg r.0 266
\ 10\
FIG. 5 — END OF POWER CHART
whether the tool could stand continuously the cut it
carries at C, which is a heavier cut made at the same
speed.
In turning down the ogive a radial arm draws the
tool slide rest to the spindle, reducing the diameter at
which the tool works, as the carriage is fed toward
the dead center. The curve of the ogive is thus auto-
matically obtained. The cut 1-2 is of increasing size
owing to the heavy nose of the casting. Hence the de-
creasing power is due to a lower cutting speed at re-
duced diameters, with the result shown on the curve.
The operation 7-10 invites inspection on account of its
length. The cut is from base to bourrelet. As the
projectile is cast with base upward, the nose is prob-
ably the hardest part of the casting. It is therefore
difficult to understand why the operator increased the
at 9, which is at a point more than half way
down the Btock; <>r. if the Increased speed, 66 ft. per
minute, is safe at this point, why it was not used for
the whole cut, thereby decreasing the time required.
The h power from 11 to 12 is attributable to
two causes. The spindle speed was increased so as to
have the Cutting speed more nearly constant as the
tool approached the center of the Btock, while the tool
friction increased as the tool entered the CUt, Hi'
bringing a greater surface of to< the lide of
it Allowing for th< Intermittenl load and figur-
ing l-i per cent motor efficiency, it appears thai tin'
work might be handled by a motor of 8-hp to 10 hp
rating, Instead of the 20 lip equipment installed.
Motor Sizes for Flour-Mill Machinery
Estimates of the various sizes of motors required to
drive the machines in a modern flour-mill installation
were set forth by Mr. T. E. Simpers, of the Westing-
house Electric & Manufacturing Company, Pittsburgh,
Pa., in a talk before the Ohio Electric Light Associa-
tion's committee on new-business co-operation at Cleve-
land, Jan. 20. Among the machines which make up the
average flour-mill installation, as enumerated by Mr.
Simpers, are grain shovels, car hauls, cleaners, hullers,
scourers, roller mills, dust-collector apparatus, sifters,
packing and weighing machines, conveyors and eleva-
tors.
In the modern flour mill the several milling processes
are interdependent, and it is therefore necessary that
all of the different sections of the machinery should run
as a unit. This is accomplished in many mills by group-
ing all starting apparatus under the control of a single
operator who starts the motors as nearly simultaneously
as possible by pushing buttons. Pilot lamps on the
switchboard report the operation of the individual
motors. Near each machine are placed safety-stop
buttons connected to the oil-switch tripping circuits so
that if necessary any machine can be quickly stopped
without the delay of going to the central board.
Motor-Driven Car Unloader
The power shovel used for unloading grain cars is a
device for pulling a large scoop handling grain or
similar material across the floor of the car to the door
of the latter. The shovel must be guided by at least
one man. A 2-hp or 3-hp motor, back-geared and belted
from the countershaft to the shovel, makes a satisfactory
application. The usual speed for cleaners is 400 r.p.m.,
and the power requirements are from 0.5 hp to 1 hp
for each 100 bushels per hour.
Separators operate at speeds from 500 r.p.m. to 600
r.p.m. The larger sizes having outputs of 1500 to 2000
bushels per hour require 1 hp for each 150 to 200 bushels
per hour. In considering the smaller sizes of these ma-
chines, a safe rule is to consider 2.5 hp as the friction
load of the machine, adding to this 1 hp for each 100
bushels per hour.
Scourers operate between 450 and 700 r.p.m. In the
larger sizes, having a rating of 500 bushels per hour,
the machines require about 10 hp for each 100 bushels
per hour rating. However, considering the smaller
sizes, one may safely figure on 5 hp as the friction load,
adding 6 hp for each 25 bushels per hour rating.
Wheat-hauling machines operate at 400 to 650 r.p.m.,
and require about 7.5 hp for each 100 bushels per hour
of rating.
Double roller mills as used in wheat milling operate
at speeds of from 450 r.p.m. for the 9-in. rolls to 600
r.p.m. for the 6-in. rolls, either size mill requiring about
1 hp per 100 bushels per hour rating.
Sifters, dust-collectors, purifiers and bolters run at
slow speeds, approximately 200 r.p.m., and require from
2 hp to 1 hp per machine.
As packing and weighing machines differ in construc-
tion, it is difficult to give any idea of their power re-
quirements. Their load is, however, practically a fric-
tion load. As a general rule, 5 hp will take care of
practically all such machines, including those of larger
rating.
Energy Requirements of Flour Mills
The (lower required by conveyors and elevators can
be computed simply from the weight of material ele-
rated, Hie rate at which it is elevated, and the height
through which lifted. For horizontal conveyors it is
usual to figure 5 hp for each 100 ft. of S-in. screw con-
veyor and 5 hp for each 100 ft. of 24-in. belt conveyors.
February 18, 1915
E I. KCTRIC AL WORLD
419
In verifying the foregoing BBtimatea as added to-
gether fur the entire mill, including power shovels and
car hauls, the general practice is that aboul 1 hp is re
tjuired for each 35 barrels of soft-wheat capacif
twenty-four hours and 1 hp to each 3 barrels of hard-
wheat capacity per twenty-four hours.
The energy required for flouring mills varies from -
kw-hr. to C. kw-hr. per barrel of flour output, depending
on the size of the mill and on the per cenl of possible
production at which it is working, said the speaker in
dosing. For example, a certain 40-barrel mill showed a
specific consumption of 5.45 kw-hr. per barrel of flour,
while a 400-barrel mill consumed '■', kw-hr. per unit of
output. In the case of the 40-barrel mill referred to,
the total load was 1 1 kw. of which 7.8 kw was due to
friction only.
Six Girls, 2 Hp 1800 Pies an Hour
The John R. Thompson Company, a Chicago restau-
rant firm which extensively advertises the quality of
its pies, has installed an electrically operated machine
which makes 23,000 pies a day. The pie machine, which
weighs 8000 lb. and measures 20 ft. by 4 ft., is driven
by a 2-hp motor and operated by six girls. Dough is
carried to the machine by men who have prepared it
and cut into pieces of the right size to form a bottom
or a top crust. Different doughs are used for bottom
crusts and for top crusts, the latter being somewhat
that the operator, taking them from the machine, may
reach the bottom of the pie pan conveniently.
The motor and all of the gears and the rolls revolve
continuously after the motor circuit is closed, but the
conveyor may be stopped by moving a hand lever which
disengages a friction clutch. The Colborne Manufac-
turing Company, 167 West Division Street, Chicago,
maker of this machine, claims that it can produce 1800
pies an hour when operated at its highest speed.
Card System for iMotors
The United Electric Light & Power Company, New
York, is keeping track of its motor installations of com-
bined ratings of 5 hp or over by means of cards similar
to those shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, which represent the
motor-operated pie machine with a daily output of
23,000 pies
richer than the former so that it will brown more
readily. Standing at the farther side of the machine,
as it is shown herewith, one girl feeds bottom-crust
dough into a roller, which delivers it, a flattened piece
of proper shape and uniform thickness, to another girl
who puts it into a pan. This girl drops the pan sharply
into one of the pan holders, thus settling the bottom
crust into the recesses of the pan without touching with
her hands the part of the dough used in the pie. In
the pan rack the pie pan then travels around the end
of the table at the right, the pan rack being driven by
a chain conveyor. As the dough which is to form a
bottom crust passes the turn at the right end of the
rack dampened brushes moisten the dough at the edge
of the pan, so that the top-crust dough will stick when
applied. The filling is placed in the pie by a girl just
as the pan emerges from the edge dampener. Then the
filled bottom crust passes under the roller on the near
side of the machine and receives its top crust, which
is fed into a roller, stamped with a letter cutter and
placed on the pie by two girls. At the left end of the
machine the pan holders are lowered and then thrust
upward under the beveled wheel shown above the travel-
ing conveyor. The beveled wheel is free to revolve, and
as the edges of the pies come into contact with the bev-
eled edge the wheel and the pie pan roll in contact and
the extra crust trimmed from the pie is dropped to the
flat plane which is a part of the pan rack. As the pie
pans leave the beveled wheel they are lifted slightly so
•* POWER INSTALLATION
,'JT.i S5B!.«ct.o
— "-*'cr*° ■ '
. —
MOTORS MOTORS
FIG. 1 — FRONT SIDE OF CENTRAL-STATION COMPANY'S
MOTOR-RECORD CARD
front and back respectively of each card. This system
is used only with consumers having a motor load of 5
hp or more, because with the smaller installations it is
next to impossible to keep accurate records.
At the top of the card on the front is written the
name of the customer, his address and the nature of
his business, the number of motors, the total rating and
other information as shown in Fig. 1. In the large
space under "Motors" is written detailed information
about each motor, such as rating, type, manufacturer,
speed, type of machine which it operates, whether di-
191 191
Kw Mrs Bills f.w. Hrs Bills
MONTH l PWR
LIGHT PWR. , LIOHT PWR | LIGHT , PWR LIOHT
JAN
rem
MAR
'
APR
MAY
JULT
AUG.
SEPT.
OCT.
NOV
QIC.
TOTAL
i
1 t
CALLS MADE
DATE RESULTS OF CALL MADE BY
I
FIG. 2-
-BACK OF CENTRAL-STATION COMPANY'S MOTOR-
RECORD CARD
rectly connected or belt-connected, individual or group
drive, etc.
On the upper part of the reverse side of the card
which is illustrated in Fig. 2 are kept records of month-
ly input and the cost thereof, which are entered by the
bookkeeping department of the company. Below, under
the heading "Calls Made," are tabulated results of peri-
odic calls on the consumer.
420
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 7
Operating Kinks
Disposal of Condensation on Waterwheel Housings
Where waterwheel units exposing large surface areas
of casing to the air are operated in hydroelectric power
houses, the water of condensation is a source of trouble
to the operating engineer. This is usually collected in
a channel cast about the periphery of the sub-base and
drained to the tailrace. On the 20,000-hp Pelton-Doble
units installed at the Drum power house of the Pacific-
Gas & Electric Company several hundred square feet
of surface are exposed to the heated air of the power
house, and the resulting condensation is copious. Op-
erating conditions made it inadvisable to utilize the
customary drainage tubes, and during the early months
of operation much of the operator's time was taken
up in mopping the floor and otherwise disposing of con-
densation collecting in the drainage channel.
The rapidly revolving wheel rotating in the closed
casing, by the action of centrifugal force throwing
REMOVING CONDENSATION FROM WATERWHEEL HOUSING
the air outward, produces a strong vacuum about the
shaft, and it was decided to utilize this vacuum to draw
the water from the drainage channel into the tailrace.
A hole was drilled in the casing near the shaft, and a
%-in. pipe, fitted with a valve, extended to the drain-
age channel. At occasional intervals the operator opens
this valve, and the condensation collected in the drain-
age channel is quickly removed.
Same Starting Equipment for Large and Small
Machines
Switching equipments in the substations of the Edi-
son Electric Illuminating Company of Brooklyn are ar-
ranged so that one set of resistance grids or one com-
pensator can be used to start all of the rotary converters
or frequency changers as the case may be without cans
ing short-circuits. The accompanying diagram indi-
cates how the apparatus Is connected on the converter
and starting panels. To start a machine the Held switch
is placed in t tic posit inn connecting the field coils direct
ly across an energised bus and energy Is supplied to the
armature bj closing the positive bus switch, the start
ing-bus switch, and gradually the Qve-contacl starting
switch. Then the negative bus switch and field switch
are closed, connecting the windings across the machine
terminals, after which the starting and five-contact
switch are opened. If the grid resistance connected to the
starting bus through a five-blade double-throw switch
cannot be used, it can be instantly replaced by a re-
serve grid by throwing the five-blade switch into the
FIG. 1 — STARTING RESISTANCE GRIDS AND EMERGENCY
THROW-OVER SWITCH
opposite position. After bringing the machine up to
synchronous speed by increasing the field resistance the
alternating-current voltages of the machine and its re-
spective transformers can be equalized with induction-
type regulators, synchronous or split-pole boosters, de-
pending on the equipment installed. Then the converter
is ready to be synchronized with the alternating-current
system.
To prevent connecting the armature of a converter di-
rectly across a bus without starting resistance in series,
as might occur if the starting-bus switch on another
Emergency- grid ,
am
J J J J * Bus Switches
I 1 1
Ujs T — I — I — T~T Blade Starfinq-
Sws \\\ \ V buss,v'tch
\ ] No. I -Bus
Starting Bus
FIG. 2 — DIAGRAM of CONNECTIONS
machine panel is closed, the blades of each starting-bus
switch have been removed and one quickly insertable
blade n<n\ for all. The pins are left in each hinge, how-
ever, so that the special blade may lie slipped into place
wit hunt any delay.
A similar cheme i employed for starting frequency
changers from the same compensator, a reserve unit
\K\ 13, 1916
ELECTRICAL WORLD
4J1
being in emergencies. In the Hicks Street
.substation an oil-cooled compensator is used which will
start one 2600-kva and three L250-kva frequencj chang-
«-rs in succession without overheating'. The larger ma-
chine which is being installed and one of the L250-kva
units are equipped with directly connected exciters and
enough squirrel-cage liars t<> increase the speed suili-
ciently so that the gradually increasing field current will
not cause the machines to draw large starting currents.
It is reported that these machines accelerate much
r than similar units which are not provided with
the permanently connected ex<
Indicating Thermometers Pari of Switchboard
Equipment
At the 187th Street substation of the United Electric
Light & Power Company, New York City, indicating
thermometers connected with all transformer and
feeder-regulator windings are employed as a portion of
the regular switchboard equipment. Part of the switch-
board is shown herewith. After determining the high-
est temperatures which various pieces of apparatus can
withstand without injuring the insulation they will be
operated up to this temperature regardless of their rat-
ing. So far a temperature limit of 80 deg. C. has been
set for the regulators by their manufacturer. Although
these regulators are of the air-cooled type, it has been
found possible by means of the indicating thermometers
to operate them without forced cooling under the pres-
ent load, thereby saving the amount of energy normally
SWITCHBOARD EQUIPPED WITH INDICATING THERMOMETERS
supplied to the blower motors. A temperature limit of
80 deg. C. has also been stipulated for the transformers,
which are air-cooled; thus these too may be operated
part of the time without forced draft,
As electrical equipment is rated on the current it will
carry without producing more than a certain rise in
temperature above 20 deg. C, it can be used to carry
heavier loads than its rating where the surrounding
temperature is lower than 20 deg. Central-station com-
panies in the colder climates can therefore operate their
equipment at higher loads than it is rated for if they
employ continuously indicating thermometers for de-
termining when the temperature limit has been reached.
On the panels shown in the accompanying illustra-
tion is other interesting equipment, including transfer-
bus switches on each feeder panel, instrument-testing
switches on the upper feeder panels, differential and
reverse-energy relays on the bottom feeder panels, total-
izing graphic wattmeter and recording bus voltmeter on
the left-hand panel, and emergency lighting relay and
regulator-control cut-out on the second panel.
The transfer-bus switches can be employed to con-
nect any idle transformer bank onto any incoming
feeder. The testing switches, which are of the double-
throw, broken-back type, are designed so that portable
test sets may be connected thereto and the instruments
named above calibrated without breaking the circuit
between the series transformers and the protective re-
lays. The differential relays are connected with the
primary and secondary terminals of the transformers
so that any fault in the windings will operate the corre-
sponding relay. The reverse-energy relays, assisted by
overload relays on the outgoing feeder circuits, confine
disturbances to the feeders in which they occur. The
totalizing wattmeter is provided with a controller which
allows full-scale deflection with maximum load on one
or several incoming feeders. To read the chart curve
the scale value is multiplied by the number of feeders
supplying energy during the interval being considered,
and the result is divided by five.
Clamp for Jumper Cable
The accompanying illustration was contributed by Mr.
Lewis A. Lewis to the wrinkle department of the North-
west Electric Light & Power Association and shows a
clamp used on a jumper cable. One end of the cable is
attached permanently to a jumper cable and the other
end, as shown, can be clamped to any cable. By this
means any two feeders can be tied together or any
CLAMP FOR JUMPER CABLE
feeders can be connected to a jumper panel and the
switch and circuit breaker cut out for repairs. This
scheme eliminates what would ordinarily be two inter-
ruptions to the service. For convenience in connecting
the Washington Water Power Company, Spokane, Wash.,
has permanent lugs on the back of the feeder panels
but the scheme can also be used on any cable as shown.
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 7
Extracts and Abstracts
Safety Second — Service First
Mr. W. H. Blood, Jr., past-president of the National
Electric Light Association, in an article with the above
head in the January issue of Stone & Webster's Public
Service Journal, says: "Just at the moment 'safety
first' is the popular ailment, so much so that many
companies have even exposed themselves voluntarily
to this busy bacillus which is bustling all over the land.
'Safety first' may be good as a slogan to wake up the
dormant public and to get people to realize that it pays
to be careful, but to apply it literally in the operation
of a public service property is idle."
" 'Safety first.' " Mr. Blood says, "applied to a public
service company does not exist, never did, and never
should. 'Service first' should be the aim of a public
service company. Safety may be a close second, but
service must come first, and if it does not the operator
should get out of the public service business. Safety
is in reality a function of service. Good service implies
safe methods, but this does not mean that safety must
take the place of service, for all the operations of a
public service corporation entail some risk. We should
secure a proper balance and not be carried away by the
hysterical cry of 'safety first' regardless of anything
else which the present campaign implies.
"If 'safety first' were really lived up to, how would
it be possible to operate steam boilers at 200 lb. pres-
sure, an amount allowed under certain conditions?
Should not this be cut down to 100 lb., since we know
that high-pressure boilers have exploded and the best
of tubes have blown out? 'Reasonably safe' says oper-
ate the boilers at 200 lb. 'Safety first' says you must
not do it. Your steam piping may break at a joint
and scald an employee. In the face of this, however,
'Good engineering' says, 'I have used my years of
experience and well-proved theories and also a factor
of safety in the design of the piping.' But 'Safety
first,' with an 'I-told-you-so' air, responds, 'Accidents
will happen; you should have put your steam pipe 50
ft. underground or up in the air 100 ft. where no one
could have been burned.' The engine may run away
and the flywheel may burst. 'Safety first' prescribes
a casing or an inclosure strong enough to hold the fly-
ing fragments. 'Service first' knows that it is ridicu-
lous and says, 'Take a chance, but use reasonable pre-
cautions to see that your governor is kept in perfect
condition and be sure to put on a reliable safety stop
so that you will be reasonably certain that your gov-
ernor will not overspeed.' Your dynamo turns out
current at 10,000 volts. 'Intelligent handling,' says this
is a sale voltage; 1000 volts, however, is less liable
to cause an accident, and 'Safety first.' to live up to its
name, orders a reduction. 'Service first' says no, and
as 'Service first' is the final consideration the plant
keeps on operating at 10,000 volts.
"A proposed code of safety rules says. 'Do not work
on any circuit while it is alive.' That is 'safety first'
with a vengeance, for under present-day demands it is
impossible," says Mr. Blood, "Modern requirements
make it necessary that we take some chances; this
doesn't mean that carelessness is ever justified, but
rather that all the precautions that are reasonably
necessary must be taken and also that we must 'deliver
the goods/ which in this case is 'service,'
"The great American public says, 'The electric cur-
rent must be read] tor at every minute of the twenty-
four hours in every day of the year; when we push the
switch the lights must shine instantly.' The trolley car
is scheduled to run every five minutes and it must do
SO. A minute or two late will not be satisfactory. Serv-
ice is the demand first, last and all the time; service
the public is entitled to and service it will get. Safety
is necessarily of secondary importance. Suppose Lord
Kitchener gave the order to advance and his officers
should say, 'Tut, tut, General; remember safety first.'
What would such an army accomplish? 'Safety last'
must be inborn in a good soldier. 'Service first' is the
prime requisite of a good soldier, and in all enterprises
where personal achievements count 'service first' must
be the universal guide."
Coal and Its Economical Use
The advisability of generating electricity as a by-
product of coal, selection and testing of fuel, character-
istics of bituminous coal, principles and control of com-
bustion, classification of heat losses, effect of carbon
dioxide on boiler efficiency and the final temperature of
the exit gases were discussed recently by Mr. P. S.
Thompson before the Newcastle Section of the (British)
Institution of Electrical Engineers. The author pre-
sented an economic argument for the combined produc-
tion of coke, gas and electricity.
Some of the factors governing the choice of fuel are :
price delivered at the generating station; the heat
equivalent; suitability to the furnaces in which it will
be burned; amount of ash which will be produced and
the cost of its disposal. In placing fuel contracts it is
advisable to have laboratory fuel tests supplemented by
data obtained from actual boiler evaporative trials.
It was pointed out that purchasing coal on the calorific-
value basis with bonuses or rebates for changes in com-
position tempts coal dealers to increase their unit price.
There is, however, no question as to the value of making
systematic analyses of coal as the knowledge that such
is done has a marked effect in keeping the quality of
deliveries up to standard. It is the amount of shale
and dirt present in coal which is responsible for varia-
tions in the calorific value. Unless sampling is carefully
carried out, the most accurate tests are of little value.
The amount of volatile matter, which depends upon
the hydrogen contents of the coal, may be looked upon
as a measure of the difficulty of burning without smoke,
and when this amount rises to 30 per cent or more
the difficulty is very considerable. An excess of vola-
tile matter is also undesirable as it exists at the ex-
pense of the fixed carbon, which is the more valuable
heating agent. If iron pyrites exist in the coal,
sulphurous gas will be formed during combustion and
will eventually become sulphuric acid, which is very
detrimental to metallic surfaces. Furthermore, sulphur
causes pasty clinkers which interfere with the draft,
therefore coal containing more than 1 per cent of sul-
phur should be avoided.
Rapidity of combustion depends upon the exposed
surface of the combustible. Furthermore, the tempera-
ture of the fire depends on the rate of heat evolution.
The theoretical maximum attainable temperature when
carbon is burned to carbon dioxide is .",700 deg. Fahr.,
and when burned to carbon monoxide is 2380 deg. Fahr.
In practice, however, the air supply cannot be so closely
regulated that the theoretical temperature is ever at-
tained. If 25 per cent excess air is furnished, the maxi-
num temperature obtainable will be 3540 deg. Fahr. It
should be remembered that the reduction of carbon
dioxide to carbon monoxide is a heat-absorbing re-
action.
\ bituminous coal must be burned partly as a
and partly as a solid, the furnace must be designed for
two dissimilar conditions. These conditions are met by
providing a large combustion chamber lined with re-
fractory material SO constructed that the gases are
Febki'aky 18, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
not brought into contact with the absorbing surfaces
of the boiler before combustion is complete, otherwise
smoke will result.
With perfect combustion the (laming gases should
be transparent, and the furnace brickwork fairly visible
and of a whitish-red color. For proper Inspection s
violet-blue glass should be employed. Through this
the gases and fuel will appear lavender-gray if com-
bustion is perfect; if not, the flames will look like
streams of dark-colored gas.
Complete combustion is not necessarily economical,
for if excess air is present it will carry away a large
amount of heat. To maintain a satisfactory natural
draft the temperature of the exit gases from the fur-
nace should be between 400 deg. and 550 deg. Fahr.
With these temperatures, however, 11 per cent of the
total heat given off by the fuel escapes through the
chimney, so that it may pay to install a forced-draft
system. The temperature of the exit gases cannot be
taken always as a measure of the boiler and furnace
efficiency as excess air will cause the temperature to
decrease and dirty heating surfaces will allow the
gases to pass away uncooled.
When bituminous coal is burned the hydrogen of
the hydro-carbon gases takes up oxygen to form water ;
therefore the theoretical amount of carbon dioxide pro-
duced with perfect combustion is 15 per cent instead
of 18 or 19 per cent. Hence the excess air for the best
operation should be about one and one-quarter times
the theoretical value. As the presence of 1 per cent
carbon monoxide in the exit gases corresponds to a
loss of 2.2 per cent of the total heat from the coal, it is
better to run below 12 per cent carbon dioxide than
above.
When coal is burned in a furnace the heat produced
may be considered as being distributed as follows :
Radiation loss, which averages 5 to 7 per cent in mod-
ern boiler setting; heat carried away by exit gases,
part of which in natural-draft installation must be
regarded as the cost of producing the draft; the heat
lost, or rather not evolved, owing to imperfect com-
bustion; the loss due to unburned carbon being carried
away in ash and clinkers, about 5 per cent on the
average, and the heat absorbed by the heating surfaces.
The amount of heat absorbed by the water is increased
by a reduction of the first four items. As the first de-
pends upon the construction of the boiler and is there-
fore out of control of the operator, the effective utiliza-
tion of heat can be obtained only by adjusting the fuel
and the air supply so that the best relationship will
exist.
Starting Small Gas Engines
In small gas or gasoline-engine-driven plants em-
ployees frequently expose themselves to considerable
danger in starting engines by standing on the flywheel
spokes or by thrusting levers between the spokes and
prying the flywheel over until an explosion occurs. Such
practices should be prohibited and safer methods recom-
mended. A safety crank much favored in Germany was
described in the December issue of the Travelers'
Standard. Besides disengaging when the engine starts
this crank is designed to throw out automatically if the
engine "back-fires" or the operator releases his grip on
the handle. Engines rated at 6 hp to 15 hp may be
started safely by opening the ignition circuit, turning
the flywheel until a charge of explosive mixture is drawn
into the cylinder, then closing the ignition circuit and
turning the wheel back against compression. When
safety can be assured by the use of mechanical devices
of this kind, there is certainly no excuse for employees
running the risk inherent in crude methods such as those
alluded to.
Questions and Answers
Size of Oil Grooves in Bearings
What Is the usual Btae of the oil groove* cut In bear
W. H 1'
The size depends somewhat on the diameter of the
bearing, but ordinarily the width is from 3 32 in. to Vi
in. and the depth is \ % in. or slightly less.
Protecting l'ole Butts
What method is there of preventing pole decay at the ground
line besides Impregnating the wood with a preservative?
K. E. W.
Pole rot at the ground line is being prevented by a
number of companies by incasing the butt with concrete
from several inches above the ground line to about 20
in. below the surface. By sloping the top of the con-
crete shell away from the pole an effectual watershed is
formed. Provided that the earth around the lower part
of the pole is properly tamped, the setting described
will be practically as good as an all-concrete butt, and
it is considerably less expensive. The shell should have
the same diameter as the hole excavated for the butt to
furnish a substantial footing for the pole.
Quantity of Gas Required per Kilowatt-Hour
In sinking a well at our generating station we accidentally
opened a natural-gas supply which yields about 50,000 cu. ft. a
day. Is this amount sufficient for generating steam for a day
load of about aO lip" Kindly furnish us with any data on gas-
fired boilers. S. H.
Not knowing the heat equivalent of the gas you ob-
tain or the efficiency of your plant, it is impossible to
make any definite statements. In a station at Hot
Springs, Ark., however, where gas containing 850 lb.-
Fahr. units is available the company is generating about
1 kw-hr. on 50 cu. ft. of gas. About 1 lb. of steam at
175-lb. pressure is generated with 1.54 cu. ft. of gas.
Four 316-hp Heine boilers, each equipped with eleven
Gwynn burners, are employed. Electricity is generated
by two turbine-driven units rated at 1000 kw and 1250
kw respectively. The ratio of the kilowatt-hours gen-
erated to the kilowatt-hours which could be developed by
the apparatus operating was 55 per cent ; the ratio of
the kilowatt-hours generated to the boiler-horse-power-
hours developed was 80 per cent, and the station load-
factor was 24 per cent.
Effective Area of Chimney
What is meant by the effective area Of a chimney? How does
it bear on the question of size of chimney? E. K. S.
The effective area of a chimney is the area of that
part of the cross-section which is assumed to be active
in carrying off the waste gases. The velocity of flow of
the hot gases is not uniform over the whole cross-sec-
tional area of the chimney. It is greatest at the center
and least at the outer boundary of the section; that is,
the friction against the inside walls of the chimney pro-
duces a retardation of the flow. This retardation has
the effect of reducing the capacity of the chimney ;
therefore, to make allowance for such reduction, the
actual area of the cross-section is made somewhat
greater than the area that would be required if all parts
were equally effective. To be on the safe side, the
retardation of flow is assumed to have the same effect
on the capacity as the rendering inactive of a strip 2
in. wide just inside the inner wall of the chimney. In
determining the size of a chimney, then, the effective
area required is found by a suitable formula, and from
424
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 7
it the diameter of an equivalent circle or the side of an
equivalent square is calculated, according as the chim-
ney is to be square or round. The diameter or the
length of side thus obtained is increased by 4 in. to
allow for the assumed 2-in. inactive strip all around,
and the sum is the actual inside diameter or length of
side of the chimney.
Wire Stringing
Please describe some machine which can be used satisfactorily
lo string line wires taut. H. E. D.
An electric-service company in the Middle West has
been stringing wires satisfactorily by winding the pull-
ing-in rope around a portable motor-driven drum while
linemen attach the conductors to their respective insu-
lators with tie wires. The drum is connected with the
motor by a belt and reduction gears so that the line wire
will not be drawn in too rapidly and so the belt will slip
if the tension becomes too great. With this equipment
two or more long stretches of wire can be installed
simultaneously by very few men. The equipment is car-
ried on a horse truck. Flexible conductors are employed
to convey energy from nearby trolley wires or service
lines to the motor. If the wire puller is installed on an
electric truck, the motor can be operated on storage-
battery energy.
Difference Between Foaming and Priming
Is there any difference between foaming and priming in a
boiler? Both terms seem to be used in the same sense. C. H. B.
There is a difference. Foaming is the formation of
froth or foam at the surface of the water during boil-
ing and is due to dirty feed water. Priming is the
carrying over of water from the boiler into the steam
pipe with the steam and is caused by violent ebullition
and the too rapid withdrawal of steam from the boiler.
The violent boiling throws up the water into the steam
space and the water particles are entrained by the out-
flowing steam and so carried along to the outlet. Foam-
ing can occur while the stop-valve is closed, but prim-
ing can occur only when the stop-valve is open and steam
is being taken from the boiler. Very often, foaming
and priming occur at the same time, which may account
for the words being used in the same sense.
Quality of Steam
Please explain what the quality of steam means. F. R. S.
The expression "quality of steam" denotes the per-
centage of dry saturated steam in a mixture of steam
and moisture. The steam produced by a boiler that has
no superheating surface is never dry saturated steam,
but always carries some unevaporated water in the form
of moisture globules. The ratio of the weight of dry
saturated steam in the mixture to the weight of the
whole mixture is the quality of the steam; thus, if the
quality of the steam is stated to be 97 per cent, the
meaning is that 97 per cent of the mixture is dry sat-
urated steam and the remaining 3 per cent is unevap-
orated moisture having the same temperature a
steam.
t able Protection
what is a k'<""i ATe-reslstlng covering for cables? Also de-
scribe mi P. C
Portland-cement mortar has been empli
torily by some companies to protect cables in exposed
places Buch ai in manholes, around switchboards and in
station cable runs. This covering, besides being strong
and inexpensive, is fire-resisting. It has been reported
that this material has prevented interruption to lervice
supplied through lead-covered cables which have been
exposed to manhole fires. Although heat melted the lead
sheath frequently, the cement remained intact and pro-
tected the insulation. Before applying the mortar the
cable to be protected should be wrapped with rope or
cordage wound spirally with a pitch of about 0.75 in.
The mortar may then be applied by hand and finished
with a quarter-round trowel to a thickness of 0.5 in.
The cement should be kept moist for the first two or
three days.
Purpose and Calculation of Engine Constants
Why are engine constants used? How are they found? W. D.
Engine constants are used in working up the re-
sults of an engine test from the indicator diagrams,
and their object is to save time and labor. The
horse-power of an engine is found by the formula
PLAN -4- 33,000. But the length of stroke L and the
area A of the piston do not change; and if the engine
runs at constant speed during the test, the number
of strokes N does not change. Therefore, the part
LAN -h 33,000 of the formula has a constant value
which may be designated by C. This value C, is then
the engine constant for the engine at the particular
speed indicated by the value of N used in calculating
the constant. The horse-power of the engine is then
simply PC, ; that is, it is the product of the mean ef-
fective pressure and the engine constant. If the engine
speed varies during the test, the part LA h- 33,000 of
the formula is constant in value and may be repre-
sented by C„ which becomes the engine constant for
variable speed. The horse-power is then PNC,.
Overheating of Field Coils
What imusis the field coils on a generator to become hot even
when the machine is not carrying a M. P. H.
Excessive heating of the field coils under the condi-
tion cited may be caused by excessive field current, eddy-
currents in the pole pieces, or moisture in the coils.
To determine the cause apply the normal exciting vol-
tage to the coils when the machine is not operating.
If the temperature rises by more than 50 deg. C. above
the room temperature, there may be either excessive
current in the coils or moisture in the insulation. The
last-mentioned condition can be detected by the appear-
ance of vapor or by the feeling of moisture. Wet in-
sulation may be dried by heating for several hours in
oil under a vacuum, but not at such a temperature as
to injure the insulation. Sometimes the moisture can
be driven off without removing the coil by allowing less
than the rated current to flow through the coil for
several hours. If the heating be caused by excessive
current in the field conductors, it will be necessary
either to operate the generator at lower voltage or else
to wind a few more turns of wire around each pole so
that the current can be decreased without decreasing
the flux. A wholly or partially short-circuited field coil
may also produce excessive current; the defective coil
tan be detected by its being cooler than the other
coils and by the pole piece being weaker magnetically
than the others. When in doubt regarding the integ-
rity of the field coils it is advisable to measure the
resistance to determine if they are nearly equal. If
the difference is considerable (more than 5 per cent),
it is sate to assume that one coil is short-circuited or
grounded in two places. Heating of the pole pieces
from eddy currents is usually caused by faulty design
or by fluctuations in the current. The current produced
by open-coil generators used for arc lighting is decidedly
pulsating in character and may therefore Cause this
trouble.
1 f BRI \h\ 18, 1916
ELECTRICAL WORLD
4 1:.
COMMERCIAL SECTION
Cheap -Residence Wiring Campaign
The Lehigh Valley Light & Power Company has re-
cently launched throughout its territory an extensive
flat-rate and old-house-wiring campaign, many features
of which may prove to be of valuable assistance to
other central-station companies operating under similar
conditions.
TABLE I— OLD-HOUSE-WIRING SCHEDULE
Roonu
4
1
S12 .VI
s
ia 70
'.
8
it is
:
7
19 In
-
8
20 BO
9
9
22 50
10
in
24 20
12
18
12
18
14
H
15
15
10
16
17
17
1»
18
19
19
20
ill 20
32 '.in
36 50
38.50
in 50
12 50
All wiring concealed . including service wires and m I rloap Id pec xtra
For ult over twelve lumps add S2 for extra cut-out and circuit ; for :ill over twenty
lamp* add S1.50 per out li-i. Bnap switch, 80.75. Flush switch, 81. One pail
ty switches, 86. One pair four-way switches, $10. Porch ball, complete,
inehnlitii; flush switch inside, ?«;. Cellar nutlet, complete with snap switch a(
I 1.25. Insulating j to be used where gas piping La Installed,
80 earn
This company supplies energy throughout about 500
sq. miles of one of the most thickly populated industrial
and agricultural sections in the country. The main of-
fices and salesrooms are in Allentown, Pa., with
branches in Bethlehem, South Bethlehem, Catasauqua
and Slatington. By reason of the nature of the indus-
tries upon which the above communities thrive, such as
iron, steel and cement mills, shoe, textile, slate and au-
tomobile factories, and the inherent characteristics of
the agricultural population in the rural districts, it was
realized that a very large and profitable load lay within
TABLE II — OPEN WIRING — CLEAR WORK ONLY
1
-'
6 25
:|
. -
1
8 t:.
:.
■
11 25
12 50
8
13 7.".
9
15 IKI
111
16 25
Ineliniinr .lr..|i cord, key socket, meter board, service wire-, cub-out, lust
box and inspection. I"' all ovei ten outlet . idd v 25 pel let; for all over
kweli s out lets, ai Id 82 pei Bxt ill -oul
the range of acquisition provided that equitable ar-
rangements could be made which would prove mutually
attractive to the company and to the prospective con-
sumer.
The particular objective of this campaign is the thrif-
ty native or foreign-born families, to whom the idea of
good illumination is not so important as the item of cost
connected with the lighting. Prospective customers of
this type, while usually realizing the manifold advan-
tages of electric lighting, must of necessity stretch each
dollar of their income to the elastic limit. Therefore,
the idea of a kilowatt-hour charge does not appeal to
them as they cannot be sure that their monthly bill will
fall within the financial provisions made for this item of
household expense.
On investigation, it has been found that for the aver-
age consumer of this type 100 watts would supply the
lighting requirements by a considerable margin, and
from records of revenue obtained from existing cus-
I i f J
s5x|
FLAT RATE CONTRACT.
.0
srisiE
= "s E
Uhifh Vilky Lifhi and Po«er Company.
"5 £*=
. .
CONTRACT FORM
tomers of the same class a flat rate of $1 per month
would supply a fair return on the investment provided
that some additional item of income, proportional to the
energy actually used, could be so introduced as to take
care automatically of the unreasonable twenty-four-
hour use of the maximum power possible under this
arrangement. This point has been covered by prohib-
iting the use of any energy-consuming devices except
tungsten lamps.
The instrument used for controlling these flat-rate
TABLE III — CAMPAIGN FIXTURES
No 1 -Three-llghl fixture with pull-i
No. 2 — Two-light fixture with pull cl
No. 3 — One-lighl pendant
No. 4 — One-light bracket
No. 5 — One-light ceiling ball
No. fi — Three-light shower,
... ; 1 ine-lighf semi-indirect I -"
$:i 711
:< lu
1.60
1 00
1.00
3 00
Including ceiling mats and hanging. Insulating joints, ; ate each extra
Porch ball, including wiring and Bush switch, installed, 85. l>r..p cord, 75
installations is the "excess indicator" of the type which
alternately opens and closes the circuit when the cus-
tomer's demand exceeds the wattage specified in the
contract.
The table of rates to cover all classes of lighting serv-
ice included in the campaign is as follows per watt of
demand per month: 1.11 cents for residence and short-
hour use; 1.66 cents for stores, etc., closing not later
than 9 p.m.; 2.22 cents for drug stores, saloons, etc.,
closing not later than 12 midnight; 2.77 cents for estab-
lishments open all night. These rates are subject to a
10 per cent discount if paid before the fifteenth of the
month for which the bill is rendered. The details of
the actual contract subscribed to by the consumer are
shown in the accompanying illustration.
The great majority of buildings in which tenants are
being reached by this campaign are not wired. Hence,
in order to attract the maximum number of prospective
customers, an agreement was reached with the electrical
contractors by which all accepted a predetermined scale
of charges as shown in Tables I, II and III. Ten
426
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 7
months' time payments, or 10 per cent discount for
cash, is allowed to the consumer. Unless the contractor
wishes to carry the instalments and earn the 10 per
cent additional himself, he is paid the established
charges less 10 per cent in thirty days by the company,
and the latter attends to the customers' time payments.
To all prospective customers are sent illustrated cir-
culars describing in simple terms the absence of mu-
tilation to the building and discomfort to the residents
in wiring existing houses and calling attention to the
advantages of the modern tungsten lamps. After the
necessary period of time needed to digest this literature,
salesmen follow to close the contract by personal solici-
tation. Ten salesmen are being employed to bring this
campaign to a successful conclusion.
The company effected the wiring of 400 old houses
in the eleven months preceding this campaign and
expects 1500 more to be added in the next twelve
months.
A Novel Electric Sign
A distinctive electrically illuminated sign, and one
that cannot fail to attract the favorable attention of the
passer-by, day or night, has recently been erected by the
Texas Company on one of its buildings at Port Arthur,
Tex.
The building is the one in which the motor oils are
filtered. In one end of the building are bins, roasting
furnaces and other apparatus for drying and recovering
the material used as the filtering agent, and in the other
end are the filters and receiving tanks. The central
portion, which is separated from either end, is used for
the motor-driven pumps which handle the oil before and
after filtering.
The wording of the sign as shown in the accompany-
ing illustration is "The Texas Company." The sign con-
sists of fifteen 9-ft. letters painted white, forming an
attractive sign by day, while at night it is made consid-
erably more attractive by reason of the unusual illumi-
nation afforded. This is of a pea-green color and is
obtained from mercury-vapor lamps placed behind a re-
flector located in front of the sign. The characteristic
color of the illuminant makes the sign distinctive and
leaves a pleasing impression on the passer-by whose at-
tention it never fails to get.
In addition, the trade-mark of the Texas company is
a red star and green T, the T being in the center of
the star, and all of the packages of oil, in addition to
carrying this trade-mark, have a body color of pale
green, which is quite closely approximated by the color
of the illumination, therefore making it particularly
appropriate.
The sign is 155 ft. 10 in. long, has a height of 9 ft.
2 in. and is supported by a substantial iron framework.
The height above the top of the building is over 9 ft.,
thus making it easily visible over the surrounding
country.
The light is furnished by sixteen Cooper Hewitt lamps
mounted in iron boxes placed 11 ft. in front of the sign.
FIG. 2 — LAMP BOX
These boxes are of particular interest, being made of
corrugated-iron top and sides with a glass face just
large enough to accommodate the lamp. A special re-
flector placed just beneath the tube of the lamp throws
the light directly against the face of the sign.
The lamps are operated four in series on a 240-volt
direct-current circuit, supplied by the company's own
plant and taking 3.5 amp in each circuit, or 192.5 watts
per lamp. The total power consumption for the instal-
lation is approximately 3 kw, the sign being very eco-
nomical as well as attractive.
Determining Average Life of Gas-Filled Lamps
At present practically all tungsten gas-filled lamps are
sold under a guarantee of 1000 hours' average life, which
means that in a consignment of any specified number
of lamps the average life of the lot will be 1000 hours.
As a purchaser of a considerable quantity of these lamps
the city of Chicago has had to devise a means of de-
termining the life of its new lamps. To keep life data
on all lamps was thought to be too expensive, so 15 per
cent of the lamps purchased are considered test lamps,
and upon the performance of these units accurate rec-
ords are kept.
Such test lamps are divided equally among the circuits
in order that the electrical conditions can be considered
average. The locations for the test lamps are selected
from circuit diagrams in the office, assuring that no
JUe^TEXASiCPWEANS
FIG. 1 — TEXAS COMPANY'S SIGN BY NIGHT
Febriakv IS, 1915
E I.Ki T RIC AL WORLD
4JT
prejudice may enter to plate test lamps under favorable
or unfavorable local conditions. When circuits are first
put into operation there are sometimes a few lamps
which fail immediately. The units which thus fail are
then replaced, and if any of these happen to be test
lamps the failure is not included in the life test, for
lamps which fail immediately are considered to be de-
fective. With this exception, however, the average life
of the test lamps is taken as the life of the total number.
1296 Sq. Ft. of Garage Space for $1,100
One of the necessary adjuncts to every modern central
station is a garage for housing motor vehicles, which
to a large extent are replacing horse-drawn wagons in
every department of electric-service companies. Good
judgment, aided and abetted oftentimes by mandatory
city ordinances, dictates that these buildings shall be
of fireproof construction. First-class fireproof build-
ings, however, are generally expensive, and their pro-
hibitive cost frequently leads to renting garage space at
high prices. *
ELECTRIC COMPANY'S GARAGE
A solution of this high-cost dilemma has been reached
by the Commonwealth Power Company at Jackson,
.Mich., where two new garages each measuring 18 ft. by
36 ft. at the ground line have been erected. These build-
ings are constructed of No. 26 gage non-corrosive metal
spot-welded to angle-iron framing. Each is provided
with six wire-glass windows along the sides and the
ends are formed by double swinging doors. Ventilators
in the gables keep the air pure and cool inside, even
when all doors and windows are closed, and it is said
that, contrary to expectations, the buildings did not
prove excessively hot during the summer months.
Exclusive of the grading and filling to secure a level
and high earth floor, the total cost of these garages as
they stand was $1,100. The lot on which the garages
have been erected is just in the rear of the company's
main office, and machines of the company's employees
are often parked here indoors rather than along the
curb before the office.
Co-operation Between Contractor and Central
Station
One obstacle which has blocked the contractor's way
to success, said Mr. J. L. White before the recent con-
vention of the Oregon Electrical Contractors' Associa-
tion, has been the competition received from central sta-
tions which do wiring and which give away, or sell below
cost, energy-consuming devices. "Electric wiring and
contracting is a business in itself, and I do not believe
that the average central station can handle wiring con-
tracts or sell appliances as satisfactorily as can a con-
tractor or dealer," continued Mr. White. "The general
public is skeptical of any article the central station may
sell, fearing that such contrivances will use the maxi-
mum amount of energy and not the minimum. The
majority of people cannot see why the central station
should want to recommend devices which use the
least amount of energy when it is the company's busi-
ness to sell energy."
In the scheme of co-operation between contractor and
company each should endeavor to adjust complaints made
against the other. It frequently happens that the con-
tractor or the central-station company is in a position
to adjust a complaint or to remove the antipathy arising
from some real or fancied grievance against the other.
As to the part which the central station should play
in this co-operative relationship with the contractor,
the speaker suggested : First, a trained sales force work-
ing with the contractor in stimulating demand for
energy-consuming devices ; second, no direct sales by the
company, and, third, frequent conferences with the con-
tractor concerning new possibilities for the extension
of the use of energy.
Attracting Attention to Property with Gas-
Filled Lamps
By pointing out that the intrinsic brilliancy of gas-
filled lamps attracts attention the Edison Electric
Illuminating Company of Brooklyn, N. Y., has induced
a number of real estate owners to install these lamps on
property which is to be sold or leased. In the illustra-
GAS-FILLED LAMPS ATTRACT ATTENTION TO PROPERTY
tion published herewith is shown an installation of six-
teen 500-watt lamps which are arranged along the cor-
nice of a one-story building to make it more at-
tractive for renting. Light from these lamps can
be seen several blocks away and besides attracting at-
tention to the buildings considerably improves the value
of the property by brilliantly lighting the street below.
The Results of Christmas Campaigns
Another holiday season has come and gone, and since
then enough time has elapsed for every sales manager
to reckon up the total number of electric appliances sold
and the additional connected load secured thereby. The
amount of the gross sales and the net profits have been
figured out to the last Lincoln penny, and in every
electrical store, be it owned by jobber, central station
or contractor, there is known what was accomplished
financially by the Christmas sales. Practically every-
where reports indicate that Christmas campaigns were
successes of a kind highly gratifying to the promoters.
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 66, No.
Some places, however, have more than the immediate
commercial success to report. They grasped the holi-
day opportunity to do things which not only brought
patronage to their doors during the Christmas season,
but also placed the company before the public in a new
role — the role of a commercial enterprise with a heart.
In different cities and towns the companies took various
methods of exhibiting their good wishes toward the
community, but the evident success of one of these
plans — the community Christmas — has been too marked
to escape attention. As typical of this condition it
seems fitting to quote a letter written to the new-busi-
ness manager of a central-station company in an Ohio
city by the board of directors of the city's improvement
association, composed of leading business men:
"Dear Mr. Blank: — This may seem a tardy acknowl-
edgment of all that you did in connection with the com-
munity Christmas, but our directors did not meet holi-
day week, and Jan. 5 was the date of their first meeting
this year. At this meeting a unanimous and most
sincere vote of thanks to you was made a matter of
record in recognition of your splendid services. As a
rule such action is more or less formal, and frequently
it does not mean very much, but I want to assure you
that in this case what you did appealed to our directors
in a way that is most unusual. They understand fully
and realize the great sacrifice that you must have made
of your own time, and possibly that of your company,
and know that your community Christmas work must
have seriously interfered with your private affairs and
your business. We are therefore all the more grateful
to you for taking hold of what was naturally a difficult
matter to handle, putting it through in a way that has
pleased everybody. If there has been a single 'come-
back' anywhere along the line, it has entirely failed to
reach us."
The municipal Christmas in the city from which this
letter came cost the city in 1913 approximately $500.
The community Christmas of 1914 cost the city nothing.
It was the qualities of salesmanship and efficient man-
agement which applied to the organization of the 1914
festival accounted for the difference.
Securing Increased Load with Nitrogen Lamps at
Cincinnati
For a number of months the Union Gas & Electric
Company of Cincinnati, Ohio, has been conducting a
campaign to replace gas "arcs" with electrical illumi-
nants. To this end the commercial department of the
company offered to install and maintain free of charge
in customers' premises 400-watt, 500-watt and 750-watt
tungsten lamps of the vacuum type, the energy con-
sumed being metered and charged for at the regular
With the advent of the new nitrogen-filled lamps
these high-efficiency units were substituted for the vac-
uum-type lamps.
From the first the 1000-watl size gave excellent sat-
isfaction with respect to life and quantity and quality
of light, according to Mr. W. A. Wadsworth, of the com-
mercial department of the company. The 750-watt
lamp, however, did not prove BO satisfactory, giving
trouble from early bum Otll
Fixture with Adaptation! f»r Nitrogen-Lamp i h
The fixture used consisted oi a solid-bronze ventilated
housing and a white enameled reflector, fitted with a
12-in. ball globe with a 1 in. opening at tin- bottom. On
account of the intense heat generated by the nitrogen
lamps, it has been found necessar) to use ;i baked p
lain enameled reflector, as no paint would stand the
high temperature. Special attention also had to be
given to the ventilation of the unit in order to maintain
the temperature within reasonable limits. This fixture
has proved suitable for both outdoor and indoor use.
These 750-watt and 1000-watt units find their appli-
cation principally among long-hour burners, particu-
larly theaters, picture shows, restaurants, drug stores,
etc.
Following the introduction of the two larger sizes
of nitrogen lamps, as soon as the 400-watt and 500-watt
lamps came out the question arose as to what attitude
should be taken in regard to these sizes. It was found
that, owing to the cost of these lamps and their uncer-
tain life, it was very questionable whether or not the
unit could be put out and maintained without charge and
be a paying investment. These sizes were, therefore,
not accepted, but the company continued to put out 500-
watt tungsten lamps until early fall.
When the 200-watt and 300-watt nitrogen lamps were
available, the question arose again as to what attitude
should be taken in regard to these sizes. It was decided
to prepare a unit suitable for the 300-watt lamp and to
install it complete, the cost to be made as low as pos-
sible, and to abandon for the present the use of 400-watt
and 500-watt lamps, both of the tungsten and nitrogen
LOAD INCREASE AND ESTIMATED REVENUE DUE TO NITROGEN
LAMPS
No. on
Lines
Kw
In-
crease
in Loa
Hours
Dav'
Year*
Kw-
hr.
year*
i: ,t
Cents
per
Kw-
hr.
BSTIHATBD Incmf
Per
Lamp
Pa
Kw
Total
3 1 l-wa.t
337
55
4
330
5
160
J6.06C
434
350
4
300
'.Mil
4)
.->l
19.002
loo-watt. . ,
278
250
4
350
ill
3S
51 00
13.900
Total .....
1.099
655
$39,568
types, but to continue placing and maintaining without
charge 750-watt and 1000-watt units.
Campaign on 300-Watl I'nits
After considerable experimenting a unit consisting of
either a ceiling or pendent-type fixture, wired complete
with suitable reflector and lamp and, if necessary, pull-
chain switch, was obtained. This could be installed at
cost for $5. Samples of this fixture in both types, with
lamps, extension cords, plugs and sockets and suitable
literature, were placed in cases and given to the sales-
men with instructions to take orders for these units,
which would be placed on thirty clays' trial or would be
sold on terms of $1 down and $1 per month when de-
sired. The salesmen were further instructed to con-
centrate their efforts among gas users and long-hour
burners.
The campaign did not get under way until Oct. 15.
and this, plus business conditions, did not permit of the
results expected. However, by Jan. 1 337 units had
been placed. About one-third had been trial installa-
tions, and more than 90 per cent of these were retained.
In order to determine the life of the 300-watt lamps,
a record has been kept showing the number of days
each burned-out lamp had been in operation. This rec-
ord to Jan. 1 showed twenty burn-outs. Three burned
one day, one two days, two tour days, one seven days,
three eleven days, two thirteen days, one twenty days,
and one twenty-eight days. The other six burned a
month or more.
The accompanying table shows the results to Jan. 1 of
the nitrogen lamps on the company's lines.
February 18, 1916
ELECTRICAL WORLD
NEW APPARATUS AND APPLIANCES
(•round Protection for Motors
The Genera] Electric Company, Ltd., London, Bng.,
recently placed on the market an attachment for
direct-current motor starters, known as Jowero' leak-
age device. This device prevents the grounding of a
motor's windings to open the main circuit-breakers and
shut down all other motors on the same line. A low-
buzzer operated by a magnetically operated relay con-
troller is employed. These plants are designed to sup-
ply energy ior lighting from the battery alone or from
dynamo and battery operating in parallel. The plants
can, however, be supplied to operate in any manner de-
gired by the purchaser. The starting of the dynamo
and the adjustment of the engine to proper speed is
claimed to be all the attention required. The resist-
ances are all accurately adjusted at the factory, and
there is no necessity for their being adjusted by the
operator during the period of charging. These sets are
built for 30 volts and 111) volts and in various sizes re-
quiring from 2-hp to 5-hp engines. They are manu-
factured by the Suburban Lighting & Gas Engine Com-
pany, corner Summit and Lagrange Streets, Toledo,
Ohio.
DEVICE FOR PREVENTION OF GROUNDING OF MOTORS
resistance trip coil inserted in a lead from the motor
frame to the ground is employed. If a ground occurs
while the motor is running, the flow of energy through
the leakage coil will cause it to operate a device short-
circuiting the low-voltage coil, thereby causing the
starter to tip and shut down the motor. If an attempt
is made to start the motor while a ground exists, the
flow of energy through the leakage coil actuates a catch
which operates in a way to render impossible further
movement of the starting arm.
Gasoline-Electric Lighting Outfit
A gasoline-electric lighting outfit for use in country
and suburban homes where little attention can be given
to the plant is shown in the accompanying illustration.
An automatic circuit-breaker is provided for automatic-
ally closing the battery-charging circuit the instant that
SMALL LIGHTING SET
the dynamo has built up sufficient voltage to charge.
This circuit-breaker also automatically disconnects the
circuit whenever the dynamo voltage drops too low to
charge the battery. An automatic cut-out is provided
to stop the engine and dynamo when the battery be-
comes fully charged or to cut oil the battery at BUi
time without shutting down the engine. To notify the
operators when the batteries are discharged an electric
Loom Clamp
The accompanying illustration shows a loom clamp
recently placed on the market by the Machen & Mayer
Electric Manufacturing Company, Philadelphia, Pa.
This device is said to provide a strong, economical
means of fastening all sizes of loom to all sizes of knock-
LOOM CLAMP
out holes, and it is claimed to be superior to the bush-
ings commonly employed. The clamp illustrated is de-
signed for two loom-covered conductors, which are held
fast on either side of the tightening bolt provided in the
center.
Motor-Driven Mine Pump
In the accompanying illustration is shown a group of
motor-driven pumps designed for use in coal mines.
The pumps are equipped with brass-lined water cylin-
ELECTRIC PUMPS FOR MINES
dels, tobin-bronze piston rods, and bronze valve seats,
stems, springs, stuffing-box caps and glands, so that they
are thoroughly protected against the action of mine
water. A direct-current motor is mounted on the top
"I the pump, and the windings are impregnated to pro-
tect them from dampness. Automatic control is pro-
vided so that the pumps can be started and stopped from
any convenient point. The motor and pump may be
430
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 7
mounted on a truck for moving from place to place if
desired. The Weinman Pump Manufacturing Company,
Columbus, Ohio, is manufacturing these pumps, and
Westinghouse motors are employed to operate them.
thrust of the impeller is taken by shaft collars bearing
upon babbitted surfaces. These collars also serve to
space the impeller properly in the casing. Both pump
bearings are integral with the support head. The pumps
and motor are mounted on one bed and are connected
together by a flexible coupling.
Outdoor Substation Switching and Protective Units
On account of the successful commercial operation of
low-cost, high-tension outdoor substations with compar-
atively small ratings, a field for equipment with higher
ratings has been developed. To meet these conditions
Box for Concrete- Floor Construction
The use of concrete-floor construction has necessi-
tated the use of two-piece outlet boxes to facilitate the
installation of conduit and boxes. Six types
of boxes, each with different depths for vary-
ing thicknesses of concrete, are being manu-
OUTDOOR SUBSTATION UNITS WITH HIGH RATINGS
MALLEABLE-IRON OUTLET
BOX FOR CONCRETE WORK
the complete, mechanically interlocked switching, fusing
and lightning-arrester apparatus for three-phase serv-
ice shown herewith has been brought out. The light-
ning arrester used with this apparatus was described in
the Electrical World of Jan. 9 and is being made by
Schweitzer & Conrad, 1770 Wilson Avenue, Chicago,
111. The apparatus shown is being placed on the mar-
ket by the Delta-Star Electric Company, Chicago, 111.
Motor-Driven Centrifugal Pump
A single-stage, single-suction inclosed-impeller-type
centrifugal pump designed especially for direct con-
nection to electric motors has just been placed on the
i i i i ikii ai.i.v OPERA nil l EN I1UFUQA] I'UMI'
market by the Goulds Manufacturing Company, Seneca
Falls, N. Y. The casing is of the volute type, and is
i ted uti the bed-plate in such a manner that it can
be swiveled in any one of eight different positions. All
main bearings are of the ring-oiling type. The end
factured by the Steel City Electric Company, 1207
Columbus Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pa. In installing the
box it is fastened to the wood form with nails driven
through the two outward projecting lugs. Conduits are
attached with bushings and lock-nuts, and the cap or lid
is then fastened on. If a fixture stem is to be used, it
is attached before placing the cap on the box. The cap
is lapped or flanged to prevent the cement from working
into the box when the concrete is poured. The cap is
provided with one 0.5-in. knock-out and four 0.25-in.
clearance holes for the fixture stem. Boxes are provided
with 0.5-in. and 0.75-in. knock-outs as required. All
boxes are 4 in. in diameter and are sherardized.
High- Voltage Alternating-Current Boilers
What is said to be one of the first large electric-boiler
installations on this side of the Atlantic was recently
made for the Wabasso Cotton Company. Ltd., Three
Rivers, Quebec, Can. The plant consists of two 700-
kva vertical boilers operating on three-phase alternating
current at 2400 volts. The units are star-connected.
The boilers are designed to generate steam at a pres-
sure of 125 Hi. per square inch, and tests have shown a
thermal efficiency of 96 per rent on full load and of 92
pel cent OH half load. The shell and head of the boiler
are thoroughly insulated, anil as a result the steam pres-
sure is kept fairly uniform.
In the accompanying illustration is shown a 2000-kw,
5000 volt boiler unit installed in Finland in Europe.
The upper COVer Of this boiler is Hanged, but in the
Wabasso company's installation the covers are riveted
to the shells. The inner equipment is conveyed inside
through a manhole and consists of vertical porcelain
fEBRlAKV 1
ELECTRICAL WORLD
131
tabes of large diameter in each of which is a pair of
electrodes. The upper and lower ends of these tabes
different cross-sections. When the water is at its
norma] height the tabes arc submerged.
The lower electrode is star-shaped and is fixed; the
upper electrode is ring-shaped and is movable. Electri-
cal energy is passed through the top of the tubes to the
fixed electrode. The water entering the lower narrowed
end of the porcelain tubes passes by the fixed electrode
and becomes steam on its way to the upper electrode.
The steam passes through this ring electrode and is
taken through a steam outlet. The movable electrode is
connected with and operated by a hand-wheel on the
outside of the boiler shell, so that by raising or lower-
ing this electrode the resistance can be increased or
2000-KW, 5000-VOLT ELECTRICALLY HEATED BOILER
decreased. By arranging the electrodes in this way the
boilers are made practically "fool-proof."
In a three-phase boiler three tubes are put into one
group and a number of such groups form the total of
all the tubes in the boiler. A 2400-kva boiler has, for
instance, five groups or a total of fifteen tubes. Each
group is equipped with its own switchboard apparatus.
The boiler shell is always grounded. An installation of
this kind is well adapted for use where a large surplus
of hydraulically developed energy is available.
The installation of electric boilers described was made
by Mr. E. Kaiser, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Feed-Water Filter
A feed-water filter and grease extractor with twin
bodies controlled by a single set of inlet and outlet
valves has recently been developed by .lames Beggs &
Company, 38 Warren Street, New York. This device
is designed particularly for service where the load is
variable. When turning the valves to one limit only
one side is operated, and by turning them to the other
limit the other side is placed in operation. If the valves
are turned to the middle position, both sides are oper-
ated. The valves are of the double-seat type and the
disk working between the seats is self-seating, thus pre-
venting leakage due to dirt deposited on either disk
TWIN-BODY FEED-WATER FILTER
or seat. The filter chests are similar to those employed
with the single-body type of filter made by the above
company. Each chest is divided into an inlet and an
outlet chamber by a partition carrying the filtering
cartridges. Each cartridge consists of two concentric
perforated-brass cylinders which are covered with linen
terry cloth in such a manner that two uniformly sepa-
rated and successive filtering surfaces are put into the
path of all entering water. A large cover is provided
for this Blackburn-Smith filter, as it is called, which
is removed by means of a crane and turnbuckle as
shown.
Electric Lamp for Bicycles
The "Presto" electric bicycle lamp shown in the ac-
companying illustration is designed to operate on one
dry cell held in a black-enameled container clamped to
the bicycle frame and connected to the tungsten lamp
employed by means of weatherproof wires. A reflector
and a 2-in. lens are employed for reflecting and direct-
ing the ray of light. At the back of the reflector a
ELECTRIC BICYCLE LAMP
switch is provided for controlling the lamp. The lantern
is mounted on pivots so as to permit the rider to adjust
ill.- lamp readily at any desired angle. These lamps arc
manufactured by the Metal Specialties Manufacturing
Company, 736-738 West Monroe Street, Chicago, 111.
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 7
Boiler-Tube Cleaner
A device called a scale knocker which is designed to
knock off the scale from boiler tubes is being made by
W. N. .Matthews & Brother, St. Louis, Mo. The device
.(insists of only five parts, and it has no valve. It may
be operated by compressed air or steam, a pressure of
SCALE KNOCKER
only 25 lb. per sq. in. being necessary to drive it. The
device is made in various sizes to clean tubes of the fol-
lowing diameters: 3 in., 3.5 in., 4 in., 4.5 in., 5 in. and
6 in. Attachments are provided so that one knocker can
be utilized to clean tubes of different sizes, provided the
difference in size be not too great.
Combination Heating Pad and Foot Warmer
An electric heating device, which can be used as
either a heating pad or a foot warmer with slippers
attached, is being offered for sale by the William E.
Slaughter Company, 1714 Michigan
Avenue, Chicago. The heating pad
proper, which measures 13 in. by 15 in.,
is provided with two removable cover-
ings. If the device is to be used as a
hot-water bottle or for a like purpose, it is incased in
a plain eiderdown cover. If, however, it is to be used
as a foot warmer, it is inclosed in a cover to which
comfortable bedroom slippers are attached.
Elevator-Door Switch
A safety elevator-door switch operating at 2 amp and
250 volts is shown in the accompanying illustration. The
device i an inclosed single-pole spring-opened switch
and is automatically closed by the elevator door. Use
is made .1 ,-i lace contact so that it is impossible for the
Detachable Insulators and Splicing Links for Pull-
Socket Chains
A new detachable insulator and a splicing link for
pull-socket chains are shown in the accompanying illus-
trations. Roth devices are made on the same principle
DOOH .switch FOR i i i \ kTORfl
-witch to stick. The switch can be fastened to a latch
king bar, compelling the operator not only to close
the door but also to lock it. The switch ha. been de
Fran/. A. Boedtcher, 118 West Ports Brat
\'<w York.
FIGS. 1
AND 2 — SPLICING LINK
INSULATOR
AND DETACHABLE
and may be readily attached or detached. With the in-
sulator or splicing link attached, the chain is said to
hang perfectly straight. These devices are manufac-
tured by the Arrow Electric Company, Hartford, Conn.
Spring Binding Posts
In the accompanying illustrations are shown several
types of spring binding posts or connectors recently
developed by the Fahnestock Electric Company, 129
\
PRESS
DOWN
MERE
FIGS. 1, 2 AND 3 — BRONZE SPRING CONNECTORS
Patchen Avenue, Brooklyn, N. Y. A number of dif-
ferent kinds of spring connectors are being made by the
Fahnestock Company and they are of spring brass when
designed for indoor use or when not subjected to low
temperatures. For outside work, such as telephone or
telegraph lines, a special spring bronze is utilized, which
lies. | AMI "i LEFT II WD AND RIGHT-HAND I
withstands the effects of cold weather better than the
brass. If desired, the binding posts are finished in
white nickel. The devices shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3
are made only ..f bronze. The over-all length of the
connector illustrated in Fig. 1 is 1 3 16 in. and the
Febriary IS, 1916
ELECTRICAL WORLD
433
width through the screw hole is % in.; the over-all
length of that shown in Fig. 2 is 1% in. and the width
. in. The connector shown in Fig. 3 is 21 i in.
long and Ts in. wide, through the screw-hole. The two
former are designed to take Mo. 10 B. & S. wire and
the latter No. <1 B. & S. wire. In Figs. 4 and 5 are
shown full-sized views of a left-hand connector and a
right-hand connector designed for No. 10 B. & S. wire.
The length of each is 1 3 16 in. and the width through
screw-hole is 1 in.
Hickey Fixture Hangers
The hickey fixture hanger shown in the accompanying
illustration is designed to be attached to the conduit
inside the ceiling outlet box, and the rounded opening
HICKEY FIXTURE HANGER
serves the purpose of a bushing. The insulating joint
or coupling is screwed on the male end of the hanger.
The hangers are made of ductile malleable iron, sher-
ardized to prevent rust. They are manufactured by the
Steel City Electric Company, 1207-1219 Columbus
Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pa.
Electric Wheel Chair
The two-passenger electric vehicle shown herewith
has been designed particularly for use at the California
expositions in San Diego and San Francisco. Use is
made of a rattan body which is only 8 in. above the
ground floor. The seat is 18 in. high, 20 in. deep and
38 in. wide. The vehicle operates at a speed of three
miles per hour and will run for eight hours on one
charge. An inclosed automobile motor is used to oper-
ate the vehicle, and it is equipped with ball bearings
and aluminum end pieces. Double reduction is pro-
vided by back gearing, using a rawhide pinion and a
the way when not in use. Control is accomplished by the
left hand, and two speeds can be obtained. An emer-
gency stopping device is also provided. When use is
made of this device the vehicle cannot be moved until
the control lever is brought back to the neutral position.
The rear wheels are 14 in. in diameter and the front
wheels 8 in. in diameter. The total wheelbase is 4") in.
The vehicle is being made by the Electriquette Manu-
facturing Company, Los Angeles, Cal.
Starting and Operating Characteristics of Single-
Phase Motors
Century single-phase motors employ the operating
principles of two distinct types of motors for starting
and for normal operation respectively. In the case of
the 1750-r.p.m. sixty-cycle motor, until a speed of ap-
i?oo
1600
iSOO
a.
E
5
■5 A
c
{ 5
05 I
O O
%
ec
70
M
50
4C
SO
20
10
0
~-4^l°
l£»
k"
^r
"
'cwi
r*-i
Tor g/J*
HP 0* .00 11 16 SO •*-* *8
FIG. 1 — PERFORMANCE CURVES
proximately 1500 r.p.m. has been attained the motor
operates as a repulsion motor, but at this speed a cen-
trifugal governor lifts the brushes and short-circuits
the commutator, thereby automatically converting the
motor into an induction motor. This combines a series
characteristic on starting with the induction character-
istic at normal speeds. The series characteristic is
shown by the values of the torques obtained during
tests made on one of these motors by the engineers of
a central-station organization:
ELECTRICALLY OPERATED WHEEL CHAIR
cast-iron gear. Final drive is obtained by means of a
chain connected to the rear wheel. Steering is accom-
plished by means of a horizontal transverse lever across
the driver's lap. The steering operation is performed
by the right hand, and the lever can be folded up out of
FIG. 2 — OSCILLOGRAM DIAGRAM
Locked torque in percentage of full-load torque at
normal voltage, 340; maximum starting torque in per-
centage of full-load torque at normal voltage, 150.
The complete performance of the motor on a brake
load, with 103 volts at the motor terminals (the motor
434
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 7
is wound for 104 volts), is shown in the attached curves.
It will be noted that in these tests, observed by the
central-station testing engineer, the motor showed an
efficiency of 62 per cent and a power-factor of 69 per
cent on 103 volts.
The starting torque is sufficiently high on 104 volts
for the motor to start its full load so quickly that a
3-amp fuse will remain in circuit. The starting cur-
rents with the motor unloaded and fully loaded are
shown in the oscillograms herewith. The time of start-
ing with no load is 0.6 second and with full load is 2
seconds. Instantaneous flow of current is 8.2 amp
in both instances, and the average current during
starting period is 5.2 amp and 3.7 amp respectively.
The average starting current under no load is higher,
owing to the shorter time required by the motor to ac-
celerate to full speed.
The maximum temperature rises at rated voltage and
load as measured by the thermometer were as follows:
Armature, 29 deg. C; field, 32 deg. C; bearings, 21
deg. C.
According to the Century Electric Company, St.
Louis, Mo., manufacturer of the motors, use of one of
these machines has been especially advocated by central-
station operators for driving apparatus which requires
frequent starting, especially during lighting hours,
since the starting of these motors does not produce a
noticeable fluctuation in lamps fed from the same
cut-out. The motors are also advocated for the opera-
tion of apparatus requiring a heavy starting torque,
and for applications where the motor is installed in a
cold place, since in the ring-oiling bearings oil may be
used which remains fluid at low temperatures.
Series Trip for High-Voltage Oil Switches
Low-voltage energy is usually employed to trip high-
voltage automatic oil switches on the occurrence of
abnormal conditions against which the automatic fea-
tures are intended to guard. Electrically operated
switches are usually tripped by means of direct-current
energy, and for tripping hand-operated switches alter-
nating-current energy is generally used. In many cases,
45,000-VOLT mi. SWITCH with TRIPLB-POLE TIME-LIMI1
SERIES TRIP
the General Electric Company, Schenectady, N. Y., has
developed the arrangement illustrated herewith, the fea-
tures of which, it is claimed, are accessibility of the
working parts for inspection, absence of danger when
cleaning or adjusting while in service and calibration
at the oil switch itself and not at the insulator support-
ing the series tripping solenoid. Use is made of a new
type of solenoid which, the manufacturers assert, con-
sists of a few simple and rugged parts that require little
attention after installation. The solenoid plunger is
connected to the tripping mechanism of the oil switch
by a wooden rod. Calibration is accomplished by a
movable weight near the operating mechanism of the
switch at a considerable distance from the high-voltage
circuit. The series trip is designed for instantaneous
or inverse-time-limit operation. Delay is obtained by
means of a dashpot mounted on the tripping mechanism
at the switch.
Protective Stopper-Spinning Machine
The accompanying illustrations show a recently de-
veloped protective stopper for bottles and the type of
PROTECTIVE STOPPER
machine employed for spinning the stoppers into the
necks of bottles. The stopper consists of a copper cage
which is heavily silver-plated and which carries a plated
FIG. 2 — STOPPER-SPINNING MAI 1IIM
however, neither low-voltage direct-currenl energy nor ball about :~ in. in diameter. These Btoppers are Bpun
alternating-current energy is conveniently or cheaply into the bottles after they have been filled. The filled
available, and then automatic protection is s.vure.l by bottle is placed on the stand of the machine shown in
the aid of a high-voltage series trip. For this service the accompany ing illustration and the platform is raised
I Efllil \H\ Ki, 19lS
ELECTRICAL Wo Kin
136
to meet the spindle which spins the stopper into the
groove in the neck of the bottle. The machines are de-
■igned to be driven by ' i-hp or 1 6-hp direct-current
or alternating-current motors operating on 110 volts or
220 volts. The height of the machine is 72 in. and the
Boor space required is 15 in. by '■'>- in. After a stopper
is span in place it is practically impossible to refill the
bottle without destroying it. The contents of a bottle
can easily be removed by a steady pour, and the opera-
tion of the stopper is not affected by any climatic con-
ditions. The machine is capable of spinning about
thirty to forty stoppers per minute. The motor is
manufactured by the Bobbins & Myers Company,
Springfield, Ohio, and the spinning machine and stop-
bj the Simplex Protective Stopper Company, Bal-
timore, Md,
blades set in the opposite direction can also be utilized
with this receptacle. The energy-carrying terminals
are deeply inserted to eliminate the danger of short-cir-
cuits. The duplex Hush receptacle will take any one of
an assortment of seventeen different types of caps made
by the above manufacturer. Only one set of binding
screws for wiring is utilized. The base is of porcelain
and is extra heavy, as are also the lugs supporting the
receptacle to the outlet box.
Clip for Loom-Wiring
A clip designed for use with loom-wiring in switch
boxes is being made by the Christo Manufacturing Com-
pany, Richmond, Va. The device is of galvanized steel
Portable Electric Heater
While not designed to replace the usual household
heating appliances, an electric heater being marketed
by the Despatch -Manufacturing Company, of Minne-
.-MAl.L ELF.CTRIC HEATER FOR BATHROOMS, NURSERIES, ETC.
apolis, Minn., is said to be particularly well adapted for
use in bathrooms, nurseries and sick-rooms. In short,
it is a light-weight electric heater built especially for
use in place of the well-known type of oil stove and gas
stove, which it so closely resembles. The standard rat-
ing of this heater is 660 watts at 110 volts, but special
orders have been taken by the manufacturer to produce
heaters of this type with 800-watt heating elements for
220-volt service.
Duplex Flush Receptacle
The flush receptacle shown herewith is provided with
two outlets and is designed to take a single-gang outlet
HUBBUL
FLUSH RECEPTACLE WITH TWO OUTLETS
box. The contact openings are made in the shape of a
"T" slot which will permit the use of a knife-blade cap
made by Harvey Hubbell, Inc., Bridgeport, Conn., the
manufacturer of the device. Smaller types of caps with
CLIP FOR CIRCULAR LOOM
and is made in two sizes. It can be used with conduc-
tors for r>s-in. and 7v-in. knock-outs. The clip consists
of one piece and is designed to grip the loom when ad-
justed. After the clip is installed it is flattened out
with pliers, and two small lugs which pass through the
knock-out are bent over on the outside of the box, thus
securely fastening the loom.
High-Efficiency 100-Watt Tungsten Lamp
The improvements in lamp manufacture which have
in the past year and a half resulted in the commercial
100-WATT HIGH-EFFICIENCY LAMP
development of high-efficiency incandescent lamps with
ratings of 1500 cp or over have also been gradually ex-
tended to lamps of small ratings. Recently the National
Lamp Works of the General Electric Company, Cleve-
436
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 7
land. Ohio, developed a 100-watt lamp which is similar
in general appearance to the larger nitrogen-filled units
and which embodies the helically coiled filament and a
mounting similar to that employed with the larger
units. The bulb is 3 1/16 in. in diameter, being 11 L6
in. less than that of the old 100-watt lamps. The lamp
is so designed that the center length has not been
changed, and the sockets and reflectors employed with
the old lamps can be utilized with the new unit. The
lamp takes 0.8 watt per cp, giving a total of 125 cp.
Because of the high temperature at which the lamp is
operated, the color quality of the light, it is declared,
approaches closely that of the high-efficiency lamps now
on the market. On account of the method of support-
ing the filament the new lamp must be burned with tip
downward.
Fractional Horse-Power Motors
Small motors rated at from 1 50 hp to J4 hp and de-
signed for use on direct-current and alternating-current
circuits have just been placed on the market by the
Diehl Manufacturing Company, Elizabeth, N. J. The
FIGS. 1, 2 AND 3 — 1/25-HP DIRECT-CURRENT MOTOR, 1/25-
HP ALTERNATING-CURRENT MOTOR, AND 1 50-HP MOTOR
frames for the alternating-current and direct-current
machines of similar ratings are interchangeable. Me-
chanically, the manufacturers declare, the motors are
made as light in weight and as strong as possible, and
ample ventilating space is provided, although all mov-
ing parts are protected with a view to internal cleanli-
ness. The feet of the motors do not project beyond the
body lines and are drilled for attachment purposes.
Channels are provided in the bearings so that the ex-
cess oil can be returned to the cups. Curves plotted
from the performance of a direct-current motor and an
alternating-current motor of similar rating show char-
acteristics, the manufacturers claim, from no load to
full load which are practically identical. The 1/50-hp
and 1 25-hp motors are equipped with die-cast shells
and covers. The larger machines are equipped with
service and the other for direct-current service. Figs.
4 and 5 show a %-hp direct-current motor and a Vfe-hp
alternating-current motor in inverted positions. The
spacing and boring of feet of the alternating-current
motor and the direct-current motor are shown to be
the same.
Pilot Valve for Feed-Water Regulator
The pilot valve on the automatic feed-water regula-
tor shown herewith, the maker of which is the Kitts
Manufacturing Company, Oswego, N. Y., is a recently
developed device. When the water in the boiler reaches
its normal level the pilot valve automatically opens,
admits steam to the diaphragm of the feed valve and
closes it. As soon as the level of the water drops 0.25
I AND 5 — DIRECT-CURRENT AND ALTERNATING-CUR
KENT 'm-III' MOTORS INVERTED
Phi otors w ill develop a
ag torque, II ia claimed, equivalent to nol lesa than
150 per cent ol full load running torque. Pigs. I and 2
ihow two i 25-hp motora with identical frames, al-
though one mar!: goed for alternat Ing-CUrrent
AUTOMATIC FEED-WATER REGULATOR
in. the pilot valve closes and instantly releases the steam
from the diaphragm of the feed valve. The latter valve
is opened by pressure from the pumping system. As
soon as the water rises to its normal level, the former
operation is repeated. The pilot valve can be removed
from the cover for repairs while the boiler is under
pressure. The feed valve is equipped with removable
seat and disk and is of brass or iron screwed and flanged
body.
Signal-Lamp Attachment Plug
An attachment plug designed for use with signal
lamps is being made by Harvey Hubbell, Inc., Bridge-
port, Conn. The device is shown herewith connected to
a 115-volt candelabra-base lamp which is protected by
a tin-plated lamp guard. The device is designed for
use with electrically heated devices of 10-amp rating
or less. The plugs are equipped with knife-blade con-
SIGNAL LAMP AND ATTACHMENT PLUG
tacts and arc Interchangeable with various types of
attachment plugs for wall and Mush receptacles of cor-
responding ratine and style made by the above manu-
facturers. The base of the device is of a heat-proof
composition.
I CHUIAKV K, 1916
ELECTRICAL WORLD
43f
Low-Voltage Mattery-Charging Device
A rectifier of the vibrating type has been developed
by the St. Louis Electrical Works, 5407 Baston Avenue,
St. Louis, Mi>. A transformer is employed to step the
potential, usually llo volts, down to the desired amount
to charge the battery, and to one end of the low-voltage
FIG. 1 — RECTIFIER WITH THREE VIBRATING MOVEMENTS
winding is connected an armature of a polarized relay,
whose electromagnets are energized by the transformer.
At the end of the armature is a platinum contact which
touches a stationary contact to which one lead of the
battery is connected. The other end of the low-voltage
winding is connected to a resistor, which in turn is
connected to the other battery lead. A permanent mag-
net of tungsten steel is placed so that its leakage flux
produces poles in the armature. This flux combined
with that from the electromagnet causes the armature
to vibrate at the same frequency as that of the alternat-
ing-current supply. The movable and stationary con-
tacts are so related that they allow energy to flow
through the battery-charging circuit in only one di-
rection. Practically no sparking will occur at the con-
tacts as they open only when the instantaneous current
is zero.
The apparatus illustrated in Fig. 1 consists of a
FIG. 2 — RECTIFIER WITH ONE VIBRATING MOVEMENT
transformer with three secondary windings which are
connected to three rectifying devices mounted on a
slate panel. The panel is 22 in. by 14 in. and is mounted
on an iron frame which can be attached to the wall.
The transformer is mounted on the rear of the panel
and is inclosed by the iron frame. The three
devices are mounted on the front of the
shown. Other apparatus is being made with
Lontj,:
rectifying
panel as
one recti-
' Ballast Resistance
FIG. 3 — DIAGRAM OF CONNECTIONS
fying device (Fig. 2) and also with two rectifying de-
vices. Fig. 3 shows a diagram of connections.
Pendent Fixture for Street-Lighting Service
Outdoor fixtures designed for use with nitrogen-filled
lamps are being made by the Adams-Bagnall Electric
Company, Cleveland, Ohio. In the accompanying illus-
tration is shown a pendent unit, which is equipped with
a compensator for changing the current from 6.6 amp
or 7.5 amp to 15 amp or 20 amp as desired. The case
is of stamped copper or steel and is supported by a
stamped-copper or steel top. The top, with the com-
pensator and the lamp sockets, is suspended from a
cast-iron insulated hanger. The case and globe may be
removed, leaving the top and working parts of the lamp
suspended. The case is attached to the top by a bayonet
joint which is locked in position by a spring. The globe
is also secured to the case by a bayonet joint. A chain
is provided so that the globe can be suspended below
the lamps while cleaning. Units of this type may be
equipped with a pear-shaped diffusing globe or with a
"ARC-LAMP" FIXTURE FOR NITROGEN-FILLED LAMPS
globe and concentric-ring reflector. If a copper case is
employed, it is finished in gun-metal, and if a steel case
is used, it is finished in baked-enamel. Leads are
brought out under the ventilating cap through porcelain
terminals. The total weight of the unit is 25 lb.
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 1
CURRENT NEWS SECTION
Steps in Investigation of the United Gas
Improvement Company
Reports from Washington are to the effect that Presi-
dent Bodine of the United Gas Improvement Company
has been in consultation at the Department of Justice
with Mr. George Carroll Todd, assistant to the Attorney-
General, with reference to the suit that it has been re-
ported the government intends to file against this com-
pany.
It is understood that Mr. Bodine has made an agree-
ment with Mr. Todd that he shall be allowed to submit
certain documents with reference to the contracts that
his company has made with other companies, the legal-
ity and propriety of which certain complainants to the
Department of Justice have questioned.
Irrespective of any difference of opinion which may
exist between the Department of Justice and counsel
for the United Gas Improvement Company, it is said
at the department that there is a likelihood that these
differences will be settled. The Washington corre-
spondent of the Electrical World reports that every
effort is being made by the administration to be of serv-
ice to business, so far as may be consistent with the
laws, and it is said that if the United Gas Improvement
Company can so arrange the details of its business con-
cerning the Welsbach company and other companies as
to which there may be differences of opinion, the govern-
ment will not file a suit under the Sherman anti-trust
act, such as has been suggested.
The most recent reports at the Department of Justice
are that in case it is necessary a "consent decree" will
be filed. Such a decree would naturally take the position
that the business of the company has been in violation
of the interstate commerce laws. It is believed that the
consent of the Department of Justice to receive further
representations as to the business of the United Gas
Improvement Company carries with it the fact that com-
plaints as to its being in violation of the law need to be
fully supported.
"The Status of the Engineer"
The subject of "The Status of the Engineer" has been
proposed for discussion for a number of years in the
American Institute of Electrical Engineers, but for one
OH or aimt her the matter has not matured. There lias
been a general desire to concentrate the attention of the
Institute upon this subject, which is of much importance
membership, largely composed of young men. ow-
ing to a combination of circumstances, this is to take
place at the winter convention Of the Institute mi the
evening of Wednesday, Feb. 17.
Th<- to '"' introduced by Mr. L. B. Stillwell,
who is to read i shorl introductory paper. He is to be
followed by Mr. E. w. Rice, Jr., president of the Gen-
eral I mpan] ; Mr. K. M. Heir, president of
the Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company;
Mr. John Hays Hammond, i th< Amrii
can Institute of Mining Engineers; Dr. George i
Swain, past-president of the American Society of Civil
Engineers; Dr. Alexander C. Humphreys, president of
the I | I tute of Technology and past president
of the American Societj of .Mechanical Engineers; Mr.
rj. <.. stott. pasl president oi the American Institute of
Electrical Engineers, and Mr. J. J. Carty, the only can-
didate officially proposed for nomination for the next
president of the American Institute of Electrical En-
gineers.
Sleet Damage Confined to Telegraph Lines in
Wisconsin and Michigan
The sleet and snow storm which during the first days
of last week swept the State of Wisconsin, southern
Michigan, northern Illinois and parts of Iowa caused
considerable damage to the lines of the telegraph and
telephone companies, but, according to reports received
from central-station managers in the districts worst hit,
worked little or no injury to the outside wire plants of
electric-lighting companies and transmission systems.
Heavy sleet formed on all exposed wires in the territory
visited by the storm, bringing the less sturdy spans to
the ground. An unusual display of aurora borealis was
also reported from the storm area.
While the wire damage sustained by the telegraph
and telephone companies was very large, in many cases
interrupting communication and isolating whole towns
and cities during the worst of the blizzard, the number
of poles carried down was relatively small in proportion
to the number of wire breaks. The Bell telephone or-
ganization in Wisconsin reported, however, the loss of
about 1500 poles, while the Western Union Telegraph
Company lost 1200 poles. Repair crews were hurried
out, and within four days normal operation had been
restored. The Postal Telegraph Company brought line
crews from New York and from Texas to repair the
damage to its lines.
Slight Damage to Electric-Service Properties
The path of the storm appeared to lie across southern
Wisconsin and southern Michigan. At Milwaukee the
street-car system suffered perhaps worst. On Monday
nineteen sweepers, nineteen snow plows and fifteen salt
cars were kept in service. Soft snow re-froze over the
rails and long icicles formed on the trolley wires. Green
Bay, Wis., underwent a severe snowstorm, but slight in-
jury resulted to the pole lines and distribution system.
No damage was done to the overhead lines about Eau
Claire, Wis. At Madison a steady rain turned into
sleet which was accompanied by a 40-mile gale. Al-
though the overhead structures of the local electric com-
pany were heavily coated with ice, no wires came down.
The accumulation of ice on the ropes which support the
street lamps made it, however, impossible to lower the
lamps for trimming, and until the special gang of ten
men could gel to all the lamps to clean the ropes a few
lamps were out of service. Madison was isolated from
outside communication for twelve hours. At Janesville
no damage worth mentioning was done to the lighting
M. Operation of the transmission lines in the
Platteville mining district was also without incident.
In the Michigan area affected by the storm a few
transmission-line outages were reported. A break in
the circuit near Kalamazoo left that city in darkness
for a short time. On the system of the Peninsular Elec-
tric Light Company west of Detroit several sevtions of
transmission line were carried down during the day, the
accidents being due in almost every case to the breaking
Febrcakv 13, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
«8S
Iti other uoataa aion of tel-
ephone communication prevented proper switching.
Hia\> sleet formed and a high east wind continued all
da. Monday.
( immune and the Federal Trade Commission
What is regarded in Washington aa a most important
development in connection with the new Federal Trade
Commission is reported as the result of the convention
of the Chamber of Commerce of the United SI
tlemen who have declined positions on the Federal
Trade Commission upon the invitation of President Wil-
son have indicated in Washington their desire to serve
upon the committee of the Chamber of Commerce of the
United States which is to be appointed to serve in co-
operation with the Federal Trade Commission.
It is understood that men of the highest caliber and
connected with the most important relations of business
to government will give their services on the committee.
The Washington correspondent of the Electrical
W'iikld reports that it is almost definitely settled that a
gentleman connected with one of the electrical indus-
tries will be selected to serve upon the Chamber of Com-
merce committee. There may he two, but in any case
it is said that .Mr. Guy E. Tripp, chairman of the board
of the W'estinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Com-
pany, will be drafted for one of the positions.
Reports from Washington are to the effect that ap-
pointees to the commission will be closely scrutinized
with reference to their views as to government owner-
ship. It is said in Washington that, because of the
underyling motives in connection with the ship purchase
bill both for and against the principle of government
ownership, that proposed measure is likely to play a part
in regard to possible appointments to the Federal Trade
Commission and any recommendations it may make
hereafter.
It is understood that the name of Mr. W'illiam H.
Parry, of Seattle, Wash., has been eliminated from the
"slate" and that President Wilson will appoint a regular
Republican instead of Mr. Parry, who is known as a
Progressive. The name of Mr. William R. Wheeler, who
was Assistant Secretary of Commerce and Labor dur-
ing the Taft administration, is under consideration.
Republican Senators are also waging a fight against
Mr. Ceorge L. Record, of New Jersey. He is a Progres-
sive, and it is said that some of his views are too radical
to suit Republican Senators.
Cedars Rapids-Massena Transmission Line in Service
On Jan. 4, 1915, service was inaugurated between
Cedars Rapids, Quebec, and Massena, N. Y., over a 50-
mile, 110,000-volt steel-tower transmission line erected
by the Stone & Webster ('.instruction Company, of Bos-
ton. Mass., for the Aluminum Company of America.
The line is designed to transmit 60,000 hp and has a
standard span on level ground of 660 ft., with a right-
of-way 12") ft. wide. The towers are of three types.
Suspension towers are designed for the maximum load
of ice and wind and two conductors broken on one side;
anchor towers, spaced one per mile, meet the same con-
ditions but hold the conductors semi-rigidly by two sets
of insulators, and dead-end towers, used only at angles
and railroad crossings, are designed for all conductors
broken on one side under the worst conditions of wind
and ice. The towers support one seven-strand. ' --in.
galvanized-steel ground cable and two 110,000-volt,
sixty-cycle, three-phase circuits, each phase wire con-
sisting of a 500,000-circ. mil aluminum cable with a
114,100-circ. mil steel core. The insulators are of the
ten-disk suspension type, seven units being used on the
top and bottom cross-arms of the suspension towers and
eight units at all other attachments. Besides crossing
the two channels of the St. Lawrence River, the line
passes over the Soulanges and Cornwall canals, where
the clearance of 155 ft. requires the use of 200-ft.
town-. The standard towers support the conductors
10 n. from the ground, with a minimum clearance of
- 1 it. Double suspension insulators are used at the
river crossings.
Los Angeles Seeks to Buy Distribution System
The City Council of Los Angeles, Cal., decided on Jan.
26 to ask the Southern California Edison Company to
sell its distribution system to the city. The City Coun-
cil met with the Board of Public Service Commissioners
and received the recommendations of Mr. E. F. Scatter-
good, chief engineer of the electrical power bureau. It
was stated that the distribution system of the Southern
California Edison Company will be better for the pur-
poses of the city than the system of any other of the
three companies operating in the city limits.
According to the figures presented to the City Coun-
cil, the system of the Southern California Edison Com-
pany now reaches over 80 per cent of the area of the
city and the company does approximately 45 per cent
of the electrical business in the city.
The plan upon which the City Council and the com-
mission decided was to ask the Railroad Commission of
California to make a valuation of the property of the
Southern California Edison Company. If the company
refuses to accept the proposition of the city, it is an-
nounced that condemnation proceedings will be started.
Chicago Regulations Relating to Use of Gas-Filled
Lamps
The Department of Gas and Electricity of the city of
Chicago has formulated the following regulations for
the use of gas-filled incandescent lamps, the high oper-
ating temperature of which makes necessary special pre-
cautions in making installations. The enforcement of
these rules followed a meeting Feb. 4 of persons inter-
ested in the manufacture, sale, installation and use of
these lamps, at which the proposed rules were read and
discussed by Mr. Victor H. Tousley, chief electrical in-
spector, and others present. According to Mr. Tousley,
there have been practically no accidents from overheat-
ing of these lamps in Chicago, but it is feared that fu-
ture trouble may result from the baking of the insula-
tion on the wires leading to these lamps, in the high
temperatures which they set up.
Circuits. — Must have a cut-out for each lamp, except
that where the combined wattage of two or more lamps
does not exceed 660 watts they may be dependent upon
the same cutout. Special permission may be granted
for circuits of 1320 watts capacity where wire equal in
size and insulation to standard No. 14 B. & S. gage wire
is carried directly into keyless sockets or receptacles
and where the location of the sockets or receptacles is
such as to render unlikely the attachment of flexible
cords.
Wires. — Fixtures exposed to the weather must be
wired with rubber-covered wire. Fixtures for inside use
must be provided with a stem or its equivalent not less
than 6 in. long and must be wired with asbestos or slow-
burning wire. Fixtures so designed that operated with
the largest lamp for which they are intended they do not
attain a temperature in any part of the wiring of over
120 deg. Fahr. may be used without stems. Lamps com-
plying with the temperature requirements given under
440
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 7
"fixtures" may be used in exposed conduit work or in
trough reflectors wired with slow-burning wire.
Sockets or Receptacles. — Brass-shell, fiber-lined sock-
ets must not be used for lamps above 200 watts or where
inclosed by a shade, reflector or by any part of the
fixtures. Sockets or receptacles with medium (stand-
ard ) bases must not be used for lamps above 200 watts
capacity.
Fixtures. — Must not be used in show windows or in
other locations where inflammable material is liable to
come in contact with the same unless the lamp is in-
closed in an approved fixture where the temperature of
any exposed portion of fixture or lamp does not exceed
200 deg. Fahr. Where the lamp comes within the usual
range of vision, it must be provided with a suitable
shade which will so reduce the intensity of the light
that it will not be injurious to the eyes.
N. E. L. A. Convention Plans
On Feb. 8 Secretary T. C. Martin of the National
Electric Light Association returned to New York after
a trip to San Francisco for the purpose of going over
the plans for the convention to be held in that city from
June 7 to 11. In Chicago conferences were held with
Mr. E. W. Lloyd concerning the Commercial Section con-
vention, Mr. P. Junkersfeld in reference to the technical
program, and Mr. H. E. Niesz in regard to Jovian co-
operation.
In San Francisco a meeting of the general convention
committee was held, and in addition Secretary Martin
had a conference with the chairman of each sub-com-
mittee. At a joint meeting of the San Francisco Sec-
tion of the American Institute of Electrical Engineers
and the N. E. L. A. company section, at which Mr.
Frank G. Baum read a paper on "The Best Control of
Public Utilities," Mr. John A. Britton, vice-president
and general manager of the Pacific Gas & Electric Com-
pany, and Mr. Martin spoke on the general convention
plans. At a lunch of the Electrical Development League
of San Francisco Mr. Martin invited co-operation.
In speaking to a representative of the Electrical
World, Mr. Martin said: "After very careful study of
the ground and consideration of all the questions con-
cerned, it appeared to be best to arrange to hold the
meetings in the new building of the Native Sons of the
Golden West. This is at 414 Mason Street, one-half
block from the Hotel St. Francis and the Hotel Clift
and within convenient distance of all of the leading
hotels. The hall at the Civic Center, which was under
consideration, is not situated as conveniently and does
not have facilities that would accommodate our dif-
ferent meetings and provide for offices and conferences
so satisfactorily as the building which was finally
selected.
"Registration day will be on Monday, June 7. The
annual reception of the president will be held in the
evening at the Hotel St. Fran
"Bn ■ ions will be held morning and afternoon
on Tuesday. Trips to Mount Tamalpais and the Muir
Woods, with luncheon, will be arranged for the ladies.
In the evening a visit will be made to the Exposition.
"on Wednesday morning there will lie business ses-
sions. This will be 'Electrical Day,' and in the after
noon a visit will )»■ made to the Exposition. A musicale
will be given for the ladies at the California Counties
Building and tea will be served. At the public policy
committee meeting in the evening the report of the com
mittee will be presented and addresses will probably be
made by a prominent resident of California and others.
"On Thursday the last business sessions will lie held.
In the evening there will be a Jovian rejuvenation and
a vaudeville show by the Pacific Service N. E. L. A.
section. An automobile trip to Crystal Springs Lake,
with lunch, will be given for the ladies.
"Delegates who remain on Friday and Saturday will
be entertained.
"In the new building which is the home of the Native
Sons of the Golden West there will be ample room for
all of our meetings. The auditorium on the first floor,
which will accommodate from 1200 to 1400 people, will
be used for general meetings. It will also be used for
the public policy meeting and, with the gallery, which
will be open for that purpose, will accommodate 1500
people. The social hall in the basement, which will be
used for the meetings of the Commercial Section, will
accommodate about 750 people. On the fourth floor is
the meeting room for the sessions of the Accounting
Section. Rooms will also be prepared on this floor for
the entertainment committee, transportation committee,
the Daily, local registration and the official stenog-
raphers.
"Already sixteen hotels are on our list and we have
reserved 800 rooms. After a certain date we shall have
to release any of these rooms that have not been taken
or we shall be penalized for holding them further. The
hotels are adhering to their schedules, which will be
moderate, but are stipulating that after the Exposition
opens they shall have the privilege of 'doubling up' on
single rooms. The effect of this stipulation is that any
one who takes a single room and wants to be sure of
being alone will have to pay double rate."
Leaving for Los Angeles on Jan. 23, Mr. Martin re-
mained in that city until Jan. 26, meeting the officials
of member companies and attending a lunch at the local
Electrical Development League. He went from Los
Angeles to Salt Lake City, where he was entertained by-
Mr. C. E. Groesbeck and officials of the Utah Power &
Light Company. On Jan. 28 he delivered an address at
a meeting of the local company section and four other
engineering bodies, and the N. E. L. A. Halloran lecture
on electrical features of the Exposition was delivered
before about 400 people.
From Salt Lake City Mr. Martin went to Denver,
where he was entertained at dinner on Jan. 30 by the
Colorado Electric Club and the company local section.
On Feb. 1, at Kansas City, he was entertained by Chair-
man E. J. Bowers and other officials of the company
section and President J. M. Egan of the Kansas City
Electric Light Company. On Feb. 2, at St. Louis, Mr.
A. C. Einstein, member of the executive committee, and
Mr. Martin addressed the Jovian Order at lunch. The
afternoon was spent with the executive committee of
the local company section.
Mr. Martin was in Cincinnati on Feb. 3 and discussed
with Mr. W. W. Freeman, chairman of the public policy
Committee, the work of that committee. Leaving in the
aftemon of that day for Dayton, be assisted in the
inauguration of a new company section, which has been
started with a membership of more than fifty. On Feb.
4, returning to Cincinnati, he took part in the inaugura-
tion of the new company section of the Union Gas A
Electric Company, which lias 160 members. During his
stay in Ohio Secretary Martin also assisted in making
plans for new company sections in Cleveland, Younjrs
town and Columbus.
"I found general conditions spotty, with several areas
.il depression, but on the whole an increasing note of
hopefulness and confidence," said Mr. Martin. "It is
a period of caution and restriction as to operating ex-
penses and new expenditures, but every central-station
manager I met realizes that the maintenance of efficient
public service demands, and depends upon, continuous
expenditures, because even through the dullest of bad
times each community tends to grow and its electric
J Uiiti ABI 18, l'Jlo
ELECTRICAL WORLD
service must be provided for. one of the curioiu
taxes which manifested themselves is the fact that while
in the East all the large companies are intensely in-
terested in problems connected with the wiring of exist-
in^' buildings, in the Far West this is regarded
: incident, as 95 per cent or 100 per cent of the
existing buildings are already wired. Western people
Wonder what their friends in the East are talking
about. There was, however, a great deal of interest in
the West in the now question of concentric bare wiring
which, if properly installed after thorough testing, it
was thought might greatly simplify and cheapen work
in many new buildings hereafter.
"Throughout the trip the greatest interest was mani-
fested in the convention as well as in the wonderful
San Francisco Exposition, the lighting effects of which
are the finest I have ever seen. It is beyond question
assured that the attendance will at least reach esti-
mates and will far exceed the point reached at Seattle
in 1912."
Nearly 1000 cards have already been received at the
association headquarters asking for itineraries of the
special tours. Circular letters are being sent to every
central-station and manufacturing company member.
The Jovian Order is also issuing a notice in regard to
the convention to all its members.
New York Telephone Rate Case
At a hearing before a committee of the New York
Legislature which is investigating the telephone situa-
tion in New York City Prof. Edward W. Bemis, of
Chicago, testified that reductions in rates should be
made.
Professor Bemis, basing his opinion on the petition
of the Court of Appeals in the Kings County Lighting
Company case, said that it was impossibje for any com-
pany which had been profitable from its inception to add
anything to its capital account for going value. Taking
the property of the New York Telephone Company at
$65,000,000 and allowing it a return of 7 per cent, it
would be possible, he said, to make concessions to the
public of the value of $5,675,000 a year. He said that
low rates would stimulate business. Professor Bemis
also attacked the arrangement by which the New York
Telephone Company pays the American Telephone &
Telegraph Company as a rental for its telephone trans-
mitters, receivers and induction coils 4% per cent of its
gross receipts.
Central-Station Rate Bill Opposed at Boston
The Massachusetts legislative committee on public
lighting gave a final hearing on Feb. 8 upon the bill of
the New England Power League limiting the price of
electrical energy marketed by central stations to from
5 to 25 per cent above the cost of production and dis-
tribution. Representatives of various labor organiza-
tions and isolated-plant engineers cited instances of
differential rates in Boston, Worcester and elsewhere
and urged that the maximum price be reduced by legis-
lative action. Mr. Everett W. Burdett, general counsel
(if t ho National Electric Light Association, pointed out
that passage of the bill would imperil the return on
about $50,000,000 of central-station capital in Massa-
chusetts alone and presented an exhaustive discussion
of differential rates and the theory of their making.
Mr. Burdett said that the real springs of the agitation
represented by the bill are the dissatisfaction of Boston
labor interests with the refusal of the Edison Electric
Illuminating Company of Boston to formulate the recent
street-lighting contract on lines sought by organized
labor and the natural desire of steam engineers in
isolated plants to avoid being thrown out of work tem-
porarily by the introduction of central-station service.
Mr. Burdett said that the long-hour user gets the
benefit of the lowest prices because he makes the most
economical use of the plant at his disposal. Investment
charges are much greater than the cost of production
and distribution, and the central station turns over its
capital only once in five years, compared with a turn-
over about twenty-live times as frequent in a mercantile
business. Fixed charges may run as high as seven or
ten times manufacturing and delivery costs in electric
service, owing to the cost of readiness to serve. Con-
trary to the popular impression, the large consumer is
the most profitable customer of the central station, and
the revenue derived from him makes it possible to supply
the small consumer at a rate much below what would
be feasible if it were not for the large user of energy.
The importance of time and duration of energy con-
sumption as factors in rate-making were outlined, and in
conclusion the speaker pointed out that the existence of
competition has always been held by the courts as a
justification of differential rates, provided service is not
furnished at less than cost. The only means of reduc-
ing the price to the small consumer is by the greater
use of the company's investment. The passage of the
bill would result in a raising of prices or a diminution
of service to all large users, which would be a disaster
to small consumers. Mr. Burdett said that a valuation
of central-station properties is unnecessary in Massa-
chusetts, where the Gas and Electric Light Commission
knows in great detail the money invested by each com-
pany and securities are issued at prices fixed by direc-
tors and approved or disapproved by the commission.
Mr. W. Rodman Peabody, for the Turners Falls Power
Company, pointed out the importance of fixed charges in
determining rates for hydroelectric energy and urged
that the bill would make fair prices for such service
impossible. Bates in force in power contracts depend
upon local factors on such systems. Mr. Peabody said
that a manufacturer purchasing energy near the gen-
erating plant at Turners Falls would object strenuously
to being charged for service on the basis of including
costs due to the Turners Falls-Springfield steel-tower
line, and a cotton mill and an electric railway served by
the company, with radical differences in the uniformity
of their demands, could not with equity have the
same rates quoted to them. Similarly, the steam-plant
owner down the river who buys secondary power is in a
class by himself. Rate-making on the basis of the bill
would result in confusion and distress.
President W. H. Lang of the Massachusetts Associa-
tion of Municipal Lighting Plants also opposed the bill
on the ground that it attempts to maintain the paradox
of high wages for the operating engineer combined with
reduced costs to the consumer. He predicted that in a
few years all the electrical energy distributed in the
State would be generated in three or four plants of
great size and maximum economy, forecasting the time
when the smaller and less efficient stations would "go
into the discard." The hearing was closed.
Holds That Cleveland Accounts Should Be Open
Through a decision of the Appellate Court, the suit
of Mr. J. N. Patton, as a taxpayer, who seeks access to
the accounts of the municipal light plant of Cleveland,
Ohio, has been reinstated. On account of the action of
the Common Pleas Court, which allowed the city to
make the defense that Mr. Patton was not acting in
good faith, but in the interest of private power and
light corporations, he lost his case in that court. The
442
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 7
higher court, however, sustained his demurrer. In an-
nouncing the decision Judge Grant said:
"The corporation, private or municipal, that cannot
stand the light of day sooner or later must go to the
wall. And if the managers of a municipal industry
begin by withholding its affairs from the knowledge of
its citizens, the latter will become justly suspicious."
Judge Grant said that the city in going into business
is in a sense leading a dual life. It meets a competitor
in its own citizens who are an integral part of itself, and
they, finding the city waging a business warfare against
them, have to meet the city in competition for the busi-
ness they secure.
Judge Grant declared that the danger of inspection
from improper motives, as alleged in the city's defense,
is not to be compared with the danger that would follow
the people's lack of confidence in their business servants.
They never will have confidence in the city management
if it apes the worst features of the old corporation idea,
as exemplified in many of the New Jersey charters of
a few years ago, he said.
The decision holds that Mr. Patton is before the
court, not as a competitor of the city, but as one of its
citizens and taxpayers and as such is a stockholder in
the enterprise in question.
Ohio Court of Appeals Upholds Cincinnati
Injunction
The Court of Appeals at Cincinnati, Ohio, on Feb. 5
reversed the decision of the Common Pleas Court,
wherein the city and the Union Gas & Electric Company
were refused an injunction to prevent the Diamond
Light Company from laying wires and building conduits
across the streets and alleys without a franchise from
the City Council. In his decision Judge Gorman, of the
Common Pleas Court, said that owners of abutting prop-
erty on opposite sides of the street control the street
and have a right to agree among themselves to grant
permission for laying wires and conduits, so long as
the street is not damaged as a thoroughfare, and that a
franchise from the Council is not necessary. He also
held that it was never intended that any corporation
should have a monopoly of a business and that the
estoppel of the Diamond Light Company would prevent
it from entering into competition with the Union Gas
& Electric Company.
Speaking of the rights of owners of abutting prop-
erty, the Court of Appeals says that it is not necessary
to consider them in this case, since the property owners
were not made parties to the suit. However, there is
no law to substitute their consent for that of the city,
whatever their rights may be on their own behalf. The
evidence as to the permission granted does not in any
way pretend that it operates as a grant or conveyance
of property rights in the streets and alleys.
The question as to whether the consent of the city
should be piven to the defendant is a matter of legis-
lative policy, the court said, and must be determined
by the Council and the city officials. It is not a judicial
question for the determination of the court. If the ac
tion of the Council in refusing to grant permission to
lay wires and conduits in the streets and alleys results
in general tion to the citizens and property
owners of the community, the matter can lie rectified
by a change in the personnel of the Council and public
Officials. Where a legislative body has exercised its
power in a manner that might be considered unwise or
• t the Interest of the city or its citizens, the court
no rijrht to intervene and substitute its views for
■ of the municipal authorities. The determination
of whether or not consent should be given is vested in
the Council itself.
The Council has refused such consent, and, whether
wise or unwise, it is not a question for decision by the
court, as no fraud or improper methods of arriving at
this determination were shown. As the law provides
that no such wires or conduits shall be laid or con-
structed without consent of the Council, said the court,
the injunction sought must be allowed. The three
judges of the court concurred in the decision.
Judge Gorman, who decided the case in Common Pleas
Court, is about to succeed Judge Peter F. Swing on the
Court of Appeals.
Museum of Safety Medal Awards
At the annual exercises of the American Museum of
Safety, held in New York on Feb. 10, the following
medals were awarded: The Scientific American medal
for the most efficient safety device invented within a
certain number of years and exhibited at the museum,
to the Shurloc Elevator Safety Company, Inc., New
York; the Travelers' Insurance Company's medal for
protecting the lives and limbs of workmen, to the Com-
monwealth Edison Company of Chicago; the Louis Liv-
ingston Seaman medal for progress and achievement in
the promotion of hygiene and the mitigation of occu-
pational disease, to Surgeon-General William C. Gorgas,
U. S. A.; the E. H. Harriman memorial medal to the
American steam railroad which during the year has
been the most successful in protecting the lives and
health of its employees and of the public, to the New
York Central Railroad ; the Anthony N. Brady memorial
medal to that American electric railway company which
for the year of the award shall have done most to con-
serve the safety and health of the public and of its em-
ployees, to the Boston Elevated Railway Company. The
jury of award gave honorable mention to the Public
Service Railway Company of New Jersey and the North-
ern Ohio Traction & Light Company. Mr. Arthur Wil-
liams is president and Dr. William H. Tolman director
of the American Museum of Safety.
Terms of Detroit Rate Agreement
Details of the new agreement regarding rates in De-
troit are available. The Detroit Edison Company,
through its operating companies, the Edison Illuminat-
ing Company and the Peninsular Electric Light Com-
pany, has had informal agreements as to rates for the
last twelve years with the Common Council of Detroit.
There are no franchise or ordinance rates and the City
Council has no right to regulate, that power resting,
according to the law, with the Michigan Railroad Com-
mission, which can take action upon complaint. These
informal agreements are, in fact, merely understand-
ings put on record, after friendly discussion by letter
and Council resolution, and running for successive peri-
ods of approximately three years.
A new agreement of this class has just been arrived
at under which the maximum rate for commercial light-
ing is reduced from 12 cents per kw-hr. to 10 cents, sub-
let t to usual discounts for prompt payment. The fol-
low-on rate of 1 cents, less discount, has not been
chanced, and the residence rate, which has a maximum
of M cents followed by I cents, also remains unchanged.
All of the differential rates of the Detroit companies
are characterized by rather high initial rate and low
follow-on late, and '.Hi per cent of their business is done
on such rates. The result seems to be satisfactory to
the local public, which is presumably explained by the
Kmshi arv 18, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
i hat the average residential service rate to some
in that clasa wu 5.87 cents per kw-hr.
in 914 and the average rate for commercial lighting on
the ordinary one-year contract was 4.91 cents per kw-hr.
The latter rate will be affected bj the reduction.
In connection with this reduction the companies an-
nounce a change in their lamp policy. Heretofore they
have, like many of the Edison companies, furnished a
free installation and free renewal of carbon-filament
lamps. In commercial service these carbon lamps to a
very great extent have been replaced by tungsten-fila-
ment lamps owned by the customers. The companies
have furnished renewals of tungsten-filament lamps at
an excess charge, reduced from time to time but always
much below the list price. Under the new plan the com-
panies will cease to furnish any part of the original in-
stallation and will sell tungsten lamps for the original
installation to the customer at the wholesale price plus
a margin for handling and breakage. They will furnish
renewals of 40-watt tungsten lamps free and of 60-watt
and 100- watt tungsten lamps at 15 cents per lamp, prom-
ising to reduce the price of renewals of the 00-watt and
100-watt sizes from time to time until these also are
free. The 25-watt lamp and the 150-watt and 250-watt
lamps will be subject to a renewal charge of 25 cents
per lamp.
This change of lamp policy will apply also to residen-
tial customers. But, in order to expedite the change-
over from carbon-filament lamps to tungsten lamps, the
companies intend to furnish ten to twenty tungsten
lamps free to each residence customer now connected
and to each new residence customer hereafter connected.
This preference shown to residence customers is in-
tended, according to the companies' statement to the
Council, to take care of the small residential customer
on whom the burden of buying a tungsten-lamp equip-
ment would be serious.
This agreement is to run three years from midsum-
mer of this year.
Messages of Governors on Public Utilities
In messages to the legislatures now beginning their
sessions many governors of states refer to public utility
affairs. In the two last issues we published extracts
from these messages, and appended herewith are others
dealing with the same topic.
Governor Ralston of Indiana
"I hesitated long before I espoused legislation creat-
ing a Public Service Commission. Such legislation runs
counter to what had long been the policy in this country
in dealing with the private affairs of individuals and
corporations, and it goes a long way in setting aside
the power of the people to control their own local
affairs; but the people were demanding it 'and I stood
with the Legislature for it. Now that we have the law
there is but one thing that can be consistently done,
and that is to give it a fair trial.
"There are those who assume an unfriendly attitude
toward this commission on the ground that it is costing
the State too much. The truth is there are several
instances in which the commission has saved the people
in a single case more than its annual cost.
"This commission has made mistakes of course. In
the future it will make other mistakes. Its working
force is not yet completely organized. In truth, it re-
quires skill, patience and time to make up a competent
and frictionless organization of expert engineers, ac-
countants and assistants to carry on the work required
by law of the commission; and it takes time for the
commissioners themselves to get into the swing of their
work, no matter what their ability is.
"I have expected great things of this commission and
1 have not been disappointed, no matter what the dis-
appointments of others may have been. Disappoint-
ments sometimes come, perhaps unconsciously and un-
avoidably, out of existing conditions as compared with
results hoped for; but as a rule the person who ap-
proaches a proposition with an unfriendly mind is most
easily disappointed. Such an individual should not be
followed in his errors by those who are normal and fair-
minded."
Governor Walsh of Massachusetts
"I must repeat, with added emphasis, if possible, my
last year's protest against the law which relieved the
transportation and telephone and telegraph companies —
already favored by the exemption of much of their
physical property from local taxation — from defraying
the cost of the Public Service Commission, thereby add-
ing nearly $200,000 annually to the State tax. As I
pointed out last year, it matters absolutely nothing so
far as the independence of the commissitn is concerned
whether the treasurer of the commonwealth obtains the
funds for its support from one source or another. The
sole question is whether these companies, rather tha.i
other public service corporations, are entitled to this
exemption from taxation at the expense of all the other
taxpayers of the commonwealth; and this question I am
sure should be answered in the negative. The saving
to the taxpayers by a return to the time-honored plan
would in only four years nearly suffice to meet the entire
cost of enlarging the State House to accommodate all the
departments. But if the new plan is right, we should
at least be consistent enough to extend it to the corpo-
rations under the jurisdiction of the Gas and Electric
Light Commission, which now pay the entire cost of
their regulation.
"I again urge the transfer of the supervision and
regulation of telephone and telegraph companies from
the Public Service Commission to the Gas and Electric
Light Commission. I urgently recommend a thorough
public inquiry as to telephone and telegraph rates and
service in this commonwealth."
Governor Morehead of Nebraska
"The increase in population of the State and the
rapid development of our towns and cities make the
subject of public service corporations important. I
recommend that you consider the legislation of other
states, as it is unwise to pass experimental legislation
or to adopt new or untried methods, when we may profit
by the experience of others. I urge a careful study of
the laws of these states, and that these corporations be
placed under our State Railway Commission.
"I wish to urge for your consideration the proper
conservation and development of our water-power. The
United States War Department has perhaps the ablest
engineering corps in the world, as is demonstrated by
the completion of the Panama Canal. I see no reason
why the people of the several states may not avail them-
selves of this talent, and I recommend that by joint
resolution you memorialize our representatives in Con-
gress to call upon the proper federal department and
secure its aid and co-operation. Either by executive
order or by federal statute I believe it possible to secure
the services of a corps of suitable engineers, have them
detailed to work in Nebraska, and have the most thor-
ough investigation made, that we may know definitely
what our possibilities are. Before you grant any new
rights or before we embark upon the development of
our water-power this information ought to be at hand."
Governor Byrne of South Dakota
"Laws should be passed giving the Board of Railroad
Commissioners control of light and power companic s
444
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 7
in the State, and generally extending their authority
in the direction of a general public utilities board."
Governor Lister of Washington
"It is probable that there will be introduced for your
consideration some bills providing for a curtailment of
the powers of the Public Service Commission in rela-
tion to the regulation of public utilities within the
boundaries of municipalities. Personally I feel that the
tendency ought to be to increase rather than to decrease
the power of the State commission and that to the
State commission ought to be given regulative power
over municipally owned utilities."
• Governor Hatfield of West Virginia
"In some of the most important cases that have come
before the Public Service Commission the decision has
resulted in a tie vote. The possibility of such occur-
rences for the future should be averted by making the
commission consist of an odd number of members.
Having always been of the opinion that better results
are obtained by concentrated responsibility, I believe
that the smaller the unit in the way of numbers in the
administration of any duty, so long as the duties may
be consistently taken care of, the better, so that re-
sponsibility can be fixed. I, therefore, favor a body of
three members instead of five. There are many amend-
ments which should be made to the public service com-
mission law. One of the first in importance is to
amend it so that the power of the commission may be
well defined as to its right to prevent any increase in
any rate made by any public service corporation operat-
ing in intrastate business in this State. Additional
power should be given to the commission to subpoena
witnesses, take testimony, administer oaths, and this
power should be given also to inspectors and special
examiners when they are required by the commission
to obtain information; also, the power should be ex-
tended to the commission to exercise jurisdiction over
all electric, gas or water meters whereby any elec-
tricity, gas or water is sold in the State. The commis-
sion should also be given the power to punish for con-
tempt and to require papers, evidence, books, docu-
ments, etc., to be produced without invoking the aid
of the Circuit Court.
"The Public Service Commission informs me that it
has not had funds available with which to investigate
and determine the merits of any of the proposed ap-
plications for the construction of dams which range
in height from 29 ft. to 240 ft. It is essential that the
ownership of water-power be so regulated that it shall
remain in the name of the State, so that the people may
own and operate the dams whenever they desire so to
do. If dams are to be constructed, 1 favor a limit,
ironclad in it- purpose and made plain of understand-
ing, that no permits be authorized to any company to
i net ;i dam that will exceed in height 10 ft., and
that complete and plenary control be left to the State.
with the proviso that the people at their will shall have
the right to acquire and operate the same at their
pleasure and that m the construction of these dams
and the investigation of the application the applicant
shall bear the expense, and that before a permit is
granted a substantial bond or the deposil of m<
shall be required to indicate good faith. It is like-
wise important that the dam shall be supervised by
the commission and the Governor lie (riven discre-
tion when in his opinion public policj demands, and
that the State through its commission be Riven the
power to secure the engineers of known
ability to supervise the erection of inch dams, for which
the applicant company shall be compelled to pay. In
case it is desired by a corporation to construct a dam
higher than 40 ft. it should be provided that such per-
mission be obtained through a special act of the Legis-
lature."
New Substation for United Company
The United Electric Light & Power Company of
New York City has in course of erection a new sub-
station to meet the growing demands upon the com-
pany's alternating-current distributing system in the
lower section of the city.
This substation, a sketch of which is shown herewith,
UNITED ELECTRIC LIGHT & POWER COMPANY'S SUBSTATION
will be erected on a lot approximately 25 ft. by 100 ft.,
on the south side of West Forty-fifth Street, between
Kighth and Ninth Avenues. It will be of strictly fire-
proof construction, three-story and basement, and is
designed for an equipment of approximately 10,000-
kw rating, with facilities for twenty outgoing feeders.
Energy will be available from this substation by about
Oct. 1. This will be the fourth general substation of
the company on Manhattan Island.
Temporary Service Kate at Cincinnati Extended
At a meeting Of the light committee of the City
Council of Cincinnati on Jan. -2 it was agreed that
the present temporary rate of the Union Gas & Electric
Company for energy should be extended for two months
from Feb. i. City Solicitor Schoenle criticised the
Public Utilities Commission of Ohio for not completing
its appraisal of the property by this time. It was
bated, however, that the report on the valuation will
be readj within a short time.
February 13, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
445
Miscellaneous News Notes
Inw-tination of < onnecticut Water BfUlUCM, — The
United States Geological Survey and the Connecticut Geo-
logical and Natural History Survey have co-operated in a
study of ground waters as part of a thorough study of
water resources of the State. Reports of some of the areas
have been completed and will be published by the federal
government.
The "M(ni«" as ■ T»enty-four-Hour Load. — The demand
of most motion-picture shows comes at a time when the cen-
tral station is carrying the peak of its evening lighting load.
Two Chicago moving-picture theatres, however, are now
running twenty-four hours a day. These places are largely
patronized by newspaper men and other night workers, who
drop in for film entertainment after the midnight hour, and
the houses are said to be well filled all night long.
Time of Delivery Should Be Specified in Contracts. — A
buyer cannot make time of delivery the essence of a con-
tract without notifying the seller of his intention to cancel
the order unless delivery is made before a fixed date, ac-
cording to a recent decision (150 N. Y. S., 658) of the
Supreme Court of New York. Moreover, the buyer accept-
ing part of the goods after the time fixed for delivery and
requesting further deliveries was held to waive the time of
delivery.
Nmvl Legislation Proposed in Ohio. — Representative D. E.
Liggitt, of Logan County, has announced his intention of
presenting a bill in the Ohio Legislature that will allow
municipal light and power plants to offer inducements to
industries to remove to the municipalities where the city-
plants are established by furnishing energy to the in-
dustries at reduced rates or even free for five years. His
idea would also provide for the sale of service outside the
municipal boundaries.
Negligence of Company Not Established. — In an action
for death caused by the decedent's coming in contact with
a lowered unlighted electric street lamp (151 N. Y. S., 144)
the Supreme Court of New York ruled that negligence on
the part of the defendant electric-service company could
not be established, as proof was insufficient to show that
the lamp had been lowered more than one and a half hours.
This period was not considered sufficiently long to charge
the defendant with negligence because of defective main-
tenance.
Guaranteed Wiring Adopted in England. — At a meeting
of the council of the Electrical Contractors' Association, Inc.,
held at Leeds, England, on Jan. 15, it was decided to adopt
the guarantee scheme of wiring which has been before the
association for two years, in its entirety. The association
as a whole will guarantee the wiring work of each of its
members individually up to a certain specified amount after
Oct. 1 of this year. The standard adopted will be practically
in accordance with the rules issued by the British Institution
of Electrical Engineers.
International Engineering Congress, 1915. — The technical
success of the International Engineering Congress to be
held at San Francisco, Sept. 20-25, is now well assured.
Notwithstanding the difficulties arising as a result of the
war, the committee on papers is able to count on from 200
to J50 papers and reports covering all phases of engineer-
ing work and contributed by authors representing eighteen
countries. The congress will therefore be international in
scope and character, although the representation from Eu-
rope will naturally be less than originally planned.
Electric Company Not Required to Guard Against Re-
motely Possible Dangers. — In a decision (92 A., 341) re-
cently rendered by the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania it
was held that a company employing electricity, while bound
to guard against injury therefrom, is under no obligation
to safeguard wires which by reasonable anticipation cannot
be expected to cause injury. The case arose from an injury
to a child who threw a stone attached to a spool of copper
wire (not belonging to the defendant) over the defendant's
uninsulated distribution line and then took hold of the
dangling wire.
Central Stations of Russia. — At a recent meeting of elec-
trical engineers held in the Electrotechnical Institute of
Alexander III some statistics on the cennal stations of
Russia were given. Russia has a total of 137 central sta-
tions. Of these eighty belong to municipalities and serve
5,000,000 citizens and fifty-seven belong to concessionaires
and serve 9,488,000 citizens. That is to say that, although
the concession stations are so many less than the munici-
pal stations, they serve twice the number of citizens. The
stations of the concessionaires are in the industrial and
densely populated districts.
Northern Ohio Traction & Light Company's Water Rights
on Cuyahoga River Fixed. — Through the dismissal of the
suit of the Cuyahoga Power Company by the Court of Ap-
peals at Cleveland last week, the water rights at what is
known as the gorge on the Cuyahoga River are guaranteed
to the Northern Ohio Traction & Light Company of Akron,
Ohio. This company completed a large combined steam and
hydroelectric power plant at that point about a year ago.
The Cuyahoga Power Company filed the suit some years
ago on the claim that it had obtained first rights. In this
decision the findings of the lower courts are affirmed.
Comforts of Electricity in Idaho. — Speaking before the
convention of the Southwestern Lumbermen's Association at
Kansas City, Jan. 29, Mr. C. J. Blanchard, statistician of the
Reclamation Service, dwelling on the home-making features
of the reclamation of arid lands in the West, told what elec-
tricity generated at the government power houses has done
to improve the conditions of settlers in several regions. He
said that "one project in Idaho has eighteen co-operative or-
ganizations of farmers, who buy electricity from the govern-
ment at 0.5 cent per kw-hr., and their homes are lighted and
heated at the final cost to the consumer of less than 3 cents
per kw-hr."
Ohio Supreme Court Rules on Municipal Light Bonds. —
Last week the Ohio Supreme Court rendered a decision
sustaining the lower courts in the case of Director of Law
John N. Stockwell of Cleveland against the City Sinking
Fund Commission and two firms of bond dealers. It re-
ferred to the sale of $500,000 municipal light bonds by the
commission. The two points in the decision are that it is
illegal to sell bonds for less than par and accrued interest
and that the sale of bonds is an abuse of the powers of
the Sinking Fund Commission when it is admitted that the
sale of the bonds is not necessary to meet the requirements
of the sinking fund.
Creosote Plentiful. — As the result of the war in Europe
considerable interest was manifested in the possibility of
the depletion of the creosote supply for wood-preserving
purposes in the United States. A speaker at the recent
meeting of the American Wood Preservers' Association de-
clared that of the 100,000.000 gal. of creosote used annually in
this country about 60,000,000 gal. is imported from Europe.
Of this amount, however, only 15,000,000 gal. comes from
Germany, so that the shutting of Germany's ports will cut
off only about one-seventh of the normal supply of the
United States. The output of American producers can
easily be increased to offset this loss. Germany is holding
her creosote for fuel purposes. The delivery of creosote
imports has been somewhat interfered with by the com-
mandeering of tank ships by the British Admiralty, but a
number of cargoes of creosote are now on the way across
the ocean and will shortly be in the American market.
Electricity in Norway. — In the course of a lecture deliv-
ered in Christiania Mr. J. P. Nissen gave some details of
electric supply in Norway. Water, he said, was the accepted
source of power in that country, and from this means of
energy some 6,000,000 hp was commercially available. Esti-
mating from the progress of recent years, Mr. Nissen
thought that this horse-power would be fully exploited by
the year 1970. In accounting for this absorption of power
the lecturer suggested that by the year mentioned the gen-
eral supply of electricity would account for 1,000,000 hp, the
electrochemical industry for 3,600,000 hp, the timber and
other industries for 1.000,000 hp, and railways for 400,000 hp.
He thus arrived at the conclusion that, progressing at the
present rate, the supply of electricity for general purposes
would absorb only one-sixth of the water-power. The lec-
turer expressed the opinion that the working of all electric-
power stations in the towns by the municipal authorities
was only a matter of time, and this would probably prove to
be the case in rural districts where energy sold had to be
distributed over a wide area.
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 7
Associations and Societies
Chicago Jovian League. — Mr. Henry A. Morse, vice-presi-
dent and electrical engineer of the Simplex Wire & Cable
Company, Boston, Mass., is to deliver an illustrated lecture
on the manufacture of rubber-covered wires before the Chi-
cago Jovian League, Hotel Sherman, Chicago, Feb. 15.
Ohio Electric Light Association. — The twenty-first annual
convention of the Ohio Electric Light Association will be
held at Cedar Point, Ohio, July 20 to 23. Mr. D. L. Gaskill,
Greenville, Ohio, is secretary, and the general committee
on arrangements consists of Messrs. E. A. Bechstein,
Sandusky, chairman; J. T. Kermode, Cleveland; W. S.
Culver, Cincinnati, and C. J. Ratterman, Cincinnati.
Dayton Section, N. E. L. A. — Employees of the Dayton
Power & Light Company, Dayton, Ohio, have formed a com-
pany section of the National Electric Light Association,
choosing as officers Mr. T. F. Kelly, chairman; Mr. John K.
Himes, vice-chairman; Mr. J. Fitzpatrick. Jr., secretary, and
Mr. L. K. Funkhouser, treasurer. Messrs. Frank M. Tait, O.
H. Hutchings, O. B. Reemelin, M. H. Wagner and F. B. Steele
were named as members of the executive committee. On
Feb. 3 Mr. T. Commerford Martin, executive secretary of the
X. E. L. A., addressed the newly formed section on the sub-
ject of membership in the organization and the coming San
Francisco convention.
New York Electrical Society. — At a meeting of the New
York Electrical Society to be held in the Engineering So-
cieties Building on Feb. 17 Mr. Putnam A. Bates, electrical
engineer of the New York Fire Department, will lecture on
the fire-alarm system of New York City. He will give a
review of the past history of the system, a recital of its
present shortcomings, and a glimpse of the plans now
formulated for its permanent improvement in all boroughs,
through the establishment of modern methods. The sub-
ject will be illustrated by lantern slides. After Mr. Bates'
lecture a demonstration will be made of improved lighting
for photographic studios. The demonstration will cover
both still and moving-picture work, using incandescent, mer-
cury-vapor and arc lamps.
Institute of Radio Engineers. — At the annual meeting of
the Institute, held at Columbia University on Jan. 6, the
election of the following officers for 1915 was announced:
President, Mr. John Stone Stone; vice-president, Dr. George
W. Pierce; treasurer, Mr. Warren F. Hubley; secretary, Mr.
David Sarnoff; managers, Dr. L. W. Austin and Messrs.
John Hays Hammond, Jr., Robert H. Marriott, Guy Hill,
George S. Davis and Roy A. Weagant. Dr. Alfred N.
Goldsmith continues as editor of publications and three
additional managers from the New York membership are
to be appointed by the board of direction. Mr. Roy A. Wea-
gant read a paper on "The Design and Construction of Guy-
Supported Towers for Radiotelegraphy," in which he gave
the fundamental stress and deformation formulas used in
planning such structures. The application of the theoretical
0 the actual design of a (iOO-ft. tubular steel tower
was shown, and the paper was followed by an interesting
-ion.
Power Bales Bureau, Commercial Section, N. E. L. A. —
\i a uniting of the power sales bureau of the Com-
mercial Siit ion of the National Electric Light Association
held recently in Chicago it was decided to prepare a com-
plete day's program and arrange for a banquet at the San
Francisco convention. The art ion of Hie last meeting to
appoint a committee on constitution anil by-laws was ro-
ll Tin- following program wai offered for adoption:
mg — Report on details of organization and scope of
work ,,f po iy Ml C.J. Russell; "Typical
Power Sales Development in the West," by an authoi
ted by Mr. G. H. Jones; report '>r sub-committi
ami welding. ( 1 I "Electric I
1 1, ,n Requiring Moderate i ." by Mr.
Booth, i - 1 "Operation of a steel Furnace at Redondo
n," by Mr. McKnight, (9 1 "Recent i >i
i,v Mr. Booth, and i 1 1 for Electric
Welding Services." by Mr. C. C N'ichol Al't.ii ,
Demonstration oi a by Mr. C H. Stt
ning- Banquel followed by round-table discussion at
hibition of a motion picture displaying coal-mining opera
Public Service Commission News
District of Columbia Commission
The commission has issued regulations for electric service.
Its order provides that on application and for sufficient
cause shown such modifications and exemptions may be
made as the facts shall warrant. Non-compliance with any
of the regulations will constitute a violation of the law un-
less specifically authorized by order of the commission. The
department of the commission which has charge of the su-
pervision of electric service shall be called the electrical in-
spection bureau. The regulations are to take effect on Feb.
15, 1915, and continue in force until change or abrogation by
order of the commission.
The commission has issued an order requiring utilities
delivering electrical energy to commercial customers or
using or delivering electrical energy for the operation of
street railways to furnish information for each month con-
cerning the kilowatt-hours generated, used and delivered
during the month. The statement is to show the average
price received per kilowatt-hour, the total kilowatt-hours
delivered to commercial customers, used by or delivered to
each electric-railway company, and used or delivered for
any purpose not specifically stated otherwise. The state-
ment is also to show the kilowatt-hours delivered for street
and park lights, the total kilowatt-hours accounted for, the
total kilowatt-hours unaccounted for, the total kilowatt-
hours generated, and the average cost per kilowatt-hour
generated.
New York Commissions
Chairman Edward E. McCall of the Public Service Com-
mission, First District, has been the principal witness before
the joint legislative committee of investigation in New York.
He testified that in his judgment the volume of work is
such that three members would be too few to handle it.
The commission should have at least five members. The
New York Telephone Company should also be under the
control of the First District commission.
Chairman McCall began by saying on behalf of Chairman
Willcox, his predecessor, that the change should never have
been made. The contracts providing for rapid transit de-
velopment would have been signed in any case and he claims
no credit for them. The man who should have signed the
contracts was the one whose brain was responsible for this
scheme for development of the city, and that was ex-Chair-
man Willcox. Chairman McCall said that he was not one
of those who believe the Brooklyn Rapid Transit Company
officials are not doing their level best to give the best
service they can. Conditions restrict them, but he believes
there is no wilful disregard of orders on the part of any
official that he has met. He made the same statement for
the Interborough Rapid Transit Company.
It was brought out that while acting as chairman of
the commission Mr. McCall has served as counsel, referee
or special guardian in various legal cases. The total num-
ber of hearings or trial days involved in these cases as
given out by the legislative investigating committee was
fifty-seven, and the total number of commission meetings
id was thirteen. Mr. McCall stated that he would
make a complete statement later.
Mr. Edward F. Boyle, who is said to be a Tammany dis-
trict leader and who had been employed previously in the
office of the commissioner of accounts, was employed as
B pedal examiner to gather information for Mr. McCall in
regard to the affairs of the commission, so thai he should
be better posted concerning the work.
According to dispatches from Ubany, Governor Whitman
i made up his mind what will pursue
in regard to the commission. Many protests have been tiled
with the Governor against the plan to create one commis-
. upplanl the tWO commissions, thus taking one away
',.••■■ York < lity.
M, E, H Letchworth, attorney for the Buffalo General
Electric Company, has argued before the Second District
commission the company's application tor permission to
; hirty year bonds to relml
the treasury for expenditures from income for extensions
Bnd 1 .luring the last two years. Mr. Paulding
Foots Sellers, general manager, and Mr. Horace I.. Mann,
VOre tO the accuracy of the company's petition.
Pebriaky 18, 1916
ELECTRICAL WORLD
The First District commission has established regulations
for gas companies in receiving and caring for deposits made
by consumers. The order requires the keeping of accurate
accounts and the payment or crediting of the legal interest
at 6 per cent per annum upon such depo
II lessen Mutts Commission
Representative Caro, of Chelsea, Mass., appeared before
the committee on public lighting of the Massachusetts Leg-
islature on Feb. 3 in support of a bill to abolish the Gas
■nd Electric Light Commission and transfer its powers and
duties to the Public Service Commission, on the ground that
the regulation of all public utilities should be concentrated
in one official body. The bill met with little favor from the
committee, however, and was strongly opposed by Messrs.
Everett W. Burdutt, counsel of the Massachusetts Electric
Lighting Association; Albert E. Pillsbury, representing the
Massachusetts Gas Association, and Charles S. Davis, on
behalf of the Turners Palls Power Company. Opposition
was also recorded on behalf of the municipal lighting plants
of the State. The speakers opposing the bill contended that
thirty years' service had qualified the commission as an
expert tribunal in the regulation of gas and electric utilities
and that the transfer of its work to the Public Service Com-
mission, created in 1913, would merely overload the latter
body and deprive the State of the benefit of accumulated
experience. Later in the day the committee sent in an
adverse report on the bill.
Ohio Commission
The Howard economy committee of the Ohio Legislature
has decided to recommend a reduction of the salaries of
members of the commission from $6,000 to $5,000 each per
year. It will also recommend that the salaries of engine
and boiler inspectors be reduced from $2,160 to $1,800 per
year, and that in the bureau of inspection only two men
shall receive $2,500 each, instead of three, as in the past.
The proposition to combine the Public Utilities Commis-
sion and the State Tax Commission, advanced recently, is
meeting with favor on the part of some utility men. With
one commission only one set of reports would be needed,
and this would do away with much work and expense.
There is more likelihood that one valuation would be used
for both rate-making and tax purposes. With the two com-
missions some of the companies have had their properties
appraised high for tax purposes and very low in rate i
Pennsylvania Commission
An order has been issued by the commission providing
that persons publishing orders of the commission for direc-
tion of patrons or the public must print the exact wording.
The order says: "It having come to the attention of the
commission that certain public service companies have been
sending out written or printed notices or other such com-
munications to their patrons in which they have attributed
to the commission from time to time the making of alleged
rulings, regulations or orders which in point of fact have
not been made by the commission as represented, and there-
by have occasioned misunderstanding, confusion and incon-
venience to their patrons and the public in various matters,
but especially with regard to the time and manner of pay-
ment of bills subject to discount, it is hereby ordered that
the above practice shall be discontinued."
In granting a certificate of public convenience to the Blue
Mountain Telephone & Telegraph Company to extend its
operations in Pen Argyl, Wind Gap, Roseto and East Ban-
gor, in Northampton County, in opposition to the protest
of the Slate Belt Telephone & Telegraph Company, the
commission declared that the future development of the
telephone service will demand that every local community,
however small, shall be given the opportunity to communi-
cate by telephone with the State at large, and the State at
large with every local community, whenever circumstances
will permit such co-operative service. The protest of the
Slate Belt Company was that it already occupies the terri-
tory with a telephone system, and that if permission were
granted to the petitioner to enter a territory so limited in
area and population the competition would seriously inter-
fere with, if not destroy, the property values of the Slate
Belt concern.
Personal
\|r. i:. RirlrlnsSM has been appointed superintendent of
the Kendallville (Ind.) Light & Water Plant.
Mr. H. 1.. Burnette has been appointed manager of the
municipal electric light plant at Chicopee Falls, Ma--.
Mr. ('. Blackball, of Wingham, Ont., has been appointed
superintendent of the Acton (Ont.) hydroelectric system.
.Mr. J. U . Irvine, of Trenton, Mo., has been appointed
manager of the San Angelo (Tex.) Water, Light & Power
Company as successor to the late W. H. Guthrie.
Mr. C. I). Flanigan, vice-president and general manager
of the Athens (Ga.) Railway & Electric Company, has
been elected president of the Athens Chamber of Commerce.
Mr. R. D. Johnson, hydraulic engineer of the Ontario
i Company, Niagara Falls, Ont., has resigned that
position and opened a consulting engineering office at CO
Wall Street, New York City.
Mr. Louis Payne, former superintendent of the Virginia-
Western Power Company's plant at Covington, Va., has
been promoted to be general superintendent in charge of
maintenance with headquarters at Clifton Forge, Va.
Mr. Charles M. Cohn, formerly vice-president of the Con-
solidated Gas, Electric Light & Power Company, Baltimore,
Md., in charge of the gas division, has been elected vice-
president in charge of both gas and electric divisions.
Mr. Walter Alexander, district master mechanic of the
Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad, residing at Mil-
waukee, has been appointed a member of the Railroad Com-
mission of Wisconsin, to succeed Mr. David Harlow, whose
term has expired.
Mr. A. H. Grimsley, superintendent of the West Virginia
Water & Electric Company, Charleston, W. Va., resigned
Feb. 1 and accepted a position as assistant to the president
and chief engineer of the Virginia-Western Power Com-
pany, Clifton Forge, Va.
Mr. R. A. Sara, sales manager of the Winnipeg (Man.)
Light & Power Department, has been a visitor in Detroit,
Chicago and Minneapolis investigating the accounting sys-
tems of the power companies with a view to improving, if
possible, the system in use by the city of Winnipeg.
Mr. Eugene W. Stern, consulting engineer of New York
City and secretary of the American Institute of Consulting
Engineers, has been appointed chief engineer of the bureau
of highways, borough of Manhattan, New York City. Mr.
Stern is a graduate of the School of Practical Science,
Toronto, Ont.
Mr. W. B. Underwood, who for the past two years has
been connected with the American Sterilizer Company, Erie,
Pa., in the capacity of electrical engineer, has accepted a
similar position with the Wilmot Castle Company, manu-
facturer of sterilizers and bacteriological apparatus, at
Rochester, N. Y.
Mr. G. L. Ridout, a graduate of the Royal Military Col-
lege, Kingston, Ont., and for some time in the employ of
the Hydro-Electric Power Commission of Ontario in charge
of the erection of steel towers, has been granted a com-
mission in the department of railways of the Royal Engi-
neers of Lord Kitchener's army.
Mr. Thomas A. Edison was the recipient o( many congrat-
ulatory letters and telegrams on Thursday, Feb. 11, when he
reached his sixty-eighth birthday. All the employees of the
numerous Edison companies at Orange, N. J., wore appro-
priate buttons and ribbons in honor of the event as has been
customary for the past few years. The ELECTRICAL WORLD
adds its felicitations and merely echoes the fervent hope of
all humanity in wishing the great inventor long life and
prosperity. May the passing years add new luster to his
fame!
Mr. J. E. Aldred has resigned as president of the Con-
solidated Gas, Electric Light & Power Company. Baltimore.
Md., but remains as chairman of the board of director.-.
Mr, Aldred has been succeeded by Mr. H. A. Wagner, a
biographical sketch of whom appeared in last week's issue
Mr. Aldred is better known in the utility field in Canada
448
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 7
than in the United States, he being president of the Sha-
winigan Water & Power Company, Shawinigan Falls, Que-
bec, and Cedars Rapids Manufacturing & Power Company,
Montreal, and a director of the Montreal Light, Heat &
Power Company.
Mr. Arthur S. Ives was born Jan. 3, 1870, in Brooklyn,
X. Y. He was graduated from the Columbia School of
Mines, with the degree of civil engineer, in 1889, at the age
of nineteen, and two years later received also the degree
of electrical engineer from the same college. He was with
the Thomson-Houston Electric Company at Lynn at the
time of its consolidation with the Edison General Electric
Company to form the new General Electric Company, and
was subsequently on the engineering staff of the New York
and Brooklyn Bridge for a number of years, in charge of
important construction work. After a diversified experi-
ence in mechanical and electrical engineering as well as
executive work, for manufacturing interests handling hy-
draulic and power-plant machinery and equipment, he be-
came connected with the public utility business in 1907 as
assistant general manager of the Poughkeepsie (N. Y.)
Light, Heat & Power Company and consulting engineer
for all of its allied properties, since consolidated as the Cen-
tral Hudson Gas & Electric Company. In 1912 Mr. Ives,
with Mr. Rolland A. Davidson, formed the engineering firm
of Ives & Davidson, and he has since been engaged in con-
sulting work with headquarters in New York City. The
new firm of Cole, Ives & Davidson recently formed by them
in connection with Mr. W. W. Cole, formerly general man-
ager for Day & Zimmerman of Philadelphia, will continue
the same work along broader lines. Mr. Ives' engineering
experience has covered civil and mechanical as well as elec-
trical lines, including the design and construction of struc-
tural steel and concrete work, large pumping plants, steam
and internal-combustion power plants, hydroelectric devel-
opment, high-tension transmission lines and electrical equip-
ment of all kinds in various parts of the country. He has
also made a special study of the subject of electric rates
and central-station accounting, as well as of appraisal and
valuation work for public utility properties. While at
Poughkeepsie Mr. Ives served on important committees of
the Empire State Gas and Electric Association. He is also
a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers, the
National Electric Light Association and the Illuminating
Engineering Society. His first contribution to technical
literature was an original thesis on the "Determination of
Magnetic Leakage in Dynamos and Motors," which was
published in the Jan. 2, 1892, issue of the Electrical
World, and which first pointed the way for the develop-
ment of modern practice in such matters from the labora-
tory experiments of Hopkinson. His paper on 33,000-volt
transmission-line specifications was read before the Chi-
cago convention of the N. E. L. A. in 1908.
Obituary
Charles G. King, of the Bryant Bery Steam Turbine
Company, Detroit, Mich., died Jan. 19.
Julius C. Sterns, president of the Sterns Electric Com-
pany, and one of Buffalo's pioneer dealers in electrical equip-
ment and supplies, died Jan. 81, from blood poisoning
i by a carbuncle on his neck. Mr. Sterns was born
in Buffalo fifty-five years ago and forsook the study of
medicine to engage in the electrical business. He was a
member of the board of directors of the New York State
Electrical Contractors' Association and of the National
Electrical Contractors' Association.
Edgai 8. Slriink. for the past two
of the lAghMnQ Journal, New York, died at his home in
Harrington Park, X. .1.. Feb. B, a; the resuli of an attach
of typhoid fever. Se was born in Reading, Pa., in 1878.
In 1s:is In. became associated with the Hartford Carpet
i ation, and latei Inted upei Intendenl al
Ely, Wv., of tbr Xcw evade Copper Company.
lb' v manager of the Illuminating Engineer
from its organization in 1906 until August, L912, lb
for y iber of tin' Jovian Order and of the Illumi-
ng Engineering Society. II. • leave! a wife and son.
Corporate and Financial
Seattle Lighting Company Bond Offering. — Harris, Forbes
& Company of New York are offering $107,000 5 per cent
refunding fourteen-year bonds due 1949 of the Seattle Light-
ing Company at 91% to net 5.55 per cent.
Pacific Power & Light Bond Offering. — White, Weld &
Company and William A. Read & Company, of New York,
are offering at 91 and interest $1,052,000 first and refunding
mortgage 5 per cent gold bonds of the Pacific Power &
Light Company, Portland, Ore.
Pacific Gas & Electric Bonds. — A supplemental order of
the Railroad Commission of California provides that the
$5,000,000 of general and refunding mortgage gold bonds
of the Pacific Gas & Electric Company, authorized on July
1, 1914, shall be sold at not less than 85. .
Amsterdam Edison Electric Light & Power Growth. —
The output of the Edison Electric Light & Power Company
of Amsterdam, N. Y., was 2,408,065 kw-hr. in 1911 and
6,247,068 kw-hr. in 1914. In the same period the total con-
nected load has grown from 2632 kw to 6957 kw.
Second Time Extension. — The time limit set for the
exchange of stock of the Westinghouse Machine Company
for Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company
stock has been extended again a week to Feb. 17. Ap-
proximately 90 per cent of machine stock has been ex-
changed to date.
Canton Electric Company to Issue Bonds. — The Canton
(Ohio) Electric Company has been authorized by the Public
Utilities Commission of Ohio to issue $115,000 first and
refunding mortgage 5 per cent sinking-fund gold bonds, at
not less than 85. The proceeds will reimburse the treasury
in part for $144,988 expense during the thirteen months
ended Oct. 31, 1914, for additions, extensions, improve-
ments and betterments.
Dayton Company Earnings. — The annual report of the
Dayton (Ohio) Power & Light Company for the year ended
Dec. 31, 1914, shows an operating ratio of 55.85 as com-
pared with 60.43 in the previous year. The output for the
year was 35,827,532 kw-hr., an increase of 7,125,362 kw-hr.
The statement follows:
1914 1913
Cross earnings $945,563 1734, 769
Expenses 518,651 425,620
Net earnings $427,012 $309,149
Springfield Gas & Electric Election. — The following offi-
cers were elected recently by the Springfield Gas & Electric
Company: Messrs. B. C. Cobb, president; John W. Bun,
vice-president; A. D. Mackie, vice-president and general
manager. The following were elected directors: Messrs.
J. F. Miller, George Reisch and William Ridgely. The com-
pany is controlled by the Union Railway, Gas & Electric
Company, which is controlled through stock ownership by
the Commonwealth Power, Railway & Light Company, which
in turn is operated by Hodenpyl, Hardy & Company, of
New York.
Paget Sound Traction, Light & Power Purchases Land. —
The Puget Sound Traction, Light & Power Company, Seattle,
Wash., recently purchased some land, including riparian
rights, in Skagit County, Wash. A statement was made
by the Stone & Webster Management Association that the
purchase was for the purpose of ultimate power develop-
ment and to provide water-power facilities for a large com-
mercial undertaking. It is the company's hope that the
eventual development will be made at a very low figure
so that rates for energy can be made attractive to in-
dustrial concerns.
United Lighl & Power Reorganization. — A majority of
the holders of the $1,618,000 three year 6 per cent collateral
l in I notes of the United Light A Power Company of New
York have agreed to a plan of reorganization, it is re-
ported, under which they will accept 90 per cent of their
holdings in 5 per cent bonds of a new corporation, the
i on olidated Electric Company, which will operate as a
subsidiary of the Great Western Power Company. The
holders of the outstanding bonds arc to receive par for
that issue. A largo number of the bonds, and also of the
notes, have been deposited with the Anglo-California Trust
Company. Including notes which have been promised, the
total thai la now pledged to the plan is $1,100,000.
lei 13, 1916
i ■: I.KCTRICAL WORLD
44:t
Mount Whitmj Powet \ Electric Election*. — At a re-
cent meeting of directors of the Mount Whitney Power &
Electric Company, of Visalia, C*l., the following officers
were elected: Messrs. Harris Hammond, president; Ben M.
Maddux and S. Mitchell, vice . Patrick M. Lon-
gan, treasurer and comptroller; E. E. Baker, secretary.
Together with the officers the following serve as din
V\ It. Spaulding and Charles R. Blyth.
New England Power Merger. — Stockholders of the New
England Power Company of Maine and the Connecticut
River Power Company of Maine have been asked to vote
on the consolidation of the two companies and the New
England Company of Massachusetts by merger into the
New England Company. It was suggested to stockholders
that the New England Company have class A stock to
represent preferred stock of the Connecticut River Power
Company of Maine, class B stock to represent common
stock of the Connecticut River Power Company of Maine,
and class C stock to represent preferred and common stock
of the New England Power Company, and that ultimately
the two Maine corporations be dissolved.
Western Electric Business. — The sales of the Western
Electric Company for the year ended Dec. 31, 1914, were
$66,400,000, which compares with $77,500,000 in the previous
year, a decrease of approximately 14 per cent. The com-
pany enters the new year with $4,500,000 less business on
ookfl than at the same time last year. The export sales
of the Western Electric Company, and naturally the sales
of the companies in Europe allied with the Western Electric
Company, have been much affected by the war. The busi-
ness in Mexico has been seriously affected by the unstable
conditions existing there for some time, while the sales to
South America and other neutral countries have decreased
because of the decrease in general business and the hesita-
tion in financing new undertakings or the extension of
old ones.
American Light & Traction Earnings. — A statement of
the earnings for the year ended Dec. 31, 1914, together with
that for the previous year, is shown herewith. During the
year gas rates and electric rates were reduced, coal and
oil costs and taxes increased, the total loss in revenue from
these factors over 1913 being $411,722. This accounts for
the decrease in earnings. The number of electric meters
increased 4131, and the output increased 12.48 per cent, or
6,006,014 kw-hr.
1914 1913
Earnings on stocks of subsidiary com-
panies owned by this company $3,714,960 $3,751,976
ineous earnings 717,420 714,257
Gross earnings $4,432,380 $4,466,233
Expenses 157,293 123,107
Net earnings $4,276,087 $4,343,126
Surplus and reserve, previous year 9.495,882 8.689,293
Total surplus earnings $13,770,969 $13,032,419
Cash dividends on preferred stock $S54,172 Si
Cash dividends on common stock 1,478,880 1,341,183
Stock dividends on common stock 1,478,880 1,8
TOtaJ dividends $3,811,932 $3,536,537
Surplus balance 9.9r,9,n37 9,495,882
Consolidated Power & Light Annual Statement. — The
annual statement of the Consolidated Power & Light Com-
pany of Deadwood, S. D., for the year ended Dec. 31, 1914,
is as follows:
1814 1913
dross earnings from operation $816,824 $277,799
Operating expenses 143,910 128,265
Net earning! from operation $172,414 $149,534
Income from Interest 1 v 1 77.".
Dividends from preferred stock held by trus-
tees for benefit of company 4.200 4,200
Total net earnings $176,795 $154,609
Alb.', nice for depreciation 31,632 27,780
Balance for interest and surplus $145.1(1:1 $126,729
Inter 1 o» funded debt ■ S0.873 S3, 042
Net profit $64,290 $43,687
Dividends on preferred stock 31,800 31,800
Surplus $32,490 $11,887
Mount Whitney Power & Electric Cumulative Preferred
Stock. — Blyth-Witter & Company, of San Francisco, are
offering at 95 and accrued dividend first preferred 7 per
cent cumulative stock of the Mount Whitney Power &
Electric Corporation of New York. The company has
$500,000 first preferred 7 per cent cumulative stock, $550,000
second preferred 7 per cent cumulative stock, and -
shares of common stock without par value. The company
has no bonded or floating debts and owns all stock of the
Mount Whitney Power A Electric Company of Visalia, Cal.
Northern States Power Earnings. — Earnings for the year
ended Dec. 31, 1914, of the Northern States Power Com-
pany, Chicago, 111., including five months' earnings of the
Sioux Falls division, are as follows:
1 miscellaneous Income $4.;
ung expenses and taxes 2.030.S94
• arnings $:•.
Fixed charges 1.:
Surplus $1,024,714
1 red stock dividends 587,069
Balance $437,645
American Cities Director's Impression of Properties. — At
the request of the executive committee of the board of
directors of the American Cities Company, Mr. Frank B.
Hayne, one of the directors, submitted the impressions which
he gathered on a recent trip of inspection of subsidiary
properties. Mr. Hayne said: "It looks as if for some time
the management of these properties will be directed toward
efficiency in operation and maintaining them in their present
satisfactory physical condition, rather than toward extension
work, which has been so necessary in the past. It is now a
more important question of fully developing the available
business for which the system has been so adequately
equipped." He stated that he felt that his own confidence
in the future of the several properties was founded on
sounder prospects than at any other time since he had been
interested in the company. He also stated that he thought
a visit of the directors to the properties at least once a year
would not only result in more thorough knowledge on the
part of the directors in regard to the properties, but would
assure the fullest co-operation of the leading citizens of
each community.
Northern Ohio Traction & Light Annual Ileport. — In the
annual report of the Northern Ohio Traction & Light
Company of Akron, Mr. H. A. Everett, president, stated
that the additional lighting and power contracts from new
customers amounted to 9334 hp and that the company made
an average gain of 175 new customers during each month
of the year. The number of stockholders increased from
15,009 to 18,013. Out of the total expenditure of $740,896
for additions and improvements $191,079 was used for
power house and equipment and $188,018 for light and
commercial power additions. The output increased 29 per
cent, or from 57,903,294 kw-hr. to 74,739,133 kw-hr. The
statement for the years ended Dec. 31, 1913 and 1914, is
shown herewith:
1914 1913
Gross earnings for year $3,636,0S5 $3.2S4.533
Operating and taxes 2,237,429 2.019.654
Net earnings $1,398,656 $1.264,S79
Applied to payment of interest 606,898 561,816
Available for company's uses $791,758 $703,063
■ ids on preferred stock 1S2.364 152,738
Dividends on common stock 450,000 450,000
Surplus $159,394 $100,325
Annual Report of Continental Gas & Electric Corpora-
tion.— The annual report of the Continental Gas & Electric
Corporation, Cleveland, Ohio, for the year ended Dec. 31,
shows that additions and betterments of $992,949 were made.
The additions included the purchase of control of the Oak-
land (la.) Electric Company, the Nebraska Gas & Elec-
tric Company, the Iowa Gas & Electric Company and the
Avoca (la.) Electric Light & Power Company. Mr. C. S.
Eaton, the president, stated that the company had a year
of unusual prosperity and that the communities served
had not been affected by the unsettled conditions that have
obtained elsewhere. Following is a summary of the com-
pany's operations:
1914 1913
Gross earnings $550,830 $3
Operating expenses 362,868 1S4.91S
Interest on outstanding bonds of subsidiary
companies 5.790 5,790
Bnlance $191,672 $130,344
Interest on company's outstanding bonds.... 64,525 37,125
Balance $127,147 $9
450
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 7
Cataract Power & Conduit Company Annual Report. —
The annual report for the year ended Dec. 31, 1914, for the
Cataract Power & Conduit Company is as follows:
mil 1913
Karnings •$1,770,323 $1,729,779
Expenses :
Niagara energy purchased $92 916,376
Other expenses 307,672 280,836
Total expenses $1, 233, 261 $1,197,211
Net earnings $537,062 $532,568
Other income :
Interest revenues 26,100 26,159
Net income $563,162 $558,727
1 '.duct :
Bond interest $69,200 $69,200
Other interest.. . 74 41
Taxes 76,822 70,709
Miscellaneous rent deductions 950
Fixed charges, etc $147,046 $140,001
Surplus income for year 416,116 417,826
•Included in these earnings are $378,599 for 1914 and $249,652
for 1913, representing the reduction in revenue for the respective
years if rates as ordered by the Tublic Service Commission effect-
ive from May 1, 1913, are finally upheld.
British Westinghouse Buys French and Italian Companies.
— The Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company of
Pittsburgh, Pa., has sold its interest in its French sub-
sidiary, the Societe Anonyme Westinghouse of Paris, to the
British Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company,
Ltd. The sale includes the control of the Italian subsidiary,
the Societa Italiana Westinghouse, which was held by the
French company. The American company receives in ex-
change for its holdings in the French company certain Brit-
ish traction and railroad securities, and since the American
company holds controlling interests in the British company,
it will lose no control over the other companies by this
sale. The consolidation of the European companies has been
under consideration for a long time. The separation of
companies which were practically under one control does not
allow of the practice of many economies of operation made
possible by a consolidation. Under the consolidation the
home office can apportion contracts to those factories best
fitted by location or equipment to turn out that particular
order. The European companies are in excellent condition,
and it has been stated by Mr. Guy E. Tripp, chairman of
the board of the American company, that they are at
present enjoying a better business than the American com-
pany. The valuation of approximately $8,000,000 has been
placed upon the French and Italian companies.
Niagara Falls Power Annual Report. — The annual report
of the Niagara Falls (N. Y.) Power Company and the
Canadian Niagara Power Company for the year ended Dec.
11. showed for the first time a decrease in the yearly
OS, the decrease being $100,000. Of this $20,000 was
due to the continued suspension during the entire year of
dividends by the Cataract Power & Conduit Company and
the Tonawanda Power Company. The decrease in interest
mounted to $i:j,000 and the increases in taxes in
da and the United States amounted to $19,400. A de-
crease of $39,461 in net earnings from operation was due to
the action of the Dominion government in further restrict-
ing exports of energy by the Canadian company to the
United States, to the compliance on the part of the Ann
company with a notice of the Secretary of War, dated May
M4, to the effect that the measu rater by the
daily diversion method of the international waterways treaty
should not be allowed and requiring the reinstatement of
the momentary peak measurement of the expired Burton
law, and to the depression in the b certain CUS
tomers. The combined earnings statement of the two com-
panies folio
1914
12,676,974 12,1
E i
I
i 16,068
12,246,862 $2,317,985
1994,760 •
'1.275.809 $1
Manufacturing and Industrial
The R. Thomas & Sons Company, 61 Broadway, New York,
has appointed Mr. R. H. Anthony on its selling force.
The Wagner Electric Manufacturing Company, St. Louis,
Mo., has appointed Mr. A. C. Gardner, formerly with the
Rumsey Electric Supply Company, Ltd., of Philadelphia, as
one of its salesmen.
Mr. W. P. Naser has been appointed Pacific Coast repre-
sentative of the Trumbull Electric Manufacturing Company,
Plainville, Conn., and has opened offices at 595 Mission
Street, San Francisco, Cal.
The Electric Controller & Manufacturing Company, Cleve-
land, Ohio, has appointed the O. H. Davidson Equipment
Company, Ideal Building, Denver, Col., as its representative
in Colorado, Utah, Montana, Wyoming, South Dakota, New
Mexico and Arizona.
Paul H. Jaehnig, Inc., Newark, N. J., is the name of a
recently incorporated concern, the business of which was
formerly conducted by Mr. Paul H. Jaehnig. The officers
of the new concern are: President, F. H. Walsh; treasurer,
P. H. Jaehnig and secretary, Leonia W. Jaehnig.
David A. Wright, formerly with the Yale & Towne Manu-
facturing Company, New York, has established himself as
manufacturer's agent at 140 South Dearborn Street, Chi-
cago, 111. Mr. Wright is specializing on labor-saving and
pneumatic machinery, cranes, hoists and trolley systems.
Packing for Export. — The Bureau of Foreign and Do-
mestic Commerce has issued an illustrated pamphlet en-
titled "Packing for Export," which is designated as Mis-
cellaneous Series No. 5. The pamphlet contains sugges-
tions for the preparation of American merchandise for
shipment to foreign countries.
The Krantz Manufacturing Company. Brooklyn, N. Y.,
is the name of the concern formerly known as the H. Krantz
Manufacturing Company. Mr. H. Krantz is president and
treasurer and Mr. W. M. Moore vice-president and secretary
of the company. The board of directors of the new com-
pany for the first year is composed of Messrs. W. E. Rice,
David H. Smith, W. M. Moore, W. G. Creamer and H.
Krantz.
Mr. B. C. Eagon, who for seven years has been sales agent
for the Burroughs Adding Machine Company in St. Louis
and in other teiritories, has accepted a position as Canadian
sales manager for the Hughes Electric Heating Company
of Chicago. The Hughes company is erecting a new factory
at Toronto to take care of its eastern Canadian trade, and
when this factory is placed in operation about March 1
Mr. Eagon will have headquarters at Toronto.
The JeBerson Electric Manufacturing Company, 847 West
Harrison Street, Chicago, 111., has recently been formed
by Mr. J. A. Bennan, formerly treasurer and general man-
ager of the Thordarson Electric Manufacturing Company.
The new company, it is reported, will manufacture a com-
plete line of bell-ringing, toy, sign-lighting and welding
tran -formers, battery switches, steel battery-box outfits,
make-and-break and jump-spark ignition coils, and various
typos of high-tension transformers for testing, laboratory
and research work.
Appliance Company Takes Larger Assembling Plant. —
The Hotpoint Electric Heating Company has moved it-
Chicago office and assembling factory from 1001 West Wash-
ington Boulevard to 2240 Ogden Avenue. In the new loca-
tion the company will occupy approximately 2500 sq. ft.
Boor area than was available at the old plant. Heavy
punch presses and other machines are now being installed
at the new plant, and it is reported that some manufactur-
ing pro ddition to assembling will in the future be
.1 on in Chic i|
Advertising Helps for the Fan Dealers. — The Westing-
Electric A Manufacturing Company. Fast Pittsburgh,
Pa., is sending to the dealers announcements for its fan-
selling campaign. To assist the dealer the company has
prepared various kinds of mailing folders, billboard posters.
Btreet-car cards, window signs, newspaper electrotypes,
lantern glides, etc. In order that the dealer may be able
I., approach the various classes of customers with appropri-
ate advertising literal n ■ . nil folder- lii\.
Fkhki -\r\ 18, 1916
ELECTRICAL WORLD
ired. One folder deals exclusively with fans for the
home, another with fans fur the office, another for the
another for the i ■
other for the theater. The arguments in each fold
directed particularly to the kind of customer that should
receive it, and si.^ ire made in each for the proper
ues of fans for each application.
The Specially Sal. - I omp.in\. 261 Broadway, New York,
which was recently formed by Mr. \V. G. Solomon and Mi.
i . II. Brown, is in the business of exporting electric and
plumbing supplies. The company is also prepared to act
.ling agent in New York and vicinity. The company
ha- recently received inquiries from London and Petrograd.
The inquiry from England covers carbon electrodes, insu-
lating material, glass tubes for blowing incandescent lamps.
automobile accessories, porcelain articles, electric fans, tele-
phone parts, storage batteries and vacuum cleaners.
Salesmen's Convention. — The ninth annual salesmen's con-
vention of the National Carbon Company will be held at
eland, Ohio, Feb. 23-26 inclusive. Nearly
200 employi anting the management, sales and
engineering departments of the nine factories of the com-
pany, will he in attendance. An extensive program of
papers has been prepared on the following general subjects:
Advertising and selling, illumination, carbon brushes, dry
cells and storage batteries. Practical demonstrations will be
given daily in which the new features and uses of the com-
pany's product will be explained.
Officers Re-elected at Annual Meeting. — The General
Insulate Company, 1008 Atlantic Avenue, Brooklyn, N. Y..
held its annual meeting Jan. 27, and the following officers
were re-elected: President, Mr. Joseph Steinberger; vice-
president, Mr. E. J. Kaltenbach; treasurer, Mr. James B.
Stephens, and secretary and manager, Mr. V. C. Stein-
berger. The reports to the stockholders show that the
business of the company has been affected by the European
war to a certain extent; still business during 1914 did not
fall much below that of the previous year, which was the
banner year for the company in net returns and gross
sales. The company reports that the outlook for the com-
ing year seems very bright.
Beardslee Chandelier Manufacturing Company. — Mr. E.
M. Smith, who was organizer and general manager of the
Multilux Illuminating Company, of Cleveland, Ohio, ha
become manager of the commercial lighting departm*
the Beardslee Chandelier Manufacturing Company, of Chi-
cago. In his new position Mr. Smith will devote much of
his time to bringing out a line of new commercial lighting
fixtures and specialties. Before organizing the Multilux
Illuminating Company Mr. Smith had considerable experi-
ence in several branches of the electrical business. Early
in his career he was vice-president of an electrical contract-
ing firm in Oakland, Cal., known as the Pacific Central
Electric Company, which has since gone out of existence.
Later he spent several years with the Westinghouse Elec-
tric & Manufacturing Company as manager of the lamp
division in the Cleveland office.
Large Order for Lighting Fixtures. — The Dale Lighting
Fixture Company, 107 West Thirteenth Street, New York,
recently received an order for l.'l.OOO lighting fixtures for
the Equitable Building, in thai city. For this installation
a new unit has been developed. The fixture is called
the "Broadway" unit and is so designed that with the
necessary attachments it can be made into a direct-lighting.
indirect-lighting or semi-indirect-lighting unit. For the
above order G000 units will be for semi-indirect lighting.
For this purpose a six-panel alabaster bowl will be utilized.
The remaining 7000 fixtures will be for direct lighting and
will be equipped with a "melilite" glass reflector manufac-
it Sons, Inc., of Philadelphia, Pa. The
above company also recently supplied 800 fixtures for in-
stallation in the Fairbanks Apartments, Philadelphia, and
500 special fixtures for the Leonori Hotel, Madison Avenue
and Surty-flrsl street. New York.
Demand for Arc-Lamp Controller. — The Speed Controller
Company, 2.">7 William Street, New York, reports that it is
selling a number of its arc-lamp controllers. Phis device
was described in the Electrical World of Oct. 24, 1914.
It has been installed in the American Bank Note Company's
plant, the Vitagraph Theater, the Strand Theater, the Broad
way Theater, the Schuyler Theater, the Jefferson Theater,
the Eighty-first Street Theater and the Claremont Theater
of New York City. It is also being used by the Precision
Machine Company, the Nicholas Power Company, the Will-
iam lux Amusement Company, the K. A E. Singing Picture
Company and the Academy of Music. Some of the other
amusement places where it has been installed are the
Stanley Theater of Philadelphia, the Strand Theater of
Newark, the Lyceum Theater of East Orange. N. J., and
the Regent Theater of Buffalo. As already noted in these
columns, eight of the arc-lamp controllers have been ordered
by the government for use at the Panama-Pacific Interna-
tional Exposition.
Orders lor Gas Engines.— The United States Paper Goods
Company, Cincinnati, Ohio, has recently placed an order
for a 90-hp, four-cylinder gas engine, and the McJunkin-
Straight Dairy Company, Pittsburgh, Pa., for a 150-hp
gas engine with the Bruce-Macbeth Engine Company, Cleve-
land, Ohio. These engines are equipped with apparatus
for generating steam from the heat generated in the water
jackets. The generation of steam is performed according
to the so-called Meriam steam process, which was described
in the Electrical World of Nov. 7, 1914, page 925. The
following orders have also been received by the above
company. The Magnolia Petroleum Company, Fort Worth,
Tex., one 150-hp natural-gas engine; the Ingersoll-Gaulkler
Company, Detroit, one 60-hp natural-gas engine for direct
connection to a generator; the Solar Electric Company,
Brookville, Pa., one 90-hp natural-gas engine; the Empire
Marble Company, Cleveland, one 90-hp natural-gas engine;
the Alhambra Theater, Sandusky, Ohio, one 40-hp natural-
gas engine for direct connection to a generator.
Motor Manufacture Shown in Moving Pictures. — The
manufacture of electric motors at the Lynn (Mass.) plant
of the General Electric Company is shown in moving pic-
tures which are being exhibited under the company's
auspices before meetings of electrical men. A little sketch
with a factory owner in the principal role precedes the
demonstration of the plant production methods. In the
opening scene a motor salesman is shown calling at the
prospective customer's office, but the reception which meets
him is an unresponsive one. Returning later, however, the
salesman receives a more cordial greeting and extends an
invitation to the factory owner to accompany him to the
Lynn plant that he himself may see the careful processes
employed to make motors durable and dependable. After
a trip through the Lynn plant the factory owner is con-
ducted to the company's office and there is shown in the act
of signing an order for a complete motor equipment for his
own plant. In the final scenes the factory owner is shown
at his desk smiling and apparently free from all the wor-
ries which had beset him when his plant was ful'. of counter-
shafts and belting stretched in every direction.
NEW YORK METAL MARKET PRICES
, Feb. 2 s , Feb. 9 ,,
Selling I'rices Selling Prices
Bid Asked Bid Asked
B d £ s d
star pot* 63 1 7 6 62 10 0
1'i'ime Lake 14.75 to 15.00 14.r>0 to 14 75
Electrolytic 14.60 to 14.70 1 i.50 to 14 60
Casting 0 l 1.00 1.. i
Copper win base 15.75 to 15.87'.'. 15.75 to 1
3.80
Nickel 40.00 to 45.00 40.00 to 45.00
Sheet sine, f.o.b smeltei 10.00 11.50
1 8.00 to 8.12'j, ....to s.ilnt
tin 88.00
Aluminum, 98 to 99 per cent.... 18.7."> to 19.2". 19.00 to IS
•OLD METALS
1 copper and wire 12.50 12.50
Brass, heavj 8.75
. light 7.75 7.75
heavy .l.co 3. 60
Zinc, scrap 5.37 '..
COPPER EXPORTS
bars, plates.
and scrap for week ended Jan SO, 191! 15.S89.822 lb.
\. ■» rorR Metal Exchange.
Inal
452
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 7
New Incorporations
The Williams & Freeman Water & Light Company, of
Murfreesboro, Ark., has been incorporated with a capital
stock of $10,000. J. E. Williams is president.
The West Rockhill Township Electric Light & Power
Company, of Quakertown, Pa., has been incorporated with
a capital stock of $5,000 by C. N. Wagner, A. H. S. Cantlin
and H. R. Fehr, all of Allentown.
The Lower Macungie Township Electric Light & Power
Company, of Allentown, Pa., has been chartered with a
capital stock of $5,000. The incorporators are C. N. Wagner,
A. H. S. Cantlin and H. R. Fehr, all of Allentown, Pa.
The Milford Township Electric Light & Power Company,
of Quakertown, Pa., has been granted a charter with a
capital stock of $5,000. The incorporators are C. N. Wag-
ner, A. H. S. Cantlin and H. R. Fehr, all of Allentown.
The Lower Milford Township Electric Light & Power
Company, of Allentown, Pa., has been granted a charter
with a capital stock of $5,000. The incorporators are C. N.
Wagner, A. H. S. Cantlin and H. R. Fehr, of Allentown, Pa.
The Public Light & Power Company, of Worcester, Mass.,
has been incorporated with a capital stock of $5,000,000
for the purpose of carrying on outside of the State of
Massachusetts the business of generating, buying, dealing,
leasing, transmitting and distributing gas, electricity and
water for light, heat, power and other purposes. The
officers are Philip B. Sawyer, of Elmira, N. Y., president;
Farrand S. Stranahan, of Providence, vice-president and
treasurer, and W. Emory War dwell, 29 Sever Street, Wor-
cester, assistant treasurer and clerk.
New Industrial Companies
The Six-in-One Fuse Company, of New York, N. Y., has
been incorporated with a capital stock of $100,000 by C. C.
Balassa, J. C. Beecher, of Manhattan, and J. P. Payor, of
the Bronx. The company intends to manufacture fuse plugs
and do general electrical work.
The Wile Electric Furnace Company, of Pittsburgh, Pa.,
has been incorporated by Raymond S. Wile, C. R. Buch-
zert, L. Wile and George J. Buchzert, all of Pittsburgh.
The company is capitalized at $100,000 to manufacture elec-
tric fans and other appliances and devices.
The Linsham Photocinephone Corporation, of Hillsdale,
N. J., has been incorporated by D. Postanji, F. Chadinli,
T. I. Haubner and H. H. Plotkin, of Hillsdale. The com-
pany is capitalized at $150,000 and purposes to manufac-
ture and deal in electrical talking moving pictures.
The Linquest Electric Company, of Jamestown, N. Y„
has been incorporated by W. L. Linquest, O. B. Linquest and
H. M. Lund, of Jamestown. The company is capitalized at
$25,000 and intends to do a general electrical contracting
business and also to deal in equipment and supplies.
The Mesinger-Whitney Electric Company, of New York,
N. Y., has been incorporated with a capital stock of $50,000
to manufacture electrical appliances, etc. The incorporators
are: H. Mesinger, 1519 Bryant Avenue, the Bronx; F.
Mesinger, of the Bronx, and P. B. Whitney, of Manhattan.
The X-Ray Tube Company, of New York, N. Y., has been
incorporated by Alexander H. Jackson, Otto A. Roensch and
Mortimer F. Davis, 118 East Eighty-seventh Street, New
York. The company is capitalized at $10,000 and purposes
to manufacture X-ray tubes, vacuum glass, chemical glass-
ware, etc.
The American Electric Talking Sign Company has filed
articles of incorporation under the laws of the State of
Delaware, with a capital stock of $100,000, for the purpose
of manufacturing electrical signs for advertising. The In
corporators are II. E. Latter, W. J. Maloney and O. J.
Reichnrd, of Wilmington.
'i in Bage-McKaj Manufacturing Company, o
Falls, Mont., has been Incorporated by D. McKay, of
gow; Oscar Hage and R. B Great Falls. Tin-
company is capitalized nt $r;n.ono to cnrry on nny and all
kinds of manufacturing, commercial, mechanical, electrical,
industrial and other businesses.
Trade Publications
Loom Clip. — The Christo Manufacturing Company, Rich-
mond, Va., has prepared a leaflet which describes its
"Bulldog" loom clip.
Electric Drill.. — The Electric Tachometer Company, Perry
Building, Philadelphia, Pa., has prepared a leaflet which
describes its electrically operated drills.
Tilting Wire Reel. — Bulletin No. 53, prepared by the A. H.
Nilson Machine Company, Bridgeport, Conn., describes and
illustrates several types of tilting wire reels.
Feed-Water Regulator. — The Kitts Manufacturing Com-
pany, Oswego, N. Y., is sending out a leaflet which describes
and illustrates its safety feed-water regulator.
Tachometers. — The Electric Tachometer Company, Perry
Building, Philadelphia, Pa., is sending out a leaflet which
describes its electric tachometers for marine service.
Rebuilt Motors and Generators. — The Fuerst-Friedman
Company, 1614 Columbus Road, Cleveland, Ohio, is sending
out a booklet which lists a number of rebuilt motors and
generators.
Lighting Standards. — The Ornamental Lighting Pole
Company, 113 Liberty Street, New York, has issued a
pocket-size catalog which lists a number of different types
of ornamental lighting poles.
Tachometers.— James G. Biddle, 1211 Arch Street, Phila-
delphia, Pa., has just issued Bulletin No. 805, entitled
"Jagabi and Tachometers," and Bulletin No. 810, entitled
"Jagabi Electromagnetic Tachometers."
Copper-Base Alloy for Die Casting.— The McGill Metal
Company, of Valparaiso, Ind., has published a bulletin de-
scribing the composition, properties and process of manu-
facture of its "McGill metal" die castings.
Sign Lighting. — "Engineering Features of Electric Sign
Lighting" is the title of Bulletin 15A, just issued by the
engineering department of the National Lamps Works of
the General Electric Company, Cleveland, Ohio.
Flashlamps. — Catalog A-225 issued by the American Ever
Ready Works of the National Carbon Company of New
York contains illustrations and information on various
types of flashlamps and other electrical devices.
Transmission-Line Devices. — The G & W Electric Specialty
Company, 6308 Blackstone Avenue, Chicago, 111., has re-
cently issued a folder entitled, "Figure It on This Line,"
which contains information on pole-line devices.
High-Tension Indoor Equipment. — Bulletin No. 15 pub-
lished by the Delta-Star Electric Company, 617 West Jack-
son Boulevard, Chicago, 111., describes and illustrates a num-
ber of types of switches, fuses, choke coils, etc.
High-Voltage Outdoor Substation Equipment. — The Delta-
Star Electric Company, 617 West Jackson Boulevard, Chi-
cago, 111., recently issued its Bulletin No. 20, the subject
of which is outdoor substation equipment with high ratings.
Ventilating Apparatus. — The American Blower Company,
Detroit, Mich., has issued a bulletin designated as No. 27,
Series 8, which describes the ventilating apparatus in the
Fletcher Savings & Trust Company Building, Indianapolis.
Lighting Fixtures. — The Multi-Lux Illuminating Com-
pany. 11712 Union Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio, has recently
la catalog describing various types of direct and semi-
indirect fixtures and show-window and showcase lighting
devices.
Electric Tools. — A so-called general utility tool mounted
on a pedestal and a suspended device which can be used
as a drill, buffer or grinder are described and illustrated
in leaflets recently prepared by the Stow Manufacturing
Company, Binghamton, N. V.
Sabs Help for Ian-Selling Campaign. — The Diehl Manu-
facturing Company, Elisabeth, N. J., has recently issued
a folder entitled "Diehl to Dealer Sales Help." The folder
describes various methods which the above company has
inaugurated to assist the dealers in selling fans.
Single-Phase Motors. — The Century Electric Company,
St. I.nui , Mo., has tasued B bulletin showing applications
Of single-phase motors to Lakers' machinery, vacuum clean-
ers, air compressors, bilge and irrigating pumps, feed-mill
machinery, hoists and heating and ventilating fans.
February 18, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
453
Construction News
New England
BAB BARBOR .maim: The
, iigiu plant m
Bar II trbor la tint
MANCHESTER, N II- The W II Mc-
Blwain Co. la planning to build an addition
plant and also
power plant, to nately $100,000.
BRATTLEBOBO, VT Blda will be rc-
■ of Hi.- mi;
Department, Wash-
intll March 22 for the con-
. Including mechanical equipment
ore, liKlitintr equipment and
approaches), of the United St
! Brattleboro, Drawings and
obtained :it l
office or from the custodian of site at
Br.ittleboro.
AMHERST, MASS. — Application has
ole to the State Gas and Electric
Light Commission by the Amherst Pwr.
Co., of Greenfield, and the Turners Kails
Co.. of Turners Falls, for permission to con-
solidate under the nam.- of the Turners
rails Pwr. A: El. Co.. with a capital stock
of $2, 925, 000. The Turners Falls Co. is
the generating company, and the Amherst
I'wr. Co. the distributing company. Philip
Cabot, of Boston, is president of both com-
COLD BROdK SPRINGS, MASS. — Guy
C. Allen, proprietor of the Eagle Inn, Is con-
templating the installation of a private
plant to trlclty for the Inn. The
proposed plant will be driven by a
gine.
BAST HA.Ml'Ti IN, MASS. Plans are be-
ing considered by the town officials for the
installation of a municipal electric-light
plant. It is proposed to utilize the Man-
han pumping station, which now supplies
power for the water department.
GREENFIELD, MASS — Bids will be re-
ceived at the office of the supervising archi-
tect, Treasury Department, Washington,
D. C., until March IS for construction (in-
cluding mechanical equipment, exi
nd lighting fixtures) of the United
States post office and court house in Green-
field. Mass. Drawings and specifications
iied at the above office or
from the custodian of site at Greenfield.
SPRINGFIELD, MASS. — Bids. it is
understood, Will soon be asked by E. .1. Par-
■ hit, it, for the Commercial High
for furnishing lighting fixtures for
the new school building.
Middle Atlantic
BUFFALO, N. Y. — The Public Service
Commission has granted the Intern: nal
Ry. Co., of Buffalo, permission to construct
a" high from Buffalo to
Niagara Fills. The cost of the proposed
railway is estimated " about $2,000,000, of
which $78,700 will be used for substation
equipment and $109,850 for buildings ; J127,-
837 for track, line and grading, and $160,-
000 for rolling stock.
CENTER VILLAGE, N. Y. — The Tublic
Service Commission has granted the Afton-
Windsor Lt„ lit. & Pwr. Co., of Center Vil-
lage, permission to issue $35,000 in bonds,
to be sold at not less than 90, the proceeds
to be used for purchase of turbines and wa
ter-whe 0,1 of power houses and
electric generating, transmitting and distri-
bution equipment
DUNKIRK, N.T.— The Dunkirk Kl. Mfg.
Co. is planning to install two new boilers,
having a total capacity of 460 bp.
ITHACA N. Y. — Bids will be received
by EL 1.- Williams, comptroller, Cornell
University, Ith . until Feb. 23 for con-
m, including In piumbini
ami . I . . t r , . . . I work, of greenhouses at the
fori tal Colli ge ol Agriculture, Cor-
nell Universltj . Ithaca. Drawings am
flcatlons 111,11 the New York
State College of Agriculture, Cornell Uni-
versity, Ithaca ; New Voil 1.1 1 >< ; '■
partment of Architecture, Room 1
worth Building, and at the Department of
Architecture, Capitol. Albany, N. V.
NEWARK, N. Y. — Bids will !>'• received
by Dr. Henrv H. Stebbins, president board
oi trustees, New Fork State Custodial Asy-
lum for Feeble Minded Women, Newark,
N V . loi con II II. I ol ■ ol 1 loi 'I
1. including heating, plumbing and
, lei iino woi 1 . ■ ■■ I I he New ?ork state
Custodial Asylum for Feeble Minded
Women. Drawings and specifications may
be seen at the New York Stale custodial
Asylum for Keehle-Mlnded Women; the
New York office of the Department of Ar-
chitecture, 1224 Woolworth Building, and
at the Department of Architecture, Capitol,
Albany, N. V.
NEW YuKK. N. Y Bids will be re-
celved b\ the
■ hugs for thi
Hospll .1. havin. Ol 100 patients,
150 patients and 200 patients reap*
including healing, plumbing
... at the Manhattan
M Lte Hospital, Wards Island. N. Y.
Drawings and si
at the .Manhattan State Hospital. Ward's
Island ; 1
Architecture, 1224 Woolworth
Building, and at the 1 i.-partment of Archi-
. Albany. Lewis K. 1'ilcher
is state architect
SENECA FALLS, N. Y. Water-power
owners of Seneca Kails and the Canal
i agreement
to have the privilege of ex-
ercising power rights at the new barge can-
al dam The claims for physical property
which are before the Board of
II be settled for $617,748. A com-
pany will soon be formed under the name of
I Kails I'wr. Corpn. to build a hy-
pianl at the dam, which it is
will develop about 7500 hp. The
power station is to be situated on the new
50-ft dam and will cost upward of $200,000.
SILVER SPRINGS, N. Y.— The village
of Silver Springs expects to duplicate the
equipment of the municipal electric-light
plant within the next 12 months. James E.
1. resident of the village of Silver
Springs.
WEST HAVF.RSTRAW, N. Y. — Bids will
be received for the construction of the new
hospital building, including heating, plumb-
ing, drainage, electrical work and electric
elevator, at the New State Hospital tor
Crippled and Deformed Children, West
Haverstraw. Drawings and specifications
ma !■■ consulted at the New State Hospital
for' 1 'ripple. 1 and Deformed Children. West
Haverstraw, at the New York office of
iin 1 11 partment of Architecture, 1224 Wool-
worth Building, and at the Department of
Architecture, Capitol, Albany.
BEALLSVXLLB, PA. — The West Penn
El. Co., of Pittsburgh, has submitted a pro-
posal to the Town Council offering to sup-
ply electricity to light the town and for
commercial purposes. The proposition pro-
vides for 20 lamps of 100 cp for lighting
the streets.
BOSWELL, PA. — The Randolph Coal
Co., of Boswell, is installing an electric
plant to operate the machinery in its mine.
BRISTOL. PA. Plans are being consid-
ered for Improving the lighting system on
Mill Street in the business section.
EASTON, PA. — In his annual report to
the City Council T. P. Ricker, fire chief,
has recommended that all fire-alarm cir-
cuits in the business section of the city be
placed underground.
HARRISBURG, PA. — Application has
been filed with the State Department for
charters for the following companies: The
El l.t. Ht & Pwr. Co., to operate
in Garrett; the Summit Township El. Lt.,
Ht. & Pwr. Co., to operate in Summit,
and the Black Township El. Lt., Ht. & Pwr.
Co., to operate in Black Township. The
Incorporators are; J. Wilmoth, Fred L.
Wilmot and Barney I >. Wilmoth.
[RWTN, PA.— The Penn El. Co. is con-
templating rebuilding its plant in Irwin,
recently destroyed by fire.
NEW SEWICKLEY, PA. (not a post
office) application has been tiled with the
State 1 lepartmenl tor a charter for the New
v Lt. Co. by A. W. Stevenson. A.
W Robertson. J. R. MoNary, L. F. Kane
and E. W. Washabaugh, The pany
proposes to supply electricity for lamps,
nid motors In the township of New
Sew Ickley.
PAOLI, PA- Revised plans have been
pleted and e ates will soon be asked
by the Pennsylvania R. R. Co. for the con-
struction of a power house i" Paoll, In con
in a with equipping its main line tor
electrical operation. The building will be
lory high, so ft by 180 ft.
PITTSBURGH, PA. Bids will be re-
■I [ved al 1 he Off! if the supervising aivhi
1, Treasury Department, Washington.
D. C, until March 11 tor mechanical equip
,,„ nt i cxc.pt elevator 1 for the experiment
station, United states Bureau of Mines,
Pittsburgh, Pa.. In accordance with dra^
lie:, ami spi-cilli-al ions, copies of Wllicll Play
1 btalnea al the abov Bee. 1 1, w ender
oth is supervising archil eel
PITTSBURGH, PA Contracts have re-
cently been approve, I by the Public Service
Commission as follows; Barnesboro-
Spangler El. Co., Of Barnesboro, and the
borough oi Spangler; Duquesne Lt. Co., of
Pittsburgh, and borough of Carrick,
id Hie borough of
- 1.1. lit A: Pwr Co. and
.-;ii of Ferndale . Citizens Lt, lit.
,v. Pwr CO. and the borough of Franklin.
I the borough
;i. All tile tS call
for the installation of street-lighting sya-
the towns named.
SINKING SPRING, PA
1 by the Sink-
g i:i. Lt, Ht. A: Pwr. Co. in the
near future, which will include the in-
stallation of a new SOO-kw generating
unit. The company is erecting a trans-
mission line to Kast Wyomisslng and addi-
tional lamps are being erected in the bor-
ough of Sliillington.
UNION DEPOSIT, PA Electricity for
operating the proposed electric-lighting sys-
tem in Union Deposit will be supplied from
the power plant in Hershey owned by M. S.
Hershev.
YOUNGSVILLE, PA. — Surveys are now
being made for the construction of an elec-
tric railway to connect Youngsville and
Sugar Grove, Pa., a distance of 9 miles
Right-of-wav for the proposed road, it is
said has been secured. Electricity for
operating the railway will be procured
from Niagara Falls.
JERSEY CITY, N. J. — An improvement
on lias been organized by residents
of West Side Avenue with a view of secur-
ing a better street-lighting system for that
thoroughfare.
1; \ I iTIMORE, Ml ' — Plans are being con-
sidered by the superintendent of lamps and
lighting for the installation of 50 additional
lamps on Carey Street, between Pratt
Street and North Avenue.
FREDERICK, MD. — Investigations are
being made by the Board of Aldermen rela-
tive to rebuilding the street-lighting sys-
tem. A new generator may be installed.
Ml il'NT AIRY'. MD. — Arrangements are
being mad- bv the Mount Airy Ice & El.
Co for the installation of an electric-
lieiiting plant In connection with its ice
factory The equipment will consist of a
50-hp"or 60-hp steam engine, a 30-kw or
35-kw alternating-current generator, switch-
board equipment, a 5-kw transformer and a
4-kva street regulator, 3 miles of pole line
and 60 incandescent lamps of 60 cp. Con-
tract for the work has not yet been
awarded. C. C. Riddlemoser is manager.
FAIRMONT, W. VA. — Bids will be re-
ceived by the State Board of Control,
Charleston, until March 15 for construction
including heating, plumbing and electrical
work, of the main building (two-story and
basement, 66% ft. by 265 ft.) of the Fair-
mont State Normal School, Fairmont, ac-
cording to plans and specifications pre-
pared by Paul A. Davis, 3d, architect.
Pressor Building. Philadelphia, Pa. Plans
and specifications may be obtained at the
office of the State Board of Control,
Charleston.
FARMINGTON, W. VA. — The Board ot
Trade is considering the installation of at,
electric-light plant, water-works and sewer-
age system. Howard Coleman is secre-
tary.
WHEELING, W. VA. — Extensive Im-
provements are contemplated by the West
Virginia Trac. & El. Co. during this year.
which will include the extension of its lines
in Monongalia County and enlarging its
power plant in Morgantown.
GRUNDY, VA. — The installation of an
electric-lighting plant in Grundy is under
consideration. Harry M. Johnson, of
Grundy, is interested in the project.
WASHINGTON, D.C.— The Potomac EL
Pwr. Co. has applied to the Public Utilities
Commission for permission to issue $495.-
11 bonds, the proceeds to be used to pay
for improvements already made and for
work contemplated tins year. Present plans
provide for an expenditure of about
■::::",
WASHINGTON, D. ('.--Bids will be re-
ceived at the office of the chief of ordi-
nance, War Department. Washington, D.
C, until Feb. 23 for furnishing 336 firing
magnets, type G-A. Bids must be submit-
ted on lots' of Pi". 300, 800 and 886. For
further information address the chief of
North Central
CITY, MICH. — The Michigan
g Extract Co.. of Boyne City, is
making Improvements to its power plant,
including the installation of a new engine.
generator, switchboard and condenser and
relaying all plpea
CLARE, MICH. — The purchase of what
is known as the dam property, now
by John O'Keefe. of Saginaw, will be r«
led by Mayor w. 1
Adams and
454
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 7
City Engineer White to the Citv Council
to supply power for a municipal
light plant. The Consul l.t. ,x- pv.
Mount Pleasant, furnishes electrical ami
street-lighting service for the city.
HOLLAND, MICH.— A movement has
been started by the local business men to
raise funds for the proposed ornamental
street-lighting system. The cost is esti-
mated at about $13,000.
MARQUETTE, MICH— The construction
of a n,\v power house and penstock will be
recommended to the City Council bv Charles
Retallic, superintendent of the municipal
electric light and power plant.
MARQUETTE. MICH.— The Township
Council has granted the cluppew.i Edison
EI. Co., of Sault Ste. Mane, a franchise to
transmission line through Mar-
quette. This will enable the con,,
furnish electrical service in a district iusl
south of Piekford.
WEST BRANCH, MICH — The local
electric-light plant has been puri h
1-. E. Hatch, of Detroit, Th. n.u owner, it
is understood, will rebuild th.' system, at
a cost of about $30,000, and establish a 2 1-
hour service.
ALLIANCE, OHIO.— Bids will be re-
ceived at the office of the supervising archi-
tect. Treasury Department, Washington.
D. C, until March 1 for construction com-
plete, including mechanical equipment, in-
terior lighting fixtures and approaches, of
the United States post office at Alliance.
Ohio. Drawings and specifications may be
obtained from the above office or from' the
custodian of site at Alliance.
ALPHA, OHIO.— The Countv Commis-
sioners have granted the Dayton Pwr. ,x-
ton, a franchise to extend it.-,
transmission line from its main line at
Alpha to supply electricity in Alpha and
surrounding district.
ASHTABULA, OHIO— Work is pro-
gressing on the proposed street-car line
between Ashtabula and Harmon Park. The
railway will he about 7 miles long and will
'lit $150,000. The cars will be
i by storage batteries. A power
plant for charging the batteries will be
erected.
BUCYRUS. OHIO.— The Public Utilities
Commission has granted the Bucvrus Lt cv
Pwr. Co. permission to issue $58,000 in
bonds, the proceeds to be used for exten-
sions and improvements to its system The
company, it is understood, intends to pur-
chase a new steam plant to replace the old
equipment an.l the gasoline engines now in
use, to cost about $41,000, The remaining
$17,000 will be used far general improve-
ments. Orders for machinery have bi
placed.
BUTLKl;, olllo plans art being con-
sidered for improvements to the municipal
lighting plant, for which bonds to
the amount of Sl.onn have been issued.
The purchase of a gas engine is also under
I < lion,
tO 'Tin:. OHIO The Mead Pulp
' eporti 'i to be • onti tnpl it
ing enlarging Its pulp null and power plant
at a cost of about I 1 Dl
DAYTON, oiiio The Dayton Pwr A
l.t l !o has pun based a tract of 32 acres
on the Sprlngboro Pike, south of the city, on
which it expects to erect a large powei
plant in the near future.
FRANKLIN, OHIO The installation of
a municipal electric lighting planl is re-
pot I'd tO I'. ,11,
tract foj
1,1 l.t. CO, expires next An
X' HtWAI.K. OHIO Pels, it is ..
Norw ilk
tl pro
I- used to,- ti„, constructloi i
pal electric-lighting plant,
•n ILEDO, OHIO Petitions are being clr-
Ing the city Council to install an ornamen-
tal lighting system in the bu
WORTHINGTON, OHIO Tht
The Columb
Pwr Co.. of Columbu
supply ■
COVINGTON, kv The Union l.t . lit
^t the purpose or supplj li
I ser. High
HAZARD, KV
The
trie-light
B P \\ "oot, ii and others. The new owners,
it is understood, will install new equipment.
IRVINE, KV. — An electric franchise, it is
reported, will soon be offered for sale bj
the, Board of Trustees.
LEXINGTON, KV.— The Lexington Utili-
ties Co. is contemplating the installation
of an ornamental street-lighting system,
consisting of 192 300-watt, type C Mazda
lamps. J. P. Pope is electrical engineer.
ANDERSON, IND.— Within the next 12
months the Board of Public Works ex-
pects to purchase one 3000-kw generator
and one 500-hp boiler and new switch-
board : also material for distribution sys-
tem and lighting system, including trans-
formers, poles, lightning arresters, distribu-
tion cable and wire, meters, lamps, etc . to
cost approximately $12,000. L. A. Stephens
is secretary.
CANNELTON, IND.— The managers of
the municipal electric-light plant are erect-
iles of three-phase, 2300-volt trans-
mission line to supply electricity to operate
"cry in a small coal mine. W p
.Martin is superintendent.
CHALMERS, IND.— A proposal to install
i" electric-lighting plant in Chalmers, to
cost from $5,000 to S 7.000, has been sub-
mitted by Messrs. Thayer & Cheadle, of
Indianapolis.
EVANSVILLE, IND.— The Evansville
nil Ser. Co. has purchased for delivi
Vpril 1 a 5000-kw Westinghouse turbine
and condenser and has just placed an order
for two 500-hp water-tube boilers. The
company is now building an extension to its
power house The company is now install-
w street-lighting system, consisting
of from 1700 to 1800 nitrogen-filled lamps.
replacing some 600 6.6-amp lamps and 700
PS Th., plans provide for about 350
lamps of 1 :p, 350 lamps of 600 cp, and
1000 lamps of 250 cp. A. C. Blinn is gen-
eral manager.
JASONVILLE. IND.— Within the next
lew months Flcm Van Meter, receiver of
riville Wtr. & l.t. Co., expects to
purchase a generating unit or ahrr.it lx".
In i. 2200 volts or 3300 volts, three-phase,
tlO cycles (directly connected) without
switchboard or instruments.
KNICHTSToWN. IND— Within the next
12 months the managers of the municipal
electric light and water plant expect to
ibout *200 for lamps an.l also to
purchase a few electrical applianci
devices. M. Hiatt is superintendent
LA GRANGE, IND.— The T.a Grange El.
l.r Co. e\i„cts to purchase within the next
six months two 150-hp boilers, one 250-h.p
engine, a 150-kva generator with
switchboards, etc., also fir, ornamental lamp-
posts, and to replace the present arc lamps
with nitrogen tungsten lamps Within the
next 12 months the company also expects to
purchase quite a large amount of all kinds
of heating appliances c. J. Avis is man-
ager.
MADISON. IND. — The Madison Lt. &•
Ry. Co. wall Install within the next two
months a 500-kw General Electric high-
pressure turbine. Alberger »
auxiliaries, which have already 1 n pur
chased Tie companj has also pun
General iterator and exciter,
switchboard, motor-generator an.l exciter
M. P. Tennis is president.
ADDIEVII.I.K. ILL— The Nashville El
l.t Co., of Nashville, has boon grai
fl inclose t,, BUPpl] ' h '1 I Idtj in \d.lieville
for a period of "a years; also a conflict
(consisting of 20 lamps of 100 cpl for
lighting the streets of the village. Th, com
".Is to extend its transmission line
from NaShVllle tO A.ldieville in the spring
E A Stelnhauser is secretary and man-
ager.
HI.OOMINC,TO\-. 11.1, Within the next
12 months the city of P.loomineton exnects
to purer, | for the m
di tMi, mi,, i. in,! lighting system. Involving
n.liture of $10,000. u hi, h v. II ,,
elude transformers. Doles, lightnitic
ers. Insulators, dlstlbui nd wire.
( ' i • w . [j
electrician,
CHICAGO, hi. Bids will be i
i.v John McGlllen, clerk of th« E
South Vflchl
gar \N"I ' 'In. aco, until 1-
o I" the Cl t J Ol
IN, hi Within th.- ,,.
months the town of Elbiirn extorts to pur
■ the munli Ipnl elec
ting plant, but derided
whether - im or ..ii The plan!
at present Is driven bv a gas engine \ It
Sharp is SU|"
BMDEN, II. I, The Km.lcn Wtr. t.t ,v
Pwr. Co i inted pel m
the Illinois Public Utilities Commission to
100 In capital stock
GRANVILLE, ILL— Within the next
three months Sidney Whitaker, owner of
the local electric-light plant, expects to pur-
chase one 75-kw, three-phase, 2300-volt
or A 120-hp Chuse non-releasing
Corliss valve engine has just been installed
in the plant.
HAVANA, ILL— The Central Illinois
I'ub. Ser. Co., of Havana, is contemplating
the erection of a substation within the next
12 months to increase the generating ca-
t its plant; also the purchase of a
33,000-volt transformer. R. A. Mc.Mahon is
local superintendent.
HOMER, ILL— The Homer El. Lt. &
Pwr. Co. expects to purchase within the
next three months a 75-kw, three-phase,
HOo-volt generator. U. S. Thompson is
owner and manager.
MACKINAW, ILL.— Within the next 12
months the Electric Lt. Co. of Mackinaw-
expects to purchase material for distribu-
tion and lighting systems, including wire,
meters, incandescent lamps, posts, etc. ;
also electrical appliances and supplies, in-
cluding heating and cooking apparatus,
vacuum cleaners, washing machines, etc.
F. E. Hart is general manager.
MATTOON, ILL. — Within the next three
months the Central 111. Pub. Ser. Co., of
Mattoon, expects to erect a transmission
line from Astoria to Bushnell, together with
a branch line from Table Grove to Ipava
also to make within the next two months
necessary changes to the distribution sys-
tem in Ipava to provide for a 24-hour serv-
ice, utilizing alternating current from the
transmission line. Henry M. Brooks is as-
sistant auditor.
PARIS, ILL. — Plans are being considered
for the installation of six lamp clusters on
each side of the square. Roscoe A. Coffman
is interested in the project.
PITTSFIELD. ILL.— The Women's Club-
Of I'ittstield will ask for bids for the In-
stallation of 30 ornamental posts, carrying
line, limp clusters, within the next 30
days. J. A. Haj worth, of Jacksonville, 111.,
is engineer. E. B. Dooey is local superin-
tendent of the Central Illinois Pub. Ser. Co..
which furnishes electrical service in Pitts-
field.
ST. CHARLES, ILL— Bids will be re-
ceived by the State Board of Administra-
tion. Springfield, until Feb. 23 for electric-
wiring in the amusement hall at the St
Charles School for Boys at St. Charles.
Plans are on file at the office of J. B
Dinelka, state architect. 20 South La Salh
Street, Chicago.
WENONA, ILL.— Within the next six
months the Wen.ma l.t. & Pwr. Co. expects
to replace the 35 street arc lamps now in
use with type C incandescent street-light-
ing fixtures. C. J. Kays is president.
ORD, WIS— The Medford El. Lt.
8 Mi Co. is reported to be contemplating
the construction of a power house and the
purchase of additional equipment The
company proposes to furnish a 24-hour serv-
ice when Improvements are completed.
KENYON, MINN.— On Feb. l 'i the school
hoard of district No. 91 will meet to look
over plans and consider estimates for con-
of new school building, the cost
not to exceed 253,000, exclusive of the
old building, which must be razed by the
contractor and the material used by him.
..ad to include heating, plumbing and elec-
trical work and ventilating system
J (' i: llolmen is city . Ii
MINNEAPOLIS, MINN. — The City
Council has adopted a resolution asking
the State Legislature tor authoril\ to sell
(100,000 in bonds, the proceeds to be used
lo double the output of th, electric lighting
and heating plant and to enlar
crematory. About 176,000 will he required
tor the heating and lighting plant lt is
proposed to enlarge the plant to enable it
ite sufficient electricity to main-
tain 200 street lamps.
ST PAUL, MINN The report of
i icauley, superintendent of the po-
tir.-.ilarm System, submitted to
Council, recommends the installa-
tion of motor generators to take th
of batteries in the police-alarm system
lie also requests that i : miles of wire i».
Installed and that reliable recording sys-
tems he purchased to replace the
Bl I' PALO CENTER. I \ The CftJ
Council Is considering the question
stalling a muni
I. in. to COS! about J I 0
CLARKSVHiLE, I \ T Mar Vallej
of on. .tics City, is contemplating
He erection .a -. transmission line from
ibllshlng
.. 2 1 hour sen a . during 1915, n li
Do. hi is se. retary of the compan
\ 1' Van Meter is local manager
\M. I \ The Interstate Pwr
tending Its transmission hues to Osslan,
February 1.3, 1915
ELECTRICAL W 0 R L D
455
la . where • n.TK.v will be sold in bulk to
the local OompaiQ .; \\ Welch is elec-
guieer.
• I'Y CENTER. I A -Plans are be-
ing con.- I, owner
of the local electric-light plant, to extend
■ Ic-llghting .-\st. m to tie towns •■(
about Ji.OOO.
IRWIN, LA At an election hi Id i
ly the proposal t.. Issue 16,000 In bonds for
Ulatton of an ■
i.m was carried i rate the
system win be obtained from the Manila
plant.
MALLARD, ia The Installation of a
municipal electric-lighting system in Mal-
lard, to
eration.
NASHUA, ia— The Cedar Valley Pwr.
Co., of Charles City, expects to erect a
--mil line from Charles City to
Nashua and to establish a day service
during 1916. ii. li
pany, and C. I. Snyder is local
manager.
OAKLAND, IA. — The transmission line
now being erected from Oakland ti
son will be completed within a few weeks
This line will connect both towns, which
will receive electrical service from the
Red Oak central station Energy will be
:,ooo volts. D. D. Dermyer
is chief engineer.
rORKTOWN, IA.— The installation of an
lighting system In Yorktown Is
under consideration by the Town Council.
Negotiations an to secure the
from the Clarincla plant.
■WATER, MO.— Work will soon
begin on the construction of the in
electric-lighting system, bonds for which
were recently voted.
HAI.i:. are being prepared
for the installation of a municipal i
light plant, to cost about $11,000. An elec-
tion will soon be called to vote on the
proposal to issue bonds for sain.-. W. B
Rollins & Co., Midland Building, Kansas
City, Mo., are engineers.
KANSAS i 'I TV. mo.— The Kansas City
ISL Lt. Co. has applied to the Public Serv-
ice Commission for permission to acquire
the property and holdings of the Kansas
City Htg. Co., at $987,000.
MARSHAL!., MO. — A petition has been
submitted to the City Council asking that
an election be called to submit to the voters
the proposal to issue $70,000 in bonds for
the installation of a municipal electric-
lighting plant.
ST. LOUIS. MO. — Bids will be received
by the Board of Public Service, 316 CitJ
Hall. St. Louis. Mo., until Feb. l!l for tui
two water-tube boilers with super-
heaters, finings and appurtenances; also
i grate stokers and coal-
handling machinery. E. R. Kinsey Is presl
dent of board.
GRAND FORKS, N. D.— Bids will be re-
ceived bj W. II Alexander, citv auditor,
Grand Forks, until March 1, for laying
ound wires and installation of
lamp-posts, including labor and material,
for the extension of the ornamental street-
lighting system. J. J. Smith is city engi-
ALCESTF.R, S. D. — A committee hi
pointed by the Commercial Club
to make investigations as to the cost of
installing a municipal electrlc-liglu I r
In Alcester.
ARMOUR. S. D.— Considerable work is
contemplated by the Interstate Pwr. Co.,
South Dakot division, to its Armour plant,
dining th e.iyoii, in. hiding the
installation of a second Diesel engim unit,
. Becond Muenzel gas produce! unit, new
switchboard panels, and the erection of
considerable new transmission line. G. W.
Welch, of Decorah, [a., is electrical engi-
neer
BRUi !E, S 1 1 Th, ,,:-! illation of a
ii Ing Plant and water-
works system in Hn Is under considera-
tion.
UAYLORD, KAN Rids will be received
at the otlice of W. S. Meadows, city clerk,
Gaylord, until Feb, 17 for the construi Ion
1 ' "in il eleetrlc-light plant Sep-
arate bids will he received as follow 1 1
Internal-combustion engines, installed on
foundations buill undi 1 tract ;
bids will be received for one 50 lip engine
in. the citv reserving
the right to accept one or both bids: ci)
for one 37'i-kw and one 36-kw, three-
phase, 2300 volt alternator, constant-cur-
rent transformer, switchboard and all sta-
tion equipment; (8) for furnishing all
em Inn III I1.1
furnishing material and labor l..i
of foundations, generators and t;
qui 1 and transmission lines . (6) roi
furnishing material and erecting power
house, cistern and cooling lower. Plans
"ii til. with '
■ lord, and at the office oi
or, Stockton, Kan. Copies 0
secured from the engineer upon
It Of ('■'> per set.
GREENSBURG. KAN.— The City Coun-
• ntemplating improvements to the
municipal electric-light plant and lighting
s\ stem
Southern States
NORLTNA, N c—The city of Norllna
will petition the Si mre for
authority to vote on the proposal to Issue
bonds for the installation of a municipal
electric-lighting plant and water-works
system.
WAYNESVII.I.E. N C. TI • Bo ml oi
Aldermen has petition,.. 1 the
tin-.- tor authority to issue bonds. •
Ceils to be USe.l fol' tlM PIU'i.'Ii Fl
II a power
plant and to purchase watershed.
WAYi The Ware County Lt.
ft Pwr. Co., of Waycross, expects to pur-
chase within the next l- months mlscella-
il appliances, devices and Bun-
ting about $2,000; material
for distribution system and lighting system
to meet ordinary requirements and exten-
sions. R. E. Trexler Is assistant treasurer.
WEST P( 'INT. GA — Within the next few
1111. in lis the managers of the municipal
lighting plant expect to purchase
lightning arresters for the distribution lines.
II. I,. Hill is superintendent.
GREEN COVE SPRINGS, FLA.— A
Franchise, it is reported, lias been granted
to S. T. Talma : CO. Lohmeir to
construct and operate an electric-lighting
plant in Green Cove Springs
CLARKESVILLE, TENN. — Steps have
been taken to promote the project to estab-
lish an ornamental street-lighting system
in the business district.
GLEASON, TENN.— The City Council is
considering the question of submitting the
proposal to issue $7,000 in bonds for the
ICtlon of a municipal electric-lighting
plant to the voters.
SHELBYVILLE, TENN.— The local elec-
tric-lighting plant, owned by the Duel;
River Pwr. Co., it is reported, has been
ed by the Tennessee Pwr. Co., of
Chattanooga. The new owner, it is under-
stood, will make improvements to the serv-
ice. Electricity for operating the system
will be procured from the large plant on
tile TelineSSee Rivr.
DAUPHTN ISLAND, ALA. — Preparations
are being made by the Tidewater Securities
Corpn. for the development of Dauphin
Tsland. The plans provide for the con-
struction of an electric railway (9 miles
long), the installation of an electric light
and power plant, telephone system and ex-
tension to water-works. J. M. Dewberry,
Van Antwerp Building, Mobile, Ala., is
president of the company.
LINCOLN. ALA. — Plans are being con-
sidered by the Alabama Pwr. Co.. of i;ir-
mingham. to establish an electric-lighting
plant in Lincoln.
GRAVETTE, ARK. — The City Council is
considering a proposal submitted by Mr.
Bryant, of Ashdown, for the purchase of
the municipal electric-lighting plant.
1:1: 1st. iW, 1 >Ki.\ \i rangements, it is
reported, have been completed hy p. n.
House, who holds a franchise, to install an
electric-lighting plant in Bristow during
the coming summer.
POND CREEK, okla. — Plans are being
considered for extensions to the municipal
electric-lighl plant and water-works sys-
tem, for which bonds were recently issued.
\ 111 I. EXE. TEX. Improvements, it is
reported, are contemplated by the Abilene
Gas & El. Co., involving an expenditure of
about $1.10,000. The work will Include a
high-power turbine engine and the Installa-
tion of ice vaults.
BROWNSVILLE, TEX.— The W
Light Department has been authorized by
lie CitJ Council In install nn ornamental
street-lighting system In the business dis-
trict.
MARSHALL. TEX The Marshall El.,
1 v Ti-ae, en, ii is reported, is con-
templating Improvements to its electric and
ice plants, involving aii expenditure of
about JT.'.OOn.
OZONA, TEX. Improvements, it is re-
ported, are being made to the local electric-
light plant ami water-works Bystem.
Frank F. Friend is interested In the com-
pany.
POLTTECHNIC, TEX, A committee
consisting Hi' Mayor 11 W. Lowe and f. m.
Bransford, city attorney, has been appointed
by the City commissioners to Investigate
the proposal lo establish a hllln ioin | .1 elee
trlc-llghting plant.
Pacific StatCfi
\.\, wash Application <
made to the City Council I
Building &: Pwr. Co. for
furnish electricity In Colfax for
• Maries N. lliiiehcln
seining the company, on rge Hour
mill at Klberton, 13 miles fron
r of a power site in that town,
Btunated that a maximum
of 1500 hp can be developed. T
posed franchise provides that enera
be furnished to both Colfax and Eaberton
WALLA WALLA, WASH A
1 presented to the City Commis-
1 busin-ss men, aak-
ng lor the installation of ClUStl '
lighting system in the bu.su
BAR VIEW, ORE.— Arrangements are
being made for the 11
I View.
I l: Wheeler, of Bar View, is electrical
engine) r.
ST. JOHN. ORE — The Western Cooper-
age Co., Northwest Building. Portland, has
engaged R G. Little, of the West Coast
Engineering Co., of Portland, as electrical
engineer, on the new plant which it is now
erecting at St. John. Specifications have
been drawn for motors, and proposals are
now being received at the offices of the
Western Cooperage Co. in Portland. The
tlon will consist of from 30 to 40
motors, aggregating about 1000 hp. The
plant is designed for an ultimate installa-
tion of from 1800 hp to 200U hp
M. -ARTHUR, CAL. — The Board of Super-
visors has granted the petition of 1:
McArthur, acting for the John McArthur
Land Co., of which he is manager, asking
that an electric franchise be offered for
sale. The company proposes to develop
power from its drainage canals to supply
electricity for its own use and for its ten-
ants The proposed franchise gives the
company the privilege to serve the general
public.
BOISE, IDAHO. — The Hayes Investment
Co., recently incorporated with a 1
stock of $100,000, is contemplating the con-
struction of a power plant. B. E. Hyatt
and Daniel Hayes, of Rock Island, 111., are
interested in the project.
HUNTINGTON, UTAH.— The Hunting-
ion Canal & Reservoir Co., it is reported,
is contemplating the installation of a power
plant.
PHOENIX, ARIZ. — Plans are being con-
sidered for installing an ornamental light-
ing system in the State Capitol Grounds.
The plans provide for 16 standards.
PLENTYWOOD, MONT. — Improvements
are being made to the Plentywood electric
plant, situated at the coal mine. 3 miles
from the city. New equipment Will consist
of two 125-hp boilers, one 100-hp steam en-
gine, one 75-kw, three-phase, 60-cycle. 2300-
volt generator, and switchboard equipment
and transformers, aggregating 7a kw.
Three miles of line will be required for
the distribution system and 150 10-amp, sin-
gle-phase, 60-cycle meters will be used. The
interstate El. Co., of Williston, N. D.. has
the contract. Sidney J. Dorothy, of Willis-
ton, N. D., is engineer in charge. George
D. Sunderhauf is manager.
Canada
NEWMARKET, ONT. — A by-law will
probably be submitted to the ratepayers in
the near future authorizing the Council to
enter into an agreement with the To-
ronto ft York Radial Ry. Co. to supply
energy for the municipal electric plant.
OTTAWA, ONT.. — Tenders will be re-
ceive.1 bv the secretary of the Board of
Control, City Hall, Ottawa, until Feb 18
for hand railing and la nip posts for Hillings
Bridge. Plans and specifications may In-
obtained upon application to the city engi-
neer's office. F. C. Askwith is acting
engineer.
TICIIBORNE, ONT. — Investigations are
being made by Fream Urolheis m
In Hi instruction of a hydroelectric plant
.1" I :.i ■ I. i'i. el. I ;m I! ■• lo ■ - 1 1 1 • I • I 1 ■ lee
Irieiiv for their works there and also to
light the village of Tichborne Junction,
about 1 mile distant.
TORONTO, ONT. — Signed by-laws have
been received by the Ontario Hydro-Electric
Power Commission for the Toronto port
Perry Hydro-radial line, covering 11 mu-
nicipalities. This involves the erection of
94 miles of transmission line. Contracts
have also been received by the commission
for the following municipalities on the
Falls system: chatsworth. Pun-
dalk, Shelburne, Durham and Mount
Forest ; these are In addil Ion to 1 1
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 7
tracts already received from Eugenia,
Flesherton and Owen Sound. The commis-
ontracts amounting to
$400.01111 for equipment,
Arrangements have
de for reorganizing the Dorchester
El. Co., of Quebec. A new company will
be formed, the control of which will be
vested in the Shawinlgan Wtr. & Pwr. Co.,
which is pr,paring to enter the Quebec field.
It will be called upon to erect 75 miles of
■ on line, which will require special
6na
ing
Weekly Record of Electrical Patents
UNITED .STATES PATENTS ISSUED
FEBRUARY 2, I
[Prepared by Robert Starr Allyn, 16 Ex-
change Place, New York, N. Y.]
1,126,681. Signaling and Indicating De-
vice; J. J. Aylward, Brooklyn, X. Y
App. Hied March 4, 1914. For secondary
clocks, elevators, etc.
1,126,684. Direction Indicator; H D
Hall. J. I. Floyd and L. S. Carr, Belolt,
W is. App. Bled May 18, 1914. Automo-
bile rear signal.
1,126,701. Semi-Mechanical Telephone
System ; A. M. Bullard. New York. N. Y.
App. filed April 3, 1907. Automatic line-
switching mechanism.
1.128.727. Selector Switch; H. G. Dietl.
Vienna, Austria-Hungarv. App. filed
April 11, 1913. Embodies a shaft with a
plurality of brushes.
1,126,733. Cable Terminal ; H. W. Dunbar,
Newark, N. J. App. filed Dec. 27, 1910.
Of the open and pot-head type.
1.126,745. Telegraphic Type-Printing Re-
ceiver ; A. Franke, Grunewald, and E.
Ehrhardt, Berlin, Germany. App. filed
Aug. 19, 1911. Perforated tape
1,126,762. I,ifting-Magnet Controller;
C. T. Henderson, Milwaukee, Wis. App.
filed April 29, 1912. To cause lifting
magnet to release and drop its load
quickly.
1.116.775. Closed-Circuit Signal System;
E. M. Jones, Atlanta. Ga. App. filed
April 8, 1908. For railways (forty-six
claims).
1.126.776. Electric Signal System : E N
Jones, Atlanta, Ga. App. filed July 13,
1908. Embodies contact plates on the
track bed.
1.126.777. Electric Signal System ; E. M.
Jones, Atlanta, Ga. App. filed July 14,
1908. Operates cab signal and applies
brakes.
1.126.778. Automatic Signaling and
Train-Stofping Device: E. M. Jones. At-
lanta, Ga. App. filed May 13. 1910.
Semaphore type and cab signal.
1,126,788. ELECTRIC Switch . I,, p Kries
Baltimore, M,l. App. filed Oct. 27. 1913.
Combined switch and fuse box with pro-
tected contacts.
1,126,800. Arc-Lamp; G. M. Little, Pitts-
burgh, Pa. App. filed May 10. 1906.
"Flaming" type with composition elec-
trode above the metallic electrode.
1,126.803 TlLBPHONB-EXCHANOH S
F. R McBerty, New Rochelle, -V v App
filed Oct. 6. 1908. Automatic switching
mechanism.
1,126,804. Power System cor Automatic
Switches; F. R. MoBertv, Antwerp, Bel-
gium. App. filed Aug. 21. 1913. Groups
of switches driven from Independent
power shafts.
1,126,826. System or Electricai
ino ; I ch, Mew York. X. Y
App. filed July IS, 1912. II <
means for temporarily Increasing the
operating current.
1.126.834. Electric Switch-Lock; W. P.
Neubert and W. i: Smith. Wilkinsburg,
Pa. App. filed March 24, 1911 For con-
trol of "outlying" ■witches,
R II
Olley, North Tonawanda. N I \pp Bled
Feb. Ik, mi Snap-switch stru.
plied to panalboard.
1.126.877. Vapor Al/TBRNATTNa-C
itECTT m.i.m: apparatus; B,
Schacfcr. Frankfort -on-'
many. App Hied March I
of the :tr>- path between the mercury of
mode,
1,126,986. Blbctric Hi mm:. C U
1214 Inclosed In pottei y
stand.
MICll P D
num. Oklahoma, Okla. App Died Jan
3i, iiii For burglar alarms ';
windows, etc.
I. B ' I . N V
: ll ,1 April :;.
r ty-three
claims).
ino Points \ B Clara, Brooklyn, x. y
App filed Oct. 29, 1913. Potential ap-
plied to ground connection at one sta-
tion which will tend to neutralize the
ground potential differences.
1,126,963. Semi - Automatic Telephone
System ; A. H. Dyson. Chicago, 111. App.
filed Feb. 12, 1912. Particular system of
selectors.
1.126.966. Sending Mechanism for Elec-
tromagnetic Waves ; R. A. Fessenden,
Washington, D. C. App. filed Aug 26,
1904. Includes a typewriter and simulta-
neously operating code commutator.
1,126,985. rusH-BUTTON Switch; A. W.
Gray. Pittsburgh. Pa. App. filed April
20, 1912. Single-button type.
1,126,988. Electric Switch Mechanism ;
J. F. Grohowsky, Fortvfort, Pa. App.
filed July 29, 1912. Solenoid-actuated
switch point and signal.
1.126.9S9. Trolley Contact; J. F. Gro-
howsky, Kingston, Pa. App. filed May 10,
1913. For operating switch points: can
be charged at any point on trolley wire.
1,127,005. Telephone System; C. L. Howk,
Newark. X. J. App. filed Nov. 21, 1913.
For railway trains.
1,127,008. Elevator Signal System; C. S.
Johnson, Dallas, Tex. App. filed Aug. 6,
L912 Novel push-button and signal
arrangement.
1,127,017. High-Frequency Therapeutical
Apparatus; F. M. and M. H. Kidder.
New Y'ork. N. Y. App. filed Aug. 11. 1914.
Constructed so that the cord can be
wound lengthwise around the same.
1.127,103— Automobile Signal
1,127,021. Incubator; R. Klett, New York,
X. Y App, tiled June 12. 1914. For In-
cubating bacteria; heating element uni-
nlj Incloses Incubating chamber.
1,127,025. Process for Producing PERFOR-
ATED 'i is '-ok accumu-
lators; J. Krannichfeldt, Cologne-Niehl.
Germany. App. filed Nov. 25. 1914.
Paper covering for the perforations Is
detroyed by acid after the electrodes have
i lied with active material.
1.127. »i2. Manufacture of Hiob
tiai. Porcelain and Class Insulators:
P. M. Locke. Victor, N. Y. App. filed
March 9. 1909. Glass base and boron
compound fused therewith.
1,127,013. Electric-Arc Extinguishes; f.
M i.'" ke, \ Ictor, N v App. Bled July 81,
L913 i Imploj explosive cartridge.
i.i 17,044 I'.m i IT !■' M. Locke. Victor,
N. Y. App Bled Mar. '.'. L914. Silica and
boron compound.
1,127,050. Impulse-Sending Mecbakisk;
f. R. McBerty, Antwerp, and a ii
Iglura. App. tiled Dec.
19, 1918. "Finger-wheel" construction
PHIC Arc vn VTU8 : H.
\v O'Neill, Brooklyn, x Y App Bled
April
current on the tracer lines
1,127,081 U
Ogllvle and P B" Dler, I >ti iwa,
Canada. App tiled April to, 191 I. Cm-
pro ■ ■ lotion of water column.
i ■ 1 1
Piatt, i Med July
0 tnelboard
' Sonic.
New fork, N I \pp. Bled Ant: I
! - i t ii audible ■
Stranssky. Philadelphia, Pa, App. filed
July 7. 1914 Fuse elements Insert.-. I in
01 'line the head Of the plug.
1.127.1 19 I mi. Switch II
burg, N,,iw i. Ohio Vi'P Bled Aug. 21.
novable plungi
high \'
ROBERVAL, QUE— Plans have been
prepared by J. E. Thibault, of Bagotville,
for the installation of an electric-lighting
system In Roberval. It is proposed to de-
velop a water-power about 3 miles from
the town and equip the proposed plant to
generate 600 hp.
1,127,158. Dynamo-Electric Machine:
V. G. Apple, Dayton, Ohio. App. tiled
April 6, 1914. Brush-holder construc-
tion for motor generator.
1,127,161. Head Band for Telephone Re-
ceivers : X. Baldwin, Mill Creek. Utah.
App. filed Oct. 18, 1913. Automatically
adjustable to head.
1,127,178. Recording Lock; H W. Brown.
Chicago, III. App. filed Jan. 24, 1910.
Keys held by different persons establish
different contacts.
1.127.1S5. Controlling System; H. W.
Cheney, Norwood, Ohio. App. April 16.
1906. For motor driving available load.
1,127.193. Electrical Signaling Appar-
atus : W. T. Craft, Denver, Col. App.
filed May 9, 1913. Notifies residence of
the approach of a trolley car.
1,127,197. Ignition Apparatus for Auto-
mobiles and the Like; E. H. Cunning-
ham. New York, N. Y. App. filed July 13.
1912. Combined switch, induction coil
and container.
1,127,206. Spring Protector for Trolley
Retrievers and Catchers ; M. O. Dolson,
Los Angeles, Cal. App. filed Nov. 19.
1913. If trolley rope breaks, the spring
is prevented from wholly unwinding.
1.127.217. Electric-Railway System; O.
K l'-aleh, Jr., Mill Valley, Cal. App. filed
Feb. 26, 1909. Collector makes contact
with plates on roadway or overhead.
1,127,232. Gate Valve Signal; L. A.
Grimes, New York, N. Y. App. filed Oct.
22, 1913. Can be applied to standard
gate valves.
1,127.263. Starting Device for Alternat-
ing AND THREE-PHASE CURRENT MOTORS I
M. Kallmann (deceased), Berlin, Ger-
many. App. filed March 25, 1909. Sub-
stantially constant resistance is included
in the closed rotor circuit when the cur-
rent is reversed.
1.127.2S0. Resistance Element ,\nd Pro-
cess of Making Same; R. H. Read,
Washington, D. C. App. filed June 5.
1914. Resistance wire surrounded by as-
bestos inclosed within a seamless metal
tube.
1,127,281. Resistance Wire for Ei.ectric
Heaters : R. H. Reed. Washington. D. C.
App. filed July 19, 1910. High-resistance
core wire is surrounded by Insulating
powder within a seamless metal shell.
1,127.290. Variable-Frequency COMMUTA-
TOR Machine: A. Scherbius. Baden,
Switzerland. App. Bled April 3, 1911.
Independent regulation of frequency and
voltage without altering the number of
turns of the exciting windings.
1,127,826. Weatherproof Cap and Shell
Blbctric lamps : C.
\ Vetter, Pittsburgh, Pa App. filed
July 31. 1913. Porcelain cap and shell
connected by screw threads.
1,127,860. Prevention of Pitting AND COR-
ROSION IN Steam BOILERS, KEATING
s for Hot-Watki; Circulation,
irus and the Like: C Bay-
thorpe. Kennington, London. ESng. App
Bled Nov. 16, 1914. Zinc and
platea
1,127,864. Furnace Hoist : D
l i ii. Germany. App. Bled March
ish-button or remot.
m for a skip hoist.
r c, m.o
\, w York. X. Y. App. filed Dec.
18, 1912. For street-car controllers.
•,,'K Preventer : T B.
Miller, Seattle, Wash App tlle.l Jan. 6.
Picks UP weaker waves from a dis-
tant point without interference by
stronger waves from a nearby source.
1.1 27,371. Apparatus for Ami-ii
i ino Electric i; G W
App. filed
\l.inh 11, 1914. Evacuated tube made to
i its normal conductivity quickly.
K ll Read,
i i idy, \ "i Vpp Bled M
1909. Flattened lobular metal shell and
inner woe insulated therefrom by closely
packed mineral powder.
1 1 C App. filed Jan. 3.
191 I, connections affording perfect free-
dom of expansion of the heater wires.
1,127.379 Electric Switch: C. A. Hates.
Bridgeport. Conn. App, tiled Dec. so.
1918. Push-button type, makes various
connections between the tWO Incoming
and the tWO OUtgOlng circuit contacts.
v..i. .;:,
Electrical World
Tli. IWCAL WOBLl) am. Kn.mxkkii :i!nl AMERICAN BLacTBICIAN.
Published i>y McQraw Publishing Company, I
\l u FORK, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1915
No. 8
The Insistent StabiUt] of Central Stations
REPORTS of central-station income and kilowatt-
hour output, compiled by the Electrical World
in order to show the progress of the industry, are now
available for the first four months of the European war
period. The results published elsewhere in this issue
are significant principally for their characteristic
stability. Reduced rates of growth were inevitable.
If any doubts existed about this, they disappeared when
one domestic industry after another declined. Sooner
or later general industrial conditions were certain to
touch central stations. But it is decidedly encouraging,
even to a buoyant industry, to find that growth con-
tinued in August, September and October, and that out
of the four months from Aug. 1 to Nov. 30 only Novem-
- bowed a decrease in income over the correspond-
ing month of last year, while that change was slight.
November showed a slight gain in output. Optimistic
expectancy looms large in the industry. Great in-
creases have been made possible by new construction
programs, seldom delayed. Where new business was,
there lines were built in the confidence that dominates
electrical operations. However, with curtailment in
borrowing, central stations have not expanded phys-
ically on the generous scale of brighter times. New
business has been secured mainly by intensive develop-
ment. When investors again buy freely there will be
fine potential markets for service.
Cultivating the Small Consumer
THE work accomplished by the Union Electric
Light & Power Company of St. Louis in building
up business is described in a current article. A special-
ly vigorous effort was made to serve the small consumer
at a profit. In two years the residence business has in-
creased by more than 100 per cent, and in spite of the
reduction of the rates the earnings have held their own.
It was believed that increased business, including in-
creased density of service, would bring its rewards
even when the units of service were small. The min-
imum bill for residence lighting was cut from $1 to 50
cents per month, on the theory that while there would
be some loss of revenue per customer, the volume of
business would more than make up the loss — a theory
verified by the facts. The immediate effect of the great
increase of apparently petty business has been an im-
provement in the diversity-factor and a steady increase
in the revenue. And it has been found that the in-
creased use of electricity among the small consumers
has more than offset the results of the decrease in motor
service due to slack manufacturing. The company esti-
mates that even though a consumer's bill is less than
$1.50 a month he can be served with profit. Every sat-
isfied customer is a friend, perchance a friend in need,
and the more of such there are in the community the
better.
The N. E. L. A. Accounting Section
THE proposed Accounting Section of the National
Electric Light Association, which Mr. H. M. Ed-
wards discusses in an interview in this issue, should be
the medium for highly useful work for the central-
station industry. Naturally its activities will be directed
not solely toward general accounting matters but to a
large extent in ways that reach public service commis-
sions and hence the public. The accountant is the
agency through which information required by com-
missions is mainly furnished. On his data rate-making
is based. He can do much to develop public understand-
ing of utility problems. The work of the accounting
section, therefore, will supplement that of the public-
policy and rate-research committees. Undoubtedly a sec-
tion with its own committees will arouse a much greater
following than that created by the single accounting
committee of the past. The section will gather ex-
periences with accounts, commissions, consumers and
public that will be of immeasurable advantage.
Ice-Making in Massachusetts and Elsewhere
CONSIDERATIONS which led the Massachusetts
commission to report against central-station ice-
making are unquestionably influential, if not control-
ling, in that northern State, but they are partly local
and are not applicable to other communities where
different conditions prevail. The commission shows
that manufactured ice in the State in 1913 amounted to
only 3.5 per cent of the natural ice available, and this
is eloquently expressive of the abundance provided by
nature. In communities where temperature or other
natural conditions do not provide the necessary ice,
artificial ice-making is an economic need, and central
stations can meet it at the lowest cost. It is one of
the proved means by which the load-factor may be im-
proved, and for that reason, even in a state where ice
is as plentiful in winter as in Massachusetts, it holds
an opportunity for central stations. Since there are
legal obstacles in the way of Massachusetts companies
and the commission has strengthened them still further
by taking its stand, the next best step is to interest
private capital in new undertakings which shall use
central-station energy for this business at low rates
with off-peak consumption.
458
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 8
Motor Service in a Printing Establishment
A brief article by Dr. A. C. Scott in the current issue
gives the reader an excellent idea of the extent to which
electrical power can be advantageously used in a print-
ing office. One naturally thinks in this connection of
motor-driven presses and some auxiliary machinery, but
to the uninitiated the extent of the equipment required
in the office of a live modern daily will be altogether a
surprise. To begin with, the mere lighting of the of-
fices, mechanical plant and storage rooms is a large item,
1400 tungsten lamps and ten mercury-arc lamps making
the full equipment. When it comes to the motor outfit,
the total runs up to nearly 400 hp. Of this the large
items are, of course, the main press motors, which have
a total rating of 225 hp. Nearly forty motors, mostly
small, are utilized in the composing room and in the
mechanical work pertaining to it, eight in the photo-
engraving department, and so on, every important tool
being motor-driven, to say nothing of the ventilating
fans, elevators of various sorts and miscellaneous aux-
iliary machinery.
A very striking feature of the outfit is the wide va-
riety of motors used, which is evidence of the extent to
which motor-driven apparatus and tools have become
regular stock articles sent out fitted for immediate op-
eration and equipped with motors specially selected to
meet requirements. No less than twelve makes of di-
rect-current motors, large and small, are represented in
this single plant, not counting the ordinary fan motors.
We fancy it would be rather difficult to discover a more
complete electric service in any newspaper office, large
or small, than is here shown, and it furnishes abundant
evidence of the value and importance of electric driving
in an up-to-date printing establishment.
been nullified if not killed; but it still remains to be
proved that growth there can compensate us for losses
in trade with the active combatants in the present ter-
rific war. Month by month gains should be shown, for
while the calls for new plants may be small, the neces-
sity for supplies and renewals in existing plants and
systems of any kind must be met. This should be more
apparent now than it was in the last six months of 1914.
It is an "open secret" that many electrical manufac-
turing concerns are doing quite a large business abroad,
with a fair inference that to a notable extent this may
be associated with warlike operations. That is an ill
wind which blows no one good, but if there is any per-
manent and satisfactory business to be built up on the
arts of war, destruction and general deviltry, we fail in
appreciation of them. Meantime, looking at the figures
for December, 1914, note may be made of the fact that
the total value of all classes grouped as electrical ma-
chinery, appliances and instruments was only $1,620,563,
as compared with $2,233,999 in December, 1913. That
is certainly going backward, and what we expect is to
go forward, to be accomplished possibly by "watchful
waiting," if in no other way.
Export Trade.
The latest figures available as to export trade are
those of the month of December, giving us also a cal-
endar year. The data presented are interesting, but
it is simply impossible to read into them any opinions
or conclusions that are suggestive as to the better for-
eign markets supposed to be open for our goods in
these extraordinary and unprecedented days. The as-
sumption has been made with cheerful readiness that
because neutral markets are deprived of material hither-
to Furnished from Europe our opportunity is practi-
cally limitless; but, if this be true, further statistics are
needed to prove it. The evidence to hand shows that
191 1 was the lowest in total values of three years, the
figures being $23,212,8 1:: for L912, $28,197,868 for L913,
and $19,968,116 for L914. There is. indeed, manifest
here a sharp reversal, which is perhaps the more strik-
ing when contrasted with the statistics as to "explo-
sives," these Increasinj 526,077 in 1918 to not
less than $10,087,687 in 191 1.
It will be Interesting to check up the figures of the
current, year, when any Increasing export must soon be
led. That neutral markets are open to us more
than ever is an obvious fart., for there competition has
Sustained-Wave Radiotelegraph Receiver
Because of the drift toward extensive, if not exclusive,
use of continuous waves in "wireless" telegraphy, Dr.
Lee de Forest's article, on page 465 of this issue,
will prove of more than passing interest. The audion
has come to be recognized as an extremely sensitive re-
sponsive device for radio reception of grouped-wave
telegraph signals, and its development to the point
where it can also be used as a generator of radio-fre-
quency alternating currents — and therefore as a self-
contained receiver operating on the beat-tone principle —
is of considerable importance. When, in addition to the
normal rectifying-trigger action and the local-oscillating
effect, there is involved the known amplifying power of
this interesting vacuum-tube apparatus, it would seem
that results may be secured which some years ago would
have been considered nearly impossible.
The great problem of long-distance radiotelegraphy is
to receive messages continuously in spite of severe "at-
mospheric" interference. Since the effect of such "stat ic"
or "X's" upon a receiving system is identical with the
response produced by interception of a highly damped
signal wave, and since "static" is bothersome at all nor-
mal working wave-lengths, it has come to be appre-
ciated that this sort of interference can be reduced only
by dependence upon tone quality and wave persistence
as selecting means. In spark telegraphy this conclusion
bat been made use of by generating the signal waves in
groups at definite high frequencies, such as would pro-
duce a clear musical tone at the receiver and thus per-
mit aural distinction between messages and atmos-
pherics. It has also been found that reduction of wave-
damping factors at sender and receiver, involving the
use of heavily loaded or "stiff" circuits at the inter-
cepting station, makes possible a further reduction of
" tail," bj the persistence-selecting method.
February 20, 1916
ELECTRICAL WORLD
459
In carrying to the limit the reduction of damping, the
practice of generating sustained or continuous v.
ha> been largely extended. This transmission method,
of course, gives opportunity for the utmost degree of
static reduction by persistence selection. Nevertheless,
in using the "tikker" receiver — which was the basis of
sustained wave reception abroad and later in this coun-
try— it was not possible to differentiate between signals
and "X's" by tonal effects. As Dr. de Forest points
out, however, when incoming continuous wave currents
are allowed to interact with locally generated alternat-
ing currents of slightly different frequency so as to pro-
duce audible beats, as in the "ultraudion," the highly
useful aural discrimating means is effectively used.
Interference from atmospheric and other damp-wave dis-
turbances is therefore minimized in two ways, so that
the astonishing delicacy of the audion may be turned
to exceedingly useful application. As to practical uses,
the instances of long-distance reception quoted in the
present article would seem sufficient proof that the in-
strument has passed beyond the laboratory stage. The
combination of local oscillator, "detector" and amplifier
into a single apparatus appears to mark a definite step
in the progress of radio signaling.
Inductive Interference
An important paper on interference between energy
transmission and telephone and telegraph circuits was
recently read by Mr. S. C. Bartholomew before the
(British) Institution of Post Office Electrical Engi-
neers. Troubles from inductive interference are rela-
tively small in England, owing to the very general use
of underground circuits and to the rarity of long high-
tension overhead lines. Of course, now and then one
encounters true leakage interference between neighbor-
ing systems, but this is on the whole rare and easily
dealt with, so that the chief interest centers in the in-
ductive disturbances, both electrostatic and electromag-
netic. So far as ordinary three-phase systems are con-
cerned, little trouble has been experienced in England,
and with proper transposition of the lines the difficulties
are really not serious. When a three-phase transmis-
sion line is spiraled thoroughly and carefully the resid-
ual voltages and currents are comparatively trivial,
especially if the circuits interfered with are also spiraled
as far as possible.
It should be remembered that the induction voltage
produced by a short parallelism at close range may be
rather severe and would not be improved by a long
spiral on the interfering line. A telephone circuit
which, for example, is not itself transposed and is run
for even a few poles close to a heavy-current transmis-
sion circuit would be subjected to induction voltage
from a line practically untransposed, since the parallel-
ism would not cover a material portion of a spiral, and
in such cases short transposition in the telephone line
would be absolutely necessary. Similarly, parallelism
with an energy-transmission circuit locally unbalanced
is quite certain to produce trouble unless the telephone
circuit is transposed throughout the whole length. In
other words, to avoid trouble the two circuits must be
arranged as far as possible with reference to each other's
weak points, and if this be done, the interference from
the ordinary overhead energy-transmission circuit can
generally be reduced to a trivial amount. Both here and
abroad the most serious difficulties are encountered in
the case of railway working, particularly in a single-
phase line. Leakage currents have produced more or
less trouble from ordinary direct-current circuits, but
the difficulty generally can be met without drastic rem-
edies. In these days of well-made return circuits on
railway lines and the general use of metallic circuits for
telephones the matter is not at all a source of worry.
However, direct-current railway circuits may produce,
and do produce, inductive effects of a somewhat annoy-
ing character due to pulsations impressed on the direct-
current circuit by the car motor or by the converter
feeding energy to the line. In some English systems
one or both of these sources of trouble have been con-
siderably in evidence. In one case it was possible to
detect the presence of the pulsating current from the
converters 50 yd. from the track by aid of a search coil
connected with the telephone.
Three remedies are feasible for this particular source
of trouble, as Mr. Bartholomew shows. If the railway
is equipped with a battery floating on the line, most or
all of the pulsations will be absorbed. The larger rip-
ples could be flattened out by a choking coil. A third
method tried with promising results has been to con-
nect condensers across the offending machine. On
single-phase railways all kinds of trouble is encountered
from the large currents involved. It may occur from
earth currents or leakage, from electromagnetic induc-
tion from wires, rails and conducting cables, or from
electrostatic induction from the trolley or other wires.
Under ordinary circumstances the electromagnetic in-
duction is the most prominent factor in the case. We
have already described in these columns some of the
ingenious remedies applied in the case of the New York,
New Haven & Hartford Railroad which have been high-
ly successful in overcoming the trouble. In general
these have involved neutralizing the total resultant field
due to the overhead wires by auto-transformers, and
also applying compensating transformers to the cir-
cuits disturbed. Thorough working out of these reme-
dial measures promises to relieve the problem of its
grave features.
Mr. Bartholomew describes a very interesting "reso-
nant shunt" method for freeing ordinary hand-worked
telegraph circuits from induced disturbances. There is
no complete generalized system of prevention which will
apply under all circumstances to reduce inductive dis-
turbances to a negligible amount, but experience seems
to indicate that there are no cases which cannot be ef-
fectively met by symptomatic treatment of the difficulties
which appear. Thorough transposition of one or both
sets of wires at intervals dictated by the local op-
portunity for trouble comes perhaps as near to being a
panacea as anything now in sight.
460
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 8
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
The Unit of Brightness
To the Editor of the Electrical World :
Sir: — I have read with much interest the letters from
Mr. Cravath and Dr. Nutting on the unit of brightness.
Mr. Cravath has pointed out the desirability of an ad-
ditional unit which shall picture more easily to our
mind's eye the connection between cause (illumination)
and effect (brightness). The term he proposes — appar-
ent illumination — does not seem to me desirable. Dr.
Nutting now comes forward with an excellent name,
if used appropriately, the "lambert." But he applies it,
in my opinion, to the wrong unit. A little further along
in this communication I wish to propose a merger of
the best parts of both gentlemen's suggestions.
First, however, I wish to express my amazement at
the list of the "necessary and sufficient" photometric
quantities casually sprung upon us by Dr. Nutting with-
out a word of explanation. On looking these over it
•will be found that he has simply taken the present quan-
tities, as listed by the Illuminating Engineering Society,
and the present names, has shuffled them and made a
mew deal! Thus what we all know as luminous flux
< radiant power X luminous efficiency) figures in his
list as "quantity." This is obviously wrong since power
must be multiplied by time to give quantity, for exam-
ple, the lumen-hour. Next, what we have all known as
luminous intensity, namely, luminous flux per unit solid
angle, here appears as "flux (lumens)." As a conse-
quence of this general displacement of names with re-
spect to quantities, the brightness unit is given as
"lumens per unit projected area," in place of "candle-
power per unit of projected area," although the quan-
tity in question is exactly the same. It appears to me
that this redistribution of names is quite uncalled for
and sure to be productive of endless trouble. Certainly
the fact should be emphasized that the "lumen" used
in the final definition is not the present official unit. Un-
explained, I am sure this point will cause confusion
whenever Dr. Nutting's suggestion is quoted.
With this matter cleared up it is perhaps superfluous
to point out that the proposal to call the unit of bright-
ness the "lambert" does not have any direct bearing on
Mr. Cravath's suggestion, for this "lambert" labors
under exactly the same disadvantages as the candle-
power per unit of projected area (solid angular flux
density per unit projected area or lumens per unit solid
angle per unit projected area), being, of course, the
same thing.
The chief objection to Mr. Cravath's suggestion is, I
think, in his term "apparent illumination," which does
not tell enough. "Equivalent matte-white illumination"
is nearer the term required but is too cumbersome.
Now, an interesting thing is that Lambert's law has
nothing whatever to do with the unit about which Dr.
Nutting has written, but it is absolutely essential to
Mr. Cravath's! Here comes my suggestion. Why not
use the term "lambert" for Mr. Cravath's "apparent
illumination"? In other words, let us say that a sur-
face has a brightness of one "lambert" if it is as bright
as a "Lambert's law" white surface under unit illumi-
nation. I'ut differently, the "lambert*! would be l n
candle-power per unit area. HERBERT E. [VEB,
l ii i nun i limn, i a. ,-„,, „.„„
built in elevated positions so that one must climb a set
of stairs in order to throw the switches, regulate the
voltage and do the other little things about the switch-
board that switchboards always need.
Not long ago, while visiting a Western plant I asked
the engineer in charge why the switchboard was placed
so high in the air. He replied that he didn't know and
had never given any thought to the subject. He agreed
with me that the switchboard would have been much
handier if placed nearer the floor on which the rest of
the equipment was installed, where there was an abun-
dance of room. In answer to a similar question, another
engineer stated that an elevated switchboard is less
dangerous for visitors. And a third engineer told me
that "that's the way switchboards are always built,
judging from pictures, and so I suppose they built this
one in the regulation way." "They look more electrical
up high" was a fourth explanation. All of the engi-
neers stated that it would have been best had the
switchboards been erected on the operating floor. Ver-
ily, this is a comical world — sometimes.
New York, N. Y. N. G. Near.
Why Arc Switchboards Klovated?
T" tht Editor of tin tin nui w World:
Sir: — In my various travels I have noticed thai
small generating stations the switchboards are often
Accounting for Depreciation
To the Editor of the Electrical World:
Sir: — Mr. Cravath's methods of accounting for de-
preciation in what he terms the interests of a clear un-
derstanding on the part of examiners, as described in
his contribution to the Electrical World of Jan. 23,
1915, are subject to serious objections from both a theo-
retical accounting and a practical bookkeeping stand-
point.
It is proposed that the balance sheet should show at
any date: (a) The total first cost of all plant and prop-
erty without deduction for depreciation; (b) the esti-
mated total accrued depreciation irrespective of renew-
als made and paid for; (c) depreciation actually paid by
the replacement and removal of certain parts.
Item (a), or the first cost of property, if this is un-
derstood to include only existing property, is usually
represented by the account "property and plant" or
"fixed capital," being the first item on the asset side of
the balance sheet. No standard classification for public
utilities provides that this account should be arbitrarily
reduced by deductions for "estimated accrued deprecia-
tion," and reference to such a procedure is merely con-
fusing. It is true that reference is made in certain Eng-
lish textbooks to such an accounting procedure for prop-
erty "book values," but in the face of the objections that
losses should not be deducted until they have been in-
curred, that the anticipated yearly share of such losses
is not known, and that the resultant figure represents
neither cost nor value, this theory has not received con-
sideration in practical public utility accounting. The
present standard ledger accounts will therefore disclose
the information called for by item (a).
Items (b) and (c) are in fact a portion of the credits
and charges to what is commonly known as the "de-
preciation reserve" or "accrued amortization of capital,"
and where such reserves are provided can with certain
qualification be supplied by recapitulation by an ac-
countant. It seems clear, however, that they have no
place in the balance sheet.
There are certain elementary reasons, however, why
such data will not be reliable. There are two ways of
taking care of cost of replacing property or of reducing
the property account when the property is abandoned
and not replaced. One method is to take the loss when
it is incurred or, if the amount be too large, to hold the
I y HI \i;i 20, 1916
ELEi'TIMCAl. WORLD
4t.l
a suspense to be wiped out when the showing of
the business will permit. The other method is to accrue
a reserve to meet the loss when it occurs. No <>ne can
predict when the replacement loss will occur. The ac-
countant can only accrue an arbitrary amount based
upon the best Information available to insure against
such I'
Since the company's policy as to how replacements are
to be met and the lack of information as to when losses
will ultimately occur are factors determining the size of
the reserve, it is clearly misleading to expect it to
represent the estimated accrued depreciation. Such
balance-sheet figures merely indicate what provision
the company has made to meet losses due to de-
preciation and must not be confused with the inde-
terminate quantity, theoretically representing expired
values, labeled "accrued depreciation."
If item (c), deferred payments for replacements or
renewals, represents only cash payments for replace-
ments, it does not constitute all of the proper charges
against the depreciation reserve. Where property is
abandoned and not replaced a credit to the property ac-
count must be offset by a charge to the depreciation
reserve. In this way the depreciation liability is directly
liquidated without a cash transaction. What is "paid
out" for replacements does not represent the amount by
which depreciation is "made good."
Under "simple methods of accounting," one of the
bookkeeping procedures suggested is the raising of a
ledger account "depreciation paid," which is to be
"charged and cash credited with all expenditures on re-
newals and replacements." Since some time must neces-
sarily elapse between the date when the old property is
abandoned and its substitute constructed and paid for,
the bookkeeper will be hard pressed to dispose of charges
and credits in the intervening period.
An alternative method is proposed of setting up two
general ledger accounts, one representing "depreciation
accrued" and the other "depreciation payable," the en-
tries of which under an ordinary double-entry system
are explained to consist of a debit to "depreciation ac-
crued" and a corresponding credit to "depreciation pay-
able." If "depreciation accrued" is debited, its accumu-
lation will occur on the asset side of the balance sheet
if it is a balance-sheet account, as the succeeding dis-
cussion seems to indicate, and not a profit and loss ac-
count, while "depreciation payable" will correspondingly
appear on the liability side. Yet in succeeding para-
graphs "depreciation accrued" is referred to as a lia-
bility and "depreciation paid" as an asset, although
preference is expressed in the same paragraph for the
set-up of "depreciation paid" as a liability because it
involves no irregularities in making up the balance
sheet.
"Replacements and renewals are to be cared for either
by a charge to 'depreciation payable' and a credit to
cash with objections similar to the first method, or plant
account is to be charged with the entire cost of re-
newal and cash account is to be debited" (credited?).
At the same time the property account is to be credited
with the real or estimated cost of the apparatus re-
placed and depreciation payable is to be charged.
Referring to the placing of these accounts in the
balance sheet, it is stated: "In annual or monthly state-
ments and balance sheets accrued depreciation can be
entered as a liability with paid depreciation as a par-
tially offsetting asset, in which case the accrued depre-
ciation will not appear on the ledger account but only
on the balance sheet." Proper accounting methods do
not permit the entering at will of items on the balance
sheet that do not appear on the ledger.
There is serious doubt as to the simplicity of a scheme
of augmenting the "depreciation accrued" account by an
account labeled "depreciation payable." The latter ac-
count is not analogous to notes payable or accounts pay-
able as stated. Notes and accounts payable are current
liabilities, while "depreciation payable" as it is defined
represents the earnings reserved to care for replacement
and is a contingent liability. It is obvious that no con-
cern will view favorably the suggestion to classify its
reserve as a current liability in the statement upon
which it negotiates a bank loan or makes application
for credit rating.
Such descriptions of accounting methods serve to
shroud the depreciation "problem" in mystery. Much
has been accomplished within the past few years by the
technical associations and by regulating commissions in
prescribing accounts to define the principles and pro-
cedure by which these transactions may be handled.
Such methods have become standardized, and it is sug-
gested that they are entitled to the same consideration
which is accorded to engineering standards. Under the
standard procedure it is possible from a single deprecia-
tion reserve account to ascertain the information which
Mr. Cravath has outlined, although it is not clear just
what useful purpose such information may serve. If
mortality data be desired, there are more direct means
of gathering the same.
New York, N. Y. ROBT. Sealy.
Approval of Refillable Fuse
To the Editor of the Electrical World:
Sir: — Answering your inquiry in reference to the ac-
curacy of the article published by you in your issue dated
Dec. 26, 1914, announcing the approval by us of the Star
renewable fuse, we beg to state that we believe you were
very naturally led into error by a copy of a preliminary
report issued to the manufacturer by this office, officially
signed, and indicating favorable action on some of the
Star fuse products. That no official record was later
promulgated bearing out these statements in all respects
is due to the fact that approval of the council of Under-
writers' Laboratories, which is necessary before pro-
mulgations are made, was not secured. The safe guide
in all these matters is the official promulgations made
semi-annually in the list of electrical fittings and by-
means of the cards of approval, which are issued from
week to week. As you receive both the lists and the
cards regularly, it would seem that these should be the
basis of your articles or reports on the business of these
laboratories. W. H. Merrill,
Chicago, III. Manager Underwritera' Latoratc
[We think it due our readers to print the above state-
ment from Mr. Merrill. As will be noted from his let-
ter, the preliminary report indicating approval of the
device, which was sent by the Underwriters' Labora-
tories to the members of the Laboratories council and to
the manufacturer of the device, was an official docu-
ment. It was dated Dec. 1, 1914, and signed by both the
manager and the electrical engineer of the Laboratories.
Obviously, this would indicate official approval. More-
over, as a result of an inquiry from a prospective user
of the Star fuses a letter was written from the Labora-
tories on Nov. 17, 1914, stating that "approval card is
now being issued on the 6, 10, 15, 20, 45 and 60-amp
sizes, but not including the 30-amp size." Being con-
vinced that the above report and letter had in fact been
sent out by the Laboratories, with appropriate journalis-
tic enterprise the Electrical World gave publicity to
the fact that a refillable fuse of the cartridge type had
been approved by the Underwriters. Meanwhile, how-
ever, the council of the Underwriters' Laboratories re-
quested that promulgation of the approval cards be
stopped and asked for fur her information and tests. —
Ed.1
462
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 8
The Motor-Driven Plant of the "Dallas News"
Description of a Newspaper Installation in the Southwest the Unusually Complete
Equipment of Which Is Operated by Electricity
By A. C. Scott
THE most complete newspaper plant in the South-
west, one with no superior in the country for the
expeditious handling of business and the con-
venience and comfort of employees, is that of the Dallas
\i 108, which, being an offspring of the Galveston News,
established in 1842, is the oldest newspaper published
in Texas.
The recently completed building occupies the space
of an entire half block. The smaller building contains
paper-storage rooms in the basement, the business and
circulation offices on the first floor, the editorial and art
rooms, library, ladies' rest room, etc., on the second
floor, while the third floor contains the telegraph de-
partment, engraving department and reportorial depart-
ment.
The basement of the printing plant contains the
boiler and engine rooms and a large paper-storage
room. The latter, together with the rooms in the base-
ment of the smaller building, accommodates about thirty
carloads of paper. The first floor contains the press
room and city distribution room; the second floor con-
tains the mailing room and the job department, and the
third floor accommodates the composing and stereotyp-
ing rooms.
The ceilings are extra high in the new building, par-
ticularly in the basement and top story. There are nine-
teen different floor levels in the building, made necessary
to accommodate all the machinery in use in the most
modern and economically convenient manner. The en-
tire building is of modern fireproof construction and is
equipped with a vacuum cleaning system, an automatic
sprinkler system and passenger and freight elevators.
It is naturally lighted and ventilated to the fullest ex-
tent. It is artificially lighted with tungsten lamps
throughout, supplemented in the press room with ten
mercury-arc lamps. The various departments have a
total equipment for artificial ventilation of eleven large
exhaust fans, forty-five ceiling fans and thirty-five desk
or bracket fans. In addition to these the engine room
is supplied with fresh air by a 30-in. Sirocco motor-
driven fan, and the boiler room is equipped with one
42-in. and one 24-in. exhaust fan. The building is
heated throughout by the Webster vacuum system of
steam heating.
In the composing department on the third floor twen-
ty-two linotype machines are kept busy. Each of these
machines is driven by an electric motor, and heat is
furnished for the type metal by natural gas. In this
department are also motor-driven proof-presses, a metal
saw and an emery wheel. The arrangement of the
equipment is such that work is facilitated to the ut-
most. The stereotyping department, which is on the
same floor in a large room adjoining the composing
room, is equipped with the latest Hoe stereotyping ap-
paratus, including two matrix rolling machines, a four-
section compressed-air steam table, a melting pot and
other machinery for flat casting; also with flat and
curved routers and a double junior autoplate machine
and autoshaver having a maximum output of six plates
per minute finished completely.
The second floor houses the job department and the
mailing room. No commercial job work is done. The
mailing department in the rear is over an alleyway, and
chutes for mail sacks and packages send papers down
ready for placing in wagons, which drive up in the alley-
way and turn around in a large open court in the rear
between the two buildings. There are four chutes in
this alleyway.
On the first floor of the new building are the press
room and the city distribution room. In the press room
are two of the latest-type Goss sextuple presses, one
Hoe sextuple press and one Walter Scott quadruple
press. Each of the two Goss presses has a rated out-
put of 72,000 twelve-page papers per hour; the Hoe
press has an output of 48,000. and the Scott press an
output of 24,000 per hour. All of the presses are
motor-driven, and three of them are equipped with
Kohler control. In front of each of the presses is
mounted a vertical paper conveyor for delivering the
papers to the mailing room on the floor above, and also
KIC. I lin ntICA] GENERATING EQUIPMENT IN "DALLAS NEWS" PLANT
I'KHKLARY 20, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
463
ll»M °i »d'd-"t "M. *■
— = ,.
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 8
KIG. 3 — LINOTYPES OPERATED BY INDIVIDUAL MOTORS
FIG. 4 — MOTOR-DRIVEN PRESSES
one horizontal conveyor for delivering papers to the
city circulation department.
The basement is used exclusively for paper storage
and the generating equipment. The paper-storage
rooms are equipped with two sidewalk elevators for re-
ceiving paper, and the main storage room is provided
with trolley track and hoists for moving the large rolls
of paper from place to place and delivering them to the
presses immediately above. All presses are supported
on steel beams, an arrangement that allows free head-
room in the paper storage underneath them.
The power-plant equipment was designed to provide
all of the electric service required by the News entirely
independent of any outside source. It is stated that
during the past twenty-five years no issue of the News
has failed to come out on time, and it has been the aim
of the engineers to safeguard the future in that respect
by the installation of the proper equipment in the new
plant.
The boiler room is equipped with two Babcock & Wil-
cox water-tube boilers, having capacities of 200 and 150
nominal horse-power respectively. Use is made of
natural gas as fuel, but ample provision is also made
for the use of coal in case of the failure of gas, and
an electric sidewalk elevator is provided for hoisting the
ashes. Water is obtained from a deep well owned by the
News. The water is forced into a surge tank by a
motor-driven air-compressor, and thence delivered to
house tanks on the roof of the building for all purposes,
by any one of three duplex pumps which are so con-
MOTOR-DRIVEN AND LIGHTING EQUIPMENT OF "DALLAS
NEWS"
'.i i [{ i OF l HE "DALLAS NKWs'
Machine
Motor Hp
Make
Basement:
Air compressor
15 (»
Westinghouse
Tuec vacuum cleaner
5 0
I nited Electric Co
Ash lift
5 0
\lll'T|[''|[l
Paper lift
5 n
3 6
Imperial Electric Co,
Shop.
2 0
9oracue
1 s
i n
Westirighousc
Exhauster it'Mn.l
Weetinghouse
Exhauster (24-in.l
II 5
Paper lift
PI 1)
^pra-rue
American
7 5
First floor:
Dost p« ■ motor om B*Mip, i
ae l''-hpi
7ii It
runt-,!-- Inn.' C'l-tip. .
ne 5-hp]
35 0
Westinghouse
1 0
3prague
1 0
Hoe press motors (one 4'1-hp, one 10-hp]
,v) n
Spra me
Paper hoist
i fi
^prasue
■■■■■■-■ motor
to Q
^pra 'ue
Paper liont
1 0
Second floor:
Foui paper hoists to mailing ro
i | 0
' Irocker-Wheele*
Second floor [ob department:
n 5
Weetinghouse
Paper cutter
2 n
Wood saw
1 6
Myori
Foldirg machine
ii i IB
1 lectric
Muln araph machine
n > is
1 : ctric
Copy elevator
0 i to
i
Second ROOT, photo-enwavinu department:
Beveler
0 t5
■ ■ ■ ,.
it IS5
'
u ! planer
2 n
■^pratpic
Metal iw and trimmer
2 n
3pmgue
.ii n ■■.:!« and boring machine
n 6
■
1 l:,f miller
i n
■ ■
Etching machine
n 5
Etching tab . . .
n 25
■
Third floor:
Autoplate
15 0
'
Autoshavet
3 o
■
Plate trimmer
^prague
| .mT
0
Air-ennipressnr f.>r Steam t&1 1
o a
Westtnghouer
Matrix rollini ma<
i it
M kti > 1 rolling i ■lour, No '
Curved router
i 0
1 i lootrii
i i,i router
1 0
I tal pi law
0
1 if umiL'T. \n 1
I trimmer, No J
F.inerv wheel
0 135
Prool i" ■
Emerson
P 1 !"■
Metal an
n 6
■ ■
■
i Icneral 1 1
' ■
■
'
Total
300 425
■
Two 36 In
i
Two SWn. exhausl fans
One II
Porty-fH a in
Thirty-five bun fins
■ ■
l4fMi tungsten lamps
Kki.i:i aky 20, 1916
ELECTRICAL WORLD
165
nected as to be used for pumping either hot or cold
water. A 250-hp Cochrane feed-water heater is used
in the plant with connections to receive the exhaust
from all engines and [lumps. All exhaust-steam lines
are laid in waterproofed trenches underneath the con-
crete floor, which are covered with iron plates and ex-
tended to a sump. From the sump all waste water
from engines, pumps and boiler blow-offs is elevated
to the storm sewer by means of a vertical motor-driven
automatically controlled turbine pump. The sump is
also provided with a steam pump for emergency service.
The motive-power equipment consists of one Harris-
burg-Fleming four-valve engine directly connected to a
150-kw, 220-volt Westinghouse direct-current generator,
and two American Ball 75-kw, 220-volt units. The
switchboard contains three generator panels, two bal-
ancer panels and six feeder panels. Use is made of two
Westinghouse balancer sets, one of 70-amp and one of
30-amp rating. A motor-driven ringer set is in con-
stant use for the service required in the composing
room on the linotype machines.
The motor-driven equipment and lighting equipment
of the plant as a whole are shown in condensed form in
the table accompanying this article.
The building recently completed was designed by
Hubbell & Greene, architects, Dallas, Tex. The power-
plant equipment was planned by the Scott Engineering
Company, Dallas.
The Ultraudion Detector for Undamped Waves
Modification of the Audion Which Makes of It an Extraordinarily Sensitive Instrument for
This Purpose and Offers Great Possibilities for High-Speed Wireless Records
By Lee de Forest
WHILE the users of the "audion" detector are
now numbered by the hundreds, very few per-
haps understand that by slight modification of
circuits, or with certain bulbs by mere adjustment of
the filament-heating current and B battery potential,
it becomes a detector of undamped wave signals, of an
extraordinary sensitiveness.
The audion under the above-described conditions be-
comes a persistent oscillator or generator of continuous
oscillations of absolutely constant amplitude. The
power thus generated varies from the order of a micro-
watt in the usual small audion bulb to tens of watts in
bulbs 3 in. in diameter or larger, consuming 2-amp or
3-amp filament current, and energized by a B potential
of several hundred volts.
To an audion detector bulb in this oscillating condi-
tion the name "ultraudion" has been applied, as fitly
descriptive of the ultra sensitive response which it then
gives to incoming received oscillations. Whether these
be of undamped or damped characteristics, the sensi-
tiveness of the ordinary audion (itself generally ad-
mitted to be by far the most sensitive wireless detector
yet known) is greatly enhanced — from tenfold to fifty-
fold — according to the quality of the individual bulb
and of the particular circuit combination of which util-
ization is made.
Discovery of the Principle
The ultraudion state was first discovered by the writer
when using a bulb connected in the usual manner, with
a well-designed secondary receiver circuit connected
across the grid and filament (standard audion connec-
tion). The filament was heated to an unusual degree,
thereby reducing the internal resistance of the bulb,
and the capacity of the "stopping" condenser in series
with the grid made extremely small, of the order of
0.0001 mf. While testing this bulb with an arc trans-
mitter station I observed that, at a certain adjustment
of the filament current and B battery, the customary
rough hissing sound due to the irregularities of the arc
was suddenly replaced by a faint flute-like whistle. The
pitch of this note could be varied at will by varying the
capacity of the condenser in shunt to the secondary of
the receiver transformer.
It was at once apparent that here was a tiny gener-
ator of undamped oscillations the period of which could
be controlled within limits by varying the constants of
the closed oscillating circuit, and to a certain degree by
the heating current and B potential.
At a later date, when developing the audion amplifier
as a relay for telephone currents and weak wireless sig-
nals, I found that with two bulbs connected in cascade
this ultraudion condition could be more readily pro-
duced, owing to the tendency of the impulses set up
in the second audion to react upon the first, through the
coupling transformer or associated circuits.
In fact, the low or audio-frequency oscillations thus
set up often became a nuisance until special care was
taken to neutralize this reactive tendency. Loud siren
notes, of pure quality and piercing intensity, were read-
ily obtainable, the pitch of which could be altered in
droll effects merely by touching one or another point
of the associated circuits with the finger.
When means were provided for conducting high-fre-
quency oscillations from the first to the second audion
circuit — as, for example, by shunting the heavy retarda-
tion-coil B batteries and telephone receivers by small
condensers — and the first audion and its shunted oscil-
lating circuit were caused to set up high-frequency
oscillations, these were amplified in the second audion
radio circuits, provided the latter were attuned, or
nearly in tune, with those of the first audion or with
their lower harmonics.
The action of the second audion is almost invariably
to amplify the impressed high-frequency currents, so
that in a telephone receiver connected in the usual fash-
ion between the plate and the B battery of the second
audion one hears a beat-note of surprising intensity.
The pitch of this note can be run through the entire
gamut of audibility from upper audibility down to a
low guttural note, then lapsing into inaudibility as the
two oscillating circuits are brought into nearly exact
resonance, then rising higher and higher as one or the
other circuit is again detuned.
The power represented in this beat-note is many
hundred times that of the initial high-frequency power
in either oscillating circuit alone.
Various Functions of the Instrument
Therein lies the principle of the extraordinary sensi-
tiveness of the ultraudion detector of undamped oscil-
lations. It becomes at once a source of continuous os-
cillations, a detector of the incoming oscillations, and an
amplifier either of these latter in their original fre-
466
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 8
quency or of the beat frequency set up by the inter-
ference between these two radio-frequency oscillations
of slightly differing periodicities.
In the form of ultraudion circuit most preferred all
of these functions are performed in one bulb and one
oscillating circuit with a small condenser of variable ca-
pacity in shunt around the B battery and telephone re-
FIG. 1 — 12-VOLT ULTRAUDION DETECTOR
ceivers. The ultraudion bulb itself is preferably of
different construction from the ordinary detector au-
dion, being supplied with double plate and grid ele-
ments. However, the ultraudion effect can be obtained
in many single bulbs, particularly if of high vacuum.
The B potential must, however, not be made too large,
for it is easy to send the bulb back into the non-oscillat-
ing condition. One can easily determine when a bulb is
in this ultraudion state by touching one terminal of the
oscillating circuit with the finger. A characteristic
"cluck" or scratching sound is then heard in the tele-
phone receiver which is entirely absent when the bulb is
not oscillating.
When used as a detector of damped-wave signals, the
true spark-tone quality is entirely absent, unless these
signals are extremely intense. The sound of spark sig-
nals takes on instead a hissing, rustling or unclear qual-
ity, very similar to that from a rotary "tikker" as used
with the Poulsen system.
Thanks to the greatly enhanced sensitiveness of the
ultraudion, these ."park signals are now many times as
loud as when the simple audion reproduces the true tone
quality, a fact which ordinarily gives the ultraudion a
very real advantage even for spark reception. More-
over, an increased immunity from interference from
more strongly damped spark stations is afforded. In
times of severe static disturbances, however, the ad-
vantage of the high, clear spark notes and the individ-
uality of the tone quality of a sending station more than
compensates for the reduced audibility factor of the
simple audion.
detectors tor undamped oscillations, there are
available to-day four types, the Poulsen "tikker," the
Goldschmidt "tour wheel," the F'essenden "hetrodyne"
and the "ultraudion."
The latter combines at once points of simplicity, re-
liability, m , sharpness of tuning and tonal
selectivity, which. I believe it can be stated without
fear of dispute, mark ii a unique in the field of present-
day wireless detectors.
For many months at the United State, naval radio
on at Arlington, \'a.. n ■■•■ has been made of the
ultraudion in dally reception of messages from the 60
kw arc Station at Honolulu, II. I. At the Washington
Bureau Of Standards daylight signals are also received
from Kilvese. Germany, with several hundred times
audibility, using an aerial 150 ft. in height. In New
York messages from the undamped-wave stations at
Nauen, Germany, and San Francisco are picked up at
almost any hour of the day during the fall and winter
on an antenna lying below the level of the highlands on
either side of the Harlem River, and always without
the slightest interference from any of the powerful sta-
tions from New York to Tuckerton, N. J., and Arling-
ton, Va.
When receiving from arc station — for example, New-
castle, New Brunswick or San Francisco — both the
sending and compensation waves can be heard if de-
sired, as two clear, flute-like tones, one differing by
about a half octave from the other, alternatively as the
transmitting key lengthens or shortens the emitted
wave. If, however, it is desired to silence completely
the compensation "signal," it is necessary merely to
attune the period of the receiver circuit to close syn-
tony with the compensation wave-length, when the local
circuit is forced into syntonic oscillation therewith, and
that beat-note disappears. This leaves the signal wave
to form a solitary low-pitch beat-note with the ultrau-
dion's local oscillation.
High-Speed Wireless Recording
For high-speed recording of wireless signals the ul-
traudion offers great possibilities. In the rapid trans-
mitting and automatic recording system which the
writer developed for the Federal Telegraph System be-
tween San Francisco and Los Angeles, the "tikker" sig-
nals were first amplified by a three-step audion ampli-
fier and then recorded upon the rapidly traveling steel
wire of an American telegraphone. This record was
subsequently run off again at a speed one-third to one-
fifth that of the original recording speed and the mes-
sage thereby rendered readable by ear. In this manner
wireless messages, tape-punched, have been transmitted
commercially at a speed of from 60 to 100 words per
minute.
The method has proved itself a genuinely practical
one. The speed limit imposed, however, was found to
be that due to the quality of the "tikker" signals itself.
When these signals were reproduced at a speed for ear
reading which was less than that above mentioned their
low non-musical quality caused the "dots" to become
quite inaudible.
With the ultraudion detector, however, the pitch of
ft ;\ > V
:# m
PIG. 2— ULTRAUDION DETECTOR FURNISHED TO UNITED
STATES NAVY
the received signals can be made as high as the tele-
phone diaphragm or the magnetic lag of the telegra-
phone wire will permit say. 8000 per second. This
plan permits a reproduction speed of one-twelfth, with
a good readable note of 500 per second, at a speed, say.
Of twenty-five words per minute for a speed of trans-
mission of 800 words per minute.
February 20, 1915
ELECTKH'AL Wo R I. I>
CENSUS REPORT ON CAPITALIZATION
Great [acCMM in Total • BBtl "I (instruction and Equip-
nunt for (<ntr.il Electric Stations
More statistics relating to capitalization <>f central
elect i are given in the 1912 census than in
previous censuses. In the earlier censuses these sta-
tistics were confined to the stock and bonds of commer-
cial corporations, the bonds of municipalities issued to
secure funds for construction, purchase or operation of
municipal stations, and the returns made on such cap-
italization. In the last census a balance sheet as of
Dec. 31, 1912, was secured from both commercial and
TABLE I -CAPITAIXUTION 0!
Toul
CaaaajanU Mini
CommtHj *
Cash m .
ToUI .
Deduct mtrrrorDpany holdings and treasury securities.
Net capital baaed on commercial electric light and power industry - 13.002
$77,065,144
Municipal '.
Coat of construction and equipment
municipal stations. The capitalization as stated for
1912, therefore, includes for commercial companies, in
addition to stock and funded debt, the cash investments,
real-estate mortgages and floating debt. The balance
sheet for municipal central stations shows $31,189,357
funded debt and $27,064,963 cash investments, a total of
$58,254,320. Since no cognizance was taken of indebt-
edness which had been liquidated, the census report does
not regard this total as representing fairly the capital-
ization of these stations. The capitalization used is the
amount reported for the cost of construction and equip-
ment.
Table I shows the total capitalization of central elec-
tric stations, divided between commercial and municipal
plants, and also the net capital based on the returns of
commercial stations. Commercial stations had 96.6 per
cent of the total capitalization and municipal stations
3.4 per cent. Capital stock represented 50.4 per cent of
the total capitalization. Of the entire stock 84.7 per cent
was common and 15.3 per cent preferred. Funded debt
aggregated 39.3 per cent of the total capitalization, float-
ing debt 6 per cent, cash investments 0.5 per cent, and
real-estate mortgages 0.4 per cent. In the calculation
of the net capital of commercial central stations, the
census report shows a deduction of $76,721,716 invest-
ments outside of the electric light and power industry.
Of this $65,895,784 represents stock and bonds in com-
panies other than electric and $10,825,932 is other per-
manent investments.
Capitalization statistics are compared in Table II. As
municipal returns were unsatisfactory, the data are con-
fined to commercial stations. Commercial central-sta-
tion capitalization increased from 1902 to 1907 113.9 per
cent and from 1907 to 1912 52.9 per cent. Funded debt
increased from 1902 to 1907 136 per cent and from 1907
to 1912 49.5 per cent. Capital stock increased from 1902
to 1907 98.8 per cent and from 1907 to 1912 55.7 per cent.
The percentage of increase in preferred stock was very
much greater than in common stock. Preferred stock
gained from 1902 to 1907 215.5 per cent as compared
with 90.8 per cent for common, and from 1907 to 1912
preferred stock gained 134.9 per cent as compared with
per cent for common. The relative proportion of
bonds and stock showed comparatively slight changes
from 1907 to 1912. In 1912 stock capitalization repre-
sented 56.3 per cent of the total capitalization, in 1907
55.2 per cent, and in 1902 59.4 per cent. Funded debt
represented in the same years respectively 43.7 per cent,
per cent and 40.6 per cent.
The Bureau of the Census directs attention to the fact
that its statistics for capitalization should not be used
as a basis for computation of the return on investments.
Many companies operate other industries in connection
with central stations and do not segregate their data
pertaining to investments, income and expenses for each
branch. The incomplete returns, however, show that in
1912 the 2663 commercial companies paid 2.9 per cent
dividends on common stock as compared with 2.5 per
cent in 1907 and 1.6 per cent in 1902. Preferred divi-
dends were: in 1912, 3.4 per cent; in 1907, 3.2 per cent,
and in 1902, 2.6 per cent.
The 1902 census schedule called for a separate state-
ment of costs during the year and to date under the fol-
lowing heads: Land; buildings; machinery, tools and im-
plements within stations; overhead electric service con-
struction; underground electric service construction;
lamps, motors, meters and transformers, wired for use;
supplies of every description on hand; miscellaneous
equipment. A majority of the companies contended that
it was impossible to report the cost in the detail re-
quested, and many asserted that they had no data from
which even total cost to date could be estimated with a
fair degree of accuracy. Therefore the attempt to as-
certain cost in detail was abandoned in 1907, but in an
effort to preserve comparative statistics the total cost
of plant and equipment and the cost of construction dur-
ing the census year were requested. Even this modifi-
cation was unsatisfactory, and in 1912 the form was
simplified still further and only the total cost of con-
struction, equipment and real estate was requested. The
cost of construction and equipment for the country as a
whole increased from $504,740,352 in 1902 to $1,096,-
TABLK II— COMMERCIAL COMPANIES— CAPITA! STUCK. FUNDED DEBT.
AND DIVIDENDS
t-\51C
.-, ■.
23.8
,341,995,182
[627,515,875
52 9
118.9
[1,154 587 "1'
1741,317,497
1373,951,952
Hi v
134 9
98.8
215 5
5,978,473
2,416,760
5,189,837
79 -'
117 1
ill v
2S3.9
197,807,681
19 :.
1360
Commercial com; U
outstanding capitali
zation
Total capitalization out-
standing
■
Common stock
fref erred stock
DiviiJt'iiils
Dividends od preferred
Ponded debt
■i-.M l,i live Ol Capitalisation Of l"'1 el»vtric-r:nlw:.\ ii^lit ami [miser ilc|uirlin--[i!.-i ;iud lift
central electric stations not reporting stock m I bonds, but inolu li ions whose
i. jimM.'.! It> dtlicr -lati.i'i- :unl twenty-three Stl 01 da "iil\
f Exclusive of thirtjweve
their capita) stock not boil n seating other uriei
913,622 in 1907, or a gain of 117.3 percent. There was a
further gain to $2,175,678,266 in 1912, or 98.4 per cent
over the 1907 figure. From 1902 to 1912 the increase
was 331 per cent. The greatest percentage of increase
in the decade in any of the geographic divisions fol-
lowed in the census report was in the Pacific States,
which gained 763.6 per cent. The census grouping of
states was stated in detail in the Electrical World of
Jan. 16, 1915, page 161. The Mountain States were
slightly lower, with a gain in ten years of 758.7 per cent.
4.;>
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 8
The East South Central States gained 725.5 per cent,
while the South Atlantic States showed 590.1 per cent.
The Middle Atlantic States gained from $211,010,618
in 1902 to $391,858,983 in 1907, or 85.7 per cent, and
reached the large total of $584,107,361 in 1912, or 49.1
per cent more than in 1907.
The largest percentage increase shown by any state
ported for commercial light, power and heat New York
led with $42,388,607, or 19.2 per cent of the aggregate
amount. California was second with $19,941,719, or 9
per cent. Illinois had $19,693,842, or 8.9 per cent ; Penn-
sylvania, $16,811,493, or 7.6 per cent. For municipal
street lighting New York had $4,556,339, or 16.7 per
cent of the total; Pennsylvania, $3,363,079, or 12.3 per
TABLE III -COMMERCIAL \M> MUNICIPAL TEN1 I'll \l. STATIONS -AVERAGE COST OF CONSTRUCTION AND EQUIPMENT;
PER KlI.oW Ml RATING \ N Wins AND PER HORSE-POWER OF PRIMARY POWER MACHINES
Commercial
Municipal
Hill'
1907 1902
1912
1907
1902
3,659
SJ, mis, IU3,1L'2
1,766,012
3,462 2,805
11,054,034,175 1482,719,879
2.500,2110 1.098,855
1 , 562
177,065,1 ti
368,677
8209
559,328
1138
1,252
142,879,447
209,016
$205
321.351
$133
ATerage cosl ,,l construction pel kilowatt rating of
Average cnsr ol construction per horse-power ->i
fi, 969, 320
J301
3.776.837
S279
1,686,020
1286
160,028
was that of Nevada, 4205.5 per cent. Idaho had 4037.7
per cent and Oklahoma 2134.7 per cent. The states
which showed the largest total cost of construction and
equipment in 1912 and the percentage of increase in
that year as compared with 1902 were: New York,
$350,526,904, or 210.2 per cent; California, $344,389,232,
or 842.3 per cent; Pennsylvania, $164,522,076, or 295.7
per cent; Illinois, $162,104,226, or 322.9 per cent; Mich-
igan, $72,764,830, or 529.5 per cent; Massachusetts, $71,-
707,238, or 142.6 per cent. States which showed gains
in the decade of over 1000 per cent in cost of construc-
tion and equipment, in addition to Nevada, Idaho and
Oklahoma, were South Dakota, with 1715.2 per cent;
Georgia, 1488 per cent; North Carolina, 1403.9 per cent;
South Carolina, 1292.2 per cent; Montana, 1262.3 per
cent; Kansas, 1185.8 per cent; West Virginia, 1091.9
per cent; North Dakota, 1071.1 per cent; Tennessee,
1052.3 per cent, and Arizona, 1042.5 per cent.
Table III shows total costs divided between commer-
cial and municipal stations, the average cost of construc-
tion per kilowatt rating of dynamos and per horse-power
of primary power machines for the three census periods.
The average cost per station in 1912 was $416,717 as
compared with $232,693 in 1907 and $139,431 in 1902.
The averages for commercial stations for the same years
were, respectively, $573,548, $304,458 and $172,093. For
municipal stations the corresponding figures were $49,-
337, $34,249 and $27,019. The average cost of construc-
tion per kilowatt rating of dynamos for all stations de-
creased from $416 in 1902 to $405 in 1907, but increased
to $424 for 1912. Similarly the average cost of con-
struction per horse-power of prime movers went from
$274 in 1902 to $268 in 1907 and $289 in 1912.
The attempt made in 1907 to secure separate income
data for arc and for incandescent lighting, stationary
motor service, charging automobiles, electric heating,
cooking, welding, etc., was abandoned in 1912. Table
IV shows the various items of income and expense of all
classes of central stations in 1912. Of the entire amounl
reported for free service, $4,982,995, representing a de
crease from $6,01(),.",!ir, m 1907, municipal central Bta
tions showed the larger part. They reported 89.7 per
'••■ni of the total in 1912 and 94.4 per cent in L907.
The rank of the principal states in total income is as
follows: New York, 867,218,978, or L8.9 percent of the
total for the United states; Illinois. 880,046,297, or 9.9
per cent ; California. 827,686,678, or 9.2 per cent ; Penn-
sylvania, 824,887,868, or 8.1 per cent; Masaachu
$K'..::i i . ohio. 81 L.906,11 1. or 8.9
per cent; Michigan, 811,518,266, oi 8.8 per cent: New
■iei ey, 110,944,867, or 8.6 per cent in the totals re-
cent; Massachusetts, $2,322,146, or 8.5 per cent. Illi-
nois was the first State in the total of income reported
for sales of energy to other public service corporations,
with $5,231,534, or 16.9 per cent. New York had
$5,090,032, or 16.4 per cent; California, $4,763,032, or
15.4 per cent; Pennsylvania, $2,801,257, or 9 per cent.
The cost of electric energy purchased increased from
$2,130,759 in 1902 to $6,417,237 in 1907 and $18,074,344
in 1912. Most of this, namely, 94.2 per cent, 94.8 per
cent and 93.6 per cent in the respective years, was re-
ported by commercial stations, the balance being shown
by municipal plants. Commercial central stations, re-
porting 92.8 per cent of the total expenses in 1912,
TABLE [V— INCOME AND EXPENSES OI COMMERCIAL AND MUNICIPAL CBN"
TRAL STATIONS, 191!
Electric service
Commercial Iklit, pnwer and heat .
Municipal street lighting,
Municipal IniiMinv li lii in-
Energy sold U) nther pulilic service corporations
Estimated value of free s
1 in' '
Mnnicipa] stal -
ti otrio power purchased
Kent of offices, conduits, underground ud prater privileges
up] lie mate i il' -i, lam sand wages, and other miscellaneous
. : ied
I :i,'"
p r nut property
Capital stock
Federal corporation
$302. 115.599
2,804.511
31.019.660
1234' MP. 178 100 ii
134,748 764 II -
18,074,344 7 7
M 1 8
! and Boating debt
Injuria and damages
Insurance
Charge! foi
Cnarned for sinking fund
- 048.291
'•"7,012
'HI. P'll
18 843 883
showed an expenditure of 87.4 per cent of the total cost
of fuel. Municipal stations, reporting 7.2 per cent of
the total expenses, reported 12.6 per cent of the total
expenditure for fuel.
Table V shows gross income for central electric sta-
tions, commercial ami municipal combined, grouped
according to dynamo rating. Of the total inn-ease in
income between L902 and 1912 stations reporting a
dj iiamo rating of 5000 kw or over showed 73.2 per cent;
February 20, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
U without generating equipment had 13.5 per
cent. The- Me alone had 86.7 per cent of the
total increase. Stations reporting dynamos of 5000-kw
rating and over in 1912 had 62.4 per cent of the total
income as compared with 35.3 per cent in 1902. Sta-
tions without generating equipment had 7.4 per cent of
Dimmers for Tungsten Lamps
A- pointed out in a paper by Mr. F. E. Waller, en-
titled ••Dimmers for Tungsten Lamps," which was pre-
sented before this week's meeting of the American In-
stitute of Electrical Engineers in New York, the light
given out by tungsten lamps cannot be satisfactorily reg-
I Mil I FOR 8TATIONS GROUPED ACCORDING TO DYNAMO RATING
Class ol Income
BlATIOM CltOl'PED ACCOROINO TO DTkUIO RaTDCQ
200 K» and
Under 500
800 Kw ,.,,.1 l.iKm Km and
Under l.i«»> 1
2.000 Kw and
Under 5,000
Stations
Having no
|
Equipment
Nurntx-r uf station* .
iota
1907
1902
1912
1902
5.221
1.711
3,620
44 2
1302,115,599
2.902
■
2.587
12 2
17, 1 10,070
61.8
1 i 786,719
337
269
172
95.9
7,001 . 186
118.4
8,41 1,307
125, 148.529
21,915,199
403.1
550.0
■
- .
the total income in 1912 as compared with 1.8 per cent
in 1902. The smallest increase in gross income for the
decade is shown for stations having less than 200-kw
rating.
Central-Station Balance Sheet of United States
Table VI shows a combined balance sheet for com-
mercial and municipal central stations in the United
States. In addition to the $977,639,057 common stock,
5176,947,959 preferred stock and $897,907,681 bonds re-
ported by commercial stations, $12,165,075 was shown
as "cash" invested in central electric stations. This rep-
resents the cash capital of the 587 individuals, 293 firms
TABLE W-OJITED STATES CENTRAL ELECTRIC STATIONS -BALANCE
SHEET, 1912
Cost of construction, equipment and real estate
Stock and bonds of other electric compaiu
Stock and bonds of companies other than electric
Tr<a.-ur, WiSajlilisa
Stock ...
Bonds
Other permanent investments
Cash and current assets, including supplies
Stock and bond discount
Sinking and other special funds
Sundries
Profit and loss deficit for companies or stations showing a
deficit
Total
LIABILITIES:
Capital stock:
' jonmon
I'r.f. rn->j
Funded debt
Cash investments
Real-estate mortgages . . . ,
Floating debt
Reserves. . .
Accounts payable .
Interest and tales due and accrued
Sundries
Profit and loss surplus for companies or stations showing a
surplus
Net surplus ......
Total.. 12,4m
,098.613,122
77 :-: 190
65,895,784
16.418.819
92,099,639
10,825,932
20,229,893
10.665.361
7,409,621
»2, 490, 023. 157
,639,067
■ 'U7 959
967,681
i |7ll.s!ls
1,936,406
1,007,229
1.804,167
41.336
5,881 152
18.432
1,659 098
1.907,100
448.863
531,180,35;
27,064,963
1,347,263
723,087
586.521,125
and seven other forms of ownership engaged in gener-
ation of electrical energy.
Included in the census returns were also a few cases
of large corporations engaged in other branches of in-
dustry which from local pride or sociological reasons
furnished energy for the lighting of small towns in the
immediate neighborhood. Investment in electrical
equipment in such cases was carried as cash investment
by the company.
ulated with dimmers designed for the control of carbon-
filament lamps as the temperature coefficient of carbon
is negative and that of tungsten is posititve. For in-
stance, if a carbon-filament and a tungsten-filament lamp
having the same resistances when cool are raised to rated
incandescence, the latter will have thirty-five times the
resistance of the carbon filament. It is also interesting
to note that the resistance of a 100- watt, 110-volt car-
bon-filament lamp changes very little between 10 watts
and 100 watts input, but the resistance of a 40-watt,
110-volt tungsten-filament lamp (giving about the same
candle-power as the carbon lamp) rises very rapidly
from zero input to the rated power input. Unlike car-
bon-filament lamps tungsten lamps oppose every attempt
at control and therefore must be regulated by much
finer divisions of resistance, to obtain flickerless dim-
ming.
If the candle-power of a tungsten lamp is to be
decreased, enough extra resistance must be connected
in series with it to compensate for the decrease in re-
sistance. For example, in reducing the candle-power
of a 40-watt, 110-volt tungsten lamp from half to quar-
ter normal, about 50 per cent more resistance would
have to be added than would be necessary if the fila-
ment had constant resistance. It was shown that from
the volt-ampere curve of the lamps to be dimmed it is
possible to determine the number of amperes which
must be carried by the rheostat with different potential
drops across the resistance. From the current corre-
sponding to the voltage drop across the rheostat the
resistance required can be computed and the size of the
wire determined. With 110-volt tungsten lamps it was
found that a 100-step dimmer with 1 volt regulation be-
tween steps was very satisfactory. On 120-volt circuits
110-step dimmers are necessary.
Protecting the Lineman
Linemen are subjected to considerable danger if high-
voltage and low-voltage wires are intermingled on cross-
arms. To minimize the chance of men coming in con-
tact with high-voltage conductors, the Wichita Falls
(Tex.) Electric Company is placing them on steel brack-
ets fastened to the extreme ends of the upper cross-
arms. These conductors include wires for series street
lamps and transformer primary circuits. As transform-
ers are usually hung on the lower arms, the primary
leads are incased in rubber tubing and run down ex-
treme ends of the cross-arms.
470
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 8
Progressive Public Policy and Its Results
Ideas Used with Success to Bring a Great Electric Utility Into Harmony with Its
Patrons — Increase in Commercial and Residence Load
IN 1911 the Union Electric Light & Power Company
of St. Louis, Mo., was supplying electrical energy to
approximately 32,000 customers within the city lim-
its of St. Louis. To-day the company's customers num-
ber over 56,000, showing an increase of 75 per cent since
Jan. 1, 1912. During the same period the growth of
FIG. 1 — ELECTRIC SERVICE ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF ST. LOUIS
residence business has been more than 100 per cent.
Coincidently with this rapid development the company's
rates have been repeatedly reduced, its output in kilo-
watt-hours has been greatly increased, and its earnings
have maintained practically a straight line. A descrip-
tion of the methods employed to bring about these rapid
and progressive changes and a narration of some of the
incidents which have been characteristic in the com-
pany's success disclose essential principles in public
policy.
A Courteous Welcome to the New Customer
Customers' applications for electric service are re-
ceived at a long counter on the ground floor of the com-
pany's general office building, only a step from the
street. Enough courteous clerks are on hand to insure
prospective customers receiving prompt attention. It
is easy to transact business with the company, and St.
Louis people come to the company's offices because of
this fact and because the company through its adver-
tising continually points out that electricity is desirable
and convenient, reasonable in price and superior in qual-
ity to other sources of light. The local public is being
educated to the idea that old houses can be wired at
small expense by taking advantage of the company's
deferred-payment plan. In co-operation with St. Louis
electrical contractors, who become the company's solic-
itors under this plan, considerable residence business has
been secured. The electric company carries these wiring
accounts to a limited aggregate and finds that losses on
funds thus invested have been remarkably small.
At the same time that the company was making plans
and establishing these policies for its patrons' benefit
changes were being made at intervals in the rates. Rate
reductions have been carefully worked out and new
■inles inaugurated, resulting in a substantial de-
s in the average net rate for the pasl two years.
For example, the average net residence-lighting rate
for the month of August, 1911, was 13.48 cents per
kw-hr. This year in August, with the reductions in
rates and minimums, the average net residence-lighting
rate was 8.87 cents per kw-hr. Table I shows com-
parative average annual net rates for different classes
of service.
TABLE I — AVERAGE ELECTRIC RATES IN CENTS PER
KW-HR.
Year 1
Lighting
Commer- Direc- Alternating-
cial Current Current Total
Lighting Motor Motor
Service Service
1911 11.46
1913 I 8.03
6.17 4.18 3.84
4. S3 3 11 2.98
5.49
3.90
Along with all the foregoing sweeping reductions,
renewals have been made free for carbon-filament lamps
and for tungsten lamps of 60-watt and larger sizes. The
customer's minimum bill for residence lighting has been
reduced from $1 to 50 cents. When this reduction in the
minimum bill was made it was estimated that there
would be a considerable annual loss in revenue per cus-
tomer. But it also was anticipated that the volume of
increased new business derived from small residence
consumers would more than wipe out this expected loss.
The outcome of the reduction has been practically as
anticipated.
Increased Diversity of Load
With the increased business came also increased di-
versity of demand on the system, for the St. Louis
people have continued to buy more motor service as well
as lighting. Owners of isolated plants in the down-
town district also have seen the saving which can be
made with central-station energy, and to-day forty-seven
of these plants have been taken over and are being oper-
PIO, 2 -SERVING THE WORKMAN'S COTTAGE
ated by the Union Electric Light & Power Company.
While the company's rates have been "tobogganing."
the average revenue per customer has also decreased
from $11.83 in 1905 to $6.27 for 1913. There are, how-
ever, some very interesting exceptions to this general
rule. Records of the bills of twenty large residence
customers, kept continuously since 1900, are cited in
w.\ 20, 1916
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Table II, and show notable rate reduction! but almost
equal lulls.
Success in continually acquiring Dew customers has
not led the company's officers to underestimate the value
of the good will of patrons already on the lines. The
TABU II
DATA ROM BILLS OP rWl HTTl LARGE RESIDENCE
DMERS
Ymr
Kw-hotm
noually
Kw-faour
ISOO
LSI I
1001
Is 12
smallest customer with a complaint has ready access to
the office of any department head as well as to the office
of the general manager.
As an example of the service friendly small customers
can sometimes render a public utility company, the story
is told of a large motor-service customer who believed
he had been overcharged. He proceeded to make known
his beliefs in his own office. His accountant overheard
the outbreak, averaged his employer's bills of the pre-
vious year, and compared the result with the bill which
had raised the motor user's ire. The comparison
changed the aspect of the situation. It showed that the
charge was correct, and hence the complaint never
reached the electric company's office directly. This com-
plaint was headed off because the accountant, a small
customer of the Union Electric Light & Power Com-
pany, had always received prompt service and courteous
treatment and felt sure that by checking over the bills
paid he could show that the electric company did not
make overcharges.
Efficient Trouble Department Pleases Customers
Records show that only 7 per cent of the complaints
registered are justified. However, a careful analysis of
every "kick" is made, and the findings in each case are
recorded and filed. The company's method of handling
and recording complaints would make a complete and
interesting story in itself. One feature of this work,
the operation of the trouble department, should be
spoken of here, however, for successful handling of cus-
KIC. ., HOW TIIK CORNER STORK IS RKACIIKH
tomer's troubles is essential to the preservation of favor-
able public sentiment.
The trouble department of the company consists of
careful men, some of whom have been in the employ of
the Union Electric company for more than fifteen years.
H a customer calls the trouble department night or day,
one of these men will speedily arrive at the scene of the
trouble. On an average the men arrive at their destina-
tion fifteen minutes from the time the customer calls.
With their automobiles and motorcycles they can reach
even the most remote customer in less than twenty-five
minutes. When the trouble-man arrives at the cus-
tomer's premises, having with him the customer's tele-
phoned report of the trouble, he rings the doorbell, calls
FIG. 4 — THREE SERVICE LINES FROM ONE POLE
out "Union Electric," letting the complainant know that
the company's representative is on the job, and goes on
about his business. The chances are that the trouble
will be found at the transformer fuse plugs, and that
the trouble-man will not need to enter the customer's
house. He does not enter unless it is necessary.
Sometimes a charge for the trouble-man's services is
necessary, but he has instructions not to mention the
question of price. Charges for trouble service when
necessary are recorded by trouble-men and added to cus-
tomer's bills by the accounting department, with a
memorandum stating the cause for the charge. Remem-
bering the prompt repairs, the customer pays the charge
added to his bill usually without question. Had the
trouble-man before he did the work told the customer
that there would be a charge, the latter might have felt
that the company was imposing on him.
Another idea which has been successfully used to
establish friendly relations with patrons is the practice
of remitting discounts or penalty charges the first time
a customer allows his bill to become overdue. The plan
is worked out in this manner: If a customer sends in
a check for the full amount of an overdue bill, the
cashier receiving the check determines whether this cus-
tomer has ever been delinquent before. If he has not
been delinquent previously, a check for the amount of
the discount is sent to him with a letter stating that
since his payments have been prompt in the past, this
instance being an oversight, the company believes him
entitled to the discount. Overdue bills paid at the
counter are handled in like manner with an oral ex-
planation.
To make each patron a larger user of electric service
is another problem in the solution of which much has
been accomplished. The estimated revenue to be de-
412
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 8
rived from small residence customers when they are
first taken on is $9.50 a year. Residence customers in
St. Louis used 34 per cent more kilowatt-hours and paid
the company 28 per cent more revenue in August this
year than in August of last year. Their increased use
of electricity more than offset the decrease which was
felt in the motor-service load due to slackening activities
FIGS. 5 AND 6 — TYPES OF CONSTRUCTION IN STREETS AND
ALLEYS
of manufacturing establishments. This has resulted
doubtless because the factory worker, when work has
been slack, has had less money to spend for evening di-
versions. Hence he probably stayed at home to read,
and his use of electricity for lighting has accordingly
increased. From this viewpoint the small-customer
business is regarded as a valuable asset.
80,000 Lamps Sold in Six Days
Forced lamp renewals have been made in St. Louis
periodically as a means of maintaining satisfied cus-
tomers and increasing the company's connected load.
This fall a special lamp offer covering the last six days
in September was tried with notable success. Thirty-
five thousand post cards were sent to the company's
residence customers. The cards carried the company's
offer to renew all old lamps above 60-watt sizes free and
to fill all empty lamp sockets with new lamps at prices
25 per cent below the regular selling price. Approxi-
mately 20 per cent of the company's residence customers
availed themselves of this offer. Eighty thousand
lamps were sold during the six days, and :i surprisingly
large number of kilowatts of unity-power-factor con-
nected load was added to the company's lines without
any line construction, transformer or meter expense.
The profit from the lamps sold outright more than cov-
ered the expense for the labor of handling the lamp sale.
The only real expense incurred will be that of renewing
a portion of the 80,000 new lamps when they are
"burned out." However, by that time they will have
earned the cost of renewal in the energy they have
'ned.
To summarize, the Union Electric Light & Power
Company's officers seem to believe that the small resi-
dence customer is an asset even though his bill be less
than $1.50 a month; democratic executive spirit is
everywhere manifest, and no effort is spared which will
cement more closely the amicable relationship existing
between the public and the company and between the
company and its employees.
Distortion of Alternating-Current Waves
In a paper, "Distortion of Alternating-Current Waves
Caused by Cyclic Variation in Resistance," pre-
sented before the American Institute of Electrical
Engineers at New York City on Feb. 18, by Messrs.
Frederick Bedell and E. C. Mayer, it was pointed out
that an alternating current will not have exactly the
same wave-form as the electromotive force if the re-
sistance of the circuit changes during the cycle as is
the case when the circuit includes incandescent lamps.
Instead of producing a simple sine wave of current
through a lamp circuit, a simple sine electromotive force
produces a complex current wave made up of a funda-
mental and or one or more higher harmonics. Even
harmonics cannot be present in the complex wave unless
the resistance has different values for positive and neg-
ative currents. Particular attention was given to the
third harmonic and the cyclic changes in resistance cor-
responding to it.
When the third harmonic is in time phase with the
emf wave it tends to flatten the resultant current wave.
This condition is caused by a positive temperature co-
efficient which does not lag and has twice the frequency
of the current wave. If the temperature coefficient is
positive and the variations in temperatures lag behind
the emf wave, the third harmonic will also lag, thereby
causing the fundamental wave to be advanced in phase.
With a negative temperature coefficient and a maximum
temperature occurring at the peak of the emf wave, the
effect is to produce a peaked current wave instead of a
flattened one. With a temperature lag the fundamental
current will also lag.
Based on the condition that the instantaneous values
of the fundamental and third harmonic must be equal
and opposite at the moment when the emf is zero,
and that the third harmonic is 10 per cent of the
fundamental, it was shown that the lead or lag
of the latter cannot exceed 5.75 deg. and would be less
if the third harmonic were less. It was pointed out that
to form any harmonic above the third it would be neces-
^
EFFECT OF POSITIVE TEMPERATURE COEFFICIENT AND
RESISTANCE LAG ON CURRENT WAVES
sary for the resistance curve to contain a point of in-
lltction. There will be no power in any harmonic in
the current unless there is a corresponding harmonic in
the emf wave. The power-factor is equal to the product
of the fundamental power-factor and a distortion factor,
which may lie between 0.990 and 0.995 with a third
harmonic of n> per cent.
I tl-.l: I ,!;■■ 20, 1916
ELECTRICAL WORLD
473
« i: MRU.. STATION OPERATIONS
Totals of Inronu- iind (iiii inn in First I our Month- <>t \\;ir
Period Sh<>» ;ui Iitiiiii
anting to returns received by the ELM [Bit u
WOSLD, it was nut until November, 1914, that electric
utility companies showed, as a result of conditions
arising from the European war, a decrease in income.
The decrease In that month was slight, the total being
1.8 per cent below that for the corresponding month
of the previous year. In August companies began to
feel the pinch of war. In that month and in September
the totals of income from the sale of energy showed
■ decreased rate of growth. The most noticeable
changes, however, were in the percentage increase in
output, which dropped from 23.8 per cent in July to
8.2 per cent in August. In October, however, when
the heavy lighting loads began to come on, companies
felt the almost universal practice of domestic economy.
It will be noticed in Table I that the percentage growth
in income decreased from 7 per cent in September to
2.8 per cent in October, while at the same time the
percentage growth in output dropped from 6.8 per
cent to 3.7 per cent.
During the period from Aug. 1 to Nov. 30 New
TABLE I CErlTRAIrSTATTON RETURNS FOB HALF-YEAR PERIOD
l'.<"\n: Derived from Sale or
Enuoy Output in
BimoT
KW-HK
Per
Per
1914
1913
Cent
In-
OIBMB
1914
1913
Cent
In-
crease
cent of indua-
$14,295,321
JI3.099.007
9 1
674,877,591
602,832,337
U "
Jane 45 peri
cent of indus-l
14,073,840
12,996,198
8.3
682.791,096
603.122,008
13.3
0 per
cent of indus-
try 14,086,822
12,970,325
8 5
B03,849,850
649,720,026
23 t
August <5I per
cent of indus-
-"J8.226
14.200,649
7.8
778,109.565
718,274,466
8.2
September 51
per cent of in-
dustry). . . 16 708,695 14,694,205
7.0
782,450,267
6.8
October i,59 per
cent of indus-
try) 17,667,912 17,174,567
2.8
969,817,024
935,249,519
8 7
f (65
' ofin-
19,490,600 19,870,880
1.8*
'.ir,7,imn.M!.-,
956,450,460
1 1
England central stations were affected less than those
in any other section of the country, according to the
statistics received. During the months previous to
the war companies were showing a rate of growth
in gross income of approximately 9 per cent, and dur-
ing the first four months of the war the lowest per-
centage growth was reached in October, namely 4 per
cent. In output the percentage growth was reduced
practically one-half, reaching the low mark in
October. Utilities in the Atlantic States and the Far
Western States seem to have had a large loss in motor-
service loads. Both sections have shown a steady
decrease in the percentage growth in output, and for
November they showed an actual decrease as com-
pared with November, 1913. In the Central States
Illinois was excluded owing to incomplete returns
from that State. The operations of the companies
reporting from this section still show a very satisfac-
tory growth. The full effects of the war were felt
immediately by companies in the Central States in a
reduced rate of growth in output in August, but sub-
stantially the level then reached has been maintained.
While the figures in Table I are not exactly com-
parative, because different numbers of companies re-
ported for the different months, Table VI, giving fig-
ures from 51 per cent of the industry for each of the
months named, shows that in general the percentage
growths in the two tables were not far apart. Par-
ticularly is this true of income. In the figures for
percentage growth in output, however, there is a slight
change, and the comparative figures are better than
TABLE II CEN1 FOB NEW ENGLAND STATE-
Kw-bk.
IVr
Per
1914
1913
li<-
. r. Me
1914
1913
Cent
In-
crease
May (55 per
try)
a i
50,779,103
3.9
June (58 per
1,560,872
1,442,178
8 3
53,463.013 1 4!
11.1
cent of iiidus-
1,670,819
1,530,410
54.074,533
49,255.893
9.8
AogUSt i61 per
try]
1.734,583
1,607,640
1 S
52,913.483
6 4
Septanber <ol
■
1,847,945
7.3
53,267,877
4.3
October f&4 per
cent of indus-
try)
1.963,579
1,889,255
4.0
67.520,070
65,068,938
3.8
November (6i
per cent of in-
dustry .
2,234,604
2,120.41!
5.4
69,470.163
66,852,632
3.9
those which show varying percentages of the central-
station industry for the different months. This is
owing primarily to the returns from one very large
company supplying only wholesale energy which has
had to reduce its output considerably, not because of
the present depression but because of legal difficulties.
Based on the 1910 census, the returns have been
segregated into groups, according to the sizes of the
communities served, for September, October and
TABLE III— CENTRAL-STATION OPERATIONS FOR THE ATLANTIC STATES
May (58 p
cenl i>i indus-
try)
June (54 pc
cent of indu*
try)
.1 u 1 y (5 4 p <•
i enl ol indu ■
:■
lugust »5 pel
cent "I indus-
try)
September ■*>'
per oent ol in-
'■10 ul in h
trj
November
pet cenl ol
Income Depivi:
16, 192,767
i. 067 >■"
6,162,169
., 608 ! 'i
7,461,220
8,886, KM
85,628,718
5,578,311
6,755,516
6,221,000
. 03] y
II S
m 1
Enkrgy Outpct in
259,098,542 238,733,320 B 4
244,936,886 221,315,461 10 S
283,580,299 235,068,039 11.8
264,717,319 237.984,895 11.2
270,974.533 252,648,550 7 3
3 i 158 158 539 351,362,247 2 1
■ -in :160.908.874 1.0*
'h
November. Group 1 contains figures for cities of over
100,000 population; group 2, for cities between 50,000
and 100,000; group 3, cities between 25,000 and
50,000; group 4, between 10,000 and 25,000, and group
5, between 5000 and 10,000. Except where otherwise
stated, the percentages are increases. September
showed: Group 1, 8 per cent in income, 5.5 per cent
in output; group 2, 8.2 per cent in income, 14 per cent
474
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 8
in output; group 3, 4.2 per cent in income, 2.7 per
cent in output; group 4, 10 per cent in income, 9.5
per cent in output; group 5, 9.1 per cent in income and
4 per cent in output.
October showed: Group 1, 4.2 per cent in income,
3.25 per cent in output; group 2, 4.7 per cent in
income, 5.2 per cent in output; group 3, 1.2 per cent
in income, 4.6 per cent decrease in output; group 4,
15.1 per cent in income, 6.3 per cent in outmit ; group
3.5 per cent in income, 2.9 per cent in output.
November showed : Group 1, 2.6 per cent in in-
come, 0.8 per cent in output; group 2, 4.7 per cent in
income, 4.2 per cent in output; group 3, 0.5 per cent
in income, 7.2 per cent decrease in output; group 4,
4.8 per cent in income, 5.7 per cent in output; group 5,
1.5 per cent in income, 2.6 per cent decrease in output.
It is thus seen that the rate of growth of companies
in the larger cities steadily decreased. Companies in
group 2, while showing a decreased rate of growth,
in output; group 5, 17.8 per cent in income, 9.7 per
cent decrease in output. October- — Group 1, 5 per cent
in income, 4.2 per cent in output; group 2, 2.3 per cent
in income, 1 per cent in output; group 3, 6.1 per cent
in income, 6.6 per cent in output; group 4, 5.8 per
cent in income, 14.2 per cent in output; group 5, 8
per cent in income, 8.1 per cent decrease in output.
November — Group 1, 6.1 per cent in income, 6.9 per
cent in output; group 2, 2.3 per cent in income, 1.5
per cent decrease in output ; group 3, 9.7 per cent in
income, 7.5 per cent in output; group 4, 9 per cent in
income, 4.2 per cent in output; group 5, 3.9 per cent
in income, 8.3 per cent decrease in output.
Atlantic States: September — Group 1, 7.8 per cent
in income, 7.1 per cent in output; group 2, 6.1 per cent
in income, 15.6 per cent in output; group 3, 7.9 per
cent in income, 15.4 per cent in output; group 4, 8.3
per cent in income, 2.2 per cent in output ; group 5,
10 per cent in income, 26.8 per cent in output.
25
20
15
10
5
0
" 5
-10
ATLANTIC
STATES
XT'
25
20
15
10
5
0
- 5
-10
Ml
PACIFIC & MOUNTAIN
SlAlLb
^
3
1
3~> £ :r>
C -> ->
3
<
o
O
>
o
KIG. 1 — PKRCKNTAGE-GROWTH CURVKS BY GEOGRAPHICAL DIVISIONS
were about steady in October and November. The
medium-sized cities in group 3 have also shown a
teady downward trend, even registering decreases in
October and November. The companies in group 4,
although doing well in income in September and
October, showed decreased rates of growth in Novem-
ber, The group 5 companies showed results which
lily downward. Figures in groups I and 5
do not contain so large a percentage of the operating
■ I" the other groups, and therefor,
placed on them.
In order- to ihow the local effects of present condl
lions, figures foi these groups were compiled separately
for the New England state-, Atlantic States, Central
and Pacifii and .Mountain States. As in the
■ computations, the percentages are increases un-
ngland : September —
n income, 2 per cent in output ;
group 2, 6.8 per cent in income, L2 per cenl in output ;
group 8, 7 per cent in income, 7.1 per cent decrease in
Output; group J, .",.!» per cent in income, 15 per cent
October — Group 1, 6.2 per cent in income, 4.6 per cent
in output; group 2, 7.1 per cent in income, 10.3 per
cent in output; group 3, 1.4 per cent in income, 6 per
cent decrease in output; group 4, 6.8 per cent in
income, no change in output; group 5, 10.2 per cent in
income, 46.5 per cent in output. November — Group 1,
3 per cent in income, no change in output; group 2,
2.7 per cent in income, 5 per cent in output; group 3,
B very slight decrease in income, 8.5 per cent decrease
in output; group 4, 4.8 per cent in income, :!.8 per
cent in output ; group 5, 13.5 per cent in income, 57.5
per cent in output,
Central states:
If i hi Any 20, 1916
K I. KCT K I (A I. WO R LI)
476
cent in output; group 2, 5.2 per cent in income, 14.8
per eenl in output; group ■"•• I pet cent in income,
6.6 per cent in output; group 4, 4.3 per cent in income,
8.8 per cent in output; group 5, 0.5 per cent decrease
in income, 4.9 per cent increase in ouptut,
Pacific ami Mountain States: September — Group
1. 7 ..", per cent in income, 2.3 per cent in output; group
rABLI l\ CENTRAL-STATION OPERATIONS FOR I'll CENTKAI - 1 U I -
II I IV. I- I vi i in D
T IV
KV-HR.
Pa
1914
cream
1914
1013
rr. ftffl
mil of iu'Iu^
I3.300.U3
t2.Ml.685
12 7
202,611,026
Jl s
cent of indu»-
13 2
217,920,183
I" 1
rrnt of influs-
3.802.126
3.307.719
IS 0
217,928,050
188,669,581
15 6
Aujruft '57 per
cent of m<lu>-
i OS] 678
- 1
267,501,400
9 4
Septemlier (57
per cent of in-
4 7oi . 7-Ji
7 9
260,705,339
9 7
5.105. sit
6.8
295.490.712
266,827.567
in .",
ner cent of in-
1 8
283,615.647
-. L3.1 per cent in income, 4.5 per cent decrease in
output; group 3, 3.8 per cent in income, 2.7 per cent
in output; group 4, 17.7 per cent in income, 12 per
cent in output; group 5, 4.4 per cent in income, 7.2
per cent decrease in output. October — Group 1, 0.3
per cent decrease in income, 1.6 per cent decrease in
output; group 2, 2 per cent in income, 13 per cent
TABLE v CENTRAL4TATION OPERATIONS FOR THE PACIFIC \NH MOUN-
TAIN E I
a Drawn raoai Sale or
Kv>. ■■
K\V-HR.
Per
IVr
1914
1913
Cent
In-
1914
1(113
Cent
ll.-
May 157 per
trj
11,626,729
11, 126,886
7 II
144,839,552
"i ; i, 'ii i
II 9
"
1,894,887
1,791,918
-> i
155,328,456
141,836,877
9.6
July 72 per
try)
2,068 249
i; 8
183,160,015
169,718,387
7 'l
by]
4 6
186,330,705
I 2
September
pel eenl nj in-
2,487,613
8.7
190,979,705
18! 1
3.2
oenl "i irni'j-
8,146,
1,157,6 0
0.3"
245 i.M'.s
2 I"
Novei r 8)
1,575 1
2 2'
Ii 1,035,964
, ii
decrease in output; group 3, 1.7 per cent decrease in
income, 7.3 per cent decrease in output; group 5, 0.1
per cent in income, 1.1 per cent in output. November
— Group 1, 2.4 per cent decrease in income, 2.1 per
cent decrease in output; group 2, 1.1 per cent in
income, 17.7 per cent decrease in output; group 3, 3.5
per cent decrease in income, 14.1 per cent decrease in
output; group 4, 1.4 per cent in income, 4.4 per cent
in output; group 5, 3.1 per cent decrease in income,
2.9 per cent decrease in output.
The accompanying curves show the percentage in-
e or decrease in income and output by months
from May to November inclusive. The curve starting
below the other one at the left hand in every case rep-
resents the percentage increase for income, and the
TABLE VI COMPARATm FIGURES FOR 70 PER CENT 01 INDUSTRY OVER
\ THREE-MONTH PERIOD
moN Bau "i
01 Ol TPI T IV
Kw-HR.
1914
I'M ;
1914
1913
Per
Cent
In-
crease
September
115,708,696
7 II
6 8
16,976.816
16,443,831
3 3
911,982,671
t II
17,840,819
1- |.-, no:!
1.7-
804,960.227
780.632,582
3 0
other curve that for output, except in the chart for the
Atlantic States, where the reverse is true. It will be
seen from the curve for the Pacific and Mountain
States that the percentage growths for output and in-
come have undergone practically the same changes.
This similarity, although marked in the case of the
other sections, is not so pronounced as in the Far West.
From Table I it is found that the aggregate opera-
tions for the first four months of the war period were
well in advance of the corresponding period of the
previous year. The total gross income for the nation's
O
etc
UJ
Dl
25
20
15
10
-10
3->
1
i
UNITED
STATES
3 3
<
FIG. 2 — PERCENTAGE-GROWTH CURVES FOR ENTIRE
COUNTRY
central stations was 6.8 per cent ahead of the corre-
sponding period of the previous year, and the total
output was 5.8 per cent in advance. With the com-
panies showing an increase in income of over 8 per
cent in the previous months, it is calculated that in
1914 they were between 7 and 8 per cent ahead of
1913 in gross income.
Bursting Flywheels May Cause Boiler Explosions
In the January bulletin of the Fidelity & Casualty
Company of New York it is pointed out that if the planes
of fast-revolving flywheels are in line with boilers burst-
ing of the wheels is liable to cause boiler explosion. If
this happens, the owner will not be compensated for his
loss unless he carries flywheel insurance, as boiler in-
surance policies cover losses resulting only from the
force of steam. A policy covering flywheel insurance, of
course, would cover damages to both in cases of this
kind.
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 8
DIGEST OF ELECTRICAL LITERATURE
Generators, .Motors and Transformers
Derivation of the Wave-Form of Flux from the Wave-
Form of Electromotive Force. — Fred. Bedell and
Ralph Bovvn. — A discussion of the following methods:
Use of integrating commutator and direct-current volt-
meter; mechanical and graphical methods of determin-
ing areas; analysis into harmonic components and
mathematical integration; addition of ordinates with
trapezoidal approximation; addition of ordinates with
parabolic approximation. A comparison of the methods
is also given. — Elec. Journal, January, 1915.
Calculation of Electric Windings. — Georg Meyer. — A
table and diagram are given which simplify the calcula-
tions of the electric data from the external dimensions
of wound coils. The new feature is that instead of the
"space factor" the ratio of conductor cross-section to
space factor is made the basis of the calculation. For-
mulas are given which must be used in connection with
the table and diagrams. — Elek. Zeit., Jan. 7, 1915.
The Effect of the Shape of the Pressure Wave Upon
the Operation of Rotary Converters. — The author shows
that the presence of higher harmonics in the pressure
wave of supply has a bad effect on the commutation of
rotary converters. He shows by means of oscillograms
that the commutation is greatly improved by the use of
choking coils. — From Archiv f. Elektrotechnik; ab-
stracted in London Electrician, Jan. 22, 1915.
Direct-Current Generators. — B. G. Lamme. — In a
continuation of his illustrated serial on the development
of the direct-current generator in America the author
gives the history of the development of constant-cur-
rent generators and motors under the following head-
ings : the bipolar generator, multipolar types, slotted
armature types, other multipolar types and engine-type
generators. — Elec. Journal, February, 1915.
Lamps and Lighting
Signal Lamps. — L. Bloch. — In electric installations
signal lamps are widely used to indicate whether cur-
rent really passes through an energy-consuming ap-
paratus. These incandescent lamps are usually con-
nected in parallel with the apparatus, and hence they
indicate only the presence of emf and not the current
in the apparatus. This difficulty is overcome by the
use of signal lamps connected in series with the ap-
paratus. Such lamps are made in ten different types,
according to the current, up to 12 amp. The emf is 1
volt. These lamps also protect the circuit against over-
loads since with continuous great overload the lamps
burn out in a few minutes. They are not intended,
however, to replace fuses, which must be employed to
provide against instantaneous short-circuits. The fuse
is mounted together with the lamp. The different uses
tor which these signal lamps are suitable are discussed.
—Elek. Zeit., Jan. 21, 1915.
British Lamp Works. — An illustrated description of
the Edison and Swan Electric Lamp Works. — London
Electrician, Jan. 29, 1916.
Generation, Transmission and Distribution
Open-Delta Connection of Transformers. — GEORGE P.
RODX — The merits of the scheme of employing the
open delta or V connection of transformers In a case of
emergency or as a permanent condition has often been
tioned. The proposition has been both opposed and
defended. The prt enl article presents an analysis of
the matter, and after considering the scheme from the
standpoint! Of capacity, stresses, stability, etc., the fol-
lows re reached: The T, double-T or
connection Of two transformers for three-phase
operation is more economical than the open-delta con-
nection, on account of the somewhat greater available
kva. However, since the open-delta connection requires
no taps, it permits a greater simplicity in the construc-
tion of a transformer, which naturally lowers the cost
of the unit and renders attainable a greater degree of
ruggedness for the same cost than can be obtained in a
transformer for T-connection which requires taps.
Transformers without taps are better balanced internally
to withstand electromagnetic and electrostatic stresses.
There may be cases, however, where transformers hav-
ing special taps for the T-connection might well be
found useful in times of emergency or in cases of tem-
porary installation, because of their greater kva avail-
able.— Gen. Elec. Review, January, 1915.
Installations, Systems and Appliances
Electrification of Flour Mills. — Ernest P. Hollis. —
An article discussing the various operations in a flour
mill, analyzing critically the objections which are
usually raised against their electrification, and explain-
ing the advantages of such an electrification. — London
Elec. Review, Jan. 22, 1915.
Overload Protection on Alternating-Current Circuits
by Tripping Devices. — C. C. Garrard. — The author first
gives brief notes on the direct connection of circuit-
breaker trip currents on the secondary of series trans-
formers and the use of instantaneous and inverse-time-
element relays for overload protection. Time-element
relays have the advantage that several of them can be
arranged in series so that they will operate in prede-
termined order. Fig. 1 shows the layout of an im-
2-phase 4-wire System
PIG, I IBBANGEMENl OF riME-ELEMENT RELAYS
portao.1 plant in continental Europe. There are three
maximum time-element relays in series — (,1) primary
of transformer relay, (2) secondary of transformer re-
lay, (8) feeder and synchronous motor relays, It is
necessary to set the above three relays in such a manner
that the order in which they will operate, in the event
of a sufficient current flowing, will be first (8), then (2)
and then (1). This sequence must hold good under all
Fkkki \h\ 20, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
conditions, no matter how great the overload. A study
of calibration curves is important. Any circuit-break-
ers with calibration curves which cut the axis of ab-
U are unsuitable since this means that they will
become instantaneous by acting for a certain finite cur-
rent so that the discriminating character of the relays
will be lost. Fig. 2 represents the curves of relays cor-
1
12
V^A
:
"~~ - —
r
C'
— =1
10
13
13 14
Ampires.
FIG. 2 — CALIBRATION CURVES OF INVERSE TIME-ELEMENT
RELAYS
rectly designed for the scheme of Fig. 1. These curves
give the calibrations of the relays themselves. To get
the corresponding calibrations when used in conjunc-
tion with the series transformers, one has simply to
multiply the horizontal ordinates by the ratio of the
series transformer. The important point is that these
curves are asymptotic at large overloads to certain
definite times. Thus, no matter what overload is put
on, the minimum times are never less than two, one and
four-tenths and one second for A, B and C respectively.
The reason of the existence of a minimum time is that
the particular relays in question operate on the induc-
tion principle, and the minimum time corresponds to
synchronous speed of the rotor. With moderate over-
loads the disk revolves below synchronism, owing to the
damping. By suitable dimensioning of the parts any
minimum time can be made to correspond to synchron-
ous speed of the disk. It follows that under all condi-
tions, including that of very heavy overloads, the relays
will operate in the order C, B and A. The author then
discusses the influence of nature of load on allowable
time elements of alternating-current automatic circuit-
breakers, and finally, with the aid of diagrams, shows
how to make correct connections of maximum-current
relays on three-phase circuits. The article is to be con-
cluded.— London Electrician, Jan. 29, 1915.
Wires. Wiring and Conduits
Effect "' Altitude on the Spark-Over Voltages of
Bushings, Leads and Insulators. — F. W. PEEK, Jr. —
The author gives the results of extended tests on the
effect of altitude (or air pressure) and temperature on
the insulator spark-over voltages. When sufficient data
regarding an insulator are given, the tabulations and
charts in this article enable one to determine the spark-
over voltage at any temperature and atmospheric pres-
sure.— Gen. Elec. Review, February, 1915.
Electrophysics and Magnetism
Corona Phenomena. — E. H. Warner. — An abstract
of an American Physical Society paper. It has been
shown by S. P. Farwell that at the instant the corona
appears the pressure in the corona apparatus increases.
In a former paper Mr. Farwell shows the relation of
this increase in pressure and the difference of potential.
According to the ionization theory, the corona current
should be directly proportional to this increase in pres-
sure. To test this relation experiments have been per-
formed upon dry air and nitrogen with potential differ-
ences up to 15,000 volts. With the wire positive it has
been found that the current is directly proportional to
the increase in pressure. With the wire negative the
relation is direct for lower voltages, but with higher
voltages the pressure increases more rapidly than the
current. In this case the currents are larger and, there-
fore, the heating effects more prominent. This varia-
tion from the direct proportion may be explained by the
fact that in the apparatus used the increase in pressure
could not be measured before the current caused a tem-
perature increase which added to the measured pressure
increase. Several attempts have been made to construct
a high-potential voltmeter based upon this principle. —
Physical Review, January, 1915.
The Ledue Effect in Some Metal* and Alloys.—
Alpheus W. Smith and Alva W. Smith.— If a metal
plate having a longitudinal flow of heat in it is placed
in a magnetic field which is perpendicular to the plane
of the plate, a transverse difference of temperature is
observed. This effect may be described as a rotation
of the isothermal by the magnetic field and is known as
the Leduc effect. In the magnetic metals, nickel, ni-
chrome, iron and cobalt, the transverse difference of
temperature set up by the magnetic action in the case
of the Leduc effect is proportional to the intensity of
magnetization in the plate and not to the intensity of
the magnetic field. This difference of temperature,
therefore, reaches its maximum value when the inten-
sity of magnetization has become a maximum. The
relation of this effect to the magnetic field which pro-
duces it is the same as the relation of the Hall effect
and the Nernst effect to the magnetic field. In anti-
mony the Leduc coefficient is independent of the in-
tensity of the magnetic field. The Leduc coefficient has
been determined in tungsten, molybdenum, cadmium, a
series of alloys of antimony and bismuth, and a series
of alloys of antimony and zinc. The addition of anti-
mony to bismuth decreases the Leduc coefficient but less
rapidly than is to be expected from the additive law.
The addition of zinc to antimony causes a very rapid
decrease in the Leduc coefficient. An alloy containing
10 per cent of zinc and 90 per cent of antimony exhibits
the Leduc effect to the extent of only one-sixth of that
in pure antimony. With the further increase in the
amount of zinc the coefficient decreases to a not very
well-defined minimum from which it rises to the value
in zinc. — Physical Review, January, 1915.
Absolute Zero. — S. Dushman. — Following a note on
conceptions of temperature, the principles of gas ther-
mometry and the absolute scale of temperature are dis-
cussed. The author then describes methods of obtain-
ing low temperatures and liquefying gases. — Gen, Elee.
Revu ir, February, 1915.
Rotating Field Model.— F. M. Denton. — An illus-
trated description of a simple form of apparatus by the
aid of which both the distribution and the manner of
rotation of a multipolar field may be demonstrated. The
method involves the use of iron filings. — London Elec-
trician, Jan. 22, 1915.
Units, Measurements and Instruments
Mercury Stream Regulator. — Franz Beutl.— An
illustrated description of a quick-acting regulator using
a mercury stream which may be employed for maintain
ing constant the voltage on electrical machines. The
arrangement is shown in Fig. 3. The apparatus con-
sists of a vessel c, a contact wheel 6 which is built in
star form, a mercury stream a, a regulating electro-
magnet d, a valve e and the pump /. The contact .vhe^I
b and the vessel c (or, what is the same, mercury stream
a) are connected to the shunt regulator terminals. The
478
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 8
contact wheel b is, of course, insulated for the vessel c.
The coil of the regulating electromagnet d is connected
according to the requirements of the case to the net-
work. The contact wheel b and the pump / are revolved
by some available source of power. The horizontal con-
tact wheel d is designed as a star, the arms of the star
being wider near the center than the ends so that the
QPO +(-)
r"
FIG. 3 — ARRANGEMENT OF MERCURY STREAM REGULATOR
ratio of the period for which the shunt regulator is
short-circuited to the period during which it is not de-
pends on the point where the mercury stream drops on
the contact wheel. This is regulated automatically by
means of the electromagnet d, which acts on the valve e,
which in turn opens or closes more or less the exit holes
of the pipe g for the mercury stream and of the pipe ft
for the pump. — Elek. u. Masch. (Vienna), Dec. 27, 1914.
Selenium Cell. — D. S. Elliott. — The author first de-
scribes a new construction of selenium cells, due to
Pfund. It is particularly adapted for low-temperature
work. Amorphous selenium was first cast into disks
about 1.5 cm in diameter and 1.5 mm thick. They were
sensitized in the usual way, being maintained at a tem-
perature of 200 deg. C. for six hours and then cooled
rapidly to room temperature. The disks were then
ground smooth on crocus cloth, after which silver tape
electrodes were fastened on with celluloid. A film of
gold was next deposited by cathode sputtering, and
finally the gold was removed along a narrow line like a
grid as shown in Fig. 4. The four shallow pools of
celluloid shown strengthen the construction and provide
a smooth transition from the selenium to the upper sur-
face of the silver tape. In this way fractures of the
gold film were avoided. The time required for the de-
position from the insertion of the cell to its removal did
not exceed twenty minutes, but as a matter of fact the
selenium was covered with a protective layer of gold
within six minutes. No deleterious action due to mer-
cury vapor could be detected. The cell was finally in-
closed in a glass tube similar in design to that shown
in Fig. 5. Bulb B was filled with calcium chloride and
the constriction leading to the upper chamber was
£^
FIGS. 4 AND 5 — DESIGN FOB SELENIUM CELLS
loosely plugged with cotton. The cell c was fastened
with sealing wax in this upper chamber, the end of
which was closed by a glass plate. The vessel was also
provided with a side tabs for exhausting by means of
an aspirator, a phosphOTOUl pentoxlde tube being In-
el] ami aspirator during the pn
Stlbnlte cells were also made and a comparative study
was undertaken of the light sensibility of selenium and
stibnite at 20 deg. C. and — 190 deg. C. The sensibility
curves of selenium and stibnite at 20 deg. C. and — 190
deg. C. show that lowering the temperature causes: (a)
a shift of the sensibility maximum toward the region
of shorter wave-lengths by about 600 anstrom units,
for both stibnite and selenium; (b) an extension of
range of sensibility from 0.9 u. to at least 2 a for both
selenium and stibnite. Sensibility curves for the same
stibnite call for both equilibrium exposures, and ex-
posures for ten seconds show a shift toward longer
wave-lengths for the equilibrium exposures. Both
selenium and stibnite show voltage effects. These re-
sults seem to indicate that the mechanism which brings
about light sensitiveness in selenium and stibnite is of
the same general character. — Physical Review, Jan-
uary, 1915.
Some Features of Resonance. — R. C. Clinker. — In
order to impress upon students the ideas of resonance
and the phase changes which take place when a system
passes through the resonant condition, the author uses
a Frahm frequency meter (made up with reeds) which
is viewed through a stroboscopic disk. An experiment
is also described depending on high-frequency currents.
— London Electrician, Jan. 29, 1915.
Ionometer. — An illustrated description of the "uni-
versal ionometer" of Siemens & Halske Company for
measuring of intensity of ionization, etc. — Zeit. f.
Feinmechanik, Jan. 5, 1915.
Roentgen Tubes. — An illustrated article on an auto-
matic cooling arrangement for Roentgen ray tubes. —
Zeit. f. Feinmechanik, Jan. 5, 1915.
Telegraphy, Telephony and Signals
Power-Circuit Interference xoith Telegraphs and Tele-
phones.— S. C. Bartholomew. — The author discusses
successively interference from electric light and power
systems, from electric tramways and from electric rail-
ways with telegraphs and telephones, and gives details
of the experience of various single-phase roads in dif-
ferent countries. Although much has been done to
eliminate interference, yet a certain amount of trouble
has been experienced on the Midland Railway, the Lon-
don, Brighton & South Coast Railway and other lines.
In the case of the London-Brighton line electromagnetic
effects appear to have been reduced considerably by
carefully connecting the distributer outer to the rails
at intervals; nevertheless, a certain amount of inter-
ference was found, and it became necessary to divert
some of the post office circuits. On the other hand,
electrostatic effects do not seem to have given any
trouble, possibly because of the earthed structures
(allying the contact wires and to numerous earthed
telegraph poles. — London Electrician. Jan. 29, 1915.
Balancing of Telephone Cables. — The conclusion of
the long illustrated paper on the balancing of telephone
cables which require to be loaded for superimposed
working. Post Office Elec. Eng. Journal (London),
January, 1916.
Measuring Win* -Lengths. — F. A. KOLSTER. — A bulle-
tin describing a new direct-reading instrument for
measuring the logarithmic decrement and wave-length
especially designed for the radio inspection service of
the Bureau of Navigation, Departmenl of Commerce,
and also adopted by the War and Navy Departments.—
Scientific Papers, Bureau of Standards, No. 235 (Aug.
L6, 1915).
Exchange Design.— TL. F. E. Deane.— The conclusion
of his very long illustrated paper on the traffic side of
exchange design work. In the present instalment the
ils with junction and desk equipment. — Post
Office Elec, Eng. Journal (London), January. 1915.
/.'. i '■• i Carbon Contacts in Telephone Trans-
\u\ 20, 1915
K I. K < TRIC A 1. WO RLD
47;<
\ L < lLARK. —An article on experiments made
with ordinary solid-back telephone transmitters. If ■
■olid-bach transmitter to whose front disk sufficient
••lom of motion is given is placed in an elec-
trical circuit where the potential difference between its
volts, the resistance rises at first — in
some cases a^ much as 100 pel cent or more — and then
(alls ■ 'Wly. The rapidity of the rise in the
earlier part of the experiment, as well BS the amount of
and later, the rapidity of the fall in resistance.
depend on the current density through the apparatus,
being greater for large currents than for small. These
phenomena and some complications of the same were
studied by the author and a partial explanation was
given. However, the theory of the action of the trans-
mitter is not yet complete. More than the area of con-
tact must be taken into account to explain the changes
in resistance. The action of the gas is certainly of im-
portance.— Physical Review, January, 1915.
Electric Transmission of Pictures. — J. Blondin. —
After giving a review of former methods of trans-
mitting pictures electrically or "seeing by wire," the
author discusses the method of Georges Rignoux. The
arrangement is shown in Fig. 6. The transmitter con-
— l-P
FIG. 6 — APPARATUS FOR ELECTRIC TRANSMISSION OF
PICTURES
sists of a series of selenium cells forming a surface
on which the picture to be transmitted is projected.
Each cell is connected to a relay w:hich is regulated in
such a fashion that when the cell is lighted an electro-
magnet attracts its armature, which then closes the
secondary circuit. The secondary circuits contain a
source of emf the positive pole of which is connected by
a. common wire to the upper terminals of the secondaries
of the relays. Each lower terminal is connected to one
segment of a circular commutator on which slides a
brush connected to one of the line wires. The other line
■wire is connected to the negative pole of the source of
emf. The two line wires are connected at the receiving
station to a coil in the axle of which there is a tube
filled with carbon tetrachloride, through which a bundle
of polarized light passes. The source of light is an arc
lamp with convergent electrodes placed below a mirror
inclined at an angle of 45 deg. in a lantern, thus render-
ing the bundle of light horizontal. The light passes in
succession through two lenses, a nicol, the carbon tetra-
chloride tube, a second nicol, two more lenses, and falls
finally on revolving mirrors which reflect the spot of
light on a screen. The disk on which the mirrors are
mounted revolves in synchronism with the brush sliding
on the commutator in the transmitting station, and the
mirrors have slightly different inclinations so as to re-
flect the spot of light to successive adjoining points on
the screen. Whenever in the transmitting station the
brush on the commutator makes contact with a segment
connected to an illuminated selenium cell, a current
passes through the coil in the receiving station. When
the brush makes contact with a segment connected to a
selenium cell which is dark no current passes through
the coil in the receiving station. The two nicols of the
receiver are adjusted to light extinction in the latter
and the rotation of the plane of polarization of the
light under the influence of the magnetic field will let
the light appear in the former case. At any moment
the current in the coil depends on the degree of the
illumination of the selenium cell to which the segment
is connected with which the commutator brush makes
contact at that instant. In the receiving station a pic-
ture will therefore be obtained on the screen which is
similar to the picture projected in the receiving station
upon the selenium cells, and if the speed of rotation of
the commutator is quick enough the different sin ■< •
light spots will give to the eye the impression of one
simultaneous picture. Several improvements to be made
are also discussed. — La Revue Elec, "Oct. 16, 1914
published Jan. 15, 191 "
Book Review
Optic Projection. By Prof. Simon Henry Gage and
Dr. Henry Phelps Gage. Ithaca, N. Y. : Comstock
Publishing Company. 732 pages, 413 illus. Price,
$3.
The authors are to be congratulated upon having
produced in this volume an unusually fine piece of work
in a direction where the work was needed. Optic pro-
jection apparatus, which has come into very extensive
use, has to be operated by a large class of persons who
have not, as a rule, received much technical education.
The book is particularly applicable to this class. It
gives a large amount of sound technical information in
clear and simple language. The book is remarkable in
several ways. First, it is written in the metric system,
which is a very great simplification and advantage.
This one characteristic should greatly increase the
utility, advantage and sale of the book. For the benefit
of persons unfamiliar with the system the metric
numerical values are sometimes followed by a paren-
thetic rendering into English equivalents. Second, each
chapter concludes with a summary, expressed in the
form of "dos" and "do nots," which are always forceful.
Third, the book combines a great deal of ophthalmic
physiology with optical physics in a very entertaining
manner. Fourth, although the authors have manifestly
participated in the work of preparing the manuscript
and illustrations, yet they have had the courage to in-
dicate the particular chapters for which they are sever-
ally more particularly responsible — a rare acknowledg-
ment. The volume includes fifteen chapters, relating
respectively to the following subjects: Magic lantern
with direct current; magic lantern with alternating
current; magic lantern for use on house electric-light-
ing system; magic lantern with the limelight; magic
lantern with a petroleum lamp, with gas, acetylene and
alcohol lamps; magic lantern with sunlight heliostats;
projection of images of opaque objects; preparation of
lantern slides; the projection microscope; drawing and
photography with projection apparatus; moving pic-
tures; projection rooms and screens; electric currents
and their measurements; arc lamps, wiring and con-
trol; candle-power of arc lamps for projection; optics
of projection; uses of projection in physics; normal
and defective vision. The book concludes with a his-
torical review of the subject, a list of manufacturers
and of the apparatus they manufacture, a good bibliog-
raphy, and a copious index. The illustrations are
abundant and good. The work combines sound theory
with simple practice to an unusual degree. It will
recommend itself to designers, makers, operators and
readers of all optical projection apparatus from micro-
scopes to "movies."
480
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 8
POWER AND OPERATING SECTION
Piping Permanently Installed for Conducting Tests
In most generating stations if any apparatus is to be
tested considerable time has to be spent in laying out
piping to connect the machine to be tested with the test-
ing apparatus. In a large station the installation of the
temporary equipment may cost several hundred dol-
lars. At the generating station of the United Electric
Light & Power Company, New York City, a steam-ap-
paratus testing laboratory has been established in the
basement of the building and a permanent system of
piping installed so that any equipment employed in the
steam end of the plant can be tested by making only
STEAM-APPARATUS-TESTING LABORATORY
minor connections. In the laboratory are installed two
water-weighing tanks, a surface condenser, an air bell
and a hot-well pump. Circulating water is obtained
from the fire line, which is continually under pressure.
The water-weighing tanks can be discharged either into
sewer drains or into tanks beneath the scales, to be
pumped back into the hot-well discharge. The condenser
is large enough to condense all steam exhausted from
auxiliaries, but is not capable of handling that from the
large turbines.
Replacing Boulevard Arc Standards with
Nitrogen-Filled Tungsten Units
Three thousand of the inverted arc lamps which have
lighted Chicago's North Side boulevards for several
are now being replaced by gas-filled tungsten
lamps. As originally constructed the arc-lighting sys-
tem consisted of inverted Jandus arc lamps inclosed in
20-in. diffusing globes and mounted on top of sightly
concrete trtandards. Energy is supplied to the lamps
through underground circuits.
To make the rehabilitation <>f the system simple, com-
imilar to those of the existing
arc lamps were purchased. The coils of the compensa-
tors are mounted above these liases and the lamp sock-
re set inside the coils. In making a change of
lamps, therefore, it has been only necessary to discon-
nect the old arc lamp at its terminals, remove it, set
the compensator in place, reconnect the leads to the new
terminals, and place the tungsten lamp in the socket.
Mr. Claude II Shepherd, electrical engineer in charge
of the reconstruction, i be able to change about
fifty lamps a day with the men now employed in his
department.
It was the practice with the arc lamps to extinguish
those on one side of the street at midnight, but recently
changes have been made in the circuit arrangements so
DIFFUSING GLOBE
JANDUS ARC LAMP
MEW TUNGSTEN LAMP
Umi/sof ^ Lamp Moment
Compensator
Openings for Leads
tie ta I PI (grounded to
compensator Core)
HOW CHANGE IS MADE FROM OLD TO NEW STREET-LIGHTING
EQUIPMENT
that some of the lamps extinguished at midnight are
on both sides of the street, the units which operate all
night being staggered at regular intervals.
Increased Temperature Saves Two-thirds of the
Water-Softening Chemicals
Economy in the use of chemicals for treating feed
water and an increased feed-water temperature are two
advantages gained by an exhaust-steam water-heating
arrangement worked out at the plants of the Dayton
(Ohio) Power & Light Company. Coming from the
canal, the feed water for these plants needs to be
treated with sulphate of iron, lime and soda ash, and
with the system formerly used the water was treated at
a temperature of approximately 60 deg. Fahr. But
now a 10-in. pipe has been laid from the exhaust line
of a turbo-condenser pump, which serves a 6000-kw
WaterLme
Back Preaure
Valve
TREATING FEED \\ ITER AT DAYTON
unit, to the treating tanks. This pipe line terminates
in an s in. bj 8-in. by 10-in. T, to the ends of which
are fastened short sections of 8-in. pipe sealed at the
ends, hut perforated to allow the escape of steam. With
exhaust steam supplied from the turbo-condenser pump
the water can be easily brought to 150 deg. Fahr., and
when water is treated at this temperature only about
i H'.u uo JO, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
1-1
one-third M much chemical compound is required as
when treatment is attempted at 60 deg. Fahr.
Incidentally the temperature of the feed water to the
boilers has been raised by the installation of this piping
n. While water used to be delivered from the
heaters to the boilers at 206 deg. Fahr., it is now de-
livered at 208 deg. Fahr. The men operating this sys-
tem at Dayton report that it has always worked
splendidly and that to keep it clean and in operating
condition is an easy task. Flow-meter records show
that the water rate on the turbine has not been in-
creased by the addition of back pressure on the exhaust
line of the turbo-condenser pump. Check valves have
been installed at two points in the exhaust-steam line
to prevent the possibility of water backing up into the
small turbine.
Boiler-Koom Practices in Europe and This Country
In building a generating station it is always desirable
to keep the initial investment as low as possible in order
that the overhead cost of doing business shall not pre-
vent a reasonable return on the investment. In Europe
it is practicable to build generating stations on about
$75 per kw, as operations which have come to be per-
formed by machinery in this country can be carried on
in Europe much cheaper by human labor. Methods
which can be used in this country, however, for minimiz-
ing investment and decreasing operating expenses were
described by Mr. William A. Blonck recently in a lecture
before the New York Electrical Society.
Among the practices which have become quite gen-
eral in Europe is the use of moderately short stacks
equipped with ejectors which will remove furnace gases
at a rapid rate. The stacks are constricted at the roof
where the ejectors are placed, and diverge slightly to-
ward the outlet. One type of ejector consists of a
nozzle surrounded by a movable sleeve, the position of
which can be changed to regulate the gas velocity. The
ejector is supplied with air from a motor-driven blower.
In many cases the boilers are arranged in units, each
being independent of the other and having its own
breeching and chimney. This construction has been em-
ployed as it is considered more flexible. Only as many
units as are required need be installed, therefore no
equipment such as unused breeching and smokestacks
is allowed to lie idle. As more equipment is required
-DOUBLE-TUBE GAGE ATTACHED TO FORCED-DRAFT
FURNACE
additional units can be installed without spoiling the
symmetry of the station.
Another peculiarity of European stations is the use
of small coal bunkers. The greater part of the coal is
kept in outdoor storage space, from which it can be
transferred to the overhead coal bunkers by traveling
cranes and grab buckets. Where land is valuable out-
door storage of course is impracticable. Instead of
trying to extract all of the heat from furnace gases
while they are passing through the boiler flues, Euro-
peans have quite extensiveh adopted the practice of in-
stalling economizers on each side or at the end of the
boiler Betting, to assist in generating steam and to re-
duce the temperature of the stack gases. The econom-
FIG. 2 — DOUBLE-TUBE GAGE ATTACHED TO NATURAL-DRAFT
FURNACE
izers are placed next to the boilers to prevent radiation
from the setting. In many cases the economizers have
about the same heating area as the boilers. The latter
are usually constructed with only one pass to cut down
the friction loss. Mr. Blonck declared that boilers of
this type are capable of evaporating about 10 lb. of
water from and at 212 deg. per sq. ft. of boiler surface
with an efficiency of 70 per cent in the boiler alone or
85 per cent for the combined boiler superheater and
economizer. The products of combustion leave the
stacks at about 350 deg. Fahr. About twice the grate
surface employed by American manufacturers is used
in European boilers.
In Europe chain grates have been equipped with
louvers for cutting off the air supply to one-half the
grate during light loads. Coal is burned over the front
half of the grate and ashes are carried across the rear
half, which receives no air from below. This arrange-
ment eliminates the necessity of running a thin fire
ever the entire grate with the possibility of holes form-
ing at several points allowing the majority of the air
to pass through and chill the fire. In engine rooms the
connection between the turbines and condensers is
usually made through a water seal to provide an emer-
gency relief for the exhaust steam in case the back
pressure increases, and still prevent air leaking in.
There appears to be a general tendency toward using
one turbine for driving all the auxiliaries connected
with each prime mover. Sometimes the exhaust from
the auxiliary turbines is discharged into the middle
stages of the prime movers or is used to preheat water
supplied to the economizers to prevent their sweating.
A considerable part of Mr. Blonck's lecture was de-
voted to a discussion of the importance of rigid boiler-
room supervision. He pointed out that considerable
amounts of money are spent on instruments for the
electrical end of the generating station, but very little
attention is being paid to the operation of the boiler
room, where the latent energy of the coal is converted
into steam. In discussing this subject he referred to
the advantages and disadvantages of steam-flow meters
and carbon-dioxide recorders for indicating boiler per-
formance. He said that there is a time lag in the
records furnished by most carbon-dioxide recorders,
sometimes as much as twenty minutes, which is too late
for any correction. Attention was called to objections
to offering firemen a bonus on the percentage of the
carbon dioxide obtained from the smoke flues, as most
of them have found that the percentage can be increased
482
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 8
by admitting excess air to the grate and allowing the
boilers to loaf. In either case the ability of the boiler
to produce steam is decreased. The proper method of
obtaining the highest rating from the boiler with the
highest efficiency is to maintain a uniform coal bed and
a constant ratio between the air supplied and the coal
fired.
The speaker described a double fluid-column gage
which will indicate when the correct ratio is being main-
tained between the air and the coal. By the relative
■ 11* '
TT
\\
Hi
NORMAL POSITON TX3 BE ADJUSTED TO
LONGEST PERIOD Or AVE RACE. LOAD ON
BOILER UNDER THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS -
THE. RELATIVE, MEASURE
or purnace efficiency le shoiwv by -
VARIATION Or DISTANCE -FC
Efficiency decreases as rE increases
E
URRER GAUGE TRAVELING TOWARD -I WITH
PROPORTIONATE TRAVEL. OF LOWER GAUGE
IN SAME DIRECTION - INCREASED CAPACITY
UPPER GAUGE TRAI ,D-DW1TH
PROPORTIONATE. TRAVEL OF LOWER GAUGE
fj SAME DIRECTION - DECREASED CAPACITY
¥
Yi JNDJCATKlH or StVEEt:S soot
ACCUMULATION. AFTER CLEANING BOILER
UPPER GAUGE WILL RETURN TO ARROW.
w
INDICATION OTA DEAD BOLCR. WITH
FIG. 3 — MEANING OF GAGE INDICATIONS
heights of fluid in each column, it is possible to tell
when a furnace must be fired, when additional air must
be admitted, when boilers are overloaded or underloaded,
when the holes occur in the coal bed, and when the
tubes are covered with soot or the baffles are broken.
The instrument has to be designed for each particular
installation as its operation depends on the relative
friction losses in the grate and in the boiler tubes.
Curves taken from a recording instrument of this type
contain fluctuations similar to those indicated by steam-
flow meters and carbon-dioxide recorders used at the
same time on the same equipment. A number of curves
plotted from actual boiler performance were interpreted
to show the uses of the device.
Discussion
Considerable interest was displayed by those present
in methods of recording boiler performance. Among
those taking part in the discussion were Mi
Mailloux, R. .1. S. Pigotl and Frederick A. Scheffler.
In contrast with the carbon-dioxide recorder referred
to by Mr. Blonck and having a time lag of twenty
minutes. Mr. Mailloux spoke of a device having a lag
of only one and one-half minutes. Tie expressed the
belief that it is the most practical instrument 00 the
market for recording the p< I carbon dioxide
in flue ■,' B ■•• lb' pointed out. however, that the neces-
sity for a record of the carbon dioxide in flue gases is
not so important as was once believed. Where efforts
are made to obtain high percentages of carbon dioxide
other qualities such as steam-generating ability may be
sacrificed. The speaker emphasized the importance of
maintaining strict boiler-room supervision, as the
greater part of the energy which is being converted into
electricity is lost in the steam end of generating plants.
He expressed the belief that some day indicating and
recording instruments will be employed in the boiler
room to as great an extent as they are used now in
generating rooms, if not to a greater.
Mr. Pigott said that he was inclined to believe that it
is better to spend money on boilers than on economizers.
At the Seventy-fourth Street station of the Interbor-
ough Rapid Transit Company, New York City, boilers
which were formerly capable of developing only 7500
kw have been altered so that they can be employed to
furnish steam for a 30,000-kw unit which is being in-
stalled. Because of the enormous forcing ability of the
gravity underfeed stokers, it is possible almost to quad-
ruple the rating by removing the economizers and hence
cutting down the friction opposed to flue gases. Al-
though the boilers are thirteen years old, they are in
good enough condition to permit an increase in steam
pressure since the economizers are removed. Low
stack temperature has been obtained even with the re-
moval of the economizers as the underfeed stokers
produce very short flames. As a result, all the com-
bustible gases are burned before they strike the tubes
of the boiler; therefore practically nothing but prod-
ucts of combustion pass up the chimney. The speaker
expressed the belief that the shortness of the flame pro-
duced by a furnace is a measure of its efficiency, be-
cause long flames will be extinguished on striking the
boiler tubes and will escape unburned unless ignited
again. Of course, the path of the flame before it
reaches the tubes can be made long enough so that only
burned gases will pass through the flues. Mr. Pigott
favors using steam auxiliaries in a generating plant to
the extent where all of the exhaust steam can be util-
ized in heating feed water. He pointed out that a
boiler-efficiency meter, whose operation is based on the
relative frictions in the grate and tubes of a boiler, can-
not be accurate under all conditions of firing as the ratio
between these frictions changes. He added that an in-
strument can undoubtedly be constructed which will
compensate for such variations. He also called atten-
tion to the fact that the amount to which a boiler can
be forced depends to a great extent on the rate at which
the flue gases can be removed.
Mr. Scheffler showed plans of the new generating
station of the Elmira i X. Y.) Water, Light & Railroad
Company and pointed out features of construction. At
this station economizers are installed in the breeching.
On a forcing test conducted at the station it was re-
ported that one of the boilers was made to develop 275
per cent rated load with a temperature of 400 deg. Fahr.
at the point where ttie ^ases leave the boilers and about
1272 deg. Fahr. where they leave the stacks. The speaker
declared that such equipment has developed 5.31 kw per
boiler-hp.
Motor Drive in the Largest Flour Mill
The Pillsbury "A" flour mill at Minneapolis. Minn.,
now has a total motor equipment aggregating 5580 hp,
including a number of very large motor units. There
are one L600-hp motor and one 1000-hp unit, besides a
number of smaller motors. This mill is operated from
a steam turbine plant with an equipment of 6250 hp in
prime-mover units. In one day this mill, which is the
largest in the world, turned out 16,125 barrels of flour.
\\:\ 20, 1916
ELECTRICAL WORLD
483
Paint Stops Draft I>eak in Boiler Settings
A coal of high-temperature, extra-heavy stack paint
applied to the brick boiler Bettings in the plant of the
Springfield lOhio) Light, Heat A Power Company in-
• d the natural draft through each furnace by 0.16
in. Mr. Weare Parsons, treasurer and manager of the
Springfield company, conceived the idea of experiment-
ing with stack paint on the boiler settings, and it was
under his direction that the first trials of this draft-
increasing idea were made at Springfield. Two men
were placed at work on the side of a setting, and even
as they worked it is said that an observer at the draft
gage could detect the upward trend of the water column.
When the painting of one setting had been finished the
workmen began on another, and as the pores of the
brick setting of each unit in the boiler room were sealed
with paint approximately the same increase in draft
reading was noted.
Tower Guards That Protect the Boys
About 17 miles southeast of Dayton, Ohio, lies the
town of Xenia. which is receiving electric service over a
33,000-volt transmission line operated by the Dayton
■ horizontal platform, illustrated herewith,
which is attached to the frame of the tower, about 26
ft. from the ground. Linemen and troublemen who
must ascend these towers all carry master keys which
will unlock trap-doors in the platforms. When un-
locked these doors swing upward, allowing easy pat
Oval signs made of metal and bearing the inscription
"Danger: Keep Off! Dayton Power & Light Com-
pany," are also hung on the towers near the base. But
poles standing in alleys and back yards where small boys
congregate present an almost irresistible temptation, and
when some daring but thoughtless youngster says to his
chum, "I banter you to climb it," the chances are that
the presence of SO silent and seemingly inconsequential
a thing as a danger sign will have considerably less
effect than will the boy's notion of what the chum will
think if he does not accept the challenge. The Dayton
safety committee contends, therefore, that so long as
American boys are the red-blooded, agile and somewhat
thoughtless race that they are, absolute safety can be
had only by making it a physical impossibility for the
boys to reach the wires.
New York Company Employs Feeder Reactors
Feeder reactors are now being installed in the gen-
erating station of the United Electric Light & Power
Company, New York City. They are being placed in
compartments just below the potential transformers.
Only two reactors are being employed in each three-
phase circuit, however, as whatever current passes
through one conductor will have to be returned through
one or both of the other two. The units which have
3J4 per cent reactance are porcelain-clad and mounted
vertically in pairs to economize in space. The current
rating of the feeder cables is 300 amp. Besides these
GUARD TO PREVENT AGILE BOYS REACHING WIRES
FEEDER REACTORS IN THREE-PHASE CIRCUIT
Power & Light Company. In Xenia square-base steel
towers made by the Archbold-Brady Company have been
used to carry the line, the Dayton company having added
an interesting safety feature to prevent small boys from
climbing up to the wires. The progress of an active
climber up one of these poles is unimpeded until he
reactors there are also 18 per cent units connected be-
tween the bus sections, which are designed to carry
2000 amp. Further resistance to surges is offered by
each generator's inherent reactance, which is about 7.5
to 8 per cent. The rated full-load current for each
generator is 1387 amp per phase.
484
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 8
COMMERCIAL SECTION
Fair Play to All Contractors
New customers often inquire at the office of the elec-
tric-lighting company for the name of an electrical con-
tractor who can be recommended by the company. If
particular names are specified in reply, the rest of the
contractors in town are likely to charge the company's
employees with discrimination, while, on the other hand,
if no information is given the customer departs dissat-
isfied.
To satisfy everybody the electrical department of the
St. Paul Gas Light Company, St. Paul, Minn., has pre-
pared a printed list, with addresses and telephone num-
bers, of the electrical contractors, electric-fixture deal-
ers and electric-sign makers doing business in the city,
and a copy of this list is handed to any caller asking
about electrical work. The back cover of the miniature
directory carries a message on the use of electric devices
in the home.
Suggestions for Home Illumination
In a paper presented recently before the New York
Section of the Illuminating Engineering Society by
Mr. George W. Cassidy were described methods of illumi-
nating various rooms in modern suburban homes cost-
ing from $5,000 to $15,000. In the entrance hall the
intensity of illumination should be at least 1 ft. -candle
to 1.5 ft-candles. Uniformity of illumination is not
necessary, but there should be no dark corners.
Hall Fixtures
Assuming that the hall is finished in the colonial
style and measures 16 ft. long by 10 ft. wide by 9 ft.
6 in. high, there should be one ceiling and two bracket or
wall outlets. The ceiling outlet should be in the middle
of the room and the side outlets arranged to balance
properly. For economic reasons the ceiling outlet should
be wired for two circuits, one for the night light and
the other for general illumination. For convenience the
lamps should be controlled from the second floor as well
as from the first floor. To shield the brilliant filaments
of the lamp the fixtures should be provided with artis-
tically designed shades made of tinted diffusing glass,
or amber-colored incandescent lamp bulbs may be used.
Living-Room Illumination
Living-rooms are generally used for several purposes;
therefore the lighting scheme should be flexible. In
addition to being the library of the home, this room is
often used for festive occasions. There are other times
when members of the family simply desire to sit around
and converse. To meet these conditions it is advisable
to supply at least three different lighting systems. In
order to minimize the intrinsic brilliancy of the fila-
ments, afford even distribution of light and reduce glare,
there should be two ceiling outlets, one in the center
■ h half of the room. Each fixture may be wired
with two rirmits, one for high-candle-power lamps and
the other for lower-intensity units. The higher-rated
units should develop about 8.6 ft candles at the table
tops, for card-playing, dancing and special occasions,
For average conditions L.6 ft-candles intensity will be
sufficient. The arrangement described is based on the
assumption that the room lias a light buff ceiling and
>im brown walls trimmed with Flemish oak and
measuring 24 ft. long by 18 ft. wide.
With a coiling only 8 ft 6 in. high it would be bad
practice to employ lemi-indired or total-indirect fix-
tures as they cannot be suspended far enough below
the ceiling to give even distribution of illumination
thereon. With a room 11 ft. to 12 ft. high these fixtures
could be used to advantage without producing objection-
able bright spots on the ceiling. One or more table
lamps or side brackets properly arranged will help pro-
duce the correct light distribution. Total indirect illumi-
nation is undesirable in the home as the opaque bowl
offers too sharp a contrast with a lighted ceiling.
Types of Fixtures to Use in Living-Room
The most commonly used and preferable fixture for
lighting this room is a direct-light type of the multiple-
unit or shower design. Artistically tinted lamp shades
may be employed to reduce the glare. Semi-direct fix-
tures are also desirable for living-room lighting. They
can be provided with glass bowls equipped with opal
covers and containing lamps arranged so that a large
percentage of the rays pass through the lower side of
FIG. 1 — SHOWER-DESIGN FIXTURE
the bowl and allowing only soft diffused light to be
transmitted to the ceiling to prevent bright spots. Care
must be taken in arranging the lamp within the bowl to
prevent the filaments showing through the glass. Al-
though the fixture just described would have hardly
any physiological objections, it would be defective from
the artistic and psychological viewpoint, on account of
the lack of warm colors and the correct balance of light.
While natural daylight is the ideal light in all manu-
facturing pursuits, office work, drafting and many other
commercial enterprises, it is not SO desirable for home
illumination as the light containing the richer and
warmer colors of the spectrum. Electric illuminants are
rapidly approaching natural daylight and should there-
fore be modified for home illumination. Among mate-
rials suitable for producing color effects in decorative
lighting are silk, gelatine and glass. Incandescent lamps
are now being placed OH the market with amber-colored
bulbs. By employing yellow-tinted glass bowls and am-
ber-glass lamps or ordinary lamps with color caps it is
possible to obtain hospitable effects and bring out the
real fineness of decorative schemes.
Kebrcahv 20, L915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
485
Table lamps are now being made which are artistic
at u reading tamps, and tlexible in the amount
of illumination which they will produce. By turning one
11 it is possible to obtain indirect lij^ht by illuminat-
ing the whole ceiling with a soft amber glow. By turn-
ing the second switch two more lamps illuminate a silk
shade which diffuses a soft light over a large area of
the floor. With a third switch two other lamps which
are utilized for reading purposes may be lighted. The
direct light is diffused by an alabaster acid-etched glass
which is slightly curved so as to be parallel to the fila-
ments of the lamps.
I i l.- ) 1 1 1 1 1 u of Music Room
Dance or music rooms measuring about 40 it. long by
12 ft. wide, having medium-dark walls and light-buff
ceilings, may be lighted similarly to the living-room.
straining the e\ < >eated thereat. An amber-
ed disk placed across the bottom of the dome will,
of course, eliminate some of the psychological objections.
Intense illumination can be prevented over the dining-
room table by employing a semi-indirect fixture, as the
bowl can he suspended only 5 ft. 6 in. from the floor.
The indirect light can be softened by placing an amber-
colored disk over the fixture. If the diffused lighting
causes the ceiling to appear low, this defect can be elim-
inated by adding small lamps to the outside of the bowl.
The glass should be tinted with a yellow tone and if
silk is used amber and champagne color will be found
preferable. Exposed lamps for direct-lighting units
should not be rated at above 10 watts, but the lamps
within the bowl may be rated as high as 60 watts. For
economy it is advisable to have the lamps connected to
two separate circuits.
Bedroom Illumination
Convenience and economy are the essential features
to be considered in arranging the lamps in a bedroom.
Satisfactory results have been obtained by placing one
outlet in the center of the room and one over the dresser.
The fixture in the middle of the room should be placed
close to the ceiling and housed in an artistically etched
Cofor-conectin^
Filter
FIG. 2 — SEMI-INDIRECT DINING-ROOM FIXTURE
If bracket fixtures are also used, they should be equipped
with lamps of very low candle-power, requiring not over
10 watts. In selecting the light shields, whether of
glass, silk or other fabrics, a low translucency is essen-
tial. If the room is used as a music hall, it is only-
necessary to increase the size of the illuminants in the
indirect portion of the fixture to obtain the proper
amount of illumination. If for economical reasons this
is not practicable, the lighting scheme must be supple-
mented by a properly designed local fixture at the piano.
I iiiimv - I.'imiiii Fixtures
Dining-rooms may be lighted by a number of methods.
Assuming that the room is about 18 ft. long and 15 ft.
wide and has ivory-colored woodwork, medium straw-
colored walls and light-buff ceilings, not so much energy-
will be required to illuminate the room as if darker walls
and woodwork were employed. One desirable method of
illuminating dining-rooms is to employ side-wall brack-
ets with the lamps shielded. The fixtures may be sup-
plemented by candelabra on the table. For the room
assumed at least six two-lamp side brackets having
lamps requiring not over 10 watts each should be used.
All of these would have to be lighted, however, to pre-
vent dark corners or unsymmetrical illumination ; there-
fore this arrangement would be uneconomical in the
moderate-priced residences.
Dome fixtures have the disadvantage of breaking the
symmetry of a room, dwarfing everything around them,
preventing artistic arrangement of floral decorations
and producing too intense illuminations on the table by
R&ffe.ciov
Diffusing bowl
FIG. 3 — LIVING-ROOM TABLE LAMP
and yellow-tinted distributing-type shade about 7 in. or
8 in. in diameter and with sufficient depth to cover the
lamp filament. The interior of the shade should have a
rough matte surface to diffuse the light properly. The
dresser lamp should be suspended over the middle of the
mirror and 10 in. to 12 in. in front. A height of 5 ft.
10 in. from the floor is about right for the fixture. What
was said of the ceiling fixture also applies to the dresser
lamp with the exception of the shade, which, if made
of glass, should be tinted to eliminate glare. This is
very important as the fixture is directly in the line of
vision. A silk shade is preferable to a glass one for
this reason as well as for the better artistic effect.
Kitchen and Bathroom Lighting;
In kitchens, pantries, etc., fixtures should be placed
close to the ceiling so as to be above the line of vision.
The shades, preferably of opal glass, should be 7 in. or
8 in. in diameter and deep enough to conceal the lamp.
If a wall lamp is required, it should be inclosed in a
rather dense opal-glass shade also deep enough to con-
ceal the filament.
Most bathrooms in moderate-priced houses are
equipped with medicine closets having mirror doors
486
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 8
which can be used when shaving. In order that the
mirror may serve to its best advantage, it should be in
the shadow, while the person standing in front of it
should receive the greatest flux of light. To obtain this
result bracket outlets should be placed on each side of
the closet and approximately 5 ft. 8 in. from the floor.
The shades should be made of diffusing glass about 5
in. in diameter and deep enough to shield the light
source. These lamps will also furnish the general illu-
mination for the bathroom.
tunity given to them by the gas and electric company,
and requested that it be made an annual event, prom-
ising that the number of cars in the next salon would
be more than doubled.
Denver's Electric Vehicle Salon
A central-station innovation was inaugurated by the
Denver Gas & Electric Light Company from an idea
conceived by Mr. Clare N. Stannard, secretary and com-
mercial manager of that company. Mr. Stannard be-
lieved that much benefit could be derived by the company
and its consumers who are interested in the electric-
vehicle, battery, charging apparatus and accessory in-
dustries if an electric-vehicle salon could be held in the
showroom of the Denver Gas & Electric Light Company.
Accordingly, he requested the chairman of the Denver
Section of the Electric Vehicle Association of America
to announce his offer of the showroom for such a pur-
pose and to extend his invitation.
The Denver Section unanimously accepted the oppor-
tunity to advance its interests and decided upon the
week of Jan. 4 as a desirable time to hold the salon.
As a result of this idea, eleven 1915 model cars were
exhibited in the central station's salesroom, and the
end of the week found ten cars sold — eight passenger
and two commercial — five of the passenger cars being
of Detroit make. The exhibitors of charging apparatus
were successful in placing five rectifiers in private ga-
rages and in selling some additional apparatus such as
spark-battery rectifiers and electric tire vulcanizers.
The Denver Gas & Electric Light Company, in ac-
cordance with its usual custom, used every effort to
bring this vehicle exhibit before the people who should
be interested in the electric car. Full-page advertise-
ments were placed in the New Year's editions of the
Denver papers, and the succeding days found additional
advertisements and news items. A thousand engraved
invitations to visit the salon were mailed to desirable
customers.
Nearly every one in attendance wondered how the
cars were placed in the showroom. This was accom-
plished by removing a large plate-glass window on Sun-
day morning, runways being built from the street to
the window sill and thence to the inside floor, and
the cars were driven over the runway, through the open-
ing and into the room. This operation was repeated
when the cars were taken out of the building.
At the conclusion of the salon the exhibitors wire pro-
fuse in their expression of appreciation for the oppor-
Electric Cooking for Worcester (Mass.) Apartment
House
In view of the success attained with all-electric cook-
ing in a large apartment house on Irving Street, Worces-
ter, Mass., built by the same concern, the Colonial Real
Estate Company of that city will equip a new eighteen-
suite apartment now under construction with electric
ranges. As in the Irving Street property, no coal ranges
will be provided and service will be supplied through a
separate meter at a rate of from 3 cents to 4 cents per
kw-hr. In the latter suites the monthly cost of energy
for domestic cooking has averaged from $2.50 to $3 per
family, three persons constituting the average house-
hold. The Colonial company is so much pleased with
the results of electric cooking that all future buildings
erected by it for apartment service will be provided with
electric ranges exclusively.
Electrical Organizations in Germany
By J. W. White, Jr.
Until the present war stopped their activities Ger-
many's electrical engineers and manufacturers could
be counted on as competitors in any important electrical
project in any part of the world. Their low prices and
their promptness in getting a representative on the
field were due to their highly efficient system of organ-
ization. Control of prices and output is among the most
important activity of their societies.
The Association of German Electrical Engineers has
4000 members and was formed in 1893 to protect the
interests of the German electrical industry. This or-
ganization is concerned principally with working out
regulations for the electrical trade, claiming that little
has been done along this line by legislative initiative.
A series of standards has been introduced through the
activities of this association, and the German govern-
ment has always considered its recommendations.
The electrical manufacturers have an organization
with a membership of 125 firms. It has succeeded in
lowering import duties in many foreign countries hav-
ing commercial treaties with Germany. It pays par-
ticular attention to exporters' complaints as to foreign
tariffs. It publishes decisions of foreign customs of-
ficials regarding disputed classifications, collects for-
eign statistics, informs its members of foreign trade
opportunities, and keeps in close touch with progress
in electrical plants and railways in foreign countries.
DENVER'S ELECTRIC-VEHICLE SALON
Ff.bki auv 20, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
487
It suggests foreign representatives for its members and
furnishes information to foreign inquin
This association maintains an arbitration court
settling the patent disputes "i its members and a.:
members about their participation in foreign exposi-
tions, it has brought about a revision of German rail-
way freight classifications on electrical supplies and
has successfully combated the price-fixing syndicates
of manufacturers of raw products. It maintains a
publicity bureau which never fails to investigate
reports regarding short-circuits as causes of fires. This
organization is an active member of several export
promotion associations and has accomplished much of
its export development by means of these connections.
Manufacturers of electrical specialties have two organ-
izations to combat price-fixing syndicates of the elec-
trical manufacturers and to promote free competition
in all goods supplied to users of electricity.
Other organizations allied to the electrical industry
are the German Street Railway Association, the Asso-
ciation of German High-Current Cable Manufacturers,
and the Association of Electrical Plants.
Noteworthy Electric Sign in Municipal Plant
Service
The municipal electric-lighting department of Taun-
ton, Mass., operates a striking illuminated sign at City
Square and Main Streets, shown in the accompanying
STRIKING SIGN AT TAUNTON, MASS.
illustration, the unique feature being the mounting of
the letters on a frame 50 ft. long and 3 ft. wide, carried
on a 75-ft. spliced chestnut pole. There are twelve 4-cp
lamps in each letter, energy being supplied at 110 volts
by a service run from an adjacent 15-kw transformer
also supplying a bank customer. The border is com-
posed of red and white lamps, and the sign is operated
about 1800 hours per year. It was built by Betts &
Betts, New York, and cost the town about $700. The
border lamps are operated on a flasher circuit.
Solicitors' Data on Distributing Circuit-
When a solicitor is sent out to work in a specified
territory for the Springfield i Mo.) Gas & Electric Com-
pany he is provided with a neat map of his territory
on which the company's lines are shown. Distributing
circuits are drawn in seven colors to represent seven
sizes of wire, ranging in size from No. 0000 to No. 8.
Each pole is indicated by a small circle between the
lines, and transformer positions are shown by larger
SECTION MAP OF LIGHTING SECONDARIES
circles, the kilowatt ratings of the transformer units
being noted inside the circles. With this information
in hand solicitors are well equipped to answer ques-
tions concerning line extensions, and they also can make
estimates rapidly to determine whether additional cop-
per or transformers will be necessary if a motor-serv-
ice job is in prospect near the end of an existing line.
In all cases the map is helpful to a man, however
familiar he may be with his territory, for it gives him
a definite layout of the low-potential circuits in streets
and alleys and serves as a basis from which to work.
Special Offer Wires Sixty Houses a Week
By advertising a special twelve-dollar wiring offer the
Kansas City (Mo.) Electric Light Company has been
able to secure an average of sixty wiring contracts a
week during the fall and early winter. In brief, the
company's special wiring offer consists of an agreement
to install one outlet with a two-way fixture in the kitchen
or laundry of a home, equipping this fixture with a 60-
watt lamp and a 6-lb. iron, all for $12. The payment
of the $12 may be extended over a period of one year.
According to Mr. C. F. Farley, lighting contract agent
for the company, more than 60 per cent of the calls
from prospective customers, which at first were only in-
quiries for the special wiring offer, resulted in con-
tracts for complete house wiring.
J88
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 8
NEW APPARATUS AND APPLIANCES
Mantel-Type Radiator
Several types of luminous radiators for use in an
ordinary fireplace in the wall are being marketed by
the Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company,
East Pittsburgh, Pa. These radiators range in size
THREE-UNIT ELECTRIC RADIATOR FOR WALL FIREPLACE
from 15.5 in. by 18 in. to 30 in. by 30 in. From two
to four heating units are employed with each radiator
and each heating unit takes 250 watts. Each radiator
consists of an ornamental front, a polished-copper re-
flector and two, three or four heating units which are
removable. The radiators may be finished in polished
brass, antique brass, oxidized copper or polished nickel.
Electric Buffing and Polishing Machine
One of the new types of electric buffing and polishing
machines recently placed on the market by the Atwater
Electric Works, Coopersville, N. Y., is shown in the ac-
companying illustration. The machine shown is for
large buffing and grinding wheels. It has oil-ring bear-
ings and is rated at 0.5 hp for 3000 r.p.m. and 1 hp for
2000 r.p.m. The motors are dust-proof and removable
m PFING and GRINDING motor
i are provided for access to the commutators. Con-
venient switches arc provided on the motors, no start-
ing boxes being employed. When it is desired to use
the machine for grinding, adjustable rests arc employed
the work. A I B-hp motor running at 31)00
r.p.m. is made for use by jewelers, silversmiths, etc.
Commutators with Molded Insulation
The accompanying illustrations show several types of
recently developed commutators in which the insulation
utilized is "bakelite." The bars of the commutator are
of approximately the same shape as those employed with
commutators using mica rings. Mica is placed between
the bars, but the molded insulation is used to fill up all
the space between the bars and the bushing, thus elim-
inating, it is claimed, all chance of short-circuits or
COMMUTATORS PROVIDED WITH MOLDED INSULATION
grounds. The commutators are being placed on the
market bv the Diehl Manufacturing Company, Eliza-
beth, N. J.
Starting and Lighting Outfit for Automobiles
The electric starting and lighting equipment for auto-
mobiles manufactured by the Dayton Engineering
Laboratories Company, Dayton, Ohio, and designated
as its 1915-model "Delco" outfit, embodies some im-
provements over apparatus placed on the market in
previous years. The system includes a motor-genera-
tor which is mounted at the side of the engine and
which is usually driven as a generator from the front
end by means of an extension of the pump shaft. When
the machine is operated as a motor, a starting pinion
is thrown into mesh with teeth cut on the flywheel,
and in this way cranks the engine. The energy gener-
ated is stored up in the battery, and, besides being em-
ployed to start the engine, is utilized for the lighting
and ignition circuits. The ignition is automatically
controlled, thus insuring a properly timed spark, the
manufacturers declare, at all engine speeds. The igni-
tion apparatus is made an integral part of the genera-
tor. The centrifugal force of a weight on the distributer
shaft which controls the automatic spark advance also
MOBILE STARTING and LIGHTING OUTFIT
controls the arm, which, sliding up and down on a re-
sistance spool, automatically controls the output of the
generator. The system includes a reserve ignition ap-
paratus, a connection for horn and extra lamps, a dim-
ing device for the head-lamps, a circuit -breaker and a
locking device for both ignition and lighting circuits.
\HY 20, 1915
1 : 1 . I : ' T R I C A L WORLD
489
Therapeutic Lamp
A lamp which is provided with a conical reflector as
shown herewith and a Bpecia] carbon filament designed
to generate a large amount of heat rather than a large
amount of light has recently been placed on the market
by the X-Radio Thermo Lamp Company, 1328 Broadway,
LAMP FOR CURATIVE PURPOSES
New York. The device is adapted particularly for cura-
tive purposes as a substitute for hot-water bags, poul-
tices, etc. With the latter devices, it is declared, the
parts of the body to which they are applied are heated
by convection, but with the above lamp heat is trans-
mitted by radiation and penetrates to various depths up
to 2 in., thus acting as a stimulus to the tissues, it is
claimed, in a way that is impossible with water bags
or poultices. The lamp takes 200 watts, and it is equipped
with a reflector 5.25 in. in diameter. The total length
of the device is 8.5 in., and it is provided with a hard-
wood candle 5.5 in. long. The reflector is so designed
that the light and heat rays are brought to a focus 2 in.
from the edge of the reflector. The device is equipped
with 9 ft. of extension cord and a plug so that it can be
fitted in any ordinary lighting socket.
Three-Way Bus Support
The bus supports shown herewith are of the three-
way type and were designed by the Electrical Engineers'
Equipment Company, 711 Meridian Street, Chicago, 111.,
for H. M. Byllesby & Company, for use by the Min-
neapolis General Electric Company, which the Byl-
lesby company controls. Figs. 1 and 2 show a front
and a side view of the support, and Fig. 3 illustrates
how the supports are fitted into the bus structure. The
support is designed for use with 3-in. by 1-in. busbars.
the working potential of which is 17,000 volts. The
FIGS. 1 AND 2- -THREE-WAY BUS SUPPORT
buses are mounted in a vertical plane, as shown in Fig.
3. The top and bottom supports are fastened to two
parallel 1.5-in. pipes, which are 90 deg. apart. The mid-
dle support is fastened to one 1.5-in. pipe, and is bolted
t" and separated from the top and bottom supports by
"tran.-ite" board. Each busbar is therefore in a sepa-
rate compartment. The advantages claimed for this
'ion are low first coat, ease of installa-
tion, accessibility to buses and cool operation. With
such an arrangement the building of concrete or brick
bus structuret is unnecessary. Before leaving the fac-
FIG. 3 — METHOD OF INSTALLING THREE-WAY SUPPORTS
tory the three porcelain insulators of each support were
subjected to a potential of 60,000 volts. The outer
clamps of the support are of malleable iron, while those
which support the energy-carrying parts are of com-
position metal. All the lamps are adjustable throughout
360 deg.
An Electric Washer for the Small Family
The "Thor Jr." electric washer and wringer has been
brought out by the Hurley Machine Company, 35 South
#
l*yȣiH
Us. \
}la -j /— — \ m
[m | junioii i me
SMALL ELECTRIC WASHER USED AS KITCHEN TABLE
Clinton Street, Chicago, to meet the needs of the small
family of two to four persons occupying a house, flat or
apartment where space is limited. This miniature
washer is attractively finished in white enamel and is
190
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 8
of the cylinder type, being similar in construction and
material to the larger-size washing machines made by
the same company. The wringer is equipped with a
safety guard. When not in use the top of the washer
may be used as an auxiliary kitchen table, as shown, the
wringer being meanwhile inclosed in a cloth slip which
protects the rolls.
Charging Receptacles for Surface Conduit Systems
A charging receptacle for horizontal or vertical
mounting and for use with surface conduit systems is
shown in the accompanying illustration. The part of
the device containing the outlet can be attached to the
tacle and a detachable shade holder, as shown in Fig. 3,
which is made in various sizes. The outlet wires con-
nect directly to receptacle as shown and no splicing or
insulating joints are required. The diameter at the top
is 10 in. and the depth of the unit is 6 in. The fixture
shown in Fig. 1 is equipped with a melilite reflector
made by Gillinder & Sons, Inc., of Philadelphia, Pa. The
fixture shown in Fig. 2 is equipped with a six-panel
alabaster bowl. The fixture described above is called
the "Broadway" lighting unit and was designed partic-
ular! v
York.
Stage Lamp
Herewith is shown a stage lamp employing a 1000-
watt or a 750-watt gas-filled lamp which is designed
to take the place of the hand-feed arc lamp commonly
employed for the purpose and thus to remove the neces-
sity for constant attendance. These lamps are known
CHARGING RECEPTACLE FOR SURFACE CONDUIT SYSTEM
body, so that its spring door swings in the desired
direction. A removable water-tight door can be fur-
nished. The receptacle shown is provided with an
auxiliary plug-receptacle attachment. These devices are
manufactured by the Crouse-Hinds Company, Syracuse,
X. Y.
Convertible Lighting Unit
A fixture which can be utilized for direct lighting, as
shown in Fig. 1, or for semi-indirect or indirect light-
ing, as shown in Fig. 2, has recently been developed by
the Dale Lighting Fixture Company, 107 West Thir-
teenth Street. New York City. In Fig. 3 is shown the
fixture without the attachment for semi-indirect or in-
direct lighting. The ceiling plate is fastened to the
outlet box with a lock-nut, and the cone shell is pro-
vided with keyholes to fit with holes in the ceiling plate.
The device is equipped with a porcelain 660-watt recep-
INCANDBSCENT STAGE LAMP
as the "Olivette" stage lamps and are manufactured by
the Sprague Electric Works of the General Electric
Company, New York City. An aluminum parabolic re-
flector inclosed in a suitable ventilating casing is em-
ployed, grooves being provided in the casing for holding
standard color screens. A 5-ft. telescopic stand made of
1-in. iron pipe with a swing joint permitting adjust-
ment of the hood is furnished for supporting the device.
flQS. I. 2 AND 3 — FIXTURE ARRANGED FOR DIRECT AND SEMI-INDIRECT LIGHTING AND UNIT SHOWING METHOD OF
ATTACHING SHADE HOLDER
THHRrxKY 20. l'.'l"
ELECTRICAL WORLD
491
Reflectors and Ventilated Hoods for .N it rouen- Killed
l.;mip-
Several types of refl d hoods for high-effi-
ciency Incandescent lamps are being made by the Royal
Enameling & Manufacturing Company, 326 West Madi-
-treet, Chicago. 111. The hood shown in Fig. 1 is
2 — HOOD AM'
ATTACHED TO
BOWL-TYPE
HOOD
REFLECTOR
provided with a sleeve which extends down from the
body 2 in. Underneath the upper portion of this sleeve
are perforations 0.5 in. apart. Under the canopy on the
top of the hood are ventilating holes. The cold air
enters in the bottom perforations and forces out the hot
air through the top. The hood is seamless and is por-
celain-enameled. It is finished in black on the outside
and white on the inside. The hood is so constructed
that a globe can be used either with or without a re-
flector.
The illustration in Fig. 2 shows a bowl-type reflector
attached to the hood.
Resistance Material
A vitreous material originally developed for use with
the Burke horn-gap lightning arrester, which was de-
scribed in the Electrical World of Aug. 1, 1914, has
recently been placed on the market by the Railway &
Industrial Engineering Company, Greensburg, Pa. It
can be molded into various shapes, and its electrical and
physical properties, it is declared, are suitable for the
RESISTOR OE •■KOPPAT"
requirements for which wire-wound resistance is now
generally used. According to the manufacturers the
material transmits energy uniformly throughout its
mass, is strong mechanically, has a low-temperature
coefficient of resistance and will not oxidize, nor is it
■Object to am chemical or other depreciation when sub-
i to severe climatic or atmospheric conditions. The
material is adapti v for use with switchboard
tats, storage batteries, and as a resistor for use
with arc head-lamps, etc.
Molded-Insulation Parts
As licensee of .the General Bakelite Company, the
Belden Manufacturing Company, Twenty-third Street
and Western Avenue, Chicago, 111., has recently de-
signed a number of different devices of molded insula-
tion. These devices are of an opaque bakelite and are
black or reddish-brown in color. Fibrous fillers are
mixed with the material to give it mechanical strength,
to minimize the shrinkage in the molds and to reduce
i the cost of the product. Various compositions are used
according to whether the particular property desired is
resistance to high temperatures or resistance to acid or
whether the strength, lightness, dielectric strength or
appearance is of paramount importance. The Belden
Manufacturing Company is also making sheets, rods
and tubing of bakelite.
Radiator-Type Transformers for the New Haven
System
The extension of the electric zone of the New York,
New Haven & Hartford Railroad to the Harlem River
terminal and to New Haven, resulting in an increase in
load on the Cos Cob power station, has made it neces-
sary to obtain additional energy. For economic reasons
this energy is to be supplied by the United Electric
Light & Power Company of New York City. An inter-
esting departure in the type of the transforming appa-
ratus is represented in the installation of Westinghouse
radiator-type units, which will receive the power from
the lines of the United Electric Light & Power
Company.
In the original New Haven system power was gen-
erated at 11,000 volts, single-phase, and fed directly
to the trolleys and feeders from the generator bus, with
one terminal grounded. The first power house was sit-
uated at Cos Cob and supplied power for the electric
zone extending 18.2 miles westward and four miles east-
ward of the tapping-in or supply point.
To take care of the above-mentioned extensions —
namely, the Harlem River and the New Haven — it was
proposed in the preliminary plan to build additional
generating stations at some point on the Harlem River
branch and at or near New Haven. The latter was to
provide for the local traction requirements as well as
for further trunk-line extensions eastward. Neither of
these stations has been built, and in their place the
present distribution system with 22,000 volts between
the trolleys and the feeders was adopted with arrange-
ments for the purchase of additional energy when it
becomes necessary.
The change in the scheme of distribution involved no
change in the generating equipment at Cos Cob, as the
increased transmission voltage is obtained with auto-
transformers stepping up the voltage from 11,000 to
22,000, with the mid-point grounded. The voltage
stresses on the generator windings are actually less
with this arrangement than with the straight grounded
in for which the apparatus was originally de-
signed.
The change in the distribution also required no addi-
tions to the existing overhead conductors, but only a
rearrangement of connections to permit using the trol-
492
ELECTRICAL WORL&
Vol. 65, No.
leys as one side of the 22,000-volt system and the feed-
ers as the other. The mid-points of the balancing trans-
formers which were installed along the system are
grounded to the rail so that the potential of any con-
ductor to ground is the same as with the original
scheme; that is, 11,000 volts.
The new system of distribution has improved the
voltage regulation of the system and has greatly les-
F1G. 1 — KADIATOR-TYPE TRANSFORMER
sened troubles due to inductive interferences which
would otherwise have been increased with the increase
in current due to the completion of service on the Har-
lem River branch and the New York, Westchester &
Boston, also the extension of the New York division to
New Haven. To meet the demand for the additional
energy required, there are now being installed in the
201st Street station of the United Electric Light &
Power Company two Westinghouse three-phase, twenty-
five-cycle turbo-generators, each having a single-phase
rating of 14,.'il)0 kva, and the necessary transformers
and switching equipment. This energy will be fed into
the New Haven system at West Farms, on the Harlem
River branch.
From the point of view of the transformers, this in-
stallation of radiator-type units is of particular interest
for several reasons. The main purpose of the installa-
tion is to supply the single-phase current for the rail-
way load. Init a smaller amount of throe-phase current
o delivered to the West Farms substation for ligfll
ing and motor circuits.
The banks of the step up transformers in the 201st
Street station are each made up of a large unit rated at
5SO0 kva. connected in "T" with a smaller unit of 1000
kva rating as the "teaser." The primary side of the
bank receivt thi energy at 6800 volts, three-phase.
The secondary Winding of the lai 01 mer steps
the voltage up to 24,600 volts, while the smaller trans-
former, oi teps it up to 12, .".00 volts. This
gives an unsymmetrlcal threi pha e transmission roll
iving 24,600 volt hi principal phase and
17,100 volts across the other two pha
The transformer banks at the West Farms substa-
tion are also made up of two units connected "T" to
"T," the main unit being of 5000-kva rating and the
"teaser" of 1000 kva. The primary windings receive
the unsymmetrical three-phase voltages at a lower value
than at the raising transformers on account of the line
drop. The secondaries are wound to give 23,000 volts
across the main phase and a balanced three-phase volt-
age of 11,000 from the "teaser" transformer and taps
installed in the secondary winding of the 5000-kva unit.
To take care of the fluctuations of the railway load, both
the raising and lowering transformers will carry 150
per cent of full load for one hour, 200 per cent for seven
minutes, or 250 per cent for one minute. The latter
represents an output of 13,750 kva for each of the large
air-blast units and 12,500 kva for each of the large radi-
ator-type units.
The step-up transformers in the 201st Street station
are of the air-blast type. The 5500-kva units are by far
the largest transformers of this type that have so far
been built. The output of each unit is probably three
times as large as the largest single-phase air-blast
transformers of the same frequency now in operation.
Both the "main" and the "teaser" transformers are built
in the Westinghouse company's new form with housings
of structural iron and sheet steel. This form of con-
struction replaces the bulky and cumbersome cast hous-
ings formerly used with air-blast transformers. The
5500-kva units take up very little more floor space than
FIG. 2— DIAGRAM 8HOWING METHOD OF CONNECTING
TRANSFORMERS AND TURBO-GENERATORS
units of one-half the size, if built with the usual cast-
iron housings.
The 5000-kva transformers at West Farms are of
special interest because they are the largest transform-
ers so far built without recourse to either an air-blast
or circulating water for cooling purposes. They are
of the radiator type, which makes possible a consider-
able increase in the size of such transformers with
i: I ]•:< T I: I <A I. WORLD
1'.-::
economical costs. The largest self-cooled transformers
now in operation on twenty-five cycles have a rating of
3000 I il these transformers represent an in-
• ■ in output of 67 pt-r cent over the present largest
units.
These transformers are cooled by a natural circula-
tion of oil. The oil in contact with the windings and
core, where warmed by the heat developed in the trans-
former, rises through the ducts between coils and along
the surfaces of the core. In the upper level of the tank
and radiators the oil is, therefore, much warmer than
the outside surrounding air. Through the large radiat-
ing surfaces of the radiators this warm oil is cooled and
descends to the bottom of the radiator and back into the
tank, whence it rises again through the numerous ducts
in the transformer windings. The path of the oil cir-
culation is indicated by the arrows in Fig. 3. The ver-
tical position of the radiators on the tank conforms with
the natural path of the oil as it cools and also to the
natural path of the cooling air which flows upward over
the external surface of the radiators, and this has an
important bearing on the efficiency of cooling.
The circulation of the oil is caused by the "thermal
~~ "^ r
-
j <
FIG. 3— DIAGRAM SHOWING PATH OF OIL CIRCULATION
head" or difference of temperature between the oil at
the top and bottom of the radiators. The vertical radi-
ators extend from the upper surface of the heated oil
to the coolest oil at the bottom of the tank. The cool-
ing system therefore represents a high efficiency in
utilizing the maximum thermal head without increasing
the temperature of the oil at the upper level, under
which conditions the transformer would naturally oper-
ate at a higher temperature. Any restriction of area
or unnecessary turns and bends tending to impede the
flow of oil requires more difference of temperature be-
tween the upper and lower oil levels to circulate the
required amount of oil. For this reason each radiator
has its own connections to the tank at top and bottom,
and these connections are made of generous size. The
2000-kva auto-transformers which are placed at inter-
vals along the New Haven line are of the "tubular" type
of tank originated by the Westinghouse company,
wherein the oil is circulated by means of the cooling
obtained in external tubes connecting the top and the
bottom oil levels. While this is a very efficient type of
tank, the limitations of size imposed by railway clear-
restrict transformers of this construction to an
output very much less than that necessary to meet the
demands <>f this extension of the New Haven railroad
The new radiator type of tank, which is the result of
extensive experimental work and tests on the part of the
\\ .-tinghouse engineers, is a logical evolution from the
tubular type. It has not only extended the upper limit
of output considerably but has done so with an economy
which justifies the use of such large units.
Portable Electric Tool
A device consisting of a revolving tool-bit socket
which is connected by means of a flexible shaft to a
motor mounted on an iron base set on swivel casters is
being made by the United Manufacturing Company,
Kansas City, Mo. It is adapted particularly to drilling,
FIG. 1 — VARIABLE-SPEED ELECTRIC TOOL
grinding, buffing, polishing, etc. Motors with ratings
of 0.25 hp, 0.5 hp and 1 hp are used to operate the
device. With the 0.25-hp motor and the 0.5-hp motor
the flexible shaft is 7 ft. % in. long. With the 1-hp
motor and also the 0.5 hp motor, a flexible shaft 7 ft.
■~>8 in. is employed. The motor and all mechanical parts
are inclosed in a metal housing as shown in Fig. 1.
Handles attached to the housing make it easy to carry
the machine. For obtaining variable speeds friction
FIG. 2 — TOOL USED TO CLEAN AMMONIA-CONDENSING PIPES
disks are provided, and use is made of an adjustment
screw to regulate the contact between the friction disks.
Split couplings connect the flexible shaft and motor to
the friction disks. Fig. 2 shows the apparatus in use
for removing scale and corrosion from ammonia-con-
densing pipes in the plant of the Franklin Ice Cream
Company, Kansas City, Mo.
494
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, Nc. 8
CURRENT NEWS SECTION
Midwinter Convention of A. I. E. E.
The third midwinter convention of the American In-
stitute of Electrical Engineers was held at New York
City on Feb. 17 to 19 inclusive. President Paul M. Lin-
coln in opening the session gave his conceptions of an
ideal engineering society, pointing to a round-table study
by college students as the simplest form, and called at-
tention to the fact that the value of an idea is negligible
if it is hoarded and not divulged. Since knowledge in-
creases with exchange of ideas, the president urged
members to continue to bring their best ideas before
the Institute.
Three sessions were held, at which the following pa-
pers were presented: "The Characteristics of Electric
Motors," by Mr. D. B. Rushmore; "Effect of Moisture
in the Earth on Temperature of Underground Cables,"
by Mr. L. E. Imlay; "Oil Circuit-Breakers," by Mr.
K. C. Randall; "Comparison of Calculated and Measured
Corona-Loss Curves," by Mr. F. W. Peek, Jr.; "A
100,000-Volt Portable Substation," by Messrs. Charles
I. Burkholder and Nicholas Stahl; "Distortion of Al-
ternating-Current Wave-Form Caused by Cyclic Varia-
tion in Resistance," by Messrs. Frederick Bedell and
E. C. Mayer; "Dimmers for Tungsten Lamps," by Mr.
Alfred E. Waller; "Searchlights," by Mr. C. S. McDow-
ell; "Electrical-Precipitation Theory of the Removal of
Suspended Matter from Fluids," by Mr. W. W. Strong;
"Theoretical and Experimental Considerations of Elec-
trical Precipitation," by Mr. A. F. Nesbit; "Practical
Applications of Electrical Precipitation," by Mr. Linn
Bradley, and "Electrical Porcelain," by Mr. E. E. F.
Creighton. Discussions on the first subject were pre-
sented as papers.
At the meeting on Wednesday evening, an account
of which is given elsewhere in the paper, several promi-
nent engineers presented papers on "The Status of the
Engineer." On the following afternoon trips of in-
spection were made to places of engineering interest.
In the evening a dinner-dance was enjoyed at the Hotel
Astor.
National Electrical Week Discussed by Development
Society Directors
At a meeting of the directors of the Society for Klec
trical Development held in New York on Feb. 17 the
principal matter under discussion was the plan for a
"national electrical week." The board unanimously ap-
proved the plans of the committee, which were reported
in the ELECTRICAL WORLD of Jan. 16, 1916. It was de-
cided to go ahead with the plans for a national electrical
week. The best date for the week was not decided
definitely, but the majority of those present were in
favor of a time early in the spring of 1916. It was felt
that this time would give manufacturers of all kinds
of electrical devices a better opportunity to reap sul>-
■:il benefit, and it was recognized that a year's hard.
ork will lie required to perfect and carry out
the plans necessary for an event BO important and so
far-reaching in effect. The matter was referred to a
committee of five to lie appointed by the president.
The reports of the general manager and the treasurer
showed the society to lie in a vei >ry financial
condition and that a very small percentage of the mem
bership have resigned while a large number of members
have already paid their subscriptions for the first half
of 1915. The directors expressed their satisfaction with
the work of the society, the way it had been carried on
and the outlook for the ensuing year.
The matter of employing a resident representative
on the Pacific Coast was discussed and referred to the
president and general manager with power to act.
Mr. James Smieton, Jr., who has been acting as sec-
retary-treasurer for the past year, was formally ap-
pointed to that office.
The annual meeting of the society will be held in New
York on May 11.
Status of the Engineer
The "Status of the Engineer" was the subject of a
symposium at the session of the third midwinter con-
vention of the American Institute of Electrical Engi-
neers on the evening of Feb. 17 in New York. The
speakers were Messrs. L. B. Stillwell, E. W. Rice, Jr.,
E. M. Herr, Alexander C. Humphreys, George F. Swain,
H. G. Stott and J. J. Carty.
Mr. Stillwell outlined particularly what the engineer-
ing societies can do to improve the reputation of the
engineer, particularly by selecting and grading mem-
bers more carefully. They can also enforce codes of
ethics, expelling members for violation. Joint commit-
tees of engineering societies might also reach a deci-
sion for or against the licensing of engineers and thus
remove the present uncertainty as to the opinion of
engineers. Societies can also assist in improving the
status of the engineer by furnishing information to
legislative bodies regarding broad economic policies.
Mr. Rice pointed out that honesty is a habit with the
engineer, necessarily so because his work must stand
the test of experience. He pointed out a new field for
the engineer in politics. The House of Representa-
tives and the United States Senate are made up largely
of lawyers, 65 per cent in the former and 75 per cent in
the latter, while there is only one engineer in both
houses. The engineering fraternity should be repre-
sented not only in an advisory capacity but also in an
administrative one.
Mr. Herr showed that engineering and the engineer
must stand for progress and improvement. An im-
portant field is the commercial one. The handling of
men is a leading part of the work of the engineer.
Mathematics, which is important in the engineer's
training, unfits him for solving human problems. He
must apply himself to these human problems, and in
doing so the reaction upon him will be favorable.
Dr. Humphreys explained why a recommendation of
Mr. Stillwell that engineers should have more liberal
culture in their education is not practicable, at least
to the extent desired by Mr. Stillwell. The sooner a
young man gets the fundamentals of engineering and
graduates into the school of experience the quicker will
he become a real engineer. He should, of course, have
more than the mathematics and science of engineering,
l,,,l [ife is In,, short to study in college all that might
l.r desired. Dr. Humphreys dwelt upon engineers as
public service commissioners. While he did not advo-
cate commissions made up exclusively of engineers, he
though! thej Should have adequate representation.
Febbuaby 20, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
495
Professor Swain showed that the engineer is recog-
nized to the extent that he deserves. In analyzing the
engineer as a leader, he pointed out that this depends
npoo knowledge and personal qualities, of which the
latter are more important. If the engineer does not
lead, it is largely because he lacks the necessary personal
qualities, Engineers are paid and recognized ade-
quately as compared with other professional men.
Engineering training as given does not attract the
if men and it has a tendency to narrow the
OUtkwk of those who take it. A remedy is to induce
more able men to embrace the profession by pointing
out its possibilities. Technical education should pro-
vide broader training and give skill in English. The
engineer should somehow receive a broader outlook
upon engineering problems, as the great questions of
the day are not mathematical but social.
Mr. Stott made a plea for the government engineer,
who does not receive proper recognition. Great public
works performed under government supervision are
due to engineers who are not paid adequately and re-
ceive little fame for their endeavors. Engineers must
necessarily be divided into those who specialize and
whose reward is in achievement in one or two lines
and those who generalize and pass gradually from engi-
neering to administrative lines. He instanced two of
the other speakers, Messrs. Herr and Rice, as notable
examples of the second class. He gave definitions of
the engineer, one composed many years ago by Tred-
gold and the other his own revision, the difference being
that Mr. Stott emphasized the human element.
Mr. ("arty showed that the engineer designs machin-
ery to produce results at an ultimate cost lower than
is possible otherwise. A labor-saving machine is really
a labor-making machine unless it produces this result,
for, while it may transfer the labor to remote parts
of the economic system, the labor is there just the same.
President P. M. Lincoln of the Institute, who pre-
sided, called attention to the fact that the contributors
to the discussion represented the employers of the en-
gineer, the makers of the engineer and the engineer
himself.
Frank Smith Feted by Electric-Vehicle Men
In appreciation of the tremendous amount of work
he accomplished while president of the Electric Vehicle
Association of America, the officers and directors of
that body tendered a dinner Monday evening to Mr.
Frank Smith, past-president of the organization. The
affair was held at Delmonico's in New York City and
came as a genuine surprise to Mr. Smith, who, under
the impression that he was keeping a dinner engage-
ment with Mr. H. M. Edwards, of the New York Edi-
son Company, was ushered into a room where he was
greeted by electric-vehicle men from Chicago, Philadel-
phia, New York and Boston.
During the course of the dinner "charging songs of
the Smith garage" were freely sung by the party, and
the parodies caused no little merriment. After coffee
was served an address was made by Mr. John F. Gil-
christ, of the Commonwealth Edison Company of Chi-
cago and president of the association, who spoke in
very high terms of the work performed for the asso-
ciation by his predecessor, Mr. Smith. During the ad-
dress, part of which was given to wit and good humor,
a series of lantern slides illustrating Mr. Smith at dif-
ferent stages of his life were flashed on the screen.
Mr. Smith in his response told how greatly he was
surprised by the dinner and how much he appreciated
the sentiment of friendship which prompted it. What
he had done for the Electric Vehicle Association of
America, he said, was not so much as the electric-ve-
hicle movement merited, and throughout his term his
wish was for the necessary ability to bring to fruition
his dreams of the possibilities of the electric vehicle
■ saw them. Mr. Smith voiced his firm belief in
the excellence of the electric vehicle and in its ultimate
triumph. Before taking his seat he was handed a
letter from Mr. Edison in which the inventor compli-
mented Mr. Smith for his great work while president
of the association.
Two serious speeches were delivered during the even-
ing, one by Mr. .lame- II. McGraw, of the McGraw
Publishing Company, and the other by Mr. John W.
Lieb, of the New York Edison Company. Both of the
speakers in their prefatory remarks paid high tributes
to the guest of the evening, not only for what he had
done for the cause, but also as a man. In fact, the
entire assemblage was unstinted in its expressions of
fellowship and appreciation.
Mr. McGraw spoke of the possibilities of the electric
vehicle for the transportation of city freight and what
a great opportunity this afforded the central-station
industry in increasing its revenues immensely — $200,-
000,000 per annum — from the sale of energy for bat-
tery charging. This, he claimed, was the most prom-
ising field for the commercial development of central-
station business in sight. Mr. McGraw dwelt at length
on the accomplishments of electricity and how it had
worked wonders in every walk of life — in lighting, in
industrial activities, in urban and interurban railway
work, in trunk-line railroad electrification, in teleg-
raphy, telephony and wireless communication. In the
minds of the public electricity has worked not only won-
ders but miracles, because it has made possible condi-
tions never dreamed of. This same confidence and
admiration of things electrical should also be merited
by the vehicle, and will be, the speaker said, if the
central stations awake to their opportunities and proper
publicity is given the vehicle. He intimated that $150,-
000 ought to be available for that purpose.
Mr. Lieb told of the uses made by the central stations
of electric vehicles and how at first their employment
for much of the work could not be justified entirely on
the score of economy, although the vehicles possessed
advertising merit. The charging of batteries without
doubt, he said, made an ideal load for central stations
in that by its very nature charging was a long-hour
load, and what is more important, an off-peak load, thus
justifying not only preferential rates but encourage-
ment on the part of central-station companies as well.
The entertainment features concluding the dinner
comprised motion pictures, cartoons of prominent elec-
tric-vehicle men and vaudeville sketches.
The Ship-Purchase Bill and Public Ownership
The bill desired by the administration providing for
government ownership and operation of merchant ships
was passed by the House of Representatives at 1 :20
a. m. on Feb. 17. The House had been in session from
1 1 a. m. on Feb. 16. In discussing the report that the
question of public ownership is really the most im-
portant one involved in the ship-purchase bill, a Wash-
ington correspondent of the Electrical World writes:
"It has been whispered in Washington for some time
that the real struggle behind the fight on the ship-pur-
chase bill is based on the question of government owner-
ship. Representative Martin Dies of Texas made that
outspoken declaration on the floor of the House during
the last week.
"Mr. Lewis defended President Wilson's course and
declared that government ownership must come, in ships
as well as railroads and other utilities. Representative
496
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 8
Dies declared himself ready to quit the Democratic
party if 'the party is forced upon the Dead Sea of
socialism and government ownership.'
" 'Once we embark the government,' Mr. Dies said,
'upon socialism and government ownership there is no
turning back. When the government owns a railroad or
these other great facilities it will either make a horrible,
ghastly failure of government ownership or you will have
to change the form of government under which we live.'
"The insistence of the administration upon the bill
has caused the blockading of all other legislation.
Speaker Clark declares that the question of whether an
extra session will be called is 'a seven-to-one shot.' It
is evident that it will be necessary to have one because
the appropriation bills have not been passed."
The Place of the Engineer in the Defense of the
Nation
Formulation of a definite plan for co-operation be-
tween members of the Western Society of Engineers
and the Engineers' Corps of the United States Army in
providing for the national defense was urged in a reso-
lution adopted by the society at a meeting held Feb.
15 at Chicago.
The present European conflict has clearly shown
itself to be war by the engineer and his instruments of
destruction, points out the report. With our present
standing army little more than a nucleus around which
to assemble the volunteer forces, and with West Point
able to furnish officers for little more than the stand-
ing army, an adequate defense against an invading
force led by military engineers would require the
services of countless civilian engineers to construct,
operate and maintain the complicated mechanisms of
resistance against foreign invasion.
In preparation for such an emergency, the resolu-
tion reads, the civil engineer must be familiar with
the rapid construction of fortifications, bridges, roads
and railroads; the mechanical engineer with the de-
sign, manufacture and operation of arms, ordnance,
projectiles, submarines and aeroplanes; the electrical
engineer with systems of military communication, the
electrically operated mechanism of heavy ordnance,
turrets, etc., the placing and exploding of submarine
mines, and the chemical engineer with the practical
manufacture of military explosives.
Investigation of United Gas Improvement Company
Information obtained at the Department of Justice
in Washington is to the effect that the Attorney General
and his assistants having to do with the investigation
of the United Gas Improvement Company have not yet
made up their minds that the complaints which have
been made against this company are well founded. This
fact is so stated at the department.
It may also be said that there is no prospect at this
time of a "consent decree" being entered against this
company, for the reason that the company does not
admit that any of the complaints made against it have
a basis which would bring its operations within the
intent and meaning of the anti-trust laws. Its attor-
neys, it is said at the department, are now preparing
certain documents which the department has consented
to receive and consider side by side with the complaints
that have been made and the reports of its special
agents.
New York Telephone Valuation
Testifying before the New York Public Service Com-
mission, Second District, in the New York Telephone
Company rate case, President Union N. Bethell of the
company said that the greatest period of construction
operations was last year. Since then the construction
program has been cut by fully 50 per cent. Much of the
non-employment in the city to-day is due to this change
of program by most of the large public utility corpora-
tions. This is due to the "tax on business." In other
words, some of the large corporations have reached the
limit of expansion. A telephone company, Mr. Bethell
said, should earn not less than 8 per cent. If a public
service corporation is pushed down to the point of con-
fiscation, it will injure the service because of the lack of
reserve strength.
Testifying before the special legislative committee
which is investigating telephone rates, Mr. C. Gordon
Reel, consulting engineer, declared that reports sub-
mitted by the New York Telephone Company showed
that it had control of seven other companies in the State
prior to the merger of 1909, and that between 1911 and
1913 it absorbed twenty-eight opposition or independent
companies and centered their control in the Friendship
Telephone Company with $1,000,000 stock. Fifteen up-
State telephone companies operating as independent cor-
porations are controlled by the New York Telephone
Company, he said.
The Water-Power Bills
Senator Lewis, the Democratic party whip of the
Senate, has urged President Wilson to call an extra
OH of Congress, pointing out that if he does so an
i pportunity will be given to pass the administration
i vat ion bills. These bills are under consideration
in connection with the possibility <>f an extra session,
Just before going West Secretary Lane made public
a letter he wrote to Senator Myers, asking the latter to
read it into the record in the Senate, in which Secretary
Lane said h<' had had an interview with one of the most
prominent hydroelectric engineers of the country and
declared that the latter was prepared to put $10,000,000
Into hydroelectric development in the West at once, and
that this would be followed by an additional $30,000,-
000 within two years, if the public lands water-power
bill is passed immediately. Within a week. Secretary
Lane said, another engineer bad told him that he was
prepared to make a Imllar Investment of $15,000,000.
Secretary Lane appealed for the passage or at least the
consideration of the bills as soon as possible.
Massachusetts Bill to License Electrical Contractors
and Wiremen
Messrs. W. K. Tuohey, of Springfield, Mass.. presi-
dent, and A. J. Hixon, of Boston, chairman of the
legislative committee of the Massachusetts Electrical
Contractors' Association, appeared before the legisla-
tive committee on public lighting on Feb. 12 in support
of a bill requiring the licensing of electrical contractors
and journeymen electricians. Under the bill the Gas
and Electric Light Commission is to appoint a board
of three examiners of electricians who would be in
charge of the examination and licensing of master elec-
tricians or contractors and journeymen. The propo-
nents of the measure contended that it safeguards the
public from the work of "basket" contractors and un-
trained and careless wiring installers. Mr. Walter L.
Mulligan, general manager of the United Electric Light
Company, Springfield, was recorded in favor of the bill.
Mr. W. I'. Briggs, New Bedford, pointed out that 1747
defective jobs were found last year in 2025 wiring in-
Ikhki \m 20, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
4y7
n New Bedford, and Btated that only about
live oat of twenty-two wiring contractors in that city
were doing Brat-class work. In the main public utility-
corporations are exempted from the bill. Mr. John I'.
Coghlin, a \V' rcester electrical contractor, favored the
general features of the bill. Several smaller contractors
objected to a provision that the contractor be prohibited
from doing personal installation work, and the pro-
ponents accepted the amendment. The decision of the
committee was reserved.
Mr. Mackay Suggests Higher Telegraph Rates
.Mr. Clarence 11. Mackay, president of the Mackay
Companies, in his annual report to stockholders touched
on several Bubjects of general interest. He suggested
the possibility of an increase in telegraph rates as the
result of higher labor and material costs, mentioned
agitation for public ownership of telegraph and tele-
phone lines, and called attention to the relative freedom
of cable service from interference by the European war.
Department of Justice Investigation of Chicago
Labor Situation
Mr. Charles F. Clyne, United States attorney for the
district of Chicago, has reported to the Department of
Justice that he is investigating a labor situation in that
city which has developed from a strike involving light-
fixture installations.
At the office of Mr. George Carroll Todd, assistant to
the Attorney General, in Washington, it is said that
there is no information as to the details or merits of the
case, beyond a report from Mr. Clyne that he is having
special agents make the investigation, and that it is a
labor union which is being investigated. The name of
the union is withheld at Mr. Todd's office for the
present.
It is said in Washington, however, that the case
presents a new feature among the many investigations
and complaints which the department and its attorneys
are asked to take up, for the reason that the labor union
which is complained of is accused of having combined to
restrain trade.
Mr. Davies on Trust Legislation
In an address on "Recent Trust Legislation" before
the members' council of the Merchants' Association at
the Hotel Astor, New York, on Feb. 17, Mr. Joseph E.
Davies, United States Commissioner of Corporations,
said in part:
"The spirit of the law and the purpose behind the
law is that of even-handed justice — vigilant protection
of the public interest from encroachments of dishonest
business, and, as well, constructive help to business
which is honestly and fairly desirous of accommodating
itself to the law.
"Our modern industrial organism involves one-sixth
of the total wealth of the nation. It affects approxi-
mately one-tenth of our population directly, and indi-
rectly affects the well-being of our whole consuming
public. One of the problems frequently alleged is un-
certainty as to what the law prescribes. This legisla-
tion attempts to relieve that situation by specific defi-
nition to make that clear which cannot be done. A com-
prehensive body of information as to the constitution
of the whole industry of the country will be obtained by
the Federal Trade Commission. This information will
be available to the solution of problems, and, con-
sistently with what constitutes fairness as between
competitors, will be available lor the information and
guidance of great and small business enterprise.
"In the course of time there will be available to the
Federal Trade Commission a large body of informa-
tion, collated, digested and interpreted, as to the whole
field of industry of the country. The relative money
values of the 350-odd classes of industry of the country,
the degree of concentration in each, the character of
integration between them, their processes, their prob-
lems, their local markets, their foreign markets, will all
be available in this clearing house of information. This
agency is also available in the public interest in in-
vestigations of the anti-trust laws.
"This information and expert knowledge is further
made available by the law to the federal courts in the
formation of dissolution decrees in trust cases, to the
end that the public interest may be conserved, in that
disinterested economic and expert knowledge of indus-
try, as well as legal information, may be available in
such situations. By direct authorization of the law, the
commission may be called in by the Department of Jus-
tice to make recommendations as to the manner in
which corporations may readjust their business so as
to comply with the provisions of the law. This con-
tains promise of great practical value to the business
community.
"The commission is charged with the further duty of
investigating conditions in foreign countries with ref-
erence to their effect upon our export trade.
"The greatest menace to the small business men or
enterprises lies in unfair methods of competition em-
ployed by their larger rivals, who can withstand a cam-
paign of price-cutting or similar practice simply by
reason of brute strength. These practices, if permitted,
breed monopoly. If prevented in their inception by
government agency, there is a guarantee of a square
deal to the smaller unit and an assurance that it will
depend for its survival upon its own efficiency, and find
justification therein for its existence. The theory of
this law finds no quarrel with bigness of enterprise."
Keeping the Sigh Out of Psychology
Mr. William H. Childs, president of the American
Coal Products Company, followed Commissioner Davies,
saying in part:
"In good faith the government offers the trade com-
mission bill as a method of meeting the business situa-
tion. Let us in the same spirit accept this offer and the
suggestion of the government officials that we co-oper-
ate in working out this problem.
"The business world is not interested in any recrimi-
natory partisan discussion as to who put the sigh in
psychology, but is vitally interested in discovering a
way of taking the sigh out of psychology and keeping it
out. It will co-operate unselfishly and unceasingly
with any body of men, administration or non-adminis-
tration, for a non-partisan solution of the business
issues.
"The first clause of the trade commission bill states
that unfair methods of competition are declared unlaw-
ful. Of course they are unlawful, but what business
men want to know is: What are unfair practices? In
a recent suit brought by the federal government against
a large Western corporation the judge and the attorneys
left this to the jury to decide.
"The trade commission may decide that it will be
advisable later on to ask for an amendment of the Sher-
man anti-trust act to cure this situation.
"In the development of this commission the power
should be conferred upon it to supervise co-operative
associations among business men in an open way, for the
bettering of business conditions in all branches of the
trade."
498
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 8
Massachusetts Commission Advises Against Central-
Station Ice-Making
The special commission established by the Massa-
chusetts Legislature of 1914 to investigate the ice busi-
ness and report upon the desirability of placing it under
state regulation and upon the expediency of permitting
electric light and power companies to engage in the
manufacture and sale of ice has filed its conclusions
with the Legislature. It consisted of the Board of Gas
and Electric Light Commissioners, the Public Service
Commission and the Attorney-General.
The commission finds that the total amount of natural
ice available in Massachusetts in 1913 was about
1,600,000 tons, and that the amount of manufactured ice
for the same year was about 3.5 per cent of the fore-
going. The production of artificial ice has made little
headway in Massachusetts. About ten concerns are
making ice, with a total capacity of about 400 tons per
day, excluding hotel, market and railroad plants. The
investment required to manufacture ice is about $1,000
per ton of daily capacity. If such a plant is run con-
tinuously at full capacity, ice can be produced at about
$1 per ton, but the necessity for storage and the
fluctuating demand of different seasons makes the esti-
mated cost of storage range from $3 to $5 per ton of
capacity against the $1 to $1.50 per ton required for
the investment necessary to store natural ice. Evidence
was presented to the commission that manufactured ice
must be sold at from $2 to $3 per ton at the platform,
ready for loading upon the wagons, to make the business
profitable.
The commission points out that electrical energy can
compete with steam or gas engines in ice manufacture
only upon the basis of off-peak rates. It appears to be
entirely possible to lessen or suspend the use of energy
for a few hours daily with no substantial loss in ice-
making efficiency, which makes the load attractive to
central stations and accounts for the reported success
of many small ice-making plants run in connection
with central stations throughout the Middle West and
South. As regards Massachusetts, the commission
doubts if the charters of existing electric companies
are broad enough to enable them to make and sell ice.
In the codification of laws bearing upon electric com-
panies enacted last year, the Legislature has restricted
the powers of electric companies hereafter organized
under general law to the making, distributing and sell-
ing of electrical energy. The proposal to authorize elec-
tric companies to engage in the ice business is a de-
parture from present policy and is not recommended.
The chief grounds on which the proposal was urged
were that the substantial and long-hour use of energy
involved in ice-making made it an attractive load to
obtain ; that ice can be made more efficiently and econo-
mically, and the necessary installation financed, in con-
nection with an operating electric station than inde-
pendently, and that, the desirability of public regulation
being assumed, it can thereby he the more easily ex-
tended over the ice business.
The commission does not question that ice-making
may offer an advantageous field for the sale of electrical
energy, but follow thai the companies should
be authorized to enter the ice business. To obtain the
load, under Massachusetts conditions, the companies
would have to make a large additional investment, sub-
ject to a varying demand for product, and as a con-
II rice might find any advantage gained nunc than
by the Inefficient operation of the ice-making
apparatus due to enforced idleness in the winter months.
There are many other businesses dealing with common
necessities of life and desirable power consumers which
require less investment and no more risk. The diffi-
culties of regulation and supervision are increased, and
the commission concludes, in view of the immense field
already open for the manufacture, sale and distribu-
tion of electrical energy alone, that it would be unwise
to divert the energies of the companies by entrance into
the ice industry. The business is not a monopoly, al-
though the large wastes tend to reduce unnecessary
competition, and it is the opinion of the commission
that it should not be placed under state supervision.
Mr. Edwards on the N. E. L. A. Accounting
Section
At the 1915 convention accountants of member cen-
tral-station companies of the National Electric Light
Association will have a regularly organized accounting
section for the first time. Full plans have been made
for the organization of the section on independent lines
but subsidiary to the parent body. At the request of
the Electrical World, Mr. H. M. Edwards, auditor of
the New York Edison Company, who has been active in
the accounting committee of the association for many
years, most of the time as chairman, gave his ideas of
the directions in which the proposed Accounting Section
could work to be of greatest service.
"The by-laws of the N. E. L. A.," Mr. Edwards said,
"provide for sectional work of the kind that the Ac-
counting Section can do. They do not state exactly
what the form of organization shall be, but, by provid-
ing that the by-laws of a section shall be submitted for
approval to the executive committee of the parent body.
they seek to retain control of it. The accounting com-
mittee, which has had the matter of organization into a
formal section under consideration for some time, will
submit by-laws at the next meeting of the executive
committee of the parent association. It will also, as the
by-laws require, submit an application of ten Class A
members for authority to organize. If this is approved,
organization will be effected with a chairman, vice-chair-
man, secretary, treasurer and executive committee, to-
gether with such other committees as may be deemed
advisable. After these formalities the entire member-
ship of the N. E. L. A. will be available for committee
work in the Accounting Section, and it is hoped by those
who are interested in the matter that, as the work de-
velops, it will be possible to draw generally on the mem-
bers in order to make the committees most effective and
representative of the needs of the industry as a whole.
The chairman of the Accounting Section will be ex
officio a member of the executive committee of the
parent body, and thus the section will keep in touch
with the main association.
"At the last meeting of the accounting committee
several committees were appointed to consider matters
that are of present importance. In all probability the
same committees will be needed for the future. These
committees can lay a foundation for later work by the
more highly organized section with its larger member-
ship. It is assumed that the section will adapt itself
rapidly and reach conclusions as to the best lines of
future work.
"To the committee on the uniform system of accounts
there was assigned for study and report U investiga-
tion of the distribution of overhead costs in companies
which have different departments, such as electrical,
electric railway and gBS. What is the proper distribu-
tion of power-house costs between railway and lighting
in a company which furnishes both classes of service V
n'<> standard exists, and accountants who consider the
segregation of expenses Of this nature are not agreed
as to the best method. The committee was asked to
get into touch with accountants of electric railway and
un 20, luio
ELECTRICAL WORLD
189
;aken
e thifl problem. All are agreed that the subject
shou. . nsideration, but after .study the com-
mittee may tind that cases where there is joint opera-
1 different utilities are so dissimilar that general
principles applicable to all cannot be formulated. The
a purely local one requiring separate
m in each •
Take, for instance, the accounts receivable bureau
of the accounting department of a company providing
electric and gas service, with 5000 electric meters and
10,000 gas meters. Assume that electric meters average
gross earnings per year of $100 each and gas meters
$40 each. That would make electrical operating rev-
enues $500,000 and gas revenues $400,000. If the
bureau expense were divided on the basis of propor-
tionate gross earnings, the electric department, with
one-half of the number of meters of the gas depart-
ment, would stand rive-ninths of the expense, whereas
the actual amount of work involved would be only one-
half as much as in the gas department. Some of the
expenses involved would fall easily into one department
or the other, but in that particular case gross earnings
would not serve as a basis for division of the other
expenses that cannot be allocated specifically. It is
important to find what proportions of accounting de-
partment expenses other than those that pertain to
customers' records, and what proportions of such ex-
penditures as general officers' salaries, taxes which are
general and cannot be allocated specifically, etc., belong
fairly to each department.
"That this is a live question is shown by letters which
I get from all parts of the country expressing some dis-
satisfaction because the uniform system of accounts
does not deal with this phase of accounting. In report-
ing the uniform system the committee made it plain
that no provision had been inserted for division of ac-
counts between different departments, and that its judg-
ment at that time was that the basis of distribution
varies in each individual case. That was all that the
committee was able to say then, but now, with more
progress, it is proper to consider whether or not some-
thing different or new cannot be evolved. Of course,
the X. K. L. A. has to act on accounting matters for
the country as a whole, and any system of accounts that
is devised must be sufficiently flexible to be adaptable
to local conditions. In order that the committee may
tigate the subject and throw all the light possible
on it, special attention is called to it at this time. An-
other work for the committee on the uniform system of
accounts will be that of keeping in constant touch with
changes in our rapidly growing and developing business.
If these require improvements in accounts, the standard
system must be flexible enough to provide for them.
"Although the work of the new question box com-
mittee and the committee on the uniform system of
accounts apparently will meet at many points, there is
really a clear dividing line between the work of the two
bodies. The committee on the uniform system of ac-
counts will settle accounting principles and the ques-
tion box committee will interpret them to members.
The question box committee will not only consider
matters that are raised from time to time but will pub-
lish in the N. E. L. A. Bulletin a statement inviting
questions, to the end that accounting information may-
be distributed more widely.
"The study of cost-accounting principles by public
utilities is a new field of investigation, and for that
reason I judge that the committee to which this sub-
ject has been given will feel its way until it has become
satisfied that it can do well and satisfactorily anything
that it undertakes to accomplish. The real province of
the first committee is to investigate in order to deter-
mine to what extent cost accounting can be considered
with advantage. A number of theories have been ad-
vanced, but they deal with such general matters that it
is difficult to know how to apply them so as to get sub-
stantial results. The theory of cost of service rather
than value of service receives so much attention in some
quarters nowadays that it is very evident that sooner
or later earnest efforts will have to be made to develop
satisfactory systems of cost accounting. Such systems
cannot be evolved in a day or a year. It may take sev-
eral years to get them to a point where they will come
even tolerably near to principles which can be recom-
mended for general acceptance.
"At some point every cost-accounting system requires
individual judgment. If the judgment of any two in-
dividuals differs on the necessary allocation of costs, the
results will also differ. To the extent that they differ
uniform cost accounting becomes impossible. At the
same time, it is very evident that some steps can be
taken in the direction of study of the different ques-
tions concerned. It is hoped that the committee will
be able to indicate the serious nature of the study and
something of the complex steps which will have to be
taken in order to determine cost-accounting principles
which will be applicable with a degree of uniformity.
"The other committee, appointed as a convention com-
mittee, will try to arrange a program for the 1915
meeting of special interest to Western companies, from
which a large attendance is expected.
"It is believed by those who are interested in pro-
moting the Accounting Section that this new branch
of association work will be of distinct benefit to all
member companies. Within the last few years a heavy
burden has been thrown upon accountants by the crea-
tion of public service commissions. Relations between
companies and commissions are to a large extent in the
hands of the accountants. For these reasons account-
ants need to devote the closest united study to problems
affecting the industry at large. The best medium for
such study is the new Accounting Section."
Tenney Companies Hold Successful Convention
An enthusiastic convention of executive officers, local
managers, department heads and other members of the
organization of C. H. Tenney & Company was held at
the Engineers' Club, Boston, Mass., on Feb. 12 and 13.
Representatives of nearly a score of utility properties
under Tenney management in various parts of the East
were in attendance, twenty papers being read and dis-
cussed in accounting and general sessions. The social
features of the convention included luncheons at the En-
gineers' Club, an informal reception at the Copley-
Plaza Hotel to delegates and ladies on Feb. 13, with a
dinner and concluding dance. Tenney properties are
situated in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont,
Connecticut, New York and New Jersey, the head-
quarters being at Boston. From the management of
two properties near Boston about thirteen years ago
the Tenney syndicate has grown to embrace seventeen
companies in the central-station, railway, gas and in-
dustrial field. The titles of the papers presented and
their authors were as follows:
Accounting sessions: "The Office Manager," Mr. I.
S. Hall, Boston; "Experiences as Office Manager," Mr.
H. F. Pierce, Nyack, N. Y.; "The Importance of Issuing
and Observing Instructions," Mr. H. A. Gidney, Bos-
ton; "Standardization of Records and Procedure," Mr.
P. M. Scott, Boston; "Classification of Accounts." Mr.
H. A. Gidney, Boston; "Methods of Handling Cash,"
Mr. A. G. Neal, Fitchburg, Mass.; "Methods of Col-
lecting Accounts," Mr. G. W. Hurn, Haverhill, Mass.;
500
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 8
"The Importance of Watching Accounts Receivable,"
Mr. R. T. Whitney, Oswego, N. Y. ; "Some Insurance
Facts," Mr. H. E. Klein, Boston; "The Station Audit,"
Mr. A. W. Cary, Boston; "The Use of Accounts and
Financial Reports," Mr. G. Duthie-Strachan, Boston.
General sessions: "Co-operative Purchasing Power,"
Mr. G. A. Rust, Boston; "Relations of the Local Man-
ager to Charles II. Tenney & Company," Mr. J. T. Day,
Maiden, Mass.; "Cutting Down Expenses Without Im-
pairing the Service," Mr. C. E. Paige, Maiden; "Line
Construction," Mr. Alexander Macomber, Boston; "Es-
sentials of New-Business Development," Mr. John
West, Boston; "Insurance," Mr. Clifton R. Hayes,
Fitchburg, Mass.; "Good Housekeeping," Mr. A. E.
Bliss, Maiden; "Benefits of Periodic Inspections," Mr.
H. D. Larrabee, Montpelier, Vt. ; "Backing Up the Ad-
vertising Campaign," Mr. F. S. Clifford, Fitchburg.
Another interesting feature of the program was a
"safety first" lecture by Mr. Elmor B. Tolstead, of the
Independence Inspection Bureau, Philadelphia. Messrs.
D. E. Manson and H. T. Sands of the executive offices,
Boston, also addressed the convention.
Executive Committee of N. E. L. A. Commercial
Section Meets
A meeting of the executive committee of the Commer-
cial .Section of the National Electric Light Association
was held at the Hotel Sherman, Chicago, on Feb. 13.
The following were present: Messrs. E. L. Callahan,
Douglass Burnett, J. F. Becker, J. G. Learned, F. H.
Gale, J. C. McQuiston, J. D. Israel, W. R. Collier, E. A.
Edkins, N. H. Boynton, T. I. Jones and C. A. Little-
field, secretary, and Miss Burkhalter, assistant secre-
tary. As guests there were present Messrs. R. S. Hale,
D. H. Howard, H. R. Jenkins, G. M. Swain, E. W. Lloyd
and George H. Jones.
On account of his resignation as manager of the
new-business department of H. M. Byllesby & Company
to become Chicago district manager of the Westinghouse
Lamp Company, Mr. E. L. Callahan resigned as chair-
man of the Commercial Section. Mr. Douglass Burnett,
one of the vice-chairmen, was elected chairman. Mr. E.
A. Edkins was elected a vice-chairman in the place of
Mr. Burnett.
Mr. R. S. Hale reported for the committee on the wir-
ing of existing buildings. He referred to the approval
of the report on standardization of plugs and receptacles
by the executive committee of the main association. He
said that Mr. H. E. Eisenmenger, of the National Lamp
Works, is preparing a statement of the actual cost of
wiring as quoted in different cities in the country. Mr.
Hale also made an extended statement as to the wiring
work on which the committee is engaged. After the
presentation of the paper of Mr. S. E. Doane at the last
N. E. L. A. convention the committee investigated to
see why nothing had been done to provide cheaper wir-
ing. It found that the code prevented further steps in
this direction. A sub-committee undertook negotiations,
and the result is that while the Underwriters will not
now |nit proposed changes into the code permanently
they will make such changes temporarily and will rec-
ommend thai some of the central-station companies ex-
periment with a few houses and will support this move
ment. Mr. Hale expressed the opinion thai the next step
is for central stations to wire a few houses so as to
and possibilities thoroughly. As no patent is
involved, all manufacturers can make the necessary
wire for experiments. Mr. Hale also called attention
to the fact that while ordinarily centra] stations have
waited for manufacturers to develop apparatus, in this
case they have taken the lead and all manufacturers
have an equal and fair chance. The possibilities of
cheaper wiring open a large field not only in smaller
houses but also in old substantial houses that under the
old conditions would cost, say, from $500 to $1,000 to
wire.
Mr. Edkins, chairman of the publications committee,
reported that it is hoped to submit copy for the store-
service campaign at the next meeting of the committee.
This will consist of five or six folders with return post
cards. The publications committee also proposes to
reprint the booklet on "Wiring the Home" which is part
of its residence-service campaign.
The report of Mr. Charles J. Russell, chairman of the
power sales bureau, one of the committees of the Com-
mercial Section, was presented by the secretary. A
full day will be devoted to this subject at the June con-
vention. The program will include the following: Morn-
ing session — Report on details of organization and scope
of the work of the bureau, by the chairman; "Typical
Power Sales Development in the West," Mr. J. H. Mc-
Dougal and associates; report of sub-committee on elec-
tric furnaces and welding: (a) "Electric Furnaces for
Operations Requiring Moderate Temperatures," Mr. C.
W. Bartlett; (b) "Operation of a Steel Furnace." Mr.
Walter M. McKnight, of Redondo Beach, Cal., or an-
other author; (c) "Recent Development of Arc Fur-
naces," Mr. Booth, of Chicago; (d) "Charges for Elec-
tric Welding Service," Mr. C. K. Nichols, of New York.
Afternoon session — Demonstration of a motor-service
sale, Mr. C. H. Stevens, of Brooklyn. In the evening a
banquet will be followed by a round-table discussion,
according to a prearranged program. There will also
be a motion-picture exhibition of coal-mining operations.
The report of Mr. R. R. Young, chairman of the com-
mittee on merchandising and recent development of
energy-consuming appliances, was read by the secre-
tary. The report to be presented by this committee at
the June convention will include reports of sub-com-
mittees on merchandising, advertising, window and
interior displays, sales force, recent development in
household and industrial electric appliances, industrial-
appliance business, bibliography of different committee
subjects and inventory and stock-keeping methods.
Mr. Jenkins, as chairman of the committee on the
education of salesmen, gave an outline of the corre-
spondence courses which the committee is preparing.
The idea is to establish practical commercial courses,
not courses in electrical engineering.
Subject to final approval by the chairman the next
meeting will be held in New York on April 3.
Essentials of New-Business Development
At the convention in Boston, Mass., last week of man-
agers of Charles H. Tenney & Company a paper on "The
Essentials of New-Business Development" was presented
by Mr. John West, manager of the new-business depart-
ment of the Tenney syndicate. The author emphasized
the importance of employing in the new-business de-
partment men whose intelligence, skill and ability will
command public confidence. Clumsy, callous persons do
not make good new-business solicitors. Encouragement
of good canvassers throughout an organisation is im-
portant and introductions to congenial associates are
desirable in taking up new fields of service. Reliable
Commercial and engineering data are second in import-
ance only to experience itself. Mr. West emphasized the
necessity of maintaining an up-to-the-minute card record
of prospective customers which should be periodically
checked by the management.
In dealing with men whose work strains their re-
OUrcea and whose efficiency of effort must depend upon
Ff.bki vm 20, 1916
ELECTRICAL WORL D
an optimistic state of mind, a few words of praise are
al to keep up the enthusiasm necessary for suc-
One large company has an open book in which
any employee may register a "boost" for the work ot
Dow employees, and these are read aloud at each
. meeting. The idea started in the new-basil
department and is now being used by all departments of
the company as a popular source of inspiration to the
men. Ninety-five per cent of the "flunks" of empl
of a large Eastern central station were traced to poor
management.
Manufacturers' Conference on Standardizing Plugs
and Receptacles
At the invitation of -Mr. R. S. Hale, Boston, Mass.,
chairman of the N. E. L. A. committee on the wiring of
existing buildings, a conference of manufacturer- of
plujrs and receptacles was held in the X. E. L. A. head-
quarters. New York, on Feb. 15. Although the manu-
facturers represented did not commit themselves in any
way at this conference, the general sense of the meeting
that two types of plugs and receptacles for use
on lighting circuits — that is, circuit.- carrying not more
than 600 watts — could be standardized.
It was thought that Edison screw-type wall and base-
board receptacles were not desirable because of liability
of shock, danger of short-circuits due to accumulation
of dust, etc., and that receptacles having channels for
the reception of prongs were preferable. Upon this
basis the subject of plugs and receptacles was discussed.
The sense of the meeting then was that the channels
for the reception of the prong-connecting members for
separable attachment plugs and receptacles, and hence
the prongs of the prong-containing members, should be
standardized. The question then arose whether those
prong-attaching plugs requiring a straight pull for re-
moval were superior to those that can be withdrawn at
an angle. In present types of the former the contacts
in the channels for the reception of the prongs are
more or less inaccessible, and hence the danger of
shock and of short-circuits due to dust, etc., is a mini-
mum. The latter type does not at present possess these
advantages, and it was thought doubtful if the con-
tacts in the channels could be made inaccessible and
still maintain the angle-of-pull feature which is advan-
tageous in that strains due to one tripping over a cord,
etc., are merely likely to pull out the plug and not the
fixture to which it is attached as is liable to happen
where plugs of the straight-pull type are used. No
decision could be reached as to which type was prefer-
able, and it was thought best to standardize both at the
present time for non-polarity and polarity plugs and
receptacles and let future usage decide which type is
preferable. The discussion then was given over to the
arrangement of the channels. One channel containing
contacts for both sides of the circuit was not deemed
to be a desirable form. Parallel channels were thought
to be better than channels in alignment as less space is
required. For polarity plugs channels at right angles
were thought advisable.
It was decided to adjourn the meeting until March 4.
at which time meetings of manufacturers of plugs and
receptacles of both types will be held, Mr. Hale sending
invitations to all such manufacturers to be present.
Separate meetings of manufacturers producing plugs
and receptacles of the straight-pull type and of those
producing plugs and receptacles of the angle-of-pull
type will be held at 10 a. m. on that day in the N. E.
L. A. headquarters, New York City. In the afternoon
a joint meeting of both classes of manufacturers will
be held at 2 p. m. in conference with Mr. Hale. It
was thought that no patent difficulties will be experi-
enced in standardizing angle-of-pull plugs and recep-
but that such difficulties will be experienced in
trying to standardize plugs and receptacles of the
straight-pull type. However, it was thought that the
patent difficulties would be overcome.
At the conference on Feb. 15 the following firms were
represented: General Electric Company, Schenectady,
N. V.; Trumbull Electric Manufacturing Company.
Plainville. Conn.; E. II. Freeman Electric Company.
Trenton, N. J.; Manhattan Electrical Supply Company,
New York City; H. T. Paiste Company, Philadelphia;
Harvey Hubbell, Bridgeport, Conn.; Bryant Electric
Company, Bridgeport, Conn.; Arrow Electric Company.
Hartford, Conn.; Metropolitan Electrical Manufactur-
ing Company, New York City, and Hart & Hegeman
Manufacturing Company, Hartford, Conn.
Change of Date for New England Electrical Con-
vention
The "question box" convention to be held next month
under the auspices of the New England Section of the
National Electric Light Association will meet at the
American House, Boston, on March 11 and 12, instead
of on March 9 and 10, as previously announced. The
program will be entirely informal, as stated in a recent
issue, and is planned to bring out the utmost freedom
of discussion on topics of central-station, electric-vehicle
and related interests.
Suggested Changes in the National Electrical Code
The electrical committee of the National Fire Pro-
tection Association has issued a bulletin containing
committee reports, recommendations and suggestions for
changes in the National Electrical Code to be considered
at the meeting of this committee at the New Y'ork head-
quarters of the association on March 24 and 25. The
bulletin contains twenty-seven pages, of which about
twelve are devoted to committee reports and about ten
to suggested changes in the code.
Among the most important material contained in this
bulletin is the report of the switch and cut-out com-
mittee which, after reviewing test data and field ex-
perience with the refillable type of inclosed fuse, rec-
ommends that recognition of the principle of refillable
fuses in the code be withheld. The committee on trans-
formers recommends the insertion of rules for toy trans-
formers in the code. It is recommended that the pri-
mary voltage rating be limited to 125 volts and the
secondary voltage rating to 25 volts. Rules covering
their construction are included. More specific rules are
recommended for transformer-casing construction.
Extensive changes are recommended in the rules on
cabinets by the committee having this matter in hand.
These rules, however, relate mainly to construction fea-
tures of cabinets and the space between the cabinet and
the inclosed apparatus and the apparatus itself. Ex-
tensive but comparatively minor changes are recom-
mended by the committee on fixtures.
The committee on grounded concentric wiring sys-
tems, as stated in the Electrical World of Feb. 6, does
not at this time recommend the inclusion of any rules
on concentric wiring in the code, but has prepared a
preliminary draft of suggested requirements for con-
centric wiring. The committee on safety to life rec-
ommends that Rules 20, 21 and 22, on constant-current
series arc-lighting systems, be entirely omitted from
the code and that Rule 23, on automatic cut-outs, be
revised to provide for the inclosure of arc lamps on
constant-potential circuits under the same provisions
as at present made in Rule 21.
602
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 8
Miscellaneous News Notes
Awards Prizes for Efficiency Suggestions. — The Oregon
Power Company, Eugene, Ore., recently awarded a prize
for the best method of increasing its plant efficiency. By
means of the contest just closed it has secured numerous
suggestions on how operating conditions can be bettered
and has also induced its employees to spend some thought-
ful moments on how to eliminate losses.
Decree in I'tah Land Case. — Judge Marshall of the
United States District Court at Salt Lake City, Utah,
ordered a decree on Feb. 15 declaring that the Utah
Power & Light Company and the Beaver River Power
Company are illegally occupying government land and en-
joining such further occupancy. The property involved is
in the Cache, Filmore and Wasatch national forests in
Utah. The eases have been pending about three years.
The companies will appeal to the United States Supreme
Court.
Boston Engineers' Dinner. — At the new home of the
Boston (Mass.) City Club on Feb. 15 was held the sixth an-
nual dinner of civil, electrical and mechanical engineers
affiliated with the local branches of the national engineer-
ing societies and the Boston Society of Civil Engineers,
the attendance being 267. The toastmaster was Mr. James
W. Rollins, past-president of the Boston society, and the
speakers were Hon. David I. Walsh, Governor of Massa-
chusetts, and Messrs. Harrison P. Eddy, president Boston
Society of Civil Engineers; Charles Whiting Baker, editor
Engineering News, New York; Charles H. Eglee, Boston,
and Capt. Robert A. Bartlett, of the Peary polar expe-
dition.
Brooklyn Edison Company Entertains Electrical Contrac-
tors.— The electrical contractors of the Borough of Brook-
lyn were tendered a dinner at the Academy oi Music on
Feb. 10 by the Edison Electric Illuminating Company of
Brooklyn. About 300 were in attendance. Mr. T. I. Jones,
general sales agent of the company, acted as toastmaster
and speeches were made as follows: "The 1915 Outlook"
by Mr. W. F. Wells, vice-president of the company; "The
Contractor and the Company" by Mr. Louis Kalischer, presi-
dent of the Kilowatt Club; "The Public Service Commis-
sion" by Mr. E. E. McCall, chairman Public Service Com-
mission, First District, New York; "The Department of
Water Supply, Gas and Electricity" by Mr. W. Williams,
commissioner of the department. Mr. L. H. Pounds, presi-
dent of the Borough of Brooklyn, also spoke.
Fluctuating Money Rate and the Fixed Rate of Return. —
Mr. E. W. Doty, of Cleveland, a member of the Ohio Public
Utilities Commission, in discussing valuation problems be-
fore the National Independent Telephone Association at
Chicago, Feb. 4, declared his belief that the principle of
establishing a fixed rate of return for public-utility proper-
ties is wrong. The rate of return on capital, he said,
fluctuates from day to day and from year to year, and the
utilities must use capital to continue in business. It is
wrong, therefore, to fix for a period of years a rate more
than which utilities may not earn. Utilities should be al-
lowed to make a charge for service which is high enough
to attract capital to the enterprise. Mr. Doty also said that
he believed in allowing a greater rate of return to the
efficiently operated companies and to the companies fur
nishing good service than to those which supply inadequate
and inefficient service to their patrons.
( hleagO I tUltj Minstrels Net Nearly $25,000 for
Charity.— The minstrel show for the benefit of charity
given by the employees of the Commonwealth Edison I
the Chicago Telephone Company and the People's
Lignl A Coke Company at the Auditorium Tin
000. The receipts
will be turned over intact, to the United Charities organi-
zation of Chicago, all the production being
by tie- utility companies. \ • committee
made up ,.r nts of the three companies— Mr. J.
II. 1''. Hill of the
telephone COmpan <-\. M. Williams of Hi
company had general the undertaking. Mr.
\v l.. Abbott of the Edison company was chairman of the
mmittee, Mr. Homer Niesz bad cha>
bad charge of program
iblicity. 1 ■ Ivsn,
Associations and Societies
Chicago Section, A. I. E. E. — At a meeting of the Chi-
cago Section, A. I. E. E., in the rooms of the Western So-
ciety of Engineers, Chicago, Feb. 23, Mr. Edward Schild-
hauer, formerly electrical and mechanical engineer for the
Isthmian Canal Commission, will speak on "Features of
the Mechanical and Electrical Design of the Panama
Canal."
Arkansas Association of Public Utility Operators. — At a
meeting of the executive committee of the Arkansas Asso-
ciation of Public Utility Operators held at the office of the
Little Rock Railway & Electric Company on Feb. 9 the
date for the 1915 meeting of the association was fixed for
May 11, 12 and 13 at Little Rock, with headquarters at
Marion.
Detroit Electrical Contractors' Association. — The Elec-
trical Contractors' Association of Detroit held its annual
meeting and banquet Feb. 10 at the Hotel Cadillac. Mr.
E. McCleary acted as toastmaster, and the following offi-
cers were elected: President, Mr. John Gray; vice-presi-
dent, Mr. Alex Nimmo; secretary, Mr. George Jacob, and
treasurer, Mr. W. D. Gale.
Semi-Annual Rejuvenation of Detroit Jovians. — The De-
troit Jovians held their semi-annual rejuvenation at the
Board of Commerce Feb. 13, with an attendance of 200.
Twenty-eight new members were initiated. The principal
address of the evening was delivered by Mr. R. S. Hale of
the Edison Electric Illuminating Company of Boston, who
spoke on concentric electric-wiring systems.
Illuminating Engineering Society. — At a meeting of the
council of the Illuminating Engineering Society held on
Feb. 11 the committee on time and place, of which Mr. G. H.
Stickney is chairman, recommended that the 1915 convention
of the society be held in Washington, D. C, during the third
or fourth week in September. Plans are under way to ar-
range for the convention in accordance with the committee's
recommendation.
Lecture on "Artificial Lighting." — At a meeting to be
held on March 1 at "The Lighthouse," 111 East Fifty-ninth
Street, New York, under the joint auspices of the New York
Association for the Blind, the American Medical Associa-
tion, the Illuminating Engineering Society and the New
York Board of Education, a lecture on "Artificial Lighting"
will be delivered by Mr. L. B. Marks, past-president of the
Illuminating Engineering Society.
New York Electrical Society. — At the meeting of the New
York Electrical Society on Feb. 17 Mr. Putnam A. Bates,
electrical engineer of the Fire Department of New York
City, gave an illustrated lecture on "The Fire-Alarm Sys-
tem of New York City." The speaker reviewed the past
history of the system, pointing out its shortcomings, and
outlined plans which have been formulated to improve the
system in all boroughs. After this lecture, Mr. L. G. Hark-
ness-Smith, motion-picture director of the Society for Elec-
trical Development, supervised tests comparing motion-
picture films exposed with light from multi-arc and mer-
cury-vapor lamps. The films were developed, fixed and dried
during the tests so they could be examined for relative
characteristics. Positions of lighting units were recorded
to show conditions existing while pictures were being taken.
Empire State Meter Committee Meets. — The committee on
electric meters of the Empire State Gas and Electric Associa-
tion met in the auditorium of the Technology Club at Syra-
cuse on Feb. 10. Mr. C. G. Durfee, chairman of the meter
committee, presided. Sixty-eight persons were present.
Electric utility companies of the State were well repre-
sented. This was the second of a series of meetings to be
held during the year. Attention was called to the great im-
provement over the tirst meeting. The attendance was over
three times as large, and the younger men present had lost
their former reticence anil entered freely into the discussion.
The subject under discussion was "Proper Methods of
Metering Multiphase Circuits." Since there is not sufficient
time at the annual conventions for discussion of metering
problems in detail, the officers of the association have felt
that if three or four meetings of this nature were held each
year they would result in getting each meterman in close
touch with till the meter departments in the State. The
Ings will be held In different parts of the State, in order
w<\ _'!', l;«l.".
ELECTRICAL WORLD
that each meterman may attend at least one meeting a
The next meeting will be held in April, probably in Buffalo,
although this has not been decided definitely.
Meeting of Empire state Isaociation. — The second of
the midyear meetings of the Empire St..
trie Association will lie held in the Hotel Utica, Dtica, X.
.'inning at 10 a. m. The principal subject
will be "Gas and Electric Distribution Maps and Records."
The executive committee will also have other matters to
:• ration. Questions are arising every day
in regard to the preparation of schedules of rates in ac-
cordance with the order of the New York Public Service
Commission, Second District. This meeting will afford a
good opportunity to compare notes as to the progre
bag made and to discuss some of the more complicated
• of the matter.
\ asOlistinn of Iron and Steel Electrical Engineers. —
The Association of Iron and Steel Electrical Engineers of
Pittsburgh, Pa., held its regular monthly meeting on Feb.
6. Mr. S. C. Coey, assistant superintendent of the me-
chanical and electrical departments of the Youngs U)W1|
(Ohio) Sheet .v Tube Company, read a paper on "Relation
of Physical Examination to Electrical Work," in which
he brought out the necessity and desirability of examining
the eyes of employees monthly to determine what result
artificial illumination is having upon the eye-strain. Mr.
Sidney McCurdy, resident surgeon of the Youngstown
Sheet & Tube Company, told of the policy of physical ex-
amination and the advantages gained thereby, and Dr. W.
n'.N.-il Sherman, chief surgeon of the Carnegie Steel Com-
pany, spoke of the antagonism shown by labor organiza-
tions toward physical examination.
Branches of Philadelphia Section, N. E. L. A.. Meet in
Groups. — The Philadelphia Electric Company has found it
very effective to have closely related departments of its
organization conduct joint meetings. For instance, on Jan.
5 the engineering and commercial branches of the company
'i of the National Electric Light Association held a
combined meeting, and on Jan. 12 the accounting and meter
branches joined forces. At the engineering-commercial
meeting Mr. R. B. Ely abstracted the illuminating section
of the "Electrical Salesmen's Handbook" and pointed out
how it can be of practical benefit to solicitors. Mr. P. H.
Bartlett described the Stannos method of wiring houses,
and Mr. Harold C. Goodwin, Jr., discussed distribution prob-
lems. Prizes were presented to three solicitors who had
introduced the largest number of appliances on the system
during a recent contest. The topic of interest at the meet-
ing of the accounting and meter departments was "Modern
Implements of War and Their Use by Our Navy," the
speaker being Lieutenant-Commander Harold Earle Cook,
U. S. N., inspector of ordnance for the Midvale (Pa.) Steel
Company.
National Independent Telephone Association. — Among the
talks and papers presented at the eighteenth annual conven-
tion of the National Independent Telephone Association in
Chicago Feb. 3, 4 and 5 were: "The Telephone Problem," by
Mr. Richard Yates, of the Illinois Public Utilities Commis-
sion, Springfield, 111.; "Valuation of Telephone Properties,"
by Mr. E. W. Doty, of the Ohio Public Utilities Commission,
Cleveland, Ohio; "Public Convenience and Necessity," by
Mr. Lawton T. Hermans, of the Michigan Railroad Commis-
sion, Lansing, Mich.; "Interstate Commerce Commission
Accounting Systems," by Mr. John W. Van Sant, examiner
of accounts. Interstate Commerce Commission. Washington,
D. C, and "Depreciation," by Mr. E. C. Hurd, formerly en-
gineer for the Nebraska Railroad Commission, Lincoln,
Ncli. Election of officers resulted as follows: President,
Mr. C. Y. McVey, Cleveland, Ohio; vice-president, Mr. T. W.
Allen, Jackson, Tenn.; se. i ctar> -treasurer. Mr. F. B.
MacKinnon, Washington, D. C.J board of directors, Messrs.
T. W. Allen. .lacks. in, Tenn.; S. G. McMeen, Columbus, Ohio;
W. R. McCanne, C. Y. McVey, Cleveland, Ohio; N. G. Hunter,
Wabash, Ind.J W. C. Handlan. Wheeling. \Y. Va.; J. B.
Earle, Waco, Tex.; P. C. Holdogle, Rockwell City, la.; F. B.
Mackinnon, Washington, 1). C.J L. D. Critchfield, Chicago;
A. F. Adams; C. E. Tarte, Grand Rapids, Mich.; A. G. Bean,
Elyria, Ohio; L. D. Kellogg, Chicago; H. B. McMeal, Chi-
cago; L. F. Hurtz, Lincoln, Neb., and Sam Harper, Pitts-
burgh, Pa.
Public Service Commission News
Maryland Commiasion
The commission has been advised by Mr. Osborne I. Yel-
lot, people's counsel, to investigate upon its own initiative
iston Light «fc Fuel Company. Former Mayor Martin
Higgins of Baston filed the first complaint against the
company after the commission was organized. His and
other complaints were dismissed a short while ago without
prejudice to the right of the complainants to ask for an
investigation again.
New York Commissions
During his testimony before the legislative committee
which is investigating the commissions Mr. J. Sergeant
tram, member of the First District commission, said that
men who would make able commissioners would earn much
more in outside employment than the salary of $15,000
per annum which is paid. He said that he did not believe
in the practice of the commission in holding secret meet-
ings as a committee of the whole. As in the case of Chair-
man McCall, records were introduced to show the use of a
commission autonx bile by Mr. Cram. Mr. Cram declared
that he had been responsible for safety rules that had saved
the lives of many employees of the great electrical com-
panies.
Commissioner Robert Colgate Wood was asked regarding
a private telephone in his office. He declared that the city
paid for the telephone until the end of October, but that
from that time he had met the cost himself. He said that
he had used the private telephone in transacting public busi-
ness in the way of acknowledging and inquiring about com-
plaints which came to him in his official capacity.
Commissioner George V. S. Williams was asked mainly
about transit and signal matters and alleged violations of
orders requiring additional urban railway service. In an-
swer to one question Mr. Williams said that he did not
regard it as just and reasonable to require a company to buy
cars that it might have to throw away in eighteen months.
In the annual report of the Second District commission
a section is devoted to the work of the division of capitali-
zation. This section says in part:
"Several applications for authority to issue securities with
which to acquire the plant and property, or securities, of
other corporations engaged in the same business in ad-
joining localities have been passed upon by the commission.
In many such cases it is found that the purchasing corpora-
tions are obliged to pay a price somewhat in excess of the
original cost of the physical property. The diffeience in
price involves the strategic advantage of the vender, the
possibility of competition, and in most cases the business
which has been developed. The commission has found it
to be for the best interests of all concerned to permit cor-
porations with generating stations of large rating which
operate at a low cost to acquire small plants in their terri-
tory, especially when approved by local authorities. This
results in some cases in the immediate retirement and aban-
donment of a considerable portion of the physical property
acquired. To limit the purchasing corporation to paying
for such plants only the inventory cost of the actual physi-
cal property which will remain after the changes have been
made might occasionally prevent such transactions, many of
which have shown large benefits to all concerned. In cases
where there has properly appeared any difference between
the inventory cost of the physical property to be taken over
and the price authorized to be paid therefor, such difference
shall be amortized or charged off from earnings during a
reasonable period of years. This practice is working out
'actorily because it eventually results in a conservative
statement of the property accounts of the acquiring com-
pany and at the same time makes possible an immediate
put ting into effect of the savings resulting from the progress
of the art, large-scale production and reduced administra-
tive expense.
"The commission is required to pass on the forms of
mortgages and other trust indentures given by public serv-
ice corporations. The current financial depression illustrates
that a strong agency for the encouragement of conservative
management and the protection of the credit of supervised
corporations is that the mortgage debt of the companies
shall be secured by an agreement which, so far as may be,
504
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 8
insures that the earnings of the corporation shall in the first
instance be applied toward the full maintenance of the mort-
gaged property, including a proper allowance for wear and
tear, obsolescence and inadequacy.
"In last year's report attention was called to the lack of
care in the preservation of important vouchers, contracts
and other records by many corporations. This condition has
not improved. While the better-managed corporations are
alive to the value of preserving their early records, many
documents which are of vital importance in establishing the
integrity of capital accounts are mislaid and eventually lost,
largely on account of carelessness and unsystematic filing
systems. Unless the matter receives better attention, the
uniform systems of accounts should make the preservation
of such records mandatory.
"The methods of filing vouchers of many public service
corporations are very unsatisfactory. Some file alphabet-
ically by names of payees. This is objectionable from the
standpoint of review or audit, for the reference may not
be sufficiently definite to enable the prompt finding of the
voucher in question. Others file in numerical order by
months, beginning with a new number each month. This
results in confusion. Others renumber vouchers each year.
This is better, but confuses vouchers of different years. A
very satisfactory method, and one which is followed by a
majority of the corporations, is to number the vouchers
consecutively until the numbers run to five figures and then
begin over again. Corporations whose vouchers are kept in
this manner can be examined with less irritation to their
accounting departments and at a much less expense to the
State.
"Many corporations separate the evidence of payment
from the original invoice, the treasurer retaining the former
and the accounting department the latter. Frequently, even
in one office, the invoices and checks are filed separately.
This is not good practice, as it is desirable that the invoice
and the evidence of its payment should be together. Re-
ceipts for the canceled checks can be furnished the treasurer
by the accounting office if desired.
"Many corporations have their own form of invoice which
the supply house is required to use. This has been found to
be unsatisfactory, as each manufacturer or supply company
usually has the form of invoice best suited to its business.
Furthermore, its employees are trained in preparing state-
ments on such forms. When the form of some public service
corporation is used, not infrequently the information fur-
nished is insufficient. It is also wasteful. All the ad-
vantages of a uniform voucher are secured by using backers
attached to the invoices received.
"The uniform systems of accounts which have been
adopted by this commission require that throughout all
capital accounts the first entry in respect of any particular
thing shall describe it with such particularity as to lead to
its immediate identification. No serious attention is paid by
many corporations to this fundamental requirement. For
so-called 'statistical' accounts, such as meters, transformers,
etc., or 'inventory' accounts, such as tools and implements,
office furniture and fixtures, etc., the original invoices, duly
receipted, usually contain sufficient information. In the
case of expenditures for additions and betterments to build-
ings or to continuous structures, railroad track, electric line,
pipe line and similar matters it is essential that a record
shall be kept by projects. Charges to a fixed capital ac-
count of a portion of a payroll, various quantities of ma-
terials, etc., do not enable an examiner to form an intelli-
gent conception of the character of the expenditures, and
yet many promiscuous charges of this sort are dumped into
capital accounts which cannot be justified later."
Pennsylvania Commission
Judge McCarrell in the County Court of Dauphin County,
Pa., has dismissed the appeal of the Public Utilities Com-
pany from the order of the Pennsylvania Public Si
Commission which permitted the Lehigh Navigation Elec-
tric Company to right-of-way with high-tension
The court holds that a company incorporated prior
to the passage of the public service company act of 1918
was not required to secure a certificate of public con
venience in the territory covered by its charter, although
contracts made with municipalities and other public service
companies would have to be acted upon by the commission.
Personal
Mr. Lee H. Parker, until recently electric-railway engineer
of the Stone & Webster Engineering Corporation, Boston,
Mass., has become president of the Spray Engineering Com-
pany, with offices at 93 Federal Street, Boston.
Mr. Louis Brownlow has been named to succeed Mr. Fred-
erick L. Siddons as a member of the Public Utility Commis-
sion of the District of Columbia. Mr. Siddons has been ap-
pointed associate judge of the Supreme Court of the Dis-
trict.
Mr. C. J. Griffith, general manager and treasurer of the
Little Rock (Ark.) Railway & Electric Company, has been
elected president of the Chamber of Commerce of that city.
Mr. Griffith is one of the few active public utility operators
to be elected to an office of this kind.
Mr. F. H. Lane has been appointed manager of the de-
partments of examinations and reports of H. M. Byllesby
& Company, Chicago. Mr. Lane has been with the Byllesby
company for nearly eleven years and has participated in
many of the important investigations and appraisals made
by the department, of which he became the head Feb. 1.
Mr. Edward P. Burch, electrical engineer of the class of
1892, College of Engineering, University of Minnesota, has
opened an office as consulting engineer in the Dime Bank
Building, Detroit, Mich. General practice is contemplated,
with specialization in mechanical and railway work and in
property valuations. Mr. Burch has recently completed,
in connection with Mr. Edward W. Bemis and Mr. Charles
L. Pillsbury, the valuation of the street-railway property of
Detroit. It is understood that Mr. Burch will also continue
his Minneapolis office.
Mr. Walter N. Cargill, of the Stone & Webster Engineer-
ing Corporation, Boston, Mass., has been appointed superin-
tendent of power and lines of the Rhode Island Company,
Providence, R. I., and will assume the duties of his new
position on April 1, 1915. Mr. Cargill is a native of Liberty.
Maine, and after being graduated from the University of
Maine in the electrical engineering course in 1900, entered
the engineering service of the electric-traction system which
is now the northern division of the Bay State Street Rail-
way, becoming superintendent of power stations in 1903. He
became a member of the Stone & Webster organization in
1911 and has been largely engaged since in the mechanical
aspects of power-plant engineering, including appraisals
and investigations. Mr. Cargill is a member of the New
England Street Railway Club and the American Society of
Mechanical Engineers and an associate member of the
American Institute of Electrical Engineers.
Mr. Robert M. Feustel has tendered his resignation as
chief engineer of the State Public Utilities Commission of
Illinois, to take effect March 1, 1915. Mr. Feustel, who is a
member of the firm of Sloan, Huddle, Feustel & Freeman,
consulting engineers, of Madison, Wis., was formerly assist-
ant chief engineer of the Railroad Commission of Wisconsin.
His withdrawal at this time is for the purpose of resuming
his consulting engineering practice with the above firm,
which practice he temporarily relinquished in order to organ-
ize the engineering department for the Illinois commission.
During the past year the organization of the engineering
staff has been effected, rules establishing standards of serv-
ice for various types of utility properties have been prepared
for the commission's adoption, and the general method of
collecting data for rate-making cases has been outlined. The
commission will issue the latter information in pamphlet
form in the near futre. It is understood that the commis-
si, li i not as yet selected a successor to Mr. Feustel.
Mr. Harry M. Hope, for the past four years assistant
engineering manager of the Stone & Webster Engineering
I orporation, Boston, Mass., will sever his connection with
the Stone & Webster organization on March 1 to establish
an office for the practice of general electrical and mechanical
engineering at 141 Milk Street, Boston. Mr. Hope is a
native of Niles, Mich., and after attending the Northwestern
(jniver Itj and the Lewis Institute of Technology, Chicago,
joined the Staff of the Chicago Edison Company in 1902 as
assistant in the testing laboratory. Previous experience in-
cluded work in the engineering, accounting and operating
departments of the Muskegon (Mich.) Traction & Lighting
Company and the installation of a number of small electric-
wn 20, 1915
K I. K< I RICAL WORLD
lighting planti in Michigan, At the beginning of 1904 Mr.
ieal engineer of the North Shore
ipany, Chicago, and in Juno, 1907, he joined the
, member of
the .National Electric Light Association and the New Eng-
land Street Railway Club and is a fellow of the American
!■ ' iii- of Electrical Engineers.
Mr. Anthony J. Beaila, who has opened an office as con-
sulting engineer in electric railway and lighting work at
uth LaSalle Street, Chicago, has had a varied ex-
perience in the field of utility engineering, construction and
operation. In 1898 Mr. Bemis
^ -^^ joined the Stone & Webster
^r^^^^ organization as manager of
a jl its Blaine properties, later
becoming manager of the
Brockton & Plymouth Rail-
^» way for two years. Another
year was spent as manager
of the Cape Breton Electric
f"*«e^^^_^ Company. From 1903 to 1905
^A j^Bk Mr. Bemis represented the
^s£\ Stone & Webster company at
its properties at Savannah,
Ga., Jacksonville, Fla., Colum-
bus, Ga., and Tampa, Fla. In
1905 he was appointed gen-
eral manager of the Grand
Rapids - Muskegon Power
a. J. bemis Company, Grand Rapids,
Mich., in charge of construc-
tion and operation. In 1901) Mr. Bemis joined the staff of
J. G. White & Company, acting for a time as general man-
ager of the Oklahoma Railway Company, Oklahoma City,
Okla. In 1912 he became engineer in charge of construction
and operation for Elston, Clifford & Company, utility-
operators, Chicago, supervising construction of plants at
Vicksburg, Miss., and Mineral Point, Wis. Mr. Bemis will
retain his present connection with the Elston-Clifford com-
pany, but will devote his consulting engineering practice to
reports, investigations and valuations of utility properties,
and to advice on operating and commercial problems in
connection with electric utilities.
Mr. Hugh Hazelton, who is associated with Mr. L. B.
Stillwell, past-president of the American Institute of Elec-
trical Engineers and consulting engineer of New York, was
born in Chicago, 111., Aug. 16, 1868. He was graduated in
1890 from the mechanical and
electrical course at the Uni-
versity of Illinois, and after
graduation was employed by
the Westinghouse Electric &
Manufacturing Company of
Chicago for a time on elec-
tric lighting and railway
work. Mr. Hazelton was sub-
sequently connected with Mr.
D. L. Barnes, consulting en-
gineer of the Chicago &
South Side Elevated Rail-
road. During the World's
Fair Mr. Hazelton collab-
orated with Mr. B. J. Arnold
on the design and construc-
tion of the Intramural Rail-
way, the first in which elec-
tric motors were used to
propel trains of cars in elevated service. In 1895 the Metro-
in West Side Elevated Railroad of Chicago decided to
adopt electricity as the motive power, and Mr. Hazelton was
employed on this work for about five years, throughout the
period of design and construction. In 1899 the Manhattan
Elevated Railroad of New York City decided to substitute
electricity for steam, and Mr. Hazelton was one of a number
of Chicago engineers who were called to New York in con-
nection with this development. Mr. Hazelton served for
three years as assistant electrical engineer and two years
as electrical engineer of the Manhattan Elevated Railroad,
from which position he resigned in 1905 to become associated
with Mr. L. B. Stillwell in consulting engineer work in New
York City.
HUGH HAZKI.TON
( orporate and Financial
<€-ntral Main.- Power Notes Sold.— Bond & Goodwin of
New York b 00,000 of three-yea] notes
of the Central Maine Power Company at par and infc
>ton. 8 Webster Manual. — Stone & Webster, of Boston,
have issued their 1915 manual giving the financial status
of the companies under their management as of Dec. 31,
1814.
Middle W.-st Utilities Bonds.— A. H. Bickmore & Com-
pany, of New York, are offering at 94.61 ten-year 6 per cent
collateral gold bonds dated Jan. 1, 1914, of the Middle West
Utilities Company, of Chicago, 111.
Central Illinois Light Bond Offering. — Hodenpyl, Hardy
& Company of New York are offering at 92 and interest
first and refunding mortgage thirty-year 5 per cent gold
bonds of the Central Illinois Light Company, due April
1. 1943.
Wisconsin-Minnesota Light & Power Bond Offering. —
Harris, Forbes & Company of New York are offering at
98% to net 5.45 per cent $71,500 of first and refunding 5
per cent mortgage bonds of the Wisconsin-Minnesota Light
& Power Company.
Dallas Electric Bond Offering.— Perry, Coffin & Burr of
Boston, Mass., are offering $150,000 Dallas (Tex.) Electric
Corporation first mortgage collateral trust 5 per cent
bonds due April 1, 1922, at 97% and interest, yielding in
excess of 5.4 per cent.
Puget Sound Traction, Light & Power Bond Offering. —
Harris, Forbes & Company of New York have sold at 100 V£
$557,000 of five-year 6 per cent mortgage gold bonds, dated
Jan. 15, 1914, of the Puget Sound Traction, Light & Power
Company to net 5.85 per cent.
Central New York Gas & Electric Bond Offering.— W.
C. Langlay & Company of New York are offering at 95%
and interest to yield over 4.3 per cent $123,000 first mort-
gage 5 per cent sinking-fund bonds of the Central New
York Gas & Electric Company.
Worcester Electric Light Stock Offering. — Shareholders
of the Worcester (Mass.) Electric Light Company have been
offered the privilege of subscribing to 1000 new shares at
200 in the ratio of one share of new stock for every thirteen
shares of old stock held on Dec. 16, 1914. The time for
subscription is limited to April 10, 1915.
Stock Exchange Listings. — The following securities have
been placed on the list of the New York Stock Exchange:
$32,000 additional first and refunding mortgage 5 per cent
bonds payable July 1, 1934, of the Virginia Railway &
Power Company and $2,156,100 additional common stock of
the Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company.
Pacific Power Company Promissory Notes. — The Railroad
Commission of California in a supplemental order has au-
thorized the Pacific Power Company to issue three promis-
sory notes totaling $76,000 in favor of Messrs M. D.
Thatcher, L. C. Phipps and DeLos A. Chappell. The notes
are to be issued in lieu of seventy-six promissory notes of
$1,000 each, authorized on Oct. 6, 1914.
Pacific Light & Power to Issue Bonds. — The Railroad
Commission of California in a supplemental order has au-
thorized the Pacific Light & Power Corporation to issue
$170,000 first and refunding mortgage bonds at not less
than 85 and interest. The company proposes to use the
proceeds to reimburse itself in part for $208,000 paid to
the trustees and in order to satisfy the sinking-fund pro-
vision of the mortgage.
Detroit Edison Annual Report. — The annual report of the
Detroit (Mich.) Edison Company for the year ended Dec. 31,
1914, shows the output to have increased 11.1 per cent, or
from 282,484,300 kw-hr. in 1913 to 313,718,600 kw-hr. in
1914. The number of customers connected increased from
90,552 to 105.530. Of the new connections four-fifths were
to private residences. Construction expenditures were
$4,401,750. Comparative figures follow:
1914 1918
Gross earnings $6, 49.1, M 1 S5,G 16,587
Expenses 8,674,706 8,222,226
Net earnings $2,82l,ios $2,324,361
Interest paid and accrued 882.313 696,702
Surplus after interest $1,938,795 $1,628,659
506
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 8
Ottumwa Railway & Light Statement. — Earnings for the
year ended Dec. 31, 1914, of the Ottumwa (la.) Railway &
Light Company, which is operated by H. M. Byllesby & Com-
pany, follow:
1 9 1 1
Gross earnings and miscellaneous income... $324, 928 $320,684
Expenses and taxet . . . 179.12C 175,172
Net earnlngB $145,802 $145,512
Interest charges ., 66,915 66,786
Surplus $7S,SS4 $78,726
Preferred stock dividends 31,493 31,493
Balance $47,391 $47,233
Mackay Companies Annual Report. — The Mackay Com-
panies, according to the annual report, has issued no bonds,
notes or stock nor incurred any debts during the past eight
years. The profit and loss account for the year ended
Feb. 1, 1915, is as follows:
Receipts :
is in other companies $4.2 16,0 I I
■ meats :
Dividends paid on the Mackay Companies'
preferred shares $2,000,000
Dividends paid on the Mackay Companies'
common shares 2,069,020
I ng expense 60,584
Total 4.1 39,00 t
Balance carried forward $116,410
Tonawanda Power Statement. — The operating statement
of the Tonawanda Power Company for the year ended Dec.
31, 1914, is as follows:
1914 1913
Gross earnings $233,209 $224,17.".
Operating expenses 194.558 191,917
Net earnings $38,651 $32.25S
Other income 1,270 1,449
Net income $39,921 $33,707
Deduct:
Interest $9,000
Taxes 11.432 11.147
Insurance 3,322 1,653
Fixed charges, etc $23,754 $21,800
Surplus income for the year $16,167 $11,907
Noblesville Heat, Light & Power Annual Report. — The
ninth annual report of the Noblesville (Ind.) Heat, Light &
Power Company for the year ended Dec. 31, 1914, states
that in the past two years the company has added 118 cus-
tomers on the "rural contract plan," whereby the customer
pays $50 to the company on the expenses of the main line,
which amount is later refunded to him in energy. The
amount received from rural customers for energy during
the year was $936. The total rural connected load amounted
to 198 hp, an increase of 117 hp over the previous year.
The comparative earnings reports for the years ended Dec.
31, 1913 and 1914, follow:
1914 1913
Gross earnings $83,453 $70,889
Operating expenses ai,. I i.ix.- 55,032 12,203
Net earnings $28,421 $28,687
Dividends from securities 27 27
Gross income $28,448 $28,714
Interest on bonds and floating del.t 8,000 8,084
rncome. less interest $20,448 $20,630
Depreciation 7,500 T.f.nu
Net Income $12,948 $13,130
la . ... 4.000 8,000
Burplua for year $8,948 $u.U0
Colombo! < lonsolldation Authorized. — Authority ha
ed for the consolidation of the Columbus Light, Heat A
I'ow.-r Company with the Columbus Railway, Power & Light
Company on the basis approved by stockholders of both
recently. The company may now compli
reorganization and put into operation its plans for increas-
ing operating efficiency and economy, as well as a new basis
for financing, Plans for financing were announced
time ago, but under present depressed conditions they will
i, ,1 out now. i'li' "bale the sale of
refunding underlying bond of the differ-
nd for
tmpro paniaation be
I the aggregate capital stock 12,000,000, bul otherwise
there I In the financial arrangements.
Westinghouse Earnings. — The income account of the
Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company and
American subsidiaries for the nine months ended Dec. 31,
1914, as reported to the New York Stock Exchange is as
follows:
■ nlngs :
Sales billed $26,278,076
Cost of sales 24,62
Net manufacturing profit $1,650,151
i nil. i income:
[nteresl and discount $304,27-0
Dividends ami interest on sundry stocks
and bonds owned 4 4 4.19H
llaneous — royalties, etc
:>
-~ income from all sources $2,414,350
I 'eductions from Incoi
Interest on konds 3767,950
Interest on collateral notes 16
Interest on long-term notes and mortgages 37,785
Portion of expenses incidental to bond
ami note issues 72,703
Miscellaneous 1 1,875
1,060,184
Net income available for dividend and other pur-
poses $1,354,166
Profits and loss credits:
Profit and loss surplus. March 31, 1914. . . $7,659,130
Miscellaneous 82,578
7.741.7os
Gross surplus $9,095,874
Profit and loss chai^
Dividends on preferred capital stock $209,932
Dividends on common capital stock 1,054,582
Loss on sales of sundry investments (net) 34,99]
Premium on 6 per cent collateral notes. . tM.TT.rt
Miscellaneous 144. 495
1.508,756
Surplus, Dec. 31, 1914, per balance sheet $7,587,118
Manufacturing and Industrial
The Inland Electric Company, 14 North Franklin Street,
Chicago, 111., has recently taken over the Steelite Company.
The Trio Manufacturing Company. Rock Island, 111., has
appointed the American Manufacturers' Agency, Inc., Chi-
cago, 111., its agent.
The Beacon Miniature Electric Company, 108 Duane
Street, New York, has opened a branch office at San Fran-
cisco, Cal., where it will keep on hand a complete stock of
its products. Some of the material will be manufactured in
San Francisco.
L. O. Duclos, for fifteen years sales manager of the
Massachusetts Chemical Company, is about to enter into
business for himself with headquarters in Boston. Mr.
Duclos will place on the market various kinds of insulating
varnishes and friction tape.
The Kerr Turbine Company. Wellsville, N. Y., has ap-
pointed Mr. W. E. Storey, formerly with the Underfeed
Stoker Company and the Goulds Manufacturing Company,
as its representative in Toronto, Canada. Mr. Storey's
office will be in the Kent Building.
Landers. Frary & Clark. — Mr. E. W. Donaho, formerly
Chicago salesman for the Hotpoint Electric Heating Com-
pany in Chicago, has accepted a position with Landers,
Frary & Clark, New Britain, Conn., and will handle the
trical appliance trade of the latter firm in the Chicago
territory.
Simplex Wire A (able Company. — Mr. Henry A. Moss.
rice president ami electrical engineer of the Simplex Wire
,\, Cable Company. Boston, .Mass., will give an illustrate, I
on the manufacture of rubber-covered wire ami
before the Wolverine Automobile club. Detroit, on
Saturday. Fel
The Weetinghouee Electric & Manufacturing Company,
Pittsburgh, Pa., has moved the offices of its newly
organized automobile equipment department from
Pittsburgh to Shadyside Station, Pittsburgh, where they
will be in the works devoted exclusively to the manufacture
,,f \\ i automobile equipments. This department
irganiaed on Jan. 1, with Mr. C. P.. Griffin as manager,
and takes the place of that formerly known as the automo-
bile equipment division of the detail and supply department
Fkbri vkv 20, 1916
ELECTRICAL WOULD
i mpany reporti that tin- business in
automobile equipments has been very satisfactory, thus
Bilking it desirable to concentrate the sales and works de-
partments at one point. In addition to the new head-
quartt een established in New
. t Chicago, Indianapolis, < llevela
Diehl Manufacturing Company. — Mr. C. A. S. Howlett,
who has been appointed vice-president in charge of sales
<>f the Diehl Manufacturing Company, Elizabeth, X. .1.. wa
for- four yean connected with the sales department of the
ral Electric Company at Schenectady, X. v., following
•uparture in 1909 from Chicago, where he had been
well known as a member of the organization of the West-
ern Electric Company. Mr. Howlett was I d presi-
dent of the Chicago Electric Club, and upon resigning that
office when he left Chicago he was made a life member of
the organization.
Gnj \nchor for Transcontinental Telephone Line. — Ac-
cording to Mr. I.. E. Sperry, Pacific Coast representative
of W. X. Matthews & Brother, of St. Louis, the Western
Electric Company recently ordered a number of cuts of
"Matthews" No. 800 anchors to fill an order from the Pacific
Telephone & Telegraph Company. These anchors were re
<iuired for use on the San Francisco to New York line,
which passes through a portion of Nevada that is low and
ordinarily dry in summer but where, owing to heavy rain-
falls in the winter of 1913-1914, the water did not evaporate
last summer. When the line was built through this lowland
the ground was soft, and this winter, on account of storms
and heavy rains, it became necessary to hold up the poles
on this part of the line with guy anchors.
New Motors for Flashers Proving Successful. — The Rey-
nolds Electric Company, 422 South Talman Avenue, Chi-
cago, 111., has recently developed alternating-current motors
with ratings of 1 20 hp, 1/12 hp, % hp and 1/6 hp, which
are designed particularly for the operation of flashers.
A number of these motors will be used at the Panama-
Pacific Exposition for the operation of both flashers and
motion-picture apparatus. The United States government
has ordered several of the machines, which will be em-
ployed to operate some of its educational displays at the
Exposition. The manufacturers also declare that the motors
are well adapted for driving washing machines and other
types of apparatus operated by fractional-horse-power
machines.
Lamp Manufacturers' Activities in California. — Mr. H. H.
Cudmore, of the lamp bureau of the General Electric Com-
pany, who has been actively engaged in the exploitation of
the company's tungsten lamps in San Francisco and central
California territory during the past six months, recently
declared, after a trip to the home office of the company, that
the activities of the bureau will be extended to Los Angeles
and the surrounding territory. A branch office will be
opened at 124 West Fourth Street, Los Angeles, with Mr.
F. J. Blaschke in charge. The bureau will also encourage
co-operative work among distributers of lamps bearing the
trade-mark. The bureau will be assisted by Mr. C. Baker,
who is assistant to Mr. J. A. Vandegrift, manager of the
Oakland Lamp Division for the National Lamp Works of
the General Electric Company, and representatives of the
Edison Lamp Works of the General Electric Company from
the San Francisco and Los Angeles offices.
The Standard 1'ndcrgTound Cable Company, Pittsburgh.
Pa., has appointed Mr. A. B. Saurman, for the past seven
years Pacific Coast manager, as Southeastern manager, with
headquarters in Philadelphia. Mr. Saurman will succeed
the late C. E. Hughes. Mr. Saurman became associated
with the above company in Philadelphia in 1893 and after
two and one-half years in its construction department was
transferred to its Eastern sales department with head'
ters at New York City. In 1900 he was made manager of
its Northeastern sales department with headquarters at
Boston. In 1902 he was transferred to San Francisco to
take charge of the company's interests on the Pacific Coast.
Mr. Saurman has been connected with the Standard Under-
ground Cable Company for more than twenty-one years.
Mr. John P. Bell, who will succeed Mr. Saurman as Pacific
Coast manager of the company, entered its employ at Pitts-
burgh, Pa., in 1896. For the past eight years Mr. Bell has
been assistant secretary and treasurer of the company.
Mr. II. II. Engle, who recently resigned his position as
CWca pineer for the Electric Controller & Manu-
facturing Company of Cleveland, Ohio, has for the last
n years been engaged in the application
motors and electrical control equipment for machine
'ive of Terre Haute, Ind., Mr. En^le was graduate I
from Rose Polytechnic Institute in 1901, and after com-
pleting his engineering course he was employed !
e (Ind.) Traction Company, the St. Louis (Mo.)
Traction Company, the Metropolitan Street Railwaj
pany of New York City, the Baldwin Locomotive Works at
Philadelphia, the Hicks Locomotive & Car Works at Chi-
cago, Stevens & Tyler, consulting and contracting engineers
of Chicago, the Reliance Electric & Engineering Company
al C),icag„. and the Electric Controller Manufacturing I
pany at Chicago. While at the head of the Chicago office
of the Reliance Electric & Engineering Company Mr. !
was in direct charge of the sale and installation of indi-
vidual-motor-drive and electric-control apparatus to re-
place group and belt drives in the large shops of the Chicago
i 111.) Railways Company and the Detroit (Mich.) United
Railway Company.
Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company. — Mr.
William P. Cochran, formerly head of the industrial and
power department of the Baltimore office of the Westinir-
house Electric & Manufacturing Company, East Pittsburgh,
Pa., has been appointed branch manager of the Baltimore
office, which has been consolidated with the Philadelphia
office of the company. Mr. H. H. Seabrook, formerly man-
ager of the Baltimore office, is now manager of the con-
solidated territory with headquarters at Philadelphia. Mr.
Cochran was graduated from Pennsylvania State College in
1898 with the degree of bachelor of science in electrical
engineering. Upon leaving college he was appointed elec-
trical assistant to the president of the Martic Water &
Power Company at Wrightsville, Pa., which company later
developed into the Pennsylvania Water & Power Company
and is now supplying electrical energy to the cities of
Baltimore, Md., and Lancaster, Pa. This position Mr. Coch-
ran retained until 1899. He then entered the testing de-
partment of the General Electric Company in New York,
where he was employed during 1899 and 1900. In 1901 he
entered the employ of the Webster Coal & Coke Company,
for which he was electrical engineer. From 1902 to 1904
Mr. Cochran was mechanical and electrical engineer and
assistant general superintendent of the Lackawanna Coal
& Coke Company, succeeding from this position to that of
master mechanic for the Pittsburgh-Buffalo Coal Company
at Cannonsburg, Pa., in 1905. In the fall of this year Mr.
Cochran entered the employ of the Westinghouse Electric
& Manufacturing Company, being stationed at Charleston,
W. Va., where he remained until the fall of 1910, at which
time he left the company and became general manager and
treasurer of the Kanawha Fire Engine Company. After
two years he returned to the employ of the Westinghouse
company and was assigned to the Baltimore office as man-
ager of the industrial and power division
NEW YORK METAL MARKET PRICES
, Feb. 9 ,
Selling Prices
Bid Asked
Copper £ s d
London, si ■ • 62 10 n
Prime Lata 1 I 50 to 1 1.75
Electrolytic i 1.50 to i 1.60
i lasting 1 4.00 to 14.25
Copper wire base 15.75 to 15. 87W
Lead 3.80
Nickel to45 00
0.b. smelter 11.50
' . Bpol to 8.00t
Straits no
ii hi ii i ■ ent. . . 19.00 to 19.50
, Feb. 16 ,
Selling Prices
Hill Asked
£ s d
63 15 0
to 14.87W
1 1.55 in 1 I 85
14.10 to 14.20
to 15.87 ! ■
3.S5
40.00 to 45.00
12.00
9.00 to
36.37 u,
19.00 to 19.50
•OLD METALS
Hi i - copper and wire 12.50 I2..".n
\ry 8.76 8.76
Hr;iss, light 7. 7.". 7.7.".
ivy 3.60 3.60
i .".37 Vi 5.37 V4
COPPER EXPORTS
Exports of copper in form of pigs, ingots, bars, plates
and scrap for week ended Pet 8, 1916 0.714,979 lb.
f.n.v
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 8
New Incorporations
The Lovell Light & Power Company, of Fryeburg, Maine,
has been chartered with a capital stock of $5,000. Charles
E. Fox is president, and Nelson T. Fox is treasurer and
clerk, both of Lovell.
The Cobden Light & Tower Company, of Cobden, 111., has
been incorporated with a capital stock of $5,000 to con-
struct and operate an electric-light plant. The incorpora-
tors are I. H. Lawrence, R. H. Lawrence and R. L. Law-
rence.
The Mutual Electric Company, of Middleport, Ohio, has
been organized with a capital stock of $10,000 for the pur-
pose of constructing and operating an electric distributing
plant. Electricity will be secured from the Floodwood
plant. O. E. Harrison and others are interested in the
company.
New Industrial Companies
The Crown Chandelier Company, of New York, N. Y.,
has been incorporated with a capital stock of $15,000 to
manufacture and deal in lighting fixtures. The incorpo-
rators are A. Brodner, David S. Pine and Sidney M. Israel,
103 Mott Street, New York, N. Y.
The Standard Electric Novelty Company, of Chicago, 111.,
has been incorporated by Albert R. Dittman, Walter A.
Rollert and Arthur A. Schneider. The company is capi-
talized at $25,000 and proposes to manufacture and deal
in flashlights, cases, batteries, etc.
The Industrial Chemicals, of Portland, Maine, has been
incorporated with a capital stock of $200,000 to manufac-
ture and deal in chemical, electrical and physical products,
including calcium carbide, calcium cyanamide, etc. The of-
ficers are A. F. Jones, president, and T. L. Croteau, treas-
urer, both of Portland.
The Luthy Electric Manufacturing Company has filed
articles of incorporation under the laws of the State of
Delaware with a capital stock of $350,000 for the purpose
of manufacturing electrical batteries and electrical and me-
chanical apparatus. The incorporators are Y. Hicks, J. O.
Luthy and C. M. Dickson, of San Antonio, Tex.
The American Electro-Cide Company has filed articles
of incorporation under the laws of the State of Delaware,
with a capital stock of $300,000, for the purpose of manu-
facturing a machine for the killing of insects harmful to
plant life. The incorporators are M. W. Sparks, of Wash-
ington, D. C; F. L. Mettler and Alfred Whartenby, of Wil-
mington, Del.
Trade Publications
Electric Hand-Lamp. — The Bass-Moody Company, Peoria,
111., is sending out a circular describing its No. 6 battery
lantern, which is called the "step-o-lite."
Electric Hand-Lamp. — The Delta Electric Company, Ma-
rion, Ind., has issued a folder which describes and illustrates
its No. 7 hand-lamp and other lighting devices.
Insulating Joints and Hickeys. — The Trumbull Electric
Manufacturing Company, Plainville, Conn., has prepared a
folder entitled "Circle T Insulating Joints and Hickeys."
Turbine Blowers. — Bulletin No. 27, published by the L. J.
Wing Manufacturing Company, 352 West Thirteenth Si
New York, describes the company's type E turbine blowers.
Illuminomclcr. — "The Macbeth Illuminometer" is the sub-
ject of an Illustrated catalog recently issued by the Leed
& Northrup Company, 4901 Stenton Avenue, Philadelphia.
Pa.
Battery-Charging Device. — A vibrating type of battery
charger is the Subject of a catalog being sent out by the St.
Louis Electrical ' tern Avenue. St. Loul
Pole-Line Hardware. -The St. Louis Malleable Casting
Company, st Louis, Mo., has recently issued a i
which for pole and transmission
lines.
Circuit-Breakers. — The Automatic Reclosing Circuit
Breaker Company, Columbus, Ohio, is sending out a booklet
which describes its circuit-breakers for direct-current cir-
cuits.
Street-Lighting Fixtures. — The George Cutter Company,
South Bend, Ind., has issued Catalog No. 13, illustrating and
describing various types of street and industrial lighting
fixtures.
Electric Lantern and Candle. — The Baker-Smith Company,
Rialto Building, San Francisco, Cal., is sending out leaflets
which describe and illustrate its electrically operated lan-
tern and candle.
Therapeutic Lamps. — The X-Radio Thermo Lamp Com-
pany, 1328 Broadway, New York, has recently issued several
folders which describe and illustrate its lamp designed for
curative purposes.
Lighting Unit. — The Dale Lighting Fixture Company, 107
West Thirteenth Street, New York, has issued a catalog
which describes a convertible unit for indirect, semi-indirect
and direct lighting.
Steel-Covered Extension Cord. — The Inland Electric Com-
pany, 14 North Franklin Street, Chicago, 111., is sending out
a leaflet which describes its new covered extension cord
which is called "steelite."
Portable Electrical Tool. — The United Manufacturing
Company, Kansas City, Mo., has issued a folder which de-
scribes its variable-speed electrically operated tool for drill-
ing, buffing, polishing, etc.
Rice Leaders of the World Association. — An attractive
cloth-covered booklet entitled "On Business Integrity," by
Elvvood E. Rice, enumerates some of the activities of the
Rice Leaders of the World Association.
Multi-Port Valves. — The Harrison Safety Boiler Works,
Philadelphia, Pa., has issued Catalog No. 601, which de-
scribes and illustrates a number of multi-port valves de-
signed for back-pressure, release and vacuum service.
Wiring Devices. — The Crouse-Hinds Electric Company,
Syracuse, N. Y., has issued Bulletin No. 1000-B, which de-
scribes a number of devices called "condulets." This bulle-
tin is a supplement to the company's Catalog No. 1000.
Water Purifying and Softening Systems. — Wm. B. Scaife
& Sons Company, 221 First Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pa., have
issued a booklet entitled "Central Power Station Economy,"
referring to its We-Fu-Go water softening and purifying
equipment.
Wiring Devices. — Fish-wire outlet boxes for concrete
work, conduit bushing adapters and hickey fixture hangers
are described in Bulletins No. 25, No. 26, No. 27 and No. 28
issued by the Steel City Electric Company, 1207 Columbus
Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pa.
Electric Bells. — The P R Manufacturing Company, 621
Bellevue Avenue, Detroit, Mich., is sending out mailing
cards designated as No. 1, No. 2, No. 3 and No. 4 and a
folder, which contain information on a recently developed
electrically operated bell.
Electric-Sign Lighting. — The Thomas Cusack Company,
Chicago, 111., is sending out a bulletin entitled "Engineering
Features of Electric-Sign Lighting." This bulletin is a re-
print of a catalog published by the National Lamp Works
of the General Electric Company.
Convertible Lighting Fixture. — The Dale Lighting Fixture
Company, 107 West Thirteenth Street, New York, has just
issue a catalog entitled "Lighting Commercial Buildings,"
which describes its "I'.roaihvay" convertible unit for direct,
indirect and semi-indirect lighting.
Electrically Operated Fans. — The Westinghouse Electric &
Manufacturing Company, East Pittsburgh, Pa., is sending
out circulars entitled "The Cool Home," "The Cool Theater,"
"The Cool Restaurant," "The Cool Hotel," "The Cool Office"
and the "Cool Store," and each circular describes special
fans for the service desired.
Data On Uumlnnn Products. — The British Aluminum
Company, London. England, the Canadian head office of
Whlcfa is al 60 Wo t Pi. .nl Si reel, Toronto, has issued a
Cloth bound loose leaf handbook which contains much valua-
ble information on aluminum alloys and on bars, strips,
billets, Cables, connectors, sheets, tubes, etc., of aluminum.
The handbook is illustrated with numerous diagrams.
■.ui 20, 1916
ELE< "I ' K I < A I. WO RLD
Construction New >
\i'\\ Knjjland
■ i. N H Th< Salem l.i . in. &
-
with Hi.- Haverhill I
A I line will be
• rhlll
ni plant will
Hi.- water-power plant at
[•he United lllg.
... power
ng ,i number o
h indling appar-
turbine. All equipment -mil
Pan] li
Middle Atlantic
ANGOLA, X. T. — The Niagara A Lake
lo, lias applied i.. tii
trie distrfbut
tli.- village.
BR( " IKLTN, N. V Bids will bi
.1 Snyder, .- ■ ..f school
buildings, Departmenl in, corner
of I'aik Avenue ami Fifty-ninth Str<
York, until March 1. for eli
Brooklyn Vocational School
Building), corner ol Nassau
igh of Brooklyn. Bids will
nme and place
fur Installing electric equipment in the ad-
dition t.> and alterations In Public School
36, on Stagg and Ten I
Bushwlck Avenue ami Waterburj
borough of Brooklyn. Blank forms, plans
and specifications may be seen or ol
at the above office and at hi.
ooklyn.
DUNKIRK, x. T. — Preparations are be-
the Dunkirk Electrical Mfg.
Co. for the Installation of two return tubu-
lar boilers of about 500 hp with some type
of high-efficiency fui n
a prepared fn. . i.ut tin-
type of furnace has not yet been decided
: T. Litchfield j- secretary.
MASSENA, N. Y— The St, Lawrence
Transmission Co.. of Mass.-na. has applied
to tii.- Public Service Commission for per-
mission to erect electric transmission lines
ami approval of franchises in St. Lawrence
County.
NEW Y'iKK, x. v.— Bids will be received
by the board of trustees of Bellevue an. I
Allied Hospitals Department of New York
City, Bellevue Ho Bast Twenty-
sixth Street. New fork, N. Y. until Feb. 21
for furnishing labor and material for reeon-
structlon ..f tli.- existing branch circuits of
lb.- electric-lighting systems, ami turnlshing,
Installing and connecting additional gas
piping; also furnishing ami installing and
connecting gat and electric fixtures for the
lilding of the Harlem Hospital. i36th
and 187th Street nd Lenoj Avenue, bur-
Manhattan, Blank forms ami fur-
■ on may !>>■ obtained at ths
office of the contract clerk and auditor, 400
Baal Twentj ninth Street, New York.
PLEASANT VALLEY, N. Y— In re-
of prominent residents
lie: I hi I !l ni i al Hudson I las
K- Kl. Co., of Pougnkeepsle, is preparing
applying that section
with eli i he cos! of erecting a
at Valley and
equipping 40 street lamps I
about Jill. mm
ROME, N. r. — Bids will be r.rciv.d bj
Charles It. Mahady, president of board oi
managers. New York State Custodial Asy-
ome, N. Y. until March i. for con
loi mltoi v building, including
heating, plumbing ami electrical work.
I drawings I sei n a I
tii. New York state Custodial Asylum,
Kome -,ii he i lepai tm< ni of Architecture,
rew York,
ami at tie- i lepartmi nl of Architecture,
Capitol, Albanj Lewis F Plcher is state
architeel
WELLSBURG. N. Y. The Blmira Trans-
c ii • i i pplled to the Public
i -i pei mission to erect
trie distributing system in the village
of Wellsburg and i' a roval of in.- exer
else of a franchise received from the vil-
lage
WEST WINFIELD, N v ippllcal
n moic io the Public Sen lei I lorn
mission h\ Charles G. S. nil" and Louis IV
Senlf ias partners) for permission to con-
' UK plant in the Vll-
■ be Village 'I
ALLENTOWN. ia The Trayi
neering .- town, which is
ion to us plant, has
i. .-high Valley l.i ft
I'wr i'ii for electricity lor Ian
a,- will be taken in 25-bp motors The
iny is planning i" abandon
power plant
BETHLEHEM, PA The
i 'oum ii has adopted thi latlon of
111.- boulevard lighting s>sl.ln Tile first
n will be the installation of stand-
i
Church 6
CATASAUQUA, PA. -The Lehigh Valley
i.t .v i'wr. Co., of. Allentown, h
ict with tie [orse-Shoe
or en<
GARRETT, I'A The property of the
Garrett El. I.t.. lit. ft Pwr. Co. has ben
purchased bj the Meyersdale i.t , m .v.
I'wr. Co., ol
GLEN RIDDLE, I'A. A permit has i n
granted the estate < t
struct a power ho in ( Men
Kiddle
PITTSBURGH, PA.— Bids will I..- re-
ceived a i ontroller.
Municipal Halt Pittsburgh, until Feb. 26
:ity to be used in such
buildings ami such places as the '
require within the city of Pittsburgh for
ars : also for the sup-
ply of energy l alternating current) at the
City's North Side electric generating plant
at Brocket Street, North Side, Pittsburgh,
for a period of five years
PITTSBURGH, I'A- The extension of
1 street-lighting
which Includes Sixth Avenue from Liberty
Avenue to Grant Street, Smithfield Street
from Liberty Avenue to Fifth Ay. n
Wood Stl mi Liberty Avenue to
Fifth Avenue, has I n placed in opera-
tion. It is the intention of Director Swan
nue Hie ornamental lighting
in Smithfield Street from Fifth Avei
the Pittsburgh and Lake Depot. Wood
Fifth lo Water Street. Federal
"in Liberty Avenue to the North
Penn Avenue from Stanwix
Street across the new Point Bridge to
the North Side. These extensions will be
mad.- as soon as possible.
SCHUYLKILL HAVEN, I'A. -Improve-
ments will be made to the municipal elec-
tric-lighting plant, Including tic installation
of a new switchboard, in the near future.
SCRANTON, PA.— Plans have been com
pleted by the Scranton & Binghamton K i;
Co. for tin- construction of a large power
plant at Dilton to supply all the energy
for the ia llway.
NEWARK, N. .1.— The Board of Public
Works has authorized the installation of
tning-arc lamps on Broad Street, be-
tween central ami Belleville Avenues The
lamps will tie installed hv the Public Ser.
El. Co.
NEWARK, N. ,T. Bids will be received
by the Board of Freeholders until Feb "24
ior the Installatl f an electric passenger
'it the new tuberculosis hospital al
Cedar Grove. Specifications may be seen
at the office of John F. Capen, an 1 i
207 Market Street, Newark.
NEW BRUNSWICK. N. J. Tin i;
of Freeholders has authorized the advertis
ing for bids for electrical fixtures lor the
a I. I..I court house, the cost not to ex-
ceed $2, 00
\\ ' l( 'I 'BINE, N, .1 The Woodbine Land
.v Impi o. i Co expects to ch
system from direct current to alternating
oi the near future, so .is lo furnish
• lei ti Icitj to llcrht the stale ro ids and
nearby towns. W. E. Bertrand is sup. Tin-
i. na. ni of power.
WILMINGTON, DEL Specifications are
being prepared for lighting the sued- ol
K nli . lectl Icitj . lor which bids will
b asked 1 • nt com ract wit ii
lie \\ iiiiincioii ,v Philadelphia Trac I !o
expires April l. ■
ELKINS, \v VA The Elklns Pwt I lo .
which is now using natural gas for fuel,
expects to put In coal equipment ibis sum
iner as a BUbBtltUte for gas. possibly using
stokei will need coal handling devices or
convi yora. Tim companj also contemplates
n tailing i am tin turbine-driven gener
atot C. C. Bosworl h i superintendent.
WHEELING, W VA The West Vir-
ginia Trac ,v El. CO., of Wheeling, Is re-
ported to be contemplating removing its
station in Lea t herwooil. which is situated
alell's Hun. to
He- opp
WASHINGTON, D. C— Bids will be re-
counts, rtment, Washington,
ior turnishii .
various i
ion trolley hoist . Scheduli
is will be re-
ceived until !■'• I
plants,
. as per
:
hoc place until March 2 for the
lule 7'j 14
la. I'm rubbei Norfolk, Va.,
• I tubing and
miscellaneous steel-boiler tubing. Brooklyn,
... Y . Scheduli lor com-
munication cabl blight carbons,
ml and electric signal lights
inductor wire Appll-
oate the
I by number.
\\ \ s 1 1 l.M i'l'i IN, D uade op-
i lureau of
lc Commerce in the
follows: No. 15,515 —
An American consular officer in -
land reports by telegraph that a firm in
bis district, which has branch ofl
Italy and Belgium, is desirous of communi-
cating with American manufacturers of
-' supplies and technical special-
tch as power transmission, driving
belts, lubricating apparatus, oil niters,
water, steam pipes and refrigerator insula-
tions, and ventilators and fans. No. 15,485
A in. reliant in Russia informs an Amer-
ican consul that be wishes to be placed in
communication with manufacturers of
steam turbines and steam engines. Corre-
. may be in English. No. 15,571
An American consular officer in Norway
reports that a firm in his district is invit-
iii_: bids for the construction of an electric
mountain railway. When plans and speci-
fications arrive they may b<
the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Com-
merce and its branch offices. No. 15,561 —
An important firm in Russia has informed
i ican consul that it wishes to rep-
resent American manufacturers of hard-
ware, tools, electric lamps and electrical
fixtures, etc. No. 15,5X2 — A firm in Eu-
rope bis informed an American consular
officer that it wishes to import electrical
goods, especially motors for driving ma-
chinery, etc. Correspondence, catalogs, etc.,
should be in Spanish. No. 15,591 — The
Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce
is in receipt of a letter from a business
man in Spain slating that he wishes to
represent American manufacturers of or
dealers in copper, latten and aluminum
win- and plates, etc. No. 15.593 — A gen-
eral commission agent in Europe has In-
formed an American consular officer that
be wishes to import glassware, wire and
steel products. Catalogs and correspon-
dence Should be in Spanish. No. 15,574 —
The Secretary of Commerce is in receipt of
i communication from a business man in
Spain staling that he wishes to establish
commercial relations with American firms
manufacturing and exporting lamps, elec-
tric-lighting apparatus and toys. No. 15,-
580 — A business man in southern Europe
has informed an American consul that he
wishes to import automobiles, autotrucks
ami lighting fixtures. Correspondence and
catalogs Should lie in Spanish. Further in-
formation may be obtained from the Bureau
of Foreign and Domestic Commerce, De-
partment of Commerce, Washington, D. C,
or its branches.
North Central
CADILLAC, MICH The Merchants' As-
sociation is contemplating the installation
rnamental street-lighting system In
the business district. The present plans
provide for 98 lamp standards mounted with
i single 200-cp nitrogen-filled lamp, main-
tained wilh underground wires, to cost ap-
pro Ij • • < tontracts have not
yet 1 a pl.ocd .1 M. Bothwell is chair-
man of lighting committee.
CHARLOTTE, MICH. The City Council
contemplating the installation of an or-
iiauieiiial sti t-llghting system in the
business district,
GRAND BLANC, MICH Arrangements
n. being made to install an electric light-
ing system in ' Irand Blanc.
HIGHLAND PARK, MICH— Plans are
being considered lor the installation of an
ornamental street-lighting system in the
business district.
LAPEER, Mien Plans are being con-
Idered for installing an ornamental light-
ing system in the business district, to cost
about (3, i Ornamental standards car-
510
rying five-lamp clusters are under consid-
eration.
STURGIS. MICH— The Board of Public
works expects to install about
tional ornamental "novalux" unit lamps
erected on crushed concrete standards, this
year. J. s. Flanders is in
BEACH CITY. OHIO.— The Gilmore Lt. &
Pwr. Co, expects to erect a transn
line to W.lmot and Mount Eaton in the
fj?r.in6' ,xt f''" tMP company expects to
install a frequency changer to change the
system from 26 eyries to 60 cycles. W D
(jilmore is superintendent.
«l"Tl.i eparations are being
made by the Board of Public Affairs f<
installation of two 30-hp or one 100-hp gas
engine in the municipal electric-light plant
&nI!P,a.S£ ,he 90-hD steam engm.
boiler. The engine and boiler will be for
sale. H M. Swank is clerk of board
CLEVELAND, OHIO— Plans have been
submitted by the Corrigan-McKinley Co.,
of Cleveland, to P. J. Phillips, city plan
examiner, for a new power house 'as an
addition to the plant of the River Furnace
& Dock Co. The cost of the building is
estimate.! at $1 23,000.
CLEVELAND, OHIO.— Bids will be re-
ceived by the commissioner of purchases
f,n<,iSicPi>l,e„,V 9a 5n City Hal1' Clew
until Fefc 26, for transformers for the Mu-
nicipal Electric Light Department. S| ifl-
ons may be obtained at the office of the
commissioner of light and heat division.
1443 East Third Street, Cleveland
CLEVELAND, OHIO.— Bids will be re-
ceived by the commissioner of pur. I
r,nfiSUI?P,''eS;-X° "J PJty HaH- Cleveland.
until Feb. 26 for double-braided, rubber-
•ed wire for the Municipal Electric
Eight Department Specifications ma
obtained at the office of the commissioner of
Sir,. t heat division, 1448 East Third
'' LEVELAXD. OHIO— Bids will be re-
ceived at the office of the commissioner of
purchases and supplies. No. 311 City Hall
d ,,Yv,n ••,un,f1 Keh Z6 for a high-pressure
duplex boiler-feed pump for the Mm
m ,v iT v.'eht department. Specifications
",oLi ?bl£ln?? ?J the °mce of tne commis-
M and beat division. 1443
..COLUMBUS, OHIO.— The Columbus Rv„
{(■■ ipm- V .k hn,s closeri n contract with
Hoii k r,n,h"rs- lessees of the new Deshier
Hotel building, to i.-itv for the
hotel for a pevio.l i
a &ALION. OHIO— The Gallon Iron Wks.
3 " iwarded a contract.
through th b ,h Engine Co of
d, for equipment foi
power- plant, consisting of one 150-hn four-
cylinder, vertical-tvpe gas engine directly
connected to a 125-kva Bu tor. to
be installed in a new building which will be
ompany. The build
ing willi he 86 ft. by 10 ft. and provision
will b
tional units as required. P r Boyd is
pres.dent and general managi
n company.
MANTUA. OHIO- The Mantua Lt., Ht.
SJfwr' U° nns 8Ul
pillage Council offering to , i,i, .
light plant to the village
MARION. OHIO— The Marion Pv . Lt.
* '"'r r" »»' erect is Bve lamp clusters
on Main Street. I •■ era wln pnv
the cost of the installation of the system
and the city will pay foi
1 Trips.
SOUTH - „,
ton Oas ft El. Co.. of Washington r H is
tin* ,Pmblatlm- ta transmission
lines to South Solon to s
here. Tlie proposed strcet-llehtlne svstem
will require 60 lamps of 60 cp* '
hinoton c it. nmn
spallation nf A nrw ' svstem
!rh? v! '""""'''"'■atlon bv the rity rouncil.
The Washington Oas ft El Co, has the
contract for lighting the streets and If |s
I to install a more modern svstem
tlon of the present contract
TOUNOSTOWN, OHIO The lighting
committee nf the Council has dir.
lolutlon author
Irlng the service director to enter Into a
contract with the \ , Sharon
The Clav i
I. ting the Insl
I Plant and wo
Mirers of Iann-
is secretary
rM "as i I nance providing that
wires shall l>c placed underground on the
■
,I:VI ise hns heen
electric-lighting plant
In Irvine Under the terms of the fi
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 8
LOUISVILLE, KY— The Board of Park
Commissioners has awarded a contract to
the Louisville Gas & El. Co. for the erec-
■.1 °LL ■"" e,ectric 'amp standards mounted
with 100-watt nitrogen lamps in the city
parks and along the parkways. These
lamps will replace 217 gasoline lamps
which are now in use. The new lamps will
he maintained by underground .>
-NEW HAVEN, KY— The town authori-
■■■•■■ obtained an option on the mill
Property owned by B. D. Florence & Son
which they propose to utilize for a power
house for the electric-light plant.
r:x, END.— The city of Auburn is
contemplating the installation of an orna-
•Shting system. E. Wineland is
endent
KNOX, IXD._ The Knox El. Lt. & Pwr
Co. expects to install a three-phase alter-
nating-current generator during the coming
summer. Thomas A. Grist is owner and
manager.
LOOGOOTEE. ixd— The Loogootee El.
Lt. Pwr. ft Wtr. Co. is contemplating the
erection of tw, ansmission lines
and establishing a 2 1-hour service. Jesse
Kutledge is manager.
MUNCTB, IND— Next summer the Mun-
S'-enre , Ca exPects to erect S miles of
.i transmission lines, connecting its
Uon at Dunkirk with the town of
Aioany, Ind. ; also to purchase within the
next three months equipment and materials
tor the above line, including poles copper
wire hardware, etc. W. O. Havmond is
construction superintendent
DIXON, ILL— The Dixon Cereal & Feed
CO. is contemplating the installation of a
i-i-hp to ino-hp engine, burning kerosene or
cheaper oil. For details see proposal col-
umns.
HILLSBORO, ILL— The Southern Illi-
nois Lt. & Pwr. Co., of Hillsboro, expects
to erect within the next ten months a 33,-
? 00:™lt transmission line from Collinsville
to O Fallon. 111.: water tower at O'Fallon •
substations at Collinsville. O'Fallon and
Carbon ; 33.000-volt transmission line from
Hillsboro to Gillespie, with substation at
Gillespie : also to purchase within the next
three months two 286-hp boilers and two
K type Green stokers to be installed at its
power plant. Hillsboro. 111.: one 300-hp
boiler and one Green stoker to be installed
in Collinsville. Within the next
six months the company expects to make
improvements to its distribution and street-
U, „imr ?!'sttms in O'Fallon and Hillsboro.
1 lectrical appliances and supplies will be
purchased as needed
JACKSONVILLE, ILL— Propertv own-
ers along Sandy Street are contemplating
the installation of ornamental lamps
LENA, ILL.— Within the next six months
the Lena El, Lt ft Pwr. Co. expects to pur-
chase one 160-hp L. H .',..!
" ! I '" ll ll dl ter V d prefer "a
second-hand machine) ; would consider an
ine if in good condition. O
W. Benfer is president.
RANKIN, ILL.- The Rankin El. Lt Co
tismlsslon line to Bast Lynn
(l miles long, ,.,::uii v., its. slngli
early in the spring ; will also install a gen-
erator (from 60 kw to 76 kw) .and engine
ibllsh a day service, Cha
Cramp
STOCKTON, ILL Within the next three
the Stockton El. Co
stall a series Incandescent-lighting system
if A Smith Is president
KAUKAUNA, wis Th, municipal Elec
trie and Water Department « Ml
opei 00 in. hydroelec-
tric Plant in K.iukanna. Auxillai
will be • „ Pub
en Baj \\ B Moi I
MEI.i.ex. WIS Thi Mellen Wtr A LI
Co. will cl tei rrom
month \ W Prlb-
now is president and igei
WAUSAUKEE, W I posal to
secure eli Ctrl.
Fails plant is under consideration <
of the project is satin il sin.nnn,
WESTBT, WIS The Lil
.' contemplating changing the en stem of the
municipal eli I
current f.. alternating current Earl l>
Slach is superintend.
u roCBN \, WIS The Board of Super
visors or Columbia County has appropri-
ated J i .■ nd equip
■ o "ii :.i beat, light and
i the group of county buildings at
pi SVlOUl i it u. lion
"' i ".'..
MILAN, MINN Plana are being pre-
pared b] Houghland ft (Canton for the In-
stallation of an electric-light and power
plant in Milan.
SPRING VALLEY. MINN.— The South-
ern Minnesota Pwr. Co.. ot" Spring Valley.
expects to purchase within the next six
months one 72-in. by 18-ft boiler; also to
within the next two months 80
reet-lighting fixtures and to install
a complete new street-lighting system in
Spring Valley and erect 24 miles of three-
...lt transmission lines, and
also to install a new street lighting system
in Stewarlville, Minn. The company has
recently built a new coal shed of 600 tons
capacity and erected a transmission line
from Spring Valley to Wykoff. a distance
of 7 miles. W. R. Rutledge is secretary.
COXRAD, IA.— The contract for lighting
the streets of the village has been awarded
to the lowa River Lt. i- Pwr. Co., of Eldora.
GRUNDY CENTER, I A— The Grundy
Center El. Co. is contemplating extending
its transmission lines to Holland and Wells-
burg, a distance of about 10 miles, to fur-
nish electricity for lamps and motors in
both towns. The plans provide for an out-
door substation in both places. The equip-
ment of the Wellsburg station will consist
of two 15-kva, 6600/220/110-volt trans-
formers: Holland, two 10-kva, 6600/220/
1 In-volt transformers: Grundy Center, two-
va step-up transformers, 1100/2200/
6600-volt. Ten miles ol three-wire No. 6
semi-hard-drawn copper wire will be re-
quired for the transmission line. Arrange-
ments have not yet been completed for the
project. J. B. Calderwood is owner and
manager.
ALTAMOXT, MO. — The town of Alta-
mont is reported to be negotiating with the
officials of the town of Gallatin for elec-
trical service from the municipal electric-
light plant in that place.
CARTHAGE, MO— Within the next two
months the Board of Public Works expects
to purchase one 4"-hp or 50-hp. 60-cycle,
two-phase, 220-Volt induction motor, and
also a deep-well pump capable of delivering
about 220 gal. per minute and two SO-kW
transformers. A. P. Knowles is superin-
tendent.
DEEPWATER, MO.— Work will begin
within the next 30 days on the construction
of the proposed municipal electric-lighting
plant J. P. Davis, of Windsor, Mo., is
engineer in charge of the work.
RRT, MO.— Within the next SO
the city of Elsberry expects to pur-
chase one 25-kw alternating-current gener-
ator and engine directly connected (second-
hand and in good condition). W. B. Ellis is
secretary.
FA I P. FLAY, MO— The local electric-
light plant, owned by Akins Brothers, has
been purchased by .1. W. Lowery. of Dunne-
gan, who will complete the new plant The
citizens have voted to extend the lighting
service to all parts of the town. For the
last two months the town has been without
street-lighting service.
HALE. MO. — Preparations are being
made for the installation of a municipal
electric-lighting plant, the equipment to
one 40-hp oil en-
' . kw and one ei ator,
one three-panel switchboard and about .",0
kW In transformers. The present plans
provtdi watt tungsten lamps for
street lighting. Contracts for equipment
have not yet been awarded. W. B. Rollins
& Co., Midland Building, Kansas City, Mo ,
are engl rs iii cha
CANS \s CIT5 . Ml ■ The contract for
electrical fixtures and wiring for the new
1 Ilii.-ll School has been awarded to
the R W, Hodge ei Co., of Kansas City.
,871,
K UNSAS CITY, MO The directors ,.f St
Joseph Hospital hav. I mricl, Kent
ft Lov Bank Building, Kai
t'ify, as engineers i with the
power plant for hosp
SPRINGFIELD, MO.- Contracts, it is
reported, will soon be awarded for squlp-
iston ft Liggltt Pencil Factory
for electrical operation Twelve motors
using about loo hp win be purchased At
i. resent the factory is operated by steam
power,
TRl IT, mi ' The m inagers of the munic-
ipal electrlc-llghl plant expect to out all
poles off an. I reset line this spiimt I' \
Prealey is manager.
TER, \ D The Hunter Lt x- Pwr
mtemplatlng the insl
num.- an. i generator In the
'* Rockbridge Is
BONESTEEL, S D The Installation of
■ Hi. lighting svstem in Bonesteel Is
i eported t.. be under consldi .
SUMMIT, S D at an election hold
o I."-' ill an el.
linhi plant in Summit was carried!,
\. IRTH BEND, MSB The contract for
the construction of the new electric-light-
wa Jn, 1916
KI KCTRICAL WORLD
511
• in North Bend has I n
'■'
CHAPMAN, K.w Council
-i to sub-
llgllling
plant to the voters.
ORDIA, KAN
I town to sup
[I i|.a. KAN Within th.
the muni .in will
■ output of tile plant I
i nl will be
m.I.i and
Allis-Chalmers
pound condensing Coi Ilea » nglne ol r
11 In- purchased The voll
not be charmed. The present arc
replaced with nltrog.
u is gen-
eral superintendent.
KANSAS CITY, KAN Bids will be re-
by tin- Kaw Valley
limy, at
Avenue, Kan:
i. tntll Feb. 27, fur furnishing a hy-
draulic- di equipment fur
nt of the Kai
i submitted for
and 18-in. dredge
»ei ated by eitbi
or electricity. T. i: Myers is president.
. E, KAN Bonds to the amount of
$-.".. have been voted for the installation
of a water-works system to be operated in
connection with the municipal electrtc-light
plant The pumping will he done by a mo-
tor-driven pump. G. E. Mason is engineer
of power station.
PRATT, KAN Plans, it is reported, are
being prepared by E. T. Archer & Co., New
England Building, consulting engineers,
|. . 'n ... m.i . for exti ii- ions in Hi.
■lighting system.
Southern States
l.A ORANGE, X. C. — The City Council
Is contemplating issuing bonds to the
amount of $">0,000 for the construction of
an electric-lighting plant, water-works sys-
tems and street paving.
WALTERBORO, S. C— The H. S
: Co., Savannah, Ga., h
engaged by the City Council to prepare
plans and supervise the construction of the
municipal electric-lighting plant, for which
imount of (15,000 have been
i:p 'iii.ANH, GA- At in election to be
held March - 1 the proposal to Issui
to i..' u ed '
the lighting -nid wat.r systems, will be sub-
io the voters.
i m'AI. A, FLA. — The city of Ocala expects
i motor to drive pumps
Is system and also motor-
driven air compressors. J. C. Caldwell is
supei Intendent
PIEDMONT, AI.A. — Plans are being con-
sider.•. i i. i day service for mo-
- .11'. Hastam, Jr., is
. ■■[ ' lulfport, expects to ,
■U quadruple equipments for cars. w. B*
JACKSON, ..nosal to issue
• r plant
NEW ORLEANS, l.A Plans are being
for the const i 111
lighting plant lor the cit)
BENNINGTON, OKLA- The pro;
nlngton l.t..
been put rohn D. Bomford, who,
i. will make Improvements to plant
and may later install an ice factory.
11 . ' 'KI.A All election Will
be h.id March i to submit the proposal to
i lie purpose of
installing a 10-1
i Ic-llghl and wat.r plant to
m ii Hatchet is superlntend-
■
SALE, OKLA — Bonds to the amount of
$22,000 i
I electrii Igl
extensions to the water-works system.
DALLAS, TEX.- The Dallas Southwest-
i is, it Is reported, will
soon begin work on the construction of its
illway between Dallas
i, in. Necessary franchises and
other preliminary arrangements have been
made. The company is also making in-
vestigations with a view of constructing
an iiitei -urban electric railway between
Cleburne and Balllnger, a distance of 175
miles. B. S. Wathen is consulting engineer
P. Turner is president.
DENTON, TEX \S an election held re-
centl} thi issue $10, Out) in bonds
for Improvements and extensions to the
i electric-lighting plant and water-
irried.
rOAKTJM, TEX. — The City Council has
ih ii.. 1 oakum I'wr., Lt. 4c
lighting the streets of the city.
tract provides for the installation of
15 lamps of 400 cp and 28 lamps of 100 cp.
Pacific States
ALBION, WASH.— The City Council has
ted a committee, consisting of
Huff. P. H. Matson, C. E. Clavert,
i: and C. E. Wright, to investi-
gate thi cost and feasibility of installing
a municipal electric-lighting plant in Al-
luoii,
ELLENSBURG, WASH. — Improvements
are contemplated to the municipal electric-
light |ii. mi involving an expenditure of
The installation of steam
i capable of developing 1300 hp
is under consideration : also construction
concrete forebay.
MONTESANO, WASH. — The Northwest
El. & Wtr. Wks„ of Montesano, has
awarded the contract for equipment of its
new electric plant in Montesano to the
i ..i, i ii. Machine Co., of Hoquiam. The
equipment includes generators, switch-
boards, motors, etc. The plant will have
itlng capacity of 400 kw.
RICHFIELD, WASH. — The contract for
the- instil II 1 1 H .ii nl an electric transmission
in),' of poles, overhead wires,
sire, i In nips, transformers and motors, has
McKenna A Co.,
ADI.N. '•.din El Co. has turned
I cst-iron
ids will be '.
l.A GRANGE, CAL. — The Yosen.
Hired the prop-
- -tits, etc., of the
: on the Middle
the Tuolunn •
iny, it is understood,
will soon begin work on extensions to its
LAKEPORT, CAL. — During the coming
k tl l-t. ft Pwr. Co.. of
.bout 15 miles
-sibly in-
..- output of its substation and raise
A C, Hastings Is
PHOENIX, ARIZ. — A proposal to supply
rmers northeast of Phoenix
promoted by the Kails Pwr. & EL
bout $45,000, it is understood, has
been subscribed toward the project. The
directors ol the company are John Munson,
II Leppac, W. K. Twitched, W. S. Perry,
A G. Bailey, C. M Etter and T. T. Powers.
HELENA, MONT.— Within the next 30
days the Helena Lt. & Ry. Co. expects to
3 miles of No. 4 weather-proof,
tided wire and a 100-tip motor
with meter. C. A Bernier is superintend-
ent of electrical department.
E \T< IN, COL. — The Farmers' El. & Pwr.
Is extending its transmission
lines to supply electricity for irrigation
pumping plants and feed-cutting plants;
total extension aggregating about 2d miles.
C II. Williams is manager.
Canada
III sTSVILLE, ONT. — The Town Council
l extensions to the municipal
electric-light system, to cost about $4,000.
G. Ralston is manager.
ST M \i:Y'S. ONT. — On March 1 the mu-
light system will be changed
to 25 evcles. All GO-cycle apparatus will be
discarded. Steam engines and boilers will be
kept in reserve for emergencies. A syn-
chronous motor will be used to supply elec-
tricity in case of failure of hydroelectric
power The steam pump will be discarded
and a gasoline-driven centrifugal pump in-
stalled H. M. Miller is manager.
Miscellaneous
CORDOVA ALASKA.— Harry H. Knox,
president and manager of the Alaska El.
i-onsol i'o. which has a franchise to in-
stall and operate an electric-light and
power plant in Cordova, states that work
i,n the proposed plant will begin early in
the Bpring.
PANAMA.— Bids will be received at the
office of the general purchasing officer
Panama Canal, Washington, D. C, until
March S, for furnishing electric cable, ter-
minal bells, plow steel, Ilexihle cable, expan-
pi iniei-s, etc Blanks and general ni-
, n pertaining to the circular (No.
• 1111) mav I Plained at the above otlic-e.
Major F. C. Boggs is general purchasing
officer.
Weekly Record of Electrical Patents
UNITED STATES PATENTS ISSUED
FEBRUARY 9, 1915
i I. i:., I, . . i si .1 1- All- ii, 16 Ex-
change Place, New x*ork, N v I
Electrical Fixtures am. Their
C. W. ii'
i.oti. Auburn, N Y , and ii i: Gil on
i App. tiled May 6 191 9
I -..ml, malic. n Of fixtures With metallic-
' mdult.
1,127,405. TELEPHONE SYSTEM: E. H.
Clark, Austin, 111, App. Bled July 8,
1912, Economy of live conductors.
El ICTRIC Switch I: C < !ole,
Hartford, Conn Vpp Bled March i T.
1918. Quick-acting push-button service
switch.
■ HO ilii i ' in1 MACHINE ; W.
W. Dean. Klyria. Ohio. \pp. Bled Nov.
31, 1910. Ignition magneto with readily
accessible make and brea k contact
1,127,424 Tin ■■i:\iccrii.i-: . P. Ferra, Lyons,
Prance App, Bled June 10, 1912. Has
a packing of sulphur, kaolin and copper
sulphldi
1,127,4 16 l-J ECTRIC WELD] MQ M m'ii i -.i-
S B Field, llolbrook. Mass. App. tiled
March 20, L914. Automatically produces
a sequence of welding spots.
1,1 27,427 ' '"' 'i"i ii -.ii Ah. -ii a ■
Electric It ro u lbs . 1 1 P Fi Iti nli .
\pp. tiled Sept. 2. 1918.
nl. nlal starting or iv\ ers! tig
i, 486 Dtn \.mic Return [noh
i w S, Henry, Rochester, N. Y.
\ii|i Bled June 22, 1911. For semi-auto-
matic signal used iii connection with a
ii hanlcal Intel locking mac him
.i 17,487. Universal cord Circuit; J. E.
Hllblsh, I. a Grange, ill. App. Bled April
it. I'd i Means for automatically ad-
justing the supervisory apparatu
form in magneto or common-battery con-
trol.
1 127 l?.s. Railway Signaling; J. S. Holli-
' dav, WilUinsburg. Pa. App. filed July 26
1918 Alt. -matins-current track-circuit
apparatus.
i 127 ii- Electrical switch; b. d. Hor-
' ton', Detroit. Mich. App- filed Nov. 25,
I'm:; Ironclad type with means for ac-
iii, action of the operating
crank.
l 1-7 |53 Device for Automatically
'lowering the Trolley Pole of Ei.ec-
n\ Vehicles; C. Kodder-
Itzsch, Dortmund. Germany. App. filed
Oc( ll. 1918. Mechanical features of
cor 1 1 notion.
1,127,464, Electric Reoi brattve Motor
ind System of Control; R. Lundell,
New Yolk. N. Y. App. tiled March 18,
1911 Series-parallel control of sep-
. iv c-xeite.i motors.
1,127,466. Selective Controlling Appa-
p I:. M.l'.ertv. New Rochelle,
V 1 App tiled Sept. 8. 1909. For pre-
determining and "counting" the number
of current impulses to be transmitted.
512
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 3
1.127,467 Telephone-Exchange System;
f I: McBerty, New Rochelle, X. V. App.
Bled Nov. 3, 1911. Automatic switching
apparatus.
1.127,470 B. and
.1 K. McLeer, Brooklyn, N. Y App Bled
July 27, 1912. Novel mounting for the
movable motor element on the car which
rates with the fixed motor element
along the right-of-way.
l.l 27,474. Insi i itor Si-T'i ort;
dock, i in App. Bled P< b I S,
1914. Cross-arm ami lnsulator-bi
struotion.
1,127, IT.".. Kl ECTRIC
shall. Niagara Falls. N. V. App. filer]
April 9, 1913. Has independent heating
units or "foci."
i:<-trode: C. E. i ismer and
■f B Roach, Beardstown, ill. App. Bled
March 9, 1914. special construction for
locomotive headlamps.
I ONDENSER : A PrueSS-
man, Chicago, III. App. tile. I Aug. 2,
Rolled condenser in sealed con-
tainer.
1.127.526. Electric Heater; g. .t Schnei-
der, Detroit. Mich. App. Bled Nov. 10,
hable heating unit.
1.127.527. LIGHTING PlXTURl - ;.. .
Chicago, 111. App. filed March 7. i:il4.
1,127,554. Therapeutic Electric Appa-
ratus; R. II. Wappler, New York N Y
App. Bled Aug. 21, 1913. For applying
alternating current or direct current, or
both, to patient's body.
Ho ' W. \Y Wile,
Bluffton, Ind. App. Bled May 1, 1911.
clamp consti uction
Dynamo-Electric Machine; G
Winter. Vienna. Austria -Ilimgarv, and F
Berlin, Germany. App. filed
June 11. 1902. Alternating-current com-
mutation-type machine.
Dynamo-Electric Machine; Q
i. \n-n la-1 lungary, and F.
Elchberg, Berlin, Germany. App. Bled
June n. 1902 Special magnetizing wind-
ings
Multiple Switch i Ion [roller
P H Zimmer, Milwaukee, Wis. App Bled
March in, |!li:;. Successively rating
SWltl I
1,127,578. Arc-Lamp Electrode; a. T
Bald* in, Lakewood, I »hio App. Bled May
22, 1913. Fused oxides of cerium, zir-
conium and tungsten.
Railway-Trafpic-Controlling
n's; J. p. Coleman. Edgewood
. Pa. App Bled July 22, 1914
indication apparatus for the switches of
railway crossovers.
1,127,618. Indicator; a. R, Hartmann,
Houston, Tex. App. Bled Sept 18, 1913
For giving signal and sounding alarm
when vehicle reaches certain speeds
1,127,631. Switch; S N. Jordan. Lowell
App, tiled Man h 23, 1914 For
ol the induction type.
ctric Flasher for Mi i tipi e
I.A.Mrs . E. C. Lorenz, San Frai
Cal \i.p Bled March 28, 1914
Arched thermostat structure
1,127,665. Electric Needle ; G ii Murphy
g, Cal. App. tiled Maj 21, 1914
Has a detachable i
1,127,696 Liohtninq-Rod Low Top J S
Swenson, Cn co, i i Ipp Hli d Jan 10,
1814. Has Integral I. races bj « hli h It ii
• connei ted to tl rht
ning-rod cable
W. s Adams. Phil-
adelphia, Pa, APP. tiled March II 1914
''omi.ii, col! and • lllptlc springs.
1,127,780
ricles T, W. Byrne, Lo
App. tiled March 16, 1913 Cut
-. Ings the s. n
I >1 ICH i OR WlRELESS-
u'H Systems \ .i Coughenour,
24, FU I \ •anal. I. . .id and
1.127,7 II I , RM1NAL
. N .1
APP tiled 1 . .
■ TRIC SlONAl '
i. ii
\i.|. Bled It
■ ■ \\ K. III.,.. M ,
HI App tiled April I. 1912. i >r
> Hi lion
witch
' lashing. N Y.
1,127,808. SEQUENCE Switch; J. N. Rey-
nolds and C, F. Baldwin, Greenwich,
Conn App. filed March 1, 1913. Large
number of circuit changes with a mini-
mum amount of apparatus.
1,127,827. Ignition Ststbm; B. P. Swyers,
Pittsburgh, Pa, App Bled Jan. 19, i ■ ■ 1 4 .
High-tension and low-tension Circuits
trolled i' ■ i i iiniii tia i [i .a lock can be
operated independently or simultaneously.
Portable Battery Light; l. a.
Williamson. New York. N. Y. App. filed
May 26, 1913, Electric-lamp receptacle
removably secured to battery binding
posts and provided with a switch,
1,127,855. Telegraph Key; j. N. Bell,
ii. N. Y. App. tiled l let 20, 1913
i! mined number of .lots transmit-
ted by one stroke of the key.
1,127,866. Pocket Lamp; O. a. Boehm. New-
York. N. Y. App. tiled April Hi. 1914.
Lamp bulb is secured to inner side of lid
and einits light through hole in lid.
1,127,864. Trolley switch; w. R. Dag-
gert, Seattle. Wash. App. filed June 16,
1913, For keeping trolley wheel on prop-
er trolley wire.
i.i j 7 , s. t t; Selective Signaling System; J.
C Field. ..range, X J. App. tiled Aug.
23. 1!)12. AH of the lines emanating from
a eo. union station may be operated from
common current source without inter-
ference.
1,127,885. Rail Connection; P. Hamill,
Jerome, Pa App. filed July 19, 1912.
Fishplate has recesses in it receiving and
protecting the rail bond.
1, 127, 527— Lighting Fixture.
1.127,889. Telephone-Exchange Apparat-
us; E. E. Hinrichsen, Alexander. Ill
App. filed Nov. 30, 1910. Prevents , on
'ral stati. p. ra tor from ringing on a
substation line while the substation tele-
phone is in use.
1,127,897. Mkth if Therapeutic TREAT-
MENT ANll APPARATUS TllRREFOR; J. H.
Kellog. Battle Creek. Mich. App. filed
Mil) IS. 1912. Administering radium
emanations and use ..! air or Oxygen
1,127,903 Com hi ned Electric 1 1 i
cent Lamp anp Reflector; C. P Law-
Brockton, N. Y App. tiled Mai eh
10, 1914. Central filament support serves
as a reflectoi
1.127.911',. Burglar alarm; t. ii. Nelson,
Chicago, in \pp filed Feb, 28, 1913
Means to prevent actuation ol
when authorized person go, Hi,
door.
1 '! ! \ i i ',r nrs FOR I; urn, ( |om MUNI-
' ; \\ Pickard, Amesbut i . Mass
App tiled Nov 9, 1908. Tunlni
ti e of the "fixed » Indlng tj pe
1,127,986. Terminal Connection; \ ii
Snyder, Lancaster, N. v \Pp filed Aug
I ,. 1912 i i
ble part being pi otected fr rroslve
import ot liquid
■ 'i i \ ii
i ster, N. Y Via, pied Vug
i ■■. 191 " Si illng and unsealing of the
... ii.. battel
r Ino o. Cow
p.i Coli i don, Eng
Vpp filed \ in. i. 1914, [ron sponge
utl.ili/e tie
1,127,973 ii pci i
111 App til. .1 i I Fo,
nines.
-i\ i ron ; P, V. Iliin-
tel . NeW , l II I |ie, i , j \pp
1913 \ 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
■ xtlngulshlng proxim
lt.v.
1,128,005. Adjustable Speed Control for
ELECTRIC Motors ; A. Kimble, Oak Park,
and J. D. Nies, St. Charles, 111. App. filed
Oct 10, 1913. Governor-controlled means
regulates voltage supplied motor.
1,138, 008. Alternating - Current Indi-
cator; C. Kramer and J. Krell, Frank-
fort-on-the-Main. Germany. App. tiled
July 12, 1909. For transmitting orders,
indicating positions of a rudder, etc.
1,128,013. Signaling-Instrument Sit; M.
Levison, Chicago, 111. App. filed May 27,
1912. For hospitals, etc.; factory-assem-
bled and ready for attachment to the live
wires.
1,12s, (ii 9. Telephone Call Recorder; D. J.
McGauran, Geraldton, Western Australia,
Australia. App. filed May 21, 1914. Pen-
alizes subscriber for not answering call
within predetermined time.
Electric Implement ; L. Paulero,
Petersburg, Va. App. filed Aug. 29, 1912.
For stone-cutting, riveting, etc.
1,12S,0.">7. Block-Signal System for Elec-
tric Railways; f. w. Sawyer, Boston,
Mass. App. filed July 20, 1903. Rails
cross-bonded.
1,128,066. Signal for Automobiles and
i it ma; Vehicles; E. c. Shuler and S.
..Ii n. Dover, X. J. App. tiled Oct 11.
1913. Readily attachable foot-op crated
signal for warning of intended movements
of vehicles.
1,128,070. Vapor-Electric Device; R. G.
Standerwick, Lynn, Mass. App. filed Oct.
4, 1913. For preventing overheating of
quartz lamps.
1,128,075. Signaling System ; J. B. Struble,
Wilkinsburg. l'a. App. filed Feb. IS, 1903.
Track transformers and relays controlled
thereby.
1,128,081. Electric-Heating device; f. M
Vogel, Pittsfleld, Mass. App. filed June
15, 1912. For matrix drying.
1,128,102. Electrically Heated Soldering
Iron; L. W. Campbell, South Yarra, Vic-
toria. Australia. App. filed Jan. 7. 1914.
Utilizes all heat and the lead wires are
protected against short-circuiting.
Electrical Conduit ATTACH-
MENT: L. H. Church, Stamford, Conn.,
and A. Mc.Muitric. New York. N. Y. App.
filed April 15, 1911. Connection for
armored cable with outlet box.
1,128,116. Metallic Electric Welder; W.
ii Dralle, Schenectady, N. Y. App. filed
July 25, 1914. Arc vaporizes the electrode
i causes the metal to be deposited on
the joint.
1,128,126. SIGNAL System ; G. Furrer. Oak-
land. Cal. App. filed April 21, 1914. For
burglar and fire alarms.
1,128,141. Electric Fire Alarm; W. E.
How ells, I'eckville, l'a. App. filed Jan.
7. mil. Thermostat and contact mech-
anism.
1,128,168. Automatic Electric-Heating
System ; J F. McElroy, Albany. N. T.
App. filed F.l. 27. 1912. Pneumatically
operated heater switch.
1,128,167. Circuit Controller; E Man-
son. Sagamore. Mass App. filed April 1,
1911 Flashlainp secured to umbrella
handle.
1,128,210. Signaling System G. Witty,
Scranton, l'a. App tiled Jan. 10, 1913.
Wireless system for trains and ships.
1,128,229. Method and Apparatus fob
Generating Electricttt; d. f. Com-
slock. Hrooklinc. Mass App. filed Nov.
in. 1911. Direct from heat
Storage - BATTERY - Separator
Construction; .1 X Davis, Denver, Col
App filed F.l. u;. I :mi Envelop Sep-
arating and inclosing the battery plates.
\ i e Ml \TI'S P."
VEHIC1 ES . i ' i ' Holmes, Pnsadi '
\p|. tiled March 21. 1914. Swinging sig-
nal arm supported on bonnet of
1,128,261 LlOHl ' i [IGH Top ; J.
S SWI I, la App. tiled Jan.
1". 1911 Connecting and bracing means
lor bracing and maintaining do
with conductor,
"IIS Tur-
i I 'legO, I 'al App, filed June 20.
1911. Dispenses With need for the
"Number, please" Query, (One hundred
and fivi
I .\ N Ulu I
.; and I. long. London, Eng. App filed
Jul) 20 9 1 ■ . " ixli driven . gen-
erates in either dlret tlon,
\ It Sny-
der. Lancaster. N Y App tiled Aug, U>,
Sealed, for submarlni
18,878 (reissue). Current Genera
for Internal-Combustion en-
i Podlesak, Tiffin, Ohio. App.
Bli d Dei I, 1914 . . irlglnal patent No.
, ... dated March I, 1918.) Make-
and break t\po reciprocating actuator.
\..l. 65
Electrical World
Th.- I
Pub! ira« PnbUamnf Company,
M U VORK, S VTl RDAY, KEBRl \U1 27. 1915
No. 9
Opportunitx to Aid the Electric Vehicle
WHILE central stations have done much in ac-
quainting the public with the advantages of the
electric vehicle and are themselves liberal purchasers
and users of such machines, the manufacturers have not
shirked their share of the burden. The greatest single
investments made in electric vehicles, those by the de-
partment stores, breweries and express companies, were
made at the behest of the manufacturers with little or
no assistance from the lighting companies. However,
instances abound where both have co-operated to mutual
advantage. Such a situation now confronts the manu-
facturers of electric vehicles and in its solution the help
of the central stations would be welcome and most val-
uable. As announced in our news pages, the Post Office
Department is advertising for equipment to carry the
mails and will consider motor vehicles in place of horse-
drawn wagons for such service in many cities of the
.Middle West. The contracts are for four years, and if
the central stations in the respective cities will see to it
that the government gets what is best suited for the
work and what is most economical, much of the mail in
the Middle West after July will be carried in electric
vehicles. As the time is short, intensive, enthusiastic
co-operation is necessary or the opportunity will be lost.
The cause is worthy of the best efforts of the central
station.
The Panama-Pacific International Exposition
WITHOUT doubt the Panama-Pacific International
Exposition, the gates of which have just been
thrown open to the world, is worthy in every way of the
greatest material achievement in American history, the
completion of the Panama Canal. San Francisco may
well be proud of the honor bestowed upon her and
prouder still that she has brought to fruition so glorious
a work, planned before the catastrophe that overtook
her in 1906 and carried through despite that staggering
handicap. Completed, like the canal, before time, the
Exposition is remarkable in other respects as well. It
contains no Palace of Electricity because the art can-
not be thus confined — the whole Exposition is a tribute
to electricity, for it is everywhere to be found. Out-
line lighting, which was characteristic of the exposi-
tions at Chicago, Buffalo and St. Louis, is nowhere to be
seen, the architectural features, the statuary and the
delicate buff and pastel colorings being brought out re-
splendent in all their beauty by means of masque and
flood lighting. After sunset the view, in the estimation
of many, when the palaces are flooded with light and the
jeweled tower stands glittering and sparkling against
the blackness of night, is a joy to behold, and better
by far than the view by day. Many foreign nations are
represented officially and by exhibits of private indi-
viduals, so that the fair cannot fail to promote for-
eign trade and foster international good will, a consum-
mation devoutly to be wished in this year of grace.
That it will stimulate American trade goes without
saying; but if it serves no other purpose than acquaint-
ing the East with the West it will still be worth while.
An Analysis of Business Conditions
WHEN business is below normal it is expedient
to examine underlying conditions closely and
to take constructive steps for improvement. En-
forced recession is a time of opportunity. Trade
conditions gravely demand investigation — not govern-
mental investigation, but the practical thought which
only personal responsibility and knowledge developed by
real contact with business problems can give. Although
primarily concerning manufactures, the letters ,from
Mr. Claude L. Matthews and Mr. Guy E. Tripp in this
issue deal with our investment relations with Europe
and hence touch an issue vital in future central-station
financing. The point of leading importance is that busi-
ness unrest began long before the European war. The
war accentuated it. In analyzing causes one must log-
ically take into account the profoundly adverse effect on
business of governmental action in which the last three
national administrations had a part. Signs here and
there lead us to hope with some assurance that not only
has the governmental attitude reached a climax but that
as a menace to business it is now actually beginning to
recede.
Treatment of Depreciation
THAT systematic provision for depreciation is made
by some companies has long been known, and
under improved accounting methods greater publicity is
now being given the facts. In its annual report to
stockholders for 1914 the Commonwealth Edison Com-
pany of Chicago explains its change in accounting prac-
tice. Depreciation reserve at the close of 1913 was
$4,521,839, and there was set aside from the 1914
earnings for amortization and depreciation $2,215,147.
The reserve stood at $6,600,596 at the close of 1914.
indicating that during the year $136,390 was expended
from this account. The mortgage required an allow-
ance of $544,000 for depreciation reserve in the year,
and this minimum provision for protection of the bond-
holders was materially and properly exceeded. The ap-
propriation for the year is 11.6 percent of the operating
revenue. Ordinary operating expenses were 51.4 per
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 9
cent of operating revenue, the total for the two being
63.0 per cent. "Taxes and municipal compensation"
absorbed an additional 7.8 per cent, making an aggregate
for the three items of 70.8 per cent. Another feature
of the change in the accounting practice of the company
is that whereas the amount required by mortgage has
been credited to depreciation reserve the estimated de-
preciation for the year has been credited annually in the
past to plant accounts; as both are to be carried here-
after in the reserve, that account, barring large replace-
ments and changes in the basis of earnings, will increase
to substantially greater sums. Progressive central-
station managers are learning that the necessity for
depreciation accounts should be made clear to the public.
Conductivity of the Earth
From an electrical standpoint the earth is properly
regarded as a great electric conductor. It not only
offers a conducting surface for carrying the electric
waves of radiotelegraphy, but it also provides a return
conducting path for electric circuits of various kinds.
Nevertheless, when an examination is made into the con-
ductivity of the earth and its causes, it is found that
nearly all of the substances composing the crust of the
earth, such as granite, slate, chalk, clay or silica, are
extremely poor conductors in the dry state. In fact,
except for a few comparatively rare substances, the
earth's surface material dried, at ordinary tempera-
ture, is virtually insulating. As to how the earth's
substance may conduct at deeper and hotter levels, one
can form only a rough guess, but the substances at the
top owe their conductivity almost entirely to the water
they contain, together with the saline substances dis-
solved in the water. Electric conductivity of the soil
is its water conductivity.
A somewhat similar state of affairs is presented to
our attention when we consider the thermal conductiv-
ity of the soil. The soil is indeed a poor thermal con-
ductor in comparison with the metals, but an analysis
of the nature of thermal conductivity in the soil shows
that the solid substances when dried are virtually ther-
mal insulators in nearly all cases, and that the water
contained in the soil mainly accounts for the conductiv-
ity which is presented. To a considerable extent ther-
mal conductivity of the soil is its water conductivity.
The last-mentioned relation was clearly brought out
in a paper by Mr. L. E. Imlay, read at the recent mid-
winter convention of the American Institute of Electri-
cal Engineers in New York City, on the effect of mois-
ture in the ground on the temperature of underground
cables. It was shown that the soil surrounding a buried
conduit containing active electric cables may become
hot, ilr, and powdery, a condition which would reduce
its thermal conductivity to a minimum. The addition of
moisture to the Boil, either from above or from below
through a vacant duct, brought about a very distinct
reduction in the temperature of the cables, and also In
the temperatures of the surrounding soil. It seems
readily possible that future installations of heavily
loaded conducting cables, buried in conduits, will have
special water-cooling ducts laid in their immediate vi-
cinity, for the purpose of keeping down the cable tem-
peratures. A noteworthy result afforded by the obser-
vations of the author is the relatively great distances to
which the heat liberated from active cables in a buried
conduit can appreciably raise the temperature of the
ground. It appears that the temperature of the soil 1
meter below the surface was raised by some 20 deg. C.
at a distance of half a dozen meters away from the
buried conduit.
Concentric Wiring
We are glad to see the open discussion that has been
taking place regarding the possibilities of concentric
wiring, and we hope that the subject will continue to
be discussed frankly and freely from all possible view-
points. On one feature all parties agree, namely, that
there is a strong and growing demand for some cheap
and effective system of wiring which will enable small
consumers to be obtained in sufficient numbers to justi-
fy serving them. The isolated small consumer, who
must perforce be classified with large consumers and
dealt with accordingly, has always been regarded as a
rather dubious asset to the central station. On the
other hand, nothing is clearer from recent experience,
both at home and abroad, than that when numerous
enough to be dealt with as a class small consumers be-
come profitable. We need not here enter into the details
of handling the small-consumer business further than
to note that if put on a contract basis the expense of
carrying it is small, and if on a meter basis there is
something to be said for less frequent billings than at
present, in order greatly to reduce the bookkeeping and
meter-reading cost.
In order to serve the small consumer effectively one
must be able to wire his premises cheaply. The more
outlets that can be provided for a given sum the more
business on the whole the central station will obtain.
It is an incontestable tact that the gradually increasing
severity of the requirements of the fire underwriters has
made wiring more expensive in spite of many improve-
ments which have tended to lower the price of material.
Concentric wiring provides a chance of reducing the in-
stallation costs in a way that should be very beneficial,
but in order to succeed it must meet all of the reasonable
requirements of electrical and mechanical safety. Suit-
able grounding can easily be obtained. A rascally in-
clined contractor or an utterly incompetent workman
can make any system of wiring dangerous, but we be-
lieve that not only the character of the contractors but
that of the workmen has steadily improved, and that
these risks are becoming progressively less. Certainly
it would not be difficult for a central station to make
sure that its wiring campaign was properly carried out.
Possible mechanical difficulties which rise from the
concentric construction and might make trouble in spite
of careful workmanship deserve serious consideration.
This matter has been referred to in our correspondence
columns, and more information about it is highly de-
Febki arv 27, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
515
sirable. Experience abroad gives considerable encour-
agement, yet it is well known that one cannot in matters
of construction rely implicitly on foreign experience.
So far as the tire underwriters are concerned, they are
apt to be ultra-cautious. It is safe to conclude that they
will permit the concentric system to be used only after
it has been cleared of all reasonable objections. We be-
speak a thorough investigation and discussion of the
whole matter. If concentric wiring should come into
large use, it would undoubtedly work a revolution in
the material now popular for interior wiring, and would
work some inconvenience to makers of standard mate-
rial. However, when the need is pressing the manufac-
turer must meet it, and if he can do so by any system
which offers better protection than the concentric at a
similar price he will reap his reward. At all events let
the subject be opened up at once in theory and practice
so that the real situation may be thoroughly understood
bv evervone concerned.
Calculation of Electromagnet Windings
It is characteristic of electrical engineers that they
are addicted to dealing with wires. They are very apt
to be engaged in thinking, designing, insulating, erect-
ing, testing or operating wires. Even the engineers in
so-called wireless telegraphy have a strong tendency in
the same direction. In East India the unreflecting na-
tives commonly associate all species of electrical work-
ers under one and the same denomination of "tar-
wallahs," or wire-boys. This Oriental generalization
may be sociologically indiscriminate, but it is not philo-
sophically undiscerning.
In dealing with coils of wire for electrical engineering
purposes, one might at first sight suppose that the geo-
metrical and physical properties of a simple cylindrical
coil, either with or without an iron core, were so funda-
mental and elementary that their quantitative relations
were necessarily of the easiest sort. However, a little
inquiry will sadly undeceive the verdant tyro. It is true
that certain elementary geometrical relations, familiar
to the ancient Greeks, present themselves in any exam-
ination of the subject, such as the proposition that the
perimeter of a circle is - times its diameter. But any
serious discussion of the resistance, inductance, mag-
netic or thermal behavior of a magnet winding of given
dimensions will lead the student into any or all depths
of mathematical complexity he may desire.
Not only are the quantitative relations of magnet
windings complex in their details, but there is also a
distinct element of variability in construction. When a
bobbin is wound with insulated wire by a machine prop-
erly arranged for that purpose, the length of wire in
the winding can ordinarily be predicted, after a few
trials, to a nicety. Again, when the bobbin is wound
by the hand of a skilled mechanic, the length of wire
laid on can be predicted within a certain not very wide
range. If, however, the bobbin is hand-wound by an
unskilled winder, the discrepancy between the actual
and computed length of wire laid on may be very great.
Mans variables enter into the behavior and operation
of an electromagnet winding. In some applications the
cost of electric excitation, in others the cost of mate-
rials, in others the heating, in others the degree of
magnetic excitation may be the salient considerations,
and engineering formulas of a reasonably simple char-
acter have to be developed for each case as it arises. A
relatively large literature already exists upon the gen-
eral quantitative field.
In the article on page 529, by Messrs. E. E. George
and Harold Pender, a set of working formulas is de-
veloped for determining the size of wire needed to yield
a given number of ampere-turns, consistent with an
assigned heating limit. The space-factor, or ratio of
copper volume to winding volume, is assumed to be that
pertaining to a perfect winding, without compression of
the insulator and without settling between layers. It
is shown that, in certain cases, equations present them-
selves of a higher order than the second and insist on
being solved. In such cases graphical solutions are sug-
gested in preference to arithmetical solutions. We think
that this course will meet with the approval of the great
majority of engineers.
In order to meet the requirements of the particular
sizes of wire in the regular wire table, in cases where
an intermediate size of wire would be indicated by com-
putation, a suggestion is offered of employing a part
of the winding of the next size larger and the rest of
the winding of the next size smaller. This device is
sometimes convenient, and the graphical solution relat-
ing to it is likely to be useful.
Calculated and Measured Corona Losses
Considering how recently high-tension corona effects
and corona power losses have become known, it is sur-
prising that the laws relating to the amount of these
losses should have already been determined with so fair
a degree of accuracy. In detail, no doubt, much room
remains for elaboration, but the general laws have been
worked out to a practically satisfactory degree of pre-
cision.
This condition of affairs is well illustrated by the pa-
per read by Mr. F. W. Peek at the New York midwinter
convention of the A. I. E. E., in which a comparison was
presented between the calculated and observed corona
power losses over various high-tension transmission
lines. There are certain discrepancies which may be at-
tributed to weather conditions or to variations in sur-
face conditions of the conductors, but the general agree-
ment shown is very interesting. The factors which
enter into the production of corona loss are numerous.
Among them are the temperature and pressure of the
air, the size and shape of the wires, their surface con-
dition and distance apart, the frequency and wave-
shape of the applied emf, and the conditions of precipi-
tation or moisture in the air, such as fog, dew or snow.
With so many variables active it is indeed surprising
that the observed results should already be in good
apparent accordance with the theory.
516
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 9
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Opportunities for Electrical Manufacturers in
Siberia
To the Editor of the Electrical World:
SIR: — In his comments on "Opportunities for Elec-
trical Manufacturers in Siberia," Mr. Chester W. Pur-
ington stated that "a reasonable way of shipping from
America would be from San Francisco, or Portland,
Ore., by direct lines to Vladivostock." In this connec-
tion attention should be called to the fact that two lines
are running from Seattle to Vladivostock. The "Russian
Volunteer Fleet," which is backed by the Russian
government, had its first steamer here in November. It
plans to have regular monthly sailings from Seattle
directly to Vladivostock. The agents for this line are
Messrs. Balfour, Guthrie & Company of Seattle. The
steamers which have already sailed have carried full
cargoes. The Royal Mail Steam Packet Line, the agents
of which are Messrs. Frank Waterhouse & Company, has
also established a service to Vladivostock with regular
sailings. Both of these lines afford opportunities for
direct shipments from this port to Vladivostock.
Frank Dabney,
VonMc u/noh Assistant Treasurer Puget Sound
Seattle, Wastl. Traction, Light A Power Company.
Concentric Wiring
To the Editor of the Electrical World:
Sir: — In the discussion of the proposed concentric-
wiring system it would be unfair to assume that the
statements on either side were inspired entirely by
selfish motives. Aside from such interests, the ad-
vocates of the innovation have in view the advantages
it would bring to some of our people from extension in
the use of electric service, while those opposed to it
fear the results of an untried system and the abandon-
ment of standards of protection heretofore considered
essential to safety of life and property. If the general
adoption of this style of wiring were clearly and un-
mistakably an advance in electrical development, it
would be useless for any individual or class of men to
try to block the wheels of progress, as the attempt
would be futile. But the very fact that there are so
many and such persistent objections to it furnishes
good ground for hesitation in its acceptance.
The requirements for safe electrical installations in
the United States cannot be put on the same plane with
those of England or Germany, where a system of wir-
ing somewhat like the concentric is used, because of
the much higher standard of general building construc-
tion and personal supervision with reference to fire
prevention maintained in the latter countries. We are
frequently reminded that our annual per capita fire loss
is many times theirs. It was not so long ago that a
favorite explanation for fires of uncertain origin was
sed wires," but this is now rarely mentioned. The
present high standard of electrical installation and pro-
tection has made the charge extremely improbable. A
standard that has accomplished such results should not
be hastily abandoned. It is difficult to see how a sys-
tem of surface wiring like that proposed could be in-
stalled without offering ■ greater fire hazard from
short-cin ml- due to occidental crushing and cutting of
the exposed or Bemi-expo ed conductor. There would
also undoubtedly be a much greater tendency on the
,,art of ti iei to make extensions in his own
wiring because of the seeming simplicity of the sys-
tem. This could hardly do otherwise than materially
Increase the risk from defective wiring and would be a
matter difficult to control. The claim of economy in
installation is, of course, the basis for believing that
extensions would take place. In cities like Chicago, for
example, where wood molding or knob-and-tube instal-
lations are no longer permitted, rigid conduit is prin-
cipally used in new houses and armored cable in old.
Millions of feet of raceways exist in large office build-
ings, apartment buildings and factories which are as
safe and permanent as the buildings themselves. The
new system, even if cheaper, would scarcely be con-
sidered for this class of work. If the non-inclosed
system of wiring was not considered satisfactory in
smaller buildings in the residential districts, it is diffi-
cult to see how the proposed system would be. If not,
its field would be confined to cities, towns and suburban
sections where the requirements are less rigid. Here
it would have to compete with the lower-cost systems,
and the economy in its use would be open to question.
It is of interest to note that reports from England
indicate that the corresponding system is not exten-
sively used there, and that even some contractors, who
presumably would favor it on account of the increase in
the number of installations, do not do so.
It seems doubtful if the benefits claimed for the new
system, even if realized, would not be secured at too
great a cost, and while there is the present wide
diagreement among competent judges it certainly would
not seem wise, nor in accordance with precedent, to
adopt a radical innovation regarding which there is so
much honest doubt. G. W. Borst,
_,..,, ,ti Engim si .
unicufio, ju. Chicago /•'««< Manufacturing Company.
Thawing Sleet by Electricity
To the Editor of the Electrical World:
Sir: — For a good many years the writer has believed
that it is possible to thaw out any ice that accumulates
on wires during a sleet storm, but it was only a few
days ago that an opportunity presented itself to test
the idea on our transmission line, which is 9 miles long
and consists of three three-phase circuits of No. 4
B. & S. gage. After a sleet storm lasting ten hours,
the outer diameter had increased to double that of the
wires, but by passing 100 amp through each circuit for
ten minutes, one after the other, all three circuits were
made perfectly clear of ice. The above outline may
contain some information of value to others who wish
to try the experiment. John B. Dorais,
r • r\ „i „„ /->„„ Superintendent
LeVtS, Quebec, Can. Canadian Electric Light Company.
Weakness in Steel Towers
To th< Editor of the Electrical World:
Sir: — Referring to the letter of Mr. R. D. Coombs
in your issue of Feb. IS commenting on my letter in
your issue of .tan. 28 on "Weakness in Steel Towers,"
allow me to state that the line I had in mind was one
equipped with poles of the three-leg type and not fab-
ricated structures. However, fabricated structures of
both the pole and the tower type are being made of re-
rolled material, and 1 believe it would he wise for pur-
chaser ami engineers always to satisfy themselves that
the manufacturers of poles and towers are not using re-
rolled material. The names of well-known manufac-
turers of structural shapes are rolled in the shapes, and
hence where no name is visible the material employed
should be traced to the stock from which it originated.
FronWtn, /'». R- Haskell.
Pebki u»y i~, L916
ELECTRICAL WORLD
517
Mr. Tripp- Address on Kusines.s Conditions
To tin Editor oj tin BUCTBICAL World:
Sir: — Your report in your issue of Jan. 30, 1915, of
the address made by Mr. Guy E. Tripp, chairman of the
board of the Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing
Company, to the New England Street Railway Club in
Boston on Jan. 21, Baa interested me greatly.
I agree heartily with him that "a most serious con-
dition confronts us." However, after reading his re-
marks, I am in more of a quandary than ever as to the
correct answers to the following questions:
1 I To what prosperous year or sequence of years in
this country, since 1900, can Mr. Tripp point when
money was not normal or plentiful in Europe, par-
ticularly in the Bank of France?
To what yean of business depression can Mr.
Tripp point when the Bank of France was not extended
or over-extended?
Is it not a fact that, up to the outbreak of the
European war in July and August, 1914, our security
. which were offered by the large corporations to
secure funds for the financing of betterments, improve-
ments and new undertakings, were largely purchased
by European investors? (It is said that they now hold
about $5,000,000,000 worth.)
i Could this country have reached its tremendous
industrial growth in the short space of 100 years with-
out the aid of European capital?
When that capital has been cut off more than it
was in 1893, 1894, 1895 and 1896; 1902 and 1903; 1906
and 1907, and in 1910, 1911, 1912 and 1913, is not that
the real cause of this unprecedented business depres-
sion?
(6) Is it not a generally recognized fact that the
balance of trade was against us for four months of 1914
principally on account of the reduced buying power of
the world due to the destruction of capital caused by
the first and second Balkan wars in 1911, 1912 and 1913
and to the hoarding of capital in France and Germany
because of the fear of a general European conflict?
(7) Is it not extremely advisable for us to begin to
develop our foreign trade for manufactured products, so
that the balance of trade can rarely, if ever, go against
us, as England and Germany have done, or would Mr.
Tripp advise us to build branch factories in foreign
countries so that we do not need to seek foreign trade,
except where these branch factories cannot get it?
(8) If it is advisable to have a balance of trade in
favor of the United States, is it not advisable to make
every legitimate effort to convince foreign buyers of
the superiority of our products, and, if so, is there any
time when we shall have a better opportunity than now?
(9) Secretary Redfield said in St. Louis on Jan. 22,
1915, to the foreign trade convention of the National
Foreign Trade Council that thousands of tons of freight
worth millions of dollars are accumulating storage
charges in all of the ports of the United States for want
of vessels to transport it; he read proof after proof of
this ; he said that the government had asked for sugges-
tions, plans and remedies for this problem and still
wants them, but up to then had not received even a sug-
gestion. Is there any other way to obtain ships than
that proposed in the ship purchase bill, in order to be in
time, to take advantage of our opportunity?
(10) Is it not imperative, in view of the fact that
the public service and larger industrial corporations
have depended upon the purchase of a great part of
their security issues by the investors of European coun-
tries, and that the great waste of capital is going on
among the warring nations at the rate of $46,000,000
per diem, that we give serious consideration to ways
and means for obtaining financial independence?
ill) Why would not Sections Nos. 80 to 84 of the
companies' consolidated act Of L908 Of England I which
can be found in most law libra] long way
toward solving the problem? (In brief, this law is the
fundamental reason why it is possible for promoters of
new security issues to advertise a stock issue in the
daily papers and state that the sale will take place on
a certain day and then have the issue oversubscribed
sometimes as much as five times on the day announced.
It makes the promoters of new companies and stock
issues lay all of the facts on the table for the prospective
investors to see. It removes, as far as possible, the
element of chance from the transaction. It states how
much the promoters will get ; what is to be done with
the money ; who are the promoters, the accountants,
the bankers, the directors and the officers. Finally and
most important of all, it makes each and every one of
those who subscribe their names to the prospectus
civilly and criminally liable for their statements.
(12) Is there any reason, except the reduction of
brokers' and promoters' commissions, why a similar law
in the United States would not go a long way toward
enabling public service corporations and the larger in-
dustrial companies to finance their security issues in
this country?
The answers to these questions by a man of the cali-
ber of Mr. Tripp would be very interesting, and I hope
that he and others will answer them for the benefit of
the readers of the Electrical World.
Claude L. Matthew-.
St. Louis, Mo.
Mr. Tripp Expounds His Discussion
To the Editor of the Electrical World :
SIR: — You have kindly handed to me a copy of the
letter which Mr. Claude L. Matthews addressed to you
with reference to the remarks recently made by me
before the New England Street Railway Club in Boston.
The first five questions propounded by him ask for
statistical data which would require more time to com-
pile than I have available; but an examination of them
leads to the conclusion that he believes the seasons of
prosperity in the United States have coincided with the
plentifulness of European money and its willingness to
find investment in American enterprises and vice versa,
and that as a nation we have been dependent for our
good times and bad times upon the barometer of foreign
capital as measured by the condition of the Bank of
France. Whatever may have been the facts regarding
the condition of the Bank of France during the several
periods referred to in questions 1 and 2, it would be
unsafe to base any judgment thereon as to the future,
and I believe they should be regarded as having no more
weight than many other interesting coincidences.
The financial relations between the United States and
France have been much less intimate than those between
the United States and England, but it is undoubtedly
true that we have drawn largely upon Europe, par-
ticularly upon England, for the capital with which to
finance our development in the past. In recent years,
however, while we have continued to market securities
abroad because of the favorable rates of interest ruling
there, an increasing proportion of our financing has
been done at home because we have now reached the
stage where the annual savings of the United States
available for investment are greater than those of any
European country, and so well informed an economist
as Sir George Paish, of London, estimates them as
greater than the savings of England, Germany and
France combined.
While the present inability to obtain foreign capital
by reason of conditions in Europe is a handicap, it can
518
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 9
scarcely be considered the sole or principal cause of a
business depression beginning long before the present
war was entered upon and at least coincidental with the
general agitation for legislative regulation of all busi-
ness, the uncertainties in manufacturing industries due
to prospective and actual tariff legislation, and the lack
of earning power of railways.
Taking all things into consideration, it would be my
opinion that the "real cause of this unprecedented busi-
ness depression" is not the fact that European "capital
has been cut off more than it was" in the years named
by Mr. Matthews.
Mr. Matthews asks in question 6 if the balance of
trade was not turned against us by reason of the Balkan
wars and the hoarding of European capital in anticipa-
tion of the present conflict.
I should not think that these factors weighed heavily
in the trade situation because the principal reason for
the shifting of the balance was an increase of $133,000,-
000 in our imports from March 1 to Aug. 1, and the
simplest way to account for that increase is the reduc-
tion in tariff duties. The effect of the increase in im-
ports was accentuated by a decrease of $83,000,000 in
exports, about 70 per cent of which occurred in manu-
factured articles.
The suggestion, in question 7, that it is "advisable for
us to begin to develop our foreign trade for manufac-
tured products," it seems to me, is not just to American
manufacturers and exporters, in view of the fact that
our exports of manufactures have increased more than
600 per cent in the last twenty years, or from $179,-
000,000 in 1893 to $1,185,000,000 in 1913, and that man-
ufactures, which formed but 22 per cent of the exports
in 1893, were 49 per cent of the greatly enlarged total
in 1913. It is principally to manufactures that we owe
our large export trade and heretofore favorable balance
of exports over imports.
Manufactures exported showed an actual gain of $1,-
006,000,000 from 1893 to 1913, while the increase in all
other merchandise in that period was but $591,000,000;
in fact, the percentage of growth in American manufac-
tures exported was larger than the percentage of growth
in British or German exports of manufactures in the
period 1900 to 1912.
To those who have indorsed the popular fallacy that
American manufacturers are not skilful and energetic
in their business I recommend an investigation of these
statistics, which I believe to be accurate.
The eighth question asks "if we shall have any better
opportunity than now to convince foreign buyers of the
superiority of our products." We should, of course, im-
prove every practical opportunity to convince foreign
buyers of the good quality of American manufactures;
and, in view of the facts already noted, it would appear
that we have been quite successful in doing so.
Whether a time of general financial depression and
absence of purchasing power in many countries and
communities is an especially favorable one for an at-
tempt to establish new trading relations each manufac-
turer and exporter will determine for himself.
The latest information regarding trade conditions the
world over indicates thai the volume and value of in-
ternational commerce at present is but aboUl two-thirds
of normal.
Question ;t ask>: "Is there any other way to obtain
ships than that proposed in the ship-purchase bill in
order to be in time to take advantage of our oppor-
tunity.'" Doubtless there bat been ■ congestion of car
tain freights at certain ports of the United States,
though thi congestion, aa shown by the statements pub-
lished by i the Treasury, occurs chiefly
in wheat and cotton. The congestion in wheat will soon
be relieved by reason of the fad thai our surplus is
being rapidly exhausted, while that in other freights will
be reduced by the fact that many ships which were
delayed in European ports by lack of labor and docking
facilities for the discharge of their cargoes are now
being rapidly unloaded and released for further activi-
ties in the carrying trade. While a temporary lack of
carrying facilities was an inevitable consequence of the
destruction or tying up of ships by the war, there seems
to be at Washington a difference of opinion as to whether
this should be relieved at the expense of the taxpayers
or left to private enterprise. Many believe that the
only way in which the government can increase the
supply of ships more promptly than private capital can
do it would be by purchase of the interned vessels at
our ports, and that such a step by the government might
result in grave international complications. Even these
interned ships would have been purchased before this by
private capital and added to the ocean fleets if encourag-
ing laws had been enacted and there had been no in-
ternational obstacles.
Question 10, which asks if it is not "imperative that
we obtain financial independence of Europe," may be
answered emphatically in the affirmative; and it may
also be added that such degree of financial independence
as we have already achieved has been accomplished by
developing our home resources, building up our inde-
pendent industries and protecting our home market.
The magnitude of our home market can scarcely be
realized until we compare it with the foreign markets of
which we hear so much. The value of the domestic
merchandise, the products of our farms and factories
and forests and mines sold in the home market annually
is practically twice as great as the value of all such
articles forming the international trade of the world in
a like period. Moreover, the value of domestic manu-
factures sold in our home markets is more than twice
the value of all the manufactures exported by all the
countries in the world, and I repeat what I said in
Boston, that the removal of any measure of encourage-
ment and protection of home industries on the theory
that the injury will be repaired by any increase in for-
eign trade that we are likely permanently to retain in
competition with England and Germany is a colossal
mistake.
That some degree of protection has been removed
seems to me indisputably shown by an increase of $133,-
000,000 in imports between March 1 and Aug. 1, which,
it should be remembered, was a period of depression.
The suggestion, in inquiry 11, that something similar
to the English companies act (which provides for great
publicity about security issues) become a law is an ex-
cellent one, and I believe that financial authorities in
this country would very generally approve of provisions
of this character by which the promoters or brokers
offering the securities of a new company would he re-
quired to set forth publicly all of the material facts
relative thereto and be held accountable for their truth-
fulness. As a matter of fact, this was practically the
conclusion reached by the Hadley commission ap-
pointed several years ago by President Taft and which
found no place, so far as I have been able to observe,
in the various anti-trust laws which have been enacted
recently.
I have already trespassed too greatly upon your space,
but I feel that in so far as practical it is due to Mr.
Matthews i who has certainly raised many interesting
questions) that I should express my views, not as a
political economist, however, which I am far from claim-
ing to be, but merely from the viewpoint of a business
man having an earnest desire to contribute whatever I
am able toward the exposition of sound business prin-
ciples.
>'<»-A\ <;. K. Tripp.
Central-Station Development at Portland, Maine
Engineering and Operating Features of Large Interconnected System The Hydroelectric
Plants at Bonny Eagle, West Buxton and North Gorham
Till; electric-service system of the Cumberland
County Power & Light Company, of Portland,
.Maine, represents one of the most important re-
cent examples of centralized energy production and dis-
tribution to be found in New England. The policy of
consolidation of properties has been carried out along
unusually broad lines in the southern part of Maine
by the banking houses of A. B. Leach & Company, New
York City, J. & W. Seligman, New York City, and E. \V.
Clark & Company, Philadelphia, and the expansion of
the present system from the limits of only a few years
ago is of much interest. With an outstanding capital-
ization of $9,770,000, the company owns three hydro-
electric plants within 25 miles of Portland and a steam
plant in the latter city, and it controls through lease the
Portland Railroad Company and through stock owner-
ship the Lewiston, Augusta & Waterville Street Rail-
way and the York County Power Company. The com-
pany does the entire street-railway, lighting and motor-
service business in Portland, and controls the electric-
railway systems connecting the most important nearby
cities, with the exception of the recently completed
Portland-Lewiston Interurban Railroad.
In addition to the control of electric railways in Yar-
mouth, Bath, Lewiston, Auburn, Gardiner, Augusta and
Waterville, the company controls the electric-lighting
and motor-service business of Biddeford, Saco and many
other places along the York County coast, including Old
FIG. 1 — GENERATING ROOM AT BONNY EAGLE STATION
520
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 9
Orchard, Kennebunk and Waterboro, Sanford, Spring-
vale, Alfred, York Harbor and Beach. The Cumberland
company owns a hydroelectric plant of 12,000-hp rating
at Bonny Eagle, on the Saco River, a 4021-hp station on
the Saco River at West Buxton, and a third hydroelec-
tric plant of 2547-hp rating at North Gorham, on the
Presumpscott River. These stations are connected with
FIG. 2 — HEADGATES AT BONNY EAGLE PLANT
Portland by two 38,000-volt transmission lines running
from each plant to the so-called Sewall Street substation,
which is the most important distributing point on the
system. A tie line also connects the North Gorham and
Bonny Eagle plants, so that the high-tension system
forms a complete loop which is of great value in oper-
ation.
At Biddeford the York County company owns a 2500-
hp steam plant, and there are available small stations for
emergency use at Kennebunkport, Sanford and York
Harbor. The Portland Railroad Company, operating
107 miles of track, furnishes street-railway service in
Portland and the suburban district lying between Saco
and Yarmouth. The Lewiston, Augusta & Waterville
Street Railway does not purchase energy from the
Cumberland system, as the lines of the Central Maine
Power Company and the Androscoggin Electric Com-
pany are within its territory and are more accessible.
The Portland Railroad Company has a steam plant
of 6099 hp on the waterside of the city, the Lewiston
line has 1720 hp in steam plants, and there is also avail-
able at Plum Street, Portland, for auxiliary and emer-
fig. 3 — dam, mmm
KS ami win l i.s at BONNY I KG\ I
PLANT
Ice :i 8810 hp iteam station. The total gen-
erating rating of all the steam and hydroelectric sta-
tions under the company's control is now .",:',, 497 hp, and
tfafl estimated population served is 200,000. The gross
earnings of the company for 1913 were $2,354,797,
ting expenses and t&XM were $1,215,247. and net
earnings $1,189,660. The balance available for divi-
dends, sinking funds and renewals was $327,650, a full
6 per cent dividend on the preferred stock requiring
$138,000. The annual output of the Cumberland County
company's plants alone is now about 38,570,000 kw-hr.,
there having been a gain of 11,000,000 kw-hr. in the past
year. Portland is the largest city and commercial
metropolis of Maine. It is the terminus of three rail-
roads and several transatlantic and coastwise steamer
lines and has diversified manufactures.
The Saco River has a total fall of 1880 ft. in 104
miles, the maximum rate of fall being 94.6 ft. per mile
near its source in the lake district of the Crawford
Notch. The total drainage area is 1750 sq. miles. The
plants at Bonny Eagle and West Buxton are among the
FIG. 4 — TRANSMISSION SYSTEMS OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY
POWER & LIGHT COMPANY
most modern in Maine from the standpoint of hydraulic
design, the former being the more recently completed
station. Service was begun at Bonny Eagle in the
spring of 1912. The plant was designed by J. G. White
iv Company, Inc., New York, and its electrical features
arc as satisfactory as its hydraulic characteristics.
Bonny Eagle Plant
The Bonny Eagle development is situated 19 miles
from the outlet of the river. Above the plant in the
Saco watershed are 33 sq. miles of lakes and ponds. The
run-off of the river averaged 1.31 cu. ft. per second per
square mile in 1911, and 1.61 cu. ft. per second per
square mile in 1910. The station, a concrete, brick and
steel building with a steel truss roof, 160 ft. by 60 ft.,
spans a narrow gorge. The main dam, a solid concrete
structure 160 ft. long. 50 ft, high and 8 ft. wide at the
PfeNH AST SJ7, l'Jlo
ELECTRICAL WORLD
521
top, is erected immediately above the station. About
one-quarter mile above the station a diverting dam with
a 400-ft. spillway has been built across the river chan-
nel, so that a forebay about 0.9 sq. mile in area is es-
tablished above the headworks. From the main dam six
steel penstocks 13 ft. in diameter lead to the wheels, and
two 4.5-ft. penstocks lead to the exciter wheels. The
head on the wheels averages 39 ft., and the company is
able to use 4 ft. of flashboards on the dam. There are
six generating units in the station, each being a 1500-
kva, 2300-volt, three-phase, sixty-cycle alternator direct-
ly driven on a horizontal shaft by a 51-in. S. Morgan
Smith turbine with Lombard governor. Two gates are
provided for each large penstock and one for each ex-
citer penstock. Reinforced-concrete draft tubes take
the discharge from the wheel casings to the tailrace.
Each wheel has three bearings, two being inside the
wheel casing and the third inside the generator room,
which is separated from the wheel proper by a brick
wall. From each main penstock a 12-in. relief pipe is
carried upward vertically to above the intake level,
smaller pipes being used in connection with the ex-
citer penstocks. Inclined screens are provided on the
upstream side of each pair of headgates, and the gates
fig. 5-
-SW1TCHBOARD AND TRANSFORMERS, WEST BUXTON
STATION
are operated by hand through gearing. The pond im-
mediately above the station can be drawn down to a
minimum of 24 ft. below high water in operation. A
reinforced-concrete log sluice with a gradient of 0.3125
ft. per ft. leads from the dam through the power house
to the tailrace. The sluice is V-shaped, with an inside
width varying from 6 ft. at the top to 1 ft. at the bot-
tom. It is reinforced by nine 60-lb. steel rails the bases
of which form a wearing surface against which the logs
run in their downward passage. The sluice is 8 in. thick
on each side of the runway at the top and about 8 ft.
wide at the bottom.
The station arrangement is simple and efficient, all
the generators being mounted on concrete foundations
in a single row with two 125-kw, 125-volt exciters in
the center, each directly driven by a 21-in. S. Morgan
Smith turbine. The switchboard is installed on the
generator-room floor. The east side of the station is
divided into bays by the columns and is double-decked,
the operating-room floor carrying low-tension oil
switch* nil three banks of step-up
transformers, each of the latter consisting of three
1000-kva water-cooled units which raise the pressure to
38,000 volts. At the rear of the bays under the gallery
are installed sets of electrolytic lightning arresters con-
nected with horn-gap dischargers mounted on a channel-
iron frame outside the building, a narrow footwalk
n
i
Mtpi
r_w:.. - ,
1 1
u Hi
• Si
FIG. 6 2300-VOLT BUSBARS AND AUXILIARY CONNECTIONS
being provided close to the latter to facilitate inspection
and repairs. Inclined bushings carry the taps through
the wall. On the gallery, which is built with a concrete
floor reinforced by I-beams 16 ft. above the main floor,
are installed the high-tension oil switches, disconnecting
switches and buses associated with the outgoing lines.
The low-tension side of the station is laid out for one
set of 2300-volt buses sectionalized into three parts, one
pair of generators being connected with one bus section
by leads run in fiber duct laid in the floor. The exciter
leads are run in galvaduct. Disconnecting switches
are installed on each side of every oil switch. Low-ten-
sion oil switches are of the solenoid-operated type, with
tripping relays in concrete compartments on the main
I -• 3'fli
StM tAt! § r a -
FIG. 7 — SECTION OF SWITCHBOARD
floor, the disconnectors being mounted between barriers
of asbestos board.
The lightning arresters have an auxiliary ground
on the waterwheel casings. The conductors from the
2300-volt generators are lead-covered cables run verti-
cally through a concrete recess in the bus structure to
the buses, the series transformers being mounted in the
cables about 4 ft. above the floor, with leads run in con-
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 9
duit to the switchboard, and with potential leads for
voltmeter and wattmeter coils taken off at the top
through fuses and conduit, the arrangement being un-
usually good mechanically and straightforward electri-
cally. Each switchboard panel is provided with a con-
crete compartment at the rear to localize trouble.
The operating room is lighted by fourteen 150-watt
lamps suspended from 1-in. pipe brackets attached to
the columns and carrying the lamps 18 in. from the wall
and about 15 ft. above the floor. The bus structure is
built to accommodate two sets of three-phase, 2300-volt
buses in case the company desires to install them later.
All oil switches are remote-controlled from the switch-
board, and energy for solenoid operation is supplied by
a 55-cell "chloride" battery mounted in a fireproof com-
partment off the gallery. The battery is charged by a
5-kw motor-generator set mounted on the generator-
room floor. The inside wall of the battery room is of
"Hy-rib" concrete construction.
The high-tension leads are run upward vertically
from the transformer bushings through openings in the
gallery floor. The leads are of copper tubing and are
bine. The plant was designed by J. G. White & Com-
pany, Inc., and is a 101-ft. by 50-ft. structure of con-
crete and steel, with brick curtain walls, flanking a con-
crete dam 300 ft. long which provides the necessary head
for the turbines. The penstocks are short tubes leading
from a screened forebay to the wheel casings, and the
usual draft tubes are provided. Two 70-kw exciters
directly driven by waterwheels are installed between the
main units. Three governors are of the Replogle type,
the fourth being a Lombard equipment.
On the down-stream side of the generator room are
installed the switchboard, oil-switch cells and step-up
transformers. Two banks of transformers, each con-
sisting of three 500-kw units, are installed on either side
of the switchboard. One set of 2300-volt buses is pro-
vided, and the 38,000-volt buses are divided into two
sections with disconnecting switches between. The out-
going lines are carried through 18-in. vitrified pipe with
a 90-deg. bend in each case to keep out moisture, and
on the station side of the pipe a double thickness of
window glass is also provided.
The North Gorham plant, which is situated at Great
FIG. 8 — SERIES TRANSFORMERS AND
CONNECTIONS WITH BUSBARS
FIG. 9-
-38,000-VOLT LEADS FROM
TRANSFORMERS
FIG. 10 — OIL SWITCHES AND DISCON-
NECTING SWITCHES
supported on horizontal insulators attached to a pipe
framing which also serves as a guard against approach-
ing the conductors too closely. The gallery is 15 ft.
high and is laid out with space for two sets of three-
phase, 38,000-volt buses, with sectionalizing and tie
switches, although only one set has been installed. The
buses are divided into two sections, and the outgoing
lines, after passing through choke coils mounted near
the roof, pass through inclined wall bushings and are
tapped into the outside circuits, the latter being dead-
ended OH strain insulators mounted against the wall
panels below the eaves. The electrical equipment of the
II is in the main of General Electric make.
The West BllXtOfl station is situated about 2 miles
south of Bonny Eagle. The average discharge of the
river at the former point in 1918 was :'.I7I CU, ft. per
id, and the maximum was 15,800 CU. tt. per second.
Operating under a normal head of 25 ft. at this plant
are four 760-kw, 230i>-voit General Electric generators,
each directly eonnected to a 48-in. S. Morgan Smith tur-
Falls, on the Presumpscot River, contains four 500-kw.
10,000-volt, three-phase General Electric generators di-
rectly driven by 33-in. Stilwell-Bierce & Smith-Vaile
waterwheels operating under a head of 40 ft. The sta-
tion is a one-story brick building connected with the
water supply by steel penstocks carried up-stream to
the further side of a stone masonry and crib dam 35 ft.
high. Two and one-half miles above the station is
Sebago Lake, which furnishes the water supply of Port-
land. The lake and its tributaries have a drainage area
of about 470 square miles and the daily discharge at
the lake outlet is about 925 cu. ft. per second. Each
generator is equipped with a 30-kw belted exciter.
Three 500-kw step-up trans formers are installed at
North Gorham, in a separate building, to raise the volt-
age lor transmission to Portland.
A subsequent issue of the ELECTRICAL World will
contain a description of the company's substations and
transmission system, with references to its commercial
practice and electrical appliance shop.
Puai aky 87, 1916
ELECT I: I i- A I. \V<> RLD
523
Midwinter Convention of the A. I. E. E.
Abstracts of Papers Which Were Presented at the New York Meeting
and of the Discussions That Took Place Upon Them
IN our last week'- issue a brief outline was
given of the midwinter convention in Mew ^ orh
City of the American Institute of Electrical En-
gineers, an account of the symposium on "The Status of
the Engineer" and al • entitled "Dim-
mers for Tungsten Lamps." by .Mr. F. E. Waller, and
irtion of Alternating-Current Wave-Forms Caused
by Cyclic Variation of Resistance," of which Met
Frederick Bedell and E. ('. Mayer were joint authors.
In this issue are given abstracts of additional papers
and thi OS thereon.
\da|)lal)ilit> of .Motor to Different Classes of Work
Mr. D. B. Rushmore presented a paper entitled "The
Characteristics of Electric Motors Involved in Their
Applications," in which he pointed out that the char-
acteristics of a motor should be determined by the class
of work it is intended to perform. Data were given
showing the enormous increase in the application of
electric motors for driving industrial machinery since
the year 1899.
Among the subjects treated in the paper were the
advantages of electric motor drive, applications, classi-
fication, rating, limitations, speed classification, char-
acteristic curves, mechanical considerations and operat-
ing features.
Attention was called to the fact that commutation
affects the life of brushes and commutators consider-
ably with continuous-duty motors, but with intermit-
tently loaded machines sparking may be permitted if
the commutator and brushes have time to polish be-
tween "peaks." When a motor is geared or directly con-
nected to a machine the speed of which must be changed
periodically, sparking will always occur on the same
segments of the commutator, therefore sparkless com-
mutation should be maintained on all loads. Regula-
tion is an important factor on paper machines, cutting
tools, etc. The efficiency is usually an important fea-
ture of continuously running machines; of secondary
importance on cycle-duty apparatus, and of little ac-
count where a motor runs practically all the time on
armature control. Power-factors affect only the cost
of supplying energy to the motor.
In selecting motors their characteristic curves should
be studied to determine whether they will conform with
the load conditions. It is also important to know the
condition existing at the place where the motor will be
installed, in order to ascertain the proper kind of in-
stallation to use. From an operating point of view it
is also necessary to know the following: Stability of
operation, effect of voltage, frequency and wave-form
variation, effect of unbalancing phase voltages, effect of
single-phase operation on three-phase circuits, limita-
tions to throwing motors directly on line, etc. It may
also be advisable for motors to have a small flywheel
effect and characteristics which will improve the power-
factor.
Discussion
The subjects outlined in Mr. Rushmore's paper were
treated in detail in written discussions by Messrs.
L. E. Lanier, K. A. Pauly, Ernst F. W. Alexanderson.
C. J. Fechheimer, F. B. Crosby, A. E. Averrett, Lee F.
Adams and C. A. Adams. These reports in general
represented a compilation of information which would
be valuable in a handbook on motor characteristics and
ations. Mr. Lanier exhibited characteristic curves
of various kinds of direct-current motors, and pointed
out that the relative dimensions of armatures have con-
siderable effect on the inertia even when the volume is
not changed. Mr. Pauly showed that flywheels are
effective in smoothing out power curves of motors carry-
ing fluctuating loads the peaks of which occur fre-
quently but only for a short period. He pointed out
that automatic regulators can be employed to maintain
constant speed as the energy in the rotating flywheel
is given up. Mr. Alexanderson showed characteristic
curves of railway motors and various types of alter-
nating-current machines. Mr. Fechheimer called atten-
tion to the improvements made in synchronous motors
by providing them with squirrel-cage windings which
assist in starting and prevent hunting. Another im-
provement which was cited is the permanent connec-
tion, both electrical and mechanical, of exciters to their
respective motor shafts. Characteristic curves were
shown to indicate the effect these changes have had on
the machines. The speaker declared that induction
motors are superior to synchronous motors on loads
up to 75 hp. Mr. Crosby commented on the character-
istics of multi-speed changeable-pole and concatenated
motors, saying that they are only a compromise between
the ordinary alternating-current motor and the shunt-
wound direct-current motor. He described a method of
controlling the speed of induction motors which permits
the return to the line of energy generated in the sec-
ondary circuit. Mr. Averrett discussed the character-
istics of variable-speed combinations, and explained the
effect which changes in voltages, frequency, wave-form,
etc., have on the characteristics of these motors. Mr.
L. F. Adams' talk related to journal, ball and roller
bearings and lubrication. Prof. C. A. Adams spoke of
the effect which magnetic saturation and leakage will
have on commutation. He also pointed out that motors
operated in concatenation will not have the character-
istics which they have when operated separately.
Cooling Underground Cables
The method employed by the Niagara Falls Power
Company for cooling its underground cables was de-
scribed in a paper entitled "Effect of Moisture in the
Earth on Temperature of Underground Cables," by Mr.
L. E. Imlay. The scheme first employed was to cir-
culate water through one of the vacant ducts adjacent
to the occupied ducts. Later porous drain tiles were
installed parallel to and above the cable ducts so that
water flowing through the tile could percolate through
the ground surrounding the cable and finally be car-
ried away through agricultural tile drains installed be-
low the ducts. The approximate temperatures of the
cables were ascertained by inserting resistance thermom-
eters in ducts adjacent to the cables which were sup-
posed to be the source of heat. The temperature of the
cable insulation next to the conductor was determined
from these readings by referring to a chart based on
a formula given by Messrs. Atkinson and Fisher in a
paper presented before the A. I. E. E. in 1913.
Discussion
Mr. H. W. Fisher submitted a written discussion in
which was described a method of ascertaining earth
temperatures without introducing errors due to convec-
524
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 9
tion and heat carried away by the thermometer tube.
It was pointed out that earth temperatures are affected
by the character of the surface and the condition of the
atmosphere — whether cloudy or clear.
Mr. W. S. Clark said that cables belonging to the
\\
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i
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i
/
1
//
i
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E„
fi
KILOVOLTS BETWEEN LINES
FIG. 1 — 63.5-MILE THREE-PHASE LINE OF WEATHERED
NO. 0 CABLE SPACED 124 IN.
Commonwealth Edison Company and installed under the
Chicago River were for a time cooled by pumping water
through the tunnel. He also referred to an installation
in St. Louis where the clay surrounding the ducts was
baked like brick dust apparently because of the lack of
moisture to conduct away the heat. Mr. Philip Torchio
said that temperature is of secondary consideration with
pressures up to 2200 volts. For higher voltages the
dielectric strength of the insulation is considerably
affected by heat. He referred to one company which is
installing its cables in separate ducts to improve the
radiation of heat.
Prof. W. S. Franklin called attention to an electrical
method which has been developed by the Department of
Agriculture for measuring the thermal conductivity of
the earth.
Mr. P. W. Sothman pointed out that the radiation
i-V
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/
I
'„
1
/ !
1
^
i
i
30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 ' 110 120
KILOVOITS BETWEEN LINES
nO. 2— SINGLE-PHASK LINK WITH SMOOTH NO. 8 CON-
DUCTORS BPACED I 16 IN.
from porous tile should be greater than that from glazed
tilt according to theory, and added that it would b« B
good subject to study.
Mr. George \. Lenunon called attention to :i •
failure at YoUTJgBtown, Ohio, caused apparently DJ tin
high thermal resistivity of the surrounding earth.
Among others who took part in the discussion were
Messrs. J. P. Wintringham and C. A. Adams.
Oil Circuit-Breakers
A brief explanation of some of the arc phenomena
occurring when oil circuit-breakers are opened, a de-
scription of the construction of modern oil circuit-
breakers, and a method of rating and preparing specifi-
cations for this apparatus, were given in a paper
entitled "Oil Circuit-Breakers," by Mr. K. C. Randall. In
general, the rate of contact separation should be pro-
portional to the frequency of the system when endeavor-
ing to attain the ideal condition of terminating current
at the end of the first half cycle. The extinguishment
of the arc, however, will take place near the normal zero
point regardless of the speed of opening. Some switches
have been so designed that the oil will be agitated when
the contacts are separated, thus introducing clean,
fresh, cool oil between the electrodes. Producing a large
number of breaks in series simultaneously will have the
same effect as opening a single break more rapidly. Oil
will deteriorate more rapidly in a slow-operating breaker
than in one where the same amount of energy is dis-
sipated prior to the first zero value. The ability to de-
ionize arc gases will depend on the temperature and
pressure of the surrounding oil, the shape and volume
of the contacts, and also on the heat conductivity and
vaporizing temperature. Fast closing like fast opening
is important, as an explosion is likely to take place when
the arcing tips of a slow-closing breaker touch during
a short-circuit. Probably the maximum power rating
for plain breakers as now built will approximate the
power that would be delivered through a shunt-tripped
breaker at the time of opening by high-reactance gen-
erators having a combined rating of 150,000 kva and
feeding energy to a maximum short-circuit from a
single bus. It was pointed out that a circuit-breaker
designed for instantaneous tripping can be rated at
only half the value that it would be if a time delay of
about 0.8 second were introduced. The best method of
specifying breaker equipment is to indicate the maxi-
mum current which will have to be interrupted as well
as the service voltage. An engineer was quoted as say-
ing that a breaker is satisfactory for a given voltage if
the unit may be immediately put back into permanent
satisfactory operation without immediate repair.
In a discussion of this paper the following took part:
Messrs. W. S. Franklin, Philip Torchio, H. R. Summer-
hayes and P. M. Lincoln. Mr. Summerhayes declared
that it would be practically impossible to increase the
pressure in tanks artificially to extinguish arcs more
quickly, as abnormal pressures are produced when cur-
rent-carrying contacts are separated.
Mr. Lincoln said that a considerable saving in ma-
terial and reduction in heat loss is made by using re-
actance instead of resistance. Mr. Randall declared that
a reactor connected in series with the switch would
have to be much larger than one shunted across auxiliary
contacts in series with the main contacts.
Corona Loss
In a paper entitled "Comparison of Calculated and
Measured Corona-Loss Curves," by Mr. F. W. Peek,
Jr., were shown several curves indicating by means of
dotted and heavy lines the relation between the actual
and the calculated corona losses. These curves repre-
sent conditions which have existed on lines in various
parts of the country, at altitudes ranging from sea level
to 10,000 ft. Theoretically, if the conductors were per-
fectly smooth, no loss should occur until the visual crit-
ical voltage is reached, when the loss should take a defi-
nite value. Above this value the loss should increase
m;v 27, 1915
ELECTRIC A L \V ORLD
525
■a the square of the difference between the applied volt-
age and disruptive critical voltage. Owing to dirt and
other irregularities on the surfaces of the conductors,
however, brush discharges usually occur at voltages
below the critical value. It was found with large weath-
ered conductors where the disruptive and visual critical
values approached each other that the loss followed the
quadratic law very closely. On the other hand, with
new conductors and especially small ones the Ic
voltages lower than the visual critical value falls below
the quadratic value. In general, the disruptive critical
voltage should be the limit of pressure on practical
lines, as otherwise storms will cause excessive lo
Discussion
Prof. J. 15. Whitehead expressed the belief that corona
loss takes place gradually instead of assuming a definite
value at the visual corona point as stated by .Mr. Peek.
Be -uggested allowing the factor of safety to take care
of irregularities in the surface of conductors.
In addition to answering questions brought out in the
discussion. Mr. Peek declared that small irregularities
on the surface of small conductors have more effect than
on large conductors. He also said that the potential
gradient required to produce corona discharge increases
considerably when conductors are brought close to-
gether.
100,000-Yolt Portable Substation
A 4000-kva portable substation belonging to the
Southern Power Company and designed to operate on
100,000 volts was described in a paper entitled "A 100,-
000-Volt Portable Substation," by Messrs. ('. I. Burk-
holder and Nicholas Stahl. As about 70 per cent of this
company's 100,000-volt circuits are paralleled by rail-
roads, the portable substation has become very useful in
supplying temporary service in many places on the
system. Besides serving as a reserve equipment for
larger stations, the portable substation may be used to
replace distributing or tie-in substations while they are
being enlarged or rebuilt. The equipment may also
serve for break-down replacement, emergency stand-by
service, pioneer service ( pending a determination of
the proper location or equipment for the permanent
substation) or to supply energy to those who need it
immediately.
The equipment includes three transformers, three
high-voltage horn-gap switches and two inclosed cabs
arranged alternately along the deck of a flat car. The
horn-gap switches are supported near their respective
transformers on a steel framework. The switch bases
slide vertically between the main columns supporting
the framework so that the horn-gap insulators can be
lowered while the portable substation is being trans-
ferred from one place to another. The horn-gaps and
transformer-terminal bushings may be removed during
transit.
Oil-insulated, self-cooled transformers are employed,
but additional cooling is provided by a motor-driven
blower capable of supplying 20,000 cu. ft. of air per
minute at 1 ounce pressure. The air passes to ducts
around the base of each transformer and thence up
along corrugations. The quantity of air supplied can
be regulated by shields at the transformer base. When
the transformers' terminals are removed they are sup-
ported on steel racks inside the cabs and the ends in-
closed by sheet-steel cylinders which prevent the mois-
ture entering the condenser-type bushings.
The transformers are so designed that it is possible
to obtain 168 different ratios of transformation, 112 of
these combinations being secured without reducing the
permissible output rating of the transformers. Volt-
ages ranging from 13,200 volts to 100,000 volts may
be applied to the high-tension windings, and the low-
tension windings may be connected for pressures from
2200 volts up to 13,200 volts. Small lead-covered con-
ductors are also brought out of the low-tension side of
each transformer from separate single-phase windings
designed for 10-kva output at 110 volts. In this way the
PIG. 3 — SUBSTATION PLAN
correct voltage may always be obtained for operating
the blower motors, lighting the car and operating auxil-
iary equipment regardless of what the high-tension or
low-tension voltages of the main windings may be.
The high-tension terminals are connected in delta by
joining adjacent transformer terminals to the nearest
switch terminal and connecting the first and third trans-
formers by a wire supported on insulators which lean
outward from the steel frame. The low-tension conduc-
tors, which consist of lead-covered cable, lead inside the
switch cab, where they are connected in delta with two
sets of switches feeding energy to the outgoing line
through porcelain bushings set in the rear wall of the
switch cab. Indicating and recording meters are in-
stalled on a switchboard inside one of the cabs. In
order that one set of instruments may be employed with
any low-tension voltage, they are connected with the
outgoing circuit through two sets of series transform-
ers operated from pallet switches fastened to the oil
switches. When one of the oil switches is opened the
corresponding series transformers are short-circuited
and the other transformers are connected to the meas-
uring instruments. The total weight of the instal-
lation including the cars is approximately 135,000 lb.
and the cost of the equipment complete and ready to
run was approximately $21,000, or $7 per rated kva.
Notwithstanding the conflicting requirements imposed
upon the portable substation and the various functions
it is called upon to perform, the test of experience has
demonstrated the adequacy of the design and the satis-
factoriness of operation.
Discussion
Mr. Julian C. Smith expressed the belief that a three-
phase transformer is better than three single-phase
transformers as it is more compact and can be sup-
FIG. 4 — SUBSTATION ELEVATION
ported on a depressed platform to allow sufficient over-
head clearance.
In closing the discussion, which was participated in
by Mr. K. C. Randall and Mr. L. W. Chubb, Mr. Stahl
said that conditions did not permit installing lightning
526
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. »
arresters on the portable substation, and that the South-
ern Power Company uses single-phase transformers ex-
clusively. For protection against lightning the company
depends on the equipment in the nearest generating
substation. In answer to Mr. Chubb's question the
speaker replied that it was not necessary to inclose
totally the transformer corrugations to insure good
ventilation as the air hugs the casings in any event.
Other reasons for not confining the cooling air are that
larger passageways are afforded and larger output is
permitted when operating without the blower.
Distortion of Alternating-Current Waves
Following the presentation of the paper entitled "Dis-
tortion of Alternating-Current Wave-Forms Caused by
Cyclic Variation in Resistance," which was abstracted
in last week's issue of the Electrical World, the fol-
lowing took part in the discussion: Dr. Clayton H.
Sharp and Messrs. J. B. Taylor, C. Field-Frank and L.
W. Chubb. Dr. Sharp called attention to the fact that
under uniform conditions the temperature of an incan-
descent body will not vary appreciably if the frequency
of the alternating current is high. He also pointed out
that the power-factor of a tungsten lamp circuit is very
high even when third and fifth harmonics are present
and that variations in voltage cause a resistance change
which lags behind the change in voltage. Mr. Taylor
said that the difference in power-factor with tungsten-
filament and carbon-filament lamps is not reason enough
alone to advocate one system being used more than an-
other. He also called attention to the cyclic changes in
transmitter circuits where the current follows the re-
sistance change, and in wireless telephone circuits where
alternating-current energy is employed. Mr. Field-
Frank declared that there is a large resistance hyster-
esis in wireless circuits. Mr. Chubb expressed the be-
lief that other harmonics besides the third can exist in
a circuit containing only resistance. If other harmonics
are present, the fundamental wave will not necessarily
be shifted as much as indicated by the authors.
Dimmers for Tungsten Lamps
The next paper, entitled "Dimmers for Tungsten
Lamps," was abstracted in last week's issue of the
Electrical World.
Discussion
The following took part in the discussion: Messrs.
Leonard Kebler, C. D. Knight, J. B. Taylor, W. S. Frank-
lin and H. Ward Leonard. Mr. Kebler presented a
written discussion describing the mechanical construc-
tion of dimmers and methods of insuring good contact
and free turning. Mr. Knight advocated employing
more steps and adjusting the total resistance to that of
five times the lamps controlled to give the proper dim-
ming. Professor Franklin declared that it is not neces-
sary to have the same resistance between each step and
recommended grading the resistance so that each change
would produce the same apparent variation in illumina-
tion. This can be done, the speaker declared, by com-
paring the intensity of lamps in two separate circuits.
Enough resistance can be inserted in one circuit each
time to bring the filament intensity below that of the
comparison lamp. Mr. Leonard spoke of the construc-
tion of early forms of lamp dimmers and compared them
with the compact rheostats now employed. He ex-
pressed the belief that dimmers should be so designed
tli.it each rheostat unit will require the maximum per-
missible number of wattfl when it is operating at its
maximum duty.
In closing the discussion, Mr. Waller stated that Pro-
* Franklin's method of determining the required
■■. which had been tried, is not satisfactory as
the variations cannot be noted when gazing at brilliant
filaments. He declared that much better results can be
obtained by reflecting light from the lamps to a back-
ground and comparing the illuminated surfaces.
Searchlamps
Some of the essential and desirable features of
searchlamps, methods of testing reflectors and results
of tests conducted on 36-in. and 60-in. navy searchlamps
and the Beck vapor-cooled 44-in. lamp were outlined in
a paper, "Searchlights," by Mr. C. S. McDowell. Con-
structional features and performance characteristics of
the latter were described on page 181 of the Electrical
World, issue of July 25, 1914. Mr. McDowell pointed
out that searchlamp drums should be so made that air
currents cannot be set up inside, otherwise flickering
of the arc will occur; the ventilation should be sufficient
so that the light can be kept at full intensity with the
shutters closed, or else other means should be adopted
for keeping the light at low intensities, prior to opening
the shutter. It is also essential that a ground-glass
finder be provided to show the position and length of
the arc as well as the movement of the positive crater
away from the focus of the mirror. Resistors of fixed
and variable resistance should be connected in series
with the searchlamp electrodes, the first to overcome
the natural instability of the carbon arc and the second
to allow accurate adjustment of the pressure between
the electrodes. The voltage drop across the fixed re-
sistance should be at least one-half that across the arc.
In order that a reflector may serve its purpose most
effectively, the majority of the light to be projected
should fall on it, thus fixing the relation between the
focal length and the diameter of the mirror. The cor-
rect focal length is that which, changed in either direc-
tion, decreases the foot-candle illumination on a dis-
tant object. By increasing the focal length the arc can
be placed farther from the mirror, thereby decreasing
the chance of breakage by heat. Descriptions were
given of the line or screen test, the sun or zone test, and
the beam photometric test for determining the effi-
ciencies of searchlamp mirrors. The first test consists
of placing a screen in front of the mirror and photo-
graphing its image with a camera placed back of a hole
in the center of the screen. If both surfaces of the
mirror are properly ground, the lines in the photograph
should be regular but not necessarily straight or paral-
lel. The ability of a mirror to reflect incident parallel
rays at a common point can be determined by placing
the mirror in a plane perpendicular to the sun's rays
and photographing the converging rays, which may be
brought out by producing a cloud of smoke in front of
the mirror. One of the most reliable tests for a mirror
is to place a light at its focus and measure the actual
foot-candles of illumination produced at different points
in the beam.
Searchlamp arcs should have the following character-
istics: Small positive electrode with high-current densi-
ties and high temperatures throughout the crater area;
small negative electrode, long arc and uniform mixture
of carbon. It was pointed out that if the diameter of
the light source be cut in half while the candle-power
remains constant, the intensity of illumination on the
target will be quadrupled. Long arcs were advocated
as negative electrodes sometimes cut off the most in-
tense rays emitted by the positive crater. The shadow
produced by the negative electrodes can, of course, be
further decreased by reducing its diameter. The arc
length is restricted by the stability of burning.
It was shown that the candle-power measured at 40
deg. from the normal to the arc surface using standard
navy carbon electrodes increases as they are separated
until the arc length is about 13 16 in., after which the
candle-power does not increase considerably with the
Kebriaky T.. 191B
ELECTRICAL WORLD
separation of the electrodes. With the same electrodes
it was found that the l>c\>t operating pressure to main-
tain across the arc was from 59 volts to 61 volts. The
length of the arc corresponding to these pressures aver-
aged -1 '12 in., or a little less than the length giving
the highest candle-power at 40 deg. from the normal.
Because of the shorter wave-length present in the light
from the Beck lamp, this lamp is particularly useful in
naval service where bluish-gray ships must be dis-
tinguished. It was also found that the Beck search-
lamp produced about 13 ft. -candles at the center of the
beam, 2850 ft. from the light source, as compared with
5 ft.-candles produced by the 60-in. navy standard
searchlamp.
Discussion
Mr. E. II. Martindale presented a discussion prepared
bj Mr. R. B. Chilian, Jr.. on improvements in search-
lamp electrodes. Mr. Chillaa pointed out that the wan-
dering of the arc is affected by the texture of the nega-
tive electrode. He declared that a tapered tip can be
maintained on small carbon electrodes by copper-plating
them. Reference was also made to a three-change-gear
mechanism which permits a 10 per cent variation in
feeding either the positive or the negative electrode.
By reducing the diameter of electrodes a 30 per cent
increase in flux falling on the mirror has been obtained
and the arc has been stabilized.
Dr. Karl G. Frank declared that if a certain current
density is exceeded a corresponding increase in the effi-
ciency and intrinsic brilliancy will not be obtained.
Other subjects referred to were the melting point of
carbon, the absorption of light by the atmosphere, and
the possibility of clearing the atmosphere by high-ten-
sion electrical discharge.
Mr. H. A. Hornor pointed out that searehlamps should
be as simple as possible as they cannot receive the at-
tention on merchant vessels that they do in the navy.
Mr. R. Fleming said that oxidation takes place around
the positive tip more than at the crater as the latter is
protected by inert gases. He suggested making the
mirrors to correspond with the light sources instead of
employing parabolic mirrors which are designed for
point sources only. Professor Franklin declared that
it is impossible to correct the shape of mirrors so that
they will give parallel rays with larger than point light
Bources. Dr. Sharp declared that absolutely parallel
rays are not desired with searehlamps because the sur-
face illuminated would then be only as large as the
diameter of the mirror. He pointed out that the bril-
liancy of the crater represents the temperature of
vaporization of carbon, and hence an increase in current
will merely increase the size of the crater and not the
intensity. Moreover, the bright lines in the gas at the
crater are not necessarily a sign of higher tempera-
tures, but rather of luminescence.
In closing the discussion, Mr. McDowell said that im-
provements have been noted by employing small elec-
trodes. He declared that a minute change in the posi-
tion of the arc will change the beam intensity as much
as 50 per cent. To show that the intensity of the Beck
searchlamp depends almost entirely on the arc, and to a
lesser extent on the mirror, the speaker said that tests
show that the mirrors used are less efficient than those
on other searehlamps. He pointed out that too much
dispersion is objectionable as some of the illumination
is wasted when projecting over long distances.
Electrical Precipitation
The session on Friday morning was devoted exclu-
sively to a discussion on electrical precipitation. Before
any papers were presented Dr. F. G. Cottrell gave a
brief outline of the history of electrical precipitation.
He explained that the precipitation of localized sus-
pended matter had been investigated more than had the
removal of fog, as the Brat ia supported by individuals,
and also because it was the most logical method of
attacking the problem. As some steamship companies
have expressed their willingness to pay the cost of in-
vestigating the precipitation of fog, undoubtedly con-
siderable work will be done along this line in the future.
Following the historical review, three papers were
presented in succession.
In a paper entitled "Electrical Precipitation," by Mr.
W. W. Strong, it was pointed out that the energy re-
quired to precipitate smoke or dust can be calculated
from the formula A / -, in which E will be
obtained in ergs per second when |i is the coefficient of
viscosity of the medium, o is the radius of a suspended
particle, / is the distance between the walls of the pre-
cipitation chamber, d is the density of the particles, V
is the longitudinal velocity of the gas and L is the length
of the precipitation chambers in centimeters. This for-
mula shows that the greatest efficiency is obtained when
/ and d are as small as is practicable. In general, I
should not exceed 5 in. or 6 in. and V should not greatly
exceed 8 ft. or 10 ft. per second. Electrical precipitation
seems to require the action of as uniform and dense a
corona as possible upon the gas containing the sus-
pended matter. High temperatures usually permit a
large corona current density. Break-down between elec-
trodes should be prevented as fluctuations in ionization
of the gases may cause considerable trouble. About 10
per cent of the energy of the corona discharge is used
directly in precipitating smoke. A formula was derived
for the corona method of electrical precipitation, which
gives the efficiency of the process with pipes of different
radii, lengths and values of the potential gradient and
transverse velocity.
A description was also given of the possible nature of
the corona rays, different kinds of ionization, and the
way smoke and fume particles may be charged.
In a paper entitled "The Theoretical and Experi-
mental Consideration of Electrical Precipitation," by
Mr. A. F. Nesbit, it was pointed out that electrical
precipitation of suspended matter in gases is insepar-
ably connected with the phenomena of ionization and
the laws of electrically charged bodies. Among the
subjects discussed in this paper were: The general
properties of particles suspended in gases; the atomic
structure of matter; ions, nuclei, aggregates; ioniza-
tion. Apparatus for precipitating smoke, cement, ashes,
etc., was described and its operation explained. Atten-
tion was called to the fact that negative corona is more
effective in precipitating particles than is positive
corona. Any irregularities on either of the electrodes
of the precipitator tend to localize the discharge, thereby
lowering the efficiency of the apparatus.
Practical Applications of Electrical Precipitation
The third paper on the subject, which was presented
by Mr. Linn Bradley, was entitled "Practical Applica-
tions of Electrical Precipitation and Progress of the
Research Corporation." The paper contained a descrip-
tion of several electrical precipitator plants. Voltages,
electrode spacings, energy consumption, etc., were speci-
fied for a number of equipments precipitating fumes
from silver-refinery gases, hydrated tin chloride from a
chlorine detuning plant, zinc oxide from a roasting
mill, tar from illuminating gas, sulphuric acid from a
silver refinery, powdered organic materials from gases,
etc. In general the eliminators consist of flues equipped
with coaxial electrodes.
After presenting his paper, Mr. Bradley demonstrated
how effectively corona discharges can precipitate car-
bon dust. The equipment employed consisted of a 5-kva»
528
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 9
100,000-volt transformer operating at 40,000 volts, a
mechanical commutator driven by a single-phase, self-
starting motor operating at 1800 r.p.m., and a flue con-
taining a coaxial electrode. Motion pictures were also
exhibited to show different installations described in the
paper.
Discussion
Mr. S. Dushman called attention to a new compact
rectifier capable of carrying currents ranging from 0.1
amp to 0.5 amp and operating at pressures up to 100,000
volts. The device contains no moving parts and depends
for its operation on the electron emission of a hot body
in high vacuum. When currents of several amperes are
required several of the devices can be connected in
parallel, each one having an efficiency of over 90 per
cent, it was declared.
Prof. W. S. Franklin recommended connecting a con-
denser outside the choke coils used in the transformer
circuit. Mr. A. F. Nesbit declared that the rectifier
described by Mr. Dushman had been tested and proved
satisfactory. In answer to questions by Mr. J. B. Tay-
lor, Professor Franklin replied that precipitation can
hardly be attributed to the attraction or repulsion of
charged bodies, as the forces are too small. He ex-
pressed the belief that ionization accounts for the entire
process. Dr. W. W. Strong said that precipitation does
not become perceptible until corona starts, after which
it increases up to the spark-over point. Mr. Bradley
pointed out that too high potentials may blow away
precipitated dust. Mr. S. M. Kintner said that con-
densers are too expensive for the protection they afford
electrical precipitators.
Electrical Porcelain
A thorough treatise on "Electrical Porcelain" was
presented by Prof. E. E. F. Creighton. The first part
treated of conditions to which insulators are subject in
use; duration characteristics of three kinds of surges;
rise of voltage with the surges and the frequencies in-
volved ; construction of a high-frequency testing set ; con-
trol and measurement of voltage; kva rating of the oscil-
lator; reproductions of operating conditions; tentative
recommended tests; operators' opinions and experi-
ences; extent to which high frequency should be ap-
plied; heating effects of corona and sparks. Under the
general subject of manufacture of electrical porcelain
the following details were treated: Desirable qualities
in porcelain insulators; dry process versus wet process;
proportion of constituents and difficulties in maintain-
ing these relations; glazing and firing, and flaws de-
veloped during drying process. It was pointed out that
the quality of porcelain insulators depends almost en-
tirely on the mechanical processes employed. The last
ii included remarks on the significance of tests;
percentage of failures as a basis for rejecting insula-
tors; welding of puncture holes by high-frequency wave
trains; choice of test pieces; relations of puncture volt-
age to thickness of porcelain; development of faults anil
methods of examination; are-over voltage of bushings;
with super-spark potential; testing strings of in-
sulators, and voltage-gradienl
hi tcusaion
Mr. A. o. Aii.-Mn presented a written discussion ami
explained motion pictures illustrating tests of various
Of insulators and insulator parts. He said that
the ordinary brush discharge around insulators i
I will not damage the insulator unless followed by
a power arc. He al 0 pointed OUi that the better class
of insulators do not fail from high frequency as much
■ mi other causes. High frequent j tests, M
tinned very long, will raise the temperature of the small
paces in insulators ami CaU e de truction, and hence
the rate at which punctures occur should be observed
rather than the number of punctures. At normal fre-
quencies small insulators can be tested with higher
voltages than large ones, but if a large and a small unit
tire connected in multiple with an air-gap in series the
small insulator will flash over first. When the frequency
is increased gradually it will be found that the flash-
over point of a large insulator will be lowered much
more rapidly than that of the smaller unit. The speaker
also said that no one test appears to be sufficient, and
therefore factory routine tests should include tests at
normal frequency, high frequency and "kick" or re-
sistance methods. Mr. J. T. Lawson spoke of the suc-
cess which the Public Service Electric Company of New
Jersey has had with high-frequency testing in weeding
out faulty insulators. During the past year this com-
pany has tested 25,000 insulators, of which 21,000 were
of the pin type and 4000 were of the disk type. By
eliminating the faulty insulators service interruptions
have been reduced from 65 per cent to 45 per cent. Most
of the insulators are designed to flash over at half the
voltage that is required to puncture them.
Mr. Austin expressed the belief that it is wrong to
have a ratio as high as two to one and suggested that
it would be better to have the proportion of one and
three-tenths to one. Mr. P. W. Sothman did not con-
sider that high-frequency tests do away with all other
tests. He suggested that manufacturers should en-
deavor to develop uniform products and that they elim-
inate faulty parts before they are assembled. Definite
frequency should be employed in testing. Mr. L. L.
Israel referred to radiotelegraph insulator tests which
are being made by the United States Navy. He declared
that break-down is caused in most cases by heating.
He pointed out that if the natural frequency of the
insulator circuit is not the same as that of the exciter,
wave-forms will be different from what they are when
the frequencies are the same. The length of an arc in
series with insulators will also have an effect upon the
wave-form.
Mr. R. P. Jackson commented on the advantages and
disadvantages of high-frequency oscillators and the im-
pact tests. He pointed out that the Tesla coil is port-
able and not dangerous to handle. Either impact or the
high-frequency tests will indicate the presence of faults,
but neither should be continued for a long time as it
may destroy the insulator. The speaker described
equipment for controlling the number of discharges and
consequently the amount of heat. When using this ap-
paratus direct-current power is suddenly applied to the
primary of the transformer and then gradually reduced
by inserting resistance in the circuit. Tests made with
this apparatus show that the insulator will withstand
stress in one direction longer than if the stress is re-
versed periodically. Mr. William Jacobi called attention
to points which should be considered by designers of
insulators. He declared that failures produced during
operation are very similar to those developed in tests.
Internal stresses were cited as the principal cause of
failure. Mr. Julian Cleveland Smith presented data
showing that strain and suspension insulators fail in
a I unit the same proportion but that the line ends of the
latter type fail more than do the intermediate or op-
posite end units. He declared that he has not obtained
good results with high-frequency tests. Attention was
called to the fact that failures Usually occur in similar
position and tire generally caused by expansion of the
cap. He report eil that the new types of insulators have
been found to be almost immune to temperature fail-
ures. I ir. Creighton closed the discussion by answering
questions and showing samples of insulators which hail
been broken down and explained how they should be
anab zed
IRY 27, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
529
Calculation of Electromagnet Windings
Development of Formulas for the Design of Various Types of Cylindrical
Electromagnets and Discussion of Their Application
By E. E. George and Harold Pbndeb
IN this article are given a series of practical equa-
tions for the design of cylindrical electromagnets
.1 with any kind of round wire and insulated
with any thickness of insulation. A complete develop-
ment of the formulas is first given, and then the pro-
cedure to be followed in their application. For any
given set of data only a few formulas need be used, but
the particular formulas to be used in any case will de-
pend upon what data are given. In certain cases equa-
tions of an order higher than the second occur; such
equations, although they are capable of a direct analyt-
ical solution, are here solved by graphical methods,
since for the problem in hand the latter methods are
simpler and require less time and effort.
Notation. — The following notation is used through-
out:
A — area of the cross-section of the wire in circular
mils.
E = voltage of circuit across which the winding is to
be connected. • •
F = length of wire in the winding, in feet.
/ = amperes taken by the winding.
K = specific resistance of the conductor in ohms per
circular mil-foot at the working temperature t
of the winding. Calling K, the specific resistance
in ohms per circular-mil-foot at 0 deg. C. and T
the reciprocal of the temperature coefficient of
the conductor referred to 0 deg. C, then the
value of K for a working temperature of t deg.
'T+_V
~T
nealed copper Ku is 9.59, the temperature coeffi-
cient is 0.00426, and therefore T is 1 — 0.00426
= 235.
L = length of winding space (length of cylinder), in
inches.
P = heat developed in winding at the working tem-
perature t, in watts.
Pr= heat radiated at the working temperature t, in
watts.
R = resistance of the coil at the working temperature
t, in ohms.
r<= inside radius of the winding, in inches.
r0= outside radius of the winding, in inches.
8 = the "space-factor" of the winding; i. e., the ratio
of the space occupied by the conductor to the
total space including the conductor, insulation
and voids. Calling d the diameter of the wire in
inches and i the thickness of the insulation in
Wl " XVI C* TTVWW11
For commercial an-
inches, then 8
4 \d + 2i)
Values of 8 for
different sizes of wire and insulation thicknesses
are given in Fig. 1.
S = number of turns in the winding,
I SI i number of ampere-turns, given as a single num-
ber.
t = working temperature of the winding, in deg. C.
ta= temperature of the surrounding air, in deg. C.
w = watts radiated per square inch of exposed surface
of the winding per deg. C. difference in temper-
ature between the winding and the surrounding
air. iv is usually of the order of 0.002 watts per
square inch per deg. C.
(3)
F a mill i in ntul Relations. — The total volume, in cubic
inches, of the cylindrical winding space of length L, in-
ternal radius r< and external radius r0, is - I /„" — r,') L.
The volume of the conductor in this space is s times the
total volume. The volume of the conductor can also be
expressed in terms of the length F of the wire and the
cross-section A of the wire in circular mils. Equating
these two expressions for the volume of the conductor
gives
.sL ( r,/ — r,2)
F= — — - — . (1)
3X10" 'A K '
The resistance R of the length F of wire having a
cross-section of A circular mils and a specific resist-
ance of K ohms per circular-mil-foot at the working
temperature t is
R = K-^- (2)
Substituting for F its value from (1) gives
n_KsL (r.1 — r,°)
3 X 10"A'
The cross-section, in square inches, of the winding
space perpendicular to the direction of the wire is
(r0 — r()L, and the portion of this cross-section occu-
pied by the conductor is s(ru — -ri)L. Dividing this
latter area by the cross-section of the wire in square
inches gives the number of turns S in the winding, viz.,
4sL (r0 — n)
S= «X10-A (4)
The amperes / taken by the winding are equal to the
voltage E divided by the resistance R; therefore, the
number of turns may also be expressed by the formula
S=^ (5)
Substituting for R and S in this equation their values
as given by equations (3) and (4) gives
. *K (SI) (r„-J-r()
A = 12*- (6)
The last expression shows that when the ampere-turns,
the internal and external radii of the winding space
and the specific resistance of the conductor are fixed,
then the size of wire is likewise fixed. By selecting a
suitable outside radius, however, the wire may be made
of the proper size to prevent overheating.
To prevent overheating the wire must be of such a
size that the heat developed in the winding will be
equal to the heat radiated from the exposed surface of
the winding. In many commercial designs only the
cylindrical surface of the coil need be considered as
radiating heat, particularly if the watts radiated per
square inch per deg. C. (the constant w) be determined
experimentally from a consideration of the cylindrical
surface only. This cylindrical surface is 2itr» L, and
therefore the total watts radiated are
Pr = 2*r0Lw (r— ta) (7)
The heat in watts developed in the coil is equal to the
resistance R multiplied by the square of the current
/, that is, P = RP = fl(S/)'-f-S\ Substituting for R
and S in this last expression their values from (3) and
(4) gives
b» X 10" K (SI)' (rn + r,)
sL (r0
P =
18
r«)
(8)
Equating (7) and (8) gives
530
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 9
*'X10-* K (Siy{r0 + rt)
48 sL (r0 — >\)
which is a quadratic in r0. Putting
irX 10' K (.SI)
96
= 2 7i r0Lw (t — t„) (9)
M
ta)
(10)
swU (t-
the solution of this quadratic is
M+r( + V (M + rj)'+4A/r<
r. = - — g— (ID
Having found the external radius r0, the required
cross-section of wire is given by equation (6).
(In case more than the cylindrical surface is to be
considered, put H = the ratio of the surface considered
to the cylindrical surface; this ratio H will be some
function of rB. Plot the curve
r„ (r0 — ri)H
V= r„- rt
Spncc Factor = s
(12)
0.1
0.2
0.3
0.4
0.5
0.6
n.7
0.8„
1 | 1 | II 1 II 1 | 1 1
j
Mill/
/ /
/ /
|
88,400 ir
Jumbcre on the CUTVM ffJvil t
/
' /
/
■nlaliou thickness in 'mis
Daxra A is f<-r a Haphazard
inJing of DouMc C"t'"H
vercd wire \Wttlanl '
Jurve B is for a Haph.vJird
1
/
41.700 - ,
J
/ •/■ /
// /
26,300- '
./ A /
/
jv :•! a j.1.
(
''
16,300 - I
inding of Singula Cott..
~X\ Yi*\
/I 1 1/
s
rand win 1 ft'tllant \
y
/
.
'
\\X\
4 1
/ /
WW. j
/
1
(J3
6,»JU
y -i
,'i
y
/ '
/
1
/,
ji
i, ;
."
;.'.
',
!
■:
i
R20
/
'
" /
18
'
/ >
'
/
i r»n
/ /
x /
%-Z
'
' ,
/
/
/
I
«0
'
' .
f
t
1
,
/
I
/
/
1
/
/
I
34
| ""
i/
/
1
1
i
j
A
/
/
/
c 254 y
/
i /
/
'
/
/
/
/
X
/
' '
'
1
1
or*
£j MO iQ ,
■
■ yl(
u>
1
oS
l/l!
I/, i
<tf\ i
* J
/
/
/ /'
/ /
/
X /'' L
-
/ /
/rf /
/ /
- /
/ /
/ / / t
/ /
^ /
/
//
'
/
/
/'./. /
/
/ /. / /
3a
'*' /
/ /
/
/ / //i7ii/T
in
0 1
0.S
0.3
0.4
U..-J
0.0
(1.7
0.8
Spncc Factor =s
VARIATION OF INSULATION THICKNESS WITH SPACE
FACTOR*
The value of r„ which makes y equal to M — see equa-
tion 10 — is then the required external radius.)
Procedure in Calculation
The problem is usually to find the size of wire and
the external radius, all the other data being given ex-
cept the Bpace Factol B, which depends on size of wire.
Assume for the space factor s a reasonable prelim-
inary value (see Chart), and using this value of 8 cal-
culate HI from equation (10), then r„ from equation
III, and finally A from equation (6). If the value
of i corresponding to this value of A (see Fig. 1) dif-
fers appreciably from the assumed value of 8, recalcu-
late A/, r„ and A, using the value of 8 corresponding to
the first value of A, and repeat until a value of A is
found such that the value of ■ assumed in its calcula-
tion agroea with the value of s corresponding to the
value of A. In general, but one recalcula-
tion will be necessary.
This final value of A will not In general correspond
•From "Ami Hal
exactly, or sufficiently nearly, to a commercial size of
wire. The value of A as thus calculated will therefore
be referred to below as the "theoretical" cross-section,
to distinguish it from that of the commercial size actu-
ally used. To utilize a commercial size of wire any one
of the following modifications in design may be made:
Case I. — Keeping the ampere-turns unaltered, the
nearest commercial size of wire may be chosen, of the
next smaller or next larger cross-section, depending
upon which is more important, low temperature or
low cost of wire, respectively.
Case II. — The nearest commercial size of wire may
be chosen and the ampere-turns (SI) altered to keep
the temperature t of the winding the same as originally
assumed.
Case III. — The ampere-turns (SI) and the average
temperature t of the winding may both be kept un-
altered by using two coils of adjacent wire sizes, one
coil wound over the other, sleeve fashion, and the two
connected in series. (The coil of the smaller wire will
reach the higher temperature and should preferably be
the outside coil.)
Case IV. — Same as Case III, but the two coils ar-
ranged side by side with the same external radius.
Calculations for Case I. — The two unknowns are the
external radius r„ and the working temperature t.
Equations (6) and (9) may be written
uX10" K(SIV ir. + r.)
*-*«+ 96 ' swL~-r„ (r0 — r4)
The specific resistance K in these two equations is a.
function of the working temperature t, but since the
change in K per deg. C. is less than 0.5 per cent, the
variation of K for such small changes in t as will result
from changing from the "theoretical" cross-section to
the nearest commercial size of wire may, as a first ap-
proximation, be neglected, particularly in view of the
uncertainty in regard to the exact value of the radia-
tion coefficient w.
Proceed then as follows: Take for K the value used
in calculating the theoretical cross-section and calculate
r„ from (13), using for A the cross-section of a com-
mercial size of wire to one side or the other of the
theoretical cross-section. Substitution of this new
value of r0 in (14) will give the working temperature
of the winding. If desired, A' may now be corrected to
agree with this temperature, and another calculation of
r„ and t made, and so on, until the value of A' assumed
in calculating ( agrees with the value of t as calcu-
lated.t
The length F of wire required may then be calcu-
lated by equation (1), the resistance R from equation
(2), and the number of turns S from equation (5),
The current is then / = (SI) -^ S.
Calculations for Case II. — The two unknowns are the
ampere-turns (SI) and the external radius r„. Equa-
tion (6) may be written
■ wii.ii the accuracy ol the m ■ v «-n flats wan i maj
iir calculated directly, without recourse t" the "cut-and-try"
method above described, bj proceeding as follows: Put
t X 10-« K~ (f fl' (r. 4- rO
K. Is Hi.
v 9« a ii LTr.l r. n r
jp, , in, ohms i"-r circular
,1 . (18) "i,i (14) 1 1 1 ■ ■ \ ("■ wrltt*
i ! r AT _ _
wK. (.81) (r.
0 I
lln)
riot these iw.. aquations as curves, with r» as abscissas and ( as
ordlnatei theli point of Intersection will then give the- proper
value oi r« wci / The calculation ot three points on each curve
will usuall] i" sufficient t" determine their intersection; namely.
ii,, point corresponding o> the "theoretical" value of r», a point
corresponding to b value of r. in per rent irrrntcr than thlsi
i point corresponding to
p«t cent leas than this theoretical value
f r. 10"
Febriary Ti, 1916
ELECTRICAL WORLD
531
(SI) -
12 £ A
nA",r. • r,, (15)
Substituting this value of (SI) in equation (9) and
putting
V_3X10'- ETA
2 s A- >• uL <t — U) UbJ
.
r0 (V — tV) = N (17)
Plot the left-hand side of (17) as ordinates against r0
as abscissa; the value of r0 for which the ordinate of
this curve equals N is the required external radius. Us-
ually only three points on the curve need be plotted,
namely for r, equal to the value corresponding to the
theoretical cross-section, and for r« say 10 per cent
greater and 10 per cent less than this value. Substi-
tuting in (15) the value of r0 which satisfies (17)
gives the ampere-turns [SI),
The length of wire required may then be calculated
by equation (1), the resistance R by equation (2), and
the number of turns by equation (5). The current is
then / (SI) -:-S.
Calculations for Case III. — The two unknowns are
the external radius r, of the outer coil and the external
radius r, of the inner coil ( = the internal radius of the
outer coil). Let A, s, R, S and F refer to the theoreti-
cal single-coil winding, calculated as above described,
let A„ s„ /?„ 5, and Fl refer to the coil wound with the
nearest commercial size of wire having a cross-section
less than .1, and let A . .s , R2, S, and F3 refer to the coil
wound with the nearest commercial size of wire having
a cross-section greater than A. The external radius of
the theoretical single-coil winding will be designated as
r ... In the two-coil winding the smaller wire will be
used for the outside coil ; hence the external and internal
radii corresponding to .1 are r, and re, and the external
and internal radii corresponding to A, are rc and r<.
From the same average working temperature (, the
total heat developed in the two-coil winding must be to
the heat developed in the theoretical single-coil winding
as the external radius r, of the two-coil winding is to
the external radius /., of the theoretical single-coil wind-
ing. Since the heat developed in each case is equal to
the square of the total voltage divided by the total re-
sistance, it follows that these resistances must be in-
versely proportional to the external radii; that is,
R, f R r.
R~ r,
Since the voltage E is constant, the current for the
two-coil winding must be to the current for the single-
coil winding as the resistance R of the single-coil wind-
ing is to the total resistance (R^ + RS) of the two-coil
winding. Hence for the same total number of ampere-
turns in the two cases the total number of turns
(S, -f S,) for the two-coil winding must be to the num-
ber of turns S for the single-coil winding as (R, 4- R.)
is to R. But from (18) the resistance (R,4-R,) is to
the resistance R as the external radius r„ is to the ex-
ternal radius r,. Therefore
S, + S. _ rn_
S ~T7
(19)
Equations (3) and (4) apply to either coil in the case
of s two-coil winding, as well as to the single-coil wind-
ing, provided the symbols are properly interpreted.
Hence, substituting in equation (18) the values of R,
R, and R, from equation (8), and in equation (19) the
values of S, S, and S. from equation (4), and solving
the resulting expressions for rr in terms of rr, gives
r.A.A 8 ( ;■„ -r,) I r,A (s.A,r< — s,A.rr)
■ vU
(20)
-V
r,A (sA, ■
r7/4,'A,'8(r0'— r,>) j i ,.F i s A,'rf — M j
reA* (sA' — s,A') (21)
The procedure then is to calculate the theoretical
cross-section A from equations (10), (11) and (6) as
above described, and to find (from Fig. 1 or from a
wire table) the commercial cross-section A. next below
A and the commercial cross-section A, next above A.
Then plot equations (20) and (21) as curves, taking r,
for abscissas and rc for ordinates; the point of inter-
section of these two curves then gives the proper values
of rc and r,. Usually only three points on each curve
need be calculated, corresponding, say, to r, = r0, r,
10 per cent less than r0, and rc 10 per cent greater than
r0. Having found the proper values of rc and r„ the
number of turns required in the two coils are respec-
tively (see equation 4),
_4s,L (re — r,)-)
itXIO-'A,
4 s, L (rc — r{)
S,=
itX 10"* A,
(22)
and the lengths of wire in feet required are respectively
r.S, (r,4-r0)"|
F,
12
12
(23)
Calculations for Case IV. — The two unknowns are
the external radius r, of the two coils and the length L,
of one coil; the length of the second coil is L. = L — L„
where L is the total length of the winding space. Let
A, s, R, S and F refer to the theoretical single-coil wind-
ing, calculated as above described ; let A„ s„ Rlt S, and
Fx refer to the coil of length L„ and A., s,, R„ S, and F,
refer to the coil of length L: = L — LP Equations
( 18) and (19) apply to this case as well as to Case III.
Equations (3) and (4) likewise apply to either coil,
provided the symbols are properly interpreted ; i. e., for
the first coil L in these equations must be taken equal to
Ll and for the second coil equal to (L — L,). Hence,
substituting in equation (18) the values of R, Rt and
R2 from equation (3), and in equation (19) the values
of S, S, and S, from equation (4), and solving the re-
sulting expressions for L, in terms of rc, gives
L, =
(18) L, =
r0sL (r0' — Tj) A' A'
sA'L
reA' (rea — rt') (s^,' — sA') (sA,' — sAi~)
(24)
r0sL (r0 — r4) A A,
sA,L
rA(re — r<) (sA- — M,) (SA* — V1,)
(25)
The procedure then is to calculate the theoretical
eross-section A from equations (10), (11) and (6) as
above described, and to find (from Fig. 1 or from a
wire table) the commercial cross-section A„ next below
A, and the commercial cross-section A, next above A.
Then plot equations (24) and (25) as curves, taking
re for abscissas and L, for ordinates; the point of in-
tersection of these two curves gives the proper values of
L, and re. Usually only three points on each curve need
be calculated, corresponding, say, to r, = r0 and rc 10
per cent greater than r„ and r, 10 per cent less than r0.
Having found the proper values of L, and re, the num-
ber of turns required in the two coils are, respectively
(see equation 4),
4a,L, (re — rt) "J
c = 4«, (L — L.) (rt — n) T <26>
it X 10-' A,"
and the lengths of wire in feet required are respectively
itS, (re-f-r,) "
F
12
itS, (re + rt)
12
(27)
532
ELECTRICAL WORLD
VOL. 65, No. 9
DIGEST OF ELECTRICAL LITERATURE
Generators, Motors and Transformers
Short-Circuit Armature of Induction Motors. — J.
Fischer-Hinnen. — A mathematical article in which are
discussed the best dimensions of squirrel-cage arma-
tures for induction motors and especially the question
as to what cross-section should be chosen for the end
rings and the cross bars. Since the slip depends only
on the total resistance, it would seem that it does not
matter how much resistance is in the cross bars and
how much in the end rings, but in other respects there
is a difference, and the author discusses what conditions
are the most economical. If both the end rings and the
cross bars are made from copper, the most economical
ratio of the cross-section of the end ring to the total
cross-section of all wires in a slot is 0.3 U -j- p, where V
is the number of slots and p the number of poles. If
the cross bars are made from copper and the end rings
from bronze, and if the ratio of the specific resistance
of bronze to copper is 3.2 and the ratio of the cost per
unit weight of copper to bronze is 0.72, the most econ-
omical ratio of the cross-section of the end ring to the
total cross-section of all wires in a slot is 0.45 X U -=- P-
—Elek. u. Masch. (Vienna), Jan. 17, 1915.
Transformer Construction. — R. Edler.— A continua-
tion of a profusely illustrated article on progress of
transformer construction, relating especially to German
practice. The present instalment deals with the con-
struction of medium-size and large transformers. —
Helios. Jan. 24, 1915.
Lamps and Lighting
Heating of Screw-Socket Lamp Holders. — Clifford
C. Paterson. — An abstract of a paper based on a re-
port to the "lampholder panel" of the engineering stand-
ards committee upon experiments carried out at the
National Physical Laboratory. The tests were made
with a view to the investigation of the temperature rise
in screw-socket lamp holders of different types when
used first with radiators and second with lighting fit-
tings. The maximum number of watts that may be
safely transmitted by a screw-socket lamp holder de-
m,. 1
not
Temperature rise
-RATIO OF TEMPERATURE RISE TO WATTS TRANS-
MITTED
periments made. In determining the maximum rating
of a lamp socket, however, there is the factor of the
heat that is conducted along the cable that supplies the
energy to the lamp. It is matter of real importance in
the design and rating of such sockets to know to what
temperatures the insulation of the cables is subjected
under working conditions. Measurements of the con-
pends "ii different considerations from those which
prevail in the bayonet holder. In the screw socket con-
nection is made to the lamp-cap terminals by what is
equivalent to a clamped contact as the lamp is screwed
into place. A rise of temperature such as the lamp
Itself Is able to withstand has not been found In any
way to affect tl of the contacts in the ex-
Clamped to case
of lighting1 fitting
at this point .
Gas barrel -
-j ►Junction j8°C.
60°C.
75° C.
8o°C.
locfC.
FIG. 2 — ARRANGEMENT OF CABLE AND METHOD OF
JUNCTION
tact resistance of the various sockets show that the
actual I'R losses due to current passing through the con-
tacts are negligible, and that all the heating is caused
by conduction and radiation from the lamp itself. The
wattage of the lamp is, therefore, the main factor to be
considered. The general conclusions arrived at as the
result of the experiments are: (a) that, as far as tem-
perature rise is concerned, ordinary screw-socket holders
may be used for radiator elements up to at least 500
watts each (the maximum size of heater element at
present on the market) ; (b) the screw contact is also
satisfactory, as at present used, for lamps rated up to
at least 1000 watts, but in the present designs the
clamping contacts for the incoming leads become too hot
to allow rubber-insulated cables to be brought directly
into the sockets without risk of serious deterioration of
the rubber. The results are summarized in Fig. 1, in
which the mean temperature rise of all the sockets is
plotted against the number of watts transmitted. This
gives a general indication of the temperature likely to be
reached for any given lamp rating. As a general rule,
the number of watts divided by ten gives in degrees
Centigrade the approximate temperature rise of the
ocket above the air. Tests were also made to ascertain
what the temperature gradient along the cables was as
it left the socket and was led up the length of %-ln. gas
barrel shown in Pig. 2. Thermocouples were inserted
at intervals underneath the insulation of the cable. The
arrangement of the 8 18 S. W. <;. cable and the junction
Pbbi un 27, IV16
ELECTRICAL WORLD
533
used arc ihown in Fig. -. It will lie seen that where
the tables pass through the usually constricted neck of
the socket the temperature rise is around 90 deg. C.
when the clamping piece is at 100 deg. C. Three inches
up the tube the temperature rise is about 60 deg. C. —
London Electrician, Feb. 5, 1915.
Generation, Truii-mi— >ictn and Distribution
Hydroelectric Development of tht Peninsular Power
i iiaui.ks V. SSASTONK. — A paper read be-
fore the American Institute of .Mining Engineers. The
hydroelectric plant of the Peninsular Power Company is
at the Lower Twin Falls on the Menominee River, about
3.5 miles north of the city of Iron Mountain, Mich. The
principal points of delivery of electric energy from this
plant are in the mining regions adjacent to Florence,
Wis., and Iron River, Mich., and in the cities of Iron
River and Iron Mountain. The hydroelectric plant at
Twin Falls and the substation of the Iron Mountain
Electric Light & Power Company are connected by a
6600-volt transmission line carried on steel towers and
steel poles, the latter being used within the city limits.
The plant at Twin Falls and the substation at Iron
River, about 36 miles distant, are connected by a 66,000-
volt duplicate three-phase transmission line supported
on steel towers. At Iron River are situated a 1500-kw
auxiliary steam plant and the substation from which the
energy is distributed to the mines in that vicinity. The
superstructure of the power house is constructed for the
present installation of three 1000-kw generating units.
and the substructure has been completed for the two
additional 1000-kw units which are to be installed
in the near future. The generators have a rating of
1250 kva, 6600 volts, sixty cycles, three-phase, 257
r.p.m., each equipped with a 120-volt directly connected
shunt-wound exciter of 27.5-kw rating, designed for
operation with a Tirrill regulator. The rotor of the
generator is of the flywheel type and is so designed as
to assist materially in the speed regulation of the plant.
All rotating parts are designed for 60 per cent over-
speed. The ultimate transformer installation will
comprise six single-phase, 835-kva oil-insulated, water-
cooled transformers, arranged in two banks, delta-con-
nected on the low-tension side, receiving 6600 volts, and
star-connected on the high-tension side, delivering 66,-
000 volts. The present equipment consists of one bank
of transformers with one extra single-phase unit acting
as a spare. — Bull. Amer. Inst, of Min. Eng., February,
1915.
Traction
Railn"ii Equipment. — J. F. Layng. — The author
deals with some of the important considerations govern-
ing the selection of car equipments for city and subur-
ban service. By making an analysis of the pressures
of wheel threads he determines the method of mount-
ing the motors that will give the maximum adhesion
available for traction. It is then possible to determine
the equipment that will be most suitable to operate on
severe grade conditions, and also to obtain the best
schedule speed on all rail conditions. — Gen. Elec. Re-
rim-, February, 1915.
Towing Locomotives. — C. VV. Larson. — An illustrated
description of the ship-towing locomotive used at the
locks of the Panama Canal. The first part of the ar-
ticle is devoted to the presentation of the reasons why
none of the hitherto existing systems of maneuvering
ships in close quarters could be satisfactorily applied
to the locks of this canal. This is followed by a de-
scription of the system developed to fulfil the condi-
tions. Next is a minute description of the locomotives
themselves. — Gen. Elec. Review, February, 1915.
Storage-Battery Locomotives for Mines. — J. W.
Gwinn. — A paper read before the American Institute
of .Mining Kngineers. The underground haulag<
tern in the lead-silver mine of the Bunker Hill & Sulli-
van Company, situated at Kellogg, Idaho, is the most
extensive in the Ca-ur d'Alene district, comprising about
35,000 ft. of tunnels, drifts and cross-cuts where loco-
motive haulage is in use. Formerly the trolley system
was used, but since 1913 three storage-battery loco-
motives have been installed. The first has a weight of
5000 lb. and two motors, and the battery equipment con-
sists of sixty-three cells of Edison type A 1, with a
rating of 112 ton-miles on a single charge. The ampere-
hour rating is 150. The locomotive is equipped with
two batteries, so that one may be left at the charging
-tat ion to be charged while the other is on duty. The
second locomotive has a weight of 7600 lb., two motors
and a battery, Edison type A8, consisting of seventy
cells, with a discharge rating of 300 amp. The third
locomotive has a weight of 8000 lb. and two motors, and
the battery consists of seventy Edison type A8 cells
having a discharge rating of 300 amp. Each of the last
two locomotives has only a single battery of cells, of
sufficient power to run on full load for the required
length of time. For charging purposes a motor-genera-
tor set, 125-volt, three-phase, 50-hp motor, installed in
the hoist room on No. 9 level, takes energy from the
2300-volt alternating-current line and delivers 125 volts
direct current to the charging stations on each level.
The author gives data on performance, efficiency, main-
tenance and repair costs, and concludes that with a few
minor improvements in the charging system and a
better understanding of and more careful attention to
the operation of these locomotives by the motormen the
costs of repair and operation will be 75 per cent less
than for the trolley locomotives doing the same work.
Other advantages of storage-battery haulage are that
it does away with the dangerous trolley wire and gives
an easy access to the face of a drift with the storage-
battery locomotive. — Bull. Amer. Inst. Min. Eng., Feb-
ruary, 1915.
Installations, Systems and Appliances
London's Electricity Supply. — "Those who have taken
an interest in the unification of electric supply in Lon-
don will be pleased, or the opposite, but will hardly be
surprised, that the latest London County Council scheme
has gone the way of its forerunners. One is past sur-
prise at the failure of attempts to deal with this prob-
lem. The intention to promote a bill was defeated, as
far as this year's parliamentary session is concerned,
at the meeting of the Council on Tuesday last. In order
to proceed it was necessary that the proposal should
be supported by a full majority, but, owing apparently
to the absence of so many supporters on active service,
only sixty votes out of a necessary sixty-nine were ob-
tained. There were thirty dissentients. Had the
scheme reached a parliamentary stage there was a pos-
sibility it might have gone through, but hardly at any
time a probability. Very strong opposition from the
borough councils recently developed. Defeat in a par-
liamentary committee room would, however, have been
more satisfactory than this abandonment of the pro-
posal by the body which created it. It is useless specu-
lating what the new situation may ultimately lead to.
The only certainty is that the field is now clear for the
London electric supply company bill, which proposed a
new company to deal with the matter, much on the lines
of the County Council scheme, but over a considerably
smaller area. Certain of the existing power companies,
which are apparently interested in the bill, are to be
compulsorily acquired. From the remainder opposition
may be expected, as their areas are threatened. Munic-
ipal opposition goes without saying." — London Enni-
neering, Feb. 5, 1915. The situation is also discussed in
534
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 9
London Electrician, Feb. 5, and London Electrical En-
gineering, Feb. 4. The first part of the report by the
conference of metropolitan boroughs owning electricity
undertakings on the London and district electricity
supply bill is printed almost in full in London Electri-
cian, Feb. 5, 1915.
Wires, Wiring and Conduits
Protective Switchgear for Mines. — C. JONES. — A
paper illustrated by numerous diagrams, read before
the Association of Mining Electrical Engineers (War-
wickshire and South Staffordshire branch). After brief
notes on the protection of generators and transformers,
the author deals at greater length with feeder protec-
tion and gives details of the Merz-Price protective sys-
tem, the Ferranti-Field system and other systems. —
London Iron and Coal Trades Review, Feb. 5, 1915.
Electrophysics and Magnetism
Structure and Hysteresis Loss in Medium-Carbon
Steel. — F. C. Langenberg and R. G. Webber. — A paper
read before the American Institute of Mining En-
gineers. During the course of some magnetic investi-
gations six bars of 0.43 per cent carbon steel were
tested, a permeameter designed after the Hopkinson-
yoke type being used. The results obtained show the
necessity for a careful investigation of the previous his-
tory of the samples under study as well as the chemical
composition. A steel of given chemical composition may
assume a great variety of structures, depending on its
treatment. Of the six bars tested, Nos. 1, 2, 3 and 6
were pearlitic and Nos. 4 and 5 were sorbitic. In the
first three bars the only variable factors are the rela-
tive size of grain and the coarseness of the striations
of pearlite. Bar 1 has a large grain and the pearlite is
coarsely laminated. Its hysteresis loss per cubic centi-
meter is 17,280. Bar 2 has a finer structure than No. 1
and shows a hysteresis loss of 18,240. Bar 3 is still
finer than bar 2 and shows a hysteresis loss of 21,920.
Bar 6 is also pearlitic and differs from Nos. 1, 2 and 3
in having a much finer structure. The hysteresis loss
in this bar rises to 29,120 ergs per cubic centimeter,
which is 68 per cent greater than the loss in bar 1.
Therefore, with decreasing grain size Nos. 1, 2, 3 and 6
show a rise in their hysteresis loss, increasing residual
B and increasing coercive force. Bar 4, comparable in
grain size to bar 1, but differing from bar 1 in being
sorbitic whereas No. 1 is pearlitic, shows an increase in
its hysteresis loss of approximately 50 per cent. The
authors emphasize that in magnetic testing careful at-
tention must be given to the internal structure of the
metal undergoing test. A mere statement of its condi-
tion as hardened or unhardened, annealed or tempered,
is idle and often misleading. The results lead the
authors to infer that a minimum hysteresis loss could be
obtained by the combination of large grains with
coarsely laminated pearlite. — Bull. Amer. Inst. Min.
Enff., February, 1915.
Electrochemistry and Batteries
Electrolytic Xickel. — R. Riedel. — An account of an
experimental investigation of the decomposition of
nickel from chloride solutions. Electrolysis was car-
ried out in the presence of hydrochloric acid and acetic
acid. The latter has various advantages. In order to
get a good deposit of metallic nickel it is necessary to
maintain a suitable current density, which depends on
various factors .if operation. -Zeit, /. Elektrochemie,
.lan. i. 1915.
Electrolytic Decomposition of Water. — An illustrated
description of an electrolytic apparatus of the Oerlikon
Company for the production of oxygen and hydrogen
gases from water. They are built for 65 volts, 110 volts
or 220 volts. In these cases twenty-eight or forty-
eight or ninety-six cells are connected in series. As-
bestos diaphragms are used in the cells. The electrolyte
is a 10 per cent solution of potassium carbonate in dis-
tilled water. A temperature of 40 deg. C. is employed. —
London Electrician, Jan. 29, 1915.
Telegraphy, Telephony and Signals
Telephone Receiver. — Leon Bouthillon and Louis
Drouet. — An account of an investigation of the vibra-
tions of the diaphragm of a telephone receiver, made by
observing with a microscope the displacement of a
point fixed in the center of the diaphragm and perpendic-
ular to it. The behavior of the diaphragm under the
action of direct current and sinusoidal alternating cur-
rent was studied. The sensibility of telephone receivers
at a certain frequency and at different frequencies was
also investigated. — La Revue Elec, "Oct. 16, 1914 (pub-
lished Jan. 15, 1915)."
Units, Measurements and Instruments
lnduction-Coil Spark. — W. C. Baker. — The spark of
an induction coil following the "make" of the primary
current is composed of a series of discharges, and sim-
ilarly at "break." These are usually assumed to be
oscillations in the secondary circuit consequent upon
the single impulse due to the rise or fall of the current
in the primary. The author describes some observa-
tions which show that, in certain coils at least, these
partial sparks are not oscillatory but in each consist of
groups of unidirectional pulses. Under certain condi-
tions the partial sparks exhibit variations of intensity
or "beads," suggesting strongly the beaded lightning
of the meteorologist. — Physical Review, January, 1915.
Book Review
Elementary Mathematical Analysis. A textbook for
first-year college students. By Prof. Charles S.
Slichter. New York: McGraw-Hill Book Company,
Inc. 490 pages, 183 illus. Price, $2.50.
This volume is one of the series of modern mathe-
matical textbooks edited by Professor Slichter. It ap-
pears to have been written primarily for the use of
freshmen in the engineering courses of the University
of Wisconsin. The volume is not intended to be a text-
book on "practical" or "engineering" mathematics, but
illustrations from science are freely used. The aim of
the author may be learned from one sentence in the
preface which is worth quoting: "The student should
learn early in his course that an important purpose oi
mathematics is to express and to interpret the laws of
actual phenomena, and not primarily to secure here and
there certain computed results." If mathematics were
always treated as the broadest of all the sciences, deal-
ing quantitatively with real things and not merely with
abstract numbers or with symbols of which the actual
or possible meaning is rarely clear to the student, its
study might conceivably be made more interesting to
larger numbers, and there would be fewer graduating
students who are practically incapable of stating a prob-
lem mathematically, or of forming a physical conception
of the results attained by mathematical analysis, after
they have applied the methods with which practice has
rendered them familiar. It is perhaps difficult to see
in mathematics more than a very perfect tool for the
use of the scientist and engineer, but oven if no broader
view can be taken, it is at least essential that the tool
should be used intelligently, in the most efficient man-
ner, to attain a definite end. A booh such as the one
before us should be very helpful in giving to the stu-
dent a broader view of mathematics than he can expect
to obtain by following the usual courses of mathemati-
cal instruction.
February 87, l'.'l".
ELECTRICAL WORLD
535
POWER AND OPERATING SECTION
Grinder for Surfacing Ends of Arc-Lamp Inner
Globes
After inner globes have been used with inclosed-arc
lamps for a short time they frequently chip around the
ends and allow air to circulate past the arc, thereby
affecting the efficiency of the lamp. When this defect
occurs some central-station companies throw the globes
•way. By employing a simple grinder, however, the
Rota table
^_ flot*rooJ<'>
S3 Disc
DEVICE KOR SURFACING ENDS OF INNER GLOBES
Newark arc-lamp department of the Public Service Elec-
tric Company of New Jersey has avoided scrapping
most of the globes which would have been considered
unusable heretofore. The grinder consists of a hori-
zontal revolving wooden disk on which are sprinkled oil
and emery. When pressed end downward on the disk
slightly nicked globes can be quickly surfaced and made
serviceable again.
"Report Defects; Avoid Accidents"
Among the slogans adopted by the Louisville Gas &
Electric Company, Louisville, Ky., as the result of a re-
cent safety campaign, is the following: "Report a de-
fect and you will not have to report an accident. Safety
first!" Prizes have been awarded by the employees'
committee for the best suggestions received from the
men in the plant and on the outside. Mr. A. W. Lee is
chairman of the committee.
Apparatus for Maintaining Constant Pressure at
Any Point on a Feeder
The equipment and connections represented in the
accompanying diagram are being employed by the Edi-
son Electric Illuminating Company of Brooklyn to main-
tain a constant pressure at any point on one of its
Rheostat
AUTOMATIC CONTROL FOR BOOSTER
feeders for the operation of a large portable air com-
pressor used in subway construction. The compressor
has to be moved along as work progresses and does not
operate continuously, therefore it was necessary to
isolate one 1,000,000-circ. mil feeder from all others to
supply energy to the compressor motor. A booster
generator mu connected in series with one of the feeder
leads and the field current automatically regulated by
an electrically operated rheostat and a relay connected
with the delivery end of the feeder by pilot wires. When
voltage drop in the cable causes the pressure at the
compressor motor to fall below the desired value the re-
lay contactor will allow the rheostat arm to turn until
the field current has increased sufficiently to bring the
delivery-end voltage up to the proper value. The auto-
matic control is capable of changing the supply-end
pressure from zero-load to full-load value in ten seconds.
Use of Fuse Blocks as Station-Transformer
Switches
The illustration herewith shows a bank of four sin-
gle-phase transformers used for the supply of station
lighting and motor service in a substation, the fourth
unit being a spare transformer. By the arrangement
FUSE BLOCKS USED AS DISCONNECTING SWITCHES FOR
STATION TRANSFORMERS
of fuse blocks illustrated any transformer can be cut out
of service and the spare unit inserted in its place, or the
entire three-phase group can be connected up to either
of two station circuits. The use of the fuse blocks in-
troduces a protective feature and, all things considered,
proves cheaper to install than the usual disconnecting
switches. A guard sheet of insulating material pro-
tects the hand of the man handling the uppermost left-
hand plug from making possible contact with the struc-
tural steel work of the station building.
When to Clean Turbine Blades
In one of the medium-sized central stations in Ohio
the operators gage the time for cleaning the turbine
blades by observing the records produced by a steam-
flow meter connected to the steam intake of the turbine.
When the records from this flow meter and from other
station instruments indicate that the 6000-kw turbo-
generator is requiring 18 lb. of steam per kilowatt-hour
536
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 9
the operators know that conditions are just normal. But
when the big machine requires 19 lb. of steam to pro-
duce 1 kw-hr. the engineer knows that scale forming
from the impure feed water has begun to coat the tur-
bine blades and that economic operation can be obtained
only after the machine has been "taken down" and
cleaned.
Locomobile Plants in the United States
At the present time only eight locomobile plants are
in operation or in process of construction in the United
States, although in Germany hundreds of these self-
contained units are already giving successful service.
The units in seven of the American plants are of Amer-
ican manufacture, and those in the remaining power
house were made in Germany. Three of the plants con-
tain two units each, and in the others the total rating
of the station has been placed in one locomobile.
LOCOMOBILE PLANTS IN AMERICA
Geographical
Ownership
Type
Ratine
Kit
Brooklyn, X.Y. . - .
75
Barberton, Ohio (two <
Barber Cement Products Company
Buckeye.
300
Limeton, Ohio (two) . .
0. C. Barber Mining & Fertilizer Company
Buckeye.
300
Fremont Gas, Electric Light & Power Com-
pany
Buckeye
100
Riverton, Wyo
Agie Light & Power Company
Buckeye
50
Baltimore, Md
Johns Hopkins University
Buckeye
50
Corpus Christi, Tex. (two).
Corpus Christi Ice & Electric Company
Buckeye
250
Buckhorn Mining Company
WoK
While the majority of these units are equipped to
burn coal of different grades, three of them — namely,
those at Riverton, Wyo., and Corpus Christi, Tex. — are
provided with oil-burning furnaces.
The Savings Which Boiler-Room Economies Can
Effect
The manager of a certain 4500-kw electric-lighting
plant in the Middle Western States found, with the
close of 1914, that while the electrical output of the
station had increased 20 per cent during the year, the
coal tonnage had increased only 5 per cent. The annual
load-factor at this plant was 39 per cent and the load-
f;i' tor for December was 45 per cent. The "showing"
made in the report did not come as a surprise to the
manager, because he had spent much time urging the
practice of economy in the boiler room and had himself
taken the trouble to visit it at least once a day besides
devoting some deep thought and individual attention
to the engineer's problems.
New York City, a solution of the compound is gradually
fed to the feed-water pump during the early evening
watch, when practically all of the boilers are generating
steam in equal amounts. By this method each boiler re-
ceives its share of the softening compound.
As implied in the preceding paragraph, the impuri-
ties in the water are precipitated inside of the boilers,
so no feed-water treating tank is required. As the
compound employed by this company is crystalline so-
dium carbonate, however, it has to be dissolved before
it can be utilized. The accompanying illustration shows
the apparatus which is employed for this purpose. It
consists of a cylindrical metal tank with a smaller per-
forated container supported concentrically within it.
Placed over the perforated receptacle is a spray head
connected with the feed-water supply pipe. Leading
from several inches above the bottom of the outer tank
to the intake of the feed-water pump is another pipe.
By placing the crystalline sodium carbonate in the in-
ner tank and turning on the spray the compound will
be dissolved and carried to the feed-water pump, from
which it will be distributed to the boilers.
From Feed Water Supply
When and How to Employ Water-Softening Com-
pounds
If no attention i paid to the time at which soften-
ing compounds are added to boilei feed water, it is
tie thai different amounts may be distributed to
each boiler. If this happens, those boilers receiving an
amount of compound will probably prime and
other units not receiving enough will be coated with a
considerable amount ol Calt k\ the 201b1 Street sta-
tion of the United Electric Light A Power Company,
Drain
APPARATUS FOR DISSOLVING FEED-WATER SOFTENING
COMPOUND
The amount of sodium carbonate required in the boil-
ers is determined from an analysis of the water. The
crystals are then placed in the perforated receptacle
and the flow of the water is regulated so that the com-
pound will be dissolved during the watch in which all
the boilers are supplying steam. It is the practice in
this station to test the water in the boilers only during
the early morning watch when plenty of banked boil-
ers are available, and the boilers are blown off only
when their fires are banked.
Coal Hopper Keeps Boiler Room Clean
A useful accessory which the operators of the Ameri-
can-built locomobile plant at Limeton, Ohio, have put
into service is a wheeled coal hopper by means of which
the fuel is hauled a few feet from the coal bins to the
furnace door. Although the space between the coal
storage and the furnace door Is only about 10 ft. in
width, the hopper is nevertheless considered very useful,
i e it removes the necessity of ever piling coal on
the floor before the Bring door and helps in this way
to keep the boilei room floor neat and clean. Besides
aiding in keeping the station clean, this hopper la also
of assistance in securing most eeonomic firing condi-
Ut\ JT, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
537
tions, since the fireman can place the hopper in any
position he considers most handy and can "put in a
fire" and close the furnace door quickly without allow-
ing an excess of cold air to rush over the grates.
COAL TRUCK FOR KEEPING BOILER ROOM CLEAN
These hoppers, of which there are two in the "Buck-
eye-mobile" plant at Limeton, are made of sheet metal
riveted and bolted to an angle-iron frame. Two of the
low wheels under the frame revolve on opposite ends
of the same axle, while a third and still lighter and
smaller wheel is in reality a large caster which, turning
freely from side to side, allows the fireman to push the
hopper in any direction. For the plants at Limeton the
hoppers have been made to hold about 1000 lb. of coal,
but it has been suggested that for other hand-fired
plants these useful accessories could be made in sizes
to suit the needs of the particular boiler to be served.
First-Aid Methods of Dayton Company
Stanch, neat, durable and convenient first-aid chests
are now sent out with the construction crews of the
carried in the wagons serving the linemen, so that these
men, working sometimes in towns several miles from the
nearest substation, could quickly attend to small wounds,
thus preventing infection and consequent loss of time.
The design of chest selected is particularly well
adapted for this sort of service, because when it is
packed with its full quota of iodine, picric acid, tur-
pentine, vaseline, peroxide, adhesive plaster, bandages,
absorbent cotton, medicine droppers and scissors it may
be placed in the construction truck along with the line
material and hardware. The name of the contents of
each bottle is printed on the big corks, and the corks
themselves are held securely in place by wires which run
over the tops of the corks and are fastened around the
necks of the other bottles. By inside measurements
the chest is about 12 in. long and 6 in. wide.
The interest which the construction men have taken
in co-operating with the company in this first-aid and
safety work was made evident not long ago when one
of the foremen made application for two additions to his
first-aid kit. He said he wanted an atomizer with which
PIG. 1 — PORTABLE FIRST-AID CHEST
Dayton Power &p Light Company. Previously it had
been, as it still is, the practice of the company to place
wall cabinets in its buildings, but there arose the neces-
sity for providing some kind of an outfit that could be
FIG. 2 — FIRST-AID CABINET FOR SUBSTATION
to apply the disinfecting compounds to cuts so that all
parts of an open wound might be reached in a sanitary
manner. The other part of his requisition called for a
new healing remedy composed of iodine and other sub-
stances which this foreman had read were employed
with success on the battlefields of Europe.
The type of safety cabinet used in the company's gen-
erating stations and substations is shown in Fig. 2.
This kit, in addition to containing the remedies car-
ried in the portable chest, is also provided with an upper
compartment for holding a pair of rubber gloves.
Using Oil-Weil Outfit to Raise Transmission Towers
In the oil fields of Ohio casings of "dry" wells are
pulled from their positions in the ground by means of
a portable derrick equipped with powerful block-and-
tackle apparatus. Naturally, the owners of these derricks
are not able to find continuous work for their machines
in the oil field and welcome outside jobs, such as helping
to raise transmission towers. One of the central-sta-
tion companies which has taken advantage of this time-
saving method of erecting high poles and square-base
and A-frame towers is the Ohio Light & Power Com-
pany of Tiffin, Ohio. The 33,000-volt transmission line
538
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 9
recently completed by this company extends from Tiffin
to Fostoria, and in that distance goes cross-lots through
town and country, follows railroad rights-of-way and
occupies city streets, so that practically every condition
of pole-raising known to a flat country was encountered.
In all places, however, the derrick proved effective, and it
TYPE OF A-FRAME TOWER RAISED BY OIL-WELL DERRICK
was estimated by Mr. Frank Espy, manager of the com-
pany, that the Archbold-Brady A-frame towers, which
form the majority of the line supports, were erected in
half the best time that had been found to be possible
by any other method.
Wire (utter for Freeing Shocked Linemen
While working on cross-arms linemen occasionally
come in contact with conductors carrying dangerous
voltages. While they may be rendered unconscious by
a shock therefrom, it may be possible to save their lives
if they are immediately separated from the wires. It
is declared that recovery from a short shock is much
quicker than recovery from a long one. To prevent
delay in de-energizing a line which may have caused
such an accident, the Wichita Falls (Tex.) Electric Com-
pany has provided its construction gangs with a device
for cutting the wires without endangering the operator.
The device, which is similar to a bolt cutter, is fastened
to thi> end of a long wooden pole .'! in. in diameter and
■ rated by a rope. It will readily cut No. 0 copper
wire.
Time Element Secured In I use Bridging Trip Coil
l; bridging a LO-amp plug fuse acrose the trip coil
of circuit-breakers in unattended substations, the .Mm
neap cur* a I Ime ele-
ment in the operation of the switch on llddefl "jolts"
without Impairing the operation of the breaker on bub-
d overloads, a brief rush • : current Is shunted
away from the trip coil by the fuse, but if the overload
continues the fuse blows, deflecting the operating cur-
rent into the coil and opening the breaker. Mr. L. D.
Smith, general superintendent of the company's lines,
assigns credit for this use of a fuse to the Toronto com-
pany and declares that its use on the Minneapolis sys-
tem has been of value in preventing service interrup-
tions due to temporary troubles. Because of the time
lag inherent in the fuse, these troubles promptly
cleared themselves.
Storm Guys Installed to Stay
With storm guys firmly anchoring the towers in four
directions at the end of every mile, and with "semi-
strains" interposed at half-mile intervals, the 33,000-volt
transmission line of the Ohio Light & Power Company
near Tiffin is thought to be well protected against failure
due to wind stresses, unless assailed by a storm of
cyclonic violence. The 46-ft. Archbold-Brady A-frame
towers, which are used except at a few places in this
line, are spaced about 400 ft. apart and support three
lines of No. 1 stranded copper and a ground wire of
0.3125-in. steel messenger. For the most part angles
at any one tower in this line were not allowed to exceed
3 deg. of arc, and the majority of angles, excepting the
right-angle turns, were made to fall within about 1.5
deg. of arc.
To make the storm guys in this line of a permanent
character the most important part of the guys — the
dead-men — were made from 6 ft. to 10 ft. long. Pieces
of cedar pole used for this purpose were fitted with
8-ft. by 0.75-in. rods and were buried 6.5 ft. in the
ground.
At the heads of the towers where the 0.375-in. mes-
senger wires are fastened a neat and effective method
of attaching the guy to the tower was employed. This
method consisted merely of removing a machine bolt
from its position through one of the cross-arms or
through one of the pole steps and replacing the machine
bolt by an eye-bolt. The eye protruding at the point at
which the guy was to be attached presented a con-
STORM GUYS ATTACHED TO TOWERS HY MEANS OF EYE-
BOLTS
venienl place in which to "serve up" the messenger wire.
All of the hard work incident to wrapping the stiff
steel st landed wire around the frame of the tower was
thus eliminated and the lineman's work was immensely
simplified. Mesides being a time-savor, this method of
attaching wires has been found to make the tower very
neat in appearance.
February 27, 1916
ELECTRICAL WORLD
539
Contracting on a Close Margin
IN this issue appears a short article on the inside
workings of a contracting firm which points several
morals that may be not without general value. If one
analyzes the operations of many a concern, of what spe-
cial kind it does not much matter, he will generally find
that the success obtained depends on the suitability of
the scheme or organization, the word "suitability"
meaning a great deal more than appears on the surface.
It is by no means rare that an elaborate organization
which looks well on paper involves an excessive overhead
expense. It is like the common drafting-room vice of
making a drawing, let us say, of a special bolt and then
laboriously putting in a title six times as large as the
drawing itself. Straightforward, simple methods, or-
derly but not intricate, are those which lead to the best
results. The method of minimizing the overhead costs
herein described may be summarized as orderly and
careful estimating, thorough preparation for the task,
and close personal superintendence. Work done through
a long chain of intermediaries is quite commonly badly
done, and the contractor who does not supervise his own
operations will regret the neglect almost as much as the
customer. It is fortunate for the former if he can con-
fine his attention to thoroughly first-class work and
avoid cut-throat competition — the source of most bad
work. A reckless habit of estimating on everything
within possible sight does not make for profit — it really
involves an economic loss which must inevitably be
charged against the work actually undertaken. Wise
and conscientious contractors will not be misled by this
temptation.
Passing the Word to the Other Fellow
WHEN the new-business manager of the Jonesville
central station discovers a new use for some elec-
trical device, he quickly realizes the advantage of tell-
ing his own salesmen about the business to be secured
right at home in Jonesville by promoting the new ap-
plication. The average central-station man grasps such
a commercial opportunity promptly and usually loses
no time in applying it thoroughly to his own business
organization. But, as a little reflection will show, he
could go a great step further if he would write a letter
— and perhaps send a photograph — telling the story
of his discovery to the manufacturer of the device for
which the new use had been found. This slight effort
would place another powerful selling argument in the
hands of the manufacturer's salesmen, and so the orig-
inal idea would be spread and relayed to a thousand
other villages, finding in each probably as many pros-
pective users as in the town in which it originated.
Perhaps some central-station men do not give out their
ideas freely because they stop to question, "Why should
I exert myself to aid the manufacturer to sell his goods,
or take the trouble to help him show his other customers
my sales arguments?" The broader answer to such a
short-sighted policy becomes, of course, obvious when
the central-station man considers how much of his own
success is due to selling ideas and plans which he him-
self received from his salesman acquaintances.
The Best Salesman
THE best salesman is not the most persuasive one;
he is not the one whose sales reach the highest
total during the week. The best salesman is the one
who in selling one appliance paves the way for selling
more to the same customer. That salesman who can
convince each customer that the electrical is the best,
even if not the cheapest, way is one of the company's
most valuable assets.
Commission Bonus on Sales
THE plan of paying salesmen a fair salary and a
commission bonus on gross sales over a fixed
amount may prove of great benefit to a utility company.
The salesman will study the details, both mechanical
and operating, of the devices he must sell; zest and in-
terested effort will be put into his selling, and he will
formulate suggestions for improvements to make the
apparatus more salable. If the policy is pushed too far,
however, the attendant results are apt to be decidedly
disastrous. Too much effort will be put into selling
the appliances and not enough energy into making the
customer a permanent one. Too much will be promised
of a fiatiron, a grill or a percolator, etc., with the re-
sult that one more person who might otherwise become
a champion of electrical methods becomes a decided
enemy thereof.
Getting Together on Wiring Rules
FOR various reasons the electrical wiring business
has generally been conducted without harmony, the
result being a shocking discord of jarring interests.
The large contractors have represented one element and
the small contractors another, the fixture dealers a third,
the Underwriters too often being regarded as the com-
mon enemy. That the Underwriters' rules are some-
times rather drastic we must admit, yet on the whole
they unquestionably lead to that safe construction which
in the long run is helpful to the lighting business. A
brief account of the "electrical clearing house" move-
ment in Louisville in another column shows how the
interested parties in a single city have organized a
540
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 9
"get together" plan, and with no small measure of suc-
cess are trying to bring all their varying interests into
harmony. It has served to clear up misunderstandings
about the interpretation of the National Electrical Code
and to place the contractors in touch with inspectors in
order to avoid construction which would be rejected.
The scheme appears to be a good one. Not through
malicious intention but by accidentally being on the
wrong side of a rather shady line the average contractor
may seem to ignore the code at times. A regular sys-
tem of conference with more experienced contractors
and with the officials who must interpret the code will
serve to check many an error and save many a dollar in
rejections. Such co-operation not only helps the supply
business but tends to increase the central-station output.
One cannot lay too much stress on the importance of
making electrical energy supply a necessity, and this
condition is brought the nearer by every effort that
tends to promote reliable work in wiring.
Selling Appliances
Central stations have at last learned to appreciate the
importance of adding to their load by conducting active
appliance campaigns. Every article sold means an in-
crease of load without any addition to the fixed charges
due to billing and metering, and hence an increase in
the net profit. Real success demands the sale of many
appliances in order to make the domestic load thor-
oughly profitable in spite of modest bills for lighting
alone. Introducing appliances on a large scale means
active salesmanship and skilled advertising. The pres-
ent issue contains some very practical hints by Mr.
J. V. Guilfoyle on this subject which should be of im-
mediate interest to all those who are inaugurating this
line of enterprise. He makes some especially timely
and important suggestions. One of these is in relation
to the display and sale of rather undesirable stock. Not
a few appliance departments, from good nature or pres-
sure of manufacturers, carry a considerable number of
articles that are by no means the best on the market, and
the salesmen are too likely to lead the customer astray.
Central stations do not enter the appliance business to
assist needy or incompetent manufacturers but to in-
crease their own load by placing before the consumer
articles that will tempt him to use them regularly. The
better the appliance, the faster the business will grow.
Hence the consumer should be induced to buy only such
devices as will give him the best of service.
important also that the appliances sold should
have interchangeable connections so far as possible.
In any event the salesman should not allow a cus-
tomer to leave tin' Btore with an article the plug of
which will probably not lit his house connections. It is
perfectly simple to ascertain what connectors are needed
and to furnish them even if the salesman has to make
up a short length of cord With an adapter 00 each end.
Canvassers should go armed with such little adapters
and when aboul their work should make note of the
needed in a house. Active demonstrators In a good
showroom are of the utmost importance. In the use
of electrical appliances seeing is believing. An effective
demonstration will often end in the sale of appliances
which mere advertising would not move from the shelf.
As lamp efficiencies increase the need of many and gen-
eral outlets for energy becomes acute. In our judgment
the appliance field will become in the near future very
large and profitable, and it should be most assiduously
cultivated.
Concentric Wiring and the Inspectors
Because of a program crowded with other — and some
of them less pertinent — topics and discussions, the
subject of concentric wiring failed to come up at the
recent Minneapolis convention of the Western Asso-
ciation of Electrical Inspectors. The omission of so
important a topic from the inspectors' councils is a dis-
tinct loss to the forum of discussion which has cen-
tered about the proposed innovation in electrical con-
struction methods. For, after all, if concentric wiring
is to be condemned or approved, its final fate will rest
on its practicability and, above all, its safety, and not
on any mere selfish considerations of those branches of
the industry which its revolutionary results may most
affect. The inspectors have long been disciples of the
"safety first" idea — at almost any cost — and any public
expressions of theirs concerning the hazards (if any)
which they see involved in concentric construction would
have been of great value to the industry at this time.
Individually, as revealed by a census taken among
the delegates at the convention, the inspectors seem
to be almost unanimously against encouraging ap-
proval of the new wire. Installed carefully by com-
petent workmen, concentric wiring, as some inspec-
tors freely admitted, "might be all right," but even
these heretical gentlemen insisted that such wiring
would be at best a dangerous thing, to be handled only
with special tools and the greatest caution by skilled
artisans. Dangers of electrolysis were touched upon
during one session, and in reply to a question a govern-
ment expert expressed his opinion that the local ground-
ing of neutrals of a three-wire system would be a prac-
tice calling for condemnation on the basis of possible
electrolysis troubles. Some of the inspectors were dis-
posed to take the view that with return currents in the
bare outer sheaths branch return paths might be set
up at every grounded structure crossed. Electrolysis
once started at such an intersection might insidiously
eat away, first part and then the entire sheath, at last
leaving the accidental "cross" as the only path to ground
and so opening the way to all sorts of mischief. This is
one side of the story.
Open discussion among men with practical field
experience might score some points in favor of concen-
tric wiring from the standpoint of safety. At any rate,
the inspectors should have been "heard in meeting" on
this important subject, for their protests, if plausible,
will go further than any mere selfish objections raised
to stay the advent of a hinn of construction which,
from all reports, is giving satisfactory service abroad.
Febriakv 1". 1916
KI.KCTRICAL WORLD
541
How to Merchandise Electrical Appliances
The Sales Force. Display Room, Advertising and Co-operation that Central
Stations Should Maintain to Win Success
By J. V. Guilfoyle
IN order to .-ell electric appliances successfully atten-
tion should be paid to creating interest in devices,
demonstrating their uses and operation, pointing
out their advantages and maintaining them in satis-
fact'iry operation. No less important are the selection
!.. provision for co-operation with other deal-
ers, methods of purchasing, storing stock and keeping
accounts.
Considering the organization of an appliance-sales
department, first, it is important that the manager have
sufficient authority and confidence in his ability to be
independently able to select appliances that he, by close
observation and analysis, finds the public can or will
purchase. It is unfortunate in many organizations
that through personal friendship for salesmen or manu-
q§P ELECTRIC
j£ APPLIANCES
FIG
ILLUSTRATED CATALOG SENT TO CUSTOMERS
facturers the showrooms are heavily stocked with ap-
pliances which are many times not representative of
the most efficient or most salable ones on the market.
In central-station appliance-sales departments it fre-
quently happens that the manager is forced to purchase
certain articles which his superiors recommend.
Training the Sales Force
The training of the salespeople is very important.
Before they should be allowed to come in contact with
the shoppers either in the showroom or by calling at
any prospective purchaser's house they should have
thoroughly tried every appliance which is offered for
sale by the company. In addition, the demonstrators
should be thoroughly conversant with the uses of the
appliance, its energy consumption and practicability.
Armed with this information, the salespeople are in a
position to perform their duties enthusiastically and to
the satisfaction of the shopper.
If a purchaser sees that a salesman is enthusiastic
over the device which is being demonstrated, he will
usually absorb the same spirit and besides buying the
appliance may interest a number of others in the use
of electrical devices.
Unless proper attention is given to the cost of doing
business, the net profit on sales may be very small. For
any company selling from 300 to 400 articles a month
it is absolutely necessary that periodical inventories be
taken to determine what stock is being sold most rapidly
and what articles should be more prominently featured
to maintain a rapid and uniform movement of the stock.
Particular attention should be paid to recording of sales
and disposition of stock, as lax methods in this respect
will greatly affect the ultimate profit.
Sufficient emphasis is not usually laid by the central-
station company on the importance of every employee
assisting in the extension of electric service. As every
energy-consuming device that is connected to the elec-
tric-service company's meters means additional revenue
to the company without investment for meters, lamps,
service mains, etc., it should be the desire of every em-
ployee to assist in the sale of electric appliances. The
regular new-business solicitors may also be helpful in
securing "tips" on fields for selling new appliances, and
may also recommend them to those with whom they
come in contact.
Value of Advertising
One of the main avenues through which the public
may be interested in the use of electric appliances is
popular advertising. This can be done in a general
and extensive way by the manufacturers and jobbers,
by advertising in popular magazines, especially those
subscribed to by women, as the women are the ones who
create the demand. When properly timed with na-
tional advertising, newspaper announcements may be of
assistance in stimulating the sale of electric appliances.
Material and cuts for making up newspaper copy can
usually be obtained from the manufacturers or jobbers.
Still further publicity can be given to appliance sales
campaigns by circularizing catalogs describing and il-
lustrating electric appliances. Special circulars con-
taining information which may be of permanent value
to the receivers may prove more valuable than regular
catalogs. Such descriptive matter can be distributed
through the mails or by attaching it to regular monthly
bills or notices sent out by the company. The latter
method is usually less expensive, but if the circulars are
made up in an attractive form and sent by first-class
mail they will generally receive more attention.
Importance of Display Room
In any campaign for new business the importance of
making the display room attractive should not be lost
sight of. Special attention should be paid to featuring
some one device. In addition to being artistically deco-
542
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 9
rated, the display windows should be attractively
lighted. Some cards should be displayed which sug-
gest how the articles exhibited may be of use to every-
body. Tags should always be placed beside each device
YOU ARC CORDIALLY INVITED TO INSPECT OUR
INTERESTING EXHIBIT OF HOUSEHOLD COOKING
AND HEATING DEVICES. DEMONSTRATING
INNUMERABLE TIME AND LABOR-SAVING
FEATURES.
THE UNITED ELECTRIC LIGHT ft POWER CO
FIG. 2 — INVITATION FOR MAILING
showing its price plainly. In some cases it may be
advisable to have a few of the advantages of the appli-
ance stated briefly on the card together with the cost of
operation.
Articles should never be labeled "Don't touch" or
anything that would imply the same thing. On the
other hand, devices should be displayed where they are
o
Electric Shop'
O
The United Electric Light & Power Co
date 19-
□ □
■ □
B o Q
I L.O
IECEIVEO THE ABOVE UNDER CONDITIONS SPECIFIED.
denied this right, he feels that the article is not what
it is claimed to be. By allowing the articles to be
handled many more are usually sold than is the case if
they are placed where they can only be looked at.
i m, B BALES Bl •< ORD FORM
in convenient reach of any shopper who may feel
tempt. ■-! i" purchase the article. Every shopper feels
that he has the right to pick up and scrutinize the
article which he will ultimately purchase. If he is
NO
o
"United Ele<
REPAIR
250
DTRIC
ORDER
o
Shop"
PHONE
REF
CO
ne<
OE
D. M. NO
TOMER .
urn
0 PROM CUSTOMER
RET O TO CUS
REC D FROM
AECCIVCO
CUSTOMERS
M
SIGNATURE
JMPLETE. AS SPECIFIED
FIG. 4 — REPAIR-ORDER FORM
There need be no fear of the article becoming shop-
worn, as persons purchasing electrical devices usually
demand that they be given the device which they have
handled and have found to be entirely to their satis-
faction.
It is advisable to keep a record of purchasers of elec-
trical appliances, as once they have used one they are
usually more likely to buy others. Canvassing users of
electrical devices to induce them to install additional
devices may often result in more sales than a general
FIG, •"> STOCK-RECORD CARD
canvasa Of persons who have no idea of the convenience
of employing electrical devil •
Appliances are especially acceptable when their cords
and connectors are interchangeable, allowing the use of
t Kilkl \KY J7, 1916
ELECTRICAL WORLD
543
one service connection for each device and permitting
the other connectors to be held as a reserve in case of
emergency. The maximum revenue will be obtained
and the customer's good will secured if the electric-serv-
ice company makes it a point to repair minor defects
in the appliai
( ^-operation with Dealers and Contractors
Co-operation with electrical dealers will develop
friendly relation and assist in a small way in increasing
the load on the electric service company's lines. Not
only electrical dealers, but hardware stores, etc., each
represent an additional point of distribution, as they
are usually thickly scattered over all territories and
will therefore call the attention of the passing public
more strongly to the variety of electrical devices avail-
able.
Some dealers cannot be relied upon to handle efficient,
practical, guaranteed appliances, and are incapable of
doing sufficient business to warrant their being left
alone as electric-appliance merchandisers. Many of
them are poor merchants and keep unattractive stores
and antique stock. Moreover, the average dealer will
accept an electric appliance because of the price offered
by the manufacturer rather than because of its sala-
bility, practicability or efficiency. It is important that
the dealers should be educated, since the electric-service
company's aim is, or should be, to obtain and maintain
the good will of its consumers.
By selecting aggressive dealers who maintain attrac-
tive stores and attempt to please their customers elec-
tric-service companies may obtain considerable assist-
ance in merchandising electrical appliances if they con-
sign to these dealers a small stock of electrical appli-
ances which can be sold at special prices. This will
usually stimulate them to greater efforts and give
them an opportunity to display stock that they would
not otherwise be able to handle.
List of Seasonable Appliances
The following appliances are suggested as suitable
for campaigns at the beginning of each season of the
year: vacuum cleaners and fans in the early spring;
flatirons in the summer; percolators and toasters in
the early fall, and a variety of devices for gifts at
Christmas.
Electric-service companies may do well to prepare
catalogs containing illustrations and prices of approved
electric appliances and send a copy to each of the deal-
ers in their territory, with instructions that any of the
articles listed therein will be furnished at a special
discount in case there is a demand for it. Including
the names of local dealers in advertising literature will
often induce those mentioned to co-operate, and may
also be the means of selling a number of appliances to
people who might not feel inclined to travel so far as
the electric-service company's display room.
Central-Station Window Display to Increase Pump-
ing Load
To illustrate the simplicity, automatic control and
operating cost of motor-driven pumping equipment, the
Elmira (N. Y.) Water, Light & Railroad Company has
been employing the window display shown in the ac-
companying illustration. The equipment is cleverly ar-
ranged so as to answer most of the questions which
would probably be put to new-business solicitors by per-
sons interested in pumping equipment. In the middle
of the display is a very compact Goulds reciprocating
water pump directly connected to a ' L'-hp, single-phase
Wagner motor, the price complete of which is indi-
cated below on a placard together with a statement that
it can be used for either pressure or gravity-feed water
systems. The water-delivery pipe leads from the pump
to a barrel on the right. To show that the pump starts
automatically electric lamps are attached to the barrel,
DEMONSTRATION OF AUTOMATIC ELECTRIC PUMP
one showing when it is full of water and the other in-
dicating when it is empty. On the left cf the motor is a
Donkin cent-hour meter which is connected in the elec-
trical circuit leading to the motor. A large arrow
pointing to the meter dial informs persons gazing into
the window that the meter indicates the cost of oper-
ating the pumping equipment in cents per hour. Lamps
illuminating the meter dial also call attention to the
cost of operation.
Oscillating Fan Mechanism as Window Attraction
A Minneapolis dealer in electrical supplies has adapted
the oscillator mechanism of a 16-in. fan to carry a 200-
watt nitrogen-filled lamp in the manner shown, making
an attractive window display as the rays of the power-
ful lighting unit, which is set in a concentrating re-
flector, sweep back and forth over the sidewalk. As the
blades are removed the fan mechanism runs much faster
than it is ordinarily designed for, making the sweep of
the headlamp sufficiently rapid to attract the attention
OSCILLATING FAN AND LAMP
of the passing public. The circular board on which the
lamp is mounted is carried from the attachment bolts
which would otherwise support the blade guard, but
heavier strap pieces were required to hold the addi-
tional weight of the lamp, receptacle and reflector.
544
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 9
Doing Business on Low Overhead Expense
Electrical Contractor Able to Show Profit on a 10 per Cent Allowance
by Not Competing for Work in Open Market
THE overhead expense of most electrical contrac-
tors is about 20 per cent or more. Means of
reducing overhead expense without a detrimental
effect on business naturally are of interest. Overhead
expense is generally taken as the cost of doing business
during a definite period of time, divided by the cost to
the contractor of the business done during that period,
the quotient being expressed in per cent. With a fixed
amount of business the percentage overhead expense
can be reduced only by decreasing the cost of carrying
on that business, or with a fixed cost of carrying on the
business the percentage overhead expense may be re-
duced by increasing the volume of business done. An
electrical contractor should hence aim to keep his per-
centage overhead expense at a minimum by conducting
as large a business as possible at as small a cost as pos-
sible. This is the cause for the fact that the W. B.
Perry Electric Company, of Brooklyn, N. Y., is able to
conduct its electrical contracting business with an over-
head expense of approximately 10 per cent.
Details of Business
No discussion of overhead expense is of value unless
those factors which enter into its computation and the
means of applying the overhead expense are given. The
company under discussion applies its overhead expense
as a certain percentage to the estimated cost of a given
installation. The items which are taken into account
in computing the overhead expense to be employed are
given in the following outline:
Liability insurance.
Heat, light, water and telephone.
Stationery and postage.
Rent of building.
Salaries of office force.
Entertaining.
Losses :
Bad accounts.
Breakage.
Attorney's fees.
Allowance on bills.
Automobile:
Operating and upkeep expense.
Depreciation.
Interest on investment.
Depreciation of office furniture and fittings at 5
per cent.
Depreciation, loss and waste of stock and tools.
No allowance is made for interest on the investment,
but such an allowance could be made without exceeding
the allowance of 10 per cent for overhead expense.
The Perry Electric Company doee business on both
the percentage and straight-contract basis. In the
e the overhead expense is taken as 10 per rent
of the actual co I of the work and in the latter case as
10 per cenl oi the estimated cosl of the work, in both
20 per cent is added to the actual or estimated
of the work as profit. The average gross an
of l.ii Ine 'lone by the company is about $180,000
annually.
The companv does not specialize in any particular
branch of the electrical contracting business but will
in)' from the Wiring of a COttBge
to Installatlo r ai much as $100,000.
The office and impany are a1 292
Livingston Street, which may be considered as a com-
paratively desirable location from which to conduct such
a business. Both the office and stockrooms are on the
first floor of the building, and a show window can be
taken advantage of for displays. In addition to Mr.
Perry, the office force consists of an accountant, a gen-
eral superintendent, a combined superintendent and es-
timator, a stenographer and a stockroom boy. All so-
liciting is done by the men composing the office force.
This office force may at first appear inadequate for
the amount of business done. However, by carefully
distributing the work and maintaining system in every-
thing a great amount of supervision is unnecessary.
The entire organization is so controlled as to eliminate
all unnecessary details, but at the same time the office
force is in possession of all the details of all work under
way.
Estimating, Cost Keeping and Other Forms Employed
The accompanying illustrations show some of the
forms employed by this firm. At the present time the
firm uses a special estimate sheet, but it will employ
FIG. 1 — COST-KEEPING FORM
those published by the National Electrical Contractors'
Association as soon as the present stock is exhausted.
The workmen are required to turn in daily time and
material vouchers. The vouchers are employed in mak-
ing entries on the cost-keeping forms, one of which is
shown in Fig. 1. Separate columns are provided for
entering all labor and material costs and for giving
1 redits for returned materials. A trial balance of the
books is taken every month. Some idea of the manner
in which this is done can be obtained from the form
shown in Fig. 2. The labor and material charges for
each contract under way are carried over from the pre-
ceding months, and all new charges for labor and mate-
rial are entered. Where work is being done on a
straight-contract basis the profit or loss on each job
as compared with the estimate is computed. These
sheets are kept in a loose-leaf ledger.
Fig. 3 shows a daily time sheet which Is now being
employed by the company on large work. It is intended
that all the elect ricians and their helpers on any one
contract shall indicate on this sheet the number of hours
prut on the job and the amount of work done. Col-
umns are provided in which to give the amounts of vari-
011 materials installed. A wide column is also provided
for any material in. I named. This sheet is being em-
ployed not only as a means for checking estimates with
February l'T, l'.-l."
ELECTRICAL WORLD
545
the actual amounts of labor required but also as a
means of comparing one man's work with another's and
to bring to the attention of every man the relative quan-
tity of work which he is doing from day to day. On
small work extending over a period of only a week or
ten days at the most these elaborate time sheets are
not employed, but instead small cards are used.
All blueprints of installations are kept permanently
Method! Employed
One of the reasons why this company can carry on
its business with an overhead expense of only 10 per
cent is that it does not solicit business in the open mar-
ket as much as it does among private clients. In this
way the company saves the time and effort which many
contractors put forth in attempting to obtain business
which is very likely to go to the lowest "curbstoner."
BILLS MONTH ENDING
MI
....
ua
»u
-
1
1
I -=- ,
L^^
1
r-O
1
^ — -
L — ^ -■ — ^_- ■
J i t
FIG. 2 — SAMPLE OF SIMPLE LEDGER SHEET
and hence can be used for reference in case any addi-
tions or alterations are later desired. When a contract
is completed the blueprints for the work are all num-
bered and filed, the number assigned to the blueprints
for the job being placed on the files, where it can be
readily found. For each job a cardboard letter folder
is maintained in which all correspondence is filed as well
as a copy of the original estimate and proposal. These
are all kept in a separate file until the work is com-
pleted, when they are transferred to a file of completed
jobs and filed away together with the other informa-
tion on the work. The daily time slips and material
By bidding only on such work as permits of a first-class
installation at a fair price the company saves much
unnecessary expense. The company also aims to main-
tain permanent clients by giving them first-class work
in all cases.
Much of the firm's work is done on the percentage
basis as previously mentioned, 10 per cent being allowed
for overhead and 20 per cent for profit. This firm finds
that this method of doing business is very desirable,
especially where the customer is an old one and one who
knows the policies of the firm. In order to obtain and
retain the confidence of its customers on the percentage
, _ , j
DAILY TIME SHEET
W. B. PERRY ELECTRIC CO. D.«„
•
rw
■-
*
■'
:
»■
* WT*1-
!
FIG. 3 — DAILY TIME SHEET USED FOR LARGE WORK
vouchers as well as the original estimates and proposals
are all retained.
It is thus seen that system is maintained throughout
the office. In this way much labor is saved. One book-
keeper can easily handle all the necessary bookkeeping.
In estimating use is made of the adding machine and
the slide rule, the latter being a labor-saving device the
value of which many contractors do not realize.
basis, the firm's books are always open for inspection.
The prices given a customer on material are the same
as those obtained by the firm in buying. Where mate-
rial has to be ordered for a contract the manufacturer's
invoices accompany the bill when rendered. No work
will be undertaken on either the percentage or straight-
contract system unless provision is made for 10 per
cent overhead and 20 per cent profit. The firm confines
546
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 9
its principal efforts to the soliciting of business in the
borough of Brooklyn, but does considerable work also
in cities throughout the country.
No large stock of materials is maintained, as the com-
pany finds that, owing to the fact that all of its business
is not confined to the borough of Brooklyn, the expense
of maintaining a large stock and transporting materials
from its stockroom is greater than the transportation
charges when buying materials from the manufacturer,
even though quantity discounts are generally allowed in
buying large quantities of materials. In placing orders
for materials, the company invites quotations from first-
class manufacturers and awards the contract to the low-
est bidder, no attempt being made to obtain materials
at reduced cost by pitting one manufacturer against
another. Very little material is bought through jobbers.
All work is estimated by the estimator and the clos-
ing of the contract handled by the estimator or Mr.
Perry. After a contract is closed, the orders for mate-
rials are placed and all material is delivered on the
job before any men are sent on the work. All work is
done under the personal supervision of the general su-
perintendent and the combined superintendent and es-
timator.
In cases where the arrangement of circuits, outlets,
etc., are not given by the architects or engineers on the
plans, an electrical layout is made by the firm whether
required by the architect or not. One of the advantages
of making plans for all installations is that less material
and time is required than if the method of running the
circuits, etc., were left to the judgment of the work-
men. In addition, it permits a permanent record of the
installation to be made. Alterations and additions can
hence be made at any time at a minimum expense.
Where work is being carried on in some distant town
the advantages of having blueprints of such installa-
tions under way are obvious. Where additional outlets
are to be provided or changes made in the original lay-
out there is no necessity for communicating with the
contract in sight but confines its efforts to those pro-
posed installations which it knows are to be made in
a first-class manner and for which a fair price will be
allowed; fourth, that the firm aims to give all clients
good work and thus retain them as permanent clients ;
fifth, that much of the firm's work is performed on the
percentage basis, thereby eliminating much of the un-
certainty of the straight-contract method of doing busi-
ness; sixth, that system is maintained in everything,
no work being started until all material is on hand and
until the plans are made for the work, and seventh, that
constant check is maintained on the performance of the
men and on the amounts of materials used.
HAND IN HAND WITH CONTRACTORS
How the Brooklyn Edison Company Co-operates with
Dealers and Contractors in the Use
of Electricity
As published in these columns last week, the ninth
annual dinner to the electrical contractors of Brooklyn
by the Edison Electric Illuminating Company of that
city was given in the Academy of Music on Feb. 10.
This is only one of the manifestations of good will ex-
isting between the company and the contractors.
All of the electrical interests of the borough are
brought into very intimate touch through the Kilowatt
Club, a local organization of electrical contractors. It
was in collaboration with this organization that prices
mutually satisfactory to the company and the electrical
contractor were agreed on for the new house-wiring
plan of the Edison Electric Illuminating Company. This
plan, which has already been described in these col-
umns, provides fiat prices for wiring each different room
in any residence and for all features of equipment, so
that the householder himself can compute in five or ten
minutes exactly what it will cost him to wire one room
ELECTRICAL CONTRACTORS OF BROOKLYN, GUESTS OF BROOKLYN EDISON COMPANY
men on the job in order to learn how the circuits arc
actually laid out.
It may hence be said that the reasons why the over-
head expense of this firm is only about 10 per cent are,
thai it employs a coal keeping system which re-
quirea a minimum amount of work; second, that the
office I organised and its work so systematized
that no unnecessary duplicating of work takes place;
third, that the firm does not attempl to obtain every
or his entire house. The company itself does not do any
wiring, but apportions the contracts received among
the contractors of the borough, giving consideration to
customers' preferences and to local conditions.
The monthly sales of appliances held by the company
are advertised through post cards inclosed with all bills
to customers and also by billboard and newspaper pub-
licity. Contractors and supply houses are notified of
these sales and are permitted to share in the benefit of
I-khui \u\ 27, 1916
K1.KCTRICA1. WORLD
547
the advertising, the company supplying to them the ar-
ticle on sale at a price which will yield a liberal profit.
Throughout the borough arrangements are made with
contractors to receive application for electric service.
The windows of Buch contractors are painted with a
.sign. "Edison Light «fc Power. Applications Received
Here," and the windows are lighted for the contractor
at night by the company without charge. The harmon-
ious relationship thus existing between all branches of
the electrical industry of the borough of Brooklyn has
worked out well for the benefit of all concerned, and
especially for the benefit of the local lighting company.
Advertising Electricity to Manufacturers
Campaign Adopted by the Cleveland Electric Illuminating Company to Keep the Power
Question Before Factory Owners and to Back Up Its Solicitors
THE most effective advertising done by the Cleve-
land (Ohio) Electric Illuminating Company in
recent years has been the publication of a series
of interviews with some of its own customers. The
company appreciates that power advertising has got to
be specific in order to appeal to the manufacturers.
The latter, who are fairly familiar with the general
advantage of central-station service, are more deeply
interested in knowing what competitors are doing and
•c^^^^^^^5<
en times arc cfood
and "when times are
6ad -whether your plant
& running overtime or half
time -the economy of pow-
er adjusted toactual needs,
iS obvious. T*or perfectly
adjustable, economical pow-
er, buy electric Service
jrom Central Station
Not merely electric power, out
Illuminating Service. "
The Illuminating Company
Illuminating Duildinq
lublic OQjiarc
FIG. 1 — ADVERTISEMENT OF CLEVELAND ELECTRIC ILLU-
MINATING COMPANY
what are the experiences of other users of electricity
in their own or similar lines of business.
The interviews used by the company in the campaign
dealt with individual experiences described in some de-
tail. These gave the testimony of users regarding the
service of the company and the comparative saving in
space and investment possible thereby, together with
the peculiar advantages of buying rather than making
electricity for the industry in question. The interviews
were divided among classes of industry canvassed by
the company. For instance, if solicitors were calling
upon a brick manufacturer interviews were obtained
from brick manufacturers on the company's line and
published in the newspapers. If the solicitors were
working on an iron foundry, testimony from some iron
founders using central-station service was obtained.
It should be pointed out that the company did not
employ its own staff in getting these interviews, but,
feeling that customers would be inclined to talk more
freelv to outsiders, men having no connection with the
The Growing Factory Needs
Central Station Power
NO private power plant can econom-
ically Keep pace with a rapidly ex-
panding factory. Money must either
be invested in a plant whose capacity is
greatly in excess of present needs, or
spent in constant additions to the power
equipment.
Central Station furnishes just the
power you need now, and can supply all
the power you will need in the future.
The private plant means breakdowns, de-
lays, power loss, heavy investment, with
big items of interest and depreciation,
fuel and labor bills, worry and uncer-
tainty. Central Station power is reliable;
it is efficient; and its cost is based on the
power used.
Hundreds of Cleveland man-
ufacturers have installed Cen-
tral Station power to cut down
production costs. AsK any of
them what they thinK of it.
"Not Merely Electric Power but Illuminating Service"
THE ILLUMINATING COMPANY
Illumining Building. Public Square
PIG. 2 — ADVERTISEMENT OF CLEVELAND ELECTRIC ILLU-
MINATING COMPANY
company whatsoever were employed for that purpose.
In order that the testimony might carry conviction,
the names of the parties interviewed were published
in all of the advertisements. An attractive booklet
of these testimonials was printed and widely distributed
among the manufacturers of Cleveland who were not
548
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 9
users of central-station service. In addition, engi- reader with the immensity of central-station develop-
neers, factory superintendents and foremen received ment along the lines of motor service as a proof that
copies inasmuch as these men are always more or the principle is right. The idea was localized by bring-
less influential in questions of motor installations. ing out that Cleveland has had its full share of this
development. The second letter dwelt on the increas-
ing cost of all power-plant items and on the decreasing
The campaign laid out included a series of letters cost of "illuminating service," and the reason for it.
which were sent to prospective customers who had al- The third letter points to the success of selling central-
Campaign in Detail
-.« • ".«'.•
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_..
»«.
1108 EiiElD<-tra Bldf ,
CH,
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V" «
r,:'.',";::'';'
':";:::;?:;:'
.'iu,"?L*r^w°".r!f"i
rji»;"u"", ';.'""
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s.
|"h,.(VhS"J '=* «rr
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VE-R,
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Hi;. :: SERIES OF I.KTTKRS and BoOKI.KT BEN! TO FACTORS OWNERS \\"i> OTHERS IN CLEVE1 \\i>
been called on by thi of the company.
letter was typewritten on the company's regular
letterhead and signed by the solicitor having the mat-
D Charge, The scries of letters is shown here-
with in connection with the booklet containing the testi
station service during 1912 and 1918 as a proof that
the company's proposition is right. It was suggested
that the company make an estimate of the cost of serv-
er the person to whom the letter was directed.
The fact that the smoke problem could be most
monials. The first letter attempts t<> impress the economically solved by the use of central-station service
I EBR1 u:v 27, 1916
ELECTRICAL WORLD
549
mu brought out in the fourth letter. In the fifth letter
an attempt was made to impress the reader with the
fact that central-Station service means more than simply
conducting electricity to his place of business. Several
phaw Ice were mentioned, and in the sixth
letter an offer was extended to the manufacturer to
visit the company's main generating station.
The introduction of the booklet, "Power Interviews
with Cleveland Manufacturers/' gave briefly the salient
points of the interviews, together with the names of
the manufacturers making the statements. General
publicity work in the newspapers was started with sev-
eral general advertisements on the advantages of cen-
tral-station service. These announcements were fol-
lowed by an advertisement calling attention to the
widespread system of the illuminating company. In
a subsequent advertisement not only was the extensive-
of the central-station system dwelt on but it was
shown how lines were duplicated in order to insure
continuity of service. The point was then made that
this was not the work of a day but the work of years.
The interviews used in the newspaper advertise-
ments specify specific arguments for central-station
service for industrial purposes. Thus one manufac-
turer used the service because it relieved him of the
bother and responsibility of looking after a private
plant. Another found that the elasticity of the serv-
ice was the most important point which appealed to
him.
One manufacturer showed the economy of using
central-station service as opposed to the use of an
isolated plant, and the argument was all the stronger
inasmuch as it came from the buyer instead of the
seller of the service. An advantage pointed out by
another manufacturer is the saving of capital possible,
especially when starting business, in using central-
station service, while others concede that it is more
profitable for them to use electricity in their manu-
facturing processes than any other form of energy.
It will, of course, be appreciated that advertising
like that shown herewith, appeals only to a very lim-
ited number in any community, and that the response
to the appeal is not as immediate as the response to
Power Which Is Elastic
and Cheap
-in J. H. FOSTER of tb< HYDRAULIC PRESSED STEEL CO. S*n
"The beauty of Illuminating serv-
ice is its elasticity. If we had
built a plant of our own from the
start, it would have had to be torn
down and doubled in capacity at
least every year of the seven we
have been in business. We have
grown so fast. This would have
involved great expense and a lot of
bother to us.
"Now we merely notify the Illum-
inating Company whenever a new
machine goes in, and the addi-
tional power ts on the switchboard
before the machine or motor has
been installed.
"A plant of our own would not do
in our present state of growth, and
if we stopped growing, there would
still be weighty reasons for not
having it.
"Theoretically, an isolated plant
sounds good, practically, it works
out about 331* of theoretical effi-
ciency, and there is nothing in that
"Isolated plant sellers figure their
costs under idea] conditions of load
and operation. They overlook the
shut downs for inventory and the
half or quarter running. They for-
get about taxes and space and in-
efficient help. The man who figures
seven-eighths of a cent had better
raise it to 3c, to include all the ac-
tual items of expense.
"If wc needed a thousand horse
power and were building our own
plant, we would install 2,000 horse
power, to assure continuous service
and leave some room for growth.
This would involve an excessive
investment and double the space
"Many a manufacturer fools him-
self about the cost of making power,
sometimes he does not even figure
normal depreciation- Fixed charges
are a much larger item in actual
experience than the running cost
for fuel, help, oil, etc"
Coat fatten.-* output.
THE ILLUMINATING COMPANY
llluminolmg Bldg . Public Squor.
PIG. 5 — ADVERTISING THE ELASTICITY OF CENTRAL-STATION
SERVICE
advertisements on appliances or on wiring campaigns.
Much of it must be looked upon as purely educational
in character, the seed sown bearing fruit oftentimes
many years later.
Interview With Mr. Denison
of the Ohio Clay Company:
'IQot old steam plant took altogether too
/nuch of my time and attention and also
the time and attention of my superintend-
ent, which can be more profitably employ-
ed in making bricks than in making power.
"It is a wonderful relief to be rid of power
making. In designing clay tile plants all
over the country I always recommend
buying power instead of making it, unless
the rates are exorbitant. There may be no
money saved on power, but there is more
management left for the brick business
proper."
Efficiency in your factory should include
your power icrvice. Onlr.l Station power ia
what you need, lo .liminate •tile, and
The Illuminating Company
Illuminating Building
Public Square
i^mMmmt»m^mm>MMmmmmm»\\
FIGS. 4 AND 6 — ADVERTISEMENTS OF CLEVELAND ELECTRIC ILLUMINATING COMPANY IN ITS POWER CAMPAIGN, MADE
UP OF TESTIMONIALS FROM ACTUAL USERS OF ITS SERVICE
550
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 9
Merchandising Methods
Price-Cutting
The effect of price-cutting was the subject of a recent
conversation in which a well-known electrical manufac-
turer said in effect:
"It starts this way. A salesman connected with a
well-established manufacturer becomes imbued with the
idea that he, too, could be a successful producer and
distributer. He secures financial backing and starts a
business. Having been a salesman and knowing little of
shop methods or costs, proper accounting, overhead
charges and depreciation, he begins to believe thoroughly
what he had, perhaps, already suspected as salesman,
that the established manufacturers are overcharging.
In reality they are making but a fair and reasonable
profit. However, the salesman-manufacturer imme-
diately cuts prices, and thus he forces others to do the
same.
"It becomes necessary to borrow money. The banks,
seeing that the young concern is thriving, make the
loan. The borrowed money adds impetus for a time,
and in an effort to increase sales prices are reduced still
further. The former salesman fails to see, however,
that his lack of financial success is due to low prices,
and things go from bad to worse. When the company
fails, owing money to the bank, there is a loss of capital,
the ruinous price-cutting competition has driven the
price of a standard product below that which should be
charged for it rightfully, and a failure has been re-
corded, making it doubly difficult for an experienced
manufacturer to secure financial aid for the manufacture
of a similar product.
"Because the electrical industry is comparatively new
and there is a popular clamor for cheaper products, price-
cutting has been adopted too often to boom sales. With
correct cost accounting and depreciation charges, price-
cutting should be even less frequent, for invariably it
has been found that the man who cuts prices does not
know what his product really costs."
An Example of Jobbing-House Sales Efficiency
An electrical contractor who had been asked to be one
of the speakers at the annual contractors' convention in
his state was at a loss for a subject on which to talk.
Quite naturally he asked the other electrical men he
knew if they could suggest an appropriate topic. In one
voice they said, "Sure! Jump on the jobber."
Unfortunately, many persons in the electrical business
believe the position of the jobber in the electrical field
is more or less precarious, and that anyone to gain
popular favor has only to declaim against the jobber
as frequently and with as much gusto as occasion per-
mits. Hence it is not surprising that these men advise
the contractors to deride the jobbers. But incidents
occur continually which demonstrate the efficiency of
the sales force of the jobber and which show that the
jobber performs a real service to the industry. One of
these incidents, which is familiar to most electrical
men, occurred in connection with the marketing of the
type of flash-lamp using a standard-sized dry cell.
From the time this type of lamp was first manufactured
for sale until it was to be found in practically every
part of the country was approximately ninety days.
This example was used by Mr. 11. P. Anilrae, of Mil-
waukee, to demonstrate the fact that a new article can
be widely distributed in a very much shorter time
through the electrical jobbing houses than by any other
method.
One Credit Man's Maxim
Posted in the private office of the assistant treasurer
of a large central-station organization in Minnesota —
the official who passes upon credit matters for the com-
pany— is the following legend :
"CREDIT
"Credit is like a looking glass, which when once sullied
by a breath may be wiped clean again, but if once
cracked can never be repaired."
Business Ethics for the Electrical Jobber
Mr. W. E. Robertson, of Buffalo, N. Y., one of the
best-known electrical jobbers in the country and a past-
Jupiter of the Jovian order, has prepared for the Re-
minder, the monthly publication sent to all members of
the Electrical Supply Jobbers' Association, the follow-
ing ideas on business ethics, which he defines as "a
standard of conduct constantly progressing in an upward
direction with the increased intelligence of the most
progressive and far-seeing individuals connected with
a given industry" :
"The purpose of having a standard of conduct is the
elimination of the bitterness which follows sharp prac-
tice where no standard exists, the protection of the in-
terests of those who, through long experience and valu-
able service rendered, have gained a position of influence
and honor in an industry, and the guidance from pit-
falls of those individuals just entering a business whose
impulses are in the right direction but whose limited
experience is their greatest handicap.
"The standards of conduct, or so-called ethics, are the
result of experience.
"One of the most difficult things to pass on to others
is the knowledge gained by experience. The hope of
those engaged in all of the professions, as well as in
well-established lines of business, and who preach and
support the creation of ethical standards, is that by so
doing an atmosphere may be created that in time will
become incorporated into the business or profession
itself and so raise the business or profession in its finer
characteristics as to attract to it men and women of
education, energy and refinement.
"In choosing a business or profession it is not enough
that an opportunity to make money exists in it, but with
the opportunity should come the commendation and
regard of the community.
"To illustrate: Few men of education and even slight
culture would select as a business for a son that of the
pawnbroker or saloon-keeper. There is money to be
made in these pursuits, but the accepted ethics of each
is so low that instead of those pursuing these indus-
tries receiving the commendation of the community they
receive its condemnation.
"The electrical supply business, being young, has not
as yet a clearly defined standard of ethics.
"We are gradually accepting the fact that service ren-
dered to the public is the justification for a satisfactory
margin of net profit. We are gradually coming to the
conclusion that misrepresentation and sharp practices
akin to it make an unsound foundation on which to rely
for the erection of a permanent and profitable business.
We are gradually seeing that in running down a com-
pel [tor and belittling his integrity and ability to serve
we not only lower ourselves but the industry of which
we are a part.
"We are beginning to realize that others as well as
ourselves have aspirations not only for the industry but
for themselves, and that the enrichment that comes
through the courtesy, kindness and thoughtfulness of
Others is something to be highly desired.
I him akv 27, 1916
ELECTRICAL WORLD
55i
"In striving for the establishment of a code of busi-
•■thics applicable to our business, to the end that
with the opportunity for profit there shall also be an
opportunity for culture, we must be patient and must
take philosophically our disappointments, realizing that
our personal ideals keep pace with increasing experi-
ence and growth, constantly widening the gulf between
the man of mature years and those who are but entering
the industry.
"To strive for the attainment of the ideal is the in-
spiration of all continued effort on the part of the in-
dividual. When hope of attainment is lost life becomes
at best a dreary existence. So, in the hope that we are
gradually, as an industry, establishing a code of busi-
ness ethics that shall uplift and increase the attractive-
r our business, let us hold fast to a happy optim-
ism, welcoming the aid of those who aspire to like
ideals, regarding with broadest charity those who fail
to comprehend, and with thanks for progress achieved
hold fast with sweet philosophy to the things most
cherished by each of us."
How an Electric-Range Campaign Started in
Buffalo
About eighteen months ago a down-town apartment
hotel to contain ninety-five small suites of three and
five rooms each was projected in Buffalo. The plans
originally called for an isolated steam plant, and the
owner apparently desired nothing else. However, when
he was informed by a representative of the Buffalo
General Electric Company of the many advantages of
central-station service, his reply was characteristic of
the modern business man. He said, "Show me." The
plans were then carefully gone over and the following
suggestions were made: Heat with low-pressure steam;
install motor-driven refrigerating apparatus; heat water
by automatic natural gas heater; light electrically;
supply your tenants with electric ranges.
The owner was broad-gaged enough to appreciate the
advantages of the first four recommendations, but hesi-
tated considerably at the fifth. He was prevailed upon,
however, to install an electric range in his own home
on a trial of sixty days. At the end of one year both
the owner, Mr. G. H. Poppenberg, and his brother had
tried electric ranges and were such enthusiastic ad-
vocates of cooking by electricity that thirty 2.64-kw
ranges and sixty-five 3.4-kw ranges were ordered for
this installation. These stoves, which were made by the
Standard Electric Stove Company, of Toledo, Ohio, rep-
resent a connected load of 300 kw, and it is notable that
they were installed in spite of the fact that natural gas
which sells at 30 cents per 1000 cu. ft. is available at the
site of this building.
The owner purchases electricity at a wholesale rate
from the central station through one meter and will in-
stall in each apartment a sub-meter of his own, agree-
ing to supply the tenants with electric light and service
for electric cooking at rates less than the consumer could
obtain as an individual customer of the central-station
company.
The low-pressure steam plant for heating is equipped
with smoke consumers and has a vacuum return system
which will permit even temperatures to be maintained
throughout the apartments. Each apartment is equipped
with "built-in" refrigerators of porcelain. These are
cooled by an automatic, electrically driven, 20-ton re-
frigerating machine made by the Hartford Automatic
Company. All water supplied to the apartments is
filtered twice through quartz and is pumped electrically
to large tanks at the top of the building. The ventilat-
ing system, which is electrically driven, and two Otis
electric elevators of the most modern design complete
the electrical equipment of this thoroughly up-to-date
apartment house.
Mr. F. A. Coupal, sales manager of the Buffalo Gen-
eral Electric Company, in speaking of this remarkable
installation, said that since the closing of this contract
three owners of smaller apartments are seriously con-
sidering replacing their gas stoves with electric ranges.
Helpful Information Given to Solicitors
Part of an appliance solicitor's job is to "size up" his
prospective customer so that he may be guided in his
talk by this estimate, and then he will neither waste
time trying to sell a chafing dish to a frugal housewife
nor undersell some person who is an enthusiastic user
of electricity. During an appliance campaign in Toledo,
Ohio, in which a house-to-house canvass was made, it
was suggested that if solicitors were supplied with a list
showing the amount of customers' bills for the two
months previous to the campaign the data would aid
them in sizing up "prospects." With this information
in hand, the solicitor, it was thought, would be better
able to form a correct estimate of prospective customers
than by merely observing the character of the residence
of the customer and the customer's general appearance,
such criteria having often proved far from reliable.
15,400 Lamp-Socket Appliances Sold by Byllesby
Companies and Co-operating Dealers
Reports from all Byllesby properties show that a total
of 15,400 lamp-socket appliances were sold by various
companies and co-operating dealers during the last holi-
day campaign. These appliances represent an added
connected load of 6803 kw, about two and one-half times
that which was obtained during the corresponding period
in 1913.
The largest increase in sales above last year's records
was obtained at Louisville, Ky., where 3874 appliances
were sold as compared with 467 in 1913. Many of the
smaller companies also did considerably better than
last year, Enid, Okla., showing an increase of about 4.2
per cent, Dallas, Ore., about 3.C per cent, Galena, 111., 3.1
per cent. Two companies, one at Grand Forks, N. D.,
and another at Corvallis, Ore., which sold no appliances
last year reported good sales this year.
Selling Five Suction Sweepers a Day at Toledo
Three "whirlwind" campaigns conducted by the
Toledo (Ohio) Railways & Light Company in 1914 re-
sulted in the sale of 850, 425 and 350 vacuum cleaners
in the months of January, March and June respectively.
Throughout the entire year the average sale of these
devices was about five each day, and at even as late a
date as Jan. 1, 1915, the sales force was disposing of
three cleaners a day on the average. Much of the suc-
cess enjoyed by the company in the sale of these ap-
pliances was, according to Mr. A. K. Young, new-busi-
ness manager, due to the "personal" letters mailed
above the signatures of solicitors who had some ac-
quaintance with the prospective customers. The per-
sonal letters used were really form letters furnished to
solicitors in lots of 100 each. Only a part of each
solicitor's territory was circularized at any one time,
and in this way each man was able to follow up in-
quiries on cleaners and to attend to his other duties
as well.
552
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 9
Central-Station Sale of Ornamental Lamp-Posts
In a special effort to bring before merchants, clubs,
banks, churches and theaters the advantages of using
ornamental lamp-posts for exterior illumination the Edi-
son Electric Illuminating Company of Brooklyn is offer-
ing, during February only, 300 posts erected complete
and ready to light for $48 each. This amount can be paid
Trade Follows The Light
LAST FEW DAYS
FEBRUARY SALE
Edison Electric Illuminating Company of Brooklyn
ADVERTISEMENT USED IN POST CAMPAIGN
in instalments if desired, $8 at the time of signing the
contract and $10 on each of the succeeding four months.
This offer is open to any individual or organization
occupying premises along the company's electric-service
mains. The company is pointing out through literature
advertising the campaign that progressive merchants
have found the use of these "silent salesmen" to be a
very effective, up-to-date and economical method of ad-
vertising. Heretofore the posts have been erected by the
Edison company, the customer buying the post and
paying the construction cost at a total expense rang-
ing from $60 to $125 a post, according to street condi-
tions.
The posts which are being exploited are equipped
with five 100-watt tungsten lamps which will be lighted
every night in the year by the company's patrolmen.
All lamps burn from dusk to midnight and one from
then until dawn. This service is offered at a flat rate
of $6.50 a month. With the folders outlining the cam-
paign the company is distributing return postal cards
which interested persons can sign to get further infor-
mation. Orders for the posts will be filled in sequence
of receipt, and none will be erected at the special sale
price after 800 orders have been accepted.
Repairing Heating Devices to Promote Their Con-
tinuous Use
In order to insure the continuous use of electric heat-
ing appliances, the Schenectady Illuminating Company,
Schenectady, N. Y.. repairs all such devices free of
charge where no material is needed, and charges only
for the actual CO rial where any new material
itiired in repairing. During the past year about
$900 worth of repair material was used for repairing
electric-heating appliances. In the case of the electric
iron the total cost to the company, including car fare,
material and labor, was 13.5 cents per iron repaired.
As this amount is approximately equal to the gross
return from one iron per week, the policy of the com-
pany in making no labor charge for repairs is one which
is founded on good business principles.
Owing to the large electrical manufacturing interests
in that city, there is no direct need for canvassing for
the sale of electric heating and cooking devices. How-
ever, a visit is made to every house in the company's
territory once a year, to canvass for the use of electric
appliances, to see if the customers are satisfied with
the service rendered, to answer any questions in regard
to the use of electrical energy that may be asked, to
learn ways in which the company can be of service, and
to learn if any electrical appliances are in need of re-
pairs or replacement.
During the summer months the load at 10 a. m. on
Tuesday mornings is 500 kw greater than at any time
of the day on other days of the week. This load is
known to be directly traceable to the use of electric
irons. Although this extensive use of electric irons is
partly due to local conditions, much of it is also due to
the fact that the company is able to insure the continu-
ous use of such devices by the policy which has been
outlined in the preceding paragraphs.
The Language of the People
A very large percentage of the population of Cleve-
land, Ohio, is of foreign birth or foreign descent. Con-
sequently the Cleveland Electric Illuminating Company
has exerted every effort to reach this great foreign
population in its own most familiar tongues. Certain
publications of the company, particularly those having
to do with the electrical equipment of small dwellings
and small stores, have been translated and reprinted in
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\ STORE-WIRING CAMPAIGN IN YIDDISH
as many as five languages other than English. Repro-
duced herewith is the text of a folder issued in connoc-
tion with the store-lighting campaign and printed in
Yiddish. It will be noted that the title is at the upper
right-hand side, the reader passing from right to left.
At the lower left-hand side is the name and address of
the Illuminating Company.
Febrlakv 27. 1916
K LECT R ICA I. WORLD
553
Electric Vehicles
TRAINING DEALERS TO SELL VEHICLES
What Brerj Man I'ndertakinn to Sill Electric Motor Trucks
should Kik»h Ahout DeUrery, Operation,
Maintenance ajid Work
No conservative manufacturer of the present day is
so anxious to sell his trucks as to take risks of over-
sold trucks and wrong applications, poor service and
dissatisfied customers, on sales made from his own
office, and yet very many of them are putting them-
in the position of doing exactly that thing
through lack of proper training of their dealers, ac-
cording to Mr. George H. Kelly, of the Baker Motor
Vehicle Company of Cleveland, who addressed a motor-
truck convention not long ago in Detroit.
It is essential that the dealer be trained in the same
school as the factory salesman, and the problem of this
sort of schooling has been handled successfully by the
manufacturers in many different ways.
The important point is not how this teaching should
be accomplished, but what the absolute essentials for
every man who would attempt to sell motor trucks to
know are.
All will agree that a complete and definite knowl-
edge of all the mechanical details of his own product
is the first requisite, together with a sufficiently accu-
rate knowledge of the same features of other types of
that class.
On the following points of operation, however, the
dealer has often had little, if any, training:
What horses can and cannot do.
What electric trucks can and cannot do.
What gasoline trucks can and cannot do.
Each of these should be taken on a basis of:
First — Economy in cost.
Second — Operation.
Third — Maintenance.
Fourth — Time, quantity and quality of work accom-
plished.
There are certain factors of economy, maintenance
and work which, reduced to terms of horse, gas or elec-
tric operation, increased or decreased by the percentage
of favorable or unfavorable conditions, will give a rea-
sonably definite result.
To reduce a given case to a basis of this sort of course
requires not only a great deal of technical information
but also an understanding of how to analyze delivery
and improve existing conditions.
It is necessary to know how much it will cost to oper-
ate the truck for one day, but it is much more impor-
tant to know how much it is likely to cost for five years.
It is quite important not to forget that there is a
certain percentage of the time that each type of vehicle
will be out of commission, and it is more important to
know what these percentages are. Naturally business
must go on, though the truck or horse does not, and
temporary replacement is expensive. It is a mistake
to omit this part of the cost of hauling, particularly
when figuring on the other fellow's type of vehicle.
One thing that seems very difficult for the average
salesman to learn, in Mr. Kelly's estimation, is that,
although one truck can frequently do the work of from
two and one-half to three horse teams, it is very difficult
for it to be in two places at the same time, even when
the places are only half a mile apart.
While speed is the curse of the motor-truck business,
it is always necessary to prove speed to persuade the
horse owner that he should change his delivery. Here,
naturally, the inexperienced salesman is in a quandary.
There is a point up to which speed is economical and
beyond which it is a y. •■, but it is often diffi-
cult for the man with yean "t training to make this
dear to a purchaser who has never owned a motor
track. The natural tendency is, therefore, to sell what
the customer thinks he wants, rather than what he
really needs.
There is only one way to accomplish a healthy and
normal sales increase, and that is to lay the right
foundation — the foundation that means sales for next
year and the year after. To do this it is absolutely
necessary to make good sales, and it is equally important
not to make bad ones. Oversold and badly sold cars have
done more to hurt the motor-truck industry than any
other one thing, and it is "up to" the manufacturer to
do everything in his power to minimize the possibilities
of this sort of sales. The first step is the proper train-
ing of the dealer. He should have a chance to start
right.
Electric "Hurry-Up" Wagon for Boston
Arrests by electric patrol wagon are the latest
"wrinkle" in police service at Boston, Mass., a new
worm-driven General Vehicle equipment having just
been added to the retributive apparatus of Station 4.
The chassis carries a body 8 ft. long, 5 ft. wide and 6
ft. high, with swing-up seats, interior electric lamps
and other unusual comforts. The battery is installed
under the hood, and the controller and other electrical
auxiliary equipment are mounted beneath the chauf-
feur's seat. The brake levers are so arranged that when
the brakes are applied the controller handle immediately
moves over to the neutral point and cannot be again
operated until the brakes are released. In a test run
on Tremont Street a speed of 23.5 miles per hour was
attained. A number of prominent Boston electrical men
were given a "joy ride" in the new conveyance on its
first arrival in the city, and it is hinted that the vehicle
is already proving attractive to those for whom it is
performing serious service. As a horse-drawn omnibus
used in prison transfer service at Boston recently fell
apart on account of decrepitude while carrying victims
of inebriety to the Deer Island wharf, it is anticipated
that the electrification of the police department will be
further extended in the near future.
Co-operative Electric Garage
A co-operative garage was recently opened by the
New York Electric Vehicle Association, under the aus-
pices of the New York Edison Company, at Central Park
West and Sixty-second Street. As this is a crystalliza-
tion of all phases of electric-vehicle promotion work
which central stations are doing, it can be used as a
cross-section in examining the whole development. Its
principal elements are these: The New York association
has opened the garage in co-operation with a number
of leading manufacturers of electric pleasure cars. The
Ranch & Lang, Detroit, and Baker companies have
showrooms in the building, making it their headquar-
ters. The garage will start with accommodation for
150 cars, more than 100 of which have already been
secured. There will be a fixed charge for privately
owned cars of $45 a month, which will include battery
charging, care of the car, and taking it to and from the
owner's residence and the garage. The object is to
provide a large, centrally located garage where electric
vehicles will receive special care and attention, thus
facilitating the adoption in New York City of a car
that has established its claim to be exceptionally well
fitted for town use.
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 9
Interior Construction
Checking Labor Estimates in Electrical Contracting
Much of the uncertainty in estimating on electrical
contracting lies in computing the uncertain labor item.
The material required and overhead expense can gen-
erally be computed with comparative ease, but when
the performance of electricians under various and often
unforeseen conditions is estimated the probability of
error is comparatively great. Means of decreasing the
uncertainty of this factor by comparing estimates and
actual costs may hence be well sought.
A prominent electrical contracting company of New
York City, doing electrical contracting on both the per-
centage and the straight-contract basis, makes use of
the weekly time vouchers of the electricians for this pur-
f" NOTICt.— This Company will not be responsible for any dam.
ages to house furniture or ornaments, occasioned by carelessness
of workmen. Under no circumstances handle, touch or move any
article in the premises you may be at work. Call a servant to
made any required changes.
33- This Voucher must bo signed by Workman personally, and
countersigned by Superintendent of Construction befors it will
be accepted by Company.
<0"Tnis Voucher must be mailed or sent so as to reey-ih office
THURSDAY A. M. of each week.
The
Electrical Constriction Co.,
Week ending _ .191
Report of Time and Cash Expenses.
Job of.._
At
Job No
Bate _
CASH DU8 UNDERSIGNED FOR
Sundries,.
.Day, @.
Hours, " _
.Fares,
Total,
WORKMAN.
Countersigned,
SJsTMake A slip out fof *>nch Job. giving dote, character of work
md expenses incurred thereon for fnres or otherwise.
W~On the back of this slip, beginning nttho bottom, make memo-
randum of time expended and expenses incurred on each class ot
work
WEEKLY TIME VOUCHER
pose. The labor item on each job under way is com-
puted weekly. Estimates of the labor required for dif-
ferent classes of work may hence be checked with the
actual labor required. All such data, the original esti-
mates, the copy of the proposal, material tickets, etc.,
for a job are placed in a large envelope containing the
number of the job. Such envelopes are placed in the
file cases where they can be conveniently found during
the progress of the work or at any future time. A card
index permits a job number to be obtained from the
name of the building.
BROADENING THE CONTRACTOR
What Co-operation Between Inspector, Contractor and
Journeyman Has Done in Louisville
There was a time when the average electrical con-
tractor thought that the inspector was a necessary evil,
and when an order to tear out a wiring installation and
replace it according to the ideas of the inspection author-
ities was regarded merely as evidence of a diabolical
desire on the part of the latter to cause the contractor
to lose money.
The modern idea, of course, is entirely different. The
contractor knows that inspections are necessary; he
realizes that with the large number of people in the
business, including the tyros, the careless and the un-
scrupulous, the community must have some safeguards
against defective work. The proper system, therefore,
is to co-operate with the inspectors, working with them
in the direction of the establishment of proper stand-
ards and the elimination as far as possible of defective
work.
One of the most striking proofs of the value of co-
operation in this direction is furnished by the experience
of the Electrical Clearing House Association of Louis-
ville, Ky., which is made up of the contractors and their
journeymen and the inspection officials, including the
city and fire-insurance-rating authorities. This organi-
zation has been in existence for a comparatively short
time, but the contractors as well as the officials unite
in declaring that it has filled a long-felt want and that
it is the most beneficial idea that has ever been put
into practical use.
Aims of the Clearing House Association
Mr. C. C. Childers, of Childers & Waters, who is
president of the Electrical Clearing House, is enthusi-
astic over the possibilities of the idea.
"Formerly," he said, "there was no organization
where the little fellows were represented. We have had
plenty of associations in the electrical business, but the
trouble is that only about 5 per cent of us belong to
them, and the other 95 per cent, who are handling a
great part of the work, are outside. The clearing house
is inclusive and takes in everybody. The big contractor
and the little one meet on a common footing, with no-
body at an advantage, and the benefits are bound to
come. Some of the contractors who are just starting in
and haven't got experience or knowledge are learning
the code and are being shown how they ought to do the
work. While this is making the electrical installations
better from the standpoint of the fire underwriter, it is
also making these contractors better business men and
more successful members of the trade. When they do
poor work they lose money, because defective wiring
that has to come out and be replaced means additional
labor and wipes out the profits. That's where the sup-
ply men lose, too, because when the little fellow falls
down he can't pay for his materials. So you see the
clearing house benefits everybody in the business, be-
sides bringing about a great improvement in the
character of the work that is being done."
Louisville is one of the first cities which have adopted
the clearing house plan, hut that it will not be the last
is evidenced by the interest which has been taken in
it by members of the trade in other cities. The idea
is to be adapted to conditions elsewhere, and inasmuch
FORI LSI 27, 1816
ELECTRICAL WORLD
555
as it is of general application, there is no reason why
it should not be universally used.
When the clearing house was formed it was chiefly to
.study the National Electrical Code and to clear up a few
points about which there had been some misunderstand-
ing, i This, by the way, is one of the most important
features of the work — to get rid of the numerous inter-
pretations put on the rules, and to decide exactly what
they mean, and then adhere to that interpretation.)
The first meetings were so well attended, however, and
the benefits proved so great that it has been decided to
make the organization permanent.
Everybody connected with the electrical business in
any way is eligible to membership, and the annual dues
of $1 will probably not scare anybody away, not even
the smallest and most modest contractor. The dues will
merely pay for postage to enable notices to be sent
out.
Fixture Men Eligible
One of the branches which have benefited by the work
of the clearing house in Louisville is the fixture trade.
The members of this business have had no organization,
but the clearing house has made room for them. They
have arranged a basis of co-operation with the con-
tra* tors which has resulted in the adoption of methods
of installing the wiring which lessen the labor of hang-
ing the fixtures very materially without increasing the
cost to the contractor. Fred G. Burford, of the Bur-
ford & Brecher Company, a leading fixture concern of
Louisville, is vice-president of the organization.
The Electrical Clearing House is referred to occa-
sionally in Louisville as "the triple alliance," because
it brings together the city inspectors, the rating bureau
inspectors and the contractors themselves. Everybody
is now working together, and the results have proved
that when the general interests are considered every-
body benefits.
The meetings are held in the assembly room of the
Kentucky Actuarial Bureau on the twelfth floor of the
Starks Building. The attendance is from forty to fifty,
and on occasions the room proves too small to hold all
those who wish to take part in the meeting. There is
usually a talk by a speaker of note on a topic of general
interest, while discussions of moot questions receive at-
tention. Blackboard demonstrations by the inspectors
are a feature, and anybody who has a trouble or a
question or a doubt has ample opportunity to get it
settled before leaving the room.
The attendance is not limited to the contractors; their
journeymen also attend the meetings, this being one of
the most beneficial features. The man on the job is the
chap who must be educated, and it is felt that giving
those who, in the final analysis, are responsible for the
results an opportunity to find out the hows and whys
is an excellent policy. It has certainly worked well
thus far in Louisville.
Misunderstandings Cleared Up
If a contractor believes that he has been made the
victim of an unjust ruling, he states his case and the
matter is explained by the inspectors. If a new rule is
promulgated, and the contractors feel that not sufficient
time has been allowed to enable them to adjust them-
selves to it, this is discussed and an amicable conclu-
sion arrived at. In every case, however, every interest
is considered, and the motto of the organization, to do
the thing right, is closely adhered to.
Mr. E. C. Knoop, of the electrical inspection depart-
ment of the Kentucky Actuarial Bureau, is secretary of
the organization, and is most enthusiastic over the re-
sults from the standpoint of the fire underwriters.
"There has been a material improvement in condi-
tions," he said. "Better work is being done and fewer
defects are being noted. The contractors are improv-
ing the character of their installations, and they, the
owners and the fire-insurance companies are benefiting.
Owing to the fact that many people enter the contract-
ing business with insufficient experience, it is certainly
able that there be some organization or medium
where they can acquire the necessary information, and
the clearing house gives them ample opportunity to learn
the code and bring themselves up to the required effi-
ciency. From an insurance standpoint it would be
almost impossible to conceive of a better system for
improving conditions, and we can safely say that the
clearing house has given to the electrical business a
much better status than it has ever had before in
Louisville."
As an instance of the work which is being done along
this line, the loop system has been adopted and joints
have been done away with. The latter method of wiring
was formerly used to a great extent, especially in the
cheaper installations. Its elimination is regarded as a
big improvement from a fire-prevention standpoint.
The clearing house is also contemplating adopting a
rule requiring all entrances to buildings in the fire
district to be made in conduits. The conduit system is
being used voluntarily by many owners, of course, but
putting it on a compulsory basis will undoubtedly lead
to this protection being provided in many cases where
it would not be used under present conditions.
Convenient Estimate and Proposal Sheets
The work of the National Electrical Contractors' Asso-
ciation in devising uniform proposal and estimate sheets
has resulted in the production of sheets that permit
estimates and proposals to be made not only in uniform
style but also with great convenience. One of the ad-
vantages of this association's universal-estimate and
uniform-proposal sheets is that they tend to promote
intelligent and accurate estimates and proposals by pro-
viding blanks with appropriate headings which tend to
remind one of the various items entering into the mak-
ing of an estimate or proposal. In addition to this ad-
vantage, the use of uniform sheets for all copies of esti-
mates and proposals permits the keeping of all such
records in files where they may be conveniently found at
any time.
Both of these forms are shown in the accompanying
illustrations. The form for the uniform-proposal sheet,
it will be noticed, permits the making of a contract
which is definite with comparative ease. On the rear of
the sheet the following explanation of the terms and
abbreviations used is given :
"Lts. — The number shown in this column designates
the number of 40-watt lamps, or their equivalent, allowed
for the outlets shown on the same line. Ceil — An open-
ing in the ceiling wired ready for the hanging of a
fixture. Bkts. — An opening in the side wall wired ready
for the hanging of a fixture. F.R. — An opening wired
into a steel box ready for the attaching of receptacles
whose plates, when added, shall be flush with the plaster.
Receptacles to be used for the connecting of portable
lamps and other electrical devices. S.P.F. — An open-
ing wired into a steel box ready for the attaching of
a switch whose plate, when added, shall be flush with
the plaster. Each of these switches will control lamps
attached to the opening appearing on the same line.
3 W.F. — Openings wired into steel boxes for the at-
taching of switches whose plates, when added, shall be
flush with the plaster. Each of these switches will con-
trol lamps attached to the opening appearing on the
same line. S.P.S. — An opening wired ready for the at-
taching of a switch whose base will be outside of the
556
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 9
National Electrical Contractors' Association Universal Estimate Sheet
Arldres*
ko n*qp. m.wm
Architect or Ena-bieW
wn wi.Toriq
ESTIMATE NO
Location of Job or Building
(■a*; 7Hr Talapfcnn* Wo
H P MOTORS
K. W. GENERATOR
JOB N
•Ri^ Mn-t -H* Tn hy If. 1
Itbniwi
n
Priced by Approved b7
REWNDEH*
qoahtit,
DF.SCRTPTION
TOTAL COST
^nTtR|
TOTAL LABOR
Condoll Rlrfd
Conduit Flfiin^
C.'-llnfi aoxm
Switch B,.-i
Box Covers
Meierlnjc fnt.fla
Fuse Pluir"
J W.ij Kiu.i, S«.,rn
Snap Switch**
Door Switch**
Platnrv u ne
Lamp Cord
pISS h!ST*c ■ a
M.Hd»nK Wr^.1
Molding Fitting
Oms
Kcylca« goft>h
Cord Adjuster*
Attachment Phm
Lamp. Inr.iri<le»cent
Ate Lamp
Knob,
yr""
'] 0«lt Bolt!
Elevator Cable " "
■
■ —
■
1 f|| lln,..,
—
TOTAL
1 ompoaad
Utr PKNT TO FOLLOWING
Acid
i a non
. .
*
Incidentals
■
FIG. 1 — I'NIVKRSAL I I I \l \ 1 1- SHEET OF NATIONAL ELECTRICAL CONTRACTORS' ASSOCIATION
Febbi un 27, L916
ELECTRICAL WORLD
557
Brick
Concrete
Extent of Work
plaster. This switch will control the lamps attached to
the opening appearing on tin- same line. ■'< W
Openinge wired ready for the attaching of Bwitches
whose base will be outside of the plaster. Each of these
switches will control the lamps attached to the opening
ng on the same line.
Four-Way Switch When a
four-way switch is shown in
J column it is under-
stood that the lamps atl
to the opening shown on the
same line are to be controlled
from as many additional
points as there are four-way
switches shown. Special —
Bell work and other special
work not otherwise listed will
Li- shown in this column.
'Roughed in' is understood to
mean that the wiring is to be
completed, ready for the hang-
ing of fixtures, without, how-
ever, fused main-line switch.
branch blocks and steel en-
trance box, and without re-
ceptacles, switches and plates.
'Finished' is understood to
mean that the wiring is to be
completed, ready for the hang-
ing of fixtures, with fused
main-line switch, branch
blocks and steel entrance box,
meter loops, and with all re-
ceptacles, switches and plates
installed."
The universal - estimate
sheet, in addition to having
appropriate blanks for the
number of lamps, switches,
circuits, base plugs, etc., re-
quired, contains a large num-
ber of "reminders," among
which are even nails and
screws. The labor involved in
installing the apparatus and
wiring is intended to be esti-
mated by means of those labor
units which the contractor has
found through experience to
be proper for the various
types of work involved. Pro-
vision is also made for the ad-
dition of the two factors upon
which many contractors do
not lay due stress — overhead
expenses and profit.
These sheets are on sale by the National Electrical
Contractors' Association, Mr. George H. Duffield, secre-
tary, 41 Martin Building, Utica, N. Y.
if unsuccessful, represent useful information for the
contractor himself, ana such estimates should therefore
be carefully preserved for reference in making other
bids on jobs of a similar character. One contractor
keeps all such estimates at least five years. Moreover,
UNIFORM PROPOSAL
- hereby propose to furnish all the labor and material necessary to do the Electrical
Work In and about the premises located at (or
the sum of Pollen
Payments therefor to be made by the Owner to the Contractor every thirty days after the beginning of the work.
said payments to be at least per cent of the value of all the labor and material Installed, final payment to be
made within daya after completion of contract
The work done and the material furnished under this proposal to comply with all the City Ordinances govern-
ing this class of work and In accordance with the latest rules and requirements of the National Board of Fife
Underwriters for the Inatallatlon of Electric Wiring and Apparatus, and said work shall be of the amount and kind
designated below
The within proposal shall become a contract between the parties hereto when duplicate la signed and returned
by the Owner to the Contractor within days from date above shown, otherwise the within proposal shall be
null and void.
d signed by both parties hereto, which said writing shall
d conditions of said changes.
Conditions of Building
Under Construction
Being Remodeled
Completed
Meter Location
Cu
i of Work
Concealed
Knob and Tube
Metal Moulding
Inspection
Rigid Conduit
Flexible Conduit
Armored Conductors
(Por
"P"""
<"">"•"« ™a»t
DroUtl
O..T.T
n».u.
of tali *b
»«-)
O U T L, K T S
ROOMS
LTS. |CEIL. |BKTS \ F. R. |S.P.F. |3W F. | S.P.S. |3W.S. | SPECIAL
1
1
1
...J
1
1
The above proposal Is hereby accepted,
this day of , 19.
Respectfully submitted,
FIG. 2-
UNIFORM PROPOSAL SHEET ADOPTED BY NATIONAL ELECTRICAL
CONTRACTORS' ASSOCIATION
it is not a bad idea before bidding first to ascertain
whether or not the credit of the new customer is satis-
factory.
Look Before You Bid
Scrutinize carefully plans on which you are bidding,
was the advice of a speaker before the recent convention
of Minnesota electrical contractors. Take in all the de-
tails and understand the plans thoroughly before re-
turning them. Such care at this time will protect the
bidder against expensive omissions which he will later
be called upon to supply. Dates of bids should also be
examined, for the prices of materials often change with-
out warning. When estimates have been prepared on a
certain set of specifications, the figures obtained, even
Think Before You Kick
Although the motto over the cashier's counter in the
office of the Dayton (Ohio) Power & Light Company
bears only the statement "It isn't the light you use but
the light you waste that costs money," the sign carries
an additional message to the public. To the person
approaching the cashier's counter with the belief that
his bill is too high it gives a new idea. It suggests the
notion that perhaps some one of the family has been
extravagantly wasting electricity. The sign in reality
is an adroitly worded admonition to the customer to
"think before he kicks," for it is well known that a
little conscientious thinking would save a lot of kicking.
558
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 9
Lighting Practice
Inducements for Operating Night Lamps
By calling the public's attention to the protection
from burglary afforded by having the home illuminated
nil night, central-station companies should be able to
fill in the valley of the load curve between midnight and
morning. Then, too, it may be pointed out to mothers
that children may be induced to sleep alone if their
rooms are dimly illuminated all night. Where gas com-
panies are to be competed with, objections to gas light-
portable lamps which are being continually placed on
the market and displaying them so that their advantages-
are emphasized should also assist in increasing the con-
nected load of a station.
SUGGESTIONS FOR INTERESTING PUBLIC
LIGHTING
ALL-NIGHT
ing may be used indirectly by showing that they do not
exist with electric lamps. For instance, it may be
stated that with electric light there is no danger of
asphyxiation or impairment of health, that paintings
cannot be discolored, silver cannot be tarnished, and
house-plant growth will not be stunted.
If cost of operation is raised as an objection, low-
wattage lamps can be advocated for all-night use. Dur-
ing months when darkness exists longer than daylight
a 10-watt lamp can be operated from dusk until 7 a. m.
for not more than 43 cents a month at a rate of 10
cents per kw-hr. During the summer months the cost
of energy will run lower, making the yearly cost about
$4.50 per unit. In a year not nunc than three renewals
should be required, making the total cost, about $5.50.
Presented on a daily basis of 1.5 cents, the convenience
and protection of electric light ought not to be refused
by anyone. Another use for low-rated lamps is in the
sick-room, when continuous but not too intense illumina-
tion is usually desired. Calling attention to various
Good Window Lighting Demonstrated Free of
Charge
If a merchant has some electric lamps in his window,,
he generally feels that his window displays are well
illuminated. About the only way to convince him that
his installation may be inadequate is to show him the
difference between good lighting and his own installa-
tion. One successful method of showing up antique and
inefficient display lighting is being used by Mr. Edward
Quillan, new-business manager of the Alliance (Ohio)
Gas & Power Company. His plan is simple in operation,
but beyond doubt carries conviction.
Selecting the merchant whose display lighting is most
in need of improvement, the new-business agent of the
Alliance company talks to the man about it and gets
permission to install a temporary window-lighting outfit
at the expense of the central-station company. The
temporary installation consists of one or more 4-ft.
strips of wooden molding each equipped with four sock-
ets carrying 60-watt lamps shaded by enameled re-
flectors. One or two of these strips can be placed quickly
in a window and connected to the existing wiring with
very little effort or expense.
To do away with the difficulty of getting the merchant
to come down town at night and observe the contrast
between the new and old systems, a photograph is taken
of his store front, showing, if possible, one of his
windows with both old and new equipment. If the mer-
chant has only one window, one-half of the display space
is lighted by the temporary installation, and even in
such windows the contrast is marked.
Two windows in a clothing store are shown herewith.
In the window at the left eight 60-watt lamps supply all
of the illumination, while the display at the right is
lighted by four 150-watt lamps, and there is a 150-watt
unit in the table lamp shown. Rehabilitation of these
windows resulted in a decrease in connected load from
700 watts to 480 watts, but the merchant became a better
satisfied customer and signed a long-hour contract which
brought his total energy consumption to approximately
what it had been with the old lighting system.
Not only the store shown in the illustration but ilso
other local stores where similar trials have been made
now have all their display windows lighted with modern
equipment.
TWO WINDOWS IN A CLOTHING STORK WITH I'ROPER AND WITH IMPROPER LIGHTING
Febri'ary 27, 1915
E I. KCTRIC A L WORLD
559
NEW APPARATUS AND APPLIANCES
Electric Lantern
The electric lantern shown herewith is shaped like an
ordinary kerosene lantern and is equipped with a stand-
ard No. 1 chimney. The height of the device is 9 in.,
width 6 in., weight without battery 1 1 3 lb. and with
BATTERY-OPERATED LANTERN
battery 21., lb. The metal parts are of brass and steel
and are heavily nickel-plated. Use is made of a 3.8-volt
tungsten lamp, which is operated by a three-cell battery.
The space occupied by the battery is 1.25 in. by 3 in. by
4 in., and the battery will give fourteen to sixteen hours'
continuous service or twenty-eight to thirty-two hours'
intermittent service. The lantern is equipped with a
searchlamp reflector as shown. The contact lever is
conveniently placed at the side of the base. The cage
and reflector are removable so that the lamp can be used
for other purposes besides that for which it is pri-
marily designed. The bottom of the lantern is made of
one-piece drawn metal and is waterproof. It is fastened
to the top by three bayonet-lock connectors. The chim-
ney can be removed from the top. The connectors are
reinforced with rivets or special metal fastenings to
insure strength. The "Yale" electric lantern, as it is
called, is being made by the Baker-Smith Company,
Rialto Building, San Francisco, Cal.
Electric Automobile Horns and Push-Button
The accompanying illustrations show one of the types
of electric automobile horns recently placed on the
market by the Benjamin Electric Manufacturing Com-
pany, Chicago, 111., and a push-button designed to con-
trol the same. The horns are designed to operate on
battery current and have a laminated magnet, massive
contacts, Swedish spring-steel diaphragm and springs,
FIG. 1— AUTOMOBILE HORN
and a special screw lock. Similar horns are manufac-
tured for motorcycles, launches, etc. A horn known as
the "Fordorn" is also manufactured for use on Ford
automobiles, the ignition magneto being employed for
furnishing energy. The push-button designed for
operating the horn illustrated is of unusual construc-
tion. The whole top of the button, which is 1.25 in. in
diameter, acts as a moving contact element and is so
designed that the touching of any portion of it causes
the circuit to be closed. The contactor surface is about
1.50 in. in circumference. If any corroding of the con-
FIG. 2 — PUSH-BUTTON FOR STEERING-WHEEL MOUNTING
tact elements takes place, the contact surfaces can be
easily cleaned by merely depressing the button and giv-
ing it several light turns. These buttons are made in
the steering-wheel, fore-door and flush-mounting types.
Electric Gear Shifter
The Vulcan electric gear shifter for automobiles,
which is being made by the Cutler-Hammer Manufac-
turing Company, Milwaukee, Wis., has recently been
completely re-designed and a number of improvements
have been added. By means of this apparatus the gears
on the shaft are shifted by electromagnetic force, and
the control is centralized at the steering wheel. A sole-
noid is provided for each change, and each solenoid is
controlled by a push-button on the steering wheel. The
gears are moved back to the neutral position by means
of a clutch pedal.
Referring to the accompanying illustration of the
apparatus, the gear-shifting mechanism consists of a
case "A," which is attached to the transmission hous-
ing. The solenoids are inclosed in this case. To the
armatures of the solenoids are attached shifting forks
which move the sliding gears in the transmission. The
operating mechanism by means of which the gears are
mechanically drawn to the neutral position through con-
nection with the clutch pedal is also inclosed in this
case. The case is divided into two compartments, the
smaller of which contains the operating mechanism for
ELECTRIC GEAR SHIFTER FOR AUTOMOBILES
the neutralizing of the gears and the operation of the
master switch.
Assuming that all gears are in a neutral position —
that is, the sliding gears are not in mesh — and that it
is desired to start, the first speed button on the steer-
ing wheel is depressed. The operating lever K and the
shaft on which it is mounted are rotated and the master
E L E C T K 1 C A L WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 9
switch M is pulled into engagement through its con-
nection with the operating mechanism which engages
the switch stem. Owing to the pull of the magnet
against the neutralizing cams F, a pawl connected to
the neutralizing mechanism is raised and the master
switch snaps out instantly, owing to the action of the
master spring O, thus breaking the electric circuit.
Being in first speed and desiring to proceed to an-
other, the other speed button upon the wheel may be
depressed. The clutch is then fully depressed as before,
and the operating lever A' and its shaft, which carries
the rocker arm and its attached mechanism, are ro-
tated. Since the first gear, or whichever gear has been
previously selected, is in mesh, a latch is in engage-
ment with a pawl belonging to the neutralizing mech-
anism, and as the operating lever and rocker arm are
rotated, the latch presses against the pawl, causing both
the neutralizing cams to rotate toward the center, owing
to the fact that they are enmeshed through teeth. On
the central side of the shifter forks there is a boss,
and as the neutralizing cams rotate toward the center,
they press against the boss on whichever side the gear
is in engagement. This action causes the shifter fork
and the gear with which it is engaged to be pulled
back to the neutral position before the next shift can
be made. As the gear reaches the neutral position, the
end of the latch strikes a knock-out pin, and the latch is
released from engagement with the pawl. Since the
operating lever is moved ahead by the foot of the driver
on the clutch pedal, the switch operating another pawl
pulls against the switch stem, closing the circuit at the
master switch. The electric circuit is completed, and
the proper gear jumps into engagement.
Should it be desired to stop, the neutral button on the
steering wheel is pressed down, and any other button
which may have been depressed is automatically raised.
Any selection may be made at any time by pressing any
push-button on the wheel. This selection, however,
does not necessarily influence the changing of the gears
in the transmission, since nothing happens until the mas-
ter switch is closed by the pressing all the way down of
the clutch pedal. In case of battery trouble or dam-
aged circuit, an emergency shifting lever is provided
so that the gears can be shifted by hand.
Stage Pockets
Fig. 1 shows a rigid type of stage pocket recently
developed by the Sprague Electric Works of the General
Electric Company. It consists of a removable porcelain
receptacle and a detachable outer box or casing which,
in the standard form, is open at the bottom. Another
type of stage pocket wherein electric contact can only
tacts, an iron box in which the receptacle is mounted
and a base or junction box tapped for 1-in. conduit in
the type illustrated and for 1.25-in. conduit in the case
of a double wall pocket.
Metal Electric Incubator and Hover
The incubator and hover shown in Figs. 1 and 2 are
heated by carbon lamps. The outside casing of the in-
cubator is of enameled sheet steel, and the inside or egg
chamber of galvanized iron. The air space between the
two is insulated with fireproof material. Ventilation is
controlled from the outside by means of a metal slide
'ijjp-^-t1
FIG. 1 — INCUBATOR WITH DOOR RAISED, SHOWING CARBON
LAMPS USED TO HEAT THE DEVICE
in the bottom of the incubator. A moisture or humidify-
ing tank is on a flange attached to the side of the egg
chamber and slides in or out as desired. The wires are
placed between the outer and inner metal parts of the
removable top of the machine. The egg trays are of
galvanized wire and are graduated in size so that each
single tray will hold about 100 eggs. Wherever the
dimensions permit, the egg trays are made in sectional
squares, so that the position of the eggs relative to the
center, sides and corners can be changed without touch-
ing the eggs themselves. A door is provided with
double-glass windows, so that all parts of the interior
are always visible. A card slide is attached to the side
of the machine for keeping records of the hatch. The
PIQ8. 1 AND 2-
RIC.II) TYPE OF FLOOR POCKET AND STAGE
wai.i POCKET
FIG. 2-
F.LF.CTRICALI.Y HEATED CHICK HOVER WITH FELT
CURTAIN
be made after the plug is inserted and the door closed
has also been recently developed. Both types can be
furnished with either one or two receptacles.
Fig. 2 shows a stage wall pocket which is also said
to be suitable for use in hotels, residences, fact.
etc. It is of waterproof and dustproof construction and
consists of a porcelain receptacle containing the con-
temperature is automatically regulated by means of a
thermostat. The incubator is made in eight different
sizes, with capacities of 50 eggs. 65 eggs, 85 eggs, 120
eggs, 160 eggs, 210 eggs, 310 eggs and 420 eggs re-
spectively. The respective weights of these machines
are, uncrated, 88 lb., 12 lb., 52 lb., 60 lb., 86 lb., 99 lb.,
129 lb. and 166 lb., and the floor space occupied by
DiJiiV/ini^rt
W UftLLI
each is L8 in. by 20 in., 18 in. by 18 in., 21 in. by 21 in.,
by 21 in., 27 in. by 27 in., 30 in. by 30 in., 36 in.
:i. and -12 in. by -12 in.
The hover shown in Fig. 2 is similar in construction
to the incubator. A felt curtain surrounds the frame
and provide! ample shelter, it is declared, for the chicks.
Cleaning is accomplished by lifting up the hover from
time to time and sweeping out under it. The carbon
lamps used with the electric hover are wired in series,
each lamp giving 2 cp. The hover is made in three
prm ision being made for 50 chicks, 100 chicks and
150 chicks respectively. The respective weights of the
hovers, uncrated, are 9 lb., 12 lb. and 18 lb., and the
floor space covered by each is 16 in. by 22 in., 16 in. by
32 in. and 16 in. by 44 in.
The incubator and hover described above are being
made by the Lo-Glo Electric Incubator Company, 76
Greenwich Street, New York.
Wire-Gage and Pay-Koll Charts
The wire-gage chart illustrated herewith is of strong
pressboard and is G in. square. Circular scales are
printed on it as shown, the outer scale giving thou-
sandths of an inch up to 0.5 in. By means of an index
line on a transparent radial arm various values can be
ascertained on the inner scales, which contain eight of
the principal wire and plate gage numbers, drill sizes,
drill-rod sizes and A. S. M. E. machine-screw numbers,
and thread and tap-drill numbers. Comparisons can
also be quickly made from one gage to another. The
chart has been prepared by the S. C. Carpenter Draft-
ing & Engineering Company, 26 Baltimore Street, Hart-
ford, Conn.
A pay-roll chart is also being made by the above com-
pany and consists of a circular disk revolving on a 6-in.
square base. A scale on the edge of the disk coincides
with a scale on the base and gives readings for the num-
ber of hours and minutes from any time "in" to any
time "out" from 7 a. m. to overtime at 10 p. m. On
Kemovable-I'late Yard Charging Receptacle
The accompanying illustration shows a single-outlet
railroad-yard charging receptacle with an auxiliary
receptacle for supplying energy to vacuum cleaners,
hand lamps, etc., the complete device being made from
the manufacturer's standard yard charging-receptacle
parts. These parts consist of a frame, a housing for
YARD CHARGING RECEPTACLE FOR UNDERGROUND CONDUIT
SYSTEM
the outlet, numerous top, bottom and side plates, hubs,
etc., which permit a number of different combinations
to be made suitable for use with underground and
surface conduit system under various conditions. These
receptacles, it is claimed, are absolutely weatherproof
and either spring or clamped removable, water-tight
doors can be furnished for the outlet. These receptacles
and receptacle parts are manufactured by the Crouse-
Hinds Company, Syracuse, N. Y.
Battery Lantern
A rugged battery lantern known as the Step-O-Lite
is shown in the accompanying illustration. At a point
1.5 in. from the top of the cell a hole about 0.5 in. in
diameter is cut in the paper carton of the battery to
allow the center terminal of the lamp to make contact
with the zinc shell. The other lamp terminal is con-
nected through a band encircling the cell, the carrying
WIRE-GAGE CHART
ELECTRIC HAND LANTERN
the body of the disk the different rates increasing by
increments of 2 cents and 2.5 cents from 10 cents to
$1.54 per hour for one, five, ten, fifteen, thirty and
forty-five minutes and for one to nine hours can be as-
certained. The pay for a larger number of hours can
be quickly found by addition. A double parallel scale
of minutes and decimals of an hour is also given.
handle and a spring switch to the center-battery term-
inal. An 8-cp lamp capable of burning continuously for
from ten to twelve hours on a fresh cell is employed. A
special reflector is also provided for the lamp, all metal
parts being highly polished and lacquered to prevent
tarnishing. These lanterns are manufactured by the
Bass-Moody Company, Peoria, 111.
562
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 9
Socket and Shade Holder
The socket shown herewith is of heavy porcelain and
is equipped with i < opptr shell and aluminum top. It
is designed particularly for outdoor work, factory and
mill wiring, etc. The shade holder used with this de-
vice is of aluminum. The shell has been made of cop-
by means of a simple switch. The pump is driven by a
'/8-hp Westinghouse electric motor and is capable of
filling a 300-gal. tank placed 120 ft. above it in less than
three hours. The pump is of the triplex type with cylin-
ders 1.25 in. by 2 in., the height of the pump being
21 in. and its base 16 in. by 23 in. The pump is manu-
factured by the Goulds Manufacturing Company, Seneca
Falls, N. Y., and the motor by the Westinghouse Elec-
tric & Manufacturing Company, East Pittsburgh, Pa.
SOCKET WITH COPPER SHELL AND ALUMINUM SHADE
HOLDER
per, the manufacturers declare, because copper is more
yielding than other metals and a lamp is not so liable
to shake lose from the copper shell in case the socket is
employed in a place where there is considerable vibra-
tion. The socket is designated as No. 333 and the
shade holder as No. 334. Both devices are being made
by the Federal Sign System (Electric), Lake and Des-
plaines Streets, Chicago, 111.
A Motor-Driven House Pump
The accompanying illustration shows a pump de-
signed for use on a farm or country estate and in some
manufacturing establishments. The outfit is said to
MOTOR DRIVEN HOI i H\i)'
require no attention or care excepl occasional lubrica-
tion, and 11 may be installed in any convenient place,
being easily and safely controlled from a distant point
Hollow Fixture Stem
The fixture stem shown herewith is hollow and is of
the hickey type.
The device is of malleable iron and
MALLEABLE-IRON HOLLOW-FIXTURE STEM
after being threaded it is sherardized. It is made in
two sizes, one 0.5 in. in diameter and the other % in.
in diameter, by the Steel City Electric Company, 1207
Columbus Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pa.
Electric Bells
Electric bells ranging in size from 5 in. to 12 in. in
diameter and mounted on steel bases are being made
by the P R Manufacturing Company, 621 Bellevue
Avenue, Detroit, Mich. The base is reinforced and
supports for fastening the screws are flush with the
edge of the base. The striker arm is rolled to a spring
temper. The armature is of soft steel and the contact
springs of phosphor bronze. A screw is provided for
adjusting the armature tension. Use is made of a
nickel-plated steel gong. The cover is of pressed steel
FIGS, 1 AND 2- kiii TKK r.i I I with STEEL BASE
and is finished in black enamel. Fig. 1 shows the
g. lipae bell as it is called with cover removed, and Fig.
2 with cover in place.
m:v 27, 1916
ELECTRICAL WORLD
563
Small-Sized Dental .Motor for Direct Drive
An interesting development in small motors has re-
cently been completed in the form of a dental motor
which can be held in the hand, as shown in Fig. 1.
According to the manufacturer of the device, the Shel-
ton Electric Company, 30 East Forty-second Street,
Besides being adaptable for dental work, the motor
can also be utilized for engraving, manicuring, chir-
opody and as a light bone drill for physicians. There
is no sparking of the commutators, it is declared, and
the device takes only 12 watts. The following advan-
tages were enumerated to a representative of the
Fi.i ■■■ iKii'.u. World by .Mr. Gentry Shelton, president of
FIG. 1 — METHOD OF OPERATING DENTAL MOTOR
New York, the machine is the smallest motor designed
for commercial purposes ever built. The motor is 1.25
in. in diameter and 1.75 in. long, and weighs only 5.25
ounces. The motor operates at a speed of 15,000 r.p.m.,
and it takes a standard dental chuck, which is driven
with a one-fourth reduction in speed. This reduction
in speed, it is declared, is accomplished without gears
or friction devices.
The motor operates on either direct current or alter-
nating current. The armature is hand-wound with No.
40 wire. Use is made of special ball bearings, 1/16 in.
in diameter, and the air gap between the armature and
field is 0.0025 in. The switch is of the plunger type
and is operated by a lever which can be pushed back if
necessary by the back of the hand. The lever can be
placed in three positions, that nearest to the motor
being for reverse operation, the center position for
stop, and the position farthest away from the motor
for starting. The shaft of the motor is hollow, and
bakelite is utilized as insulation. The motor is inclosed
in an air-tight steel case.
For varying the speed of the motor a rheostat is
provided which can be placed on the floor and can be
operated by a foot lever. In case it is necessary for
FIG. 3 — MOTOR SHOWING DETACHABLE DOUBLE-PIN TYPE
the above company: The motor is light in the hand as
there is practically no back drag or buckling of cable;
efficient operation is obtained on account of direct drive,
and it is not necessary to place the motor on brackets
which are liable to be in the way. The motor is also
well adapted for use by students in dental schools.
Miners' Electric Lamp
An electric lamp designed for use by miners con-
sists essentially of a lead-plate battery carried on a
belt, a 0.75-cp tungsten lamp equipped with a suitable
reflector which is held in a steel shell carried on the cap,
and a cable connecting the battery to the lamp. The
manufacturers declare that by adequate insulation of
the entire circuit, placing all the terminals and con-
tacts inside of locked and sealed steel cases and pro-
viding automatic means for extinguishing instantly the
glow of the filament in case the lamp bulb is broken
and the filament is exposed to the air, the device has
been made safe for operation in explosive gases.
The outfit complete weighs 3.75 lb., of which 3.5 lb.
FIG. 2 — DENTAL MOTOR ATTACHED TO CORD WITH RHEOSTAT
MINER"S ELECTRIC LAMP
the dentist to call on his patients, a rheostat similar is carried on the belt and 4 oz. on the cap. The battery
to that shown at the end of the cord in Fig. 2 is em- is rated at 7.2 amp-hr. Normally, it will light the lamp
ployed. This rheostat is operated by hand. for twelve hours per charge and can be relied on, it is
564
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 9
declared, to furnish light for at least ten and three-
quarters hours per charge at the end of one year's serv-
ice. The lamp operates at 1.9 volts and the reflector
distributes the light through an angle of about 130 deg.
The battery is non-spilling and the terminals are not
subject to acid corrosion. The case is of medium-hard
rubber, and "Exide" plates are used. The battery box
measures 6.25 in. high by 5 in. wide by 2 in. thick
over all. It is of drawn-sheet steel, which is electrically
welded. The cover of the box is provided with a lock,
and the terminal contact block is riveted to the inside of
the cover. Connection to the battery terminals is made
by strong spring contacts arranged to close the circuit
when the cover is shut. The cable entrance bushing is
water-tight. The lamp bulb, reflector and terminal con-
tact block are incased in a drawn-steel shell, which is
copper-oxidized and enameled and is provided with a
hook for attaching to the miner's cap. The reflector
is of drawn steel and is white-porcelain-enameled.
At the tip of the bulb is a duplicate contact to which
the filament is connected by a fine copper wire along
the outside of the glass. The bulb is held at the focal
point between the contact springs, which maintain it
constantly under stress, so that in case of a blow only
sufficiently great to chip or partly break the bulb it
will be completely shattered by the springs and drop
clear of the contacts. Sufficient space is provided be-
tween the reflector and glass cover to keep broken lamp
parts from short-circuiting the spring contacts. This
prevents the possibility of ignition even if the cap lamp
is seriously damaged amid explosive gases.
The lamp is designed so that it can be supplied to
the miners from a central lamp house. The outfits are
arranged so that they can be assembled and locked with
the lamps burning when delivered, and so that they
can be returned to the lamp house in the same condi-
tion at the end of the shift. No care or attention
therefore is required of the miners.
The lamp is being made by the General Electric
Company, Schenectady, N. Y.
Fractional-Horse-Power Alternating-Current Motors
Alternating-current motors with ratings of 1/20 hp,
1/12 hp, Vs hp, and 1/6 hp have recently been de-
veloped by the Reynolds Electric Company, 422 South
Talman Avenue, Chicago, 111., particularly for operating
its flashers, although they are also well adapted for use
with washing machines and other types of apparatus
operated by fractional-horse-power machines. The mo-
tors are of the induction type and operate on single-
phase energy at 110 volts and 200 volts. The casing or
frame of the motor consists of two parts. Oil grooves
are cut in the bearing housings to catch surplus oil and
ALTERNATING-CURRENT MOTOR FOR FLASHERS
prevent leakage, and ducts are provided to allow the
overflow of oil to return to cups. The oil cups are pro-
vided with wicks which afford lubrication to the shaft
and bearings. The wick is inserted in a tube so that it
' be Bhaf1 at all times. The CUp cannot
be screwed in place until this wick is inserted in the
tube. The rotor is of the squirrel-cage type and con-
sists of slotted laminations, copper bars and copper con-
ductors. According to the manufacturers, laboratory
tests have shown that the motors developed an overload
rating one and one-half to one and three-quarters times
the full-load rating and 150 per cent to 175 per cent
starting torque. The manufacturers also claim that
the motors developed an efficiency of 52 per cent to 58
per cent and a power-factor of 60 per cent to 70 per cent.
Light-Weight Vacuum Cleaner
The outer motor case and nozzle of the vacuum
cleaner illustrated herewith are of one-piece polished
aluminum. The fan operates at 9000 r.p.m. and is
driven by a General Electric motor, which is
K cooled by air from the fan. The motor operates
on either direct current or alternating current
and is inclosed in a dust-proof aluminum case.
A gear-driven brush is inclosed in the nozzle to
pick up lint, thread, etc., from the floor. The
nozzle is so designed that it adjusts itself to any
angle at which the cleaner may be operated. All
wires except that running to the lamp sockets
are inclosed, and the current is controlled by a
press-the-button switch in the pistol-grip han-
dle. The dust sack is of the quick-detachable
type. Various kinds of attachments are also
provided for cleaning portieres, curtains, wall
coverings, upholstered furniture, etc. The vacuum
cleaner is being made by the Doty Manufacturing Com-
pany, Dayton, Ohio.
Ground Clamp
The ground clamp shown herewith consists of two
strips of brass. The longer strip is provided with a
lug at one end, to which a brass clamping screw is
attached, and also a slot 1.5 in. by :f8 in. in size. The
opposite end of this strip is narrow, and when the strip
is bent the end fits in the slot. The smaller strip is
provided with a lug for clamping at one end and a
triangular eyelet at the other end. When installed on
the pipe or conduit to be grounded, the longer strip is
placed in position first in such a way that the narrow
end passes through the slot. The shorter strip is then
attached to the end of the larger strip and is then bent
around until the lugs are in line, so that the clamping
screw can be placed in position. As the screw is tight-
BRASS GROUND CLAMP
ened the ends are drawn together, and the shorter strip
draws the narrowed end of the longer strip through
the slot, thus reducing the circumference of the band
until it is tightened on the pipe or conduit. The lug
for connecting the ground wire is formed on the outer
strip as shown in the illustration, and it is large enough
February 27, 1916
ELECTRICAL WORLD
565
to take a No. 4 B. & S. wire. The clamps are made
with widths of % in. and % in. and Xo. 20, No. 18 and
No. 10 gages. They are being placed on the market
by Frederick Rail, general sales agent, 19 Park Place,
New York.
Semi-Indirect Lighting Fixture
In the accompanying illustration is shown a cross-sec-
tional view of a semi-indirect lighting unit recently
developed by the Frank Adam Electric Company, St.
Louis, Mo. The fixture is equipped with a top reflector
which is BO designed that the light is reflected down-
wardly at a rather abrupt angle to a horizontal plane.
The top reflector is provided with two independent re-
flecting surfaces which are disposed at a slight angle
with relation to each other and also with relation to a
horizontal plane.
The surface on the outer edge of the reflector is so
arranged that the rays are projected outwardly and
downwardly at such an angle that they are concen-
trated instead of being thrown outwardly in a plane
and that of the bowl 12 in.; for 750-watt or 1000-watt
lamps the outer diameter is 24 in. and that of the bowl
l.: J.-> in.
Plate-GIaas Sii^n Illuminated by Invisible Means
A combined plate-glass sign and concealed illumi-
nator has been developed recently, the display on which
can be illuminated in any color desired without expos-
ing the source of light. The device consists of a hori-
zontal nickeled cylinder containing a straight-filament
CROSS-SECTION SEMI-INDIRECT LIGHTING UNIT
approximately parallel to the ceiling. The inner re-
flecting surface causes a large volume of the light
reflected from the translucent shield to be projected
downwardly through the glass without striking or pass-
ing through the lamp bulb. The fixture is so designed
that none of the direct rays from the lamp can escape
without striking the translucent shield or the top re-
flector, thus eliminating intense horizontal glare. The
reflecting surface is of porcelain enamel, which is fused
on at a temperature of 1800 deg. Fahr. The reflecting
surface is well adapted, it is declared, for use with
nitrogen-filled lamps.
A collapsible tripod is attached to a metal cap for
holding the translucent shade. The cap is well venti-
lated, the manufacturers claim, and the upper reflecting
surface is so designed that it does not cast a shadow
below the unit. The fixture is attached to the ears of
the outlet box as shown in the illustration. Should it
be desired to attach the unit to a fixture stem, a knock-
out is removed and it is fitted with an extension piece
and lock-nut. In installing the unit two screws are
removed from the housing from the back section, and
then the back section containing the receptacle is at-
tached to the outlet box. The wires are then connected
to the receptacle, the housing is replaced, and the two
screws are reinserted. Finally, the reflector is attached
to the housing by four machine screws. For a 200-
watt or 300-watt nitrogen-filled lamp the outer diameter
of the fixture is 16 in. and that of the bowl 8.75 in. ; for
400-watt or 500-watt lamps the outer diameter is 20 in.
FIG. 1 — GLASS SIGN WITH ILLUMINATED LETTERS
tubular lamp and supporting in a vertical plane a plate
of transparent glass on the back of which is etched the
display. The lamp is supported so that the light rays
are compelled to stay within the glass except where
they strike the etched surfaces of the display. To con-
fine the light rays to the body of the glass it has been
necessary to direct the rays from the lamp against the
lower edge of the plate glass at approximately right
angles. By doing so the angles of incidence inside the
glass are kept at values large enough to prevent any light
emerging from the glass except where rays strike etched
surfaces, which are thereby illuminated. The color of
the illuminated surfaces is controlled by a light-filtering
composition applied to the lower edge of the glass plate.
u- Emerging L ight
Rag
CROSS SECTION
OF GLASS PL.
Etching ■
FIG. 2 — ARRANGEMENT OF APPARATUS
When the lamp is lighted the display appears to be
shaded as the illumination is more intense on the bottom.
The color of the light can be changed by applying dif-
ferent light-filtering compositions to the edge of the
plate. The equipment is being marketed by the Thos.
Cusack Company, 949 Broadway, New York City.
ELECTRICAL WORLD
VOL. 65, NO. 9
CURRENT NEWS SECTION
Members of the Federal Trade Commission
President Wilson has sent to the Senate the names of
his appointees to the Federal Trade Commission. They
are as follows:
Messrs. Joseph E. Davies, of Wisconsin, now Com-
missioner of Corporations, to serve seven years; Ed-
ward N. Hurley, of Chicago, six years; William J. Har-
ris, of Georgia, Director of the Census, five years;
Will H. Parry, of Washington State, four years, and
George Rublee, of New Hampshire, three years. The
first three are Democrats and the last two are known as
Progressives, although President Wilson indicated to
callers that he regards Messrs. Parry and Rublee as
Republicans. Mr. George L. Record, of New Jersey,
whom President Wilson was considering for appoint-
ment to the commission, will be named as counsel, with
the same salary, $10,000 a year, as the commissioners.
The nominations have been referred to Senator New-
lands' committee. He said that he believed the Senate
would confirm the appointees before March 4. The
names have been given to a sub-committee for scrutiny.
This committee is composed of Senators Pomerene,
Robinson, Saulsbury, Townsend and LaFollette.
The Democrats in Congress regard the commissioners
as satisfactory, and as they have the votes necessary for
confirmation, both in committee and on the floor, it may
be that Republican opposition to Messrs. Parry and
Rublee will not be carried to an obstructive extent so
far as confirmation is concerned. Senator Sherman, of
Illinois, who is opposed to Mr. Hurley, was the first to
announce the view that it will not be worth while to
"tilt at windmills" in an effort to block confirmation. A
favorable report on the commission is expected from the
committee daily.
New York Commission on Underwriters' Approval
of Installation
An electric corporation may not arbitrarily cut off
energy from a consumer without evidence that the
consumer's wiring is unsafe, and merely because the
consumer refuses to furnish affirmative evidence of con-
tinued safety in the form of a certificate from a par-
ticularly designated unofficial organization like the
Underwriters' association, according to an order of the
New York Public Service Commission, Second District.
The commission says that it is doubtless the right and
probably the duty of an electric corporation in the in-
terest of public safety to satisfy itself that a private
electric installation is safe before it supplies energy
thereto and to impose regulations for its continued
safety. In the particular case under consideration the
commission indicates that the company has gone too far
and orders the service supplied as previously.
The complaint was brought by Mr. Brenton M. Ryder,
proprietor of a hotel at Richmondville, Schoharie
County, against the Great Bear Light & Power Com-
pany. The company had been supplying the hotel with
energy for a number of years when, in December, it
sent a letter informing its patrons that "the high courts
have recently handed down decisions Against some of
the large electric-light companies which had furnished
energy to consumers without Underwriters' Inspection
permits, holding them responsible for fires which had
been traced to electric wires from improper installa-
tion." The letter requested customers to secure these
permits from the secretary of the Underwriters in
Schenectady, but Mr. Ryder refused to do this himself,
claiming that the company had been supplying him right
along and saying that he refused to be "grafted on."
He did not, however, refuse to allow the company's
representatives to inspect his wiring. By ordering the
service restored the commission refuses to make the
company place the burden of proof of the safety of his
installation, where the installation has proved safe
through actual usage, on the customer.
Transportation Arrangements for N. E. L. A.
Convention
Arrangements have practically been completed with
the various railroads, hotels and others concerned in the
operation of the special trains to San Francisco and the
care of the party in connection with the National Elec-
tric Light Association convention June 7 to 11. Two of
the special trains will go to San Francisco over the
Southern roads. Plans have been perfected for the en-
trance and stay of two days in the Yosemite Valley,
California. Most of those who visit this national park
prefer to sleep in the various tent cities. The tents have
hard-wood floors and are electrically lighted.
A special train on account of the convention will be
run from Los Angeles and southern California points.
Central-station companies of Los Angeles and other
cities in southern California and the Jovian Electrical
League of Los Angeles are interested in this train.
The transportation committee advises all who plan to
attend the convention to communicate at once with the
hotel committee in order to secure the necessary ac-
commodations for the stay in San Francisco.
Opportunity for Electric Vehicles in Mail Service
The Post Office Department has prepared advertise-
ments inviting proposals for the service of carrying the
mails in regulation screen wagons and for the service
of furnishing the equipments for carrying the mails in
cities and towns in the States of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois,
Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota. Iowa and Missouri.
from July 1, 1916, to June 30, 1919. Proposals will be
received by the Second Assistant Postmaster General,
Washington, until 4:30 p. m. April 16, and decisions will
be announced on or before May 3.
Requirements are for regulation screen-wagon, mail-
messenger, transfer and mail-station service between
the post offices and railroad stations, terminal railway
offices, steamboat landings, mail stations, points of
exchange with electric or cable cars, etc., and for screen-
wagon, city-delivery and collection service. It is an-
nounced that proposals to perform service on any of the
routes named in the advertisements in automobiles of
such style and construction as may lie acceptable to the
Second Assistant Postmaster General, instead of in
wagons drawn by horses, will be received. Each pro-
posal must be accompanied with a statement giving a
description of the motor vehicle it is proposed to use,
Pbbuary
1916
ELECTKH'AI. WORLD
661
with the hone-power of the engine and the speed per
hour that will be made. In the event of the proposal for
automobile service being accepted, the department re-
serves the right to rearrange schedules and to change
the running time so as to provide schedules better
CITIES REQUIRING AUTOMOBILES FOB KATJ SERVICE
ScttSlf \\ AO.N
COLUCTIO* AMD
D lunar
1,000 1.500
1.000
11,.
3.000
lb.
4.000 6.000
lb. ib.
760
Ih.
i pa
ii..
i
1.600 8,000
lb. Ib.
l 'luminal.. Ohio
Cleveland. Ohm
Columbus. Ohio
Dayton. Ohw
Hamilton. OUo
Sandusky. Ohio
Warren, 1 >hit»
1. li.l
■1
2
1
a
i
i
-■
i
-■
2
1
.1
6
1
1
1
1
1
l
"a
"i
2
B
:
1
1
1
1
I
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
:
-■
-•
"8
i
:
-•
1
1!
1
1
2
1
1
1
5
2
3
"a
14
U
-'
"a
i
30
1
i
i
"a
"i
t'a
i
i
8
11
8
80
18
18
1
»
I
8
1
"a
"i
i
8
1
i
2
8
1
12
Mich
Detroit. Mich
Grand Kaitids. Mich .
Saginaw, Mich. .
La Crosse, Wis.
. Wia
Racine, Wi-
St. Paul. Mini
\ la
Des MoineS, la
1 i
Ottoman, la
Boston, Mass
New York. N
80
81
M
47
40
68
31
41
7a
24
wagons.
adapted to the more expeditious mode of transportation.
Cities in which automobiles are specifically asked for
are given in the accompanying table, together with the
carrying capacity of the vehicles required. No particu-
lar type of automobile is specified.
Commercial Electric Truck Operating Costs
Operating costs of several typical electric commercial
wagons were presented before the Chicago Section of
the Electric Vehicle Association, Feb. 23, by Mr. R.
Macrae, vehicle engineer for the Commonwealth Edison
Company.
Among the trucks cited was a 1000-lb. car which is
operated 8 miles to 15 miles per day in towel-deliver;
service. The Edison cells with which the car is equipped
were charged only every other day during October, 1914,
and in the thirty days of that month consumed 149
kw-hr. At 5 cents per kw-hr., the energy charge for the
month amounted to $7.45, while the storage charge was
$18, making the entire garage cost of this vehicle only
$25.45 for the month.
A 2-ton truck in the same garage is used for the
delivery of fish by a wholesale dealer in foodstuffs. Dur-
ing October, 1914, this truck ran 500 miles, was charged
daily, and was washed seven times. The garage bill
was rendered as follows:
UJ6 $22.00
161 kw-hr.. .it .". cents 22.60
Repairing lamp 0.35
Total J44.95
A 3000-lb. truck used for parcel delivery ran 1226
miles during a recent winter month. Heavy snow and
long runs during the last week of the month required
noon boosting charges on several days. The energy con-
sumption for the month was 794 kw-hr., which, at 5
cents per kw-hr., represented an energy cost of $39.70.
Added to this was the storage item of $25 (including
the cost of daily washings), making the total garage
costs for the month $64.70.
Standardization of Plugs and Receptacles
As previously announced in the Electrical World,
there will be a meeting of manufacturers of plugs and
receptacles at the N. E. L. A. headquarters, New York
City, at 10 a. m. on March 4, to continue the discussion
of plug and receptacle standardization inaugurated at
a similar meeting on Feb. 15 and reported in the
Electrical World of Feb. 20, page 501. In a recent
statement to a representative of the Electrical World
in reference to these meetings, Mr. R. S. Hale, who has
: jW
y^
tes
#
#
•3- ,
4
VARIOUS TYPES OF PLUGS AND RECEPTACLES
served as chairman in view of his heading the N. E. L. A.
committee on the wiring of existing buildings, said that
if these meetings can determine some standard of in-
terchangeability of angle-pull types on the one hand and
straight-pull types on the other, so that each cap of any
manufacturer's angle-pull separable plug may fit any
other angle-pull base part and each cap of any manufac-
turer's straight-pull separable plug may fit any other
straight-pull base part, and particularly if this shall
include changes so as to provide for polarity, then the
object of the National Electric Light Association will
be attained as nearly as possible until the industry shall
be ready to give up either the angle-pull or straight-pull
types.
All that the association now desires to accomplish, in
brief, is such interconnectability that the purchaser of
a llatiron or portable lamp or similar device for use on
a lighting circuit by means of a cord and plug shall find
he can use his purchase all through his house without
having to get another plug. There is a feeling among
some of the central stations that the committee on the
568
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 9
wiring of existing buildings ought to have accomplished
more toward standardization, and while the committee
recognizes the patent and commercial difficulties, it feels
that there is serious danger that some of the central
stations may get together independently of the com-
mittee and standardize on some particular type of plug
and receptacle without regard to patents or other con-
siderations. In addition to the manufacturers who have
been represented at the previous conference, all others
will be welcome who do now, or who intend to, manu-
facture either of these types or any types which should
be considered.
To illustrate the lack of interchangeability of many
plugs and receptacles, the accompanying halftone has
been prepared by the Electrical World, covering
thirty-two thoroughly modern equipments in seventeen
groups. In examining this illustration it should be
borne in mind that the designers of the individual plugs
and receptacles aimed to meet a particular service re-
quirement in each case, and that the capacity and to
some degree the adaptability of the fittings shown vary
in relation to different conditions of installation.
Nevertheless, the importance of standardization is
clearly evident. The equipment shown is as follows, the
name of the manufacturer being given in each case:
No. 1 — Edison base, flush receptacle — Trumbull.
No. 2 — Plug and receptacle, 10 amp — Hubbell.
No. 3 — Flush receptacle nnd plug. 10 amp, 250 volts — Hubbell.
No. 4 — Plug and receptacle, fif.O watts — Federal.
No. 5 — Plug and receptacle, flush type — Hart & Hegi
No. 6 — Plug and receptacle, 1 ^ amp — Metropolitan.
No. 7 — Plug and receptacle, 10 amp — Metropolitan.
No. 8 — Receptacle and plug, "Diamond H" — Hart Manufactur-
ing Company
No. 9 — Plug and receptacle — Manhattan.
No. 10 — Piug and receptacle, flush type — Manhattan.
No. ll — Adapter plug, with Edison base— Manhattan.
No. 12 — Flush plug and receptacle — Chelten.
No. 13 — Plug and receptacle, SBC watts — National .Metal Mould-
ing.
No. 14 — Plug and receptacle Arrow Electric Company.
Nos. 15, 16, 17 — Plugs and receptacle General Electric Com-
pany.
Increase in Alternating-Current Service in New
York
In an address made to the employees of the company
recently, Mr. J. F. Becker, general sales agent of the
United Electric Light & Power Company of New York,
rent of the New York Edison Company, although the
company is without competition in the Washington
Heights section of the borough. That section of the
borough is made up almost exclusively of apartment
houses and stores.
Fig. 1 shows the actual new business signed up by
100
1313
1914
£ 80
o
£70
5 60
<
3 50
...
"
_■"
bJ
H40
h-
<
? 30
£• 3|
"" 20
■ ill '
10
' JAN FEB. MAR. APR MAY JUNE JULY AUO. SEPT OCT. NOV DEC
FIG. 1 — OUTPUT IN 1913 AND 1914 COMPARED BY MONTHS
the sales department in 1913 and 1914. The new busi-
ness secured during the past five years is shown in Fig.
2, where the increased activities of 1914 are readily
apparent. Fig. 3, which gives the total kw-hr. sold
during the past five years, shows an abnormal increase
from 45,000,000 kw-hr. to 107,000,000 kw-hr. during
the past year. This increase however was not alto-
gether attributable to the efforts of the sales depart-
ment since it includes also the high-tension energy sold
to a number of lighting companies in the vicinity of
Manhattan, which load was taken on after the starting
of the company's 201st Street generating station. The
total increase for commercial purposes only was ap-
proximately 11 per cent. The revenue from energy for
1914 was approximately $3,750,000.
The company maintains an appliance bureau where
devices are sold for profit, and last year the sales in-
creased 81 per cent as compared with 1913, with an in-
o*oo
u
!
V
0
IS
ii
15
1 A
a
m
i
n
r
4
a
i
OH
3=
* 60
o
/
/
§40
/
I
SI0
0
BIO 1911 I9IZ 1915 1914 1915
YEARS
FIG. 2 — GROWTH IN 50-WATT EQUIVALENTS FIG. 3 — GROWTH IN OUTPUT
FIG. 4 — GROWTH IN INCOME
showed the splendid increase in business secured by
that company during 1914 over 1913 despite the fact
that New York with its immense exporting houses
probably suffered worse than other tit it's in the busi-
due to the breaking out of hostilities
between thi itioni of Europe. It should be
pointed out that the United Electric Light & Power
pany distributes alternating current In tin- bor-
ough of Manhattan in competition with the direct eur-
crease in selling price of approximately 127 per cent.
Special sales campaigns are carried on from time to
time with special advertising literature for the pur-
pose. The co-operation of electrical dealers and con-
tractors is also secured on these sales, the company
placing the articles to be sold with the contractors and
dealers at a price sufficient for them to make a sub-
stantial profit I'm- handling, Belling and distributing.
Over 1200 irons were thus sold in a single campaign.
I
February 27, 1916
ELECTRICAL WORLD
569
Pacific (las & Electric Company Valuation Methods
Speaking before the Worcester Haas.) Polytechnic
Institute branch of the American Institute of Electrical
Engineers on Pen, 19, .Mr. George H. Throop, of the J.
<;. White Engineering Corporation, New York, described
a complete appraisal of the Pacific Gas & Electric Com-
pany of California. In anticipation of the public utili-
id of 1912. the company engaged the White or-
ganization to value its property in order to give it suffi-
cient data to justify its rates in any rate hearing
before the new commission, to facilitate additional
financing, and to check the assessed values of property
for taxation.
At the time of appraisal the outstanding securities
totalled about $100,000,000. Operations covered thirty
counties, representing an area of 37,950 sq. miles, in-
cluding 212 municipalities with a total population of
over 1,100,000. Electrical energy was furnished in 205
of these places, gas in fifty-five, water in nineteen, and
street-railway service in one, while water was supplied
for several irrigation systems. The company operated
1320 miles of high-tension line, mostly at 60,000 volts,
and energy was generated in nine hydroelectric plants
with a combined rating of 68,030 kw, exclusive of the
old Rome and Auburn generating stations. There were
also four steam plants with a total rating of 69,700
kw, 135 substations with 245,000 kw total rating, and
1850 miles of gas mains, 124 miles of high-pressure gas
pipe, and in the six larger cities over 410 miles of under-
ground cable. In the electrical distribution systems
were 71,500 poles, or over 1500 miles of pole line, and
there were 638 miles of pole line between towns and in
country districts supplying power for irrigation pump-
ing, gold dredging, etc. The street railway, that of
Sacramento, operated about 35 miles of track.
The valuation was started in April, 1911. About a
month was spent in making forms, obtaining data and
maps and getting an organization together. The field
inventory was begun in the last week of May and com-
pleted early in the following September. The work of
arranging and tabulating the field inventory data and
of determining material and labor unit costs was carried
on contemporaneously with the field work. After the
latter was completed the organization finished the com-
putation of quantities, applied unit costs and tabulated
results. The valuation was completed in July, 1912. It
was segregated by counties and municipal divisions and
subdivided according to the company's system of ac-
counts.
The work was divided into four departments — hy-
draulic, steam power, gas and water works, and electric
and street railway. It was in general charge of Mr.
T. C. Gillespie, and the departments were headed re-
spectively by Messrs. Rhodes, Gay, Broadnax and
Throop, of the White organization. The assistants in-
cluded engineers, recent graduates from Stanford Uni-
versity, and some undergraduates. From forty to sixty
men were engaged.
The hydraulic department worked in four parties, two
on power plants and headworks and two on Humes and
ditches. Each party was in charge of an experienced
engineer. One party was sufficient for the inventory of
steam plants. The inventory of gas and municipal water
systems was taken by two parties — one for gas works
and buildings and one for mains and distributing sys-
tems. In the electrical department two men made the
inventory of all substations and electrical equipment of
generating plants. Two men inventoried the transmis-
sion lines, and ten to twelve men, divided into two par-
ties, made the inventory of the distribution system. Ap-
praisals of real estate were made by local firms and
checked with recent sales and the company's records.
Each man was given a complete set of detailed type-
written instruct; ts of forms for the inventory.
All members of the field parties mailed to the San Fran-
office daily time cards, and the chief of each party
kept the main office advised as to progress. Thus it
was possible to determine whether the work was on
schedule time.
Each building was measured and complete bills of ma-
terials were drawn off. Sketches of each were made in
the field on quadrilateral ruled paper to scales of from
10 ft. to 20 ft. per inch. A light, jointed bamboo rod
was used for vertical measurements and other measure-
ments were made with tape and rule. The sketches gave
plan, elevation and cross-section and showed the con-
struction in considerable detail, but only main dimen-
sions were shown and no attempt was made to mark
such details as size and number of joists, rafters, roof
trusses, etc. After the sketches were completed one
man would measure and call off the material and a
ad man would list it, with the sketches before him,
noting the length. The men became adept, and the time
required to make sketches did not exceed that required
to check up blueprints and make corrections due to
changes in plans.
In the inventory of gas mains recourse had to be had
to the company's records, which were checked against
each other. All mains and services were plotted on large-
scale maps and were checked with work orders as far
as possible, and then gas consumers, as determined from
meter readers' books, were plotted on the maps.
For the inventory of power-station and substation
equipment loose-leaf binders were provided. In the
front were general instructions. Equipment was classi-
fied under generators, motor-generators, transformers,
etc. On the back of each section sheet were typewritten
the items for notation and an example. After inventory
the sheets could be assembled in proper order.
In the inventory of overhead lines each man was ac-
companied by a lineman familiar with the district who
climbed poles when necessary to ascertain sizes of wire,
rating of transformers, etc. On a map drawn to a
scale of 200 ft. to 1 in. each pole was numbered. On
the inventory sheet the corresponding number was
marked in the first column, and the size of pole, num-
ber and size of guys, cross-arms, insulators, wire in-
sulators, transformers, etc., were stated. The forms
were ruled in forty-three vertical columns with appro-
priate headings. Forms for miscellaneous data, such as
platforms for carrying large transformers, were car-
ried in a separate holder or loose-leaf binder.
The name of the town was written at the top of each
sheet, with the initials of the man making the inventory
and the date. A book number was assigned to each town
or district, and all sheets were numbered accordingly.
These sheets were assembled and bound, forming a per-
manent record. The totals at the bottom of the page
were transferred to summary sheets and the grand totals
transferred to the valuation sheets. Similar forms were
used in the inventory of transmission lines. On dis-
tribution lines the men averaged about 200 poles a day
each, and on transmission lines about 8 to 10 miles a
day, except in mountainous country, where it was some-
times necessary to make a detour. The record for a
day's work was 30 miles of transmission line, the dis-
tribution system of a town of 200 inhabitants, and the
substation equipment. The 30 miles were covered on a
motorcycle and the poles registered by a hand counter.
Unit labor costs were worked up from construction
records. Unit material costs were obtained from records
and by means of quotations from manufacturers. Trans-
continental and local freight rates were tabulated for all
commodities, and the cost of hauling, which was a con-
siderable item in hydroelectric construction, was also
570
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 9
worked up. Present prices of material and labor were
adopted, except for copper and cast-iron pipe, where the
average for the five previous years was used. To the
cost of material and labor overhead charges to cover
administration, interest and taxes during construction,
engineering and supervision, contingencies, liability in-
surance, loss and breakage of tools and omissions and
errors in inventory were added. The overhead charges
were applied to each item, and ranged from 15 to 28
per cent, depending upon the class of material or con-
struction. The unit costs were sufficient to provide for
a fair proportion of piecemeal construction, or for con-
tractor's profit on extensive construction work, such as
hydraulic developments. An allowance of 4 per cent on
cost of material was added to cover storeroom expenses.
This was obtained from the company's records for sev-
eral years.
The valuation was segregated according to the com-
pany classification of accounts, which followed closely
the classifications of the Wisconsin and New York com-
missions, modified to suit California conditions. This
enabled the company to determine interest and de-
preciation charges on costs of power at the generating-
station switchboard, of transmission to local substa-
tions, and of distribution to consumers' meters.
Interest on Cleveland Municipal Plant Bonds
When asked regarding a newspaper statement said
to be from the report of a state examiner to the effect
that no provision had been made for paying interest
charges on the bonds of the municipal light plant at
Cleveland, Ohio, Commissioner of Light and Heat F.
VV. Ballard stated that he would issue a bulletin within
two or three weeks that will cover these criticisms fully
and explain the plans that are in hand. He said, how-
ever, that he could not give out any of the matter to be
used in advance.
The newspaper stated that the sinking-fund commis-
sion had already paid $100,000 out of the general tax
fund to meet the interest on $2,500,000 of the bonds.
Promoting National Electrical Week
Much publicity has been given by daily newspapers
throughout the country to the plan for a "national elec-
trical week" which the Society for Electrical Develop-
ment is promoting. Following the meeting of the direc-
tors of the society on Feb. 17, which was mentioned
in the ELECTRICAL World of Feb. 20, accounts of the
plans were sent by the national press associations to
daily newspapers in all sections of the country. The
suggestion that National Electrical Week be regarded
at B prosperity week attracted the attention Of news-
papers, and widespread approval was given to the idea.
Article 1500 words in length were telegraphed from
New York l>y special correspondents for out-of-town
. and the news was given prominent
in the large daily papers everywhere.
.More detailed plans for promotion of the movement
are under consideration by the Society for Electrical
Development. The co-operation of national electrical
it ions will, it is expected, be a great factor in the
the plans. The society has received a letter
from the Inteniation tiotl of Displa] Men
prom I rl and co-operation. This association
• ■I of men who have charge of displays in
windi res in all sections of the country, and
their co opt tble w Indow displays of
ei. . t ii. a] appliai
"Pro perity week,1 > ed bj the So let \ for
Electrical Development, has been brought to the atten-
tion of President Wilson. It is the idea of the Presi-
dent that such a move would be desirable, and that
prosperity ought not only to be proclaimed for a week
but that the electrical industry should bring about a
full vear of it.
Meeting of N. E. L. A. Wiring Committee
Plans have been perfected for the meeting of the
N. E. L. A. committee on the wiring of existing build-
ings, which will be held at the Edison Service Build-
ings, 1165 Massachusetts Avenue, Boston, Mass., on
March 5, at 10 a. m. The program includes considera-
tion of a report from Chairman R. S. Hale on plugs and
receptacles, based upon the meetings of manufacturers
in New York on Feb. 15 and March 4; the presentation
by Mr. H. E. Eisenmenger, Cleveland, Ohio, of a study
of present costs of wiring; a discussion of the condition
of affairs relative to the wiring handbook and Cush-
ing's Manual; consideration of bare concentric wire, of
increasing the permissible size of fuses on branch cir-
cuits to 15 amp, of the standardization of size, type and
marking of fuse holders for branch circuits, and of the
standardization of screw threads for lamp bases; dis-
cussion of changes in the National Electrical Code to be
considered at the March meeting of the Underwriters,
and consideration of whether it will help or discourage
development if, on the one hand, the manufacturers of
fittings for bare concentric wire agree immediately on
standard dimensions for the fittings, or if, on the other
hand, each is left free to work out the best sizes, while
standardization is deferred until experience shows which
is best.
BARE CONCENTRIC WIRE
Mr. R. S. Hale Shows the Advantages of the Wire and the
Opportunities It Offers of Increasing the Business
of the Manufacturer, Lighting Company
and Contractor
At a meeting of the Kilowatt Club of Brooklyn, N. Y.,
on Feb. 25, Mr. R. S. Hale, of Boston, Mass., chairman
of the N. E. L. A. committee on the wiring of existing
buildings, presented a paper on bare concentric wiring,
discussing the movement toward the use of this new
type of equipment along broad general lines. The
author pointed out that there are almost the classic
tit'ty-seven varieties of the new wire, suited to varied
conditions. Although many varieties have been de-
veloped, there is no doubt that American genius will
produce further improvements beyond anything that has
yet been accomplished, provided that the industry shall
have a reasonable chance to experiment with the ma-
terial.
It is not intended to seek a change in the National
Electrical ("ode itself next month, but to provide for
acquiring experience under the proper conditions. It is
"up to" the contractors, or at least to Bome of the cen-
tral stations, to let the manufacturers know that it is
proposed to keep America at the trout, and it will then
be the duty of the manufacturers to make enough wire
and fittings to equip buildings and provide teal field
experience. The movement is not one for cheap wiring
except in the sense thai electricity is getting to be a
cheaper light than gas, candles and pine knots. It is
really a movement for more wiring, and just as the far-
mer tries to make two blades of grass grow where only
one grew before, so the sponsors of concentric wiring
hope to make five outlets grow for each one now supplied.
It is believed that the movement will result in a great
deal more work for the wireman than ever before.
.
ELECTRICAL WORLD
571
Small Numbir of DweDUlgl Wired
.Mr. Hale reviewed the history <>i' the movement for
lower-cost wiring, describing the installations successful
in Europe U investigated by 1 S. E. Doane, E.
\V. Lloyd and himself, and pointing out the relatively
small at in this country along the lin.
electr in old buildings. In New York •
than lo per cent of the residences and apartments,
with the exception of expensive elevator apartments,
have electric service; in Chicago less than 16 per cent
of the single dwellings and only about one-third of the
apartment- have service, and in Boston it is estimated
that there are 1 00, 000 unwired houses and apartments,
and these are being equipped at the rate of only 3000
per year at present. He discussed the successful rise
of the unit price system in house wiring, through agree-
ment between the central station and wiring contractors,
on the basis that such prices shall neither be so high as
to check business nor so low as not to give a fair profit
to the wiring contractor after allowing for any saving
he may make in selling expense and bad debts.
In certain European cities, notably Strassburg and
Milan, the development of central-station customers ex-
ceeds that of Brooklyn, though with less than one-third
the population. Gas is even lower than in America, 60
to 70 cents per 1000 ft., and electricity is higher.
In Strassburg it is practically 10 cents, and the customer
has in addition to pay for all his lamps and meet a
government tax on each lamp, and further has to pay
meter rent, which would make the net rate roughly 100
per cent higher for the small consumer than here. In
these cities the class of people that live on wages of $10
and even $5 a week use electricity as customers of the
central stations. Mr. Hale outlined the use of bare con-
centric wiring in these cities and pointed out that even
insurance companies abroad are wiring their offices with
this type of equipment. On account of the numerous
varieties, it was thought best not to ask to have the
National Electrical Code changed so as to let all these
systems into this country, but instead to get at least one
manufacturer to present one of the systems to the Un-
derwriters here to be tried. The work of the General
Electric Company in experimentally studying the bare
concentric system has been particularly helpful. As a
result of recent work along these lines, it has been
decided to offer the new section of the proposed wiring
rules as an experimental code by which actual field ex-
perience can be attained under proper supervision and
reports.
The new wire will undoubtedly be a severe blow to
both wood and metal molding, since it can be used in
nearly all cases where molding is now employed and will,
in the estimation of Mr. Hale, be much cheaper, safer
and less conspicuous. The investment in tools and plant
for making wood molding is not important, at least as
regards molding for electric wires, while the metal-
mi >lding manufacturers will probably find that many of
their fittings can be used for the new wire with but
slight changes and that their factories, many of their
tools and their organization can be used for making and
selling new wire without great expense for the change-
over. It is not believed by the author that the new wire
will interfere with the sale of conduit, which is exten-
sively used abroad and is more applicable than bare con-
centric wire to new buildings. The field for the new-
wire will be almost exclusively in buildings that would
not be wired at all if conduit were obligatory and will
give an impetus to the industry as a whole which will
lead to the use of more conduit than ever. Other manu-
facturers are taking up the matter with interest, and the
adaptability of the wire to existing fittings renders it
likely that before long the less expensive fittings that
the new system makes possible will be developed and
made available. Tentative specifications and prices have
already been made by a prospective manufacturer of
bare concentric wire to be placed on the market in com-
petition with existing equipment.
Restrict I -i- tn Branch ( iriuil-
After describing the main features of bare concentric
wire, Mr. Hale suggested that for a time the new wire
will be used only for branch and tap circuits, but in time
it may be used elsewhere. It will probably not be used
in new buildings for some time, but only in old buildings
where open cleat wiring is not desirable and where the
cost of concealed wiring is prohibitive. It looks now as
though the cost of the wire itself would be about the
same per circuit foot as the present code wire, and much
less than the cost of concealed work or molding. To the
extent that the present fittings are used their cost will
be the same, or possibly a shade more, on account of
certain very cheap cross-overs or connectors to be used
for making joints, but the new system holds possibilities
in the way of improved design. It is possible that later
the new wire will be installed in conduit with a slight
reduction in the amount of labor and increase in safety.
The new wire can be used only on grounded systems, and
any old-fashioned central station or isolated plant that
has not one side or the neutral grounded cannot use it.
However, since any such plant, if of less than 150 volts,
is breaking the insurance rules anyway, this is not a
serious handicap to the spread of the new wire.
The new wire will be used, largely for exposed work,
running the inconspicuous wires along the surface of
the walls, in the corners next to picture molding, etc.,
but ultimately it is likely to be used for concealed work.
One method used abroad is to cut a narrow channel in the
plaster for the wire and then to paper over it, and while
there might be a possibility of corrosion, no reports of
this have as yet been received. The new wire will in-
volve distinctly more care in installation than the pres-
ent methods and will therefore be confined to compara-
tively expert workmen who will possibly command
higher wages per day than men who can use only the
present methods, although they will work so much
faster that the cost per outlet should be less. There is
no question that the janitor, chauffeur and schoolboy
who now feel warranted in twisting two wires together
to form a joint will find themselves "stumped" by the
new wire until they have received some instructions.
One reason why more expert workmen will be needed
is that great care must be given to the polarity so that
the wire that carries potential shall not be exposed in
any case. The result will be that it will be almost im-
possible to get even a 110-volt shock and almost impos-
sible to get any connection on the potential-carrying
wire except a dead short-circuit that will blow the fuse
at once.
Various Types of Concentric Wire
There are at least three types of concentric, bare
wire. All have a copper core which may be solid or
stranded, then insulation, which usually has some rub-
ber and may have braid and also paper or cambric. The
return wire may be a water-tight tube or sheath, or
may have a water-tight seam or be braided with fine
wires. The smooth water-tight sheath is simplest as
regards connections and also is best for moist places or
the lighting around oily machinery. For boiler rooms
and other hot places the insulation can be of asbestos,
and for dry places the non-water-tight construction is
probably just as good and cheaper. Almost any Amer-
ican fitting can be used with some arrangement for a
cross-over or connection between the outside conductor
at joints or connections, which is very simple where
soft solder is used. Hard solder requires so much heat
that it injures the rubber insulation and is forbidden in
572
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 9
the experimental rules. The new construction will do
away with the need for insulating joints on gas fixtures,
previous to doing away with the need of gas fixtures
themselves. While there will always be use for conduit,
as regards old houses, wiremen would rather get five
jobs at $30 than one at $45, manufacturers would
rather make more wire and fittings, and central sta-
tions would rather serve every house on a street than
merely take the new houses and wait for the older ones
to be rebuilt. The new system is by no means for cheap
houses only, but should also have a future in good
residences.
power at rates which cannot fairly be questioned, thus
justifying the burden assumed as a means of procuring
the business. The contract rates are mutually satis-
factory to all the companies concerned, and have, to-
gether with the contract provisions, been approved by
disinterested engineering experts of high standing to
whom thev were submitted."
Financing of Commonwealth Edison Company
In the annual report of the Commonwealth Edison
Company of Chicago covering the year 1914 the large
increase in operating revenue is attributed mainly to
the additional elevated and surface electric-railway
business, the acquisition of companies served previously
by the Cosmopolitan Electric Company, and to an ex-
ceptional increase of about 40,000 other customers,
although in the depression of the latter part of last
year many customers used less energy than under nor-
mal conditions. The profit from increased business
was offset largely by reductions in rates. The reduc-
tions for retail customers during the year amounted to
approximately $775,000. The reduction in motor-serv-
ice rates to large consumers amounted approximately to
$90,000.
The company issued during the year $7,000,000 of
one-year 5 per cent notes. When the voluntary asso-
ciation known as the Chicago Elevated Railways Col-
lateral Trust was formed in 1911 as a step in unifica-
tion of the elevated railways and eventual amalgamation
with the surface electric railways, the company had the
alternative of making a conditional guarantee of sub-
stantially $6,000,000 to facilitate the necessary financ-
ing, or of seeing some other and possibly competing
organization make such a guarantee and thereby ob-
tain for a long period of years, probably, the entire
business of supplying the local elevated and surface
electric railways with electrical energy. The menacing
risk of a possible competitor starting business with
the railways as customers, taking electrical energy
equivalent to all of the rest of the company's output at
that time, had long been foreseen and understood. It
appeared that the aggregate business which could be
secured from the railways in consequence of the guar-
antee and under long-term contracts promised to be
about $100,000,000, that the guaranteed amount would
have to be paid only in case there should be no amalga-
mation of the elevated and surface electric railways
ire July 1, 1914, and that the company would re-
ceive, in addition to the business, common participating
ociation equal to nearly one-half of the
preferred and common shares to be issued. It was
decided to make the conditions] guarantee and. as the
amalgamation was not perfected, payment became ob-
ligatory on July 1, 1914. The company agreed to take
at par an amount of a proposed issue of ten-year 6 per
cent debentures of the association sufficient to make its
entire investment $7,000,000. The company issued its
secured by pledge of Its 200,996. 814 common
participation shares of the association and its $1,270,-
000 of association debentures. The business expected
me directly from the contract with the elevated
and surface electric railway companies now seems likely
to am. mnt to not less than $125,000,000.
"The great volume of this business," the report add-.
"will permit the company to obtain a reasonable profit
which it could not have enjoyed without the bu I
and it will enable the company to furnish the electrical
Cleveland Energy for Railway Operation
During 1914 the Cleveland Railway Company pur-
chased from the Cleveland Electric Illuminating Com-
pany more than 40 per cent of the electrical energy used
in operation of the road. The railway company gen-
erated in its power plants 70,364,626 kw-hr. and pur-
chased from the illuminating company 49,984,590 kw-hr.
The cost of energy purchased by the railway in the year
was $359,470, which indicates an average rate therefore
of 7.19 mills per kw-hr.
Exhaust steam is sold by the railway company to the
Cleveland Salt Company under a contract which will
expire on July 1. It is recommended by the electrical
engineer of the railway that the steam be utilized in
operation of a 4000-kw steam turbine generator. It is
estimated that the expenditure of $200,000 for this pur-
pose would return about 36 per cent on the investment —
much in excess of the amount received from the salt
company. The recommendation will be discussed with
the city street railroad commission, and any proposition
from the salt company will also be considered.
New York Telephone Valuation
Testifying before the legislative committee which is
investigating New York Telephone Company rates, Mr.
H. P. Gillette, a member of the appraisal committee of
the company, submitted a statement showing that the
valuation of the physical property of the company in
New York City is $99,925,934. This is based on repro-
duction cost as of June 30, 1914, and is as follows:
Telephone plant as per revised tax record, $73,889,-
507; plant in service but bills not rendered to tele-
phone company, $300,000; liability insurance, $621,000;
telephone directories, library, working records, etc.,
$773,068; working cash capital, $3,000,000; total, $78,-
583,575; overhead charges (.executive, administration,
engineering, interest, taxes, etc.), $14,785,000; contin-
gencies and omissions, $3,694,475; training operators.
$678,340; selling service, $2,184,544; total in Greater
New York, exclusive of non-physical values and of the
Empire City Subway Company, .$!>!>,>.125.934.
As this total compares with $65,000,000 given by
Prof. Edward W. Bemis, the committee recalled Pro-
fessor Bemis, who said that his figures wore based on
actual costs of the various items in the property, many
of which were acquired when both labor and materials
were much cheaper than at present. Professor Bemis
declared that the plant was built up piecemeal, which
would reduce the overhead charges considerably, and
expressed the opinion that a corporation enjoying a
monopoly of the streets is entitled to a fair return on
the actual investment rather than on a hypothetical in-
vestment. He also said that the conclusions of Mr.
Gillette are the preliminary estimate of a work not yet
completed and include much property in course of con-
struction.
At a emit Mined hearing before the Public Service
Commission, Second District. President Union N.
Bethel] of the New York Telephone Company testified
that it is perfectly proper t" sell sdx'k to stockholders
.it par. Mr. John I.. Swayae, counsel for the company.
discussed the likelihood of a reduction in rates.
February 27, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
573
Miscellaneous News Notes
Toronto Electrical Show. — An electrical exposition will
be held in the Arena, Toronto, from April 12 to 17. The
exhibition will serve to demonstrate to the public the variety
of uses of electricity in the home and elsewhere.
Dayton I tiliti.s Fight White Plague.— Tin- l>ayton (Ohio)
Power & Light Company and the Dayton Street Railway
Company will co-operate with the Tuberculosis Society in
its campaign against the white plague by issuing orders to
their employees instructing them to report all suspectea
cases of tuberculosis to the health department.
Municipal Plant at Madison villi-, Ohio. Unprofitable. —
State Examiner Moses Blau, following an examination of
the Madisonvillc (Ohio) electric plant, which is being oper-
ated by the city of Cincinnati, stated that the cost of oper-
ation and maintenance, including all factors which should
properly be taken into account, is considerably greater than
the revenue derived from the plant, and recommended that
it be abandoned. Mr. Blau declared that it is necessary
to spend money every year on the plant in excess of the
income which it brings in.
"Buy It Now" Campaign. — A "Buy it now" campaign
committee has been organized with headquarters at Omaha,
Neb., to promote immediate purchases of goods. The cam-
paign was started by the Agricultural Publishers' Associa-
tion, publisher of farm papers, but it has grown rapidly
and is supported by many other organizations. The com-
mittee in soliciting co-operation quotes the following from
President Wilson: "If you are going to buy it, buy it now.
That is a perfectly safe maxim to act upon. It is just as
safe to buy it now as it ever will be, and if you start buy-
ing there will be no end to it — and you will be a seller as
well as a buyer."
Storage-Battery Bus Service Extended. — The Union Elec-
tric Company, which operates both the electric-service and
electric-railway lines in Dubuque, la., has been operating
two electric passenger buses to outlying districts on a
twenty-minute schedule since Sept. 7, 1914. So successful
have been both the operation and the financial returns from
this line that the company has purchased another truck, a
duplicate of the first two, and is now maintaining a ten-
minute schedule over the same route. Mr. E. M. Walker is
general manager of the operating company. The trucks,
which are equipped with Edison storage batteries, were
sold by Mr. A. J. Brechtel, of the General Vehicle Company,
Long Island City, N. Y.
Cost of Commercial Electric Vehicle Operation. — In an
address before the Chicago Section of the Electric Vehicle
Association, Feb. 23, Mr. R. Macrae, vehicle engineer of the
Commonwealth Edison Company, Chicago, spoke on "Costs
of Commercial Electric Vehicle Operation and Methods of
Cost-Keeping," describing the results obtained in the Eddy
garage, corner of Fulton and Halstead Streets, Chicago.
This garage, which stables commercial trucks exclusively,
was designed under Mr. Macrae's direction. The total al>-
sence of voltmeters on its charging switchboards is one of
the features of the installation. The garage costs of main-
taining a commercial car, said Mr. Macrae, vary from $25
to $75 per month. The speaker emphasized the fallacy of
the plan of charging a flat monthly sum for caring for
electric trucks.
Municipal Ownership Ordinance in Toledo. — An ordinance
was introduced in the Toledo City Council on Feb. 13 pro-
viding for the issue of §4,000,000 bonds to acquire the
light, power, heat and artificial gas properties of the Toledo
Railways & Light Company, under the provisions of the
initiated municipal ownership ordinance, passed on Aug. 4.
1914. The ordinance was prepared by City Solicitor Thurs-
tin and is similar to the one he introduced some time ago
relating to the railroad properties of the company. It pro-
vides for twenty-year 5 per cent bonds and contains pro-
visions intended to safeguard the city and the bondholders.
Under this ordinance rates shall be made by the Public
Utilities Commission of Ohio or any other body that may
be empowered to look after such duties. However, it fixes
a maximum of 6 cents per kw-hr. for energy and 65 cents
per 1000 cu. ft. for artificial gas. It was referred to the
committee of the whole.
Associations and Societies
Engineering Society of Wisconsin. — "The Planning of
Municipal Street-Lighting Systems" was the subject of a
paper read by Mr. Arthur J. Sweet, of Vaughn, Meyer &
Sweet, Milwaukee, Wis., before the Engineering Society of
Wisconsin, at Madison, Wis., Feb. 22. Mr. Sweet's paper
was illustrated by slides and models of the new lighting
system proposed for Milwaukee.
Minnesota Engineers' Society. — At the annual meeti; »g of
the Minnesota Society of Surveyors and Engineers, held at
the Ryan Hotel, St. Paul, Feb. 19, Mr. Harvey Dart, city
engineer at Owatonna, Minn., described the luminous-arc
street lighting employed at Owatanna. Mr. J. F. Druar,
consulting engineer, St. Paul, presented a paper on central
heating plants for small towns.
Rejuvenation of New York Jovians. — It is estimated that
about 100 candidates will be initiated at the rejuvenation
of the Jovian Order to be held on March 3 at the Martinique
Hotel, New York. Mr. James H. Betts, statesman for New
York, and Past Jupiter Frank E. Watts, as first tribune,
have charge of the arrangements. Mr. C. L. Hight will
serve as leader of the degree team.
Chicago Jovian League. — Mr. H. A. Morss, vice-president
of the Simplex Wire & Cable Company, Boston, Mass., ad-
dressed the Chicago Jovian League, Feb. 15, describing the
manufacture of rubber-covered wire and the application of
braided coverings and lead and steel sheaths. Lantern
slides and moving pictures taken in the Simplex factory
were exhibited. About 200 Jovians and guests attended the
meeting.
Electric Power Club.— At a meeting of the Electric
Power Club, an organization of electric motor manufac-
turers, which is to be held at Cleveland, Ohio, during the
present month, the topic of temperature ratings is to be
discussed. According to the secretary, Mr. G. A. Roth,
Roth Brothers & Company, 1410 West Adams Street, Chi-
cago, the exact date of the meeting has not yet been
settled upon.
Electrical Jobbers' Conventions. — The Electrical Supply
Jobbers' Association will hold a three-day meeting at the
Hotel LaSalle, Chicago, March 17 to 19. A Jovian rejuvena-
tion is planned as a feature of the entertainment program.
Mr. Franklin Overbagh, 411 South Clinton Street, Chicago,
is secretary of the association. On the two days preceding
the jobbers' association convention the Westinghouse agent-
jobbers are to hold their spring meeting in Chicago.
Ohio Commercial Men to Meet at Dayton. — The committee
on new-business co-operation of the Ohio Electric Light
Association will meet at Dayton on March 17 to discuss
commercial topics in the central-station field. On the pre-
ceding day, Tuesday, March 16, commercial men from Ohio
and other neighboring states will meet at Dayton to com-
plete the organization of the new Industrial Electrical Heat-
ing Association. Among the organizers of the new electric-
heating association is Mr. A. K. Young, sales manager of
the Toledo Railway & Light Company.
Chicago Section, E. V. A. — Mr. .7. T. Hartley, sales engi-
neer of the Sangamo Electric Company, Springfield, 111.,
addressed the Chicago Section of the Electric Vehicle Asso-
ciation of America, Feb. 16, on the use of ampere-hour
meters in electric-vehicle charging. The weekly Tuesday
luncheons of the Chicago Section are now held at the Hotel
Metropole, 2300 Michigan Avenue, in the center of Chicago's
automobile district. Chairman McDowell has appointed as
members of the committee on the subject of parcel-post
delivery by means of electric vehicles Messrs. C. A. Street,
Godfrey H. Atkins, Waller Wardxop and O. H. Caldwell.
San Francisco Meeting of the A. A. A. S. — A preliminary
announcement has been made of the San Francisco meet-
ing of the American Association for the Advancement of
Science and affiliated societies, to be held on Aug. 2 to 7.
The Pacific division of the association has issued a booklet
of thirty-two pages giving an outline of the proposed ses-
sions of the various sections and societies and listing the
names of the members of the committees. Itineraries and
excursions for visiting members are outlined and detailed
information is given as to the costs. Mr. W. W. Campbell,
Berkeley, Cal., is chairman of the Pacific Coast committee.
574
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 9
Baltimore Section. N. E. L. A. — At the monthly meeting
of the Baltimore Section, N. E. L. A., on Feb. IT, Mr. J. C.
Parker, electrical and mechanical engineer of the Rochester
Railway & Light Company, delivered an address on "Public
Service Corporations," dealing with the question of watered
stock. Vaudeville, motion pictures and music by the com-
pany's mandolin and guitar club furnished entertainment
features for the meeting.
Philadelphia Section. N. E. L. A. — Such unexpected suc-
cess attended the first attempt of the Philadelphia Electric
Company section of the National Electric Light Association
to make its January meeting entertaining to members and
the ladies of their families that it is probable "Ladies'
Night" will be repeated each year hereafter. About 1400
were present. Among the entertaining features of the
evening were organ recitals, vocal solos, band music, cartoon
drawing, story telling, representing noted pieces of sculpture
with living persons, motion pictures, dancing, etc. Prof.
Francis Harvey Greene, the speaker of the evening, lectured
on the subject "The Nature and Worth of Wit and Humor."
Meeting of Missouri River Club. — The Missouri River
Club, composed of the electrical jobbers of the river cities
of St. Joseph, Sioux City, Lincoln and Kansas City, held its
quarterly meeting at Omaha, Neb., Feb. 18. Mr. Franklin
Overbagh, secretary of the Electrical Supply Jobbers' Asso-
ciation, and Mr. M. D. Harvey, of Chicago, were present
as guests of the club and addressed the meeting on the busi-
ness outlook. The annual election of officers was held, and
Mr. G. W. Johnston, of the Midwest Electric Company,
Omaha, was chosen president. He succeeds Mr. W. R.
Thomas, of St. Joseph. Mr. Harry Goodell, manager of the
Western Electric Company's branch in Omaha, was elected
secretary to succeed Mr. J. M. Bateman, of Omaha.
Selling the Initial Truck. — Mr. Day Baker of the General
Vehicle Company spoke before the New York Section of the
Electric Vehicle Association, Feb. 24, and outlined some of
his experiences in selling electric vehicles in Boston and vi-
cinity, dwelling particularly on the first sale to a customer.
Mr. Baker asserted that great care must be taken to satisfy
the buyer from the start, and that it is necessary to keep in
touch with him to see that he is using his cars to the best ad-
vantage. Messrs. D. F. Tobias, H. Robinson, D. C. Fenner,
F. B. Neely and R. Vandermosten took part in the discussion
following. Messrs. B. P. L'Hommedieu and H. Weida of the
India Rubber Company, New Brunswick, N. J., gave a prac-
tical demonstration of the making of hard-rubber battery
jars, which included almost every step in the process.
Chicago Electric Club. — Judge J. M. Dickinson, formerly
Secretary of War in President Taft's Cabinet, addressed the
Chicago Electric Club Feb. 18 on the subject of "Armament
and Disarmament," pointing out in detail the deficiencies in
the number of the army, the national militia, the coast de-
fense works, and in means of furnishing supplies to a
volunteer army of defense. Judge Dickinson's utterances
before the Electric Club received wide circulation in the
daily press. President Pinckard appointed Messrs. P. B.
Woodworth, F. P. Vose and H. Ehrlich members of a com-
mittee to co-operate with the Western Society of Engineers,
u, in oi't'i ring the services of electrical engineers and
others for instruction in the construction and operation of
electrical mechanisms of war and defense, supplementing
the Engineer Corps of the regular army.
National District Seating Association. —The 1916 con-
vention of the National Districl Beating Association will be
held at the Hotel Sherman, Chicago, June 1, 2 and B.
Among the papers already scheduled on the technical pro-
iMiiin are those by Mr. C. F. Oehlman, Denver, Col., on
"The Commercial End of the Heating Business"; Mr. W. G.
Carlton, New York City, on "A Typical Hot-Water-Heating
Plant"; Mr. C. C. Wilcox. Jackson, Mich., on "A Pressure-
Survey Study"; Mr. G. W. Martin, New York City, on "Ex-
haust Steam Versus Live Steam for Heating," and one, title
unannounced, by Mr, E, P. Tweedy, of the New York Edison
Company. Reports will be submitted by the association
committees on metei . rate . underground construction, edu-
(■■ition. itation op lion records and public policy.
Mr ii i: Wetherell, Peoria, III.. Is president of the National
Distrii • :m(' Mr. I). L. Gaskill, pre I
dent of the Greenvills (Ohio) Electric Lighl A Power Com
puny, is secretary
Public Service Commission News
California Commission
The commission has issued an order calling for an in-
vestigation, on its own initiative, into the rates charged
by the United Light & Power Company for electrical energy
supplied to the San Francisco, Oakland & San Jose Con-
solidated Railway Company and San Francisco-Oakland
Terminal Railways. It appears that the interests in con-
trol of the railway company are also in control of the
power company, and the evidence thus far secured seems to
show, the commission says, that the contract imposes an
onerous burden upon the railway company, with undue
to the power company.
Idaho Commission
The commission has refused to grant the application of
the Great Shoshone & Twin Falls Water Power Company
for a rehearing on the certificate of convenience and neces-
sity granted to the Idaho Power & Light Company in the
Twin Falls field. Attorney Hays of the Twin Falls com-
pany states that steps will be taken at once to take the
matter into the State Supreme Court.
Claiming that Commissioner John W. Graham is unable to
judge the question properly, the Great Shoshone Power &
Light Company filed the petition for a rehearing of the
recent order of the utilities commission permitting the
Idaho Power & Light Company to enter the Twin Falls
power field. Accompanying the petition was an affidavit by
Mr. S. H. Hays, in which Mr. Graham was accused of having
destroyed a letter from himself to the commission in Febru-
ary, 1914, which was said to show prejudice in favor of the
Idaho Power & Light Company on the part of Mr. Graham.
An interview given to a daily newspaper by Mr. Graham
when he assumed office was also cited to show that the latter
was unable to judge the case properly.
According to the affidavit of Mr. Hays, Mr. Graham was
said to have written the commission on Feb. 4, 1914, from
Twin Falls, urging that the Idaho Power & Light Company
be allowed to enter the field. It was claimed by Mr. Hays
that this alleged letter was written at the suggestion of the
agents and representatives of the Idaho Power & Light
Company.
New York Commissions
At the continued hearings before the legislative investi-
gating committee in New York during the last week the
principal witness has been Mr. Milo R. Maltbie, member of
the First District commission. Through questions Col.
William Hayward, counsel to the committee, brought out the
statement that Commissioners McCall, Williams and Wood
had often held secret conferences on transit matters with-
out consulting Commissioner Maltbie. When Mr. Maltbie
was asked how he discovered these secret meetings he testi-
fied that he happened to go into the chairman's room on
several occasions and found the commissioners discussing
details of construction and talking about applications from
either the Brooklyn Rapid Transit or Interborough Rapid
Transit companies for modifications of contracts. He said
that he was invited to attend one such conference and from
the discussion he believed that the other commissioners
had talked over the matter before.
"The trouble with these secret conferences," Mr. Maltbie
added, "was that many times I did not know what action
had been taken on matters until they appeared on the regu-
lar calendar. Then I was put in the position of voting on
matters without having any real light on the subject or of
being recorded 'present but not voting.'"
Mr. Maltbie said that he thought that informal complaints
should have been handled more promptly and efficiently than
they bad been, and if he had known that the conditions which
Colonel Hayward had shown existed he would have taken
the matter up. At one hearing which he conducted Mr.
Maltbie learned that it had been the custom of inspectors of
the commission to inform officials of transit companies of
the results of their inspections of service. He immediately
put a stop to this practice
The witness was asked about compluints regarding New
York Edison Company rates, and why it had taken so
long to get a decision. Mr. Maltbie replied: "I think that
February 27, 1916
ELECTRICAL WORLD
i.i not give sufficient weight to the tremendous im-
I bis is the biggest electric-lighf
in the United States. The .j . •lved are not only
of rates hut of discrimination.-.." Mr. Maltbie said that he
had finished hi< but opinion in the case within a day or two.
Hi- wai rilling, ha laid, to defend his procedure until the
pat into the hands of the
full . it he would not I Die for what
had happened since that time.
ITerencei had arisen between Commissioner
Maltbie and the other comnu- ..King capi-
talization, which he had handled previously, had been as-
i to Commissioner Williams by Chairman hfcCalL Mr.
Maltl.ic said that several months ago Chairman McCall be-
gan to assign capitalization I .immissioner Wil-
liam .ner Eustis, he said, told him that Com-
missioner Williams had explained this by saying that the
commission was anxious to get away from the preo-
iahed by Mr. Haltbie. Answering s question as to
what these precedents were, Mr. Maltbie replied: "That
there be a dollar's worth of property for every dollar of
security issued."
miasioner Maltbie added that he had laid down hard
and fast rules concerning capitalization. One was that no
allowance should be made for any expenditures which had
not been first checked by the engineers of the commission.
Another was that bonds should not be approved unless there
WM a strong probability that the interest on them could
be earned. In all but one of the capitalization cases in
which decisions were prepared by Commissioner Williams
Mr. Maltbie filed dissenting opinions. When the Consoli-
dated Gas Company received authority to issue $25,000,000
convertible debentures to stockholders at par, Mr. Maltbie
contended that if the company wanted to raise $25,000,000
it was not necessary, when the securities were selling well
above par in the market, to issue more than, say, $23,000,-
000 to meet the needs.
Mr. llayward put in evidence that in the last six months
of 1914 the commission held 220 hearings, of which Mr.
Maltbie conducted 115, Mr. McCall two, Mr. Williams forty-
two, Mr. Cram twenty-nine, and Mr. Wood thirty-two. Dur-
ing the entire year 1914 forty-nine opinions were written.
Mr. Maltbie wrote twenty-eight, Mr. McCall two, Mr. Wil-
liams six, Mr. Cram four, Mr. Wood two, and Mr. Eustis
seven.
In discussing the suggestion that the supervision of con-
struction work be taken away from the commission, Com-
missioner Maltbie said that a new board to be appointed by
the Mayor might take over all rapid-transit work, and that
it would not be much of an additional financial burden on
the city if the engineers and other bureaus engaged in work
of this kind were transferred to such a board from the
Public Service Commission.
The Second District commission has discharged its order
to show cause, directed against the Riddell Electric Light
Company, why the commission's counsel should not pro.-
ceed against it for occupying the streets and roads of the
town of Hadley and furnishing electrical energy without
a franchise approved by the commission. The order was
taken on the complaint of the Town Board of Hadley. The
Riddell company operates lawfully in the town of Luzerne,
Warren County, across the Hudson River from Hadley,
and M. B. and F. J. Riddell, who own the stock of the com-
pany, also operate a grist mill and telephone line in Hadley.
The town of Hadley operates a municipal electric plant,
and the proof shows that the Riddells have been anxious to
secure energy for their mill cheaper than the municipal
plant would furnish it. The town superintendent refused
a franchise for lines from their electric plant to their mill.
The Riddells then had the electric company string wires
on the telephone poles they owned to the residence of E. J.
Riddell, in Hadley, near the mill, and for some time oper-
ated an electric lamp on the porch of the house, which
they claimed was for testing purposes.
The order of the commission expresses the opinion that
the "test" was of the disposition of the authorities of
Hadley. The lamp in question has now been cut off, and
the Riddells disclaim any intention of furnishing energy
to themselves or any others in Hadley without first secur-
ing proper permission. The complaint has therefore been
closed.
Personal
\lr. ( . \\ . t oh in oaf been appointed transmission engi-
tric Railway Con
iver, B. C.
Mr. C W. Whitley, one of the best known financiers in
the 'A resident of the Utah Light &
Traction Company of Salt Lake City, Utah.
Mr. H. I.. Beach, at one time connected with the B. J. Ar-
nold organization of Chicago as a traction expert, has been
appointed manager of the Utah Light & Traction Company
of Salt Lake City, Utah.
Mr. Wills Maclachlan has resigned his position with the
Electric Power Company of Toronto, Ont., and is now in-
jpector for the Electrical Employers' Association of On-
tario, with headquarters at Toronto.
Mr. Joseph S. Wells, formerly manager of the Utah
Light & Railway Company of Salt Lake City. Utah, has
been appointed secretary-treasurer of the Utah Light &
Traction Company, which has taken over the property.
.Mr. David Daly, manager of the Houston Electric Com-
pany, Houston, Tex., has been appointed second vice-presi-
dent of the Southwestern Electrical and Gas Association,
succeeding Mr. C. W. Kellogg, Jr., who recently left the
Southwest to become manager of the Mississippi River
Power Company at Keokuk, la.
Mr. H. ML Byllesby was the guest of honor at a dinner
given by the employees of H. M. Byllesby & Company,
Chicago, Feb. 16, to mark Mr. Byllesby's fifty-sixth birth-
day. Mr. M. A. Morrison acted as toastmaster, and among
the speakers were Messrs. J. J. O'Brien, R. J. Graf, E. C.
Braun, R G. Hunt, W. R. Thompson, H. W. Fuller, W. H.
Hodge, B. W. Lynch, W. H. Clarke, F. H. Lane and W. C.
McKenna.
Mr. A. C. Jewett. chief engineer of the Kabul (Afghanis-
tan) hydroelectric power transmission system, has returned
to America on a four-month extraordinary leave granted
him by His Majesty the Amir to enable him to visit the
Panama Exposition. Mr. Jewett, who was formerly with
the General Electric Company, has been abroad for the
past fifteen years on hydroelectric transmission work in
Brazil, India and Kashmir and for the last four years in
Afghanistan in the employ of the Amir. Mr. Jewett will
spend a month with his relatives in Fresno, Cal., and will
return to Afghanistan on or about April 1, 1915.
Mr. Willard Wainwright Low, president of the Electric
Appliance Company of Chicago and prominent in the Elec-
trical Supply Jobbers' Association, was born at Flint, Mich.,
Oct. 24, 1858, and received his early education in the public
schools of his native city.
•-. Mr. Low first entered the
^k electrical business in 1884,
Hk when he went to Detroit and
£ZjM there associated himself with
the Detroit Electrical Works.
-a J Three years later he removed
.-> JfW. to Chicago. In that growing
VBk, Western city he joined the
staff of the Central Electric
. j--^ Company, with which he was
^"^^■J connected until 1891. In that
year, with Mr. Thomas I.
jl Stacey, Mr. Low severed his
Hi JB connection with the Central
HL\aflj Electric Company and, to-
gether with Mr. Stacey, or-
ganized the Electric Appli-
wii.lard w. LOW ance Company, of which Mr.
Low has since been the presi-
dent. Engaging in the electrical supply business, this com-
pany has enjoyed a prosperous growth under the broad-
gaged administration of Mr. Low and his associates and
now ranks with the largest jobbers of electrical supplies
in the United States. Besides the main offices and stock-
rooms at 701 West Jackson Boulevard, Chicago, branch
sales offices and stocks are maintained at San Francisco,
Cal., Dallas, Tex., and New Orleans, La. "Billy" Low, as
he is known by his large circle of friends in the electrical
industry, is a Jovian, having joined the order early in its
ribfiLlKltAL WUKLL1
VOL. 65, NO. 9
organization. As a business man Mr. Low has courageously
and successfully applied the broadest and most approved
principles of merchandising on a large scale, and he has
always been active as a builder and co-operator for the
best interests of the electrical industry.
H. WARD LEONARD
Obituary
H. Ward Leonard, of New York, well known as an elec-
trical engineer and inventor, and founder of the Ward
Leonard Electric Company, died suddenly during the ban-
quet of the American Institute of Electrical Engineers at
the Hotel Astor, New York,
on Feb. 18. Charming in
manner and of commanding
appearance, Mr. Leonard was
one of the big men in the
electrical industry of this
country. He had patented
more than 100 inventions,
which are now important in
commercial life. Among the
more important are those re-
lating to electrically driven
reversible rolling mills, elec-
tric mine hoists, locomotives,
elevators, gasoline - electric
trucks, transmission gearing
for motor cars, rheostats,
automatic switches, electric
heaters, automatic electric
lighting systems for railway
trains and motor cars, electric distributing systems and
boosters. When he was twenty-three years of age he be-
came associated with Thomas A. Edison as a member of
Mr. Edison's staff of four engineers selected to introduce
the Edison central-station system. A year before that he
was graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Tech-
nology. At the age of twenty-six he was made the general
superintendent of the Western Electric Light Company at
Chicago. The following year he formed the firm of Leonard
& Izard, which made many important installations of cen-
tral stations and electric railways. In 1889 the firm was
bought out by the Edison interests and Mr. Leonard be-
came general manager of the combined Edison interests for
the United States and Canada, with headquarters in New
York. In 1891 he completed his inventions of the Ward
Leonard system of motor control, and in 1892 he gave the
world his multiple-voltage system. The value of the Ward
Leonard system of control was demonstrated in battle dur-
ing the Spanish-American war, where it was used on one
turret of the U. S. S. Brooklyn. After the war it was
generally adopted by the United States Navy, and all of the
ships are now equipped with it with a few unimportant
exceptions. His system of "regenerative braking" has been
extensively applied to mine hoists and is likely to be an
important factor in future railroad operations. Another
if Mr. I^eonard's important inventions is the double-arm
t -breaker which has come into almost universal use.
Other impoi ntions are his lijrhtinc system for
trains and automobiles and his form of change gear, which
IW used in hiph-grade motor cai His system of motor
i] was applied to t he moving sidewalk at the '.
tiori of 1900 after many ineffectual attempt
Operate it by other systems, and was a feature of that
'ion. For electrical-research work the Franklin
Philadelphia in 1903 conferred upon Mr. Leon-
ard the John Scott Medal. He v.:i also awarded a gold
modal at tl rposition in 1900 and also a gold
medal at. the St. Louis Exposition in 1904, Mr. Leonard
■ ■• t i Ibutoi to scientific societies and |
technical press. He was a life member and fellow of the
A I E. E. and served that l.ody a
member of the Edison Medal committee. He
il so a member of the Inventors' Guild and of the New
York Electrical Society and numerous N.w 5
Mr. Leonard was horn in Cincinnati. Ohio, I' ■
■ a long line of American ancestors.
.i vive him.
Corporate and Financial
Harwood Electric Dividends Deferred. — The Harwood
Electric Company of Hazleton, Pa., has decided not to pay
any further dividends on preferred stock for the present.
Utah Power & Light Bonds. — Harris, Forbes & Company,
of New York, are offering at 92 and interest first mort-
gage 5 per cent gold bonds of the Utah Power & Light
Company, due on Feb. 1, 1944.
Mexican Northern Power Bonds. — A meeting of bond-
holders of the Mexican Northern Power Company has been
called for March 30 to authorize the issue of the remain-
ing $2,000,000 of the 6 per cent thirty-year bonds author-
ized in 1914.
Montana Power Bond Offering. — Lee, Higginson & Com-
pany, the Guaranty Trust Company and J. & W. Seligman &
Company of New York, are offering $10,000,000 first and
refunding mortgage 5 per cent sinking-fund gold bonds of
the Montana Power Company, due on July 1, 1943.
Short Stories of Public Utilities.— William, Dunbar &
Coleman, of New York have issued the second number of
their short stories of public utilities. The pamphlet, be-
sides containing a brief reference to the development of
gas and electricity, contains statistics regarding a number
of public utility corporations.
Minneapolis General Electric Operations. — During 1914
the Minneapolis General Electric Company, a subsidiary of
the Northern States Power Company, acquired 5509 new
customers and 16,000 hp additional connected load. The
electrical output of the Minneapolis Company and the Con-
sumers' Power Company of Minnesota increased from 57,-
124,596 kw-hr. in 1911 to 110,346,450 kw-hr. in 1914.
Cumberland Edison Company to Issue Stock. — The Mary-
land Public Service Commission has authorized the Edison
Electric Illuminating Company of Cumberland to issue stock
certificates for $175,000 expended for improvements. While
the company, which is capitalized at $200,000, claimed to
have put into the plant $325,000 from income, the commis-
sion authorized an amount equal to what it regarded as the
value of the plant over and above the outstanding capital.
The stock will be distributed among the stockholders.
Electric Bond & Share Authorizes Increased Capital. —
Immediately following the annual meeting of the Electric
Bond & Share Company the directors authorized an increase
in the capital stock of $3,000,000 common stock and $3,000,-
000 preferred stock. A portion of the preferred stock will
be offered to preferred stockholders from time to time at
par, and at such times the General Electric Company will
purchase at par an equal amount of common stock. Messrs.
Benjamin Strong, Jr., and R. T. Paine resigned as directors,
and Messrs. G. E. Claflin and William Darbee were elected.
Buffalo General Electric to Issue Bonds. — The Buffalo
(N. Y.) General Electric Company has been authorized by
the Public Service Commission, Second District, to sell,
at not less than 95, $900,000 of 5 per cent thirty-year first
refunding mortgage bonds. The proceeds are to he used to
reimburse the treasury for expenditures for the acquisition
of the property, construction, completion, extensions and
improvements of plant or distributing system, and the im-
provement of the service during the the years preceding
Dec. SI, 1918, and properly chargeable to capital expendi-
ture.
Pennsylvania Water & Power Sells Bonds. — The Penn-
sylvania Water & Tower Company has s.> Teas-
hi y bonds. This makes the bonded debt $10,486,000. All
of the company's bonds are now outstanding, less those re-
deemed by tin trustees or canceled for sinkinjr-fund invest-
ment. In 191 I (68,000 Was devoted to this purpose and
$50,000 is provided for 1916. There is also a sinkinjr-fund
reserve of $200,000. Durinjr the year ended Dec. 81 8860,000
I for construction work, all of which and
$185,000 additional, which remained in the treasury from
the preceding year, were sold.
Carolina Power .V Light \nnual Report. — The following
figures were given for the electrical department of the
Una Power t Light Company in its annual report for
the year ended He.-. 81, 1914: Electric customers. 6886;
Output kw-hr.; miles of electric distributing lines
hw;i via 27, 191o
KI.KCTRICAL WORLD
577
■ ■vuc, 144; milei of high-voltage transmission lines in
operation, 218. The statement, given herewith, includes
income from all properties excepting the Asheville Power
& Light Company and the Yadkin Kiver Power Company:
IIS,
1205,855 $190,655
|3 -.355 (240,655
Bt on 1h.ii.Is
Sundry Interest and discount,
$99,362 $105,019
Laclede (ias Light Annual Report. — The annual report of
the Laclede Gas Light Company, of St. Louis, Mo., states
that the output of electrical energy increased 1-1 pet cent
during 1 1 • 1 4 . The income account follows:
I'll 1913
Gross | 1,689 $4,533,492
including in. i mi. nance
2,245,692 2,207,238
Depreciation 278,520 272,24'.i
Net earnings $2,105,577 $2,054,005
Interest 1,1113.129 1.'
125,000 125,000
Common dividends 749,000 749,000
Total deductions $1,977,129 $1,929,405
Balance, surplus 12S.44S I
Interstate Electric Annual Report. — The annual report of
the Interstate Electric Corporation of New York shows
that the corporation during the year has acquired and
canceled $181,200 bonds of subsidiaries. The consolidated
statement of the company and its subsidiaries follows:
Year Ended Nov. 30 1914 1913
Gross earnings $334,016 $306,803
iig expenses 198,685 176,380
Net earnings $135,331 $130,423
Interest on subsidiary bonds not owned 46,937
Final net earnings
Interstate Electric Corporation interest 41,850
Surplus $46,544
Federal Light & Traction Earnings. — The Federal Light
& Traction Company's earnings statement for the year
ended Dec. 31, 1914, is as follows:
1914 1913
Gross earnings $2,416,960 $2,37::. 174
Operating expenses and taxes 1.49S.6S4 1,443,234
Net earnings (subsidiary companies) ... . $918,276 $928,940
I.ikIu & Traction Company 29,623 36,640
Total Income $888,653 $892,300
586,155 531,787
yht Corpor-
ation dividend S4.000 63,000
Light & Traction Company dividend 112,500 150,000
Net Inconrn harges and divi-
dends $106,998 $147,513
Commonwealth Edison Annual Report. — The directors of
the Commonwealth Edison Company, Chicago, have sub-
mitted their annual report for the year ended Dec. 31, 1914.
The income and expenses for the year were as follows:
Operating revenue $19, 060, 1 96
$9,793,493
Appropriated for amortization and deprei
2,215,1 17 1
Net operating revenue $7." ■ '
1,49
Income $5.:, i I !90
21 T.7<;:i
Total Income $5.7 ,
Less Interest on bonds l ,600,000
itlabli for dividends $4,1 i
Id 1,634,652
Balance carried to surplus $64
United Gas & Electric Financing.— To redeem 57,600,000
of three-year 5 per cent gold-secured coupon notes maturing
on April 1, 1915, the United Gas & Electric Company, of
New York, has sold to Drexel & Company, of Philadelphia,
$5,500,000 three-year (i per cent gold-secured notes, and to
Bertron, Griscom & Company, of New York, and Reilly-
Brock & Company, of Philadelphia, $2,350,000 of thirty
year 6 per cent collateral trust bonds. The new notes are
secured by $7,650,000 of the thirty-year collateral trust
bonds. Of the now notes $500,000 are due on July 1, 1916,
and $500,000 each six months thereafter, until $2,000,000
have been paid, leaving $3,500,000 to mature April 1. 1918.
Milwaukee Electric Railway A Light Annual Report.—
iiual report of the Milwaukee (Wis.) Electric Rail-
way A Light Company for the year ended Dec. 31, 1914,
in operating revenues of $11,421 compared
with the previous year. This decrease was caused by a
reduction in revenues of the railway department of $110,593,
which was offset in large part by an increase of $99,1 72 in
the light and power department. Gross income of the light
and power department from all sources increased from
$786,722 to $8922249. The following is a comparative in-
come account:
„ . 1914 1913
Operating revenues $6,005,495 $6,016,916
Operating expenses (total) 4.23^.424 1,2116435
Current ordinary operating expenses 3,095,605 3 167-365
Depreciation 698.516 ,633',359
Contingencies 1,602 15 042
Taxes 436,701 39o!669
Net operating revenues 1,773,071 1810 481
Non-operating revenues S5 g|)6 45178
Gross income 1,838,877 1,S55!659
Interest .barges S23.374 733,322
Net income ... 1,015,503 1.122.337
I live I, mis ,,11 preferred stock 270,000 270 000
1 'iviil, n.ls on common stock 703 375 788000
Surplus 17,872
Pennsylvania Water & Power Annual Report. — The an-
nual report of the Pennsylvania Water & Power Company
for the year ended Dec. 31, 1914, states that the company
went on a strictly operating basis Jan. 1, 1915, free from
all its construction forces which have been maintained
during the past five years, and that no further capital ex-
penditures will be required during 1915. It is not now
thought that further improvements will be needed before
1917. The profit and loss account for the year follows:
Gross earnings $1,009,373
operating expense $6
General expense 51,686
Maintenance 39J432
1 53,82]
Balance $855 552
Interest on first mortgage bonds . 443*574
Net revenue $411,978
Balance from 1913 IS, 532
T?,tal j $430,510
Dividends 339 goo
Transferred to contingent fund 90,000
Profit and loss $710
Kings County Electric Light & Power Annual Report. —
The annual report of the Kings County Electric Light &
Power Company for the year ended Dec. 31, 1914, showed
that the business depression materially retarded the excep-
tional rate of growth enjoyed by the company during the
first part of the year. During the year over seventy pri-
vate plants were replaced by the company's service, four
of them having over 1000 hp each. The total of connections
in 50-watt equivalents was 3,276,475 on Dec. 31, 1914, as
against 2,861,217 in 1913. The resultant increase in energy
output was 10,468,162 kw-hr. The company's output in
1914 was 150,203,072 kw-hr. No new securities were issued
during the year, but $365,200 of the first issues of $4,000,000
6 per cent twelve-year convertible debenture bonds dated
March 1, 1910, were converted into stock. Since March 1,
1913, the date the bonds became convertible, $3,308,100 have
been exchanged for stock. The financial statement follows:
1914 1913
Total revenues $6,846,466 $6,742
Expenses, including taxes and depreciation
charges 4.197,430 3,662,628
Gross income $2,1 49,036 $2,079,920
other income deductions.. 864,455 871
Dividends, profit sharing, etc 1,131,045 1.012.121:
Surplus for the year $153,536 $160,699
Salt Lake City Situation.— Stockholders of the Utah
Securities Corporation of New York have been advised by
President S. Z. Mitchell that the utility properties in Salt
Lake City and Ogden, Utah, formerly controlled by the
Oregon Short Line Railroad and now owned by the Utah
Light & Traction Company arc now controlled by the Utah
Power & Light Company, a subsidiary of the Utah Securities
JCj .L, JCj V_/ 1 IV1UAL
VV UIVLLI
VUU DO, rNU. »
Corporation, through the ownership by it of all except
directors' shares of the stock of the Utah Light & Traction
any. In addition to owning all of the stock of the
Utah Light & Traction Company, the Utah Power & Light
Company has leased for ninety-nine years from Jan. 1,
1915, the electric light and power and gas properties of that
company. The electric railway property of the Utah Light
& Traction Company in Salt Lake City and vicinity will
continue to be operated directly by it and the surplus earn-
ings will accrue to the Utah Power & Light Company
through the ownership of stock. It is expected that the
consolidation will effect material economies in the operation
of the properties.
United Light & Power Reorganization Plan. — The United
Light & Power Company of California has requested the
Railroad Commission to approve a plan of reorganization
providing for the transfer of all properties, the Equitable
Light & Power Company, Consumers' Light & Power Com-
pany, South Side Light & Power Company, Central Oakland
Light & Power Company and United Light & Power Com-
pany of New Jersey, through Mr. E. W. Wilson, of San
Francisco, to a new company to be known as the Consoli-
dated Electric Company. The new company shall issue
$3,000,000 of 5 per cent forty-year gold bonds to be guaran-
teed, principal and interest, by the Great Western Power
Company It is proposed to issue $2,207,000 bonds to be
delivered to Mr. E. W. Wilson in payment for the property;
$243,000 to be issued from time to time in exchange for a
like amount of Consumers' Light & Power Company and
Central Oakland Light & Power Company bonds; $71,000 to
be issued to the Great Western Power Company in considera-
tion of the guarantee of the bonds and for the performance
of the contract between the Consolidated Electric Company
and the San Francisco-Oakland Terminal Railway, and
$72,000 for rehabilitation. The Great Western Power Com-
pany agrees to purchase $400,000 bonds delivered to Mr.
E, W. Wilson on the following terms: $100,000 upon the
transfer of the properties, $100,000 twelve months there-
after, $100,000 two years thereafter, and the balance of
$100,000 three years thereafter. The Consolidated Electric
Company proposes to issue all of its capital stock to the
Great Western Power Company.
Washington Water Power Annual Report. — The annual
report of the Washington Water Power Company for the
year ended Dec. 31, 1914, showed the accompanying earn-
ings statement. The maximum station load during 1914
was .",9,718 hp, or a decrease of 1.7 per cent from 1913.
The number of accounts increased 29 per cent, or from
22,640 in 1913 to 29,119 In 1914. The 1914 figures included
accounts in towns in which the service was acquired re-
cently. The total output was 169,691,800 kw-hr., an increase
of 3.8 per cent over 1913. The Long Lake power station.
in the fall of 1910, is now practically ready to supply
y. The construction work contemplated for 1915 for
the electric light and power system is very much less than
heretofore. It will consist principally of a few remaining
to complete the first two units at Long Lake and
sundry items for extensions of lines and mains which will
be done only when business is definitely in sight. During
L91 I the expenditure for extensions and betterments in the
light and power department of the company amounted to
$1,967,260.
enui $-•'' ■
5,605
enue $; ■'■' ■ '
Operating expense* including taxet i.36i.uSi
$1,61
$-•; ■"'.'•
liit.Tist on II"'' I I l.s.i I
■ king
fund 2.fi-'
i. .1,1 for fllBcounl on drat refunding
mortgage bondi . -
..rr fur replacement reserve
5, NCI I
$871, 27S
I i, ii win h iin. I. i 001
not ' *}-22MiS
Dividends pnld ' ■"
from mirplns In 19H
Surplus from 1911! J'JlHoS
114 i.lis.i.ss
Manufacturing and Industrial
The Arnold Electric Company, Racine, Wis., is the name
of the concern formerly known as the Standard Electric
Works.
The Erie Pump & Equipment Company, Erie, Pa., has
appointed Mr. N. H. Brown, formerly with the Bury Com-
pressor Company, as its sales engineer.
The Lo-Glow Incubator Company. 76 Greenwich Street,
New York, is the name of the company formerly known as
the Standard Electric Incubator Company.
Walker Brothers & Haviland, manufacturers' agents, 1533
Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, Pa., have appointed on their
3taff Mr. F. P. Groves, formerly with the Sprague Electric
Works of the General Electric Company.
The Electrical Alloy Company, Morristown, N. J., has
opened offices at 30 Church Street, New York, the Bourse,
Philadelphia, and the Equitable Building, Baltimore, which
will be in charge of Mr. E. O. Osters, who has been ap-
pointed Eastern representative of the company.
The Pelton Water Wheel Company, San Francisco, Cal.,
has appointed Mr. E. M. Breed, who for the past eight years
has been district manager of Allis-Chalmers-Bullock, Ltd.,
with headquarters at Vancouver, district manager. Mr.
Breed will continue to have his headquarters at Vancouver.
The Wagner Electric Manufacturing Company. — Mr. W.
Thomas, treasurer of the Wagner Electric Manufacturing
Company, St. Louis, Mo., has been elected a vice-president
of the company. Mr. Walter Robbins, for many years assist-
ant general manager of the above company, has also been
elected a vice-president.
Order for Guy Anchors. — A large number of 8-in. guy
anchors were recently ordered by the Pacific Telephone &
Telegraph Company from W. N. Matthews & Brother, St.
Louis, Mo., for use on a portion of its line which passes
through Nevada. This line forms part of that connecting
New York to San Francisco.
Mr. Arthur L. Mullergren, consulting engineer, has opened
an office at Poteau, Okla. Mr. Mullergren will devote his
attention particularly to public utility engineering, special-
izing in appraisals and investigations of such properties.
Mr. .Mullergren has severed his connections with the Muller-
gren Engineering Company of Poteau, Okla.
Mr. A. B. Wilson, for the past six years connected with
the National Electric Light Association in the "tungstolier"
and "holophane" departments, is now in business for him-
self with headquarters at 357 Leader-News Building, Cleve-
land, Ohio. Mr. Wilson will act as representative for vari-
ous concerns and will be engaged in the marketing of elec-
trical specialties.
Growing Demand for Electrically Operated Butter Churn.
— The Taylor Brothers Churn & Manufacturing Company.
St. Louis, Mo., is noting an ever-increasing demand from
small towns and villages for its motor-driven butter churn.
Both General Electric and Robbins & Myers motors are
used to operate this machine. It is being exhibited at the
exposition in San Diego by the Robbins & Myers Company
and at the San Francisco Exposition by the General Electric
Company.
Cole, Ives & Davidson, 61 Broadway, New York, is the
name of a concern recently formed which will be engaged
in investigations and reports for financial interests, making
inventories and valuations of public-utility and industrial
properties and design, installation and management of
power plants. The firm is composed of Messrs. W. W. Cole.
formerly of Day & Zimmerman of Philadelphia, A. S. Ives
and R. A.. Davidson, and will take over the business of the
former Arm of Ives A Davidson, of 84 William Street.
Walpole Tire iV; Rubber Company. — For the purpose of
complying with an order of the court the property of the
Walpole Tire A Rubber Company. Walpole. Mass., will be
placed on sale at Walpole on March 10. 1915. It is ex-
I that after the sale the business will be continued
hit. This company was placed in the hands of re-
ceivers on Aug. 2, 1918, through the failure of the Atlantic
National Bank of Providence, R. I., since which time the
have conducted the business for the stockholders
and have slmwn a profit on each month's operation.
-i:i a, i:>]..
ELEC T K I C A L W 0 R L D
Mr. \niiiiiu- 1 ton num \ 1 1 !«•, who has been connected with
the husiness of the late Alfred F. Moore, manufacturer of
insulated wire, joo North Third .Street, Philadelphia, I'a..
has i. Mied.
W. V Matthew! \ Brother, St Louis, Mo., have opened
a district office in Denver, CoL, which will be undei
charge of Mr. 0. EL Davidson. Mr. Davidson's office will
the Ideal Building, and he will be in charge of territory
orado, Utah, Wyoming, .Montana, Idaho and western
South Iiakota. The above concern also has district offices
in the Hudson Terminal Building, New York, under the
management of Mr. \v. M, ll. im; 507 South Clinton k
Chicago, under the management of Mr. \V. E. Bischotl', and
629 Howard Street. San I-'rancisco, under the management
oi Mr. L K. Sperry.
The Edward I'. Caldwell Company. 36 West Fifteenth
Street, New York, which was incorporated Oct. _'."., 1914,
is in the business of manufacturing gas-lighting and elec-
Cric-lighting fixtures and ornamental-brass and wrought-
iron devices. The officers of the company are as follows:
-. V. I- . Von Lossberg, president, formerly a partner
of the concern known as Edward F. Caldwell & Company;
W. Klehr, vice-president, formerly with the Archer & Pan-
coast Company, the Sterling Bronze Company and Edward
F. Caldwell & Company; E. T. Caldwell, treasurer, and L.
Livingston, secretary, formerly with the Archer & Pancoast
Company.
Braaa-SheU Socket for Portable-Lamp Fixtures. — The
660-watt push-button, brass-shell socket made by the Cutler-
Hammer Manufacturing Company, Milwaukee, Wis., is be-
ing utilized on portable-lamp units made by the Wallace
Novelty Company, the Leindorf Electric Light Company, the
Aladdin Lamp Corporation, the Dale Lighting Fixture Com-
pany and the H. G. McFadden Company. The indicating
push-button socket, the manufacturers declare, has been
found advantageous because of the compactness of the
device. "Push the button" is the direction given for operat-
ing the socket as well as for taking up the slack in the
portable cord for a number of the portable units with which
it is used. Small electrolier sockets made by the Cutler-
Hammer company are also employed on several styles of
lamps manufactured by the above makers of portable units.
Orders for Stokers. — The Sanford Riley Stoker Company,
Ltd., Worcester, Mass., has recently received the following
orders: The Boston Elevated Railway Company, for its
South Boston station, four seven-retort stokers for 600-hp
Babcock & Wilcox boilers; the Millville Manufacturing Com-
pany, Millville, N. J., one seven-retort stoker for a COO-hp
Edge Moor boiler; the International Railway Company, Buf-
falo, N. Y., two four-retort and two five-retort stokers for
265-hp and 400-hp Babcock & Wilcox boilers; the Carter
White Lead Company, West Pullman, 111., two five-retort
stokers for 410-hp Geary boilers; the Hartford Electric
Light Company, Hartford, Conn., two fourteen-retort
stokers for 1250-hp Bigelow-Hornesby boilers; the Massa-
chusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Mass., three
six-retort stokers and one three-retort stoker for 520-hp and
274-hp boilers; the Hood Rubber Company, Watertown,
Mass., two five-retort stokers for 500-hp Edge Moor boilers.
Order for Submarine Cable. — The Simplex Wire & Cable
Company, Boston, Mass., has been awarded the contract
to manufacture and to lay about one mile of three-con-
ductor, cambric-insulated submarine cable for the Rocking-
ham County Light & Power Company of Portsmouth,
N. H. The cable is to be laid across Great Bay, above
Portsmouth, early in the spring and will form a part of
the transmission line from the central station at Ports-
mouth, through the towns of Newington, Durham and Mad-
bury, to Dover, where energy is supplied for the Dover,
Somersworth & Rochester Street Railway Company. At
Durham the branch line supplies energy for lamps and
motors to the New Hampshire College. Each conductor is
to be No. 4 B. & S. stranded copper and will be provided
with varnished-cambric insulation 7/32 in. thick. A jacket
of varnished cambric 6/32 in. thick will be applied over the
three insulated conductors after they are twisted together.
The cable is to be protected by a lead sheath Vh in. thick
and an armor of No. 6 B. W. G. galvanized-steel wire, and
it will weigh about 12 lb. per ft. It will be sent from Boston
to Portsmouth on a lighter, the gross shipping weight being
about 65,000 lb. The T. A. Scott I lompany of Boston, marine
■ tor and wrecker, will supply the lighter and appa-
ised by the Simplex Wire A Cable Company on
this work.
The National Lighting Products Company, < cade,
Pittsburgh, I'a., which was recently formed, is in the busi-
ness of manufacturing holders, brackets and posts for
and industrial lighting and also ornamental fixtures
for commercial lighting such as of stores, office buildings,
theaters, etc. This company was especially organized to
promote street-lighting campaigns for central stations.
'I hi- service is extended to central stations without cost
and has proved successful, it is claimed, to the various com-
ing their lighting loads. The officers of
Hi' company are: President, Mr. Frank C. Murdock, for-
merly secretary and sales manager of the Multi-Lu:t
Illuminating Company, Cleveland, and prior to his connec-
tion with that company with the Westinghouse Lamp Com-
pany, Bloomfield, N. J.; vice-president, Mr. G. E. Lanz, who
is also Pittsburgh district manager of the Packard Lamp
Division, National Lamp Works of the General Electric
Company, and who was formerly illuminating engineer for
the Pacific Gas & Electric Company, San Francisco, Gal.;
secretary, Mr. V. E. Truxell; treasurer, Mr. R. E. Gannon,
formerly vice-president and sales maanger for the Freehold
Lumber Company, Pittsburgh, Pa.
The Automatic Electric Company, Chicago, 111., held a
conference Feb. 5 and li at its factory, at which repre-
sentatives of some eighteen telephone companies using
automatic equipment representing approximately 300,000
subscribers were present. The conference was held under
the aispices of the Ohio Automatic Telephone Association,
comprising companies operating automatic exchanges in
Akron, Bucyrus, Cambridge, Columbus, Dayton, Kenton,
Newark, St. Mary's and Van Wert, in Ohio, and Richmond,
in Indiana. The Automatic Electric Company is a member
of the Ohio association and acts as host to the organization
for one of these meetings each year, invitations being ex-
tended to various companies operating automatic equipment
to be represented at the annual conventions. The morning
of the first day of the convention was devoted to an inspec-
tion of the factory, and the rest of the time was given over
to papers and discussions. Papers were read on standard-
ized nomenclature by Mr. Roy Owens, on automatic rural
line equipment by Mr. B. D. Willis, on transmission losses
in various circuit combinations, both practical and theo-
retical, by Mr. A. B. Smith, on multi-office installation of
automatic equipment and gradual change to full automatic
equipment by Mr. B. D. Groh, on automatic equipment in
foreign governmental exchanges by Mr. E. A. Mellinger,
on long-distance automatic calling and switching of toll
lines by Mr. John Wicks, and on automatic private-branch
exchanges and private automatic switchboards by Mr. J. H.
Finley, all of the Automatic Electric Company.
NEW YORK METAL MARKET PRICES
r Feb. 16 . , Feb. 28 *
Selling Prices Selling Prices
Conner Bid Asked Bid Asked
" £ s d £ s d
London, standard spot* 63 15 0 64 15 0
Prime Lake 14.62'.. to 14.87% 14.62% to 14.87%
Electrolytic 14 .."..". to 14.65 14.56 to 14.65
Casting:' ' • 1M to 14.20 14.10 tOl4.20
Capper wire base 18.87% IBjMJi
T.ead 8.86 8.85
Nickel 40.00 to 45.00 40.(10 to 46.00
Sheet /.inc. f.o.b. smelter 12.00 12.00
Spelter, spot 9-00 to 9.25f to 9.501
Tin straits I6.37W 8!
M, ,',,„,,, im 9s to Ail |ii r rent . 19.00 to 19 50 II to 19.50
•OLD METALS
Heavj copper and wire t'2.B0 12.50
Brass, heavy S.Ja 8.75
Brass light 7.78 7.75
i. ■ : I- v> i,tS " ? ;
Zinc, scrap 5.37 'i 6.00
COPPER EXPORTS
KmmhIk of copper In form of pip,s. Ingots, bars, plates
mil scrap for week ended Feb. 13, 1915 7,142,042 lb.
•From daily transactions on the New York Metal Exchange,
tNomlnal.
^LJiUlKlbAL WUJIL1J
VOL. DO, iNO. a
New Incorporations
The Vinton Ice, Light & Water Company, of Vinton, La.,
has been incorporated with a capital stock of $20,000 to
construct and operate an electric-light plant, water-works
system and ice factory.
The Sevierville Light & Power Company, of Sevierville,
Tenn., has been incorporated by Stanley McMahan and
others. The company is capitalized at $6,000 and purposes
to construct and operate a power plant and transmission
lines. All material for the work, it is understood, has been
purchased. Stanley Kennedy, of Sevierville, is engineer and
contractor.
New Industrial Companies
The Electric Construction & Sales Company, of Cleveland,
Ohio, has been incorporated with a capital stock of $25,000
by Frederick Rex. Sigrid Latimer, Harry C. Turneck and
others.
Moyer & Fairhault. of Brooklyn, N. Y., have been in-
corporated with a capital stock of $15,000 for the purpose
of doing a general contracting, construction, electrical and
mechanical engineering business.
The Jefferson Electrical Manufacturing Company, of
Chicago, 111., has been incorporated by A. R. Johnson, J. C.
Daley and J. A. Bennan. The company is capitalized at
$25,000 and proposes to manufacture electrical and me-
chanical supplies.
The Valleau-Quinn Corporation, of New York, N. Y.,
has been chartered with a capital stock of $25,000 to deal
in fireproofing and insulating material. The incorporators
are T. M. Valleau, of Brooklyn, N. Y.; A. M. Ehret, of
Philadelphia, Pa., and J. W. Quinn, of New Rochelle, N. Y.
The Motion Display Corporation, of New York, N. Y.,
has been incorporated with a capital stock of $100,000 by
I. B. Brown, E. I. Hendrick and G. R. Coughlan, of New
York, N. Y. The company proposes to manufacture motors,
engines, advertising devices, movable signs and display
tables.
Trade Publications
Electric Horn Switch. — A folder describing a ring-type
automobile-horn switch is being sent out by W. P. Seng,
1450 Dayton Street, Chicago, 111.
Flashlamps. — The Beacon Miniature Electric Company,
118 Duane Street, New York, is sending out several folders
describing its various types of flashlamps.
Cut-out Pulleys. — The George Cutter Company, South
Bend, Ind., is sending out a leaflet which describes its cut-
out pulleys for series or multiple circuits.
Guy Anchors. — The Electric Service Supply Company.
Philadelphia, Pa., is sending out a folder containing infor-
mation on its "Never-Creep" guy anchors.
Centrifugal Pumps. — The Goulds Manufacturing (din
pany, Seneca Falls, N. Y., is sending out a folder containing
information on its multi-stage motor-driven pumps.
Incandescent Lamps. — Various types of tungsten and ear
bon lamps are listed in a folder being sent out I
',:, Inc.. L9 East Seventeenth Street, New York,
Comptometer. — A catalog entitled "Engineering Calcula
tions," leaned by the Felt & Parran Manufacturing Company.
Chicago, [11., contains information on its con
Vibrator. — The New Era spring & Specialty Company,
870 Woodward Avenue, lieti-r.it. Midi., c Bending 0111 a
folder whii b f or igi
Interlocking Switch Plugs. - \ card If being Ben! out by
the .^ ill , Ltd., London Eng., directing atti
me of the feature- of a .'. amp Interlocking switch plug.
Ornamental Lighting Standards. — "What Every City
Need*" is the title of a folder being Bent out by tin >■
mental Lighting Pole Cnmpnn Place, New York.
Electric Tool*. The stow Manufacturing Company ha
■iy issued a catalog de
tains information on several types of its electrically operated
tools.
Electrical Instrument. — James D. Biddle, 1211 Arch
Street, Philadelphia, Pa., is sending out a mailing card
which contains information on Siemens & Halske electrical
instruments.
Semi-Indirect-Lighting Units. — The Frank Adam Electric
Company, St. Louis, Mo., has recently issued a catalog
designated as No. 26, which contains information on semi-
indireet-lighting fixtures.
Attachment Plugs. — Bulletin No. 15-8 issued by Harvey
Hubbell, Inc., Bridgeport, Conn., contains information on
signal attachment plugs and separable attachment plugs
with a split-bushing strain relief.
Meter-Testing Plugs. — The Metropolitan Engineering
Company, Forty-second Street Building, New York, is send-
ing out a revised bulletin designated as Section No. 5, which
dsecribes its meter-testing plugs.
Electric Fans. — A booklet designated as Form No. 1039
issued by the Robbins & Myers Company, Springfield, Ohio,
lists the various types of alternating-current and direct-
current fans made by the company.
Push-Button Socket. — "An Inquiry and the Answer" is the
title of a folder published by the Cutler-Hammer Manufac-
turing Company, Milwaukee, Wis., which contains informa-
tion on a 660-watt push-button socket.
Vacuum Impregnating Process. — The Doubleday-Hill
Electric Company, 719 Liberty Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pa., is
sending out a folder which describes its vacuum process
for impregnating coils with insulating compound.
Small Alternating-Current Motors. — Bulletin No. 201
issued by the Reynolds Electric Company, 422 South Talman
Avenue, Chicago, 111., contains information on fractional-
horse-power alternating-current motors for flashers.
Cut-Out Boxes. — "Service Cut-Out Box and Meter
Adapter" is the title of a revised bulletin designated as
Section 3 being sent out by the Metropolitan Engineering
Company, Forty-second Street Building, New York.
Street-Lighting Units. — A catalog entitled "Second
Reader," issued by the National Lamp Works of the General
Electric Company, Cleveland, Ohio, contains information on
incandescent lamps for street and store-front lighting.
Wooden Apparatus. — Catalog No. 115 issued by the
American Wooden Ware Manufacturing Company, Toledo,
Ohio, contains information on its hand-operated and elec-
trically operated churns, washing machines and butter
workers.
Electrical Devices. — The Electric Engineers' Equipment
Company, Chicago, 111., has issued a bulletin designated as
No. 104, which describes and illustrates various types of
busbar clamps, cable racks, floor air boxes, switchboard
fittings, etc.
Indirect-Lighting and Semi-Indirect-Lighting Units. —
Catalog No. 4 published by the Luminous Unit Company.
St. Louis, Mo., contains a number of attractive illustrations
of various types of senii-iiulireet-lighting and indirect-light-
ing fixtures.
Brake Lining. — The Standard Woven Fabric Company,
Framingham, Mass., has issued a booklet entitled "Jim
Jams and I lis Jababout," which contains a poem outlining
the virtues of its product called "nuilt ibestos" for lining the
brakes of automobiles.
Electric Apparatus. — The Westinghouse Electric & Manu-
facturing Company, East Pittsburgh. Pa., is Bending out the
following new catalogs: Folder No. 1205-B, entitled "For
Better Projection"; Folder No. 1162, entitled "The Westing-
Sewing-Machine Motors"; Folder No. 1201, entitled
"Automobile Battery Charging"; Folder No. 4266, entitled
"How Electric Power Helps Manufacturers"; Folder No.
1266, entitled "The Electric Breakfast Set": Healers" Catalog
1001, entitled "Electric Can"; Folder No. 22, entitled
"Small Motors"; De criptive Leaflet No. 7770, entitled
"Electric Cam-Limit Switches"; Leaflet No. 8679, entitled
"Electric Vehicle Battery-Charging Switchboard and Motor-
Generator Set"; Descriptive Leaflet No. 8698, entitled
"Motoi tor 1 Inotype and [ntertype Machines"; Leaflet No,
3761, entitled "Current-Limiting Reactance Coils."
r mm \KY 1~. 1916
ELECTRICAL WORLD
581
Construction News
New England
NORTH ADAMS, MAS.-
Ion line*
from tin- Zylonlte power station
to Nuiii I BrlggsvUle
way ol
I'cjwn.ii and Ni
it of the
ground. The company will supply elec-
tricity to Mill at Brigga-
villc. W. S. Smith, a
Water Suppl I
March ; a of additional
works !■ iply from the Ipswich
into two
ihe con-
pump, ;i
lun line,
switchboard ami wiring.
.uid form of proposal.
obtained at the
city hall. Salem, and at the office of Hazen,
Whipple A: Fuller, consultii
Mn.d Street New York, N. V.
SPRINGFIELD, MASS.— Bids will be re-
property,
Springfield, until .March 11 for furnishing
ic-lighting fixtures in
■I School "f Commerce. Speciflca-
seen at the office of Kirkham
vie Parlett, archl Building, Spring-
field, a:
KBAUG, CONN. — The Fabyan
Woolen Co., of Quinebaug, it is
has awarded the contract for construction
of a power house, 50 ft. by 80 ft., with a
lSB-ft. chimney to i Construc-
tion Co., of Woonsocket, R. 1.
Middle Atlantic
ALBANY, N. Y. — Bids will be received
at the office of the supervising architect.
Treasury Department, Washington, D. 0.,
until March 25 for remodeling an electric
■i Stairs
post office and custom house in Albany,
N. Y. For details see proposal columns.
BR <1.YN, N Y.— Bids will be received
by I.. II. Pounds, president of borough of
Brooklyn, Borough Hall, Brooklyn, until
E, for furnishing and delivering one
automobile dump truck at municipal asphalt
Basin, Gowanus Canal,
on or before April it., 1915. Blank forms
and further information may be obtained
an-i plane and drawings may be seen at the
office of Bureau of Highways, 50 Court
Street, Brooklyn.
BROOKLYN. N. Y— Bids will be received
by I.. II. Pounds, president of the borough
of Brooklyn, Borough Hall, Brooklyn, until
.March 17, for the mechanical equipment
of pumping station at Avenue U and Ocean
Parkway Section 2, .sanitary sewers and
storm-water sewers in Avenue U from
''ikw.i'. in ilravesend Avenue and
force main in Avenue r from Ocean Park-
way to Bast First Street, together with an
ediate pumping Btatlon and appur-
at Hie intersection of Avi
ii Parkway. The work- Includes
furnishing and Installing two directly con-
driven, vei I
including
driving motors, anion ! control
apparatus, ventilating system, all awitch-
viring and fixtures for lamps and
motors, and all ladders, gratings, piping.
valves ami fittings in tin- dry well, etc,
Blank forms and other information max- be
seen a( tie- Bureau of Sewers, borough of
Brooklyn, 215 Montague Street, Brooklyn.
BUFFALO, X. V. Tile ], lop. is, lion lo in-
stall magnetlti on Washington
si , eel . from i 'I Ippewa Streel in
The lamps an lo li. Installed as
iljable.
BUFFALO. N. X". — Arrangements are
eel Ing of tradi
zations of the cities of western New
Falls shortly to consider a plan
i I nil a ml u|
ii!;int in Niagara Kalis lo supply th
electricity for lamps and motors Frank C.
Perkins, ol Buffalo, is ai
the mi' I
CICERO, N. Y. — The Public Sen
mission lias approved tin' transfer of the
Franchise for electric service from Fred
Auburn to the North Syiinlls.- I .1 ,\: Pwr.
Co. in the town of Cicero and Brewerton
. Water-
town A
ELBA, N. S\- The Klba I
- reported, is plannii
a powei
ling and
■ ol > .
la INO ISLAND CITY, X V B
= .ol buildings, Department of
irner of park Avenue ami
Fifty-ninth Street, New York, until March
B fur electric work m l'nl
Avenue,
> : ins, plans and
■ olis may be obtained or Been at
. ..- office and also at branch oltlce,
■i of yueens.
XKW YORK, N. V -Bids will be received
i ol trustees of Bellevue and
irtment of New York
City, 41.". Bast Twenty-sixth Street. New
York, until March ."■ for providing all ma-
teria] and labor required :
masonry, carpentry, on work.
metal Work ami rOOfll ni] glaz-
ing, hardware, electric work, refi
and drinking water and all other work for
rations to the present main building
Harlem Hospital, 136th and 137th
Streets and Lenox Avenue, borough of
Blank forms and further In-
formation may be obtained at the office of
the contract clerk and auditor. 100 East
Twenty-ninth S
V, N. \'. — Plans are being eonsid-
ered by the Perry El. Lt. Co., of Perry,
and the Warsaw Gas & EL Co., of Warsaw.
to erect a transmission line between Perry
and Warsaw, via Silver Springs, to con-
met the two plants. It is also proposed to
supply electricity to farmers along the line.
Later the company plans to build a central
station and furnish electrical Si
several small towns in this section. C. W.
Torrey is manager.
ER, PA.— The Butler Lt.. Ht. &
Pwr. Co. is installing new equipment in its
-ration, which will double the gener-
ating capacity of the plant. The present
will be replaced with three boilers
tip each, and two new engines with a
rating of 500 hp and 400 hp will be installed.
PHILADELPHIA, PA. — An agreement
has been reached between the Philadelphia
El Co. and the Keystone Tel. Co. whereby
the former has obtained a lease of the sur-
plus space in the underground conduits ot
lb.- telephone company for a period of 21
years.
CLINTON. N. J. — Bids will be received by
i he board of managers of the New Jersey
Si .I. Reformatory for Women. Clinton,
X. .1 , until March 5, for erection of electric
transmission line. Plans and specifications
are on file with the commissioner of chari-
ti. s and corrections, State House, Trenton,
N. J.
WILMINGTON, DEL— Bids will be re-
iiv the Street and Sewer Department,
Wilmington, Del., until March 9 for lighting
the streets of the city for a period of five
years. The present contract expires April 1
BALTIMORE, MD. — Plans are being con-
ii red for the installation of a turbine en-
the high-pressure power station on
South Street, near Pratt Street, to cost
about $15,000. Additional power is needed
to supply electricity for lighting the city
] court house: also for operating the
elevators in the city hall.
BCUNTINGTON, W. VA.— The installa-
tion of an ornamental street-lighting sys-
district is under con-
sideration by the Board of Trade
MARLTNTON, W. VA— Application will
de to the Pocahontas County Com-
mission.is bj \ E Buddleston for per-
mission to erect transmission lines from
eeb le turnpike road between Sills-
-I Midpoint.
LEXINGTON, VA— The Blue Ridge Pwr.
Co. is reported to be contemplating the
■ 'i '.'" iii- James
ill Hie old dam site at Balcony Kails.
hi power will be used to generate
Ii ity.
SOUTH BOSTON, VA. — The South Bos-
ton El. Lt. & Pwr. Co., it is repoi i
i elded i" make Improvements to its elec-
i it. Involving an expenditure of
about (10
WASHINGTON, P. C. — Bids will be re-
ceived by tin- general supply committee ai
n ..ill. in w ishington, D. C, unn
in ior Furnishing materials, supplies and
equipment for use by the executive depart-
ini null-pendent government estab-
■ deral building service under
■i i ..I ..I the Treasurj i 'apartment,
Bupervii in ....
fiscal year beginning July i. 191 !, ana end
ing June SO, 1916. as follows: Class 6 —
eering ami plumb
IBS 15 — incandescent electric lamps
form A) . class 16
gas-lamp supple -motor trucks
lass 19 — electric serv-
■ lass 20 — telephone .-■
WASHINGTON, D. O— Foreign trade op-
portunltli
Foreign ami Domestic Commerce in the
Commerce Reports as follows: No. 15,646
— The British '! for Aus-
tralia reports that tenders are invited until
March 10 bv the Melbourne, Brun
Coburg Tramways Trust. Coburg, Victoria.
Australia, for furnishing car equipment and
air brakes for single-type trucks, single-
i wheel-
guard ' id operating gear.
ns, form of i
I at the above otlice.
i in Russia re-
quests in American consul to put him in
communication with American firms with a
view to purchasing electric and photo-
graphic supiu correspondence
should be in Russian or French. No
— A Russian merchant in the Far Bast has
informed an American consular offli
la- desires to receive catalogs, price lists,
export discounts, etc., of electrical supplies
ninety of all kinds. No. 15,654 — A
firm in Denmark has requested an Amer-
sular officer to put it in touch with
American firms which are in a position to
supply electric-lighting fixtures and fixtures
suitable for gas and acetylene lighting.
ndence may be in English. No
15,627 — A manufacturers' agent in Austra-
lia has informed an American consular
officer that he wishes to get into communi-
cation with American firms handling or
manufacturing tolls and magnetos. It is
stated that the agent wishes to submit bids
for government business. No. 15,662 — A
business man in the United States has writ-
ten the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic
Commerce that a friend in the Near East
wishes to get in touch with manufacturers
of electrical and hydraulic power plants,
flour-milling machinery, gasoline boats and
gasoline engines. No. 15,677 — The Bureau
of Foreign and Domestic Commerce is in re-
ceipt of a letter from an agent in Spain
who desires to represent American manu-
facturers of and dealers in copper, iron
and steel wire, copper, iron and steel bars
and sheets, etc. Further information may
be obtained from the Bureau of Foreign and
Domestic Commerce, Department of Com-
merce, Washington. D. C, or its branches.
North Central
BAY' CITY". MICH. — The North American
Chemical Co., of Bay City, has placed an
order with the Westinghouse El. i- Mfg.
Co., of Philadelphia, Pa., for electrical
equipment to replace the machinery now in
use in the manufacture of chemicals.
DETROIT. MICH. — The Ford Motor Co.,
of Detroit, is installing four additional di-
rect-current generators. 3S00 kw each, in
its Detroit plant. At the Walkerville
<Ont. ) plant a 900-kva Crocker- Wheeler
alternating-current generator is being in-
stalled.
EATON RAPIDS. MICH.— The city of
Eaton Rapids expects to install before next
fall a 120-kva generator in the municipal
electric-lighting plant. I. R. Ellison is su-
perintendent.
ENGADINE, MICH. — The Edwin C. Bell
Co., of Engadine, is contemplating install-
ing an electric plant in its factory and pro-
poses to install equipment with sufficient
output to supply electricity for lighting the
streets and residences of the village.
HOWARD CITY. MICH. — The City
Council has awarded the Howard City 1.1
Lt. & Pwr. Co. a new contract for street-
lighting for a period of eight years, under
the terms of which the present arc lamps
are to be replaced with 30 150-watt tungs-
ten lamps, work on which will begin is
soon as the weather will permit. Bquip-
the proposed change has been pur-
chased. G. W. Greene is owner ami man-
ager.
PORTAGE, MICH. The TownshJ
has decided to submit to the voters the pro-
posal to issue si mi, lino in bonds for the
construction 0 el trie-light
nl nit, either at the April election or
ii election.
SA< I I X \W . MICH The propi
HI), mill in boll. Is lor establishing ,i
municipal electric-lighting plant ill E
was defeated at an election held P.
BOWL1XC, GREEN, dHIO.-Tlie Board
tees of the Bowling Green State
.... ni.il Si i ha - v. i ni' -I t in-
lor th.' I
Fltzpatrii k a I [affner, of Columl
$45,881
582
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, NO. i>
CLEVELAND, OHIO.— Bids will lie re-
• the office of the commlss
purchases and supplies. Km, mi Ml. Cits
Hall. Cleveland, until March :>. for a S-ton
motor truck for the Bridge Department
_ blanks may be
obtain, -.1 at the office ol the commis -
engineering. Etoom 105, City Hall A R
fallow is commissioner of purch
supplies.
FREMI INT, I IHII I -Bids w ill be
by the din ilii sen Ice ol the cits
Of Fremont until March I for lighting the
streets i es with tungs
trie lamps rrom March l. i " I
1922, according to plans and specifli
o.i tile in the office of the director of pub-
lic serviee.
[RONTON, OHIO.— The new plant of the
Marting Iron & steel Co. will he equipped
for electrical operation. Energy for oper
ating the plant will be furnished by the
Ohio Valley El. I',,. Equipment tor the
plant, it is understood, has been purchased
Newark. OHIO.— The Newark Furni-
ture Co. has contracted with tin- Ohio i.t
& I'wr. Co.. of Newark, fur electricity to
operate its plant. The company proposes
to discard its steam plant.
NEW BERLIN, OHIO.— Bids will b". ■ • -
Village Council until March
4 for lighting the streets and the public
places in New Berlin witli electricity or
gas. The est mi
:p and "'i,' lamp of
! i' i 'l> lie i: Powell is clerk.
Rj] 'LET, ' 'H [( i.— Bonds to the amount of
$12,000 have been sold, the proceeds of
which will lie used for the construction of
a municipal electric-lighting plant in Rip-
ley.
ST. PARIS, OHIO.— The village of St.
I'aris is nding the clus-
ter-lamp street-lighting system this summer.
J »' Phelps is superintendent.
STEUBENVILLE, OHIO. The Steuben-
ville ,* East Liver] l R>. S i.t. Co., of
Steubenvllle, is erecting an outdoor-type
substation, equipped with 3000 kw in trans-
formers, nergy from the plant of
the American Gas & El. Co., of Wheeling.
W. Ya. K. J. Jones is manager.
TOUNGSTOWN, OHIO.— The city of
Toongsti : r ded tile contract for
street-lighting to the Youngstown S
St. Ky, Co foi a period Of 10 years The
contract calls for approximately 32nn
] mips of Inn ep .and 818 1000-cp
and 600-cp lamps, to be placid on orna-
mental standards. Work will begin at once
on the system. H. Whitford Jones A Co.,
of Cleveland, will supervise its Installation.
FALMOUTH, KY— Rids are being re-
ceived by the city of Falmouth on $3,000 in
bonds, tie- proceeds of which are to be used
for improvements to the municipal electric-
lighting plant and water-works system.
SMITH'S CRiiVE. KY. - The Town Hoard
has awarded the contract for the construc-
tion of an electiic-llghl plant In Smith's
Grove to Gill Edwards, of Pembroke, Ky.
i \. INI i The Indiana Utilities
Co.. of Angola, has recently rebuilt Its 13,-
200-volt transmission line and installed new
pumps purchased mate
rial for al lighting system and
lamps) lighting
system for Waterloo, Uld. ; not yet installed.
E .1 Condon is general manager.
CHALMERS, 1ND At a mass meeting
held recently favorable action was taken on
the proposal t municipal elec-
htlng plant in Chalmers. It
from the Fort Wayne
k Northern Indiana Trac Co. Ti ■
plans provide for the erection nf a transmis-
sion line from Battle Ground to Chalmers
Of a distributing system
by the municipality of Chalmers.
HUNTINGTON. IND Th» citj ..r Hunt-
ington is now erecting a new- municipal
equipped With Ol -
house turbine, new boilers and pip-
ing throughout, tto. ■
outfits of inn ) gnetlc-arc
ng installed
I J W. Hler
Is superintendent.
VTNCENNES, IND. — R S SI
with iron i • nd cluster
Bids win be
1. for Installing
■■htlng svstom In
Schubert
distribu-
tion system from 1100 volts to 2200 volts Barnard, to construct and operate an e lec-
and will extend its transmission to the trie-lighting pin ■' P0??^^-™
propertj of the Star Coal Mine Co.. a dis- street-lighting, which calls foi 18 tamps.
- i, mile, to supplj electricity for Machinery, it is understood, has been pur
motors, w. J. Turner is superintendent chased.
KINMCNPY. II. I. Within the next ten
months
purchase one ..i.-kw. tm-ex eie ane, „.,,,,,K- !.'" •'•\ ois;Cnaimer, ..^uerator and engine.
current generator with exciter (not yetde- ^eL.f|v'^u,^.t"d J.F Spr.nger is super-
Cided whether single or tl I Stem
BETHANY Mt^mpmvemems are be-
hs 0>e Km..,,,, cpects to ing made to tt» gS'^^M^ of I 200?
,ase one 50-kw. 60-cycle alternating- Plant n.lud..mtu >nsSnaUonnOf a 0^
will be used), 15 or 18 transformers (200
lamps to 12 lamps) and a ear load of poles.
.i i ■ i .■'. is owner and in. i n
KJLBOURNE, WIS The frequency
in the municipal electric-light plant
the output ol
the plant from 85 kw to 11" kw. D. G.
ih.w.y is superintendent.
POTNETTE, WIS.— The Poynetti EH
Co., recentls organized, has applied to the
City Council for a franchise to construct
rate an electric-light and power
plant. Perry E. Speed is president
ROME, WIS. — The Bark River El I.t. 8
Pwr. i'ii., of Rome, expects to extend its
transmission lines to Helenville. ."• miles dis-
tant, this spring, and possibly to Palmyra,
a distance of s miles A. A. l.cpper is su-
perintendent.
BROOKSTON, MINN —The City Council
-sed an ordinance granting L. P.
Runkle a franchise to construct and
trie-light and power plant in Brooks-
ton.
EVAN, MINN. ---The contract for con-
struction of an electric plant is t . |
n awarded to Johnson & Jensen.
HENPRl'M. MINN. — Plans are being
considered by the municipal authorities, it is
i. for the construction of a dam on
Wild Rice I.ake for the purpose of utilizing
the power lor an electric light and power
plant
MARSHAI.lv. MINN led
intendent.
CLARENCE, MO. — The
, n.e ha placed
itv of Clar-
.. contract for
....-hp Aliis-Chalmers engine and a 1J0-
kw Mlls-Chalmei i directly con-
nected I also for one 50-hp Chuse engine to
to a 10-kw generator.
cted to change the system entirely
this summer, [mil Mclntlre is superintend-
ed , , . .
HUME, Mil— The City Council has granted
a franchise to Julian .1. Boss, of Hannibal,
icl and operate an electric-light
plant m Hume, An ice factory, it is un-
will l» built in connection with
the electric plant.
INDEPENDENCE, MO.— Plans are be-
dered for extending the municipal
service to the Lexington
Road district, a distance of about 1 mile.
KANSAS CITY. Mci— The Squire El. &
Construction Co. of Kansas City, has been
awarded the contract for the wiring and
lighting tixtures for the new Cocacola
g (12 stories high).
SPRINGFIELD, MO. — The Springfield
City Wtr Co is contemplating the pur-
ol pumping and electrical in-
to be used in connection with equipping
:, w.lls of the company with elec-
trically operated pumps. R. I.. 1 ate is
'"'wKi.i.SYll.I.K. MO.— Plans are being
considered lor the construction of a mil-
.,,11 be re- nicipal electric-lighting plant in WeUsvUle.
ceived by the citv of Marshall at the office tor which bonds have already been voted.
CARPIO N D. — rians are being consid-
ered' for the installation of a municipal elec-
tric-lighting plant in Carpio.
COGSWELL, N. D.— The Cogswell El.
Lt & I'wr Co. expects to purchase one en-
i generator within the next six
months. H. 1.. Taylor is secretary.
EPPING N. P.— H. A. Gerling, of Ep-
ping, it is reported, is planning to install an
ele. trie-lighting plant.
HEBRON N. P.— Within the next few
months the Hebron El. Lt. ,v- Pwr. Co. ex-
pects to purchase material, including poles.
wire, cross-arms. etc. (small amount), for
extensions to its system. The company is
also contemplating establishing a day serv-
ice. E. I.. Carlton is secretary and man-
of A A. Regnier, city clerk, until March 1
100-kw alternating-current gener-
ator and engine l.lirectly connected), two
switchboard panels and other accessories.
Spei ideations are on file in the office of the
citv clerk. Marshall. Minneapolis B
Exchange, Minneapolis, and at tie I
W. i". Buck, consulting engineer, Minneapo-
lis. Minn.
MILLVILLE. MINN. — The installation of
a municipal electric-lighting plant in Mill-
ville is reported to be under consideration.
STAPLES, MINN. — The Board of Public
Works expects, within the next few months.
to purchase material for distribution and
g system, including wire, transform-
is and poles for changing street-
lighting system from multiple to series sys-
tem. F. W. Finsden is secretary.
ger.
LAKOTA, N". P. — Witlir
months the Lakota I.t. & Pwr. Co. expects
the next three
WINDOM. MINN.-- Bids will be received
by W M. Hale, village recorder. Windom. ,,, ,,r,.,.t i mne of 1100-volt transmission
until March 111 for construction of an elec- line u, supply electricity to tanners near
trie-lighting plant for the village of Windom tnjs. ,.itv The company has recently in-
ns follows : 11) Furnishing and erecting one gtalled one 100-hp high-pressure boiler and
"-hp fire-tube boiler, breeching, piping ., , engine. James r. Larson Is
connections, etc. one 75-kva and one 100
» I ii generating unit, switch-
board, etc: (2) furnishing and erecting
poles, wire, street lamps, transformers, etc.,
i,,i- electrical distribution system. Plans
and specifications are on file in the office ol
the village recorder, Windom, and at the
Earle P. Jackson, consulting engi-
ipltol Bank Building. St Paul, Minn.
WORTHTNGTON, MINN. Within the
next 12 months the Board of Public Works
expects to purchase electrical appliances
and supplies, including heating and cooking
apparatus, vacuum cleaners, washing ma-
chines, etc.. aggregating a total expenditure
of about $r>.n0fi. for the Municipal
Light Department W, H. Run-hard is city
i:\1nNT. IA. — Within the next six
months C. Miller
trie-light
miles of i3.nno-vc
sion line: also a distribution system in
town of about 1200, and to purchase some
transformers.
;-. in. i \ Within the next two
months the Creston Mutual El 1 ,t . Ht A
1'ivi ' U) pur. base three
. cooling tower, etc..
plan! ol 1000 hp. George
nelius is manager.
taken to
ml oper-
llghting plant In Sloan.
THORNTON, i a The installation of a
municipal electric-lighting plant In Thorn-
iimliT consideration.
.bout I
eleetreitv to I mOS and motors
B \RN \Ri>. MO The town ol :
Miller, of
manager
LIDGERYVOOP, N. P — Within tl
eight months the Lldgerwood Mill Co. ex-
pects to purchas ■ electrical supplies, a num-
ber of electrical ranges, vacuum cloaners
wishing machines, etc. ; also within the next
V months to purchase incandescent lamps
amounting to $300. W. R. Movins is presi-
' Mil NOR, N. P. — The town of MllnOT has
I franchise to David Vail to install
electric-lighting riant in Mll-
MTNOT, N D. — The Northern Tel. Co.. of
Minot expects to purchase -within I
one or two months a motor-driven pump for
supply. C. H. Coar is gen-
eral superintendent.
WOONSOCKET. S D The Schuler El
r ft Sons, owners of the c ,, vPoonsocket has recently remodeled
:it plant, expect to erect 10 its ',,1 ,,it and installed steam engines. The
volt single-phase transmis- ".„„.'. nv ,, . nd its transmission
' Sties and supply electricity to six smaller
towns this summer. A. C. Shlllcr is presi-
dent and man
LDAMS NEB Bids will be received by
Putney, village clerk. Adai
until March 1L'. for furnishing on.
Bine, one generator, poles and material for
construi I ■ lectric-llghl plant, to
For d( I nis see proposal
columns.
DAVID CITY. NEB Within the next
three months the city of David ■
pecta to purchase one 100-hp bo
2300 VOlt motor, wire for 111
and other supplies for the munlcli
trie light plant also some vacuum cleaners.
washing machines, etc. The city will also
mission imes t ii
Barbican
,,; neb The City Council has
called a special election to be held March
I for the purpose of submitting the proposal
■«icv 27, I'.'i;.
K LEC T RIC A I. WORLD
583
. the municipal
■
i: w Ithln th< n \t three
or fi.ur months the .\:
■
OMAHA, NEB The I m
Idlng its
il The . om|j
II Huntlngtoi ■ tideni
BLUE RAPIDS, KAN Thi Marshall
Count) I
pli ted the h I wo new
Leffel v . al-type
with Lombard governor, • •■
The company
will Insi
idtolning to«
Strong ui nd manager.
GRIDLEY, KAN Plana an t. mg con-
llghtlng system In Grldley. Energy to op-
i III probably be
the Burlington l.t. Pwr. &
Mfg. Co., of Bui llngton.
HATS, Kan onsldered
fur the Installation of a municipal eleotrlc-
1 1 k >u iih.ni. to cost about J 10,1
LEAVENWORTH, KAN The contract
for wlriug and lighting fixtures
■ th, la reported
to have been awarded t" the Squire El.
•• action i to., ol Kansas <'itv, ;it
|1S,
LYONS, KAN— The Lyons EI. ft Iffg.
placed a contract with the West-
Inghousi Co., of Pittsburgh. Pa.,
for a 125-kw, three p :le, 2400-
volt generator, which will be directly con-
nected to ei gine.
i 'SAW ATi ■Mil-:, KAN. — I'lans are being
i remodeling the municipal
electric-lighting plant, bids for which will
i.,
POMONA. KAN — Plana arc being con-
sldered to install an electric-lighting sys-
tem In Pomona. It is proposed to secure
the system from the
plant ■ > i Ottawa. The project in-
volvea tl rectlon of a transmission line
between Pomona and Ottawa. An election
will be held to submit to the voters the pro-
posal to Issue $10,000 in bonds to build the
plant and transmission line.
POWHATTAN. KAN. -The Council is
contemplating calling an election t<> submit
t,, the voters the proposal to issue Jin.nnn
Ifl bondl llation of a B
lighting plant ill I
SAUNA, KAN The Salin. I.i. Pwr &
Gas Co. is reported i" be contemplating Im-
■ its to its planl during I C| i 5, I Bl
about $40,000. The present plans provide
fc.r addition to power station, in
ting equipment, etc
WELLINGTON, KAN The City Com-
missioners have awarded the conti
equipment. Including engines, generators,
i the new municipal electric plant to
.v Mfg. Co., of I'itis-
burgh, Pa . at $30,700.
WINFIELD, kan. Arrangements, it is
1 are being made bs i Re Bn
row l.i ft Pwr. Co., of Wlnfleld, to
the output of its plain
placed for a 125-kw al d awitch-
■ nerator will be dire
ngine.
Southern States
i.i ITJISBURG, N. C. Within the next two
nf the municipal elec-
ecta tn purcha
i 00 poles i: C Beck is superintendent
WILSON, N C Th.- city of Wilson has
i the State Legislature for author-
ity to issue $80,000 iii bonds, the proceeds
i t" rebuild the municipal electric-
llghl planl.
i'i IR1 Hii.i.i:. Q \ The ''" I'ouncll Is
the via. i i
municipal electric lighting plant.
DARIEN, GA— The Darien Mfg. Co. has
■h. Darien Ice
*;• l.t, Co. ami is moving the plan I
river front Slabs and sawdust from the
sawmill will In used for fuel. Charles M.
Tyson is president
haw Ki\s\ ii.i.i:. GA.— The city of
vilie has placed an order for a
row iralvi 1 1 1 1 rlsburg englm
connected i generator, wh
DO installed within rift days; also
25-hp. thn oil miitor con-
iii - ii ii to a Piatt Iron Worka thn
1 pump to llfl
intend, nt
MOULTRIE. GA Th. cltj of Moultrie la
live-lamp clusters The generating ■
Of the I
cently I n doubled . additional boilers will
probabl) installed during the
CLARKSVILLE. TENN Bids will be
■
'. aahing-
ton, 1 1 C, until .Match 22 for new toilet
•
rks> llle, T.-iiii. l-'.ir
details s.e proposal columns. O. Wende-
rnth is supervising architect
TAZEWELL, TENN. The installation of
an el. •■ trie-light plant ill Tazewell is re-
ported to he under consideration.
I '.AY MINETTE, ALA Tl
warded the contract for the
lighting plant.
I ..■ Sulli-
van, Long 4 Haggert) Co.,
■ leetl H plant Will in-
clude on.- 50-kva. three-phase, 2300-volt
i. two-panel switchboard, exciter
and alioui 2 miles of pole line.
ICKERMAN, -MISS. -The city of Acker-
man expects to erect within the next six
months a three-phase transmission line to
pumping station, 2 niih-s distant ; also to
purchase a pump and 10-hp motor for
pumping water from a 50,000-gal. concrete
reservoir (yet to be constructed), and ma-
terial for the above transmission line. A.
.1. I 'eit 1 1 1 is Is BUpi
BROOKHAVEN, MISS. Within the next
two or three months a small quantity of
line construction material for ordinary re-
the municipal electric-light sys-
tem will be purchased. R s. Purser is su-
perintendent
CLARKSDALE. MISS.— Within the next
six months the city of Clarksdale expects
to purchase a new boiler, turbine and gen-
W. S. Bono is general superintend-
ent.
.\ 11. I.i;. MISS.— Bids will be re-
ceived by J. E. Leppert, chairman building
ee, Greenville, Miss., until March
15, for construction of a high school build-
He, including heating, plumb-
ing ami wiring. Plana and specifications
me !..■ obtained upon application to R. H.
Hunt, architect, Chattanooga, Tenn., for
which a deposit of $2r, will be required, to
In- refunded upon return of same.
i;i SSELLVTLLE. ARK. — Application has
idi to the City Council by Edward
H I 'row. of St. Louis, Mo., for a franchise
to supply electricity in Russellville for a
p. riod ol 10 years.
BASTROP, LA. — Bonds to the amount of
$16, have been voted for improvements
to the municipal electric-light plant and
•■ orks system.
FREDERICK, OKI.A. — The Foster-Har-
ris Gin & El. Co.. of Frederick, which owns
the local electric plant, has purchased from
Hi. W.stinghouse El. &- Mfg. Co., of Pitts-
burgh, Pa., a 250-kw generator (belted),
which will replace a 76-KW machine.
WIM.KNE, TEX. — Improvements are
being made to the plant Of the Abilene Gas
.' I I'n., including the installation of two
ube boilers and one r>00-kw
nerator, with switchboard for gen-
erator and exciti icts for the work
■ n awarded. A. V. W'ainwright is
■ i. , pi .
HENDERSON, TEX.— The Hei
i 'iiitnii i HI ft i im i 'n., which furnish
li both ii. ii and meti
templatlng the purchase of !i
'line the Hit-rate service. 0, BJ
Morris is superintendent
SI iMERVTLLE, TEX.— The Somerville Ice
Co has purchased the local electric-light
plant It is understood that improvements
will be made to the property.
VICTORIA, TEX.- The Texas Southern
El. i 'u . ..i victoi la, la ii ■
volt, iii! , bejtween
nee of 31 miles.
■
-liington,
eluding mechanical equlpi
-
GRANITE FALLS. WASH
d would
paratus fur -
SEATTLE, WASH. -The Board of Public
Works has recently granted tl«
Sound Trac, Lt. ft Pwr. Co., m
permission to erect transmission lines on
rtv-flrst Street, Sixth Avenue
Northwest
OAK PARK, CAL. — Steps have been
taken by the Oak 1'ark Business U
sociation to secure an electrolier lighting
system in the business district of the city.
PORTERVILLE. CAL. — The Business
Men's Association has appointed a commit-
tee to take up with the property em
the business district the proposal to install
an electrolier lighting system in the busi-
ness section of the city.
KELLOGG, IDAHO Within the next
Ave months the Bunker Hill & Sullivan
Mining & Construction Co., of Ke!
pects to purchase insulators, underground
cable, wire, meters and lamp-posts. Walter
C. Clark is superintendent.
SALT LAKE i'ITV. UTAH.— A bill has
been introduced by Senator Eckerslcy into
the Utah Legislature for the creation of
special lighting Improvement districts, un-
der which property ownera on any street or
subdivision may petition the City Commis-
sion to create special lighting iuil'i
districts to install lighting systems, the cost
to be assessed against the property bene-
fited. It is believed that if this bill passes
th Legislature ami is approved by the Gov-
ernor, at least t, or 7 miles of special street-
lighting systems will be installed in Salt
and Ogden early in the spring.
FLORENCE, ARIZ. — A movement has
been started for the erection of an elec-
tric transmission line from Florence to
Sacaton. The matter has been referred to
the board of governors of the water asso-
ciation at Phoenix. It is proposed to sup-
ply electricity to ranchers along the line as
well as in Sacaton.
TOMBSTONE. ARIZ. — Steps will be
taken immediately by the City Council to
make investigations and secure estimates
of the cost of the installation of a mu-
nicipal electric-lighting plant in Tombstone.
CHOTEAU, Mi INT. — The Montana Pwr.
Co., of Butte, it is reported, will extend its
transmission lines to Choteau, work to be-
gin as soon as the weather permits.
GLASGOW. MONT.— Extensive improve-
ments will be made to the municipal elec-
tric-lighting system this spring, including
the construction of a new power house, the
erection of a brick smokestack and the in-
stallation of a 225-hp four-valve engine, one
200-hp water-tube boiler and a 150-kw gen-
erator. H. J. Hughes is superintendent and
purchasing agent.
CASPER. WTO. — The Natrona County
El. Co., of Casper, expects to install a 400-
kw generating unit this summer. Two new
Erie City water-tube boilers of 250 hp each
are now being installed. J. A Ward is gen-
eral manager.
DENVER, COL.— The Colorado Pwr. Co.,
of Denver, it is reported, is contemplating
the installation of an auxiliary steam-
power plant near Denver.
LAS CRUCES, N. M. — The Las Cruces El.
l.t ft Ice Co. expects to purchase a 250-hp
Diesel-engine-driven unit within the next
few months. D. W. Morgan is manager.
Pacific States
ELLENSBURG, WASH The city of EI-
i new concrete
ower house. The ma-
chinery now in use will be removed to the
I Ion and a m w 325 hp boiler and a
turbine will also be installed.
!•:, t Butler is manager.
EVERETT, w \sn Bids will be re-
ceived at the office Of the supervising archl-
Canada
WINNIPEG, MAN. — An additional 5000-
kv.i Westinghouse generator and an Bacher
ft Wysa water turbine are being installed in
the municipal electric plant at Point du
Bois : two 6000-kva synchronous condensers
are also being installed in the city station
to take care of the line regulation. E. V.
Caton is chief engineer.
DUTTON. ONT. — The Town Council, it is
. will ask for bids in the spring for
equipment, to include transform-
ers, switches, etc, to cost about $15,000.
WALLACEBURG, ONT.— The electric
plant owned by the Wallaceburg Cas Co.
has I n taken over by the municipality.
The purchase price was $36,975. W, R.
Waghorne, superintendent of the company,
retains the same position with the town.
684
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 9
Weekly Record of Electrical Patents
UNITED STATES PATENTS ISSUED
FEBRUARY 16, 19X5.
[Prepared by Robert Starr Allyn. 16 Ex-
change Place, .New York. N. Y. ]
Electric-Wave Amplifier; H.
De F. Arnold, East Orange, N'. J. App.
Bled May 16, 1914. Employs two andiron
elements.
1.128.2S0. Thermionic Detector: H. l>e
F. Arnold, East Orange, N. J. App. Bled
June 8. 1914. Andiron with pair of input
odea similarly connected to negative
pole of local input circuit and oppositely
connected to the source of current to be
detected.
1,128,292, Electric-Wave Amplifier; E.
H. Colpitts. East Orange, N. J. App. filed
Jan. 3, 1914. One andiron repeats posi-
tive parts and other andiron repeats
negative parts of the input waves.
Systems ; A. Pecorella, Buffalo. X. Y.
App. filed Oct. 6, 1914. Includes contact
rails along the tracks.
1,128,515. Welding Piece for Electrically
Welded Metal Work ; A. P. Rietzel,
Charlestown, R. I. App. filed Sept 16,
1909. Welding blank of tapered con-
struction.
: DETECTOR; F. B. Turner. Hunt-
ington Beach, Cal. App. filed June 4,
1914. Contact member adjustable for en-
gagement with any one of a number of
crystal masses.
1,128,554. Electric Heater; W. B. Un-
1. Erie, Pa. App. filed Jan. 30,
19H. Pressure contact effected between
the resistor and lead.
1,128,562. Electromagnet; H. G. Webster,
Chicago, 111. App. filed Sept. 28, 1907.
Differential ; for telephone work.
1.12S.568. Railway Switch or the Like :
1,128,932 — Automatic Train Stop
3 Process of Separating Copper
from Nickel and Matte and other
Products . N. V. Hyblnette, Christian-
Norway. App. filed June 5, 1912.
Copper-nickel matte slab subjected to
electrolytic action as an anode.
Process of Circulating Solu-
tion fob Electrolysis; N. v. Hybinette,
Christiania, Norway. App. filed June 5.
1912. Electrolyte passed alternately into
the bottom and top of the cathode com-
part i
1,128,316. Anode for Electrolysis; N. V
Hybinette. Christiania. Norway. App.
filed June 5, 1912. Nickel, copper and
sulphur with an electrolytic-ally treated
surface.
1,128,366. Electrical Heating Device ; E.
H. Ruckle, Chicago, 111. App. tiled June
10, 1914. Hot-plate for use on electrical
stoves.
-i ark Apparatus for
Intern. w. -Combustion Engines : E. W
Stevens. Baltimore, Md. App. filed Aug.
31, 1914. Solenoid for holding open the
main contai
1,128,405. Testing Apparatus for Meters ;
I., i; Brooks, Pittsburgh, Pa, App. filed
Aug. 1", 1912. Permits testing without
interfering with the customer's service.
1,128,422. Printing Telegraph Receiver:
A. F. Dixon, Newark, N. J. App. filed
• 19, 1914. One selection of the ro-
tatlng-current dlstrlb retained
while another selection is bi
1,128,424. I
(deceased i, Easl Orange, N. I
filed Sept. 9, 1907. Compound; high-
tension.
1,128,427. Method of TREATING:
'■ Tin: AST 0
K Dunton, N.w York. N. Y App Bled
:. 191 i Insulating
pan.
i i INS POP
i s , .i a i laaae, < )lare-
• M App tiled Sept 12. 1911.
gate and thrown
"ut lowering and
A i TOM '
• . Q. \V i
• led May 91,1 starter.
1.1 28.4 ^ ! ■ riN.i ..il l'i. v
App
■
\ t . [ . filed
•VIS, ||.
\v O'Neill. Brooklyn. N v.
natlng
'
C O. Anderson, Omaha, Neb. App. filed
March 29, 1909. Self-adjusting; elec-
trically Operated.
1,128,570. Railway Switch-Operating
Mechanism OR the Like; W. A Ahum.
Omaha, Neb. App. Bled Oct. 16, 1909.
Actuating motor arranged wherever con-
venient.
1,128,582. Automatic Stop ; V. H C
Indianapolis, Ind. App. Bled Aug. I.
1913. For stopping switch at an inter-
mediate point; star-delta switch.
1,128,600. Electrical Type TELEGRAPH : F.
C Grasme, Hoboken, N. J. App. filed
March 19. 1914. Stock ticker.
1.12S, 640. Electric Furnace and Process
of Heating Substances Uniformly and
at a Controllable Temperature ; E. V
Von Wilmowsky (deceased), Boston, Mass.
App. filed Oct. 28, 1S96. Heats sub-
stances uniformly and continuously at
controllable temperature in an electric
arc.
1,128,644. Lighter for Gas Stoves: T. L.
Wiese. Milwaukee, Wis. App. Bled April
14. 1913. Igniting burner opened and
lighted by single act of pressing button.
1,128,646. Telephone-Exchange System;
j. L. Wright, Washington, D. C. App
filed March 8, 1912. Improved means
controlling thi rcult during the
i and completion of a con-
nection.
1,128,660. cm. i I hstributinc. Telephone
System : II. P. Clausen. Rochester, N. Y.
App Bled June 26, 1911. Has in-
counting the calls received by the various
operators.
1,128,690. Electric H - aiNi; C
Knoth, Newark, N. .1. App. tiled Sept 26,
1914. tmpro tor heating the
heads of rivets while pressing the heads
upon the parts which thes connect
i Cruse,
Cleveland. I >hlo. Vpp flli
For c
its 1 . ■ .
dynamic braking circuit has beei
llshed.
i Central-Station sw
PAR vtis i ••> : ine Sys-
tems; K A Llnqulsl tnd J J Brownrigg,
"busy"
signal win. I
Hi d April
it For heating
automoblli
■-. , \Y VI
Jl . 1 letrolt, Mich \pp. tiled :
1914, AH the elements .
bled bi applied to the
wall.
i I i por
threadl rough conduit
toggle
1.12S, 747. Method of Manufacturing
Porcelain Insulators ; W. Boehm, Char-
lottenburg, Germany, App. filed Feb. 24,
1913. Fills pores with insulating com-
pound and exposes to the action of ozone.
1,128,764. Fuse; E. G. Davis, Paris Cross-
ing, Ind. App. filed May 4, 1914. De-
tachable end-cap construction.
1,128,777. Telephone System; C. E.
Hague, Rochester, N. Y. App. filed April
22, 1910. Call-distributing system.
1.12S, S17. Valve Detector for Wireless;
G. W. Pickard, Amesbury, Mass. App.
filed July 3, 1912. Prevents interruptions
due to the building up of static charges.
1.12S.S42. Conduit Clamping Plate and
Disk ; W. A. Bonnell. Brooklyn, N. Y.
App. filed June 23, 1913. Armored cable
clamping plate with knock-out disk in-
tegral therewith.
7, Selective Signaling System
for Party Lines ; E. B. Craft, Hacken-
sack, N. J. App. filed June 29, 1910.
Train dispatching.
Agitating Electric Amalgama-
tor; L. St D. Roylance, San Francisco.
Cal. App. filed Nov. 14, 1913. Bearings
positively protected from contact with the
solution.
1,128,914. Magneto Electric Generator;
C. A. Stone and G. C. Brown, Buffalo,
N. Y. App. filed Sept. 8, 1908. Arma-
ture has a primary and a secondary
winding thereon.
1,128,927. Telephone Repeating Device;
D. H. Wilson, New York. N. Y". App.
filed April 11. 1913. Repeater is used
upon a grounded circuit.
1.12S.930. Telephone System; F. V.
Young. Lyndhurst, N. J. App. filed June
19, 1914. Improved signal-controlling
means.
1,128,932. AUTOMATIC Train Stop; F. G.
Bastian, Buffalo, N. Y. App. filed Jan.
22, 1913. Controlled by trolley, special
brake and throttle control.
1.125.943. Telephone Relay; S. G. Brown,
London, England. App. filed Jan. 3, 1912.
Highly sensitive variable resistance for
inclusion in local circuit.
1.128.944. Electrical Relay; S. G. Brown,
London, England. App. filed Jan. 3, 1912.
For wireless work or long telephone lines.
1.128.945. Portable Electric Lamp; J. J.
Brownrigg, H. Henderson and A. E. Case,
Marion, Ind. App. filed Feb. 6. 1914.
Takes an ordinary dry cell.
Portable Elei ti I
Lamp
I
Tapping Dw
m Downs. Savannah, Qa. App. filed
March 9, 1914 For applying spring con-
nectors to high-tension wires and remov-
ing same therefrom with safety.
.inii Peroxide
op Hydrogen; P. Fischer. Charlotten-
burg, German] App filed May 7, 1913
Electrolysis carried out at pressure above
atmospheric
i ! ii. i ...-. r.osllndale.
Mass Vpp ni. d Julj 1 1, 191 i Has
relatively stationary contacts in the form
■ Ing preaa< <i bails.
Motor; E G. Hoff-
mann I deceased ). New Kochelle. X Y
\PP Bled July 27, 1907. Special con-
struction; for propulsion of motor \c-
\i. m:m ; M. Ille, 1ml
Vpp Bled Man h 20, 1914. Por
alarm when predetermined
low point
Vol. 65
Electrical World
The COnSOlldatlOn D ANP ISNaiN] KrTRICIAN.
Published b] McOnm iiililishiiig Company. Inc.
NKW fORK, S A I I EtDAY, MARCH 6, 1915
No. 10
Associated Manufacturers of Electrical Supplies
THAI' the manufacturers of electrical supplies are
in real need of some organization to safeguard
their interests was never more apparent than when last
fall the movement to have the Underwriters permit the
use of bare concentric wire began to assume definite
proportions. As a direct result of that propaganda, to-
gether with the realization which came with it of their
unpreparedness to combat movements deemed to be in-
imical to their interests, the manufacturers of electrical
supplies will organize an association next Tuesday in
New York. Their aim will be to provide the machinery
for concerted action in matters which vitally affect them.
We cannot commend too highly the spirit manifested
throughout all the deliberations incident to the forma-
tion of the association. The desire of the leaders of the
movement has been to work in harmony with other elec-
trical manufacturers' associations, the commercial and
technical societies, and particularly to live in conformity
with national and state laws. Certainly when permeated
with such motives there can be no question of the ulti-
mate success of the organization and of its beneficial
influence on the industry as a whole.
An Opening for Engineer Commissioners
THE imminent reorganization of the New York
Public Service Commissions by Governor Whit-
man presents an opportunity to bring about greatly
needed engineer representation on these bodies. It is
an opening for engineering societies to carry into prac-
tice what they have been preaching about the value of
engineer membership on such commissions. If Gov-
ernor Whitman reconstitutes the commissions on polit-
ical lines alone, the results will be disappointing to him
and to the public. If he seeks men with real knowledge
of public utilities, he needs some engineers. Commis-
sions have depended largely upon subordinate engineers
for information, study and understanding in technical
matters, but those advantages will be more useful to the
community when they are found in the membership as
well as in the ranks of employees. The accredited au-
thorities to present the facts to Mr. Whitman are the
engineering organizations.
Personnel of the Trade Commission
IT is disappointing that the Federal Trade Commis-
sion is not dominated by business men. If the in-
itial commissioners were long-trained in commercial
life, stepping from active mercantile careers to public
service, there would have been an instant sympathetic
appreciation of business problems. Just why the mem-
bership is not wholly of such men, keenly alert to the
immediate needs of varied industries, we do not know.
Public precedent, which may have had an influence, is
set against regulators who are familiar with the prac-
tices which they are to regulate; if represented at all,
these men are always in the minority in our commis-
sions. In spite of this handicap on new commissions at
the start, however, they usually acquire power as they
acquire momentum. That is why the Federal Trade
Commission is of even greater importance potentially
than actually. If all its members are imbued with a
hard-headed understanding of their large opportunity to
promote trade, that will do much to overcome the highly
disturbed industrial conditions.
An Unfair Rate of Return
A RETURN of 4'2 per cent or 5 per cent is held to
be insufficient in the Rochester electric-railway
fare case by the New York Public Service Commission,
Second District. Commissions as well as courts find it
easier to decide what is not a fair rate than to lay down
what is a fair rate. Such decisions settle individual
cases but they do not chart the future. The Rochester
decision says: "A 6 per cent return upon capital em-
ployed in the public service has been deemed to be a
fair return. ... In many cases a considerably higher
rate of return has been held to be required." These are
indecisive statements, and evidently the commission
thought it superfluous to cite cases. Regulation is
national policy, but there is no agreement as to what
rates are really fair. If the government imposes its
will upon helpless investors, agreement is possible on
capital already invested, but unfair rates would be un-
economic and fatal to future financing. Six per cent
with risk compares ill with a 4 per cent savings-bank
return without risk.
Metallic Roentgen-Ray Tubes
IT is well known that the limitations on the output of
an ordinary glass mercury-vapor rectifier are found
in the softening of the glass walls under the heating
effects of heavy loads, and that the output can be greatly
increased when metallic walls are substituted. In a
similar manner, Prof. Dr. L. Zehnder has recently drawn
attention in the Elektrotechnische Zeitschrift to the
increased power and convenience of an X-ray tube com-
posed of metal, with the cathode supported in a large
porcelain insulator. The anticathode is in metallic con-
nection with the metal walls. This construction not
586
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 10
only lends itself to mechanical strength but also tends
to make for security. The metallic tube, if grounded,
may be safely handled; while the danger of injury to
the person of the operator from long-continued subjec-
tion to stray X-radiation is practically altogether pre-
vented. In fact, the tube ceases to be a delicate and
brittle glass vessel. It becomes virtually a piece of
mechanism with the qualities of metallic construction.
Considering how recently X-rays have been discov-
ered, their great potency and wonderful properties, it
seems probable that various new applications will be
found for them in the future. For such applications
sources of powerful and sustained X-radiation may have
to be employed, without the possibility of serious dan-
ger to the attendants. For those purposes a thoroughly
mechanical form of X-ray generator is of great im-
portance.
The Portland (Maine) Central-Station Service
As is true in many other cities, the electrical supply
system for Portland, Maine, consists of several inde-
pendent plants consolidated into a coherent whole. It
includes three hydroelectric plants and a steam plant
serving Portland directly, and through lease or stock
ownership two important street-railway systems and the
York County Power Company's system, which furnishes
energy outside of Portland proper. In fact, nearly a
score of cities and towns now covered receive energy
from the' network which has grown up around Portland.
The total equipment rating of the allied stations is now
somewhat over 33,000 hp, serving a population of ap-
proximately 200,000.
The three hydraulic plants of the company are the
mainstay of its energy supply, the other stations being
available whenever necessary as auxiliaries. Of the
three plants, two are on the main stream of the Saco
River and the third is on the Presumpscott, the outlet
of Lake Sebago, with large storage capacity behind it.
The main plant is that at Bonny Eagle, which contains
six 1500-kw directly coupled units operating under a
39-ft. head. Two miles to the eastward is the West
Buxton plant, utilizing a fall of 25 ft. and containing
four 750-kw directly connected units, which, like the
others, generate at 2300 volts and are provided with
transformers which increase the emf to 38,000 volts.
The third plant, which originally transmitted energy at
10,000 volts directly into Portland, contains four 500-kw
units generating at 10,000 volts, step-up transformers
being used for tying the plant to the rest of the system.
The main substation at Sewall Street is designed for
four banks of transformers each of 3000-kw rating, the
energy being received from the three hydraulic stations.
From this substation the energy is distributed over the
city at 2300 volts, to two railway feeders at GOO volts
and to four arc circuits for the nearer part of the serv-
ice, The transmission line is carried in the main on
WOodffl poles with pin-type insulators, the circuits being
connected in star with grounded neutrals. Use is made
of .-i small amount of steel-tower work on one of the
branch lines for a special river crossing. In all there
are more than 90 miles of 38,000-volt line. Some very
ingenious provisions, fully explained in our descriptive
article, have been made for securing continuity of serv-
ice in spite of local accidents. Owing to the reliability
of the hydraulic privileges, very little use is made of
steam. On the average, only about 2.5 per cent of the
energy is derived from steam, which is a remarkably
good record for so extensive and well loaded a system.
Maintenance of Line Insulation
It seems to be the well-nigh universal experience on
high-tension transmission lines that the weakest point
in the system is the insulation. Even thunderstorms,
which used to be dreaded more than anything else in the
way of casualties of service, have been eliminated from
the problem of line maintenance by the skilful use of
grounded wires and aluminum arresters ; but the insu-
lator is always with us. While the suspension type has
relieved many of the difficulties on lines of exceedingly
high voltage, yet with both these and the pin-type in-
sulators there is sufficient trouble to justify the state-
ment with which this comment started. The reason for
such a condition is threefold: First, the insulator has,
on the whole, the lowest factor of safety in comparison
with the possible stresses of any part of the system ;
second, no method has been devised for testing insu-
lators for their ultimate endurance when on the line;
third, the insulators which withstand well the ordinary
tests may be weak in endurance. These remarks are
applicable to suspension insulators as well as to pin-
type insulators, but they apply with a special force to
the latter, because it is not so easy to give them a high
factor of safety.
Insulators fail electrically through actual puncture or
by flash-over and cracking. The first cause of failure
can generally be pretty well eliminated by tests applied
before the insulator is in service, and as a rule compara-
tively few weak insulators are found. Flash-over tests
are less satisfactory as an indication of what the insu-
lator is likely to do in the long run. In the first place,
it is very difficult to imitate the insidious coating of
the surface by the long-continued action of dust and
moisture. Almost any first-class porcelain will with-
stand admirably a puncture test or a flash-over test dry.
the limitation being the size and design of the petti-
coats. The efficacy of a flash-over test when the insu-
lator is wet depends on the nature of the wetting. The
ordinary spray test approximates in character a heavy
but rather quiet shower of rain, and the insulator at
the start is fairly clean and is washed oven cleaner by
the shower. Service conditions would be more nearly
approximated by a very fine spray directed obliquely
upon an insulator which had previously been coated with
fine dust. It therefore happens that when the factor of
safety of the insulator has been determined on the basis
of a shower test the chances of breaking down later be-
come quite appreciable, especially when, as often hap-
pens, the factor of safety between the normal crest of
the voltage wave and the flash-over point is barely 2.
March 6, 1916
ELECTRICAL WORLD
587
A good many lines are in operation at from 40,000 volts
to 60,000 volt- with pin-type insulators which will hard-
ly withstand 75,000 volts on a spray teat of the kind
here assumed.
The moral is that in attempting to secure continuity
rvice one should not only obtain insulators of tirst-
porcelain thoroughly tested before acceptance but
should see to it that the factor i materially
higher than the figure mentioned. A factor of 2.5 or
preferably 3.0 is none too large for lines of fairly high
voltage; moreover, there seems little doubt that pin-type
insulators arc- in use on many lines which would be
better protected with suspension insulators.
As a rule the failure of insulators is of a character
which cannot be determined from initial tests. Mechan-
ical strains existing in the insulator in the form of un-
compensated stresses, or applied accidentally during
service, are the cause of many failures. Glass or porce-
lain, particularly in fairly large masses, is very difficult
so to anneal that it will be free of internal strains, some-
times of considerable severity. Glass insulators can be
tested for strain in polarized light, but they are gen-
erally used on lines of such moderate voltage that the
masses involved are small enough to permit thorough
annealing. Porcelain cannot be tested in any direct
way, and for the most part one must trust to luck.
Then, too, the large porcelain insulators, made up in
several parts and fastened together with cement, involve
still further risks from the strains set up as the cement
gradually hardens, and from the effects of unequal ex-
pansion and contraction under heat and cold, or from
the strains caused by varying tension in the wires or the
racking of the insulators because of a windstorm.
In many plants the abnormal electrical strains have
been dealt with successfully by the use of arcing rods,
but these mechanical failures will usually put an insu-
lator in a condition where such protection is of little
avail. Expansion and contraction, too, get in their work
in other ways than by ordinary cracking. They may
produce hair-like cracks through the outer surface of
the porcelain, eventually permitting moisture to enter
the more porous interior. It is more than likely that
most of the failures in insulators after considerable
service might be traced to such a cause. A damaged
insulator may remain in service for a long time with
simply a small leakage, and then fail disastrously when
some unusual strain comes upon it. The practice of
locating leaky insulators by suitable line inspection is
one that should be encouraged. A very neat telephonic
scheme for this purpose was recently described in an
A. I. E. E. paper, a scheme which might easily be elab-
orated to meet the requirements of almost any kind of
inspection. It is more than likely that a suitable wire-
less receiver and testing antenna could be applied to
this work with advantage. At all events, the moral of
the situation seems to be that porcelain is somewhat
untrustworthy in large masses, even with very careful
construction ; that advantage should be taken of the
suspension insulators with their smaller porcelain units
in working at voltages anywhere near the limit of the
pm-type insulator, ami. finally, that the line should be
watched systematically to detect if possible incipient
faults that may result in failure of service.
Conditions Governing Commutation
Ever since commutators have been used on dynamo-
electric machines they have been characterized by a
tendency to develop sparking at their contact brushes.
Some have even averred that they regarded a commu-
tator as the abode of a malign agency for destructive
sparking, so that a constant strife had to be maintained
by the operators and attendants to subdue this vicious
influence and keep it in check. The introduction of in-
terpoles in modern direct-current machines has distinct-
ly aided in the subjugation of this nefarious agency of
Lucifer, but even interpole machines, if not properly
designed or cared for, will escape from control. In the
best of machines the spark imp lurks unremittingly.
In his interesting article on page 601 Mr. J. F. H.
Douglas discusses the relative merits of two formulas
which have been proposed for the use of designers in
establishing a criterion as to the danger of setting up
serious sparking. One of these is known as Arnold's
and the other as Hobart's formula. Each may be ex-
pressed in the form that the average reactance voltage —
that is, the average voltage set up by emptying the flux
linked with each armature coil during the time of com-
mutation reversal — should be less than a certain factor
times the IR drop in the brush and brush contact. This
IR drop is usually taken as from 1.0 volt to 1.5 volts.
Whereas, however, one formula makes the factor unity,
the other makes it 2; so that the certain factor is a
somewhat uncertain factor, to the extent that one allows
twice the limiting reactance voltage of the other.
The analysis given in the article goes to show that
the unit factor corresponds to the assumption that at
the end of each segment contact, when the segment is
just parting company with the brush, the current
density in the edge of the brush at the instant of rup-
ture does not become indefinitely great. It may be con-
ceded that if the current density does not run up enor-
mously in the last little element of brush contact there
should be no serious sparking. The question is whether
quiet commutation might not continue somewhat beyond
this limit, or after the final current density had in-
creased enormously, with a doubled reactance voltage.
It is suggested in the article that the criterion should
be not the parting current density in the brush but
rather the parting surface temperature. With this idea
in mind, it is claimed that the double IR drop corre-
sponds to the condition that the tip of the brush at part-
ing with each segment cannot become indefinitely hot.
Of course, if the brush tip did become indefinitely
hot, even for an indefinitely short interval in each com-
mutation cycle, it would be difficult to say what would
happen to the brush, so that the formula can hardly
claim to present a demonstration. The idea is, how-
ever, ingenious and should be capable of being pursued
quantitatively by suitable experiments.
588
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 10
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
National Electrical Week
To the Editor of the Electrical World:
Sir: — The idea of celebrating a special electrical de-
velopment week is excellent. It occurs to us that the
general public is already more or less familiar with
"Edison Day." Edison represents to our industry and
to users of electricity what Washington does to the
country at large, and we feel that we should either
make the special week contain Edison Day or else select
the week that will contain Edison's birthday. Inasmuch
as we have the public with us on these days, we should
find a more ready response to any plans and greater
willingness to assist. Co-operative schemes could be
worked out to make the concentrated campaign very
effective. Lectures in public schools, possibly large
moving-picture shows, celebrations, electrical parades,
expositions, etc. A thousand and one ideas and sugges-
tions will occur to the geniuses and originators in our
business if all pull together. W. S. Hays,
Cambridge, Ohio. Superintendent Ohio Service Company.
National Electrical Week
To the Editor of the Electrical World:
SIR: — Your issue of Jan. 16, 1915, contains an article
entitled "A National Electrical Week," which I have
read with a great amount of interest. It seems to me
that the suggestion made to set apart a week in the
month of October for a vigorous sales and educational
campaign is one which should be acted upon without
hesitation, and that it should receive the earnest co-
operation of all who are directly or indirectly connected
with the electrical industry. The national committee
having this matter in charge will no doubt put itself
in a position to receive suggestions from any source
which would contribute to make the week memorable
in the history of the business, and it is probable that
an opportunity will be given to put into effect every
practical suggestion which will tend to help the cause
along. The article referred to contains a list of ways
and means which cover the ground very thoroughly
from a general standpoint. Of course, the details would
have to be worked out in each case. The concerted
movement of all branches of the electrical industry is
bound to obtain the results sought, namely, the educa-
tion of the public and a corresponding increase in the
sales of apparatus and appliances, and ultimately in the
sale of electrical energy. However, the methods which
would attract the attention of the public in one locality
would not necessarily produce the same results in an-
other. It is comparatively easy to attract public atten-
tion to any subject in a small city, but it is much more
difficult to obtain the same amount of attention in the
larger cities, and the methods which would prevail in
the one community might require to be discarded in
another. Consequently, the electrical fraternity in each
locality should form a local committee to select from
the many suggestions which would be turned in to the
national committee such ideas as might be considered
able and effective for use locally in connection with
the week's campaign. The slogan among the electrical
fraternity In connection with its preparations for the
electrical week should be, "Advertise, exhibit and dem-
onstrate," with the avowed intention to educate the
public to "do it electrically." I add a few suggestions,
which I have not seen referred to in this connection.
In order to draw greater attention to the illumina-
tion of stores and places of business during "Electrical
Week" 1 believe that central stations could well afford
to loan and install externally on consumers' premises
many of the new high-efficiency lamps from 500 cp and
upward. These lamps would increase the electrical
effect upon the streets at night, and would to a greater
extent illuminate the store fronts, with the ultimate
result that many merchants would retain the lamps
once they had been installed, after learning by demon-
stration the relatively small cost of operation. During
"Electrical Week" all central-station offices and build-
ings should be decorated and illuminated both inter-
nally and externally so that the public would know at
once that some event of importance was taking place.
Merchants using electrical devices and appliances in
connection with the operation of their business should
be persuaded to invite the public to their premises to
inspect these electrical installations. Such advertising
would be advantageous to the merchants and would also
help materially in the general results. During the week
each town should have a general electrical exhibition
which should be free to the public, or if a charge is
made at all, it should be for a trifling amount. If held
in nothing better than a vacant store, the exhibition
will be of great value, particularly if there are demon-
strators to explain the uses and advantages of the ar-
ticles exhibited. It would be of immense advantage to
all concerned if each of the many manufacturers of
electrical devices and appliances which may be used in
daily life would select one of the articles manufactured,
and for the week in question allow it to be sold at a
reduced price, this price to be effective only on sales
made during "Electrical Week." Such a plan would
induce the public to purchase more freely and conse-
quently become more interested in the uses and adapta-
tions of electricity.
In addition to electrical parades, which probably
would be held at night-time, either electric trucks or
gasoline trucks equipped with storage batteries dis-
playing electrical apparatus could be sent through the
streets of the city in the daytime. These trucks could
have on them efficient demonstrators, and stops might
be made at various corners where audiences could be
obtained, when explanations should be given regarding
the particular electrical devices on exhibition. The
moving-picture houses could be used to great advantage
during "Electrical Week," not only by means of having
them flash electrical slogans and advertisements on their
curtains between the regular pictures, but also by ar-
ranging for exhibits of special films which would tell
attractive electrical stories to their audiences. There
is little doubt that during "Electrical Week" the vari-
ous ladies' clubs in different communities could be in-
duced to take a special interest in electrical affairs and
open their doors and give access to their platforms to
those who would lecture in an interesting manner upon
electricity and its uses, and no doubt arrangements
could be made for demonstrations at such meetings, A
great field for development, where electrical matters
could be placed before eyes and minds that are always
receptive, is in the public schools, and those in charge
of these schools would no doubt consider it a proper
variation in their educational work if during "Elec-
l ileal Week" a day or part of a day were given up for
the special study of electrical matters and inspection
of electrical exhibits. Here, again, competent teachers
or lecturers, whether they emanate from the central
stations or from the manufacturers or contractors,
should be on hand to help those in charge of the schools
Makc h 6, 1916
ELECTRICAL WORLD
589
to give the children the desired information in an ap-
proved manner, in order to turn their thoughts toward
electricity and what it tan do in making man's work
lighter and his home brighter.
The national committee and the local committee-
whieh may undertake the directing of the "Electrical
Week" scheme will surely realize that their task is a
big one, but there is hardly a shadow of doubt as to the
enthusiastic co-operation which they will receive from
all branches of the electrical industry in every state in
the Union. S. M. KENNEDY,
l.<»> .1 iti/i tee, im. fornta Editcm Company,
The Cost of Valuation
To tht Editor of the Electrical World:
Sir: It is becoming increasingly evident that Judge
Prouty's estimate of a total cost of $50,000,000 for fed-
eral valuation of common carriers has fallen like a wet
blanket upon Congressional enthusiasm for the valua-
tion work. From private remarks of some Congress-
men it may be inferred that a not inconsiderable num-
ber of members of Congress might feel relieved if the
whole valuation project could be quietly dropped. The
situation well illustrates a certain tendency in public
undertakings, the spirit of which is perhaps well illus-
trated in the old song, "Oh, Uncle Sam is rich enough
to give us each a farm."
The government may take up a piece of work along
conservative lines. All discussion of what it is proposed
to do may be directed toward an unexceptionable pro-
gram. Y/et, after the work has been authorized, the
thought of this or that desirable thing creeps into the
minds of those in charge of the undertaking, and as
compared with the vast wealth of our Uncle Samuel
the cost of such things seems so trivial that it is easy
to extend the original plan out of all semblance to its
early shape.
In the case of the railroad valuations specifically it
may be remembered that President Roosevelt wrote a
letter to the Interstate Commerce Commission making
certain inquiries about a federal valuation, its probable
cost, etc. In reply President Roosevelt received a let-
ter written by Prof. Henry C. Adams, chief statistician
of the commission, who with Prof. M. E. Cooley, of the
University of Michigan, had made the valuation of
Michigan railroads some years earlier. Professor
Adams stated that on the basis of the cost in Michigan
the government would have to spend at least $1,750,000
in addition to what the railways would be called upon
to spend. It is now a fair question to ask what added
results we are likely to see from the $15,000,000 that it
is proposed to have the government spend (it is esti-
mated that the cost to the roads will be $35,000,000)
over what might have been had upon the modest basis
of the early work in Michigan.
It is understood that the extra cost is largely that
of detailed and painstaking inventories, upon which will
be based the "cost to reproduce" the properties, upon
whatever hypotheses may be used. This matter of in-
ventories may go to almost any length and cost almost
any sum. A country railroad station, for instance, may
be appraised from records, from over-all dimensions
and the known cost of similar structures, or by measur-
ing each stick of timber. Engineers may count the
tacks that hold down the sheet of zinc under the cast-
iron stove (similar things have been done in apprais-
als), or the total value may be arrived at without much
detail of inventory and perhaps with about the same
factor of error. When it is considered how much the
final grand total will be affected by personal predilec-
tions of the directing minds it may be thought unneces-
sary to la n purely engineering
refinement.
Judge Prouty speaks of a possible error of 5 per cent
amounting to $1,000,000,000. Quite true. But what is
"error" in this connection? Let anyone look over the
figures of valuations, either of railroads or of electric
properties, that have been made recently. Let the
final values of corporation and commission be com-
pared. The differences will usually be nearer to 25 per
cent than 5 per cent. Each is confident that the other
is wrong. "Error" in these matters is error of judg-
ment, and not error in measurement. Appraisal is not
a scientific process, leading inevitably to a single con-
clusion. True a change of 5 per cent in the railroad
valuation figure may be a change of $1,000,000,000, but
such a change, or a greater one, might come through the
Senate refusing to confirm one commissioner and get-
ting another in his stead.
Finally, it should be noted that recent court decisions
do not at all accept the theory that "cost" is synony-
mous with "value." The Court of Errors and Appeals
in New Jersey has overturned the decision of the Board
of Public Utility Commissioners in the Passaic gas case
and specifically states that a substantial sum must be in-
cluded in the total value to cover the item of franchise.
In the valuation of Michigan railroads the physical
property was valued, and an allowance of what was
deemed a reasonable rate of return was figured as the
sum earned upon the physical property. As the actual
earnings of the roads were greater than the return so
computed as reasonable for the physical property, the
excess was taken as the earnings on intangibles, and,
assuming a rate of return for intangibles and figuring
backward, the capital value of the intangibles was de-
termined. A similar method for appraising intangibles
was used some years later in New Jersey.
Obviously, if the same rate of return were to be as-
signed to physical and non-physical capital, the grand
total of value might be had in a similar manner by
figuring back from earnings, making the large expense
for inventory seem absurd. By adopting a different
interest rate for the two classes of property, and by
introducing a few depreciation figures, this pitfall is
avoided easily and the final result takes a very scientific
appearance.
To those owners and managers of electric properties
who have been through valuation and rate-making cam-
paigns lately, some feeling of surprise is natural as
they study a method of appraisal based upon the cap-
italization of earnings. It is not unusual in electric
appraisals to allow a "going value," based upon devel-
opment cost, but the capitalization of earnings to fix a
value for their properties is, to say the least, unusual.
It may therefore be pointed out, for whatever it may be
worth, that the purpose of both the Michigan and the
New Jersey appraisals was to fix an assessment on which
the railroads should pay taxes.
If the Interstate Commerce Commission is to com-
pute intangibles by the method used by Professor
Adams in Michigan, it is obvious that the grand total
value will be an extremely fluctuating quantity. One
need merely mention that a few years ago certain rail-
roads were selling 3 1 '2 per cent bonds, while last sum-
mer the city of New York was issuing 6 per cent gold
notes, in order to make clear how intangible values, if
based upon capitalization of earnings, may shift. Judge
Prouty's 5 per cent would be a small part of the prob-
able fluctuation.
Is it reasonable to put so much expense into one-half
of the valuation undertaking, when the other half of
the same undertaking depends so largely, not upon
exact computation, but upon individual opinion?
New York, N. Y. James MacDonald.
Central-Station Development at Portland, Me.— II
Features of the Transmission System and of the Principal Substation-
Outline of Operating Methods and Commercial Practices
T
HE first section of this article, which was pub-
lished in last week's issue, gave an idea of the
extent of the Cumberland County (Maine) Light
& Power Company's generating system and contained
descriptions of hydroelectric stations at Bonny Eagle,
West Buxton and North Gorham. In this issue are de-
scriptions of the principal substation and the entire
transmission system, with outlines of the operating
methods and commercial practices.
Principal Portland Substation
The Sewall Street substation was designed by Saw-
yer & Moulton, Portland, Maine, and is one of the most
modern distributing installations in the East. The
building is on a plateau about 2 miles west of the busi-
ness center of Portland, and at present receives energy
from three three-phase, 38,000-volt incoming lines. In
the near future the two lines from North Gorham,
which are now joined outside the city, will be separated,
giving four independent lines into the substation. A
38,000-volt line runs from Sewall Street to Dunstan and
Biddeford, with a branch to Westbrook. The substa-
tion at Sewall Street is designed to accommodate four
banks of three 1000-kva oil-cooled transformers each,
and there are two main sets of 2300-volt buses for local
service and the tie-line work within the city, each set
being divided into two sections. All incoming lines are
equipped with the vane type of General Electric reverse-
power relays, overload relays being provided on all
power-station lines.
The substation building is a brick and steel structure
about 103 ft. by 58 ft., with concrete foundations and
floors reinforced by steel I-beams. It is two stories in
height and at each end is provided with a feeder ter-
minal house and structural steel dead-end frame for
outgoing 2300-volt lines.
On the ground floor are installed the transformer
banks, lightning arresters, two 500-kva synchronous
motor-generator sets delivering energy for street-rail-
way service in the western portion of the city, and two
sets of three-phase, 2300-volt buses, with corresponding
solenoid-operated oil switches. The second floor is di-
vided into two sections with an open bay between. On
one side are all the 38,000-volt oil switches and high-
tension buses in the substation, and on the other are the
main switchboard, a street-railway switchboard and
groups of 2300-volt feeder switches. Sixty cells of
"chloride E5" battery are installed in a room off the
IN, II IMlKKiR OK PORTLAND SUBSTATION
M vic< ii 6, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
591
12 — TERMINAL HOUSE FOR
2300-VOLT FEEDERS
I ;1RS
' ! *s*
r
: ' .- ^u
IV
FIG. 13 — TERMINAL CABINET FOR
PORTABLE TELEPHONE SET
FIG. 14 — BURKE HORN-GAP SWITCHES
OUTSIDE WEST BUXTON PLANT
gallery for operating relays and solenoids, and a 25-kw,
125-volt motor-generator set on the gallery floor is in-
stalled for battery charging.
The incoming lines are dead-ended on double pin-type
insulators set on wall brackets outside the building.
Taps from the lines are carried downward to horn-gaps
mounted 10 ft. away from the building wall, with con-
nections from the gaps to the lightning arresters inside
the building, which are of the aluminum-cell type
mounted on concrete bases. The phase wires are car-
ried into the building in each case through Thomas
44,000-volt bushings, and are protected by hoods. After
passing through choke coils, disconnecting and oil
switches, the lines terminate on the high-tension buses,
which are of copper tubing, supported horizontally 24 in.
apart and below the roof beams. At present only three
banks of transformers are installed. The leads from
the buses to the transformers are carried downward
through oil switches, and the 2300-volt connections from
the secondaries to the low-tension buses are so arranged
that the secondaries of any bank can be connected to
either of the two sets of three-phase, 2300-volt buses.
Both sets are connected by tie cables passing through
bus junction switches mounted on the under side of the
gallery.
From Sewall Street are run two 600-volt railway
feeders, four 6.6-amp arc circuits for the Deering dis-
trict, ten three-phase, 2300-volt lighting and motor-
service feeders for the Deering section, one three-phase,
2300-volt feeder each to the Knightville and Forest
Avenue plants in Portland and four 2300-volt, three-
phase tie lines to the Plum Street station. The tie lines
are taken off the two buses on the first floor, through
selector oil switches, and the motor-generators are fed
from the same source, although controlled from the rail-
way switchboard on the gallery. All commercial feed-
ers are tapped off the buses on the gallery at the rear
of the switchboard, the connections providing for the
supply of energy to any feeder from either set of buses.
The alternating-current service is handled by a switch-
board of thirty-one panels, equipped with both remote
control and manual switches, the board being partly in-
closed by a glass housing which is electrically warmed
in cold weather and which enables the operators to keep
comfortable without heating the entire substation to a
relatively high temperature. The railway board is a
six-panel installation, with the usual apparatus. A 10-
ton hand-operated crane spans the open bay between the
two sections of the gallery.
The feeders are carried downward through the north
wall of the substation from the buses in recesses in-
closing 3-in. hard-fiber tubes set in cement grout, and
FIG. 15 — SEWALL STREET SUBSTATION, PORTLAND, MAINE
592
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 10
after passing into a basement 10 ft. high are carried
outward to the terminal houses. Each terminal house
is 13 ft. 4 in. by 10 ft. 10 in. inside, and each circuit
passing through is provided with choke coils, lightning
arresters and disconnecting switches. A basement sec-
tion 8 ft. deep is provided for gaining easy access to the
cables run from the substation to the terminal houses,
and in case the present overhead lines are changed to
underground service in the future the terminal houses
square at the top, 6.5 ft. high, there being two 1.75-in.
steel anchor bolts per leg. Each leg consists at the
bottom of two 7-in., 9.75-lb. channels, the largest
diagonal braces being of 2-in. by 2-in. by Vi-in. stock,
ji.-rww;«juuj
2 Corr Bars
■m'—o*
SECTION INLET HOOD
FIG. 16 — PROTECTING HOOD FOR WALL BUSHING
are arranged to accommodate the cables. Short taps
from the terminal-house switches lead outdoors through
hooded bushings to the dead-ended lines attached to in-
sulators on the steel framework.
Transmission System
The greater part of the transmission system is com-
posed of No. 2
Concrete Coping
semi -hard - drawn
copper carried in
36-in. equilateral
triangular spacing
on Thomas triple-
petticoated p i n -
type insulators.
These are mounted
on cross-arms 8 ft.
10 in. and 5 ft. 10
in. long, carried on
35-f t. to 65-f t.
chestnut poles with
an average spacing
of 100 ft. The cir-
cuits are Y-con-
nected, with
grounded neutral.
Thomas 50,000-volt Yrf P .. '^F*
insulators are now
used on all stand-
ard construction
A recent extension
of the I1
00-VOlt line to
Biddeford is car-
mil on steel towers at the crossing of the Saco River
at Biddeford. Five towers have been erected. Two of
ire anchor towers 68 ft. high and three are 206
ft. high, 40 ft. X in. square at the bottom and 8 ft. 8
in. by 8 ft. at the top. These towers arc carried on
concrete piers 10 ft. square at the bottom and 6 ft.
III',. IS rKOSS-SKCTIilN ol I'KIM 1 1" A I. PORTLAND St'HSTATION
FRONT FIFVATION
FIG. 17 — TUNNEL CONNECTING WITH TERMINAL HOUSE
smaller sizes being used farther away from the ground.
Each tower carries six nineteen-strand, 7 16-in. cop-
per-clad steel wires, each of which has a breaking
strength of 11,120 lb., and the towers are designed to
withstand the pull of six wires loaded with a coating of
0.5-in. of ice and 3400 lb. of wind load on each of the
long spans. These are 1080 ft. and 1055 ft. long, and
the clearance above
tidewater is 160 ft.
minimum. At the
towers the lowest
wire is 190 ft.
above the ground.
A n intermediate
tower on Cow Isl-
and forms the di-
viding point be-
tween the two
spans. The wires
are held in place by
Thomas No. 1124
suspension strain
insulators hung
five in series, the
attachments being
made by suspen-
sion strain clamps.
The towers were
designed and erect-
ed by the Megquier
& Jones Compam .
Portland, and are
among the highest
in the East.
crossing has been
Horn Oops
A standard 38,000-volt railroad
designed by the company. The crossing proper consists
of a span of about 183 ft. length, nineteen-strand copper
wire being suspended at each end on Thomas pin-type
insulators carried on a %-in. by 3-in. angle iron, the
insulators licinvr 6 ft. apart horizontally. The insula-
March 6, 1916
ELECTRICAL WORLD
593
ension type on the inside of the
■pan, where the copper line wire and the span conduc-
tor ;ire connected, and two extra poles are provided at
points, All four polea arc strongly guyed and are
nearest station to that side of the box, leaving the tele-
phone line open-circuited on the side where the switch
i- opened, while if both switches are closed, as in normal
operation, the line is maintained solid from station to
t Semi horn
dee '
640' ■ ->- --Iti'-O'-- - — - »•* 30-0'- »'
FIG. 19— TYPICAL TRANSMISSION-LINE CONSTRUCTION OVER RAILROAD CROSSING
equipped with grounding strips of a carrying capacity
equal to the line wire.
Special towers are in use at the Bonny Eagle station
where the outgoing lines leave the plant and cross the
river gorge. A typical tower is of A-frame construc-
tion, mounted on four concrete foundations 8 ft. deep
and provided with two cross-pieces at the top built of
G-in. by 8-in. channel irons, carrying line insulators
30 in. apart horizontally and 31 ft. high over all. The
horizontal members of the framing are built of two
2.5-in. by 2-in. by 0.25-in. steel angles, and the uprights
are of 3-in. by :5-in. by j ,-in. angles, diagonal braces
being of the same size as the horizontal members.
About 5 ft. below the lower cross-arm on wooden pole
lines is carried a telephone circuit used by station oper-
ators, linemen and officials of the generating depart-
ment. At twenty-two points on the transmission system
telephone switch boxes with spare insulators are in-
stalled on the poles, and at each box a spare four-pin
and a two-pin cross-arm are wired to the pole for emer-
gency use. A step block about 12 in. by 18 in. in size
is mounted on a pole stub to protect the telephone user,
who plugs in a portable set at the switch box when he
desires to talk. The wiring is so arranged that if either
of two switches is closed the inspector can talk with the
station, the absence of a permanent telephone instru-
ment in the box eliminating any bridging circuit across
the line. Only when the inspector is telephoning with
his portable set is there any contact across the line.
This plan of testing out sections of the telephone line
is of the greatest value in cases of operating troubles.
Operation of Transmission Lines
There are about 90.5 miles of 38,000-volt line on the
system. The handling of these lines has been worked
out with great care to avoid accidents in restoring serv-
ice in case of interruptions. Linemen are not allowed
to leave the telephone when requesting a station opera-
tor to open a line until notified by the operator that the
circuit ordered out has been opened, and when ordering
back a circuit the original person who ordered the cir-
cuit killed is obliged to communicate with the station
operator in charge. Only the head of the department
in which the person ordering a circuit killed is working
has authority to order a circuit restored, in addition to
the person originally calling for the open circuit. All
arc circuits are considered alive after 3.30 p. m. No
circuit can be cut off which feeds to or from the Sewall
Street substation without notifying the operator in
charge. Prompt reports are required to station opera-
BONNY EAGLE GEN. STA.
Q O 0 9 0 9 IS0° K" G""-
- ZIOO Vol! Bus
idee
m^
ffu Itigap A rres ter
NORTH 60RHM1 GEN.STA.
500 kw. Gem
Sonford Mills
FIG. 20 — CONNECTION OF GENERATING AND SUBSTATION EQUIPMENTS
594
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 10
tors on the completion of any work requiring the open-
ing of circuits. Operators at substations are not al-
lowed to volunteer information as to the location of
circuits when these are ordered out of commission by
linemen or others. Full record is kept of the responsi-
bility for circuits ordered in and out.
At Bonny Eagle the normal operation of all Portland
lines is with these tied together, relays being set to
SECTION AA
ii ~ 3-0'" yo'~- jo'-k j:»"J-k
£ <*> <fe I (b cb fi
PLAN 0C TOP
11 ofWirt | e'xtit I,
r%_ f » 3 ► 3 3
FRONT ELEVATION
Bonny Eagle are designed to open, and the line switches
are left open for five minutes. During this time the
operator endeavors to get into touch by telephone with
either the substation at Sanford Mills or the Ossipee
Valley Light & Power Company and learn the cause of
the trouble. At the end of five minutes, or as soon as
advised from Sanford, the switch on No. 1 line is closed,
followed by No. 2 line. Any clear line is left in circuit.
If the trouble has not cleared itself within thirty min-
utes, the line switches cannot be closed again until
instructions have been received to this effect. Line
switches held open for any reason are tagged with data
cards. In all cases except emergencies, when circuits
are ordered opened these cards must be filled out before
opening the line.
At West Buxton in case the circuit-breakers on one
line trip out no test is made, but the station supplies
energy to the other line until telephone communication
is established. In case both lines are opened the oper-
ator tests for voltage, and if none is found the lines are
separately tested with power, leaving the good line alive
for three minutes, after which it is opened, again tested
for voltage, and if the latter is found is phased in.
SIDE ELEVATION
FIG. 21 — CONSTRUCTION OF TOWER SUPPORTING LINES
LEAVING STATION
operate on all the lines at all stations. In case of a
short-circuit on any line the relays are designed to trip
at both ends, clearing the trouble. If the operator finds
the trouble to be on either of the Portland-Buxton lines,
the line which trips out is left out until by telephone
it is learned that the circuit is again working. In case
both lines go out, the operator proceeds as in the case
of a short-circuit on the tie line, leaving the switches
out and working as follows: A voltage test is made to
find out if the line is all right; the tie line is then tested
with electricity from the North Gorham end, voltage
being held on three minutes and then removed. When
the station operator at Bonny Eagle finds the line dead
after having been alive three minutes, he closes the
tie-line switch and North Gorham phases in. In case
the relays fail to operate, the tie-line switch at Bonny
Eagle is opened. If this docs not clear the trouble, it
is closed, and No. 1 and No, 2 Portland Buxton lines are
successively opened. If neither clears the trouble, both
are opened and left dead until outside adjustments or
repairs are effected.
All telephone circuits arc equipped with high-tension
switches at generating station- and substations. In
case of a transmission telephone-line interruption these
switches are opened and repairs made at once on the
instrument: \t the end of ten minutes, when all power
mission lines will have ended, the "|"'|-
ator at Bonny Bagle gets Into tOUCh with West Buxton.
In case of trouble on the Sanford lines, relays at
SECTION A A
FIG. 22 — 210-FT. TRANSMISSION TOWER
This three-minute test with power shows the Bonny
Eagle operator that the line is in condition for service.
The procedure in case of a line interruption is much the
samea at Bonn] Eagle, aU tests being completed within
ten minutes. Efforts are made to get in touch with the
Sewall Street substation m case of interrupted trans-
mission. At North Gorham, in case of a short-circuit
which opens the station switch, the operator tests the
Maki ii 6, 1916
ELECTRICAL WORLD
595
high-tension line for voltage. If no voltage shows on
the line, the Bonny Eagle tie line is cut open and the
Portland line tested. The latter is then opened and
the Bonny Eagle end ia tested. It" it is found clear, it
is left alive for three minutes and the circuit killed.
This enables the Bonny Eagle operator to learn that the
line is in proper Condition, after which phasing in fol-
low- ;i- in the cases previously described.
130
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DATE.
FIG. 23 — COMBINED OUTPUT DURING JULY
In case of trouble on the Bonny Eagle-West Buxton-
Sewall Street lines causing both switches to open the
procedure at the Sewall Street substation is as follows:
The operator at Sewall Street sectionalizes the high-
tension bus. Each line is tested for voltage, opening
one and closing the other at short intervals until the
pilot lamps indicate that the circuit is alive, when the
operator synchronizes the substation buses on the low-
tension side, having first transferred the so-called No. 1
transformer bank, opposite the West Buxton lines, to
185
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tow-tension boa prior to testing. High-tension bus sec-
tionalization is effected by the operator in case the
reverse-power relays fail to operate in the event of
trouble on the transmission lines, the latter being tested
for voltage as usual. All feeder circuits and tie lines
are operated normally from one low-tension bus, leaving
the other ready for emergency service.
Low power-factor is relieved either by readjustment
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FIG. 25 — LOAD CURVE FOR NOVEMBER DAY
of load conditions among the generating stations
through telephonic arrangement or by stiffening the
excitation of the fields in the substations operating the
railway motor-generators, care being taken in the lat-
ter cases not to exceed the full-load excitation of the
fields. Complete arrangements are in vogue relative
to starting the fires under the boilers in the steam plants
in case of notification of approaching thunderstorms
near the hydroelectric stations, in the event of forest
< 4
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I 3 5 7 9 II 13 15 n 19 21 25 25 ?7 29 31
DATE.
FIG. 24 OUTPUT CURVES FOR EACH STATION IN NOVEMBER
2 4 6 8 10 12 ? 4 6 8 10 12
Tl ML
FIG. 26 — LOAD CURVE FOR JULY 1
the No. 2 low-tension bus. In case of trouble on these
lines causing only one switch to open, the switch is not
closed again until word is received from West Buxton
or Bonny Eagle that the line has been tested and is
ready for operation. A corresponding procedure is fol-
lowed in case of trouble on the North Gorham line,
sectionalizing the high-tension bus and transferring
the transformer secondary connections to the auxiliary
fires, voluntary shut-downs of transmission lines which
cannot be restored to duty within thirty minutes, etc.
Linemen doing work upon any transmission line are
required to keep a portable telephone instrument tapped
on the line so that they may be called from the station
should it become necessary to put the line into opera-
tion at any time. Complete instructions regarding the
handling of the transmission system have been prepared
596
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 10
in the form of a booklet by the electrical engineer of
the company, Mr. W. C. Billings, for the use of line-
men and station operators.
Complete log sheets are maintained at all stations,
and the results are plotted in curve form and filed in
loose-leaf at the main office. On a typical day the load-
FIG. 27 — ELECTRIC SHOP, PORTLAND, MAINE
factor of the system was 61.6 per cent; the hydroelectric
stations furnished all the energy required, and the total
output was 101,230 kw-hr. Extensive load-curve data
are maintained. The maximum load on the system
in 1913 was 13,200 kw, occurring on Nov. 14. The
average daily output in that month was 138,440 kw-hr.,
the maximum being 173,000 kw-hr. In eleven days of
July, 1913, the company operated its steam stations.
As a rule, about 97.5 per cent of the system output is
furnished by the hydroelectric stations, and up to mid-
summer of 1914 it had not been necessary to operate
the steam stations at all.
Commercial Notes
The commercial practice of the company is progres-
sive and the rates are sufficiently low to attract much
Hi;. 28 — PEAK-LOAD CURVES FOR EACH STATION IN
■in u
new business annually. The present low rates for light-
ing :ui(l mo e, which compare favorably with
Which prevail in similar situations in the Bast, are
now undergoing revision with ■ view of substantial
reduction.
The commercial salesroom is on the ground floor of
the main office building in Portland, two large stores
being thrown into one to serve as salesroom and trolley
waiting-room. This brings a large number of people
in direct contact with the large stock of appliances who
ordinarily would give them no attention. In the base-
ment is a well-fitted meeting-room for the solicitors,
containing charts showing record of each salesman, dia-
grams of load added, etc. Offices for the motor-service
solicitors are also provided here.
In a recent canvass of residences the company found
that of 8600 houses 42 per cent were using electricity.
The canvass was made by high-school boys at a cost of
1.5 cents per house carded. Index records were made
DAILY STATION STATISTICS
Day of week, Tuesday. Date, July 28, 1914. Weather. Cloudy.
This Year Last Year
Bonnie Eagle station:
Total output in kilowatt-hours 39,300 28, 100
Maximum load in kilowatts 3,350 J, 900
Ratio average load to maximum 18.9 40.3
Ratio average to station rating 18.2 13.0
Average head in feet 39. 1 36.7
Maximum river elevation . . 147.4 147.0
Minimum river elevation 14*1 9 143.8
West Buxton station:
Total output in kilowatt-hours 30,430 25,680
Maximum load in kilowatts 2,260 1,650
Ratio average load to maximum 56.2 61.8
Ratio average to station rating 42.3 35.7
Average discharge in cubic second feet ..... 1.022 868
Average- lll':id. Ill fc.-l 27.4 27
Maximum river elevation. 108.3 107.5
Minimum river elevation 107. 2 107
North Gorham station:
Total output in kilowatt-hours 31,500 28,400
Maximum load in kilowatts 1 ,500 1,450
Ratio average load to maximum 87.4 81.5
Ratio average to station rating 65.6 59
Average discharge in cubic second-feet 7">s 667
Average head, in feet 33 34.2
Maximum river elevation 223.80 224.85
Minimum river elevation 223.48 224. 15
Combined hydroelectric stations
Total output in kilowatt-hours 101,230 82,180
Maximum load in kilowatts 6 B60 5.910
Ratio average load to maximum 61.6 57.9
Ratio average to station rating 24 4
Forest Avenue station:
Total output in kilowatt-hours 10,715
Maximum load in kilowatts 1 , 155
Tons of coal burned 20.2
Hum Street station:
Total output in kilowatt-hours
Maximum load in kilowatts
Tons of coal burned 6.7
All Stations:
Total output in kilowatt-hours 111! .230 92,895
Maximum load in kdowatts 6,408
Ratio average load to maximum 61.6 60.4
Ratio average to Btation rating 20 I L8 I
showing the data gathered by these visits, the use of
gas, electric irons, wired or unwired condition of build-
ings, the use of toasters and other appliances. The can-
vass was conducted in July, 1914, and took about three
weeks.
Among the large customers of the company are the
Sanford Mills, taking 2500 hp; the Portland Company,
600 hp; Bancroft & Martin steel foundry, 350 hpj
Casco Tannery, 250 hp; Grand Trunk Railroad shops.
100 hp, and various brick yards, newspaper offices, etc.
The principal hotels are on eentral-stat ion service, and.
as stated, the elect ric-railway lines consume a large pro-
portion of the total output yearly. The Union Station,
Maine General Hospital. Sen Sen Chicklet Company,
ami other consumers are among the company's patrons.
The officers of the company are: President. Mr. Wil-
liam M. Bradley, Portland, Maine: vice-presidents,
Messrs. A. II. Ford, Portland, and Frank Silliman.
Jr., Philadelphia; general manager, Mr. A. II. Ford,
Portland; treasurer, Mr. C. Fred Berry, Portland; as-
sistant treasurer. .Mr. Wilbur Tusch, New York; ex-
ecutive committee, Messrs. \v. m. Bradley, John K. Gra-
ham, Frank Silliman, Jr., H. L. Clark and P. ('.. Cossler.
M IM II 6, I'.'lo
ELECTRICAL WORLD
597
The Selective Time Element of Relays
Data Necessary in Predetermining the Setting of Relays Types of
Time-Element Mechanisms Testing Accurate Relays
By Paul Ma< Gahan
THE modern idea with reference to relays is to
insure continuity of service, to protecl against
oehronous load, and by selective timing
action to disconnect only such portions of the circuits
as are in trouble, with a minimum disturbance — in fact,
without disturbing any other service than that necessary
■late a defective cable or feeder. In some •
more than one route is provided for the energy to reach
the point of application — such as by means of tie lines,
parallel feeders, ring-connected feeders, etc. — and the
relays are relied upon to select and disconnect only the
defective sections.
Preliminary Data in the Setting of Relays
In order to predetermine the proper settings for the
various relays in a system of distribution, the charac-
teristics of the generators and of the system must be
known, as well as the characteristics of the automatic
apparatus, circuit-breakers, regulators, etc. In general,
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0
FIG. 1 — RATE OF CURRENT DECREASE UNDER CONDITIONS OF
MAXIMUM SHORT-CIRCUIT FOR THREE GENERATORS
before proceeding to set the time elements of relays the
following information is necessary :
The "instantaneous" short-circuit value of the
current through each conductor to which the relays may
be applied.
2 i The "sustained" short-circuit value of the cur-
rent through each conductor.
I he time in changing from 1 to 2.
The time required for the various automatic cir-
cuit-breakers to open the circuit after the application of
current to their coils.
(5) The safe circuit-opening capacities of the various
circuit-breakers.
(6) The time characteristics of the various relays.
7 i The probability and amount of reversal of flow of
energy, in the case of circuits operated in parallel.
The values of the short-circuit currents depend par-
tially upon the characteristics of the generator used and
partially upon the impedance of the circuit to the point
to which the relays are connected. The further the point
•Detail and Supply Engineering Department, Westlnghousi
tii. a Manufacturing Comp
of application is from the generator, and the more ap-
paratus is included between the point in question and
the generator, the less will be the difference between the
instantaneous short-circuit value 1 and the sustained
short-circuit value 2. The time elapsing for the current
to decrease from condition 1 to condition 2 is shown for
certain generators in Fig. 1, from which it is seen that
for the particular generators tested the currents can be
taken as having decreased to one-fifth of the initial
short-circuit value 1 inside of one second. Other gen-
erators may show a greater divergence in this respect.
The current wave at short-circuit may be symmetrical
or unsymmetrical up to 0.15 second or 0.25 second, de-
pending upon the point of the voltage wave at which
the short-circuit is closed, and the initial rate of de-
crease is greatly affected by the degree of dissymmetry.
After this time the current wave is symmetrical and the
rate of decrease is practically the same regardless of the
degree of dissymmetry during the first few cycles. The
sum of the positive and negative peak values of the
first current cycle of a short-circuit is approximately
the same for any given machine and voltage. The rate
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FIG. 2-
-CHARACTERISTIC TIME CURVE OF AN INVERSE-TYPE
BELLOWS RELAY
of decrease is materially faster during a single-phase
short-circuit than during a three-phase short-circuit on
any given machine, although the sustained single-phase
short-circuit current is about 50 per cent greater than
the sustained three-phase short-circuit current for equal
field currents.
These tests represent a condition of constant field cur-
rent during the entire time of short-circuit such as
would be obtained on an unloaded machine without an
automatic voltage regulator. Equipped with a regu-
lator, the field current will be increased approximately
to from two to four times its no-load value, which in
turn will increase the sustained current in proportion to
the increase of field current. It is believed that the
presence of a regulator on a machine will have no appre-
ciable effect on the instantaneous-current values during
the unsymmetrical period of short-circuit.
In general, the "time elements" of relays should be as
short as possible without jeopardizing the selective ac-
tion and continuity of service, or without causing the
circuit-breakers to open before a "short-circuit" current
has died down to a value that can be safely opened by
598
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 10
the circuit-breaker. This last consideration is one of
expediency only, for in order to get the best results the
circuit-breakers should be of sufficient capacity to do
their part in the general protective scheme found de-
sirable for the system. Thus in selecting the proper
circuit-breakers it should be borne in mind that the rat-
ings of circuit-breakers are often arranged according to
Auiomoiic 0.1 Circuit Breaker,
/with rclio». \ \ {;»*"
FIG. 3 — TYPICAL GENERATING AND DISTRIBUTING SYSTEM
WITH PROTECTIVE CIRCUIT-BREAKERS
whether or not they are to be called upon to trip in-
stantaneously or after the sustained short-circuit value
of current is established. In the case of radial feeders
it may be that the more remote switches would be re-
quired to have actually greater capacity than those
nearer the generating end, so that they can be timed to
go out more quickly.
In line with the later developments in the practice of
relay applications, it becomes of paramount importance
to have a relay the time-element mechanism of which
is positive, reliable and accurate. The accuracy of the
adjustment of current value required to trip is not a
matter of great concern, for when a short-circuit occurs
the current setting of the relays is exceeded by at least
several hundred per cent. This is especially true in sys-
tems of large generating capacity.
Types of Time-Element Mechanisms
The time-element devices in relays in most general
use consist of either the bellows type or the induction
type with magnets acting to "damp" the motion of a
disk. In other words, the damping may be either me-
chanical or electrical. In addition to bellows time-ele-
ment devices and magnets acting upon wattmeter disks,
dashpots and clock-work escapements have been used in
the past, but have been found unsatisfactory in accuracy
or reliability except for special purposes and will ac-
cordingly not be considered. The bellows time-element
relay was one of the direct products of the old ideas as
to relay settings. These relays are still the most gen-
erally known means of giving time elements to overload
protective devices, and are made by several manufac-
turers, in the "inverse" type or the "definite" type. Fig.
2 shows a characteristic time curve of an "inverse"
bellows relay, and Fig. 4 shows the time-element action
of a "definite" time relay.
In all bellows relays the time-element device consists
essentially of an electromagnet, a core, contacts actuated
by the core when it completes its stroke, and a delaying
mechanism consisting of B leather bellows, having a
"needle valve" or vent for ejection of the air at a sup-
predetermined rate.
in the "inverse" time-elemeni relay the core acts di-
rectly to compress the bellows, carrying the contact
member with it; thus the greater the overload, the
shorter the |
In the "definite" time-element relay a spring is in-
terposed between the core and the bellows so that when
the current setting it exceeded the core rises instan-
taneously, thereby compressing the bellows spring. The
latter then expands, compressing the bellows at a rate
independent of the amount of overload. Owing to the
necessity for making this intermediate spring fairly
strong, in order to insure good contact, the lower over-
loads show an inverse time characteristic in the "defi-
nite" relay (.Fig. 4), which rapidly reaches a definite
time value at higher overloads.
Although mechanically damped relays are satisfactory
for protection against overloads — that is, protecting ap-
paratus from overheating where the amount of time ele-
ment is not important — it should be remarked that they
were designed at a time when the idea of selective pro-
tection was not yet developed. Accordingly they do not
have a sufficient accuracy of time setting for use where
selective protection is desired. The lack of accuracy is
due to the following variations, all well known to sta-
tion engineers and operators :
(1) Variations in the bellows leather, due to weather,
stiffening, dampening, etc.
(2) Variations in the amount of air contained, due to
the time which has elapsed since previous overload.
(3) Variations due to dirt or rust in the needle valve.
(4) Variations due to the impossibility of close ad-
justment of the needle valve.
(5) Variations due to vibration or chattering from
pulsations of the alternating-current electromagnet
core.
(6) Variations due to friction of the various moving
parts.
In addition to the above shortcomings, the "inverse"
time-element bellows relays have the very unfortunate
characteristic (so far as selective protection is con-
cerned) of becoming instantaneous at heavy overloads.
This prevents the use of these relays where it is desired
to trip only the circuit nearest to the fault. For exam-
ple, in Fig. 3, assume a short-circuit on the alternating-
current distribution feeders, the whole system being
equipped with bellows relays. The short-circuit is in
general of sufficient magnitude to cause all the relays
from the fault to the source of supply to become prac-
tically instantaneous, and thus any of the relays is liable
to trip out, instead of only the one nearest the fault.
If, however, each relay is provided with a time-element
device which operates with a definite minimum delay,
no matter how high an overload, the procedure would be
to set the time-element device of the most remote circuit-
breaker to the lowest delay desired, and to adjust the
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FIG. 4 — CURVES SHOWING THE EFFECT OF THE TORQUE
COMPENSATOR ON THE INDUCTION-TYPE RELAY
delay element of each succeeding circuit-breaker toward
t he source of supply to a slightly greater time. Thus no
ul breakers would go out than absolutely
necessary to disconnect the defective section.
The time interval between successive circuit-breakers
should be equal to the time taken for the circuit-breaker
to open the arc plus a margin of safety to include vari-
.maki'II n, r.n-i
t, L. t, L 1 K 1 L A L. W V K L, U
ations in the timing of relays. This margin must be
about one .-econd, to be perfectly safe, when using bel-
lows relays under best conditions. Thus, if there are
several sections in series and the trouble should be near
the generating end, the short-circuit may not be cleared
otf for eight or nine seconds, which would, of course,
mean the loss of all synchronous loads on the >
FIG. 5 CONNECTIONS FOR TORQUE COMPENSATOR
.Much more accurate timing can be obtained by means
of relays which depend upon the damping action of a
permanent magnet upon an aluminum disk, evidently
giving as great an order of accuracy as in the calibra-
tion of watt-hour meters. The disadvantage of induc-
tion relays made in this way in the past has been that,
owing to the fact that the driving force is proportional
to the square of the current, and the speed of the disk
when damped by a magnet is proportional to the driving
force, the time curve reaches an instantaneous value at
about five times the full-load current, which, of course,
precludes application to cases where selective protection
is desired.
In order to overcome this disadvantage use is made
of a device known as a "torque compensator," consisting
of a miniature transformer connected between the coil
of the relay and the series transformer on the line. This
small transformer has a laminated sheet-steel core of
such cross-section that it begins to saturate as soon as
the current increases beyond the normal operating load.
This prevents the secondary current, which passes
through the relay coils, from increasing at the same rate
as the primary current, or beyond a certain final limit.
Thus the "torque" of the relay is no longer proportional
to the square of the current, and the time curve is
modified, as shown in Fig. 4. It will be noted that, no
Direct-Current Tripping Sou/o
FIG. 6 — CONNECTIONS FOR TESTING THE SELECTIVE ACTION
OF TIME-ELEMENT RELAYS
matter how heavy the load, a definite delay of two sec-
onds can be obtained. An adjustment of the contact
position inside of the relay allows a setting for any
value of time, at heavy overloads, below the limit shown.
Although an external torque compensator is desir-
able for use with induction-type relays already installed,
where it is necessary to obtain selective action at high
overloads, in the case of new installations it would be
preferable to use a torque compensator contained in
the same case with the relay. This relay consists of a
watt-hour-meter case, frame, movement and magnets.
the coils being wound for current only, and the contact
mechanism being mounted on the shaft. A spring is
used to return the movement to the normal position.
The accuracy of time setting obtainable with these
devices is just as high as the accuracy of watt-hour
meters. In fact, these relays may be counted upon to
reproduce their time settings with repeated applications
of any given overload within an error of approximately
one cycle, on a sixty-cycle system, or within one-half
cycle on a twenty-five-cycle system. If the overload
should be cleared off approximately one cycle before any
relay has completed its stroke, the relay will not close
the contact, but will immediately reset itself to its nor-
mal position. The normal position of the disk and mov-
able contact, under normal operating loads, is against a
fixed stop, the position of which is regulated according
to the timing desired. In tests carried out on these re-
lays four circuit-breakers were operated in series, each
requiring 0.28 second for breaking the arc, and each
relay adjusted to trip at a minimum current of 10 amp,
the time adjustments of the relays being respectively
0.08, 0.50, 0.92 and 1.34 second under short-circuit con-
ditions, the connections being as in Fig. 6. Applica-
tion of overload current of any value would cause only
circuit-breaker No. 1 to open ; with No. 1 blocked only
No. 2 would open, etc., even when the current was raised
to 1000 per cent or more, showing that the selective
action was perfect under all overload conditions. In
practice the relay switches shown in this test as taking
0.08 second to operate would not be required, as the
difference between successive relay time settings could
be kept approximately within one-tenth of a second in
excess of the time required for each circuit-breaker to
open its arc. As the length of time required to clear a
current has an important bearing upon the chances of
retaining synchronous loads on other circuits, the abil-
ity to use such close margins in the settings of relays
is very important.
Testing Accurate Relays
In testing relays having these high-accuracy timing
characteristics ordinary stop watches are inadequate,
as the error of observation is much greater than the
error of the relay. The best results are obtained by the
use of a "cycle recorder," a device actuated directly by
the alternations of the circuit passing through the relay
coils, and having an arrangement to stop its motion as
soon as the contacts of the relay close.
Motors and Powdered Coal to Replace Gas
A glass furnace heated with gas will consume about
$40 worth of fuel a day when operating at full rated
output, and in some districts the glass companies have
been good customers of the gas companies. At Tiffin,
Ohio, the United States Glass Company has installed and
is operating electrical machinery which it hopes will
enable the company to substitute coal as a fuel in place
of gas. In brief, the apparatus consists of a 35-hp
motor driving a coal pulverizer, a 10-hp motor driving
a blower, and a 5-hp motor driving a hoist. With this
equipment it is thought that it will be possible to pul-
verize coal and blow it under the furnaces, igniting it as
it enters, thereby reducing the aggregate cost of fuel
and eliminating the annual necessity of shutting down
in midwinter when the gas supply is low. The glass
company is purchasing its electrical energy from the
Ohio Light & Power Company.
600
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 10
CENSUS OF EMPLOYEES AND WAGES
Commercial Central Stations Have 90 per Cent of Those
Engaged in the Industry
The United States Census report on employees, salar-
ies and wages of electric central stations in 1912 shows
large increases for both commercial and municipal
plants. The value of the comparison with earlier years
is reduced somewhat by differences in the bases of the
compilations in the different census periods.
Table I, which is published herewith, shows em-
ployees, salaries and wages of commercial and municipal
stations for the three census periods. Where the total
number of employees increased from 1902 to 1912 in
both classes of plants 161.6 per cent, the increase for
commercial plants was 165.3 per cent and for municipal
132.4 per cent. Salaries and wages increased in the
decade 196.2 per cent for both classes, or 196.6 per cent
for the commercial and 192.8 per cent for the municipal.
Officers of corporations increased in the decade 54 per
cent in number and 162 per cent in salaries, all of this
representing commercial plants in the returns. Super-
intendents and managers increased in the decade 86.9
per cent in number and 161.3 per cent in salaries; these
figures represent an increase of 93.5 per cent in num-
ber and 158.4 per cent in salaries for commercial plants
and of 68.8 per cent in number and 176.3 per cent in
salaries for municipal plants. Clerks, stenographers and
other salaried employees increased in the decade 534 per
cent in number and 714.6 per cent in salaries; commer-
cial plants showed an increase of 555.8 per cent in num-
ber and 711 per cent in salaries of such employees, and
municipal plants increased 319.5 per cent in number and
807.6 per cent in salaries for the same class. Wage
earners increased for both classes of plants 128.2 per
cent in average number and 146 per cent in wages;
commercial plants showed 127.8 per cent increase in
TABLES— COMMERCIAL AND MUNICIPAL STATIONS— EMPLOYEES. SALAR-
IES AND WAGES
1912
1907
1902 1912
1907
1902
Total:
Numher . 71,395
Salaries and
wages $55,658,516
42,066
»31,935,309
26,909 7,940i 5,566
$18,766,970 $5,503,426 13,485,015
3,417
Salaried em-
ployee!:
Officer* of cor-
porations—
Number .... 2.181
Salaries... 13. 839.136
1,761
J2. 202, 028
1,416
$1,465,471
Superintend-
ents and
managers —
3,629
Salaries .... $5,397,004
3.268
$4,243,307
1,875 1,163
$2,088,298 $1,085, 745
1,089
$814,020
689
Clerks, stenog-
raphers, and
- salar-
ied cmploy-
■ 18,067
Salaries... tl3.4O0.937
6,346
$4,293,620
2,755
$1,652,430 $584,482
526
$179,903
164,401
Wage earners:
Average nunv
•47.518
Wage* 133.021,438
30.691
121.1%. 354
20.863 •5.724 3.95l' 2,467
$13,560,771 $3,833, IM V2 190.188 $1 .422.341
•Number Sept. 16, or nearest representative day.
average number and L48.5 per cent increase in wages
for this class, and municipal plants increased 132 per
cent in average number and 169.5 per cent in wages.
The largest number of employees in any state in 1912
was reported for New York, 18,788, with salarie
wages oi 811,084,898. tllinoia was next with 8086 em-
ea and $6,223,882 salaries and wages. Pennsyl-
vania paid 7300 employees $5,098,265 ; California, 5738
employees, $5,823,203; Massachusetts, 3954 employees,
$2,981,043; Michigan, 3876 employees, $2,843,371.
Where the number of employees for both classes of
stations increased 57 per cent from 1902 to 1907 the
increase in the succeeding period of five years was 66.6
per cent. Of the total for 1912, 26,093, or 32.9 per cent,
TABLE II— OUTPUT OF CENTRAL ELECTRIC STATIONS AND AVERAGE OUT-
PUT PER EMPLOYEE, BY GEOGRAPHIC DIVISIONS
Division
Census
Number of
Persons
Employed
Output of
Stations
Total Kilowatt-
Hours
A range per
Employee
1912
1907
1902
79,335
47.632
30,326
2,507,051,115
123,074
82,670
md . . .
Middle Atlantic
Kast North '
1912
1912
1912
24,022
19,233
879,272,535
3,548,605,305
2,527,964.097
119,596
147.723
131,439
W esl North Central
East South Central. . .
1912
1912
1012
7.892
4,317
2,420
679,856,425
227.664,808
90,293
157,484
93,844
West South Central. .
1912
1912
1912
3,655
3,090
7,348
233,947,656
b45,393,882
1,877,082 858
64,008
273.590
255,534
were salaried employees; their salaries, $24,307,304,
were 39.7 per cent of the total annual salaries and
wages. The wage earners formed 67.1 per cent of the
total employees and their wages 60.3 per cent of the
total. Commercial stations had 90 per cent of the total
number of salaried persons and wage earners engaged
in the industry. For the municipal stations 2216 sal-
aried employees were reported, or 27.9 per cent of the
total, with salaries of $1,670,227, or 30.3 per cent of the
total for this class of plants. The average number of
persons per central station in 1912 was 15.2, as com-
pared with 10.1 for 1907 and 8.4 for 1902.
The percentages of increase in number of employees
and salaries and wages in the decade from 1902 to 1912
were much the largest for the Pacific group of states.
The smallest percentages of increase for these items
were shown for the New England group of states. The
actual increases were greatest for the Middle Atlantic
division. The census classification of states was pub-
lished in the Electrical World of Jan. 16, 1915, page
161. In each of the nine divisions the percentage of
increase in the decade was greater for salaries and
wages than for number of employees. The same condi-
tion existed in all but four of the states. The smallest
percentage of increase in number of employees during
the decade was shown for Vermont and the smallest pro-
pert ionate gain in salaries and wages for Louisiana;
totals for central stations in the latter State have been
decreased by the transfer of large central stations to
elect ric railways.
Table II shews the average kilowatt-hour output per
employee for the census groupings of states. Where the
average output in kilowatt-hours per employee increased
48.9 per cent from 1902 to 1907, the increase in the
succeeding period of five years was but 18.1 per cent.
The largest averages per employee are found in the
Mountain and Pacific States. The largest actual in-
crease in the decade for any division in the average per
employee, 168,151 kw-hr., and the largest percentage of
increase, 147.7, are for the Mountain division. The
Pacific and South Atlantic States follow in both respects
in the order named. In all three of the groups of states
named water-power is the predominating primary
source. The average output per employee for the hydro-
electric stations was I'll, 157 kw-hr. for 1912, as com-
pared with 91,262 kw-hr. for all other stations reported.
Maiu ii 0, 1916
ELECTRICAL WORLD
601
Criteria for the Quality of Commutation
Examination of Those Proposed by Arnold and Hobart and of the
Conditions Requisite for the Best Results
By J. F. H. Douglas
THE analytical criterion of good commutation is
regarded by many to be an unimportant ques-
tion, now that interpoles have come into general
use. Nevertheless, it is necessary, even with interpoles,
that the "sparking" voltage (which is the difference be-
tween the "reactance" voltage and the voltage induced
by the interpoles) be less than a certain amount. When
the reactance emf runs up to 15 volts in a machine at
full load, the interpoles are likely to become saturated
under heavy overloads. Consequently the sparking
voltage, even in interpole machines, now approaches the
permissible limit.
There have been proposed criteria for the quality of
commutation which are more or less contradictory, one
due to Arnold1 and one to Hobart.1 Arnold's criterion
of commutation was deduced entirely from theoretical
considerations. It is:
RT
> 1,
(1)
where L is the inductance of the coil in henries, T is
the time of the reversal of the current in seconds, and
R is the resistance of the contact between the brush and
the commutator in ohms. Hobart gives the following
partly empirical relation1 as necessary for good com-
mutation,
Er = 2r.fLI < 3 volts or 4 volts, (2)
where / is the current in each branch of the armature
and 2/ is the number of reversals of current per sec-
ond, or 2/ = 1 T. The voltage Er is called by Hobart
the "reactance voltage."
Hobart's proof was needlessly encumbered with the
assumption of a sine wave for the reversal of current
in the short-circuited coil. The average reactance volt-
age is independent of the manner of reversal of the
current. Eov = 4fLI = — Er;
2tc
the limiting value of
E„, is then from 2 volts to 3 volts, and Hobart's cri-
terion may therefore be written
2LI
< 2 volts or 3 volts
(3)
Arnold's criterion may be put into a similar form by
multiplying both sides of equation (1) by 2LI/T, giving
where 2/ is the current per brush, 2IR is the brush drop
Ei,, and 2LI/T is the average reactance voltage. Now,
even with hard-carbon brushes, the brush drop is hard-
ly ever greater than 1 volt or 1.5 volts, so that equation
1 1 i is equivalent to
«£<1 volt or 1.6 volts (4)
Although each of the two writers has his own method
nf computing inductance, which probably gave good re-
sults in his own hands, yet when this issue is finally
Bettled it must be admitted that the two criteria are
decidedly in disagreement. It will be observed that
'"Die Qlelchatrommaschtne" (1902), Vol. I, p. 296.
'"Elementary Theory of Continuous -Current Dynamo Design"
I i I), pp. Hit, 189.
'A numbei ol othei 'la are referred to by Hawkins and
Wallace In "The Dynamo," fltth edition, Vol. II, pp. 643-6 l Ho
ever, these an foi the mosl part Indefinite and difficult to applj
one is approximately twice the other. While Arnold's
value is surely safe and shows the effect of brush mate-
rial, Hobart's empirical value must be taken as agreeing
with his experience. The following critical discussion
of the theory of commutation shows that there is a
sound basis for Hobart's values, and it suggests points
for experimental study.
The law of the reversal of current in the short-cir-
cuited coil involves a differential equation that has not
as yet been completely solved. However, it is only the
last few instances of reversal that are of significance,
and it is possible to obtain a solution for this part of
the short-circuit period. The conditions near the end
of the short-circuit period are as represented by Fig. 1.
Let 21 be the total current in the brush, R be the
brush contact resistance, t the current in the trailing
tip of the brushes, A the total brush contact area, and a
the area of the contact between the trailing tip of the
brush and the segment it touches. The resistance of
the trailing contact is RA/a, and the resistance of the
I
I-i
L
Direction of
Rotation
FIG. 1 — PROCESS OF COMMUTATION
leading contact is RA/(A—a). The current in the
short-circuited coil is / — i and the current in the lead-
ing tip of the brush is 2/ — i.
Applying Kirchoff's second law to the short-circuited
coil gives
— L
d(I — i)
RA
(21 — i)
— RA —
(5)
dt " (A — a)
A graphical interpretation of this equation is given in
Fig. 2.
For instance, near the end of the commutation period,
the approximation (21 — i)/(A — a) = 2I/A may be
made. The velocity of the commutator is determined by
the fact that the area of contact changes from 0 to A
in the time T; consequently da = — (A/T)dt, or
dt = — (T/A)da, the minus sign indicating that o de-
creases as t increases. Making these substitutions,
equation (5) may be written
2/a
~A
The solution of this equation for conditions
RT L is not equal to unity is
(RT,L) 2/ RT
~AL — RTa
di RTF. 2Ial
a^a=-L[t--A'\
Ka
(6)
when
(7a)
602
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 10
when RT L = 1, the solution is
I Aa-f-— alogs
(i)
(7b)
In either case the constant A' is determined from the
value of i at some instant just previous to the end. This
will in general have to be determined graphically, when
desired; but, for the purpose in hand, A may remain an
unknown constant.
The current density is
U =■
Ka
(RT/L—l)
27
RT
L — RT
a A \a I
(8a)
(8b)
according to whether (RT L) is different from or equal
to unity. In order to have a finite current density at
the end of the short-circuit — that is, when a = o — it is
therefore seen that RT L must be greater than unity,
which is Arnold's criterion, equation (1). Arnold's
criterion is therefore equivalent to the assumption that
infinite current density should not be reached. On the
other hand, Hobart's expe'rience leads one to suspect the
possibility of good commutation, even with an infinite
current density at the end of the short-circuit.
In the opinion of the writer, a criterion of sparking
more reasonable than that based upon the impossibility
of infinite current density is one based upon the as-
FIG. 2— CURVE OF CURRENT REVERSAL
sumption that an infinite temperature rise cannot occur
at the trailing tip of the brush. This is a more reason-
able criterion because were an infinite or simply a very
high temperature reached sufficient ions would certainly
be produced to cause an arc or spark.' The most un-
favorable conditions of no radiation and no conduction
of heat during the last intervals of current reversal will
also be assumed.
!.'•( he the specific heat of the contact layer per unit
width, and -, the resistance per unit width of the con-
tact, both assumed constant. The heat developed at the
me edge of the brush in a width Sa in the time
ill IS
ill) i ill
(4)
i
„\a— da
' ii iu i In .iii.i v. ol. II, p. 644, q
Willi.
The
The rise of temperature is
d.Q To
d6 =
s(A«) As
w
da
The current density (i/a) has two terms, the important
or critical one being Ka irt/l — l). Substituting this
term only and integrating gives
ToK1 f° <2
i _ // 7 L — 2 )
<ln
2RT
- 1
2RT
(9)
— 1
Where c is a constant, equation (9) becomes infinite
when 2RT/L is equal to or less than unity. Hence the
condition that the contact layer at the tip of the brush
shall not become infinitelv hot is
RT 1
(10)
Of course, no other part of the brush is so hot as this
part, and the temperatures equalize during the first part
of the cycle.
The above condition for good commutation is equiva-
lent to an average reactance emf of from 2 volts to 3
volts, since the brush-contact resistance drop is from 1
volt to 1.5 volts. Whence equation (10) is equivalent to
the condition
2L1
-7p-< 2 volts or 3 volts, (11)
which agrees with Hobart's value, equation (3).
Cases Where Above Relations Do Not Hold
In case the specific heat or the resistivity of the brush
contact is a variable, the above relations will no longer
hold. Only two cases have been investigated by the
writer. In the first case it was assumed that the re-
sistivity and specific heat were functions of the temper-
ature only. This assumption leads to the same limiting
value of RT L as given by equation (10). The second
case studied was that of a constant specific heat, but a
resistivity varying only with the current, and that ac-
cording to some inverse power. The results were as fol-
lows :
If
then
K
p
V »
RT
/.
1
>r+
in
E„r< (1-t- m)Et
(12)
where Ei, is the brush-contact resistance drop.
It would be of value to determine from experiment the
law of reversal of current during the last intervals of
commutation. It would be of interest, also, to determine
whether the resistance is a function of the temperature
or of the current.' Another experimental research in
this connection would involve tests made upon a com-
bination of resistances and inductances which would
imitate the conditions in a machine. The advantages oi
such a test would be flexibility Of adjustment, possibil-
ity of having only a few segments, and a comparat i\ el\
long time for the reversal of current.
m.lli...|
Somi • ii this connection are quoted bj Hawkins
■ o..i v, i ij namo," Vol. II, pi 18 Prom the ma
i iii. thai equation (11) I i tx ttei
on ..r commutation than equ
M w:. li 6, 1916
ELECTRICAL WORLD
603
DIGEST OF ELECTRICAL LITERATURE
<■! nrrator-. Mntnrs and IturfonHn
/.■■ ■ •■ Negatim Temperatun Resistana
Coeffi.cn ft for Rotors of Induction Motors. — A note on
a recent British patent i No. 590, 1914) of G. Ma.--
carini and A. Contardi. Resistors containing sulphide
of iron or similar materials have a high negative tem-
perature-resistance coefficient and, according to this in-
vention, when applied to the rotor of induction motors
give automatically the required decrease of resistance
as they become warm. The resistors can be made very
compact and be embodied in the rotor, so that only an
internal short-circuiting switch but not slip-rings are
required. — London Else Eng'ing, Feb. 11, 1915.
Heating of Field Coils. Magnus Maclean, D. J.
M.\< kkllak AM) R. S. Begg. — A note on a recent paper
read before the Scottish local section of the (British)
Institution of Electrical Engineers on research into the
distribution of temperature rise in field coils. In one
of the field coils of a motor several thermo-junctions
were inserted at various depths, and curves were plotted
of the rise of temperature at each point under various
circumstances. Several of these curves are reproduced
in the paper. It was noted that the ratio of the final
rise of temperature to the number of watts is greater
for the higher speeds. The following formula is given
by Hawkins and Wallis for the rise of temperature of
the field coils: (a X watts) ; L (1 + bv) X area], where
a and b are constants and v = peripheral speed in meters
per second. Experiments at a light load give mean
values of a= 198.6 and b = 0.0263, and at heavy load
a = 232.8 and b = 0.023 for these constants.— London
Elec. Eng'ing, Feb. 11, 1915.
• Lamps and Lighting
Interferenci Photometer. — H. Lux. — An illustrated
description of a new interference photometer and pyr-
ometer of O. Lummer that permits one to make meas-
urement of the surface brightness and temperature of
very small and restless objects, and a comparison of
adjoining portions of a lighted surface with respect to
brightness. — Zeit. f. Beleucht., January, 1915.
Carborundum Shunt for Series Incandescent Lamps.
— H. Lux. — The use of incandescent lamps in series is
objectionable because a shunt must be provided for each
lamp so that in case of the extinction of one lamp the
circuit is immediately and automatically closed again
through the shunt. Since the introduction of the nitro-
gen-filled tungsten lamp the series system has again
become of importance. The best current is 2 amp and
for low candle-power lamps the voltage comes out as
10 to 15. Heins has found that the series connection
of nitrogen-filled tungsten lamps offers no difficulty at
all if each lamp is shunted by a carborundum resistor
in solid or powdered form. When cold, the carborun-
dum permits only a very small current to pass, but in
the case of the extinction of a lamp more current will
pass and heat the carborundum, which thereby be-
comes a better conductor. If the carborundum re-
sistor has the proper dimensions, the voltage drop can
be made exactly as desired. When a new lamp is in-
serted the current in the carborundum shunt decreases
immediately to practically zero. The author has made a
test of carborundum, using an ordinary piece of solid
carborundum broken at random from a large lump and
pressed between two strong lead plates. Fig. 1 shows
the arrangement of the test and the results. K is the
piece of carborundum between the lead plates. .4 is an
ammeter and V a voltmeter. By means of the rheostat
S the current A can be adjusted at will. The two curves
give .4 the current and B the corresponding voltage
across the carborundum piece. It will be seen that
there is what the author calls a critical potential dif-
ference which when reached remains the same while the
current is being increased over wide limits. This per-
mits one to make suitable and reliable shunts for series
FIG. 1 — ARRANGEMENT OF APPARATUS AND CHART
lamps if only the dimensions are so chosen that there is
no obnoxious heating and especially no formation of
sparks if powdered carborundum is used. With alter-
nating current the carborundum crystals show the
phenomenon of unidirectional conduction. — Zeit. f.
Beleucht., January, 1915.
Metallic-Filament Lamps. — A note on a recent British
patent (No. 5456, 1914) of the British Thomson-Hous-
ton Company and the General Electric Company of this
country for gas-filled metallic-filament lamps with short
filaments, such as automobile lamps, with the filament
of thinner section at the point where the cooling effect
is greatest, that is, near the supports. — London Elec.
Eng'ing, Feb. 11, 1915.
Generation, Transmission and Distribution
Possible Increase in the Charges for Electricity in
London. — "The electricity supply stations in London
have escaped the necessity of curtailing supply on ac-
count of lack of coal, although one was reduced a week
ago to a stock sufficient for only one day's requirements
and another to three days' ; yet the enormous increase
in the price is becoming more and more serious. Elec-
tricity works, which until a few weeks ago were paying
604
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 10
12s. 6d. (.$3.12) per ton for coal suitable to their re-
quirements, are now being asked prices up to 23s.
($5.75) for the same quality, and although this enor-
mous increase is not general, yet prices are steadily
advancing, and the shortage of supply is so serious that
the works are compelled to buy, and coal merchants
have matters their own way. The increased insurance
and the longer time required for transit must neces-
sarily raise the cost of sea-borne coal, but it is difficult
to see why rail-borne coal should be affected except by
the law of supply and demand. The shortage of trucks,
owing to the congestion on the railways, is no doubt
serious; but neither the actual cost of raising the coal
nor its conveyance to London should be greatly in-
creased, and it is obvious that there is a danger of
undue profits being taken. ... If prices continue
to rise, the electricity supply authorities will have no
option but to increase the price charged for electricity,
and we have reason to believe that some have already
in contemplation the necessity of doing this." — London
Elec. Eng'ing, Feb. 11, 1915.
London and District Electricity Supply Bill. — The
conclusion of the report by the "conference of the
metropolitan boroughs owning electricity undertak-
ings" in London. In this instalment the municipal as-
pects and alternatives of the schemes are discussed.
The report, which is signed by H. H. Gordon as chair-
man of the sub-committee, concludes as follows: "We
may regard the London County Council's proposed bill
in the light of a prospectus issued to the people of
London asking for their support. A strange reluctance
is shown toward giving figures in support of the case.
In view of the facts which have been given, this re-
luctance is intelligible. It does not serve, however, to
strengthen the confidence felt in the suggestions.
Revolutionary methods require consideration of an ade-
quate kind before adoption, not after. The mere fact
that London is to be endowed with yet another govern-
ing authority, which neither directly performs any
service nor is directly responsible to the public, gives
ample food for thought. With a world war in progress,
in which nationally we are fighting for our existence,
there can be neither time nor inclination to give the
scheme that deliberate judgment its intrinsic import-
ance demands. We must jealously guard our national
resources. The influence of the 'silver bullet' is a
paramount factor in determining the great struggle.
Within the last few weeks the national exchequer has
forbidden all fresh capital appeals for purposes not
urgently important to our national existence. Can it
be contended, by any stretch of imagination, that this
is the time to embark on a hazardous scheme, involving
an expenditure of £15,000,000 in the next few years and
nearly £60,000,000 within the next generation? Under
all the circumstances it is to be ardently hoped that, if
the bill ever reaches the stage of examination by a com-
mittee of Parliament, the preamble will be found not
proved." — London Electrician, Feb. 12, 1915.
Traction
Electrification of Italian RaUroade. — Aldo Righi. —
Italy depends for its coal on other countries, and es-
pecially on England. In view of the rapid rise of the
d coal, the problem of the electrification of Italian
railroads is quite Important. The author endeavors to
show that this would also permit considerable saving.
He gives comparative • earn traction and elec-
tric traction '>n the Giovl line of the Italian state Rail-
ways, in til 109 i" thai is, in the last year of
steam traction the total operating coal was 0.168 cenl
per ton-kilometer. In the year 1911-12 thai is, the
first year in which the electric system was exclusively
the same cost v figures in-
clude the total operating cost (.maintenance, interest
and amortization) of the electric power plant and trans-
mission line. This means a reduction of cost of 22.5
per cent due to the electrification of the road. The
power plant is operated by steam, and the cost of the
energy is 2.466 cents per kw-hr. For large water-
power plants in northern Italy the cost of the energy is
much less, about 0.8 cent per kw-hr., so that the above
figure for total operating cost per ton-kilometer for elec-
tric traction would become 0.092 cent — that is, 45 per
cent less than for steam traction. If the fuel cost is
deducted from the operating cost for steam traction
and the electrical energy cost is deducted from the
operating cost for electric traction, the operating cost
per ton-kilometer becomes 0.116 cent and 0.086 cent
respectively. That is, the electric operation is again
less expensive. It is urged that as soon as possible a
start be made with at least a portion of the 2300 km
(.1400 miles) of Italian main railways which are to be
electrified. — L'Elettrotecnica, Sept. 26, 1914; abstracted
in Elek. Kraftbet. u. Bahnen, Jan. 14, 1915.
Installations, Systems and Appliances
Overload Protection on Alternating-Current Circuits.
— C. C. Garrard. — A continuation of his illustrated ar-
ticle on overload protection on alternating-current cir-
cuits by tripping devices. The author refers to the
method of shunting the trip coil with a fuse. He then
takes up the discussion of maximum alternating-cur-
rent time-element relays constructed on the solenoid
principle, and polyphase alternating-current relays. —
London Electrician, Feb. 12, 1915.
Electric Steering Gear. — A note on a recent British
patent (No. 73, 1914) of W. H. Scott. This system of
applying electric power to supplement hand power is
applicable to steering gear, lock-gate and sluice opening,
and a number of other purposes. A coupling allowing
of a certain amount of slack is provided between the
controlling hand wheel and the work, and contacts are
provided, so that one set are closed when the drive is in
one direction and another set when the drive is in the
other direction. These contacts, acting through suitable
relays, etc., start the motor in the direction to assist
the motion, and the motor runs as long as the movement
is followed by the hand wheel. As soon as the motor
begins to overrun the contact is opened and the motor
stops. The drive is through a centrifugal or other
clutch, which leaves the motor disconnected when it
does not start up owing to failure of current, so that
the hand gear can be used alone. — London Elec. Eng'ing,
Feb. 4, 1915.
Starting Resistance for Motors. — B. W. Jones. — An
article giving simple formulas for calculation of the
resistance of starting rheostats for shunt, induction and
series motors. — Gen. Elec. Review, February, 1915.
Elect rophjsics and Magnetism
Electric Conduction in Crystals of Metallic Selenium.
— F. C. Brown. — An abstract of an American Physical
Society paper. Crystals of metallic selenium are pecu-
liarly adapted for a test of the electron theory of con-
duction because of the varied interrelated optical, me-
chanical and electrical properties. A large number of
fundamental experiments have been carried out, which
involve large changes in the electrical conductivity. It
is postulated that the nature of the conductivity is the
same regardless of the physical conditions that have in-
fluenced it. Since the specific conductivity may vary
I hundred percenl by any one of several agencies,
it is not conceivable thai ■ variation in the free path or
the velocity would sufficiently aocounl for any of the
changes. Rather a change in the number of conducting
rons must lie expected to account for the varying
March •;, 1916
ELECTRICAL WORLD
605
conductivity. The usual free electron theory does not
explain all the facts. The author proposes a modified
form of the electron theory that seems to satisfy all
the fundamental experiments thus far recorded. The
view supposes thai a large portion of the conducting
electrons in the crystal are ordinarily fixed in the crys-
tal structure in varying degrees of stability. When
an electric field is established across the crystal a cer-
tain average number of these fixed electrons are ren-
dered unstable or free. The divergence from the usually
accepted notion is that they remain free only for a rela-
tively short interval of time. Thus in these crystals the
current increases with voltage more rapidly than re-
quired by Ohm's law. The effect of the increase of
•" lessen the degree of the stability so that
the mean interval before the recombination of the elec-
trons is increased. Obviously this seems to explain
satisfactorily the increased light sensitiveness with in-
creased pressure and the exact proportionality observed,
and also the limitation of this increase to the region of
the crystal under pressure. The transmitted light ac-
tion is probably a mechanical disturbance propagated in
the crystal, and it enters into this theory only as the
disturbance keeps electrons out of their fixed positions.
— Physical Review, January, 1915.
Magnetic Induction of Heusler Alloys at High Fre-
quencies.— H. Fassbender. — The author first gives an
account of an experimental investigation of Heusler
alloys at high frequencies. Tests were made at fre-
quencies between 47,000 and 120,000 cycles per second
and at maximum field intensity of 21, 32 and 43 gausses.
The question is discussed whether Heusler alloys will
be practically useful for high-frequency engineering.
The author thinks that too much should not be hoped
from this material. Its essential advantage is the high
specific resistance, which is particularly important at
high frequencies. But the disadvantage is the diffi-
culty of mechanical handling of the material as it is
impossible to roll thin plates of these alloys. In the
second part is given the theory of magnetic skin effect.
— Archiv f. Elektrotechnik, Vol. 2, 1914, page 475; ab-
stracted in Elek. Zeit., Jan. 7, 1915.
Electrochemistry and Batteries
Fixation of Atmospheric Nitrogen. — E. KlLBURN
Scott. — After a brief description of the Birekland-
Eyde, the Schonherr-Hessberger and the Pauling fur-
naces, a new furnace devised by the author and operated
by three-phase currents is described. In general prin-
ciple the furnace follows the Pauling type, except that
there are three electrodes instead of two. — London Elec.
Review, Feb. 5, 1915.
Units, Measurements and Instruments
Metallic Roentgen-Ray Tube. — L. Zehnder. — Roent-
gen-ray tubes of glass permit the rays to be radiated in
all directions so that they have to be screened off by
means of metallic screens everywhere except at the
exact point where they are intended to act. The pres-
ent author overcomes this difficulty by making the tube
itself of metal and insulating the cathode from the
metallic walls and the anticathode and anode by a strong
high-tension insulator. One small "window" is pro-
vided which lets a bundle of Roentgen rays pass out.
Larger tubes may have two or more windows. The
construction is shown in Fig. 2. Upon the metallic cas-
ing M (of brass) a high-tension insulator J (of porce-
lain) is placed, the contact surface being closed air-
tight by a rubber ring or with sealing wax. The in-
terior of the high-tension insulator J contains a strong
double copper tube R, its upper end being connected
air-tight with the rim of the high-tension insulator.
This copper tube carries at its lower end the cathode K,
which is embedded in a hollow space especially provided
for this purpose in the insulator. It is so constructed
that cathode rays can pass out only from the concave
spherical cathode Burface. All other portions of the
cathode surface are in tight contact with the porcelain
insulator. The whole metallic casing M serves as an
anode and may be earthed. In the center of the bottom
of the metallic casing the anticathode A of copper is
provided. The effective anticathode surface is plated
with a layer of a metal of high atomic weight. F is
the "window" of glass or aluminum, which is also closed
air-tight. All tight fittings are protected by protective
walls against the effect of cathode rays. Opposite to
the window F and separated by a screen S, there is an
auxiliary vessel N which is connected air-tight to cas-
ing M. The vessel N contains carbon particles C, which
when heated or cooled give off air or absorb it. This
vessel N is electrically heated. The cathode K is made
of a refractory material, like magnesia, and the hollow
spherical surface is covered with tungsten by the Schoop
M'-
lr>!
m
FIG. 2 — METALLIC ROENTGEN-RAY TUBE
spray process. "One-half of the circumference is con-
nected with one tube and the other half with the other
tube" of the double copper tube R which carries the
cathode, so that by means of an insulated battery the
cathode may be heated by an electric current. Even at
the highest vacuum it is, therefore, possible, as in the
Coolidge tube, to produce electrons and generate Roent-
gen rays of any degree of hardness with the highest
intensity. The hollow cathode is exactly spherical so
that without further artificial means all cathode rays
can be sharply focused. The advantages of this Roent-
gen-ray tube, which is not patented, are discussed. —
Elek. Zeit, Feb. 4, 1915.
Practical Harmonic Analysis. — A. RUSSELL. — A brief
abstract of a British Physical Society paper. The
author considers the problem of the best way of de-
termining the Fourier constants in the series equation
which represents it, making the assumption that the
graph of a periodic function is given. Various methods
for this purpose are critically discussed. The author
concludes by pointing out that in the great majority of
cases much the best method of procedure when deter-
mining the constants is to evaluate Fourier's integrals
by the methods of mechanical quadrature given in books
on the calculus of finite differences. In particular he
has found that Weddle's rule is admirably adapted for
the practical computation of the Fourier integrals. By
means of this rule each constant is determined sepa-
606
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 10
rately to a high order of accuracy. Numerical examples
are given to illustrate this. The series formulas used
by Thompson can be usefully employed either for veri-
fying the values found by mechanical quadrature or
for indicating when the higher harmonics cannot be
neglected. — London Electrician, Feb. 12, 1915.
Wheatstone Bridge. — R. Edler. — A mathematical
article on the theory of that modification of the Wheat-
stone bridge in which the length of the slide wire can
be extended to twice or three times its ordinary length.
The arrangement is shown in Fig. 3, where x is the
resistance to be determined, R the comparison resist-
ance, G a galvanometer, and the slide wire is inserted
between the terminals A" and K" as shown. The slide
wire consists of three parts of identical lengths. The
first part is indicated in the illustration as Mt between
the terminals and K' and Kv the second part is the slide
wire between K, and K2, which is divided by the sliding
contact C into two portions a and b. The third part is
FIG. 3 — WIRING ARRANGEMENT FOR WHEATSTONE BRIDGE
indicated by M, and is inserted between the terminals
K" and K.. By inserting the copper plug S, the portion
M, can be short-circuited. By inserting plug S, the
portion M. is short-circuited, a and b have together
the length L, also M, and M, have each the same length
L. In order to facilitate the use of the instrument, a
scale is provided which gives for each point of the wire
between K, and K, directly the reading A = a -:- b or
I -^- (L — I). This ratio is valid if the plugs S, and S,
are inserted. If S, is removed and S, is inserted, the
reading is 1 -+- 2 A. If S, is inserted and S, is removed
the reading is A -=- (2 -f A). If both S, and S3 are re-
moved the reading is (1 + 2 A) -h (2 + A). A table
of these different values is given. — Elek. u. Mattel).
(Vienna), Jan. 17, 1915.
Series Transformer. — M. Rosenbaum. — A mathemati-
cal paper on the theory of series transformers, taking
into consideration the leakage of the primary and sec-
ondary circuits and discussing the effect of this leakage
and its influence on the accuracy of the transformer
when connected to instruments. — London Electrician.
Feb. 12, 1915.
Telegraphy, Telephony and Signals
Fin in, Progress of Coble Telegraphy.- -II. W. Mal-
colm.—In a continuation of his very long mathemat ical
serial the author takes up the discussion of the duplexed
cable and reaches the conclusion that the shape of the
arrival curve in duplex working may be slightly better
or worse, depending upon the connections, than in sim-
plex working, but its height is invariably reduced— in
the most favorable case to one-half the simplex curve.
Provided that the cable is perfectly balanced at the
receiving end, the received signals arc Independent of
the impedance between the apex of the bridge and
earth.— London Electrician., Feb. 5, L916.
Wireless Telegraphy^ L. W. AUSTIN. — The testing
of the recently erected high-power United States naval
radiotelegraphic station at Arlington, Va., has given
another opportunity for carrying out experiments on the
relation between the current- m -ending and receiving
antennas at various distances, and at the same time for
investigating the relative advantages of transmission
by means of damped and continuous oscillations. At
present the observations on the transmission of different
wave-lengths over great distances are too meager in
number to settle the question of the relation between
the attenuation of the signals and the wave-length. It
is certain, however, that the attenuation even over sea
water is very much decreased as the wave-length is in-
creased. The comparisons made of the efficiency of arc
and spark transmission have indicated that for dis-
tances of the order of 3700 km or more continuous
oscillations are on an average superior. The evidence
is not complete enough to prove that this superiority
always exists. It is apparently connected in some way
with the reinforcement of the signals from the upper
layers of the atmosphere, and is subject to the vagaries
of this portion of the received energy. The indications
seem to be that the superiority of the continuous oscilla-
tions is greater in winter than in summer. — Bulletin,
Bureau of Standards, Vol. II, No. 1 (Nov. 15, 1914).
Miscellaneous
Russia. — Classified tables of Russian importations of
electrical goods from 1906 to 1913. — London Elec. Re-
view, Feb. 12, 1915.
Book Reviews
Electricity in Coal Mining. By David R. Shearer.
New York: McGraw-Hill Book Company, Inc. 84
pages, 28 illus. Price, $1.50.
This is a general treatise on the different uses of elec-
tricity in connection with the operation of a coal mine
and the advantages to be gained by such uses. The fun-
damental laws governing both direct-current and alter-
nating-current circuits are given. Considerable space is
devoted to pointing out the necessity of careful selection
of the electrical apparatus to be installed, and of efficient
operation. There are a number of excellent illustra-
tions showing power-plant installations, coal-cutting and
coal-hauling machinery, and several wiring diagrams
for bell circuits and motor circuits. The different types
of prime movers, generators, motors and pumps are dis-
cussed to some extent. The text includes an appendix
of four pages, which contains formulas for direct-cur-
rent and alternating-current calculations, a wire table
and a table of equivalents.
Examination of Lubricating Oils. By Prof. Thomas
B. Stillman. Easton, Pa.: The Chemical Publish-
ing Company. 126 pages, 33 illus. Price, $1.25.
This book deals with the examination of lubricating
oils from the standpoint of the chemist who has at his
command all the laboratory facilities and apparatus
necessary for accurate work. It is not a handbook of in-
struction for the use of the average operating engineer
who wishes to know how to conduct simple tests of
lubricants for bearings and steam cylinders. It de-
scribes methods of testing for specific gravity, viscosity.
flash point, firing point, acidity, gumming, sulphur and
water. Moreover, it gives directions for making cold
tests, separating mineral oil from vegetable or animal
oil, determining the coefficient of friction of a lubricant,
and analyzing deposits found in steam cylinders. Speci-
fications for various kinds of lubricating oils, as issued
by different railroad companies and by the United States
Navy Department, form an interesting and instructive
feature. A few pages are devoted to a brief considera-
tion of graphite and greases, and the United States
government specifications for fuel oil are included.
CLLV IKHjAL W U n 1j LI
POWER AND OPERATING SECTION
< lean Oil Duets Necessary for (iitod Lubrication
When setting up a new machine for the t'irst time or
when reassembling a machine which has been repaired
it is advisable to blow OUt the lubricating system with
compressed air to remove particles of waste or dirt
which may have collected therein. If an oil-circulating
m is employed, the machine should then be run for
three or four week-, after which the old oil should be
replaced by a new supply. If the oil which is removed
is badly contaminated with impurities, as many as pos-
sible should be separated in a settling basin and the rest
removed by heating the oil and forcing it through filt-
The clarified oil may then be employed for make-
up purposes.
installing a 2000-kw Substation in Fifteen Days
To house 2000 kw in motor-generator equipment for
the supply of direct-current energy to a down-town dis-
trict pending the erection of a permanent substation
on the same site, employees of the Edison Electric
Illuminating Company of Detroit on Jan. 12 commenced
construction of a temporary substation designed to be
ready to operate before the end of the same month. Six
days later, or on Jan. 18, the photograph reproduced
herewith was taken. As will be noted, this shows the
building structure practically completed and one 1000-
kw motor-generator set in position on its foundation,
original installation. This condition required that only-
one machine should be moved at a time and that both
sets not actually in transit should be kept operating con-
tinuously. The third unit of the original set of three
was transferred to another substation of the company.
With the machines the switchboard equipment was also
moved. Such special parts as were needed were made
in the shop and delivered to the job ready to be put
into place on the new installation. The new temporary
substation transforms 4400-volt energy into direct cur-
rent for the neighboring direct-current customers of the
company.
Thawing Water Pipes with Electricity
Frozen water pipes may be thawed by electricity (1)
by sending a large current (50 amp to 150 amp) through
the pipe affected, (2) by applying some electrically
heated device as a flatiron to the outside of the pipe
where frozen, if the latter point is accessible, or (3) by
inserting an electrode into the pipe (which forms a
miniature water rheostat) and electrolyzing the water,
thus melting the ice plug as the electrode is pushed into
the pipe. The method last described can be employed
only where the frozen pipe can be reached directly, but
it has the advantage of requiring no special equipment
and no heavy current demand, although several hours
are needed to melt out an ordinary frozen pipe.
Where more than one service is to be thawed the
TEMPORARY 2000-KW SUBSTATION SIX DAYS AFTER
BREAKING GROUND
although a week before the ground of this vacant lot
had not been disturbed.
This temporary substation is to be dismantled when
the permanent station is ready in June. It was there-
fore determined to make the installation of the most
practical character possible. The steel frame of the
hastily erected structure is sheathed with corrugated
metal. From the blank metal walls window spaces were
rapidly cut out with the aid of an oxy-acetylene flame,
and second-hand window sashes were fastened into place
to admit light to the operating room. The machines,
weighing 50 tons each, rest on brick foundations. Tile
conduits convey the leads to the units and switchboard.
The motor-generator sets were skidded to their present
position from a building half a block distant. In order
to preserve service it was necessary to keep running at
all times at least two of the three 1000-kw sets in th°
ELECTRICAL PIPE-THAWING EQUIPMENT LOADED ON
WAGON
general practice is to load one or two 5-kw or 10-kw
transformers on a wagon or other vehicle, drive to the
job, and after making connection with some primary-
line near the customer's premises connect one side of
the secondary to a nearby fire plug and the other to the
frozen pipe in the customer's basement. If possible, it
is preferable to disconnect the house piping from the
service line in order that return currents may not find
their way back through the house piping and cause
damage in some unexpected place.
Various equipments of switches, ammeters, fuses, cir-
cuit-breakers, impedance coils, etc., have been used on
pipe-thawing equipments assembled hastily from ap-
paratus on hand, but, on the other hand, good "first aid"
service has also been performed with equipment con-
sisting only of a transformer protected by primary
fuses. To thaw 100 ft. of average 0.75-in. pipe re-
608
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 10
quires about 100 amp at 100 volts. The time required
may vary from ten minutes to half an hour, and the
energy consumed will amount to 2 kw-hr. to 10 kw-hr.
Special pipe-thawing transformers are, of course, avail-
able from manufacturers of electrical apparatus.
Checking Up Draft Conditions Shows Baffle to Be
Too Long
While charting the draft pressures in the various
parts of a boiler setting in the plant of the Springfield
(Ohio) Light, Heat & Power Company, it was discov-
ered that at one place near the rear wall the draft pres-
sure dropped from 0.7 in. to 0.5 in. in a very short dis-
PART OF BAFFLE REMOVED TO BETTER DRAFT CONDITIONS
tance. An examination instituted to disclose the cause
for this unusual condition showed that a baffle, 28 in.
long, projected from the rear wall at that point. Ap-
proximately half of that baffle was then removed, and a
subsequent test showed that the draft pressure at the
breeching above the baffle had been increased slightly
and that the stack temperature had been reduced from
625 deg. Fahr. to 575 deg. Fahr. Hence, by the simple
process of examining into the relative draft pressures
existing within the boiler setting a condition which was
wasting coal was discovered and was remedied.
Automatic Device for Timing Relay and Fuse
Operation
If relays in sub-feeder circuits are not regulated to
operate their switches before the main-feeder relay
trips its switch, disturbance in one circuit may cause
the main switch to de-energize all of the sub-feeders
before the particular sub-relay can act. This would
be very objectionable; therefore the time lag in the
operation of each relay and the switch it controls should
be known quite accurately. A stop watch is hardly
satisfactory for this determination, especially if the
time is measured between the application of a tripping
current and the lighting of the oil-switch pilot lamp,
as the filament require hie time to become in-
candescent. The accuracy of a stop-watch test also de-
pends on the person conducting it.
To overcome the objections to stop-watch measure-
ments and provide means of determining the time lag
of relays and oil switches to within 1 or 2 per cent the
ectric Light & Power Company, New York
City, is employing a portable automatic device which
can also be used to measure the time element involved
in various kinds of test the rupturing <>f fuses
at different current value-, etc. The apparatus con-
mechanistn lor drawing a strip of paper at
a definite rate under two pen points which are moved
al means when I 1 I the relay-actuating cur-
rent is applied, when (2) the relay contact closes, and
when (3) the oil switch opens. The interval occurring
between each of these operations is computed by
measuring the distance between the jogs in the curve
and multiplying the values by a constant, depending
on the frequency applied to the operating motor, the
synchronous speed thereof and the gear ratio.
The paper strip employed is perforated along both
edges the same as recording-instrument tapes, so as to
mesh with propelling wheels driven through gearing
and a clutch by a small two-pole synchronous motor.
The motor is provided with a commutator so it can be
started as a direct-current motor while synchronizing.
To compute the time required for the paper to move a
distance equal to the circumference of the propelling
wheels the frequency applied to the motor is multiplied
by the gear ratio. Reducing this value to the time re-
quired for the tape to move 1 in., it is simple to measure
the distance between jogs with a steel rule and multiply
the reading in inches on a slide rule by the constant to
obtain the time interval. It is unnecessary to make
these computations every time a test is conducted as a
curve has been plotted from which the constant for any
frequency can be read directly.
The mechanism and switches operating the pens and
moving the tape are ingeniously arranged and con-
nected. Under the table over which the paper travels
are four solenoids arranged side by side. One of these
has two windings and two plungers, one on each end,
for operating the pens. The windings are separately
controlled by contactors operated by solenoids on each
side of the pen actuator. At the end of the table toward
which the paper travels are the propelling wheels and
clutch connecting them with the driving motor. The
clutch is closed by a solenoid directly beneath the
wheels.
Besides the equipment for synchronizing and operat-
ing the tape-propelling motor and resistances for limit-
ing the current through the relays or fuses being
tested there are several switches. One of these, which
is of the single-blade, double-throw type, is for re-
placing the apparatus being tested by an impedance
while adjusting the current-limiting resistance. An-
other switch is provided with two single-throw blades
and an auxiliary lip for starting the paper tape first
APPARATUS FOR TIMING RELAYS
and closing the relay circuit and solenoid circuits
ami simultaneously. With the apparatus con-
id to a relay and its oil switch for testing, closing
the tape-starting switch moves the pen slightly a.
the paper, the tape meanwhile traveling uniformly.
When the relay contact closes it causes one of the con-
tactors to open the solenoid circuit, thereby making a
March
ELECTRICAL WORLD
609
jog in the line traced on the paper. When the oil
switch trips the pilot-lamp switch energizes a con-
tactor and novea the other pen transverse to the line
it was tracing.
The accompanying drawing shows the connections
employed with the device. Switches A' and L control
the direct-current side of the synchronous motor. M
and .V, which arc variable resistances in the field and
armature circuits, are used when synchronizing and are
of such value that the motor may be operated on a 125-
volt or 250-volt direct-current circuit. Switch A' in the
field circuit is so connected that the field of the motor
cannot be cut off without disconnecting the armature
circuit. O is a small lamp used for synchronizing and
P is the alternating-current motor switch; Q is a small
transformer used for the purpose of reducing the alter-
nating-current voltage about 20 per cent.
A, B, C, D and E are the solenoids described above;
D operates the clutch which drives the paper under the
pens V* and \'\ which are held in normal position by
springs; B and C are the pen-actuating magnets. Coil
B is connected to the direct-current control circuit
through switch F, which is normally closed. When
contacts R are closed by the action of the relay, coil A
is energized, causing switch F to open. Coil B is thus
de-energized and the pen shifts slightly because of its
control spring. 5T and S~ are lines leading to contacts
on the primary switch controlled by the relay. When
the contacts close, coil E is energized, thus closing the
contacts in switch G and actuating the pen V through
its coil C. Contact H on the main switch actuates the
elutch magnet and simultaneously energizes the record-
ing circuits.
Electrical Control of Pressure on City Water
System
Under normal conditions the city water system at
Salem, Ohio, operates at about 85 lb. per sq. in. pres-
sure, but for fire service it is necessary to increase the
working pressure to 125 lb. or perhaps to 140 lb. per
sq. in. To increase the pressure on the system the first
step, of course, is to take the standpipe off the system,
because with the top of the standpipe open it would be
impossible to increase the pressure beyond that afforded
High Preasuro Pump
g
Control Circuit
.
C/ty Water Moins
'31
VALVE CONTROL CIRCUIT
by a static head equal to the height of the standpipe.
After the standpipe has been taken from the line the
pumps, forcing water directly into the mains, quickly
bring the working pressure up to that desired.
At Salem, however, the standpipe is placed on a hill
about a mile from town, and the pumping station is in
the city. To enable the engineer at the station to cut
the standpipe off the line quickly, an electrical circuit
was strung from the station to the standpipe and there
connected to a solenoid-controlled tripping mechanism.
When the circuit is closed through a switch in the pump-
ing station, energy from eight cells of storage battery
actuates this solenoid and releases a weight which, fall-
ing by gravity, closes a gate valve in the standpipe line.
How to Make a Ground Plate from Scrap Material
A short length of heavy copper wire coiled to form
a flat spiral, then dipped into molten solder and slowly
withdrawn so that solder "icicles" form on the bottom
of the spiral, will serve as an inexpensive ground plate.
Heavy Copper Wire
Heavy Copper Wire
Solder Icicles
HOME-MADE GROUND PLATE
Addition of the solder in this way gives the spiral con-
siderably more surface than the bare wire would afford.
While engaged in building a 14-mile transmission line
the construction crew of the Ohio Light & Power Com-
pany at Tiffin, Ohio, used this method of making earth
terminals with success. Before dipping the spiral of
wire into the molten solder it was necessary, of course,
to clean the copper and give it an acid bath so that the
solder would adhere to it. With six such ground plates
as these, connected to an overhead ground wire and
buried in the beds of six small streams flowing under
the line at different places, it is thought that the 14-
mile line is well protected.
Wire and Starting-Fuse Sizes for Induction-Motor
Service
At the meeting of the Western Association of Elec-
trical Inspectors at Minneapolis the suggestion was
made that the determination of starting fuses and wire
sizes for induction motors be expressed as a ratio of
the full-load running current of the motors, rather than
in terms of the motor horse-power rating. Starting-
fuse sizes were recommended as follows: Up to 30 amp,
250 per cent of full-load current; 31 to 100 amp, 200
per cent of full-load current; 101 amp and upward, 150
per cent of full-load current.
In describing the tests made to determine safe values
for fuse and wire sizes, Mr. F. A. Barron, Schenectady,
N. Y., said that the motors under observation were
belted to a generator with a water-box load. As soon as
the motor and generator had started under way the
generator field resistance was cut out, imposing a very
high starting current on the motor. This period of ex-
cessive acceleration varied from fifteen seconds to thirty
seconds. After a rest of thirty seconds the motor was
again started in the same way and the test repeated alto-
gether twenty-five times. The fuses that held under
these conditions were considered to be a safe standard
for this service.
It was also pointed out that in the case of the larger
motors the fuse and wire capacity can be only 50 per
cent above the motor ratings on account of the greater
heat-storage capacity of the larger fuses, which enables
them to stand severe overload for periods up to thirty
seconds without blowing.
610
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 10
Solving the Difficulty of Galvanic Action Between
Steel and Copper Spans
Over steam-railroad rights-of-way it is generally con-
sidered best practice to use copper wire in transmission-
line construction, because the sulphur fumes in the
smoke attack steel and soon render it useless. On the
other hand, it is also common practice to use steel
ground wires to protect transmission circuits. Obvious-
ly, the idea of using a steel ground wire at all places
except in spans over railroads, and inserting at such
spans short stretches of copper wire, presents the most
economical solution of the ground-wire problem. Such
was the belief of the builders of the transmission line
of the Ohio Light & Power Company between the cities
of Fostoria and Tiffin, Ohio.
The combined steel and copper ground-wire plan has
only one bad feature, namely, the joints between steel
and copper are known to be unreliable because of gal-
vanic action produced by the soldering together of two
unlike metals. To meet this difficulty the joint shown
in the sketch herewith was worked out. The main-line
wire connections at the junctions of the copper and the
steel were made simple thimble joints. With well-made
"serve-ups" these thimble joints could be made as strong
ileam RR_ Right of Way
METHOD OF JOINING COPPER AND STEEL GROUND WIRE
as or stronger than the line wire. To give a more per-
fect electrical connection than was afforded by the thim-
ble joint a jumper of one-half copper and one-half steel
was made with a served and soldered joint in the middle,
and this jumper was served and soldered around the
thimble joint with copper to copper and steel to steel.
In this way there is provided both an excellent electrical
conductor and a joint of high mechanical strength,
eliminating as far as possible both the dangers of broken
ground wires caused by local galvanic action and the
incident to more or less frequent renewals of steel-
wire railroad spans.
Remotely Controlled Mock Distribution System
A number Of central-Station companies have provided
their system operators or load dispatchers with mock
distribution layouts to indicate the position of switches,
but these are usually operated by hand. In the Cold
i • generating station of the Edison Electric Illumi-
nating Company of Brooklyn, however, is a dummy
high-tension distributing system in which the position-
are Indicated by small pilot lamps controlled
from a cabinet installed near the system operator's
desk and telephone switchboard. lied and green lamp
indicate whether the bus tie switches are in or out re
Lively, while white lamps indicate machine and
feeder twitches.
Only the feeder disconnecting switches are operated
by hand, red tags being attached thereto when these
must be left open for repair work and white tags being
employed when the system operator desires to keep them
temporarily out of service. The conductors are colored
according to the stations from which they radiate. For
instance, all substation-tie feeders are enameled green,
FIG. 1 — SYSTEM OPERATOR'S DESK AND CONTROL BOARD
while those from the two generating stations are enam-
eled silver and gold respectively. Thus it is possible to
determine quickly what feeders are supplying energy to
a certain district.
All generating stations and substations are referred
to by numbers. These are marked on the feeders to
show the terminals of the conductors. Following the
figures indicating the terminals of the feeder is the
number for the particular feeder. The advantages of
FIG. 2- REMOTE CONTROL MINIATURE HIGH-TENSION DIS-
TRIBUTION LAYOUT
this dummy layout are that the system operator is able
to indicate the position of the switches thereon without
moving from his chair, and besides is able to tell at a
glance what generators are operating, what feeders arc
pgi eil, and what feeders are out of service because
undergoing repairs.
M u« ii >'., 1916
E I. E CTRICA I. WiiRLD
-;n
COMMERCIAL SECTION
To the Employee in a Kut
Following la the pointed advice posted on the bulletin
board of a large central-station organization in which
employees are encouraged to be on their mettle at all
times and to beware the comfortable feeling of security
which too often comes to the man doing routine duty :
"WHICH?
"The bookkeeper who feels his job is a certainty, the
clerk who regards his company as a perpetual meal
ticket, the local manager who Rets gout in the head, is
sure to sink into dullness; and then something happens.
'A man is always either bigger or smaller than his
job. If he is bigger, he is on the way up. If he is
smaller, he is on the way out."
Advocating More Light to Minimize Burglaries
To stimulate the sale of electric lamps, the Edison
Lamp Works of the General Electric Company are lay-
ing considerable emphasis on the number of night bur-
glaries and robberies which are being committed. In the
January bulletin issued by this branch of the company
it pointed out that dealers and central-station com-
panies can do likewise to increase their business. It
was recommended that local newspapers be watched for
CAUTION
To Householders:
About this time ol the year second-story thieves begin
their operations, it is for this reason thai I would request
you not to leave the upper rooms of your house unprotected
between the hours of ."..:in p.m. and 8 pin See that the win-
dows are fastened, it is also advisable to leave the rooms
lighted do not in<" to work in the light.
This department will use every means to prevent such-
robberies and requests your co-operation In this tter
Ji 'UN DRABELL,
Chief of Police.
CARD ADVOCATING NIGHT LAMPS
accounts of burglaries and that newspaper advertise-
ments based thereon be immediately published to arouse
the public to the need for more light. Special stress
should be laid on canvassing the territory in which the
burglary occurred. Favorable results may be obtained
by bringing the urgency of additional street illumina-
tion to the attention of the police department. By pre-
paring cards similar to the one shown herewith and
submitting them to the police authorities in the proper
manner, the police can be induced to distribute them.
Pictorial advertisements can also be prepared to sug-
gest the feeling of safety which accompanies the use
of electric lamps.
Distinctive Textile Power Service Advertising
The Edison Gas & Electric Light Company, of New
Bedford, Mass., has been running an interesting series
of textile power advertisements in the local Sunday pa-
pers during the last year, bringing out many points of
importance in relation to the availability of central-sta-
tion energy for industrial service. The series began
with an announcement to the effect that local manufac-
turers using 1000 hp or more would find it advantageous
to inquire into the 1-cent-per-kw-hr. rate offered by the
company as a result of the remodeling of its generating
station. Later it was stated that 352 textile mills in the
United States purchase electricity, and that these mills
take about 150, hp from 118 central stations. It
was pointed out that the minimum rate in New Bedford,
which is supplied from a steam-driven central station, is
Cost Of Running
1000 H. P. Per Year
STEAM
Operetins ext*n«
-
Total Cost
COST PEE HOBSE POWEE. YEAE . t23 00
ELECTBIOITY
• r-: >:, 1 n DM K. W.H.
COST PEE H0R8E POWEE. YEAE $20 47
Can You Afford to Install
Your Own Power Plant?
NEW BEDFOED GAS AND EDISON LIGHT CO
FIG. 1 — STEAM VERSUS ELECTRICITY
practically as low as that charged by the Southern Power
Company.
The company's "copy" also brought out the value of
individual motors in stopping speed variations due to
faulty transmission and varying lengths of shafting.
WOULD YOU
DO THIS?
i: ' ill. in. i) tat li:-
imlK found that tbc lowest
per K. \v. It. the uuimracturer «t
electrical equipment ^i.uld guar-
.-:.... mis. lie concluded
to buy eurrtnt fmra the I
tnil station at a pnre of 1.30
saying it was worth the difference
. to have someone •
the worrying of keeping hu ,
plant running.
He Is a Successful
Manufacturer
NEW BEDFORD GAS AND EDISON LIGHT CO.
FIG. 2 — CENTRAL STATION VERSUS PRIVATE PLANT
touching upon the usefulness of the individual motor
drive in relation to mill enlargements or additions to
machinery. Stress was repeatedly laid upon the fact
that the central-station organization specializes in eco-
nomical power production, leaving its customers to spe-
cialize in their own industrial concerns.
Do You Believe
That large scale production means economy.
That specialization means efficiency.
Then Just Remember
That we are large scale producere of power.
That we are specialists in power generation.
SI
Get Our Rates
W BEDFOED GAS Ii EDISON LIGHT
JO
FIG. 3 — ECONOMY AND EFFICIENCY
The company pointed out that a prominent silk manu-
facturer of Massachusetts made a wise choice in decid-
ing to buy electricity from a central station at 1.30
cents per kw-hr., although manufacturers of electrical
equipment figured that he might be able to produce it
for 1.25 cents, the textile man figuring that it was
612
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 10
worth the difference in price to have someone else do the
worrying about continuity of service.
One telling piece of publicity urged the mill owner not
to get excited in case of a breakdown of his engine, but
to call up the Edison company, which stands ready to
furnish energy in any quantity for a day, week or year,
and at once without delay. Three specimen advertise-
ments are shown herewith.
Increase in Electric-Service Businesses at
Louisville
Since the consolidation of the competing electric com-
panies at Louisville, Ky., about one year and one-half
ago, the number of consumers in that city has increased
by 6015, or 35 per cent. These gains were the result of
vigorous sales and advertising effort in which the wiring
of already built houses and a campaign for operating
motors were features. Despite the fact that four elec-
tric companies had previously operated in Louisville, it
was found that a large field existed for the development
of new business.
A fact often lost sight of in the electric-service in-
TABLE SHOWING INCREASE IN PERMITS ISSUED
Number of Permits
Value of Work
1910
2.175
2,570
3,469
4.726
6.042
1911
1912
1914
dustry is that a large investment on the part of the
public is necessary in order to receive and apply the
service. At Louisville, for example, the records at the
city hall show that wiring permits covering work val-
ued at a total of $2,281,477 have been issued during
the five years ended Sept. 1, 1914. Last year's records
indicated a large increase in the number of permits but
a slight falling off in the value of the total expenditure,
showing that there were fewer large jobs and more
small ones, such as the wiring of cottages, which the
Louisville Gas & Electric Company, in co-operation with
the wiring contractors, made a special objective.
All of the available statistics show that the commun-
ity is being served to a far wider extent by one com-
pany than it was formerly served by several companies.
It has been reported that residence customers are also
served at a lower rate than they paid formerly.
Beginning Early to Educate the Public
Progressive central-station companies have come to
know the advantage of keeping their names before the
public in a favorable light. Recently the Springfield
(Ohio) Light, Heat & Power Company has expanded the
term "public" to include the city's school children, and
Mr. .1. E. North, the company's contract agent, ami Mi.
Hugh Hagan, its attorney, have addressed high-school
classes in physics on BUbjecta of electrical interest.
"Kill mi Day" was made the 0CC8 i"ii Oi one of these
talks, and on that day the speakers dwelt upon the life
and achievements of America's great electrical inven-
tor and presented thl 'h a reproduction of
Mr. Edison's Brsl lamp. Bach member of the class also
ed from thi' company a picture of Mr. Edison him-
self. In order thai the talks should not lie received by
■'it h ful audience a- mere lectures, they were inter
spersed with humorous tales bearing on the work of
the inventor. In one of these stories the inventor was
depicted as using a red hair from the beard of an as-
sociate for the filament for one of his experimental
lamps. In this experiment, as the story goes, he had
the advantage of a flying start, for even before energy
was applied the lamp filament gave off a dull red glow.
Electric Flashing Effect on Signboard
On a 10-ft. by 30-ft. signboard used for advertising
coal in Toledo, Ohio, an electrically operated flashing ar-
rangement has been worked out to simulate a flaming
grate fire. The painted scene on the board shows the
interior of a cozy living room and a man with his book
and evening paper facing the cheery coal fire. The
"fire" itself is painted in tints and colors on a pane of
glass, which forms the face of the fireplace, and life-
like leaping of the flames is produced by flashing four
40-watt lamps behind the painted glass. The billboard
is well illuminated by four 100-watt lamps in hooded
FLASHING SIGN IN BILLBOARD DISPLAY
reflectors. The May Sign Company, of 1001 Adams
Street, Toledo, Ohio, maker of this display, makes it
a practice never to use lamps smaller than 100 watts
rating for billboard illumination.
New Lighting Standards for a Portland Boulevard
A constant-current series-lighting system has recently
been completed on Terwilliger Boulevard in Portland,
Ore., using the lighting standards shown in the accom-
panying illustration. About 3',^ miles of the boulevard
is lighted in this way, ninety-one standards being used
and spaced 150 ft. apart.
The park hoard decided upon building concrete com-
fort stations along the boulevard, and it was found pos-
sible to set aside a 6-ft. by 8-ft. room in each of these
for the tub transformers of the lighting system. Thus
it was arranged that 100 standards should be served by
each transformer set, and the structures housing these
were spaced accordingly. Only one of the transformer
stations has been put in service thus far.
Energy comes from the city distributing mains on
2300-volt lines to the transformers, and goes out at 2600
volts on double steel taped No. S stranded cable. The
wiring arrangement is such that eighl 2076-ft lengths
of this cable were used without splices, all connections
lieinjr made in the terminals within the standards into
which the main cable itself is looped. The current is
carried in the distributing linos at ('>.("> amp. and a single
•ton watt tungsten lamp is used on each standard in a
20-in. globe.
The standards are of concrete, octagonal in cross-sec-
tion and 12 ft. in height The base is 2 ft. square on a
foundation set I ft. in the ground. The diameter at the
top of the standard is .". ' . in. A 1 ' j-in. pipe in the
■Hi cables, which are passed through a
Mak< m ... 1916
ELECTRICAL WORLD
613
waterproof joint just in-low the top. A No. B -olid
copper wire is joined to each of the stranded cabli
the terminals for making conniptions in the lamp socket
The polr- were cast in vertical forms with the small end
down, a- it mi thus possible to use for the first 2 ft.
at the top of the pole a mixture of one part cement to
two part- of sand, while the regular one-two-four mix
was used for the remainder of the pole. After erection,
tandards were finished with a neat cement wash.
The cost of the installation, $12,300, was met by funds
from the park board under an agreement whereby the
city is to provide electricity for lighting. Thus each
pole complete in place cost about $135, including its
share of the distributing line and transforming equip-
ing, unpacking goods and the like, is classified under
the heading "X.-Pro." The column headed "D-H," sig-
nifying dead head, is used for time unaccounted for
under the other heading and can be used to indicate
temporary lay-off.
Summarizing these time slips at the end of each
LIGHTING STANDARD ON TERWILLIGER BOULEVARD,
PORTLAND, ORE.
ment. The cost of the bare concrete poles was between
$27 and $30 each.
The contract for installing the lighting system in its
entirety was held by NePage, McKenny & Company of
Portland, and the work was carried out under the direc-
tion of .1. II. Sroufe, Portland manager for that com-
pany.
Keeping Account of the Productive Hours
Every electrical contractor knows how much money
he pays his workmen, but few can tell accurately what
they receive in return for these wages. They know
approximately but not definitely, as each would know
if he had a time-keeping system such as has been
worked out bv the Braman Electric Company of Perry,
la.
In operation the system is carried out as follows:
Each man is provided with "daily time ticket" blanks
upon which he indicates his operation for the day. For
instance, an employee arriving at the store at 8 a.m.
and waiting on retail trade till 9 a.m. draws a line on
his daily time ticket as shown herewith. Had he spent
an hour on a wiring job he would have drawn a similar
mark in the column headed "Pro," indicating productive
labor. Non-productive labor, such as sweeping, clean-
DAILY TIME TICKET
BRAMAN ELECTRIC COMPANY
/2~*^
ORDER NO.
Pr»
N-Pro.
Srfcr.
D*H
7-13
7JO
! 15
K.4S
9lS
9.30
9 45
FIG. 1 — DAILY TIME TICKET
month gives the company's executive a definite idea of
what each workman is worth as a producer, and, taking
all extenuating circumstances into consideration, sala-
ries can be regulated accordingly. The amount of pro-
ductive time put in by the entire working force is also
calculated each month, and a record of the percentage
of productive time is kept with the monthly cost sum-
mary. In this way the individual time tickets spur the
COST SUMMARY
191
P.tJIoII
Rest and Heat
Li«bt
Ic.or.oce .ad Taxes
latere.!
Dcpreci.tioa
Bad Debt.
Spoiled Work
Advertuisf
Direct Expense
Phone
(Mice
Tol.l Cm!
1
Nombcr of Ch.rfe.blc Hour*
Net Co«t Per Hour (Ch.rte.bl«>
1
Average OnXftt Hour lor' Mouths
1
P«rceot«e of Producli™ Time
'
FIG. 2— MONTHLY COST SUMMARY
men to greater productive effort, and a comparison of
monthly percentage records guides executive action to
increase general productiveness. Other interesting
data kept on the cost summary blank are: number of
chargeable hours, net cost per hour (chargeable), and
average cost per hour.
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 10
Manufacturers Assist Central Station in Increasing
Appliance Loads.
The Denver (Col.) Gas & Electric Company increased
its appliance load considerably recently by offering to
give a large percentage of all revenue obtained from
appliance sales to the two most popular charitable or-
ganizations. Although Denver had been intensely can-
SALESMEN READY FOR DAY'S WORK
vassed before, it is interesting to note that 5689 addi-
tional appliances were sold and placed on trial by this
method. In this campaign the electric-service company
was assisted by the General Electric Company. Pub-
licity was given to the campaign by conducting a voting
contest for the most popular charity organization in
the city. The organization receiving the most votes
received 60 per cent of the charity fund, and the second
highest received 40 per cent. By thus showing the
people that profit on sales was not the reason for sell-
ing appliances, the electric-service company has placed
a very attractive diversified load on its lines without
additional investment in feeders, transformers or
meters.
The city was thoroughly canvassed by dividing it
into districts, each of which was visited by two sales-
men. The appliances used by these salesmen for demon-
stration purposes were carried with them in the car-
riages used for transportation. During the campaign
the central-station appliance salesroom was attractively
decorated, and the devices were demonstrated by sales-
women. Numbers were distributed every afternoon,
and to the person receiving the prize-winning number
an electric-iron toaster or grill was given. To obtain
these numbers persons were required to fill out tickets
with their names and addresses. This information
furnished a valuable list of "prospects" who were known
to be interested in electrical appliances. The accom-
panying illustration shows a sign on the electric-service
company's building advertising the campaign, together
with the salesmen ready to start out on their new-
iHisincss-getting trips.
One Solution of the Donation Evil
Contractors and dealers in electrical supplies and ap-
ri Inualh being approai tied bj persons to-
ted in charitable schemes who solicit the donation
of money and electrical roods "for the benefit of the
" they happen to be at the moment promoting.
i perience with this class
iicitors. win. are luuallj women, one electrical
dealer who is otherwi fiver has set the
harri . -iml r.'i-t rule that hereafter ins store will make no
donations but will furnish to any worthy charitable
movement at their cost price any appliances selected.
In the same way, a firm stand has been taken on the
evil of free wiring of churches, one of the unreasonable
demands often made on contractors by friends and good
customers. Hereafter this contractor offers to wire on
request any church or charitable institution at cost,
charging only the bare material and labor costs, plus
the "overhead" of supervising the job.
Electricity in a Confectionery Shop
On each of the sixty-odd tables in the handsome candy
shops of Mr. J. George Smith in the twin cities of St.
Paul and Minneapolis is a standard extension desk tele-
phone surmounted by an electric candle-fixture bearing
a 15-watt lamp. Referring to a handy table directory
or menu, the customer chooses his order, lifts the re-
ceiver from its hook, "phones in" the number, and in
less than a minute one of the white-aproned attendants
has placed the order on the table.
Mr. Smith is a firm believer in "the electric way," and
the 600 lamps in each of his stores burn continuously
from 8 a. m. to 11 p. m. And if, even after that hour,
some late home-goer wishes to show a friend the at-
tractions of the store with all its lighted tables he has
only to press a button in one of the window signs and
the whole store is automatically lighted up.
In addition to the table candle-lamps, which are
mounted on extensions built on the standard desk tele-
phone sets, there are numerous fixtures, and spans of
10-watt units are festooned around the sides of the
room on miniature "white-way" lighting fixtures. The
circuits for the table lamps are brought up in conduit
and end in plug receptacles, from which silk-covered
cord is taken into the base of the sets with the tele-
phone wire and up through the standards to the cande-
1
}— " &z
ptoy^&ft-
|
■flfil <?. * t ItfTlli1' jkBHI Ml
1 '■■'•'• ■'..;; W ^^B
I%hi M
AN ALL-ELECTRIC CONFECTIONERY SHOP IN MINNEAfoI IS
labra outlets. Each table telephone is a full-fledged
branch line over which the customer may call any out-
ide telephone. According to the proprietor, the table
telephones effect a considerable saving in the time of
employees who would otherwise be required to make two
trips to the customer's table, besides waiting a longer
or shorter period lor the patron's choice to be expressed.
M un ii
ELECT R I ( A I. WORLD
NEW APPARATUS AND APPLIANCES
Interchangeable Sockets
Various types of interchangeable key, keyless, pull
and wall sockets, which can he used with a number of
different kinds of bases, are being made by the Weber
Electric Company, Schenectady, N. Y.. for which Henry
FIGS. 1. 2 AND 3 — KEY, KEYLESS AND PULL SOCKETS
D. Sears, 131 State Street, Boston, Mass., is general
agent. These devices are of the locking type and
are similar in construction to the electrolier sockets de-
scribed in the ELECTRICAL World of Oct. 3, 1914. The
caps of these sockets are equipped with a reinforcing
ring, the upper edge of which is very sharp. Eight
rgg
-BASES USED WITH
SOCKETS
PIGS, i AND
INTERCHANGEABLE
projections on the shell come in contact with this sharp
edge, thereby preventing the separation of the two parts
of the shell. Four projections are provided on the shell
which come in contact with a series of openings in the
cap, thus preventing the shell from turning in the cap.
Various types of straight caps, angle caps, pendent and
strain-relief caps, bases for concealed and open work,
and those used with conduit, metal molding and 3-in.
and 4-in. outlet boxes, are utilized with these sockets.
Closed Glass Bowl for Nitrogen-Filled Lamps
The glass bowl shown herewith is equipped with
■ jrlass top and is designed particularly for use
GLASS HOWL FOR HIGH-EFFICIENCY INCANDESCENT LAMPS
with nitrogen-filled lamps. The cover is so made that
it is unaffected by high temperatures and therefore is
well adapted for use with gas-filled lamps. The glass-
ware is decorated as shown and is translucent. The
absorption of the light by the "nubolux" fixture, as the
bowl is called, the manufacturers declare, is compara-
tively small. Bowls of the above type are being made
by the Lensed Electric Shade Company, 100 Warren
Street, New York, with diameters of 8 in., 10 in. and
12 in., with which tops are used with diameters of 8.75
in., 10.75 in. and 13 in. The depths of these bowls are
8 in., 9.5 in. and 11 in. respectively. The respective
depths of the tops are 3 in., 3.25 in. and 4 in.
Lantern Attachment for Dry Cell
A lantern attachment which can be slipped over an
ordinary dry cell, as shown in the accompanying illus-
tration, and fastened by means of the battery binding
post, has been developed by the Burchwell Manufactur-
DRY-CELL LANTERN ATTACHMENT
ing Company, St. Louis, Mo. The device is of brass
and is provided with a brushed-brass finish. A lens is
provided for diffusing the light in every direction. A
metal reflector with a burnished-silver surface is also
utilized. The lantern will throw the light for a distance,
it is declared, of more than 300 ft. The lamp is oper-
ated by means of a screw switch on top of the attach-
ment. This switch is shown in the illustration.
Battery for Automobile Lighting and Ignition
Service
An improved lead battery designed for lighting and
ignition service for automobiles and also for motorboats,
stationary gas and gasoline engines has recently been
brought out by the Electric Storage Battery Company,
Philadelphia, Pa. The accompanying illustration shows
the battery with one cell cut away to show its interior
BATTERY WITH ONE CELL REMOVED
construction. Each cell is a separately sealed unit, mak-
ing it unnecessary to cover the entire top of the battery
with sealing compound. Packing compound is also un-
necessary. The individual cells have flanged covers.
616
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 10
providing a channel for the sealing compound. The gas
vent and filling aperture are so designed that the amount
of water that can be poured into the cells is limited to
that needed to replace the water lost by evaporation. In
filling, water is poured until the liquid rises in the fill-
ing neck. The plug is then replaced and tightened.
Only one-quarter turn is required to loosen and remove
or to replace and tighten this plug. The terminals are
of acid-resisting material and are as convenient to han-
dle, the manufacturers claim, as ordinary binding
posts. The separators are of treated wood. The cases
are of hard wood and are equipped with loop handles.
100-Watt and 200-Watt Nitrogen-Filled Lamps
Nitrogen-filled lamps with ratings of 100 watts and
200 watts which are equipped with ordinary Type S
241- and S30 Edison screw bases are being made by
the Lux Manufacturing Company, Hoboken, N. J. This
200-WATT NITROGEN-FILLED LAMP
lamp, the manufacturers claim, is efficient and sturdy
and does not get extremely hot. The 100-watt lamp at
110 volts to 120 volts takes 0.75 watt per candle-power.
In operating this lamp it is always necessary to have
the tip down, and the lamp must be in a vertical posi-
tion.
Attachment Plug with Split Bushing
The cap of the small separable attachment plug shown
herewith is provided with a composition strain-relief
split bushing, which when threaded into the top of the
|ff
■
w
atta< iiMi-. i PLUG with sim.it wishing
••rves as a handle for withdrawing the plug from
the recepta< l. Phe plil bulbing grips the cord tightly,
declared, and relieves the binding screws from
r. making unnecessary the tying of ■ knot. The
device is rated at 660 watts at a pressure of 250 volts.
The cap is of composition material and is interchange-
able with attachment plugs, wall and flush receptacles
of either the "T" slot or small, contact type, made by
Harvey Hubbell, Inc., Bridgeport, Conn., the manufac-
turer of the device. The base is either of glazed porce-
lain or composition material.
Kerosene Torch and Fire-Pot
An improved kerosene fire-pot and a quart-size and
a pint-size kerosene torch have recently been placed on
the market by the Clayton & Lambert Manufacturing
Company, Detroit, Mich. The manufacturers declare
that the burners are equipped with generators which
superheat the kerosene gas before it is burned, produc-
ing perfect combustion of the fuel and enabling the user
to secure a clear blue flame free from smoke. All parts
are easily accessible for cleaning and each device is
provided with a cleaning needle. The devices are
FIGS. 1 AND 2 — KEROSENE FIRE-POT AND TORCH
equipped with automatic brass pumps for supplying air
pressure. The filler plug at the top of the tank is made
with an air-valve screw which releases the air pressure
and extinguishes the flame. The kerosene fire-pot, illus-
trated in Fig. 1, is of heavy drawn steel with bottom
and all fittings welded and not soldered. A quart-sized
torch is illustrated in Fig. 2 and is equipped with a
brass burner.
Charging Set for Small Batteries
A motor-generator set designed for charging the
small storage batteries commonly employed for auto-
MrrOMOBIU BATTERI charging outfit
mobile lighting and ignition has recently been developed
by tlic Wagner Electric Manufacturing Company, St.
Louis, Bio, The generator employed is identical with
that supplied as s part of the Wagner self-starting sys-
Mai;, ii •'., 1916
ELECTRICAL WORLD
tem for automobiles, and maj be strop] 'King
either tj-volt or L2-volt batteries. The cha>
of the generator are said to he such that the charging
is automatically controlled without the use of any
rty-cycle, single-phase motor de-
d t" operate on either 110 volts or 22<> writs forms
a part of the set. A direct-current motor may be sup-
plied for operation mi UO-voH or 220-volt direct-current
circuits. A simple snap switch controls both the motor
and generator circuits.
Mlachment for Pull Socket^
In the accompanying illustration is shown a device for
lifting the chain of a pull socket and relieving the socket
of the strain when the chain is pulled. The device will
ATTACHMENT FOR RELIEVING STRAIN OF PULL
ON CHAIN OF PULL SOCKET
6
fit any type of shadeholder, the manufacturers declare,
and pulls at any angle. No screws are required, as it
is snapped on the shade holder. The attachment is being
made by the Empire Engineering & Supply Company,
227 Fulton Street, New York.
Interlocking Switch Plug
An interlocking switch plug which is mounted in a
cast-iron box and is designed for use with conduit in-
stallations is shown in the accompanying illustration.
When the plug is inserted in the socket and the switch
seen that it is impossible to insert the plug while the
switch is on, and also that the pin sockets are dead when
the plug is withdrawn. The device shown herewith is
rated at ."> amp and is mounted in an enameled box fitted
with a black-fiber cover. The box is 5 in. by 3 in. in
size. A 5-amp device i> also made which is placed in a
box equipped with a plain polished-brass cover. The in-
terlocking switch plug is being made by Simplex Con-
duits, Ltd., 116 Charing Cross Road, London, W. C,
England.
Portable Fault Localizer
An instrument which is designed to locate the point
where a cable is grounded, the per cent of length of
defective cable being read directly off the dial, has
recently been placed on the market by the Westinghouse
Electric & Manufacturing Company, East Pittsburgh,
Pa. The device is an application of the Wheatstone
bridge with all the necessary apparatus contained in a
portable case wired for connection to the circuit to be
tested. When using this instrument it is assumed that
~£\
FIG. 1 — TESTING OUTFIT FOR FINDING POINT OF GROUND IN
CABLE
the cable is grounded at only one point, and that a
parallel conductor of the same length and resistance as
of the faulty cable is available. After proper connec-
tions are made, a dial on the instrument is revolved by-
means of a knob in the middle of the device, until the
galvanometer with which it is equipped shows no de-
flection, at which time the key is closed. The reading
of the meter then gives the percentage of length of the
feeder from the point where the test is being made to
the point where the ground has occurred, assuming the
total length of the feeder to be 100 per cent. There are
two scales ; one is colored black, and the other red. The
red scale indicates that the ground is on the conductor
connected to the binding post, which is also marked
in red, and the black scale indicates that it is connected
to the binding post marked black. Direct-current
energy only is used in these tests. The apparatus is
inclosed in a polished wooden case. Two types of in-
Parallel Conductor
Jumper
Lamp Bonk
ron
5-AMP INTERLOCKING SWITCH PLUG
FIG. 2 — METHOD OF CONNECTION TO FAULTY CABLE
is placed in the "on" position the "dolly" lies over the strument are being made, one of which contains a gal-
extended flange of the plug, thus making it impossible vanometer and the other is used with a separate gal-
to withdraw the plug without first placing the switch vanometer. Variable-resistance arms are provided
in the "off" position. From the illustration it can be which consist of two loops of low-resistance wire at-
618
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 10
tached to the side of a revolving disk upon which the
dial is attached. 90 that contact is made from two
brushes attached to the case and connected to the gal-
vanometer terminals. As the disk is revolved the point
of contact between the brushes and the resistance li
is varied, as in the slide-wire bridge. The dial is cali-
brated in percentage of the length of conductor tests.
so that the reading is direct. The galvanometer is
highly sensitive and is equipped with a "uni-pivot"
bearing which does not have to be leveled to take
readings.
Time Switch
A time switch has recently been developed by the
Albert & J. M. Anderson Manufacturing Company, 289
A Street, Boston, Mass. The switching mechanism is
of the snap type, as shown in the accompanying illus-
tration, and indicates whether the circuit is closed or
open. The clock and other parts of the device are
similar in design to time switches made by the above
INCLOSED TIME SWITCH
company which have already been placed on the market.
The switch was designed, the manufacturers declare,
to meet the demand for a medium-priced switch with
smaller rating than the standard 25-amp switch made
by the Anderson company. The over-all dimensions of
the case in which the switch is inclosed are 6 in. long.
■ I1, in. wide and 4 in. deep. The time switch is being
made with rating of 10 amp in the double-pole, single-
throw and three-pole, single-throw types and with rat-
ing of 5 amp in the single-pole, double-throw type for
600 volts and the double-pole, double-throw type for
meter sen ice.
Cut-Oul Pullej
The cut-out pulley shewn in the accompanying illus-
tration consists of an iron canopy With a porcelain
housing which contain I fingers and an auto-
matic locking sleeve. The plunger thai travels in this
. lower base having contact rings i
nected to the terminal- of the lamp. The contact lin-
gers in the upper porcelain housing are connected to the
line wires. The hoisting rop< ed to the plunger
ing the lower contact rings. Beneath the porcelain
ring is a hook for supporting the lamp. By pulling the
hoisting rope the plunger Is brought up Inside of the
• . and when the 'I the plunger is
I in place. As the plunger travels upward in the
id rin^-; in the lower porcelain
u the upper porcelain hous-
ing. In this way the lamp is connected to the line wires
and a clean surface is maintained by the rubbing action
of the contact finger on the rings. The device is de-
signed especially for street lamps arranged either in
CUT-OUT PULLEY CONNECTED TO ARM
series or multiple and operating on direct current or
alternating current. The device, however, is adapted
also for interior work, for which purpose a special
canopy and supporting plate are utilized. The line
wires leading to the lamp are drawn up taut and are
never lowered. The lineman is safeguarded and defect-
ive lamps can be replaced while the others are running.
The cut-out pulley is being made by the George Cutter
Company, South Bend, Ind.
Washing Machine of Inverted-Drive Type
An electric washing machine having the agitator, or
dolly, coming up through the bottom of the tub instead
of on the lid is shown in the accompanying illustration.
The entire mechanism is underneath the tub, there being
no moving parts on the lid or sides of the tub. The
washer can be lowered or raised as desired. The ma-
chine is equipped with a revolving wringer which can
be locked at any position according to size of the tub.
The wringer is provided with a wide reversible drain-
board and wrings the clothes in either direction into and
out of four tubs. By raising or lowering a conveniently
placed lever the machine is thrown in or out of gear. A
i i h i Kit WASHER WITH INVERT! D DRIVE
lever is mounted on the wringer, so that it can
be instantly stopped or reversed. The washing machine
erated by a i 6-hp motor and Is being made by the
Haag Brothers Company, Peoria, 111.
M in a 6, 1918
E LECTRICAL WORLD
Stccl-1 rame Direct-Current Generator
In the accompanying illustration is shown ;i direct-
current generator recently developed by the Robbins &
- Company, Springfield, Ohio. The machine is
built in sizes with ratings from 0.24 k\v to 1.5 kw and
lipped wit; ted frame which gives it a
.-MALI. DIKECT-CURREN1 GENERATOR
light, compacl construction. Generators of this type
are built for low-voltage service for charging storage
batteries and also for service requiring higher pres-
sures. They are particularly adapted, the manufac-
turers declare, for farm-lighting plants, and can be
equipped with a rlywheel pulley as shown in the illus-
tration for gasoline-engine drive. The bearing bracket
on the commutator end of the machine is so constructed
as to give easy access to the commutator and brushes.
Use is made of oil-ring lubrication. The leads are
brought out through holes in the frame, which are
bushed with a heat-resisting insulating material. Slid-
ing bas< - are provided with adjustment screws for ad-
justing the belt tension.
Adjustable-Speed Single-Phase Motor
Extremely fine gradations of speed control over a total
range of more than three to one are secured in the new
adjustable-speed single-phase motor developed by the
Kimble Electric Company, (5:54 North Western Avenue,
Chicago, in which the entire motor circuit is rapidly
and intermittently broken for longer or shorter intervals
by a centrifugal governor mounted on the motor shaft.
The motor itself is of the compensated series type and
the setting of a hand-wheel controls the speed of the
machine by adjusting the position of the renewablt
tact pieces against which the inclosed flyball governor
In its speed characteristics this new single-phase
motor in some respects resembles the multi-voltage-
control direct-current motor, in which the horse-power
output increases with increasing speed. From no load
to full load, at any speed, the speed drop is said to
FIG. 3 — PERFORMANCE CURVES FOR 1.5-HP MOTOR
be less than that of an equivalent constant-speed in-
duction motor, enabling the new motor to fulfil the
exacting speed requirements of machine-tool service.
By short-circuiting the motor windings a powerful
dynamic braking action is obtained. Unlike the direct-
current motor, however, this retarding action is not
brought into play at very low speeds, as. for example,
that involved in turning the tool spindle when plac-
ing work in the chuck. One form of controller ar-
ranges for reversing the motor, with speed control in
either direction. At present the new motors are made
only in sizes from 1/6 hp to 2.5 hp, the standard speed
range being from 600 r.p.m. to 1800 r.p.m. for all sizes,
although small units with speed changes of one to six
are furnished.
Two types of mounting are furnished with the motor,
PIGS. 1 AND 2 — MOTOR MOUNTED ON PEDESTAL AND ON CANTILEVER
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 10
either being well adapted for driving a lathe or similar
machine. In one type the motor is set on slide rails
on a flat-topped pedestal fastened to the floor, the con-
troller box being at the side of the pedestal. Space
within the pedestal body is provided with shelves for
the storage of tools, etc. The motor is then belted to
the largest or next-largest cone step, an arrangement
which with the back gear gives every speed required.
This mounting has the advantage of keeping all motor
vibration away from the lathe. In the other type of
mounting the motor is placed at the rear of a swinging
frame, the lower end of which is attached by a hinge to
the floor so that the whole assembly may be swung away
from or toward the lathe to adjust the belt tension.
This adjustment is made as needed by a distance piece
of adjustable length between the cantilever and lathe.
The controller box is mounted on the front of the frame.
This type of mounting is more compact than that first
described.
With either of the types of mounting the attach-
ments included with the motor, are as follows: Sprocket,
chain, speed-adjustment wheel, shaft and bracket, two
start, stop and reverse levers with shaft, brackets for
attaching to the apron and frame of the lathe, and con-
necting link between the apron and controller.
Portable Lamp
One of the features of the portable lamp shown here-
with is a universal joint by means of which the lamp
can be turned in any direction desired. The lamp is
provided with 10 ft. of cord and all slack cord is wound
O
is 5.75 in., and with an ordinary 60-watt tungsten lamp
the total height is 12 in. A clamp is attached to the
base, which can be fitted to articles with thicknesses
varying from 's in. to 3.75 in. The lamp is being placed
on the market by the Leindorf Electric Light Company,
220 West Fortv-second Street, New York.
Panel for Controlling Battery of Washing Machine
In Fig. 1 is shown an automatically operated remote-
control panel recently built for the Adams Laundry
Machinery Company, Troy, N. Y., by the Sundh Electric
Company, 548 West Twenty-third Street, New York.
The panel is designed for use with a battery of twelve
FIG. 1 — CONTROL PANEL FOR OPERATING TWELVE WASHING
MACHINES
washing machines to be installed in a New York hospi-
tal. The washers are operated by 3-hp. two-phase, 220-
volt induction motors, and the apparatus is so designed
that not more than two washers will start or reverse at
the one time.
In Fig. 2 there is illustrated the arrangement of
timing devices, each of which will control the timing and
PORTABU LAMP with UNrVKRSAJ JOIN1
around a device concealed in 1 In- base. The cord Is fitted
with a push-plug which is mapped Into the socket, no
i nece ary. Use is made of a
Cutler-Hammer push-button ■« k.t The ihade Bta over
lb U ihoWTJ and is easily detachable : it is 5 in.
in diai high 'the diameter of the base motor.
TIMING DEVICES
Operation Of the twelve washers. Two timing devices
are employed, an extra set being provided in ease of
break down. Use is made of an overthrow switch as
shown so that either device can be used as desired. The
timing devices are operated by a 1 .".Oh p. single-pha?e
M Aid h 6, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
621
V»<xiate<l Manufacturers of Electrical Supplies
The organization committee representing the electri-
cal manufacturers who met at the Hotel Biltmore, New
York, on Jan. 12 has prepared plana for the formation
of an association of electrical manufacturers. The com-
mittee, which comprises .Messrs. W . T. Pringle of the
Pringle Electric .Manufacturing Company, W. Cary of
the Westinghouse Lamp Company, N. C. Cotabish of
the National Carbon Company, G. A. Craigin of the
American Steel & Wire Company, D. C. Durland of the
General Electric Company, E. R. Harding of the Holt-
ser-Cabot Electric Company. J. W. Perry of the H. W.
Johns-Manville Company. W. C. Robinson of the Nation-
al .Metal Molding Company, and J. E. Way of the R.
Thomas & Sons Company, will report to the manufac-
turers at the Hotel Biltmore, New York, on March 9 at
10:30 a. m.
Mr. R. K. Sheppard, chairman of the meeting, has
sent out invitations to all manufacturers of electrical
supplies and materials entering into the manufacture
of electrical equipments, and every effort is being made
by the manufacturers already in touch with the move-
ment to interest other manufacturers also. It is hoped
that a large attendance representing all manufacturers
will be present so that the widest discussion may be ob-
tained and the organization be launched with the feel-
ing that all interests have had a voice in its formation
and that it will be thoroughly representative in its aims.
At the same meeting the nominating committee which
was appointed Jan. 12 will report a list of names for a
representative committee of business and technical ex-
perts to examine thoroughly "concentric wiring" and
the problems allied thereto.
While the objects of the association will be manifold,
its chief function will be to provide the machinery for
concerted action in matters which vitally interest the
entire electrical industry. It will not seek to usurp any
of the prerogatives of the Electric Power Club or the
Electrical Manufacturers' Club, but will deal with the
larger questions affecting the industry.
By the form of organization each section of the in-
dustry will secure its own control of matters pertaining
to such section without undue interference by any other
section, and manufacturers can secure co-operative ef-
fort and the results therefrom in their dealings with
the government, the Underwriters' Laboratories and the
other associations now existing in the electrical industry.
In many other ways much common benefit will result
from the associated efforts of the electrical manufac-
turers.
Failure of Water-Power Hills in Congress
When the third session of the Sixty-third Congress
came to an end automatically under the statute on
March 4, the water-power bills had not been passed. It
was thought in Washington until the afternoon of March
:'. that there might be a chance to call up the so-called
Shields bill, otherwise known as the Adamson bill, in
the Senate, but this measure, which provides for dam
sites, would have had to go to conference, and it was
realized that the House of Representatives, after having
passed it as the Adamson bill, probably would not have
agreed to it in the altered shape. The Ferris bill, re-
ported from the Senate public lands committee, after
having been passed by the House, likewise failed. This
measure provided for the leasing of water-power
on the public domain.
As all legislation proposed and not enacted dies with
the end of a Congress the House will have to pass both
bills again, and as the personnel has been changed con-
siderably and many new men will take seats, consider-
able work is likely to be involved in passing the bills
again.
Among the many new Senators will be Senator Hust-
ing of Wisconsin, who is known as a water-power au-
thority. He is the author of the Wisconsin water-power
laws, which are the subject of attack in that State.
United Gas Improvement Company Investigation
Newspaper interviews published recently which de-
scribe the only differences between the United Gas Im-
provement Company of Philadelphia and the Depart-
ment of Justice at Washington as being in connection
with the street-lighting business of the company are
received at the Department of Justice with reserve. At
the office of Mr. George Carroll Todd, assistant to the
Attorney-General, who is in charge of an investigation
that has been made of the company's affairs, it is said
that the department does not care to say that the only
differences to be adjusted are differences connected with
the street-lighting business of the company, and that
it may not properly be said that the department is not
interested in the affairs of the Welsbach company.
The department confirms a recent report from Phil-
adelphia that the company is endeavoring at present
to reorganize its corporate control, and the latest re-
ports from Washington are that the department is still
awaiting the receipt from Mr. Samuel T. Bodine, pres-
ident of the company, of documents showing just what
this control has been, is and will be.
Recently the company has drawn attention to
itself in Washington by reason of the fact that engi-
neers connected with its gas-plant-building branch have
made recent inspections of the Washington Gas Light
Company plants. It was reported in Washington that
the United Gas Improvement Company had obtained
control of the Washington company, but Mr. Howard
Reeside, president of the Washington company, denies
this.
Organization of New Mexico Electrical Association
The New Mexico Electrical Association was organ-
ized at Albuquerque on Feb. 15 with twenty-three mem-
bers, electrical men from all parts of the State. The
sessions were held at the Commercial Club and the fol-
lowing officers were elected: President, Mr. C. M. Ein-
hart of the Roswell Gas & Electric Company; vice-
president, Mr. A. F. Van Deinse of the Albuquerque
Gas, Electric Light & Power Company, and secretary-
treasurer, Mr. E. A. Thiele of the Roswell Gas & Elec-
tric Company. On the night of Feb. 16 the Jovian
Order held a banquet at the Alvarado Hotel followed by
a rejuvenation at which all twenty-three electrical men
were initiated. The delegates were also taken on an
automobile trip through the city and made an inspection
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 10
of the electrically equipped domestic-science department
at the University of New Mexico.
Following the final session of the association on Feb.
16, the members were entertained at dinner at the
Country Club.
as a deficiency item, the previous items of $55,000 being
for salaries from July 1, 1915, to June 30, 1916; $10,000
for rent; $15,000 for printing, and $300,000 for general
expenses. All of this total of nearly $400,000 has been
made available immediately. The old Bureau of Cor-
porations had an appropriation of $254,000.
New York Jovian Rejuvenation
At the rejuvenation of the Jovian League of New
York held at the Hotel Martinique on March 3 forty
new members were initiated into the order. About 22*5
Jovians and friends sat down to dinner, arrangements
for which were made by Mr. Frank E. Watts, tribune,
and Mr. James H. Betts, statesman for New York.
During the evening the guests were entertained by vocal
selections and dancing and by a successfully staged
"badger" fight, which was allowed to proceed in spite
of a vehement protest. Among those present were Mr.
H niton H. Scott, president of the National Electric Light
Association, and Mr. J. C. Vogel, thirteenth Pluto.
The degree team, which was under the direction of
Mr. C. L. Hight as Vulcan, was composed of the follow-
ing: Messrs. Roy E. Schaulin, Jupiter; J. W. Morey,
Neptune; C. L. Hight, Vulcan; James J. Sheeran, Pluto;
George Feher, Mars; A. E. Farrenkopf, Hercules; Wil-
liam J. Clifford. Apollo; and H. W. McGraw, H. C. Law-
rence, L. E. Latham, Frank W. Burke, William C. Chap-
man and Thomas Christianson, imps.
Plans of the Federal Trade Commission
The new Federal Trade Commission, four members
of which were confirmed in executive session of the Sen-
ate late on the night of March 2, intends to "go very
slow" and to proceed upon the dominant idea of being
an aid to business. The commission intends to devote
considerable time to study of the question of whether
it will be advisable for laws to be framed permitting
small producers and manufacturers to co-operate for
foreign trade against competitors in other countries.
The commission expects to answer in the very near fu-
ture a great many questions which have already been
raised with the Bureau of Corporations and with Mr.
Joseph E. Davies personally.
This information has been obtained by a representa-
tive of the Electrical World from authoritative Wash-
ington sources. At the same time it became known that
many large manufacturers have the Clayton law under
consideration. The American Wringer Company has
decided to readjust its selling plan in order to avoid any
possible violation. This company has sent copies of the
new laws to hardware dealers, calling attention to the
fact that readjustments are necessary. That this lias
(one iii advance of the organization of the commis-
sion is pointed out in Washington as evidence that busi-
ness men are showing a spirit of accommodation which
■ annol fail to make the work of the commission easier.
Mr Ornish, X. 11.. whose nomina-
tion to the commission has not been confirmed by the
te, will get a recess appointment from President
Wilson. During the debate on the name of Mr. Kublee
in the executive Be -ion Oi the Senate. Senator (Jallinger
of New Hampshire opposed Mr. Kuhlee. The four ap-
pointees confirmed were Messrs. Davies, Edward X.
Hurley. W. .1. Harris and W. H. Parry.
It will he necessary, it is said, to appoint a number
of special examiners and investigators, How large the
payroll is to he has not yet been determined, hut an
enormous amount of work is to he done. Congress lias
made appropriations ■>- follows: (50,000 for the com-
missioners, plus $6,000 for the secretary; sis, :',:'.:: for
the commissioners and the secretary to July i. 1916,
Hydroelectric Bill in West Virginia
The West Virginia Senate has passed the Hinerman-
Gregory bill, which seeks to place the control and reg-
ulation of hydroelectric companies with the Public Serv-
ice Commission and effect greater development. The
vote stood 23 to 6. There was considerable opposition
from the minority, and one opposing senator, who ex-
plained that he would vote for the bill because it is bet-
ter than present laws, said that he believed no permits
would be granted under the new law7, as there had been
none under the old law. Some higher authority, he said,
seemingly prevented the issue of permits. The bill will
be returned to the House of Representatives for approv-
al of the Senate amendments.
Under the bill permits for dams can be granted only
to West Virginia corporations. This provision pre-
cludes development by a number of companies which
have been endeavoring to secure permits from the Pub-
lic Service Commission for two years. Authority is
given the State to employ experts to supervise the con-
struction of dams, but there is no limit to the height.
The bill prohibits the transmission of electrical en-
ergy beyond the limits of the State and requires that
hydroelectric companies secure the consent of the com-
mission for building transmission lines. It provides
that after fifty years the State may purchase plants for
a consideration to be fixed by arbitration, but the price
must not exceed the original cost of construction.
Representatives of companies which have been seek-
ing rights in the State say that the provisions are so
stringent that properties cannot be financed and that
development will be delayed.
Developments in Cleveland Municipal Situation
The municipal plant at Cleveland, Ohio, has an-
nounced a new wholesale motor-service schedule which
will reduce the minimum charge from 1 cent to 0.6 cent
per kw-hr. Director of Public Utilities Stage stated
that this rate is lower than the latest rate of the Cleve-
land Electric Illuminating Company up to a point where
a consumer with a 3000-kw connection uses energy four-
teen hours each working clay. It is announced that the
new policy of the department is to secure large motor-
service contracts instead of building up the load grad-
ually, as planned at first. Mr. Stage declared that the
large business will enable the city to extend the dis-
tribution system to all residence sections without heavy
cost to taxpayers, and that the way to jret the large busi-
ness is to make rates attractive.
A duplicate of the old Mills hill has heen introduced
in the Ohio Legislature by Senator William Behne of
Williams County. It provides that bonds issued for
municipal Utility plant construction or the purchase of
such plants shall be a lien upon the general tax dupli-
cate, instead of upon the utility Only, as at present. It
also removes such bonds from the present law limiting
the amount cities may issue anil gives municipalities
the right to issue securities in unlimited sums for this
purpose. Mayor Newton D. Baker of Cleveland is said
to approve the hill, as it would make the city free to
purchase 'lie Cleveland Electric Illuminating Company
property. Under the present law this could not he done.
.M UK H •■, 1916
ELEC1 RICAL Wo RLD
Work hi the Societj for Electrical Development
At a meeting in the interest of the - Elec-
trical Development, Inc., in New York, on Feb. 25, much
of the work of thi plans
■ future were outlined.
.Mr. A. .1. Edgell of tin- society staff spoke of the work
ng department stores to promote window displays
and the ubi ■ . t ions of thi r attractive
presentations of electrical appliances. The Bociety has
thousands of letters to merchants and chambers of
erce to promote better rtreet lighting. Mr. Edgell
een attending conventions of window-display men
all over the country.
Mr. II. \V. Alexander of the society staff spoke of the
ral publicity work, which is being carried on
through the trade press, popular magazines and dail>
newspapers. One of the features of the publicity work
is the use of electric-railway cards and miniature
stara] ire designed and printed for the si
and are sold at low prices to central stations.
Mr. J. M. W'akeman, general manager of the society,
in going into details in regard to its activities, called
special attention to the formation of co-operative com-
mittees representing central stations, contractors and
era in various cities. These committees carry the
work of the society into the community. The com-
mittees in the larger cities extend their influence to
smaller places and thus do much to promote electrical
progr.
Mr. .lames 11. McGraw, president of the Met; raw
Publishing Company, Inc., said that certainly a great
deal has lieen accomplished by the society in the last two
and excellent plans have been laid for the future.
The work being done is the kind that the industry used
to dream about before the present organization came
into existence. In a commercial sense service is the
largest word in the language and the society is render-
ing a service. There is something unusually attractive
to the public in electricity. There is more about elec-
tricity that the public will be glad to read than there is
available on any other subject. If the society did not do
anything else but promote good feeling between the
central station, jobber and contractor it would justify
its existence.
Mr. McGraw said that there is a lack of merchandis-
ing knowledge in the electrical industry. The industry
as a whole has not yet learned the science of merchan-
dising, and the society can do much to teach the ele-
ments of merchandising to the electrical field.
Mr. Henry L. Doherty, president of the Society for
Electrical Development, in speaking of new-business
methods, said that there is a woeful lack of education
.here. Trained salesmen are not retained by com-
panies as they should be. In the early history of the
Denver company sixty-nine salesmen were lost in less
than two year-, and new men had to be kept in training
all the time. Since then conditions have changed radi-
cally, but there is still room for material improvement.
industry has reached a point where intensive culti-
vation in certain parts is necessary. The results of
intensive salesmanship in one city flow beyond the limits
of that city and benefit other places. Every central
station is entitled to some advantage from an overflow
is kind from its neighbors, and if everyone under-
takes intensive cultivation the entire industry will be
t < ■ 1 1 .
One idea expressed bj Mr. Doherty is that a cam-
paign should l>e undertaken to introduce, for instance,
electric-motor drive in the machine-tool trade, making a
complete installation in a city. Another idea is to find
idustry which is willing to be equipped electrically
"to the last gasp." If a hotel should be so equipped,
it could be advertised so successfully among electrical
people that that m itself would make it prosper. An-
have an electrical feature
convention held uld be an electrical feature
on evi tion meeting anywhere
in the country. Another idea is that the electrical in-
dustry should do more to promote railroad electrifica-
tion. This is now mainly a matter of financing, but
the society can do much to further progress. Any
form of manual labor can be eliminated or reduced bj
electrical energy, and this fact is an argument and an
opportunity for promotion work. In all work of this
kind there should be friendly feeling and co-operation.
Harmony is needed to make this large national situation
healthful.
Montana Power Development Described
Mr. John D. Ryan, president of the .Montana Power
Company, addressed more than 100 bankers and in-
vestors at the Exchange Club, Boston, Mass., on Feb.
27, upon hydroelectric development in Montana. The
company furnishes 85 per cent of the lighting service
and 95 per cent of the hydroelectric service in a terri-
tory larger than New England. There are 28,500 cus-
tomers, with diversified loads ranging from trunk-line
railroad operation and the supply of energy to mines
and smelters to small domestic applications. For every
dollar of income the company has 70 cents left to pay
interest and dividends. Despite the severe industrial
depression of 1914. gross and net earnings have in-
creased as shown in the following table:
I'M.'
$3,022,964
l'.miv.i ;:.;
1913
$3,539,198
2.421,424
1 :< 1 1
(3,778.285
•2,639.239
•About two and one-half times the interest charges
The prospective capacity of the company's plants is
as follows: Hydroelectric plants now in operation, 101,-
000 hp; hydroelectric plants under construction (75
per cent completed), 120,000 hp ; reserve steam plants,
8000 hp ; water-powers undeveloped, in reserve, 133,000
hp; total. 362,000 hp. The system includes twelve
hydroelectric power plants and four steam-reserve sta-
tions, 1470 miles of transmission lines, complete dis-
tribution systems in Great Falls, Butte, etc., and, in
addition, undeveloped or partly developed water-powers
capable of generating about 253,000 hp, of which 120.-
000 hp is under construction and 75 per cent completed
at the two sites of Great Falls and Thompson Falls.
Both of these plants will be furnishing energy in the
latter half of 1915.
The primary water-power is to all intents and pur-
poses perpetual and, for the territory covered, well dis-
tributed. President Ryan said that with the reservoir
capacity it would take a three months' drought even to
begin the interruption of business. The transmission
system connects Great Falls, Butte, Helena, Anaconda,
Boulder, Bozeman, Lewiston, Billings and other cities,
and the titles to rights-of-way and other property are
as clear as those on any property in New York City.
The Anaconda Mining Company has a contract with the
Montana Power Company during the life of the mine
at $30 per hp-year, while the Chicago, Milwaukee &
St. Paul Railway has a ninety-nine-year contract, cost-
ing annually a minimum of $550,000. As an example
of what the company can earn, the transmission line
built in 1913 from Great Falls to Lewiston, at a cost
of approximately $158,000, netted $58,000 in 1914.
Mr. Ryan said that the maximum charge for house
lighting is 9.5 cents per kw-hr. Service by a 1-hp
motor costs about $100 per year. In Billings alone
there are 600 electric ranges in service. Last year the
company did a business of nearly $4,000,000, with prac-
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 10
tically fifty employees. During a walkout of ten days a
year or two ago not a wheel stopped, as the company
manned its plants with foremen and clerks.
-Mr. Ryan said that with 430 miles of the St. Paul
railway electrified it would seem that the Northern
Pacific, its neighbor, would have to electrify also in
order to compete successfully. The company can fur-
nish power to the Northern Pacific for a distance of
500 miles without adding to the existing plants. More-
over, operation in Montana costs the railway company
two-thirds less than by coal. The lives of many mines
in the State will be as long as that of the company, in
Mr. Ryan's opinion, and the older they grow the more
energy they will need.
New York Telephone Valuation
The legislative committee which is investigating tele-
phone rates in New York City has made a report to the
Legislature recommending a reduction and also urging
amendments to the public service commissions law pro-
viding for stricter supervision and regulation of tele-
phones. The report says in part: "Telephone service is
developing more and more into a monopoly. Universal
service is demanded by the public. If such monopoly
is to be permitted, then it must be made subject to rigid
supervision and regulation by the State. For the pro-
tection of the public it is necessary to give the Public
Service Commission greater authority than it now pos-
sesses over securities, rates, physical condition of prop-
erty and conduct of the business." The committee
recommends that certificates of public convenience and
necessity be required for the construction or extension
of telephone lines, except for the installation of instru-
ments, and that the exemption of corporations having
less than $10,000 capital from supervision be abolished.
The committee would give the commission power to
compel connections between commercial lines and the
exchange of messages with any other commercial line.
Mr. John L. Swayze, counsel for the company, told the
committee that a flat 5-cent New York City rate would
be granted provided the committee and the Public Serv-
ice Commission meet the company half-way. The com-
pany valued the physical property in New York City at
$99,925,934, while Prof. E. W. Bemis estimated it at
$65,000,000. Mr. Swayze said that if the company was
forced to go to the courts it would make a hard fight.
It would insist that all values, tangible and otherwise,
be taken into consideration as they should be. The
company could not permit the property to be under-
valued, for the reason that stock and bonds would suffer
a severe depreciation, and it was opposed to the es-
tablishment of a precedent in property valuation on the
basis used by Professor Bemis.
The rates recommended by Professor Bemis involve
reductions aggregating over $3,000,000. He said that
profits io New York City taken alone would justify a
larger reduction. The temporarily unprofitable char-
acter, however, of recent investments of the company
in the real of the State and the fact that a 10 per cent
reduction aggregating $2,000,000 was made in Febru-
ary, 1914, and thai it is difficult on short notice to make
tlic adiustments necessary for another reduction of
more than $8,000,000, render it advisable and for the
good of the service, Prof< held, to go no
further than he advocated. The report of Prod
Bemii was adopted by the legislative committee.
Thi' New York Public- Service Commission, Second
Bd Upon $82,000,000 as a full valuation
of the New York Citj properties of the company.
Chairman Van Bantvoord announced thai the commis-
thought that 8 ]>er cent was a fair rale of return
on the capital investment, taking into consideration the
conclusion of the commission that the 4V2 per cent of
gross earnings which the company pays to the American
Telephone & Telegraph Company is excessive and should
be reduced to $1 an instrument. Mr. William Temple
Emmet, a member of the commission, submitted a minor-
ity report favoring a valuation of from $88,000,000 to
$90,000,000. He admitted that this would make com-
paratively little difference in the reduction as the figures
of the commission allow a margin over the 8 per cent
return.
Mr. Swayze said that he could not answer for his
client until the directors acted. He said that the record
did not show how much or how little is given for the
4>L. per cent rental which the commission would reduce,
or how the valuation of $82,000,000 was determined.
Illumination and the Human Eye
Three papers dealing with the relation of illumination
to the eye were presented at a meeting of the New Eng-
land Section of the Illuminating Engineering Society at
Boston, Mass., on Feb. 26.
Effects of Radiation on the Eye
In his paper entitled "Effects of Radiation on the
Eye" Dr. Louis Bell, Boston, referred briefly to recent
investigations in collaboration with Dr. F. H. Verhoeff,
of the Massachusetts Charitable Eye and Ear Infirmary,
upon the physiological effects of intense radiation on the
eyes of animals. These researches, which have extended
through several years and which have been outlined pre-
viously in the Electrical World, show that from the
standpoint of radiation very little indication exists of
any real structural damage to the eye even by intensi-
ties much greater than those ordinarily used. Since the
publication of the general results of the investigation
the collaborators have had an opportunity to test the
effects of radiations as intense as 50,000 lux upon the
human eye for a period of thirty minutes, with the re-
sult that after four or five hours the eye returned to its
previous condition. Similar exposures of the eyes of
rabbits and monkeys for an hour apparently produced
no permanent effect. The damage done by any ordina-
ry amount of heat, even through looking at hot bodies,
is very small except in extreme cases. By "fixing" the
sun for possibly one-half minute very accurately one
may get an injury about one time in 2000. The need
of care in shading lamps is the result of purely second-
ary effects due to the strain of bad lighting on the
adjusting mechanism of the eye. Ultra-violet rays as
found in nature have no power to produce permanent ill
effects, and only in extreme instances of exposure to
artificial ultra-violet radiations, as in the flash of a
heavy electric arc of great power, is any temporary
effect produced. In the study of the electric arc and
the electric furnace in the laboratory only the most
drastic kind of experimentation is likely to be injurious,
and ordinary glasses are in most cases an admirable
protection, as are the bulbs of incandescent lamps.
With carbon, tungsten and gas-filled lamps not the
slightest ill effect lias been produced on the eyes of
animals. The case is entirely different in frequently
using the X-ra.\s. whore the lead screen is an essential
adjunct.
How faulty [Domination injures the Bye
Dr. Walter B. Lancaster, Boston, presented a paper in
which were described the various adjustments of the
including fixation, focusing, adaptation to intensity
of illumination, and the relation of pigment decomposi-
tion to external stimuli. Wo stated that the eye can
effect a fixation adjustment on the retina within from
\l.\ucn 6, 1916
ELECTRICAL WOKL D
626
0.01 mm to 0.001 mm, while the adjustment in i
lug li to about 0.026 mm. Pupillary adjustments for
Intensity of [nomination are less delicate. Unfavorable
;il conditions, such as glare, rapid shifts of type
as in reading on moving vehicles, variations of rapid
character in the intensity, etc, produce strain through
their demands on mechanical and chemical adjustment,
the latter being of particular interest in the advanced
study of ophthalmology. The speaker suggested that
the need of extremely rapid replacements of BUDstancea
wasted in pigment decomposition is a more fertile cause
of eye strain than pupillary enlargement and contrac-
tion. Glare in particular probably tends to cause con-
gestion of chemical products before they can be prop-
erly carried off by the lymph, and any cause tending
unduly to hasten constructive and destructive metabol-
ism is liable to produce strain. The elements of suc-
cessive contrast and of memory also enter into the
problem of vision as related to fatigue.
\\i;i! Chromatic Aberration of the Human Eye
Dr. P. G. Nutting, of the Eastman Kodak Company,
Rochester, N. Y., contributed a paper describing experi-
ments extended beyond those of Helmholtz in the study
of axial chromatic aberration. The test object used
was the image of the slit of a monochromatic illumina-
tor ( Fig. 1 ) formed by a movable lens L of about 20 cm
focal length. At a fixed distance back of this was the
observer's eye E. In order to fix the accommodation,
there was placed immediately in front of the eye a plate
of optical glass P, reflecting the image of a suitable
object at the desired distance.
Three eyes were tested at accommodations of 25 cm,
100 cm and infinity, and the remainder at infinity only.
The object serving to fix the accommodation was so
chosen that the slit image appeared against a dark
background, so that a barely perceptible amount of
white light was mixed with that of the colored slit
image. In making determinations of wave-lengths 406
and 436 a mercury arc was used as the source, and at
other wave-lengths a Nernst lamp. A shift of the lens
1 cm corresponded to 0.01-mm shift in focal point at
the retina, the relation of the two being roughly linear.
The uncertainty on a group of five settings was not over
2 mm. Results could be reproduced to about 5 mm in
the position of the lens. Relative focal differences are
shown in Fig. 2, the initials of the observers being
given.
All the eves tested show more or less correction. For
PIG. 1 — ARRANGEMENT OF APPARATUS FOR STUDY OF AXIAL
CHROMATIC ABERRATION
comparison, the axial error of a refracting medium of
pure water is given at the top of the diagram. In the
most luminous part of the spectrum, from 520 to 660,
all eyes show less variation in focal length than an
equivalent eye of pure water. In some eyes the correc-
tion in the central region compares favorably, in the
author's opinion, with that of a good photographic or
telescopic objective. Several types of correction are
shown that are new to lens optics. The high order of
il correetioni of /.. A. J. and P. ','. N. are accom-
panied by decreased violet but normal red correction.
were made for residual chromatic spherical aberra-
tion (departure from Gauss condition; by placing half
of a halftone screen over the test slit. The writer could
detect no residual in his own eye in the region of from
500 to 650. Beyond 780 in the red and beyond 480 in
the blue it is noticeable, while at 406 in the violet it
amounted to fully twenty times the normal diffusion.
400 500 600 700 800
WAVE LENGTH
FIG. 2 — RELATIVE FOCAL DIFFERENCES OF VARIOUS OBSERV-
ERS COMPARED WITH THE AXIAL ERROR OF PURE WATER
In briefly discussing the paper, Dr. Bell stated that in
the ordinary eye there is a difference in focal adjust-
ment of from 0.5 mm to 0.6 mm between the ends of the
spectrum. The curves shown are not the curves of an
achromatic lens, and their explanation may have to be
sought in refraction and dispersion within the eye
itself. The work of the author suggests the desirability
of further checking and of investigating the crystalline
lens itself.
Census of Telephone and Telegraph Systems
The Bureau of the Census report on telephone, tele-
graph and municipal electric fire-alarm and police-patrol
signaling systems in the United States will be issued
soon. The report, based on returns for the calendar
year 1912, was prepared under the supervision of Mr.
William M. Steuart, chief statistician for manufactures.
Telephone wires in use increased from almost 13,-
000,000 miles in 1907 to more than 20,000,000 in 1912,
or about 54 per cent. Commercial telegraph wire, in-
cluding ocean cable, increased in the same period from
over 1,624,000 miles to nearly 1,882,000, or 15 per cent.
Statistics as to telephone calls are available only for
companies with $5,000 annual income or more; these
operated in 1912 about 94 per cent of the wire mileage
and 84 per cent of the telephones. They reported 13,-
735,000,000 calls, an increase of about 32 per cent over
the 10,400,000,000 reported for 1907. In the same period
telegraph business — land, ocean and wireless combined —
increased from approximately 103,949,000 messages to
109,663,000, or about 5% per cent. Capitalization of
the telephone companies with income of $5,000 or more
increased from $758,000,000 in 1907 to $991,000,000 in
1912, or more than 30 per cent. Telegraph company-
capitalization decreased from $253,000,000 to $232,000,-
000, or 8 per cent; this was due entirely to a reduction
of $23,000,000 in wireless capitalization. Excluding
wireless capitalization, an increase of $2,200,000 in
capitalization, or about 1 per cent, is shown. Net in-
come of telephone companies with income of $5,000 or
more increased from $41,200,000 in 1907 to $51,300,000
in 1912, or nearly 25 per cent. Net income of telegraph
626
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 10
companies in the same period decreased from $9,650,000
to $6,400,000, or about one-third. Telephone companies
with income of $5,000 and over increased their em-
ployees from approximately 131,000 in 1907 to 183,000
in 1912, or more than 39 per cent. Telegraph em-
ployees rose from 28,000 to 38,000, an increase of
nearly 36 per cent.
In 1912 the Bell system controlled nearly 75 per cent
of the total wire mileage and more than 58 per cent of
the total number of telephones in use. It controlled
nearly 51 per cent of the public exchanges maintained
by companies with annual income of $5,000 or over and
handled 66 per cent of the calls over the lines of such
companies. The wire mileage of the Bell system in-
creased from 8,947,000 miles in 1907 to 15,133,000 miles
in 1912, or more than 69 per cent. The wire mileage of
all other systems combined increased from 4,052,000 to
5,115,000, or a little over 26 per cent. Telephones in
use — exclusive of railway, governmental or private tele-
phones not connected with public exchanges — increased
from 6,118,000 in 1907 to 8,730,000 in 1912, or nearly
43 per cent. Bell and independent telephones, respec-
tively, were 3,132,000 and 2,986,000 in 1907 and 5,087,-
000 and 3,643,000 in 1912, the former having increased
62 per cent and the latter 22 per cent. Bell calls in-
creased from 6,401,000,000 in 1907 to 9,133,000,000 in
1912, or nearly 43 per cent. Calls of other companies
having annual income of $5,000 or more increased from
3,999,000,000 to 4,602,000,000, or 15 per cent.
In the New England States, where the Bell interests
were proportionately strongest, they controlled nearly
93 per cent of the telephones. They were relatively
weakest in the West North Central States — Minnesota,
Iowa, Missouri, North and South Dakota, Nebraska and
Kansas — where more than two-thirds of the telephones
were operated by independents. The number of inde-
pendent rural telephone systems or lines increased from
22,971 in 1907 to 32,233 in 1912. Of these systems
Bell interests controlled 175 in 1907 and 176 in 1912.
About one-half of the wire mileage and telephones
are in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Indiana.
Ohio, Illinois, Michigan and Wisconsin, which together
contain about 40 per cent of the population. The great-
est wire mileage in any state in 1912, 2,790,000, was
reported by New York. Illinois was second with 1,-
689,000 miles and Pennsylvania third with 1,600,000
miles. New York had 970,000 telephones, Illinois 807,-
000 and Ohio 631,000.
The number of telephones per 1000 population was
91 in 1912 as compared with 72 in 1907 and 30 in 1902.
Iowa had 171 telephones per 1000 population, California
168 and Nebraska 165. The smallest number, 21. was
in South Carolina. The messages per capita, exclusive
of those for companies having annual income of less
than $5,000, increased from 66 in 1902 to 122 in 1907
and 144 in 1912. The greatest number per capita, 282,
was in California. Ohio showed 265 and Michigan 240:
North Carolina had 40.
Twenty-one land telegraph companies had 247,500
miles of pole line and 1,81 1,000 miles of wire, exclusive
Of wire wholly owned and operated by railroads; 222,-
OOfl miles of line and 1,296,000 miles of wire were along
railway lines, and in addition 814,000 miles of wire
were owned and operated by railroads. The number
of ni' Oi including press dispatches, v>;is 108,-
500,000, an Iik res i oi i p< i ceni over 1907. six United
States ocean cable companies have eighty-three cable
Offices and 44,860 miles of cable. They handled 2,8 15,000
messages, an increase of 20 per cent over 1907. In
addition the Western Union Telegraph Company oper-
ated 22,800 miles of .able and handled nearly ."..000,000
cable messages.
From 1907 to 1912 the number of commercial wire-
less telegraph companies decreased from five to four,
the number of tower stations from 117 to 74, and
capitalization from $32,700,000 to $9,600,000. The num-
ber of messages sent increased from 154,617 to 285,091,
or 84.4 per cent. A net deficit of $53,538 was shown in
1907 and a net income of $4,738 in 1912. Employees
increased from 176 to 958, or 444 per cent. The govern-
ment maintains seventy-three wireless stations, a num-
ber of which are open for public business. Ships of
the navy have wireless equipment for receiving mes-
sages without relay at 3000 miles and a sending radius
varying from 400 miles in daytime to 1000 miles at
night.
Municipal electric fire-alarm and police-patrol signal-
ing systems increased from 1157 in 1907 to 1397 in
1912, or 20.7 per cent. Miles of single wire increased
from 70,800 to 90,300, or 27.5 per cent; boxes or signal-
ing stations from 62,500 to 81,300, or 30 per cent, and
fire alarms received from 120,700 to 175,500, or more
than 45 per cent.
Meeting of Rate Research Committee
The rate research committee of the National Electric
Light Association met at the association headquarters
in New York on March 3. Messrs. R. S. Hale, chairman,
J. W. Lieb, W. J. Norton, E. W. Lloyd and R. G.
Griswold were present. A draft of the report to be sub-
mitted at the San Francisco convention was drawn up
and approved unanimously by the members present.
Copies will be sent to the absent members and to the
executive committee of the association.
In the forthcoming report the committee will prob-
ably re-assert its full confidence in the fundamental
bases of rate-making which central-station companies
generally have followed in the past.
Philadelphia Electric Company Leases Telephone
Conduits
The Philadelphia Electric Company has leased the un-
used conduits of the Keystone Telephone Company for
twenty-one years with the privilege of renewals. The
rental will be small at the beginning, but will increase
gradually until a minimum of $100,000 per annnm is
reached. For the second period of fifteen years the
minimum rental will be $100,000 a year, and for the
third period the minimum rental will be $125,000 per
annum. At the end of the second period the Philadel-
phia Electric Company has the option of purchasing
the conduit space in use by it at a pine to be fixed by
arbitration, but if for any reason the option to pur-
chase cannot be exercised, then the privilege of renew-
ing the lease may be availed of by the electric company.
The rental will be 4 cents per duct-foot, and as there
are 12,300,000 duct-feet, there is a possible maximum
rental of $400,000 per annum if the requirements of the
Philadelphia Electric Company shall grow so that all
available space shall lie utilized by the lessee. The aver-
age minimum return on the minimum basis for the first
period of twenty-one years to the Keystone Telephone
Company will be $87,500 per annum.
The ordinance granting the privileges of the streets
to the telephone company contained a provision that the
company should not sell the conduits, but there is no
restriction on its ability to lease such part as it does
not. need for its own purposes. A portion of the con-
duits in the central part of the city are already leased
for news service and for wires used for burglar-alarm
systems. The new lease will not interfere with these
leases.
M via 11 >'., 1916
ELECTRICAL WORLD
627
.Miscellaneous News Notes
\\ in I. -- lilt-raph I -til in Con-l rurlion ol Railroad. —
Arrangerm the Australian Minister
for Hem* Affairs, Mr. Archibald, to «-■ (ii i|> four working
. which an- engaged in building the Trans-Australian
Railway, with win 0 that they can keep in tOOcfa
with each other and save time in the exchange of U
•
Operation of 100.000-Volt Plant in India Begun.— On Feb.
Governor of Bombay, India, closed a switch on the
100,000-volt transmision line of the Tata high-head system
and energy was transmitted to Bombay for the first time
from the power house, -I" miles away. This hydroelectric
development WW described in the EUCTRK u. WORLD of
1918.
i oinmittee on Line Construction. — The national joint com-
mittee on overhead and underground line construction will
hold a meeting at the headquarters of the American Institute
of Electrical Engineers, New York, on March 31. The work
of revising the present energy-transmission wire-crossing1
specifications has been divided into sections appropriated to
various sub-committees. Criticisms of any of the clauses of
the present crossing specifications are invited. Mr. R. D.
Coombs is secretary of the committee.
Boston Engineers Discuss Industrial Training. — At a joint
meeting of the Boston sections of the American Institute
of Electrical Engineers and the American Society of Me-
chanical Engineers with the Boston Society of Civil En-
gineers at the Wentworth Institute, Boston, Mass., on Feb.
26, Mr. Walter C. Fish, general manager of the Lynn Works,
General Electric Company, gave an address on "The Respon-
sibility of the Manufacturer for Training of Foremen and
Skilled Workmen." Other speakers were Mr. Henry S.
Dennison, treasurer of the Dennison Manufacturing Com-
pany, Framingham, Mass.; Mr. William B. Hunter, director
of the Fitchburg (Mass.) Industrial School, and Prof.
Thomas N. Carver, of Harvard University.
Examination for Electrical Sub-Inspector. — An open com-
petitive examination for the position of electrical sub-
inspector in the office of the inspector of engineering ma-
terial, United States Navy, Pittsburgh, Pa., will be held
on April 7 by the United States Civil Service Commission.
The salary in this position is $4.16 per day. The duties of
the position cover the shop inspection and testing of all
of generators, transformers, motor generators up to
800-kw rating and other electrical machinery, and the
appointee must be capable of making all calculations and
deductions connected therewith. Those desiring to make
application should apply at once for Form 1312, stating
the title of the examination for which the form is desired, to
the United States Civil Service Commission, Washington,
D. C.
Electrical Engineers' Day at Kansas University. — "Elec-
trical Engineers' Day" was celebrated at the University of
Kansas, Lawrence, Kan., Feb. 25. The program of technical
papers, presented largely by men outside of the university,
was followed by a large banquet in the evening. At the
morning session a paper on "Keeping Standards" was read
by Mr. G. O. Brown, laboratorian of the Kansas City (Mo.)
Electric Light Company, after which a paper on "The Rela-
tion of the Architect to the Engineer" was read by Prof.
Goldwin Goldsmith, architectural engineering department of
the university. At the afternoon session the following
papers were presented: "Arc Lamps," by Mr. D. R. Detwiler,
Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company, Kansas
City, Mo.; "Motor Applications," by Mr. F. R. .lohnson, Gen-
eral Electric Company, Kansas City, Mo.; "Electrolysis." bj
Mr. V. II. Miller, senior student in electrical engineering;
"The i i of Telephone Cables," by Mr. F. B. Uhrig,
W I tern Electric Company, Kansas City; "Construction
Work," by Mr. W. J. Squires, Squires Electric & Construc-
tion Company, Kansas City. At the evening session the
topics discussed were as follows: "The Training of Station
and Substation Operators," by Mr. A. D. Stoddard, Metro-
politan Street Railway Company; "The Transcontinental
Telephone Line," by Mr. H. C. Louderback, Missouri &
Kansas Telephone Company, and "Experiences with Alter-
nating-Current Block Signals," by Mr. W. F. Price, Atchi-
son, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway, Topeka.
Associations and Societies
l mini Gas \ Electric Ceaspaaj Section. N. E. I.. A. —
ipany Section of the National
trie Light Association was formed at a meeting of the
officials and employees of the company held at the offices in
Cincinnati on Feb. 1. The following officers were elected:
Chairman, Mr. F. R. Ilealey; vice-chairman, Mr. Fred E.
Schornstein; secretary, Mr. W. A. Wadsworth; treasurer,
Mr. William L. Krohme.
New York Meeting of the American I'tnsical Society. —
At the Feb. 27 meeting of the American Physical Society.
held at Fayerweather Hall, Columbia University. New York,
the following papers, among others, were presented: "Elec-
trical Characteristics of X-Ray Tul.es," by Ml
Shearer and P. T. Weeks, of Cornell University, and "Re-
sponse of a Silicon Detector to Short Electric Wavi
Prof. Ernest Merritt, of Cornell University.
New York Section, I. E. S.— At a meeting of- the New
York Section of the Illuminating Engineering Society to be
held on March 11, 1915, Messrs. W. G. Grove and L. C.
Porter will present a paper entitled "A Practical Study of
Car-Lighting Problems," in which will be described the work
done under the direction of the New York Municipal Rail-
way Corporation for the standardization of an acceptable
lighting system for railway cars. Mr. Clarence L. Law is
secretary of the New York Section.
Pittsburgh Sections. I. E. S. and A. I. E. E.— At a joint
meeting of the Pittsburgh sections of the Illuminating En-
gineering Society and the American Institute of Electrical
Engineers to be held in the Engineers' Society auditorium,
Oliver Building, on March 9, Dr. R. E. Meyer will read a
paper relating to the manufacture of new types of tungsten
lamps and Prof. H. S. Hower will deliver a lecture on the use
of projector lenses in signal work. Preceding the meeting
a dinner will be served at the Fort Pitt Hotel at (i p. m.
A. I. E. E and A. E. S. — A joint meeting of the American
Institute of Electrical Engineers and the New York Section
of the American Electrochemical Society will be held in the
auditorium of the Engineering Societies Building, New York,
on Friday, March 12, at 8:15 p. m., at which the following
papers will be presented: "Fixation of Atmospheric Nitro-
gen," by Mr. Leland L. Summers, cf the A. I. E. E., and
"The Cyanamide Process," by Mr. Frank B. Washburn, of
the A. E. S. At the close of the technical session a smoker
will be held and light refreshments served in the A. I. E. E.
offices on the tenth floor of the building.
Vermont Electrical Association — The semi-annual meet-
ing of the Vermont Electrical Association was held at
Burlington on Feb. 10. The following officers were elected:
President, Mr. Wilfrid Smith, of Woodstock; vice-presidents,
Messrs. H. D. Larabce, of Montpelier, and E. M. Addis, of
Brattleboro; secretary and treasurer, Mr. C. H. West, of
Rutland; executive committee, Messrs. I. M. Frost, of Rut-
land; E. 11. B'.ackwell, of Brandon; J. P. Prouty, of Newport,
and R. M. McGilvray, of St. Johnsbury. "The Development
of Electrical Engineering" was the subject of a paper read
by Prof. W. H. Freedman to the members of the association.
Midyear Meeting of Empire State Association. — One of
the midyear meetings of the Empire State Gas & Electric
Association was held in the Hotel Utica, Utica, N. Y., on
Feb. 26. Mr. Stuart Wilder, second vice-president of the
association, presided, and about fifty people were present.
The morning session was devoted to the subject of "Gas and
Electric Distribution Maps and Records." The discussion
was opened by Mr. A. R. Wellwood, Poughkeepsie, N. Y.
Forms were presented and explained by Mr. Wellwood, Mr.
G. T. Macbeth, Mount Vernon, N. Y.. ami Mr. Augustus T.
Tbroop, Utica, N. Y. The delegates were entertained at
lunch at the Hotel Utica by representatives of the Utica
Gas & Electric Company. The afternoon session was de-
voted to the discussion of the new order of the Public Serv-
ice Commission, Second District, requiring that uniform
schedules of rates be filed. Many of the delegates wanted
to have information as to the proper use of the forms of
schedules prescribed by the commission. Mr. C. A. Little-
lield. New York Edison Company, described the practices of
companies in the First District commission's territory.
628
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 10
Public Service Commission News
California Commission
Upholding the decision of the commission, the California
Supreme Court decided on Feb. 24 that the city of Stockton
was not vested with the power to grant the Oro Electric
Company a franchise to install and operate an electric plant
in Stockton to compete with the Western States Gas &
Electric Company. On hearing of the decision the commis-
sion stated: "The decision of the Supreme Court finally
sustaining the action of the commission is naturally very
gratifying. The decision means that the commission is now
to have the power, through the right to grant or to deny
certificates of public convenience and necessity, to carry
out its broad, State-wide policies in the regulation of public
utilities."
New York Commissions
Commissioner Milo R. Maltbie, of the First District com-
mission, testifying before the legislative investigating com-
mittee in New York, was asked about a ride to Peekskill
last April with Judge Ransom, of the City Court, in a com-
mission automobile. Mr. Maltbie showed that he paid the
expenses of this trip and that it was the only case in seven
years of service when he had used a public automobile except
on official business. He declared that he had often called
for a taxicab to take him to an accident when the commis-
sion cars were in use, and paid for it out of his own pocket.
"If you strike a balance," he declared, "I will get a dividend."
Mr. Maltbie predicted that if the efforts of the committee
put five inexperienced men in office disaster would result.
Mr. Maltbie also made a statement concerning references
in the proceedings to conferences which he had with Mayor
Mitchel and other city officials. He insisted that that was
the only way in which he could stop action because he had
only one vote, and that he had to tell city officials of matters
of public interest which required their attention. "When
a man is in the minority as I have been, and when he knows
things are being kept from him for weeks, he must take
every means for what he believes right," said Mr. Maltbie.
Mr. William M. Ivins said that sooner or later the com-
mission will have to give up to the Board of Estimate and
Apportionment of the city the rapid transit functions which
really belong to the municipality. The practical situation
has to be considered now, and Commissioner Maltbie was
wise in his statement that delay would result from transfer
of control of the construction work now. Theoretically Mr.
Ivins is in favor of one commission of seven members for
the entire State, three to be from up State, three from New
York City, and one from any part, to act as chairman and
attend to matters affecting both sections. He expressed
strong opposition to a proposal to redraft the entire law.
The law has been on the statute book for nearly eight years,
and in large measure has been interpreted and defined. To
throw it away now would be the greatest economic waste.
He was in favor, however, of careful amendment and of
consolidation of certain sections. Mr. Ivins uttered a warn-
ing, saying: "If we go on as we are doing now and if the
Board of Estimate adopts the policy of its Bureau of
Franchises, it will drive private capital away from public
utilities, and we shall be confronted by the necessity of
adopting State ownership or municipal ownership and pro-
viding for all our utilities out of taxation." Mr. Ivins said:
"They have put so many teeth in this law and filled its
blooming mouth so full it can't chew."
City Controller William A. Prendergast of New Yrork City
defended the work of the commission on subway construction.
The Board of Estimate is so crowded with work that it is un-
able to assume added responsibilities.
I' > i. lint I1. \V. Whitridge, of the Third Avenue Railway
Company, declared that the first commission appointed by
Governor Hughes had made the public service commissions
law ridiculous. The siicoeding commissioners were
"ous and sensible. The first commissioners treated
their large powers like playthings. "Then the commission,"
he added, "got the germ of valuation, ami that delusion runs
down to thi^ day" Mr. Whitri'h" attacked the quasi-judicial
function of the commii lion, saying that it was inconsistent
for it to act as prosecuting attorney, grand jury and judge.
While he would have a commission to regulate corporations,
expenditure to (400,000 or $r>oo,000 a year
and would give it no right to issue orders but merely to
report facts to the courts, which would have discretion in
making orders. "I am sorry," he continued, "to think
that a commission is necessary, but in spite of the ethical
revival government must exercise supervision and do some-
thing to insure publicity. If I were a commissioner I should
send for the right man and tell him what I wanted and, if he
refused, call in the newspapers and have a hearing. I can't
believe wrong could go on if public opinion was against it."
Mayor Mitchel of New York said that he had no amend-
ment of the law to suggest, but that the real question is one
of administration. The administration of the present law
has not been as effective as possible, and he established a
Bureau of Franchises in the office of the corporation coun-
sel. Theoretically it would be advisable to transfer the con-
trol of the construction work from the commission to the
Board of Estimate, but practically it would be inadvisable.
Mayor Mitchel favors the retention of some commission.
He would not express an opinion of the present commis-
sioners and their efficiency except so far as Commissioner
Maltbie is concerned, whom he praised highly.
President George McAneny of the Board of Estimate
agreed in general with the testimony of Mayor Mitchel
and favored the consolidation of the engineering force of
the commission with some city department. He approved
the attitude of Chairman McCall of the commission in keep-
ing the engineering force intact.
Chairman Thompson of the investigating committee read
into the record an inquiry from Governor Whitman as fol-
lows: "If your committee has ascertained from its inquiry
thus far conducted whether the public service commissioners
of the First District have been efficient and have performed
their full duty or have been inefficient and have neglected
their duty either separately or as a body as shown by their
official actions, I would request that you communicate to me
your conclusions."
Mr. Seth Low suggested that in the interest of rapid
transit the Board of Estimate should have one man in the
Public Service Commission. He had opposed the appoint-
ment of Chairman McCall, but must praise him now.
President George B. Cortelyou, of the Consolidated Cas
Company, favored the transfer to the commission of some of
the powers intrusted to the Bureau of Franchises of the
Board of Estimate. The principal desirable change in the
law is its simplification. It is only fair that municipally
operated utilities should be subject to as much regulation
as private corporations and should be compelled to submit
to the same publicity. A glaring defect is the lack of
flexibility in the way in which the commission treats appli-
cations for new issues of securities. Mr. Cortelyou does not
oppose supervision but fears lest supervision may become
actual management. Regulation must stop short of this.
President T. P. Shonts, of the Interborough Rapid Transit
Company, is not in favor of any sweeping changes at pres-
ent in the commission organization. He expressed a very
high opinion of the capabilities of the commission engineers,
but said that it is not in human nature for them to know
the practical operation of a railroad as well as the men who
operate it. He denied that there had been at any time any
conscious endeavor on the part of the company to disobey
the commission's orders, but held that the rule of reason
should be applied to violations of the orders.
President T. S. Williams, of the Brooklyn Rapid Transit
Company, is willing to see construction work on the subway
system transferred at once to the Board of Estimate or a
new city department. The regulatory powers of the com-
mission should be placed under a single-headed city depart-
ment on account of the large interest which the city will
have in the dual system. The State might retain the power
to approve issues of securities and to require public reports.
Without any disrespect, it is Indisputable that not one of
the commissioners had at the time of his appointment any
administrative or technical experience to qualify him for
office. With few exceptions they have been men of sincere
purpose and industry, but they have had to bo educated in
office to the necessarily complicated problems they had to
decide.
Ex-Chairman William R. Willcox thought that it should
not be possible for corporations to go to the courts for writs
of certiorari when ordered to improve service. Ex-Com-
misioners Hassott. McCarroll and Eustis also testified.
Mai;. 11 8, 1910
ELECTRICAL WORLD
629
M.ir> l.iml « iimmission
The commission has received a letter from People*! Coun-
sel Vellott, who is conducting the investigation into rates
of the Chesapeake & Potomac Telephone Company, stating
that he understands that the company purposes to claim a
value for its easements in excess of the amount actually
paid therefor. Mr. Yellott asks the commission's attitude
so that he may act accordingly. In the rate case of the
Consolidated Gas, Electric Light & Power Company of Balti-
more the commission's general counsel, Mr. William Cabell
Bruce, rendered an opinion in which he held that the ease-
ments of the company might be capitalized, although
nothing had been paid therefor. Mr. Philip 1). Laird, then
chairman of the commission, was not in favor of allowing
for easements, but the other two commission members
favored a value of $5,000,000. Mr. Yellott points out that
Section 34 of the public service law apparently forbids the
capitalization of easements for an amount greater than cost.
He points out that the United States Supreme Court held
that a federal act couched in language almost identical with
that of the public service law was null and void. Mr. Yellott
says that in the present case it is not the function of the
commission to interpret the law, that being strictly a judicial
function.
\t» Hampshire Commission
The commission has filed a supplementary report with
the Supreme Court upon the petition of the Grafton
County Electric Light & Power Company for leave to ac-
quire properties of the Lebanon and Mascoma electric com-
panies, operating in Lebanon and Hanover. The com-
mission finds that the proposed consolidation is not in the
public interest; that the present capitalization involved
is $118,000, against a proposed capitalization of $360,000;
and that as the securities of the Lebanon and Mascoma
companies are now held by the Mascoma Light & Power
Company of Maine, the latter corporation can do anything
with the Grafton company that the petitioners could ac-
complish. The board holds that these companies should
remain independent rather than be merged with the result
that local costs and revenues could not be properly deter-
mined. The commission "believes it to be undesirable
that governmental sanction shall be given to the buying
up of public utility properties which have accumulated a
surplus out of rates paid by the public, for the purpose
of merging into a new corporation and capitalizing the
aggregate existing surplus." The appeal to the Supreme
Court will be considered anew, the court having ordered
the commission to determine whether the proposed con-
solidation is in the public interest, prior to deciding an
appeal from previous adverse decision of the board.
Massachusetts Commission
In a decision reducing the rate of the Northampton
(Mass.) Gas Light Company for gas from $1.10 to $1 per
1000 cu. ft., the Gas and Electric Light Commission dis-
cussed rate-making. There was a discrepancy of about
$130,000 between the replacement value of the property as
introduced by the city and the company, and approximately
the same difference between present values. The commis-
sion took the ground that reproductive value affords an un-
satisfactory basis of rates in view of the Massachusetts
practice of restricting original issues of stock to the actual
investment made by stockholders and limiting additional
stock or bonds to such amounts as are reasonably necessary
for the authorized purpose. The commission held that a
reasonable return should be one meeting all necessary and
proper corporate requirements and permitting a reasonable
dividend to the stockholders, bearing in mind the manner
in which the value of the property has been created, the
policy pursued in the issue of securities and the intelli-
gence, honesty and prudence of the management. This will
lead to different results at different times, but is the only
policy in the commission's view which has due regard to
a proper reward for efficiency and affords a stimulus to
managements in the recognition of the common interests
of stockholders and consumers.
The board realizes that the courts have decided rate
cases in which little or no evidence was offered except values
of properties based on reproductive costs, but points out
that the courts have not laid this down as the only test or
held that the trial court or public board whose action is
'lue.-tioiied must reach and state a definite finding as to
value. Other elements are to be considered, and it is fal-
lacious to assert broadly that the cost of reproduction is
the sole controlling test of earning power, especially when
the price yields all that the capital employed under the re-
strictions and limitations of the case has ever required.
In the Northampton case the board is of the opinion that
the rate made will yield enough to provide for all proper
operating expenses, including depreciation and a fair return
upon the value of the property which the company is
actively and necessarily employing for the public con-
venience. The board is also influenced in its decision by
the provision previously made by the company out of its
earnings, by its expenditures for repairs, and by the capac-
ity of the present plant to take care of a considerable in-
crease in output without substantial increase in investment.
The city criticised the rent of an office and appliance store
by the company, but the commission considers this a reason-
able operating expense, although to the extent to which
the office is used for the sale of appliances the rent seems
to be an appliance-marketing expense, and the board holds
that only the net loss, if any, should be thus introduced as
an operating charge.
Ohio Commission
In its annual report for 1914 the commission says in part:
"No state that has ever undertaken regulation through
boards or commissions created for that purpose has ever
contemplated dispensing with them.
"More than $50,000 of this year's expenditures was made
necessary by that provision of the law which obligates the
commission to make physical valuations of the property of
public service corporations upon request of the Council of
the municipality where the whole or major portion of such
property is situated. As the law now stands, the Council is
not required to disclose to the commission, or to any one
else, the purposes for which such valuation is desired, and,
unless the purpose is disclosed, the commission thus far
has proceeded upon the theory that such valuation is to be
made for rate-making purposes.
"Whatever use may be made of valuations in fixing rates
for service either by the commission or by municipal authori-
ties, it is apparent even now, when the work of appraisal of
utilities is but partially completed, that great good to the
utilities themselves, and therefore to the people whom they
serve, is accruing and will accrue, and the commission is
pleased to report that the requirements of the appraisal
order were met by the utilities in a splendid spirit of co-
operation.
"During the year the commission designed and promul-
gated, effective on Jan. 1, 1915, a uniform classification of
accounts for electric utilities privately and municipally
owned or operated. Much of the work done in building this
system of accounts was original in character, but every
principle laid down and every practice followed were sub-
jected to the severest tests, both from the standpoint of the
officers charged with a public duty in the matter of regula-
tion and from the standpoint of the companies charged with
the duty of rendering to the public adequate service at rates
that would justify investments of capital in such enter-
prises. The companies have manifested a willingness to
give the system a fair trial, and it is expected that the ex-
perience of the next few years will demonstrate its essential
soundness.
"The commission believes there should be additional
legislation as follows:
"Giving the commission authority to suspend or postpone
the effective date of all schedules.
"Fixing a definite time for the payment of assessments
levied upon railroads and utilities for the maintenance of
the commission.
"Requiring railroads and public utilities to immediately
notify the commission of changes in the personnel of their
responsible officers.
"Authorizing the commission to order the refunding of
illegal or unreasonable charges by railroads or utilities.
"Exempting the members of the commission and all of its
employees from being required to attend or testify in civil
actions when the matter out of which the action grew has
been officially investigated by the commission or its em-
ployees."
630
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 10
Personal
Mr. C E. Terrill. resident manager at Bucksport, Maine,
of the Penobscot Bay Electric Company, has resigned.
Mr. J. W. Reeve, general manager of the Gainesville
(Fla.) Gas & Electric- Power Company, has been appointed
receiver of the company by the Circuit Court.
Mr. Frank M. Morgan, who for a number of years has
been superintendent of the Adirondack Electric Power
Corporation, Glens Falls, N. Y., has resigned.
Mr. K. P. Benedict, formerly chief engineer of the North-
ampton (Mass.) Electric Lighting Company, has been ap-
pointed commercial manager of the Athol (Mass.) Gas &
Electric Company.
Mr. Harley G. Hard has been appointed manager of the
Boulder office of the Western Light & Power Company of
Denver, Col., succeeding Mr. J. J. O'Donnell, who resigned
to engage in other business.
Mr. Howard 0. St urges has been elected president of the
Narragansett Electric Lighting Company of Providence,
R. I., as successor to Mr. A. L. Kelly, who retired after
seven years' service in that office.
Mr. Herbert L. Harries, who until quite recently was
connected with the Louisville properties of H. M. Byllesby
A Company, has accepted a position with the Central Hud-
son Gas & Electric Company at Poughkeepsie, N. Y.
Mr. Edwin A. Barrows, secretary-treasurer of the Narra-
gansett Electric Lighting Company of Providence, R. I.,
will in addition fill the office of vice-president, made vacant
by the promotion of Mr. H. O. Sturges to the presidency.
Mr. J. F. Wilson, who has been the superintendent of the
Chatham (N. Y.) Electric Light, Heat & Power Plant for
the past eleven years, has resigned and taken the position
of superintendent of the light and power plant at Red
Hook, N. Y.
Mr. H. J. Grey has been appointed superintendent of the
plants of the Oakland Power Company at Clarkston, Mich.,
succeeding Mr. W. C. Clark. The Oakland Power Com-
pany was recently started by former Congressman E.
Denby, of Detroit.
Mr. W. H. Taafe has been appointed chief of the division
of capitalization of the New York Public Service Commis-
sion, Second District, to succeed Mr. H. C. Hopson, resigned.
Mr. Taafe was formerly principal assistant in the division
and has been with the commission since its establishment.
Mr. Niso Ho, of the Tokio Electric Company, is on a
visit to this country to study the latest methods of manu-
facturing electrical equipment. Mr. Ito will spend four
months in the United States and is particularly interested
in the manufacture of electric lamps. His company has
a lamp factory at Kawasaki with an output of about 40,-
000 lamps a day.
Mr. Joseph M. Prior has been appointed acting chief engi-
neer of the Public Utilities Commission of Illinois, succeed-
ing Mr. Robert M. Feustel, whose resignation was recently
r.oted in these columns. Mr. Prior was formerly assistant
chief engineer of the Illinois commission, coming to the com-
mission from the engineering staff of the Chicago, Milwau-
kee & St. Paul Railroad at Chicago.
Mr. H. C. Hopson, who has resigned as chief of the divi-
sion of capitalization of the New York Public Service Com-
mission, Second District, to engage in business relating to
public utilities, has been with the commission for six years
and was in charge of financial and accounting examinations
relating to capitalization, rates and reorganization. For-
merly he was with the Wisconsin Tax Commission and the
Interstate Commerce Commission.
Mr. C. NesMI Duffy, who since his arrival in Manila,
P. I., has evinced an active interest in all that pertains to
< [vie welfare, was the choice of the board of directors of
the Manila Merchant*' Association for vice president. Mr.
Duffy, who is now vice pre idenl and residenl manager of
the Manila Electric Railroad & Light Company, was
formerly connected with the Milwaukee Railway & Light
Company and with the accounting sections of the National
Electric Light Association and the American Electric Rail-
way Association.
Mr. H. A. Steen has been appointed electrical engineer
of the New Jersey Zinc Company's electrical equipment
in Franklin and Ogdensburg, N. J., including power plant,
motor and lamp installations and the transmission system
connecting the towns. Mr. Steen, who is a Norwegian by
birth and who received his technical education at Chris-
tiania, Norway, and at Darmstadt and Karlsruhe, Ger-
many, has been connected with the Westinghouse Electric &
Manufacturing Company, the Allis-Chalmers Company and
the Cutler-Hammer Manufacturing Company as designing
engineer for the last fourteen years.
Mr. G. Wilbur Hubley, superintendent of the electrical
department of the Louisville (Ky.) Gas & Electric Com-
pany, and formerly superintendent and chief engineer of
the old Louisville Lighting Company, has resigned. Mr.
Hubley was connected with the Louisville properties dur-
ing the past twenty-two years, and was formerly asso-
ciated with the Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing
Company of Pittsburgh, Pa. He is a member of the Amer-
ican Institute of Electrical Engineers and the National
Electric Light Association and a past-president of the En-
gineers and Architects' Club of Louisville.
Mr. Henry L. Rice, who was recently elected vice-presi-
dent and manager of the Wisconsin Railway, Light &
Power Company, Milwaukee, Wis., is a native of Massa-
chusetts and was educated there. He began his career
as chemist for the Milwaukee Gas Light Company and
became superintendent of distribution before leaving that
city eighteen years ago. From Milwaukee he went to Nor-
folk, Va., as superintendent of a gas company and was
later made its general manager. Ten years ago Mr. Rice
became general manager of the Western United Gas &
Electric Company at Aurora, 111. When he went to the
Aurora company it was serving ten cities and towns. It
is now serving more than fifty.
Mr. John Montgomery, contract agent of the Western
Canada Power Company of Vancouver, British Columbia,
has accepted the position of superintendent of the "electric
shop" with the Utah Light & Traction Company of Salt Lake
City, Utah. Mr. Montgomery for several years prior to
1908 was commercial agent of the Utah Light & Railway
Company and resigned to accompany Mr. R. F. Hayward
to the City of Mexico, where Mr. Hayward was in charge
of the construction of the Necaxa hydroelectric plant,
which supplies electrical energy to Mexico City. Mr.
Montgomery later accompanied 'Mr. Hayward to Van-
couver, where the later was engaged in the erection of
extensive hydroelectric plants and transmission lines for
the Western Canada Power Company at Stave Falls. The
depression in business occasioned by the war in Europe
and its effect on the British colonies have made it necessary
for the Western Canada Power Company to curtail its
expenses and to dispense with the services of many of its
employees temporarily.
Mr. Walter Robbins, who was recently elected vice-presi-
dent of the Wagner Electric Manufacturing Company of
St. Louis, was born in Mar-
quette, Mich., where he made
his home until after his
graduation from the Uni-
versity of Michigan in 1896.
On leaving the University of
Michigan Mr. Robbins ob-
tained employment with the
Western Electric Company in
Chicago and served that com-
pany in several important
positions until 1905. In the
latter part of that year he
entered the employ of the
Wagner Electric Manufac-
turing Company as assistant
general manager, which posi-
tion lie filled until his recent
wm.tkk kobrins elevation as vice-president.
Mr, Robbins has always taken
a keen interest in things electrical and was one of the lead-
ing spirits in the formation of the League of Electrical
Intel v I of St. Louis, of which he was for a time the
iry.
#
Mak.h 6, 1916
ELECTRICAL WORL D
631
Mr. \\ . S. Ihiima.s. who has just l*en eJPCtod vice-presi-
dent of the Wagner Electric Manufacturing Company, l-
also treasurer of the com-
pany. He was born at
Pleasant Hill, 111., in 1867,
and graduated from the
Normal School at Normal,
111., - hrtng to ill
health he rested for a year
after his graduation and then
entered the employ of a bank
in San Antonio, Tex., where
he remained a year. Return-
ing to Pleasant Hill, he pur-
chased a grain elevator and
subsequently a general-mer-
chandise store. In 1894 he
went to St. Louis and or-
ganized the Aroma Coffee &
Spice Company, of which he
was president and treasurer.
After seven years' service he
sold his interests in that company and accepted a position
as general manager of D. G. Evans & Company. In No-
vember, 1907, he became assistant treasurer of the Wagner
Electric Manufacturing Company and after a few months
was appointed treasurer.
W. S. THOMAS
Obituary
Hiram B. Shoemaker, for twenty years superintendent of
the Martinsburg <W. Va.) Power Company and one of the
prominent electrical men of that section, died Feb. 28 at
the age of fifty-nine years.
John I'. Bodine, vice-president of the Bodine Electric
Company, 564 West Randolph Street, Chicago, died Feb.
'_'•"> at the age of fifty-six years. Bright's disease, from
which Mr. Bodine had been a sufferer, was the cause of
death. Mr. Bodine was associated in business with his
two sons.
John C. Maclnnes, a leading merchant of Worcester, Mass.,
and for many years a director of the Worcester Electric
light Company, died suddenly at his home on Feb. 24, at the
age of sixty-six. He was closely identified with the policy of
new-business development which has brought the Worcester
central station into special prominence during the past few
years.
B. <i. Bernard, president of the Bernard Electric Com-
pany of Troy, N. Y., died suddenly of an attack of heart dis-
ease on Feb. 23. Mr. Bernard, who was one of the best
known electrical jobbers in the State of New York, and who
for many years was one of its most prominent electrical
contractors, was born in St. Louis in 1862. He went to
Troy in October, 1890, and engaged in the electrical busi-
I luring the Spanish-American War he had a contract
with the Navy Department for the wiring of a number of
battleships and cruisers, and for years he controlled some
of the best wiring contracts in the Mohawk and Hudson
River valleys. Mr. Bernard was a member of the Electrical
Supply Jobbers' Association and a member of the Elk and
Masonic orders. He is survived by a widow and a son.
EL A. Russell, of the General Electric Company's San
Francisco office, died suddenly in San Francisco on Feb. 22.
Mr. Russell was born in Sacramento, Cal., April 10, 1860,
and was a graduate of the University of California. He
became connected with the Thomson-Houston Electric
Company in San Francisco in 1890 and left that work in
1802. During the following two years he was successively
associated with the Westinghouse Electric & Manufactur-
ing Company in San Francisco and engaged in mining work
in Mexico. In 1894 he returned to San Francisco and
joined the staff of the General Electric Company, where
he remained until his death. Until about a year ago he
had for some years been manager of the apparatus sales
in the San Francisco district, but more recently had de-
voted his entire attention to the introduction of special
lines of electrical machinery. Mr. Russell was widely
known on the Pacific Coast. He was a member of the
Bohemian Club and of numerous other organizations.
Corporate and Financial
SariffliM Raihraj A Light Preferred Stock offering. —
BodaU & Company, of Providence, are offering at par
I of Springfield (Mo.) Railway A Light Company's
7 per cent cumulative preferred stock.
Oeeaaside fmnpanj to Eaaoe Notes. — The Oceanside Elec-
tric & Gas Company has been authorized by the California
Railroad Commission to issue $12,442 of promissory notes
to refund other notes now outstanding.
Public Securities Company Passes Di\idtnds. — The Public
Securities Company, which was incorporated in New Jersey
110 to finance public utility securities, has passed the
legular semi-annual preferred dividend of 3% per cent.
Alabama Power Bond Offering. — Perry, Coffin & Burr of
Boston and N. W. Harris & Company are offering at 100%,
to yield 5.81 per cent, $2,000,000 Alabama Power Company
first mortgage 6 per cent three-year gold bonds, due on
Feb. 1, 1918.
Montreal Tramways & Power Note Offering. — Potter,
Choate & Prentice of New York are offering at 99 ' 4 and
interest to yield 6.4 per cent $7,000,000 of two-year 6 per
cent collateral-trust gold notes for the Montreal Tramways
iV- Power Company, Ltd. The notes are dated April 1, 1915.
Pennsylvania Water & Power Bond Offering. — Kissell,
Kinnicutt & Company of New York and Drexel & Company
of Philadelphia are offering at 90% and interest to yield
over 5.7 a block of first mortgage 5 per cent sinking-fund
gold bonds of the Pennsylvania Water & Power Company,
due Jan. 1, 1940.
Manila Electric Dividend Reduction. — A quarterly dividend
of 1% per cent has been declared by the Manila Electric
Railroad & Lighting Corporation, payable April 1 to hold-
ers of record March 18. Previous quarterly dividends were
1% per cent. The present dividend places the stock on a
6 per cent basis as against the former 7 per cent basis.
Western Power Plant Operation. — The stockholders of
the Western Power Company have received notice that
90.7 per cent of the company's stock has been deposited
under the adjustment plan, and that the plan is there-
fore declared operative. An additional 4.4 per cent of
stock has been pledged to the plan, making in all a total
of 95.1 per cent. Deposits will be received until March 15.
York Railways Annual Report. — The annual report of the
York (Pa.) Railways Company, Edison Light & Power Com-
pany and York Suburban Land Company for the year ended
Nov. 30, 1914, gives the following consolidated statement:
1913 1914
Gross earnings $767,162 $796,645
Operating expenses $397,530 $40S,142
Allowances for depreciation 16,736 16,916
Taxes 39,900 39.755
Total $454,166 $464. S13
Net earnings $312,996 $331. S32
Interest and bond discount 217,078 223,338
Net income $95,918 $108,494
Asheville Power & Light Annual Report. — The Asheville
(N. C.) Power & Light Company served 3176 customers
with electrical energy and had a total output of 5,786,000
kw-hr according to the annual report for the year ended
Dec. 31, 1914. The company is a subsidiary of the Carolina
Power & Light Company and purchases energy from the
North Carolina Electrical Power Company. Earnings for
1913 and 1914 follow:
1914 1913
Gross earnings $443,265 $396,527
i Iperatlng expenses and taxes 238,468 221,906
Net earnings $204,797 $174,621
Interest 52,607 52,920
Balance $152,190 $121,701
Electric Utility Operations in Montana. — According to
returns of the Public Service Commission of Montana, In-
cluded in the seventh annual report, the investment in
plant and equipment as of June 30, 1914, was $73,786,519.
For the year ended June 30, 1914, operating revenue
amounted to $4,646,846, non-operating revenue to $865,954,
and operating expenses to $1,815,115. The net revenue after
deducting operating expenses was $2,831,731, and the total
net income was $3,697,685. In the report of the Havre
632
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 10
Electric Company depreciation was not included in the
operating expenses, and in the report of the Helena Light
& Railway Company, electric, street-railway and gas reports
were included. Reports were not available from the Bridger
Light & Water Company or from the Glasgow municipal
plant. Of the investment in plant and equipment $45,-
743,647 represented the Montana Power Company. That
company showed $2,130,041 operating revenue, $800,765 non-
operating revenue and $755,581 operating expenses.
Pacific Lighting Corporation Annual Report. — Notwith-
standing the reduction in rates effective on July 1, 1914,
electric sales of the Pacific Lighting Corporation, according
to the annual report for the year ended Dec. 31, 1914, were
$57,121 larger than in 1913. Betterments for the electric
department aggregated $277,769. The 1914 statement is
presented herewith:
Gross income $4,44 3.C65
Expenses 3,028,307
Gross profit $1,415,358
Balance
Depreciation :
Gas department $540,079
Electric department 302,079
Net profit $573,200
North American Company's Annual Report. — The annual
report of the North American Company for the year ended
Dec. 31, 1914, shows the accompanying comparative state-
ment for the years 1914 and 1913. The report also contains
a statement of earnings and the assets and liabilities of the
various companies in which the North American Company
is interested.
1914 1913
Interest received and accrued $610,145 $476,695
Dividends received 1,503. S01 1. 814. 424
Profits and compensation for services 42,377 78,623
Total $2,156,323 $2,369,742
Salaries, legal expenses, net rentals and all
other expenses of administration $77,630 $77,514
Taxes 24,397 26,lfin
Interest paid and accrued 140,173 166. 96s
Sundry accounts written off and reserves.. 5,351 11.53S
Total $247,551 $282,180
Net Income $1,908,772 $2,n
Dividends paid and accrued during year. . . 1,489,665 1,489,665
Balance carried to undivided profits
account $419,107 $597,897
National Carbon Annual Report. — In his annual report to
the stockholders for the year ended Dec. 31, 1914, Mr. James
Parmelee, the president, stated that, notwithstanding the
business depression during a large part of the year, the
company has been able, in view of its diversified products,
to make quite a satisfactory showing. On Jan. 1, 1914, the
company absorbed the allied American Every-Ready Com-
pany, and for the first time this company's earnings have
been included with those of the National Carbon Company.
The company's income and profit and loss statement for
the year is as follows:
N.-t income for year after adjustment of inventory. . . . $2,215,880.
Disposed of in the following manner:
• nils on preferred. . . .■ 372,750
• rids on common 582,930
Depreciation (excluding monthly charges aggregating
$145,619)
Reserve for bonus to employees subscribers to stock. . . . 25,000
Customers' accounts written off 19,708
Credited to profit and loss
Total $2,215,880
Profit and loss :
Sum IMI U.8J
Surplus for the year ended Dec 11,1914
Revaluation and sale of property 1,750,001
Gross surplus $3,905,856
Surplus charge, stock divide nd ol SO per cent on com-
mon, paid March 20, 1914 2,750.000
Surplus Dec. 31, 1914 $1,155,856
hfortb«ni Illinois I'ulilir Service Annual Report. — In the
annual report of the Public Service Company of Northern
Illinois for the year ended Dec. -1, 191 I. Mr. Samuel Instill.
the president, stated that the operating revenue had in-
crease'! |601,766 OT« 1918, while the operating cost had
increased but $58,985. The company has electric service in
139 villages and serves 54,850 customers with electrical
energy, besides doing a large jrns, water and heat business.
The connected load on Dec. 31, 1914, amounted to an equiva-
lent of 2,004,960 standard 16-cp lamps, an increase of
167,330 units during the year. Earnings and expenses were
as follows:
Gross earnings $6,656,899
i rperatlng revenue $5.:'
Merchandise sales and other income 718,766
Expenses (including taxes) 3,656,685
Operating expenses $3,053,655
Cost of merchandise sales and of other income 603,030
Earnings for the fiscal year 1914 $3,000,214
Charges against earnings :
Interest on bonds and notes 1,461,462
Available for dividends (1,638,752
Dividends paid :
Preferred stock 455,280
Common stock 503,125
Surplus for 1914 $580,347
Appropriated out of surplus earnings for the year to
establish an amortization and depreciation reserve... 400,000
Balance carried to surplus $180,347
American Gas Annual Report. — In his annual report to
the stockholders of the American Gas Company, Mr. Morris
W. Stroud, president of the company, stated that since the
beginning of 1915 the board of directors has decided not
to sell the remaining $1,000,000 of three-year 6 per cent se-
cured gold notes, the first million of which was sold last
October. It was decided to keep the notes in the treasury
and to make an allotment of 20 per cent of stock. The stock
allotment will retire all floating debt of the company and
put it in funds for the improvements and extension require-
ments for the year. These requirements include the com-
pletion of the large installations at Chester, Rockford and
Hubbell's Falls. The earnings statement of the company
and its affiliated companies follows:
1914 1913
Gross earnings, affiliated companies $3,764,837 $3,410,976
Operating expenses, affiliated companies. . . 1,967,704 1,789,407
Balance $1,797,133 $1,621,569
Fixed charges, affiliated companies 1,007,894 901,071
Balance $789,239 $720. 49S
Depreciation charges, affiliated companies. 173,421 149,005
Balance $615,818 $571,493
Sundry income items 271,044 248,286
Total revenue, American Gas Company. $886,862 $819,779
Expenses :
Bond interest $142,623
Note interest
Interest on loans 50,228
Expenses and taxes 139,349
334,578 314,268
Surplus $552,284 $505,511
Dividends 374,882 311,596
Net surplus $177,402 $193,915
Standards for Public Utility Investments. — In a recent ad-
dress before the San Francisco Chapter of the American
Institute of Bankers Mr. Paul A. Sinsheimer, bond expert
of the Railroad Commission of California, presented six
standards to be followed or investigated by those investing
in public utility securities — physical, legal, financial, com-
mercial, territorial and managerial. The physical standard
is the plant. The legal standard presents the problem of
franchise, mortgage, agreement, contract, and taxation and
investment status. In any mortgage attention should be
directed to the percentage of additions and betterments
against which bonds may be issued and to the earnings re-
quired as prerequisite to the issue of escrow bonds. The
financial aspect of public utility securities was divided into
valuation, earnings and expenditures. The subject of valua-
tion, while the most important economically, is greatly mis-
understood. The meaning Of the phrase "fair value," as
laid down by the United States Supreme Court in 1898 in the
case of Smythe vs. Ames, is still debatable by rate-making
bodies. The effort in finding value has been and must be to
determine reasonable cost. Under the heading "commer-
cial standard" come market, value of security as collateral
for loans, convertibility and present price. The territorial
standard relates to territory served, condition of monopoly
or competition, diversity, trrowth and possibilities of terri-
tory. The last stnndard, managerial, relates primarily to
type, efficiency and personnel. The public policy, public
Mut< 11 •'., 1916
ELECTRICAL WORLD
633
relationship and general business of the management are
weighed. In dosing, Mr. Sinabeimer drew attention to three
tinea of endeavor of the commission: First, proper pro-
vision for supplementary financing; second, insistence upon
a truthful balance sheet, and, third, elimination of illegiti-
mate profits.
Georgia Ballwaj >v Power Innnal Report. — The annual
report of the Georgia Railway A Power Company for the
year ended Dee, SI, 1914, states that the electrical output
was much smaller than it would have been had the storage
reservoir at Mathis, on the Tallulah River, for use in con-
nection with the Tallulah Falls hydroelectric station, been
completed. Until the reservoir Is completed the station
must depend on the available flow of the river. With the
exception of a small amount of work on the storage reser-
voir, the entire Tallulah Falls hydroelectric development i-
completed. Daring the year $501,522 was expended for
construction work, including $55,410 for the Atlanta Gas
Light Company, a subsidiary. The consolidated statement
follows:
in.- revenue! $6,3
3,828,726
$3,017.4.".?
434,347
Balance $2,583,140
i ith.T income 166,466
Gross income $2,749,576
Deductions:
Interest on l.onds $1,286,527
Interest on notes 60,1 1 1
Extinguishment of discount 8,466
1,305,104
nee $1,444,472
Rental dividends 801,168
Net income $643,304
Sinking fund contributions 102,933
Balance $540,371
Kansas City Reorganization Plan Disapproved. — In the
United States court at Kansas City, Mo., Judge William
C. Hook listened, Feb. 26, to the arguments of attorneys,
representing stockholders, bondholders and other creditors,
in support of their suggestions for the reorganization of
the street railways of Kansas City. The court declined to
approve the plan, and the session adjourned with the inter-
ested parties at wider variance than ever but with a general
confidence that some method of reorganization could be
devised that would avoid foreclosure. The proposed plan
depended chiefly upon a combination of the electric-light
company with the street-railway company so that the credit
of the former could be available as an unencumbered equity
in case of later emergencies. The judge insisted that he
would under no circumstances consent to any arrangement
resembling the operation of a holding company; that the
electric-light company and the street railway must be kept
separate. The court pointed out that the railway company
owned power houses, while the light company had none.
The city, interested in only the street railway property
under the franchise, would, if the suggested plan were
adopted, want to see as large a revenue for energy as pos-
sible, while the light company would want to get its energy
as cheaply as possible. If the city should wish to sell energy
to other concerns besides the light company, it would soon
be competing with itself. The judge also mentioned the
unsettled status of the regulation of rates for energy sold
at the building walls of power houses. The power company
in such cases, he said, was not serving the public; it was
not furnishing light nor hauling passengers. The attorneys
suggested that the regulation of such rates could be at-
tained through the regulation of the rates of the companies
which bought energy at the building walls and served the
public. The court intimated that heretofore and in the
proposed plan the bond and stock and note holders wen
seeking to take the settlement of the affairs of the com-
panies out of the court's hands and to protect only their
own interests. The judge said that, under the franchise
granted, the Kansas City Railways Company must start
out free of debt, and that many obligations must be taken
care of, the creditors in which had not been heard from.
He said the court would see that all interests and creditors
were protected, as well as the bondholders and noteholders.
After the rejection of the plan, attorneys said another effort
would be made to devise a suggestion to present to the
court. Mayor Jost of Kansas City addressed the court
after the opinion was delivered, insisting on his previous
position and on the strict terms of the franchise. The
judge asked explicitly if the Mayor would insist on
the bonds running the full term of the franchise, and
the answer was positive that he would so insist. Both the
judge and the Mayor expressed their opinions that no better
franchise than that granted was obtainable from Kansas
City, and the Mayor added that no franchise would be con-
sidered while he was the city's executive. According to the
plan of reorganization of the Kansas City Railway & Light
Company, the stockholders' interest shall remain as it exists
without assessment. The secured indebtedness of $28,700,000
and the capital requirements are to be provided for as
follows: (a) New twenty-five-year 5 per cent first mort-
gage bonds upon the street-railway property, to be used
exclusively for canceling old bonds and providing necessary
money for future additions; (b) new twenty-five-year 6 per
cent first lien collateral mortgage notes of the company,
to be used for the sole purpose of taking up the debts
due, the electric-light company to be left without a lien
upon its physical property; (c) new twenty-five-year 6 per
cent second lien railway and light notes to raise the §3,-
400,000 necessary for immediate requirements. To accom-
plish this result it is proposed that the $55,000 Corrigan
Consolidated Street Railway Company's 5 per cent bonds
and the $250,000 East Side Electric Railway Company's 5
per cent bonds and the notes to the Kansas City Bank
aggregating $680,000 be paid in cash; the Metropolitan
consols be exchanged at 107 into new street railway bonds
or at par into three-year 5% per cent notes of the railway
and light company; the $10,200,000 railway and light old
refunding 5 per cent bonds be exchanged for the new street-
railway bonds at 107; the $2,000,000 Central Electric Rail-
way Company's bonds be exchanged for the new railway
and light first lien notes at 105, and the $5,478,000 matured
railway and light 6 per cent notes be exchanged for the new
railway and light first lien notes at 105. It was also pro-
posed that the $2,600,000 Kansas City Elevated and the
$500,000 Kansas City & Westport Belt bonds, due respec-
tively in 1922 and 1926, shall rest upon the property with-
out any assumption of liability thereon, but $3,410,000 of
new street-railway bonds shall be set aside for acquisition
of the property securing them. Arrangement has been per-
fected whereby $4,000,000 will be taken in second lien bonds
at 85, and under this arrangement there is reserved to each
stockholder the option to take his pro rata share at the
same price. The readjustment managers named by the
bondholders', noteholders' and stockholders' committees re-
spectively are Kuhn, Loeb & Company and Blair & Com-
pany, of New York, and Lee, Higginson & Company, of
Boston.
Manufacturing and Industrial
The National Pole Company, 741 Peyton Building, Spo-
kane, Wash., has recently moved from 1201 National Build-
ing, Spokane.
The Elux Miniature Lamp Division of the National Lamp
Works of the General Electric Company has recently moved
to 16 East Fortieth Street, New York.
Theobald M. Quinn, 343 Cutler Building, Rochester, N. Y.,
has taken over the business of Morrison & Quinn, Inc.,
engineering contractors, 311 Cutler Building, Rochester,
N. Y.
Ball Bearings from Germany. — The Hess-Bright Manufac-
turing Company, Front Street and Erie Avenue, Philadel-
phia, Pa., reports that it is receiving large quantities of
ball bearings from its Berlin (Germany) works, the total
amount received since Sept. 15 last being 375,000 bearings
of assorted sizes. One large shipment is now en route.
The X-Ray Tube Company, Inc., 100 Fifth Avenue, New
York, is a concern which was recently formed to make
X-ray tubes and chemical glassware. Mr. O. A. Roensch
is president of the company, Mr. M. F. Davis treasurer and
Mr. A. H. Jackson secretary. Mr. Roensch and Mr. Davis
were formerly partners and owners of the Baker X-Ray
Company of 118 East Eighty-seventh Street, New York.
634
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 10
Salesmen's Conference. — Over 200 salesmen of the
National Carbon Company, of Cleveland, Ohio, were present
at a recent conference which was held in the company's
offices and which lasted two days.
Consular Recommendations on South American Trade. —
The Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce of the De-
partment of Commerce has recently issued a twenty-nine-
page bulletin designated as Miscellaneous Series No. 20 and
entitled "Consular Recommendations on South American
Trade."
several motors and automatic-control apparatus; the Read-
ing Transit Company, Reading, Pa., three 185-kva outdoor
transformers; the Arkansas Valley Railway, Light & Power
Company, Pueblo, Col., three 150-kva outdoor transformers;
the Tennessee Power Company, Chattanooga, Tenn., one
200-kva transformer; the Chattanooga Railway & Light
Company, Chattanooga, Tenn., one 300-kva transformer; the
Hershey Transit Company, Hershey, Pa., several portable
railway equipments; the Public Service Railway Corpora-
tion, Newark, N. J., thirty-five quadruple equipments and
The Kerr Turbine Company. Wellsville, N. Y., has ap- contro1 apparatus,
pointed Mr. J. S. Huey as its district sales agent for Sanguine of Business Outlook in Southwest.— In corn-
Louisiana and southern Mississippi. Mr. Huey was for- menting on general business conditions in Texas and the
merly connected with the Allis-Chalmers Company and Southwest, Mr. Charles W. Hobson, president and general
Woodward Wight & Company. His headquarters will be manager of the Southwest General Electric Company, Dal-
ai lis Hibernia Bank Building, New Orleans, La. las, Tex., formerly the Hobson Electric Company, has cx-
L. B. Marks and J. E. Woodwell, consulting engineers, 103 Passed himself in the following optimistic terms: "Busi-
Park Avenue, New York City, announce that they will dis- ness m the Southwest is gradually getting better; in fact,
solve partnership on May 1. Mr. Woodwell will locate his ln some sections it is good. I think the Southern people
offices at 8 West Fortieth Street, where he will continue the hult themselves seriously by talking too much. Conditions
general practice of consulting engineering, and Mr. Marks were never so bad as was generally believed. Texas has
will retain his offices at 103 Park Avenue and will specialize ralsed a ^ood cotton croP and has, received a better price
as heretofore in illuminating engineering. than the average for it; that is, better than the average
„ . . ... _, _, , „, _. price paid during the last ten or twelve years. The cotton
Manufacturer of Vacuum Cleaners Enlarges Plant.-The merchants of Dallas have paid out $10,000,000 more for
Sterling Machine & Stamping Company, Wellington Ohio, cottQn gince ^ September than they did during the same
has recently let contracts for another factory building, iod ft while cotton ig norninall ted at a
which is to be erected at once When the building is com- ]ower ice than g the deg are fine and
pleted the company will have three large buildings for the . . r, . * „„ J, c ~~_* *~ n tk * iw t *i
r , . ; , m, „*-. • „• .., cotton brings from 0.5 cent to 0.75 cent per lb. more than
manufacture of vacuum cleaners. The Brilliant vacuum the nomina, tation Twelve months however, the
cleaner, which this company is making, was described in deg were and the actua, ga,es were 10 cent tQ
the Electrical World June 7, 1914. 25 per cent £gs than nomina, quotations. Texas has been
The Usona Manufacturing Company has recently been fortunate in having a good grain crop and foodstuffs of all
granted charters under the laws of New York and Ohio. kjnds. Practically all surplus horses have been sold at
The company is manufacturing flashlamp cases, batteries, fancy prjces to foreign governments, and cattle are also
lamps and battery lanterns. Its Eastern office is at No. 1 bringing good prices. Fundamentally Texas is perfectly
Hudson Street, New York, and its Western office at No. sound> and it should be prosperous. I feel confident that we
1012 Monroe Street, Toledo, Ohio. The incorporators of have passed through the worst and that business will
the New York company are Messrs. G. G. Beers, F. Stout steadiiy improve. My prediction is that within twelve
and W. Carell, of New York City. months from now we shall be in an unusually prosperous
The Boiler Insulated Wire Company, 122 Curtis Street, condition. A few months ago people generally believed that
Chicago, 111., which was recently organized, is engaged in there would be no market for cotton and that money would
the manufacture of enameled silk-covered and cotton-covered be very scarce. The facts are exactly to the contrary, not
magnet wire ranging in size from No. 16 to No. 40 B. & S. only in Texas but throughout the South generally. The
gage. It is also making various types of coil windings. much-talked-of $135,000,000 cotton pool was dissolved on
The officers of the company are: President. Mr. P. Boiler; Feb. 1, having made loans to the extent of only $28,000, and
vice-president and sales manager, Mr. L. G. Ross; secretary, an 0f this in one locality in Alabama. The Texas banks
Mr. A. P. Boiler; treasurer, Mr. W. M. Boiler. The company have large reserves and are in a position to take care of
has sales agencies in New York and other cities. all legitimate demands for money from business people. A
Rubber-Covered Wire Twenty Years After. — Pieces of the widespread interest is being taken here in having Texas
Okonite rubber-covered wire which formed part of the raise more foodstuff, and the present year will undoubt-
original lighting system installed in the Holy Name Cathe- edly show a very large return from crops of this character.
dxal, Chicago, twenty years ago, were recently removed The business of the Southwest General Electric Company
and tested by the city department of electrical inspection. has suffered to some extent, but our showing for the year
The insulation withstood an immersion test of 15,000 volts 1014 was very satisfactory and I am confident that it will
and showed a unit strength of 526 lb. per sq. in. The braid be equally good this year."
and insulation appeared in good condition and successfully
withstood the bending and other tests required of present-
day insulations. NEW Y0RK METAL market PRICKS
The Best Electric Company, Pittsburgh, Pa., has appointed , Feb. 2S * - m
Mr. Fred W. Godfrey to look after its sales in New York, gefflng Prta» |eWne F
eastern Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland and Copper E I s d
la, and Mr. J. O. Corbett to look after its sales in London, etandarf •*•■.•;••■ l466*aH to 14.87 V4 14
western Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, Kentucky, Blectrolytli 14.66 to 14.66 14.60 to 14.60
> and Tennessee. Mr. Godfrey was formerly ^ con- g-gff^"^;::::::::: [ M*»$£M "^MtV"'
nected with Nagel & Company, of Toledo, Ohio, and with the r^ead 3.90
Bryan-M:,, h Company, and is well known in the electrical Nickel ..... .. .... 40.00 toffi.oo <S>M to '
business throughout the States of Ohio and Indiana. Mr. sp.u.r ipot S.sot
Corbett was formerly connected with the Economy Fuse & |^t. Un „ „„« ,
Manufacturing Company. Both Mr. (.odfrey and Mr. Cor-
betf arc statesmcn-at -large in the Jovian Order. -OLD METALS
Order for Electrical Apparatus. — The Wcstinghouse Klec- Haav] copper and wire 12.50 13. no
tried Manufacturing Campany, Bart Ftttabargfa, P*., baa J^SIuSm" hi :'
recently received orders for the following equipment: The Lead, haav) !! !;'.!,
Rapid Transit Company, New York, six Bald- Bno, aorap fion
control motor equipments and automatic battel •>• -cunt ml COPPER EXPORTS
apparatus, which will DC Mad ill the Belmont -Steinway nxporta of copper In form of pip. Ingota, bare, platw
tunnel ; the Oakland. Antinch .V !■ ilways Company. I & KB 10, 1816 ..18,286,86410
luadrople 100 hp naoton and control; .,,. am ,„, ,i„. x,,„ v,,.k data! BKohaage.
the Los Angela oV Ban Diego Beach EtaUiraya Company, tNoi
Mak< h 6, 1916
ELECTRICAL WORLD
635
New Incorporations
I Ik I iM I.I l; hi \ POWCI ' umpam. it, Ark., hus
organized to build an electric-lighting plant In I
The officer! are: M. Young. D. Jenkins,
t, and J. H. Bagan, secretary.
III. J . fT. r-uii « cm ii t > I l.ctric Company, of Louisville.
Ky., has been incorporated with a capital stock of $5,000.
The officers arc: Soke Smith, president; John F. Boyson,
vice-president, and Joseph A. Jokohy. secretary and b
urer.
I he \1 1 — . ■ it r i | Southeastern I t ilil ics ( ompany. of Blythe-
ville, Ark., has been incorporated with a capital stock of
|450,000 fur the purpose of building electric and gas gen-
g plants. The officers are: W. HoUipeter, presi-
dent; A. (J. Little, vice-president, and P. E. Cooley, secre-
tary.
New Industrial Companies
The V. \. I). Klectric (Ompany, of Franklin, Ohio, has
been incorporated with a capital stock of $10,000 to deal
in electrical specialties of all kinds. The incorporators are
John Van Home, T. C. Duboise and others.
The Sohm Electric Company, of Chicago, 111., has been
incorporated by Fremont Arnfield, Warren Pease and
Luther P. Swanstrom. The company is capitalized at $50,-
000 and intends to deal in electrical devices and equipment.
The Hobrecht Company, of Sacramento, Cal., has been
incorporated with a capital stock of $25,000 by J. C.
Hobrecht, Lillie M. and P. J. Hobrecht and G. S. Pearce.
The company intends to conduct a general electrical supply
business in Sacramento.
The L'niversal Electrical Equipment Company, of Dayton,
Ohio, has been organized with a capital stock of $50,000
by R. H. Croninger, Carl F. Brockway and others. The
company purposes to establish a plant to manufacture a
variety of electrical devices.
The American Glass Specialty Company, of Warren, Ohio,
has been incorporated by Harvey and J. F. Quackenbush,
Henry C. Weber, Frank H. Hoffstetter and Clyde B. Little
The company is capitalized at $10,000 and proposes to
manufacture incandescent lamps.
The Nouveau Lamp Company, of Lincoln, Cal., has been
organized for the purpose of manufacturing ornamental
lamps of all kinds, electroliers, etc. R. B. Keeler is presi-
dent and P. B. Hongelli vice-president. The factory and
sales department will be in Lincoln.
The Usona Manufacturing Company, of New York, N. Y.,
has been incorporated with a capital stock of $10,000 to
manufacture and deal in mercantile, metal specialties and
electrical equipment. The incorporators are W. F. Carell,
G. G. Beers and F. Stout, of Plainfield, N. J.
George E. Ryan, of New York, N. Y., has been granted
a charter, with a capital stock of $5,000, for the purpose
of doing a general electrical contracting business. The
incorporators are George E. Ryan, Robert A. Jackson and
Frank E. Holahan, 501 Tremont Avenue, New York.
J. Nolle, Incorporated, of Brooklyn, N. Y., has filed
articles of incorporation with a capital stock of $5,000
to conduct a contracting electrical-engineering business
and deal in supplies. The incorporators are Otto R. Ber-
ger, Marie I). Kaiser and Julius Nolte, 299 Putnam Avenue,
Brooklyn, N. Y.
The Transport Tractor Company, of Queens, N. Y., has
been incorporated with a capital stock of $100,000 to manu-
facture motor vehicles, engineering appliances, etc. The in-
corporators are Alexander Moffatt, 11 Cedar Court, Flush-
ing; Frederick B. Stimson and Frederick J. Stimson, 109
East Seventy-first Street, New York, N. Y.
Industrial Research, of New York, N. Y., has been
chartered with a capital stock of $10,000 by Lloyd H.
Reed, E. C. Gossman and C. L. Hepburn, 144 East Twenty-
second Street, New York. The company proposes to fur-
nish expert service and advice in mechanical engineering,
chemical, electrical and scientific problems.
Trade Publications
Direct-Current Motors. — Bulletin No. 125 prepared by the
Robb Company, Springfield, Ohio, describes and
illustrates its type "('" direct-current motor.
Portable Lamp. — The Leindorf Electric Light Company,
l'l'ii West Forty-second Street, New York, has prepared a
booklet which de portable electric lamp.
I'nderfeed Stoker. — The Combustion Engineering Corpo-
ration, New York, has just issued Bulletin E-2, which de-
Bcribes and illusti. "E" underfeed stoker.
Klectric Lantern. — The Beacon Miniature Electric Com-
pany, 118 Duane Street, New York, has prepared a leaflet
which contains information on its "Friar" electric lantern.
Washer with Inverted Drive. — The Haag Brothers Com-
pany, Peoria, 111., has published a folder which contains
information on an electrically operated washer with inverted
drive.
Vacuum Cleaner. — The Doty Manufacturing Company,
Dayton, Ohio, has prepared a folder which describes and
illustrates its light-weight electrically operated vacuum
cleaner.
Miniaturt-Lamp Signs. — The second edition of Catalog
No. 7, recently issued by Harvey Deschere & Company, 1501
Garden Street, Hoboken, N. J., contains information on its
"Argus" signs.
Long-Distance Recording System. — Bulletin 192, recently
published by the Bristol Company, Waterbury, Conn., de-
scribes and illustrates its long-distance electric transmitting
and recording system.
Electric Fan. — The Sprague Electric Works of the General
Electric Company, 527 West Thirty-fourth Street, New York,
are sending out a folder which describes several of its elec-
trically operated fans.
Glassware for Nitrogen-Filled Lamps. — Decorative glass-
ware for high-efficiency incandescent lamps is described in
a leaflet issued by the Lensed Electric Shade Company, 100
Warren Street, New York.
Electric Incubators and Hovers. — The Lo-Glo Electric In-
cubator Company, 76 Greenwich Street, New York, has pre-
pared an illustrated catalog which describes its electrically
heated incubators and hovers.
Miniature Lamps. — H. W. McCandless & Company, of the
Westinghouse Lamp Company, 67 Park Place, New York,
have issued a catalog which lists and illustrates various
types of miniature tungsten lamps.
Motor Applications. — The Mechanical Appliance Company,
Milwaukee, Wis., has issued an attractively illustrated
forty-eight-page catalog which shows a number of different
kinds of machines operated by Watson motors.
Direct-Current Automatic Motor Starters. — The Allen-
Bradley Company, 495 Clinton Street, Milwaukee, Wis., is
sending out Bulletin B-7, which contains information on its
type Z automatic starters for direct-current motors.
Sockets. — The Weber Electric Company, Schenectady.
N. Y., for which Henry D. Sears, 131 State Street, Boston,
Mass., is general sales agent, has prepared a booklet which
contains information on various types of its interchangeable
sockets.
Water-Softening Apparatus. — The Harrison Safety Boiler
Works, Seventeenth Street and Allegheny Avenue, Philadel-
phia, Pa., is sending out a bulletin designated as Engineering
Leaflet No. 17, which contains information on apparatus
for softening hard water.
Large-Sized Diesel Engine. — A bulletin just issued by the
Busch-Sulzer Brothers-Diesel Engine Company, St. Louis,
Mo., contains information on its type B vertical, four-cylin-
der, single-acting, four-stroke-cycle, inclosed-crank-case,
medium-speed Diesel engine.
Compressed-Air and Vacuum-Cleaning Apparatus. — The
Blaisdell Machinery Company, Bradford, Pa., has just issued
its latest general catalog which contains information on
various types of its small machines. Many kinds of air
compressors and vacuum cleaners are described in this
catalog, which is profusely illustrated.
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 10
Construction News
New England
AUGUSTA, MAINE— The City Council
has accepted the proposal of the Central
Pwr. Co., of Augusta, to replace the
Sarc lamps with 600-cp nitrogen-
indescent lamps and the 60-cp in-
ips willi lamps of 250 cp.
BELFAST, MAINE. — Plans are
complete for the development of 600 addi-
tional hp bv the Penobscot Bay El. Co. at
.man lower mill site in East Belfast,
on which work will begin as soon as the
weather will permit. The plans include the
construction of a small concrete and brick
Ing station and dam above the exist-
ing plant of the company at tidewater.
I IN, MASS.— The stockholders of
mi EL lllg. Co. of Boston have
voteil to authorize the directors to petition
the Massachusetts Gas & Electric bight
Commissioners for authority to issue 20,840
additional shares of capital stock, the
proceeds to be used for extensions to sys-
tem.
Middle Atlantic
ANGOLA. N. Y. — The Public Service
Commission has granted the Niagara &
Erie Pwr. Co., Marine National Bank
Building, Buffalo, permission to erect elec-
tric transmission and distribution lines in
the village of Angola.
BROOKLYN, N. Y. — The contract for
electrical equipment in new Public School
SO, borough of Brooklvn. has been awarded
to the Jandous EL Equip. Co., 109 West
Thirty-flrst Street. New York, at $10,253.
BROOKLYN, N. Y. — Bids will be received
by George W. Wingate, president public
recreation commission, Municipal Building,
New York, N. Y., until March 11 for fur-
nishing and installing the electrical work
and gas piping and all work Incidental
thereto required in connection with the con-
struction and completion of the proposed
Betsey Head memorial playground and
recreation center, situated in Brownsville,
borough of Brooklyn. Blank forms of pro-
posals and further information can be ob-
tained on application to the above office.
BROOKLYN, N. Y. — Bids will be re-
ceived by C. B. J. Snyder, superintendent of
school buildings, Department of Education,
corner of Park Avenue and Fifty-ninth
Street, New York, N. Y., until March 15 as
follows : For moving-picture booth, altera-
tions, repairs, etc., and electric work at
Public School 5. Tillary, Bridge and Law-
rence Streets ; also for motion-picture booth,
alterations, repairs, etc., and electric work
it Public School 158, Belmont Avenue, Ash
91, borough of Queens, has been awarded
to the Jandoua El. Equip. Co., 109 West
Thirty-flrst Street, New York, at $9,268.
NEW TORE, N. Y. — Bids will be received
bv J. T. Fetherston, commissioner of street
.. Municipal Building. New York,
until March 8 for furnishing 12 tractors.
Blank forms and further information may
be obtained at the office of the Department
of Street Cleaning. Municipal Building,
New York.
RIVERHEAD. N. Y — The Riverhead El.
Lt. Co. will soon install one 19-in. by 20-in.
Skinner universal engine directly connected
to a 140-kw, two-phase, 60-cycle, 2300-volt
generator. F. Carl Hallett is manager.
WEST WINFIELD, N. Y. — Preparations
are being made by the West Winfleld El.
Co for the construction of an electric-
light plant. The equipment of the proposed
plant will consist of a 50-hp Foos vertical
gas engine, 30-kva Westinghouse alter-
nating-current engine, with switchboard
complete, and IS WTestinghouse transform-
ers The pole line will require 100 poles
and 15 miles of wire. Westinghouse meters
will be used. The street-lighting system
will consist of 45 60-watt nitrogen lamps.
The work will be done by the company.
F. B. Mead, of Stamford, is engineer in
charge.
ALLENTOWN, PA.— The contract for
electrical work in the new High School
building has been awarded to the Watson-
Flagg Engineering Co.. 27 Thames Street.
New York. N. Y., for -$37,580, and for heat-
irg, power and ventilating plant to J. H.
Cooney & Co., of Harisburg, Pa., at $58,78 1.
GLEN RIDDLE, PA. — The motive power
of the manufacturing plant of the estate
of Daniel Lee is being changed from steam
to electricity. The contract for equipment
has been placed with the Western El. Co.,
and includes a steam engine, one 100-kw
direct-current generator with switchboard,
etc. W. E. S. Dyer is engineer in charge.
McCONNELLSRURG. PA.— The McCon-
nellsburg water plant, it is reported, has
ben acquired by a syndicate headed by k. K.
Shollenberger and W. J. Stokes. The former
is manager of the Hamburg Gas & EL Co.,
■which furnishes electricity and gas in Ham-
burg, Shoemakersville, Mohrsville. Leesport,
Centerport, and other towns in that vicinity.
PHILADELPHIA, PA.— Mayor ; Elanken-
burg has submitted to the Councils a draft
of an ordinance providing for the removal
of all overhead electric wires on all streets
and allevs in the center of the City between
Vine and South Streets and the Delaware
and Schuylkill Rivers, on or before Jan. 1,
1917.
PHILADELPHIA. PA— Bids will be re-
ceived, by M. L. Cooke, director department
of Woolwine, is said to be interested in the
project.
WASHINGTON, D. C— Bids will be re-
ceived at the office of the purchasing
agent of the Post Office Department, Wash-
ington, D. C, until April 7. for stationery,
etc. ; computing, baling, addressing, num-
bering, canceling, opening, adding and per-
forating machines, time recorders, leather
belting; electric supplies (motors, carbons
and fuses), castings, oils and chemicals,
and motor-vehicle supplies, as may be or-
dered for the use of the Postal Service from
time to time during the fiscal year begin-
ning July 1, 1915. Blanks for proposals
with specifications will be furnished upon
application to the purchasing agent. A. S.
Burleson is Postmaster-General.
WASHINGTON, D. C— Bids will be re-
ceived at the Bureau of Supplies and Ac-
counts, Navy Department, Washington, D.
C, until March 9, for furnishing at the
various navy yards and naval stations sup-
plies as follows: Newport, R. I., Schedule
7947 — 20,000 ft. electric cable. Brooklyn.
N. Y., Schedule 7940 — 800 Leyden jars.
Washington, D. C, Schedule 7934 — one 50-
hp induction motor ; Schedule 7946 — 2000
ft. flexible copper tubing. Bids will be re-
ceived at the same place until March 16
as follows : Brooklyn, N. Y., Schedule 7953 —
10)4-in. portable electric drills. Philadel-
phia, Pa., Schedule 7977 — miscellaneous
electric cable. Newport, R. I., Schedule
7978 — two overhead trolley hoists. Nor-
folk, Va., Schedule 7979 — three portable
geared pneumatic hoists ; Schedule 7968 —
miscellaneous steel boiler rivets ; Schedule
7969 — miscellaneous hard and soft sheet
copper. Brooklyn, N .Y., Boston, Mass .
and Charleston. S. C, Schedule 7969 — cold-
rolled sheet copper. Brooklyn, N. Y., and
Philadelphia, Pa., Schedule 7970 — miscel-
laneous copper tubing and miscellaneous
composition unions. Bids will also be re-
ceived until March 30 for the following
supplies : Mare Island. Cal., Schedule 7930
— miscellaneous water-tight annunciators,
miscellaneous 12-in. water-tight general
alarm gongs, one electric whistle outfit, mis-
cellaneous thermostats, one water-tight rud-
der angle transmitter ; Schedule 7932 — four
steam turbine-driven blowers ; Schedule
7931 — two feed-water heaters; Schedule
7929 — two electric traveling hoists. Puget
Sound, Wash., Schedule 792S — one linseed-
oil meter, two duplex boiler-feed pumps,
portable hand pumps and two steel storage
tanks. Applications for proposals should
designate the schedule desired by number.
WASHINGTON, D. C. — Foreign trade op-
portunities are announced by the Bureau
of Foreign and Domestic Commerce in the
Commerce Reports as follows: No. 15.684 —
An American business firm in New York has
informed the Bureau of Foreign and Do-
mestic Commerce that a representative of
a group of Russian capitalists who are in-
terested in the exchange of commodities
iKAl, [SLIP, N. Y. — The Town
Board of Islip has granted the petition of
the taxpayers of Central islip to establish
a lighting district for this village.
MASSF.N'A. X. Y. — The Public Service
Commission has approved the franchises of
tl... si Lawrence Transmission Co. of
I., extend Itfl transmission lines
orfoll to B nni n Falls, there to
Connect with the line of the Northern Pwr.
i from Massena north to the Cana-
,M,,n border, where connection is made with
Rapids Transmission
Co. of Cai
MiNHTT'i. n\ T. — The Public Service
■Ion has approve,! a plan for utiliz-
ing a large water-power at Minetto. owned
ii.i Mills and to be li
Lockport * ' mtario I ■•- i Co
tor use on Its Syracuse and
through the organ
..,,,1,11, to develop the power. The
stork oi known as the
,,, New York Pwt Corpn., is to be
I !olumb!a Mill! Co. In part
ts etc. Specifications and blank forms
on which bids must be made can be ob-
tained upon application at the office of the
i of Highways. Room 232, City Hall,
Philadelphia,
STK'HTDSBURG. PA.— Plans are being
considered by the Frisbie Lumher Co., of
StrOUdSbUTg, for B large addition to its
power plant. The proposed improvemnts
will include the erection of a power station,
the Installation of a large electric generator
,,,,i the construction of a brick conduit, 6 ft.
In diameter and about 250 ft. long.
ri UNPIELD, N. J.— Rids will be re-
celved al the ■•■ of the supei vising archi-
tect Treasury Department, until April 2 for
construction, Including mechanical equip
,,,: iii lighting fixtures and appro
thi i nlted Stati i poi I ofl al "'
\ .i i irawlm t and I
ed ■ ibe
Indian Of site at 1'lalnlleld.
hltecl
l: \l ,TI Mi IRB), Ml I James Stewart
ntnster Building, Chicago
i i ii iii.
,i iv be
li, mi i :
I 1 Well.lei ,.|ll IS
111
ment of ~
American consular officer that it is desired
to purchase motor-driven street-, I
machinery. It is stated that plans and
specifications may be seen at the Greek
i in Washington and that arrange-
ments may be made to demonstrate Ameri-
hinerv to a representative of the
i Legation. No. 16,699 — An American
consular officer in a Mediterranean Sea city
reports that a i light company
has requested him to secure full particu-
lars, specifications, etc., for a 100-hp elec-
H Possible date of delivery should
also be stated. No. 15.714 — An American
■ ■mi ni. ii officer in Europe reports that a
business man In his district desires to rep-
manufactui i
m] pumps, partlcularlj the tell contained
u ,„. opei itlng bj dlrei I el
londence should be In
Spanish. No. 16,749 \ business man In
ne of the
Foreign
,IMi [>on roe that he is nego-
nments -
NEW YfiltK. N. Y. — Rob
asked the I
, r,,r $1,000,1 i "nslruc-
i in system In the DOT
OUgtl of Ma lit
loners.
i ; ati: city. VA I H Hoi ■ of Qate
I i. poi ted Is eonti mptatlng the
• ilric-llghtlng plant
I UT. VA. — The Insl i
the neutral European countries reports that
there Is needl 1 iOOO tons of copper for local
consumption. The Department of State has
, ,1,1, ,1 for names and addresses of In!
firms. When n Ived they may he nb-
'■,',:';;;;' SSsS &2SJST&"iw&&£iite
lulpnamt In new Public Behooi to be under consideration
Mak< h •;, 1916
K LEC1 RICA L WORLD
637
commei
elKn and Die.
a
ll la stat) d I
plant should l if submitted.
h will be
In Eng-
Korelgn
iiformed
.mil Domestic
lion with A
era of kerosene.
pparatus,
sinali lighting nill machinery,
of farn ,793 — The
mmerce
agents
that ■ I
be In a
railway signal
i, .mlii be
■ant at i pondence shun
ormatlon may be ob-
on tn the liureau of
Depart-
Washlngton, D. C, or
North Central
ALPENA, MM'll- Plans are being pre-
pared by I r McNeil for the pro-
Street-
lighting system, lo cost about $10,000.
DETRi 'IT. MICH
at the ollice of the supervising architect,
irtment, Washington, D. C
until March SO for the installation of an
•reight elevator, etc., in the exten-
sion of the United States post of)
court house In Detroit. For details see pro-
posal columns.
GRAND RAPIDS. MICH— Bids, it is re-
ported, will be received by B. I Pi
retary of light and power commission.
Grand Rapids, until March 1" fur pumping
equipment for municipal electric plant, con-
sisting of two 40-hp, 2200-volt, three-phase
motors for driving two pumps of 750-gal.
capacity per minute.
OVID, MICH. — The managers of the
municipal electric-lighting plant are con-
templating the purchase of an electrically
driven pump for the water-works depart-
No within the next six months to
electrical appliances, including
and cooking apparatus, vacuum
washing m B. A.
Wilkinson is superintendent.
PETOSKET, MICH.— Preliminary steps
taken b) the Departmenl of Elec-
tricity oi ioi ted, to develop
a large hydroeh lies above
ere it is estimated tl
1500 lip i. be developed. Wink,
it is understood, Will In-Kin as soon as the
TRAVERSE CITY, MICH.— The electric
i • considering the In-
stallation oi a 400-kw mil'
an auxll present hydroelectric
installatloi ( iifford is
■ ndenl
\i i.\. i nib ' The Ada lit & l.t, Co. ex-
vitliin the next six
months a boibr for its plant. Charles Wood
' il manager.
BUCTRUS, ''III''.— The Bucyrus l.t &
Pwr. Co. has placed orders for or.
General Electric turbine unll complete, with
switchboard panels, one 25-kw ex'
new water-tube boilers, condensers ami aux-
A G. Moser is superintendent.
i\i .1/.. i .mi . The . i. • ti ic plant of the
Cadiz El l.t .v Pwr ''" waa
I | i i .- . i..- - o
110,000,
CHICAGO JUNCTION, "111" Within
the Hoard of Trus-
expecta to purchase
.1 pumping machinery lor Hn- mu-
ll ami water-worke
E K, McMorrla is clerk of board
CINCINNATI, i '11 K). — The contract for
I work In the ten-story office build-
ing I., be ere. ted at Sixth ami Sycamore
has been awarded to the Beattie
i'.i . of Cincinnati.
CLEVELAND, OHIO Downtown suh-
urnlshlng direct-current serv-
ice are to be erected by the municipal
lighting division with a portion of the
I for ex-
tensions to the municipal electrlc-llght
plant
ELAND, Him i Plana, it Is re-
ileveland
I, for the
' Ion of a [v. ■ r house
■
v.inl Avi -I Forty-nim
.ELAND, OHIO B
: i "i t \ 11. ill.
March IX,
Hie lllll-
I tin, nt. in ac-
which may be
of light ami heat division. Ill:: East Third
-
MTDDLETOWN, OHIO. Plans for the
tern, in-
ntaJ lamps for the business
district, providing for a ten-year contract,
• ;. the City Coramis-
< oinmission has been
Instructed to advertise for bids for
SALTNEVTLLE, I 'lib I u Ithin I
six months tin- Ballnevtlle El. l.t., Ht. A
BtS to purchase one 75-kw
Westing-house single-phase, 60-cycle, lioo-
volt belted generator (second band) P. s
general manager.
SOUTH SOLON, < >HIO.— The City Coun-
cil has granted the Washington Gas &
EL Co., oi Washington C. H . a frai
BUppl] electricity in South Solon. Work
will begin mi the system as soon as the
company secures the right-of-way for ex-
tension of its transmission line.
EMMA, KY— The Floyd Mining Co., re-
cently Incorporated, contemplates develop-
1 acres of mining lands, and pro-
poses, it is reported, to install an electric
.tor.
HICKMAN, KY.— The Pub. Ser. Co. of
Western Kentucky, of Hickman, will install
a centrifugal pump, having a capacity of
100 gal. per minute, in its plant within the
next few weeks W. C. Morehead is vice-
NEWPORT. Kl Chris. Ebert. commis-
sioner of public safety, is advocating a plan
for the construction of a joint light and
nt for the use of the cities of
Covington and Newport.
COVINGTON, IND. — Bids will be re-
ceived by Charles A. Baldwin, city clerk,
Covington, until March la for the installa-
iven generating unit,
ird and street-lighting
equipment. The cost of the work is esti-
mated al ■
MITCHELL, IND.— The City Council is
to be considering rebuilding the
municipal electric-light plant. H. A. Miller
is superintendent.
CHICAGO, ILL. — The Farrar Pump &
Machinery Co., Granite Building, St. Louis,
imitted the lov I he erec-
tion of the South Quincy Drainage and
ilatrict pumping plant, including the
construction of power house and furnish-
ing two 36-ln. centrifugal pumps, electri-
cally driven The amount of the bid was
CHICAGO, ILL. — Bids will be received
bv John McGlllen, clerk of the Sanitary
District Of i 'Imago, 700-910 South Michigan
Chicago, 111., until March 18 for
pole ere n and line construction in the
streets of the citj of Chicago, according to
ideations which may be ob-
' id al ■ the Sanitary District.
i proposal columns.
NOKOMIS, II. I.. -Judge Thomas Jett of
tin Circuit Court has granted the Central
Illinois Pub. Ser Co. a permanent Injunc-
tralning the city of Nokomis from
ling a municipal electric-lighting
plant in conformity with a vote of the
spe. la i election,
INDEPENDENCE, WIS.— Bids will be
received bj th< Board of Education of the
...I district No. >'■ of Independence
ami Burnslde, Wis., al the city of Inde-
I" ml' ii. ' . until March 11 for heating and
ventilating, plumbing and electric wiring
il building in accordance with plans
ami specifications prepared bv Olin H.
Round, architect, 802 Oppenhelm Building,
St Paul, .Minn, where copies may be ob-
tained upon deposit of $15, one-half of
which will be retained by the architect for
cost oi duplicating plans Plans are on
ni. at tin Office "t Board of Education, In-
.i. i lence. Wis , at the office of the archi-
tect, si Paul, and at the Builders' Ex-
change in St. I'aul, and Minneapolis, Minn.,
and Milwaukee, Wis.
■TANHSVTLLE, WIS Edward Amerphol,
chi an, ami w. .1, McDowell, secretary,
of lb" i 'on r.ial i 'lub. have been ap-
pointed to take charge of the installation
of an ornamental lighting system in the
business district. The merchants will
pay for the installation and the city will
■ El. Co.
will pi.
UARKE8AN, Wis —The M.rkesan EL
■
■ llation of an electrlc-llght
plant
SHAW AM i, WIS -The city of B
plant of
i summer or in-
stall a
in the muntcli lent I'aul K.
ADA, MINN -Within the next three
months the Board of I'ubllc Work-
to purei tiling appar it
pump for the n
lighting plant, O. 8
HIBBING. MINN.— The Water and Light
Commission is contemplating the purchase
' engine for the municipal electric-
light plant.
KARLSTAD, MINN— The installation of
.. -lighting plant in Karlstad is re-
nsideration.
MONTEVIDEO, MINN.— The propertv of
the Montevideo EL l.t. & Pwr Co. Is re-
ported to have been sold to the Campbell
i iron, S I ' . for $180,000.
BRAYTON. IA. — An electric-light fran-
chise has been granted to George Hoegh,
who will install a plant in Brayton.
BUFFALO, IA. — Bonds to the amount of
$10,000 have been voted for the installation
of an electric-lighting system.
COUNCIL BLUFFS. IA.— The City Coun-
sidering the installation of an elec-
tric-lighting system to be owned and oper-
ated by the municipality.
DEEPWATER, MO.— Bids will be re-
v G. G. Kennedy, city clerk. Deep-
water, until March 16 for furnishing ma-
terial and construction of electric light
plant. The work will include construction
of power house, a 50-hp oil engine, one
37%-kw, three-phase, 60-cycle. 23
generaloi ad belts, one switch-
board and sub-panel, poles, cross-arms,
wire, 38 center street lamps, etc. Plans
and spe. i ay be obtained upon
application to .1. P Davis, consulting en-
gineer, Windsor. Mo., upon payment of $4.
to cover cost of prints. A set of specifica-
tions and proposal form for oil engine may
be obtained from the engineer for $1.
MTRATUT.-R, MO. — A. F. Houghton, of
Mirabile, it is reported, is contemplating the
installation of an electric-lighting plant.
ST. LOUIS, MO.— Bids will be received at
the office of the supervising architect.
Treasury Department. Washington. D. C,
until March 30 for the installation of a
hydraulic freight lift in the United States
post office in St. Louis, Mo. For details see
proposal columns.
M1NTO, N. D. — Plans are being con-
sidered to install an electric-lighting system
in Minto. It is proposed to secure electricity
from the municipal electric-light plant in
Grafton to operate the system.
PARK RIVER, N. D— Within the next 12
in. nils the managers of the municipal elec-
tric-lighting plant and water-works system
0 pun l 75-kw, three-phase,
2300-volt generator. A. E. Mullineaux is
superintendent
HARTFORD, S. D.— The Hartford El.
Lt. & Tel. Co., it is reported, is contemplat-
ing extending its transmission lines to
Montrose to supply electrical service there.
SUMMIT, S. D. — The proposal to issue
(5,000 in bonds for the Installation of a
municipal electric-lighting plant will be sub-
mitted to the voters on March 23.
CHADRON, NEB -The Chadron Ice &
('reamer'. Co n ported to be contemplat-
ing the installation of an electric-lighting
plant and Ice factory, to cost about $60,000.
C. P. Coffee is president.
LYONS. NEB. — Bids will be received by
M. L. Shumway, village clerk, until March
16 for the construction of a power plant.
pole Inn- and lighting system. Albert C.
Ann.i. Brandeis Building, Omaha, is con-
sulting engineer.
MLNDEN, NEB. — During the coming
summer the city of Minden expects to in-
stall two 30-hp motors to drive the water
ii. i ..is., to extend the service lines
of the municipal electric-lighting system to
cover th. entire City, which will require
about a miles of new pole line. The watei
ami ligbi commission is also contemplating
illation oi a steam-heating plant to
supply steam heat to the business district
and the court house: exhaust steam from
the power plant will be utilized. The pres-
ent plans also provide for the construction
of a new coal bouse with a capacity of 200
tons. V. V. Sears, Is light and water com-
missioner.
ST. PAIL. NEB.— At an election held
recently the proposal to issue bonds for the
638
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 10
to receive propositions from jparties who
rs nf the Evangelical
Lutheran Hospital Association, York, Neb.,
until March IS, for construction of a two-
storv and basement hospital building, In-
cluding wiring, plumbing and heating. In
rice with plans and specifications
i by W. P. Gernandt, architect,
I ha.
KLXiSWi IRTH, KAN The local
light pi Mra t'aul Eeaurae, it
la reported, "ill be remodeled and new
equipment Insti ! osl is estimated
at about (9,000. The contract has been
'.. John Snowball, of Ellsworth.
McCUNE, KAN Henrici, Kent & Lowry
Engineering Co., 715 Eteserve Bank Build-
ing, K.. . has been engaged as
consulting engineer In connection with the
of water-works system. A
. already been sunk to thi
of approximately 1200 tt The .
letting > hi contracts has
would install "the system. D. Isbell is
LINCOLN". A I. A -The Alabama Pwr.
Co., of Birmingham, has been granted a
franchise to supply electrical Bervlce In
Lincoln. The transmission lines of the
company alreadj pass through the town,
and il expects to distribute electrli i
some time within the next few months
HATTIESBURG, .MISS. — The qu.
establishing a municipal electrli
[deration by the City
Commissioners; u is estimated that a
plain with sufficient output to supply the
needs of the city would cost from $30,000
to $35,000.
CORNING. ARK -G. A. Booser has
iiited a franchise to supply elec-
tricity in Corning.
FORT SMITH. ARK— Plans are being
depending on the testing of considered by the Board Of Municipal Com
PORTIS, KAN. — The citizens have voted
: transmission line from thi
plant of John Abrahams in Downs to
Fortis. to supply electrical service here.
The cost of the line is estimated at $4,000.
us.-ioiiers for the installation of an elec-
tric-lighting plant, to cost about $200,000.
M. H. Reed is city engineer.
BARTLESVUiLE, iiKl.A. — Plans are be-
ing considered by the Bartlesville Inter-
Council for a franchise to supply electricity
in Grant's Pass for a period of 30 years.
The application also makes a provision that
when the consumption has reached 220,000
kw-hr. per month the city may take over
the distribution system on an appraised
valuation and contract with the company
for energy to operate the same. The gen-
eral offices of the company are in Grants
Pass. George W. Soranson is secretary.
SHERWOOD. ORE.— The Tualatin Val-
ley El Co., of Sherwood, is planning to-
extend its electric transmission lines to Tua-
latin, Tigard, Greensboro and the Metzger
districts. A street-lighting system will be
installed in Tualatin at once.
GRANGEVTLLE, IDAHO. — The Waho
ture is aiding a project to build an
electric railway connecting northern and
southern Idaho It is proposed to authorize a
$100 000 bond issue to supplement a smaller
amount raised by counties and then use con-
to build a north and south btate
The proposed railway will extent
rangeville to Whitebird, Riggs and
New M' -
LEWISTON, IDAHO. — The Lewistmi-
Clarkston Transit Co., of Lewiston. expects
to purchase a 125-hp motor-generator set
for its power house here.
LEWISTON, IDAHO. — The Lewiston-
urhan Ry. Co. to enlarge its power plant, „."..'. ':',': Tr".nsit c"o has recently applied
at a cos, 01 al I *|,000. An addition ^'fXrTe in Idaho for the purpose of
.' ! ". ...v.,: I; V: ;",..", i'^Sent bUlldmS constructing and operating electric railway
Southern States
LHAKSV1LLE. N. C. — Within the next
two months the Leaksville Lt. & Pwr. Co.
to purchase one 60-kw to 100-kw,
three-phase, 60-cycle generator (second
hand) and exciter for same; also a street-
lighting outfit, regulator, transformer, etc.
i new or second hand).
NEWBERN, N. C. — The Newbern St.
Ry. Co., which has been operating storage-
battery cars for several years, is preparing
to change over to the trolley system. Or-
ders for material, it is understood, have
been placed. C. J. McCarthy is manager.
OXFORD, N. C. — The Carolina Pwr. &
Lt. Co., of Oxford, has recently completed
a 60,000-volt pole transmission line from
Oxford to Roxsboro to supply electricity to
the town and the cotton mills there. H. S.
Lee is superintendent of central station.
WILSON, N. C. — A new 1500-hp power
plant is being completed for the municipal
light system. The equipment con-
sists of cross-compound condensing Hamil-
ton engines and Western Electric gener-
ators, two units of 750 hp. each. R. J.
Grantham is city em.
HONEA RATH, S. C. — The Council is
contemplating the installation of an ice
plant in connection with the municipal elec-
tric-light inc and water-works system this
spring. J. A. Featherstone is superintend-
ent.
UNION. S. C. — The Commissioners of
Public Works have decided to extend the
water mains to another creek for additional
water supply and to erect a 6600-volt.
three-phase transmission line to supply
energy to operate pumps, for which $2."., nun
tea. lt. A. Esterling,
superintendent, has charge of the work.
WINNSBORO, S. C. — The Board of Pub-
ct for 1 he
iting unit
in the municipal electric-lighting plant to
the -I B. MCt 'in 1 i 'o . Ol Atlanta, (la. T
uperintendent
LIVE OAK, 1 I
at the office of the supervising i
i. Washington, D C
until Apt II 6 for the ci Including
Dl
i oi Ite at Live < lak,
0 Wenderoth is supervising architect
JACKS* iN. TKN'N lUndl has
,, ordinance requiring that all wins
be placed underground 'i
■ i: ft Lt Co.,
the West "" ''■'"
telephone com]
PULASKI. TENN New equipment Is
i .tailed n, the municipal
light plant. Including two high
i eac!
0 -...it genet atoi
with .
\\ w i:i:ia , l.t A
w ii i ,, . rei ently Ini ot porated v Ith a cap
i of 14,000, proposes to Install anil
II opt t. I I ' l.llten
and ..i i -orators.
.nd a condenser installed
'.hint. TEX.— The installation of
new street lamps and improvements to
electric plant is reported to be under con-
sideration by the Beaumont El. Lt. & Pwr.
Co.
BROWNSVILLE, TEX— Present plans
for the proposed ornamental lighting sys-
tem in the business district provide for 65
standards. The number of lamps has not
yet been decided upon. F. H. Williams is
superintendent.
DALLAS, TEX. — The directors of the
Texas Pwr. & Lt. Co., of Dallas, have au-
thorized an additional issue of bonds to
the amount of $250,000, the proceeds to be
used to complete extensive improvements
under way by the company, including the
construction of power plants in Paris and
Waco. J. F. Strickland is president.
HOUSTON, TEX. — Plans are being con-
n tVie Lewiston-Clarkston .Valley. The
companv, it is understood, will begin work
early In March on the erection of a trans-
mission line from Lewiston to Orchard
Tracts to Asotin, and through » larkston
and to the fair and stock grounds east of
Lewiston. R. C. Dahlhjelm and Bog»eA.
Cox of Lewiston. are among the mcor-
porators. The capital stock is placed at
s-: .ami. . .
POCATKLLO, IDAHO— Plans are being
prepared for the instal
lamp street-lighting system on Portions of
Center and Main Streets. \\ illiam H. Jack
son. Jr., is city clerk.
FOUNTAIN GREEN. UTAH —The Big
Springs El. Co.. of Fountain Green, expects
toMxtend its service to tin- small town of
Wales The connection is to be made from
Moroni Ernest R. Anderson is manager.
OGDEN, UTAH.-Bids_ w,l, he received
sidered by the City Council for the installa- A, ,';,;' „f ?he 'purchasing agent. Forest
tion of a municipal electric-lighting plant in a i the , offic* > of the rpur chasing g_e g fm
the citj water-works station to supply Sfl^ine steel and copper telephone wire,
■■■ -.-tricity to operate part of the machinery f " " f, 'J g insulators, barbed and barbless
the water plan, and to light several new hr ^ .m °wo\.en.wire fencing to the
ages, the city auditorium, the city hall tern "'»-"'. ,,.lrine the Bscal year begtn-
bridges,
and the police station. When the plant is
completed ornamental lamps will be erected
m the City Hall Square and possibly on
Market Square. The cost of the plant is
estimated at $20,000. This plant will be
oni ii • in separate from the larger plant that
the City expects to erect on the water
front, near the turning basin, to supply
energy to operate the wharf machinery on
lipal piers,
i. \ PORTE, TEX. Th.- La Porte Wtr..
I.t. A.- Ice I'o, is couti'inplating ' - ' - u.lim: it-
services to residents along the shore ol Qal-
I :.i l a ii. I Morgan's Point, a distance
ol a bout i tnlli - also Installing a 1 5-ton
Ice plant Phil I. Pfeiffer is president and
manager.
SHERMAN. TEN -Contracts, it is re-
ported, have been placed by the City Coun-
cil for equipment for extensions to the
street lighting system. H. L. McDuffle is
BUPei lilt- a. I. lit.
THORNTON, TEX. — The City Cot
reported to have granted a franchise for
the in tallatlon of an electric-lighting plant
In Thornton
Pacific States
Forest Service during the ...
ning Julv 1, 1915. Proposal blanks and
tfons may be obtained upon appli-
cation to the above office.
MESA \RIZ— The installation of an Ir-
rigation ' system is reported to be under
consideration by the Queen Creek Twr. &
wit Co
BOX ELDER, MONT- A committi
sistmg of Levi Possum, Dr, J W. McKensie
and E C Sprague, has been appointed by
the Town Council to confer with nearby
companies reg rtenslon
of transmission lines to this city.
ClllN'ooK. MONT. The Montana l'wr.
,,at Falls, it is report. -d. is contem-
plating purchasing the property of the ' w-
k Lt & Pwr Co. and extending Ita
mission "lines to Chinook If the deal is con-
summated, the local plant will be closed
down and the Bystem connected with the
Havre branch of the Montana eompain.
FORT BENTON. MONT.- The Montana
0j ,;,, ,, palls, it is report. -d. has
.1 the controlling interest in the
new owners, it is reported, \wii rebuild the
entire system and install n.-v, equipment
ovBLAND, COL Ui eleotlon will be
held April 6 to submit to the voters the
proposal to issue bonds tor the Ins
Ol thi plant this
propi
\ am i 'i rVER, W VSH I
in. Portland K> , U •<■ Pwr
• .. to m ike ohangea In thi
n hi Vancouver, to conform with plans
laid out bj the lighting commit! I the manager
Council. It is piopo-. .1 to replai •
in, ,,pS in os ..f the city with
\\ \S1 III i !N A. W \S1I 1 mi
Bummer the W Lt * 1 '« I ' '"
lid instad
., ,,,.„ Robert E
la man
GRANT'S pass, oki; The Rogue River
i-,ii, Ber ' lot i ■' '" ths cite
to Bupplj
... in I Uatlie
STERLING, COL The Sterling
El o
k, , n,,,., phase, 60 cycle, 8300 volt gen-
erator d i
this -prim; 11 I. Titus is -e.-retarv and
Canada
VYLMAR ' 'N'T The city of
■opiating installing hydro
: iii. watt
department
trie-light
Mam m 8. 1916
ELECTRICAL WORLD
639
NEWMARKET, "N'T Tl ■
In favor •>( the Lv-lawa au-
irlUi the
' a 11)11,'
Imum au|i|iK ■
■
•■ naiona
SMITH FALLS. .iNT Tl..- Smith Falls
Ba. Pwr. ( inputting thi
,w vertical generating unit.
TH.\MKS\ II.I.E. c INT I
■m tla-
lecti Ic Powi i
tallo in Than.-
r The
T« ■ w 1 1 Council has authorta
trucflon
Sllppl.V
electrlcll
\ ill.-
TORONTO, "NT Tender! will be re-
cerred by the Tom ommia-
TorontO, until Man h 11 for trana-
formera. Specifications may be obtained at
the purchasing agent of the
Toronto electric commissioners.
Mi i.N'i II will soon be
submitted to thi
I of lighting ' nine on
. provld-
the erection of 200 ornamental
Directory of Electrical Associations
i v Light and Traction •
ii 0 Hanson,
•N rl IB Till: A
• larv. L.
■ I. Smlthaonian Inatitutloi
kaftan, D C Meeting, San Fran.
WON. Secretary, E. B. Iturnti.
3'.'th St . New I
IICAX Society.
. it,, i .1 w Richards, Lehigh
ith Bethlehem, Pa
. STITLTE OF I '
■ \\ . Stern, i"i
Park Ave., New ioi k
American Institi i
F. L. Hutch
"I, si , New Ubi I ol direc-
eta monthly. Selections and branches
In tin- principal electrical centers through-
out the country.
American Physical Society. Secretary,
Prof. A. D. Cole, Ohio State University, Co-
lumhus. Ohio.
is Socaan -
oiNxsaa Secretary, William n. Eli
Nassau St., New York City.
American BuCUVri rent TESTING Materi-
als. Secretar.v-tri-a.--ii Marburg,
llty ot Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
American Society of Heating and Ven-
tii.atinu Engineers. Secretary, Edwin A.
Scott. 29 West 39th St., New York.
Arkansas Association of Public I'tii.i-
ty Operators. Secretary, \V. ,J. Tharp,
Little Hock, Ark. Annual meeting, Little
Book, May 11-13.
Association of Edison ILLUMINATING
Companies. Assistant secretary, Walter
Neumuller, Irving Place and 10th St., New
York.
Association of Iron and Steel Electri-
cal Engineers. Secretary, W. T. Snyder,
M< Ei eaport. Pa.
1 1 wav Electrical en-
gineers. Secretary-treasurer, Jos. A. An-
. Chicago & Northwestern Railway,
Chicago.
i ITTON of Railway Telegraph Su-
perintendents. Secretary, P. W. Drew,
11- West Adams St., Chicago.
i'.\l. I lONTRACTi
' . W. s. Hanbridge,
14iix Merchants' National Bank Building.
Los Angeles, Cal.
dian Electrical Association. Af-
flllated with N. E. I. A, Secretary-treas-
Uan Sullivan, LO Adelaide Street
i oronto, Can.
Light, power and
Rail w.i Secretai y I
T I-' Ki mi. dy, 900 15th St, Denver, Col.
Commercial Section, N. i: I. a, Secre-
!•'. Becker, i:;i. c ■■ i i n, St., New
i i:n New Y.,i:k SECTION, N I ! I i I
iry, C. S. Van Dyck, Scheni
raiCAL Contractors' Association of
Secretary, II. D. Temple,
ti i Si . Worcester, Mass.
Contractors' Association op
" , Geo \\ i:u
Ml, Jr., 25 v7esl I2d St., New York.
irical i '. intracti irs' Association of
Secretary, A. J Bui m .
31S W.St Tenth St, Kansas City, Mo
i \ OCIATION OF
the State op Pennsylvania. Secretary,
M <; Sellers, 1518 Sansom St., Philadelphia
Electrical Contractors' Association of
bin. Secretary, Albert Petermann,
628 Lloyd si , Mllwauki e, Wii
Electrical salesmen's Association,
. i i '.' ■. mond, l 25 Michigan
Av.-., Chicago, ill.
i mai. Supply Jobbers' association,
Oeneral secretary, Franklin i iv.rliach, 111
South Clinton St.. Chicago, III. Meeting,
Chicago, March 17-19.
ELECTRICAL Trades Association of Can-
ada. Secretary, William It, Stav.U, l, I
Insurance Building, Montreal Can.
ELBC1 IATIoN OF the
■ i.irv. Albert ii Elli-
ott, Harding Building, U Ellis -
o, Cal Meeting, San I- 1
s> n. I Thurso! Booth.
BIOL! ASSOCIATION I
ICA. Executive secretary, A. Jacks.
shall. 29 Weal 89th St., New Tork
in New York. New England, Chicago, Phila-
delphia Washington and Loe Angeles.
Empire State Gas and Electric Asso-
ciation. Secretary, Charles EL B. Chapin,
I . New York.
Has, ELECTRIC and Street Railway As-
sociate ia. Secretary-treas-
urer, Prof. H v Boxen, Norman, Okla.
. v ELECTRICAL contractors' Asso-
ciation. Secretary. J. M. Clayton. Atlanta.
Illinois State ELECTRICAL Association.
i , h B. i 'iiiiiiiiu.k, Peoria, ill.
Illuminating Engineering
G ineral A. Uttlefleld, -
3'.nh St., New York. Annual convention,
u4ion, D. C, September.
Independent Telephone Association of
Secretary, W. S. Vivian, 19 South
LaSalle St., Chicago.
Indiana ELECTRIC Licht Association.
y, Thomas Donahue, Lafayette, Ind.
Indiana State Electrical Contractors'
Associatoin. Secretary, George Skilman,
Indianapolis, Ind.
Institute of Operating Engineers. Sec-
retary, L. HoumUler, 29 West 39th St., New
Y'ork
Instii i i hi Engineers. Secre-
tary. David Samoff, 71 Broadway. New-
York.
Internal Combustion Engineers' Asso-
ciation. President, Charles Kratsch, 416
West Indiana St.. Chicago. Meeting second
Friday of each month at Lewis Institute.
International Association OP MUNICI-
PAL Electricians. Secretary, C. R- George,
Houston, Tex.
International Engineering Congress.
Secretary-treasurer, W. A. Cattell, Foxcroft
Building, San Francisco, Cal. Congress,
San Francisco, September.
International Ei.ectrotechn n I
mission (International body representing
various national electrical engineering so-
. i.ti, ie contributing to its support). General
ry, C. Ie Muistre, 28 Victoria St.,
Westminster, London, S. W., England.
Meeting at San Francisco, Sept. 9-11.
!,,\\ \ SECTION, N. E. L. A. Secretary, W.
ll. Thomson, Des Moines, Ia. Annual meet-
ing. Keokuk, la.. April 2H-22.
Iowa Electrical Contractors' associa-
tion. Secretary, M T. Humphrey, Water-
loo, in
Iowa Street anp Interurban Railwai
Association1. Secretary, ll. B. Weeks, Dav-
enport, la.
Jovian .nun: Jupiter (president),
ii ' E, Nlesz, Chicago, 111.; Mercury
( secret ar j I, E. C. Bennett, Syndicate Trust
Building, St Louis, Mo
Kansas Gas. Water. ELECTRIC Light and
Street Railway Association, s.
., Ivor Thomas, U:ST South Mam St..
Wichita, Kan.
oi [Biana Electrical Contractors-' As-
bociation. Secretary, J. .1 ZUegler, 227
Pom l.Mii SI Meeting every Wednesday, Au-
dubon Building, New Orleans.
\i i ,i Electric Association. Secretary-
treasurer, Walter s. Wyman, Waterville,
Ms in-
m is Electric association. Affili-
ated with N. E. L A. Secretary, Herbert
Silvester, 18 Washington Boulevard, De
troit, Mich. Annual meeting June.
Minnesota Electric Association S-.-
reaeurer, i-' A Otto, St Paul Gas
Light Company, St. Paul. Minn. Annual
meeting, St. Paul, March 28
Mississippi Electric Association Affili-
ated with the National Electric Light Asso-
ciation. Secretary-treasurer, H. F. Wheeler,
Haiti. -shurg. Miss. Annual meeting, Hat-
tieshurg, April 12-14.
Missouri I 'iTm.it- Utilities Association
Secretary treasurer, !•'. I '. Heardsli-c, I 'nion
vention, U
National Arm. Pin and Bracket Asso-
ciation. Secretary, J. B. Magers, V
In, I.
National ASSOCIATION of Electrical In-
spectors. Seeretary-tr.-asurer. Wm. L.
Smith. Concord, Mass. Annual convention,
N.-w York. March 23, 1915.
National District Heating Association.
Secretary, D. L. Gasklll, Greenville. Ohio.
Annual meeting, Chicago, June 1-3.
National Electric Light Association.
Executive BeCTetary, T. C. Martin, Engi-
neering Societies Building, 33 West 39th
St, New York. Annual meeting, San Fran-
cisco, June 7-11.
National ELECTRICAL Contractors' As-
sociation OF THE 1'NITED STATES. Secre-
tary, George H. Duilield, 41 Martin Build-
ing. LTtlca, N. Y. Annual meeting, San
Francisco, July 18-24.
National Electrical Credit Associa-
tion. Secretary. Frederic P. Vose, 1343
Marquette Building, Chicago.
National Fire Protection Association.
Secretary of electrical committee, Ralph
Sweetland, HI Milk St, Boston. Mass
Meeting electrical committee, New 4 Y'ork.
March 24 and 25.
National INDEPENDENT Telephone Asso-
ciation. Permanent headquarters, Room
Jul. Hotel LaSalle, Chicago, 111.
Nebraska Section, N. E. L. A. Secre-
tary-treasurer, S. J. Bell, David City. Neb
New England Electrical Credit Asso-
ciation. Secretary. Alton F. Tupper, 60
State St., Boston. Mass.
New England Section. Electric Vehi-
cle Association of America. Secretary.
L. L. Edgar, 39 Boylston St., Boston, Mass.
New England Section, N. E. L. A. Sec-
retary. Miss O. E, Bursiel, 149 Tremont St.,
Boston, Mass.
NEW Mexico Electrical Association.
Secretary-treasurer, E. A. Thieie, Roswell,
N. M.
New York Electric Railway Associa-
tion. Secretary. Charles C. Dietz, 365 East
21st St., Brooklyn, N. Y.
Northwest Section, N. E. L. A. Secre-
tary, N. W. Brockett, Pioneer Building,
Seattle, Wash.
Northern White Cedar association.
Secretary, K. N. Boucher, 743 Lumber Ex-
change, Minneapolis, Minn.
Ohio Electric Light Association. Sec-
retary. D. L. Gasklll, Greenville. Ohio. An-
nual meeting, C-ilar Point, July 20-23.
Ohio Society ob Mechanical, electri-
Cal and Steam Engineers. Secretary.
Prof. F. E. Sanborn, Ohio State University.
Columbus, Ohio.
Oregon Electrical Contractors' Asso-
ciation Secretary-treasurer, J. W. Ober-
ender, Portland, < »re.
Pennsylvania electric association
i Stat.- Section N. E. L. A.). Secretary-
treasurer, ll. N. Muller, Pittsburgh, Pa.
Railway Signal association. Secre-
tary-treasurer, C E Rosenberg, Times
Hull. ling. Bethlehem, Pa.
Society for ELECTRICAL Development.
Inc. General manager, .1. M. Wak.-nian. 29
Weal 89th SI . Nevi fork. Annual meeting.
New 5 ork, May 1 1, 1915.
Socii r\ for the PROMOTION of Engi-
neering Education. Secretary. Dean F. L.
Bisl Oniversits ot Pittsburgh, Pitts-
burgh. i'a Annual meeting, Ami
June 22-26.
S"i mieastern- Section. N, E. L. A.
Secretary-treasurer, Geo. H. Wygaot,
Tampa, i-'l.i
Southwestern Electrical and gas As-
i . H. S. Cooper. 405
Slaughter Building. Dallas, Tex.
Vermont Electrical Association. Sec-
retary-treasurer, C. H. West, Rutland, Vt
Western Association of Electrical In-
spectors. Secretary, W. s. Boyd, 76 West
Monroe St., Chicago, ill.
Western Society of Engineers. F.i.ec-
3BCTION, Secretary, J. ll. Warder,
17:17 Monadnock Block, Chicago.
Wisconsin ELECTRICAL Association. Ser-
i-.larv. George Allison, 1410 First National
Hank Building, Milwaukee, Wis.
640
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Weekly Record of Electrical Patents
UNITED STATES PATENTS ISSUED
FEBRUARY 28, 1915.
ed by Robert Starr AUyn. 16 Ex-
change Place, New York, N. Y]
i.ator Switch :
G. H. Bolus, Mansfield, Ohio. App. filed
Feb. 20, 1914. Rotatable switch
1,129,083. Regulating Apparatus for Fur-
naces ; R. L. Ftink, Cleveland, Ohio.
App. filed July 16, 190S. Particularly
for glass furnaces.
1,129.087. Telephone Receiver; E. Gris-
singer, Buffalo. N, Y. App. filed Nov. is,
1911. Double watchcase receiver with
the permanent magnets back to back.
1,129,097. Electric-Railway Switch: G.
Hvler and B. Herbison, Lansing. Mich,
led May 29, 1913. Controlled from
tin- moving car.
1,129,114. Automatic Recording Mech-
anism . II Y. Norwood and F. W. Stalker,
ter, N. T. App. filed Nov. 24. 1913.
For temperature recorders particularly.
1,129,117. Arc Lamp; W. L. Patterson,
Rochester, N. Y. App. filed June 8, 1912.
Manual adjustment means for the elec-
trodes.
1.129,1 in. Hot-Wire Electric Measuring
Instrument; O. Schumann, Frankfort-
Mam. Germany. App. filed May
6, 1911. For high-frequency currents.
1,129,148. System of Automatic Block
Signaling for Electric RAILWAYS; F.
Townsend. New York. N. Y. App. filed
June 16, 1904. Includes alternating-
current multiphase generator for track
circuits.
1,129,14 7. Power System for Autovehi-
cles ; R. Varley, Englewood. N. J. App.
filed Nov. 6, 1912. Torque-multiplying
mechanism for starting the engine.
1,129.181. Press Plates; G. W. Ehrhardt
and M. Schiavon, Chicago. 111. App. filed
June 24, 1913. Electrically heated ; for
embossing presses.
1129,1*2 Heated Press Plate for Em-
bossing: G. W. Ehrhardt and M. Schia-
von, Chicago. 111. App. filed Jan. 15, 1914.
Electrically heated and adapted to be
used on an ordinary printing press
1,129,216. Ignition Generator for Elec-
ts , A. L. McMurtry,
Sound Beach, Conn. App. filed March 13,
1913. An auxiliary generator armature
on motor-generator supplies ignition cur-
rent at starting.
1,129,231, Transformer: L. T. Robinson
aighead, Schenectady. N. Y.
App. filed Jan. 3, 1913. For power meas-
urement.
1,129.234. Igniter for Internal-Combus-
tion Engines; M. P. Ryder, Springfield,
Bled I ict 80, 1909.
twin cam serves to
e or retard spark.
1.129 23t". Warmer for Steering Wheels:
C. T. Schroyer, Sioux Falls. S. 1 i
Mle.i May 23, 191 t Sectional hi
ing fitting on steering wheel.
1129 211 Electroplating APPARATUS; C.
N Smith, Elgin. 111. App. filed July 20,
1914. Special facilities for inserting or
removing anode and cathode plates.
1,129.277. Connection Protector and
Trolley Rk.fi. aceii ; A. J. Conlon, P. J.
Murphy and .1. T. Tighe. Scranton. Pa.
App. filed April 9, 1912. Curved guard
plate attached to "frog" or "cross-over."
1 l -"•
Lamps. I. Fort, I i N. J.
Am. Hied Feb. 18, 1912. '•lamp tor hold-
ing the flexible suspending
i,i |j omaqnbttc H
i .i \,.]. Bled Ocl
28, i 91 :; For high \ oltage cli cults,
1 | || . n.l'.i; Ml'-M \NISM
' roa K H. A Humphn
■.,,,1 til. .1 Maj 81, 1910. A
troll the circuits connect-
■ i, in. commutator.
Cab Bional : J I
p Hied Feb
ng signal circuit is mom
.loo-
's Tiffany, Summit. N J App tl
llapatch
Ing I
I
\i,|. filed Dee 18, 1911 i II
VtdtM I
I.e. in-.
,ii, Bend, Ind App filed
i ' and i lip
PHONE I Q Mitchell, Sum I
Ind. App. filed Sept. 16, 1909, For di-
verting lightning from telephone line to
the lightning conductor of a building.
1,129,877. Method and appafatus for
TING the Electrodes in Al
. J. I. Bronn and W. Schemmann,
ii. Germany. App. filed Dec. 16,
gea steam against the elec-
points where they enter the
furnace.
1,129,381. Electrical Heater; F. E. Carl-
son. New Britain, Conn. App. filed
March 2."., 1914. For hot pads, etc.
1,1 29,395. Renewable Cartridge Fuse : H
M. Huxley. Evanston. 111. App. Bled
March 20, 1914. Special clamp for ends
of fusible link.
1 129,424. Wave Modifier for X-Rat Sts-
tems; C M. Peabody, South Orange. N
J. App. filed Oct. 2. 1913. Modifying of
wave portions by selective variation.
Means for Automatically Stop-
PINQ Railroad Motors ; TV. F. Pettes and
A. E. Spicer, New York, N. Y. App. filed
March 88, 1913. Controlled by track
signals.
1.129.43S. Illuminating Device; H. Alex-
ander. New York, N. Y". App. filed Jan.
2, 1913. Indirect; special reference to
cooling and avoidance of shadows.
1.129.445. Contact Maker and Interrup-
' ter for Ignition Systems ; W. C Brin-
ton. Jr.. Manoa, Pa. App. filed June 4,
1914. Structural features.
1.129.446. Contact Maker and Interrup-
ter ; W. C. Brinton, Jr. Manoa, Pa. App.
filed June 16, 1914. Special contact-mak-
ing devices.
1 129,447. Inclosed Fuse; W. J. Britt, Jr.,
St. Louis, Mo. App. filed Dec. 15, 1913.
Cartridge type ; securing fuse strips to
terminals.
1 129,459. Renewable Cartridge Fuse; A.
L. Eustice, Chicago, 111. App. filed March
20, 1914. End clamps for the fuse link.
1,129,460 Terminal Bushing; S. W.
' Farnsworth, Edgewood Park, Pa. App.
filed Nov. 24, 1911. Insulating envelope
completely covers exposed surfaces of the
structure between the conducting mem-
bers which it separates.
I 129 463 Transformer; C. Le G. Fortes-
i ue. Pittsburgh, Pa. App. filed Aug. 2.
[909 i 'ore type; voltage stress proper-
ly distributed through insulation.
i Transformer and Winding: C.
Fortescue, Pittsburgh. Pa. App.
filed Aug. 2. 1909. Same length of mean
turn for all coils and coils separated from
core according to their potential.
1 129 465 Transformer; C. Le G. Fortes-
cue, Pittsburgh, Pa. App. filed Aug. 7,
1911. Outdoor series transformer.
1129 466. Transformer Terminal: C. Le
'G Fortescue, Pittsburgh, Pa. App. filed
Aug. 7. 1911 Has a specially cooled
conduct Ing it ad.
i 129 167 Terminal for Electrical Ap-
paratus C Le G Fortescue, Pittsburgh,
\pp. Bled Aug. 7, 1911. Testing
former for plurality of circuit con-
nections.
1,129.4ns. Terminal Rushing; C. Le G.
Pittsburgh. Pa. App. filed
\,,v |4 1911. Condenser-type insula-
i,,,,,. protected against rapid deteriora-
i i29 169 Transformer; C Le Q ForteB-
Plttsburgh, Pa, App. Bled Aug. 8,
1909 Plurality of spaced coils with in-
sula) Ing Bti bi
, [29 170 At Tl RNATING-CURRENT TRANS-
, i-.ln.rgli.
epp Bled \i ". 1! High-ten-
Ing materially rem*
I Transformer Winding
Pittsburgh, Pa. App, Bled
Aug. 2, 1909 Requires very small amount
It .it loll
, Pittsburgh, i
til... I Vug ". 1909 SQuan
group' ' "" ,,,,'
Tl: IN8FORM1 I ' "' CUB
'rents C i.e Q Fortesoue, Pittsburgh,
Ipp tile, I Aug I, r.i'i'i Coielenser-
■ 1 1: . c Le a
: , \,,,. Bled
in Insu-
l are resulting from the ex
INSII ATI'. F W.
\pp Bled Jan
hlgh-voll
Vol. 65, No. 10
1,129,499. HlGH-YOLTAGE TRANSFORMER: J.
E Mateer, Wilkinsburg, Pa. App. filed
Jan. 10, 1912. Series type: high-poten-
tial insulator supports the high-potential
winding.
Terminal Bushing; J. E. Ma-
teer, Wilkinsburg, Pa. App. filed March
Condenser type; for outdoor
high-potential transformers, etc.
Electric Furnace ; S. Peacock,
O, 111. App. filed Sept. 20, 1913.
Resistance 'type ; for fixing atmospheric
nitrogen.
1,129,620. Insulating Body for Electri-
Apparatus ; K. C. Randall, Edge-
wood Park, and S. W. Farnsworth and
C. Le G. Fortescue. Pittsburgh. Ta. App.
filed April 30, 1910. High-voltage; util-
izing value of air.
i21. Electrical Insulator; K. C.
Randall. Edgewood Park, and S. W.
Farnsworth and C. Le G. Fortescue, Pitts-
burgh, Pa. App. filed April 30. 1910.
Conforms to the direction of static lines
of force extending between the conduct-
ing p
I Electric Relay System ; J.
Bergman, Brooklyn. N. Y. App. filed
May 3, 1913. Messenger call.
1,129,543. Automatic or Semi-Automatic
Telkphone-Exchanob System; G. A.
Betulander, Sodertoms YiU.ist.id. Sweden.
App. filed Feb. 27, 1914. Selecting and
connecting operations effected separate-
ly and by separate means.
1.129,51"..".. Sound - Receiving Apparatus
Used in Submarine Sound Signaling
J. Gardner, Fleetwood, England. App. filed
Dec. 27. 1909. Microphone operated by a
vibratory ring attached to the diaphragm.
1.129.568. Electrical Switch : B. D. Hor-
ton. Detroit, Mich. App. filed Jul>
1912. Armor-clad with accelerated make
and break.
1.129.569. Electrical Switch: B. D. Hor-
ton, Detroit, Mich. App. filed Nov 1.
1913. "Iron-clad" : switch cover cannot
be swung to a position where it will stay
open of itself.
1129 596 Time-Controlled Device ; S W.
'and R H. 1'earee. Tushka. Okla. App.
Bled April 11, 1914. Adapted for attach-
ment to ordinary clock.
1 129.6H2. Case for Portable Electric
Lamps; C. H. Polland, Bridgeport, Conn.
App filed Oct. l. 1914. Takes ordinary
dry cells ; switch lever holds cell in place.
1,129,628. Indicator for Electric
Switches ; H. H. Berry, London. Eng-
land. App. filed Aug. 5, 1913 Indicator
lamp for "iron-clad" swil
1129,690. Electric Storage Battery EC
Knobloch, Baltimore, Md. App. filed May
lx. 1914 Grid has straight conducting
ribs arranged on lines converging at a
point beyond the frame of the grid.
1,129,700. Dynamo; m. s. l.\ singer. Nor-
i. Pa. App. Bled June i
Light armature revolving around a sta-
tionary
1,129,1 Striking aiparatus: C.
.1 Rasmussen, Seattle. Wash. App. Bled
April 14, 1914. For sounding the hour at
different points.
1 1"9 7.".7 Indicator FOR SNAP SWXTI
G B Thomas. Bridgeport. Conn. App
Bled April 2s. 1914. Rotary top of switch
cover forms the indicator.
1,129,782. Cord Support; C. H. Bissell,
' Syracuse, and D. C. Gidley, Albany. N. V
Bled Feb. I, 1911. insulated clamp
construction for lamp corda
1 129 786 " w '" Brad-
' shaw, Oakland, Cal app Bled i
1913. Compact construction for travelers
9 STEM ; I T 1
' man. Milwaukee. Wis \PP Bit
p-by-step poii
Switching Device ; O. M i.ei.h.
Ill App. filed Ma] l«, 1910
i itch for telephones.
El BCTRIC Switch ; D. E. Robitl-
id, < 'l-la App Bled Jan. 21. 1914.
Sliding switch construction.
ode tN» Paoc-
Making the Same: W. Tassln,
App Bled June ...
I'll I Mixture of cuprous and cuprlc
t 129 821 Wireless Telegraph! ; I
Paris, France Ipp fiid
tlons, one with loose
com, .ling and ll"' other with tight coup-
ling
M Mivi'Tn S : 1'llrich,
' Magdeburg, Q ■ >' Bled July I,
191J Horizontal rotating • \lm,ler tvpe
having readllj adjustable magnetic Bald
\,'P. filed
[9 i verj light fly halN In
combination with electrical com
\..l .,-,
Electrical World
:. World and Bmnra
Publ nblishlng Company, lac
M.w YORK, 9 Ml BDAY, H \K< 11 13, 1915
No. 11
Associated Manufacturers of Electrical Supplies
WtTH a constitution broad enough to embrace
every manufacturer of electrical supplies and of
materials entering into electrical construction, there
was formed this week in New York an association long
lacking and, now that it exists, destined to become the
dominating manufacturers' organization of the indus-
try. Dedicated to advance and protect the interests of
manufacturers, it recognizes its legitimate functions as
well as its limitations and its obligations to the indus-
try. It seeks not to antagonize, but to harmonize; not
to destroy, but to create. Enthusiasm and refreshing
frankness characterized its formation, and we have been
assured that all its affairs will be conducted with the
same spirit of sincerity and candor. Time alone can
tell how great a constructive force the new association
will become; but its keeping has been intrusted to able
hands, and it represents a welcome addition to the other
national electrical bodies.
N. E. L. A. Committee Work
PREPARATIONS of National Electric Light Asso-
ciation committees for the San Francisco conven-
tion in June are at their height. Already some commit-
tees have considered the final drafts of their reports
and rapid progress is being made toward the comple-
tion of others. The constant natural widening of the
association's activities means inevitably that the num-
ber of committees will be increased. The careful con-
sideration of reports before, during and after conven-
tions is vital to association efficiency and progress.
Nothing so discourages committee members as failure
to appreciate their efforts and to act on their recom-
mendations. In order that their reports may be readily
understandable by busy men, it is the duty of the com-
mittee members to practise condensation, terseness and
all possible time-saving methods, for by such means
only can their recommendations obtain maximum con-
sideration.
Failure to Conserve Is Waste
FUTURE historians of conservation will probably
ascribe the failure of Congress to enact construc-
tive water-power legislation at its last session mainly
to interference by the emergency ship-purchase bill. In
the interview with Mr. Hugh L. Cooper, in this issue,
he mentions an indirect cause — the unfortunate lack of
public understanding of the important questions in-
volved. Because the public was uninformed it was not
interest t'd and did not demand action to discontinue the
improvident treatment of lavish natural resources.
Since the concentration of Congressional and adminis-
trative effort on the ship-purchase bill went for naught,
when good conservation bills would have yielded tre-
mendous results, the electrical industry feels keen dis-
appointment. If it is necessary to arouse the public
in order to get Congressional action, it is time for the
industry to begin anew the presentation of striking
facts which tell the need of "conservation with use."
.Monopoly Upheld
REGULATION and monopoly in local utilities are
akin. Reasonable rates, good service, and limited
but fair profits, with freedom from competition, are
the essentials. Departure from these principles en-
dangers the whole policy. Occasionally an ill-advised
city, lacking in experience, threatens or introduces com-
petition to carry its end. State commissions, knowing
that the usual outcome of competition is a consolidation
which inflicts all costs upon the public, uphold the doc-
trine of monopoly during good service. The latest case
touching this commission attitude is in strict accord
with the best precedent. The Supreme Court of Cali-
fornia sustains the Railroad Commission in refusing
to permit the Oro Electric Corporation to compete in
Stockton with the Western States Gas & Electric Com-
pany. If the city had been allowed to overrule the
State, regulation in this case would have failed.
Evaluating the Isolated Plant
IN comparing the cost of central-station service with
that given by a private plant, most owners with
open minds no longer need to be urged to take fixed
charges into account as well as operating expenses.
However, central-station motor-service solicitors often
fail to press home the point that in order to make a
really accurate estimate the profit on the plant invest-
ment should be added to the interest allowance. Thus,
in the case of a textile mill considering a change from
steam-engine drive to operation by individual and
grouped motors supplied from local central-station cir-
cuits it is fair to point out to the owner that all money
invested in equipment auxiliary to his business of pro-
ducing fabrics represents capital on which an annual
sum should be figured as lost, representing the percent-
age of profit that would otherwise have been realized
from the same investment in looms, spinning machinery,
productive space in the mill, and raw materials. If the
mill owner intends to make a yearly profit of 15 or 20
ELECTK1CAL WUKL1J
VOL. t>J>, ISO. 11
per cent on money put into strictly productive machin-
ery and supplies, he should also figure this percentage
on the cost of a private plant as well as the selected
interest rate. Enterprises of this class are not, as a rule,
undertaken upon the theory that merely the legal rate
of interest will be the reward of capital. Instead, a
round profit commensurate with the risks of competi-
tion is sought, and the power plant should be no more
exempt from analysis of this kind than the stock of
raw cotton, silk or wool. It is only fair, of course, to
estimate a profit allowance on the excess cost of sub-
stituting motors for mechanical drive, where such a
change is contemplated, but the cost of motors is in
most cases of far less importance than the value of
flexible service and the economic possibilities in the way
of acceleration of output, improvement of production
quality, and increased safety of operation. There is
reason to believe that some of the difficult cases con-
fronting the central-station motor-service solicitor will
yield to the foregoing method of cost analysis, which
has been approved by eminent engineering judgment in
the field of mill power.
A University Power Station
The requirements with respect to motor service, light-
ing and heating for educational institutions are some-
what exceptional. In the first place, the numerous
buildings scattered over a wide area present in them-
selves very diverse requirements. Experience has
proved the economy of a central heating plant under
such conditions, and with this is combined the generat-
ing plant necessary for the whole electrical service of
the institution, including lighting for all the labora-
tories, lecture rooms and dormitories, ventilating fans
and motors for miscellaneous service, and the energy
needed for experimental purposes in various forms and
at various voltages. Steam at both high pressure and
low pressure must be transmitted considerable distances
to reach various points at which it is utilized.
The controlling factor in the choice of a site for the
plant described in this issue was the necessity of fur-
nishing high-pressure steam at the campus for various
purposes. This proved to be a very serious matter, and
when the investment and the efficiency were considered
it was found wise to build in a place which was in-
trinsically not the most desirable. A spur track was
built to the railway to take care of the coal supply and,
incidentally, the miscellaneous freight coming to the
campus. A 30-ton electric locomotive conveys the coal
cars from the railway siding over the spur to the station.
This work will be done at off-peak times, thus relieving
the station of an otherwise somewhat troublesome bur-
den. Use is made of a coal-storage yard of about 6000
tons capacity adjacent to the station. This is sur-
rounded by a concrete retaining wall, which tends some-
what to relieve what would otherwise be an unsightly
object.
! the most interesting features of the station
is the provision made for discharging the smoke at a
considerable distance. Since the station site is not far
from the observatory, it is very likely to be a most un-
desirable neighbor. However, a scheme which has been
evolved for circumventing the smoke difficulty when it
becomes necessary to do so will probably be put into
service.
The generating equipment is typical of the combina-
tion station. It consists of one 625-kva directly con-
nected three-phase unit, driven by a compound non-con-
densing engine, this type being chosen to fit the require-
ments of the low-pressure heating mains into which the
engines exhaust. Direct current for many existing
motors and for the railway is furnished by a pair of
150-kw motor-generators, while the main body of the
energy for general purposes is transmitted by cables in
a 1600-ft. tunnel, together with the heating mains, to
a substation on the campus whence it is distributed to
the various buildings. The boiler plant which furnishes
steam for the engines and miscellaneous purposes con-
sists of four pairs of 400-hp water-tube boilers working
at 140-lb. pressure and equipped with mechanical stok-
ers. The main difficulty with the present site of the
plant resides in the fact that the water must be taken
from the city mains, a far less serious matter than in
a condensing plant. Since the heating necessitates a
large supply of water, plans are under way for the in-
stallation of a mechanical pumping station at the river
to provide an adequate supply of water for the gener-
ating station and for the service of the university
buildings.
Electrical Supply in London
Attention has frequently been called in these columns
to the efforts to devise a practicable scheme for unified
electrical supply in Greater London. The latest effort,
elaborated by Messrs. Merz and McLellan, has been nul-
lified by the London County Council before it had a
chance to reach the parliamentary stage. There seems
to be grave doubt as to whether the scheme was a good
one from the financial standpoint, while violent oppo-
sition developed in the individual boroughs which have
been running their own plants. Of the great group of
plants in and about London, some are operated at re-
markably low expense, so low indeed as to leave a
meager margin for profit in case of the supply of en-
ergy from a consolidated system. Other local plants,
however, are less fortunate.
In addition to the local opposition, for reasons good
or bad, there developed against this or any similar
scheme of complete electrical revolution the grave dif-
ficulty of dealing with the investments already made
in financing the existing systems. The total annual
charge of the London undertakings for the last year for
which statistics are available was about $12,500,000, of
which more than half was due to the capital charge
and approximately only a quarter to the cost of gener-
al ing energy. The saving due to the substitution of
one or two central plants for those now in operation ap-
pears chiefly as a percentage of the generating cost, and
the estimates of the engineers predicted a saving of only
Mak. h :
K I. KCTRIC AL WOULD
18 per cent in the genu change ; in other
words, lew than 5 per cent of the total annual
London already obtains its electricity supply at a cost
lower than most large cities, and it became fairly ob-
vious that the effect of centralized generation could not
in itself, without an increase of business greatly improv-
ing the load-factor, work any revolution in the Ci
the consumer. Moreover, under the plan proposed a
very large amount of capital would have to be invested
in the new station or stations, while there was no avail-
able way of realizing on the very large sums already
spent on the individual generating plants which would
be superseded.
It is here that one encounters the greatest difficulty
in all such enterprises. The whole story is that if one
could start in a great city anew and build up an electric
energy supply system on strictly modern lines he could
obtain wonderful results in the way of low cost. As
the matter stands, old plants must always be taken care
of in the financing of the combination, and the net re-
sult is often discouraging. It is quite possible that a
great station in London worked out quietly by two or
three of the large and successful local supply com-
panies could be made to show a very handsome profit
as business increased, the plant expanding at the proper
rate to take up the load, as has been the case in some of
our American cities. However, irrecoverable invest-
ments in many fairly good plants stand in the way of
any enterprise worked out as was the one before us, so
that it is small wonder that the unified supply scheme
has not met with general approval, interesting as it is
from an engineering standpoint.
The Kenotron Rectifier
At the midwinter convention of the American In-
stitute of Electrical Engineers announcement was made
of a new type of rectifier for converting alternating
current into direct current especially adapted to high-
tension transmission. The new apparatus, which is
called the "kenotron," or "empty device," by its de-
signer, Dr. Saul Dushman, was described in the General
Electric Revietc, as noted in the Digest in the current
issue.
The mercury-vapor rectifier, already in fairly exten-
sive use, is a vacuum tube containing mercury vapor
and depending for its operation on the fact that a much
greater voltage must be applied to the device in order to
send a current through the tube in one direction than
in the other. In the new rectifier there is a very high-
vacuum tube with the anode and cathode fairly close
together. No current will flow through the tube in
either direction even when a very high voltage is ap-
plied to the electrodes. One of the electrodes is, how-
ever, heated electrically to an incandescent temperature
by an auxiliary local source of current, and when this
electrode becomes the cathode a current of, say, 1 amp
will instantly flow across the vacuum gap, whereas no
current will flow if the hot electrode is made the anode.
By this means an alternating emf applied to the elec-
trodea is enabled to send a unidirectional current
through the rectifier.
An advantage of the kenotron over the mercury-vapor
rectifier is that it can be operated apparently at very
high voltages, and a group of rectifiers can be run in
parallel. It might be advantageous to operate such a
direct-current system for transmission "in bulk" from
a generating to a receiving station, especially in the
case of subterranean connecting cables, which are much
r to construct for unidirectional than for alternat-
ing high voltages. It is curious that the "Edison effect,"
so called because it was first pointed out by Edison as
occurring in an ordinary incandescent lamp, should be
capable of application to rectification on a very respect-
able scale. Even if the use of the kenotron should not
be developed for energy transmission, the device should
prove very useful as a laboratory source of high uni-
directional emf.
Combined Oscillator and Radiotelegraph Detector
Following so closely the descriptive article, "The
Ultraudion Detector for Undamped Waves," by Dr. Lee
de Forest, which was published in our issue for Feb. 20,
the paper in the current issue by Dr. A. H. Taylor will
be of great interest. Dr. Taylor not only gives data as
to results actually obtained in his experiments, but
goes into detail as to the arrangement and adjustment
of the apparatus used by him. It appears that the dis-
position of instruments described in the present paper
corresponds to the second step in the historical progress
mentioned by Dr. de Forest. The audion detector, by
virtue of its ability to set up sustained alternating cur-
rents of radio frequencies, has been found within the
past year or so to be usable as an astonishingly sensi-
tive self-contained "heterodyne" or beats-method re-
ceiver for sustained waves. It appears that the com-
bination of incoming and locally generated currents to
form electrical beats, and their subsequent rectification
to produce audible signals, may be effected by an almost
unlimited series of variations in circuit arrangements.
The arrangement described by Dr. Taylor is merely one
of a considerable number of similar combinations which
are capable of producing the same effects to a greater or
less degree.
Solutions of the problems of radiotelegraphy seem to
be forthcoming with unexpected rapidity, and largely
through the work of American scientists. Sustained-
wave working was first advanced and used by Fessen-
den in the United States, as was beat-tone or "hetero-
dyne" reception. American engineers have developed
both the radio- frequency alternator and the Poulsen
hydrogen arc generator to commercially useful efficien-
cies, and have improved the technique of beats reception
by the production of such oscillators as that typified in
the audion. While continuous waves and beats receiv-
ers may perhaps not be used in ultimately perfected
radio signaling, they form the basis of the best that can
now be seen in that art. It is gratifying that workers
of the United States have led these developments to
their present successes.
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 11
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
The N. E. L. A. Accounting Section
To the Editor of the Electrical World:
Sir: — Through the approval by the parent body of the
organization of an Accounting Section in the National
Electric Light Association, I think it is the belief of the
present accounting committee, which has formulated the
necessary plans for bringing this matter formally be-
fore the executive committee of the national organiza-
tion, that a long step in the right direction has been
taken.
Special accounting sessions have been held at the
annual conventions during the last few years, when en-
thusiasm and interest were much in evidence; but with
the organization of an Accounting Section an accom-
plished fact, greater things in this connection may be
expected. With all the member companies represented
in the national organization working together through
the means of the several committees of the Accounting
Section, much should be accomplished which will result
to the general good of the industry. The Accounting
Section has before it a future filled with possibil-
ities, the importance of which it is impossible to esti-
mate at the present time.
With the changes that will be made necessary as time
goes on to meet the conditions of complex business,
fundamental principles, whenever possible, will need to
be evolved as a guide for those who are responsible for
developing the business, as strict accounting therefor
is of prime importance. "Uniformity" should be the
guiding word.
A good start has already been made in this direction
by the preparation and adoption of a uniform system of
accounts. It is a comprehensive system, and future
committees of the Accounting Section should urge its
adoption generally, to the end that accounting statistics
may be exchanged between companies for comparison
and study and for other obvious reasons.
The uniform system of accounts should, from time
to time, be brought up to date by incorporating therein
any changes in detail that may be necessary to meet
changing business conditions, including such new funda-
mental accounting principles, before mentioned, as shall
be recommended by the accounting committee and ac-
cepted by the association.
The "question box" is a means of gaining information
bearing upon almost any detail of the industry' desired
by a member company, and will be made the means,
through its committee, of advising such companies of
all decisions affecting accounting principles arrived at
by the accounting committee.
Cost accounting as it pertains to the production and
distribution of each kind of service by a public utility
•Matter much in the minds of many at the present
time. This phase of accounting is rather a new field,
which must be developed by the introduction of ideas
that rn.iv or may not be valid. They must be tried out
in actual operation, and the trying out process is one of
the most important in the stares of development of
anything of this sort. The committee to which this
tion is assigned will have to feel its way and fix
i forts on devising methods and
itandardi adaptable even to the trying-oul pro
Eventually, after painstaking study, something may
be evolved in the form of definite principles which shall
possess the flexibility and uniformity necessary to make
them adaptable to conditions existing in any particular
locality, thus resulting to the general good of the in-
dustry as a whole.
The Accounting Section should be the means of bring-
ing together and harmonizing the views and ideas of
the various accountants connected with the member com-
panies of the organization. While the fundamental
principles of accounting are standard and uniform, it
is the infinite number of details relating to accounting
for this particular industry on which there are varying
views ; and this is not to be wondered at, considering the
vast strides made, under varying conditions, in the in-
dustry during the last few years.
With a greater field for operation, such as prevails
with the organization of the Accounting Section, the
possibilities for a comprehensive unification of ideas
with respect to essential details may be more quickly
brought about. L. M. WALLACE,
d„,.„„ if,KS Auditor Edison Electric
OfilOTt, mu^t,. Illuminating Company of Boston.
Pipe Thawing
To the Editor of the Electrical World:
Sir: — In an article in your issue dated Feb. 6 the
writer of an article on "Thawing Pipes" advocated the
use of a transformer with its primary coils connected
to a 220-volt feeder, thereby obtaining a potential of
either 11 volts or 22 volts, for the purpose of thawing.
Although this system will undoubtedly work in a very
limited number of cases, there are two very serious ob-
jections to it.
First — The transformers on the line are not always
large enough to supply the additional current for thaw-
ing. It will often take as much as 25 kw to thaw out a
pipe of considerable size.
Second — Either 11 volts or 22 volts is not enough for
many cases. Sometimes a potential as high as 88 volts
may be used to advantage. The system should there-
fore be sufficiently flexible to provide a wide range of
voltage.
The system shown in the accompanying diagram
worked out satisfactorily during the past winter. It
gave better satisfaction than the regular thawing trans-
former, owing to the fact that a wider range of voltage
a is connected to jay
yutoMV i
Lines connected to Water Pipe
USE OF STANDARD TRANSFORMERS FOR THAWING
could be obtained from it. Its efficiency is very high
because no power is lost in a resistor or choke coil.
Assuming that 500 amp is the maximum current
needed for thawing, each of the transformers I, II, III
and IV should have a rating of at least 5 kva. All of
their primary coils are connected in parallel to the
2300-volt line: their secondary coils are connected in
series, with a tap brought out between the two coils
Makui 18, 1916
ELECTRICAL WORLD
645
and fastened to a connector. A good method is to
fasten all these connectors in a row on a board. Trans-
former V is so connected to a double-pole, double-throw
•witch that its primary coils may be joined either in
or in multiple. The secondary coils of trans-
former V, which furnish the current for thawing, are
joined permanently in multiple.
The lead o may be connected to any one of the seven
connectors, depending upon the voltage needed. When
the switch is thrown to the series (S) side a potential
of 11, 16.6, 22, 27.5, 33, 38.5 or 11 volts may be obtained.
When the switch is thrown over to the multiple {it)
side the potential may be increased from 44 volts to
55, 66, 77 or 88 volts. An ammeter (A) may be joined
in the circuit. When placed as shown the proper cur-
rent relations of twenty-to-one for series connection and
ten-to-one for multiple connections of the primary coils
should be taken into account. Transformer V may be
one transformer or several connected in parallel. For
a maximum of 500 amp they should have a combined
rating of from 20 kva to 25 kva. All of the transform-
ers can be neatly arranged in a wagon to be readily
moved from place to place. A. C. Kelm,
Idaho Falls, Idaho. \runicipai Pour, Plant
Photometric Units
To the Editor of the Electrical World:
Sir: — A complete set of photometric units was de-
fined and adopted by the Illuminating Engineering So-
ciety some years ago. That this system of units has
found favor with illuminating engineers there can be no
question, although it has been the subject of consider-
able discussion by them since its essentials were pre-
sented by Blondel to the Geneva Congress in 1896.
Whether or not it has proved acceptable to physicists
there is no means of knowing. Mathematical physicists
in dealing with problems in radiation have used systems
of their own, as a rule far from analogous to that
mentioned.
Physicists demand of any system of units that it be
simple, rational and teachable; engineers that it be
useful. Since the subject has recently been reopened in
the Electrical World,* I venture to suggest a modi-
fied system of photometric units which may perhaps
prove acceptable to physicists and engineers alike.
The system proposed is fundamentally that used by
mathematical physicists in dealing with quantitative
problems in radiation, except that radiation in energy
units is throughout multiplied by a visibility factor to
convert it into light. The effect of this is to make quan-
tity rather than intensity or flux the fundamental unit,
since the other photometric units may be derived from
it by very simple time and space relations. In the pres-
ent system the intensity unit (the candle) was formerly
considered fundamental, but quite recently the Illu-
minating Engineering Society committee on nomencla-
ture and standards adopted the unit of flux (the lumen)
to serve in that capacity.
Beyond question radiation is properly measured in
energy units. This may be thought of as a particular
portion traveling off into space or trapped in an ideal,
perfectly reflecting inclosure. The rate at which radia-
tion streams through or upon a given area measured in
ergs per second (radiation flux) is a distinctly less
simple concept. Flux per unit area involves area as
well as energy and time. Then follow, in the order of
complexity, flux per unit solid angle and finally flux per
unit solid angle per unit area, used in the specification
• "The Unit of Brightness." J. R. Cravath, Dee. 1!
Nutting, Feb S, 1916; 11 E. Ives, Feb. 20, 1915.
1914 : P. G
of a beam. It is quite immaterial whence the radiation
originated in toward what absorbing or reflecting body
it is proceeding. It is here proposed to define light
quantity, flux, flux density, tlux concentration and
brightness in precisely analogous terms.
Light quantity is, then, radiation in ergs times vis-
ibility. It is what has monetary value in lighting and,
other things being equal, is proportional to an amount
of coal or to a certain amount of kinetic energy in water.
The effect of light upon photographic sensitive mate-
rials and on the human retina at low intensities is pro-
portional in quantity rather than flux, but these facts
have, of course, no bearing upon the rationality of
photometric units.
Light flux in this system is simply quantity per unit
time measured in energy units per unit time (ergs per
second, say) times visibility. It is quite analogous to
fluid flow in cubic feet per second or to flow of electricity
in coulombs per second, and no more rational unit could
be devised. Further, the total flux of light from an
illuminant is a proper measure of its intensity as in the
case of sources and sinks in dynamics. It is obvious
that no units of area or of solid angle are involved in
defining flux, however convenient they may be in its
practical measurement. Quantity is the time integral
of flux.
Flux density is flux per unit area. The direction the
light is traveling is, of course, immaterial, nor is it of
any consequence whether it is entering or leaving a
material surface. It may be expressed as the ratio of
either differentials or of finite quantities. Total flux is
the integral of flux density over an area, independent
of distribution or direction.
Flux concentration is a convenient designation for
flux per unit solid angle. Mathematically it is on a par
with flux density as defined above. Strictly speaking,
it is a physical absurdity since a solid angle must have
a point apex and no pencil of light can pass through a
point. Physical experiment and optical theory agree
that the most perfect pencil of light decreases slightly
in convergence near an apex. The unit is useful in
photometric measurements but is obviously not suitable
for a fundamental unit.
Finally both flux density and concentration are in-
volved in the unit of brightness, the remaining unit of
importance in photometric measurements. Now, the
brightness of a surface to the eye is proportional to the
light per unit area leaving the surface and to the light
per unit solid angle entering the pupil of the eye.
Brightness is, therefore, proportional to both flux densi-
ty and flux concentration as defined above; that is, to
flux per unit area per unit solid angle in the direction
of the observer's eye. But, in general, the emitting or
reflecting surface is inclined to the direction of observa-
tion or is perhaps no surface at all, as in the case of the
sky, for example. Hence it appears, on the whole, more
rational and fully as convenient to define brightness as
flux per unit solid angle per unit projected area.
These five photometric units appear to be those that
are both necessary and sufficient to deal with all classes
of photometric problems. Their relations to each other
are so simple as to require no further discussion. The
questions of nomenclature and of standards are, of
course, not involved, although these bear the same rela-
tion to this as to any other system of units. I have
drawn no comparisons with the present system of units
to avoid precipitating a controversy at too early a stage.
The system here suggested is presented as possibly the
simplest and most rational system. Whether or not it
is this and at the same time teachable and useful will
require extended consideration. P. G. Nutting.
Rnrhoetor W V Rrsrarrh Laboratory.
Kocnester, N. X. Eastman Kodak Company.
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 11
Central Generating System for University
Electric Coal-Handling Locomotives and Coal-Storage Yards — Utilization
of Exhaust Steam Distributing Energy Through Tunnels
PROBABLY no other educational institution in this
country has a central generating and heating plant
so elaborately equipped as the one recently con-
structed by the University of Michigan, of Ann Arbor.
Among the features of the system are an electric loco-
motive for hauling coal and ashes between the station
and the railroad, a large coal-storage yard with special
coal-handling equipment, a pneumatic ash-conveyor sys-
tem, the installation of auxiliaries on the main engine-
room floor, means of disposing of smoke at a distance
from the station, and the transmission and distribution
of energy through tunnels.
The station is laid out for an ultimate boiler installa-
tion of 4000 hp, but at present it is equipped with only
3200 hp in steaming apparatus and 625 kva in alter-
nating-current generating machinery. The heating
mains and electric feeders are conveyed through a 1600-
ft. tunnel to a substation on the campus, where energy
is distributed through a network of tunnels having an
aggregate length of about one mile.
High-pressure steam is required from this system for
operating equipment in the central station and in the
university laboratories, as well as for sterilizing pur-
poses in the hospitals which are conducted by the uni-
versity for training its medical students. Low-pressure
steam is required for the heating system and for heat-
ing water. For a single institution the demand for
steam is great. Even in 1912, when experiments were
conducted to determine the minimum output of the
station, it was found that the hospitals alone required
15,000,000 lb.-Fahr. units per hour, while the campus
buildings demanded about 105,000,000 lb.-Fahr. units
per hour. Electrical energy is also in considerable
demand for illuminating the buildings and grounds, to
operate ventilating equipment, and for use in the elec-
trical laboratories.
The old system which has been displaced by the new
installation consisted of a power plant on the campus and
an underground distributing system laid in brick tun-
nels. Owing to the rapid growth of the university
numerous changes had to be made in the old equipment
from time to time, to keep pace with the demands. As
only limited space was available in the boiler room,
high-rated boilers gradually superseded the old units,
and the single brick chimney once employed had to be
supplemented by several new smokestacks to give more
direct draft to each boiler. In 1913 the cost of trans-
porting coal from the railroad to the generating station
amounted to about $5,600, as the coal had to be carted
about one mile at the rate of 35 cents per ton. To
operate economically under these conditions, it was
necessary to use the best grade of Pocahontas coal. At
the time the new station was built the old plant con-
tained fourteen boilers having an aggregate rating of
2200 hp and three engine-driven generators having a
total rating of 350 kw.
During the last few years' operation of the old plant
the facilities were so limited that lamps and motor-
driven ventilating fans had to be shut off at definite
periods during the winter, otherwise the buildings could
not be satisfactorily heated. The delivery of coal to
the campus station in horse-drawn vehicles was un-
sightly and expensive, and to have several steel stacks
and one large brick chimney looming up in the midst
of many attractive buildings was objectionable from
the esthetic point of view. Another condition which
made it necessary to rebuild at a different place was
the fact that the center of demand was gradually shift-
ing northward, owing to the gradual extension of the
campus.
Factors Affecting Location of New Station
Among several locations considered for the new plant,
two were chosen for careful study — one about 4200 ft.
north of the campus boundarv on the Michigan Central
FIG. 1 -ENCINK ROOM WITH SWITCHBOARDS AT LEFT
Mak. ii
1 ■: I . E I "I \i I C A L W ORLD
Railroad ami close t" tin- Huron River, where coal ami
water could l>e obtained without great difficulties; the
other about 1200 ft. northeast of the campus at a con-
siderable distance above the railroad and the river but
near the center of distribution. In either case tunnels
would have had to be constructed in which to convey
steam and electricity to the campu-s and hospital build-
Ings.
If the station had been built near the river, it would
have been necessary to transmit the steam to the campus
4200 ft. distant under high pressure, ami even it extra
heavy pipes had been used the total expansion would
have been between 3 ft. and -1 ft. When the investment
required for tunnels, piping and electrical equipment
was compared with the investment necessary for equip-
ment for hauling coal and ashes and pumping water,
ity, and that the Bmoke and heated gases i-suing from
the chimneys might hinder the work conducted in the
nearby observatory of the university. These grievances
were partly allayed by constructing an artistic station,
inclosing the coal-storage yard with a well-designed
wall, and providing means for discharging the smoke
at a distance from the station in case it becomes objec-
tionable to those using the observatory,
i oal-Hsoling Equipment
Coal for the station is received over the Michigan
Central Railroad and transported in the original cars
to the coal-storage yard by a 30-ton electric locomotive.
The track is 4400 ft. long, 59 per cent of it being over
:', per cent and about 16 per cent over 2 per cent grade.
The locomotive operates on 500 volts direct-current
FIG. 2 — LAYOUT OF BOILERS AND ENGINE-ROOM EQUIPMENT
moreover, it was decided that the river site was out of
the question.
The station was finally constructed on the second site,
which is nearer the campus and hospital, or in the "cat-
hole" as it is locally termed. In this position the sta-
tion is more centrally situated for energy distribution,
thereby enabling the utilization of all exhaust steam,
of standard-weight pipes, and of shorter tunnels radiat-
ing to the different parts of the present and future
campus. The expense that was incurred in construct-
ing the railroad from the Michigan Central track to the
station will eventually be a minor item as the railroad
can be used to bring freight to the campus level, which
is about 200 ft. above the railroad. The spur can also
be used in the future for passenger service, as a branch
of the Michigan Central Railroad leading to the center
of the campus.
Objections were raised to building the station on its
present site for fear that its appearance and its coal-
storage yard would depreciate land values in the vicin-
energy supplied from a third rail through the coal-
storage yard and from an overhead trolley through the
remaining length of the road. In order that the de-
mand on the generating equipment may not be too
great, the locomotive will be operated during off-peak
periods, thereby smoothing out the load curve of the
system.
The coal-storage yard as laid out at present covers
about 18,000 sq. ft. Coal will be piled about 15 ft. deep
under ordinary conditions, or so as to accommodate
about 6000 tons. The coal-storage yard is surrounded
by concrete retaining walls having paneled faces which
make it far from unsightly.
Coal-HandlinR Crane and Crusher
A system of handling coal that requires a minimum
amount of manual work, and causes very little dust and
dirt, was adopted. The cars as loaded at the mines are
brought to the coal-storage yard on an open viaduct,
and are either dumped or unloaded by means of a 2.5-
648
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 11
yd. Hayward grab bucket suspended from a 3.5-ton
gantry crane operated by four motors. The crane
bridge stands 16 ft. above the truck wheels, the run-
ways for which are 45 ft. above the railroad and 72 ft.
apart. One rail is supported on the tops of the building
tended in the future. The frame of the building is of
steel ; the exterior walls are of brick faced with red-
tapestry brick with stone trimmings, and the roofs are
of reinforced concrete covered with composition and red
vitrified tile. The boiler room and engine room lie
FIG. 3 — SECTION OF BOILER ROOM, SHOWING COAL-WEIGHING CHUTE
columns, and the other on steel towers. The bridge,
which is composed of two box girders, is 106 ft. long
and has a cantilever extension of 17 ft. over each track.
From the cantilever over the station is suspended an
induction-motor-driven crusher controlled by the crane
operator and provided with a by-pass so that it need not
be operated when the crane is handling slack coal. The
crane and crusher are capable of handling 50 tons of
run-of-mine coal per hour. The coal may be delivered
either from cars or storage through hatchways in the
roof to a 325-ton overhead bunker in the boiler room.
With the amount of storage that has been provided very
parallel, the former being nearer the coal-storage yard.
The interior of the station is well lighted by numerous
steel-sashed windows, the engine room receiving addi-
tional light through a large glass monitor. All of the
floors are finished with red quarry tile. The walls of
the engine room are faced with buff-colored, vitreous
pressed brick and have a white-glazed terra-cotta wain-
scot.
Boiler Room
Four pairs of 400-hp Wickes vertical water-tube boil-
ers equipped with Murphy stokers have been installed
so far, but the ultimate plant will accommodate twice
C™
FIG. 4 — TYPICAL MANHOLE EQUIPMENT FOR DISTRIBUTING
ENERGY
little bridge travel will In- required. The crane was
furnished and erected by the Shaw Electric ('rane Com-
pany.
The station, which is L98 t't. long and n>7 ft. wide, is
so designed and ■ •■ thai II ''an he reatfil
FIG. 5 — OIL-SWITCH EQUIPMENT IN BASEMENT OF GENER-
ATING STATION
that number. These units are operated at 140-lb. gage
pressure without superheat. The stokers are driven by
220 volt variable-speed direct-current motors, one motor
being provided for each battery. The entire setting of
each pair of boilers is inclosed with a steel jacket to
Makoi 18, 1916
K LECT RICAL Wo R I.D
649
reduce air leaks and improve the appearance of the
boiler room. I oal is supplied to the ■token from the
overhead bunkers through a traveling weighing hopper
and distributing chute. The hopper, which has a capac-
ity of 'MOO lb., can be tilled by opening cut-olf gate- in
the overhead bunkers. The traveling chute, which is
motor-driven and lloor-controlled, is provided with a
ticket-recording device which shows the amount of coal
supplied to the boilers. Natural draft is produced by a
17"> -ft. radial-brick stack, which is 10 ft. in diameter at
the top.
The breeching leading from the furnaces to the chim-
ctends through the basement under the boiler room
back of the boiler foundation. It is made of reinforced
concrete lined with firebrick. This location is not usual
in American generating-station practice, but it makes a
very convenient arrangement with the type of boilers
used. To afford easy access to all clean-out doors, pip-
ing connections and other boiler equipment there has
been provided a system of steel galleries, runways and
stairs which form a part of the steel frame of the
building. The loop system of piping was adopted in
this station rather than the unit or panel system as
the boiler rating had to be greatly in excess of the gen-
erator rating owing to the large heating load. The pipes
are so valved that repairs can be made to any part with-
out shutting down more than one unit.
All fittings are of the cast-iron sweep pattern, and
long-radius pipe bends have been used instead of elbows
wherever possible to reduce the expansion strains and
pressure drop. In the steam main leading to each en-
gine is a Victor receiving separator, which is capable
of handling eight times the steam required by the high-
pressure cylinders with normal cut-off. In the engine-
exhaust mains have been installed oil separators and
multi-port valves which will open if the back-pressure
rises.
Feed-Water Heaters
Two 5000-hp Cochran open feed-water heaters are
employed to heat water for boiler feed and domestic
Mam Switchboard
water with centrifugal pumps. The exhaust steam is
led to the heaters through 12-in. exhaust mains and oil
separators. A 6-in. float valve regulates the flow of
water from the hot wells to the heater. Make-up water
is supplied to the float valve through a differential pres-
JjhriiJJ . on switch LJfjHd
FIG. 6 CROSS-SECTION OK OIL SWITCHROOM
service. The heaters are installed in the engine room
about 6 ft. above the floor to provide a gravity flow to
the water meters and to maintain sufficient head on the
feed-pump suctions to avoid the formation of vapor,
which is particularly objectionable when handling hot
FIG. 7 — CONNECTIONS FOR MOTOR-DRIVEN EXCITERS CON-
TEMPLATED
sure regulator. One side of the regulator control is
connected with the float-valve inlet, and the other side
communicates with the steam space in the heater; thus
a constant ratio will be maintained between the back
pressure and the water head on the float valve.
Hot-Well and Sump Pumps
The hot well, which is below the ash room, receives
condensate from the heating system and from all low-
pressure lines about the plant. Another reservoir is
installed at a lower level to receive all drainage which is
too low to flow by gravity into the city sewers. Be-
tween the catch basin and the hot well is a chamber in
which is installed a 2-in. submerged sump pump and
two 4-in. hot-well pumps which can draw water either
from the hot well or the catch basin. Each of the
pumps is a single-stage centrifugal unit with a vertical
shaft directly connected with an induction motor located
on the ash-room floor.
Water Meter and Boiler-Feed Pumps
A Venturi meter is employed for measuring feed
water, but pipes have been installed for connecting a
Lea V-notch recorder which can be used with either
heater.
Two pumping units are employed for supplying water
for boiler feed and domestic service. Each unit con-
sists of one two-stage centrifugal pump for boiler feed
and one single-stage centrifugal pump for domestic
service, the two being directly connected to a Terry
ste;im turbine.
Water Supply
At present all water supplied to the generating sta-
tion is drawn from the city mains, but it is proposed
eventually to install an electrically operated pumping
station at the river and a water softener which will
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 11
furnish an adequate supply of water not only for the
generating station but for all university buildings. The
softeners which have been considered are of the inter-
mittent type, will operate under constant head and are
capable of treating 2000 gal. of water per hour. A com-
plete water-testing outfit is installed in conjunction
fig. 8-
-TUNNEL THROUGH WHICH ELECTRICITY, STEAM
AND HOT WATER ARE TRANSMITTED
with the other apparatus described for making periodic
tests.
Ash Handling
A pneumatic or suction ash conveyor is employed to
obtain the same efficiency and cleanliness as is secured
in handling coal. The ash conveyor consists of an 8-in.
pipe connected with the hoppers under each stoker and
leading to a 50-ton tank supported over the railroad
spur in the coal-storage yard. A vacuum of approx-
imately 1.5 lb. is maintained in this tank by means of
a General Electric centrifugal exhauster driven by a
220-volt induction motor. The ash hoppers under the
grates have been designed large enough to hold all of
the ashes collecting in twenty-four hours, so that it is
necessary to maintain a vacuum in the tank only a short
time. The ashes in the storage tank can be discharged
into either a railroad car or a wagon and hauled away.
Engine Room
The engine room was made considerably longer than
is required for the engines and generators so thai
auxiliaries could be installed where they will be readilj
ible for making teats and for every-day operation
of the plant. A L5-ton traveling crane having a span of
55 ft clears the floor by 22 ft. The generating equip-
ment consists oi ■ kva, 2800 volt, three-pha e,
sixty-cycle Allis-Chalmers generator, directly connected
to a non-condensing 780 hp horizontal cross-compound
Corlisa engine designed for 120 cp.m. A non-condens-
ing engine was employed) aa 6-lb. to 7-lb. back pressure
[red in the low-pressure heating main into which
all of the engines exhaust.
i he high-pressure and the low-pressure cylin-
ders there are installed horizontal receivers equipped
with reheating coils to uperheal the steam, Th<
gine is provided with a 20-ton flywheel to permit parallel
iiion with any generators which may be installed
later. By-passing the throttle valves are pipes through
which steam can be allowed to pass before starting the
engines to heat up the cylinders and prevent initial con-
densation and hammering.
If it should ever become desirable to install prime
movers to utilize the steam to better economy in the
station, it will be simple to connect an exhaust turbine
between the high-pressure and low-pressure cylinders or
at the exhaust of the latter cylinder. Space has also
been provided for installing three Corliss engine-driven
generators when this becomes desirable.
Exciters and Motor-Generators
One 25-kw, 125-volt exciter directly connected to a
non-condensing steam turbine operating at 3600 r.p.m.
is provided. When more generators are installed the
additional exciters required will probably be driven by
2300-volt motors connected with each other and with
the supply circuit as shown in Fig. 7. Such an arrange-
ment will permit using ordinary auto-transformers for
starting, after which the motor can be connected directly
to the line by reversing the double-throw oil switch in
the compensator loop circuit.
As the majority of motors now used on the campus
are of the direct-current type and as the electric loco-
motive also requires direct-current energy, two 150-kw,
220-volt motor-generator sets have been provided. The
generators are compound-wound and connected for par-
allel or series operation. The motors, which are wound
for 2300 volts, start as induction machines but run as
synchronous motors. They are equipped with directly
connected 125-volt exciters so designed as to make it
possible to operate the motors as synchronous con-
densers for power-factor correction. When operating
in series the motor-generators furnish energy to a
three-wire system from which the electric locomotive
or 250-volt campus circuits receive their supply. On
light loads only one set is operated.
Kic. 9 ELECTRICAL EQUIPMEN1 in CAMPUS SUBSTATION
Switchboard
Three switchboards have been installed in this sys-
tem, the mam one being in the engine room to control
the main generators, exciters, motor-generator sets and
Bade Of the main switchboard is an
auxiliary switchboard for controlling the station ser\ ice
circuit. A distributing switchboard is placed in the
ELECT K I < A I. \V(> It LU
651
camp . ii, from which all feeders radiate to
ampus building.
The main nrifa : twenty-three panels,
and practically all of the instruments aaed in central
onducted on a revenue-producing basic
employiil. No high-voltage wires are installed on the
hboards, all apparatus being controlled through
mast, i
The high-tension buses, oil switches and disconnect-
ing switches are installed in the basement below the
engine room. Duplicate high-tension and exciter bus-
tnployed to insure continuous operation and
to facilitate making repairs, connections and ti
Arrangements have been made for synchronizing with
the Eastern Michigan Edison Company's system so as
to have reserve supply or break-down service.
Electrical Distribution
All 2:500- volt conductors between the main genera-
tes and the busbars consist of lead-covered cables in-
stalled in vitrified conduit, splicing chambers being
placed in the engine foundations. All conductors leav-
ing the station are also inclosed in vitrified conduit
placed in underground tunnels. At present two No. 00
feeders have been run to the substation, and the hos-
pitals and observatory will be served temporarily by
overhead lines. Feeders from the substation are con-
veyed underground to distributing subway-type trans-
formers installed in manholes. From these low-tension
service connections are made with the buildings.
For 220-volt alternating-current service around the
central station three 100-kva, single-phase transform-
ers are being used. Energy for station lighting is sup-
plied from three 15-kva, 110- volt, single-phase trans-
formers. The entire load of each set may be carried by
two open-delta connected units, but the closed delta
connection is employed under normal conditions.
Ultimately it is intended to connect the station wi'li
the campus, hospitals, observatory and future
buildings by separate tunnels, but at present only
the main tunnel leading to the campus is installed.
The tunnel is elliptical in cross-section, being 8 ft.
wide, 10 ft. high and about 1600 ft. long. Along
the bottom of the tunnel have been installed six
ducts of vitrified conduit through which the elec-
trical conductors are run. The conduits are in-
closed in concrete, and splicing chambers are pro-
vided at frequent intervals for pulling cables, etc.
Over the conduits is a walkway 3 ft. wide and 2
ft. high. Along the ceiling of the tunnel has been
placed a rigid iron conduit with outlets approx-
imately 20 ft. apart for lamps.
In addition to the electrical equipment, there
installed in the tunnel a 20-in. low-pn
main, an S-in. high-pressure steam main, an 8-in.
return line, a 6-in. hot-water line, a 2-in. re-circulating
line, and a 2-in. • air line. All of these pipes
occupy one side of the tunnel and are supported on
special hangers which permit the pipes to move both
laterally and longitudinally. Six right-angle turns have
been made in the tunnel and the pipes have been
anchored between each turn bo that expansion of the
pipes will not cause them to buckle.
Sulfation
The tunnel just described terminates in the basement
of a brick substation on the campus, where equipment
for distributing steam, hot water and electricity is in-
stalled. The principal purpose of the substation is to
effect a junction between the main feeders from the
new generating station and the old campus distributing
-\stem. In external appearance the substation is made
to conform as nearly as possible with the rest of the
buildings on the campus.
The electrical equipment in the substation includes
a distributing switchboard made of ebony asbestos
board and 2300-volt oil switches which supply energy
to 2300 220-1 10-volt transformers installed in manholes
around the campus. All of the energy is distributed
underground through a new network of tunnels which
connect with the underground transformer stations.
Details of Construction
The large low-pressure steam header enters the base-
ment horizontally and is bent into a rectangular loop
standing in a vertical plane to allow for longitudinal
expansion. A large gate valve is connected in this loop
to control the steam supplied to the campus feeders,
which are also equipped with valves. Connection has
been made between the high-pressure main and the dis-
tributing low-pressure headers through a 6-in. reducing
valve, in order that the pressure in the
heating mains may always be maintained
at approximately 5 lb. to 7 lb. per square
inch.
The entire plant was designed by Smith,
Hinchman & Grylls, architects and engi-
neers. Detroit. Mich. James Stewart &
Company, Chicago, constructed the building
and tunnels. The pipe fitting was done by
the building and grounds department of the
university, which also installed the elec-
trical equipment. Mr. James H. Marks is
superintendent of buildings and grounds,
and Mr. Thomas Hopwood is chief engineer
of the plant.
PIG. 10 — COAL-HANDLING EQUIPMH^T AND ASH RESERVOIR
652
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 11
The Double- Audion Type of Receiver
Description of the Equipment Used for the Reception of Continuous
Radiotelegraphic Waves at Station in North Dakota
By A. H. Taylor
THE purpose of this paper is to outline briefly a
method of using two audions as an amplifying
electrical "beats" receiver for the reception of
continuous waves in radiotelegraphy. It is, of course,
now quite evident that the audion as well as any other
type of detector may be used with the heterodyne re-
ceiver when the local high frequency is generated, as in
the case of the Fessenden receiver, by an auxiliary
high-frequency generator or by a Poulsen arc.
Recently there has been put on the market a type of
De Forest audion capable of producing continuous os-
cillations of great purity similar to those of the Poul-
sen arc, only of much less energy.1 The writer has had
no experience with this so-called "ultraudion," but it
seems that this instrument could be used as a local high-
frequency generator in connection with any type of de-
tector and receiving set as a heterodyne receiver for
continuous waves. It would merely be necessary to
couple the oscillation circuit of the "ultraudion" very
loosely to the aerial, much in the same manner as a
buzzer-test wave-meter coupling. The receiving set
would then receive two continuous waves of any desired
difference in wave-length, and the pitch of the note
produced in the telephone, which I may call the beat
pitch, would be equal to the difference in the oscillation
frequencies of the received continuous wave train and
the "ultraudion" circuit. If in such a set-up the re-
ceiver consists of an ordinary audion, we should get a
twofold amplification of the strength of the signals. In
the first place, as has been pointed out by Mr. John L.
Hogan, Jr.,2 the heterodyne principle itself involves an
amplification. If the strength of the received current
be denoted by i, and the strength of the local high-fre-
quency current be i.,, the energy in the receiver is pro-
portional in the one case to i," and in' the other case to
(4,4-^)*. If i, is considerably larger than i, the in-
crement of energy due to the incoming signal will be
2i',i',. The second source of amplification is due to the
fact that, as has been repeatedly pointed out, the au-
dion, while giving a strictly quantitative response,
nevertheless is a trigger or relay device, since owing
to its operating characteristic it may be worked at a
point where the incoming signal releases a store of en-
ergy from the local high-potential battery. It is this
which gives the audion its superior sensitiveness as a
receiver. The receiver used by the writer is not, how-
ever, of the external oscillator type. It is somewhat
simpler, although it has both of these amplification fea-
tures and possibly one other amplification.
The receiving set for regular spark stations which
the writer has been using for some time consists of two
audions connected as shown in Fig. 1. These connec-
tions were suggested by an article by De Forest." The
connection is, however, slightly different from the one
shown by De Forest, inasmuch as the transformer sec-
ondary M leading to the second audion is in the De For-
est sketches left open, whereas the writer has obtained
better results by closing it through a stopping con
denser of very small capacity. The transformer used
is the secondary of a 0.5-in. spark coil used as an auto-
transformer. Under normal working conditions this
arrangement constitutes an amplifier. Shunted tele-
phone readings have shown that the improvement in
signal strength due to the addition of the second audion,
while somewhat dependent upon the wave-length, aver-
ages from fourfold to fivefold. Whether this is as good
as the amplification in the standard amplifier the writer
is unable to say, although it is enough to make the
double audion or cascade connection decidedly worth
while.
The action of this device under normal conditions
seems to be as follows: When receiving signals from a
spark station the high-frequency oscillations received
in the first audion are converted into a series of uni-
directional impulses. If the stopping condenser sc in ■
the second audion circuit is of large value, these im-
pulses will pass through it bunched together in the form
of low-frequency groups corresponding to the spark
pitch of the sending station. If, on the other hand, the
stopping condenser leading from the transformer to the
second audion is of very small capacity, a group fre-
quency of the order of 1000 per second will be shut out.
But, on the other hand, the high-frequency pulses will
pass through. The second audion in the first case will
'Tii. manuscript for thin .-i rt i< in wnt mthor
on Fel to 1 in-
uii i iuoion" bj i " ■ ■ I mcal
■ if !•'.■!, 10, I'M:.
I Hi.- Instlim rii::. p 7 ..
pa «.r the thitltut*. "f Radio Engineers, March, i"ii
CONNECTIONS OF RECEIVER
amplify the low-frequency groups by the addition of
local energy from its high-potential battery. In the
second case it will amplify the individual high-fre-
quency pulses and deliver them to its telephone circuit
smoothed out by the inductance of the telephone in low-
frequency groups.
A function of the transformer M is to provide a con-
ducting path for the current from the high-potential
battery of audion No. 1 and at the same time to offer a
sufficient impedance to avoid the short-circuit of either
low-frequency groups or high-frequency pulses. It
must be remembered that if the amalgamation of the
current from the first audion into low-frequency pulses
is to he avoided with certainty, the stopping condenser
to the second audion must lie of very small capacity and
of the order of 5.10 ' ml'. With the ordinary spark
station reception both audions are adjusted to their
maximum sensibility. As has been shown, there are
two points where the rate of change of the slope of the
characteristic current of a normal audion reaches max-
ima, correspnndnij' to two different values of the voltage
in the high-potential circuit. If instead of varying this
voltage the heating current of the audion be varied, the
correspondence is between two values of the heating
current. It is usually more convenient to adjust the
audions in this second \\a\ .
Mak. 11 13, lalo
ELECTRICAL WORLD
653
With this arrangement continuous oscillation signals
will, of course, not be received as tones in the telephone
unless then is simultaneously impressed upon th<
cuit a local high frequency in the manner already ex-
plained. It i^ possible, however, to And an adjustment
of the audions where local high-frequency current is
produced within the receiving audions themselves, thus
dispensing with the external generator considered
for heterodyne reception. In this connec-
tion it is interesting that Bccles* has shown the proc-
;n many detectors to be reversible, or, in other
words, that if the reception of a continuous oscillation
by an ordinary detector — as, for instance, the Galena
:1 — results in the formation of a direct steady cur-
rent through telephones or galvanometer, this process
can be reversed by passing a current of the same magni-
tude in the opposite direction through the crystal from
the local battery and providing the crystal with a shunt
circuit made up of inductance and capacity. This cir-
cuit will then contain feeble oscillations of a frequency
determined by its inductance and capacity. That is to
say. the detector behaves like a Poulsen arc and gener-
ates high-frequency oscillations.
In order for any detector to show this effect R* has
to be less than 4L — c. In general, the audion does not
act as an oscillator.
It is well known that the Poulsen arc works best with
relatively large inductance and small capacity in shunt.
Considering the audion, it is found that the resistance
of the circuit is so very high that under ordinary cir-
cumstances oscillations do not occur even although the
inductance is made as large as is possible while the
capacity is reduced. If, however, the audion filament
is burned at an abnormally high brilliancy, just on the
edge of the blue glow point, the tube resistance is great-
ly reduced and oscillations may be produced. The pres-
ence of the local high-frequency oscillation is made evi-
dent by a hissing noise in the telephone. The writer
has made experiments with the double audion which
show that whenever the hissing noise appears the lo-
cally generated high-frequency oscillation is present.
The explanation of this characteristic hissing effect is
undoubtedly to be found in the presence of this extra
high-frequency current, which may be of considerable
magnitude.
Referring to Fig. 1, it will be seen, therefore, that the
inductance L must be large and the capacity C must be
small, although their product must correspond approxi-
mately to the wave-length to be received. The effective
resistance between the grid and filament of audion No.
1 must be reduced by burning the audion at a somewhat
higher brilliancy than that corresponding to the noimal
adjustment of maximum sensibility. Furthermore,
in order for these high-frequency oscillations thus pro-
duced in audion No. 1 to pass over into No. 2 by way
of the plate of No. 1, the grid of No. 2, the hot filament
of No. 2 and back to the hot filament of No. 1, it is
necessary that the second audion also have a relatively
low resistance. For the two bulbs one should therefore
choose those which show the hissing effect. It is well
known that all audion bulbs do not show this effect, the
reason being undoubtedly that either the vacuum is not
rignt or the distance between filament and grid is too
great for them to possess a sufficiently low resistance
to allow the development of this high-frequency sus-
tained oscillation.
Two ordinary X-grade audions have been used regu-
larly for some months at this station for "ultraudion"
or electrical beat reception of various stations, including
the two German stations at Nauen and Eilvese, distant
4300 miles from Grand Forks. In all, five different
audion bulbs have been tested in various combinations,
and only one, an X-grade bulb with Hudson filament,
was found which would not work in this combination
under suitable adjustment of voltage and heating cur-
rent. The adjustment of the second audion is found to
be the more important.
In general, the voltage of the high-potential batteries
of both audions must be somewhat lower than the volt-
age necessary to give the best results when used for
ordinary reception of spark stations. The same voltage
in these circuits may be used for both types of reception,
the adjustment from beat-tone reception to simple re-
ception of spark stations being accomplished simply by
changing the temperature of the two filaments. The
best conditions for each audion must be worked out ex-
perimentally. • Once determined they are exceedingly
constant. Care must always be taken, however, that
there are no dead cells of high resistance among the
flashlight batteries which make up the source of high
potential referred to. This holds especially for the bat-
teries belonging to the first audion, because the local
high-frequency oscillation in the capacity-inductance
circuit of the receiving set, which is connected on one
side to the hot filament and on the other side through
a small stopping condenser to the grid, will induce high-
frequency pulses in the circuit involving the plate of
the first audion, the grid and hot filament of the second,
and back through the first high-potential battery' to the
hot filament of the first. If, by chance, one of the flash-
light cells used in this battery has a high resistance, its
effect in damping out these pulses will be very serious.
In addition to the high-frequency oscillation deter-
mined by the capacity and inductance in the receiving
set, there is, as is well known by all operators who have
had experience with audions, another oscillation possible
whose pitch is quite within the range of audibility. The
writer has not investigated this current in detail, but
the pitch of the note emitted would seem to depend on
the inductance of the telephones and the capacity in the
receiving circuit. It is also strikingly influenced by
the natural free periods of the telephone membrane.
This audible note in the telephones is particularly liable
to occur when two audions are connected in cascade as
in the present arrangement. A partial explanation of
this "siren" effect has been given by De Forest,5 but
the present paper is not concerned further than to note
that it must be strictly avoided in beat-tone reception.
After several months of practical experience it has be-
come evident that the best results with this "ultraudion"
arrangement are generally obtained with an adjustment
which is very close to that which inevitably produces the
siren.
Aerials Used in Experiments
The aerials at radio station "9 X N," University of
North Dakota, used in the tests described in this paper,
were of capacity 0.0012 mf and 0.013 mf respectively.
The smaller one, consisting of five wires, is 150 ft. long,
12 ft. wide and 85 ft. in height. The other consists of
three wires of seven-strand cable in a single span 800
ft. long. It is 20 ft. wide at the far end and 12 ft. at
the near end. The free end is 115 ft. in height and
points a little east of south. The lead-in is taken from
the north end, which is 60 ft. in height. It is estimated
that the height to the center of capacity of this aerial is
75 ft.
This aerial will tune to 3000 meters with an induc-
tively coupled transformer whose primary is 5 in. in
diameter and has 110 turns of No. 18 annunciator wire.
Both primary and secondary are provided with loading
coils having "dead-end" switches. One of these loading
coil units is variable so that a continuous adjustment
Eh-rlririan. Oct 3. 1913
■ Proceedings of the Institute of Radio Engir
re, March, 19H.
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 11
may be had of the primary. A fine adjustment of the
secondary is made by means of a 0.004-mf rotary vari-
able condenser across its terminals. Signals from South
San Francisco. Cal.j Newcastle, Canada; Tuckerton,
X. .1., and Bolinas, Cal., can be received in the daytime
with either aerial with very satisfactory intensity. In
fact, the beats receiver brings in the signals of Tuck-
erton with such strength that they can be heard when
the ground connection is removed. They can also be
heard and distinctly read if, in addition to this, the
aerial is disconnected but is touched with the bare hand
of the operator. It is necessary to use the long aerial
for the signals from Nauen and Eilvese, Germany, and
also for the Hawaiian stations.
The arrangement of Fig. 1 was first tested on signals
from the Federal Telegraph Company's station at South
San Francisco, "K S S," at a wave-length of approxi-
mately 7500 meters.6 This station has a remarkably
constant wave-length and uses a compensating wave
differing about 5 per cent from the signal wave. There
was no difficulty in separating completely the two waves,
as the receiver could be used with a very loose coupling
and still receive the signals with great distinctness and
purity. The pitch of the "beat" signal note can, of
course, be regulated by the setting of the condenser
placed in parallel with the secondary of the receiving
transformer. If this circuit be exactly in tune with the
incoming wave, the beat pitch will be zero. At a wave-
length of 7500 meters the frequency of the incoming os-
cillation is 40,000 per second. One per cent deviation
from perfect tuning will, therefore, give a beat pitch of
400 per second; 2 per cent, 800; 5 per cent, 2000. Be-
tween 1 per cent and 3 per cent asynchrony the loss in
energy due to detuning seems to be negligible ; at 5 per
cent there is a very decided loss. It seems best, there-
fore, to keep the beat pitch for stations of long wave-
length rather low. The audibility of South San Fran-
cisco, while varying slightly from day to day, averages
approximately 200 with the "ultraudion" receiver; at the
same time a much looser coupling can be used than with
the tikker. The distance from South San Francisco to
Grand Forks is approximately 1400 miles.
Signals from a Canadian Station
Recently signals have also been received from the
Newcastle (Canada) station, signing the call "V A N,"
which seems to be attempting to establish communica-
tion with "P X U." This station is mentioned because
it very frequently uses a compensation wave which dif-
fers so little from the sending wave that with the tikker
it is practically impossible to separate the waves and to
read the message. With the heterodyne receiver it is,
however, very easy. The two waves give two different
beat pitches, and it is easy to read either of these
pitches. If it is desired to suppress one of them en-
tirely, the receiving condenser is changed until the beat
pitch of the wave to be eliminated falls to zero. The
other then has a rather low pitch, but it is nevertheless
perfectly easy to read. The wave-length of this sta-
tion is variable, but has been frequently found at about
3600 meters. The continuous wave received at this sta-
tion with the greatest intensity is, of course, Tuckerton,
N. .1., "\V (i (J." sending usually at about 8000 meters.
Even the arc equipment of this station, using two waves,
ceived with greater intensity than any other con-
tinuous wave. When the Goldschmidt alternator is
used the signals come in on one wave only, but the
energy is not entirely broken, the signals consisting of
variations in the intensity of the beat note. The sig-
nals from Tuckerton are so powerful that they vei ■
' Thi ire onlj appi oxlmati
.villi multiplier and extrapolated
• ngtna.
quently can be heard 50 ft. distant from the receiving
telephones.
Shortly after the action of this receiver had been
worked out the writer began to listen for the signals of
the German stations at Nauen, "P O Z," 10,000 meters,
and Eilvese, "O U I," 7800 meters. These stations are
distant 4300 miles from Grand Forks. They are now
received practically every day from 2 p. m., Central
time, on into the night. The most satisfactory intensity
is obtained between 4 p. m. and 6 p. m., as later than
that the strays frequently become so violent as to in-
terfere with the reading of the signals. So far neither
of these stations has been received earlier than 2 p. m.
Central time. Usually Nauen with the longer wave is
received with greater intensity.
The audibility of the German stations varies a good
deal from day to day and even from hour to hour, espe-
pecially around the sunset period, but at this time of the
year it averages about sixteen.
It is to be noted that all three of the machine-alter-
nator equipments give a slight variation or swinging in
the beat pitch. This is not of sufficient magnitude to
produce any annoyance except when receiving some
other station. For instance, if Tuckerton and South
San Francisco are both sending at the same time, since
the Tuckerton signals are so much more powerful, re-
ception of South San Francisco is greatly facilitated if
the beat pitch of Tuckerton is adjusted to zero. There
is a sufficient difference in the wave-length of the two
stations so that under these conditions South San Fran-
cisco can still be read with ease. If, however, the wave
of Tuckerton fluctuates slightly, the signals from Tuck-
erton will now and then creep in as a very low guttural
note. With a little attention to the adjustment of the
receiving condenser, this can be easily corrected, as the
beat pitch of the Goldschmidt station swings very
slowly.
This type of receiver for obvious reasons works much
better on rather long waves, the most satisfactory re-
sults having been obtained between 5000 meters and
10,000 meters. The reason is quite evident if one con-
siders the condition necessary for the production of local
oscillation, namely, that R~- must be less than 4L C.
On attempting to adjust the receiver for wave-lengths
in the neighborhood of 3000 meters from some of the
west coast stations of the Federal Telegraph Company
considerable difficulty was experienced in producing the
necessary local oscillation. For short waves the in-
ductance L was considerably reduced, but, on the other
hand, the capacity C could not be satisfactorily reduced
to a desired minimum because the stopping condenser
itself furnished a limiting value. Moreover, if C be
made too small, the slightest movement of the hand in
the neighborhood of the receiving apparatus will destroy
the adjustment by changing the capacity of the set.
This makes the adjustment very difficult for waves be-
low 3000 meters. The adjustment has, however, been
carried out down to much shorter wave-lengths. With
a little practice the 3000-meter stations mentioned can
be received readily enough after 12 m. Central time.
The "ultraudion" receiver is. of course, effective also on
damped oscillations, especially if we deal with long and
feebly damped waxes, as. for instance, those emitted by
Bolinas, Cal.. "K E T," at about 6500 meters. This
station can be received any time in the afternoon, and
observations have most frequently been made at about
12:16 li. m. Central time, when Bolinas is apparently
opening communication with the Hawaiian Islands. An
interesting opportunity is here accorded to compare the
Operation and sensibility of the ordinary reception of
the double audion and the "beats-ultraudion" recep-
tion. With the ordinary adjustments the signals
of Bolinas are received with an average audibility
.MAKOi 18, l'.H.j
KLEUTRICAL WORLD
655
of about forty, uliar one inasmuch as
it can be heard continuously in between the dots and
daaheWi the dote and dashes consisting of in ■
Intensity. The note is quite clear, but is n<
typical of a spark station anil nothing like the clear.
Bute-like n when the "ultraudion" is used on
continuous waves. When the locally generating adjust-
ment is made for "K E T." the signals become exceeding-
ly hoarse and rough, completely losing their tone quality
but gaining tremendously in intensity, their audibility
frequently reaching several hundred.
Another Marconi station, not yet identified but prob-
ably Glace Bay, X. S., has frequently been observed at
about 8500 meters with the "beats" receiver, whereas
this station can barely be heard at all with the ordinary
adjustment. This is also true of the Hawaiian Station,
"K I K."
The oscillating adjustment is easily, with the spark
stations, shown to be at least ten times as sensitive as
the ordinary double audion adjustment. With spark
stations, however, the loss of the musical quality of the
note is a serious handicap, and from the nature of the
combination of the undamped local oscillation with the
damped oscillation having a group frequency as emitted
by the spark station, the difficulty seems unavoidable.
Similar experiments have been made upon the signals
from Arlington at 2500 meters. A tremendous gain in
the intensity of the signals has been noted here as else-
where, but owing to the loss of their musical quality
the readability of the signals through atmospheric or
"strays" has not, in the opinion of the writer, been very
materially increased. It is evident, however, from these
experiments that the "ultraudion" reception of continu-
ous waves is exceedingly efficient because the amplifica-
tion is retained and the musical quality is absolutely
perfect. Moreover, the pitch is under immediate con-
trol of the receiving operator.
Reception of Very Short Waves
In conclusion, a few comments on the possible "ultra-
udion" reception of very short waves may be in order.
If a continuous oscillation of 300-meter wave-lengths
were possible, it would correspond to an oscillation fre-
quency of 1,000,000 per second. A beat pitch of 1000
would correspond to a detuning in the receiving sec-
ondary of one-tenth of 1 per cent of absolute syn-
chrony. Asynchrony to the extent of 3 per cent
would produce a beat pitch of 30,000, which is
practically at the limit of audibility and decid-
edly above the possibility of the ordinary telephone.
If, however, we consider the reception of a damped
wave of 300 meters, we can see that with a beat pitch
of 30,000 the pitch actually heard in the telephone would
be that of the group frequency of the spark station
emitting the wave. At the same time the amplification
inherent in any type of heterodyne reception, as ex-
plained in the first part of this paper, would greatly in-
crease the strength of the received signals. Some ex-
periments have been made recently at this station using
the double audion burned at a great brilliancy for the
reception of amateur stations "8 P P," "8 T I," "8 F J"
and others, all of which are in Ohio, distant 800 miles
from this station. The intensity with which the signala
of these amateurs have been received, rising often as
high as an audibility of 100 to 150 and in some cases
even higher, leads the writer to believe that the adjust-
ment used for the audions was really an adjustment in
which oscillations were locally generated. In any event,
the signals are not received at all when the temperature
of the filament of the lower audion is kept at a lower
point corresponding to the reception of other spark sta-
tions of somewhat longer wave-length. This point will
be further investigated.
FACTORS IN RATE-MAKING—]
Considerations Which Govern Bates and Bone Nen Forma
hi I tilitj Schedules
i:v Aktiii b s. Iw -
There is no doubt that the most important problem
before the manager of any electric or gas company is
the adoption of a satisfactory system of n
nomical production is, of course, equally important, but,
owing to development and standardization of equipment
and methods, it is less serious as a problem than rate-
making.
Any one attempting to study rates a few years ago
would have found considerable pioneer work by Doherty
and others, but very little literature on rates or rate-
making. Now the technical papers are full of articles on
the subject, so that apparently full information is avail-
able. However, there are certain fundamental consid-
erations which seem to have been overlooked and detailed
methods of analysis which have not been explained fully,
so that this paper is submitted with the hope that it
may be of assistance, especially to smaller companies.
The first electric rates were necessarily "flat," because
there were no meters worthy of the name. Charges had
to be based on connected load, number of lights, horse-
power of motors, etc. Even when practical commer-
cial meters began to be developed, it was out of the ques-
tion, owing to their high cost, to use them for small
consumers.
In the meantime the glaring disadvantages of the flat
rate became apparent, namely, waste or reckless and
unnecessary use by the consumer because the cost to him
was based only on connected load and not on the energy-
consumed.
While metered rates, which followed the introduction
of accurate meters at reasonable cost, brought relief
from former conditions, new difficulties of a different
character arose. The consumer stopped wasting energy,
but he frequently increased his connected load and hence
maximum demand far in excess of the average on which
his rate had been based; hence the central station suf-
fered again by being made to install extra generating
capacity.
Another difficulty with the "straight metered rates"
(as they should properly be called) is that they did not
permit of inducements to be offered to really desirable
consumers with small demand and long hours' use, with-
out apparent discrimination, which would not be sanc-
tioned by the laws.
We see therefore that neither flat nor metered rates
could satisfy the general conditions of equity between
central station and consumer, so that finally a combina-
tion, the "load-factor rate," was developed, which takes
account of connected load (or, more properly, maximum
demand), as well as of energy consumed, or, in other
words, is based on the "hours' use" of the consumers'
demand or installation, as the case may be.
The reaction from metered rates to some system which
would also take account of connected load was promoted
by the tungsten lamp and consequent reduction in en-
ergy per lamp.
Load-Factor Rates
To-day progressive central stations have load-factor
rates, some exclusively and others as an alternative for
all but small residential consumers.
This class of rates is susceptible of many variations,
such as whether the consumer's maximum demand shall
be measured or estimated, and in the latter case as to
the basis of such estimate; but the principle is the same,
namely, to reproduce for the consumer the same condi-
tions of cost that would obtain if he were to install and
operate his own generating plant.
656
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 11
For example, a consumer with a maximum demand of
100 kw, if desiring to supply his own requirements,
would have to install a plant capable of meeting this
demand at all times, while one having a demand of only
50 kw would require a plant only one-half as large.
Hence the plant or investment, and therefore fixed
charges, must be proportional to maximum demand.
Furthermore such operating costs as coal, oil, labor, etc.,
will be proportional to the number of hours this demand
is used or operated.
In other words, whether the owner knows it or not,
the isolated plant automatically serves him at a load-
factor rate because such a rate represents actual con-
ditions of cost.
Now, what is true of the isolated plant is fundamen-
tally true of the central station. The load-factor rate
is therefore the most logical type or class of rates so
far devised, as it is more nearly proportional to the cost
of service in each particular case than any other system.
Central stations which have adopted it have made the
greatest headway against isolated-plant competition for
reasons which will be apparent readily from the above.
The Theoretically Perfect Rate
By means of a theoretically perfect system of rates
each consumer would be charged an amount exactly pro-
portional to the actual total cost of service rendered.
Items of cost may be divided into two general classes :
(A) "Fixed charges," which are the direct result of
the required investment of fixed capital.
(B) "Operating expenses," which are incident to
operation after the investment shall have been made
(not included in class A).
If every consumer was an average consumer and was
served under like conditions, fixed charges should be
divided among consumers in proportion to respective
maximum demands, while operating expense would be
divided in proportion to consumption.
But this is not the case, and, since the theoretically
perfect rate should give a proper charge to each indi-
vidual, it must take into account every varying condition
which would affect cost, such as :
(1) Conditions Affecting Fixed Charges. — Consumer's
maximum demand; interweave of consumer's demand
with demand of other consumers on same circuit or
transformer, on same transmission feeder and on same
generating station; distance of consumer from gener-
ating station; type of construction required to reach
consumer; if underground, type of street paving; if
overhead, size and spacing of poles; number of con-
sumers and total demand per square mile, or other unit
of area, in his neighborhood; total demand supplied by
same transmission feeder and by same generating sta-
tion.
(2) Conditions Affecting Operating Expense. — Time
and duration of demand; number of hours' use per day
or per year; period of day or night when use occurs;
length of distribution wires required to serve consum-
er; class to which consumer belongs, viz.: apartment,
residence, store, factory, etc.; length of time consumer
occupies one location ; distance of center of gravity of
distribution from generating station ; distance of con-
sumer from nearest office of company ; number of con-
sumers per square mile, in his neighborhood; number
of consumers supplied by company.
Inspection of these lists of variables will suggest that
while the cosl oi serving a customer depends mi his
maximum demand and load-factor, the unit cosl per
kilowatt of maximum demand is not the same for
each consumer but. depends also on his disti
from the generating station, the type of construc-
tion used to supply service, the density of other con-
sumers per unit ■ ,| the interweave of h
mand with other demands; while operating cost may
vary with time of day, distribution losses due to dis-
tance, and relation of the consumer's individual demand
and load-factor to the average consumer's demand and
load-factor.
It is perfectly possible to devise formulas which will
take all of these things into account, but it would be
found that many variations would be so small as to be
negligible, and the determination of, and allowance for,
many of the others would add considerably to the gen-
eral expense of the company without sufficient counter-
balancing gain to consumers. The practical solution is
to divide all consumers into classes and devise a proper
rate for each class.
Classification of Consumers
Consumers may be classified in various ways. The
primary classification should be according to geographi-
cal districts.
These may be of three kinds: (a) zonal with respect
to the distance of the center of each such district from
the generating station or center of distribution; (b)
where special forms of construction have been employed,
such as underground conduit or cable, and (c) with ref-
erence to density of population or of consumers to be
supplied from a single distributing circuit. The effect
of each variation on cost is obvious.
The second classification should be apparently with
regard to purpose for which service is used, such as
light, power, heat, etc. This may seem purely arbi-
trary, and many have claimed that it makes no difference
to the company what becomes of a kilowatt after it
passes through the meter. Were it not for the differ-
ence in the "interweave" of the several services such a
contention might be correct.
By "interweave" is meant the relation between the
generating capacity required to supply service to a
number of consumers and the aggregate sum of their
individual maximum demands. The interweave for con-
sumers using energy for motor service is considerably
less than for consumers using energy for light, and
this is the real and substantial reason why motor-ser-
vice rates should be lower than light rates. A low in-
terweave means less cost for plant per kilowatt of con-
sumers' demand.
The interweave is then the true basis of the second
classification, and consumers should be divided into as
many classes as are necessary to allow for variations
in interweave. For simplicity of presentation these
classes can be named as stated above, in accordance with
purpose for which service is used.
The third classification is with reference to the time
at which the consumers' maximum demand and service
generally is imposed on the generating station. This
takes care of such differences in cost as between peak
and off-peak loads.
The fourth classification is based on the size of the
consumers' load and takes care of the difference between
wholesale and retail consumers. There are certain costs
in rendering service which are considerably less per
unit for large than for small consumers, and the "whole-
sale" principle has been too well recognized in all busi-
ness to need special argument.
These four classifications are general, but in special
instances local conditions may be met by additional clas-
sifications.
Having agreed that the first practical consideration is
to treat consumers as composed of classes rather than
individuals, we must determine the cost of serving each
Bte class, with as accurate detail as possible. I
for each class should tie segregated into at least three
different divi
investment charges, which Include interest, depre-
.Mm;. 11
ELECTRICAL WORLD
657
< station nr amortisation), insurance and taxes resulting
from capital invest ment, which are proportional to con-
sumers' demand.
(b) Energy charges, which include such items of
operating expense as are dependent on the energy
required.
umer charges, which include such items of
operating expense as are independent of either amount
<pf investment required or energy sold but are propor-
tional to the number of consumers served.
If there are any other items which cannot be included
in such a classification, they should be taken into ac-
count in the final rate form.
In making this analysis practically for each given
case, as stated, every possible detail should be taken
into account, without regard to the complexity of the
result or the ultimate rate adopted. The important
thing at this stage is the true cost for each condition.
Commercial considerations come later.
Classification of Rate Forms
All rates may be grouped under some of the five gen-
eral classes:
(1) The flat rate, where no meter is used, and
the charge is either fixed arbitrarily per period or is
based on some unit such as size of building, or on num-
ber and capacity of energy-consuming devices, or even
on the output of consumer's product.
(2) The quantity-meter rate, where the charge
is based on the quantity of energy consumed during
bill-period as measured by an integrating meter, gen-
erally in kilowatt-hours.
(3) The demand-meter rate, where the charge is
based on the demand of the consumer's installation as
measured by an indicating meter, generally in kilowatts.
(4) The two-charge or load-factor rate, where the
charge is based on both quantity of electric energy con-
sumed and capacity or demand of the installation.
(5) The three-charge or "Doherty" rate, where
the charge is based on (a) quantity of energy con-
sumed, (b) capacity or demand of the installation, and
ic) number of consumers, meters or service connections,
or some similar unit.
These are general classes, and each class is subject
first to the following primary modifications: The price
or rate per unit may be:
(1) A uniform rate, where the price per unit does
not vary on account of any increase or decrease in the
number of units under consideration.
(2) A step rate, where the price per unit varies with
the number of units according to a given schedule, but
is the same for all of said number.
(3) A block rate, where the price per unit is differ-
ent for each succeeding block of units, and the total
charge is equal to the sum of the value of each block of
units taken separately.
These modifications, applied to the five general classes,
give forty-five different variations to start with, there
being nine combinations in the two-charge class and
twenty-seven in the three-charge.
Each and all of these rates may be subject to second-
ary modifications because of discounts and guarantees.
Discounts are of two general classes: Wholesale, or
depending on quantity only ; prompt-payment, in con-
sideration of time within which bills are paid.
"Wholesale discounts" may also be uniform, step or
block, and the affected units may be simple or compound.
Or, in case of the two-charge and three-charge rates,
discounts may be allowed on one charge and not on the
others, or different discounts on each. Guarantees of
a minimum number of units to be consumed automati-
cally produce a higher rate per unit for any less num-
ber of units.
In addition to these comparatively simple forms there
have been devised other special variations of two-charge
and three-charge rates which in some cases have pro-
duced very satisfactory results, but generally such vari-
ations have been at the expense of simplicity.
Of all the rate forms, there is no doubt that the three-
charge block rate with proper discounts and guarantees
will be most nearly proportional to cost of service, and
to that extent will approach most nearly to the theoreti-
cally perfect rate. This is because of the greater num-
ber of variables entering into the rate and remaining
a part of its final form. On the other hand, this form
of rate is used less than any other form.
A successful rate must not only be fair and equitable,
but it must be in a form which the public can under-
stand and appreciate, which means that it must be sim-
ple and with as few variables as possible.
Our object then must be to develop an empiric rate
in simple form that will correspond as nearly as possi-
ble to the theoretical curve of cost with all of its vari-
ables as heretofore described.
While devising a new schedule of rates for an electric
company a few years ago, the writer suggested a form
which was adopted and has since proved very satisfac-
tory, but which, it is believed, will be new and interest-
ing to many. It was modeled after the form of the well-
known limited-service telephone contract in which the
customer pays a specified monthly sum, for which he is
allowed a certain number of calls. If he uses more, he
pays an excess rate.
The electric rate in like manner provides that the con-
sumer shall pay a minimum monthly bill proportional
to his maximum demand, in consideration of which he
is allowed to use all the energy he wishes up to a certain
number of kilowatt-hours per month. If he uses more
he pays an excess rate per kilowatt-hour therefor.
The amount of the monthly guarantee divided by the
kilowatt-hours allowed per month corresponds' to the
primary rate, which must take account of fixed charges
and consumer charges, as well as the cost of the energy
allowed. The excess or secondary rate, therefore, need
take account only of the cost of excess energy, all
other items of cost having been included in the primary
rate. The reduction in the unit value of the consumer
charge (per kilowatt-hour) is taken care of by a system
of wholesale discounts, a well-known rate device which
is easily understood and appreciated by the consumer.
In this particular company the primary rate adopted
was 12 cents per kw-hr. and the secondary 5 cents, but
with this form of rate the primary rate never appears
directly, so that the only rate presented to the customer
is the secondary. An example for commercial lighting,
using the 12-cent and 5-cent schedule, follows:
A consumer having a maximum demand of 1 kw
would pay $6 per month and would be allowed 50 kw-hr.,
paying 5 cents per kw-hr. for all excess used over 50
kw-hr. during each month. If he used no excess, his
bill of $6 would not entitle him to any wholesale dis-
count. With a bill of $10 or more the wholesale dis-
count would appear.
A consumer with a maximum demand of 20 kw would
pay a minimum monthly bill of $120 and be allowed
1000 kw-hr. For excess he would be charged 5 cents
per kw-hr. as before. On a bill of $120 per month he
would be entitled to a wholesale discount of 12 per cent,
and this discount would increase with the size of the bill.
For other classes of consumers, such as residence
lighting, motor-service, heating, etc., the same form is
used but with different factors.
As stated, this form of rate can be made to conform
to any theoretical curve by selection of the proper fac-
tors for base rates and discounts.
(To be continued)
658
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 11
DIGEST OF ELECTRICAL LITERATURE
Generators, Motors and Transformers
Polyphasi Commutator Machinet and Thin Applica-
tion.— X. Shuttleworth. — The first part of a long
abstract of a paper read before the (British) Institu-
tion of Electrical Engineers. The paper is illustrated
by numerous diagrams. The author briefly deals with
the main principles of polyphase commutator machines
and then considers from a practical and theoretical
standpoint the various types, including the Latour
motor, the Eichberg three-phase shunt motor and the
series commutator motor. He will discuss in the next
instalment both series and shunt cascade-connected com-
mutator motors and the Schrage variable-speed shunt
commutator motor. — London Electrician, Feb. 19, 1915.
Parallel Operation of Alternating -Cur rent Genera-
tors Diicti) by Internal-Combustion Engines. — R. E.
Doherty and H. C. Lehn. — A composite article in
which the first author discusses the factors affecting
the generator design and the second deals with the
factors affecting the engine design. — Gen. Elec. Revit u\
March. 1915.
Lamps and Lighting
Spiral-Wire Tungsten Lamps. — B. Dushnitz. — The
conclusion of an illustrated article on spiral-wire tung-
sten lamps in their particular application to search-
lamps and projection apparatus. — Helios, Jan. 24, 1915.
Half-Wait Tungsten Lamps as a Substitute for Arc
Lamps. — A. BOJE. — The conclusion of his article. Hav-
ing given detailed figures for the lighting of bridges, the
author now takes up the interior lighting of a storage
house, a storeroom and a department store. In the last
case his figures show that the substitution of half-watt
tungsten lamps for arc lamps reduces the operating cost
by 28.6 per cent and simultaneously increases the aggre-
gate candle-power by 30 per cent. In general the author
concludes that even now it is very advantageous to re-
place arc lamps with pure carbon electrodes by half-watt
tungsten lamps. — Elek. Zeit., Jan. 28, 1915.
Generation, Transmission and Distribution
Generating Plant at Colliery. — Prior to the present
installation, the Manners Colliery Company, Ilkeston.
England, purchased energy from the local power com-
pany, whose generating station is close to the colliery.
With the extended application of electric driving, and
in view of the fact that a large volume of exhaust steam
was available, the management decided to establish a
power station to which extensions might be made as cir-
cumstances necessitated. The initial plant comprises a
mixed-pressure turbine receiving high-pressure steam
at 100 lb. and exhaust steam from the two pairs of
winders and the fan engine at a pressure of, or slightly
below, 17 lb. absolute. The turbine is of the low-speed
type, running at 1500 r.p.m. The turbine is connected
to a :'.00-kw turbo-generator giving three-phase currents
at llo volts, twenty-five cycles. The power house also
contains a compound engine directly coupled to a L50
kw alternator running at 'M'i r.p.m. This set. which
tl at 100 Hi. pressure, can lie run exhausting
to atmosphere through the turbine, or directly to the
condenser, The to take tin' night and week-
end load. — London Iron and Coal Truths Review, Feb. 5,
1916.
H" fltint. .1. W. Link. A paper on the
Rapids low head hydroelectric development on the
Mississippi River Dear Minneapolis, Minn. The capacity
is 15,000 hp. Tip- generators produce three-phase cur
000 \oits. For transmi
to Minneapolis the emf is stepped up to 13,200 volts by
two banks of 1375-kva, sixty-cycle, single-phase water-
cooled transformers. — Journal Western Soc. of Eng.,
December, 1914.
Electricity <m the Rand. — A table made up from data
compiled by the South African Institute of Electrical
Engineers on electric generating plants and large wind-
ing machines installed on the Rand. Figures are given
on eleven electric supply companies and six mines. —
London Elec. Review, Feb. 12, 1915.
Boiler Efficiency. — R. ROYDS. — A long paper illus-
trated by numerous diagrams giving theoretical notes
and results of experimental tests on heat transmission
and efficiency of boilers. It is suggested that one of
the most important problems affecting the efficiency of
a Imiler at high rates of working is the proper com-
bustion of the fuel. — Transactions Inst. Eng. and Ship-
builders i>i Scotland, February. 1915.
Traction
The Effect of Motor Characteristics »»/ Traction
Economics. — J. Liska. — A long translation in abstract
of his recent German paper in which the author out-
lines the effects produced by those methods which
weaken the field in the main motors. — London Elec-
trician, Feb. 5, 1915.
Sicitchboard for Automobile Charging. — An illus-
trated description of a switchboard for electric vehicles
so designed as to suit equally well the small user's
garage or the large public garage. It is composed of
panels, each being complete in itself and containing all
the apparatus necessary for dealing with one battery.
As many as six panels are comprised in one frame. —
London Electrician. Feb. 12, 1915.
Installations, Systems and Appliances
Induction Regulators. — G. H. Eardley-Wilmot. — An
article illustrated by numerous diagrams on the prin-
ciples of design and operation of polyphase and single-
phase induction regulators and the main uses to which
they may be put in practice. Fig. 1 shows the kind of
FIG. 1 — CONNECTIONS FOR INDUCTION REGULATOR
arrangement of electric control <<( induction regulators
used by Brown, Boveri & Company. The movement of
the induction regulator /A', by means of which the
feeder pressure is being regulated, is effected by means
of the auxiliary motor AM, which operates through re-
duction gearing and a suitable link, and thus brings
about the necessary displacement of the motor of the
regulator. The motor is controlled by a rotary electro-
magnet E. This magnet i- provided with a cam for
March 18, 1916
ELECTRICAL WORLD
659
tting the reversing switch RS fitted on one end of
its spindle, while on the other end is fitted a device for
braking or releasing the motor. The [ an
automatic induction regulator are connected in series
with th«' field winding of the magnet (across the low-
ire supj.lvi so that the magnet is permanently
energized. The armature of the magnet is connected
• the rolling sector contacts of the regulator, and
so long as these sectors are in their mid-position no
■ at is produced. If the feeder pressure alters, the
rs roll in one or other direction according to
whether the pressure rises or falls, and a current is
produced at once in the armature of the magnet, and
the motor AM is turned in a suitable direction, so that
the position of the armature of the induction regulator
is altered and the pressure brought back to its normal
value. Directly this has occurred the sectors of the
automatic pressure regulator resume their normal posi-
tion, and the current is again cut off from the driving
motor. If, instead of keeping the line pressure con-
stant, it is required to compensate for the pressure drop
in the line, the regulator R is compounded by means of
an adjustable shunt, so that any degree of compensa-
tion can be obtained. The object of the switch S is
that should the regulator reach either of its end posi-
tions the motor is prevented from rotating any further,
but it is so arranged that the motor can operate in the
opposite direction if any alteration in the pressure takes
place. — London Electrician, Feb. 19, 1915.
Control Gear for Swing Bridge. — An illustrated ar-
ticle on the opening of the swing bridge over the Forth
and Clyde Canal at Dalmuir, Glasgow. This is believed
to be the first movable bridge in the world where the
whole of the operations of opening and closing the
bridge, as well as the control of the pedestrian, vehicular
and water-borne traffic, can be performed electrically by
one man from one position. The construction of the
switchboard is described in some detail and illustrated.
— London Elec. Eng'ing, Feb. 12, 1915.
Wires, Wiring and Conduits
Wiring. — H. C. Tofield. — A continuation of his illus-
trated article on modern wiring work, particularly in
bad situations. In the present instalment the author
describes a corrosion-proof junction box. — London Elec.
Review, Feb. 12, 1915.
Electric Wire and Cable Terminology. — An official
circular of the Bureau of Standards giving definitions
and illustrations of the following terms: Wire, conduc-
tor, stranded conductor, cable, strand, stranded wire,
cord, concentric strand, concentric-lay cable, rope-lay
cable, N-conductor cable, N-conductor concentric cable,
duplex cable, twin cable, triplex cable, twisted pair, and
twin wire. — Circular Bureau of Standards, No. 37, Jan.
1, 1915.
Eleclrophysics and Magnetism
The Electrostatic Intensity on a Conducting Sphere
in a Uniform Field of Force. — George R. Dean. — The
solution of this problem by the method of images is
given in several textbooks on electricity and magnetism.
In the present article the problem can also be solved
by adjusting solutions of Laplace's equation to certain
boundary conditions. The process is given as an ex-
ample of the use of harmonic functions. — London Elec-
trician, Feb. 5, 1915.
Photo-Active Cells with Fluorescent Electrolytes. —
George E. Thompson. — The efforts of previous experi-
menters to prove a dependence of the photo-electric cur-
rent on fluorescence, in the case where two metal
electrodes immersed in certain fluorescent solutions are
unequally illuminated, have not led to definite results.
The present author's investigation was undertaken to
er additional facts which ft! Qg "ii the
subject. The chief results are as follow-: The curves
for the growth and decay of the photo-electric current
are similar to those for the growth and decay of phos-
phorescence. The magnitude of the photo-electric cur-
rent depends on the metal used as electrodes. Of ten
metals tried, only platinum, gold, silver and oxidized cop-
per gave a measurable effect. The position of the maxi-
mum effect does not depend upon the material of the
electrodes but upon the material in solution. The effect
is not the photo-electric effect of the metal in the liquid.
The experimental results do not show any close connec-
tion between the photo-electric current and fluoroes-
cence. Two methods of increasing fluorescence did not
increase the current. The region of excitation for the
current extends further into the red than for fluores-
cence. All of the curves show the maximum photo-
electric current approximately in the region of maxi-
mum absorption. — Physical Review, January, 1915.
Units, Measurements and Instruments
Roentgen-Ray Examination of Engineering Mate-
I in Is. — C. N. Moore. — Until recently the Roentgen-ray
tube has been used chiefly in medicine and surgery. The
Coolidge tube, however, has broadened the scope of the
application of Roentgen rays and is now being used for
the examination of materials for engineering purposes,
like the examination of steel castings and copper cast-
ing as to internal defects, blow-holes, etc. In the pres-
ent article the author describes how the Coolidge tube
may be used for the Roentgen-ray inspection of built-up
mica. The article is illustrated by numerous radio-
graphs.— Gen. Elec. Review, March, 1915.
Kenotron—A Hot-Cathode Rectifier. — S. Dushman.
— An exhausted tube containing two electrodes, one of
which is heated by some external source, acts as a rec-
fig. 2 — kenotron with filament between two
parallel plates
tifier. When the heated electrode is cathode onl\ a
thermionic current passes. For a given voltage drop
this thermionic current increases with the temperature,
but above a certain temperature the current becomes
constant. On the other hand, for a given temperature
660
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 11
of the cathode the thermionic current increases at first
as the positive potential on the anode is increased, but
finally a saturation thermionic current is obtained and
further increase in voltage has no effect. With a suffi-
ciently perfect vacuum this thermionic current is due to
a pure electron emission. The kenotron is a rectifier
based on this phenomenon, and the author discusses how
the design depends on the amount of current to be rec-
tified, the maximum permissible voltage loss, and the
proper form of electrodes to prevent electrostatic strains
on the filament. The author describes three different
forms of kenotrons. The first type contains a molyb-
denum cylinder and a coaxial filament and is suitable
for alternating-current voltages up to 15,000 and a cur-
rent of 400 milliamperes and voltages up to 100,000 and
a current of 100 milliamperes. The efficiency of this
rectifier is between 98 and 98.75 per cent. A second
type of kenotron, which is suitable for voltages not over
10,000 and currents ranging up to 100 milliamperes,
contains a small filament such as is used in automobile
headlamps inserted in a molybdenum cap about % in.
in diameter. A third type is shown in Fig. 2. It con-
tains a V-shaped filament between two tungsten plates.
FIG. 3 — ARRANGEMENT FOR RECTIFYING BOTH HALF WAVES
In one form the plates are 2 cm apart, in a second 4 cm.
In the first the filament is 6 cm long, in the second
7 cm. The first can be used up to 40,000 volts, the sec-
ond to 60,000 volts. Oscillograms of the performance
of kenotrons with alternating-current voltages are
given. In the physical laboratory, where small direct-
currents of a few milliamperes at very high voltages are
required, as for spectroscopic work, operating small dis-
charge tubes, etc., the kenotron is exceptionally useful.
An arrangement similar to that shown in Fig. 3, and
consisting of two kenotrons of the headlamp-filament
type with a 60:1 potential transformer, is a satisfactory
source of direct-current voltages up to 4500 or 5000.
By inserting a condenser C of sufficiently high capacity
between the terminals BB' the direct current may be
made as free from pulsations as desired. The kenotron
may also be used for testing the dielectric strength of
insulation with high-voltage direct currents. The com-
bination of kenotrons and transformer may replace the
cumbersome static machines and the still more com-
plicated mechanical rectifiers that are at present used
to produce high-voltage direct current for X-ray tubes
and the precipitation of dust, smoke, etc. The kenotron
may also be used for high-voltage direct-current trans-
mission. "To transmit 1000 kw by 100 kenotrons, work-
ing in parallel at a voltage of 50,000 to 75,000, is quite
isible proposition." — (',< • Elec Review, March,
1918
Telegraphy, Telephony and Signals
Automatic Telephony fo% Privatt BuUdinge. Kabl
IBB. — An article on the use of automatic or semi-
antomatic systems in private telephone exchanges in
large office buildings, etc. Several special viewpoints
are discussed which should be taken into consideration
whenever such an exchange is being planned. — Elek.
Zeit., Jan. 28, 1915.
The Loaded Telegraph Cable. — H. W. Malcolm. — A
continuation of his long serial on the future outlook of
cable telegraphy. The author takes up the mathemat-
ical discussion of the loaded telegraph cable. He first
gives the formula for a single inductive mesh, for two
inductive meshes, for three inductive meshes, and for
four inductive meshes, and indicates how the generaliza-
tion may be reached for an infinite number of meshes.
The serial, which is highly mathematical and which is
illustrated by numerous diagrams, is to be continued. —
London Electrician, Feb. 19, 1915.
Conditions Affecting the Variations in Strength of
Wireless Signals. — E. W. Marchant. — A continuation
of a paper read before the (British) Institution of Elec-
trical Engineers. After discussing the methods em-
ployed in measuring the variations in strength of wire-
less signals, the author describes in detail the results of
his experiments. These show that the greater varia-
tions in signal strength occur at night and are controlled
by the state of ionization of the atmosphere. The paper
is illustrated by numerous diagrams. — London Elec-
trician. Feb. 12, 1915.
Miscellaneous
Electricity in the German Post Office Department. —
Kasten. — The first part of a detailed illustrated de-
scription of the use of electricity for handling mail and
parcels by the German Post Office Department, es-
pecially in the railway stations. — Elek. Zeit., Jan. 28,
1915.
In the Days of Watt. — J. D. CORMACK. — The James
Watt anniversary lecture delivered to the Greenock
Philosophical Society, in which the author gives an
account of the life and work of James Watt. — London
Engineering, Feb. 5, 1915.
Canada. — An article giving statistical data on the im-
portation into and exportations from Canada of various
electrical machinery and apparatus during the last year
and comparative figures with the preceding year. — Lon-
don Eler. Review. Feb. 12, 1915.
Book Review
Electric Light Fitting. By S. C. Batstone. New
York: The Macmillan Company. 318 pages, 238
illus. Price, $1.50.
As its title suggests, this book deals largely with de-
tailed descriptions of wiring devices such as conductors
with their insulation, switches, distributing boards,
protective devices, etc. The chapters on methods of
laying out and installing wiring systems are valuable,
but all tables and data, together with rules and regula-
t ions governing electrical installations, are in accord-
ance with British standards, so that the book is of only
limited use to the American reader. In the introductory
chapter the hydraulic analogy is freely used in ex-
planation of the laws of the electric circuit, but the
author is inaccurate in his use of the term "inductance,"
which he repeatedly uses as if synonymous with react-
ance. The book may be further criticised because of
the attempt made to cover a very wide field. The result
of the attempt to treat of meters, arc and incandescent
lamps, shades and reflectors, private power plants and
central stations, in addition to fittings for wiring in-
stallations, all in the one volume, is to make the addi-
tional chapters of comparatively little value to either
the student or the practical electrician.
March 13, 1915
KI.KCTRICAL W ORLD
Electricity in Industrial Service
IN the last decade there has been a surprising in-
crease in the use of steam engines, an index of the
growth in manufactures. Gas and oil engines have
shown a large percentage increase, but in absolute
horse-power the amount is not large. Hydraulic de-
velopments have gone on at no great pace, but very
steadily, slowly working up the resources of the country,
while the use of electric motors in the function of prime
movers for manufacturing purposes has increased very
greatly, probably at a materially greater rate than has
the use of steam engines. In other words, the indica-
tions are that the electric motor is gaining without hav-
ing yet anywhere nearly come into its own in the dis-
placement of steam. Electric service has made an ex-
cellent showing, and unless all the signs of the times
are going wrong it will make a much better showing
in the next five years than it has in the past, owing to
the great success of electricity in covering territory
hitherto not well served and bringing to the manufac-
turer the benefits of a cheap service independent of the
location of his factory.
Safety and the Individual
MORE than passing comment and consideration
belongs to the "safety first" plan which the
Commonwealth Edison Company has been carrying out
for more than a year. Going a step further than mere
mechanical safeguards and physical precautions, of
which liberal use had already been made in the com-
pany's stations, the officials of that company inaugurated
a plan of reaching directly the individual employee with
safety instructions, and thus developing each man's own
sense of responsibility and carefulness. Analysis of
the accident records of the company had revealed the
fact that the electrical hazards of the business con-
tributed only a few per cent to the injury toll, while by
far the largest class of accidents involved such common
cases of carelessness as falls, the dropping of tools and
materials on fellow workers, use of unsubstantial struc-
tures, etc. Hence, while continuing the placing of phys-
ical safeguards as before, it was determined to bring
about greater vigilance for safety on the part of the
men themselves, and to this end a safety body was
formed within the company, to include every individual
of that great central-station organization. Each em-
ployee has thus become a member of a safety committee
and shares the sense of responsibility which the appoint-
ment implies. The results have exceeded all expecta-
tions, for the number of accidents has been reduced by
50 per cent, while the time lost per employee for the
past year was about one-sixth of that for the preceding
twelve months. Apparently, a great idea, a funda-
mental principle of accident prevention, has been dis-
covered and put to work. Like other great conceptions,
it is simple, and its execution demands the minimum of
outlay or equipment. It fits the conditions of large and
small organizations alike. Its doctrine may be made the
means of augmenting the interest and self-respect of
the individual employee and the esprit de corps of the
organization. And, above all, in application it has
proved effective, to a degree heretofore unequaled, in
minimizing the toll of accidents and injuries among the
men imbued with its spirit, to whom "safety first" has
now become a very real and very personal ideal.
Prime Movers in the United States
A BRIEF article by Messrs A. A. Potter and W. A.
Buck in this issue contains some striking data
relating to the various classes of prime movers used in
the power plants in this country. Perhaps the most in-
teresting single figure given is that representing the
aggregate horse-power of steam engines in use, over
14,000,000 at the date of the last census, probably
17,000,000 or 18,000,000 now. Gas and oil engines rep-
resented only about 750,000 hp, or 4 per cent of the total
power of prime movers in 1909. No exact data for cor-
recting this figure to the present time are available,
but it is somewhat doubtful whether the percentage has
increased. Waterwheels have shown a relatively slow-
but steady increase and may perhaps be estimated at
nearly 2,000,000 hp at the present time. Electric-
motors considered as prime movers — that is, as the di-
rect power supply of industrial establishments — are
still more difficult to evaluate in amount. From the fig-
ures given by the authors, the totals should have risen
by this time to something over 3,000,000 hp exclusive of
railway motors; at all events, it is very certain that the
relative importance of the electric motor as a prime
mover has relatively increased during the period since
the last census. The figures quoted pertain wholly to
manufacturing establishments, not including electric
generating stations. With respect to these the figures
are most striking. The total steam horse-power used
for central-station purposes, including railways, was
over 8,000,000 in 1912, and now must be well up to
9,000,000. In other words, of the total steam horse-
power in the United States at least a third is used in
electric generating stations of one sort or another. In
actual output the railways show somewhat over one-
third of the total for all electric stations. Of the steam
prime movers the turbine has altogether the advantage
in output, representing to-day something like two-
thirHs of the total steam equipment rating.
662
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 11
Efficiency in Boiler Management
Twenty years ago the possession of an indicator out-
fit and the ability to use it accurately and intelligently
constituted a sort of badge of distinction among oper-
ating engineers. To the uninitiated there was some-
thing dark and mysterious in being able to determine,
from the mere inspection of an irregular outline traced
on a slip of paper, the reasons for the faulty and un-
economical working of a steam engine. As a conse-
quence the indicator became an exceedingly popular in-
strument among the engineering fraternity, and for a
time it seemed as though all efforts to increase the
economy of steam-power plants were centered on im-
provements in steam distribution, unmindful of the fact
that opportunities for effecting savings are always larg-
est at those places where the wastes are greatest. It is
significant that in recent years the attention of engi-
neers has been turning with rapidly growing interest
to the losses that occur in connection with the genera-
tion of steam.
The effect of the present trend of investigation
toward the combustion chamber and the coal pile has
been to introduce into the boiler room appliances that
had heretofore been used only in laboratory experiments
or in commercial testing of plants. The draft gage, the
recording thermometer for taking flue-gas tempera-
tures, and the carbon-dioxide recorder for showing con-
tinuously the state of combustion in the furnace have
become part of the regular equipment in many plants.
These devices bear the same relation to the efficiency of
combustion in the boiler that the indicator bears to the
performance of the steam engine; that is, they serve to
indicate where the loss-producing faults lie and thereby
enable steps to be taken to avoid such losses. Some
truly remarkable savings have been effected by changes
in the draft and the air distribution based on data ob-
tained by the use of the devices named.
Aside from the immediate betterment of combustion
the installation of the above-mentioned instruments had
a marked effect on the firemen. The readings of the
instruments were a check on the efficiency with which
each man tended his furnaces, and so each one was
brought face to face with the problems involved in the
chemistry of combustion, opening a vista of new and
interesting fields of study to the ambitious fireman.
In some plants bonus systems have been adopted where-
by increased pay is given to the firemen for maintain-
ing conditions above a certain fair standard. In other
plants the bonus is a percentage of the value of the
coal saved by more efficient regulation of the furnaces.
In view of the fact that the coal bill represents from
one fourth to one-hall of the total operating expense
of the plant, and that the losses in steam generation
vary from 20 per cenl to 40 per cent oi the heat in the
coal, there la ample opportunity for the wide-awake fire-
man to reduce the running expenses. At any rate, it
predid thai with the increasing use of ln-
menta thai show the conditions under which fur-
working there will be a corresponding im-
provement in the eflkienC] of the boiler-operating force.
Explaining Stand-by Service to the Public
In an Eastern municipal plant which purchases
energy a part of the time from a hydroelectric system
traversing the valley in which the town lies consider-
able uneasiness was manifested not long ago by some of
the taxpayers because the plant was frequently shut
down for considerable periods while the demands of
the community were met by the outside energy. There
was a feeling abroad that because the local plant was
not running steadily a substantial share of the funds
contributed by the citizens to electric-service facilities
was being wasted. In this rather amusing instance the
operating conditions under which both the local steam
plant and the hydroelectric station did profitable busi-
ness were in no sense comprehended by the taxpayers,
who became restive under the long-continued flow of
energy from the outside company into the municipal net-
work of distribution lines. The case was obviously one
for popular educative treatment, and while objections
of this sort may perhaps be made now and then for
political effect where electricity is purchased on ad-
vantageous terms when the water supply of the hydro-
electric company is ample, they are not often
encountered.
The circumstance does emphasize, however, the de-
sirability of doing everything possible to make clear to
the public the reasons why at times such a plant can
be more profitably "run at a standstill," to adopt a Cel-
tic idiom. Even after many years of central-station
service the existence and functions of the load curve are
practically unknown to a vast number of consumers and
citizens who have never had any of these things ex-
plained to them. This may be no fault of the local man-
agement, but we are inclined to think that on some of
the occasions where a company is making liberal use of
local newspaper space it will pay to print a simple load
curve, showing the station output from hour to hour,
the number and size of machines in service at different
times, and, where energy is purchased on the peak or
otherwise, indicating by shaded areas what part of the
output to the local system comes from outside sources
and what part is generated at and distributed from the
local station.
The going into and out of service of each generator
easily can be shown by parallel horizontal lines broken
where shut-downs occur and just below the abscissas
hours of the day. It is surprising how quickly many
laymen can be brought to see points of this kind by
simple graphic methods, coupled with short and pithy-
explanations. Certainly it is desirable that the public
in general shall have some conception of the cost oi
being ready to furnish service at all hours, and the
broad economic advantages of using a municipal plant
stand-by in connection with a private hydroelectric
system ought to be made apparent without any serious
difficulty. In most cases the difficulties come in draw-
ing up the motor-service sales agreement between the
municipality and the company, and not in the practical
operation of the combined system or working out of the
contract entered into.
M.\K< ll
h.Ltl 1 K 1 (_ A L \\ U KL1J
Substations for Industrial Plants
Standard Arrangement Adopted by the Union Electric Light & Power Company of St. Louis
for Large Electric-Service Customers I'sing Twenty-five-Cycle Energy
WITH the advent of Keokuk hydroelectric power
in St. Louis, M"., some of the larger customers
on the lines of the Union Electric Light & Power
Company took advantage of the opportunity to reduce
their bills by installing high-tension twenty-five-cycle
e. For the benefit of these customers, and to
standardize, in a measure, various type- of customers'
substations, the central-station company has prepared
operated automatic oil switch. This oil switch should
be mounted in a concrete or brick compartment with an
asbestos-board door. In all cases it is advised that the
switch be installed at a distance from its controlling
panel and that it be operated by a handle mounted on
the switchboard panel some distance away. From the
oil switch three-phase buses lead to the transformers.
All high-voltage wiring is thus kept well out of reach.
1 — CENTURY ELECTRIC COMPANY-
AND TRANSFORMERS
-SWITCHBOARD
specifications considered desirable for such installations.
Several substations have already been built along these
lines, and a description of these buildings and their
equipment illustrates the general practice followed.
FIG. 3 — AMAZON RUBBER COMPANY' — TRANSFORMERS, OIL
SWITCHES AND LIGHTNING ARRESTERS
For average installations not exceeding 1000 kw in
size it is recommended that the primary wiring con-
sist of No. 0 solid copper wire insulated with varnished
cambri? and covered with flame-proof braid. This wir-
1
A
*
PIG. I BURLINGTON GRAIN ELEVATOR COMPANY — PRIM Al^
SWITCHING AND TRANSFORMER EQUIPMENT
It is recommended, first of all, that customers' sub-
station equipment be housed in buildings of practically
fireproof construction. As a rule the 13,200-volt lines
enter the building through 25,000-volt bushings, pass
through knife-blade disconnect switches and choke coils,
and are then led to the (.nominal) 15,000-volt hai.-d-
FIG. 4 — BURLINGTON GRAIN ELEVATOR COMPANY — SECOND-
ARY SWITCHBOARD PANEL
ing is mounted on 15,000-volt insulators. Wire of No. 0
size is chosen because of its mechanical strength, which
assures a neat, stable and workmanlike job. Solid wire
is preferable to stranded cable because the solid con-
ductor will not sag.
To afford proper protection to all substation equip-
664
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 11
ment, lightning arresters are connected to the lines
ahead of all other equipment except the disconnecting
switches, which are mounted immediately beneath the
terminals of the roof-entrance bushings. By opening
these disconnecting switches it is possible to de-ener-
gize all live circuits in the substation except the roof
bushings at the ends of the incoming wires. The light-
ning arresters are generally surrounded by protecting
screens, since in most cases the tanks of the arresters
are "alive" when in operation. Ample clearance in all
cases is provided above the horns of the arresters. No
inflammable material is allowed near the horns, since an
arc due to lightning is likely to rise 2 ft. or more above
the extremities of the horns. An established rule is
that no one shall be permitted to work on any high-
voltage apparatus while it is "alive." No one but the
customer's electrician and his assistants familiar with
the equipment is permitted to enter the high-voltage
portion of a substation.
The instrument transformers are usually connected
to the primary wiring above the oil-switch structure in
such a manner as to be well out of reach. The second-
ary wires from the instrument transformers are run
to the switchboard panel, either in separate iron con-
duits or through the iron-pipe supports above the oil-
switch structure. Indoors all 13,200-volt wires are
spaced at distances of not less than 18 in. Spacing bar-
riers of asbestos board or slate are recommended be-
tween blades of disconnecting switches.
Arrangement of Transformers and Buses
Where there is more than one bank of transformers
it is considered preferable to install one main-line oil
PIO. 6 — MANUFACTURERS' KAI1WU COMPANY — TRANS-
FORMERS AND PRIMARY SWITCHING EQUIPMENT
switch and one oil switch for primary connection t<> each
transformer bank. A set of busei it then established
over the oil-switch structure, and knife-blade discon-
necting switches are placed between .-ill oil switches and
buses. Unless space- limitations preclude it. three single-
phase transformers are used instead of one three-phase
transformer, since with a delta-connected transformer
bank it is possible to continue operations with two
transformers in case of the failure of one unit. It is
also considered good practice to have each of the trans-
formers of such rating that two of them will carry the
load in case of the failure of the third. It is recom-
*snj
.
pSsgS*
FIG. 6 — OUTDOOR TYPE OF SUBSTATION
mended that oil-insulated, self-cooled transformers be
used in sizes up to 300 kw per transformer.
The handling of the secondary circuits of transform-
ers in these switches depends, of course, very largely
upon the requirements of each case, and recommenda-
tions are made to suit local conditions.
Rapid Construction of Street-Lighting System
During the period of construction of the new street-
lighting system at Indianapolis, Ind., work was pushed
with such vigor that records for the speedy erection of
material were established and broken time after time.
The working force consisted of sixteen line gangs, each
composed of six linemen, seven groundmen and one
foreman. In addition to numerous wagons and trucks
four pole derricks were used. On the average this
force of men put cross-arms on and set 180 poles a day,
and the maximum day's work consisted of cross-arming
and erecting 275 poles. All of the poles were of Western
i edar with 8-in. tops and ranged in height from 35 ft.
to 60 ft.
While stringing wire the crew's average day's work
consisted of putting up 5 tons of No. 6 triple-braided
weatherproof copper wire. The greatest amount of wire
put up in any one day was 7.5 tons. These figures in-
clude only the wire put up and tied in on the white
porcelain insulators which were used, and do not in-
dicate merely wire strung. The electrical construction
at Indianapolis was carried on under the direction of
Mr. A. .1 Goedjen, electrical engineer for the Merchants'
Heat & Light Company.
March 18, 191E
Kl.KCTRICAL WORLD
Diesel-Type Oil Engine in European Repute
Its Acceptance as an K.stablished Form of Prime Mover How General Confidence Is Overcoming Indi-
vidual Prejudice
By R. W. Crowly
NOWADAYS the European engineer who from in-
grained prejudice and studied ignorance profess-
doubt the capacity of the Diesel-type engine
for hard, enduring Bervice finds it impossible to maintain
that attitude without being forced into the position of
a self-confessed bigot. All around him to-day the evi-
dence of numerous Diesel-type engines performing their
allotted industrial Bervice is insistent, and his sincerity
is measurable by the use he makes of these opportuni-
ties to inform himself of the specific behavior of this
class of machinery. If he examines the evidence, he be-
comes a convert; if he professes distrust and refuses to
probe the controverting facts brought up before him, he
arraigns himself as a bigot. It is not possible for a
man to investigate the performances and achievements
of the modern four-stroke-cycle Diesel-type engine with-
out being overwhelmed by the conviction that it is at
least the equal in trustworthiness, durability and service
efficiency of any other prime mover, and in certain re-
apects tin' superior.
Circumstances prevail against the American engi-
neer, even in the best of times, preventing him from ob-
taining access to this wealth of evidence. These in-
stallations are not at his door; they are thousands of
miles away. Scattered up and down the countries of
Europe, they are hidden from the stranger, unadver-
tised, not forcing themselves to notice. Intent generally
upon seeing the greater establishments, the visitor to
Europe can touch but lightly upon the Diesel power
plants. He may visit the factories where these engines
are being constructed in large numbers and may be im-
pressed by the silent testimony of the rows upon rows
of cylinder columns, base-plates and other parts making
their way to, and standing in, the erecting shops. He
may pass from one famous factory to another and have
it borne in on him that there is a vast outpouring of this
high-grade construction; he may call here and there at
one of the better-known stations where Diesel machin-
ery is installed; he may hear of all the great work pro-
gressing along this line; but he misses, and must miss,
the greatest lesson of all, the lesson of daily acquaint-
ance with the regular, uninterrupted operation of many
I (iesel plants.
Great Variety of Diesel-Engine Installations
No words can carry the conviction of that acquaint-
anceship. It seems bald to state that I have lived where
within 30 miles I could, and used to, chat with a dozen
different superintendents of Diesel power plants, and
that very, very seldom was there anything to discuss
about their engines. Yet that bald statement enfolds
an experience which, if parceled into fractions and dis-
tributed at random to owners of power plants, would
continue to influence the adoption of Diesel engines for
a long while to come. There is almost an air of banality
in the assertion that I have been in textile mills, railroad
shops, leather factories, engineering works, etc., where
the whole activity of the place was dependent upon these
oil engines. Yet that banal assertion concentrates with-
in itself the story of some achievements that no other
form of prime mover than the Diesel engine could have
accomplished. For eleven years I was in and out of
an establishment where a Diesel engine carried the
whole load and failed only once in all that time. From
friends in charge of Diesel plants too remote for me to
visit more than once in a while I have known the good
■ • of many another installation. Nearly all over
Europe, not once but many times, have I seen these
engines at work under widely different circumstances
and in charge of all sorts of men. From France to
Russia and from Italy to Sweden, in ten different coun-
tries, have I learned what this machinery does in serv-
ice. Such intimacy gives a surpassing confidence in
this type of engine, but it is an intimacy out of general
reach. A much lesser acquaintanceship suffices to instil
confidence. Perhaps the recital of some outstanding
examples of that spirit in Europe, the presentation of
some individual cases of its influence, and an indica-
tion of how the weight of evidence is gradually over-
coming the last prejudice over there, may point the way
to a better appreciation of the engine in this country.
As premise, let it be understood that, except where
the contrary is expressly stated, only the four-stroke-
eycle type of engine is taken into view. This is the
well-tried form, the fully developed form and, for sta-
tionary plants, the almost universal form up to 1000
hp. The two-stroke-cycle engines are a subject in them-
selves, to be treated separately and to be considered on
a different basis.
Achievements in Russia
So seldom does one turn to Russia for examples of
modern engineering that an engine performance meri-
torious in itself becomes more telling when recorded
from that country. I have seen there an 800-hp Diesel-
type engine which had been running continuously day
and night for eleven months with only a half-hour rest
every Sunday while valves were being changed. It
was in the Peroon Works, Petrograd, where conditions
had suddenly arisen to render that engine the only prime
mover available. So marked had been the economy of
this engine that the directors had resolved to duplicate
it, and at the time of my visit the erection of the second
engine had been commenced, the only difference between
the two sets being that the later one was of Russian con-
struction whereas the first was German-built. From
February of that year until December the works had
been dependent entirely upon the power developed from
those four large cylinders, 24 in. in diameter, a trust
which had never been imposed in the earlier steam plant.
That was a remarkable performance which deserves to
become a classic instance.
In its way the Diesel-engine installation at the
Goggnigen Cotton Mills, Bavaria, affords an even more
striking example of implicit confidence in this style of
machinery. At the Peroon Works, just cited above, the
dependence upon the single engine was accidental, the
boilers of the steam plant having been suddenly con-
demned, but at Goggnigen the reliance upon a solitary
set is deliberate, and there is not even room for reserve
machinery in the present-day lay-out. A two-throw,
four-cylinder tandem double-acting engine of 1200 hp
supplies the power in these mills: no electrical supply
is at hand for emergency, and in the event of a break-
down the mills would be closed. Without a trace of dis-
trust or suspicion, but on the contrary with proud and
triumphant confidence, this firm has boldly tied up its
whole activity not merelv with Diesel machinery but
666
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 11
with a single set of such machinery. The simple logic
of the superintendent is irresistible. "It required only
one steam engine to run the mills," he says; "why should
it need more than one Diesel engine?" Incidentally, it
may be observed, this installation is most comprehen-
sively efficient. The circulating water from the cyl-
inder jackets is led away for use in the color tanks, and
the exhaust gases are utilized to heat clean air for the
drying rooms, an aggregate of 84 per cent of the total
heat of the oil fuel thus being converted to useful
purpose.
Bavarian Installations
Bavaria, as befits the native country of the Diesel
engine, can show many very fine installations of this
class, varying from 20 hp through the whole range to
1200 hp. It was in this part of Germany, in Augsburg
to be precise, that I saw an 850-hp Diesel engine taking
the load in a trolley-car generating station. Such a load
in a small town is very variable, the changes being both
sudden and considerable, but the Diesel-type set was
working very nearly as steadily under those circum-
stances as under a constant load, the fluctuations being
almost unnoticeable on the tachometer. There is, of
course, a reason for that, the action of the governor on
the separate fuel pumps obtaining instant adjustment
of the fuel charges to suit the load. Day after day the
load was thrown upon the oil engine, and the steam
plant was held in reserve, its economy on this fluctuat-
ing service being inferior to that of the Diesel
machinery.
Only last summer there was completed at Liverpool,
England, the largest graving dry-dock in the world, the
Gladstone Dock, 1000 ft. long and capable not only of
taking the greatest liners of to-day but of anticipating
the probable requirements of the future largest liners
for some years to come. The call for such a dock is
infrequent, but when it is made it is urgent because of
the capital represented in these great liners, a huge sum,
which must not be allowed to remain idle. Moreover,
economic conditions dictate that such a dock can be ac-
cessible for its greatest capacity only on top of the
tide. To pump out the millions of gallons of water con-
tained in a dock of such volume must therefore be a
certain as well as a quick operation. For that purpose
Diesel-type engines were selected by the Liverpool en-
gineers, five sets of 1000 hp being installed, capable of
emptying the dock in three hours. In this particular
instance the conditions were not unfavorable to two-
stroke-cycle engines, and this class was adopted.
American engineers apparently are not familiar
enough with oil-engine power to intrust such an opera-
tion to it, but the day when they will be prepared to do
steadily drawing near. Big Diesel-driven pumping
plants are tending to become as common as the big
el electric installations, and the tendency is mani-
through four continents. In the waterworks at
Bremen, Germany, there is to be installed an aggregate
of 6000 hp in Diesel-type machinery, half of this power
being in one two-stroke-cycle set. For the big Nile
Delta drainage scheme, which in comprehensiveness and
extent is to be one of the notable drainage works of the
world, the order has fallen to Diesel engines. The corol-
lary of the Nile barrage development, which holds up
the water for the Irrigation of great tracts of Upper
Egypt daring the dry Bea ion, the Delta drainage scheme,
: planned to render the cultivation possible 'it' the rich
alluvial soil of the Nile mouths. Twenty-four 300-hp
• i pumping sel were envisaged by the first require-
ments and contracted for, but before this lat-
plau of Lord Kitchener's for the development of
Egypt is completed many more D '.ill be Bent
o thai country.
Diesel Electric Plants
Perhaps more striking are the orders in hand and
completed for powerful Diesel electric plants. About
eighteen months ago I saw under test in Amsterdam the
second of five 1100-hp, six-cylinder Diesel alternator sets
for Billiton, Dutch East Indies, to supply power, if I
recollect rightly, in one of the famous tin mines of that
part of the world. In the great shipyards and engine
works of Harland & Wolf, at Belfast, Ireland, where
the leviathans of the White Star Line first take shape,
there is to be erected a six-cylinder, 4000-hp Diesel
generating set, but I must admit there is reason for be-
lieving this large two-stroke-cycle engine to have been
ordered chiefly for observation of the troubles to be
expected in powerful machinery of this particular class.
The installation should have been completed at this date.
At Calais, the French gateway for a large part of the
passenger traffic across the English Channel, there is a
big generating station where Diesel engines of 1000 hp
have been operating for about three years past. This is
adjacent to the coal fields of Northern France, yet an
extra 3500 hp is to be supplied there by Diesel engines
in two-stroke-cycle sets. Double that power has been
ordered in a single contract for London, England. At
Naples, Italy, a Diesel plant aggregating over 4000 hp
is to be installed. And in Hong Kong, the clearing-
house of the Far East, which annually enters a tonnage
exceeding that of any other port in the world, 3500 hp
is to be furnished by Diesel machinery.
These facts and figures should inspire confidence.
Every one of the engineers responsible for these in-
stallations has had to gain confidence. Not one of them
was born to the Diesel-type engine as he was to the
steam engine. The engineers of this generation came
into a world where steam-power seemed as much in the
order of nature as the mountains and valleys. They
had not to question it; the puff of the railroad locomo-
tive was one of their first childhood attractions. Around
them, as they grew up, they saw everywhere the use of
steam for power. Such lifelong familiarity breeds a
very deep-rooted kindliness toward steam. The Diesel-
type engine, on the other hand, coming in at a later
date, offering to do the work of this old friend, has
frequently been regarded as an interloper and conse-
quently met with a chilly reception. It has always had
to ingratiate itself, a difficult task when a frown instead
of a welcome is awaiting. Against such obstacles has
it had to instil confidence, and the extent of its adoption
through the world shows its capacity for making friends
when the doors are not shut against it.
Diesel Engines in America
That the engineers of America are gradually becom-
ing imbued with a kindlier feeling toward this class of
machinery is evident from such orders as the 1500-hp
contract for Diesel-type engines to be installed in the
Paris (.Tex.) station of the Texas Power & Light Com-
pany, and the 1000-hp contract for similar engines for
Arizona. These are significant of confidence. Acquaint-
ance with the engine is the need in American engineer-
ing circles to-day.
Many instances of the conversion of whole-heart ed
steam engineers on the other side come into my mind,
and examples of prejudice so deep rooted as to survive
familiarity with the engine enter also into recollection.
Of these a few cases will serve to illustrate the senti-
ment. The superintendent of a central station not many
miles from London had practically decided to install a
0 turbine for the much needed enlargement of his
plant, when he was prevailed upon by a neighboring
rintendent to make a round of visits to various
Diesel power houses. Among the plants recommended
March 18, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
.;,;:
to him were several where a Di 1 -type engine was the
; rime mover and where there mat
■ the examples, be assured me later, which
killed his distrust in the type, and when therefore he
figured out that Diesel machinery would earn an ap-
preciable saving he had no hesitation in contracting for
1000 hp of such oil engines. The steam plant totaled
about 2000 kw, and in the result, as had been antici-
pated, with slack coal at $3.50 per ton and fuel oil at $17
per ton, there waa considerable economy in running one
of the Diesel engines throughout the twenty-four hours,
ting it through the daytime with the other oil en-
gine and using the steam sets only to work over the
peak. This superintendent had been regarded as one of
the (|uite uncompromising steam devotees.
Another such instance that caused comment at the
time was associated with one of the railroads. At the
time when an investigation was being made to determine
whether the lines of shafting in the wagon and carriage
works could profitably be superseded by individual elec-
tric drive a new power house was taken into consider-
ation. One would not be astonished if such extensive
users of steam-power as the railroads are should have
considered only steam for this installation. The elec-
trical engineer of the company, however, made out fig-
ures for oil engines also and was surprised to find that
on a 1000-hp plant he would save $10,000 per annum,
with coal at $5.50 and fuel oil at $16.50 per ton respec-
tively. It was then that he had to consider whether
Diesel engines were reliable enough. His subsequent
decision is highly interesting because of the manner in
which he arrived at his conviction. He satisfied himself
that Diesel machinery was being used to an increasingly-
large extent and, reflecting that the aggregate horse-
power amounted to a figure which would not have been
attained if this style of engine had remained experi-
mental, he proceeded to order a couple of 500-hp en-
gines from the first firm of good repute, without both-
ering himself to examine the variations characterizing
the designs of the different constructors. There was
a clear case of immediate conviction. In this instance,
as in the previous one, the machinery has been laid down
within the last twelve months at Kingston and Eastleigh
respectively, in England.
Survival of Prejudice
On the other hand, there are a very few men who
never become wholly habituated to the idea of the Diesel
engine, even after experience of it.- One such I know
has had a Diesel set in his central station for over two
and has never had any trouble with it. Yet he
persists in expressing a dislike for it, and, when ques-
tioned, avers that he is sure it will one day give up
work when he least can spare it. Another chief en-
gineer, who has five Diesel sets in substations, expresses
a profound hatred for the type, and gives voice to a re-
gret that he will be obliged to have more sets of this
character, which are to him indispensable owing to the
local prevalence of sudden sky fogs. It may be that the
attitude is affected, but it is nevertheless occasionally
encountered, and it has seemed of interest to mention it
here because of the insight it gives into the overruling
spread of the Diesel cult even where prejudice and con-
servatism are most pronounced.
Enlightenment of a more inspiring character can be
drawn from the increasing favor shown toward the
Diesel-type engine for service in out-of-way corners of
the earth. With what unconscious perversity the in-
born prejudice of the unconverted engineer tinges his
outlook upon this type of prime mover was once again
demonstrated to me in this very connection. It was
urged that these distant and inaccessible plants were
ordered by men too far from the great industrial cen-
ter- to have knowledge that the Diesel engine's claim to
attention was really one of theoretical value and not of
practical worth. Apart from the absurdity of the as-
sumption that the engine is not trustworthy, this argu-
ment was fallacious in that the supply of power equip-
ment to the back of the undeveloped continents is one of
the richest branches of the trade of the merchant princes
and of the great contracting firms. Houses like those of
Matheson >£ Company, Grace & Company, Pearson &
Sons and White & Company order through London what
amounts to a considerable aggregate of Diesel hi
power during the year. Through the great export
houses of Amsterdam and Hamburg flows also a large
Diesel business. These are the engines that go to the
cotton mills of India, the mines of the Malay States, the
refrigerating plants of Java, the oil fields of Sumatra
and Borneo, the canning factories of New Zealand, the
water-works of Australia, the generating stations of
South America, and to a thousand and one other pur-
poses in remote regions. These installations are not
the outcome of individual whims — they are the result
of a settled policy based upon an experience of success.
They are a tribute to the service efficiency of the Diesel-
type engine, and a tribute that is noted by discriminat-
ing men. The effect is seen in a specification like that
of the Australian Commonwealth government requiring
tenders for the power plant of its powerful station in
the British imperial wireless chain. At Port Darwin,
in the desert north of that great island continent, thou-
sands of miles from any settlement that could boast
of a pretence to engineering conveniences, and so un-
friendly that the coasting steamer has to stand a couple
of miles off shore and unload into small boats, the Com-
monwealth government was calling for one 800-kw and
two 500-kw Diesel generating sets to furnish the power
for wireless communication over the huge wastes of the
Indian Ocean to Singapore in the Straits Settlements
and to Mombasa in East Africa.
An accumulation of evidence awaits the inquiring en-
gineer to convince him that the Diesel-type engine is in
reality the sound, practical, serviceable piece of ma-
chinery which power-house conditions require. The
economy of the type is world-famous ; to-day little need
be said of that — so much is known. The great need is
for the spread of knowledge relating to the many notable
performances of the engine, and the few that have been
cited above as coming under the notice of one individual
will serve to show what a wealth of achievement the
engine must have to its credit in the aggregate.
Regeneration by Traction-Type Elevators with
Descending Loads
Electric elevators of the "traction" type "pump back"
on descending overbalanced loads, sometimes regenerat-
ing and feeding into the supply system currents as much
as 50 per cent of the full-load operating current, accord-
ing to a speaker at the recent convention of electrical
inspectors at Minneapolis. In the case of a bank of such
elevators the effect of this regeneration is often to re-
duce the effective energy consumption of the group. In
laying out the sizes of mains to supply such a bank of
elevators the total current-carrying capacity is taken at
80 per cent of the sum of the starting currents. Ac-
cording to another speaker, the maximum demand of a
bank of eight or ten elevators will not average much
above 25 per cent of the sum of the individual currents.
The traction type of elevator takes its name from
the fact that the cable merely passes over the motor
sheave, which is at the top of the shaft, the power being
transmitted by the friction of the cable on the drum.
668
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 11
PRIME MOVERS IN AMERICAN PLANTS
Steam Turbines Develop More Power than Reciprocating
Engines and Dominate Central-Station Field
By A. A. Potter' and W. A. Buck
Tables I, II and III, compiled from United States
government publications, show very interesting facts
regarding the importance of the various forms of prime
movers in the power plants of this country.
In the manufacturing power plants in 1909 steam
fc»j
t 182,562 Horse Power in 1899
\44 1.589 1904'
~^ 1,749.031 " " 1903
186,698 Horse Potverm 1898
\26i467 " ' 1904
152.932 - - " 1909
\I.454,II2 Horse Power m 1899
\',647,880 ■• - ■■ 1904
~AI.SZZ.686 ■• » " 1909
ft
114. 742 Horse Power in 1699
289.423 •• " •• 1904'
751.186 -1 - , " 1909
8. 139.579 Horse Power
1899
iO. 825.'-: _ -,■.-■ ,-■.-- ,-.;■■ -,■ '■ ■■!
■guil 74. i9935~~
■
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14
MILLIONS OF HORSfc POWER
FIG. 1 — CHART OF THE POWER USED FOR MANUFACTURES
IN UNITED STATES
ating stations by steam prime movers, steam turbines
developed 55.6 per cent, while reciprocating engines de-
veloped only 44.4 per cent.
In the case of central electric stations, steam turbines
developed 3,054,456 hp and steam engines only 1,892,-
076 hp, or in the ratio of 61.6 per cent for turbines, as
against only 38.4 per cent of the total energy generated
j 6
t>/
f
5^
S
i i/,r5—-' — -
1899
1909
1904
YEAR
FIG. 3 — ELECTRICAL ENERGY USED FOR MANUFACTURES IN
UNITED STATES
prime movers developed 76 per cent of the total horse-
power. The steam prime movers also developed 72.6
per cent of the total in electric generating stations,
which include central stations and electric-railway sta-
tions.
Internal-combustion engines developed about 4 per
cent of the total horse-power used in manufacturing and
1.2 per cent of the total in electric generating stations.
Is
1 1 1 I.I
1 Cen tral Stations and Electric Railways
V
J Centra/ Stations
1 Electric Railways
Central Stations and L
tral Stations l
| 1
lec/ric Railways
\Ce.r
gi
1 Electric Railways
I)
1 1
l
| j
Central Stations
►■■-.
\Elmefric Hal
I
1
tral Stations and Electric Rus
I Centra 1 Stati
ons
| Electric ft
ys.
1
i r
■■■:■ and Electric Rus
1
I Central
■■77/7., /;
* '.J
1 ' " '■
FIG. 2
I^S4 56769
MILLIONS 0C HORSE POWER
DISTRIBUTION OF POWER IN ELECTRIC 0ENERATINQ
.-l \ l loNS IN UNITED STATES
Water motors and water turbines developed 9.8 per
cent of the total horse-power in manufacturing and 26.2
per cent of that generated by electric stations.
the total horse-power developed in electric gener-
'De.-m "f 1 1 1 •- division of engineering and profaaaoi <>r attain and
I allege.
State Agricultural
College
by steam prime movers for reciprocating steam engines.
The relative importance of the various forms of prime
movers in the generation of electrical energy is illus-
trated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3.
Table III and Fig. 4 show the relation between the
types and average sizes of the various prime movers
used in manufacturing. The growth in size during the
decade from 1899 to 1909 is most marked in the case of
gas and oil engines.
Analyzing the growth of prime movers in Fig. 3. it
is evident that the use of water motors increased little
■ Porter in 1904
- •• 1909
Hi
1 l.loHors
— h«7/ -
r
rf
U9 Horse
1
WV - - iio4
1
.'"-
ii.i
1
!l
1
se rower in IS 9i
- • 1904
~^\U64
gl
]? 1.67 Horsepower
1
~!
i
i}\ Ho,
tsi ■ ■■ - aw
— 1
M - . - - Mi
3
.'11
4C
so
H
70
U
M
100
AVE R AGr SI Z t OF MOTOR . HORSE POWER
PIG. 1 AVERAGE RATING OF MOTORS USED FOR MANU-
FACTURING IN UNITED STATES
during the decade from 1899 to 1909. In the case of
electric motors, of oil engines and of steam prime
movers, the rate of growth was much greater during
the five years from 1904 to 1909 than during the five
from 1899 to 1904.
The figures of the United States Census Bureau show
that the total increase in primary power for manufac-
Mak< 11 18, 1916
ELECTRICAL WORLD
turing during the forty years from 1869 to 1909
amounted to 16,329,234 hp, steam prime movers con-
tributing 79.5 per cent, water motors 4.2 per cent, in-
TABLE I— POWER USED FOB MAN1 I ICTI RES l\ mi i KITED
STATES
(Source — Bureau of Census. Department of Comi
I'm
hi TH
s 01 11
Pown
-mi
1890
1904
1900
1809
1904
1900
Stram engine*
8,130.579
10,825,348
14.109.339
80.8
Ml g
78 ii
Gas aod oil engine*
134,741
no 123
751,188
1.8
2.1
1.0
Water motors. . .
MM 11-'
I.IVI7.S.MI
1,833 B88
14.4
12 2
•.I s
Electric motors.. . .
182,562
111..', V.i
1.749.031
1.8
3.3
'1 1
Miscellaneous
IV, VIS
288,487
152,032
1 'I
2.1
0.8
ternal-combustion engines 4.6 per cent, and rented elec-
tric motors 10.7 per cent. The amount of horse-power
generated by steam prime movers in 1909 was twelve
times the amount in 1869.
Water-power represented in the 1869 census 48.2 per
TABLE II — DISTRIBUTION OF POWER AND ENERGY IN ELECTRIC
GENERATING STATIONS, 1912
Total horse-power 7.528.648
Steam engines — hp 1,802,070
■urbines — hp 3,054,456
Steam engines and turbines — hp 4,046,532
Water motors — hp 2.471,081
Gas and oil engines — hp 111,035
Rating of dynamos — kw 5.134,689
Kilowatt-hour output 11,532,963,006
Electric
Railways
3,885,051
1, 706,7.54
1,462,800
3.169.554
471,307
24,190
2,508,006
11,193,690
1,508 330
1,517,356
8,116.086
2,942.388
135,225
7,642,755
6.052,699,008 17.585.662,014
cent and only 9.8 per cent of the total primary power in
1909.
In the ten years from 1899 to 1909 the use of elec-
tricity for manufacturing had increased tenfold.
TABLE IH— ANALYSIS OF MOTOR SERVICE IN MANUFACTURES
IN THE UNITED STATES
Type of Motor
-ik'ines
i engines
I slid
1904
1909
Number of
Motors or
I riL'in.'
Horse-Powei
Hone- per Motor
Power i or Encirie
130,710
127,267
158,625
14,834
21,21 S
34,366
8.139.579
in s2.-,.:«is
14,199,339
134,742
289, 123
761 . 186
62 30
85 10
02 50
W-uit motors
1899
1904
1909
23,000
20,092
.'1 ,282
1 , 154 112
1,647,880
1,882,888
62 00
7^ in
85 60
Kli'itm motors
1899
1904
1909
i,i ,589
199,309
i II ,589
7 15
8 77
MsMoUaneoQi
1899
1904
1909
1
IV,. VIS
2S3, 11,7
152, '.132
"
Table II shows that the output of electric railways in
1912 was 6,052,699,008 kw-hr., as compared with 11,532,-
963,006 kw-hr. for central stations. This means that at
least 34.3 per cent of the total horse-power generated
in the electric stations of the United States was utilized
for the propulsion of electric cars, no account being
taken of the additional amount of energy sold by cen-
tral stations to railway companies.
HIGH-VOLTAGE WATER RHEOSTAT
l. rial Resistance Obtuintd by I Mag Thin Stream of W.ti.r
in l.nni: ^ i Hum rtrd \U,\, •-
By L. I. Clark
Some time ago the writer, under the direction of Mr.
Walter G. Clark, as consulting engineer, had occasion
to make an efficiency test on a steam electric plant under
conditions that were somewhat out of the ordinary.
The plant consisted of two 1000-kw, three-phase, 2200-
volt alternators with two banks of transformers for
stepping up the potential to 19,100 volts. It was de-
sirable to include the entire station equipment, boilers,
engine, generator and transformers, of one entire unit
in the test. It was necessary, therefore, to place the
load on the high-tension side of the transformers, or at
19,100 volts. After numerous interesting experiments,
load was secured by means of a water rheostat. The
water available was limited in quantity. The supply
consisted of condenser water, which originally came from
an artesian well and from conservation of rain water.
This water was collected in a cooling pond from which
it was circulated through the condensers.
The water in the pond had a resistance of approxi-
mately 100 ohms per inch cube. The artesian well
3-0 Ga/r Irvi
Gate •Hinged at
Bottom
c W!»> 6'0'lq St.M. , ^T^
Feed If* » Launder
Pipes Iff"™ = = - ---{=■"
'Pipe Header
FIG. 1 — PLAN OF WATER RHEOSTAT
supplied little more than enough water for boiler feed.
This had a resistance of 200 ohms per inch cube. The
low resistance (100 to 200 ohms per inch cube) as com-
pared with approximately 1000 ohms per inch cube for
fresh water was due to the large amount of minerals,
principally soda, which was present. The low resist-
ance, together with the limited quantity available, is
the feature controlling the design of a rheostat.
The cooling pond covered about three acres and had
a maximum depth of about 16 ft. An attempt was made
to secure a load by placing electrodes at the points of
an equilateral triangle suspended in the cooling pond.
This plan was abandoned when it was found that the
maximum spacing resulted in practically a short-circuit.
A very satisfactory load was obtained on a rheostat
constructed according to the accompanying sketches.
Description of Rheostat
The rheostat was designed for operation with the
artesian-well water. As it came from the well this
water was collected in a pool having a capacity of about
10,000 gal. and constructed with its top level with the
ground. From this pool it was pumped to a tank of
about the same capacity placed on the roof of the sta-
tion. From this tank was obtained the water for the
plant.
To supply the rheostat with water two 2-in. lines
were used to connect the plant water system to a header
having three outlets, each of which was provided with a
valve. A separate outlet was used for feeding water to
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 11
each leg of the rheostat. The water was conducted to
each leg through 50 ft. of cotton fire hose and 20 ft. of
open flume. It was allowed to cascade from the hose
into the open flume, which was set with a very steep in-
cline, then allowed to cascade again from the flume into
the box constituting the rheostat. The hose and flume
were well insulated from the ground. As will be noted
Launder 8'xlZ inside
'-~T-.-?-r-*^W-;--^
FIG. 2 — SIDE ELEVATION OF WATER RHEOSTAT
by referring to Fig. 1, the feeder system forms a
Y-connection with the header acting as a grounded neu-
tral. In this feeder system the cross-section of water
was made as small and the length of the path as long
as possible, in order to introduce a high resistance. The
calculated resistance in this water-feeder system was
approximately 8000 ohms per phase.
The rheostat consisted of three open boxes, about 21
ft. long and 18 in. square, Y-connected. These were
separated at the points of the Y by about 5 ft. and came
together in a common box which formed the neutral of
the Y. In this neutral was placed a heavy steel plate
which was permanently grounded. The whole rheostat
was carried on 33,000-volt pin-type insulators.
Feed water was introduced at the electrodes and cir-
culated through each leg of the rheostat from electrode
to neutral. A deep weir was cut at the neutral and a
gate was inserted hinged at the bottom and arranged to
open outward, the pressure of the water tending to open
the gate. After passing over this gate the water was
collected in a spillway and carried back to the well pool,
from which it was again pumped into the piping sys-
position of the electrode with regard to the neutral.
It was found necessary to build the rheostat of a com-
paratively heavy and good grade of lumber, as it had to
be water-tight and as the boiling water tended to warp
and twist the boxes, causing them to leak. The boxes
were, therefore, heavily strapped and cross-tied, as
shown in Fig. 2. A cord attached to the gate was car-
ried through the window of the power house to the table
inside, where the meters for measuring the load were
installed. The load was regulated by varying the
height of the gate, thus varying the cross-section of the
water in the rheostat.
Keeping the Density of Water Constant
The resistance of the water decreased very rapidly
with evaporation. To maintain a uniform density the
supply system was thrown wide open when the test was
started. In this way evaporation was reduced to a min-
imum and the density of the water in the rheostat was
held constant. It was found unnecessary to shift the
electrodes in order to balance the load, as this was ac-
complished by varying the density of the water in the
different legs of the rheostat by adjusting the supply
of feed water admitted to that leg. This was done
by adjusting the valves at the grounded neutral in the
feed-water system after the power had been switched
on.
During this test excellent control was obtained on
loads ranging from 500 kw to 1200 kw, and it is be-
lieved that the load and control could have been secured
for a load varying from 250 kw to 2500 kw with the
same apparatus.
An interesting feature in connection with the con-
trol of the load developed during the test. Before the
test was completed the supply of artesian-well water
showed signs of becoming exhausted. It was found
necessary to introduce water from the cooling pond.
This water, as above stated, had a resistance of only
about one-half that of the well water. However, when
introduced into the rheostat the load was readily held
constant by emptying a part of the water from the
rheostat, thus reducing the cross-section of the water in
the boxes.
There is little doubt that this form of rheostat could
be varied to take care of almost any desired voltage
and a very wide range of load.
By having both the supply and the outflow controlled
at a grounded neutral, it is unnecessary to handle any
SIDE VIEW OF RHEOSTAT
FIG. 4 — END VIEW OF RHEOSTAT
tern of the plant. This formed a complete circuit for
the water, and none was lost save that due to evapora-
tion.
The rl constructed with an extra depth at
the electrodes, as shown by Fig. 2, for the purpose of
allowing for the ii e at greater surface area of electrode
and to provide for balancing the load by changing the
high potential during the run. With the resistance pf
the water, the voltage and required load known, it is
an easy matter to determine the required length and
cross-section of the water. It is important to insulate
the circuits well from the ground and to allow enough
margin in designing the boxes to prevent boiling over
and causing a "ground" in this manner.
M Mil II
ELECTRICAL WORLD
671
Electrically Operated Brick Factory
Application of .Motors for Kvery Operation Involved in Digging Clay,
Making and Handling Brick at Springfield, III.
Immunities where the nature of the Bubsoil
favors brick-making central-station companies have
not been slow to grasp the opportunity of in-
stalling motor drive in the brick factories. But there
are few installations where the electrification has
been carried out so completely as has been done at the
FIG. 1 — BLASTING TOP SOIL FROM CLAY CLIFF
plant of the Springfield (111.) Paving Brick Company.
Here electrical operation begins with the digging of the
clay, and every operation, including hauling the shale,
dumping the cars, grinding, conveying, mixing, forming
the brick and conveying the finished product, is accom-
plished electrically. Even after the bricks have been
ed away in dry kilns electrical operation does not
cease, for the coal burned in the kilns is hauled from an
FIG. 2 — TRANSFORMER AT SERVICE ENTRANCE
electrically operated mine over a narrow-gage motor-
driven tramway. A list of the motors, together with
their ratings and the machines they are driving, is
given in the table herewith. All motors except those
used in hauling finished brick are of the three-phase,
sixty-cycle, 440-volt type.
One of the most unusual instances of motor drive
found in this installation is that of an old steam shovel
which has been electrified. The boiler and engine have
been removed, and in their places have been substituted
two motors, a contactor panel, and the necessary i •
i rs. One man controls both of the motors by means of
a master controller and friction clutches, and the trip
on the shovel scoop is operated by an extra man. How-
ever, it is planned to do away with this extra helper by
installing an electromagnetic trip to be manipulated by
a fool pedal within reach of the shovel operator.
The control of the shovel is unique in that notched-
back relays are utilized on the panelboard to increase or
decrease automatically the resistance of the motor cir-
cuit as the shovel load demands. Both the motor on the
shovel boom and the one inside the housing are shown
in the accompanying illustrations.
Another innovation utilized to secure variable speed
is a fan which draws hot air from a tunnel beneath the
kilns and delivers it to a drying room. In this ap-
paratus by shifting a clutch a different motor pinion
is caused to engage the fan's gear, changing the speed
FIG. 3 — AN ELECTRIFIED "STEAM SHOVEL"
from 125 to 150 r.p.m. Further variation may be had
then, if necessary, by changing the resistance in the
motor circuit. Variation in speed is necessary because
this fan is sometimes delivering air from a distant kiln
and sometimes from one close at hand, and hence oper-
ates under changing load conditions.
On the industrial railway operating over the tops of
the kilns and supplying coal from a nearby mine one
motor, housed at the upper end of the tramway, does
all the hauling. In connection with this machine a sys-
tem of push-button control has been worked out so that
an operator riding on a coal car can stop or start it at
any kiln. An auxiliary wire suspended overhead also
allows the operator to trip the motor switch from any
place on the track, but when this emergency is resorted
to the operator must walk to the nearest kiln and push
a starting button to move the car. At first some trou-
ble occurred on this little industrial railroad, as no pro-
vision had been made for taking care of the stretch in
the haulage cable, which was continuous and operated
around a hoisting drum geared to the driving motor.
Now, however, a tension carriage has been added, and
672
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 11
M 1KB
ELECTRICAL WORLD
673
it is arranged so that in case the coal car should leave
the track the cable will slip on the hoisting drum and
not continue to pull the derailed car along and demolish
the trestle structure.
When the plant was formerly operated by steam, rec-
ord months showed a production of 1,600,000 bricks,
but last June more than 2,009,000 were made, and the
I for one day, 106,000 bricks shows a peak con-
siderably above the average for the month's production.
During the month of June when the 2,009,000 bricks
were made the company's meter showed that it had used
60 kw-hr., and hence the energy cost was 26.2 kw-
MOTOB APPLICATIONS IV BRICK Mil. I.
Boom and propeller ir<-fir-
Geared lo
Shale car :
Two 9-ft I'.Titl-l.i .try i > .n-
mil]
-■■en bricks
Brick transfer trolley ....
ppiying direct eurrent f-.r
car
Forge blow.-r
Machine-" hop line shaft
Automatically fl ■' - - >-minute fire-tjervi
pump .
Drainage pump at sump in clay pit
Coal-huul tramway
Rating in
900
960
170U
760
l.MKI
1130
850
hr. per 1000 bricks, including the energy required for
every operation from digging the clay to handling the
completed product. On the day when the record of
106,000 bricks was established it was found by check-
ing the meter for that day that the cost had actually
dropped to 19.2 kw-hr. per 1000 bricks. However, this
figure is below that which is expected as an average,
and it is thought that when the maximum output of the
plant, 2,500,000 bricks a month, has been attained, the
energy used will be about 24 kw-hr. per 1000 bricks.
Mr. T. J. Armstrong is president and general man-
ager of the Springfield Paving Brick Company, and the
energy for operating this installation is supplied by the
Springfield Light, Heat & Power Company, of which
Mr. A. D. Mackie is general manager. Much of the
credit for laying out the installation is due Mr. Ros-
coe Woltz, commercial engineer for the central-station
company.
Electricity Saves Paper Mill $400 a Month
The Came Paper Company, of Maumee, Ohio, for-
merly operated its mill with steam from two 100-hp
boilers working through reciprocating engines. Re-
cently all but one of these steam engines have been re-
moved and motors have been substituted. Machinery
formerly operated through long line shafts is now indi-
vidually driven, and although the low price of paper has
kept the mill idle of late, a seventeen-day run made with
the new equipment showed that 302,600 lb. of wrapping
paper was produced with an energy consumption
amounting to 17,050 kw-hr., or 17.7 lb. of paper per
kw-hr. Besides making this record in specific energy
consumption, the paper company has been able to reduce
the regular force of workmen by two men. It is fully
expected that when the mill is again operating at its
full rating even better specific energy consumption will
be shown, although at the above figure the electrical
machinery will save the paper company $400 a month.
The motors used are all of the 440-volt, three-phase,
750-r.p.m. type, and to operate them energy is supplied
from the lines of the Valley Light & Power Company.
»f Maumee. Ohio, over a 33,000-volt transmission line.
MM MINE EQUIPMENT IN WRAPPING PAPER MILL
Motor Rating in Up
i-i pump
72-in. doubte-eyiind
Stacks of calendar
Keels and cutter-
'Engine rating.
The transformer station outside the factory, designed
to be equipped with three 75-kw transformers, is shown
herewith, operating temporarily with open-delta con-
nection. The two old boilers which formerlv drove the
OUTDOOR SUBSTATION SERVING PAPER COMPANY
engines and supplied steam for the "cooking" process
are still furnishing steam to drive one engine and to
cook the paper stock. The table herewith shows how
the machines are grouped.
Duplicate Motors with Separate Feeders for
Continuous Service
If duplicate motors are employed to maintain contin-
uous service, the assurance of their operation will be
doubled if each unit is supplied with energy through
distinct and non-adjacent feeders. This practice is em-
ployed for generator ventilation at the generating sta-
tion of the United Electric Light & Power Company,
New York City. Bach turbine-driven generator is
cooled from its individual air duct. Sirocco blowers are
installed in the ducts between the intakes and the gen-
erators. On both ends of each blower shaft are motors
either of which will operate the blower alone. Normally,
however, both motors are supplied with energy and
674
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. It
operated at half rating, so that if one unit should ac-
cidentally stop the other will carry the entire load.
The feeders to duplicate motors are conducted along
separate routes so that a fault in one circuit will not
affect the other.
Inclosed Externally Operated Service Switches
As these motors, like practically all others in the sta-
tion, are operated with 440-volt alternating-current
CONTROL EQUIPMENT AND MOTORS DRIVING GENERATOR
BLOWERS
energy, it has been considered best to employ inclosed
externally operated indicating service switches. Two
sets of these are shown herewith installed above the
other motor-control equipment. Each case contains two
switches, one for each of the duplicate motors. The
handles below the cases are used to open or close the
circuits. The fuses which are installed inside the case
can be reached only when the circuit is opened and a
padlock is unlocked. Further protection is afforded by
making it impossible to close the circuits when the cover
is open. Indicators above each handle show the position
of the switch.
Electrical Service in Large Furniture Store
At the new building of the Paine Furniture Company,
Boston, Mass., one of the largest stores of its kind in
the world, electricity is extensively used. The service
is furnished by the Edison Electric Illuminating Com-
pany of Boston through nine feeders of the three-wire,
110-220-volt direct-current type, distribution being ef-
fected from a switchboard in the basement throughout
the eleven stories of the establishment. There are five
Otis electric elevators installed, including one 8000-lb.
machine running 150 ft. per minute; two of 4000 lb.
rating each, used in passenger service at a speed of 300
ft. per minute, and two combination elevators of 4000
lb. rating each, running 250 ft. per minute. A sixth ele-
vator of 2000 lb. rating connects the first floor and
basement only and is used in freight service. Each of
the five elevators first mentioned is driven by a 35-hp
motor, the smaller unit being operated by a 5-hp motor.
The establishment was laid out to facilitate routing
of the merchandise and to afford visitors quick access
to all departments, one of the most interesting of which
is the cabinet shop of the company on the ninth floor.
The company does a large business in manufacturing
mattresses, hand-carved and inlaid furniture, and the
motor equipment of these portions of its establishment
is well adapted to rapid production, so far as machine
methods can be used.
Nearly a score of motors are in service in the cabi-
net shop, all being equipped with push-button control
and wired in conduit. The starting boxes are all
mounted in a fireproof compartment, 13 ft. 10 in. long,
4 ft. 4 in. wide and 11 ft. high. The rheostats are
controlled by contactors as shown in Fig. 4 and are
mounted on a wooden frame with 1-in. by 3-in. hori-
zontal members and spaced 22 in. apart on centers ver-
tically. All tools are provided with sawdust-collecting
outlets leading into a central duct connecting with a 36-
in. fan mounted on the roof and directly driven by a
7. 5-hp motor at a speed of 600 r.p.m. The fan ex-
hausts the sawdust from the cabinet shop and delivers
it into a horizontal duct passing across the top of the
11'. 1. 2 AMI 8 MOTOR APPLICATIONS IN Kl'HMTI'RE FACTORY
March 13, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
building and finally discharging Into the boiler room at
the basement level. The building is provided with a
large vertical conduit and pipe shaft, with grating plat-
forms at every Boor to facilitate inspection and repairs.
The motor-driven equipment of the building also in-
cludes a 15-hp vacuum cleaner, a 2-hp air compressor
used in connection with the sprinkler system, two 4-hp
FIG. 4 — CONTACTORS FOR RHEOSTATS
sewer ejectors with a 20-ft. lift and 3-in. discharge, a
5.5-hp double rip saw and 2-hp swing saw used in the
boxing department, a 2-hp fan exhausting dust from
the hair room, a 5-hp hair-picking machine, and several
small fans used in toilet-room ventilation and in sup-
plying warm air from the basement to the vestibule of
the main entrance. An auto-call system manufactured
by the Severance Electric Company, Boston, is in use
for the sales force, with signal lamp on each salesman's
MOTORS USED IN FURNITURE ESTABLISHMENT
Motor Hp
B.P.M.
1675
Bum planer, Olhrcf Muhinsrj Company.
55
1675
Swirin saw, < lliv.T Machinery Company.
55
( irr-iil.tr saw.
95
1025
WliitrnA 24-in. planer.
1075
roaKul ami roughing saw.
j
1900
louble
3 i
M7!
piadk siw, double
1
1275
Jig r*aw.
5
35
■ him .
3 5
1200
Band aaw.
1200
Burfasing machine, 1
Two M-lh
-
1900
II- rUontal drill.
Double eai i
1
I Mur Bin
1
450
1
1
Tliri-e Sir..
1
IM
n ihaft.
A
■ room.
Electric Drive in Huilding Construction
Electric drive in building construction is employed
exclusively by the Turner Construction Company of New
York in the building of a large spinning mill and
age warehouse for the N'aumkeag Steam Cotton Com-
pany at Salem, .Mas.-., to replace buildinj d last
June. Three-phase energy is obtained from the Salem
Electric Lighting Company, one of the companies which
are operated under the control of C. H. Tenney &
Company, Boston.
At a central location on the grounds is a transformer
inclosure, 8 ft. by 16 ft., constructed of four courses of
2-in. by 8-in. planks. Inside this are three 75-kw step-
down transformers rated at 2200 220 volts. A tem-
porary pole line runs through the works, carrying the
cables to a pole erected within the inclosure. The loca-
tion of motors is such that those of largest rating are,
generally, nearest the transformer station.
I he Motor Equipment
Motor equipment consists of 10-hp and 15-hp motors
on two wood saws, 5-hp to 25-hp motors on four centrif-
ugal pumps, 15-hp motors on two rod-bending ma-
chines, a 35-hp motor on a concrete plant for cinders
and two 30-hp motors operating a cable gravel tramway
with double drum. Two 75-hp motors operate concrete
elevators and mixers. In addition, concrete, steel and
brick hoists are electrically operated. Each of the
layer units is closely housed in a temporary wooden
shed.
On each pole of the transmission line are two clusters
TRANSFORMER INSTALLATION AT MILL SITE
desk controlled from the telephone switchboard on the
street floor. Semi-indirect lighting is used throughout
the exhibition rooms, four 150-watt lamps per alba bowl
being the standard for the first floor and four 60-watt
lamps per bowl on other floors.
A list of the principal motors in the cabinet shop and
repairing and finishing department is given in the table.
of four 40-watt tungsten lamps inclosed in a deep white
porcelain concave shade made by Hamlet & Hayes, Pea-
body, Mass., and known as their four-lamp factory fix-
ture. The operations are being prosecuted by a night
and a day shift; hence the need of adequate lighting,
which is obtained, the poles being only about 75 ft.
apart.
676
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 11
Operating Kinks
Bleeder- Valve Remote Control of Air Pressure
For any given boiler installation and grade of coal
there is a definite ratio which should be maintained
between the amount of air supplied under the grates
Air
Duct
<=<
... ■■■..-
Blower-Turbine Pilot
Valve
Diaphragm Valve
■-Pressure Line ,
1
To Blower
Turbine
FIG. 1 — BLEEDER-VALVE CONTROL FOR BLOWER TURBINES
and the amount of coal fired. If the quality of coal
employed is changed, however, it is also necessary to
alter the ratio between the air and coal to obtain the
most economical results. At the generating station
of the United Electric Light & Power Company, New
York City, the pressure under the grates is regulated
by bleeder valves beside each boiler. The manner in
which these valves are connected with the air-supply
ducts and the blower-speed control is shown by the ac-
companying illustration.
The bleeder valve previously referred to is connected
with a pipe leading from the air duct to a multiple-dia-
phragm device which operates the pilot valve of the
blower turbine. If the pressure in the duct rises, the
diaphragms will expand and operate a lever to re-
duce the speed of the blowers. The reverse action oc-
curs if the air pressure drops. In case it is found
desirable to maintain a different pressure in the duct,
the bleeder valve is either opened or closed, as required,
thereby changing the turbine pilot valve accordingly.
With this arrangement the air pressure can be con-
trolled at any point by running a single pipe to that
place.
In the installation referred to a stoker-speed tach-
ometer and an air-pressure gage are installed near
1 a
JM
y •-■ — •^■^J
*A4
*
Hi
FIG. 2 — INSTRUMENTS USED IN OBTAINING ECONOMICAL
COAL CONSUMPTION
each bleeder valve, while a draft gage is connected to
each boiler uptake. On the tachometer is an auxiliary
scale which can be shifted in its position with respect
to the regular scale to how the air pressure which
should be maintained at any stoker speed. If the air
pressure and stoker speed do no) agree as indicated by
the main and auxiliary Kale, the air pressure can be
changed by adjusting the bleeder valve. The position
of the auxiliary scale is determined by varying the air
pressure at full-load stoker speed until the flue-gas
analysis shows the highest possible amount of carbon
dioxide, without the presence of carbon monoxide, due
to insufficient air. Under the condition of the station
the flue gas contains from 10 to 13 per cent carbon
dioxide, while the carbon monoxide seldom exceeds 0.3
per cent. Only about 1/10 in. suction is maintained
over the grates, as a higher value would tend to cause
air to be drawn in through the slicing doors and leaks
in the boiler settings.
Drying High-Tension Transformers with Steam
Heat
Transformers to be used at the terminus of a 33,000-
volt line running from the Water Street station of the
Toledo (Ohio) Railways & Light Company to the fac-
tory of the Willys-Overland Company arrived at their
destination during a siege of inclement winter weather.
It was deemed advisable, therefore, to dry these units
thoroughly before putting oil into the cases. The ap-
paratus used to drive the accumulated moisture from
the coils and the laminations of these units was de-
Transformer Bank /to/ Transformer Bonk Mo Z
SECTION THROUGH AA
STEAM COILS ARRANGED TO DRY TRANSFORMERS
signed by Mr. A. C. Rogers, the central-station com-
pany's steam-heating engineer, and a sketch of the
equipment employed is shown herewith.
In all there were nine transformers, six rated at 600
kva each and three rated at 300 kva each. As they stood
in the substation all nine units were arranged in a
straight line. The drying apparatus was designed to
serve a bank of three units simultaneously and to dry
six of the nine transformers without being moved from
its original position. To heat the air which was to be
circulated through the transformers, steam coils with
about 300 ft. of radiating surface were disposed through-
out a galvanized-iron box, open at one end to admit air
through a cloth screen. Steam was supplied to these
pipes from a main carrying about 110 lb. pressure, and
a reducing valve was interposed between the steam
main and the heating coils as a primary method of
controlling the temperature of the air delivered. From
the coil-box air was drawn through a blower driven by
a 6-hp motor and delivered into an 18-in. galvanized-
iron header. From the header the hot air was con-
ducted to the bottoms of the transformers through three
4-in. pipes. A valve was also provided at the end of
the main air header so that part of the air might be
allowed to escape if it became necessary to reduce the
temperature of the units. When this apparatus was
placed in operation it was expected that a bank of
March
ELECTRICAL WORLD
677
transformers would be thoroughly dried if maintained
at a temperature of 80 deg. C. for a period of three
Portable Coal Cart for Boiler Room
To facilitate the handling of fuel and to keep the fir-
ing aisle floor clean, it is advisable to employ a portable
coal car capable of holding about 1000 lb. The car can
be run on iron rails or it may have wide-faced wheels
PORTABLE COAL CART
which will run easily over concrete floors. One side of
the car should be hinged so that it can be swung down
level with the bottom of the car, thus making shoveling
easier. Such a car is shown in Technical Paper No. 80,
Bureau of Mines, and is reproduced herewith. It is
important that the surface from which the coal is shov-
eled should contain no protruding rivets and bolts or
other projections, because these will delay the fireman
in filling his shovel. For this reason it is objectionable
to have floors made of unevenly laid brick or tile or
of concrete which has been allowed to become cracked
or uneven.
Synchronizing Twenty-five-Cycle and Sixty-two-and
One-Half-Cycle Motor-Generators
At Kansas City, Mo., electrical energy is generated
and transmitted to the substations at a frequency of
twenty-five cycles in order that the power plant may
supply both railway and lighting loads and thus operate
of requiring only one synchronizing receptacle, one plug,
and one set of wiring for the two machines. The addi-
tion of the test switch removes the need for the second
synchronizing circuit, for in operation both machines
are supplied from the same twenty-live-cycle source of
energy, and when started and brought up to speed are,
owing to their pole ratios, sure to be in step on the
sixty-two-and-one-half-cycle side as well, unless the
latter's generator field current needs to be reversed in
order to slip a pole.
When the test switch shown is closed, the lamps will
(lash if the phase relation is incorrect. After reversing
the generator field switch, the operator tests again, and
unless there is trouble in the apparatus, the lamps and
synchroscope will then show the machines to be in
synchronism. The wiring scheme shown was devised
by Mr. R. K. McMaster, electrical engineer for the
Kansas City Electric Light Company.
A Convenient Field-Rheostat Mounting
The mounting of field rheostats is often a trouble-
some mechanical problem on account of the bulk of the
apparatus and the need of ample ventilating space. In
an Eastern hydroelectric station the apparatus has been
conveniently installed on a structural-steel frame as
illustrated herewith, all leads being run in ducts and
the frame being in unit sections with open sides
and rear ends. The rheostats are of the sole-
noid-operated type and the contact plates are faced
outward parallel to an adjacent switchboard and
on a level facilitating inspection and adjustment. In
DIAGRAM OF SYNCHRONIZING CONNECTIONS
CONVENIENT FIELD-RHEOSTAT MOUNTING
at high power-factor at all times. Motor-generator sets
increase the frequency to sixty-two and one-half cycles
per second for delivery to the local lighting-service dis-
tribution system.
In substations where there are two frequency chang-
ers the synchronizing circuits are arranged as shown in
the sketch herewith, a scheme which has the advantage
most hydroelectric stations the available space is suffi-
cient to enable the plant designer to avoid installing
rheostats in a crowded position behind or just above the
switchboard, provided that the apparatus is of the re-
motely controlled type. The convenience of the illus-
trated arrangement compared with the usual installa-
tion is marked.
678
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 11
Extracts and Abstracts
Thickness of Fuel Bed for Hand-Fired Furnaces
When burning bituminous coal under boilers the best
results are obtained if the fires are kept level and about
4 in. to 10 in. thick, depending upon the character of
the coal and the strength of the draft, according to
Technical Paper No. 80 of the Bureau of Mines. Coal
should be fired in small quantities and at short inter-
vals. Leveling or disturbing the fuel bed in any way
shou'.d be avoided as much as possible, as it means extra
work for the fireman and besides is liable to cause
troublesome clinker. Furthermore, while the furnace
doors are open, an excess amount of air will enter the
combustion chamber, thereby impairing the efficiency.
Refuse should not be allowed to accumulate in the ash
pit as it may prevent uniform distribution of air under
the grate. Whenever coal shows a tendency to clinker
it is advisable to keep water in the ash pit. When the
draft has to be regulated it should be done by changing
the position of the damper and not that of the air-pit
doors.
To keep fuel beds level, the coal should be thrown on
the thin spots instead of being distributed over the
entire grate. In a well-kept fire thin spots can usually
be recognized by the bright hot flame given off. Thick
places emit a sluggish smoky flame or none at all. Fire-
men should not attempt to fill up the deep hollows in a
fuel bed at one time as the fresh coal may fuse into a
hard crust which will offer an obstruction to the air
causing the fuel to burn slowly and start new high
places. If long intervals are allowed to elapse between
firings, thin spots may burn out entirely, allowing a
large excess of air to enter the furnace, thereby depriv-
ing the boiler of a considerable amount of heat. An-
other loss is liable to occur when holes occur in the fuel
bed, as freshly fired coal may fall through the grate.
If fuel beds are allowed to become covered with high
hills and deep valleys, it may be impossible to distin-
guish the surfaces of thin spots and still more difficult
to place coal over them. The quickest way of making
such fuel beds level is to break the caked coal forming
the heaps and to spread it over the thin spots with a
rake. This method should be employed only when ab-
solutely necessary, as it allows excess air to enter
through the furnace door and starts the formation of
troublesome clinker, besides putting extra work on the
firemen.
Proper Position While Firing
To transfer coal from the coal piles to the furnace to
the best advantage the fireman should stand about 4.5 ft.
to 5 ft. in front of the furnace door and 12 in. to 18 in.
to the left. If the working supply of coal is placed 6 ft.
to 7 ft. in front of the furnace, the fireman can fill his
shovel and swing it into the furnace with comparatively
little effort. The scoop should be suddenly stopped at
the entrance to the fire-door frame to avoid the effort
of withdrawing it through the door. If the coal pile is
placed closer than 7 ft. from the furnace, the fireman
will not have enough room to swing his shovel properly,
and besides must stand too close to the furnace, thereby
ing himself to the intense heat radiated by the fire.
When working in cramped quarters firemen will gen-
erally tand to our side of the furnace door to avoid
the h.-at, making it necessary to swing the scoop along
the ar<- of a circle and thereby Increasing the chance of
scattering COal on the Bring floor or in the ash pit.
Working under lUCh conditions it is also difficult to
deliver the coal to the proper part of the grate. An-
I objection to having a cramped tiring aisle is that
it hinder- the handling of fire-cleaning tools.
Importance of Supervision of Repairs
Recently an operating engineer experienced consider-
able trouble from water being carried over into the en-
gine cylinders and, being unable to ascertain the cause,
solicited outside assistance. On visiting the plant, the
inspector observed that the engine cylinders would prob-
ably have been wrecked had it not been for the faithful
service performed by the relief valves. Finding that
no previous trouble had been experienced from foaming
or priming prior to a change in the feed-water piping,
he proceeded to examine the latter and found conditions
existing which could have been prevented had the re-
pairs been thoroughly supervised. According to the
January bulletin of the Hartford Steam Boiler Inspec-
tion & Insurance Company, the repairmen in attempting
to attach the feed-water pipes firmly to the braces inside
the boilers had left an elbow on the outlet of the pipe
which terminated close to the steam-header connection.
As a result, when the boiler was delivering steam and
the feed-water pipe discharging water into the steam
space, large quantities of water were carried along with
the steam into the engine cylinders. The trouble was
corrected by changing the position of the feed-water
pipe outlet.
A New Method of Inspecting Boilers
Probably no boiler defect evades detection more than
the hidden crack which forms under the overlap of a
joint. Such cracks form with alarming frequency in
lap-seam boilers which have been in operation for some
time. Sometimes these cracks may be revealed by ap-
plying a hydrostatic pressure to the suspected boiler
and hammering the seams. A much better method of
detecting seam cracks, however, has been devised by
Mr. S. F. Jeter, supervising inspector of the Hartford
Steam Boiler Inspection & Insurance Company. His
process consists in cutting narrow grooves or slots near-
ly through the plate joint and at right angles to the
probable course of the crack, so that cracks which may
develop will be visible at the bottom of the slot or will
start a warning leak before the structure has been weak-
ened to the explosion stage. V-shaped notches may be
cut in the calking edge of overlapping plates to uncover
the region in the underlying plate which is subject to
crack formation. Such notches will not weaken a joint
appreciably if they are not closer than 1 ft. apart along
the longitudinal seams. Similarly to detect fractured
stay bolts telltale holes may be drilled in the ends of
the bolts as far as the inside stay sheet. Butt-strapped
rf=
o o
•o
0o0o0o0o0o°o
o°o0o0o0o0o°
Q-L..Q. .Q
MKTHOI) APPLIED TO A BUTT JOINT OF THE WIDE INNER-
STRAP TYPE
boilers may also develop hidden cracks if the plates do
not conform with the arc of the boiler drum. When the
outer strap is narrower than the inner one, it is only
necessary to make a groove in the sandwiched plate to
furnish a telltale. When both straps are the same
width, however, it is necessary to make a V-shaped notch
in the outer strap before a groove is cut in the inter-
mediate plate.
M*K' II
K I. ECTRIC A L \V() RLI)
Two-Si roke-Cycle Semi-Diesel Engines
irding to I of London my <>f
iemi-Di 1 i nginet ii being inert
and other advantages, Buck I starting, relia-
bility, etc., are making them exceedingly attractive. At
: yal Agricultural Show and at the Smithfield Club
not long ago in England was exhibited a two-
rtroki ine embodying several interesting
Questions and Answers
CHOSS-SECTION OF TWO-STROKE-CYCLE SEMI-DIESEL ENGINE
tures. Like most two-stroke-cycle machines the engine
compresses the scavenging gas in the crank case, the
degree of compression being regulated by a flap valve.
The cylinder head fits over the jacket walls, the joint
between the head and the cylinder walls being closed
by means of a rubber gasket. This construction permits
unequal expansions of the cylinder and jacket. The hot
bulb is not bolted down but is held in place by a ring
cover which presses evenly all around the flange. An-
other interesting feature of construction is that the
scavenging and exhaust ports are placed in line with the
crank shaft so that the lateral thrust of the piston head
will be against an unbroken cylinder wall. The piston
head contains an insulating air chamber which protects
the gudgeon pin from heat, keeps the temperature in
the crank case low, and improves operation in general
by facilitating lubrication.
The engine is regulated and governed by varying the
stroke of the fuel pump, which is driven by a cam on
the main shaft of the engine. Force-feed lubrication is
provided for the cylinder, gudgeon and the crank pin.
The cylinder oil is supplied through two small ports
overrun by the piston rings at the bottom of the stroke.
The bearings are ring-oiled. Water is circulated
through the cooling jackets by a chain-driven pump
connected with a free-wheel sprocket which is unaf-
fected by pre-ignition. The hot bulb is initially heated
by a blow torch, about three minutes being required to
start on crude oil and five minutes on paraffin. The
engine shown in accompanying cross section is callable
of developing 9 brake-hp at 475 r.p.m. The cylinder
measures 7 in. in diameter by 8 in. long. The Messrs.
Martin's Cultivator Company. Ltd., is the manufacturer
of this engine.
Removing <.r..!-. Strains from Concrete
in i!.a
1. K T
Hydrated lime exhibits an affinity for oil and grease
and will remove such stains from cement floors.
Brass lubes in si>::m Condensers
Wli
Of ir." J y A.
Brass tubes are used because they are less rapidly
affected by corrosion than are iron or steel tubes, and
therefore need not be renewed so frequently.
Blown Oil or Thickened Oil
What is .i hi, n
It is an oil, such as rapeseed oil or cottonseed oil, that
has been treated by being heated and having a current
of air forced through it. The result of this process is
to thicken the oil by increasing the viscosity and the
density. It is also called thickened oil.
Resistance at Brush Contacts
What should be thi resistance at brush contacts? E. B. T.
With carbon brushes the average resistance at con-
tacts is about 0.028 ohm per sq. in. The current den-
sity, brush pressure and peripheral speed of the com-
mutator affects the resistance, however. At 15 amp
per sq. in., the contact resistance may be 0.40 ohm
per sq. in., and at 60 amp it may be 0.022 ohm. The
average value given above is for ordinary speeds and
a pressure of 1.75 lb. per sq. in. By reducing the pres-
sure to 0.75 lb. the resistance may be raised to 0.035
ohm. For copper brushes the resistance is one-tenth
of the average values given for carbon brushes.
Autogenous Welding
Please explain what
neant by autogenous welding. J. McD.
In the ordinary sense of the term, welding is the
joining of pieces of iron or steel by heat and pressure,
accompanied by the use of a flux; but autogenous weld-
ing involves the use of high temperature alone, without
employing flux, pressure or hammering to unite the
pieces. Instead, the ends of the pieces to be welded are
brought to the welding temperature by an oxy-hydrogen
or an oxy-acetylene flame, and then additional metal is
fused by the same flame and is run between the sur-
faces to be joined. The process thus becomes one of
fusion, in which the ends to be united, as well as the
metal run in, are brought to the melting point and then
allowed to cool, when they solidify into a single piece.
Round and Square Chimneys
why are chimneys mori often mad
tan square?
rcular
E K
There are several reasons why this is the case. One
reason is that, for equal capacities, the round chimney
presents a smaller effective surface to the pressure of
the wind than does the square chimney, hence the force
tending to overturn the round chimney is the smaller,
other things being equal. The round chimney can be
constructed of a smaller quantity of material than can
a square chimney of equal capacity. Again, the round
chimney has an advantage over the square chimney in
that, for equal capacities, the radiating surface of the
round chimney is the smaller. Finally, the resistance
to the flow of the gases in the round chimney is less
than in the square chimney.
680
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 11
Object of Air Chamber on Pump
Please explain the duty of an air chamber on a pump. F. T. L.
The air chamber on a pump is simply a shock ab-
sorber. If it were not used, the sudden setting in
motion of a column of water at each discharge stroke
would cause shocks to the discharge connections and
the pump itself. The air in the chamber acts as an
elastic cushion, which is compressed during the early
part of the discharge stroke and expands during the
latter part. In this way the flow is made more nearly
uniform and water hammer is avoided.
Latent Heat of Fusion of Ice
What is the correct value of the latent heat of fusion of ice?
A. E. P.
The value commonly used in refrigeration calcula-
tions is 144 heat units per lb., but this is apparently a
little greater than the exact value. Separate determina-
tions made by a French scientist and by the Bureau of
Standards at Washington agreed with remarkable close-
ness and indicated that the correct value is 143.5 heat
units per lb. The value commonly used, 144 heat units
per' lb., differs from this exact value by a trifle more
than one-third of 1 per cent, and may therefore be used
in calculations in which no great degree of accuracy is
demanded.
Changes in Motor Connections for Reduction in Voltage
We have a 440-volt, three-phase squirrel-cage induction motor
with the poles of each phase connected in series. Can the machine
be operated on 220 volts? H. F.
By separating the poles of each phase into two groups
and reconnecting them in multiple the motor can be
operated on 220 volts, at the same rating as before.
This can be done by removing one end of the motor
housing. Sometimes the taps from the coils connected
in series are connected to the motor terminal board, in
which case the changes can be made there. It should
be remembered, however, that the current per phase will
be increased by the reduction in voltage, and hence the
feeders, fuses and control apparatus must be made to
conform therewith.
Steam Table Based on Absolute Pressures
Why are the pressures in the steam table given in pounds abso-
lute? It would be much easier to use the table if gage pressures
were used. V. H. McG.
The values of the boiling point, latent heat, heat of
the liquid, etc., given in the steam table must be based
on some unchanging value in order that they may be
compared accurately. The gage pressure is not an
unchanging value. It represents the pressure existing
in the boiler above the pressure of the atmosphere.
But the pressure of the atmosphere changes according
to the weather conditions, and consequently the actual
pressure in the boiler varies also, though the hand of
the gage may remain at the same point. By using
absolute pressures, which are pressures above the zero
of perfect vacuum, a basis of comparison is obtained
unvariable.
Grounding to Water Pipes
Objection has bei i"> local board of public works In
our grounding the neutrals of our alternating darlea
I.. Hi. . it v ■;■ water malni
altted by the water "... ks author!
We have h "i difficulty in convincing tin' board thai do
ling. II M II
Iii many cities the neutrals of alternating-currenl
•ns are grounded to the water pipes with the full
permission <<f the local water-works authorities. This
practice has, in fact, been approved by the American
Water Works Association. Minneapolis, for example,
recently gave the local central-station company permis-
sion to ground its secondaries to the water-works sys-
tem, and the company will start work on this grounding
as soon as weather conditions permit. The connections
to mains will be made by tapping the pipes for half-inch
tapered brass plugs, into which the ground wires will be
sweated. The work of tapping the mains and inserting
the plugs will be done by the water-works department,
and the electric company will be charged a fee to cover
the cost of the work.
Surface Leakage from Flame-Proof Insulation
Some manufacturers of electrical equipment object to the use
of fireproof wire on switchboards and control panels, declaring
that it is impossible to secure a covering which combines both
insulating and fireproof qualities. Is this correct? F. L. N.
S,ome concerns manufacturing elevator control ap-
paratus have consistently refused to install so-called
"flame-proof" wiring on their equipment on the ground
that the surface leakage currents from such wires may
involve far greater hazards in the operation of the ma-
chinery than inhere in the more remote possibility of
fire attacking the cables. In some forms of elevator
control panels the relay magnets require only a small
current to hold them in position, although they take a
much larger current for operation in the first place. It
has been found that the leakage currents where fire-
proof insulation crossed live studs on the board were
actually large enough to prevent relays from dropping
out when they should, thus seriously interfering with
the operation of the elevator. Instances of such trouble
occurred recently in connection with the installation of
150 American-built elevators to serve the London under-
ground "tubes," and the cause of the sticking relays
was found only after patient search.
Safe Rim Speed of Cast-Iron Flywheel
Use is made of the rule that the rim speed of a flywheel
should not be more than a mile a minute. Is this a correct
value? C. J. M
The rule to which you allude is not general, but ap-
plies to cast-iron wheels and is only approximately true.
Cast iron has a tensile strength of 20,000 lb. per sq. in.,
but the difficulty of obtaining a sound casting in the
case of a heavy rim makes it wise to assume a tensile
strength of only 10,000 lb. per sq. in. For the condi-
tions of service to which a flywheel is subjected, a fac-
tor of safety of ten seems none too large, and this re-
duces the safe working stress to 1000 lb. per sq. in. The
rotation of the wheel sets up centrifugal forces, acting
radially, and if these forces are resolved at right angles
to a diameter, the resultant forces will tend to tear the
rim into halves by rapturing it at the opposite ends of
the diameter. For a rim of cast iron the stress per
square inch of rim section due to these forces is S =
0.0002664 IV .V\ in which S stress per square inch of
rim section, in pounds: /) mean diameter of rim, in
feet; N number of revolutions per minute of the rim.
Hut the velocity V of the rim, in feet per minute, is
equal to jtDlv*, or DN = V : ~; then, S 0.0002664
1 it* 0.000027 V\ Solving this equation to obtain
the rim velocity. V V~S 0.000027 = \ BOOSTS.
Xow. if the safe stress in the rim is taken as 1000 lb.
per sq. in., the corresponding speed of the rim must be
V \ .".T.o.'.V 100(1 6086 ft. iter minute. This re-
sult, 6806, is taken as representing approximately the
number of feet in a mile, and thus the rule to which von
refer limit in;: the rim speed of a flywheel to a mile a
minute has been derived.
March :
ELECTRICAL WORLD
681
COMMERCIAL SECTION
Hon the Dayton <<>hio) Coupon] Secured Country-
Road Lighting
In Ohio, when a central-station company wish*
contract with an unincorporated community for country-
road lighting business it is first necessarj for the com-
pany to circulate, or to instigate the circulation of, a
petition for the lighting. To be presented to the town-
ship trustee.- tin- petition must bear the signature of
s owning at least ">1 per cent of the property along
the highway to i>e lighted. With such a petition in hand
the township trustees notify all property owners affected
that a hearing will lie conducted thirty days from the
date of the notice, to give both the dissenters and those
in favor of the lighting an opportunity to talk for or
against the project. Following the hearing the trustees
COUNTRY-ROAD LIGHTING NEAR DAYTON, OHIO
decide whether or not the lighting is needed and also
determine on the number and kind of lamps to be used.
Then they advertise for bids on the equipment and work,
and thirty days after the advertisements have appeared
th.- contract is awarded.
With the line finished and the energy being supplied,
the contractor, which may be the central-station com-
pany, presents its bills to the trustees. The trustees
then certify to the county auditor the names of the
property owners whose real estate adjoins the lighted
highway, and the lighting levy money is collected from
thes,- people in connection with other taxes, through the
county auditor, and is paid to the contractor through
the trusties.
After going through this rather extended procedure,
the Dayton (Ohio) Power & Light Company has secured
country-road lightinR business in and near unincor-
porated districts known as Belmont. Beavertown anil
Carremonte. The first line is about 2 miles long, the
I about 0.5 mile long, and the Carremonte line
about 1.75 miles long. Some of the 80-cp incandescent
lamps are suspended over the middle of the road from
span wires, and other- are operated in pole-bracket fix-
tures. The average spacin{ The
in these semi-rural districts are well satisfied
with the street lighting, and one local resident tersely
summed up the general feeling of the community by
saying that "it took a lot of fussing and red tape to get
the lights, but it would take a good deal more to make
the people do without them again."
Motion-Picture Film I'sed to Promote Sale of
Tungsten Lamps
The sale of 238 tungsten lamps was recently effected
by the Schenectady Illuminating Company, Schenectady,
X. Y.. through the showing of a film portraying the
manufacture of tungsten lamps by the General Electric
Company. Arrangements were made to show the film
in one of the local theaters, coupons worth 10 cents on
the purchase of a tungsten lamp being given w-ith each
SOCKET INSULATING COMPOUND MELTED BY 200-WATT
GAS-FILLED LAMP
ticket purchased. Of the 238 coupons returned, 70 were
employed in the purchasing of 60-watt lamps, 78 were
employed in the purchasing of 40-watt lamps, and the
remainder were used in purchasing lamps of other sizes.
The relative large proportion of 60-watt lamps sold in
this manner was largely due to the fact that the com-
pany started a campaign to increase the use of 60-watt
lamps in parlors, dining rooms, kitchens, etc., on "Edison
Day" and has since made the renewal price of 60-watt
lamps less than that of any other size, it being only
15 cents.
Overheating of 200- Watt Nitrogen-Filled Lamp
The lamp and receptacle illustrated herewith were
exhibited by Mr. George Cotton at the recent Minne-
apolis convention of the Western Association of Elec-
trical Inspectors, to show the effect of the high tem-
perature produced by these nitrogen-filled lamps on
fusible materials in their vicinity. This 200-watt unit
was one of 400 installed in a new factory at Grand
Rapids, Mich. After less than ten hours' total opera-
tion of the lighting system, the heat from the lamps
had melted the filling compound in all the 400 recep-
tacles, and in each case this black mass ran down over
the base and bulb. In some instances, according to
Mr. Cotton, who is municipal electrical inspector of
Grand Rapids, the lamp bases had been actually soldered
firmly into their sockets by the melting of the solder on
their bases.
682
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 11
Comparative Cost of Flame- Arc and Nitrogen-Filled
Incandescent Lighting for Streets
A large Middle West central-station organization lias
just completed an exhaustive investigation into the com-
parative costs of street lighting by magnetite-arc lamps
and by gas-filled incandescent units, and from this study
concludes that while the first costs and overhead charges
for the two systems are practically identical, the oper-
ating expense of the incandescent lamps (owing to the
renewal item) will, under present prices, be about $10
COMPARATIVE YEARLY OPERATING COST OF ARC AND
NITROGEN-FILLED INCANDESCENT LAMPS
Trimming, 22 hours, at 10.40 per hour
Placinc renewals, 1 •"> hour, at io.W per hour
Renewals, threi - 1 10 1
Outer globes, one per year . .
Repairs
Rectifier tubes, 2 67 till fty lamps
Patrolling, cleaning, inspection, etc.
Total
Add 10 per cent
To'al operating charge
Gas-Filled
Magnetite [ncandee-
Vrc cent
0 75
0.75
1 09
2.00
12 30
0 50
0.^(1
more per lamp per year for the nitrogen-filled lamps
than for the arcs.
In preparing the accompanying figures it was as-
sumed that each lamp would be installed with about
1000 ft. of No. 6 wire, representing average lamp spac-
ing in the experience of the company; that the lamps
would burn 4000 hours per year, and that energy would
be purchased at the plant switchboard at 0.4 cent per
kw-hr. The figures compiled relate on the one hand to
a 4-amp direct-current magnetite-arc lamp, and on the
other to the 600-cp nitrogen-filled incandescent unit
having a specific consumption of 0.6 watt per candle and
a. life of 1350 hours on alternating current.
Central Station Instructs Employees and Dealers
in Electrical Merchandising
The appliance department of the United Electric
Light & Power Company, New York City, has estab-
lished a school of electrical merchandising in which it
plans to educate its employees, as well as dealers, re-
garding the proper method of selling electrical appli-
ances. Meetings are held every two weeks on Thurs-
day evenings, from 5.30 to 7.30 o'clock, it being com-
pulsory for members of the appliance department to
attend. Arrangements have been made to have repre-
sentatives of various manufacturers give illustrated
lectures on the products of their respective companies,
showing articles in the course of construction and then
the appliance in actual use to illustrate ideal conditions.
It is also intended to show those attending the meetings
why appliances arc made one way or another and why
the manufacturers consider their products the Lest.
The speakers will also outline their selling points and
tell what their respective companies arc doing to stimu-
ind interest the public in electric appliances.
To reward persons for attending the meetings, and
also to indicate how efficiently and conveniently elec-
trical appliances can be employed in cooking nr-als. light
buffet suppers will be served after ea n, the
food being prepared by the company's regular dei
itrators In full view of those attending the lecture. To
make the meetings entertaining as well as instructive,
it has been planned to show motion pictures illustrating
amusing and interesting scenes in which their electrical
appliances are used. The films will be supplied by
manufacturers and also by the Society for Electrical
Development.
At the lectures which have been held so far consider-
able enthusiasm and interest has been manifested by all
present. It is expected that by the end of the schedule
of lectures the company will have one of the best
educated and enthusiastic bodies of employees to be
found among the central stations of the country. Be-
sides this, it will secure the good will of dealers in the
vicinity by providing them with live selling arguments.
This educational scheme was conceived by Mr. J. A'.
Guilfoyle, manager of the electric shop.
— Discounts for Cash Payment of Contractors' Bills
The plan adopted so generally by utility companies of
offering a cash discount for prompt payment of cus-
tomers' bills has been tried with success by several
Minneapolis electrical contractors and has resulted in
a great improvement in the promptness with which ac-
counts are settled. To carry out the plan, the rate at
which the customer was billed for labor was advanced
from 50 cents and 75 cents per hour to 60 cents and 80
cents per hour respectively, and a loading of about 5
per cent w^as added to all material items. To customers
paying within five days from the date of bill a discount
of 5 per cent was allowed. In this way customers who
caused the contractors the least trouble for collections
obtained their work at practically the same price as
before, while those w-ho delayed in paying were charged
for the extra work imposed upon the contractor's ac-
countants and collectors. Most surprising, however, was
the promptness with which customers' checks were re-
ceived before the individual accounts were allowed to
become "cold."
Proof That Electrical Advertising Pays
Mr. Oliver W. Holmes, president of the Snowflake
Laundry Company in Toledo, Ohio, not long ago proved
to his own satisfaction that electrical advertising is the
advertising that catches the public eye. As the story
is told, Mr. Holmes, although operating five electric
signs already, decided to buy an electric-clock sign as a
FIG. 1 — DETAILS OF TIME MONOGRAMS
further advertisement. With the new timepiece in-
stalled and in operation above one of the existing roof
signs, he wanted to determine whether or not people
were reading his signs, and BO had one of his men set
the clock incorrectly at 5:15 p. m. From that time until
6:20 p. m., or during just one hour and five minutes.
his telephone operator answered sixty-four calls from
OS who wanted to inform the Snowtlake company
that its electric clock was wrong.
In speaking about the test after it had been made. Mr.
Holmes told Mr, A. K. Young, new-business manager of
M u: II :
]■: !. E CTRICA I. WO i: 1. 1'
68S
the Toledo Railwa) b A: Light Company, that although the
dock coal .<7">ii lit- ua> convinced he had never spenl a
like amount of money for any kind of advertising which
bad shown better returns. Electricity for operating
530
H D L M E S
SNOW FLAKE
LAUNDRY
DRY CLEANING
PIG. 2 -CLOCK SIGN THAT PROVED ITS WORTH
the entire equipment of the laundry, as well as for
lighting the signs, is purchased from the central-station
company. The electric clock was sold by Betts & Betts,
New York City.
Two Hundred Irons a Month on Trial
Realizing that electric irons are probably the most-
used and consequently the best revenue-producing ap-
pliances, the Edison Electric Illuminating Company of
Brooklyn is leaving irons with its consumers lor thirty
days' trial. Several days after the devices are delivered
demonstrators call and explain the features, convenience
ami operating cost of the iron. If at the end of the
trial a consumer does not wish to keep the appliance he
may notify the company, which will send a representa-
tive to call for it. Usually, however, after using the
favor-saving device a consumer prefers to keep it. As the
price asked is very low, it is not difficult to collect the
amount in full. Even if the irons are returned, they are
EMi
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CARD SENT WITH TRIAL IRON
still suitable for distribution, as they cannot be injured
by the handling received during trial. The only put
which can deteriorate is the heating unit, but the cus-
tomers are assured of long service by a length-of-serv-
ice guarantee. The addresses to which the irons are
sent are selected from the company's list of connected
houses, the appliances being delivered in electric vehicles
at the rati' of about 200 a month. Along with each iron
D( a card like the one reproduced herewith.
Modern Hridge Lighting at Tiffin, Ohio
When the big flood of March, 1913, swept through the
.Middle Western States the raging waters of the San-
dusky River demolished three bridges at Tiffin, Ohio.
Two sightly new concrete structures have been erected
on two of the former bridge sites, and on these modern
river crossings special attention has been paid to the
lighting. As is shown in the accompanying photo-
graph, the fixtures are of heavy bronze designed to
harmonize with the sturdy and massive lines of the
MODERN LIGHTING ON NEW CONCRETE BRIDGE AT TIFFIN
bridge. Series gas-filled tungsten lamps rated at 100
cp, hooded with prismatic reflectors, are used in these
fixtures.
The Meterman and His Duties
When the customer who has made a complaint is ap-
proached by the meterman in a courteous manner, the
customer feels that the company is taking an interest
in his complaint and hence he will give, in most cases,
much more information concerning the use of his equip-
ment than if he were approached in a brusque and in-
considerate manner, said Mr. J. L. Wright, of Toledo,
at a conference of metermen of Ohio central stations,
held at Zanesville.
True courtesy should be practised and cultivated by
metermen in all their dealings with the public, continued
Mr. Wright, for this attitude makes friends for the men
and for their company.
Courtesy and Efficiency Go Hand in Hand
It will be found, on looking over reports concerning
complaint investigations turned in by metermen, de-
clared the speaker, that almost always those that are
clearest as to the cause of the complaint and its remedy
684
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 11
are turned in by men who in dealing with the consumer
are invariably courteous.
Moreover, the meterman should exercise diplomacy in
conversation with the consumer, and care must be taken
that he makes no statements that could in any way be
misconstrued. The meterman's attitude toward the
consumer making a complaint should be one of receptive
attention, and the consumer should be made to feel that
his statements will receive consideration and that the
company will do everything possible to satisfy his com-
plaint.
Beware of Being .Misunderstood by the Customer
If any discussion arises between the consumer and
the meterman, it should be understood by the latter that
in the use of technical terms he is very liable to be
misunderstood and misquoted because the average con-
sumer's knowledge of electricity is limited. For this
reason explanations in simple language only should,
whenever possible, be given to the consumer. Great
care must be exercised particularly in answering ques-
tions regarding the results of tests and similar matters.
It will be very much better that the consumer be re-
ferred to the main office than to have the meterman
make statements based on unchecked calculations, or in
order to avoid admitting that he is not very well in-
formed concerning some part of the work or that an-
other department will have to render the decision re-
garding the particular question involved.
Home-Made Carrying Case for Gas-Filled Lamps
For the convenience of solicitors in its lighting de-
partment, the Worcester (.Mass.) Electric Light Com-
pany has recently designed a simple and effective car-
rying case for gas-filled lamp work, as shown in Figs. 1
and 2. In demonstrating the advantages of this equip-
ment in place of cluster gas lamps or in stores or fac-
tories where the lighting system is behind the times, the
solicitor uses a 300-watt nitrogen-filled lamp with Bryan-
Marsh globe and holder. To facilitate service trials on
the spot two sections of lamp cord aggregating 50 ft.
in length are carried with the lamp, besides extra 6-amp
and 10-amp fuses, so that service can be immediately
restored in the event of connecting the gas-filled unit
to a heavily loaded circuit. The lamp-carrying case is
of fiber and is 15 in. high, with a diameter of 8 in. It
has a riveted shell 1/64 in. thick and a cover 2.25 in.
PIO. 1— EQUIPMENT OF CARRYING
deep. On the inside, at a distance of .",.."> in. from the
bottom, a fell band :'. in. wide extends around the case
where the globe would Otherwise come in contact with
the shell, and at the bottom the tip of the globe is pro-
tected by a felt pad 1.6 in. square, with a L26-in. hole
in the center which receives the tip. A leather strap
7. in. wide and 1 10 in. thick fastens (tie top, and a
stout handle at the side facilitates carrying the case
(Fig. 2). The lamp cord, fuses and a short section of
adapting circuit equipped with an Edison socket and
clips covered with rubber fingers to enable quick and
safe connections to be made off the customer's service
switch on the outside of the meter are all carried in the
bottom of the case. The length of cord carried allows
FIG. 2 — CARRYING CASES FOR GAS-FILLED LAMPS
the lamp to be supplied with energy from an adjoining
store by a temporary run where the individual receiv-
ing the demonstration has no service of an electrical
character. The case without the lamp weighs 26 ounces,
and the cost of the cases to the company was only about
$1.50 each.
Gas-Filled Lamps for Theater and "Movie" Stage
Lighting
A new application of the gas-filled high-efficiency
tungsten lamp is in the lighting of moving-picture
studios where playlets are being enacted before the
camera. In the plants of the companies producing the
more costly films 1000-watt nitrogen-filled lamps to the
number of eighty-six have been used to illuminate a
single stage. In the smaller studios fifteen or twenty
1000-watt units suffice for ordinary pictures. The ad-
vantage claimed for the high-efficiency incandescent lamp
over other illuminants which have been heretofore used
is the correction of color values possible with a lamp
giving a continuous spectrum. The "make-up" which
moving-picture actors have had to use to bring out the
features of the face is avoided, and a better balance is
given to the flesh tints, it is said.
The introduction of the gas-filled lamp has worked a
i saving in some of the Chicago theaters where arc
spot-lamps were formerly employed. Since the Iroquois
Theater tire a city ordinance has required each arc spot-
lamp to be operated by a special attendant. These men
were paid $1.60 per performance, but with the incan-
descent spot-lamps no attendants are needed, and con-
ently the new equipment pays for itself in a few
davs.
M aik ii :
E I . I •: i ' T KICAL WORLD
685
NEW APPARATUS AND APPLIANCES
Winch <m Track for Raising Lighting Poles
In the accompanying illustration is shown a truck
i bj the Public Lighting Commission of Detroit,
Mich., equipped with boom and tackle for setting light-
ing poles and a winch of the drum type which is oper-
MOTOR TRICK EQUIPPED WITH WINCH CONNECTED TO
ENGINE SHAFT
ated from the engine shaft of the truck. The winch
can also be utilized without the boom and tackle for
hauling articles off and on the truck. Winches similar
to that used on the truck shown herewith may be
equipped with spur gears or worm gears. All gears
are cut, are inclosed and run in oil. The drum is ma-
chined and is made in various sizes, according to the
amount of rope which is to be wrapped around it. The
winches are made for single-line service and are built
with ratings varying from 1000 lb. to 2000 lb. They are
being manufactured by the Northern Engineering
Works, Detroit, Mich.
Automatic Time Switch
An automatic time switch designed to control sign
lamps, street lamps, apartment-house hall lamps, show-
window lamps, charging of storage batteries, etc., is
being made by the Empire Engineering & Supply Com-
pany, 227 Fulton Street, New York. The mechanism is
CABINET FOR AUTOMATIC TIME SWITCH WITH DOOR OPEN
inclosed in a cabinet, as shown in the accompanying il-
lustration, and when the door is closed only the face of
the clock is visible. The clock is equipped with an eight-
day movement and a lever escapement. The switches
are flat-mounted and are of the quick-break knife type.
They are fitted with carbon contacts to prevent arcing.
A twenty-four-hour dial is provided with a number of
hands equal to the number of operations required per
day. The hands indicate the time of operation and can
readily lie set and changed about. Conduits can be
brought to any side of the cabinet. The device is made
in four types, the dimensions of each being 11 in. by 11
in. by 4 in. The first type is designed to be on and off
every day as many times as required. The second type
is the same as the first type, except that it operates six
days, Sunday, or the seventh day, being omitted. The
third type is equipped with a double-throw switch for
two-rate meter service. The fourth type is provided
with two circuits and may be used for hall lamps or
special lighting. It operates as follows: (1) all lights
on, (2) main lights off — night lamps on, (3) night
lamps off.
Current Indicator
In the accompanying illustration is shown a device
for indicating to the driver of an automobile whether
the battery is being charged or discharged or whether
the circuit is open. The lettering is horizontal, and to
INDICATOR WITH CURRENT "OFF"
facilitate the reading of the letters the "charge" position
is indicated in black, the "discharge" in red, and the
"off" in white. The case is the same as that used with
automatic switches for automobile-lighting circuits
made by the Hartman Electrical Manufacturing Com-
pany, Mansfield, Ohio, the maker of the device, and the
indicator can be mounted with the switches, a single-
face plate being used to cover all instruments.
Electric Multi-Stage Centrifugal Pump
The accompanying illustrations show a three-stage
electrically operated centrifugal pump which is one of
FIG. 1 — PUMP DIRECTLY CONNECTED TO MOTOR
several types of multi-stage machines just placed on the
market by the Goulds Manufacturing Company, Seneca
Falls, N. Y. The principal feature of this pump, ac-
cording to the manufacturers, is the lateral discharge
through the guide vanes from one stage to the next.
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 11
which permits the use of a small casing and therefore
a comparatively small pump for any given service. The
pump casing is horizontally divided and the bearing
housings are cast integral with the lower half of the
pump casing. Pumps provided with 4-in. and 5-in.
discharge and suction pipes are equipped with impel-
lers independently balanced against end thrust and are
in addition fitted with ball thrust bearings which run
FIG. 2 — INTERIOR VIEW OF PUMP SHOWING LATERAL
DISCHARGE THROUGH GUIDE VANES
in oil to carry the thrust developed in actual operation.
Pumps with 6-in. and 8-in. discharge and suction pipes
are provided with an automatic hydraulic internal bal-
ancing disk. The pumps are built with two to five stages
with ratings ranging from 200 gal. per minute to 1500
gal. per minute, and are designed for a maximum pres-
sure of 300 lb. per sq. in. and heads of 700 ft.
Panels and
Switch Bases of
Sandstone
Oil-Impregnated
By impregnating a special sandstone with oil the
Stone Base & Panel Company, 232 North High Street,
Columbus, Ohio, has produced an insulating material
for which it claims many advantages over slate for
switchboards, panels and switch bases. "Stonol," as the
impregnated stone is called, is said to have a higher
breakdown strength than slate or marble. It is homo-
geneous and free from the metallic veins which some-
M BASE OP OIL-IMPREGNATED SANDSTONI
i int.' oci in- in the other material i ommonh. use
panels and bases. It is lighter than slate; a piece of
Stonol I ft. square and 2 In. thick weighs only 26 lb.
As Impregnated by the ipecial method employed,
which patents have been applied for, the finished prod
net will absorb let than one-half of i per cenl ol mi
to be mechanically Btronger than slate
and to be drilled more easily. The accompanying illus-
tration shows a use of the new material made up as the
mounting for a cut-out.
Portable Winch
The portable motor-driven winch shown herewith was
designed originally for use in building the New York
PORTABLE MOTOR-DRIVEN WINCH
subways. When used for lifting material out of the
subway a trestle or light framework carrying a sheath
is usually placed directly over the opening. The hoist-
ing rope is passed over the sheath and is given two or
three turns around the friction drum; the motor is
then started and the slack paid off as the material is
hoisted. The device can also be used to assist teams in
hauling loads up heavy grades, one end of the rope being
fastened to the wagon tongue and the other end given
several turns around the friction drum. The winch is
made in two sizes by the Dobbie Foundry & Machine
Company, Niagara Falls, N. Y. The small outfit oper-
ates at a rope speed of 152 ft. per minute and the large
one at 178 ft. per minute. Westinghouse compound-
wound 5-hp and 7.5-hp motors are used to drive these
outfits.
Automatic Switch for Air and Water Pumps
The inclosed automatic switch shown herewith is
designed for use with motor-driven air or water pumps.
Changes in pressures cause levers to actuate a make-
AI'TOM \ll( SWITCH FOR PUMP
break mechanism bj means of a plunger resting
upon a flexible diaphragm. The contacts are made with
a quick action, the manufacturers declare, thus over-
coming the danger of burning or arcing. The switch is
inclosed bj S sheet metal hood and is made in twelve
sizes or types. Pressure adjust ment is accomplished
by me. i the thumb nut at the bottom, without re-
.V.ut ii 18, 1916
ELECTRICAL WORLD
moving the hood. The lai.
vided with flanges, making them suitable for panel
mounting. ge in weight from 6 lb. to
\- Hi. and in length from 8 In. to 13 in. The automatic
h is being placed on the market by the Martin &
Anson Company, 222»; Indiana Avenue, Chicago, 111.
Steel-Covered Extension Cord
A galvanized-atee] covering containing a pair of
itranded insulated conductors and called "
being made bj the Inland Electric Company, l-i North
Franklin Street, Chicago, 111. The cord is light in
■ I and is very flexible. It is designed particularly
for use as an extension for portable lamps, portable
electric machinery, etc. The metal covering is attached
to the apparatus by means of a bushing. It is secured
to the bushing by means of a sweating process. For use
in breweries, packing houses, etc., or where there are
acid fumes the covering is made of phosphor bronze.
Direct-Current Fire- Alarm Control Hoard
A control board designed for use in operating open-
circuit and closed-circuit signaling systems such as fire-
alarm, burglar-alarm and other battery-operated ap-
paratus by means of high-potential or low-potential
energy obtained from central-station circuits has been
developed by the Metropolitan Electric Protective Com-
pany, 130 West Twenty-sixth Street, New York. The
board consists of a slate base upon which are mounted
terminal plates for the circuit connections and milli-
ammeters for the different circuits. A differential relay
is employed to sound signals for various locations as
desired, on bells giving unlike tones. The relay is so
relative!) i :hat in which the energy is Mow-
ing. The armature Is BO arranged in relation to con-
tad points that a trouble signal is given when it is not
making contact with an upper contact point or a lower
contact point. A wide range of adjustments is pro-
vided bo that it is possible to give the various trouble
signals which indicate the condition of the different
circuits.
i 0NTROL HOARD FOR DIRECT-CURRENT FIRE-ALARM
CIRCUITS
constructed that a trouble signal will be given in case a
break, ground or cross occurs in the circuit or if a
change of resistance takes place in the circuits with
which it is connected. Use is made of a four-coil relay
which is designed to eliminate destructive sparking at
points of current interruption. The armature of this
relay, the manufacturers assert, will move in a direction
Inclosed Turbine Blower
A blower consisting of a propeller-type fan which is
directly connected to a small steam turbine is being
placed on the market by the L. J. Wing .Manufacturing
Company, 352 West Thirteenth Street, New York. A
feature of this machine, according to the manufac-
CROSS-SECTION OF BLOWER SHOWING CURVED CASING FOR
DIRECTING AIR AXIALLY
hirers, is a so-called expanding casing. With a pro-
peller-type fan the air leaves the fan blade in a direction
nearly radial. The casing is provided with a curved
surface, as shown in the accompanying illustration, so
that the course of the air is changed to an axial one,
and the air is directed through the fan casing, thus
eliminating, it is claimed, the air losses and eddy cur-
rent losses. Pressures of 4 in., 4.5 in. and 5 in. can be
obtained with this machine.
Locking Sockets and Receptacles
Improved locking sockets and receptacles of both the
key and keyless type have recently been developed by
the General Electric Company, Schenectady. N. Y.
These sockets and receptacles afford protection to lamps
in public or semi-public places, such as hotels, street
cars, mills, factories, etc., where losses of lamp bulbs
are liable to occur. They also prevent the theft of
energy. Lamps can be inserted and removed only by
LOCKING SOCKETS
the aid of a key. When the key is removed the screw
shell of the socket swivels freely, thereby avoiding
injury either to the lamp base or socket if a sudden
attempt is made to twist and remove the lamp bulb
without the key. The sockets and receptacles are also
adapted for use in residences in connection with burglar
or emergency lamps controlled by a master switch.
688
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 11
Electric Drill for Garage?
In the accompanying illustration is shown the electric
<lrill described in the ELECTRICAL World of Feb. 9, page
123, equipped with a valve reseater for automobile en-
gines. The reseating device is attached to a chuck in
the same way as a drill is fastened to the device. The
DRILL WITH ATTACHMENT FOR RESEATING VALVES
handle of the valve reseater is designed for supporting
the apparatus and not to give pressure to the reseater,
as the weight of the equipment alone gives sufficient
pressure for the purpose. The drill can also be equipped
with an attachment for sharpening drills. The Temco
Electric Motor Companv, Leipsic, Ohio, is making the
drill.
Oil Engine for Driving Electric Generators
Oil engines of the horizontal four-stroke-cycle or two-
stroke-cycle type, with ratings of from 65 hp to 1600 hp,
designed to operate electric generators, are being made
by the Snow Steam Pump Plant of the International
Steam Pump Company, Buffalo, N. Y. The two-stroke-
cycle engine is designed particularly for driving directly
connected alternators, for which service, the manufac-
turers claim, the latter type is desirable on account of
its uniform turning effort.
Among recent installations of the above company's
oil engine are four 500-hp units in the plant of the
Prairie Pebble Phosphate Company, Mulberry, Fla.
These engines are of the twin-cylinder, two-stroke-cycle
type and are directly connected to sixty-cycle genera-
tors. They operate in parallel with each other and also
with a number of vertical six-cylinder oil engines pre-
viously installed. The amount of cross-current, it is de-
dared, is quite low on account of the large diameters of
the steel flywheels with which the engines are fitted.
Two of these units are shown in the accompanying
illustration.
The main frame of the engine is cast in one piece,
provision being made at the outer end for two hard-
cast-iron cylinder liners. The pistons are water-cooled,
the water being received and discharged through tele-
scopic tubes. The engines are provided with cross-
heads, with which construction, the manufacturers as-
sert, wrist pins of ample size are possible, and ready
accessibility is afforded for the removal of the piston
and cross-heads.
The main shaft is carried in the frame on three bear-
ings, each being adjustable in all directions, so that the
alignment can be easily maintained. The scavenging
air is supplied by a double-acting compressor operated
from a drag crank on the end of the main shaft. This
compressor delivers the air to a reservoir cast in the
main frame, from which it passes to the cylinders
through two scavenging or inlet valves in each head.
The spraying air is supplied by a three-stage compres-
sor, arranged in tandem with the scavenging compres-
sor. This compressor also supplies the storage tanks for
the air used in starting. By means of a compression-
relief device the engines are started with air at a pres-
sure of 200 lb. per sq. in.
The 500-hp units in the Prairie Pebble plant are oper-
ated on both so-called fuel oil and Mexican crude oil,
with equally satisfactory results, it is claimed, the latter
oil on account of its cheapness in the Gulf district mak-
ing a particularly desirable fuel.
The guaranteed fuel consumption of oil engines made
by the Snow Steam Pump Plant per brake-horse-power-
hour is 0.5 lb. at full load. On tests and in actual
operation the consumption is said to be from 10 per cent
to 15 per cent lower, the fuel consumption of the four-
stroke-cycle type being about 5 per cent lower than that
of the two-stroke-cycle engine. One-half pound per
brake-horse-power is practically equivalent, it is claimed,
to a cost per kilowatt-hour of one-tenth of the price of
the oil per gallon, which relation gives a ready method
of calculating the fuel cost. Thus, with oil at 3 cents
per gallon, the fuel cost per kilowatt-hour at full load
will be approximately 0.3 cent. At less than full load
the cost will be somewhat more.
.r,00-IIP OIL ENGINES DIRECTLY CONNECTED TO SIXTY-CYCLE GENERATORS
M \h> ii :
KLEi TRICAL Wo RIJ)
Automatic Starter for Diicit-t urrent Motors
Several types of automat. .rrent
motors, one of which is shown in the accompanying
illustration, have r>-.,!itl. : on the market
by the Industrial Conl formerly the In-
dependent Electric Manufacturing Company, Mil-
waukee. W pie and rugged in de-
sign, the manufacturers declare, and consists essentially
mounted <>n 8 resilient ma-
. a movable contact l>ar. a solenoid and dashpot,
■ which are mounted on a slate baa The
bar. solenoid core and dashpot piston are rigidly
ned together, forming a single movable part hav-
ing a straight-line motion in a vertical direction. The
contact bar is moved upward by the solenoid to start the
motor and wht a '.rops quickly by gravity to
the "off" position. The contacts are of the "butt" type
and are provided with a slight rubbing action when
closing which tends to keep the contact surfaces clean.
Both finger tips and contact bars are removable. The
solenoid is inclosed in a cast-iron case, to the bottom of
which is attached the dashpot cylinder. The dashpot is
of the vacuum type and is provided with an adjustable
DIRECT-CURRENT-MOTOR STARTER
air-inlet valve which controls the time of acceleration.
A portion of the vacuum chamber is provided with a by-
pass, thus permitting the contact bar to jump quickly
to the first contact and eliminating the arcing that
might otherwise occur. The acceleration can be varied
over a wide range, and the adjustments can be made
while the starter is in operation.
Paper Hags for Incandescent Lamps
The Continental Paper Bag Company, Whitehall
Building, New York, is making special paper sacks for
carrying incandescent lamps packed in corrugated cases.
The lamps are placed lengthwise in the sack so that the
igations lit into each other and prevent the bulbs
from rolling around. They are thus held tightly in the
s.'u-k, and, as the sacks are of a cylindrical form when
filled, when they are placed next to each other only four
points of any particular sack will come in contact with
any other sack. Breakage is, therefore, reduced to a
minimum. The sacks are made in two sizes of heavy
"tearproof" manila paper. Sacks of special size and
"f any grade of Kraft or manila paper can be made if
desired. The manufacturers declare that the sacks
roving useful not only to the electric lamp compa-
•"r delivering the lamps but also to the consumer
for keeping them until they are all used. The New
Hudson 5rand Sacks
Tor Use in Delivering
U PAPFR BAC CO
H.iM.it
BAG FOR INCANDESCENT LAMPS
York Edison Company has recently ordered a large num-
ber of these sacks. The accompanying illustration shows
one of ^-barrel size.
Machine for Analyzing Paving Compound
In the accompanying illustration is shown a machine
called the "Dulin rotarex," which is a centrifugally op-
erated device designed for extracting bituminous ag-
gregates from compounds utilized for paving purposes.
It is especially well adapted, it is declared, for analyz-
M0T0R-DRIVEN MACHINE FOR ANALYZING PAVING COM-
POUNDS
ing such compounds as bitulithic, macadam and ordi-
nary surface mixtures. A speed-changing switch on
the base accommodates the machine to various kinds of
mixtures. This little machine, it is declared, does in a
(590
ELECTRICAL WORLD
VOL. 65, No. 11
few minutes the work that formerly required several
hours. Samples can be taken from mixers or wagons
and their composition determined before dumping and
without delaying the work. The manufacturers report
that the machine is used by the States of New York,
Pennsylvania, Maryland, West Virginia and New Jer-
sey. It is small and can be easily carried from place
to place. A Westinghouse high-speed motor is used to
operate the machine, and it is manufactured by the
Braun Corporation, Los Angeles, Cal.
Phosphorescent Markers for Lamp Sockets
The Condit Electrical Manufacturing Company, Bos-
ton, Mass., has placed on the market, under the name
of "Glo-balls," small glass balls filled with a phos-
phorescent powder like zinc sulphide which has the
property of absorbing light during the day and glowing
with a pale light in the dark. The balls are intended
to be used as markers to aid in finding lamp sockets
in the dark and are arranged to be attached to any
part of the socket. A slot provides for attachment to
the terminal ball of a pull-chain socket.
Flexible Couplings
Flexible couplings for shafts with diameters ranging
from 0.375 in. to 20 in. are being made by the Francke
Company, New Brunswick, N. J., for which the Smith-
Serrell Company, 90 West Street, New York, is general
sales agent. The device consists essentially of an or-
dinary flange coupling connected by flexible pins instead
of rigid bolts. The flexible pins are of tempered-steel
FIG. 1 — FLEXIBLE PIN
strips, as shown in Fig. 1, which are held together at
each end by a "keeper." Each keeper is slotted at one
end to engage a spring ring which also fits in a groove
in the coupling flange. The slot in the keeper is so
made that the leaves are held in a radial position for
driving and the keepers are stationary in respect to the
coupling flanges. All strips except two short ones at
each end are slotted. The short strips are stationary
with respect to the keeper, making all movement come on
the other tempered-steel strips. The slots allow the
coupling, it is declared, to adapt itself to any misalign-
ment. When the machines are running the strips act
similarly to the leaves of a carriage spring.
For high-speed work couplings are made of forged
steel and for low-speed work they are of cast iron. With
a coupling of the above type, the manufacturers assert,
flexibility is obtained in three directions for rectifying
the results of misalignments of the shaft. The device
FIG. 3-
-FLEXIBLE COUPLING CONNECTING STEAM TURBINE
TO FAN
is well adapted, it is claimed, for use with all types of
directly connected machines, such as prime movers,
motors and generators, blowers, compressors, pumps,
crushing and grinding machinery, automobiles, motor
boats and aeroplanes.
In Fig. 2 are shown a number of 27-in. flexible coupl-
ings weighing 2500 lb. each which are used for rubber-
mill drive in the plant of the Firestone Tire & Rubber
Company, Akron, Ohio. Some of the smaller types of
couplings are also shown in this illustration. In Fig. 3
the coupling is shown connecting a steam turbine
through reduction gear to a fan for forced draft.
The following advantages are claimed for the flexible
coupling: It has no protruding parts to catch clothing;
it is flexible in all directions, and each pin can rock,
bend and slide; it provides easy means for lining the
connected shafts ; there is no movement or wear on the
flanges; parts can be removed without moving the con-
nected shaft; it is all metal; it allows independent end-
wise float of both shafts; it is noiseless; it has no back-
lash; it is reversible; it acts as a cushion for shock in
direction of drive; the parts are interchangeable; it
has a large flat surface to carry the load, there being
no line or point contact; the drive is applied at the
periphery ; it is compact, small in diameter and short in
over-all length ; it is of large bore in proportion to the
outside diameter; one type is suitable for any load,
speed or rating of machine.
Hi, 2— 27-IN. AND SMALL-SIZED FLEXIBLE COUPLINGS
c©
Max ii
ELECTRICAL WORLD
691
Electro-Mechanical Gong:
In the accompanying illustration is shown an electro-
mechanical gong of improved design, which is being
made by \v. Ofltrander A Company, 22 ['•■■ Street, Mew
York According to the manufacturers, the resilient
l LB mo MECHANICAL GONG
hammer mechanism permits a sensitive adjustment of
the trip. For each winding 475 blows are given. No
hammer drop cam is used with the gong. Eighty-two
of the gongs were recently ordered from the above com-
pany by the American District Telegraph Company for
use in the New York Equitable Building. Two of the
gongs are installed on each floor of the building.
Rural Substation in Railway-Signal Work
The field of application of the rural substation is con-
stantly broadening as its merits become better recog-
nized. The main features are, of course, mobility, ease
of installation and low initial cost. The accompanying
illustrations show views of what is said to be the first
outdoor steel switch house of its type built for railway-
signal purposes, and it is used in this connection by the
Southern Railway at Inman, S. C, and Austell, Ga. The
outdoor substation, of which the switch house is a part,
effected a considerable saving in outlay, it is claimed,
as compared with what would have been the cost of a
substantial permanent substation to house the equip-
FIG. 1 — FRONT VIEW OF 4400-VOLT SWITCH HOUSE FOR
RAILWAY-SIGNAL WORK
ment. Each house is at the foot of a pole tower sup-
porting the transmission line, the outdoor transformers,
disconnecting switches, choke coils and lightning
arresters.
The equipment of the switch houses is a little more
elaborate than is usually required for motors or lighting
purposes. The ordinary house, such as was recently
exhibited at the Railway Appliance Association exhibi-
tion, has an oil switch only, or an oil switch and watt-
hour meter, with the necessary current and potential
trans innners. In the house illustrated there are also
an extra potential transformer, a voltmeter, a circuit-
dosing relay, two potential receptacles, and an incan-
fig. 2-
-REAR VIEW OF 4400-VOLT SWITCH HOUSE FOR RAIL-
WAY-SIGNAL WORK
descent lamp with bracket. The extra transformer, two
potential receptacles and voltmeter, in connection with
the other two potential transformers required for the
watt-hour meter, allow the voltage to be read on both
sides of the oil switch before it is closed. The incan-
descent lamp gives illumination at night for reading the
voltage or for lighting the inside of the house. The
circuit-closing relay js used in the usual manner to trip
the oil switch in case of overload or short-circuit.
Equipments of this kind are now being built by the
General Electric Company, Schenectady, N. Y. The
houses are wired complete, and it is only necessary to
place oil in the oil vessels and connect the incoming and
outgoing leads to the roof bushings to put them into
commission.
Sign Receptacles
A sign receptacle of the screw type and another of the
clamp type have recently been placed on the market by
the Trumbull Electric Manufacturing Company, Plain-
ville, Conn. The two-screw receptacle is illustrated in
Fig. 1 and the clamp receptacle in Fig. 2. With the
SIGN RECEPTACLES OF TWO-SCREW AND
CLAMP TYPE
clamp receptacle no screw holes are necessary, and it
can be mounted in a very short time. The clamp re-
ceptacles are installed from the rear, the clamp being
attached to the sign and the screws tightened so as to
eliminate the necessity of the wireman reaching in front
of the sign. Before tightening the screw the receptacles
can be turned in any direction to line up with the wires.
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. G5, No. 11
Amplifier for Wire and Wireless Telegraphy
and Telephony
An "audion" amplifier or "audiophone" has recently
been developed which is designed to relay or amplify
minute pulsating or alternating electrical impulses from
five times to 600 times their original intensity without
lag or distortion. It operates on the principle of cath-
odic dispersion. The amplifier is simple to operate, not
critical in adjustment, and, according to the manufac-
turers, is free from all microphonic disturbances or
jarring.
The amplifier is made in one, two or three steps, the
latter being used where especially weak signals are to
be magnified, for control of relay-actuated devices and
the like. A three-step amplifier is illustrated in the
accompanying illustration. The amplifier in combina-
tion with excessively loose-coupled receiving circuits
or "balance" circuits affords, it is said, an effective
THREE-STEP AMI'I.IKIKK
means for cutting out static interferences; it is also
well adapted for receiving continuous or weakly damped
oscillations, for it is possible to reduce the receiver
coupling to a point where no static impulses are picked
up in the secondary circuit and then to bring up the
signals, which are otherwise totally inaudible, to full
nilile intensity.
Bulbs ot' special construction and sensitiveness are
used with the amplifier. The only accessory needed ia
a 6-volt storage battery for the amplifier or two 6-Voll
storage batteries for a combined detector and amplifier.
The amplifier is being made by the I >e Forest Radio
Telephone & Telegraph Company, L01 Park Avenue,
New York. The wire telephone and telegraph rights
to the amplifier have been acquired bj the American
Telephone A Telegraph Company, and it is to a con
■ owing to the use of this instrument,
it is declared, thai the receni transcontinental
telephony has been possible,
Suspension-Type Lightning Arrester
In the accompanying illustration is shown a lightning
arrester designed for 2200-volt and 6600-volt service,
which was recently placed on the market by the Railway
& Industrial Engineering Company, Pittsburgh, Pa.
The device is called the Burke suspension-type lightning
\
SUSPENSION-TYPE LIGHTNING ARRESTER
arrester and consists of an adjustable horn-gap with a
resistor in series with the ground circuit. The arrester
can be suspended directly from the transmission line,
and no mounting is required. All metal parts are of
brass. "Koppat" resistance material, which was de-
scribed in the Electrical World of Feb. 20, is used in
the ground circuit to limit the flow of energy if two or
more phases are discharged simultaneously.
Concentrated-Filament Tungsten Lamps
The Westinghouse Lamp Company, 1261 Broadway,
New York, has just developed 25-watt, 40-watt and 60-
watt tungsten lamps with emu entrated-coiled-filament
construction similar to that used in the large gas-filled
TUNGSTEN LAMP WITH COILED FILAMENT
tungsten lamps. The small lamps, however, are not
gas-tilled but are of the usual vacuum type. The new
filament construction is said to increase the downward
or useful light of the lamps, of which the 25 watl and
40-watt si/es are designated as type S L9 and the 60-
watt size as type S-21, They are designed for 105-volt
to L25-vol1 circuits. Their rated life is 600 hours.
March 18, 1816
i: I i: < I RICAL WORLD
CURRENT NEWS SECTION
SUPPLY MANUFACTURERS ORGANIZE
Urai iiul Object! <>l th< \.« taaodatioii — Fifteen Gov-
ernors to Control Hod>
On the recommendation of the committee of nine ap-
pointed to report ;i plan for the organization of the
manufacturers of electrical supplies, the Associated
Manufacturers of Electrical Supplies was brought into
being at a meeting held March '.) at the Hotel Biltmore,
New York City. There were represented at the meet-
ing eighty-seven different manufacturing firms, forty-
one of which became charter members of the new or-
ganization, all the others being eligible to charter mem-
bership if enrolled within thirty days.
The constitution and by-laws which were presented
by the committee were adopted, after which the fifteen
governors called for by the constitution were elected.
The governors in turn at a later meeting elected a presi-
dent, vice-president and treasurer.
Aims and Objects of Association
The official name of the new organization is, as
printed above, "Associated Manufacturers of Electrical
Supplies." Its objects are admirably set forth in the
nl article of the constitution as follows: "To ad-
same and protect the interests of the manufacturers
of electrical supplies and of the manufacturers of ma-
terial entering into electrical construction, in manufac-
turing, engineering, safety and other problems; to
promote the standardization of electrical material; to
collect and disseminate information and to promote
co-operation among the members."
Membership in the association is limited to corpora-
lions, firms and individuals actively engaged in the
manufacture of electrical supplies or in the manufacture
of materials entering into electrical construction. Each
member shall have enrolled an "executive" representa-
tive and in addition may have enrolled one or more
representatives who shall be known as the "associate"
representatives. The executive representative acts and
for the member in the course of the association's
activities. Members owned or controlled by another
member shall with such owning or controlling member
have altogether only one vote, and members owned or
controlled by one corporation or individual not a mem-
ber shall have together only one vote. No represent a-
■ an serve as an officer or governor of the associa-
tion, or as a member of am of its committees, or as
an officer or member of any committee of any section,
after the termination from any cause of the member-
ship he represents. The dues of executive members
an- $40 a year and of associate members $10 a year.
Management
The management of the association will rest in a
board of fifteen governors, who shall be elected after
the organization meeting in classes at the annual meet-
ing of the association. The terms of five of the gover-
nors will expire April 1, 1916, April 1, 1017, and April
I, 1918, respectively, so that each year five governors
will be elected to serve for a term of three years. The
officers, consisting of a president, a vice-president and
a treasurer, elected bj and from the board of governors,
shall serve for one year beginning April 1. The secre-
tary, who will lie appointed by the board, will hold office
at the pleasure of the board. The governors are em-
powered to fill vacancies and choose a counsel and to fix
his compensation and term of office. None of the
officers will i alary.
The annual meeting of the association will be held
on the third Thursday in March of each year.
Sections
for the purpose of accomplishing the objects of the
association more effectively, the membership may be
divided into groups according to the character of elec-
trical supplies and materials manufactured. These
groups shall be known as sections of the association,
ami members may at their option affiliate with and be-
come members of any one or more of them in which they
.ire interested by reason of the products they manufac-
ture. A member not affiliating with any of the sections
shall still be entitled to all other privileges of member-
ship in the association. Membership in the sections is
limited to members of the association.
The committee on organization suggested to the board
of governors the formation at such times as may be
expedient of the following sections among others of
the new association:
Rigid and flexible conduit section.
Switch section.
Fuse section.
Fixture and glassware section.
Heating-appliance section.
Lamp section.
Socket, receptacle and rosette section.
Rheostat section.
Panel, switchboard and circuit-breaker section.
Electric-sign section.
Conduit-fittings, outlet-boxes and insulating-joint sec-
tion.
Wire and cable section.
Porcelain and insulator section.
Underground-conduit section.
Dental, surgical and medical apparatus section.
Carbon and battery section.
Insulating-material, fiber, hard-rubber and asbestos
section.
Instrument section.
Transformer section.
While all of these sections will not be formed at
present, the probabilities are that one or two sections
in those branches which are sufficiently organized and
associated at present to make it possible will be formed
at once; that is, the wire and cable section and the con
duit-fittings, outlet-box and insulating-joint section.
The sections will be organized by the board of gover-
nors, and members can affilate with the section by ap-
plication to that board. The board of governors ap-
points the chairman of the section and controls the
action of the section as well. It may indorse or sup-
press the action of any section, but aside from legal
questions and questions of policy each section is free to
art more or less independently. Each section elects its
own treasurer and secretary and provides for its own
financing, separately and distinctly from the parent or-
ganization.
Four committees are provided for at present, a mem-
bei hip committee consisting of seven members, a
694
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 11
finance committee of five members, a legal committee of
three members, and a publicity committee of five mem-
bers.
Election of Hoard of Governors
After the adoption of the constitution and by-laws a
committee of five was appointed to report nominees for
the fifteen governors called for by the constitution.
That committee at a subsequent session suggested the
following fifteen persons, all of whom were elected as
governors of the new organization : Messrs. Arthur W.
Berresford, Cutler-Hammer Manufacturing Company,
Milwaukee, Wis.; Charles Blizard, Electric Storage
Battery Company, Philadelphia; Walter Cary, Westing-
house Lamp Company, Bloomfield, N. J.; LeRoy Clark.
Safety Insulated Wire & Cable Company, New York;
H. B. Crouse, Crouse-Hinds Company, Syracuse, N. Y.;
I). C. Durland, Sprague Electric Works of the General
Electric Company, New York; H. R. Holmes, R. Thomas
& Sons Company, East Liverpool, Ohio; J. F. Kerlin,
National Carbon Company, Cleveland, Ohio; E. Morse,
Simplex Electric Heating Company, Cambridge, Mass.;
James W. Perry, H. W. Johns-Manville Company, New
York; W. C. Robinson, National Metal Moulding Com-
pany, Pittsburgh; Walter Robbins, Wagner Electric
Manufacturing Company, St. Louis, Mo.; Robert K.
Sheppard, B. F. Goodrich Company, Akron, Ohio; Ger-
ard Swope, Western Electric Company, New York; Dr.
Edward Weston, Weston Electrical Instrument Com-
pany, Newark, N. J.
Election of Officers
After the meeting adjourned the board of governors
met to organize and elected the following officers of the
association: President, Mr. Robert K. Sheppard; vice-
president, Mr. H. B. Crouse; treasurer, Mr. James W.
Perry. No secretary has as yet been appointed, but
Mr. H. B. Crouse has been designated to act in that
capacity temporarily.
Mr. Sheppard, who has been chosen president of the
new organization, has been a leading spirit in its for-
mation. He is manager of sales of the insulated-wire de-
partment of the B. F. Goodrich Company of Akron,
Ohio. In recognition of his indefatigable work in
behalf of the movement, and also as a token of their
personal appreciation and esteem, the members of .the
organization committee presented him with a silver
loving cup at the conclusion of the Tuesday morning
session.
The board of governors will prepare and distribute
copies of the constitution and by-laws to all those pres-
ent at the meeting and to all those who may apply there-
for. It will also begin at once an active campaign to
increase the membership. To that end applications
should be addressed to Mr. H. B. Crouse, vice-president
ami acting secretary Crouse-Hinds Company, Syracuse,
\". V.
Although the representative committee of business
and techni the account of whose appointment
i- given elsewhere, is not. fathered by the Associated
Manufacturers of Electrical Supplies, the board of
..Hi co-operate with the committee and pro-
vide a part of its funds, it appointed Mes r . LeRoj
('lark, \v. ('. Bryant ami It. K. Sheppard to represent
the association on that committee.
It is the intention of the board of governors tc
!•■ in every way possible with the National Elec
k iai Ion, Die National Electrical I on
iation, the Electrical Snpph Job
iation, the two manufacturers' associations already
Lnd other bodii ork < "mes within
ie ol the new organization.
The next meeting of the board Of gOVCrnON will be
n Mew York on March 24.
Complimentary Dinner to J. J. Carty
Past-president Gano Dunn of the American Institute
of Electrical Engineers was host and toastmaster at a
dinner to Mr. John J. Carty, A. I. E. E. presidential
nominee, at the University Club, New York, on March 9.
Among those who discussed the appropriateness of the
selection of Mr. Carty for the presidency and the excel-
lent work done by him in the field of telephony were
Secretary C. W. Hunt of the American Society of Civil
Engineers, President W. L. Saunders of the American
Institute of Mining Engineers, Past-president A. C.
Humphreys of the American Society of Mechanical En-
gineers, President Paul M. Lincoln of the American
Institute of Electrical Engineers, President A. S. Mc-
Allister of the Illuminating Engineering Society, Presi-
dent S. Taylor of the Engineers' Club, New York, Presi-
dent Newcomb Carlton of the Western Union Telegraph
Company, President J. G. White of the J. G. White
Companies, Mr. N. T. Guernsey, general counsel for the
American Telephone & Telegraph Company, Mr. L. B.
Stillwell, consulting electrical engineer, Mr. Herman
Aaron, general counsel for the American Institute of
Electrical Engineers, and Dr. M. I. Pupin, inventor of
the telephone-circuit-loading coil. Mr. Carty also spoke,
expressing his sincere appreciation of the great honor
bestowed upon him. The dinner was attended by forty
friends of the host and the guest of honor.
Experts to Investigate Concentric Wiring
At a meeting of electrical manufacturers held March
9 at the Hotel Biltmore, New York, the committee of
five appointed at a previous meeting to draft nomina-
tions for a committee of commercial and technical ex-
perts to pass on the relative efficiencies of the concentric
wiring system and the systems at present in use in this
country made its report.
On the recommendation of the committee, the follow-
ing fifteen men were appointed members of the com-
mittee of commercial and technical experts: Messrs.
W. H. Blood, Jr., of the National Electric Light Asso-
ciation; F. V. Burton, of the Bryant Electric Company;
C. E. Corrigan, National Metal Molding Company ;
Gano Dunn, J. G. White & Company; E. B. Hatch,
Johns-Pratt Company ; D. C. Jackson, Massachusetts
Institute of Technology; G. S. Lawler, Association of
Factory Mutual Fire Insurance Companies; Dana
Pierce, Underwriters' Laboratories; W. T. Pringle,
Pringle Electric Manufacturing Company; H. R. Sar-
gent, General Electric Company; R. K. Sheppard, B.
F. Goodrich Company; C. E. Skinner, Westinghouse
Electric & Manufacturing Company; J. R. Strong,
Tucker Electric Construction Company; J. H. Trum-
bull, Trumbull Electric Manufacturing Company, and
i representative of the Bureau of Standards to be ap-
pointed by Dr. Stratton. To this committee the meet-
ing added the names of the five members of the nominat-
ing committee as follows: Messrs. W. ('. Bryant, of
the Bryant Electric Company; II. B. Crouse. Crouse-
Hinds Company; I.. W. Downes, D & W Fuse Company;
Gerard Swope, Western Electric Company, and LeRoy
Clark, Safety Insulated Wire & ('able Company.
It was the understanding that the board of governors
of the Associated Manufacturers of Electrical Supplies
would co-operate with this representative committee and
find the accessary funds to enable the committee to pur
sue its investigations. At a meeting of the board
governors Of the Associated Manufacturers of Ele
trical Supplies held in the afternoon Messrs. I.eKe
clark, \V. c Bryant and R, K. Sheppard were appointe
to represent the association on that committee, ir
.\le,(, hue financial aid the Associated Manufacturers
MARCH 1.1, iyi.<
h I. K I 1 K 1 < A 1- \V U K 1. 1»
Electrical Su] | I the work oJ tfa
nd technical experts will be t.r
and genuine. It is also hoped that other Into
rill cooperate with the committee and give it
financial aid.
The committee will organize to pursue its
ation and report al a meeting to be called in
New York Marcl
Progress Toward 'National Klectrical Week"
Sales ami publicity managers met at the Society for
Electrical Development headquarters, New York, on
.March 1 at the requesl of Mr. J, M. Wakeman, general
manager, in pursuance of the decision of the society's
executive committee to ask leading commercial men to
ring committee for "National Electric Pros-
perity Week." The following were present: M<
H C. Cushing, Jr., Th< lotion; G. H. Duffield.
secretary National Electrical Contractors' Association;
K R. Davis, General Electric Company; E. W. Lloyd.
Commonwealth Edison Company, Chicago; Norman
Macbeth, Tht Lighting Journal; A. J. Marshall, Electric
Vehicle Association; H. K. Mohr, Philadelphia Electric
Company; T. C. Martin, secretary National Electric
Light Association; C. E. Morrison, W. S. Barstow &
■any; .1. C. McQuiston, Westinghouse Electric &
Manufacturing Company; T. J. McManis, Edison Lamp
Works; Charles W. Price, Electrical Review; Frank
Rae, Klectrical .V . J. R. Strong, Tucker Elec-
tric Construction Company; P. L. Thomson, Western
Electric Company; George Williams, Henry L. Doherty
mpany; H. F. Webber, Federal Light & Traction
Company; Elliott Reid, Westinghouse Lamp Company;
Hugh M. Wilson, Electrical World, and these mem-
bers of the society's staff, J. M. Wakeman, H. W. Alex-
ander, G. B. Muldaur, James Smieton, Jr., Theodore
I Kvight, A. J. Edgell, Robert N. Lee and J. P. Mallett.
Mr. Henry L. Doherty, president of the society, tem-
porary chairman, discussed some of the work accom-
plished by the society and the tentative plans for "Elec-
trical Week." Mr. E. W. Lloyd, general contract agent
of the Commonwealth Edison Company, Chicago, was
made chairman. Considerable discussion followed as to
the proper time for such a week, this fall or in the
spring of 1916. The consensus of opinion was that
while perhaps a year might well be taken to get the
maximum efficiency, the industry needed a revival now
and. considering all conditions, this fall would undoubt-
edly be the best time. It was decided to leave the
matter to analysis by the steering committee. It is
expected that a definite date for the celebration will l>e
fixed soon.
In the selection of a steering committee it was de-
cided that Chairman Lloyd and the general manager of
the society. Mr. Wakeman, should select a nominating
committee of five, representing the varied interest-, to
t in the selection of a large committee of twenty-
five or more which would be representative of the coun-
try both geographically and from the standpoint of the
several branches of the industry.
Lloyd and Wakeman named as a nominating
committee: Messrs. George Williams. Cities Sei
Company, representing central stations; Ray 1>. Lilli-
bridge, Wagner Electric Company, the manufacturers;
E. W. Rockafellow, Western Electric Company, the
jobbers; J. R. Strong, Tucker Electric Construction
Company, the contractors, and Hugh M. Wilson, ELEC-
lL World, at large. This committee met on .March
K> and put in a day of hard labor, but the results of its
deliberations are not announced at the time of going to
press.
Engineers to DfsCUBS Amendments to New ^ ork
< Constitution
An informal d ■• ill be held at the hon
the American Society of Civil Engineers in New York
on the evening on March 17 with reference to such
amendments to the New York State constitution at
would affect engineers or their tenure of important
State positions. A constitutional convention will hie
held in April, in accordance with the New York prac-
: revision at twenty-year periods. The importance
of immediate action is, therefore, apparent. The society
has appointed a committee, consisting of Messrs. Arthur
S. Tuttle, Alfred D. Flinn and Henry W. Hodge, to study
the matter. The primary purpose of the meeting
give the committee the benefit of the views of those in-
terested in the subject. All engineers, no matter in
what branch of the profession they are specializing and
whether they are members of national societies or not.
are urged to attend.
Meeting of the N. E. L. A. Executive Committee
Much business was transacted at the meeting of the
executive committee of the National Electric Light A
ciation held at the headquarters in New York on March
4. The following were present: Messrs. Holton H.
Scott, president; Douglass Burnett, W. C. Eglin, L. D.
Gibbs, E. W. Lloyd, W. E. Long, R. S. Orr, D. R. Street,
Walter Neumuller, H. A. Wagner, W. F. Wells, T. C.
Martin, secretary; S. A. Sewall, assistant to secretary,
and the following by invitation: G. W. Elliott, H. L.
Doherty, J. M. Wakeman, J. I. Ayer and H. M. Edwards.
In the month of January receipts amounted to $28,959
and disbursements were $13,772. During the two
months ended March 1, 1915, receipts from dues were
$20,000 more than for the same period in 1914.
Secretary Martin presented the following membership
report as of March 1, 1915: Class A, 1097; class B,
10,052; class C, 89; class D, 251; class E, 775; foreign,
38; total, 12,302. Applications were approved from 22
class A members, 1195 class B, 4 class D and 35 class E.
Messrs. H. W. Wagner, assistant professor in electrical
and mechanical engineering, Iowa State College, and
Charles Frederick Lacomb, consulting engineer, New
York, were made class C members.
Applications to form company sections were presented
by the secretary from the Consolidated Gas Company of
New Jersey, Long Branch, N. J. ; Union Gas & Electric
Company, Cincinnati, Ohio; Dayton (Ohio) Power &
Light Company; Mansfield (Ohio) Railway, Light &
Power Company, and Blackstone Valley Gas & Electric
Company, Woonsoeket, R. I. A letter has been received
from the secretary of the New Mexico Electrical Asso-
ciation regarding the affiliation of that new organization
with the N. E. L. A. Such affiliation received the ap-
proval of the committee.
Mr. Burnett spoke of the meeting held in Atlanta.
Ga., on Feb. 23 for the formation of an organization of
sales managers of Southern hydroelectric properties.
The matter was brought to the attention of Mr. Burnett
by Mr. W. R. Collier, of the Georgia Railway & Power
Company. Mr. Burnett, as chairman of the Commercial
Section, asked Mr. Collier to attend the meeting for the
purpose of inducing those in attendance to co-operate
with the N. E. L. A. Commercial Section instead of
forming their own association. Mr. Collier telegraphed
Mr. Burnett that, with the exception of the Southern
Power Company, all in attendance were members of the
X. E. L. A. and it had been decided not to form an
pendent association. Secretary Martin said that,
although the Southern Power Company is not direct Ij a
Class A member, one or two of its constitutent prop-
696
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 11
erties are members and therefore the holding company
has representation in the N. E. L. A.
Mr. Lloyd reported for the rate research committee
and especially called attention to Rate Research, its
bulletin. He said that the publication is not entirely
self-supporting, as the 350 or 400 subscriptions do not
quite meet the expense. All of the subscriptions are
voluntary, as the publication has not been advertised
and no effort has been made to secure new subscriptions.
Mr. Lloyd thought it would be unwise to discontinue the
publication, which is of great value to many member
companies. It was suggested that with the exception
of the editorial and actual publication work all of the
business connected with it be handled in the New York
office. Mr. Wagner expressed the opinion that the work
of the committee and its bulletin are as important as
anything the association is doing, and if the publication
is not self-supporting the committee should authorize an
appropriation for its continuance. As rates are con-
nected so intimately with the commercial end of the
industry, this work might be conducted under the super-
vision of the Commercial Section. It was decided that
the publication should be continued and the business end
handled by the New York office and the publication in
Chicago under the general supervision of the publica-
tions committee of the Commercial Section as to pub-
licity.
President Scott reported that Mr. H. L. Doherty and
Mr. Arthur Williams have again offered prizes for the
best papers presented before company sections and that
he has appointed the following committee on awards :
Messrs. Paul Lupke, chairman; Paul Spencer and John
C. Parker.
An application for the formation of an Accounting
Section, signed by eleven Class A members, and a copy
of the proposed constitution were presented by Mr. H.
M. Edwards, chairman of the accounting committee.
The committee voted to authorize the formation of the
section and that the by-laws should be submitted to the
officials for approval.
A letter was received recommending that the com-
mittee take some action in connection with the prin-
ciples involved in the suit brought by the fire-insurance
companies against the Northumberland County Gas &
Electric Company, Sunbury, Pa., as the evidence showed
that the electric-lighting company did not own or put in
the defective installation in the building in which the
fire started but that it was the property and under the
full custody of the owner of the building. The matter
was referred to the public policy committee.
.Mr. H. L. Doherty and Mr. J. M. Wakeman, president
and general manager respectively of the Society for
Electrical Development, outlined the progress of the las)
eight months. Mr. Doherty asked that the association
co-operate heartly in the proposed national electrical
week. Mr. Doherty and Mr. Wakeman were thanked
for presenting the matter to the committee, and it was
decided that full publicity should be given in the Bulletin
to the proposed movement and that in this publicity it
should be suggested that member companies do their
part in making the week a success in their reap*
cities.
Mr, George W. Elliott, master of transportation, ex
plained in detail the arrangements for special trains to
the San Franci.m convention and submitted copii
itineraries of trains.
retarj Martin made a detailed repoii as to various
arrangements for the convention. These have been de-
scribed in previous Issues of the Kim run \i. World
' was approved.
Mr. Burnett brought up, at the suggestion Of Mr.
Wagner, the question of Settling Upon two Or three
standard lamp voltages to be adopted as a basis for the
manufacturers' output of tungsten lamps with the ob-
ject of reducing by a very considerable amount the lamp
stocks carried by member companies and manufactur-
ers, as the present method apparently requires a large
unnecessary investment. The matter was explained at
length and, after discussion, it was decided that the plan
presented several features of merit and that it should be
referred to the lamp committee for further considera-
tion and report at the next meeting.
Evolution of Grounded Concentric Wiring
At the recent meeting in Boston, Mass., of the N. E.
L. A. committee on the wiring of existing buildings.
Mr. S. E. Doane, Cleveland, Ohio, briefly discussed the
evolution of grounded concentric wiring, stating that
the points brought out below have been found helpful
in disarming hostility and better acquainting electrical
men with the reasons why this system is being ad-
vocated for trial in this country.
Electric wiring has been developed along two dif-
ferent fundamental theories. The original idea was to
have a very considerable insulation which should be
so strong and substantial that every danger for life and
property would be removed by the large safety factor
of the insulation itself. At a later time, and parallel-
ing this theory, another theory was developed along
the following lines: The insulated wire is surrounded
by a grounded metallic tube. In this case a very sub-
stantial and heavy insulation is no longer so essential
as under the first-named theory. Even in the case of
the insulation becoming insufficient, danger for life and
property will always be averted by the interposition of
the grounded continuous metallic tube. In order that
any danger should arise from a system of that kind two
accidental damages must occur at the same time, to wit,
Insulation Material,
Filling Material (Jute etc.)
EVOLUTION OF CONCENTRIC wirk
the ground of the surrounding conduit must be bad and
the insulation of the wire must be injured. To obviate
this, the American wiring rules declare, in Paragraph
that the conduit must not only be continuous from
outlet to outlet but also mechanically secured in posi-
tion, and in Paragraph 28f that the metal of the conduit
must be permanently and effectively grounded. Further-
more, in Paragraph 28e, it is ruled that metal conduits
mUSl have the ends provided with bushings so as toj
protect the wires from abrasion.
Paragraph 28f permits, however, short sections of
conduil to remain ungrounded. If in such an un-
grounded section or in a conduit system the grounding
of which has become insufficient the insulation becomes
bad, either by abrasion or by condensing water collect-
ing inside the conduit, the conduit may bei
and danger to property or life maj arise. A logical
M we 11 l:j, 1915
K I. ECT R I I A L Wo RLD
his is to make the conduit tight-fitting
with an appropriate filling material, such as jute, to
; re the circular section of the conduit. This close
fit prevents any collection of water inside the conduit,
and at the same time obviates any possibility of abra-
sion, the insulation and the conduit being essentially
fixed in their relative positions (Fig. 1 . The conduit
will then advantageously have a certain degree of
flexibility to make insulation easier.
In this way the art advanced to the so-called "Kuhlo"
or "Stannos" wiring systems, or rather to their first
variety, with protective sheath. This variety is used
where neither of the poles of the system is grounded.
In central stations with a grounded neutral it is
possible to go one step further. As the grounded con-
duit and the grounded neutral wire have at most only
negligible differences of potential between each other,
such as may arise from the drop in the neutral wire, it
evidently is unnecessary, and therefore wasteful, to in-
sulate the neutral wire from the conduit as heavily as
the potential wire. The material used for the insulation
of the neutral may be either saeed entirely without
decreasing the factor of safety or it may be put on the
potential wire with a corresponding increase of safety
(Figs. 2a and 2b).
This results in a continuous grounded conduit and a
grounded bare wire running inside the conduit, and
there is no reason why these two conductors, both
grounded and continuous, should not be united into one;
in other words, why the conduit should not be used as a
return circuit. The idea of using the conduit for carry-
ing the current of the grounded return circuit is not
new and has been used for many years with ordinary
rigid steel conduit wiring. The difference between this
idea and the concentric wiring is the fact that in the
latter the conduit is close fitting, leaving no space for
the accumulation of water, and flexible to a certain
degree.
Thus came the logical evolution of concentric wiring
(Fig. 3). The potential conductor is surrounded by an
insulating coating, which in its turn is surrounded by
the tubular grounded outer conductor for the return
circuit. For mechanical reasons this insulating coat-
ing is covered by paper or braiding which acts as a
slip member between the insulation and the sheath in
case the wire is being bent. Many millions of dollars'
worth of this wire have been sold abroad during the
past five or six years.
Meeting of N. E. L. A. Wiring Committee
The N. E. L. A. committee on the wiring of existing
buildings held a meeting at Boston, Mass., in the Edi-
son Electric Illuminating Company's General Service
Buildings on March 5, Chairman R. S. Hale presiding.
Sessions extended throughout the day, those in attend-
ance being guests of the Edison company at an electric
luncheon at noon, with a dinner at the Engineers' Club,
Bo ton, and a theater party in the evening. Included
among those present were Vice-chairman S. E. Doane,
Cleveland, Ohio, and Messrs. H. E. Eisenmenger, Cleve-
land ; H. R. Sargent, Schenectady, N. Y. ; C. E. Robert-
Baltimore, Md.; J. E. Latta, Chicago; F. H. Hill,
Elmira, N. Y.; George Weiderman, Brooklyn, N. Y.;
W. P. Lyon, Chicago; W. A. Donkin, Pittsburgh, Pa.;
R. W. Hoy, Harrisburg, Pa.; F. M. Grant, Cleveland;
G. B. Griffin, Pittsburgh; Theodore Dwight, New York;
Paul Jaehnig, Newark, N. J., and A. J. Hixon, Boston,
Mass.
Chairman Hale reported the doings at the meeting
of manufacturers of plugs and receptacles in New York
on .March 4, and after a brief discussion the committee
expressed Itself in favor of the straight-pull type of
receptacle as compared with the angle-pull type, on ac-
count of the decreased amount of exposure of contacts
in the former equipment.
Mr. II. E. Eisenmenger then presented an exhaustive
compilation of house-wiring costs in American cities in
which special campaigns have been run or are now in
progress. These data will be published in the com-
mittee's report to be submitted at the San Francisco
convention and include returns from about fifty central
stations classified geographically, showing the essential
features of the various plans of capturing this class of
business, including data as to price per outlet, cost of
fixtures, kind of wiring, additions, deductions, terms of
payment and arrangements for doing work. House wir-
ing is now generally done by local contractors rather
than by the central station. The report will also include
a large number of diagrams showing graphically the
comparative costs of wiring upon the basis of the data
obtained. The data will be printed as an appendix to
the report and illustrate a considerable range in prices
which the committee does not attempt to investigate in
detail but which will serve as a starting point for in-
dividual inquiries among those most interested. The
committee passed a vote of thanks to Mr. Eisenmenger
for his efforts in compiling the mass of material secured,
and in a brief discussion of its salient features the
point was brought out that between 50 and 100 out of
1500 house-wiring contracts secured by the Boston Edi-
son company were for the minimum price of $14.35,
covering a single outlet only. The committee decided
to show only one set of prices per city. In most cases
the central stations finance the work in such a way that
the contractor is paid in net cash, the central station
undertaking the collection of the instalment payments
from the customer. In a few instances the central sta-
• tion enhances the price paid to the contractor by a small
percentage in order to cover the cost of collecting and
bad debts.
In considering bare concentric wiring, the committee
decided to attend the forthcoming meeting of the Un-
derwriters in New York on March 24 and 25, in support
of the electrical committee's report in favor of authoriz-
ing the experimental use of this wire under proper
restrictions. It was announced that the American Steel
& Wire Company, Worcester, Mass., is making arrange-
ments to test bare concentric wire and is studying what
needs to be done in the design of machinery suitable for
its manufacture.
Mr. H. R. Sargent, Schenectady, N. Y., said that the
G neral Electric Company has now made up a complete
line of porcelain fittings adapted to bare concentric
wire and has practically completed an order of 5000 ft.
for the Edison Electric Illuminating Company of Bos-
ton, to be "tried out" with "twist-ons" and with stand-
ard fittings. Soft solder can be applied in this class of
wiring without injury to the rubber insulation, but the
heat required in using hard solder renders the latter
impracticable.
• Mr. Sargent pointed out the unusual situation bare
concentric wiring is creating with respect to manufac-
turing appropriations. Usually these are based on the
acquisition of patents, but in this case the manufac-
turers are putting their development money into equip-
1 ment in the open field and are backing the new material
merely through their belief in its merits. In closing the
discussion, Chairman Hale pointed out that several man-
ufacturers are likely soon to take up the question of
fittings design. The importance of settling upon a
standard outside diameter for concentric wire of a
stated size was emphasized. The General Electric Com-
pany has thus far proceeded on the basis of an outside
diameter of 0.22 in. for No. 14 B. & S. concentric wire.
698
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 11
Mr. Hale said that the Commonwealth Edison Com-
pany, Chicago, has ordered some Stannos wire abroad,
and it was announced that the Duquesne Light & Power
Company, Pittsburgh, has also done this. The Brooklyn
Edison company is ready to purchase concentric wire
as soon as it is on the market. Mr. Hale thought that
there is no question about the market among central
stations in this country. The attitude of the wire com-
missioners in Boston, Cleveland, Detroit and New York
is that concentric wire should be given a fair trial under
closely controlled experimental conditions, but that its
use in a broadcast manner should not as yet be permitted
by the Underwriters.
The committee went over the proposed changes in
the National Electrical Code, to be considered at the
forthcoming meeting in New York. It was of the
opinion that means should be found if possible to enable
experimental installations to be made under the code,
subject to proper control. The members opposed re-
quiring insulation on grounded neutrals and favored a
change in the rules to permit fuses of 10-amp rating
instead of 6-amp, provided that the circuit loads do not
exceed 660 watts. They also favored the use of in-
closed fuses in multiple where the circuits exceed the
carrying capacity of the largest approved inclosed-type
fuses. The committee is opposed to the use of refillable
fuses at this time. It favored the use of No. 6 wire as
the smallest in grounding interior conduits containing
service wires, and voted to indorse the solid neutral.
The committee was opposed to withdrawing the 250-
watt rating for medium-base sockets and recognizing
only the 660-watt rating. It was announced that over
1500 copies of the "Standard Wiring Handbook" had
been sold to members through the Commercial Section,
and that the demand is increasing.
Mr. Coster on Foreign Conditions
In the opinion of Mr. Maurice Coster, manager of the
foreign department of the Westinghouse Electric &
Manufacturing Company, the action of the British
government in extending its control of factories to
works capable of being used for the manufacture of
war materials will mean that orders will be sent to this
country for materials of a non-military character which
have been made heretofore by such factories. Mr.
Coster, who returned to the United States recently from
a short trip to England, said that many factories were
engaged partly on government orders and partly on
materials for general consumption. The power given
to the government by the House of Commons on March
0 will mean that in factories of this character govern-
ment orders hereafter will have precedence.
Mr. Coster said that export business is improving
and that a great many inquiries are being received. He
believes that conditions in South American countries
are improving slowly but surely. If the crops in the
ntine Republic arc Bati factory, that country will
be in a much better position. Brazil also is gradually
adjusting itself to the new conditions. Regarding con-
ditions in England, Mr. Coster made these observations
to a representative of the Ki.h tkh :al Would:
"During the day in London there was no sign oi any
difference in Conditions from those that exist iii times
of peace. Although the city is under il law.
the effect! of this were not apparent in daylight. By
night London is very somber. The fOT lamps in use arc
painted black on top. Occasionally automobile parties
i- appearance In the Buburbs are held up
and asked to give an account of themselves. The
large hod! • ■ er, and a great many army
OfftCen arc to lie seen during Week curls.
'All the large works are engaged chiefly in making
war materials. It is very sad to find drafting rooms
filled with boys under twenty years of age because all
older men have enlisted. All of the plants that are
making war materials are very busy. The British
Westinghouse plant is operated in three eight-hour
shifts, making to a large extent war materials. All
English manufacturers expect to make use in the future
of some such slogan as 'Made in England.' I learned
that a large Norwegian purchaser of electrical ap-
paratus obtained goods in Germany on condition that
he should send to Germany an amount of copper equiva-
lent to that used in making his apparatus so as to avoid
any depletion of the German supply."
Employee's and Employer's Rights in Invention
The value of patent protection and of distinctiveness
in design and name were emphasized by Mr. Albert
Scheible, patent attorney, Chicago, in an address March
5 before the Chicago Executives' Club, of which Mr.
A. N. Fox, of the Benjamin Electric Manufacturing
Company, is president. In many cases a design patent
can be obtained, explained the speaker, where the
novelty of construction does not justify the issue of a
structural patent. Such a design patent affords the
patentee the protection of monopoly and the advantage
of the phrase "patented." Descriptive names or proper
names appearing in a distinctive design can be copy-
righted. A manufacturer can also copyright an or-
dinary proper name if it has been used continuously
in his business for ten years or more. Discussing the
rights of employees who make inventions, Mr. Scheible
said that where the work is done without the use of
materials or equipment belonging to the employer, and
outside the regular hours of employment, the invention
belongs clearly to the employee. If the invention is
made in the employer's shop or with his materials, the
employer has a shop right, or non-exclusive license, to
use the invention, the patent being issued, however, to
the individual inventor. Of the entire number of
patents which are earning revenue for their owners,
only about 2 per cent, said the speaker, have ever been
in the courts. The fact that the other 98 per cent are
quietly fulfilling their purpose disproves the general
impression that a patent is but a preliminary step to
legal action and test by the courts.
Springfield (Mass.) Electrolysis Investigation
Following the receipt of a 179-page report upon the
electrolysis situation in Springfield, Mass., as investi-
gated by the United States Bureau of Standards, the
Springfield Street Railway Company has retained the
Stone & Webster Engineering Corporation, of Boston,
Mass., to make an exhaustive study of the local energy
distribution system. The Bureau of Standards recom-
mended that the railway company sell its present direct-
current steam generating plant on the Connecticut
River at Margaret Street, Springfield, and erect four
llbstations in Springfield and its suburbs to be sup-
plied with electricity by the Amherst Power Company.
The plan recommended provides for the utilization by
the Amherst company of the Margaret Street station
as a steam auxiliary to the existing hydroelectric supply
in the mid-Connecticut Valley. President -I. T. Manner
of the railway company has issued a statement to the
effect that as the Margaret Street station is producing
energy at a highly economical rate and represents a
taxed investment of $700,000, the advice of outside en-
is being sought before the company acts.
•Maki 11
E I. ECT R K A I. WO R 1. l>
iBVCSttgatma Report on Ni'H York t 'ommi»ion-.
Governor Whitman of New York announced on March
it, after receivin. roffl the legislative in
gating committee, that charges of inefficiency, neglect
of duty and misconduct in office will be preferred against
Chairman Edward E. McCall of the Public Service Com-
mission. First District, and Commissioners J. Sergeant
Cram, Robert Colgate Wood and George V. S. Williams.
rity and minority reports were Aled.
The majority find that the First District commission
has not put into operation the provisions of the law for
regulation in a manner which has produced the results
Dably to lie expected. Certain matters, such as
duplication of functions between the Interstate Com-
merce Commission, the city commission and the up-
State commission, cannot lie discussed until the investi-
gation of the Second District body has been completed.
The commissions are charged with a lack of interest in
complaints, improper presentation of cases for trial,
failure to enforce rulings by legal methods, ignorance in
many cases of the Public Service Commission law, im-
proper use of time supposed to be devoted to the work
of the commission in the case of the chairman of the
commission and one other member. The facts brought
out in the investigation justify, in the opinion of six Re-
publican members of the committee, the removal of the
commission'
The minority report says that neglect to give atten-
tion to matters of small importance when propositions
involving hundreds of millions were involved is excus-
able. Because the chairman of the commission gave a
small part of his time to private legal practice it was
unfair to say he neglected his duties, and as for the
other members of the commission, the committee set
up an unreasonable and humanly impossible standard
of efficiency.
Organization of the P'ederal Trade Commission
The preliminary organization of the Federal Trade
Commission will take place on Monday, March 15, upon
the arrival in Washington of Mr. W. H. Parry, of Seat-
tle, and Mr. E. N. Hurley, of Chicago. There are about
thirty candidates for the position of secretary to the
commission, which pays $5,000 a year. As many Wash-
ington newspaper men have received important appoint-
ments during the present administration, no surprise
will be occasioned if the secretaryship to the commis-
sion is given to another member of that profession.
Information from a Washington representative of
the ELECTRICAL World is to the effect that Mr. Joseph
E. Davies, chairman of the commission, is now wrestling
with the question of retaining for the commission a
general counselor, such as the Interstate Commerce
Commission has in Mr. Joseph E. Folk. Such an officer
of the commission, it is authoritatively said, will be
necessary, that he may give advice upon many purely
legal questions which will arise in connection with the
administrative duties of the commission.
Perhaps the most important question that has arisen
in Washington during the past week in connection with
the commission is that of the extent to which it is to
relieve the Department of Justice of investigations in
the industrial field. In that field the department has in
the past been obliged to make many investigations, upon
various complaints or upon request of Congress or the
President. Under the law, the department is empowered
to call upon the commission to make investigations. Mr.
Davies believes that the commission can be of great help
to the Department of Justice. In view of the fact that
jealousies have in the past existed between various gov-
ernment agencies at the capital, plans are being so
framed aa to avoid anj tuggi ition of friction between
the commission and the department.
The Department of Justice has received a ma
aints from corporations involving the question of
unfair method- ol competition. None of the so-called
trusts or organizations of big business has been among
the letter writers. All this information is to be turned
over to the Federal Trade Commission, as well as main-
requests that corporation- have made for' advice a
whether respective business moves are within the law.
Safety Rules of the Bureau of Standards
The work of the Bureau of Standards on its tenta-
tive safety rules for electrical properties is making
steady progress. Dr. F. W. Stratton, director of the
bureau, in an article published in the ELECTRICAL WORLD
of Dec. 19, 1914, page 1188, explained the purpose of the
rules and the reasons why the most earnest considera-
tion should be given to the subject by all interested.
Following the suggested policy of the bureau in this
matter, many conferences have been held by its repre-
sentatives with members of the various technical so-
cieties and operators of large properties chiefly con-
cerned in the formation of a simple, understandable and
workable code.
Those who have been in touch with the successive
steps taken toward the draft of a tentative set of rules
state that the Bureau of Standards is entitled to great
credit for its painstaking study of the technical and
necessary and commercial considerations involved. They
state that the bureau, in pursuance of its desire to per-
fect rules which shall serve as acceptable standards,
should be commended for its action in taking into con-
sideration the point of view of engineers in the field
who will have to adapt working conditions to whatever
code may be laid down.
The feeling in the industry that, while safety is a
prime consideration from many points of view, it is
absolutely incumbent upon the companies to give service
first with all reasonable protection has been kept in
mind by those who have presented the industry's atti-
tude in the various conferences with representatives of
the Bureau of Standards. The desire of those who have
attended the conferences has been to extend the fullest
measure of co-operation to the bureau in order that the
promulgated rules might be so representative of the
needs of actual working conditions in daily practice as
to assure a perfect test of their workability. To pro-
mote this end the actual conditions within the industry
have been set forth fully and frankly.
In view of the attitude of co-operation manifested by
the industry it is expected that the rules will be offered
for general criticism before final promulgation. When
the rules reach their final tentative form after criti-
cisms shall have been considered they doubtless will be
offered first for suggested practice for a serious field
try-out for a period before adoption by anybody as
actual working orders. In accordance with this idea,
the first set of the rules to be issued by the bureau in
the near future will be put out with the distinct un-
derstanding that they are submitted for actual field
experience, and it is believed that this result will demon-
strate better than all else the practicability of the code.
The safety rules include many ideas embraced in dif-
ferent construction specifications which, when prepared,
provided for safety considerations; they will also sug-
gest new ideas which appear to be designed only for
safety, but which affect construction.
That the industry will give a sincere trial in helping
the bureau to perfect the rules to the last degree is in-
dicated by those who have studied the subject.
700
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 11
Mr. Cooper on Failure of Water-Power Legislation
Notwithstanding efforts of influential public officials
in Washington, supplemented by many prominent men
in the electrical industry, to secure reasonable water-
power legislation, the last session of Congress adjourned
without action. Mr. Hugh L. Cooper, consulting en-
gineer, of New York, was asked by a representative of
the Electrical World to express his views concerning
the attitude of Congress toward the proposed legisla-
tion for water-power development on navigable streams
and on the public domains. While Mr. Cooper said that
the subject was too broad to cover in an interview his
full views, he gave what is in his judgment a partial
list of the causes underlying the failure of Congress to
act. Mr. Cooper said:
"An attempt was made to secure a law permitting the
construction of dams in navigable streams, and, as the
result of hearings before the House committee on inter-
state and foreign commerce, what was known as the
Adamson bill was introduced in the Sixty-third Con-
gress and, after amendments, was sent to the United
States Senate, and there the bill was re-written by the
Senate committee on commerce and reported unani-
mously by that committee to the Senate calendar under
the name of the Shields-Adamson bill.
"To provide for the needs on public lands, what was
known as the Ferris bill was reported by the committee
on public lands of the House, was sent to the Senate and
reported out by the committee on public lands in the
Senate, but died in the Senate. Both of these bills failed
of any action by the Senate, and the bills died with the
Sixty-third Congress and will have to be re-introduced
and go through the routine in the next Congress.
"The Shields-Adamson bill and the Ferris bill, as
placed on the Senate calendar, represented an honest
effort on the part of legislators in both the Senate and
the House to prepare legislation that would protect the
public interest and be inviting and protective to the
investor. Both of these bills, in my judgment, could
have been improved upon from the standpoint of both
the public and the investor.
"There are two sets of reasons, in my opinion, for
the failure of Congress to pass either of these bills.
These reasons may be briefly stated as follows :
"The first and greatest reason for this failure is the
fundamental one of lack of knowledge on the part of the
people of the United States as to the facts regarding
water-power and its relationship to the public. There is
still a lingering belief in the minds of many honest men
that the water-powers already developed in the United
States have resulted adversely to the public interest.
and while this belief is honest, the absence of facts
supporting it is pitiful. The history of the so-called
conservation program in the United States, briefly
stated, will explain the cause of these fears.
"In October, 1907, a letter was written to President
Roosevelt calling attention to what the authors believed
to be a great national problem that required vigorous
handling. Representations by men without previous
knowledge of the subject, or without any real investiga-
tion thereof, were made that there was still unde-
veloped in the United States around 60,000,000 of
hydroelectric horse-power, and unless strong action
should be taken by way of conserving these natural
resources, the United States would be robbed of a great
natural possession. The sum of undeveloped horse-
power used was big enough to awaken the interest of a
lot of strong, well-meaning men in the United States,
and the muckrakers also got busy very generally. They
all made the mistake of not inquiring as to whether the
foundations for their propaganda were true or untrue.
Kor instance, their statement that there was 60,000,000
undeveloped horse-power in the United States was just
as misleading, in my judgment, as it. would be to state
that there is 60,000,000 commercial horse-power that
could be developed by going up into the air to, say, an
elevation 3000 ft. above the earth and there installing
rain catchers and using our rainfall at 3000-ft. head
while it is on its way down to the soil. Many other
statements put out by the conservationists were as
faulty in respect to truth as the amount of horse-power
claimed, and just as rational as the rain-horse-power
suggestion.
"The conservation pioneers of 1907 and their succes-
sors have never made any inquiry, as far as I know, as
to what the facts are. The original statements suit the
purposes for politics and public notice, as well as the
fears of the well-meaning, and it has not been considered
worth while to investigate anything so useless and bore-
some as facts.
"The next fact that this group of conservationists
has totally failed to look into is one of really much
economic importance, and that is that the cost of elec-
trical energy to the consumers in the United States has
been steadily going downward for more than fifteen
years, and that the cost of hydroelectric energy has been
crowded down month after month for the same period of
time by advances in the art of steam-power engineering,
and these advances have proceeded with such success-
ful precision that many water-powers that would have
been developed except for the campaign begun in 1907
will now never be developed, or at least not until some
far distant time when coal is vastly dearer than now.
"The records of the conservation program fail to dis-
close any effort to find out the truth about this im-
portant matter, and one of several results of the cam-
paign up to date is the burning up of millions of tons
of coal, now represented by ash heaps, and all of this
with no possible compensation from the conservation or
public-interest standpoint.
"A catalog of the injuries that the United States is
suffering to-day because of the campaign begun in 1907
and still undisposed of would represent a list of public
damages that would be appalling, but that subject is
not now up for discussion.
"The second cause of the failure in the last Congress
was the attitude of the administration. The admin-
istration took the view that the shipping bill was of
more importance than the conservation measures, and
when the shipping bill was out of the way the Philip-
pines bill was regarded as more important than the
conservation measures, with the final result that it was
impossible to have either of these bills passed except
by unanimous consent in the Senate. Manifestly it
was impossible to secure this unanimous consent at a
time when everyone was anxious to defeat an extra
session. The wisdom of the administration, under the
stress of the times, in urging the prior consideration of
the shipping bill and the Philippines bill is not dis-
puted by anyone. Imt if these bills had not been before
Congress it is my opinion that fairly suitable water-
power legislation might have succeeded, and a depart-
ment of our engineering life, representing thousands
of men and years of experience, would have been re-
stored to fine public use and real conservation of our
remaining resources would have been possible.
"In a hearing before the committee on interstate and
foreign commerce on April 14, 191}, I strongly urged
the committee to secure a report on the whole water-
power question from a special commission of twelve
arm] engineers, in order that Congress might hav
before it undisputed facts and thus be able to do care
lul ((instinctive work. Until some such recommenda-
tion prevails, the remaining water-powers will not
developed according to the best interests of either publi
or investor."
March 18, 1916
ELECTRICAL WORLD
701
Miscellaneous News Notes
Public Utilities ( 'finiiiiissiiin Proposed f<n I tah. — A bill
providing for the creation of a public utilities commission
.■en presented before the 1916 imn 111 Oil of the Utah
ature and is now before the judiciary committee. Sev-
eral public hearings have been held and many have appeared
before the committee. It is urged that Utah and Wyoming
are the only two states which do not now have such a com-
mission, and that the growth of public service corporations
has reached a point where regulation is necessary.
Meeting of N. K. L, \. Meier Committer.— The meter
committee of the National Electric Light Association met
at the Hotel Seneca, Rochester, N. Y., on March 4, 5 and
0 Me -r . < G Durfee, chairman, P. H. Bartlett, William
Eichert and W. H. Fellows were present. The committee
devoted its entire time to a revision of the "Electric Meter-
man's Handbook," which it is expected to issue at the time
of the San Francisco convention. The committee will have
another meeting in Philadelphia the latter part of March
to finish the work. At that time the committee will take
up the final work on its report for the convention. Al-
though the work on the handbook is the principal part of its
labor, the committee will also report on the developments of
the year in meters.
Proposed Legislation Affecting Missouri Contractors. —
The purpose of the electrical contractors of Missouri to
secure legislation toward a state board that would license
contractors and exercise supervision over them was aban-
doned. The time did not seem ripe, and it was seen that
much preliminary work should be done to remove probable
opposition. However, in Kansas City plans are being made
to secure municipal regulation of electrical work, particu-
larly to meet the local situation. The local electrical con-
tractors and engineers hope to have an ordinance, this year
perhaps, under which the men who do the work must pass
examinations. The bond system for contractors probably
will not be urged. The contractors want legislation under
which the electrical work of Kansas City can be standardized.
The Work of the Eye Muscles and Eye Fatigue. — In ordi-
nary reading the muscles of the eye make about 200 motions
per minute, according to Prof. Morgan Brooks, of the Uni-
versity of Illinois, Urbana, who addressed the Electric Club
of Chicago, March 4, on "Some Illumination Fallacies."
The act of reading Professor Brooks compared to the ex-
posure of the film in a moving-picture camera. Different
retinal images are impressed successively as the eye
visualizes one little group of words after another. This
view also offers an explanation of the fact that higher in-
tensities are needed for rapid reading. Professor Brooks
has verified the point by reducing the illumination to an
intensity where rapid reading was uncomfortable, although
deliberate slower reading, in which longer exposures were
made of each retinal image, was accomplished easily. Much
of eye fatigue is attributable to the mere muscular move-
ment of the organs of vision.
Pan-American Conference Plans. — President Wilson has
determined upon May 10 as the date for the conference
between bankers of this country and bankers and Min-
isters of Finance of Central and South America. Con-
gress appropriated $50,000 for the entertainment of the
i-i. The authority which it granted to the President
provides for a conference with the Secretary of the Treas-
ury with a view of establishing closer and more satisfac-
tory financial relations between the Central and South
American countries and the United States. Authority is
given to the Secretary of the Treasury to invite in his dis-
cretion representative bankers of the United States to
participate in the conference. Secretary McAdoo will in-
vite representative financiers in order that a thorough
and comprehensive discussion may be had of existing
financial conditions throughout the Western Hemisphere
and of the measures that should be adopted to secure
financial and trade relations between the United States
and its neighbors in Central and South America. The
Secretary of State and all other members of the Cabinet
will be asked to participate. A similar invitation will be
extended to the diplomatic representatives of the various
Central and South American countries and to Mr. John
Barrett, director of the Pan-American Union.
Associations and Societies
Philadelphia Klectric < om|ian> Section. V K. I.. A. — Dr.
Silas F. Neff, president of Neff College, Philadelphia, Pa.,
spoke before the Philadelphia Electric Company's section
of the National Electric Light Association Feb. 16 on the
subject of "Self-Building and a Successful Life."
Chicago Section, I. E. S.— Dr. Nelson M. Black, of Mil-
waukee, Wis., addressed the Chicago Section of the Illumi-
nating Engineering Society, Feb. 25, presenting "A Resume
of the Physical, Physiological and Psychical Phases of
Vision." Dr. Black outlined the chemical theory of retinal
sensitivity, and later in his talk emphasized the importance
of memory and previous visual impressions as aids to the
often-imperfect purely optical vision. Chairman W. A.
Durgin, Dr. Henry Gradle, Dr. M. G. Lloyd and Mr. J. R.
Cravath took part in the discussion.
Chicago A. S. M. E. to Discuss Ice Making. — The meeting
of the Chicago Section of the American Society of Mechani-
cal Engineers scheduled for Feb. 26 has been postponed un-
til Friday, March 19. A dinner at 6.30 at the LaSalle Hotel,
where the meeting will be held, precedes the technical pro-
gram. Mr. Haywood Cochrane, of the Carbondale (Pa.)
Machine Company, will present an illustrated paper on the
general subject of ice making as a by-product of central sta-
tions. The discussion will be opened by Messrs. Otto Luhr,
John M. Westerlin and Fred Wittenmeir.
Meeting of Connecticut Get-Together Club. — The second
annual meeting of the Get-Together Club of Connecticut
electrical interests was held at the Hotel Taft, New Haven,
Conn., on Feb. 26. The speaker of the evening was Presi-
dent L. D. Gibbs, of the New England Section of the
N. E. L. A., his topic being the personal effort required and
expected of every man in the electrical industry. The ex-
ecutive committee elected for the ensuing year consists of
Mr. G. B. Leland, Stamford Gas & Electric Company; Mr.
W. D. Jennings, General Electric Company, New Haven, and
Mr. J. O. Morris, Electric Supply & Equipment Company,
New Haven.
Hranch Meetings of Philadelphia Electric Section, N". E.
L. A. — At a joint meeting of the meter and engineering
branches of the Philadelphia Electric Company's section
of the National Electric Light Association, held Feb. 2. Mr.
A. Lynn Ash gave an illustrated lecture on "The Central
Station Before and After the Advent of the Steam Tur-
bine." Mr. W. C. L. Eglin and Mr. Charles Penrose spoke
briefly, the latter describing the new generating station
which is being constructed. At the joint meeting of the
commercial and accounting branches it was decided to com-
bine forces in a new branch known as the commercial
branch. Mr. R. L. Lloyd called attention to the value of
the "Electrical Salesman's Handbook." Mr. George Went-
worth Carr spoke on "Administration of the Bankruptcy
Law and Its Relation to Credits."
Western Society on Railroad Electrification. — At a meet-
ing of the Western Society of Engineers, Monadnock Block.
Chicago, Tuesday evening, March 16, the construction and
operation of electrified railroad systems will be discussed from
the standpoint of the steam-railroad engineer. Mr. W. S.
Murray, consulting engineer for the New York, New Haven
& Hartford Railroad, will describe the results of the single-
phase electrification of 74 miles of that system, including
the large Harlem River freight classification yard. Mr.
Edwin B. Katte, chief engineer of electric traction, New
York Central Railroad, will describe operating results of
the New York Central terminal electrification, illustrating
his remarks with lantern slides. Mr. R. Beeuwkes, electrical
engineer of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad,
Butte, Mont., will present a paper on the St. Paul's
mountain-division electrification, the first 112-mile section
of which is to be ready for service in October.
A. I. E. E. Industrial-Power Meeting at Cleveland. — At
the industrial-power meeting of the American Institute of
Electrical Engineers to be held at the Hollenden Hotel,
Cleveland, Ohio, on March 18 and 19, under the auspices of
the Cleveland Section, Mayor Newton D. Baker will deliver
the address of welcome and the following papers will be
presented: "Application of Electricity to the Ore-Handling
Industry," by Mr. C. R. Gilpin; "Line Disturbance Caused
by Special Squirrel-Cage and Wound-Rotor Motors When
702
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 66, No. 11
Starting Elevators and Hoists," by Mr. J. C. Lincoln, of
Cleveland; "Answers to Some Questions on Electric-Arc
Welding," by Mr. J. F. Lincoln, of Cleveland; "Trouble
Encountered in the Operation of Carbon Brushes on Direct-
Current Generators and Motors," by Mr. K. II. Martitidale,
of Cleveland; "Fractional-Horse-Power Motor Load," by
Mr. Bernard Lester, of Pittsburgh, Pa., and "Factors In-
volved in Motor Applications," by Mr. D. B. Rushmore, of
Schenectady. \. Y. The technical program was arranged
by the industrial-power committee, of which Mr. D. B.
Rushmore. Schenectady. X. V.. is chairman. Officers of the
Cleveland Section are: Mr. Howard Dingle, chairman, and
Mr. R. E. Scovel, secretary, 1663 East Eighty-sixth Street,
Cleveland.
Utah Electric Club. — At the meeting of the Utah Electric
Club held at the Louvre Cafe, Salt Lake City, March 4,
Judge J. E. Frick, of the Utah Supreme Court, spoke on
"Prison Discipline." Mr. Lloyd Garrison is chairman of the
club, Mr. L. E. Brown is secretary-treasurer, and Messrs.
Leo Brandenburger and Bruce Cramer constitute the pro-
gram committee.
Philadelphia N. E. L. A. — The members of the Philadel-
phia Electric Section of the National Electric Light Associa-
tion will hold a meeting on March 16, at the New Century
Drawing Room, 124 South Twelfth Street. Mr. H. A. Hor-
nor, electrical engineer of the New York Shipbuilding Com-
pany, of Camden, N. J., will demonstrate the necessity of
electrical equipment for modern battleships.
Jovians at Muskegon, Mich., Organize. — A branch of the
Jovian Order has been established at Muskegon, Mich., and
officers elected as follows: Mr. Eric Vachau, tribune and
representative of the national organization; Mr. Edward J.
Duquette, second tribune, and Mr. H. S. Nelson, secretary.
For the past year electrical men in Muskegon have been
I affiled together in a club, but not until now have they been
officially connected with the national body of Jovians. There
will be a rejuvenation the first week in April.
Chicago High-Tension Association. — Mr. Q. A. Brackett,
of the engineering department of the Westinghouse Elec-
tric & Manufacturing Company, Pittsburgh, Pa., addressed
the High-Tension Association, an organization of employees
of the Sanitary District of Chicago, March ", on the sub-
ject of "Lightning Protection." Mr. Brackett described
types of arresters in use and said that about $2,000,000 is
expended for arrester equipment annually. Mr. J. F. Vedder
is president of the High-Tension Association, and Mr. H.
Koelling is secretary.
Program for Jobbers' Convention, Chicago. — The follow-
ing program has been outlined for the convention of the
Electrical Supply Jobbers' Association to be held at the
Hotel LaSalle, Chicago, March 17 to 19: Wednesday —
meeting of divisions to elect members of the executive com-
mittee, hear annual reports and elect standing committees,
election of officers and committees by executive committee;
Thursday — open joint meeting of manufacturers and jobbers,
followed by routine meeting of jobbers; Friday — routine
session, followed by visit to Hawthorne works of Western
Electric Company. Among the topics to be discussed at the
various sessions are the following: "Reasonably Permanent
I.i-i Prices," "Relations Between Producer and Distributer,"
■"The Relation of Turnover to Gross Profit," "A Uniform
Accounting System," and "The Philosophy and Ethics of
Industry." Mr. Franklin Overbagh, 411 South Clinton
Street, Chicago, is secretary of the association.
New England Section, N. E. L. A., Convention. — A "quee
tion box" convention was held by the New England Section
of the National Electric Light Association at the American
House. Bo ton, Mass., on March 11 and 12. The program
was informal, but provided for full discussion of live topics
of central-station interest. On the first day the discussion
covered prnhli-m "I motive power, including steam, water and
buildings, structure, the employee, account-
ing, lino and the customer. An Informal dinm i
ning u.i- foil, ,wed by a discussion of traffic regulations, park-
ing fodUtiM ami charging-station problems, under the chair-
manship of M i. K. W. Rollins, <> I' W tar, Ms H
Offil 'lay Wi OS Oted to BSSOriSS and
ii- vehicles. Mi. Welles !•:. Holmes, Cambridge, Ms
general chairman of the convention. The first day's
sessions were in charge of Mr. Eugene Carpenter, Newton,
Mass., and the second day's of Mr. Day Baker, Boston.
Ohio New-Business Men at Dayton. — The program for the
meeting of the committee on new-business co-operation of
the Ohio Electric Light Association to be held at the Algon-
quin Hotel, Dayton, Ohio, March 17, has been announced as
follows: Address of welcome by Mr. F. M. Tait, Dayton;
"Application of Electric Drive in Woodworking Shops and
Disposal of the By-product," by Mr. J. F. Jones, of the
Wagner Electric Manufacturing Company; "Salesmanship,"
by Mr. R. H. Grant, National Cash Register Company;
"Dressing Windows," by a representative of the Western
Electric Company; "Co-operation of Electric-Motor Manu-
facturers with Central Stations to Secure Available 'Power'
Business," by Mr. W. H. Patterson, of the Westinghouse
Electric & Manufacturing Company, and "Central-Station
Advertising," by Mr. E. R. Kelsey, of Toledo. A banquet
and Jovian rejuvenation will follow the technical session.
Mr. Thomas F. Kelly, Dayton, Ohio, is chairman of the
committee on new-business co-operation of the association.
Minnesota Electrical Association. — Following is the tenta-
tive program lor the convention of the Minnesota Electrical
Association to oe held at St. Paul, Minn., March 23 to 26:
Tuesday — Address by President R. E. Brown, Mankato;
report of Secretary F. A. Otto, St. Paul; address of wel-
come by Mayor Powers of St. Paul; paper on "Oil Engines,"
by Mr. Sprado of the Allis-Chalmers Company, Milwaukee,
Wis.; "Financing Problems of Public Utilities," Mr. W. H.
Hodge of H. M. Byllesby & Company, Chicago. Wednesday
— Papers on "High-Tension Outdoor Substations"; "Watt-
Hour Meters, Their Operation and Maintenance," by Mr.
W. L. Wadsworth, Minneapolis General Electric Company;
"Recent Developments in Electric Lamps," by Mr. Ward
Harrison, National Lamp Works, Cleveland, Ohio; "Cen-
tral-Station Diversity Factors," Prof. W. T. Ryan, Univer-
sity of Minnesota; "Work of the University Extension
Bureau," Prof. George D. Shepardson, University of Minne-
sota; Thursday — "Friendship as a Factor in Load Building,"
by Mr. W. N. Mathews, St. Louis, Mo.; "Resuscitation and
First Aid to Men Injured by Electric Shocks or Burns," by
Dr. E. H. Whitcomb, St. Paul, Minn., and "Progress of the
Safety-First Movement," by a representative of the Minne-
sota Labor Bureau. On Wednesday night there will be a
banquet at the St. Paul Hotel, given by the jobbers of St.
Paul and Minneapolis.
Co-operative Meeting in Philadelphia. — Five hundred peo-
ple attended a "get-together" meeting at the Hotel Adelphia
roof garden on March 5 under the auspices of the commer-
cial branch of the Philadelphia Electric Company Section
of the National Electric Light Association. Four members
of the Society for Electrical Development delivered ad-
dresses. Among those present were 268 Philadelphia con-
tractors. Mr. W. C. L. Eglin, second vice-president of the
Philadelphia Electric Company, acted as chairman during
the absence of Mr. W. H. Johnson, first vice-president, who
was able to attend for only a few minutes. Mr. Johnson
indorsed the society and its work and assured the visitors
that they could always count on Philadelphia to be of assist-
ance especially for the national electric prosperity week
campaign. Mr. Eglin paid a tribute to the society and Mr.
J. M. Wakeman, general manager of the society, outlined
the work of the organization, what it had accomplished for
the industry, and spoke of the "National Electrical Week."
He pointed out that the original plan to celebrate such a
week came up at a society meeting over two years ago.
Since that time it had been mentioned many times, but the
directors had thought it inadvisable to act until organi
was completed. Now that the staff is in excellent shape, tht
directors have sanctioned the move. Mr. G. B. Muldaur,
in charge of the field co-operative bureau of the society,
stated that one of the society field staff had visited every
city of over 100,000 population and also many smaller cities
in the country, and that through the society's efforts har-
mony work had been done in various cities to bring about,
closer relations between central stations and contractors
and dealers. Mr. II. W. Alexander, manager of the publicity
department of the society, gave a lantern-slide address to
illustrate the publicity work accomplished. Mr. A. J. Edgell,
of the society, illustrated his address on store and window
displays with lantern slides.
Makch 18, 1916
i: I . i: C T R I C A L WORLD
703
Public Service Commission News
Mar> land I ontmission
The commission has filed a complaint on its own initia-
gainst the Easton Light & Fuel Company. This ac-
tion follows an investigation by the commit
California Commission
mentioned in last week's issue, the California
Supreme Court has sustained the right of the commission
to refuse the Oro Electric Corporation a permit to do busi-
ness in Stockton in competition with the Western S
Gas & Electric Company. The decision of the commission
says in part:
"The city of Stockton did not, when the public utilities
act was passed or when it became effective, have power
to grant to electric corporations franchises permitting
them to furnish electricity to the inhabitants of the city,
if, indeed, it had the power to grant the limited franchise
or right to use the streets for that purpose. It follows
that the requirement of a certificate of public convenience
and necessity contained in Section 50 of the act did not im-
pair any power of control vested in the city. The conclu-
sion disposes of the case, since it compels the holding that
thr Railroad Commission did not exceed its jurisdiction in
taking cognizance of the application of the petitioner for
a certificate or in denying such certificate."
The commission, in a statement concerning the decision,
said: "It means that the policies of the commission, based
on a State-wide view, cannot be thwarted by purely local
considerations, and that henceforth the commission will
not necessarily be bound to permit the impairment of an
existing public utility service, if it is just and reasonable,
by admitting a new public utility into the field unless the
- of the public clearly so require."
The commission has provisionally authorized the Southern
Sierras Power Company, operating in the counties of Inyo,
Kern, Riverside and San Bernardino, to issue $300,000 of
6 per cent twenty-five-year bonds.
At the bearing it developed that a close relationship,
amounting to a practical identity of control, existed between
uthern Sierras Power Company, the Nevada-Califor-
nia Power Company and the Sierras Construction Company.
It was further developed that the properties of the South-
ern Sierras Power Company were built by the Sierras Con-
struction Company under contracts by the terms of which
the construction company charged the power company with
the full cost of the work and added thereafter 15 per cent
as a profit to the construction company.
Also, it appeared that the Nevada-California Power Com-
pany has an arrangement with the Southern Sierras Power
Company for the sale and interchange of power which
is covered by a series of contracts. The commissioner who
heard the case says:
"In view of the situation herein found to exist, I recom-
mend that a final order be granted to this applicant to issue
bonds only after it shall have adjusted its accounts with
its affiliated and associated corporations, to the end that any
profit heretofore made or proposed to be made by any such
affiliated or associated corporations at the expense of this
applicant be eliminated."
Ohio Commission
Representative Frank Reighard has offered a bill in the
Ohio Legislature which will change the law requiring phys-
ical valuation of public utility companies for rate-making
purposes. This bill strikes out the mandatory clause and
it to the judgment of the commission as to whether or
not a valuation shall be made. The commission must deter-
mine through a hearing whether it would be necessary to
make a valuation, and then the order may or may not be
issued.
Senator L. E. Myers, of Marion, has introduced a bill
in the Ohio Legislature which is of an enabling nature and
is intended to give the city of Bellefontaine the right to
sell the product of its municipal plant to public institu-
tions and other consumers outside of its corporate limits.
It provides that rates for such service must be sufficient
to pay all operating expenses, maintenance, depreciation,
repairs, losses, damages and interest at 5 per cent per an-
num on the cost of acquiring, constructing or extending
such work. As the bill is of a general nature, these re-
quirements would be effective in all cities and towns
where municipal plants are established. Mayor Newton
D. Baker of < leveland has pronounced the bill unscien-
tific and unsound and predicted that it will not pass. Both
he and Commissioner of Light and Heat Ballard said that
it cannot hurt the Cleveland plant, except in its exten-
. since it has already been completed, but that other
such enterprises would perhaps be impossible with the
law in effect.
New York Commissions
The Second District Commission has authorized the
Northern Xiw York Power Corporation to issue $900,000 of
6 per cent first mortgage bonds at not less than 97, to net
$873,000. Of this $350,000 is to be paid in cash to the Co-
lumbia Mills for its water rights, property, etc., and $455,000
is to go for the completion of the hydroelectric development.
In addition the corporation is to issue $500,000 stock. This,
at 125, is to be turned over to the Columbia Mills, in pay-
ment of the balance on the property transferred. The com-
mission further approves the lease of the property thus
acquired and developed to the Niagara, Lockport & Ontario
Company. In approving the franchise for the delivery of
electrical energy to the Niagara, Lockport & Ontario Com-
pany system and the supply thereof to the Columbia Mills'
it customers, the commission compels the companies
to stipulate that they will not interfere with the business of
the People's Gas & Electric Company in Oswego.
The Second District Commission has approved a new link
in the chain of power transmission lines in the northern
part of the State by approving franchises of the St. Law-
rence Transmission Company to extend its lines from Nor-
folk to Hannawa Falls, there connecting with the line of
the Northern Power Company, and from Massena north to
the Canadian border, where connection is made with the
lines of the Cedars Rapids Transmission Company of Canada.
The commission limits the use of these lines to transmis-
sion purposes only, through the villages of Norwood, Mas-
sena and Potsdam and the towns of Pierrepont, Potsdam,
Norfolk, Stockholm and Massena, for which the company
holds franchises, but in which other local companies are al-
ready doing a distributing business with the approval of the
commission.
The Second District commission has rendered a decision
on the petition of the Mongaup Light, Heat & Power Com-
pany, Inc., for permission to construct and exercise fran-
chises in competitive territory and to issue stock. The
present operating company has received authority to issue
bonds for an extension to the territory in question. The
new company proposed to develop hydroelectric energy, but
the testimony leaves the commission in doubt as to the value
of the installation for continuous service. "It seems clear,"
says the commission, "that utilizing such water-power for
part of the year and keeping a steam plant in reserve would
so increase the cost of operation as well as the cost of
investment as to make it very doubtful whether the limited
custom which would be obtained by the petitioner would
make the venture in anywise profitable. Moreover, the peti-
tioner's arrangements for various involved water rights do
not appear to have been fully completed."
The commission is not convinced that the Murray Electric
Light & Power Company, which has franchises for the
territory, has had sufficient opportunity to make extension
which will afford the desired service. It therefore holds that
in this thin territory the Murray company should not be
subjected to competition if it can be ready within a reason-
able time to make the necessary extensions. The commis-
sion is satisfied that the introduction of another company
and competition would be entirely experimental, with much
doubt as to the ability of the new company to succeed even
though hydroelectric energy may be properly and satisfac-
torily improved, and the commission is certain that the re-
sults to the Murray company would be disastrous so far as
its operations in that territory are concerned. The commis-
sion closed the case with leave to the petitioner to ask for a
reopening on or after Dec. 1, 1915, upon showing that the
Murray company has failed to make extensions to Hurley-
ville and Fallsburgh and has failed to accept and act under
a new franchise from Centerville Station.
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 11
HURLEY
Personal
Mr. R. I). Newel], who for the past nine years has been
superintendent of the meter department of the Edison
Sault Electric Company, has succeeded Mr. Walter B.
Casler as manager of the Northern Electric Company,
Sault Ste. Marie, Mich.
Mr. William S. James, who for eight years has been
connected with the Frederick (Md.) Gas & Electric Com-
pany and the gas and electric department of the Hagers-
town & Frederick Railway Company, has been appointed
to the newly created office of new-business manager of the
gas and electric department.
Mr. A. B. Weeks, for some time connected with the Niaga-
ra Falls Power Company, regarding the early history of
which he wrote much for the technical press, has resigned
his position with the Packard Electric Company, with which
he has been connected for seven years. Mr. Weeks has made
a special study of insulating varnishes
Mr. Edward N. Hurley, who has been appointed a member
of the United States Federal Trade Commission by Presi-
dent Wilson, is president of
the Hurley Machine Com-
pany, Chicago, and also presi-
dent of the Illinois Manufac-
turers' Association. He has
been a leader in the work of
the latter organization and in
its efforts to bring American
manufacturers into touch
with the buyers of South
America. In addition to the
interests mentioned Mr.
Hurley is president of the
First National Bank of
Wheaton, 111., a director of
the Chicago & Great Western
Railroad and has holdings in
the Independent Pneumatic
Tool Company and the Aurora
Automatic Machine Company.
cal circles.
Mr. O. A. Honnold has resigned as electrical engineer of
the Utah Light & Traction Company, Salt Lake City, Utah,
until recently the Utah Light & Railway Company. Mr.
Honnold was graduated from Purdue University. After two
years in power-house construction and operation with the
Citizens' Street Railway, Detroit, Mich., Mr. Honnold in 1896
took charge of miscellaneous engineering and operating;
work and helped to carry out the consolidation of several
power companies and street railways in Salt Lake, Ogden
and vicinity. After the late Edward H. Harriman bought
out the light, power and street-railway interests in 190<i, Mr.
Honnold did the electrical engineering work and had charge
of all electrical construction and reconstruction in connec-
tion with rebuilding the old properties. He also had charge
of all of the stations and transmission lines and distribution
operating departments. In resigning from the Utah Light &
Traction Company Mr. Honnold concludes nineteen years of
work at Salt Lake, with the exception of two years, from
1900 to 1902, when he was with the Lachine Rapids Hydrau-
lic & Land Company, at Montreal, Can. Between $7,000,000
and $8,000,000 was spent in improvements made on the prop-
erty under Mr. Honnold's supervision at Salt Lake from 1907
up to 1914. Mr. Honnold expects to spend several months in
taking a vacation and will then look after his own interests
in the West.
Mr. W. R. Hall, manager of the Anniston Electric & (las
< lompany, Anniston, Ala., has been appointed manager of the
North Alabama Traction Company, New Decatur, Ala. Sev-
eral years ago Mr. Hall was the general manager of the
any at New Decatur. He then became general manager
of the Sheffield (Ala.) Company. Subsequently he became
icted «itb the Anniston Electric & Gas Company as
general manager.
\lr. Charles ( '. Klweii has been named a member of the
Public Utilities Commission of Connecticut to succeed Mr,
Theodore P. Ford, Bridgeport, Mr. Elwell at present is
n>n. Mr. ElWplj was born in I-
Belf:, nd is n gradua njpersity <>( Maine.
He is well known in electri-
He has had a very wide experience in railroad work and
prior to becoming engineer to the commission was engineer
of the Connecticut Company.
Mr. Karl E. Van Kuran, who has been appointed district
manager of the Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing
Company for Southern California, was graduated from the
University of Washington in 1904 with the degree of B.S.
in electrical engineering. He obtained his early training in
the electrical field with the Stone & Webster Engineering
Corporation in Seattle. In the fall of 1904 he entered the
employ of the Westinghouse company as apprentice. After
serving two years' apprenticeship he was transferred to the
sales department in East Pittsburgh, where he filled various
minor positions until 1911, when he was transferred to the
Los Angeles office as assistant district manager. Mr. Van
Kuran has been an active Jovian and has done much to
promote the work of the Jovian Electrical League in and
about Los Angeles.
Obituary
C. A. Newcomb, president of the Anderson Electric Car
Company, builder of the "Detroit Electric," died suddenly at
bis home in Detroit March 9, at the age of seventy-eight.
John Cassidy, builder of the first railroad telegraph line
in California and an associate of Mr. Alexander Graham
Bell, died in Honolulu March 9, at the age of seventy-one.
Herbert A. Davidson, for the past ten years chief engineer
of the Edison Electric Illuminating Company of Brockton,
Mass., died at Saranac Lake, N. Y., on March 4. Mr. David-
son was born in Brockton forty-two years ago and had been
in the employ of the Edison company, one of the Stone &
Webster properties, since 1891. He went to Saranac Lake
about a month ago. He is survived by his widow and three
children.
E. G. Bernard, who died, as announced in last week's
issue, at Troy, N. Y., Feb. 23, began his electrical career in
1879 at the age of seventeen, his first electrical experience
being gained in installing an arc-light plant in New York
City for Booth's Theater in
that year. With the appear-
ance of the incandescent lamp
he at once entered into
isolated-plant lighting, which
field he was probably the
first to work systematically
as a salesman and also as an
engineer in the development
of constructional details. In
1884 he became chief sales
agent and constructing en-
gineer for the Sawyer-Mann
company, continuing in the
same capacity with its suc-
cessor, the Consolidated Elec-
tric Light Company. When
the latter was purchased by
the Westinghouse company,
about 1888, he remained in
charge of the textile-mill work until shortly before estab-
lishing his own business at Troy in the fall of 1890. A few
years after starting business in Troy, Mr. Bernard began
the manufacture of dynamos and motors specially adapted
to his line of work, which he continued until satisfactory
machines could be obtained elsewhere. His electrical activi-
ties covered a wide range, including in early days town arc
and incandescent lighting, Much of his work has been
pedal in character, such as the installation of 7000 lamps
in the Capitol at Albany in twenty-five working days, prac-
tically all of this work being special construction; the
generator and motor equipment of the United States Arsenal
at Watervliet; marine installation work for the United
Stales Navy and for shipyards, etc. Mr. Bernard joined the
American Institute of Electrical Engineers in January, 1886,
and was a member of many electrical bodies, including the
Electrical Supply Jobbers' Association. For a quarter of a
century or more he was a regular attendant at conventions.
He was president of the Troy Electrical Company, successor
to the K. G. Bernard Company.
E. G. BERNAKP
M \nc ii 18, 1916
ELECTIMi'AL WOKI.lt
Corporate and Financial
Mahauia I'ow.r llond Kmio. — Harris. 1 pany,
of New York, are offering at 101 and interest $2,000,000
Alabama Power Company first mortgage throe-year 6 per
cent gold bondi due on Fob. 1.
Cedars Kapids Manufacturing & Power Directorate. — At
the annual meeting of the Cedars Rapids (P. Q.) Manufac-
turing ft Power Company, Sir Herbert S. Holt and Morton
t London, England, were elected directors.
Buffalo General Electric Bond Offering. — Lee, Higginson
ft Company, of New York, are offering $450,000 of first re-
funding 5 per cent gold bonds of the Buffalo General Elec-
■■mpany duo April 1, 1989, at 99% and interest.
DiegO Consolidated <..i- ft Electric Debentures. —
William P. Bonbright ft Company, of Now York and Boston,
are offering at 98 and interest to net 6.33 per cent 6 per cent
debentures due on Doc. 1. 1922, of the San Diego (Cal.)
Consolidated Gas & Electric Company.
Empire Gas & Electric Bonds. — W. C. Langley & Com-
pany, of Now York, are offering at 93% and interest to net
"17 per cent $100,000 of joint first and refunding mortgage
5 per cent gold bonds of the Empire Gas & Electric Com-
pany, Auburn, N. Y., and the Empire Coke Company, due
on March 1, 1941.
Baltimore Consolidated Convertible Note Issue. — Alex-
ander Brown & Sons, of Baltimore, Md., are offering at 98
and interest $2,500,000 of Consolidated Gas, Electric Light
6 Power Company of Baltimore 5 per cent two-year con-
vertible gold notes, dated March 15, 1915. Holders have the
right up to and including Dec. 15, 1916, to convert the notes
into common stock at 115.
Electric Bond & Share Preferred Stock.— Preferred stock-
holders of the Electric Bond & Share Company, of New
York, have been offered the right to subscribe pro rata for
10,000 shares of the company's preferred stock at par plus
accrued dividends. No subscriptions will be received after
April 15, 1915, after which the unsubscribed stock will be
sold to bankers who have agreed to purchase it.
Northwestern Electric Preferred Stock Offering. — The
Northwestern Electric Company, of Portland, Ore., offered
to the general public $1,200,000 of 6 per cent cumulative
preferred stock at 82 V2. Of the entire issue of $2,000,000,
$800,000 had previously been taken by California investors.
The proceeds will be used to retire short-term 6 per cent
gold notes issued to complete the electric generating plant
and distributing system.
Utah Valley Gas & Power Sales.— E. W. Brooks & Com-
pany, of New York, have purchased properties of the Utah
Valley Gas & Power Company, of Provo, Utah, and have
transferred them to the newly incorporated Utah Valley
Gas & Coke Company, directors of which are Messrs.
A. W. Brooks, Fred W. Freese, chairman of the board;
W. H. Brereton, Thomas F. Pierpont and A. F. Beringer,
secretary-treasurer and general manager.
Ottawa Municipal Report. — The report of the Ottawa
municipal electric plant for 1914 shows gross revenue of
$202,911, from which were deducted charges for operation,
interest and sinking fund, leaving a gross surplus of $42,-
448. From this there was deducted $32,500 depreciation of
plant, leaving a net surplus of $9,948, which was carried to
capital account for depreciation, renewals and extensions.
Total assets of the department were $972,742.
Sale of Collateral for Notes of Great Shoshone & Twin
Falls Company. — The Commonwealth Trust Company of
Pittsburgh, trustee for the defaulted three-year 6 per cent
collateral-trust gold notes of the Great Shoshone & Twin
Falls Water Power Company, has given notice that, at the
request of holders of a majority of the notes, it will offer
for sale at its office, April 14, the collateral for these notes,
consisting of $1,500,000 of the company's first mortgage
5 per cent bonds.
Central Massachusetts Light & Power Preferred Stock. —
C. D. Parker & Company, Inc., Boston, Mass., are offering
to net over 5.7 per cent tax-exempt preferred shares of the
Central Massachusetts Light & Power Company. The
shares are entitled to dividends of 5% per cent for the two
years ending May 16, 1916; 5% per cent for the two years
ending May 15, 1918, and 6 per cent thereafter, and to share
equally with common stock after payment of common divi-
dends of $6 per share in any one year.
Belyoke Municipal Report.— The annual report of the
gas and electric department of the city of Holyoke, Mass.,
ior 1914 shows the following for the electric department:
Income from energy $335,500
Manufacturing coat 1137333
Distributing cost '3l 3"
Commercial and general expense (less premium on bond
•) 80.834
I expense ... $249,494
Net profit from electrical energy sales $86,006
Consolidated Gas Companj Bonds. — To show the u
ment position of the underlying issues of New York City
utilities, Parmelee & Company, of New York, have pre-
pared a circular showing the capitalization and territories
served by the Consolidated Gas Company, which owns or
controls through stock ownership all of the gas, electric-
light and power properties operating in the boroughs of
Manhattan and the Bronx, Westchester County, and portions
of Long Island. The bankers are preparing other circulars
to cover bond issues of other New York City utilities, in-
cluding the Kings County Electric Light & Power Company.
Electrical Utilities Investment.— William P. Bonbright &
Company are circulating a pamphlet on the record and
progress of electrical utility investments. The booklet
shows how the utilities have responded to scientific methods,
explains the alliance of gas and electrical energy, and
records the growth of investment in electrical properties.
Safety of capital, dependable income, the stability of earn-
ings during the 1907 panic, the similarity of public utility
bonds to municipal bonds, the labor problem, the day load,
diversity factor, commission service and lack of competition
are given as reasons for investing in public utility securi-
ties.
The Yadkin River Power Annual Report. — The annual re-
port of the Yadkin River Power Company for the year ended
Dec. 31, 1914, showed 1388 electric customers and an output
of 63,962,594 kw-hr. The accompanying statement shows
the income. The company is a subsidiary of the Carolina
Power & Light Company:
1914 1913
Gross income $299,606 $260,206
Operating expenses and taxes 98,862 77,213
Net income $200,744 $182,993
Interest on bonds 175,000 1
Other interest 10,449 B.410
Balance $15,295 «$417
•Loss.
Elevated Stock Purchase of Commonwealth Edison At-
tacked.—Mr. J. B. Hogarth, of Chicago, has filed complaint
with the Illinois Public Utilities Commission, Springfield,
111., alleging that the Commonwealth Edison Company of
Chicago, in purchasing stock of the Chicago Elevated Rail-
ways and issuing $7,000,000 of 5 per cent notes, violated"
Sections 21 and 27 of the Illinois public utilities law. Mr.
Hogarth declares that the resulting interest burden of
$350,000 yearly interferes with just and equitable rates.
In a later petition he attacks the financing of the Chicago
Elevated Railways. In the annual report of the Common-
wealth Edison Company for 1914, issued recently and ab-
stracted on page 572 of our issue of Feb. 27, the company
sets forth fully the reasons for the issue of the notes.
American Cities Annual Report. — The annual report of
the American Cities Company, of New Orleans, La., showed
the accompanying statement for the combined constituent
companies. Messrs. C. Harvey, of Knoxville, and S. J. Dill,
W. G. Weiss and D. D. Curran, of New Orleans, were elected
directors to succeed Messrs. Irving Bonbright, A. J. Hempill
and S. Z. Mitchell, of New York, and W. M. Kavanaugh, of
Little Rock:
1914 1913
1 In.ss . •:ii iiiiins ;ill sources 114,822,105 $14,6S0,302
Operating expenses a 9,133.582 9,117,986
Net earning $5,688,523 $5,562,316
intci. st. bond discount, amortization and
miscellaneous 3.4S0.973 8,247,799
Applicable to dividends $2,207,550 $2,214,517
Dominion Power & Transmission Company's Report. —
The annual report of the Dominion Power & Transmission
Company, Ltd., Hamilton, Canada, for the year ended Dec.
706
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 11
SI, 1914. stated it would probably be advisable to complete Manufacturing and Industrial
the steam-power station, work on which had been discon- &
tinued for the time being owing to existing conditions, and Business of British Electrical Company Increases. — It is
install the plant during the coming summer, in order that reported that since the war began the British Thomson-
at least one or two units might be in operation before Houston Company, Rugby, England, has noted a large in-
another winter. The statement for the year follows: crease in business. This increase, it is declared, is due to
imlnga $2,395,961 tne cutting off of German competition. The above company
ting expenses 1,390,847 is a subsidiary of the General Electric Company.
Balance 31,005,120 The Schaeffer & Budenberg Manufacturing Company,
erred to maintenance and renewal account 101,023 Brooklyn, N. Y., recently moved into its new concrete
Balance -even-floor building, with 10,000 sq. ft. to the floor, at
Bonded Interest a teres! 377,106 Berry Street and South Fifth Street. The above company
Surplus earnings 3526,993 is affiliated with several large European concerns and was
Surplus balance on 1913 9:>r,,\<\i established in 1878. It is manufacturing various types of
thermometers, gages, time recorders, tachometers, etc.
Written^tor'bad debt*: ".i: ".I I II i '.: ! II 1 1 1." ! ! ! I ! ! i "i;066 SP^ial Campaign for Heating Appliances.-The Hotpoint
. .,. ... Electric Heating Company, Ontario, Cal., has set aside the
s,,r' ' 3i.ozo.40S wgek of May 3 g to pugh itg new „E1 Grilstovo„ and ^„
Harwood Electric Annual Report.— In its annual report designate the period as "Hotpoint week." The company is
for the year ended Dec. 31, 1014, the Harwood Electric sending samples of the stove to dealers, and during the above
Company, Hazleton. Pa., gives the number of customers as week the device win be sold at a special discount. For five
5517, an increase of 707 over the previous year. The output years the Hotpoint company has inaugurated such a special
was 28,917,325 kw-hr., or 5,838,100 kw-hr. more than in the ?elling campaign, although prior to last vear onlv one dav
preceding year. The results of the business for the year was set asjde fnr the purpose.
"llows: Amplifiers for Wireless Service.-The De Forest Radio
Telephone & Telegraph Company, 101 Park Avenue, New
York, is disposing of a large number of its amplifiers for
$193,464 'oth wire and wireless telephone and telegraph service.
These amplifiers are now being used by the United States
am other sources in.vio .. ^. government in its radio stations and on a number of its
— — warships. It is also being employed by the British and
nded'debt'.'.'.\'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.".'.".'.".'.'.'.3lYs',670 <1Ms''" Japanese government. The wire telephone and telegraph
on otter liabilities 21,674 rights to the amplifier have been acquired by the American
Ization of bond discount lo.mi m>658 Telephone & Telegraph Company.
. . ,,v. „_.. Demand for Flexible Couplings. — Mr. R. H. Smith, of the
Net Income i arrled to profit and loss $.ls,ii.,d* _ . , 0 .. _ '
.Smitn-Serell Company, general sales agent for the Francke
•Note.- No allowance roi depreciation, otter than reserve Cor Company, New Brunswick, N. J., manufacturer of flexible
depletion nt a al and depreciation • ■ i office furniture and motor- ,. " ., . , ... , ., „
car equipment since organization of company March I, 1912. couplings, recently stated to a representative of the Elec-
Electric Bond & Share Statement.-A comparative in- tricalWorlp that more than 8000 couplings had been sold
come statement of the Electric Bond & Share Company UP to [?b- }> 191>- The aggregate rating of the machines
from March 15, 1905, to Dec. 31, 1914, shows gross income ^,lth "'hlc,n, these couplings are used is more than 300,000 hp.
of $8,614,681 and net income of $6,524,659. During that The fle1x'ble coupling made by the above company is well
period preferred dividends were $1,419,725 and common adapted for use with all directly connected machines, it is
$1,388,333. The total surplus is $3,716,601. The statement declared, such as prime movers, motors and dynamos,
for the year ended Dec. 31, 1914, is as follows: blowers, compressors, gas exhausters, pumps, crushers, pul-
.. _r ... venzers, grinders, automobiles, elevators, mine hoists and
' Iross income 31,558,52] , „,, - ,, , .,
Expenses 421.479 rotary gas producers. The following are some of the power
— : stations in which the flexible coupling is said to be used:
Dividends: ° The New York Edison Company, the Philadelphia Electric
i • ■■' "jt0?k $40o"ooo ComPany- the Cleveland Municipal Plant, the Milwaukee
! Electric Railway & Light Company, the Interborough Rapid
Surplus Income $43s..;..o Transit Company, New York: the Public Service Electric
Surplus brought forward 3,2i i,9al ~ XT , XT T j .. .,,. .,. , . T1,
____!__ ( ompany, Newark, N. J., and the Edison Electric Illumi-
Total $3,7 16, fi» l nating Company. Brooklyn, N. Y. It is also being used bv
Net changes In surplus a3M9^ the foilowing manufacturers: The General Electric Com-
pel Increase In surplus to Dec. 81, 1914... . . . 34,255,098 pany, the Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company,
Surplus at beg nn hm <d business March 15, 1905 . . ... 140,599 f, ah- pl i_ »«• c t. _: _ n .r „ r, "
L__ the Allis-Chalmers Manufacturing Company, the Crocker-
Total $4.fiii:..fi!i7 Wheeler Company, the American Blower Company and the
Special dividi-im on common stock paid In 1013 l..>oo,noii „ „ „ ' . •
_J__J__ B. F. Sturtevant Company.
Surplus and undivided profits Dec. 81. 1»14 18,196.697 Boston Automobile Show.— The thirteenth annual auto-
Hollon Power Earnings.— The income account of the mo|,ile show at Boston, Mass., opened March 6 in the
Holton Power Company, Holtville. Cal.. for the year ended Mechanics' Building, to last one week. Among the new
Dec. 31, 1914, follows: exhibits was a 1.5-ton electric truck for contractors' service,
ng revenue 3184,018 built by the Andover Motor Vehicle Company. Andover,
W «Penses 15TM1 jjass. This equipment, which was shown for the first time,
$2fi.32r. is noteworthy through the design of the battery-box sup-
Non-operatlng revenue 36,258 ports. The battery is subdivided into four sections, each
Qrw - $62,584 box being hinged to swing outward from the chassis frame
<<<"">■ .»„,- " facilitate inspection and removal of cells, a locking spring
Non-operating expense i , ... _ ., .
[,,>■' I holding the boxes in place when the truck is in operation.
Miscellaneous 58 -pne truck is equipped with a General Electric motor, worm
!__ drive, Timkin bearings and solid tires, the battery boxes
bo r.1914 IM2S being carried 6 in. above the axles. The control is of the
1 . 1 ''1 3 14,631 , ,., . , , ., , . . , . ...
lilt side type, and the driver occupies a low-hung cab with
*37.'ir. ., front door and floor onlv about 18 in. above the street
Additions t" suiplu.i , .._ . .... . , _
surface, greatly tacilitating entrance and exit. Battery
'" '•■ 145,474 equipment is optional, and the battery boxes are hung be-
Divldends, 'sinking fund appropriations and otb« appro- tween the forward and rear wheels in a symmetrical ar-
8Q.752 rangemenl contributing to stability. Other exhibitors of
Surplus Dec "i. i ''i • 814.722 electric pleasure cars or trucks at the show were the Ander-
"
K 1. K i'T K I L'A i. WO R L I»
son Electric Car Company, the Rauch image
pany, the Mill. urn Wagon I on era! Vehicle
any, Inc., and th< ■•■ ng the
tny, the
1 ambridge,
Bowser & Company, Inc., Boston; the Disco Electric
>mpany, Hetn.it, Mich ; I ity Electric
pany, and the Kemco Electri Manufacturing Company,
and, Ohio.
Order for Vmpere-Hour Meters. The Sangamo 1.
Comp field, 111., has just closed a contract with
the Pullman Car Company for several thousand ai
hour metei This i econd large contract for this
• of meter given the Sangamo company by the Pullman
company. The meters are being used on the sleeping and
par!<" I by the Pullman company to control the
charging of the battery. The method of control employed
; by Ernst Lunn, chief of the
Pullman company.
\.» Electrical Manufacturing Firm Incorporated. — The
Jefferson Electric Manufacturing Company, 847-851 We I
Harrison Street. Chicago, has been incorporated and has
begun the manufacture of high-voltage and low-voltage
transformers for bell ringing, toy operation, engine igni-
tion, wireless. X-ray and welding work. The officers of the
company are: Mr. J. A. Bennan, president and general man-
. Mr. A. R. Johnson, secretary and sales manager, and
Mr. J. C. Daley, treasurer. Each of the officers named for-
merly held a responsible position with the Thordarson Elec-
tric Manufacturing Company of Chicago.
Westinghouse Agent-Jobbers' Convention. — The Westing-
house agent-jobbers' spring meeting will be held at the
Hotel LaSalle, Chicago, March 15 and l(i, on the two days
preceding the convention of the Electrical Supply Jobbers'
i iation. About fifty Westinghouse representatives and
agents from all parts of the United States are expected to
attend. On Monday evening there will be a banquet at
which Mr. T. Julian McGill, manager of the Chicago office
of the company, will preside as toastmaster. Mr. N. G.
Harvey, general manager of the Illinois Electric Company,
Chicago, is president of the Westinghouse agent-jobbers'
association.
The I). & M. Lamp & Lighting Company, 13 Astor Place,
N'ew Yoik, which was recently formed, has installed a light-
ing equipment, consisting of only four 350-watt nitrogen-
filled lamps in a 7200-sq.-ft. hall for the school of the
Church of the Holy Innocents, Brooklyn, N. V. The ceiling
of the hall is 42 ft. high and the hall seats 1200 persons.
The lamps are equipped with special shades manufactured
by the Laco-Philips Company, Lindhoven, Holland. The
D. & M. Company exhibited various types of nitrogen-filled
lamps at the recent automobile show in Brooklyn, including
several special lamps for automobiles. George L. Deverell
is president of the D. & M. Lamp >£ Lighting Company;
Archibald J. McKinny, vice-president, and Alexander Mc-
Kinny, Jr., secretary and treasurer.
Electric Automobile Starter Concern Prosperous. — The
gross sales of Gray & Davis, Cambridge, Mass., manufac-
turers of electric starting apparatus and lighting equipment
for automobiles, totaled about $4,000,000 in 1914, represent-
ing a new high-water mark in the income of the firm. The
Cambridge factory is running full time and the smaller
plant at Amesbury, Mass., is running day and night. About
100 orders a day are now coming in for electric starters
suitable for Ford cars. The net earnings to] L914 anted
to about six times the preferred stock dividend. During
the year the capital stock of the company increased from
$500,000 to $750,000. The company has recently begun to
manufacture electric motors according to its own designs.
having formerly purchased these at an outlay of about
$1,500,000 per year.
Orders for Stokers. — The Combustion Engineering Cor-
poration, 11 Broadway, New York, is meting with con-
siderable success with its underfeed stokers, which are be-
ing used in a number of large plants. Its type E stoker
is of improved design. With this stoker the coal is fed by
hand or coal-conveying machinery into a large hopper
and is carried under the fire by means of a reciprocating
sliding bottom of a feed trough or retort which runs the
full length of the stoker. The coal is delivered uniformly
from the front to the rear by auxiliary pushers, and as
it rises in the trough is distributed to the sides of the
furnace by moving bars. The burning fuel is constantly
carried by the action of the bars to the dumping trays
along each side wall where the resulting ash or clinker is
ited The following are some of the equipments
that have been installed: The Philadelphia Electric ■
pany, Philadelphia, at its Beacon Light plant, Cheater, Pa.,
live stokers under 500-hp boilers; Kirkman A Son. Iirook-
lyn, N. Y.. rs under Ion I,,, boilers; Xiagara,
Loekporl A Ontario Power Company, Buffalo, X. Y., four
- under 360-hp boilers in standby plant (four units
to be added in near future I; the Flatbush Hvgeia lee Com-
pany, Brooklyn, X. Y.. three stokers; the New York Steam
pany, New Vork, two itokert andei 600-hp boilers
(six units to be added in the near future); the Southern
Manual Training School, Philadelphia, Pa., four stokers
under 250-hp boilers; the Grand Trunk Railway S
two stokers in one of its plants at Chicago; the Wheeling
Traction Company, Wheeling, W. \'a.. ti okers; the
West Penn Traction Company, Pittsburgh, Pa., eleven
stokers.
Electrically Operated Compressors.— According to the
Blaisdell Machinery Company, Bradford, Pa., electrically
driven compressors are being used with increasing fre-
quency each year and are, to a considerable extent, super-
seding the steam-operated machines. The compressors
made by the above company range from a small 2-ft. motor-
driven garage pump to units with ratings of 5000 cu. ft. a
minute. A large installation of the Blaisdell equipment is
in the Peterborough plant of the Canadian General Electric
Company. There are also ten large motor-driven machines
operating on various kinds of tunnel work on the Canadian
Northern Railway and the Canadian Pacific Railway. They
are also being used in the shops of the Canadian Pacific
Railway at Calgary. Besides the air compressors, the
Blaisdell Machinery Company is making various types of
large-sized electrically operated vacuum cleaners. One of
the most notable recent installations is that made in the
San Francisco hospital, which consists of eight motor-driven
units. A reciprocating vacuum pump has also just been in-
stalled in the Widener residence, Elkins Park, Philadelphia.
Pa. The Blaisdell vacuum cleaning systems are being used
in the University Hospital, Augusta, Ga.; the Consumptive
Hospital, Boston, Mass.; the Higgins Memorial Hospital,
Olean, N. Y.; the Providence Hospital, Seattle, Wash.; the
United States Naval Hospitals at Portsmouth, N. H., New-
port, R. I., and Chelsea, Mass.; the Palace Theater, New
York; the Church of the Assumption, Syracuse, N. Y.; the
Cathedral of St. John the Divine, New York; the United
States post offices at Cleveland, New Orleans, Kansas City
and New York; the National Museum, Washington; the
Congressional Library, Washington, and the United States
Agricultural Building, Washington. The system is also
being used in a number of schools, club houses, hotels, office
buildings, banks, apartment houses and residences.
NEW YORK METAL MARKET PRICES
r- March 2— , r- Marcb 9— >
Selling Prices Selling Trices
_ Bid Asked Bid Asked
' £ s d E s d
"| ". standard spot* 64 2 6 t;t 7 $
ETln"> La** 14.62% tol4.76 to 14. SO
Electrolytic 14. SO to 14.60 toiler,
Casting . 14.OO tol4.25 tol4.2r,
1 "I'l"' Wire base 15.87'.. 15 S7> ,
'•'"'J1 , 3.90 " 3.95
SJ5. ,-•• ■„••: : *2-00 to 45.00 42.00 to 45.00
Sheet zoie. 1. o.b. smelter 13 00 13 50
:<■■«;< ,. 10.76f 110,,;
*'':",s "" 40.50 iv -,„;
Uuminum, 98 to 99 per cent.... 19.00 to 19.25 19.00 t<i 19.25
13.00
9.00
7.75
3. fir.
•OLD METALS
H, i copper and wire 13 00
Brass, heavy o'nn
Brass, light 7 7-
I.ead, heavy j'jq
ip ..■;:: 7.37% s««
COPPER EXPORTS
Of copper in form of pigs, ingots, bars, plates
.,,,,! scrap for week ended Feb. 27, 1915 10,171,S46 lb.
*E 'ally transactions on the New York Metal Exchange
tNominal. ■*•■»«=.
708
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 11
New Incorporations
The City Light & Water Company, of Waverly, Tenn.,
has been incorporated with a capital stock of $4,000 by
H. W. Hooper, J. D. Luten, J. F. Daniels and others. The
company proposes to generate and distribute electricity for
lamps and motors and operate water-works system.
The \e» Sewickley Light Company, of New Sewickley,
Pa., has beer, chartered with a capital stock of $5,000 to
operate in the township of New Sewickley. The incor-
porators are A. W. Stevenson, A. W. Robertson, J. R.
McNary, L. F. Kane and E. W. Washbaugh, of Pitts-
burgh, Pa.
The Fort Loraine Light & Power Company, of Fort Lor-
aine, Ohio, has been incorporated with a capital stock of
$10,000 to construct and operate an electric-light and power
plant in Fort Loraine. The incorporators are W. J. Sher-
man, Francis M. Sherman, B. T. Bull, H. E. Bennett and
John Oldham.
New Industrial Companies
The Projectophone Company, of New York, N. Y., has
been incorporated with a capital stock of $10,000 by Arthur
H. Wing, Harry C. Wing and Frank H. Gerrodette. Wing &
Wing, 27 Cedar Street, New York, are attorneys.
McLeod. Ward & Company, of New York, N. Y., has been
incorporated by E. Holloway, H. D. Demarest and W. D.
Bass, of Park Ridge, N. J. The company is capitalized at
$15,000, and proposes to deal in electrical supplies,
lamps, etc.
The Bethlehem Lamp Manufacturing Company, of South
Bethlehem, Pa., has been incorporated with a capital stock
of $10,000 to manufacture lighting apparatus. The in-
corporators are H. and D. Freiberger and S. Wiesenberger,
of South Bethlehem, Pa.
The Mignon Wireless Corporation, of Elmira, N. Y., has
been chartered with a capital stock of $5,000 to manufacture
and deal in wireless instruments and apparatus for wireless
messages. The incorporators are J. G. Gerhart, C. A. Mieth
and E. C. Mignon, of Elmira.
Bauman & Loeb, of Brooklyn, N. Y., have filed articles
of incorporation with a capital stock of $10,000 to manu-
facture and deal in gas and electric fixtures and appli-
ances. The incorporators are J. Hill-Quit, W. Loeb and
O. Bauman, 181 Penn Street, Brooklyn, N. Y.
The White Coal Company, of New York, N. Y., has been
chartered with a capita! stock of $10,000 to deal in coal,
building, heating, lighting, ventilating and other materials.
The incorporators are Walter M. Sundheimer, Thomas J.
Bannon and Matthew J. White, 1494 University Avenue, the
Bronx, New York, N. Y.
The Dur-Eco Electric Company, of New York, N. Y., has
been incorporated with a capital stock of $100,000 to manu-
facture and deal in electric cooking, deodorizing and fumi-
gating devices and engineers' supplies. The incorporators
are H. Preston Coursen, Walter G. Merritt and Scott Mc-
Lanahan, 186 Broadway, New York, N. Y.
The Franklin Bus Company has filed articles of incur
potation under the laws of the State of Delaware with a
capital stock of $25,000 for the purpose of conducting
buses operated by electricity or other power. The in
corporators are L. C. Hartman, J. H. Kresge, of Wet
Pittston, Pa., and J. E. Turnbull, of Wilkes-Barre, Pa.
The Union Engineers of New York, of New York, N. Y.,
have filed articles of incorporation with a capital stock of
$12,000 for the purpose of doing a general construction,
le-ating, ventilating and electrical-contracting badness. The
incorporators are William E. McKeen, Frank L. Clarl
• nty-third Street, New York, N. Y., and others.
The Electrical Institute of New York lias tiled articles
of incorporation with the Secretary of State, with a Cap]
tal stock of $5,000, for t he purpose of dealing in mechan-
ical and electrical-chemical appliance . machinery, appars
tus, etc The incorporators are Sideny II. Loeb, J. J.
Popper and K. Ban er, 58 \\v.t 109th Street, New York,
N. Y.
Trade Publications
Electric Hoists. — The Link-Belt Company, Chicago, 111.,
has recently published Bulletin No. 207, which describes a
recently developed electric hoist.
Flashlamp. — The Beacon Miniature Electric Company, 118
Duane Street, New York, has prepared a leaflet which de-
scribes its fountain-pen flashlamp.
Books on Electricity. — Frederick J. Drake & Company,
Chicago, 111., are sending out a leaflet which describes sev-
eral of their 1915 books on electricity.
Outdoor Metering Outfit. — Bulletin No. 46,251, issued by
the General Electric Company, Schenectady, N. Y'., describes
its outdoor metering outfit for 11,000 volts..
Nitrogen-Filled Lamps. — Nitrogen-filled lamps rated at
100 watts and 200 watts are described in a leaflet issued
by the Lux Manufacturing Company, Hoboken, N. J.
Small Hydraulic Plants. — "Electric Light Plants Driven
by Small Water-Powers" is the subject of Bulletin No. 16
issued by the Fitz Water Wheel Company, Hanover, Pa.
Steam Purifier. — The Tracy Engineering Company, San
Francisco, Cal., has recently issued its Catalog No. 10,
which describes and illustrates its steam-purifying appa-
ratus.
Automobile Bell. — The Trinity Bell Electrical Manufac-
turing Company, 5018 Calumet Avenue, Chicago, 111., has
prepared a folder which describes its electrically operated
automobile bell.
Wheel-Lathe Equipment. — Leaflet No. 3482- A, just is-
sued by the Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Com-
pany, East Pittsburgh, Pa., contains information on elec-
trical apparatus for wheel lathes.
Electric Fans. — A booklet recently issued by the Robbins
& Myers Company, Springfield, Ohio, contains information
on its electrically operated fans and an article entitled
"Keeping Cool," by Elbert Hubbard.
Steam-Turbine Drive for Rolling Mills. — The De Laval
Steam Turbine Company, Trenton, N. J., has recently pre-
pared an illustrated bulletin which describes its steam tur-
bines designed for rolling-mill service.
Automatic Switch for Electrically Operated Pumps. — The
Martin & Anson Company, 2226 Indiana Avenue, Chicago,
111., has issued a leaflet which describes its inclosed auto-
matic switch for air pumps and water pumps.
Ornamental Lamp-Posts. — The Chicago Concrete Post
Company, 608 South Dearborn Street, Chicago, has issued a
booklet describing and illustrating actual installations of
its "Star" ornamental street-lighting standards.
Steel Pipes. — Bulletin No. 24 issued by the National Tube
Company, Pittsburgh, Pa., contains reprints from the Iron
Age, the Iron Trade Review and the American Metal Market
mid Diiihi Iron and Steel Report on the development of steel
pipe.
Switching Apparatus for Automobiles. — Bulletin No. 12,
published by the Hartman Electrical Manufacturing Com-
pany, Mansfield, Ohio, describes and illustrates automatic
lighting switches, current indicators, starter switches, etc.,
for automobiles.
Flashlamps. — The American Ever Ready Works of the
National Carbon Company, 308 Hudson Street, New York,
ending out a large-sized bulletin which contains illustra-
tions of a number of their advertisements printed in various
magazines and of applications of their lamps to various
purposes.
Flexible Couplings. — The Smith-Serrell Company, 90 West
Street, New York, general sales agent for the Francke Com-
pany, New Brunswick, N. J., is sending out Bulletin No. 18
and several folders and cards which describe and illustrate
various types of flexible couplings for directly connected
machines.
Electrical Problems. — The Westinghouse Electric & Man-
ufacturing Company is sending out a reprint of a paper en-
titled "Some Electrical Problems Practically Considered,"
which was read before the recent convention of the Iron
and Steel Electrical Engineers at Cleveland by Mr. B. G.
Lamina, chief engineer- of the company.
M UN ii
ELECTRICAL WORLD
709
Construction News
New England
RUMFORD FALLS, MAIN
I
output <■■
ICILTON, N II \, ; ition has been
■• Commission
Milt..,,
l:|.. MASS.— Within the next six
months • MOn ex.
pects t..
some tr ,,r about
line and son ■
paratus, vai uum cleat ■
Middle Atlantic
BROOKLYN. N Y- Bids will be re-
and Ac-
rtment, Washington
D. C. until March 23 for dellverll
navy yard, Brooklyn. N. Y . e ip
follows : Brass and steel bolts and nuts,
sheet brass, burlap, buzzers, interior com-
munication and telephone cable,
carbons, shipping cases, electrolyt
brass conduit, air-port glasses, bulls-eve
lanterns, searchlamp mirrors, lead pipe, sal
ammoniac, steel powder tanks, safety treads
brass tubing, and electrical wire Applica-
tions for proposals should be mad,
navy pay office, New Y'ork, N Y., or to
the above office. Samuel McGowan is pay-
master-general, U. S. N.
KINGS PARE, N. Y.— Bids will 1„- re-
ceived by the State Hospital Commission
Capitol. Albany, until March 1^. for con-
struction, including heating, plumbing and
electric work, for additional accommoda-
tions for chronic patients at the Kings
Park State Hospital. Kings Park. Draw-
ings and specifications and blank t,
proposals may be obtained at the Depart-
ment of Architecture, Capitol, Albany
Drawings and specifications may
suited at Kings Park State Hospital, Kings
Park, and at the New York office of the
tment of Architecture. Room 122 1
Woolworth Building, and at the Depart-
ment of Architecture, Capitol, Albany.
MAI. ONE. N. Y. — Within the next six
months the Malone Lt. & Pwr. Co
to purchase material for extension of lines
Into rural districts around Malone. The
company also expects to install a street-
lighting system (using Incandescent lamps)
in the village of Bangor. S. G. Hunter is
superintendent.
NEW YORK, N. Y.— Bids will be re-
ceived by F. J H Kracke. commissioner of
Municipal Building, New York, N.
Y., until March 18 for constructing an addi-
tional elevator in the north tower of the
Queens anchor pier of the Queensboro
Bridge. Blank forms and specifications
may be obtained at the office of the De-
partment of Bridges. Municipal Building,
New York.
NEW YORK, N. Y— Bids will be received
at th.- office of the supervising architect,
Treasury Department, Washington, D. C.
until March 25 for the construction (Includ-
ing metal shelving equipment, interior light-
ing fixtures and electric conduit and wir-
ing) of an interior safety vault for the
United States Appraisers' Warehouse at
New York, N. Y. Drawings and ■■ ,
tions may be obtained from the above office.
NEW YORK. N. Y— Bids will be re-
ceived by the board of trustees of Belle-
vue and Allied Hospitals, l:. Ilevue Hos-
pital, 415 Fast Twenty-sixth Street, New
York, until March 19, for furnishing general
plant materials, including engine.
rials and electricians' supplies, etc., under
Specification No. in. Blank forms and
further Information ma: I at the
office of the contract clerk and auditor, No.
400 East Twenty-ninth Street, New York.
NEW YORK, N. Y. Bid
oelvcd by the Board >>( Health, Dei
of 1 1. i ii i,. corn. Walker
New York, until March :
Dishing material and labor neci jary t.> in-
compli i. . together « II
sary alterations and other work Incidental
thereto, the electric circuit work of pavil-
ions Nos. 8 and 9 on the ground.
Department of Health, North Brother
Island, borough of the Bronx, New York
City. Plans may be seen and blank forms
for the above work and further information
may be obtained ai thi
WATERVLIFT, N Y Bids will be
Supply. et. until
if a city
Blda will be received for I
. T. N. Y Th. Publli
held in this village last
■ oposal to estab-
■ i.-ctrii -light plant was
. ,.. be l> gal.
ALT' » .NA. nn Central Lt.
.v l'wr. Co., of Altoona, it is reported, is
-ions to its lines in
territory already occupied, involving an ex-
bout $100,000. The company
ng to extend its transmission
The proposed plans
sing the output of the
,t at Williamsburg.
CEMENTON, PA — Application has been
Service Commission by
EL Lt. .v l'wr. Co. for ap-
d assignment of all its
d property to the Lehigh Val-
. Allentown.
GETTYSBURG, PA. — Preparations, it is
being made by the Gettys-
burg Lt. Co. to chang hi from a
phase, two-wire circuit to a three-
\ Ire circuit.
HARRISBURG, PA —Contracts have re-
cently been approved by the Public Service
•on as follows: The Lily Lt.. Ht.
A: l'wr I borough Of Lily, which
.alls for street-lighting th.- West Penn El.
the city of Connellsville, for fur-
nishing electricity for street-lighting: the
Sykesvill. El. Lt, Ht. & Pwr Co. and the
borough of Sykesville. for street-lighting
and for electricity for other pur-
poses In the borough.
LEHIGHTON, PA— Plans are being
considered by the Lehighton El. Lt. & Pwr.
Co. for replacing its water-tube system and
overhauling its main bank of Stirling boil-
ers, including the rebuilding of arches and
brickwork and remodeling stack base. It
also proposes to make general repairs on its
hanging some of the series incan-
lamp circuits to arc circuits, etc.
NEW SEWICKLEY, PA. (not a post of-
Hce) -Tl,.- New Sewlckley Lt. Co.. recently
granted a charter, proposes to install and
trie-lighting system in New
Sewickley. The company is capitalized at
$5,000, and the incorporators are A W.
, . A. W. Robertson. .1. R. McNary,
L. F. Kane and E. W. Washbaugh, of
Pittsburgh.
IISTOWN, PA.— The electric light
commiss:on expects to purchase 100 series
tungsten lamps of 100 cp for the municipal
street-lighting system. William G. RIsdon
is superintendent.
■; iKi.i'iiiA. PA.— Bids will be re-
ceived at the office of the supervising archi-
tect. Treasury Department, Washington,
D. C. until March 29 for coal-handling ap-
paratus, etc., in the United States Mint at
, Ida. Pa., in accordance with draw-
ings and specifications, copies of which mav
i btalned at the above office or the office
Of the custodian of the United Star.
Philadelphia.
RXDGWAT, PA— The Ridgwav El. Lt.
Co. is reported to be contemplating
.hanging its motive power to steam. At
• used. The company
also proposes to erect a high-tension trans-
mission line from Ridgway to Johnsonhurg
Sane.
TITrSYII.I.F.. PA.— The city of Titus-
contemplatlng installing an alter-
nating-current generator in the municipal
ghtlng plant and replacing the
■ ril lamps
II X Ib.lstein Is manager.
HADDONFIELD, N .1 The commis-
sioners ..i Haddonfield have decided to
Place additional electric lamps on Linden
Klin and Woodland Avenues. The street-
lighting service is furnished l.v the Pub
Si r i:i ••.. . ..' Newark.
thia the
next 1- months the Parkershurg, Marietta
\ Interurban Ry. Co. of Parkersburg, ex-
1000-kw steam turbine
kw already Install.
n I "■ I» added later. C. G. Gallaher is
i.ager.
WHEELING, W. VA— The Wheeling El
mti mplating extending Its high-ten-
Qlenco t.. Barm bvIHi
tance of 20 miles: also will erect a bigh-
orn Wheeling to MoundsvUle
I. and complete a high-ten-
Ray land, Ohio, to steuben-
io Numerous other short exten-
sions will also be made. J. B. Gardner is
iger.
WASHINGTON, I' 0 B
• the Bureau of Ya
Navy Department, Washington, D. C. until
March 27 for a 15 -ton, foul
tl d at the
ishlngton. Plans and specifi-
may be obtained on appl.
■ au or to the commandant of
the navy yard n am. -<1 H. R. Stanford is
..f bureau.
WASHINGTON, D. C— Bids will be te-
net of Columt t Build-
on, until March 15, for fur-
nishing and delivering, f.u.b. Washington.
one switchboard and accessories i
-, Department. Plans and
obtained from the purchas-
ing officer, Room 320, District Building,
Washington, D. C.
WASHINGTON, D C— Foreign trade op-
portunities, as announced by the Bureau of
Foreign and Domestic Commerce in the
rce Reports, are as follows: No. 15,-
821 — An American consul in Europe re-
ports that an agent in his district desires
immediate quotations, f.o.b. steamer, on
telephone and telegraph wire. It is stated
that the government is preparing to ex-
pend $134,000 on this commodity. Corre-
spondence may be in English. No
An American consular officer in one of
the neutral European countries reports that
a business man in his district desires Amer-
ican manufacturers and exporters to quote
at once, prices f.o.b. New York, on search-
lamps for field service and fortifications, in
all sizes. Correspondence may be in Eng-
lish. No. 15.^44 — An American consul in
Africa reports that a man in his district
wishes to secure an agency for the sale of
an electrical device for felling trees. No
15,846 — One of the foreign embassies in
Washington, D. C, has informed this bu-
reau that it is in receipt of inquiries for
cable quotations on quantities of regen-
erated dioxide of manganese for electric
cells. No. 15,850 — An American consular
officer in South America reports that a firm
in his district which operates gas and elec-
tric-light plants is desirous of communi-
cating with American dealers and manu-
facturers of gas and electric fixtures.
electrical apparatus, including stoves, and
toys, supplies and machinery. Catalogs
and correspondence may be in English, but
Spanish is preferred. No. 15.S6S — An
American consular officer in Africa has
transmitted plans, specifications, etc., rela-
tive to an opportunity for American firms
to bid on supplying seven 5-ton and one 10-
ton electrically operated cranes for a port
in his district. Bids will be open about
April 30. Plans may be seen at the above
bureau and its branches. No. 15.S72 — The
commercial agent of the Bureau of Foreign
and Domestic Commerce in New York City
reports that there seems to be an oppor-
tunity for American manufacturers of
electrotyping and photo-lithographing ma-
chinery to secure an order from one of the
Latin-American governments. Further in-
formation may be obtained from the Bu-
reau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce.
Department of Commerce. Washington. D.
C, or its branches.
North Central
COPEMISH, MICH. — A committee con-
sisting of A. L. Gleason and others has
been appointed by the Village Council to
make investigations in regard to establish-
ing a municipal electric-lighting plant in
Copemish.
CROSWELL. MICH— The City Council,
it is reported, has engaged J. Stark, of
to supervise the installation ,.f
additional equipment in the municipal elec-
tric-light plant, when Improvements are
completed a 24-hour service will he estab-
lished.
DETROIT. MICH— Bids will be received
by Charles A. Gadd, secretary of board of
education. Detroit, until March 23 for the
construction complete of the Garfield School
and the Southeastern High School in De-
troit.
LANSING, MICH. — Extensions and im-
provements, it is reported, are contem-
plated by the Michigan Pwr. Co., involving
an expc bout $30,000, of which
SI II. (Kill will be expended on the power sta-
tion and the remainder on the distributing
system in Lansing and vicinity. D 1 1
Thomas is ms
MIWISIXG. .MICH.— The Electric Lt- &
l'wr. Co.. of Munising. has recently erected
by 157-fL brick power station and
installed one 250-kw, three-phase generat-
ing unit complete, and expects to install an
additional generating unit of the same rat-
ing within the next few months .lames
Hosklng is vice-president and general nun-
ager,
no
MUSKEGON, MICH.— The Grand ltapids-
Muskegon Pwr. Co. has nearly completed
the rebuilding of all Its lmw in the -Mus-
kegon territorj and this year lias in view
a number of small lighting line extensions,
to cover i,;,! lighting
districts. The company has had Inquiries
to extend its BerviCe to Lake Harbor (a
summer hotel district on Lake Mich]
about 4 mii.s rroro Muskegon, and
North Muskegon, which is about 1 miles
distant . both propositions will cover light-
Braall motor service. While nothing
definite has been decided upon, estll
are being made to see whether suffli ienl
business can bo obtained to warrant the ex-
penditure. The company has also had a
request from tie- . it> .,t Whitehall to sub-
mit a prop' service there, but
nothing definite has been decided upon \V
M Lewis is local manager.
XII. lis. MICH— The Hoard of Public
".'■' 0 purchase a small amount
of line material and some poles for repairs
'«' P pment F. s. Hadfleld is
superintendent
SOUTH BOARDMAN, MICH. — The
M Co., successor to the Black-
n»" Li i o. is contemplating making some
1 in o ■ , : i this sea - but
ans have not been decided upon
Charles L. Sessions is proprietor and man-
ager.
UNION CITY, MICH.— Within the next
OS tie light and water coinmission-
I put chasi a 1500-gal. pump
ec( pressure! for the water-works svs-
t-m F. < i. Webber is superintendent
CLEVELAND, OHIO.— Bids will be re-
; it A l: callow, com-
ro'ssi ' '•!' purchases and supplies. i:i»m
511, City Hall, Cleveland, until March is
for fiber conduit for the municipal elei
light department, Specifications may be
obtained at the office of the commissioner
or light and heat division, 1443 East Third
Street
CLEVELAND, I >HII I Bids will be re-
i at the Office Of A. R. Callow, com-
missioner ol purchases and supplies Room
511, City Hall. Cleveland, until March 19
for electric wiring of power house and
<""' Pital. Specifications may
be obtained at tl 1, the cit\ arehi-
'.''''• lU"im '-"• ''i,v HalL "Pon deposit of
len will be refunded upon return of
same.
IOCTON, OHIO— The Ohio Ser. Co.,
'-mocton. expects to complete its 33 fioO-
voll transmission system this year, which
will connect Strasburg, Canal Dover, New
Philadelphia, Midvale, Dennison, Uhrichs-
Newcomerstown, West Lafayette,
dge and Byesville ' The
01 templates the erection of
a 13,000-yolt transmission line to Tippe-
"■ 9 miles long, work on which
will soon begin..
FINDLAY, OHIO— The Toledo, Bowling
& Southern Trac. Co., having been
' -'•"■ \cars to its
raise in Findlay, has announced that
1 lectrlc plant will be enlarged and thai
much ot its railway track in the city will
be repaired and renewed. Charles F
Smith is general ma 1
GOMER, ..IIP. Th, v,nage Council is
negotiating with the Ohio El Ry. Co. to ex-
lomer to furnish electrl. al
MIDDLETOWN, "HI... Bids will be re-
the City Conn,, | ,1,11,.-
i" mi until Marcl , lighting the
and ofher public
within tl , ,,. ,,,„! ,,.
1 ! ! 0 lor the in-
stallation ,,i ;,,, oni. mtal lighting -
in accordance with specifications a,,, .
and adopted by the commissioners"
,:' ' iltted on ornamen-
John Km,/, is city clerk.
NORW AI.K. ..III.. Bj the decision
banded do« 1 .....■,, ,,,„ j, ,,,,
Feb. 27 the temporary Injunction seined
" the Cleveland, Southwest! m & Co
to prevent tl
Ing 01 , bond
' id th. ell 1 , ved to
SKY, ..up. tl. CM .'on.,., I
a ,,r
0
■ ail s. ati 11,., but W|rei 01 the telep
SHAWNEE, OHIO Within the nezl two
lie for tie- put trlbutlng
Ived from the New 1
impleted tie- local plan.
line from Sh
within the i,.\t few months. I.
eentlv Completed a line from si
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 11
W. Laube
Logan. 15 miles long.
superintendent
SPENCERVLLLE, OHIO.— The town of
Spencerville expects to purchase within the
next three months two boilers, one steam
engine and generator for the municipal
electric-light plant. Charles S. Fryer is
clerk.
SPRINGFIELD, OHIO— Plans are being
-Meld i.e. Ht & Pwr.
Co. for extensions and repairs to its sys-
tem, involving an expenditure of about
$60,000. W. Parsons is general manager.
WAUSEON, OHIO.— Petitions have been
put in Circulation asking that an election
be held to submit the proposal to establish
a municipal electric-lighting plant in Wau-
seon .o t he voters.
V. .ex. 1ST. IWN, OHIO. — Plans are being
considered l,v Messrs. I'fau & Faunce for
the construction of a large garage in
Youngstown, to cost about $50,000, com-
plete, with machine-shop equipment and
electrically operated machinery.
LEWISBURG, KV.-V. L. Price, owner
of the I.ewislnire: planing mill, has begun
work on the construction of an electric-
lighting plant to be operated in conjunc-
tion with the mill.
LUDLOW. KT. — Bids will be received bv
W R Cullen, city clerk, Ludlow, until
March IS for a franchise to install and
operate a telephone system in the city of
Ludlow for a period of 20 years.
NEW HAVEN, KT. — The contract for
equipment for the municipal electric-light
plant has been awarded to Fairbanks,
Morse & Co., of Louisville. Charles R.
Heizer is engineer in charge.
PORT WAYNE, END. — Arrangements are
being made by the city of Fort Wayne to
arc-lamp belt circuit this summer
to encompass the entire city to relieve some
of the overload circuits now in use and to
make it possible to give street-lighting serv-
ice in portions of the city not reached at
present.
GOSHEN, IXD. — The Hawkes El. Co., of
Goshen, is contemplating the erection of a
r.ilu.i- volt transmission line to Middlebury.
a distance of Hi miles, to furnish electrical
service there. The street-lighting system
will consist of 40 6.6-amp lamps.
HAMMOND, IND. — Bids will be received
by the Board of Public Works City Hall,
Hammond, until March 17 for the construc-
tion of bath house complete, including
Plumbing. Steamfitting, electric wiring,
lighting fixtures, lamps and clothes drier,
to be situate, i ;,i i.,k,. Front Park. Plans
and specifications can he seen at the office
ol' the Hoard of Public Works, Hammond,
or at the office or the architects. .1. T. Hut-
ton & Son, 314 Hammond Building. Ham-
mond,
IEFFERSONVILLE. [ND— Plans have
1 a apt. roved by the City Council for sub-
stituting Incandescent nitrogen lamps for
the arc lamps now in use. The specifica-
tions 'i,ll for 128 lamps of mi cp, 138 of
250 CP 'iid 1 5 100-cp lamps.
VTNCENNES. IXD— Plans are being
red by the City El. Ltg. Co. of Vin-
cennes for the installation of an orna-
mental lighting s\ste,,i on Main Street, be-
tween Seventh and First Streets, to COSt
about $3,000. The plans provide for SO
posts for five-lamp clusters (60 100-watt
and 240 60-Wat( Mazda lamps), to 1„- main-
tained bv underground wires Thi
will probably not be Installed until next
summer, Felix L Cadou is manager.
CISSXA PARK, II. I. Within the next
eight months the El. Ser. Co., of Clssna
Park. exoe. ds t,, ,.,-,.,. t a transmission line
ii village about i miles distant . also
a number of snort lines, amounting to not
more than 2 miles, t.. furnish electrical
service to farmers The company will need
about 21 lb of Nos, 8, in and I I a Ire
tlso looking for a general supply of
ii i in, i i,n is manager.
MIDDLETOWN, II
will i led ii.cni iii, proposal to Is-
Or the install, lion ol
a muni. Inal el gj st. m The
present ol i,,, ,,|. for ,n -1 Ing i < on,,, c
tlon with
Holl ind ii i i Co., ol Mew Holland
SPRING VALLEY, II. I. The Spring
\ alley ITtil . mol iti
tlon of about :'o miles ol : |, ||
mission 111
I
two an ill town R w
JANE8VILL1 being
prepared bj D C A \\ ilh im B
Hnrrl T lulltl
1 hv
tile CM K,,|. , , ,,,,
W Y. ICENA, WIS Pads will be ,
ni.t ■ Ii , 1. of . 'olumbia
County, i 'miit Ho
i lie... poo, hO i
eluding electric wiring and electric fixtures,
and a central heating plant on the farm of
the Asylum for Chronic Insane at Wyocena.
Plans and specifications are on file at the
office of the county clerk. Portage, and at
the office ..I" Allan I ». Conover, architect, 36
Tenney Block, Madison. Wis.
BOVEY, MINN. — Within the next three
months the Western Mesabe El. Co., of
Bovey, expects to purchase three 33,000/
olt, three-phase transformers, three
2300 L-'.-volt transformers, 2">0 poles, insu-
lators, wire, meters, etc William H. Mackie
is manager.
.MAXKAT, i, MINN.— Within the next
three months the Consumers' Pwr. Co., of
Mankato. expects to erect 3a miles of trans-
mission lines to several towns around Man-
kato. K. K. Brown is general manager.
MAPLE LAKE, MINN.— The City Coun-
cil has passed an ordinance granting the
Pub. Ser. Co., of St. Cloud, a franchise to
construct and operate an electric-lighting
system in Maple Lake.
MII.ACA. MINN.— Repairs will be made
to the engine and settings of the municipal
electric-light plant within the next two
months. No new equipment will be re-
quired. J. A. Kaliher is superintendent.
MILAN. MINN. — The contract for the
construction of an electric-light plant for
Hougland & Kanton has been awarded to
A. J. Kaufman, of Appleton, Minn.
PARK RAPIDS, MINN.— L. H. Rice,
owner of the local electric-light and power
plant, expects to purchase within the next
1- months ornamental lamp-posts and
underground cable for ornamental lighting
system.
PIPESTONE, MI XX.— The Northwest Lt.
& Pwr. Co., of Pipestone, expects to erect
within the next 12 months 18 miles of
transmission lines. Carl I. Oppen is man-
ager.
ST. CLOUD. MINN.— Bids will be re-
ceived by the State Board of Control, Capi-
tol Building. St. Paul, until March 23 for
structural steel and cast-iron work, steel
sash and roofing and sheet-metal work re-
quired for power house for the state Re-
formatory, st. Cloud, in accordance with
plans and specifications prepared bj C H
Johnston, architect, 715 Capital Bank Build-
ing, St. I'n nl
SHBRBURN, MINN.— The Board ol
Public Works expects to purchase a 220-
VOlt, 25-amp, eight-hour batterv for lighting
US cells; also within the next six months
to purchase equipment for an ornamental
lighting system. G. Fabianke is n
ALTOONA, IA— Within the next three
months the Gibson El. Co., of Altoona,
expects to purchase transformers, poles and
other line material for the erection ot
several rural lines out of both Alt
Mitchelville, and for i siderable new line
work in both of the above-named towns
also to purchase electrical applian
eluding heating and cooking apparatus
vacuum cleaners, washing machlni
George T. Gibson is proprietor.
CAMERON, MO. — Bids will b,- received
by Clarence staph s. eit> i
Mo., until Match 111 for furnishing and In-
stalling equipment for electric-light plant
as follows: One 300-hp simple Corliss en-
gine, non-condensing (tor direct
tiou ) ; .me 250-kva, three-phase, I
L'llini-volt generator (for dii
tloll 1. With belted ex. it, r : oile su I
panel and instruments for i
exciter; also additional switchboard instru-
ments; furnishing and erecting new steel
stack. Complete plans and specil
are on tile with the city clerk, or may be
seen at tl in , Harper & stiles ' 91 i
Grand Avenue Temple, Kansas City, Mo
consulting englt
PAYETTE, MO Th
' ItPeCtS to purchase within the
next two months a new smokestack I |:
Bell Is president and general man
MEADA II. 111. \l. . The install.,
a municipal electric-lighting system, In-
cluding the erection of a I 1-mile trans-
mission line to Chilli, othe, is Ulie
slructioii and male, ial has been pui,
I ' I. S. i ,
engineer In oni
MOUND CITY, Mc The Mound Citj
II LI A ICC I 'O expects lo e\te|l,| il
mission lines t,, Mnitland and Graham in
.UlU"' U \\ . Ned] is I .,
W HEELING, Mi I. Preparal
being made by E. A. 1 I advllle,
lor the installation ol
plant m Wheeling, for which material has
elect, i, - i t x for operating
th.- system u ill prob ibl;
I vll le i , . ' 1 1 • , 1 1 1 ■ Ion line I > I,
1st, oi i toncordla, Kan . is engi-
neer in charge,
WILLISTON, X D Within the ,,. xt
elghl months the dtj of Williston expects
' ' tv n steam I .
'.'. II h ■.'".. VOlt, .'" ''V ''le cell,'! ,
Mac ii 18, 1916
deni»-r» !
lighting i thin ''"•
next six '
I
Ml KI.KY B I ' Wlthll
•!..• Hurle) l.i
ii i: I >ui
MADISON, B. D Bid
■
ther tu-)i|i I -' > linear ft.
ilult ami till
■
;, I 1.1,1s Will Ii
■
nitted to engine
„,,,! i: ii. 1 |. ,ni. Is with Instru-
Triramer, of Math
STAMFORD. NEB Thi Citj Council is
have granted a franchise to
Elder to consti ucl and i
stem In Stamford
BL'CKLIN, KAN Plans
»i, |... 'sine the output i
municipal eloctrlc-llght plant before fall,
thing definite Ided
rintendent.
CANEY KAN Wlthh th.
Lt. & Rj ■■ I'ur-
i of poles i -
.1 c Miller is manager
CLAY CENTRE, KAN The Public Utili-
Commlsslon may purchase withii
two months oil-burning equipment for
mussen is superin-
•
COTTONWOOD FALLS. Kan Within
the next three months the Home Lt & Pwr.
oi Cottonwood I i pur-
tln is manager.
I " .I ii ;i: CITY, kan. \ >
Dimmer by Messrs. Merritt and Otero
n. of Dodge City. Thi electrical
- will be given special attention.
HERINGTON, KAN. The cits of Hei
Ington expects to install in the municipal
i Ic-light pi:, nt a clii.'i r
unit, consisting of a high-i fi
pound engine and a 250-kva, thre pi
tor wiUi exci
.1 Woli ot( Is stiperinti ndi
INDEPENDENCE, K \N Th
Terminal l: R I '•• . It is report id,
templating Hi
pow . en Oil-
ton ami Jennings, Okla. Frank Brown, of
Independem denl of tin- Company.
I, A >•]■.< ISSE, KAN The munici]
trie-light plant has bi . n pui i I
M Wils <>f Eureka, Kan. who lias been
Ki\. franchise i" operate the
same A 10-ton Ice factory will be In-
ted in connection with the
electric plant. A company lias bei
of ili>' La i !rosse Ice
& Lt. Co. l: M. Wils.. n is manager.
riiii.i.irsi:ri;>;. kan. The Phillips-
burg -Mill .v El< vatoi Co., it i- ' P'
contemplates extending Its electric-lighting
■■ in to Logan, i Hade and Si Pre-
liminary plans are being i
installation of a 200-hp oil ■
inery.
■i. A. KAN. The P le's El. LI Co.,
of Paola, •■■ pects to build a
tion this year and Install two new 180-hp
bollere one 200-kw generator (directly con
generator, belt
driv.-n. W. H. Moorehi u til and
manager.
Southern States
GIBSON, N. C- The Cit: I
pi iting the In I :l mu
: electric-lighting planl
BT PAUL'S N. C ,""'1 ::"
I i & pwr Co
ilso to purcli -ii ' ' 'pic
. I,;,,.., is trea urer.
'
Improvi ments to the mi p ' electric-
lighting plain, i.i.i- hii h will be re
ceived until M in b I I M Farrell is
i hail !i
PERRY, GA. Plans an
ered bj w L. Henrj and
development of water power at
Mill and to ereel i transn on line Into
ELECTRICAL WORLD
• Pump-
BRI8TOL TKNN \
the output of II
ompany,
tl
Its normal rat-
hp
CLANTON, ALA The Council
lighting plant in Clanton.
TUrELO miss Within the next three
the dt> of Tupelo expects to pur-
0 ornamental lamp standards roi
..i underground lead-
tend the orn
. . about Bve blocks. L. n.
ii. Tint. n. lent.
XKK Th. Cabol Lt & Pwr.
ted, proposes to con-
-lighting plant
i M Y. .urn
GENTRY ARK The InstaUatli
I electric-lighting plant and water-
v..,rks „ rted '" be under con-
Councll.
HORATIO. ARK The installation of an
lighting plant in Horatio Is
■ ration.
M \i.vi:i:N, ARK The Citizens' l.t Co .
organized with a capital stock of
r. .1. will soon apply for
hlse in Malvern. R S. Brooks and
Edwards are interested in the
MANDEVTLLE, LA.— Preparations are
being made by the St. Tammany fi New
..1 leans Ry. ft Ferry Co. to equip its rail-
., ration from Maud--
ville to Covington. Equipment, it is under-
Harold Ray-
mond, Interstate Hank Building. New Or-
leans, is consulting engineer.
CORPUS CHRISTI, TEX— Bids will be
received at the office of the sum
architect. Treasury Department, Washing-
ton, D. C until April 19 for the construc-
iii.lii.i_' mechanical equipment, ex-
, oaches I of the I mited
flee, court lion
I Corpus ChriBtl. Drawings and
h, obtained at the above
■ from the custodian of site at
Corpus Christl.
CUMBY, TEX. — The Cumbv El LI Co
is planning to rebuild its electric plant, re-
cent!] desi i ■■" ed by Are.
MALAKOFF, TEX- A new elwtric
. ntly been installed in Mala-
kofr by s. J. Hail.
ORANGE, TEX — The Orange Ice. LI .v
wtr Co is contemplating the installation
i lav generator and other equipment
in its plant.
OZONA, TF.X. — The Ozona Improvement
Co will soon rebuild Its plant, di
the present outfit entirely. New equipment
will be installed, consisting of two 25-hn
Fairbanks-Morse (type Y) oil engines, two
20-kva, three-phase, 60-cyCle. 23nn-volt
tors, double-panel switchboard etc..
Frank F Friend
iger.
ROXTON. Ti:\ The T s Pwr. ft Lt
ontemp'ating installing
an eie.tii. -light Bystem in Roxton.
711
MALAD CITY. IDAHO 1
.■„, of Mala.l ■ ■ ',"-' ''-
ing rebuilding
pal lighting system D I.
PAYETTE. IDAHO The I
Co whli
I ' I', ... I lll\e. PWI '
of an electric
.ml farming . ■' '"at
MUDi.lv eh lamps and r,
l-mimtt. New 'Plymouth, PVulUand and
Payette The companj operates two plants,
one at Malad and th- n Falls.
Mi .AH. UTAH.- The Cltl Council is
g with th. ic-light
company for lighting the streets of the
ilty. The company has recently com-
ts plant in '■'
BILLINGS. MONT Bids will
ceived al th< office ol L E. Torrence. city
clerk BlUings, Mont . until March 17, for
improvements on wat.-i -works system for
which separate bids will be received as
follows: (1) For fun rial and
constructing extensions to water-works sys-
t. , i', for material and construction of
iSnforced-concrete Bettllng basin, concrete
construction for Biters, brick filter house,
construct ^ furmBn, :ir„, erecting six
1,000,000-gal. mechanical Biter units; l*J
for furnishing and erecting a 1350-gal.
turbine pump and a 100-hp motor. Mans
aid specifications are on Ble in the office
of the city clerk, Hillings, and at the office
of Burns ft McDon tt Build-
ing. Kansas City. Mo., consulting engi-
neers.
in:i:i: l/iPUE, M< >NT.— The City Coun-
cil has adopted a resolution creating a
improvement district 32. in which
i u-lighting system will be installed,
at a cost of about $6,000.
CHEYENNE, WYO— The City Com-
missioners have passed an ordinal
viding for an additional hvc-year BXten
Bior of the contract with the Cheyenne Lt..
Fuel & Pwr. Co. for lighting the streets ol
the City in return for which the ordinance
.alls Jor a reduction in the price of elee-
tricitv in the residential sections and binds
the .'ompany to furnish the City with either
tlonal arc lamps or 50 additional
cluster street lamps without additional
cost.
Pacific States
Canada
COCHRANE, ALTA.— NegoUatiOl
under wav between this town and the Cal-
gary Lt & Pwr Co. with a view of making
,. t under which the company would
supply electricity in Cochrane.
ECENORA i iNT. — The city of Kenora is
planning to install JO additional lamp stand-
aids similar to those already in use. A.
VlcLeod is superintendent of municipal
electric-light plant.
TORONTO i 'NT. — Tenders will be re-
, ,. , ,i bj T i. Church, Mayor, chairman
i of control, for furnishing supplies
f0, D, partment Of Works as follows ; I 1 I
struction of Lansdowne Avenue par
,i,i i :i i track material, contrai
i rails, plates. Polls, spik. s. etc I . Cbl over-
materlal, contract "B (wire, fit-
tings etc I (2) water-tube boilers and me-
chanical stokers for main pumping station
nun? and lender form m
!,,,,,[ upon application at Room 12, pur-
miil accounting section of the
Department of Public Works, City Hall.
ARLINGTON, WASH— The Kellogg
, tltioned the .Tun Creek
\\'u . Lt. .^ Pwt i'm,. of Arlington, to er-
,,.,,,! jt. lines to the Marsh
to furnish electrical servlci there
, ORE Bids will I..- re-
ceived at the office of the supervising archi-
,. , i ti i iineiit. Washington,
i 'ion com-
il equipment, ex-
cept elevator, lighting fixtures and ap-
,,i , of the United states post office
Drawings
I at the
custodian of site
..:. Ion
I .- IDAHO I UUlitles
M. Holm, o'
i . ill. -lie Ol
onvenlcnce gi\ Ing them pi
i
planl ai Ashton and to erect transmission
.1 nlnnt to the Mud Lake
Energy will b«
i . to irrigate
land which it is pro-
■ lop.
Miscellaneous
PB \i:i. HARBOR, Hawaii Bids will
be received at the Bureau of Yards and
Navy Department, Washington.
D C until April 3, for an electric passenger
,,, the naval hospital at the naval
p, arl Harbor. Plans and specifica-
tions maj be obti d at above bureau oi
commandant of the station named.
II R Stanford is chief of bureau.
PANAMA. Hids will be received at thi
office ol th ii al in. sing officer ol
.in i Canal, R n i"1' I ' ' ' ■
, , i, 22, for turn. slum ■ ..ii.iiin
boxes ahei I coppi r, yellow metal. per
Blanks and gi neral informs
lion relating to this circular i No. 90 1 i
obtaim d at the above office or the
offices of the assistant purchasing agents,
"1 Slate Street, New York, N. Y. ; '.II
i noil. img. N.w Orleans,
I 1086 North Point Street, San
,,i Major F. C Bogg
i . , i purchasing offio
712
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 11
Weekly Record of Electrical Patents
UNITED STATES PATENTS ISSUED
MARCH 2, 1915.
[Prepared by Robert Starr AUyn, 16 Ex-
change Place, New York, N. Y.]
1.129.S40. Telephone; h. A. Bates, Gales-
burg, in. App. filed Aug. H, 1914.
False rails through accidental move-
ments of receiver hook ellmini
1,129,842. Electric Furnace ; J. Blatch-
ford. Oak lark. 111. App. filed Aug. 19,
19H. Adjustable heat-muffle furnace for
laboratory use.
1.129.861. Electric Heater for Liquids;
M. ft Gonzales, Birmingham, Ala, App
riled April 11. 1914. Heating elements
spread over top surface of liquid.
1.129.862. Process of Reducing Ores: A.
E. Greene, Chicago, 111. App. filed July
'12. Direct production of refined
iron, steel or ferro-alloys.
1,129,871. Electric Pocket Lamp; W.
Jerger, Sr., Villengen, and M. Weiss,
Berlin, Germany. App. filed May 31,
1913. I'istol type, provided with igniting
device or other device of common use.
1,129,878. Regulating Device for Motor-
Driven Compressors ; F. L. Lucker,
Brooklyn, and A. O. Carpenter, Corning,
N. Y. App Bled March 11, 1913. Re-
sistance cut out gradually in starting the
motor.
1,129,900. Sealing-Wax Melter; G. S
Proctor and J. B. Prendergast, Ottawa,
Ontario, Canada. App. filed May 24,
1913. Electrically heated holder receives
stick of sealing wax.
1,129,912. Trollet Retriever; I. W
Smith, Dayton, Ohio. App. filed Feb. 3.
1905. Improved controlling means for
the rewinding spring.
Gaseous Repeater in Circuits
op Low Impedance; H. De F. Arnold,
East Orange, N. J. App. filed Mav 28,
1914. Thermionic repeaters in taridem.
Gaseous Repeater in Circuits
of Low Impedance ; H. De F. Arnold
East Orange, N. J. App. filed Mav 28,
1914. Thermionic repeater working into
plurality of thermionic repeaters in mul-
tiple.
1,129,961. Telephone-Exchange System-
Browning, Keefeton, Okla. App
filed July 18, 1913. Eliminates corded
plugs and spring jacks, and operator
cannot "listen in."
1,129,959. Ststem for Amplifying Elec-
tric Waves ; E. H. Colpitts, East Orange
N. J. App. filed April 6, 1914. Signal-
ing over ocean cables.
1.129,973. Outlet-Box Bushing; G A
Gauthler, Hartford, Conn. App. filed Feb
12, 1914. Clamped to end of flexible con-
duit or armored cable.
1,129,987. Street-Car Indicator; T E
Kearney and A. J. McFarlane, Berke-
ley, Cal. App. filed Mav 5, 1913. Op-
erated by co-operating devices on trollev
wire and pole.
1.130.008. Audion ; A. McL. Nicolson, Tar-
rytown, N V App. filed June 6. 1914.
Provided with an input electrode having
a large sui I
1.130.009. Audion; A. McL. Nicolson, Tar-
rytown, N. V App. filed June 6, 1914
Has input electrode in the form of a
shell.
Centrifugal Circuit-Chancini;
for Electric Motors ; E E
Pillsbury. St. Louis, Mo. App. filed Jan
19, 1912. Has no pivotal Joints.
1,130,029. Telephone Apparatus; H k
Shreeve. MUlburn, N. j. App. fill
ii. 1918. Transmitter with substantially
horizontal dlaphraghm.
OR Locating i
in Line Conductor Insulation; S D
Sprang. Brooklyn, N. Y. App. filed
March :v. mil. Avoids the dlffli i
u hi
f.ni Output I
II .1 van der LSiJI. New York, N
LMd Parrj ton n, N v \pp
. 1914. Efficient
in.ni of input electrode, Olami
OUtpli!
Al.TERNATI
H i van der Bill, New
Bled July ■
of electrodes in the region
Of 'In stream of Ions.
dhai -i •'. i
b 27, 1914 Sheets <>t mica
n itli n ir. an. I ai I
rm of hollow i
pson
'TCKIRAIII M •
British Columbia. ■
app ! 1911 Automatically
closes the beam and viewing apertures
of operator's room in case ol film catch-
ing lire.
1.130.091. Program-Clock apparatus; F.
F. Landis, Waynesboro, Pa. App. filed
Sept 12, 1906. Does away with use of
springs.
1.130.092. Electric Clock ; F. P. Landis,
Waynesboro, Pa. App. Bled .Ian. 27, 1906.
Secondary-clock construction.
1.130.161. Means for Controlling Elec-
trically Operated Mechanisms ano
the Like; H. II. R. Green, Forest Hill,
England. App. filed Sept. 27. 1913. Em-
bodies a three-position control switch.
1.130.162. Battery Connector ; N. Hale,
Corpus Chrlstl, Tex. App. filed Dec. 27,
1913. Improved spring-clip construction.
1,130,172. Embroidery-Pattern Machine;
C. Keller, Weehawken, N. J. App. filed
April 22, 1912. For double-action em-
broidery machine jacquards.
1.130.190. Telephone-Exchange Appar-
atus ; C. H. North, Cleveland, Ohio.
App. filed April 4, 1911. "Clement auto-
manual" system.
1.130.191. Mortuary Illuminating Ap-
paratus ; J. O'Brien, Chicago, 111. App.
filed Sept. 25, 1914. For illuminating
casket.
1,130,204. Electric Switch; H. R. Schultz
and F. B. Holt, Manchester, Eng. App.
filed Oct. 31, 1910. Overload coil and
ammeter mechanically supported upon
the high-tension conductor to which they
are connected.
1,130,206. Magneto-Electric Machine for
Combined Ignition and Illumination
Purposes; v. R. Simms. London, Eng.
App. filed July 14, 1913. Two armatures,
one for ignition and the other for light-
ing, rotating between two pairs of pole
pieces.
1,130,211. Dynamo-Electric Machine; C.
W, Starker, Pittsburgh, Pa. App. filed
Feb. l, 1912. Punched sheet-metal end
bracket supporting the bearing.
1,130,21.8. Soldering Iron; S. Trood, Wil-
ktnsburg, Pa. App. filed July 29, 1913.
Readily renewable heater and removable
working tip.
1,130,224. Air-Rrake System; J. E. Wal-
lace. New York. N. Y. App. filed Dec. 1.
1904 "Straight-air" system with electric
control.
1,130,257. Generator for Intermittent
Electric Currents ; J. Carter, Wauke-
gan. 111. App. filed March 9, 1914. Ar-
mature reciprocates between one pole of
permanent magnet and the I wo members
of a duplex core attached to other
magnet.
Transformer; W. M. Dann,
Wilkinsburg, l'a. App. filed Aug. 7, 1911.
Series type for supplying energy to the
tripping coils of circuit-breakers.
1,130,264. Resilient Driving Connection;
G..M. Eaton, Wilkinsburg, l'a. App. filed
May 27, 1912, Between motor and driv-
ing wheels of electric locomotive.
Rectifier System ; C Le G.
■ lie, Pittsburgh, Pa. App. filed
June 21. 1912. Limits current to harm-
less value upon occurrence of short-cir-
cuit.
Transformer; E
ii- itely, Basel, Switzerland. App. filed
■ I " j". 1912. Insulating sleeve for oil
transformers of the core type.
1,130,269. Electrical Transformer; F.
Heafely, Basel, Switzerland. App. filed
D, 1912. Insulating sleeve of polyg-
Circi-it C W Mor-
rison, l tee Moines, i.i \i>p Bl
li sing element rotated
step by step in sami
' Ing actuating bar.
1,180,840 TR0LLB1 switch; J. J. Ruddlck,
Newton, Mass App. Bled March In.
1913. Trip engaged in trolley wheel
swings transversely to the trolley wire
1,130,353. System of Ai pi
Signaling ; i
N Y App Bled Jjgne 16, 1904. Insu-
lated i
1 1. Williams.
\|.p Bled Ma] 16,
plurality of self adjusting
trolley n
III ISUOHTj C J. Getcrinan.
Canton, Ohio App, Bled March 21, 1908.
mounting of , 1. > |
i \pp filed
pui i"
1,180,461 i'i.oii.ti-... Lanthin: k tjnger,
Ipp lib. I M
\i' i imp of i he ip con traction.
1.130.452. Recorder for Freight Cars;
J. R. Vedder, Reading. Ohio. App. filed
Sept. 18, 1911. Identifying marks of
freight cars passing a given point are
automatically registered.
1,130,460. Electric Arc Lamp; A. Za-
notta, Milan, Italy. App. filed Oct 31,
1914. Plurality of arcs disposed in
series to absorb the tension on the line.
1,130,476. Rheostat Controller; G. P.
Carroll, Bridgeport, Conn. App. filed
April 12, 1907. Thermostatic control
useful in refrigerating systems.
1,130,482. Junction Box; C. W. Davis,
Edgeworth, Pa. App. filed March 24,
1909. Partition divides it into two cham-
bers.
1.130.453. Terminal for Cables Entering
Junction Boxes ; C. W. Davis. Edge-
worth, Pa. App. filed March 19, 1913.
Connects terminal to junction-box wall
without the usual need for machining
the walls.
1.130.484. Electric Fuse; C. W. Davis,
Edgeworth, la. App. filed April 22, 1913.
Magnet in circuit with fuse strips widens
the gap upon rupture.
1.130.485. Electric Fuse; C. W. Davis.
Edgeworth, Pa. App. filed May 3, 1913.
Magnet shifts fuse casing to break cir-
cuit thereto upon blowing of fuse.
1.130.456. Electric Fuse; C. W. Davis,
Edgeworth, Pa. App. filed May 19, 1913.
High-tension; explosive forces of the fusi-
ble element have no prejudicial effect
upon the fuse structure.
1.130.457. Electric Fuse: C. W. Davis,
Edgeworth. la. App. filed June 18, 1913.
Oil-fuse construction with means for
consuming energy released upon blowing
of fuse.
1,130,522. Party-Line Listening-In-De-
tecting Device ; C. A. Kramer, Spokane,
Wash. App. filed March 6, 1914. Me-
chanically operated bell set into opera-
tion by lifting of receiver to "listen In."
1,130,647. Electric Motor; F. L. Sessions.
Columbus. Ohio. App. filed Aug. 16.
1906. Short-bearing construction for
armature.
1.130.567. Electric Lantern: B. K.
Bunch, Marshall. Mo. App. filed Aug
5. 1914. Sheet-metal hood and handle
support attachable to dry cell.
1,130,608. Telephone Attachment; P. A.
Johnson, Springfield, Ore. App. filed
Nov. 12, 1912. For preventing eaves-
dropping on intercommunicating system
Trolley Protective System ;
A Ivlimes, Chicago. 111. App. filed Dec
20, 1910. Sectional trolley.
1.130,626. Base Member for Separable
Attachment Plugs ; J. G. Peterson,
Jersey City. N. J. App. filed Mav 7.
1914. Details of construction.
1,130,628. Rotary Igniter: B. W. Pierce
Appleton, Wis. App. filed Feb. IS, 1913.
Make-and-break.
1,130.633. Polarity Indicator: F. W.
Roller, East Orange, N. J. App. filed
87, 1912. Indicates "charging,"
lis. barging" or "off" conditions of stor-
tttery.
1,130,640. Battery Separator and Pro-
OR Making the Same; J. M. Skin-
ner. Philadelphia, Pa. App. filed Mav 18,
1914. i if coniferous wood, shaped and
boiled in water.
1.130.64S. Magneto Separator: G. Ull-
rich, Magdeburg. Germany. App. filed
Nov. 86, 1912 Obtains a sharper divi-
sion between the several grades or kinds
of particles.
ill WIDENING THE
Cutting Portions of Cuttino Tools:
.1. Willi. iker. North Wales, l'a. App. tiled
Aug. 23, 1910. Electrically hardening
teeth or hack saw blade.
■> . II. R. Alleiisworth. Co-
lumbus. Ohio. App. filed April 14. 1911.
VII. ratable diaphragm counterbalanced
P. iw . . n two fluids.
1,180,676. Electric Horn; D. P. Perrv,
I, HI \w filed Nov. 3, 190a.
flexibly connected with dia-
phragm,
1,130.686. Means for Exciting the Com-
mitating Poles of a Dynamo-Electric
Machine: J. L. Woodbridge, Philadel-
phia, l'a. App. tiled June s, 191
rter.
'' mi-Axle Liohtino System;
.1 I.. \\ OOdbrldge, Philadelphia. P
filed Jan 10, 1908. Includes dynamo
with mechanli i.t and
a source of constant potential connected
to one set of 1. rushes of the exciter,
1,130,688 Rapid printing Teijcoiiaph
SVSTI ■:: | .go. III. App.
filed \pril 88, 1910 i spaced
to operate transmitting tape at slow
speed.
Electrical World
Publ Inc
\i:\\ fORK, SAT! RDAY, M \Bi B 20. 1915
No. 12
Central-Station Earnings Still (Jain
THAT earnings of central stations in December,
1914, were better than in October and November,
as compared with the corresponding periods of the pre-
. ear, is the encouraging fact shown by the ELE<
TRIi'vi. World returns printed elsewhere, ruder pre-
vailing conditions the absence of declines in business is
a fine sign of inherent strength. When there are no
declines but actual increases are registered, they are
stimulating. The diversity of the territory covered, the
fact that the returns cover approximately G5 per cent
of the industry, and the undeniable historic immunity
of central stations from severe depression support the
conclusion that the figures are fully representative of
the industry at large. It is not reasonable to expect
an unbroken continuance of the great gains of normal
years, but the record in five months of the European
war period shows that central stations have upheld the
tradition of well-sustained earning power.
Car-Lighting Problems
IN a paper read before the New York Section of the
Illuminating Engineering Society Messrs. W. C.
Gove and L. C. Porter reported the results of a practi-
cal study of car-lighting problems with reference to the
cars for the new subway in New York City. Several
lighting equipments were installed in a car and com-
pared before a conclusion was finally arrived at. Ac-
cording to the equipment selected, use is made of a
single row of 56-watt tungsten lamps along the central
line of the ceiling, each lamp being bowl-frosted and
placed in a white-glass reflector, so that the glowing
filaments are not exposed to the eyes of the passengers.
The horizontal illumination provided at desk surface
along the car appears to have averaged nearly 6 ft.-
candles at normal voltage. Of course, in service, with
old lamps and dusty globes, the actual illumination may
be regarded as likely to fall off to a third or a quarter
of the values obtained with everything new and bright;
but, even so, the resulting illumination should be ade-
quate for practical purposes. The power consumption
for this result is stated at less than 1.5 watts per sq. ft.,
which speaks well for the plan.
Telephone Manufacturing Conditions
THE status of the manufacturing part of the indus-
try last year cannot be gaged by one company
alone, but the sharp fluctuations in trade conditions
make individual experiences specially illuminating. The
Western Electric Company's gross sales in 1914 were
l i.l per rent below those of L91S. Conditions are ex-
plained in the annual report and in still more detail in
the report of the American Telephone & Telegraph Com-
pany, both issued this week. .Manufacturing conditions
became steadily worse, and some losses of profits and
property in foreign investments are expected. The
manufacturing company is the purchasing agent and
storekeeper of the Bell telephone system, and hence it
is not surprising to find that two-thirds of the gross
sales of the manufacturing company were to Bell com-
panies. This does not mean that the same proportion
prevails in normal times. Many outside construction
programs were cut radically. Bell telephone plant ad-
ditions, which were estimated at the beginning of 1914
at $56,000,000, were reduced to $50,000,000 by business
curtailment. The telephone expenditure for current ad-
ditions in 1915, estimated at 70 per cent of last year's
figure, represents a conservative view under conditions
now prevailing.
The Consolidation of Water-Powers
AN excellent example of economical utilization of
widely distributed water-powers is given in the ac-
count of the new hydroelectric development at Cohoes,
N. Y., in the current issue. The company which has
been undertaking the work has owned at Cohoes a dam
and a canal system on various levels, supplying power
to a considerable number of industrial plants after the
fashion common before electric transmission had really
made a place for itself. With the present development
completed the main drive will be electrical and no water
will hereafter be taken from the canal. Of the two exist-
ing small hydroelectric stations, one will be held in re-
serve and the other adjusted to the new conditions. A
new consolidated power station has been erected near a
natural fall in the Mohawk River below the old dam of
the Cohoes Company, the total available head of the
new development being just short of 100 ft. This head
is utilized in three units, each fed by an independent
11-ft. penstock. Each waterwheel is of the vertical-
shaft type, developing 10,000 hp in a single runner and
driving a 9000-kva, 12,000-volt, three-phase generator.
The system is operated at the now somewhat unusual
frequency of forty cycles per second, a frequency which
our readers will remember was developed with special
reference to mill work, for which it gave somewhat
favorable motor speeds. The distribution system is also
somewhat out of the ordinary, the existing Cohoes equip-
ment being of the two-phase type, operated at 2300 volts.
The new plant will furnish both two-phase and three-
phase energy, the former locally, the latter for the dis-
tribution work. It is expected that eventually the lines
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 12
will reach Troy and Albany, but for the present work is
being concentrated chiefly in Cohoes, in putting upon a
new basis the economy and effectiveness of the drives
for the local industries. It is worth noting that here,
as frequently elsewhere of late, the substations erected
for the supply of energy to large consumers will be of
the outdoor type. When fully equipped, the plant will
contain two more large generating units and a cor-
responding auxiliary equipment. It represents a good
example of the results that can be obtained in expanding
old hydraulic developments to meet the new conditions
brought about by electrical-energy transmission. There
is little doubt that in a good many other instances canal
systems for hydraulic distribution could be better util-
ized than at present by following the example set at
Cohoes.
Low Receiving Antennas in Radiotelegraphy
On page 723 of this issue appears an article by Prof.
Charles A. Culver and Mr. John A. Riner, describing
some of their recent work on radiotelegraphy without
elevated aerials. The results of the experiments which
they discuss should be of great interest to radio en-
gineers, since a number of points not generally appre-
ciated appear to have been brought out. The entire
question of low antennas, as compared with present-day
aerials supported by tall structures erected and main-
tained at great expense, is of large economic importance.
For a number of years after the inception of teleg-
raphy itself it was considered that the line wire con-
necting communicating points was an absolute essen-
tial. As distances increased the installation and up-
keep costs of long lines became a more and more bur-
densome factor in the rapid commercial transmission
of intelligence. In cable telegraphy, especially, this
fixed charge has forced the adoption of high word rates
in order to give the operating companies a fair return
upon their investments. Radiotelegraphy has recently-
shown how these apparently unavoidable cost items may
be eliminated or vastly reduced, but "wireless" com-
munication has involved other construction and main-
tenance expenses which so far have co-operated with
unfortunate engineering and commercial practices so
as to indicate a lack of feasibility in the use of radio
except as a substitute for long cables or in its "natural"
field of ship signaling. Not the least of these handi-
capping costs has been that of the great aerial struc-
tures usually employed in Hertz-wave telegraphy.
In the future it is probable that radio engineers will
give attention to determining proper cost balances be-
tween antenna height ;md transmitter power input.
Similar studies applied to proposed receiving stations
are also in order, and here consideration of the varia-
tion in the effects of "atmospheric" electrical disturb-
with changes of aerial height is also involved.
The data which the authors have secured should be
useful in this connection, and it is hoped that results
of many further experiments along these lines will be
forthcoming as a definite help toward the attainment of
cheap public telegraph service over long distances.
Effective Resistance of Steel Conductors
We know that for the delivery of continuous-current
power steel has certain advantages over copper as a
conducting material. The resistivity of steel is indeed
much higher than that of copper and is different in dif-
ferent brands of steel; but, let us say, on the average it
is about six times as high. On the other hand, the
cost of steel is, roughly, one-tenth that of copper. On
the basis of cost of conduction, steel often has therefore
an advantage over copper. On the other hand, steel is
more readily corroded than copper, and is much heavier
and costlier to transport, install and insulate for the
same conductance
When, however, we consider the use of steel for al-
ternating-current transmission, we find that the skin
effect, with its extra resistance, is much greater in
steel than in copper. Large copper conductors are likely
to develop a considerable extra resistance due to skin
effect at sixty cycles, or even at twenty-five cycles, per
second. But this skin-effect extra resistance can be re-
duced by dividing the conductor into fairly distant
separate wires. It cannot be materially reduced by
stranding the conductor. In the case of steel conduc-
tors, the skin-effect resistance may be very large, owing
to the relatively large magnetic permeability of steel.
Nevertheless, steel rails in the track of an alternating-
current electric railway make useful conductors, even
if their conductance is much reduced by skin effect.
This skin effect may reduce the steel-rail conductance
to less than 20 per cent of the continuous-current
conductance at the same temperature; but even so, the
cross-section of a track rail is relatively large, and even
when virtually reduced to one-fifth, is still a very wel-
come addition to the return circuit.
Theoretically, the extra resistance due to skin effect
in a straight round copper conductor of given dimen-
sions and temperature, many diameters remote from its
return conductor, can be computed by formulas first
given by Lord Kelvin. The corresponding skin-effect
extra resistance of steel conductors cannot be computed
without experimental data, because it depends upon the
permeability, which again depends upon the current
strength; so that the extra resistance first rises, then
reaches a maximum, and finally falls off, as the alternat-
ing-current strength is increased. This was first dem-
onstrated experimentally in 1893. The skin effect is
therefore different with different current strengths,
and also at different radial depths in the conductor for
one and the same current strength. In the case of steel
rails, the effect is still further complicated by the
geometrical complexity of the rail's cross-section; so
that no rigid formula for the skin effect in steel rails
call be hoped for. We can. at best, obtain only first-
approximation formulas.
In the Elektrotechnische Zeitschrift have recently
been published some interesting curves of experimental
results on the extra resistance of certain conductors
((imposed of particular brands of steel at different aver-
age current densities. It appears from these curves
Ihal the extra resistance ol a steel conductor of given
Mam h 2
K LE( T R 1C A I. WO RLD
reduced bj stranding it, i
int of the uctance th<
introduced into the concentric circular flux paths. The
is also material I iy laying up the
ds all in the same dir. piral. If thi
■ aled in op-
. the skin • • inctly
red ii'
It is also interesting lo notice that whereas in con-
tinuous-current conductors in.' electrical conductivity
should I..- as great a- is • .. ally available — in
other wonls. there i< a premium upon high conductivity
alternating-current conductors the electrical con-
ductivity is nut of the same importance because the
skm effect mi reases with the conductivity. A slight
diminution in conductivity may !»• beneficial, if it is ac-
panied by a considerable reduction in permeability.
It is evident that the subject of economy in alternating-
current conductors is more complicated than that of
economy in continuous-current conductors.
A Proposed I nit of Brightness
nmunications have appeared in our correspondence
columns of late from several well-known photometrists
dealing with the subject of brightness of luminous
sources. From the standpoints of both theory and prac-
tice this is a very important subject, especially in view
of the great confusion which has been produced by the
lack of proper distinction between the "luminous out-
put" and the "appearance" of surface sources, both of
which have usually been expressed in candles per square
centimeter. To a person unacquainted with photometry
the quantitative conception of "brightness" — that is,
the appearance — can perhaps most easily be conveyed
by referring the light coming from a small portion of
the bright surface considered at the position of the
observer's eye and finding what number of candle-power
at the position occupied by the area selected would pro-
duce the light received. The brightness of the source
at this point of its surface would thus be expressed in
"apparent candles per unit area." say, per square centi-
meter. Since, in general, the element of bright surface
dered will not face the observer squarely, the
square centimeter will have to be taken through the
element but projected perpendicularly to the line of
sight, so that through the imaginary square centimeter
of window, placed on the bright surface and facing the
observer, more than a square centimeter of actual lumi-
nous surface area would ordinarily lie visualized. Un-
fortunately, in many cases the "brightness" thu
fined is the only clew given to the luminous "output"
of the source.
For many photometric purposes it is more convenienl
to estimate the brightness of a square centimeter of
surface element as that which would be produced by a
certain number of lumens of light-flux if the square
centimeter of surface emitted light in all directions in
accordance with Lambert's cosine law. In practice, of
■■•. no part "f a bright surface can lie depended
upon t" diffuse its light perfectly, and the apparent
lumens per .-quale centimeter will differ materia;
the observer changes his point of view and position
with ■ 'lie variation in this r-
being obviously neither greater nor less than I
when the bright ■! in apparent candles
[uare centimeter. The conception and enunciation
ghtness on the basis of apparent lumens per square
centimeter at any point of the luminous surface, as
viewed from any point of observation, are definite and
useful, although they may not be easy to convey
to a tyro in photometry.
Dr. 1'. (i. Nutting has proposed that the word "1am-
liert" be used in referring to brightness in lumens per
unit projected area. The lambert being interpreted as
the equivalent in appearance to the eye of a surface
source emitting 1 lumen per unit area in accordance
with Lambert's cosine law, or of a perfectly diffusing,
non-absorbing reflecting surface illuminated by 1 lumen
per unit area, the suggestion is indeed timely and well
worth serious consideration. In order to be an inter-
nationally scientific unit, the lambert should relate to
the c. g. s. system, and should, therefore, be defined as
an apparent international candle lumen per square centi-
meter of luminous surface. It is true that the lumen is
not derived from the c. g. s. system, but at least its de-
rivatives can be, and should be, referred to that system.
If an ideal perfectly diffusing and non-absorbing flat
surface received an illumination of 1 lumen per square
centimeter, it would possess inherently a brightness of
1 lambert. The illumination of 1 lumen per square
centimeter was christened 1 "phot" by Blondel. Since
there are 929 sq. cm in one square foot, a "milliphot"
is only 7 per cent less than a foot-candle, and the milli-
lambert is approximately an "apparent foot-candle." In-
cidentally, a brightness of 1 lambert is a convenient
magnitude for practical use. The ordinary gas flame
has a brightness of about 1 lambert.
A luminous surface having the "appearance" of 1
candle per square centimeter would have a brightness
of 1 lambert and would have an output of - lumens per
square centimeter, if perfectly diffusing — that is, emit-
ting according to Lambert's law. Conversely, a sur-
face having an output of 1 lumen per square centimeter
would exhibit the appearance of 1 lambert of brightness
when viewed from all positions if it possessed a Lam-
bert-law emitting surface; its output would be 1 -f- *
candle per square centimeter. In practical work a care-
ful distinction must always be made between the actual
"output" and the "appearance," that is, between the
lumens emitted per unit area and the lamberts. What-
ever the nature of the diffusion, when a surface has one
lambert of brightness at the observation point it has an
apparent specific radiation of 1 apparent lumen per
square centimeter and a brightness of 1 -:-r. apparent
candles per square centimeter. The use of the term
"lambert" would thus abbreviate and simplify the state-
ment when brightness is expressed in terms of the
apparent flux per unit area.
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 12
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Cheaper Wiring
To the Editor of the Electrical World:
Sir: — I have noticed for some time past quite an ani-
mated discussion concerning the introduction into the
National Electrical Code of rules permitting a cheaper
method of wiring. So far as I am able to gather, the
only argument in favor of the new wiring scheme is
the increased revenues for the lighting companies. It
seems rather an appropriate question to ask just how
much more cheaply the Stannos or Kulo system can
be installed than the cheapest system approved under
the existing rules, that is, open knob or cleat work or
wooden molding. Unless the saving in cost is fairly
substantial it would not, in my humble opinion, justify
a retrogression from our well-known standards. It ap-
pears appropriate to compare wiring costs per outlet in
Europe, where labor costs are very much lower than
here, with the costs per outlet in this country under ex-
isting rules and systems.
In Bulletin No. 21, issued by the National Lamp
Works of the General Electric Company, compiled by
Mr. S. E. Doane, chief engineer, it is shown that in
Strassburg the cost is $3.80 for the first outlet down to
$2.40 for the fourth in the city, and $3 in dry places and
$4 in damp places, and $1.45 for switches, in the coun-
try. In Milan the cost per outlet is given as $2.
I have before me a schedule adopted by the local
lighting company in which costs are estimated for wir-
ing the house of a prospective customer and on which
the contractor is paid for the work. The price per out-
let for open work is $1.60 and for switches $1.70 and
for concealed knob-and-tube work $2.30 per outlet and
$2.50 per switch. On page 240 of the issue of the
Electrical World for Jan. 23, 1915, was shown a
schedule which averages about $2 per outlet and $3 for
drop-cords, meter loop, main switch and service.
These may possibly be isolated cases which show that
the cost per outlet is cheaper in this country with ex-
isting rules and higher labor than in Europe, but I be-
lieve that they will be found to be fairly representative
of the cost of this class of work, and no one can deny
that in addition to being cheaper, it is in the end far
safer and more satisfactory. I might also state that to
my own personal knowledge concealed knob-and-tube
work is being done in this city every day in residences
for less than $2 per outlet.
Ever since the National Electrical Code was first dis-
tributed to the trade the tendency has been to raise
rather than lower the standard of construction, and con-
ditions found to be faulty from time to time have been
overcome by new and more strict rules.
Is it, then, I ask, good policy to throw away the
effect of the good work which has taken so long to build
up and which has been built up successfully against
much criticism, if not direct opposition, from the par-
ties interested, to adopt something which has for its
only doubtful recommendation the questionable fact of
its cheapness?
In my humble opinion, as soon as this system has
been approved under the National Electrical Code rules
and placed on the open market every small-town elec-
trician will use it wherever he feels disposed, as the
inspector never pays even a fleeting visit. It will be
installed on any kind of service available in the locality
which may or may not have a grounded neutral. The
inflammable risk, the small frame dwelling cheaply
MKted, will then become a much greater Are haz-
ard than al present, to say nothing of the life hazard
introduced by the installation of B bare conductor on
an ungrounded system, one side of a single-phase or
direct-current circuit with faulty line construction.
It might be well for those attempting to obtain the
Underwriters' approval of the proposed system of wir-
ing to give those interested some data as to the exact
cost of installing the wiring per outlet with their ques-
tionably safe systems as compared with the costs
stated above, which are not estimated, but actual.
New Orleans, La. W. Wyndhham Lewin.
One of the Hazards in Concentric Wire
To the Editor of the Electrical World:
Sir: — One of the principal claims made for concen-
tric wiring by those advocating its early adoption is
built around the excellent protection its use is said to
afford both life and property, with particular reference
to the former.
While it is probably true that this claim would prove
true in an installation made in strict accordance with
proper rules and under the careful supervision of an
inspection department, it is most certainly true, on the
other hand, that if improperly installed and without
proper inspection, a concentric system would enormous-
ly increase the present life and property hazard, and it
is the writer's desire to direct attention to the fact that
a vast amount of concentric material would surely be
so installed in the event of its adoption.
As is well known to everyone familiar with field con-
ditions, a tremendous volume of wiring is being done at
present without regard to the National Electrical Code,
and, in many instances, in direct violation of its most
important requirements. It is also well known that this
condition exists in towns and cities where rigid inspec-
tion is maintained by either municipal, Underwriter or
central-station authorities, or by all three, to as great
an extent as, if not greater than, in localities where no
inspection exists; for the bulk of this work is done by
the "household scissors electrician" and is in the nature
of alterations, extensions, repairs, etc., for which no
successful method of forcing inspection has ever been,
or, probably, ever will be, devised.
Striking testimony to the magnitude of this class of
work is presented by the well-organized and well-placed
retail counters which may now be found in almost any
department store, large hardware store, and even in
many five-cent and ten-cent stores, where short lengths
of wire or lamp cord, sockets, receptacles, rosettes,
fuses and the like are attractively arranged in con-
venient packages. This class of business has grown to
such attractive proportions that many of the electrical
jobbers are establishing retail stores on the prominent
thoroughfares in an effort to reach the public and ob-
tain their share of the business.
Moreover, many uninspected equipments are installed
by engineers and electricians of large manufacturing
and mercantile properties, by janitors and handymen in
apartments and all manner of similar buildings, by the
small contractor who never reports his work if it is
possible to avoid doing so. and by countless other classes
of mechanics who attempt to fatten their earnings by
installing wiring during the evenings.
Then, too, there are hundreds of towns and villages
which an inspector rarely if ever visits. It has been
reliably estimated that less than 50 per cent of the
United States is at present under more or less regular
inspection, and a check made in several typical inspec-
tion territories has shown that only from 50 per cent
h'AJtCH
ELECTRICAL WORLD
717
per cent of the connected sockets in a given local-
ity have been reported for inspection at the time of
installation.
The outline of "uncontrolled" conditions given above
is in no sense overdrawn, i . -ed upon conjec-
ture or theory. It ia a plain stat u will
be attested by any person having a knowledge of actual
field conditions. That it has not been responsible for
more damage to life and property is due, in the writer's
opinion, to the fact that the only materials and de
thus far available have been of "approved" or "stand-
ard" type, in which a good margin of safety is provided.
By this is meant that the insulation of wire, lamp cord,
sockets, snap switches and the like is uniformly good
enough and their construction sufficiently rugged to
withstand a good deal of abuse at the hands of un-
skilled, inexperienced amateur electricians. Imagine
what would be the result of placing concentric wire and
its fittings within reach of the class responsible for this
vast amount of "uncontrolled" wiring; for, if it can be
manufactured and sold at as low a cost as its advocates
claim, it most certainly would soon become a "leader"
on the counters of the department, hardware and five-
cent and ten-cent stores.
In considering this grave question the following
points must be borne in mind: First, that it is not
necessary to ground concentric wire to obtain results;
second, that it is much cheaper and easier not to ground
it; third, that, the two above points being true, it is
absolutely certain that little if any of it would be
grounded by persons doing "uncontrolled" wiring;
fourth, that a bare, ungrounded conductor carrying 110-
volt alternating current, often within easy reach, must
be considered a serious menace to property and, in many
instances, to life.
In fact, when viewed from this standpoint, the very
real danger of adopting concentric systems for use in
the United States looms to such huge proportions that
we can only believe its advocates have been led to favor
it through mentally applying it to more or less idealized
conditions and allowing themselves to be carried away
by the picture thus obtained.
Fortunately, however, the national electric commit-
tee has always studied proposed code changes from all
angles, with a view to working for a consistent margin
of safety on the job where inspection is either not pro-
curable or is purposely avoided, as well as for the job
under the close supervision of some inspection depart-
ment. Hence the great danger of placing concentric
wire and fittings within the reach of the general pub-
lic will undoubtedly receive careful consideration at its
hands.
Those favoring concentric wiring will probably reply
to the points raised in this article by pointing to the
more or less successful use of concentric wire in certain
parts of Europe. This does not constitute an answer.
in the writer's opinion, for, while it is true that "human
nature is the same the world over," it is equally true
that the average American citizen has an impatient, in-
born disregard for rules or regulations which he can
construe as attempted interference with the manner in
which he conducts the details of his home or office that
is widely at variance with the bred-in-the-bone respect
accorded similar rules by mosl at his European
brethren.
We can no more hope to legislate the danger out of
concentric wiring where the average American citizen,
with both his "rights" and the need of a lamp in his
coal bin jointly in mind, is concerned than we can hope
to import the famous German "Verboten" and expecl
to see it as religiously observed as it is in the realms
of the Kaiser. C. W. Abbott,
n.,, , , n nilllil
Pittsburgh, Pa. Monufaoturino Company.
Concentric \\ \rimg
rRICAL WiiKLD:
Sot: — If the new wiring plan is inherently right — by
that I mean cheaper and reasonably safe — no amount of
opposition will prevent its adoption. The process of in-
troduction may be hindered somewhat and retarded, but
that is all. It is my personal opinion that not even the
manufacturers of the materials used in the presen'
terns of wiring will find their business seriously inter-
fered with, for the reason that any newer and cheaper
i will find its principal applications in directions
where present methods have failed. If the older meth-
ods of wiring are better and more permanent, they will
still be used in buildings of the same character in which
they are used to-day.
The investigations carried on for several years by
Mr. S. E. Doane and his committee, and later by Mr.
R. S. Hale and his committee, with the work of Mr.
W. H. Blood, Jr., should settle pretty definitely the ques-
tions of safety, permanence and cost. I believe their
conclusions, whatever they may be, will be accepted with
great confidence by the central-station managers of the
country. R. S. ORR,
Pittsburgh, Pa. Duquesne Light Company.
Cheap Wiring Versus Cheap Electricity
To the Editor of the Electrical World:
Sir: — I note with interest what Mr. E. R. Davenport
has to say in your issue dated Feb. 13 regarding cheap
wiring. It seems to me that he has confused effect with
the cause thereof. We hear nowadays the hue and cry
of central stations that only by the introduction of cheap
wiring can there be obtained an increase in the central-
station load. The fact of the matter is, however, that
an increase in energy-consuming devices will bring bet-
ter loads to central stations than cheaper house wiring
ever will.
Central-station managers always assume that the elec-
trical contractor is charging exorbitant prices for his
work, and on account of this belief many central-sta-
tion managers are introducing wiring campaigns. As
a matter of record, it is a well-known fact that such
ventures are very expensive to central stations. After
such campaigns, which prove' disastrous financially, the
central-station manager congratulates himself that it
was worth the money to secure the extra load. The fact
is that if central stations desisted from such unneces-
sary losses and stopped selling electrical devices "at
cost" — which is at a loss, of course — the additional ex-
penditures would bring better results if applied toward
the reduction in the selling price of energy. A con-
sumer is not interested in the cost of an appliance so
much as in the cost of the energy it will consume.
The legitimate business of all central stations is the
selling of energy as economically as possible. Under the
guise of public benefactors they are permitted to monop-
olize the field of cities and territories. Any encroach-
ment upon their territories is viewed with alarm, and
.justly so, for they represent a natural monopoly. How-
ever, in the majority of cases they make very little at-
tempt to reduce their rates. It is a fact that very few
central stations voluntarily reduce their rates even
when they have quadrupled their output.
I believe that if the central stations will leave the con-
tracting field as well as the selling of electrical devices
strictly to legitimate contractors and devote their entire
efforts toward the reduction of rates there will be less
necessity for cheapening electrical work.
Leo Dolkart,
Moline, III. Engineer Tri-City Electric Company.
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 12
Hydroelectric Development at Cohoes, N. Y.
Generating- Station Constructed with a View to Replacing Isolated Industrial
Water-Driven Installations with Electric-Motor Drive
Til E hydroelectric generating station of the Cohoes
Company, Cohoes, N. Y., which is now nearing
completion, will have initially generating equip-
ment rated at 27,000 kva. with provision for two similar
additional units to give a total rating of 45,000 kva.
The energy will be generated at 12,000 volts, three-
phase, forty cycles, at which voltage and phase the
main distribution will be made. However, at present a
two-phase, 2300-volt system is employed in Cohoes for
local lighting and industrial requirements. This energy
was formerly supplied by the Cohoes Company at sixty
cycles, but it will now be supplied at forty cycles.
Existing Conditions
At the time the plant now under construction was
proposed the company already owned a dam and a canal
system on various levels about three miles long. This
canal system supplies water for driving numerous
waterwheel-driven industrial plants in the city of
which is the old dam of the Cohoes Company with its
crest at an elevation of 155.7 ft. above tidewater. The
li>w-\vater-level elevation at the power house is 58.0 ft.,
thus giving a fall of 97.7 ft. The high-level canal of
the company is fed from the Mohawk River at this dam
and extends about 2000 ft. into the mill district beyond
the forebay of the new plant.
Three 20-ft. by 22-ft. electrically operated penstock
gates without counterweights are installed in the fore-
bay gatehouse, with space for two additional gates. In
front of the gates are screens of 3%-in. by 5 1 '16-in.
rack bars spaced 3 in. between centers and supported on
an I-beam frame. An ice spillway is provided at one
side of the forebay, where three manually operated,
downwardly moving gates are installed to pass ice, the
gates having a maximum range of movement of 10 ft.
The penstock gates are each operated by a 220-volt,
25-hp induction motor, the control boards for which are
in the brick gatehouse. Push-buttons are installed on
FIG. 1 — EXTERIOR VIEW OF POWER PLANT
Cohoes, the most important of these being the Harmony
Mills, which use some of this water to operate turbine-
driven electric generating units. In these mills is in-
stalled a 2500-kw, 600-volt, forty-cycle, three-phase
steam-driven electric generating plant. When the
Cohoes hydroelectric development is completed these
mills will buy electrical energy from the Cohoes Com-
pany, utilizing no water from the canal. The steam-
driven Station, however, will be retained, as a part of
the exhaust steam is utilized in manufacturing proc-
and l"i' heating.
The Cohoea Company at this time has two small
hydroelectric generating stations. The one on the pres-
will be held in reserve, while the other,
Which is now supplying sixty-cycle energy, will lie
(■hanged to forty cyclea. The latter is not supplied from
tin- canal system previously mentioned, but Is situated
irthei down tin' river and has an inde-
pendenl dam.
The new power station Is a tow hundred feel below a
natural fall in the .Mohawk River, about 3000 ft. above
these boards for the normal operation of the gates, but
control wires are also carried to the main switchboard
in the station for emergency use.
Three penstocks, each 11 ft. in diameter and 200 ft.
long and each supplying one wheel, are at present in-
stalled, together with such portions of two additional
penstocks as are embedded in the concrete substructure
of the gate and power house. Heavy rods embedded
in rock and concrete anchor the penstocks near their
upper elbows, in addition to which frequent concrete
saddles are provided. The saddles at the lower elbows
are merged into a continuous support.
\\ ater Tiirhiiu-s
Three 10,000-hp vertical-shaft, single-runner Francis
wheels with cast-iron scroll eases and made by the Piatt
Iron Works, Dayton, Ohio, are installed, the centers of
the wheels being at an elevation of 69 ft., or 86.7 ft.
below the level of the water in the forebay and 11.0 ft.
above low-Water level. These wheels are mounted below
the station floor as shown in Fig. 2. A 60,000-ft.-lb.
March 20, 1916
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Ontario-type Lombard governor regulates each wheel,
remote electric control beii .ice is pro-
vided in the present building for two additional wheels.
m.iiimh Construction ud Layout
The accompanying illustrations -how the general de-
sign of the station, which is of brick, steel and concrete
construction. It consists of a main operating room, 40
downstream bays and L6 1 '■> ft above the same level for
the other five bays. Both portions are of concrete sup-
ported on Bteel beams, tin- upstream portion having two
intermediate supporting columns because of its heavy
load. A tower containing a stairway and elevator per-
mits access to the power house from the gatehouse by-
means of a bridge.
Large windows are provided on all four sides of the
FIG. 2 — CROSS-SECTIONAL VIEW OK POWER PLANT
ft. by 165 ft. and 39 ft. high, and a two-story switch
house 25 ft. by 165 ft. and 24.5 ft. in height. The
ing of the building columns in the lower section of the
switch house divides its length into ten bays of equal
length. The basement floor of the switch house between
penstocks is IB ft. below the main floor, which is 22 ft.
above low-water level. This main Boor is of reinforced
concrete supported by concrete columns. The upper
floor level is 18 ft. above the main-floor level for the five
station, making the natural illumination very satisfac-
tory. Incandescent lamps are used for artificial light-
ing, nine 400-watt gas-filled lamps being provided for
the operating room. The station is steam-heated from
a small exterior steam plant.
Layout of Apparatus
Odd-numbered bays in the basement of the power
house are occupied by the penstocks. The second bay
720
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 12
from the downstream end contains the oil tank for the
governor oil pumps and the two 50-kw, 2300 220-110-
volt station-lighting and power transformers. The
fourth bay contains an elevator hoist and a rheostat
room for the resistance grids of the main generator
field rheostats. The rheostat grids are mounted on
The first bay on the main floor of the switch house
is divided by partitions into two rooms, one of which
is used as a washroom while the other contains a 10-
amp-hr. storage battery for oil-switch and governor-
motor operation and emergency lighting. The next bay
contains two induetion-motor-driven governor oil pumps
ZPh Power Circuits Auto feeder Const Current Trans.
Regulators
ae — i-ss.
[I. 93:0'
Office izooo V
2100V Instrument Instrument
Board
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O O O O O O C
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El. 95-4'
IZOOO V. Feeder Reactances and Lighting Arresters
FIG. 3 — PLAN OF GENERATOR ROOM AND SWITCHING GALLERY
steel beams set in the floor. Several cool-air inlets are
provided in this room at the floor line. By means of
a hot-air flue extending above the elevator-tower roof
through the wall formed by the stairway very effective
ventilation' has been secured. The sixth bay contains
six reactance coils for the high-tension sides of the two
800-kw step-down T-connected transformer banks used
for furnishing two-phase, 2300-volt energy for local use
and also a filter tank with oil pumps for the lubricating
system. The remaining bays will be used temporarily
for storage purposes.
The main floor of the station contains the three
General Electric 9000-kva, 12,000-volt, three-phase,
forty-cycle vertical-shaft generators, each of which is
FIG. 4 — VIEW OF EXCITER BOARD
directlj connected to one of the turbines previously
described. These generators run at a speed of 185
r.p.m. and are equipped with Kingsbury bearings, the
weight of the revolving element of each generator being
approximately B0 tons.
with starting compensators mounted opposite each pump
on the partition between the second and third bays.
Space is provided for one additional unit.
The two General Electric motor-generator sets for
exciting the fields of the alternators are installed in
the third bay. The motors of these sets are of the
squirrel-cage induction type, operating at 2300 volts and
having a rating of 250 hp. The generators are com-
pound-wound, and each is rated at 165 kw and 250 volts.
Provision is made for the installation of an additional
motor-generator set, when required.
In the fourth bay the switchboard panels for the
exciters, station-lighting and power circuits and the
storage-battery circuits are installed. A 3.5-kw, 110-
volt induction-motor-driven battery booster is placed
near the latter panel. On the exciter panels are mounted
the electrically operated switches for the main generator
field circuits, which are controlled from the main board
on the floor above. On the rear of this switchboard are
the motor-operated rheostat dials, which are also con-
trolled from the main board. These dials are connected
by leads to the corresponding resistance grids in the
basement. A passageway from the elevator and stair-
way tower to the generator room is provided in this
bay.
The fifth bay is extended so that its outside wall
comes in line with the rear wall of the elevator tower.
This addition permits the placing of two 800-kw step-
down transformer banks for Cohoes two-phase, 2300-
volt service and two three-phase, 12,000-volt oil switches
electrically operated from the main control board. The
necessary knife disconnecting switches are mounted on
structural-steel framing. Each switch unit is mounted
mm a concrete base 24 in. in height and inclosed by a
- reened protective railing 6 ft. in height.
The next three bays contain the 12,000-volt busbars
of copper tubing mounted on porcelain insulators sup-
ported from the floor beams above, the generator, feeder
and bus-sect imializing oil switches with their discon-
necting switches, and current and potential transform-
ers. The oil switches are mounted as in the fifth bay,
while the disconnecting switches and series and shunt
ftUBi ii 20, 1916
K LECTRIl A I. W<> i;i.|i
Instrument transform* structural
inpporta attached to the intermediate columns, A very
• rangement of apparatus with ample passage-
is obtained by arranging tin generator and feeder
nil switches in two parallel rows, one - witch
and two feeder i, -tailed in each hay.
generators, for the high-voltage outgoing feeders and
for the high-voltage sides of the two 800-kw T-connected
transformer banks for stepping down the 12,000-volt,
three-phase energy to 2300-volt. two-phase energy for
local requirements, as well as synchronizing de
governor-speed and head-gate control switches, genera-
3
b b b b b b
-B-
4J— i
\
±— 4-
&
r r
jj— ®— ^Q.
j r r r r r r
Cij} _[] £ j] £ £
■^y~
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(2V igi (J3) I151
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JJ
A
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FIG. 5 — RING-BUS SYSTEM
The bus-sectionalizing oil switches dividing the busbars
in adjacent bays are placed between the two rows of
generator and feeder switches and at right angles to
them. By this arrangement every window in this sec-
tion is unobstructed and all apparatus is readily ac-
cessible for inspection.
The first three bays of the second floor of the switch
house contain apparatus for the 2300-volt two-phase
circuits serving the present system of Cohoes. Two
two-phase motor circuits and four single-phase house-
lighting circuits with automatic-feeder regulators are
at present installed, together with four seventy-five-
lamp constant-current transformers for the series street-
lighting system. These bays also contain the oil
switches for the low-tension side of the 800-kw trans-
former banks, starting and running switches for the
exciter units, and switches for controlling the high-
tension sides of the station transformers.
The next two bays contain respectively the 2300-volt
control board and the main benchboard. These bays are
also partitioned off from the rest of the switch house.
These partitions, together with a third partition 4 ft. to
the rear of the switchboards, form a room used for office
purposes, a suspended ceiling being hung from the
bottom chords of the roof trusses.
Forming a part of the office wall behind the 12,000-
volt and 2300-volt switchboards are two auxiliary
switchboards with panels corresponding to those on the
main board and carrying recording meters and testing
plugs for the various circuits controlled from the main
panels. These auxiliary switchboards are also provided
with horizontal table sections for meter-testing pur-
poses.
The next three bays are at a higher level, as pre-
viously mentioned, and contain protective reactances and
electrolytic lightning arresters for the two 12,000-volt
feeder circuits in each bay. These reactances are of the
white-enameled, brick-finish type and were supplied by
the Metropolitan Engineering Company of Brooklyn,
The 12,000-volt benchboard has seven sections, two of
which are for future use. It is of the usual slate con-
struction, with dummy buses and indicating lamps. On
this board are mounted the control switches for the
tor field-rheostat controllers and the necessary indicat-
ing instruments.
By means of an additional set of busbars running
parallel with the others, as shown in Fig. 5, and con-
nected to the first and last bus-section switches, a sec-
tionalized ring-bus system has been obtained. Any
feeder the switch of which is temporarily out of service
can be thrown on this additional set of busbars bv
m - m
■mshHRhiN n n
■ fill I » ■
IHH ■
3J 1
1 BHmIAm^H IP
jjjn
*
FIG. 6 — HIGH-VOLTAGE OIL-SWITCH ARRANGEMENT
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 12
means of a double-throw disconnecting switch, as shown,
and can be controlled from the last bus-section switch.
Of the two 800-kw, 12,000 2300- volt transformer banks,
one is connected only to the additional set of busbars,
while the other by a similar double-throw disconnecting
switch can be connected to either side of the ring bus.
The main generator oil switches and the corresponding
FIG. 7 — BENCHBOARD AND MAIN SWITCHBOARD
field switches are electrically interlocked, making it im-
possible to open a field switch while the corresponding
generator switch is closed.
The 2300- Volt Switchboard
The 2300-volt, two-phase switchboard is provided for
the control of the low-tension sides of the 800-kw trans-
former banks with their subsidiary circuits. These cir-
cuits include a double tie between the exciter-motor bus-
bars, which are fed directly from the 800-kw trans-
former banks, and the busbars for the Cohoes local
power and lighting circuits, exciter-motor starting
and running circuits, Cohoes power and house-light-
ing circuits, and the high-tension side of the station
- \
111
I
1
1
i
and relays for the circuits controlled by it, these in-
struments being mounted on a separate switchboard
forming part of the office partition wall, as in the case
of the 12,000-volt board. The panels for the series
street-lighting circuits are not included in this board
but are mounted in front of their respective constant-
current transformers. These panels are provided with
hand-operated, remote-control oil switches. All out-
going lines of the system are provided with oil switches,
lightning arresters, choke coils and disconnecting
switches.
The 110-volt energy for the control system is nor-
mally obtained from a small motor-generator set. A
storage battery is employed for furnishing the neces-
sary energy in case of failure of power.
Distribution
Six high-tension outgoing lines are dead-ended at the
building by means of bolts and suitable insulators, the
lines leaving the station through the roof, as shown in
Fig. 2. Two wood-pole lines will serve initially one
6000-kva and seven 750-kva outdoor substations in
Cohoes and vicinity, the voltage being transformed to
600 for serving various mills. Ultimate extensions will
reach Troy and Albany. The low-tension outgoing lines
comprise two two-phase, four-wire motor circuits, four
single-phase house-lighting circuits and two street-
lighting circuits, all of which are tapped into the
present distribution system.
HO, 8 KKKDKR REACTORS AND LIGHTNING ARRESTERS
poWCT and lighting transformer bank. A Tirrill regula-
tor panel has been included in this board. All oil
■ hes for the circuit connection! are electrically
trolled from this board, and the necessary indicating
meters and synchronizing devices have been provided.
The switchboard dots not carry recording instrument-
H
■ JHi
III J
FIG. 9 — VIEW OF SWITCHBOARD
The complete installation is being made by the Cohoes
Company, of which Mr. L. Semple is president, Mr. W.
P. Parsons manager, and Mr. A. C. Polk construction
superintendent and resident engineer. Sanderson &
Porter, New York City, are the designing and supervis-
ing engineers, and Mr. Thomas E. Murray, New York
City, is the consulting engineer.
Detroit's Three "Attendantless" Rotary Sub-
stations
Three "attendantless" rotary-converter substations,
in general similar to the initial Kowena Street station
described in the Ele< raiCAL World of June 28. 1918,
are now served from the lines of the Edison Electric
Illuminating Company of Detroit The latest of these
unusual equipments, which are started, synchronized,
thrown onto the system and controlled from a distant
Mm' switchboard, has been installed in the base-
ment of the new statler Hotel on Detroit's Grand Clr-
CUil Park. This newest substation is being equipped
with a mechanical tripping device which will operate
the breakers even in the absence of voltage on the
local operating bus.
M xH. II -
E I. ECT RICAL \V<> RLD
Radiotelegraphy Without Elevated Antennas
Experiment with Low Horizontal Aerials Successful Results Attained with Use of
Single and Multiple Earth-Wire Systems
By Charles a I olveb and John a. kinkk
THK present ii"!' men-
1 in an earlier paper' on experiments with
low horizontal aerials. In addition to ■ tele-
phone line 250 m in length and 3 m high, referred to in
the previous paper, thi tablished a second low
horizontal system consisting of a single wire of ap-
proximately the same length and height, but extending
in a southeasterly direction 'instead of toward the
tooth). On the night of Nov. IT. 1913, a heavy mist
prevailed at Beloit, and all outdoor objects were thor-
oughly wet. Owing to poor insulation, the above line
grounded at one point at least, and probably at
other points, but even under these unfavorable condi-
tions signals from Atlantic coast and other stations
were heard strongly when this line was used in place of
the ordinary aerial.
At 7:26 on the evening of Nov. 23 the Arlington
station was heard sending longitude signals to Paris,
using either the telephone line or the special low
horizontal antenna. The weather was fair and cool.
Milwaukee
163.5 K-Meters
From Freeport
FIG. 1— RELATIVE POSITIONS OF STATIONS
Similarly, Arlington and Key West were heard
loudly at Beloit on the night of Dec. 8, the weather
being clear and cold. At 11:45 p.m. Jan. 28,
I'M 1. while rain was falling, a coast station was heard
on the special horizontal system as plainly as when em-
ploying the large aerial of the Beloit station. On the
same date the experiment was also tried of utilizing the
horizontal system as a "ground" in connection with the
large aerial. This combination likewise gave strong
signals.
As a result of the above preliminary tests with low
antennas and of those reported in previous papers, it
was decided to carry out further experiments of a
similar character over distances comparable to those
occurring in radiotelegraph practice. Accordingly a
series of tests were conducted between Beloit, Wis., and
a temporary field station at Freeport, 111., the distance
covered being approximately 34 miles (54.7 km).
i lew, N. B , Vol Ml. No. I. April.
The antenna of the Beloit College station is of the L
type, and consists of a four-wire horizontal portion some
90 m long, with a slanting two-wire section about 30 m
in length. The horizontal section makes an angle of 45
deg. with the meridian, the free end extending to the
southeast. Energy is delivered to this system by a
l-k\\ transformer operating through a rotary non-syn-
CB = 276 METEKS
-VW\AA-
/VW\A-
FIG. 2 — RECEIVING SYSTEM AT FIELD STATION
chronous gap and loosely coupled oscillation trans-
former. Signals of fairly constant intensity were
automatically sent out by the Beloit station on a 900-m
wave-length, and received by the field station near the
city of Freeport. The logarithmic decrement of the
Beloit station when using the above wave is approxi-
mately 0.16.
The field station at Freeport employed the usual
loosely coupled receiving transformer with crystal de-
tector and telephone receivers. As no facilities for
quantitative measurements were available at the time,
the tests about to be described were purely qualitative in
character. The relative positions of the several sta-
tions involved in the experiments are shown in Fig. 1.
The first tests of the new series were made on July 10,
1914, the receiving station being established in a field on
a bluff about 60 ft. above a creek. The thin soil with
limestone subsoil was covered with grass, and the
weather was hot and dry. The receiving sys-
tem CD-AB, shown in Fig. 2, consisted of a single
No. 18 double-cotton-covered wire, 274 m in length.
„F
Z
On Ground
D
* \7=
FIG. 3 — SECOND ARRANGEMENT OF WIRES AT FIELD
STATION
unwound from the secondary of an old trans-
former, but so badly burned that only about half
the insulation remained. During the succeeding ex-
periments the wire became entirely bare. Referring
to Fig. 2, half of the wire CD rested directly upon the
ground, while, by means of linen thread, AB was sus-
pended from the lower branches of trees at a height of
r24
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 12
about 7 ft. above the earth's surface. With this ar-
rangement the time signals (3 p. m.) and other sig-
nals from the Beloit station were plainly heard on sev-
eral different days. On July 14 one-fourth of AB
i which previously had been entirely clear of the ground)
was allowed to rest upon the grass and it was found
that the signals were still readable. When three-
To Beloit
-AWW
-WW\A-
-^VWVv^
AW\AA
AAAAAA
FIG. 4 — TESTS TO DETERMINE OPTIMUM LENGTH
fourths of AB rested on the ground signals were di-
minished in intensity. With AB entirely on the ground
no signals could be heard. With AB shortened by
approximately 77 m and the free end lying on the
ground the loud signals which resulted seemed even
stronger than when AB was entirely supported.
On July 15 a test was made with the 61-m wire AX
(AB having been cut approximately in half) entirely
on the ground, and signals from Beloit were heard
very strongly. Beloit could not be heard at all, how-
ever, when we removed one-half of CD, leaving YD and
using either AX or AB in connection with it.
From this point all tests were conducted with the
wires at the receiving station on the ground. A wire
was placed upon the grass at right angles to CX and
61 m in length, as shown in Fig. 3. The combination
EF-AB gave no signals. The system composed of CD
and EF gave strong signals. Upon connecting EF and
AX in multiple and using CD as the other half of the
system, no very marked effect upon the signals was
noted, and no change was observed when EF was
swung around parallel to AX. Using the system CD-
AX, the wire nearer to Beloit (AX) was pulled back
toward A, so as to form a zigzag arrangement. With
this condition readable signals were received. On July
16 a slight rain fell at noon, yet at 3 p.m., with the sys-
tem CD-AX lying in the wet grass, the Beloit clock sig-
nals were heard. Messages could not be read, however,
because of heavy Btatic.
On July 17 an attempt was made to determine the
optimum length of wire to be employed when receiving
this 000-m wave-length. The various arrangements
shown in Fig. 4 were tested, with all wires lying on the
ground, and it was found that system A gave the besl
B and D gave very faint Indications, C was
fair, and E was good bu1 Dot so strong as A. The
Oice curve was quite Hat when employing these
us. On subsequent dates this Beries of tests was
continued by varying the length of CD by looping the
free end C back toward l>. As i' approached /' the sig-
nals decreased in intensity, and they became nearly
inaudible when C reached D. In contrast with this re-
sult, the effect upon the strength of the signals when
the end A* was doubled back to A was much less marked.
The swinging of AX through a wide angle resulted in
a slight diminution of the signals. A comparison was
made between the efficiency of system A when the wire
CD was resting on the wet ground in a field of stubble
and when it was insulated from the ground on stakes
about 1 ft. high. No difference could be detected. The
behavior of system A on receiving 600-m wave-length
was shown on July 18, when Chicago (call letters
"G 0") and Milwaukee ("W M E") were distinctly
heard. Upon shortening the wire pointing toward Be-
loit to 30 m the strength of the signals from the above
commercial stations was decidedly increased.
Beginning July 28, 1914, the tests were carried out in
the evening between 7 and 7:30, on account of the heat
and high winds during the afternoon. It was found
that by substituting for CD a connection in the running
water of a creek no appreciable improvement was made
in either sharpness of tuning or loudness of signals.
The natural period of the system was, however, modi-
fied by this change, as appeared from the fact that in-
creased capacity was needed in the secondary circuit.
Tests were next made to determine the directive effect
of the longer wire CD. Fig. 5 shows the conditions for
the four arrangements tested. The 61-m wire was not
altered during the experiments, but the 131-m wire was
swung through approximately 135 deg., and signals from
Beloit were observed at each of four positions. Re-
ferring to Fig. 5, signals received on system A-E were
good, those on B-E fair and those on C-E strong. D-E
gave no signals at all. The combination C-E, in which
the long wire extended almost directly away from Be-
loit, was decidedly the most efficient.
On August 4 the weather was clear and dry. A test
was made to determine the minimum power necessary
to signal from Beloit to the receiving station at Free-
port, the latter employing system A (Fig. 4). It was
found that commercially readable signals could be trans-
mitted when the input at the transmitting station was
reduced to % kw.
The next series of experiments was made for the pur-
pose of determining the effectiveness of a simple sys-
tem, such as A in Fig. 4, as compared to that of a mul-
All Wires On ground
FIG. 5 — TESTS OF DIRECTIVE EFFECT
tiple-wire arrangement. The results of this group of
tests appear to the authors to be of considerable practi-
cal and theoretical importance. Figs. <> and 7 show the
arrangements Of wire used In these experiments. The
Bingle-wire system A (Pig. ,;i was used as a standard
for the comparison of signal intensities. It was found
that adding a second wire to the left-hand part (B, Fig.
.vi u;c ll zw, l'.'l..
r. I I. I I K 1 I A I. U UK1.U
pnal Btrengtb, and that con-
necting' th< the two long wires togethei
b Blight further improvement. The addition
third wire, giving arrangement I), increased the inten-
onsiderably beyond that >ecured on B. On I
signals were heard, and F gave only weak Bignals.
The result of adding a second wire to the right-hand
part of system I) Fig. >'>'. and so forming the arrange-
ment G Fig. 7 i. was most marked m several resp
In the first place, the intensity of the Bignals was
augmented, and the commercial station-
"W M E" and "< . 0" were heard strongly. In
the intensity of these signals appeared to be as
great as when the large elevated aerial at Be-
loit was used. System .1 i Vig. 7) gave even better
results than G, for with it many commercial stations,
including Sault Ste. Marie, "V B H," and Sarnia,
"V B F," were easily read. The Sarnia station was espe-
cially loud, although nearly 600 km away. A second ad-
vantage of -'-terns G and J over the others tried (as,
for example. A, Fig. 6) is that the tuning was found
to he as sharp as that which obtains when employing
elevated aerials of the commercial types. System H does
nut differ materially in effectiveness from G. System I
gives lair results, in marked contrast to the results with
F. Fig. 6.
In this general connection it is interesting to note
Notwithstanding the fact that bare wire was used in
. when the outer ends of the wires in our
il arrangements were deliberately connected to
earth the system would not respond to the incident
radiation. If, however, the wires were directly con-
nected to earth near the receiving instruments, no ap-
preciable effect was produced upon the intensity of the
To Beloit
VWV\A ^
AAAAAA-
AAAAAA-
-VWW^
All Wif- ;-es On Ground
fig. 6 — multiple-wire arrangements
that if one of the two right-hand wires in G (Fig. 7) is
added in series with the other, thus forming one wire of
double the original length, the efficiency of the resulting
system is comparatively low. Further, upon shortening
the right-hand wire of G (Fig. 7) by as much as one-
half, the effectiveness was decreased; small changes
produced no noticeable effect.
All Wirls On Ground
fig. 7 — multiple-wire arrangements
signals. In this connection it should be mentioned that
during the greater part of August the surface of the
soil was dry.
As a result of the experiments several facts stand
out more or less clearly. In the first place, so far as we
know, this is the first time in this country that electric
wav'es have been successfully received over commercial
distances by using a single bare wire placed directly on
the ground. Further, it is apparent that a somewhat
symmetrical multiple earth-wire system may be used for
receiving in practical radio communication, without
necessitating any increase in sending power over that
employed when utilizing ordinary elevated antennas. It
is also evident that such single or multiple earth-wire
systems possess a directive effect, and that the elements
which extend away from the transmitting station are the
most important in this respect.
It would appear that such a system operates most
effectively when its electrical length, including the wind-
ing on the transformer primary, is something like one-
fourth that of the incident wave. The receiving instru-
ments, it seems, should be inserted about one-third the
distance from the end nearest the transmitting station.
and to operate at the same efficiency the total length of
such a ground-wire system should be approximately
twice that of an elevated aerial. When used as an ab-
sorber, insulation of the wires apparently plays a very
minor part. The ease and dispatch with which an earth-
wire system may be installed makes the plan valuable
for use under certain conditions, particularly in mili-
tary operations and press work.
It remains to be determined whether a similar ar-
rangement may be used over commercial distances as a
radiating system, and many of the properties of such
earth wires are still to be worked out quantitatively.
The authors are continuing their experiments along both
these lines.
BETTER BUSINESS IN GENERATING FIELD
Percentages of Increase in Gross Income and Output Tend
to Return to Pre-War Rates
Returns received by the Electrical World from
central stations show gains in income from sales of
energy and in kilowatt-hour output in December, 1914,
as compared with December, 1913. Throughout 1914
the public utility companies were at a disadvantage. The
£ 30
£ 20
5 10
FIG. 1 — PERCENTAGE-GROWTH CURVES FOR THE ENTIRE
COUNTRY
uncertainty over the business situation in the first seven
months made many commercial and manufacturing or-
ganizations timorous, and they curtailed their activities.
The shock of the war and the influences resulting from
that cause followed. Although electric central stations
suffered much less than electric railways from the de-
cline in public consumption, their sales of energy to
railways were decreased by the reduction in the use of
transportation facilities.
Central stations would have fared much worse had
the character of their business been less diversified.
Nothing short of widespread depression can materially
30
20
10
r
— '
b
51
■j-'
S.
>
lj
1 1! 1 1 | 1 1 |
Mew England States
b .
4
a
-a-
si
3>
*
\
^
kept up. For these reasons the companies found the
conditions of growth normal.
In the light of later developments the early 1914
depression in some ways was an advantage to utilities.
Had the companies experienced a phenomenal growth
early in the year, many would have been obliged to ex-
pend large sums of money in enlargements and exten-
sions. Under the condition existing in the money
TABLE I-CENTRAL-STATION RETURNS FOR SEVEN-MONTH PERIOD
oent of inoi
try)
lone !"■ d
cent of indus-
try)
July (50 p
c.iii of inaua-
try). .
il pa
cent of indus-
try I.
September (.51
per cent of in-
dustry i.
i tetober [69 per
rent of indus-
try
November (66
per cent of in-
dustry)
Deoember 66
per cent ot in-
dustry). .
• i , 089,007 0 I 674
14,073,840 I. M
14,086,822 12,970,325
15,298,226 14,200,649
15,708,696 14,694,206
17,667,913 17,174,667
19,777,660 19,260,451
21,296,659 20,606,469
8.3 682,791,096
3,122,008 13 3
7 s 77\ loo. :.t..-| 71S.L'74,456
7.0 782.450,287
2.8 969
733,754,420 6 8
936,249,619 8 7
2.7 986,466,324 978,934,948 » s>
a t 1,084 ■ ■ • 763 2 9
market late in 1914 such measures would have been diffi-
cult to finance, as the interest charges would have
affected the income which would otherwise have been
available for dividends.
In the accompanying tables are recorded income and
output totals for corresponding months in 1914 and
1913, together with the respective percentage growths.
Mr
3 F§ J £ 2 * 1 $ $ 8 $ i
2 PERCENTAGE-GROWTH CURVES FOR GROUPS OK STATES
lower the percentage rate of growth of generating com
panies. The only effect of the business depression in
the first part of I '.Ml was to hold the rate of growth
Constant, when otherwise it might have gone much
higher. New ventures of large Importance were aban-
doned or theii completion deferred till better conditions
should prevail. The natural growth of exl ting business
The percentages of the industry stated in the tables
represent the approximate percentages of kilowatt rat-
ing of installed generating equipment. From the Octo-
ber, 1914, lighting and power edition of the "McGraw
Electrical Directory" the aggregate kilowatt rating of
installed generating equipment of each state was ascer-
tained. The total rating for companies reporting to
ucal World vu calculated From these data
the |" represented in the re-
turn- dated. Thus companies in the I'
and Mounl whose aggregate rating of gen-
lipment amounted to 88 per cent i
the entire region forwarded to the ELECTRICAL WORLD
the operating statistics included in the December totals.
The accompanying curves show graphically the
changes that have taken place in the percentage rate of
th in both the gross income and the energy output.
Curve a represents income and curve h output. The
figures of Table I are regarded as typical for the whole
country, and from them it is simple to derive totals for
n.s of this country warn $164, 000,000 as compi
with $147,400,000 for the last five months of th.
- 500,000, or 4.6 per cent.
If the July. 1914, returns are included, the 1914 total
becomes $182,000,000, against $173,400,000 for th<
hall" of L918, an increase of $8,800,000, or 5 per cent.
Roughly apporti g the estimated popu',
of 100.000,000, this would mean that during th<
half of 1914 an average of 8.8 cents more was spent per
inhabitant for electrical energy than during the >
sponding period of 1913. On a monthly basis this would
mean 1.47 cents per month more per person in 191 1
than in the previous year.
TKM.r : NGLAND
TABLE IV CENTRAL- LTIONS Ion THE CENTRAL -
ILLINOIS BXCLI I't D
ml of indu ■
•
Cent
crease
II
54,074.533
1,(47.145
7 5
7 3
1
5 4
4 3
t 0
•
per cent of in-
5 6
H (88 156
3 8
in g
202.511 ' -
111) 43 per
cent «>f indus-
•U.685
S3 per
t l r i (iu*-
3.459.497 13 2 217 207 19 4
July (52 per
cent of induft-
3,802,121 18.569.581 1". »
57 |KT
cent of indus-
4.051.67S 8.4 267.501,400 -
Septeml>er (57
' of in-
diMry 1,704 780 4 :ir,». J.ii 7 9 280,705,339
57 per
cent of indus-
tryi. 5.105,810 I 78
iber (57
per cent of in-
dnstr] 5.408.672 5,158,981 t< 290,681,750
Decern! i -
per cent of in-
du-tr> I. 6,000 K 11.336,251 8.1
134 "7
7 in 5
269.220.52s - 0
TABLE IB— CENTRAL-STATION OPERATIONS FOR THE ATLANTIC
TABLE V— CENTRAL-STATION OPERATIONS FOR PACIFIC ASH MOUNTAIN
ST ITES
Energy Output nt
Income Derived from Sm.f. >>f
Energy OrrpiT in
Enerot
K\V-HR.
Energy
Kw-hr.
Per
Per
Per
Per
I!'I4
1913
In-
crease
1(14 19!3
Cent
In-
crease
1914
1913
Cent
In-
crease
1114 1913
In-
May 58 per
cent of indus-
May :»7 pe,
cent of indus-
15,628.718
14 5
259.09X.542 23S.733.320
•> t
try!.
61,525,729
(1,426,885
:
12
11 'l
June
cent of indus-
7,780
5,578,311 v
6 0
:i ,315,464
in 8
1,791 918
.
9 i.
J uly .i 1 per
lulj
cent of indus-
10 2
299 235,068,939
11 s
2,212,827
6 8
: 9
mhI «.f indue-
ffi per
•■ 224,896
8.2
-■•.1,717
11 2
trj
4 6
4 -'
Beptember ">."'
Septet]
pereent ofin-
6,221.000
6.1
270 ''7i 5 1 1 j'..' 1 18,550
7 :(
2,487,513
3 7
3 1
>l I.i2,247
2 1
3,146,160
3,157.689
0 3-
245 966 368
2 4"
\»i, m
1 l»7,
J 7
il 7'
dustry)
2 (>•
■ i 1"
V7..V.'7.'>
2 2
1 251,867
1 2
0 3
287 181,920
- '
100 per cent. If, for instance, 65 per cent of the in-
dustry shows certain changes, the assumption in the
calculation is that the remaining 35 per cent would
have shown the same changes. During the five months
ended Dec. 31, 1914, the gross income of the central
The statistical returns have been segregated into
groups according to the population of the cities served
(1910 census). The following arbitrary groups were
chosen: Group 1, more than 100,000 inhabitants:
group 2. between 100,000 and 50,000 inhabitants; group
728
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 12
3, 50,000 to 25,000; group 4, 25,000 to 10,000; group 5,
10,000 to 5,000 inhabitants. In each group there was a
downward tendency for the percentage rate of growth
In output, groups 2 and 5 continued to fall in the per-
centage rate of growth in December, but groups 1, 3
and 4 began to improve.
TABLE VI— COMPARATIVE FIGURES FOB 51 I'll: CENT OF INDUS-
TRY OVEB v l "i R-MONTH PERIOD i
KNERGY 0( TPIT IN
SpptpmWr
$15,708,695
114,694,205
7 u 782
7.13, 754, 420
6.8
October
.. 16,967,816
B76,944,256
4 0
November
. . 17.840.812
18,185,093
1 :• 804,960,227
780,632,582
:: 0
December . . .
.. 19.122,288
• in ).-
; - 875,707 030
s.-,d linr.vil
2.9
TABLE X- -PERCENTAGE RATE OF INCREASE IN" INCOME AND
KILOWATT-HOUR OUTPUT FOR CENTRAL STATES— CITIES
GROUPED ACCORDING TO SIZE
INCOME
Group l
Group 2.
Group 3.
Group i
Group 5.
OUTPUT
( iroup l
Group 2
Group :J
Group 4
Group 5.
21 0
l I
It 7
21 i)
I er Deeembe
4.0
7 .",
1.3
a i
0.5*
1.5
2.4
4 2
lis
12 1
6.6
12.4
J3.3
4 9
18 0
TV.ti
TABLE VII— PERCENTAGE RATE < >F INCREASE IN INCOME WD
KILOWATT-HOUR OUTPUT FOR UNITED STATES CITIES
GROl PED ICCORDING TO SIZE
Septembei I Ictober
INCOME
Group 2.
Group 3.
Group 4.
( Iroup •"*
OUTPUT:
Group 1.
Group 2.
Group 3.
Group 4.
Group 5.
14.0
2.7
'.i :,
1 n
4.6*
6.3
2.9
2.6
4.7
0.5
4.8
2.6
4.9
3.3
4.8
3.2
TABLE XI— PERCENTAGE RATE OF INCREASE IN INCOME AND
KILOWATT-HOUR OUTPUT FOR PACIFIC \\l> MOUNTAIN
STATES— CITIES GROUPED ACCORDING TO SIZF.
INCOME:
Group 1
Group 2
Group 3
Group 4
Group 5
OUTPUT:
Group 1
Group 2
Group 3
Group 4
Group 5
*Decreas
September October November December
0.3*
2.0
1.7*
2.9*
0.1
1 6*
13.0*
7.3*
2.1*
ii ii
7.7*
18 0*
4.1*
11 _••
1 1
.; 7
2.9*
1.0
TABLE VIII— PERCENTAGE RATE OF INCREASE IN INCOME \NI>
KILOWATT-HOUH OUTPUT FOR NEW ENGLAND STAT] -
CITIES GROUPED ACCORDING TO SIZE
INCOME:
Group 2
Group 3
( Iroup I
Group 5
OUTPUT:
Group 5.
6 3
7 II
; '.
17 s
2.0
7 I'
5 0
2 3
6.1
;, s
B ii
1 2
1 o
i, e
6.1
2 3
9.7
9.0
3.9
TABLE l\ PERCENTAGE RATE OF INCREASE IN INCOME \NI>
KILOWATT-HOUR OUTP1 run: ATLANTIC STATES CITIES
lING TO BI27JE
INCOM1
Or., up 1 7.8 0 -■
Group 2 8.1 7,1
7 'i II
Group I s 8 8 1
Or., up :. I" ii HI 9
"I I PI I
ip i 71 i. a
is a
i>, i
i.j
n. .
in Income for September, October anil November, and
with the exception of group i. which experienced no
change, all bowed an upward tendency En December.
3 n
1 1,
2 7
0
II 1
i B
7 0
11 2
ii ii
8 2
;, o
7,7
a s
.7 6
II 1
Unless otherwise noted, the figures in Tables VII,
VIII, IX, X and XI represent the percentage rates of
growth for the individual groups for September, Octo-
ber, November and December.
Water-Power Motor Drive in a Minneapolis Flour
Mill
An extremely flexible arrangement has been worked
out by the Northwestern Consolidated Milling Company
for one of its large flour mills at Minneapolis. This
plant is driven by both a waterwheel set and a large
synchronous motor connected to the same shaft. When
water is plentiful the turbine wheel is operated at full
load, pulling the mill and converting its surplus power
into electrical energy in the motor unit, which is for
the time operated as an alternating-current generator.
The electrical energy thus generated, amounting to sev-
eral hundred horse-power, is used to supply other mills
and elevators operated by the same company. When,
however, the output of the waterwheel is insufficient to
pull the mill itself, the synchronous motor is called into
service, taking its supply- from the mill steam-turbine
plant. In case of low water this motor is used to drive
the whole mill. On still other occasions, when the mill
is shut down and it is desired to utilize the water-power.
the waterwheel can again be used to drive the motor unit
as a generator, feeding its entire output into the mill
system. In preparing the switchboard connections for
I his flexible arrangement it was. of course, necessary to
provide for reversing the wattmeter connections by
means of a reversing switch when the motor is operat-
ing as a generator.
.\l via il -
K I. ECT RICAL W ORLD
PRODI cl.V. NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
Kl. ■ i ri.-.ii Processes tor I hi- Purpose Discussed l>> tin-
\. « ^ .,rk ^, , linn .il the \. I. E. K.
A joint meeting ol the American Institute of Elec-
and the New York Section <>f the
American Electrochemical Society waa held in New
m March 12. Two papers were presented:
.Mon of Atmospheric Nitrogen," by .Mr. Leland I..
Summers, ami "The Cyanamide Process," h> .Mr. Frank
B. Washburn.
The paper by .Mr. Summers dealt with the commer-
cial production of nitrogen compounds by three electri-
cal pr ■ the Bii kland-Eyde, 2 1 the Schon-
herr, and « - 5 » the Pauling. In commenting on these
the author called attention to the supply from natural
the necessity of producing substitutes at a
competitive cost, the low efficiency of electrical proc-
utilizing thermal energy only, and the possibili-
• important developments by combining electrical
and chemical methods. Among the subjects discussed
were the power-factor and electrode wear in electrical
efficiency and losses, the cost of making prod-
ucts, and the possibility of manufacturing nitrogen
compounds with off-peak energy. The energy required
per kilogram of nitrogen combined is 65 kw-hr. with
the direct oxidizing process, 16.6 kw-hr. with the cyan-
amide process, 12 kw-hr. with the aluminum-nitride
-. and 1.5 kw-hr. with the catalytic method.
Cyanamide Process
In the paper by Mr. Washburn it was pointed out
that from 90,000 tons to 100,000 tons of fixed nitrogen
is produced annually by arc and cyanamide processes,
twice as much being manufactured by the latter method
mpared with the electrical process. Some of the
economic aspects of nitrogen fixation were discussed,
the author being of the opinion that the arc process
will be restricted to the production of nitric acid. The
arguments which were presented tended to show that
the cyanamide process will be employed most exten-
sively. Considerable data were given on the compara-
tive costs of producing nitrogen compounds by different
methods.
Discussion
The discussion was opened by Dr. J. W. Richards,
who reviewed the great progress made in recent years
but emphasized the "wonderful inefficiency," from the
thermal and energy standpoint, of all processes for the
fixation of atmospheric nitrogen. The thermal efficiency
of the nitric-acid-arc process is only about 1.4 per cent,
while the cyanamide process fixes about twice as much
atmospheric nitrogen per kilowatt-hour. There is a
wide margin for improvement.
Mr. J. L. R. Hayden, in a communicated discussion,
said that a series of experiments in Dr. Steinmetz's
laboratory with arcs of different temperatures (pro-
duced by using different electrode materials, iron, titan-
ium, carbon and copper) showed no direct relations of
the No concentrations to the arc temperature. He
considers that the essential phenomenon in the arc is
the dissociation of the oxygen and nitrogen molecules
into X atoms and O atoms, which pass out of the arc
and combine with each other according to the proba
bility law.
Mr. 1). B. Rushmore emphasized the point that civi-
lization is absolutely founded on the layer of from 4 in.
in. of soil on the surface of the earth. The con-
servation of this layer is an absolute necessity, and
there is still very much to learn on fertilizing. He sug-
gested the possibilities of development of water-powers
i'i agricultural districts and asked as to the effect of
the electric field in arc processes.
Dr. C. A. Doremus referred to a treatise published in
1802 by Felix Pascalis, in which he referred to the pos-
sibility of manufacture of nitric acid from nitrogen of
the air according to the expectations of Citizen Guyton.
It has required a world conflagration to make us in this
country appreciate our possibilities.
Mr. F. V. Henshaw asked as to the requirements in
the matter of geographical location of nitrogen-fixation
plants.
.Mr. Washburn replied that for pure cyanamide fac-
tories interior water-power plants serving adjoining
agricultural districts would do. but that for the manu-
facture of ammonia-phosphate fertilizers cheap water
transportation is as necessary as cheap water-power.
He saul. however, that the beef-packing business was
-sful in spite of very large shipping bills, and a
great nitrogen industry will be also able to face suc-
cessfully similar handicaps. But this means manufac-
turing at one point on the largest scale.
Mr. Summers, in closing, said in reply to Mr. Rush-
more's last question that at the high temperature of
arc processes dissociation is so active that though there
is an electrical effect it will be overcome and the
final effect be purely thermal. Ozone, on the other
hand, is produced at low temperature.
Illumination of Cars
Considerable experimental work has been conducted
under the direction of the New York Municipal Rail-
way Corporation to determine the most desirable light-
ing system for the cars which will be used. Data ob-
tained during these experiments and conclusions drawn
from the results were given in a paper entitled "A Prac-
tical Study of Car-Lighting Problems," presented be-
fore the New York Section of the Illuminating Engi-
neering Society by Messrs. W. G. Gove and L. C. Por-
ter on March 11. The size of the cars, arrangement of
seats, finish and construction made the problem of illu-
mination somewhat unusual. The cars are 65 ft. long
and 9 ft. wide inside. The headlinings and walls down
to the window sills are enameled white; below that the
walls are gray, the seats are upholstered in yellow rat-
tan, and the floor is concrete. Some of the seats run
parallel to the track and others transverse. Thirteen
different systems were tested, the results being tabu-
lated herewith. The lighting equipment finally adopted
consisted of fifteen 56-watt bowl-frosted tungsten
lamps supported in 6-in. opal reflectors arranged along
the center line of the ceiling. These are supplemented
by six 10-watt all-frosted emergency lamps. The illu-
mination at 42 in. above the floor averaged 5.94 ft. -can-
dles at normal voltage and was remarkably soft and
uniformly distributed. The power required per square
foot of floor surface was 1.44 watts, the effective lu-
mens per watt 4.14, and the effective utilization factor
50.6 per cent. Among the factors considered in decid-
ing on this equipment were the general effect and ap-
pearance, eye comfort, ease of reading when seated or
standing, utilization efficiency, maintenance expense,
power consumption and lamp depreciation.
Among those who took part in the discussion were
.\b srs. F. M. Brinckerhoff, Ward Harrison. S. G. Hib-
ben, G. H. Stickney, Norman Macbeth and Dr. Haven
Emerson. Mr. Brinckerhoff called attention to the com-
mercial value of car lighting, such as its effect on rent-
ing advertising-card space and in drawing passengers
from competing roads.
In response to a question he stated that, in his opin-
ion, the most even distribution of light would be se-
cured in a car when the interior cross-section has the
form of a parabola and when the lighting units are set
730
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 12
on the exact focal center line. Limiting dimensions
might preclude such a design, however.
Mr. Hibben quoted from 7 cents to 10 cents per unit
per month as being the cleaning cost when the units
are wiped dry three times a month and washed once
in the same period. Dr. Emerson said that the New
York Board of Health may call upon the society to join
an advisory committee which will determine how fac-
tories, etc., should be illuminated. Mr. Sticknev recom-
Field painting should follow the stringing of wires so
that the final coat will be unmarred by erection opera-
tions. Shop coats of linseed oil instead of paint are not
advisable as they are liable to blister and peel before or
after the field coat is applied.
In repainting just as much, if not more, care is re-
quired to remove dirt and paint where rusting has oc-
curred beneath the previous covering. All paints should
be stirred thoroughly before using, particularly the
RESULTS OF ILLUMINATION TESTS IN NEW SUBWAY CARS FOR NEW YORK CITY
watt
Dir.K-t [. -it 56-watt
'l-watt
Twelv. •
Ten 56-watt
Four 10-watt
Four 10-watt
Foul 10-watt
io-watt
Four 10-watt
6-in.Sud pal
Holophani' X [-40(clearpri8matio
HolophaneXE-100, ditto
Ten (in pairs) 94-w:ot Ten 10-watt
l>n 94-watt Pen 10-watt
Ten 94-watt I en 10-watt
Ten 56-watt
our (three
[6-watt
Twenty 36-watt
Twelve 94-watl
Direct Fifteen 56-watt bowl- frosted lamps
None
Doric dishes and enameled
trough
I'yru V ■■. !-
Pyro V inert >
Pyro .No. 1200 (different spac-
ing)
Moonstone screens
\ oltage
Alexolitc. enameled steel
E-KO X-Ray in coves
E-100 National X-Raj . inverted
cones r .
Wn Sudan No. 01225, opal
-, ess
s osa
5 020
3 908
5 588
1.834
- 16 .
5 940
\t B5
3. 157
3.350
2.780
2 170
3.383
3.059
4.700
3.850
I'tiliza-
Total Watts per Lumens tion
per Efficiency.
Required Foot Waft per Cent
600
990
990
990
610
1178
840
1 . 030
1 030
0 B71
013
14"
;f 301
1.636
1.206
4.110
58 I
47 2
41 a
It 7
10 ',
68 4
50.6
*Opal-dipped turnip-shaped bulbs.
mended finishing the headlining of cars in light colors
to obtain efficient illumination and insure even distribu-
tion. He also pointed out that while the intensity of
illumination on advertising cards may be increased by
placing bare lamps near them it is not advisable to do
so because the visual acuity will be impaired by the
lamps being in the line of vision. Mr. Macbeth said
that if advertising cards are set on white backgrounds
they will not be so distinct as on darker surfaces. New
types of interior-lighting units, reflectors and headlamps
were exhibited by Messrs. G. H. Sticknev, W. P. Horn
and P. S. Bailey respectively.
Protective Coatings for Line Structure and
Equipment
By R. D. Coombs
To prevent metallic transmission and distribution line
supports and equipment from deteriorating they should
be covered with some protective coating. In the writer's
opinion, structures with small or medium-spread bases
can be protected more satisfactorily and economically
by painting than by using galvanized sections, provided
that their maintenance is not grossly neglected.
Inasmuch as the adherence of the first or shop coat
affects the character of all subsequent coats, painting
specifications should require thai the metallic surfaces
be thoroughly cleaned of all mill scale, rust and dirt
and that no paint be applied in the rain or dusty atmos
phere. Further, the application of the second or field
coat is open to improvement in that careless workmen
frequently paint over mud spots or blisters. If the base
coat does not adhere to the metal, subsequent coats ap-
plied over it will flake off, leaving the metal exposed to
corrosion. The inexpert use of paint thinners in gen-
eral or the addition of benzine to ready-mixed paints
may effect a little saving in the original cost of labor and
material, but will not be economical in the long run.
heavy-pigment paints such as red lead. Paint contain-
ers which have been opened should be kept under cover;
otherwise water, dirt, etc., will get into the contents or
the paint will dry out. In filling painters' pails from the
stock container the contents of the latter should be thor-
oughly stirred. The writer recommends applying a
plaster of "paint skins" to steel structures where they
are to be incased in concrete, but never to the large
areas of the superstructure.
Under favorable climatic conditions galvanizing is
thought to be more economical than painting for wide-
base towers erected in rough, unsettled country where
all maintenance operations are expensive. It is generally
assumed, however, that galvanizing does not afford
proper protection near coke ovens, smelters, steam
plants, etc., or near the seacoast.
In order to make the layer of zinc adhere firmly the
steel should be "pickled" in a weak solution of sul-
phuric acid to clean the surface. Next the metal should
be immersed in a bath of hydrochloric acid, after which
the metal is heated either in an oven or by placing over
a bath of hot zinc. The material to be coated is then
immersed in molten zinc until the covering is complete.
Before entirely removing the coated article from the
bath excess zinc should be allowed to drain off.
All metal fed into the molten zinc should be passed
through a flux of sal ammoniac which can be retained
on the surface of the bath at one end by removable
plates set vertically in the container. The exit of the
bath may contain some "temper metal" for increasing
the luster and insuring a more fluid bath. The mixture
may consist of tin, aluminum and spelter The amount
of tin should be small, however, since an excessive
amount, particularly in the inside layers, may cause
a brittle coating. Inasmuch as there are several grades
of spelter, it is advisable to use "high grade" for galva-
nizing wire and "prime Western" for structural shapes.
standard specifications for spelter were adopted by
the American Society for Testing Materials at its meet-
ing in 1911.
Mabch -
ELECTRICAL WORLD
7:11
DIGEST OF ELECTRICAL LITERATURE
(■I nir.ilor-., MotOTI .iml 1 rati-t nr nui>
Dirt ». — B. G. Lamme. — In an
instalment of the long serial on the engineering evolu-
i" electrical apparatus, the author continues to dis-
the development of the direct-current generator in
America, and dials especially with field poles and wind-
inns, commutation, equalizing connections on armature
windings and commutator mica. The paper is to be
continued. / al, March, 1915.
Lamps ami Lighting
Halt-Watt Lamps.— The nitrogen-filled
tungsten lamps are called in Germany "half-watt
lamps." The reason is that they were originally in-
d tn replace arc lamps, and the specific consump-
tion per candle-power was based on the measurement
of the lower hemispherical candle-power. On the other
hand, the incandescent lamps have in the past been rated
generally by the horizontal candle-power, that is, by the
candle-power in a direction perpendicular to the axis of
the lamp. Nitrogen-filled tungsten lamps now on the
market for 100 cp and 200 cp and 110 volts and 220
volts which are no longer intended to replace arc lamps
should not be called half-watt lamps. According to the
form of the filament, the distribution of the candle-
power in space may be very different for lamps of the
same mean spherical candle-power. Incandescent lamps
should be rated by the mean spherical candle-power.
The name "half-watt lamps" for nitrogen-filled tungsten
lamps has been abandoned by the two largest German
manufacturers, who now use the names "nitra lamp"
and "osram-azo lamps." — Elek. Zeit., Feb. 4, 1915.
Generation, Transmission and Distribution
Automatic Protection of Motor-Generator Sets. —
E. F. NELSON. — An illustrated article on the automatic
protection which must be provided for motor-generator
sets operating in parallel on high-voltage direct-current
systems. The direct-current side should be provided
with overload, reverse power and shunt trips, and the
alternating-current circuit-breakers should have low-
voltage and overload trips. — Elec. Journal, March, 1915.
Traction
Three-Phase Traction. — F. SANTORO AND L. Calza-
LORI. — The first part of an illustrated article on thethree-
phase traction system used on the Giovi line in Italy.
The conditions of the line are first given as they were
at the time of the operation by steam, and this is fol-
lowed by a critical account of the results obtained after
electrification. The results are given in the form of
tables, diagrams, etc. The article is to be continued. —
La Lumiere Elec, Feb. 13, 1915.
Finishing Temperature of Rails. — W. R. Shimer. — A
paper read before the American Institute of Mining
Engineers on the effect of finishing temperatures of
rails on their physical properties and mierostructure.
The author gives the results of extended tests carried
out by the Bethlehem Steel Company. One of the most
important results is that rails rolled from re-heated
blooms are more ductile than those rolled direct from
the ingot, regardless of their finishing temperature.
The mierostructure appears to be controlled more by
the rate of cooling from above the critical point than it
does by the temperature at which it was finished. — ■
Bulletin Amer. Inst. Min. Eng., March, 1915.
Railway-Motor Design. — R. E. Hellmund. — An arti-
cle in which are discussed various considerations in the
design of railway motors and especially insulation de-
sign. The author discusse- the available insulating
materials, the methods of treating and impregnating,
and the selection and application of insulation — Elec.
Journal, March, 1915.
AutomobUt Motors. — T. H. Schoepe and A. L.
BaOOHALL. — An article illustrated by diagrams on the
requirements of motors for electric vehicles. They are
of the series-tield type, with the field coils grouped in
pairs for series or series-parallel connection. For pas-
senger cars use is made of the magnetically saturated
motor; for commercial trucks, of the magnetically un-
saturated motor. Ruggedness of mechanical construc-
tion and lightness in weight are further requirements
— Elec. Journal, March. 1916.
Installations. Systems and Appliances
British Central-Station Statistics. — The annual sta-
tistical tables, giving data on 547 electric supply stations
in Great Britain, with respect to ownership, manage-
ment, electric equipment, operation details, tariffs in
use, etc. For the first time a column is included for
tariffs for charging electric vehicles, from which it
appears that facilities in this direction are becoming
available to a reasonable extent. There are also certain
tariffs which appear to be unusual. Thus, the announce-
ment is made by one particular undertaking that bat-
teries are charged at "the rate of 2d. (4 cents) per
volt." This seems to be a curious basis. In regard to
rates for energy for general purposes it is noticeable
that the company serving Sevenoaks and the surround-
ing districts charges at the rate of 7d. (14 cents) per
kw-hr. from sunset to 10 p. m. and 2d. (4 cents) per
kw:-hr. at other times. In some cases the rate for heat-
ing is higher than that for cooking, but whether this
is desirable is open to question. In one or two instances
the rate for cooking takes such a form as 2d. (4 cents)
per kw-hr. in winter and Id. (2 cents) per kw-hr. in
summer. The price of competitive gas is an important
factor, and in Sheffield the price of this commodity is
as low as lOd. (20 cents) per 1000 cu. ft. for motor
service, yet the Sheffield undertaking is successful in
obtaining a good motor load. The statistical tables are
published as a supplement, and a brief editorial sum-
ming up is given in London Electrician. Feb. 19, 1915.
Control of Public Utilities. — An editorial discussing
the difficulties involved in the control of companies en-
gaged in public service work. "In the United States
these matters are largely in the control of commissions,
which regulate the maximum rates that consumers shall
be charged. This method appears to serve very well,
but it will no doubt be realized that a commission, in
its decisions, must always lag behind the policy of a
really progressive company, for the simple reason that,
in order to develop its business, the latter would take
certain risks that a commission would not feel justified
in forcing upon the company. This being so, we reach
the conclusion that progressiveness in a company is
more important than the enforced decisions of a com-
mission. Nevertheless, a commission can carry out very
useful work. It can permit certain maximum rates
which are desirable and certain profits without which a
business cannot be properly developed." Referring to
the recent American Institute paper by Mr. F. G. Baum,
the statement is made that it does not seem to be real-
ized in the United Slates that extensions of works and
plant involve an imremunerative period just as much
as does the original enterprise, and that it is highly
desirable that an extra return should be allowed upon
the capital expenditure upon such extensions. Baum
732
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 12
points out that if the capital of a company earns noth-
ing at the start and becomes remunerative at the end
of six years the loss of interest amounts to about 18
per cent on the investment. "Thus all unremunerative
extensions should be treated in such a way that from
10 to 20 per cent on the capital should be earned on
account of these initial periods. When we come to
general extensions of business, we find that this part
of the subject is bound up very closely with the ques-
tion of class rates. . . . Although we may reach a
time when electrical energy, whatever the use, will be
supplied at a very low flat rate, we have not yet reached
that fortunate age, and there is, consequently, no deny-
ing that at the present time satisfactory progress can
be made only by means of a proper application of class
rates." — London Electrician, Feb. 19, 1915.
Hydroelectric Installation on a Coffee Plantation. —
J. H. Torrens. — The author gives a brief account of
the conditions existing in Guatemala, where native labor
still performs many operations now done by machinery
in more developed countries. He then gives a descrip-
tion of the hydroelectric plant of the Finca Ona planta-
tion, which is the largest in Guatemala. The process of
preparing coffee for the market and the different opera-
tions carried out by the aid of electric motors are
described. — Gen. Elec. Review, March, 1915.
Cost Keeping in the Central Station. — An article on
log books and sheets for electrical central stations, giv-
ing details of the card-index system employed, etc. —
London Elec. Review, Feb. 19, 1915.
Wires. Wiring and Conduits
Steel and Iron Wire for Overhead Lines in Germany.
— The German Association of Electrical Engineers has
issued a new statement (signed by G. Dettmar) con-
cerning the substitution of iron and steel wires or cables
for copper for overhead lines, on account of the lack of
copper at present in Germany due to the stoppage of
importation. The Felten & Guilleaume Carlswerk has
made several tests of various types of iron and steel
V
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1
;
; /
,,-Ss
t
1 /
in
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j«5
' 1 1
^
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'/ '
A
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'"'-
o
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^X
'/ ' /
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f
"--
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m
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j
PIG. 1 -CUBA I S SHOWING RESULTS OF TESTS ON "H00"
wire ami cables, especially with respect to the increase
of the alternating-current effective resistance over tin'
direct current resistance. Fig 1 gives the results for
naterial called "11""." Curves l, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6
L, 2, ".. 1. "> and 6 mm diam
. while the curves I to V relati
1 i to 5 mm diameter. The
curves give the increase of the effective resistance for
alternating current of fifty cycles per second as a func-
tion of the current density for non-insulated, zinc-
plated "Hoo" wire with a tensile strength of 70 kg per
sq. mm. Fig. 2 gives the corresponding results for an-
other steel called "Hooo." This is purer and more ex-
pensive than "Hoo" and has a conductivity higher by 1'/
^J
/ \
II 1
1
V
a
4
s«
'
/
»s|
/
/
/ /
'
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.
t
M
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■
FIG. 2 — CURVES SHOWING RESULTS OF TESTS ON "HOOO"
per cent. For this reason "Hooo" is the better material
for direct-current lines, but this is no longer true for
alternating-current lines, on account of the higher per-
meability and the increase of effective resistance due to
the skin effect. Pure Swedish iron wire of the brand
G.S. is still more unsuitable for alternating current for
the same reason. Annealing of the wire has the effect
that the increase in effective resistance due to the skin
effect is greater than is the increase in con-
ductivity. For the present, the best iron wire for al-
ternating-current lines is therefore zinc-plated "Hoo,"
with a tensile strength of 70 kg per sq. mm and an aver-
age conductivity of 7.3. The original publication con-
tains also diagrams of the results obtained with stranded
cables and points out that the method of stranding the
wire has an effect on the increase in effective resist-
ance. Rules are given for stranding the wire into cables
to obtain the best results. Diagrams are also given on
the results of tests made by the Siemens-Schuckert
company with respect to the same matter. — Elek. Zi it..
Jan. 28* 1915.
Wiring. — H. C. TOFIELD. — The conclusion of his illus-
trated article on modern wiring work, particularly in
bad situations. The author describes a tumbler switch
and a non-corrosive lamp-holder devised by White, a
watertight wall plug devised by Reyrolle, and water-
tight distribution boards, and gives a few notes on
motor wiring and portable apparatus.- London Elec.
Review, Feb. 19, 1915.
The Hinting nf Buried Cablet, A brief note stating
that a further report has been issued by the ( British l
National Physical Laboratory on the experiments with
regard to the heating of buried cables which are being
conducted under the auspices of the research committee
of the Institution of Electrical Engineers. At Bristol
have been carried out with cables ranging from
on;, gq, m. to 0.3 s<|. in. laid direct in the ground, sub-
! to constant loads. The conductor resistance was
iired by a bridge method, superimposing on the
main alternating CUITenl a small continuous current for
this purpose. An accuracy of measurement of the order
of II. I percent was attained, tint the CUrrenl COUld not
be kept constant to nearer than i per cent. Detennina-
mii ii 20
E I. Ec TK1CAL WORLD
of the amount of moisture in the
.! the actual depth at which the i laid
: the temperature of the .-oil. Testa 00 -:
were also made at Wolverhampton on 0.5-eq. in.
ami 0.76-sq. in. cables, one in a duet and the other solid
in bitumen. Tests under normal conditions of load have
■en made at Marylebone on 2-Bq. in. cable carrying
amp for about fourteen hours a day, and a
il modificatii !" the Callender temperatun
m tests at Marylebone with a number
of l-.-i|. in. cables in a twenty-way duet, and B Wolver-
hampton with cables laid solid and cables drawn
four-way or six-way duet-. London Elec. Eng'ing, Feb.
115.
Klritrophv -u- .mil Magnetism
ductivity of £ . F. C. BROW N. An ac-
count of an experimental investigation of the electrical,
electrical and the electrochemical propei
i tain crystals of metallic selenium, with certain
applications to crystal structure. The author's results
ill That when a selenium crystal is illuminated
rtain points the conductivity of the entire crystal
is increased, 2) that when pressure is applied to the
tal only that part of the crystal under pressure is
altered, (3) that electrical forces alter the conductivity
only of that part directly under the forces, and further
that the influence is exerted only in the direction of the
electrical force. The direct conclusion is that light action
has to do with a mechanism essentially different from
electrical stresses or mechanical stresses. The author
suggests the following notions about the structure of
the crystal of selenium. When in the dark a crystal
has no free electrons in the ordinary sense. While a
crystal conducts electricity when in the dark, yet this
conductivity is small compared with that of the metals.
This conductivity arises from electrons that are pulled
from one atom to the neighboring atom and so on by
the electrical fori the crystal. By some mech-
anism, no doubt because of its electromagnetic prop-
erties, the light can lower the degree of stability of
many or all of the electrons throughout the crystal.
These -ame electrons may have their degree of stabil-
ity yet further lowered by mechanical pressure. The
lower the average stability of the electrons the greater
will be the current with a given potential difference.
With a greater potential difference the same light in-
tensity would therefore seem to produce a greater
change of conductivity. After removal from their fixed
positions the electrons may behave, until reunited in the
structure, somewhat as the traditional electron. The
action of light is not local. By an indirect mechanism
operating everywhere in the crystal the electrons are
made less Btable or temporarily free. The effect is uni-
form at almost all points. The hypothesis bears some
mblance to the accepted theory of electrolytic con-
duction, the distinctive feature being that only electrons
move from one center to the next in the chain of centers
between electrodes. This view requires that the crystal
shall have fixed electrons in its structure but no perma-
nently free electrons. — Physical Review, February,
1915.
Insulating Properties <>f Solid Dielectrics. Harvey
L CURTIS. — An account of an extended experimental
investigation, in which the author discusses methods of
measuring very high resistances and gives diagrams
showing how they may be applied to the measurement
of volume resistivity and surface resistivity. The vol-
ume resistivities of more than sixty materials are tabu-
lated. The effect of the humidity of the surrounding
air, of the temperature of the specimen, and of the mag-
nitude and length of application of the impressed volt-
age, is discussed. The surface resistivity is due to a
surface film, usually of water or oil, on the insulator.
This is generally the important factor in determining
the leakage between two conductors insulated by a solid
dielectric. However, for insulators having a volume re-
sistivity less than 10" ohm-cm placed in an atmosphere
having a humidity less than 25 per cent, the greater part
of the current may flow through the body of the insu-
lator. The surface resistivity of most materials changes
through wide limits when the humidity of the surround-
ing air is varied. It is often a million times as great
at low humidity as at high humidity. The effects of
temperature and exposure to light are also discussed. —
t. Papers, Bureau of Standard*. No. 234.
Units, Measurements and Instruments
Electric R< I < H ■ Metals and Their Use
for Pyrometry. — Edwin S. Northrup. — A brief ab-
stract of an American Physical Society paper on the
linear resistance change with temperature of certain
molten metals. Copper and tin have been studied to
1680 deg. C, lead to over 1600 deg. C, gold to 1500 deg.
C, silver to 1340 deg. C, bismuth to 750 deg. C, and
their change of resistance with temperature when molt-
en has been found, within the limits of accuracy of the
measurements, to be linear. Lead and tin, particularly
the latter, are shown to constitute excellent thermo-
metric materials for the accurate measurement of high
temperatures which may be read with apparatus that
reads on a uniformly spaced scale directly in degrees
centigrade. Several features and relations of interest
respecting the resistivities of the above metals are
pointed out. — Physical Review, February, 1915.
Book Review
Valve Gears. By Prof. Charles H. Fessenden. New
York: McGraw-Hill Book Company, Inc. 170
pages, 171 illus. Price, $2.
The author of this book has succeeded admirably in
achieving his expressed intention to produce an ele-
mentary treatise on valve gears. A commendable fea-
ture is that the texi is confined solely to the valve gears
of steam engines, and the discussion is limited to those
forms that are best known and that are most commonly
used. The Zeuner and the Bilgram diagrams are the
only ones employed by the author in working out the
various problems, because of their wide range of ap-
plication, although they are modified slightly in the
solution of certain problems by the introduction of fea-
tures from the Reuleaux diagram. The scope of the
book is such as to include the D-valve, the piston valve,
multiple-ported valves, valves with riding cut-off and
steam-pump valves. In addition, there are chapters on
reversing gears, such as the Stephenson link motion,
the Walschaert valve gear and the Joy valve gear. In
connection with these types of reversing gear a method
is given whereby an equivalent eccentric may be found
for each, thus enabling approximate solutions of valve
problems to be made with the ordinary valve diagrams.
The concluding chapters are devoted to Corliss valve
gear and poppet valve gear respectively. Each of the
numerous examples is solved fully by both the Zeuner
and the Bilgram diagrams, to illustrate the application
of each form, and many other examples are given by
which the student may test his grasp of the principles
presented. The book is written primarily as a text for
use in engineering colleges, but it will be found of in-
terest and value to any engineer who wants to work out
the relations between the steam distribution and the
proportions and adjustments of the valve
734
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 12
POWER AND OPERATING SECTION
CLEANING FIRES UNDER BOILERS
How to Rid a Furnace of Clinkers, Bank Fires and Other-
wise Care for Boilers
To burn fuel efficiently it is necessary to clean the
fires periodically. Some excellent advice on this subject
is contained in a paper prepared by Mr. Henry Kreis-
inger for the Bureau of Mines. As the clinker and ash
sink to the grate of their own accord, they can be separ-
ated from the combustible material economically by
scraping the coal to one side until the refuse has been
FIG. 1 — METHOD OF BANKING FIRES
removed. Among methods of cleaning which are favored
by plant operators are the side method and the front-to-
rear method. By the first method the good coal is
-craped and pushed from the side to be first cleaned to
the other side, the fire tools being used as shown in the
accompanying drawing. If the clinker sticks, a slice
bar may have to be forced underneath the mass to loosen
it from the grate or side wall, and to break it up so that
it can be pulled out with a hoe. When all the lumps
are loosened and broken they are collected with a hoe
at the front of the grate so that they can be pulled out
of the furnace into a wheelbarrow set close to the fur-
nace door. Gathering all of the refuse on the grate be-
fore pulling any out protects the fireman from the in-
tense heat which he would have to endure if the refuse
were drawn into the wheelbarrow gradually. After one
side of the grate has been cleaned, the coal on the
FIG. 2 SIDE METHOD Or CLEANING FIRE
Opposite side can be scraped over and enough fresh coal
added so that the entire grate can be covered when
cleaning is done. If the boiler is to carry load during
cleaning, it may be necessary to add fresh coal before
any cleaning is done. During cleaning it is advisable
to keep the damper partly but not entirely closed. After
firemen have become familiar with this method of clean-
ing, they can clean the furnace for a 200-hp boiler in
about ten to twelve minutes.
In the front-to-rear method of cleaning, as the name
implies, the burning coal is pushed with hoe against
the bridge wall instead of to one side. If the furnace
has two doors, it is usually preferable to clean one-half
of the grate at a time, unless the grate is very small.
After the refuse has been removed as described for the
side method, the burning coal is pulled forward to the
bare grate and leveled. Fresh coal is then added, and
the furnace is ready for its regular operation. The
front-to-rear method is somewhat quicker than the side
method, but not so thorough, because some clinker is
always left at the bridge wall. Therefore, if the front-
to-rear method must be used while the boiler is under
load, it is advisable to employ the side method after
the boiler is taken out of service at the end of the
day.
If clinkers lie close to the grate and shut off the air
supply, temporary relief can be obtained when it is im-
possible to clean the boiler thoroughly by running a
slice bar under the clinker and lifting it slightly. Care
should be taken, however, to allow as little as possible
of the burning coal to get under the clinker, otherwise
it will soon begin to melt and fill the apertures in the
grate.
In plants where fires are banked over night the after-
shift cleaning should be done early in the morning, or
FIG. 3 — FRONT-TO-REAR METHOD OF CLEANING FIRE
about two hours before steam is needed, so that the
clinker will have time to cool off before being removed.
To allow the clinker near the bridge wall to cool, it is
advisable to bank the fire on the front part of the grate
near one of the doors. Before starting the fires in the
morning the clinker can then be pulled out without pre-
viously handling the burning coal. The damper should
be nearly closed during the process of cleaning a banked
fire.
The majority of bituminous coals cake or fuse into
a crust, particularly when they contain a large propor-
tion of slack; therefore the grates on which they are
burned should contain large air spaces to allow the ash
to fall through into the pit and prevent an accumulation
on the grate. The air spaces should not be less than
0.5 in. wide, but for some coal may be as wide as 0.75 in.
Causes of Clinkers and Remedies
The most common causes of clinker formation are:
Excessive stirring of fires, burning coal in the ash pit,
slack in the coal, closed ash-pit doors, and preheating
Mak. 11
ELECTRICAL WORLD
735
the air admitted under the urate. Clinker forma in thick
fuel beds because the insufficient air supply through the
grate permits the ash to become heated in a reducing
atmosphere of carbon-monoxide. Some firemen add such
large quantities of coal that crusts form on the surface
of the fuel bed and must be broken up to allow the air
to pass through. In doing this with a slicing bar fire-
men frequently lift the ashes and small pieces of clinker
to the surface of the fire, thereby exposing the refuse
to a high temperature and reducing gases, which quickly
convert it into sticky clinker that may adhere to the
grate bars or clog up the air passages. If coal is al-
lowed to fall through the grate and burn in the ash pit,
the heat may melt the ashes on the grate, allowing the
fused material to fill the apertures. In some i
clinkering has been relieved by spreading a few shovels
full of crushed limestone over the grate when starting
from the banked fire, or after cleaning. The limestone
should be broken to the size of a walnut.
2 in. shorter than the over-all length of the spring, so
that when the rod js in its "up" position the spring is
compressed somewhat.
Saving the .Muscles in the Fireman's Back
In the Washington Street power house of the Mer-
chants' Heat & Light Company, Indianapolis, Ind., the
most severe task of the firemen — that is, shaking the
grates of the stokers — has been made comparatively
easy. Twin springs 18 in. long and 1.25 in. in diameter,
and made of No. 10 steel wire*, have been placed on each
shaker rod. When a fireman now releases the dog which
holds the shaker rod in the "up" position the weight of
the grates, aided by a slight push, sends the rod to its
SPRINGS ADDED TO SHAKER RODS IN AUTOMATIC STOKERS
extreme "down" position and dumps the ash off the
lower end of the grate. With the rod in this position
the springs are at their point of maximum tension, and
the rebound, aided by such a pull as can be exerted by
a medium-sized fireman standing flat-footed on the floor,
returns the rod to its original position and latches the
dog. In fact, the rods can be worked so easily now that
Mr. M. L. Addington, chief engineer for the company,
in demonstrating the usefulness of the springs, easily
returned one of these rods to its "up" position by using
only one finger to exert the upward pull.
When a stoker is to be equipped with springs the
shaker rods are removed and holes are drilled as shown
at the lower end of the spring in the sketch herewith.
A U-shaped piece of strap iron is then shaped and
drilled so that it will slip over the shaker rod, and the
holes in the strap iron coinciding with those in the rod
allow this piece, when bolted in place, to serve as a
guard to prevent the springs from becoming unhooked
at the lower end. The distance between the upper and
lower suspension points of the spring is made about
Heat inn <>f High-Tension (ialleries
If steam or hot water is employed to heat high-ten-
sion switch galleries, there will be a chance of the
radiators or pipes breaking and allowing water to flood
HEATING SYSTEM FOR HIGH-TENSION GALLERIES
the compartments and short-circuit the high-voltage
conductors. This danger is prevented, however, at the
generating station of the United Electric Light & Power
Company, New York City, by installing the radiators in
compartments between the corridors and the galleries
and forcing the heated air into the latter by motor-
driven fans. The corridor side of the radiator compart-
ment is covered with a grating. With this arrangement
ventilation is afforded, and in case a radiator bursts
the water will be conveyed down a shaft into the base-
ment, where it will be discharged into the sewer.
Phasing Out After Cable Joints Are Made
Instead of requiring its construction men to "phase
out" cables before each joint is made, the distribution
department of the Edison Electric Illuminating Com-
pany of Brooklyn, N. Y., saves time by allowing the
men to make the joint without any regard to the phase
relations, changing the terminal feeder connections
Vulcanized Rubber Cylinder
FIG. 1 — REMOVABLE SLEEVE FOR FEEDER TERMINAL CON-
NECTION
to give the proper phase relation after the installation
is completed. Continuity tests can be carried on from
the terminals of the cable while the joints are being
completed, thereby relieving the construction men of
the responsibility of testing and allowing them more
736
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 12
time in which to make the actual joint. To facilitate
"phasing out" after the installation is completed, the
company employs separable joints in each terminal sta-
tion, inclosing them with removable sleeves like that
shown in the accompanying drawing. Lap joints are
employed inside these sleeves, and are held together by
fillister-head screws. The sleeves consist of a vulcanized
FIG. 2 — REMOVABLE SLEEVES COVERING CABLE JOINTS
rubber cylinder into the ends of which screw rubber
caps which fit loosely over the cable insulation. One of
the caps is maintained in place by wrapping the cable
which it surrounds with a thin layer of rubber tape
sufficient to make a snug fit. If it becomes necessary
to reconnect the feeders at the terminal station to give
the proper phase relation, the cylinders can be un-
screwed from the snugly fitted caps and slipped along
the cable while the joints are being reconnected. The
accompanying illustration shows one of these removable
sleeves installed on feeders at one of the company's sub-
stations.
The Responsibilities of Owners of Underground
Utilities in Electrolysis Prevention
In an address on the subject of electrolysis before
the recent Minneapolis convention of the Western As-
tion of Electrical Inspectors, Mr. Burton McCol-
lum, of the United states Bureau of Standards, Wash-
ington, D. C, expressed the view thai owners of under-
ground utilities have distinct responsibilities in the pre-
vention of electrolytic damage to those utilities, no less
than the traction companies whose return currents are
the il of the trouble.
In considering the subject of regulations for the miti-
gation of electrolysis, it. should be borne in mind, de-
clared Mr. McCollum, that while the railway companies
are to be held chiefly respon ible for reducing stray cur
rents to as low values as are commercially practicable,
the owners of underground utilities must also be con-
sidered to have ■ ponsibilities, particularly in
so far as new construction work IS concerned in terri-
•■< trie railways.
There are many things that pipe-owniiu' and cable-
owning companies can do at a very Blight addition.:
which will go far to reduce electrolysis trouble.
provided such measures are taken at the time the pipes
or cables are installed. For example, in new work or
repairs, pipe lines should be laid as far as possible
from railway tracks.
Where the density of service connections is sufficient
to justify the use of two mains, one on each side of the
street, these twin conduits should be laid down in this
way in order to eliminate the necessity for running serv-
ices across and under the railway tracks. The fore-
going is quite common practice in many places where
the utilities are highly developed, and it could frequent-
ly be extended to new work with considerable improve-
ment in local electrolysis conditions.
Use of Insulating Joints in Mains
Further, in laying new mains or repairing old ones.
it is very simple and inexpensive to install a sufficient
number of insulated joints largely to reduce stray cur-
rents in that portion of the pipe network, and such con-
struction should be encouraged in every practicable
way. Wherever it is necessary to run service pipes
across the street under railway tracks, care should be
taken either to lay them as far as practicable below
the tracks or else to provide substantial insulation be-
tween the service pipe and the track, or between the
service and the main by means of insulated joints. The
latter plan will generally be found cheapest and most
effective.
In view of the fact that excessive drainage of cur-
rent from one pipe system may set up a condition of
serious danger in a neighboring system, measures should
also be taken so to restrict the drainage of current from
any one underground metallic structure that it will not
be maintained at a potential sufficiently low-er than that
of surrounding structures to bring about any serious
injury to these structures.
Drying Large Transformer Units Electrically
A newly erected transmission line between Fostoria
and Tiffin, Ohio, has its terminus at the latter city in a
bank of three large transformers housed in a tempor-
ary frame substation. After a wintry trip from the
factory these transformers needed to be thoroughly
dried before being put into service, and a part of the
equipment used for this purpose is shown in the photo-
■jL ..'.■ /t-JH Hi i
DRYING TRANSFORMERS IX \ TEMPORARY SUBSTATION
ih herewith taken m front of the temporary station.
Hie other and Invisible part of the drying apparatus
inside the house consisted of a 25-kw, 1 10 220-volt elec-
trically' operated air heater, a blower, a 2-1 ip motor and
a water rheostat. The coils of the air heater were sup-
plied with energy from the company's station. The
water rheostat included in the circuit allowed the oper-
ator to control the flow of energy through the circuit
20, r.>i .
ELECTRICAL WURLJ
ai d i air delivered into the
large transfi rmers. I n> t .■. anks shown
de the station supplied energy to the heater and to
the 2-hp motor.
Since facilities for removing the transformers From
their tank- were not at hand when these units were
dried, the coils and con d in the tanks. At the
time this note was written it was
temperatun ('., maintained for three
and nights, would drive oul all of the moisture,
the drj <-• > 1 1 « I i t i • >ti of tin- windings, how-
ever, a megger was at hand and tin- factory man in
charge of the drying operations was prepared to teal
each unit for insulation resistance before applying high
al to the '-oils of the transformer.
Protecting the Vital Points of a Tower
A steel tower set in concrete is must vulnerable at the
ground line that is, at the points where the tower legs
enter the concrete base because these are the points
of greatest leverage and the places at which the twin
destroyers, moisture and te attack the steel
with greatest ferocity. It matters little how carefully
the concrete base is rounded to drain the moisture from
■eel, for in spite of the best efforts there is gen-
of sufficient size between the concrete
.i. d the steel to harbor a few drops of water after each
rainstorm and after each heavy dew. In time, and in
gpite of paint, these drops of moisture aided by their
ally, temperature, make certain inroads on the unpro-
tected steel.
There are several factors which have made it difficult
t.. set poles in concrete in such a manner that water
will run immediately away from tower bases. For in-
A TOWER SET IN CONCRETE BEFORE THE PITCH HAD BEEN
POURED
stance, a 65-ft. square-base tower standing in a I
breeze vibrates as the green concrete is poured, ami
small vibrations transmitted to the tower bs
slightly but surely force the newly poured and setting
rete away from the steel and leave at the base of
the tower a crevice almost imperceptible to the eye but
nevertheless a crevice. Then, too, concrete has been
known to shrink in setting, and this shrinking action
may become a factor in producing an opening for moist-
ure.
But, regardless of what the cause or causes of the
crevices may be, the construction men of the Ohio Light
& Power Company at Tiffin, Ohio, believe that they have
a means of decreasing, if not entirely eliminating, this
graph herewith, small
trem ■ 2 in. or •". in. deep are dug in the .
concrete at the I . tower leg and angle-
Later, when the concrete ha- hardened, these trenches
are poured full of asphaltum or pitch of a brand which
will neither crack in < old weather nor run in the hi
the sun.
In the waj described a water-tight joint is secured
between the pitch and the steel and between the con-
crete and the pitch, and with a little care exercised in
applying the pitch this joint can be made so that water
will not lie retained against the steel. This methi
making water-tight joints is being used on the :'>:>>, 000-
volt line between Tiffin and Postoria, and it is e.v •
thai the idea of thus protecting the towers in their vital
parts will result in a very material increase in the life
attained by these structures.
Arrangement of Control Wiring on Narrow Pant I
Where space accommodations do not permit the in-
stallation of full-width panels it is not always possible
to cleat the control wiring to the back of the boards in
the usual manner, especially if a large amount of re-
mote-control equipment is installed thereon. The
accompanying illustration shows how this difficulty was
circumvented at the 187th Street station of the United
Electric Light & Power Company, New York City. The
wires are grouped into vertical risers which are held in
clamps attached to the board so that the risers form
barriers between adjacent panels. At the top of these
ARRANGEMENT OF CONTROL WIRING AND FUSES
risers near the load center of each section are fuse pan-
els supported with their faces at right angles to the
switchboard. Wires lead from the fuse terminals to
apparatus on the switchboard. Arranged in this man-
ner, the fuses can be replaced easily and their terminal
boards and vertical risers do not interfere with work
which it may become necessary to do on the rear of the
board.
738
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 12
COMMERCIAL SECTION
Electric Cooking Grows in Popularity at
Wildwood, Ohio
The plot of ground upon which thirty houses now
stand in the suburb of Wildwood near Toledo, Ohio, was
a thicket two years ago. As each of these houses was
built an electric stove was placed in it. Energy for
cooking and lighting is supplied by the company pro-
moting the scheme, the Wiltsie Realty Company, on a
system of rates which in principle are the reverse of
those in general use. The customer may choose arbi-
trarily any maximum energy consumption, and for this
chosen amount of energy he pays 3.5 cents per kw-hr.,
regardless of the amount used. For all energy over the
chosen maximum the customer pays at the rate of 7
cents per kw-hr.
Most of the householders have chosen a 100-kw-hr.
maximum, and by watching their meters they try to
TOTAL ENERGY CONSUMPTION IN WILDWOOD HOUSEHOLDS
USING ELECTRICITi FOB COOKING
Cu»-
Total
Average
Nov .
Aug .
July,
Five
Five
N umber
Kw-hr.
Kw-hr
Kw-hr
Kw-hr.
Months.
Kw-hr.
Months,
Kw-hr.
1
197
32
119
10
10
74
2
100
1117
87
95
108
497
99
3
100
85
^
77
105
455
91
1
B8
68
li.S
00
100
100
91
490
98
ti
175
113
138
llli,
114
676
135
126
■■■
100
105
100
590
118
3
100
ge
100
97
78
171
94
1
113
74
89
82
71
429
86
ID
100
74
97
100
97
468
94
11
98
si.'
71
70
100
421
84
12
9)
13
134
67
18
28
85
77
96
96
382
76
1 I
91
91
91
15
1 II
129
126
122
125
646
129
16
7.-.
73
97
100
91
436
87
17
IH7
11)1
98
118
96
519
llll
18
105
93
97
100
89
ISI
"7
19
1711
i 55
179
111
Hill
745
1 "i
20
19
urn
35
104
L28
416
S3
21
138
.".3
104
77
83
455
91
22
245
199
163
254
221
1082
2 1 ii
23
97
86
77
98
100
92
24
:.s
58
58
25
62
100
93
255
85
is
nil
119
60
Grand total "t average hills
Grand average
keep their energy consumptions within that limit. How
well they succeed in this effort is shown by the accom-
panying table setting forth data for five months taken
from the bills of twenty-six customers. The grand
average of the energy consumption of all customers is
97 kw-hr., showing that, taken as a whole, the bills of
these twenty-six customers averaged only 3 kw-hr. less
than the assumed maximum of the majority. In the
list are a few families who have assumed a 150-kw-hr.
maximum, but these are so few as to have little effect on
the general average.
Since it has been seen that the tendency of the elec-
tric-service customers is to purchase energy only at
the lower rate, Mr. R. B. Wiltsie, who is in charge of
this project, has filed a petition with the Ohio commis-
sion asking permission to reduce the secondary rate
from 7 cents per kw-hr. d> 5 rents per kw-hr. This
step, it is hoped, will still farther stimulate the use of
electrical energy in this model and modern suburb. B
port ion of which is shown in the accompanying Illustra-
tion.
In addition to the electric stoves which are sold with
every house, the residents of Wildwood generally use
irons, vacuum cleaners, percolators, toasters and curling
irons, and some have placed ornamental lighting outfits
NEW HOUSES IN WILDWOOD WHERE ELECTRIC COOKING IS
USED EXCLUSIVELY
in their yards for use at such functions as lawn parties
and the like. One of these installations, which has been
made a permanent decoration, consists of seventy-five
15- watt lamps.
Service Panel Introduces Electricity in Many Homes
Where people cannot afford to have their houses wired
for electric service, or when they doubt that electricity
can be used at reasonable expense, electric-service com-
panies may conduct successful new-business campaigns
by following the example of the Lockport (N. Y.)
Light, Heat & Power Company. Shown herewith is
one of the announcements made by this company to
introduce electricity into homes without any expense to
the consumer for wiring. In this advertisement the
company points out that residents of Lockport may
have electric-service connections in their kitchens or
dining-rooms with the use of a bracket fixture and elec-
".■'To Service Entrance
f
r
> s
Bracket
sc?
Receptacles
Service Switch
and Fuses
Meter
J \J
EIG. 1 SERVICi l'i\n FOB TEMPORARY INSTALLATION
trie flatiron by paying only $5 cash or $6 in deferred
payments of 50 cents a month. This low price is made
possible by furnishing the service switch, fuses, meter,
service receptacles and lamp fixture already mounted
on a single panelboard, which can be installed quickly
near the service entrance. These panelboard equip-
ments were assembled by a local contractor at an ex-
pense to the company of $2 for a board. $1.78 for the
March 20, 1916
K I. h < I K I i A I. \\ <> K 1. 1>
733
iron, 55 cents for labor, 1" cartage and 60
cents for material, making a total unit aspen
Ten dayi after the campaign started fifty-four panels
contracted for, twenty-five of which were paid for
in full, the others being accepted under the deferred-
payment plan. This method served to introduce elec-
tricity into a number of homes which were visited about
two month- later to secure contracts for more exten-
sive and permanent wiring. When a contract un-
closed for replacing the temporary installation with
permanent wiring the consumer was credited wit
for the return of the board, being allowed to keep the
flatiron. Mr. F. M. H ommercial manager of
the company, has expressed himself as being highly
pleased with this method of introducing electric
ice, and believes that it is especially effective where
TRY
ELECTRICITY
WITHOUT
WIRING COST
Here is ft wonderful plan by which you
may enjoy the comforts of electricity
for lighting and doing the houihold
tasks. It puts electricity at your ser-
vice immediately without cost
A rtindsome panel board containing all the
dements of a complete houv-winng installation.
ll has switch, melrr, lamp bracket and two
attachment plugs, also an electnc iron, all mounted
compactly on i well-finished hardwood back
The lamp bracket will furnish Ii«r,ht for on*
room, and the attachment plugs can be used for
an eleclnc iron, vacuum cleaner, or any of the
wonderful electnc appliances.
On receipt of your application, we will install
this panel complete — do all necessary wiring and
run our service to your house. In addition, we
will deliver that greatest of home comforts —
AN ELECTRIC IRON!
Thus you have electricity as your servant—
wwTinf, untthne. cheap, and have not spent one
cent (or installation.
You pay us fifty cents per month for one
year, in addition to your monthly bill At the
end of that time, panel and Itatiron becomes
your property.
Write or call us on the phone and begin
a new era of housekeeping. Phones I Si's
Lockport Light, Heat & Power Co.
FIG. 2 — ANNOUNCEMENT OF INEXPENSIVE SERVICE CON-
NECTION
prospective consumers require conviction of the advan-
tages of electricity or are unable to afford the first cost
of installation.
Combined Concrete Poles and Lighting Standards
The city of Salem, Ohio, recently spent $20,000 to
install and place in operation a modern street-lighting
system for both the residence and business districts.
As it stands to-day, the system consists of 750 concrete
poles carrying 850 gas-filled tungsten lamps.
The poles range from 35 ft. to 45 ft. in height, are
6 in. square at the top, and are spaced about 100 ft.
apart in the business district and from 175 ft. to 200
ft. apart in the residence section. Although the poles
were made by the Pittsburgh Concrete Pole Company,
they were molded in Salem. The entire task of manu-
facturing these standards occupied about six months.
Except in a few instances where automobiles have col-
lided with the poles, they have shown themselves able
to withstand all strains imposed upon them. Automobile
drivers who demolish the standards are required to pay
PIGS. 1 AND 2 — CONCRETE POLES AND GAS-FILLED LAMP
FIXTURES IN DOWNTOWN DISTRICT IN SALEM
the cost of replacement, which generally amounts to
$15 or $20 a pole.
The single wire for the series circuit is supported
on iron brackets near the top of the poles, and in places
at which lighting units are to be used double-pin
brackets are employed to provide for the double dead
end. The "feed-in" wires are installed without inter-
mediate supports between these double brackets and the
hoods of the lamps themselves. The lamps, which are
of the 100-cp gas-filled type, are arranged on four
6.6-amp circuits emanating from the city's transform-
ers and switchboard.
In the down-town streets the lamps are placed in
^7>
■ \
■rill ' 1 BB
-« M Si 1 1
1 iUHHHR
£k
FIG. 3 — TYPICAL LIGHTING IN RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT
7-10
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 12
diffusing globes, and except at the corners two-lamp
brackets are suspended from each pole. On the corner
poles four-lamp clusters are used, the series circuit
passing unconcealed from lamp to lamp and rising from
the first and last units of the series to the pole-stop
bracket. Energy for operating the lamps is purchased
from the Salem Electric Light & Power Company, of
which Mr. D. L. Davis is treasurer and manager. Ac-
cording to data collected by Mr. I. N. Russel, director
of public service for the city of Salem, it costs, includ-
ing the charge for energy and lamp renewals, about
S400 a month to maintain and operate this system on
an all-night schedule.
A Signed Order for Every Job
The value of having a signed order for every job. no
matter how small, is realized by a progressive electricai
contractor of St. Paul. Minn., and no work is started
until the customer's signature is safely on the clotted
line for further reference and for protection against
misunderstandings. When calls for repair work are re-
ceived over the telephone, the man going out on the job
takes an order blank with him and obtains the signa-
ture of the customer before beginning work. Where
THE ELECTRIC CONSTRUCTION COMPANY
mtlio
Order No
You are hi i
to be billed to
lor which we agree t" paj the
on time and material basis
Description of work
zed to do iln- following construction
it ract sum of $ .
Order taken by Signed
ORDER BLANK OF ST. PAUL COMPANY
extras are ordered by the owner after the initial order
the workmen obtain signed authority for these addi-
tions, and the slips are pinned onto the original order
blank. Reproduced herewith is the form of order used
by the salesmen and field men.
Cost of Street Lighting with Nitrogen Lamps
A comparison of the cost of street lighting on various
schedules with nitrogen-filled lamps was recently sub-
mitted at Spencer. Mass., by Mr. William Plattner, con-
sulting engineer, Boston, in connection with a report
upon the electrical service of the Spencer Gas Company.
At present the town is lighted by arc lamps, but in the
TABLE I — FIXED CHARl
i, ,i. i.i required, 8 pet dent
7 1 1 .'ill
2 pa ceni
■
investigation a study was made of the possible applica-
tion of nitrogen-filled units to the local service. The
figures are given herewith in view of their applicability
to small-town service on schedules of different length.
Spencer is a manufacturing town of about 7000 p"pu
latlon about 12 miles southwest of Worcester, anil elec
trical energy for local use is supplied to the gas
company at 3.5 cents per kw-hr. by the Central Massa-
chusetts Electric Company, of Palmer.
The total investment required for nitrogen street
TABLE II — SCHEDULE OF STREET-LIGHTING COSTS
Ho
per i
Management, clerical, superintendence
".ul*. repairs, in ;
SL'.2-Mi(l-,|, <_' T. n I-.-,.
i- 25 pel
ceni
Maintenance oi pole line, wiri
Kilowatt-hours <>i electrical energy
2,000
604 24
$1,113 -'1
12 224 '•"
3,600
$296.1)0
$3,146 li.
$5,370 96
"7 : 98
Total operating cost
Fixed charges
irlj .■,.-! $4,296 '.'-'
Lamp price necessary per year, 60 cp $15. 75
cp $16. fin
lighting was estimated by Mr. Plattner at $14,830, rep-
resenting an outlay of $6,348 in distributing lines and
an equipment of 220 60-cp, 40.2-watt type C nitrogen
lamps and fifty 80-cp, 52.8-watt lamps of the same type.
Billing for Labor and Material Only
After a bitter experience with itemized accounts for
electrical work, which customers bickered over and con-
tested until the contractor's hair grew gray, one elec-
trical contractor doing business in a city of 100,000 has
now adopted the practice of billing for "labor" and "ma-
terial" only on all statements totaling less than $10.
The result has been a reduction of 75 per cent in the
"kicks" received, for most of these objections came from
customers who had small jobs done. Although very few
customers now question the figures as set down in the
bill, when they do the contractor can refer to his own
books and answer any request for the itemized figures
which may accompany a protest. Most of the com-
plaints made were with respect to labor items, the prin-
cipal topic of contention being the length of time re-
quired by the workman to complete the customer's job.
But by eliminating the figures from his bill he has shut
off the opportunity for most of the complaints formerly
registered, while on the other hand the customers seem
equally well satisfied with the results and indeed pay
their bills more cheerfully than ever.
Electric Sign Regulations at Boston
.Metropolitan Fire Prevention Commissioner John A.
O'Keefe, of Boston, Mass.. has issued a set of regula-
tions covering the installation of electric signs and
other advertising devices on buildings, following a hear-
ing attended by representatives of central stations and
of municipal tire departments in the Greater Boston
district. The rules provide for the approval of all roof
signs by local building inspectors, subject to appeal
to the fire prevention commissioner, for the ballasting
of signs in such manner that they will not fall into
the street in case the supports are destroyed, and for
a minimum clearance of "> ft. between the ends of signs
and the outside walls of buildings, with a minimum roof
clearance of 1 ft. Wiring is to be in accordance with
thfl National Ell ct rical Code, and the provision objected
to by Mr. W. II. Blood, Jr., of Boston, insurance expert
J", 1'J15
ELECT I: lc A I. WORLD
741
of the National Electric Light Association, that sepa-
rate switches should be provided at or near building en-
trances for rnof signs, has been stricken oat b
commissioner.
Lei shoppers Handle the appliances Displayed
[I you want to sell electrical devices, place them
where the shoppers can handle them. This is the opin-
ion "i Mr. Joseph V. Guilfoyle, manager of the ap-
pliance-sales department of the United Electric Light
ait Company, New York City. In this company's
appliance department irons, curling-iron heaters, hot-
plates and similar small devices are exhibited on the
rack shown in the accompanying illustration. At the
• f the rack are service nutlets to which the devices
nia\ be readily connected for demonstrating purposes.
DISPLAY RACK FOR ELECTRIC APPLIANCES
Only one unit of each type is displayed in the show-
room, as orders are filled from stock. Attached to each
device is a price tag written so that shoppers can read
it. Displayed in this manner, purchasers are shown
that uniform prices are offered to all and can convince
themselves that the devices are satisfactory and as
ented.
The Public's Investment in Utilizing Utility
Service
Within eighteen months after the present. Louisville
Ky.) Gas & Electric Company had been formed by the
lidal ion of t he former competing utilities the num-
users of electricity in the Kails City had incre
i 35 per cent, the vain in connected load being
8642 kw, or 24 per cent.
A fact often lost sight of in the electric-lighting
industry is that a large investment on the part of the
public is necessary in order to receive and apply utility
service. At Louisville, for example, the records at the
City hall show that wiring permits covering work valued
at a total of $2,281,477 have been issued during the
live year- ended Sept. l, L914
RECORD OF wiring PERMITS in LOUISVILLI
Year Endad Bapl 1
Number of I'ernuta
Value o( Work
iaio
J, 17.'.
ion
J,.",7n
447,819
1912
3,408
1913
1 , 728
537,920
1914
6.042
505.091
The last year cited exhibited a large increase in the
number of permits but a slight falling off in the value
of the total expenditure, indicating that there were
fewer big jobs and more small ones, such as the wiring
of cottages, which the company, in co-operation with
local wiring contractors, made a special object.
Shutter Background for Large Electric Roof Sign
As electric signs were installed on one building be-
hind another near the public square of an Eastern city,
the lamps of the signs at the rear showed through the
open spaces of the nearer outline displays, rendering
the latter illegible. An opaque background was there-
fore erected by the owners of the nearer sign, but in
order that the added "sail area" might not endanger
the roof structure during the high winds to which the
region is subject, this background was made up of
metal shutters painted black and hinged along their
horizontal middle axes so that at the approach of a wind-
storm the plates can all be turned into the horizontal
plane, opposing little added resistance to air movement.
On fine evenings, when the crowds are out on the streets
below, the shutters are set in their perpendicular posi-
tion, obscuring displays at the rear and making the
nearer sign more easily legible.
Dayton Company Supplies Service to Government
Building
The new Federal Building being erected by the United
States government at Dayton, Ohio, is being supplied
with both electric and heating service by the Dayton
Power & Light Company. The post office will occupy
the greater part of the building, the remainder being
MOTOR APPLICATIONS IN GOVERNMENT BUILDING
Elevi h
I in each, 5 bp)
Ventilating Fan
\ .i.iiiiin 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 p
Air washei
p. . .
i frculating watei pump
[ee machine
Air pump
f.ll mi
in mi
10.00
5.00
s.oo
I on
1.00
1.00
I llll
82.78
taken up by court rooms and the offices of government
employees. Electrically this building represents to the
central station a connected load of 35 kw in lighting
ami S2.75 lip in motors. The table herewith shows to
what uses the motors have been put.
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 12
NEW APPARATUS AND APPLIANCES
Small Belted Alternator
For use in small plants the alternating-current gen-
erator shown herewith has recently been developed by
the Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company.
Easl Pittsburgh, Pa. It is equipped with a directly con-
is developed. Mounted on the platform of each car is a.
turntable 5 ft. 2 in. in diameter running on rollers and
operated by hand spikes for the quick and convenient
unloading of the heavy plates or beams it is designed
to carry. A single motor is used, and the power is-
THREE-PHASE, 240-VOLT BELTED ALTERNATOR
nected exciter as shown, making a very compact unit and
securing, it is claimed, reliability and independence of
operation. The generator is rated at 20 kva for three-
phase operation or 14 kva for single-phase operation.
It operates at a frequency of sixty cycles at a speed of
1800 r.p.m. Machines are being made to give pressures
of 120 volts, 240 volts, 480 volts or 600 volts as desired.
SHOP-TRUCK TRAILER
transmitted to the rear axle by means of worm-gear-
shaft drive. A 50-ft. cable connects the trailer to the
tractor, giving ample room, it is declared, for the long-
est beam that could be carried on an ordinary flat car.
Electric Shop Trucks
In Fig. 1 is shown a 3-ton electric tractor and in Fig.
2 a 3-ton trailer recently built by the Waverley Com-
pany, Indianapolis, Ind., for the repair shop of the
United States Navy Yard at Bremerton, on Puget
Sound, Washington. Both tractor and trailer are de-
signed for conveying plates and angle irons from places
of storage to the machines and from machine to ma-
chine. The construction of both cars is very substan-
tial, wheels, axle frames and turntables being of heavy
steel. The wheels are equipped with 24-in. solid tires.
The tractor is provided with a structural-steel bumper
which is braced for protecting it from head-end colli-
sions. The wheelbase of the tractor is 66 in., and the
platform of the car is 5 ft. by 11 ft., the principal
overhang being in front of the front axle. The driver's
seat is offset from the bodv of the tractor so that the
Motor-Driven Fly Catcher
A motor-driven fly catcher is being marketed by the
Vogel Products Manufacturing Company, 1616 Chest-
nut Street, St. Louis, Mo., by which flies and other in-
sects which approach the suction intake of the machine
are whirled through the blades of a powerful blower
and deposited in a steel cage. Sweet material placed
near the opening attracts the flies in the daytime, and
at night an electric lamp may be used to bring the in-
sects within range of the suction. The machine weighs
30 lb. and is driven by a 1 30-hp motor. The cost to-
Mi;. 1 SHOP-TRUCK TRACTOR
entire surface of the platform can be utilized foi
ing. Eni'i'. rating the tractor is obtained from
a thirty-cell, twenty-one-plate lead battery, and a mile
age of 30 miles on a single charge can be obtained.
MOTOR-DRIV1 \ Mi I ITCHING MACHINE
operate it is. according to the manufacturer, about
equivalenl to thai of burning a 16-cp lamp. Several
stylos of mouthpieces are available, or pipe extensions
may be installed so that the blower mechanism can be
With both cars fully loaded a speed of 5.6 miles an hour placed at some distance from the intake.
Makch 20, 1915
E LEC 1 RICA I. world
A 100,000-VoU Switch
In Fig. 1 is shown a 100,000-voM switch recently de-
veloped by the K-P-F Electric Company, 87 Stevenson
Cal., and designed particularly
for use with trai ine towers. The swifc
nO. 1— THREE-UNIT. 100,000-VOLT SWITCH
bolted to the ends of the tower arms, and the break in
opening it is made in a vertical direction. No special
construction is required, and there is ample clearance,
it is claimed, between all live parts and ground.
Switches of this type are being made of from one to
seven insulator units, depending on the voltage. In
ordinary work the line is dead-ended directly to the
switch insulator, but in high-voltage transmission serv-
Impnni nunl- in Linemen's Protectors
Th> perating electric light and
power companies for a lineman's shield which will not
pull open under any conditions while it is in use on a
onductor has induced the Linemen Protector Com-
pany, .Mich., to develop a shield made with
an attachment for holding the edges rauglj i
FIG. 2-
- 100,000-VOLT BWTTCHES ON LINE OF WESTERN
POWER COM!' ANY
f
PIGS. 1 and 2
-DETAILED VIEWS OF SHIELD FASTENER AND
CROSS-ARM PROTECTOR
This lock-strap attachment, as it is called, consists of a
single 0.25-in. piece of solid rubber fashioned into a
strap and clasp. When the toe of the strap is pulled
through the rubber clasp a lug on the strap engages
the cross-bar of the clasp and holds the shield closed.
As is shown in Fig. 1, the toe of each strap carries
two lugs so that the shield may be buckled loosely or
closely about a conductor.
Two of the rubber straps are attached to each shield
in such a manner that with ordinary usage they will
never become detached from the shields. Should one
of the straps become broken, however, a little vaseline
or soap rubbed into the keeper which holds them will
ice it is advisable to use separate dead ends as shown
in the illustration. In Fig. 2 sectionalizing switches of
the above type are shown in use on the main 100,000-
volt tower line of the Great Western Power Company
from Big Bend, on the Feather River, to Oakland, Cal.
FIG. 3— USING LINEMAN'S SHIELDS ON AN ICE-COVERED
POLE
lubricate the passage sufficiently to allow the retaining
lugs to slip through the rubber keeper and the damaged
strap to be removed from the shield. When the old
strap is taken off the shield a new one can be easily
pulled into place. A shield covering an ice-coated con-
741
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 12
ductor is shown in Fig. 3 with one of the straps buckled
and the other hanging unfastened but still securely
attached to the shield at its outer end. The rubber
rings which were formerly used to clasp the end pieces
of the shields about the wires are still used in con-
junction with the improved strap-lock fasteners.
Another safety device which the Linemen Protector
Company is now placing on the market is the cross-arm
protector shown in Fig. 2. This 0.5-in. sheet of solid
rubber, designed to slip over a cross-arm and rest
securely between two pins, is being made to eliminate
the necessity of using the shields as foot or knee in-
sulators. An excellent example of the manner in which
cross-arm protectors are employed is presented in Fig. 4.
The man working on the lower cross-arm is sitting on
PIG. 4 — SHIELDS AND CROSS-ARM PROTECTORS USED BY
MEN IN CRAMPED QUARTERS
of the devices and is resting his foot on another.
man at the top of the pole, in a veritable mesh of
roll conductors, is resting one foot and both of his
knees upon protectors of tins type. The cross-arm pro-
TS, like the lineman's shields, are made of stock
which contains no reclaimed rubber, because in the
latter a ) i;o said to be always present.
Apparatus for Changing Motion-Picture Reels
In the accompanying illustration is shown a diagram
onnections which illustrate a method recently de
tor changing rei ll interruption on the
quipmenl u ed in this method consi I
a u • | j pe A l. i . ■ ol ion-
ire work, an auto-transformer and a four
double-throw -witch. When the No. 1 machine is
ating the thrown to the left. About on.
minute before the end of the reel is reached the opera
tor tl witch to tit peral ins ' i|:
on machine No. 2 through the rectifier. Machine No. 1
is then connected to the alternating-current circuit
through the auto-transformer until the operation of the
reel on No. 1 machine is completed. When it is time to
operate the No. 2 machine, the electrodes are burning
at their proper brilliancy and are ready for the second
Auto- transformer
Machine
No. 2
APPARATUS FOR CHANGING MOTION-PICTURE REELS
reel. The process is repeated toward the end of the
second reel on the No. 2 machine. The procedure may
be reversed if desired — that is, by starting the No. 2
machine on alternating current and later throwing on
the direct current. However, the first-mentioned method
will be found more satisfactory, it is declared, as it
takes a few seconds for the direct-current energy to
consume the electrodes properly while the alternating
current causes them to splutter under all conditions, but
less when they are already heated by the direct-current
energy.
Horse-Driven Generator
A generator which is operated by a horse moving in
a 14-ft. circle at a rate of about two miles an hour is
being placed on the market by the Electric Horsepower
Company, 906 Elm Street, Cincinnati, Ohio. The gen-
erator is a 40-volt direct-current machine and is rated
at 0.75 kw. In case the horse should slacken his speed,
an electric bell rings as a warning, and immediately
thereafter if the speed is not increased an electrically
tATOR OPERATED 1<Y HORSE MOVING IN 1 1-FT. CIRCLE
operated whip strikes him on the back. The operation
Of the bell and the whip is obtained by means of ;
losing device moved by the stem of a ball governor.
The rating of lb,, battery used with the generator is
16 amp-hr., and when charged it contains enough energy
to operate a 16 cp tungsten lamp three hours a day for
days,
Mak.ii 20, 1915
E I. K i T R I C A 1. W<> RLD
745
Automobile Ring-Type Horn Switch
An automobile horn Bwitch which can hi- attached to
the steering post and can be used with cither a single-
Wiring or a double-wiring Bystem is being made by W.
eng, II"." Dayton Street, Chicago, III. The switch
rill).' is of spring steel and may he operated by a finger
KING-TYPE SWITCH All U HED To STEERING WHEEL
of either hand, as shown in the accompanying illustra-
tion, without removing the hand from the steering
wheel. All contact points are of German silver. The
wire is brought up along the steering post through
conduit. In installing the switch a screw is removed
from the ring and another from the hub band. The ring
is then pulled apart and slipped over the steering post.
Fiber bushings are next sprung over the post and slipped
underneath the hub. The switch ring is placed about
0.5 in. below the spokes in the steering wheel.
Vibrators for Ignition Apparatus of Automobiles
In the accompanying illustration is shown a vibrat-
ing set inclosed in a pressed-steel case, which is designed
particularly for use with ignition sets on automobiles.
The total weight is only 2 lb. So-called indestructible
V1HRAT0R FOR AUTOMOBILE IGNITION SET
spark points are utilized with this vibrating set. They
are of a special material which is declared to be harder
than platinum. For No. 9 wire the points are 10/64 in.
wide; for No. 12 wire they are 7 64 in. wide. The mas-
brator," as it is called, is especially well adapted
for use with ignition set- having two coils, four coils or
ils. The device is being placed on the mark-
the New Era Spring & Specialty Company, 870 Wood-
ward Avenue, 1 »«-t roit, Mich.
Electrically Operated Tools
A motor-driven device for die sinking, drilling, bull-
ing, grinding and driving screws is shown in Fig, 1.
The device is mounted on a pedestal a- Bhown and is
FIG. 1 — SUSPENDED ELECTRICALLY OPERATED TOOL
operated by either a 110-volt or 220-volt alternating-
current motor or 110-volt or 220-volt direct-current ma-
chine. The tool shown in Fig. 2 is designed to be sus-
1
*
FIG. 2 — MOTOR-DRIVEN TOOL ON PEDESTAL
pended and can be used as a drill, buffer or grinder.
The motor for this device is directly connected to a
flexible shaft. The device operates at a speed of 3400
r.p.m. and may be used with a 110-volt or 220-volt
746
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 12
alternating-current motor or 110-volt or 220-volt direct-
current motor. The devices described above are being
made by the Stow Manufacturing Company, Bingham-
ton. X. V.
Wagon with Two-Motor Concentric-Gear Drive
A 0.5-ton electric truck with two motors and concen-
tric-gear drive has recently been developed by the Com-
mercial Truck Company of America, Philadelphia, Pa.
The construction of the wagon is similar to that of 1-ton
FIG. 1 — 1000-LB. TRUCK WITH WIRE WHEELS AND PNEU-
MATIC TIRES
and 2-ton trucks made by the above company. Two
General Electric motors are employed to operate the
truck. The battery consists either of forty-two lead
cells or sixty Edison cells; for the former the pressure
is 85 volts and for the latter 60 volts, the current in
each case being 12 amp and 17 amp. A mileage of 40
miles t<> <>(> miles is developed, depending on the battery
equipment. The gears are completely inclosed and run
in oil, double reduction being obtained. The front axle
has a rectangular-box section. The rear axle is of the
full-floating type and has a double-channel section. The
axle bearings are of the taper-roller type and those of
the motor of the annular-ball type. The frame is of
channel irons and is trussed and thoroughly braced with
• VRRANOI mini in Mo i ni:
nits. A continuous torque-type con-
troller is employed which is at the base of the steering
Column. There are tour points for forward speeds and
two points for revei e peed The fronl tires are 2.5
in. by :'■''' in. and the rear tires are :'■ In. by •"••'• in. The
ol the internal expanding type.
In Fig. 1 is shown a truck of the above type built for
John Wanamaker of Philadelphia for use by the jewelers
and silversmiths' department. Although this truck is
equipped with wire wheels and pneumatic tires, use is
generally made of solid tires and wheels similar to those
shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 3 illustrates the arrangement of
FIG. 3 — ARRANGEMENT OF GEARS
gears and the method of connecting the motor to the
wheel.
According to the manufacturers, the following advan-
tages belong to the two-motor concentric-gear type of
electric trucks: It is well adapted for climbing hills;
traction chains for slippery and snowy roads are un-
necessary; the arrangement of motors is simple; in
case of trouble in one motor it can be disconnected and
the truck may be operated temporarily on the other
motor.
Adjustable Portable Lamp
A lamp which can be attached to a variety of objects
or can be mounted on a table, chair, piano, etc., and
which is adjustable, has recently been placed on the
market by the Aladdin Lamp Corporation, 111 Broadway.
New York. The lamp is equipped with 10 ft. of cord
which winds into the base and can be let out to any
length desired. It is provided with a Cutler-Hammer
\i>.i i SI m'.i r i wir
push-button BOCkel and an adjustable and detachable
shade. The shade is so designed thai it will tit any size
Or style of globe and can be turned to any angle 80 as
to concentrate the light in the direction desired. The
inside of the shade la coated with satin-finished alumi-
num. Use is made of an automatic felt-covered clamp
.
K LECT aiCAL W "» ' lll.n
747
fur fastening the lamp to a desk, chair, dressing I
bedpost, etc. When not extended the clamp rests Hatly
on the base of the lamp. A rubber suction •
for attaching the lamp t>> any smooth, polished, non-
porous surface. The joint ia so arranged that, do matter
to what extent the neck is tilted, there is no exposure
of the cord. When standing upright the lamp is 12.5
in. high ; the diameter of the base ia 4.5 in., and the
lamp weighs 1.5 lb. The lamp is finished in satin-
polished brass or nickel as desired. An auxiliary clamp
is employed where it is desired t>> attach the lamp to a
table, tl<-~k. shelf or other object too large for the auto-
matic clamp to tit properly.
I lashlamp Shaped Like Fountain Pen
A tlashlamp which is similar to a "banker's" fountain
pen in size and appearance has just been placed on the
market by the American Eveready Works. :!08 Hudson
Street. New Y"rk. The light can be either Mashed or
EVEWADY
"FOUNTAIN-PEN H.ASHLAMP
NJ
turned on continuously as desired, and the lamp may be
laid down while burning, so that both hands are free
to work. The device is 4.75 in. long, 0.75 in. in diam-
eter, and weighs 1.5 oz. It is provided with a clip so
that it can be securely carried in the vest pocket.
lied lamps. The accompanying illustration show- a
bracket which ia designated by the manufacture!
No. 10,275 and which is attached to a street-railway
pole.
Battery-Charging Equipment in Private <.arage
In the accompanying illustration- is shown battery-
charging apparatus recently installed in the garage of
A. B. Hastings & Son, Campello. Mass. Energy is
obtained from a single-phase alternating-current circuit,
1 — CHARGING RHEOSTATS AND ROTARY-CONVERTER
PANELS
Bracket for Nitrogen-Filled Lamps
A bracket designed especially for supporting high-
efficiency incandescent lamps has recently been placed
on the market by the Electric Railway Equipment Com-
pany, Cincinnati, Ohio. The bracket is made in two
styles, either of which can be arranged to take lamps in
BRACKET ATTACHED TO STREET-RAILWAY POLE
multiple or series or with a compensator. The socket is
so mounted that the height can be adjusted, thereby
making it possible to use any size of lamp. With this
arrangement the filament of the lamp can be placed in
the center of the outer globe. The above company is
also making standards particularly designed for nitro-
and for changing the alternating current to direct cur-
rent use is made of two Wagner rotary converters and
sectional or unit-type charging rheostats made by the
Cutler-Hammer Manufacturing Company, Milwaukee.
In Fig. 1 are shown four sectional charging units
mounted on the middle frame with a Wagner rotary-
Pi
Pi
H
'i
\ < v, ( ,
FIG. 2 — ROTARY CONVERTERS AND REAR OF CHARGING
PANEL
converter panel on each side. The rheostat handles are
so arranged that a number of vehicles can be charged at
the same time from one location. Fig. 2 illustrates the
rotary converters and the rear of the charging panel.
The rheostat units and panels were completely wired
before being installed.
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 12
( ontroller for Small Motors
A starter and speed regulator for small motors, con-
sisting of a resistance coil with taps connected to brass
contact studs which are mounted on a porcelain base
and inclosed in a cast-iron cabinet, is being made by
.M. Taigman, 239 Wooster Street, New York. A lever
carrying a carbon contact extends through the side of
SPEED REGULATOR FOR SMALL MOTORS
the box and is operated by a series of levers. Springs
are provided for preventing the contacts being left in
the running position. A Hubbell plug connector is
attached to the frame of the controller, by means of
which wire connections are eliminated. The entire
mechanism is removable from the cabinet as a unit.
When the cover is removed the circuit is automatically
opened. When the cover is in position a bridge spring
attached to the cover completes the circuit between the
terminals.
Lava Insulators
Various types of insulators and bushings of lava or
silicate of magnesia are being made by M. Kirchberger
& Company, 376 Second Avenue, New York. The in-
sulators are cut from the solid lava, the material being
placed in a turning lathe in its original solid state.
Sharp lines, straight shoulders and accurate fittings can
INSULATORS OF lava
be obtained, it is claimed, with the material. The Cres-
cent insulators, as they are called, can be made in a
variety of shapes and models, and they are said to
possess high heat-resisting qualities.
"Magic Mirror" as Window Attraction
The Monroe Supply Company, Dexter Building, Chi-
cago, makes a show-window attraction in the form of a
"magic mirror" which may be used for advertising or
display purposes. When lighted from the front in the
usual way the glass presents the appearance of a gen-
uine mirror, no hint of its double function being in evi-
dence. Behind the glass, however, is a lamp controlled
by a thermo flasher, and when this lamp is lighted trans-'
parencies become visible within the frame of the erst-
while mirror. These may be colored, and of any shape
or size desired. When the flasher extinguishes the lamp
the transparencies disappear and the glass once more
becomes a simple reflecting surface.
Automobile Bell
An electric bell which can be mounted on the running
board, fender, cowl, dash or radiator cap of an automo-
bile is shown herewith. A tungsten lamp with red-glass
lenses ;s mounted on top of the bell and is fastened to it
Electric Ceiling Lamp
The accompanying illustration shows a battery-oper-
ated lamp which can be attached to the ceiling of a
porch, closet or pantry or fastened to the wall. It is
provided with a long string which is connected to the
switch. The lamp will burn continuously on one or-
dinary dry cell for about forty hours, or if used inter-
mittently from six to twelve months. The device is
ELECTRICAI l.-i OPERA fED w fOMOBIl I in I I
BATTERY-OPERATED I Ml ING I AMI'
by a Blot, and a Bpring holds it In position. The contact
points are of platinum and automatically adjustable.
The bell is of bell metal, nickel-plated. The outfit in-
cludes 12 ft. of wire, a nickel push-button, an upright
"i a aide bracket, and boll and washers. The bell is
made In three sizes. The Trinity Bell Electrical Manu
ring Companj manufactures the device.
equipped With a tungsten lamp and a large reflector and
The ease is waterproof ami fireproof.
According to the manufacturer, the Lindstrom Smith
Company, L100 South Wabash Avenue. Chicago. III.,
this battery-operated lamp is meeting with favor even
in house- where electrical energy is obtained from cen-
tral stations.
Mud li 20, 1816
ELECTRICAL WORLD
CURRENT NEWS SECTION
Meeting of Electrical Supply Jobbers
The regular meeting of the Electrical Supply Job-
iation held at the Hotel LaSalle, Chicago,
Wednesday, Thursday and Friday of this week, rounded
out a busy week in Chicago electrical commercial cir-
which began on Monday with an important con-
ferenci tern Electric Companj sales managers, a
convention of Westinghouse agent jobbers, and a num-
ber of local meetings of agents and salesmen at which
selling policies and methods were discussed.
More than seventy-five leading jobbers and their ac-
credited representatives attended the opening executive
ons of the jobbers' national convention. Although
all of the meetings, including the joint conference
with certain manufacturers on Thursday, were held
behind closed doors and were occupied with business
routine, reports of committees, etc., the trend of the talk
among little groups of jobbers in the hotel lobby in-
dicated that these men are all watching closely the busi-
oarometer. Relations with manufacturers and with
dealers, the stabilizing of prices in hard times, plans for
stimulating trade, concentric-wiring problems, plans for
"National Electric Week," and other similar themes,
were among the topics discussed.
Wednesday's sessions were occupied with reports of
committees. The Atlantic and Central divisions of the
association re-elected all fifteen members of the general
executive committee, and the standing committees were
reappointed. Mr. F. S. Price, of the Pettingell-Andrews
Company, Boston, Mass.. was chosen chairman of the
Atlantic division, and Mr. N. G. Harvey, of the Illinois
Electric Company, was made chairman of the Central
division.
At the meeting of the executive committee on Wed-
nesday evening Mr. Franklin Overbagh, Chicago, was
re-elected general secretary and Mr. T. M. Debevoise
ontinued as general counsel.
The meeting of Thursday morning was attended by
many invited representatives of manufacturers, deal-
and other associated supply interests. "The Phil-
osophy and Ethics of Industry" was the subject of
an address by Mr. A. F. Sheldon, of the Area (111.)
School of Business Technology, while the topics of
permanent price lists, relations between producer and
distributer, relation of turnover to gross profits, uni-
form accounting, etc., were opened for general discus-
sion.
Representative Adamson on Water-Power Legis-
lation
At the annual meeting of the Georgia Bar Associa-
tion on March 13 Representative Adamson discussed
water-power legislation. He enumerated the reasons
why for mechanical purposes it is necessary to have
cheap electrical energy. Private capital which would
develop all water-powers in navigable streams cannot
do so without the consent of the federal government.
Mr. Adamson criticised so-called conservationists who
pretended great concern for the rights of the people
because they said the people were not protected in the
regulation of the price and use of energy, which, being
strictly translated, meant that the states could not be
trusted to regulate their public utilities. Furthermore,
they positively refused to acknowledge the obvious fact
that every creation of a hydroelectric plant must have
a market, and generally the market must be created
directly or indirectly by the company itself, which may
involve building a factory, a railroad or a city one. two
or all three.
Representative Adamson concluded to ask Georgians
to assert their own authority and take advantage of
their own opportunities. Under existing law Georgia
may be independent of any action of Congress if it
wants so to be.
Meeting of the Public Policy Committee
A meeting of the public policy committee of the Na-
tional Electric Light Association was held at the head-
quarters in New York on March 11. There were pres-
ent Messrs. W. W. Freeman, chairman; E. W. Burdett,
Henry L. Doherty, C. L. Edgar, Samuel Insull, J. W.
Lieb, Samuel Scovil, H. A. Wagner, Arthur Williams,
and also the following: President Holton H. Scott, R. S.
Hale, I. E. Moultrop and Secretary T. C. Martin. Mr.
J. M. Wakeman, general manager of the Society for
Electrical Development, Inc., joined the party by re-
quest at luncheon.
Mr. Hale reported on the work of his committee on
concentric wiring. The matter was discussed at length,
and it was the sense of the committee that while it is
wise to reduce the cost of wiring as rapidly as prac-
ticable, especially as applied to old buildings, great care
should be exercised to avoid any lowering of reasonable
standards of safety.
The committee considered a letter referred to it by
the executive committee recommending that some action
be taken regarding the principles involved in the suit
started by fire-insurance companies against the North-
umberland County Gas & Electric Company, Sunbury,
Pa. The letter said that the evidence showed that the
electric-lighting company did not own or put in the
defective installation in the building in which the fire
originated but that it was the property and under the
full custody of the owner of the building. The matter
was referred to a sub-committee.
The question of the proposed condemnation by the
city of Los Angeles of a distributing system was taken
up, and after consideration of a statement of the case
it was decided to send copies and other available in-
formation to members in order that the question may
be reviewed carefully from a legal standpoint.
The order of the Public Utilities Commission of the
District of Columbia requiring the Potomac Electric
Power Company to abrogate certain contracts was con-
sidered, and the secretary was instructed to send data
regarding it to members for their information.
Mr. Lieb reported for the sub-committee on the Amer-
ican Society of Mechanical Engineers' boiler code, tak-
ing up the inspection and license features. Mr. Moultrop
made a further statement both as to the technical fea-
tures and those involved in possible legislation. No ac-
tion was taken, but the committee was in accord gen-
erally with the view expressed by Mr. Lieb that it is
not the place of the association to formulate or attempt
to influence legislation of this kind but to offer its criti-
750
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 12
cism on any measure which may be submitted to it for
consideration.
The subject of the nature and scope of the annual
report of the committee was discussed. In recent years
the committee has devoted a great deal of attention and
space to the duties of companies to the public and em-
ployees. This year some attention will be given to the
other aspect — the duty of the public to the utilities try-
ing to give service.
At the invitation of the committee, Messrs. Doherty
and Wakeman made interesting statements in regard to
the work of the Society for Electrical Development, par-
ticularly from the central-station point of view. Mr.
Wakeman said that the society now includes in its mem-
bership 321 central-station companies.
A. I. E. E. Activities
At a meeting of the board of directors of the Amer-
ican Institute of Electrical Engineers held on March 12
the executive committee, which had been empowered to
decide upon the place and date of the 1915 convention,
reported the selection of Deer Park, Md., from June
29 to July 2.
As a result of the ballot for nominees for filling the
offices falling vacant on July 31, 1915, the following
were selected from the names offered for selection by
the membership: For president, Mr. John J. Carty,
New York; for vice-presidents, Messrs. Comfort A.
Adams, Cambridge, Mass.; J. Franklin Stevens, Phila-
delphia, Pa., and William McClellan, New York; for
managers, Messrs. John B. Taylor, Schenectady, N. Y.;
C. E. Skinner, Pittsburgh, Pa.; F. B. Jewett, New York;
Harold Pender, Philadelphia, Pa.; for treasurer, Mr.
George A. Hamilton, Elizabeth, N. J. In accordance
with the constitution, these nominees will be indicated
on the election ballot, which will be mailed to the mem-
bership before April 1, together with the names of all
members who received not less than 3 per cent of the
entire number of nomination votes cast.
Federal Trade Commission at Work
The members of the Federal Trade Commission sub-
scribed to the oath of office in Washington on March 16
and held an organization meeting, immediately electing
Mr. Joseph E. Davies, retiring Commissioner of Cor-
porations, as chairman. The 300 attorneys, examiners
and other employees of the Bureau of Corporations are
now employees of the commission. Dr. Francis II.
Walker, who was deputy commissioner of corporations
at (3,500, was appointed chief examiner of the commis-
sion at $5,000 a year.
It is understood in Washington that Mr. Joseph W.
V<<\k, former Governor of Missouri and former solicitor
of the Department of State, who is now counsel to the
Interstate Commerce Commission, may be appointed
nsel to the Federal Trade Commission.
An interesting item of news is that Mr, Davies de-
clined an opportunity just before the last election which,
under the political circumstances, would have developed
into almost a certainty that he would become United
States Senator from Wisconsin. Mr. navies believes he
can be of more service as Federal Trade Commissioner
than as Senator.
It is said to be the belief of a leading member of the
commission that the idea "ii which the commission was
intended to be based, namely, government control of
business, is now on trial. It this Idea is not a BUG
aid, the administration believes that the people
will demand what is called in Washington "the next
step," namely, government regulation of business mo-
nopolies. As the latter idea is said in Washington to
imply socialism, every effort is to be made by members
of the commission to popularize their work among busi-
ness men as well as with the public.
President Wilson has had frequent conferences with
the members of the commission, and it is well under-
stood in Washington that whatever ideas the commis-
sion carries out are to be approved first by the Presi-
dent. So far as the popularization of the work is con-
cerned, however, it is not expected that this will take the
form of frequent public statements. On the contrary,
Mr. Davies said to a representative of the Electrical
World in Washington that "the commission will choose
to be known by deeds rather than by words." It is, in
fact, understood that the meetings will be executive ses-
sions, and that, as the commission is a quasi-judicial
body, there will be little more "news" emanating from
it, in advance of action, than from the Department of
Justice.
N. E. L. A. Convention Building
In the building of the Native Sons of the Golden West
illustrated herewith will be held the convention of the
National Electric Light Association in San Francisco
san FRANCISCO CONVENTION HALL BUILDING
on June 7 to 11. As stated in previous issues of the
Ki BCTRICAL WORLD, the building Is at 414 Mason Street.
near the St. Francis and Other hotels, Of the fourteen
large lodge rooms in the building only those needed for
the various sections and committees, etc. have been
engaged.
Mak. ii 20, 1915
E LECTRIC A L WO R LI)
701
The association office and registration headquarters
will In* in tin- ground-floor lobby. On this floor ia the
auditorium. The social hall, which ia in the basement,
will accommodate 700 or 800 i pie The general, tech-
nical and commercial sessions will be divided between
two halls under such arrangement as is i,est in
rdance with the program. The public policy meet-
ing will be held in the auditorium, which, with a bal-
cony, will accommodate from 1200 to 1500 people. The
\ counting Section will be held in a large
room in front on the fourth floor. In another room on
the same floor will be exhibits of the meter committee,
the company section committee and the Accounting or
Section, while a separate room will be pro-
vided for the transportation committee. A room on the
fifth floor will be reserved for the convention Daily and
the ass tenographic staff.
N. E. L. A. Convention Transportation Plans
The transportation committee of the National Elec-
tric Light Association, of which Mr. George W. Elliott
is chairman, has issued itineraries for the "red special,"
"blue special" and "pink special" tours to the convention
to be held in San Francisco on June 7 to 11. Many in-
quiries have been received in regard to the "red spe-
cial," i>n which a number of the most prominent men in
the industry will make the trip.
An introductory statement to the itineraries calls
attention to the opportunity to enjoy many features in
connection with the annual convention. It says that the
Panama-Pacific Exposition at San Francisco comprises
the most beautiful electrically illuminated group of
buildings, from both exterior and interior, in the world.
The various tours will include every point of scenic
grandeur in the Western country, and there will be as
many stops as possible at various hydroelectric plants
and transmission systems. Mention is also made of
the Panama-California Exposition at San Diego.
Water-Powers of New England
At the annual dinner of the General Electric Com-
pany to central-station men in New England on March
12 President Henry I. Harriman of the Connecticut
River Transmission Company, Boston, Mass., presented
a comprehensive paper on New England water-powers,
reviewing their early history and sketching the gradual
development of more efficient methods of utilization
which have found their latest expression in the great
hydroelectric systems of to-day. From the little mill of
John Alden at Plymouth to the modern hydroelectric
plant on the Connecticut or the Deerfield is an immense
span, but the speaker traced an interesting development
which to-day is represented by over 600,000 hp of water
energy.
On the assumption that the average run-off in New
England is 18 in., that its area is 60,000 sq. miles and
its average elevation above sea level, it is computed that
it would be theoretically possible to develop for 3000
hours each year 15,500,000 hp, equivalent to the use of
52,000,000 tons of coal annually. Such a computation
is only an interesting mathematical calculation, but it is
entirely possible that 10 per cent of this theoretical
power may sometime be developed from its streams.
In New England there are eight large rivers with
great fall, draining 35,000 sq. miles. These are the
Penobscot, with a total fall of 1500 ft.; Kennebec, 1000
ft.; Androscoggin, 2200 ft.; St. Croix, 400 ft.; Saco,
1900 ft.; Merrimac, 269 ft.; Connecticut, 2000 ft., and
II .-atonic, 900 ft. It is estimated that if these water-
powers were properly reconstructed along scientific
lines, 200,000 additional hp could be generated. Gov-
ernment estimate- are to the effect that there is pos-
sible of creation in New England a minimum water-
power development of 1,000,000 hp, which by storage
and by the utilization of some of the less desirable pow-
ii be ultimately increased to 2,000,000 hp. Maine
leads with a maximum possible development of 1,000,000
hp. New England can doubtless utilize all the water-
power developed in its limits, on account of its diversi-
fied manufactures, there being over 12,000 manufactur-
ing concerns. The speaker anticipated large develop-
ments in railroad electrification and industrial power
applications under favorable capital conditions.
Mr. Harriman said that in a comparison of operating
costs of steam and hydroelectric plants the ultimate ef-
fect of a sinking fund on the cost of power is not fully
appreciated. Assuming that each kilowatt of machin-
ery in a hydroelectric station (costing $150) produces
4000 kw-hr. a year, and that 1 mill per kw-hr. is put into
a sinking fund and reinvested in the 6 per cent securi-
ties of the company, the fund thus created will have
reduced the cost of the plant from $150 to $100 per
kw at the end of the tenth year; at the end of the six-
teenth year it will have been lowered to $50, and by the
end of the twentieth year the plant will have been en-
tirely paid for, which means that the company will then
be able to operate without capital charge and with
slight running expenses.
The cost of a water-power plant may be double that
of a steam station — say, $100 to $150 per kw against
$75 to $100 — but the depreciation and maintenance
charges expressed in percentages are much less, as
there is practically no depreciation or upkeep for water
rights, dam or power house, and waterwheels or slow-
speed generators depreciate less rapidly than boilers,
stokers or high-speed turbines. Interest, maintenance
and depreciation on a steam plant may be figured at 15
per cent, compared with 11 per cent on a hydroelectric
station. Thus the fixed charges on a steam plant cost-
ing, say, $90 per kw will be $13.50 per year, while the
corresponding charges on a hydroelectric plant costing
$150 will be $16.50, the balance being $3 per kw per
annum in favor of the steam plant. One-half mill per
kw-hr. is a liberal allowance for the opei-ating expenses
of a hydroelectric plant of large size, whereas the cor-
responding operating charges for a large steam plant
will run from 4 mills to 10 mills per kw-hr., the varia-
tion in steam cost resulting from difference in size of
plant, load-factor and efficiency.
Most successful hydroelectric plants are so designed
that their forebays or ponds will hold the average flow
of the stream for from twelve to twenty-four hours. It
is also usual for such plants to have a much larger ca-
pacity in machinery than is required for the average
output, as additional machinery can usually be added
with a relatively small increase in outlay. These points
make the co-operative service of steam and water-power
plants highly advantageous, especially as it is much
easier to start up an additional waterwheel than extra
boilers and steam turbines. At the Vernon plant of the
Connecticut River company the stream flow varies from
1500 cu. ft. per second to 150,000 cu. ft. per second. The
primary output of the plant requires 3500 cu. ft. per
second. In an average year the plant has sufficient
water to carry its full load for nine months, only about
3,000,000 kw-hr. out of 50,000,000 kw-hr. being gen-
erated by steam. Much attention is being paid to stor-
age on New England streams, and the recently con-
structed Somerset reservoir in southern Vermont, con-
nected with the Deerfield River system, stores enough
water now to produce approximately 25,000,000 kw-hr..
762
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 12
which would otherwise be wasted. In conclusion, the
speaker said that the water-powers of New England
are to-day producing more than 2,000,000 kw-hr. of
energy per year. If this energy were produced by coal,
it would mean the annual consumption of 3,000,000 tons,
worth about $15,000,000, and to produce, handle and
transport this would require the continuous labor of
30,000 men working 3000 hours per year. Less than
this number of men dug the Panama Canal in seven
years, or in the same period could have built a double-
track railroad from New York to San Francisco. The
utilization of water resources stands on a par with the
great inventions and discoveries of the age.
Conditions in Montana
In the annual report for the year 1914 Mr. John D.
Ryan, president of the Montana Power Company, dis-
cusses business conditions. The decrease in consump-
tion of energy resulting from curtailment of copper
mining operations was largely overcome by improve-
ment in other directions. From Aug. 1 to Dec. 31 gross
earnings decreased less than 3 per cent and net earn-
ings about 4 per cent. Mr. Ryan says :
"As a result of the European war the copper mines
of the United States have been forced to curtail their
production, and the mining companies in our territory
have carried on operations at about 50 per cent of nor-
mal since August, 1914. It is gratifying, however, to
note that the gross and net earnings of the company
for the year 1914 showed a substantial increase over
those of 1913. This favorable showing is due to the
diversified character of the light and power business and
to the steady growth of that business oven in these
depressed times. It must be remembered that no earn-
ings have yet been received from the great enlargement
in power plants now under way, which, while intended
primarily to provide for the power requirements under
the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway contracts,
are also needed to care for the steady growth of the
company's general business.
"Notwithstanding the present disturbed conditions,
the outlook for the coming year is favorable, as exten-
sions of the company's operations to new territories are
expected to bring increased business which will to a
large extent offset the decrease in business caused by
the curtailed operations of the mining industries, if cur-
tailment should continue. It is expected that the earn-
ings will be increased by income from additional rail-
way electrification during the last three months of the
year, and changes now under way in the metallurgical
plants of our mining customers will require a large
amount of power in addition to what is now being used."
Developments in Cleveland Municipal Situation
At a meeting in the office of Mayor Baker of Cleve-
land arrangements were made for furnishing energy
from the municipal plant for the new city hall. Energy
will l>e supplied from the new plant at East Fifty-third
Street, and a substation containing two rotary con-
era will be established at Kast Eleventh Street
This will be of Sufficient size to serve the city hall
and furnish additional energy. A bid has been made
for furnishing service to the Federal BuUding.
Mayor Baker spoke before the public utilities com-
mittee of the H Representatives in support of
the Brigg bill, which seeks tO exempt bonds issued
for municipal light plants from the limitations fixed by
": laws. He told the committee that bonds issued
for water-works purposes are exempt from the limita-
tion and can be authorized without vote of the people,
although they may increase the total above the limit,
and that there is the same reason for exempting bonds
for electric-light purposes. The Briggs bill provides
that electric-light bonds shall not be counted in the
limitations placed upon municipal indebtedness when-
ever earnings are sufficient to meet operating expenses,
interest and a sum each year to aggregate the bond
indebtedness at maturity. The point has been raised
that the bill does not make it mandatory upon munic-
ipalities to use the earnings of light plants for these
purposes. It merely provides that earnings must be
sufficient to meet these obligations. Mayor Baker ad-
vised the committee against the Myers bill, which pro-
vides that charges for service by municipal plants shall
be sufficient to cover operating expenses and interest
and return a sum equal to 5 per cent on the investment.
He protested also against the Behnes bill, which makes
the bonds a lien on the property only, instead of on the
general tax duplicate of the municipality. Mayor Baker
declared that these bills were formulated by electric-
light interests.
Mayor Baker appeared before the finance committee
of the Cleveland Chamber of Commerce to explain the
Briggs bill. He told the committee that one of the
principal purposes is to facilitate purchase of the prop-
erty of the Cleveland Electric Illuminating Company by
the city. He said he believed that this will be done and
that it will be put to a vote of the people. The finan-
cing, he said, should be as simple as possible, and the
amount of bonds should be determined by all the facts
relating to the value of the property and the present
city plant. Mr. W. G. Deitz of the committee sug-
gested that any bonds issued for that purpose should
not be long in term, as the revolution in light systems
had been so great that the future might bring changes
that would make the bonds practically worthless. A
sub-committee was appointed to consider the bill further.
New Jersey Public Service Report
President Thomas N. McCarter of the Public Service
Corporation of New Jersey, discussing in the annual
report the returns for the year ended Dec. 31, 1914,
shows that the corporation, though operating under
adverse conditions, had, on the whole and relatively, a
successful year. Severe storms in February and March
of last year cost the subsidiary companies in loss of
revenue and added operating expense upward of
$300,000. Rates were lower and expenses higher in the
gas department. Trainmen's wages were greater.
In addition to these conditions, the state of business
depression which existed throughout the year was
greatly aggravated by the European war. This depres
sion was felt by all underlying companies. The normal
annual gross increase in operating revenue of the Pub-
lic Service Electric Company averages from 11 per cent
to 12 per cent ; last year the increase was 9.84 per cent.
The normal increase in railway business averages about
G per cent: in 1914 the increase was 1.11 per cent.
The normal increase in gas business averages 7 per
centj in 1914 the increase was ."..t'.l per cent. Operat-
ing revenue of the subsidiary companies combined in-
creased ."..s"> per cent against an average normal increase
Of about 7 per cent. As compared, however, with the
results obtained by railroad companies and other large
public utilities these increases are considered to be
satisfactorj ,
In speaking Of the maintenance of the property at a
high standard of efficiency, Mr. McCarter said that all
of the property of the three subsidiary operating com
BUK ii 20, 1916
ELECTRICAL WORLD
753
panies is in firat-ciaaa operating condition. It ia true,
of course, that some of the electric plants are old-
• ned and in a tn< iete. Where thi
dition exists plants are being rapidly amortized and
written off.
faxes amounted to $2,202,555, an increase of $139,-
573. In addition the corporation contributed large
sums in new improve!] pavements and street-
pavii,. enta. in five yean the taxes have in-
ed approximately $1,000,000. The increases have
been .so large and insistent that the matter ia becom-
ing '•■ It is urged that the limit has about
been reached of the abilitj of corporations and indi-
viduals to meet the increases, however brought about,
and that the authorities of the respective municipalities
should realize that no further burdens of this character
should be put upon property under present conditions.
In regard to the decision of the Court of Errors and
Appeals in the Passaic gas case, Mr. McCarter expressed
surprise that the motion for reargument made by the
counsel of Paterson and Passaic and of the Board of
Public Utility Commissioners, which was resisted by
the company, was granted by the court.
A reargument of the whole case will therefore neces-
sarily have to be made involving further delay. It is
expected that the case will be argued at the March
term. Mr. McCarter adds: "It is difficult to see how
the court can depart from its sound decision already
made."
AMERICAN TELEPHONE ANNUAL REPORT
Mr. Vail Says the Most Vital Economic Problems Are
Relations Between Public and Utilities
The annual report of the American Telephone & Tele-
graph Company, as usual, informs stockholders fully of
vital matters affecting their interests. In addition to
the customary sections, there is a letter from Mr. Theo-
dore N. Vail, president, addressed to the directors and
security holders, on "Public Service."
Additions to plant and real estate aggregated $50,-
045,316 during the year ended Dec. 31, 1914; $73,091,000
was applied out of revenue to maintenance and recon-
struction. The amount charged for depreciation was
over $41,000,000, of which $15,000,000 was unused dur-
ing the year. Attention is called to the fact that the
effects of the disturbed business conditions in the coun-
try were not so serious for the Bell system as for most
industries. Chiefly they were felt in retardation of
usual growth. The increase in number of subscriber
stations was only about 76 per cent of the number in
1913 and was less than in any one of the four years
previous. The number of messages gained slightly over
2 per cent.
Most of the retardation in growth occurred in the
latter half of the year, and steps were taken at once
to reduce new construction expenditures by postponing
such extensions as were not immediately necessary, with
the result that additions to plant, which at the begin-
ning of the year were estimated to aggregate $56,000,-
000, were $50,000,000. For 1915 it is estimated that
current additions to plant will aggregate about $35,000,-
000, and construction work is on that basis. General
business conditions are being watched, and should they
improve as is hoped the construction program can be
increased promptly to whatever extent seems justified.
It is believed from appraisals made by engineers of
the company that the cost of reproduction of physical
plants of the Bell system would exceed their book cost
by some $61,000,000, aside from all intangible values.
Net earnings were 5.5 per cent of plant and other assets
last year; dividends and interest were 4.87 per cent.
Co-operation »ith Weotern Bectrk Company
A • arl.\ as 1SS0, the report continues, it was recog-
nized aa important that an ample source of supply of
approved apparatus should be provided for operating
companiea, and a contract was made with the Western
Electric Company by virtue of which operating experi-
ence and manufacturing experience were brought into
co-operation, under the supervision of the company's
engineering forces, to provide standard apparatus. The
apparatus was largely covered by patents and its sale
was limited to the Bell telephone system. The operating
companies were, and remained, free to buy of the West-
ern Electric Company or elsewhere as seemed to them
most desirable. When at a later period the plans in-
volved connections with rural companies, it became ad-
visable that they also should have standard apparatus,
and all restrictions as to sales by the Western Electric
Company were removed.
In evolution of the business, the Western Electric
Company became also a source of supply of other ma-
terials not manufactured by it, and about fifteen years
ago, at the suggestion of one of the operating com-
panies, an arrangement was worked out by the Western
Electric Company under which it assumed the relation
of purchasing agent and storekeeper. This arrangement
was adopted one by one by the other associated com-
panies and for the long-distance lines department; and
at the present time, as a result, the Western Electric
Company is the purchasing agent and storekeeper of
the entire Bell system. In both efficiency and economy
the value of the relation to the system is enormous.
Sales of the Western Electric Company in 1914 were
$66,400,000, of which $43,900,000 represents sales to
companies of the Bell system and $22,500,000 sales to
other customers.
Engineering Department
In the Bell system standardization does not represent
a standing still but means unceasing effort, continually
improving and upbuilding, Mr. Vail says. During the
last five years, under the standard specifications of the
general engineering staff, new plant of all kinds costing
more than $425,000,000 was added to the Bell system
and plant to the value of more than $175,000,000 was
removed from service. From 1906 to 1914 new con-
struction work done under the engineering specifica-
tions amounted to more than $700,000,000.
A section of the general staff is constantly employed
in studying electric-railway, electric-power and electric-
light circuits and systems, and in co-operating with the
electric light and power engineers in order to maintain
harmonious relations between the two classes of cir-
cuits.
In extending the range of talking through under-
ground cables and through overhead wires, thousands
of inventions and engineering improvements have been
utilized, including the loading coil of Dr. Pupin and
others of very great importance.
The line from New York to San Francisco is over-
head throughout its entire extent except for a few
short stretches of cable in cities and under rivers. Not-
withstanding improvements in underground cables, it is
still necessary in such long lines as this to exclude as
far as practicable all lengths of cable however short.
During the past year a type of underground cable
carrying 2400 wires in a sheath having a diameter not
greater than 2% in. has been developed. This cable
cannot yet be employed in lengths greater than a couple
of miles in a given line. As the number of wires in-
creases more and more use will be found for it, and
there is reason to expect that as engineering develop-
ment progresses it will be capable of use in increasing
lengths, thus introducing a still further economy.
7 .".4
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 12
It takes an investment of nearly $4 to earn $1 gross
revenue per year. This $1 of gross revenue is divided;
46.5 cents is paid in wages to employees, 5.5 cents goes
for taxes, and 24.0 cents goes for material and other
expenses, a very considerable part of which ultimately
goes for wages, leaving as net operating revenue 24.0
cents, of which about 20.0 cents pays for the use of
the $4 of capital invested. The remaining 4 cents of
surplus revenue is actually expended for plant additions,
of which about one-half is for wages.
It has been suggested that the government take the
property and pay for it in 3 per cent bonds at par. This
establishes nothing. If it can be taken and paid for in
3 per cent bonds at par, it can be taken and paid for
with 2 per cent or 1 per cent bonds at par, or even be
taken for nothing. Property can be taken only at just
compensation based on fair valuation. The amount of
taxes paid bv privately owned public utilities annually
in the United States is more than $200,000,000.
Payments by Subsidiaries
The report discusses the payment by subsidiaries to
the parent company of a percentage of their gross
revenue. For the centralized service, relieving the
separated operating companies from the obligation of
maintaining anything but an operating organization;
for amortization of the cost and royalties of the many
inventions ; for the legal department at all times at the
disposal of all companies, in all administrative matters;
for maintenance and support of the very complete, ex-
tensive and effective technical and engineering depart-
ment; for rental and care of telephones; for financial
assistance; for all the service and the benefit of it all,
the operating companies contribute 4% per cent of
their gross revenue. For the "administration" of the
telephone business and for all the benefits that come
from a common administration without which vastly
greater sums of money would have been expended in
operation, construction and obsolescence ; for the ad-
vice and aid in legal and financial matters; for the
right to use all inventions necessary and for protection
in that right; for the expenses of administration — after
deducting actual cost of furnishing telephones and
maintaining them at the highest standard — the average
contribution by operating companies is less than 3 per
cent of their gross receipts.
Regulation
Mr. Vail says that regulation and control by com-
missions or business courts have, so far as anyone can
forecast the future, become a permanent feature of our
economic laws.
The few years' experience has brought out promi-
nently both good and bad features, but it has demon-
strated that there are great possibilities of good and a
strong probability, if not a certainty, that there can
be had through them a satisfactory solution of the
economic problems as well as the correction of such
business practices, of inherent badness, as were forcing
otherwise conservative and right-seeing and right-be-
lieving people into the ranks of the extreme radicals.
If the progress and development of the past are to be
maintained, there must be abundant opportunity or in-
dividual initiative as well as individual reward for
pioneer work.
Until everyone realizes, believes and acts on the be-
lief that no man is too big timber for a court of com-
merce or public service commission these courts can-
not have their proper position in the mind of the public.
I- for the public to combine to encourage, support
ami sustain ail these courts, commissions and the judges
and members of comin ad above all to abandon
Condemnation of all conclusion- when they differ from
opinions baaed on one-aided and in-
sufficient information. It is for the public to realize
that any particular gain, if at the expense of other
interests, is not permanent gain at all, that all business
or public prosperity is based upon each party to any
transaction getting some benefit from it. Considered
broadly and generally, Mr. Vail adds, the Bell system
has no cause for complaint, protest or criticism as to
its relations with legislatures, commissions, courts or
municipalities. There have been folly as large a per-
centage of satisfactory conclusions arrived at by com-
missions as would have been the case in any regular
courts of justice. No more could be expected.
.Mr. Vail's Letter
In his letter Mr. Vail, while admitting frankly that
"there is a condition of disturbance, of economic un-
settlement which cannot continue indefinitely," adds
that the company was never in better shape basically and
that only combined effort to inculcate sound ideas and
true understanding is requisite to the prompt removal
of obstacles which now bar the way to general and per-
manent revival of business.
Taking up non-employment, Mr. Vail declares that
if there could be a restoration of conditions which
would inspire confidence in the securities of transporta-
tion and intercommunication companies sufficient t<>
command the capital with which to begin the expendi-
ture of even a part of the $1,000,000,000 a year needed
to put these enterprises in a position to meet the de-
mands of the country both as a "going" and as a "grow-
ing" concern, it would soon restore the normal condi-
tions of employment, expenditure, consumption and
production. Continuing, he says in part:
"The most vital of all present economic problems are
the relations between the public and public service
utilities, particularly those of interchange and inter-
course— what constitutes proper regulation and control
— what is the best method of securing their proper
maintenance and further extension.
"The entire public, working or investing, should all
stand by and uphold a control and regulation which will
be thorough and effective and at the same time equi-
table, just and practical. But has the public ever re-
mained complaisant when brought face to face with dis-
turbance, uncertainty and non-employment caused by
too drastic action or too radical legislation upon econ-
omic conditions or industrial enterprises?
"Control and regulation can become destructive in-
stead of constructive; they can by delay paralyze com-
merce : they can through decrees of inexperienced offi-
cials impose unnecessary burdens and unnecessary ex-
penditure upon corporations; they can require too many
regulations and theories of operation and too many un-
developed experiments in plant and equipment: they can
very easily run into operation. Demands of labor for
increased wages and shorter hours, and demands of the
public for increased service, must be met by increased
revenue produced by increased rates. The application
of scientific and improved methods to operation pro-
duced great results in reduction of expenses because it
had an unworked field to start with, but it cannot be
expected that the same ratio of progress will be in-
.!> finitely maintained. The irreducible minimum in
unit expense has been reached in some industries and
-mil] will be in all.
"No corporation, any more than an individual. Can
be bound hand and foot and vet be active or give good
service. Bankrupt public Bervice in time means bank-
rupt communities.
"Wealth never will be distributed equally nor always
employed wisely, but where it exists in abundance there
is always a chance for those who are willing to ex-
change their labor tor some of it."
Mak. H 29, IW6
E 1. ECf RICAL WORLD
Mr. CaritOB Find.* Optimism in Telegraph liu*ine"
Mr. Neweomb Carlton, president of t li *- \\ i
Union Telegraph Company, finds a basis for optimism
in the improving business "!' that company. To a rep-
tative of th( w uhkld Mr. Carlton Baid:
"We forget from year to year how conditions change.
The point, however, is not whether business was good
OV bad in 1913 or i;»i I, hut whether business conditions
to-daj an- changing for the better. It is not whether
earnings are below that we think they ought to be, but
whether the curve of earnings is rising. No matter how-
low the barometer has gone or how severe the storm, the
important tart to observe is whether the glass is rising.
It is not where the top notch has been in the past or may
be in the future, but the fact that business is rising
from a low notch, that encourages us. Most people's
business barometers are subject to limited atmospheric
influence only. For example, the tradition that pig iron
i> the business barometer comes from the old country.
It is a fairly reliable barometer there, but it is not bo
here because it is not sufficiently affected by agriculture.
Pig iron is a trade barometer in this country. The value
of the Western Union barometer is that it is influenced
by the entire business atmosphere over the whole of
the United States.
"When I was in the West not long ago and was talk-
ing about the reliability of our earnings as a barometer,
some one spoke of the unfortunate condition of the
railroads. Then he mentioned the iron and steel de-
pression. I do not say that in many ways these in-
dustries, as well as others, have not been or are not in
serious condition, but nevertheless returns covering all
lines of business activity show that business is better —
that the glass is rising.
"Take these facts. The week ended Oct. 2, 1914,
showed that our earnings had decreased 8 per cent from
the corresponding week of the previous year. From
this date on the decreases ran from 1 per cent to 7 per
cent until the week ended Dec. 18. In the week of Dec.
25 a gain of 1 per cent marked the turn in conditions.
A slight setback to a 2 per cent decrease in the following
week was followed by a gain of 2 per cent. In the week
ended Jan. 22 earnings were the same as in the corre-
sponding week of the previous year. Since then there
have been no decreases. January as a whole increased
1 ' •_• per cent, February 3 per cent. Business in general
is yet far from satisfactory, but a steady gain from a
loss of 8 per cent in October to a 3 per cent increase in
February is to my mind the best possible proof that the
business barometer is rising."
Mr. Carlton sees a larger future for the telegraph.
"We want to get people to think telegraphically." he
said. "The use of the telephone has come to be auto-
matic. It is no longer a mental operation ; it is an
impulse. The mental operation of sending a telegram is
attended by the consciousness of definite cost. This is
the result of old-fashioned training.
"We are trying to educate the public in the use and
benefits of the telegraph and to appreciate that often
the lack of a few telegraphed words subjects a whole
organization to indecision, misdirection and lost energy.
An organization that does business by telegraph and
one that depends on the mail illustrate about the dif-
ference between an express train and a stagecoach.
The obligation of the telegraph companies is to render
efficient, dependable service with courtesy. Before every
operator in our service we are placing the sign 'Accur-
acy first.' To improve speed we began by sending the
filing time in code letters with each telegram. But we
have improved on that, and in the last few weeks we
have put the filing time in plain language on the mes-
sage. If our service is bad, the customer is entitled to
know it. We need the co-operation of the public to main-
tain I'he fact that the public did
not know what it was getting m the way of service has
held back a freer use of the telegraph."
Mr. Carlton was asked about construction plans. He
-aid: "Our theory is that the time to do construction
work is when times are dull. When everyone else is shut
down materials are cheap and labor efficient. We are
still at work on the large reconstruction program out-
lined rs ago by Mr. Vail. We shall continue
it until we complete the reconstruction of the main
arteries. This work ought to be finished by the end of
this year. Our appropriation for reconstruction and
repairs for 1915 is about $8,000,000 for land lines only,
and in addition we charge several thousand miles of new
construction each year to capital account. Since June,
1910, we have spent $48,000,000 on construction, recon-
struction and repairs."
Mr. M. L. Cooke Finds Fault with Utilities
Mr. Morris L. Cooke, director department of public
works, Philadelphia, and acting director of the Utilities
Bureau, gave two lectures on public utilities at Harvard
University, Cambridge, Mass., on March 4 and 5. Mr.
Cooke criticised the National Electric Light Association
and the Bureau of Public Service Economics.
"Courtesies" between banking and utility interests
have bound American cities hand and foot, Mr. Cooke
said. Such courtesies, he declared, had so completely
stopped competition in the field of public service that it
was impossible to finance any competitive or municipal
utility proposition, no matter how good. This policy of
non-interference is "actually world-wide in its opera-
tion." Mr. Cooke went on :
"Especially in the electrical field it is almost impos-
sible now to buy equipment for municipal or competitive
plans. This is so well recognized that Mayor Baker of
Cleveland announced before buying the machinery for
Cleveland's new municipal electric plant that if held up
by the manufacturers he would ask Congress to take
the duty off foreign-made electrical machinery imported
for municipal use."
Mr. Cooke declared that he was opposed to municipal
ownership, at least for the present, because "we have
our hands full now in learning the possibilities of
municipal government." If the companies "furnish good
service and fair rates, give them protection, a free
field and a square deal. If they fail in these essentials,
however, any self-respecting city will call the bluff by
insisting on public ownership and public operation."
Mr. Cooke declared that the public is asked to look upon
the deliberations of public service commissions as scien-
tific, while insiders know that the method of state regu-
lation carried on under the most favorable circum-
stances is a hit-or-miss method. "We have been rushed
into this era of state regulation with such rapidity that,
humanly speaking, it is impossible for any commission
more than to scratch the surface of the field that has
been assigned to it." Many public service commission
laws have been drafted with a view to giving an unfair
advantage to private companies.
Mr. Cooke said : "Among the agencies which force
compliance of standards and business practices imposed
from the top are the national organizations provided
for each type of utility, such as the N. E. L. A., the
National Commercial Gas Association, the American
Electric Railway Association and others. Practically
every worker in these lines who is in good standing
with the powers that be is forced to join in these or-
ganizations, and those who do not enjoy the favor of
those at the top are virtually barred from membership.
"A typical organization of this type is the N. E. L. A.
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 12
To the uninformed it undoubtedly has the standing of a
scientific and technical society. While it does a con-
siderable amount of scientific work, it is essentially a
trade body and one not always operating quite as openly
as would appear to be for the best interest of the com-
munity. In order to build up a position as a technical
society, this association formerly gave out technical in-
formation as do other national engineering and scienti-
fic societies. This has been prohibited because the mem-
bers do not want this information to fall into the hands
of possible business rivals, and more especially into the
hands of public service commissions and others inves-
tigating their methods.
"Notwithstanding a membership of many thousand,
no one can join the N. E. L. A. who does not work for a
company which already belongs to it. Since they do
not usually allow competing companies to join, no in-
dividual employer or competing electric company can
be a member.
"For instance, all employees of the Commonwealth
Electric Company of Milwaukee, a company doing a
business of $400,000 annually, are barred from member-
ship.
"The N. E. L. A. also works in close harmony with
and supports such sexless public-opinion-forming agen-
cies as the Bureau of Public Service Economics. In
1913 the rate research committee of the N. E. L. A. an-
nounced its theory of rates based on the 'value of ser-
vice,' which of course is nothing more than a new rendi-
tion of 'all the traffic will bear.' Notwithstanding a
vociferous beating of the tom-toms, there were no large
number of converts to the doctrine. Cost plus a fair
profit is as good a rule in this field as any other."
Mr. Cooke criticised Prof. M. E. Cooley, Dr. Alex-
ander C. Humphreys and Prof. George F. Swain.
Engineers Discuss Changes in New York State
Constitution
A department of public works to take over all bu-
reaus of the New York State government having charge
of engineering work was indorsed as a desirable amend-
ment to the New York constitution at a meeting held
on March 17 in the house of the American Society of
Civil Engineers. The meeting was called in anticipa-
tion of the New York constitutional convention, which
will convene April 17, and gave ah opportunity for the
members to assist with their suggestions the committee
appointed by the board of directors to represent the
society at the convention. Other recommendations were
that the Governor be empowered to appoint a consulting
engineer to advise him on engineering matters and that
there be instead of the two present Public Service Com-
missions a department of public utilities headed by a
commission of three, one of them an engineer.
Operating Results of Steam-Railroad Electrification
Results obtained through electrification of steam rail-
were described by engineers connected with five
recent important electrifications at the meeting of the
tern Society of Engineers, Chicago, March 16, held
during the convent ion of the American Railway Engi-
neering Association in that city.
The Norfolk \ Western Electrification
.Mr. George <iibl>s, consulting engineer for the Trim
aylvania and Norfolk & Western railroads, discussed the
use of phase converters on the hitter's locomotives for
converting the single-phase line energy into three-phase
current for the motors. The Norfolk & Western instal-
lation has now been in service about thirty days. Each
locomotive weighs 270 tons, 220 tons of which rests on
the driving wheels. A single locomotive has developed
11,000 hp and drawbar pulls of 170,000 lb.— certainly
the greatest power ever developed by any locomotive,
whether steam or electric. The electric locomotives
maintain speeds of 14 miles per hour, pulling trains of
the 100-ton Norfolk & Western coal cars, compared with
schedule speeds of 7 m.p.h. for the Mallett steam loco-
motives. The eleven electric locomotives have displaced
thirty-three steam units. The power house contains
three 10,000-kw turbine-alternators and transmits
44,000-volt single-phase energy, which is stepped down
to 11,000 volts trolley pressure at the static substations.
Pennsylvania Suburban Lines to Paoli
The 21-mile electrification of the Pennsylvania Rail-
road's Philadelphia suburban service from the Broad
Street station to Paoli is now undergoing test. The
single-phase 10,000-volt catenary trolley system is em-
ployed, with steel motor cars having pantagraph collec-
tors. This installation was made, explained Mr. Gibbs,
to afford relief at the Broad Street terminal by simpli-
fying train movements. As the result, the existing
suburban track facilities have been increased 18 per
cent and the total station facilities 8 per cent. The
series-repulsion motors employed on this installation
are rated at 225 hp each.
Results of New York Central Experience
Mr. E. B. Katte, chief engineer of electric traction,
New York Central, compared the cost of steam and elec-
tric locomotives. Whereas an ordinary steam locomo-
tive cost $25,000, an electric locomotive costs $45,000,
and including power house, distributing system, etc.,
represents a unit investment of about $110,000. The
cost of steam operation averages 26 cents per ton-mile,
while electric operation costs 21 cents per mile. Main-
tenance of the New York Central's distribution system
averages $8 per circuit-mile for the three-phase lines
and $13 per circuit-mile for direct-current lines.
Energy is manufactured at a fuel cost of 0.45 cent to
0.50 cent per kw-hr., or 0.75 cent including fixed charges.
Delivered at the contact shoes, with various distrib-
uting costs and losses included, this traction energy costs
1.75 cents per kw-hr. The New York Central locomo-
tives are now operating 22,000 miles per detention, and
the multiple-unit suburban cars average 51,000 miles
per detention.
Mr. W. S. Murray, consulting engineer New York,
New Haven & Hartford Railroad, sent a paper which
was read in his absence, and in which he summarized
the saving due to electrification as being one-half of the
coal pile, besides a great increase in track capacity.
During January, 1915, he said, 40,000,000 ton-miles of
trailing load were carried over the New Haven electrifi-
< at ion, which with sidings now totals 500 miles. The
electric-switching service is now being performed with
one failure for every 1,000,000 miles. Mr. Murray re-
ferred to the success of the mercury-arc rectifier for
converting single-phase into direct current for locomo-
t ivc motors.
Plans for the "St. Paul" Installation
Mr. C. A. Goodenough, assistant to the president of
the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway, sent a
paper describing the electrification of his road's moun-
tain division, which is to be ready for operation by
October of this year. The sent ion from Three Forks to
Ilarlowton will be next electrified, and the entire 440-
mile installation is to be completed by Jan. 1, 1918.
Later the electrification zone may even be extended 850
miles west to Seattle and Tacoma.
March 20, 1916
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Miscellaneous News Notes
Bfactridtj Beplacea <>il in \\ ill\s-Overland Kurnacts.-
Thi- Willys-Overland Company, automobile manufacturer,
ntracted with the Toledo (Ohio) Railways A Light
Company fur 6000 kw for the operation of enameling and
tempering furnaces. Crude Oil was formerly mad.
The Columbus .Municipal Plant. — Superintendent Barry
E. Eichorn, of the municipal light plant at Columbus, Ohio,
has requested the city to make an appropriation to pay the
lighting and service in public buildings.
ieves that payment for the service in this way will
make the plant self -sustaining.
[■creasing Demand in Electrified Zinc-Mining Field. —
The electrical output of the Interstate Light & Power Com-
pany, whose central station at Galena, 111., serves the Illi-
Bois- Wisconsin zinc-mining field, has shown an increase of
r cent for the first two months of 1915 as compared
with the preceding year. High prices for zinc ore have ma-
terially stimulated mining operations in this district.
\ Match for the Thief Who Stole the Red-Hot Stove.—
The classic narrative of the Wild West bandit who made
off with the station agent's stove in which a coal tire was
cheerily burning finds a latter-day sequel in the feat of a
St. I.ouis thief who cut down 200 ft. of No. 4 copper wire
from a line supplying service to a factory which was in
full operation at the time. The first warning the customer
had was the sudden stopping of his motors. Investigation
showed that the wires had been cut with a hatchet. The
culprit was finally found and sent to the workhouse for
sixty days.
To Open Utah Aluminite Deposits. — It is reported from
Salt Lake City, Utah, that preparations are being made by
the Florence Mining Company, Pittsburgh, and Armour &
Company, Chicago, to open large aluminite deposits in the
vicinity of Marysvale. The combined investment of the two
companies in Utah is estimated at approximately $3,000,000.
The Florence company has purchased land on the Sesier
River on which to erect a power plant, and the Beaver River
Power Company has let the contract for a $250,000 power
plant on the Beaver River east of Beaver. The work on the
plants is scheduled to start early in the spring. The depos-
its to be opened, it is claimed, contain 35 per cent aluminite
and 11 per cent potash.
Difference of One Letter in Franchise Agreement In-
volves Thousands. — Two different versions of the franchise
agreement between the corporation of Houston Heights, a
suburb of Houston, Tex., and the local lighting company
have held up the ratification of the document by the Town
Council. The disagreement involves the rate at which
energy is to be sold to the town for street lighting. Ac-
cording to one copy, "the citizens or the city of Houston
Heights" were not to pay higher rates for service than
those charged in the neighboring city of Houston, while
according to the other version this provision related only
to "the citizens of the city of Houston Heights." If the
text containing the word "or" is adhered to, the town will
save about $1,000 a year on its street-lighting bill.
Ohio Court Will Not Review Cincinnati Decision. — The
Ohio Supreme Court has declined to review the decision of
the Hamilton County Court of Appeals by which the city of
Cincinnati was granted a permanent injunction preventing
the Diamond Light Company from following its plan of
making use of the streets and alleys for a distribution sys-
tem and selling energy to consumers without a franchise
from the City Council. This gives the city a final victory
over the company, which had contended that it could go
ahead and lay conduits under streets and alleys or string
wires over them through consents of owners of abutting
property so long as it did nothing to interfere with traffic
on the thoroughfares. The Court of Appeals jrranted the
city a perpetual injunction. It is stated that the company
may ask the Council for a franchise and, in case this is
refused, it may put the question before the people on a ref-
erendum vote. The Court of Appeals decided that if the
City Council enacted legislation that required companies
to secure city franchises it would be necessary for them to
do so. Owners of properties on streets and alleys have not
authority to graart a company the right to use the streets and
alleys.
Associations and Societies
Lyaa Section. \. I. K. K. — At a regular meeting of the
Lynn (Mass.) Section of the A. I. K. K. on March IT, Dr.
W. P. Davay, Research Laboratory, General Electric Com-
pany, Schenectady . N. Y., was scheduled to deliver an illus-
trated lecture on "Recent X-Ray Developments."
( onvention of das. Bfectric and Street Railway Associa-
tion of Oklahoma. — The fourth annual convention of the
Electric and Street Railway Association of Oklahoma
will be held in Oklahoma City, May 12, 13 and 14, the head-
quarters being at the Lee-Huckins Hotel. Mr. H. V. Bozell.
Norman, Okla., is secretary-treasurer.
Mr Martin Addressee New York Section on Exposition
Lighting. — Secretary T. C. Martin of the National Electric
Light Association addressed 500 people at the meeting of the
N't -w York Company Section in the Edison auditorium, on
March 16, on the lighting features of the two expositions in
California, that at San Diego and the one at San Francisco.
The address was illustrated with lantern slides.
Men York Electrical Society. — The 336th meeting of the
New York Electrical Society will be held at the Engineering
Societies Building, New Y'ork, March 25. Mr. T. Commer-
ford Martin will give an address on "Electrical Aspects and
Lessons of the San Francisco Exposition." A brief portion
of the address will be devoted to the lighting of the Panama
California Exposition at San Diego, itself a gem of art.
Building Up a Large Fleet of Commercial Vehicles. — Mr.
C. C. McMahon, assistant to the superintendent of the trans-
portation department of the Commonwealth Edison Com-
pany, addressed the Chicago Section of the Electric Vehicle
Association March 16 on the subject of experiences en-
countered in building up the Edison company's large fleet
of commercial cars, which perform a diversified delivery-
service. The Chicago Section E. V. A. now meets weekly
for Tuesday luncheon at the Hotel Metropole, 2300 South
Michigan Avenue, in the heart of the retail automobile
district of the city.
Iowa Section, N. E. L. A. — The Iowa Section of the
National Electric Light Association will hold its annual
convention at Keokuk, la., April 20 to 22 inclusive, some
of the sessions overlapping those of the Iowa Street &
Interurban Railway Association and the Iowa Electrica)
Contractors' Association, which will hold annual meetings
in Keokuk about the same time. Among reports and papers
which will be presented at the N. E. L. A. meeting are:
Report of committee on "Possibilities of Business from
Rural Transmission Lines"; report of committee on "Work-
men's Compensation Insurance as It Affects Public
Utilities"; "Gas-Filled Street-Lighting Lamps and Fix-
tures," by Messrs. E. M. Walker of the Union Electric
Company, Dubuque, and Thomas Crawford of the Clinton
Gas & Electric Company, Clinton; "Gas-Filled Tungsten
Lamps," by Mr. Henry Schroder, assistant manager of the
Edison Lamp Works, Harrison, N. J.; "Basic Principles of
Rate-Making for Central Stations," by Mr. F. A. Warfield.
rate engineer, Illinois Traction System, Peoria, 111.; "Con-
trolled Flat Rates in Connection with the Excess Indica-
tor," by Mr. E. T. Hughes, new-business manager of the
Union Electric Company, Dubuque; "Power Development
Methods for Iowa Central Stations," by Mr. Edward Soukup.
new-business manager of the Iowa Railway & Light Com-
pany, Cedar Rapids, la.; "Maximum-Demand Meters,"
by Mr. J. V. Montgomery, of the Mississippi River Power
Company, Keokuk; "Oil Kngines for Small Light and Power
Stations," by a representative of the Busch-Diesel OiH
Engine Company, St. Louis, Mo.; revised report of the-
tacts and factors committee, and "Financial Side of Elec-
tric Power Transmission," by Prof. Arthur H. Ford, of the
State University of Iowa. Following the presentation of
the papers an illustrated lecture on "Safety First" will be
given. Entertainment will include a banquet followed" by
an illustrated lecture on the development of the Keokuk,
hydroelectric plant, an automobile trip, a smoker, theater
parties, rejuvenation of the Sons of Jove, etc. It is intended
to charter one of the large Mississippi River boats for the
last afternoon of the convention. Space has been provided
for displaying electrical appliances. Mr. Rex 11. Fowler i»
assistant secretary of the association.
758
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 12
Public Service Commission News
Ni» York Commissions
Pending the hearing: before Governor Whitman on March
L!.'{ in regard to the charges against four members of the
First District commission, the legislative investigating com-
mittee is proceeding with the examination of the Second
District commission. Messrs. Frank H. Mott, secretary,
and Charles R. Barnes, electric railroad inspector of the
Second District commission, testified.
Ohio Commission
The request of the Union Gas & Electric Company of
Cincinnati for an extension of time to May 1 in which to
complete appraisal of its property was refused by the com-
mission. Work has been in progress on the appraisal for
several months, and at the same time representatives of the
commission have been checking the figures. Vice-president
W. Y. Cartwright of the company said that the inventory
has been completed and engineers are tabulating and con-
solidating the data. He said that the work had been pro-
gressing- as rapidly as possible and that there is every pros-
pect that it will be completed by May 1.
The commission has dismissed the case of the city of
Sandusky against the Sandusky Gas & Electric Company, in
which an adjustment of rates was requested. A settlement
has been reached. New rates were effective from March 9.
To prevent unwarranted and unfair competition, Repre-
sentative W. R. Sprague has introduced in the Ohio House
of Representatives a bill to require any company which seeks
to establish a light and power plant in a city or town
already having service from an established plant to secure
a certificate of necessity from the commission. The same
provision is made for artificial and natural-gas, water-works,
heating and cooling plants. This certificate must be ob-
tained before the first step is taken toward construction.
The bill would place electrical plants under the same condi-
tions in this respect which the telephone companies have had
for two years. Municipal plants are specifically excluded
from the opf ■ ation of the bill.
Massachusetts Commission
The commission has issued an extended report discussing
the necessity of a broad investigation of telephone service
and rates within the State, in response to a legislative order
d last February asking the board to report upon the re-
lations between the New England Telephone & Telegraph
Company and the American Telephone & Telegraph Com-
pany, their bearing: on rates, and the general method of rate-
making employed by the New England company. The com-
mission finds that the present rate schedules of the New
England company have all been fixed or approved by State
authority and not by the American company; but, in view of
the contractual relations between the two companies and the
financial control exercised by the American over the New
England company, asks for an appropriation to enable it to
conduct a comprehensive investigation.
The American company now owns 58 per cent of the capi-
tal stock of the New England company. There are numer-
ous contractual relations between the two companies. They
jointly own and use some pole lines, lease equipment to each
other, and interchange engineering data. The most impor-
tant contract is one under which the American company fur-
to the New England company telephone instruments
and the expert services of its general staff and rights in in-
ventions and improvements. Under these relations the New
England company, in common with other subsidiaries of the
Bell system, pays the American company 4.5 per cent of its
gross receipts each year. The commission has been unable
to Investigate In the time and with the means at its disposal
whether these relations are equitable, but cites recent re-
"f the commissions in Vermont, California and Georgia
upon this subject. The general tenor of these reports is to
the effect that subsidiaries pay an unduly large sum to the
n company.
A i in of the relations between the
I < umpany and the Western Electric Company.
iIih latter being in effeel the i irehasing agent of
mei The history of the Western Electric Company
in relation ' OS to B< il absidiaries is reviewed in
inferable detail, the Dining to no
conclusion as to the equity of these relatione.
Personal
Mr. William Siebenmorgen, chief engineer of the C & C
Electric & Manufacturing Company, Harwood, N. J., has
resigned.
Mr. I. J. Bell, who has been manager of the Interstate
Public Service Company at Bedford, Ind., for the past
twenty-two years, has resigned.
Mr. James Mitchell, vice-president of the Alabama Power
( ompany, has been elected president of the company, vice
Mr. Frank S. Washburn, who becomes chairman of the board
of directors.
Mr. W. L. Martin, who has been in charge of the legal de-
partment of the Alabama Traction, Light & Power Company,
New York, N. Y\, has been appointed vice-president and chief
counsel of the company.
Mr. W. E. Murchie has been appointed local manager of
the Interstate Public Service Company's system at Bedford,
lnd., as successor to Mr. I. J. Bell. Mr. Murchie was man-
ager of the Southern Indiana Power Company at Bedford.
Mr. D. C. Green has been appointed manager of the Salt
Lake division of the Utah Power & Light Company. Mr.
Green was formerly connected with gas and electric interests
in Everett, Wash., San Diego and Monroe, Cal., Marshfield
and Albany, Ore.
Mr. Frank S. Washburn, president of the Alabama Power
Company, Birmingham, Ala., has retired as president of the
company to assume the chairmanship of the board of
directors, and Mr. James Mitchell, present vice-president of
the company, succeeds him.
Mr. C. K. Morrell, has resigned as superintendent of light-
ing with the Kentucky Ti-action & Terminal Company, Lex-
ington, Ky., and has been succeeded by Mr. Washington
Reed, lately of Smithfield, Va. Mr. Morrell, it is said, will
enter business in Lexington.
Mr. William D. Ray has resigned as vice-president and
manager of the Northern Indiana Gas & Electric Company's
properties at Hammond, East Chicago and Whiting, Ind.,
serving important industrial suburbs of Chicago, to become
general manager of the
^ggjj-jj^^ newly organized Pennsyl-
^^^^^^^\ vania Utilities Company,
Jfl with headquarters at Easton,
Pa. The latter company
'■•^l 4P operates in fifteen communi-
Y*» ties in the vicinity of Easton,
in a district containing many
quarries, cement plants.
^L steel mills, paint factories.
^e^^L etc. Mr. Ray's career in the
^M ^L ]^^^ electrical field has been a
^^ ^H varied one, beginning with
^fc his work as electrical en-
^^ ^M gineer for the Chicago &
Ht ^M Northwestern and Northern
Hk wP Pacific railroads and his
later connection with the
w. D. RAY World's Columbian Exposi-
tion at Chicago as assistant
superintendent of electrical operation. In 1894 he was gen-
eral superintendent of the Everett (Wash.) Street Railway,
and later he became sales engineer for the Loraine Steel
Company. Removing to Michigan, he became electrical en-
M i for two traction lines operated by the Detroit Con-
struction Company, and afterward superintended the con-
struction of the Grand Rapids-Muakegon third-rail road.
In 1908 he was appointed contract agent of the Sanitary
District of Chicago. In 1910 Mr. Ray went to Hammond to
bake charge of his recent work for the Northern Indiana
Company, in addition to which he has been a leader in local
civic movements. Mr. Ray is a member of the National
Electric Light Association and uas for twenty-two years
been a member of the American Institute of Electrical
era. He is vice president of the Indiana Electric
Light Association and of the Klertric Club of Chicago.
Mr. Leonard Work, formerly willi the West inghmise Elec-
tric iv Manufacturing Company, and later with the construc-
l ion department of the Isthmian ("anal Commission at
Panama, has recently been appointed electrical and me-
20, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
. hanical engineer to the Department of Wharves, Docks and
. Philadelphia, Pa.
Mr I M I. .mm -on. formerly manager of the Mineral
. Tex., and
manager of the Shreveport (La.) Traction Company, ha>
been engaged by the Bryan-College Interurban Railway.
Brya- ipervise the electrification and start opera-
inder the new plan of the company. II >- title u
mar. i.
Mr. v I Whitaker, local manager of tin- Utah Light &
impany at Ogden, Utah, has tendered his resigna-
tion, and the local affairs of the company will be looked
by Mr. P. M. Parry, local manager of the Utah P
4 Light Company. The Utah Light A Traction Company
and the Utah Power & Light Company were recently con-
• .1. and the Utah Power & Light Company leases and
will manage the combination properties.
Mr. I hi. in. i- l;. Woulfe, manager of the light and power
department of the Cleveland, Southwestern & Columbus
Railway Company, Cleveland, has tendered his resignation,
effective April 1. and will engage in consulting engineering.
Mr. Wonlfe will go into partnership with Mr. Frank B. Rae,
eveland, and the firm, which will be known as the Rae-
Woulfe Company, will act as consulting electrical and me-
chanical engineers. Mr. Woulfe has been with the Cleveland,
Southwestern & Columbus Railway Company for three years,
and prior to joining the staff of that company was superin-
tendent of gas and electric properties for the Illinois North-
ern Utility Company, Sterling, 111. He was one of the or-
ganizers and a director of the Kehoe Light & Power Com-
pany, Fort Wayne, Ind., of which he was assistant general
manager until the company was taken over by the Fort
Wayne & Wabash Traction Company. Mr. Woulfe gradu-
ated from Notre Dame University as an electrical engineer.
He is a member of the American Institute of Electrical En-
gineers and of the Electric League of Cleveland.
Mr. Robert K. Sheppard, who was elected president of the
Associated Manufacturers of Electrical Supplies last week.
has acted as chairman of all the preliminary meetings of
manufacturers leading up to the formation of the associa-
tion and as their spokesman
before ether organizations.
Mr. Sheppard was born in
Boston in 1871, was educated
at the Newton High School,
and was graduated from the
Massachusetts Institute of
Technology in 1895 as a
chemical engineer. After
graduation he entered the
employ of the Washburn &
Sloen Manufacturing Com-
pany, Worcester, Mass. He
remained with that company
and with the American Steel
& Wire Company, which ab-
sorbed it, until 1912. Part
of this time was spent in the
operating and manufacturing
department, but the greater
part in the sales department,
sent to New York by his company, where he was connected
with the sales end of the insulated wire department. He
removed to Chicago in 1902 and was connected with the
ted wire and rope department. In 1904 he became the
representative of the American Steel & Wire Company in
Philadelphia, where he remained until 1912. He then entered
the employ of the Diamond Rubber Company of Akron,
Ohio, which was afterward amalgamated with the B. F.
Goodrich Company, manufacturer of rubber goods of all
kinds. Mr. Sheppard is manager of sales of the insulated-
wire department. In recognition of his work leading up to
the formation of the Associated Manufacturers of Electrical
Supplies, he was presented with a silver loving cup by the
members of the organization committee at the March 9
meeting. Mr. Sheppard is an associate member of the
American Institute of Electrical Engineers, a member of
the Art Club of Philadelphia, of the Spring Haven Country
Club, of the Cleveland Athletic Club, and of the Portage
Country Club of Akron.
R. K. SHEPPARD
In 1899 Mr. Sheppard was
Corporate and Financial
I '.ri Worth Power & Light Preferred Stock. — Richard-
son, Hill & Company, of Bo-- ire offering 7 per
cent cumulative preferred stock of the Fort Worth (Tex.)
.v Light Company.
linestor-' Almanac. — Bowman, Cost & Company, of St.
. Mo., are distributing to their clients and friends
copies of the 1915 Investors' Almanac, which is a handbook
of information for investors.
Southern Illinois Light & Power Bond Issue. — Bowman,
& Company of St. Louis, Mo., are offering $100,000
first mortgage 6 per cent gold bonds of the Southern Illinois
Light & Power Company at par and interest.
N Ml St. Louis Water & Light Bond Offering. — Shapker,
Anderson & Company of Chicago are offering at 93 and in-
terest to yield ".75 per cent $200,000 West St. Louis (Mo.)
Water & Light Company's first mortgage sinking-fund 5
per cent gold bonds due on Aug. 1, 1928.
Virginian Power Bond Offering. — A. B. Leach & Company
of New York are offering $3,800,000 first and collateral trust
mortgage 5 per cent gold bonds, due on Dec. 1, 1942, of the
Virginian Power Company, Charleston, W. Va., at 90 and
interest with a stock bonus of $300 par value.
Northern New York Utilities Stock Increased. — The
Northern New York Utilities Company of Watertown,
N. Y., has filed a certificate of increase of authorized capi-
tal stock from $2,000,000 to $4,000,000, to consist of $2,000,-
000 common stock and $2,000,000 7 per cent cumulative non-
voting preferred stock. There is now $684,000 common
stock and $472,800 preferred outstanding.
Central California Electric Corporation. — The Central
California Electric Corporation, which was granted a char-
ter in Delaware recently, will not engage at present in the
generation and distribution of electrical energy, but will
deal in the securities of public service and non-public serv-
ice corporations according to advices received from Mr.
DeLos A. Chappell, one of the incorporators.
United Railways Investment Fiscal Year Change. — The
fiscal year of the United Railways Investment Company,
San Francisco, Cal., has been changed to start with July 1.
The annual meeting will be held in October instead of the
first Friday in May. The action was taken in order that
the parent company might issue its report at the same
time as its subsidiaries so that a consolidated statement
can be made.
Western Railways & Light Control Passes to Illinois
Traction. — The plans for merging the Western Railways
& Light Company with the Illinois Traction System which
were approved by stockholders of both companies have been
carried out. For 22,534 shares of Illinois Traction Company
common stock 45,086 shares of Western Railways & Light
Company common stock, out of a total of 45,218 shares out-
standing, were exchanged.
Aldred Interest in Baltimore Utilities. — Aldred & Com-
pany of New York, fiscal agents of the Consolidated Gas,
Electric Light & Power Company of Baltimore and of the
Pennsylvania Water & Power Company, have acquired for
themselves and associates a substantial interest in the stock
of the United Railways & Electric Company of Baltimore,
through purchases made in the market and directly from a
larger interest in the company. Mr. James E. Aldred will be
made a director of the railway company.
Pacific Gas & Electric Earnings. — Earnings of the Pacific
Gas & Electric Company for the year ended Dec. 31, 1914,
were as follows:
1914 1913
earnings $17,220,503 $16,202,337
Operating expenses, maintenance and
i ee S, 913,921 9,331.207
Net earnings $8,306,582 $6,871,130
Annual bond interest 4,004,4s<>
Balance $4,302,102
Pacific Gas & Electric Sells Bonds.— N. W. Halsey &
Company and Harris. Forbes & Company, of New York,
have purchased from the Pacific Gas & Electric Company
$2,000,000 general and refunding mortgage bonds, which
are at present deposited as collateral for the notes of that
company maturing on Dec. 15, 1915. It is expected that in
760
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 12
the course of the next few months they will also purchase
the balance of $3,000,000 of these bonds that are now being
used as collateral for the notes. This will, of course, in-
volve the retirement of the notes.
Montana Power Annual Report. — The annual report of the
Montana Power Company for the year ended Dec. 31, 1914,
shows a gain of 1880 customers during the year and an in-
crease in connected load of 10,000 kw. The combined earn-
ings of the company and its subsidiaries for 1913 and 1914
follow:
1914 1913
Gross earnings $3,778,2S5 $3,539,198
Operating expenses and taxes 1,139,046 1,117.774
Net earnings $2,639,239 $2,421,424
Interest charges 1,063,614 904,555
Surplus over charges $1,575,625 $1,516,869
Pacific Power Income Statement. — The income statement
of the Pacific Power Company of Bodie, Cal., for the year
ended Dec. 31, 1914, follows:
Operating revenue $123,845
Operating expenses 52,962
Net operating revenue $70,883
Gross corporate Income $70,SS3
Interest 72,205
Defi.it for year 1914 $1,322
Profit and loss balance Dec. 31, 1913 91,018
Balance Dec. 3, 1914 $92,340
Baltimore Consolidated Stockholders to Vote on Stock
Increase. — A special meeting of stockholders of the Consoli-
dated Gas, Electric Light & Power Company of Baltimore
has been called for March 22 for the purpose of increasing
the total common stock of the company authorized to be
issued from $20,000,000 to $30,000,000. The object of the
increase, according to a statement by President H. A. Wag-
ner, is to provide for the normal growth of the company.
It is not intended to make an additional issue of common
stock immediately upon authorization. The action is taken
now in order to prepare for future requirements. A cer-
tain portion of the common stock will be set aside to take
care of the exchange or conversion privilege of the other
securities.
Duluth Edison Report. — The report of the Duluth Edison
Electric Company, which was filed recently with the city
auditor of Duluth, states that during the year just passed
$45,387 was spent for improvements, increasing the total
cost of the system to $3,127,512. For the year ended Dec.
31, 1914, earnings were:
i nines $549,812
Ing expenses 282,187
Net earnings $267,625
Taxes and insurance $26,150
Boml Interest 67,650
Sinking fund addition 25,000
Sinking fund bond interest 12,814
Total $131,614 131,614
Balance $136,011
Southern Sierras Power Statement. — The income state-
ment of the Southern Sierras Power Company, Denver,
Col., for the year ended Dec. 31, 1914, follows:
' Ipi ting revenue $458,363
Operating expenses 186,092
Net operating revenue $272,271
Non-operating revenue 4,040
corporate income $276,311
t $189 199
14.609 204,002
Surplus for v<nr 1911 $72,309
Profit and lo Dec. 31, 1913 41,968*
$30,341
Addition! In surplus 8,067
Surplus Dec II, I'M $38,408
■
New England Power Merger Planned. — Plans have
matured for the merger of hydroelectric systems financed
bj Baker, lyling & Company, Boston, Mass., Into an or-
ganization to be known as the New England Company, eon-
trolling plants with 70,000 hp in generating capacity nnd
i, panning the greater part of central New
England. The New England Company was organized last
year in Me with a stock enpit ulizat ion of SK,.'!"!!,-
000 and authorized bonds up to $30,000,000 in a 5 per cent
forty-year issue, the plan being to take over the New Eng-
land Power Company of Maine, the Connecticut River Power
Company of Maine, the Connecticut River Power Company
of New Hampshire, and the Bellows Falls (Vt.) Power Com-
pany. The consolidation will simplify organization, opera-
tion and financing and is designed to unify further the
systems developed by Chace & Harriman, Boston, during
the past few years.
Oro Water, Light & Power Report. — The following earn-
ings report for the year ended Dec. 31, 1914, has been
placed on file with the California Railroad Commission by
the Oro Water, Light & Power Company, Oroville:
Operating revenue $88,008
Operating expenses 72,548
Net operating revenue $15,460
Non-operating revenue 201,510
Gross corporate income $216,970
Deductions :
Non-operating expense $441
Interest 20,760
,21,201
Surplus for year 1914 $195,769
Balance Dec. 31, 1913 552,376
Total $748,145
Deductions for year:
Dividends, sinking fund appropriations and other ap-
propriations 2 r. 1 , 4 1 4
Surplus Dec. 31, 1914 $496,731
The West India Electric Company's Statement. — The
annual report of the West India Electric Company, Ltd.,
for the year ended Dec. 31, 1914, shows the following:
Earnings: 1914 1913
Railway $206, S70 $212,157
Electric light 64 56,864
Power 9,780 9,611
Miscellaneous 7,713 6,209
Total $288,925 $284,841
Expense :
Transportation $65,480 $54,957
Maintenance 30,263 29,137
General expenses 59,486 63,646
Total 155,229 147.740
Fixed charges :
Interest on bonds $30,000 $30,000
Tax on railway earnings. 8,327 8,517
Rental 12,000 12,000
Total 50.327 50.517
Net income $83,369 $86,584
Bell Telephone Income Statement. — A comparative income
statement of the Bell Telephone System in the United
States for 1913 and 1914 is presented herewith. All duplica-
tions, including interest, dividends and other payments to
the American Telephone & Telegraph Company by associated
holding and operating companies, have been excluded:
1914 1913
Gross revenue $225,952,123 1215,672,822
Expenses :
Operation 81,896,219 75,404,092
Current maintenance 82,442,979
Depreciation 41,496,240 (7,789,991
Taxes 12,216,997 11,296.237
Total expenses $166,704. S44 $156,883,299
Net revenue $59,247,279 $5S,6S9,523
Interest 18,940,641 16,662,624
Balance net Income $40,306,638 $42,036, S99
Dividends paid 30,304,186 30,301,705
Balance (or surplus $10,002,452 $11,735,194
Present and Future of American Business. — Harris.
Winthrop & Company, dealers in investment securities in
New York and Chicago, have issued a fifty-two-page
pamphlet entitled "The Present ami the Future of American
Business," which is the composite opinion of 700 American
business men. A letter containing seven questions on
present and future business conditions was sent to 2000 men
identified with constructive commerce and finance in the
United States. The replies showed that the jobbers and
distributers have small stocks of goods on hand, that
those who are able to save are allowing savings to-
accumulate in the banks, that there is an unusually large
i . 1 1 till ■< ■ i ■•! unemployed, thai the increased cost of freight
is not appreciable, that the supply of money is normal, but
that credit is being closely scrutinized, that economy is
becoming general both from necessity and choice, and that
tlie outlook for American business daring 191") is en-
couraging.
March 20. 1915
ELE< ITRII A I. WORLD
761
Amrrican Telephone A. leU-graph Report. — The annual
report of the American Telephone & Telegraph Company
for the year ended Dec. 31, 1914, shows the following earn-
ings and expei
Earnings: 1914 1*11
!- .■ ■
■e from asso-
mea 13, 959. 944 1
-.
• r sources 1,067.996 •'.
$46,196,599 J45.909.991
-s
earnings J40.557.977 J40.576.746
-: 8.223,163
Balance J32.334.S14 J32.920.090
nus L'7.:. 7L'.f,7:. 27.4
Balance J4. 762, 139 J5, 466. 053
J2. 500.000 J2. 500. 000
I to surplus 2.262.139 2,|o
Total J4.762.139 J5.466.053
Virraganseti Electric Lighting Company's Report. — The
annual report of the Narrag/ansett Electric Lighting Com-
pany, of Providence, R. I., shows that gross earnings in-
creased $141,410, or 9.25 per cent over the previous year.
Energy sales amounted to 36,477,837 kw-hr., an increase
of 13.5 per cent. New business for the year aggregated
lew, an increase of 18.7 per cent. The total connected
load of the company on Dec. 31, 1914, was 76,000 hp. The
statement follows:
Gross earnings from all sources Jl, 670, 654
Operating expenses J954.775
tion of property and plant 166.266
on debentures 20.000
Other Interest charges 35.456 1 . 1 7 f; . ^ D 7
Net income $494,157
Profit and loss adjustments 6.134
Total Income J500.291
Disposition of Income :
1 nvidends 480,000
Credited to surplus $20,291
Truckee River General Electric Report. — The income
statement of the Truckee River General Electric Company,
of Reno, Nev., for the year ended Dec. 31, 1914, is pre-
sented herewith. The company is controlled by the Sierra
Pacific Electric Company of Reno:
Operating revenue $278,039
Operating expenses 109.S60
Net operating revenue $16S,179
Non-operating revenue 406
Gross corporate Income $168,585
Deductions :
Non-operating expense $1,964
Interest 90.7S7 92,751
Surplus for vear 1914 $75,834
Profit and loss balance Dec. 31, 1914 546.625
Total $622,459
Additions to surplus 1,000
Total $623,459
Deductions for year:
■lends $120,000
Other approbations 93,426 213,426
Surplus Dec. 31. 1914 $410,033
Midland Counties Statement. — The Midland Counties
Public Service Corporation, San Luis Obispo, Cal., has filed
the following statement with the Railroad Commission of
California for the year ended Dec. 31, 1914:
Operating revenue (205,26 I
p rises 148,097
Net operating revenue $57,167
Non-operating revenue 472
corporate Income $57,640
Deductions :
Non-operating expense $1,122
i 73,959
eoufl 1.356 76.437
Deficit for year 19 14 $1S,797
I, 1913 3.086
$16,711
urplua - - . 7 f. ;t
$7,058
l ledui nous foi
rids $2
Sinking fund appropriations
Other appropriations 8,790 19,154
Deficit Dec. 31. 1914 $12,096
United Gas Improvement Statement. — A comparative
meat of the earnings of the United Gas Improvement
- r i >• for year ended Dec. 31 is presented herewith.
The decrease in earnings from regular sources is accounted
for by the falling off in income from the natural-gas prop-
in Kansas and Missouri. The increase in expenses is
due principally to increased taxes and the expense of main-
taining the organization of the construction department
during a period when very few construction contracts were
obtainable:
Earning*.: lint 1913
Prom regular sources $6,911,731 $7,142,388
Prom spe< ial sources:
Extra dividend on stock of one of the
. ompanli b m which this company is a
shareholder 410,000
I'rollt from sole of securities 2.172.S12 1.060,806
Total earnings $9.0S4,543 $8,613,194
1.1SS.143 1,142,087
Net profits $7,896,400 $7,471,107
In v.. lends 4,440,236 4,4 40.236
Sinking funds 801,300 790,500
To undivided profit account $2,654,864 $2,240,371
Western Electric Annual Report. — In the annual report of
the Western Electric Company for the year ended Dec. 31,
1914, Mr. H. B. Thayer, the president, states that the busi-
ness conditions affecting the company's prosperity have been
steadily getting worse through the year, and that the pros-
pects for 1915 are not encouraging. The orders on hand on
Jan. 1, 1915, were $4,309,000 less in value than on Jan. 1,
1914. The average value of an order filled during 1914 was
$56 as compared with $73 for 1913. The number of em-
ployees on Jan. 1, 1915, was 15,650 as compared with 19,856
on Jan. 1, 1914. It was further stated that business condi-
tions were reflected in the company's balance sheet by re-
ductions in its merchandise and receivable accounts and by
the increase in cash on hand. "It will be impossible," said
Mr. Thayer, "until after the close of the European war to
report the effect of the war during this year upon our
foreign investments. We expect, however, a loss in profit
and a certain loss in property, on account of which we may
later have to make revaluations." The earnings of the com-
pany for the twelve months ended Dec. 31, 1914, follow:
1914 1913
Sales $66,408,484 $77,532.S60
Other income 948,509 720,556
Total income $67,356,993 $7S,253,416
Manufacturing costs, expenses, etc.... 63,323,526 71,689.555
Reserve for contingencies 500,000 2,500,000
Net earnings $3,533,467 $4,063,861
Fixed charges 862,507 S92.166
Excess available for dividends $2,fi70.9fin $3,171,695
Dividends 1,500,000 1.500,000
Carried to surplus $1,170,960 $1,671,695
Commonwealth Edison Company Replies to Hogarth
Petitions. — Through its attorneys, Messrs. Isham, Lincoln &
Beale, Chicago, the Commonwealth Edison Company has
filed with the Illinois Public Utilities Commission its reply
to the charges made by Mr. J. B. Hogarth attacking the
legality of the purchase of the stock of the Chicago Elevated
Railways and the issuance of $7,000,000 in 5 per cent notes
by the Commonwealth Edison Company. In the reply atten-
tion is called to the fact that the commission has no jurisdic-
tion to impose fines or other punishments asked for in the
petition. The function of the commission, as pointed out by
Mr. Gilbert E. Porter, of counsel, is limited to prosecution of
offenders under the criminal laws, for the commission itself
cannot assess fines or punishments. Mr. Porter also declared
in an interview that the Chicago Elevated Railways Col-
lateral Trust, the body from which the Commonwealth
Edison Company directly purchased the Elevated stock, was
itself not a utility, since it was made up of three individuals
who simply held the Elevated stock in trust. Mr. Porter
contends that this body did not constitute a utility any more
than individual stockholders of utility properties could them-
selves be classed as utilities. Mr. Porter further points out
that the purchase of Elevated stock complained of occurred
in 1911, and therefore prior to the establishment of the
commission and the enactment of the utilities law. Concern-
ing the issue by the Edison company of $7,000,000 in 5 per
cent notes in payment for the stock, the attorneys aver that
since these were one-year notes permission of the commis-
sion was not required. Another petition filed by Mr. Hogarth
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 12
charges that the Commonwealth Edison Company's domestic
rates for electricity in Chicago are unreasonable. After
pointing out the complainant's error in stating the rates
without the various discounts of 1 cent per kw-hr. for prompt
payment, the reply of the company asserts the reasonable-
of the rate schedule and cites the fact that the rates
charged are in accordance with the Chicago city ordinance
provisions of Nov. 'Jo. 1913.
New Jersej Public Service Corporation Report. — The ac-
companying statement was presented in the sixth annual
report of the Public Service Corporation of New Jersey for
the year ended Dec. 31, 1914. The growth and development
of the electric distribution system of the company is shown
by the following statistics for June 1, 1903, and Dec. 31,
191 1: Number of polos, in 1903 45,059, in 1914 138,282; miles
of wire, in 1903 4244, in 1914 15,080; number of transform-
ers, in I9'i.', 5336, in l:U4 18,656; number of meters, in 1903
16,000, in 1914 110,305; total commercial connected load in
tifty-watt equivalents, in 1903 710,000, in 1914 4,663,338.
The total railway and lighting load for 1903 was 129,614,108
kw-hr. and for 1914 it was 430,818,532 kw-hr.
i enue of subsidiaries (26,924,463
' Iperatlng expenses ami taxes $19,892,708
Amort is - 1,81
21.196.317
Balance $14,728,136
perating income 351,162
income from securities and miscellaneous sources 2.4S4,';44
Total $17,r,)i3.942
Income deductions of subsi - 12.097,109
Income •(•-■tactions :
Interest charges $3,408,332
Amortization of debt discount and expense 223,664
Sinking fund for general mortgage :. per
cent bonds 209,500
3,841,496
Net income $1,625,337
subsidiaries:
Additional amortization of capital
Amortization of ncw-bnsini-ss expendi-
prior to Jan. I, 191] 10
Adjustment of surplus account (ci 103
42,977
Balance $1,582,360
Appropriation accounts ot corporation:
Adjustment of surplus account (credit) 729
Net increase in surplus $1,583,089
Shawinigan Water & Power Report. — The annual report
of the Shawinigan Water & Power Company, Shawinigan
Falls, P. Q., for the year ended Dec. 31, 1914, shows that
the peak load occurred July 3, when 116,000 electric hp and
38,400 hydraulic hp were supplied. The total output for
the year amounted to 431,761,000 kw-hr., an increase of
19.1 per cent over the previous year. The Cedars Rapids
Manufacturing & Power Company's development, which
was undertaken by this company, and the Montreal Light &
Power Company at Cedars Rapids, P. Q., has been put in
operation. Mi. .1. E. Aldred, the president, stated that the
company had a year of unprecedented freedom from inter-
ruptions of operation. The provincial government is now
m a position to call for tenders for the erection of the dam
at Le Loutre Rapids, in connection with the development of
orage reservoir in the headwaters of the St. Maurice.
The completion of this development will open to the Shaw-
inigan company the possibility of extensive enlargement of
its works and capacity. The company's earnings statement
for 1914 follows:
$101,621
18,443
ration $1,5(
$S
: sinking funds
I ■ und
MO.. MM!
Manufacturing and Industrial
The Doty Manufacturing Company, Dayton, Ohio, has
moved into new quarters on Monument Avenue.
The Monolux Sales Company has moved from 105 West
Fortieth Street, New York, to 27 Thames Street, New York.
The C. F. Burgess Laboratories, Madison, Wis., is the
name of the firm formerly known as the Northern Chemical
Engineering Laboratories.
The Sterling Foundry & Machine Company. 50 Hartford
Street, Newark, N. J., is the name of the company formerly
known as the C. J. Hartmann Machine Company.
The General Lead Batteries Company. Chapel Street and
Lister Avenue, Newark, N. J., is the name of the concern
formerly known as the Titan Storage Battery Company of
Newark, N. J.
The S K F Ball Bearing Company. 50 Church Street, New
York, has appointed Mr. Carlton R. Mabley, for the past five
years general manager of the R. I. V. Ball Bearing Com-
pany, to a position in its sales department.
Tool Manufacturers' Prize Contest. — The Smith & Hemen-
way Company, 143 Chambers Street, New York, is offering
prizes to manual-training-school students for designs made
with its "Red Devil" glass cutters. The contest closes
May 31.
Electric Stove Concern Opens Chicago Office. — The Globe
Stove & Range Company of Kokomo, Ind., has opened a
display room and office at 533 First National Bank Building,
Chicago. Mr. M. E. Louth, electrical engineer for the com-
pany, is in charge at the new office.
The Electrical Alloy Company. Morristown, N. J., has
appointed the Maydwell Company, which has offices at 408
Globe Block, Seattle, Wash., 409 Sheldon Building, San
Francisco, Cal., and 822 Central Building, Los Angeles.
Cal., as its Pacific Coast representative.
The Sprague Electric Works of the General Electric
Company. 527 West Thirty-fourth Street, New York, has
recently opened a branch sales office in Cleveland, Ohio. It
will be in charge of Mr. Frank H. Hill, manager, who also
has charge of the Pittsburgh office. The Cleveland office
will be in the Illuminating Building.
Electric-Range Manufacturer Optimistic. — Mr. George A.
Hughes, president of the Hughes Electric Heating Company.
211 West Schiller Street, Chicago, 111., declares that the
business of his company is much better than it was a year
;igo and that he believes that there will be a larger number
of sales this year than there were last year.
The Terry Steam Turbine Company. Hartford. Conn., has
iippointed Mr. A. W. de Revere to take charge of its GW
office, which is in the People's Gas Building. The company
has also opened an office in the Michigan Trust Building.
Grand Rapids. Mich., in charge of Mr. A. L. Searles. who
will take care of sales in the southern peninsula of Michigan
Bergoff Brothers & Waddell. Inc.. 120 Liberty Street, Ni w
York, is a concern which was recently incorporated and
which purposes to engage in investigations, secret inquiries,
dictagraph service, railway checking, etc. Mr. Jams \
Waddell of the above firm was formerly president of the
Wmldi'll & Mahon Corporation, 209 Fifth Avenue, New
York.
Testing Materials. — The Bureau of Standards, Washing-
ton, It. ('., is distributing a book entitled "The Testing of
Materials." It is an eighty-nine-page pamphlet dealing
with such subjects as metals and alloys, cements, clay
products, rubber, leather, lubricating oils and greases,
chemicals, and materials intended for technical use. such as
electrical materials, optical materials, it.-.
Orders lor Electrical Equipment. — Among the orders re-
cently received by the Westinghouse Electric & Manufac-
turing Company, Gael Pittsburgh, I'a.. is the following:
The United Electric Light A Power Company, New York.
■ tie 1000-kva, two phase. 2100-VOlt synchronous cond.
with one 27.5-kw directly connected exciter and compound-
wound 25(1 volt motor, three 2000-kvs and three 500-kva
sir-blasl transformer- of the structural steel type, eleven
I automatic, jinglfl phase induction regulators, and one
twenty-panel switchboard and (witching equipment.
M Wtc li SW, l'.U.»
t L £. I 1 K I i .\ I. UOKI.U
I h.- Betts 1 Betts < ..r|...r.in..n. .' ifty-fifth
■ •. New York, has appointed Mr. Harry A. 5f«
taff. Mr. Yerkes ia an inventor of electrically opi
chimi places. The
above concern is now making variooj type* •■( fhinwHi and
lined a contract for installing a set in one
of New York's prominent restaurants. These chimi
played from an ordinary keyboard, ami the hells can be
led at different points throughout the building.
Hi.- I sons Manufacturing Company, recently mcor-
:' New York ami Ohio, ha- opened
at 1 Hudson Street, New York, ami at 309 South
air Street, Toledo, Ohio. The company will manufac-
ture flashlamp cases, battery lanterns, batteries and minia-
ture lamps, which will be designated as the "Kwik I tte"
line. The Usona company ha^ secured the exclnsivi
- lantei n. Mr. (I v. I , I leen will lie in
charge of the New York office, and Mr. Frank Stout, for
merly with the Bryant Electric Company, will he sales
man.t.
Id,- Sonthwark Foundry & Machine Company, Phila
delphia, Pa., has secured the exclusive rights to manufacture
the Harris valveless engine in the United States, the opera
of the engine being based on the Diesel principle. The
engine will he called the Southwark-Harris valveless engine
and will he built in sizes ranging from 75 hp to 1000 hp for
both marine and stationary service. Mr. Leonard B. Harris,
the inventor of the Harris valveless engine, will he employed
by the above company as consulting engineer and naval
architect. Mr. .1. H. Johnston, who has been connected with
the development of the above engine, will also be associated
with the Southwark company in charge of its oil-engine
department.
MTeatinghouse Agent Jobbers Meet. — The second meeting
of the year of the Westinghouse Agent Jobbers' Association
occurred at the Hotel La Salle. Chicago, March 15 and 16,
preceding the meeting of the Electrical Supply Jobbers'
Association. Mr. N. G. Harvey, of the Illinois Electric
Company, presided, being assisted by Mr. J. J. Gibson, man-
ager of the Westinghouse details and supply department.
East Pittsburgh, Pa., who represented Mr. C. L. Nicholson,
general sales manager of the company and vice-president
of the association, Mr. Nicholson being prevented from at-
tending the conference by illness. More than seventy
agents and jobbers attended the sessions, which were occu-
pied with the discussion of sales and distribution methods
and plans. The Triangle, a house organ which will be is-
sued from time to time by the Westinghouse company for
circulation among its agent jobbers, made its first appear-
ance at the meeting.
Orders for Gas Engines. — The following are some recent
orders for engines made by the Bruce-Macbeth Engine Com-
pany, Cleveland, Ohio: The East Ohio Gas Company, Cleve-
land, Ohio, two 250-hp and one 90-hp gas engine, directly
connected to generators for use in its new office and ex-
hibition building; the Kloss Ice Cream Company, Wheeling,
W. Va., one 90-hp four-cylinder natural-gas engine; the
MeJunkin-Straight Dairy Company, Pittsburgh, Pa., one
150-hp natural-gas engine, including special equipment for
generating steam; the Empire Marble Company, Cleveland,
Ohio, one 90-hp four-cylinder natural-gas engine; the Broad-
way Market Company, Detroit, Mich., one 90-hp four-cylin-
der artificial gas engine; the Magnolia Petroleum Company,
Fort Worth, Tex., one 150-hp natural-gas engine; the
Alhambra Theater, Sandusky, Ohio, one 40-hp natural-gas
'■; the New York Central & Hudson River Railroad
ny, one 200-hp gasoline engine to be used on the
Caltunet River Lift Bridge at South Chicago; the O. Hummel
Company, South Carnegie, Pa., one 70-hp natural-gas engine.
New Government Publications. — The superintendent of
documents, Washington, D. C, announces that he has for
sale at nominal prices the following publications which deal
with electrical topics: Census Bulletin No. 124, entitled
"Electric Lighting"; the Bureau of Standards technologic
paper 18, entitled "Concrete," on electrolysis in concrete;
the Bureau of Standards scientific paper No. 235, entitled
"Decremeter," on direct-reading instrument for measuring
logarithmic decrement and wave-lengths of electromagnet
waves; the Bureau of Standards paper No. 233, entitled
"Electric Transformers," on the watt-hour-meter method of
tasting instrument transformers; the Bureau of Stai
tiflc paper Wo. 238, entitled "Photomi
i.- aquations of tungsten-filament lamps and their
application in hetcroehromatic photometry; the Bureau of
Standards Scientific paper N Voltameter,"
on studies of the silver voltameter. The Bureau of Stand-
ards uj also distributing free of charge a sixty-eigh'
pamphlet entitle,! Weight and Measure — Defini-
of Tables of Equivalei I
Western Electric Sales Managers' Convent ion.— An all-
Week conference of the district managers, sales managers
the general officers of 1 1 Company
ild at the Ci [arch 15 to :io.
day and Friday being given over to joint sessions with
the Electrical Supply Jobbers' Association. The Western
Electric meetings were in charge of Mr. Gerard Swope, viee-
ind general sales manager. About sixty men,
all the thirty district offices of the company.
in attendance. On Friday afternoon the Hawthorne
works of the company were visited in company with the
jobbers, and in the evening a banquet was held at the Black-
Hotel. Mr. E. W. Rockefellow, assistant general
sales manager of the company, expressed the general feel-
ing manifested by the members of the conference that busi-
ness conditions in the field are generally improving, and
declared his own optimism as to the outlook for the coming
months of 1915. The sales conference of this week was the
first held by the Western Electric Company in four years,
the last general assembly of the kind having occurred at
Atlantic City in 1911, although a meeting of part of the
staff was held at Hot Springs last year.
Market for Electrical Supplies in Greece. — According to
Consul John E. Kehl, stationed at Saloniki, Greece, there is
a steady increase in the employment of modern methods of
Hghting shops, cafes, hotels and some of the newer resi-
dences, having electrical installations, at Saloniki, and a
slight gain is evident in the use of electric bells and private
telephones. The European war has brought all local con-
struction work to a standstill, the consul states, and until
more normal conditions prevail there will be little oppor-
tunity for large sales of electrical materials in this district.
This state of affairs, however, should not deter American
manufacturers, he asserts, from taking an immediate inter-
est in this market and in bringing their products to the
attention of the prospective buyers. Mr. Kehl declares that
there will be a demand for telephones and all construction
materials, wire and cables, arc lamps, incandescent lamps,
ceiling, wall and stand fixtures of inexpensive material,
wiring supplies, bell systems, annunciators and novelties
designed for direct current and 220 volts or less. Hereto-
fore the local dealers in electrical supplies have imported
their goods from Germany, Belgium and Austria-Hungary.
No special electrical apparatus is in demand at Saloniki,
but some dealers have expressed a desire to place upon the
market various types of novelties, such as electric curling
irons, toasters, hot-plates and sadirons.
NEW YORK METAL MARKET PRICES
March 9 — — March 16 ,
s.-iiim; Prices Selling Prices
Bid Asked Bill Asked
I'opper £ s d £ s d
London, .standard spot* 64 7 6 66 0 0
Prime Lake L4.80 14.85 to 15.00
Electrolytic 14.66 14.70 to 14.90
ig i 1.25 1 4.1 ^ i ., ti. i
Copper wire base 15. S71-. 15.87%
Lead 1.96 I. Ill
Nickel 42.00 to 45.011 12.00 to 46.00
Sheet line, f.o.b. smelter 18.50 13.50
Spelter, spot ll.OOt
Straits tin 18.501
Aluminum, us to 99 per cent . - . 19.00 to 19.26 19 00
•OLD METALS
Heavj coppei and wire 18.00 13.00
beavj 9.00 9.00
' hL'iir 7.75 7.75
3. 65
Zinc, scrap s.oo 7.7:.
COPPER EXPORTS*
Total tons to March 16 16,639
•From daily tr il n the New York Metal ESxcl
tNominai.
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No.. 12
New Incorporations
The Bethel Township Electric Company, of Bethel, Pa.,
has been incorporated with a capital stock of $5,000. Henry
C. Lucas, of Philadelphia, Pa., is treasurer.
The Concord Township Electric Company, of Concord, Pa.,
has been granted a charter with a capital stock of $5,000.
Henry C. Lucas, of Philadelphia, Pa., is treasurer.
The Edgemont Township Electric Company, of Edgemont,
Pa., has been incorporated with a capital stock of $5,000.
Henry C. Lucas, of Philadelphia, Pa., is treasurer.
The Birmingham Township Electric Company, of Birming-
ham, Pa., has been granted a charter with a capital stock
of $5,000. Henry C. Lucas, of Philadelphia, Pa., is treas-
urer.
The Thornbury Township Electric Company, of Thorn-
bury, Pa. (R. F. D., West Chester), has been granted a
charter with a capital stock of $5,000. Henry C. Lucas, of
Philadelphia, Pa., is treasurer.
The Oswego Lake Water, Light & Power Company, of
Oswego, Ore., has been incorporated with a capital stock of
$5,000 to install an electric-light plant in Oswego. A. S.
Patullo is interested in the company.
The East Earl Electric Light & Power Company, of East
Earl, Pa., has been granted a charter to furnish electricity
in the township of East Earl. The company is capitalized
at $5,000, and the incorporators are George L. Nies, William
Sweigart and D. S. Martin.
The Caernarvon Electric Company, of Caernarvon, Pa.
(not a post office), has been incorporated with a capital
stock of $5,000 to supply electricity for lamps and motors
in the township of Caernarvon. The directors are D. S.
Martin, treasurer; William Sweigart and George L. Nies.
New Industrial Companies
The Beacon Electrical Engineering & Construction Com-
pany, of Buffalo, N. Y., has been incorporated with a capital
stock of $10,000 by George E. Hipp, George E. Butler and
John E. Hoffman, of Buffalo, N. Y.
Light & Power Supplies, Incorporated, of New York,
N. Y., has filed articles of incorporation with a capital stock
of $3,600. The incorporators are Sanford Smith, Samuel J.
Miller, Raymond W. Bristol and others.
The C. S. Wilmot Company, of Haddon Heights, N. J.,
has been incorporated with a capital stock of $25,000 to do
a general heating, plumbing and electrical business. C. S.
Wilmot, of Haddon Heights, is the incorporator.
The Transit Equipment Company, of New York, N. Y.,
has been incorporated with a capital stock of $5,000 to deal
in railway rolling stock, dynamos, pumps, etc. The incor-
porators are Frank B. Massey and Ernest F. Roehm, 1392
Boston Road, the Bronx, New York, N. Y.
The Novo Manufacturing Company, of New York, N. Y.,
has been chartered with a capital stock of $50,000 to manu-
facture and deal in electric batteries, novelties, etc. The in-
corporators are A. C. Robertson, J. H. Gerathy and E. T.
Maharin, 49 Morton Street, New York, N. Y.
The General Lighting Fixture Company, of New York,
N. Y., has been chartered with a capital stock of $5,000 to
deal in lighting, heating and ventilating fixtures, etc. The
incorporators are David Mitchel G. Lubow and
[gidor P. Heller, 866 Manida Street, the Bronx, New
York, N. Y.
Death & Company, of New York, N. Y., have filed articles
of Incorporation with a capital stock of $r>0,000 for the pur-
>i doing a general electrical-contracting business and
dealing in lamps, machinery ami appliances. The incor-
poraton ere Victor Steinfleld, Eugene .1. Deuth and B.
Herman, L31 Gael Fifty-fifth Street, New fork, V "i .
I in- Hotome Electric Company, of New York, N. Y.,
'•en chartered by Christopher A. Shea, Richard D.
•if ami Edwin T. Vanderpoel, 60 Broadway, New York,
X. V. The company is capitalized at | Ion nun :ln,| ,,,,,| ,
to do a general electrical contracting work ami deal in
Trade Publications
Mica. — The A. O. Schoonmaker Company, 88 Park Place,
New York, has issued a booklet which contains price lists
on various kinds of mica.
Lightning Arrester. — The Railway & Industrial Engineer-
ing Company, Pittsburgh, Pa., is sending out a leaflet which
describes the Burke suspension-type lightning arrester.
Battery-Element Puller. — The Commercial Truck Com-
pany of America, Philadelphia, Pa., is sending out a folder
which describes and illustrates its battery-element puller.
Heating Devices. — The American Electrical Heater Com-
pany has recently prepared two illustrated folders which
contain information on a number of heating appliances.
Horse-Driven Generator. — The Electric Horsepower Com-
pany, 906 Elm Street, Cincinnati, Ohio, is sending out a
folder which describes its horse-operated electric generator.
Portable Adjustable Lamp. — The Aladdin Lamp Corpora-
tion, 111 Broadway, New York, is distributing an illustrated
booklet which describes its portable adjustable electric lamp.
Electric Fly Catcher. — The Vogel Products Manufactur-
ing Company, 1616 Chestnut Street, St. Louis, Mo., is send-
ing out folders which describe its electrically operated fly
catchers.
Motor for Operating Rowboats. — Bulletin No. 300 pub-
lished by the Jewel Electric Company, Chicago, 111., de-
scribes and illustrates a small detachable motor for operat-
ing rowboats.
Steel Conduit. — The Sprague Electric Works of the Gen-
eral Electric Company, New York, is sending out a booklet
entitled "Greenfielduct," which describes its hot-galvanized
steel conduit.
Two-Motor Concentric-Gear Drive Trucks. — Bulletin No.
10 issued by the Commercial Truck Company of America,
Philadelphia, Pa., describes a 0.5-ton, two-motor concentric-
gear-drive truck.
Vibration Galvanometer. — The Leeds & Northrup Com-
pany, 4901 Stenton Avenue, Philadelphia, Pa., has pub-
lished Bulletin No. 235, which describes and illustrates its
vibration galvanometer.
Electrically Operated Fans.— Booklet No. B-3330 issued
by the Sprague Electric Works of the General Electric
Company, New York, lists a number of direct-current and
alternating-current fans.
Pole-Line Hardware. — Catalog Section ES 846, pub-
lished by the Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing
Company, East Pittsburgh, Pa., lists various types of ac-
cessories for transmission lines.
General Supply Catalog. — The Wesco Supply Company.
St. Louis, Mo., has prepared a general supply catalog, desig-
nated as No. 200, and Catalog No. 210, which contains infor-
mation on automobile accessories.
Resistance Wire and Ribbon. — The Electrical Alloy Com-
pany, Morristown, N. J., is sending out folders which con-
tain price lists of its "Talido" and "Phenix" wire and its
"Ideal" ribbon and German-silver wire.
Electric Trucks. — The General Motors Truck Company.
Pontiac. Mich., has issued an attractively illustrated catalog
entitled "Municipal Progress." which describes electrically
operated trucks for sprinkling and for carrying garbage.
and electric patrol wagons, ambulances, etc.
Flashlamps. — The Usona Manufacturing Company, 1
Hudson Street, New York, has issued an attractively illus-
trated thirty-one-page catalog which describes a number
of battery-operated lamps called the "Kwik-lite" products.
A lantern formerly made by the Beers Sales Company of
Bridgeport, Conn., which the above concern has absorbed.
is included in these products.
Electric Apparatus. — The British Thomson-Houston torn
pany, ltd.. Rugby, England, has pr< iilleth) desig-
nated as Descriptive List No. 2216, which describi
type DR duct cm n lit generators; Price List No. 2266,
which contains information on its type DR direct-current
motor; Price List No. 4603, which contains information on
its lightning arresters for alternating-current circuits, and
rue- ii t \o 6.801, winch describes and illustrates its alter-
nal inir-ciirrent brake magnets,
Mak.ii SO, 1916
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Construction News
New England
PORTLAND, MAIM: Bids will be re-
rtmeni, Washington,
D C u
Including lighting
flxturtu and gi
i State!
itlon at Portland, Maine,
rom the
I hi ,,t the quarantine station.
WINDSOR, VT.— The Windsor 1:1 Lt
place contrai I
Hid purifier, and ]
turbine-driven • tclter
pump The compai
■
Allla-Chalmcrs three-phaa< .
i ,u-h|j Heine
. iking tr.ius has i
,!si, complete new Bteara-plpe sys-
tlchard P. ' '>good Is superintendent
BRI "'KTi >N, MASS. — The Edison El. lllg.
Co, of Hrockton, Is contemplating buililing a
substation In the northern part of the city
acting two transmission lines from
Brockton to North Easton.
GREENFIELD, MASS.— The
herat Pwr. Co. has been changed
to the Turners Falls Pwr. ><i El. Co.
George W. Lawrence is general manager.
\l UU.HOItO, MASS- -The Marlboro El.
Co. Is planning to extend its transmission
line on the Boston Road, a distance of about
NORTH ATTLEBORO. MASS. — The town
officials are considering extending the street
and commercial lighting districts.
WEBSTER, MASS. — The proposal to in-
stall an ornamental street-lighting system
in Webster will be submitted to the voters
at the next annual town meeting. The
plans provide for the erection of 31 lu-
minous-arc lamps In the business district.
PROVIDENCE, R. I. — Bids will be re-
ceived at the oltice of the Board of Contract
ami Supply, City Hall, Providence, until
March 22 for electric wiring and electric
fixtures for the new addition to the City
Hall building. Specifications may be ob-
tained at the office of the public service en-
gineer, City Hall. Joseph H. Gainer is
Mayor.
DANBURY, CONN. — The Danbury &
Bethel Gaa & El. Lt. Co. is planning to ex-
tend Its transmission line from its present
terminus at Beaver Brook Chapel to the
plant of the Stearns Lime Co., near Brook-
field, a distance of 2 miles, to furnish
energy to operate the lime plant. The
company will also furnish electrical service
to residents along the line.
NEW HAVEN, CONN. — Bids will be re-
ceived at the office of the city engineer, No.
17. City Hall, New Haven. Conn., until
March 26 for installing electrical equipment
and machinery for operating the gates of
aapel Street drawbridge electrical^
Blank forms of proposal, specifications, etc.,
can be obtained upon application to the
above office. F. L. Ford is city engineer.
Middle Atlantic
DELHI, N. v — Hirls will be received by
William H. Maynard, president of the
'.f control, State School of Agri-
culture and Domestic 'he office
of the county clerk, Delhi, N. Y., until
■;, for construction, heating, plumb-
ing, drainage ami electric work for dairy
building for the State School o!
I Domestic Science at Delhi. Draw-
ings ami specifications may 1..- obtained
at Ha- Department of Architecture, Capi-
tol. Albany, upon deposit of $10 for each
set of plans, to be refunded upon return of
same.
VRGEVTLLE, N. T. — The local elec-
tric-light plant, owned by Clinton Gillette,
was recently destroyed by fire, causing a
ibout $3,000. The town is at present
without electrical service.
NEWARK, N. V, Plans are being con-
lor extensions to the street-lighting
system, for which an appropriation of
$15,000 has been made.
NEW FORK, N. Y— Bids will be re-
celved at the Bureau of Yards and Docks,
Navy Department, Washington, i> C, un-
til April 24 for remodeling the fire-alarm
system at tin- navy yard, New York.
Specifications may be obtained on applica-
tion to the bureau or to the comm lant
of the navy yard named.
NE7W YORK, N. Y- Rids will be re-
eeive.l by William Williams, comm
oi water supply, gas and electricity. ii
Municipal Building. New York, until March
LT,, lor the tollowmg su| ;
! lacing, be
ink forms of
. Including specifications, may be
obtained at lh,
NEW fORK, N. Y— Bids will be re-
oeived bj William Williams, comm
ot water supply, gas ami electrlcil
Municipal Building, New York, until .March
24. for furnishing nine I'j-tuii motor
trucks with bodies ami other appurti
complete. Blank forms ot pioposals and
contract. Including specifications, may be
obta i at the above office
PAWLING, N, Y. I 'reparations are be-
ing mad.- by Ralph A. Grilling, who was
recently granted a franchise to install and
in electric-lighting plant in Pawl-
ing. Electricity for operating the system
will be obtained from the plant of the
Housatonic Pwr. Co. at Bull's Bridge, Conn.
The plans provide for the erection of a
11,000-volt transmission line from Bull's
Bridge to Pawling, 10 miles long; also a
i ne from I'awling to Quaker Hill.
WATERVLD3T, N. Y. — The City Council
is considering the advisability of abandon-
ing the municipal electric-light plant and
entering into a contract with the Adiron-
dack El. Pwr. Corpn., of Glens Falls, for
lighting the streets of the city.
I.SHI.UG, N, Y— The Public Serv-
ice Commission lias granted the Elmlra
Transmission Corpn.. of Klmira, permission
to exercise a Iran, lose given the company
to supply electricity in Wellsburg.
WELLSVILLE. N. Y.— The Wellsville El.
Lt., Ht. & Pwr. Co., it is reported, has ac-
cepted the offer of the village to purchase
its plant. The lighting system will be re-
modeled after plans prepared by H. B.
Sweet, of Utica, consulting engineer.
WEST W INFIELD, N. Y.— The Public
Service Commission has approved the fran-
chises granted by the village of West Win-
field to Charles Q. and Lewis B. Senif (co-
partners) to supply electricity here.
WHITNEY POINT, N. Y. — Within the
next three months the Union El. Co., of
Whitney Point, expects to purchase gen-
erator, waterwheel and waterwheel gov-
ernor. D. O'Donnell is president.
ALLENTOWN. PA. — The City Council, it
is understood, will soon ask for bids for an
electrically operated pump of about 5,000,-
000-gal. capacity for the water-works sys-
tem. Electricity for operating the pumping
station will be supplied by the Lehigh Val-
ley Lt. & Pwr. Co., of Allentown. Charles
Blazer is engineer of the Water Department.
BROWNSVILLE, PA. — Surveys, it is re-
ported, are being made for the H. C. Frick
Coke Co. with a view of securing options on
power sites along the Monongahela River.
A power plant, it is understood, will be
erected with sufficient output to supply
electricity to the numerous plants owned
and operated by the H. C. Frick Coke Co.
EASTON, PA. — A large seven-story-and-
basement department-store building will
be erected by William Laubach & Sons, Inc.,
in Easton. The plans, it is said, provide
for an extensive electrical equipment.
EBENSBURG, PA. — The Penn Central
Lt. & Pwr. Co., of Ebensburg, has decided
to make improvement to its system, involv-
ing a large expenditure of money. The
company supplies electrical service from
Lewistown on the east to Twin Rocks, Cam-
bria County, on the west, and Kinport,
Clearfield County, on the northwest.
EVERETT. PA. — A movement has been
started by the citizens of Everett for the
installation of a municipal electric-light
plant. The Everett Lt., lit. & Pwr. Co. fur-
nishes electrical service in this town.
ORRISTOWN, PA. The Counties Gas
,V El. Co., of Norristown, is contemplating
Mm hi i. illation of a 2500-kw turbo-genera-
tor set, condenser, pumps and auxiliary
equipment. BOO-hp boiler, new smokestack
i in ail. i, i essary piping, etc. The com-
pany is erecting IS miles of 13,000-volt
transmission Line and will also make ex-
tensions to its distributing system.
PITTSBl'Riill, PA. Kids will be re-
ceived :il the Initial States Knginecr Oltice,
Pittsburgh, Pa., until April '■'• tor furnish
Ing engines ami eleCtrlC-llght plains, etc..
for maneuver boats at dams Nos. 10 and
29, Ohio River, Further Information mat
l btained upon application to Harold C.
captt inglneers.
PITTSBUKOIf, PA. Bids will be re-
i elved at the United states Engl ir I Iffli • .
Pittsburgh, I 'a., until April , In.
tion of a fireproof power station, furnish-
ing and installing one ll.'.-hji boiler, one
lii-hp boiler, one steam driven air com-
pressor and two air receivers, plj and
rid furnishing one t>
heater and one service-water pump at dam
No. 10, Ohio River. Further information
765
..,!■ i„- obtained upon application to Harold
■
READING, PA.— The City Council has
ntract for street-lighting to
a El. Co., of Reading, for a
period ot I i be terms of
the contract thi - to place all
Park under
• l CONNELL8VILLE, PA. — The
in EL Co., oi Pittsburgh, is con-
templating extending its lighting service to
South Connellsville.
PHILLIPSBURG, N. J.— The installation
. t-llghting S3
net. consisting of about i7
ration by the
mlsslonera The cost is estimated
at about $7,500.
WILMINGTON, DEL.— The Board of
•,er Directors has awarded
the contract for lighting the streets of the
city to the Wilmington & Philadelphia Trac.
Co., of Wilmington, for a period of five
years.
BALTIMORE, MD.— Plans have been
c pleted by Charles L. Reeder, consulting
engineer, for improvements and additions to
Bt and laundry of the He-
brew Hospital. The improvements will
include an addition to power house, installa-
tion of new boilers, engines and electrical
equipment, laundry machinery, etc.
BALTIMORE, Ml'.— The proposed ad-
dition to the municipal electric-light plant,
which is installed in the high-pressure
pumping station on South Street, will con-
sist of one SOO-kw turbo-generating unit,
three-wire type, bids for which have al-
,, ,,i. been received. In connection with
furnishing and installing the new unit the
specifications call tor an independent ex-
haust line, the removing of the 12a-kw
turbo-generators, which are at present in-
stalled in the basement, to the first floor,
alongside of the new outfit : also moving
the switchboard from the basement to the
first floor and connecting it with the new
board. Bids have not yet been awarded.
Lester L. Kingsbury is chief electrical in-
spector.
JEFFERSON, MD. — The Hagerstown &
Frederick Rv. Co., of Hagerstown, it is
reported, is considering extending its elec-
tric-lighting system to Jefferson.
WASHINGTON, D. C. — Bids will be re-
ceived at the office of the purchasing agent,
Post Office Department. Washington, D. C„
until March 22 for furnishing and install-
ing a fire-alarm gong system in the Post
Office Department annex building. lor
further information address J. A_ Edger-
ton, purchasing agent.
WASHINGTON, D. C— Bids will be re-
ceived at the Bureau of Supplies and Ac-
counts. Naw Department, Washington,
D C until March 30 for furnishing at the
various naw yards and naval stations sup-
plies as follows : Boston, Brooklyn, Norfolk
and Charleston, Schedule 8026—40 steel-
plate fans and convertible blowers. Nor'
folk Va Schedule 8037 — 1000 lb. hydraulic
leather ; Schedule S039 — 1000 lb. ingot alu-
minum : Schedule S043 — miscellaneous seam-
less drawn-brass pipe, 1100 lb. seamless
drawn-copper pipe, Key West, Fla., Sched-
ule 8027 — taking down of miscellaneous
radio masts. Brooklyn, N. Y„ Schedule 8044
— eight simplex feed pumps ; Schedule S043—
miscellaneous seamless drawn-copper tub-
ing. 1470 composition unions. Washington,
D C, Schedule S031 — 300 self-locking
grease cups. Newport, R. I., Schedule 8032
— 600 lb. soft sheet copper, 500 lb. phosphor-
bronze tubing, miscellaneous annealed cop-
per tubing. Boston, Mass., Schedule 8043 —
4 000 lb. tubing for condenser ferrules. Bids
will be received at the same place until
April 6 as follows: Mare Island, Cal.,
Schedule 8020— for two 26-kW turbo-gener-
ators . Schedule Sill!) — one vertical simplex
pump. Brooklyn, N. Y., Schedule 8028 — for
six 2-kw radio sets. Philadelphia, Pa.,
Schedule S030 — miscellaneous tool carbon
steel and tungsten tool steel. Schedule
8064 I- circuit-breakers, 12 double-pole
switches, miscellaneous voltmeters, amme-
ters, frequency meters and wattmeters.
Brooklyn, N. Y.. Schedule S060 — 1500 ft.
three-cable conductor, miscellaneous three-
wire c luctor ; Schedule S064 — miscella-
neous 1 -lip drum-type motors; Schedule
S074 — miscellaneous copper bar: Schedule
S075 — miscellaneous seamless drawn-brass
pipe; Schedule 8062 — 12,000 lb. sheathing
, ,.,,i.ci Washington. D. C, Schedule 8061 —
one ' i-hp shunt-wound motor. Brooklyn,
N, Y . and Norfolk. Va., 8074 — miscellane-
ous brass bar Portsmouth, N. H., Schedule
sii,i 8000 lb. sheet-copper braziers. Bos-
ton. Mass., Schedule 8075 — miscellaneous
seamless draw ti copper pipe and 57,500 lb.
admlralt] mixture condenser tubes. Bids
will also be received until April 13 at the
same place for the following supplies:
a. N. V., and Charleston, S. C,
Schedule 8067 — miscellaneous conduit steel
ami miscellaneous fuse wire. Charleston,
S. Ci Schedule 8067 — 10 annunciators.
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 12
water-tight type and miscellaneous rosin-
cored solder wire. Puget Sound, Wash.,
Schedule 8077 — miscellaneous sheathing
copper; Schedule B078 misci
■ n brass pipe. Hare I •■'• I, I !al.,
8067 miscellaneous globes and
hade holders, miscellaneous
■ wire. Brooklyn, N. Y.. Schedule
sii-llaneous ammeters and volt-
meters, miscellaneous materia] tor switch-
Kast and West, Schedule
8067 — miscellaneous vibrating bells and
push buttons, I ed and graj sheet
fiber, ■!.. Irani linings, glass tube fuses,
pe fuses, portable
guards (N. W. T. ). miscellaneous electric
tiat nous, pressed-plate mica, hard sheet
rubber, miscellaneous portable ventilating
i>t, Schedule *067 — miscellaneous
bard-rubber bushings, interior fittings, elect-
trie Soldering irons, lamp sockets, single
and three-pole switches, electric, etc., linen
tape. Philadelphia, Pa., ami .Norfolk, Va.,
Schedule .S0S7 — miscellaneous renewable
[uses Charleston, s. c. Philadelphia.
Pa . Schedule 8067— miscellaneous terminal
tubes. Boston, Mass., and Mare Island.
Cal., Schedule 8067— miscellaneous magnet
wire. Bids will also be received until April
follows: Pensacola, Fin.. Schedule
■ dirigible, vedette type, i
with power-plant equipment and outfit
Puget Sound. Wash . Schedule 8066 — one
nrlok hoist applica-
tions for proposals should give the schedule
desired by number.
North Central
ALPENA, MICH.. — Preparations are
being made for extensions to the orna-
mental street-lighting system. The pres-
ent plans provide for the erection of 75
lamp standards, and for 400-cp series Maz-
da lamps, to be maintained by underground
wires, and to cost approximated -:.■• ".:.
Contracts for the works have not vet been
award, -.1. Frank Blaske is chairman of
lighting nd A. c. Calkins su-
perintendent of the municipal electric-light
plant.
BELDTJNG, Mil 'II- Within the next
three months the Citizens' Lt. Co., of Beld-
ing. expects to purohn ■ id of cedar
poles. M. A. Reed is secretary.
FLINT, MICH.— Bids will be received by
A. J. Wildanger, secretary of the Union
School District, Flint, Mich., until April 1.
i ruction of the new Fairview school
building, separate bids to be submitted as
follows: II) Heating ami ventilating: (2)
plumbing; (8) electric wiring (4) general
contract, including all work ami material
not included in other- proposals. Plans and
specifications maj be obi • I upon appli
cation to Malronison & Higi.-ml.ot ham. 104
Moffatt Building, Detroit, or to A. J wii
danger, secretary, Flint, upon payment oi
flu, to be refunded upon return of same
GREENVILLE MICH.— Local business
dl ring the Question Of install-
ing an ornamental street-lighting system on
ette street.
HOLLAND, MICH Plans are being
considered bj the Hoard of Public Works
for the construction ol a new power house
(to coal about (25,000) for the municipal
light plant to replace the present
building on Bast Fifth street
CINCINNATI, nHIO.— Application will
to the City Council bv Walter H.
Met- Street, and other
business men for a franchise to operate a
block electric-light plant In the vicinity of
Findlay Market It is proposed to install a
Iven • le. i, |c plant, lor which 160,-
1 has already been subscribed.
CINCINNATI, OHIO The ten-story
office building to be constructed by Val Dut-
tenhofer, Jr., S S. and G H Qotiuey, archl-
equtpped
with a vacuum cleanei system, tour electric
■ ami other equipment
Involvln ppllam • a The Roche-
Bruner Building Co.,
CLEM i:i. \s no Bide win be re-
ceived al tl (flee Of the commissioner of
and supplies. Room 611, Clt)
Hall. Cleveland, until March 26, foi
■•i the muni light de-
partment
of the • ommlssloner
Of light and heal dl- .| Third
\ i: i 'allow is commit
ppllaa,
i n, .
ill, City
i \piil I. tor the eon
nth Street
I
vision, 1443 Fast Third Street. A. R.
Callow is commissioner of purchases ami
supplies.
MANSFIELD, OHIO.- Plans are being
prepared for the installation of a new
street-lighting system in Manstleld, to cost
about 660,000. The plans provide for 226
ornamental lamps in the business district.
H. Wnitford janes, citizens' Building,
Cleveland, is engineer.
MILFORXJ CENTER, OHIO Within the
next three months the Union l.t. .y: Wtr.
Co. expects to purchase 60 meters, one
5-kW transformer and one Hi-hp alternat-
ing-current motor. M li, Dea is manager.
NAPOLEON, OHIO. Within the next
three months the Board of Trustees expects
to purchase one 600-tcw steam-driven gen-
erating unit (type not yet decided upon)
and ornamental (post) lighting system for
the business section of the City; also to
install a water purihea t ion and filtration
plant of approximate!! 2,iiiu>,liliii-gal. ca-
R I! Ii a. \\ low Sen ice a ml high-
Service pumps. William G. Clark, of To
tieer for tip ra 1 1011 plant 1 >. A
Hull is superintendent of municipal elec-
tril light plant and water-works s
.VnllTII BALTIMORE, OHIO. — The
North Baltimore Servici < o i pectstoerect
within the next three months a 2.100-volt.
60-cycle transmission ime between North
Baltimore and Hoytvill., a distance of 6
miles: also to install a distributing sys-
tem and street-lighting circuit in Hoyt-
\ille.
l'KFBLES, OHIO. — Plans are being con-
sidered fi.r the installation of a municipal
electric-lighting plant in Peebles, for which
$11,500 in bonds have been Issued.
^ARLINGTON, KY. — The St. Bernard
Mining Co., of Eiarlington, exi be to pur-
chase material for distribution ami light-
ing system and some electrical appliances
and supplies to imet regular requirements.
Frank D. Rash is vice-president and gen-
eral manager.
EMMA KV The Floyd .Mining Co.. of
ICmrna, will erect a small electric plant in
W Is, near Kninia. with sufficient output
to maintain eight or ten street lamps and
to operate the machinery in the mines. The
equipment will consist of a small boiler,
engine, generator ami switchboard for
same : about linn) ft. of wire will be re-
quired. Henry l.. Coe is manager.
KKAXKFORT, KY.— The City Council is
considering the question of establishing a
municipal electric-lighting plant.
NEW HAVEN, KY— Robert A. Green-
well, who has been engaged as manager of
the municipal electric-light plant, will su-
perintend tlie construction of power bouse
anrl installation of machinery.
OWENTON, KY.— Within the next six
months W. K. Arnold, owner of the local
electric-lighting plant, expects to purchase
one oil engine with a rating of about 30 hp.
DIXON, ILL. — The Illinois Northern
Utilities Co.. of Dixon, has decided to erect
a high-tension transmission line from
Marengo to Harvard. When the line is
completed the plant in Harvard will be
closed down. The company is also con-
templating extending the transmission to
Walworth and Pontons during the coming
summer, but has not yet decided definitely.
WATERTOWN, II. I..- Bids will be re
carved by Pie Board ol Administration.
Capitol Building. Springfield. 111., until
March 29 for furnishing one steam boiler
and equipment, including stoker, breeching.
piping, etc, for Hie power plant of the
Water state Hospital, Watertown Speclfl
cations may be obtained upon application
10 in-. .1. A. Campbell, of Watertown, man-
aging officer.
ASHLAND, w is Tin Be mi ol Super-
visors of Ashland County, it is n
has engaged Vaughn, Meyer 8 Sweet, Ma
lestlc Building, Milwaukee. Wis. consult-
ing engineers, lo pi. par. plans and award
contracts for all electrical work and fix-
tures for the new court house now under
construction The COSl ol Ha- building is
estimated at (275,000
pi ,i iRENCE, wis The Floret w .t. r
ami Light Commission expects tO
new Street-lighting circuit during Hi lin-
ing summer i: i: w iicox Is president.
rDSHIP, w is The Friendship
ii 1. 1 a Pwr Co expects io purchase a
one waterwheel governor, fly-
■I licit : also 1 nil poles, tin
formers, six pair of lightning arresters. 19
1 00 ii. n ire. ::iim Incandesri nt
lamps, three washing machines and 26 Hat
irons i I, a is president
GRAFTON, WIS w, thin the noxi six
months the Grafton la . in I Pwr Co.
I ral miles of trans-
Ki o. hal.e
BAT, wis The Wl
Pub s.
volt transmission line from Wrightstown
to Kaukauna, and extension of a 2300-
volt, three-phase transmission line to and
erection of distribution system in Green-
leaf.
HUDSON. WIS.— The Burkhar.lt Milling
& EH. Pwr. Co., of Hudson, expects to erect
within the next three months la miles of
13,200 volt, three-phase, 60-cycle trans-
mission line: also to purchase pole-line
switches and outside substation equipment
and lightning protection ; also to purchase
within th. mxt two months 13,201
volt transformers and 2200 110-220-volt
net's and small 6.6-amp series au-
tomatic street-lighting circuits for
alternating-current service. The company
also expects to purchase within the next
three months electrical .....king apparatus.
etc H. K. Zimmerman is superintendent.
UUSTlFoUD. WIS -Within the next
live or six months the Hustiford Lt, Pwr.
& .Mfg. Co. expects to erect from 4 to 5
miles of transmission line: also to pur-
chase within three or six months seven
or eight transformers, and within the next
12 months one voltage regulator. W H
Kohrschneider is secretary and manager.
.IAXKSVILLE. WIS— The Janesville El.
Co. expects to rebuild its power house at
Indian Ford. destro> ed by Bl
at once . ..Is., i
volt generator. P, II. Korst is secretary.
JEFFERSON, WIS The electric Light
and Water Commissioners expect to pur-
chase within the next four months one or
more electricalh driven pumps and a new-
switchboard i 22.. i. volts); also within the
next six months to purchase material for
2 miles of pole line and for an ornamental
street-lighting system for about eight city
blocks. John J. Angel is superintendent.
LOMTRA. WIS. — The l.omira BL Lt. &
Pwr. Co. expects lo .thin the
next six months 1" meters, several wash-
ing machines. Ilatirons and some wiring
supplies, w. j. Watts is secretary.
MEDFORD, WIS— The Medford Lt &
Htg. Co expects to erect within the nexi
six months a new power house and new
equipment with generating capacit:
kva William I'ngrodt is superintendent.
MERRILL, WIS Within the I
months tin- Merrill Ky. A Ltg. I
purchase some steel poles, from .10 ft. to "'>
ft. long. 10. s i.tary.
MKRUII.I.AN. WIS.— The village of
Merrillan expects to purchase within the
next two months poles and cross-arms to
rebuild some of the lin.s of the municipal
electric-lighting plant. W. D. Cook is su-
perintendent.
POYNETTE, WIS The Poynctte El.
Co. lias been grant.. I a franchise to con-
struct and operate an electric-lighting plant
in Poynette. Water rights, it is under-
stood, have been secured for the proposed
plant.
Villi. A. WIS Within the next three
months the Viola Lt. A Pwr Ob., expects
to purchase one 100-kw or IK-feW, three-
phase, 60-cycle, 8300-voll generator directly
connected to waterw
I'HISIIOLM. MINN. — Plans have been
prepared by the Chlsholm ED. Co. for the
construction of a new power plant and
extensions to lis s\st.ni. to cost a bout
660,000.
BIBBING, MINN Hums A M.
consulting engineers, of Kansas City, Mo..
bj the Water and Light Board of
nibbing to mal-e Investigation of the mu-
nicipal electric-light plant and water-
works svstein, have recommended improve-
ments thai will cost from $100.tuin to
PELICAN RAPIDS, MINN —Within the
next l.w months the managers of the mu-
llghtlng plant expect to pur-
nli.se some eable for U I , . 1 elg TOU lid Service
and possibly some .1 -HP
Stevens is superintendent
TW ' ' HARBl 'PS. MINN— Tl..
Council is considering the question .a ex-
tending the transmission lines of the mu-
nlctpal electric-lighting system to th. west
city limits to BUpplj . i \ a . in
thai vicinity.
\MI'S. I A Pi, Is will be received bv
A. It. Maxwell, ,iu clerk, Anns, until April
.. for lb. i..| \ and has, -
meiit City hall Hiding healing.
plumbing and .1,. in, wiring. S
bids to be submitted (or heating, plumbing
and electric wiling plans and s;
nous m i , it v clerk
bb< , Nourse ,y Rasmussen,
architects, i I ITtlcn Ituildin
la , upon n, xv hich will he re-
funded upon return ol
CENTER JUNCTH IN, 1 \ Tin
ell is reported to be negotiating with the
Iowa River Lt .v Pv BJldora, to
JUnCtlOn lo fin ' service here
Marc h -
I . I . K C 1 IUCAL WORLD
Tltl KM \.\. l.\ Th4 'i hurraan El Co.,
Thurmun l.i ^
Pwr Co II
N- <\ INGER, .M< • Within tli. i,
ill.- Merchants' Ll .v Pw
build .i mw boiler
• I to pin. -ti.tr..- one i VD hp boiler.
J t- I ■
->A. M«J The Board ..f Public
including
\ .it mini el, in
J t; Light-
gent.
MO The l.i a Uevel Co.,
t.. purchase within
■ two months oik ....-]i|, oil engine
- IX1E. Mi i Tli- Sar oxl. El Lt. &
. I li i ii the
n months I- ins and
ll S Kt-> nobis Is set i . t.u \ and
TSVILLE. Mil Plans are being
le Oarage Co.
Imitallation .1! a ~m.ill
■it t.i mi|i|ili .1.. in. in in Stouts-
itlNOS. m<i
irchuHe within
ku in- l.'.-kw,
illeruating-curreut
municipal electric-lighting plant.
.1 J Smith is superintendent.
U INFIELD, Mm Negotiations are un-
witli a view of making arrange-
■ have the tow ns of \\ mil. 1,1, Foley
and < >ld Mom - In connection
wuli the construction of an electric-light-
ing plant an. I ice factorj to supply service
t.i the three towns it is underati
' lerate the system will I b
from the North Missouri l.i & Pwr
Mew London.
BELFIELD, N. D The Beach EL Co.,
has applied to the Village i loun-
til fur a franchise t.. construct and
■ Ic-llght system m Belfleld.
OLDHAM. S. I> Within the next six
months the Hoard of Trust.
• -volt. 225-amp-hr. chloride
itor or storage battery also
within the next three months to purchase
era. C. G Engstrom is
manager
LR, NEB. — Bonds to the amount of
$13 oted for the installation
of a municipal electric-light plant. V. S.
Hoilist.-r. ..i Lincoln, Neb., is engineer in
SEWARD, NEB. Within the next six
months the Hlue River Power Co., of
Beward purchase waterwheels,
or, transformers and other station
apparatus. Burdette Boyes is secretary.
STANTON, NEB Within the next two
months the city of Stanton expects to pur-
le I"ii-hp boiler and a 50 hi
angina to .any the light load. The cits
■Jao has for sale or exchange a 100-hp
Fairbanks-Morse producer-gas outfit (in
ondltlon). John Schindler is n it< r
and light commissioner.
MOUND CITY, KAN.— The insti
utlclpal electric-light plant in Mound
<"ity is under consideration.
OSAWATOMIE, K.\.\ New equipmenl
will be Installed in the municipal electric-
light and water-works plant, consisting of
trlfugal pumps, on,, ir.ii-hp hoiler,
hp engine and one 100-kw alter-
nating-current generator; one 150,000-gal
i will be bulll and I 2,1 ft.
of l-ln. n-iii , B-In. and i » In. wati
will be laid Bids for the above work were
March 16. Worlej £
' '.I-. . M.. . are thi engineers. B L
I'n.r is suiierintendent.
Southern States
U W'l'. IN, N C. Th.- Carolina EL Co .
power house at
Whit, vili.- Equipmenl for the pi mi md
transmission line has been purchased.
m C McNalr Is president.
ORANGEBURG, S. C. Th. Citj Council
130,000 In bonds for
Improvements to the electric-lighting plant
and water-works aj sti m
WESTMINSTER, 8. C Bonds to the
have i ai rized by
1 ■■ ■ ' ■ lounc r ih.- fnstallatlo o
clpa! ■ i. - 1 1 1- light i -
WINN8BORO, S C Bids will be re-
i McCrary Co . engineers,
,t the office of T v Moon , clerl ol lolnl
v, Innsboro, N C, until
March 28, for furnishing all mati i
in i. inn. it for water-works and -
systems and Improvements to electrli light
boiler, •
I
inniute centrifugal pump and
.trltugal
pumps . a trans-
gal, lank ol
:...t. i . om So hp
,i, b) i-in bj i.-in. feed
pump, and in on pipe,
Cite ValV. ■ ■ l pipe, man-
Speclflcatli obtained
at th I -... Third
National Hank Building. Atlanta. ' la.
jekkeksi >n. QA.— Bids will be re-
ceived by the son until April
19 for hydraulic and mechanical equip-
menl and appui
r.u-hp gaeollne engine, one 87%-kw, three-
phase. 60 cj cli i belted i. one
switchboard pane? and appurtenano
360-gal -per-mlnute, motor driven centrifu-
gal pump under 50-ft head, om
.-.- centrifugal pumpi
head. Th.- Solomon-Nort i .,-- - Co., • - 1,1
lanta, has charge of th. engineer!!
J. N. Hidden IS M
N :asii\ II. I.E. TEN.V— The City Council
tallation of new boil-
ers in the municipal electric-light plant, to
ut S40,oon. \V. W. Southgate is
city engl
LONOKE, ARE The Citj Council has
ntract ke U i
Co.
nig system in I ■
\i-.i:i:\ i l.i E, LA. Plans are being
red for the Lnstallati I an orna-
mental street lighting system. .
from the Place Madeleine to the Court
i ion.-. Square. Ornamental standards carry-
ing live-lamp clusters will he erected.
WHITE CASTLE, LA.— The City Coun-
cil is considering the question of Installing
a municipal electric-light plant In White
Castle,
JENNINGS, OKI. A. — Plans an
considered bj the Oil Belt Terminal R R.
i'o. oi Jennings, for the construction of
a hydroelectric power plant on Lagoon
Creek, about midwa] between Oilton and
Jennings.
LAWTON, OKLA Th.- Comanche Lt. &
. ... of LaWtOn, has applied for a 25-
nehise to supply electricity in this
city.
WALTER, OKLA. The town ol Walter
lias abandoned the proposal to install a
muni, ipal electric plant and is negotiating
With the Comanche Lt. & Pwr. Co., of Law-
ton, to furnish electrical service here.
WOODVILLE, OKLA.— The City Coun-
.-ii is contemplating submitting the pro-
posal in establish a municipal electric-
lighting system in Woodville to the voters.
STALE, OKLA — The contract for con-
struction of the municipal electric-light
plan! in. I extensions to water-works sys-
tem has been awarded to the Reinhart-
Donovan Co., of Oklahoma City. The
equipment will consist of one 75-hp engine,
.me 50-kvs. generator, a 2f,-hp motor, one
centrifugal pump of 360,0O0-gal. capacity,
one filter, pipe and pole lines, and street-
lighting system, consisting of 2S lamps,
ami service lines.
AUSTIN, TEX. A bill has been intro-
duced Into the State Legislature providing
tor an expenditure of about ?:!.10,000 for
renovating and rehabilitating the interior
ol Mi.- Slate House. Among the improve-
ments contemplated is the installation of
an .iiiir.lv new beating and electrical
Plant, in. -lulling a new power house. An
Immediate appropriation of $1,800 is asked
in permit the employment of an architect
ami engineer to prepare plans for the pro-
pi ISed I llip|o\ emellls
ANi :i:i.i i, TEX. - - Extensive
m- being made to the auxiliary
t oi the San Angelo Wtr., Lt. &
Pwr. Co., which will require several months
to complete. Ralph J. Irvini li ieni ra I
VINTON, TEX Plans, il is reported,
are being prepared bj the Vinton ice, Lt.
8 Pwr. i lo. for the cone i 1 1 m ele<
trie-lighting plant an. i ice factorj in Vin-
ton.
SAN
changes
equlpmi
Pacific States
M.iz.fi lamps
■
-
RIVERSIDE, WASH Apple...
i.d EL LL .v Pwi
a fr.ui. hi.--
sum hue along tin- right-of-way of the
-
- -uipany.
SULTAN, wash With, i, the next l-
inoliths the Sultan El
in miles of transmission line and to pur
• -tj p.- lightning arrest.
.i volt alternating current trans-
mission line F. L Anderson is
and manager,
IE, ORE During the coming
year the Eugene Water Board mas require
material for extensions t<. lighting
amounting to $10,000. C. w
retar) and acting general superint
DRUMMOND, M< INT.- The l:,,,
..i Maxville, is plan-
ning to extend its electric transmission line
to i 'i ummond ami Hail.
I' 'Ni:. Ml >NT. .1. C. W Iwar.l.
Of the R«] I to the
City Council for a franchise to install and
trio-lighting system In Mel-
stone.
PUEBLO, COL.— -The Arkansas Valley
By., Lt .v- Pwr. Co., of Pueblo, will rebuild
approximate!} I" miles of transmission lin.
between Pueblo and Skagnay hydra
station, consisting principally of re-insulat-
ing line, using approximately 6000 high-ten-
sion insulators and pins. The company is
■ ling Its ;.- - . il.out 2 i... miles
to a tlairt .list n.t to provide electricity for
lamps and motors. It also has oo
for approximately lnull hp i new bu
In the Cripple Creek gold-mining district.
To serve this it will requin additional
distributing lines, high-tension transform-
ers, lightning arresters, etc., most of which
have already been purchased. The co
may extend its transmission line to
additional villages in the Arkansas Val
ley this season
ELLENSBURG, WASH. — The City Coun
ml has Instructed City Engineer Carter to
plans for an auxiliary steam plant,
lo he operated ill eon j li ii.-l in] I with the Inll-
in. ipal electric light planl. t si :.l I
$60,000 Bids for machinery and construc-
tion, ii i undi . ' I, w mi be asked for
soon.
KELSO, wash Th,- City Council and
the w ishlngton Oregon Corpn. have entered
mi.. ;. n agreement w hereby Impi o
Canada
NANA1MO, B. C— The Nanaimo El LI
Pwr. & Ht. Co. expects to purchase within
the next six months a 50-lamp (magnetite)
street-lighting outfit. W. Lewis is man
ager.
Till-; PAS, MAN. — Plans have been pre-
pared by "W. E. Cox, of Winnipeg, for the
lighting and heating plant for The P8B
terminals of the Hudson Bay Railway, to
cost approximately $35,
DUTTON, ONT. — The ratepayers on
March S voted in favor of by-laws author-
izing the village to contract with the Hydro-
Electric Power Commission of Ontario for
power and also authorizing an expenditure
of $10,000 for the installation of the system.
The municipality will be supplied by a low-
tension transmission line from St. Thomas.
FORMOSA, ONT. — A company has been
organized under the name of t*ae Formosa
El. Lt. Co. to erect a transmission line to
connect with the lines of the Walkerton
El. Lt. K. Pwr. Co. at Mildmay. F. A.
Heinz is president of the company.
GALT. ONT. — The Toronto Suburban Ry.
Co., Toronto, has taken out a permit for the
erection of a new transformer station In
Call.
MONTREAL. QUE. — Plans and speci-
fications have been prepare. 1 by A Parent,
lighting superintendent, f^r an ornamental
lighting system on St. Catherine and
Bi.-ury streets The plans provide for i i-
stan. lards on the former thoroughfare and
45 on the latter. The standards will be
I I1.- it. high, and each will he a
with a single lamp. An appropris
$40, has been made for improving the
civic street-lighting system.
Miscellaneous
PANAMA Bids will be received at the
office of the general purchasing officer of
the Panama Canal, Washington, D C,
until March .!" for furnishing steel rein-
rorcing bars, steel cable, pipe fittings, cop-
per sheathing, engine lubricators,
compensator for motor, etc. Bianks and
general Information pertaining to this cir-
cular (No 906) may i btamed from the
above office or the otii.-.-s of the assistant
pureha ini agents, 84 State Street. New
York. N i .ill I W liiln, ij Central Build-
ing. New Orleans, La,, and 1086 North
p., n,i Street, San Francisco, Cal.
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 12
Weekly Record of Electrical Patents
UNITED STATES PATENTS ISSUED
MARCH 9, 1915.
(Prepared by Robert Starr Allyn, 16 Ex-
change Place, New York, N. Y.]
1,130,697. Automatic Telephone-Ex-
change System FOB Subscribers' Lines
with Extension Sets ; F. Aldendorft,
Antwerp. Belgium. App. filed Sept. 4,
1913. Special arrangement of final se-
lectors.
1,130,706. Railway Signal System ; R. R.
Bryant. Little Rock, Ark. App. filed Nov.
20. 1908. For electric single track.
1, 130, 710. Electric Battery; H. Csanyl,
New York. N. Y. App. filed Nov. 3. 1913.
1 cells with provision for preventing
corrosion of terminal connections.
1,130,734. Electric Furnace rW. S. Horry,
Niagara Falls, N. Y. App. filed Jan. 21,
1511. Subdivides the current in each
phase.
1,130,755. Electric Generator ; J. L. Mil-
ton, Anderson, Ind. App. filed May 15.
1914. For lighting and ignition purposes
on motorcycle.
1,130,775. Wire Finding and Coupling
Device; I. J. H. Toffev, Waterbury,
Conn. App. filed Aug. 25, 1913. Fishing
device attachable to the end of the con-
ductor.
1,130,784. Measured-Service Telephone
System : B. D. Willis, Chicago, 111. App.
filed April 17, 1913. Operator can com-
municate with calling subscriber without
removing the calling plug from the jack
of the called line.
1,130,S08. Battery Well : J. M. FitzGerald,
Chicago, 111. App. filed Sept. 27. 1913.
Can be shipped in knocked-down form.
1.130.S99. Heat Regulator for Incu-
bators : C. P. Heimbourger, Beardstown,
111. App. filed June 21, 1913. Thermome-
ter controls controlling magnet.
1,130,901. Telegraph Apparatus; C. Henrv,
Edgemont, Ark. App. filed Dec. 6, 1913.
Sounder with tape-marking attachment.
1,130,904. Bearing for Electromagnetic
Sparking Machines; G. Honold, Stutt-
gart. Germany. App. filed Feb. 12, 1908.
Insulated bearing.
1,130,915. Vaporizing Attachment • A W
M.inshridge and S. J. Nash, Winnipeg,
Manitoba, Canada. App. filed March 17.
1914. Heating plug attached to the well
of the carbureter.
1,130,935. Connector Plug for Electrical
Instruments : F. E. Shailor. Detroit.
Mich. App. filed Oct. 25, 1913. Special
means for guiding and holding the con-
verter plug.
1.130.949. Rheostat; H. J. Wiegand, Mil-
waukee, Wis. App. filed Aug. 2, 1912
Disk type.
1,130,969. Circuit Controller : A H Fleet
Milwaukee, Wis. App. filed Nov. 20, 1913*
For automobile-lighting systems.
1,130,971. Intercommunicating Tele-
phone: W. W. Henry, Wollaston, Mass.
App. filed June 19, 1914. All parts of the
unit are mounted upon a formed block of
insulating material.
1.130.976. Rheostat: A. J. Horton, White
Plains, N. Y. App. filed Sept. 9, 1912
r or fans.
1.130.977. Safety Device; M. R. Hutchi-
Kn,i«!8t SE*"*8- x •'■ APB Bled March
28, 1914. For secondary cells.
1.130.985. Thermostatic Electric Switch •
Ti ^"v"' DPtroit. Mich. App Hied Aprii
is, 1913. Bowed member within a tube.
1.130.986. Air Heater; F. Kuhn, Detroit,
Mich Api, i
has Inner and outer spaced gratings.
Electrical Heater; k Knlin
Detroit, Mich. App. 111.-.! .1 .,,
1,130,994. Push-Button or
Closer; T. C. F. Metzger, 81 I 0
App. nied March i. 1914, Contacts have
a rubbing a.
1.131,006 System E A
Inderaon, ii
Bled Nov 9, 1912 Provides telephonic
connection between trains and with dis-
patcher.
■■'<■, Bands from
Sheet Mkta; . \, w Y,,rk,
\pp Hied D Welds
together and welded
into bands,
Heater ; W. S II ..I .,
Ill lie, N Y \
Bepl
m d
A r 1 1
App. filed Feb. 19, 1912. Hand-size; sup-
plying current for flashlamp.
1.131,079. Incandescent Lamp; C. E.
Pierce, Cambridge, Mass. App. filed Nov.
5, 1913. Non-renewable construction.
1,131, OSS. Antiseptic Attachment for
Telephone Mouthpiece ; I. S. Rosenblatt,
San Francisco, Cal. App. filed May 13,
1913. Ring of antiseptic material car-
ried by sheet-metal holder.
1,1 31.09S. Line-Testing Switch; J. M.
Watklns, Buffalo, N. Y. App. filed April
30, 1914. For localizing short-circuits or
grounds on telephone lines.
1,131,104. Efficiency Recorder: M. H.
Avram, New York, N. Y. App. filed Jan.
23, 1914. Indicators show work machine
should accomplish and that actually ac-
complished.
1,131,129. Switching Device; D. D. Gor-
don, Chicago, 111. App. filed Oct. 5, 1911.
Quick-break pendent switch of few parts.
1,131,140. Automatic Switch for Tele-
phone Systems ; W. Kaisling, Chicago,
111. App. filed Jan. 3, 1911. Unit con-
struction ; does away with extra release
magnet, and wipers are restored by
spring tension.
1,131,168. Electric Signaling Apparatus
for Ships' Telegraphs and Like Pur-
poses ; H. L. Stocks. Kirkcaldv, Scotland.
App. filed Oct. 13, 1913. Signals dis-
agreement between engine controlling
mechanism and the order indicator.
1.131.174. Electrical System of Distribu-
tion ; W. A. Turbayne, Buffalo, N. Y.
App. filed Oct. 27, 1910. Car lighting.
1.131.175. System of Electrical Regula-
tion ; W. A. Turbayne, Niagara Falls,
N. Y. App. filed Dec. 23, 1910. Storage
battery may act to steady the load on an
alternating-current generator.
1.131.176. Automatic Regulator; W. A.
Turbayne, Niagara Falls, N. Y. App.
filed April IS, 1913. Auxiliary regulator
for car-lighting systems.
1,131,187. Self-Inductive Means for Elec-
trical Oscillatory Circuits ; G. von
Arco, Berlin, Germany, and R. H. Ren-
dahl, Stockholm, Sweden. App. filed Jan.
29, 1910. Wireless telegraphy.
1.131.189. Joining Lamp Filaments to
Current-Supply- Wires : E. Weintraub,
Lynn, Mass. App. filed Oct. 27, 1909.
End of filament embedded in fused boride.
1.131.190. Production of High-Frequency
Currents ; E. Weintraub, Lynn, Mass.
App. filed June 18, 1910. Involves use of
mercury arc. (Fifty-two claims.)
1,131.202. Electric Indicating System ;
J. H. Boyden, Glenn Dale, Md. App. filed
Oct. 2, 1906. For indicating positions of
switches, etc. ; no electric contacts.
1,131,216. Transmission Line; E. E. F
Creighton, Schenectady, N. Y. App. filed
Sept. 11, 1912. Prevents development of
oscillations.
1.131.218. Electrically Controlled Brake
Mechanism ; E. H. Dewson, New York,
N. Y., and W. V. Turner, Edgewood, Pa.
App. filed May 9, 1910. For effecting
simultaneous action of the triple valves.
1.131.219. El.ECTROPNEUMATIC VENT-VaI.VE
Device ; E. H. Dewson, New York, N. Y.,
and W. V. Turner, Edgewood, Pa. App
Bled May 9, 1910. For venting tram pipe
pressure pneumatically or electrically.
1,1 : Jl, 234. Ray Tube; E. H. Grube. Chl-
cago, 111. App. filed Sept. S, 1913. Cool-
ing medium is discharged against anode,
1,131,237. System OF DISTRIBUTION; L. A
i tav i Ins, Si henectadj . N, v \,,,, nil d
March 11. 1914. Including vapor rectifier.
1,131,344. Time INDICATOR; W. M. Jeffreys
and w ii Creahen, Zoungstown, ('hi...
App. filed May 17, 1912. Embodying a
master clock.
1,131,249 Retaining Ring fob Di
; E i; Knight, Nor-
« I, Ohio App. Bled Mi- !
Split-ring construction for locking
laminae In pc
no Cir-
ctiit; C. D. Lansing, Huston. Mass, App.
Bled D Operative^ related
by undivided series connection to the line
and free of bridge connection th.
i Fori
i.i mi Direct
D Lannlng, Boston, Mass.
\pp Bled Ma] 19, 1912 luxlllai j means
• o operate « iiii the prlmarj means to
accentuate the undulatory Form ol the
cum
■ ' . i G Nichols,
Milwaukee, Wis App Bled Feb 38. 1910.
Air or ventilating pa agi cool the In-
SUPERVISION OF Serv-
ice in Hotels and the Like; H. W.
Skinner, Maywood, 111. App. filed July 5,
1913. Signal displayed when attendant
unlocks door by service key.
1,131,282. Constant-Current Rectifier
System ; C. P. Steinmetz, Schenectady,
N, X". App. filed May 23, 1905. Em-
bodying use of mercury arc.
1,131,292. Vapor Converter and Circuits
Therefor ; P. H. Thomas, Montclair,
N. J. App. filed April 25, 1905. Main
positive electrodes, a common negative
electrode and a supplemental positive
electrode.
1,131.297. Indication Circuit for Rail-
way Traffic-Controlling Devices ;
P. Utne, Edgewood Borough, Pa. App.
filed Aug. 13, 1914. For crossovers.
1,131,311. Process of Wire-Tyino Bags;
A. M. Bates, Chicago, 111. App. filed Dec.
13. 1911. Electro- welds the wire and
then twists to tighten same.
1,131,316. Electrical System of Distri-
bution ; J. Bijur, New York, N. Y. App.
Bled April 7, 1911. Storage-batU-ry
charging.
1,131,389. Combined Drop and Jack; W.
Leaver, Chicago, 111. App. filed Dec. 9,
1908. Constructed to permit ready re-
moval of the coil and of the armature.
1,131,399. Outlet Box; J. B. McGinley,
Pittsburgh, Pa. App. filed June 23, 1911.
Improved form of mechanical connection
with the box.
1,131,405. Electric Protector for Auto-
mobiles and Similar Vehicles; G. A.
Merrill, New York, N. Y. App. filed Feb.
9, 1911. Horn is sounded when attempt
is made to steal car or accessories
thereof.
1.131.42S. Lamp; L. Schepmoes, Hasbrouck
Heights, N. J. App. filed May 21, 1912.
For car lighting.
1.131.434. Electrical Regulation; W.
Snee and J. A. Snee, Jr., West Elizabeth,
Pa. App. filed Aug. 2S, 1914. Charging
storage battery from windmill.
1.135.435. Utilizing Variable Power: W.
Snee and J. A. Snee, Jr., West Elizabeth,
Pa. App. filed Sept. 16, 1912. Maintains
constant predetermined balance between
the current output and the available vari-
able power.
1,131,439. Telephone Recorder; E. R.
Talley and R. P. Norton, Algona, la.
App. tiled Aug. 25. 1913. Phonographi-
cally records incoming calls.
1,131,447. Telegraph Repeater; F. E.
Wallace, Franklin, Cal. App. filed Sept.
10, 1913. Has only two electromagnets.
1,131,455. Telephone System; H. M.
Wright, Darlington, Okla. App. filed
March 12, 1914. Party line with central-
station selective switch.
1,131,469. Wiring System ; J. A. Cole, New
Y'ork, N. Y. App. filed March 29, 1912.
By which one or all lamps may be put
into circuit.
1,131,536. Train-Stopping System ; A. S.
and H. Mainar.li. l'aterson, N. J. App.
filed Dec. 5, 1913. Embodies conductors
on roadbed engaged by brushes on train.
1,131,541. Electric-Lamp Socket: A. H.
Nero, New Britain, Conn. App. filed Jan.
9. 1914. Lamp lock of insulated construc-
tion.
1,131,549, Self-Scoring Target; m. St. C.
Ellis, Unite. 1 States Navy. App. tiled
Jan. 21. 1911. Hits indicated on annun-
ciator alongside marksman.
1,131,551 DynamO-ElectbIC Machine;
a A Price, London, Eng. App. filed July
81, 1913. Armature has a longitudinal
spiral movement along its shaft.
1,131,699 Tei i:i'h..ne Apparatus; W. M
. Vail. la. App. filed April IS.
1914. Switch for rural telephones.
1,131,806 VNOD1 FOB I'isciiargk Tubes;
T. ll. Qebauer (deceased), Cleveland,
\pp Bled May 22. iiii Pacing
of the anode is prevented from working
loos.- from the backing.
1,131,609 Process of Cooling Electric
Furn n. H Kagron, Fos.
b, Prance, App. filed Feb.
9, 1916. Circulates previously cooled air
in heat-Interchanging relation with fur-
ii.i. . u bile expanding the air.
1,131,614, Electric Motor; a. a. Radtke,
d, 111 App Bled Dec. IS, 1910.
Sol. in. i. Is with cores connected to .rank
on motor shaft.
HI Apparatus; J.
CI Ml App. file. I Nov,
ii'. 1906 in-ill. is release of the nuto-
hajtge.
13.S90 (reissue), M DranuB-
8i bti \i .1 ii Levis, Jr.. Roches-
ter, N V App. Bled Aug. 31, 1914.
i(iri»;.i i\ [749, dated
ore rapid and
Sixt> three claims.)
Electrical World
Published I ublldhing Company, Inc.
\l w JfORK S \ l l BDAY, M \K< 11 27, 1915
No. 13
Concentration of Electrical Generation
A i CORDING to the Bureau of the Census the com-
bined output of the 5621 central stations of the
- a little over 11,500,000,000 kw-hr. in
1912. Last year the output approximated 14,000,000,000
kw-hr. Data published in our news columns this week
show that 70 per cent of this output was generated by
ry few companies, illustrating clearly to what ex-
tent the production of electricity is being concentrated
in this country. Approximately 12,000,000,000 kw-hr.
was generated last year by the thirty-six largest com-
panies in the United States and Canada, of which, mak-
ing allowances for duplication and for energy used in
ada, 10,000,000,000 kw-hr. was used in the United
States. Of special interest are the tremendous output
of the Commonwealth Edison Company of Chicago,
which alone exceeded 1,000,000,000 kw-hr., and the ex-
ceedingly high load-factor of the Hydraulic Power Com-
pany of Niagara Falls, which is given as 91.7 per cent.
Outside of Niagara Falls, with its electrochemical in-
dustries, the highest load-factors predominate on the
Pacific Coast. There, with no such manufacturing en-
terprises as exist in the East and with a lesser density
"pulation, the electric utilities have developed their
territories to better effect.
Revision of Overhead Crossing Specifications
THE national joint committee on overhead and un-
derground line construction is about to revise the
ting standard specifications for electric-wire cross-
ings, and it behooves central stations to make known at
this time their objections to the specifications. No docu-
ment of the National Electric Light Association has been
more bitterly assailed by the electric companies of the
country than has the report of the overhead-line com-
mittee, and yet no committee has been more painstaking
in its labors and none other has devoted so much time
to the consideration of its subject. At the very outset,
however, the committee erred in failing to consider the
legal aspects of so important a document, and the asso-
ciation erred in accepting construction specifications
which have proved themselves to be a handicap to the
industry. In the first report the voltage of the circuit
was the sole criterion of safety, whereas the question
was one of construction and not merely of voltage. All
references to voltage limitation were removed last year,
but the evil effects are not so readily wiped away. There
can be no doubt about the adequacy of the report for
thickly settled communities, but it ignores entirely the
conditions in different sections of the country, so that
it creates a heavy and unjustifiable burden upon the in-
dustry in certain sparsely settled sections While due
provision should in all cases be made for safety, pro-
vision should also be made for various grades of con-
struction, and in this respect alone the report is sadly
lacking. Whether a crossing be on a road in the wilder-
ness where snow, sleet and wind are unknown or whether
it be in one of the most densely populated districts of
the country, the construction called for is identical.
Such a requirement is not insisted upon in interior wir-
ing nor should it be in exterior work. It would seem
as though discretion could be relied on in the interpre-
tation of the specifications, but such unfortunately is
not the case. The way in which the report has been
interpreted and applied is the chief cause for criticism,
and the industry should insist that the revision be thor-
ough and without bias. If this is the criterion by which
construction is to be judged, it is well that serious and
prompt consideration be given to it.
The N. E. L. A. and Good Service
THE recent attack of Mr. M. L. Cooke, of Phila-
delphia, against utilities was, of course, aimed in-
directly against corporate interests. Made before an
audience at Harvard University, a hearing was assured.
It is receiving public attention as the view of the direc-
tor of public works of Philadelphia and of the acting
director of the Public Utilities Bureau. Mr. Cooke evi-
dently did not care whom he hit. Public utility associa-
tions were his principal target, but bankers, educators,
commissions, electrical manufacturers alike were under
his displeasure, for the apparent reason that he links
them with the corporate interest. Such an attack is in-
teresting, but it imposes upon the listener. Notwith-
standing contrary assertions, the chief activities of the
National Electric Light Association relate to operation,
economy, efficiency, technical progress and development.
In these matters, necessarily subordinate to public policy
because good service depends upon them, are the foun-
dation of much helpful, constructive work of the asso-
ciation.
New York Commission Overburdened
AMONG the serious counts in the indictment of the
legislative investigating committee against New
York commissioners are the long time required to de-
cide cases, the apparent slow handling of complaints,
and the lack of prosecution for violations of transporta-
tion service orders. The evidence and the report reveal
clearly that the First District commission was over-
burdened with responsibility in its dual function of reg-
ulator and supervisor of rapid-transit construction. If
7(1
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 13
regulation in Greater New York alone is not enough
for any one commission, to direct the construction
of a vast system of subway and elevated lines is un-
doubtedly as much as a single body of five men can do
well. The commission in New York City suffered from
too many activities. Charges of slow handling of com-
plaints and formal cases can be made against almost
every court and commission with probably as much, or
almost as much, justice as in the New York case. Au-
thorities do not make a practice of delaying action, but
they wait until they are sure of all facts. If commis-
sions and corporations had more confidence in each
other, delays would be shorter.
Vital Problems in Regulation
Holding that relations between the public and public
utilities are the most vital of all present economic prob-
lems, Mr. Theodore N. Vail, in his report to American
Telephone & Telegraph Company shareholders, does not
attack regulation, but he says truly that the present
economic unsettlement cannot continue indefinitely. The
sudden rise of the United States to wealth and power is
stranger than fiction or than most history. That this
magnificence has been created "by or because of"
"means of intercourse and, interchange" is beyond need
of proof. The important point is that in great meas-
ure maintenance and continued growth of prosperity
will be dependent upon "maintenance and continued
growth of the utilities." To the extent that they have
been a factor heretofore they must be a factor in a
prosperous future. To the extent that they fail to be
as much of a factor in the future as they have been in
the past the future will fail to be as prosperous as it
might be made by just, fair treatment of the utilities.
Construction programs now have less assurance than
formerly, being based more on the answer to the ques-
tion "Will the extension pay from the beginning?"
This restrictive attitude, costly to the public, retards
seriously the normal upbuilding which fits plants for
future larger population and inevitable demands.
Mr. Vail depicts the coincident passing of rule of
thumb and the dawn of scientific operation, which has
already attained maximum results in some industries,
but does not mention the fact that for many benefits
voluntarily introduced the public authorities, liking the
political effect, have seized full credit. The element of
danger is that there cannot be permanent decreases in
earnings and increases in expenses. Nor will any sys-
tem of public reprisal for long-gone abuses give the
needed remedy. Mr. Vail is cheering and confirms other
hopeful signs: "There is evidence of better understand-
ing and appreciation and more substantial justice on
both sides." But, notwithstanding the better ethical
state, there is disturbance and non-employment, and un-
derlying these effects, antedating the European war, is
the drastic anti-corporate attitude which has strongly
marked government during three Presidential admin-
istrations. Only in the present administration has there
come an admission that legislation is past, that the road
is clear. It is not only what may be done but what has
been done by regulation that interests investors. Those
upon whom regulation has fallen as a thief in the night
will not readily again risk money where heavy loss is
imminent. To reduce non-employment, to start expendi-
ture, to increase consumption, to restore the production
which follows public service prosperity, Mr. Vail pro-
poses a restoration of conditions which will inspire con-
fidence in securities to command capital with which the
needed vast expenditures can be begun.
Steam Auxiliary for Southern Plant
In this issue there is described a very carefully de-
signed plant intended wholly as auxiliary to the hydro-
electric system of the Southern Power Company. As
our readers will remember, this company operates plants
in North Carolina and South Carolina having an aggre-
gate rating of over 100,000 hp and supplying energy to
an area of more than 1500 square miles. The hydroelec-
tric stations of the system have been equipped to supply
primary power on the basis of the average flow for 355
days in the year, as nearly as this quantity can be de-
termined. Therefore auxiliary equipment must be pro-
vided to supply this amount of primary power whatever
the absolute minimum flow may chance to be. In point
of fact the flow value ranges from 67 per cent to 80 per
cent of the average, varying from plant to plant. To
supply the possible deficit it was found necessary to pro-
vide auxiliaries of some 30,000 hp in rating. There are
three plants, each of about 10,000-hp rating, one near
each end of the system, and the new one here described
at Mount Holly, N. C, about 11 miles from Charlotte,
which is the chief center of the load. Each of the plants
is conveniently situated for dealing with heavy local
loads and can furnish power independently to the
whole high-tension system, and each acts as a reserve
for the others.
The Mount Holly station is situated on the Catawba
River, where ample water for boilers and condensation
can be obtained and where the railway facilities for de-
livery of fuel are excellent. Provision has been made
for doubling the output rating when it becomes neces-
sary. As is true in other stations of the system, the
electrical apparatus has been designed for the ultimate
operation of the system at 100,000 volts, although the
transformers now raise the pressure to only 44,000 volts.
The boiler plant is arranged for 175 lb. steam pressure
and 100 deg. Fahr. super-temperature and is equipped,
as a matter of course, with mechanical stokers. The me-
chanical arrangements for handling fuel are very com-
plete, so that the only operation which has to be per-
formed independently of the machinery is dumping the
hopper-bottom railway cars and pushing the ash cars
to the elevators. A plant of this sort must be held in
readiness much of the time with banked tires, and its
year's operation cannot show a high efficiency, although
the operating efficiencies at full load are good, the guar-
anteed steam consumption at S."> per cent power-factor
falling as low as 15.3 lb. of steam per kw-hr.
March 27, 1916
ELECTRICAL WORLD
771
Perhaps the most interesting feature of the station is
the provision for securing water, The upply
is the Catawba River, which carries a great ileal of silt.
To take care of this condition there are two independent
intake chambers fitted wit' of which
either can be entirely shut off for cleaning. Thence the
water passes either to the condenser, for which it need
not be filtered, or to the pump reservoir through a filter.
It is again filtered for boiler service from an overflow in
the hot well, so that the feed water is well cleared of
tided matter. The filters are of coke and excelsior
bedded on metal lath. For cleaning purposes the flow
of the water <an lie reversed through the filters and the
deposit cleared off with a pulsometer pump. These pre-
cautions have proved very effective in keeping up a
proper water supply. The plant, which seems to be
singularly well adapted to its use, is representative of
the very simple and effective type of auxiliary plant
necessary in connection with many hydroelectric
systems.
A Study of Heat Insulation
An exceedingly practicable investigation of heat in-
sulation for electric ovens, by Messrs. A. E. Kennelly.
F. D. Everett and A. A. Prior, is recorded in this issue.
It has special bearing on the development of electric
cooking, in which proper heat insulation is of the utmost
importance. The oven considered generally, whether
used for baking armatures or pies, is usually extremely
crude and of very low efficiency. Electric-oven heating.
in which the heat is actually applied within the oven
itself, ought to be, and is, highly efficient if the heat
thus applied is conserved and not allowed to flow out-
ward through the walls. The experiments made by the
authors were directed at the efficacy of the walls in re-
taining the heat and hence raising the efficiency of the
appliance. Use was made of an inclosure of asbestos
board with the heating units inside, tests being made in
succession with a single inclosure, with a double in-
closure, with an air space, and with a double inclosure
filled with supposedly heat-insulating material. The
principal difficulty encountered in the investigation
seems to have been the maintenance and measurement
of the temperature inside the oven. It was found neces-
sary to use an electric fan to distribute the heated air.
and when this was done fairly constant results were
obtained.
The practical data are given in terms of the watts
required per degree centigrade difference of tempera-
ture maintained under steady conditions. With single
walls the constant was approximately 40 watts per de-
gree, and with double walls nearly 25 watts. Breaking
up the space between the walls in the compartments
produced no perceptible effect, probably for the reason
that when steady conditions were reached with the
double walls the temperature distribution was too uni-
form to allow enough circulation to be worth consider-
ing. Packing the space between the walls with cotton
waste brought the watt constant down to a little over
lf>, and when this waste was replaced by a species of
mineral wool the constant fell to between 12 and 13;
that is. the mineral wool packing doubled the efficiency
of the oven. It would be well worth while to supple-
ment these tests with others involving different heat-
insulating combinations in order that the heat losses
might be still further reduced. Whatever may be said
of the necessan heat in electric appliances
generally, they should be reduced to a minimum in
ovens, and the best method for obtaining the maximum
efficiency is of very practical value.
A New Scheme of Rates for Energy
Those of our readers who are interested in making a
collection of schemes of charging for electricity will be
both entertained and instructed by an article by Mr.
Franklin Punga abstracted in the Digest. Of course,
everyone is familiar with the ordinary combined sched-
ule by which the customer pays at a certain flat rate
based on demand or installation plus a meter rate ad-
justed on some convenient basis. Schedules of this kind
are modifications of the general plan of a constant
stand-by charge plus a service charge, and are in rather
extensive use. They have in common the merit of taking
cognizance of the demand made by the customer on the
equipment of the station. In addition to such charge
a sliding scale is usually provided for the energy
metered. In whatever way the two factors in the price
are combined, it is now universally recognized that they
are so adjusted to each other as practically to charge
what the traffic will bear, considering the place and kind
of service.
The present proposal of Mr. Punga is interesting in
that it involves in effect a combination of a flat rate with
a duplex meter service, one rate applying as an added
charge to peak demands and the other as a rebate to the
valleys in the load. Use is made of an ingenious meter
which records the hills and valleys; a suitable adjust-
ment of the hill and valley prices will make a reasonable
approximation to a fair charge for almost any kind of
load anyone is likely to encounter. The plan in various
modifications is evidently applicable to widely diverse
conditions. It provides an interesting combination of
a meter charge depending on the demand combined with
a stand-by charge based on the general average. * Al-
though we have little faith in any of these complicated
systems of rate making, particularly those requiring
special instruments for their operation, yet this fact
does not detract from our appreciation of the ingenuity
displayed in this and similar schemes. We believe that
very simple rates are of great advantage in securing the
confidence of the customer in the good intentions of
the company. The old two-rate meter, now suppressed
in most places, was one of the most reasonable and
promising of all the rate-making plans graduated to
meet the nature of the load, and yet it fell into disrepute.
Mr. Punga's scheme has its good points, and we com-
mend it to the study of schedule makers. However, from
the standpoint of American conditions its requirement
of special metering apparatus is rather forbidding.
ELECTRICAL WORLD
%>
Vol. 65, No. 13
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Evaluating the Isolated Plant
To the Editor of the Electrical World:
Sir: — In connection with your article "Evaluating
the Isolated Plant," on March 13, 1915, it should be
noted that motor-service solicitors leave no stone un-
turned to obtain every desirable load. However, in
many cases isolated-plant owners are loth to regard as
a part of their operating expense the fixed charges
discussed by the solicitors other than the part due
directly to the new electrically driven equipment. The
subject of a fixed charge, however, is one of great im-
portance and has at least a favorable bearing on the
mind of the prospective customer, even though such
charges be not considered by him as part of the operat-
ing cost.
If a company has insufficient capital and its borrow-
ing capacity is limited, the interest on the investment
may properly be charged at the determined profit which
that company chooses to make on capital, but in the
event of a company having sufficient capital and being
able to borrow at the prevailing rate of interest, it
would be rather difficult to get the management of such
a company to figure in the costs a rate of interest
equal to the percentage of profit.
It is not to be expected that, in figuring costs, a com-
pany will add the percentage of profit to the materials
going into the product, electric energy being just as
much of a raw material as cotton, wool, or whatever ma-
terials go into the finished product.
This argument would also be true if the company
kept its accounts in such a manner that it could liquidate
at any time, but most manufacturing concerns hope and
expect to continue in business for a reasonable length
of time — at least during the life of any isolated plant
that might be installed. Five per cent interest and 8
per cent depreciation is all that a well-financed company
may be expected to charge to the cost of operating
motor-service equipment. R. W. Rollins,
Worcester, Mass.
To the Editor of the Electrical World:
Sir: — Your editorial "Evaluating the Isolated Plant"
touches upon a subject to which surprisingly scant at-
tention has been given, probably because of the failure
until recently to analyze closely the elements which make
up the cost per unit in factory production.
After much discouragement the salesman has been
able to get the motor-service user as a rule to allow a
charge against investment in the way of interest, de-
preciation, taxes, etc., but the "profit charge" is an
equally legitimate expense which it has been difficult to
persuade the prospective customer to take into con-
sideration.
The central-station motor-service salesman has pre-
viously followed the line of least resistance and confined
his efforts to the many cases where the cost of opera-
tion alone would show a comparison favorable to cen-
tral-station operation.
In the last few years an intimate study of the coat
of production has become absolutely necessary for the
manufacturer. A better understanding of the effect of
varying output I load-factor, as a central station man
would itate it I upon unit cost has brought the trained
production engineei to r> commendations as to invest-
to which previously little thought on the part of
the manufacturer has 1 n liven.
tment In "fixed plant" la now the rule
where the production engineer of experience is in
charge, but an education along the lines of the value of
investment in a private generating plant is greatly
needed by the manufacturers of the country. A free
discussion through your columns will be of great assist-
ance to the motor-service salesmen.
If rates in the future are to be based upon the "value
of service," it is highly important that the true value
of the service be determined in each case.
H. H. Holding,
\7-,,„„,.I. \j I Industrial Power Engineer.
iveivarh., .\ . J. Public Sercici Electric Company.
To the Editor of the Electrical World:
Sir: — Where the competitive nature of central-station
service is properly presented the element of interest is,
of course, always present. The amount accepted by the
consumer or his engineer depends upon his own and
local operating conditions. Some, as in the instance
of municipalities, will contend for rates as low as 4 per
cent, while others are willing to admit 6 per cent and
probably take into consideration the fact that if this
portion of their capital is not tied up in a generating
plant, but is utilized in connection with the consumer's
undertakings, a somewhat higher percentage can be
earned. Until very recently the contention of the en-
gineers connected with the national government was
that neither interest nor depreciation should be allowed,
as the money necessary to install isolated plants was ob-
tained through taxation. I believe the fallacy of this
argument is now being recognized, and that the nation-
al government allows 3*2 per cent as representing the
interest element in isolated plant cost.
Depreciation, rather than interest, is the element us-
ually overlooked. Knowingly or unknowingly, a great
many engineers fall into the error of omitting deprecia-
tion altogether. When the item is brought to their at-
tention they usually contend for the smallest possible
percentage, oftentimes claiming a rate which would de-
mand an impossibly high period of useful life. Often-
times also depreciation may be computed at compound-
interest rates, though no instance has been known to
the writer in which this method of accounting is fol-
lowed.
In their competitive cost estimates our most com-
petent technical engineers seldom take into considera-
tion the fact that depreciation of isolated plants is not
physical alone, but rather that it is competitive. This
element of competition is twofold : (a) through im-
provements by which old apparatus becomes relatively
inefficient, and (b) the competitive cost of an outside
service of an adequate nature.
A relatively low rate of physical depreciation — say
one which allows from ten years' to fifteen years' life
of the plant — is probably correct. Under local condi-
tions this may be modified one way or the other. But
depreciation through the availability of improved and
more efficient apparatus should be based upon a higher
rate, and that through the competition of central sta-
tions still higher. Thus, in a single year the latter ele-
ment might come into full play. The estimated cost of
operating a private plant might be fairly competitive
with the corresponding costs of outside supply in one
/ear, and yet in the next year, through reductions in
this cost by which equal service < 'an be obtained with
less expenditure, the useful life of the plant is ended,
and in this instance, of which many examples could be
cited, the annual rate of depreciation is substantially
M \u> ii
ELECT HIC A I. WORLD
100 l ■• . BUCh salvage value as the
plant may h
Instances are not rare where private plants have been
installed through mistakes or misrepresentations on the
part of expert engineers and have been removed within
one, two <>r three years. Thus, in these instances the
of depreciation becomes substantially 100 per cent,
60 per cent or 33 per cent, less, as indicated, the sal-
value of the plant. Reductions in the wholesale-
ompeting central stations perhaps form
a better indication of the probabilities of the useful
life of the private plant in the competitive sense than
■ther available means. Where all of these elements
are taken into consideration, it would seem that a very
much higher rate of depreciation should be accepted
than that which is indicated either by physical life or
che element of improvement in the efficiency of the gen-
erating apparatus.
Perhaps the most serious omission in estimating pri-
vate plant costs in important buildings is that which
relates to the cost of preparing the structure for the
power plant. Thus, in a recent instance a great deal of
excavation was required in live rock, which in turn had
to be met in costly building construction, including
additional steel. Where an additional basement or sub-
basement is required the construction cost is very much
higher than the average of the building as a whole, and
yet in no instance apparently has this ever been con-
sidered in determining either the rental value of the
space occupied by the plant or the expenditure neces-
sary to provide this space, including various elements
of cost, such as interest, depreciation, maintenance and
Taxation is also usually omitted, and yet in the
valuation of every large building probably a large rela-
tive item is allowed by the tax authorities covering the
cost of the power plant.
v. w York, .v. y. Arthur Williams.
Static Electricity from Transmission Lines
Editor of the Electrical World:
Sir: — In the Electrical World of Jan. 9 reference is
made in the Digest to the use of inductive reactance
connected on lines to ground for bleeding off the accumu-
lation of static electricity.
Several months ago, and before I knew anything of
this practice, we had a very bad case of static on a 55,-
000-volt transmission line that we constructed in connec-
tion with the Coachella Valley Ice & Electric Company
in the Imperial Valley. This line was built on wooden
poles, the conductor being of 3 0 seven-strand aluminum.
We used No. 351 Locke insulators, the wires being
spaced on an equilateral triangle, 72-in. centers, and the
length of the line being 166 miles.
We connected this 55,000-volt line at the terminus of
a 238-mile transmission system from Inyo County —
connection being made at San Bernardino substation,
this making a total transmission system from our power
house at Bishop, Cal., of 404 miles.
The Imperial Valley line is operated delta at 55,000
volts. Shortly after the system was put into operation
trouble was experienced by two or three of the pole tops
burning off and causing short-circuits on the system. I
made a trip over the line at night in the Imperial Valley
and found a great number of insulators leaking static
badly, which resulted in charring the pole and cross-
arms, and I realized that something must be done at
once to relieve the condition. I conceived the idea of
bleeding the static off to ground, and recommended that
the Holten Power Company, at El Centro, the end of the
line, install four 15-kw transformers we had in stock
and connect them directly between the line and ground.
These 15-kw transformer- win wound on the primary
side for 88,000 volts and on the secondary side for 2200
Three of these transformers were connected in
-tar OD insulated platforms and the fourth transformer
was connected between the star of the three transform-
ers and ground on the primary side, the secondary 2200-
volt windings being left open. The object of using the
fourth transformer was to protect the 33,000-volt cir-
cuit from over-voltage in the event of ground appearing
on the 55,000-volt circuit.
The effect of this insulation was immediately to over-
come all the difficulty with the leaking static, and the
Orvard Shunt Rr*>*of<' tUlt:qaf
I'ghtmnq 4vr}trn
t i
-it ff« ■ "i
I
iCennrcttd AjAr Qfrrohrq af SXWO V
. c- j.'r. >;/ •*.-! ~.l. ■'■■■■;;; *>■-■'■' i-'
OVolt I
rrj |
ARRANGEMENT OF BLEEDING TRANSFORMERS
line now is as quiet and free from static as could be
desired. The sketch herewith shows the arrangement
of these bleeding transformers as connected to the
system. C. O. Poole.
Piitorvi/Je Cnl Chief Engineer Southern
ttiversiae, vai. Sierra Power Company
Opportunities for Manufacturers in Russia
To the Editor of the Electrical World:
Sir: — Permit me to say a few words about the key-
note to the situation of electrical manufacturers in
Russia, to supplement Mr. Chester W. Purington's ar-
ticle, "Opportunities for Electrical Manufacturers in
Siberia," in the Electrical World, Jan. 2, page 267.
I consider myself competent to speak on the subject be-
cause I was born in Russia, and only seven years have
passed since I left that country.
The opportunities for electrical trade are great in
Russia, but it is not a simple matter to secure and de-
velop the trade. The most densely populated parts of
Russia, starting from the Gulf of Finland, are the cities
of Revel, Riga, Windau, Libau and Mittau. Most of
the people are of German and Scandinavian descent and
prefer to talk German rather than Russian. The people
living between Mittau and Warsaw are of Lithuanian
and Polish descent, and do not like to talk Russian at all,
because they hate Russians and the Russian language,
so that one must use German if he wishes to transact
business with them.
Most of the apparatus in service is operated at 110
volts or 220 volts direct current, except the street rail-
ways, which are 500-volt systems. A small part of the
apparatus is of English make. American goods are
considered superior, but the people know very little
about them.
For American manufacturers wishing to open offices
for consulting engineering or sales work in Russia the
best location is Riga or Petrograd. The office should
be put in charge of a Russian-American who is familiar
with Russia and her people and with American adver-
tising. J. G. Koppel,
(j„,.m Qf„ H,,,;,, i/:,.;, Electrical Engineer Sault
£>ault bte. Main , Mi< It. stl „,,,,, ii,„i„, Comp<
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 13
Auxiliary Station for Transmission System
Turbine of Mount Holly Steam Station of the Southern Power Company
Operates as Synchronous Motor When Not Under Load
By Curtis A. Mees
THE Southern Power Company of Charlotte, N. C,
now operates five hydroelectric plants — the Ca-
tawba station, rated at 10,000 hp; the Great
Falls station, 32,000 hp ; the Rocky Creek station, 32,000
hp; the Ninety-Nine Islands station, 24,000 hp, and the
Saluda station, rated at 3500 hp — the aggregate rating
representing 101,500 hp.
Transmission over an area approximately 65 miles by
240 miles necessitates sectionalizing of the system in
case of storm or accident, and the auxiliary stations
serve a twofold purpose in that they produce, with com-
paratively insignificant transmission, an appreciable
amount of power in the centers of maximum public
service demand, readily available in case of accident or
atmospheric disturbance, while they are also required to
supplement the outputs of the water-power plants dur-
ing the periods of low water so as to bring the outputs
up to the 355-day average.
All stations of the Southern Power Company are
rated for the sale of primary power on the average flow
for 355 days in the year as determined from all dis-
charge records. The absolute minimum flow is found
to be only from 67 per cent to 80 per cent of the 355-day
flow, depending on the altitude of the power plant.
Thus, for the Great Falls and Rocky Creek stations the
minimum is 67 per cent of the 355-day average, while
for the Catawba station further up the river it is only
75 per cent. For the Ninety-Nine Islands station on
the Broad River the minimum is 75 per cent, and for
the Lookout Shoals station now being built above the
Catawba station the minimum is only 85 per cent.
On this basis there were required for the present hy-
droelectric system 30,000 hp in auxiliary steam equip-
ment, and when Lookout Shoals station is placed in com-
mission an additional 3600 hp will be required.
In this connection it is significant that storage is not
considered beyond that necessary to conserve the night
flow by concentration of practically the entire flow into
a ten-hour discharge. The rivers r~w utilized carry
such volumes of silt that real storage is impracticable.
For the reasons above cited the necessary steam aux-
iliary equipment was divided into three units, each one
close to one of the three important distribution centers.
The steam stations at Greenville, S. C, and Greensboro,
N. C, being near the ends of the system — the most ex-
posed points — were built first, each of 10,000-hp rating.
These plants are almost identical in design and equip-
ment, both of which were governed by the desire to
secure a simple layout of the lowest first cost.
The third plant, also of 10,000-hp rating, was re-
cently completed at Mount Holly, N. C., on the Catawba
River, about 11 miles from Charlotte. This plant was
designed and equipped to secure the lowest possible
operating costs. Selection of the site was based on
meeting the demand for emergency service in the vi-
cinity of Charlotte, the most important public service
center, and on the availability of water for condensing
purposes. The property is on the line of the Piedmont
Traction Company, an affiliated organization. The lay-
out was made to permit extension of the railroad tracks
over the top of storage bunkers so that all possible
labor, manual or mechanical, might be eliminated in
the handling of fuel. The present installation of 10,000
hp will, it is expected, be doubled in the near future,
and such extension has been anticipated in the present
layout. i
FIG. 1— GENERATOR ROOM OF MOUNT HOLLY STEAM STATION OF SOUTHERN POWER COMPANY
March 87, 1 '.»!.".
ELECTRICAL WORLD
775
The selection of the building site, though ideal in all
other was an unfortunate one in regard to
foundation. Extensive borings made with a test auger
showed soft rock foundation at an average depth of
about 18 ft., and these borings were verified in open
pits. The foundation teste showed a permissible load-
ing of 4 tons per sq. ft., on which basis the design was
carried out. Upon excavation, however, it was found
that the layer of soft rock was in many places only
from 2 ft. to 4 ft. through, and underneath quicksand
was found from 6 in. to 18 in. deep on a clay bed. The
entire structure was therefore redesigned for a maxi-
mum loading of 1.5 tons per sq, ft
Because of the great cost thus involved the entire
method of foundation construction was changed. The
outer walls were designed with adequately spread foot-
ings, the bases of the tunnels and sumps were heavily
U-shaped concrete brick which forms virtually a hollow
wall. All rack and frames are steel, and steel rolling
doors or shutters are used. Floors and basement col-
umns are built of reinforced concrete in which Kahn
bars were used for footings and Corbar units for beams.
The roofing is of flat reinforced plates laid on steel pur-
lins and covered with prepared asphalt roofing. Six-
teen 24-in. ventilators are provided. The car shed is of
corrugated iron supported on a structural-steel frame.
The bunkers, of which there will eventually be three,
have a capacity of 800 tons each. They are built of
plate steel, butt-jointed, with cover plates and stiffeners
■: plSSzlzi!P:
FIG. 2 — SECTIONAL ELEVATION OF MOUNT HOLLY STEAM STATION OF SOUTHERN POWER COMPANY
reinforced to act as pads, and the equipment loads were
then transferred to these pads and outer walls. All
boilers and bunker columns are supported on reinforced
concrete beams.
Because of flood the floor of the station was elevated
from 4 to 5 ft. above the ground surface, and in the
boiler room the spaces between beams were filled in with
earth after the boilers had been partially erected. For
the present installation the building is roughly 126 ft.
8 in. long by 127 ft. 3 in. wide, divided by a partition
wall into the boiler room, 71 ft. 3 in. wide, and the
engine room, 55 ft. 3 in. wide.
The engine room has two floors over part of its area
and provides 12,400 sq. ft. of floor space, which, with
the necessary addition for doubling the output of the
station, will eventually be increased to 19,900 sq. ft.
or 1.24 sq. ft. per kva turbine rating. It must be borne
in mind that this equipment includes all electrical ap-
paratus with provision for ultimate operation at 100,000
volts.
The boiler room for the present installation contains
about 8950 sq. ft. of floor space, exclusive of the ash
tunnels, and will, for the complete installation, be in-
creased to 13,900 sq. ft., or 0.87 sq. ft. per kva. The
building is practically fireproof.
A self-supporting steel frame on concrete foundations
is closed in with curtain walls and pilasters built of a
on the outside. They are supported partly by suspen-
sion from the track girders, partly from below by gir-
ders and cantilevered beams on columns. For protection
of the steel-plate work against wear, corrosion and heat
a removable lining was placed on the inclined faces.
This consists of ferroinclave laid over hardwood strips
and plastered on the exposed face with concrete. There
is, therefore, no iron-to-iron contact, and the air space
provided tends to minimize bad effects of bunker fires.
The cost of these bunkers was about $12.50 per ton
capacity, or 30 cents per cu. ft. Only nut and slack size
coal is used, and the bunkers are spouted directly to the
stoker hoppers with spreader spouts and undercut gates.
The ash hoppers were similarly designed with a lin-
ing. The stiffeners were placed on the inside and sup-
port hook tiles, which happened to be on hand. The tiles
were then covered with adamant concrete lining. Un-
dercut gates are used in these hoppers.
Ashes are dumped from the hoppers directly into cars
and may either be disposed for grading on the property
or loaded on cars by means of a bucket elevator. A
hydraulic elevator is used to lift the cars from the tunnel
to the surface.
Between the beams on which the boilers rest a soot
hopper has been formed by concrete lining in excavation,
and a door leading to the ash tunnel provides easy means
for cleaning.
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 13
The only handling of fuel, therefore, consists in dump-
ing hopper-bottom railroad cars and pushing the ash
cars to the elevators.
A somewhat novel feature is the arrangement for
securing water. The Catawba River contains no injur-
ious chemical matter, but it does contain a great deal of
silt, especially during flood periods. While good enough
for condensing purposes, it is not suitable for the
boilers. The intake is arranged with two chambers
equipped with coarse screens. A sluice gate closes the
intake completely, and this inlet is protected by a coarse
rack spaced 1 in. between grids. Either screen chamber
may be closed off by pivoted gates and cleaned without
interfering with operation.
From the intake tunnel the water passes by gravity.
in proportion to quantities used, either through a filter
and into the tank pump reservoir or to the condenser.
From an overflow in the hot well the water passes
through the hot filter to the transfer pumps. The filter-
ing medium consists merely of a coke and excelsior bed
on ribbed metal lath. For cleaning the filters the water
current is reversed and the agitated water is pumped
off with a pulsometer. These filters have proved very
successful.
The chimney, 230 ft. high, 14 ft. inside diameter at
top, built by the Alphons-Custodis Company, was
Under these circumstances it is particularly easy to
respond to sudden load demands because the unit is al-
ready up to speed and in synchronism, the turbine is
kept warmed up, and only a change in the field excitation
is necessary to place the unit on the line. This takes
only a few minutes at most.
The station equipment consists of a 6800-kw condens-
ing turbine and a 4500-hp boiler plant, with all neces-
sary equipment, more particularly dscribed as follows:
One 6800-kw Westinghouse-Parsons double-flow steam
turbine, 175 lb. pressure, 1800 r.p.m., directly connected
to a 8000-kva revolving-field three-phase, 11,000-volt,
sixty -cycle generator and equipped with a Westinghouse-
Leblanc jet condenser provided with a 300-kw non-con-
densing steam-turbine-operated circulation pump; one
20-kw, 220-volt motor-operated Leblanc air pump; one
100-kw non-condensing steam turbine directly connected
to a 100-kw, 250-volt, 2400-r.p.m. direct-current gen-
erator, mounted on a common bedplate; one motor-gen-
erator exciter set, 150-hp, 2200-volt, three-phase, sixty-
cycle motor, 100-kw, 250-volt, 1200-r.p.m. generator, and
a complete panel-type switchboard for the above.
Ventilation for the main generator is provided by a
plate-steel duct, 4 ft. 5 in. by 5 ft. on the intake and 5 ft.
by 6 ft. 4 in. on the discharge, providing 32,000 cu. ft.
per minute at a velocity of about 24 ft. per second. Inlet
-0-
FIG. 3 — BASEMENT PLAN OF MOUNT HOLLY
STEAM STATION OF SOUTHERN POWER
COMPANY
founded on piles supporting a mat reinforced with old
rails. The foundation base was left hollow to secure
minimum loading.
The conditions under which the plant is operated are
such as to make impossible apparent economical energy
production. The entire plant is kept under banked fires
the greater part of the time, always ready for emer-
gency service. In case of trouble full load, or even
maximum overload, may be called for, and frequently
the demand is for very short periods only. While the
fires are banked the turbine is operated as a synchronous
motor to improve the power-factor on the entire t,
mission system, which carries a large inductive load.
and outlets of this duel are in screened wells outside of
the building.
The following specification excerpts may be of in-
terest :
Generator Efficiency at B6 /'• Cent Power-Factor,
Room Temperature 26 Deg. C. Half load, 92 per cent;
three-quarters load. HI per cent : full load, 95 per cenl ;
one and one-quart er load, 96.26 per cent; one and one-
half load, 96.5 per cent.
Temperature Rise in Degrees Centigrade for Both
Armature <n>rf Field. Full load, twenty-four hours, 40
dog.; one and one-quarter load, twenty-four hours. 50
deg.; one and one-half load, one hour, 60 deg.
M an ii
E I. ECT RICAL W<) RLD
For 175-lb. steam | i til- throttle, 100 cleg.
Fahr. superheat and 28-in. vacuum, the normal rating
of the steam turbine is 10,200 brake-hp, with a maximum
continuous rating of 12,75ti brake-hp.
For the above generator at Bfi per cent power-fl
the following steam consumption was guaranteed:
\<1 In Kiv
I.b. St'
3400
16.7
.'.MM.
• 14.9
For 6,000,000 lb. injection water per hour (26.7 cu.
• onds), at 80 deg. Fahr.. and 102,200 lb. condensed
ng, equipped with Foster superheaters,
and 12 Koney stokers operated by two 5-hp engines with
shafts provided for future motor connections.
In these boilers McLeod *.v Henry steel-mixture fire-
bricks were used for the arches and refractories, and
Franklin Crown No. 1 firebrick for walls exposed to
high-temperature gases. The effective heating surface
of each boiler is 6016 sq. ft.
The following boiler specification items may be noted :
Basis 1 hp 30 lb. water evaporated per hour from
100 deg. Fahr., or 34 V- lb. from and at 212 deg. Fahr. to
steam at 70 lb. pressure.
steam per hour, a vacuum of 28 in. shall be maintained.
The condenser air pump shall be of sufficient rating
for maintaining a vacuum in the turbine shell, with
steam and exhaust valves closed, such that the unit may
HOI VI HOLLY STEAM STATION -AREAS UTO VOLUMES PER
RATI 1> CAPACITY
Sq Ft. Cu. Ft.
Sq Ft. Cu. It
per
Bouer room total without intake
M'iiIit room including ash tunnel and
i oragc
Boiler room "•':>!
Building proper including coal storage
i
I.M hi hoiler-hp:
cm propei
8800 kw:
Building propei
1 hi
2.07
2 96
3 87
50.80
63.20
89 68
118.48
I 28
I us
39.34
is 57
77.83
s7 III
sl
-' 19 90.32
8 17 I 17 16
ii
Extended plant
be operated as a synchronous condenser, the steam end
being driven by the alternating-current generator oper-
ating as a synchronous motor.
Boiler Equipment
The boiler equipment comprises six 750-hp Erie City
Iron Works vertical-tube boilers of the Dutch-oven type,
FIG. 4 — PLAN VIEW OF GENERATOR-ROOM
FLOOR, MOUNT HOLLY STEAM STATION
Rating of each boiler, 1125 hp for coal of 14,250 lb.-
Fahr. heat-units.
Per pound of such coal not containing more than 7%
per cent of ash when operating at 750 hp, 10M> lb. of
water will be evaporated from and at 212 deg. Fahr.
When operating at 1125 hp, 10 lb. of water will be evap-
orated from and at 212 deg. Fahr. per lb. of coal. The
flue-gas temperatures will not exceed 650 deg. Fahr.
The steam at the boiler outlet will not contain more than
1 per cent of moisture at or between the above ratings.
The following superheater performance is specified :
The temperature of 22,500 lb. of steam per hour at
160 lb. pressure, and containing not more than 1 per
cent moisture, will be raised to 470 deg. Fahr., corre-
sponding to 100 deg. superheat. When the boilers are
evaporating 27,000 lb. of steam the superheaters will
add from 90 deg. to 110 deg. for steam containing not
more than 1 per cent of entrained moisture.
Stoker specifications are as follows:
For boilers rated at 10 sq. ft. of effective heating sur-
face per boiler hp the following evaporation of water
from and at 212 deg. Fahr. is guaranteed per pound of
dry coal for the stated draft of water in the furnace of
each stoker:
Load, Per Cent
rTatei
of Full Rated
Evaporated
Draft, In.
Capacity
Lb.
3/8
100
10.2
1 2
150
9.8
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 13
I'ump Equipment
The present equipment of pumps is such that for the
eventual duplication of the engine equipment only one
more pump need be added to each of the sets of two now
used. The intake and aqueduct are now of sufficient size
for future doubled capacity.
Piping
All pipes through walls or floors pass through cast-
iron sleeves, provided where necessary with bell ends to
permit of yarn calking. All low-pressure piping was
FIG. 5 OUTGOING LINES
tested to 100 lb. and high-pressure piping to 300 lb. per
sq. in. All piping is identified by colors.
Filtered water is collected in a reservoir controlled by
an automatic float valve. Pressure lines from the tank
are carried into the bunkers and the ash pits.
Electrical-Transmission Equipment
The electrical equipment consists of a bank of three
3000-kva, 11, 000/44,000- volt Westinghouse transformers
of the water-cooled type, and a bank of three 1000-kva,
11,000 2300- volt General Electric water-cooled trans-
formers. Westinghouse electrically operated circuit-
breakers are used on the low-tension and high-tension
sides of the transformers. The line openings consist
of plate glass with a 2-in. hole mounted in wood frames.
A 40-ton Niles electric crane is installed, as well as a
fairly complete machine shop for repair work.
The following percentages of the total cost were com-
puted :
Item Per Cent
Well, tank and hydrant line 0.72
Intake and tunnel 2.03
Coal bunkers, complete 4.78
Ash hoppers, elevators, Hacks and soot chambers 0.88
Chimney 4.31
Boilers, smoke flue and feed-water regulators 17.55
Steam-turbine set, condenser and air ducts 22.03
Electrical equipment for power transmission 8.91
Piping and valves 5.62
Pumps 1,70
Feed-water heater 0.55
Electrical crane 1.15
Shop equipment — tools, furniture, etc 1.15
Drying out and starting 0.48
Building, including station lighting, filters, conduit, plumb-
ing, engine foundations, trains, grading, etc 28.14
The record run on the plant to date is 9200 kw for
a period of 120 hours. As soon as operating conditions
permit, a thorough test will be made to determine costs
of production and efficiencies.
Improvements Suggested by Experience
From experience gained under operating conditions
the following improvements might be suggested:
Vents should be provided directly over the blow-offs.
One large tight damper should be placed in the smoke
flue near the chimney for reducing the draft to a mini-
mum while running under banked fires.
One storage bunker of similar design to those built
might be used to advantage for storing coal for bank-
ing, and possibly a lorry might be used for distribution.
The electrical equipment would be better separated
entirely from the engine-room equipment, and outdoor
equipment would be more economical.
It would be more economical to operate the condenser
circulating pump by motor rather than by steam turbine.
The table printed on page 777 sets forth the economy
of the layout.
1
1 M
m*w*"*^% |R|!| ,
I^^Li ■ 1^ in 'TTl ,,
I I'. <", -MOUNT HOLLY STEAM STATION OK SOUTHERN POWER COMPANY
M u:. ii 11, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Thermal-Insulation Tests of Electric Ovens
Experimental Investigation of the Resistance to Heat Offered
by Five Different Kinds of Oven Wall
By A. E. Kennelly, F. D. Everett and A. A. Prior
AN extensive literature already exists on the sub-
ject of the thermal resistivity of heat-insulating
materials surrounding hot pipes, ovens and simi-
lar apparatus. Nevertheless, it is believed that some
measurements made by the authors on the thermal re-
sistance of electric-oven hollow walls, containing air and
other materials, will be of interest to makers and users
of such devices.
The object of the research was to find the effect of
placing different materials inside the hollow walls of an
electric oven on the thermal leakance of those walls at
or near the steady thermal state. Is it better, from a
heat-insulation standpoint, to use hollow oven walls con-
taining air only, or to fill them with solid heat-insulating
Thermometer
Switch- board
TIG. 1 — FRONT VIEW OF ELECTRIC OVEN
substances? How much difference in loss of heat and
electric power will there be in the two cases?
The Oven Experimented With
The electric oven was one constructed for heating and
drying insulating materials in the electrical engineer-
ing department of Harvard University in 1912. It is of
rectangular form and supported on four legs, termi-
nating in rollers, so as to stand well above the floor.
The front view cross-section and longitudinal section
of the oven are presented in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 respec-
tively. The principal dimensions are given in Table I.
At one end of the oven the walls are split and hinged
vertically so as to form pairs of doors. Both the inside
and the outside doors overlap, so as to form close covers.
A glass window, 19 cm by 24 cm, is fastened into each
pair of doors, and these two windows are set one behind
the other, so that illuminated objects inside the oven
can be kept visible from the outside without opening
the doors.
All the walls of the oven are composed of "asbestos
board." The inside walls are of one layer of Va-in.
(1.27-cm) board. All of the outside walls are (except
the top) of two layers of the board — the inner \ i in.
cm i thick and the outer % m. 1 0.95 cm) thick.
The top outside wall is of two layers each ;, in. (.0.95
cm). The joints between slabs were calked with 85 per
cent magnesia compound, and where a double layer of
boards exists, as in all the outside walls, the layers are
staggered to avoid coincidence of joints. Doors and
windows are flanged with metal to insure good closure.
Heating System
The heating of the oven is effected by means of six
coils of bare "la-la" zero-coefficient resistance wire,
each wound specially on a horizontal porcelain cyl-
inder. These heating cylinders are supported on the
floor of the oven, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. Each
Outside &. Inside i'0. 96cm
I*"
Outside & Inside both } * 0.96cm'
FIG. 2 — CROSS-SECTION OF ELECTRIC OVEN
cylinder is 20.3 cm (8 in.) long and 6 cm (2 7 16 in.)
in diameter. The resistance of the wire on each cylin-
der is about 12 ohms, so that heat is developed in each
at the rate of approximately 1 kw when connected to
direct-current 110-volt mains. By means of switches
mounted on the outside of the oven the heater can be
either disconnected or connected in various series-
parallel groups, so as to regulate the heating up to a
maximum of 6 kw. As a rule, all the heaters were con-
nected in parallel, so as to obtain a floor distribution of
generated heat as nearly uniform as possible, the volt-
age at heater mains being controlled externally.
In preliminary tests the distribution of final tempera-
tures within the oven was found to be very un-uniform.
As might easily be imagined, the air inside was much
hotter at the top than at the bottom of the oven. In
order to secure a more nearly uniform thermal distribu-
tion, it was necessary to employ a direct-current electric
fan inside the oven operated from auxiliary mains. The
fan and motor finally selected consumed about 50 watts
and ran at 1710 r.p.m., on 115 volts, at a room tem-
perature of 21 deg. C. The fan had a diameter of 30.5
cm (12 in.) and had four blades. The oven tempera-
ture had to be limited to such as would not dangerously
780
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 13
overheat the fan motor. The power absorbed by the
motor was included in the heat input. The electric con-
nections of the fan and the heating circuit are indi-
cated in Fig. 4. The power absorbed by the fan motor
was indicated on a separate wattmeter at 115 volts. At
the working oven temperatures the power it absorbed
diminished slightly. With the aid of this fan the tem-
perature distribution within the oven could be kept
nearly uniform, but without the fan it is doubtful if
1 ■
FIG. 3 — LONGITUDINAL SECTION OF ELECTRIC OVEN
any reliable thermometric averages could have been ob-
tained for the mean internal temperature. The watt-
meters used were calibrated against standards, and
their readings were corrected accordingly.
Centigrade thermometers were used with scales read-
able to one-tenth of a degree. At first four thermom-
eters were employed, one inserted through a sheet-iron
tube, so as to have its bulb in the air at the top of the
oven inclosure; one laid on the floor at the bottom; the
third suspended inside near the top, and the fourth sus-
pended inside half-way up. The internal thermometers
were read by the light of a heating lamp within the oven.
TABLE I — AVERAGE DIMENSIONS OF OVEN
Breadth
l!< 1..11 r
Cm In.
Cm In.
Cm In.
160.2
141.8 .wj
105.5 41}
87.5 341
in 43 :
90.1
DB Slab
In.
Cm
In,
i 60
»
1.9
I
Top and bottom *v ill
ii '.».
1
2.5
1.0
- [da w.-iIIh . .
5.40
-•1
6.05
21
1 b»sc from floor
through the double-glass window. These thermometers
were found to read too high, owing to direct radiation
from the lamp. A paper cylindrical petticoat shield
applied to the bulbs, so as to screen off the light without
interfering with the circulation of air. overcame this
difficulty. Then the thermometer Inserted through the
sheet-iron tube in the top was found to read too low,
owing to conductive escape of heat along the tube. The
tube was therefore removed and replaced by a pair of
corks, one in the outer and the other in the inner wall.
The thermometer then gave satisfactory indications.
With the circulating fan working, all of the four ther-
mometers were found to coincide in their readings with-
in 0.25 deg. C, so that only two thermometers were
found to be necessary — the top one projecting through
the corks and an extra one inside as a check. These
were calibrated from standards in the physics depart-
ment.
Procedure in Measuring Temperature Elevations
It is well known that if an electric oven starts cool,
with all its parts inside and out at ordinary room tem-
perature, the first effect of applying constant heating
power within it will be to raise the internal tempera-
ture at a relatively rapid rate, this rate of rise grad-
ually diminishing until, after an indefinitely great lapse
of time, the internal temperature should cease to rise
and the temperature elevation should reach a steady
maximum value. The heat supplied to the oven is then
entirely expended in leakage through the walls, and
no longer raises the temperature. Consequently, in
order to measure the leakage of heat with precision, it
would be necessary to keep the power applied to the
oven until the internal temperature was stationary.
For an oven of the size here considered this would mean
keeping on the heat for many hours together, a condi-
tion different from that ordinarily encountered in prac-
tice, besides entailing much difficulty and delay in ar-
riving at results. It was therefore decided to make the
measurements of thermal leakage after about eight
hours of heat application. In the first half hour the in-
ternal temperature was brought up rapidly to the de-
sired limit by applying a steady input considerably in
excess of the final required amount. The input was
then shut off to its estimated required steady value. The
internal temperature would then drop slightly for an
hour or so, after which it would slowly rise toward the
limiting value. After seven or eight hours from the
start, the rate of rise was found to be sufficiently small
to enable the heat input to be taken as heat leakage
without serious error; but if the heat had been kept on
for, say, twenty-four hours, the internal temperature
would probably have been appreciably higher and the
leakage per degree appreciably less. The comparative
leakage of heat with different oven walls would not be
likely to differ appreciably with twenty-four-hour runs
Ah r^fWVWJ-r
r4/WW\l
i-Lfywyv-p-
U U P U U U LJ UJ
i I I t I » I 1 1 1 I I I I i-r— I I- f^
Coils
Lamp
PIG. 1 INPUT CONNECTIONS OF ELECTRIC OVEN
or eight-hour runs, and it was the comparative rather
than the absolute values that were sought for in these
tests.
Wall Structures Tested
Five different kinds of wall were tried as follows:
( l) Single Walla. In this test the outer shell of the
double-walled oven was taken oif, leaving the oven with
Kan m 27, 1916
E I. EC! RICAL WORLD
781
the single inner wall All joints in
ngle wall which seemed to be not quite air-tight
were covered with magnesia plast
The test.- made with single walls were as shown in
•ccupied one day. Bj temperature
in the table is meant the difl \een the internal
Oven temperature anil the external air tempi
the mom at the end of the run.
TABLE II rEST8 UAOI with BINQLE WALLS
i
Input,
1
i- B
7
45
677
36.0
.-..-.
1015
39.7
0 0253
■
1027
38.9
1
7
30
1540
13.8
(7 2
30
1481
I
39.8
i) ».'.'. 1
Mrtn
0.0254
The thermal resistance of the oven — that is, the ratio
of the difference in temperature between the air inside
of the oven and the external air of the room to the
steady heat escape in watts — was R = 0.0254 thermal
ohm.* The total wall area of the oven was approx-
imately 69,000 sq. cm (10,700 sq. in.), and the average
wall thickness 1.27 cm (Vfc in.), so that the thermal
resistivity of the asbestos board forming the oven shell
was 0.0254 X 69,000 -4- 1.27 = 1377 thermal ohm-cm.
This is in accordance with the value of the thermal
resistivity of asbestos board given by C. P. Randolph
in the General Electric Review for February, 1903;
viz., 1140 to 1397 thermal ohm-cm (450 to 550 thermal
ohm-inches).
i2) Double Walls with Simple Air-Space Separation.
— When the outside shell of asbestos board was re-
placed on the oven, corresponding to the condition in-
FIG. 5-
-CROSS-SECTION OF ELECTRIC OVEN WITH CELLULAR
WALLS
dicated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the series of observations
given in Table III were taken. The above results in-
•"The Heating of Copper Wires by Electric Currents," by A. E.
K. Tin. iu ;hhI ]•;, It. Shepard, TraiuiacUons A. I /•;. /•:., Juni
1907, p. 974. "Simplification of Electrothermal Calculations th<
Watl and Thermal Ohm," by Carl Herlng, Transact Unix .1. ; / /
June 86, 1912, p. 1 191.
dicate that adding the outer shell to the oven, or chang-
ing from a single to a double wall of asbestos board
with a free air space between them, increased the wall
thermal resistance from 0.0254 to 0.041 thermal ohm,
or by about 60 per cent.
KIG. 6-
-LONGITUDINAL SECTION OF ELECTRIC OVEN WITH
CELLULAR WALLS
(3) Double Walls with Baffle Strips. — In order to as-
certain whether the thermal resistance of the double
walls would be appreciably increased by breaking up
TABLE III-
-TESTS MADE WITH DOUBLE WALLS AND AIR-
SPACE SEPARATION
Test
No.
Temp.
Rise,
Deg. C.
Lenoth
of Run
Steady
Input,
Watts
Watts per
Deg. C.
Rise
Deg. C.
Rise
per Watt
Hours
Min.
1
1.5.5
7
15
373
24.1
0.0415
2
23.9
8
5
578
24.2
0.0413
s
31.4
7
37
770
24.5
0.0408
4
41.2
7
25
1022
24.8
0.0403
Mean..
0 0410
the hollow space into cells, horizontal wooden strips
were inserted at the sides and ends, between the outer
TABLE IV — TESTS MADE WITH DOUBLE WALLS AND BAFFLE
STRIPS
Lenoth of Ron
Test
No.
Temp.
Rise.
1)''U. C.
Hours
Minutes
1
19.1
7
20
2
27.3
7
25
3
4U.2
8
5
1
12 8
8
40
Steady Watts per Dejr.. C
Input, Deg. C. Rise
Watts ' Rise per Ws
C.
e
per Watt
443
663
1025
1056
23.2
24.3
0 0432
ii 0412
0.0392
0.0405
0.0410
and inner shells, as indicated in Figs. 5 and 6. These
wooden strips were 5.3 cm wide and 0.5 cm (3/16 in.)
thick. When inserted, they changed the vertical hollow
walls from spaces 108 cm high to a series of cells, each
20 cm high, one above another. It was supposed that
this breaking up of the walls into compartments might
782
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 13
check the flow of internally contained air and so tend
to increase their thermal resistance. The results
given in Table IV were obtained. The average thermal
tance was therefore not appreciably increased by
inserting the baffle strips in the walls.
TABLE V — TESTS MADE WITH DOUBLE WALLS PACKED WITH
COTTON WASTE
Teat
No.
Temp.
Rise.
Deg. C.
Length
of Run
Steady
Input,
Watts
Watts per
Deg. C.
Rise
Deg. C.
Rise
per Watt
Hours
Minutes
1
15
7
5
243
IB. 2
0.0617
2
23
7
40
382
16.6
0.0602
3
40.7
7
10
6S4
16.8
0.0595
Mean . .
0.0605
(4) Double Walls Packed with Cotton Waste.— The
baffle strips used in the preceding series of tests were
removed, and the hollow space between the two shells
of the oven was filled with loosely packed dry cotton
waste. The series of measurements shown in Table V
were then made. The effect of packing the double
TABLE VT — TESTS MADE WITH DOUBLE WALLS PACKED
WITH METALLIC WOOL
Test
No.
Temp.
Rise.
Deg. C.
Length
of Run
Steady
Input,
Watts
Watts per
Deg. C.
Rise
Deg. C.
Rise
per Watt
Hours
Minutes
1
12.75
7
30
165.7
13.0
0.0769
2
12.6
8
0
163.9
13.0
0.0769
3
21.4
7
0
301
14.05
0.0712
4
25.0
7
10
298.8
11.95
0.0837
5
31.0
7
15
395
12.73
0.0786
6
43.5
7
30
544
12.50
0.0800
Mean. .
0.0779
walls with cotton waste was to increase their resistance
from 0.041 to 0.0605 thermal ohm, or by nearly 50
per cent.
(5) Double Walls Packed with Metallic Wool. — The
cotton waste packing used in the preceding series was
removed and replaced by so-called "metallic wool." This
TABLE VII-
-SUMMARY OF RESULTS FROM THE VARIOUS
TESTS
Series Nature ol Wall
Watts 1 1
Input per Rise par
Deg. C. Rise, W >n Input,
Thermal Thermal
Mhos Ohms
Thermal
Rasji 1
Unfit shell
39 4 0 0254
2
.11 and limplf
24.4
24 4
U g
0 0410
0 0410
0.0606
0.0779
1
Double ''hell and cellular
4
Doubls shall i> >■ 1
Doubts shad packed with
8 (17 i Q
in the trade name of a substance resembling ordinary
wool in appearance but consisting of a mineral sub-
stance procured in Indiana. The material is fused and
then blown out by compressed air. It is non-inflam-
mable and is therefore preferable to cotton wool as a
packing for oven walls. The series of results given in
Table VI were then obtained.
A series of tests maintained with an input of 170>
watts was continued for twelve hours. The rise of tem-
perature during this run indicated that the thermal
time-constant of the oven was roughly four hours. It
is evident that the metallic-wool packing increased the
thermal resistance of the walls 200 per cent above that
of a single shell. No attempts were made to compare
the effects of metallic wool with other known heat in-
sulators such as flocculent magnesia, nor have we reas-
son to suppose that the metallic wool is exceptionally
advantageous in this respect.
Table VII summarizes the results in the various-
series.
Synopsis
The ovens provided with double walls containing a
simple air space between them showed about 60 per
cent more thermal resistance to the escape of heat than
a single wall, after a steady input for from seven to
eight hours. Inserting a few horizontal wooden strips
into the walls to break up the air space into compart-
ments had no appreciable effect. Packing the hollow
walls with loose dry cotton waste increased the double-
wall thermal resistance nearly 50 per cent, and packing
with a loose flocculent mineral substance nearly 90
per cent.
The Distinction Between Cost and Value
The first fundamental principle in the valuation of
physical property, concerning which much confusion
exists, said Mr. Kempster B. Miller in an address before
the National Independent Telephone Association at Chi-
cago lately, is the distinction between cost and value.
Value is likely to differ widely from cost, and the more
widely the two are separated in point of time the greater
is the difference likely to be. For instance, asked Mr.
Miller, will anyone say that a piece of real estate in
what is now downtown Chicago which fifty years ago-
cost $10 has a value of no more than that now? Or is.
the value of a crate of apples which has rotted on the
owner's hands to be measured by the cost of those ap-
ples a month ago? Conversely, the closer together the
time of purchase and the time of valuation are the more
nearly is cost likely to approximate and to be a true
measure of value. When the date of cost and the
date of valuation are coincident, cost is likely to-
be a fair measure of value. It is for this reason that
the courts have held that the cost of reproduction is one
of the important things to consider in arriving at the
value of a physical property. Unfortunately for the re-
production theory of determining cost as a means of
measuring value, it is not feasible to tear down the plant
and build it again so as to find out how much it would
cost to reproduce it now.
The only alternative, in order to arrive at the cost of
reproduction, is to make as close an estimate as possi-
ble of the hypothetical reconstruction of the plant at the
present time. This does not mean that in this hypo-
thetical process impossible things are to be assumed,
as, for instance, that the plant is to spring into exist-
ence overnight as if by a miracle. "Obviously," con-
tinued the speaker, "we must confine ourselves to what
is humanly possible; and this means that we must allow
a reasonable period for our hypothetical reconstruction,
and that we must consider not only those costs which
inter into the purchase of material and the payment of
wages but also all collateral costs which would reason-
ably and necessarily enter into the construction of the
plant."
Maki-ii Z7, r.'i..
tlJJ 1 K 1 I A 1. \\ U K 1, H
I \< TORS IN RATE-MAKING— n
Coaaidermtioiu Thai Govern Rata and Some \<» Ptrai of
Utilitj Scfcednk -
By Artiiik 8. [VES
The factors which must be determined for each rate
are a-s follow.- :
h Fixed charge per day per kilowatt of station de-
mand baaed on the total investment required to
serve the consumers of the particular class under
consideration, also on all costs of the distribu-
tion system in its broadest sense.
I Operating charge per kilowatt-hour, including con-
sumer charges.
/ Interweave, or ratio of station demand to sum of
consumers' demands.
.V Number of hours' average use per day of consum-
maximum demand, to be covered by re-
quired minimum monthly guarantee.
M Number of hours' average use per month of con-
sumer's maximum demand, to be covered by re-
quired minimum monthly guarantee.
II' Percentage to be allowed as wholesale discount per
each $10 of net monthly bill, to take account
of the reduction in "consumer charge" per kilo-
watt-hour consumed by large users.
C = Amount of cash or prompt-payment discount to be
included in rate.
D = Individual diversity factor, or ratio of consumer's
maximum demand to his total connected load.
(This is important only where actual demand
must be estimated.)
Of these factors F and V must be determined by
analysis of the company's records. As an example as-
sume a company serving two communities, their centers
of population being 20 miles apart, with the generating
station on the outskirts of one and 18 miles from the
other. We will have a primary classification into geo-
graphical zones, one for each community, and separate
rate factors shall be determined for each. The differ-
ence in results may be so small that it would not war-
rant two separate rate schedules, but before this can be
known the analysis must be made. For this example it
will not be necessary to consider other forms of primary
classification as the principles are the same.
As a secondary classification we will assume the fol-
lowing simple division into municipal street lighting,
commercial lighting, residence lighting, commercial
motor service and wholesale motor service (sold at gen-
erating-station switchboard).
These two classifications are sufficient for the deter-
mination of the factors F and V.
Assume that the company is subject to the jurisdic-
tion of the New York Public Service Commission, Sec-
ond District, and conforms to its standard system of
accounts. Most of the other state commissions have
used this system as a model, so the variations are not
very considerable.
Capital Accounts
What we propose to do is to determine these factors
simultaneously for all classes of consumers. We must
first ascertain the capital investment required by each
class. Let us prepare a form as shown in Table I,
using a separate column for each class and a separate
line for each item of accounts, and distributing each
such item to the classes to which it applies. The dis-
tribution of the capital accounts to the various classes
will be obvious to one who knows local conditions, and
the total for each column will give the investment fig-
ures on which interest and profit should be allowed.
F shall be a function of the "fixed charges" consisting
of interest, amortization, insurance (other than liabil-
ity i and taxes. The tir>t follow.' directly i .m the total
tment as found and the other thr- en di-
rectly from the operating expense account, t that the
whole may be as shown in Table II. T [n the
last line of Table II give the values of F for each class
respectively.
Operating K\p<iues
In similar manner factors V may be determined from
operating expenses, but in this case the unit cost will be
obtained directly by dividing the total early expense
for each item of accounts by the total kilowatt-jhours
sold to all the classes to which such item is to be pro-
TABLE [—CAPITAL INVESTMENT FOR BACH
Account or Item
'Vganuation
"•Yanchises
Patent Rights
Hhcr Intangible Capital
Land
>neral Structures
leneral Equipment
Dams, Canals and Pipe
Lines
Power-riant Buildings. . . .
Furnaces, Boilers and Ac-
cessories
^team Entrines
Turbines and WatcVwheels
-las Producers and Acces-
Electric Generators. . . .
Accessory Electric Power
Equipment
Miscellaneous Power-Plaot
Equipment
Substation Buildings
Substation Equipment ...
I'dlis and Fixtures
kLMi
r r u lersround Conduit
rntri-inissiun System
Distribution System
Line Transformers and De-
Electric Services
I'll ctric Meters
F.leetric-Mctcr In- t;iil;iliiiii
Municipal Street-Lightiim
System
I !ommercift] Are Lam] b. . .
Glower Lamps
Electric Motors and Heat-
Electric Tools and Imple-
ments
Kli i ■tne-Laboratory Equip-
ment
Other Tangible Electric
Capital
Engineering arid Superin-
tendence
Law Expenses during Con-
struction.
Injuries during Construc-
tion
Taxes during Construction.
Miscellaneous Construction
Expenses
Intercut during Construc-
tion
Materials and Supplies. . . .
Working Capital
Total investment..
rated. For example, if the yearly total cost for account
No. 543, "Commercial Incandescent Operation," is
$1,200, and it applies to commercial and residence light-
ing in both zones, the kilowatt-hours sold per year are
added to the four classes, and the total sum is divided
into $1,200. The result is the cost per kilowatt-hour of
this item for each class. Table III shows the form.
The factor / must be determined from experience,
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 13
check' <: or compared with all available similar experi-
ence and data of other companies. It is not difficult to
ascertain the consumers' demands individually or in
groups, but It is seldom that conditions permit a com-
pany to serve only a single group of consumers at one
time and thereby ascertain the actual interweave by
comparison of the observed station demand with the
sum of the consumers' demands for that particular
group. Sometimes this can be done, but generally the
various values of / for different classes must be de-
termined by approximation from available records, tak-
ing two or more groups at a time.
From the writer's experience the following is the
approximate range of values of /.' Municipal street
lighting, 1.00; commercial lighting, 0.80 to 0.90; resi-
dence lighting, 0.70 to 0.80; commercial motor service,
0.30 to 0.40; wholesale motor service, 0.50 to 1.00.
The value of / for wholesale motor service may be
much higher than for commercial motor service when
the number of consumers is small, and will reach 100
per cent whenever there is only one consumer in the
class. The same reason applies to street- lighting in
which there is only one consumer in the class. It is as-
sumed that there are a considerable number of consum-
ers in each of the other classes.
The next factors, N and M, may be fixed arbitrarily
but should depend on the use which average consumers
make of their demand. N and M should be so selected
that the resulting allowance of kilowatt-hours which a
consumer is permitted for his monthly guarantee will
not be greater than the average use of the average
TABLE II— FIXED CHARGES, AND VALUES FOR /.
TABLE III— OPERATING EXPENSES
»Z Account or Itcn
Ccnrral ImortintUN
Insurance (except Liability)
Taxes
Total fixed charges per
Total fixed charges per
day
Maximum station de-
mand int.u
Total fixed charges per
day per kilowatt of
maximun'
mand = V
consumer. This will stimulate increased use by the
average consumer, who would then have to pay only the
low excess rate for such increase, and will also stimu-
late the smaller consumer to use up his guaranteed
allowance, and so tend to raise him to the average. Fair
values of A' and A/ for the different classes, would gen-
erally be as shown in Table IV.
We can compute primary and secondary rates and
monthly guarantees by the following formulas :
Primary rate per kilowatt-hour = — =r= \- V
idary rate per kilowatt-hour = V
Monthly guarantee per kilowatt of consumers' demand
F ' ■ M VM
N
Kilowatt h< urs allowed per month for guarant.-.
V consumers' demand in kilowatts,
■
< ndence
and Labor
Fuel for Power
Water for Power
Lubricants for Power
in Supplies and
Station BEpeose
Repairs of Power-Plant
JmjMinga .
Repairs of Furnares, Boil-
ersand Accessories
Repairs of Steam Engines. .
Repairs of Hvdraulic Power
Plant
Repairs of Gas Power
Equipment
Repairs of Power Plant
ric Equipment
Miscellaneous Station Re-
pairs
Steam Purchased . .
Power Gas Purchased
Electric Energy Purchased .
521*
522a
523a
524
Transmission Subway Rent
Transmission Pole and Fix-
ture Repairs
Transmission Underground
Transmission System Re-
52b
Substation Supplies and
527
Repairs of Substation
J2k
H t pairs of Substation
529
Electric Storage Expenses
Electric Distribution Sup-
531
532
r^lectric Distribution Rec-
533 Setting and Removing Met-
521b
522b
523b
334
Distnbutiou Subway Rent.
Distribution Pole and Fix-
ture Repairs
Distribution Underground
i londuH Repairs
Distribution System Re-
533a
Repairs of Electric Sen-ices
536
Electric Meter Operat ion
and Repairs
Commercial Arc Operation
Commercial Are Repairs
Commercial bmi
Operation
Consumers' Installation
541
513
:<u
545
Municipal Street Arc Oper-
S4Q
Muninpal Street Arc Re-
pair*
M unii ipal Street [naandea-
cent Operation
Municipal Street Incandc--
cent Repair^
1 ' menial Administration
Promotion Expense-
General Officers and Clerta
Office Supplies and
547
648
835
B30 General La* Expense* —
V*7 Miscellaneous General E\-
Relief Department and
MM
1 ranchise Require-
ment*
Electric Expenses Trans-
84o
846
Joinl ' 'i'
Law Expenses <
M7fa
848
onery and
Plrntlng
850
853
DupUoati
Total- P- Operating
pet kilowaM-
Mai« ii J7. 1915
K I. ECT RIC A I. WORLD
should lie computed for eacli class, using in
turn thi for different ck
\\ holf«kl Discount*
It remains to fix a proper schedule of wholesale dis-
counts. Referring to Table III and the accompanying
discussion, it will In- recalled that we included in "oper-
ating cost" the items previously designated as "consum-
rheoretically consumer costs should be the
same per consumer and not per kilowatt-hour, and on
9uch a basis the larger the number of kilowatt-hours
per consumer the smaller should be the amount per kilo-
watt-hour included in the rate to cover consumer cost.
This tits in with the "wholesale" principle and enables
us to make proper allowances by wholesale discount and
avoid what would otherwise be an excessive rate for
large consumers. We take from Table III the items of
." which will include accounts Nos. 551
mmercial Administration"! and 552 ("Promotion
Expenses" I and may include some other items according
to the policies of the company. Then, for each class of
consumers let
A = total yearly income in cents.
B total yearly "consumer cost" in cents.
C = total yearly kilowatt-hours sold.
D = average total number consumers during year.
A' actual maximum monthly kilowatt-hours of any
consumer.
F = corresponding monthly bill at gross rate.
G = average monthly bill.
// average "consumer cost" per month per consumer.
K average "consumer cost" per kilowatt-hour (in-
cluded in gross rate).
L = minimum cost per kilowatt-hour at gross rate.
M = maximum percentage wholesale discount to apply
to F. Then
TABLE IV FAIR VALUES OF V AND .1/ FOR DIFFERENT
i 1. \SSKS
V lighting
lighting
Commercial motor ien ice
en ice
jL = r i-
12/) ' 12D
i-*
H,
K.
.1/, or
substituting for H, K and L and reducing we have
_ B ( \2DE — C)
12CDF '
The theoretical curve of wholesale discounts can be
plotted, using "percentage of discount" as ordinates
and "monthly bill at gross rate" as abscissas. The dis-
count should be zero at the point corresponding to the
average monthly bill G, and equal to M at the point
corresponding to maximum monthly bill E. Other
points may be determined by the same formula, substi-
tuting intermediate values of gross monthly bill and
corresponding kilowatt-hours for E and F.
The higher the total "consumer cost," the larger will
be the wholesale discounts that can be allowed; where
consumer costs are high the kilowatt-hour rate for
larger consumers will be low.
Theoretically the cash discount C should be equal to
the cost of collecting bills if delinquent. Properly
ting, it is, therefore, of the nature of a "consumer
charge," but most companies have preferred to apply
it as a reduction in the rate per kilowatt-hour. As a
general rule it should be not less than 5 per cent nor
more than 10 per cent of the rate, but need not be in
form of a percentage. An equivalent amount should
be included in the final make-up of the rate, so that
after deduction as a cash discount the company will
receive the net amount determined. If the consumer
[•ABLE V INDIVIDUAL DIVERSITY FACTOR, SHOWING
VALUES I IF /< FOR LIGHTING
For Commercial
righting,
■nlence
Lighting, per Cent
ii SO
LOO DO
100.00
ii 75
90.00
1 mi
95 mi
85 00
1 25
H 00
78.00
1.50
73.33
1 7.-.
2.00
2 50
3.00
3.50
4.00
J 50
.-, 00
B2 M
68.57
92.50
65.00
92 00
60 00
'.il 87
60.00
91 41
60.00
'.il 23
60.00
91 11
60.00
91.00
60.00
does not pay promptly, the extra amount received will
apply toward cost of collection.
Some companies have substituted penalty for non-
payment in place of discount for prompt payment, but
this is not considered the best public policy.
The individual diversity factor D need not be consid-
ered at all in rate-making if the consumers' maximum
demand is measured directly by some form of meter. In
small installations the cost of such a meter is prohib-
itive, and the demand is generally estimated as a per-
centage of connected load. Such percentage is, by defi-
nition, equal to D. Here again experience and com-
parison with records of other companies must be used
for equitable results. Tables V and VI show schedules
of the values of D, for commercial lighting, residence
lighting and motor service, which have been prepared
very carefully from such considerations and which un-
doubtedly present average conditions very closely. It
will be noted that for motor service the value of D
TABLE VI— INDIVIDUAL DIVERSITY FACTOR, SHOWING
VALUES OF D FOR MOTOR SERVICE
Number of Motors, 1 Hi' and Larger
si/..- and
Total Horse-Power
of Connected Motors
1
Two
Three,
Four
or
Five
Six.
Seven,
Eight,
Nine or
Ten
Eleven
or
More
1 mi
n 90
3 hp to less than 5hp. ..
0.90
0.85
0.80
5hp to less than 7 lip. .
0.85
0.80
II 7.'.
II 7H
7 hp to less than HI lip
ii 80
i
0.70
0.65
10 hp to I'-ss than L'H hp
0.75
ii ro
o.«;,
0.60
0.60
211 hp to I'-ss than :i."i lip
0.70
0 65
il i,n
0.55
0.55
n 88
0.63
0.80
0.55
0.50
varies with the number of connected motors as well as
with their total aggregate horse-power.
This completes the list of factors stated at the begin-
ning of Part II and gives all data required to prepare a
complete rate schedule for classes of service under con-
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 13
sideration. These same rate factors can be used as the
basis of any other desired form of load-factor rate.
Kt'turn on Investment
If cost figures only have been used in the analysis, it
will be necessary to add a proper amount for profit in
fixing the rates themselves. Profit should be so divided
that both fixed constants and variable constants will
carry their proper share. The total amount should pro-
duce an equitable and adequate return on the invest-
ment. A discussion as to the percentage of return on I
investment which would be considered equitable and II
adequate is outside of the province of this paper, except .|
that, as in any other business venture, the return should
be commensurate with the risk. The various public
service commissions which have made rulings seem to l|
have shown a disposition to give companies proper con-
sideration along these lines, and doubtless they will con-
tinue to do so.
(To be continued I
Practical Operation of Central Stations
Managers Discuss Frankly the Daily Problems of Operation Before the
New England Section of the N. E. L. A.
THE New England Section of the National Electric
Light Association held a "question box" conven-
tion at Boston, Mass., on March 11 and 12, with
a total attendance of about 300. The meetings were
unique in the entire absence of prepared papers or ad-
dresses, the whole time being devoted to discussion of
practical topics. The program included an informal
dinner at the American House on March 11 and visits
to the Boston Automobile Show on the evenings of the
two days. Much enthusiasm characterized the meetings
on account of their informality and close association
with daily problems. A resume of thto discussions is
given below, classified according to general subjects.
Steam-Plant Practice
.Mr. Welles E. Holmes, Cambridge, Mass., outlined the
elimination of smoke in the plant of the Cambridge Elec-
tric Light Company by the use of Taylor stokers. He
pointed out that smokeless firing can be secured by
hand stoking under constant supervision, but empha-
sized the value of the continuous service secured in
mechanical firing. At Cambridge the boiler capacity
was increased by the stoker installation. It was found
titial to keep the firemen from dumping the ash too
frequently, as this leads to the waste of unconsumed
fuel. Mr. John Seed, Worcester (Mass.) Electric Light
Company, said that at his company's Webster Street
station the rate of combustion could not be forced to 50
lb. or 60 lb. per sq. ft. of grate per hour without smok-
ing. The best running point of the boilers is at about
150 per cent of their rating, although the boilers have
been run at 300 per cent rating. Smoke begins to ap-
pear at about 200 per cent to 250 per cent of rating.
.Mr. R. W. Rollins, Worcester, cited the deposit of soot
from the stack when the draft was increased from 3.5
in. to 5 in. It was pointed out that the Cambridge
boilers ran at from 175 per cent to 200 per cent of
rating without smoking except slightly when fires were
cleaned. Clinker has been largely overcome in a Cape
Cod plant by turning the tuyeres around and boring
holes in them to improve the air supply.
One company reported trouble due to hunting of en-
gines when two generating units were operated in paral-
lel, and it was suggested that this probably was due to
irregularities in governing. In a similar case the dif-
ficulty was eliminated by clamping the governor of one
engine anil governing from the second unit, as in groups
of hydroelectric -tat ions.
Generators, Motors, etc.
feci "i excessive heating of the rotor of an In-
duction motor was shown to lie an increased drop in
i and increased loss in watts, reducing the efficiency.
One ^oenVtei pointed out that he saved much time in
putting in the brushes and grid in a General Electric
form L induction motor by using a template composed
of three pieces of tin on three sides of a triangle as a
guide. Another member cut down the total interruption
from service of a hoisting motor to two and one-half
hours by welding an armature shaft which twisted off,
by the autogenous method, the shaft then being
straightened and turned before going back into use.
Discussing this, Mr. W. H. Vorce, St. Albans, Vt., urged
great caution in welding by the autogenous method, con-
tending that this work should be done only by persons
skilled in its handling. A skin weld easily can be made,
but this will not hold. Thermit welding had been found
more successful in repairing a waterwheel shaft which
broke off in a rear journal box in a plant where six
weeks would have been required to get a new shaft. At
first an oxy-acetylene weld was tried, but only a skin
weld resulted, and the task was then accomplished by
the use of the thermit process. Mr. D. J. De Courcy.
Lawrence, Mass., cited a case where a shaft was re-
paired by turning it down from '.s in. to 14 in. and
shrinking on a new bushing. Mr. F. C. Campbell, Cam-
bridge, closed this part of the discussion by calling at-
tention to the practice of posting a list of "don'ts" near
the starting switch of every motor and taking the cus-
tomer's receipts for each list.
Switchboards and Instruments
One company reported that to slot and shape marble
or slate in position it uses a high-speed power hack-saw
blade ground like a keyhole saw and clamped in a
"Kerfed" wooden handle. Near live wires this tool
can be used dry. Enameled conduit was recommended
for connecting oil switches, the advantages being in-
creased stiffness, straightness and no painting require-
ments.
The point was made that the Boston Edison company
requires the installation of reverse-phase relays in ele-
vator motor equipments to protect the motor against a
reversal from without. Some users of no-voltage-re-
lease coils reported trouble from burn-outs when the
voltage rose to a point 10 per cent above normal. Mr.
W. R. Eaton. Cambridge, stated that a reverse-phase
relay will not help materially in an elevator motor in-
stallation equipped with a mechanical brake only.
Several companies reported successful experience with
pole-type regulators. At Worcester. Mass.. a fortnight-
ly Inspection is given. The motors run all the time, and
in eighteen months' service on one equipment little at-
tention has been required. One speaker said that when
a pole-type regulator of early design was tirst placed
rvice the local board of health required its removal
on account of noise, hut recent designs are unobjection-
able. Mr. W. P. Schwabe, Windsor Locks. Conn., said
Maklm .'7. 1916
E I. EC TRICAL WO R I. D
that a regulator was notabb UBeful on a feeder 7 milea
long, when placed on tl trans-
former l milea from the generating plant. In this case
■ 16-hp refrigerating motor ii u the end of
the line on an off-peak contract limiting its service from
10 p. m. to I p. m. In another case an Anderson km
voltage time Bwitch is used to disconnect the motors in
two pole-type regulators during the daytime, without
Injuring the voltage regulation perceptibly. By this
ting of motor coils had been greatly reduced.
The regulators were connected in a two-phase lighl and
ler circuit, and the motors were of a three-
phase, high-torque design. The voltage fluctuations
d by the power load in the day led to heating, even
when the motors were operated for but a few minutes
under these conditions. The time switch was installed
in the secondary of the motor, and charts taken by an
automatic instrument showed as good regulation in the
da) without the motors in service as when they were
used.
On another system a potential regulator in an outside
transformer house caused trouble by either raising or
lowering the voltage in jumps or "hanging up" at its
high and low point. The trouble found was that the
primary relay was not level and the guides on the
oid had worn a hollow in its bearing and would
stick. The relay was leveled, the bearing reamed out,
and the trouble overcome. A discussion took place about
the desirability of inspecting starting compensators in
consumers' installations. Several of the members fa-
I this plan as a service which can be rendered to the
customer at very little additional cost. Experience as
to the need of changing transformer and oil-switch oil
onally varied widely. The Cambridge Electric
Light Company draws off and replaces the oil in all
service transformers each summer. The Salem (Mass.)
company makes a yearly test for grounds with a portable
10-watt lamp on all service transformers, and checks up
the oil level. The Buzzards Bay company sends a letter
each fall to schools, asking teachers to impress upon
children the danger of touching loose outdoor wiring.
An effective "safety first" scheme used by a Connecti-
cut company is the monthly offering of a first and a
second premium to any employee reporting conditions in
any of the company's property that might cause injury
to either employees or to the public, or that might cause
preventable waste. Since the institution of this offer on
July 1, 1914, no reports from the public about unsafe
conditions have been received, and it is becoming in-
nigly difficult for employees to find any such con-
ditions to report.
When no protective devices are installed on constant-
current transformers, one company arranges an alarm
bell to ring in case of an open circuit. The same com-
pany installed a discarded 50-watt, 2200-to-110-volt po-
tential transformer on a 220-volt lighting circuit to sup-
lily current for the operation of signal bells and horns.
Line Construction
A question was raised relative to the amount of busi-
ness necessary on line extensions to justify their con-
struction. Mr. F. J. Lyon, Waterbury, Conn., stated
that at least $35 per year should be obtained for each
$100 of investment, based on an allowance of 9 per cent
depreciation, 6 per cent interest, and 50 per cent of the
gross receipts for operating expenses. Another speaker
said that the average gross revenue of all the central
Stations in the United States is $13.60 per $100 of
investment. One company reported that in removing
and replacing electrodes in magnetite-arc lamps a pair
of pliers may be used to good advantage, saving time
and with less danger of breaking the globe than by the
usual hand method. An engineer numbers, initials and
designates < ables in underground service, and mark-
arms with a durable composition tag,
doing away with the stenciling of this equipment. A
• h.ap and effective method of protecting the en.:
cable in iron-base ornamental lamps is to use a porce-
lain bushing. 1 in. in diameter and 6 in. long, filled
with compound.
.Mr. E. W. Bates, Plymouth (Mass.) Electric Light
pany, stated that both the bow-arrow and wishbone
type of cross-arm are used on his system, with a con-
siderable saving on lines of 2300-volt service or higher
extending for some distance without customers. The
extra strength of the arm permits spacing the
from 200 ft. to 250 ft. apart, thus reducing the c
such an extent that many times a line which would not
prove satisfactory under ordinary construction can be
built using this material. Although the cost of the arms
and pins is nearly two and one-half times that of wooden
cross-arms and pins, the pole spacing reduces th<
about $225 per mile, using 40-ft. poles. On a 10-mile
line this saving was thus $2,250. The company has used
Pierce specialties for connecting customers and running
secondaries. Although the first cost may exceed that
of wooden construction, the low maintenance expense
more than makes up for the interest on the investment.
Lamps
The point was made that film cut-outs cannot be used
satisfactorily on series-tungsten lamps. Trouble has
been experienced with these lamps from explosions on
circuits supplied with rectified current. Several com-
panies favored the practice of charging for lamps re-
newed, paralleling the practice of gas companies with
respect to mantle renewals. One speaker stated that
local lighting circuits in dwellings could be effectively
protected against the effects of radio installations by the
use of a telephone-type condenser with cut-outs on each
line. A good deal of business can be obtained through
the interest of the wireless amateur. Where serious
difficulties have been encountered one company has made
a charge of $2 per month above the bill and has in-
stalled a separate transformer. An incandescent lamp
is used in cold weather on another system to warm the
oil in a rectifier while the apparatus is out of service.
Distribution Systems
Mr. A. D. Colvin, Hartford, Conn., stated that by the
use of synchronous condensers of the low-voltage type
the power-factor has been much improved on the local
system. Four are now in service. One of 200 kva is
loaded with a 75-hp fan at the end of a 10-mile, 10,000-
volt line and runs from 7 a. m. to 6 p. m. The power-
factor has been raised to 92 per cent. Others are in
factories having large induction motor installaticns.
Savings in line construction have followed the use of
this equipment, the power-factor being increased from
10 per cent to 15 per cent. In one factory the lighting
company pays a local electrician 25 cents a day to start
the condenser before 7 a. m. and care for cleaning. Mr.
W. P. Schwabe, Windsor Locks, Conn., cited a case
where the power-factor was raised from 55 per cent to
92 per cent by installing a 125-kva, 2300-volt synchro-
nous condenser on a 40-hp load in an industrial plant.
Methods of grounding secondaries in towns without
water supply systems were discussed. In one case a
transformer supplied eight houses. The secondary was
grounded to a coil of wire buried in coke, the ground
being salted. In another case where a copper plate was
buried in coke silicate of soda was effectively used.
Other topics discussed at the convention, dealing with
the commercial side of central-station management, are
referred to in the Commercial Section in this issue.
788
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. IS
DIGEST OF ELECTRICAL LITERATURE
Generator*. Motors and Transformers
Series Transformer.— A. G. L. McNAUGHTON. — A
mathematical paper illustrated by diagrams in which
the author gives expressions for hysteresis and eddy-cur-
rent losses and for the ratio and phase angle of a series
instrument transformer. A simple method of actually
measuring the ratio and phase angle is described.--
London Electrician, March 5, 1915.
Lamps and Lighting
Suit for Compulsory License for British Ductile
Tungsten Patents. — An account of an interesting and
important action which is now being heard before Jus-
tice Warrington in the Chancery Division in London, in
which the Robin Electric Lamp Company, Ltd., is seek-
ing a compulsory license under Section 24 of the patents
act of 1907. The object is to manufacture drawn-tung-
sten wire under certain patents owned by the British
Thomson-Houston Company and Siemens Brothers Dy-
namo Works, as it is alleged that these companies have
refused to supply the Robin Electric lamp Company
with wire on reasonable terms. — London Elec. Eng'ing.
March 4. 1915.
Generation, Transmission and Distribution
Buffer Batteries for Alternating-Current Systems. —
L. Schroeder. — An illustrated account of experience
with buffer batteries on alternating-current systems,
the fundamental idea being shown in Fig. 1. G is the
three-phase generator which supplies energy to the
three-phase busbars BC, while N is the network. MD
is a motor-generator, M being the three-phase motor
and D a direct-current generator. The latter acts in
co-operation with the storage battery A. In the bus-
bars a series transformer is provided, the secondary
current of which is rectified by means of the synchron-
ous converter R. The direct current which comes from
the synchronous converter R is approximately propor-
tional to the current in the network and is used to
regulate the booster Z. For this purpose the direct-
current from R is passed through the magnetizing wind-
ing ab of the booster Z. This booster has also a second
excitation winding cd which is charged from the bat-
tery A. The two excitation windings ab and cd act in
opposition. They are so dimensioned that at the aver-
age load in the network the actions of the two windings
counterbalance each other, so that the booster is non-
He;. I
A
HHHHHH^
WIRING ARRANGEMENT EOR BUFFER BATTERY
excited and the battery is neither charged nor dis-
charged It the load in the network increases, the ac-
tion of the winding 00 is greater than that of rd. anil
the booster Is now excited in such a way thai the stor
age battery is being discharged. The battery, there-
fore, drives t h«- dinet-current generator D, and the
Mir. 'f-pha.se alternator .1/ now becomes a generator anil
supplies energy to the network. On the other hand, if
the load in the network decreases below the average
value, the storage battery A is charged. For the reg-
ulating generator R use is not made of an ordinary
synchronous converter, but of a Danielson converter,
with the modification due to Woodbridge. This ar-
rangement was used in tests in which the normal load
FIG. 2 — RESULTS OF TESTS
of the network was 35 kw. The battery consisted of
106 cells, with a discharge current of 259 amp for one
hour. The results of the tests are given in Fig. 2, in
which curve 1 represents the load in the network in
kilowatts, curve 2 represents the load of the dynamo in
kilowatts, while curve 3 represents the voltage in the
network. The abscissas represent minutes. It will be
seen that even though the load in the network was in-
creased to 108 kw — that is, more than three times the
normal load — the buffer-battery arrangement acted
quite satisfactorily. The results of some other tests are
also given. The author shows how the system operates
if the generator suddenly stops its work and the bat-
tery is forced to supply the whole current. The voltage
in the network drops but can be brought up to its nor-
mal value quickly by a simple change of connections.
The possibility of using an ordinary synchronous con-
verter instead of a Danielson converter is finally dis-
cussed.— Elek. Zeit., Feb. 11 and 18, 1915.
Installations, Systems and Appliances
Combined Flat Rati and Meter Rate. — FRANKLIN
PUNGA. — The author thinks that some combination of
flat rate and meter rate will in time replace all other
methods of charging for electrical energy. The prin-
cipal difficulty which must be solved in introducing
such a combined rate, for instance as a substitute for a
pure meter rate, is to find an exact method for de-
termining the flat rate which is to be charged. Orig-
inally, the flat rate was based OH the maximum demand,
according to the system of Wright, but the author
thinks that present practice tends to base it rather upon
the aggregate rating of the connections or upon the
floor area. It would be wrong to charge a flat rate di-
rectly proportional to the total installed connections, be-
cause this would induce most subscribers to reduce
their installation to a minimum. Various methods de-
vised to overcome this difficulty are described and dis-
cussed. The Marytebone schedule introduced by Sea-
brook does not charge any flat rate for energy -consum-
ing apparatus except for lamps, and in the case of
lamps a charge is made only for 70 per cent of all
lamps installed, nor is any charge made for lamps in-
stalled for purely decorative purpose-;. For the connec-
tions calculated in this way a Hal rate of $70 per kw is
charged, while for ever] kilowatt-hour consumed 2
.ents is charged fhe BO-called Potsdam schedule,
Makih 27, 1918
K I. El I RI< A 1. W ORLD
789
whuh i^ very similar to the American rate baaed "ii the
arge according to the size of the
The charge is independent of the ennnee-
instaHed per room. For a residence of three
a monthly Hat rat.- • i< charged; for
f()Ut . tor five rooms, $1.25; for six
For larger residences
- charged for each additional room. No
charge i- made for kitchen, hall and servants' rooms.
By combining the Marylebone schedule and the I
dam schedule another schedule may lie obtained which
■ any more complicated than either of the two. The
tlat rat.- is divided into two parts, one part (A) de-
pending "ii the size ..t' the residence but n<>t on the rat-
inn of the connections, and the other part ( B ) being
proportional t . . the connections for lighting- If this
part B is calculated on the basis of a very low charge
per kilowatt of installed lamps, there is no danger that
a consumer will install a minimum of lamps. For in-
stance, a charge of 2.5 cents to :'».8 cents per month for
each 25-cp lamp seems suitable. The portion A would
be figured in a similar way as in the Potsdam schedule,
but the basis would be a lower rate. The charge made
for actual consumption should be not more than 2.5
cents per kw-hr. All these methods of charging for
electrical energy have the common advantage that an
ordinary meter may be used. The only difficulty is to
determine in a just and fair way what the flat rate should
FIG. 3 — PRINCIPLE OF CHARGING ON COMBINED FLAT RATE
AND METER RATE
be. The present author describes a method of his own
in which the determination of the flat rate is left to a
certain extent to the consumer himself in so far as he
has a right to say what his normal kilowatt rate shall
be. He employs a meter which registers separately,
first, the kilowatt-hours consumed above the agreed
normal kilowatt consumption, and, second, the kilowatt-
hours not consumed below the agreed normal kilowatt
consumption. For the former, the peak kilowatt-hours
consumed, a charge is made at a comparatively high
rate, while for the latter, the valley kilowatt-hours not
consumed, allowance is made on the bill at a compara-
tively low rate. The diagram of Fig. 3 illustrates the
principle. The straight horizontal line represents the
agreed normal kilowatt consumption, the shaded areas
A the peak kilowatt-hours consumed, the shaded areas
B the non-consumed valley kilowatt-hours. For A an
additional charge is made to the consumer, for B a re-
fund. According to the normal kilowatt consumption
agreed upon by the consumer, the latter is at liberty, to
a certain extent, to determine the flat rate himself. The
author discusses how to figure the flat rate of the nor-
mal kilowatt consumption (on the basis of continuous
consumption for 8760 hours), the rate for the valley non-
consumption (refund), and the rate for the additional
peak consumption (additional rate). He recommends
that the rate for the additional peak kilowatt-hours
should be lower in summer than in winter. Numerical
expenses are added, and the effect of this method of
charging on the finances ..t the central station i-
• •'.. it. Match. (Vienna), -Ian. 31, 1915.
\\ ir. ~. w \r\wj. and < onduiU
Modern Methods of Elect Mt s-
Ko. A long abstract of a paper on this subject read
• • the Scientific Society of the Royal Technical Col-
lege, Glasgow. The author described and criticised the
methods ordinarily used, giving many practical hints,
and showed a disposition to favor wood casing in pref-
• t.i steel conduit for the protection of the v
The subject of surface wiring was also dealt with, and
the author described a new type of ('. T. S. wiring
which he had devised. Reference is made to the use
of cab-tire sheathing. Although a rubber mixture, this
material has no highly insulating qualities, and hence
it is not generally used as an insulator but for mechan-
ical and chemical protection. The sheathing has sur-
prisingly good qualities of resistance to mechanical
and chemical injury. To reduce minor disadvantages
and make the system more widely suitable for surface
or covered work, the author has recently devised a modi-
fied construction — the C. T. S. concentric system. The
core consists of one or two tinned copper cables, rubber-
insulated to the C. M. A. specification, and taped.
Lapped closely around this is a ribbon of tinned copper
wires. These are so laid that side-by-side contact is
fully maintained. The whole is then taped and finally
covered with a tough layer of cab-tire sheathing. The
inner conductor is thus highly insulated and is doubly
protected against injury, first by the copper windings
of the exterior conductor and then by the resilient con-
sistency of the outer sheath. Although the cable is
made in concentric form, it is not intended that its use
should be confined to installations planned on what is
currently understood to be the concentric method. This
method assumes that one pole is deliberately connected
to "earth" at a point where the concentric system be-
gins, usually at the main switch ; also that single-pole
switches and fuses on the live wire only are used. When,
however, it is decided to carry out the work in this
purely concentric-system manner, then the new form
of cable possesses very distinct advantages over the
metal-covered concentric cables hitherto employed, since
potential differences between sections and dampness
will not matter and will not set up electrolysis. The
combined effect in the external conductor of the great
copper area, of the longer length due to spiral winding,
and of the side contact between turns of wires, is that
the ohmic resistance of the external conductor is ap-
proximately half that of the inner. This apparent ex-
travagance in copper is partly to provide armoring for
mechanical protection. It has some advantage in re-
ducing the temperature rise and the fall of potential.
In most circuits the return wire has most current to
carry as it serves more lamps than the individual switch
wires. The cost of the extra copper is negligible as
there are no expensive Para rubber coverings to go
over it. The chief advantage of the system is that there
is no external metallic surface to carry leakage and
short-circuit currents throughout a building to points
of danger. Like wood casing, its outer protection is an
insulator, but, unlike wood casing, it is damp-proof and
acid-proof. — London Elec. Review, Feb. 19, 1915.
Electrophysics and Magnetism
Electrical Resistance of Pure Iron. — G. K. Burgess
and I. N. Kellberg. — An account of a careful experi-
mental investigation of the electrical resistance and crit-
ical ranges of pure iron. The resistance of iron in-
creases from 0 deg. C. without any anomalies, with a
gradually increasing temperature coefficient, to above
050 deg. C, or until the neighborhood of the recalescent
T;iii
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 13
point .42 is reached. As A2 is approached the resistance
rises rapidly, and at A2 there is an inflection in the re-
sistance-temperature curve shown as a cusp at 757 deg.
C. in the temperature-coefficient curve. At AcS the re-
sistance of iron falls abruptly by some 0.005 of its value,
which is recovered within a 25-deg. interval, and above
Ac'i it increases gradually again. On cooling, the re-
verse phenomenon is observed at .4r3, which is accom-
panied by a slight increase in resistance with falling
temperature, preceded by an interval of relatively slight
changes in resistance. — Scientific Papers, Bureau of
Standards, No. 236.
Units, Measurements and Instruments
Tests of Large Steam Hoists. — H. E. Spring. — In or-
der to present a convincing argument for the substitu-
tion of electric motors for existing steam-engine equip-
ment on mine hoists, it is necessary to be able to show
the mine owner some figures on cost of operation, as the
question of economy is uppermost in any undertaking
that is conducted for profit making. Complete and
accurate tests on motor-operated hoists may be ob-
tained with relatively little difficulty, but a test of the
average steam hoist, to be of value, involves a great
amount of work and oftentimes proves to be a serious
problem. In this article the author recommends a pro-
cedure ipr conducting tests on steam-operated hoists
that will give accurate figures on performance and cost
of operation over any desired period of time. The au-
thor gives in detail the different steps in the prepara-
tion of the test and the procedure in carrying it out and
in making the necessary calculations from the results
obtained. He then shows how to prepare the report to
be of the greatest help. — Gen. Elec. Revieiv, March,
1915.
Single-Phase Induction Meter. — An official communi-
cation by the Reichsanstalt admitting for calibration a
single-phase induction meter of Landis and Gyr. Its
construction and method of calibration are described. —
h'lek. Zeit., Feb. 18, 1915.
Telegraphy, Telephony and Signals
Vacuum Tubes for Telephone-Line Protection. —
Fritz Schroeter. — Carbon lightning arresters protect
against voltages above 3000. To protect telegraph and
telephone lines against lower voltages, vacuum tubes are
used and are of excellent service for protection against
voltages above 300. The present author describes a new
■L-( H-mnr— f>
FIG. 4—1
l [OS. 5 VND 6 WIRING CONN] •
IN \ \i I I \1 TUBE PROTECTIVE SYSTEM
if VaCUUtn tube which is effective down to l.'.ll
volts. The construction is shown in Fig. I. The anode
hi aluminum pin surrounded bj a protective tube b.
The lower end of the anode u is at a distance of a few
millimeters from the cathode c, which is a fused alloy
Current is supplied through
; and . The tube i- tilled with helium.
neon, argon, or a mixture of these gases at a pressure
of from 1 mm to 3 mm. The life of the tubes is prac-
tically unlimited. A tube will withstand thousands of
break-downs without change of its critical voltage. This
vacuum tube may be used with the connections of either
Fig. 5 or Fig. 6. In the first case the fuse C (operating
at about 0.5 amp) is inserted between the telephone
transmission line A and the exchange line B. The vac-
uum tube D is inserted in an earth connection as shown.
If the telephone transmission line should by accident get
into contact with an energy-transmission cable charged
to more than 130 volts, or if voltages of this amount
should be produced by induction in the telephone line,
an arc is formed in D and the fuse C melts, whereby the
exchange line B is separated from the transmission line.
In the second arrangement (Fig. 6) the telephone trans-
mission line A is separated from the exchange line B by
a relay consisting of three parts, E, F, G. The winding
E has a high resistance, say, 8000 ohms to 15,000 ohms.
When a dangerous voltage occurs a brush discharge
takes place in the vacuum tube D < because the high re-
sistance of E prevents the currents reaching an intensity
sufficiently high for the evaporation of the cathode
which would produce an arc). The current passing
through E excites the relay and attacks the armature F
so that the contact between A and B is broken. The in-
terruption lasts as long as the dangerous voltage in A
and stops automatically when the dangerous voltage dis-
appears. By artificial means it is possible to devise
vacuum tubes which will operate below 110 volts. For
instance, if a is used as the cathode, the surface being
covered with a layer of potassium, and a distance of
5 mm is employed between a and c with a gas mixture
of two-thirds neon and one-third helium at a total pres-
sure of 2 mm, the break-down emf is 104 volts. A
variation in the width of the vacuum tube has an ef-
fect on the critical voltage.— Elek. Zeit., Feb. 18. 1915.
Book Review
Public Utilities Reports Annotated. Decisions of
the Public Service Commission and of State and
Federal Courts. Rochester, N. Y.: Lawyers' Co-
operative Publishing Company. Annual subscrip-
tion, $5 per volume; single advance parts, $1 each.
Nos. 1 and 2 of these reports, dated respectively Feb.
18 and March 4, have appeared. No. 1 contains 1:28
pages; No. 2, 254 pages. The advance sheets published
fortnightly in this form will be followed by bound
volumes on law India paper, to be published as sufficient
matter accumulates in advance sheets. The purpose of
the publication was set forth in the issues of the 1
TRICAL World for Dec. ">, L914, and .Ian. SO, 1916. The
series began with eases decided after Jan. 1. L91G
Editorial preparation of the reports is in the hands of
the publishers' permanent statT, in special charge of
Mr. Henry C. Spun-. The publishers also acknowledge
the services of Mr. A. S. Hills, formerly in charge of
the bureau of commission research of the legal depart
nient of the American Telephone & Telegraph Company,
and of Messrs. Smith. Knowlton & Hatch, attorneys.
Colorado Springs, Col. The wide and valuable scope of
the work is shown by the fact that cases in the first
numbers relate to gas, telephone, water, steam-railway.
electric and electric-railway utilities. The publication
utility officials promptly the complete text of all
leading decisions in this field of jurisprudence. A series
of this kind has been needed. (Accurate knowledge
all higher court and commission decisions on regulation
is indispensable for all utilities.
tUm •>
ELEtTKU A 1. \\ (> K 1. H
POWER AND OPERATING SECTION
Jib Crane a Help to Handling Transformers
When the construction crew ur the repairmen of the
fordsville Ind. t Light & Power Company have to
a large and heavy transformer to an alley plat-
form, use is made of a jib crane and chain falls to light-
en the task. The crane itself, which is home-made, con-
3.5-in. by 2-in. by 0.25-in. angle
iron riveted together to form the jib, and two pole
HOISTING HEAVY TRANSFORMER TO ALLEY PLATFORM
grips equipped with chain and turnbuckle fasteners.
The inner side of these grips is plentifully studded
with projecting points of steel, so that when once the
jib is in place it cannot slide down the pole. The crane
weighs about 250 lb. and, excepting the chain falls, costs
about $10. In lifting a 1200-lb. or 1500-lb. transformer
to a platform the time and human energy saved on one
job will almost pay for the jib. Mr. F. H. Miller, man-
ager of the Crawfordsville company, said the fact that
the jib saved the trouble of emptying oil from trans-
formers made it more than worth its cost. The princi-
pal dimensions of the crane are given in the accompany-
ing drawing.
Extra Costs of Continuous Operation
Some costs of continuous operation were given re-
cently in a case affecting the Illinois Northern Utilities
Company which was tried before the Railroad Commis-
sion of Wisconsin. In this case residents of Walworth,
having a population of 900, and of Fontana, population
200, asked a more extended service.
It was testified on behalf of the company that the
operating force of the Walworth plant consists of two
engineers, two firemen and a coal wielder, who worked
in two shifts. Lighting service was furnished in the
communities from 7 a. m. to 12 p. m. To provide
service would require an additional engineer,
an additional fireman and an increase of about 25 per
cent in the monthly coal bill, which ranged from $515
to $950. Summer busil iter than winter busi-
ness ..wing to lake resorts in the vicinity. The plan of
the company to build a transmission line from a larger
plant to Walworth and Fontana, and eventually to close
the Walworth plant, would involve construction of about
20 miles of high-tension line at a cost of approximately
$35,000 but would permit continuous service. Probably
this line will be built during the coming summer, al-
though this has not been decided definitely. The com-
mission ordered the company to furnish service be-
tween 5 a. m. and midnight in the meanwhile.
Electric Drive in Confectionery Making
One of the most thoroughly equipped factories in New-
England for the manufacture of candies is that of Page
& Shaw, Inc., at Cambridge, Mass. The product of this
company is widely known throughout the country. A
factory building of five stories is used exclusively, and
though provided with a steam boiler plant for heating,
and for the heating of candy kettles, central-station elec-
tric drive is employed for all the processes of manu-
facture.
Energy is obtained from the Cambridge Electric
Light Company, 550-volt alternating current for the
operation of motors and 110-volt direct current for
lighting, mostly with 60-watt and 40-watt tungsten
lamps.
Beginning at the ground floor, two 15-hp induction
motors operate two 8-ton Brunswick compressors for
refrigeration by the brine system, this equipment being
in duplicate. Cooling pipes are carried through the dip-
ping and packing rooms on the floors above.
The candy machines are manufactured mostly by the
National Equipment Company, Springfield, Mass. A
15-hp motor drives what is known as a "mogul," con-
sisting of a depositor, starch buck and printer, for pro-
ducing caramel centers. Connected by belts to overhead
shafting are a cream melter, a marshmallow beater,
cream cooler, Werner beater, and a Taber rotary pump
i
'■1^
*ft4 ^^s
*
\
I ■ II — *r\
MOTOR-DRIVEN "MOGUL" CANDY MACHINE
for conveying liquid materials from a boiling kettle to
the cooler.
The milling and mixing room contains a chocolate re-
finer, a chocolate melting kettle and a shaking table, all
operated, as to their moving parts, by a 15-hp induction
motor, through overhead shafts. A 3-hp motor drives
three chocolate-dipping machines. In this department
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 13
there is installed a 5-hp motor belted to a 1-ton Bruns-
wick refrigerating machine. This apparatus is for cool-
ing storage cabinets directly over dipping tables, by the
direct-expansion system.
In an adjoining room a 10-hp motor drives a group
of machines, consisting of a cream beater, two sizing
machines, egg beater, nougat cutter, almond blancher,
and the stirring apparatus in a caramel kettle and a
nougat kettle. Here, as elsewhere in the factory, small
blowers operated on the 110-volt service provide forced
draft to the gas stoves for kettle heating.
A machine for molding hard candies is operated by
a 1-hp motor installed under the machine. One 14-in.
and one 16-in., 110-volt fan are installed at the head of
two tables, for cooling candies.
The factory contains a complete box-making and
label-printing department. Here is installed a cylinder
press, driven by a 3-hp motor; and three job presses, a
power cutter, box-dyeing machines, scorers and box-
staying machines are operated from overhead shafts by
a 5-hp motor, supported on a platform suspended from
the concrete ceiling beams by hangers of 3-in. strap
iron. This type of mounting is common to all motors
not on the floor, as noted.
A 3-ton Otis elevator serves the five floors. This is
operated by a 20-hp motor. The aggregate horse-power
in motors is 112, and the monthly energy consumption
ranges from 3000 to 13,000 kw-hr. with varying sea-
sons. The nature of the business calls for a wide range
of activity, the briskest part of the year being the
weeks preceding Christmas, when the factory runs
nights as well as days. At this time the motors are
operated almost continuously, while the lighting load
is likewise at its maximum. The yearly bill is approxi-
mately $2,500, the rate being the Cambridge company's
wholesale rate, averaging about 2 cents per kw-hr.
Damper Control and Draft Gage Side by Side
At the front of the boiler, within easy sight and reach
of firemen walking in the firing aisle, is the proper
place for the draft gage and the lever for damper con-
trol, according to Mr. M. L. Addington, chief engineer
for the Merchants' Heat & Light Company, Indianapo-
lis, Ind. In this company's main generating station
twelve 500-hp and four 610-hp Stirling boilers, equipped
with Roney stokers, have been equipped with a compre-
hensive draft-gaging outfit and draft-control apparatus,
mounted at the side of the stoker hoppers. Several dif-
8*11 Crank
v/Jy////////,
DRAFT GAGE AND DRAFT CONTROL AT FRONT OF BOILER
SETTING
ferent grades of Indiana slack coal are burned in these
furnaces, and the various draft tubes, opening into six
different parts of the boiler setting, allow the firemen
to read separately the draft at any point and, if neces-
to change the damper position to suit the draft
condition to the character of the fuel. By having the
draft gage and the damper lever side by side the fire-
men can adjust conditions accurately and quickly and
assure economical combustion under the boilers, which
operate at from 75 per cent to 100 per cent overload
every day.
Water-Pipe System Cools Ash and Breaks Clinkers
Under the Roney stokers which feed coal to the fur-
naces of an Indiana power house a piping system has
been installed so that jets of water may be directed
upon the pile of hot ash and cinders falling from the
WATER-PIPE SYSTEM FOR COOLING ASH AND BREAKING
CLINKERS
rear grate bars. Seen in cross-section, one of these
furnaces with its auxiliary piping would appear some-
what as in the accompanying sketch. At both sides of
the air chamber beneath the grate the water pipe ex-
tends backward and downward and runs along the edge
of the ash pit at the rear of this chamber. That por-
tion of the pipe along the edge of the ash pit is per-
forated at short intervals on a line facing the rear wall
of the pit, and when water is turned into the line by
means of a valve on the furnace front a line of water
jets springs from the perforations and plays upon the
hot material in the pit. With the boilers operating at
full-load rating these tiny streams of water are allowed
to run continuously, thereby cooling the ash and break-
ing up any clinkers which may form from the Indiana
slack coal.
Roof Replacement in Superior, Wis.
The Superior (Wis.) Water, Light & Power Company
has recently replaced an old wood roof over its engine
and generator room by a fireproof roof.
The generator room is 100 ft. by 73 ft. and was cov-
ered by a roof of 2-in. wood sheathing with waterproof
covering supported from five steel trusses and carrying
a monitor over 70 ft. of its length. The roof is of deck
construction, the deck part having a slope of only | \ in.
to the foot and the sides having a slope of 45 deg.
The steel trusses are of flat-top type with 45 deg. end
members, and the old roof was carried on 6-in. by 10-in.
wooden purlins, which, in the case of the deck part of
the construction, rested on wooden sills laid along the
top of the trusses and cut to the slope of the deck roof.
It was necessary to make the change of roof while the
plant was in operation, and it was evident that it would
be highly advantageous to carry the new roof on the
old trusses, which are in good physical condition. In
connection with their design of the new roof the con-
sulting engineers of the company, Messrs. D. C. & Wm.
I: JaekeOO, <>f Chicago and Boston, developed the fact
that tln> trusses showed B very close factor of safety for
Mak. ii 27, wi^
E LECTRICAL WiiR LH
the weight of roof and monitor that ha 'ailed
originally, and it was therefore found that a new roof
of little if any greater weight than the old roof would
sarily have »" i» installed in ease the old ti
were to be used. This condition removed from con-
sideration any of the heavier roofs, such as coi
slab, heavy tile construction, etc., and the small slope of
Asphalt
Water Proofing mopped to Gypsum
1 .
Block iron
Sheet No.& Asphalt
+ Z\' - 6«Psum Asphalt
Asbestos Felt white
CROSS-SECTION OF SLAB ON DECK OF ROOF
the deck portion of the roof ruled out the use of slate
and other types of roofing not having waterproof joints.
The engineers found that an effective and satisfactory
roof could be installed, comprising for the steep slope
part of the roof and for the roofing over the monitor
the Asbestos Protected Metal Company's corrugated
protected metal roofing, and for the deck portion of the
roof the same company's "asbestosteel" roofing, having
a covering of a maximum thickness of 2 in. of gypsum
plaster topped by Carey waterproof covering. This
gives a thoroughly fireproof roof with a weight of only
about 8 lb. per square foot, a weight much below the
usual types of fireproof roofing and very little heavier
than the old roof. It was also found practicable to add
certain reinforcing members to the trusses, which gives
them an ample factor of safety.
As the old roof was carried on 6-in. by 10-in. wood
purlins, it was possible to design the new roof so that
the old wood sills carrying the purlins could be replaced
by specially designed steel sills and so that the new 6-in.
steel purlins could be put in place ready to receive the
new roofing before the old roof was removed.
The work of reinforcing the trusses, putting in the
steel purlins and installing the new steel monitor with
wire-glass swinging monitor windows, and the removal
of the old roof, was done under the supervision of the
superintendent of the electric company in accordance
with the plans of the engineers, and the placing of the
new roofing was done under contract with the Asbestos
Protected Metal Company. Although the removal and
replacement were effected in October and November,
while the plant was in regular operation, no serious
difficulties were encountered, and the new roof is prov-
ing in every way as effective and desirable as the com-
pany's engineers had expected it would be. Although
during the reconstruction there were several days of
bad weather with rain and a little sleet, no damage or
interruption to operation was entailed.
In the roofing the main difference between the new
construction and the usual practice of the Asbestos
Protected Metal Company is in the use of gypsum plaster
instead of cement plaster in covering the deck portion
of the roof. This gives an additional factor of lightness
which is well worth obtaining under such conditions as
those existing at the Superior plant. Mr. William H.
Winslow is vice-president and general manager of the
Superior company, and Mr. P. C. Miller is the super-
intendent.
Indicating Number of Boilers to Be Operated
No matter how efficient boilers are, they cannot be
operated economically if several are allowed to supply
less steam than they are rated for. The correct prac-
tice is to operate only enough boilers so that each will
be supplying not less than its rated amount of steam,
while the other- have their tires hanked for emergency
load- or approaching peak-. At the generating station
of the United Electric Light & Power Company, New
York City, the boiler-room attendants are notified by
a carriage-call signal of the number of boilers which
should be operated. The use ■ •: a carriage-call signal in
boiler rooms is not new. but the operating mechanism
and the records it furnishes are interesting.
The operating mechanism is placed in the switching
room as the attendants there can ordinarily tell in ad-
vance what the load will be and consequently the most
economical number of boilers to be operated. The mech-
anism is provided with two time stamps, one of which
records the time that any signal is sent to the boiler
room while the other stamps the time at which the
boiler-room attendant recognizes the instructions. The
connections operating the carriages all signal and in-
dicating the number of boilers to be operated are made
by inserting specially perforated fiber strips and press-
ing down a handle which forces contactor pins through
the holes in the strip. This operation also starts a
whistle blowing in the fireroom and allows it to continue
until the signal is acknowledged. The use of a tape
allows the strips to be used over and over again so that
they can be made of fiber instead of the less durable
cardboard. The record tapes taken from this instru-
ment are compared with the boiler-room log sheet to
see that the orders of the switchboard operator have
been complied with.
Pilot Lamp Indicating Generator Ventilation
If the current of cooling air through turbine-driven
generators is interrupted even for a short time, the
units will heat up considerably. Positive indication
of pressure in each generator air-supply duct is af-
forded at the generating station of the United Electric
Light & Power Company, New York City, by employing
pilot lamps which are extinguished if the air pressure
in the ducts is interrupted. The accompanying illus-
tration shows how this switch operates. When air is
being supplied to a generator enough will be discharged
through the nozzle shown to keep the switch in the
closed position. If the air pressure drops, however,
the weight attached to the switch will open it and ex-
a"
f
Mercury
Cups
\ f
J
Pivot-: Counter
weight
To Lamp
Circui t
Due r
End View Side View
MECHANISM CONTROLLING AIR-SUPPLY PILOT LAMP
tinguish the pilot lamp, which the switch controls.
Contact is made at the switch by one end dipping in
a receptacle containing mercury. This switch does not
have to be set by hand as restoration of air pressure in
the duct will close the switch automatically. The pilot
lamps are installed on the machine panels on the con-
trol board, in full view of the station operator.
794
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 19
Brick-Plant Production Increased by Electric Drive
The advantage of electric over steam drive has been
demonstrated in a practical manner at the plant of the
Springfield ( 111.) Paving Brick Company, where the out-
put has been increased about 35,000 to 50,000 bricks per
day. When operating with steam it was necessary to
shut down the entire plant if anything happened to the
PIG. 1 — CONTROL EQUIPMENT FOR CLAY SHOVEL
engine. With individual drive, made economically pos-
sible by using electric motors, such delays have been
eliminated. Moreover, the new equipment possesses an-
other advantage — that of simpler control. In addition,
energy is required only when useful work is being done.
Sixteen motors with an aggregate rating of about 600
hp are installed with the accompanying auxiliary ap-
n<;. 2 MOTOR OPERATING DRYING PANS
paratui and machines. Everything from the digging
"t clay and sump pumping to loading of finished bricks
formed by elect]
Prior to iiic installation <>( the present equipment t >i *-
plant had a daily output of 75,000 bricks per day. Now
the i i production is 1 10,000 bricks, ["he
maximum quantii 100 bricks in a nine houi
Energy is supplied to the plant over a direct line at
6600 volts and is stepped down to 440 volts by three
large transformers. Two motors rated at 52 hp and
37 hp respectively operate the clay shovel, which is con-
trolled as to the size of the "bite," etc., from a spe-
cially designed switchboard. A motor-driven rotary
pump removes water from the clay pit while excavating
is being carried on.
A 35-hp motor operates a cable conveying cars loaded
with clay from the pit to the tipple of the plant 57 ft.
above. At the top the clay is automatically dumped
into drying pans which are agitated by two 50-hp motors
and one 40-hp unit. When the moisture is removed from
the mass the powdered shale is sifted out and the coarse
particles returned to the pans for further grinding.
Water is mixed with the pulverized clay in a "pug"
mill operated by a 45-hp motor. The plastic mass is
then delivered to the hopper of the molding machine,
from which the mixture is fed to the dies by a large
spiral worm. This machine requires more power than
any other in the plant, being operated by a 150-hp
motor.
The molded clay as it emerges from the dies is fed
onto an endless-belt conveyor which delivers the bar of
plastic clay to the cutter. The "green" bricks are loaded
onto cars and transferred to a drying oven, where they
FIG. 3 — 40-HP MOTOR OPERATING DRYING FAN
are allowed to remain for twenty-four hours. The oven,
which measures 150 ft. wide by 300 ft. long, is heated by
waste gases from the kilns. A 40-hp motor-driven
blower circulates the air through the drying oven.
From the drying room the cars loaded with brick can
be transferred to any part of the plant or kilns by a
traction conveyor. The traction system is operated with
220-volt direct-current energy furnished by a motor-
generator set.
Coal for heating the kilns is brought to the plant
a neighboring mine over an elevated railway. To
facilitate distributing the coal the elevated track
extended over the kilns. Although an attendant rides on
each train of cars, thej are operated from control sta-
tions installed everj 20 ft. along the track. Three-but-
ton push switches permit of starting, stopping and re
versing the motion of the train. A guide wire stretched
the entire track furnishes means of stopping the
in emergencies between stations. The plant is
lighted from a circuit distinct from that feeding motors
Tungsten-filament lamps rated at 'JPP watts are used.
I'h |uipmen1 at this plant was installed under the
direction of the I'lu'in.vr- of the Springfield i 111.) Gas
..trie- Company, a Hodenpyl-Hardj property, and
\ii I-:. I. Weaver, general commercial engineer connected
with that company.
Makch 27, L91E
ELECTRICAL WORLD
795
COMMERCIAL SECTION
Reducing the Jobber's Losses
I computed that all jobbers suffer loss on from
.". per cent to H» per cent of their stock which is
rendered obsolete each year because electrical manufac-
turers are constantly making changes in their products
without notifying jobbers of the intended changes be-
the new products are placed on the market. The
advertising activity of the manufacturers creates im-
mediate widespread demand for the new product, where-
upon the old and superseded product, if salable at all,
must be disposed of at a considerable loss to the jobber.
Much of this waste could be eliminated if the manufac-
turer would give the jobber a longer advance notice
of intended changes in the line. The jobber then would
have time to get rid of '>kl material and would be pre-
pared to lay in a lar^e stock of the new product. He
would suffer only a slight loss through the changes
made.
Appliance Sales Profits
THE merchandising of electrical appliances has
ceased to be a game of wits and has become a
stable and substantial business. The old question of
whether a company should sell appliances at a fair
profit or sell them without profit, or even at a loss, in
order to derive the benefits of an increased load, has
been answered by many companies in the fixing of a
definite profit margin for all merchandising. For it has
been found that the load added by too alluring bargain
>ales is not always of a desired character. It is not a
load that will automatically increase, but rather it is
liable to dwindle materially because too often it was
the price and not the attendant advantages that prompt-
ed the purchase. On the other hand, when a device is
Bold at a fair profit the purchaser as a rule knows the
value of the article and, if satisfied, will become a reg-
ular customer. This load automatically increases
through the purchase of additional appliances, and since
each article was purchased because of its inherent qual-
its energy consumption will be regular and definite.
Employees as Appliance Users
TOO many employees of electrical companies are
unfamiliar through personal experience with the
convenience of electric appliances, their low cost of
operation with careful use, and their superiority over
other devices for small mechanical and heating appli-
cations around the home. It should go without saying
that every central station will furnish its staff with
electrical devices at rock-bottom cost, and many com-
panies might well go farther than this in connection
with special campaigns. The methods by which such
service can be developed will vary in different pi)
but there is no escaping the value of the employee's
personal testimony as a satisfied — or, better, as an
enthusiastic — user of electrical conveniences. To con-
sider a single field, the electric range offers a wonder-
ful opportunity for the acquisition of practical data by
its use in the homes of employees competent to gage its
fitness for various kinds of service, to learn by handling
it the most economical method of operation, and to as-
semble actual costs of specific meals and culinary items,
so often indefinitely understood. Nothing convinces
prospective users like personal testimony, and in such a
field as electric cooking it pays to go to some expense
and trouble, if need be, to gather in the facts to be
used later by the salesmen. Not every employee, of
course, can be expected to afford the company proper
material for trial services; but there is here an oppor-
tunity which can be developed from small beginnings
with trial installations into most useful results.
Window Display
THE value of a window display lies in its power
not only to attract the passers-by but to convert
them to customers. Windows filled with a sample of
everything in stock, such as the ordinary contractor's
window, attract only dirt and flies. On the other hand,
a too attractive window will keep outside the people who
might have been induced to enter the store with a less
attractive display. The best display is one which first
attracts the people and then, having aroused their curi-
osity, leads them inside to become buyers.
Where the Electrical Contractor Sees an Injustice
DISCUSSIONS in closed sessions at electrical con-
tractors' conventions show that some contractors
and dealers believe themselves unfairly treated by local
lighting companies, because the monthly bills rendered
by the company for energy — which is used chiefly for
demonstrating heating appliances and for long-hour dis-
play lighting — consume a large part of the profits of the
dealer's business. Before the advent of public-service
commissions some electrical dealers and contractors ui-
joyed rates which allowed them to use electrical energy
more freely in promoting the sale of electrical mer-
chandise, because the broader-minded company execu-
tives properly believed that the advertising value of
the dealer's display and the resultant increase in con-
nected load justified a low rate to the progressive dealer.
Now, however, being considered discriminatory, this
practice lias been generally abolished, and the con-
tractor's shop with its extraordinarily heavy connected
load has been placed on the same rate schedule with its
796
E L E C TRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 13
neighbors. As the result, such a shop now furnishes
two or three times the revenue to the lighting company
that it did formerly.
A few contractors have urged a change in commission
rulings to allow electrical dealers lower rates for service.
Others have sought for loopholes in existing legislation.
But such recourse is in many cases quite unnecessary if
the alternative adopted with success in several cities is
followed. In the places referred to almost every local
electrical contractor's shop window bears a painted sign
advertising the service of the lighting company. The
lighting company pays the contractor for this publicity
at the rate it is worth as advertising space. This is
most valuable publicity for the company. On the other
hand, the presence of the sign is of real value to the
contractor, and the income he derives from it helps
offset, of course, the outlay for electricity necessary to
display his wares. This is but one of the many co-
operative plans by means of which the contractors and
the utility companies can be of mutual benefit, if one
will only take the initiative and tell his troubles to the
other.
lamps. The arcade ceilings are lightly tinted to gain
the necessary amount of soft reflection. The general
effect is one of artistic dignity quite free from glaring
pretentiousness.
Lighting the San Diego Exposition
Each exposition presents its own peculiar features as
a lighting problem, depending on the environment and
the architectural effects undertaken. The illumination
of the Panama-California Exposition at San Diego, de-
scribed in the current issue, is admirably adapted to the
requirements of this particular case. One cannot at-
tempt within modest dimensions and at feasible expense
the huge decorative effects that characterize, for ex-
ample, the Panama-Pacific International Exposition,
while it is quite possible to secure very striking lighting
extremely well suited to its surroundings, as seems to
have been done in this instance. The exposition at San
Diego follows architecturally the old Spanish prece-
dents, which have indeed had their salutary influence
on the larger exposition at San Francisco; but San
Diego is peculiarly an appropriate center for the Mis-
sion influence. Lying as it does close to the Mexican
border, it comes nearer to a semi-tropical environment
than any other American city.
The lighting of the Exposition, as our readers will
see, is carried out in a graceful and dignified way
through the Exposition grounds, without any attempt
at outlining the chief buildings with lamps, such ex-
terior illumination being used, when at all, with great
restraint. The main lighting is done with tungsten
lamps, in diffusing globes, so arranged as to throw soft
and well-distributed light over all the surroundings.
Decorative lamp-posts of staff, closely spaced and al-
ternating with black acacia trees, are used on the prin-
cipal avenues and plazas of the Exposition grounds.
Elsewhere less elaborate wooden posts painted in old
bronze and surmounted by diffusing globes are em-
ployed. In the arcades along the streets use is made
of an interesting form of indirect lighting by means
of plaster fixtures with interiors enameled directly on
the plaster, each containing four 25-watt tungsten
The Contractor and the Household-Supply Business
A prominent electrical supply jobber recently made
the statement that unless the electrical contractor soon
realizes the value of a household-supply business con-
ducted along sound merchandising lines, this desirable
source of business is likely to pass out of the hands
of the electrical profession. This statement is worthy
of the very serious and immediate attention of all elec-
trical contractors. For the merchandising of electrical
appliances to the home is rapidly being assumed by
hardware stores, drug stores and department stores,
with sales in some cases greatly exceeding those of the
retail electric stores themselves.
Although the public would naturally be expected to
prefer to buy electrical appliances from a firm engaged
strictly in the electrical business, the reason for the
growing sale of electrical material by other agencies
is not hard to find. The cause is not a matter of price,
as many suppose, but rather the fact that the hardware,
drug and department stores avail themselves of all the
good influence of modern merchandising methods, while
the electrical dealer in many cases does not. The mere
possession of a store and some one to attend to cus-
tomers is far from being all that the public desires and
the opportunity demands. Trade automatically flows to
the attractive, well-arranged and well-lighted store
where good service is a conspicuous and pleasing fea-
ture. Many electrical stores to-day can hardly be called
inviting. The service is poor. The display of goods is
far below the standard of the other stores the public
is accustomed to. A workman with dirty hands comes
out from the shop to wait on customers, or the over-
busy contractor himself attempts to drop his other and
more pressing interests and be the salesman in emer-
gencies. The atmosphere of the store is wrong.
The retail electrical business, the merchandising of
household supplies, is an opportunity well worthy of a
serious effort by the electrical contractor. It possesses
far less commercial hazard and fewer uncertain fea-
tures than does the electrical contracting business itself.
It is continuous and cumulative in its development, if
well conducted, and yields a generous, steady profit. It
offers an opportunity for building up a renewal busi-
ness from regular customers that is of particular value.
The contractor who enters this field must watch and
keep in mind the merchandising methods of other mer-
chants, and follow to a considerable extent the guidance
of the well-established stores. He must apply the stand-
ard practice that has been evolved by generations of
successful merchants, in his advertising and in his
credit and his delivery methods as well as in his selling
policies. And if he does, the time is likely to come
when his retail store will be the most dependable and
promising feature of his enterprise.
27, TJ15
ELECTRICAL WnKI.H
Contractors' Cost-Keeping System
Convenient and Efficaekrafl Meant Adopted i>> Electrical Contractor-
for Checking Estimates Against Material and Labor
Si i I ESS in any business is largely dependent upon
tin- promoter's intimate knowledge of underlying
:-. The successful electrical contractor, like
most business men, i> too busy personally to supervise
all the details of his business, but it is possible for him
organize his business and to so systematize its
various details as to bring to his own attention and to
the attention of his subordinates all errors and deficien-
W'hen a business is thus organized its success is
practically assured, for the knowledge of one's short-
comings may be said to be one of the most important
n the road to su< •
The estimating and cost-keeping system employed by
■ orge Weiderman Electric Company, of New York
and Brooklyn, is so devised that it permits the estimator
to check his material and labor estimates constantly with
the actual material and labor required. In addition, it
also tends to cause each electrician to put in an honest
day's work and permits errors and differences to be
readily detected and rectified. The system does not en-
tail a great amount of labor for its successful operation.
The accompanying illustrations show the various
forms employed. The form shown in Fig. 1 is printed
on the face of a G1 fin. by 9Vfe-in. manila envelope. The
other forms are all of such size as to permit them to be
inserted in the envelope without folding, except the
estimate sheets, which are folded once.
Estimate Sheets
Figs. 3 and 4 show the two sides of an estimate
sheet when in the unfolded condition. The left-hand
column of each page of the estimate sheet, it will be
noticed, is devoted to a list of the materials commonly
required, the list being carried over from page to page.
Underneath the various reminders the estimator places
the amount of such materials as he estimates will be
required. For example, in the case under consideration
the estimator estimated that 400 ft. of > L>-in. conduit
would be required. In another column the estimated
cost of such material is entered, and in still another
column the estimated labor required for installing it. In
the case of the conduit these estimates are respectively
$10.14 and $20. The estimated cost of labor and ma-
terial is totalized on each page and the amount carried
over to the next page, the grand total being drawn on
the fourth or last page.
In the narrow columns to the left of the column de-
voted to the estimated cost of the various materials
listed are entered the amounts and costs of the ma-
terials taken to a job from time to time as shown by
the material vouchers taken out by the men performing
the work. When material is returned, its amount and
value are entered in red ink in these columns. To the
extreme right of each page a column is provided for the
actual cost of the various materials installed.
It is thus seen that the estimator can readily check
his estimates with the actual material and labor re-
quired. In this way his errors are called to his atten-
tion, and in making future estimates he can guard
against repeating such errors. Moreover, this estimate
sheet shows at a glance any case in which more material
than estimated has been sent to a job. When such a
condition exists it is, of course, immediately investi-
gated. The material actually used will then be checked
and any loss or waste of material learned. If no loss or
waste has occurred, the estimator's attention is called
immediately to the deficiency in his estimate.
Material and Time Vouchers
Fiv'. 8 shows the form of material voucher employed.
It will be noticed that the actual costs of materials are
entered on the voucher and any incidental chargef
the handling of the same. A space is also provided for
the electricians and helpers, to give their hours of serv-
ice and expenses. These vouchers are taken from pads
in which they and the stockman's copies are arranged
in numerical order.
Fig. 9 is a reproduction of the daily time vouchers of
the workmen. It will be noticed that instructions are
given to the effect that a complete, detailed account of
work done must be made out and that the slip must be
sent to the office at the close of each day. On the back
of the vouchers spaces are provided for giving the
amounts and sizes of various materials installed. Space
is also provided for a list of materials needed. These
C.....C ». 6708
Bann*3t«r 4 Schell, 69 "all St. B, Y.
75 tiolyreod Church, Me* York city
65* Bal . JO Days ......
CONTAINING ENVKLOPK AND WAGE
RECEIPT
time slips are turned in daily together with whatever
material vouchers may have been obtained the same day.
The labor vouchers are, of course, employed for comput-
ing the workmen's pay at the end of each week and for
making the proper charges.
Fig. 5 shows a weekly time voucher which the men
are required to send in every Thursday night. These
weekly vouchers are employed in order to permit the
bookkeeper to check his payroll. When the workmen re-
ceive their wages they are required to sign a form such
as is illustrated in Fig. 2. In this way no differences
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 13
over wages and expenses between the company and its
men can occur at some future time.
Fig. 6 shows a form which the superintendent fills out
on his visits to the various jobs under way and hands in
Contract Envelopes
FIG. 3 — LAST AND FIRST PAGES OF ESTIMATE SHEET
to the office every day. The superintendent retains a
carbon copy of the reports, and is hence able to tell at
a glance the progress made in the
work. These reports serve to check
up the reports of the workmen and
also to show how closely the super-
intendent keeps in touch with the
work under way. The estimated
labor required and the labor to date
are also entered on these reports.
It will be noticed that the weekly
time vouchers of the men and the
report forms for the superintendent
are all provided with spaces for the
workmen or the superintendent to
give their addresses. In this way
the firm is able to learn of any
changes in the addresses of its em-
ployees, a consideration that is val-
uable at times when the firm must
get into contact with its men in the
minimum amount of time.
turned as for material taken out. The form employed
for returned material is printed on pink paper with the
heading "Credit Slip," the remainder of the form being
the same as shown in Fig. 8. The labor and material
totals as found on the front of the
envelopes are added, and all credit
for materials returned is subtracted
from this total, thus giving the
total cost of an installation when
completed. This total cost is also
entered on the estimate sheet and
compared with the estimated cost.
Contract -Record Forms
Fig. 7 shows the contract-record
form employed. A contract book is
maintained and the original of
these forms retained in the book.
Every alternate page of the book is
of yellow paper and is designed for
the purpose of making carbon
copies which can be torn from the
book. These carbon copies are
filed with the other forms in the
envelope for the corresponding job,
thus guarding against possible loss
of the originals.
It will be noticed that a com-
plete description of the work to be
performed, the location of the build-
ing in which the work is to be done,
charging directions, estimated cost,
terms, number of the contract en-
velope, date of billing and the ledger number, together
with the date and the necessary signature, are given.
Fig. 1 shows a reproduction of
the form printed on the outside of
the envelopes in which the other
forms are filed. All of these envel-
opes are numbered as indicated. A
complete description of the work
undertaken, contract price, terms,
• given. Space is also pro-
vided in which the bookkeeper re-
• rom day to day the cost of
the labor and material for the cor-
ling job. A column la pro-
vided for entering credits for any material returned.
The labor, material and credit charges are obtained from
the daily time and material vouchers of the men.
Practical!} 'he same form is used for material re-
PIGS. 4, •"> AND 6-
INSIDE PAGES OF ESTIMATE SHEET, WEEKLY TIME VOUCHER
AND JOB REPORT HI INK
These contract-record forms arc made out in duplicate,
as has been described before, as soon as work for which
B contract has been awarded to the firm is actually
undertaken.
Muan 2'7, 1916
K I. ECT RICAL WORLD
The advantagi • m of keeping the details
of every contract are obvious. At the most il tak<
bookkeepers only three days to enter any material or
labor charge, and hence the state of the work at any
time can be learned immediately with comparative^
greal w • in
all the sanations in the amount
of material and labor estimated from the actual amount
of material and labor required brought to his attention,
he can guard against repeating previous error- More
over, a constant check can also be maintained on the
rmance of the workmen. The foremen will detect
and investigate any apparent deficiency in the perform-
ance of the men under them. The workmen, knowing
that their performances as entered on their time slips
een by their superiors, naturally aim to maintain
showing as possible, with the immediate de-
lire to hold their fobs and the remote ambition to s»me-
The "White Way" a Help to Salesmen
The installation of a "white way" in any cil
considered good business for the central station inas-
much as it means the installation of extra lamps of the
standard type along the business thoroughfare or the
adoption of a more or less spectacular system such as
the high-intensity magnetite lamps, the Hame lamp or
the gas-filled tungsten. Any or all of these systems
usually mean an increased revenue from street-lighting
service.
There is, however, another source of revenue to the
central station brought about by the installation of a
"white way," and that source is through the desire of
the merchants to "look their part."
Jersey City, N. J., has enjoyed a "white way" in the
down-town section for some time, the installation being
of the 6.6-amp inverted magnetite arc on ornamental
standards. Early in December. 1914, the up-town sec-
FIRS. 7, 8 AND 9 — CONTRACT RECORD FORM, MATERIAL AND DAILY TIME VOUCHERS
time themselves have the opportunity to investigate the
performance records.
The entering of all material and labor charges on the
forms employed is advantageous in that it not only
shows the accuracy of the material and labor estimates
but it also shows any loss or waste of material. The
envelopes are all placed in a file, and upon the exterior
Of each envelope a general idea of the nature of the
contract is given. All material, labor and credit deduc-
tions are entered on the face of the envelope as prev-
iously described. When a contract is completed the cor-
n-ponding envelope is stamped "Billed" and the date
of billing given. A rubber stamp reading "Profit Re-
corded" is also employed for stamping the envelopes as
as tin- profits are recorded. The usual bookkeeping
ledgers are, of course, maintained, the ledgers being
numbered. The envelopes are filed according to contract
numbers and are retained in the files permanently. If
at any time an envelope for any contract is desired it
can be located by means of a card index giving the con-
tracl numbers corresponding to those stamped on the
various contracts.
tion of Newark Avenue, the main business street, was
lighted in a similar manner.
The Public Service Electric Company of Jersey City,
N. J., realizing the advantage of a "white way" as a
salesman, has collected the following data as the result
of the second installation. All of the following improve-
ments or additions were made prior to the turning on
of the "white-way" lamps, and since that time many
stores have put in new fronts with modern lighting and
there will also be erected before the next holiday season
several electric signs of the better class: Stores in
which permanent additional lighting equipment was
installed, 7; windows which were altered and additional
lamps installed, 5; windows in which modern lighting
was installed with no additional load, 3; installations of
"front lamps," ranging from 200 watts to 1000 watts,
all additional to existing installations, 9.
This additional business, however, did not come with-
out hard work. The salesman in that particular dis-
trict spenl nearly six months working up the merchants
to the point of appreciating that a "white way" is not a
"white way" without "white stores."
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 13
Electric-Heating Appliance Salesroom
Description of Display, Stock and Shipping Rooms and Outline
of Merchandising Methods
ROGER WILLIAMS. New York agent for the Sim-
plex Electric Heating Company, Cambridge, Mass.,
who has recently moved to 120 West Thirty-second
Street. New York City, has one of the most at-
tractive electric-appliance display rooms in that city.
Adjoining it are the receiving and packing room, the
repair shop, the stockroom and the business depart-
ments, all of the space being on the third floor. Street-
level space was not chosen, as Mr. Williams has found
by past experience that when handling only one manu-
facturer's products a dealer is liable to be bothered by
persons asking for something that is not kept, such as
for. The tops of the deep cases form counters on which
appliances can be set when removed from the cabinets
for inspection. Pads are provided on which to set the
articles when they are transferred to the counter so
that the latter will not be scratched by persons moving
the device around. Electric-service outlets on the front
of the case permit showing the various devices in oper-
ation.
In one corner of the room is a special cabinet with
sliding shelves on which are set hot-plates. This cabinet
is employed, as it was found that too much space would
be required if the hot-plates were set on one edge in an
FIG. 1 — INTERIOR OF ELECTRIC-HEATING-APPLIANCE DISPLAY ROOM
flashlamps, electric bells, etc., whereas those intent upon
having one brand of article are almost certain to seek
the headquarters of the local agent.
Display Room
The display room, which is attractively furnished with
silvered-oak wall cabinets and a demonstration table,
can be seen in its entirety from the third-floor corridor
through a plate-glass wall. The cabinets are sunk in the
walls BO their faces are Hush therewith. This arrange-
ment eliminates the bulky appearance which other types
Of wall cabinet have. No table appliance is set "ii
a table or counter where it will collect dust. Elec-
tric ranges, however, which are too bulky t<> inclose, are
set along the glass wall next the corridor. Toasters.
flatiron . percolator . etc., are displayed on shelves in
the wall cabinets, which are provided with sliding glass-
paneled doon Beneath these cabinets are deepei
in which aic kept special goods, like heating coils, large
hot plates, radiators, etc.. which are too hulkv to set in
the upper cabinets, bul which must be at hand it' called
inclined position on shelves. Moreover, if ordinary wall
cases were used for this purpose, it would be inconve-
nient to remove the heavy hot-plates to a place where
they could be brought under close inspection.
With the equipment employed it is possible to set all
of the plates horizontally on the shelves, thereby econ-
omizing in space and bringing all of them within con-
venient reach. When a customer asks to see hot-plates
the salesman can pull out the upper shelf, which is
about waist high, and show the contents thereof with-
out removing the devices. If those shown are not just
what is wanted, one of the lower shelves can be similarly
withdrawn and, without stooping, the salesman can call
attention to features of design by comparing with corre-
sponding parts on the upper shelves. Furthermore,
when the customer leaves, only a moment is required
to slide the shelves into place and close the cabinet,
whereas in many shops it is necessary to replace each
device, with possible injury to the furniture. The
shelves are specially braced like filing cabinets to with-
stand the weight when withdrawn and are supported on
March 2
ELECTRICAL WORLD
801
roller bearings which allow them to be moved with ease.
Ap rs have been given an idea of the dif-
fered : a certain article kept in stock, it fre-
quently happens that they are unable to decide for
themselves which one to purchase. In such cases the
demonstration table previously referred to is of con-
siderable value. It is provided with a glass top and
three velours pads placed symmetrically. From re-
marks that the customer has made while the salesman
flexible conductor has been connected with a terminal
block inside the wall cabinet, so the telephone must be
placed inside before the door can be closed. The rea-
son for having the telephone installed in this manner
rather than in another room is that the customer does
not have to wonder when the salesman will return, and
will therefore not become so impatient.
Illumination is furnished by three opal-bowl semi-in-
direct fixtures. Each of these contains three 40-watt
Article
Catalog No
D.tc
feed
Date
Sold
T7T
Sold
D.K-
Reed
FIG. 2 — CARD INDEX SHOWING RECEIPT AND DISPOSITION OF STOCK
is demonstrating articles he is usually able to tell be-
tween which articles the choice lies. He therefore
takes one of these from the wall counter, places it on
the end pad, and proceeds to call attention to the points
which are particularly favorable to the customer.
As the table is placed so that a customer will have his
back to the wall cases when looking at anything on the
pads the article so displayed is made the center of at-
traction. If one or two other articles must be presented
before the customer makes a decision, each of the
previously exhibited articles is moved along the table
to one of the other pads so the last-displayed device
stands by itself. After two or three of the more
tungsten lamps and one 300-watt gas-filled lamp. These
are controlled from switches at each end of the room,
it being possible to turn on the 300-watt or 40-watt
lamps alone or together. When no customers are pres-
ent only one group of lamps is ordinarily lighted.
Receiving and Shipping
The receiving and shipping room connects with the
stockroom and is on the corridor, through which pack-
ages can be conveyed on trucks to and from the freight
elevator. When goods are received, entries are made
in a receiving record to show the case number, date re-
ceived, contents, method of transportation and other
Occlk.rcv
^,c- 1 X
/'■"si
x_ _s
l; r
-i,.
s
Name
Rating NO.
0. L. F.
Limit
T
"Salesman
C. No.
Terms
; Bs ' --■
Date
Item
Charges
/
Credits
Balance
Date
Item
Charges
>
Credits
Balance
FIG. 3 — DOUBLE-FACED CARD-INDEX LEDGER FOR EIGHTY ENTRIES
favored articles have been presented the customer is
asked to choose between those standing on the table,
which is usually an easy task as compared with choos-
ing from a group of several articles.
Other Features
As customers frequently call salesmen on the tele-
phone while they are engaged in making a sale, a desk-
type telephone has been placed in the display room.
Rather than make an exception to the rule that no
articles be allowed to stand on the counter or table, the
items. If the shelf stock is depleted, the case is usually
opened; if not, it is left untouched. This is especially
true of articles which will probably be shipped as re-
ceived. Cases received from the factory have their pack-
ing slips tacked to the ends between cleats so they can be
removed for determining contents when cases are to be
reshipped to dealers. If a case so shipped is found by
the dealer not to contain the items specified on the
packing slip, the factory is held responsible.
From the receiving record data are transferred to a
card-index file. A sample card is shown herewith. It
802
ELECTRICAL \Y O R L D
Vol. 65, No. ia
contains columns for serial number, date received, volt-
age, date sold and customer. Records of cash paid out
or received and of merchandise bought or sold are kept
in an eight-column journal and the proper data trans-
ferred to a card-index ledger, one of the units from
which is copied herewith. It contains spaces for eight
entries. Orders are made out in triplicate. One copy is
Stockroom
The stockroom connects with the office, shipping and
receiving room, and display room. This is a con-
venience, as clerks in the office or salesmen in the display
room can personally inspect the condition of stock with-
out traveling a long round-about way. The stock is kept
in wooden compartments, which are labeled with catalog
numbers and the voltage of the appliance. Similar arti-
cles are grouped together, all having the same column,
but separated according to voltage. Exceptions have
been made to this arrangement by placing all copper-
FIG. 4 — SECTION OF STOCK ROOM
FIG. 6 — REPAIR ROOM
kept in the office for reference and making out bills, the
original is sent to the shipping room for filling, and the
third, which is a tissue-paper copy, is left in book as a
check to see that all goods are followed by a bill. Fac-
tory bills are checked with the receiving record.
The order which is sent to the shipping room is kept
in a file marked "Unfilled Orders" until all goods are
shipped. If only part of an order can be filled, the date
at which it can be completed is marked at the bottom
under "Part Shipment," and the bookkeeping depart-
ment makes out another order marked "Back Order
from Order No. — ," and puts the number of this order
on the original to cross-index them. After goods have
been shipped the information is entered on the order
and sent to the bookkeeping department, where a clerk
looks for the corresponding office copy previously men-
tioned and makes out the bill. A duplicate of the latter
is then fastened to the duplicate order and filed under
finished articles in one set of compartments, and 220-
volt stock, which is not called for very often, in another
group. Red labels indicate copper finish, and black
designates nickel.
Repair Department
Purchasers are urged to send in appliances as soon
as they need repair. For this work Mr. Williams main-
tains a repair department which adjoins the stockroom.
The repair parts are kept in small wooden compartments
labeled with the catalog number and voltage of the arti-
cle to which they belong. After a device has been placed
in working order, "Rl" or "R2" (.depending on whether
it is the first or second repair) is stamped after the
serial number on the unit. An office record is kept of
repairs so that if a customer complains that his repair
bill is high it will be possible to tell him whether he
waited and sent in all of his devices at once or whether
they were repaired from time to time. This was found
ROGER WILLIAMS
MOVES
./ft*™
2» W.-E8T *»«■ ST.
aTLERBUlLDlNG
MADISO'i :-■ ■ -Mill
ROGER WILLIAMS
Cuvler Building
PIO. ■"> -TYPE OF ADVERTISING EMPLOYED TO NOTIFY PUBLIC OF CHANGE OF ADDRESS
the ledger number of the customer. The original order
ed in serial order in a separate cabinet, Periodi-
• through this file to see that no orders
are missing, and if any are he refers to the copies in
the order t">ok to gel the customer's name, after which
the du ther be found in the shipping
room still unfilled or in the tile with the bill attached.
necessary as some persons lay electrical units on the
shelf when they burn out and do n ■ »t Bend them in for
repair until several have accumulated. Then when the
lull comes in it looks as though all of the units had
"gone to the bad" at once. Another reason for urging
customers to have their repairing done by the agent is
that the work will be done properly, which may not be
Mabch 27, 1916
ELECTRICAL WORLD
80S
the ■ a wner attempts to correct matters with
a hammer, chisel or screwdriver.
To insure repairing articles in the order in which they
are received they are placed on shelves labeled with the
day of the week, other compartments are provided for
articles which are ti> be held, called for, shipped, or for
which the cost of repairs is to l>e estimated. The re-
pairman is required t<> clear up each day's work consecu-
- must be repaired on short order they
igged "Rush" and left on the repair bench.
.Mr. Williams prides bimseli i n the speed with which
he handles repairs, the rapidity with which his clerks
can give information regarding goods on hand,
merits, etc., and his methods of displaying goods. He
believes in selling devices for the additional business
they will bring and not for the profit which he will
re on the particular article sold. His policy is to
satisfy customers not only with the design, but with the
reliability, maintenance, repair and operating cosl
iblishment.
Electric Vehicle Situation in New England
Central-Station Managers Discuss Maintenance and Operation Cost of Electric
Vehicle and Other Commercial Subjects at N. E. L. A. Convention
ONE of the nio>t interesting and instructive con-
tions held in New England convened in
Boston on March 11 and 12. The New England
Section of the National Electric Light Association held
a two-day "question box" session at that time, which
provided for full and free discussion, without formality,
of live topics of central-station interest. The first day's
n was given over to operating and public policy
matters, and an account of that session is given else-
where in this issue. The second day was devoted to
storage batteries, accessories and the electric vehicle,
and the ideas brought out on these topics, together with
those on some other commercial subjects, are given in
what follows.
Electric Automobile Topics
Mr. F. B. Neely, Philadelphia, presented data bearing
upon the life of "iron-clad" batteries, one of which,
four years in service, has run 35,000 miles. Thin
plate cells have a working life of from 350 to 450 work-
ing days and have operated up to 8500 miles, negative
plate life reaching 630 days. The speaker, with others,
emphasized the importance of taking out substantially
the full charge of the battery regularly in order to get
the best service. Mr. Neely described the constant-
voltage method of battery charging, which expedites
this work, but this method was criticised on account of
its first cost by subsequent speakers. The tendency
among central stations to increase the size of garage
conductors was mentioned. Special attention has lately
been given to the reduction of breakage in the removal
of elements from cells. Methods of reducing shocks to
cells by trucks backing against platforms were briefly
discussed, including the adoption of the flexible jar and
replacing the solid lead connection with lead-coated
copper.
Other speakers advocated standardizing batteries at
forty-two or forty-four cells, pointing out that the cost
of charging is as great for a battery of twenty-four cells
or the larger number.
.Mr. C. F. Smith, Boston, recommended that chains lie
treated by boiling for an hour in a caustic solution, im-
mersing in tallow and beeswax, and then replacing, with
the daily application of heavy cylinder oil. At the Amos-
keag Mills, Manchester, X. II., a chain-cleaning and lu-
bricating equipment has been developed which runs the
chain through a bath of oil. Two sets of chains are
provided for each electric truck, and these are changed
weekly.
Mr. W. M. Thayer, Hartford (Conn.) Electric Light
Company, described a new offer by which each purchaser
of a General Vehicle electric truck during 1915 at Hart-
ford is to receive a dividend based upon the size and
number of trucks bought. The dividend will be de-
clan d on Jan. 1, 1916, and will range from $4 times the
number of 750-lb. equipments placed in service to $14
times the number of 5-ton trucks delivered, the maxi-
mum dividend on the former size being $100 and on the
latter $350 per truck. Sixty-one electric trucks are
now in use under the company's battery service system,
and these have run more than 1,000,000 miles and oper-
ate in eighteen distinct lines of business.
The Buzzards Bay company is soon to introduce a
plan of battery charging which will provide electric-
garage rates comparable with the retail price of gas-
oline. The object is to enable the garage owner to make
as good a profit from battery charging as from the sale
of gasoline. Every large town in southern New Eng-
land now has an electric-charging station. In further
discussion a number of central-station men advocated
the building of electric vehicles for passenger service
with less ornamentation than the majority of the pres-
ent types. What is wanted by business men is a mod-
erate-priced, serviceable car good for 30 miles or more
on a charge.
Mr. A. F. Townsend, Blackstone Valley Gas & Electric
Company, Pawtucket, R. I., submitted data as to the
cost of operating two Bailey electric runabouts through
1914, the machines being used by the superintendent of
the Pawtucket division, by the meter department and in
street-light patrolling. The total cost of operation and
maintenance for the year was $2,577 for the two :r.a-
chines, or 7.39 cents per car-mile; fixed charges .vere
$920.10, or 2.62 cents per mile, and the total expense
was $3,497.10, or 10 cents per car-mile. One machine
ran 14,822 miles and the other 20,041 miles, the re-
spective energy consumptions being 9161 kw-hr. and
10,971 kw-hr. on the direct-current board, the average
energy consumptions being 0.62 kw-hr. and 0.55 kw-hr.
per car-mile respectively. Electricity was billed to the
cars at 3 cents per kw-hr. One car averaged 44 miles
per day and the other 60 miles. Un't data for the two
cars together are as follows: Energy, 1.73 cents per
car-mile; tires, 2.38; operating labor, 0.68; repairs.
2.32; miscellaneous, 0.13; distilled water. 0.10; battery
solution, 0.05; total operation and maintenance, 7.39;
depreciation at 12.5 per cent, 1.59; interest, 6 per cent,
0.76; insurance, 0.27; total fixed charges, 2.62 cents;
grand total, 10.01 cents per car-mile.
Mr. Townsend also gave the following figures of op-
erating cost for a 1912 model 1000-lb. Baker electric de-
livery wagon in the company service, covering twenty-
five months ending Jan. 31, 1915. The car ran 14,426
miles at a total cost of $2,257.26, or 15.53 cents per mile.
The unit items, all in cents per car-mile, were: Tiris,
1.35; electricity, 2.44; lubrication and waste, 0.04; rec-
tifier tubes, 2.13; electrolyte, 0.02; washing and oiling.
804
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 13'
0.36; testing batteries, 0.01; miscellaneous, 0.14; acci-
dent insurance, 0.79; fire insurance, 0.41; property dam-
age, 0.31; miscellaneous supplies and expenses, 0.43;
truck supplies, 1.47; battery supplies, 0.01; truck labor,
2.48; battery labor, 0.18; fixed charges, 2.9; total, 15.53
cents.
Relative Progress of Electric and Gasoline Vehicles
Mr. P. D. Wagoner, General Vehicle Company, Long
Island City, N. Y., stated that the electric vehicle is
making relatively slow progress as compared with the
gasoline machine, but that the former is by no means at
a standstill, considering the unfavorable conditions of
business. Among the reasons why the "electric" has not
been so freely purchased in the past as could be desired
are lack of definite appreciation as to the limitations and
capabilities of the equipment, incomplete understanding
as to the relative economic advantages of the electric
and the gasoline vehicle, lack of confidence in the busi-
ness electric vehicle as a standardized device far beyond
the experimental stage, lack of understanding of the
simplicity and economy of the electric vehicle in oper-
ation and maintenance, and uncertainty as to the stor-
age battery. The pessimist in the central station tends
to keep back a whole city from the benefits of electric-
vehicle service. Careful adaptation to service is of great
importance. More than 60 per cent of the orders are
repeat orders, which shows satisfied users, even if the
electric gospel spreads slowly. The speaker questioned
if the time were ripe for the production of a low-cost
vehicle, in view of the demand for high mileages per
charge. If the manufacturer could be sure of a good
demand for a light-weight cheap electric vehicle, pro-
duced in quantities to be absorbed by present users who
are experienced in the operation and proper care of
"electrics," the venture might be a success. On the
central-station side, many investors fail to realize the
possibilities of increasing dividends through off-peak
battery charging, which requires little or no additional
investment, and which can be applied to the noon val-
ley in the load curve as well as to night operation of
plants, when the cost of the additional energy for charg-
ing is so small that it cannot be found in the coal con-
sumption. The speaker pointed out that unit costs of
electric-vehicle service are apt to be higher in central
stations than in commercial deliveries, on account of the
protracted periods of standstill in the former case due
to local work which must be done before a car can move
<>n to the next place.
Mr. Fred H. Smith, Worcester, Mass., said that the
Worcester Electric Light Company stands ready to as-
sist local purchasers of commercial electric vehicles to
pay for their machines on the instalment plan. He
submitted extended data as to total costs of service for
eighteen months in company machines ranging in size
from runabouts to a 7000-lb. cable truck, including all
fixed and operating charges. These ranged, figuring
energy cost at 2 cents, from 11.2 cents to 60.6 cents per
car-mile, the usual cost being from 11 cents to 13 cents.
In the cable-truck service the maximum above quoted is
far above any other figures on account of the long stand-
<till periods when the machine is hauling cable through
ducts, etc. Mr. Smith said that, while the unit costs
are fairly high, the company simply could not begin ti>
do the work with horses that is performed bj electric
vehicles.
Mr. Arthur I). Putnam, Worcester, said that upkeep
favorable with the electric vehicles on BCCOU.n1 of
thcjr moderate speed.
I I.. I in Vehicle! In Winter Time
A brief diet ui lion touched on the use of electric vehi-
cles in Bnawy Weather, the wisdom of a boosting charge
in the noon hour being emphasized by several speakers.
It was generally held that electric trucks stand up to
their full daily mileage even in snow, provided that the
company gives the boosting charge. The energy con-
sumption may be increased 30 per cent.
Mr. C. F. Smith, Boston Edison company, said that
by reducing the sprocket and gear ratio in snowy weath-
er good results in mileage are obtained. He emphasized
the importance of routing machines so far as possible
to use up substantially the full charge of a battery daily
in order to be able constantly to realize the capacity of
a given equipment. Another speaker said that if an
overcharge is given twice a month, a battery not fully
discharged daily will give its rated service. Some dis-
cussion also took place relative to the need of more ac-
curately determining motor requirements.
Mr. K. A. Skinner, Providence, R. I., urged the im-
portance of keeping spare controller parts on hand so
that protracted delays in truck service due to minor
troubles can be avoided. Failure to do this in one case
tied up an eighteen-hundred-dollar truck for seven
weeks. Mr. Day Baker, Boston, said that electric truck
manufacturers cannot as yet afford to put in trial ma-
chines for extended service. He reviewed the successful
performance of many trucks in snowy weather and, in
answer to the question why truck weights are not lower,
cited instances where owners had grossly overloaded
their machines. Figures were presented by the Maiden
(Mass.) Electric Company to the effect that the cost of
service with two Bailey electric roadsters, figuring all
charges, was from 11.5 cents to 12 cents per car-mile
during a recent six months' period.
Fire-Depart ment Service
The discussion was followed by a brief one on elec-
tricity in fire-department service. Mr. W. O. Adams,
Eldridge Manufacturing Company, Boston, said that
about fifty machines are now electrically driven, the
most notable installations being in Philadelphia, Pa.,
and Springfield, Mass. The advertising value of elec-
tric fire apparatus is very high. The routes are fixed,
the equipment receives good care, and the batteries are
likely in most cases to be required to propel their equip-
ment not more than 500 miles per year. With proper
care the equipment is absolutely reliable. Mr. Day
Baker said that the original batteries are still in service
at Springfield. Every tray in the department is in-
terchangeable, and one extra tray of batteries is car-
ried in each engine house, each tray being completely
discharged once a week. The cost of electricity for the
Springfield service would hardly feed six horses. The
revenue from this service is low, but it is well worth
while for central stations to encourage the use of such
equipment from the publicity standpoint.
Electric Ranges
The use of pilot lamps on electric-heating appliances
was generally commended as a measure of safety and
economy. A brief discussion of the diversity factor of
electric ranges occurred. Citing an apartment house
in Worcester, Mass., which has been equipped with Sim-
plex ranges of the electric type only, with no coal-burn-
ing or gas ranges in the building, a speaker pointed out
that recent tests showed a maximum demand with thir-
teen ranges in use over a month of 13 kw. With all the
heaters on at the maximum rate the load of these out-
fits would total 65 kw, giving a diversity factor at the
building of one to five. Scattered through a town the
diversity factor would be still better, perhaps one to
six. The users of these ranges averaged three per fam-
ily and had no previous experience with electric cooking.
Mr. L. A. Gale, Simplex Electric Heating Company,
Cambridge, Mass., stated that a well-distributed electric-
range load should have a diversity factor of one to seven.
AKill -'7, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
805
but that as the maximum demand does not come on the
central-station peak, this can be figured at one to ten,
exclusive of distribution losses. Tests show that 1
kw-hr. per person per day is a fair average for elect ric-
ce the country over. On this basis a 3-cent
rate makes the cost of electric cooking about equal to
that of cooking by coal, or by gas at $1 per 1000 cu. ft.
Mr Gale referred briefly to the load imposed by the
electric-range installation at the Engineers' Club, Bos-
ton, which is a difficult service in view of the need of
meeting demands for a varied menu at all sorts of
hours. On a representative day the load was as tabu-
lated below
:
:
Kw
Til
11
tl
1
2
3
4
a.m. .
Kw
l xmand
n
Time
6 p.m. .
7
Kw
I Mnan
11
6
7
p.m.
LO
:
9 .
10
i
16.5
11
16
0
11
12
Other speakers emphasized the importance of allow-
ing a range user at least a month in which to learn how
to handle the apparatus economically. In one case the
bill was cut from $21 to $9 in one month by instructing
the range purchaser in its proper use.
The Customer
The point was made that if stickers are gummed to
bills advertising matter is sure to receive more atten-
tion and be less liable to go into the consumer's waste-
basket. An extended discussion of the practice of al-
lowing industrial consumers motor-service rates on their
lighting loads brought out the point that many com-
panies allow from 15 to 20 per cent of the energy con-
sumption to be billed for lighting at the motor-service
rate. At Fitchburg, Mass., 15 per cent of the energy
used for motors is credited at the lighting rate, the
excess being deducted from the lighting meter total and
the balance billed at the lighting rate. At Providence,
R. I., a customer with 200 kw demand or more is allowed
a lighting load not to exceed 20 per cent of the motor-
service load. At Worcester, Mass., a customer having a
motor rated at 50 hp or more can put 20 per cent of his
motor load on the lighting bill at the motor-service rate,
the customer furnishing his transformer. Mr. R. \Y.
Rollins, Worcester, said that after a customer has been
shown the interest and depreciation upon a motor-gen-
erator installed for lighting and has been given the cost
of the losses in such apparatus, he is generally content
to use energy for lighting at the lighting rates.
The central-station companies managed by C. D. Par-
ker & Company, Boston, offer a manufacturer a complete
installation of electric motors ready to operate, and
allow him the use of this equipment for a trial period
of one year, the customer paying 15 per cent on the re-
tail price of motors and the contract price of the instal-
lation. If at the end of the year the service has been
satisfactory and the customer desires to continue its
use, the company will either sell him the motor equip-
ment at the price contained in the lease or continue to
lease it to him on a 15 per cent basis. If the manufac-
turer does not continue to use electric drive, the com-
pany will remove the equipment from his premises and
reconnect his machinery in the manner in which it was
found, at the central station's expense, the manufacturer
paying during the year's trial the regular rate in force
at the time for electric motor service. This offer elimi-
nates the fear of the manufacturer of investing capital
in a new form of power drive with which he is not con-
versant, and which he fears may not live up to the state-
ments made by the salesman. A somewhat similar
proposition is made with gas-filled lamps and "brasco-
lite" fixtures, for a trial period of from one t.
months.
Electric Heating hi Water
Mr. K. .). Patterson. Central Maine Power Company.
Augusta, Me., presented the results of experiments in
the development of equipment for heating water elec-
trically in domestic service. The speaker employs car-
tridge-type units of a combined maximum rating of
2400 watts, installed in a chamber permitting the free
circulation of water from bottom to top. With this
equipment it is possible to draw water at from 110 deg.
to 11<> deg. Fahr. after a short wait, satisfying ordi-
nary domestic requirements at a total cost of about $1
per week. The apparatus was tested with an input of
4400 watts and raised the temperature of 145 lb. of
water from 46.4 deg. to 140 deg. Fahr., at an efficiency
of 90.3 per cent. Although the equipment is not as
yet made commercially, two customers of the Central
Maine company are using it to advantage, and it is
hoped that one of the most difficult problems in electric
heating is in a fair way to be solved by this means
Other subjects discussed will be given in a subsequent
issue.
LIGHTING AT SAN DIEGO EXPOSITION
Illumination Effects Are Attractive Features of the Southern
California Exhibition
The illumination at the Panama-California Exposi-
tion at San Diego is one of the most attractive features
of this Southern California exposition. The plan of
outline lighting was not followed, as it was desired to
secure softer effects more in keeping with the Spanish
colonial architectural style which characterizes the
buildings. The main buildings have no visible lights
on the exterior. On the principal avenues and plazas of
the Exposition grounds black acacia trees are planted
on 16-ft. centers. The trees, trimmed in semi-formal
style, are about 12 ft. to 14 ft. high, and are in rows 22
ft. from the buildings. Between every two trees is a
decorative staff lamp-post painted to imitate old bronze
and holding an acorn-shaped diffusing globe, 9 in. by 14
in., containing a 500-watt vacuum tungsten lamp. Usu-
ally the lamps are several feet below the tops of the
trees, and they are therefore shaded. The center of the
filament of the lamps stands 10 ft. 8 in. from the curb
line. A glance down the street shows plainly only the
first two lamps on each side, while the others are shielded
effectively from the eyes. The lamps in this way illumi-
nate satisfactorily the building walls and the street.
The lamp-posts contain 3-in. iron pipes set 2% ft. in
the ground in concrete, which is carried above the
ground 8 in., forming an octagonal base about 2 ft.
across to carry the staff work. The staff post holds a
zinc fitter especially spun to provide for architectural
details of the post. In the base of the post a small sheet
metal box contains a fuse block. From this point the
wiring is carried into the 3-in. pipe and connected to a
"Mogul" socket.
Ornamental cast-iron brackets were used around the
entrances and some plazas where ordinary street posts
were not suitable. These have the same type of acorn
diffusing globes and either 500-watt or 250-watt lamps
according to the spacing used. In the picnic pepper
grove and along paths in the parks a less pretentious
type of post is used. This is 8 ft. 6 in. in height and
of redwood painted to imitate old bronze. Each post
is slotted in the lower portion so that a conduit from
one post to another may be brought above the ground
and a tap made for individual lamps. A fuse block and
cast-iron frame to cover it are embedded in the
square wooden base. This post is set 2J/2 ft. in the
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. IS
ROADWAY LAMP STANDARDS AND COURT LIGHTING, PAN A M A-CALIKORNIA KXFOSITION
ground with an 8-in. concrete
base above the ground. Each
post has an acorn - shaped
globe, 8 in. by 12 in., and a
250-watt lamp. Except in the
pepper grove, where a series
system was used, the multiple
system of wiring is employed
in all cases and 250-cp nitro-
gen lamps were used. Some
doubt was expressed as to
whether gas-filled lamps would
bear the heat under the in-
closed globe, but up to the
present time there has been
no trouble. Ornamental cast-
iron two-unit posts, with 250-
watt lamps in each unit, were
used on the permanent con-
crete bridge across Cabrillo
Canyon. The posts are spaced
about 68 ft. apart on the
bridge. In the formal parks
and the pepper grove they are
100 ft. apart.
Effective use was made of
the arcades which, in keeping
with the Spanish colonial type
of architecture, line every
street on both sides. The
arches have a typical spacing
of 13 ft. on centers. Centering
on each arch in every arcade
is an ornate plaster indirect
fixture. The inside of the fix-
ture is smoothed and finished
in enamel on the plaster, as
it was found cheaper and as
efficient to have the inside of
the bowl its own reflecting
surface as to provide another
reflector. Each bowl con-
tains four 25-watt tungsten
lamps. The arcade is about
14 ft. high and 13 ft. wide,
and the ceiling has a warm
but light tint which gives a
very satisfactory reflection.
The Exposition furnishes
light inside of the buildings
for janitor service only. For
this purpose 250-watt lamps
are installed in deep bowls of
white-frosted enamel reflec-
tors. These units are about
22 ft. above the floor and 36
ft. on centers between truss-
es. Individual exhibitors light
their own spaces.
The amusement section is
called the "Isthmus," and
concessionaires are required
to light the fronts of build-
ings to the amount of 30 cp to
the front foot or otherwise to
the satisfaction of the Expo-
sition. The Isthmus is 60 ft.
wide. Bxcepl in a few small
low booths where the specified
requirement has been met, the
average is about 45 cp to the
front foot on each side. In
thia section outline lighting is
Maki ii
1916
ELECTRICAL WORLD
807
used, and the average gives
sufficient illumination for both
.(• and street-lighting
purposes. In most parts in-
stallation is required of 10-
watt frosted Blgn lamp-.
Good effects have been se-
curi'il from colored lamps and
j. Two outdoor shows
have lighted their spaces from
poles 100 ft. high with reflec-
tors at the tops to carry
l watt nitrogen lamps.
giving a good imitation of
moonlight effect.
All energy in the Exposi-
tion grounds is supplied by
the San Diego Consolidated
. Electric Company. An
11,000-volt. three-phase feed-
er extends directly from the
generating station on the bay
shore to a substation in the
grounds. Distribution is made
at 2200 volts underground to
transformer rooms in the
v a r i o u s buildings, where
2200 220-1 10-volt transform-
ers are installed.
Secondary circuits run
from the transformer rooms
to the street, arcade and
building lamps and also to
light and motor-service buses
under the building for exhibi-
tor-' use. As the street and
arcade lamps are fed from
separate primary circuits and
are controlled from the sub-
station they may be turned
on at dusk or off at midnight
simultaneously. An operator
visits each transformer room
before midnight and throws
a double pole switch from
the secondary street-lighting
bus to the twenty-four-hour
bus so that a few lamps for
protective purposes burn af-
ter midnight. With the ex-
ception of two short lines
back of the Isthmus, the poles
of which are concealed by the
buildings, all distributing
lines within the grounds are
underground.
The underground conduit
•ii is formed of fiber duct
laid in concrete. Lead-in-
cased, rubber-covered wire
was used on the 2200-volt
distributing system on the
principal circuits. Rubber-
covered wire without lead
casing was installed in out-
lying districts. A box-conduit
system was installed under
buildings. This consists of
•cross-arms at frequent inter-
vals secured to floor joists,
•carrying g 1 a s s insulators
which support weatherproof
•wire.
ELECTRIQUETTES AND LIGHTING OF PANAMA-CALIFORNIA EXPOSITION
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 13
Merchandising Methods
Showing Operating Cost to Sell Devices
After a customer has been interested in an electrical
appliance and has been shown that the value of the
service it will afford is far greater than the price asked,
it sometimes remains to convince him that the cost of
energy for operating it is negligible. To furnish proof
of the last-mentioned selling argument, one of the
branch offices of the United Electric Light & Power
Company, New York City, is employing a meter cali-
brated to indicate directly the exact cost in cents of
operating any device one hour. Persons doubting any
Meter Calibrated
to read in Cents
per hour of operation
Plug
ReceptacleO
Stand for
Device being
operated
Condui t containing
.- Service Wires
METER SHOWING OPERATING COSTS
salesman's statement as to the operating cost of a de-
vice can be shown exactly what the unit cost is with this
instrument. Moreover, it can be employed in answer-
ing complaints regarding high bills to show the cost
of operating differently rated lamps and household
devices.
Salesmanship and Advertising
The close link that exists between salesmanship and
advertising was emphasized by Mr. Martin J. Wolf,
sales manager for W. N. Matthews & Brother, St. Louis,
Mo., in a talk before the Chicago Jovian League on
March L6.
"Salesmanship," quoted the speaker, "is advertising
plus getting the order signed. Advertising is salesman-
ship plus publicity." The successful salesman must
possess the qualities of knowledge of his goods, sys-
tematic industry, honesty, enthusiasm and optimism.
.Many a man has failed, declared Mr. Wolf, because he
neglected to plan his work. The salesman, for example,
must apportion his time so that his calls will represent
the relative value of customers' business. Each minute
must be made productive.
Every business transaction can be traced to one of the
following five elementary motives, declared the speaker:
"Money, utility, pride, caution, and weakness or self-in-
dulgence." it is to one of the e motives thai the skilful
salesman invariably appeals. In applying this principle,
however, the salesman must be guided where possible by
the personal characteristics of the prospective customer.
Aggressive, enthusiastic men who seize and act upon
idea- quickly are often blond In complexion, while
brunette types, asserted Mr. Wolf, are likely to be more
conservative and reach decisions more slowly. This
point is often of value in knowing how far to press sales
arguments upon customers. Physiognomy, in its analy-
sis of countenances in which the mental or the vital
characteristics predominate, often helps the salesman in
formulating his approach to an unknown prospective
customer.
Selling Small Motor-Driven Apparatus at Toledo
Coffee mills, grinders of all sorts and other motor-
driven general-utility apparatus have recently occupied
a conspicuous position in the salesroom of the Toledo
(Ohio) Railway & Light Company. Plans for selling
this class of apparatus have occupied an equally im-
portant place in the minds of the company's salesmen,
for the "bogy" set for 1915 is 6000 hp, and it is ex-
pected that a large percentage of this total will be dis-
posed of in small units.
In the three months just prior to Jan. 1, 1914, an
aggregate of 2250 hp in electrical apparatus was sold.
To maintain high selling efficiency, such as was evident
during the latter part of last year, it is proposed to en-
list the aid of manufacturers' agents in selling the elec-
trically driven specialties, and to make attractive prize
offers to the central station's salesmen showing the
greatest volume of profitable sales.
Soliciting Electrical Contracting
Many electrical contractors do not give proper atten-
tion to the soliciting of new business. This is especially
true in the case of those electrical contractors engaged
in the house-wiring business. The obtaining of con-
tracts for electrical work already proposed should not
be the limit of an electrical contractor's ambition. Many
persons are in the market for electrical contracting,
and, knowing the name of no reliable contractor, seek
the nearest "curbstoner," with the belief that all per-
sons engaged in the electrical contracting business are
equally reliable. Others need only to have the advan-
tages of electricity in the home pointed out to them by
mail or by personal calls in order to create in them a
desire to have their homes wired. Still others need only
such information as the advantages of separate circuits
for heating devices, their cost, etc., to reach a decision
to have additions to an existing system of wiring made.
Entertaining beliefs such as these, and believing that
the electrical contractor like other business men can well
profit by the use of modern business methods, Mr. S.
May, an electrical contractor of New York City, em-
ploys numerous modern methods of attaining business.
Throughout that large city one sees frequently such
signs as "Wire to May to wire." In addition, the firm's
telephone number and the location of its several places
of business are generally given. Newspaper and pro-
gram advertising are also extensively employed.
New work is solicited through the mails and by means
of a corps of solicitors. In this way the firm not only
keeps its name constantly before the public, but, through
the newspapers, theater programs, the mails and per-
sonal calls by solicitors, it is able to create in many
cases a desire for house wiring, alterations, extensions,
repairs, etc. Having created a desire for electrical
work, the securing of a contract for the work is an easy
matter.
No attempt is made to "key" the firm's advertise-
ments, but the numerous cases where persons telephone,
.all or write saving that they saw a certain advertise-
ment, etc., fully convince .Mr. May that advertising pays.
.M vit. ii 27, 1915
K I K CT R I C A I. \\ o K I. I'
g09
Show-wii Hid displaj
thi> firm. The value of show-window sign- and dis-
is well illustrated in the case of the Freeman-
pany, Chicago, 111. This firm, when remov-
ing to its new place of business in the Transportation
Building, decided to maintain a retail supply
This was done not merely I • was
deemed profitable but also because the members of the
firm believed that frequently changed ai.J attractive
window displays with placards reading. "Let us give
you these advantages in your home." "Consult us about
your next job of electric wiring,'* "Do it electrically,"
etc., would bring in new business from passers-by. The
amount of business obtained in this way showed such
advertisements to be invaluable.
Guaranteeing Sales on a Money-Back Basis
"The electrical supply jobber is an economic neces-
sity." declared Mr. W. N. Matthews, of \V. X. Matthews
& Brother, St. Louis, Mo., in his address before the
joint meeting of jobbers and manufacturers. As a mid-
dleman between a multitude of manufacturers and con-
sumers, the jobber, continued Mr. Matthews, has an es-
tablished place, and his function is to enable the dealer
and consumer to place their orders for a variety of mer-
chandise with one concern. The more complete the stock
of articles of approved quality carried by the jobber, the
greater his service to the user— his customer.
The demand for electrical materials was, figuratively
speaking, "born a full-grown man." The infant elec-
trical business found a distributive organization of lim-
ited serving capacity on which were thrust its perplex-
ing problems of supplying varied and rapid demands.
The natural result was a mixed development.
In some lines the electrical supply jobber proved equal
to the emergency ; in others the service development fell
to the manufacturers.
The reasons for many manufacturers having developed
sales organizations that are in a measure parallel to
that of the jobber are fivefold:
First — The tremendous strides taken by the industry,
a growth that is equaled by only two industries in the
entire history of commerce.
Second — Inability of the earlier jobbers at first to
give service in a broad sense, because of the highly
technical nature of the merchandise and the lack of
trained salesmen. This, coupled with scant capital,
made the pioneer electrical supply jobber unequal to the
rapidly growing industry.
Third — The consequent timidity on the part of the
joliher to stock goods until the market was created by
the manufacturer. When this was done, it gave the
manufacturer control, instead of the logical distributer
— the electrical supply jobber.
Fourth — Hand in hand with the phenomenal growth
of the electrical business was the development of produc-
tive advertising. The electrical manufacturer has al-
ways been a creative advertiser, which has placed him
foremost in the thoughts of the electrical buyer.
Fifth — The heretofore comparative lack of ruinous
competition between manufacturers has meant more lib-
eral profits and easier manufacturing conditions; conse-
quently more time to devote to strictly distributing
questions.
The I'olicy of "Service"
The jobber who is doing what his success in business
demands to-day is making his stock so complete, his de-
livery so prompt and his relationship with his customers
so pleasant that his stocks and organizations are actually
reserve service quantities for those needing them.
The suggestion offered by Mr. Matthews is, then, to
go a step farther and guarantee the efficiency of em-
ployees and merchandise. If the jobber picks his em-
ploye,-- with care, he can assure and guarantee their
performance-. He can put on his stamp a guarantee of
absolute satisfaction if he uses equal care in selecting
his brands of merchandise, because the manufacturer
must and will stand back of him in this guarantee. "If
the manufacturer cannot do this or refuses to do this.
don't handle his goods." urged Mr. Matthews. "You are
practically guaranteeing everything you sell now, be-
cause good business policy so dictates. There is very
little that you handle that cannot be bought from some
manufacturer who will protect you in your absolute
guarantee. If you guarantee all your merchandise and
all of your service, and properly educate your customers
by proper publicity, their mental activity will be as fol-
lows:
"First — 1 need electrical material.
"Second — Will the electrical supply companv guaran-
tee it?
"Third — How much will it cost?
"Fourth — How quickly can I get it?
"My suggestion is that the jobber guarantee every-
thing that he handles and cut down the number of lines
of the various kinds of merchandise that he carries in
stock, in order to correspond with this plan. It will
mean the 'survival of the fittest' among the manufac-
turers. It will mean that every manufacturer to have
his line recognized and handled by the jobbers must
produce the very best class of goods, and that his guar-
antee must be back of every article that he makes."
A complete stock of absolutely reliable goods with few-
duplications will result in: (1) More turnovers; (2)
more satisfied customers; (3) more goods sold at regu-
lar prices; (4) more net profit; (5) more rock-solid
foundations for enduring success.
The electrical jobber should establish himself in the
commercial family as the "big brother" to the central
station, to the telephone company, to the contractor, to
the small dealer, and to the purchaser of electrical goods.
"A-Sign-a-Day-for-a-Year" Campaign Succeeds
The slogan of the new-business department of the
Toledo (Ohio) Railways & Light Company — "A sign a
day for a year" — is no longer merely the expression of
an aim. It is a realized fact, for during the year 1914
more than 500 signs were sold in the city. Mr. A. K.
Young, manager of the company's new-business depart-
ment, in speaking of this campaign stated that the
record of the connected load represented by these signs
shows an average of a little more than 200 10-watt
lamps per sign.
But with this remarkable sales achievement to their
credit the solicitors are not relinquishing their efforts
to sell signs. In fact, they are aiming to make the year
1915 another continual sign campaign, and expect to
average a sign a day during the whole period. At the
time this was written a count showed that the average
for the new year was a little more than a sign a day.
One of the publicity methods employed consists of
placing 22-in. by 24-in. display posters on the front
partition of every street car, pointing out the value of
"attention-compelling, artistic, 'sign-tific' advertising."
These large and attractive posters are secured in large
quantities so that a new and different design replaces
the one in the car every other day. Such frequent
changes of the advertising copy in the preferred space
at the front of the car, it is said, will do much to at-
tract the attention of street-car patrons to electric
advertising.
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 13
Electric Vehicles
New York's Co-operative Electric Garage
The new co-operative electric garage of the New
York Electric Vehicle Association is now in full opera-
tion with a quota of 100 electric pleasure cars housed and
cared for beneath its roof, and the entire project is said
to meet all expectations. The task of equipping this
FIG. 1 — CALLING FOR CAR OWNER'S KEY
large electric garage in New York City was accom-
plished by the New York Electric Vehicle Association
with the aid of three makers of electric pleasure cars —
Detroit, Baker and Rauch & Lang — all of whom have
made the new garage their New York headquarters with
handsome showrooms facing Central Park. The cost of
garage service for the ordinary electric car is $45 a
month, which includes washing, cleaning, charging and
battery inspection.
The garage has a number of unusual features, more
particularly in its electrical and charging equipment.
The charging board is one of the largest of its kind ever
built and controls forty-eight charging outlets of vary-
FIG. 2 — charging control hoakp
tag capacities. Six 750,000-circ. mil cables carry the
electricity into the building. These cables have a com-
bined current-carrying Capacitj of 8200 amp at 120
volts or loo kw. The garage has a total floor area of
80,000 sq. ft., more than halt" of which is devoted to the
Storage of cars and the rest to offices, service and stock
rooms ami repair shop-. There arc 8000 ft. of copper
wire of large size and 1400 ft. of conduit, exclusive of
connecting cables used in the electrical system of the
garage. The outlets are so arranged that all of the cars
can be charged in their regular positions without shift-
ing or moving. The equipment takes care of batteries
FIG. 3 — WASHING CAR IN
-OPERATIVE GARAGE
ranging from twenty-four lead cells with a charging
rate of 8 amp to the sixty-cell Edison batteries requir-
ing 100 amp. The average time consumed in charging
a battery at the garage varies from four hours to six
hours according to the extent to which the battery has
been discharged.
How the Vehicle Manufacturer Can Co-operate with
the Garage Owner
Vigorous protests against some aspects of the inspec-
tion service given by certain electric-vehicle manufac-
turers to purchasers of their cars, where the result of
such inspection is to disquiet the owner and to embarrass
the garage operator, were entered by Messrs. Harry
Salvat and C. F. Wiedmaier, two operators of electric
garages, at a meeting of the Chicago Section of the
Electric Vehicle Association, March 9. According to the
speakers, the sales agents invite their customers to
bring their cars in for bi-weekly or monthly inspections
at the local branch offices, and after such examinations
furnish the owners with printed inspection forms which
list twenty or thirty car parts and call attention to the
most minor troubles or maladjustments in a way that
often causes the owner to lose confidence in his garage
keeper.
Mr. Wiedmaier cited an instance where a manufactur-
er's agent had stored a customer's car and had allowed
the battery to become dry. When the garage operator
overhauled the car and discovered this condition, he took
every precaution to protect the negligent agent and
nursed the battery back to good condition again. Some
little delay resulted, and through a cross-connection of
the telephone wires, Mr. Wiedmaier found that the agent
had. without investigating, explained to the customer
that his garage man must be at fault and neglectful of
the customer's car, although the garage man was at the
time endeavoring to protect the agent's storeroom
against the possibility of criticism.
Mr. Salvat urged standardization of electric-vehicle
parts as the only solution of the heave investment bur-
den which the small garage owner must now carry in
stock parts, He recommended, especially, unification of
styles in battery parts and lamp sizes.
March 27. 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
811
Interior Construction
•Tickler" Prevents Lapse of Mechanic's lien Rights
All orders for electrical construction work filtered on
iful Western conl made
out in triplicate, the third carbon being used as a re-
minder for the "tickler," to prevent the lapse of the
I for the filing of a mechanic's lien in case the in-
dness is not settled. By filing this reminder in the
office date book for a date sixty days in advance of the
• the lien period (usually twelve month- from the
time nt actual completion of the work), automatic warn-
ing is given of the approaching lapse of the period for
obtaining redress from the courts. When, however, ac-
counts are properly paid in the regular course of evi
the triplicate copy of the order is removed from the
"tickler" the first thing, so that as the warnings finally
appear, day by day, they relate only to actual debl
This "tickler" scheme has been the means of sav-
ing many bad bills, for without some such reminder
accounts were often allowed to run far beyond the date
when simple legal action could be taken.
Electric Light for Small Stores
"If your store lease soon expires, don't renew without
electric light" is the advice given the tenant of the small
store by the Electric Illuminating Company of Cleve-
land, Ohio. "Get after your landlord now. Make him
payments if desired. He wouldn't feel the outlay." "He
Brood light," continues the text in this bulletin
— "electric light— just as much as he owes you good
plumbing. You are at a disadvantage without either.
The electric-lighted store always draws the trade. It
brighter and cleaner, and on summer evenings it
ia "' not. If your landlord refuses to act,
write us, giving his name and address, with a brief
iption of your premises. We'll go after him our-
The Illuminating Company." Reproduced here-
with is a sample schedule for the wiring of such a store
requiring ten outlet- and indicating the method of cal-
culating any similar installation of average size.
MASTER-SWITCH LIGHTING CIRCUITS
Methods of Wiring Outlets and Local Switches for Universal
Control
By V. N. Heath
Master-switch circuits are now frequently specified
for residence-wiring installations. Where they have not
been specified by the architect the contractor can often
induce the owner to install them if he explains their
advantages. In this way it is often possible for a con-
tractor to obtain a fair profit on an installation that
otherwise would offer but meager returns.
As the term is generally understood, a master switch
is a switch, usually placed in the owner's bedroom, by
means of which the latter can light at will all of the
lamps or certain designated lamps in his residence.
SCHEDULE
CLASSIFICATION OF UGHTS
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HARDWARE
Pencil board switches, each
Push button switches, each -
Push button 3 -way switches, per pair
Push button 4-way switches
3-way snap switches, per pair »
Porcelain base switches, each
Porcaloin base Edison receptacles, each
Bryaot flush plate receptacles, each
Chapman flush plate receptacles, each
Drop cord key socket, each -
Drop cord chain socket, each
Window wall locket, each
SAMPLE SCHEDULES FOR WIRING SMALL STORES
wire the premises at once if he wants you to stay. Tell
him that the cost of wiring a small store at the low
charge per outlet fixed by the terms of our wiring offer
is very little, and may be paid for in ten small monthly
This he can do regardless of the positions of other
switches throughout the building controlling the same
lamps.
There are really two classes of master switches. One
812
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 13
may be termed the "single-control master switch." With
a single-control switch the owner can light all the lamps
on the master-switch circuits at will, but he cannot
extinguish them by throwing the master switch if the
lamps are turned on at their individual switches. A
universal-control master switch is one whereby all of
the lamps on the master-switch circuit can be lighted
or extinguished at will. The circuits and wiring for
the single-control arrangement have been adequately
described, but little or no information has been pub-
lished relative to universal-control master-switch cir-
cuits.
The elementary universal-control master-switch cir-
cuit is shown in Fig. 1. For a universal-control circuit
two single-pole master switches M, and M2, as shown in
Ffg. 1, are used in each branch circuit. That is, each
pair of single-pole master switches can control a group
of sockets not exceeding sixteen in number and requir-
ing not more than 660 watts. If the installation in
Main. Entrance Cut-out
Entrance 5wi ten
Branch Cut-outs
Lamp Travelers 5'ngk ■ Fble
T^l
5^i^Ati>
<r^^
hO. "" — (~\- Four wau
-I ^"^ Th wo
g"| Incandescent rV¥Jl°^
»5»3 Lamps Control >y
Sinai
'ontr
\r\_t Control Circuit i
Positive St* Traveler
negative 5* Traveler
FIG. 1 — ELEMENTARY UNIVERSAL-CONTROL MASTER-
SWITCH CIRCUIT
question has a rating exceeding sixteen sockets or 660
watts, it will be necessary to install a set of branch cut-
outs and one additional pair of single-pole master
switches for each sixteen sockets or 660 watts, or por-
tion thereof, so that the National Electrical Code re-
quirements may be satisfied.
Switch A/, is normally open, while switch A/3 is
normally closed. Wherever there is a group of lamps
to be controlled from one location a three-way switch
such as that indicated at S-3 must be installed. Wher-
ever a group of lamps is to be controlled from two lo-
cations, as, for example, for hall lighting, a four-way
switch. S-4, must be installed in combination with n
three-way switch. Where a group of lamps is controlled
from more than two locations a three-way switch must
be installed at the location nearest the group of lamps,
and as many additional four-way switches must he in-
stalled as there are additional control locations, as sug-
gested in Fig. 3.
With the circuit wired as shown in Fig. 1, if switch
dosed, all of the lamps on the master-switch cir-
re lighted regardless of the positions of the three
and four-way switches throughout the building
If master switch 91 Is opened, M also remaining open,
all of tin' lamps on the master-switch circuit will be
extinguished. ! witch circuit tn
its normal condition. BO that the lamps can be li|
or extinguished by their individual switches installed
at different points in the residence, one master switch
must be open and the other master switch must be
closed.
It is seldom that a residence can be wired in exact
accordance with the elementary circuit shown in Fig. 1,
because this wiring diagram is drawn for only one
FIG. 2 — UNIVERSAL-CONTROL MASTER-SWITCH WIRING
WITH PLUG CUT-OUTS
branch circuit. In cases where the lamps are supplied
with energy from more than one branch circuit and
must be subject to master-switch control, the wiring be-
comes more complicated. The connections can be very
readily made for any number of branch circuits, pro-
vided the wireman remembers and follows the few sim-
ple rules that will be given.
Fig. 2 shows the method of wiring for universal-
control master-switch circuits wrhere porcelain-base Edi-
son plug cutouts or branch blocks are used. Two branch
circuits are shown. One is fed through the cutout A.
PIG. 8-
-UNIVERSAL-CONTROL MASTER-SW III 11 WIRING FOR
AN EXISTING PANEL-BOX INSTALLATION
and the other through C. The cutout />' is placed to
carry the fuses for the control travelers, shown in
dotted lines in the diagram, for the two circuits.
In laying out and wiring these circuits it will be con
vcnicnt to designate one lev: of the main circuit the
positive or t leg, and the other the negative or — leg,
as shown ;it l> in Fig. 2. These legs need not actually
\K> ii 27, 1915
ELECTRICAL World
be the positive and negative l<-^- of the circuit, but
igned to them arbitrarily merely
itinguiah one Bide of the circuit from the
«>thir as an aid in tracing out connections. It will
be m idy of Pig. 2 that each indi-
vidual control switch, whether it be a three-way or a
four-way switch, has one of its terminals connected to
a control traveler, and another terminal connected
with a switch traveler of the same polarity as the
trol traveler for tht* same switch. The suggestion just
noted is the most important one, and if the wireman fol-
:t closely he will have little difficulty in connecting
his circuits.
One side of each group of lamps is always connected
to the single terminal of a three-way switch, as shown
at E and F in Fig. 2, while the other side of each group
of lamps is connected always to a switch traveler of the
opposite polarity to that of the control traveler, as
shown at G and //.
The wiring scheme suggested in Fig. 2 can be ex-
tended to serve as many circuits as is necessary, pro-
vided that each branch control circuit does not contain
more than sixteen sockets nor be loaded with more than
660 watts. There must be a pair of single-pole master
switches for each branch circuit.
If there is any objection to a number of single-pole
-nap or flush switches for this control service, multi-
bladed knife switches can be used instead. Each blade
of such a knife switch would take the place of a single-
pole flush or snap switch. For example, if there were
three branch circuits in an installation, two triple-pole,
single-throw knife switches would be installed. Each
of the blades of one of these triple-pole switches would
take the place of an M, switch, while each of the blades
of the other triple-pole switch would serve in place of
an M, switch. Where multi-blade knife switches are
used as suggested the owner can light or extinguish
all of the control-circuit lamps in his building by throw-
ing the handle of one of these multi-blade switches.
The contractor may be called upon to install a uni-
versal-control master-switch circuit in a building that
is already wired for electric lamps. Fig. 3 shows the
circuits for such an installation where panel boxes have
been installed. All of the control travelers can be fed
from one side of the circuit, the negative side, for ex-
ample, as shown in Fig. 3. Single-pole plug cutouts are
used to protect the control travelers from excessive cur-
rents. These plug cutouts are most conveniently placed
at some point adjacent to the panel-box location as out-
lined in Fig. 3. The dotted lines in Fig. 3 indicate the
wires that must be added to an existing installation to
provide the universal control-circuit feature. At each
location where a single-pole switch was formerly used
in the existing installation a three-way switch must be
installed, as shown in Fig. 3. At certain points where
three-way switches were formerly installed four-way
switches must be placed as shown. At certain other
points where there were formerly four-way switches the
four-way switches are permitted to remain. Reference
to Fig. 3 will make the meaning of this statement clear.
Where branch circuits are fed from a panel box the
wireman may experience trouble in making the cor-
rect connections unless the suggestions previously given
in regard to polarities are closely followed. It is fre-
quently necessary to cross conductors, as shown at A
and B in Fig. 3, to make these polarities correct. This
crossing is necessary because of the method in which
connections are often made to the branch circuits on the
panelboard.
Inasmuch as master switches are usually installed in
the owner's bedroom, it is best to install the panelboard
in this room, or near it, so that the master switches will
be near the distributing cabinet or panel box.
Lighting Practice
Educating Merchants in the Principles of Window
Lighting
One of the educational displays used by the Alliance
(Ohio) Gas & Power Company at an electric show con-
i of a display window properly dressed and ar-
ranged to be lighted by two sets of lamps. One circuit
of five 60-watt lamps was arranged in reflectors above
Sa a TIT'
lA
■
FIGS. 1 AND 2 — EDUCATIONAL WINDOW DISPLAY
the window and the light rays were directed upon the
objects in the window (Fig. 1). The other circuit, made
up of ten 30-watt lamps, was run along either upright
edge of the window, and when lighted the blinding
effect of the light made it difficult for one to see the
display. The pictures of this window shown herewith
had exposures of identical length, and the wattage of
the lamp installations was the same.
Elaborate Illumination in a Private Ballroom
The ballroom of the palatial home of the late Charles
G. Gates on Lake-of-the-Isles Avenue, Minneapolis,
Minn., illustrated herewith, has a decorative lighting
equipment of 566 25-watt tungsten lamps and 236 8-cp
carbon-filament lamps, concealed in the two cornices.
DOUBLE CORNICE LIGHTING IN BALL-ROOM OF PRIVATE
HOUSE
These units are arranged in separate circuits of red,
blue and yellow-dipped lamps, and are under the control
of an elaborate dimmer mechanism by which the in-
tensity of illumination can be closely controlled. As
already noted in these columns, the Gates residence has
a total connected lighting load of 91 kw and motors
aggregating 80 hp. Service is supplied by the Minne-
apolis General Electric Company.
814
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 13
Illumination Systems for Good Lighting of Offices
By A. B. Oday and R. E. Harrington*
The progressive managers of offices and office build-
ings have long been cognizant of the fact that a sys-
tem of artificial illumination so installed as to furnish
adequate general light in all portions of a room is the
most desirable from the standpoint of organization
FIG. 1 — NIGHT VIEW OF OFFICE EQUIPPED WITH SEMI-
INDIRECT UNITS
efficiency. By the use of such a lighting system desk
arrangement may be altered and departments moved as
occasion demands without necessitating a corresponding
change in the lighting equipment. It is a well-known
fact that a great variation of illumination intensity
throughout a room is detrimental from a visual stand-
point, as it is necessary for the eye to accommodate
itself to the various intensities. When individual desk
lamps are used, without any general illumination, this
condition is sure to exist, as nearly all of the light is
concentrated in bright spots on the desk or table tops
and the other portions of the room are in comparative
darkness. When, however, general illumination is em-
ployed there is nearly even illumination in all portions,
consequently eye strain due to variation in intensity is
eliminated.
Individual desk lamps have been in vogue to some
extent in the past, many believing them to represent
the best lighting system to be obtained. The lighting
units employed with this system were usually such as
to leave glaring sources in the range of the worker's
eyes. As a result nearly all of the accompanying bad
effects, such as eye strain, headache, depression and
nervousness, were in evidence. Each time it became
essential to install additional desks or change the old
arrangement it was necessary to provide additional wir-
ing so that light would lie available for each person.
This was expensive and often resulted in unsightly
offices.
A properly designed lighting installation will prove
economical by eliminating the deficiencies of the anti-
ii system jusl described. The modern system pro-
vides a moderate intensity of illumination in all por-
o! a room, there being no exceptionally dark or
light areas, glaring light sources are not visible, and
diffu e lighl is accomplished to a reasonable
A particulai in tallation repre entative of modern of-
fice lighting is that in the new offices of the Casualty
Company of America. 08 William Street, Xew York
City. These offices are lighted by semi-indirect illumi-
nation throughout, and, as shown by the night photo-
graphs, the illumination approaches the ideal in many
respects. There is adequate illumination in all portions
of every room, there are no objectionable shadows, the
light is diffused to an agreeable degree of softness, the
variation between minimum and maximum intensity is
very small, and, last but not least, the fixtures are artis-
tic in appearance as well as being efficient light distrib-
uters.
Fig. 1 is a night view of the underwriting department
from an untouched photograph taken under the regular
illumination. The illumination is supplied by 400-watt
clear high-efficiency gas-filled tungsten lamps installed
in semi-indirect lighting units. These units are spaced
on centers about 17% ft. apart and hung about 12 ft.
above the floor. When illumination readings were taken
in a typical bay of this room the average intensity on a
plane 30 in. above the floor was found to be 5.4 ft.-
candles With a consumption of 1.3 watts per square
foot of floor area, the utilization was 4.15 effective
lumens per watt.
In order that the entire lighting installation should
present a harmonious appearance, the private offices
were equipped with fixtures similar in design to those
used in the general offices. Fig. 2 is a view of the
private office of the secretary and treasurer. Illumina-
tion is supplied by one central ceiling fixture consisting
of a 400-watt clear high-efficiency tungsten lamp in a
semi-indirect unit.
Very satisfactory results are obtained in the book-
keeping department, where the illumination must be of
the very best. Lamps and reflectors similar to those
described for the other rooms are utilized to good ad-
vantage here. The consumption is about 1.5 watts per
•Kiliann I
FIG. 2 -PRIVATE OFFICE ILLUMINATED HY SINGLE FIXTUM
square foot of floor area, so that illumination of suffi-
ciently high intensity is obtained for this very fine class
of work.
The lighting scheme throughout the various other
portions of the offices is similar to that described above,
the result being a very creditable example of modern
office lighting.
Maki h
ELECTRICAL W ORLD
81S
NEW APPARATUS AND APPLIANCES
Geaeral Utilitj Motors
The motor shown herewith is equipped with various
kinds of attachments so that it can be used for sharp-
ening knives, polishing silver and other metals, etc. A
small pulley is provided as shown in the illustration for
connecting a belt to small machines. Bj adding a
SMALL UTILITY MOTOR
flexible shaft to which the huff wheel can be transferred
a portable outfit for polishing metal parts on automo-
biles, railings, signs, etc., can be obtained. The base of
the motor is fitted with a two-speed starting switch.
The motor is finished in black japan and is provided
with brass trimmings. It is 8.5 in. high and the shaft
is 7.25 in. long and 0.25 in. in diameter. The motor is
equipped with 8 ft. of flexible cord and a separable plug,
a 1.25-in. emery wheel for grinding and a 2.5-in. muslin
wheel and a 2.5-in. canton-flannel wheel for polishing.
Various kinds of extra parts can also be provided. The
motor operates at 1 10 volts, and the complete weight of
the outfit is 12.5 lb. It is being made by the Knapp
Electric & Novelty Company, 511 West Fifty-first
Street, New York.
Alternating-Current Ceiling Fan
The ceiling fan shown in the accompanying illustra-
tion is operated by a self-starting induction motor, the
field coils of which are attached to the laminated steel
core and are thoroughly insulated from the core. The
rotor is built up of sheet-steel laminations with copper
PLAIN-STYLE ALTERNATING-CURRENT CEILING FAN
conductors securely riveted to the copper end rings.
Use is made of ball bearings which are immersed in
oil. Oil is poured through a hole in the top of the
motor body and passes to the lower oil chambers. A
spiral groove in the bearing acts as a centrifugal pump
when the fan is operating, thus circulating the oil along
the shaft from the lower to the upper chamber. The
fan has lour blades which sweep through a space 51 in.
in diameter. The length of each blade is 23.75 in., the
width 5.6 in. at the shank end and i;.7"> in. at the outer
end. The blade shank is supported in a hub directly
ath the motor. The fan is equipped with a three-
point, two-speed switch and regulator. The switch
serves to start and stop the fan as well as to regulate
its running speed. The fan is provided with a fixture
box which has lour holes for standard %-in. brass fix-
ture-pipe connection, through which electrolier fittings
can be attached if desired. It is designed for 110-volt
and 220-volt, sixty-cycle service, and is of plain design.
The fan is designated as style H and is being made
by the Robbins & Myers Company, Springfield, Ohio.
Electrically Heated Radiator
An electric heating system consisting primarily of
an ordinary radiator such as is used for hot-water heat-
ing, which is completely filled with an insulating cir-
culating medium, and heating elements which are in-
serted through the bottom and the top of the radiator,
has been placed on the market. The heating element
is divided into several sections and is connected to a
<ljl]]]]]|
ELECTRICALLY HEATED RADIATOR
multiple-pole switch which can either be attached
directly to the radiator, as shown in the illustration, or
placed at any convenient point desired. With such a
system, it is claimed, the possibility of the heating
element burning out or being damaged by oxidation is
obviated. The consumption of energy based on a square
foot of radiating surface is 30 watts to 35 watts on
high heat, 15 watts on medium heat and 8 watts on low
heat, giving a radiating temperature under normal
weather conditions of approximately 200 deg. Fahr. on
high heat. The amount of heat generated is controlled
automatically by means of a thermostat. The heating
system has been developed by Apfel & Jansen, L626
Fourth Avenue, Seattle, Wash.
Copper-Base Alloy for Making Metal Die Castings
Tin, zinc, lead, aluminum and other white-metal alloys
with small additions of copper have heretofore been
used in metal die casting. But now a product known
as "McGill metal," containing from 85 per cent to 95
per cent copper, has been placed on the market. Its
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 13
manufacturer, the McCill Metal Company, Valparaiso,
Ind.. states that the new alloy possesses all of the char-
acteristics and properties of the best modern bronzes
•and has a tensile strength of from 75,000 lb. to 85,000
lb. per sq. in., with an elastic limit of from 30,000 lb.
to 40,000 lb., an elongation of from 18 per cent to 23
per cent, and a reduction in area of from 17 per cent
to 24 per cent on a 2-in. test length.
On account of the fact that small bevel gears, bear-
ings, bushings and other irregularly shaped parts can
be made more inexpensively from this alloy than from
steel, and because the alloy possesses ability to with-
stand greater mechanical strains than white metals,
the manufacturer believes that many parts of electrical
machines can be die-cast which were formerly made br-
other processes.
Alternating-Current Fan
A new 9-in. alternating-current fan has been de-
veloped by the Crocker-Wheeler Company, Ampere,
N. J., for the coming fan season. In place of moving a
rheostat lever to secure different fixed speeds, speed
control is obtained by rotating the core containing the
9-IN. ALTERNATING-CURRENT FAN
windings inside the fan housing. Not only can fine ad-
justment of speed be obtained, it is declared, but energy
consumption varies with the speed. At full speed the
fan takes 24 watts and at the lowest speed approx-
imately 7 watts. The fan is started and stopped by
means of a push switch located in the base, and it can
be started and stopped at any speed at which it is fixed
to run.
Automatic Time Switch with Clock Face
A time switch thai may be used as an office or fac-
tory clock la being manufactured by the M and o Auto-
matic Switch Company of Michigan City, Ind. One
model i Fig. 1 ) has a B-in, dial and has the timing and
hing mechanism inclosed in a 7.5-in. by 11.5-in.
by 8.76-in, cast-iron case finished in black japan and
fitted with an oxidized-copper door. The other model
(Fig. 2) is 15 in. in diameter and 3.75 in. deep and
has a 12-in. dial. The case is of pressed steel trimmed
in oxidized copper.
Both models are rated at 30 amp, 250 volts, the oper-
ating mechanism consisting of a Perkins two-pole snap
FIGS. 1 AND 2 — TIME SWITCHES WITH CLOCK-DIAL FACES
switch driven by a Seth Thomas eight-day clock move-
ment. One feature of the device which the makers
have patented consists of a mechanical interlock to
insure positive action of the switch. Circuits controlled
by the switch can be operated as often as is desired, the
time of operation being controlled by steel pegs placed
in holes in the circumference of the graduated circular
disk beneath the clock hands. The clock dial itself can
be removed without taking the hands off the spindle by
moving both hands into a position over the control disk
and then lifting the clock face outward.
Electric Lantern
The battery-operated lantern shown herewith was re-
cently placed on the market by the Beacon Miniature
Electric Company, 118 Duane Street, New York. All
I I ECTICALLY OPERATED LANTERN
metal parts of the device are nickel-plated. Use is made
of a small tungsten lamp. The battery will operate for
five hours on continuous service and ten hours on inter-
mittent Bervice
M\l;. n
ELECTRICAL WORLD
817
< (imposition Sign Receptacle
A sign receptacle of .. J has
just been placed on the market by the Best Electric Com-
pany, Pittsburgh, Pa. The receptacle is designed par-
ticularly for outdoor service, and the manufacturers
BIGN KHH'lAi II
ASBESTOS COMPOSITION MATERIAL
claim that it will withstand the action of both fire and
water. With the above composition material, uniform-
ity in size is assured, it is declared, so that the spacing
is always the same. The material will also have no
tendency to crack. The nuts are molded into place and
therefore cannot work loose. The interior screw shell
is interchangeable, and its removal can be easily effected
by turning back two screws.
Four-Arc Lamp
The "broadside" lamp shown herewith consists of a
battery of four arc lamps in a single housing. The
mechanism is of the clutch-feed type and use is made of
a single solenoid for each pair of arc lamps. The
mechanism is designed to operate on either direct cur-
rent or alternating current and is so arranged that by
the throw of a switch it may be used on either 110-volt
or 220-volt circuits. The energy taken in either case
is the same, because on 220 volts the four arc lamps are
FIG. 1 — FOUR-ARC LAMP FOR MOTION-PICTURE SERVICE
in series, taking 33 amp, and on 110 volts they are in
multiple series and take 66 amp. The diagram shown
in Fig. 2 illustrates how the operation can be changed
from 110 volts to 220 volts by simply throwing the
double-thmw switch to i-ither side. The electrodes are
treated so that the light produced closely approximates
daylight in value. The lamp is therefore especially
valuable for photographic purposes. The lamp has been
designed especially for motion-picture work. It is being
On 220 Volts
On I/O Volts
Switch
FIG. 2 — WIRING DIAGRAM SHOWING CONNECTIONS FOR
220-VOLT AND 110-VOLT SERVICE
placed on the market by M. J. Wohl & Company, 211
Fulton Street, Brooklyn, N. Y.
Vacuum Cleaner with Wooden Pistol-Grip Handle
The vacuum cleaner shown herewith is provided with
a push-button switch which is in the pistol-grip handle.
The handle is detachable and self-adjusting and is of
wood. The machine is so designed that the handle is
automatically maintained in an upright position. It is
operated by a General Electric universal motor. The
machine is supported on three fiber rubber-tired wheels,
the rear wheel being adjustable to raise or lower the
suction nozzle. Use is made of a 12-in. nozzle and a re-
volving brush for picking up threads, hair, lint, etc.
LIGHT-WEIGHT VACUUM CLEANER
Both dirt bag and brush are detachable for cleaning pur-
poses. The weight of the device is 10 lb. and the height
is 7.5 in. An 8-ft. covered hose is utilized with special
tools for cleaning draperies, pictures, mattresses, etc.
818
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 13
The hose is attached to the front of the cleaner nozzle.
The vacuum cleaner is a low-priced machine and is being
made by the Innovation Electric Company, 585 Hudson
Street, New York.
Oil Transformer
The transformer illustrated herewith is a small self-
contained device and is designed especially for service
in residences, apartments, etc., for operating doorbells,
annunciators, burglar alarms and door openers. It is
adapted for use with sixty-cycle, 110-volt circuits, and
reduces the potential to 12 volts for the bell circuit.
The transformer is inclosed in a cast-iron case, the
bottom of which is closed by a pressed-steel cover. Two
cable leads for the lighting circuit come from one end
of the case, and two brass studs for the bell circuit are
at the opposite end of the case. Both the cable leads
and the brass studs are held in bakelite bushings. The
SMALL TRANSFORMER FOR BELL CIRCUITS
core of the transformer is built up of punchings of
transformer steel. The primary and secondary coils
are wound independently and are highly insulated. Ac-
cording to the manufacturers, the transformer is so
constructed that it will not burn out even though it is
left to operate indefinitely on a short-circuit. The
transformer is designed to ring three 4-in. bells con-
nected in multiple. For use with 6-in. Wells two trans-
formers are necessary, the primaries being connected
in multiple across the lighting circuits and the second-
;iri«-s in series. Two transformers connected in this
manner, the manufacturers assert, will operate three
♦.-in. bells at one time. The transformer is 6.5 in. high,
2.5 in. deep and 8,5 in. wide, and it weighs only
4.625 lb.
This instrument is being made by the Fort Wayne
Electric Works of the General Electric Company, Fort
Wayne, Ind.
Device for Receiving Wireless Time Signals
An "audion" time receiver has recently been placed
on the market by the De Forest Radio Telephone &
Telegraph Company, 101 Park Avenue, New York, for
receiving the government signals, which are sent out
twice a day, according to the explanation accompany-
ing the diagrams shown in Fig. 2. The time signals
are transmitted as shown in the diagram, being merely
a series of dots one second apart for five minutes be-
fore 12 noon and before 10 p. m., ceasing on the twenty-
ninth second of every minute and for the last five sec-
onds on each of the first four minutes. They cease for
the ten seconds at the end of the last minute, and a long
dash is transmitted exactly on the hour, the time being
taken at the beginning of the dash.
Besides the necessary tuning apparatus, an "audion"
detector is inclosed in a waxed piano-finished oak case,
13 in. long, 11 in. wide and 11 in. high. All metal parts
are heavily nickel-plated, and all switch and control
knobs and binding posts are of hard rubber. The front
panel is of black composition material. According to
the manufacturers, when once the set is adjusted it
FIG. 1 — RECEIVER FOR TIME SIGNALS
will remain so from one end of the year to the other.
When one is through using the set, the head receivers
are hung on the hook at the left, so that their weight
pulls it down and automatically shuts off all circuits.
The wires running to the aerial through the lighting
switch are connected to the binding post on the set
marked A. The ground wire is connected to the binding
post E. A 6-volt battery is connected to the binding
posts marked AA, and the tips of the head set to the
binding posts marked TEL. The wire leading out from
the grid in the bulb is connected to the binding post G
and the wire from the wing in the bulb to the binding
post R.
At five minutes before the hours on which the time
signals are Bent, Eastern time, the head set is lifted
off the hook and the bulb is immediately lighted. The
rheostat knob under the lamp socket is turned away
from "in" toward "out," until the filament of the bulb
Maki II
1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
819
rmally bright. The switch />' is started at
the lowest point No. 12, and is turned to the right until
a blue discharge ocean in the bulb ur ■ hissing noise
occurs in the receivers. The switch is then brought
the blue discharge, if pro-
■ 1 ■(* A M
* S3 rn
ILM A 1-1
9.5« ^»-i
3.5 7 F M.
\
11 58 A M
3 sa r n.
II 53 AM
3.33 PM
IZ NOON
10 km.
Trte Arf.naion Station
■- ■ m*rp3ian 75 iwj^
..... .■ .-- - .,-. '. • , «.-.-'•.-, ftw
j»fono» of *o<:n 0' f/w /"JT
• -an/ rr>e
lasr t*n jcrccr-dJ Cf tnc last
PIG. 2 — DIAGRAM SHOWING METHODS OF SENDING WIRE-
LESS TIME SIGNALS
longed, is detrimental to the bulb. The knob PC is now
moved from the lowest left-hand contact point around
the arc, and at the same time the knob LC is moved
slowly until the high-pitched time signals come in
loudest. When this occurs the set is in "tune" with the
government station. If other signals interfere with
the time signals, the knob LC or VC is turned to the
left to reduce the interfering signals. The switch knob
also adjusted slightly.
Tool for Cutting Threads
A cross-bar die stock, as it is called, for threading
pipes with diameters varying from 0.5 in. to 1.25 in.
has just been developed by the Borden Company, War-
ren, Ohio. A bar extends across the top of the tool and
carries a plug which rests on the end of the pipe. Two
sets of dies are utilized, the lower set being employed to
begin the thread with a rough cut and the upper set to
finish the thread. While starting the thread the lower
CROSS-BAR DIE STOCK
dies are stationary, but as soon as the upper dies begin
to cut the lower dies are gradually withdrawn until they
no longer touch the pipe. The upper dies are narrow,
and as they advance along the thread, cut less and loss.
In starting a swiveled plug extends down between the
dies to the bottom of the upper section. When the work
of the lower dies is completed the pipe end comes in
contact with the swiveled plug, raising it as the second
set of dies start to cut the thread. The raising of the
plug causes the side posts to be lifted, and the die cam
is turned and gradually causes the dies to recede, thus
giving a tapered thread. The dies are set by means of
the handle shown in the illustration. A universal guide
is utilized to center the pipe. Double-ended dies are em-
ployed with the tool, which is called by the manufactur-
ers a "Beaver" die stock.
Large-Sized Generator for Gas-Steam Set
Four large direct-current generators are now being
installed in the Detroit plant of the Ford Motor Com-
pany which were built by the Crocker-Wheeler Com-
pany, Ampere, N. J. Each of these machines will be
directly connected to a two-cylinder tandem gas engine
and a compound condensing steam engine, as described
in the Electrical World of Sept. 12, 1914, page 528.
The combination gas-engine and steam set was made by
the Hoovens, Owens, Rentschler Company, Hamilton,
Ohio.
The maximum diameter of the generator shaft is 34
FRAME OF DIRECT-CURRENT GENERATOR FOR FORD PLANT
in., it is 26 ft. long and weighs approximately 35 tons.
The greatest diameter of the armature is 15 ft. 10 in.,
and its total weight is 42.5 tons. The armature spider
is of cast iron and is cast in two parts, each part weigh-
ing about 9 tons. Eight bolts are used to hold the
spider halves together, each bolt weighing 500 lb. and
each fluted nut, of which there are sixteen, weighing
90 lb. In order to obtain the proper tension on the
bolts each bolt was heated before being placed in posi-
tion so that on cooling after the nuts had been tight-
ened the bolt contracted and drew the two halves of the
spider together with great force. The laminated core
consists of 26,000 separate parts, each part having to
be handled separately during the process of assembling.
There are 10,000 core laminations and 5600 core ven-
tilators. The commutator is made up of 630 copper bars
insulated from each other and assembled on a cast-iron
spider frame. The spider frame is also made in two
parts, each weighing 5000 lb. The diameter of the com-
mutator over the bars is 9 ft. 2 in., and its total weight
is 10 tons, of which 4 tons is copper. The completed
armature mounted on the shaft is supported on two
bearings, each being 33 in. in diameter and 5 ft. long.
The magnet frame is of cast iron and has a section
820
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 13
resembling an enlarged T-rail section. Like the other
large castings, it was cast in two parts, each weighing
20 tons. The outside diameter of the frame is 22 ft.
2 in., and the distance across the base 25 ft. 8 in.
Thirty main poles and thirty interpoles were bolted to
the inside of the frame after the field coils were in
place. The rocker ring to which the brush-holders are
fastened is supported by brackets cast on the side of
the magnet frame. The rocker ring is of cast iron and
has an outside diameter of 20 ft. It weighs 4 tons. The
machine is equipped with 240 brushes.
The total weight of generator, including shaft, is
about 135 tons, of which 13 tons is copper. At 250
volts the generator is rated at 15,000 amp. The normal
rating of the machine is 3750 kw and the maximum rat-
ing is 4500 kw. The generator operates at a speed of
80 r.p.m., which gives a peripheral velocity of the
armature of about a mile a minute. It was necessary
to split the large castings in order to meet railroad-
tunnel clearances.
Electrically Operated 8-In. Fan
An 8-in. fan which operates on 8-volt to 120-volt
alternating current is being made by the Lindstrom.
Smith Company, 1100 South Wabash Avenue, Chicago,
FIG. 1 — WALL FAN
both the desk and wall type. The wall fan
large wing nut adjustment which allows the
fan to be turned at any desired angle. The guard is of
111.,
has
PIO. L' DESK KAN
heavy drawn brat and the blades of bright brass. The
desk i ktown In Pig. - and is provided with rubber
feet so thai it will not mar polished or finished surfaces.
The weighl of each fan Is 6 lb. The desk fan is 12 in.
high and \> in. wide. The wall Ian extends "Ut '.I in.
Concentrated-Filament Tungsten Lamp
A vacuum lamp with a concentrated or umbrella-type
tungsten filament is shown in the accompanying illustra-
tion. The lamp is being made with ratings of from 10
watts to 400 watts. Standard straight bulbs are used
VACUUM LAMP WITH FILAMENT OF UMBRELLA TYPE
with all sizes except the 400-watt size, which is globular,
the bulb being designated as type G-56. The lamp has
recently been developed by the Independent Lamp &
Wire Company, 1733 Broadway, New York.
Multiblade Fan
The fan shown herewith is called a conoidal fan be-
cause of the prevalence of conical shapes and surfaces in
its design. There is a cone inlet in the housing; the in-
dividual blades are sections of conical surfaces, and both
inner and outer edges of the blades form frustums of
cones. The blades are narrow at the top and increase in
width toward the back. The hub is conical and
deflects the air toward the blades without an abrupt
change in direction. The blast wheel is equipped with
thirty-two forward curved blades, which are riveted
at the front or inlet end to a conical flange and at
the back to an extra heavy boiler-plate disk or back
plate. Four forged tie-rods are screwed into the hub
and are attached to the conical flange at the inlet
edge of the wheel. The housing is of heavy steel
plate and is mounted on a heavy angle-iron base which
is drilled for holding-down bolts. The inner edge of
■i ONOrDA] " i ■ \\
the outlet opening is approximately tangential to the
periphery of the wheel, and the height of the outlet
is approximate!) equal to the wheel diameter. The
"Niagara conoidal" fan, as it is called, is being manu-
factured by the Buffalo Forge Company, Buffalo, N. V.
March 2
ELECTRICAL WORLD
I nderw niters Passive on Concentric Wiring and
Ren liable Fuses
On the recommendation of its electrical committee the
rial Fire Protection Association at its biennial
meeting in New Vurk on March 24 and 25 did not recog-
nize the principle of refillable fuses or take definite ac-
tion for or against grounded concentric-wiring systems.
The electrical committee met earlier in the week to
consider reports of standing committees on the National
rical Code and to pass on other suggested changes.
Whatever action was taken was reported in the open
sessions held on Wednesday and Thursday, and owing to
the widespread interest in many of the subjects coming
up for consideration the meetings were very well
attended.
Considerable discussion arose over the subject of re-
fillable fuses, some delegates arguing that refillable fuses
increased the fire hazard when used indiscriminately by
persons unskilled in the art, while others contended that
owing to the ease with which proper fillers can be se-
cured and inserted, refillable fuses lessen the likelihood
of persons resorting to other means of bridging the gap
•caused by a blown fuse. The electrical committee re-
ported that in its opinion, experience has not yet shown
that fuses in which the fuse element is intended to be
replaced or renewed by the user are satisfactory in test
or in field service to a degree warranting the recognition
of the principle of refillable fuses in the rules of the
National Electrical Code. The committee was sustained
in its recommendation.
The committee on grounded concentric-wiring sys-
tems, in view of the great diversity of opinion on the
subject and the apparent unfamiliarity of the electrical
industry with concentric wiring, substituted an abbre-
viated report in place of the long list of recommenda-
tions printed in the bulletin issued before the meeting
.and outlined in these pages some time ago. Progress
has been made in its investigations, it said, and it re-
quested that it be continued for further investigation of
the subject.
A committee of manufacturers, jobbers and electrical
contractors presented a resolution to the Underwriters'
committee asking that it require all informants to pre-
sent in writing their statements for or against concentric-
wiring, and that a committee of technical and business
experts appointed by the manufacturing interests to in-
vestigate the subject be permitted to see these state-
ments. It also requested that the Underwriters decline
untenance oral discussion of the subject of concen-
tric wiring before any of their official meetings so as
to aid this committee of technical and business experts
in obtaining correct conclusions on the large problems
submitted to it, the Underwriters reserving to them-
selves, after the committee's findings have been pub-
lished or its endeavors have been futile, the right to
lie written statements in their possession. It was
also suggested by the manufacturing and jobbing in-
terests that the Underwriters request the committee of
technical and business experts to solicit the thorough
co-operation of the Underwriters' Laboratories, Inc., the
body from which the Underwriters have been accus-
tomed to obtain authoritative advice before approving
either installation rules or rules governing the kind and
quality of electrical apparatus, devices and appliances
which are to be declared satisfactory to the National
Board of Fire Underwriters.
The Underwriters' committee requested the committee
of technical and biisin - to co-operate with it.
Action taken on other reports and suggested changes
will lit- given in next week's issue.
Meeting of Manufacturers of Electrical Supplies
The board of governors of the newly organized Asso-
ciated Manufacturers of Electrical Supplies met at the
Hotel Biltmore, New York, on Wednesday night of this
wfeek and authorized the formation of the conduit section
of the association, which organization was subsequently
perfected by the adoption of by-laws and the appoint-
ment of officers and committees. Messrs. Gerard Swope,
Western Electric Company, New York, and E. Morse,
Simplex Electric Heating Company, Cambridge, Mass.,
were unable to serve on the board of governors of the
new organization and tendered their resignations. A
committee of the board will present the names of two
others to fill the vacancies.
Four appointments were made to the membership
committee so as to enable work in that direction to be
undertaken at once. The chairman of the committee
is Mr. W. C. Robinson, National Metal Molding Com-
pany, Pittsburgh, and the other appointees are Messrs.
H. T. Paiste, H. T. Paiste Company. Philadelphia; Oscar
Hoppe, American Circular Loom Company, Boston, and
\V. I). Steele, Benjamin Electric Manufacturing Com-
pany, Chicago. A canvassing committee is also in proc-
ess of formation whose function it will be to give to all
of the manufacturing interests of the country informa-
tion relative to the organization and functions of the
association, including its constitution and by-laws.
Plans have been set afoot with a view to co-operating
actively with the other national bodies, such as the
National Electric Light Association, the American In-
stitute of Electrical Engineers, the Electrical Supply
Jobbers' Association and the National Electric Contrac-
tors' Association, on matters of standardization involv-
ing manufactured products.
The chairman of the new conduit section is Mr. F. C.
Hodkinson, Safety Armorite Conduit Company, Pitts-
burgh. The executive committee comprises Messrs.
C. E. Corrigan, National Metal Molding Company, Pitts-
burgh; Oscar Hoppe, American Circular Loom Company,
Boston ; R. Dart, Alphaduct Company, Jersey City, and
J. H. Trumbull, Trumbull Electric Manufacturing Com-
pany, Plainville, Conn. Mr. A. Laughlin, Central Tube
Company, Pittsburgh, is secretary of the section, and
Mr. Hays Murphy, American Conduit Manufacturing
Company, Pittsburgh, is treasurer.
A meeting of electric wire and cable manufacturers
will be called on the afternoon of April 14 at the Hotel
Biltmore, New York, for the purpose of forming a wire
and cable section. Mr. LeRoy Clark, Safety Insulated
Wire & Cable Company, 114 Liberty Street, New- York,
is a committee of one to whom requests for information
should be addressed. Invitations have been sent to all
manufacturers of wire to join in the movement.
•
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 11
Meeting of "National Electrical Week" Committee
A meeting of the executive committee on the proposed
'•national electrical week" was held on March 24 at
the Railroad Club. New York City. Mr. Anson W. Bur-
chard, vice-president General Electric Company, who
was in the chair, will continue to act as permanent chair-
man of the executive committee.
While decision as to the exact name to be given to
"national electrical week" was postponed, the date was
fixed as the week including Dec. 1, 1915, the opening
day probably to be Nov. 27. The indications were that
the entire electrical industry of the United States would
lend its co-operation in forwarding the plans for the
week.
In connection with the management of the week the
following resolution was passed:
"Resolved, that under the general guidance of this
committee the full responsibility for conduct of the elec-
trical week be and is placed upon the general manager
and staff of the Society for Electrical Development. It
is understood that the general manager will call upon
various individuals to act in an advisory capacity to the
general manager and his staff."
Next week the committee will name the local commit-
tees for different cities in geographical centers. Fifty
of the most prominent men representing different in-
terests in the industry will act. A special meeting of
the executive committee has been called for April 7 to
consider the budget to carry on the work.
were Messrs. F. A. Altney of Baltimore, Md., Harold.
Goodwin, Jr., and C. R. Weiss of Philadelphia, Pa., R.
W. Davis of Milwaukee, Wis., H. L. Wallau and Howard
Dingle of Cleveland, and O. W. Averrett and C. Fair of
Schenectady.
Comparison of Squirrel-Cage and Wound-Rotor Motors
Performance characteristics of wound-rotor and
squirrel-cage motors were compared in a paper entitled
"Line Disturbance Caused by Special Squirrel-Cage and
Wound-Rotor Motors When Starting Elevators and
Hoists," by Mr. J. C. Lincoln. It was pointed out that
the running efficiency of one two-and-one-half-year-old
elevator equipment tested was about 32.5 per cent and
FIG. 1 — CHARACTERISTICS OF HIGH-RESISTANCE SQUIRREL-
CAGE MOTOR AND WOUND-ROTOR MOTOR HAVING NEXT
LARGER FRAME
A. I. E. E. Industrial Power Meeting at Cleveland
At the 306th meeting of the American Institute of
Electrical Engineers, held at the Hollenden Hotel in
Cleveland, Ohio. March 18 and 19, under the auspices
of the Cleveland Section the registered attendance was
more than 300. At a noonday luncheon in the per-
manent quarters of the Electrical League of Cleveland,
President P. M. Lincoln, Pittsburgh, Pa., and Mr. S. G.
McMeen, Columbus, Ohio, addressed the assembled
Jovian convention delegates and guests, who filled the
league's commodious rooms. The speakers at the con-
vention banquet were President Lincoln, Dr. C. S. Howe
of Cleveland, Mr. S. G. McMeen of Columbus, and Mr.
D. B. Rushmore of Schenectady, N. Y. Mr. H. J. Davis
of Cleveland was toastmaster.
Abstracts of part of the papers and discussions are
given below.
Factors Involved in Motor Application
A list of factors involved in motor applications and
intended as an introduction to a discussion on the indi-
vidual features concerned was presented by Dr. D. B.
Rushmore. The paper was similar to but not so elab-
orate as the one he presented at the annual meeting of
the American Institute of Electrical Engineers in New
York City.
Disi-iisxiatl
The discussion of Mr. Rushmore's paper consisted
almost entirely of written contributions covering motor
applications in different industries. Mr. A. P. Lewis of
Akron. Ohio, described very completely the motor drives
in rubber mills. Mr. R. H. McLain read a paper on
friction drives written by Mr. C. W. Larson of Brie, Pa.
discussions dwelt on the necessity of takinyr safet\
precautions when making motor applications in gaseous
mines and other dangerous places. The authors of
■> -ion- were Messrs. C. \\ . Larson of Brie,
Pa, w C. Yates and William Haum of Schenectady,
i New Y.irk. and H. H. Clark of
P ■■ urgh, Pa. Others who took part in the discussion
starting efficiency only 16 per cent. A Heyland circle
diagram was employed to show graphically the currents
required by wound-rotor and squirrel-cage induction
motors to produce a given torque, the maximum torque
that the motor is capable of producing, and the power-
factor under different conditions.
It was shown that if the same maximum torques are
exerted by both types of motors, larger starting cur-
rents are required by the wound-rotor motor than by
FIG. 2 — CHARACTERISTICS OF WOUND-ROTOR MOTOR AND
HIGH -RESISTANCE SQUIRREL-CAGE MOTOR HAVING SAME
STATOR WINDINGS
the squirrel-cage type, and these currents are taken
from the supply lines at lower power-factors. A similar
relation exists even when ordinary loads have to be
lilted. In order that a wound-rotor motor may start
with less current than special squirrel-cage motors un-
der any circumstances, a controller must be provided
which will cut out each step of the resistance in approx-
imately equal time intervals. This is best accomplished
by means of dash-pots, but they are subject to many
trouble I r of special squirrel-cage motors for slow-
speed hoists will eliminate considerable of the initial
cost, maintenance and operating expenses involved with
wound-rotor motors.
Mak. ii 27, 1916
ELECTRICAL WORLD
823
The consensus of opinion of tl.' discussing
Mr Lincoln's paper seemed to be thai in Bizet up
i hp or 2o hp the properly designed squirrel-cage
motor has many advantages over other types for low-
. work. But for heavier duty at high Bpeeds the
characteristics • f. wound-rotor machines make them n
nearly suited t<> the task and insure therefore less dis-
turbance to distributing systems upon which the motors
grating. Those who participated in the discussion
Messrs. II. D. James of Pittsburgh, R. 11. McLain
enectady and II. I.. Wallau of Cleveland.
Abstracts of tlu- other papers will t,e presented in a
later is
Electrical Supply Jobbers at Chicago
Principal interest at the convention of the Electrical
Supply Jobbers' Association at Chicago last week cen-
tered in the joint meeting with the manufacturers
on Thursday morning. Although it had been under-
ii) some cpuarters that this would be an "open"
meeting, the session was held behind closed doors and
admission was refused to persons not provided with
ipecial cards of invitation.
Two addresses written from the standpoint of the
electrical manufacturer were read at the morning joint
n. These held the close interest and attention of
the ".on jobbers and manufacturers present. Mr. John
i llridgman, of the Hazard Manufacturing Company,
Wilkes-Barre, Pa., discussed "Difficulties in Marketing
Is," and Mr. H. B. Crouse, Crouse-Hinds Company,
ise, N. Y.. spoke on the topic "Having a Policy."
••Relations Between the Producer and Distributer" were
discussed by Messrs. F. S. Price of the Pettingell-
Andrews Company, Boston, Mass., Mr. W. W. Low, Elec-
tric Appliance Company, Chicago, and Mr. T. M. Debe-
Keneral counsel for the jobbers' association.
At the afternoon session of the jobbers, Mr. W. N.
Matthews, of W. N. Matthews & Brother, St. Louis, Mo.,
presented a paper in which he recommended that elec-
trical-supply jobbers follow the policy of other progres-
sive merchandising firms in guaranteeing their goods
on a money-back basis. Mr. A. F. Sheldon, of the Area
(111. i Institute of Business Technology, spoke on "The
Philosophy and Ethics of Industry."
The question of admitting representatives of the elec-
trical press to sessions of future conventions was
brought up at the meeting of Friday morning, and it
was voted to admit electrical-newspaper men to the con-
vention hall hereafter, at the discretion of the general
secretary of the association.
Concentric-wiring topics came up for a brief discus-
sion at one of the routine sessions of the convention,
when Mr. Franklin Overbagh, general secretary, de-
led for the benefit of members present the proposed
innovation in wiring construction. Official action was
taken by the jobbers in approving the resolution passed
by the convention of electrical manufacturers at the
Hotel Biltmore, New York City, March 9, referring the
subject of concentric wiring to an expert committee of
fifteen (see Electrical World, March 13, page 694).
At the close of the brief session of Friday morning
the members of the jobbers' convention were taken by
a special elevated-railway train to the Hawthorne works
of the Western Electric Company, where luncheon was
served. The employees' band played during the meal,
and at its close there were brief addresses by Mr. Gerard
Swope, vice-president and sales manager; Mr. H. F.
Albright, manager of works, and Mr. E. W. Rockafellow,
assistant sales manager. Mr. Frederick P. Vose re-
sponded for the guests. The cable plant, stockrooms and
telephone plant were visited on a tour of inspection
through the works.
824
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 1$
Convention of Electrical Inspectors
The convention of the National Association of Elec-
trical Inspectors was held at the Hotel Martinique, New
York, on March 23, with an attendance of forty-five, the
largest in the history of the association. President T.
H. Day in his address stated that there are now six
sections of the association and that the section plan
should be greatly extended. Mr. Day deemed it advis-
able to change the articles of the association so as to
permit of a foreign membership, in order for the asso-
ciation to obtain first-hand information on various Euro-
pean wiring and inspection practices. The absence of
any information on the experiences of electrical inspec-
tors in foreign countries with concentric wire was
quoted to show that the association is losing by not
having a foreign membership. This suggestion was
acted on favorably at a late session.
The report of the secretary showed almost a 200 per
cent increase in membership during the past two years,
or an increase from 101 members on April 1, 1913, to
278 members at the present time.
The following officers were elected to serve for the
next two years: President, Mr. H. S. Wynkoop, New
York ; vice-president, Mr. Washington Devereux, Phila-
delphia; secretary-treasurer, Mr. W. L. Smith, Concord,
Mass., and representative on the electrical committee of
the National Fire Protection Association, Mr. R. X
Strong, New Orleans.
8
Discussions of Proposed Changes in the Code
The latter part of the morning session and tiie
greater part of the afternoon session were devoted to a
discussion of the committee reports and suggestions for
changes in the National Electrical Code embodied in the
preliminary bulletin of the electrical committee of the
National Fire Protection Association. On the request
of Mr. G. L. Tollison, a discussion was held on the re-
port of the committee on grounded concentric-wiring
systems. The sense of the meeting was that absence of
complete information regarding concentric wiring prac-
tices in foreign countries prevented an intelligent con-
sideration of the proposal to introduce such wire' in
America. Possible lack of security of ground connec-
tions for such systems was one of the greatest objec-
tions raised to the introduction of such a system. T}ie
association went on record as being in favor of 'the
report of the committee, namely, that at this time it did
not recommend any rules for concentric wiring to be
included in the code.
The association as a whole also went on record as ap-
proving the recommendations of its executive committee
that Rule 32, Section B, of the code be revised so as to
permit flexible cord to be used in show windows for
temporary displays under special permission in writing.
The same action was taken in regard to the addition to
Rule 12, Section B, to the effect that the service loop
from pole to building may be run with cabled wire pro-
vided that all wires in the cable are of equal cross-sec-
tion and covered with approved rubber insulation, and
provided that special permission be given in writing for
the arrangement.
Protection of Polyphase and Split-Phase Induction Motors
in Remote Locations
A very interesting discussion \v:is called for on the
suggestion of Mr. Morris Podel] th.it provision be made
in the code for requiring some device to open all phases
of a polyphase induction motor or all connections to
split-phase induction motors in case one phase or wire
of a circuit i opened from any cause. This was sug-
gested as advisable only in the cnse of motors which
are out of sight or so situated that they receive little
or no attention while running. Mr. Podell gave ex-
amples of a number of cases where motors situated in
attics, cellars, etc., and controlled from other parts of
the building had burned out and caused considerable
damage owing to the blowing of one fuse, the others re-
maining intact.
Mr. Day maintained that the present code rules make
it possible for an inspector to insist on such protection.
However, the sense of the meeting was that no definite
authority is given in the code for such an attitude on
the part of the inspector. A committee — Messrs. W\
L. Smith, O. E. Smith and M. Podell— was appointed to-
consider this suggestion, and if necessary to suggest a
rule which will cover the points under discussion.
Banquet
In the evening a banquet was held in the "Oak Room"
of the Hotel Martinique, Mr. J. C. Forsythe, of New-
York, acting as toastmaster. Those who spoke were
Messrs. T. H. Day, H. S. Wynkoop, T. I. Jones, W. L.
Smith, J. E. Latta, C. Roulet and G. E. Bruen. As a
token of esteem and appreciation of the work of Mr.
J. E. Cole, Boston, the association's representative on
the electrical committee of the National Fire Protec-
tion Association, it was decided to petition that associa-
tion to retain Mr. Cole on its electrical committee in
some capacity that would require less of his time than
heretofore.
President-elect Wynkoop's address considered mainly
the value of an international membership and co-opera-
tion throughout the association. Mr. T. I. Jones pointed
out the necessity for cheaper methods of wiring than
those in existence to-day, stating that the proposed con-
centric-wire system was one that central stations in
general thought worthy of the serious consideration of
the various electrical interests.
Mr. Forsythe also spoke on concentric wiring and said
that he had viewed models of fittings for a proposed
concentric-wiring system and deemed them as good as
any standard fittings on the market to-day for existing
systems from the viewpoint of hazards. Many of the
objections to the introduction of this system of wiring
he believes to be "psychological," owing mainly to the
fact that American engineers are not accustomed to
bare-copper conductors.
Mr. Latta spoke on the value of the National Elec-
trical Code and stated that the Underwriters' Labora-
tories were willing to do anything to advance the elec-
trical industry provided that such things can be done
with safety.
The banquet concluded the convention of this associa-
tion proper, the members attending the meetings of the
National Fire Protection Association on the following
days.
Failure of Patent Office Legislation
The proposed Patent Office legislation failed of pas-
sage at the last session of Congress. The House of Rep-
resentatives passed the bill which provided for the in-
crease in numbers of and pay of examiners. With much
other legislation the bill was delayed in the Senate by
the long fight over the ship-purchase bill. During the
concluding all-night sessions of Congress, in the early
morning hours of March 4, the Senate passed the bill.
hut in some mysterious manner it was lost on its way
to the enrolling clerk, and it was consequently never
presented to President Wilson for signature. The result
is that the bill has failed, although there was practi-
e.-Uly no opposition to it. It has been recognized in Wash-
ington that the measure was needed for the promotion
of the efficiency of the Patent Office.
ak. ii .•:. 1915
ELEi I !! I i A L WORLD
825
Patent* Involved in shoe Machinerj Decision
In the decision last week of the United States Dis-
trict Court at Boston, dismissing the federal suit
-t the United Shoe Machinery Company under the
Sherman act an extended discussion of the patent sit-
uation by Judge Dodge was an important part. Judge
■ points out that the combination of constituent
rna was not unlawful so far aa it did no more than
put different groups of non-competing patented ma-
chines into one control i U. S. vs. Winslow, 227 1'. S..
The combination was on its face simply an effort
after greater efficiency, and the legality of such combi-
nation is fully recognized.
The government claimed that in 1899 the component
Companies were manufacturing their respective ma-
chines and parts under patents, that "many of the basic
patents on the principal machines were about to expire,"
that their manufacture and use were about to become
open to the public "in the near future," and that the
defendants, not being satisfied with the rights enjoyed
under the patents and intending to expand and perpet-
uate them to public detriment, devised the alleged
monopoly. These allegations are not proved, and Judge
Dodge holds that no such motive is shown to have
prompted either the company's organization or subse-
quent doings. The effect of the evidence and the gov-
ernment argument is that Goodyear machines of the
old type are capable of commercial use and could have
been made by anyone who chose. That after the expira-
tion of the two so-called basic patents machines con-
structed according to them were not used is sufficiently
accounted for by the superiority of newer machines
which the defendants introduced; the older machines did
not enter into competition with them, and the defend-
ants cannot be charged with suppressing such competi-
tion.
It is shown that improvements in machines and their
manufacture were accomplished by constant investiga-
tion, experiment, testing, and invention by competent
experts, involving a very large expenditure by the com-
pany. These efforts were directed not only toward
making each machine as efficient as possible, but also
toward increasing its efficiency for so operating upon
a shoe as best to combine it with work upon the shoe
by numerous other machines required for the remaining
necessary operations in order that the many successive
operations should co-operate toward the best final prod-
uct. Besides thus developing and improving the 1899
machines the company invented and produced many
other machines or improvements as the need became
apparent.
This development of business resulted in a very great
commercial success. Nor is there any question that, of
all machines of the kinds to which this case relates in
use when the petition was filed, those of the company
I ituted all but a very small proportion. Neverthe-
less, considering the whole field of machinery for stitch-
ing together bottoms and uppers of shoes, there has
been free competition all the time. In that field of
trade in shoe machinery to which the case is limited, the
defendants have been not monopolists but competitors.
Their only means have been legitimate — better ma-
chines. Their specialization, not monopoly, has been
the cause of success.
The business which the defendants have developed and
established is not and never has been one in which
everybody might freely engage. No one else could law-
fully make or use machines containing improvements
covered by the defendant's patents. Nor did the de-
mand for machines which they have supplied exist in-
dependently of the defendants, they created it by new
methods which their improvements educated and enabled
manufacturers to follow. It cannot justly be said that a
field of commerce normally belonging to all has been
captured by a single concern. In so far as the de-
fendant's occupation of the field has been due to greater
desirability of the patented machines and superiority of
their methods of making and supplying users therewith,
no reason appears for holding it unlawful, whatever its
extent.
Methods introduced by the company for keeping ma-
chines in etficient operation have most effectively aided
its business. It has undertaken not only to train oper-
atives in proper use of machines and to secure prompt
repair of any machine disabled in service, but also to
supply each user with the latest improvements, either
by adding them to machines or substituting improved
for superseded machines, without extra cost. Standard-
ization has effected a great reduction in the time of
repair. While each of the component companies ren-
dered some service of the character described, this was
limited and the maintenance of any such system as the
company pursued would have been impossible on ac-
count of cost.
The instances in which the company was producing
or trying to develop for production a patented machine
for doing work more or less similar to that for which
the invention of the machine acquired was intended
are the only instances capable of being regarded as of
any possible significance for the purposes of the gov-
ernment case. In such cases the acquisitions were of
patented improvements, whether or not embodied in an
actual machine, enabling the company to increase effi-
ciency of its own machines, or to complete development
of others with which it was experimenting or which it
had not yet made commercially successful. No case is
found of such consequence as justifies the conclusion
that the patent acquisition was to suppress competition
or materially restrain trade. In most cases the ma-
chine or device acquired was claimed to infringe pat-
ents of the company, and the object of the acquisition
was avoidance or compromise of pending or threatened
litigation. It is still less possible to say that any wrong-
ful absorption of a competitor's business has been
proved. The acquisitions of this class are, in importance
and amount, of relatively small consequence. It can
hardly be said that any afforded anything more than a
basis on which to build. During the eleven years in
which these acquisitions gradually occurred the cases
wherein the business of a concern producing shoe ma-
chinery was offered and refused were far more numer-
ous than the cases of acquisition. The company's argu-
ment on the patent issues was by Mr. . Frederick P.
Fish, of Boston.
Full Scope of the Decision
Judges Putnam, Brown and Dodge of the United
State District Court unanimously dismissed the dissolu-
tion suit of the United States against the United Shoe
Machinery Company at Boston, Mass., last week. The
validity of the patent rights is supported, the elimina-
tion of competition allegation is dismissed, the leasing
idea is sustained and commended, and the company in
general is complimented for its business dealings with
shoe manufacturers. The suit was brought in 1911 by
the United States under former Attorney-General
Wickersham, alleging monopoly in violation of the Sher-
man act.
The opinion was written by each of the three judges,
all concurring at the close in the dismissal of the bill.
Judge Brown said in conclusion: "The shoe manufac-
turer has no just cause of complaint that the defendants
offer restrictive leases. We conclude that, although the
prohibitive leases, in so far as they tend to group to-
gether machines of different departments, may be re-
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. IS
garded as a direct outgrowth of the consolidation, the
consolidation was not for this reason in any way detri-
mental to the shoe manufacturer, but on the contrary
was for his benefit, since it enabled the United company
to offer him better terms and enabled him to equip his
factory cheaper than before. The argument of the
United States upon the tying of department to depart-
ment shows no reason for invoking the Sherman act in
behalf of the shoe manufacturer."
Judge Putnam said in part: "We fail to find in the
development of the company and its operations any sup-
port for the alleged charges in the bill of intended
oppression, arbitrary conduct, or anything of that
nature, especially so far as regards allegations covering
any demands to destroy or cripple competitors. We find
no evidence of what was shown, especially in the Tobacco
company cases, namely, a purpose to destroy what could
not be acquired by straightforward methods. The fact
that the company has acquired so large a percentage of
the business of the country to which it devoted its ener-
gies is due so largely to the use of extraordinarily com-
petent methods as to shut out from the eyes of the im-
partial investigator suggestions of other methods."
Judge Brown concluded that no unfair or unlawful
competition was practised by the company in regard to
patents. It is probable that the case will be carried to
the United States Supreme Court.
Outputs of Large Generating Systems
The accompanying table, which includes data appear-
ing in the Electrical World of Jan. 23, gives statistics
for 1914 on the outputs, peak load and load-factor of the
largest generating systems of the country. The com-
bined output of the thirty-six companies listed, one
being estimated, is approximately 12,000,000,000 kw-hr.
Three of the companies in the list — the Ontario Power
Company, the Toronto Power Company and the Shaw-
inigan Water & Power Company — are in Canada, al-
though a large part of the output of the first two com-
panies is exported across the border into the United
States.
Of the 12,000,000,000 kw-hr. accounted for, approx-
imately two-thirds was generated from water-power. In
the last report issued by the Bureau of the Census,
that of 1912, the total output of the 5221 central stations
of the country was 11,532,963,006 kw-hr. The total
horse-power of steam engines and steam turbines was
given as 4,946,532, and the total horse-power of water-
wheels as 2,471,081. It would appear, therefore, that
over half of the electrical energy generated by the cen-
tral stations of the country is obtained from water-
wheel-driven units.
Two items of particular note in the tabulation are the
output of the Commonwealth Edison Company
■licago and the yearly load-factor of the Hydraulic
Power Company of Niagara Falls, N. Y. Very many of
the companies sell large blocks of energy to electric
railway companies, while others, notably those at
Niagara Falls, Shawinigan Falls, Duluth and on the
■ River in Tennessee, find a large market for elec-
trical energy in electrochemical industries. Fully one-
nali "i Hi'- output of the Shawinigan Water & Power
Company Is used in the city of Montreal. The Missis-
sippi River Power Company does a wholesale business
only, selling energy largely to other utilities. Aboul
two thirds of the total output of this company is taken
bj the public service companies in the city of st. Louis.
Approximately L8 per cent of the output of the Detroit
Edison Company went for the operation of streets and
railways, <1 per cent to chemical work. 1 per cent
to municipal lighting anil other municipal services, 21
per cent for residence lighting, 25 per cent to general
commercial lighting, and 31 per cent to industrial enter-
prises. The figures given for the Detroit Edison Com-
pany apply to the Detroit power houses only and do not
include any part of the Eastern Michigan Edison power
houses which feed into the same system.
Less than one-third of the output of the Puget Sound
Traction, Light & Power Company of Seattle is used
for railway purposes, the rest being sold for general
electric service in the Puget Sound district. Out of
the total of 292,500,000 kw-hr. reported by the Pacific
Power & Light Corporation of Los Angeles, approx-
imately 21,000,000 kw-hr. was generated by steam-en-
gine-driven units. Approximately two-thirds of the
output was used for railway purposes and the remainder
for lamps and motor circuits. The Southern California
Edison Company distributed its energy approximately
as follows: Commercial and domestic lighting, 18 per
DATA ON LARGE GENERATING SYSTEMS
Commonwealth Edison Company
Niagara Falls Power Company
Ontario Power Company
New York Edison and United Companies
Hydraulic Power Company . ,
Pacific (las A Electrie Company. ...
Public Service Electric Company
Shawinigan Water & Power Company.
Montana Power Company .
Mississippi River Power Compaio
Diniuesne I.ieht Company
tlrcaf Western Power Company
Detroit Edison Company
Puget Sound Traction. Light A Power
Company
Pacific Light A Power Corporation.. .
Southern California Edison Company. .
Utah Power & Light Company
Pennsylvania Water A Power Company .
Philadelphia Electric Company
Toronto Power Company
■ Power Company
Electric Company of Missouri
Bust, in Edison < Yimpany
Union Electric Light A Power Company
Portland (Ore.) Railway. iLight A Powei
Company
Washington Water Power Company
Wisconsin Edison Company
Brooklyn Edison Company
Georgia Railway A Power Company
Sierra A San Francisco Power Company.
(Ireat Northern Power Company
Rochester Railway .V Light Company'
New England Power Company
Minneapolis General I I, vine Company,
t Alabama Power Company
131.520 Jan. 5
130,500 Sept. 23
121.000 Oct. 29
123.53!) Dec 23
85,000 Job 7
.Tulv 21
73,700 Nov If,
72.000 Dec. 21
56.300 Dec. 9
100 Dec. 15 |
53,886
17. IKS
:i. hi in
77,72s
71', nun
47, BOO
Ii5.342
51.1172
Nov. IS
Dec. 21
Dec. 7
44.315 Jan. 2
29. Ml
11.124
it. 120
40,080
30,400
28,800
35,000
27,856
28,600
Dec. 29
Deo 9
Oct. 2s
Jan. 6
Dec. 16
Dec. 15
Dec. 22
1,114,130.000
906.513,620
781.664,400
719,193,535
703,105,872
658,298,000
130. Sis. 532
130,000,000
102,663,368
356,578,000 i
315.2I0.7W',
315.000,000
313,718,600
L'-~.51'I..V,.'
287,702,765
277,200,000
250. 0117 ,1152
236,328,680
228,501,650
228,200,088
194,137,400
180,677,503
160,665,804
153.046,900
145 684,800
170,444,960
136,733,810
128,850,785
42 S
36 8
37 5
65.4
36 2
35.6
37.5
51 2
"Southern Power Company.
tMain station ls-.:aii operations April 14.
TJodatmreoeived.
cent; street lighting, 2 percent; commercial power busi-
ness, 52 per cent; railway load, 25 per cent; municipal
light and other miscellaneous load, 3 per cent. The per-
< tillage of consumption for commercial and domestic
lighting also includes that of approximately 140,000
lamp socket appliances rated at 500 watts. The com-
mercial power represents energy sold for irrigation
pumping, manufacturing, etc.
The outputs of the Montana Power Company and of
the Utah Power & Light Company represent approx-
imately all of the electricity used for any purpose what-
oever in both States. Of the energy generated by the
Washington Water Power Company of Spokane, ap-
proximately one-third was used in mining operations,
not t|iiite one-half of the output was used for general
service in the city of Spokane and in the country towns,
while the remainder was used for railway purposes.
The ordinary maximum load on the Georgia Railway
& Power Company's system occurred on Dec. 22 and
Makch -'7. 1915
E I. EC! RICAL WORLD
•
•ru 88,400 kw. The maximum ghvn ol 44,320 kw,
which occurred on Oct. 2>s, was due to a temporary load
Of only a few weeks' duration Of 10.000 kw. and thl
mated kilowatt-hours for tin- temporal^ load approx-
imated 4,000,000. If this special load be ignored, the
regular load-factor of the system would be approx-
imately 42 per cent instead of :t7."> per a nt Ap-
rnately 90,000,000 kw-hr. of the energj generated
■ d in the city of Atlanta.
One-half of the output of the Great Northern Power
.my was used in the manufacture of calcium car-
while the remainder was used for general electric
I he Rochester N. Y. Railway & Light Corn-
showed a loss in output of 1 per cent over last
. while the maximum peak was 10 per cent less than
that of last year. Seventy-six and one-half million kilo-
hours was employed in lamps and motor circuits
and 47,000,000 kw-hr. was used by the railway company.
The lesser output this year as compared with last year
was due in great measure to the lesser demand for
energy by the street-railway system.
The Alabama Power Company of Birmingham, Ala..
started its large hydroelectric station at Lock 12 in the
River on April 14. so that the returns do not
represent the capabilities of the* company. Approx-
imately, 50 per cent of the company's present output is
sold to other utilities, and the remainder is used by-
man u fact urers in various parts of Alabama.
The thirty-three American systems are fairly well
scattered throughout the country, ten of them being
of the Rocky Mountains. The systems are ar-
ranged in the order of their output, and every effort has
been made to include every company having a yearly
output exceeding 100,000.000 kw-hr.
tion came up in connection wit!
directed to the Department of Justice, in which cor-
porations, firms and individuals all over the country
BOUght to obtain specific information u to what they
might or might not do under the trade commission act.
These inquiries have been referred. to the commission.
Members of the commission decided as a matter of
policy that they will not give rulings in advance. While
inquiries might be made in the best of faith, the details
of circumstances might not always be complete. Mem-
bers of the commission point out that business men
heretofore have sought information from various
government agencies as to what they might or might
not do, and have proceeded in good faith on the ane
received, only to find at times that nevertheless prosecu-
tions for alleged violations of anti-trust laws have taken
place.
For the commission to endeavor to give in advance
rulings as to what business men might or might not do
would subject it to a demand upon its time that might
prove overwhelming. The commission cannot under-
take to act as counsel or attorney for corporations,
firms or individuals. Notwithstanding this, the commis-
sion will be glad to confer at all times with business
men. President Wilson's idea, as expressed to the com-
missioners, is that they shall be of "constructive help-
fulness" to business.
Chairman Davies has announced that almost the first
work to be undertaken will be an inquiry into common
selling agency plans such as are carried out abroad by
foreign corporations, for the purpose of determining
whether similar agencies may be organized here. This
inquiry was ordered by the trade commission act. It is
expected that the commission will shortly promulgate
regulations to put the trade commission act into effect.
Progress of Federal Trade Commission Work
The members of the Federal Trade Commission have
elected Mr. Edward N. Hurley vice-chairman. The com-
mission spent most of the last week in getting settled
in its offices in the old quarters of the Bureau of Cor-
porations in the Department of Commerce and in ward-
ing off a horde of office seekers, mostly attorneys desir-
ing appointment as assistant counsel or examiners. The
appointment was announced of Mr. Raymond B. Stevens,
former Representative from New Hampshire, as special
counsel at $3,600 a year. Mr. Stevens helped to write
the unfair practices clause of the trade commission act.
Outlines of policies to be pursued by the commission
have become known as the result of conferences between
I man Davies and callers in search of information
a- to the procedure to be followed. Reports that there
might be a conflict between the Department of Justice
and the commission, or an overlapping of duties and
powers, were denied by Mr. Davies in conversation with
a representative of the Elkctrical World. One report,
to the effect that the Department of Justice in future
will charge itself with the handling of big cases in con-
nection with anti-trust matters and that the commis-
sion will concern itself only with smaller cases, is de-
clared to be erroneous. The commission is required by
law to aid the Department of Justice in disentangling
affairs of corporations where violation of the act has
been disclosed by investigation. It may act either upon
its own responsibility or request of the department.
Chairman Davies regrets that there should have been
any report of a possibility of differences. No such dif-
ference are likely to arise, he believes.
Business men who have counted upon the possibility
of being able to obtain rulings in advance, or advisory
information, with respect to specific plans they have in
mind for their business will be disappointed. The ques
Federal Trade Committee of Chamber of Commerce
Directors of the Chamber of Commerce of the United
States gathered in Washington on March 17 and 18 for
their annual spring meeting and to plan the national
activities of the body for the ensuing year.
One of the most important matters transacted was
the selection of a committee, to be known as the federal
trade committee, to co-operate with the new Federal
Trade Commission. The committee is as follows:
Messrs. Harry A. Wheeler of Chicago, chairman; Russ
C. Butler, lawyer, Chicago; Alfred B. Koch, of Toledo,
Ohio, president of the National Retail Dry Goods Asso-
ciation ; W. L. Saunders, of New York, president of the
Ingersoll-Rand Company; Guy E. Tripp, chairman of
the board, Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing
Company ; Morton A. Aldrich, dean of the college of
commerce and business administration of Tulane Uni-
versity, New Orleans; Alexander W. Smith, lawyer, At-
lanta, Ga. ; Joseph P. Cotton, lawyer, New York and
Boston; Henry R. Seager, economist, Columbia Univer-
sity, New York.
Maintenance of Re-Sale Prices Denied
Judge Hand of the United States District Court, New
York, rendered a decision on March 23 dismissing an
action brought by the Victor Talking Machine Company
to restrain R. H. Mary & Company of New York from
selling phonographs and records below stipulated prices.
It was alleged that the defendants possessed nothing
more than a non-assignable right of use. The court
said that the only question was whether a patentee who
had once received his royalty covering the use of the
patented article during the entire life of the patent
could prevent the transfer of the use of his license.
828
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 13
New York Rate Reduction Accepted
The New York Edison Company has announced that
it will accept the order of the New York Public Service
Commission, First District, reducing the maximum rate
from 10 cents per kw-hr. to 8 cents per kw-hr. without
lamp renewals. In its public announcement the company
states that it will reduce the present statutory maxi-
mum rate of 10 cents to a maximum rate of 8 cents per
kw-hr., without lamp renewals, for electrical energy
for lighting and motor service. Such reduction, to-
gether with the reduction due to a general revision of
the rate schedule, will involve a reduction in the cost of
service to practically all consumers amounting to more
than $1,750,000 per year.
"Consumers desiring to avail themselves of the lamp-
renewal facilities of the company may continue to obtain
that service at a charge of % cent per kw-hr. for present
standard lamps, or they may obtain these lamps from
the company at the lowest wholesale prices."
The order of the commission provides that on and
after May 1, 1915, and for a period of three years there-
after, the maximum price to be charged by the company
for electric service furnished by it in the city of New
York, exclusive of the installation and renewals of elec-
tric lamps, shall be 8 cents per kw-hr., but this order
shall not apply to that portion of the borough of the
Bronx known as the old town of Kingsbridge, nor to
that portion, if any, of the borough of the Bronx lying
east of the Bronx River in which the company has the
right or franchise to supply electric energy.
Commissioner Williams, who prepared the opinion,
states that the New York Edison Company was formed
about 1901 by the consolidation of a number of other
companies and at that time carried on its books an entry
of $78,000,000 for plant and property. No inventory
or appraisal was made before this entry was placed on
the books. By later additions, the company had in-
creased this amount up to the end of 1913 to a total of
$97,317,000. It also claims more than $10,000,000 for
the value of assets of the New York Gas & Electric
Company and property represented by bonds of the
Edison Illuminating Company. It also claims an in-
crease in real estate values, an increase in working
capital, etc., sufficient to bring the total to something
more than $132,000,000.
Commissioner Williams states that the Edison com-
pany, by efficient management, is earning a large re-
turn, he believes too large a return upon capital actually
expended. Net earnings for the year 1913 amounted
to $7,802,732, but these fell off about $650,000 for 1914.
This leaves net earnings of about $7,150,000, if present
rates are allowed to continue, which is equivalent to
a return of 6 per cent on $120,000,000 or 5 per cent on
$145,000,000. He therefore recommends a reduction in
the maximum schedule charge to 8 cents per kw-hr.,
which would still leave the company $5,150,000 a year net
baaed upon the 1914 business, or $5,800,000 net with
business as good as in 1913. This would be 6 per cent
on nearly $100,000,000, which he holds must certainly
cover the "capital actually expended in the enterprise."
Commissioner Maltbie said: "The fundamental dif-
ference between Commissioner Williams and myself is
that his plan will involve a cut in the net earnings of
the company of only $l,800.()(io or $1,000,000. I believe
that the rates should be reduced to the extent of from
$2,800,000 to $3,000,000. In other words, Commis-
r Williams believes in allowing the company net
profits of about $1,000,000 more than I do. If a total
cut of $3,000,000 were made, the company would still
have net earnings of $4,800,000. which is 7 per cent
upon nearly $70,000,000, whereas the record does not
warrant a finding of the value of the property in excess
of $60,000,000. If one were to adopt the rate accepted
by the United States Supreme Court in the Consolidated
Gas case, viz., 6 per cent, the company would have a
return upon $80,000,000, or $20,000,000 in excess of the
fair value. It is unjust to the consumers to limit the
reduction in the company's revenues to $1,800,000, for,
according to the Court of Appeals, a public service cor-
poration is entitled to a fair return and no more.
"If a reduction of the maximum rate to 8 cents is con-
sidered justifiable, there is still no ground for refusing
to reduce the charge for energy to 7 or 61 2 cents to the
great mass of consumers and to install a meter charge
of 50 cents, 75 cents or $1 per month. A flat rate of 8
cents up to 1000 kw-hr. per month will deprive a large
number of consumers of any reduction commensurate
with that given to the very small consumers. Yet con-
sumers using from 25 to 2000 kw-hr. per month are
the very ones who are now paying much more than they
should."
Meeting of Concentric Wiring Committee
At the Biltmore Hotel, New York City, on Tuesday,
was held the first meeting of the representative com-
mittee of business and technical experts elected on
March 9 by the manufacturers of electrical supplies and
materials entering into electrical construction, under the
following resolution:
"Resolved, that a representative committee of busi-
ness and technical experts be appointed to investigate
the all-insulated system of building wiring as used at
present in this country, and coincidently investigate
grounded return systems together with concentric
wiring:
"First — To determine the relative efficiencies of the
two systems (a) as to safety to persons, (b) as to pro-
tection against fire, (c) as to the possible provision of
methods of wiring at low cost, combined with ease of
installation and sufficiently attractive appearance to ob-
tain popular approval.
"Second — To present to the entire industry the re-
sults of its investigations in the form of concrete recom-
mendations, including standard systems, standard de-
vices and standard appliances."
After extended discussion of the work assigned to it,
the committee decided that the first and basic question
must be the determination of the relative efficiencies
under headings (a) and (b) of the above resolution —
first, present system of insulated circuits in buildings;
second, grounded return circuits.
To give to the committee a sound basis for further
procedure, the following were elected as a sub-com-
mittee to collect available data as to the advantages and
disadvantages of grounded return systems for building
construction: Messrs. C. E. Corrigan, National Metal
Molding Company; W. II. Blood, Jr.. National Electric
Light Association; G. S. Lawler, Associated Factory
Mutual Fire Insurance Company; J. R. Strong, Tucker
Electrical Construction Company; F. W. Glading, Bu-
reau of Standards. Washington; 1>. C. Jackson, Massa-
chusetts Institute of Technology.
In view of the widespread effecl of s*o radical a change
in American wiring systems as would result from the
complete adoption of grounded returns, the committee
decided to begin its investigations at once by thoroughly
sifting the theoretical advantages of that system, and
in so far as possible obtaining authentic data of the
results obtained in England and Continental Europe,
where grounded returns have been used more or less.
Until the committee secures permanent headquarters,
those interested in this subject are invited to address
communications to the committee, care of Mr. LeRoy
Clark, chairman. Ill Liberty Street. New York. N. Y.
ELECT R I ' A 1. WORLD
-J!'
.Miscellaneous News Notes
Hill Regarding ( 'umpflitiun in Ohio. — It is reported that
the Senate committee on municipal affairs of the Ohio
iture will reconsider its agreed recommendation of the
Willis-Horn bill providing that municipalities, without con-
demning existing plant-, ma) erect competing electrical
plants m places where there are already privately owned
plants in operation. If this i- not done by the committee,
IPs defeat on the floor of the Senate i> Baid
almost certain.
Exposition Presents Bronze rablel to Pacific <..i- 8 Elec-
tric ( ompany. — "Pacific Service" day was celebrated at the
Panama-Pacific International Exposition on March 1">
■ i>00 employees of the Pacific Gas & Electric
Company. Mr. John A. Britton, vice-president and gen-
eral manager of the corporation, acted as chairman
of the day as well as leader of the "family of 6000"
in their rambles through the grounds. An address of
welcome was made in the musical concourse by Pres-
ident C. C. Moore of the Exposition, who first called
on the assemblage for three cheers for the Pacific Gas &
Electric Company, and then presented to President F. G.
Drum of that company a bronze plaque expressive of the
Exposition's appreciation of the prompt and efficient serv-
ice rendered. Mr. W. D'A. Ryan, chief of illumination, Mr.
Guy L. Bayley, chief mechanical and 'electrical engineer,
and Mr. H. D. H. Connick. director of works, spoke of the
work accomplished and the part played by "Pacific Serv-
Associations and Societies
Southwestern Electrical & Cas Association. — The eleventh
annual convention of the Southwestern Electrical & Gas
uition will he held May 19 to 22 at the Hotel Galvez,
Galveston, Tex. Mr. II. S. Cooper, 405 Slaughter Building,
Dallas, Tex., is secretary.
Dallas Electric Club (Jives Buffet Dance. — On Saturday,
March 13, the Dallas (Tex.) Electric Club, which has 219
members, gave a buffet dance to its friends at the Oriental
Hotel, Dallas. An interesting part of the program was the
distribution of electrical gifts to the ladies. Presents were
provided for nearly all of the 150 women present, the gifts
being drawn for by numbers on the programs. The club
holds a luncheon every Friday.
Convention of Western Railway Telegraph Superinten-
dents.— The Western division of the Association of Railway
Telegraph Superintendents met at the Hotel LaSalle, Chi-
cago, March 17 and 18, nearly 100 members and guests
being present. Mr. L. M. Jones, superintendent of tele-
graph for the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway, read
a paper on the subject "Shall Inside Maintenance Work Be
Handled by Linemen or Special Equipment Men?" Mr. W.
Rogers, telegraph engineer for the Missouri-Pacific Rail-
way, discussed "Modern Testing Facilities and Their Rela-
tion to the Railway Wire-Plant Efficiency," and Mr. E. H.
Ward, of the Western Union Telegraph Company, New
York, spoke on "Pole and Wire Maintenance." Mr. F. T.
Wilbur, superintendent of telegraph for the Illinois Central
Railroad, Chicago, is secretary of the Western Division of
the association.
New York Electric Vehicle Association. — Mr. S. G.
Thompson of the Public Service Electric Company, New-
ark, N. J., read a paper before the New York Section of
the Electric Vehicle Association of America, March 24, en-
titled "The Development of the Electric Vehicle Market
Through the Power Solicitor." Mr. Thompson spoke of
what he considered the impassive attitude of the central
station interests toward the electric vehicle, dwelling on
the value of the electric-automobile-charging load to the
central station. The speaker averred that the development
of interest in the electric vehicle should be made part of
the work of motor-service solicitors. Mr. Thompson outlined
several plans for developing the electric-vehicle business
of a community by the solicitor. In the discussion follow-
ing Mr. Thompson's paper Messrs. F. W. Smith, W. P.
Kennedy, C. A. Ward, A. B. Spaulding, H. H. Holding,
A. J. Marshall, D. F. Tobias and Harvey Robinson took part.
Public Service Commission News
Idaho Commission
The commission has drafted .. -.hedule of uniform rates
as a result of complaints from small consumers of electrical
energy for motor service.
Rules governing construction and equipment of poles and
wires have been formally promulgated by the commission.
New ^ ork < ommi-Mon-
i ommiBBJ oners Met all, Williams, Cram and Wood of the
First District commission appeared in person before Gov-
ernor Whitman at Albany on March S-i to answer the
charges made against them by the legislative investigating
committee. All filed printed briefs. The proceedings were
made dramatic by the statements of Commissioner Will-
iams, who, under mental strain as the result of sickness,
criticised the work of the investigators and the Governor
in a hitter manner.
Chairman McCall, referring to the charge that he had
been neglectful in not supervising the handling of com-
plaints, said: "The same system of treating these matters
is in vogue to-day that I found when I went into the com-
mission. This method is the only practicable way to treat
these matters. It is preposterous and absurd to contend
that the commissioners personally should take up these
questions from their inception and follow them out in
detail to a solution."
Regarding the charge that he devoted time to his private
law practice, Chairman McCall said: "The entire time given
by me to private practice in the two years or more that I
have been chairman of the commission would not amount to
more than thirteen days." As for absenting himself from
stated meetings, he said that during his whole service he
had not once taken a regular vacation, and that on the
occasions he was absent from meetings he had gone over the
matters to be considered in advance and the functions of
his office had been adequately performed.
Mr. McCall declared that he had not used a public auto-
mobile for private purposes with the same freedom that he
had used his private automobile for public purposes. He
also declared that he had purchased springs, shoes and tires
for the commission automobile. The use of the automobile,
he said, "is a cheap and tawdry charge to urge as a basis
for removing the chairman of the Public Service Commission
for the First District for malfeasance in office."
In conclusion, Chairman McCall says that it is more or
less common "in connection with changes of administration
for officials to be removed for partisan or other purposes,
without there necessarily being involved any reflection on
the ousted official." The removal of a commissioner for
other than good cause "will establish a precedent which
may well be availed of by the successors of the present
incumbent of the governorship. With the fixity of tenure
and the immunity from political attack destroyed there
would remain only to attract to the office of commissioner
the matter of salary, and this would not be compensation to
any man worthy of the name for going through the muck-
raking of sensational newspaper attacks."
Commissioner Williams referred to the action of the
Governor and his "cruel piratical politicians," but at the
demand of Mr. Whitman he apologized. He said that the
newspapers had quoted the Governor as saying that the pur-
pose of the proceeding was merely to give the commis-
sioners a decent burial. He continued to make statements
criticising the investigation until the proceedings were
postponed.
Commissioner Cram said in his reply: "I now come to
the most disagreeable charge of all. The report says I am
a fool. That is not an agreeable charge to answer. I am
not. There is another disagreeable spot. The investigators
call me an imbecile, and when a man is called that he must
make a reply. I am not inefficient. As to my merits, I do
not care to bring them to your attention."
Commissioner Wood denied the charges against him and
gave copies of many letters which he had received in refer-
ence to his activities in endeavoring to obtain better transit
facilities.
The hearing was postponed until April 6. Governor
Whitman will go over the replies in detail.
830
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 13
Ohio Commission
Through an agreement between the commission and the
efficiency department of the Civil Service Commission, five
appraisal engineers in the light and power department of
the commission will be dismissed and their positions
i -bed. Four similar positions in the railway depart-
ment will meet a similar fate. Salaries of a number of
other employees will be reduced, and still others will be
dismissed. This action came as a result of the effort of the
administration to reduce expenses. City officials of Cleve-
land charge that utility companies are responsible. They
say that the changes have been made to cripple the commis-
sion so that the appraisement of certain properties, including
the Cleveland Electric Illuminating Company, must be de-
layed indefinitely. Cleveland's rate-making ordinance can-
not become operative unless an appraisal shows that it pro-
vides a reasonable return. The reduction of the force of
appraisal engineers will probably cause delay. A bill before
the Legislature removes the compulsory appraisal feature of
the public utilities act. If it becomes law the commission
may give its attention only to such properties as it decides
should be investigated.
The light committee of the City Council of Cincinnati,
Ohio, has reported a resolution authorizing City Solicitor
Schoenle to bring proceedings before the commission for
the purpose of ascertaining when that body will have its
valuation of the Union Gas & Electric Company properties
completed.
Wisconsin Commission
The commission has authorized the North American
Company to put into effect at Burlington, Wis., the same
general schedule of rates which has been adopted for prac-
tically all of the company's holdings in Wisconsin. It pro-
vides for a Hopkinson demand rate for both light and
motor service and a limiting increment rate for lighting
service. The schedule includes also a residence rate which
bases the increment scale of charges upon the number of
designated active rooms, an off-peak rate, an optional power
rate, and a short-time rate for light and motor-service con-
sumers. The monthly bills of certain motor-service users
will be increased under the proposed schedule, but the in-
crease will be no more than the increase considered neces-
sary by the commission at the time the Burlington Elec-
tric Light & Power Company petitioned for an increase in
rates before it was acquired by the present petitioner.
The Ladysmith Lighting Company has been ordered to
discontinue its present flat rate of 10 cents per kw-hr. for
commercial lighting and to substitute therefor the follow-
ing schedule prescribed by the commission: Primary rate,
10 cents net per kw-hr. for all or part of the first forty
hours' use per month of the active connected load; sec-
ondary rate, 8.5 cents net for the next sixty hours' use per
month of the active connected load; excess rate, (> cents
net. In Class A, consisting of residences, (iO per cent of
the connected load is to be considered active where the
total connected load is less than 500 watts nominal rated
capacity; where the installation exceeds 500 watts, one-
third of the excess is to be considered active. In Class B.
consisting of stores, offices, professional places, public
halls, depots, theaters, etc., 70 per cent of the first 2.6 lew
nominal rated capacity and 66 per cent of the excess is to
be deemed active. In Class C, consisting of county and
city buildings, schools, factories, industrial establishments,
shops, stables, etc., •">■"> per cent of the total connected load
is to be considered active. Incidental appliances, such as
flatirons, toasters, fans, etc., to the amount of 1000 watts
rating, are not to be considered in determining the act ive
load.
The motor-service rate provides for a service charge of
• its net per active horse power per month anil an out-
put charge of I per kw-hr. The percentages of
,-,| motor capacities to be deemed active range from
no |„., cent foi the first 10 hp Installed to 10 per ceni for
10 hp.
In its den. ion the commission called attention to the
Ice "i" the defends! lined made-
ding repeated warnings that the commis-
sion stands "' nol bains complied with,
o be given within which to complete
any work of reconstruction, repair ami
(or efficiency of plant ami adeq
Personal
.Mr. H. S. Williams, local manager at Plymouth, Pa., of the
Luzerne County Gas & Electric Company, has resigned. His
successor is Mr. A. J. Llewellyn.
Mr. C. L. Proctor, for the past six years general superin-
tendent and purchasing agent for the Athens (Ga.) Railway
& Electric Company, has resigned to accept a position with
the Empire District Electric Company at Joplin, Mo.
Mr. A. J. Llewellyn, who for the past ten years has been
superintendent and chief electrician of the Luzerne County
Gas & Electric Company, Plymouth, Pa., has been appointed
local manager of the company, vice Mr. H. S. Williams,
resigned.
Mr. E. A. Wilcox, who for the past six years has been
connected with the Great Shoshone & Twin Falls Water
Power Company at Twin Falls, Idaho, has resigned the
position of commercial agent for that company to accept a
position in the commercial department of the Great Western
Power Company of San Francisco.
Prof. Clarence Floyd Hirshfeld, who until recently was
a member of the engineering faculty at Cornell University,
Ithaca, N. Y., has accepted a position in the research labo-
ratory of the Edison Illuminating Company of Detroit,
Mich., where he will devote a considerable portion of his
time to studying problems of electric industrial heating.
Mr. D. C. Green, well known in Western electrical circles,
has been appointed manager of the Salt Lake divi-
sion of the Utah Power & Light Company. Mr. Green
came from Everett, Wash., where he has had charge of gas
and electric properties. He formerly held similar positions
in San Diego and Monroe, Cal., and Marshfield and Albany,
Ore.
Mr. Oscar Turner, president of the Turner Electric Com-
pany of Birmingham, Ala., was presented with a gold
watch by the Electrical Supply Jobbers' Association during
its recent Chicago convention, in token of Mr. Turner's
untiring work and interest in making arrangements for the
preceding Birmingham meeting. The presentation address
was made by Mr. Gilbert Smith, of J. F. Buchanan & Com-
pany, Philadelphia, Pa.
Mr. R. A. MacGregor, who resigned as power-sales en-
gineer for H. L. Doherty & Company of New York, April 1,
to accept a position as sales manager of the Merchants'
Heat & Light Company at Indianapolis, Ind., entered the
electrical business in 1900. In
1906, working under the di-
rection of Mr. E. T. Penrose,
then general superintendent
of the West Penn Company
at Connellsville, Pa., he gained
his first experience in motor-
service sales work and sub-
sequently was appointed by
the C. H. Geist Company to
devote all of his time to mo-
tor-service sales at Ply-
mouth, Pa. Later he was
transferred to Chicago, 111.,
and received charge of all of
the commercial work of the
C. II. Geist Company. Re-
signing in the fall of 1908,
however, he accepted a posi-
tion with II. L. Doherty <&
Company, which was then operating the Easton (Pa.) Gas
it Electric Company. One year later Mr. MacGregor left
the Doherty company to take the management of the
Light, Heat * Power Company at Connersville, Ind., and
there in two years doubled the number of the company's
customers and increased its 'net revenue 60 per cent. In
the fall of 1911 Mr. MacGregor again accepted a position
with II. L. Doherty A Company as sales manager of the
Empil Electric Company at Joplin, Mo., and
while holding this position he and his sales force closed
contracts for 22,000 lip of electric service in twenty
months, Later Mr. MacCrcgor was transferred from Jop-
lin to the New York office of the Hoherty company, from
which office he has been working for the last year.
M ICGREGOR
M VKC II
ELECT l: If A I. WORLD
831
Corporate and Financial
Increase tpproved. — Stockholdei
Gas, Electric Light i- Power Company <>f Baltimore ap-
e in stock from $20,000,000 to $80,000,000.
No offering is expected at the present time.
Mount wiiu in > Power & Electric to Isaac Bonds.— The
Mount Whitney Power & Electric Company, Visalia, Cal.,
has been authorized by the California Railroad Comnn
■\000 of its 6 per cent bonds at not less than 95.
Bekril Water, Gas & Electric to Issue B U— The Beloit
& Electric Company has been authorized
by the Wisconsin Commission to issue $100,000 of 5 per
cent bonds at not less than 92.5 to provide funds for exten-
ind improvements.
American Public Utilities Note Issue. — Bioren & Com-
pany, Philadelphia, Pa., are offering $1,500,000 of three-
year 6 per cent secured gold notes of the American Public
Utilities Company, Grand Rapids, Mich., due on March 1,
par and interest
Santa Barbara das tV Electric to Issue Bonds. — The Rail-
road Commission of California has authorized the Santa
Barbara Gas & Electric Company to issue $100,000 of 6
per cent thirteen-year bonds to be used in retiring $78,000
promissory notes and for additions and betterments.
Wisconsin-Minnesota Light & Power to Issue Bonds. —
The Wisconsin-Minnesota Light & Power Company has been
authorized by the Wisconsin commission to issue $36,000
bonds at not less than 75. The funds are to reimburse the
company for expenditures in acquiring new properties.
Southern Sierras Power Bond Issue Authorized. — The
California Railroad Commission has provisionally author-
ized the Southern Sierras Power Company, Denver, Col., to
issue $300,000 of 6 per cent twenty-five-year bonds under
a mortgage and deed of trust to the International Trust
Company of Denver.
Central Wisconsin Railways & Utilities to Issue Stock. —
The Central Wisconsin Railways & Utilities Company has
been authorized by the Wisconsin Railroad Commission to
issue $10,000 stock for the purpose of buying a right-of-
way and the material for the construction of a transmission
line from the city of Berlin to the city of Red Granite.
Oro Electric Authorized to Pledge Bonds for Notes. — The
Oro Electric Corporation of Oroville has been authorized by
the California Railroad Commission to pledge $180,000 par
value of its bonds as collateral security for an issue of
$60,000 of notes, which are to be dated March 26, 1915, and
to mature serially within a period of one year after date.
Klectric Light & Power Company of Abington & Rock-
land Issues New Stock. — Stockholders of the Electric Light
& Power Company of Abington and Rockland, North Abing-
Mass., of record March 1, 1915, have been offered the
right to subscribe pro rata to 945 additional shares of stock
at 130. All stock not subscribed by March 27 will be sold
at auction for the benefit of the company. The company
is managed by the Stone & Webster Management Associa-
tion.
Merchants' Heat & Light Earnings. — The earnings of the
Merchants' Heat & Light Company of Indianapolis, Ind.,
a subsidiary of the American Public Utilities Company,
Grand Rapids, Mich., for the year ended Dec. 31, 1914, were
as follows:
■ us $790,177
■ ml t.i\t.s 501,687
Net earnings $288,490
■ er Interest i
nds I
lai 570,655
Wisconsin-Minnesota Light & Power Earnings. — Earn-
ings of the Wisconsin-Minnesota Light & Power Company,
La Crosse, Wis., a subsidiary of the American Public Utili-
ties Company, Grand Rapids, Mich., for the year ended Dec.
81, 1914, were as follows:
lings $1,033,114
521,760
ngl $511,664
ind i it hi r Interest 232 021
1 Hvldends
Balance $224,420
WestingBaoac Machim -,n|, Market.— The Vesting-
house Electric & Manufacturing Company is offering to buy
ell scrip rem Machine stock de-
■■1 for exchange for Westingho -tuck. The
plan of exchange called for three shares of machine stock
for each share of electric stock, and as a result certificates
representing fractional shares of electric stock were left
outstanding. The electric company will buy or sell these
certificates on a basis of $12 a share for machine stock, the
offering to cover only the certificates which entitle the
holder to fractional shares of the electric company's stock.
Southern California Edison to Issue Securities. — The
Southern California Edison Company of Los Angeles, Cal.,
has been authorized by the Railroad Commission to issue
$2,500,000 of five-year 6 per cent debentures at not less than
95 and interest. The proceeds are to be used for the re-
tirement of $332,000 outstanding issues of debentures, $1,-
596,890 for the payment of notes, $403,110 for reimburse-
ment of capital accounts, and $168,000 for additions and
betterments. The company was also authorized to issue
27,500 shares of common stock for refunding $2,500,000
debentures on the basis of eleven shares of stock for one
debenture of $1,000 face value. The stock is to be made
available for such debenture holders as may elect to take
it in substitution for their securities.
Columbus Railway. Power & Light Annual Report. — In
his annual report for the year ended Dec. 31, 1915, President
Samuel G. McMeen of the Columbus (Ohio) Railway, Power
& Light Company stated that there has been a continued
growth in the use of electric energy for domestic pur-
poses along two principal channels. One is in homes not
formerly supplied, under advantageous opportunities for
the wiring of premises on easy terms; the other is in the
use of electric energy for domestic purposes through the
installation of lamps of increased illumination and of house-
hold devices. The statement for 1914 follows:
i troes receipts $3,066,298
i iperating expenses !•'■
Net receipts $1,408,679
Interest, taxes, rentals and depreciation 783,101
Balance $625,678
Surplus 448.1S5
Dividends $177,393
New England Power Annual Report. — The net earnings
of the New England Power Company for 1914, according
to its annual report, were reduced on account of the extra-
ordinary dry season and the anticipation of the develop-
ment of plant No. 5. The demand for energy continued
without interruption throughout the year, and the manage-
ment considered it wise to secure as many contracts as pos-
sible in order that the new plant might have a large and
paying load as soon as it was placed in operation. This
policy resulted in an increase in the amount of auxiliary
steam-power used on the system and the direct charge to
construction of $88,000 on account of the steam-power pur-
chased which otherwise would have been furnished through
plant No. 5 had that station been completed. The output
has grown from 34,000,000 kw-hr. in 1910 to 120,000,000
kw-hr. in 1914, while gross earnings increased from $270,-
000 to $982,000 in the same period. The statement for the
year ended Dec. 31, 1914, follows:
Gross earnings $9S-V<_>
iting expenses and taxes 47 l\ 7^
.\vt earnings $609,740
i 332,497
lance $177,243
Note interest 21, lis
Balance current jreai $156,128
Surplus beginning current year 164.145
Total $320,273
mI- 246,600
Net surplus $73,673
American Power & Light Annual Report. — The American
Power & Light Company of New York, which controls the
Kansas Gas & Electric Company, the Pacific Power & Light
Company, the Portland Gas & Coke Company and the South-
western Utilities Corporation, has published its annual re-
port for the year ended Dec. 31, 1914. The combined
832
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 13
companies have 68,030 electric customers, generating equip-
ment of 61,978-kw rating, and had an output during the
year of 138,838,509 kw-hr. The rating of generating equip-
ment now under construction is 12,115 kw. Of the consoli-
dated gross earnings for the year 1914 approximately 58
per cent was derived from electric light and motor-service
business, and the remainder from gas, railway and water.
The company's earnings statement follows:
Gross earnings 'l,«fl'lfS
Expenses aa !.■>£*>
Net earnings 11.07 J.05 I
Interest ami discounts oJ4,55J
Net income $639,602
Combined net surplus of controlled companies.
after payment of dividends $234,621
.1 to reserve for depreciation 1S5.90S
Balance undistributed surplus $48,713
me to common stock not
owned by company 4,553
Balance accruing to company 44.160
Total net income, 1914 *r,sil'6^j
Less preferred stock dividends paid 1S7,18S
Balance $396,474
Less common stock dividends paid 302, 4, 6
Balance combined surplus year ended Dec. 31. 1914.. $93,998
Surplus American Power & Light Company. Dee. 31, 1913 276, 69R
Surplus Dec. 31, 1913, of controlled companies. $964,899
Less amount accruing to common stock not
owned by company 10,433
Balance surplus $954,466
Balance combined surplus Dec. 31, 1914 $1,326,162
Pacific Gas & Electric Report. — A preliminary report for
the Pacific Gas & Electric Company for the year ended
Dec. 31, 1914, shows that gross income increased from $11,-
342,140 in 1907 to $17,220,504 in 1914. During the year the
company made a net addition of 29,321 customers, making
the total number of customers served 378,705. During the
seven years the average yearly gain in customers has been
28,000. It is estimated that additional customers on the
books at the beginning of the current year will produce at
least $1,000,000 increase in gross revenue. A substantial
addition to the revenue is also assured from the exclusive
contract which the company has for supplying the Panama-
Pacific International Exposition with gas and electrical
energy for heating, motor service and illuminating service.
During 1914 the company expended $2,734,000 for new con-
struction. The balance sheet of Dec. 31, 1914, when pub-
lished, will show current assets of $8,190,659 and current
liabilities of $5,056,083. Since Jan. 1, 1915, the company has
paid all of its floating debt, amounting to about $1,400,000,
and also called for redemption on March 25, 1915, $1,000,000
of its outstanding one-year gold notes, leaving but $3,000,000
of the latter outstanding as compared with the maximum
amount of $7,000,000 outstanding a year ago. It is antici-
pated that the remainder of these notes will be redeemed by
July 1, 1915, which will result in entirely relieving the in-
come account of the heavy charge for note interest and
discount. The statement of earnings follows:
1914 1913
■ irons operating revenue $16,912,688 $ir>,s;ir.,oof>
"7'*a. etcf!!,!a??e..Tra.0n?. . M":"Sra' 8,913,922 9,331,207
Net earnings from operating $7,998,766 $6,537,799
Add profit on merchandise sales, etc 307,816 333,331
Total net income $8,306,582 $6,871,130
Bond Interest 3.890,341 3,783,197
Balance $1,416,241 $8,081
Interest oi a nd floating
debt (tem| 301,060 118.847
.,„■.. $4,115,181 $2,969,086
discount and expense 147,716 iit.ivi
$3,967,466 $2,v
... i.
321,800 98.531
$3,645,666 $2,723,044
First it. ■■ 14,984
600.000 660,
I 'on 898,8 18
$3,030,682 $1,1 14,198
Knr revenue Involvi
564,362
ition 1,000,000 1,41
■ : . •.. :'■!>
Manufacturing and Industrial
Harry M. Hope, consulting engineer, formerly with the
Stone & Webster Engineering Corporation, has opened
offices at 141 Milk Street, Boston, Mass.
The Burke Electric Company, Erie, Pa., has appointed Mr.
George Hills as head of its arc -welding department. Mr.
Hills will be stationed at the main office and works in
Erie, Pa.
Motor Manufacturer Busy. — The Robbins & Myers Com-
pany, Springfield, Ohio, reports that its business has in-
creased so rapidly since the first of the year that it has
been necessary to put some of its departments on overtime.
Theobald M. Quinn, engineering contractor, 343 Cutler
Building, Rochester, N. Y., has taken over that part of the
business of the firm known as Morrison & Quinn, Inc.,
which pertained to the manufacture and sale of concrete
lighting standards.
The Wilson-Maeulen Company, Inc., 1 East Forty-second
Street, New York, is a company that has been recently
formed and which is manufacturing electric pyrometers and
recorders. Mr. Charles H. Wilson is president and treasurer
of the company; Mr. C. J. Brown is secretary.
Williams & Bradbury. — Mr. Lynn A. Williams and Mr.
Clifford C. Bradbury announce the formation of a partner-
ship for the practice of patent, trade-mark and copyright
law, under the firm name of Williams & Bradbury, with
offices at 719-722 Monadnock Block, Chicago, 111.
The Noveau Lamp Company, Lincoln, Cal., is the name of
a company recently formed which is engaged in the manu-
facture of ornamental electroliers, lanterns, brackets and
pedestals. Mr. R. B. Keeler is president, Mr. P. O. Tognelli
first vice-president, Mr. M. F. Johansen second vice-presi-
dent, and Mr. C. W. Urich secretary.
The Mignon Wireless Corporation, Elmira, N. Y., has re-
cently been formed and will manufacture, develop, sell and
buy wireless-telephone and wireless-telegraph apparatus.
The officers of the company are Mr. E. C. Mignon, presi-
dent, formerly with the New York Telephone Company;
Mr. J. G. Gerhart, vice-president, formerly with the Amer-
ican Thermostat Company, and Mr. C. A. Meith, secretary
and treasurer, formerly with the Elmira Water, Light &
Railroad Company.
Electric Gear Shift for Gasoline Automobiles. — The
"Vulcan" electric gear shift, described in the ELECTRICAL
Would of Feb. 27 and made by the Cutler-Hammer Manu-
facturing Company of Milwaukee, Wis., will be furnished
by the Winton, Jeffery and Pullman car manufacturers
when specified. Several other prominent manufacturers
are preparing to supply this device with their cars in the
future. With the electric gear shift the lever is eliminated
and the gears can be changed by means of push-buttons on
the steering wheel.
Business of Carbon-Brush Manufacturer Increasing. —
According to Mr. H. S. Greene, assistant general sales man-
ager of the Nungesser Carbon & Battery Company, Cleve-
land, Ohio, thus far this year the business of the company
is larger than that of any other similar period in the history
of the company. The company is selling its products to
street railways, steam railways, steel mills, manufacturers
of electric cranes of every description, electric-signal manu-
facturers, central stations, automobile starter and lighter
manufacturers, dynamo and motor manufacturers, circuit-
breaker manufacturers, railway-ear-lighting manufacturers,
electric-drill manufacturers, etc.
Electrical Apparatus for Sugar Manufacturer. — The
Manati Sugar Company, in the Province of Oriente. Cuba,
with offices in New York, has recently placed an order with
the Westinghouse Klectric .v Manufacturing Company, Fast
Pittsburgh, Pa., for motors to drive all of its machinery
in its new mill with the exception of the engine-driven rolls.
This order includes thirty-two alternating-current motors,
having a total ratitig of 1012 hp. All of the auxiliaries
in this extension of the Manati Sugar Company will be
motor-driven, and they will include cane and bagasse con-
veyors, centrifugal pumps, crystalligers, agitators, etc. All
of the new material will be ready for operation for the
L916-1916 grinding season, and the equipment will be de-
livered, it is asserted, in time for this work.
Maki ii 27, 1916
ELECTRICAL WORLD
-
The Aladdin Lamp Corporation, 111 Broadway, New York,
ippointed Mr. <;. P. Callary general lalet manager for
north' . ania, with head<r - rant. iii. Pa.
Mr. Callary has been employed by the company for the past
three months as Held manager, during which time he ap-
ed a number of district manager! in Pennsylvania, Ohio
ami Michigan. Mr. L. W. Phelps, general salea manager in
western Pittsburgh for the Aladdin Lamp Corporation, has
turned over the sales agency to Ml I I \\ hithau-, -II
Oliver Building, Pittsburgh, and will go to Chicago to
organize thi ties agency then-, having charge of
the northern Illinois territory. Tin- Aladdin Lamp Corpora-
tion is manufacturing the "Yaintic" portable electric lamp.
This lamp i- being exhibited at the San Diego Expo
hy the Southern Electric Company of San Diego, Cal.
Wegmann \ llillbcrg, hydraulic engineers, South Ferry
Building, New York, is the name of a new concern which
will lie engaged in consulting-engineering work on water-
power developments, sewer systems and irrigation, water-
works and drainage projects. Mr. Edward Wegmann was
for more than thirty years connected with the construction
of the Croton water-works for the city of New York. He
was the last chief engineer of the Aqueduct Commissioners
nbsequently for four years was consulting engineer of
the Department of Water Supply, Gas and Electricity. He
i- well known through his books, "Design and Construction
of Dams" and "The Water Supply of the City of New York."
Mr. A. G. Hillberg has been connected with large hydro-
electric developments, notably the Mississippi River Power
Company's plant at Keokuk, la. For the past two years
he has been associate editor of the Engine* ring Record, in
charge of hydraulics.
Government Orders Large Amount of Submarine Cable. —
What is said to be one of the largest orders for submarine
cable recently awarded by the government has just been
placed with the Atlantic Insulated Wire & Cable Company.
New York. This order, which is from the torpedo depart-
ment, calls for 70 miles of nineteen-conductor, steel-armored
cable, which is to be used for mining harbors. It is to be
made up in lengths of one mile each and is to be shipped
with one length to a reel. Each reel will weigh Ki.OOO lb.
On an order of this nature the output of the company's
plant will be about 12 miles per week. During recent years
the Atlantic Insulated Wire & Cable Company has shipped
320 miles of cable to Manila and 180 miles to Alaska for
governmental use. The cable across the race at the
entrance to Long Island Sound was made by the above
company and consists of one length of 35,000 ft. It is
said to be the largest cable that the government has on
the Atlantic Coast.
Walker & Cressler, consulting engineers, 742 First
National Bank Building, Chicago, 111., is the name of a
firm recently formed by Mr. James Walker and Mr. George
H. Cressler. Both men are graduates of the Sheffield Scien-
tific School of Yale University, Mr. Walker as a civil engi-
neer in the class of 1894 and Mr. Cressler as a mechanical
engineer in the class of 1902. Mr. Walker has been en-
gaged in consulting practice in Chicago for ten years, being
identified during that period with work in connection with
the Chicago Elevated Railways Company, the Chicago Sur-
face Lines, the Chicago Association of Commerce commit-
tee of investigation on smoke abatement and electrification
of railway terminals, various electric-railway, lighting and
power companies, and financial institutions interested in
public utility properties. Mr. Cressler has for the past ten
years been vice-president and chief engineer of the Kerr-
Murray Manufacturing Company, Fort Wayne, Ind. He
has designed and constructed gas-works installations in
more than 100 cities of the United States and Canada. The
firm is engaged in work on railway, gas and electric
utilities.
Fan Installations for Heating and Ventilating. — The
Bethlehem Steel Company has recently placed in service
three sets of fans manufactured by the Buffalo Forge Com-
pany, Buffalo, N. Y., for use in the heating and ventilating
of its new buildings, the shrapnel shop, the fuse building
and the powder-loading building. The shrapnel shop is 78
ft. wide, 280 ft. long and 30 ft. high and is equipped with
a No. 10 "Niagara conoidal" fan, with a rating of 40,000
cu. ft. of air per minute, and five four-row sections of
return-bend heater with 6500 ft. of pipe. The fuse building
"' ft. long, GO ft. wide, and has two wings 120 ft. long
and BO ft wide, all being 20 ft. high. It is equipped with
a Nil 11 "Niagara conodial" fan, with a rating of 39,000 cu.
It. of air per minute, and six section- of heater containing
8000 ft. of pipe. The apparatus in the powder-loading
building, which is 120 ft. long, 40 ft. wide and 18 ft. long,
consists of a No. ."> "Niagara conoidal" fan, deliverini.'
cu. ft. of air per minute, and five sections of heater. The
galvanized air ducts were made and installed by Hersh &
Brother, Allentown, Pa. The fan system of heating is
used throughout in the plant of the Bethlehem Steel I
pany. One of the recent installations is a carrier air washei
for the new physical laboratory building of the company
which purifies all the air delivered into the building and
automatically maintains the humidity control.
Manufacturers' Exhibits al the Panama-I'acific Exposi-
tion.— The various manufacturers' exhibits of electrical in-
terest at the Panama-Pacific International Exposition, San
Francisco, are distributed among four buildings, the Palace
of Machinery, Palace of Manufactures and Varied Indus-
tries, Palace of Mines and Metallurgy, and Palace of Trans-
portation. A number of manufacturers have displays in
more than one building. Following is an alphabetical list
of the manufacturers having exhibits of interest to the
electrical industry:
Acme Machinery Company, Cleveland, Ohio, bolt and rivet-
making machinery, Palace of Machinery.
Advance i'ump & Compressor Company, Battle Creek, Mich.
power pumps ami air compressors, Palace of Machinery.
Aldrich i'ump Company, Allentown, Pa., pip.-. Palace of Ma-
chinery.
Almond Manufacturing Company, t. R., Ashburnham, Mass .
drill chucks, Palace of Machinery.
American Blower Company, Detroit, Mich., mine fan, Palace
Mines ami Metallurgy.
American Bridge Company, Pittsburgh, Pa., steel tower and
poles, Palace of Machinei j
American Cast Iron Company. Birmingham. Ala,, pipe. Palace
of Machinery.
American Clutch Company, Amesbury, Mass., friction clutches,
pulleys and accessories, Palace of Machinery.
American Pulley Company, Philadelphia, Pa., wrought steel belt
pulleys and accessories, steel reels and spools. Palace of Ma-
chinery.
American Steam Pump Company, Battle Creek. Mich, pumps
and air compressors, Palace of Machinery.
American Sheet & Tin Plate Company, Pittsburgh, Pa., sheet
metals for electrical use, Palace of Machinery.
American Steel & Wire Company, Chicago, 111., wire and cables.
Palace of Machinery.
American Tool Works Company, Cincinnati, Ohio, lathes, Palace
of Machinery.
American Well Works, Aurora, 111., pumps, Palace of Machinery
and Palace of Mines and Metallurgy.
American Taximeter Company, New York, N. Y.. automobile
accessories, Palace of Transportation.
Ams Machine Company. Max. Mt. Vernon, N. Y., sheet-metal ma-
chinery. Palace of Machinery.
Andrew & Company. Jno. Hy., Ltd., Sheffield, Kng., drill steel,
tool steel, wiredrawing dies, Palace of Machinery.
Apple Electric Company, Newark. X. .1.. automobile accessories.
Palace of Transportation.
Armstrong Brothers Tool Company. Chicago. 111., lathes and
planer tools, Palace of Machinery.
Armstrong, L. D-, San Francisco, Cal., pumps and air com-
pressors, Palace of Machinery.
Ashton Valve Company, Boston, Mass., valves and steam gages.
Palace of Machinery.
Atkins & Company, E. C, Indianapolis, Ind., saws for cutting
metal, Palace of Machinery.
Aurora Tool Works, Aurora, Ind., drill presses. Palace of Ma-
chinery.
Babcock .v Wilcox Company, New York, N. Y., boilers, Palace
of Machinery.
Badenhausen Company, Philadelphia, Pa., boilers, Palace of
Machinery.
Bailey & Blendinger, Woburn, Mass., machine knives, Palace of
Machinery.
Baldwin Locomotive Works, Philadelphia, Pa., electric mine
locomotive, Palace Mines and Metallurgy.
Baker-Hansen Manufacturing Company, East Oakland, Cal.,
air compressors. Palace of Machinery
Baruch Electric Controller Corporation, San Francisco, Cal.,
circuit breakers, Palace of Machinery.
Berger & Carter Company, San Francisco, Cal.. sheet-nut. il
shaping process and motors. Palace of Machinery,
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 13
and oil
-. Palace of Machinery.
Bliss. E W. A Company, Brooklyn. N. Y.. sheet-metal mat
.-ry .uni steel pillions. Palace of Manufactures and Varied Indus-
ad Palace of Machinery.
Bon.! Iphla, Pa., leather belting, Palace
of Machinery.
Bond Foundry .<• Machine Company, Manheim, Lancaster Co.,
Pa., power-transmitting machinery. Palace of Machinery.
Bowie Switch Company, San Francisco, Cat., switches, P
of Machinery.
Bristol Company, Waterbury, Conn., recording instruments I
pyromi Uli nd Metallurgy, Palace of Machinery
and Palace of Manufactures and Varied Industries.
Brown Portable Elevator Company, Chicago, ill, conveying and
elevating machinery, Palace of .Machinery.
Buffalo Gasolene Motor Company, San Francis..., Interna! com-
bustion engines. Palace of Machinery.
Busch-Sulzer Brothers Diesel Engine Company, St. Louis, ilo.
internal combustion engines. Palace of Machinery.
Builders' Iron Foundry, Providence, R. I., grinding and polish-
ing machinery. Palace of Machinery.
Byron Jaokson Iron Works, Ban Francisco, Cal., pump. Palace
of Mines and Metallurgy.
Canadian Bond Hanger & Coupling Company, Ltd., Alexandria.
Ont., Power Transmitting Machinery, Palace of Machinery.
Carborundum Company, Niagara Falls, N. Y., grinding ma-
terials. Palace of Machinery.
Central Telephone & Electric Company, St. Louis, Mo., hand
lanterns, Palace of Machinery.
Century Electric Company, St. Louis, Mo., motors, Palace of
Machinery.
Chain Belt Company. Milwaukee, Wis., chain belting and ele-
vator buckets, Palace of Machinery.
Chisholm & Moore Manufacturing Company, Cleveland, Ohio,
chain hoists, trolleys, cranes, Palace of Machine?]
Cincinnati Electrical Tool Company, Cincinnati, Ohio, electric
tools. Palace of Machinery.
Cincinnati Iron ft Steel Company, Cincinnati, Ohio, lathes.
Palace of Machinery.
Clyde Iron Works, Duluth, Minn., hoisting machinery, Palace of
Machinery.
Concordia Safety Lamp Company, Pittsburgh, Pa., electric
safety mine lamp, Palace of Mines and Metallurgy.
Cook Railway Signal Company, Denver, Col., automobile acces-
sories, Palace of Transportation.
Cowan Truck Company, Holyoke, Mass., trucks. Palace of
Machinery.
Crane Company, Chicago, 111., steam valves and fittings. Palace
■ if Machinery,
Crescent Machine Company, Leetonia, Ohio, woodworking ma-
chinery, Palace of Machinery.
Crosby steam Gnat;. A Valve Company, Boston, Mass., record-
ing Instruments, Palace of Machinery.
Cumberland Steel Company, Cumberland, Md., ground shafting,
Palace of Machinery.
Cyclops Iron Works. San Francisco, Cal.. .lanes, Palace of
Machiio
Danne ra Steel Works, Sheffield, England, too! steels, Palaci
Denver Engineering Works, Denver, Col., motors, Palace of
Machinery.
Detroit Twist Drill Company. Detroit, Mich., tools. Palace of
aery.
Diamond Expansion Bolt Company, New York, electric llni
material, Palace of Machinery.
ton A sons, inc., Hi ni . I I lelphla, Pa . dies and mi tal
cutting saws, Palace of Machinery.
Doak Cay Engine Company, Oakland, Cal, internal C DUStlon
engines, Palace of Machinery.
inufacturing Company, Mlshawaka, imi. conveying
machinery and power-transmission appliances, Palace of Machin
ery.
. . s i : . San ETranclsco, Cal., i om] 'alai
chlncry.
Krump mpanj . ■ Ihicago, Ell., aheel
01 king machin i
I "i Louis, I i ' lUtOI llll
D. A W. Fuse Co
Machinery.
, v , electric cloth i utl ing
machli il ictures and Varied i ndui l
! : I
Ing i lompanj . i Ihli igo, til..
Machinery.
I
Electric Products Company, Cleveland, Ohio, storage batteries
and charging apparatus, Palace of Machinery and Palace of
Transportation.
ISlectrene Company, New York, fire extinguishers. Palace of
Machinery.
Electro-Dynamic Company, Bayonne, N, J., motors. Palai
Machinery.
Englehard, Chas. A Company, Rochester, N. Y'., pyrometers.
Palace of Mines and Metallurgy.
Fairmont Mining Machinery Company, West Ya., electric mine
pump, Palace of Mines and Metallurgy.
Fall; Company, Milwaukee, Wis., power transmitting machinery.
Palace of Machinery.
Fess System Company. San Francisco. Cal., crude-oil burning
appliances, Palace of Machinery.
Field Force Pump Company, Elmira, N. Y., pumps and pressure
iM.-'-s i 'a'ace of Machine] j
Fuller & Company, W. P., San Francisco, Cal., lubricating oils.
Palace of Machinery.
Fulton Manufacturing Company, Erie, Pa., internal-combustion
engines, Palace of Machinery.
Gas Engine & Power Company & Chas. L. Seabury, Con., Morris
Heights, N. Y., boilers and internal-combustion engines, Palace of
Machinery.
General Electric Company, Schenectady, N. Y, heating ap-
pllances, motive power, motors, generators, switching apparatus,
steam-flow meters, etc., Palace of Machinery, Palace of Transpor-
tation and Palace of Manufactures and Varied Industries.
General Motor Truck Company, Detroit, Mich., motor trucks,
! ill,, of Transportation.
Germantown Tool Works, Philadelphia, linemen's axes, Palace
of Machinery.
Gest, G. M., Ltd., Conduit Engineer and Contractor, Montreal.
Winnipeg, Vancouver, Palace of Machinery.
Gest, G. M., Conduit Engineer and Contractor, New York.
Palace of Machinery.
Gest, Guion M., New York, electric conduit system. Palace of
Machinery.
Gibro Machine Company, Oakland, Cal., power punch presses.
Palace of Machinery.
Gold Car Heating & Lighting Company, New Y'ork, thermo-
stats and electric systems, Palace of Machinery.
Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, Akron, Ohio, steam and Are
hose, Talace of Machinery.
Could ,v- Eberhardt, Newark. N". .1.. shapers and gear cutters.
Palace of Machinery.
Grant Manufacturing & Machine Company, Bridgeport, Conn..
riveting machines.
Graton A Knight Manufacturing Company, Worcester, U
leather belting and gaskets. Palace of Machinery.
Grinder Manufacturing Company, The Luther, Milwaukee. Wis .
tool grinders, Palace of Machinery.
Miimvia Chemical A Manufacturing Company, Newark. N. .1 .
electric lamps, Palace of Machinery.
Harrison Safety Boiler Works, Philadelphia, Pa . boilers, I
Of Machinery.
ihni.ai. Rlckard A McCone, San Francisco. Cal., water-handling
appliances. Internal-combustion engines, pumps, etc, Palai
Machinery.
Henderson Willis Company, SI Louis, Mo., oxy-i tylene equip
in, ill. Palace Of Machinery.
Bendrie A Bolthoff Manufacturing A Supply company, r>
Colo., hoist. Palace ol Mines and Metallurgy.
Ileise\ Manufacturing Company. South Boston. Mass.. water
m, ters, Palaci ■< " ichlnery.
Holmes Motor Company, Boston, Mass. internal-combi
engines. Palace of Machin, i\
Home Washing Machine Company. Brooklyn. N. Y., washing
machl Manufactures and Varied Industries
Hoover Suction sweeper Company, Nevi Berlin, Ohio, nn
Palace of Manufactures and Varied Industries.
Hoppei SJai luring Company, Springfield, Ohio, water heal
lotch meti re, etc., Palaci of Machinery.
Horton S son Co., The Eft, Windsor Locks, Conn., lathi
drill chui ks, P ilace of Machl
Hyde i lompanj . Hem j I lighting system and
i combustion engines, Pali f Machinery
Hydraulic Puss Manufacturing Company, Ml Ollead, Ohio,
i,ow,r pumps and yah,-. Palace of Machli
i, ,,,,. rial Gas ! Ban Pranclsco, Cal . Internal
Ion engines. Palai ■ ol Mat Diner] .
Industrial tnstrumenl Company, Foxboro, Mass, recording and
Palaci of Machlnerj , Pal isporta
I,,,,,, i if Mini md Metallurgy ""' '' ' ' lures
,11,1 \ ,1 led Ili.le
ini., , oil H md i lompanj . Men fork, N
S Metallurgy.
I,, I, Company. Niagara Falls. N Y.
a model electric furnace, P
of Mines md Metallurgy,
March 2
K I. ECT RICAL WORLD
835
[nt( ■■ "I ■
il-corobustion engines, apparatus for lifting and handling
wmter,
i
accessories ami Baahl
uufacturlng ■
Cml.. ■ '
Milwaukee. Wi> . milling
Machinery
mpany, Kewanee, in .
. Palace of Manufactun
ice of Machinery,
mpany, San i
and turb of Machinery.
Lagi , turmg Company, Springfield, Ohio,
• ••■ . Palace of Machinery.
rinding and boring
i ork. cold-steel saws, Palace of
Machinery
Link-Belt Company, Philadelphia, Pa., link-belt silent .hams
an<l chain drives, Valace .if Machinery.
i Engine Company. Chicago, ill . Internal-combustion
9, Palace of Machii
-■■•el Company, Johnstown, Pa., electric track welding,
of Mines and Metallurgy.
Luce) Company, J K. Pittsburgh, Pa., pumps, Palace of Ma-
chinery
Luitwelier Pumping Engine Company, Rochester, N V . pumps,
Palace of Machinery.
Lunkenhelmer Company, Cincinnati, Ohio, oiling devices and
grease cups. Palace of Machinery. Palace of Transportation and
of Manufactures and Varied Industries
Mcintosh A Seymour Corporation, Auburn, N V. internal-
combustion engines and steam engines, Palace of Machinery
McGraw Publishing Company, New Fork, engineering publlca-
tlons. Palace of Machinery.
MacLeod Company. Cincinnati, Ohio, oil burners, sand-blast
machines, heat.rs. etc., Palace of Machinery.
Marland, W J., Oakland. CaL, thermostats, water valves, pipe
fitters' tools and electric lanterns. Palace of Machinery and
Palace of Manufactures and Varied [ndustl
M.-ese & Gottfried Company. San Francisco, Cal . conveying and
elevating machinery. Palace of Machinery.
Mi-tz, August. New York, internal-.,
of Ma. i
Mine Safety Appliance company. Pittsburgh, Pa., pressure and
ng gages. Palaee of M.n)ii'i.l\
Minnesota Manufacture! . North St. Paul. Minn.,
conveying machinery, Palace of Machim
Mitts ft Merrill, Sagmaw. Mich., key-seating machines, Palace
of Machinery.
Mohrllte Company, San Francis.... Cal., electric lamps and
lighting system, Palace of Machinery
Moloney Electric Company. St Louis, Mo., sign-lamp trans-
formers, Palace of Machinery.
Morton Manufacturing Company. Muskegon Heights. Mich.,
machine tools. Palace of Machinery.
Mugglsy W'he.l Corp.. r;iii. .n. New York, differential •
Palace of Machinery.
National Brake & Electric Company, Milwaukee. Wis., air
compressors, i 'alace of Mad
Meter Company, New York, water meters. Palaj
Machinery.
rube Company, Pittsburgh, Pa., tubing, pipes
fittings, Palace Of Machine. > and Palace of Manufactures and
Varied Indu
Nelson Valve Company, Philadelphia. Pa, valves, Pala.
Neptune Meter Company, New York, water meters, Palai '
Machinery
N.w London Ship & Engine Col oton, Conn., Inti n
combustion engines and air compressors, Palace of M
Neuian.i Electric Company, San Francisco, Cal., electri.
ol Machinery.
Niagara Machine & Tool Worl N. ST., sheet metal-
working tools and machinery. Palace of Mac]
"1900" Washer Company. Blnghamton, N S . washl
■ • Manufactures and Varied Industries.
trie l '■.!' I '.on i i "ii bill , i ilaci
of Transportation.
Ohlen & Sons Saw Manufacturing Company, J., Columbus, Ohio.
.Ming and threading machim i ilnery.
Olsen Testing Machine, Tinius, Philadelphia, Pa., dynani. in i
and machines, Palace of Machinery.
Paclflc Tank ft Pipe Company, Ban Francisco, Cal feed
lanks, piping and special lathes, Palace of Machinery.
-
•tme Paint '
ny, Buffalo, N Y, interna;
pelt'.n Water W ; ■ 5ai Francisco. I
water whi hinery
P.i,' . clble Metallic Tubli .
Pa, flexible metalll. Machinery.
. N.w fork, arunwnts, Palace of
Machii
PI i ny, San Francisco, Cal., asbestos,
Pnumercator Company, New York, water-tank indicator, Palace
of Machinery.
Prat npaiiy, Hartford, Conn., boiler valves, Palace
of Machinery.
Pyrene Manufacturing Company, New Y'ork, N. Y., Are ex-
tinguishers. Palace or Machinery and Palace of Mines and Metal-
lurgy.
Qualit) Saw .it Tool Works. Chicago. 111., hack saws. Palace of
Machinery
Kay Manufacturing Company, W. s, San Francisco. Cal., oil-
burning systems, Palace of Machinery.
Reed Manufacturing Company. Erie. Pa., Vises, dies and pipe
cutters, Palace of Machinery.
Reeves Pullej Company, <'..lumbus. lnd.. transmission device.
Palace of Machinery.
Robbins ft Myers, Springfield, Ohio, motors and fans. Palace of
Machinery and Palace of .Manufactures and Varied Industries
Robinson & Son Company, Wm. C, Baltimore. Md.. lubricants.
Palace of Machinery.
Rockford Machine Tool Company, Rockford, 111., drill presses.
Palace of Machinery.
Sangamo Electric Company, Springfield, 111., meters and small
lighting units. Palace of Transportation and Palace of Machinery
Saginaw Manufacturing Company, Saginaw, Mich., pulleys.
Palace of Machinery.
Schaeffer & Budenberg Manufacturing Company, Brooklyn.
N. Y., indicating and recording instruments, Palace of Machinery
Schieren. Chas. A.. New York, leather belting. Palace of Ma-
chinery.
Schleuter, M. I.. Chicago, 111., floor-surfacing machines. Palace
of Machinery,
Searles, Mailler, San Francisco, Cal.. conveying machinery.
Palace of Machinery.
Shepard Electric Crane & Hoist Company, Montour Falls. N. T..
electric cranes and hoists. Palace of Machinery.
Simonds Machinery Company, San Francisco. Cal., pumps and
compressors, Palace of Machinery.
Simonds Manufacturing Company. Fitcbburg, Mass, saws.
of Machinery.
Slaughter Company, W. E., Chicago, ill., electro-thermal ap-
pliances, Palace of Manufactures and Varied Industries.
Smith Manufacturing Company. A. P., East Orange. N. .1 .
water-works machinery, Palace of Machinery.
Smith .^ Mills Company, Cincinnati. Ohio, machine tools. Palace
hinery.
Smith & Watson Iron Works, Portland. Ore., oil-burning equip-
ment. Palace of Machinery.
Spear & Son Company. Aldean, Boston, Mass.. grinding and
, Is, I 'alace of Machinery,
Spencer Turbine Cleaner Company, Hartford, Conn., vacuum-
cleaning apparatus. Palace of Manufactures and Varied Industries.
Splitdorf Electrical Company, Newark, N. J., automobile
sories. Palace of Transportation.
Standard 'las Engine Company, San Francisco, Cal., internal
combustion engines, Palace of Machinery.
,1.11.1 Oil Company, San Francisco, Cal., lubricating oils.
■ i, of Machinery.
Standard Pressed Steel Company, Philadelphia, Pa., steel-shaft
hangers and set collars. Palace of Machinery.
Standard Woven Fabric Company, Framingham, Mass., woven
g, friction brake lining and automobile accessories, Palace
in. iv and Palace of Transportation.
Standard Underground Cable Company, Pittsburgh, Pa.. In-
materlals, wire-braiding machines, wires and cables.
. Palace of Transportation and Palace of
Manufactures and Varied Industries.
StOCkbridge Machine Company, Worcester. Mass., machine tools.
; i hinery.
Stokvls' Konlnklyke Fabriek Van Metaalwerken, W. ■'
helm, Netherlands, lighting fixtures.
Sumter Electric Company, Sumter, S. C, automobile
Pali Praj aportatlon
Superior Corundum wheel Company, Waltham, Mass., grinding
ice "i Machinery.
Temco Electric Motor company. Leipslc, Ohio, electric tool
small mol
886
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 13
Thomas ,v Sons Company, I; . East Liverpool, Ohio, insulators,
: Machinery.
Thordarson Electric Manufacturing Company, Chicago, 111., elec-
trical instruments, transformers. Palace of Machinery.
Trumtuill Electric Manufacturing Company. Plainville, Conn.,
Insulating material, Palace of Machinery.
I'nion Caliper Company, Orange, Mass., mechanics' tools,
Palace of Machinery.
Union Oil Company of California, San Francisco, asphalt for
insulating. Palace of Manufactures and Varied Industries and
Palace of Machinery.
I'nion Switch ft Signal Company. Swissvale. Pa., railway
,.rit. Palace Of Transportation.
United I'ump & Power Company, Milwaukee, Wis., pneumatic
water-pumping system, Palace of Machinery.
United States Electrical Tool Company, Cincinnati, Ohio, elec-
trlc drills, Palace of Machinery.
United States Light & Heating Company, Niagara Falls. N Y .
automobile accessories, storage hatteries and small lighting out-
flts, Palace of Machinery and Palace of Transportation.
United States Steel Corporation. Pittsburgh, Pa., transmission
line material and tool steels. Palace of Machinery.
Venn-Severin Company, Chicago, 111.. internal-comhustion
engines, Palace of Machinery.
Warner & Swasey Company, Cleveland, Ohio, machine tools.
Palace of Machinery.
Waterman Marine Motor Company, Detroit. Mich., internal-
combustion engines, Palace of Machinery.
Watson-StiUman Company. New York, hydraulic packing.
Palace of Machinery.
Western Electric Company, San Francisco, Cal.. generators,
Palace of Machinery.
\\ .stern lias Engine Corporation, Los Angeles, Cal., internal-
combustion engines, Palace of Machinery.
Western Tool & Manufacturing Company, Springfield, Ohio,
machine-shop accessories. Palace of Machinery.
Western Transformer Company, East Oakland, Cal.. trans-
formers, Palace of Machinery.
Westinghouse Air Brake Company, Pittsburgh, Pa., air com-
pressors, Palace of Machinery.
Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company, Pittsburgh,
Pa., turbines, insulating material, motors, generators, mercury
rectifiers, transformers, lamps, instruments, switching apparatus,
electric locomotives, automobile accessories, etc., Palace of Ma-
chinery, Palace of Mines and Metallurgy, Palace of Transporta-
tion and Palace of Manufactures and Varied Industries.
Westinghouse Lamp Company, Bloomfield, N. J., tungsten
lamps, Palace of Machinery.
Westinghouse Machine Company, East Pittsburgh. Pa., tur-
bines and condensers, Palace of Machinery.
Westinghouse Pacific Coast Brake Company. San Francisco,
Cal., air compressors, Palace of Machinery.
Westinghouse Traction Brake Company. Pittsburgh, la. air
compressors, Palace of Machinery.
Williams Tool Company. Brie, Pa., pipe-threading machines,
of Machinery.
Wltherby Igniter Company, Springfield. Mass., Palace Mines
and Metallurgy.
Wood, i; i'. .v- Company, Philadelphia, Pa,, hydraulic ma-
chinery. Palace of Machinery.
Worthington, Henry R., New York, pumps, Palace of Machinery.
Tarnall-Waring Company, Philadelphia, Pa., steam and water
valves. Palace of Machinery.
Young, C. J., Iron Works, Seattle, Wash., machinery. Palaci
of Machinery.
NEW YORK METAL MARKET PRICES
, — March 16 — ,
Selling
Bid Asked
Copper £ s d
i. standard spot* 66 o 0
Prime Lake 14.85 to 15.00
Electrolytic 14.70 to 14.90
rig 14.12H 1
Coppei »iru base 15.87 Vi
Lead 1 in
Nickel 42.00 to 45.00
1 . fob. smelter 13.60
Spelt,,- 9.62U
Straits tin 52.00t
Aluminum, 98 '■• '1:' per cent.. l!>.on
— March 22 v
Selling Prices
Kid laked
t.. 16.12%
to 16.12 W
1 i"
il' on to
; .11
•OLD METALS
wile 1.1.00
Brass, heavy
Braea, light 7.7:.
til "i. he ivj
Zinc, scrap 7.7.'.
New Incorporations
The Cowgill Garage & Light Company, of Cowgill, Mo.,
has been incorporated with a capital stock of $8,000 by
R. A. Thompson, O. C. Switzer and Otis Lashley.
The Jefferson Electric Company, of Jefferson, Ga., has
been granted a charter with a capital stock of $10,000. The
incorporators are W. H. Smith, H. T. Hobley, J. E. Randolph
and others.
The Continental Power Company, of Birmingham, Ala.,
has been incorporated with a capital stock of $2,000. The
officers are: H. B. Wheelock, president and treasurer;
D. E. Manasco, vice-president, and R. H. Wood, secretary.
COPPER EXPORTS*
New Industrial Companies
The Motor-Accessory Distributing Company has filed
articles of incorporation under the laws of Maine, with a
capital stock of $100,000, for the purpose of manufacturing
and dealing in mechanical and electrical devices for ignition
and other electrical devices. S. Titcomb is president.
The Davison-Namack Engine Corporation, of Ballston
Spa, N. Y., has been chartered with a capital stock of $50,000
to manufacture and deal in engines and tools for generation
and transmission of power. The incorporators are Ralph H.
Davison, W. Namack and S. I. Foster, of Amsterdam.
The Phelps Heating Specialty Company, of New York,
N. Y., has been incorporated by R. A. Koontz, H. J. Neu-
schafer and C. S. Ashley, 295 Broadway, New York, N. Y.
The company is capitalized at $50,000 and proposes to manu-
facture machinery, etc., connected with electric or other
power plants.
Trade Publications
Wiring Devices. — Pass & Seymour, Inc., Solvay, N. Y..
have issued two leaflets designated as 58 A and 58 B which
describe several types of its fuseless rosettes.
Electric Pyrometers. — The Wilson-Maeullen Company.
1 East Forty-second Street, New York, has prepared a
catalog which describes its electric pyrometers.
Outlet Boxes and Covers. — Bulletin No. 250 just issued by
the National Metal Molding Company, Pittsburgh, Pa., de-
scribes and illustrates its outlet boxes and covers.
Illuminating Glassware. — The Haskins Glass Company,
Chicago, 111., is sending out its new No. 7 catalog, which
shows various designs and styles of glassware for illumina-
tion.
Electric Vehicles. — The Andover Motor Vehicle Company.
Andover, Mass., has prepared a catalog which describes and
illustrates several types of electrically operated automobiles
and trucks.
Series Mercury-Arc Rectifier Outfit. — The General Elec-
tric Company, Schenectady, N. Y., has just issued Bulletin
No. 43,900, describing its combined unit series mercury-arc
rectifier apparatus.
Fixtures for Nitrogen-Filled Lamps. — The National Light-
ing Products Company, Jenkins Arcade, Pittsburgh, Pa., is
sending out a folder which describes its fixtures for high-
efficiency incandescent lamps.
Pulley Covering. — A folder describing a compound for
covering pulleys to keep the belt from slipping has just been
issued by the "Gripwell" Pulley Covering Company, 601
Candler Building, New York.
Tungsten Lamps. — The General Electric Company is send-
ing out a folder entitled "Have You Learned Your Lesson?"
which directs attention to some of the advantages of its vari-
ous types of tungsten lamps.
Wires and Cables.— The M. B. Austin & Company, Chi
cago, 111., is sending out a number of loose leaves describing
various typos of wire, cable and wiring devices which are
to replace loose leaves previously sent out.
Lighting Fixtures. — Catalog No. IS. issued by the New
York (las iv Ik. tin Appliance Company, ".(lit Broadway,
New York, entitled "Lighting Fixtures of Distinction," is an
attractive lS-l-page book which describes and illustrates a
Dumber Of lighting fixtures.
Mu« h J7, 1915
Kl.Ki TKICAL WORLD
837
Construction News
Ni-« England
.! .-. 11 1 Hi A
also to porcha
•'■
CHICOPEE, MASS.— Within U
iiuae about 10 ornaments
. qulpment for inverted
,i lighting system, H. L. Bur-
■ r of the municipal
BAST BRIDGEWATEK. MASS.— The
■ i Brockton expects t.>
within the next three months three
formers, three 16,1 -volt oil
tic lightning arresters and
volt disconnecting sn Iti
K Nelson Is manager.
FAI.MhITH. MASS. — The Buzzards
.1 Falmouth, expects to con-
ins with an output of
at.out 200 kw within the next Ave months
for 11 miles of 33,000-volt trans-
mission line has been purchased by the
H, Carpenter is treasurer.
NEWPORT, R 1- -Bids will 1"
at the Bureau of Yards and Docks. Nav>
lent, Washington, D. C, until April
10, for roofing, sheet-metal work, plumbing.
heating and lighting, etc., for new building
at the naval torpedo station. Newport, 1: I.
Also for furnishing two 2% -ton, U
tor tra'. ■ s and one movable
bridge, delivered and erected at the naval
station, Newport, R. I. Plans and
uons may be obtained upon appli-
cation to the above bureau or to the com-
■ ii t of the naval station named
Middle Atlantic
ALBANY. N. Y— The Municipal Gas Co.,
^.f Albany, has taken out a permit for the
construction of a steam-driven electric-
power plant In North Albany for use in
emergencies in case of failure in the de-
livery of power from the Spier Falls. The
cost of the plant is estimated at about
$60,000.
ANTWERP, N. Y. — Surveys are being
made by the Antwerp Lt ft I'wr. Co. for
lion of a transmission line from
Antwerp to Gouverneur, a distance of about
1" miles When completed the o
■will supply electricity in Gouverneur and to
farmers residing along the line. The line
■will be tapped at Dickinson's Corners, and
an extension will be made to Oxbow, where
electrical service will be supplied.
AUBURN, N. Y.— The erection of 30
Tinles of telephone line in connection with
its transmission system is reported to be
under consideration by the Empire Gas &
El. Co. of Geneva ; also the construction of
.hi additional 5 miles of steel-power trans-
llnes. The company also contem-
t lie installation of transformers
(1000-kw rating) In the Geneva plant, to
with the 13,000-volt transmission
INDUSTRY, N. Y. — Bids will be received
by Mrs Warham Whitney, president of the
hoard of managers of the State Agricul-
tural and Industrial School, Industry, N. Y..
until April 18 fi additions
to hospital buildings, including construction,
heating, plumbing, drainage and electric
work. Drawings and specifications may be
ite Agricultural and In-
dustrial School, Industry, N v. : :it the New
Bee of Hi'- i lepartmenl of Archi-
il'l'i Woolworth Building, and at
th. Department of Architect, <'apitol, Al-
bany.
NEW rORK, N. Y. — Bids will be received
at the office of the supervising architect,
partment, Washington, D. C
until April :m for the Installation of an in-
tercommunicating telephone system for the
offices of tic- United States dlstrli I
in th>- United states curt house and po i
office in New York. N. Y. For dt I
proposal columns.
NEW Yi iKK. N. Y— Bids will be received
Board "f Trustees of Bellevue and
Alii..] Hospitals, 11.". East Twenty-sixth
Street, New York, until April 2 for fur-
nishing ami Installing all lighting fixture:
in pavilions "I" and "K" of the new Belle-
vile Hospital Blank forms and further
Information may he obtained at the office
..tract cl.rk and auditor, 100 East
,\.w York.
NEW YORK. N Y Bids will be re-
iperlntendent of
school supplies. Department ..f Education.
I'ark Avenue and Fifty-ninth Street. New
fork, N Y , until March 30 for furnishing
and delivering
1 working and
iniseell.i! ■ for the day high.
evening !••• shnlcaJ and trad.- and vocational
schools •: ■ New fork. Blank
..I further Information may be ob-
PATCHOGUE, N Y — Within 0
two iiciiilis the Patchogue El. Lt. Co. ex-
nomizer.
Ralph R. Hawkins is man...
WATERVLTET, N V At a lie
the taxpayers held recently it was .
bond tic dtj tor $-".noo for impro.
to the municipal electric-light plant (new
equipment. Including generators and other
electrical apparatus will be requin
building the distribution system, new street
ew smokestack, etc. J. J. K.-is is
city ens
CREIGHTON, PA. — The Council of East
onslderlng a proposal
submitted by the West Penn By. ft Ltg. Co.
for installing an electric-lighting system
in the town of Creighton. The cost of the
proposed system is estimated at •
HOLMESBURG. I 'A. — The Department
of Charities has awarded the contract for
furnishing and installing the electric equip-
ment m the power house at the Home for
the Indigent at Holmesburg to the Thomp-
son El. Co., 1606 Sansom St., Philadelphia,
-.'100.
PITTSBURGH, PA — The Public Service
Commission has approved the contract of
the Duquesne Lt. Co., of Pittsburgh, for
lighting Ross Township, which includes
ghtlng service.
PITTSBURGH, PA. — The Carnegie Steel
Co., of Pittsburgh, it is reported, will soon
begin work on the construction of a steel-
tie plant in Homestead, to cost about $500,-
000. The electrical contracts, it is under-
stood, will be awarded in the near future.
SOMERSET, PA. — Contracts have been
signed bv the Somerset Ry. Co., of Somer-
set, and the Penn El. Co.. of Johnstown,
whereby the latter will furnish energy to
operate the system of the railway company.
The right-of-way for the entire distance
from Somerset to Rockwood has been se-
cured and construction work will probably
begin as soon as the weather permits. G.
C. Winslow is genera] manager and chief
engineer of the railway company.
YORK. PA. — Bids will be received by C.
P. Shrelner, city clerk, City Hall, York,
until April 2 for construction of sewage-
disposal work and pumping station under
contract "A," and for furnishing and in-
stalling machinery under contract "B," as
follows: Contract "A" includes three set-
tling tanks with outside measurements
about S3 ft. square and 28 ft. deep, with
appurtenances and a pumping-station build-
ing, having concrete substructure and brick
substructure 26 ft. wide by 58 ft. long.
Contract "B" will include furnishing and
installing all operating machinery, consist-
ing of three 5,000,000-gal. motor-driven
pumps, one 10,000,000-gal. gasoline-engine-
driven pump, and various appurtenances.
Plans and specifications may be obtained
:.t tli. oiTice of George W. Fuller, consult-
ing engineer, 170 Broadway, New York.
N. Y., and at the office of the city engineer,
city hall, York, Pa., upon deposit of $10,
Which will be refunded upon return of
same.
ATLANTIC CITY, N. .1 — Mayor Riddle
and Director of Parks Bacharaci
thorized estimates ..f cost prepared for the
installation of ornamental lamps on the
streets extending from the Boardwalk to
Atlantic AVclllle.
ATLANTIC CITY. N. J.— Plans have
been prepared for an extension (six stories
high) to th.- Hotel Strand in Atlantic City.
Tli.- electrical contract, it is understood,
will l.c awarded during the summer. How-
.i.i i idwards is manager
INGTON, N. J -The Common
l 'ouncil has authorized pla n
the installation of a new pumping
it tin city water-works station. A resolu-
te, n formerl} adopted provides for chang-
ing the motive power from steam to elec-
HOBOKEN, \' .1 The report submitted
to III, City Council I'V Joseph P. McP.ride.
electrical engineer, r mmends the estab-
lishment ..I a a "Jit plant,
.bout $50,000.
JERSEY CITY, N. .1 Property owners
.mi oi. rchants of Grove Streei are negotiat-
ing with the Board ..I ''in Commissioners
for tile installation of an ornamental light-
ing system along that thorough!
IRK, N. J -A power plant will be
installed in the new golf-ball manufactur-
ing plant to I. the St. Mougu
Mfg. Co. on Sylvan
haw is arch..
NEW ARK. N. J.— The Rosevllle Improve-
ung with the
put. he Works for the Ins)
. street-lighting system on Orange
: by the i'ub. E
PATER1 The installation of an
Ight and power plant in tl
school has been recommended by Comtnis-
Davld G. Smith of the board of
The cost of the proposed plant
is estimated at $4,600, which would have
sufficient output to furnish electrical serv-
ice to the high school. School No. 23, the
curt house and the federal building.
PERTH AMBOY, N. J.— The City Coun-
cil has engaged Runyon ft C
Street, Newark. N. J., t" prepare plans for
th.. proposed municipal electric-light plant.
to cost about $125, '.
BALTIMORE, Mil — The contract for
furnishing and Installing the additional
500-kw turbo-generator outfit in the high-
i.eeii awarded
to Richard Morton, of Baltimore The
equipment is to consist of a Kerr turbine
and a General Electric (Fort Wayne type)
r, with reduction gear iT
Lester L. Kingsbury is chief electrical in-
spector.
LONACONING, MD. — Within the next
two months the Home El. Lt. Co., of Lona-
coning, expects to erect a substation for
distribution of energy received at 33,000
volts; also for rebuilding distribution sys-
tem and consolidating the plant and system
of the Lonaconing El. Lt. & Pwr. Co..
which was recently taken over by the Home
company. J. Somerville is manager.
WILLIAMSON, W. VA. — The electric
plant of the Williamson Lt. & Ice Co. was
completely destroyed by fire on March 4.
The company will build a temporary plant,
to use until transmission line is completed,
and will change ice plant to use raw in-
stead of distilled water. The Tug River
Pwr. Co. will erect within the next B0 days
a transmission line and an aerial substa-
tion with an output of from 200 kw to 250
kw to supply electricity to the Williamson
Lt & Pwr. Co.
ALEXANDRIA, VA. — Bids will be re-
ceived at the office of the supervising archi-
tect. Treasure Department. Washington,
D. C, until April 19 for a vacuum cleaning
apparatus in the custom house and post
office at Alexandria, Va. For details see
proposal columns.
LYNCHBURG. VA. — Bids will be re-
ceived by the Council committee on water.
Krise Building. Lynchburg, until April 6
for the installation of an emergency
pumping station and booster pump as fol-
lows: (1) Two brick buildings; (2) three
centrifugal pumps: (3) transformers, mo-
tors and other electrical equipment ; ( 4 )
cast-iron pipe, valves, etc.; (5) liquid
chlorine apparatus. H. L. Shaner is city
engineer.
WASHINGTON, D. C. — Bids will be re-
ceived at the office of the chief signal of-
ficer, War Department, Washington, D. C,
until March 29 for furnishing S00 wall tele-
phones and 200 desk telephones. For
further information apply to the chief sig-
nal officer.
WASHINGTON, D. C— Bids will be re-
ceived by the superintendent of the Coast
and Geodetic Survey, 205 New Jersey Ave-
nue, S. E., Washington. D. C. until April 3
for furnishing and installing a complete
electric substation outfit. For details see
proposal columns.
W \SHINGTON, D. C. — Bids will be re-
ceived at the oili.c of the chief signal of-
lice, War Department, Washington, D. C.
until March 29, for furnishing, under Pro-
posal 753, paper-insulated, submarine lead-
covered and armored cable as follows: 7730
II i i five-pair; 26,000 ft. type 322,
15-pa!r; is. silo ft. type 324. 20-pair ; 12.000
ft. type 327. 50-palr; also for furnishing
paper-insulated aerial lead-covered cable as
follows: 60,000 ft. type 401. 10-pair: 22,-
300 ft. type 403, 20-pair; 5000 ft. type 405,
30-palr; 2000 ft. type 407. 50-pair; 2000
ft type 109. 100-pair, and 4S25 ft. type 411.
10-pair. For further information address
chnies S. Wallace, captain signal corps,
I S V
\\ \ SI I INGTON, D. C— Foreign trade op-
portunities ai. announced by the Bureau
of Foreign and Domestic Commerce in the
C mice Reports as follows: No. 15,692
An American consular officer in Europe
reports that an electrical firm in his dis-
trict wishes to represent American manu-
facturers of vulcanized fiber, it is stated
thai the Arm uses large quantities of this
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. U
material and wishes to secure an agency
for Europe No. K..972 — The Bureau of
Foreign and Domestic Commerce is in re-
ceipt of a communication from an Amer-
ican chamber of commerce in a foreign
country stating thai 11 illed upon
to supply names and addressee of manu-
facture! copper and brass
plates, sheets, rods, tubes, wire, etc. No.
16,971 — An American company owning and
operating an electric-light plant in Central
America has informed an American con-
sular officer that it is contemplating the
installation of similar plants in other cities
in that country. No. la, 976 — An import
agent in one of the neutral countries has
informed an American consular officer that
he desires cable quotations for prompt de-
livery of -I'd tons of electrolytic copper In
liars lie will pay cash fob. vessel New
York. No. 16,002 — An American consular
Officer in southern Europe reports that an
Importing firm in his district desires to se-
cure an exclusive agency for the sale of
American drawn-wire electric-light globes.
The globes should be 0.6 watt and 1 watt
per candle. Correspondence should be in
French or Italian. No. 10,106 — An Ameri-
can consul in Russia reports that a firm of
nil importers in his district wishes
• sent American manufacturers of
textile machinery, laundry and ventilating
machinery, malleable fittings and pipes.
! 1 water turbines, electrical machin-
ery, etc. Correspondence may be in Eng-
lish. No, 15,991 — An American consul in
Russia lias received a communication from
a railway engineer stating that he desires
to get in touch with American manufac-
turers of electrical and plumbing supplies,
pumps, boilers, road-making machinery, fire
engines and extinguishers. etc. Corre-
spondence may be in English.
North Central
BATTI.K CREEK. MICH.— Bids, it is re-
ported, are being received by the city clerk
for two B-in pumps, with in
and transmission lines to the water-works
plant.
HARTFORD, MICH.— A new corpora-
been organized under the name of
the Hartford Lt. &- Pwr. Co. to take over
the electric plant and property owned by
Anderson Brothers. The company is plan-
Install a new generator this spring
and make other improvements to the sys-
tem. The principal stockholders are E.
Anderson, Julius Anderson and Marion An-
derson.
LAPEER MICH.— The Citv Council has
decided to submit to the voters the pro-
posal to . ,, in bonds for the in-
stallation of a municipal electric-light plant
OTTKR LAKE, MICH.— The village of
Otter Lai ted a franchise to Carl
Tinker and Stanley Wilcox, both of Lapeer,
to construct and operate an electric-light
plant her.-. Electricity to operate the sis
tern will be secured from the transmission
line of the Commonwealth Pwr Co a<
Mount Morris. As soon as the system is
Hon the transmission lines will be
extended to Fostoris ami Otlsvllle to supply
• I service to those two towns.
PONTIAC, MICH.— The routine Pwr
lie ( '|l V
Council for renewal of the street-lighting
Idlng for both ■ ,i ari
ntal boulevard lamp:-.
The comimii) often to replace the present
arc lamps with 800-cp .Mazda lamps, of
lis for not fewer than
240, and at least ;:, ornamental lampi foi
a period of ten years.
ATHENS, OHIO. The Installation of an
til lighting system on Conn Street
s mi. i. i n, the cost oi Instal
Img and maintaining mi.- to i" paid bj
■ '. nets
TON. OHIO 'Hi- Ohio st.,1. t.i
nd vicinity, to est
'iii. companj also contem
ri:|rts ot i p( IM|||U,,.
i»' entlrel; n built, ln< ludli ■
ni bi
Ml be ex-
iHIO itracl foi
qulpment for the new Hamll-
lurl house, rhlch
IS i ,■ n. ,1 to thl
rcl ,:.'.,. of I'll. I
L wi>. urn, , The pun
• . duplex fe< d pump for the
■lit plant has beer
■t.i of Control
bj !■• w Ballard, commissioner ..f light
and i;-
LAND, OHIO Bids will be n
; the commit
purchases and supplies, 511 City Hall,
Cleveland, until April 2 for furnishing one
auto-truck for the division of the police.
Specifications may be obtained at the office
of director of public Bafety, itoom 207. city
Hall.
DAYTON. OHIO. — The County Commis-
sioners are considering a proposal sub-
mitted by the Dayton Pwr. & Lt. Co. for
lighting a section of public road, which if
satisfactory may be adopted for general
use in the county.
FINDI.AY. OHIO.— The Board of Con-
trol has awarded the Toledo. Bowling Green
ft Southern Trac. Co. a contract for street-
lighting, under the terms of which the com-
pany is to install new street lamps.
GREENVILLE, OHIO.— The Greenville
El. Lt. & Pwr. Co. is preparing to extend
its electrical service to the towns of Verona,
Prebel County and Gordon, Darke County.
This will require the erection of a 6-mile
transmission line, which will serve about
800 people. The street-lighting contracts
call for 26 lamps. The Brookville & Lewis-
burg Ltg. Co. has taken the contract for
street-lighting and power service within the
municipalities, the Greenville Company
serving this company at the corporation
limits of each of the towns.
PORT CLINTON, OHIO.— Negotiations
are under way between the Citv Council
and the Port Clinton El. Lt. & Pwr. Co.
for improving the lighting system in the
business district. Tt is proposed to double
the number of lamps now in use.
DIXON. KY. — The Clay Lt. & Ice Co., of
Clay, is contemplating extending its trans-
mission line to Dixon to supply electricity
in this vicinity.
HAZARD, KY.— The local electric-light
plant and franchise, it is reported, has
been purchased by H. L. Stone, of Pike-
ville, and associates.
GREENFIELD, INI i— Bids will be re-
ceived by the city clerk, Greenfield, until
April 7 for one engine or turbine and a
180-kva alternating-current generator (di-
rectly connected) and exciter with the
necessary switchboard equipment for same.
Specifications may >ie secured upon appli-
cation to E. C. Wolfe, superintendent to the
municipal electric-lighting plant.
LEBANON, IND.— The City Council, it is
reported, has adopted the specifications pre-
pared by Prof. Topping, of Purdue Uni-
versity, for n street-lighting system. Con-
tracts I'm construction of the work, it is un-
derstood, will l.e awarded April 12.
MTLLTOWN, [ND.— The Town Trustees
have granted the BI. Ser. Co. a franchise
to install and operate an electric-lighting
plant in Milltown. The contract for street-
lighting provides for sixtv 60- watt lamps
at $720 per year. David S. Cook. Henry S.
Gray, William s. Speed 'and others are in-
terested in the company.
BLOOMIXHTOX. TPE— The installation
of a cluster-lamp lighting system from the
square to the Chicago * Alton Railroad
station is under consideration.
LUDLOW, ILL.- A committee, consisting
of i.. x. Pear, Charles Walker and William
Xew. has been appointed to make investi-
gations relative to the installation of an
electric-lighting system in Ludlow.
SPRINGFIELD, ILL— The citv Commis-
sioners have authorized bids advertised foi
a 750-kva generator to be installed at the
water-works pumping Btation.
kei.oit. wis- The Wisconsin Commis-
sion has authoi Ized the Beloit Wtr . I lis j
El c to issue $1011,1111(1 ;n bonds to pro
vide funds for extensions and improve-
ments to its system,
BERLIN, WIS.— The Central Wisconsin
Ry. A Utilities Co, bas i n authorised by
the Wisconsin Commission to issue $10,000
in capital stock for the- purpose of pur-
chasing a right ol wa v and foi
for the construction of - transmission line
t . rlin to Red I It
BAT, wis The Wisconsin
i '"h Sei < !o i ntemplattng the construc-
tion of a hydroelectric plant at u
". > s I Ireen Bay, to est about $300.-
000. during the coming year Cl, i
Smith, of .Milwaukee, is pr,
OOSTBURG, wis Witim
days ii W. Le
electric-light plant, expect! t" pure!
changer
CH1SHOLM, MINN Within ft
I Ii months the ' 'in: holm El Co si i to
■ i. ni b nd to r
p ii.nl, i .,,i,i , exten-
i arc lamp I system ;
als,, line supplies and transfoi ,,
pproxlmately 600 lew. R M
llesketl Is to il
KSTON, MINX Tin
: tabllshment o
■■ light plant riii
hai expired,
and the city has the option of purchasing
or renewing the franchise for another 30
years.
KENTON, MINN.— Bids will be received
at the office of Dr. J. A. Gates, president
of the board of the Independent School Dis-
trict No. 91, Kenyon, until April G for con-
struction of the new high and grade school,
including general construction, heating and
plumbing, electrical work and fixtures, man-
ual training, domestic science and gym-
nasium equipment.
VIRGINIA, MINX— Within the next
two months the Water and Light Depart-
ment expects to purchase two 2000-gal.-
per-minute, motor-driven turbine pumps,
directly connected to 100-hp motors : also
material for the erection of 2 miles of three-
phase, L'300-volt transmission line. C. T.
Harding is superintendent.
< II URLES CITY, IA. — The Charles City
ft Western R. R. Co.. of Charles City, has
awarded contracts for extension of its rail-
road and for equipping it for electrical
operation. Contracts have been awarded
for a 40-ton electric locomotive, two steel
passenger cars and other equipment.
KANSAS CITY, MO.— The Bachelors-
Laundry, for which contracts will soon be
awarded, will be equipped with electric
motor-driven machinery. Madorie & Bird-
sell, of Kansas City, are architects.
,AR BLUFF, MO.— Plans and speci-
fications for a municipal electric-lighting
plant, it is reported, are being prepared by
the Fuller Construction Co., of St. Louis,
Mo. The proposal to issue $75,000 in bonds
for same, it is understood, will soon be
submitted to the voters.
ST. LOUIS, MO.— Bids will be received
at the office of the supervising architect.
Treasury Department, Washington, D. C,
until April 23 for an ammonia refrigerating
machine, etc., in the United States post of-
fice at St. Louis, Mo. For details see pro-
posal columns.
CRESCO, NEB. — A special election will
be held April 6 to submit to the voters the
proposal to issue $.",.000 in bonds for the
installation of a municipal electric-lighting
SJ st. in.
WVXOT. NEB. — Within the next six
months the managers of the municipal elec-
tric-lighting plant expect to purchase some
110-volt direct-current meters. L. C. Wall-
ing is city engineer.
ANTHONY, KAN.— The Anthony Ice &
Salt Co. has applied for a franehi-
stall an electric-lighting system in Anthony.
Alfred E. Dent is manager.
ELLSWORTH, KAN.— Within the next
three months the People's El. Lt. ft Pwr.
ects to purchase a 200-kw alternat-
ing-current generating unit, consisting of
engine and generator, and switching de-
vices ; also 250 poles. T. C. Miller is man-
ager.
FREDONIA, KAN.— The Fredonia Ice &
Lt. Co. will install an additional generating
unit of about 150 kw. The company bas
not yet decided whether to use a steam or
oil engine. J. F. Hollis is president.
PORTIS. KAN— The installation of a
municipal electric-lighting system In Portls
is under consideration The city ha
t" erect i transmission line from Downs to
supply electricity here
DOP] KA, KAN.- The bill, which pro-
vides for the illumination of the State
rounds, and authorizes an ex
penditure of $9,760 In equipment, has been
signed by Governor Capper. The plans pro-
\ni. tor the erection of to standards in
the grounds and 28 ai»»ig the driveways
The city will maintain the lamps
Southern States
CART, v c Bonds, not to exceed 120,-
000, it is reported have been authorised to
install a municipal electric-light plant In
Cary.
KINSTI IN, \ C BidS will be received
in the Mayor and City Council of Kinston,
x. C, until April 6 for improvements to
the mum light plant as foi-
■ ' generators, two
bi u,ii generators, 160* bp
foui valve engine, condenser, centrifugal
pump and motor, and return tubular boil-
ers. Bids on alternates to the above will
i Specifications, pi
form, eta, an on file In the office of the
City clerk. Kinston. and may be obtained
upon application to i lllbert ' '. Wh
suiting engineer, Charlotte. N
■ ,. to be refunded upon return of
in,, I 'i , ,1 I Suit,,-- . - Ma\ or.
UORG W'I'i'N. N i' Plans ha -
completed ported, by H I. Mlllner,
engineer, for the construction of dam ami
power i s t the Catawba River, to da
VelOP 8000 lip. and on the Henry River, to
M \ki ii .'7, L9J5
K I. K< I RICAL WORLD
i bp ii
Morganton, !••■ i.'onnell)
-
una i.t . Pwr, & Rjn >'". "f Spartanburg.
t With th<
o the amount of
nd also a con-
Qranltl 0 tip fur Us plant
UNION, s i' Proposal! "ill bi r.
\ Easterling,
..f Public u
until March SO
for furnishing machlnen ami mat. rial for
■■Hon of
iransiiussi..ii line as follow
I in. Bo-
Arrow arms with inns and DO
6600-volt porcelain insulators, six 20-kw,
«S00/21'00-volt transformers, on.-
motor and S500 lb. No. 8 copper
dso one 400-gal -per-mln .
trifugal pump, 4-in.. t'.-in. and B-l
lead, cast-Iron specials, gate
nd double-nozzle hy-
may be obtained
from the engineer at Union, upon payment
of I", to be refunded upon return of same.
VAI.I" >STA. GA. — Plans and -
g prepared for
rgla Pwr. Co., recently ineor-
porated with a capital Btock of JL'.aOO.OOO.
for the i rlc plant
on With ■ i . i miles fr Val-
Electriclty generated at the plant
will be transmitted to Valdosta, Quitman,
■ 1 1 « 1 other towns in this part of
Is in charge of
the project
ST. PETERSBURG, FLA. — The proposal
J 1. '.i», 000 in bonds to establish a
i electric-lighting plant will be
submitted t.. the voti
jUEN, TEN.N". — Preparations are
being made for the installation of a
mum. ii' lit plant in Dresden,
ibout 810,000. Bids for machinery
■ .1. Philip Porter, of
Clinton, Ky , is engineer in charge.
BIRMINGHAM, ALA.— Plans are being
considered by the Alabama Pwr. Co., of
Birmingham, for extensive improvements
■• nsions to us system, involving an
ire of about $2,000,000. The plans
for extensions —ion lines
and Improvements to operating properties
as follows: steam plant at Annist.it
plant near Gadsden ; hydroelectric plant at
Lock 12 on Coosa River; hydroelectric
plant at Jackson Shoals on Choccolocco
Creek, near Talledega : hydroelectric plant
on Big Wills Creek, near Attala. James
1"" Broadway. New York. N. T„
:-lent.
JACKSON, MISS. — At an election held
March 13 the proposal to issue $160, in
bonds for the installation of a municipal
electric-light plant was defeated.
NEWPORT, ARK. — The Arkansas I.t ,t
Pwr. Co., of Arkadelphia. it is i
contemplates improvements to the property
of the Co-operative El. Lt. Co., to CO
to $2T.,ooo, which it has recently ac-
quired.
BRYAN, TEX. Plans are being consid-
ered for extension to the municipal
lighting system.
GENTRY, TEX. Estimates, it is re-
ported, are being prepared for the installa-
tion of a municipal electric-light plant and
water-works system In Gentry. The city
may purchase the local plant and Improve
the same.
mission. TEX. — The City Commission-
era have granted Hamilton .v Hollo, k. of
U> install ..'
lighting plant an. I •rater-works
at |60,
TERRELL. 1 In* V*
1, for equipping the
Midland Railroad, wl
it is propo* d
to an Interurban line
for both freight and I fill The
an extension to W
a branch line t.. Dallas is u
■ I manager
Pacific States
SEATTLE. WASH. — The city utilities
committee of the City Council ha
nun. i.d an ordinance appropriating $-."..'"'"
for the installation of all additional boiler
in the Lake Union auxiliary steam plant
Of the municipal lighting system. Im
i it to i maximum of 10,000 kw.
SPOKANE, WASH —The Washington
wtr. Pwr. Co., of Spokane, is contemplat-
ing extending its transmission line from
Kndlcolt t.. Winona and La Crosse this
spring.
TACOMA WASH —The City Council has
authorised Mr. Savage, engineer of the
City Light and Water Department, to in-
ri the Niaqually River, above
the present plant, for available storage
capable Of being used to iie ■
put of the Niaqually plant to its full ea-
iddltlonal
storage can be found, it will be necessary
to build a steam auxiliary plant to .liable
the present station to meet the demands
made upon it.
LOS ANGELES, CAL. — Bonds to the
amount of (7,000 have been voted by the
citizens of the Homeward Avenue lighting
district tor the installation of a lighting
system on Main Street from N im ty-seeond
Street to Athens-on-the-Hlll.
\i HOLES, CAL. — Application has
been filed with the State Railroad Com-
by the Southern California Edison
Co., of Los Angeles, for permission to issue
$2,500,000 in debentures, of which the pro-
ceeds of $500. One will be used for exten-
sions and improvements to its system and
service in the Southern California counties.
MAKE ISLAND, CAL. — Bids will be re-
the Bureau of Supplies and Ac-
counts. Navj Department, Washington.
1 1 C, until March SO, for furnishing at the
navy yard. Mare Island, Cal., naval sup-
plies as follows: Anchors and balancing
Ciators, steam Mowers, feed
waters, gongs, hoists, lamp-black, electric
Whistle outfit, copper pipe, steel, thermo-
' miller angle transmitter, unions.
. i
HUNTINGTON, UTAH. — A company has
been organized here under the name of the
Huntington El. Lt. & Tel. Co. to construct
and operate an electric light and power
plant in Huntington. The site of the pro-
posed plan! i.' been decided upon and
construction work will soon begin M
Jensen is president and Byron Howard is
secretary of the company.
PARK CITY. UTAH. — The Heber I.t. .^
Pwr. Co., of Heber, has submitted a pro-
posal to the City council offering to supply
electricity In Park City. The plan pro-
posed provides for the erection of a steel-
tower transmission tine from Heber to This
city and the installation of a distribution
\ committee has been appointed
to Investigate the proposition.
PAROW A.N. I '1 ill
El Lt '
rated. pro|MjseS to install an el.-. ■ino-liBhl-
S.ilt La
DEER LODGE MONT Plans have
for the installation of an
i Lodge,
standards, carrying three-lamp
-t about
$60,000 lards will be
wiring
will be let lat.-r P Pauley is chairman
of lighting committee
PHTLLIPSBURG, MONT Bids will be
. by the cltj clerk until April .. for
lighting the si i- I public build-
ings.
I .1 'If ilS. WYO. -Within the
months the Lander El. Lt. A Pwr. Co., of
generating station and distributlo
En the town of Dubois. Wyo Complete
equipment will be pun b
waterwheel and generators, which the com-
pany has on band. For further information
i: D, Edwards, manager. I'. O. box
583, Lan.l.r
CRESTED BUTTE COL The proposal
to issue $15,000 in bonds for the purchase
and Improvements to the local electric-
light plant will be submited to the voters
on April 6. The town also proposes to
take nv.r the water-works system
Canada
KAMLOOPS, B. C. — A by-law to author-
ize an expenditure of $80,000 for hydro-
electric purpose has been introduced into
the Council.
BRANTFORD, ''NT. — The Council has
passed the by-law authorizing an appro-
priation of $30,000 for the purpose of sup-
plying the street-railway system with hy-
droelectric power. It is now operated bj
energy supplied by the Western Counties
MONTREAL. QCE. — The report
Hoard of Commissioners asking toi
000 to add several Sections to the area of
round conduits has been adopted
i 'ity Council.
MONTREAL, QUE. — Bids will be received
by the city Of Montreal until April 6 for
furnishing and installing lamps and lamp
standards, with concrete foundations for
same, for the street-lighting system on St.
Catherine and Bleury Streets, to be main-
tained by underground wires. Specifica-
tions may be obtained at the office of the
superintendent of purchases and sales. City
Hall. Montreal
Miscellaneous
CORDOVA, ALASKA. — The franchise
granted some time ago to H. H. Knox, of
Cordova, for an electric-light plant here, it
is reported, has been transferred to a cor-
poration organized under the laws of the
State of Washington, known as the Alaska-
ElectriC Consul. Co. The necessary capital
to install the plant at Power Creek. Lake
Eyak. 7 miles distant, and the erection of
a transmission line to this city, has been
assured. George F. Russell, E. L. Terry.
N. W. Higgins and DeVillo Lewis, of
Seattle. Wash., are among the .In.
Weekly Record of Electrical Patents
UNITED STATES PATENTS ISSUED
MARCH IS, 1916
[Prepared bj Robert Starr Allyn, 16 Ex-
change Place, New fork, N. V. |
1,131,651. Thermostat; G. C Andrews,
Minneapolis. Minn. App. filed March SO,
1HI 2. For fin
1,181,068. Attachment fob Speed Rk-
im Bowden and J, F. Gor-
ii'ni, Garrett, In.i. App, Bled March :;o,
101 i K. .r novel binding-
post construction
Signaling System for train
DiarATCiiiN-i; ; S Brown, Brooklyn. N. V.
App flle.i March 81, 1911. For sending
"I im."
1,131,688, Automatic Fubl-'Controi Sys-
tem i.i Be i A Doble, Waltham,
Mass. .\pp Bled Jan 38, 191 i Eli eti Ic
' in place of usual pilot.
1,181,717. Combined Electric Railway
AND Sins'.M. System ; P. W. Leffler (de-
ft), Chicago, Ml APP. filed Aug. 13,
1908. Has automatic rheostats controlled
by cars
1,181,723. Lock Attachment for s>
i: V Miller and .1 A Molln, Xonkers,
N. V. App. filed May 8, 1914. Attai h
able to ordinary bi »
1,181,734. Electric-Lamp Socket C B
Mills, Baltimore, Md. App. Bled
i leslgned for tempore i ■■■ connec-
tion to a cable.
1,133 ,78 i ij'.i Sw itch . .1 N Rej nolds,
a ich. Conn. App. filed \
1918 For serving large groups of lines.
1,181.770. Sionax System; G, Br
Sarnia, Ontario, Canada, App. Bled
March 29, 1 9 I 1. Alarm sounds when en-
gineer fails to properlj execute the ordei
of the pilot.
1,181,811. Selector fob Machine switch-
in.. Telephone Systems; F. Allendorff,
Antwerp, Belgium, App. Bled De<
r.ili'. Telephone user can automatically
obtain connection with a free trunk.
1,131,813. Electric Annunciator or Code
Signaling Device; n. l. Anthony, Crans-
ton, R. I. App. fibd Feb. 2, 191 I. Call-
board construction,
i Alarm Device fob Motob Ve-
hicles; f. E. Cline and W. L. Basker-
ville. San DiegO, Cal. App. tiled Nov. 17.
l'.il.'I. Sounds alarm when attempt to
steal car is ill. nl.
1,131, II ti i basi ''. e. Gierding,
Mansfield, Ohio \pp. tiled March ... 1913,
Readil] M i.i. I., tgeable construction,
1 . t - : 1 .-.::_■. APPARATUS FOB operating
Bulkhead Doors; H. M. Gleason, Phila-
delphla, Pa. App. Bled Aug. 21, 1!>0C.
Manually or by electric control
Indicating Device
ions and the Like; m Nordoff,
i 'hicago, III App filed Maj I
Includes solenoid with longitudinally
Mini, oscillating core.
840
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 13
Electrolytic Apparatus ; C. A.
Parks, Chicago. 111. App. filed Sept. 14,
1914. For commercial production of hy-
drogen and oxygen by decomposition of
water.
1,131,870. Polyphasy x-Ray system ; H.
C. Snook, Philadelphia, Pa. App. filed
26, 1908. Producing very intense
X-rays.
1.131.896. Alternating-Current Recti-
fier; k. C. Ballman, St Louis, Mo. App.
filed Jan. 3. 1911. Electromagnetic type
for charging storage batteries.
1.131.910. VACUUM Discharge for Light-
ESI C. Claude, Paris. France.
App. Bled Feb 27. 1911. Utilizes lumi-
■ properties of neon.
1.131.911. I 'AI.I.-I 'ISTRIBI'TING TEI.EniONE
System ; H. P. Clausen, Rochester, N. Y.
\|.p Bled June 2fi. 1911. Combined with
regular common-battery multiple-manual
systi
1.131.912. Telephone System; H. P.
Clausen. Rochester. N. Y. App. filed
March 11, 1912. Species of partial call-
distributing system.
1.131,914. Electrical Installation for
Lightino, Heating and Ventilating
Railway Carriages and Similar Pur-
poses ; A. H. Darker. Blackheath, Eng.
App. filed Nov. 5, 1912. Special rocking
reversing switch construction.
1.131.919. Alternating-Current Recti-
fier ; E. Fassler, Frankfort-on-the-Main,
Germany. App. filed Oct. 29, 1909. Vi-
brating rectifier for charging purposes.
1.131.920. Alternating-Current Recti-
fier: E. Fassler, Frankfort-on-the-Main,
my. App. filed Nov. 5, 1 !I10. Ob-
tains impulses greater in "in- direction
than in other for charging purposes.
1.131.921. Magneto Apparatus ; R. Fischer,
Frankfort-on-the-Main, Germany. App.
tiled Jan. 29, 1913. Parallel arrangement
of two similar armatures in a common
magnetic-pole system.
1,131,968. Electro-Pneumatic Brake De-
vice: \V. V. Turner. Edgewood. Pa. App.
filed Nov. 10, 1910. For traction cars;
upon movement of cut-out switch, the
electric control device is prevented from
causing application of the brakes.
1.131,971. Electro-Pneumatic Brake
Mechanism ; W. V. Turner, Edgewood.
Pa. App. filed Sept. 10, 1912. Special
valve mechanism.
1.131.979. Railway - Traffic - Controlling
Apparatus ; F. J. Ackerman, Pittsburgh.
Pa. App. Bled Nov. 11, 1912. Electric-
interlocking switch system.
1.131.980. Railway - Traffic - Controlling
Apparatus ; F. J. Ackerman, Pittsburgh,
I':, App tiled Nov. 11. 1912. Switch
i, embodying devices responsive to
reversals of current.
1.131.981. Railway - Traffic - Controlling
Apparatus ; F. J. Ackerman. Pittsburgh,
\;.|, Bled Nov. 11, 1912. Embodies
polarized relay and pole changer.
1,131,982 Cntci it-Controlling Device; f.
J. Ackerman. Pittsburgh, Pa App. Bled
Nov. II. 1912 Polarized relay with
polarized armature and neutral locking
ture.
I. A. Hawkins.
S.lier,,-. lady. N. V. App. filed Nov. 29.
by which if one lamp
burns oul other lamp is illuminated.
Elbctric pEN-i.ii.tiM Clock; A.
Zurich, Switzerland. App. Bled ' '- :
16, 1912. Armature is fixedly connected
io the forked pendulum crutch.
1,132,016 Forming ZONSS OF
Varying am. Variable Strengths in
rn- Fields; A. i-\ Jobke. Wilkins-
burg, P:. App tiled Jan. 24, 1912. For-
mation of magnet i
u ,\ 11,11, New
■i \|,p til.-, I April 27, 1912
Water-tight knocl iction.
■ . i \ Hell
■ igo, ill App. Bled May 16,
i '•! :; Si [i ,. ,ni.i ,,,.',1 battel
lamp in hi ordinary oil
\\ I-' Hot
ford, v 111 App. Bled Sept
Welded platinum contact point
i.i ?,'2.\(<r.. i--ii
Va \pp n March 20, 1914
i .i severable by heat,
rm H p. Mead
• r. i I, v. land, Ohio.
App i.i-i I 1. 1 24, P'l" i-'ot calling
ither put-, wherever he mas
l,e |]
BOOT System :
i lottenburg, i lerman
tiled Aug 26, P'l i Belectoi ■ and con
■
1.132.108. Directory Board; A. Merk-
Wirz, Zurich. Switzerland. App. filed
June 18, 1913. Lamps indicate on map
present location and location of point
desired.
1.132.116. Cut-Out Box; A. L. Pierce.
Wallingford, Conn. App. filed May 27,
1914. Special construction for mounting
on pole.
1,132,128. Apparatus for Safeguarding
Automobiles from Theft; O. A. Smith.
Springfield, Mass. App. filed May 12.
1913. Movement of gear shift lever im-
parts shock and sounds alarm.
1.132.144. Dynamo-Electric Machine : C.
E. F. Ahlm, Cleveland. Ohio. App. filed
Feb. 14. 1910. For train lighting.
(Forty-nine claims.)
1.132.145. Dynamo-Electric Machine; C.
E. F. Ahlm, Cleveland, Ohio. App. filed
May 16, 1910. Directs lines of force by
magnetic leakage.
1,1 32.1. ".4. Electric Pull Switch; C. A.
Billey, Cripple Creek, Col. App. filed
Jan. 28, 1914. Weatherproof: for mine
use.
1,132.173. Flashlight: A. J. Dupont,
Adams, Mass. App. filed March 19. 1914.
Attachable to the back of the hand.
1,132.183. Battery Separator; C. P. Hid-
den, New York, N. Y. App. filed Aug. 5,
1910. Porous mass of pulverulent inert
material.
1,132,186. Traffic Signaling System : E.
W. Kelley, Rochester, N. Y. App. filed
Dec. 29. 1913. For pointing out route to
be taken by fire apparatus, etc.
1,132,245. Kn:K-Ai,Aiai System: J. B. Am-
nions, Houston, Tex. App. filed Dec. 8.
1914. Embodies a cannon which fires
a projectile normally holding the contacts
separated.
1,132,249. Signaling Device for Party
Telephone Lines : I,. Ericson, Chicago,
111. App. filed Nov. 15, 1906. Harmonic
ringer adapted to be placed in box of
ordinary subscriber's set.
1,132,307— Arc L,
1,132,259. [nclosed-Arc Lamp; C. a. b
Halvorson, Jr., Saugus, Mass. App. filed
June 30, 1913. Gases caused to deposit
solidifiable products above the globe.
1,132,262. Method of Treating Metal
Structures to Prevent Subsequent
Change in Form ; J. O. Heimze, Jr., De-
troit, Mich. App. tiled April 9. 1912.
Magneticall3 agitates the molei
the metal before the casting is Fashioned
Electric Signaling An
and Circuits . F. p. llei
New Fork, N. v. Ipp Bled Aug. ir..
1890. Transmitter,
i:i ■, I i COl W. S. Moody.
PtttsBeld, Mass App, tiled July 1 1. 191S
in tin- si,ai C two i Ined at theii
1,1 32,29 i or Con-
i \\ llkie. Cro .lull. ' llasgofl .
Scotland \ t-i. Bled Maj 21, 1913 Pro
tected binding post com truct Ion.
i :, ,1 i, 11
t»s; \ i : Vd
Ohio \pi, Bled Sept 9,
Induction device bodily carried on
the spark plug
II I- P.M.
Pittstield. Mass. App III, .1 Juni
Has plug win. ii la ■■ i ,ii ii. ,i io make b nd
break circuit
hi: \ni> Terminal
i: II
Cunningham, Mew fork, N I App
tii.-d i .. ■ ll, 1912 Protected against
i dill
, J T, it i •
N N \l'p tiled Ma% 1 J,
.I ..I light glv
ing materials is fed into engagement
with electrodes.
1.132,308. Graphic Recording Apparatus;
J. T. Dempster, Schenectady, N. Y. App.
tiled Oct. 20. 1913. Combined with elec-
tric meter.
1.132,313. Flame-Arc Lamp and Elec-
trode Therefor ; G. Egly, Berlin-Trep-
tow, Germany. App. filed Sept. 9, 1914.
Negative electrode embodying exclusively
salts of the alkalis.
1,132,322. Electrical Measuring Instru-
ment ; A. J. R. Fiego, Lynn, Mass. App.
filed July 9, 1913. Usable either as volt-
iii. |. r or ammeter.
1,132,855. System of Electrical Wiring;
W. J. Kistler, Coopersburg, Pa. App.
filed Oct. 3, 1913. Metal-molding con-
struction.
1, 132.38S. Coupling or Splice for Trolley
Wires ; G. W. Robinson, Baltimore, and
M. E. Harding, Odenton, Md. App. filed
May 12, 1914. Provides a smooth under-
run for the trolley.
1,132,394. Manufacture of Chemically
Pure Soluble Silicic Acid; B. Schwerin,
Frankfort-on-the-Main, Germany. App.
filed April 18, 1914. Subjects alkaline
silicate solution to action of electric cur-
rent.
1,132,404. Electro-pneumatic Sound Box:
C. Stille, Berlin. Germany. App. filed
April 24. 1913. Sound-transmitting elec-
tromagnet controls blast of air through
sound box.
1,132,419. Automatic Fire-Alarm Sys-
tem ; J. B. Ammons. Houston, Tex. App
filed Dec. S, 1914. Thermostat operable
by fire near at hand or at any point in
the system.
1.132,427. Electromechanical System to
Avoid Railway Collisions; A. Beer (de-
ceased). Venice, Italy. App. filed June
21. 1909. Impossible to set starting sig-
nal unless track is clear.
1.132,442. X-Ray Tube; M S. Clawson.
Weehawken. N. J. App. filed Sept. 9.
1913. Copper anode with tungsten but-
ton.
1.132.444. Circuit Controller ; J. P. Cole-
man, Edgewood Borough, Pa. App. filed
Aug. .",, 1912. Matching teeth on periph-
eries on the insulating sleeves and on
the hubs of the contact segments.
1.132.445. Electric Motor: J. B. Conrad.
Nicolaus, Cat App. filed July 2, 1913.
Solenoid engine.
1.132.451. Multiple-Conductor Electrical
Cable; C. W. Davis, Edgewood, Pa. App
filed Jan. 14, 1914. Has insulating en-
velope of rolled or wrapped paper.
1.132.452. Multiple-Conductor Cm
W. Davis, Edgewood, Pa. App. filed Jan
14, 1914. High-tension, three-strand
1,132, 4"i4. Binding Post; F. H. Day, Daw-
son, Yukon Territory. Canada. App. filed
Sept. 3. 1913. For taking a number of
wires.
1.132,470. Switch; D. D. Gordon, Chicago.
111. App. tiled April 3", 1912. Push-
button construction.
1.132.473. Circuit Controller; C. 0 B u
ring/ton, Edgewood Borough. Pa. App.
tiled Sept ,. 1913. Segment and fixed-
brush construction.
1,182,478. System ..f Electrical Distri-
bution, j. i,, Johnson, Milwaukee, Wis
App Bled Sept. 16, 1910. For storing
ving up of kinetic energy.
GaS-L amp CONTROL and Igniter;
W. W i i.-ttger. Detroit, Mich. App
tiled March 9, 1914 For automobile gas
lamps
1,132,499 Firs-Alarm STsrax; N n
Suren, Needham, Mass. App. filed March
7. 1912. l-'or large manufacturing estab-
lishments, etc
iinai CUP; L. A. Thomas.
die. bid, ApP tiled .llllie ., 1 '.Ml
Spring clip formed from single length ot
wire
l-'i i mr.is ri:x ok
I , 1 UPS I \ I ..-.level , \ I, ,
\|,|, Bled Aug 26, t'."»'.. Pow-
dered tungsten and camphor
.i i
i. Mi. 1, \i,.
\ Bouchery, Mew York. n. -i kpn
Bled Aug. 22, 1914. Adaptable fov use in
various locations and readtli
semi. led and packed
i 8,891 i relsaui ; \chanob
SrsTBM : S, II. Browne, Short Hills. N. J
\i-i. Bled s.-pi 80, 1914 (Original
.: ■,
lervlce and I
\,.l. 65
Electrical World
l'ublixhvd by UoQraw l'ubllshing d>n
M.u FORK, s\n BDAT, APRIL 3. 1915
No. H
A January Blockade
THE . i 'ml it ions of our electrical export trade are
fairly well disclosed by the statistics of January,
now available, showing that what we have lost in old
markets has n<>t yet !>een made up in new or those rela-
tively uncultivated. The exports for January were
mpared with $1,947,646 8 year ago, and
ii months is more than §5,000,000 below
that of the corresponding period. No one can get any
particular comfort or cheer out of such figures, unless
they be regarded as marking the extreme of decline and
the beginning of a new upward movement. That is
conjectural. We are off with the old loves, and not yet
on with the new, and it is obvious that the transfer of
affection is likely to take some time. Here is a ready
and responsive market, but in these days purchasing
power has been dulled abroad, and whatever activity it
may show is chiefly directed toward food and fireworks.
We sold six times as many "explosives" in January of
this year as we did in the same month of 1914. What
electricity means for the comfort, convenience and hap-
piness of mankind is fairly well known. On that is
based our export trade. What there is in the deviltry
of the "explosive" branch of industry that makes for
human happiness still remains to be explained by the
devotees of militarism who are mortgaging the blood of
this generation and the sweat of generations to follow.
Maximum Kate Lowered in New York
THE reduction in New York Edison Company rates,
as expressed in the Public Service Commission
order, is merely a lowering of the maximum rate for
mers of minimum requirements. Responsibility
for scientific rate-making for other customers is left
to the company. The order does not solve rate-making
problems upon the successful handling of which the
market for energy in large quantities, and hence profit-
aide operation, really depend. As this case shows, high
profits usually mean to central-station regulators that
the maximum rate is above the proper limit and should
be brought down. Local political expediency also ap-
pears to be a large factor in the decision. Another
and better way to effect rate reduction than either vol-
untary company action or commission order is open.
If there could be a definite financial incentive, as in the
Boston sliding gas scale, undoubtedly efficiency, economy
and experimentation would be accelerated. To allow
increased dividends as compensation for lower rates is
imple with complicated electric schedules than with
Hat gas rates. However, it is well worth earnest study.
Commissions and Security Prices
THE comment in the annual report of the Missouri
Public Utilities Commission upon the small num-
ber of applications for authority to issue securities
indicates an appreciation of the serious financial results
of the war. That "it has been almost impossible" for
any public utility in the State to sell securities the com-
mission is fully convinced. A company hesitab
advertise inability to sell securities, because such a
confession may prove to be a boomerang that weakens
credit; but since uncontrollable conditions have de-
pressed security prices and curtailed borrowing it is
highly important that regulators understand the situa-
tion. That the market for new securities has been poor
is an accepted condition, but the main question is of the
future. Out of the confusion caused by the European
war new relations will arise between lenders and bor-
rowers of which commissions will take cognizance.
Cost of Lamp Renewals
IN the New York Edison Company maximum-rate
adjustment 0.5 cent per kw-hr. is regarded as the
value of lamp-renewal service. Small consumers may-
pay 8 cents per kw-hr. for energy alone or, if they so
desire, the first lamp installation and subsequent re-
newal service may be obtained by a payment of 0.5 cent
per kw-hr. for lamp service. Although not applied pre-
viously to small consumers, this allowance for lamp-re-
newal service has been provided for heretofore in rate
schedules for large-quantity consumers. It is based
upon assumed average life, cost of delivery and other
direct expenses. The estimated costs of this service
are greater to the company than the price it charges,
but the company maintains that its service is de-
pendent to so large an extent upon high lighting
standards that it protects itself by offering consumers
every inducement to use carefully tested, efficient lamps.
Although interesting as an individual solution, this plan
should be subjected to close analysis by other companies
before adoption, as local conditions vary greatly.
Protection of Signaling Systems
WITH the ever-increasing installation and ramifica-
tion of wires in cities, for all kinds of service, it
has long been recognized that systems could advan-
tageously be divided into two classes, namely, the sig-
naling systems such as telephone, burglar-alarm and
fire-alarm systems, operating at a relatively low volt-
age, and the energy transmission and distribution
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 14
systems. It has long been recognized that it is
necessary to protect the signaling circuits against
the possibilities of accidental contact with the energy-
carrying systems. This necessity tends steadily to in-
crease. With telephone circuits are commonly used de-
vices for protection against both lightning and dis-
tributing systems of higher voltage. In the Elektro-
technische Zeitschrift Dr. Fritz Schroter recently
described a new form of voltage protector consisting
of a particular type of vacuum tube. Vacuum tubes
have been used as lightning protectors on signaling cir-
cuits for many years, but ordinarily they require a con-
siderable impressed voltage to break them down, and
hence they fail to protect against 220 volts or less. The
vacuum tube, as described in the article, is able to break
down or give passage to a current under an impressed
emf not greater than 130 volts. The vacuum tube,
which is of relatively small dimensions, is provided with
an anode of aluminum wire, as well as a cathode of
alkali metal or alloy. The gap between the anode and
the cathode is only a few millimeters. The tube con-
tains either helium, neon or argon gas at a pressure of
about 2 mm mercury.
oxygen. The idea is suggested that combinations of
electrical and chemical methods promise important im-
provements. At the present time nearly all of the
world's supply of nitrogen is confined to the saltpeter
beds of Chile and Peru. Half the output of these goes
for the manufacture of explosives. The total destruc-
tion of this stock during the last six months must have
been enormous.
Fixation of Atmospheric Nitrogen
The problem of catching and fixing nitrogen is of
great importance to human beings. As we all know, we
live in an ocean of nitrogen diluted with a certain
amount of oxygen and other gases. Although we
breathe it perpetually, we are not supposed to retain
any nitrogen in the process. As much nitrogen is ex-
haled in the course of a year as is inhaled. Yet we must
have a certain amount of nitrogen for our bodies or die.
We obtain it either from plants directly or from the
flesh of animals that have themselves obtained it from
plants. Plants have difficulty in securing enough nitro-
gen for their needs, when their growth is stimulated,
as in farm crops. When the soil becomes exhausted of
nitrogen by the plants, these wither or fail to develop
properly. The replenishment of nitrogen to the soil
comes slowly in the regular course of events. In thun-
derstorms the lightning flashes are believed to fix a
small amount of nitrogen by union with oxygen in their
flame, and this becomes washed down to the soil by rain.
Moreover, certain families of plants harbor on their
roots bacteria which seem to be able slowly to build up
a stock of soil nitrogen. Certainly cheap nitrogen soil
food, with suitable additions of phosphorus and potas-
sium, is of great agricultural value for forcing crops
without delay in rotation.
At a recent meeting of the American Institute
of Electrical Engineers a paper was presented by
Mr. Leland L. Summers on the fixation of atmospheric
nitrogen, in which it was pointed out that, although sev-
• •r.'il electrical processes are in commercial operation for
fixing atmospheric nitrogen, thunderstorm-fashion, in
illy constructed furnaces, yet they develop a low
■ ncy owing to the large amount of heat needed to
raise the temperature of the incoming nitrogen and
Electrical Cooking
An important paper by Mr. W. R. Cooper on electric
cooking was recently read before the (British) Insti-
tution of Electrical Engineers. Although the prices
and conditions outlined are those encountered in Brit-
ish practice, the general situation is quite easily com-
parable with that in America. The writer, who will be
recognized by our readers as the accomplished editor of
the London Electrician, speaks of trying electric cook-
ing in his own home, and therefore approaches the sub-
ject from the standpoint of the consumer who pays the
bills. Use was made of an electric range having a full-
load rating of 5450 watts. This proved adequate for
the complete cooking for a family of eight. The aver-
age consumption was found to be about 2 kw-hr. per
person per day in the winter time and about 1.6 kw-hr.
in the summer. The total energy for the year was
just over 5000 kw-hr., and the price, including the in-
stallation charge, averaged 2.08 cents per kw-hr., the
total charge amounting to nearly $110 for energy. The
hot-water matter, always difficult in dealing with elec-
trical cooking, was taken care of in the way rather
customary in and about London when electrical cook-
ing is employed, namely, by means of a small coke-
burning separately fired boiler. This boiler cost about
$50 set up, and the fuel cost about $33 per year.
Without going too far into details, the new regime
cost about one-third more than the old, all things con-
sidered, in spite of the low average price of energy.
Aside from the cost of working the separate hot-water
plant, the difference was far less striking, but from
any viewpoint it is sufficiently plain that there is room
for considerable improvement in the efficiency of elec-
trical cooking apparatus, and that something near a 2-
cent rate must be reached in order to compete with
even so inefficient a heater as the coal range. At or
near this price, however, with cooking apparatus well
designed and properly heat-insulated, electrical cook-
ing, even on the scale required for the complete use of
the household, becomes economically feasible. The di-
versity factor of the cooking load is large, and in Eng-
lish practice the cooking is not a peak load in the sense
of falling upon the lighting peak. Moreover, the noon
hour, which furnishes a conspicuous valley in the mo-
tor load, provides a peak in the cooking load which
again improves its character as a component of station
business. Mr. Cooper criticises with keen intelligence
the practical points found in the working of an electric
range and makes some excellent suggestions regarding
improvements. Although in his own personal experi-
ence the cost of electric cooking was in excess of that
April 3, 1916
ELECTRICAL WORLD
843
when coal was used, he notes that certain low-rate
schedules already in use would have brought the costs
to practical equality under the very same conditions of
use. In other words, it is possible even now at the
pr:. e actually charged by central stations generating
their electrical energy from steam to make electric cook-
ing an economic success. It will be found even more
successful when the .schedules take suitable account of
the advantages of cooking as a central-station load.
The Telegraph and Multiplex Telegraphy
It has been long an axiom with telegraph engineers
that the next important development in telegraphy must
be in the direction of page printing, in which the mes-
sage is printed on a regular telegraph blank in roman
letters. Among the numerous attempts that have been
made to develop a system of this type may be men-
tioned the Buckingham, the Barclay and the Murray
page printers, the first two of which have been
extensively used in this country. With these systems
there has been acquired on circuits 1000 miles in length
a speed of from eighty to ninety words per minute in
two directions, thus giving an effective transmission of
about 170 words per minute, which appears to be the
maximum speed attainable with these systems, a fact
attributable measurably to the limiting electrical factors
of the circuit.
Even apart from the electrical limitations of the cir-
cuit, practice has shown that the mechanical limitations
of the printing mechanism are reached, although not
exceeded, at the speeds mentioned, owing to the exces-
sive wear and tear of the apparatus. These and other
causes led certain investigators to endeavor to obtain
greater message-transmitting capacity from existing
wires by means of a combination of the well-known
Baudot multiplex tape printer and the Murray page
printer. This combination, with certain modifications
and improvements, has resulted in a reliable page-print-
ing telegraph system, by means of which four forty-five-
words-per-minute messages are transmitted in two di-
rections over one wire, or a total of 360 words per min-
ute per wire, as described by Mr. Paul M. Rainey in an-
other part of this issue. As the author intimates, the
engineers of the company which has developed this
multiplex printer have not proceeded in a haphazard
manner in the development of the system. The merits
and the defects of the high-speed printers mentioned
were well known to those engineers, as were also the
merits and the demerits of the automatic system of the
Wheatstone type. The Wheatstone automatic system
transmits messages at a high speed over long circuits,
but the messages are received as dots and dashes which
must be transcribed by clerks at a comparatively low
speed. A comparison of the cost of labor for the tran-
scription of messages received by the automatic system
and the cost of construction and maintenance of lines
of systems operating at lower speed but involving the
least labor costs was no doubt made by these engineers,
and it may be assumed that the decision to adopt the
multiplex page printer described in Mr. Rainey's article
was due to results favorable to that system in the com-
parison. It is known that the Baudot instrument is in
operation in Europe at a total rate of about 280 words
per minute, with the tape-printing feature of the orig-
inal Baudot system retained. Obviously, the additional
functions demanded by a page printer as compared with
a system in which the message is received on paper
strips add somewhat to the complexity of the system and
also tend to reduce the rate of transmission. However,
in the minds of the engineers in this country, the com-
mercial advantages of the page-printing feature have
evidently outweighed its disadvantages. In the tape-
printing system the strips are usually cut up into sec-
tions and pasted on the telegraph blanks for delivi •
the addressee, a process requiring labor and time.
A striking feature of the later experiments in print-
ing telegraphy is that in which tape transmission of
messages has shown its superiority as compared with
direct keyboard transmission by the operators. Tape
transmission involves the perforation of the paper strip
by a manually operated keyboard perforator, which ma-
chine adds considerably to the expense of the installa-
tion, but the gain in speed of transmission by perfor-
ated paper as compared with direct keyboard trans-
mission is so marked that the expense of the machine
perforators is found to be fully warranted.
In his article Mr. Rainey does not specify the cir-
cuits on which this multiplex system has thus far been
in use, but it is known that one circuit has been in
successful operation between New York and Boston, a
distance of about 225 miles, for almost a year. From
the statement that the system is capable of successful
use on any existing circuit over which a line relay can
be operated satisfactorily, it may be taken for granted
that the distance over which this system may be em-
ployed will at least equal that now covered by any other
existing long-distance printer, and presumably its use
will result in a decided gain in the message-transmitting
capacity of these circuits.
Another feature of the multiplex printer which has
scarcely been touched upon by Mr. Rainey is the cost
of operation, especially as compared with the Morse
manual system. Since each operator of the multiplex
system prepares messages at the practically forced rate
of forty-five words per minute and these messages are
immediately transmitted automatically at the same rate
of speed and without attention from anyone other than
the perforating operator, it is evident that the cost of
operation must be small as compared with that of the
manual Morse system, on which the average speed of
transmission cannot be placed at more than twenty-five
words per minute.
No doubt, practical experience with this ingenious
and interesting multiplex printer will show opportunity
for further development, but as it stands at present
one is quite disposed to agree with Mr. Rainey that the
advent of this system will mark an epoch in the history
of the telegraph.
344
ELECTRICAL WORLD
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Vol. 65, No. 14
Evaluating the Isolated Plant
CA< Editor of the Electrical World:
Sir: — In reference to your article on "Evaluating the
Isolated Plant." in your issue of March 13, I would state
that it has been customary for our engineers to impress
upon the mind of the prospective customer the impor-
tance of figuring the profit on the plant investment in
addition to the usual fixed charges of interest, deprecia-
tion, taxes and insurance.
This item of profit is generally mentioned under the
caption of "fair profit," and, while its value has not been
pted in some instances by the prospective customer,
it has received serious consideration in many others.
This, naturally, is to be expected, inasmuch as the earn-
ing power of capital is not always so attractive to some
manufacturers as to others. It is then more or less a
question as to the value of money to each particular
individual, and for that reason no fixed percentage may
be applied to it which will cover all cases. It reaches
its minimum value in those instances where the employ-
ment of additional capital would result in no material
increase in profit, and conversely it has its greatest value
where the employment of additional capital, through ex-
panding business, means large returns.
Practically every manufacturer realizes that it is a
losing proposition to invest money in a machine which
does not pay for itself in a few years' time. There are
few manufacturers, however, who realize that an in-
vestment in a private plant, like that in a machine,
should also pay for itself in a few years' time, which
means that unless the saving effected through the in-
stallation of a private plant, compared with the cost of
operating under central-station service, is sufficient to
pay for the plant during the economical life thereof,
central-station service should have the preference. Like-
wise, if the costs of operating under both methods are
identical, central-station service should be employed, as
capital is not tied down to a non-productive investment,
but is at the command of the company, either to use in
expanding the business through advertising or produc-
tive measures or to be retained to carry the company
over periods of business depression.
While the argument of fair profit is undoubtedly one
which has been emphasized only recently by central-
station motor-service solicitors, it has been present, no
doubt, in the minds of those contemplating the expendi-
ture of funds for plant apparatus and has been the de-
ciding factor in many instances in the past wherein
central-station service has logically had the preference
over the isolated plant. E. A. LESLIE,
/',,,/./,,,, \- v Isetatant : eer, Bdison Electric
Overheating of Nitrogen-Filled Lamp
To the Editor o) the ELECTRICAL World:
Sir: — In reference to your article on the subject
rheating of 200-Watl Nitrogen-Filled Lamp," with
the illustration, published on page (581 of your issue
dated March I", I wish to register the claim that the
extremely unusual one which could
plained only by a very careful examination into
all the circumstances connei ted with it; and, further-
Hi.it, [nee it treats ,,f the Very unusual rather
•ban the typical, the article causes impressions in the
mind n hit b arc oo1 at all according to
the fad Careful temperature measurements in the
■ tory on various designs of 200-Watt gas-filled
lamps with many combinations of socket and reflector
equipment revealed no socket temperatures as high as
200 deg. Fahr., which was supposed to have been the
safe operating temperature of the compound used in
the socket which you illustrated. The highest tempera-
ture found in the wires connecting to the brass part of
the sockets was 150 deg. I think that there is little
doubt that a 250-watt vacuum lamp or one with slightly
higher wattage would have caused the compound to melt
from the socket when operated under the conditions of
the case you have cited. Instances where 50-watt
vacuum lamps have caused socket wax to flow are by
no means unknown.
That the lamp base became soldered to the sockets is
no indication that the lamps in their normal condition
operate the socket at a temperature beyond the melting
point of solder. The high temperature which the unit
finally attained was no doubt caused by the cumulative
effect coming from the radiation absorption of the dark
coating which was flowing over the lamp bulb, so that
once the compound started to flow the heat began to pile
up, and when the bulb became fairly well covered with
the black coating it made no difference whether the
lamp was gas-filled or vacuum, the accumulation of heat
would go on at about the same rate.
The development of the gas-filled tungsten-filament
lamps is, without doubt, of great benefit to mankind and
to the electrical business as a whole. It does not seem
proper to me that the Electrical World, standing for
progress in the electrical art, as it does, and doing so
much to promote that progress, should in this particular
instance call attention to a single unfortunate circum-
stance which must react unduly to retard the progress
being made in incandescent lighting. The manufac-
turers of incandescent lamps have not overlooked the
heat question, and taking care of the inherent tendency
of a gas-filled lamp to have higher local temperatures
is merely a problem of engineering and lamp design,
which offers no particular difficulty in its solution.
Evan J. Edwards,
■ ■■...,-,■„„ Department, National damn
Works of General Electric Company.
Cleveland, Ohio.
[Progress in the development and introduction of
new types of apparatus is accelerated, not retarded, by
ascertaining the conditions under which they should not
be used as well as the conditions under which they prove
most satisfactory. There can be no doubt as to the sat-
isfactory service rendered by the high-efficiency incan-
descent lamps when properly installed and operated, as
we have pointed out on numerous occasions, but it is
unsafe to assume that since these lamps are capable
of giving excellent satisfaction, no attention need be
paid to the other devices with which they are associated.
In the article referred to by our correspondent attention
was directed to the fact that the heat from 100 nitrogen-
filled tungsten lamps, each rated at 200 watts, had so
melted the filling compound in the lamp receptacles in
which they had been inserted that in each case the black
filling compound ran down over the base and bulb. The
article served to show that care must be exercised in
selecting sockets in which to install the lamps indicated.
it la important for our readers to know that not all com-
binations of sockets and lamps, each excellent in itself
when used properly, will prove satisfactory informa-
tion which has not previously been so widely dissemi-
nated as to make an impression on the persona responsi-
ble for the selection Of the combination to which atten-
tion was directed In our article. El). I
Ai'Kii. 3, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
\ kTIONAL ELECTRICAL BAPETY CODE
Proposed Rules 1 ormulated bj i ht- Bureau, of Standard- in
< ii o|m ral ion with \ ariou- Inttn-tcd KiKfit-
Bv Edward B. Rosa, Chief Physicisi oi 1 1 1 1- Bubbai
oi Standards
The Bureau of Standards ha.- been engaged for more
than a year in the preparation of a proposed National
trical Safety Code. In this work it has had the
cordial co-operation of some of the state public service
and industrial commissions, city electrical inspa
engineers of companies operating electric light and
power, railway and telephone utilities, manufacturers of
electrical machinery and appliances, committees of en-
iinj.' societies, the electrical committee of the Na-
tional Fire Protection Association and the Workmen's
inn Service Bureau. Without such co-opera-
tion the work would have been unsatisfactory or impos-
sible. With it, considering the magnitude of the task,
progress has been rapid and the work has been pleasant
and the results to date satisfactory. Before the proposed
code is published for adoption it will be submitted to a
large conference in Washington for criticism and ratifi-
cation, and it is hoped to secure general approval not
only of all its main features but of substantially all its
provisions before it is offered to state commissions and
municipalities for adoption.
Aside from a preliminary announcement at the 1913
convention of the National Electric Light Association
and a brief statement of the progress of the work by
Director Stratton some months ago [see Electrical
World, Dec. 19, 1914, page 1188 — Eds.], nothing has
been published by the bureau concerning this work, ex-
cept the preliminary edition of the operating rules is-
sued as Circular No. 49 last summer. It therefore seems
proper to give some account of what has been done and
how the work has been conducted before the preliminary
draft of the construction rules is issued for general dis-
cussion and criticism.
The Need of Such a Code
The attention of the bureau was drawn several years
ago to the need of a national safety code for electrical
practice. Relatively few companies possessed printed
sets of operating rules, and these were far from com-
plete. There were no construction rules framed from
the standpoint of the life hazard, although the Under-
writers' Code contained some rules that had a greater
bearing on the life hazard than on the fire hazard.
These rules have exerted a powerful influence toward
securing better electrical construction and reducing the
fire hazard, and it was obvious that, if a life-hazard
code could be formulated and maintained as successfully
as the fire code has been, it would have a potent and
salutary influence in unifying practice and reducing ac-
cidents. It was evident, however, that the preparation
of such rules in a form that would be adequate and
factory would be no easy task. They should in-
clude operating rules for employers as well as for em-
ployees, and construction rules for generating stations
and substations, transmission and distribution lines,
and the great variety of electrical machinery and ap-
paratus which utilizes electrical energy. To prepare a
Bingle reasonably complete code, that could be adopted
and administered by state industrial commissions, pub-
lic service commissions and city officials, and which
would be accepted as generally as the Underwriters'
Code has been, appeared to be a most important service
for some agency to perform. The alternative would be
different rules in different states and cities, and then
perhaps after years of confusion some unifying in-
fluence would bring order out of chaos, as the electrical
committee did with respect to the fire code.
The Ageacj to Piepan Sodi .i < ode
Evidently an agency that could study the subject thor-
oughly with an open mind, conferring with all the vari-
ous interests concerned, and prepare and discuss suc-
.•- drafts of a proposed code with those who were
most familiar with the various phases of the subject
would be more likely to obtain a satisfactory result than
any single interest or individual. It was thought that
the Bureau of Standards occupied a favorable position
for such an undertaking. It is a scientific institution
which deals not only with scientific questions but also
with engineering and industrial problems, and repre-
sents the public in the most general sense. Its engi-
neers are trained to look at engineering problems which
have a public relations aspect from the standpoint of
the utilities concerned as well as the public, and to con-
sider the effect on service and the cost of operation of
proposed measures as well as the ostensible advantages
to the public which are to be attained. While not for-
getting the company's interest, they do not, however,
neglect the public's interest, but always strive to main-
tain an even balance between all the conflicting interests
that may be involved. Inasmuch as no other national
agency seemed likely to take up the work, and it ap-
peared to be directly in line with other work which the
bureau was doing, Director Stratton asked Congress
more than two years ago for authority and a special
appropriation to enable the work to be done. The ap-
propriation became available on July 1, 1913.
The plan which has been followed was outlined in
advance in a paper presented by the writer at Chicago
nearly two years ago. It was not, of course, expected
that the bureau would employ talent enough to compile
such a code from its own knowledge. On the contrary,
engineers of ability and experience were appointed who
were expected to study the subject thoroughly and then
gather from the most competent and experienced engi-
neers of the country their views and the results of their
extended experience. The rules in force in various
European countries were studied, and all the books of
rules in use by operating companies in this country
were collected and examined. All these sources of in-
formation enabled a first rough draft of a set of rules
to be prepared after one year's study.
In the meantime the N. E. L. A. had appointed an ac-
cident committee, with which the bureau had been co-
operating at the request of the committee. However,
during the first year of the committee's existence agree-
ment was reached only as to a few operating rules,
these being general precautions for employees. Most
of the work concerned other aspects of safety.
Preliminary Operation Rules
The bureau issued the first instalment of its pro-
posed code on Aug. 1, 1914, as Circular No. 49, entitled
"Safety Rules, to Be Observed in the Operation and
Maintenance of Electrical Equipment and Lines." This
was a first edition intended to be preliminary, the in-
troduction of which stated: "We particularly request
additional constructive criticism, suggestions and data
for use in preparing a second edition of the rules." Sev-
eral thousand copies of these rules were distributed to
companies, commissions and individuals requesting
them, and several hundred letters were received con-
taining the comment and criticism which had been in-
vited. Most of the comment was distinctly favorable,
although a great many criticisms were made of various
rules and suggestions were given for improvement.
The N. E. L. A. accident committee for the current
year also sent out these rules (with some modifications
of its own) and received a large number of letters from
members suggesting changes. The representatives of
846
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 14
the bureau spent three entire days (.in two meetings in
January and February) with the N. E. L. A. accident
committee, going o\'er the operating rules and the vari-
ous suggestions and criticisms, and came to a complete
agreement respecting all criticisms offered by the com-
mittee and its conferees and proposed by the bureau,
and revised the set of rules in a way satisfactory' both
to the committee and the bureau. The rules as re-
vised were then sent out again for a final criticism
before publication. The final criticisms were few and
concerned details. In most cases they were such as
could be provided for satisfactorily, and at a conference
March 26 between the committee and the representa-
tives of the bureau some final changes, mostly of a
minor character, were agreed upon.
Many companies have adopted the first edition of the
rules and many others have indicated their intention of
adopting the revised set of rules. The bureau is greatly
gratified by the favor accorded the first edition, which
was recognized to be imperfect, but which it was
thought could be perfected better by issuing a large first
edition for general criticism than by holding the rules
back until they were nearer to perfection. The bureau
is under great obligations to the N. E. L. A. accident
committee for its assistance and co-operation, and feels
that the rules are much more satisfactory than they
would have been without its critical examination and
co-operation in the revision.
Relations with Fire Protection Association
While this study and development of the operating
rules was progressing, the construction rules were being
formulated. It was found of, course, that there was a
very close relation between the Underwriters' electrical
code for fire prevention and the construction rules of the
proposed electrical safety code. Hence a close working
arrangement was desirable with the electrical commit-
tee of the National Fire Protection Association, which
had the responsibility of revising the existing code this
winter, and with the committee on safety to life. At
the instance of the chairman of this committee, Mr. H.
W. Forster, a conference was held in November, 1914,
between this committee, the electrical committee of the
National Fire Protection Association and representa-
tives of the Bureau of Standards. At this conference
it appeared to be the general desire of the electrical
committee that the Underwriters' Code should not at-
tempt to cover the subject of electrical life hazard,
but that a separate safety code be prepared, the
two codes being in harmony, but distinct and over-
lapping as little as possible. This seemed desirable
not merely because the National Fire Protection Asso-
ciation, which has charge of the present code, is dis-
tinctly a fire-prevention organization, but because the
method of administration of the two codes would be
different. The Underwriters' organizations could not
be expected to enforce life-hazard rules, and public
service commissions and industrial commissions could
not enforce fire-prevention rules. City-inspection de-
partments would, of course, administer both.
It was therefore understood between the representa-
tives of the Bureau of Standards and the two committees
representing the National Fire Protection Association
that the responsibility for the fire-prevention code re-
main .i heretofore, with life-hazard rules eliminated as
far as practicable (the bureau co-operating with the
electrical committee), and thai the Bureau of Standards
take the chiei responsibility in preparing a National
Electrical Safety Code, with the i I tnmittee as
one of its co-operating organizations. A complete work-
ing agreement was reached, and a joinl committee ap-
pointed to confer with representatives of the bureau In
carrying oul the proposal In accordance with this un-
derstanding, this committee met the representatives of
the bureau, and together they first went over the pres-
ent code and noted a series of changes that seemed de-
sirable, which were recommended to the electrical com-
mittee and adopted by it at its recent meeting. They
then went over the bureau's rough draft of a safety
code (not, however, including the operating rules), and
later they went over a revised and improved copy, both
times making many valuable suggestions.
Conference on the Code
In addition to the above-mentioned conferences in
January, February and March with the N. E. L. A.
committee, and in December and February with the Na-
tional Fire Protection Association committee, confer-
ences have been held during the past three months in
Washington, Philadelphia, New York, Boston, Schenec-
tady and Cleveland with groups of persons representing
many different interests, including state commissions
and operating and manufacturing companies.
In the discussion of the rules on generating and sub-
stations and transmission and distribution lines we have
been especially assisted by our two conferences in Phil-
adelphia with a large committee of the Pennsylvania
Electrical Association ; by three conferences in Wash-
ington and New York with representatives of several
engineering societies, including Mr. Farley Osgood,
chairman of the national joint committee on overhead-
line construction; by our three-day conference in Bos-
ton with representatives of the Edison Electric Illumi-
nating Company of Boston, the two electric railway
companies, the Tenney Company and the telephone com-
pany ; by our conference in Schenectady with a number
of the engineers of the General Electric Company; by
our inspections and conference in Cleveland with the
representatives of the two lighting companies, and by
Mr. S. B. Way, of Milwaukee, representing the Wiscon-
sin Industrial Commission and the Milwaukee Electric
Railway & Light Company.
Representatives of state commissions and cities and
the fire and casualty companies have been of most serv-
ice in connection with rules on utilization equipment.
Preliminary Publications
It may appear to some that after so many conferences
and so much advice the bureau's representatives should
have perfected the code by this time and should now be
ready to offer it for adoption and enforcement. But a
safety code such as this is more than a collection of
wise precepts or a list of well-understood maxims of
good practice. It is true that there are many very ob-
vious and well-known things in the code. It is also true
that it has to deal with some things about which there
are great differences of opinion, and some about which
there is a scarcity of exact information. The code un-
dertakes in some respects to standardize practice and to
prescribe safe rules of construction where greater safe-
ty often involves greater cost. It will therefore be under-
stood readily that it would be unwise in the extreme for
the Bureau of Standards to attempt to formulate rules
that are intended to be generally adopted and some of
them made mandatory on existing installations without
the most thorough study and the fullest possible con-
sultation with the interests affected in all parts of the
country. We feel, however, that the period of nearly a
pear and one-half of preparatory study and the past
three months of conferences and revisions and develop-
ment of the rode have given a result which justifies a
preliminary publication, such as was given the operating
rules last August. We are therefore expecting to put
into print very shortly the three sections of the code
having to do with construction and send out a large
number Of copies for discussion anil criticism, and give
Aran
ELECTRICAL WORLD
847
companies using electrical machinery a chance to test
the proposed rules in practice.
Pot ore Coafereaeai
Mr. W. .1. Canada, who came into the bureau for
the purpose of taking up this work and has devoted him-
self a lively t<> it for twenty-one months, had
several years' experience in the Rocky Mountain field
just before coming to Washington, and Mr. H. S. Phelps,
who has more recently been appointed, is also from the
same region. Both had previously been in the East,
and both had experience with operating and with man-
ufacturing companies. Mr. F. W. Glading has also had
a long experience of a similar character. We have, of
course, had much correspondence with Western com-
panies as well as conferences with engineers represent-
ing Western companies. We do not, however, feel that
we have as yet conferred with the West and South as
much as we ought, and hence are planning to have rep-
resentatives of the bureau go through the South and
West to the Pacific Coast during the next two months
and hold a large number of informal conferences with
the engineers of companies and with state commissions
and city inspectors, and gather information and the re-
sults of experience that will be useful in preparing a re-
vision of the rules as they appear in the preliminary
publication. We shall also expect to receive a great
many carefully worded criticisms by letter, if our ex-
perience with the first edition of the operating rules is
repeated. All this information and criticism will be
utilized early in a thorough revision of the rules, and
then will be submitted to a conference in Washington
July 1 and 2 for consideration, modification and ratifica-
tion. We had hoped to have this conference earlier, and
we fear some of the state commissions that have been
waiting for the completion of the code may be impatient
at the delay. But we believe that the importance of the
subject justifies the time and effort for a thorough piece
of work, and that all interests affected will be better
satisfied and served if we make haste slowly.
In Philadelphia we met representatives of the
Philadelphia Electric Company, the Philadelphia Rapid
Transit Company, the United Gas Improvement Com-
pany and utilities of Pittsburgh, Williamsport and other
places. The first conference was at the suggestion of
the chief engineer of the Pennsylvania Public Service
Commission, who was present. At the second confer-
ence the electrical engineer of the Pennsylvania Indus-
trial Commission was present. When the section of the
rules on stations was read and discussed we had pres-
ent, besides those who sat through the entire confer-
ence, engineers who were experts on power generation
and station operation; when we discussed the rules on
overhead lines and underground distribution we had
experts in those subjects. On both occasions the dis-
cussion continued through three sessions until mid-
night, and every rule was read and scrutinized and
many rules were amended.
Similarly, at conferences in Boston, New York and
Washington the rules were read and minutely analyzed,
and in some cases radically amended. Rules that emerge
from the fiery furnace of that kind of criticism cannot
be very far wrong, especially if, as in this instance,
the conferees represent large and small operating com-
panies (electric power, railway and telephones), manu-
facturers, state commissions, city inspection depart-
ments, fire and casualty insurance interests, and the
federal government.
The Support of Public Opinion
It goes without saying that in order that the safety
code shall be a success it must be supported by the best
opinion of the electrical interests. State commissions
and city officials cannot successfully enforce a code that
does not justify itself from the standpoint of the en-
gineer as well as from the standpoint of the public
official. The Bureau of .Standards would not consent
to write into the code as mandatory rules anything which
would be an unfair requirement upon operating and
industrial companies. At the same time it is true that
there is considerable difference of opinion among engi-
neers and managers as to what is reasonable and what
is a hardship. The conferences and discussions we have
held have undoubtedly been of educational value not
only to the representatives of the bureau, but also to
the representatives of the operating companies. One
object of the conference to be held in Washington in
July is to bring together men of varying interests and
opinions, and discuss whatever points remain upon
which an important difference of opinion exists. Such
discussion often brings about agreement where it could
not otherwise be expected. Although the bureau has
undertaken the responsibility of the preparation of the
code, and reserves the right in the revision to omit or
amend as seems necessary, it will be guided in this
matter by the consensus of opinion at the final confer-
ence.
After the code has been completed and published it
will be necessary to follow it up, gathering information
and experience with which to revise it at the end of one
year and thereafter perhaps every two years. The
Bureau of Standards expects to keep the engineers who
have been engaged in the preparation of the code upon
the work of its development. They will confer with
state commissions, city inspectors, operating companies,
manufacturers of electrical machinery, instruments and
supplies, and committees of engineering societies, and
the bureau will be able to serve as a clearing house of
information regarding the safety code and its adminis-
tration.
A Permanent Joint Committee
In order to make this work as satisfactory and suc-
cessful as may be, and to get the best advice possible in
the interpretation and necessary amendment of the code,
we propose to ask the July conference to approve the
appointment of a permanent joint committee to co-op-
erate with and advise the bureau, and to discuss and
approve amendments to the code. The bureau
will suggest a committee of forty-eight members, pos-
sibly made up somewhat as follows: twelve representa-
tives of state industrial and public service commissions ;
six representatives of the inspection departments of cit-
ies; three representatives of the International Associa-
tion of Municipal Electricians; three representatives
of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers ;
three representatives of the American Institute of Elec-
trical Engineers; three representatives of the N. E.
L. A.; three representatives of the American Electric
Railway Association ; three representatives of the tele-
phone interests; three representatives of the National
Fire Protection Association ; three representatives of
the Workmen's Compensation Service Bureau and the
casualty insurance interests; three representatives of
the National Safety Council; three representatives of
the National Bureau of Standards.
A sub-committee of sixteen members would represent
every separate interest, and it could meet oftener than
the main committee, which would perhaps assemble usu-
ally only once a year.
The various organizations mentioned above will be
asked to appoint delegates to the July conference, and,
if the idea of a permanent joint committee is approved
by that conference, it may be established very soon,
and take up the consideration of the final revision of
the code before its formal publication this summer.
Something about the code itself will be said in the
second part of this article in a later issue.
848
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 14
A New Printing Telegraph System
Detailed Description of the Apparatus Recently Developed for the Western Union Company
Using the Typewriter-Printing Principle
By Paul M. Rainey
SEVERAL years ago the Western Union Telegraph
Company found that in order to take care of its
rapidly increasing business it would be necessary
greatly to increase the facilities. Two methods were
available — first, more economical methods of utilizing
the present wire facilities; second, installation of addi-
tional wire facilities. The former was undoubtedly
preferable, if practically possible. A careful study was
made of all that had been accomplished in the direction
of high-speed telegraphy, and a thorough investigation
of the problem was instituted, the result of which was
the decision to develop a system best suited to meet the
requirements of the service. At that time it appeared
that use should be made of a machine-sending and page-
■pMWr
FIG. 1 — DIRECT TRANSMITTING KEYBOARD
printing system employing an equal-letter five-unit
code. Upon reaching this conclusion, the Western
Union Telegraph Company called on the Western Elec-
tric Company to co-operate in the development with a
view to designing and manufacturing the apparatus
finally decided upon. The Western Electric Company,
which is the largest manufacturer of telephone and
telegraph instruments in the world, had already devel-
oped what appeared to be a very satisfactory page-
printing telegraph machine for use over short lines.
The combined effort and experience of the engineers of
these two companies lias resulted in the development of
a thoroughly practical and flexible printing telegraph
m, well suited to meet the operating and traffic
requirements of large operating companies, and also
well suited to render service in other lines of business
activity.
ompared With other printing telegraph systems.
this Bystem appi the best and most compre-
hensive jrel produced. Its predominating features are
its breadth of scope, flexibility in operation, traffic-
carrying capacity, accuracy of operation, efficiency of
labor, and economy In COSl of maintenance. The sys-
tem is suitable for operation over open wire, under-
ground or submarine cable of any length over which a
line relay can be operated satisfactorily. Its flexibility
permits of a large number of methods of operation, the
one to be employed in a given case depending upon the
operating and traffic conditions imposed.
Methods of Operation
In this article endeavor has been made to give a gen-
eral description of the system at large, some methods
of operation, and a description of the various pieces of
apparatus which are used throughout the system.
Some of the various methods of operation which have
been standardized are as follows:
1. One-Way Method of Operation. — This method pro-
vides one traffic channel which mav be used in either
FIG. 2 — PRINTING RECEIVER
direction. The capacity of a line operated by this meth-
od is roughly forty-five words per minute in either
direction. This system is intended for short-haul traf-
fic and is intended for use over lines comparatively free
from inductive disturbance and not exceeding the
equivalent of 30 miles of underground cable.
2. Two-Way Method of Operation. This method of
operation provides one traffic channel in each direction
simultaneously without involving the use of duplex
balancing apparatus. Its traffic-carrying capacity is
equal to, roughly, forty-five words per minute in each
direction, or a total of ninety words per minute for the
line. This system is operative over any length of line
not requiring the use of repeaters. Km- economic
reasons it would ordinarily not be used for lines longer
than 600 miles.
.".. Double-Duplex Method of Operation. — This meth-
od of operation provides two traffic channels in each
direction. Simultaneous transmission in each direction
is obtained by means of the duplex balance. The traf-
fic-carrying capacity of the circuit, is, roughly, forty-
five words per minute per channel, ninety words per
minute in each direction, and a total for the line of
ISO words per minute.
I. Triple-Duplex Method of Operation This meth-
Apkii :. 1915
K LEC T RICAL \\ <> R LI)
od of «>j>er;it ion pro\ idi I annels in each direc-
tion, simultaneous transmission in two directions being
obtained l>y means of the duplex balance. The traffic-
carrying capacity is, roughly, forty-five words per chan-
nel. 135 words per minute in each direction, or a
• minute for the line.
.">. Quadruple-Duplex Method "i Operation. -This
method <d' operation provides four channels in each
direction, the simultaneous transmission in two .;
tions being obtained by means id' the duplex balance.
The traffic-carrying capacity is, roughly, forty-five
words per channel, ISO words in each direction, or a
total of 360 words per minute for the line.
The methods of operation described above by no
means represent the limit of flexibility of the system,
for if line conditions will permit, the number of chan-
nels may be further increased. Moreover, it should
be understood that the working speed per channel is
not limited by the apparatus, but rather by economical
operating conditions. Forty-five words per minute is
thought to be an economical working speed. Satis-
operation of the apparatus has been had at
Ordinarily, tor one ird trans-
adopted, instead of tape transmission. In
either case the home printer may or may not lie usi
provide a record of all traffic passing over the circuit.
However, when desired, use may be made of tape trans-
mission for this class of service, which possesses the
advantage of affording a simple and efficient storage of
signals, thus keeping the speed of transmission con-
stant. This is of particular advantage in operating
over a difficull circuit; lor example, a line which would
easily permit of a fair average speed, but which would
not be capable of transmitting the signals at the max-
imum speed of the operator.
The Alphabet I Bed
In any printing telegraph system the question of
alphabet or code used is one of prime importance. The
code used in this system is an equal-letter five-unit
code; that is, each signal consists of five units or cur-
rent impulses, and all signals require the same amount
of line time for their transmission. This is true if
the signal is that of a letter, a figure, or a signal which
FIG. 3 — COMPLETE TRANSMITTING AND PERFORATING EQUIPMENT
fifty-two words per minute per channel on a quadruple
duplex, thus making a total of 416 words per minute
for the line.
In the case of the quadruple-duplex, triple-duplex,
double-duplex and two-way services, the messages are
first prepared on tape by an operator using a key-
board perforator, as shown in Fig. 13. When each key
of the perforator is depressed, several holes are
punched in the tape, and their arrangement determines
the combination of positive and negative currents which
will be sent to line when the tape is fed through a
transmitter (Fig. Hii working in conjunction witn a
distributer (Fig. 10). The impulses thus transmitted
over the line operate a polarized line relay at the re-
ceiving station, which, in conjunction with another
distributer, passes the impulses along to a receiving
printer (Fig. 2 1 , which translates them into the pre-
determined letter or figure and prints them in column
form (Fig. 19), so that when a message is completed
it may be torn off and is ready for delivery. If so
red, the message may also be received in the form
of a perforated tape. This is accomplished by means
of a re-perforator which works in conjunction with
the printer. The tape thus prepared may be used for
retransmission on another line operated by any of the
methods described above.
is utilized to perform some other function at the re-
ceiving end. This type of code is generally known as
the Baudot code, because of its use in the Baudot sys-
tem, which has been extensively used throughout Eu-
rope, particularly in France, for upward of thirty
years. Referring to Fig. 4, it will be noted that all
of the signals are shown of equal length and that each
consists of five units. Considering the black above the
dotted line as positive and below the dotted line as
negative, it is seen that the letter "A" consists of units
1 and 2 positive and units 3, 4, and 5 negative, that
letter "B" consists of unit 1 positive, units 2 and 3
negative and units 4 and 5 positive, and letter "C"
consists of unit 1 negative, units 2, 3 and 4 positive and
unit 5 negative, and so on. In a five-unit code, assum-
ing that each unit is represented by a pulse of positive
or negative current, there are available thirty-one com-
binations which are sufficient for all the letters of the
alphabet and the functions — carriage return, line feed,
letter shift, figure shift, and space. The various figures
and additional functions are obtained by means of
another case, as is indicated. Thus the signals for
"A," "B," "C," etc., can be made to print "-," "?,"
":," etc., by preceding these signals by the figure-shift
signal. Before returning to letters, it will then be
necessary to send the letter-shift signal, which will
860
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 14
cause the printer to proceed in the lower case. As just
pointed out, it is necessary to employ signals for figure
shift and letter shift in order to obtain all the letters,
figures and symbols required. In addition to this, the
column printing feature requires signals to lift the
paper vertically and return the carriage for a new line.
The transmission of these extra signals over the line oc-
_C«5C 1 1 2,3 ♦ 5
CARRWGC RETURri-
LIMEFEe&
LETTER 5HIFT-
HOURE 5HIPT - -
SPACE - -■
FIG. 4 — BAUDOT SIGNAL CODE
cupies line time, and this loss of time has been found to
average about 10 per cent of the working time, for or-
dinary telegraph traffic. In other words, the code em-
ployed in this system may be considered to average 5.5
units per character so far as line transmission is con-
cerned. Analyzing the Continental Morse code as used
in Wheatstone working on the same basis, it is found
that signals for the various letters and figures occupy
different lengths of line time. An investigation of ac-
tual telegrams shows that the Continental Morse code
requires an average of 9.08 units per letter. As regards
the economy of line time, the five-unit code has an
advantage over the Continental Morse code as 5.5 is to
9.08. This means that if the maximum speed of trans-
mission over a telegraph line is 6000 units or impulses
per minute, these impulses may form 660 letters in the
Morse code and 1090 letters in the five-unit code used
the traffic the shorter code will permit of duplex oper-
ation with a greater inaccuracy in the duplex balance.
This means that the system can be worked duplex under
less favorable weather conditions, with less supervi-
sion, than could a system using a code less economical
of line time. Fig. 5 illustrates the economy of the five-
unit code as compared with the Continental Morse code
used with the Wheatstone system. In the upper line
are shown the current impulses necessary to send the
words "London, New York, Paris," by the Continental
Morse. In the lower line are shown the current im-
pulses required to send the same words with the flve-
unit code. Whereas the Continental Morse requires 192
units of line time to transmit these three words, trie
five-unit code requires only 100. This, however, is an
isolated case, and does not give a true comparison of
station X station *1
FIG. 6 — MULTIPLEX OPERATION
the transmission economies of the two codes when
used for ordinary telegraph traffic. This is particu-
larly true since the transmission of these words re-
quires none of the special function signals, such as
figure shift, letter shift, carriage return, paper lift,
etc.
Multiplex Principle
The equal-letter code just described permits of trie
use of the multiplex principle, which is employed in
the quadruple-duplex, triple-duplex, double-duplex and
two-way methods of operation. For the sake of ex-
planation, the quadruple duplex can be considered as
an example of the multiplex idea. The illustration can
be further simplified by omitting the duplex feature,
thus affording four channels working in one direction.
Fig. 6 shows diagrammatically the method employea to
secure multiplex operation. If each of two metal rings,
one at each station, X and Y, is divided into four quad-
rants, A, B, C and D, at Station Y, and A', B', C and
D' at Station X, and rotating brushes E and E, are con-
nected to the line as indicated, and if the contact
brushes start from the same relative position and sweep
over the contact segments with the same uniform angu-
lar velocity, quadrant .4 will be connected through the
line with quadrant .4'. quadrant B with quadrant B'.
quadrant C with quadrant C and quadrant D with
M | N E
^rv-vwv-wsrvrwv^rww
P f\ R IS
L O M D O M
MEWYORKSPflR I S
FIG. 5— COMPARISON OF CONTINENTAL AND FIVE-UNIT CODES
in this system, an advantage for the latter in line
mission economy of 66 per cent. On long aerial
and on lines which eonsisl wholly <>r partially or
undi i ble conductors, the adi be de-
rived from the u e oi the nve-unil code is considerable.
On short lines where the permissible line -peed is well
■ i that of the apparatus or the requirements of
quadrant /'', once per revolution, the interval of each
of these four connections being equal to the time of
one-quarter of a revolution of the rotating brushes. If
signal consisted of one pulse of current, it would
then be possible to send one signal per quadrant per
revolution. If, instead of having solid quadrants, each
is divided into five segments, it will be possible to use
April 8, 1916
ELECTRIC A I WORLD
851
the five segments of one quadrant at one end for the
transmission of five current impulses, which a
tute the signal for a given letter or figure in the code
just described, and the five segments at the other end
may be used for receiving these impulses and dis-
tributing them in such a manner that they may lo-
used to -elect the letter determined by the combination
a-ra-roi X stattiom Y
FIG. 7 — ARRANGEMENT OF FIVE-PART QUADRANTS
of impulses. In Fig. 7 the quadrants are shown thus
divided, each quarter of the circumference consisting
of five segments, each segment of quadrant A, station
nig connected to a contact lever so arranged as to
connect this particular segment with the ground cir-
cuit or battery, depending upon its position between
the fixed contacts, while the segments of quadrant A'
at station X are connected to the relays as shown. Nor-
mally all of the levers 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 are in engagement
with contacts connected to ground. If, now, any
lever is moved over to engage its battery contact during
the quarter of a revolution in which the rotating brush
E moves over the quadrant A, a current impulse will
be transmitted to the line through the rotating brush
E, and since the rotating brush El is synchronously
wiping over the segments 1', 2', 3', 4' and 5' at the same
time that the rotating brush E wipes over its contacts
1 to 5, the corresponding relay at station X will be mo-
mentarily energized. Thus, if levers 1 and 3 are moved
over against their battery contacts while the rotating
brush E at station Y wipes over the contacts of quad-
rant A, relays 1' and 3' at station X will receive cur-
rent impulses, and if all the levers 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 are
held over against their battery contacts, all the relays
FIG. 8 — CONNECTIONS TO SYNCHRONIZERS
1', 2', 3', 4' and 5' would receive impulses. Now, if
provisions can be made to change the combination of
levers during the time that the brush sweeps over I lie
other three quadrants, it will be seen that during each
revolution a different signal can be sent from quadrant
A to quadrant A'. What lias been said regarding quad-
rants A and A' applies equally to the other quadrants.
Thus it will be seen that the multiplex principle permits
us to send and receive four character signals per revo-
lution. As will be explained later, in actual operation
the functions of the levers at the sending end, station
V. will be performed by the transmitter, and it will be
explained that the operation of the live relays 1', J
1' and 5' is utilized in the printer to select the prede-
termined letter or figure. It will also be understood
that by dividing the ring into a different number of
segments it might be possible to send and receive a
greater or lesser number of signals per revolution; that
is, if ten segments were used, two signals each, consist-
ing of five impulses, could be transmitted and received
per revolution, or if thirty segments \\. re used, six
signals each, consisting of five unit impulses, could be
transmitted and received. The exact method employed
for setting up the various combinations of impulses
at the sending end, and for receiving and utilizing
these current combinations in order to select the proper
letters to be printed at the receiving end of the line,
will be explained later. What has been described above
constitutes multiplex operation. If the line is worked
duplex, the same can be accomplished in both directions
at the same time, and we then have described the fun-
damental operation of a quadruple duplex, a triple
duplex and a double duplex.
Synchronism
From what has already been stated it will be under-
stood that an essential requirement of such a system
FIG. 9 — DISTORTION OF SIGNALS
is that the rotating contact brushes at the two ends
shall maintain practically the same phase relation with
respect to each other; that is, the two sets of brushes
.mist be made to rotate in synchronism. One will read-
ily appreciate the impracticability of attempting to
provide two motors of any type which of themselves
will produce rotation sufficiently uniform to meet these
requirements. The apparent solution of the problem is
to provide means for correcting the phase relation at
frequent intervals. Some thirty years ago Baudot ac-
complished the result by using weight-driven motors
with sensitive governors to maintain a nearly constant
rate of rotation. One motor was adjusted to run
slightly faster than the other, and means were provided
for correcting the phase of the brushes at the fast end
once per revolution if correction was required. This
was accomplished by mechanically stepping back the
brushes whenever they had gained an appreciable
amount on the brushes at the slow end. The prac-
ticability of this method has been demonstrated by the
extensive use of the Baudot system in Europe. On the
other hand, this method is wasteful of line time, since
it is necessary to transmit a special signal once per rev-
olution. Moreover, the type of motor used by Baudot
does not permit of readily changing the speed and is
one in which the speed depends on a number of varia-
ble factors. It will be seen then that the ideal system
is one in which no extra time is required for maintain-
ing synchronism, one which will permit of quickly and
eniently changing the speed of rotation of the
brushes, and one in which the constancy of speed of
illation does not depend upon a number of variable
factors. This has been accomplished in the system
herein described, the means employed being briefly as
follows :
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 14
Referring to Fig. 8. it will be noted that segments 1
to 5 at station Y are connected to levers 1, 2, 3, 4 and
5, so arranged that they may send to the line positive
or negative current, depending upon their position. The
brush E connects these segments consecutively with
the solid ring which is connected to the line. At sta-
tion X the line is connected to ground through the
FIG. 10 — DISTRIBUTER
windings 1, 2, 3, and 4 of a polarized relay. The tongue
T of this relay is connected to the solid receiving ring
/?.,. The marking contact M of this relay is connected
to a grounded battery, and when negative current from
the distant end is passing through the relay the tongue
rests on the spacing contact S. As the brush E rotates
it connects the solid receiving ring R., with the receiv-
ing segments 1', 2', 3', 4' and 5' of R, consecutively. It
will be noted here that the receiving segments are made
shorter than the sending segments, so that the receiv-
ing brush E, picks out only the center portion of each
current impulse, or of each repeated current impulse,
since the signals sent over the line are repeated by means
of the polarized relay. Assuming perfect synchronism
between the sending brush E and the receiving brush E,,
the receiving brush should be at the point C, midway
between receiving segments 1' and 2' when the sending
brush passes from segment 1 to segment 2, and at C„
midway between receiving segments 2' and 3' when the
sending brush passes from segment 2 to segment 3,
and so on. Thus it will be seen that for a change of
polarity, which can take place only when brush E passes
from one segment to another, the receiving brush E,
should be at some point in the circumference midway
between two receiving segments. In other words, re-
versals of the line current should take place while the
receiving brush is passing between the receiving seg-
ments. The receiving distributer is therefore provided
with additional rings R and A.',, called correcting rings.
Rt is a solid ring connected consecutively to the seg-
i: by tlie brush E,. These segments are half
the length of the sending segments and are therefore
double In number. They are connected into two
groups a and l>, as Indicated. The brushes are so ar-
•l thai when the receiving brush E, is midway be
two receh li nts, say al 0 „ the cor
recting bra |us1 about to engage one of the
at </ . Circuit provisions are made so
thai B -liort pulse of current is generated locally at earli
reversal of the line current. When this reversal finds
the correcting brush E, on an a segment it causes the
operation of a mechanism which automatically sets
back both brushes Et and E,. Now, if the motor driving
the receiving distributer is arranged to run slightly
faster than the motor driving the sending distributer,
the tendency will be for brushes E, and E, to be gain-
ing, and the intermittent stepping back, as already de-
scribed, will result in maintaining the receiving brush
E\ in the proper phase with the sending brush E at the
other end of the line. It will thus be seen that at each,
reversal of the line current the position of the correct-
ing brush on the segmented correcting ring determines
whether a correction of phase relation shall be made.
Since the motor at the receiving end is running faster
than the one at the sending end, sooner or later it will
engage an a segment at the time of a current reversal.
This causes the brushes to be stepped back through a
small angle, so that the current reversals take place
only while the correcting brush is on b segments. Thus
the signaling impulses are made to provide correcting
impulses, which are used to maintain synchronism.
The shortening of the receiving segments to one-
half the length of the sending segments provides an
ample angle for this purpose. It also possesses the ad-
vantage that only the center portion of the signal is
utilized for signaling purposes, and the system is less
subject to the effect of inductive disturbances. Dia-
gram A, Fig. 9, shows the form of signals sent to the
line by the distributer. When the signals are received
at the distant end, they are more or less distorted. Dia-
gram B, Fig. 9, illustrates this distortion. It is near
the point of reversal at the time the line current is
weak that inductive disturbances are able to affect or
further distort the signals. If any advantage were to
be gained, the segments could be shortened still fur-
ther, since the relays operated from them are connected
in local circuit and require a very short impulse for
their operation. It will be appreciated then that the
shortening of the receiving segments is not a sacrifice
PIG. II BLECTRN u.i.Y DRIVEN TUNING FORK
in any sense of the word. In actual practice the line
is worked duplex and the sending and receiving dis-
tributers are combined and run by one motor, means
for maintaining synchronism being used at onh
end.
Pig. 10 shows the distributer fare with the brushes.
It will be noted that this is somewhat more complex
Atkii. 3, 1916
ELEC I RIC A 1. WOK I. D
.«.-...
than the diagrams which have been explained. The
de ring. No. l, of this distributer is the receiving
ring, only alternate segments being used for Beleeting
purposes. The intermediate segments in each quad-
rant, however, are used for a specific signaling purpose,
bed later under the heading "Printer."
The second ring from the outside, No. -. is the correct-
K i3£lTj Jl
PIG. 12 — DISTRIBUTER AND CORRECTOR
ing ring and corresponds to ring R of Fig. 8. The
third ring. No. •">. is the sending ring and corresponds
to the sending ring at station }', Fig. 5. The fourth
ring. No. 1. is called the local ring and performs a very
important function, which will tie understood from
what follows. Referring back to Fig. 7. it will be re-
membered that while the brush is traveling over quad-
rants B. C and D, the combination of the levers 1, 2, 3,
4 and 5 should be changed to the combination of the
next letter. Likewise, while the brush travels over
quadrants ('. I> and A, the transmitting apparatus con-
nected to quadrant B should change its combination to
the signal of the next letter, and so on. At station X
the printer connected to quadrant A' receives a letter
during one-fourth of the revolution, while the brush
E is passing over the segments of quadrant A'; but
while the brush is passing over the remaining quad-
rants, B', C and D', the printer has time to complete its
printing operation, move the paper and clear out, so as
to be in readiness to receive another signal. The seg-
ments in this local ring. No, 4, are used to perform
these functions; that is, certain segments are used to
change the signal combinations set up in the different
quadrants. Likewise they are used to start the print-
ing mechanism after selection has been made, so that it
may be able to complete the printing operation in time
to receive the signal for another letter. It will be noted
that the brushes connect these various segmented rings
with solid rings 5, 6, 7 and 8. Each brush holder is
insulated from the spider, and the individual brushes
are made up of a number of strands of small hard-
copper wires.
The motors used to drive the distributers are of the
well-known phonic wheel type and are driven by im-
pulses from an electrically driven tuning fork. This
assures a constant rate of vibration, since the frequency
of a tuning fork varies by only about 0.01 per cent per
degree centigrade and is little affected by changes in
the voltage applied to the driving magnet. Fig. 11
shows the fork used, while the motor distributer and
mechanical corrector are shown in Fig. 12. The me-
chanical corrector, which is shown mounted between the
distributer and the motor, is the mechanism which is
arranged to step back mechanically the brushes when
they have advanced tOC ready explained. The
speed of the motor is determined by the rate of vibra-
tion of the fork. Large changes in the rate of vibration
of the fork are accomplished by adding weights to the
two prongs, a set of weights being provided with each
fork. Small changes in the speed of the motor (a frac-
tion of a revolution per minute.) are obtained by turning
the handle at the front of the fork, which, by means of
iie small fork F forward or
backward. The shutters on the ends of the prongs are
used for stroboscopic observation and are not essential-
ly a part of the system.
Perforator
Fig. 13 shows the perforator. This apparatus is pro-
vided with a keyboard similar to that of a standard
typewriter. The stroke of the ke t, bo that it
can be operated without fatigue. Fig. 14 shows the in-
terior of the apparatus. The selecting mechanism con-
sists of five horizontal bars placed beneath the keys and
so arranged that each key, when depressed, will engage
one or more of the various bars and depress them by the
movement of the key. The depression of these bars
selects the punches in the punch-head. After the se-
lection of the punches is made, a common contact is
closed which operates the perforating magnet. The tape
is perforated crosswise instead of lengthwise, thereby-
effecting a considerable saving in the amount of tape.
This is illustrated by Fig. 15, in which A represents the
piece of tape required ' for transmitting the words
"London, New York, Paris." One-half the tape shown
in B is the tape required to send the same words by
the Wheatstone. The two pieces shown in B represent
the amount of paper used by a printing telegraph sys-
tem which utilizes the Continental Morse code. One
tape is required for transmission, and the other is pre-
pared by a receiving perforator and is then fed into a
printing machine, which translates it and prints it on a
tape. From this it will be appreciated that the economy
in tape is a feature of some consideration. Fig. 14 also
shows the mechanism of the indicator, the purpose of
which is to indicate to the operator the number of let-
FIG. 13 — PERFORATOR
ters that have been punched on one line. This is a
ratchet mechanism which is operated one tooth for each
operation of the punching mechanism, carries a pointer
across a graduated scale, and is returned to normal at
any time the carriage return key is depressed. A lamp
signal is also provided which warns the operator that
she is nearing the end of a line. This perforator is
B64
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 14
extremely fast and on test has perforated correctly up
to a speed of ninety-two words per minute, which was
the limiting speed of the operator.
Transmitter
Fig. 16 shows the transmitter with the tape inserted.
At each revolution of the distributer the tape is moved
FIG. 14 — KEYBOARD MECHANISM
one step to the left. This is accomplished by means of
a pulse of current from a segment in the local ring, No.
4, of Fig. 10, as has already been described. The loca-
tion of this segment is such that the stepping of the
tape takes place shortly after the transmission from the
fifth segment of the distributer, so that the tape can
be moved forward and a new combination set up on the
levers before the brush is ready to transmit another
signal from this particular quadrant. Five fingers are
raised which, if they find holes in the tape, move upward
and operate levers which correspond to those shown in
Figs. 7 and 8, thus setting up in one quadrant or one
group of five segments the necessary combination for a
given signal. The transmitter is provided with two
switches for control by the operator. The upper switch,
which has two positions, "start" and "stop," is used
when it is desired to insert a new tape or when it is
desired to stop the transmitter. In the "start" position
the tape is moved forward one step per revolution, as
forward, but the signal which happens to be in the
transmitter will be repeated once for each revolution of
the distributer, because the operation of this switch
does not draw down the fingers which feel out the holes
in the tape, as does the operation of the other switch.
This is sometimes desirable for testing purposes.
Normally, this switch is left in the "on" position. Fig.
17 shows the transmitter with the cover removed and
the clips which are provided to make contact with
springs mounted on the table. This method is adopted
with the various pieces of apparatus, as will be noted
later, so that a piece of apparatus can be readily re-
moved, if suspected of being faulty, and replaced by
one which is known to be in working order.
Printer
The printer is shown in Fig. 2. In front of the printer
proper is a box containing the relays and resistances
essential to its operation. A bell is also provided which
responds to a predetermined signal sent over the line,
this signal being the signal for "J" preceded by a fig-
ure shift signal. Alongside of this box on the printer
frame are two push-buttons, one marked "CR" and the
other "LF." By operating these push-buttons, the op-
erator can return the carriage or cause the paper to be
moved upward. This is frequently desirable, particu-
larly in starting up after an interruption, in preparing
the printer for a new message. "CR" indicates "car-
riage return," and "LF" "line feed." The printer and
the relay box are two separate units and are connected
to the table wiring through spring clips similar to that
shown on the transmitter. The relay box is removed by
pulling forward, and the printer by sliding backward.
The printer is arranged to print the message in column
form on paper 8.5 in. wide. Fig. 19 shows the form
of message and style of characters. Paper is supplied
to the machine from a roll mounted on the back and so
arranged that it can be readily replaced by an operator
standing in front of the table. Just above the window
of the printer is a cutting edge which permits a message
to be torn off as soon as completed. The machine is of
the type in which the paper moves and the type wheel
is stationary, except for its rotary movement, in order
to bring the desired letter opposite the paper. The type
wheel is mounted on a vertical shaft driven by a spring
which is kept under the desired torque by a small motor
and dynamometer. The type shaft is released after the
FIG. 15 — COMPARISON OF PERFORATED TAPES
described. In the "stop" position the fingers which feel
out the holes in the tape are all held down, thus con-
necting only the spacing battery to the five segments
connected to this transmitter. The switch in the base,
which has two positions, "on" and "off," opens and
closes the circuit of the stepping magnet. If in the
"off" position, the tape will therefore not be stepped
letter has been selected, and it revolves until it strikes
;i stop thrown up in its path. The position of the stop
is determined by the letter selected and brings the de-
sired letter in front of the paper. As soon as the type
wheel is stopped the paper is forced against the type
wheel by a printing magnet, and the letter is printed.
The wheel is inked by two felt rollers which have been
Al'Kll :(, 1915
liLELTKlCAL WOKLD
855
saturated with ink and which are held against the type
wheel. The selection of stops is obtained mechanically
by the use of five disks. The position of each disk is
determined by an electromagnet which is under control
of one of the relays connected to the receiving segments.
For each combination of relays selected then
responding movement of the disks which permits the re-
FIG. 16 — TAPE-OPERATED TRANSMITTER
quired stop to be moved into such a position as to stop
the type wheel in the proper position. Fig. 18 shows
the printer and relay box with covers removed. The
paper has also been removed, in order to show parts
which would otherwise be hidden. The type wheel and
ink rollers are shown at 1, the selecting disks at 2, and
the motor at 3.
One unique feature in the design of this printer is
it* unit construction. For example, the mechanism
which moves the paper carriage and the paper across
in front of the type wheel is a complete unit by itself,
and is shown at 4. In case of trouble in this unit it can
be replaced in a very few minutes without disturbing
the adjustments of the other units which go to make
up the printer. The printing unit is shown at 5, and
is likewise easily replaced. The paper carriage, 6, is
a unit which can be readily removed. Likewise the
paper lift, 7. In fact, the working parts of the
printer consist of twelve units, each distinct and readily
FIG. 17 — TRANSMITTER WITH COVER REMOVED
removed. Two lamps are provided for special signals,
No. 8 and No. 9. Lamp No. 8 is used in the one-way
system when the printer is used in connection with a
keyboard, and indicates to the operator that she is near-
ing the end of the line. Signal lamp No. 9, used in all
methods of operation, indicates whether or not signals
are coming in to the printer. In all the methods of
operation using ;i distributer, two-way, double-duplex,
triple-duplex and quadruple-duplex, this lamp u oper-
ated directly from the distributer through the inter-
mediate segments in the receiving ring R, t Fig. 8). The
Hashing of this lamp when the printer is not working
indicates that the latter is out of service.
The function of this lamp is to eliminate the possibil-
ity of an operator Bending a hen the distant
printer is m<t working and the receiving operator assum-
ing that the failure to print is due to the fact that the
transmitter at the distant end is not sending. In the relay
box the five relays to the left constitute the five selecting
Bhown in Figs. 7 and 8. The sixth relay from the
left is the one which receives a pulse from a seg-
ment in the local ring, No. 4, and starts the mech-
anism of the printer after the selection has been
received by the selecting relays. The remaining seven
relays are required to perform various functions, the
iption of which would lead to considerable detail.
Automatic Control
Fig. 20 shows a piece of apparatus known as the
automatic control. The function of this piece of appara-
tus is to stop the transmitter in case the operator is
unable to keep up with the pace set by the distributer.
INTERIOR OF PRINTER AND RELAY
Its position on the printing table is shown in Fig. 3,
directly behind the transmitter, the projecting lever arm
extended forward between the perforator and the trans-
mitter. The tape normally forms a small loop as shown.
If the perforating operator should stop, the transmitter
will continue until the slack in the tape is used up and
the tension of the tape lifts the lever of the automatic
control. This movement automatically stops the trans-
mitter, which, however, continues to transmit only spac-
ing current, having no effect on the distant printer. As
soon as the operator begins perforating, the lever arm
is dropped and the transmitter continues from the point
of the interruption. Thus the message at the distant
end is not mutilated. The automatic control has one
other important feature, namely, it enables the receiv-
ing operator to send bell signals over the line, as has
already been referred to. This is accomplished by an
escapement mechanism which drives cams, causing cer-
tain spring combinations to be made in sequence. For
example, to ring the bell once at the distant end the
operator will insert a finger in the hole marked "start"
and pull down until the finger engages the stop, and
then release. In returning to the normal position shown
866
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 14
the cams will be rotated and the required contacts made
to give the bell at the distant end one stroke. In doing
this the transmitter is automatically stopped and started,
thus causing no mutilation of the message which is
being transmitted. If it is desired to ring the bell twice
at the distant end. indicating to the operator that the
tape should be re-run. the operator will insert the finger
three at each end; quadruple-duplex, four at each end.
In addition to the number of table units required for
each method of operation, there will be required at each
end an electrically driven tuning fork, a motor, a me-
chanical corrector, and a distributer having the proper
segment arrangement for the particular service re-
quired.
Q83 CH26
PRIVATE
kuJe™ CHICAGO DEC 15/l4
JOHN MERRILL
184 DONALD AVE NEW YORK
WILL ARRIVE PENNSYLVANIA STATION 2 PM SATURDAY ARRANGE WITH
BROWN TO MEET ME WITH CAR DO NOTHING IN REGARD TO CRAWFORD
CASE UNTIL YOU SEE ME
A L BERRY.
FIG. 19 — MESSAGE PRINTED AS RECEIVED
in the second hole marked "re-run," pull the lever,, down
to the stop and release as before, and so on. Thus signals
of one, two, three, four or five strokes of the bell can be
automatically transmitted over the line without muti-
lating the message that is being transmitted. The
automatic control is also arranged with the clip con-
nections, so that it can be readily removed. Fig. 21
shows the interior of the apparatus, the cams and con-
tact springs being plainly visible in the foreground.
Fig. 3 shows a complete multiplex table equipment.
On the left is the printer with its relay box, in the
center are the transmitter and automatic control, and
at the right is the keyboard perforator. Beneath the
table at the left will be noted a metal terminal box. This
For the one-way service using keyboard transmission
the same printer as shown in Figs. 2 and 18, without
the relay box, is mounted on a special table with a direct
transmitting keyboard, as shown in Fig. 1, this com-
bination sometimes being called the short-line printer.
Where the characteristics of the line will permit, the
one-way system is capable of satisfactory operation at
the highest operator speeds. On more difficult circuits
it may be advisable to resort to tape transmission, for
reasons already stated. Where this method of opera-
tion is used as a feeder or distributer for one of the
other methods of operation, it may be advisable to use
tape transmission at the central-office end, since then it
will be possible to utilize tape produced by a re-perfor-
Fic. 20 \i TOM \il' CONTROLLER
ad in it all the connections are made
between the table and the distributer. This table is a
lard unit for use in the two-way, double-duplex,
triple-duplex and quadruple-duplex methods of opera
tion. The number of table units required for the various
methods of operation are as follows: Two-way, one al
end; double-duplex, two at each end; triple-duplex,
PIG. 21 INTERIOR OF AUTOMATIC CONTROLLER
ator for transmission purposes. In this case it is nol
essential tn have the printer at the central office record
outgoing messages, since the tape may constitute an of-
fice record
Figs. 22 and 2-\ afford a forcible illustration of the
flexibility of the system. In these illustrations T. 7'.
/' . etc., represent tape transmitters, each of which is
April 3, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
867
fed with tape from a keyboard perforator, and /' . /' . /' .
eU -., represent receiving printers or, if desired, re-per-
forators. In any case it is understood that a message
sent on transmitter T, is received on printer P,, that
messages sent on transmitter T. are received on printer
/>,. and so on. For example, in diagram 1 of Fig. 22
is shown ;i system working between cities A, B and C.
&
Ml
1444
FIG. 22 — INTERCONNECTIONS BETWEEN THREE CITIES AND
BETWEEN FOUR CITIES
The line transmission between A and B is a quadruple
duplex ; likewise that between B and C. The following
channels are available, each capable of carrying traffic
at roughly forty-five words per minute: Between A and
B, four channels, two in each direction ; between A and
C, four channels, two in each direction; between B
and C, four channels, two in each direction.
In diagram 2 of Fig. 22 is shown a modification in
fig. 23-
IN I I CONNECTIONS BETWEEN FOUR CITIES AND
BETWEEN SIX CITIES
which the cities A and B are connected by a quadruple
duplex, B and C by a double duplex, and B and D by a
double duplex. This system affords the following chan-
nels : Between A and B, four channels, two in each di-
rection; between A and C, two channels, one in
each direction; between A and D, two channels, one in
each direction; between B and C, two channels, one
in each direction; between B and D, two channels,
one in each direction.
In diagram 1 of Fig. 23 is shown a system connecting
four cities, A, B, C and D, which affords the following
channels of communication: Between A and B, four
channels, two in each direction; between A and C, two
channels, one in each direction; between A and D,
two channels, one in each direction; between B and
C, six channels, three in each direction; between B
and D, six channels, three in each direction.
Diagram 2 of Fig. 23 shows a modification of the sys-
tem connecting cities A, B, C, D, E and F. This ar-
rangement affords the following channels for traffic:
Between .4 and C, two channels, one in each direction;
between A and D, two channels, one in each direc-
tion; between A and E, two channels, one in each di-
rection; between A and F, two channels, one in each
direction ; between B and C, two channels, one in each di-
rection; between B and D, two channels, one in each
direction ; between B and E, two channels, one in each di-
rection; between B and F, two channels, one in each
direction.
Whether or not any of these modifications will ever
be installed exactly a3 described is problematical, but
they are all possible and serve to show the inherent flex-
ibility of the system. The practicability of the system
has been proved by tests of the quadruple duplex by the
Western Union Telegraph Company. This equipment
has been in operation for more than a year. The results
of this and other less extended tests indicate that the
system is thoroughly practical and is well past the ex-
perimental stage.
Applicability of System to New Fields
The extreme flexibility and comparative simplicity of
this system permit it to touch entirely new fields. For
example, the one-way method of operation will doubtless
find a field in mercantile establishments for intercom-
munication between factory and offices, etc. Having a
number of printers operated from one keyboard is well
suited for distributing orders and information to a
number of departments. Modifications of the system are
particularly well adapted for news distribution service.
In fact, it is difficult to conceive of lines of business ac-
tivity in which some modification of the system cannot
render valuable service.
The successful development of this system has re-
sulted from the solution of a great number of interest-
ing problems which are beyond the scope of this article.
It has also been found necessary to omit mention of
many interesting features of the system and the ap-
paratus. The aim has been to present a bird's-eye view
of the system as a whole and its fundamental underly-
ing principles. The advent of the system doubtless
marks an epoch in the history of the telegraph. The
success achieved is the result of the concentration on a
single problem of a number of minds, each particularly
well equipped with knowledge and experience for the
consideration of some important phase of the problem.
Nor has the work of earlier investigators been neglected.
The multiplex principle of Baudot and the five-unit code
used by him over thirty years ago form the foundation
of the system.
It remained, none the less, for Mr. Donald Murray,
who had previously developed a high-speed system using
the Baudot five-unit code, to appreciate the inherent
advantages of the Baudot multiplex principle. This he
incorporated in the Murray multiplex system, which in-
cluded machine sending and column printing. Although
novel in many respects, the system described is not al-
together an innovation, but is rather the realization and
working out of old principles which have been tried and
found successful.
858
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 14
DIGEST OF ELECTRICAL LITERATURE
Generators. Motors and Transformers
Total Losses in Iron.—H. W. McLachlan. — An ac-
count of a series of experiments the object of which was
to ascertain whether the total number of watts lost per
kilogram could be expressed in the form W = cB", as
an alternative to the usual expression W = aB' " + bB\
in which the hysteresis and eddy-current losses are con-
sidered separately. The chief results are as follows:
For (lux densities between 4000 and 10,000 lines per
square centimeter, and frequencies between twenty-five
and sixty cycles per second, the combined hysteresis and
eddy-current hisses in the special alloy steel "stalloy"
(0.5-mm plates) or in ordinary iron ( 1-mm plates) sub-
jected to an alternating magnetization can be repre-
sented within 1.5 per cent by an expression having the
form \V '/,", n varying from 1.68 to 1.77 for "stalloy"
VARIATION OF COEFFICIENTS WITH FREQUENCY
SrW.LOV
LOKTS
Obdinabi
Iron
1
-
rX10'
■
rXW
"
• X 10"
.'.'.
68
2 16
1.78
1 76
l 7S
2 92
:c
1.72
2.29
1.77
2 hi
1 7s
.'. 7s
50
1 75
2 <■'
1 so
2 32
1 81
1 i.l
60
2 83
1 fa
2 19
1 83
A '.IS
and from 1.75 to 1.83 for ordinary iron. For flux densi-
ties between 5000 and 10,000 and frequencies between
twenty-five and sixty the combined hysteresis and eddy-
current losses in "lohys" (0.37-mm plates) subjected to
an alternating magnetization can be represented within
2.5 per cent by an expression having the form W = cB",
n varying from 1.73 to 1.82. In the expression W = cB",
c varies directly as the frequency / and log n directly as
log /. How the coefficients n and c vary with the fre-
quency / for "stalloy" and "lohys" and ordinary iron is
shown in the table. Some mathematical appendixes are
added. — Journal Inst, of Elect. Eng, (London), March
1, 1915.
Compensator. — T. F. Wall. — An article on the Le-
blanc-Latour-Scherbius compensator, which is based on
the principle that the current leads the emf in a poly-
phase commutator armature driven above synchronous
speed. The author outlines the theory of this com-
pensator and then supports the theory by experimental
results. -London Electrician, March 12, 1915.
Lamps and Lighting
Searchlamp Projectors. C. W. Denney. — The first
part oi an illustrated article dealing with recent im-
provements in searchlamp projectors i especially the
titution of the gilded metallic mirror for the sil-
vered-glass mirror), with methods of focusing a pro-
t lamp, details of the flashing gear, and construc-
tion ot the projector lamp. The article is to be con-
cluded. London Elec. Review, March 15, 1915.
Generation, Tranamisaion and Distribution
Transient Phenomena in Coils with ("purity Between
Kabj Willi Wagner, In an insulation test
of a coil of a large 16,000-voll generator the following
til happened. The insulation of the COil against
iron u.i to be tested at 30,000 volts, the conned
being ai ihown in Pig, 1. The horn lightning arrt
// in parallel with the testing transformer T was so ad-
peral ■' 9 000 volta in case on excessive
voltage should occur. When the lightning arrester oper-
ated accidentally there was a big flash at the coil, and
it was found that the insulation between different wind-
ings of the coil had been perforated at many places,
while the insulation of the coil against the iron / had
not been damaged. The accident was found to be due
to the discharge wave which entered the coil from the
LMSJL8.4MJ 7
pnnnrj
FIG. 1 — CONNECTIONS FOR INSULATION TEST
horn lightning arrester. The remedy consisted in con-
necting a high resistance in series with the lightning
arrester. This resistance prevents any appreciable de-
crease of the voltage at the terminals of the coil in case
the lightning arrester operates. In this case no dis-
charge wave will enter the coil. Experiments confirmed
this explanation. The theory of excessively high volt-
ages in electric circuits with uniformly distributed in-
ductance and capacity can be based on the phenomenon
that electromagnetic waves travel along the conductor
with the velocity of light without being distorted. The
author calls attention to the fact that this theory can-
not be applied directly to the case of the wave entering
the windings of the transformer or generator because
the winding capacity of the coil must be taken into con-
sideration. The author gives a sketch of the mathema-
qj q9 qj q* as qt <r qt 'q*
FIG. 2 VARIATIONS OF VOLTAGE WITH II M 1
ticol theory of the transient phenomena in a wound coil
When a Constant emf is BUddenly impressed across its
terminals, and shows how to calculate the natural fre-
quencies of the oscillations produced. He shows that a
wave which enters a coil is distorted since it has no
longer ;i lte< p trout so that the excess voltage is smaller.
On the other hand, the time is longer during which the
Apkil 8, 1916
ELECTRICAL WORLD
-
voltage exists. The turn- near the -tart of the
winding are more affected than the turns in the center
of the winding. The wave is reflected at the center of
the coil. In the turns between the beginning of the
windings and the center the voltage against earth be-
b time greater than the- emf at the beginning
of the winding. Fig. 2 shows the variations of the volt-
it different points in a coil on which the
constant emf E is suddenly impressed. The abscissas
ind the curve- 0.05, 0.1, 0.16 ... re-
late to points further and further away from the start-
ing points of the coil. The figures 0.05, 0.1, 0.16 rep-
' the ratio x ti> / where / is the length of the wind-
ing and x the distance from the starting point. — Elek.
Vienna), Feb. 21 and 28, 1915.
Installations, Bystems and Appliances
urging for Em run- BUEGGELN. Stuttgart was
the first German city which introduced a double-rate
Hile for energy, namely, 15 tents and 10 cents per
kw-hr. for lighting and 10 cents ami 4.5 cents for motor
service. The lighting rates were later reduced to 12.5
cents and 7.5 cents per kw-hr. There was a rather high
charge for meter rent or meter sale, and the experi-
ences with the schedule were not pleasant. It was there-
fore discontinued three years ago, and for small con-
sumers the price of the kilowatt-hour for lighting was
made 7.5 cent- tor the months of March to September and
10 cents for the other months, while the uniform charge
of 5 cents per kw-hr. was made for motor service. For
large consumers a special rate was made which consists
of three parts, namely, first, a fundamental charge of
$27 per kilowatt; second, a charge for administration
I $9 per connection), and, third, a charge for the energy
consumed ranging from 2.1 cents to 1.25 cents per
kw-hr. according to the total energy used. Recently a
third rate has been introduced for private residences
only, and consumers have a right to select either this
new schedule or the rate according to the meter. The
new schedule is based on a flat rate according to the
of the residence (number of rooms, not including
kitchen, servant's room, laundry, etc.). For this flat
rate a certain number of kilowatt-hours is furnished
per year according to the following schedule: Yor two
rooms a monthly charge of 50 cents is made for 100
kw-hr. furnished per year; for three rooms, 63 cents,
for 125 kw-hr. per year; for four rooms, 82 cents, for
165 kw-hr.; for five rooms, $1, for 200 kw-hr.; for six
rooms, $1.25, for 250 kw-hr.; for seven rooms, $1.50.
for 300 kw-hr., and for each additional room, 25 cents,
for 50 kw-hr per year. According to this schedule 1
kw-hr. costs 6 cents, including meter rent, and for each
additional kilowatt-hour a charge of 3.75 cents is made.
Although the consumers have the choice between this
flat rate and a pure meter rate, many have preferred
the flat rate from the start.— Elek. Zeit., Feb. 25, 1915.
Electric Cooking. — W. R. Cooper. — A paper read be-
fore the (British) Institution of Electrical Engineers
on electric cooking, mainly from the consumer's point
of view. The author gives full details of the energy-
consumption cost per year, compared with coal outlay
and losses in cooking, in a definite electric-cooking in-
stallation lor a household of eight to nine. Various
suggestions with regard to earthing of cooking plant
are made, and the question of rati- and maintenance
charges is discussed. Load curves lor an average week
are given. The author thinks "it would be an excellent
thing if all station engineers were compelled to emplo)
electric cooking exclusively in their homes, and also to
pay for the energy so consumed. This would not only
familiarize them with the apparatus, but would show
them the defects of some of the tariffs that they trj to
inflict on other people." Load curves are given which
show that the cooking load is of a desirable kind, for it
is well distributed throughout the day. Apart from
this, two things are noticeable. The first is that the
upturn in any part of the day varies considerably.
For example, if the meter readings are noted three
times a day at regular hours, it is found that the amount
consumed in any one of those intervals varies consider-
ably from day to day. The second point is that the
character of the load varies from day to day. Conse-
quently the combined loads of, say, half-a-dozen con-
sumers will give a much better curve than that of any
one individual. — London Electrician, March 12. 1915.
Wires, Wiring and Conduits
Perforation Strength of Oils as Affected by Pressure.
— F. Kock. — The first part of an illustrated account of
an experimental investigation of the electric perforation
strength of liquid, semi-liquid and solid insulating ma-
terials as affected by pressure. The liquid and semi-
liquid insulating materials tested were transformer oils,
oils used in cable manufacture, vaseline, toluol and
benzol. The only solid substance tested was hard rubber.
The chief results are as follows: The perforation
strength of liquid and semi-liquid insulating materials
in the range from 1 atmosphere to 20 atmospheres
increases proportionally to the pressure according
to the formula, insulation strength = a + 6p kv
per centimeter, where p is the excess pressure in atmo-
spheres and a and b are constants. For materials free
from water a is of the order of magnitude of from 80
kv to 100 kv. When the pressure is increased still
further, the perforation strength increases less rapidly
and finally approaches a limit which is different for
different materials. The perforation strength of solid
hard rubber is independent of the pressure up to 50
atmospheres. For liquid and semi-liquid insulating ma-
terials the perforation strength is almost independent
of the thickness of the layer, although there is a very
slight increase with thickness. The paper is to be con-
cluded.— Elek. Zeit., Feb. 25, 1915.
Heating Plug. — An illustrated detailed description of
the construction of a heating plug which has been
adopted by A. N. Moore, of Newport, Monmouthshire,
as standard for that town. It is a heating plug of the
hand-shield type for use in private houses. — London
Electrician, March 12, 1915.
Elect rophysics and Magnetism
Effect of Temperature on Magnetic Permeability. —
Raymond L. Sanford. — In magnetic measurements a:
the Bureau of Standards it has been found that for
magnetizing forces between 100 and 300 gausses the
heating due to the current in the magnetizing coils if
sufficient to change quite appreciably the induction cor
responding to a given magnetizing force. For this rea-
son it has been the practice, when making measure-
ments where an accuracy of 1 per cent is desired, to
immerse the magnetizing coils in oil, which is main-
tained at a standard temperature of 25 deg. C. The
present work was undertaken to determine what the
magnitude of this temperature effect is and whether it
is feasible to apply a correction for the reduction to a
standard temperature of data taken at other tempera-
tures. The results of the experiments are given in a
series of tables and diagrams, and the following general
conclusions are drawn: The temperature coefficient of
magnetic permeability, though small, cannot be neg-
lected in magnetic measurements of high accuracy. On
account of the wide variation in temperature coefficient,
not only for different materials but also for the same
material with different heat treatments, correction can-
not be made to standard temperature from data obtained
from other materials. Unless the temperature coeffi-
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 14
cient is known for the particular material under test,
temperature control offers the only means of avoiding
the error due to temperature changes, at least where
errors as great as 1 per cent are to be avoided. Condi-
tions often arise in practice where the temperature of a
specimen may be raised by from 10 deg. to 20 deg. above
the temperature of the room, owing either to a com-
paratively heavy current or to the use of coils already
heated from the previous test. Since temperature co-
efficients may be as great as 0.3 per cent per degree,
errors amounting to 2 per cent or more may exist. —
Scient.- Papers, Bureau of Standards, No. 245. Jan. 30,
1915.
Electrochemistry and Batteries
A Galvanic Cell Which Reverses Its Polarity When
Illuminated. — A. A. Campbell Swinton. — A brief ab-
stract of a British Physical Society paper. When two
plates — one of zinc and the other of tinned copper coated
on one surface with selenium and varnished with enamel
over the remainder of its surface — are immersed in tap
water, the electric current through a galvanometer con-
nected to the plates shows that in the dark the zinc is
electro-positive to the selenium, while the result of light
falling on the selenium is to increase the effect. If, how-
ever, instead of zinc, carbon or copper is employed for
the non-coated plate, the interesting result is obtained
that, while the selenium proves to be electro-positive to
the carbon or copper in the dark, it immediately becomes
electro-negative to carbon or to copper when it is
illuminated, this being easily shown by the deflections of
the galvanometer in contrary directions as the light is
turned on and off. — London Electrician, March 5, 1915.
Units, Measurements and Instruments
Resistance Thermometer. — S. Leroy Brown. — While
metallic oxides are generally considered to be non-con-
ductors at room temperature, they may become conduc-
tors at higher temperature. The author gives the re-
<j
d es
111
a
tC Of
u
0.
1 "
-J
01
z
HI
"> .a
./-
'.
—
ft
' —
1
V
1
It
<
■•
TEMPERATURE IN DEG. C.
PIG. 3 VARIATION OF SENSIBILITY WITH TEMPERATURE
cnlt ..t ;i ilitiTinin.it ion of the resistance of oxides
which have been melted and molded into solid rods, and
shows the application of their resistance variation with
temperature for resistance thermometers. Solid rods
were obtained by filling porcelain tubes with powdered
or solid forms of the oxides and melting the oxide by
placing the tubes in a tubular electric furnace. Iron
oxide (Fe,Oj and cuprous oxide (Cu,0) gave the most
satisfactory results (as f;ir as the author's investiga-
tion u.-i extended) for temperatures ranging from a
few degrees below zero to from 400 deg. to 500 dt ■■.
althoiu'b lead oxide i PbO) can be used very satisfactory
il> between 100 deg. and coo deg. C. The lead oxide is
more brittle than either iron or copper oxide, and there-
fore is easily cracked or chipped. The extremely high
resistance of lead oxide at room temperatures necessi-
tates a very thin element in order that its resistance
shall not be prohibitive. The results obtained for the
different oxides are given in form of tables and dia-
grams. The sensibility of a magnetite (Fe,04) ther-
mometer and of a platinum resistance thermometer are
shown in Fig. 3. A comparison of the two curves shows
that the magnetite thermometer is about sixteen times
as sensitive as the platinum thermometer at ice temper-
ature, and about eight times as sensitive as the plati-
num thermometer at room temperatures. — Physical Re-
view, February, 1915.
Miscellaneous
Training for the Industrial Side of Engineering. — A
P. M. Fleming.— The author divided his subject into
two broad classes — non-technical employment and tech-
nical employment. Under the first head he discusses the
requirement of training for trades apprenticeship, the
value of pre-apprenticeship to training. Foreign
methods of training and trades apprentice schools are
dealt with. Under the second head he first classifies
the various branches of employment and then goes on
to discuss the methods of training for these. — London
Electrician, March 12, 1915.
Association of Central Stations. — An account of the
proceedings of the twenty-third general meeting of the
German Association of Central Stations, held in Frei-
burg from June 17 to 19, 1914, with brief abstracts of
the papers presented and of the discussions. — Elek.
Zeit., Feb. 11, 1915.
Book Review
Wiring of Finished Buildings. By Terrell Croft.
New York: McGraw-Hill Book Company, Inc. 276
pages, 205 illus. Price, $2.
This book is a practical treatise dealing with the
commercial and technical phases of the subject of the
wiring of finished buildings, and as such it should prove
of great value not only to the electrical contractor and
wireman but to the central-station man as well. It is
divided into a commercial and a technical section. In
the former are considered the possibilities and results
of an existing-building wiring campaign, methods of
advertising and solicitation employed, policies under-
lying such campaigns, examples of campaigns, costs
and prices for finished-building wiring, and specifica-
tions for campaigns. Some of this section is compiled
from articles that have appeared in the technical press
from time to time, but much new material is added.
The result is a thorough discussion of the commercial
phases of the subject that should prove of value to all
contemplating existing-building wiring campaigns. The
second section of the book considers such subjects as
methods of wiring, planning installations, tools and
manipulation, examples of installations and examples
of fixtures employed. This section, like the first, is
of very practical nature. The subjects mentioned are
discussed in detail, no attempt being made to cover
such extraneous matter as the wiring methods common
to both new-building and nld-lmilding wiring. Half-
tone illustrations have been entiroh dispensed with,
and there have been substituted therefor easily under-
stood line drawings. These illustrations, being numer-
ous in both sections of the book and of excellent nature,
serve to enhance the value of this practical and long-
needed treatise.
Apkil :;. 1816
ELECTRICAL WORLD
861
POWER AND OPERATING SECTION
Method of Storing and Handling Mercury -
Rectifler Tubes
From the lighting and railway power house of the
Tern- Haute. Indianapolis & Eastern Traction Com-
pany at Terre Haute, Ind.. many direct-current arc-
lamp circuits are served. To facilitate systematic
handling of the mercury-arc converter tubes which are
used (Hi these circuits, a Bpecial cabinet has been built
■gainst one wall on the switching gallery near the arc-
lamp rectifier apparatus. As the tulies are needed to
DETAIL SKETCH Or TUBE HOLDER
RACK FOR MERCURY-VAPOR TUBES
replace worn-out units they are taken from the end of
the cabinet at the right. When a new shipment of
tubes arrives at the plant they are placed in the cabi-
net at the left end, those on hand being moved toward
the right end to make room for those most recently
purchased. Hence the operators are continually using
those tubes which have been longest on hand at the
station.
To support each tube in the cabinet an ingeniously
devised hanger is used. It is fashioned from a single
piece of No. 8 steel wire, and the spring tip which
grasps the tube about its middle is covered with tape.
The hangers fastened to longitudinal strips against
the rear wall of the cabinet afford convenient and safe
positions for the rectifier tubes.
Electric Arc Welding
In a paper devoted to some of the fundamental prin-
ciples of arc welding for the benefit of the manufacturer,
Mr. J. F. Lincoln, at the recent meeting of the A. I. E. E.
in Cleveland, answered some of the more important
questions in connection with this application of electric-
ity. Owing to the ease of application and the economy
with which heat can be concentrated at any given point,
the electric arc is superior to other methods of heating.
The difficulties encountered in welding — namely, forma-
tion of oxide, expansion and contraction and burning
through — were discussed and remedies offered. In con-
nection with the difficulty of arc welding the author
stated that it does not require anything like as skilful
handling to make a good arc weld as it does to make
a weld on an anvil. The author discussed the questions
of strength of weld, adaptability of method, and essen-
tial features of different types of arc-welding machines.
Some valuable estimates of cost of energy for operation
under average conditions were also given.
The discussion brought out considerable difference of
opinion concerning the relative merits of electric-arc and
oxy-acetylene welding processes, especially for work in
run. In railroad shops both methods were said to
be in use, a slight preference at present being given to
the gas processes. In closing the discus-ion. Mr. J. F.
Lincoln contended that with gas at 2 cents per cu. ft.
and with electricity at 2 cents per kw-hr. electric weld-
ing could be carried on from 3 per cent to 30 per cent
cheaper than oxy-acetylene welding. In answer to a
question concerning the welding machine mentioned in
his paper the author said that, although it was designed
primarily to supply energy to only a single operator, the
saving which the machine will effect is so great that the
purchase of several machines can economically be made
if they are needed. Those who took part in the dis-
cussion were Messrs. L. P. Crecelius of Cleveland, A. S.
Bemis of Cleveland and D. B. Rushmore of Schenectady.
A written discussion by Mr. E. M. Zook of Pittsburgh
was read by A. M. Dudley of Pittsburgh.
An Intake Screen Lnaffected by Floods
Taking water from a stream in which there is always
a considerable rise during the rainy season, the plant
of the Springfield (Ohio) Light, Heat & Power Com-
pany is in a position requiring that some arrangement
be made for cleaning the intake screens at such times
of high water. How this problem has been met is
shown in the accompanying photograph. At the en-
trance to the intake tunnel on a concrete base is a rotary
screen equipped with a chain and gear drive connecting
it with a 5-hp motor inclosed in the corrugated metal
housing above.
When the motor is started by closing a switch in the
adjacent power house the screen revolves over the drum
suspended beneath the motor house, bringing a new por-
— — - - ^_. ,
1 tj
T r ~ mm
L' / if\\ I'll
•
LI' M
^_-
REMOTE-CONTROLLED MOTOR-OPERATED INTAKE SCREEN
tion of the sectionalized screen before the mouth of the
intake. As the screen revolves it moves upward on the
side nearer the stream and downward on the shore side.
With this rotary motion in progress some of the accu-
mulated debris lying at the mouth of the tunnel is
carried up by the screen itself and by paddles fastened
to the screen for this purpose. Hence, when the screen
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 14
is shifted the entrance to the tunnel is automatically
cleared of the litter, which, if allowed to accumulate,
would ultimately stop the inward flow of water.
Removable Guard for Motor Pulley or Belt
Protective guards for moving pulleys and belts are
often of the greatest value as a means of safeguarding
Hun7frf)r//n}/>ri/wiimniinnvw)in>>)}TTm'
REMOVABLE GUARD FOR BELT
the life and limb of operatives who are required to
work in the vicinity of moving machinery. Where
such guards are installed permanently, however, so
that they cannot be removed without dismantling, the
guard may be a source of considerable inconvenience
and even give rise to distinct danger through lack of
inspection and attention. Belt guards of this kind
should therefore be made removable. The accompany-
ing sketch indicates a form of support in which the
strap-iron holder slips into a pocket mounted on the
sheet-metal casing. The case can be conveniently re-
moved from the supports by simply pulling it off in the
direction of the pocket.
Machine Making Fifty Post Holes an Hour
Making fifty post holes an hour is a rather unusual
record, but it was done under very unsatisfactory con-
ditions with the machine illustrated herewith when the
transcontinental telephone line was being constructed.
The equipment consisted of an auger attached to a
torily even in the bed of shallow lakes which it was
necessary to cross. Probably a better idea of its
utility is given by the fact that 400 miles of line were
erected in ninety days. The Mountain States Tele-
phone & Telegraph Company had charge of construc-
tion work from Denver, Col., to Wendover, Utah, and
the Pacific Telephone & Telegraph Company from
Wendover to the coast.
BORING POST MOLES IN LAKE BED
weight sliding between vertical guides and rotated by
means of an internal-combustion engine carried on the
platform which supported the guides. The lift-
of the auger and its speed were controlled by lev-
the guidel. The platform was
on b turntable bo the auger could be shifted
in it> position, This equipment bored holes satisfac
Purpose of High-Tension Equipment Indicated on
Ceiling Beams
Whenever an accident happens on an electric-service
system it is highly important that the station attend-
ants be enabled to find control apparatus quickly. Marks
on the various devices themselves are not in every case
satisfactory as they cannot always be placed in con-
SBCTION OF SWITCH GALLERY
spicuous positions. At the generating station of the
United Electric Light & Power Company, New York
City, the ceiling beams over the equipment are marked
so that an attendant can tell at a distance just where a
certain piece of apparatus is installed. Additional la-
bels on the apparatus prevent misinterpretation of the
signs on the ceiling.
Detecting Production Losses with a Tachograph
With the aid of a recording tachograph, a device
which shows the momentary speed variation occurring in
the shaft or machine to which it is connected, the com-
mercial department of the Dayton Power & Light Corn-
pan \ . Dayton, Ohio, was recently able to show a pros-
pective customer that his engine-driven factory shafting
underwent a recurring speed loss of 6 per cent during
each revolution. The same tachograph applied to a
similar installation driven by an electric motor showed
sp I variations reaching a maximum of only 0.6 per
Apkii.
W16
i. I. !. ( T RIC A I. \V<) K L I)
863
cent. Such a tachograph, according to Mr. J. C. Mat-
thieu, power engineer for the company, is of great use-
fulness in revealing the production losses due to speed
changes in engine-driven factories and in preparing the
r the obvious remedy- electric motor drive.
Cable l'uller Operated «ith Storage-Batter;
Energy
iwn in the accompanying illustration is a battery-
operated cable puller employed by the underground
distribution department of the Edison Electric Illumi-
nating Company of Brooklyn. The cable puller is a spe-
cially constructed electric truck with the motor sup-
• I so it can be employed to propel the vehicle or to
operate the drum drawing the cable through the duct.
The parallel steel bars standing vertically in the man-
hole at the end of the truck are to support pulleys for
guiding the drawing-in rope. One pulley is installed
i outlet and another is placed just above
the level of the truck platform. To permit placing the
pulleys in the correct positions holes for the pins have
[
I 1
HP "
(ABLE PULLER EQUIPPED WITH STORAGE BATTERY
been drilled about 6 in. apart in each bar. The truck
wheels do not have to be blocked when installing cable
as the cable puller is prevented from moving by allowing
ires- against the vertical steel bars supporting the
pulleys.
From actual test with this equipment it has been
found that about 3 hp is required to pull cable through
a 227-ft. duct at the rate of 1 ft. per second. As many
as 2497 ft. of cable have been pulled with the machine
in a day. The longest piece of cable which has so far
been pulled was 430 ft. in length. The vehicle is
equipped with a 5-hp motor.
Causes of Poor Commutation and Remedies
Some of the causes of poor commutation and brush
troubles, methods of locating them, and remedies there-
tor were given in a paper entitled "Some Troubles En-
tered in the Operation of Carbon Brushes in Direct-
Current Generators and Motors," which was presented
by Mr. E. H. Martindale before the annual meeting of
the Cleveland Section of the American Institute of
Electrical Kngineers. The troubles were classified ac-
cording to the location of the causes.
If a partial short-circuit occurs in one coil of a series
or series-parallel field winding, it may not affect the
temperature of the coil appreciably, but will usually
cause severe sparking at one or two studs. In a wave-
wound machine, however, the commutation will be very
little affected. This trouble can be located by measur-
ing the voltage drop across each coil with a constant
current through the windings, the coil showing the low-
op across terminals being the short-circuited coil.
FIG. 1 — EFFECT OF WORN BEARINGS
If one series-field coil on a cumulative compound ma-
chine is reversed accidentally, sparking will usually oc-
cur at two adjacent studs as the load increases. The
best way to detect this trouble is to excite the shunt field
and series field separately, being sure that the current
flows in the same direction as when the machine is in
operation. The polarity of each pole should be the same
when either field is excited, and furthermore the polar-
ity of adjacent poles should be different. Other indica-
tions of a wrongly connected cumulative compound ma-
chine are that its voltage will decrease with load if
operated as a generator and the speed will increase with
load if operated as a motor.
If one pole face is nearer the armature than the
others, the flux across its gap will be greater and a
higher voltage will be developed in the coils under that
pole. Worn bearings are often a cause of unequal air-
gaps. If machines with cast frames are employed, blow
holes may be present which may increase the reluctance
of the magnetic circuit, thereby causing cross armature
currents.
An open circuit in an armature coil causes the most
vicious form of sparking, which is always accompanied
by severe pitting of the mica between the commutator
bars connected to the defective coil and the adjacent
coils. To locate the break the terminals of an electric-
lamp circuit should be touched to adjacent commutator
bars until the lamp fails to light. Similar but less pro-
nounced sparking mav be caused by a high-resistance
connection between the end of a coil and the commu-
tator riser. This can be detected by passing a current
through the armature and finding the bars across which
the voltage drop is higher than the average. A short-
FIG. 2 — HOW IMPROPER BRUSH SUPPORT AFFECTS SPACING
circuit between two sections of a coil, two coils in the
same slot, end connections of two coils, or between com-
mutator bars will be indicated by excessive heating of
the coils affected.
Demagnetizing and cross-magnetizing caused by
shifting brushes from the true neutral have serious ef-
fects on commutation. If the brushes are shifted far
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 14
to obtain good commutation and the magnetization of
the pole piece is not well above the knee of the satura-
tion curve, the demagnetizing effect may seriously re-
duce the voltage of the generator or increase the speed
of a motor. Cross-magnetization may be sufficient to
place the coils undergoing commutation in a heavy field,
thereby causing large short-circuit currents and severe
sparking at the brushes. The remedy is to widen the
neutral field by filing away the edges of the pole pieces.
On stationary machines it is advisable to maintain a
brush pressure of 2 lb. to 4 lb. per sq. in., depending on
local conditions and the grade of brush. With crane
motors, haulage motors, railway motors, etc., 4 lb. to
8 lb. is recommended. Under no conditions should less
than 1.5 lb. per sq. in. be used.
If rocker-type brush holders are employed care should
be taken to see that they are all inclined at the same
angle, otherwise large short-circuit currents may flow
through the armature because of unequal spacing. If
brushes are too thin, sufficient time is not allowed for
commutation, and if they are too thick, the coils may
develop electromotive force before they pass out from
beneath the brush. Many cases of sparking have been
cured by reducing the thickness of the brush. Spark-
ing may also occur if the brush studs or brush holders
are not parallel to the commutator bars, or if the
FIG. 3 — EFFECT OF BRUSH SHIFT ON ARMATURE FLUX
brushes are not free to follow the surface of the com-
mutator. On machines which have been in service for
a long time trouble frequently arises from worn hold-
ers, particularly if the machine runs in both directions,
as the brush face changes when the machine is reversed.
This reduces the time of commutation and increases the
current density and may cause the brushes to chatter
and chip.
Screeching caused by friction of the brush on the
commutator may be relieved by changing the spring
tension, angle of operation, grade of brush, or by lubri-
cating the commutator surface at intervals. Chattering
caused by high mica or wide slots is indicated by a pitch
which corresponds to the number of bars passing under
the brush per second. High mica may be removed by
undercutting it or employing more abrasive brushes. If
the noise is caused by slots, it may be necessary to
change the spring tension, angle of operation or grade
of brush, as lubrication is not recommended with slotted
commutators. Pitting or honeycombing of brush faces
is nearly always caused by short-circuit currents, by a
very low brush pressure, by the brushes having insuffi-
I crofls-aection, and occasionally by the brushes hav-
ing insufficient current-carrying capacity. Positive
brushes or generators or negative brushes of motors
frequently pick up copper. This may be caused by elec-
trolytic action or by abrasive material in the brush.
Copper in the brush face lowers the contact resistance
and generally causes large short-circuit currents.
Loose commutator bars which are often unobserved
when the machine is not operating may attract atten-
tion when the armature is revolving by causing a
thumping sound every time they strike a brush. Indi-
cation of loose bars or high mica is also given by burned
spots on bars each side of the defective spot. Commu-
tator bolts should be tightened a few months after a
machine is placed in operation. In replacing commu-
tator bars care should be taken to use material of sim-
ilar quality, otherwise the new bar will not wear at the
same rate as the other. Blackening will sometimes oc-
cur on every other bar or every third bar, correspond-
ing to the number of coils per slot, and may be shifted
to another set of bars by changing the position of the
brushes. This seems to be due to an inductive "kick"
in the coil undergoing commutation when the armature
tooth next to the coil passes from under the field. The
remedy is to have the neutral field wide enough to per-
mit the tooth to leave the strong field before the com-
mutator bar comes under the brush.
When flat spots start to form others spaced equidis-
tant about the commutator usually develop, one for
every pair of poles. Flat spots may be caused by the
commutator not running true, by soft bars, difference
in hardness of mica, surges of current, or any sparking
which occurs once every revolution. When commutators
are slotted the mica should be undercut about 3/64 in.
If the peripheral speed is not sufficient to throw out
particles of dust or dirt which accumulate in the slots,
they should be blown out or scraped at regular intervals.
Non-abrasive brushes should be employed on slotted
commutators.
Overloads, line surges and cross-currents between ma-
chines operated in parallel may cause commutation
troubles and may be difficult to detect unless an oscillo-
graph is employed. Unbalanced armatures, unstable
foundations, poor belt lacing or uneven gears, and
pounding of direct-connected reciprocating engines may
cause serious vibration which will loosen commutator
bars or produce sparking.
Mr. Martindale's paper was discussed by Messrs. D.
B. Rushmore and R. H. McLain of Schenectady, H. R.
Edgecomb of Pittsburgh, D. M. Pettv of South Bethle-
hem, Pa., J. P. Mallett of Elizabeth, N. J., W. C. Kalb,
J. H. Lapp, A. M. MacCutcheon and L. P. Crecelius of
Cleveland. The only case of inherent brush trouble
mentioned in the discussion was one which was occa-
sioned by brushes impregnated with an inferior grade
of lubricant. Upon becoming heated in operation these
units gave out enough of their lubricant to make the
thin carbon-brush surfaces gummy. If when a machine
was stopped a brush in cooling shrank away from the
commutator, the gum held it up so that when the ma-
chine was again started poor commutation resulted.
Many cases of poor commutation, however, although
commonly ascribed to the brushes, will be found to be
not inherent brush troubles but mechanical disarrange-
ments in the brush rigging or in the machine itself.
However, a careful study of a poorly commutating ma-
chine and its cycle of operations was conceded to be
the first logical step to be taken in locating so-called
"brush troubles."
Regarding the advisability of brush standardization
as recommended by Mr. Martindale, the delegates seemed
in general to be agreed. According to Mr. Martindale,
letters on the proposed standards had brought out the
fact that many brush manufacturers would welcome
standardization because it would mean a considerable
reduction in the 5000 different types and sizes of brushes
which must now be supplied to the trade.
April 3, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
866
COMMERCIAL SECTION
Indirect Advertising l Bed bj I. arm- lobbing Boom
• Frank H. Stewart E.lectri< Company, Philadel-
phia, l'a.. which ia .-aid to be the oldest and one of the
largest electrical jobbing houses in Philadelphia, makes
-ive use of indirect advertising. One example of
ia that of the publication of a recent
FIG. 1 — LOCAL-INTERKST CALENDAR ILLUSTRATION
address by Arthur F. Sheldon, of the Area Institute of
Business Technology, in the company's building. The
address was printed and neatly bound, and forms such
as shown in Fig. 2 were sent to the electrical contractors
and dealers in the city and outlying places. In this way
some idea of the value of such advertising was ob-
tained, the number of requests for copies of the address
being large. Mr. Sheldon's address was one on service
and contains an analysis of the term "service" which
should be of interest to all engaged in the electrical busi-
ness. Service, Mr. Sheldon says, is composed of quan-
tity plus quality plus mode of conduct. The latter fac-
tor is perhaps the one most commonly overlooked in the
electrical business.
5b the Business Builder.
Um tUB ud 1
•ad ib« batter
• **lI hinuclf
tr name and eddreea on the linee Mow and retom to »
e will Mod tou one of the beet addreeaea ever made
f Internal lonal reputation made thi* addreaa In the Old
reekdnt of oar atenof/apbical department, we are able to
copy to each of our cuatoraere. with our coraplunente
that no keen buataeao man wUl fad 10 appreciate and
of the valuable fundamental Idea, nuiaaatd terrain
otOBtfr
Addnsa .
FIG. 2 — FORMS SENT TO CUSTOMERS
All of Mr. Stewart's advertising is of the indirect
type. Some idea of the value which he places upon such
advertising can be obtained from the fact that the firm
spent $3,000 in the production of one calendar. The
illustration employed is shown in Fig. 1. It is a repro-
duction of an original painting of the old mint which
occupied the site of the company's place of business.
This painting, the property of the firm, has been used
in numerous forms, being reproduced for framing and
for use on postal cards. In a city such as Philadelphia
historical matter is, of course, of unusual interest. This
type of advertising ia one which most firms can-
not adopt because of the lack of a historical connection,
but it shows the importance of searching for means of
interesting the trade in one's business, directly or in-
directly, by seeking for and taking advantage of novel
or new methods of advertising.
Constant-Potential Charging System Effects Saving
in Chicago Garage
Records of electrical energy consumption in the White
Garage, at 918 Sheridan Road, Chicago, show that since
constant-potential charging apparatus has been installed
the energy cost per car per month has dropped from
$14.73 to $9.49. The original installation at this garage
consisted of seven 30-amp mercury-arc rectifiers and a
12.5-kw motor-generator set with a five-circuit charging
panel. This combination of charging apparatus served
from fifteen to eighteen cars, and together with a 10-hp
elevator motor, a small motor-generator and a tire pump,
consumed 9268 kw-hr. per month. A detailed statement
of the energy consumption with the old equipment is
given in Table I.
• - ;> . ..-■- . ;
ma —■■y*k
ROTARY CONVERTER AND SWITCHBOARD IN THE WHITE
GARAGE
When this apparatus proved inadequate it was re-
moved and replaced by two rotary converters made by
the Northwestern Electric Company of Chicago. With
TABLE I — DETAILED STATEMENT OF ENERGY USED WITH
FORMER EQUIPMENT
Small motor-generator set for charging ignition batteries
and tire pump, kw-hr 224
Seven 30-amp rectifiers, kw-hr 4820
Elevator motor ( 1 0-hp ) , kw-hr si
Motor-generator for batter? charging (12.5 kw), kw-hr 4143
Total kw-hr 9268
these new machines, rated at 35 kw and 10 kw respec-
tively, and a charging panel with twenty-five stations,
an average of twenty-eight and one-half cars a night
have been charged during a month just past. The
energy consumption during the same month, including
that used by the auxiliaries listed in Table I, was 9800
kw-hr. Table II gives the comparative costs of operat-
ing the two installations on the limited-hour alternat-
ing-current schedule under which the garage is taking
service from the Commonwealth Edison Company.
Inquiries regarding the satisfaction to customers re-
....
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 14
suiting from the adoption of the constant-potential sys-
tem of charging brought out the fact that the garage
TABLK II — ENERGY COST UNDER OLD AND NEW SYSTEM
Old New
I retaliation Installation
First 1000 kw-hr. at 5 cents $50.00 $50.00
Next liion kw-hr. at 120.00 120.00
Remainder at 1.1 cents i I2f.v and 1800
kw-hi 46.95 52.80
Total energy charge $216.95 $222.80
Ten per cent discount di due ted 21.69 22 28
Net energs charge $195.26 $200. 52
Demar :.» kw 70.00 7
Total electricity liill $265.26 $27".. ".2
Number of cars charged l * " k
. i car per month for electricity $14. 1 3 $9.49
' J:' ■-' '
has received but one complaint and that this came over
the telephone from a man who had driven his car 70
miles on a single charge and was unable to return to the
garage.
Water-Pip* Thawing
The Edison Sault Electric Company, of Sault Ste.
Marie, Mich., has thawed water pipes by electricity every
winter for the past fifteen years. The practice was
established by a former manager, Mr. W. F. Kingan, and
the method used to-day is substantially the simple one in
use fifteen years ago.
An ordinary 20-kw or 30-kw line transformer,
2200 1100-122 244 volts, sixty cycles, on a sleigh, has
one of the 224-volt taps connected with heavy wire to a
city water hydrant or cut-off, while the other is carried
inside the house and securely fastened to a faucet pipe.
The 1100-volt primary taps are connected to the outside
wires of an ordinary three-wire secondary 220-volt dis-
tribution system without switches, fuses or other cur-
rent-limiting devices. There is usually sufficient resist-
ance in the pipe to keep the flow of current within the
limits of the transformer. An ordinary pipe is usually
thawed in from three to thirty minutes, the charge
being $5.
Handling Out-of-Town Wiring Jobs
Some of the points to be remembered if out-of-town
wiring jobs are to be made profitable for the absentee
electrical contractor were outlined by Mr. A. W. Lind-
gren, of Duluth, Minn., at the recent convention of the
Minnesota Electrical Contractors' Association held at
Minneapolis.
After the contract is secured the details of the job
should be put in charge of the foreman who will super-
vise the work. The man picked must be willing to go
out of town and should preferably be one who will pay
his own living expenses while absent. With this fore-
man the contractor first goes over the plans carefulh .
preparing a list of the material needed. This list will
later be supplemented by periodic requisitions from the
foreman on the job. Tools, supplies, materials, etc.,
must be arranged for in advance wherever possible, and
the demands of tin- work so anticipated that the job
will not be delayed waiting for supplies. The foreman
should take particular tare to follow the specifications
Closely and to make no deviations or changes unless
properly authorized.
Just before the flrsl of each month the foreman should
obtain from the architect, or from the tatter's inspector,
the value of the work done to date. In-
corporating this in his progress repoii to headquarters,
the foreman furnishe the contractor with Information
from which the owner can be lulled for the proper
instalment payment proportionate to the value of the
construction then completed. Where payment is ar-
ranged for on such a basis — often 85 per cent of the
value of material and labor to date — the contractor is
enabled to finance the job largely from the customer's
payments, without the burden of a large outlay.
Motor Rated at 3 Hp Hoists 9.5-Ton Tank
to Roof
The task of hoisting heavy materials during building
construction or of lifting some equipment to the upper
floors of a completed building would be simplified if
simple apparatus like that illustrated herewith were
employed. In the case referred to a 9.5-ton cylindrical
steel tank had to be hoisted to the roof of the building.
A jib carrying a sheave was therefore erected on the
roof and allowed to extend over the sidewalk so that a
cable could be attached to the tank, run through the
sheave, returned through a pulley on the street level,
and wound around a motor-driven drum. The pulley at
the street level was anchored securely by opening a
trap door in the sidewalk and fastening the block to
rigid framework. The motor-driven hoist, which con-
HOISTING TANK WITH SMALL MOTOR
sisted of a 3-hp motor mounted on top of a double-A
frame and geared to the drum, was also anchored by
weighting it and tying to nearby structural pieces. The
motor was operated by connecting it with the New York
Edison Company's service in an adjoining building. The
hoisting equipment was quickly installed and occupied
little space so the traffic in the street was not obstructed
by any engine.
Electrical Ice-Making in the Twin Cities
Although the twin cities of St. Paul and Minneapolis
are surrounded by countless small lakes on which the
winter ice crop never fails, while there are at least
fifteen lakes within the corporate limits of Minneapolis
itself, local ice dealers are finding that artificial ice can
be manufactured by electric power to better advantage
than the natural product can be cut from the nearby
lakes and stored for summer use. The Minneapolis
General Electric Company now has a total ice-making
load of 510 hp in motors, having recently nearly doubled
the rating of its installations. The Consumers' Power
Company in St. Paul recently closed a contract for 400
hp in ice-making load, acquiring this business for the
centra] Btation in competition with the offers of manu-
facturers of oil engines and other efficient prime-mover
units.
Despite the plentiful supplv of splendid natural ice.
April 3, 1915
E I. ECT R IC A L WORLD
867
ire that, with electrical energy at l cent
per kw-hr., ice can he manufactured in motor-driven
plants situated near the consumer thus minimizing the
of delivery i more economically than natural ice
be cut from the lakes and stored six months for
imption during the warm season.
Advance Preparations for the May-First Exodus
Hardly had the first robin signaled the approach of
spring before the Commonwealth Edison Company,
through timely newspaper advertisements, began to re-
mind Chicago apartment dwellers who intend to move
May 1 that they should look well to the electrical equip-
ment of their prospective new homes. First of all, the
intending tenant should be careful to select an electric-
lighted apartment or dwelling, and, secondly, he should
Are You Going to Move
This Spring?
Be sure
that the build-
ing to which you
will move is equipped
f o r Electric Light.
Electricallv-ligbted flats or residences are usually more desirable
in every way. Landlords, appreciating its advantages from a
dollars and cents standpoint . are installing Electric Light even in old
buildings every day; the cost is very little.
Electric Light is more than brilliant,
healthful and convenient; it is the most econom-
ical illuminant. The rates have been constantly reduced
until today they are the lowest that they have ever been — easily
wifhin the reach of the humblest income
EXAMPLE OK TIMELY ADVERTISING
preferably choose one equipped with baseboard outlets
from which cords can be connected to lamps and de-
vices. Several paragraphs of the advertisements which
recently appeared in the Chicago papers were directed
at the landlords as well as the tenants, and emphasized
the low cost of installing electric wiring and baseboard
outlets even in old buildings.
Method of Displaying Fixtures
If the entire ceiling of a fixture-display room is hung
with sample fixtures, the effect may be more confusing
to prospective customers than if the units are supported
around the borders of the ceiling and space is left in the
center for showing fixtures singly. When it is not de-
arable to suspend all of the fixtures from the ceiling,
racks designed similarly to the one shown herewith may
be employed. It consists of a finished board to which
are attached ornamental brackets supporting a horizon-
tal rod on which the fixtures can be hung by means of
■ ned in their upper ends. A number oi I
tened end to end around the walls. With
this arrangement any fixture can be taken from its
place for closer inspection or can be hung on a hook in
the middle of the room to show how it will appear when
installed.
In addition to being provided with a hook, each fixture
RACK FOR SUSPENDING FIXTURES
can be equipped with some sort of electrical connecting
device which will permit the lamps being lighted when
so desired. Bracket fixtures may be fastened to panels
set in the walls and connected for electric service. The
space below the wall fixture may be devoted to tables,
shelves or counters supporting cooking utensils. Be-
neath these may be drawers. Racks like the one de-
scribed herewith are employed in the appliance sales-
room of one of the United Gas & Electric Engineering
Corporation's properties.
Exhaust Fan in Domestic Kitchen
One of the most useful applications of an electric
motor about the household, according to an electrical
man who has made a special point of having his own
home equipped electrically "to the last gasp," is the
motor-driven exhaust fan installed in his kitchen. By
setting up a draft from the dining room and living
quarters into the kitchen, and discharging thence
through a window into the open air, cooking odors are
effectually kept out of the rest of the house. The fan
and motor are mounted in the upper pane of one of the
kitchen windows, and the installation is kept in opera-
tion while food is being cooked, both winter and summer.
Emphasizing the Service Idea at Cleveland
For the last twelve months Mr. Mathias E. Turner,
contract agent of the Cleveland Electric Illuminating
Company, has been impressing the Cleveland public with
FIG. 1 — ANOTHER EFFECTIVE SIGN
the distinction between mere energy supply and modem
central-station service. In the language of the many
signs and window displays utilized by the company :
"Not merely electric light but also illuminating service.
There is a difference." In displaying this legend on
868
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 14
many illuminated signboards in the business section of
the city, advantage is taken of a plan used elsewhere
and already referred to in these columns by which the
electric-lighting company's display is, for a nominal
rental, placed on the unrented signboards of a large
FIG. 2 — ILLUMINATED SIGNBOARD ADVERTISING AT
CLEVELAND
billboard advertising company. The lighting company
illuminates the space bearing its advertisement and
thus helps to attract other advertisers who may also
become purchasers of signboard illumination.
Removing an Objection to the Electric Stove
When some of the customers of the Missouri Public
Utilities Company at Poplar Bluff, Mo., suggested that
lifting the detachable oven of an electric stove was a
heavy task for a frail woman, Mr. F. M. Wilkes, local
manager of the electric-service company, overcame the
objection by having several ranges installed with
counterweighted attachments. The auxiliary apparatus
consisted merely of a 2-in. canvas band, a steel ring, a
short piece of sash cord, a pair of pulleys and a window
weight. The steel ring was slipped over the canvas band
and the band attached to the hinges of the oven. From
% \\ Ceiling ■■ I
1
Window Weight
■ Sash Cord
X
Electric
Stove
Steel Ring
? 'Canvas
(I 11 Floor
OVEN LIFTER FOR ELECTRIC RANGE
the ring the sash cord was run over the two pulleys,
which were fastened to the ceiling, and the window
weight was attached to the opposite end of the cord.
Lifting an oven equipped in this fashion is an operation
as simple and as easy as raising a window. The plan.
shown schematically in the drawing herewith, has the
further advantage of placing the oven when not in use
in a convenient position where it does not take up any
floor space.
Motor-Driven Household Ash Sifter
A Massachusetts man has arranged a fractional-horse-
power motor to drive his household ash sifter through a
gear and pinion. The motor can be removed and used
for other purposes about the house when not needed to
operate the ash sifter, but in two years' service the out-
fit is declared to have saved the entire cost of motor,
sifter and mechanism by the fuel reclaimed. An or-
dinary hand-operated sifter was employed.
Levee Lighting at Lafayette, Ind.
In the flood of March, 1913, the levee which connected
Lafayette, Ind., with its neighbor city, West Lafayette,
was swept clear of nearly everything which it supported,
and in the general destruction the former magnetite
street lighting was put out of service. Since that time
rehabilitation of the connecting thoroughfare has been
LIGHTING ON LEVEE BETWEEN TWO CITIES
under way, the work consisting of widening both the
street and the sidewalks and building a new concrete
bridge. The illustration herewith shows a part of the
thirty 350-watt gas-filled lamps which will be used to
illuminate the new 80-ft. boulevard when it is completed.
Columbus Sign Ordinance
An ordinance passed by the City Council at Columbus,
Ohio, will necessitate the removal of all overhanging
Bigns on the streets by Sept. 15. Signs may be replaced
parallel to the buildings, but in no case. will they be
allowed to extend more than 12 in. from the building
line. In Columbus there are many electric signs, some
of them very handsome, and for this reason the ordi-
nance will result in considerable loss. If replaced as the
ordinance allows, the signs will lose much of their effect-
tiveness, since they can be seen only when looking
direct]] toward the walls to which they are affixed.
Many merchants on South High Street protested against
the passage of the ordinance, bui without effect.
April 8, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
M
NEW APPARATUS AND APPLIANCES
Electrically Seated (ilue Pot
In the accompanying illustration is shown a 1-quart
electrically operated glue pot The pot ia of sheet alu-
minum and consists of a containing vessel, a heating
element and an outer shell. A steei wire ring is util-
ized to hind the rims of the outer and inner vessels rijr-
BLECTRIC GLUE POT
idly together, and a bail of limite.d range is provided
so that it does not get in the way of the heating cord
or the brushes. A brush wiper and rest are riveted in-
side the pot. By means of the air space between the
inner and outer vessels heat is distributed evenly over
the side and bottom of the containing vessel, eliminating
the necessity of a water jacket. According to the manu-
facturer, the Fearn Company, 206 North Frederic
Street, Baltimore, Md., the pot, besides being used for
heating glue, for which it is primarily designed, is also
being extensively utilized for heating sealing wax, par-
affin and chocolate.
Large-Sized Insulator for Wireless Towers
In the accompanying illustration is shown an insulator
designed for use with wireless apparatus at the United
States government station at Arlington. The insfllator
is '.i in. in diameter and 10 in. high and is provided with
petticoats or corrugations to increase the creepage dis-
tance for rainy or stormy weather. It is furnished with
a metal cap and base for attaching to the bottom of the
INSULATOR BASE FOR WIRELESS TOWERS
towers so as to provide an insulated base for the support
and insulation of the towers. The insulator weighs
128 lb. and is designed to sustain a compression load of
500,000 lb. Its ultimate strength is said to be 1,150,000
lb. per sq. in. A number of insulators of the above type
were made by the Pittsburgh High Voltage Insulator
Company, Derry, Pa.
Insulating Composition Material
An insulating material containing boron, which is
called "boro-porcelain," is being made by Fred M. Locke,
Victor, N. Y. With this material a low dielectric con-
stant and high dielectric and mechanical strength are
obtained and the coefficient of expansion is almost as
INSULATOR OF "BORO-PORCELAIN
low, it is declared, as fused silica. According to the
manufacturer, the voltage required to arc over the sur-
face of an insulator made of this material is 20 per cent
to 30 per cent more than for one of high-grade porcelain,
and the dielectric strength is 50 per cent greater than
that of porcelain. It is especially adapted for use with
high-voltage transmission lines.
Control Equipment for Electric Lift Bridge
The vertical lift bridge over the Willamette River at
Portland, Ore., is electrically operated and was designed
by Waddel & Harrington, consulting engineers of Kan-
sas City, Mo. On the lower deck provision is made for
a double-track railway in a roadway 32 ft. 8 in. wide in
the clear. The upper deck provides for a double-track
street railway in a roadway 29 ft. 3 in. in the clear be-
tween trusses, besides two roadways on cantilevers for
vehicle traffic and two sidewalks for pedestrians.
The entire operation is electrical, direct-current
motors being used, which take energy from the street-
— rWnil.— , rii WLiihib
FIG. 1 — WILLAMETTE RIVER BRIDGE, PORTLAND. ORE.
railway circuit. The lower lifting deck is raised to its
lull height or lowered in thirty seconds, it is declared,
and both decks can be raised to their full height or
lowered in sixty seconds. To allow passage of river
boats the lower deck only is raised, without interfering
with traffic on the upper deck. To permit the passage
of high-masted sailing vessels, the lower deck telescopes
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 66, No. 14
with the upper deck, and both are raised to a clear
height of 140 ft. above high-water mark, as shown in
Fig. 1. The control of the movement of these decks is
accomplished by one man, who operates a master re-
mote-control drum. Energy for the motors is dis-
tributed through a magnetic switch panel which is eon-
FTC. 2 CONTROL PANEL USED WITH MASTER CONTROLLER
nected to the master drum. The control equipment, the
control panel of which is shown in Fig. 2, was made by
the Cutler-Hammer Manufacturing Company, Milwau-
kee, Wis.
Porcelain Sockets
Various types of key, keyless and pull porcelain
sockets, the interior fittings, shells, caps and bases of
which are separate as in brass-shell sockets and are in-
terchangeable, have recently been placed on the market
by the Weber Electric Company, Schenectady, N. Y.,
for which Henry D. Sears, 131 State Street, Boston,
Mass.. is general sales agent. The sockets are wired and
assembled in the same manner as brass-shell sockets.
r
FIGS. I
KEY, KEYLESS AND PU1 l SOCKETS
The shell i i;i tened to the cap or base on the outside
The same kind of chain guides is em-
ployed for the porcelain pull sockets as is used in bl
shell iade by the above company. The por-
celain is finished in either white or chocolate g]g
desired, old or brush-brass finish ia utilized on chains.
chain guides and fixture cap
Tubular Flashlamps Shaped Like Fountain Pen
A flashlamp which is similar in shape to a fountain
pen, although somewhat larger, is being placed on the
market by the Interstate Electric Novelty Company, 29
Park Place, New York. The device is equipped with a
jUmwiii.'
"FOUNTAIN-PEN" FLASHLAMP
"radio lens" tungsten lamp, as it is called, and a clip, as
shown in the accompanying illustration, for fastening
the device to the clothing. The device is called the
"Franco penlite" and is made in black, nickel or oxi-
dized finish.
Two-Passenger Gasoline-Electric Automobile
In Fig. 1 is shown a gasoline-electric car which is
used for testing purposes by the manufacturer, the
Gait Motor Company, Gait, Ont. This car is similar to
the five-passenger automobile described in the Electri-
cal World of Feb. 6. The equipment includes a slow-
PIG. 1 — TWO-PASSENGER GASOLINE-ELECTRIC CAR
speed two-cylinder engine operating at a speed of 700
r.p.m. with a compression of 160 lb. per sq. in., a 50-volt
generator operating at a speed of 700 r.p.m., a 44-volt
motor operating at 1300 r.p.m. and a 48-volt battery
with a rating of 140 amp-hr. The weight of the equip-
ment is 450 lb. The outfit measures 24 in. over all and
is rated at (> kw. Fig. 2 shows the arrangement of in-
•■X
PIG. 2 ARRANGEMENT OF INSTRUMENTS ON DASHBOARD
Btruments on the dashboard. The rheostal is used only
for testing. The upper switch is for cranking the en-
trine, using the generator as a motor. The lower switch
is connected to the motor circuit. The controller is BO
designed that the car can lie driu'ii at five speeds for-
ward and thrM reverse speeds. The speed varies from
" miles per hour to 80 nnles per hour.
April 3, 1915
ELECTRICAL WnRLI)
Temperature Recorder
A recording instrument railed the "tapalog," which is
with thermocouples and which it
adapt' rding low voltage* or small amounts
of current, has just been developed bj the Wilson-
en Company, l K.<-' Forty-second Street. New
INSTRUMENT FOR RECORDING TEMPERATURES WITH
THERMOCOUPLES
York. Records are made on a sheet of paper as shown
in the accompanying illustration, by dots, one dot being
marked every twelve seconds. An indicating scale is
mounted along the front edge of a chopping boom which
lea the tip of a pointer approximately at a right
angle. The recording paper, which is transparent trac-
ing paper, passes under the pointer. A typewriter
ribbon in endless-band form travels around two pulleys
and runs under the record paper and at right angles to
the direction of travel of the paper. Paralleling the
typewriter ribbon and under it is a bar with a sharp
edge along the top. The tip of the pointer of the gal-
vanometer is hard, and the chopper boom intermittently
strikes the tip of the pointer; where the pointer crosses
the straight edge under the ribbon a small dot is re-
corded on the under side of the paper which is visible
from the top surface.
The typewriter ribbon is made to oscillate trans-
ly to its teed by a crank motion which distributes
the wear in something like a sine wave. The ribbon is
also driven belt-fashion so that there is no chance of
wearing a dry space in the typewriter ribbon, even if the
record is taken at practically one point of the scale.
The chopper boom is over-counterbalanced and tends
to rise of its own accord but is pulled down by an elec-
tromagnet. The circuit operating the electromagnet is
closed during the whole downward stroke of the chop-
per, though at the very bottom of the stroke the contact
is opened and set back of a detent. The chopper then
to fly up, but is caused to engage with a wheel on
one of the cluck spindles and cannot rise taster than the
clock spindle turns so that the clock retards the upward
motion of the chopper and therefore furnishes the tim-
ing and the interval between chops. When the chopper
has risen to a suitable position it releases the detent
and the circuit is closed and the chopper forced down-
ward again by the electromagnet, repeating the cycle.
The contact itself is formed between a piece of platinum-
rhodium on the end of a lever and a spiral wire on the
periphery of a rotating wheel which is on the clock
spindle. When the detent is released the contact lever
strikes the contact wheel a blow which closes the circuit.
To guard against the possibility of having mechanical
contact without electrical contact one of the conta.
continually rotating.
In its simplest form the instrument is designed to
take a record of one poinl in one color; but an attach-
ment can be provided making more than one record, as
shown at the left in the illustration, which i
a rotary switch with gold slide wires mounted on
bakelite disks and with scraping platinum contacts.
The switch is operated by an electromagnet connected
in parallel with that operating the chopper. The instru-
ment is so designed that after either four or eight
blows of the chopper the switch shifts and the type-
writer ribbon, which in the case of the multiple-record
instrument, is a multi-color ribbon, shifts so as to bring
a new color under the pointer, and the record of two,
three or four points can be taken each in a distinctive
color, these colors being for the four-record instrument
red, black, green and violet. The carriage containing
the record paper, typewriter ribbon, etc., is pivoted so
that it will drop forward and downward in order that
the paper and ribbon can be changed at a point away
from the sensitive galvanometer. The carriage is then
lifted into position and is held there by a lock bar to
which the battery circuit for operating the instrument is
connected. If the lock bar is withdrawn before lowering
the carriage, the battery circuit is opened. The instru-
ment is inclosed in a dust-proof metal case with a plate-
glass front and top.
Steam Meters
An instrument for recording the amount of steam
used in a plant is shown in the accompanying illustra-
tion. The charts employed with the meter are cali-
brated directly in pounds of steam per hour, and cor-
rections are automatically made for fluctuations of
boiler pressure. The operation of the instrument is
based on the principle of the Pitot tube. Two small
tubes with one end of each bent at a right angle are
STEA M -RECORPI NO M ETER
inserted in the pipe in which the steam is flowing in
such a position that the end of one faces the direction
of the flow and the other is turned in the opposite direc-
tion. The rush of steam past the tubes causes in one a
slight increase and in the other a corresponding de-
crease in the static pressure in the pipe. The difference
in pressure is a measure of the velocity of the steam,
872
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 14
and by connecting the two tubes to a sensitive differ-
ential pressure recorder a record is obtained of the
quantity of steam passing through the pipe. A single
three-way cock controls both tubes and also enables
steam to be blown through the tube periodically for
cleaning purposes.
All moving parts of the instrument are mounted on a
solid cast-iron base and back-plate and are covered by
an aluminum case with glass front, as shown in the
accompanying illustration. The outside dimensions are
15 in. by 9 in. by 9 in., and the weight is 50 lb. The
two pressures in the test plug act upon the two sides
of a sensitive diaphragm, the movements of which are
transmitted to a pen through a system of levers in such
a way that the curve traced upon the paper chart rep-
resents the weight of steam passing. An automatic
pressure regulator consisting of a hollow spring of the
Bourdon type is provided for taking care of the varia-
tions in boiler pressure. Connection between the meter
and the test plug is made by :,*-in. copper tubing. In-
terposed between the plug and the meter are condenser
coils, which consist of %-in. copper tubing, the func-
tion of which is to provide the meter as well as the
connecting pipes with comparatively cool water. The
device is called the "Curnon" steam meter, and it is
being placed on the market by James G. Biddle, 1211
Arch Street, Philadelphia, Pa.
Motor-Driven Ice-Cream Freezer
The ice-cream freezer shown herewith is driven by a
1-hp or 2-hp motor according to the service required and
is operated in connection with a refrigerating plant.
i i i< rail u.n OPERATED ii i I RI \ U FREEZES
The motor li connected to the machine by silent chains
to in. below tin' base. The freezing chamber
ia of l m.i i- pi -i)\ Ided n 1th a scrapi
which revolve in oppo ns. The base of
the chamber is hollow and contains the freezing mix-
ture. The ice-cream freezer is being made by the Emery
Thompson Machine & Supply Company, 235 East Forty-
first Street, New York.
Small Tubular Ammeter
An ammeter for measuring the current of batteries
and other circuits up to 30 amp is shown in the accom-
panying illustration. According to the manufacturers,
the device is very rugged and practically indestructible.
When connected to a circuit the current is read by
means of the small projection or tongue shown in the
TUBULAR AMMETER
illustration. The bottom of the device forms one con-
tact while the other contact is connected to a cord. A
cap is provided which is placed over the top of the in-
strument when not in use. The instrument is small
enough to place in one's vest pocket. It is being placed
on the market by the Benford Manufacturing Company,
Mount Vernon, N. Y.
Portable Air Compressor for Inflating Tires
A small motor-driven air compressor designed es-
pecially for inflating automobile tires has recently been
developed by the Brunner Manufacturing Company,
Utica, N. Y. Use is made of a two-cylinder compressor,
and the cylinders are 1.625 in. by 1.5 in. Each piston
PORTABLE MOTOR-DRIVEN COMPRESSOR
is fitted with three ground metal rings. The motor,
the air compressor and a small cast-iron tank are
mounted on a cast-iron base. The base is fastened to
two iron wheels which are under the motor and a
Bwivel cushion-tired wheel under the compressor. The
handle is 30 in. high and is provided with heavy hooks
tor hanging the hose and cord. The length of the
apparatus Is 20 in., the height 16 in., and the width
L5.6 in. it weighs no lb. A 0.25-hp motor is em-
ployed to operate the machine, and for alternating-
April 3. 1916
KI.KCTRICAL WORLD
873
current outfits a Wagner repulsion-induction-type motor
• <1, and for direct-current sets a compound-wound
Bobbins <x Myers motor. The motor is connected to the
compressor by means of a cloth pinion.
Small Electrical Stove
The "El Grilatovo," illustrated herewith, has recently
been developed by the Hotpoint Electric Heating Com-
pany, Ontario. Cal., and will be a feature of a special
selling campaign which will be inaugurated by the above
ELECTRICALLY OPERATED STOVE
company during the week of May 3-8, which will be
called "Hotpoint week." The stove can be connected to
any lamp socket, and cooking can be performed above
and below the coils at the same time. The stove is
equipped with a deep under-dish, as shown, and a re-
movable broiling ^grid. Use is made of a reflector to
concentrate the heat upon the food when only one oper-
ation is performed. The stove can be utilized as a table
as well as a kitchen appliance. The diameter of the
top is 7.25 in., the height 4 in., and the diameter of the
base 9 in. The device is of pressed steel and is finished
in polished nickel.
Low-Priced Light- Weight Electric Passenger
Vehicle
The Dey Electric Vehicle Syndicate, 45 Broadway,
New York, the formation of which was noted in the
Electrical World of Nov. 7, 1914, has been working
on a new type of electric vehicle, the feature of which
is the motor, which is in the rear axle and is equipped
with revolving field and revolving armature. The axle is
an invention of Mr. Harry E. Dey, who is engineer of
the syndicate. Mr. Max E. Schmidt is chairman, Mr.
H. W. Hillman treasurer, and Dr. C. P. Steinmetz con-
sulting engineer of the syndicate.
The field of the motor turns one of the rear wheels
of the vehicle and the armature turns the other; hence
MOTOR WITH REVOLVING ARMATURE AND FIELD ATTACHED
TO REAR AXLE
the motor acts as its own differential. The rear axle
and motor are shown in the accompanying illustration.
With this arrangement considerable space underneath
the car is saved and is available for the battery. A new
type of control has been designed for use with the car
which pre. rable extent the retardation
of speed when climbing hills. When going down hill
the motor a • aerator at three different speeds,
thus acting a- a brake and recharging the battery.
The axle and motor were originally fitted to a Bab-
cock victoria, but a new car is now being built which
will be completed within the next month. The new car
will seat three pa ad will weigh approximately
1100 lb. The body will be of a light material and of
le to cover about
100 miles on one charge.
Outlet-Hox Attachments
The fitting shown in Fig. 1 is designed for connecting
iron conduit to an open outlet-box cover plastered in the
ceiling. The device illustrated in Fig. 2 is designed for
connecting National Metal molding to an open outlet-box
FIGS.
-ATTACHMENTS FOR OUTLET BOXES
cover. The fitting takes any of the covers used on the
molding boxes made by James C. Phelps, Springfield,
Mass., the manufacturer of the two above attachments.
It is said to be useful for extending metal molding from
outlet boxes. These fittings have been approved by the
National Board of Fire Underwriters.
Vibration Galvanometer
The vibration galvanometer shown herewith is of the
moving-coil or D'Arsonval type and is a recent develop-
ment of the Leeds & Northrup Company, 4901 Stenton
Avenue, Philadelphia, Pa. The moving system consists
of a solid coil of wire whose cross-section is rectangular.
A mirror is fastened rigidly to the coil. Rough adjust-
ment is obtained by turning the thumb-screw shown at
VIBRATION GALVANOMETER OF D ARSONVAL TYPE
the top of the instrument, which causes the fret to move
up and down along the upper suspension, thereby caus-
ing the effective length of the suspension to be changed.
To secure fine adjustment the tension of the suspension
is altered by means of a thumb-screw at the back of the
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 14
instrument. The galvanometer is most conveniently
read with a lamp and scale, projecting an image of the
bright lamp filament upon the scale and noting the
broadening of the image when the system vibrates. The
width of the hand of light measures the amplitude of
vibration of the system, and hence the magnitude of the
current in the galvanometer circuit. According to the
manufacturers, one of the valuable characteristics of
the instrument is its lack of response to the harmonic
components of the exciting current. As a result it may
be employed on measuring circuits where the source
of emf is far from being a sinusoidal one.
Concrete Lighting Standards
A reinforced-concrete lighting standard of attractive
design and appearance is being installed in a number
of California cities, including the beach resorts, where
metal standards have suffered severely in the past
owing to the action of salt air. Fig. 1 shows a single-
lamp standard in the design of which the true propor-
tions of the Doric column have been followed. It is pro-
vided with either a square or octagonal base. Fig. 2
illustrates a three-lamp standard, using the same type
of shaft.
The standards are built in three parts, shaft, base
and capital being cast separately by the centrifugal
process. In the employment of this process a wooden
or metal mold of the desired outline and dimension is
thought it might seem that the larger particles only
would be forced to the outside, leaving a rough surface.
However, all voids are filled and the resultant product
has a hard and smooth surface. The surface is simi-
lar to cut and polished stone, it is asserted, hence the
Fir,. 3-
-CONCRETE POLES USED IN CONSTRUCTION OF OPEN
ELECTRIC-RAILWAY DEPOT
trade name "marbelite." The size of the hollow core
depends on the quantity of material placed in the mold.
While this process may be employed for the manu-
facture of a large variety of concrete products, it is
especially suitable for making reinforced-concrete elec-
troliers. In the standards shown, the base, shaft and
capital are cast separately and when erected are secure-
ly anchored to a concrete foundation by twisted-steel
reinforcing bars. These standards are being manufac-
tured by the American Cement Products Company. 517
Union Oil Building, Los Angeles.
FIGS. 1 AND 2 — SINGLE-LAMP AND THREE-LAMP STANDARDS
made in two or more parts. Where steel reinforce-
ment i required the steel pieces are "built up," placed
ir. the mold, and properly supported from the wall
on a dead center. The sections of the mold are then
securely clamped together, and the desired mixture of
gravel, sand and cement is introduced at the end. The
mold with its contents is then placed in a specially de-
'l machine and revolved at high speed, the rate of
speed depending on the diameter of the mold. A nat-
ural selection of the heavier particles of the aggregate
results from this operation, and they are forced to the
After revolving thirty minute- the mold is with-
drawn from the machine and allowed tO stand for
twenty-four hours before the contents are rein
when .itei\ handled without tear of injury
to the surface. A further open-air curing, keeping the
product moistened, complete the process. At first
Combined Regulator and Cut-Out for Automobile
Lighting Outfit
A device designed to regulate the output of an auto-
mobile generator, regardless of the speed at which the
armature revolves, and to break the circuit between the
generator and battery when the generator is not run-
ning, thus preventing the discharge of the battery back
to the generator, is being made by the Carleton Com-
pany-, 170 Summer Street, Boston, Mass. It consists of
two armatures, a shunt and a series coil, and a resistor
which is connected to the shunt field by means of the
vibrating armature. Use is made of double sliding
Ci ntacts, one contact being of carbon and the other of
bronze. When the generator is started the shunt coil is
energized, and it pulls in the carbon-tipped armature.
I OMBINED GOVERNOR wi> CI i 01 i
thus throwing the series coil into the circuit and
plcting the battery circuit. When the generator starts
or slows down sufficient h a spring opens the circuit
When the current in tin- series coil rises to the point
determined for regulation the vibrating regulator cir-
Apcii. 3, 1916
ELECTRICAL WORLD
875
cuit is opened and thi anected in series
with the -hunt field, causing the charging current to
sufficiently to allow the regulator to return to its
normal position, then ircuiting th<
The di ut l Hi. and mea d. by
tirely inclosed by a Btamped-steel
which
Lamp Fixture with CoUapaibk Shade
The lighting fixture shown in the accompanying illus-
tration- i- equipped with a collapsible shade, the shade
being folded as illustrated in Fig. 1 and extended as
shown in Fig. 2. The collapsible feature is especially
FIG. 1 — SHADE COLLAPSED
convenient for packing purposes, and as a result the
unit can be sold al a lower price, it is declared, than
would otherwise be possible. The shades are of various
kinds of cretonnes and are finished in beautiful designs.
FIG. 2 — SHADE UNFOLDED
At a distance of 15 ft. or 20 ft., the effect, it is asserted,
is similar to that obtained with the more expensive
glassware. The fixture is being made by Rose Brothers
& Company, manufacturers of umbrellas and parasols,
Lancaster, Pa.
Demountable Switch
With the "bulldog" demountable safe' nown
in the accompanying illustration, the ends of the branch-
circuit cross-liars of a panelboard are utilized as the
stationary element- of contact. The movable pari
the switch comprise four leaved-copper brushes, each
FIG. 1 — SWITCH IN OPEN POSITION
of which is protected by a special copper arcing tip
and a pair of fuse receptacles. All of the parts are in
turn mounted on an insulating block that is actuated
by means of an insulating handle. The latter is ex-
panded at its outer end to accommodate a recessed face
into which a paper disk bearing the name or number
of the circuit controlled may be pressed. The moving
parts are attached to a heavy V-shaped spring, which
acts with a pair of dogs which slide along the central
FIG. 2 — SWITCH IN CLOSED POSITION
post shown in Fig. 1. This post rises from a metallic-
base which is fastened to the panelboard by means of
two machine screws. This fastening constitutes the
demountable feature, as it requires only a moment's
work to loosen the pair of screws and remove the
working parts. It is thus possible to install the panel-
board while a building is undergoing construction, and
later attach the switches after the plastering and other
dirty work has been completed. The spring system
FIG. 3 — SWITCH WITH PLUG FUSES
is designed to produce a strong snap action in opening
or closing the switch. The switches are being made
for use with either the cartridge-type fuse or plug
lust's by the Mutual Electric & Machine Company,
Wheeling, W. Va.
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 14
Pole-Line Equipment
The accompanying illustrations show two new pole-
line devices which have recently been placed on the mar-
ket by the St. Louis .Malleable Casting Company, 7700
North Broadway, St. Louis, Mo. Fig. 1 shows a mal-
FIG. 1 — POLE SADDLE
FIG. 2 — EXTENSION BRACKET
leable-iron pole saddle for attaching and supporting
cross-arms to metal or concrete poles. The saddle may
be attached by turning up the two nuts with the fingers.
When weight is applied to the cross-arm the saddle
holds firmly under the application of the downward
pressure, since the more weight applied to the cross-arm
the tighter the saddle clings to the pole. The straps and
hinges are made in double pairs so that, should one pair
break, the other pair alone is able to carry many times
the load required.
Fig. 2 shows a form of pole bracket designed for use
in cities where local rules require that wires shall be
14 in. from the center of the pole. The ears, which are
curved to fit the surface of the pole, are adjustable to
practically any diameter.
Battery-Operated Lantern
The lanterns shown in Figs. 1 and 2 are operated by
ordinary dry cells, which are inclosed in polished-oak
with nickel-plated fittings. One cell is employed
with the lantern shown in Fig. 1 and two cells with that
shown in Fig. 2. The former is 3.25 in. by 3.25 in. by
8 in. in size and is equipped with a 1.5-volt lamp. The
latter is 3.25 in. by •'> in. by 8 in. in size and is equipped
i i:-. OPERATED LANTERNS INCLOSED
IN OAK I -
with a 2.8-volt lamp. Both lanterns, it is claimed, will
throw the i out 100 ft.
According to the statement of the concern man
taring the lanterns, the Illuminating Electric Manufac-
turing ' 16 South Third street. Philadelphia,
Pa., the larger lantern will burn for more than 100
hours with one battery and the smaller for more than
fifty hours with one battery.
Electrician's Pliers
Mathias Klein & Sons, 562 West Van Buren Street,
Chicago, 111., manufacture the two recently developed
pliers illustrated herewith. The tools, it is asserted,
FIG. 1 — NEEDLE-NOSED PLIER
will effect a clean cut without breaking silk-covered wire.
The pliers are of the "millinery" type and are provided
with safeguards against the possibility of the wire be-
FIG. 2 — BLUNT-ENDED PLIER
coming caught in the joint. This safety feature is ac-
complished by means of a lap-joint construction. The
pliers are of tool steel and are hand-forged.
Electric Water Heater
The device shown herewith is 3 in. in diameter and
30 in. long, and is used for heating water. It is de-
signed to give one or three gradations of heat as
desired, and may be controlled by a switch which is
ELECTRIC IMMERSION WATER HEATER
connected as shown or by a remote-control switch. The
device is made with different ratings so that it will
heat from SO gal. to 30,000 gal. of water a day. It is
being made by Apfel & .lansen, L626 Fourth Avenue,
Seattle, Wash.
Area
ELECTRICAL WORLD
877
CURRENT NEWS SECTION
"Electrical Prosperitj Week
"Electrical Prosperitj Week" baa been selected ;t-s the
appropriate title for the national electrical celebra-
tion to be held during the first week in December. The
fall conclusions of the March 24 meeting of the executive
committee, held at the Railroad Club, New York, were
not announced when last week's issue of the ELECTRICAL
World went to press. The executive committee to guide
the campaign is as follows: Mr. A. W. Burchard, vice-
president General Electric Company, chairman, alter-
nate. Mr. F. 11. Gale, advertising manager General
Electric Company; Mr. Gerard Swope, vice-president
Western Electric Company, alternate. Mr. E. W. Rocka-
fellow, sales department Western Electric Company ; Mr.
J. R. Strong, president Tucker Electrical Construction
Company, alternate, Mr. George W'eiderman, George
Weiderman Electric Company, Inc.; Mr. Frank W.
Smith, vice-president United Electric Light & Power
•any. New York, alternate. Mr. George Williams,
Henry L. Doherty & Company; Mr. Hugh M. Wilson,
rice-president McGraw Publishing Company, alternate,
Mr. Frank B. Rae, Jr., Electrical Merchandise.
Much discussion took place at the meeting on the ques-
tion of the date. Those who favored a time in the fall
argued that that is the most advantageous season, al-
though they admitted that a tremendous amount of
work would have to be done to make the celebration
successful. They also held that enthusiasm had already-
been aroused and that postponement would cause a loss
of interest. Those who favored a date in the spring
argued that central stations would be in a better position
at that time to conduct house-wiring campaigns and to
render aid. Finally Mr. Frank H. Gale suggested that
the week to include Dec. 1 be selected. Mr. Frank W.
Smith, representing central stations, seconded the mo-
tion, and the vote was unanimous.
Among the various designations for the week in addi-
tion to "Electrical Prosperity Week," which was se-
lected, were "National Electric Week," "National Elec-
trical Prosperity Week," "National Electrical Prosperity
," "National Electrical Progress Week," and
"Electrical Development Week." A committee of three
made the final decision.
stated in the ELECTRICAL World of March 27,
1915, the responsibility is placed upon the general man-
ager of the Society for Electrical Development, Mr. .1.
M. Wakeman, and his stall'. Mr. II. W. Alexander, man-
ager of the department of publicity, will have charge
of the publicity work. Mr. Wakeman was directed to
prepare a budget of the expense for submission to the
Itive committee at its meeting on April 7. At this
meeting names of fifty l<x-al members of committees to
handle the campaign at different geographical centers
will be considered.
Among the plans under consideration are a national
advertising campaign in magazines, local newspaper ad-
vertising in each locality, special film productions for
motion-picture theaters, poster displays, electric signs,
billboards and electric-railway cards. A motion-picture
film showing the history of development of electrical
energj has been suggested. Special attractions will be
offered bj the Panama-Pacific Exposition during the
week.
Report of Committee on Wiring of Existing
Buildings
A meeting of the committee on wiring of existing
buildings of the National Electric Light Association
was held on March 24, at the Engineers' Club, New
York City. Mr. Hale reported in regard to plugs
and receptacles the information given at the meeting
of the manufacturers of those articles, and that the
underwriters had referred the suggested changes in
the rules to provide for a classification of plugs and
receptacles to a committee for further action. General
satisfaction was expressed at the action of the under-
writers in continuing the sub-committee for further
investigation of bare concentric wire, as it was the
feeling of the N. E. L. A. committee that this would
broaden the field and start investigation not only of
bare concentric wire itself but of the other similar
systems which might reduce the cost of wiring without
reducing the safety.
Several members announced that they intended to
make installations of bare concentric wire as soon as
the wire and fittings could be secured, and it was stated
that some lots of the wire had already been shipped or
would be shipped In a day or two.
It was voted to hold another meeting on May 7 or 14
at Baltimore, Md„ with a view to preparing a supple-
mentary report for the convention in regard to plugs
and receptacles and on further experience with bare
concentric wire, as there would be a great deal on both
of these subjects that could not be given to the printer
in time for the San Francisco report and yet which
should be laid before the convention.
Standardization of Plugs and Receptacles
A meeting of the manufacturers of plugs and recep-
tacles working in conjunction with the committee on
wiring of existing buildings of the National Electric
Light Association was held at the Engineers' Club, New
York, March 23, 1915. The makers of the straight-pull
type of plugs and receptacles announced that they were
making progress toward an agreement of standardiza-
tion and that they would be ready to report in the
course of two or three weeks as to what agreement they
might make and on what terms the holders of patents
might be prepared to issue licenses. The manufacturers
of the angle-pull or rock-out type also stated that they
were taking steps toward an agreement for standardiza-
tion and hope to be able to report in a similar way and
to make an announcement in the course of two or three
weeks. The straight-pull-type manufacturers had
previously selected Mr. Sargent, of the General Elec-
tric Company, as their chairman, and at this meeting
the manufacturers of the angle-pull type selected Mr.
R. B. Benjamin as their representative.
Mr. Hale, of the N. E. L. A. committee on wiring of
existing buildings, called the attention of the commit-
tee to the fact that if the terms of licenses were con-
sidered unfair by any manufacturer, whether reasonably
or unreasonably, this would necessarily prevent stand-
ardization on any single type, at least until the patent
had expired. The meeting adjourned with the under-
standing that the two chairmen above mentioned would
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 14
as soon as practicable notify Mr. Hale as to what action
had been taken toward standardization and under what
terms the licenses for the two types would be issued,
and that a meeting would be called again by Mr. Hale
as soon as he should hear from them.
It is very probable that in the course of the next
few months an agreement on a straight-pull type of plug
and receptacle and on an angle-pull or rock-out type
of plug and receptacle may be reached, which if the
license terms are reasonable will reduce the number of
types to two, instead of the fifteen or twenty which are
now in use, though for some time the old types may
continue to be manufactured and used to a small extent.
The possibility of reducing the number of types to
one only was discussed, but the comparative advan-
tages of concealed contacts, which are most easily avail-
able with the straight-pull type, as compared with the
more exposed contact but ease of disconnection of the
angle-pull type, are still so largely a matter of debate
that a final decision between these two types will prob-
ably not be arrived at for some time and certainly will
not be reached unless holders of patents of the type
that is finally to be established shall make unusually
fair license terms.
at the hotel, and the attractiveness of the exhibits was
attested by the fact that the exhibit rooms were gen-
erally well filled by central-station men.
Minnesota Electrical Association
From the standpoint of attendance, the eighth annual
convention of the Minnesota Electrical Association,
held at the St. Paul Hotel, St. Paul, Minn., March 23,
24 and 25, was the largest meeting of the association
in recent years. About 150 members and guests were
registered, and at the banquet nearly 300 persons were
in attendance. Following an address of welcome by
Mayor Winn Powers of St. Paul, the technical program
of the convention was presented as follows: President's
address by Mr. R. E. Brown of Mankato; report of
secretary and treasurer, Mr. F. A. Otto of St. Paul;
"Oil Engines for Central Stations," by Mr. C. G. Sprado
of Milwaukee, Wis. ; "Financing Problems of Public Util-
ities," by Mr. W. H. Hodge of Chicago; "Incandescent-
Lamp Developments," by Mr. Ward Harrison of Cleve-
land, Ohio; "Work of the University of Minnesota Exten-
sion Bureau," by Prof. G. D. Shepardson of Minneapolis;
"Central-Station Diversity Factors," by Prof. W. T. Ryan
of Minneapolis; "The Watt-hour Meter," by Mr. W. L.
Wadsworth of Minneapolis; "Resuscitation and First
Aid for Electric Shocks and Burns," by Dr. E. H. Whit-
comb of St. Paul; "Proper Electrical Installation," by
Mr. (). Frykman of Minneapolis; "Incandescent Lamps
and Lamp Testing," by Mr. Preston S. Millar of New
York Citj ; "Friendship as a Factor in Load Building,"
by Mr. W. X. Matthews of St. Louis. Mo.; "High-Ten-
~if.ii Outdoor Substations," by Mr. H. W. Young of
Chicago, and "Achievements in Accident Prevention,"
by Mr. D. I). Leecohier of St. Paul The result of the
election of officers announced at the last session of tin'
i ntion was as follows: President, Mr. T. D. Crocker
of Minneapolis; first vice-president, Mr. .1. C. Bang of
Madison. Minn.; second vice-president, Mr. .1. \V. Peter-
son of Fergus Falls; secretary and treasurer, Mr. I' A
■ if St. Paul: executive committee, Messrs. R. E.
Brown of Mankato, R. F. Pack of Minneapolis, and
Ludwig Kemper of Albert Lea. At the banquel given
by the attending jobberl and manufacturers on the
evening of March 24 short speeches were delivered by
Mayor Powers, Mr. R. F. Pack of Minneapolis, Mr. Paul
Doty of St. Paul. Mr. W. N. Matthews of St. Louis.
and Mr Preston S. Millar of Nfw York. Association
members who have attended the meetings of the BO-
tit .-d upon the educational
character of the manufacturers' and jobbers' exhibits
Changes in National Electrical Code
While a number of changes were made in the Na-
tional Electrical Code by the National Fire Protection
Association at its biennial meeting in New York City
on March 24 and 25, many of them did not alter the
principle of the rules but merely brought out more em-
phatically what was formerly obscured in fine-print
notes or minor paragraphs. New rules were inserted
to cover gas-filled lamps and electrical installations in
garages, while a number of new sections were added to
existing rules on transformers, cabinets and insulating
joints.
Ground connections are now required on the bases
of machines operating at 550 volts or less, and on the
cases or frames of transformers used exclusively to sup-
ply energy to switchboard instruments. However, if
the transformers are installed and guarded as required
for the higher-voltage circuit connected to them, their
cases need not be grounded.
The leads or branch circuits of varying (or variable >
speed motors must be designed to carry 180 per cent
of the thirty-minute current rating of the motor when
connected with rolling tables, 150 per cent of the rating
when connected with hoists, rolls, ore and coal handling
machines, and 120 per cent when connected with freight
and passenger elevators, shop cranes, tool heads, pumps,
etc. Small motors may be grouped under the protection
of a single set of fuses, not to exceed 10-amp rating.
provided the load does not exceed 660 watts. The con-
tinuous current-carrying rating of a time-limit circuit-
breaker protecting an alternating-current motor requir-
ing a large starting current need not be greater than
125 per cent of the motor rating, provided that the time-
limit device is capable of preventing the breaker opening
during the starting period.
Multiple-conductor cables installed outdoors and not
protected by service cut-outs and switches must be sup-
ported by strain insulators installed not less than a foot
from all woodwork and in turn attached to petticoat or
strain insulators. Metallic conduits containing service
wires must be insulated from all metallic work on or
within buildings, or they must be grounded on the street
side of the meter. The ground connection must be
independent of and in addition to any other ground
wires from within the building. Copper ground wires
as small as No. 6 B. & S. gage are now permitted where
the largest wire in the conduit is No. 0 B. & S. gage or
smaller.
Former limitations to a private generating plant sup-
plying energy to other buildings than the one in which
it is installed have been removed by allowing conductors
to be buried under 2 in. of concrete under buildings, or
back of 2 in. of concrete or brick within a wall. Factory
yards and buildings under single occupancy or manage-
ment are exempt from the rule limiting the transmission
of energy from a private generating plant to adjoining
buildings.
The permissible current-carrying ratings of 800,000,
loii.ooii and 600,000-circ. mil copper wires and cables
of itH per cent conduct ivit> have been reduced to 270
amp, ".-".i1 amp and 890 amp respectively with rubber in-
sulation, while 600,000-circ. mil wires and cables with
Other than rubber insulation are allowed to carr\ 590
amp.
Power has been given to the committee on grounding
of low -potential systems to insert a paragraph in the
L916 code to the effect that Rule 10. Section a, will not
Al'KII.
ELECTRICAL WORLD
apply to the grounded conductor of a low-DOt<
tern where one line is permanently grounded, and pro-
vided that in addition to the general system grounds
installation shall have its own ground connection
equal in size to the largest wire in the installation.
Single-p' may In* employed in three-wire
us where the neutral is permanently grounded and
the load is supplied at the voltage between either outer
wire and neutral. Cabinets and cut-out boxes must be
made of metal when used with metal conduit, armored
or metallic molding. To insure safety to life, con-
stant-current systems will not be allowed inside build-
;. special permission.
Automatic cut-outs have been prohibited in grounded
conductor- or ground wires. When service switches are
installed inside buildings, cut-outs must be employed
to protect them unless they are of the knife-blade type
and are inclosed in an approved box or cabinet, under
which condition the switch may be placed between the
source oi supply and the cut-out. Link fuses may be
used only when mounted on approved bases, which, ex-
cept on switchboards, must be inclosed in approved
cut-out boxes or cabinets. The committee on cabinets is
drafting a rule for the 1915 code which will prohibit
connecting receptacles for attachment plugs rated at
over 660 watts each to branch circuits.
Service switches must indicate plainly whether the
circuit is closed or open. A single circuit having a
connected load of more than 1320 watts shall not be
inclosed in metal molding. This rule is intended to
permit 1320 watts being supplied on each side of a
three-wire circuit. Slow-burning insulation may be
used inside conduits in permanently dry locations where
excessive temperatures are present, provided that spe-
cial permission in writing be given in advance.
A turn of 90 deg. in the conduit system is no longer
recommended as a satisfactory support for vertical
9, this method having been superseded by another
recommending approved clamping devices constructed
of or employing insulating wedges inserted in the ends
of the conduit.
Rule 26, Section x, relating to the installation of wires
in fixtures, has been amended to require flexible con-
in chain-suspended fixtures.
A new section specifying the size of conduit for in-
stallations of wires and cables has been added to the
code. The new rules will permit installing multiple
taps having opposite polarity in switch and junction
boxes.
Considerable discussion arose over the advisability of
employing insulating joints between fixture canopies
and outlet boxes.
In fairness to manufacturers and for technical rea-
sons, it was decided to refer Rule 30, Section a, to a
special committee, which will report in 1917.
Power has been given to a special committee to change
Rule 31, Section c, so that keyless-type sockets con-
trolled from convenient cabinets will be required where
specially inflammable stuff or floating fragments of com-
bustible materials are present. Approved portable cord
may be used to supply energy to portable lamps and
other devices in show windows for exhibition purposes.
A new rule, No. 35, covering gas-filled incandescent
lamps, permits units rated at 1320 watts (or thirty-two
sockets or receptacles) to depend on the same cut-out
for protection if wire equal in size to No. 14 B. & S.
gage is carried directly into keyless sockets or recep-
tacles. Where a single socket is connected to a circuit.
the cut-out must limit the power delivered through the
circuit to the rating of the socket or receptacle. Gas-
filled lamps are not allowed to be used in show windows
or other locations where they are liable to come in con-
tact with inflammable material. They mav be used in
such positii er, when supported in appi
fixtun ed part of which attains a temperature
exceeding 200 deg. Fahr.
Gas-filled lamp- rated above LOO watt- and equipped
with shade- or other inclosures above the socket must
not be used with fiber-lined brass-shell sockets of either
the medium-base or Mogul-base types; units rated above
200 watts must not be used in medium-base sockets, and
those rated above LS00 watts must not be used in the
.Mogul-base sockets. Within buildings or where the tem-
perature to which lamp fittings may be subjected may
exceed 120 deg. Fahr. fixtures must be wired with
ductors having approved -low-burning insulation or
- covering.
A number of changes and additions were made in the
rules affecting theater electrical equipment. Among
these were the following: Lamp dimmers must be de-
energized when the switch controlling the circuit is
open; not more than thirty-two receptacles can be de-
pendent on one cut-out; dressing-room lamp guards
must be sealed or locked in place; motion-picture booths
must be ventilated by a fan capable of exhausting 50
cu. ft. of air per minute, the motor being connected so
that it will not he in the path of the heated gases;
motion-picture equipments for homes, lecture halls, etc.,
must not require more than 660 watts.
The thickness of insulation, voltage tests and mini-
mum insulation resistance of rubber-covered wire in the
zero to 600-volt class are to be in accordance with the
table published in Rule 50, Section e, which was for-
merly intended for the 600-volt to 7000-volt class.
With barriers of approved design and material the
minimum separation between parts of opposite polarity
may be as specified in Table IV of the code.
In the "Cabinet and Cut-out Box" section changes
have been made to the effect that wood and composition
cabinets cannot be used with metal conduit, armored
cable or metal molding. Only a skeleton of the rules
regulating the construction of cabinets and fixtures will
be published in the code as separate pamphlets will be
devoted to each of these subjects.
The socket committee has under consideration a rule
requiring that all medium-base sockets be designed for
660-watt rating. This has been considered necessary
as so many electric heating appliances are being adapted
to receptacles designed for only 250-watt loads. This
subject aroused considerable discussion at the recent
New York meeting. It was argued that requiring 660-
watt sockets in place of 250-watt sockets will greatly
increase the cost of wiring buildings. A central-station
man was quoted as saying that 75 per cent of socket
troubles have been caused by opening socket switches
when heating devices have been connected thereto. Ex-
ception to this man's statement was taken by the chair-
man of the meeting, who declared that reports from
several large central stations show only a few cases of
troubles having occurred from breaking overloaded cir-
cuits. Changes in rules on rubber-covered wire require
that No. 6 B. & S. wire and larger be double-braided.
A skeleton of these rules will appear in the code, and a
separate pamphlet will be devoted to the entire subject.
Rules regarding marine installations and equipment
were referred to a committee which will confer with a
similar committee of the American Institute of Elec-
tric;il Engineers to harmonize rules for the 1915 code.
A new rule has been added to the code to regulate
the installation of electrical equipment in garages in
which two or more vehicles are kept. These rules do
no* apply to garages used exclusively for electric ve-
hicles. Metal conduit or approved armored cable is
required for all wiring except pendent lamps or porta-
ble connections, and metal molding is allowed only in
offices or showrooms. The rules are intended to prevent
B80
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 14
arcing points being less than 4 ft. above the floor. To
fulfil this condition flexible conductors must be designed
for rough usage and arranged so that in case they pull
apart the arc will occur not less than the prescribed dis-
tance from the floor. In case motors, generators and
arcing points on the switchboard cannot be installed to
comply with this requirement, they must be completely
inclosed.
Meeting of N. E. L. A. Commercial Section
Executive Committee
The executive committee of the Commercial Section
of the National Electric Light Association met at the
association .headquarters in New York on March 27.
The following were present: Messrs. Douglass Burnett,
chairman; J. F. Becker, N. H. Boynton, E. A. Edkins,
F. H. Gale, J. D. Israel, T. I. Jones, J. C. McQuiston,
L. R. Wallis, George Weiderman. C. A. Littlefield,
secretary, and Miss Burkhalter, assistant secretary.
Messrs. F. R. Jenkins and R. R. Young were present by
invitation.
Mr. Burnett reported that the executive committee of
the main body voted at its March meeting to transfer
the subscription work on Rate Research to the Com-
mercial Section. The editing and publication work will
be continued in Chicago under the direction of Mr. W.
J. Norton, but the business and subscriptions will be
handled by the Commercial Section at New York.
The executive committee of the main body, Mr. Bur-
nett reported, has decided that, as heretofore, the lamp
committee report shall be presented at one of the com-
mercial sessions at the convention. He also reported
that when he asked Mr. Frank W. Smith, chairman of
the lamp committee, about the subject of standard lamp
voltages Mr. Smith said that the committee had already
decided to give more attention to that matter this year.
The work of the lamp committee as planned by it there-
fore coincides with the suggestions and recommenda-
tions which Mr. Burnett has discussed with lamp manu-
facturers.
The meeting held in Atlanta, Ga., on Feb. 23, by sales
managers of Southern hydroelectric properties was dis-
cussed. It was decided to communicate with Mr. W. R.
Collier, of the Georgia Railway & Power Company, and
to arrange with him for the appointment of a hydroelec-
tric commercial committee of the Commercial Section,
to be composed of about five members. This committee
will try to show representatives of hydroelectric com-
panies why they should organize as a part of the Com-
mercial Section. The Southern hydroelectric properties
are seeking to standardize their methods.
Mr. E. A. Edkins reported for the publications com-
mittee that the store-service campaign will be ready for
presentation at the San Francisco convention. The com-
mittee has decided to issue a new booklet on industrial
lighting.
.Mr. Edkins said thai he had received a letter from
Mr. ('. .1. Russell, chairman of the handbook comm
stating that that committee would be very glad to re-
ceive instructive criticism and practical suggestions as
to the kind of material salesmen need, and suggesting
that sonw of the material on wiring prepared by the
publications <"mmittee might properly be incorporated
in the handbook, The report of the publications and
handbook commit ccepted with a vote of thanke
i" Meet r i, Edkins and Russell.
i ' v id read a report of Mr John ( !
hairman of the Commercial Section member
committee, showing 865 new members since Jan, l.
Hie report of Mr. M. lv Turner, chairman
committee on commercial department terminology, was
presented by Secretary Littlefield. This report sug-
gested standardization of titles of commercial depart-
ment representatives. Great interest was expressed by
the committee, and it was decided to ask Mr. Turner to
write to companies with which he has corresponded and
see if they would agree to accept the proposed standard-
ization of titles, and to include the replies with the re-
port at the convention.
A letter from Mr. R. S. Hale, chairman of the com-
mittee on wiring of existing buildings, was read by
Mr. Littlefield. The work of this committee has not
been completed, but Mr. Hale submitted part of the re-
port. It was voted to print the different parts of the
report as they are completed.
Mr. Jenkins, chairman of the committee on education
of salesmen, presented copies of the prospectus outlin-
ing the proposed course on sales engineering. It is in-
tended that the course shall be self-supporting. Copies
of the prospectus will be sent immediately to member
companies, which will be urged to appoint leaders and
organize classes. Mr. Jenkins has taken up the matter
with Messrs. J. F. Gilchrist and E. W. Lloyd, who stated
that the Central Station Institute of Chicago will be
glad to co-operate with the Commercial Section.
After lunch at the Engineers' Club Mr. Young pre-
sented the report of the committee on merchandising
and recent development of electrical appliances. The
report was accepted with a vote of thanks to the com-
mittee for its excellent work, and it will be printed. It
was decided that additional copies will be printed for
sale after the convention.
Mr. Russell, chairman of the power sales bureau,
wrote suggesting that the different committees of the
bureau be continued during the next association year
with very little change. The report was approved.
The publications committee will arrange for an ex-
hibit at the convention. The next meeting of the execu-
tive committee will be held in San Francisco on June 7.
Ohio New-Business Men Meet at Dayton
At the meeting of the committee on new-business co-
operation of the Ohio Electric Light Association, held
at Dayton, Ohio, March 17, the fourth session of its
kind to be held during the season of 1914-15, the regis-
tered delegates numbered 112. Following an address of
welcome delivered by Mr. F. M. Tait, president of the
Dayton Power & Light Company, the following papers
were presented: "Central-Station Advertising," by Mr.
E. R. Kelsey, advertising manager of the Toledo Rail-
ways & Light Company; "Salesmanship." by Mr. R. H.
Grant, sales manager of the National Cash Register
Company of Dayton ; "Application of Electric Drive in
Woodworking Shops and Disposal of the By-product,"
by Mr. T. F. Jones, of the Wagner Electric Manufactur-
ing Company, St. Louis, Mo., and "Co-operation of Elec-
tric-Motor Manufacturers with Central stations to
Secure Available Motor-Service Busini Mr. W.
H. Patterson, of the Westinghouse Electric & Manufac-
turing Company, East Pittsburgh, l'a. To the helpful
ideas which the papers and addresses contained many
"sales helps" were added during the open discussion.
led by Mr. Thomas l-'. Kelly, Bales' manager of the Day-
ton Power & Light Company.
A banquet and rejuvenation given in the evening by
the Dayton Jovian League brought oul a lively crowd
of 2T> electrical men, who listened to short after-dinner
talks by Col. C. V. Hard, of Wooster, on '■The Ohio Elec-
tric Light Association"; Mr. W. W. Freeman, Union
& EN ctric Company, Cincinnati, on "The Public Be
• d"; Mr. 11. M. Waite, cit\ manager of Dayton, <>n
"The Commission Form of Citj Government"; Mr. S.
Ai-wi. 3, 1915
ELECT It I C A I. WORLD
881
(J. McMeen, of Columbus, on "Service First"; Mr. F. EL
Hike, of Dayton, on "Citizenship and the Work of the
ter Dayton Association"; .Mr. D. L Caskill, of
ville, on "The Small Electric-Light Plant," and
.Mr. A. E. Loeb, of Columbus, on "The Jovian Order."
.Mr. F. M. Tait, of Dayton, was toastmaster. Twenty-
five candidates were initiated at the rejuvenation which
followed the banquet.
A. I. E. E. Meetings
A meeting of the American Institute of Electrical
Engineers will be held in the Engineering Societies
Building. New York, on Friday, April 9, 1915, at 8:15
p.m. The subject of the meeting, radiotelegraphy, will
be brief!) introduced by I>r. John B. Whitehead, of
Johns Hopkins University. A paper will be presented,
entitled "Continuous Waves in Long-Distance Radio-
telegraphy," by Mr. L. F. Fuller, and it is expected that
another paper covering other phases of the same general
subject will also be presented.
At the close of the technical session a smoker will be
held and light refreshments served in the adjoining
room on the fifth floor.
Pittsburgh .Meeting
A meeting of the Institute will be held in Pittsburgh,
Pa., on Thursday and Friday, April 15 and 16, 1915,
under the auspices of the Pittsburgh Section and the
industrial power committee. The convention headquar-
will be at the Fort Pitt Hotel, where the technical
ins will also be held. The meeting is to be opened
by Mr. J. W. Welsh, as chairman of the Pittsburgh Sec-
tion, and the introductory address will be delivered by
Mr. David B. Rushmore, as chairman of the industrial
power committee. President P. M. Lincoln will then
address the meeting.
The following papers will be read: "Industrial Con-
trol in the Foundry," by Mr. R. H. McLain; "Mill
Controllers," by Mr. H. F. Stratton; "Steel-Mill Con-
trollers from the Operator's Standpoint," by Mr. James
S. Riggs; "Control of Direct-Current Hoists in Iron
and Steel Mills," by Messrs. E. G. Stoltz and W. 0.
Lum; "Direct-Current Control for Hoisting Equipment
in Industrial Plants," by Mr. W. T. Snyder; "Control
of Alternating-Current Motors in Iron and Steel Mills,"
by Mr. Arthur Simon, and "The Alternating-Current
Hoist," by Mr. Raymond E. Brown.
Annual Convention
For the annual convention, to be held at Deer Park,
Md., June 29 and 30 and July 1 and 2, the following
tentative program has been arranged:
Address by President Paul M. Lincoln; "The Elec-
tric Strength of Air," by Prof. J. B. Whitehead; "The
Reluctance of Some Irregular Magnetic Fields," by Mr.
John F. H. Douglas; "The Measurements of Dielectric
Losses with the Cathode-Ray Tube," by Mr. John P.
Minton; "Irregular Wave Forms; the Significance of
Form Factor. Distortion Factor and Other Factors,"
by Dr. Frederick Bedell; "Classification of Alternating-
Current Motors." by Mr. Val A. Fynn; "Alternating-
Current Commutator-Motor Classification and Nomen-
clature," by Mr. Frederick Creedy; "Short-Circuits on
Alternators," by Prof. Comfort A. Adams; "Electricity
in Grain Elevators," by Mr. II. E. Stafford; "Fields of
.Motor Application" (topical discussion), by Mr. D. B.
Rushmore; "Construction and Maintenance Costs of
Overhead-Contact Systems," by Messrs. E. J. Amberg
and Ferdinand Zogbaum; "The Contact System of the
Butte, Anaconda & Pacific Railway," by Mr. J. B. Cox;
"Third-Rail and Trolley System of the West Jersey &
Seashore Railroad," by Mr. J. V. B. Duer; "Top-Con-
tact Unprotected-Contact Rail for 600-Volt Traction
System," by Mr. Charles H. Jones; "Under-Running
Third-Rail Conductors,'' by Mr. Edwin B. Katte;
"Phase Angle of Current Transformers," by Mr. Chester
l.. Dawes; "Instrument Transformers," by Mr. Charles
L. Fortescue; "The Induction Watt-Hour Meter," by
Prof. V. L. Holli Domic Operation of Electric
." by Mr. Percy W. Gumaer; "Class Rates for
Electric Light and Power Systems," by Prof. Frank G.
Baum.
At a joint meeting of the Illuminating Engineering
Society and the Institute, to the held Wednesday even-
ing, the following papers will be read: "The Effective
Illumination of Streets," by Mr. Preston S. Millar, and
ems of Street Illumination," by Dr. Charles P.
Steinmetz.
Deer Park, which is on the main line of the Baltimore
& Ohio Railroad, is the largest summer resort in the
Allegheny Mountains, It is situated eleven hours from
Cincinnati or New York, nine hours from Philadelphia,
seven hours from Pittsburgh, thirteen hours from Co-
lumbus, twenty-one hours from Chicago and twelve
hours from Cleveland, and has through Pullman car
service from all of these cities. Mr. John H. Finney,
Washington, D. C, is chairman of the convention com-
mittee.
Panama-Pacific Convention
The Panama-Pacific convention committee is actively
at work making plans and arrangements for a conven-
tion to be held in San Francisco, Sept. 16 to 18, 1915,
during the week immediately preceding the Interna-
tional Engineering Congress. The personnel of the
convention committee appointed by President Lincoln is
as follows: Mr. W. W. Briggs, chairman, and Messrs.
A. H. Babcock, A. M. Hunt, A. G. Jones, H. A. Lardner,
J. T. Whittlesey and C. J. Wilson, all of San Francisco;
Prof. C. L. Cory, University of California ; Prof. Harris
J. Ryan, Leland Stanford, Junior, University; Mr. L.
T. Robinson, chairman Institute meetings and papers
committee; Messrs. H. H. Barnes, Jr., and George F.
Sever, of New York.
The San Francisco committee has already made reser-
vations for accommodations in the Auditorium Build-
ing for holding the technical sessions and other meet-
ings of the convention. The official headquarters of the
Institute will be at the Hotel St. Francis.
It has been decided to limit the technical sessions to
the mornings and afternoons of Thursday and Friday.
Sept. 16 and 17, thus leaving the remainder of the time
free for inspection trips or other plans.
Investigation of United Gas Improvement Company
President Bodine of the United Gas Improvement
Company of Philadelphia, which is under investigation
by the Department of Justice, is still submitting mate-
rial to the department in connection with the claim of
the company that it is not violating any of the anti-
trust laws as has been charged.
At the department in Washington it is said that,
although this material from Mr. Bodine has been re-
ceived from time to time, opportunity has not been
offered to give it consideration, for the reason that de-
partment officials have been busy with the preparation
of the brief in the International Harvester Company
case. This brief has now been completed.
The department confirms reports recently published
that, so far as is now known, the investigation of the
United Gas Improvement Company and the settlement
of that case will not be turned over to the new Federal
Trade Commission.
882
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 14
Plans for Forming Industrial Electric Heating
Association
According to announcements which were given wide
circulation, an electrical industrial heating association
was to have been formed at Dayton, Ohio, on March 16.
That the plan attracted lively interest was evidenced
by the fact that the announcement brought together a
group of men from as far west as Illinois and from as
far east as Massachusetts. Absence of leaders of the
movement prevented any action being taken. On the fol-
lowing day, however, in one of the sessions of the Ohio
new-business men's meeting, there was a short discus-
sion of the question of forming an industrial heating
association, in which Mr. H. 0. Loebell, of H. L. Doherty
& Company, New York, and Mr. A. K. Young, of the
Toledo (Ohio) Railways & Light Company, both ex-
pressed the belief that such an organization should be
formed. Its object should be, said they, to bring to-
gether more often the men vitally interested in indus-
trial heating, that they might assist each other in the
collection of heating data and in the rapid development
of the electric-heating business.
In reviewing the question of electric industrial heat-
ing from three angles, Mr. Loebell said that to the cen-
tral station such heating represented enormous possibili-
ties. It is a twenty-four-hour load having unity power-
factor. There are five times as many heating "pros-
pects" as there are motor-service "prospects," and prac-
tically every heating customer represents a heavy load.
From the standpoint of the customer electric industrial
heating is safe, convenient and easily controlled, and
frequently it insures a better product than other heating
media. Considered from an engineering standpoint, the
immediate future of the electric-heating business, said
Mr. Loebell, is bright, for the average efficiency of oil,
gas and other furnaces and ovens is only about 1 per
cent, a figure above which the electrical apparatus will
surely operate, giving at the same time the further ad-
vantage of permitting the furnace atmosphere to be
absolutely controlled and oxidation entirely eliminated.
Mr. A. K. Young, in closing the discussion, requested
that all interested in the formation of an electric heating
association communicate with him in order that a meet-
ing of prospective association members might be held in
Toledo on May 1.
become settled so definitely as to enable your company
to finance these requirements economically and to proper
advantage by the sale of securities, the earnings will
be available for dividends. For the present your
directors believe that the policy of deferring dividends
is prudent."
Annual Report of Cities Service Company
In reviewing earnings of the Cities Service Company
of New York for the year ended Dec. 31, 1914, Mr.
Henry L. Doherty, the president, said that earnings are
satisfactory, especially in view of existing conditions,
and fully justify the belief that there is exceptional
stability in the earning power of public utility proper-
ties. He adds:
"The results demonstrate the value of the diversity
i btainable by means of the holding company, and they
further show that the properties of the company have
BO selected with respect to character and location
■a- to insure stability of earnings under all conditions.
In spite of the general business disturbances of the last
. which in many places were acute, earnings were
maintained,
"The physical condition of the properties of the sui>
sidiary companies has been well maintained, ami the
ns with the communities served are harmonious.
imI betterment work must be continued, how
to keep pace with the growth of the communit [es
ed, and there are payments to be made during the
rid one half eai UpO] heretofore
purchased. The earnings are at present being used foi
these capital requirements. When financial conditions
Cleveland Municipal Situation
City Solicitor John N. Stockweii of Cleveland, Ohio,
was scheduled to spend the latter part of the present
week in Columbus for the purpose of ascertaining the
date on which the appraisal of physical property of the
Cleveland Electric Illuminating Company will be com-
pleted, and when the company's appeal from the 3-cent
maximum rate ordinance will be heard by the Public
Utilities Commission.
A resolution was adopted by the City Council of
Cleveland on March 29, protesting against the proposed
legislation reducing the staff of the commission by nine
appraisal engineers. The resolution was addressed to
Governor Willis, the commission and the General As-
sembly. It was attacked on the floor of the Council by
Councilman Fitzgerald as an attempt to embarrass the
State administration in its economy program. He said
that Mayor Baker and administration councilmen never
had been favorable to the commission, preferring
municipal competition, and that the resolution was the
height of inconsistency.
Another resolution of the City Council called upon
the Cleveland Electric Illuminating Company for an ac-
counting of money collected above a 3-cent rate since
the ordinance was passed on May 1, 1914. A third
resolution calls for a report on procedure preliminary
to the purchase of the company's property by the city.
Solicitor Stockweii and Mayor Baker declared that
the reduction in the number of appraisal engineers is to
be made for the purpose of delaying appraisal of the
properties of Cleveland, Cincinnati and other public
utility companies and thus postponing settlement of
rate questions.
The Cleveland Electric Illuminating Company has de-
livered to the commission a number of sheets of in-
ventory and the engineers have checked many, but with
several other appraisals on hand the work must be done
slowly. With the present commission force some time
will be required to complete the tentative valuation,
after which the final figures will have to be prepared.
Hearings on the 3-cent ordinance cannot take place until
the appraisement is completed. Mr. Stockweii will at-
tempt to secure material for making a determined fight
against the proposed reduction in the commission force.
In anticipation of failure to have the appraisal engi-
neers retained by the commission, Councilman David
Moylan is having an ordinance prepared to purchase the
property. Mr. F. W. Ballard, commissioner of light and
heat, said that the value of the property is between
$12,000,000 and $17,000,000.
The board of directors of the Cleveland Chamber of
( lommerce has made a report opposing the Briggs bill,
which is intended to exempt municipal electric-light
bonds from the limitations of the Longworth act. The
report states that the excess in bonds above the Long-
worth limitation must be considered as a lien against
i in utility property alone. The committee also objects
to the plan of the citj to take over the property of the
Cleveland Klectric Illuminating Company on the ground
that the large sum paid as municipal taxes by the com-
pany would be lost to the city if the property were
owned by the municipality.
A bill affecting central stations, introduced by Sena-
tor William Behne in the Ohio Legislature, has been re-
ported favorabl] bj the Senate committee on public
Apkii. 3. 1916
ELECT H I (A I. WO I: I I'
Utilities. It pr< ■•. ied for the
truction or acquirement of a public service plant
I the limits fixed by the Longworth law they shall
be a lien upon the property only. The bill provides fur-
ther that a certain amount must be set aside from
income for interest and amortization of I
Valuation in Cincinnati
According to the Stockholders' Herald, which is pub-
lished by stockholders of the Cincinnati Gas & Electric
Company in the interest of that company, the valua-
tion of the electrical properties of the company now in
progress will cost the lessee, the Union Gas & Electric
Company, between $50,000 and $75,000. The appraisers
have gone over the different elements of property but
have not yet completed their work.
The valuation, which was ordered by the Public Utili-
ties Commission, will be filed with the commission about
Ma. 1. The work has been in progress about ten
months and is in charge of Messrs. Norton & Bird.
Chicago. It was expected that the detailed schedules
of the property would be in the hands of President
Freeman of the lessee company, the Union Gas & Elec-
tric Company, about April 1. Mr. Freeman wanted
about one month to consider the financial and legal
questions the schedules develop, after which they will
be filed with the commission together with a statement
of the company.
At a hearing before the commission on March 25,
City Solicitor Schoenle of Cincinnati asked why the
commission's valuation of the property of the Union
Gas & Electric Company had not been completed.
Messrs. Linwood G. White, chief appraisal engineer of
the commission, and Charles M. McKay, chief electrical
engineer of the Union company, were examined. Mr.
Schoenle learned that the valuation work on the Union
Gas & Electric Company and the Cincinnati Traction
Company had already cost the commission $31,731,
while but $50,000 had been appropriated for the valua-
tion of these two properties, two in Cleveland and one
in Akron. To March 15 the number of days of labor
spent by the engineers was 3315 on the Union Gas &
Electric Company work, at a cost of $21,089. On the
Cincinnati Traction Company valuation engineers have
spent 1465 days at a cost of $10,642. The engineers
expect to announce a tentative valuation of the light
property on June 1.
Federal Trade Commission Affairs
So many organization details have to be decided in
connection with the Federal Trade Commission, and,
according to the members, so many are likely for some
time, that there seems to be little immediate prospect
that they will get to work for a while on larger duties.
A complication has arisen in connection with financ-
ing the commission. Appropriations were made for sal-
aries of commissioners and for several other items, but
there is a difference of opinion as to whether the larger
appropriations for expenses are available immediately.
The commissioners intend to ask the Comptroller of the
Treasury to rule upon just what appropriations are
available. Some of the appropriations were made avail-
able on July 1, and the commission in any event will
have money for expenses at that time. In the mean-
while the appropriations for the old Bureau of Corpora-
tions, which were made available for the commission,
are being used, but they cannot go very far. The re-
cent appointment of former Representative Stevens as
special counsel was an appointment by the Bureau of
•'orporations before that body went out of existence.
Boston Edison New -I'.u^ine--. Campaign
A comprehensive new-business campaign has just
been formulated by th< Electric Illuminating
Company of Boston, Mas-., the plans including an elec-
trical census of every building within the 700 square
miles of territory covered by the company's lines. The
canvass is to be be made by the sales department, the
territory having been laid out in sixteen districts with
a captain in charge of each. Boston proper will be left
until the last in view of the value of the experience
gained in the suburban districts, and when the latter
are thoroughly canvassed the entire force will be con-
centrated upon the metropolitan center. Fifteen spe-
cial canvassers have been added to the sales department
from departments of the company where there is at
present an insufficient amount of work for the retention
of these men. The hours for the canvass will be from
10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays.
Each district captain will be provided with a map of
the district assigned to him, showing streets by names
and where the company's lines are situated. The cap-
tains will assign to each man under their charge daily
routes, and a graphic record will be kept on the maps
showing progress. This record will at all times be
open to the inspection of any employee.
The canvass will progress in the order of, first, all
stores in the various commercial centers in each dis-
trict; second, all buildings on the commercial lines;
third, buildings on street lighting lines only; fourth, all
buildings in the district outside the lines of the com-
pany. Factories will be canvassed simultaneously by
the special agents.
Complete records will be kept daily by each canvasser,
by the district captain and by the sales department.
There will be a daily discussion of the reports at the
morning conference of department superintendents with
the general superintendent. An extensive card-record
system will be used, which will later facilitate the tabu-
lating of data in the Hollerith machine to determine
such points as the number of customers on the lines,
the number of "prospects" who are non-users, what ap-
pliances are in use at the date of the canvass, methods
of illumination and power employed, and territory where
energies should be concentrated. The company's motto,
"Electricity for everybody," is meeting with an enthu-
siastic reception, and it is believed that the canvass now
inaugurated will prove of great benefit to the company
and to the residents of the municipalities reached by
its lines.
Stability of Public Utility Earnings
In the "Public Utilities Number" issued by the
Evening Post of New York on March 31 facts are cited
to show that of all industries the public utility industry
was hit least hard by unfavorable developments in 1914.
As a typical instance the Public Service Corporation of
New Jersey, gross earnings of which increased 4 per
cent over 1913, is cited. Returns from thirty-five Mid-
dle Western public utilities are also given. These com-
panies showed in August, 1914, 4.5 per cent increase in
gross earnings, in September 2.4 per cent increase, in
October 1.7 per cent increase, in November 0.8 per cent
decrease, in January 6.6 per cent increase, in February
6.3 per cent increase. The returns of seven electric
utilities stated separately showed that July. 1914, gross
earnings increased 10 per cent. There was a steady
decrease in the rate of gain until September, when the
increase was slightly less than 6 per cent above Sep-
tember, 1913. October showed 7.6 per cent increase and
November 2.5 per cent increase. Since then there has
been an improvement.
884
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 14
Miscellaneous News Notes
University of Illinois Electric Show. — An electrical show
will be held by students of the electrical engineering school
of the University of Illinois at Urbana, 111., April 8 to 10.
A number of manufacturers of electrical equipment will
make exhibits. Mr. Ralph Herman is manager of the show.
Municipal Electric-Light Bonds Not to Be Used for Gas
Lamps. — Bonds sold for the purpose of establishing a munic-
ipal electric-light plant cannot be used in the purchase and
installation of gas lamps for lighting streets, according to
the opinion given by Mr. Max Schoetz, assistant city attor-
ney of Milwaukee, Wis.
Agreement on Street -Lighting Rates in Youngstown,
Ohio.— Messrs. H. Whitford Jones and A. B. Stitzer and F. C.
Caldwell, of the Youngstown & Sharon Street Railway, acting
as arbitrators on the revision of street-lighting rates in
Youngstown, Ohio, have reached an agreement which will
be made knowa soon. The rate agreed upon will be effective
from Dec. 17, 1914, until the improved system is installed
and the new rates, established some time ago through com-
petitive bids, become operative.
Minneapolis Minstrel Show for Contractors and Central-
Station Men.— About fifty employees of the Minneapolis
i Minn.) General Electric Company with musical talent and
histrionic ability entertained the electrical contractors of
the city and the remainder of the central-station employees
with a minstrel show on March 18. The show, which was
attended by about 1500 persons, supplanted for this year
the banquet which the central-station company has annually
given for the Minneapolis electrical contractors.
Court Order Disregarded in Cincinnati. — City Solicitor
Walter Schoenle of Cincinnati, Ohio, has notified Attorneys
Joseph W. O'Hara and Michael Muller, representing the
Diamond Light Company, that their client is in contempt
of court through disregard of the injunction of the Court
of Appeals, which was confirmed by the Supreme Court.
The company was prohibited from placing its wires under
the streets without authority from the City Council. The
city solicitor advises that the lawyers notify their client of
this fact and render proceedings unnecessary.
Accident in Indianapolis — An accident the cause of which
has not yet been definitely determined occurred in Indianap-
m March 29, when the entire "underground district" of
the Merchants' Heat & Light Company was out of operation,
because of a mysterious burning out of cables beneath
a manhole near the power plant at Blackford and West
Market Streets. After the accident the load was carried
for forty-five minutes on the batteries in substation No.
1. Then these proved to be unequal to the strain, and
part of the city was thrown into darkness.
Kansas City Electric Light Company's Exhibition.—
The third semi-annual electric show of the Kansas City
Electric Light Company opened March 25, for ten days,
with the first-floor front of the Electric Shop decorated in
Oriental fashion. Exhibitors had well-defined sections for
the display of electrical devices. Electrically prepared re-
freshments were served, and there were demonstrations of
various devices. During the show electric utensils were sold
by all at 20 per cent discount and on easy terms. The festi-
val was under the direction of Miss Marie J. Russell, man-
ager of the Electric Shop, and her assistants.
< nl Service Examination for Mine Electrician. — An ex-
amination for mine electrician will be held by the United
States Civil Service Commission on April 28 to fill a va-
cancy in the Bureau of Mines, Department of the Interior,
for service in the field, at a salary ranging from $1,200 to
0 a year. The duties of tl - will be to make
ligations bearing upon the safety of electricity in
and the caaaea of mine disasters fot which elec-
tricity may have been responsible. The duties will in-
volve considerable field work and travel. At
year's study of electrical application In a technical school
ed standing and five years in actual under
d electrical work in mines are prerequisite foi con
Pel on dei iring to take the
exami '.i apply for Form 1812, stating the title
on for which the form is desired, to the
>. c
Associations and Societies
I. E. S. Convention. — The ninth annual convention of
the Illuminating Engineering Society will be held at the
New Willard Hotel, Washington, D. C, Sept. 20 to 23 in-
clusive. Mr. E. S. Marlow, of the Potomac Electric Power
Company, Washington, D. C, is chairman of the conven-
tion committee.
Institute of Radio Engineers. — At a meeting of the In-
stitute of Radio Engineers to be held at Columbia Uni-
versity April 7, at 8.15 p. m., Dr. Irving Langmuir will
present a paper on "Applications of Thermionic Currents
to Radiotelegraphy and Radiotelephony." Dr. Langmuir
will outline the theory of thermionic currents in tubes of
very high vacuum, describing several pieces of apparatus
which have been built for receiving radio signals, and also
some devices for producing electrical oscillations and con-
trolling them for radiotelephony.
New York Electrical Society. — Mr. T. C. Martin, secre-
tary of the National Electric Light Association, delivered
an address on "Electrical Aspects and Lessons of the San
Francisco Exposition," at the 3.36th meeting of the New
York Electrical Society on March 25. His address was il-
lustrated by means of numerous lantern slides depicting
some of the remarkable illumination at the Exposition.
Mr. Willard E. Case was elected to honorary membership
in the society. The next meeting will be held on Wednesday,
April 14, at which time Mr. Thomas A. Watson will deliver
an address on "The Birth and Babyhood of the Telephone."
Meeting of N. E. L. A. Accident Prevention Committee. —
A meeting of the accident-prevention committee of the
National Electric Light Association was held at the head-
quarters in New York on March 26. The following were
present: Messrs. Martin J. Insull, chairman; J. L. Murrie,
T. A. Kenney, M. W. Alexander, F. C. Sargent, and C. B.
Scott, secretary. Messrs. W. J. Canada and Frank W.
Glading, of the Bureau of Standards, also attended the
meeting. The committee continued its work on the safety
rules and made progress. Another meeting will be held
at Buffalo on April 23 for the purpose of finishing the
San Francisco convention report.
Joint Meeting on Illumination. — At a joint meeting of
the National Electric Light Association, the National Com-
mercial Gas Association and the Illuminating Engineering
Society in New York on Wednesday. April 7. Mr. R. F.
Pierce, of the N. C. G. A., will read a paper entitled "Illu-
minating Engineering as Applied to the Business of the
Gas Company"; Mr. Norman Macbeth, of the I. E. S., will
read a paper entitled "Value of the Illuminating Engineer-
ing Society to Commercial Men," and a representative of
the N. E. L. A. will present a paper on a similar topic.
The meeting, which will be held in the auditorium of the
Consolidated Gas Company's building, 130 East Fifteenth
Street, will be preceded by an informal dinner at Keen's
Chop House at 6.15 p. m.
Meeting of New England Section, I. E. S. — A special
mid-season meeting of the New England Section of the
Illuminating Engineering Society was held at the Engi-
neers' Club, Boston, Mass., on March 26. Sessions occupied
both afternoon and evening, Dr. Louis Bell presiding at
the former, and Vice-president C. A. B. Halvorson, Jr.. at
the latter. The program consisted of the following papers:
"Daylight Gas," by Dr. H. P. Gage, Coming, X. Y.; "Arti-
ficial Daylight," by Mr. R. B. Hussey. Lynn. Mass.; "Semi-
indirect Lighting by Gas." by Mr. R. F. Pierce, Philadel-
phia; "Determining Factors in Artificial Illumination Prob-
lems as Related to Architecture and Decoration," by Mr.
David Crownfleld, Boston, Mass., and "Safeguarding the
Eyesight of School Children," by Mr. M l.uckiesh. Cleve-
land, Ohio.
Jovians and Electrical League of Cleveland. — At a re-
juvenation in the assembly loom of the llollcnden Hotel,
Cleveland, Ohio, on March 26, the Jovian chapter of the
Electrical League of Cleveland initiated twenty candidates.
George S, Miller, president of the league, and M.
M. Mnll'cl were the principal Speakers at tin- dinner. Messrs.
II. C. Turnock ami K. I-:. Campbell, first and second tribunes
Jovian Chapter, were in charge. Nearly 200 mem-
if the league were guest- of the Cleveland Telephone
Aru:i.
ELECTRICAL WORLD
vv
i ny at a luncheon in the telephone building at noon
on the same day. Mr. Norman Anderson, traffic super-
intendent, made an addle--, illustrated with stereopticon
. on the operation of a modern teleph"
The gn< then taken on an inspection trip through
nange.
Worcester Branch, A. 1. K. K.— The fourth regular meet-
the Worcester Polytechnic Institute Branch of the
American Institute of Electrical Engineers was held in
the lecture hall of the Electrical Engineering Building
24. The m<'«-t mil: was addressed by Mr. A. L. Rohrer
and Mr. J. J. Linehaugh, both of the General Electric Com-
pany, wlui spoke on the "Electrification of the Butte. Ana-
conda A Pacific Railroad."
< nlor and Illumination. — Mr. M. I.uckiesh, of the re-
search laboratory of the National Lamp Works of the
General Electric Company, Cleveland, Ohio, gave a resume
of the general subject of color in his address before the
Chicago Section of the Illuminating Engineering Society,
March 25. Lumiere color photographs of light spectra
and color effects were used to illustrate the talk. Mr
Luckiesh pointed out the fact that the light from even
the gas-filled tungsten lamp is much yellower than average
daylight. A "daylight" tint can be produced by subtraction
of the excess red rays, with a resultant specific consump-
tion of 1.2 watts per cp. In closing, the speaker referred
lor music" and the recent Carnegie Hall recital in
New York City. To demonstrate the general esthetic
attractiveness of certain colors, Mr. Luckiesh cited recent
experiments in which twenty-six subjects were asked to
indicate their successive preferences for fifteen standard
color cards. All the subjects showed close agreement in
preferring colors at the opposite ends of the spectrum —
reds and blues — while twenty of the twenty-six placed
lemon-yellow last. Mr. W. A. Durgin, Dr. C. N. Black,
Mr. Albert Scheible, Prof. C. Freeman and Mr. •'. A. Luther
took part in the discussion.
Railway Signal Association at Chicago. — The quarterly-
meeting of the Railway Signal Association held at the
Auditorium, Chicago, March 15, was given over to the recital
and discussion of committee reports on automatic block
signaling, lightning protection, storage-battery charging,
mechanical interlocking, contracts and standards. Two sets
of specifications for lead storage cells were submitted by
the storage-battery committee, of which Mr. R. B. Elsworth,
New York Central, was chairman. The substance of the
present manual is closely followed, but options are given to
the purchaser as to detail features. Rigorous definitions of
the requisites for choke coils and lightning arresters for
signaling circuits were presented by Chairman E. G.
Hawkins of the committee on lightning protection. During
the discussion on signaling Mr. G. H. Dryden, of the Balti-
more & Ohio Railroad, made the interesting statement that
traffic on a single-track road might now be handled with
entire safety by the indications of signals alone and without
the aid of telegraphed or telephoned train orders. Mr.
T. S. Stevens, signal engineer of the Santa Fe, is president
of the Railway Signal Association, and Mr. C. C. Rosenberg,
Times Building, Bethlehem, Pa., is secretary-treasurer.
Co-operative Electrical Meeting at Boston. — About 150
electrical representatives attended a meeting at Paul Re-
vere Hall, Boston, Mass., on March 26, to discuss co-opera-
tive electrical development. Mr. F>ank S. Price, president
of the Pettingell-Andrews Company, Boston, occupied the
chair, and the speakers were President L. D. Gibbs of the
New England Section, National Electric Light Association;
Mr. J. M. Wakeman, general manager of the Society for
Electrical Development, Inc., New York; Mr. Harry W.
Alexander, in charge of the publicity bureau, and Mr. A.
J. Edgell, in charge of the display service bureau of the
society. The purposes and accomplishments of the society
were fully explained, and a large number of lantern slides
of its equipment, publicity matter, window-display methods,
etc., were shown. It was stated that in this country 225
reels, emphasizing the value and convenience of electric
service are now running as incidental features in forty-
five dramas. These will occupy the screen for one year
at a cost of about $7,000. Central stations are beginning
to feel the impetus of this work in the direction of in-
creased day loads. It was announced that electrical men
in Great Britain have signified then willingness to make
international, and th..-
the last week of the Panama-Pacific Exposition coi-
with this period, the management of the latter has
to feature electrical energy in closing that exhibition.
Public Service Commission News
Illinois Commission
Commissioner Thompson heard testimony on March 80 at
the complaint of Mr. James B. Hogarth against
the Chicago Elevated Railways Collateral Trust. Mr. Gil-
bert Porter represented the trustees and Mr. Seymour Sted-
man the complainant. On examination, Mr. Porter described
the purchase of a controlling interest in the elevated-railway
companies by the trustees through the note issue. He de-
c la red that the trust has issued participation shares, but is
not a company operating utilities, and is therefore not under
the jurisdiction of the commission. Mr. Stedman questioned
whether the actual control of the elevated roads by the trust
does not make it a utility under the provision of the law re-
lating to "indirect" control. Mr. Porter conceded that at
different times the trust has loaned the elevated roads funds
The complaint that the elevated railroads had issued notes
running beyond twelve months and applied the proceeds to
the payment of dividends was set for hearing on March 31.
On April 10 the Hogarth complaints aaginst the Common-
wealth Edison Company will be heard.
Indiana Commission
The South Bend Home Telephone Company, through
its president, Mr. Elmer E. Daicey, has filed a petition with
the commission asking that the Rochester Telephone Com-
pany, of Rochester, Ind., be ordered to restore a toll line
between Argos and Logansport. The Rochester company
is alleged to have cut the line on March 25, following
arguments between the two companies over the ownership
of the line.
One of the principal decisions of the commission has been
assailed in the federal court of the Indiana district, Judge
A. B. Anderson presiding, by the Evansville Public Service
Company. Commissioner John F. McClure wrote the opinion
in the case, which fixed gas rates at 85 cents per 1000 cu. ft.
The utility declared that the rate was confiscatory, while
citizens held that it was too high. The company contends
that the commission valuation of $750,000 for rate-making
purposes was confiscatory and that the total should have
been $1,400,000.
The bill asks a temporary restraining order enjoining the
commission from attempting to enforce its order. It attacks
the validity of the public utility act and alleges that the
order of the commission, as construed by the Superior Court
of Vanderburg County, denies protection of the laws and
deprives the company of its property without due process
of law, in violation of the Fourteenth Amendment to the
United States Constitution.
The complaint also alleges that the act is void in that it
provides for unreasonable penalties for violations of its
terms. Conditions at Evansville because of the situation
are growing more complicated. Mayor Benjamin Bosse has
told consumers not to pay their February bills, which were
sent out late, because they were not made out at the com-
mission's rates. The company contends that its former
rates should still be in force.
The company has also filed a suit for injunction against
the commission in the Vanderburg Superior Court, setting
out the facts stated in the federal court. It asked for a
temporary injunction against the commission prohibiting
it from enforcing its order. The commission objected on
the ground that while the public utility act provides for
injunctions on final hearings, it does not provide for tem-
porary injunctions. This was upheld by the Vanderburg
Superior Court, and the company failed to obtain the
injunction.
Attorney-General Richard M. Milburn of Indiana is pre-
paring to assist Mr. Burt New, counsel to the commission,
and possibly other attorneys, in defending the utility act and
the order.
88G
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 14
Nc» Jersey Commission
The Supreme Court has handed down an important decision
setting aside the recent order of the Board of Public
Utility Commissioners directing the Public Service Electric
Company to furnish free service in the municipal buildings
at Plainfield. The electric company, as successor to the
Plaintield Gas & Electric Company, notified the city that it
could not continue lawfully to furnish free service heretofore
enjoyed. The city, in appealing to the Board of Public Util-
ity Commissioners, held that Section 18 of the public utility
law was r.ot applicable to the case, as it prohibits only un-
reasonable preference or advantage in giving, and was up-
held by the board in its contention. In the case before the
court the commission set forth that the failure of the courts
to sustain such a contract would have a far-reaching effect in
relieving public utility corporations from obligations as-
sumed under their charter.
In its decision the court says: "The contention at issue
clearly ignores the spirit of this legislation. One of its
objects was to abrogate the granting of gratuities to
municipalities and thereby prevent reciprocal favors from
being granted to the donors. The evil sought to be eradi-
cated was the insidious influence which might be exercised
on municipal bodies and officers, against the general public
welfare, by the donors of such gratuities. The Board of
Public Utility Commissioners by the statutes creating the
commission has the power to enforce certain legal obliga-
tions upon the company, but the language is not broad
enough to confer on the board the power to enforce specific
performing contracts. The order made directs the specific
performance of a contract between the parties."
New York Commissions
Col. William Hayward, counsel for the legislative investi-
gating committee, has been nominated by Governor
Whitman to succeed Mr. Milo R. Maltbie as a member of the
First District commission. The term of Mr. Maltbie ex-
pired on Feb. 1, but, under the law, he remained in office un-
til the appointment of his successor was confirmed by the
Legislature. The appointment of Colonel Hayward was con-
firmed by the Senate on March 31. In a public statement he
said: "I shall devote myself absolutely and exclusively to the
prompt, fair and vigorous enforcement of the public service
law as it was originally intended and try to secure for the
people of New York City decent and adequate service by
public service corporations. As far as I am concerned, there
will be no politics directly or indirectly in the Public Service
Commission. The recent investigation established certain
standards in the public mind for which I, perhaps, am largely
responsible. I shall be glad to be judged hereafter by those
standards."
Commissioner Martin S. Decker, of the Second District
commission, has filed a statement with the legislative inves-
tigating committee in which he says: "In the present in-
vestigation no effort has been made to bring out with
clearness and with any specification the great amount of
work which has been done by the commission and its
various members, the character of that work or the results
of it as affecting the public interest, and it is therefore
impossible for this committee to make any finding whatso-
ever upon the general efficiency and attention to duty of the
commission or its members unless it shall find in favor of
the commission as to its genera] efficiency and attention to
duty. In the testimony taken before the committee seven
cases out of 4000 have been selected as the subject of
examination with reference to my work. Three of those
cases are mentioned solely on the ground of delay."
In accordance with the report of the legislative committee,
a bill has been introduced increasing the regulative meas-
ures over telephone companies. It transfers jurisdiction in
New York City and Long Island to the First District com-
on. All telephone companies are made subject to
regulation, adding 1000 systems now exempt. The corn-
are classified as commercial and mutual. Authority
• ii to the commi [on to establish standards of
Power i given to the commissions to compel com
mercial companies to connect. Every company is required
to obtain ■ certificate of publ
building or extending. The bill provides further thnt
i ions shall have the same control OVej locks, bonds,
property of telephone oompani'
over railroads. Companies like the American Telephone &
Telegraph Company are subjected to complete control.
In the decision of the Second District commission refus-
ing the request of the city of Rochester for reduced fares
on the New York State Railways, the claim of the com-
plainant that an extravagant price was paid to the Roches-
ter Railway & Light Company for electric energy was
considered. Comparisons with certain prices paid by the
Syracuse and Buffalo street railroad companies were sub-
mitted. It was agreed that this comparison should be in-
vestigated by the commission's engineer and his report
served upon the parties, and that further hearing should
be had as to the energy rate if desired. The engineer's
report finds that the energy rate paid by respondent is not
unfavorable as compared with the prices paid by the Syra-
cuse and Buffalo roads, and both parties submitted the case
with that report in evidence and without desiring further
hearing.
There were no appearances against the order of the
Second District commission authorizing the capitalization of
the Canadian-American Power Corporation at the rehearing
on March 24, which was ordered by the commission after it
had been notified through the State Department at Washing-
ton that the Canadian government was calling attention to
the yearly terms of its license for the export of electricity.
Mr. Charles K. Beekman, attorney for the company, was
the only person to appear. He told the commission that it
would be inconceivable that the Canadian government would
exercise its right to revoke this license. He said that it
would precipitate a question of international complication.
If any such adverse action should be contemplated by the
Canadian government, he said, the government would first
have to withdraw prior permissions for the export of energy
by companies which are now supplying the International
Railway, many important industries in Buffalo and public
and private enterprises in the western end of the State.
Mr. Beekman said that he had been informed that a dis-
tinguished firm of Toronto attorneys was now engaged in
preparing to test the powers of the Canadian government
under the Canadian constitution to take such an action. It
was the contention of these lawyers that such action, despite
the terms of the license, would be in violation of the pro-
visions of the Canadian constitutional safeguard of con-
tractual rights in the same manner as they are safeguarded
in the basic United States law.
It was brought out in the course of discussion between
Mr. Beekman and the commission that before any further
steps can be taken by the Canadian-American Power Cor-
poration to organize and exercise its rights the company
must come before the commission for an order. No formal
order has ever been issued in this case, and such action as
the company has taken up to now has been merely in pur-
suance of an opinion rendered by the commission. Mr.
Beekman contended that there was nothing now before the
commission different in any way from what was before it
at the time the opinion was rendered. If anything new
should develop between now and the time the company
applies for a formal order, it could be considered.
It further developed that the Canadian-American Power
Corporation has not yet progressed even so far in its or-
ganization as to commence to pay rentals on its rights. Mr.
Beekman said that none of the rights had been waived as,
in view of the financial strain, persons to whom the rentals
were due had never pressed for payment.
Ohio Commission
Should the Reighard bill, recommended for passage by the
public utilities committee of the Ohio House of Representa-
tives, become a law, the decisions upon the matter of mak-
ing physical valuations will be left to the discretion of the
Public Utilities Commission. Under the bill, even when a
City Council demands a valuation for rate-making purposes,
the commission may first make an investigation to decide
whether it is necessary.
Pennsylvania Commission
Acting under ins! ructions of the commission. Attorney-
General Francis Shunk Brown of Pennsylvania has ren-
in opinion to the effect thai the York Railways Com-
pany may acquire! bold and own the stock and bonds of a
light BUd power company.
April 3, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
887
Personal
I
WYNKOOP
Mr. I. McLean Jasper, a sanitary engineer of Chicago and
a former turbine engineer in tin- r'i.-k Street station of th.-
Communwi-alth Edison Company, Bailed for England March
26 to join the British army.
Mr. Hubert Schuurman Wynkoup, who was last week
I president of the National Association of Electrical
tors, has been identified with the electrical inspection
the city of New York for the past twenty-one
years and is now electrical
engineer in charge of the
division of electrical inspec-
tion. After securing the de-
gree of mechanical engineer
at Stevens Institute of Tech-
nology, he gained practical
experience with the Leonard
& Izard Company, the Edison
General Electric Company
and the General Electric
Company in various localities
throughout the West and
South. Ulr. Wynkoop is a
fellow of the American Insti-
tute of Electrical Engineers,
a member of the Brooklyn
Engineers' Club, a member
of the Municipal Engineers
of New York, the secretary
of the department of electricity of the Brooklyn Institute.
and an associate member of the National Fire Protection
Association, serving on the electrical committee. Through
these various activities, and more particularly through his
identification with the preparation of the National Elec-
trical Code and its enforcement, Mr. Wynkoop is widely
and favorably known.
Prof. Harris Joseph Ryan, who has just been appointed
honorary vice-president of the American Institute of Elec-
trical Engineers to act as special honorary representative
and officer of the Institute on the Pacific Coast during the
Panama-Pacific Exposition, is
well known in electrical-engi-
neering circles. Before going
to the Pacific Coast he was
professor of electrical engi-
neering at Cornell Universi-
ty. He is now professor of
electrical engineering at the
Leland Stanford, Jr., Univer-
sity. Professor Ryan was born
at Powell's Valley, Pa., Jan.
8, 18i>fi, and was educated at
Baltimore City College, Leba-
non Valley College and Sib-
ley College, Cornell Univer-
sity, where he took the course
in electrical engineering.
Among his more practical
contributions to electrical en-
gineering have been a type of
single-pha.se commutator motor which is very largely used
throughout the United States and, in conjunction with Mr.
M. K. Thompson, a method of armature compensation which
has been applied to direct-current machinery and also to al-
ternating-current motors and generators. Professor Ryan
has contributed a number of papers to the American Insti-
tute of Electrical Engineers and to the technical press. He
was a judge of the board of awards, department of electric-
ity, World's Columbian Exposition, a vice-president of the
American Institute of Electrical Engineers and a delegate to
the International Electrical Congress held at St. Louis in
1904, and has been consulting engineer of the Bureau of Los
Angeles Aqueduct Power since 1909.
Mr. T. D. Crocker, who was elected president of the
Minnesota Electrical Association last week, was graduated
from the school of electrical engineering of the Ohio State
University, at Columbus, Ohio, with the class of 1904.
Before attending the university he had gained considerable
experience in handling electrical equipment in the plant of
the Lincoln Electric Company at Cleveland, and upon com-
HARRIS J. RYAN
pleting his college course he accepted a position with the
Milwaukee trie Railway & Light Company.
During eight year-' service with the latter company Mr.
Crocker rose through several positions in the operating de-
partments to be general superintendent of the central
heating department and later became the conpany's com-
mercial engineer. In the fall of 1912 he joined the organiza-
tion of H. M. Byllesby & Company as commercial engineer
for the Consumers' Powi r Company at St. Paul, Minn., and
later was transferred to Minneapolis and was made assistant
general manager of the Minneapolis General Electric Com-
pany, which position he now holds.
Corporate and Financial
I'nited Electric Light Capital Increase. — Stockholders of
the United Electric Light Company of Springfield, Mass.,
have voted to issue $250,000 stock at 185. The proceeds will
be used to retire floating debt.
Cambridge Electric Special Dividends. — The Cambridge
(Mass.) Electric Company has declared a special dividend
of $6 out of its earnings from the sale of electrical ap-
pliances, payable on April 2.
Louisville Gas & Electric Dividends Deferred. — The
Louisville (Ky.) Gas & Electric Company failed to declare
the dividend of 1V& per cent payable on March 1 on the
preferred stock, consideration having been deferred until
May.
Southern California Edison to Acquire More Property. —
The California Railroad Commission has authorized the
Pacific Electric Railway Company to sell its heating and
electric system at Playa del Rey, Cal., to the Southern Cali-
fornia Edison Company for $1,544.
Kansas City Railway & Light Time Extension. — Notice
has been given that the committee under the agreement
dated April 3, 1913, for the deposit of first lien refunding
5 per cent gold bonds of the Kansas City (Mo.) Railway &
Light Company, has extended the period in which depositors
will be entitled either to receive new securities or cash,
pursuant to the sale or plan for reorganization or readjust-
ment, or to the return of deposited bonds or the proceeds
thereof for one year from April 3, 1915. The committee is
composed of Messrs. John B. Dennis, Acosta Nichols, I. J.
Hanauer and James J. Storrow.
Atlantic Gas Foreclosure Sale. — The bondholders' protec-
tive committee of the Atlantic Gas & Electric Company
bought in the collateral behind the series "A" and series
"B" bonds at the recent foreclosure sale at 10 cents on the
dollar. A notice will be sent within the next few days to
bondholders who have not deposited their bonds, giving
them two weeks in which to do so. A large majority of
the bonds have been deposited, and it is thought that the
remainder will be sent in, especially since by staying out
they will receive only their share of the collateral back of
the bonds at 10 per cent of face value, and also since the
assessment per bond will be in the neighborhood of $25
The General Gas & Electric Company of New York is man
aging the properties, and as soon as all the bonds are re-
ceived and stock of the Atlantic company is interchanged
for General Gas & Electric stock the Atlantic company will
go out of existence.
Columbus Utilities Consolidation Notes. — The consolida-
tion and reorganization of the railway and light properties
at Columbus, Ohio, will be complete when transfer of the
preferred stock of the Columbus Light, Heat & Power Com-
pany for series A preferred stock of the Columbus Railway,
Power & Light Company is finished at the State Savings
Hank & Trust Company. A deed for the property, fran-
chises and privileges af the Columbus Light, Heat &
Power Company in favor of the railway company was filed
for record recently in Franklin County. Holders of heat
and power stock received a three months' dividend on Jan. 1,
and as the next dividend of the railway company is payable
on April 1, no adjustment in the dates of payment will be
necessary. Holders of common stock of the heat and power
company who exchanged their securities for series B stock of
the reorganized company will receive one month's dividend
hi \j.ril 1 and a full three months' dividend on May 1.
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 14
Kansas Gas Ac Electric Statement.— The annual report of
the Kansas Gas & Electric Company, Wichita, Kan., for the
year ended Dec. 31, 1914, shows that the number of elec-
tric customers increased from 11,421 in 1913 to 12,583 in
1!U4. The output in 1914 was 23,408,092 kw-hr. as com-
pared with 18,470,213 in 1913. Of the gross earnings in
1914 (634,701 was derived from sales of electric energy,
9,413 in 1913. The earnings statement follows:
1914 1913
earnings $1,163,349 $1,030,550
Operating expi ixes 730.S34 6nS,118
Net earnings $432,515 $372,432
Interest charge! 182,425 175,005
Net Income after charges $250,090 $197,427
I 105,000 105,000
lance $145,090 $92,427
I'nited Electric Light & Power Report. — The report of the
United Electric Light & Power Company of New York for
the year ended Dec. 31, 1914, as reported to the Public
Service Commission of the First District of New York,
shows:
iting revenue $3,821,012
1,491. I'D
Uncollectible bills 2S,i85
Taxes 170,086
Net operating income $2,127.9rifi
Non-operating income 11,134
Qro pplicable to corporate and to leased
ies ^2'^??'"?4
<i. auctions, interest 1,092,064
Net corporate income $1,047,020
Contingent expenses 394,522
Surplus adjustment 53,123
I at beginning of year 38,442
Sui plus as reported at close of year $560,933
Cities Service Annual Report. — The annual report of the
Cities Service Company of New York for the year ended
Dec. 31, 1914, shows that subsidiaries sold 204,579,392 kw-hr.
during the year and at the end of the year had 125,597 kw
rating of generating equipment, with a connected load of
234,475 kw, and served 104,900 customers in a population of
942,000. The statement for 1913 and 1914 follows:
1914 1913
earnings $3,9 34 453 J2.172.4ll
Expenses 116,908 85,348
Net earnings $3,817,545 $2,0S7.063
Net interest . 420,000 123,062
Net to stock $3,397,545 $1,964,001
i ml accrued 1,635,993 908,778
Net to common stock $1,761,552 $1,065,223
i dividends 471,048 466,426
Net lo surplus $1,290,504 $588,797
Standard Gas & Electric Report.— The annual report of
the Standard Gas & Electric Company of Chicago, 111., for
the year ended Dec. 31, 1914, shows a gain of approximately
60,000 electric customers in 1914, the total at the end of the
year being 169,412. On the subsidiary company's lines
there were at the close of 1914 21,423 motors, with an aggre-
gate rating of 183,681 hp and 3,108,410 16-cp equivalents.
The total output for the year was 380,212,118 kw-hr. The
earnings of the subsidiary companies for 1914 were as
follows:
ngs *1$'IS«,S "
Expenses '''"'"■'
Net • *!;■:
int< ■• ■ - -s ::■[.
'■""' dl count -.', • ;;;
< '■''
»»tM'i
$628,834
Applicable to Standard Os » Blectrli C nj .64,039
Southern Sierras Power to Issue Bonds.— The Railroad
I lifornia has issued a linal order Buthoi
Izing the Southern Sierrai Power Company to issue (800,000
0f fi, b pa card twenty live year bond;. The
, tonally authorized some weeks ago, bul
,i„. comml Ion withheld its final approval until the com
ed account! with the Sierrai Construction
any, it having developed thai the properties of the
Southern Sierra Power Company were buill by the Sierras
pan] . under contracts by the terms of
wh;,i , ition company charged the powei
,,;,Tiy with I ' ""' »dded thereafter IE
per cent as a profit to the construction company. The power
company has now arranged to eliminate the profit which it
was proposed should accrue to the construction company
and the commission has given its final approval to the bond
issue. The Sierras Construction Company and the Southern
Sierras Company are controlled by the same interests.
Astoria Light, Heat & Power Report. — The report of the
Astoria Light, Heat & Power Company of New York for the
year ended Dec. 31, 1914, as reported to the Public Service
Commission of the First District of New York, shows:
< Iperating revenue $6,020,045
Operating expenses 4,065,076
Taxes 193.917
Operating income $1,761,052
Non-operating income 4,318
Gross income applicable to corporate and leased prop-
erties $1,76.",. 370
Interest and rent 357,358
Net corporate income $1,408,412
Surplus at beginning of year 1,824,552
Total $3,232,564
Dividends 450,000
Contingent expenses 536,909
Surplus adjustment 47,297
Surplus at close of year $3,188,358
Southern California Edison Annual Report. — The records
of the Southern California Edison Company, of Los Angeles,
Cal., according to the company's annual report for the year
ended Dec. 31, 1914, show the number of incandescent lamps
in 50-watt equivalents on Dec. 31, 1914, as 1,799,762, com-
pared with 1,634,185 on Dec. 31, 1913. At the end of 1914
the company had 108,439 electric meters, compared with
96,851 in the previous year, and 8606 motors, with a total
of 136,384 hp, were on the line at the end of 1914, as com-
pared with 7485 motors, with 118,610 hp, in 1913. The
number of arc lamps was 2056 in 1914 and 2162 in 1913.
The company has 42,500 hp installed in water-power plants
and 77,300 in steam plants, a total of 119,800 hp. Earnings
were as follows:
1 9 1 i
Gross earnings $4,855,141 $4.:
t iperating expenses, including taxes, insur-
ing and maintenance, but exclusive of
depreciation 2,332,164 2,4
Net earnings $2,522,977 $2,348,989
Interest and amortization 892,010 81
Surplus to dividends and depreciation ... $1,630,967 $1,535,020
New York Edison Report. — The statement of the New
York Edison Company for the year ended Dec. 31, 1914, as
filed with the Public Service Commission of the First Kis-
trict of New York, showed:
Operating revenue $23,5
" ' ; ■■ i . 1 1 1 nii expanses . 9,932,976
Taxes 1,36
Uncollectible bills 101,767
Total deduction . 11.396.367
Operating income .112,141,575
Nun-operating income 1,370,1 05
Gross income applicable to corporate and leased prop-
erties $13..M 2,080
Interest, rents, etc 3,788,1 I I
Net corporate income $9,723,936
Other credits from surplus 1,116
Previous surplus 89,6
Total . $39,339,754
I (eductions:
Kenewal and contingent \ reserve 3,41
Dividends 3,1
Miscellaneous debits
Surplus at close ol year ... .$32,091,344
New England Company Merger. — The amended plan of
consolidation or merger of the New England Power Com-
pany of Maine, the Connecticut River Power Company of
Maine and the New England Company was adopted at a
recent meeting. According to this amended plan, the hold-
ers of the outstanding (600,000 of 6 per eeni preferred stock
of the Connecticut River Power Company of Maine shall
receive in place thereof the entire authorized and outstand-
ing $600,000 of 6 per cent preferred stock of the Connecticut
River Power Company of New Hampshire; the holders of
the (2,720,000 of common stock of the Connecticut River
Power Company of Maine shall receive $2,720,000 of
second preferred stock of the New England Company; the
in. M.t hi 16,000,1 outstanding stock of the Not England
Power Company of Maine shall receive (6,000,000 common
lpkii. S, 1916
K I. EC T RICAL WO RLD
stock of the New England < ompany, :ir.<i thi hold
100 preferred stock of the Bellows Falls Power Com-
pany shall be given an opportunity to exchange share for
share for New England Company first pref>
Calgary !*<>» < r Annual Report. — In the annual report of
ida) Power Company, Ltd., for the year
ende.l II I. Mr. Richard B. Bennett, the president,
; that out of the existing contracts for the sale of
enemy the company is assured of a minimum income suffi-
cient to meet operating expenses and bond interest and
still have a substantial surplus. The results for the year
were not so good as anticipated, both gross and net earn-
ings having been affected to the extent of about $27,500
by a lire which caused a suspension of operations for six
months in the large cement mill at Exshaw, an important
iling economic conditions prevented cus-
tomers from taking as large amounts of energy as under
normal conditions. The statement for the year follows:
. 12!
ipanaea
94 S. .-t.
Net eai nlngs . $1 ■
rest on bonds 150,000
-I on Moating debt.
r carried to surplus (24,728
Pacific i-A- & Electric Reviews Year. — The preliminary
report of the Pacific Gas & Electric Company for 1914
■hows that the business was well in advance of the previous
The marked improvement in the condition of the
company's current finances has been brought about in part
through the application of surplus earnings, no dividends
having been paid during 1014 except upon preferred stocks,
and in part through the sale of a new issue of first preferred
5 per cent stock which was authorized by the Railroad Com-
mission on July 1, 1914. To March 1, 1915, $9,356,400 par
value of this stock had been sold to more than 4000 individ-
ual subscribers, netting the company $7,719,030. From the
1914 surplus a reserve of $534,362 was set up to cover rev-
enue involved in litigation over gas rates in Sacramento and
gas and electric rates in San Francisco. Of these three
suits the one concerning gas rates in Sacramento was finally
decided in the company's favor. The master in chancery
of the United States District Court, San Francisco, also
found for the company in the two San Francisco cases, his
report now being before the court for final disposition. At
present only the gas rates in San Francisco are in ques-
tion, the city having, as of July 1, 1914, adopted an electric
schedule satisfactory to the company. The amount of earn-
ings in dispute in 1915 will, therefore, be relatively small.
Western Union Annual Report. — The annual report of the
Western Union Telegraph Company for the year ended Dec.
31, 1914, stated that to conform with the requirements of
the Interstate Commerce Commission's classification of ac-
counts for telegraph companies, effective on Jan. 1, 1914, an
inventory, priced at cost, was taken of all the replacement
work in progress as of that date. The value of this work;
amounting to $3,588,890, was added to construction work in
progress, the reserve for depreciation of land lines being
pondingly increased. This reserve now stands at
•.242, an increase over the balance on Dec. 31, 1913, of
$3,408,158. The company's gross operating revenues in-
creased over those of the previous year by $1,475,900, due to
unprecedented cable business during the last five months of
the year, the land line earnings remaining approximately
constant with 1913. The company's statement for 1*11
follows :
operating revenue $46,26
• iperatlng expenses Includ Ion and
40,578,751
Balance 15,686,026
Income mi 1,022,61 1
red to surplus 16,671,395
Surplu II, 1913
Other surplus reserve 8,461,922
Total $18,529,108
Transferred to reserve for accrued depreciation 1,000,000
Miscellaneous adjustment 8,301
Dividends paid and declared 3,988,886
Surplus on Dec 81,1914 813,681.921
Manufacturing and Industrial
The Western ( handelier » ompany. Kansas City, Mo., has
moved into new quarters at Fourteenth Street and Grand
Avenue.
The Western Lumber iV Pole Company has moved its
headquarters from 646 Electric Building, • oL, to
Spokane, Wash.
The Automatic Keclosing Circuit Breaker Company
moved from 197 North Front Street, Columbus, Ohio, to 31
West Mound Street.
(lark Electric Manufacturing Company.— Edwin G.
Hatch has resigned as treasurer and manager of the Clark
Electric .t Manufacturing Company. New York.
The Oshkosfa Manufacturing Company, Oshkosh, Wis.,
has appointed the H. B. Squires Company of San Francisco,
Los Angeles and Portland as its representative on the
Pacific Coast.
The American Manufacturers' Agency. Inc., Mr. William
H. McKinlock, president, has taken the Chicago agency for
the Union Electric Company's line of sockets, switches and
attachment plugs. The American Manufacturers' Agency is
at 111 West Monroe Street, Chicago.
The Adams-Bagnall Electric Company, Cleveland, Ohio,
has opened a sales office at 417 South Dearborn Street.
Chicago, III., which will be in charge of Mr. Van X. Marker.
Mr. Marker has been identified with the company for a
long time in the Northwestern territory.
Mr. R. M. Klein, who has been for some years sales man-
ager of the Diehl Manufacturing Company, Elizabeth, N. J.,
announces his resignation, to take effect April 1. On his re-
turn from a Pacific Coast trip Mr. Klein will take up new-
work in an executive capacity with an enterprise in which he
is interested.
Preparations for Special Selling Campaign. — The Hot-
point Electric Heating Company, Ontario, Cal., is making
extensive preparations for its "Hotpoint week," May 3 to 8.
The company will feature its new "El Grilstovo" during this
period, and all its letterheads and envelopes contain illustra-
tions of this device with the title "El Grilstovo at One-
third Off, Hotpoint Week, May 3-8."
Bryan-Marsh Jobbers Entertained.— A number of jobbers
who handle the products of the Bryan-Marsh Works of the
General Electric Company, Chicago, were entertained by
the officials of the company at a dinner at the Hotel Sher-
man, Chicago, March 19, following a conference between
representatives of the manufacturer and the distributers.
Mr. Ernest H. Haughton, general manager, presided,
assisted by Mr. J. J. Corby, manager for the Chicago dis-
trict.
Cooper Hewitt Company's New Publication. — The Out/ml
is the title of a new magazine issued by the Cooper Hewitt
Electric Company, Hoboken, N. J. The first copy of this
magazine was published March 17. Several interesting
articles in this publication are "Lighting of the Craneways
of the Ford Motor Company," by Mr. Fred Allison, electrical
engineer Ford Motor Company; "Increasing Production," by
Mr. A. S. Hubbard, and "Portrait Lighting with Cooper
Hewitt Lamps," by Mr. M. B. Buckman, Jr.
Electric Company Enlarges Plant. — On account of the
increase in business of the Connecticut Telephone & Elec-
tric Company, Meriden, Conn., it has been necessary to add
another building to the plant which will cover an area 50 ft.
by 100 ft. This building will have four floors and a base-
ment and will be of brick-mill construction. The structure
will be completed April 15, and will be used chiefly for the
manufacture of ignition systems. This addition is the
third made by the company within recent years.
Mr. A. G. Shaver has opened an office as consulting en-
gineer at 1640 Transportation Building, Chicago, where he
will give particular attention to work in railway signaling,
telephone and electric power-plant construction, and the
design of high-tension transmission lines. Mr. Shaver re-
cently resigned as secretary of the Hallett Iron Works,
manufacturers of line material and tools, Harvey, III. He
was formerly signal engineer for the Chicago. Rock Island
& Pacific and Union Pacific railroads and for the Hall
Signal Company, New York.
890
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 14
The Adams-Bagnall Electric Company. Cleveland, Ohio,
has appointed Mr. M. S. Knapp manager of the Pittsburgh
district, with headquarters at 1430 Park Building, Pitts-
burgh, Pa. Mr. Knapp has been connected with the National
Metal Molding Company the past year, and before that
he was with the General Electric Company. He was city
salesman in Pittsburgh for the latter company for six
years.
Demand for Electrical Supplies in Pernambuco. Brazil. —
According to Mr. H. N. Douthitt, a special agent of the
Department of Commerce, there will soon be a demand for
various electrical machines and devices in Pernambuco,
Brazil. A new power house is being constructed. Three
1000-kw turbo-generators made by the British Westinghouse
Company have already been installed, and a foundation
is being made for a fourth machine. The boilers and boiler-
room equipment were made by the Babcock & Wilcox
Company.
The Spray Manufacturing Company, 201 Devonshire
Street, Boston, Mass., has recently been formed and has
branch offices in New York and Chicago. The company is
making a specialty of manufacturing spray cooling ponds,
spray air washers and gas scrubbers, and of various en-
gineering applications of spray devices. Mr. A. G. Eneas,
who organized and developed the Spray Engineering Com-
pany, has severed his connection with that company and has
taken charge of the engineering department of the Spray
Manufacturing Company.
Bauman & Loeb, Inc., 138 Bowery, New York, is the name
of a concern recently incorporated. Mr. O. Bauman is presi-
dent, Mr. William Loeb secretary, and Mr. H. B. Bauman
treasurer. Mr. O. Bauman has been for the last fifteen
years a traveling salesman in the electrical-fixture line,
Mr. Loeb has been connected with an electrical supply house
in the West, and Mr. H. B. Bauman has been connected with
the United Electric Light & Power Company for a number
of years. The above firm will be engaged as importers and
jobbers of gas and electrical fixtures and appliances.
Exhibit of Cutter Circuit-Breakers. — The Cutter Elec-
trical & Manufacturing Company of Philadelphia will exhibit
a number of "I-t-e" circuit-breakers at the University of
Illinois electrical show to be held at Urbana, 111., April
8 to 10. Among the number will be a specially designed
breaker for 1300-volt railway service. These breakers are
equipped with protective devices which make them non-
closable on overloads and also embody the direct-acting
time-limit feature. Mr. Linn O. Morrow, manager of the
company's Indianapolis offiee, will have charge of the
exhibit.
The Cutler-Hammer Manufacturing Company, Milwaukee,
Wis., has appointed Mr. Horace L. Dawson, formerly of its
Chicago and Cincinnati offices, district sales manager of
the Chicago territory, with headquarters in the People's Gas
Building, Chicago. Mr. Dawson began work with the
Cutler-Hammer Manufacturing Company in 1907. After
completing the apprentice shop course he spent two years
in the engineering department of the company and then
joined the sales-engineering force of the Chicago office.
When the Cincinnati office was established in 1913 Mr.
Dawson was placed in charge. Mr. Dawson is a graduate
of Cornell University, class of 1907.
The Avery & Loeb Electric Company, Columbus, Ohio, has
been incorporated with a capital stock of $100,000 as a
reorganization of the Avery-Loeb Electric Company, which
has been in the electrical contracting and supply business
for the past five years. The reorganization is for the pur-
pose of securing additional capital for the development of
the business, which is growing rapidly. The incorporators
Messrs. Oscar Avery, A. E. Loeb, C. W. Hammond,
\. W. Loeb and A. L. Frey. It is reported that the di
I officers will be the same as in the original company,
of which Mr. Oscar Avery W . Mr A K. Loeb
ni. and Mr. ('. W. Hammond secretary- treasurer.
Vehicle Prospects Bright in West. — Returning from a trip
to thi «t and Gulf States, in the course of which
he visited twenty-seven principal cities in eighteen states,
Mr 1. P, < halfant, secretary of the Electric Automobile
Association, with offices at 910 South Miclu
. enue, Chic i revival in all classes of busi-
ness in the territory visited, following a year of depression
which seemed to close with 1914. The last two months show
marked improvement in both electric and gasoline automo-
bile sales in the West, declared Mr. Chalfant in a recent
comment, adding that the Western people now see only
bright days ahead. Mr. Chalfant has been working to ef-
fect closer co-operation between local central stations and
dealers. In those cities where friendly interest and help ex-
ist the electric-vehicle business is thriving. By inculcating
the spirit of co-operation, declared Mr. Chalfant, the elec-
tric-vehicle business is being converted from a game of bar-
ter and concession to the status of a real industry.
Price Reductions in Tungsten Lamps. — Practically all the
sizes and types of Edison tungsten multiple lamps are
affected by reductions in list prices that were put into effect
April 1, 1915, by the Edison Lamp Works of the General
Electric Company. On the regular straight-side and round-
bulb lamps, from the 10-watt to the 250-watt size, also on
sign lamps, stereopticon lamps, etc., the reductions range
from 3 cents to 20 cents per lamp, according to the size.
These reductions, which average about 10 per cent, will tend
to popularize further already popular lamps. The new
concentrated-filament vacuum lamps of 25-watt, 40-watt and
60-watt sizes now list at only 5 cents per lamp more than
the regular lamps of corresponding sizes. On the gas-
filled, multiple lamp of 100-watt to 1000-watt size the re-
ductions range from 50 cents to $1 per lamp, the average
reductions being between 20 and 25 per cent. The introduc-
tion of gas-filled lamps has been exceptionally rapid. More
than a million are already in use. The decreased cost of
these lamps will undoubtedly result in a still more rapid
replacement of vacuum lamps by the more efficient gas-
filled units.
Export of Tools. — The Oshkosh Manufacturing Company,
Oshkosh, Wis., reports that it has recently received orders
for electrical construction tools from Australian, South
American and South African jobbers and also an order for
a number of anchors for the Post Office Department of
Australia for use on government lines. The company is
also holding a large shipment of its products which will be
sent in the near future to Manila, P. I. According to Mr.
J. W. Wooley, sales manager of the above company, pros-
pects for business in South America are excellent, inquiries
are plentiful, and orders are being received more frequently
than heretofore. The increasing export business of the
company has made it necessary to establish an export de-
partment, which is in charge of Mr. E. H. Hoffman, who
has had fifteen years' experience in the export field. Mr.
Wooley states that no price reductions have been necessary,
and in all cases regular prices plus packing and freight
charges have been obtained and satisfactory credit arrange-
ments made. Owing to the fact that, in many instances,
tools have to be packed on mules or horses the packing item,
Mr. Wooley stated, is one to be watched with the utmost
care in order to make the cases as small in weight and
bulk as is consistent with the necessary strength.
NEW YORK METAL MARKET PRICES
—March 22^ — March 30—
Selling Prices Selling Prices
Bid Asked Bid Asked
Copper £ s d £ a d
itandard spot' 68 5 0 69 0 0
Prime Lake ir.,12%
Electrolytic ir>.l2tf 15-70
rig 14.37'-..
i loppar n b e base IB.! 16.75
1.16
Nickel 42.00 to 45.00 42.00 to 45.00
Sheet zinc, fob. smelter 13. SO 13.60
Spelter 9.75t 9.fi2Ht
tin r.3.50f :.3.00t
tun ii. 98 to 99 per aenl 18.75 is 7".
•OLD METALS
opper and wire 13 r.o 13.50
!>.2">
Brass, light
Lead, heav] 3.9'.
Zinc, icrap 7.60
COPPER EXPORTS*
Total tons to March 30
nons on the New York Metal Exchange
tNn'i
Ana.
K LECTRICAL WORLD
New Incorporations
lh<- Boaaker Public Service Corporation! of Boi aker, Va.,
has Sled articles of incorporation with a capital stock of
$5,000. The officers are: E. J. Boyd, president, and Aaron
-irer.
I in Rankin Electric Light Company, of Rankin, 111., baa
been incorporated with a capital stock of $6,000 by Charles
J. Crump and Catherine Crump. The com-
pany proposes to generate and Bell electricity for lamps and
I tn- Minnesota Electric Light & Power Company, of
Duluth, Minn., has filed articles of incorporation with a
capital stock of $1,500,000. The company proposes to
generate and distribute electricity in the State of Minnesota;
also to construct power plants, dams, reservoirs, canals and
pipe lines.
New Industrial Companies
I 'In- Wrought Metals Products Company, of Buffalo, N. Y..
.-en incorporated by M. F. Dumble, H. R. H. Richards
and J. H. German, of Buffalo. The company is capitalized
at $15,000 and proposes to manufacture and deal in glass
and electrical supplies.
I he Wilherbee Storage Battery Company, of Brooklyn.
N. Y., has been incorporated with a capital stock of $10,000
to manufacture and deal in motors, engines, machinery,
supplies, motor vehicles, etc. The incorporators are M. J.
Hanlon, C. J. Steier and E. E. Jacobson, 68 Montague Street,
Brooklyn, N. Y.
The New York Electrical Garage Corporation, of New
York, N. Y\, has been incorporated with a capital stock of
$50,000 to do a general garage and automobile business,
manufacture vehicles, engines, machines, etc. The in-
corporators are I. W. Donner, R. R. Livingston and J. W.
Crandall, 165 Broadway, New York, N. Y.
Ricketts & Company, of New York, N. Y., have been in-
corporated by P. F. Cowing, 195 Claremont Avenue, New
York, N. Y.; T. H. Burnett, 177 West Eighty-seventh Street,
New York, N. Y., and R. B. Cowing, Glen Ridge, N. J. The
company is capitalized at $50,000, and proposes to do a gen-
eral mining, metallurgical and chemical engineering busi-
ness.
Trade Publications
Cable and Wire. — The American Electrical Works, Phil-
lipsdale, R. I., is sending out a price list of its products.
Catenary Material. — The Ohio Brass Company, Mansfield,
Ohio, is sending out a bulletin which describes its O-B
catenary material.
Wireless Apparatus. — The Mignon Wireless Corporation,
Elmira, N. Y., has prepared several bulletins which describe
various types of radio apparatus.
Steam-Recording Meter. — Bulletin No. 800 issued by
James G. Biddle, 1211 Arch Street, Philadelphia, Pa., de-
scribes the "Curnon" steam meter.
Motor Controller. — M. Taigman, 239 Wooster Street, New
York, has issued a bulletin which describes a 110-volt starter
and speed regulator for small motors.
Household Appliances. — "Electric Household Appliances"
is the subject of a folder recently issued by the General
Electric Company, Schenectady, N. Y.
Waler Weigher. — The Kennicott Company, Chicago
Heights, III., is sending out a leaflet which directs attention
to the advantages of a water weigher.
Electric Trucks. — The Connersville Buggy Company, Con-
nersville, Ind., is sending out a booklet which describes its
light-weight electrically operated trucks.
Outdoor Metering Outfits.— Bulletin No. 46,251 recently
published by the General Electric Company, Schenectady,
N. Y., describes its outdoor metering outfits.
Vacuum Cleaner. — The Innovation Electric Company, 585
Hudson Street, New York, has prepared a folder which de-
scribes and illustrates its "Liberty" cleaner.
I li. i hi Tans. — The Lindstrom, Smith Company, Chi
111., is -ending out a folder which dl
61, No. 62 and No. 63 electrically operated fans.
I lashlampa.— The Interstate Electric Novelty Company,
m fork, is sending out a booklet which
number of different kinds of ftashlamps.
Steam Traps. — Catalog No. 8, entitled "Barton Expa
Automatic Steam Trap," has just been published by the
Automatic Steam Trap & Specialty Company, Detroit,
Mich.
Tubular Flaahlampa, — The Interstate Electric Novelty
Company, 29 Park Place, New York, has published several
leaflets which describe its tubular ftashlamps shaped like a
fountain pen.
\rmored Conductors. — M. B. Austin & Company, Chicago,
III., are sending out Loose Leaf No. 64, which contains in-
formation on their steel-armored conductors and flexible-
steel conduit.
Refractory Material.— The La Clede Christy Clay
Products Company, Manchester and Sulphur Avenues, St.
Louis, Mo., is sending out a card which directs attention to
some of its products.
Electrically Operated Ice-Cream Freezer. — The Emery
Thompson Machine & Supply Company, 235 East Forty-first
Street, New York, has published a catalog describing its
motor-driven brine ice-cream freezer.
Small Motors. — The Bodine Electric Company, 564 West
Randall Street, Chicago, 111., is sending out a card which
illustrates and describes its type C fractional-horse-power
alternating-current and direct-current motors.
Porcelain Sockets. — The Weber Electric Company, Sche-
nectady, N. Y'., for which Henry D. Sears, 131 State Street,
Boston, Mass., is general sales agent, has issued a folder
describing its recently developed porcelain sockets.
Wireless Apparatus. — Bulletin A 15 just issued by the
DeForest Radio Telephone & Telegraph Company, 101 Park
Avenue, New York, describes and illustrates audion detect-
ors, variometers and an audion time receiver.
Small Electric Stove. — The Hotpoint Electric Heating
Company, Ontario, Cal., has issued an illustrated folder
which describes its new "El Grilstovo" and gives details of
a special selling campaign to dispose of this device.
Lighting Fixtures. — The New Yrork Gas & Electric Ap-
pliance Company, 569 Broadway, New York, is sending out
a leaflet which describes and illustrates a shower fixture
and also a folder which directs attention to its new Catalog
No. 18.
Blower and Exhauster Fans. — The Buffalo Forge Com-
pany, Buffalo, N. Y., has recently issued Catalog No. 200,
entitled "Planoidal Fans," Catalog No. 201, entitled "Niagara
Planoidal Fans," and Bulletin No. 182 E, entitled "Buffalo
Electric Fans for Blowing, Exhausting, Ventilating, Cooling
and Drying."
Clamps. — "Facts for the Engineer and Technical Man"
is the title of a folder just issued by the Steel City Electric
Company, 1207 Columbus Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pa., which
directs attention to the results of several tests on its
"Marchand" clamps. Another folder, entitled "Marchand
Clamps," describes and illustrates this device.
Lighting of Billboards and Large Painted Signs. — The
National Lamp Works of the General Electric Company.
Cleveland, Ohio, have just issued a bulletin entitled "Light-
ing of Billboards and Large Painted Signs," in which the
subject of glare is discussed and data for its elimination are
set forth. Distribution curves for various types of units
and illumination curves taken on a test board are shown.
The Western Electric Company, New York, has just issued
the following booklets: "Temco Portable Electric Tools,"
"Reflectors for Roundhouse and Industrial Plant Lighting,"
"Summer Breezes" on electrically operated fans, and
"Dishes and Drudgery." The company has also recently
prepared leaflets and folders on its desk telephone, No. 6003;
magneto telephone, No. 1317; washing machines, vacuum
cleaners, inter-phone outfit, No. 17; D & W fuses, friction
tapes, electric lantern, Bryant receptacles and plugs, Temco
electric portable <lrill. electric fans and D & W oil fuse
cut-outs.
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 14
Construction News
New England
AUGUSTA, MAINE. — Within the next
nine months the Central Maine Pwr. Co.,
of Augusta, expects to purchase
for distribution and lighting system, In-
volving an expenditure of not more than
$40,000; also electrical appliances, including
heating ami cooking apparatus, vacuum
cleaners, etc, ami electrical supplies, to cost
not more than $35,000. W. S. Wyman is
treasurer.
WATEKVII.LE. MAINE— The City Coun-
cil is reported t" be considering the instal-
lation of a municipal electric-light plant.
Eugene \V. Crawford is city engineer.
EAST KINGSTON, X. H. — The Exeter
ft Hampton El. Co., of Exeter, has been
granted a franchise to extend its trans-
mission lines to East Kingston to furnish
electrical service here.
EXETER, X. H. — The Selectmen have
been authorised t" make a new contract
with the Exeter ft Hampton El, Co. whereby
the present are lamps, of which there are
75, will he replaced with 78 tungsten lamps
p. with prismatic refracting globes,
and th ■ 77 60-cp tungsten lamps now in
use will he replaced by 91 tungsten lamps
,.f 60 cp.
W 'STOCK, N. H— The town of
Woodstock has petitioned the Legislature
for an amendment to its charter giving the
town authority to construct and operate a
municipal electric-lighting plant.
PALMER, MASS.— The Central Massa-
chusetts El. Co.. of Palmer, is contemplat-
ing the installation of a distributing system
in the town of Granby. H. 1'arsons is gen-
eral manager.
READING, MASS.— The town of Reading
'd $4,000 for extensions and
improvements to the municipal electric-
lighting plant
ROWLEY, MASS— Within the next two
months the electric-light commissioners ex-
pect to purchase transformers, poles, light-
ning arresters, insulators, meters, tub trans-
rs, etc. S. O. Kent is manager.
TAUNT, >X, MASS. — Preparations are
being made bj Leland D. wood, manager
of the municipal electric-lighting plant, for
Ission line
ind, for which an appropriation of
has been made.
HARTFORD, CONN.— Negotiations are
under way for the sale of the property of
the Hartford ft Springfield St. R I
which operates two suburban railways be-
tween these two cities on both sides of tie
Connecticut River, with branches to Suf-
lield on tie- west and Kockville on the east,
t<. tie Northern Connecticut Lt. & Pwr. Co.
Th.' I. in. i companj is in distribute elec-
tricitj t., be generated by the hydroelectric
Windsor Locks, when the North-
ern Securities Co. obtains a federal char-
> its dam.
WINHS, ,1: LOCKS, CUXX.— The North-
I'wr, i'ii, of Windsor
has applied for permission to in-
crease its capital stock from $500,000 to
100, the proceeds to be used for ex-
tensions to its system.
Middle Atlantic
GREAT BEND, X. V.— The Village
Hoard has acted favorably on the petition
asking that a lighting zone for electric
lamps he granted. Tie- service,
. will be furnished by tin- Water-
town i.t .v- Pwr, Co., of Watertown
I. A PARGEVILLE, X. Y The Village
rlydro-l
Co., of Theresa, a franchise to extend its
inn- k I. Santway
is president and
RAQ1 ETTE LAKE, N. S K imp Kill
1
Timothy I, Woodruff,
by ]•". P. Garvin, of New York The new
owner, it ll undei Si I. will i
trie-lighting plant
RIVERHEAD, X. I
Lt. Co. expects to erect within the next
a brick powi tracl al
rded) Iso 1 tall
enei itlng unit i Si-
ted), w hlch it
obei t p Gritting is president
SILVER SPRINGS, N v The Village
I with the
■ '.. . ..r Warsaw, to
furnish eli • ti Iclty to opei ate the ti
■
ORT. N. T.—
Hilton i:i l.i ft
Pwr. CO., of Hilton, a franchise I.
its lines throughout the town to furnish
electrical service there.
STANLEY, X. Y.— The Empire Gas &
El. Co.. ei Geneva, bas decided to extend
its transmission lines to Stanley to furnish
1 service here. This extension will
Include thi erection of I miles of pole line
ii Road Into Stanley. The pro-
posed line will carry 6H00 volts, and pro-
ill be made so that it can be con-
tinued to Gorham and Kushville if desired.
SYRACUSE, X. Y.— The Oswego River
Pwr, Trans, Co., of Syracuse, may purchase
a few transformers and meters during the
next 12 months.
WATERTOWN, X. Y. — Work has begun
on the city's power-development project on
the Black River.
ALLBNTOWN, PA.— The Lehigh Vallej
I.t .V Pwr. Co. is contemplating extending
its transmission lines to supply electricity
in the towns of Schnecksville and Neffs,
about 12 miles distant. The high-tension
lines furnishing energy to the slate regions
will be tapped through an outdoor sub-
station midway between the two stations.
ALLENTOWN, I 'A. — The Allentown &
Reading Trac. Co. has abandoned its power
plant at Greisemersville and will secure
energy to operate its cars from the Lehigh
Valley Lt. & Pwr. Co. The generating
plant at Kutztown, which supplies elec-
tricity in the district between that town
and Reading, will be kept in operation.
This plant will also supply alternating cur-
rent for lighting Dorney Park, which is
owned by the railway company.
BEDFORD, PA.— The Bedford El. Lt.,
Ht. & Pwr. Co. expects to install two 175-
hp horizontal tubular boilers this spring.
William Brice, Jr., is manager.
CRESSOX. PA. — The Cresson El. Lt. Co.
will replace the are lamps now in use with
250-cp nitrogen (General Electric) lamps,
using fixtures with concentric reflectors
and holophane globes. A. G. Edwards is
secretary and treasurer.
ERIE, PA.— The Erie Ltg. Co.. of Erie,
is erecting a 33.0011-volt. three-phase, 60-
cycle transmission line between Erie and
Corry. When completed the line will sup-
ply electricity in Waterford. Union City,
Corry and vicinity. Substations will lie
erected at each of the above towns ; the
building to be erected at Union City will
be used as a combined showroom, office
and substation.
HANOVER, PA. — The borough school
board has been authorized to erect a new
high school building, to cost about $S5,000.
Electric limps and other electrical equip-
ment will be installed.
HAURISBURG, PA. — Preliminary steps
have been taken toward the installation of
electric lamps on the River Front wall.
An ordinance will probably be introduced
in the City Council authorizing the placing
of 54 standards for electric lamps along
the wall.
HIGHSPTRE, I'A, The installation of a
new street-lighting system in Hlghsplre is
under consideration. The question of ob-
taining electricity to operate same from
the York Haven Wtr. & Pwr. Co. is also
under consideration.
HOLLSOPPLE, PA.— The borough of
Benson is installing an electric distributing
system, Electricity to maintain same will
he supplied by the Pcnn Lt. & Pwr. Co., of
Altoona. The White Oak Lt, Ht & Pwr.
Co., of Hollsopple, which furnishes elec-
iii 'ii service in this borough, has recently
pi til loned i be i •ubl 1c Service Comi
to restrain the borough from constructing
the plant
PITTSBURGH. PA.— The Philadelphia
EB1 Co., ni Pittsburgh, is extending Its
transmission lines to Ambridge with
of furnishing energy to the plant of the
Standard Seaml
motors. Rights ol waj art now being se-
iiired through Harmon] and I i
Townships.
CLINTON, N .1 Cids will be received
i.\ the board "! noana gers of the Sta te Re
i"i in itni \ for Women, Clinton, until April
9 i extension of date from March
lectrlc transmission
hi llle with the
. . i of 'li"
Trent. in. \'. .!
GLOUCESTER .'ITY. N J Bids will be
received of the sui
irchltect, m nt, washing
• ! . until April notion,
complete (Including mechanical equipment),
building for the PI
.i Drawings and may be
..I, timed fri.m I ,,- irhmi-
HARRISON, X. J.— Tentative plans are
being prepared bj the lighting committee
"I the Common Council for the installation
OI a new street-lighting system on Harrison
Ii
PARK RIDGE, X. J. — The Board of
Light Commissioners expects to purchase
for the municipal electric-lighting plant
one gas or oil engine and a friction-driven
pulley for running the alternator from two
different prime movers ; also to purchase
500 cross-arms, 100 poles, and other small
is as required and some wiring
supplies. E. Vernon Smith is superin-
tendent.
PRINCETON, X. J.— The Borough Coun-
cil has voted to sell the municipal under-
ground conduit system to the Pub. Ser. El.
Co., under the terms of which the i
has agreed to place its overhead wires in
the business district on Xassau Street un-
derground.
LAUREL, MD. — Plans are being prepared
by Harry Stevens, engineer. Union Trust
Building, Washington, L>. C, for improve-
ments to electric-lighting, water and sewer
systems, to cost about $75,000.
MOUNT AIRY, MD. — The Public Serv-
ice Commission has approved the franchise
granted the Mount Airv Ice & El. Co. bv
the Mayor and City Council to furnish
electricity in the town for lamps and mo-
tors.
LEXINGTON', VA. — Plans are being con-
sidered by the Blue Ridge Pwr. Co., a sub-
sidiary of the Virginia Western Pwr. Co.. of
Clifton Forge, for the construction of hy-
droelectric plant at Balcony Falls on James
River. W. C. Mathews, of Clifton Forge, is
president.
WASHINGTON. D. C— Bids will be re-
ceived at the office of the chief olticer of
the War Department Washington, D C
until April 20, for 127 miles of cables
Specifications may be obtained at the above
office.
WASHIXGTON, D. C— Bids will be re
ceived at the depot quartermaster's office
Washington, D. C. until April 12, for fur-
nishing 66 electrically connected portable
gasoline electric generating sets. Further
'd upon applica-
tion to the above office. J. B. Houston is
depot quartermaster.
WASHIXGTON', D. C— Bids will be re-
ceived at the office of the chief signal officer
WSJ Department, Washington, D. C, until
April 20, under Proposal Tin. r.u- furnish-
ing 12 miles of intermediate cable, special
15 miles of intermediate cable, tvpe 44 ; 50
miles of deep-sea cable, type 45, ami ,~>,i
miles ol deep-sea cable, special. For further
information address Charles S Wallace
captain. Signal Cups, r s. A.
WASHINGTON, I>. C— Foreign trade
opportunities are announced bv the Bureau
of Foreign and Domestic Commerce in the
Commerce Reports as follows: No. 16.074
— This bureau is m receipt of a communi-
cation from a business man in the United
Kingdom who desires to secure agencies for
the sale of American machinery in that
country. He states that he has' had sev-
eral years' experience in the sale of hy-
draulic machinery, engineering machinery,
railway and tramway supplies. No. 16,081
-An American consul In the Far East re-
ports that a firm in his district is desirous
of securing full information relative to
lathes for finishing metals, steam-power
machines, steam boilers, kerosene engines
equipment and apparatus for Bteam-heatlng
ir.ui pipes, steel a nd other tools. Instru-
No 16,069 — An American otli-
cer in Russia reports that a lumber deal-
ers" association in his district desires to
iialogs, etc., from manufacturers
oi tnrhims n new has iii view the pur-
i ' l.-.o-hp waterwheel. Correspond-
ence may be In Russian. French -
man. For further Information address the
Bureau of Foreign and Domestli
in. r... Department of Commerce, Washing-
ton, I | ' ' . and its bran, lies No 1 >'. 1 1 S
aii American consular officer In Ru
ports thai a business man in his district
.lesir.s to represent American firms for the
sal ' electrical supplies, oil englm
Correspondence should be h
German
North Central
CLARE, MICH The proposal to Issue
184,000 In bonds for the installation of n
municipal electric-light plant In Clare will
be submitted to the voters on April 5,
.'I. i \ i:i, \\n. , .hi, , \ resolution ree-
ling the purchase of the en-
li "i of the Cleveland El Ltg. Co. bv the
■ leveland has been submitted to the
City Council,
ci.i'Yii \\|i. mil, , Bids will be re-
celved al the office of the con
pin. bases and supplies. . I 1 i',i
Cleveland, until April 8, for furnishing on-
Apkii. 3, 1915
E l. K CTRICA I. WORLD
John j .- ■ rk. Jef-
, furmsh ingthe
■
;d, ohi
1 1 n 1 1 < > r > .
including •
unty I'ommlH
. April 14
! i i (LIS, ' 'III' ' The Gall
■ May 1
.WILLI:. "HI" Th.- capital
. i;i. I.I ,v Pwi Co
■•> its plant.
HAMILTON, OHIO Contracl lias been
plant, ware-
ther buildings for the
inn Brewing Co., of
Motors and other electrical
.uircd.
LOCKLAND, "II • uncil is
mg with Hi' El. ' '" •
nnnti, for the r< newal of th.
ii t. which, it is understood,
will be changed to provide for additional
ment.
I.i I RAIN, ' iH lnar> plana have
i Elyria fi.r a Joint municipal elec-
■it to serve the two tow ns A bill
ens, coun-
orain, enabling the establish-
i plant. The bill will !■>■ In-
■ i in the Legislature by Senator
•. thm a short time.
MONROEVILLE, OHIO.— The Board of
Public
of a filtra
,,f Jeflfera Ii see proposal
i tlD.— Within ■
Public
D-hp to
\\
T Armstong is superintendent
VTNCENNES, INK- Th- City EL Ltf.
ontrolled bj w B
. Street, New York.
\ v • hase « ithm i
by 18-ln. hi
tubular boilers ( 160 lb, wot I
and to
iin-ntal lamp-posts lor flve-
. I- Felix l.. Cadou
the Cltj El Ltg Co
CHICAQO, ll.l. - Huls will be received bj
. Sanitary District of Chi-
cago, R n 7"". :'i» South Michigan Ave-
igo, until April * tor electrical
unlink tubular Bteel poles,
ms, lamp brackets, lamp hoists.
single-conductor, foui
In, lor. lie, multiple-conductor,
IS, lamp.-.
etc. For details see proposal
coumns.
QIBSON CITY, UJ
893
31 Paul.
MARSHALL!
ft l.t i
MOUNT PLEASANT. 1A
Public Work.- ■ '""' ,n,e
next tin-
trie-light plant
HILL, IA I
I, -light plant
Hill.
WAVERLY. IA i
sldered to to the mum.
Ice system, to
.000.
\sh GRi iVE, MO Th< property of the
Ash Grove Mil "■■-- "V.",1 ,ur:
chased bj R R Jackson and E E. Kemper
CLARKSBURG, MO.- At an election held
recently the proposal to grant a franchise to
, ; r Wilson to construct and on
Ilarksburg was
GRAHAM, MO A special election has
been called to vote on the proposal to grant
the Mound City Hi. l.t. & Ice Co., of Mound
City a franchise to supply electricity In
Graham; also to entei into a contract for
htlng.
INDEPENDENCE, MO Within the next
tour months the Board of Public Works ex-
taken bj the Commercial Club for the in- tour months tht I iiii. otaimSs
stallation of ornamental lamps along thri o install a 250-hp -^'V m ,n ciDal
. ompound t-ngine ir
Mocks of th- business section
MARTTNTON, ILL.- -Prellminai
en taken to organize a sto
i the purpose of establishing an
light plant m Marlinton. A com-
tnlttee, consisting of Thomas McSorley, J.
H Peltier, William Baron and Thomas
Hennegan, was appointed to secure a char-
ter.
NASHVILLE, ILL.— The Nashville El.
n granted permission by the
Illinois Public Utilities Commission to
transmission line from Nashville to
. ille.
GREEN HAY, WIS. — Within the next 30
electric-light plant. Henry /.. Berge is
ndent.
BISMARCK, =1J be received
i, T E Flaherty, auditor, until April 7 tor
■ i. -light plant tor court house and
ntal lighting
Miirt house gro
BEATRICE, NEB.— A petition is in cir-
culation asking that an election be called
to submit the proposal to issue >JO,OpO in
bonds for the installation ot a municipal
electric-light plant in Beatrice.
BROKEN BOW, IS I'°sal to
ssue $10,000 in bonds -tallation
conte lating the instal- days the Wisconsin Pub. Ser. Co., of Green of a municipal el e > - li|l it 1 la t wdl be
Plant in connection Bay, expects to purchase materia for 7 submitted to t. he volt s at » «» to
HI, the municipal water- works system. miles of 26.000-volt transmission line. C. be held April
PORTSMOUTH, "HIO — Plans are being
rac. Co., of
nh, for the Of three
] at Franklin,
and Hanging Ro< k
ST MARTS, OHIO. — The Village Coun-
. ,1, it is reported, has voted to sell the
light plant.
TIFFIN, OHIO Th- I ihlo Lt. & P
.orted, will soon begin work on the
of a high-tension steel-pole trans-
-I Newark and Thorn-
ville. the cost of which is estim
about $150,000. The company proposes t..
furnish electricity to towns and
along the line.
Y' iUNGSTi iWN, OHIO— The Citj Council
i nee granting the Ma-
• ounty Lt. Co., of Youngstown, an
i of time to complete its p
s.pt. 1. 1916.
COLUMBIA, KY. Within the nexl six
.ia Ltg. Co. expects to
i 30-kw. ll.'.O-volt, 60-cycle alter-
ii r-nt generator and a 40-hp or
■ engine A. II. Ballard is
urer.
DAWSON SPRINGS, KY- Th.
I.l Ac Pwr Co. is building an addition to its
power bouse and installing a 100-kw gen-
erator belted to a 150-hp Skinner engine.
Th.- companj is installing a three-wire sys-
tem E A Stevens
K v Plana are being consid-
Melton A Melton, propriel
I the installation of an elec-
triC-llghtlng plant to I ill Ml- I: i
nity. Th- Claj i.i & Ice I lo .
i ii submit) propo al to erect
a transmission line to supply local needs.
n appointed to con-
i.oih propositions.
EL1ZABBTHTOWN, KY— The Ken-
tucky Utilities Co. la installing Nicholson
under the boilers In its power
plant and ti ansmisslon lim
■ . ii to supply electricity
to farms and i In that vicinity.
.1 P. Todd la local manager.
PRESTONBURG, kv The Pn
poi ted, la contemplating
the erection of a 11,000-volt, three phase
transmission line from Van Lear to Preston-
burg, ad ■ h ' nnl met, ii i
.a soon be awarded. For fur-
ther Information n L L. stone, man-
the Sands V alii Lt. & Pwr. Co.,
pTkevlll
JEFFERSONVILLE, IND. — Bids will be
.1 26,000-VOlt transmission line.
i: Phenicie is general superintendent.
MANITOWOC, WIS. — The capital stock
I islo Pwr. Ai Lt Co., of .Manitowoc,
it is reported, has been increased from
$5,000 to $30,000, the proceeds to be used
Holdrege, is engineer.
COLUMBUS. NEB.— The City Council is
considering the adoption of a ne\l street-
lighting system in the business district
Several proposals have been submitted bj
, himbus Lt *
for" rebuilding its hydroelectric power plant, ^ic^';;V0vides"ror 'the' .ustallatioil of 13
which was damaged by the floods a few J J..'u, V" ... .„ i... ,a i .,,, ,,•«„ nnlw
months ago. A. O. Anderson is president.
HIKBING. MINN. — The Water and Light
Commission is erecting a high-tension trans-
line, 4 miles long, and expects to
purchase some time this summer two new
engines and generators, 700 kw each ; also
some new transformers. C. B. Waymire is
api urn, ndent of the Water and Light De-
partment.
REDWOOD FALLS. MINN.— R. F.
Wherland, secretary and manager of the
Wherland El. Co., of Redwood Falls, has
sold his interest in the Wherland company
in Allied Green, of Morgan.
WILL. MAP. MINN. — The town of Will-
mar expects to install a boiler of about 200
I. p. .i.i possibly a superheater, this yea]
N W. 1. arson is superintendent.
CENTRAL CITYr. IA. — The 101. Ser. Co..
of Central City, successor to the Wausiponi-
con Pwr. Co., expects to erect within the
next six months from 30 to 40 miles of
transmission lines to connect the towns of
i: ,,,. Coggon, Shellsburg and Alburnett
with Its system; also to purchase material
i,,, ii,, abovi transmission lines and dis-
tribution systems. F. J. Cross is president
and manager.
PI'S MOINES, IA. — The Des Moines El.
submitted to the City Council its
plan ..I franchise tor a central hi al
tern in the business district, under which
,. ,.., , , to bi reads t" supply heal bj
■ i,t i if granted a franchise by June 1.
W. II. Thomson is general manager.
knmn yii.i.k. ia. Within the next tour
months the -Marion County El. Co., of Knox-
ville, expects t" ei, ct 16 miles i
volt transmission line; also to purchase
lightning arresters, meters,
. i , ii, Bellamy Is secretary-.
I. y ip IHWI " ID, n Puis will be received
i u F Ashton, town clerk. Larchwood,
until April L'l for furnishing mat) I
con ii ui ti"N of an electric light e
follows ; i I i c. in. nl block building ; t - )
,,ii engine, generator, storage battery,
switch). • , i .: i electrical distribution sys
: .: to be submitted on complete
nly. I 'lans and speclflcal loi
nl. in the nit ' the town clerk and also
in the mine of Earle D. Jackson, consulting
Pwr. Co., one of
. stallation of 185
iced on iron poles.
lamps of 100 cp, to I"
to cost about 5
SUPERIOR. NEB.— The property of the
Superior El. Lt. Co. has been taken over
hv the Southern Nebraska Pwr. & Devel.
Co of Superior, recently incorporated
The new directors are David Guthrie, H. U
Johnston. G. L. Day. C. W. Harvey and
Marg 't el Johnston.
VALLEY, NEB.— The village of Vallej
has entered into a contract with the Station
Engineering Co. to purchase energy to
operate the municipal electric system for
a period of 10 years. The company pro-
ercct a transmission line this sum-
mer to connect up a number of towns in
this vicinity Within the next seven months
the village" of Vallev expects to purchasi
transformers, lightning arresters, wire ami
metei tall for repair works). Albert C.
Hedberg is village clerk.
BURRTLiN, KAN- The Arkansas Valley
lnterurban Kv. Co., of Wichita, is reported
to have decided to install an electric plant
in Burrton In connection with its lnterur-
ban system. Th- plans provide tor an ex-
penditure of abOUl --". which includes
furnishing electricity for lamps and motors
here.
CHAPMAN, KAN. At an election to be
the proposal to issue slO.OOO in
bonds for the installation Of a municipal
, 1,. i in- plant yvill be submitted to the
The City may purchase the local
plant and enlarge and improve same.
GENESEO, KAN At a special election
to be held April 5 the proposal to issue
bonds to purchase and Improve the local
electric-lighting system yvill be submitted
to the voters.
i is VW Vl'i iMIE, KAN T -.inti-act for
new electrical equipment tor the municipal
electric-light and water plant lias been
twarded to the Westinghouse El. & Mfg
C i pumps i" Henrj l: Worl
for engine to Hadley Hudson Machinery
,i tor boilers to Merkle nines Ma-
chinery Co.
PB \tt. K \ \ Bids «i ill 1
ol i 'i .it addressed to m. P Jones,
i u. Pratt, until April 20 for eon-
ti ii, in. a and furnishing equipment for an
light plant and distributing system
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65 No. 14
under one general contract as follows:
Steam engines (160-hp and 240-hp), two
• 2-in. by 20-ft. oil-burning boilers, etc.;
one 125-kva and one lS7-kva alternator,
four-panel switchboard and 15-kw regu-
lator, power house, pressed-brick building
and spray pond; distributing systi
poles, 48 miles of wire, 160 lamp brackets,
94 ornamental posts and 27 transformers,
i'lans and specifications are on file at the
office of the city clerk, Pratt, and at the
office of E. T. Archer & Co., engineers, New
Kngland Building, Kansas Citv, Mo. Copies
of specifications may be obtained from en-
gineers upon payment of $5. Bids will be
considered for the entire plant only.
TOPEKA, KAN. — A petition has been
presented to the City Council asking that
the proposal to issue bonds to build an
electric plant to supply electricity for com-
mercial and power purposes be submitted to
the voters.
wellsyille. KAN. — The WellsvilleEl.
Lit fi Pwr. Co. will install two 25-hp motors
in the elevator of the Star Grain & Lum-
ber Co. in Wellsville, to replace the steam
plant. The installation will also include
one or two small motors to care for drain-
age and seepage water, and probably to
operate a small elevator and also an elec-
tric-lighting system for the elevator build-
!"gL The company also plans to furnish a
24-hour service for the summer, which it
hopes to continue permanently. C. A. Smith
IS owner and manager.
WILSON, KAN— The town of Wilson
may possibly purchase within the next six
months a 150-hp oil engine and generator
(directly connected), and will also require
ammeters to mount on switchboard in place
Of smaller instruments. J. H. Williams is
superintendent.
Southern States
DURHAM, N. C— Bids will be received
by the Mayor and Board of Aldermen of
the city of Durham, City Hall, Durham,
until April 21 for equipment for pumping
station, consisting of 3,000,000-gal. crank
and flywheel pumping engines, turbine-
driven centrifugal pumps, open feed-water
heaters, one 5-kw and one 7%-kw direct-
current lighting unit and Manning boilers.
Specifications and proposal forms mav be
obtained upon application to Gilbert C
White, engineer. Charlotte, for which a de-
posit of $10 will be required, to be re-
funded upon return of same.
KKNLEY, N. C— The Buckhorn Pwr. Co
is reported to have been granted permission
to extend its electric transmission lines into
the town of Kenley, connecting with the
main line at Pine Level, about 7 miles from
here.
SPENCER, x. C.— Preparations are be-
ing made by the city of Spencer for the
installation of a municipal electric-lighting
system. Electricity for operating the sys-
tem will be purchased from the Southern
PWT. Co., of Charlotte. The plans provide
for 60 street lamps.
WIl.MlXGTliX. X. C— Kids will be re-
ceived at the office of the supervising archi-
hington, I). C, until April 19 for
construction complete, including mechanical
equipment, of medical officers' Quarters at
Ltes marine hospital, Wilming-
ton. Drawings and specifications may be
i at the above office.
ATHENS, G ! • being consid-
ered, it is reported, by G. w. Phelps and l:.
Clitz. of Athens, for thi
mission line to furnish electricity f.u- lamps
and motors in Lexington, Comer and Craw
lord, 'la., from the generating station of
Shoals.
GERMANTOWN, TENN.- The town of
town has petitioned the Legislature
for authority to is tor
an electi
MADISONVTLLE. TENN. The Installa-
tion of an electric-light plant ill '.
Ii ration.
MEMPHIS, TENN.- Bids will be received
by the Mississippi Hi
n Houi ■ . Mem
until April 12 for fui
■
m Markharo,
HI VILLE, TENN. The ,
River Pwr, Co. was i
mooga.
TENN.— The Install
; lit in Dublin ll iin.l, ,
ion .1 W iniiiu is report! d Intel -
W. N.
ARKANSAS CITY, ARK. — The Lambe &
Denmarke Lt. & Wtr. Co., it is reported,
the local water-works sys-
tem. The company proposes to obtain a
franchise to install an electric-light
system and to rebuild the pumping plant.
Tic- plans provide for an ofl-engine-drlven
Plant. The cost of the work is estimated
bout $50,000.
BENTON, ARK.— Plans have been com-
pleted by the J. B. McCrary Co., of Atlanta,
Ga., for the construction of water, lighting
and sewerage systems for the city. An elec-
tion will soon be called to vote upon a
bond issue of $100,000 for same.
GURDON, ARK. — At an election to be
held April 6 the proposal to issue bonds for
the installation of a municipal electric-light
plant and water-works system will be sub-
mitted to the voters. Plans and specifica-
tions were prepared by Albert C. Moore,
consulting engineer, Bartlett Building, Jop-
lin, Mo.
McGEHEE, ARK. — At an election to be
held May 1 the proposal to issue $65,000 in
bonds for the installation of an electric-
light plant and water-works system will be
submitted to the voters.
MAXIM] VILLE, LA. — Bonds to the
amount of $;>o,000, it is reported, have been
authorized by the stockholders of the St.
Tammany A New Orleans Rv. & Ferry Co.,
the proceeds to be used for the construction
of a power house in Ozona in St. Tammany
Parish and equipping the railway for elec-
trical operation.
ARDMORE, OKDA.— Bids will be re-
ceived at the office of the supervising archi-
tect, Treasury Department, Washington,
p G, until April 2S, for the construction,
including mechanical equipment, lighting
fixtures and approaches, of the United
States post office and court house at Ard-
more, Okla. Drawings and specifications
may be obtained at the above office.
BUTLER, OKLA.— At an election to be
held April 6 the proposal to grant Cooper
Davis a franchise to install and operate an
electric-lighting plant in Butler will be sub-
mitted to the voters.
FOSS, OKLA.— Within the next three
months the town of Foss expects to pur-
chase 75 meters, one 75-kw transformer
and one 7%-hp motor.
HOLDKXYILLE. OKLA— The Holden-
ville Ice & El. Co. has recently pur.
General Electric 75-kw, three-phase, 60-
cycle, 2::nn-volt (belted) alternator, to re-
place a 75-kw, single-phase machine. Henry
M. Dunn is secretary.
KINGSTON, OKLA.— At an election to
be held April 6 the proposal to grant a
franchise to George F. Blenkin, of Mans-
field, to install an electric-lighting system
in Kingston will be submitted to the voters.
MUSKOGEE, OKLA, — Bids will be re-
Celved ll OfflO Of Indian Affairs, Depart-
ment of Interior, Washington, D. C, until
April 28 for construction of flame hospital,
quarters, laundry, lavatory, power house,
camp quarters, water and sewer systems
and electric-lighting plant for the i
Sanatorium, Oklahoma, I'lans and specifi-
cations may be examined at the United
uses at Chicago, 111.,
St Louis, Mo., and i mi;. i i.i . Neb ,
the office of the superintend- I
Civilized Tribes, Muskogee. Cato Sells is
-ioner.
FLORESVILLE, TEX A franchise has
' n granted to B, J. Canco and others, of
Fori Wayne, by the City Council to const met
IC light I'laul in Floivs\ Hie, to COSi
about $13,000. A company will be organized
under tin I'loresville Lt. ,v Cur
Co i" operate the system. The company
will supply powi i to operate the municipal
forks system and will furnish 30
Btreel I
JEFFERSON, TEX. -The Citv Council
thi Jefferson Ice & Lt. Co. a
contra t f fl f the number of street
lamps; also for installing 100-cp
In the business district and 50-cp lamps in
the residence section of the city, to be
erecti d on brackets Th
said, will ereel ■ Bl p and es
KiNc.sYii.i.i:. ti:\ The Texas South-
ern En. Co., ..f Kmgsviiie, has recently
completed the erection "f a three-phase,
S600 volt transmission line between IU
Kmgsviiie and Bishop plains, a dlSt
i iles.
MATPE \i;i.. TEX Thi Texas Pwr, 1
templatlng installing an electric-lighting
tiling an
i i. mi iii Montai ii- w \
PALESTINE, TEX PU
ported, have been adopted by ti.e Texas
Pwr. & Lt. Co. for the construction of a
new electric light and power plant in
Palestine, to cost about $S3,000.
PALESTINE, TEX.— The general shops
and division terminals of the International
& Great Northern R. R. Co. will be equipped
with electrically driven machinery and elec-
tric lamps. The cost of the equipment is
estimated at $25,000.
Pacific States
TACOMA, WASH.— Within the next two
months the Electric Light Department ex-
pects to purchase three 333-kva, 4000/6600
volt auto-transformers, three 333-kva,
6600/2300-volt auto-transformers, and ma-
terial for 5 miles of three-phase primary
lines. B. W. Collins is superintendent of
electrical works.
TACOMA, WASH. — The Puget Sound
Electro-Manganese Co., of Tacoma. which
owns and is developing large mineral
claims in the Olympic Peninsula, near Port
Townsend, it is reported, contemplates the
construction of a 100,000-hp power plant
on the Snohomish River and the installa-
tion of 10 additional electric furnaces in its
smelter in Tacoma. Several million dol-
lars, it is understood, will be spent in de-
velopment work. Including the construction
of power plants, erection of transmission
lines, etc.
TACOMA, WASH.— The City Council. It
is reported, has authorized the city attor-
ney and B. W. Collins, superintendent of
the electrical department, to draw up an
agreement between the city of Tacoma and
the Tacoma Central Htg. Co., which is
controlled by the American Steam Htg.
Co., for the maintenance of an auxiliary
steam plant of not less than 6000 hp by
the company, in return for which the City
Council will grant the company a steam-
heating franchise. The company, it is said,
has agreed to furnish a 6000-hp generating
unit as an auxiliary to the present munici-
pal plant in exchange for a heating fran-
chise.
COTTAGE GROVE, ORE.— Charles E.
Wilkinson, owner of the Callapooya Springs
at London, near here, contemplates the
construction of an electric-lighting system.
The plant will be driven by water-power.
VENICE. CAL.— The Abbot-Kinney Co.
is reported to be contemplating the instal-
lation of an electric generating plant to cost
about $70,000. J. B. Griffen is engineer in
charge.
BOISE, IDAHO— The Idaho Pwr. & LL
Co. has filed a petition with the Public
Utilities Commission for a certificate of con-
venience and necessity in Canyon and
Washington Counties, particularly in the
towns of Payette, Emmett, Parma and
New Plymouth.
WALKS. UTAH— The Big Springs El.
Co.. of Fountain Green, has applied to the
Town Board for a franchise to install and
operate an electric-lighting system In
wales.
EVANSTON, WTO. -The Evanston El.
Lt. Co. expects to erect within the next 30
days one 75-hp, 2300-volt motor-generator
set directly connected to a 50-kw, 260-volt,
direct-Current generator in the Union Pacific
Railroad shops. The equipment has already
been purchased. II L, Williams Is man-
ager,
WELLINGTON, col.. -The cm
has passed an ordinance granting thi
era I.tg. & Pwr. Co. a franchise to con-
st met and operate an electric-lighting plant
in Wellington.
LORDSBURG. N M The Lordsburg
Wtr., ice ft Kl. Co. la contemplating the In-
stallation of new machinery In its electric
Canada
NEWMARKET, "NT Within the next
six months the municipal elect lie-lighting
ill be rebuilt, for which Ji.'-.noo
iiis been appropriated Bnergs ro
ating the new system will he purchased
roronto 6 ^ oi I Radial i;i Co at
The pole will be re-
built and a new Btreel lighting system in-
stalled . n.w equipment for the power sta-
tion will also be required J Morris Is
Miscellaneous
PANAMA.- Bids will be received at the
i. tlic- of the general purchasing officer of
the Panama Canal. Washington, D, C, un-
wltch or
ip coi d, condulets, ln-
push-button switch pi
kej socket
Area
ELECTRICAL WORLD
lalUlt llOItS, .
For further Ini Ir.-ss Major F
I' ''. uiull
\ , for furrw.->
machines, motors, starl ,.t limit
■■* Blanks and g<
ling to this circular (No
btained at the aboi
of the assistant purchasing
6H Whli Hulldlng. New ■
■
Majoi l- i
.
i at the
office hi
l
for furnishing mechanical range
■
■ n
1
La.
Directory of Electrical Associations
ma Light and Traction
surer, 11 0
I. is Co. Mobil
AMEIi
Inrton. I> C Meeting, San Francl
Ahekii in Electric Railway
• irritt, 19 Waal
AMERICAN ELECTROCHEMICAL SOCIETY.
of. J. W. Richards, Lehigh
- ,uth Bethlehem. I .i Annual
. Atlantic City. N. J.. April 22-24.
AMERICAN INSTITUTE or CONSULTING EN-
Eugene \\ Stern. 101
■ a York City
Institute uk Electrical En-
- retary. F. L. Hutchinson, 33
h St.. New York. Board of dlrec-
a and branches
tl electrical centers through-
out the country. Annual meetii
Park, M.l . June 29 to July 2.
American Physical Societi Si
I>. Cole, Ohio State Unlv<
lumlius, Ohio.
- CTKTT OF REFRIGERATING En-
gineers William II I:
SI . New Xoi
- -ietv for Testis.; Matsri-
treasurer, Edgar Marburg,
University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia.
American Society of Heating and Yen-
En. .ineles. Secretary, Edwin A
Weal 39th St., N< ■
Arkansas Association of I'ublic Utili-
I v TORS. Secretary, W J
Little Rock, Ark. Annual meeting. Little
May 11-13.
Associated Manufacturers of Elec-
■ -nl. -ill. R I
• ■odrich Co., Akron, Ohio.
Association of Edison Illuminating
nt secretary, Walter
Neumuller, Irving Place and 15th St., N. •«
York.
vTION of Iron and Steel Elbctri-
iineers. Secretary, W. T. Snyder.
■ 1 t. Pa.
Association of Railway Electrical En-
Secretary-treasurei .
tl, Chicago & Northwest, rn Railway
ition of Railway Telegraph Su-
perintendents. Secretary, P. W. Drew
1 1 - Weat Adams St., Chicago.
Electrical Contractors' As-
W. S. Hanbridge,
1408 Merchants' National Bank Pudding.
Cal.
an Electrical Association. Af-
■dh N E. L. A. Secretary-treas-
- m Sullivan. 10 Adelaide Street
I'.ronto, Can.
miO Electric Light, Power and
Railway Association. Secretary-treasurer.
I t Kennedy, 900 lf.th St.. Denver, Col.
. N i: I. \ Secre-
tary, J. F. Becker, 130 East 16th St., New
i ork.
Eastern New York Section. N E L A
ry, C. s. Van Dyck, Schenectady.'
iiical Contractors' Associ m
lnAp^C.'"'l-,T"„- S"'"l;,,v- " " '
er 8L, Worcestei
1
K STATE. S,. , ,. RuB
■el, Jr., 25 West 42d St., New Fork.
HON OF
t Tenth St, Ks
il'ION OF
''""■;. S™ I rLVANIA. Se.
\SS..C1 V1-|,.N OF
oyd si, Milwaukee, Wis.
i Electrical salesmen's as.v
"ftf *»*"> '' l2B »
icai. Supply Jobbers' association
iry, Franklin Ovi rba
South I llnton St., Chicago, 111.
VTION OF CAN-
Willlam R. Stay.
1 I .i. Can.
Electrical Trades Association of the
i.tary. Albert H Elli-
ott Harding Building, 34 Ellis E
0, ''..I Meting. San I
Thursday of each month.
Elbctbic Vehicle association of Ambb-
uiive secretary. A. Jacks
■hall, 19 West S9th St.. New York. Sections
In N.-w fork, New England, Chicago. Phila-
delphia, Washington and Los All
Empire State Gas and Electric Asso-
ciation. Secretary. Charles II B. Chapln.
29 W'.st J9th Bl N.w York.
Qa8, Electric and Street Railway As-
sociation of Oklahoma. Secretary- treas-
urer. Prof. H. V. Bozell, Norman. Okla
Annual meeting, Oklahoma City. May 12-14.
Georgia Electrical Contractors' Asso-
ciation. Secretary. J. M. Clayton. Atlanta.
Annual meeting, Atlanta, April 16,
Illinois State Electrical Association
try, H. E. Chubbuck. Peoria, III.
Illuminating Engineering E
General secretary. C. A. LittleHeld. -'9 West
39th St., New Y'ork. Annual convention,
New wniard Hotel. Washington. D C .
30-28.
Independent Telephone Association of
Secretary. W. S. Vivian, 19 South
LaSalle St.. Ch
Indiana Electric Light Association
Secretary, Thomas Donahue, Lafayette, Ind.
Indiana State Electrical Contractors'
ASSOCIATION. Secretary, George Skilman,
Indianapolis. Ind.
Institute of Operating Engineers. Sec-
retary, L. Houmiller. 29 West 39th St., New-
York.
Institute of RADIO Engineers Seore-
'■ "I Sarnoff, 71 Broadway. New
York.
Internal COMBUSTION Engineers' Asso-
ciation. President. Charles Kratsch, 416
liana St., Chicago. Meeting
Friday of each month at Lewis Institute.
International Association of Munici-
ctricians. Secretary, C. R. George,
Houston. Tex.
International ENGINEERING Congress
rarer, W A. Cattell, Foxcroft
Building, San Francisco, Cal. Congress,
Sin Francisco, September.
International Electrotechnical Com-
mission (international body representing
various national electrical engineering so-
cieties contributing to its support). Gem ral
secretary, C. le Maistre. 2S Victoria St
Westminster, London, s. w, England
Meeting at San Francisco, Sept. 9-11.
Iowa Section, N. E. L. A. Secretary, W
H. Thomson, Ties Moines. [a. Annn
mg. Keokuk. la., April, 20-22.
Iowa Electrical Contractors' Associa
tion. Secretary. M, T. Humphrey, Water-
loo, i i
Iowa Street and Interurban Railway
1 Seen tary, H. E. We.
enport, la.
Order. Jupiter (pr,
Homer E. Nlesz, Chicago, 111.; Mercury
(secretary), E. C. Bennett. Syndicate Trust
Building. St. Louis. Mo
Kansas Gas. Water. Electric i.e.
Street Railway Association Se.
treasurer. Ivor Thomas, 281 South -M.ii, si .
Kail
Louisiana Electrical Contractors' As-
Secretary, .1 .1 Zlegler, 227
Bourbon St. Meeting ev.i \ \\ . ,
Idlng, n.m Orleans.
Maine ELECTRIC Associate
r, Walter S. Wyman, W
1
Michigan Electric association. Affili-
ated with N. E. L. a. Seen tai Herbert
Silvester, is \\
li h Annual meeting June
Minnesota Electric AsSOCIATIOI
retary-treasurer, F. a. Otto, SI Pa
on nj . St Paul. Minn.
[i Association Vfflll
ted - I' the Nation:,l I lectl
elation tsurer, H. F V
Hattiesburg, Miss Annual meeting, Hal
tlesburg, April 12-14.
' TII.ITIES ASS.
ventiou, M
National Arm. Pm and Bracket Asso-
ciation. Secretary, J b. Magers, Madison,
ind.
National Association of Electrical In-
treasurer, 91
Smith, < 'on. onl, Mass.
National District Heating Association
. I> I. Gasklll. Greenville. Ohio.
Annual meeting. Chicago, June 1-3.
National Electric Lioht Association.
Executive secretary. T. C. Martin, Engi-
Socletlea Building, 33 West 39th
st . N.w York. Annual meeting, San Fran-
cisco, June 7-1 1.
National Electrical Contractors' As-
sociation of the United States. Secre-
tary. George H. Duffield, 41 Martin Build-
ing, Itica. N. Y. Annual meeting. San
E ranclaco, July l B-24.
National Electrical Credit Associa-
Secretary, Frederic p. Vose, 1343
Marquette Building, Chicago.
National Fire Protection Association
Secretary of electrical committee. Ralph
Sweetland, 141 Milk St., Boston, Mass
National Independent Telephone Asso-
ciation Permanent headquarters. Room
204. Hot.i i.:, sail.-. Chicago, 111.
Nebraska Section, N. E L A Secre-
tary-treasurer, S. J. Bell, David City, Neb
New England Electrical Credit Asso-
ciation. Secretary. Alton F. Tupper. 60
State St., Boston, Mass.
New England Section. Electric Vehi-
cle Association of America. Secretary
I- I. Edgar, 39 Boylston St., Boston. Mass.'
New ENGLAND Section. N. E. L. A Sec-
retary. Miss O. E. Bursiel, 149 Tremont St,
Boston, Masa
New Mexico Electrical Association
Secretary-treasurer, E. A. Thiele, Roswell.
N. M.
New York Electric Railway Associa-
tion. Secretary, Charles C Dietz, 3G.". East
21st St., Brooklyn, N V
Northwest Section. N. E. L. A. Secre-
tary, N. W. Brockett, Pioneer Building.
Seattle. Wash.
Northern White Cedar Association
Secretary. R. N. Boucher, 743 Lumber Ex-
change, Minneapolis, Minn.
Ohio Electric Ught Association. Sec-
retary. D. L. Gasklll, Greenville, ' >hio. An-
nual meeting. Cedar Point. July 2"-23.
Ohio Society of Mechanicai, Electri-
cal and Steam Engineers. Secretary,
Prof. F. E. Sanborn, Ohio State University,
Columbus.
ntlCAL Contract, irs' Asso-
ciation. Secretary-treasurer, J. W. Ober-
ender. Portland, i n i
Pennsylvania ELECTRIC Association
(State Section N. E. L. A.). Secretary-
treasurer, II. X Midler. Pittsburgh. Pa.
Railway Signal Association. Secre-
urer, C. E. Rosenberg, Times
Building, Bethlehem, Pa,
Society for Electrical Development,
i \o General manager, j. M, Wakeman, 29
h St, New York. Annual meeting.
New York. May li. 1916.
Society for the P'romotion of Engi-
neering Education. Secretary, Dean F. L.
Bishop, University of Pittsburgh. Pitts-
burgh, Pa, Annual meeting, Ames, la .
12-26.
istern Section, N. E. L a.
E " i ,, v treasurer, George II
Tampa, Fla
ixn Gas AS-
SOCIATION. Secretary, ll. s. Cooper. 405
Slaughter Building, Dallas, Tex. Annual
meel ing, i lalveston, .May p.i-22.
Association. Sec-
retary-treasurer, C. li. West. Rutland. Vt
i CTRICAL In-
Secretary, W. s. Boyd 76 Weal
Monroe St., I IhiCagO, III.
Elec-
trical Section, Secretary. .1. 11. Warder,
[onadnook Block, Chic
w isconsin Electric il association Sec-
retary. George Allison, nin First National
Building, Milwaukee, Wis.
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 14
Weekly Record of Electrical Patents
UNITED STATES PATENTS ISSUED
MARCH 33, L91B.
[Prepared by Robert Starr Allyn. 16 Ex-
change Place, New York, N. Y. 1
Elevator Signal system ; J. d
Bowne, New York. N. Y. App. tiled July
35, 1903. Control parts arranged and
UCted so as not to get out of order.
Electric Signaling; R a Fes-
senden, Brant Rock, .Mass, App. filed Oct
81, 1901 High-speed wireless teli
Wireless Telegraphy; R. a
Fessenden, Brant Rock, .Mass. App. filed
f ■ '' 1 8, 1 909. Improved antenn i co
structlon.
- TBlbgrapb Receiv-
ing APPARATUS : S. M. Klntner and .1 W
Lee, Pittsburgh, Pa., and Brant Rock,
.Mass. App. riled June 24, 1912. Finding
er combined with heterodyne re-
Spark-Cap; F. H. Kroger,
Brooklyn, N. Y. App. filed July 16, 1912
For wireless.
1,132,602, Starter Control for Explo-
sive Engines; H. a. .Myers, Toledo,
App. filed May 15, 1914. Auto-
matically switches ignition, after starting,
from battery onto magneto.
1,132,604. Electric Fluid Heater; t. J
Nash, Lincoln, Neb. App. filed Dec. 26,
1914. Adapted for ready attachment to
water or electrical sources or for use as
an immersion heater.
Signal Apparatus H F New-
V Y. App. filed Nov. 26, 1904.
t or elevators.
6 Signal Apparatus H F New-
NTew York. N. Y. App. "filed .Nov.
904. Special car-operated switches
Elevator Signaling System
E R Newell, New York. N. Y App
1 J 24, 1911. Car operator can
control restoration of signals
1,132,613. Telephone Transmitter: J. C
timer. Brooklyn, N. Y. App. tiled
• vpi ii l... 1912. Of improved transmitting
qualities
<3. Centrifugai.lv Operated Con-
tact Device; C. G. Cunningham, New
V 1. App. tiled Sept. 9, 1913
mercury as centrlfugafiy operated
bridging material. "
1,132,654 Automatic Circuit-Control-
vJSIS A,;PAI^Tl;s; C. G Cunningham, New
York, N. ?. App. hied Feb. 7. 19] 1
Special centrifugal control.
ORDINQ Apparatus a
',,-ei ^"■'---""■'•."i'adelphia, Pa. App. filed
• 1913. hasilv readable time-
clock I -
i .Method of Preparing Iron for
Castings; W. O. Kranz, Sharon, pa
App. filed April 17, I9ii. sulphur re-
moved in electric fui
1,182,671 . i; Casing for Line
Conductors ; T E. Murray. Ne
N ,] APP. filed .May 20, 1912. Metal
mold. |i la, 11.
1,182,672, Junction Boa ; T, E. «un
•n'av fork, N ^ App filed Oct Li
Of condensed size for subway work, etc.
T K Munix
Nc v. York. \ y Am, ,,|, d Jan .,,_ ,91-4'
Constructed of unit sections m
tube.
1,132,674. Electric Fuse; T. E Murraj
New Yolk. N. Y. I roll 28,
an be removed without taj
he . ■,
T, k. Murray and
■ A V.,,1,. N ]
filed April 30, 1913 Mad.
\ I. .1 ■■
Philadelphia, Pa App R
Ulnn \pi. tiled M
M . ; . • ■ i:
-•line. Ill App 111. d
■ ; fi
■ then b nil
table
1,132,734. Supporting Structure for Trol-
ley Conductors ; Vs. Schaake, Pitts-
burgh, la. App. filed June II, 1912.
Support for curves on high-speed electric
laihv
1.132.739. Spool-Winding Machine; C.
Scott, Yonkers, N. Y. App. filed Sept. 5,
1906. Automatically stops upon detec-
tion of faulty section of wire being
spooled.
1,132,741. Controller for Alternating-
Currbnt Motors; a. Simon, Milv,
Wis. App. filed June 1. 1909 Pn
responsive to abnormal conditions
in the secondary circuit.
1.132.750, Electric switch por Portable
Electric Lights : B. Tauber. New York,
N. Y. App. filed Sept -7. iai:i. Oper-
ated by exposed slide on flashlight cas-
ing.
1.132.751. Portable Electric Light. B.
Tauber. -New York. N. Y. App. filed
April 17, 1914. Construction of switch-
operating slide.
1,132,765. Coil-Tapping Machine: W.
Deats. Yonkers, N. Y". App. filed Oct.
1, 1907. For irregular or non-circular
coils I thirty-nine claims).
1.132,772. Circuit Interrupter; F. W.
Harris. Wilkinsburg, Pa. App. filed Dec.
.i. 1910. No-voltage; has special tripping
device.
1,132,776. Horizontal Arc Lamp; H. W.
Hobbs, Portland, Maine. App. filed Feb.
24. 1910. For searchlamps.
1.132.7S3. Electromagnet, W. D. Lutz.
Allendale Borough, N. J. App. filed Aug.
19, 1912. Constructed to overcome or
prevent residual magnetism.
1,132,786. Circuit Interrupter; J. N.
Mahoney, Wilkinsburg, Pa. App. filed
Feb. 16. 1912. Has auxiliary arcing
terminals.
1,132,791. Automatic STOPPING Device;
.1. Pagano, Memphis. Term. App. filed
Nov. 17. 1912. Short-circuits the ignition
upon failure of oil supply.
r _',7!';i Locomotive ; F. L. Sessions, Co-
lumbus, Ohio. App. filed March 7. 1910.
Improvements in journal-box and con-
necting-rod constructions for electric mine
locomotive.
1,132,838. Locomotive; D. R. Fisher, Co-
lumbus, Ohio. App. filed April 16, 1910.
Gearless electric mine locomotive.
1,132,846. Electric Battery; V. Holz-
aprel, Jr., Bayonne, N. j. App. filed
June 25, 1912. Semi-dry type with re-
placeable elements.
1,132,849. Telltale Switch; J. Howland,
San Antonio. Tex. App. filed March 111.
Pill. Gives notice upon failure of
vacuum in a fruit-drying or ci
plant, etc.
1,132. SSI. Ei.ectricai |;i -ii; ., Appar-
atus ; A. L. Sohm, Los Angeles, Cal.
App. filed Jan. 20, 1911. Entrance plate
at workmen's entrance and registering
mechanism in the office.
ectricai. Measuring Instru-
ment, t. W Varley, Ne" Xork, N. v.
App Bled Oct in. L907. int'
wattmeter.
Machine ros Intermittent!/!
riNG Posters and the Like; k.
w. Brown. Bolborn, London, Eng. App
filed June 2. lull. Aii Intermittently
: band carries the posters.
- lan; DlSTAN'
Lighting; E. W Havers, Lond Eng.
App. filed Pee. 12. I'M:; Simple and ac-
il'le for cleaning.
II I ri.' < :ONDBN8ER AND
Mbtho ie Saiu; R. D.
n. New Yolk. N Y. App. tiled
Ian I. 1910 \u\iliar\ exciting means
for the condi
1,182,986, System op Charging hid Dis-
\ 'I'm l.i |
■ V App tiled NoV.
I ibviates waste of .'111 I .'III
si OB Sr Mu-
si ion ENOI
Unterberg, Durllch, German} App. tiled
- iiniiii.
line to produce initial slarting spark
Walker. Phila-
delphia, Pa App tile, I i
Woodi metallic mem-
ber by securing pins welded thereto
Dynamo-Electric machine; j.
J. Wood, Fort Wayne, Ind. App. flled
July 1, 1912. Fractional horse-power;
uses form-wound field coils.
1,132,997. Switch; V. G. Apple. Dayton,
Ohio. App. filed June 5. 1914. Foot-
operated, weatherproof starting switch
for automobiles.
1,133,000. Regulating Device; a. Boury,
Paris, France. App. tiled July 16, 1912.
Interrupter or cut-out for train-lighting
systems.
1,133,013. Indicator Operating Device
for Gasoline Tanks; C. Eberhart, Jr..
Atlanta, Ga. App. lil.,1 Maj 2". 1913.
special float construction.
1,133,023. Fluid Level Indicator; M. M.
Hart ami K. W. Carpenter, Weiser.
Idaho. App. filed Feb. 27. 1914. Com-
prises a column having sections insulated
from each other.
1.133,032. oil Switch . E. H. Jacobs.
Schenectady, X. Y. App. filed June IS,
1913. Resistance of the oil vessel is au-
tomatically introduced into circuit.
1,133,034. Selective - Signal - Transmit-
ting Apparatus ; H. Joslyn and C. L
Lynch. Seattle, Wash. App. filed Aug.
4, 1909. Indicating apparatus is made
live through an extended closure of
the circuit.
1,133,046. Time Recorder for Vehicles;
C. E. Larrabee, Bingnamton N Y. App
filed June 21, 1911. Gives both
ing" time and time of trip.
Ignition Magneto Generator;
II. C. Mueller. Milwaukee. Wis. App.
filed July 17. 1913. Reversible and con-
tained wholly within flywheel.
1,133,059. Electrolytic Process of I'ro-
DUCING Copper; M. Perreur - Lloyd,
Boulogne-sur-Seine. France. App. filed
March 28, 1912. Constantly agitates
electrolyte.
1.133,073. Heating and COOKING Appa-
ratus; K. p. Veneer. London. Eng. App.
Bled Sept 27. 1912. Resistance conduc-
tor is surrounded by oil on like heat-
transferring medium.
1,133,09S. Electric Heating and Cooking
Stove ; A. O. Christensen, Franklin Fur-
nace, N. J. App. flled Sept. 25. 1914.
Continual circulation of air over and
through heating coils.
1.133.111. Telephom Svstem ;
I' W. Dunbar, Chicago. 111. App. filed
Jan. 13, 1905. Thirty jacks and lights
may serve for each section of the Switch-
board. (Fifty-one claims.)
1.133.112. Telephone System; F. W. Dun-
bar, Chicago, III. App. flled March 17.
1905. Includes a service meter. (Sixty-
three claims.)
1,133,113 Telephone System : F. W. Dun-
bar. Chicago. 111. App. filed Oct, 11.
Automatic; includes coin return
i Seventy-three claims.)
1,133,167. Automatic Gasoline Service;
s F Mloton, New Orleans, La. App.
filed Jan S, 1914. Coin-controlled.
lrtrtdos Fuse;
H. H. Oswald, Fort Ann. N. Y. App.
June 18, 1912. Fusible link stir-
rounded r material in
envelop easily be inserted in
fuse cai
1,138,176. Liohtninq-Rod Coupling, i:
' ; Owen, Janesville, Wis. App. flled
April 19. 1912. Sheet -metal construc-
tion with clamping band
IRATUB; II. F
and. i >hi». App tiled June
21, I9(i9, Arc-lantern construction.
J. 11. Relneke, Weltmar, Germany. App
filed Dee v. 1914. Ises high-f reipienev
alternating current.
1,188,187 S\: Kl.-Al. DtSTIII-
B Schh \ , Milwaukee. Wis
App. filed \: mploylng
ry and booster for absorb-
ing tli.
.Lie i ; uig i-'i iting; Q h
Thomas, Bridgeport, Conn. App. Bled
Aug. 25, P.M i Por Puiin
where Space is limited.
1,133.20:1 1; Van Kirk. Phila-
delphia. Pa App Bled Jan 21, 1914.
Electric ear truck mad. ol press
metal
Holden,
London, Bn« 1 iroh 26, 1914.
in automobile
headlights
M.l. 65
Electrical World
W.illl.u AMD I
1'ubIiMhrd by MoOraw Publishing Company, Inc.
\| U MINK. SMI EtDAT, VI'KIL 10, 1915
No. 15
The Favors of Politics
IT is the irony of politics that the Bole tangible, al-
though indirect, result of the legislative investiga-
of the New Mirk Public Service Commissions to
this time i> the displacement of the one remaining
member appointed to the original First District com-
mission by Governor Hughes. To say that Mr. Maltbie
displaced because the commission was investigated
would be neither accurate nor fair; his term expired on
Keli. 1, and under the law he continued in office until
the appointment of his successor. As his office was at
the disposal of Governor Whitman, the investigators
did not seek his removal. They were after the four
Democratic members, the charges against whom
appear at this writing to have lost potency. After
nearly eight years of service, Mr. Maltbie had a knowl-
edge of the companies and an experience in the admin-
istration of the law that all of his colleagues in the
First District commission lack. The newly appointed
member unfortunately fails to possess these advantages,
but as counsel he conducted the investigation, and by
all the rules of politics he was entitled to a place.
Capitalization of Unproductive Improvements
THE capitalization of improvements which are not
directly productive of revenue has engaged the
attention of the Board of Gas & Electric Light Com-
missioners of Massachusetts in a case affecting the Edi-
bod Electric Illuminating Company of Boston. The most
important expenditures relate to welfare buildings. We
understand that the board decides that if such expendi-
tures pass beyond suitable provision for health and
of employees and are so large as to add extra
burdens to consumers or diminish stockholders' rights
to a fair return, capitalization is of "doubtful pro-
priety." The real question, then, is one of judgment.
■ the board may hold that the judgment of the
company is wrong, the only safe course for the com-
pany is to submit its plans in advance to the board.
The board may as well assume responsibility before the
expenditure as afterward. To put handicaps upon wel-
fare work is to oppose strong tendencies of the times.
Welfare work promotes efficiency, happiness in occupa-
tion and permanence in office, and thus improves service.
If great railroads were prevented from capitalizing
costs of attractive terminals and other similar im-
provements on the just ground that they are not reve-
nue producers, their burdens on income would be smaller
but their patrons would be bitterly disappointed.
Reports to Public Authorities
THE numerous reports required by public bodies
are a perennial trial to operating officials. One
of the heavy costs of regulation is the cost of preparing
the reports to be submitted by the companies to local,
state and interstate officials. So serious has the matter
become that it offers an inviting field of research for
the student of efficiency and conserver of resources.
Mr. Newcomb Carlton points out that the Western
Union Telegraph Company makes 17,000 statements an-
nually to public authorities. As this company has $46,-
264,000 gross operating income, it makes one report
for every $2,614 of income. Though many of the re-
ports, such as those to taxing bodies, cannot be dis-
pensed with, it is not necessity that fathers so monu-
mental a waste. Plainly there is an absence of
co-operation by public authorities as well as a duplica-
tion of jurisdiction and an excessively large bolt of red
tape. Companies are under obligation to comply with all
reasonable regulations, but the cost must be added to
their charges for service.
Effect of Pressure on Dielectric Strength
T T is now well known that the dielectric strength of
A air is markedly increased by increase of its pneu-
matic pressure. That is, dense air is much stronger,
electrically, than rarefied air. A similar relation applies
to gases in general. The effect of pressure on the
dielectric strength of liquids or solids is, however, much
less generally known, and there is still much room for
investigation in those directions. An article on this
subject by Mr. F. Kock has recently appeared in the
Elektrotechnische Z&itschrift. It appears that, in all
the tests reported, pressure, if it has any noticeable
effect on the dielectric strength, always tends to in-
crease it. In other words, no case has yet been found
of an insulating substance the dielectric strength of
which was lessened by application of hydrostatic pres-
sure. Assuming an insulating substance to break down
under stress by reason of some kind of molecular orien-
tation whereby ionization can occur after the orienta-
tion has been effected, then it is easy to understand
that the application of hydrostatic pressure to the sub-
stance may tend to keep the material molecularly locked
together, and thereby to increase the voltage gradient
that must be applied in order to effect a breakdown.
The author shows that when a liquid insulator is sub-
mitted to pressure the first effect is to increase the
dielectric strength, according to a straight-line law.
After a while the dielectric strength increases less
S!i,s
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 16
rapidly, and finally, when the pressure has attained a
certain value, further increase in the hydrostatic pres-
sure has little effect on the dielectric strength. It
also appears that, at least in certain liquid insu-
lators, the dielectric strength is greater at higher than
at lower frequencies, when the insulator is compressed,
whereas at ordinary atmospheric pressures the dielec-
tric strength is not appreciably affected by the pressure.
Similarly, under pressure, the dielectric strength is re-
ported greater for alternating-current than for direct-
current stress. It is evident from the results of such
experimental investigations that much more material
must be collected before we can hope to arrive at a
satisfactory theory of dielectric strength in insulators.
Although the equipment is such as to leave very small
possibility of any complete break-down, yet, as an extra
precaution, provision has been made for an emergency
connection with the lines of the Philadelphia Electric
Company. This provision applies only to a system of
emergency lamps, but their connection in case of need
is automatic. An unusual feature of the distribution
system is that the energy consumed by each department
of the company is metered so that all the energy charges
can be equitably distributed. Throughout the building
the lighting and motor-service equipment is most com-
plete, and the entire plant exhibits a certain exceptional
thoroughness well in keeping with the enterprise of the
organization it serves.
A Notable Isolated Plant
There is always some doubt in the mind of the in-
quirer regarding the economics of isolated plants, and
in many instances examination shows that central-sta-
tion supply offers a cheaper source of energy. It is
only in plants large enough to have a large and fairly
steady output that independent operation shows good
reason for being. To this class belongs the installa-
tion of the Curtis Publishing Company, described in
this issue. Not only is it of greater actual output than
many a highly respectable central station, but it has
an added reason for economic existence in the need for
steam-heating facilities, which demands a boiler plant
quite irrespective of the demand for electrical energy.
As might well be surmised from the magnitude of the
business conducted in it, the new building of the com-
pany is of imposing dimensions, ten stories high, and
containing 14,500,000 cu. ft. In it is conducted the
whole publishing and printing business of the great
group of periodicals which have acquired a world-wide
reputation. As a part of the equipment there has been
provided one of the large isolated plants of the country
— a plant exceptional in size and flexibility and equipped
with every modern labor-saving device.
Inasmuch as the demand for steam for heating pur-
poses is large, the use of exhaust steam was highly im-
portant, and hence the engines are operated non-con-
densing. They are of the cross-compound type directly
connected to their generators and worked at high in-
itial pressure and with the advantage of considerable
superheat. In fact, one may say that no condition of
economy was overlooked save the one contra-indicated
by the demand for exhaust steam. The boiler equip-
ment is installed on the third floor, with the fuel bins
above and the ash room below. Local conditions ren-
dered it desirable to resort to hand-firing, but in every
other respect the operation of steam production is as
nearly automatic as possible. All of the generators are
of the direct-current type and operate at the same volt-
age, 230, at which pressure the elaborate distribution
system of the building, with its 4000 hp in motors, is
operated. The lighting load is taken care of by bal-
ancer sets, which provide three-wire distribution at 1 L6
volts.
Incandescent Versus Arc Lamps
That the gas-filled lamp would make serious inroads
upon the use of the arc lamp for street lighting was a
foregone conclusion from the very first appearance of
this latest development of incandescent lighting. The
vital question relates to the extent to which the substi-
tution of incandescent for arc lamps is justified. Hun-
dreds of central-station managers are worried over the
matter and are rather in a quandary as to the steps to
be taken when their present contracts are to be renewed.
The simplicity of the incandescent lamp, its high ef-
ficiency, and its steadiness, are very strong points in its
favor, besides which it appeals to the imagination of
the man on the street as a new thing worthy of encour-
agement, and if anything further were needed to worry
the advocates of the arc lamp it may be found in the
present war, with its practical suppression of traffic in
the electrodes quite generally imported for use in flam-
ing-arc lamps.
Broadly, the effect of the gas-filled lamp will be sal-
utary. The first activity should be to put out of busi-
ness all the old and inefficient types of carbon arc lamp,
open and inclosed, especially those of the alternating-
current type. There is no excuse whatever for con-
tinuing, for example, the use of the 6.6-amp alternating-
current lamp, save the one of unwillingness to incur the
expense of a change to incandescent lamps. Even the
7.5-amp alternating-current arc lamp is sure to follow
its smaller mate into oblivion, with direct-current arc
lamps, open and inclosed, not far in the rear. The
flaming-arc and luminous-arc lamps present another
problem. They are quite as efficient in the matter of
light-giving power as are the gas-filled incandescent
units, are of conveniently large power, and possess a
material advantage in their much more striking effect
upon the street, due to the white color given by the elec-
trodes now commonly in use. These lamps give to street
illumination a distinctive character which it seems
somewhat to lack when the change to incandescent lamps
is made. The white are lamps belong to the street itself,
while the yellowish Incandescent units seem to melt into
the general illumination along the way without pos-
sessing any individuality of their own. Only when they
are so closely spaced as to command attention do they
April lu. MS
ELECTRICAL WORLD
«eem an important factor in the night effect upon the
The change from one illuminant to the other, which
has gradually progressed, is much less marked in cities
provided with ilaming-arc or magnKite-arc lamps than
elsewhere. In some instances — for example, in Hart-
ford— the 4-amp magnetite lamp has been replaced by
the gas-filled incandescent lamp, but with a tendency
toward maintaining a somewhat closer spacing than
with the old arc lamps so far as such a change is prac-
ticable. Where the more powerful magnetite units of
the ordinary or the boulevard type are in use, the sub-
stitution of incandescent lamps becomes a more diffi-
cult matter despite the advantage gained by the incan-
descent lamp in not requiring direct current for its
operation. This advantage, indeed, is somewhat nulli-
fied by the requirement of operation of the incandescent
lamps at high current by means of auto-transformers
if their highest efficiency is to be attained. And while
by this means the use of rectifiers is obvious the auto-
transformer certainly does not improve the power-fac-
tor, nor does it avoid the use of constant-current trans-
formers with their heavy inductive effect and somewhat
modest efficiency save at full load.
All the older arc lamps can be, of course, replaced,
lamp for lamp, by high-power incandescent units with
an increase in illumination and the advantage of great
steadiness; but such a substitution may not be wise in
view of the very poor lighting midway between lamps
found in American practice. We are very strongly in-
clined to the opinion that it is undesirable merely to
substitute lamp for lamp in the fashion now too often
undertaken in replacing, for example, a series of 6.6-amp
arc lamps by incandescents giving a somewhat greater
candle-power. There may be a small decrement in cost
of lighting, but there is no such improvement as the
valuable properties of the gas-filled lamp make possible.
A street with intolerable illumination is converted by
such substitution, at a meager saving, into a street with
bad illumination. Such a change ought not to satisfy
the public in these days of rapid improvement in street
lighting. If the nitrogen-filled lamp is good for any-
thing in replacing the rank and file of old and bad arc
lamps, it is certainly worth enough to make a revolu-
tionary change in the lighting conditions, such a change
as is grievously needed in most of our cities. Gas-
filled lamps in almost all convenient sizes are now avail-
able, and there is no reason why they should not be used
for all they are worth in improving conditions known to
be bad. For instance, it is not uncommon to find arc
lamps, and poor ones at that, spaced 300 ft. apart in a
city progressive enough and wealthy enough to enjoy
good lighting. The time for signing a new contract
brings forward an opportunity for going beyond the
short-sighted economy of skimping a few dollars out of
public lighting, and giving some real illumination on the
streets by using, say, 400-cp lamps spaced 150 ft. apart
instead of 600-cp lamps placed at the old 300-ft. dis-
tance. There has never before been so excellent an op-
portunity to utilize lamps of moderate power in such
wise as to gain the most from them, and now that the
opportunity is here it ought to be vigorously improved.
The path of progress lies not in replacing a poor arc
lamp by a somewhat better incandescent unit, but in
making radical improvement in the lighting of the
street by changing the spacing as well as the illuminant.
Sinusoidal Voltage from Alternators
There was a time, not many years ago, when it was
considered highly desirable to design alternators for
the production of relatively flat waves of emf, in
order to reduce the maximum flux density developed in
transformers connected thereto, and thus to diminish
somewhat the loss of energy in hysteresis. It has now
come to be recognized, however, that the advantage
gained by such diminution in hysteretic loss is more
than parted with, in other directions, by the use of
distorted emf waves. Designers now seek to produce
as nearly sinusoidal waves as are readily practicable.
In the Elektrcrtechnische Zeitschrift there appeared re-
cently an article by Mr. W. Seemann in which means
are discussed for modifying the wave-form. A rela-
tively simple plan is to use a distributed field winding
on the rotor, and to cut away the face of the core of
the latter in such a manner as may be experimentally
shown desirable, in order to change the local air-gap
reluctance. In this manner the stator laminated sur-
face remains cylindrical, but the rotor surface is made
somewhat irregular. It would be interesting to have
oscillographs presented for such doctored rotors, show-
ing the wave-forms before and after treatment.
Radiant Energy and Cataract
The disorder of the crystalline lens in the eye known
as cataract is by no means rare. It is found in men
and in other animals. It is ordinarily of slow growth,
complete blindness supervening many months after the
onset of the first noticeable cloudiness of vision. In his
article in this issue Prof. W. E. Burge describes some
interesting experiments made upon crystalline lenses
removed from the eyes of animals under various ex-
posures to intense radiation. The results tend to show
that the normal lens is not liable to be injured by light
of any reasonable intensity, either within the spectrum
or beyond it. Under abnormal conditions of body
nutrition, however, substances which are ordinarily ex-
cluded may find their way into the liquids of the eye,
and these are capable of disturbing the structure of the
lens, especially under the influence of powerful light.
The tendency to the development of cataract is prob-
ably more marked in tropical countries than in temper-
ate climates. Thus, cataract is seemingly more common
in India and central Africa than in Europe or North
America. It" this tropical preponderance is borne out
by statistics, it may be accounted for by the greater
intensity of solar illumination, which, while inactive
when the body is healthy, becomes a source of danger
during periods of malnutrition.
900
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 15
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
The Audion Telephone Repeater
To the Editor of the Electrical World:
Sir: — At the close of the article on the "Inauguration
of Transcontinental Telephony" in your columns for
Jan. 30, 1915, you state: "This result could have been
achieved only by means of relays, to which beyond doubt
much of the success of the long-distance telephonic
transmission must be attributed." In this statement
you are perfectly correct. The transcontinental service
would have remained an impossibility, as it was for ten
years after the purchase by the Bell telephone interests
of the rights to the Pupin loading coil, had it not been
for the use by the American Telephone & Telegraph
Company of the De Forest "Audion" amplifier as a tele-
phone relay.
Licenses to operate under the fourteen United States
patents on the audion and amplifier were purchased in
1913 by the American Telephone & Telegraph Company
following a demonstration during the preceding year by
Dr. Lee de Forest before the engineers of the Western
Electric Company of the amplifier as a telephone re-
peater. Within two years thereafter telephone service
between New York and San Francisco was opened to
the public.
To-day there are three audion repeater stations in the
transcontinental telephone line, the pivotal one being at
Denver, Col. At the demonstration theater, Liberal
Arts Palace, Panama-Pacific International Exposition,
are connected some 150 telephone receivers, in any one
of which the voice of the speaker in New York is heard
actually louder than in ordinary city telephone service.
The diffused music of a gramophone played in New
York can be heard throughout the small theater in San
Francisco.
While withholding no iota of credit due the masterful
engineering skill involved in the design and construc-
tion of this epoch-making line, the fact remains that it
would have been labor lost were it not for the audion
amplifier. For a generation telephone engineers had
sought in vain to solve the repeater problem. It would
hardly be exaggeration to state that hundreds of forms
of repeaters had been suggested, tried and found want-
ing by the telephone companies. The majority of these
attempts dealt with the old telephone receiver — carbon
microphone combination, in an endless variety of forms.
The methods employed were always mechanical and in-
variably failed. If sufficiently sensitive such repeaters
required continual adjustments by experts. Tempera-
ture changes upset the delicate balance of parts. More-
over, these devices "packed" or "fried," or were horri-
bly microphonic, when adjusted to amplify sufficiently.
As a matter of course, such a telephone repeater failed
to perform the Inconceivably difficult and delicate task
asked of it — where current changes representing a Frac-
tion of a microwatt were required to push and hi
pieces of iron and lumps of carbon.
Dr. de Forest chose rather to deal with "ions," gas
atoms or sub-atoms matter in its most tenuous form —
tyled bj Professor Crookes the "fourth state of
matter."
Imagine one of the ionic carriers Of the voice currents
oi electric charges, and contrast it with a carbon
granule of a microphone transmitter of the carl\ "trie
phone relays." Compare a soapbubble with a load of
COal, and you will have some relative idea of the differ-
i m tii. deli< acj and elegance <>( the audion and
that of the old microphone relaj
It is only fair then to point to the audion amplifier as
a device in a class distinctly alone — epoch making in
wire telephony as it is in radio signaling.
F. M. Williamson,
New York N Y President De Forest Radio Telephone
A Telegraph Company.
Diminutive Motor
To the Editor of the Electrical World:
SIR: — One of our students in electrical engineering,
Mr. H. F. Keeler, has been successful in building a
motor of such diminutive size that we consider it to be
the smallest motor in the world. Perhaps you might
find the specifications and inclosed photograph of suf-
ficient interest to give them space in your valuable
paper. It is expected that the motor will be exhibited
at the Panama-Pacific International Exposition.
The following are the principal specifications of the
motor: (a) Series-wound; (b) extreme height, 5 16 in.;
(c) diameter of three-part commutator, 7 64 in.; (d)
EXACT SIZE OF MOTOR AND LINCOLN CENT
diameter of the armature, 3.16 in.; le) diameter of
screws which connect armature wires to commutator
segments, 1 64 in.; (f) 14 in. of No. 40 B. & S. silk-
covered wire on the armature core; (g) 24 in. of No.
40 B. & S. silk-covered wire on the field core; th)
weight of the entire motor, 20 grains. The inclosed
photograph shows the motor in front of a Lincoln penny.
The diminutive size of this machine is thus made strik-
ingly evident. It runs at such high velocity on two or
three cells of small dry batteries that it makes a noise
very similar to that of a fly buzzing on a window pane.
Adolph Shane,
ues Moines, la. ,,, .-, ,,..
Revision of Overhead-Crossing Specifications
To tin Editor of the Electrical World:
Sir: — Referring to the editorial in your issue of
March 27 on the national joint committee on overhead
and underground line construction, and to the work
of the overhead-line committee of the N. E. L. A., per-
mit me, as a member of both committees, to offer a few
tacts and one or two deductions which may or may not
be tacts.
You are well within the truth in crediting the old
joint committee with the ability to assimilate hard
work and punishment, and in some ten \ ears' service
nil engineering committees I have yet to find one with
a better record in that respect.
If. however, tin- producl of tin' committee was faulty
— and the writer docs not admit that its faults were in
any way connected with the law — the fault is at least
equally blamable upon the industry at large. An engi-
i ring committee is supposed to receive advice and
criticism from those affected by its work or from any-
April 10. 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
901
one fa '1 knowledge of the subject under con-
sideration. Such advi -ned to be honest and
disinterested — although perhaps in error — and when re-
ceived has always, to the writer's positive knowledge,
been given consideration.
l-'T the purpose of acquainting the industry with
the fact that advice from various \a required,
apart from the obvious notice of the appointment of
such committees, the old committee wrote numerous
>nd printed and distributed 1000 copies
of the preliminary draft of the power wire crossing
ns. If, then, the electrical industry, or the
majority of the companies therein, will not take the
trouble to assist their own men in the preparation of
•nations, it seems, to the writer at least, that sub-
sequent complaints are made with a very bad grace.
With your suggestion of several grades of construc-
tion the writer is and has always been in accord. But,
although such a specification is good engineering and
good common sense, it has been claimed that it is not
good law.
It would seem that in your editorial, in common with
the general public, you confuse the intent of the use of
the word "voltage" as a descriptive limitation. Such
usage is not predicated upon the voltage as such, but
upon the fact that the details of construction and the
general nature of lines group themselves roughly in
classes according to the voltage. Another word or con-
cise characterization is much to be desired, but we still
await it.
In conclusion, may I suggest that you cannot do a
greater service to the industry than to open your col-
umns at this time to a country-wide discussion of the
proper requirements of a general national power-wire
crossing specification?
Nt to York, N. Y. R. D. Coombs.
Evaluating the Isolated Plant
Editor of the Electrical World:
Sir: — Your editorial on evaluating the isolated plant
in the issue for March 13 touches upon a point of prac-
tical value in which I have taken much interest.
The value of money invested in the installation of
machinery for the generation of energy is an element
rarely considered by the owner of industrial establish-
ments or of business and other buildings.
Your remarks are particularly pertinent to the two
latter classes. It must be admitted that there are vari-
ous operations in connection with an industrial process
which may be productive of a less rate of return than
the actual process of production in which a factory is
engaged but which would be justified, even with a mone-
tary loss, if their effect should be to facilitate the
output of the product.
But wherever such an operation can be conducted by
exterior means which do not involve the outlay of cap-
ital it seems proper that the value of money to the
industry carried on should be considered as a charge
upon the operations. In the case of large industries
possessing ample credit that value may be merely the
average borrowing rate, or the rate at which bonds or
stock can be placed at par. But even if the money
invested in a plant should be secured by a special
borrowing at a lower rate of interest than other capital
invested in the general business is earning, part of the
productive capacity of the business is being diverted to
the purpose of finding that interest.
But in the case of city buildings where the invest-
ment is made upon building construction for the pur-
pose of a revenue thereon, it seems that the diversion
of money from building construction to the installation
of machinery, and to the construction of part of the
fure for the purpose of housing the machinery,
displaces earning capacity, and the process is charge-
able with the full rate of revenue obtainable from the
• the money in revenue-earning space.
As an isolated plant is not a source of revenue and
produces no direct return for the capital invested in it,
the investment becomes an encumbrance upon other
al invested in the business or building, which is
money-earning. If it is not charged fully to the plant,
and interest debited thereto, the deficiency must be
charged against and be carried by other parts of the
industry or business.
There is some portion of any commercial building
( such as an office or apartment building ) which has
been constructed for and serves no other purpose than
the earning of the money required to pay the interest
upon the cost of the power plant and of the space which
it occupies.
\< ir York, S. Y. Reginald Pelham Bolton.
Measurement of Flue-Gas Temperature
To thl Editor of the ELECTRICAL WORLD:
Sir: — In the March 6, 1915, issue of the Electrical
World there appeared a short article in which it was
stated that the cutting off of a boiler baffle reduced the
flue-gas temperatures in a boiler from 625 deg. to 575
deg. Fahr. Such a reduction of temperature is very-
doubtful, as the measurement of the true temperature
of flue gases is one of the most difficult operations con-
nected with boiler testing. According to the published
researches of the United States Bureau of Mines, flue-
gas temperatures as generally measured with a mer-
cury thermometer are from 30 deg. to 100 deg. low. the
amount of the error being dependent upon the location
of the thermometer. This difference between the ac-
tual and measured temperatures is accounted for by
the radiation from the thermometer to nearby objects
such as the relatively cold boiler surfaces, the setting,
etc.
For a black body the amount of heat radiated is
expressed by Stefan's law, that the energy radiated is
proportional to the difference in the fourth powers of
the absolute temperatures of the hot and cold bodies.
A thermometer when used to measure flue-gas tempera-
tures radiates under approximately black-body condi-
tions and attains a temperature at which the heat ab-
sorption from the gas equals the loss by radiation and
conduction along the stem. If the thermometer is in a
current of gas moving at high velocity, heat is carried to
the thermometer at a higher rate than if the gas velocity
is low. From a consideration of the above law of radia-
tion, it is evident that the temperature indicated in the
first case will be higher than in the second, although
the actual temperatures of the gas may be the same in
both cases.
The article referred to above does not state the loca-
tion of the thermometer used to measure the flue-gas
temperatures, but from the above it is evident that if
it was placed in the current of gas passing the ex-
tremity of the baffle the lower temperature recorded
after cutting off the baffle can be accounted for by the
lowered velocity of the gases. The reduction in "draft"
resistance due to cutting off the baffle would also tend
to cause a larger volume of air to pass through the
fuel bed and result in a lower flue-gas temperature for
the same rate of coal combustion. This condition could
be detected by a comparison of the flue-gas analyses be-
fore and after cutting the baffle.
Washington, D. C. Frank T. Leilich.
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 15
STORM TIES UP TRANSMISSION SYSTEMS
Wind and Sleet Sweep the Atlantic Seaboard and Damage
Overhead Lines in North Carolina
A heavy and unseasonable snowstorm started off the
Florida coast Friday, April 2, and swept along the
Atlantic seaboard, reaching the Middle Atlantic and
New England States on Saturday. It was accompanied
by high winds, but, while it did considerable damage
to telegraph and telephone lines all along the coast and
seriously handicapped railway traffic, the lighting com-
panies apparently were not greatly inconvenienced ex-
cept in the State of North Carolina, where the fury of
the storm was greatest. Shipping suffered most off
the Virginia and North Carolina coast.
In the eastern half of North Carolina the transmis-
sion system of the Carolina Power & Light Company
was practically paralyzed. The unusual atmospheric
conditions for that section were such as to make possi-
ble the greatest destruction to transmission lines from
extreme ice loading and wind pressure. The heavy
fall of snow (15 in. to 16 in.) was preceded by a rain
which, combined with freezing temperature and a wind
velocity varying from 18 to 30 miles an hour, loaded all
lines with a frozen coating of snow in a semi-ice con-
dition that increased the diameter of the larger wires,
it is said, to about 6 in. and put poles and towers under
severe stress. The extra weight and wind pressure
brought down the majority of the telephone and tele-
graph lines in about six hours. The wood-pole trans-
mission lines from the company's substations were also
down by Saturday morning, April 3, and the steel tower
lines were put out of commission by the twisting and
buckling of a number of towers.
The company's line crew was set to work in the city
of Raleigh, N. C, as soon as the storm subsided Sat-
urday morning, and by 11 o'clock Saturday the commer-
cial district was cleared of poles and work was begun
on temporary circuits for lighting. By order of the
Mayor, however, lighting service was not established
on account of possible fire and life hazard until 6.30
Sunday night. Lighting service was not established in
the residential districts until Monday and Tuesday.
The street-car system was placed in operation about
noon Sunday. Linemen were set at work cutting trees
for poles and constructing temporary lines to permit
the operation of mills and industrial establishments
served by the Carolina Power & Light Company. Every
effort was exerted to secure and organize line crews so
as to rush this work, all nearby cities being drawn upon
and the different power companies of the South lending
aid and all the linemen they could spare. A gang of
sixty experienced linemen left Atlanta on Tuesday.
These men were secured from Birmingham, Macon.
Chattanooga and Atlanta.
The district most affected by the storm was that
served largely by the Carolina Power & Light Company
from the Blewett Falls plant of the Yadkin River Power
Company, on the Pee Dee River, and the Buck Horn
plant of the former company, on the Cape Fear River.
The two-circuit, 96-mile tower line from the Blewett
Falls plant to the main substation at Method and the
34-mile tower line from the Buck Horn plant to a tie-in
station near Raleigh, as well as the tower tie-line be-
tween this point and the Method substation, were put
out of commission. The tower line from the Method
substation to Durham, where a physical connection is
made with the Southern Power Company, was also oul
of commission. The Greensboro-Durham line of the
Southern Power Company Buffered considerable dam
age. The steel towers failed because of buckling near
the ground and from twisting, the extent of failure de-
pending on the kind of loading and direction of strain.
Temporary repairs were at once made on the main
two-circuit, 110,000-volt tower line from the Blewett
Falls station to the Method substation, and this line
was placed in operation early in the week. Auxiliary
steam stations at Henderson, Goldsboro and Raleigh
have been pressed into service until the lines from the
water-power stations are in operation. The street rail-
way and lighting systems of the Durham (N. C.)
Traction Company were out of service Saturday and
Sunday.
The tower and pole lines disabled by the storm in
North Carolina include a two-circuit, 110,000-volt steel-
tower line from the Blewett Falls station to the Method
substation, a two-circuit tower line from Blewett Falls
to Hamlet, a single-circuit line from the latter place to
Lumberton, a single-circuit, 60,000-volt tower line from
the Buckhorn station to the tie-in station near Raleigh,
and the tie-in tower line between this station and the
Method substation. A wood-pole line from Method to
Roxboro, which supplies Franklinton, Henderson, Ox-
ford and Roxboro, had its poles and wires thrown to
the ground, except on a new section completed in Janu-
ary of this year, between Oxford and Roxboro. The
pole line from Method to Goldsboro, supplying Clayton,
Selma, Smithfield and Pine Level, was also in bad con-
dition with poles and wires down.
It was estimated that service could be restored by a
temporary means so as to permit the operation of
practically all cotton mills and other plants during the
next week, while the reconstruction of the transmission
lines will take about three months. About 450 miles
of both high-tension and low-tension lines were affected
and will require repairs.
MISHAP TO SEATTLE MUNICIPAL PLANT
Failure of Two Wooden Penstocks Causes Shutdown of
Cedar Falls Power Plant — Load Carried by Steam
Reserve Station in Seattle
The hydroelectric generating station of the city of
Seattle on the Cedar River was put out of commission
Tuesday afternoon owing to the failure of the wooden-
pipe lines. Both of the 4-ft. and 6-ft. penstocks were
carried away at a point below the crib dam where a
somewhat similar accident in the spring of 1911 tied
up the municipal system completely. At that time the
crib dam was carried away by high water and the
municipal load was carried by the Seattle Electric Com-
pany, a Stone & Webster property.
The accident on Tuesday was first discovered by
quantities of gravel being shot into the turbines. Heavy
rains caused an unusual volume of water in the Cedar
River to undermine the foundations of the wooden pen-
stocks which are laid partly in the river valley. Su-
perintendent Ross of the city lighting department at-
tributed the accident to high water and the age of the
wooden penstocks. Temporary repairs will be made in
a few days, the municipal lighting load meanwhile being
transferred to the new 7500-kw auxiliary steam station
(Electrical World, Jan. 9, 1915) and to the small
hydroelectric station at Lake Union which utilizes the
overflow from the Volunteer Park reservoir of the city
water department. This station is rated at 1500 kw and
the turbine operates under a 400-ft. head.
The Cedar Falls station of the city of Seattle was
described in detail in the ESlectrica] WORLD for June
i. 1912.
The source of energy is the water in Cedar River, a
mountain stream which rises in the Cascades and flows
Into Lake Washington, whieh has its outlet into Puget
Sound at Seattle. Water is stored for the power plant
Apwl 10. 1916
E I. Ki'TRIC A I. WORLD
90S
mountain lake about 3 miles long and
0.75 mile wide, lying at a natural elevation of 1530 ft.
above sea level. At the point where the river flows from
the lake the city erected in 1902 a small wood crib dam,
which raises the level of the lake to an elevation of
L646 it., and three or four more f< ned by the
use of dashboards.
From this dam two ■ pipes lead down to the
pow<-i miles distant and 600 ft. lower in ele-
The lirst pipe, built in 1904, is 49 in. inside
diameter, c>t" thirty staves cut from 2-in. by G-in. stock.
The second pipe, built in 1908, is 67% in. inside, of
thirty staves cut from 2 '--in. by 8-in. stock. Both
used ior power. An ultimate development of 40,000 kw
is planned; 13,500 kw \t now installed, The new v.
wheels will be of the impulse type with two overhung
wheels driving one 10,000-kw generator. The impulse
wheel is preferred for this head, 600 ft., after experi-
■vith both impulse wheels and turbines, on account
of its simplicity and the fact that it can be taken apart
and repaired between the daily peaks. The wheels will
be equipped with needle nozzles with by-pass arranged
to eliminate water ram on the penstocks. The double-
wheel and needle-nozzle arrangement also gives high ef-
ficiency through a wide range of load, and this efficiency
ell sustained through the life of the wheel. All-
NEW DAM ACROSS CEDAR RIVER FOR SEATTLE MUNICIPAL HYDROELECTRIC PLANT
pipes are laid on benches cut in the side of the canyon.
The bands are of wrought iron, designed with a factor
of safety of four. The highest head under which the
wood-stave pipe operates is 310 ft., and the sharpest
curve is 18 deg. Where it was necessary to turn with
a shorter radius, riveted-steel elbows of 15-ft. radius
were inserted. The smaller pipe connects to a 48-in.
riveted steel pipe at a point 1008 ft. from the power
house. The total length of the wood-stave pipe in this
line is 15,407 ft., making the total length of the line
16,415 ft. At a point 951 ft. from the power house the
larger pipe branches through a Y-connection and two
48-in. valves into two 48-in. riveted pipes. The steel
pipe varies from % in. to 11 16 in. in thickness. At
the power house a cross-connection with valves is ar-
ranged so that any one of the three pipes may be used
on any of the machines, and the valves are normally left
open to equalize the pressures in the three pipes. A 30-
in. wood-stave standpipe is placed on each pipe at a
point 3600 ft. from the power house. These pipes are
65 ft. and 70 ft. in height respectively on the smaller
and larger pipe and serve to decrease the effect of water
ram and better the regulation. Smaller standpipes and
air valves are placed at frequent intervals along each
line.
The wood crib dam permitted a maximum variation
in the lake's elevation of less than 20 ft., which affords
approximately 1,000,000,000 cu. ft. of storage. With
this amount of storage a great deal of water was
wasted during the rainy season. It is estimated that
approximately 7,000,000,000 cu. ft. of storage is suffi-
cient to conserve the entire run-off of the watershed for
power generation.
Recently a new concrete dam 215 ft. high has been
built, at a cost of $1,400,000. This dam will raise the
lake from its present level of 1550 ft. to 1590 ft. and
provide enough storage bo that the entire run-off may be
steel penstocks are to be used in preference to the
cheaper wood on account of the greater reliability of the
steel in service, which far outweighs considerations of
economy. The Cedar River plant was taxed to capacity
during the winter of 1913-14, and it was to help over
the peaks of the past winter that the steam auxiliary
was rushed to completion. Mr. J. D. Ross is superin-
tendent of lighting in charge of the Seattle Municipal
System.
Capitalization of Boston Welfare Improvements
Denied
In authorizing the issue of $2,048,000 additional stock
by the Edison Electric Illuminating Company of Boston
at 215, the Board of Gas & Electric Light Commis-
sioners expressed unwillingness to allow the capitaliza-
tion of certain improvements, such as those for welfare
buildings, which do not constitute property of a char-
acter directly productive of revenue.
The case was complicated somewhat by the question
relative to the capitalization of expenditures for certain
items in the nature of alterations of existing property
adding little or nothing to value, or relative to work
upon customers' premises rendered necessary by changes
in the conditions of service. Other items were for auto-
mobiles, horses, wagons, signs, furniture, etc., for which
the board has not heretofore approved stock, and cer-
tain other expenditures related to the so-called "welfare
buildings" of the company at its Massachusetts Avenue
property, Boston.
The commission states that while realizing the burden
upon a company's working capital of the initial cost of
such equipment as automobiles, renewals must be
provided for so promptly and are recurrent so regu-
larly that the board believes such renewals may properly
find their way directly into operating accounts. With
904
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 15
regard to the welfare buildings, the commission says :
"The board sympathizes with every humane effort of
a company in behalf of its employees, and recognizes
that its extent must depend upon circumstances not
readily defined. But when directed beyond suitable pro-
vision for the health and safety of the employees and
if so substantial in amount as to tend to add an extra
burden to the consumer or to take from the stock-
holder the full measure of his right to a fair return,
the representation of such expenditures in permanent
capital becomes of doubtful propriety."
The board therefore determined that $3,500,000 rep-
resented in the promissory notes of $5,640,000 outstand-
ing on Jan. 1, 1915, may be capitalized, and does not
permit the company to capitalize the expenditure for
the welfare buildings or other specific items.
Service Interruption in Chicago
Governor trouble developing on one of the 15,000-kw
sixty-cycle turbines in the Quarry Street station of the
Commonwealth Edison Company, Chicago, at 6 o'clock
Wednesday morning shut down the company's sixty-
cycle system, the load on which at this early morning
hour amounted to only 11,000 kw and was being carried
by the one turbine. A small part of this output was
being fed through a 500-kw motor-generator set to the
down-town direct-current system. As the turbine slowed
dowrn the motor-generator was back-fed with energy
from the direct-current network, which receives its sup-
ply from batteries and other substations. The motor-
generator was finally freed, however, by the blowing of
fuses on the positive mains and feeders, thereby inter-
rupting the service to several city blocks. On the sixty-
cycle system the service was restored within an average
of two minutes through motor-generator sets in vari-
ous substations.
Cost of 66,000-Volt Transmission Line
An extended discussion of the cost of a 66,000-volt
transmission line was a feature of a recent hearing
given by the Massachusetts Gas and Electric Light
Commission to the Turners Falls Power & Electric
Company, of Greenfield, Mass. The line was built from
Turners Falls to Springfield, Mass., and is 42.88 miles
long. It is designed for ultimate service at 110,000
volts, and the total cost is shown in the following
table :
Clearing right-of-waj $i::.v-
Contractors' general expense 9,151
Transportation <>r materials r,,n~-:
uion for standard anchors 14,913
Setting standard anchors Id, 443
Steel towers 73,r,2fi
Assemhling and erecting towers 22,861
Insulators Installed 20,586
Wire 127,122
Hardware 8,667
Changes in line 6,803
i 831 l.sv^'
ngt
towers at substations
concrete f«"in.t> is.nr.7
■i.i total $81
The first section above totaled covers the so-called
standard construction used on the line and figures
$7,296.68 per mile, or $672.16 per tower. The total
cost, including special work as listed but not including
real estate and right-of-way, was $8,465.11 per mile.
or $781.86 per tower.
The line was built by F. T. Ley & Company, Spring-
field, Mass. The power company bought the material.
furnished the towers, wire and insulators, and pur-
chased the right-of-way. The right-of-way is 150 ft.
wide and cost about $250 an acre. Since the line was
built, about a year ago, the right of eminent domain
has been granted to transmission companies in Massa-
chusetts, which would unquestionably have greatly re-
duced the cost of the right-of-way had it been opera-
tive during the preliminary period. Where the line
traverses level and fairly firm soil the towers are se-
cured by anchors 7 ft. long with 1-ft. cross-pieces,
set in the earth, one anchor being provided at each
corner of the tower. At railroad crossings, marshy and
wet places the anchors are installed in concrete legs
about 2 ft. square and 8 ft. deep, except where the
towers are lifted considerably above the ground level.
One such concrete footing is used at each leg of an
angle tower in crossing the Westfield River, and for 2
miles between the Agawam substation and Springfield.
Across this portion of the line the country is flooded
from 5 ft. to 15 ft. deep in the spring.
There are three special river crossings, where the
towers cost $1,250 apiece at the factory and are 100 ft.
high. It cost from $1,000 to $1,200 to erect these on
the ground. The foundations cost from $1,800 to $2,500
each for these crossings, except where the line crosses
the Connecticut River and enters Springfield. Here
the cost was $4,000. Copper-clad steel wire is used on
the long spans. The item "contractor's general ex-
pense" includes the cost of maintaining camps, trans-
portation of general superintendents, etc. "Changes in
line" covered relocations in the field after a portion of
the construction was in. From Turners Falls to Am-
herst heavy timber was encountered. The total cost
of the right-of-way was $200,695.
Excluding right-of-way and not including special
river crossings and concrete footings, the line cost
$7,296.68 per mile, or $672.16 per tower, compared with
$8,280 per mile and $900 per tower on similar lines
built in the same general territory. The Turners Falls
towers weigh about 4000 lb. each, compared with 5700
lb. for the standard towers of an adjacent system.
River-crossing towers were built of structural steel and
riveted on the job, the standard tow-ers being only bolted
together. The neighboring system < Connecticut River
Transmission Company | spaces its towers 9.2 per mile
and uses No. 00 wire, compared with a spacing of eleven
per mile and No. 0 conductor on the Turners Falls
system. The former also uses six suspension insulator
disks per wire, while the latter employs four, costing
$1 per disk. Each tower carries two three-phase cir-
cuits, and the standard towers are approximately 75 ft.
high and about 17 ft. square at the base. To change
the line for 110,000-volt service the only alteration
necessary on the line proper will be the addition of
insulator disks.
Water-Power Conservation in Massachusetts
In response to a legislative order the Massachusetts
Harbor and Land Commission has submitted a report
upon the conservation of water resources, asking an
appropriation of $25,000 for a thorough investigation of
possibilities of conserving, equalizing and utilizing the
flow of streams. The report emphasizes the need of
codifying the water-power laws and of formulating a
policy by the State, which at present is hampered by
a divided control of streams by the federal government
and various state commissions. Consideration is given
to possibilities of regulating the average stream flow by
the construction of storage reservoirs, opportunities for
energy development on the tributaries of large rivers,
and reduction of wasted flow.
April n». 1915
E I. K CTRICA I. W (IRL D
Equipment of Large Publishing House
Power Plant. Interior Wiring and Special Features of the Curtis Publishing
Company's lUiilding, Independence Square. Philadelphia
THE design of the electrical equipment of a large
publishing house is a task of no mean propor-
tions, especially when provision has to be made
for growth of business and for possible changes and
alterations in existing layout. The home of the Curtis
Publishing Company, Philadelphia, Pa., publisher of the
Ladies' //">»• Journal, the Saturday Evening Post and
the Country Gentleman, consists of a ten-story publica-
tion section and a ten-story manufacturing section con-
nected by a twelve-storj convenience belt extending
■cross the entire width of the building. The building
contains 14,500,000 cu. ft. Some idea of the magnitude
of its electrical installation can be obtained from the
faet that the total connected load consists of electric
motors having a combined rating of 4000 hp and lamps
aggregating a total consumption of 575 kw.
An isolated generating plant is employed for furnish-
ing energy for the numerous motors and lamps through-
out the building. An emergency connection with the
mains of the Philadelphia Electric Company is pro-
vided for automatically furnishing energy to lamps in
the power plant, hallways and stairs in case of failure of
the main supply. The power plant is situated on the
Sansom Street side of the building.
Fuel is stored in a bin placed above the boilers. This
bin is constructed of reinforced concrete and is sup-
ported by the steelwork of the building. Upon arrival
at the power plant the coal is dumped through an iron
grating into a scale hopper and weighed. From this
hopper the coal passes to one of two motor-driven con-
veyors which distribute the coal over the bin. The coal
then passes from the bottom of the bin into one of two
traveling scale hoppers, where it is again weighed and
dumped on the floor in front of the desired boiler. No
manual handling of the coal is required until it reaches
the floor of the boiler room, electric motors and gravity
performing all the work. The hoppers previously men-
tioned provide ample means of weighing and check-
weighing all coal consumed in the plant.
The boiler equipment is on the third story of the
building. It comprises nine boilers having a combined
rating of 3100 boiler-hp, five boilers being placed on one
side of the room and four on the other side. Hand
firing is employed throughout. A separate fan and en-
gine provide forced draft for each bank, but an inde-
pendent steam blower is also installed on each boiler for
use in case of accident to the fan equipment. Each
boiler is fitted with a superheater capable of giving 125
deg. of superheat. A separate chimney leads to the
top of the building from each bank of boilers. Two
economizers are installed along each side of the boiler
room, the arrangement of the chimney flues on each
FIG. 1 — KXTERIOR VIEW OF CURTIS BUILDING
906
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 15
side being such that one or both economizers may be
thrown out of service at one time. A carbon-dioxide
recorder is installed so that readings may be taken in
any boiler or in either of the two chimneys.
The ashes are accumulated in metal brick-lined hop-
pers below each boiler. These hoppers are arranged to
discharge into an ash car, which in turn dumps into
an ash bin outside the building, whence the ashes are
removed by wagons. A separate ash system is pro-
vided for each side of the boiler room.
The boiler-feed pumps, heaters, etc., are placed in
the ash room, which is below the boiler room. Two
steam pumps and one electric pump are installed, one
steam pump and the electric pump being sufficient for
the entire plant. The other steam pump is for use on
Sundays and at other small-load periods. The pumps are
equipped with pressure regulators, and the boilers are
provided with automatic feed regulators. The feed
FIG. 2 — CROSS-SECTION OF POWER PLANT
water is heated by means of two open feed-water heat-
ers, taking exhaust steam from the main exhaust pipe.
The feed-water supply is delivered to a feed tank on
the boiler-room floor, whence the water flows by gravity
to the heaters and thence to the pumps.
The city water supply and the general house supply of
the building are both connected to the feed tank at
different levels, the former being above the latter. The
inlet of water to the tank is controlled by float valves.
In cold weather the major part of the feed-water supply
is obtained from the water of condensation in the heat-
ing system of the building. This water is collected in
a tank installed below the basement floor of the building
and pumped into the feed tank previously mentioned.
The feed pumps are equipped with boiler-compound
pump attachments, which deliver the compound into the
heaters. An injector of 1800-hp rating is also con-
nected to the feed-water system so as to be capable of
feeding any boiler.
Two boiler-feed lines are placed over each row of
boilers, each line being connected to both the pumps
and the injector system. The feed lines are equipped
with the necessary safety valves. A meter with regis-
tering and recording attachments measures all feed
water delivered to the boilers.
Engines and Generators
The engine room, which is on the first story, contains
eight electric generating units, having a total rating of
3600 kw, divided, in order to meet load conditions, into
two 200-kw, three 400-kw, one 500-kw and two 750-kw
units. Each unit is driven by a cross-compound en-
gine at a speed of 150 r.p.m., the engines being directly
connected to the generators, which are all of the direct-
current type. A steam pressure of 175 lb. is employed,
and all electric energy is generated at 230 volts. En-
ergy at this voltage is used for all motor applications,
such as presses, elevators, etc. For lighting purposes
energy is furnished at 115 volts by means of a three-
wire system and balancer sets.
The engine and generator foundations are built on a
slab composed of concrete and
steel beams, which rest on
walls the foundations of
which lie between the founda-
tions of the columns support-
ing the building. The object
of this construction is to pre-
vent vibration being commu-
nicated from the engines and
generators to the building.
This precaution was especial-
ly necessary because artists
and engravers work on the
floors immediately above the
engine room. Each bay of
the engine room is equipped
with an electric traveling
crane for handling machinery.
The lubricating oil for the
engine and generators is cir-
culated continuously. A stor-
age tank is placed on the boil-
er-room floor, and a settling
tank, filters and pumps are
placed in the basement of the
pump room. A storage tank
for cylinder oil is provided on
the boiler-room floor, with
connections leading to the cyl-
inder lubricators on all en-
gines and to fountains in the
engine room and pump room.
All drips and drains lead to a tank in the basement.
The arrangement of the generator connections and
switchboard is said to be one of the finest examples of
this class of construction in existence. The main
switchboard is placed along one side of the engine room
and is 42 ft. long. It is made up of fourteen panels of
Tennessee marble mounted on special structural-steel
supports. The generators are connected to the switch-
board by means of busbars carried in special ducts un-
derneath the engine-room floor. The ducts are closed
on all sides by means of slate slabs, as indicated in Fig.
7, the buses resting in channels cut in the alberene-stone
insulating members. Instead of placing the main gen-
erator switches upon the switchboard they are installed
on separate panels near the corresponding generators,
and are operated by motors controlled from the bench-
board, but in addition thej may be manually operated.
Switchboard
Near the middle of the main switchboard is a total-
load panel on which arc mounted two voltmeters, four
ammeters and four watt-hour meters. One of the vote-
rs is connected to the two 230-voll buses, while
Apkil 10, 1916
K 1. E I I i: I C A 1. w<> RLD
907
the other voltmeter is a differentia] instrument con-
nected to the three-wire buses. One ammeter an<:
ter the total output of the plant.
Another set registers the total energ] consumed by
motors, while two oth- :>ter the loads on the
■ lea of the lighting system.
marble benchboard, 1 1 ft. long and divided into eight
panels, each of which controls a single generator. Each
of the panels is equipped with two remote-control
switches, one for throwing the corresponding motor-
operated generator switch in and out and the other for
(int rolling the motor-operated field rheostat. On each
?c~
PLAN
FIGS. 3 AND 4— PLAN AND CROSS-SECTIONAL ELEVATION OF COAL-STORAGE YARD
At the left of the total-load panel are two panels for
controlling the balancers. At the left of the balancer
panels are the five panels controlling the lighting cir-
cuits, while to the right of the total-load panels are the
six panels controlling the motor circuits. On each of
the latter are mounted six circuit-breakers and six
edgewise-type ammeters. The same number of circuit-
breakers and ammeters are also provided on each light-
ing panel, but the ammeters are so connected that by a
double-throw switch the current on either side of the
three-wire circuit can be measured. Automatic circuit-
breakers are installed throughout, knife switches not
being used except in connection with the balancers. The
circuit-breakers on the 230-volt system are of the two-
pole, two-coil type, while the circuit-breakers on the
lighting circuits are of the three-pole, three-coil type.
The latter are equipped with auxiliary trip coils which
automatically open all the lighting breakers in case the
balancers go out of operation.
Immediately in front of the main switchboard is a
panel is also placed an ammeter for measuring the cur-
rent output of the corresponding generator. The usual
signal lamps are provided to show the conditions of the
generator circuits. The adoption of the benchboard
permitted the shortening of the main switchboard and
at the same time provided the advantage of having the
operator in a position to view the entire room when
throwing the various generators in and out of service.
Two recording instruments are in the engineer's of-
fice, one being an ammeter recording the total load
current on the plant, and the other a voltmeter giving a
graphic record of the voltage at the main switchboard.
An emergency connection is provided permitting the
lamps in the engine room, boiler room, ash room, pump
room and on all stairway and fire escapes, as well as a
limited number of night lamps distributed throughout
the building, to be furnished with energy from the
mains of the Philadelphia Electric Company in case of
failure of main supply. For this purpose a special
switchboard controlling these circuits is employed. This
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 15
SWITCHBOARD AND BENCHBOARD
switchboard normally receives its energy from the main
switchboard, but if, either accidentally or intentionally,
a condition of no voltage should exist on the main
switchboard, the main circuit-breaker on the special
switchboard opens, causing connections to be made
which automatically effect the closing of a motor-oper-
ated switch, throwing the Philadelphia Electric Com-
pany's service on to the special switchboard. The en-
ergy required to throw this switch is obtained from the
Philadelphia Electric Company's mains. The circuit-
breaker on the main switchboard, which controls the
feeder to the special switchboard, is equipped with a
reverse-current release which prevents energy from the
central-station company's lines flowing back to the buses
and generators of the private plant.
Electric Distribution System
Eight wire shafts are employed for carrying the
feeder cables from the main switchboard to the various
cabinets throughout the building. These wire shafts
are constructed with brick walls and fireproof floors
and extend the height of the building, being installed at
convenient points for distribution, as shown in Fig. 8.
The feeder cables from the main switchboard to the
wire shafts are carried in conduits installed on the base-
ment ceiling. The layout of these conduits necessitated
at one point the use of a pull box 50 ft. in length.
In the wire shafts the feeders are carried vertically
without the use of conduit, being fastened at intervals
by means of cable clamps. The cables terminate at
feeder panels installed at the various floors in each of
the wire shafts. Some of the wire shafts are devoted
entirely to lamp feeders and some entirely to motor
feeders, while others contain feeders of both types. One
motor feeder generally serves only its share of one
floor and one lamp feeder generally serves its propor-
tion of two floors, but in several cases a motor feeder
serves more than one floor and a lamp feeder supplies
only a part of one floor, or another supplies its share of
three or more Uncus. There are more than 12 miles of
feeder cables extending from the main switchboard to
the main panelboards, exclusive of the distributing sub
mains in the various stories.
From the feeder panels in these wire shafts sub-
mains are carried in conduit to the branch panelboards
installed at convenient distribution on each
'.\ iiirr the lamps are controlled only from tin' e
branch panelboards the panels are of the push-button
therwise the lamps are controlled by push-button
n walls and columns, or by keys on the fixtures.
Where branch circuits are controlled from branch
panels, the panels are constructed in two sections, the
upper section being for the fuses and the lower section
for the push-button switches. The upper section con-
taining the fuses is kept locked, thus preventing tam-
pering with the fuses by irresponsible persons and also
preventing a person, when turning on or off lamps, from
coming in contact with any exposed energy-carrying
parts. In cases where circuits are controlled from the
shaft panels Sundh remote-control switches are used.
Those branch circuits which supply energy to the
various motors throughout the building terminate at
special control panels adapted to the requirements of
the service.
The location and number of feeder panels were de-
termined to a certain extent by the fact that it was de-
sired to meter the energy consumed by each department
of the company. The watt-hour meters are mounted in
the various wire shafts at certain stories and are con-
nected to the feeders or to the sub-mains, thus enabling
<--F/oor8eam
4x4\f L
FIG. 7— BUSBAR SUPPORT
each department to be charged with its proper share
of the cost of producing electrical energy.
The shaft panels are placed in rooms which are ac-
cessible through doors that are normally kept closed.
These rooms are provided with concrete floors, and spe-
cial means had therefore to be devised for carrying the
riser rabies through these floors. For this purpose col-
lars are employed, as shown in Fig. 10. These collars
are made from channel-iron frames anil are fitted with
a I in. oak and a 2-in. slate slab, the latter being on
top of the former. Holes are provided in these plates
for permitting the cables to pass through them. The
cable clamps rest upon the slate slabs.
Figs. 11 and VI show respectively the conduit and
wire layouts for a section of the sixth floor of the pub-
lication building, that is, the section of the building
devoted to editorial and clerical oltices. It will be no-
ticed that a number of blank lamp outlets and blank
April 10, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
^KTCT
SANSOM STREET
FIG. 8 — TYPICAL FLOOR PLAN, SHOWING WIRE SHAFTS
wall-switch outlets are provided, being covered with
brass plates. A gridiron system of conduits and the
looping together of all switch outlets permits the orig-
inal installation to be changed to a considerable degree
as future needs and the moving of partition walls may
necessitate, without requiring the use of metal molding
or exposed conduit. At the present time only a portion
of the lamp and switch outlets are used, as indicated in
Fig. 12.
Plowed floor sleepers and trenches (,Fig. 13), the lo-
cation of which is indicated by brass tacks placed at in-
tervals, are provided in all editorial and clerical depart-
ments for allowing concealed connections for telephones,
call bells, etc., to be made at any time.
FIG. 9 — PRESSROOM, SHOWING MOTORS AND CONTROLLERS
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 15
In the manufacturing portion of the building — that
is, the portion devoted to the type-setting machines,
printing presses, binders, etc. — much exposed conduit
.Sx5~x I'is
Sx3'x}"Ls
Floor Line i
:uuuu„^.rrr^
■«> ri Fin ■ :>-v:jr-— :r*'Qg*
°':'a.Rein for cede, . .._
^2.' Concrete i-q JO O I
,.'°.2s'Lonq
6'Cs
ELEVATION
FIG. 10 — DETAIL OF FLOOR COLLAR
and metal-molding work is used. All machines in this
portion of the building are operated by independent
electric motors with push-button control.
The illumination throughout the building varies ac-
cording to requirements and local conditions. The main
reception room is illuminated by semi-indirect fixtures
mounted on pedestals, no ceiling lamps being employed.
In the clerical and editorial departments semi-indirect
or indirect illumination is employed in most cases. In
the manufacturing department various types of lamps
and fixtures are employed depending upon what usage
showed to be the best in each case. In the girls' dining
room a number of Parish wall paintings can be arti-
ficially illuminated and the correct color tones brought
out by means of gas-filled lamps mounted behind lenses
in a concrete beam in the ceiling running parallel to the
wall containing the paintings. These lamps are all con-
trolled from one wall switch.
An elaborate heating and ventilating system involv-
ing the use of a combination of a direct and an indirect
steam-heating system is employed. The indirect sys-
tem performs the double service of supplying heat and
fresh air and is in continuous operation during cold
weather. The temperature of this heated air is con-
stant and is controlled by thermostats governing the
supply of steam to the heating coils. Air for this sys-
tem is drawn from above the building by eight electric-
motor-operated fans installed in the roof houses and
having a combined capacity of 564,000 cu. ft. per minute.
The air is delivered throughout the building in gal-
vanized-iron ducts. Thirteen exhaust fans operated by
electric motors and having a combined capacity of 550,-
000 cu. ft. per minute are also installed in the roof
houses to increase the ventilating effect. The air sup-
ply, before entering the fans, passes through an atom-
ized water spray, and finally through the heating coils
proper to the fans.
The direct steam-heating system is only in service
when the indirect system does not supply sufficient heat,
as in the case of extremely cold weather. This system
is under thermostatic control in each room. Exhaust
steam from the engines in the power plant is normally
used for both systems, but this supply may be supple-
O Ceiling Outlet
Q Blank Ceiling Outlet with brass cover
Q Bracket Outlet
<t "lug Receptacle in Baseboard
S Two Pole Push button Sw
KS - * " lock Type
SX Blank bo* with brass cover for Push button Sw
PIG, 11 portion OF CONDUIT PLAN FOB SIXTH FLOOR OF PUBLICATION RUILMNG
Conduit in Ceiling
in Floor
Apkil 10, 1'J16
ELECTRICAL WORLD
911
merited bj live -team in extremely cold weather. The
r of condensation from lj.it h led by re-
turn mains to a receiver in the basement, whence it is
pumped under automatic control to the boiler feed-
r tank. An independent vacuum bj stem is in-
■ 1 whereby the air is removed from the radiators
through valves which automatically close in the pres-
ence of steam.
'om of exhaust fans is provided for the
ventilation of the toilet rooms, which ventilation is ac-
complished by air being drawn from other portions of
the building into these rooms and then through a series
of openings into vertical shafts leading to the exhaust
Among the other house machinery which is elec-
tric-motor-driven are the fourteen passenger and nine
freight elevators, a vacuum-cleaning system, a pneu-
matic-tube system, magazine conveyors, mail distrib-
uters, mail-bag elevators, conveyors, etc., paper-trim-
ming exhaust system, automatic house pumps, refrig-
erating pumps, and the air compressors for the elevator-
door closers and for engine-room cleaning purposes and
similar uses throughout the building.
Fire Protection
Although the building is of fireproof construction, it
is equipped with four fireproof stair towers. A com-
plete fire-alarm system, including alarm boxes turning
in an alarm to the city fire headquarters and to the fire
marshal in the building, alarm bells, annunciators and
recall bells, has been installed. The electrical equip-
ment is such that when an alarm of fire comes in its loca-
tion is given on every floor of the building by the illu-
mination on every annunciator of the number corre-
sponding to the floor on which the fire occurs. The
alarm bells are installed above the annunciators and the
recall bells are installed at various convenient points.
The Curtis Building was designed by Frank C. Rob-
erts & Company and Edgar V. Seeler, architects and en-
• Floor Board
-::\\:~::;~:c-':\-
76 7
Wood Sleeper
,'<?;' ■■;-d,?:»y:y?z
SECTION AT A-A
FIG. 13 — DETAILS OF FLOOR TRENCHES
gineers, and erected under their supervision by Doyle
& Company, general contractors. The power plant and
equipment was designed by and erected under the su-
pervision of Frank C. Roberts & Company, engineers,
of Philadelphia.
O Ceiling Outlet
© Blank Ceiling outlet with brass Cover
U Bracket Outlet
■Q Plug Poceptacle in baseboard
5 Two- pole Push button Sw.
KS " " " " " Lock Type
Wires in Ceiling
in Floor
SX Blank box ivith brass cover for push button Sw.
FIG. 12 — PORTION OF WIRING PLAN FOR SIXTH FLOOR OF PUBLICATION BUILDING
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 15
Effect on the Eye of Ultra- Violet Light
Examination of the Relation That Exists Between Subjection to Abnormal
Waves of the Spectrum and Affections of the Lens
By W. E. Burge*
THE term cataract, usually applied to a waterfall,
by a transfer of meaning has come to be applied
to a disease of the eye in which the crystalline
lens becomes opaque and forms an apparent grating over
the pupil. In such a condition blindness results because
the opaqueness of the lens prevents the light from pass-
ing into the interior of the eye.
Fig. 1 represents a longitudinal section of a normal
eye. It may be seen that the lens, the most important
part of the refractive apparatus of the eye, is a trans-
parent bi-convex body situated between the anterior
and posterior chambers of the eye. The anterior cham-
ber is filled with a perfectly clear liquid known as the
aqueous humor, whereas the posterior chamber contains
a transparent jelly-like material called the vitreous
humor. Fig. 2 shows a similar section of the eye, but
represents the condition known as cataract. It may be
seen that these two photographs differ only in that the
crystalline lens in Fig. 1 is transparent while that in
Fig. 2 is opaque or cataractous. The sight may be re-
stored by the removal of a lens that has become cata-
ractous. The light then passes unobstructed into the
interior of the eye. The rays, however, do not focus
properly upon the retina, and vision is not clear. This
is remedied by placing a bi-convex glass lens in front
of the cornea, but the person possesses no power of ac-
commodation, and vision is perfect only for that dis-
tance for which the interposed lens brings the rays of
light to a focus on the retina.
It has been observed that in the disorder of nutrition
known as diabetes, sugar accumulates in the body fluids.
Cataract is of comparatively frequent occurrence in this
disease. In 1907 a commission was formed in England
to investigate the occurrence of cataract among glass-
blowers. It was found that cataract was of much more
frequent occurrence among workers in this trade than
among people generally, so much so that this type of
cataract has been included under the employers' liabil-
ities acts of England. By the multiplication of the cells
on its surface the lens grows throughout life, hence the
more central portions of the lens are the older, harder
and less elastic. This arrangement seems to make the
lens especially sensitive to disturbances of nutrition.
The disturbance of nutrition is thought to account for
a type of cataract occurring among elderly people and
known as senile cataract. The prevalence of cataract in
the tropics has frequently been noted. For instance,
Col. Henry Smith has removed in India more than 30,000
cataractous lenses. The question naturally arises. Why
is cataract more prevalent in certain types of disease.
among workers in certain trades, and in certain local-
ities?
The most plausible explanation for the opacity of the
or cataract, is that it is due to the coagulation of
the l( Jusl B egg white and various other
proteins may be caused to set and lose their transpar-
..• ating, by adding chemicals, etc., so the lens
protein in the case of cataract is precipitated bj pre
abnormal agent. The experiments de-
• 'I in this article were undertaken to tind OUl by
what means this precipitation is brought about under
the condition- found III the bodj . The Chief function of
the crystalline lens is the transmission of radiant
energy. The experiments were primarily to determine
whether the opacity of the lens, or cataract, could be
produced in the performance of this function under ex-
treme conditions.
Effect of Infra-Red and Red. — Sir William Crookes'
concludes that glassblower's cataract is due to the long
waves of the spectrum. This conclusion was based on
the fact that he found the radiation from molten glass
in the glassblower's furnace to be very rich in red and
infra-red. In the present instance experiments were
carried out to determine if it were possible to produce
an opacity of the lens, or cataract, by the direct ex-
posure of excised pig and ox lenses to the radiation from
an electric furnace, which is particularly rich in infra-
red. Lenses fitted into floats made of thin rings of cork
were almost submerged in open-mouthed glass vessels
containing egg-white, blood serum, aqueous and vitre-
ous humor respectively. Each glass vessel was placed in
a tank of running water with its mouth slightly above
the surface of the water. An electric furnace operat-
ing at 1000 deg. C. was inverted and placed directly
over the lenses at a distance of 15 cm. The materials
Corn:
Epithelium
Cof """*<<
Nusculus
FIGS. 1 AND 2 — LONGITUDINAL SECTION OF THE EYE —
NORMAL AND CATARACTOUS
were thus exposed, in some cases for as much as 100
hours, without the production of an opacity either in the
lenses or in the media. Other experiments were car-
ried out similar to those just described, except that the
furnace was placed 5 cm from the surface of the lenses.
Under these conditions the lens could be rendered
opaque in about ten minutes. On placing the bulb of a
thermometer on a lens thus rendered opaque it was
found that the temperature in the region of the lens
was about 80 deg. C. The conclusion is drawn that
the opacity thus produced is due to the rise in tem-
perature, and not to the red and infra-red radiation.
Effect of Visible Spectrum. Lenses were arranged
on floats similar to those described above and almost
completely immersed in similar media, viz.. egg-white,
blood serum, aqueous and vitreous humor. By means
of B bi-convex glass lens 1 in. in diameter and with a
principal focal distance of approximately L2 in. the fila-
ment of B nitrogen-tilled tungsten lamp operating at 2000
cp was focused on the lenses. Exposures for as much
as L00 hours were made. In DO case was opacity of the
lens produced.
Similar experiments were made by focusing the image
icl lona," No \. i09 1914
April 10. 1816
ELECTRICAL WO RLI)
913
of the sun on the len-«'- I ': .• itj in this manner could
be produced in a very few minutes, but it was found in
every case that the temperature of the crystalline lens
ntly high to coagulate its protein.
The conclusion is therefore drawn that opacity of the
Jens. cannot be produced by radiation from
the region of the visible spectrum and of the infra-red
led that the temperature effect be excluded.
' Ultra-Vi -nz and Stockha
. .1 the radiation from the glassblower'a furnace and
found, contrary to the findings of Crookes, that it was
rich in ultra-violet radiation. Hence they concluded that
taract is due to the short waves. Ex-
periments were devised to determine if it were possible
to produce opacity in the crystalline lens by direct ex-
re to the ultra-violet radiation from the quartz mer-
cury-vapor are. Lenses were introduced into quartz
tubes previously filled with egg-white, blood serum,
i< and vitreous humor. The diameter of these
quartz tubes was slightly less than the diameter of the
that each tube was filled in a horizontal direc-
tion by means of the lens. The tubes were closed with
rubber Btoppers and placed horizontally in a tank of
running water at a depth of 1 cm beneath the surface
of the water and 5 cm below a Cooper Hewitt quartz
mercury-vapor burner operating at about 2500 cp. The
egg-white and the blood serum became thoroughly coag-
ulated after twenty hours' exposure. The aqueous and
vitreous humors were also coagulated after such an ex-
posure. The immersed lenses in all the tubes, however.
m
ii mi
;| Ultra-Violet
Quartz Mercury Arc
Iron Ari-
Iron Arc
through glaM)
Tungsten Lamp
FIG. 3 — SPECTOGRAPH PLATE, PHOTOGRAPHED BY M.
LUCKIESH
were as transparent after such an exposure as they were
at the beginning of the experiment. At the end of 100
hours' exposure there was practically no change in the
transparency of the lenses. Other experiments were
carried out exposing egg-white, blood serum, aqueous
and vitreous humor in the quartz tubes without the
immersed lenses. At the end of twenty hours' exposure
the egg-white and the blood serum were coagulated, but
the transparency of the aqueous and the vitreous humors
was not affected by such an exposure. These exposures
were continued for 100 hours, and at the end of this
period the aqueous humor was as clear as it was at the
beginning of the experiment, while the vitreous humor
had been rendered very slightly cloudy.
The conclusion is therefore drawn that ultra-violet
radiation which is of sufficient strength to render egg-
white and blood serum firm coagula in a few hours will
not affect the transparency of the crystalline lens or of
the aqueous and vitreous humors in 100 hours' exposure.
It has been found that ultra-violet radiation will pre-
cipitate not only egg-white and blood serum, but prac-
tically every other protein and related substance. Thus
it would appear that the lens protein and the protein of
■Bchani and Stockhausen, von Greafe, Arrhiv. J. Ophth., Vol.
Ixxiii. p . : L91G
■Dryer and Hanssen, Compte* Rendu*, Vol cxlv, i> 234, 1907.
the aqueous and vitreous humors form a conspicuous
exception in that it is impossible to coagulate it by
means of ultra-violet radiation.
Effect of Radiant I Lenses of Abnormal
Composition. — The above experiments would seem to
show that it is practically impossible to produce an
opacity of the lens, or cataract, by means of radiant
energy from the infra-red, the visible or the ultra-violet
regions of the spectrum under conditions much more
extreme than any to which the human eye is ever sub-
jected, so there must be some factor involved in the
production of cataract other than radiant energy. Some
years ago the author' made analyses of several thousand
cataractoua lenses Imth from the United States and
from India, and found that there is a great increase
over the normal in the amounts of certain salts. It may
• ii from the table below that in the human cata-
ractous lens the percentage of potassium in the ash is
greatly reduced while the percentages of calcium, mag-
nesium and sodium are greatly increased over the
amounts existing in the normal lens. In cataractous
lenses obtained from the United States there was no
indication of silicate, while those from India contained
distinct amounts of the silicates of potassium, calcium,
and possibly of sodium. What conditions caused such
a marked deposition of silicate in the cataractous In-
dian lenses cannot be stated. This increase in calcium,
magnesium, sodium and silicon found in the cataractous
lenses suggested that their presence might make pos-
sible the coagulation of the lens protein by radiant
AVERAGE PERCENTAGE COMPOSITION OBTAINED BY ANALYZ-
ING THE COMBINED ASH OF A LARGE NUMBER OF LENSES
| -8-05
c-? ;=iZ -=^ *<
l-S
° -1 °
-:^ ^!^ :"' \~
t-
h
Iss I™
•r O -— z~ — —
=.
—
—
k & £
Normal a»iu!t human lenti
58 99 1 40
2 30
38 80
T
T
?
0
137.70 3 411
34 30
o.os
1.20
6 67
19 1<
1 60
1 68
30 SO
9 80
J
12 50
T
8 00
T
23 32
0
Cataract human le
A ) 34 42 H 58
0
Cataract human len> India)
1.30 1 52
1 64
5 81
6.00
1.60
25.06
3 63
energy, even though under normal conditions radiant
energy has no effect on the protein. To test this hy-
pothesis, experiments were performed using the same
apparatus as before but with 'm 100 calcium chloride,
»> 100 magnesium chloride and m 100 sodium silicate as
media for the lenses. Since cataract has been found
as a complication of diabetes, m 100 dextrose was also
used as a medium. These solutions of themselves did
not affect the transparency of the lenses after more
than 100 hours of immersion.
Effect of Infra-Red and Visible Spectrum on Lenses
in Salt Solutions. — Lenses were immersed for two hours
in m 100 calcium chloride, m 100 magnesium chloride,
m 100 sodium silicate, and m 100 dextrose, respectively.
They were then exposed to the radiation from the elec-
tric furnace, the tungsten nitrogen-filled lamp and the
sun. Exposures were made as in the preceding experi-
ments without affecting the transparency of the lenses
or of the media, provided that the effect due to rise in
temperature was excluded.
Effect of Ultra-Violet on Lenses in Salt Solutions. —
• Bui; Of Ophthalmology, Vol. xxxviii. No. E, p. 447,
\ p ni. molecular or "m" solution contains per liter of solu-
tion the number of grama of the salt equal to Its molecular weight.
i of] 100 the concentration of a gram — molecu-
lar solution
!U4
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 66, No. 15
Similarly, quartz tubes containing similar media and
immersed lenses were prepared and after two hours
were exposed to the radiation from the quartz mercury-
vapor lamp. It was found that the solution in the
quartz tube containing a lens immersed in m 100 cal-
cium chloride became turbid after twenty-five minutes'
exposure. The portion of the lens on the side next to
the burner had become an opaque mass after seventy-
two hours, whereas the transparency of the half of the
lens away from the burner was only slightly affected.
The same thing happened on the exposure of a lens im-
mersed in m 100 magnesium chloride, in m 100 sodium
silicate or m 100 dextrose, except that the effect was not
so marked and was not produced so quickly as when
calcium chloride was used.
The conclusion is therefore drawn that the lens pro-
tein, which normally cannot be precipitated by ultra-
violet radiation, can be so modified by those substances
which have been found to be greatly increased in cata-
ractous lenses that ultra-violet radiation can precipitate
it and hence produce an opacity of the lens; this con-
clusion referring specifically to calcium, magnesium,
sodium and silicon," and to dextrose, which is found in
increased amounts in the liquids of the body in the dis-
ease known as diabetes.
Further Analysis of the Effect of Ultra-Violet. — Ex-
periments were carried out, using the Fuess quartz
spectograph in order to determine which wave-lengths
emitted by the quartz mercury-vapor arc caused the
precipitation of the modified lens protein.
Clear fresh egg-white was introduced into a quartz
cell. The cell was made of two quartz disks 4 cm in
diameter and 1.2 mm thick. These disks were sepa-
rated by a ring of hard rubber 0.8 mm thick with an
inside diameter of 3.8 cm. By means of the specto-
graph the spectrum from an 800-cp quartz mercury-
vapor lamp was focused on the egg-white. The slit of
the spectograph was 1 mm wide and the burner was
placed 3 cm from the slit. The coagulation of the egg-
white began after fifteen hours toward the extreme end
of the ultra-violet in the form of a well-defined
band of white coagulum corresponding in position
to that of an intense band of the spectrum marked
a in the illustration Fig. 3. Although a appears
as one intense band, it is in reality composed of
three fused bands, of wave-lengths 265.2ati, 265.3u.tj.
and 265.5u.a respectively. At the end of twenty-four
hours three more bands of coagulated egg-white were
to be seen, corresponding in position to three other
bands in the spectrum, viz., />, c and d, having the wave-
lengths 289.3:j.:j., 296.3:j.a and 302.1|i|i respectively. From
these results it would appear that the effective region
in producing coagulation of the egg-white is from 265u.u.
to W2iy. inclusive, and that the most effective region is
around 265|iu. for the quartz mercury-vapor arc.
Five lenses were placed in a 0.25 per cent solution of
calcium chloride for two hours, and at the end of this
time the clear liquid was poured off and introduced into
the quartz cell described above, and exposed in the same
manner as the egg-white had been. At the end of
fifteen hours there could be seen one delicate white
band of coagulated lens protein in the ultra-violet region
where the egg vrhite bad boon first coagulated, namely,
in the region marked a in the illustration. At the end
of twenty-four hours' exposure two more delicate white
bands appeared, more or less well defined, of coagulated
lens protein. These two bandl COITeS] led in posi-
tion to the Bame two bands in the region of the ultra-
violet when ■ bite had coagulated after twenty-
ogethei in these experl
its, it i Impossible to sav whether
th thi tractive In the
produi
four hours, marked 6 and c in the illustration. In
place of the other band where the egg-white was pre-
cipitated, marked d, there was an ill-defined hazy pre-
cipitation of modified lens protein.
The same conclusion can be drawn regarding the pre-
cipitation of lens protein as was drawn regarding egg-
white, viz., that the effective region is from 265u.u. to
302(1(1 inclusive, and that the most effective region lies
around 265;j.;i for the quartz mercury-vapor arc.
Conclusion. — On the basis of the experiments cited in
this paper the assumption may be made that in looking
for the causes of cataract at least two factors should
be considered, the one a modification of the protein of
the lens and the other radiation of short wave-lengths,
by which this modified protein can be precipitated. Ac-
cording to this hypothesis, the prevalence of cataract
among diabetics could be accounted for by the increased
amount of sugar in the body fluids, this increased sugar
modifying the lens protein to such an extent that the
small amount of ultra-violet radiation in ordinary
sources of illumination, such as the sun, or practically
any artificial illuminant, can bring about the precipita-
tion of the lens protein. In this case the "modification"
factor, the sugar, is large, whereas the radiant energy
factor is small. The glassblowers who develop cata-
ract form a relatively small percentage of those engaged
in that occupation, although the quality and quantity
of radiation from the furnaces to which their lenses are
exposed is relatively rich in short wave-lengths. It may
be assumed that the small percentage who do develop
cataract have a more or less disturbed condition of nu-
trition, expressing itself in an increase of sugar, cal-
cium, magnesium or some other substance, which can
so modify the lens protein that the short wave-lengths
of the spectrum are able to precipitate it. Assuming
that nutritional disturbances are as frequent among the
workers in other occupations as among glassblowers,
the prevalence of cataract among glassblowers would
seem to be explained by the excess of the radiant energy
factor acting upon slightly modified protein. The prev-
alence of cataract in India is accounted for by the in-
crease in the radiant energy factor and of substances
that can modify the lens protein. It is known that trop-
ical light is comparatively rich in ultra-violet radiation,
and analyses of Indian cataractous lenses show them to
contain silicon, which, as has been shown above, can so
modify the lens protein that ultra-violet radiation can
produce opacity of the lens, or cataract.
Electricity for Drying Films
Until recently one of the greatest delays in converting
exposed films into finished pictures was caused by in-
adequate facilities for drying the negatives. At the
Standard Film Company, Yonkers, X. Y., the films, as
soon as they are developed, fixed and washed, are wound
on huge drums which are rotated rapidly in electrically
heated air. Each drum, which is about 27 ft. in cir-
cumference, is driven by a l-hp motor so that the air in
contact with the wet emulsion is constantly changed,
one 3000-wati air beater is set back of each drum. Be-
fore the heaters were employed it usually required from
seven to ten hours to dry a reel of film, and never less
than four hours, depending on the humidity of the atmo
sphere. Now films can be dried in about one-quarter
of the time formerly required. Another advantage
which has been obtained from rapid drying is that the
films, by not being allowed to become soggy with moist-
ure, are turned out tough and durable. Energy is fur-
nished for thi* installation by the Yonkers Electric
Light & Power Company.
Apkii. 1". 1911
ELECTRICAL Wuiii.n
\ \llo\ \l. I.I l.i IKK \|. - \| II 1 Kl LES
\ Dcauiption of the < <>d<- fur Stations, Lines, 1 tilixstion
Eqoipnienl and Operation
Hi EDWARD B R08A, CHIEF PHY8ICIS1 01 1 Hr BURBAI
oi Standards
In the article published m tin- Kl I i ntlCAL WORLD "1
April •'!. 1915, page 845, an account was Rivra of the
which have led t<> the development of the new
nal Electrical Safet> Code to date and what i-
planned for the future; and the cordial and valuable co-
1 iiich the Bureau of Standards is receiving in
this work was described. Tl rticle deals with
the rules themselves and with the present plans for in-
on thereof.
The pro; in the preparation of which the
bureau has been engaged for more than a year, and
which is about t" be issued in a preliminary edition for
-ion and criticism, is intended to run parallel to
the electrical code I for tire protection > prepared and re-
from time to time by the electrical committee of
the National Kire Protection Association. Together
they will constitute a truly complete national electrical
The compensation laws of many states and the
risibilities imposed upon many state commissions
shed recently make it necessary that electrical
rules be put into effect somewhat generally and
at an early date. Several state commissions began the
preparation of such rules some time ago, and the Bu-
reau of Standards undertook to co-operate with some
of them in so doing. But when the plans of the bureau
for preparing an electrical safety code that could be
adopted generally became known, these commissions
signified their desire to co-operate in this work and to
adopt the national code if possible without change, or
in any event with as few exceptions as possible, so as
to give the maximum degree of uniformity of prac-
tice among the various states.
The Workmen's Compensation Service Bureau, which
makes inspections of industrial properties for a large
number of casualty companies, also began the separate
preparation of an electrical safety code, but it too gave
up the undertaking when it became acquainted with the
work of the Bureau of Standards. Since that time the
bureau has had the co-operation and assistance of the
Workmen's Compensation Service Bureau, which is
planning to use the National Electrical Safety Code as
the basis of its inspections. This will have a consider-
able influence in bringing the new code rapidly into gen-
eral u
Arrangement of the (ode
A already indicated, the proposed code consists of
principal parts, these being preceded by a group of
definitions and followed by two appendixes. The num-
bering of the sections and of the rules is on the decimal
em. The definitions bear numbers below 100. The
rules on stations are divided into nine sections, and
ten numbers are reserved for each section, although
there are less than ten rules in most sections. Thus
Rule No. Ill is in Part 1, Section 11, and is the second
rule of that section, the first being No. 111). The rules
on lines are numbered from 200 up, the rules on utiliza-
tion equipment are numbered from 300 up, and the
rules on operation are from 400 up. The accompanying
tables give a list of the sections of the four parts of the
code.
By this arrangement additional rules may be added
to any section in successive revisions without disturb-
ing the numbers of the present rules. The rules in
Part 2 are on the average longer than the others; al-
together they occupy about the same space as those of
Parts 1 and 3. On the other hand, the rules of Part 1
lomewhat shorter on tl than the others.
The whole code of 2'.'2 rules will occupy teaa than one-
half the space required for the present Underwriters'
For convenience of the different administrative au-
thorities who have to deal with them separately, each
SECTIONS OF TIIK KniK PARTS OP THE PROPOSED NATIONAL
ELECTRICAL SAFETY CODI
l "ART l Stationi
Nos. of
Sections ol Rules
l" Proti I'
11 Protei emenl of Equipment 110-117
IS Rotating Equipment 120-125
IS 130-136
14 Transformers, Reactances, Regulators,
Balam 140-144
IE Condui toi - I
16. .... .E 160-168
17 Switchboards 170-171
in Lightning Arresters 180-186
Past 2. E hai Links <Forty-nine
Rules)
SO General Requirements
Overhead Lines
21 Construction Required for Crossings, Conflicting
Lines, and Lines on the Same Supports 810-213
22... - at Crossings 220-223
23 Clearances of Conductors (Other than Crossing
nces)
24 Guarding Live and Arcing Parts 240-243
2.", Supporting si i uctures
2fi Conductors and insulators
Underground Lines
2 7 Manholes, Handholes and Ducts 270-277
28 Conductors and Equipment 2S0-284
Past 3. Utilization Equipment (Sixty-two Rules)
30 Protective Arrangements (General Rules) 300-307
31 Conductors 310-317
32 Switches. Fuses, Controllers, etc 320-327
33 Switchboards 330-337
31 Motors anil Motor-Driven Devices. .. 340-345
:!:> Arc Welders and Electrical Furnaces 350-352
36 Lighting Fixtures and Signs 360-36S
37 Portable Devices, Cables and Connectors 370-374
38 Ele itrically Operated Cars, Cranes and Elevators. 3 i
39 relephi Other Signal Apparatus 390-392
i'akt i. Operation op Electrical Equipment <H6 ri-i.ks)
Rules for Emploi
10 ' 'i sanization 400-407
tl Protective Method - 410-417
General Rules for Employees
4 2 General Precautions 420-428
43 i leneral I iperation 130-437
14 Handling Live Equipment and Lines 440-449
45 Killing Supply Equipment and Lines I
46 Killing Moving l'arts 460-466
47 Making Protective Grounds 4711-474
Special Rules for Employees
4S Supply station and Switchboard Operation 480-487
19 1 iverhead-Line I iperation 490-496
50. . . round Operation 500-506
:,l Series An Lan peratlon 510-513
52 M.i ration 520-524
53 Testing irations
54 Signal Line Operation 54 0-545
5:. Tunnel and Subwaj operation 550
Appendix A Grounding Circuits, Equipment and Lightning Ar-
Appendlx B Sag Tables for Hard-Drawn Copper and Aluminum
I 'ellilil I
of the four parts is as nearly complete in itself as
possible.
Distinction Between Station and Utilization Equipment
In an introductory paragraph to the rules for sta-
tions it is stated that the rules apply to the electrical
supply equipments of intloor and outdoor stations and
substations, and also to similar equipment, including
916
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 15
generators, motors, storage batteries, transformers and
lightning arresters when in factories, mercantile estab-
lishments or elsewhere, provided they are in separate
rooms or inclosures, under the control of properly qual-
ified persons, when such rooms or inclosures are inac-
cessible to others. Thus, the room or rooms in which
the transformers, high-tension switches and distribut-
ing switchboard are installed in a factory are regarded
as a substation, if under the charge of a qualified per-
son, and subject to the rules for stations. On the other
hand, the electrical wiring, motors, switches and other
equipment distributed about a factory or other building
where employees generally have more or less access to
them are regarded as utilization equipment.
The rules for utilization equipment have been pre-
pared for circuits and apparatus at not over 750 volts.
Anything inclosed in rooms not accessible to employees
generally will come under the rules for stations. Any-
thing of higher voltage than 750 not so inclosed, and
remaining accessible to others than properly qualified
electrical operators, must, in addition to complying with
the rules for stations and such of the utilization rules as
apply, have all live parts incased in permanently
grounded metal conduit or cases or otherwise guarded
to prevent access or unsafe approach by any person to
the live parts.
Overhead Lines
The most difficult section of the rules to prepare has
been that on overhead lines. One might suppose that
the large number of reports that have been published
by engineering societies and others on this subject and
the various specifications and agreements in existence
would furnish so much material that the task would be
easy. But there is so much difference of opinion and of
practice, and so much of this printed material has been
proved not to be suitable for use in these safety rules,
that it was necessary to study the subject thoroughly
and start afresh on many points. The rules for cross-
ings of energy-transmission and signal lines over rail-
ways and other transmission lines, for conflicting lines,
for clearances between conductors on the same lines, for
climbing space, attachments to poles, etc., have been
studied and discussed in conferences very thoroughly,
and while they are not as yet in all respects satisfactory,
they have met general approval from many very com-
petent engineers who have examined them.
No restriction is placed on the voltages that may be
carried on overhead wires, either in the country or in
cities, but a higher grade of construction and greater
precautions are specified for high voltage wires. Prob-
ably the greater number of accidents from 2300 volts
on the streets is partly due to the fact that the line
construction concerned is inferior to that usually pro-
vided for 6600 volts or 13,000 volts.
The danger from fallen wires due to breaking of the
wires or failure of the poles makes it very necessary
to require something definite respecting the strength
of construction of overhead lines in cities and congested
communities, apart from the requirements made for
tags and conflicting lines. But the requirements
are not so high as for crossings over railroads or for
ings or conflicts with signal lines. Hence two
grad' iction are specified, these being desig-
nated as A and I!, and they differ only with reaped to
the factor pe< ifled for the supporting struc-
tures. Pot Steel structures and reil nerete
poles and cross-arms the factors of safety are three and
two for gradei A and B respectively; for wood poles
e four ami two respectively.
■•. ho are familiar with crossing specifications
thai ix for wood poles may
regard four for the highest grade of construction
low. But careful consideration of the question seems to
indicate that six is an excessive factor of safety even
for new poles, when reckoned on the basis adopted,
which is the same as that usually taken, namely, as-
suming all wires loaded with ice to a radial thickness
of 0.5 in. and a wind pressure of 8 lb. per sq. ft. on the
sectional area of the wires and on the poles. This cor-
responds to a wind velocity of about 60 miles per hour.
When a high factor of safety is assumed it is generally
in part to provide for extreme conditions, but in this
case, because of their known though rare occurrence,
fairly extreme conditions are assumed as the basis of
calculations of the wind pressure, and a factor of safety
of four requires considerable guying of poles when as
many as twelve No. 2 wires are carried on a 40-ft. pole
line.
It is provided that wood poles and cross-arms shall
be replaced when their factors of safety have decreased
to one-half that required when new. This is not a severe
requirement where poles are guyed, as the support of
the guys is included in the calculation of strength. But
in cities it happens frequently that guys cannot be
used, and in such cases this requirement makes it neces-
sary to keep careful account of the depreciation of the
poles. There is much need of experimental work to de-
termine more accurately the extent to which guyed poles
support unguyed poles one or more span lengths away
and other quantities that enter into the calculation of
factors of safety of overhead lines. It is hoped that
before the rules are revised in 1916 much additional
information will be available that will be useful in line
construction as well as in making the requirements more
precise and treatment more adequate in this section of
the safety rules.
Sag tables are given for hard-drawn copper, and
aluminum wire and minimum sags are specified, so that
a factor of safety of two will be obtained for the con-
ductors under the extreme conditions specified. It is
specified that the sags in the case of soft-drawn copper
be at least double those for hard-drawn copper, the ulti-
mate strength of soft-drawn wire being only one-half
that of hard-drawn wire. Under this rule soft-copper
conductors under heavy loading of ice and wind will
stretch and the sag will increase. This serves as a
safety measure to prevent breaking, but makes it neces-
sary to tighten up the wires frequently after severe
storms to keep the clearances normal, and to prevent
blowing together. Most companies prefer to do this
rather than use hard copper for distribution lines.
One important difference from some specifications
previously proposed is that in the present rules clear-
ances are specified for normal temperatures and with-
out ice loading or wind, so that the company or in-
spector can tell by examining the crossing or line under
normal conditions whether it meets the rule. Some of
the previous specifications have provided that the
clearance should be a certain amount under the most
severe conditions of wind and of ice-loading. This
made it practically impossible, when the line was in-
spected under normal conditions, to tell whether the
requirement had been complied with or not. since the
exact conditions are nol stated and BO many varying
factors enter into the problem.
It is not possible even to mention all the interesting
features Of the rules for overhead lines. In general
they have been so drawn as to specify the results to be
attained and often the method, leaving as much as
possible of the details to the discretion of the com-
panies.
Existing Installations
The rules <>( Parts 1, 2 and :t apply, of course, to all
new installations, unless modified for special reasons by
Aikii. 10, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
917
the proper administrative authority. The question as
to what extent thej should apply to existing installa-
tions has been < irefully. Obviously, if they
did n<it apply at all to «-xi <t in^r installations, they would
have comparatively little useful influence for many
me.
The statement made in the introduction to the rules
in regard t'> this question is as follows:
"The rule- apply to existing installations: (o) in
truction, except where for special
■is this is impracticable; '' > in cases of serious
danger that can be obviated by conforming to the rules;
in the placing of guards and grounding of part
the protection of employees and others where the ex-
■ is not substantially greater than would be re-
quired for providing such protect inn for new equip-
ment."
The time allowed for compliance with (6) ami
will, of course, lie fixed by state or municipal adminis-
trative authorities.
It is not expected that expensive changes will be made
in existing equipment in order to comply with the rules
except in so tar as it is necessary to do so in order to
remove a Bource of serious danger. But in most cases
grounding of machine frames, instrument cases or con-
duits, or erecting of suitable guards ^where exposed
live parts require it), can be done at substantially the
same expense as though it were new equipment, and in
all such cases it is expected that it will be done within
some reasonable time.
Enforcement of the Kules
There is so much interest in the subject of safety
and so many managers are anxious to have their em-
ployees protected properly that it is believed that in a
large percentage of cases the rules will enforce them-
selves. If the state commissions and municipal admin-
istrative officers provide intelligent and thoroughly
competent inspectors, so that to some extent their in-
spections will have an educational value, the administra-
tion of the rules ought to be relatively simple. When
force has to be applied in some particular case it may
be done far more easily if the administration of the
rules is intelligent and reasonable and compliance is
generally a willing one. It is hoped that such intelli-
gent and competent inspection may be secured, and the
Bureau of Standards will do all that it can to assist
commissions and municipalities to give this kind of
inspection.
Another important question in the administration of
the rules is that of uniform interpretation by the per-
sons who are expected to comply with the rules and by
the inspectors and others who administer them. In the
preliminary edition of the rules a series of explanatory
notes has been included, the notes occupying about as
much space as the rules. The purpose of the notes is to
assist in understanding the rules and their application.
It has been suggested to the bureau that a textbook on
safe construction and operation is needed much more
than a set of rules. It is hoped that the notes to the
rule-; as they will be expanded in the later publication
will fulfil to some extent, in connection with the rules,
the function of such a textbook. We shall be greatly
ed to receive suggestions as to what additional
material should be put into the notes.
Many of the rules are put in the mandatory form
by the use of "shall"; others are intended as -i
recommendations, "should" being used in indicate that
fact. "Should" is often used where it would be proper
to require a certain thing of some companies but not
of all. In some cases "it is recommended that" are the
words used. It was thought far better to make the
rules reasonably near complete, with some of them not
mandatory, than to cut out all that could not properly
be made generally mandatory. If the attempt had been
made t<. make everything absolutely required, there
would necessarily have resulted either a very incomplete
• •. or one that could not be enforced, or one
that would work a hardship in very many cases. It
seems far better, particularly in the early history of
such a code, to regard it as an educational and helpful
influence quite as much as a code to be enforced.
Introduction of the Code
It is the hope of the Bureau of Standards that when
the code has been revised once more and approved by
the Washington conference and republished, it may be
adopted very generally and with the minimum changes
by individual states and cities. It is suggested, how-
ever, that the first year may be made a trial year, dur-
ing which the companies, inspectors and commissions
may become thoroughly acquainted with its practical
operation, and that it be not enforced in any strict
sense until after the first year. We believe that if the
utilities and other companies coming under it are in-
vited to "try out" the code, to comply as well as they
can, to report wherein it is not satisfactory, and to as-
sist in the effort to remedy its defects by revision at
the end of the first year, far better results will be at-
tained in the end than if it were made compulsory at
the start. Some commissions and municipalities might
delay adopting it formally if a strict enforcement were
expected from the beginning, whereas they might be
entirely willing to adopt it at once in the experimental
way suggested. It is believed that this plan will secure
the full co-operation which is much to be desired.
A copy of the preliminary edition of the first three
parts of the code will be sent on request to anyone
wishing to receive it, as well as a copy of the revised
operating rules, which will shortly be issued as the
second edition of Circular No. 49. W7hen the first three
parts are republished after approval by the Washing-
ton conference, the operating rules will be added and
the whole will constitute the complete National Elec-
trical Safetv Code.
Telegraph Company Reports to Authorities
In his report for the year 1914, Mr. Newcomb Carl-
ton, president of the Western Union Telegraph Com-
pany, says that the company is subject to forty-
three public service commissions and twenty-three work-
men's compensation or industrial commissions. Besides
voluminous reports to these commissions, the company
has also to prepare 3100 annual reports to tax authori-
ties, these reports being further subdivided by taxing
districts. In all, there are required not less than 17,700
statements to public authorities. In addition, the com-
pany has now to collect and remit monthly to the gov-
ernment the internal-revenue tax levied recently upon
commercial telegraph messages.
The company conducts a large national and interna-
tional telegraph and cable business, the operating reve-
nues being derived not only from various classes of mes-
sage services but also from commercial news, stock quo-
tations, money-order transfers, etc., in addition to
which there are operating contracts with 2t>0 railroad
systems, which include many subsidiary intrastate and
interstate railroad lines. For these reasons a satisfac-
tory separation of revenues and expenses between in-
terstate and intrastate business is impracticable. It
would seem, therefore, to be in the public interest, Mr.
Carlton adds, that such a company should be relieved of
rate regulation and the supervision of accounting state-
ments by states and should report in these respects to
the federal commission alone.
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. t>5, No. 15
DIGEST OF ELECTRICAL LITERATURE
Generators, Motors and Transformers
Sinusoidal Voltagt Curves from Polyphase Alter-
nators.— W. SEEMANN.— The author discusses the way
in which higher harmonics are produced in the wave-
forms of the voltage curves of polyphase alternators and
describes four methods of different manufacturers by
which a more or less purely sinusoidal wave-form may
be obtained. He finally describes a new method of his
own which is illustrated in Fig. 1. All the slots in the
rotor are made of equal size, but the wedges are larger
METHOD OK OBTAINING SINUSOIDAL VOLTAGE CURVE
than usual in ordinary practice. The rotor is con-
31 ructed symmetrically, and when the machine is finished
a test is made by which the field curve or the voltage
curve is obtained. The field curve will be found to be
somewhat distorted and on paper the equivalent sinu-
soidal curve is plotted. For each point there is thereby
obtained the difference between the value of the induc-
tion flux density as it is and the value as it should be for
the sinusoidal curve. The rotor is now turned off me-
chanicallj in such a way as to obtain at each point the
currect (lux density. The change of the flux density
is obtained by a change of reluctance and the change
iluctance by a change of the air gap at the different
points around the circumference of the rotor. This is
illustrated in Fig. l. the rotor circuit being no long"er
i lie exact circle. — Elek. Zeit., March I. L915.
Generation, Transmission and Distribution
Electric Supply in Scandinavia. — A note stating that
statistics from almost every large town testify to the
continuous growth of the use of electricity, and most
cities are constantly planning and carrying out large
extensions. In addition to a large transformer station,
in which the three transformers arc of the La Cour
cascade type, the Fourth i ■• - i 1 1 vr an older type, the ('open
municipality has prepared plana for a new elec-
central station, calculated to cost some $8,250,000.
it «ril] be situated dose to the Kallebod waterway, just
outside the town. The first Copenhagen municipal elec-
tatiOD entailed an expenditure of (626,000, and
now the municipal el,-, 1 1 . tation repre en1 an aggre-
gate outlay of some $0,400,000, the equipment rating
having, since the commencement, increased from L160
kw to 26,000 kw. Large i hav< I d made
ill- to the Stockholm municipal electric supply,
ompletion of the large (intra hydroelectric
ID will give increased impetus to their grOWtll. In
the meantime the war has not effected a reduction in
the consumption of electrical energy in the Swedish
capital, although the consumption for lighting some-
what receded in the first few months after the com-
mencement of war, the works themselves urging econ-
omy for fear lest the supply of coal might present some
difficulties. The consumption of three-phase energy for
the larger industries even shows a very great increase.
During the first seven months of 1914 the Stockholm
municipal electric central station supplied 4,370,200
kw-hr., against 1,375,720 kw-hr. for the same period of
1913; during the months between August and Novem-
ber, 1914, the consumption was 2,913,500 kw-hr., against
2,173,800 kw-hr. for the same period of the preceding
year, an increase of, respectively, 218 and 34 per cent,
or 105 per cent on the first eleven months of last year.
All over the country new hydroelectric stations are
being constructed, and arrangements are made in some
cases between large electric stations whereby the supply
of energy can be further insured and consolidated. Thus
the Gullopang-Munkfors Electric Power Company-
arranging with the large State hydroelectric station at
Trollhattan for the supply of 3300 kw for a series ol
years for the benefit of the town of Orebro. A high-
voltage line from Trollhattan to a large transformer
station at Lidkoping, to be ready in the course of the
ensuing summer, should enable electric stations to sup-
ply energy to several industrial concerns in the neigh-
borhood, so that they need not themselves provide any
reserve equipment for possible dearth of water. — Lon-
don Engineering, March 12, 1915.
Transformer Station. — The Luossavaara Kirunavaara
company has arranged with the Swedish State for the
supply of about 8000 electrical hp for use in the com-
pany's iron mines. Energy is transmitted by means of
three-phase currents at a frequency of twenty-five cycles
at 72,000 volts. The transforming station is described
and illustrated. Use is made of 2000-kva, single-phase
transformers suitable for operation at 80,000 volts.
They are star-connected, so that the primary emf is
41.000 volts, and the ratio of transformation is such as
to give a secondary voltage of 1270. The plant is pro-
tected by electrolytic lightning arresters. — London En-
gineering, March 12, 1915.
Traction
Prevention oj Interference of Alternating-Current
Railways with Telephone Lines. — A note on a recent
British patent (No. 3831, 1914) of the British Thom-
son-Houston Company and the General Electric Com-
pany of this country for a method of avoiding interfer-
ence of single-phase railways with neighboring tele-
phone circuits, etc., by connecting the trolley lines and
return circuit by series transformers, consisting of a
Connection between the rails and center of such trans
formers and reactive connections between the rails and
points on the return conductor between the transform-
ers. This is to direct the current into the return con-
ductor so that its inductive effect more completely neu-
tralizes that of the trolley line at every point. London
Else. Eng'ing, March IS. 1916,
Installations, Systems and Appliances
Sunn. An article on the electrical trade of Siam.
The capital of Siam. Bangkok, has two electric central
stations. The station of the Siam Electricity Com-
pany, which is a private corporation, formerly supplied
■ingle I'd i ie energy at lOO cycles, 2000 volts, trans-
formed down to 100 volts, but was recently changed to
Apkii. 1". 1815
ELECTRICAL WORLD
919
three-phase, fiftj cycles, and a station prc.-sure of 3500
volts was adopted. Two 1000-kw turbo-alternators sup-
ply the three-phase energy, while the tramway energy
is obtained from a motor-generator and alternately
from a steam-engine-driven direct-current machine.
The second station is the government-owned power
plant, which contains three turbo-alternators rated at
1335 kva, 3500 volts, fifty cycles, and a motor-generator
her with a storage battery. The sta-
tion pressure is 3500 volts to 3850 volts, the distribu-
tion lines being kept at 3500 volts. There are 120 km
(72 miles) of high-tension distribution lines in opera-
tion. Some data are given on language, weights and
measures, coinage, climate, fauna and the different in-
dustries of Siam, as well as on the railway system. In
conclusion, notes are given on the chief electrical goods
the sale of which would be useful in Siam. — London
Elec. Review, Feb. 19, 1915
Alternating-Current Reverse Relays. — C. C. Garrard.
—The conclusion of his article illustrated by diagrams.
The author describes and illustrates the connections of
alternating-current reverse-power relays if the neutral
point is earthed or not earthed. He finally discusses
leakage protection by methods in which the leakage of
a current from the circuit automatically operates re-
lays so as to disconnect the faulty circuit from the sys-
tem.— London Electrician, March 12, 1915.
Wires, Wiring and Conduits
■ trie Perforation Strength of Liquids, Semi-
Liquids and Solid Insulation as Affected by Pressure. —
F. Kock. — The conclusion of his illustrated article on
the effect of atmospheric pressure on the electric per-
foration strength ( in kilovolts per centimeter) of liquid,
semi-liquid and solid dielectrics. In the present instal-
ment the author gives the results for the following
liquids: transformer oils, castor oil, paraffine oil, petro-
leum, benzol and toluol. The semi-liquids, yellow vase-
line and paraffine were investigated. Hard rubber was
the only solid dielectric tested. For hard rubber the
perforation strength, while increasing very slightly with
the pressure, is practically constant from atmospheric
T7^
80S?
of
strength due to the content of moisture and to dust
particles in the oil. The content of water in the oil was
so small that it could not be found by the ordinary
methods. The effect of the frequency and the wave-
form was also tested. The pressure was varied between
twenU and sixty cycles per second, and it was found
that the perforation strength of the oil decreases with
decreasing frequency. This seems to indicate that the
phenomena with break-down of a liquid insulator occurs
with a certain inertia. Fig. 4 shows the results ob-
tained with a transformer oil. The upper cur
a test with sinusoidal alternating current of fifty t
with Beries resistance and the lower refers to a direct-
current test with an influence machine. The difference
of the two curves shows that the perforation strength
is smaller for direct current and increases much more
slowly with increasing pressure. Experiments were
made to determine the effect, if any, of pressure on the
insulation resistance, but the results were negative.
The conductivity of the insulators is independent of the
pressure, the following being the values in c. g. s. units:
Castor oil, 1.18X10'=; transformer oil, 4.96X210 ';
petroleum, 1.81X10"; toluol, 7.8X10°; benzol, 1.11
X10'"; vaseline, 2.12X10"'*. An explanation of the
variation of perforation voltage with atmospheric pres-
sure is attempted in the conclusion of the article — Elek.
Zeit., March 4, 1915.
Electrophysies and Magnetism
Light Produced by Recombination of Ions. — C. D.
Child. — An abstract of an American Physical Society
paper. Certain phenomena connected with the luminos-
ity of the light rising from the mercury arc indicate
that this light is produced by the recombination of ions.
If this explanation is correct, the light must continue
for a time after the current through the arc has been
stopped. This can be tested by observing the light from
an alternating-current arc at different phases of the
current. Such observations have already been made for
the carbon arc in air by Fleming and Petavel, who found
that the light from the gas between the carbons does not
disappear entirely at the time when the current is zero.
SO 60 70 80
m
30C
U0
m-
soa
ZOO
at
W0
so
at
300
UB
100
as
w
so
of
K SO JO ¥0 SO
FIGS. 2, 3 AND 4 — CURVES SHOWING PERFORATION VOLTAGE AS A FUNCTION OF ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE
ire to an excess pressure of 70 atmospheres. On
the other hand, the curves for the perforation strength
of liquid and semi-liquid insulators as functions of the
pheric pressure are first straight lines, but they
bend and become asymptotic to the ordinate of ab-
scissas. This means that in the lower ranges of pres-
the perforation strength increases proportionally
to the pressure but at higher pressures it increases less
quickly. Figs. 2 and 3 show the perforation voltage in
kilovolts as a function of the excess pressure in atmos-
pheres for paraffine oil. Fig. 2 refers to paraffine oil
which has not been boiled and filtered, Fig. 3 to paraffine
oil which has been boiled and filtered. The two curves
demonstrate clearly the difference in the perforation
Since the phenomena with carbon arc in air are com-
plicated by the oxidation of the carbon and by the high
temperature of the gas, it seemed desirable to repeat
their experiment, substituting mercury terminals in a
vacuum for carbon terminals in the air. This has been
done, and it has been found that in this case also the
light continues to exist for an appreciable length of
time after the current has ceased flowing. Such light
cannot be due to ionization and is in all probability due
to recombination of the ions. Measurements are now
being made for the purpose of learning the length of
time that the light continues after the current ceases
and the rate at which the light dies away. — Physical
Review, February, 1915.
920
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 15
Electrochemistry and Batteries
Primary Battery. — E. BELLINI. — An illustrated de-
scription of a new primary battery. The negative elec-
trode is formed of an amalgam of lead, formed by
pouring mercury into molten lead. A suitable propor-
tion is to take one part by weight of mercury and nine
parts by weight of lead. The positive electrode is car-
bon. The electrolyte is a mixture of sulphuric and nitric
acids. A suitable proportion for the mixture is found
by mixing a liter of water with 80 cu. cm of sulphuric
acid of 66 deg. Baume and 120 cu. cm of nitric acid of 36
deg. Baume. The emf of this battery is 1.25 volts.
Typical discharge curves are given, as well as a curve
of the internal resistance of a function of the current.
— From La Lumiere Elec, Nov. 30, 1914, translated in
abstract in London Electrician, March 19, 1915.
Units, Measurements and Instruments
Determination of Radium. — Walther Bothe. — The
content of radium in slightly radioactive substances
such as ore, ore residues, etc., has been determined in
the past almost exclusively by the emanation method.
But this requires considerable time and experimental
skill. The gamma-ray method would be far more con-
venient if it could be made sensitive enough. It is
true it has the disadvantage that any mesothorium
which may be in the ore is measured together with the
radium, while the emanation method gives directly the
contents of radium alone; but in most cases it is pos-
sible to conclude from the origin of the ore whether it
contains an appreciable quantity of mesothorium or not.
The author describes an electroscope by means of which
it is relatively easy to determine the radium contents
of slightly radioactive mesothorium-free substances in
a short time, with an accuracy sufficient for practice, by
measuring the gamma radiation emitted from a weighed
quantity of the substance. — Phys. Zeit., Feb. 1, 1915.
Induction Meters. — W. H. Pratt. — In designing an
instrument for measuring alternating-current energy,
there are a number of variable factors that must be
taken into account, among which are current, voltage,
power-factor, frequency, wave-form and temperature. A
change in any one of the first three will directly alter
the amount of energy flowing, and therefore the instru-
ment must be extremely sensitive to variations in these
quantities. The other three factors may be considered
as of a disturbing nature and provision made to guard
against possible inaccuracies from any of these sources.
The effect of each of these factors on the performance
of the instrument is reviewed. A short description is
given of a modern type of induction watt-hour meter.
Gen. Elec. Revieio, April, 1916.
Dynamometric Ammeter and Voltmeter. — J. L. D.
RlDSDALE. — The author gives the theory of the dynamo-
metric ammeter and voltmeter and discusses the condi-
tions which must be fulfilled for the construction of a
dynamometer which is to be correct both for alternating
current and direct current. — From Journal | British)
Inst. Elec. Eng., Vol. 48, 1912, pages 515 to 588, ab-
ted in Elek. Zeit., Feb. 26, L915.
Telegraphy, Telephony and Signals
High-Voltage Arrester for Telephone Lines. E. P,
I'l ' k. riii' ordinary telephone with its fine wire coils,
conta a very delicate instrument, and when
used on lines paralleling high-tension transmission lines
require i protective device that will effectively shield
it from the abnormal Stresses resulting from a cross
between the telephone line and the transmission line. .,
stroke of lightning, etc. The author describes a tele-
phone lightning arrester, built in three sizes, which will
adequately protect the instrument on transmission sys-
tems operating at pressures up to 250,000 volts or
higher. — Gen. Elec. Review, March, 1915.
Cable Telegraphy. — H. W. Malcolm.— The continua-
tion of his long mathematical paper on the future prog-
ress of telegraphy. The author discusses attenuation
in a distortionless cable and points out that two weighty
objections appear to the practical introduction of the
distortionless cable. The first is that the extremely
low insulation resistance which is entailed by the dis-
tortionless condition, even with high values of the in-
ductance, would render testing and maintenance of the
cables a matter of extreme difficulty ; the second is that
unless the inductance is high, freedom from distortion
is purchased at the expense of enormous attenuation.
He then takes up the case of the lightly loaded cable
and investigates the effect on concentration of induc-
tance at the ends of the cable. — London Electrician,
March 19, 1915.
Book Reviews
The "Mechanical World" Electrical Pocket Book
for 1915. Manchester, England: Emmott & Com-
pany. Baltimore: The Norman, Remington Com-
pany. 240 pages, 129 illus. Price, 50 cents.
This volume represents a thorough revision of the
preceding annual editions. New sections are given on
electric circuits and switching, synchronizing and phas-
ing out, troubles of alternating-current motors and
generators, etc. The section on electricity on ship-
board has been extended and rewritten, and new mat-
ter has been added on the subjects of electric lamps
and lighting, motor starters, and electricity in coal
mines. The book contains also a varied collection of
useful mathematical and electrical tables, making it a
handy reference for engineers and others engaged in
electrical work.
The "Mechanical World" Pocket Diary and Year
Book for 1915. Manchester, England: Emmott &
Company. Baltimore: The Norman, Remington
Company, 330 pages, 85 illus. Price, 50 cents.
The 1915 edition of this annual publication contains
the tables of logarithms, squares and cubes, weights of
materials, etc., that are usually given in pocket books.
In addition to the standard material of the preceding
editions new sections are included on the steam turbine,
the use of the milling machine, the grinder and the gear
cutter, and new tables on the dimensions of keys, hy-
draulic packing, weights of finished nuts and set screws,
etc. The sections on gas and oil engines and suction
gas producers have been revised extensively. The vol-
ume is intended primarily for British engineers, but it
contains a great deal that is of general interest and
value.
Books Received
Oxy-Acetylene Welding and Cutting. By Calvin F.
Swingle. Chicago: Frederick .1. Drake & Company.
L90 pages, "«; illus.
Preventing Losses in Factory Tower Plants. By
David Moffat Myers. New York: The Engineering
.Magazine Company. 660 pages. t)8 illus. Price, $3.
Handbook of Machine-Shop Management. By John
il. Van Deventer. New York: McGraw-Hill Book Com
pany, Inc. 874 pages. 211 illus. Price. $2.50.
Pockel Edition of Diagrams and Complete informa-
tion lor Telegraph Kngineers and Students. 1 1 \ Willis
II- .1 b. New York: Telegraph and Telephone Age.
164 pages. 227 illus. Price, 82.
Apkil 10, 1815
K I. ECT RICAL WO RLD
921
POWER AND OPERATING SECTION
Detecting Waste of Fuel Through the \>h-l'ii
SOME of the heat losses that occur in the operation
team toilers are exceedingly difficult to deter-
mine, and some can be detected only l>y the use of spe-
cial instruments. Among the more obvious losses, how-
ever, is the one due to the presence of unconsumed coal
in the ashes. If the firing is done by hand and sta-
tionary or shaking grates are used, the loss in this way
may he due to carelessness in cleaning the fires, or more
rarely to the use of grates having air spaces too wide
for the grade of coal being burned. If chain-grate
rs are employed and they are unsuited to the size
of coal used, there is apt to be considerable dropping
through of the finer portions of the fuel, on account of
the continual movement of the fuel bed; moreover, im-
proper regulation of the speed of the grate may cause
some of the coal to be carried over the end and dumped
into the ash-pit before combustion has been finished. It"
this loss of fuel assumes considerable proportions, it
can probably be detected by a mere ocular examination
of the ashes, but in most cases a combustion test of a
sample will have to be made. It is not a difficult mat-
ter to weigh a dry sample accurately in a crucible, sub-
ject it to the action of the flame of a blast lamp until all
combustible matter remaining in it has been burned,
cool it, and weigh it again carefully. The loss in weight
divided by the weight of the sample will be the per-
centage of combustible matter contained in the ash, and
if the percentage of ash in the coal is known, as it will
be from the analysis, the loss due to the throwing away
of unburned coal can easily be determined. Investiga-
tions of the composition of the ashes in this manner
would probably yield surprising results for many fire-
men who believe that they are performing their work
with more than average ability.
Economy in Small Plants
IN an article in this issue Prof. George C. Shaad deals
with a subject which should appeal to many a
worried engineer. No small task is more irritating
than that of trying to wring economy out of a small
electrical generating plant. As is perfectly well known.
the small reciprocating steam engine, except that of
the locomobile type, is usually a miracle of inefficiency.
A close investigation of the guarantees makers are will-
ing to give on small steam turbo-generators indicate
that with them the conditions are almost as bad. Hence
Prof. Shaad's data on oil engines are peculiarly wel-
come. From his showing it is feasible in working with
Oil engines of 100 hp and upward to produce a kilowatt-
hour for a little over one pint of oil. With crude oil
at a dollar a barrel or less, a kilowatt-hour costs not
Over I null- for fuel. If in using a Diesel engine such
result- as these can be consistently duplicated, one can
reach a fuel economy substantially as good as can be
attained with a large modern turbo-generating plant,
thus bringing the large station and the small station
fairly near together in cost of energy at the switch-
board. Of course, the internal-combustion engine suffers
somewhat in light-load efficency as compared with steam
turbines, but it is so much more efficient than any avail-
able steam-driven unit of similar size that very much
may be said in its favor. In spite of this well-known
weak point, the rotative speeds attainable with such en-
gines are sufficient to permit the use of fairly econom-
ical directly connected generators, and the total cost of
the plant, while by no means low, still compares well
with that of a steam plant of considerably less efficiency.
The oil-engine plant is compact, requires no large ex-
pense for buildings or stack, and can be put into service
very promptly when necessary. From all accounts it
seems to be as dependable as steam, and while possibly
subject to a somewhat greater depreciation it can well
afford a fair depreciation charge on the basis of its
very high thermodynamic efficiency. Perhaps the ulti-
mate solution of the small-plant problem is the purchase
of energy from widely ramifying distribution systems
to which energy can be very cheaply supplied from large
stations. Nevertheless, there are, and probably will be
indefinitely, a good many cases in which an efficient
small plant is greatly to be desired, and the recent
figures from two excellent examples of oil-engine prac-
tice in Kansas point a moral that one will do well to
remember.
Power Required for Driving Machine Tools
THE selection of a motor of enough power to drive
a machine tool or a group of tools is a subject
of unflagging interest, which has caused a great deal
of discussion. However, in all that has been written
concerning it, no short and simple general formula has
been offered. The reason for this state of affairs is not
hard to find. The conditions under which machine tools
operate are so diverse and the factors that must be taken
into account in determining the cutting resistance vary
so greatly that a hard and fast rule is an utter im-
possibility. An idea of the number and nature of these
variable factors can be obtained from a study of the
chart presented by Mr. Alexander Dawes DuBois on
page 928 of this issue. He shows that the power re-
quired to remove metal depends on the material being
worked, the cross-sectional area of the chip, the shape,
setting and condition of the cutting tool, the curvature
of the work, and the cutting speed. In view of all these
variable quantities, it becomes readily apparent that any
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 15
rule or formula which would take account of the individ-
ual effects for the purpose of showing their effects when
acting conjointly would of necessity be extremely
cumbersome and involved. The end aimed at by most
experimenters along the line indicated has been to
obtain reliable data covering a wide range of
feeds, speeds and depths of cut on different mate-
rials, and to combine these data in the form of
constants to be substituted in power formulas of rea-
sonable simplicity. Such a method has been followed by
.Mr. DuBois. With the fundamental horse-power for-
mula as a basis, he derives a formula for the power re-
quired to remove metal, in which there are just three
variables — the cutting speed, the area of cross-section
of the chip, and the cutting stress per square inch of
chip section. The values of the first two of these
variables may be selected to suit the given working con-
ditions. The third, or the cutting stress, is taken from
suitable tables based on the results of Nicolson's experi-
ments, and in it is included the effect of the variation
of the angle of inclination of the cutting tool. The re-
sult is that the useful power required may be calculated
for any set of conditions within the range of the tabu-
lated values. Then, knowing the efficiency of the tool
as a whole, or the power required to drive it when
empty, the total power needed is readily calculable. The
article by Mr. DuBois is logically and concisely pre-
sented and will well repay careful reading by anyone
interested in this subject, about which all too little of a
definite nature has been printed.
Small Motors
The paper recently read by Mr. Bernard Lester at
a meeting of the American Institute of Electrical En-
gineers held under the joint auspices of the indus-
trial power committee and the Cleveland Section, ab-
stracted elsewhere in this issue, deals with the charac-
teristics of the very small motors and may be considered
peculiarly timely, since the last two or three years have
witnessed a great increase in the application of motors
to small independent machines. The value and conve-
nience of motor drive even for very small machines
have been thoroughly appreciated for many years past.
More than twenty years ago a project was formulated
for the construction of so-called industrial buildings,
a feature of which was to be the provision of a modest
amount of motive power included in the rent or fur-
nished at a nominal price. We are not aware that tin-
excellent scheme was ever carried out, but it had the
germ of a great idea for the universal use of electric
power. If one tries to analyze the reason why a greater
development of the small motor field did not take place
long ago. he will And that tWO chief factors CO operated
to hunter progress first, the high price ordinarily
charged for electricity in small amounts, and. second.
the absence of cheap and reasonably efftcienl machines
to do the work. Main years have been needed to wean
the cent ral station from the doctrine thai the only profit
able consumer is the big consumer, and it has been
equal!] difficult to persuade manufacturers of electrical
apparatus that they cannot saddle upon small industrial
motors made in quantity the same overhead charges
which they put upon new designs for 1000-kw gener-
ators. However, time has wrought its perfect work, and
now not only do the central stations gladly quote rea-
sonable prices to even small consumers, but the manu-
facturers of motors have realized that in the production
of a large output of machines which are intrinsically
standard there lies much profit.
As years have gone on, small direct-current motors
of high quality have been built by a great many manu-
facturers, the only real difficulties being encountered in
the small alternating-current motors. Of course, in
anything except the most diminutive motors three-phase
apparatus of good quality was to be had, but the ap-
plications considered by Mr. Lester are those requiring
small, compact, light and cheap motors which can be
run freely on any single-phase alternating-current cir-
cuit which happens to be at hand, and preferably on
direct-current circuits as well. The series alternating-
current motor meets these requirements rather well, but
experience seems to have shown that the advantage of
being able to run the same machine on both alternating-
current and direct-current circuits is, on the whole, not
very important if the machines are otherwise inter-
changeable. Chief reliance is now placed in small split-
phase or repulsion motors, quite efficient and with rea-
sonably good starting torque, obtainable at a price which
enables them to be readily used for a multitude of
purposes.
As Mr. Lester points out, one may regard small
motor practice as involving all the problems of large
industrial practice and requiring intelligent treatment.
The small motor, like the big one, must meet at times
extreme requirements of load. It may run continuously
or intermittently, may have a high load-factor or a low
one and must make good at all times, none the less
because it happens to be rated at 0.1 hp instead of
10 hp. In the small motor the central station finds a
desirable addition to its load. The motor rated at from
0.1 hp to 0.25 hp can be operated on any circuit without
thought of difficulties. The small motor is a reliable
earner of profits. As a general rule, the small motor
load does not interfere with the peak load as much as
does that of the larger motors, and the diversity-factor
when the load is considered as a whole is of a most sat-
isfactory character. Within the last few years so many
well-designed small motors have found their way into
favor that no difficulty is encountered in obtaining the
proper drive for almost any small machine. What is
more, the cost of these motors has consistently decreased
until at last the business has reached a fairly sound
commercial basis. Fractional-horse-power motors are
turned out by the thousand and sold over the counter,
so to speak, as standard articles at a reasonable price.
Prom the standpoints of both operative efficiency and
sound station economics, the small motor business de-
ervee all possible encouragement, and it is a pleasure
to record BO instructive a discussion of its possibilities
as that which Mr. Lester has given us.
Apkil lo. 1916
E I. K I TRK A I. W ORLD
Small Electric Generating Stations
Applicability of Oil Kngines for I 'Lints in Small Towns and
Kconomy Secured by Their Use
By GEORGl C. sh ami
KANSAS, in common with other states in the Mid-
dle West, has a large numoer at relatively small
ny of which own and operate municipal
electric-lighting plants, often in conjunction with the
city water-works systems. With improvement in the
imy of incandescent lamps and the development of
internal-combustion engines which use cheap fuel and
suitable for driving generators, electric plants are
being installed in town- of only a few hundred popula-
tion. The citizens of these towns are now enjoying
and consisted of two 16-ft. by 6-ft. horizontal-return
tubular boilers and a L3-in. by 12-in. simple, high-speed
engine directly connected to a 75-kva alternator.
Later, a 15-in. by 14-in. simple, high-speed engine di-
rectly connected to a 100-kva alternator was added. At
the close of the year 1913 the electrical plant consisted
of the units as listed. The pumping equipment com-
prised an 8-in. by 8-in. induction-motor-driven triplex
pump placed at the wells about one-half mile from the
plant and some 55 ft. below it, and two 8-in. by 12-in.
i fir. i^tiit
w*
jn
• " 1 1 •-=*==" ^
KT — - — 1
k
KIG. 1 — OIL ENGINE DRIVING LIGHTING AND PUMPING STATION AT KIOWA, KAN.
long-hour service at rates which are comparable to those
offered in the larger cities.
The majority of these Kansas towns are too small to
attract outside capital for the construction and opera-
tion of electrical plants, hence it is only through munic-
ipal ownership that electricity can be supplied. A com-
paratively few years ago such cities as were able to
install generating stations put in steam equipment de-
signed to be operated but a few hours each day; but the
demand for longer hours of service soon caused these
ns to be run throughout the twenty-four hours,
and the result was very poor economy in operation.
Such plants have in many instances been forced to in-
tall machinery which will lower the operating ci
even though the amount of the investment is consid-
erably increased on account of the change.
Kiowa, Kan., with a population of 1500, is an ex-
ample of a town in which the operating expenses of the
m driven municipal lighting and water plant were
very high. Here the steam machinery has been laid
aside to be used in case of emergency only, a Diesel oil-
engine unit having been installed to carry the load reg-
ularly.
The original installation at Kiowa was made in 1908
by 10.25-in. by 10-in. compound duplex steam pumps
used for pumping water from a reservoir at the plant
to the elevated tank of the distribution system. The
plant was operated twenty-four hours a day with a
peak load of less than 65 kw and a day load which was
scarcely indicated by the switchboard meters. With
coal at $2.75 a ton or oil at $0.98 per barrel at the
plant, the fuel costs for the last six months of the year
1913 averaged $466.78 per month, or nearly 5 cents per
kw-hr. at the switchboard.
Some saving could have been made by changes in the
methods of operating, but conditions were such that the
fuel costs, with coal or oil used under the boilers, would
always be very high. It was decided, therefore, to put
in a 120-hp three-cylinder, vertical-type Busch-Sulzer
Brothers Diesel engine, directly connected to a 100-kva
alternator, running at 225 r.p.m. This unit, placed in
operation in October, 1914, is now used almost contin-
uously. It is shut down only for a few hours on Sunday
morning, at which time it is carefully inspected and
necessary adjustments are made. The smaller steam-
engine unit has been sold, but the larger unit is kept
to be used in case it becomes necessary to shut down
the oil-engine unit. One of the steam pumps has been
924
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 15
replaced by a 350-gal.-per-minute triplex pump, driven
by a 30-hp induction motor.
At the time of the acceptance tests at Kiowa a twenty-
four-hour run under regular operating conditions was
made, no adjustments of the engine with a view to ob-
taining maximum fuel economy being permitted. The
tively inexpensive plant giving service but a few hours
a day has been rehabilitated. By the addition of a
more expensive generating unit the hours of daily oper-
ation have been increased to eighteen and probably will
be extended to twenty-four in the near future.
Here the original electric installation, made in 1911,
* s~*
" ' SCj^
L»r -^'•flfe Wki. *V^
■ il IflviXliijflJ
Itfi
r^""' dS^iVQi
I
FIG. 2 — MOTOR-DRIVEN WATER-WORKS PUMP AND AN 80-
HP DISTILLATE ENGINE
load curve for this run is given in Fig. 5. The switch-
board output amounted to 650 kw-hr., and the fuel con-
sumption, using fuel oil costing 2 cents per gallon de-
livered at the plant, amounted to 0.149 gal. per kw-hr.
On this basis the operating expense for fuel has been
reduced from approximately 5 cents per kw-hr. to less
FIG. 4-
-SINGLE-CYLINDER 100-HP OIL ENGINE AND GEN-
ERATOR AT COLDWATER
consisted of an 85-hp three-cylinder, vertical type of
internal-combustion engine, belt-connected to a 50-kva
alternator, and using distillate fuel, but not capable of
operating on the heavier oils. The pump for the water-
works system was driven directly by the engine through
a friction clutch. The plant was operated during the
PIG. 8 -PLAN OP POWER PLANT, COMPARING SPACI OCCUPIED B1 STEAM IND OIL-ENGINE EQUIPMENT
than :'. mills per kw-hr. Fig, ■"> shows the limited space
which was available for the new unit without extending
the power-plant building, ami Fig. l gives a view of
the new unit as it was Anally installed,
r, Kan., with a population of l ooo, is an-
other Illustration <>f a town in which a small and rela-
evening and early morning hours and on an occasional
forenoon tor the accommodation "t" patrons having elec-
tric tlal ;
The maintenance expense for this unit was high,
and it was decided, therefore, to put in a large and
more expensive unit for regular operation, the distillate
Apkil 10, 1915
E L E C T K I I A I . WORLD
engine outfit to be held for emergency use only. Ac-
cordingly a 100-hp single-cylinder, horizontal De La
Vergne oil engine, directly connected to • 100-kva
r, was pun based, and a 25-hp indue-
« /X
A
■- / \
1 / V -,,-
U - A A
V / \
^ r
°5 t 7 S 9 10 II 17. 1 5 f> 7 I
P M AM
PIG. ■"' LOAD CURVE \T KIOWA, OCT. - l-2.">. 1914
tion motor was installed to drive the water-works pump
through a chain belt. The new unit was started in
November, and a test for one day of normal operation
(
N
t 50
\
)
V
/
1
i
->
1
[
Lj
V^
y
"A
/
1
I
-
.
>
i
3
4 (
I
i
-1 Ii
A.M P M
FIG. 6 — LOAD CURVE AT COLDWATER, NOV. 11-12, 1914
showed a fuel consumption of 0.149 gal. per kw-hr.
Heavy fuel oil costing 48 cents a barrel was used. Fig.
6 illustrates the load curve for this plant, and Fig. 4
shows the new unit as it was installed.
The Lubrication of Ball Bearings
By Arthur V. Farr
The more general use of ball bearings on electric
motors has brought up a number of questions on the
proper means of lubricating them : "Should I use oil or
grease in my ball bearings?" "What kind of lubricant
should I use?" One user of ball-bearing motors stated
his question as follows: "I have been offered two grades
of grease for use on the ball bearings of my machine.
To me these two greases look the same, yet one costs
almost twice as much as the other. How can I tell a
good grease?" The purpose of this article is to answer
these questions.
It should be recognized at the outset that al-
though ball bearings must always be lubricated, the
lubricant in a ball bearing performs a function different
from the one it performs on plain bearings. In plain
bearings the lubricant is used to keep a film between the
shaft and the bearing lining, and this film must be
maintained constantly in order to prevent wear and heat-
ing. The purpose of a lubricant in a ball bearing, how-
ever, is merely to preserve the highly polished surfaces
of the balls and races. The balls and races are always
in point contact, which necessarily means metal-to-metal
contact. As a general principle, it might be stated that
any lubricant that will not cause rust or destroy the
polished surfaces of the balls and races, and that will
properly circulate through the bearing and lubricant
chamber, will be satisfactory.
To preserve the highly polished surface of the steel
balls ami ran-, therefore, the lubricant must be chem-
ically neutral; that is, it should be neither acid nor alkali.
d way to determine whether a lubricant is either
acid or alkali is to place some of it on a highly polished
steel surface for a time and then compare this surface
with that of a similar sample which is still in its pol-
ished condition. If the finish has been at all attacked,
the lubricant is not desirable. Use can also be made
of litmus paper, which will change its color to pink if
the lubricant is acid and to blue if the lubricant is
alkaline.
It is also necessary that the lubricant should not un-
dergo any chemical change owing to heat or other
causes. In order to guard against such a change, it is.
therefore, usual to employ a clean mineral oil or mineral
fat of best quality.
It is also essential that the lubricant should not con-
tain any solid particles which would cause wear, and the
lubricant chamber should be so sealed as to prevent the
entrance of dirt, grit or other foreign substances into
the bearing. It is a quite usual occurrence to find that
a bearing wears down owing to solid particles of dust.
etc., having found their way into the lubricant.
From the above statements it is evident that, in all
cases where one need consider only the actual lubrica-
tion of the bearing, a clean, thin mineral oil can be
used to advantage. The greater the speed, the thinner
the oil.
On the other hand, in those cases where there is a
possibility of risk of exposure to dust, moisture or acids,
the ball bearing should be protected by means of a solid
grease. To insure proper protection, the whole housing
around the bearing should be filled with this grease,
which should be of such composition and consistency
that the internal friction of the lubricant and the in-
crease in temperature which may result by its use will
not cause it to become fluid. For this reason pure min-'
eral greases, such as vaseline, will often be found un-
suitable, as they usually have a melting point of 86 deg.
Fahr., and when melted are of about the same viscosity
as water.
One should, therefore, in such cases select a solid
grease of the very best quality — that is, it must have
the lowest possible internal friction and, above all, be
absolutely neutral so that there will be no risk in its
attacking the polish surfaces of the bearing. Moreover,
it should not contain resin or resin-forming matter. The
presence of any large quantity of resin can be detected
by the smell.
The solid grease suitable for ball bearings should con-
tain about 90 per cent of mineral fat.
When the temperature of the bearing can rise to 140
deg. Fahr. and higher, the bearing should be lubricated
with a thick flowing machine or cylinder oil.
For vertical shafts where no special arrangement has
been made for reliable lubrication with oil it is, of
course, necessary to use grease, and what has been said
with regard to the use of solid grease in general, of
course, also applies to vertical mountings.
Many machine manufacturers who use ball bearings
make a practice of attaching a card with instructions
printed thereon for the care of the ball bearings on the
machines. These instructions do not go into detail at
all, but they contain an excellent outline of the solution
of the lubrication problem, as follows ;
"To renew the lubricant in the bearing, remove the
bearing cap, clean out all dry or caked grease, and wash
out with gasoline or kerosene. Refill with a clean, fresh
lubricant, being sure that the bearing and bearing hous-
ings are properly filled. Keep the lubricating and drain
holes of the housing closed to prevent the leakage of
lubricant or the entrance of dirt.
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 15
"Nothing but the purest mineral lubricant should be
used, as any acid, grit, rust, etc., quickly ruins the high-
ly polished surfaces of the balls and races, thereby mate-
rially shortening the life of the bearing."
STRESSES IN STEAM PIPES
Forces Set l"p by Expansion and Necessity of Providing for
Them in Steam-I'lant Practice
By S. U. Tuspin
When heat is applied to a piece of iron the first notice-
able effect is a rise of temperature of the piece and the
second is an increase of size on the part of the iron. All
metals are affected in the same ways, but the degree to
which they are affected depends on their composition.
In order to compare the effects of heat in producing
changes of size in pieces of metal, the degree of tem-
perature is used as the basis. That is, the change of size
is calculated per degree rise of temperature, and the
Fahrenheit degree is commonly used.
Expansion under the action of heat takes place in all
directions. If a block of copper is heated, its length,
breadth and thickness are affected and the block in-
creases in length, cross-sectional area and volume. The
amount of increase of size per degree rise of temperature
is called the coefficient of expansion, and as the expan-
sion takes place in the length, area and volume of a
piece, the coefficients are termed coefficients of linear,
surface and cubic expansion.
In the steam plant the most important example of
expansion under the application of heat is that of the
PIPE SUBJECTED TO LONGITUDINAL EXPANSION
pipes conveying steam. These pipes are erected while
cold ; that is, they are put up at the temperature of the
surrounding atmosphere. When steam is turned into
them their temperature is increased and they expand;
but as they are very long in comparison with their diam-
eter, the effect of the expansion is most noticeable in the
direction of their length.
The following table gives the values of the linear co-
efficient of expansion for such metals as are apt to be
encountered in the piping of a power plant:
Material Coefficient
'"ii O.on ■•
Wrought iron
0 0000065
Copper
It will lie seen that these values differ, the reason
being that some metals are more readily affected by heat
than others. The value of the coefficient represents the
increase per unit of length per degree Fahrenheit. That
is, if a piece of cast iron I in. long is heated 1 deg. Fahr.
it will increase 0.0000056 in. in length, or if it is 1 ft.
long the increase of length will be o.ooooo5t> ft. in other
words, the actual amount of expansion is found by multi-
plying together the in mperature in di
Fahrenheit, the length of the straight line of pipe, and
the proper coefficient for the material, as given in the
table. If the length of the pipe is taken in feet the re-
sult will be in feet, and if it [| taken in inches the re-
sult will be in iii' ■
As an example, suppose that a straight line of steel
Bteam piping is 120 ft. long, that it is erected when the
temperature of the air is 61 cleg. Fahr., and that when
the job is completed steam having a gage pressure of
140 lb. per square inch is turned into it. At a pressure
of 140 lb. gage, corresponding to 155 lb. absolute, sat-
urated steam has a temperature of 361 deg. Fahr. The
increase of temperature is therefore 361 — 61 = 300
deg., and the increase of length or the linear expansion
of the piping is 300 X 120 X 0.0000065 = 0.234 ft., or
2.8 in. Therefore, if one end of the line were anchored
firmly, the other end would move endwise a distance of
over 2S4 in., or, if the middle of the pipe were anchored,
each of the ends would move outward about l3b in.
On the other hand, if the ends of the pipe were held
rigidly, as by being fixed in brackets or bolted to ma-
chines, the force that produced expansion would be
resisted and there would be great danger of buckling
the pipe, breaking the fittings and damaging the
machines to which the pipe led. That such results might
easily occur can be demonstrated by a calculation of the
force of the expansion.
If the pipe were placed between two immovable posts
or pillars and braced sidewise so that it could not buckle,
the ends could not move and expansion could not occur;
but the tendency to expand would still be present and
the ends of the pipe would press with great force against
the end pillars. The condition of the pipe would then be
the same as would exist if, after the 23i in. of expansion
had occurred, an endwise force had been applied to com-
press the pipe to its original length.
Now, it is possible to calculate very closely the force
that is required to compress a piece of material a given
amount. So, if we calculate the force required to com-
press a line of steel pipe from a length of 120.234 ft. to
120 ft., we shall know the force that the pipe exerts
when under the conditions described.
The formula for calculating the force required to
produce a certain amount of compression in a piece of
material is
P =
CAE
in which P
C
feet t or
total force required, in pounds;
amount of compression, in
inches) ;
A = cross-section of piece, in square inches ;
E modulus of elasticity for compression,
which is 30,000,000 for steel;
L = length of piece, in feet (or inches).
For wrought iron the modulus of elasticity may be
taken as 28,000,000 and for cast iron as 17,000,000.
To illustrate the application of the formula, suppose
that the pipe previously considered is a 4-in. standard
steel pipe. The cross-section of the metal in it is ap-
proximately 8.2 si|. in. Then, if it is compressed from
120.234 ft." to 120 ft., or a distance of 0.284 ft., the
force required to accomplish that result must be
0.234 X 3.2 X 30,000,000
P =
187.000 lb., nearly.
120.284
This enormous pressure. 187.000 lb., would be exerted
as an end thrust by the steam pipe if it were held at
both ends, and this accounts for the necessity of taking
proper precautions when the steam pipe is installed, to
allow any expansion to be taken up by springing of
bends or by some other device. It also explains the rea-
son for troubles that have developed in places where
proper care has been overlooked in the erection of pip-
ing.
For example, suppose thai B short and rigid branch
pipe A see illustration) is connected at the side of the
main steam pipe />'. and that the main pipe in expanding
moves in the direction of the arrow. In such a case
there will be a tendency to open the joint at the point ('.
Apkil 1<». 1916
E I i. I TRIC A 1. W ORLD
If valve- an- used in pipes similarly stressed, the ■ :
tion may be sufficient to cans.- them to leak or even to
break. If a valve seat is warped, it is next tc. impossible
to keep the valve tight.
If the main steam pipe is carried in a straight line
over the tops of the boilers, with the boilers connected
to it by short risers, the expansion may cau-e trouble.
■ exerted at right angles to the u
the boiler will be transmitted through the shell to the
lide wall and maj be sufficient to crack the brickwork.
These are a few of the troubles that may arise through
neglect of means to care for expansion. But as the total
expansion of a pipe depends largely on the number of
• es through which it is heated, pipes conveying
rheated steam need even greater care in their ar-
rangement than do those conveying saturated steam at
ordinary pressures.
TESTING POLYPHASE WATT-HOUR METER
Miihixl of Checking Which Vvoids Disconnecting Insiru-
ment from Transformers
By Prank R. Innes
The determination of the correctness of the connec-
tions of a polyphase watt-hour meter while the meter is
in use is sometimes extremely difficult. In case the
meter is connected through instrument transformers
to high-tension circuit, the operation is dangerous.
When the power-factor of the load is known at least
approximately, the correctness of the connections may
be determined by comparing the reading of the watt-
hour meter with the readings of the voltmeter and am-
meter. However, when the power-factor is not known,
the most satisfactory check of the connections of a
polyphase meter is to identify each lead as coming from
a definite secondary terminal on the series or shunt
instrument transformer and going into its proper meter
terminal; that is, a check which will furnish the same
information as actually disconnecting, ringing out and
tagging the secondary wiring.
Such a method of checking, which avoids disconnect-
ing the wiring between the transformer secondaries and
the meter, consists in paralleling each secondary lead
with a test lead and utilizing the current produced in
this test lead by the secondary voltage to indicate the
condition of parallelism. The accompanying illustra-
tion, which shows the proper connections for a poly-
phase watt-hour meter, will make clear the basis of this
method.
The identification of the leads between the meter
and the shunt instrument transformer secondaries is
effected by connecting a lamp of the proper voltage in
with the test lead and one potential terminal of
the meter, and by touching the free end of the test lead
successively to each secondary potential terminal. The
linal at which the lamp remains "dead" is connected
to that meter terminal to which the lamp is connected.
Bach secondary terminal is identified in like manner.
When two independent leads are brought from each
"I' the two series transformers they may be identified
as follows: First remove all known interconnections,
such as grounds, etc. If the installation under check
is a high-tension one, all of the precautions incident to
the handling of ungrounded secondaries should be ob-
served. Use should be made of a test lead having a
resistance less than that of the secondary of the series
transformers, no lamp, of course, being used in this
I Bse. The end of this test lead should be connected to
one meter terminal and the free end of the lead should
be touched successively to each secondary terminal of
the series transformers, note being made of the sparks.
On one transformer a slight static discharge will prob-
ably be observed at each terminal, on the other a cur-
rent discharge through the short-circuit formed by the
test lead will be seen at one terminal, and at the last
terminal there will he no ^park. This "dead" terminal
is then the one connected to that meter terminal to
which the test had is attached. The same procedure is
to be followed in the identification of each secondary
lead.
A (in i. nt discharge at one terminal on each trans-
former indicates a connection between the secondary
roils; this connection should be removed, or, if that is
difficult, the procedun below for the three-
wire, or ( ommon-return, secondaries should be followed.
If two of the secondary terminals remain absolutely
dead and a heavy flaming discharge is seen at the other
two. the two secondaries are connected in series through
the two series elements of the meter. Such a connec-
tion is, of course, wrong and should be rectified.
When the three-wire or the common-return system is
used for the series transformer secondaries, the same
procedure should be followed, the test lead being con-
nected to one meter terminal and the free end touched
successively to the secondary terminals of the series
transformers. If the connections between the meter
and the transformers have been properly made, a cur-
rent discharge will be noted at two of the transformer
terminals. To ascertain to which series transformer
the meter element connected to the test lead is con-
nected, short-circuit one transformer at the secondary
terminals and touch the end of the test lead to the ter-
Service
W\
'- Series Trans.
Load
S
^^mL Series Trans.
cm
h
l" 1
^v»CJ
„__j
CONNECTIONS FOR TESTING WATT-HOUR METER
minals of the other. If a spark is observed, the second
transformer is connected to the meter element under
check, and the identity of the lead under check is de-
termined by noting which transformer terminal re-
mains "dead." If no spark is observed at either termi-
nal, the short-circuit should be moved to the second
transformer and the test repeated. If a spark is seen
at each transformer while the other is short-circuited,
the test lead is connected at the meter to the common
return.
It may happen, in the event of the installation under
check being without load or operating at extremely light
load, that the sparks at the series transformer may not
be perceptible or may be indistinguishable from static
discharges. In this case the voltage of the secondary
may be increased by the introduction of reactance into
the secondary circuit. The writer has not found this
expedient necessary, however, in his use of the method.
After the connection of each lead has been checked
in the manner prescribed and properly identified as be-
longing to a particular secondary terminal on the series
or shunt instrument transformer the proper connec-
tions at the meter can readily be made.
In checking the leads as above described, it must be
remembered that ;m ungrounded instrument-transfor-
mer secondary should be handled with the same cau-
tion as would be accorded to the line primary circuit. It
is also well to keep in mind that a closed series trans-
former secondary is comparatively innocuous, but an
open one must be treated with respect.
928
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 15
Power Formulas for Machine Tools
Based Upon Experiments Carried on in England and Upon Others at the
Engineering Experiment Station of the University of Illinois
By Alexander Dawes DuBois
THE problems involved in the selection of electric
motors for any industrial service are primarily
the determination of power requirements and the
choice of suitable operating characteristics. The de-
termination of the power requirements is in some cases
a matter of simple and definite tests. The machines to
be motor-equipped are belted to a portable motor, the
input of which is readily measured and the output as
readily calculated. But this procedure is not always
practicable, and then recourse must be had to other
means.
When the necessary apparatus is not available, or
when for other reasons it is not feasible to make a power
test of each machine, the required power must be de-
termined either by calculation from an established form-
ula or by reference to compiled data covering similar
machines. There are some machines which defy any
attempt to calculate the power required, because the
working forces are unknown and cannot be directly
measured. It will sometimes be desirable to estimate
the power as nearly as may be by formula, and then,
before coming to a final decision, to compare the result
with available tests and data of other machines operat-
ing successfully under similar conditions.
General Formula
Whenever it is possible to reduce the functions of a
machine to a force and a distance traversed per minute
by that force, the calculation of power becomes simple
and definite.
Let F = force in pounds;
S = distance in feet per minute traversed by
force F;
Hp = horse-power.
FS
Then«p= *,,;„„• (i)
To the power thus calculated must be added a suitable
percentage to cover friction losses in the machine itself,
unless the frictional forces have been included in the
term F used in the calculation.
Boisting and I'umpinf; Machinery
A- an illustration of the direct application of the
power formula the case of hoists and lifts may be cited.
For this class of apparatus F is the weight to be hoisted,
in pounds, and S is the speed of hoisting in feet per
FS
minute. Hence the useful horse-power is .,, to this
oo,UUO
must be added the power lost in overcoming the fric-
tion of journals, pulleys, ropes, etc., in the apparatus.
If these I0S8& are assumed to be equal to the useful
power — that is, if the efficiency of hoisting is assumed
to be 50 per cent — the result will not be far wrong in
the great majority of cases, including contractor's
hoists, passenger and freight elevators, etc.
With pumps of all types the weight of water lifted
and the rate at which it is raised constitute the two
mI S of the power equation. With this prin-
ciple in view the formulas for fresh water at 62 deg.
Fahr, will be found to reduce to the following convenient
gallon di scharged per minute;
Q CUbiC feet discharged per minute;
/' pressure at pump In pounds per square inch;
// head in feet. Including suction head.
Then Hp
GP
171475
QP
(2)
(3)
229.2 '
Or, in another form, substituting head for pressure,
GH QH
HP "3958.7" 529^" *
If 4000 is substituted for the constant 3958.7, the
error will not exceed about 1 per cent.
In arriving at the size of motor required the useful
horse-power calculated as above must be divided by the
efficiency of the pump, guaranteed by its manufacturer,
and to this result must be added the power necessary
to overcome the friction head due to pipe line, elbows,
etc., in both the suction and discharge lines of piping.
In equipping centrifugal pumps with motors there
is an important consideration which is in danger of
being overlooked. It is the seemingly anomalous fact
that, with a constant speed of operation, a reduction of
the head pumped against will increase the load on the
motor. For, according to equation (3), the power
varies directly as the product GH. But the volume dis-
charged varies inversely as the square of the head;
that is, G varies as -=j. Hence, the power varies as
ti
BXH= -yj-, or inversely as the head. When a motor-
ti ti
driven centrifugal pump at constant speed is subject to
variation of head with uncontrolled discharge, it is
therefore essential to investigate this point and to pro-
vide a motor large enough to take care of the increased
discharge at the minimum head or else to provide a
variable-speed motor so that the load may be kept within
limits by reducing the speed at the low heads and thus
controlling the discharge. It is evident, also, that an
overloaded constant-speed motor could be relieved of its
overload by increasing the head or introducing a fric-
tion head, provided a decrease of discharge were per-
missible. The head against which a centrifugal pump
will discharge is proportional to the square of the speed
of the impeller blades.
The following data, based on fresh water at 62 deg.
Fahr., will be found convenient to use in making pump-
ing calculations:
One U. S. gallon = 231 cu. in.
= 8.335 lb. of fresh water.
= 8.552 lb. of sea water.
One British imperial gallon = 277.463 cu. in.
= 10 lb. of fresh water.
= 10.26 lb. of sea water.
= 1.201 U. S. gal.
One cubic foot of fresh water = 7.4805 U. S. gal.
= 6.228 imperial gal.
= 62.355 lb.
i Ine font head of fresh water 0. 183 lb, per square inch.
< Ine pound per square inch = 2.309 ft. head of fresh
water.
Machine Tools
The power required for machine tools such as lathes,
boring mills, planers, shapers and slotters, which re-
move metal through the agency of a cutting tool, is not
so easily calculated. To apply the general formula to
an engine lathe, for example, it is necessary to know
not only the velocity of cutting, which is easily deter-
mined, but also the vertical component of the forces
April l". 1916
ELECTRICAL WORLD
929
acting upon the tool point, which is a quantity involv-
ing many considerations. In the accompanying chart is
nted an anal-.- indicating the factors which in-
fluence the power requirements appertaining to this
• machine-.
The total power delivered to the machine i-
under two main heads as useful power and w
■-. The useful power is the product of the tangen-
utting force and the velocity of cutting; hence it
iwn divided into thest- two factors, each of which
ds upon a number of attributes and conditions that
a a general way indicated in the chart. In a similar
manner the wasted power is the product of the total
frictional torque and the angular speed. The last-
named factor requires no further analysis; but the
frictional torque is made up of moment arms and forces
which depend upon a multitude of details. The chart
ted merely ;ls an introduction to the problem
of power formulas — a bird's-eye view of the various
derations. It is apparent that no practical for-
mula could be expected to express mathematically the
• il power in machines of this class. The formulas
in general use are intended to express the useful power,
which depends upon the forces acting on the cutting
tool.
WieoJBon'a Experiments
Prof. J. T. N'icolson,' at the Municipal School of Tech-
nology of Manchester, England, carried out a series of
experiments which throw so much light upon the ques-
tion of the forces acting upon the cutting tool as to
justify the presentation here of a summary of the re-
sults, in so far as they bear upon the subject of power
consumption.
The materials operated upon were of three grades:
Medium cast iron, somewhat harder than ordinary
PIG. 1 PLAN OF TOOL USED IN NICOLSON'S EXPERIMENTS
shop cast iron; (2) soft fluid-pressed steel, tough but
not hard; I :', > medium fluid-pressed steel. The ma-
chine used for the tests was a heavy high-speed engine
lathe. The force measurements were read by means of
of ingenious lathe-tool dynamometers of hydraulic
ned by Professor Nicolson, and so applied that
one Bourdon gage indicated the vertical component, an-
other the traversing component, and a third the surfac-
ing component of the total force upon the tool point.
The cutting tools were made of 1 ' 4-in. square steel ordi-
narily, although 1 l •_. -in. and 2-in. square steel was used
me of the tests. Air-hardening high-speed tool
steels of various makes were employed.
The general form of the tool used is shown in plan
in Fig. 1. The cutting edge ab was kept horizontal in
all tests. The top surface of the tool was a plane con-
taining the cutting edge and inclined at an angle, called
the cutting angle, to a vertical plane through the cutting
edge. The cutting edge terminated at a point b, % in.
from the right-hand corner c of the tool (in 1',-in.
tools > bo that the average cut w-ould give a downward
thrust acting as nearly as possible at the center line of
the tool and thus prevent any twisting action. The nose
of the tool had a clearance angle in plan of not less than
1 deg., and a small radius was ground on the corner be-
tween the two edges. The front clearance was 6 deg.,
1 "Experiments -with a Lathe-Tool Dynamometer," i paper read
at Hi. fhii'UK" im-.-tiiiK «< Hi.- Institution "i Mechanical i'.nnineers
in 1904.
the tool being used with the cutting edge set level with
the center line of the work.
Several of the terms used in connection with the cut-
ting tool have special meanings, as follow-:
Plan angle is the angle between the cutting edge of
tool and the axis of the work, shown at d. Fig. 1.
Cutting angle is the angle at which the top surface of
the tool is inclined to a vertical plane through the cut-
ting edge.
Cutting force, or vertical force, is the force acting
vertically downward upon the tool point; it is the verti-
cal component only of the total force acting upon the
point of the tool.
Cutting stress is the quotient of the cutting force
divided by the area of the cut; or, in other words, it
is the cutting force per square inch of area of chip
removed.
Traversing force is the force acting upon the tool
point in a horizontal line parallel to the axis of the work,
and may be either positive or negative. In the latter
case it would tend to draw the tool into the work. The
traversing force is the force which must be overcome in
feeding the tool along the work.
Surfacing force is the force acting upon the tool
point in a horizontal line perpendicular to the axis of
the work. It may be either positive or negative. It is
the force which must be overcome in feeding the tool
radially into the work, or in merely preserving a con-
stant depth of cut.
The ratio =- is the ratio of the traversing force to
b ,
the vertical force.
p
The ratio ^ is the ratio of the surfacing force to
r i
the vertical force.
Schedule of Tests and Results
1. Variation of Cutting Force with Area of Cut.
A. For medium cast iron.
Constants: Cutting speed = 25 ft. per minute.
Plan angle = 45 deg.
Variables : Cutting angle = 45, 60, 75 and 90 deg.
Traverse = 1 Id, '„, ', and % in.
Depth of cut = Vs. '.i. :<s and \ ■■ in.
B. For soft steel.
Constant: Cutting speed = 50 ft. per minute.
Other conditions same as for cast iron.
Results: For both cast iron and steel.
For a given traverse the cutting force seems to be
simply proportional to the depth of cut. In other words,
the cutting stress is constant for a given tool angle and
given width of traverse, regardless of depth of cut.
2. Variation of Cutting Stress with Speed of Cut.
A. For soft steel.
Constants: Plan angle = 67'- deg.
Cutting angle = 55 deg.
Cut and traverse = % in- by 's in.
Variable: Cutting speed, from 0.0033 ft. to 84 ft.
per minute.
Results: The cutting stress decreases constantly
with an increase of speed up to 84 ft. per minute, not-
withstanding that the same tool was used throughout
the tests without regrinding.
At a cutting speed of 10 ft. per minute the cutting
stress is 193,760 lb. per square inch. It is practically a
straight-line function of the speed from this value down
to 175,840 lb. per square inch at a speed of 84 ft. per
minute.
At the "dead slow" speed of 1 ft. in four and one-half
hours the stress is about 253,120 lb. per square inch.
At 84 ft. per minute the tool was removing metal at
930
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 15
the rate of 12.3 lb. per minute, but it failed in one min-
ute twelve seconds.
3. Variation of Cutting Stress with Cutting Angle of
Tool for Different Traverses.
A. For medium cast iron.
Constants : Cutting speed = 25 ft. per minute.
Plan angle = 45 deg.
Variable: Cutting angle = 45, 60, 75 and 90 deg.
Separate test as above for each traverse
of 1/16, Vs, Va and % in. respectively.
Results: Variation of cutting stress with cutting
angle is very marked. Its smallest value takes place in
every case with a cutting angle of about 60 deg. It
TABLE I— VALUES OF P FOR MEDIUM-HARD CAST IRON'. FROM
Mo n. si i\s EXPERIMENTS
Cutting Angle in
I tegreee
Cutting Stbdbs p
in Pounds per Square
Inch
; -in Traverse
i-in. Ti ivei
4.".
180,200
125,500
60
128.900
114,200
:■■■
171 , 100
163.600
90
216.000
177,000
NOTS.
throughout.
erially affect P. Plan angle of tool 45 deg.
varies by nearly 100 per cent of its smallest value for
angles below 90 deg.
At a cutting angle of 80 deg. the cutting stress is
about 168,000 lb. This is the most durable angle for
shop use, as shown by endurance tests.
Somewhat lower cutting stress for wide than for fine
traverses, although this does not seem always to hold
for the keenest cutting angles.
B. For soft steel.
Constant: Cutting speed = 50 ft. per minute.
Other conditions same as for cast iron.
Results: At a cutting angle of 75 deg. the stress is
the same whether the traverse be 1/16 in. or % in. and
has a value of about 224,000 lb. per square inch. This
angle is also about the best angle for shop use as shown
by the durability tests. Hence such a tool exerts a force
of 224,000 lb. per square inch, regardless of the relation
between cut and feed.
For keen cutting angles (below 75 deg.) fine traverses
require less cutting stress than wide ones.
TABLE II— V All E8 I II P FOR BOFT STEEL (FLUID-PRESSED), FROM
NICOI.SONS EXPERIMENTS
( "uiting Angle in
■'. Stress
P
in Pounds per Square
I M 11
|-in l'i' em
A-in. Traverse
45
197.100
so
171 Mill
i a i""
7a
_'L'l ,800
221,800
B0
351.800
I 15 deg throughout.
For catting angles greater than 75 deg. fine traverses
require greater cutting stress than wide ones.
Smallest value of tutting stress is at cutting angle of
60 deg., as for east iron.
i i ariation o/ F . F and F with Plan Angle of Teal.
A. Pot soft steel.
Con tants: Cutting speed 60 ft. per minute.
Cutting angle 56 deg.
Variables: Plan angle = 22 '2, 45, 67^ and 90 deg.
Depth of cut.
Traverse.
Ft
Results: -=- varies but little and somewhat irregu-
Fv
larly, though for light cuts it seems to have a minimum
TABLE III— VALUES OF THE CONSTANT C FOR MEDIUM CAST IRON
Values
OF
Constant C
tting Angle
in Degrees
|-in. Traverse
|-in. Traverse
45
ii 0269
0.0203
60
ii O20S
ii his:.
75
II 11277
ii 026S
90
ii o:t.">ii
value at about 45-deg. plan angle. The traversing force
is of less importance than the surfacing force.
F„
— is a minimum for tools with 45-deg. plan angle
F ,
for all cuts. This minimum varies from 0.33 for light
F,
cuts tn 0.18 tor heavy cuts. ,, rises to nearlv 0.4 for
h ,
angles smaller and greater than 45 deg.
5. Variation of F,, Ft and F, with Cutting Angle of
Tool.
A. For soft steel.
Constants: Cutting speed = 50 ft. per minute.
Plan angle = 45 deg.
Variables : Cutting angle = 45, 55, 75 and 90 deg.
Depth of cut.
Traverse.
F F
Results: Both -=^- and -=i pass through minimum
ty t V
values at a cutting angle of about 55 deg.
F
The minimum values of — - vary from 0.25 for light
t !■
cuts to 0.18 for heavier cuts. With a cutting angle of
F,
90 deg. the ratio =- may reach 0.8 for light cuts.
* v
Ft F,
•=-is not so important as •=-, but it may reach a value
F v 1 1
of 0.2 with large cutting angles.
TABLE IV— VALUES OF THE CONSTANT C FOR SOFT STEEL
Cutting Angle in Degroes
ii Constant C
A-in. Traverse
0 0325
n Q2S8
.. 0804
ii 0202
n 11212
n 0828
F, F,
-=~ diminishes and ■=- increases as the cut becomes
F, Fr
heavier, as clearly shown by a series of readings all
made with one tool having a 45-deg. plan angle and a
66 deg, tutting angle. This is very market! for light
cuts up to 0.3 in. deep; but for heavier cuts the curves
are nearly horizontal lines. For cuts less than 0.12 in.
deep the force F( was negative, the tool being drawn into
the work.
Apkii. 1". 1916
E I. ECT R I C A I. WORLD
931
0. Enduranci /■ o) D ■•■ ■ ■■ I uttiaeg Angle*.
A For medium cast iron.
ts: Cutting Bpeed 44 ft. per minute.
Depth of i- ut 8 16 m.
Traverse i 16 in
Plan angle l"> deg.
Variable: Cutting angle 60. 66, 70, 76, 80, 85
and 90 deg.
llts: Cutting angle of 75 deg. to 80 deg. proved
most durable and the durability curve falls off rapidly
both above and below this angle, I True cutting angle
measured in plane of shaving was about 81 deg.)
B. For medium steel. < Fluid-pressed, left from Man
Chester te
Constants: Cutting speed = 74 ft. per minute.
Depth of cut = ' i in.
Traverse ' .. in.
Plan angle 46 deg.
PIG. 2
0.0025 0.0050 00075 00100 0.0125 0.0150
AREA OF CUT IN SQUARE INCHES
-VALUES OF CUTTING STRESS FOR CAST IRON FROM
TESTS MADE AT UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
off the forging. At such slow Bpeeds the cutting shears
off in separate fragments, whereas at speeds higher
than a few feet per minute it forms a continuous curl
of considerable rigidity. The fragments in this experi-
ment measured about '_, in. across the widest part of
their surface next the top of the tool in the direction of
motion.
Remarks on Nicolson's Experiments
It is believed that the foregoing synopsis is self-ex-
planatory. It may be further mentioned in passing that
the angle between the resultant force R and a perpendic-
ular to the upper cutting face of the tool was found to
be remarkably constant for all except the keenest tools,
being about 39 deg. for cutting angles of 55 deg., 75
deg. and 90 deg. The resultant force R, as here used,
means the total resultant of all forces acting upon the
point of the cutting tool; it has a diagonally downward
direction. While the traversing and surfacing com-
ponents of this force, both of which are in a horizontal
plane, do not affect the useful power consumed at the
tool edge, they do materially affect the friction losses,
and therefore the efficiency of the machine, and have a
direct bearing also on the design of the machine parts.
A review of the forces shown in these experiments
should serve as a comprehensive introduction to the
power formulas and their constants.
Formula for Useful Power
of the general expression
In
Hp
etc.,
and
two
the application
FS
Variable: Cutting angle = 55, 60, 65, 70 and 75
deg.
Result: Cutting angle of 65 deg. proved most dur-
able.
c. Same as in B, except cutting speed = 73 ft. per
minute and cutting angles tested = 60, 65, 70,
75 and 80 deg.
Result: Cutting angle of 75 deg. proved most dur-
able.
7. Experiments on Soft Steel at "Dead Slow" Speed.
With a plan angle of 67% deg., a cutting angle of 55
deg., a cut :ls in. by y8 in., and a constant cutting
speed of 1 ft. in five hours, the force R and its three
components Fv, F, and F, vary from minimum to maxi-
mum values periodically, or in waves, the length of
which is about •-, in. from crest to crest.
Another experiment with %-in. by ' i-in. cut, 15-deg.
plan angle, and 60-deg. cutting angle showed a wave-
length for the vertical force of about 0.6 in. at a cutting
speed of 1 ft. in four and one-half hours, and the verti-
cal force on tool varied from 8000 lb. minimum to 13,000
lb. maximum value. The force attains a maximum soon
after the cutting begins to crack or shear across, and
drops to a minimum when the small piece of cutting falls
— to the problems of metal planers, lathes,
33,000
the term S is the cutting speed in feet per minute
F is the cutting pressure on the tool point. These
primary factors of the useful power have been
analyzed in the chart. The velocity of cutting is known,
measured or assumed in the light of the work the ma-
chine is expected to perform. The cutting force for
a single tool is equal to the sectional area of the cut
in square inches multiplied by the cutting stress in
pounds per square inch. Then the formula for machine
tools becomes
SAP /AH
Hp - 3£000' (4)
in which S = cutting speed in feet per minute;
A = cross-sectional area of chip in square
inches = feed X cut ;
P = cutting stress in pounds per square inch.
It has been shown that the cutting stress P has a
variable value depending primarily upon the hardness
of the material to be cut, but also upon various other
factors as indicated in the chart. With these factors
in mind, a number of experimental values of P for iron
and steel of different grades have been selected and are
shown in the following tables, in which are indicated
the several conditions prevailing in each case.
Constants for Cast Iron. — The constants for cast iron
are taken from two sources. Those of Table I are aver-
age values for medium-hard cast iron, deduced from the
Nicolson experiments, while the curves of Fig. 2 are
taken from results obtained by Breckenridge and Dirks
at the University of Illinois Engineering Experiment
Station.'
The results of Breckenridge and Dirks are given in
Fig. 2 by a separate curve for each quality of iron, and
the relative degree of hardness is shown in each case,
referred to a standard test piece of soft cast iron of
uniform density whose hardness was arbitrarily as-
sumed as 100. The standard test piece showed the fol-
'••Tcsis ..I Hltrh-Speed Tool St. -fls on Cast Iron." hy Prof. T, P
,„,, ,, ,.,,,,,!.., mmI Hpnrj B Dirks. Bulletin No. 2, University of Il-
linois i I perimen) sintion. Iflor.. The method em-
lects the losses in the feeil mechanism
Sue I,, fin transmitted throiiKh the cutting tool. The cutting
n [£ calculated from electric-motor power measurements.
932
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 15
lowing chemical analysis: Combined carbon, 0.147 per
cent; graphite, 5.03 per cent; silicon, 2.35 per cent;
manganese, 0.33 per cent; sulphur, 0.07 per cent; phos-
phorus, 1.06 per cent. The comparative hardness of the
various grades of iron used in the experiments was
determined by a series of drill tests, the details of which
are given in the bulletin of the experiment station. The
cutting tools were round-nosed tools made of '--in. bv
in which C = a constant;
W = weight of metal removed per hour.
In this form the power equation is known as Hartig's
formula. It has been in use for a number of years. In
some cases this may be the most convenient form, and
a number of experimental values of the constant C are
therefore given. If the weight of medium-hard cas
iron is taken at 0.2fi04 lb. per cubic inch, and the weigh
TABLK V -FURTHEK VAIJ'KS OK TIIIO CONSTANT c
ast
fht
Iron* Iron* SteeH
Results <»f twenty-three experiments, oT which heai ieat
ii pei minute Cut, nils in ; feed, 0.017 in.
ol cast i
per hrj
k was n 56 lb, of wrong]
work on wrought iron w:i> -'•"> 11). per h
at 32 ft. per minute. Cut, 0.024 in feed, 0.08
ron per hour al B Speed oi 24 *',
lathe) at 1". ss ft.
Result of ten nipus*
Another set of readings.
Side tool. 13.31b of metal per hour at 37.9 ft per minute. Tests on 20-i
I)i:i ml tool, hi 7 lb. per houi at 30 5 ft. per minute, Same lathe
Round-nosed tool. 14.u."> lb per hour at 42. (i ft. per minute. Same lathe
Left-hand round-nosed tool 9 22 lb. per hour at 26.29 ft. per minute. Si
Square-faced I, ' ,,, broad 9.06 lb. per hour at 25.82 ft per minute.
Square-faced tool, S-m broad. 10.89 ll>. per houi al 25 1'7 ft. per minute.
Fitchburg lathe
• lathe.
me lathi
me lathe
0.028
2
If H. Smith
Werage values from experiments condi
cted i
, a 29-in
lathe,
n England.
0.026
0.030
0.041
Average lor above investigators
*t Irade not Btated
1-in. stock and ground with I2'--deg. front clearance,
10-deg. top rake and 10-deg. side rake. It will be ob-
served that these curves show the cutting stress to de-
crease with increased area of cut.
Constants for Steel. — Average values of P for soft
steel for different cutting angles have been deduced from
the Nicolson tests as shown in Table II.
Hartig's Formula
It is obvious that the product of the two terms S and
A of equation (4) is equal to the volume of metal re-
moved per minute, and this is proportional to the weight
of metal removed per unit of time. The weight of metal
removed per hour, which will be called W, may there-
fore be substituted for the quantity SA in equation (4),
r\l'.ll \l FRICTION LOSSES IN \ :i-}\ LATHE WITH BELTS AND
HAFT, FROM fESTS BY BRECKENRIDOE * DIRKS
of soft steel at 0.285 lb. per cubic inch, the figures of
Tables I and II reduce to those of Tables III and IV.
Table V gives a number of values of C deduced by
Dr. Hartig and others from experiments with ordinary
tempered tool steels. The values of 0.035 for thirty-
point carbon steel and 0.034 for hard cast iron also have
been proposed by other writers, the latter figure having
been determined by experiments carried out at the Trigg
works of Richmond, Va.
With the value 0.034 of the constant for cast iron the
formula reduces approximately to the following very
convenient form for hasty preliminary estimates:
Hp = 7/rf.s
I \l'l I VI] POWER REQUIRED TO DRIV1 EMPTJ LATHES
H ,, I
Back
1 1, ;,r- Iti
n io
n 11
.-,11
.",.',
I 0
111 7
66 •'■
3 n
0 7 •
n oa
n 7
78
.t ii
ii 7 .
71, II
DO
1 n
ii «g
0 83
82 s
Not, i Io force on outtlnfl tool an
provided a suitable constant C is introduced. The cut-
ting stress /' may be regarded as constant for any given
material and under any given set of conditions, and it
may therefore lie included in the constant. ('. as may
also the DUmerk 88,000 of the previous formula. Kqua-
tion ' 1 1 will then become
lip CW (5)
13J-IH. Utbb,
17',-iv U
THE,
rnn
L"-IN 1 1
RQ
S
/
-is Um,
ZlMlflERUANN,
N'kw Machine
ZlMMVIIM
Nrw Mai
tmnRMANn
— ~
si
~
si
I
-'
&
mrj
^5.
=
In
,.84
n 182
In
t 61
n 151
In
In
.' SI
0 1135
l„
a is
u 150
In
ii Q5
ll 177
III
II n
ii 128
In
1 13
,i 04]
In
u v
ll fs7
In
14.8
1,1
ii ill
In
Ii 72
11 llh.1
In
ig
0 lag
ll,
0 Mig
In
18 t:
g 174
In
10.8
0.087
Out
17 1
ii Its
Out
;,i g
,i KM
Out
31 II
Out
18 8
Out
Ml 1
Out
Km
g ii
Oil
33 5
0.187
Out
129.0
H 197
Out
54 ff
0 210
Out
188 u
0.339
Out
0.455
Out
ii 310
82 2
0 325
in which / feed in inches per minute;
'/ depth of cut in inches ;
s - velocity of cutting in feet per minute.
Drilling machines offer certain exceptions to the rule
in that the depth of hole is a factor. An increase of
April 10, 1916
ELECTRIC A L WORLD
933
depth increases the friction of the drill, owing t<» its
njf with chips. The diameter of the drill is also
to be taken into account, as a large drill require-
power per pound of metal removed than a small one,
drawing-in action of the larger
drill which relieves a certain amount of the pressure on
ndle and feed mechani
through a 4-in. single belt to the motor pulley, about
9 in. in diameter. The friction losses and efficiency
of transm nled in the table therefore have
reference to the total transmission from motor pull-
cutting t ol.
The figures of Table VII are taken from the results
of Hartig and others, to show the power required to
Cimi'.
w \-!l DPOW1 H
n luMts)
I
■
■ r .lull
.ii lathes
and perpendicular to nrorli
Curvatun
-.f work
Momepl arms
of fric-
tiona
Angolar ftpeerJ "f machine
'•'-
ui|
■
parts
Dead weight of work
Friction be-
Tangential
d ma-
Load on
■
component
chine parts
machine
transmitted
-
t, jour-
to cutting
nals, feed
' tool
Traversing
screws, etc
Material.* . w
«.rki
lanship.
component
and COnd
don
ol parts
of fricti*
Lubrication
Lubricant
Air
: i
resistance
CHART SHOWING ANALYSIS OF POWER DELIVERED TO MACHINE TOOL
Efficiency of Machiiu Tools. — The ratio of the useful
power to the total power input may be termed the effi-
of the machine tool, or
Useful power
Useful power + wasted power
The efficiency will be different for different pieces of
work and will vary with changing load, with changes
of gears, and with varying speeds, since the friction
are affected by all these factors. It is therefore a
very indefinite quantity. New machines frequently re-
quire excessive power when first put in operation, be-
nt' stiff parts. Tight belts will increase the
friction losses considerably and hard-set dead centers,
iallj if allowed to run dry, may more than double
the power losses. It is probable that, as a rough esti-
mate for full-load average conditions, 80 or 85 per cent
would In- a fair figure for machine-tool efficiency. Due
allowance for the wasted power must, of course, be
made in selecting a driving motor. As a further guide
in this direction the data of Tables VI and VII may be
of some assistance.
Table VI is adapted from the University of Illinois
experiments previously referred to. It shows the varia-
tion with load of the power consumed in friction by a
9-in. lathe with its countershaft and belts, the speed
being constant. The useful power for this test was
I bed and measured by a Prony brake applied to the
revolving work between the lathe centers. The ma-
chine was a Pratt & Whitney high-speed lathe of modern
: n with geared-type headstock. It had a swing,
over the carriage, of 9 in. and a length between centers
ft '.» in. The lathe pulley was belted through a
4-in. double belt to a 12-in. pulley on the countershaft,
which carried another pulley 37 in. in diameter, belted
. article bj i. P. Breckenrtdgei Journal <</ Engineering So-
I - ' I i My, i ^•-,-
drive empty lathes of several sizes at various spindle
speeds, both with back gears in and with back gears
out. These were belted-type lathes with cone-pulley
drives.
Cost of Reading and Maintaining Steam-Heating
Meters
By H. A. Woodworth
On the steam-heating mains of the Merchants' Heat
& Light Company at Indianapolis. Ind.. there are ap-
proximately 500 customers and the total radiation served
is about 1,200,000 sq. ft. Although the company has
some flat-rate customers, most of the others are served
SUBDIVISION OF METER DEPARTMENT COSTS
Itrtll
Cent per
Square 1
Radiation
Cent per 1000
Lb. of
Condensation
0.020
-
0 024
0.170
( ',.-t per Beason for testing.
Coel pex Beaaon foi departmental i m» neea
if 030
0 MX)
0.376
0.528
on a meter basis and the records kept show that the cost
of operating the meter department is 0.376 cent per sq.
ft. of radiation per year, or 0.528 cent per 1000 lb. of
condensation.
The manner in which the various expenses of the
department were subdivided is shown by the accom-
panying table.
9 :i
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 15
Motor-Driven Drag-Line Excavators for Construct-
ing Headwater Diversion Channel
.Motor-driven drag-line excavators will be employed in
constructing a 30-mile diversion channel in the Little
River Drainage District in Missouri for protecting
about 500,000 acres of land now subject to floods. These
machines are notable for their size, rapidity of opera-
FIG. 1 — DROPPING BUCKET BEFORE DRAG
tion, special turntable construction, telescopic current-
transmission joint, improved application and arrange-
ment of electric and compressed-air controlling devices,
and for their self track-laying facilities. Under favor-
able conditions each excavator is expected to handle
2000 cu. yd. of earth in one ten-hour shift, depositing
it in final position in a spoil bank 18 ft. high and 40
ft. bevond the berm on which the machine will travel.
FIO. 2 SWITCHES, FUSES, LIGHTNING ARRESTERS \M>
METER AT POINT WHERE CONTRACTORS' LINE BRANCHES
Each excavator together with its operating machinery
is installed on a heavy steel platform mounted on a 24
ft. turret-type turntable which can be revolved through
implete circle by a rack-and-pinion swinging gear.
The turntable in turn is supported on four four-wheel
trucks running on seven sets of 15-ft. track section.
When the machine is to be moved the track sections can
be rapidly picked up in the rear by the boom, swung
180 deg., and placed in front ready for the machine to
advance. For this operation hooks are connected to
the scraper bucket.
The 4-yd. scraper-type Page bucket which is employed
is handled by a 1.25-in. Hercules cable which with the
nine-part boom topping lift is operated by a Lidgerwood
special elevator engine driven by a 225-hp General Elec-
tric motor. The boom can be arranged to operate a
clam-shell or an orange-peel bucket by adding another
sheave at the end.
The brakes for the swinging engine and bucket hoist
are operated by compressed air furnished by a 15-hp
motor-driven compressor. The swinging gear is oper-
ated by a 112-hp motor. Magnetic master switches
control the operations of the bucket and swinging
FIG. 3-
-TRANSFORMER TRUCK, HIGH-TENSION LINE IN
BACKGROUND
motors. The weight of the boom and loaded bucket is
counterbalanced by 20 cu. yd. of concrete placed on the
machine platform where it serves as a floor. Each ma-
chine is provided with a 15,000-cp electric lamp which
will furnish sufficient illumination within the working
radius of the excavator to enable work to be carried on
at night.
High-voltage three-phase, sixty-cycle energy will be
furnished by the Missouri Utility Company through an
auxiliary transmission line which will be extended along
the right-of-way as the work progresses. Before this
energy is delivered to the excavator the pressure will be
stepped down to 440 volts by a transformer carried in-
dependently of the machine on a small truck connected
to it by 400 ft. of flexible cable. This arrangement per-
mits of moving the excavator 800 ft. before the trans-
former connections are changed. Energy is conveyed
from the transformers to the body of the excavator
through brush-and-ring contacts mounted on the axis of
the turntable.
Bach machine Is operated by a crew of four men in
addition to an electrician. The work is being super-
vised by Mr. William A. O'Brien, chief engineer of the
Apkil 10, 1M6
ELECTRICAL WORL D
935
Little River Drainage District. The machine described
wa.s manufactured by the Lidgerwomi Manufacturing
Compaii;.
Electric Drive Supplants Steam Engine and Belt
Transmission
L>. S. Walton ^ Company, among the largest paper-
bag manufacturers in New York City, who have been
employing steam-engine drive for about thirty years,
have recently been induced to use central-station serv-
KIG. 1 — BOILERS NOW USED FOR HEATING ONLY
ice. The boilers formerly furnishing all of the steam
are being operated at low pressure for steam heating
and the engine has been discarded, the space it occupied
now being used as a storeroom. Conditions which
existed formerly made motor drive particularly desir-
able. The old prime mover was installed in the base-
ment, and no power was used below the third floor, so
that a long belt had to be employed to connect the en-
gine with the shafts on the upper floors. As the equip-
ment had been in use a long time, the countershafts
were not in perfect alignment and the friction loss was
very high. From indicator cards taken every half hour
for a day it was found that the average load was 36 hp
and the friction load 15 hp, or about 42 per cent. Other
trial tests showed that the speed of the main shaft on
the third floor fluctuated badly, sometimes rising to 176
r.p.m., then dropping to 171.5 r.p.m. The shaft on the
fourth floor, from which large presses were operated,
varied in speed from 168 r.p.m. to 173.5 r.p.m. Opera-
tion of the freight elevators, which were driven by
separate steam engines, caused large fluctuations in
speed by oxertaxing the boilers.
The manufacturers were shown that by installing
group-drive motors the friction loss could be reduced
li 66 per cent, making the average load about 26 hp
id of 36 hp as with steam operation. Aside from
this, it was pointed out that production could be in-
creased by maintaining constant speed, that one part
of the factory could be operated overtime without run-
ning idle equipment in other parts, that electrical equip-
ment would require less attention, permitting the en-
gineer and fireman to be assigned to other duties, that
electric-service would be available night and day, that
breakdown of one motor would not shut down the whole
factory as would non-operation of the steam engine, that
fire and explosion risk would be eliminated, that extra
space would be available, and that additional machinery
could be easily installed by simply adding more motor-.
The motor equipment which is indicated in the table
a- "recommended," v. ted because machines
which operate simultaneously should be driven by the
HOTOB EQUIPMENT
Id. :
i:-
Hpol
Motors
Installed
O.S
7.5
3
{. Under presses
( tin- eylindi
itter
Two
■ press
i in. job
I'l HIT
■ Nines
Four bag machines
4
10
•[ wo web pn
<Onc cylinder pr- n
20
i '[!■■ paper eutter
15
MX j.r- .-.-
10
' 'n. ■ nlitting machine
3
i lircular sa«
'i Planer
Rout) i
Cutter
10
s
7.5
Four boilel -paper machines
Small paste mixer
7 5
5
i laper cutters
i 'ii. ■ punch
Basement
3
Blade grinder
3.5
Roof-tank pump
6
Two freight elevators
1 26
1
same motor. Owing to the initial expense which would
be involved, however, slight changes were made by the
manufacturer's consulting engineer, who decided to com-
bine the rating of several motors in single units.
With the old method of operation 12 tons to 15 tons
of coal were burned per week, water had to be pur-
chased for generating steam, and a licensed engineer
and firemen had to be employed. Excluding overhead
charges, the operating expenses amounted to over $3,200
a year. Now the average monthly energy consumption
is about 4000 kw-hr. and the rate approximately 5.5
cents per kw-hr. The output of the factory amounts
FIG. 2 — ENGINE SUPPLANTED BY GROUP MOTOR DRIVE
to about 100,000,000 bags per year, besides various
other specialties which can be made in the stereotyping
department. Electric service is being furnished by the
New York Edison Company. Mr. Henry Floy was con-
sulting engineer for D. S. Walton & Company.
936
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 15
Operating Kinks
Grounding Device
The accompanying illustration shows the design and
application of a grounding device used by the Washing-
ton Water Power Company, Spokane, Wash., on circuits
up to 13,000 volts. A clip fitted with a lug is made so
APPARATUS USED IN GROUNDING
that it can be slipped over the blade or into the jaws of a
switch. It is attached to the switch by means of a rod
about 4 ft. long having a holder on one end which can
be hooked into two holes on the end of the clip and
then tightened up by turning. When the clip has been
attached, the rod is partly unscrewed and taken off.
Steam-Pressure-Operated Graphite Feeder
Mr. H. E. Smith, chief engineer at the Terre Haute
(Ind.) power house of the Terre Haute, Indianapolis &
Eastern Traction Company, has devised a piece of
home-made apparatus for injecting graphite into the
station boilers. In brief this graphite feeder consists
5 team at Boiler
Pressure
Oil Intake
Oil Header to Engine
Lubricators
^■--8 in. Steel Pipe
Gage Glass
■ Cap threaded and screwed
on to Steel Pipe
Drain
CENTRAL OIL-SUPPI.V SYSTEM FOR AUXILIARIES
steel cylinder, which ia a container for the
graphite, and pipe connections to a steam main and to
ii tion line of the boiler-feed pumps. The graph
Ite ii poured Into the cylinder through the funnel
shaped intake while the steam valve and the outlet
Valve arc closed. Then, with the cylinder charged, the
intake valve is closed and the steam as it is admitted
exerts pressure upon the graphite and forces it into
the suction line when the hand-operated outlet valve
is opened. A check valve in the outlet line prevents
water from backing into the cylinder. Speaking of
the operation of the device, Mr. Smith said that it is
as near fool-proof as it can be made and that the intro-
duction of graphite into the water increases the life
of the packing in the boiler-feed pumps and improves
the quality of the feed water itself.
Color Scheme for Identifying Pipe Lines
The United Electric Light & Power Company. New
York City, has painted all pipes in its new 201st Street
generating station with symbolic colors which are in-
terpreted by charts posted in conspicuous places. One
of the charts is reproduced herewith. On the original
chart the pipe sections are shown in symbolic colors.
For instance, steam mains, boiler crossovers, boiler and
main headers and steam-supply pipes leading to prime
movers are painted black and bound with brass bands;
all other steam-supply lines are painted buff and wrapped
with black bands; pipes carrying exhaust steam are
painted buff and wrapped with green bands; steam drip
lines, including drip receivers' discharges to boiler
blow-downs and reducer lines leading to manifolds, are
colored orange and the flanges painted black. Gravity-
drip discharges from manifolds to receiver and from re-
ceiver to headers, boilers, blow-downs and reducer lines
STANDARD COLORS
USED FOR DESIGNATING PIPING 5Y3TE MS
EOISI ST. STAT 10 IN
THEUNITED ELECTRIC LIGHTAND POWER CO.
<=■*
PIPK COLOR CHART
are also painted mange but are provided with perma-
nent vermilion Ranges. Pipes carrying fresh water
from meters to any point where the temperature of the
water is changed or mixed with other water are painted
blue with permanent vermilion flanges; mains carrying
warm fresh water from outlets of jackets and cooling
coils to feed-water heaters ar<' also painted blue but are
April l". 1915
ELECTRIC A I. WOK LI)
937
provided with black flanges; feed wafc
to boiler drum- through pipes painted Pom-
peiian red; lead-colored pipe with black flanges la con-
ed to blow-off pipes, drip- from water columns and
all low-pressure drips, roof leaders and overboard dis-
cbarges from hot-well pun ; ■ \cept
for fire lines is conveyed through pipe colored light
with black flanges; fire lines and all pipes draw-
ing water from the fire-protection main are painted
permanent vermilion. All oil pipes are painted tan.
iir oil being equipped with black
Bang) nveying cylinder oil being provided with
permanent vermilion flanges, and the return-oil pipes
designated by light-green flanges. Pipes used in
the pneumatic system are painted black, while lines con-
ng drinking water are painted black with perma-
nent vermilion flanges.
Flexible Central-Heating System
By H. A. Wood worth
With the rehabilitation of the hot-water central-
heating station of the Merchants' Heat & Light Com-
pany at Indianapolis, Ind., the water returning from
the system of mains enters an ordinary receiving
Steam Header
■ Steam Boilers
Bl \ SHARD APPARATUS OPERATING A HOT-WATER-HEATING
PLANT
tank, from which it is taken by a 125-hp motor-driven
centrifugal pump or a 115-hp steam-driven centrifugal
pump, and delivered to a standard Le Blanc condenser
serving a 1000-kva turbo-generator. In order to make
the installation sufficiently flexible to permit varying
the electrical load and also varying the outgoing hot-
water temperature, a live-steam by-pass line has been
lected around the turbine and a water line by-pass
has been installed around the condenser. By manipu-
lation of the valves in these pipe lines it is possible
for the operators to raise the temperature of the out-
going water quickly by adding live steam, or to lower
the temperature by partially by-passing the condenser
without seriously affecting the existing electrical oper-
ating condition.
In ordinary Indiana winter weather the return water
reaches the condenser jet at from 120 deg. to 170 deg.
Fahr., and with this water it is possible to carry a
vacuum of from 19 in. to 23 in. on the condenser and
to add enough heat to the circulating water to raise
it- temperature from 10 deg. to 30 deg. Fahr. When
the weather is mild one or several of the circulating
boilers may be taken out of service. With this system
it is generally necessary to remove water from the
receiving tank at more or less regular periods instead
■ if replenishing the supply as is usual, because the
turbo-generator in operation adds 30,000 lb. of water
an hour at full load to the system, which very much
more than compensates for occasional leaks.
Since the rehabilitation of the system it has been
found that there is a saving in coal and in cost of opera-
tion. Besides these economies a further saving :
deii! In i an little apparatus to lie idle
during the summer months, since the condenser still
the turbo-generator and the hot-water boilers
may be used for steaming. Hence then ing in
capital invested and in station floor space.
Compact Four-Bus Switching Arrangement
Instead of regulating the voltage at the Bupply end of
its direct-current feeders to allow for line drop during
fluctuating loads, the Edison Electric Illuminating Com-
pany of Brooklyn maintains a constant pressure at the
feeder taps in the network system. To do this it is
ary to provide a multi-voltage supply system.
Four sets of positive and negative buses are then
employed, one pair being permanently connected to the
storage-battery system and the other three sets being
energized at the voltages which may be required for
maintaining the constant feeder-tap pressures.
Each feeder and rotary converter is provided with
positive and negative switches, each feeder having two
and the rotaries four separably operable blades. The
feeder switches are arranged as shown in the accom-
panying illustration, so that they occupy very little more
room than the switches required on a two-bus switch-
board. This is made possible by attaching the hinges
of the two blades on each switch to a common terminal
block. On the feeder panel the two blades swing up-
ward or downward, while on the machine panels the
jaws are grouped in pairs and swing in the same man-
ner. With this switching arrangement it is therefore
always possible to start a rotary converter from the bus
FOUR-IUIS SWITCHBOARD, SHOWING COMPACT ARRANGE-
Ml NT OK SWITCHES
connected to the storage battery. Besides this, each
converter with its boosting equipment can be employed
to maintain the desired voltage on any one of the four
busbars. With the four supply pressures available it
is not a difficult matter to maintain the proper voltages
at the feeder tap-in point.
938
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 15
Extracts and Abstracts
Types of Fractional-Horse-Power Motors to Employ
in Different Services
The popularity of fractional-horse-power motors will
depend on the ease of starting and stopping them, on
their portability, and on their ability to operate without
frequent attention, according to a paper entitled "Frac-
tiinial-Horse-Power Motor Loads," which was presented
by Mr. Bernard Lester before the annual meeting of the
Cleveland Section of the A. I. E. E.
As single-phase alternating-current distribution is
employed to a great extent in the residence district,
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I MART FOR DETERMINING RELATIVE CHARACTERISTICS OF
SINGLE-PHASE INDUCTION MOTORS
single-phase motors of series, repulsion or induction
type, <>r combinations thereof, have been largely used,
wound single-phase motors can be safely used
re the load is rigidly connected to the driving shaft
of t lie motor and where large variations in speed are
permissible with variations of load. One great advan-
tage of the series motor is that it can be operated upon
cither direct current or alternating current. Single-
repulsion motors, while having the same limita-
tions as series motor as regards speed-torque ch.8
do DOi attain dangerously high speed without
loads. On the other hand, they cannot be operated OB
direct current. With single-phase induction motors the
speed remains practically constant under varying
torque, therefore they are especially adapted to driving
a large majority of small machines, provided that auxil-
iary starting equipment is employed. Some single-
phase induction motors are started by the split-phase
principle which requires the use of an auxiliary resist-
ance and inductance. Improved types of single-phase
induction motors contain a small high-resistance start-
ing winding in addition to the running winding. The
starting winding is cut out at a speed slightly below full
load by a centrifugally operated switch.
By adding extra brushes to the commutator and an
auxiliary winding to the primary circuit repulsion mo-
tors have been made to run at fairly constant speed and
improved power-factor with varying loads.
Among qualities which are specially desirable
in fractional-horse-power motors are attrac-
tiveness of appearance, light weight, compact-
ness and quiet operation.
It is interesting to note that problems must
be solved in fractional-horse-power application
almost identical with those in industrial-
motor application. Small motors may be di-
vided into four classes, depending on the length
of the operating period and the variation of
the load: (1) Those operating continuously
with approximately constant load-ventilating
fans, porch blowers, etc.; (2) those operating
continuously with varying loads— sign flash-
ers, adding machines, etc.; (3) machines oper-
ating intermittently with constant load — coffee
grinders, automatic piano players, etc.; (4)
apparatus operating intermittently with vary-
ing loads — washing machines, ice-cream freez-
ers, etc. In selecting small motors for any in-
stallation, it is advisable to consider the effect
which manufacturing in quantities and varia-
tions in voltage, frequency, etc., of supply
source will have on the electrical and mechan-
ical characteristics. Special attention should
be given to the starting torque, pull-out or
maximum torque and temperature rating. As
the starting torque varies approximately as
the square of the impressed voltage, a reduc-
tion in the pressure applied to the motor pro-
duces more than a proportional reduction in
torque. Furthermore, the starting current of
the split-phase motor exceeds the full-load
running current. If the transformers or wives
feeding the motor are small, the starting cur-
rent may reduce the applied voltage, thereby
decreasing the starting torque. Good practice
requires that motors be able to start the driven
machines when the impressed voltage is 20
per cent below the normal value. If a cen-
trifugal clutch is employed between the motor
small and the driven machine, it is not necessary
to have so high starting torque and the
motor will not be subjected to extreme
overload in case the machine is suddenly blocked. It
was suggested that rules governing the use of single-
phase motors on lamp circuits be based on the maximum
current which will be required at a definite voltage. It
is advisable to emply motors which will develop a torque
sufficient to care for peak loads even at voltages lower
than the normal rated pressure. When motors are to be
used for domestic service or in stores and offices it is
not advisable to employ machines so rated that they will
attain a temperature as high as the insulation will
safely stand as they will create suspicion. The accom-
panying chart is valuable for determining relative char-
APRIL 10, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
nail single-phase induction motors. It'
two-phase motors are being considered, half the current
value should l>e employed when consulting the chart.
Meatini; Surface a Measure of Steaming Ability
Enj ing to rate boilers m hi
here is no definite relation between the
rating so expressed and the horse-power of the engine
which it is capable of driving. Moreover, there is a
tendency to force boilers to evaporate more water per
square foot of heating surface. For these reasons it is
preferable to -peak of boilers in terms of their heating
surface and not in horse-power rating. In selecting
boiler equipment designing engineers usually determine
the rate of evaporation which they can expect per unit
heating surface with the fuel, draft and setting which
■ be employed. The combined water rate of the
steam consumers is then computed and divided by the
evaporative rate, which has been chosen to obtain the
total heating surface of the boilers which will be re-
quired.
When manufacturers are asked to bid on boilers they
may submit prices on equipment having entirely dif-
ferent dimensions. To enable persons to compare hori-
zontal tubular boilers directly both as to heating surface
and horse-power the Hartford Steam Boiler Inspection
& Insurance Company has prepared the table herewith.
BOILER HEATING SURFACE AND HORSE-POWER
TtTBCR H»*TIM.
99
113
526
99
601
US
467
99
SJ
113
125
946
141
125
94
1235
70
957
70
1077
56
878
56
988
118
118
1550
US
1722
94
1285
94
1446
94
70
1098
70
1235
70
1372
140
1635
140
1839
140
2043
108
1477
108
1662
108
1846
1380
1553
88
172.',
172
2260
172
2511
136
2092
136
2324
106
1871
106
2078
1247
14H2
1106
1244
1027
1155
1642
1733
1924
1449
IIV_".I
1418
1674
1813
0
2262
1655
1861
jnr,.-,
1667
17.il
It is figured on the basis of 10 sq. ft. of heating surface
per boiler-hp, the heating surface as calculated includ-
ing the inside tube area, one-half the area of the cylin-
drical portion of the shell, and two-thirds of the area of
the rear head minus the combined cross-sectional area
of the tube.
Questions and Answers
i .ui*.- of Corrosion in Swam Condensers
W hat • risers': A E 1 '
It may be due to the use of impure water, or to gal-
vanic action, or to both.
Origin of Name "Pronj I4r:i k«"
the Prony brake get us n T W H
From a French engineer, Baron de Prony, who was
the first to use this form of dynamometer.
I bred < arbon in Coal
wii.it in meant by the I n the prozln
..• ,.,.,1 H .;
It is the carbon that is not driven off with the volatile
matter in the coal and exists as coke after the volatile
matter has been removed. It is called fixed carbon be-
cause it cannot be driven off by mere heating.
Steam Space of Return-Tubular Boiler
About what percentage of the volume of a return-tubular boiler
wed for the steam space 61 K. B.
The steam space occupies approximately one-third the
net volume of the boiler. By the net volume is meant
the total volume of the shell minus the volume of the
tubes.
Relative Weights of Air and Water
How much heavier than air is water, volume for volume?
P. K.
The weight of air per cubic foot varies greatly accord-
ing to the pressure to which it is subjected. At a tem-
perature of 62 deg. Fahr. and under atmospheric pres-
sure it weighs 0.076 lb. per cubic foot. Under the same
conditions water weighs 62.36 lb. per cubic foot. The
ratio of these two weights is 1 to 819.5, so that under
the conditions stated water is almost 820 times as heavy
as air.
Flywheel Rim Not Strengthened by Increase of Cross-Section
Is it true that a flywheel cannot be made stronger by increasing
the cross-sectional area of the rim? If so, why? I. M.
It is true. The force set up during rotation of the
wheel, tending to break it into two parts, is directly
proportional to the weight of the material in the rim.
If the rim section is doubled, therefore, the area to
resist the bursting force is doubled, but the weight,
and consequently the bursting force, is doubled at the
same time. Hence there is no gain of strength by in-
creasing the rim section.
Total Heat of Wet Saturated Steam
How do >"U Bnd the total heat in a pound of wet steam-
It is necessary to know the pressure of the steam; also
the percentage of moisture in it, which may be desig-
nated by m. Then the quality of the steam, or the per-
centage of the mixture that is dry saturated steam, is
1 /«, and the total heat of a pound of the wet steam
is // — h-\- L (1 — m), in which // is the total heat of
a pound of the wet steam, h is the heat of the liquid of
saturated steam at the pressure of the wet steam, and L
is the latent heat of saturated steam at the same pres-
sure. Thus, if steam at a pressure of 150 lb. per sq. in.,
absolute, contains 3 per cent of moisture, the total heat
per pound is H = 330.2 + 863.2 (1 — 0.03) = 1167.5
lb.-Fahr. heat units. The values used are taken from
the Marks and Davis steam table.
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 15
Hard and Soft Patches on Boilers
ence between
hard and a soft patch on
H. E.
What is t
I toiler
The difference lies in the manner in which the patch
is put on. A hard patch is held in place by rivets and is
in direct contact with the plate. A soft patch is held
by means of tap bolts, and a gasket of copper or a coat
of red lead is put between the plate and the patch before
the bolts are drawn up.
Size of Air Chamber on Pump
Is there any rule for figuring the size of an air chamber for
the discharge end of a pump? J. D. J.
From the variation in the sizes of air chambers on
pumps of different makes, yet intended for the same
conditions of service, it would seem that there is no gen-
erally accepted rule for finding the size. Some suggest
that the volume of the air chamber be made not less
than five times the displacement of one plunger.
Intensity of Illumination for Factories
What intensity of illumination should be allowed on the work-
ing surface in factories? D. I-
It is difficult to specify any definite figure for illumi-
nation intensity, for the reason that the required density
is materially affected by lack of color contrasts. Mate-
rials of a dark color require a greater intensity of illu-
mination than those of a lighter hue. An intensity of
2 ft. -candles may be sufficient for certain classes of
work, while other classes may require from 3 to 6 ft.-
candles. As a general rule, the finer the work and the
more rapidly operations are carried on the greater
must be the intensity of illumination.
Laying Armored Cable in Frozen Earth
any sa vint; lie effected by laying armored cable iii frozen
twice; that is. placing it temporarily in the ground first
and iii' ii aftei the ground thaws relaying it to a greater depth?
A. M. B.
One central-station company during the last winter
laid steel-taped cable in frozen earth to a depth of from
4 in. to 6 in. and intends, when better weather ar-
rives, to dig up all of the circuits and replace them at a
depth of from 15 in. to 18 in. The engineers of this
company claim that it is a great deal cheaper to handle
the cable twice in this manner than to lay it in the final
position while the earth is frozen to a depth of ap-
proximately 2 ft.
No Minimum Voltage for Electrolytic Damage
is ii. critical potential difference beloy which elec-
trolysis "ill not take place? Poi example, the college textbooks
, , i foi the electro! tt< dlsassoctation ol water an emf of at
hast 1.6 »oltt It required. Reasoning from this, in the case ol
rround structures is there anj reason t" feai electrolytic
, where the difference ol potential discovered is less than a
volt or so'.' K. N 3.
While it is true that there is a critical disassociation
emf for solutions in which the effect of the electrolytic
action is to expend electrical energy on the operation,
as in the case of the electrolysis of acidulated water
and other familiar electrolytes, it is also a fact that for
lions which in taking place give out energy almosl
any emf — even b ei mall fraction o4 s volt— will
I, the "down-hill" process and thus cause Berious
"electrolytic" damage. An example -it Buch a "down-
hill" reaction Is the oxidization oi underground struc-
and here a very minute potential difference will
■ electrolytic damage, as has been shown in numer-
Mii the other hand, it Is equally true, as the
Inquirer points out, that for "up-hill" reactions like the
electrolysis of water, an operation which absorbs con-
siderable energy, there is a critical emf required —
about 1.6 volts and depending on the electrodes and so-
lution— below which electrolytic disassociation will not
take place.
Peripheral Speed of Commutator of Rotary Converter
How may the peripheral speed of the commutator of a commu-
I in.le rotary converter he ascertained? C. C. S.
The peripheral speed of the commutator face of a
commutating-pole rotary converter in feet per minute
is equal to the distance in feet between two adjacent
neutral points times the frequency in alternations per
minute. Thus, in a twenty-five-cycle machine (3000
alternations per minute), if adjacent neutral points are
12 in. apart, the peripheral speed will be 3000 ft. per
minute. With sixty-cycle machines (7200 alternations
per minute), with 8 in. between adjacent neutral points.
the peripheral speed will be 4800 ft. per minute. The
above relation of commutator speed to frequency holds
true regardless of the number of poles.
Finding Leaks in Surface Condenser
How can ie;:ks 111 a sinfaie • < md.-i is- r in- detected? U L. r.
If the leak is large, the water that flows through from
the water side to the steam side will be of considerable
amount and will be indicated by an increased air-pump
discharge; but it cannot be detected in this way when
the leak is small. It then becomes necessary to remove
the end covers, close the valve between the engine and
the condenser, and fill the shell of the condenser with
water under a pressure of about 10 lb. per sq. in. The
water will then be forced through any leaky tubes, and
these will be easily discovered since the ends of the
tubes are exposed. It is possible that a tube may be
split and that the water pressure will close it sufficiently
to prevent leakage in making the foregoing test. The
vacuum method of testing must then be employed. The
shell is freed of water and a partial vacuum is formed
in it. A lighted candle is then passed along the ends
of the tubes, and wherever a leaky tube exists the rush
of the air that is being drawn in will suck the flame
sidewise and thus indicate the defective tube. The same
test may be used in the case of fittings or joints that are
suspected of containing cracks through which leakage
may occur.
Exhaust-Steam Regenerator
Can j en tell me
\ here it Is used ?
rtial .11 exhaust-steam regenerator is. aji
K. E. N.
The exhaust-steam regenerator is a sort of heat reser-
voir or accumulator used between a reciprocating strain
engine and a low-pressure turbine that is driven by the
exhaust steam from the engine. It contains water,
which is heated by the incoming exhaust steam, and the
beat thus becomes stored up in the water. The turbine
withdraws steam at a practically constant rate, but the
exhaust from the engine will vary with the load. When
the exhaust steam enters more rapidly than it is with-
drawn, the excess of heat energy is stored up in the
water, increasing the temperature and the pressure in
the regenerator. When the exhaust steam enters at a
slower rate than the turbine Withdraws steam, sonic of
the heat stored in the water evaporates part of the
water into steam, and the temperature and pressure in
the regenerator fall accordingly. If the rates of Inflow
and outflow arc equal, the temperature and pressure iii
the regenerator do not change. In this way the regen-
erator arts as B brat -Mow equalizer and enables the ex-
haust from an engine working under variable load to be
used continuously in B turbine.
April 10, li»l3
ELECT I: I •' A I. WORLD
941
COMMERCIAL SECTION
THK IM ll EN< E 01 GOOD-NEIGHBORIJNESS
I h< l'uhlir I'tili!) as a Human Institution, with 1 1 lu~.| ral 1..11-
from tkc Rigtot-of-Waj "i the Cow nw wealth
Edison < ompaaj
There is no influence of greater benefit to anj public
1 pan) than its reputation as a human institu-
tion. Just as soon as the impersonal, the purely col-
li' of the central station becomes its most
picuoua characteristic, the sympathy of the men
and women who constitute the public begins to fail.
But let the human feature of the enterprise stand out
dearly to the public eye and invariably a bond of
fellow feeling is established, and every central station
can invoke this influence if it will.
It is only natural when a corporation of reputed wealth
and power apparently gives up its entire thought and
purpose to administering a system of commercial ex-
ploitation to which the people all pay tribute that the
the stations of the company and along its right-of-way.
The cover of the booklet bears the title "Modern Indus-
try Appreciates the Beautiful — and Therefore Str,
erve It." It- put escribed in the preface
in these words :
"This brochure is presented for the purpose of ob-
taining your consideration and proper understanding
of the facilities we use for the transportation of our
product to you. Locomotives, horses, automobiles or
other pavement-destroying and noisy vehicles have no
place in this final distribution. Wires are our only
medium.
"The illustrations are thought to be of interest to
you in that they show the study we give our own prop-
erties from an esthetic standpoint, thus manifesting
proper appreciation of neatness and beauty in the gen-
eral scheme of things. . . .
"Only a decade ago," it continues, "upon many streets
in Chicago there were much in evidence lines of poles
along parkways. In some localities they were set not
* j
— r» — ; : — 1
• c • ft >X*A ■ i
«4b*H
^7""°"
TTV
• . .
FIG. 1 — THE BEAUTIFIED SURROUNDINGS OF THE COMMONWEALTH EDISON COMPANY'S NORTHWEST STATION
public should subconsciously rebel and that antagonis-
entiment should breed and grow. But if the visible
character of that corporation is distinguished most by
human qualities, what a difference it does make! It
this corporation takes its natural place among the other
1 actors in the life of the community and plays the part
of a good neighbor, how soon the public recognizes and
approves !
An interesting illustration of consistent effort by a
central station to develop this same feature of good-
neighborliness is recorded in a very handsome brochure
recently distributed among the residence property hold-
ers of Chicago by the Commonwealth Edison Company.
The accompanying typical pictures are reproduced from
a large number of photographic views of scenes about
only upon one side, but upon both sides, of the street.
In other instances there were even three lines of poles.
Not very decorative to a street, certainly; but progress
makes its demands, and at that time those offending
poles were very necessary for territories desiring elec-
tric light and other electrical facilities.
"Have you ever noticed that about 80 per cent of
these poles have disappeared from the parkways — that
the streets are no longer crossed overhead by a network
of wires? Have you ever paused to consider by what
means this improved condition has been accomplished,
while at the same time an enormous increase of facili-
ties has been supplied to meet the over-growing needs?
"Not alone money, but the patience and labor of our
employees, together with your co-operation and a little
942
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 15
of your time and generosity, will produce very definite,
beneficial results for your neighborhood by aiding in
the removing of the poles from your streets and placing
them whero they are least objectionable, while at the
same time they retain unimpaired efficiency
"Remember, we cannot do it all. Neither can you,
but you can help, or, at least, not hinder. Also, please
remember that any concession you may bring yourself
PIGS. 2 Ti i EXAMPLES OF NEIGHBORLY TREATMENT OF Tin RIGH1 01 \Y IN CHICAGO
Ighl i froin top to bottom The \.t6 ■ ibstation with vlni terlstlc of the
■ ■ mrban homes, served trom the real . ami ■.< almpli
■tructure whli
April 10, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
to make will react beneficially by increased value to jroar
property through improvement to the community."
The explanation and the pictures are assuring testi-
monial of the fact that in Chicago the central station
. ing to be a good neighbor.
Another story comes to mind and brings another
interesting example of the helpful influence of the soft-
ening touch of beauty. Down in Tucson, Ariz., not so
long ago, a lawsuit was decided by some morning-glory-
vines that grew upon the gas holder.
A citizen, it seems, became convinced that the shade
and flower gardens of the residence district were
being damaged by the close proximity of the gas works.
Be argued that escaping gas was poisoning the atmos-
phere and succeeded in alarming other dwellers in the
neighborhood until a lawsuit actually was instituted to
enjoin the company from permitting gas to escape into
the air. But the manager of the gas works had con-
ceived a plan to demonstrate the company's innocence.
No sooner had the misapprehension been discovered
than men were set to work to plant a double row of
morning glories all around the holder, and in the Tucson
climate the growth came fast, until a luxuriant display
of vine and flower established such a weight of evi-
dence against the plaintiff that the case was discon-
tinued. But, best of all, the entire community was
thoroughly reassured and interested. So Manager F.
B. Russell of the Tucson Gas, Electric Light & Power
Any sought to take advantage of the situation and
proceeded further to beautify the grounds and build-
ings by planting grass and flowers and shrubbery about
the stations. To-day the company's property is actually
a -how place, and the citizens of Tucson have a very-
kindly feeling for the men who maintain such a thing
of beauty in their city.
The principle is everywhere the same. The oppor-
tunity stands awaiting every central station that is
eager for a better public sentiment. Let it demonstrate
the spirit of good-neighborliness by the natural beauti-
fication of the station and the right-of-way. Unneces-
sarily obtrusive pole lines, uninviting expanses of bare
cinder yard, and offensive junk piles and dump heaps
have never won a friend for any company. But lawns
and flower beds and vines and eager effort to protect
your neighbors' property and peace of mind, by making
all your system just as inconspicuous as possible — these
are things that do make friends. Money invested here
pays dividends in a sympathetic public interest and
appreciation.
Central-Station Ice-Making
The advantages of the absorption system of ice-mak-
ing for central stations were pointed out in an address
delivered March 19 before the Chicago Section of the
American Society of Mechanical Engineers by Mr. Hey-
wood Cochrane, of the Carbondale Machine Company/.
In one such combination plant cited by the speaker ice
is made at a total operating cost of about 40 cents per
ton. Of this cost, 11 cents is for fuel, 13 cents for
wages, 4 cents for water, and the remainder is charged
to meet overhead. Mr. Cochrane emphasized the fact
that an absorption system may be operated with cir-
culating water of comparatively high temperature.
Mr. E. W. Lloyd, general contract agent of the Com-
monwealth Edison Company, recited the growth of the
ice-making load of his company from one to eighteen
customers' plants in three years. Nearly a third of a
million tons of ice are now made annually in Chicago
by central-station energy, an output representing about
one-tenth of the city's total requirements. The con-
nected ice-making load is now 7000 hp. Most of the
Chicago plants employ the raw-water system. Energy
i« >old for ice-making at an average price of 1 cent per
kw-hr. The expected annual load-factor of these ice
factories, said Mr. Lloyd, has not wholly materialized,
except in the cases of certain plants in special districts.
At the outset it was believed that the average annual
load-factor of the ice-factory business would be about 65
per cent, but actual results have shown that this load-
factor does not exceed 45 per cent except in special in-
stances.
Chairman S. G. Neiler and Messrs. Otto Luhr, F. Wit-
tenmeier and Gardner Voorhees spoke on refrigeration
topics.
Energy for Domestic Science at 3 Cents per Lesson
per Pupil
Nine electric ranges, eight of which are of the indi-
vidual two-plate type, have been installed in a new high-
school building at Poplar Bluff, Mo. To make the elec-
trical installation economical, flexible and convenient,
four ovens have been provided for the eight individual
stoves. The ninth stove, a four-plate range with a high
18-in. by 18-in. oven, is fully equipped. The general
arrangement of the stoves and worktable are shown in
the accompanying photograph.
In this school four classes of sixteen girls each are in-
Ifc,
Tsrt
■J "Vo^SP
ELECTRIC COOKING SCHOOL AT POPLAR BLUFFS, MO.
structed in cooking twice a week by Miss Winifred
McCoy. With the present number of pupils about 512
individual lessons are given each month, and the average
monthly energy consumption of the ranges has been 382
kw-hr. Energy as purchased from the Missouri Public
Utilities Company for cooking costs the school 4 cents
per kw-hr., making the monthly bill about $15, or about
3 cents per lesson per pupil. These ranges, which were
made by the Hughes Electric Heating Company, were
installed under the direction of Mr. F. M. Wilkes, local
manager of the electric-service company.
Operating Thresher from Transmission Line
On the same poles with a 33,000-volt transmission
line running through the rural districts of Blue Grass,
W'akott, Stockton and Durant, la., has been installed a
2200-volt primary circuit from which the farmers oper-
ate their electrical equipment. As considerable trouble
has been experienced in operating a steam threshing
machine, the farmers in this district banded together
and purchased a portable electric set, including a
2200/220-volt transformer, switches and a 30-hp, sixty-
cycle single-phase motor. With the transformer ener-
gized from the 2200-volt line they are now able to do
their threshing at a constant rate and without danger
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 15
from fire due to sparks or live coals. The equipment is
mounted on a steel-frame truck which had formerly
been used as a road scraper. Erected on one end of
the truck is a temporary ladder pole with a cross-arm
which carries the 2200-volt lines leading from the trans-
mission line to the transformer. The outfit cost only
$800 as compared with the $1,800 to $2,500 which prob-
ably would have had to be invested in a gasoline-engine-
driven or steam-engine-driven set. It has been reported
that the farmers' league has saved 25 per cent in operat-
ing by electricity. Energy is furnished by the Musca-
tine Lighting Company.
Economical Motor Service in Lumber Mill
The disposal of shavings and sawdust is a serious
problem in many woodworking plants, but in the mill
of the William H. Wood Lumber Company at Cam-
bridge, Mass., the sale of this by-product pays about 67
per cent of the concern's electricity bill. Energy is
supplied to the plant by the Cambridge Electric Light
Company, the tools being driven by individual three-
phase, 550-volt induction motors of General Electric
make. The plant has been in service about four years,
the average energy consumption per month being 3380
kw-hr., and the total bill for motor service $125.61 per
month, an average of 3.7 cents per kw-hr. The net cost
of energy is therefore about $42 per month. The equip-
ment of the plant is given in the accompanying table.
The average load is about 21 hp, the plant running eight
hours per day and six days per week.
The tools are installed in a frame building about 60
ft. long by 40 ft. wide and are arranged to permit the
easy handling of stock to and from the various machines.
In general, the motors are connected to the tool shafts
by flexible couplings, and the motors are usually mounted
on the floor and are inclosed by wooden housings to keep
them free from sawdust. The wiring is of the open
type, the larger motors being provided with internal re-
sistance in the rotor circuit for starting, while the
smaller motors are thrown directly upon the line. Fig.
1 shows a motor-driven band rip-saw with the motor
FIG. 1— BAND RIPSAW
FIG. 2 — EXHAl'ST HI I 1 ;-
housing removed; Fig. 2 shows exhaust ducts for the
removal of sawdust and shavings from a four-sided
matcher, ami Fig, :'. illustrates the use of the baling
which enables the company to market its sawdust
and shaving- at an average price of from 1 ■"> cents to
20 cents per bale.
The sawdust and shavings are exhausted by the fan
from the various machine tools and delivered by the
duct system into a separator on the roof, from which
either shavings or sawdust may be obtained by gravity
and run into the baling press, which performs the func-
tion of banding as well as compression. Each bale
weighs 80 lb., and the shavings are extensively used in
Boston in connection with the bedding of horses, the
FIG. 3 — BALE OF SHAVINGS COMPLETE
lining of walls and floors in refrigerating plants, and
other applications. One man can put up from seventy
to seventy-five bales per day, the bales being 17 in. by
18 in. by 30 in. in size. In machining 1000 ft. of North
EQUIPMENT OF WOODWORKING PLANT
Machine Tool
Rating,
Maximum
Motor
11,.
Motor
ELp m
12 in. x 24 in
D
.. IS m
6 in x 13 in.
35
I.".
.-,11
10
900
No 281 Berlin band rip-saw
No '-'i four-sided matcher, Berlin
< inc Towsley ls-in sw ing-ean
Declericks baling press, group
and
driven
in | p
me
by
720
1200
1800
8-fl Sturtevanl I lower, 1
1200
180
Carolina red-heart lumber about ten bales of shavings
are produced. The woodworking tools in the plant were
all supplied by the Berlin Machine Works of Beloit,
Wis., and the press was built by P. K. Dedericks Sons.
Albany. X. Y.
Typewriter Electric Sign with 2400 Keys
A large "talking" sign recently installed on a Dear-
born Street roof in Chicago has sixty letter spaces the
changes of which are controlled by 2400 keys mounted
in an operating room 20 ft. long. The letters are set
up by depression of these keys, and then a master
switch energizes the circuits, lighting all the required
letters simultaneously. With two operators, legends
may follow one another on the sign at intervals of
fifteen seconds. The frame is 50 ft. long by 15 ft. high
.intl carries more than 3000 lamps.
Disposing of Small Insects with a Suction Cleaner
Suction cleaners may be used to rid houses of flies,
gnats, mosquitoes or any other small insects which hover
around a bright light, according to a report from one
of our readers living near Pittsburgh. There, last
summer, swarms of little green gnats invaded the outly-
ing districts and could not be kept out of homes by
the ordinary netting. As tin' insects collected around
lighted lamps, it was found possible to dispose of them
quickly by holding the nozzle of a suction cleaner near
the lamps for a few minutes.
pril 10, 1915
ELE< ITRK A I. WORLD
945
NEW APPARATUS AND APPLIANCES
Protective Reactaacc < oih
In an article on porcelain-dad reactors that appeared
in the Dec. 21, 1912, issue of the Elh iri< u. WORLD,
use of protective reactance coila on feeders, generators,
transformers and Imsl.ar circuits was advocated. Al-
though installations of reactors at that time were
spreading over the entire system. The large number
of reactance coils that have been in service for a con-
siderable time have proved their advantage in in.
ing the continuity of service and affording protection
to apparatus.
In all cases the reactance coils should be placed as
Hi;. 1 -REACTANCE-COIL ROOM, BENNINGS STATION POTO-
MAC KLkCTRIC POWER COMPANY
a hat limited, since then they have been generally
adopted, and reactance coils are now considered a neces-
sity for the satisfactory operation of central stations
and distributing systems.
A- explained in the previous artide, the main func-
tion of the reactance coil is to limit the amount of
current that can flow into a short-circuit. By thus
limiting the short-circuit current flow from one part
of the system to another, the trouble is localized to the
damaged section without materially impairing the rest
of the service. As the mechanical stresses and heating
are proportional to the square of the current, the in-
FIG. 3 — REACTANCE COIL FOR 1000-KVA GENERATOR UNDER
CONSTRUCTION
close to the bus as possible to protect the bus under
the greatest number of conditions. As the operation of
the system is entirely dependent upon the reactance
coils at times of short-circuit, there cannot be too much
stress laid on their factor of safety. In this respect
reactance coils should be considered as a part of, and
as reliable as, the high-tension bus.
Central stations are now demanding, and manufac-
turers of turbo-generators are recommending, a total
generator reactance i internal and external) of 10 per
cent to 15 per cent. The higher value is for machines
having a large amount of momentum. It is possible in
Hi;. 2 PORCELAIN-CLAD REACTORS ON CIRCUITS OF TURBO-
GENERATORS, NEW YORK EDISON COMPANY
creased protection to the apparatus by limiting the
current is very marked. In addition to limiting the
short-circuit current, the reactance coils afford consid-
erable protection to the system by localizing high-
frequency surges and thereby preventing them from
FIG. 4 — SEMI-PORCELAIN-CLAD REACTORS FOR SMALL
GENERATORS
many cases, especially with sixty cycles, to build gen-
erators with 10 per cent internal reactance, but many
companies have found it advisable to install additional
external reactance coils as a protection to the system
against short-circuits in a generator and for limiting
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 15
the short-circuit current flow from the other generators
on the bus.
With twentj -five-cycle generators of large size, it is
impossible to build them with sufficient internal re-
actance without greatly increasing the cost and handi-
capping the design. Therefore the external reactance
lit
1 i|i »f
i
.: i. J
FIG. 5 — 20 PER CENT BUS-SECTIONALIZING REACTANCE
COILS BETWEEN STATIONS OF DETROIT EDISON COMPANY
.Mil- tor twenty-five-cycle generators are very essential
for limiting the current in addition to protecting the
system against any trouble that may arise within the
generator.
Several porcelain-clad reactors for generators now in
service are shown in Figs. 1 and 2. To the left in
Fig. 3 some of the coils are shown under construction.
Two recently developed semi-porcelain-clad reactors for
small generators are shown in Fig. 4. The general con-
struction of the porcelain-clad reactors was fully de-
scribed in the previous article; in the latter part of this
article is included a description of the semi-porcelain-
clad type of construction.
There is considerable difference of opinion regarding
the proper amount of reactance, carrying capacity and
the substations the amount of bus-sectionalizing re-
actance must necessarily be small, as the parallel feeders
act as a shunt to the reactance coils. This is more
clearly illustrated in the curves shown in Fig. 11, where
the division of current is given with various amounts
of reactance on an underground 6600-volt, twenty-five-
FIG. 7 — COMBINED GENERATOR, BUS-SECTIONALIZING AND
FEEDER-GROUP REACTOR UNDER CONSTRUCTION
cycle system. The per cent reactance is based on the
full-load current of the bus section, and it is assumed
that 50 per cent of the feeders on the bus sections are
paralleled in substations at an average distance of 3
miles.
It is evident from these curves that there will be a
certain amount of unequal division of current in the
feeders when current is carried through the bus re-
actance coils. For the system cited above a reactance
greater than 8 per cent reduces the short-circuit current
very little and is undesirable from an operating stand-
point. ,
The rating of the sectionalizing reactance coils must
be equal to that of the sectionalizing switches, which
HO 6 ARRANGEMENT OF COILS IN SEMI-PORCELAIN-CLAI) FIG. 8— VIEW OF REACTANCE COILS IN THE PROCESS OF
REACTOB MANUFACTURE
location of reactors for sectionalizing the busbar.
These points are determined to a great extent by the
local conditions of operation, which, of course, will vary
considerably in different plants.
'em where the feeders to the substations are
from CtiOflS of busbars and are paralleled at
is determined by the amount of current flow desired
from one section of the bus to the other. The nim-
bus system i bus forming a loop) with sectionalizing
reactance coils, as shown in Fig. 12, has the advantage
of reduced current through the coils, as every section
can be supplied from the two adjoining bus sections.
aprii. 10, iyio
ELECTRICAL WORLD
947
- an installation of porcelain-clad re-
1,11 busbar circuits. The reactance coils shown
to the right in Fig. :i are also for busbar circuits.
The curves Bhown in Via. 12 give the amount at short-
circuit current in terms of tin- total generator rating
curves that a permissible installation of bus-sectionaliz-
ing reactance coils is not sufficient protection for the
numerous feeder short-circuits that are liable to occur
on a system. Bus-sectionalizing reactance coils are,
therefore, well adapted, it is declared, for protection
^GENERATORS ^
Hi;, v one-line diagram of combined generator, bus
\ Nl> feeder-group reactance coil
under various amounts of busbar reactance and with 10
par cent generator reactance. Where various sections
of the busbars are paralleled in the substations, a cor-
rection must be added for the shunting effect of the
PIG. 14 — ONE-LINE DIAGRAM OF FEEDER AM) BUS SYN-
CHRONIZING REACTORS
and localization of any remote trouble that may occur on
a bus section.
For combining the three very desirable protective
parts of the circuits (generator, busbar and feeder) in
REACTANCE ^ fflforj fflj^ jflrjTj Jgg
FIG. 10 — ONE-LINE DIAGRAM OF REACTANCE COILS IN-
STALLED ON SPLIT-FEEDER GROUPS
feeders, as figured from the curves shown in Fig. 11.
The curves in Fig. 12 show that it is desirable to divide
the bus into a number of sections to reduce materially
the short-circuit current. It is also evident from these
FIG. 15 — ONE-LINE DIAGRAM OF REACTANCE COILS IN-
STALLED ON FEEDER GROUPS
one unit, mutually inductive reactors, as they are
called, have been designed. Mutually inductive reactors
protect the generator from excessive short-circuit cur-
rents, protect and localize any trouble on a bus sec-
,£zz3
„„ 1
rxr'"-
j$n\ ^%, $?%.
iv
/
««, »OV
E*-V«
/
•
1
p:
/
/
1
i
J
%i
riGS. II. 12 AND 13— DIVISION OF CURRENT WITH VARIOUS AMOUNTS OF REACTANCE ON UNDERGROUND 6600-VOLT
SYSTEM; VARIATION OF SHORT-CIRCUIT CURRENT AND BUSBAR REACTANCE FOR RING-BUS SYSTEM, AND CURVE
OF MAXIMUM SYNCHRONIZING TORQUE
948
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 15
tion. and materially reduce, it is claimed, the short-
circuit current into feeder troubles.
A combined system of reactance coils, as shown in
Fig. 9, 14 or 16, has been installed with good results.
It is evident that the installation of the mutually in-
ductive reactance coils of Fig. 9 or 16 is superior to
the arrangement of two separate generator and feeder
FIG. 16 — ONE-LINE DIAGRAM OF COMBINED GENERATOR
AND BUS REACTANCE COILS
group reactors, as shown in Fig. 14, for the following
reasons: First, the space required is very much less;
secondly, the mutual inductance between the two sec-
tions of the coil limits the current to a greater extent
for a given amount of copper; thirdly, a short-circuit
disturbance causes less voltage drop on the remainder
of the bus, as the current in the short-circuit is made
to assist in keeping up the pressure on the rest of the
system.
The mutually inductive reactors are said to afford a
great saving in the cost and installation of protective
systems with increased efficiency and reliability of
service. Some of these coils under construction are
shown in Fig. 7.
Experience has shown that a large percentage of the
break-downs originate in the feeder circuits, and there-
fore the use of feeder-reactance coils for minimizing
this trouble is rapidly gaining favor. Moreover, with
reactors on feeders the heavy stresses upon the circuit-
breakers are lessened, thereby insuring safe operation
and making possible the use of smaller and cheaper
circuit-breakers in small-sized and moderate-sized
plants.
Reactance coils were first installed on the most trou-
blesome feeders, which in most cases were of small
rating. These installations have proved so effective in
eliminating the former serious interferences with the
continuity of service that they are being adopted for
large feeders. In many cases all of the feeders con-
nected to the station bus are equipped with reactors.
> > GENERATORS
FlO. 17 — ONE-LINE DIAGRAM OF FEEDER AND BUS SYN-
CHRONIZING REACTORS
in the previous article a number of curves were given
to show the reduction in the energy Bowing into B
feeder short-circuit effected by the installation of read
actance coils. The curves in Pig, 19 show correspond
ing reduction in short-circuit currents. The several
are given with various ratios of total rating to
tun' of the individual feeder under consideration.
with 10 per cent reactance in the generating circuit.
It is evident from these curves that a very small per
cent reactance on a small feeder (ratio or total rating
to feeder rating being large) reduces the short-circuit
current to practically a negligible quantity. The small
percentage of reactance makes also negligible the effect
on the regulation of the feeder.
With reduction in the feeder short-circuit current,
the relay system can be made far more selective, the
voltage of the system will not be materially affected,
and there will be no rapid change in the system fre-
quency. This prevents the synchronous apparatus con-
nected to the system from falling out of step, and the
defective feeder will be automatically disconnected from
the system without interruption of service to the re-
mainder of the system.
The installation of reactors on special feeders to pri-
vate customers, from generating stations or substa-
tions, is of particular importance, as these feeders are
usually small, poorly operated and give considerable
trouble. In many cases a small reactance coil installed
on these feeders will eliminate a large percentage of
the system disturbances. Some companies have in-
FIG. 18 — REACTOR ON THE SAME PHASE LEGS OF TWO-
FEEDER CIRCUITS, UNITED ELECTRIC LIGHT & POWER CO.
stalled reactance coils on feeder groups (see Fig. 15)
but it is evident from the curves in Fig. 19 that they
require a total kva in the reactance coils consider-
ably larger than that which would be required for coils
on each feeder to give the same amount of protection.
An efficient reactance coil installed on a group of two
feeders is shown in Fig. 18 with a one-line diagram
of connections shown in Fig. 10. In this case each
feeder leg has its reactance coil fed from the center of
the coil, and as a result considerable saving in space is
obtained with the same amount of protection as is had
with two coils.
A certain amount of reactance is required in station
tie lines, where synchronous apparatus is involved at
both ends, to increase the stability of operation. The
curve in Fig. 13 shows the increase in synchronizing
torque effected by increasing the reactance in the cir-
cuit. It is evident from this curve that there should
be about 73 per cent more reactance than resistance
in such tie lines to get the maximum stability of opera-
tion.
In the design of feeder reactance coils the following
points are considered essential:
LPRIL !'
ELECTRICAL WORLD
949
First, the coils must have a high factor of -
which should be equivalent to that of the bos to which
it would be connected. To accomplish this, the coils
must I* incased in supports having positive insulating
prop--: erably porcelain) under all conditions.
The windings which would have a considerable poten-
tial ~>0 volts to 100 volts i between turns at time of
• ircuit should be protected by septums or be in-
irated with an insulating compound
h will withstand high temperatures. This separa-
tion is also desirable tion against accidental
r foreign objects settling between the
windings.
ondly, the coils must be self-cooled with a mod-
temperature rise well within the limits of the
insulation.
Thirdly, the coils must require a small spare for the
installation, which is simple and inexpensive.
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PERCENT FEEDER REACTANCE
FIG. 3.
PIG. 19 — REDUCTION IN SHORT-CIRCUIT CURRENTS
Fourthly, the cost of the coils complete must be
moderate.
Figs, 8 and 18 show some semi-porcelain-clad re-
actance coils. These coils are made up of a number
of concentric coaxial solenoids in parallel, which is said
to give a uniform potential gradient from top to bottom
(see Fig. 6). The insulating space required between
layers is practically eliminated, which results in a large
reduction in size and increased efficiency of the coils.
Some companies are installing a modified system of
reactance coils as shown in Fig. 17. This arrangement
has the advantages of maximum protection by the use
of feeder reactance coils combined with the additional
advantage of the synchronizing reactance coils acting
as a generator and bus-sectionalizing reactance.
The reactance coils described and illustrated above
are the product of the Metropolitan Engineering Com-
pany, Brooklyn, N. Y.
Double-Throw Horn-Gap Switch
A single-pole unit of a recently developed double-
throw horn-gap switch is shown in the accompanying
illustration. The main contacts of the switch are pro-
tected by auxiliary arcing horns. A feature of this de-
■ leclared, is two blades which are placed at an
angle of 60 deg. from each other. With two blades
SINGLE-POLE UNIT OF DOUBLE-THROW HORN-GAP SWITCH
mounted in this way, the switch is rotated through an
angle of less than 120 deg., thereby permitting the use
of a simple crank and connecting bar-type operating
mechanism for interconnecting three such units for
simultaneous operation. The equipment is being made
by the Railway & Industrial Engineering Company,
Pittsburgh.
Steel-Plate Pressure Blowers
The high-pressure blower shown herewith is designed
especially for cupola or furnace service and is directly
connected to a motor by a flexible coupling. The fan is
mounted on independent pedestal bearings, and the en-
tire outfit is on a cast-iron sub-base. The housing of
the fan is of heavy steel plate, which is securely riveted
and bolted together and stiffened by a strong angle-iron
HIGH-PRESSURE FAN CONNECTED TO MOTOR
spring. The blast wheel is also of heavy steel plate and
is mounted on a malleable-iron spider or hub. The
blades or vanes are riveted to heavy steel-plate flanges
and the principal blades are also riveted to the spider
arms. Fans of this type deliver air at pressures up to
16 ounces per sq. in. The fan is being made by the
Buffalo Forge Company, New York.
950
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 15
Underfeed Stoker
A stoker of the underfeed type has been developed
by the Combustion Engineering Corporation, 11 Broad-
way, New York. Coal is fed into a large hopper and is
passed under the fire by means of a reciprocating slid-
ing bottom of the feed trough or retort which runs the
full length of the stoker. It is delivered uniformly from
front to rear by the auxiliary pushers, and as it rises
in the trough is distributed to the sides of the furnace
by means of moving bars, which are shown in Fig. 1.
The burning fuel is constantly carried by the action of
these bars to the dumping trays along each side wall,
where the resulting ash or clinker is deposited. The
sliding bottom is driven by a steam piston the cylinder
of which is bolted to the stoker frame under the hopper.
The feeder block is fastened to the sliding bottom
and forces the coal onto it, not only carrying the coal
into the furnace but forcing it to rise the full length of
the retort. As the coal rises in the retort it spreads
over the fire bars shown in Fig. 2, which are arranged
in pairs, one bar moving and the other being fixed.
The moving bars work transversely to the retort, the
motion being horizontal at the inner or retort end and
slightly inclined at the outer end, the extent of motion
being about 1 in. The movement of the fire bars, in
addition to carrying the burning fuel to the sides of
the furnace, also causes the clinker and ash to be
moved to the dump trays. As the motion of the fire
bars at the outward end is slightly up and down, any
clinker present is prevented from forming in large
pieces.
Air for combustion purposes after entering the wind
box passes upward along each side of the retort and is
discharged partly through the tuyere openings in the
inside or retort end of the fire bars. The remaining
air passes through the hollow fire bars, which are of
box-like cross-section, and is discharged into the aux-
iliary air boxes. From these chambers the air enters
the fire through narrow openings between the fire bars.
The arrows in the illustrations show the path of the
air. Provision is made to admit forced draft under the
dump trays to increase the effective grate surface when
it is desired to increase the capacity of the apparatus
or burn out rapidly the coke on the dump trays before
dumping.
The maximum thickness, it is claimed, of the fire does
not exceed 8 in. to 12 in. with coking coal and 4 in. to
8 in. with non-coking coal. The stoker is built in sizes
ranging from 6 ft. wide over dump trays to 13 ft. wide.
For very wide furnaces two stokers are usually em-
ployed. The coal feeding capacity per stoker varies
from 200 lb. to 9000 lb. per hour.
High-Speed Wire-Stranding Machine
Stranding machines which operate at high speed
have recently been developed by the New England Butt
Company, Providence, R. I. These machines are de-
signed to make bare copper strands or to combine in-
sulated wire or strands into cables. In the accompany-
ing illustration is shown a seven-reel machine which
SEVEN-REEL WIRE STRANDING MACHINE
takes spools 7 in. to 9 in. in diameter. It operates at a
speed of 800 r.p.m. Smaller machines of the same type
are being made for fine wires, and they operate at speeds
up to 1300 r.p.m. Large machines are also being built
which take spools with diameters as high as 32 in. On
account of the high speeds obtained, the machines are
accurately balanced and are equipped with ball bearings.
The main bearings and driving gears are inclosed in oil-
tight cases. Machines are being built in the two-head
tandem form, consisting of seven-reel and twelve-reel
sections, and also in the single-head form with as many
as nineteen reels in one section.
PIGS. I AND 2. LONOITUDINA] 3E( HON THROUGH CENTEB 01 RETORT, AND CROSS-SECTION OF STOKER
Apkil 10, 1915
K I. K< T RICAL WORLD
951
Turbo-Generator BHfl «ith Impulse Turbine^
Direct-current and alternating-current turbo-genera-
■ being made by the Ridgway Dynamo & En-
gine Company, Ridgway, Pa., the turbines of which are
of the high-speed, mixed-pressure or bleeder impulse
The turbines are built under licenses of the
the patents, Prof. A. Rateau. of Paris,
France, and Mr. ('. H. Smoot, of N.w Ynrk.
FIG. 1 — SECTION OF NOZZLES, BUCKETS AND WHEELS
As shown in Fig. 1, the steam enters through a set of
stationary nozzles in which it expands to a lower pres-
sure with a corresponding increase in velocity. As the
steam issues from the nozzles it strikes the entrance
edge of the first row of buckets and, passing through
them, its direction is changed, giving up energy to the
buckets and driving them forward. While the velocity
of the steam has been reduced during the passage
through the buckets, no expansion occurs, and hence its
pressure is the same on the leaving as on the entering
side and is uniform in the entire space between the first
and second nozzles. The steam next passes through the
second set of stationary nozzles, which are of greater
area than the first. The steam again expands and en-
ters the second row of buckets at the same velocity as
when entering the first. The steam passes through the
second row of buckets in the same way as through the
first, and the process is repeated in succeeding stages
until it reaches the exhaust outlet. Since the steam in
FIG. 2 — MIXED-PRESSURE TURBO-GENERATOR UNIT
the space between any two nozzles is at uniform pres-
sure— that is, on both sides of the bucket — there is no
tendency, it is declared, for it to leak past or around
them. According to the manufacturer, there are also
no forces acting on the buckets parallel to the shaft,
and, moreover, there is no necessity for close running
clearances between buckets and nozzles and casing.
The wheels of the rotating element which carry the
buckets are machined from disks of flange steel and are
keyed on the shaft. They are also separated from each
other by steel collars on the shaft. The buckets are
machined from solid bars of a special alloy and are
made in two types, depending on their size. The shape
and construction of the smaller buckets are shown in
Fig. 1. Large buckets are provided with bulb ends
which are driven into slots in the periphery of the
wheel and peened solidly in place. Each bucket of
either type carries its own shroud and when assembled
on the wheel is in rigid contact at the outer end with
the adjacent bucket-.
The casing and heads of the stationary element are
split horizontally, and the upper halves can be easily
lifted in case it is necessary to open the turbine. The
diaphragms are also split, and the top halves are fast-
ened to the top of the casing and lift with it. The steam
and exhaust connections are fastened to the lower half,
and they are not disturbed when the turbine is open.
The nozzle construction varies in the various dia-
phragms, depending on the area required. Nozzles with
small areas are solid castings of a special alloy. Such
nozzles are used in the first stages and are bolted in
place. In later stages the blades forming the nozzles
are cast in place in the diaphragm and extend all or
part way around the periphery of the diaphragm. The
governor is of the throttling type, and the valves are
directly connected to the fly-ball governor mounted on
the end of the main turbine shaft.
Stationary Motor-Driven Vacuum Cleaner
A stationary vacuum cleaner operated by a 0.5-hp
motor and designed for use in residences and apartment
houses is shown in the accompanying illustration. The
exhauster is of the two-shaft type and is mounted on a
cast-iron base with the motor and dust tank. The ma-
chine is belt-connected to the motor, and by lifting a
gravity idler the belt can be slipped off and the motor
STATIONARY VACUUM CLEANER FOR RESIDENCES AND
APARTMENT HOUSES
used for other purposes. According to the manufac-
turers, the exhauster operates without internal contact,
friction or wear. The clearance spaces between the
rotating parts of the case are sealed by water auto-
matically drawn from and discharged back into the base.
The dust separation is accomplished by means of a can-
vas bag which is shaken mechanically by means of a
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 15
top plug and a chain. The bag can be removed by lift-
ing it with the top plate.
The vacuum cleaner is being made by the Atwood
Vacuum Cleaner Company, 204 South Church Street,
Rockford, 111., and is operated by a motor of Westing-
house Electric & Manufacturing Company make.
Electric Butt -Welding Machines
The electric welding machine shown in Fig. 1 was
built for the Saco Lowell Shops, Biddeford, Me., manu-
facturers of spinning machines, and is used to make
shafts varying from 1.75 in. to 1.25 in. in diameter
FIG. 1 — WELDING MACHINE FOR MAKING 40-FT. SHAFTS
and from 30 ft. to 40 ft. in length. Formerly the rods
were made in pieces, the ends being drilled and tapped
and threaded pins being inserted in the tapped holes
to hold them together; but with this method it was
impossible to obtain correct alignment or the strength
required. The welding machine illustrated is designed
to weld rods together up to 40-ft. lengths, which are
correctly aligned and are concentric within 0.004 in.
According to the manufacturers, the extreme accuracy
was obtained by making the clamping mechanism so
massive that there is no perceptible spring in any part
FIG. 2 — SPOT-WELDING MACHINE
after the pieces are clamped in place and the necessary
lire applied to force the stock together.
The copper dies for conveying the energy to the rod
are so-called "floating" dies, which are brought up to
the work after the stock is clamped into position in order
to avoid throwing the pieces out of alignment. The cir-
cuit is closed by means of a switch, and in about fifteen
seconds the ends of the rod are heated to the welding
temperature, when a pumping motion on the lever
handle, shown in the front of the machine, operates a
5-ton hydraulic ram which forces the ends of the semi-
molten stock against each other and gives a perfect
weld. The dies are then withdrawn from the rod, the
clamps that hold the stock are released, and the operator
is ready to make the next weld.
A special spot-welding machine is shown in Fig. 2
which is designed for heavy work. Since the pieces to
be welded are too heavy to handle conveniently, it is
necessary to make the welds without changing the posi-
tion of the stock. For this work three different kinds of
dies are used without changing the position of the stock
after it is placed on the lower horn of the welding ma-
chine. The die point is mounted on a swiveled head
on the upper part of the machine. A weld is made with
one die; the next die is swung around to strike the stock
in a different place, and the third die makes a weld in a
still different spot, all of the welds being made in a
radius of 4 in. The stock is then removed, the next
piece inserted and the welds are made in the same man-
ner as before, only in the reverse order of that just
described.
The two welding machines described above were made
by the Toledo Electric Welder Company. Cincinnati,
Ohio.
Insulated Racks for Cables
In the insulated racks for cables shown in the ac-
companying illustration each half of the porcelain in-
sulators is made in a single piece and fastened in its
respective casting so that when laying the cable in the
grooves no attention or labor is required to hold the
INSULATED RACK FOR CABLES
insulators in place. The metal parts are of malleable
iron. These racks, which can be furnished in sizes for
carrying from one to five feed wires, are made by the
St. Louis Malleable Casting Company, 7700 North
Broadway, St. Louis, Mo.
Flush Receptacle with Recessed Plate
The receptacle and plate shown herewith are re-
cessed, permitting the deep insertion of the cap so that
the top of the cap is flush with the plate. The recep-
REI ESSED RE< I -l'l id E AM' PLATE FOR DEEP INSERTION OF
CAP
tacle is provided with T-slot contacts with which sev-
enteen different types of caps can be employed. The
devices are being placed on the market by Harvey
Hubbell, Inc., Bridgeport, Conn.
Ai'Kii. 1". 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
953
Conferences with Federal Trade Commission
lien connected with different industries in various
parts of the country have been in Washington late!
conferences with members of the Federal Trade Com-
mission. These have included men of "big" business as
well a- those identified with smaller industries. Re-
sponding to the announcement of Chairman Davies, that
the commission would always be glad to confer with
business men, a number are said to be highly gratified
at the treatment they have received and to have gone
away impressed with the belief that the commission is
endeavoring to co-operate with business in every way.
The interviews which have been held so far have been
entirely informal and cannot be characterized as having
been in any sense "hearings" such as the Interstate
Commerce Commission holds. Business men have been
invited into the conference room of the commission with
only the commissioners present. No stenographic re-
ports have been made, although stenographers have
occasionally been furnished after conferences in case
business men desired to dictate statements to be filed
with the commission.
It is expected that a week or more will elapse before
the commission will get far into the question of policies,
as to which no conclusions have been reached so far,
although there has been discussion. Administrative
details in connection with taking over the old Bureau
of Corporations are engaging the attention of the com-
mission.
Annual Meeting of Winnipeg Contractors
The Master Electrical Contractors' Association of
Winnipeg, Manitoba, held its first annual meeting in the
St. Regis Hotel, Winnipeg, on March 25. President
R. L. Riggs extended the association's welcome to those
present and explained the aims of the organization and
its history. President J. W. Marsh of the Standard
Underground Cable Company, who was visiting the
was called upon by Mr. Riggs for a few remarks
and responded with a ten-minute address of encourage-
ment of the purposes of the association and of optimism
as to the ultimate prosperity of Canada.
The rest of the afternoon was given to consideration
of six addresses on trade subjects. Mr. J. H. Schu-
macher, on "Efficiency in the Electrical Contracting
Business," devoted himself mainly to the estimating and
inside office work, too often slighted, of the electrical
contractor, and presented some very helpful sugges-
tions. Mr. S. A. Barber, on "Competition and the
Electrical Contractor," gave a short history of the
varying competitive conditions during the past ten or
twenty years. Mr. H. W. Billing, on "The Jobber in the
Field," told of some of the jobber's problems as they
affect the business of the electrical contractor. Mr.
C. Marriott, on "The Contractor in the Field," re-
counted experiences in the Winnipeg electrical con-
tracting field, and his happy knack of humorous and
pithy expression was well brought out by his address.
He made a strong plea for the elimination of cut-throat
competition and for co-operation to raise the status of
the electrical contractor, expressing appreciation of the
work of the city electrician's department and of the help
its inspection w ractor who stood for
"quality" work. Mr. C. T. Kummen read a very instruc-
tive paper on "Credits," gave the various points which
go toward making good credit standing, and pointed
out the need of extending credits with as much care as
the banker uses in extending credit to the contractor.
Mr. F. A. Cambridge, city electrician, brought the meet-
ing to a close with a very interesting paper on the
"Evolution of the National Electrical Code."
Transportation for N. E. L. A. Convention
The transportation committee of the National Elec-
tric Light Association, of which Mr. George W. Elliott
is chairman, has issued an itinerary for the "green
special" tour to the convention to be held in San Fran-
cisco on June 7 to 11. In addition to the scenic attrac-
tions, the "green special," which will start from Chi-
cago, will make as many stops as possible at various
hydroelectric plants and transmission systems. Notable
among these are the Keokuk dam, the Big Creek develop-
ment at Cascada, Cal., and the hydroelectric development
at Lake Spaulding.
Many reservations are being made for the various
tours, about three-quarters of the space on the "red
special" having already been engaged.
Merger of Western Hydroelectric Properties
Advices from Boise, Idaho, state that during 1915 the
Electric Bond & Share Company, New York, will merge
into one large subsidiary company the controlled electric
corporations operating in southern Idaho, Utah and,
unless present plans are altered, possibly Montana and
Washington. It was stated in Boise that the merger
will include the three hydroelectric power companies,
the Idaho-Oregon Light & Power Company, the Idaho
Power & Light Company and the Idaho Railway, Light
& Power Company. The Southern Idaho Water Com-
pany is reported to have agreed to enter the merger.
As soon as contracts of the Great Shoshone & Twin
Falls Water Power Company can be arranged that cor-
poration, according to the report, will be acquired.
The merger outlined includes all of the larger hydro-
electric power companies in southern Idaho and Utah.
It is reported also to be the plan to acquire holdings
of the Washington Water Power Company, the South-
ern Idaho Water Power Company and the Great
Shoshone & Twin Falls Water Power Company, the two
latter companies being now controlled by the American
Waterworks & Electric Company of New York. Both
of these companies were transferred shortly after the
Kuhn failure and are now serving the Pocatello and
Twin Falls territories. Recently the Public Utilities
Commission of Idaho authorized the Idaho Power &
Light Company to enter the Twin Falls field, but that
concern has practically ceased construction work there
and recently large forces of men were laid off. The
National Sureties Company is a subsidiary of the Elec-
tric Bond & Share Company reported to have been
organized to consolidate the hydroelectric corporations
concerned in the plan.
954
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 15
Municipal Ownership Discussed in Watertown, N. Y.
A meeting of the Chamber of Commerce of Water-
town, N. V., was held on April 3 for consideration of
a plan to establish a municipal lighting plant. Mr.
Howard C. Hopson, formerly chief of the division of
capitalization of the New York Public Service Commis-
sion, Second District, gave a talk. He criticised a
report rendered recently by Mr. H. B. Sweet, of Utica,
X. V.. on the proposed plant.
In speaking of the water rights owned by the city,
Mr. Hopson assumed the value of the power undeveloped
to be $150,000. In addition to the amount already spent
by the city for labor and material further engineering
costs and interest should be added. It would take
$162,000 to complete the development, making a total
cost of $250,360. Adding the valuation of the property
would make the aggregate $405,360. Figuring interest
and depreciation, with an allowance of fifty years as
the life of the development, and calculating repairs, the
fixed charge alone would be $27,929. There would be
a loss of taxes to the city on account of the change from
private to municipal ownership, and other fixed charges
would accrue in connection with transmission of energy
to the waterwheel and the cost of the proposed bridge.
In seven years three different methods of street light-
ing have been used in the city, and these changes have
necessitated material replacements.
Mr. Hopson said that the item of depreciation has
wrecked more plans of promoters of lighting companies
than has any other feature.
Electrical Rules of Boston Fire Commissioner
Fire Prevention Commissioner John A. O'Keefe of the
Boston (Mass.) metropolitan district has issued a num-
ber of regulations bearing upon safeguarding garages
and motion-picture establishments containing electrical
equipment. The new rules provide that no system of
artificial lighting other than incandescent electric lamps
shall be installed in any garage, and that all wiring for
lighting, battery charging and electrical equipment gen-
erally must be at least equal to that required by the
National Electric Code, with additional requirements as
follows :
All cut-outs, outlet and junction boxes, switches, re-
ceptacles, connectors or other live metal parts, motors,
dynamos, and all apparatus capable of emitting a spark,
must be placed 4 ft. above the floor or outside the
garage, except motors, dynamos and magnetos incased
on automobiles. All electrical apparatus capable of
spark emission, if not fully inclosed, must be provided
with brass wire screen of No. 14 mesh or finer over
openings exposing sparks. Flexible cords for portable
lamps, motors or other apparatus must be reinforced for
rough usage. The live end of the cord must be the
projecting part of an approved pin-plug connector so
constructed that it will break apart readily at any posi-
tion of the cord, and the opposite end, if terminating in
a connector, must be the projecting part and protected
against accidental contact. Flexible cables for battery
charging must lie of" approved theater-stage type and
have approved connectors of at least 50-amp rating con-
structed and arranged as described in the foregoing
sentence. All new portable lamps must be equipped with
approved keyless sockets attached to approved portable-
lamp guards with handles and hooks. All new wiring
in garages except flexible cords and cables, as specified
in the foregoing, and those used for pendent lamps must
be installed in approved metal conduit or armored cable,
except that approved metal molding may be used m
Offices ancl show-rooms.
No system of artificial lighting other than electric
incandescent lamps is permitted in any room used for
the storage, keeping and handling of inflammable mo-
tion-picture films. The National Electric Code is re-
quired in wiring, with screening-in of spark-emitting
apparatus. All flexible cords must be reinforced for
rough usage, and lamps on flexible cords which are long
enough to allow the lamps to come within 6.5 ft. of the
floor when hanging vertically must be protected by
vapor-tight globes and wire guards attached to the
sockets. Tying off from the normal position is for-
bidden if there is any danger of breakage if the tie is
broken. All electric lamps in storage rooms must be
provided with vapor-proof globes, safely placed. Any
other electric lamp, if so placed that the films can be set
or are liable, while being handled, to come within a
distance of 18 in. from it, must be provided with a
vapor-proof globe and properly guarded. All electric
lamps in storage and examining rooms, vestibules and
exhibition booths must be provided with wire cages
attached to approved keyless sockets, and the switches
for operating these lamps must be placed outside the
rooms or booth. All wiring in rooms used for the stor-
age, keeping or handling of films must be installed in
approved metal conduits or armored cable.
Distribution of Employees' Fund in Cleveland
At the annual distribution of the employees' fund,
the Cleveland (Ohio) Electric Illuminating Company
paid to 748 of its 1000 employees in cash or deposited
to their accounts more than $55,000. This represents
8 per cent on their wages or salaries. Of the total, 3
per cent, or more than $20,000, was paid in cash and
the other 5 per cent was deposited to the credit of em-
ployees in savings banks where it will earn 4 per cent
interest.
All employees who have been with the company one
year or more may participate in this dividend. At the
end of ten years of service they may withdraw their
deposits. If they leave the company before the expira-
tion of ten years, they may withdraw their deposits,
provided they give thirty days' notice. This plan has
been in operation eleven years.
Changes in Western Electric Directors
At the stockholders' meeting of the Western Electric
Company the only matter of special interest was the
change in personnel of the board. Provisions of the
Clayton law are evidently intended to prevent a com-
pany which supplies material, through the fact that its
representatives have a place on the board of a common
carrier, from exerting improper influence upon pur-
chases of the common carrier. The Western Electric
Company, which is largely owned by the American Tele-
phone & Telegraph Company, is virtually the manufac-
turing and supply department of the telephone company,
and the telephone company has been represented upon
its board of directors, so that while the relation between
the companies is the exact opposite of that at which the
law was aimed, the companies technically come within
the prohibited relation.
To comply with this law it was necessary either to
adopt a method of operations between the Western Elec-
tric Company and the telephone companies which would
increase expenses largely, or to drop from the board of
each company all representatives of the other. Although
the law allows two years in which to make adjustments,
under the policy of the Bell system, when a law is
April 10. 1MB
E LE< TRLCAL WORLD
y55
known and understood, to compl Hr. Thayer
:it and director of the American
Telephone & Telegraph Company, and Mr. Vail and
his ai npany retire from the
ra Electric board, which ha-s been reduced in
number.
The new members of the board of the Western Elec-
tric Company are men who have long been connected
with the company. The board as now constituted con-
E. M. Hart. n. II. A. Halligan, W. H.
r, A. L. Salt, W. P. Sidley, Gerard Swope and H.
B. Tha
not be completed in ten year.-, even if appropriations
were made.
Messrs. Samuel Scovil, president of the Cleveland
Electric Illuminating Company, Thomas Hogsett. at-
torney, and W. Ki • pf, president of the ( mcin-
nati Traction Company, appeared before the finance
committee to urge haste in completing the appraisals
that have been begun and to argue against reduction
in the number of men employed.
Cleveland .Municipal Situation
Mr. F. W. Ballard, commissioner and chief engineer
of the division of light and heat of Cleveland, Ohio, has
announced the proposed issue of a bulletin at an early
date containing a full statement of the operating income
and expenses of the new municipal plant for 1914, to-
gether with other pertinent information.
On April 1 a local Cleveland newspaper criticised Mr.
Ballard because of the statement published in two other
papers, purporting to be from him, that an examination
made by the State Auditor showed profits of $30,000
for 1914. Mr. ('. S. Metcalf, State examiner at Cleve-
land, said that no official examination of the light ac-
counts of the city had been made since 1912. Mr. Met-
calf said that he checked the bond vouchers from Jan.
1 to Sept. 1, 1914, and accepted Mr. Ballard's figures
for the remainder of the year. An unofficial statement
containing these figures was sent to the State Auditor.
The City Council has arranged for an audit of the books
of the division by independent auditors.
At a hearing before the Public Utilities Commission
in Columbus on March 31 Attorney Thomas Hogsett,
representing the Cleveland Electric Illuminating Com-
pany, offered on behalf of the company to pay one-half
of any sum necessary to complete the valuation of the
property speedily, on condition that the city contribute
a like sum. City Solicitor John N. Stockwell said that
he would be glad to take up the matter with the City
Council and recommend action to that end.
Chief Engineer L. G. White of the commission said
that forty men would be able to complete the appraisal
in about four months and that the cost would probably
be in the neighborhood of $75,000. He said that ten
men could be put on the work about June 1, and that
after the completion of the appraisal of the Union Gas
& Electric Company of Cincinnati the commission could
add about twenty to the Cleveland valuation work.
Attorney Hogsett said that the Cleveland Electric
Illuminating Company is anxious to have the appraisal
completed, so that a proper rate for service may be
made. The management is not satisfied to go through
a long period of uncertain income and then end with a
perplexing situation. It is under bond to return to
patrons the amount collected above a flat 3-cent rate
in case the city wins on the ordinance now before the
Public Utilities Commission.
In the evening of March 31 the Cleveland men at-
tended a hearing before the finance committee of the
House of Representatives, in whose hands the proposal
to reduce the appraisal force of the commission rests.
General objection to the plan to reduce the force was
expressed by company and municipal officials and repre-
sentatives of the commission. 'The report that the com-
mission had agreed with the efficiency department of
the State Tax Commission in the proposed reduction
was not borne out by the statements of Chief Engineer
L. G. White, Counsel Lawrence K. Langdon and others.
Mr. Langdon has stated that pending appraisals could
Vulcan Degree of the Jovian Order
The recently created Vulcan degree of the Jovian
Order, to which Jovians in good standing will be eligible
on payment of $10 annual dues in addition to the reg-
ular dues of $2 per year, was discussed by Mr. Homer
E. N'iesz before the Chicago Jovian League, on April 5.
Since the establishment of the commercial division the
national body has spent about $3 per member per year,
and from dues it has received only $2 per member per
year. The annual deficit of $1 per member has been
made up from initiation fees. The Vulcan degree or
"degree of industry" will support the commercial sec-
tion. Were it not for the expenses of the commercial
division the two-dollar dues would more than meet the
expenses of the order, and for this reason, said Mr.
Niesz, the officers deemed it unfair to increase dues.
It is estimated that from $15,000 to $20,000 annually
will be derived from dues of members of the Vulcan
degree, because there are many Jovians to whom the
commercial section is of direct benefit and it is ex-
pected that these men will consider the payment of the
dues of the Vulcan degree a privilege. The idea of
creating the new degree, said Jupiter Niesz, originated
with Mr. S. A. Hobson, of the Electrical World.
Federal Court Hears Springfield Rate Case
Judge Sanborn, presiding judge of the United States
Circuit Court, of St. Paul, and Judge Van Valkenburgh,
of Kansas City, heard arguments on April 3 at Kansas
City, Mo., in the application of the Springfield (Mo.)
Gas & Electric Company for an order restraining the
Missouri Public Service Commission from enforcing its
order establishing an 8-cent maximum rate for elec-
trical energy in Springfield. The rate, under the com-
mission order, was put into effect on July 1, 1914. The
company includes on its bills notations as to the cost
of service at 15 cents and at 8 cents per kw-hr. It
has asked the court to allow the resumption of the old
rates pending action by the courts and the commission.
Under the federal law three judges must decide such
cases. Judge Sanborn had appointed Judges Hook,
Pollock and Van Valkenburgh. They heard arguments
on Dec. 28, following which briefs were filed. Judge
Hook withdrew on March 15, and Judge Sanborn com-
pleted the quota of judges. The arguments were re-
peated substantially as in December. Judge Pollock
was not on the bench. Additional matter was then pre-
sented by Mr. John M. Olin, of Madison. Wis., counsel
for the company, showing operating expenses and in-
come during the entire period since the low rate went
into effect. Further exhibits were made as to the
hazard of transmission lines, including photographs
indicating damage to the Kansas City, Clay County &
St. Joseph Railway poles on Feb. 22, and similar de-
struction of the same nature in New England and other
sections of the country. A telegram was presented de-
claring that the company could not sell sufficient securi-
ties to do needed work under present conditions in
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 15
Springfield and that the company's credit was ruined.
.Mr. E. C. McAfee, representing the people of Spring-
field, presented an advertisement made by the company
at Springfield indicating a prosperous condition.
Judge Sanborn inquired as to the importance to the
company of the steam-power plant which, it is claimed,
is necessary as a reserve in case of failure of the sup-
ply of energy from outside points. Mr. McAfee was
asked if the rates would be confiscatory in case the
company's valuation of the power plant had been al-
lowed. He responded that it was hard to answer, but
probably they would be too low. Mr. H. T. Neville,
also representing the people of Springfield, dissented
from this opinion.
The court asked Mr. W. C. Busby, author of the com-
mission law and general counsel for the commission, if
an injunction should not be issued, despite any consti-
tutional question, in case the rates were probably con-
fiscatory. Mr. Busby responded that certainly no state
had any right to confer on anybody the right to estab-
lish confiscatory rates; that the commission did not so
contend; that it was seeking to be just to all parties,
and that in the present instance it was depending on
the justice of the order rather than on its authority to
maintain an order.
In response to a question by Judge Van Valkenburgh,
Mr. Busby said that the present law establishing the
commission, even without a proposed explicit amend-
ment to that effect which was not passed by the Legis-
lature, required the commission to give a full hearing
on all matters brought before it. The company con-
tends that the commission considered testimony which
it had no opportunity to answer. Mr. Neville dissented
from Mr. Busby's answer as to the bearing of the
constitutionality of the law on the present case, inti-
mating that the commission orders should be final
whether or not they contained errors.
No reason was given for Judge Hook's retirement
from the case. The reason generally assigned is that
his son is a member of a firm, Messrs. Bowersock, Hall
& Hook, which represents the Kansas City, Clay County
& St. Joseph Railway in another suit involving an order
of the commission. Judge Hook has in hand the receiv-
ership matters of the Metropolitan Street Railway of
Kansas City, in which are involved questions as to the
relations of companies and the public, costs of opera-
tion and rates, that are concerned in the Springfield
case.
Annual Report of Standard Gas & Electric
Company
Mr. H. M. Byllesby discusses matters of general pub-
lic interest in his annual report as president of the
Standard Gas & Electric Company for the year 1914.
The increase in taxes for the three years ended Dec.
81, 1914, has been $360,855, and, while there is an in-
clination on the part of taxing bodies to treat companies
more fairly, attention is called to the fact that taxes are
still disproportionally high, being 14.4 per cent of ag-
gregate net earnings. In addition to the taxes, com-
panies are put to great expense in defending themselves
before local taxing bodies and in efforts to obtain more
equitable treatment. The effort mentioned in the pre-
vious report for fairer and less complicated state taxa-
tion laws, resulting in the assessment of taxes as a
percentage of ^ross or net income, is meeting with a
degree of success. Mr. Byllesby believes that there is
evidence that eventually this reform will be accom-
The twelve months covered by the report Include two
dj tin, i period of conditions. From the beginning of
1914 to Aug. 1 a general, though slight, improvement in
business conditions was in evidence. From Aug. 1 to
the close of the year the general trend was somewhat
difficult to determine owing to the effect of the Euro-
pean war.
In the case of the two California operating companies
large gains have been made in gross and net income
beginning about July 1, 1914, and continuing with grat-
ifying regularity to the date of the report. In the
Northern States Power Company an upward tendency
has been marked from the beginning of 1914 and con-
tinues. In the Arkansas Valley Railway, Light & Power
Company the gain became, it is believed, permanent
with December, 1914.
The Louisville Gas & Electric Company suffered from
general commercial depression which has been marked
in all industries of that city. With completion of
the consolidation of the numerous power houses, ef-
fective about Aug. 1, 1915, a large gain in net earnings
will result. Mr. Byllesby looks forward to future oper-
ations of this company with marked confidence and
believes that it will prove to be one of the most profitable
assets of the Standard company.
Regarding the Northern Idaho & Montana Power
Company, Tacoma Gas Company, and Everett Gas Com-
pany, Mr. Byllesby writes in effect: They operate in
the Pacific Northwestern section, which has suffered
great business depression for the last three years. When
this section, possessing every conceivable natural re-
source, has a revival, which is bound to come, marked
gain will result.
The Fort Smith Light & Traction Company, Mr.
Byllesby says, has suffered from business depression.
It is believed that revival will surely take place on
account of wonderful natural resources and substantial
population, but how long it will be deferred cannot be
predicted.
The Northern States Power Company, with its sub-
sidiaries, is developing rapidly. The territory is en-
joying great prosperity, and the only limit to further
development is that which may be prudent or of neces-
sity prescribed by the supply of capital for enlargements
and extensions.
In general, from an intimate knowledge of the prop-
erties and their surrounding conditions it is believed,
Mr. Byllesby adds, that income of the Standard com-
pany is at its lowest point and that it will improve from
this time. Decided improvement has taken place already
in earning conditions of certain properties, and in others
there are no conditions which would warrant apprehen-
sion of further diminution, while there is every reason
to expect revival at some time. With only a compara-
tively reasonable improvement in earning condition of
the properties which have been more or less stagnant
for two or three years, the income of the Standard
company will be far more than sufficient to provide for
the normal 8 per cent preferred stock dividends in cash.
Directors continued the payment of preferred stock
dividends of the Standard company in scrip. With the
dividend of Dec. 1, 1914, the rate was reduced to 1 per
cent per quarter from the 2 per cent per quarter there-
tofore paid. In view of the generally unsettled condi-
tion it was deemed the part of prudence and to the
interest of shareholders to bring the dividend disburse-
ment well within the collectible income. The company
will continue retirement of the remaining collateral
trust notes, and at a convenient period in the money
market will undertake to make effective arrangements
for money for capital expenditures of subsidiaries on
a better basis. When this is accomplished the Standard
company will return to a cash dividend basis, but it is
not deemed prudent to restore cash dividends until
lut ure financial arrangements are completed definitely.
April 1", 1916
ELECTRICAL WuRLD
957
.Miscellaneous News Notes
lllimii- ( ml Service RTiwhiitinm — Examinations will be
held Saturday, May 1. bj the Illinois Stat.- Civil S<
Commission to till two | • tigator and
two as utilitii> rate i ilitiea
of Illinois. Application! must he on file with
the commission in Springfield before B p.m., April 24.
Moaeam ol Safetj Korea -So that it will be nearer the
working center of the city and consequently able to keep in
touch with the workers, the American Museum of
Safety has leased new quarters at 11 to IS u . ■ • Twenty-
fourth Strict, New York, and removed from the quarters
which it occupied for many years in the Engineering So-
Building in that city.
Ohio Hoard Idopta \. S. M. K. Standards.— The Ohio
Board of Boiler Rules at a meeting held March 25 adopted
the follow ill- resolution: "Until further notice an 0
tor holding: a certificate of competency and a commission
authorizing him to inspect steam or hot-water boilers which
are to be installed within the State of Ohio is hereby au-
thori/' I during construction, and on completion
stamp 'Ohio Std.' with serial number, any boiler con-
structed in accordance with rules formulated by the boiler
code committee as submitted to the council of the American
Society of Mechanical Engineers on Feb. 18, 1915."
Common Stuck Issues. — The Railroad Commission of
California, in authorizing debenture and stock issues of the
Southern California Edison Company, made the following
comments regarding common stock: "The common stocks
of corporations which are available for public purchase are
rarely, if ever, wholly investment securities, and this specu-
lative aspect should be kept in mind by security holders
in connection with any authorization which may be given
by this commission with an issue of common stock. Of
course, every security has its own speculative attribute, but
this feature is more predominant than elsewhere in com-
mon-stock issues."
Precedent Established in Regard to Outages Caused by
I i r. «. — It is customary for municipalities to deduct from
the lighting company's bills a sufficient amount to cover the
time that lamps are out as reported by the night police or
watchmen. At Marshfield, Ore., however, the City Council
refused to deduct anything from the bill of the Oregon
Power Company because the lamps were out during two
fires which occurred recently. The members of the Council
took the position that fires were something over which the
power company had no control and that lack of service so
caused was no fault of the company, and they ordered the
full amount of the bill to be paid.
Cincinnati to Enforce Court Order. — On March 30 the
City Council of Cincinnati, Ohio, adopted a resolution in-
structing City Solicitor Schoenle and Director of Public
Service Fosdick to enforce the mandate of the Ohio Supreme
Court in reference to the Diamond Light Company by cut-
ting its wires and preferring charges of contempt against
its officials. In presenting the resolution Councilman
Mullen said that the Council had asked the courts to restrain
the company from operating without a franchise and that
the two higher courts had sustained the claim that in order
to use the streets and alleys a franchise must be secured.
If the Council did not do something to stop operation, tin-
suit might be held to have been brought in bad faith.
Minneapolis House-Wiring Statistics. — During the ten
years ended with 1914 the estimated cost of the electrical
equipment of consumers' premises, including wiring and
fixtures, etc., in the city of Minneapolis amounted to
$8,757,538. Owing to the growing use of electricity in
homes and small business places, the total number of per-
mits during 1914 showed a substantial increase over previ-
ous years, although the value of the work was somewhat
less than in the four previous years. In 1905 3899 permits,
whose aggregate value amounted to $374,744, were granted.
This number increased to 8439 permits in 1914, with an
aggregate value of $991,755. The largest aggregate esti-
mated cost was in 1911, when 6605 permits were granted,
the value of which was estimated at $1,548,525.
Tower Commission Wants More Power. — The plans of the
Hydro-Electric Power Commission of Ontario for securing
an additional power supply will, it is understood, be com-
pleted by the middle of next summer. The cor.
faced with the prospect of exhausting its present contract
of 100,000 hp, and it is weighing the alternative proposi-
of purchasing additional power along the lines now
followed or widening the policy of developing its own power
as initiated with the Wasdell'fl Falls and Eugenia Falls
plant.-. For nearly a year past the engineers of the com-
mission, acting under the direction of Sir Adam Beck, have
at work on investigations and tor the de-
velopment of power at the Niagara River and from the
spillways of the Welland Canal. It is believed that both
developments will be practicable.
Engineering and Warfare. — In connection with the move-
ment undertaken by the Western Society of Engineers. Chi-
cago, to enlist the interest of its members in a plan to
instruct engineers engaged in civil practice in the principles
of defensive warfare, should the nation ever need their serv-
ices, an illustrated talk on "Engineering in Warfare" was
given by Col. W. V. Judson, United States Army officer in
charge of the port of Chicago, at the rooms of the society,
on April 5. Colonel Judson related his own experiences as
a military observer with the Russian army during the
Russo-Japanese war. Mr. Taliaferro Milton discussed plans
for organizing engineer corps. In a letter to the society the
United States War College has offered to indicate a course
of reading for the instruction of civilian engineers in the
principles and equipment of modern warfare.
Reduction in Rates in New Albany. Ind. — A reduction of
electrical energy rates in New Albany, Ind., has been made
as a result of a compromise of cases before the Public Serv-
ice Commission. An average cut of 9 per cent is to be made
in charges. The United Gas & Electric Company, which
serves both New Albany and Jeffersonville, buys most of its
energy from the Louisville Gas & Electric Company. A
number of New Albany residents had complained, and Com-
missioner Charles Murphy, of the Indiana commission, was
about to begin a hearing when the compromise was effected.
The reductions range from 16% per cent for consumers of
10 kw-hr. to 7.4 per cent for consumers of 1000 kw-hr. per
month and mean a loss in revenues to the company of about
$8,700 on the basis of last year's consumption. The new
rates for lighting service run from 10 cents per kw-hr. for
1he first 50 kw-hr. to 5% cents for all over 150 kw-hr., while
for motor service the rate runs from 8 cents per kw-hr. for
the first 100 kw-hr. to 3 cents for all over 300 kw-hr. A 10
per cent discount applies on all bills paid within ten days.
Associations and Societies
Telegraph Superintendents. — The annual convention of
the Association of Railway Telegraph Superintendents will
be held at Rochester, N. Y.. June 21 to 25. Mr. P. W. Drew,
112 West Adams Street, Chicago, is secretary.
New York Jovians. — Mr. Arthur Williams, general in-
spector New- York Edison Company, was the chief speaker
at a meeting of the New York Jovian Electrical League on
April 7. In discussing the subject "It Pays to Advertise."
Mr. Williams stated that the advertising bill for the whole
country is about $700,000,000 per year, or about twice the
total income of central stations throughout the United
States. He said that the electrical interests spend much
too small a percentage of their income for advertising.
which always pays, although the returns are seldom directly
traceable. On Wednesday, April 14, at 8 p.m., the league
will hold a smoker at the Hotel Martinique.
Meeting of Pacific Coast Electrical Jobbers. — Electrical
jobbers of the Pacific Coast met at Del Monte, Cal., on
March 25 to 27. In addition to the many conferences and
the large amount of time devoted to amusements, an open
session was held on the afternoon of March 27. Difficulties
in the bnsine s were discussed at this meeting. Mr. H. V.
Carter was chairman. Among those who spoke were
Messrs. W. S. Seaver, T. E. Bibbins, Garnett Young, T. C.
Hillis, C. M. Parr, W. S. Berry, T. E. Burger, W. L. Good-
win, G. C. Holbertson and S. M. Kennedy. Mr. Kennedy ex-
pressed the opinion that central stations should devote their
efforts to the sale of energy and should not sell lamps and
appliances.
968
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 15
May .Meeting of the Iron and Steel Engineers. — The
Association of Iron & Steel Electrical Engineers will hold
a meeting on Saturday, May 1, at the Seventh Avenue Hotel,
Pittsburgh, at which Mr. R. S. Wile, president of the Wile
Electric Furnace Company, will present a paper on the
subject "The Electric Furnace and the Melting of Alloys."
The meeting, which will begin at 8 p. m., will be preceded
by a dinner at 6.30.
Association of Edison Purchasing Agents. — At a recent
meeting in Buffalo, N. Y., of the Association of Edison
Purchasing Agents the following officers were elected to
serve one year: Mr. W. H. Francis, president, Edison Elec-
trical Illuminating Company of Boston; Mr. Andrew Banks,
first vice-president, Consolidated Gas, Electric Light &
Power Company, Baltimore; Mr. J. W. Brennan, second
vice-president, Edison Illuminating Company, Detroit; Mr.
D. R. Blaicher, treasurer, Minneapolis General Electric
Company; Mr. H. F. Frasse, secretary, Edison Electric
Illuminating Company of Brooklyn.
Banquet of Columbus Edison Club. — The first annual
banquet of the Columbus Edison Club, Columbus, Ohio,
took place at the Elmont Restaurant on March 26, fifty-six
members being present. The club is composed of em-
ployees of the Columbus Railway, Power & Light Company.
General Superintendent H. W. Clapp described the progress
of the company. When it first organized two generators
of the 50-kw rating each were installed. At present the
generators in operation have a rating of 20,000 kw. Other
speakers were Mr. D. C. Edgar, general superintendent of
the Tennessee Power Company; Prof. E. A. Hitchcock,
formerly of the Ohio State University, and Mr. W. A.
Wolls, of Columbus.
St. Louis Jovian League. — The St. Louis Jovian League
of Electrical Interests now has nearly a thousand members
and claims to be the largest local electrical organization
in the world. Luncheons are held every Tuesday at the
American Hotel Annex, St. Louis, followed by talks on
electrical topics. Mr. A. R. Fairchild, of the Union Elec-
tric Light & Power Company, St. Louis, was the speaker
for the meeting of April 6, with an illustrated lecture on
"Hydroelectric Development on the Pacific Coast." Mr. F.
D. Beardslee, of the Union Company, is president of the
club, Mr. Fred Johnson, of the Wagner Electric Manufac-
turing Company, is vice-president, and Mr. F. D. Phillips,
of the Wesco Supply Company, is secretary-treasurer.
Health and Light. — The value of sunlight as a germicidal
agent was emphasized by Dr. W. A. Evans, former health
commissioner of the city of Chicago, in a talk before the
Chicago Electric Club, April 1, when he pointed out the
improved public health to be expected from such conditions
of clear atmosphere over cities as would result were all
power generated in great central stations and all railroad
terminals electrified. Direct sunlight, asserted the speaker,
will kill tuberculosis germs in sputum in seven minutes'
exposure, whereas corrosive sublimate, ordinarily consid-
ered a powerful germicide, would be rendered quite innocu-
■ iii by the secretions in the sputum. Ordinary diffused
light from the sky contains enough ultra-violet rays to kill
inh tuberculosis bacteria in a few hours, although these
bacteria remain active and multiply with much rapidity in
the dark.
Efficiency Society of America. — The Efficiency Society "I'
America was incorporated at Columbus, Ohio, on April 2.
L915, by Messrs. <;. E. Burroughs, L. B. Passmore, Grover
Schaible, Anthony M. Golubich and H. B. Frazier, of Pitts-
burgh, Pa., and Cleveland, Ohio, in behalf of a charter
• i hip association of some 1500 technical ami com-
mercial men resident throughout Canada. I he United State .
Mexico and South America. The objects for which the
) has been formed are "tO discuss and promote
elating tu administrative, productive and commercial
efficiency and to promote questions relating to domestic and
foreign trade with pedal reference to trade expansion and
engineering construction opportunities for the individual
technical business man." A free information and statis-
tical exchange will he instituted for the use of professional
men. The society will publish a monthly ami weekly jour-
nal, the first issue tu appear May 1. Mr. G. E. Burroughs,
Pulton Building, Pitt iburgh, Pa., Ii chairman of the organ-
isation committee,
Public Service Commission News
Wyoming Commission
The commission has been organized. It is composed of
Governor John B. Kendrick, State Auditor Robert B. Forsyth
and State Treasurer H. B. Gates. Mr. H. Allen Floyd has
been appointed secretary.
Idaho Commission
Mr. E. G. Gallet, secretary of the commission, writes that
no uniform electrical rates have been adopted as reported in
the Electrical World of March 27, 1915, and that it would
be a practical impossibility under the conditions prevailing
to establish any such rates.
California Commission
Of the $226,725,502 securities whose issue was authorized
by the commission during 1914, $48,469,780, or 21.38 per
cent, were for gas and electric companies, and $182,345, or
0.80 per cent, for telephone and telegraph companies. The
larger proportion, $138,744,183, or 61.20 per cent, were for
steam railroads. The purposes for which the total securities
were authorized were: New construction, 57.85 per cent;
refunding, 37.01 per cent; collateral, 3.96 per cent; mis-
cellaneous, 1.18 per cent.
Ohio Commission
The Reighard bill, making the physical appraisal of public
utility properties by the commission optional instead of man-
datory, as at present, was passed by the House of Repre-
sentatives on April 1 by a vote of eighty-two to nineteen.
In upholding the bill, Minority Leader Kramer said that
councils do not hesitate to demand appraisals of properties
at any time, because the State and the utility corporations
must pay the expenses. Representative Young of Cleveland
opposed the bill on the ground that valuations are absolute-
ly necessary for rate-making. He argued that the manda-
tory feature be preserved as far as local appraisals are con-
cerned, although the commission might use its discretion in
ordering railroad appraisals.
The Behne bill, defeated in the Senate on March 30, was
reconsidered on April 1 and made a special order for a later
day. Opponents of the bill declare that it will discourage
municipal ownership, because it will virtually cause publicly
owned properties to carry their own financial burdens di-
rectly, instead of permitting bonds representing the cost to
be merged with other indebtedness.
Indiana Commission
The commission has approved the sale of the Indiana
properties of the Cumberland Telephone & Telegraph Com-
pany of Atlanta. Ga., to the Southern Indiana Telephone
Company. The Cumberland company valued the property
concerned at $2,050,000. The commission did not allow this
valuation to stand, and the agreed total was about
$1,790,000. A rate-making case, involving the Cumberland
properties, has been before the commission for months. A
compromise, whereby alleged discrimination will he
abolished without the loss of revenue by the company, has
been under consideration.
The commission is gratified over the termination of the
Evansville gas tangle, which threatened a long legal contest
over the constitutionality of the commission law. and par-
ticularly the rate-making power of the commission. The
Evansville Puhlk Service Company, as stated in the
Electrical World of April :;, 1916, brought suit against the
commission because of an order establishing a maximum
rate of 85 cents per 1000 cu. ft. for gas in Kvansville. The
commission had made arrangements to contest the suit,
when a compromise was reached whereby the utility paid
approximately $10,000 of costs for the city of Evansville
and the commission and agreed to accepl i lie 8B-cen1 rate,
with no light of appeal tor two years. In return the com-
mission annulled its former order, thereby withdrawing the
legal valuation of the property which it had made. A valua-
tion oi , .,ii. ' tor rate making purposes had been fixed
by the commission. The withdrawal of this valuation left
the company tree to negotiate the sale of securities. The
agreement did not abridge the right of consumers to appeal
April 10, 1916
ELECTRICAL WORLD
from the schedule, of which the 86-caat maximum rat.
the principal part.
The com ii
the city of Oakland <'.\ Oakland <"ity
trie Light A '■
mmercial rati per kw-hr.
cents per kw-hr.,
with a 60-cent minimum rate and one-half of 1 per cent
.lit for prompt payment. . for municipal
lighting is to range from $15 for 60-watt lamps to $50 for
\S i-< miimii I onimi-Mon
The application of the Brodhead municipal electric-light
plant for an increase in revenues hi :i,ted by the
commission. In determining the cost e to be used
as a basis for rates, the commission disallowed certain ex-
penditures which were the results of casualties and acci-
dents, holding that these contingent expenditures should
have been provided for by proper insurance and that con-
sumers could not be penalized for lack of foresight in the
management by being forced to pay increased rates. Special
motor-service rates hitherto granted to a few large consum-
ers were ordered discontinued, and all consumers are to be
placed on the same schedule.
A bill has been introduced in the Assembly giving the
commission authority to regulate interferences with tele-
phone or telegraph service resulting from electric-energy
mission lines, whether the interference be due to elec-
tromagnetic induction, electro =tatie induction or to leakage.
The bill also gives the commission authority to regulate
uction of high-tension electric transmission lines so
as to make them safe, to require changes in construction
and methods of operation wherever public safety requires
such changes, and to fix the proportion of the cost and ex-
pense of such changes to be borne by each party.
New Hampshire Commission
The biennial report of the commission says in part:
"There is no possible question that the administration
of the public service act has resulted in direct financial
benefits to the public far outweighing its expense. But the
direct financial benefits accruing from the administration
of the act are almost inconsequential in comparison with
the gain to the State from improved conditions not capable
of measurement by the standard of dollars and cents. But
the chief gain to the State from the administration of the
act is not to be found in pointing to specific things done
by the commission. It lies rather in the assurance that
the aphorism that 'for every wrong there is a remedy' is
not a mere statement of an abstract principle, but, so far
as the relations of the public service corporations of New
Hampshire to the public are concerned, is an accomplished
fact.
"Not every person deeming himself aggrieved by the
action of such a corporation is satisfied with the commis-
sion's decision on his case. It is impossible that every
decision should be correct and do full justice to all the
parties. But every person receiving or desiring the service
of any railroad or public utility can now know that if he
regards himself as failing in any respect to receive fair
and reasonable treatment, he is no longer obliged help-
lessly to submit, but has a tribunal to which he can appeal
with the assurance that, whatever the limitations of its
judgment and abilities, it has at least the power and the
disposition to secure for him his just rights. The value of
the commission system of regulation can no more be esti-
mated on the basis of its pecuniary saving to the State
than can the value of our courts or our schools.
"We have not the requisite apparatus for making the
of electric services, and no routine service inspections
i.een made under the rules. Two electric meters have
been tested at the request of the consumers. One was
found to be correct and the other 100 per cent fast, and in
the latter case, under the rules established by the commis-
sion, the refund amounted to $300.
"It is known that many of the different rate schedules
in force, by discount provisions which give a constantly
decreasing rate according to the increased quantity of serv-
ice taken, and which are not scientifically drawn, violate
the fundamental principle of fairness, that the charge for
any quantity of service shall not exceed the charge for a
larger quantity of service of the same kind. The actual
discriminations arising from unscientific schedules of this
character are not, however, \ery serious. The rates of
electric utilities are moal -tnking in variety of form and
in range of prices charged for the same class of service by
different companies. Schedules of utilities in general dis-
close many discriminatory features which ought to be
eliminated by co-operation between the utilities and
the commission. Such attention as our more imperative
duties have permitted has been given to this matter, but
much important work remains to be done.
"If the Legislature should provide for the payment of
the expenses of this department by a special tax upon the
utilities supervised, we recommend that the salaries of the
commissioners be not included in the expenses so levied."
New York Commissions
The Second District commission has settled the Westches-
ter Lighting Company rate cases. Stipulations accepting
the settlement have been filed by the company and complain-
ing communities. Rate reductions are to be made, effective
on May 1. The company is given permission to maintain a
minimum rate of SI per month for electric energy as no tes-
timony had been presented on that subject. The maximum
rate for electrical energy will be reduced to 12 cents per
kw-hr. in the districts from which complaints were made.
The reduction applies also to districts in Mount Vernon and
New Rochelle from which new complaints had been pre-
sented. The rate for gas for illuminating purposes will be
reduced in Port Chester, Tarrytown and White Plains. The
new rate for electrical energy is to be continued for at least
three years. The maximum rate for gas during this period
in the communities concerned in the settlement will be $1.25
per 1000 cu. ft.
The order of the Second District commission reducing New
York Telephone Company rates in New Y'ork City, effective
on July 1, has been accepted by the company. Mr. John L.
Swayze, attorney for the company, in a statement accepting
the order, says: "The company believes that the condition of
unrest and disturbance which has existed for the last two
years will cease, and from now on the company will be per-
mitted to devote all its energies to developing its business
and providing the public with telephone service and facili-
ties. The company believes that the cordial and pleasant re-
lations which have always existed betw-een the company, its
patrons and the general public will continue, and the com-
pany will devote every effort toward meriting the continu-
ance of such relations."
In its order the commission states the value of the prop-
erty of the company in New York City for rate-making pur-
poses in this case at this time at $82,000,000, to which is to
be added the cost of property improvements between June
30. 1914, and July 31. 1914, $1,796,685. The company is en-
titled on present consideration to a return of 8 per cent upon
that value. There shall be allowed as reduction from tele-
phone operating revenue for reduced rates ordered by the
commission $3,000,000, and the 8 per cent return is allowed
upon consideration that the operating income from the New
York City property for the year ended Dec. 31, 1914, after
deducting all proper expenses, taxes, rents and other proper
charges, shall be taken as at least $10,027,445. The return
is also based upon consideration of the company's 8 per cent
dividends and surplus account, the fact that New Y'ork City,
by reason of its larger and dense population, constitutes the
company's most profitable field of operation, and the further
fact that the long-distance service as maintained has a spe-
cial value to subscribers and the public generally. The com-
mission has estimated that the proposed schedule, after fur-
ther changes, will cause a present reduction in revenue of
$2,943,000, thus leaving a balance of $57,000 to cover omis-
sions and errors and making a total present reduction of
$3,000,000 over and above the 10 per cent reduction made by
the company during the pendency of the proceedings, esti-
mated by the company at over $2,000,000.
Governor Whitman notified Commissioners McCall, Cram,
Williams and Wood that he would not expect them to
appear before him on April 6, the date to which the hearing
on the charges against them was adjourned.
960
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 15
Personal
Mr. J. J. Matthias, of Burlington, Vt.. has been appointed
local manager of the Leominster (Mass.) Electric Light &
Power Company vice Mr. R. Y. Conklin, transferred.
Mr. B. S. Waters, manager of the South Bend property of
the Northern Indiana Gas & Electric Company, has been
transferred to Hammond to succeed Mr. W. R. Ray, resigned.
Mr. C. V Chubb, vice-president and general manager ot
the Michigan City (Ind.) plant of the Northern Indiana Gas
& Electric Company, has been transferred to the Geist prop-
erty at South Bend.
Mr. R. Y. Conklin, who has been local manager of the Leo-
minster (Mass.) Electric Light & Power Company, has re-
signed to assume charge of the gas plant at Arlington owned
by the same interests.
Mr. H. V. Armstrong, superintendent of the Northern In-
diana Gas & Electric Company at Michigan City, Ind., has
been appointed manager of the property, vice Mr. C. N.
Chubb, transferred to South Bend.
.Mr. Edward N. Hurley, who was recently appointed vice-
chairman of the federal trade commission, was the guest of
honor at a dinner given by the Illinois Manufacturers' Asso-
ciation at the Hotel Congress, Chicago, April 8.
Mr. Eliot Wadsworth, of the firm of Stone & Webster,
Boston, Mass., sailed from New York on March 20 on the
American Line steamer St. Louis to take up work in Berlin
for Polish relief under the auspices of the Rockefeller
Foundation.
Mr. S. P. Southard has been appointed manager of the Al-
buquerque (N. M.) Gas, Electric Light & Power Company,
one of the properties of the Federal Light & Traction Com-
pany, New York. Mr. Southard, who was formerly manager
of the Las Vegas Light & Power Company, succeeds Mr. A.
F. Van Deinse.
Mr. B. T. Burt, recently general manager of the Chatta-
nooga & Tennessee River Power Company, has joined the
organization of W. S. Barstow & Company, Inc., New York,
as operating manager in charge of several of the properties
of the General Gas & Electric Company, which has recently
taken over the properties of the Atlantic Gas & Electric
Company.
Mr. A. F. Yan Deinse, for many years manager of the Al-
buquerque (N. M.) Gas, Electric Light & Power Company
and vice-president of the New Mexico Electrical Association,
recently organized, has been transferred to Springfield, Mo.,
where he will take charge of the Springfield Gas & Electric
Company, which is controlled by the Federal Light & Trac-
tion Company.
Mr. Frank M. Tait, president of the Dayton (Ohio) Power
& Light Company, will remove to New York about July 1
to become closely identified with the Brady interests at 54
Wall Street. Mr. Tait is a former president of the National
Electric Light Association and the Ohio Electric Light As-
sociation and is widely known as an operator of public
utility properties. He will retain his interests in the Day
ton Power & Light Company and continue as its president.
Obituary
\rthur L Kelley, until recently president of the Narra-
gansett Electric Lighting Company, Providence, R. I., died at
his home in Providence on April 7, in his fifty-seventh year.
He was a native of Canton, N. Y., and was educated at Law-
rence, Mass., and at Phillips Andover Academy.
(.. ..rut- ( litter, one of the veterans of the electrical in-
and formerly a prominent figure at meetings of
electrical societies, died of heart failure April 6, at the Cali-
fornia Hospital, Los Angeles, Cal., where he had been con-
fined fur six weeks. He is survived by his widow, who was
with him in California. At. the time of his death Mr. I
retained the office of vice president of the George Cutter
i South Bend, Ind., which he accepted at the
time of the latter company's amalgamation with the .1.
I ompany of Chicago, In 1912, in recent
however, Mr. Cutter had lai | d front bu ri
lie nraa born near Boston In L868, and began
his electrical work in 1869.
Corporate and Financial
Alabama Power Company, Birmingham. Ala. — The fol-
lowing companies have been merged with the Alabama
Power Company: Alabama Electric Company, Wetumpeka
Power Company, Alabama Power & Electric Company,
Alabama Power Development Company, Anniston Electric
& Gas Company, Huntsville Railway, Light & Power Com-
pany, Decatur Light, Power & Fuel Company, Eutaw Light
& Power Company and Pell City Light & Power Company.
They have been controlled for some time but have been
operated separately. Since the opening of Lock 12 they
have been fed from the Alabama Power hydroelectric sys-
tem, using their steam plants as reserves. The consolida-
tion was made in the interest of greater economy and
efficiency. In connection with the merger the company sold
$2,000,000 three-year first mortgage 6 per cent bonds on
Feb. 1, 1915. As a result of the merger Mr. Frank S. Wash-
burn, formerly president, becomes chairman of the board,
and Mr. James Mitchell, formerly a vice-president, becomes
president.
Canadian Westinghouse Company, Ltd. — The curtailment
of business activity throughout Canada, according to the
annual report for the year ended Dec. 31, 1914, which made
itself apparent in the latter months of 1913, became more
pronounced during the year just closed. With industry and
commerce approaching stagnation, the European war sud-
denly became a factor to be reckoned with, and the business
of the company, depending largely on the ability of cor-
porations and communities to promote plant extensions of
one kind or another, suffered a recession both unjust and
severe. The almost complete retirement of railways from
the purchasing field was the individual feature most notable
because of its far-reaching effect on practically every branch
of the industry. The policy uniformly followed of providing
for periods of business depression by making liberal depre-
ciation allowances and creating substantial reserves from
profitable operations in times of prosperity places the com-
pany, the report states, in a position to meet with entire
confidence the unusual conditions now prevailing until such
time as its temporarily reduced earning capacity can be
restored by the return of normal activity. The profit and
loss account shows:
Net earnings $386,113
Deduct :
dividends 359.489
Bank interest 5,625
Balance J30.999
Surplus balance Jan. 1. 191 I 1,631,491
Surplus Jan. 1, 1915 $1, 562, 490
Coast Valleys Gas & Electric Company, San Francisco.
Cal. — The California Railroad Commission has authorized
the company to issue $10,000 bonds. Originally the company
was authorized to issue $100,000 of bonds on Dec. 4, 1914,
but the authority was withdrawn subsequently pending an
investigation into the company's liability in connection with
s guarantee upon the bonds of the Monterey & Pacific
Grove Railway, whose stock is owned by the Valleys Gas &
Electric Company. The railway company has an authorized
bond issue of $300,000 of thirty-year 6 per cent bonds, which
were guaranteed at the time of issue by the Monterey
County Gas & Electric Company. This company was sold
in 1911 to Mr. F. G. Baum, and by him transferred to the
California Consolidated Light & Power Company, from
which the property passed to Mr. L. H. Rich, and from him
to the Coast Valleys Gas & Electric Company. At the hear-
ings before the commission the Coast Valleys Gas & Electric
Company maintained that the guarantee upon the bonds
had not passed to it, but had either been assumed by one of
the parties in ownership which had intervened between the
Monterey County Gas & Electric Company and the Coast
Valley Gas & Electric Company or had not passed from the
original guarantor. The commission takes the position in
its decision that it has not the power to adjudicate the ques-
tion of the company's liability in connection with the guar-
antee upon the railway company's bonds. It does take the
position that the Coast Valley Gas A Electric Company
should not bo authorized to increase its bonded Indebtedness
iii any way that would he prejudicial to the rights Of bond-
holders of the railway Company. The company's application
as regards the issuance of $90,000 bonds was therefore de-
MX 10, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
ion was gra i- tot
in the vicinity of Kits.'- City, which it
md its con-
sumers.
Colorado Power Company, Denver, CoL The report for
the year ended Dec. 31, 1914, itati that .-cured
• i mated, con-
tribute $70,000 additional gro : iring 1915, which,
ther with business in hand or in sight, eompensat
the reduction in revenue to occur late in 1915 from chl
in rate in certain wholesale business. Early in 1916 the
Salida (Col.) Light, Power & Utility Company and the
Mutual Electric Light if npany of Alamosa, Col.,
merged with the company. Instead of making i
to the worn running parts of the Shoshone tur-
. it has been decided to install new running parts and
take advantage of the greatly increased efficiency obtain-
able from improvements in turbine design since the original
units were installed. This will be done during the present
and the cost met out of depreciation reserve. Partly
as a result of exercising rights under certain low-price
wholesale contracts by withdrawing energy for re-sale at
retail prices, retail revenue has increased about $90,000
during 1914, while the wholesale revenue has decreased
about $30,000. It is stated that a continuance of this practice
will insure further increases in revenue long after the gen-
erating plants are fully loaded. The following comparative
statement shows the results of operation of the company and
predecessor companies with inter-company charges elimi-
nated:
1914
operating revenue $746,869 $63
197,157 184,961
■a 71,000 44,325
T..t:il operating expenses $268,157 $229,286
.\.i operating revenue $478,712 $463,299
ncome 29,678 19,980
Total corpoi $508,390 $483,279
Edison Electric Illuminating Company of Brooklyn, N. Y.
— The company's comparative statement for 1913 and 1914
as filed with the N'ew York Public Service Commission, First
District, follows:
1914 191S
Operating revenue $6.1' 1 1,38
ting expenses 8,709,281
4 11,692 128,462
• til. I.- bills u;.st:. 14,062
I iperatlng income $2,076,532 $2,007,840
Non-operating Income 25,822 25,385
Income $2,102,354 $2,033,225
■ deductions 2,028,537 1,961,527
N.i corporate income $73,817 $71,698
Additions to surplus 20,22.". 34,530
Deductions from surplus $90,042 $106,228
I latbush Gas Company, Brooklyn, N. Y. — The compara-
tive statement for 1914 and 1913 of the company, filed with
the New York Public Service Commission, First District,
follows:
1:1. ctrlcal dep in 1914 1913
I rating revenue $414,232 1867,592
• - 346,835 310,624
Taxi 15,806 14,819
Uncollectible bills 415 1,368
Total $51,176 $40,771
nt .
Operating loss S7.021 100,775
Opei Ltlng lost "i gai and electric depart-
Ms $35,845 $60,004
-lilting in. 'nine 2,188
■ lros« col porate loss $33,712 $56,622
Income deductions 95,714 91,730
Net $129,426 $1 1
Bell 327,133 184,447
5,335 • 1,666
Deficit al close Of year $461,894 $327,133
•Surplu
Gary (Ind.) Heat, Light & Water Company. — In connec-
tion with the surrender of its franchise for operating in
Gary and the acceptance of an indeterminate permit from
the Public Service Commission, Mr. L. W. McNamee, presi-
dent and treasurer of the company, writes: "Inasmuch as
it is undoubtedly the theory of the law that it is to the
•he publii thai 8 utility company should submit
itself freely to thi : control of the commission, it
be company to conform to the policy of the
laws of the State, to submit services which it is furnishing
to the approval oi ,L.d for that
purpose. Our action in surrendering our franchises and
taking an indeterminate permit in lieu thereof from the
commission evidences our desire to comply with the public
policy of the Stat< g ,,f this law
ishing the Public Servii •
Marconi Wireless r/elegraph Cotnpanj of America, Nea
lork. V V.— A preliminary report for the year ended Dec.
81, 1914, does not include details affecting trans. >
high-energy stations, the operation of which was to have
been begun when the European war was declared. The war
has interfered '.vith and will continue to interfere with the
transatlantic service and to a considerable extent with the
transpacific service. A summary for the year showed:
J7-,C -,73
Operating and admlnlstral 6341958
Nel i .$121 615
From Investment of surplus funds i
Nel Income foi yeai be charging reserves $'71889
Reset * m
l lepre. ... ...
i lepreclation of ship stations
Against • cpii ition ..t patents
For c tntingi nci< - !! 12^500
Net Income foi year aftei charging reserves .$149,877
Niagara. Lockport & Ontario Power Company, Buffalo.
N- v- — The growth of output, according to the annual re-
port for the year ended Dec. 31, 1914, has been from
96.575,110 kw-hr. delivered in 1908 to 244,651,276 kw-hr. in
1914. In the same time receipts have grown from $592,103
to $1,557,124. The Salmon River plant, which is about 42
miles north of Syracuse, has been in operation since April,
1914, and the full capacity has been available since Dec. 1,
1914. Since energy from this source has become available
it has been possible to operate the steam plants at Lyons
and Auburn at much less expense. The saving over 1913
on this account was upward of $25,000, and it is anticipated
that in 1915 the cost of operating the steam plants will be
reduced still further so that the total saving will be more
than $40,000 per annum. The income statement for 1914
follows:
Sales of energy ., 4n, --,
COSt Of energy; $1,403, o(4
Purchased $539 905
Produced (including $7,444 for depreciation) 81,'o34 602,939
Gross profit nan: sales of energy $78° 635
Operating exp.-ns.-s i nn-lu.li for depreciation) 173J1S9
Net earnings $609,446
Other income
Gross income $76° 996
Deductions from income (taxes, rents, etc.)
Net income applicable to interest 8523 Oil
Interest ;; ,
Net income before deducting sinking-fund payments. $1;
Sinking fun. 1 payments 67 727
Surplus after deducting sinking-fund payments $109,891
Surplus at beginning ••! 5 ear 183,045
Discount on company's bonds purchased for sinking
fund 11.1:. 1
Discount on two v.-m- >'■ ].-i ..nt secured gold notes
charged t" Erie Construction Company ;
Adjustment of . onsumers' bills applicable to prior period i..i:^
Sinking inn. 1 reserves 63,488
Total $411,622
1 ii bll
1 ilvidends $162,000
1 us.- t ..11 two-yi 1 . .1 I- ... in s. cured gold
notes 40,000
Miscellaneous 6,468
Tot 1 20S. 468
Surplus, Dec SI, 1914 $203,154
Northern California Power Company. San Francisco, Cal.
— In the annual report for the year ended Dec. 31. 11114, Mr.
Edward Whaley. secretary of the company, offered the fol-
lowing reasons for the decrease in gross revenue: The largest
decrease was from energy sold to the Pacific Gas & Elect] 1.
Company. In 1918 the season was unusually dry, and as a
result the Pacific company used much more energy than
was called for in the contract. In 1914, however, with the
aid of new developments, the Pacific company was well
able to lake care of its increased demand. The decrease
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 15
in irrigation load was caused by the comparatively great
rainfall and also by the decreased operations of two large
companies owing to financial difficulties. A loss was also
shown for income derived from mining operations and com-
mercial energy, which can be directly traced to the war
curtailment and depression. A comparative statement of
the company's earnings for 1913 and 1914 follows:
1914 1913
..us from operation $771. 1st; $824,494
1914 1913
ng expense $235,285 $230,322
ince expense 78,345 45.162
Total 313,630 276,484
Net earnings from operation $457,556 $549,016
Maintenance and depreciation reserve 32,817 74.-'lft
Amortization of debt discount and expense. . . 1,011 1,361
Total
Doubtful accounts written off.
Undistributed adjustments . . .
$431,382
g,905
L050
Surplus for year
Surplus end of previous year
Surplus end of year before correcti.
Surplus transferred
$150,981
444,718
Balance $463,135 $587,090
Northern States Power Company, Chicago, 111. — In his
annual report to stockholders for the year ended Dec. 31,
1914, Mr. H. M. Byllesby, the president, states that the
business has been generally expanded and that there is a
wide and satisfactory field developing continually for future
operations. It is probable that during the coming year
extensive enlargements to generating plants, both steam
and hydraulic, and to the distribution systems will be under-
taken in order to serve the business. Lrage contracts have
been made recently which have not as yet come into the
operation. At a suitable period steps will be taken to con-
solidate future financing. The combined earnings state-
ment of the company and subsidiaries follows:
Gross earnings $4,395,S69
Operating expenses 2,031,499
Net income for j ea • $1,02 1.7112
Preferred dividends, Northern States Power Company.. 587,069
surplus for year $437,633
Resei '. 128.000
Amortization of bond discount 45,000
Transferred to surplus $26
I'nitt-d (ias & Electric Corporation, New York, N. Y. —
In the annual report for the year ended Dec. 31, 1914, it is
I that the corporation had on hand on April 1 about
000 cash, but the uncertain outlook in the business
and financial world and the extreme importance of conserv-
ing <■:. e I, in order that it might be in a strong
position and able to render financial assistance, should any
be necessary, to subsidiary companies convinced the direc-
tor that the wisest course required that no action on
dividends be taken at present. During the year approxi-
mately f2,792,000 was expended for additions, betterments
and extensions in the different departments. Operations of
subsidiary companies for 1919 and 191 1 showed:
1011 1918
$14,018,868 $18,6
II
Net operating Inc $7,980,192 $7,6
$1,268,076 $1,268,846
TIM. II"
$2,062,223 • 1
$6, -
$2,408,782 $2,9
, . repl 186,8 '7
Sun $1,921,905 $1,986,532
It. 688. 066 $1,041,331
Manufacturing and Industrial
The Mackinnon Lumber & Pole Company, of Calgary,
Alberta, Canada, has opened a sales office at 1632 Lumber
Exchange Building, Chicago, which will be in charge of Mr.
A. W. Mackinnon. The company makes a specialty of sell-
ing poles.
The Despatch Manufacturing Company, of Minneapolis,
Minn., and Mr. G. H. Otto, of Chicago, have entered into an
agreement by which Mr. Otto will handle the sales of
Despatch electric ovens and heating appliances in Chicago.
Mr. Otto's offices are at 72 West Adams Street.
The Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company,
East Pittsburgh, Pa., has opened a department for auto-
mobile equipment at 2025 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio.
The company will make a specialty of its motor-generator
set, which has been developed for the Ford machine. Mr.
S. L. Blackburn is district manager for the company, with
headquarters in Cleveland.
The Hyatt Roller Bearing Company, Newark, N. J., has
appointed Mr. P. B. Liebermann as its engineer of tests.
Mr. Liebermann was graduated from the Royal Technical
Institute, Charlottenburg, Berlin, in 1897, and formerly held
responsible positions with the Allgemeine-Elecktricitats Ge-
sellschaft at Berlin, the Sprague Electric Company, New
York, and the Electro-Dynamic Company, Bayonne, N. J.
New Department for Manufacturing Rubber Goods. — The
Standard Woven Fabric Company, Framingham, Mass., has
organized a new department for manufacturing rubber goods.
At the start the company will specialize on friction tapes
and splicing compounds for electrical purposes. Mr. F. J.
Gleason, formerly of the Walpole Tire & Rubber Company
and founder of the Massachusetts Chemical Company, has
been engaged to take charge of the new department. Dur-
ing the past six months the Standard Woven Fabric Com-
pany has been very busy and its plant has been operating
day and night during that time. The company has recently
opened a new office at 1779 Broadway, New Y'ork, which will
be in charge of Mr. C. O. Anthony. The company is plan-
ning an active selling campaign to push not only its rubber
goods but also the "Multibestos" and friction materials
which are made by it.
Steam-Turbine Company Busy. — According to the Terry
Steam Turbine Company, Hartford, Conn., the amount of
business secured thus far this year is in excess of that ob-
tained dining the same period of last year. Mr. Snow, gen-
eral sales manager of the Terry Steam Turbine Company,
has just returned from a six weeks' trip to the East and
Middle West, and he states that he expects a considerable
improvement during the next few months. The Western and
Pittsburgh territories are showing increased activity, and it
seems that they are recovering more rapidly from the recent
depression than is the East. At the present time. Mr. Snow
declares, business in Canada is very dull and no improve
ment can be looked for immediately. The Terry Steam Tur-
bine Company has recently built twenty <i0-hp turbines for
the Philadelphia Electric Company for use with forced-drafi
blowers in its new Christian Street station. It has also just
built four vertical turbines which will be used for forced-
draft work on torpedo-boat destroyers.
The Western Electric Company recently moved from its
old quarters at (ill Wyandotte Street, Kansas City, Mo., to
new quarters across the street. The moving of its large
slock and office equipment was accomplished without inter
ruption to business and was done at night and on Sundays,
two weeks being taken to complete the operation. A two
track runway was utilized which had to be removed every
fifteen minutes to allow street cars and other vehicles to
pass. There are .YJ.IMMI sq. ft. of floor space in the new build-
ing, which fronts on Central Street and Wyandotte Street.
It covers an area 50 ft. by 170 ft. and has six floors. The
basement and sub basement are utilized for boilers and
heavy hardware; the first floor fronting Wyandotte Street
for citj titer and display purposes, and fronting Central
Street for fast -moving standard package stock, iron conduit.
and the hipping, receiving and retail-distribution depart
, the second lloor for offices; the third floor for broken-
package stock; the fourth floor for Btandard-package stock,
and the fifth floor for shop and returned goods.
April hi, 1916
ELE< I R I 1 A I. WORLD
s>63
Mi. I>.i> 1-' 11 -N ..mack Iii^iii. 1 ■•riicir.iiiuii. :'...
N. Y.. ha- •■
ture stationary internal-comb . I the patent
of Lu. f Norwich. N. Y. The company will make
ialty of building units for electric-lighting outfiti
for contractors. Mr. S. I. I Ident of the com-
pany. .Mr. G. W. Iionnan vice-president, and Mi. K. II. Davi-
■ -retary and treasurer. The al officers amf
Mr \V. II. Namack form the hoard of directors. Mr. 1
ivil engineer and has fi" en a general
• water-works and other similar operations. Mr.
in attorney in Schenectady. Mr. Davj
r and Mr. Namack is vice-president of the
sck Foundry < lompany.
I be Baker-Joslyn Company, which has recently been in-
corporated, opened offices and a warehouse at 71 New Mont-
gomery Street. San Francisco, Cal., April 1, and is now act-
ing as distributer of electrical material. The new company
.ken over the electrical products of the Maydwell Com-
pany of San Francisco. Mr. M. L. Joslyn is president of the
company. Mr. c. ('■. A. Baker vice-president and treasurer,
and Mr. II. F. Hartzell secretary. Mr. Joslyn is president of
the Joslyn Manufacturing & Supply Company of Chicago.
If] Baker has heen associated for many years with the
Maydwell Company as vice-president and has been in charge
of the electrical branches of the business. He will be in full
management of the business operations of the Baker-Joslyn
Company. Mr. Hartzell has been on the sales force of the
Maydwell Company for the past two years and will occupy a
position in the sales department of the new company similar
to that he had in the Maydwell Company. The Baker-Joslyn
Company will represent not only the manufacturers of elec-
trical material formerly represented by the Maydwell Com-
pany, but several new manufacturers as well. Branches will
also be maintained at Seattle and Los Angeles.
Order for Water Strainers. — Three 30-in. multiple water
strainers were recently shipped to the Duquesne Light
any, Pittsburgh, Pa. Five of these strainers have
already been installed by the above concern, and with the
latest addition the company will have a total of eight 30-in.
strainers. The strainers are of the multiple straining-
basket type, each having five baskets, and four baskets
are always in operation. With all five baskets in operation,
the effective straining area, it is declared, is over three
and one-third times that of the inlet or pipe line in which
the strainer is installed; with one basket held in reserve
or removed for cleaning purposes, the straining area of
the four baskets is over two and one-half times the area
of the pipe section. The baskets can be removed for cleans-
ing purposes by operating a hand wheel which raises the
l into the cleaning chamber. The cover is then re-
moved by loosening three bolts, and the basket is lifted
out in an upright position. One 6-in. strainer, one 12-in.
strainer and one 14-in. strainer have also been installed
in the Rankin station of the Duquesne Light Company. The
strainers were built by the Lagonda Manufacturing Com-
pany, Springfield, Ohio.
NEW YORK METAL MARKET PRICES
-March 80 - April 6 — ,
Selling Prices Selling Prices
Hid Asked I
Copi'i-i
London, standard spot* i'.9 0 0 1 7 6
16.26
Electrolytic . . 15.70 15.80
ting 15.00
Com- Hi 7'. 17.00
Lead 4.15
I'J 00 to 45.00 42.00 to 45.00
Spelter 9.6 9.75}
tin -.3.00t 17.601
Uum per •■•-■■ t 1 !
•OLD METALS
coppei and wire L3.8B
Brass, heavy 9.25 9.3]
light
Lead, heavy ;•;»
Zinc, scrap ■ r'°
COPPER EXPORTS
Total i on.s to April 6 1.311
•From dally transactions on the New Sort Metal Exchange,
fNoml
New Incorporations
I in- \airn I ill- Power & Pulp Company, oi Malbaie. Ont.,
has been chartered with a capital stock of $100,000 by
I- A Martil K I'epin and L. E. Morin.
The dale Electric Light .v Power < osspany, of Jennings,
Okla., has been ii rith ■ capital stock of $5,000
by W. E. May. Herbert Crowley aid M. K. Michaelson.
The I'rairie Grove Electric Company, of Prairie drove.
Ark., has heen incorporated with a capital stock of $6,000
by J. T. Carl. S. R, Wilson, W. R. Dodson and J. II. Zellner.
The Hemmin^'ford Light, Heal .v Power Company, of
Hemmingford, Que.. Can., has heen incorporated by G. W
Keddy, O. Hebert and J. F'aunier. The company is capital-
ized at $5,000.
The Electric Utilities Corporation, of Detroit, Mich., has
filed articles of incorporation with a capital stock of $50,000.
The incorporators are Bethune Duffield, Muir Duffield and
John F. Baker.
The Otsego Power & Manufacturing Company, of Otsego,
Mich., has been incorporated with a capital stock of $10,000
for the purpose of building a hydroelectric power plant and
distributing electricity.
The Vinal Haven Electric Company, of Vinal Haven,
Maine, has been incorporated with a capital stock of $100,000.
The directors are Thomas E. Libby, Frederick S. Walls, of
Vinal Haven, and John E. Liggett, of Augusta, Maine.
The Electric Service Company, of Milltown, Ind., has been
incorporated by David S. Cook, Harry Lemmon, Henry S.
Gray, and others. The company is capitalized at $5,000
and is organized in order to generate and distribute electrical
energy.
The Economy Electric Light & Power Company, of
Blandinsville, 111., has been incorporated by G. L. Mallery,
P. L. Barrett and C. A. Stevens. The company is capital-
ized at $20,000 and proposes to supply electricity for lamps,
heaters and motors.
The Babylon Power Corporation, of New York, N. Y.,
has been incorporated by John V. Flood, Edgar Hirschberg
and Daniel E. Hanlon, 2646 Morris Avenue, New York,
N. V. The company is capitalized at $10,000 and proposes
to supply electricity for lamps, heaters and motors.
New Industrial Companies
The Baker-Joslyn Company, of San Francisco, Cal., has
been incorporated with a capital stock of $10,000 to manu-
facture general electrical supplies. The incorporators are
A. P. Baker, C. G. A. Baker. H. F. Hartzell and M. L.
Joslyn.
The People's Service Electric Company, of Trenton, N. J.,
has been chartered with a capital stock of $125,000 by
C. B. Lasell, Elmer W. Bogart and Orris M. Driscoll. The
company proposes to manufacture and deal in electrical ma-
chinery.
The Colonial Electric & Manufacturing Company, of
Oneonta, N. Y., has been chartered with a capital stock of
$35,000 by A. K. Ceperly, J. S. Lunn and W. F. Eggleston,
of Oneonta. The company proposes to deal in merchan-
dise, realty patents, inventions, etc.
The Carbomobile Corporation, of Brooklyn, N. Y., has
been incorporated by T. T. Wells, R. Gerbracht, Jr., and
G. H. Fitzgerald, LS Cedar Street, New York, N. Y. The
company is capitalized at $150,000 and proposes to manu-
facture machines, motors, engines, etc.
Ryan it Dippel, of New York, N. Y., have been incor-
ed with a capital stock of $5,000 to do a general elec-
trical and mechanical engineering business. The in-
porators are William T. Dippel, 1742 Second Avenue, New
York; James A. Ryan and George F. Orr.
The Avcr\ & Loeb Electric Company. Columhus, Ohio,
has been incorporated with a capital stock of $100,000 for
the purpose of conducting a general electrical, gas and
steam construction supply business. The incorporators are
Oscar Avery, \ K. and A. W. Loeb, C. W. Hammond and
A. L Frey. '
964
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 15
Trade Publications
Trolley Wire. — "Phono-Electric" trolley wire is the sub-
ject of a folder issued by the Bridgeport Brass Company,
Bridgeport, Conn.
Electric Washer.— The Meadows Manufacturing Company,
Pontiac, 111., has prepared an illustrated booklet entitled
"Family Power Washer."
Inclosed Fuses. — The Chelton Electric Company, Phila-
delphia, Pa., has recently issued a bulletin which lists its
fuses of the inclosed type.
Ball Bearings. — The Bantam Anti-Friction Company,
Bantam. Conn., contains information on a number of differ-
ent types of ball and roller bearings.
Glass Insulators. — Bulletin No. 55 published by the Brook-
field Glass Company, 2 Rector Street, New York, lists a num-
ber of different types of glass insulators.
Fire-Alarm Devices. — W. R. Ostrander & Company, 22
Dey Street, New York, have issued a booklet which describes
and illustrates various types of fire-alarm devices.
Electric Fans. — The Eck Dynamo & Motor Company,
Belleville, N. J., has prepared a booklet which describes and
illustrates several of its electrically operated fans.
Portable Air Compressor. — The Brunner Manufacturing
Company, Utica, N. Y., has issued several leaflets which de-
scribe its No. 66 portable motor-driven tire inflator.
Automobile Tungsten Lamps. — The Vosburgh Miniature
Lamp Company, West Orange, N. J., is sending out a leaflet
which describes its nitrogen-filled automobile lamps.
Metal Box. — The Sterling Foundry & Machine Company,
Newark, N. J., is sending out Bulletin No. 11, which
describes a box for wire, covered by flexible tubing.
Electric Fans. — The Fidelity Electric Company, Lancas-
ter, Pa., has published Catalog No. 27, which lists and
illustrates a number of types of electrically operated fans.
Reasons for Trade-Mark. — The National Carbon Com-
pany, Cleveland, Ohio, is sending out a leaflet which out-
lines its reasons for choosing three pyramids as its trade
mark.
Combination Switch. — The Trumbull Electric Manufac-
turing Company, Plainville, Conn., is sending out a leaflet
which describes and illustrates its No. 701 combination
switch.
Fire-Alarm Apparatus. — The Autocall Company, Shelby,
Ohio, has issued a booklet which describes its interior fire-
alarm system for operating on central-station direct-current
circuits.
Electrically Operated Air Compressors. — The Utility
Compressor Company, Detroit, Mich., has prepared a folder
which describes two types of its rotary-driven air com-
pressors.
Electric Fans. — The Allied Electric Company, 105 North
Clark Street, Chicago, 111., has issued a booklet which illus-
trates and lists a number of different types of electrically op-
erated fans.
Bi-polar .Motors and Generators. — Bi-polar direct-currenl
motors and generators are listed in a leaflet designated as
Series H, published by the Peerless Electric Company,
Warren, Ohio.
Direct -Current Motors. — The type C direct-current
motors, with ratings of l hp to 3 hp, manufactured by the
Robbing <v Myers Company, Springfield, Ohio, arc described
in Bulletin No, 125.
Electric Fans. — Various types of electrically operated
are described and illustrated in a booklet entitled
"Diehl Fans," just issued by the Diehl Manufacturing Com-
pany, Elizabeth, N. .1.
Automobile Battery-Charging Outfit. — 'I he Hertnei Elec-
tric A Manufacturing Company, Cleveland, Ohio, has pre-
: a folder which describes its vertical battery-charging
unit for automobiles.
Outlet -Bos Attachment. -A folder describing several
of outlet i ba been prepared by
James (, PhelpS, Springfield. Mass.. for whom I.. E. Frorup
impany, -.'■'!" Greenwich Street, Mew York, are sole
distrifa
Tubular Ammeter. — A small tubular ammeter for use on
battery circuits and other circuits up to 30 amp is described
in a leaflet being sent out by the Benford Manufacturing
Company, Mount Vernon, N. Y.
Fans and Small Motors. — The Knapp Electric & Novelty
Company, 511 West Fifty-first street, New York, is sending
out a supplement to its Catalog No. 23 which describes and
illustrates small motors and fans.
Fire Extinguisher. — The Justrite Manufacturing Company,
Van Buren Street and Clinton Street, Chicago, 111., is send-
ing out a booklet which describes and illustrates its fire ex-
tinguisher and fire-prevention devices.
Motor-Generator Outfit for Motion-Picture Service. —
.1. H. Halberg, 36 East Twenty-third Street, New York, has
issued a catalog which describes and illustrates several ma-
chines designed for motion-picture service.
Electric Lantern. — The Illuminating Electric Manufactur-
ing Company, Philadelphia. Pa., has prepared a booklet
i ntitled "The Daylight Lantern," which describes a battery-
operated lantern inclosed in a wooden case.
Hickeys and Insulating Joints. — The Trumbull Electric
Manufacturing Company, Plainville, Conn., is sending out
a folder which illustrates and lists several types of
malleable-iron insulating joints and hickeys.
Electrically Operated Pumps. — The Fort Wayne Engi-
neering & Manufacturing Company, Fort Wayne, Ind., has
recently prepared Bulletin No. 4073, which describes sev-
eral types of small electrically operated pumps.
Electrically Operated Fans. — "Gyrofans and Their Appli-
cations" is the title of Catalog No. LIU just issued by the
Adams-Bagnall Electric Company, Cleveland, Ohio, which
shows a number of applications of its "gyrofans."
Ophthalmometer. — "The One Position C-I Ophthalmom-
eter" is the subject of a catalog which describes an elec-
trically illuminated eye-testing device. The catalog has
been issued by F. A. Hardy & Company, Chicago, 111.
Electric Lamps for Photographic Purposes. — Bulletin No.
58 issued by the Cooper Hewitt Electric Company, 87 Grant
Street, Hoboken, N. J., describes and illustrates its direct-
current and alternating-current outfit for photographic work.
Linemen's Protectors. — The Linemen Protector Company,
172 Griswold Street, Detroit, Mich., has issued a twenty-
page booklet illustrating and describing its linemen's shields
and cross-arm protectors and reproducing testimonial letters
from companies using these devices.
Charging Plugs and Receptacles. — Bulletins No. 31 and
No. 32 issued by the Albert & J. M. Anderson Manufac-
turing Company, Boston, Mass., contain information on
various types of charging plugs and receptacles for electric
vehicles and batteries on railway cars.
Turbo-Generator Sets. — The Ridgway Dynamo & Engine
Company, Ridgway, Pa., has recently published Bulletin
No. 27, which describes several types of turbo-generator
sets, the turbine of which is an impulse-type machine based
on the patents of Prof. A. Rateau, of Paris, France, and Mr.
('. 11. Smoot. of New York.
Switching Apparatus. — The Albert & J. M. Anderson
Manufacturing Company, 289 A Street, Boston, Mass., has
issued a supplement to Bulletin No. 30 on automatic time
switches. Bulletin No. 26 on induction-motor starting
-witches, and Bulletin No. '_'.'! on various types of switches
and switchboard appliances.
Electrical Apparatus. — Bulletin No. 48,100 issued by the
Fort Wayne Electric Works of the General Electric Com-
pany, Fori Wayne, Ind.. contains information on a commu-
tating-pole direct-current crane and hoist motor. Bulletin
No. 45,201 on transformers with high ratings, and Bulletins
No. 46,100 and No. 46,101 on its type M and type 1' demand
tors.
Lighting Fixtures. — The National X-Ray Reflector Com-
pany. Chicago, III., is sending out several attractive plates
which contain illustrations and diagrams of various types of
lighting units. Plate No. 27 is devoted to portable lamps
and brackets, plate No. 28 to the lighting of billiard and
bowling rooms, plate No. B9 to fittings for direct-lighting re-
flectors, and plate No. 40 to the lighting of machine shops.
The above company is also sending out a leaflet entitled "Sam-
ple Lighting Report for the Sanger (Cal.) High School."
April 10, 1916
I. LE< T RICAL W <) RLD
965
( on struct ion News
New England
WINTHROP. maim; Wlthli
llroni
I
13 f..r
npm.nl at the Loi
ON. MASS B
of the
II Annex,
Boston, until Aiiril 13 for furnishing ami
Installing a vacuum cleaning system In the
High School of Commi I forms
iformation ma) be obtained
at the abo\.
I.V.N" N
of publli II, Lynn, until
April 11 for Install itii il wiring
ami lighting system in the new addition ol
-h High School in the . it\ of I. vim,
nuns anil form of contrail may be
office.
SPENCER. MASS The Spencer Gas Co.
nd its primary lines about
for which material lias already been pur-
chased
NEWPORT, It I The Newport S Pall
River St Rj Co., of Newport, ■
• within the nexl six months a small
quantity of transformers, n
Incandeao ut lamps; also electrical appli-
icludlng heating and cooking ap-
vacuum cleaners, washing ma-
etc i: P. Gosling Is superintend-
ent of the Illuminating department
Middle Atlantic
HAI.I'WINSVILI.K, X. Y. -The Village
ontract with the
River Pwr Co. for a new
lighting system, which provides for the in-
■ watt tungsten lamps,
to replace tin- arc lamps now in use.
Hi 'I. I. V. N. V Bonds t.. the amount of
J'.. "'in have been voted for improvements to
tii.' municipal electric-light plant. It is
proposed to change the system from 133
'u 60 cycles.
MORRISTOWN, N. Y. — The Gregory El.
Co., of Morristown, expects to make e.xten-
ngea in Its plant, but as yet nothing
has been decided upon. ,1. M.
Qregoi
NEW YORK, N. V Hi. is will be received
J. Snyder, superintendent of school
buildings, Dep Education, l'ark
II tli Street, New York.
until April 19 for Installing electric ash
Public Schools 15, 50, 52 and 53,
borough of the Bronx. A separate pro-
usl be submitted for each school.
nd
be obtained or sen at the above office.
NEW YORK, N. Y.— Bids will be re-
celved by Patrick Jones, superintendent of
school supplies. Depart nl of I:
Park Avenue and Fifty-ninth Street, New
York, until April 1G for furnishing supplies
for sign painting, machine shop, drawing,
sheet metal, electric wiring, plumbing, etc.,
OlS, 1 >.p iMm.lil
Hon. Blank forms and furl her in
formation mav be obtained at Hi
NEW FORK, N. V -Bids will be re-
celved bj the bo Bellevue
and Allied Hospitals. Belli
il'. Bast Twenty-sixth Street, New fork,
until April i'i r.,r furnishing and li talllnj
all gas and elei ti li Bxtui ee foi I hi
>>i Hi.- main building an. I the new
ward extension to the Harlem H
eeu .mil Lenoi
borough of Manhattan Blank tonus and
"iith.i information may be obtained at the
office of the contract i
ilnth Street, New fork John
w Bannan, M i > . la president.
YORK, N. v The Public Service
Commission has adopted a resolul
. •ommissioii. i Mil,, R, Ualtble .li
reeling the counsi I t order to
i*"1 Intel borough Knpid Transit Co. which
'..vide for certain improvements to
to the subway as Follows (1)
The installation of a separate telephone svs-
ii telephone stations at
along the roadway between sta
tii'tis. il') an improved lighting system
| tans . ill i ■
,1 and light •
■
addition from the
A N, PA A
will be h. hi April i : the pro
• plant of Hi1
ivei
p ill t J
RTi '\\ n. P I ton 1:1
templatlng extending its trans-
i - i ;.ii,,is\ uie t.> supj
HOLTWOOD, ia The Pennsylvania
Wtr v Pwr. Co.. of Holtville. it is reported,
to supply energy to operate
rvland and Pennsylvania electric
railway. betwei and York, and
for the Kphrata .v Lebanon Traction Co.'s
system.
JERSEY SHORE, r.\ Within the nexl
.nit lis tile Jersey Shore El Co OX
pur. has..- material for new street
lighting system, including brackets and
-ion fixtures for about 126
Mazda lamps. The company has enter.. i
into a ten-year contract with the borough
S ore for street-lighting, which
en submitted to the Public Service
Commission of Pennsylvania for approval
If approved, the above system will be in-
stalled. II. C. WeStphal is superintendent
JOHNSTOWN, PA. -Preparatloi
ole bj the I 'ale l.t . lit. ,V: PWT
Co., of Johnstown, for extending its system
■ utile municipality, under a
franchise granted two years ago. The
company, it is understood, contemplates
the construction of a new power plant.
NEW CASTLE, PA. — The contract for
equipping the plant of the New Cast!, Rub
her Co. for electrical operation has been
i to the New Castle El. Co.
PHILADELPHIA, PA. — A permit has
for the construction of a power
t Thirty-fifth Street and Gray's
Kerrv Avenue, Philadelphia, for Harrison
Brothers & Co. Wadleigh & Osbourne. Real
Estate Trust Building. Philadelphia, are
eers.
READING, PA.— The Metropolitan El.
i'i. has begun work on the erection of a
high-tension transmission line from its
power plant at West Heading to Birds-
boro, e distance of about hi miles.
WTLKES-BARRE, PA.— The entire min-
ing operations at the Keystone Colliery,
near Wilkcs-Barrc. will, it is reported, be
equipped with electrically operated machin-
ery. Locomotives will take the place of
mules and electrical machinery will replace
steam-. Iriven machines in the breakers.
W n.i.lAMSPt'KT, PA.— The City Council
has glinted the .Merchants' Association per-
mission to install an ornamental lighting
system on West Third Street between Pine
and West Streets. The merchants, it is
underst 1, will install the lamps and the
city will maintain the same.
BAYONNE, N. .1. in connection with
mentS and extensions at its Con-
stable Hook plant the Standard Oil Co. is
contemplating the installation of an electric
power plant. The company proposes to re-
place steam power with electricity wherever
possible.
HAMPTON, \ .1 The Standard Watei
Systems Co., of New York, N. V.. has
awarded the contract tor the construction
of its new plant in Hampton (to cost
DO), to W. A. Stem & Co.. of All.li-
town. Pa, Plans for the electrical work
win be completed In the near future.
NEWARK, N. .1 -The Hoard .,1 Works
lerlng a proposition for thi In
' ill i ' i destructor plant on the New-
ark Meadows, in provide electrical energy
for local lighting ami storage-batter] serv-
ice for jigger cars.
ROOSEVELT, N. J.— The Pub. Ser Co.
- iplatlng building an addition to Its
substation in Roosevelt .ui.i increasing the
Output Of the plant
(JNIONTOWN, N. J, Th. conti
il onstructlon ol the new school build-
ing in Unlontown has bei n awai ded to the
Philllpsburg Supply & Construction Co., ol
Philllpsburg, bj the Hopatcong Township
1 1 i Idui 'i i"n special attention will
be given to the lighting and ventilating
S\ Stems
UNION, W. VA. -The Town Council has
granted E, n Butts, of White Sulphur
Springs, a franchise to construct and oner
at.- in olectrlc-llght plant foi s i
: Clifton
■
■
ported to Ltlon. -Mr Jus-
., plant, it is
ST CHARL on lines
Samuel Insull, "f < Jhl-
cago. I: who own the
plant at ' !ount) . over the
mountains Into east.ni Kentucky,
local municipalities will
STUART, VA _ Bids will
Stuart until April 16 for the
. construct and oper-
ate an electric-light plant. 11 D
Jr.. is ..
WASHINGTON, D. C Bids will be re-
i he supervising archi-
tect, Treaaurj Department, Wat
intil April 21, for furnishing lamp
standards, etc For further information
ling archi-
tect
WASHINGTON, D C Plans are being
bj Milburn. Helster A I
Union Savings Bank Building. Washington,
hit., ts. for tie- Potomac hi. Pwt.
Co., Fourteenth and c streets, for con-
struction of a building (92 ft. Lv !>6 ft., five
stories high) to cost about J'0,000.
WASHINGTi IN, D. C Puis w.ii be re-
ceived bj tile S he Interior. De-
partment ol the Interior, Washington, D. C.
until April 17 for the purchase and removal
i.i'tncal material and 100,000 lb.,
less, of old copi>er wire and cables
iwitli insulation burned off) now stored at
: anient hospital for the insane, An-
acost la, i ' i '
WASHINGTON, D. C.— Foreign trade
opportunities are announced by the Bureau
of Foreign and Domestic Commerce in the
Commerce Reports as follows: No. 16.130
— An American consular officer in Brazil
reports that a firm of merchants and ex-
porters of Brazilian woods is prepared to
undertake an agency for the sale of elec-
tric lamps and fixtures, agricultural imple-
mi nts. etc. No. 16,131' — An American con-
sular officer In Brazil reports that a busi-
ness man in his district wishes to repre-
sent American manufacturers and export-
ers of electrical supplies, porcelain, glass
and earthenware. Catalogs and discount
sheets should be sent at once. No. 16.1",o —
A business man in Mexico has informed an
American consul that he is preparing to
open a store for the sale of American elec-
trical supplies and machinery. No. 16,173
— An American consul in Spain reports
that a business man in his district desires
to secure information relative to . li
such as bulbs, heaters, irons, etc.
Catalogs and correspondence should be in
Spanish. No. 16.17a — An American con-
sular officer in France reports that a busi-
ness man in his district wishes to represent
American exporters and manufacturers of
electrical bells, etc. No. 16.233 — An Amer-
ican consular officer in Spain reports that
a business man in his district has re-
quested that he be supplied with samples,
etc., on electrical supplies for con-
tinuous current, voltage, 110 to 130. He is
especially interested in enameled attach-
ment plugs, etc.. contacts, switches, sock-
ets of all kinds, insulated wires. Qatirons,
warming pads and heaters. Corre-
spondence must be ill Spanish. No. 16,259
An American consular officer in England
reports that a llrm in his district desires
iced in communication with Amer-
ican manufacturers in inner globes, heat-
resisting glass, for arc lamps. No. 16,281
A business men iii Italy informs an
American consular officer that he wishes to
receive quotations, samples, etc.. relative to
kerosene lamps, gas mantles and dry bat-
teries lor electric pocket lamps No. 16,290
A business man in France Informs an
consular officer that he desires
to be placed in communication with Amer-
ican manufacturers ol incandescent lamps
Further Information may !»■ obtained upon
application to the Bureau of Foreign and
Domestic Commerce, Department of Com-
merce, Washington. ]>. C, or its branches
wash ix. ;ti in, li. c— Bids will be re-
ceived at the Bureau of Supplies and Ac-
counts, Navy Department, Washington,
D C, until April 13, for furnishing at the
various navy yards and naval stations the
loll,, wing supplies: Newport, u. i. Sched-
ule B101 -'a, nun ft. iridium platinum wire
Brooklyn. N. v., Schedule 810! 12.000 ft.
,-ui hoisting wire. Schedule 809
heel copper Bids also will be
received at the same place until April 30
as follows: Mare Island. fa I. Schedule
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 16
8097 — 3000 It sheet copper. Portsmouth,
\. u . Schedule 8107—5400 lb. condenser-
tube sheets. Hospital, Norfolk, Va., Sched-
ule B109 — one X-ray apparatus. Bids will
also be i I April -7 as follows:
Schedule M12 — one
water-tube boiler. Washington, D d
ill 8117- n V'' split switches, 28 dozen
glass tubes for condenser. Brooklyn,
.\\ v.. Schedule 8135 — miscellaneou
100 ft.
. se chain, 1 2,000 lb
i t.hii, . Schedule 814S —
4500 ft. interior communication cable, 400
for radio headgears, miscel-
atuffing tubes, type A > I'l. plain
single-conductor wire, 150,000 ft. plain
twin-conductor wire, miscellaneous magnet
wire. 2300 ft rat-tail wire ; Schedule 8147
— 75,000 ft. of incandescent lamp cord.
Schedule 8168 — motor-generators, etc.
Schedule 8147 — 4500 lb. weatherproof wire.
miscellaneous lighting and power wire.
Melville. R. I„ Schedule 8128 — miscel-
laneous plow-steel wire cable. Boston,
Mass. Schedule 8156 — 2000 lb. brass voice
tubing. Charleston, S. C, Schedule 8150 —
neous copper tubing. Newport,
I; I . Schedule 8131 — 50 ft. platinum wile.
Philadelphia, Pa., Schedule 8131—5000 ft.
insulated flexible wire ; Schedule 8130 — four
generator sets. Washington, D. C, Sched-
I —300 steel tubes; Schedule S143—
i weatherproof cable. Works of
manufacturer. Schedule 8146 — 540 porcelain
insulators. Bids will also be received until
May 1 as follows: Mare Island, Cal.,
Schedule 8113 — miscellaneous condenser-
tube sheets, sheet copper, and condenser
tubes: Schedule Sill — miscellaneous safety
valves; Schedule 8157 — miscellaneous arc-
lamp carbons. Washington, D. C, Schedule
8169 — two silent-chain drives, two induction
motors, four pumping outfits. Norfolk,
Va.. and Charleston, S. C Schedule S170 —
two steering engines. Norfolk, Va., Sched-
ule 8171 — two meat and food electric grind-
ers. Brooklyn, N. Y., Schedule 817- — fur-
nishing and installing 23 oil indicators.
Puget Sound, Wash., Schedule 8164 — mis-
cellaneous switchboards, etc., transformers.
P,ids will also be received until June 1 for
furnishing one transmitting radio set at
Brooklyn, N. Y.. as per Schedule SI 21.
Applications for proposals should designate
the schedule desired by number.
North Central
BLISSFIELD, MICH. — The Electric
Light Commission expects to build an addi-
tion to the municipal electric-lighting plant
and establish a 24-hour service within the
next two months; also to purchase a new
switchboard for a two-unit plant.
CAMDEN, MICH. — At a special election
held recently the proposal to grant a fran-
chise to Mr. Griggs to install an elec-
tric-light plant in Camden was carried.
Arrangements have also been made for
lighting the streets of the village
DETROIT. MICH— The stockholders of
the Detroit United Ry. Co. have authorized
the directors of the company to accept the
offer of the city of Detroit to purchase the
city railway lines for $24,900,000. As soon
as details are arranged a special election
will !>•• called to ulnnit the proposition to
the voters.
HOWELL, MICH. The Spencer Smith
- i rig to double its elec-
trical power service and install new mo-
tors.
OTTAWA BEACH, MICH. Prepara-
tions an I i the Grand Rapids-
Muskegon Pur in. of i Ira ml Rapids, for
furnishing a 24-hour lighting servici In
tld in 'I" Black Lake nis-
trict. A new plant, it is understood, will
be Inst
SAULT STK. MARIE, MICH The
Northern .Mulligan Pwr. Co., it is re-
ported, will begin work this iimnll the
ompensatlng works above the Soc
which will involve an expenditure
■ a about ; ■ .ii.iiiin The plant of the Not th
.in Michigan Pwt Co., It la reported, will
lown soon i'"i extern
ELAND. OHIO Pads will I,, re
it He offU e of i In- . omm in lonet ot
purchases and supplies. .",11 CltJ Hill.
Cleveland, until April 15„
ot ! I i 1 iepa ii tin-lit hi i tltltles,
division "i -.■. atei Speclfli at Ion m i b<
obtained ft om t he t ommla lonet ot ws ter,
4 1 :'. Supei i"t* Avenue.
COLUMBUS, iitii" The State
... ere i 80 I
between Find
i id
n i ' ellnn Spi Ingfleld and
Milan and i i 1 1 i and
Columbu
r> \ VI ON OHIO Plan- at. bl
d, tot the Installation
of an electric-lighting system on Cincinnati
Pike, from Stroop Road to Dorothy Lane.
LOCKLAND, OHIO. — The Union Gas tS
El. Co. lias submitted a proposal to the
village of Lockland, under which the com-
pany offers to dispose of its local plant to
the village and to furnish energy to oper-
ate the same.
MANCHESTER, OHIO. Within the next
six months the Board of Public AN
pects to purchase six si rei i erii
lamp fixtures. B. P. Stone is superintend-
ent
MANSFIELD, OHIO. — Bids will be re-
ceived by i n i a Hursh, dlrectot of public
service, Mansfield, until April 23 tor light-
ing the streets of the city with electricity
Eot a period ot ten years. Specifications
may be obtained at the office of the direc-
tor of public service or at the office of H.
Whitford Jones, 1303 Citizens' Building,
Toledo, consulting engineer.
ST. CLAIRSVILLE, OHIO.— The Town
Council has decided to abandon the munici-
pal electric-generating plant and purchase
energy from the Wheeling Trac. Co. or
from the Wheeling El. Co., of Wheeling.
ST. MARYS, OHIO. — T. E. Hollingsworth,
Jr., clerk of the Service Department, writes
that the Council has not taken any action
nor has there been any agitation in refer-
ence to selling the municipal electric-light
plant. In the issue of April 3 an item was
published stating that it was reported that
the Village Council had voted to sell I In-
municipal electric-light plant.
CADIZ, KY.— The City Council is con-
sidering the question of lighting the streets
of the town with electricity. The contract
will probably be awarded to Mr. White,
owner of the local plant.
LOUISVILLE, KY. — Bids will be received
at the office of the supervising architect,
Treasury Department, Washington, D. C,
until April 30 for new plumbing fixtures,
etc., in the United States post office, court
house, etc., at Louisville, Ky. For details
see proposal columns.
WHITESBURG, KY.— Arrangements, it is
reported, are being made by Fred Starkey,
of Somerset, and N. Starkey, of Pikesville,
for the installation of an electric-light and
power plant in Whitesburg.
BLOOMINGTON, ILL. — The commission-
ers of the Spring Lake Drainage District
have petitioned the court for an additional
assessment of $18,000, for the purpose of
installing an electric generating plant at
the pumping station in the district and to
make other improvements. H. A. Bell is
county surveyor.
CHICAGO, ILL. — Bids will be received by
L. E. McGann, commissioner of public
works, 406 City Hall, Chicago, until April
13, for furnishing and erecting one four-
panel switchboard at the Marshall Boule-
vard municipal electric-light plant.
CHICAGO, ILL. — The Public Service Co.
of Northern Illinois, 137 South La Salle
Street, Chicago, is contemplating making
large central-station investments and the
usual increase in substation investment. As
yet nothing definite has been decided upon.
CHICAGO, ILL. — Bids will be received
by L. 10. McGann, commissioner of public
works, 406 City Hall, Chicago, 111., until
April 16, for furnishing at the Madison
Street shops channel lamps id various types.
Specifications may i btained at tin- of-
fice ot tin- Department of Public Works.
Chicago, ILL— Bids will be received
by L. 10. C. Shanklaiid, chairman of the
Harbor and Subway Commission of the
city of Chicago, Room 2001, Cltl Hall
Square Building, 139 North Clark Street,
Chicago, until April 12, lor furnishing and
installing electrical equipment on Pur No.
■_', Harbor District No, I. according to plans
ami specifications on fib- in the above office
PEORIA HEIGHTS, ILL. Bids will be
received bj the Board oi I at Improve-
ments, Peoria Heights, until April Pi for
construction of water worka
lows ; t a i 85,086 linear ft cat i Iron pipe
with specials; (b) 98 hydrants, 69 valves
ami 69 valve boxes; tei two centrifugal
pumpa dlrectlj cot -»•■■) in motors ami
trol oi tune . (d) const i ucl Ion
,,i pumping -in Ion (ej com tt uctlon of
steel i""' i and 50,000-gal. tank Plani an I
itiona may be seen at the oflli f
t; .i Brayton, village clerk, Peoria Heights,
or t !hat lea 1 1 i "inn, civil englneei . u idi
Pan 1. 1 1 lie. Iv.ni.
STRONGHURST. ill Preparations are
ide bj M. F. T, Schierbaum, a* net
of the local elect! Ii light plant, fot
nig new equipment, con ting ol hp
ind iip \iii- N
/.ei suet Ii iducet also oni 16-kw,
'." i ■ I- . Hi Iii-. ! > ell : "i" i itot
nil v.t decldet N. Ti.e cltj
i nllll .III till S 1 I eel light I til CSlll fOI 'l'
parallel 60 watt tungsten lat
WATSEKA, ILL. — The proposal to es-
tablish a municipal electric-light plant in
Watseka will be submitted to the voters at
an election to lie held some time this
month.
GREENWOOD, WIS.— Within the next
six months the town of Greenwood expects
to make improvements to the municipal
power station and repair waterwheel ; also
to purchase electrical supplies for new
houses and church to be built in Greenwood
this summer. G. V. Rork is superintendent
and contractor.
SPOON10K. WIS — The City Council has
applied to the Railroad Commission for per-
mission to construct a dam on the Neme-
kagon River, near Trego, for the develop-
ment of additional power for the municipal
electric-lighting system.
CLARKFIELD, MINN.— The Clarkfield
Roller Mills & El. Lt. Co. expects to pur-
chase within the next 12 months wire and
other material and poles to overhaul its
lines ; also meters, etc., and some electrical
heating and cooking apparatus, etc.
JORDAN, MINN— The Jordan El. Lt. &
Htg. Co. expects to purchase within the
next two or three months one boiler (about
150 hp), one 30-hp to 50-hp engine and
three-wire, direct-current generator, directly
connected : also within the next three or
four months 2% miles of wire for distribut-
ing lines. S. L. Sly is manager.
MINNEAPOLIS, MINN. — Bids will be
received at the office of the supervising
architect. Treasury Department, Washing-
ton, D. C., until May 4 for the installation
of an electric push-button dumb-waiter in
the L'nited States post office in Minneap-
olis. Minn. For details see proposal col-
umns.
MINNEAPOLIS, MINN. — Preparations
are being made for the installation of a
new 15.000-kw steam turbine unit in the
Riverside steam station of the Minneapolis
General Electric Company. The improve-
ment will include the installation of con-
densing apparatus, boilers, building ex-
tension and necessary extension to coal-
handling apparatus.
FAIRFIELD, IA. — Within the next two
months the Fairfield Pub. Ser. Co. expects
to purchase material for a 2-mile line ex-
tension ; also material for wiring the Jeffer-
son County court house. H. C. Stevenson is
manager.
IRWIN, IA. — Plans, it is reported, are
being prepared for the installation of an
electric distributing system in Irwin, to cost
about $6,000. Bruce. Standevin & Boynton,
430 Bee Building, Omaha, Neb., are engi-
neers.
JEFFERSON, IA. — Within the next six
months the Jefferson El. Co. expects to pur-
chase one 150-kw, three-phase, 2200-volt
generator, one 50-kw, three-phase, 2200-volt
generator, new switchboard, including gene-
rator panels for above generators and for
feeders. Percy Gray is manager.
MONTEZUMA, IA.— Within the next six
months the Montezuma El. Lt., Htg. & Pwr.
Co. expects to purchase a few electrical
clinking utensils. George H. Huseman Is
superintendent.
SHELDON, IA. — Within the next three
months the Sheldon Lt. * Pwr, Co. expects
to erect about '_■ mile ot 2200-volt trans-
mission line to connect with a 7-mile line
being built by 11 farmers.
SPILLVILLE, IA. — The city of Spillville
is reported to nave granted a franchise to
Robert Klimesh to install an electric-light-
ing plant.
CHILLICOTHE, MO Bids will be re-
ceived by P. .1 Dixon, secretary of the
Board "i Public Works, Chtlllcothe, until
April 16 tor construction ot a filter and
furnishing pumps, motors, etc.. and other
work in connection with Improvements to
w.ilir WOrka S3 si. in I 'la lis a ml i
linns ate on tile at tin office "I He- Board
..I Public Worka ami at i in-.- of Harper
,<• siii.-s. consulting engineers. 914 Grand
Avenue, Temple, Kansas i - 1 1 > . Mo.
CLARKSBURG, MO. The Clarksburg Lt
& Pwi Co Is contemplating the installation
,.i .in . I, . n n- light mi- - ) i. in, i" cost about
j i. nun Til.- pi i ii providt foi i hi
of about 7 miles of transmission line.
Klicrgv will prnl.nl. I\ he Obtained from
Tipton, Hi. ror further Information ad-
dress Q i' Wilson. 324 Mifflin Avenue,
w llklnsbui g, Pa., until Maj I
HUME. MO Within the naxt four
months the Hume El Co expects to srecl
1 7 miles -a 1 1 1 1. ...I ... supply a
farming communlts with electricity for
lamps ami motors.
KB VRNEi . MO The Kearnej El Co
contemplating extending its transmission
line to a small town, about 6 miles distant.
to suppL electrical service there. As y.-i
nnthing definite has i n decldi
.iniiii a Ebj is manager
Apkil 10, 1916
K L EC1 RIC AL WO RLD
967
■
Th<
aunty,
vou:
-
i
i ■
•
■ by the
•■ill the feder.. .
,D, Mo- I'1
• Is Co., for the construction
t'. $30,000, of
•t. archlte< t.
i i: ii 'H. Mc > ii-
for the Installation ol
lighting plant in I'rich, to
cost about $5,000 For further information
see, of Urlch.
DONNTBROOK, N. 1> W. s M. -Inure,
It i« reported, is contemplating the Instal-
lation of an electric-lighting plant in Donny-
•
MlNc'T. N D. — Improvements are con-
; ■■■ i station c.i i
Pwr. Co., of Mlnot, which will in-
• illation of a 250-kw
and a 500-hp boiler.
IKINGS, S. D — The town ,,i
Brookii.L m addition to
the municipal power station and to build
stack for SOO-hp boilers within the
inths, also to pur. has.- two
if.- ft horizoi nd water
-
iting unit, jjmii volts, two-
tooth units directly con-
complete with switchboard. A. W.
is superintendent.
GOODWIN, S. D. — The Installation of an
ii in ';oodwin is under
• ration by local capitalists.
DUNDEE, NEB in.it a post office)
At ■ special .-lection to be held April IT the
proposal to issue $35,000 for the installa-
tion of an ornamental street-lighting sys-
tem throughout the village will be submitted
voters. Dundee is a suburb of
Omaha
GRAND ISLANI>. NEB.— Plans, it is re-
.ire being considered for extensions
Istrlbutlng system of the municipal
light plant.
I.i mp. mis. NEB. — Plans are being
ered, it is reported, by Abrahamson & John-
son for the installation of an electric-light-
ing plant and ice factory in Loomis.
NELSON, NEB. — Bids will be received by
w A McHenry, city clerk, Nelson, until
April 13 for furnishing (f.o.b.) ami install-
ing material, including poles, cross-arms,
Insulators, transformers, ornamental stand-
conduit, wire, etc., for complete street-
lighting, residential and commercial dis-
tributing system.
(.MAMA. NEB. — The Omaha & Lincoln
Ftv. «i I.t. Co. has been granted permission
Railway Commission to issue
i... n.ls and Btocks, the proceeds
used !.'!■ the erei tion ol elect™ trans-
it lines and other Improvements.
TECDMSEH, NEB- The city of Te-
eumseh is contemplating the installation of
a 100-kw generator and engine (directly
connecteil) In the municipal electric light
and water-works plant, b "thing
definite has been decided upon W. It
| is superintend, nt
VALENTINE, NEB.- At an election held
th the proposal to grant Charli ii
• ii a franchl igreement to
Ki energy from him to be distributed
City was carried. Mr. Cornell pro
build .a plant on the Nlobi i a
River, about I miles east of Valentine, and
ippl . in. i ltj with a -J 1-hour electric
HeCRACKEN, KAN Preparations, it is
r. poi ,- made for the Installa-
■■' . nt in Mi-
nn Electrlcitj for operating ihe sys-
tem will be obtained from tin- La Crosse
HOUND city, kan The i !ltj Council
onsldeiing granting franchl • to a
company for the Installation ol a n i Ii • t rlc
lighting plant in Mound City Tl
lias no) yet been closed, and the proposition
remains open to any othei party oi
p. my that cares to consider the sain.- John
1 Shi l.-rk.
SniitiuTn States
\\ \YNHSV1LLE. N C— At an •
int will be submitted to the voters.
DILL >t three
..gin and w •
•A H Crow is
; A — The pi.
I bonds for the construction
lighting plant will be sub-
,1 21.
JONESBORO, GA,- •■nig con-
.' of the
Old Mill Amusement Park.
'i, including the installation
.v lighting s>sl.-m. cafe buildings
-. to cost about 12,000
has not been
LEXINGTt IN, GA \ compan
I under the name of the Oglethorpe
[use of installing
htlng system In Lexington and
ta| sto.u is placed at
*3.
RICHLAND, GA Bonds to the amount
Voted, Of Which the
..I 15,000 vsill Ii.- used for Improve-
ments to the municipal electric-light and
water plant.
PABLO BEACH. FLA. — The city of
Pablo Beach, it is reported, will construct
i. -lighting plant by day labor. The
J B. McCreary Co., of All
suiting engineer, has charge of the engineer-
ing work.
HOT SPRINGS, ARK- Capitalists, il is
contemplating establishing an
amusement resort, including the erection of
str.et-lighting system, etc., in-
volving an expenditure of about $10,000,000.
Henry Ives Cobb, 901 Lexington Avenue.
N.w Fork, N. Y., is architect.
JuNESBORO, ARK. — It is reported that
equipment will be purchased for the State
Agricultural School at Jonesboro as fol-
lows: line 50-kva alternating-current gene-
rator and engine (directly connected), two
150-hp marine-type boilers, reinforced -con-
lokestack (130 ft. by 5 ft. >
gal steel tank, 125-ft. water tower, 10-in.
well, duplex or triplex pump. etc. V. C.
Kays, of Jonesboro. is principal.
GRETNA, LA. — The Gretna Lt. & Pwr.
Co.. recently incorporated with a capital
stock of $50,000. is reported to have ac-
quired the franchise and contract for the
lighting system in Gretna, now
under construction. Dr. Charles F. Gelbke
and others are interested in the company.
KENTWnnn. LA. — The contract for
lighting the town with electricity, it is re-
ii is been awarded to the Brooks-
Scanlon Co. Plans are being considered
for the installation of a new plant.
EUFAULA, OKLA— The Pioneer El. &
\'\\r Co., "I' Eufaula, expects to purchase
one 125-hp engine and one 100-kw genera-
tor. E. F. Sattsman is treasurer and man
ager.
BRYAN, TEN — Bids will be received at
..1 the supervising architect. Treas-
partment, Washington, D. C, until
.May 1.". for the construction, including the
mechanical equipment, interior lighting
fixtures and approaches, of the United
post office in Bryan. Drawings and
specifications may be obtained from the
above office or from the custodian of sit.- it
Bryan. O. Wenderoth is supervising archi-
tect
DALLAS, TEN — The contract for wir-
ing the Dallas Union Terminal station has
been awarded to the c M Cockrell Co.. of
HASKELL, TEN.- The Haskell Lt. &
fci Co., recently organized with a capital
stock "t (20,000, proposes to install an
elect in- light plant and ice factoi i In
Haskell. Morgan Jones is Interested in the
ORANGE, TEX. The orange Ice, Lt A
Wtr. I'n is .hanging its system from 133
i> Contract foi equipment
has been awarded to the Wcstmghouse El.
& Mfg Co
VICTORIA, TEX.— At an election to be
held April 26 tin- proposal i.> issu.
bOlldS i'oi tl .instruction of a
lighting plant will lie submitted !••
the voters.
Pacific Stales
CATHLAMET, wash C n Reeves,
ot .i.n.i - on, c H. . hits applied to the <'ii>
council for i i" year franchise to construct
and ''I. .hi . I. . ti i. light plant ill Cath-
franchlse the city is given u
, ■ .uon of
. WASH 1
... tor a
-
I nling
. .1.. v. ASH Hi. I- will I.. I
by C. 1-
oi the I tral Building.
intll April Jl for the Inst
. ml m the ti uil-stor-
nal Improvement of the port
plans on Hie in the olllce of
tary of the port board. Bidders
a submit alternative proposals up-
gns of their own.
TACOMA, WASH— The City Council has
taken under consideration the proposition
ll lggs, of tile .St. Paul
the COmpan) Often to enlarge a ;
power plant at us mill so that it could be
.n auxiliary to the municipal elec-
tric-light plant. If the city decides to ac-
cept tif oiler, the company will guarantee
to lurinsli the city with 10.UU0 lip. which
will be needed during the summer months
especially. The City Council already lias a
tentative agr.-.inent with tie
tral Htg. CO. to equip that company's pro-
posed plant as an auxiliary.
PRAIRIE CITY. ul!E- The Prairie
Pwr. Co., it is reported, is contemplating
removing its power plant, which is situated
:i miles irom this city, to its Hour mill near
01 It is understood that some im-
its will be made to the plant and
onal machinery installed.
SACRAMENTO, CAL. — A petition asking
that a new lighting district be formed to
include the blocks bounded by J and Iv and
Fourth and Sixth Streets, for improving
the lighting system, will be presented to the
imissioners by the business men of
that section.
STOCKTON, c'AL. — A new turbine-driven
generating unit (water) will be installed in
the hydroelectric plant of the Western
States Gas cv- EL Co., Stockton, California
division, on the American River, and an ad-
ditional boiler will be installed in steam
station "B."
VIS ALIA, CAL. — The Mount Whitney
il Co., of Visalia, has been author-
ized bv the State Railroad Commission to
issue $238,000 in bonds, the proceeds to be
used as follows: Completion of steam plant.
$76,400 : distribution lines and substations.
$83,85! . main-line extensions, $86,963 ; me-
ters and small transformers, $8,310; mis-
cellaneous additions, $15,686 : Kaweah
power plant No. 1. $313 ; Keweah power
plant No. 3. $25,614 ; Tule River plant.
$423.
SALT LAKE CITY. UTAH — Plans are
being prepared, it is reported, by the Utah
Ltg. & Trac. Co. for the installation of an
ornamental lighting system in the business
district.
PRESCOTTJ ARIZ. — Application has been
made to the Corporation Commission by the
Arizona Pwr. Co., of Prescott, for permis-
sion to issue notes and bonds to secure
in il- for the ''instruction of another power
plant on Fossil Creek, in Yavapai County,
the cost of which is estimated at $340,000.
CHOUTEAU, .Mc iNT. — The Montana
Pwr. Co., "i Great Falls, has taken over
,1 electric-light plant, owned by
Homer McCulIogh. The Montana company
will erect a transmission line u miles
long, from the United States Reclamation
ri liters at Sun River Canyon
this spring.
LANDER, WYO. — The Lander El. Lt &
Pwr. Co., ol Lander, is reported to be con-
templating the installation of an electric
generating station and distributing system
in Dubois.
SHERIDAN, WTO. — The installation of
..a ornamental lighting system In the imsi-
Of the City is under CO
lion.
BATTLE MOUNTAIN, NEV. — The ta-
il of in electric-light plant ill Battle
Mountain is under consideration It G
i hi .si. nsen, St. Clair Moore and 11 R
Lemaire are reported to be interest...
Canada
pi nc'an. B C New equipment is
i.eing installed in the municipal electric-
lighting plant, consisting of two slow-speed
i ngines. two f.n-kva Westinghouse
n no is. directly connected to engines,
mil two . k» .\eit.rs. F. Cameron Is city
engineer.
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 15
Weekly Record of Electrical Patents
UNITED STATES PATENTS ii
MARCH SO, 1915.
i by Robert Starr Allyn, 16 Ex-
change Place, New Vork, N. Y.]
1,133,252. Car Tri OK . W. S. Adams, Phil-
adelphia, Pa, App. died June J, 1913.
For storage I
Method i lphjtiza-
TION Of CaBJ J W. Brown,
Lakewood, Ohio. App. tiled May 6, 1912.
current of high density.
i tXSTORBB : I.. T. Cbris-
man, Buffalo, N. v. App. Hied Aug. 24,
1910. Operable from either end of car.
Tki.ki'h.'xv ; H. P. Clausen,
Rochester, N. V. App. filed Jan. 12,
1912. Uniform distribution of calls.
1,133,268. Process OF Uniting Metal
Hoi, iks : I.. P. Crecellus, Cleveland, Ohio.
App tiled June 18, 1913. Brazing copper
bands to rails.
Snap SWITCH ; C Horn, Mill-
bourne, Pa. App. filed Oct. 13, 1913.
Plush-plate wall type, lever-operated.
i Selective Signaling System ;
i: i: KJeinschmidt, New York, N. Y.
Apj. filed Sept s, 1910. Has slow-acting
magnet and other features.
i . I 88,296. Electric-Railway System;
P. W. Leffler ( deceased I. Chicago, 111.
App filed Aug. 13, 1908. Embodying
electromagnets along roadbed.
1 Electrical Signal . G. C.
Murphy. Louisville. Ky. App. filed Jan.
1. 1913. Apprises one alighting from car
of approach of car on opposite track.
1.133.316. Transformer; A. H. Pikler,
Montclalr, N. J App filed March 17,
1910. Magnetic leakage and eddy cur-
rents minimized.
1,133,33s PROTECTIVE DEVICE pob Busbar
Circuits; P. Torchio and H. R, Wood-
row. New York. N V App. filed April
24, 1914. For limiting the total current
set up in B circuit by reason of a short-
clrcuit or other fault.
16. Electric-Heating Stopper for
Liquid Containers; e C, Webster and
h. Oruenhagen, Oakland. Cal. App filed
Ajiril 80, 1914 Heating Btopper for hot-
water bags.
. W.ING 1 'KMi'E . .1 It. ' '.IS-
per, Washington, D. C. App Bled May
8, 1914. For automobiles.
Looms ;
S. B. Cutting, Bridgeport. Conn App.
filed Nov. 86, 1912 Circuit-controlling
drop devices supported by unbroken pile
Piano player: P. J.
I ireher, Toledo, i duo App. died Ma] i 1,
l '.'l i automatical!
trolled to \.n'. degree of loudness.
i ROLLED SWTTCH-
IPPARATUS FOB I
i m a .i la Ickson, ' Ihlcago,
III App filed Nov 12, 1906. Improved
■ii-'-meiit and n ipsratlon
C ii
in App til, d i tea,
■ onstruction.
Mktii i 1MB UTABATUB for
i ' ■ |
Brookllne. Mass App Hied Feb 9, 1914.
lining and amplifying phono
mdfl.
1.1 ;.'.. II:
i. ebb Electrical C 0
Lorens, i"Ti Arthur, Tett App filed
1910. In , ng trans-
C. W. Siren, Los Angeles, Cal App. filed
Jan. 16, 1907. Electrolytic condensing
interrupter.
1,133,448 Cihcuit-Closino Device; J W.
Smith, Foungstown, Ohio. App. filed
Aug. 31, 1914. Push mi Iment be-
neath carpets, etc, ror buzzers.
L, 133,449 MtTLTICONTACT RELAY j II. '1.
Webster, I :hl< ago, m App. Bled April
11, 1:112. Compact assembl] ; simple
construction.
1,133,452. Carburetor: m. i: Babbitt,
Brookfield, and J. F Beaumont, Worces-
ter, Mass App Bled July 22, 1912.
Heater warms fuel Just prior to lis mix-
ing with air.
1,133,455. Interval Demand-Indicating
Mechanism: J. w Bard, Peoria, 111.
App. Bled Dec 18, 1911 Makes record
on chart.
1,133,466. Measubino Transformer; m.
Gewecke and C Baeumler, Nuremberg.
Germans. App, Bled Nov. 3, 1914 Ratio
of transformation adjustable during man-
ufacture or during testing.
1,133,524. Electric Current Conducting
and Distributing Means. P. a. zika.
Chicago, 111. App. filed June 9, 1913.
Distributer directly connected to spark
plugs.
1.133,535. Outlet-Box Hanger. F. L.
Cain and C. J. Borff. Chicago. 111. App.
filed Aug. ii, l!H4. Lateralis adjustable
to suit the distance between joists.
1,133.549. Party-Line Cut-Outj w. b.
Francis, Prague, Okla. App. filed June
14. 191?,. Eavesdropping preventer oper-
ated by receiver hook.
1,133,569. FcseClip: H. N Midler, Pitts-
burgh, Pa. App. filed July 15, 1914. For
heavy-current knife-blade contact fuses.
1.133.578. Electrical Metal-Working
Apparatus; A. F. Rietzel and il. E.
Barstow, Charlestown, K. 1 App. filed
Nov. 20, l'JOS. Metal is elei
heated as it progresses through machine
1.133.579. Electric Heating Element;
E. J. Rohne. Minneapolis. Minn App
filed Oct. 3n. 1918. Flexible pad.
f.133,597. Recording Instrument; C, h.
Wilson, Mount Vernon, N. V. App. filed
Jan. 7, 1914. Has a pointer and striker.
1,133,628. Galvanizing Wire, Hoops,
Sheets and the Like; H. H. Field,
Grappenhall ; M. Howarth. Latchford,
and E. A. Atkins, Liverpool, Eng. App.
filed Feb. 11, 1913. Hot galvanizing;
"dross" and oxides eliminated
1,133,635. Art of SUBMARINE Signaling.
W. Hahnemann and H. Hecht. Kiel. Ger-
many. App. filed May 22. 1918. Micro
phone subjected to pressure by vibration
of tuning fork.
1,133,641. Plate for Elf.ctbical ob Sec-
ondary Batteries oh Accumim.ati h;s . I '.
Hancock anil I >. David, Cardiff, I
App. filed Aug. 25, mil. Usee paste of
oxides of lead, sulphuric acid and sub-
stance rich in carbo-hydrates
1,133,663. Distant-Control System fob
Electric Motobs ; G. A. Pierce, Phila-
delphia, l':i App. filed Aug. '.'. 1911
Especially for submarines
1,133,671. Method of and Apparatus fob
Arresting Electric Currents; a R.
Sharpies, Philadelphia, Pa, App filed
June 7, 1912. Porous electrodes feed
liquid to spark-gap
Reversing Mecb inism fob
IIotori ii. Steinhart, Stutt-
gart, i termanj top Bled .him I. 191 I
' londui i in' nbera for the brush-hold-
i ble to reverse motor,
LR-ALARM Sys-
tem: J. i' Williams, New Vnii,, N v.
App Bled Nov. 22. 1910. I 0. \
ploymetit of time mechanism,
Mi THOD OF LND top LB errs FOB
Sending signal Impulses; a \ n..\
land, < 'iirisii.iina. Norwaj App filed
Feb. 12. I'll
■at ion of two or more mi.
UBJR; T Sha .
ensack, N J top. Bled Sep) 19. 1918
■ ii i.i minimise
phantom Circuits.
I i: FOB LlOH i i
CI ITS
v a tople, Dayton, Ohio top Bled
Mm 19, [914 l >i» ' itetJ in i.. j « imii
when removed lea vei I ice "i auto
l.oal .1
.Mri pip] s-i i ay ; G.
\ i Vpp Bled
Sept 81. I'M I Coi ml ill. ,,,- semi
i iitoin i tie telephones.
1,133,787. Relay Device; U. Babcock, Chi-
cago, 111. App. filed Oct. 6, 1913. Com-
pact and accessible for adjustment and
repair.
Telephone-Exchange-System
Impulse Transmitter; J. Erickson, Chi-
cago, 111. App filed June 14, 1909.
Back-and-forth rotary dial.
1,133,806. Process of Electrically Unit-
ing Metallic Members ; L. S. Lach-
man. New York, N. Y. App. filed Oct.
19, 11' 10. Parts welded together with in-
terposed member between.
1,133.819. Railway Switching and Indi-
cating Circuits : W. H. Reichard, New
York, N. Y. App. filed Aug. 17, 1910.
For switching and indicating back.
1.133.833. Head Support for Telephone
Receivers ; C. Adams-Randall, Boston,
Mass App. filed Jan. 20, 1911 Readily
adjustable to suit all conditions.
1.133.834. Dynamo-Electric Machine; D.
Balachowsky and P. Caire, Neuilly-sur-
Seine, France. App. filed June 16, 1909.
Means controlled by shifting of neutral
line due to armature reaction for vary-
ing strength of the field.
1,133,923. Telephony: S. G. Brown. Lon-
don, Eng. App. filed July 6, 1914. Tele-
phone relay system.
1,133,946. Switch Box; R. P. Farrell. Ox-
nard, Cal. App. filed Feb. 17, 1912. At-
tachable to studding and has means for
attachment of laths thereto.
1,133,967. Apparatus for Electro-Osmotic
Process ; H. Ilig and B. Schwerin.
Frankfort-on-the-Main. Germany. App
filed Feb. 26, 1914. Suspension washes
against a large cathode surface.
1,133,971. Truck Connection for Loco-
motives and Cars; W. F. Kiesel. Jr..
Altoona, Pa. App. filed Dec. 8, 1914.
Special structure for excessive cab
length.
1,133,946 — Switch Box
1,133,976. Cable Rack; J. Kraus. Kimber-
ly. Wis. App. filed Nov 12. CM 3. Built-
up unit construction.
1,133,990. Ignition Dynamo. C T. Mason.
Sumter, S. c App filed July 28. 1913.
Reduces end friction of rotating element
1,134,007. Method ok LInttino. Sheets of
Brass, ai mini m and Other Metals or
Allots of High Conductivity for
Heat. n. Prostler, Berlin, Germany.
App. tiled Nov. 11, 1912. Abutting elites
are fused and melted together by electric
current and pressure.
P U'ER-1'EREOItATINC M
.1 T Schaaff, Washington, i> C, App.
Bled Julj 21, I'M Keys close circuits
through magnet operated punches,
I Portj -tWO claims I
1,134,068. i. imii. in Apparatus cor Explo-
sion Engines i: i. Parrta, Jr., New
Y..ik. N Y App filed Mai 1. 1914.
Vibrating electromagnet combined with
magneto having primary ami secondary
windings on us armature.
So I Nl.-Tl: ansmittin.:
Sea I lie. Wash
app in..! Jan. 2n. 1913, Amplifier
1,134,064 B Am-
nions, Houston, Tex. App. tiled Jan 21.
1916. Employing minimum number of
line and lead wires,
I. KM. "71 Wigw in h'l \au vn , .1 \ Hell.
Lngeles, Cal top tiled Jan 31.
1914. Vibrating signal for i.iilu
Ings.
i i Iiocess nui Prodi ci wo i ' lb-
kND Hi Pi
Chicago. Ill App filed Julj 17. 1918.
cn borundum prw i
Electrical World
The conaolldatlon of Elbcthical Would and Encumber and American Ki.ecthician.
i'ul>linhed by McOraw I'ubllBhlng Company, Inc.
VoL 65
\1.\\ YORK. SATURDAY, APRIL 17. 1915
No. 16
Morm Losses
THE storm damage in North Carolina suggests the
importance to central stations of a comprehensive
record of costs of casualties of this nature. Small
losses due to wind and precipitation are to be expected
and belong properly in normal operating expenses. No
one can anticipate where heavy losses will occur or cal-
culate accurately upon the resulting extraordinary ex-
penditures. These visitations of nature are without
• parallels. Several years ago the Railroad Com-
mission of Wisconsin made a study of losses from par-
ticularly destructive storms; two years ago Indiana and
Ohio utilities suffered heavily from unprecedented
Hoods. Such facts point to the existence of valuable
data. In places where it is a periodical experience to
have losses of some severity but not of extraordinary
financial cost the expense can be included in rates, but
unple a solution is not always commercially prac-
ticable when disaster comes once or twice in a lifetime.
One way to provide is by distributing the expense over
a period of, say, five years, but that puts the cost upon
consumers after the occurrence of the unwelcome event,
not upon those who were receiving service at the time.
Better financial protection is assured by a reserve fund,
the proper amount of which cannot, unfortunately, be
determined in advance, but which, even though very
small, is a safeguard against dangerous depletion of
resources.
An H per Cent Return in New York
ALLOWED rates of return may be expected to differ
substantially in various localities, but it is sig-
nificant that 8 per cent on the agreed valuation is per-
mitted to the New York Telephone Company in the
financial stronghold of the country. A return of 8 per
cent on $82,000,000 is equal to 6 per cent upon $109,-
300,000. The valuation claimed by the company was
reduced by the Public Service Commission, Second Dis-
trict, but the acceptance of the reduction was evidently
coupled with a clear understanding of the fact that the
rate of return leaves some leeway in dealing with cap-
tali/.ation. If one-half of the valuation be assumed to
• 'insist of bonds and the interest cost on those be esti-
mated at 6 per cent, the return available for the remain-
ing stock capitalization would be 10 per cent. Part of
the excess on the bonds above the exact interest cost
thereon may be applied to returns on elements not ac-
cepted in the valuation by the commission if there be
any such. That is to say, 6 per cent might go for bond
interest, 8 per cent for stock dividends, and the ex-
above necessary bond interest for returns on the
smaller amount the propriety of whose capitalization the
commission now rejects. The grounds on which the
commission declines to recognize certain elements in
capitalization may be precisely the grounds which courts
would hold valid.
Central-Station Gain in Income
THE continued strength in central-station income,
revealed by the statistics compiled by the Elec-
trical World as published elsewhere in this issue, stim-
ulates confidence. Our returns for January, 1915, show
4.8 per cent gain in income and 1.7 per cent gain in out-
put as compared with January, 1914. Since September
the record in income has been somewhat less favorable.
The percentage of increase is over one-half of the per-
centage of increase in May, 1914, the month in which
our compilations were started and the best month as to
gain in income reported by us. The increase in output
in January was less favorable. Excepting only Novem-
ber, 1914, it was the smallest gain in output in the nine
months covered by the tables. It represents a decline
from increases that were around 12 per cent and 13 per
cent in May, June and July, 1914. That the rate of in-
crease in income held so much better than the rate of
increase in output is attributable, of course, to the loss
of low-rate business on account of industrial inactivity.
Continuous Waves in Radiotelegraphy
LONG-DISTANCE radiotelegraphy has already be-
come so far developed, from an engineering point
of view, that its efficiency is a matter of practical im-
portance, that is, the ratio of the power received at the
receiving station apparatus to the power delivered at
the switchboard of the sending station. The more
usual form of the expression is, however, the ampere
ratio, or the ratio of the current at the base of the
receiving antenna to the current at the base of the send-
ing antenna. This ratio in long-distance radio trans-
mission is of the order of from 10 ! to 10"; or some-
thing like one-ten-thousandth of 1 per cent, so that it
is not on the Same plane as the ampere efficiency of elec-
trical apparatus in energy transmission. Considered as
a device translating from electric to radiant power, an
incandescent lamp has a very poor power efficiency, but,
by comparison with efficiencies in radiotelegraphy, it is
extraordinarily efficient. However, in its operation the
incandescent lamp turns its wasted energy into locally
distributed heat. The radio machine liberates its
wasted energy into large space, some into the soil or
ocean, some into trees and buildings, much into the
970
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 16
atmosphere, and perhaps some into interstellar space.
In his paper on "Continuous Waves in Long-Distance
Radiotelegraphy," read at a recent meeting of the
American Institute of Electrical Engineers, Mr. L. F.
Fuller discussed the relative advantages of damped and
continuous waves for long-distance radio transmission.
The conclusion is that continuously generated waves
are somewhat more effective and efficient than damped
waves. Without going into the mathematics of the
problem, this is not a surprising deduction, because if
waves of a given initial frequency and amplitude are
emitted in damped groups, it is manifest that the aver-
age strength of the group must be less than the initial
strength, to say nothing of the effects of discontinuity
when the group is stopped and the next wave train is
started. Consequently a mode of generation in which
the initial amplitude and frequency are steadily main-
tained for an indefinite period ought to have an appre-
ciable advantage. Abundant experimental evidence re-
corded in the paper tends to show that disturbances of
radio waves are developed in transmission. The origin
of these disturbances is not yet fully established, but
it would seem that they are to be looked for in the
upper strata of our atmosphere:
Feeder Protective System
In our Digest this week will be found an outline of
the Callender-Waters system for automatic protection
of underground feeders. As our readers well know,
much effort has been spent on the development of such
protective systems during the past few years and sev-
eral of them are in service in England with various de-
grees of success. In the one now described an ordinary
cable is surrounded just under the lead covering by cop-
per tapes alternately belonging to the two sides of a
relay circuit. If anything of a serious character hap-
pens to the cable, the relay circuit will be closed and the
feeder will be automatically disconnected at both ends.
Certain modifications in the connections make it possi-
ble to use the scheme on either alternating-current or
direct-current feeders, although, of course, its most im-
portant function would be the protection of the long
high-tension lines which most need automatic cut-outs.
The principal difficulties with all these systems of cables
containing combined protective devices are, first, the
cost of the protective device, which makes a cable highly
special in character, and, second, the added difficulty of
laying and caring for such cables, particularly with re-
spect to making joints and protection against surges
and other causes of abnormal voltage.
If one could start fresh with almost any system of
distribution and work out the logical arrangement of
feeders and main Ipptyj he would probably find
that proper protection to the system could be secured
with relative ease. Most of our present difficulties arise
from the fact that the networks have been built up
piecemeal in an Incoherent and inefficient way, which
affect! the costs adversely and the factors of safety to
an even greater degree. Concerning the automatic pro-
tective devices, it is impossible yet to say whether, on
the one hand, they are to be regarded as the logical de-
velopment of a safety system or, on the other, as useful
and somewhat costly makeshifts forced upon us by un-
fortunate lack of foresight. Whatever may be the facts
in the case, the automatic-protection plan deserves a
thorough trial in service, since, even if it be applied
only to some essential portions of a distribution system,
it may avert a serious disaster to the service by its
prompt action. Holding on to a short-circuit, either wil-
fully, as when in the old days it was considered good
form to burn out a fault, or unwittingly, as may happen
in any system of large size, is likely to involve serious
consequences to the public, and hence, whatever view
one may take as to automatic protection, it is not wise
to cast the plan aside without an honest effort to dis-
cover its real merits.
Renovation of Interborough Plant
In this issue is described the enlargement of the
generating station of the Interborough Rapid Transit
Company, of New York City, now being made to keep up
with the increasing load to be thrown upon the system
as the new railway lines go into service. The situation
is a particularly interesting one on account of the fact
that the plant now being reorganized is of compara-
tively recent design, having been in service only about
fourteen years. It was constructed at a critical period
in power-plant development, being, in fact, one of the
very last of the large reciprocating-engine installations.
The steam turbine had not then reached a state of de-
velopment where its future was certain. The change
now being inaugurated is from the old prime mover to
the newer, four large reciprocating-engine sets being
displaced by three turbo-generators. The four dis-
placed units were of 7500-kw rating, while each of the
three new units has a rating equal to the entire four
engine-driven units now displaced. The condenser
plant, which was originally of the jet type, has been
changed as far as the turbines are concerned to sur-
face condensers of the class now very generally em-
ployed for large units. The boiler plant as yet re-
mains substantially as built initially. It consists of
units of 500-hp nominal rating, considerably smaller
than would now be used in a plant of this magnitude,
but the comparative newness of the equipment rendered
the change uneconomical at present, and the principal
alteration, or rather addition, is that of standard super-
heaters for all the boilers, giving 200 deg. of super-
temperature, even when the boilers are hard pushed.
Aside from the changes in the main units of
the plant, steam turbines have replaced reciprocating
engines in driving various auxiliaries, and there has
been a complete remodeling of the electrical distribution
features of the plant with the special end in view Ol
protecting the underground cables from damage in case
of short-circuits. Reactors of large capacity are in-
serted between the generator and the main bus, and be-
tween this and the auxiliary bus, and other changes in
April
E L E f'TRl C A l- world
971
the distri*xi»>jn system have been made to assure sim-
pler and safer performance.
Considering the plant as a whole, the most startling
change has been the prodigious increase in the output
of the station by substituting turbines for the old re-
ciprocating engines. These did honorable service and
ha., had their day. Reciprocating-engine units were
never developed in this country to the point of economy
which was really practicable and often attained in Con-
tinental practice. American engineers seemed for a
long time afraid of triple expansion, of high boiler
• res and of the high superheat which are common
and advantageous features of foreign practice. This
backwardness was, perhaps, not without its reward in
that it helped on the cause of the turbine in no small
degree so that in the long run little or no advantage
was lost. Present indications point to the advantage of
boiler units considerably larger than those now em-
ployed in the plant under consideration, but sound econ-
omy dictates retaining a good and serviceable boiler
plant at least during the time of rebuilding and transi-
tion. The changes wrought in the Interborough power
house are a monument to the rapid change of the art in
the first decade of the current century, and point the
way for further advance in generating-station economy.
Principles of Rate-Making
From time to time we have published many articles
on electric rates. On the whole, the most complete dis-
cussion of the subject in recent years is contained in
the article by Mr. A. S. Ives concluded in this issue.
This article covers ground ordinarily not dealt with in
the consideration of rate-making. In the history of
electric distribution there have been many schemes of
charging for electrical energy and service, based upon
many theories and great diversity of practice. In a
rough way electrical rates may be divided into three
parts, or rather three classes— contract rates, meter
rates, and what Mr. Ives refers to as load-factor rates,
rates based in some form on the amount of use of the
connected load or the maximum load at any time
demanded.
The first division embodies the earliest idea in the
sale of electricity during the period before suitable
metering instruments had been developed. In this case
the price charged was a simple matter of bargain and
sale, based fundamentally on an assumed use of the
lamps or motors, and carried out in practice by various
special contracts. In short, the central station charged
frankly what the traffic would bear, arranging such
figures on the basis of a regular service charge. This
method of rate-making was extremely crude and in-
volved the station in many unpleasant tangles owing to
one customer finding out what rate another one was
obtaining. Everybody, including the customer, was re-
lieved when metering became the general rule. Meter-
ing in its ordinary form appeared good enough, but it
was based on a misconception, namely, that one could
so closely average the conditions of service to all classes
of customers that a meter rate, with a mere quantity
discount, would come sufficient! tisfying all
consumers. Comparatively short experience showed
that the result was quite different. As a matter of
meeting the service conditions of the station, the meth-
od was a failure in that a peak load was rated on the
same basis as a twenty-four-hour-per-day load consum-
ing the same total energy. Moreover, it proved to be
very inconvenient, and this, perhaps, was the real cause
of its undoing, in that it was a failure from the stand-
point of charging what the traffic would bear. Subse-
quently came the evolution of a great group of so-called
load-factor rates, the numerous modifications of which
Mr. Ives discusses very effectively. Rates of this kind
give prominence to the standby charge and make it
extremely easy, by combination of a demand charge
with an energy charge, to arrange a discount curve
possessing almost any characteristic required to meet
the exigencies of local service. If, for example, there
are in any territory a considerable number of large
consumers — isolated plants let us say — who can be
served only at a rate which would be ruinous if ex-
tended to all customers, it is perfectly possible to de-
vise a combination demand and service rate which shall
meet the requirement of charging what the traffic will
bear with respect to this particular group without ex-
tending unjustifiably great discounts to others. The
same general device, in one form or another, has there-
fore become very widely used as giving rise to per-
haps the maximum flexibility in producing a general
discount curve suitable for meeting the conditions that
may arise under almost any circumstances.
From the practical standpoint the principal fault of
all such rates lies in the fact that they are complicated
and apt to affect certain classes of customers in a way
that is disadvantageous. When one considers the total
number of factors which go to make up any rate sup-
posed to take account of them all, he discovers that
complete adjustment of each factor involves complica-
tions beyond hope of solution, and it has therefore been
the invariable practice of rate makers to choose cer-
tain items as independent variables and to average the
others. The selection of the items which should be
chosen for treatment in each of these ways has in-
volved great diversity of practice. By no means have
the important factors always been made the independ-
ent variables. For example, the distribution charge
against the individual consumer, depending chiefly upon
his distance from the station, is a quantity almost in-
variably taken by general average because no com-
munity would agree to that particular kind of dis-
crimination in charging for the service rendered to
its several members; moreover, the time of maximum
demand, which quite commonly is much more impor-
tant than its absolute amount, is very infrequently con-
sidered in spite of the fact that the old two-rate meter
scheme had many good features. Each actual rate is
the result of many compromises in the treatment of the
component factors. In any event, some form of load-
factor rate seems best to meet present requirements,
with the sole qualification that it must not depart too
widely from simplicity.
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 16
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Letters of Messrs. Tripp and Matthews on Business
Conditions
To the Editor of the Electrical World:
Sir: — I was very much interested in the symposium
on business conditions by Mr. Guy E. Tripp, of the
Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company, and
Mr. Claude L. Matthews, of W. N. Matthews & Brother,
which appeared on page 517 of the Electrical World
of Feb. 27. They agree on most points, but seem to
be in disagreement on that question regarding which
no one expects anybody to be able to convince anyone
else who does not want to be convinced, namely, the
tariff.
At the outset allow me to disclaim any intention of
trying to settle the tariff question in a manner satis-
factory to all parties in the controversy. I simply wish
to make a few suggestions regarding factors which
must be considered by Republicans and Democrats alike
if they expect to evolve any tenable conclusions regard-
ing the relation of tariff legislation to business condi-
tions in the United States.
Mr. Matthews asks if it is not a fact that "the real
cause of this unprecedented business depression" is
that, owing to the destruction of property in Europe
and the enormous expenditure
of funds by belligerent gov-
ernments, the supply of Euro-
pean capital which is normal-
ly invested in new enterprises
in the United States is now
drastically cut off, intimating
that it is this influence rather
than the lower tariff duties
which restrains business ac-
tivity.
Mr. Tripp replies that
"while the present inability
to obtain foreign capital by
reason of the conditions in
Europe is a handicap, it can
scarcely be considered the
sole or principal cause of the
business depression beginning
long before the present war
was entered upon and at least
coincidental with the general
agitation for legislative regu-
lation of all business, the un-
certainties in manufacturing
industries due to prospective
and actual tariff legislation,
and the lack of earning power
of the railways."
Both will agree that busi-
ness activity is influenced
by the supply of investment capital and by legislation.
The difference of opinion seems to be as to the weight
which should be assigned to the fariff, and it is impor-
tant to every voter that he should arrive at some intelli-
gent opinion regarding how much weight should be as-
signed to ■ ■ affecting business conditions, else
there will be much misdirected political agitation, owing
to the lack of what might !"• 'ailed the "scientific
attitude" toward political questions. It is an axiom of
e thai the more compreheni Ive the phenomena ob-
ed ami analyzed, the more reliable and accurate will
bethededo lulated. [n this discussion the phe-
nomena con idered n relation to the present bu
depression by these two gentlemen are, first, the supply
of capital and, second, the legislative activities of our
government.
The New Tariff Law and Business
There . is no doubt that business has become worse
and worse ever since the Democratic tariff law went
into effect a little over a year ago; consequently, the
Republican feels justified in ascribing the business de-
pression entirely to the lowered tariff duties. Econo-
mists and business men alike disagree as to the merits
of protection and free trade, but everyone is agreed
that the purpose of lowered tariff duties is to let in a
greater supply of foreign-made goods in order that
prices may be lowered. Hence, when Mr. Tripp says
that the reduction of tariff duties was responsible for
an increase of $133,000,000 in our imports from March
1 to Aug. 1, 1914, we are all agreed that the lower tariff
duties would have a tendency in that direction. The
impartial seeker of the truth, however, must take into
consideration any other factors which bear on the situa-
tion, and obviously the most important consideration in
studying international trade is the trend of commodity
prices throughout the world.
In the accompanying chart is a "barometer" showing
KAN BAROMETER OF TRADE AND FINANCE
the general trend of commodity prices in England, and
since England is a free-trade market and the center of
international commerce, we believe it is the best index
ot the trend of international trade obtainable, repre-
senting an average of about 100 articles of commerce.
It shows that from 1909 until 1913 the worldwide trend
of trade and prices was strongly upward. In the United
States, however. Bradstreet's price index shows that
business and prices in this country were on the decline
during 1910 and 1911; consequently, if the Democratic
tariff had gone into effect in 1910 or 1911, when busi-
ness was expanding in Europe and declining in the
United States, our exports would have tfone on increas-
Apku. 17, 1916
ELECTRICAL WORLD
'.'73
ing, owing to the fact that Europe offered a better
market than the Unit. ran the standpoint of
values, and, although the lower duties would have tended
to increase imports, our trade balance would have shown
an increasing tendency regardless of tariff legislation
owing to the world-wide trend of trade at that time.
The chart also shows that from the beginning of 1913
until the fall of 1914 prices and business declined in
Europe, and this fact was probably as important as the
Democratic tariff in causing our imports to increase,
for Europe was no longer offering high prices for goods,
and the natural tendency was to dump European goods
in the United States or any other country in which a
market could be found.
But notice the trend of prices in England during the
past few months. They have risen much faster than
prices in this country, the result being that European
manufacturers are finding a good market at home for
most articles, and our American manufacturers also
are taking advantage of the higher prices in Europe,
the result being that, in spite of the Democratic tariff,
our exports have increased faster recently than our im-
ports.
As 1 have said before, however, we are all agreed
that the tendency of lower tariff duties is to increase
imports. My point merely is that the international
trade situation is as important in determining the bal-
ance of trade as the tariff. An opinion which considers
only one factor and excludes the other is biased and
necessarily short-sighted.
Trend of Prices and Trade
But let us go deeper. What determines the trend of
prices and trade? The answer is that the three most
important factors are politics, crops, and the supply of
investment capital. The first two differ largely in dif-
ferent countries, and their influence must be analyzed
for each country separately. The money and security
markets, however, are international affairs, and in mak-
ing generalizations regarding the worldwide trend of
trade, therefore, we submit that the most useful basis
of judging the outlook is a chart indicating the supply
of capital available for the promotion of new enter-
prises. And since corporations and individuals alike
generally borrow a certain proportion of their invest-
ment funds from the banks when promoting new enter-
prises and buying securities, an index of the supply of
banking funds throughout the world always shows us
when there is an abundance of investment capital, or
the contrary.
After charting the supply of banking funds in all the
principal banking centers of the world, we find that the
resources of the Bank of France always furnish a re-
liable index of the general international banking situa-
tion. Whenever this index of banking funds has
indicated an abundant supply of capital, as in 1902,
1905 and 1909, it has been possible for American rail-
roads to sell large amounts of bonds on advantageous
terms and business in the United States has expanded.
Whenever the supply of banking funds has fallen below
normal, however, as in 1907, 1911, 1913, etc., the result
has been that new construction work in the United
States has been checked.
As we pointed out above, the supply of banking funds
is not the only factor to be considered in judging busi-
ness conditions, but we believe we have shown that in
addition to studying the political outlook and the prog-
ress of the crops at home, it is equally important to give
intelligent attention to the trend of foreign trade and
the supply of capital funds in Europe in order to arrive
at a well-balanced conclusion.
The present war has brought home to every American
business man and investor that hi? economic welfare
" dependent entirely upon local conditions, but that
we are all part of a universal nation whose boundaries
are as long and as broad as the earth.
Warren F. Hickernell.
St. Li>\u.<. Mi' < k».
Opportunities for Manufacturers in Russia
To the Editor of the Electrical WORLD :
Sir: — In his letter in the Electrical World of
March 27 Mr. J. G. Koppel says that the electrical
trade in Russia is concentrated to a great extent in the
Baltic provinces where there is no need of the Russian
language as the population of that territory speak Ger-
man. He writes: "The most densely populated parts of
Russia, starting from the Gulf of Finland, are the
cities of Reval, Riga, Windau, Libau and Mitau. Most
of the people are of German and Scandinavian descent
and prefer to talk German rather than Russian. The
people living between Mitau and Warsaw are of Lithu-
anian and Polish descent and do not like to talk Russian
at all, because they hate Russians and the Russian lan-
guage, so that one must use German if he wishes to
transact business with them."
Mr. Koppel's statement is both inconsistent and un-
true. The population of the Russian Baltic provinces
is composed of Esthonians and Letts, the one a Mon-
golian, the other an Arian race. About 7 per cent of
the population in the towns of the Baltic are German,
and even they are mostly either Esthonians, Letts or
Germanized Scandinavians. No people of Scandinavian
descent live in the above-named provinces of Russia.
The language in Reval, Dorpat and Pernau is Esthonian
and that in Riga, Mitau, Libau and Windau is Lettish —
languages which have no relation whatsoever to Ger-
man.
Changes in the Language
It is true that a handful of German nobility is
still trying to maintain a hold on the administrative
power of the provinces which they obtained through
their clever influence at the Russian court. The official
language in the courts and higher schools is Russian.
The University of Dorpat and the other colleges of the
provinces, which were German some half a generation
ago, are now Russian. I myself am a graduate of the
old German system of schools in Dorpat. The educated
classes of the Baltic provinces, such as the merchant
and industrial class, speak not only the native tongue —
either Esthonian or Lettish — but also German and Rus-
sian. Some fifteen years ago in the Baltic provinces
there was a bitter feeling against the Russian bureau-
cracy, but never against the Russian people. On ac-
count of their higher education the Esthonians and
Letts are more patriotic than the real Russians. The
school system of the Baltic provinces surpasses that in
many west European countries. The people in the towns
mentioned by Mr. Koppel are good linguists and speak
three languages. They understand Russian and carry
on an extensive trade with the central Russian prov-
inces. Mr. Koppel states that business can be conducted
in the German language, but I know that Russian will
be needed also. All of the official institutions are
Russian.
I fully agree with Mr. Koppel that the best locations
for securing the Russian electrical trade are Riga and
Petrograd, and perhaps also Reval. My urgent advice
to the American manufacturers who wish to do trade
with Russia is to use the Russian language and have
their catalogs printed in Russian.
Ivan Narodny.
New York, X. V.
Managing Director ltussian Chamber
of Commerce of America.
974
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 66, No. 16
ELECTRICAL INDUSTRY IN ENGLAND
All Manufacturers of Generating Apparatus Working at
Full Pressure — Camps Are Electrically Lighted
By Haydn Harrison, Electrical Engineer, London
Since I wrote my last article on the subject of the
electrical industry in this country (.published in the
Electrical World of Jan. 2, 1915 — Ed.J, war has more
and more affected every industry over here. Lord
Kitchener's call for men resulted in all classes flocking
to the colors, so that engineering shops, factories, gen-
erating stations and all employers of labor found them-
selves short-handed. The first feeling was one of re-
lief in many cases, as it had been realized that there
would be serious trouble from want of employment.
This feeling did not last long, for it soon became ap-
parent that the demand for munitions of war would
have to be supplied largely from this country.
The "War of Engineers"
This war should be known as the "war of engineers."
Germany's engineers had been making preparations by
which they were able to bring every improvement sug-
gested by science to the assistance of the army and
navy of their country, and at the commencement of the
war it soon became apparent that they were better
equipped with modern armaments than the allies to
whom they were opposed.
This has had to be righted largely by the engineers
of this country. Workshops and factories of all classes
have had to abandon their ordinary operations and work
at high pressure to produce some accessory necessary
to carry on a successful campaign under modern con-
ditions, and it is fortunate that, as a maritime nation,
most of our engineers are of a class accustomed to a
great variety of work.
Naturally, large shipbuilding works and arsenals have
been pushed to their utmost capacity, and when the
history of the war is written it will be found that the
output of these works under emergency conditions has
been of an almost incredible extent. Dreadnaughts,
which would have been completed possibly in twelve
months' time under ordinary circumstances, have been
finished, fully equipped and quietly launched upon the
water, and are now doing their work elsewhere. Sub-
marines, torpedoes and other naval craft have been pro-
duced and are being produced at a wonderful rate, and
the electrical machinery for these is keeping many of
our factories working night and day.
The aircraft which form the new element in the war
and which have proved so valuable for scouting and for
range-finding in long-distance artillery work have been
and are being manufactured in large numbers, and it
is a striking fact that these machines are now produced
with a certain knowledge that they will carry out ef-
ficiently the work for which they are intended.
But the greatest demand of all is for artillery, am-
munition and the other requirements of our new army.
Two million men from this country alone are now either
on their way to or ready for the front, in addition to
those who are already fighting there. The arming of
these men, in addition to assisting our allies with arms
and ammunition, has indeed thrown on the engineers
of this country a task which at one time would have
appeared impossible of execution, but it has been and
is being carried nut a! a rate m|' which every English-
man has a right to be proud.
Some conception of Hie pressure which is put upon
the factories can be gathered from the fact that in
Birmingham, one of the largeai centers of production
of small accessories, the demand for electrical energy
for workshops has become so great that a new tem-
porary generating station |g being put up. In Man
Chester similar extensions have proved necessary, and
the same applies all over the country.
All the makers of electrical generating machinery are
working at full pressure, most of the stock of machines
suitable for military or naval purposes having been
commandeered by the government at the start. Inci-
dentally motor-vehicle manufacturers are being called
upon for outputs far in excess of the normal, the demand
being for heavy chassis of the very best construction,
which are provided with suitable bodies for the con-
veyance of men, food and ammunition, and immediately
shipped off to the front for the purposes of army
transit.
The housing of the hundreds of thousands of troops
under training has necessitated the erection of camps
all over the country. These camps are put up on more
permanent lines than is generally realized. Nearly all
of them are lighted by electrical energy, and in many
cases generating stations have had to be erected. Prac-
tically all the wiring contractors and wiremen in the
country who have not joined the forces are on this work,
and all the cable, accessories and electrical fixture mak-
ers are working at high pressure to produce the neces-
sary apparatus.
This class of work is not in any way special and
therefore can be conducted under existing organiza-
tions, but the production of shells and other munitions
of war has of necessity been increased to such an extent
that a great many factories and workshops have had to
cease their ordinary work in order that the tools mas-
be given up to the production of this particular class
of material. The government has taken powers by
which it can commandeer whole works for production
of special articles and is in fact making use of works
in this way.
The consequence is that works still free to manufac-
ture electrical appliances are very full, despite the fact
that, where possible, electrical undertakings are post-
poning any extensions until such a time as money can
be spared for the purpose more easily.
Increase in Cost of Coal
The shortage of labor at the collieries and the con-
gestion of the railways by military transport has led
naturally to a large increase in the cost of coal delivered
at electrical works, and this, of course, applies equally
to gas works. This increased cost of coal is necessi-
tating modifications in charges for electrical energy,
and in many cases the gas companies have already
raised prices by 10 or 20 per cent. As a rule, however,
the electrical undertakings are holding back, pending
developments. No doubt the effect that this will have
on the balance sheets of electrical supply concerns will
be considerable, especially in those cases where a cheap
energy supply forms the bulk of the units delivered.
It is worthy of note also that this form of supply has
increased, whereas, owing to restrictions which have
been instituted as a protection against the enemy's air-
craft, and which apply both to private and to public
lighting, the higher-priced units for lighting purposes
have decreased.
Considering the congested condition of our factories
and workshops due to the War Office and Admiralty
work, it is not surprising that there is a falling off of
exports. As anticipated, the imports from the United
States have increased rapidly and in December had
reached a value which nearly equaled the highest ever
reached from Ci rmany.
The electrical industry in this country is therefore
in a state which is unique and cannot be compared with
any previous state. In reality it is among those m
dustries that are concentrated at the rear of the great
army.
April 17. 1916
E i. ECT RICAL WORLD
Enlargement of New York Interborough Station
One-half of Seventy -fourth Street Station, Supplying Klectricit\ tn Elevated Railroad.
Remodeled, Increasing Rating 364 Per Cent
ON account of tin- prospective increase in the de-
mand upon the generating plants of the Inter-
borough Rapid Transit Company in New York
due to the third-tracking of the elevated lines, the Sev-
enty-fourth Street station is being remodeled. The
changes are now approaching completion, two out of
three new 30,000-kw turbo-generator units being in
operation and carrying all of the load except during the
peaks, when the remaining 7500-kw turbine and four
reciprocating engines are sometimes called upon for
assistance. One unit, shown in Fig. 1, is quite com-
plete, and the second, while assisting in carrying the
load, is undergoing an exhaustive series of tests. The
foundations for the third unit are under construction.
The remodeling, which is being done with a view to
the ultimate installation of a total of eight 30,000-kw
units, is being carried on within the original building.
For the present it involves principally the substitution
of three turbine generators for four engine generators
(see Figs. 2 and 3) ; the making over of one-half of the
boiler plant opposite the turbines by replacing Roney
stokers with Taylor underfeed stokers, adding super-
heaters and removing the economizers ; the partial re-
placement of motor-driven triplex with turbine-driven
centrifugal boiler-feed pumps, and the complete rear-
rangement of the electrical switching system with the
addition of current-limiting reactors.
The Old Station
The old generating station, built 1901, was the model
steam power plant of that time. Its equipment com-
prised eight Reynolds Allis-Chalmers double, horizontal-
vertical, cross-compound engines of 12,000-hp actual
or 8000-hp normal rating each, driving 11,000-volt
revolving-field Westinghouse alternators, the largest
that were ever built up to 1901. Each engine unit
was essentially two separate compound engines at the
ends of the shaft, each having a 44-in. high-pressure
cylinder and an 88- in . low-pressure cylinder and of
60-in. strike, the speed being 75 r.p.m. By the 135-deg.
setting of the cranks eight impulses per revolution were
obtained.
The revolving weight on the bearings of each of the
engines was 439,000 lb., and an allowance of 70,000 lb.
more was made to provide for magnetic pull between
field magnet and armature. The shaft itself weighed
63,000 lb. On account of the great mass of the revolv-
ing field magnet it was possible to dispense with the
flywheel, a notable advance in slow-speed generating-
unit design. To these engines was later added a 7500-
kw Westinghouse turbine unit.
The engines exhausted into Worthington jet con-
densers with triplex motor-driven circulating pumps.
They were so changed about 1903 by conversion to the
barometric type.
The boiler house consisted of a basement, two boiler
floors, and a row of coal bunkers, the height from the
basement to the top of the monitor being 128 ft. The
basement was divided into three longitudinal compart-
ments for the purpose of protecting the pumps from the
dust produced by the ash-handling machinery. On each
boiler floor were thirty-two B. & W. boilers, with Roney
stokers, each rated at 520 nominal hp and containing
5200 sq. ft. of heating surface. These were arranged
in batteries of two, eight boilers to an engine and
forming one complete generating unit. The boiler house
was provided with four Custodis brick stacks of 17-ft.
flue diameter at the top and 18-ft. at the bottom, 278
ft. high above the basement floor, the tallest stacks of
the kind constructed in this country to that time. A
Green economizer was provided for each four boilers,
as it was deemed necessary to have these to heat the
feed water, all of the auxiliaries being electrically
driven. Each unit was served by an electrically driven
Goulds triplex boiler-feed pump. Above the boiler floors
was a row of three coal bunkers, separated by 35-ft.
spaces for fire protection, having a total capacity of
7500 tons, a ten-day supply.
NEW TURBINE UNIT OF INTERBOROUGH RAPID TRANSIT COMPANY
976
ELECTRICAL WORLD
VOL. 65, No. 16
The building housing this generating plant ex-
tends from Seventy-fourth to Seventy-fifth Street along
the East River, with a width of 204 ft. 4 in. and an
average length of 404 ft. It is divided by a longi-
tudinal wall into engine and boiler houses, respectively
93 ft. 6 in. and 104 ft. 2 in. wide. The basements of
these are on the same level, 4 ft. 6 in. above high water
FIG. 2 — CROSS-SECTION OF ENGINE ROOM BEFORE
REMODELING
and 2 ft. 6 in. below Exterior Street, which lies between
the plant and the river. Extending across the west end
of the building is a vault 18 ft. wide divided into two
parts, one for oil storage and the other for switch-con-
trol storage batteries. The roof of this vault serves
as a roadway from street to street on the level of the
lower boiler-room floor.
The coal and ash handling plant consists of two
towers on the river bank for unloading coal and storing
ashes, connected by bucket and belt conveyors with the
power plant, distributing and collecting in the manner
now standard in such plants. A feature of the tower
design was the provision for hoisting coal from barges
with a iy2-ton shovel just high enough to give the fall
necessary for passing it through the crushers and
weighing hoppers.
In the engine house were the basement, 21 ft. 6 in.
high, the operating floor, 107 ft. to the roof, and on
one side three switchboard galleries, under the lower-
most of which the engine-driven exciter sets were
placed. A 50-ton electric crane traversed the length
of this house.
Vj / vwrmhb.anolOsqfti
switch in addition to the individual feeder switches.
On the benchboard dummy busbars were placed to
give the operator a graphic representation of the
connections.
The Power Plant of 1915
The changes noted in the second paragraph, together
with incidental changes, will be discussed in the order
therein followed. The turbines, fully lagged, will ap-
pear as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. They have been rather
fully described in the technical press so that only a few
salient features need be mentioned. Each cross-com-
pound unit consists of two turbines, a 1500-r.p.m.,
single-flow reaction turbine, and a 750-r.p.m. double-
flow reaction turbine connected as a compound machine
with a large receiver between elements. This novel
arrangement was chosen to simplify design problems,
particularly those relating to temperature range, blade
speeds and steam congestion. At the same time the
South Wall at 74L''5teet
FIG. 3 — CROSS-SECTION OF ENGINE ROOM AFTER
REMODELING
The important features of the switching apparatus
were the layout of group switches and the use of Gen-
eral Electric motor-operated switches. There were two
complete sets of busbars connected by bus junction
i i the operation of the alternators
in cither two or four batteries. The Feeders from one
substation formed one group controlled by a group
Section B-B
FIG. 4— GENERAL LAYOUT OF TURBINE UNIT
reliability of comparatively small units was secured.
The efficiency guaranteed is higher than any heretofore
obtained. Taking the amount of heat available in the
steam between the conditions of admission and exhaust
as a basis, the engines will deliver in electrical form
75.75 per cent of this energy. The total weight of the
complete unit is 1,500,000 lb.
The turbine rests upon a foundation consisting of
a steel frame incased in concrete, leaving most of the
space below available for condensers, receiver and
pumps.
The Worthington surface condenser, of 50,000 sq. ft.
cooling surface for each unit, is of the twin-shell type,
April it, 1916
ELEt 1 I: 1 < A 1. \\<>KLD
of simple construction ami practically self-contained.
The tube arrangement is as shown in i -ages
being provided by "gashing" to give the freest possible
access of the steam to the tubes. The condensers are
hung directly from the turbine bedplates, a novel ar-
rangement but one conducive to the elimination of
■ <• to temperature changes. The weight of
Fir, 5 -CONDENSER AND SECTION OF PIPING
the condenser is, however, not carried by the turbine
foundation, but upon a number of spring jacks, ad-
justed to share the load properly. The receiver is a
vertical cylinder, of 7 ft. 9 in. inside diameter and 21
ft. long inside, placed symmetrically with respect to
the condenser shells as shown in an accompanying plan.
This is as large a receiver as could be accommodated in
the available space.
Below each condenser shell and forming an integral
part of it is a sump 4 ft. in diameter and about 4 ft.
high, into which the condensate drains. This is desig-
nated as a "hot well" on the drawing, but there is no
hot well in the new plant, using the term in its usually
accepted sense, that function being performed by the
feed-water heater.
The piping to and from the condenser is of unusual
' ruction, designed to minimize the number of
bends. As shown in Figs. 5 and 7, the water enters
the condenser at the bottom through a 60-in. pipe, which
dips under the nearer shell to reach the farther one. A
baffle inside deflects a share of the circulating water
into its proper channel. A similar outlet pipe above
takes care of the discharge flow. This is the simplest
possible piping layout for a twin-shell condenser. Short
rubber sleeve expansion joints are inserted in the intake
and discharge pipes near each shell. These joints con-
sist of tubes of Vi-in. five-ply-insertion rubber, 12 in.
long and of 42-in. and 60-in. inside diameter, each
clamped between an outer flange and an inner ring.
Cipculating water for each pair of condensers is
supplied, as shown in several illustrations, through a
pair of tri-rotor centrifugal pumps having a combined
capacity of 75,000 gal. per minute. These discharge
through separate motor-operated gate valves, the dis-
charge pipes uniting beyond the valves. The full ca-
pacity of the pumps will be required in summer when
the circulating water temperature is high, but one pump
will be sufficient in winter.
The pumps are driven by steam turbines rated at
240 hp each. The pumps draw from a new tunnel 12
ft. 6 in. by 12 ft. 6 in. in section. They discharge into
two tunnels, one 8 ft. 6 in. by 12 ft. 3 in., and one
•r> ft. by 12 ft. 3 in., which is the combination of the
original intake and discharge tunnels. These will
supply condensing water for eight units. The mouth
of the intake tunnel is about 160 ft. upstream from the
nearer discharge tunnel. New motor-driven revolving
ns of the type shown in one of the illustrations
have been installed near the river end of the intake
tunnel, the driving motor being housed in a small build-
ing at the right, not shown. The screens are rotated
for cleaning purposes daily. The location of the con-
densers with respect to the river level makes it possible
to circulate the condensing water readily, the power re-
quired being only that necessary to overcome a small
amount of friction, principally the friction head of the
condenser and piping.
The condensate pumps for each unit are of the cen-
trifugal type, turbine-driven and of 800-gal. per min-
ute capacity each. One pump is sufficient, the second
being a reserve. One reciprocating dry-vacuum pump
is provided for each unit, with a capacity for two. The
vacuum pumps are cross-connected between units.
The general turbine-room piping scheme is shown
in Fig. 8. It comprises duplicate 15-in. mains for the
turbines and 8-in. auxiliary mains, all suspended over-
head in the basement, and provided with long radius
curves and goosenecks where necessary. Twelve-inch
condensate lines unite in a 16-in. main to the heater,
as do 28-in. exhaust lines into a 36-in. main. The illus-
tration shows the essentials of one unit with the excep-
tion of the atmospheric exhaust, an important feature
on account of the large sizes of pipe involved.
This atmospheric exhaust system is combined with
the auxiliary exhaust in the following fashion: From
each receiver is a 30-in. line into which the auxiliary
exhaust lines are connected. An atmospheric relief
valve is in each line near the receiver. This is a stand-
ard relief valve weighted to open on about 28 lb. per
square inch absolute pressure by means of a hydraulic
piston and standpipe accumulator. The three lines lead
into a tapered header, from which two 30-in. risers,
sealed with back-pressure valves, extend above the roof.
From the header a 42-in. pipe leads to the feed-water
heater. This is also protected with a riser and valve.
FIG. 6 — TRI-ROTOR CIRCULATING PUMPS
Between the receiver and the feed-water heater is
a "thermal" or "heat-balance" valve for equalizing the
distribution of heat in the system. This valve is shown
in cross-section in Fig. 10. Its function is to bleed
steam from the receiver into the heater when there is
a deficiency of supply to the latter from the auxiliaries,
or vice versa. At about 27,000 kw the receiver pres-
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 16
.-lire reaches atmospheric pressure, continuing to rise
until at 32,000 kw it is about 3-lb. gage.
In the figure the left-hand opening in the chamber
leads to the heater, the right-hand one to the receiver.
There are two piston valves, A and B. When heater
pressure is above atmospheric, the latter being applied
to the upper side through a pipe connection, A rises
and bleeds steam through port C to the receiver. When-
ever the receiver pressure is higher than that of the
heater, B rises, admitting steam through port D to the
heater. A dashpot at the top of the upper valve cham-
ber prevents sudden acceleration of A, and through A
provides a cushion for B. In action the valves do not
lift very high off their seat.
Above the valve is an auxiliary cylinder E with live
steam above its piston and with pressure controlled by
the turbine automatic stop governor below. The piston
is loosely packed and leaky and ordinarily floats. When
from the relief valve on the heater indicates how little
heat is wasted in this part of the system.
As the remodeled boiler plant provides only super-
heated steam, provision had to be made for the auxil-
iary supply of saturated steam for the reciprocating
engines. In the line connecting the old and new boiler
plants is connected a receiver from one of the old
engines. This is placed in a vertical position, and the
superheated steam is led in at the top, passing down-
ward nearly to the bottom through a 15-in. tube. Near
the top water is sprayed into the steam through a
spraying nozzle, the surplus collecting in the bottom,
whence it is returned to the water system. The wet
steam rises in the space between the tube and the
casing, drying as it rises, and saturated steam is taken
off near the top. This device is known as an "attem-
perator"
In the boiler-room basement much space has been
the automatic stop governor operates,
pressure is reduced below the piston,
which is forced down, restoring A and B
to the position shown and cutting off con-
nection between receiver and heater.
Another valve which has been devel-
oped by the company's engineers is one
for shutting off the supply of steam in
case the vacuum falls below a predeter-
minate value. It consists of a float, the
level of which is controlled by the height
of a mercury column connected to the
condenser. The valve is adjusted to trip
the pilot valve of the actuating piston on
the main throttle when the vacuum falls
In. say, 15 in.
In the boiler house the original boilers are being re-
tained, but one-half are being rebuilt to the extent of
adding standard B. & W. superheaters to give 200 deg.
of Miperheat when the boilers are delivering three times
their rated output. The Taylor underfeed stokers
which are being installed under one-half of the boilers
are standard, but on four of the boilers air tuyeres
have been installed along the side walls, directing jets
over the fires and protecting the side walls.
One Hoppes open-type f I water healer. !) ft, iii
diameter and 21 ft. long, with a capacity of 1,600,000
lb. per hour, has been added to do the work of the dis-
placed economizers, there being now a good supply of
steam from the turbine driven auxiliaries. It contains
240 i' ti loi iii-- ing a total area of 8 100
•q, ft. In this hi irplus heat [a being absorbed
to such an extenl thai an occasional gentle puff of steam
__ Lyine'Bxm &
PIG. 7 PLAN AND ELEVATIONS OF CONDENSER
saved by the removal of four triplex pumps, accommo-
dating three turbine-driven centrifugal pumps sufficient
in capacity for the entire plant and the stoker fans
and turbines. For each pair of boilers there is one
turbine driving two stoker fans direct and the stokers
also through helical reduction gears from the blower
shafts. In the basement ashpits of expanded metal
plastered with cement have been recently put in.
The electrical distribution of the plant has been en-
tirely remodeled with a view to providing adequately
-witches, feeders, etc., and to protecting the un-
ound cables from damage due to the large amounts
of energy which will now be concentrated on short-cir-
cuit. There are two sets of buses, main and auxiliary.
to which each old and new generating unit is con-
nected Between the generator and the main bus is a
reactor with 5 per rent reactance, and between it and
April 17. 1916
K I. E CTRIC A I. \V ORI. I)
979
the auxiliary bus is one with ince The The generators have been designed tor their rated
main bus is sectionalized through oil switches, groups output, 30,000 k\v, with 55 deg. C. temperature
of feeders being taken off n -ion. rise. They are ventilated by means of fans which form
living field. The air is taken in through
doilerN*S
FIG. 8 — PIPING FOR ONE UNIT
FIG. 10 — HEAT-BALANCE VALVE
The reactance coils are mounted on the exciter gallery,
conveniently placed with respect to the generators.
The 5 per cent coil is about 4 ft. 6 in. in diameter and
^•^"JKJ
X
■ /^^B
m
*•
eU
W%k
^
" *J51§i i!l£3
-*c~jj*tS8B
^^
PIG. !• — REVOLVING INTAKE SCREEN
8 ft. 6 in. long, and the 2 per cent coil is about 4 ft. 6
in. in diameter by 3 ft. G in. long.
The oil switches are of standard General Electric
manufacture, type HO, with 10-in. pots.
four inlets under the bedplate (see Fig. 3), and it is
discharged through ducts to the boiler house, where
it eventually reaches the fans. The generators have
about 8 per cent reactance, and the armature windings
are braced with extraordinary firmness to withstand
the mechanical effects of short-circuits.
The changes described in this article were designed
and carried out by the engineers of the Interborough
Rapid Transit Company, under the direction of Mr.
Henry G. Stott, superintendent of motive power. Those
in responsible detail charge were Mr. Reginald J. S.
Pigott, mechanical-construction engineer, and Mr. Gay-
lord C. Hall, electrical engineer.
Comparative Values of Increasing Vacuum and
Steam Pressure
An ideal or perfect engine operating with a steam
pressure of 150-lb. gage and a condenser vacuum of 24
in. of mercury can transform into mechanical energy
only 23.7 per cent of the heat in the steam it receives
(Technical Paper 80, Bureau of Mines). If the vacuum
is increased to 28 in., other conditions remaining the
same, the percentage of heat available for conversion
is 28.8 per cent. If the vacuum is maintained at 24 in.
and the steam pressure increased from 150-lb. to 200-lb.
gage, the percentage of heat available for conversion
into mechanical energy will increase from 23.7 per cent
to 25.3 per cent. This shows that increasing the vacuum
is more effective than increasing the steam pressure, but
combinations of both will have still more desirable ef-
fects. To maintain a high vacuum, however, requires
that considerable cooling water be available.
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 16
Special Structures for Electric Lines
How the Necessity of Transposing Circuits, Supporting Switches and
Transformers and Crossing Obstructions Is Met
By R. D. Coombs
IN addition to the regular structures employed to sup-
port transmission and distribution lines, special
structures have to be provided frequently for trans-
posing circuits, for supporting outdoor switching and
transformer equipment, and for crossing obstructions.
Unusually high towers have to be employed occasionally
at river crossings or where very long spans stretch over
irregular hilly ground. The United States government
specifies minimum clearances of 120 ft. over small rivers
and 150 ft. over deeper waterways. If high towers are
used to support wires, a reasonable percentage of which
are not liable to be broken, the towers need not be self-
supporting but may be guyed. When only a small num-
ber of wires are supported it is feasible to dead-end
a tower, but if a number of heavy lines are employed it
would require a massive structure or considerable
guying.
High Towers
In Fig. 1 is one of the heaviest overhead river cross-
ings in this country. The structure was not designed to
dead-end all of the wires under 0.5-in. ice and 8-lb. wind
load, but will withstand the maximum transverse load-
ing combined with some unbalancing due to broken
wires. Since the normal wire tension is approximately
only one-third of the maximum, they would probably
withstand normal dead-ending. Some additional secur-
ity can be afforded in installations of this kind by using
longitudinal guys away from the river. In the cross-
ing shown the rise from the normal elevation to the
crossing elevation is abrupt, there being no grading-up
by the adjoining supports, and consequently only two
high towers are required for the crossing.
Pin insulators, unless equipped with a saddle, are not
adapted to supporting steep approach conductors be-
cause the wires would not clear the petticoats. The
most satisfactory supports for such installations are
strain insulators. If care is not exercised in balancing
the tension in the crossing and adjoining spans, high
towers will be subjected to heavy loads and suspension
insulators will be noticeably inclined from the vertical.
When the crossing span is much longer than the ap-
proach spans, as is frequently the case, the wires in the
Inclined span will have small sags and may therefore be
brought closer together on the low pole than they are
spaced on the crossing. All high towers should be pro-
vided with overhead ground wires and ladders and should
be grounded below the foundation. As these structures
are relatively heavy it is more economical to paint them
than to use galvanized material.
Aerial Cable
In some instances where an overhead line must cross
territory subject to restrictions, and particularly when
adjacent to submarine or duct lines, an aerial insulated
cable system has been used. This arrangement is prac-
ticable only for pressures below 22,000 volts, since satis-
factory insulated cable is not obtainable for higher volt-
ages. In the installation shown (Figs. 2 and 3) the
cables are hung from steel messengers and supported on
a low line of closely spaced poles. Short, heavy poles
are employed, guyed at corners and ends but not de-
signed for unbalanced loads caused by broken messengers
or cables.
Another type of aerial duct line for 13,000-volt three-
I
M \D-KND TOWERS SUP
PORTING OPEN WIRES
FIG. 2 — JUNCTION "F OPEN WIRE IND
CABLE TRANSMISSION CIRCUITS
FIG. 3 — POT-HEAD CONNECTION
TO AERIAL CABLE
April 17, 1016
ELECTRICAL WORLD
981
wire cubit-.- n FiK'. 4, in which the split-metal
tubes inclosing the cables are supported on bra
riveted to stiffeners on a bridge girder. This construc-
tion was employed because the circuit had to crOM two
( ENTRAL-STATION Bl SINKSS DIPBOl ES
llurint: I ir-t Hall War «>l Depression I'tilitii- lnrr, a»<-
I h.ir Income bj 1.76 |J«r Cent
Data received by the Klectrial World from central
-tat ions show a larger percentage gain in income
from the -ale of energy for the month of January last
than was registered in the three previous months.
While not so large as that in December, the gain in
output was appreciable.
The opening of the San Diego Exposition in January
FU;. 4 — CONDUITS CONTAINING 13,000-VOLT CIRCUITS
railroads, one heavy high-tension line on tall towers and
several important telephone and telegraph systems.
In making such attachments to bridges the cables
should be arranged so they will be accessible without
interfering with other interests or being subject to in-
jury by careless workmen.
Credits and Meter Readings Discussed
Before the New England Section of the N. E. L. A., Mr.
L. D. Gibbs, Boston, recently pointed out the possibilities
for cooperation between small central stations and local
offices of the telephone company, particularly in connec-
tion with extending credits to customers. Department-
store credit records are also worth looking into, to save
duplication of effort. One company writes to the cen-
tral station in a former place of residence when examin-
ing customers' credit. The Narragansett Electric Light-
ing Company, Providence, R. I., offers a reward of $10
for perfect meter reading through an entire month, with
a reduced premium for a lower percentage of accuracy.
Last month six premiums were paid.
One company emphasized the great saving of time
possible if each meter installer, when removing meters,
would mark the loop with the correct suite number in
apartment houses, placing his initials upon the tag, so
that in case of error the responsibility can be fixed. It
has been found that in checking up meters under com-
plaint a second or checking meter is sometimes more
satisfactory than a test with a rotating standard or in-
dicating wattmeter, as this method will show up in-
correct clock gear ratio. The Providence company pre-
pares plans and specifications in connection with wiring
jobs, and at Worcester, Mass., the local central station
installs electric motors free of charge.
FIG. 1-
Mojj Ju
-CENTRAL-STATION INCOME AND OUTPUT GAINS KY
MONTHS IN PER CENT FOR UNITED STATES
and the operations preliminary to the opening of the
Panama-Pacific International Exposition have proved
of benefit to the industry in the far West. The imme-
diate effect was felt, of course, in California, where over
one-half of the industry of that section is concentrated.
The disproportionate increase in income compared with
the increase in output was attributable largely to one
large company in the Mountain district, which acquired
at retail rates a very large load that it formerly carried
30
25
1 1
NEW
■
ENGLAND
-
,
II
== t ~-v. L-L-±-r*te
f
- "• II '
1 , 1 ! 1
1
Mill
May June July Aug Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan
f
STATES
rt
\
•
--
1 1
.
*'\
-/LL
j—
'
i [
1 I
May June July Aug. Sept. Oct Nov Dec Jan
CENTRAL
STATES
"rr.
V
C:.
rffllf v
-
-
Mcy June July Aug- Sept Oct. Nov. Dec Jon
STATES
■■-
'.-
-
i
--'
May June July Aug Sept. Oct Nov Dec. Jan
FIGS. 2 TO 5 CENTRAL-STATION INCOME AND OUTPUT
GAINS BY MONTHS IN PEH CENT SECTIONALLY
at wholesale rates. The new-business campaign on heat-
ing devices recent 1> conducted in Denver is now having
a beneficial effect, especially upon the income, as the
energy for this purpose is sold at domestic rates.
The operations in the Central States did not show so
983
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 16
large a gain in January as in December. Those in the
Northeastern section did very well on account of gen-
eral business revival. In the South, however, stagna-
tion in the cotton industry has had its effects upon
everyone. The situation brightened somewhat late in
TABLK i RETURNS FUR NINE-MOM II PERIOD
Percentage
of
Industry
Repre-
sented
Income from thk Salt, or
Kw-HB
. OtTPVT
1914 1913
Per
Cent
In-
crease
1914
1913
Per
Cent
crease
1914
May.
June.
July.
45
46
40
tl4.296.S2l
14,073,840 I2.9S6.198
12,970.325
0 1
8 3
8.5
674,877,691
682.791,096
735,937,850
602, 832.3371
603,122,008
649.720,026
12 0
13 3
13 3
Aug
Sept .
CVt
51
51
59
15.298,226 14,200,649
15.708.695 14,694.205
17,667,912 17,174,507
7 8
7 0
2.8
778,109,666
782,450 267
969,817,024
718,274,456'
733.754.420i
935,249,519,
8.2
6.8
3 0
Not.
Dec
Jan. .
65
65
65
i 19,260.451
20,978.4:10 20,281.812
191 i 1914
21,677,377 20.584,393
2.7
3 3
4 8
986 456,824 978.934.946
1 , 074 , 083 . 543 1 , 043 . 457 , 795
1915 1914
975,800,748 959.652,581
0.8
3 0
1 7
in January than in previous months, the effect was not
sufficient to make itself favorably felt by the utilities.
The long period of non-employment through which a
large portion of the wage-earning population had passed
TABLE IV PERCENTAGE RATE OF INCREASE IN INCOME AND KILOWATT-
I 01 Hi I FOB UNITED STATES— CITIES GROUPED ACCORDING
TO
September
October
November
December
January
Group 1
. ,
4 2
2 6
2.6
2.7
Group 2
8.2
4 7
4.7
4 9
8.8
Group 3
1 2
12
05
3.3
2.4
Group 4
10.0
15 1
4.8
4.8
5.8
Group 5
9 1
3 5
1 6
3 2
4 5
OUTPUT:
Group 1 .
5 5
3 2
0.5
3.1
3.9
Group 2
14.0
5 2
4.2
3.0
4.3
Group 3
2.7
4.6"
7.2*
6.8
1.2
Group 4
9.6
6.3
5.7
9.2
9.0
Group 5
4.0
2 9
2 6*
18
7.5
and the recent holiday expenses had left them in a posi-
tion where worse than strict economy was necessary.
The railways suffered most, and the decrease in traffic
TABLE I [-CENTRAL-STATION RETURNS BY SECTIONS OVER A NINE-MONTH PERIOD
New England State
Atlantic State?
Pacific and Mountain States
§ a
1914
1913
-i
It
1914
1913
li
fl
1914
1913
- I
it
1914
1913
11
a.
&£
i
£a
£
■--
i
£~
w
r May
June
ItUJ
65
.is
60
11,746,160
1,560,872
1,670.819
$1,609,234
1. 142,178
1,630, mi
8.4
8 :;
58
54
54
66, 492, 767
6,067,780
6,152,169
$5,628,718
5,578,311
5,533,809
14.5
6.0
111 2
43
52
52
$3,200,553
I Mil , ;,.
3,802,126
12,841,685
3,459.497
3,307,719
12 7
13.2
15 0
57
67
72
$1,525,729
1,894,887
2,212,827
11,426,886
1.791,918
2,068,249
7 li
6 8
O-
o
August
Sept
( let
61
.,1
64
1,734,583
1,766,687
1,963,579
1,647,946
1,8X9,255
7.5
7 3
4 II
55
55
67
6,224,896
6,608,221
7,451,220
5,755,515
6,221 000
7 232,063
B ■_'
6 1
3 1
57
57
57
4,389,696
4,704,780
5,105,810
4,051,678
4,868,251
1,783,847
X 4
7 9
6 B
75
75
85
2.4X7,513
3,146,160
2,282,061
2,398,176
3,157,689
4.6
3.7
0.3'
Nov.
Dec
I Jan.. 1915
67
67
67
2,220,742
2,423,796
2. 115,957
2,218,387
2,271.881
6.6
7.5
8 B
69
69
69
8,373,772
8,765,275
9,075,335
8,157,966
8,594,773
8.695,593
2.7
2.2
4 4
57
57
57
5.4(18,672
5, 992.. 542
5,827.997
5,168,681
5 654 740
4 8
5 9
5 4
88
88
88
3,503,499
3,834,902
3,955,438
3,804.341
2.0
0 3-
4 ll
H
D
May
June
July
66
68
60
52,752.247
53,463,013
54.074.533
.Vl.779, 1113
18,049,756
19,2
3.9
11.1
9.8
58
54
54
259,098,542
244,936,886
263,580,290
238,733,320
221,316,464
235,068,939
x 4
10.8
11 v
43
52
52
202, mi. 026
217,920,183
217,928,960
182, ,207
24 B
19 i
16.6
57
67
72
144,839,552
11 9
9 4
7 9
U
0
Aus
Oct
61
61
64
67,520.070
63.267.877
65,068,938
6.4
4 3
:; v
55
55
67
270,974,533
358,458,539
237,984,895
252,648,550
351,362,247
11.2
7.3
2.1
57
57
67
267. 501, 4011
295,490,712
266,827,667
g i
g 7
Id 6
75
75
193.216,699
245,966,863
185,330,705
186,090,658
262,047,828
4 2
3 2
2 f
-
Nov .
Dec
. Jan.. 1915
67
67
69,480,163
71 990,132
:; v
7 s
4.7
gg
I'.'l
69
361,364.405
101,623,514
374,972.536
364.155,759
396,251,867
J73, 336,906
0 7"
1.2
II 7
57
57
57
290, 6X1, 7.-.0
272,623,760
291,611,670
B 0
x 0
6 6
xx
88
88
248,247,196
269.467,354 5 T
.76 1 6-
249. 650. .530 0 3'
TABLE UT-COMPARATI.l. I MQ1 Ft] I OB 51 I'll! CENT OF INDUSTRY OVER
A FIVE-MONTH PERIOD
Incomi from Sale or Enkbot
September .
116,708,696
114,694,201
7 ll
October
16.967.816
16 ,11. -11
:: :;
November .
17.840,812
18,185,093
1 7
January
19.122.288
1915
19.731.452
18,444 I-
1114
18.790.i26
1 X
SO
Kw-hk. OrrptT
782.450.267 , 733,754,420
911,082,671 876,944,255
804,960 ,2
876,707.036 850.606,834
1916 1914
the month, when an outlet for cotton was being found.
General business conditions throughout the Atlantic
States during January did not show appreciable change,
but there was an excellent increase in income on ac-
count of a larger domestic consumption. While indus-
tri.il operations in general in New England were better
TABLE \ PERCENTAGI RATE 01 INCREASE IN INCOME AND 83L0W ATI
HOI R in II'IT FOR NEW ENGLAND STATES CITIES GROUPED
ACCORDING TO SIZE
September
October
December
January
INCOME:
5 ii
i. 1
7.9
7 1
63
2 3
5 6
6 2
: H
6 1
9 7
11 4
7 5
9.0
89
17 -
.i g
5 6
2 f
1 0
i .
69
12 5
12 0
7 1-
1 0
1 .'.•
7 8
5 9
11 0
1 2
16 0
11 2
4 I
12 6
10 9'
'
B r
4 1
9 0*
load had an immediate effect in lessening the load on
central stations, which supply most of the energy for
railway purposes. The income of some companies was
also reduced because of changes in rates.
In January was completed the first half-year of the
European war and the accompanying depression in thi»
country During that time the income of the electric
in. 17. IMS
E LEI T RICAL WORLD
as compared with $17-
) in the same period in the prevc grain of
■
|-.\|il. malum nt ( urvi- .1 ml I .ililv-
The accompanying curves show Kr';»i»ri ic-iilly the effect
of the widespread industrial depression on the monthly
percentages of increase in gross income and kilowatt-
I
OBDING
November December Janjarr
hptaba
Ottota
Group 1
7 8
8 2
Group 2
« 1
7 I
Group 3
7 9
1 4
Group 4
Group 5
10 0
10 2
Group 1
7 1
t I
Group 2
IS. 6
10 3
18 4
6 0-
Group 4
0 0
Group 5
28.8
46 5
■ utput. Tables I and II show the gross returns
ed by the Electrical World. In Table III are
shown comparative figures for 51 per cent of the indus-
try, returns from the same companies being represented
TAHI.K VII— PERCENTAGE RATI. OP [NCR] MI AND KILOWATT-
TPTJT FOR CENTRAL ORBING
TO SIZE
Bepttmh i
October November December
11 3
8 1
4.3
6 4 3
9 5
1 6
0 5*
1 5* 1
S.7
6 3
2 4
4 2
21 0
11 2
14 v
12 4 4
4 4
5 0
6.6
12 4 8
147
7.8
8.3
13 3
21.0
50
4.0
13 0 13
Group 1
Group 2
Group 3
Group 4
Group 5
OUTPUT;
Group 1
Group 2
Group 3.
Group 4.
Group 5.
in each month. In the remaining tables percentages of
increase of 1914 over 1913 are shown for companies
grouped according to the size of the cities in which they
operate. In group 1 are included cities of over 100,000
TABLE Vm— PERCENTAGE RATI 01 [NCR! ISE IN INCOME AND KILOWATT-
ll"l R OUTPUT FOR PACD7IC AND MOUNTAIN STATES— <'ITIES GROUPED
INI ■ ii
Group 1 7 5
Group 2 13 1
Group 3
Group 4 17 7
Group 5 . . . 4 4
-' 3
i :,•
Group 1 2.7
12 o
Group 5 r .'•
Novtmbcf
December
2 4"
0.6'
1 1
1 0
3 5*
1 n
14
r, 5
3 I"
2 5*
1.1"
0 0
7.7-
14.1"
14 .'•
4 4
3.7
2 9'
10
January
'Decrease.
inhabitants; group 2, cities between 50,000 and 100,000;
group 3, between 25,000 and 50,000; group 4, between
10,000 and 25,000, and group 5, between 5,000 and
10,000.
LONG-DIS1 \\< I RADIOTELEGRAPHY
DtacoMioi] Before Jotnl Meeting of the A. 1. K. K. and the
institute ni Radio
At a joint meeting of the American Institute of Elec-
trical Engineers and the Institute of Radio Engineers
held at the Engineern Building, New York,
on April 9, Mr. L. F, Fuller presented a paper entitled
"Continuous Waves in Long-Distanee Radiotelegraphy."
Since the only certain uniformity possible in earth sur-
face conductivity is that over sea water, and since it is
only under normal day conditions that uniformity can
exist, the author stated that the only relative uniform
upon which theoretical and empirical formulas
may be compared is for transmission over sea water
under normal day conditions. After briefly considering
the theoretical equation of long-distance radiotrans-
mission for both continuous and damped waves and the
empirical formula of Austin for damped waves, he
stated that the Austin formula proves quite satisfactory
for the ordinary calculations of practical work and
would indicate that a change should be made in the
theoretical equation to account for the considerable in-
crease in received energy noted, seemingly .due to con-
vergence.
The paper contained a description of the San Fran-
cisco-Honolulu sustained-wave tests of 1914 divided
into two parts, the first dealing with the effects of
wave-lengths upon the strength of received signals, and
the second covering the derivation of a proposed em-
pirical formula for sustained-wave transmission. The
plant of the two stations and the methods of taking data
were also described. The experiments covered a period
of six months, extending from January to June, 1914,
inclusive, the range of wave-length being from 3000
meters to 11,800 meters and the distance of transmis-
sion 2100 nautical miles or 3880 km. A number of
curves were presented showing the energy received at
the two stations for different wave-lengths under both
day and night conditions.
Having made calculations from data taken from the
curves, the author determined the value of certain con-
stants and arrived at the following empirical formula
for daylight transmission for continuous waves over
sea water:
I, = 377
h.h I.
kdR \
0
sin 0
wherein /, is the current in amperes at the base of the
receiving antenna of effective height h, in kilometers
and resistance R ohms, /„ is the current in amperes at
the base of the sending antenna of effective height A,
in kilometers, ). is the wave length in kilometers, d is
the distance in kilometers, and 0 is the angle at the
center of the earth subtended by the distance d.
Further tests in November and December, 1914, from
Tuckerton, N. J., to Honolulu, a distance of 4330 nauti-
cal miles or 8000 km, served to check this formula.
The following general conclusions were drawn from
the above tests: (1) Under normal day conditions the
comparative transmission efficiency of continuous waves
is somewhat higher than that of damped waves on
wave-lengths above 3000 meters. (2) The transmis-
sion efficiency of continuous waves generated by either
a Goldschmidt reflection alternator or a Poulsen-Fed-
eral arc would seem to be the same. (3) In transmis-
sions over distances of the order of 4000 nautical miles
intervening land appears to be the equivalent of sea
water, at least during the winter months. (4) Evidence
is found adding weight to the theories of refraction
upon certain wave-lengths. Very frequently, a wave-
length used at Honolulu which is excellent at a certain
station is useless at another station 9 miles away, and
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 16
as atmospheric conditions change conditions are re-
versed. This, the author states, plainly shows the
interference bands to be not over 18 miles in width.
I 5 1 Ability to change wave-lengths rapidly is of the
greatest value in long-distance radiotelegraphy.
In some introductory remarks, Dr. John B. White-
head, chairman of the electrophysics committee of the
American Institute of Electrical Engineers, said that,
notwithstanding all the wonderful results which have
been accomplished up to the present time, radio trans-
mission remains one of the most fruitful fields of in-
vestigation and one in which the governing laws are
probably less understood than in any other field of the
application of electricity.
Discussion
In opening the discussion Dr. Alfred N. Goldsmith
stated that the paper would be of valuable assistance in
enabling one to proportion a transmitting set to the
distance to be covered. He spoke about the incredible
velocities of the waves and the high frequencies nor-
mally employed. In connection with the use of sus-
tained waves certain new effects have become of
interest and prominence, the first of which is that of
the reflection or interference of the sustained wave.
There is the development of new methods of reception,
which have led to the introduction of the "tikker" com-
mutator, which periodically discharges a condenser
charged slowly by the incoming energy. He also spoke
of the "tone wheel" used by the Goldschmidt company,
a carefully designed commutator interrupting the in-
coming energy flow at a frequency slightly different
from the incoming frequencies. This device finally led
to the development of the method of reception known
as the heterodyne system of receiving. Dr. Goldsmith
laid emphasis on the fact that it has been possible to
build arc transmitters that have now become satisfac-
tory and reliable generators of considerable amounts of
sustained energy flow. Those who have learned to work
on the production of sustained oscillation should remem-
ber that the most important feature in the generator
of this type is the possibility of rapidly changing the
wave-length.
Mr. J. Zenneck pointed out that with the "use of a
rotary tikker the telephone current is not expected to
be proportional to the square of the received current
as shown in the paper, but rather proportional to the
received current itself. The speaker stated that com-
parisons should be made only under the same conditions.
The same wave-lengths must be chosen, the same atmos-
pheric conditions be had, etc. Curves were presented
showing the difference between the formulas used by-
Mr. Fuller and those used by Dr. Austin. Within the
limit in which the results of the two were comparable
the curves agreed very well, but on extending the curves
of one and making comparisons with the cither contrary
results were noted.
Dr. Lee de Forest gave a brief account of the first
rvation of the interference bands and absorption
and reflection.
Lieut. -Commander A. J. Hepburn stated that he be-
lieved a transmission theory rather than a transmission
formula is needed, and that there is promise of most
valuable progress for the establishment of a complete
theory in a course of experimental work such as that
which has been contemplated by the Navy Department
cveral years. The plan, not yet in operation, con-
templates the use of the station at the Washington
Navy Yard for transmitting and the station at the
Bureau of Standards (6 miles distant) and that at
Annapolif (28 mile di bant) for measuring the received
energy. Starting with the Austin formula as a trial
parate factor would lie independent!] In
vestigated, as well as some other possibilities that do
not appear in that formula, such as decrement and
reflection.
Mr. E. F. W. Alexanderson stated that if a system
for radio transmission is to be designed, in view of the
knowledge we now have, it will be necessary to deter-
mine the frequency, or eventually the range of fre-
quency, that is most favorable, the power necessity, and
the voltage for which the aerial must be designed. Un-
der certain conditions the lower limit of frequency may
be determined by the feasibility of insulating against
the maximum voltage. It would be very valuable for
the design of apparatus for radio frequencies if some
practical rule for the range of frequency that is most
efficient should be given in addition to the general for-
mula and theoretical considerations.
Mr. G. H. Clarke called attention to a test in which,
on measuring the decrement of two transmitters of
widely different efficiencies coupled to the same antenna
and so adjusted that the same radiations were obtained
in each, it was found that one gave practically twice
the damping that the other did, the receiving current
being practically twice as great in the case of the trans-
mitter having the smaller damping. According to the
Austin formula there would have been no difference.
He stated that all of the conditions were the same, and
yet the decrement had a marked effect in determining
the receiving energy. Other tests were described the
object of which was to show the results of different
wave-lengths obtained from a common arc transmission,
under the condition that the power in each case should
be constant. In both cases a very marked maximum
was found in the radiation curve. At one station the
maximum was obtained by a wave-length of 7500
meters, or three times the period of the aerial. In the
other station the wave-length was 5700 meters, again
three times the natural periodicity of the system.
Paying Employees' Dues in Company Sections
A lengthy discussion took place at a recent meeting of
the New England N. E. L. A. Section relative to the wis-
dom of a company's paying its employees' dues in or-
ganizations like the company section of the N. E. L. A.
The general opinion was that such a policy should not be
maintained over a year by any company with respect
to any individual employee, and some speakers favored
paying half the dues for the first year and then leaving
the matter to the employee. The point was made that
unless a privilege costs something it is apt to be un-
appreciated. Other speakers held that the payment
of the initiation fee on the instalment plan has worked
out well among lower-salaried workers. The New Eng-
land Section will accommodate a new member in this
way. President Gibbs described the work of company
sections.
The delegates to the convention went on to disc'uss
accident prevention. Under this head it was stated that
the Boston Edison company has a standing offer of $1 to
every employee reporting a possible cause of accident on
the system. Mr. Eugene Carpenter, Newton, Mass.,
said that much can be done jn the direction of co-opera-
tion with contractors in securing data upon which to
base safety work. At Lowell, Mass., the use of em-
ployees' identification cards, bearing the employee's
photograph and signature and the manager's signature,
has replaced the use of metallic badges. At Woonsocket,
K. I., the Blackstone Valley Gas & Electric Company
issues a valuable "service code" for the benefit of em-
ployees, covering the broad principles which should gov-
ern him in his relations with the public and the com-
pany's customer
April 17, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
986
Producing Vector Diagrams Experimentally
Description of Improved Apparatus Designed to Visuali/.i- Alternating-
Current Diagrams
By A. E. Kennelly and H. G. Crane
IN the Electrical World of March 30, 1911,' the
authors described a new method of presenting an
alternating-current plane-vector diagram visually
and experimentally. A rotating electric current is pro-
duced in a metallic sheet by means of two equal alter-
nating currents in quadrature, and a contact pin con-
nected with an external impedance is applied by trial
to such a point on the sheet as will cause no current
to be indicated on a sensitive vibration galvanometer in
its circuit. This contact point forms the vertex of a
certain vector triangle that may then be observed or
marked off on the face of the sheet. In the present
article there is described an improvement in the con-
tance of 35 cm from the center O, along the horizontal
axis, leads to a standard resistor R,„ which is substan-
tially inductanceless. The movable-contact wire 2,2,
connects with an impedance Z. When no current
passes through the galvanometer G, with the contact
applied at 2, the right-angled triangle 0/2 presents to
the eye the vector-impedance diagram, of the impe-
dance Z, and also any of the associated vector dia-
grams for emf, power or cyclic energy.'
Difficulty Encountered in the Original Apparatus
It was pointed out in the 1911 article that a very
appreciable difficulty in the use of the apparatus for
^vwvr»F2
FIG. 1 — CONNECTIONS OF VECTOR-DIAGRAM PLATE TO THE QUARTER-PHASE SOURCE AND TO THE MEASURING CIRCUIT
struction and operation of the apparatus. The con-
struction of the original apparatus, as described in the
1911 article, may be here briefly recapitulated.
Construction of the Original Apparatus of 1911
The original apparatus is indicated diagrammatically
in Fig. 1. It consisted essentially of a square sheet of
zinc mounted on a flat wooden supporting frame, with
high-resistivity fringes of supply wires uniformly at-
tached to the four sides from copper bars BB' and 66',
so that one alternating current passed through the
sheet in the horizontal direction, while an equal cur-
rent of the same frequency but dephased 90 deg. passed
through the sheet in the vertical direction. By this
means, assuming that the alternating currents were
sinusoidal, a pure rotating field of electric intensity,
and of electric current, is produced in the sheet, as in-
dicated by the curved arrow u>. A flexible wire, soldered
at 0 to the center of the sheet, leads to a tuned vibra-
tion galvanometer G, through the key K. Another
flexible wire 1,1, soldered to the sheet at 1, at a dis-
1 "A New and Direct Process of Producing Alternating-Current
Vector Diagrams Experimentally," by A. E. Kennelly, H. G. Crane
ami .1 W. Davis, Electrical World, Vol 57, No. 13, pp. 783-787,
March 30, 1911.
quantitative purposes was due to magnetic leakage
over the surface of the plate. The rotating electric-
current sheet establishes also a rotating magnetic field,
whirling with the current. The strength of this field
in the vicinity of the plate is ordinarily only a fraction
of 1 gauss, but rotating at sixty revolutions per sec-
ond, as would correspond to a frequency of sixty cycles
per second in the quarter-phase supply currents, this
field is able to induce a very appreciable emf in the
loops of wire leading from the sheet to the apparatus
tested. It was, therefore, desirable to keep these con-
necting wires down flat on the sheet and carry them
off in a twisted triple cord from the center, so as to
suppress these conducting loops as far as possible.
Even with these precautions, however, a slight error
due to the stray magnetic field could often be detected,
and it was desirable to reverse the stray field — by re-
versing both of the supply currents — in order to see
how far the roaming contact had then to be shifted
for zero galvanometer current.
:The theory of the action of this vector-diagram producer was
given In a paper on "The Rotating Electric-Current Field," by
A. E. Kennellv, published in the Transactions of the International
electrical Congress al Turin, 1912, Vol ". pp. 1180-1214. See :<lso
Trans. A. I. E. E„ Vol. XXIX, Part 2, June 29. 1910, page 1254.
986
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 16
Now .Modification of the Apparatus
The above-mentioned magnetic leakage difficulty has
been overcome in the new apparatus by providing a
duplicate or return-path sheet for each of the two
component single-phase currents. This allows each cur-
rent to flow through the ruled sheet in one direction,
and to return through a dummy sheet, underneath, in
the opposite direction, so as to effect a mutual cancel-
lation of magnetic effects. The two sheets are sep-
arated by a thin layer of varnished cambric. There
are two dummy sheets, one for each component cur-
rent, or three sheets in all, interleaved with two layers
of insulating cambric. All three sheets have the same
dimensions, but the top sheet, with its ruled surface,
is the only one visible. The arrangement is indicated
diagrammatically in Fig. 2, where the three sheets are
shown separated for easier distinction. It will be ob-
served that the supply leads come to two sides only of
the construction, in twisted pairs, so that if the high-
resistance fringe wires are held firmly in close loops, all
of the circuit elements in the system are so distributed
as to cancel out magnetic effects over the surface of
the sheet.
In the new construction the sheets, instead of being
composed of zinc, are of "la-la" high-resistivity metal.
Each sheet measures 61 cm by 61 cm (24 in. by 24 in.)
and is 23 B. & S. gage, 0.56 mm (0.022 in.) thick. The
resistivity of the material is approximately 44 mi-
cTohm-cm; so that the linear resistance of the full
width of sheet is 12.9 microhms per linear cm. A cur-
rent of 1 amp distributed over the full width of the
sheet therefore produces a drop of potential of 12.9
microvolts per cm of length, or 787 microvolts across
the entire sheet. The resistance of a square centi-
meter of the sheet, between parallel edges, is also 787
microhms.
The fringe wires are also composed of "la-la" metal,
No. 24 B. & S., of diameter 0.051 cm (0.020 in.). There
are nine wires in each side fringe, or thirty-six in all,
bordering the ruled sheet. Each wire is 18.0 cm (7.1
in.) long. The linear resistance of each wire is 0.026
ohm per cm, making the resistance of each fringe 0.052
ohm. The fringe wires are all covered by the wood-
work of the frame, which, as shown in Fig. 3, leaves
the plate alone visible. This plate is ruled into centi-
meter squares by straight scratches parallel to the
X and Y axes of the plate, at uniform distances of 1
no. 2-
1IIH WORKING PLATK, SHOWN ON TOP, AND THK
TWO COMPENSATING PLATES
cm. The back of the frame is also covered over with
wood, but grated ventilating holes are left to allow air
tn circulate around and cool the fringe wires.
Operation of the Improved Apparatus
The two single-phase components of alternating cur-
rent are supplied to the apparatus from their respective
transformers through twisted pairs of wires and Indl
eating ammeters. A current of about 12 amp is or-
dinarily supplied through each circuit. The vibration
galvanometer is tuned to the frequency of the circuit.
The connecting wires between the plate and the test
circuit RZ (Fig. 1) do not need to be looped or flattened
against the sheet, because there is practically no stray
magnetic field surrounding the sheet. The result is
that the contact point of the roaming electrode on the
FIG. 3 — VECTOR-DIAGRAM PLATE IN WOODEN FRAME
sheet, for zero current in the vibration galvanometer,
can be determined with convenience and precision. Re-
versing the direction of the stray field has ordinarily
very little influence on the galvanometer zero.
Although the apparatus may be used for the measure-
ment of impedances, and especially of small imped-
ances, yet its principal use is to give concrete visual
representation of vector diagrams to the student of
alternating currents. A student who has once used the
apparatus for presenting a vector diagram experi-
mentally and visually carries away a more definite idea
of such a diagram than is likely to be obtained from
a mere examination of the pages in a book on the sub-
ject.
The authors are indebted to Mr. F. D. Everett for
working out the triple-sheet combination of return cir-
cuits, and to Mr. F. W. Lieberknecht for help in the
design and construction of the new device.
The new apparatus here described is so easily con-
structed and gives such satisfactory experimental re-
sults that we have found it advisable to maintain the
apparatus in regular laboratory service for the use of
students in the study of alternating currents.
Cloth-Covered Casinjrs for Motors in Dusty Places
In flour mills, stone mills and other plants where it
is necessary to protect motors against dust objection has
been found to the solid wooden housings or coverings
witti which the motors are sometimes provided. As
these inclosing structures must be built to be tight
enough to prevent the entrance of dust, they also inter-
fere with the egress of heat and may cause overheating
in motors designed for free ventilation in the open air.
A practical protective casing can be made, however, by
erecting a framework about the motor and covering this
over with cheesecloth or other fabric. The open weave
of the cloth permits the ready escape of heat but pre-
vents the entrance of dust to the motor.
ELECTRICAL WORLD
987
FACTORS IN RATE-MAKING III
I oiiskU rations Which <,<>\ern Rale* and Some N<» Forms
of I'lility Schedules
BY ARTHUB S. [VBS
In discussing costs and determining factors for
schedules we have endeavored thus far to prorate
every item of cost to each class of service affected
thereby. The total cost of each item, therefore, is
averaged over all kilowatt-hours used by all classes
of consumers affected.
This is entirely proper and will give satisfactory
results for established classes, such as commercial
lighting, residence lighting and commercial motor
bear a relation which will be
Bed by such a condition. In other words, it
the lighting rate is satisfactory, the motor-service rate
will be, for these classes of service are not only well
developed but, generally speaking, are non-competi-
tive. The average light or motor-service consumer
could not possibly provide himself with electrical
energy at the equivalent of central-station rates, and,
to most householders, if the case is properly presented,
the advantages of electric lighting over gas or oil will
more than offset any increase in cost.
On the other hand, there are other classes of service
in which little or no business can be secured at rates
carrying their full average share of all fixed and general
costs outlined — those in which central-station serv-
ice competes with other service obtainable at a lower
price. Examples are "electric cooking," in competi-
tion with the gas or coal range, and "wholesale motor
service," in competition with the isolated plant.
Average Versus Increment Costs
It is useless to establish rates too high to secure the
business for which they are designed, and this brings
us to the general conclusion that the prorated cost of
service is not the only thing to be considered. Rates
must be based on cost, but must also be low enough
to induce consumers to use central-station service
rather than any substitute.
Sometimes this can be accomplished by considering
only increment costs of service rather than total av-
erage prorated costs. "Increment" costs mean the
additional cost over what the total cost would be if the
other services only were taken into account.
Where some particular class of business cannot be
obtained with rates based on average prorated costs,
we should try rates based on increment costs of such
service, and this cannot be considered discriminatory
because the other consumers are not only no worse off
than if this new business were not secured, but the
increased output will help to decrease unit generating
i, benefiting all consumers.
We may also consider that the central station's
function is primarily to provide for the consumer who
cannot serve himself. Therefore, such consumers
(•namely, average lighting and small motor-service
users) should properly bear all organization charges
and general expenses. They benefit by increase in
total output or load-factor, and therefore by commer-
cial development along new lines. It is generally neces-
sary to offer "inducements" to encourage new develop-
ments, and this we can do by basing rates for such
service on increment costs. Such a basis should, how-
ever, be considered a positive minimum, for lower rates
would be below cost.
Subsequent new commercial business lines developed
by rates based on increment costs can be made to bear
their share of general expense as increased volume
•Part I In the series of three articles by Mr. Ives was published
in the issue of March 31, 1916, pat,"' 665; part II was published or
Mnrctl 27, i:n*. page 783.
and improved load-factor make for lower average cost.
Generally speaking, such a result would not be reached
in any other waj
Alternate Kates
In spite of the advantages to consumers of a load-
factor rate and of the simplified form outlined, there
will always be some consumers who will prefer a
straight metered rate, and it will be to the company's
advantage to have an alternate rate.
This rate will be useful not only for such conditions
but also for temporary service which would not war-
rant a yearly contract, as well as for the very short-
hour consumer whose rate otherwise would be pro-
hibitive.
In fixing this rate, we may use the formula already
deduced for our primary rate per kilowatt-hour,
namely,
FX1 ,
N
but substituting a smaller value of N, which stands for
the average hours' use per day of consumer's maximum
demand.
The resulting rate will be higher than the primary
rate, as it should be, unless the selection of a proper
value for Ar should have to be modified to keep within
the maximum set by expediency or by regulation. In
such case the corresponding value of N can be ascer-
tained by reversing the formula, and no effort should be
made to secure business having an hours' use of de-
mand less than such value. No discounts other than a
prompt-payment or cash discount should be allowed in
connection with this rate.
Contracts
It will have been noted that the above analyses ot
costs and rate factors are based on annual operating
figures, and therefore it is proper to ask consumers
who benefit by such a rate to agree to annual con-
tracts. Those who object can take the open rate, which
is on a month-to-month basis, but this will give higher
costs to all but very small short-hour consumers.
The form of contract should be as simple as pos-
sible and still protect against attempt at fraud or
dishonesty. Some companies use a very simple card
application which specifies size of connected load, rate,
method of measurement, terms of payment and period
of contract. This is signed by the applicant, and
when approved by the company constitutes a contract.
All other conditions are embodied in rules and regu-
lations printed separately, to which the card merely
refers. Other companies prefer to include all neces-
sary provisions to make the contract complete in itself.
A contract form of the latter class, which is suitable for
the form of rate described in these articles, is given
on the next page.
One unique feature is the clause relating to the con-
tract term specified as "from the date thereof to the
twenty-fifth day of the following November, and self-
renewing for successive periods of one year thereafter,
unless notice to the contrary is given by either party
thirty days before the expiration of the first or any
succeeding period." The contract, being self-renew-
ing or continuing, requires no further work by the
commercial department to effect renewal except in the
rare case of notice by the consumer, and after the ini-
tial period, the first month of each succeeding period
(December) will generally show the maximum demand
for the year, which determines the minimum monthly
guarantee for that year.
This applies to lighting service only, as the maxi-
mum demand on motor-service contracts is not sea-
sonal in the same way. The initial periods of motor-
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 16
service contracts may therefore be for one or more
full years from date, but should also be made self-
renewing for successive yearly periods in the same
manner as for lighting contracts. Where a large in-
vestment must be made in pole lines, transformers or
other equipment, the initial contract period should be
proportional to the amount of such investment.
Street-Lighting Rates
The difference between private individual service
and municipal street-lighting service is primarily that
heretofore in practically all cases of street lighting
the company has furnished and installed at its expense
all necessary equipment, including lamps, while a pri-
vate consumer furnishes his lamps and accessories.
In other words, the fixed capital investment for street
lighting includes not only its proportion of main gen-
erating station equipment and distributing system but
also all special station equipment devoted exclusively
to its use, together with lamps and fixtures and their
accessories.
This by itself would prove the necessity of charging
more for street-lighting service than the correspond-
ing private-consumer rate based only on connected
load or maximum demand and hours' use. But the
company has also the burden that the street-lighting
rate of obsolescence or depreciation, due to develop-
ment in the art, has been about three times as great
as in any other class of central-station apparatus or
equipment.
This means that under present conditions the fixed
charge F will be increased by interest, obsolescence,
insurance and taxes on the special investment for
street lighting only, and that the obsolescence rate
must be such as will retire the investment in not more
than five to six years, which is about the longest time a
street-lighting system has gone without remodeling.
This is partly a question of politics. The council
street-lighting committee generally changes its per-
sonnel in about that time, and the new committee is
anxious to make a showing, especially where no city
investment is required. Familiar examples are the
successive changes from the open arc to the inclosed
type, then the magnetite arc, ornamental incandescent
as well as arc lighting, individual and cluster, tung-
sten incandescent lamps, and now the nitrogen-filled
tungsten, all within twelve to fifteen years.
In municipal plants such changes in system have not
been so frequent or so radical, presumably because the
municipality itself would have to bear such initial cost.
A second reason why street-lighting cost is higher
than private-lighting cost is because it is the only con-
sumer in its class and the interweave is 100 per cent;
the company must provide a kilowatt of output for
every kilowatt of connected load.
A third reason is the cost of special supervision and
maintenance required by street-lighting service only.
The almost universal method of charging for street
lighting at a fixed annual price per lamp necessitates
a specification sufficiently detailed to identify each
type and insure that the city will receive the contract
equivalent. Some contracts specify lamps by watts
consumed and others by candle-power delivered, in
many cases without specifying how candle-power
should be measured. Such specifications may often
cause considerable controversy and even bitterness.
Considering the above conditions, we believe there is
a great advantage to both company and city in the
method of charging and form of contract developed
My for an Eastern city, which requires the city
to own ami maintain street lamps, poles and accesao-
I Hon equipment used exclusively for
street-lit;!' ■. while the company sells elec-
Applicarion for Electric Lighting Service
"MAXIMUM DEMAND" RATE— BUSINESS
FIG. 1 — FRONT OF CONTRACT FOR ELECTRIC SERVICE ON
THE MAXIMUM-DEMAND RATE SCHEDULE
T«rm» ud Condition Referred (o In ud Mad* ■ Part of Afrarami a* Otfctf 3*4*.
Th. COMPANY «.tl HppW for li(St!n( ntrpoaa out, M) <je!« IftcmiliM rarrair.
ThtCOUfA - - >. S ■>«».«• txutiac awta*. AM
MMOfl for Uxntlrr ih.ll b« t«f*lilM h-i !h< CONSUMER. «b(#« lo U» .™".]Tl" Ih'cOII F aW? "*AB tffUk «l
■
2^
Th. ,.)S'..I Ul « nvil f I* >-» r...i .•»ilUt«* c( .iK'iA-lftrml taa-H ••"Hi »»Tl f»««ata #» CWtSVMVrS an*.
t ■■■... I-- ..■ .-.i .' ■■•■'■ Bk' "f r*-~-.
.-( (.,.. miwh .-I ...n-(. ... ,m —, ,. v„. ■(<** *ad hiM .•■i-1 n t»» Itai >»• rwfct-M >• itwU
• 3 ' s
J
PIG. 2— BACK OF CONTRACT, SHOWING THE TERMS AND
CONDITIONS
April IT, l'Jlh
ELECTRICA L \V ORL D
a8»
trie energy to the city the tame as t" any other con-
sumer and at a specified kilowatt-hour rate. The city
can spend for changes in lights without changing
rate or contract, and argument as to lamp specifi-
cations is eliminated. The company has no special
investment for street lighting, and the general "inter-
weave" applies to fixed charges on general station
equipment the same as in the case of other lighting
consumers.
For series lighting systems energy should be sold at
the generating station between the station bus and
series transformers or rectifiers and metered directly.
For multiple systems, where lamps are supplied from
regular commercial circuits, kilowatt-hours can be cal-
culated closely from the rating of each lamp and
hours of burning as determined by time switches or
otherwise.
L'sing the same formula as for commercial rates and
having regard for the factors in each case, the proper
rate can be calculated.
Gas Rates
It is rather remarkable that in spite of widespread
interest in electric rate analysis so little has been done
in developing logical gas rates. Nearly all gas rates
are of the character of twenty-five years ago, namely,
"straight" metered rates per 1000 cu. ft. with a uni-
form cash discount for prompt payment, or occasion-
ally a graded discount which produces the equivalent
of a "stepped" metered rate.
Recently it has been suggested that a gas load-factor
rate could be adopted, and the suggestion has aroused
considerable interest.
The "storage" argument does not apply, but in the
kras business, as in the electric, the total investment
required is several times the gross annual revenue; it
takes three, four, five or sometimes more years for a
gas company to turn over its capital, instead of three
or four months, as in the case of, for example, depart-
ment stores.
Since investment or fixed charges are so large a
proportion of total costs, it is proper that gas as well
as electric companies should prorate such charges ac-
cording to the consumer's demand. This can be ac-
complished by the rate system described for electric
service, and the analysis would be along corresponding
lines.
Such a rate would enable gas companies to secure
long-hour industrial business in competition with low-
grade oils, which cannot be touched under the present
system. In developing new uses for gas, rates based
00 increment cost may be justified.
For small consumers and for temporary service an
alternate straight metered rate will be necessary.
Rates may be developed similarly to the electric rates
described.
Fractional Rates for Small Gas Consumers
There is one further detail which does not apply to
the electric rate system but may be considered for gas
rates. The commercial unit, 1000 cu. ft., is compara-
tively large, and there are many consumers whose
monthly use is 100 cu. ft. or 200 cu. ft., giving, at $1
per 1000 cu. ft., a bill of 10 cents or 20 cents.
Owing to long-established use of illuminating gas
and the high efficiency of mantle lights of the Wels-
bach type, there are large numbers of such "frac-
tional" consumers, and the "dollar minimum" usually
applied for electric service would be a hardship and
tend to reduce gas consumption.
A compromise sliding-scale rate is suggested for
fractional consumption (less than 1000 cu. ft. per
month) which will have many possible advantages, of
which the following for a base rate of $1 1 would be
an example:
SLIDING-KATfc s< ALL FOR SMALL tiAs CONSUMERS
Total 1
Totml Cb«rer
too
to U
600
H 78
no
n Ik
700
0.88
an
0.61
no
0.91
400
0.81
900
0 96
500
0.70
1000
1 00
Where the base rate is more or less than $1 the slid-
ing scale would be proportional. Such a method shows
the small consumer at once the advantage of becoming
a larger consumer, as each successive 100 cu. ft. costs
less and lowers his average rate. This gradually edu-
cates him to a better understanding of the principle
of load-factor rates. The company benefits by a re-
turn more nearly proportional to cost of service.
Summary
(1) The strongest argument in favor of a "load-
factor" rate is that it is identical in character with
isolated-plant cost.
(2) Rates must be based on practical comparison
between cost for each individual and general average
cost, preferably on a classification of consumers.
(3) Classification suggested:
(A) Geographical districts : (a) zonal; (b) with spe-
cial construction; (c) different densities of population.
(B) By interweave, depending on character of
service.
(C) By time of consumer's demand; peak or off-peak.
(D) By size of load, wholesale or retail.
(4) The true reason why commercial motor-service
rates should be lower than commercial-light rates is
that, on account of a better "interweave" of demand,
less generating equipment takes care of an equal ag-
gregate of consumers' demand.
(5) While the "three-rate" system approaches near-
est to actual cost conditions, it is the most complicated
to present to consumers.
(6) It may be simplified by substituting for "con-
sumer charge" a properly graduated wholesale dis-
count in connection with a minimum monthly guar-
antee in a "two-rate" system without losing any of its
advantages.
(7) Determination of certain "rate factors" from
data on investment and operating cost should be the
first step in rate analysis; these can be used in devis-
ing any form of load-factor rates.
(8) Rates based on increment costs should be sub-
stituted for standard rates whenever by so doing new
and desirable classes of business can be developed.
(9) Load-factor rates should be on annual contract
basis. As an alternative open metered rates may be
available for short-term or very small consumers.
(10) Contracts should be self-renewing at end of
initial term.
(11) Street-lighting service should be based prefer-
ably on municipal ownership of posts, lamps, appur-
tenances and station or other equipment specially
required by such service, and only the sale of energy
by the company.
(12) Gas rates should be of the load-factor type and
may be justified by the high ratio of investment to
income.
(13) Fractional gas rates will help to solve the
very-small-consumer problem.
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 16
DIGEST OF ELECTRICAL LITERATURE
Generators, Motors and Transformers
Standardization Rides. — E. Schufler. — The first part
of an article in which the author discusses in detail the
new standardization rules of the American Institute of
Electrical Engineers. It is emphasized that these rules
are the "results of extraordinarily careful consulta-
tions" and contain "numerous new and interesting
views." In the present instalment the only thing to
which a serious objection is raised is the method for
determining the temperature in the field coils by means
of embedded thermocouples. "The introduction of this
method of measurement, not for single laboratory ex-
periments, but for general tests — which are usually
made at the place where the machines are to be used —
seems to us to be of rather doubtful usefulness. Im-
agine that all turbo-generators and most high-tension
machines for larger capacities must be provided with a
larger number of thermocouples embedded in the slots
together with the conductors leading to the thermo-
couples. It seems very doubtful whether the advantage
thereby obtained would compensate in any way for the
loss of reliability in service." The article is to be con-
cluded.— Elek. Zeit., March 11, 1915.
Direct-Current Machines. — B. G. Lamme. — In the
serial on the engineering evolution of electrical appara-
tus the article on the development of the direct-current
generator in America is being continued. The author
deals especially with brushes and brush-holders, brush-
holder supports, commutators, temperature and ventila-
tion.— Elec. Journal, April, 1915.
High-Speed Commutator Construction. — C. C. Haw-
kins.— An important point in the construction of
shrink-ring commutators for high speeds is the mainte-
nance of sufficient side compression on the mica insula-
tion between the copper sectors. In the present paper
a formula for determining this quantitatively at full
speed is suggested as a working solution sufficiently ac-
curate for the purposes of design. — London Electrician,
March 26, 1915.
Temperature Rise in Field Coils. — Magnus Mac-
Lean, D. J. MacKellar and R. S. Begg. — In ordering
recently a continuous-current motor for the Royal Tech-
nical College, Glasgow, the makers were asked to insert
in one of the field coils five thermocouples as shown in
Fig. 1. The object was to determine the temperature
PIG, 1 SKI HON (IK ( ONT1NUOUS-CURRKNT MOTOR WITH
FIVE THERMOCOUPLES IN FIELD COIL
rise at various points in a tield coil of a 120-kw variable-
speed continuous-current motor, under various condi-
of load, at various speeds, and with various field
currents, and to deduce a heating coefficient for use in
fning tiir field coils for a machine of this type. The
thermocouples were inserted as follows: A at a point
ter layer, /•'. C, /' al points one-fourth,
one-half and three-fourths of the distance toward the
pole core, and E just above the innermost layer. Fig.
2 is a set of curves showing the actual temperature of
the couple A, the rise of temperature at the couples
A, B, C, and the room temperature, all plotted on a time
base. These curves are for a field current of 1.2 amp
and an armature current of 50 amp. The rise of tern-
°c
1
CO1-
%$-*
J&
t
*«
sy
RoomJJIE!
rafc"' g _
c
10
-
—
=
1
=^
St*
8
<?
g
!
maj
%f
/y
y
i -
/
!
/
!
01234 5hour<
FIG. 2 — CURVES SHOWING TEMPERATURE OF THERMO-
COUPLES
perature of E is so nearly that of A, and that of D so
nearly that of B, that they are omitted from the figures.
— London Electrician, March 26, 1915.
Lamps and Lighting
Rating of Incandescent Lamps. — Francis \V. VVill-
COX. — A paper read before the (British) Illuminating
Engineering Society. The author points out that the
rating of incandescent lamps has been changed to total
watts in place of candle-power. The adoption of the
watt rating has resulted in the establishment of a line
of fixed standard watt values, 10, 15, 20, 30, 40, 60, 80,
100, 200, etc., watts for metallic filament lamps, which
all manufacturers have adopted. While candle-power
values will still be used as needed, they will be derived
values obtained by dividing the watt rating by the "effi-
ciency." It is very important to the largest class of
lamp users — electric-supply-station customers — to have
the total watts of the lamps stated and fixed, as lighting
service is purchased on the basis of the watts consumed.
Moreover, the watts can be quickly determined, and
they change not more than 5 per cent during the life of
a lamp, while the candle-power may vary 20 per cent.
But some unit should be employed for the luminous
value of a lamp, and the author discusses whether this
unit should be the candle-power or the lumen. "The
same reasons which led to the substitution for candle-
power of total watts as the practical size rating of elec-
tric lamps will, in my opinion, lead (and are already
leading;) to the adoption of the lumen in place of candle-
power where it is necessary to express the luminous
value. The fundamental requirement is a definite unit
which shall always mean one definite thing. This the
lumen is and the candle-power is not. Many variations
of candle-power are in use, the mean horizontal, mean
spherical, hemispherical upper and hemispherical lower.
April 17, 1916
ELECTRICAL WORLD
991
and the candle-power values in different directioi
Such complications do not arise with the lumen. In de-
termining or expressing efficiency, for example, the usual
term 'watts per candle' raises a 'iuery at once u to what
variety of candle is meant — whereas 'watts per lumen'
or 'lumens per watt' is wholly definite. Then, again,
the desirable unit should not permit of manipulation or
alteration of value (apparent or otherwise) by reason
of change in shape of the luminous body I lamp filament)
or through the use of any external or accessory di
such as reflectors. Now this has been found in experi-
ence to be the chief defect of candle-power as a unit.
The luminous output of a lamp as expressed in
lumens remains the same whatever the shape of the fila-
ment and DO matter what variat ions of external arrange-
ments or what accessories (reflectors, etc.) may be em-
ployed with it i excepting, of course, the absorption
losses in the accessories). . The candle-power
suffers from the infirmity of being materially different
according to the direction at which it is measured.
Practically, a unit of candle-power should have the same
value whether measured horizontally, vertically or at any
angle. Actually it does not, as we readily find out when
we consider the spherical surface surrounding the lamp.
This is one of the things that will always be more or
less mysterious to the layman and that assist in decep-
tion and misleading information. Even those who know
the subject fully find it very difficult to judge properly
between the merits of different light distributions in the
various zones." A great deal of the objection to the
lumen is due to the fact that it is a new unit that has
hardly come into the experience and practice of very
many people in Great Britain. This is not, however, a
serious objection, as the unit is easily comprehended and
can be readily expressed just as the ordinary candle-
power is. The value in lumens of ordinary incandescent
lamps is practically ten times the mean horizontal
candle-power, that is, 16-cp lamps would have a value of
160 lumens. — London Electrician, March 26, 1915.
Generation, Transmission and Distribution
Fuel for Diesel Engines. — Hans Schmidt. — In view
of the difficulties of Austrian central stations in obtain-
ing during the war the oils chiefly used heretofore in
the operation of Diesel engines, the author discusses the
libility of using various oils for Diesel engines, es-
pecially tar oils and bituminous coal tar, and the changes
which would become necessary in the engine design with
the use of such fuels. — Elek. u. Masch. (Vienna), Feb.
7. 1915.
Installations, Systems and Appliances
iutomatic Protective Switchgear. — E. B. Wedmore.
-The first part of an illustrated paper read before the
i British) Institution of Electrical Engineers on the clas-
sification of protective devices and feeder systems. In
the present instalment the author deals with the protec-
tion of independent feeders, selective action with leak-
age protective apparatus, use of fixed time-limit relays,
the earth connection, leakage protection for sources of
supply, protection of parallel feeders, and the protection
of interconnectors and ring mains. — The Engineer
London ), March 5, 1915.
Voltage Regulation. — G. E. Grau. — The author dis-
cusses the principle and describes the construction of
the high-speed voltage regulator of the Siemens-Schuck-
ert company, outlines its applicability for power and
speed regulation, and finally describes a new arrange-
ment in which for the purpose of greater speed of
regulation the voltage relay is provided with a peculiar
reverse attachment by means of which a premature in-
terruption of the regulation process occurs. — Elek. Zeit.,
Feb. 11, 1915.
Win -. \S irini; .md ( Oddllitl
Feeder Proti ■ I -An illustrated description
of the Callender-Waters feeder protective system. The
cable used for the Callender-Waters protective system
is constructed in the ordinary manner, except that, un-
der the lead sheath and lightly insulated from it, there
PIG. :'> SKI HON OF (ABLE SHOWING ARRANGEMENT OF
TAPES
are a set of six copper tapes, 0.016 in. thick, put on with
a fairly long lay and not touching one another. The in-
sulation between the adjacent tapes is sufficient to with-
stand 1000 volts. Fig. 3 indicates the arrangement of
the tapes in a cable. In the simplest application of the
system, alternate tapes a a a are connected together and
through a relay of earth at one end of the cable, and
the tapes b b b are connected together and to earth at
FIG. 4 — WIRING CONNECTIONS
the other end. The relay closes the circuit of the trip-
ping coil of the main switch. This is shown diagram-
matically in Fig. 4 ; for simplicity only one main con-
ductor C is indicated, and the two sets of tapes and the
lead L are shown as straight lines. T is the tripping
coil of the main switch. If an earth fault appears on
the conductor through any cause, say at F, contact will
be made between the conductor C, both tapes, and earth.
A circuit will then be made from the conductor C
through the tape a and the relay to earth. This in itself
^y
FIG. O — WIRING CONNECTIONS
might not be sufficient to actuate the relay, as the cir-
cuit is obviously shunted by the direct earth connection
to the conductor C at the fault; but owing to the tape
running parallel to the conductor, a strong current in-
duced in it will flow through the circuit, tape a, relay,
earth, and back to tape a at the fault, and this is found
to be quite sufficient to work the relay. To provide for
the contingency of the fault occurring quite near the
992
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 16
end of the cable, in which case there would only be a
short length for this inductive action to take effect, or
if only a comparatively small earth current is allowable
before the cable is cut off, some iron is threaded over
the part of the cable connecting the metal sheathing
to the earth plate or outgoing metal sheathing. This
has the effect of increasing the impedance of the sheath-
ing, thus forcing the current through the relay to earth.
The relay at the substation end should also be actuated
by the current made through the tape 6, and the cable
would thus be disconnected automatically at both ends.
There is, however, just a possibility that a fault, say
from a blow with a pick, might only connect one tape to
earth and not two adjacent ones, in which case the
cable would still be left disconnected at one end. To
meet this contingency the connections are modified in
practice to those shown in Fig. 5, which is the arrange-
ment adopted at Northampton and by the London &
South Western Railway. On tracing these out, it is seen
that as soon as either of the relays operates it closes the
circuit of the tripping coil of the local switch and
establishes a circuit from the battery, through the un-
affected tape and the relay at the other end, and back
to the battery through earth. An additional advantage
of this arrangement is that there is an electric inter-
lock between the two relays, and the substation switch
cannot be replaced until the station relay is restored.
A further modification is also described. — London Elec.
Eng'ing, March 25, 1915.
Units, Measurements and Instruments
Roentgen Ray Tube. — A note on a paper by Sidney
Russ on the Coolidge Roentgen ray tube read before
the Roentgen Society in London. The tests made by
Russ were directed toward the character of the radia-
tion for different spark-gaps and for several values of
the heating current, and also the yield of X-rays under
various conditions. The measurements were made by
means of a small gold-leaf electroscope with walls of
lead 4 mm in thickness, fitted with a thin aluminum
window, through which the rays from a bulb about 150
cm distant were allowed to enter. The character of the
radiation was found by measuring its gradual absorp-
tion through increasing thickness of aluminum. Russ
found that the radiation of the Coolidge tube was heter-
ogeneous in character, and that if the spark-gap were
kept constant the character of the radiation varied, but
not greatly, with the heating current. A comparative
estimate of the yield of X-rays emitted by the tube under
various conditions was made by measuring the ioniza-
tion produced in the electroscope. In this case the two
features to be noted were, first, a large increase in the
yield of X-rays produced by a small increase in the
heating current, and, second, a relatively larger yield
of rays of high penetration than of rays of low pene-
tration when the heating current was increased. The
steepness of the yield curves indicated the necessity of
having a very open-scale ammeter and a rheostat of
fine adjustment, so that the heating current might be
kept under rigorous control. In the course of the discus-
sion, N. S. Finzi said that, contrary to the usual experi-
ence with the ordinary X-ray tube, when attempting to
get rays of high penetration, the Coolidge tube worked
much better by using very rapid interruptions and a
smaller current in the primary. Duddell, referring to
another point in the communication, said that Russ
had confirmed his findings by means of an intensimeter
in which the change in the electrical resistance of
selenium when exposed to X-rays was made the basis
for the measurement of X-ray energy. He expressed
his surprise that anybody had produced selenium which
was definite in its action. He said that he had spent a
ulerable time upon the attempt, nearly poisoning
himself in the process, but that the selenium always
varied. He found that ordinary selenium does not re-
main constant for any length of time. It varies in its
electrical resistance from year to year. — London Elec-
trician, March 19, 1915.
Telegraphy, Telephony and Signals
Telephone Troubles in the Tropics. — W. Llewellyn
Preece. — The author deals in turn with telephone in-
struments, exchange switchboards and the line, with
special reference to troubles that arise from insect life,
vegetation, humidity and high temperatures in the
tropics, and gives an illustrated description of the con-
nections of an automatic clearing signal which became
necessary because subscribers in the tropics simply
would not "ring off" after a conversation was finished.
— London Electrician, March 26, 1915.
Book Review
The Preservation of Structural Timber. By Howard
F. Weiss. New York: McGraw-Hill Book Com-
pany, Inc. 312 pages, illus. Price, $3.
A book which treats in a thorough and practical
manner of methods and processes which tend to pro-
long the life of wood poles and structural timber gen-
erally must necessarily be of interest to the electrical
engineer. The author is an expert in matters pertain-
ing to wood preservation, and the scientific accuracy
of his statements cannot be questioned; but the chief
claim which this book has on the attention of the en-
gineer lies in its eminently practical value. Not only
are the various preservative treatments clearly de-
scribed, but the relative cost and durability of the
treated and untreated timber are given wherever pos-
sible. In fact, the book seems to have been written
with the one central idea always in mind, namely, that
the reader may be assisted in deciding what is and
what is not the right course to pursue when faced with
the problem of selecting the proper kind of timber and
of estimating whether or not it will pay to subject it
to any of the available processes by which its life may
be prolonged. The portion of the book of special in-
terest to the electrical engineer is Chapter IX, dealing
with the preservation of poles and cross-arms; but the
book as a whole is of great interest to any one study-
ing the scientific and economic aspects of wood preser-
vation. This subject deserves more attention than it
has received in the past, and it can be studied to advan-
tage by consulting this book.
Books Received
Drake's Telephone Handbook. By David Penn More-
ton. Chicago: Frederick J. Drake & Company. 286
pages, 159 illus. Price, $1.
Annuaire pour l'An 1915. Published by the Bureau
of Longitudes. Paris: Gauthier-Villars. 900 pages,
illustrated. Price, 1.50 francs.
Proceedings of the American Electric Railway En-
gineering Association, 1914. Published by the Ameri-
can Electric Railway Association from the office of the
secretary, 29 West thirty-ninth Street, New York. 596
pages, illustrated. Price, $3.50.
Alternating-Current Electricity. First Course. By
W. H. Timbie and H. H. Higbie. New York: John
W [ley & Sons, Inc. 534 pages, 364 illus. Price, $2.50.
The Mechanics of Electricity. By F. J. B. Cordeiro.
New York: Spon & Chamberlain. 78 pages. 7 Illus.
Price, $1.25.
April 17, 1916
ELECTRICAL WORLD
»98
RECENT TELEPHONE PATENTS
New ( 'irruil S\-.tems
A patent granted to .Mr. < . < . Bradbury, of New York
City, and assigned to the Stromberg-Carlson Telephone
Manufacturing Company, relates to a reverting test for
party lines. With one plug of a cord pair inserted in
the answering jack of a line and its mate connected to
the multiple jack of the same line, a singing tone will
be produced in the operator's and calling party's receiv-
thereby indicating that a connection has been made
with ;i party on the same line with the caller. The
buzz is used to inform the calling party that he must
hang up his receiver in order that the party called may
be signaled.
A system patented by Mr. A. H. Dyson consists of a
step-by-step control relay which causes the calling sig-
nal to appear on the operator's board containing the
called line. When the operator answers the call the
step relay is restored to its normal position and the
signal lamp is extinguished. The patent has been as-
signed to the Western Electric Company.
Messrs. F. R. Parker and E. R. Corwin are the joint
inventors of a manual-exchange system in which the
plug is provided with an extra contact which registers
with a receptacle contact for operating a supervisory
lamp. As the plug contact is connected with the line
relay, supervision is effected without the use of relays
in the cord circuit.
Automatic ringing and listening devices are included
in cord-connector circuits of some systems so that the
operator may be relieved of manipulating keys. How-
ever, when this apparatus is used in calling private
branch exchanges the automatic ringing relays must be
rut out as soon as the operators respond. To eliminate
the disagreeable click which occurs when the relay is
tripped out of circuit, Mr. S. B. William has so ar-
ranged the listening circuit that the head telephone is
not connected to a listening circuit until after the opera-
tion of the relay.
This instrument, which has been designed to operate
upon direct current only, is connected across the con-
tacts of an alternating-current relay bridged across the
line so as to operate throughout the ringing period.
Therefore, if the private exchange operator should close
her listening key during the ringing period the relay
will prevent her receiver being connected until the sig-
nal has been completed. The patent on this apparatus
ha^ been assigned to the Western Electric Company.
Another invention of interest particularly to private
branch exchanges has been patented by Mr. B. G. Jam-
lexon, of Chicago. The apparatus is intended for noti-
fying the private-branch-exchange operator when any
particular station is unattended temporarily. The key
producing the signal is in a high-resistance circuit, in-
cluding the line relay, which operates only partially be-
cause of reduced current, and therefore does not set the
line signal.
Messrs. E. E. Hinrichsen, of Alexander, 111., and J. F.
Tourney, of New York City, are the joint patentees of
a through-ringing, through-signaling toll-trunk circuit
in which the ringing is under the control of the connect-
ing operator. The operator receiving a request for a
connection with a toll point communicates with the toll-
switching operator at the distance point over a call cir-
cuit and by her is assigned to a toll trunk. The toll-
switching operator then proceeds to extend her end of
the connection over a second trunk to the desired cen-
tral office and subscriber. The circuit patented pro-
vides means of extending the supervision of the
called station to the calling operator and also permits
her to control the ringing. When the called party re-
sponds the ringing current is interrupted, but it may
be re-established by the calling operator by removing
and restoring her plug. This patent has also been as-
signed to the Western Electric Company.
Improved Instruments and New Apparatu-
In the repeating device patented by Mr. D. H. Wilson,
of New York City, are employed eight repeating coils
and four micro-telephone parts. The main circuit
passes through two sets of two coils in series. Con-
necting the junction joints between each of thes-
is a circuit consisting of a condenser and the four re-
maining repeating coils, which are connected in series.
The secondary windings of the bridge coils are con-
nected with the receivers of as many micro-telephones,
while the respective transmitter circuits are individu-
ally connected with the secondary windings of the four
line coils. Thus when a message is being transmitted
along the line part of the current passes through the
bridge coils and induces current in the four receivers.
The vibration of the receiver diaphragms will cause the
transmitters to amplify the current in their circuits
and consequently that in the main line.
The diagram shows a section of a telephone repeater
patented by Mr. C. Stille, of Wilmersdorf, Germany. It
consists of two oppositely wound coils suspended in a
SECTION OF TELEPHONE REPEATER
strong magnetic field so that they will compress carbon
granules in the repeating circuit when current flows
through the line wires.
An indicating gang key for selective ringing is the
subject of a patent obtained by Mr. A. J. Carter, of
Chicago. The key is operated by push-buttons which
lock in a half-depressed position to indicate which one
was last used. A sliding plate serves as a latch to en-
gage cones on the plungers. When any plunger is
depressed the one previously used is released. At the
end of the plunger stroke the selective key springs are
shifted and the second sliding plate is temporarily dis-
placed, thereby operating a master key on the end of
the gang-key frame. The patent has been assigned to
the Kellogg Switchboard & Supply Company.
Mr. E. B. Craft has patented a key which is easily
assembled and attached to a hard-rubber cupped face
plate. The frame parts are formed from sheet metal.
The Western Electric Company is the assignee of this
patent.
Another patent assigned to the same company refers
to a combined jack and signal invented by Mr. A. F.
Dixon, of Newark, N. J. Electrical impulses release a
suspended colored glass disk which swings in front of
the bull's-eye lamp, thereby indicating that a connec-
tion is desired. When the answering jack is inserted in
its receptacle the disk is restored to its original posi-
tion.
A patent granted to Mr. E. B. Craft and assigned to
the Western Electric Company covers details of con-
struction of a polarized bell. . The armature is pivoted
on trunions attached to the middle of a U-shaped sup-
port, which can be flattened to reduce the air-gap be-
tween the armature and the cores by turning a screw.
ELECTRJCAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 16
POWER AND OPERATING SECTION
Supporting Sectionalizing Taps on Heavy Feeders
In electric-railway construction heavy feeders operat-
ing at from 500 volts to 650 volts are often sectionalized
by inserting in the line spring-operated knife switches
installed in pole boxes. The taps leading from the over-
head feeder to these switches must necessarily be as
heavy as the line wire itself, and such taps therefore
exert considerable downward pull on the horizontal line,
tending to rack the cross-arm, to make the installation
appear unsightly, and to bring themselves into contact
with the pole.
As a remedy for these troubles an Indiana lighting
and railway company has adopted the method of con-
struction shown in the drawing herewith. The auxiliary
cross-arm set at right angles to the line cross-arm acts
fated fOQQOO
Clomp '
METHOD OF SUPPORTING SECTIONALIZING TAPS
as a support for insulated hangers, which carry a part
of the vertical strain imposed by the weight of the taps,
resulting in a neat and workmanlike installation and
insuring more permanent construction.
length of the pocket, about 100 ft. The inclined con-
veyor is operated by a 15-hp induction motor on 220-volt,
three-phase service from the Salem Electric Lighting
Company. The motor, which is rated at 1200/1145
r.p.m., is installed at the upper end of the conveyor and
Electrically Operated Coal Plant
What is regarded as a model coal-receiving and dis-
tributing equipment is installed at Salem, Mass., in the
plant of George W. Pickering. The earlier plant, con-
sisting of wharves, pockets, stable and office building,
was entirely wiped out in the conflagration of June 25,
1914, and the present plant has been built and equipped
on lines of most approved and economical practice.
The principal coal pocket has a capacity of 3500 tons
and is built of hard pine timber on a concrete founda-
tion. The building is divided into five bins, for an-
thracite COS] Of various sizes.
An electric conveyor carries the coal, as it is dis-
charged from the vessel Into a hopper at the water end
of the structure, up an incline to the head of the pocket,
The conveyor is of the suspended-flight type, with self-
oiling flanged rollers on heavy chain with angle Iron
rails The filghtS are 24 in. by 10 in. by 24 in., and
the traveling pai pried In a trussed Enclosure
lined with steel plate. At the head of the incline is a
hopper, and coal deposited here is conveyed horizontally
at right angles by a second conveyor which run
FIG. 1 — MOTOR-DRIVEN HOISTING EQUIPMENT
is geared to it through three gears, giving it a speed of
100 ft. per minute.
The horizontal conveyor in the pocket is of similar
pattern, but with 8-in. instead of 10-in. flights, these
being of malleable iron flanged all around. In the steel-
lined trough are five gates at 15-ft. intervals, operated
by rack and pinion. Each gate opens into a chute which
is so arranged that coal slides rather than falls into its
bin, thus saving breakage. At the extremity of the
pocket conveyor is a chute for the discharge of soft coal
onto field storage. The horizontal conveyor, like the
inclined, runs at 100 ft. per minute.
A 10-hp motor is geared to the conveyor, the speed
ratio being the same as that of the inclined conveyor.
A starting compensator for each motor is installed on
the wall of the landing near the hopper into which the
PIG. 2 MOTOR-DRIVEN HORIZONTAL CONVEYOR
buckets are emptied from the barges. A second switch.
for the stopping of both motors at once, is situated in
the in end of the upper gallery. The conveyors have
a capacity of about 160 tons an hour.
A second pocket, for the discharging of soft coal
from vessels, is equipped with a Lidgerwood el<
Apkii. 17, 1916
KI.Ki'TRICAL WORLD
hoi-t operated by a LlLl-hp special r i ■ . i s t motor, rated at
680 720 r.p.m., according' to load, controlled by a street-
car controller which ffiv« i wide range of speed varia-
tion-. The controller is connected with a hand lever at
the hopper, through beveled gears on the controller.
The drum by the ■ ntrolled from a second hand
lever which operate- a clutch and a foot lever operating
a brake.
Th^ tower i- fitted with an inclined boom, supported
by an A-frame. Buckets discharge into a hopper, and
thence the coal falls into a l'j-ton automatic car which
run-* out on a trestle railway 200 ft. long. Field stor-
age is here provided for 6000 tons. The present equip-
ment has a rating of about 100 buckets an hour, but it
is capable of 50 per cent increase.
In addition to the motors mentioned a 3-hp induction
motir i- employed in the woodhouse, where it is belted
FIG. 3 — MOTOR-DRIVEN RE-LOADER
to a 24-in. circular saw. A 5-hp motor is directly con-
nected to a bucket conveyor for elevating coke and
charcoal from a pit to the second floor of the bagging
shed. A wagon reloader on the ground is equipped with
a 7. 5-hp motor.
Ground-Testing Device
Before any employee of the United Electric Light &
Power Company, New York City, can work on any high-
tension equipment he is required to ground apparatus
through special cables provided for the purpose. Before
the ground cables are attached to the apparatus, how-
ever, a ground-testing set is used to remove any static
charge, to bring the apparatus to the same potential as
the earth, and also to demonstrate that the apparatus is
not "alive." The device consists of a cable with one end
attached permanently to ground through an expulsion
the other end being fastened to a copper tip on a
long stick the handle of which is covered with rubber.
If the apparatus is energized when touched with the
tip of the stick, the expulsion-type fuse will blow with
a loud report, signifying that the apparatus is not safe
to work upon.
Before and after discharging the apparatus, the in-
tegrity of the circuit to ground is tested by touching the
metal tip to a plate which is connected through a lamp
to one side of the lighting system. The lighting b
former is grounded at its middle point, so lighting of the
lamp indicates that the circuit is all right. These
GROUND-TESTING EQUIPMENT
ground-testing sets are supported on the wall of the
station at a number of places convenient to the high-
tension apparatus.
Distribution of Power in Electric Generating
Stations
By A. A. Potter' and VV. A. Buck'
Recent reports by the Bureau of Census of the United
States Department of Commerce give very interesting
figures regarding the distribution of power in electric
generating stations.
Fig. 1, based upon the above source, shows the rela-
tive importance of direct current and alternating cur-
^
1 II
1
I"'
Alte
i
Direct- Current
-natin
7 Current
1
-
L T~~
\Alt?rnattnq Curr
tnt
\ | Oir
ecfCui
rent
CAPACITY IN MILLIONS OF KILOWATTS
FIG. 1 — KILOWATT RATING OF CENTRAL STATIONS AND
ELECTRIC RAILWAYS, 1912
rent in central stations as well as in electric railway
stations. Of the total kilowatt rating of central sta-
tions, 473,690 kw, or 9.2 per cent, is in direct-current
generators and 4,661,199 kw, or 90.8 per cent, in alter-
nating-current machines.
•Dean of the division ol engineering and professor or steam ami
gas engint'iTiinr. K ■■ IgrlcuTtural Coll
-Fellow in - engineering, Kansas State Agricultural
College.
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 16
The accompanying table and Fig. 2 show the distri-
bution of horse-power in an output of energy from
commercial and municipal central electric stations.
The commercial stations generate about 95.3 per
PIG. 2 — OUTPUT FROM COMMERCIAL AND MUNICIPAL
CENTRAL STATIONS
cent, and the municipal stations only 4.7 per cent of the
energy. Considering the 6,052,699,008 kw-hr. generated
by power plants for electric railways, the municipal
DISTRIBUTION OF POWER AND ENERGY IN COMMERCIAL AND
MUNICIPAL CENTRAL ELECTRIC STATIONS IN 1912
(Source — Department of Commerce, Bureau of Census, Bulletin 124)
Commercial Municipal
Total horse-power
oginea Im>
urbines — hp
Steam engines ami turbine
hp
Gas and oil engine hp
Rating o! dynamos — kw.
h,'ir,!i. :).'[!
1 ,586,888
2,964,283
1,639,866
2,340,820
88.634
1,766,012
Kilowatt-hour output 10,695,436,276
559,328
7.528,648
306,493
1,892,076
100,173
3,054,456
Itlll.CCH
4,946,532
130,261
2,471,081
22,401
111,036
368,677
5.134,68V
37,526,730
11,532,963,006
electric power plants of the United States generate only
3.06 per cent of the total electric energy used in the
United States for purposes other than manufacturing.
300
-i
s
£200
z
o
i
/
^
£
6£S-
Motor Drive in the Ore Industry
The general principles underlying the application of
electric motors to the ore-handling industry were dis-
cussed by Mr. C. D. Gilpin in a paper entitled "Appli-
cation of Electricity to the Ore-Handling Industry," pre-
sented at the recent Cleveland meeting of the A. I. E. E.
It was pointed out that if the motor torque required
while short-circuiting the resistance is greater than the
torque required by the final load the torque obtained
when all resistance is cut out will be much larger than
necessary. Attention was also called to the fact that
the force required to accelerate a trolley may be more
than six times the force required to overcome the total
friction when the load is moving uniformly. Gantry-
crane motors should be capable of propelling a machine
against a 10-lb. wind pressure — a load which will usu-
ally equal the friction load and may exceed it by 50
per cent.
On long-span cranes it may be desirable to place one
or more motors on each truck in order to avoid the ex-
pense and friction losses incident to employing a single
motor with bevel-gear and shaft drive. Separate con-
trollers are, of course, necessary for each end of the
crane, and safety devices should be provided to pre-
vent the crane running askew. With the usual type of
trolley used in handling ore the acceleration of the
motor armatures may require 10 per cent of the total
energy. A curve is published herewith showing the in-
1902 1907 1912
YEAP
riO •'• COMPARATIVE GROSS INCOMES OF CENTRAL
STATIONS AND GAS PLANTS
Pig. '■'> is interesting for comparing the growths of
gas plants and central electric generating stations dur-
ing the decade from 1902 to 1912.
1
i
3
y
*r
Mill WtlNC Or M0TWW t* MOR$E*OWtli
FLYWHEEL EFFECT ON THREE DIFFERENT MAKES OF MILL
MOTORS
ertia of armatures of motors rated between 25 hp and
110 hp. The author declared that dynamic braking is
practically indispensable for lowering large buckets. In
calculating the braking current it should be remem-
bered that the torque produced by the descending load
is reduced by losses in the gearing. It was pointed out
that the speed of lowering may be allowed to become
greater than the hoisting speed if the resistance in the
armature circuit is increased and the armature voltage
does not rise considerably above its normal value.
In computing the temperature rise of an inclosed
motor the author recommends employing the radiating
ability of the frame and curves showing the motor loss
in watts at various loads. Where several machines are
employed which go through similar operating cycles,
peak loads may be considerably reduced by operating
the machines a portion of a cycle apart. While alter-
nating-current motors may be employed in some parts
of an ore-handling plant, they are not always applicable,
as they cannot be controlled delicately and economically
and because they are larger than direct-current motors
of the same rating.
When energy is purchased a demand charge is usually
made. If the demand is based on a peak lasting five
seconds or less, a flywheel balancer is usually applicable
for reducing the demand. The balancer should be pro-
vided with regulating apparatus which will allow the
flywheel to give up its energy when peak loads come on
April 17, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
and will bring the flywheel up to its former speed after
the load has dropped off. In closing, the author dis-
'1 the advantage of -.-n. -wound, compound and
shunt motors.
It was brought out in the discussion of the paper that
motor-generator sets with regulating apparatus like that
mentioned by the author are as a rule 10 per cent less ef-
ficient than rotary-converter sets and that motor-service
rates and other terms in central stations' electricity con-
tracts are often the deciding factor in the selection of
these two classes of apparatus. In regard to testing
motors of an ore-handling installation it was said that
the "root-mean-square" method of determining the heat-
ing effect should be discarded.
lUirning Coal Which Contains Much Slack
If coal containing much slack is fired in large quanti-
ranging from 300 lb. to 500 lb.), it may be neces-
sary, according to Technical Paper 80, Bureau of Mines.
on "Hand-Firing Soft Coal Under Power-Plant Boilers,"
to run a slice bar under the fuel bed and pry the large
masses of caked fuel slightly upward until they break
in pieces. The coal will then burn rapidly and make a
very hot fire. A fire rake may be used to break the
smaller pieces or to level the fuel bed after the large
masses have been broken with the slice bar. This
method of firing "slacky" coal appears to work well if
the coal contains infusible ash. If coal containing con-
siderable fusible ash is employed, however, it is better
to keep the fuel bed about 5 in. thick and prevent the
formation of thick crusts by firing small quantities of
coal at frequent intervals. Crust which forms will then
be thin enough so that it will burn through in a few-
minutes. The upper surface of the fire may be broken
without stirring up the ashes by resting the handle of
a rake on the lower edge of the fire door and drawing
the prongs lightly over the surface. If too much free
ash collects on the grate, a small hook can be run under
the fuel bed, care being taken to keep the hook flat
against the grate. The hook is of little use if the ashes
are fused in large masses to the grate.
Allowance for Holiday Habits
By H. A. Wood worth
On Sundays and other holidays people remain at home
and are, as a rule, less active than on other days. When
the body is quiet a higher room temperature is needed
TEMPERATURE SCHEDULE (IN DEGREES FAHR.) FOR HOT-
WATER-HEATING STATION
Temperature
Outside
Temperatui
+ .', M
115
. iii i r^ >;-"i
UN!
XI 1U7 71)
95
Note. — On Sundays and holiday! maintain B
Mum the above Uao add one degree for each -' miles "t nrind \-l.
lahr highe
UK
. ile is to be found in the footnote. Most of the
company's hot-water-heating patrons are residential cus-
tomers, and the additional 5 deg. given to the outgoing
water on holidays brings a large return in good will,
while the number of "kicks" registered from the male
members of families using this hot-water-heating serv-
ice is reduced to a minimum.
Marking the "Dead" Wire
Where long transmission-line spans are used to cross
rivers or to bridge other obstructions to standard
tower spacings a fourth and extra wire is sometimes
put up in the long span at the time the original instal-
lation is made. This fourth wire helps generally to
distribute the strain evenly on the supporting struc-
tures, and in event of failure of any of the three live
conductors the extra wire can be used to restore serv-
ice quickly. Looking forward to the time when it may
become necessary to use the fourth wire in an emer-
gency, one transmission company in southern Indiana
has marked each of its "dead" wires by bolting two
pieces of wood together over the wire in midspan.
With this marker always visible linemen making a hur-
ried transfer of conductors are less apt to make a
mistake.
to insure comfort than at times when muscular activity
helps keep the body warm. Reasoning along these lines.
the officers of the Merchants' Heat & Light Company at
Indianapolis, Ind., have issued the accompanying sched-
ule to the operating engineers who control the tempera-
ture of the company's hot-water-heating system.
As will be observed, the most interesting part of the
Loading Coils to Facilitate Synchronizing Rotary
Converters
In the Thirty-second Street station of the Edison
Electric Illuminating Company of Brooklyn is a rotary
converter which is started by a direct-connected induc-
tion motor. As an induction motor never attains full
synchronous speed, the starter motor had to be provided
with one pair fewer poles than the machine it drives,
so that supersynchronous speeds could be obtained.
LOADING COIL FOR SYNCHRONIZING ROTARY CONVERTERS
To make this motor slip to synchronous speed, however,
open-core loading coils are connected across the alter-
nating-current leads of the rotary converter. These
produce a sufficient load on the starter motor to pre-
vent its attaining the speed it would if running light.
After the converter is synchronized the loading coils
and motor are cut out.
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 16
COMMERCIAL SECTION
A CAMPAIGN TO REDUCE DELINQUENCY
A Five-Year Record by the American Gas & Electric Com-
pany's Properties
Some interesting figures have recently come to light
which cover a five-year campaign among a group of
ten public service companies for the purpose of reducing
the percentage of delinquent accounts. The data are in-
teresting and useful for several reasons. They embrace
cities widely dissimilar in location, size and general
character. They extend over a period of time sufficient
to justify some definite deductions. They show a grad-
ual, consistent, cumulative benefit on a scale too great
to be the product of sporadic influences.
This is an important issue, not alone to the utility
company, but to the contractor and the jobber and the
7
1
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1 "X '
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■ iJ . -v
A U ■
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\J
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ffl^U.
Willi T — -V
hi
' 1^5-
CJ
;
.
>
-. —
'■v'"* Percentages of the Delinquent Account
io Twelve Month Gross
" Avera
h C
~r
urve showing General Trend
31, 1914. Within this period each company was espe-
cially urged to use all possible endeavor to reduce the
total of its overdue accounts, not by an actual campaign
of collection, but by a steady determined tightening up
of the collection system. In 1909 these companies had
an average of a little over 6 per cent delinquent. This
average is now down to 3 per cent. The number of
delinquents has been reduced over 17 per cent, in spite
of the fact that within these years the gross business
has increased 123 per cent. Such is the record pre-
sented on the curve here reproduced.
The fine black curve outlines for each month, from
January, 1909, to December, 1914, the percentages of
the delinquent accounts to the twelve months gross. The
shaded portion, therefore, shows at a glance when the
delinquent accounts were above or below the average
for the year — represented by the heavy black line. The
general trend of the delinquent situation is shown by
the heavy broken line.
In the March issue of the A-G-E Bulletin, the inter-
rockford Electric
Company
ROCKFORD u.
In
£ date cur books shew a balance
due on
you
sunt which it tfi.t
e r.as escaped your
notice.
amounting to
ir
this amount does no
agree with
your
ree
i raa
kindly acvise us a
d we will s
ee that
It
la i
iveatigatea at onoe.
This, of course, is no
. a serious
oversight.
but
for
the sake of uniform
ty in handl
ng hundred*
of
these accounts, an early
remittance KUld
be
g| e I
tly appreciated.
Thanking ycu in advance for your c
>urteey in
eh*
matter, I an.
Yours
rery truly.
AG/EU.
Manager.
FIG. 2 — REPRODUCTION OK ROCKFORD FIRST LETTER
PIG. I CURVES SHOWING RATIOS OF DELINQUENT
ACCOUNTS III CROSS EARNINGS
manufacturer and to every other business man. For
the money that remains outstanding after the day it is
due immediately becomes a BOUrce of loss and waste
that, dollar for dollar, is no less costly than the rob-
bing of the cash drawer. A hundred dollars losl In In-
' on delinquent accounts, or a hundred dollars lost
through inefficient operation or unskilled purchasing,
it is the same. And in a public service enterprise
where accounts are small and multitudinous here is a
e of waste too often overlooked.
The accompanying curve la plotted from the delin-
quency reports of the properties of the American <Jas A
Electric Company, extending from Jan. i. 1909, to Dei
company house organ of the American (ias & Elec-
tric Company, the situation is reviewed editorially with
the following comment:
"Since the first table of delinquents was published in
the Bulletin, managers, collectors and office force have
used every endeavor to make their showing the best
possible. In most cases, especially where the delin-
quency was high, a most creditable showing was made,
nearly all of the companies decreasing the amount out-
standing by 40 or 50 per cent. . . . There is still vast
room for improvement. We cannot see the reason why
we cannot get the average down to 1 per cent. One of
our companies — Barnesville — has not had a delinquent
for the last twelve months. Marion and Rockford have
never been above 1 per cent. Consumers can be edu-
cated to Hie fact that payments can be met uncondi-
tionally at the maturity of the account. Prompt pay-
April it. 1916
ELECTRICAL WORLD
ment of bills is no more to ask of a consumer than is the
efficient service which we supply."
The results obtained by some of the other properti.-
are no less interesting. In Fremont, Ohio, for instance.
an average of eight years' experience shows 95.3 per
cent of all accounts paid by the tenth of the month, 0.6
per cent by the twelfth, 2.:i per cent by the use of -
ments. 0.6 per cent by the use of the telephone, 0.3 per
cent by the use of cut-off notices, and 0.8 per cent car-
ried over to the following month.
The system under which the collecting of accounts Is
handled is entirely in the hands of the local manager,
but, through the natural suggestion and co-operation
among the companies, has become largely standardized
throughout the group. The Rockford routine is typical
and is described as follows :
"After the tenth of the month all accounts that have
not been paid up to that date are put on our monthly
collection sheets. If any of these accounts are for
house wiring, merchandise, or are outstanding for a
longer period than one month, the fact is noted on these
sheets. After this we go over these lists and make no-
tations on them by which our stenographer knows what
kind of letter to send to these delinquent customers.
"We have several different forms of letters which we
send. If a customer has failed to pay his last month's
bill by the tenth, the first letter we send draws his at-
Tmc Cuvtow Euccraic C*
. .- -■ ;i):(r'.,
.11 mi. to »our at
closing nmif.tr.ee, or
remmon for felling to pey, mill be construed as
• the service disconnected, end amrvl
day sfter sending cut tnlr
:n electric cowparv.
FIG. 3 — REPRODUCTION OF CANTON LAST AND DISCONNECT
WARNING
tention to the fact that he has overlooked his light bill
and informs him that a check to cover this bill would
be greatly appreciated. The second month, if he hasn't
paid his bill, we ask him direct for a settlement of it.
This letter tells him that we don't like to talk of dis-
continuing his service but we must have some payment
on his bill.
"As a rule, if he is a good customer and is making
an honest effort to keep his bills up, he will either send
us a check or come in and make some satisfactory ar-
rangement about the payment of his bill. By a study of
our customers' methods we can tell when to draw a
halt on their credit. When it comes to this point we
send a letter giving till a certain date in which to pay
this account, and stating that if payment is not made we
will disconnect service.
"Every time we send out a disconnect letter we make
it a point to see the customer before we disconnect him,
and as a rule, if he doesn't pay us, we secure a promise
of payment and set a definite date on which to expect it.
These promises are followed up closely, and we have to
disconnect very few in proportion to the number of let-
ters sent out. The letter is enough for a great many,
and when they see that we mean business they are very
careful in the future to keep their accounts paid up;
but we have what might be called our 'chronic' delin-
quents, the ones to whom we have to send these discon-
nect letters about every two months, and again, in some
. a meter man has to go out to get the meter, and
just as he gets the plugs out they are willing to pay."
The manager of one of the other companies writes
further details of the system as he has worked it out.
II.- says:
"We created a special credit and collection depart-
ment, consisting of one credit manager and two col-
lectors, which we kept in operation for about one year.
After this we had the matter well enough in hand to
dispense with one collector, so that at the present time
we have a credit manager and one collector. The duties
of the credit manager are to follow up the delinquents
as taken from the ledger, send out the first and second
notices and supervise the work of the collector, direct-
ing him as to the district in which he is to work each
day and the accounts which he is to work on.
"When a consumer ignores the first notice and a cut-
off notice is sent to him, the account is turned over to
the commercial department, forty-eight hours before
the cut-off is really effective, so that this department
has an opportunity to hold the business if it is possi-
ble to do so. As a matter of fact, we do not average
over eight cut-offs per month, of which six are imme-
diately reconnected, so that our loss from cut-offs will
not exceed two per month. The foregoing is the only
use we make of salesmen in collecting, with the ex-
ception of one man who collects about thirty-eight ac-
counts per month, he having been a collector before we
put him in the sales department and therefore famil-
iar with the characteristics of certain people."
Spirit and Purpose of the Effort
But obviously the most important feature of this
campaign to reduce delinquency has not been the details
of the collection system, but rather the spirit and pur-
pose of the effort. It was recognized that interest lost
on uncollected accounts was little different in the eyes
of stockholders from interest unpaid on invested capital.
Therefore the prime objective was to eliminate the de-
linquent as far as possible but without an even more
costly loss of customers. So the slogan of the cam-
paign was "courtesy tempered with firmness," and any
incivility on the part of a collector was considered a
cardinal offense. No attempt was made by any com-
pany to put an end to all delinquency at once by the
use of arbitrary measures. The change was brought
about by gradual influence and encouragement, and this
policy has proved its practical effectiveness.
The interesting lesson in the curve, therefore, is this
— that the curse of overdue accounts can be well-nigh
eliminated, and without recourse to radicalism and the
loss of friends. These American Gas & Electric prop-
erties had been collecting their bills for years in accord-
ance with prevalent and accepted business methods,
with an average of success no worse than would be
shown by any other group of companies with analogous
conditions. But this matter of collecting overdue ac-
counts had stood as only a detail of the day's work until
the limelight fell upon it back in January, 1909.
The actual financial loss involved in slow collecting
had never been actively appreciated. Everyone assumed
that he was doing as well as could be expected, until
more was expected and demanded, with the never-
failing reaction. Delinquency was reduced fully 40 to
50 per cent, and the total saving in interest to the com-
panies involved is equal to the earning power of $100,-
000 at 7 per cent. It is as vital an economy as any
that is practised in the most efficient system in the
world.
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 16
Changes in Rates
Recent changes in rates have been made by various
companies as follows:
The Worcester (Mass.) Electric Light Company has
reduced its maximum rate in Worcester from 10 cents
net per kw-hr. to 9 cents, beginning on all bills ren-
dered after March 1. The reduction applies also to the
cooking, heating and automobile-charging rate, which
was formely 10 cents per kw-hr. net.
The Union Electric Light & Power Company, of St.
Louis, Mo., has announced a "modified increment power
rate." A minimum monthly charge of $50 is made, for
which electrical energy to the extent of 1500 kw-hr. may
be used; for additional energy used during each month
2 cents per kw-hr. This rate is applicable to wholesale
exclusive electric motor service, and is subject to a dis-
count of 5 per cent on the first $25 and 1 per cent on
amounts in excess of $25 on all monthly bills paid within
ten days from their date.
The new rates of the Duluth (Minn.) Edison Electric
Company, accepted by voters on Jan. 19, are: 1 to 200
kw-hr., 6 cents per kw-hr. ; 200 to 500 kw-hr., 5 cents per
kw-hr.; all over 500 kw-hr., 4.5 cents per kw-hr.; net
motor-service rates on motors 1 hp and less, 4.5 cents
per kw-hr., minimum charge 80 cents per month; on
motors over 1 hp to 5 hp, 4 cents per kw-hr., minimum
charge 80 cents per hp per month ; on motors over 5 to
15 hp, 3.2 cents per kw-hr., minimum charge 80 cents
per hp per month ; on motors over 15 hp, 2.4 cents per
kw-hr., minimum charge 80 cents per hp per month.
Special rates will be made on special classes of business,
according to the load-factor of consumers. An addi-
tional charge of 10 per cent will be added if the bill is
not paid on or before twelve days from date.
ladders cast in the walls. The numerals are each 3 ft.
high. The clock hands are each equipped with twelve
100-watt lamps mounted between the hands and the
dial.
Clock Lighting at Boston Custom House Tower
Indirect lighting is being utilized to advantage in the
illumination of the 21-ft. clock dials on the 500-ft. tower
of the new Boston Custom House. Each of the four
dials is provided with numerals formed by pouring con-
crete around copper-lined slots from 8 in. to 10 in. wide
in the face of the dial, and the numerals are outlined
Chicago's Suburban Street- Lighting Policy
Generally speaking, ornamental street lighting and
similar city improvements follow rather than antedate
the building up of outlying residential sections. In
INDIRECT LIGHTING OF CLOCK IN THE BOSTON CUSTOM
HOUSE TOWER
by a flood of ligW from an interior chamber with white
walls situated in the tower behind each dial. Seventy
L00 watl lamp are mounted in each of the four cham-
ber! .it angles which screen their direct rays from pass-
ing unreflected through the numeral slots, and the lamps
are at led for cleaning or replacement l>\ short
LIGHTING UNINHABITED STREETS AT 75-FT. INTERVALS
some sections of Chicago's rapidly growing North Side,
however, the reverse has been found to be true, and
there is a reason.
The principal and most rapid means of transportation
from the city's business district to North Side points
along the lake is the elevated railroad, and between the
tracks of this common carrier and Lake Michigan a
large percentage of the available building space is oc-
cupied. The opposite side of the tracks, however, being
further from the lake, is less desirable as a building
site and, as the picture herewith shows, is yet a prairie
in some places. Persons must cross this unimproved
land, however, to reach homes at some distance from
the elevated railroad, and on several of these streets the
city has placed lighting posts and real-estate companies
have laid cement sidewalks. These improvements make
it safe for pedestrians to cross the untenanted areas at
night, and the number of persons using such streets is
made the determining factor in deciding which streets
shall be lighted. Incidentally, real-estate companies
profit by the addition of lighting in front of unimproved
property, but they are in no way considered when ex-
tensions joining uninhabited territories are to be made.
Is There a Gift Room in Your Town?
A furniture store in a thriving Middle West town
recently opened and advertised a "gift room" stocked
with pieces of light furniture, art objects, and other
appropriate household equipment. The advertising cam-
paign exploiting the gift room was skilfully conducted,
and it soon became apparent to other merchants in the
city that people did not buy gifts until they had at
least visited the gift room at the new furniture store.
Even the man in charge of the electric shop in this
modern little city has felt the furniture-store competi-
tion to some extent, and his opinion of the successful
gift room as a sales idea is convincingly set forth in his
own retrospective statement that the appliance sales of
the electric service company would have been a couple
of thousand dollars higher last year if he, instead of the
furniture man. "had been first to think of the gift-room
stunt."
April 17. 1916
ELECTRICAL WORLD
1001
THE VAI.l B OF \l»\ KRT1SING*
I'lea for Mori- Liberal Um of Advertising Media and Hon
lntfllii;iiit Publicity Campaigns
Kv Akthik William.-. GENERAL In.-ph KM Km York
Edison < ompaot
It seems to me very much like carrying coals to
astle to talk to Joviana upon any possible matter
concerning the efficiency of our connected effort in
gthening the industry, in making it better and
larger: but oftentimes you will find a closer degree of
FIG. 1 — "SPHINX" POSTER OF ELECTRICAL SHOW
appreciation of the problems involved because of an
understanding of those problems.
I have a very definite purpose in speaking on the sub-
ject "It Pays to Advertise," and that is to get you in
that mental attitude where you feel as I feel, that when
it comes to advertising which is direct, clean-cut and
specific, the electric industry as a whole falls far short
of what it should do in seeking to attain the highest
ideals in the direction of an efficient and effective pub-
licity. A great many people say to me that electric light
is its own advertisement, or electric power, or the elec-
tric sign, and it would seem so; yet I find from personal
experience that, though familiarity does not necessarily
breed contempt, it does engender at times a certain
degree of lack of observation.
In my mind the greatest competitor with which we
have to contend as electric-light men is not oil, or can-
dlelight, or gaslight, or old-fashioned methods as com-
pared with more modern ones, but it is the dormant
state of the average human mind, and the hardest thing
to put in motion or to overcome in an effort to sell,
which is the objective of any form of publicity, is
human nature — first, to attract attention, which is com-
paratively easy; second, to secure recognition, which is
a little harder but again comparatively easy, and then.
third, to secure the action that produces the result.
I have frequently said that after the direct expendi-
ture of hundreds of thousands of dollars for advertising
in a technical sense I have never been able to see a
single dollar of direct return. With that I have always
'•oupled the statement that I have never failed to find a
result. I know of several recent instances where adver-
tisements in trade journals, speaking effectively and
directly, and advertisements in the daily newspapers,
speaking effectively and directly, have led to the substi-
tution of one thing for another, the discarded thing not
being advertised, and in these several instances there
was a direct purpose which in each instance more than
paid the cost of the advertisement. I am now convinced
that those who are actually purchasing from day to day,
if they analyze their actions, will find that the result of
the purchase finds its cause in the advertisement.
•Abstract of an address mad< before the New York Jovian
Electrical I^afrup, April 7, 1915.
Neceaeitj *t Action in Advertising
Advertising to be effective should also, in my opinion,
contain action. It should suggest something in motion,
some movement which will be infused into the mind of
the person reading the advertisement. Let me give you
two or three illustrations. Johnnie Walker whiskey is
perhaps the most widely advertised whiskey at the pres-
ent time, and if you analyze ever;, advertisement of
that corporation yon find there is Johnnie Walker pre-
sumably always in action, with his cane under his arm, a
smile on his face, and an intense interest in the thing
that is illustrated. In the Wilson whiskey advertise-
ments action is suggested by words. I make that dis-
tinction because a great many men who have articles
to sell would Bay, "I cannot show my article in action,"
but you will notice that while the Wilson advertisement
does not show anyone in action, it carries a phrase that
suggests action. The phrase indicates action to your
mind so that the thing becomes living, and in my opinion
it impresses it all upon the mentality of the observer.
A more direct illustration for electrical men is the
poster of last year's Electrical Show featuring the
Sphinx. To everybody the Sphinx means silence, and
rest perhaps to a great many. But Cooper took the
Sphinx, lifted the face a little, put a beautiful emerald
green in the eyes, and then posed it looking at a very
effective incandescent lamp, and it seemed to me that
Cooper brought into our own industry, first, the best
piece of poster work that has ever been done, empha-
sizing that advertising to be effective must be well done,
and then he caught the very spirit of effective advertis-
ing and got harmony and proportion and, last but not
least, a sense of intense action.
Cost of Advertising
It may be of interest to know that the advertising
bill of the country is practically twice the income of all
of the electric light and power sta-
tions of the country. That is to
say, it amounts to nearly $700,000,-
000 to-day in this country, and
the total income of our central
stations I estimate to be about half
that to-day. The manufacturers of
the country are spending twice as
much money as all of the people of
FIG. 2 — BELL the country are spending for elec-
TELEPHONE sign trie light and power as supplied from
central stations. There must be de-
duced the conviction that advertising pays, and pays
well.
Worth of Trade-Marks
The trade-mark has a value depending on the extent
to which its appearance conveys something to the mind
of the observer, and that value can be obtained only by
publicity in one form or another. The Royal Baking
Powder Company, for example, placed a value of $20,-
000,000 on that name, I am informed, and the National
Biscuit Company, manufacturer of the "Uneeda" crack-
ers, spends $600,000 a year on advertising. The latter
company estimates the commercial value of its trade-
mark at twice the total amount of money spent in ad-
vertising it. Can anybody estimate the value of the Bell
telephone sign? If in no other way than this, that sign
tells you where you will find a public telephone station
when you want to communicate with somebody by tele-
phone. Just think of the power of that sign in that
respect alone, to say nothing of the fact that the Bell
telephone stands for so much of efficiency and of service
to the public.
I have been told that the little Edison man used by
the New York Edison Company has been given a value
1002
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 16
FIG. 3 — EDISON
MAN
of $200,000. My answer was that I did not think the
Edison man of the Edison company had any particular
value in actually "putting over" a contract for electric
service, but I thought it had a value
far in excess of any such estimate
in that it stands for good service
and for a great organization always
anxious and making an effort to do
what it can in the service of the
public of New York City. Or take
the name of Edison. I do not think
that anyone could estimate the
value, the pulling power of Edison's
name in selling electricity. I would
not hesitate to place upon it a value
of at least $20,000,000, and I do not
think that is all sentiment. First, it stood for some-
thing new, something serviceable, and then it stood for
a wonderful organization of human action devoted to
serving the public. These few illustrations must con-
vince you that advertising puts an intrinsic value in a
material sense into such a thing as a trade-mark, and
if in a trade-mark, how much more in the industry as a
whole.
In concluding, I want to make a very definite appeal,
and that is that we shall get together and try to stir up
our entire industry to a more liberal use of advertising
media, and to do it individually and collectively. In
my opinion, every business house should set aside a
certain percentage of its income for advertising expen-
diture. Let it be even a small percentage at the be-
ginning, but a definite percentage of income, bearing
some fair proportion to the cost of selling in general,
should be set aside for publicity, and in each instance
the most effective way of reaching our own consuming
public should be taken. That is 50 per cent of the prob-
lem of advertising.
Mystery of Cause and Effect in Advertising
How do you know when you spend your money for
publicity that you are going to produce the result?
What takes place between the payment for advertising
on the one hand and the derived income from the sale
of the product on the other? That action is just as
mysterious to me as that which takes place between a
dynamo and the lamp — we know the cause, we know the
result, but what takes place? What takes place in the
human mind between an expenditure for advertising
and the effort to stir the mind up so that in a day or
in a week or two one will be brought to purchase the
thing I want him to purchase? That is to me one of
the greatest problems of advertising, and naturally
every one must try to solve that problem for himself;
but my thought is that we ought to adopt, as a principle
of our industry, that a certain definite and growing
percentage of our receipts should be set aside for ad-
vertising exactly as we set aside a percentage of our
receipts for any other purpose.
I greatly favor the advice of the expert. I think the
advertising expert is just as important as any other
expert connected with our industry. The man who un-
derstands forceful phrasing and the value of relative
spaces, of pictures compared with type, of the sizes of
of positions in papers, of the readers of papers;
the man who understands, nol your business, but the
psychology of getting your business into the mind of
the mail thai you want to me it is just as important
to have JUCh a man in a corporation U it is to have
a president 0T B treasurer or a secretary or a sales
manag ling agent
The soiling man is greatly helped by the advertising
advertising is only a part of the entire story. Now
I am speaking again of the technical advertising jour-
nals or the newspapers. It seems to me that the ad-
vertising prepares the way and the salesman follows it
up, and he goes into a fertile field where advertising
has been properly conducted. It has a further advan-
tage; it seems to me you can sell more in comparison
with cost. If you take your general selling cost and
add to it the cost of advertising, you produce a larger
result in sales effected than you would produce with
the human selling cost alone, which, of course, in my
mind is the predominant element of importance in the
sale. But, more than that, through the advertisement,
first of all, the manufacturer goes on record as to the
quality of his goods ; second, it is required that he keep
that quality up, and in that way he carries out the
promises that the selling man makes for his employer,
and then, of course, indirectly — you will observe this
without suggestion from me — where qualities are main-
tained and manuacturing and selling costs are reduced,
the consumer — the public — which I think we should also
have in mind, is very greatly served. So I make a
strong appeal for a larger interest in advertising, for
a larger appropriation and a more intelligent conduct-
ing of our publicity. I make a kind of appeal directly
under this heading that will make the industry compare
far more favorably than it does to-day with every other
industry, particularly in manufacturing and selling
lines — the automobile industry, the clothes-making in-
dustry and various others. Go through our journals
and you will find almost an entire absence of the pres-
ence of electrical specialties. I think we can take a
great deal of pleasure in such advertising as we see.
Take that of the Westinghouse Electric & Manufactur-
ing Company or the advertisement of the General Elec-
tric Company with Mr. Edison on a lamp in competi-
tion with the sun. I was very much impressed by the
advertisement of the Westinghouse company carrying
modern devices into the home, modernizing the home
and eliminating the household drudgery which so
quickly causes the women of to-day to break down in
health. I have only picked out these three or four ex-
amples as an indication of what can be done, and I
think we should, and I hope we will, in the belief that
advertising pays, obtain a more concentrated individual
and collective effort in that direction.
A 6300-hp Electric-Heating Company
The Willys-Overland Company of Toledo, Ohio, as an-
nounced before, has contracted with the Toledo Rail-
ways & Light Company for approximately 6300 hp of
additional electric service to be used in heating eighteen
of its enameling ovens formerly heated by gas and by
steam. In the ovens, which are now being slightly re-
modeled, the average electrical installation will consist
of twenty-four 11-kw heating units. Each average-
sized oven will therefore represent an electrical load of
2(>4 kw, and the rating of its battery will be 4752 kw.
The change, it is said, was not made in an effort to
reduce fuel cost in the heating operation but because
electric heat will eliminate the possibility of explosion
in the ovens, reduce the time of baking, and increase the
quality of the product. It is estimated that a time sa\
ing of •'?•'? per cent on the first coat of enamel and of 40
per cent on the second coat will be made, effecting a
total time reduction of one and one-half hours in what
has been B four-hour process. The contract was closed
for the Toledo central-station company by Mr. H. O.
Loehell. industrial heating engineer for H. L. Doherty
& Company, and Mr. F. J. Derge, manager of the light-
ing and power department of the Toledo Railways &
Light Company. The heating units for the ovens are
being supplied by the General Electric Company.
April IT, 1916
V. I. K< TRICAL WO S L D
1003
NEW APPARATUS AND APPLIANCES
I national Horse-Power Motors
Motors for alternating-current and direct-currenl
■■ntly Keen placed on the market by the
ne Electric Company, Chicago, 111., and are desig-
nated as type "C" machines. They are built in
with ratings ranging from 0.01 hp to 0.1 hp. The per-
formance characteristics of the direct-current motors at
full load are practically identical with the alternating-
current motors under similar operating conditions. The
shell and covers are die-cast, and the base is separable
from the shell of the motor. The shaft is of steel, is
accurately ground to size and runs in bronze bushings.
Applying Metallic Coatings by the Spray Process
Carbon commutator brushes may be coated with
copper, wooden objects covered with a metallic envelope,
and a variety of other novel operations of "spraying
on" metal performed by means of an ingenious "pistol"
mechanism now being introduced into this country un-
der the Schoop patents by the Metals Coating Company
of America, People's Gas Building, Chicago. The proc-
ess has also been suggested for depositing resistance
laminas of any thickness on metals, for building up
commutators of any desired shape, and for galvanizing
sheet metal and metal castings.
The casting metal is fed into the pistol in the form
of wire which, on traversing the flame zone a short
distance back of the nozzle, is converted into spray in
the intense heat of an oxy-hydrogen flame. This me-
tenaciously, and can be built up to any desired density.
It may be deposited on metal, wood, stone, paper or
cloth. Lead, tin, zinc, copper, bronze, brass, German
silver alio,. steel, gold, silver and aluminum may be
used as the coating material, several different metals
even being applied on the same object. A metal coating
averaging 0.001 in. thick can be deposited at the rate
of 1 sq. ft. per minute, it is said, at a cost of about 2
cents per sq. ft. The hand instrument is readily
portable, weighing only 3.5 lb.
Shade Holder
A 4-in. shade holder which has recently been de-
veloped and which is designed for use with brass-shell
"mogul" base sockets is shown in the accompanying
illustration. The holder is attached to the socket by a
clamp-and-screw arrangement which is said to provide
METAL-SPRAYING PISTOL FOR COATING CARBON BRUSHES,
ETC.
tallic spray leaves the nozzle at a temperature of from
700 deg. to 2000 deg. Fahr., but may be directed, with
perfect assurance against scorching, onto even the most
inflammable substance at a distance of a few inches.
The sprayed metal covers the surface uniformly and
SHADE HOLDER FOR HIGH-EFFICIENCY INCANDESCENT
LAMP
rigid center suspension for shades of any size. The
clamp grips the socket above the bead. Twelve openings
around the top are provided for ventilation; as shown
in the illustration, thus making the device adapted for
use with nitrogen-filled lamps. The shade holder is
being placed on the market by Harvey Hubbell, Inc.,
Bridgeport, Conn.
Charging Plugs and Receptacles for Electric-
Vehicle Service
A number of different types of charging plugs and
receptacles have been developed by the Albert & J. M.
Anderson Manufacturing Company, 289 A Street, Bos-
ton, Mass., for electric-vehicle service. In Fig. 1 is
shown a charging receptacle for switchboard mounting
designated as a type N device. The receptacle is
equipped with a collar and a clamping nut for fastening
it on the panel. The metal parts which show on the front
FIGS. 1 AND 2 — CHARGING RECEPTACLES FOR SWITCH
MOUNTING AND FOR SUSPENDING CABLE FROM CEILING
of the board are copper-plated and are provided with a
polished finish.
The receptacle illustrated in Fig. 2 is designed for
suspending the cable from ceilings. The receptacle is
equipped with a threaded cap and cable clamp which
1004
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 16
takes all strain from the soldered connections. It can
be used for connecting motors and portable electric
machines to the circuit. The over-all length of the re-
ceptacle with cap is 6% in. and its net weight is 1.5 lb.
The charging plug shown in Fig. 3 is a double-pole
device and is rated at 150 amp at 125 volts. It is pro-
vided with a steel shell which fits closely into the cylin-
drical shell of the receptacle. The plug is equipped with
9L 9
FIG. 3 — CHARGING PLUG WITH SHORT HANDLE
detachable lugs so that soldered connections can be
made. The iron handle is provided with a special cable
clamp which prevents injury to the insulation on the
cable and relieves the soldered connection of mechanical
strain. The plug may be equipped with a long or a short
handle. The over-all length with the long handle is
10.25 in. and with the short handle 7.25 in. The weight
o." the plug with the long handle is 4.5 lb. and with the
short handle 3.5 lb.
Oil Switch with Fuse Terminals
An oil switch which is equipped with fuse terminals
inside the switch frame and which is designed particu-
larly for use with small induction motors whose ratings
do not exceed 25 amp has been developed by the Condit
Electrical Manufacturing Company, Boston, Mass. The
switch, which is designated as the type ID oil switch, is
made for both 250-volt and 600-volt service and is totally
inclosed. Both the moving and stationary contacts are
reversible and renewable, the reversible feature, it is
said, affording long life.
The oil tank is securely fastened to the main frame
but is so arranged as to be readily removable for in-
spection of the contacts. Separate compartments are
provided for the fuses and the contacts. The operating
handle swings close to the switch frame, thereby reduc-
ing to a minimum the danger of throwing the switch in
or out by accidentally striking against the handle. Stops
on the frame prevent the handle from being thrown too
far either in the "off" or the "on" direction, and these
positions are clearly marked on the frame.
Use is made of "Shawmut" fuse clips, which are
OIL SWITCH WITH FUSE TERMINALS INSIDE nil FRAME
mounted on insulating blocks supported on the top of
■ itrii fnune. The cover fits closely over the top
of the main frame and is securely held in place, al-
though it may be easih removed to replace the fuses.
The switch is arranged for mounting on the wall.
Fixture for Nitrogen-Filled Lamps
In the accompanying illustration is shown a fixture
developed by the Faries Manufacturing Company,
Decatur, 111., which is designed for use with 100-watt,
200-watt or 300-watt nitrogen-filled lamps. The holder,
which is reinforced with a steep supporting saddle so
LIGHTING UNIT FOR 100-WATT, 200-WATT AND 300-WATT
NITROGEN-FILLED LAMP
that no weight is placed on the socket, is of heavy sheet
copper and is provided with a frosted aluminum reflect-
ing surface. The canopy and hanger are of brass. Use
is made of the so-called dual ventilating system. The
holder is designed for a 6-in. glass fitter and is employed
with a standard socket. The unit is designated by the
above manufacturers as the "Farieslite" fixture No.
3293.
Inclosed Fuse
A fuse of the inclosed type, a sectional view of which
is shown in Fig. 1 and an outside view in Fig. 2, has
recently been developed by the Chelten Electric Com-
pany. 314 Armat Street, Philadelphia, Pa. According to
SECTIONAL VIEW
the manufacturers, the fuse is of uniform rating and at
normal temperatures will tarry indefinitely 10 per cent
greater load than that at which it is rated. It is de-
signed to blow uniformly at 17.5 per cent overload. The
luse strip is of round wire drawn through a die. Fuses
FIG. 2 — 10-AMP INCLOSED FUSE
with ratings of 35 amp or more are equipped with
fuse element consisting of three parts — two "lead-in"
strips of Hat fusible material and the center fuse strip
or strips connected to the "lead-in" strips. The round-
center strips determine the rating of the blowing of the
April 17. 1916
ELECTRIC A I. WORLD
fuse at overload, but on a short-circuit both the center
and "lead-in" strips blow, therefore increasing, it is de-
clared, the arcing distance and thus making it easier for
the "tiller" to extinguish the arc. The fuse is made in
is standard ratings up to and including 600 amp,
in both the 250-volt and 600-volt type.
Interior Fire-Ahnni System
Interior lire-alarm apparatus designed particularly
for operation in New York City and New York State,
in accordance with certain labor laws and the require-
ments of the State Industrial Board and the New York
City Bureau of Fire Prevention, has been developed by
the Autocall Company, Shelby, Ohio. The system is of
the closed-circuit type and operates on 110-volt direct
current.
In Fig. 1 is shown a demonstrating oufit mounted on
a display board, which includes the control board, fire
box, fire bell and fused resistance coil with wiring dia-
gram and printed instructions which are furnished
with each system. The alarm boxes and the solenoid
are on a closed circuit across the 110-volt mains. The
gongs and trouble-bell relay are also on a closed cir-
I1G. 1 — FIRE-SIGNAL SYSTEM MOUNTED ON DISPLAY BOARD
cuit across these mains. Resistance in these circuits
limits the current to approximately 65 milliamperes
per circuit. The small cabinet shown at the left in Fig. 1
contains fused resistors which are wired in the bell cir-
cuit to protect the circuit against a large continuous
How of energy in case of accidental interruption to the
box circuit. At the bottom of the control board is
shown a small box which contains a circuit-shifting re-
lay. With improved systems this relay has been elimi-
nated by adding another solenoid to the control board.
To sound an alarm the glass in one of the alarm
boxes is broken, thus releasing the signal mechanism.
As the sector or break wheel revolves, the teeth oper-
ate the contact springs and open the circuit. The
solenoid A in Fig. 2 is de-energized, and the armature
H drops across the carbon contact C, thus connecting
the gongs to the 110-volt circuit, causing them to
strike. When the circuit is again closed in the box
the solenoid A is re-energized. During the sounding
of an alarm an annunciator on front of the alarm
box drops, which indicates that the box is inoperative
until "reset." In setting the alarm box again the
annunciator flap is brought to an upright position and
the latch on the inside of the door is engaged with the
annunciator pin. In sounding an alarm the movement
of the alarm box is allowed to run down completely
before rewinding. An open box or gong circuit is
provided which will cause the trouble bell on the con-
trol panel to ring continuously. This bell is operated
by four dry cells.
fig. 2-
tStovt
-WIRING DIAGRAM FOR 110-VOLT DIRECT-CURRENT
FIRE-ALARM SYSTEM
The system, as approved, is on display at the of-
fice of the State Industrial Board, New York. Ac-
cording to the manufacturers, the apparatus is the first
system approved by the supervising authorities for
operation on 110-volt direct-current underground
circuits in New York City.
Charging Equipment for Garage
The charging equipment of the Corey Hill Garage,
Brookline, Mass., shown in the accompanying illustra-
tion consists of a Wagner rotary converter and charg-
ing panel with four unit-type rheostats made by the
Cutler-Hammer Manufacturing Company, Milwaukee,
Wis. The outfit is operated on single-phase alternating
current. The leads are carried from the charging rheo-
stat to the outlet in conduit which is shown running
on the wall parallel with and about 3 ft. above the floor.
The rheostat handles are within easy reach, as shown,
and are arranged for charging one or two and three or
four electric cars at the same time from the one loca-
tion. Protection is provided against overcharging and
BATTERY-CHARGING OUTFIT
against charging back into the line. There is an in-
strument switch on each panel, so that the voltage of
any battery being charged can be read at any time de-
sired. The rheostat units and panels for the above in-
stallation were completely wired before being installed.
10M
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 16
Fractional-Horse-Power Motors
Motors for alternating current and direct current with
ratings of 1 20 hp and 1/16 hp have been developed by
the Knapp Electric & Novelty Company, 511 West Fifty-
first Street, New York. Both types of motors operate
SMALL MOTOR WITH REMOVABLE FEET
on 110 volts. The shaft of the 1/20-hp machine is 6V'8
in. long and that of the 1/16-hp machine 7 in. The feet
can be readily removed when economy of space is de-
sired. The field structure of the motor consists of two
laminated poles, the armature is also laminated and has
fourteen slots; it is 2 in. in diameter. Use is made of a
shaft which is 9/32 in. in diameter and a cone pulley
which has an inside diameter of 1 in. and an outside
diameter of 1.5 in. The commutators are of copper and
consist of fourteen segments with mica insulation.
Wick-feed oil cups are employed. The body of the motor
is 4.25 in. in diameter and the finish of the machine is
of black enamel with brass trimmings. The shipping
weight of the 1/20-hp motor is 6.25 lb.; without the
base it is 5.5 lb. The shipping weight of the 1/16-hp
machine is 8.5 lb., and without the base it is 7 lb.
Improved Steel- Plate Fan
The "Buffalo Planoidal" fan, as it is called, shown in
the accompanying illustration is, according to the manu-
facturers, a modification of the paddle-wheel fan and is
adaptable for use where economy of space and high
Mil MOUSING FAN,
WITH BOTTOM HORIZONTAL DIS-
CHARGE
speeds are not necessary. The housing is of heavy steel
plate and is involute in form. The blast wheel is
equipped with from five to twelve radial blades, depend-
Ing on (be size of the fan. The blades are of heavy
9ieel plate and are riveted to T-iron spider arms, which
are cast into a heavy hub and are tapering in shape,
being wider at the inlet than at the periphery. The
side sheets of the wheel are flanged at the inlet and are
riveted to the sides of the blades.
The fans are built both as exhausters and blowers,
the construction for each being identical except that
the blowers have two inlets of smaller diameter than
the one inlet of the exhauster and are not provided with
an inlet cone. The inlet cone of the exhauster tapers
toward the inlet of the blast wheel and causes the
velocity of the entering air gradually to increase,
thereby reducing, it is declared, the loss at this point.
Double-width fans, which give twice the capacity of a
single-width fan, are built only as blowers and are pro-
vided with two inlets. The fans are being made by the
Buffalo Forge Company, Buffalo, N. Y.
Hot-Process Water-Softening Apparatus
The apparatus shown in the illustration is a com-
bination open feed-water heater and a chemical water-
softening system. The water is passed through a steam
bath in the heater chamber, and as a result air and
APPARATUS FOR SOFTENING WATER
gases are driven out of the water. As the water passes
from the heating chamber, the chemical reagent is in-
troduced in proportion to the amount of water and the
impurities which it contains. After the introduction of
the chemical, the water passes into a cylindrical steel-
plate treating and softening chamber, the course of the
water being gradually downward in order to obviate
convection currents. The precipitate and sludge rapidly
form and settle to the bottom of the tank, which Is con-
ical and is provided with a blow-off valve so that the
sludge may be quickly disposed of bj periodical blow
ing. After having been clarified bj sedimentation, the
water passes up through a wood-wool filter which is
designed to arrest any small particles which may not
have been eliminated in the settling chambers.
The Sorge-Cochrane hot-process system described
above has been developed by the Harrison Safety Boiler
Works, Seventeenth Street and Allegheny Avenue, Phila-
delphia, Pa.
April 17. 191fi
ELECTRICAL WORLD
inn:
< 'timliin:itiiin ( ut-Out Switch
Although the base of the cut-out switch shown in the
accompanying illustration is rather high, it is hollowed
•i the back so that it is comparatively light in
weight. Tin- switch is equipped with a spade handle
which is provided with a fiber cross-bar. I'se is made of
CUT-01 I SWITCH WITH HIGH BASE
hinge bolts which are spun over and therefore cannot
work loose. The "double U" clip is self-adjusting and
heavy copper; if it gets bent, it can be straight-
ened by a blow of the hammer. The switch stands high
enough so that in throwing it over the fuses offer no
obstructions. The switch, which has been developed by
the Trumbull Electric Manufacturing Company, Plain-
field, Conn., can be placed in a box 3 in. deep.
Small Motor-Driven Air Compressor
The air compressor shown herewith is air-cooled and
rotary-driven and is equipped with eight 1-in. cylinders.
The rotary motion is converted into a reciprocatory
motion by a connecting-rod rocker which is pivoted on
a universal joint. The smaller end of the connecting-
rod rocker is engaged to the crank shaft a sufficient
distance from its center to permit a 1 5/16-in. stroke.
There is a %-in. lead between the pistons which insures,
it is declared, a continuous flow of air and a steady pull
on the driving arm. The driving arm or crank shaft
has a counterbalanced weight to offset the rocker, there-
ROTARY-DRIVEN AIR COMPRESSOR
by, it is claimed, eliminating all vibration. A small
blade attached to the crank shafts dashes oil over all
moving parts. There is one discharge valve for each
cylinder and all valves are mounted on one plate. The
valves are of brass, cylindrical in shape, and are not
ground, but peened. The valves lift only 0.01 in. off
their seats. The intake is through a stationary port
which is cut in each of the cylinders which are cast
en bloc. The coi roper consists of four semi-
steel castings. Each piston carries two cast-iron rings
and is fitted with oil grooves. The connecting rods are
2 1-16 in. in length, and have a " --in. hardened-steel ball
at each end. In its entire travel the free end of the
connecting rod moves only >s in. out of a straight line.
The machine is operated by a 0.5-hp motor and is driven
by means of a silent chain. The over-all dimensions
are: length, 14 in.; width, 9 in.; height, 18 in., and
the total weight is 110 lb. The compressor is being
made by the Utility Compressor Company, Detroit.
Mich.
Belt-Treating Compound
A compound for treating belts and ropes made by the
Cling-Surface Company, Buffalo, X. V., has been im-
proved so that it is unnecessary to heat the product
when used at temperatures of 60 deg. Fahr. or above.
The material is semi-fluid at ordinary temperatures and
can be applied to the belt with a strip of wood, thus
eliminating the danger which would exist if it were
applied directly by hand.
Electrically Operated Chimes
As noted in the Electrical World of March 20, the
Betts & Betts Corporation, 256 West Fifty-sixth Street,
fig. 1 — automatic chime-playing outfit
New York, is making electrically operated chimes of
various types and has engaged the services of Mr. H. A.
Yerkes, who is an inventor of electric chimes and bells
for amusement places.
Under Mr. Yerkes' supervision chimes of all sizes are
1008
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 16
being manufactured, from small clock chimes to large
chimes for church towers and outdoor use. Apparatus
has been designed for playing chimes automatically by
means of a master clock from music rolls which can be
changed as often as desired. In Fig. 1 is shown an
automatic outfit for playing the chimes from a roll, and
FIG. 2 — WESTMINSTER CHIME OUTFIT
in Fig. 2 is illustrated the Westminster chime outfit, as
it is called. The master clock of the latter outfit sends
electrical impulses once each minute to the round sec-
ondary clock, which keeps in step with it. Every fifteen'
minutes the secondary clock sets a mechanism into
operation for playing the chimes and causes the proper
solenoid magnets to operate the proper hammers. At
the quarter hour the chimes are played once, at the half
hour twice, at the three-quarter hour three times, and
at the hour four times. A chord is also played at the
latter time, and is repeated several times to correspond
with the hour.
Small Electric Stoves
Two types of small electrically operated stoves are '
shown herewith which have recently been developed by
FIGS. 1 AND 2 — SMALL ELECTRIC STOVES WITH OVENS
the General Elect . Ltd., 87 Queen Victoria
Street, London, EC. ' '., England. The stoves are of
sheet-metal construction and arc provided with rigid
angle-iron frames.
The size of the cooking space in the stove shown in
Fig. 1 is 12 in. by 12 in. by 9 in. The oven fits on the
top of a hot-plate and grill and is held in place by two
retaining screws. The maximum rating of the stove
is 1500 watts. By means of a polished reflector plate,
which can be placed under the heating element if no
heat for grilling is required, all the heat from the ele-
ment is directed up into the oven.
The size of the cooking space in the stove shown
in Fig. 2 is 15 in. by 12 in. by 12 in., while the over-all
dimensions are 22.5 in. by 14 in. by 14 in. The stove
is of double-wall construction. There is a heating ele
ment rated at 800 watts at the bottom of the oven, and
another at the top. The top element is arranged in two
circuits, each circuit being rated at 700 watts. The
stove can be arranged to take 200, 700, 800, 900. 1400,
1500. 1600 or 2200 watts as desired.
Motor-Driven Washer of Household Size
An electrically operated washing machine in which
there is no mechanical connection between the driving
motor and the revolving clothes drum has been brought
out by the Capital Electric Company of 321 North Shel-
don Street, Chicago, 111. The motor is mounted ver-
tically beneath the tub and drives a 4.5-in. propeller
blade in the bottom of the tub through a flexible coup-
ling and a clutch. This propeller, revolving at motor
speed, which is 1700 r.p.m., drives a stream of water
upward through the clothes. The clothes drum being
ELECTRIC WASHER WITH NO MECHANICAL CONNECTION
BETWEEN MOTOR AND REVOLVING DRUM
free to revolve on its axis is turned by the force of the
water impinging against it. To hold the clothes drum
steady it can be locked either down in running position
or up in position to receive clothes from the wringer.
It is not necessary for the operator to place his hands
in the water to lift the drum from either of these posi-
tions. The reversible wringer above the tub is equipped
with a safety stop device and is driven from the motor
through shafting and a forty-eight-to-one gear reduc-
tion. The washer may be equipped with either a gal-
vanized or a copper tub, and it measures 22 in. wide
by 28.5 in. deep by 53 in. high. The machine is de
signed to wash six sheets or the equivalent at one time.
The vertical driving motors are made by the Fort Wayne
Works of the General Electric Company, Fort Wayne.
Ind., and are installed under cast-iron housings.
April it, i:<15
ELECTRICAL WORLD
1009
Electrical Prosperity Week
An appropriation which will be sufficient to insure
the advertising of "Electrical Prosperity Week" in every
city and town in the country was recommended by the
"Electrical Prosperity Week" committee, which met
on April 7 at the Engineers' Club, New York. This
recommendation will be submitted to the board of di-
rectors of the Society for Electrical Development for
approval on April 19.
The committee's recommendation on plans carried
with it an appropriation of $50,000 for special expendi-
tures, such as printing, and extraordinary expenses.
In addition the society will devote a large part of its
regular appropriation to the work. It is understood
that the plans for the campaign and the knowledge that
it will be handled by the society, under the general guid-
ance of the executive committee, have stimulated the
society's growth in membership, particularly in central-
station members.
While the Society for Electrical Development will
handle the details of the movement and spend a large
sum of money in carrying on the campaign, leading
electrical manufacturers and jobbers have declared their
intention of making liberal expenditures for national
publicity. Each company will tie its campaign in with
the society's co-operative movement. Central stations,
contractors and dealers will take advantage of the na-
tional campaign to obtain local results by handling sales
campaigns of their own during the week.
The sub-committee appointed at the meeting on
March 24 reported to the executive committee that it
had definitely decided upon "Electrical Prosperity
Week" as being the most appropriate, euphonious and
expedient designation. Many names were considered,
but in order to make this campaign one that would prove
popular with the average layman, it was the opinion of
the committee that no better name could be suggested
than that given it at the time the campaign was first
discussed. It was under the name of "Electrical Pros-
perity Week" that it received great publicity in metro-
politan and other newspapers and was brought to the
attention of the public. The name has met with gen-
eral satisfaction and was unanimously approved.
The committee definitely selected the week from
Monday, Nov. 29, to Saturday, Dec. 4, 1915. This selec-
tion also met with the approval of the representatives
of the various interests. It was pointed out that it will
furnish the impetus for a "shop early" sales campaign
for Christmas electrical goods, and that it is particu-
larly pleasing to the department store managers and
merchants, since they will have a chance to begin their
extra illumination earlier and to allow it to continue
without a break until Christmas. Central stations will
benefit greatly because the merchants will not feel
disposed to return to less efficient illumination.
The committee recognized the fact that the society
must necessarily receive the assistance of experts along
certain lines of endeavor. Advisory committees, to
work with the society in determining policies and other
important matters, were appointed, composed of the
following men, though additional names will probably
be added later:
Committee on general publicity — Messrs. H. W. Alex-
ander, manager department of publicity Society for
Electrical Development; L. D. Gibbs, superintendent
advertising department Edison Electric Illuminating
Company of Boston; George Williams, commercial man-
ager Henry L. Doherty.& Company; D. H. Howard, pub-
licity manager Commonwealth Edison Company, Chi-
cago; W. H. Hodge, publicity manager H. M. Byllesby
Company, Chicago; Norman Macbeth, publisher Light-
ing Journal, New York; Frederic Nicholas, associate
editor Electrical World, New York; E. R. Kelsey,
manager publicity department Toledo Railways & Light
Company, Toledo, Ohio, and Don C. Shafer, advertising
department General Electric Companv, Schenectady,
N. Y.
Committee on advertising — Messrs. J. M. Wakeman,
general manager Society for Electrical Development;
Frank H. Gale, advertising manager General Electric
Company, Schenectady, N. Y. ; J. C. McQuiston, man-
ager Westinghouse department of publicity, East Pitts-
burgh, Pa.; N. H. Boynton, manager department of
publicity National Lamp Works, Cleveland, Ohio; T. G.
Whaling, Westinghouse Lamp Company, New York;
Howard K. Mohr, advertising manager Philadelphia
Electric Company, Philadelphia, Pa.; T. J. McManis,
manager publicity department Edison Lamp Works,
Harrison, N. J.; Thomas R. Elcock, advertising man-
ager United Gas Improvement Company, Philadelphia,
Pa. ; P. L. Thomson, advertising manager Western Elec-
tric Company, New York, and Joseph L. Sullivan, sales
manager Franz Premier Company, Cleveland, Ohio.
Committee on exhibitions, lectures, parades, etc. —
Messrs. George B. Muldaur, Society for Electrical De-
velopment; E. W. Lloyd, general contract agent Com-
monwealth Edison Company, Chicago, 111.; P. L. Thom-
son, advertising manager Western Electric Company,
New York; F. Nelson Carle, advertising manager Gen-
eral Vehicle Company, Long Island City, N. Y.; Frank
B. Rae, Jr., Electrical Merchandise, New York; Ray D.
Lillibridge, advertising agent, New York; H. N.
McConnell, commercial manager United Gas & Electric
Company, New York; A. J. Marshall, secretary Electric
Vehicle Association of America, New York; E. A.
Edkins, Commonwealth Edison Company, Chicago, 111.;
Frank H. Gale, advertising manager General Electric
Company, Schenectady, N. Y. ; J. C. McQuiston, man-
ager Westinghouse department of publicity, East Pitts-
burgh, Pa., and Homer E. Niesz, Commonwealth Edison
Company, Chicago, 111.
Committee on local illumination and display — Messrs.
A. J. Edgell, display manager Society for Electrical
Development; T. I. Jones, general sales agent Edison
Electric Illuminating Company, Brooklyn, N. Y. ; W. R.
Huntley, Buffalo General Electric Company, Buffalo,
N. Y. ; Joseph D. Israel, commercial manager Philadel-
phia Electric Company, Philadelphia, Pa.; M. O. Dell-
plain, Syracuse Lighting Company, Syracuse, N. Y. ;
E. R. Davenport, sales manager Narragansett Electric
Lighting Company, Providence, R. I.; C. G. Durfee,
Rochester Railway & Light Company, Rochester, N. Y. ;
Howard A. Lewis, Hotpoint Electric Heating Company,
Chicago, 111. ; A. A. Gray, managing editor Electrical
Review, Chicago, 111.; H. C. Menefee, editor Signs of the
Times, Cincinnati, Ohio, and J. H. Donnelly, editor and
publisher Electric Sign Journal, New York, N. Y.
Local committees will be appointed to co-operate in
1(110
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 16
the movement. The names of the prominent men se-
lected by the executive committee will be announced
later. The following resolution was passed by the
executive committee:
"Resolved, that the nominating committee's recom-
mendations as to local committees to take charge of
'Electrical Prosperity Week' be approved, with the un-
derstanding that these committees are authorized to
add to their personnel, and that the general manager
define the districts covered by each of these committees
when notification is sent to these committees."
At the conclusion of the meeting the committee mem-
bers present expressed their approval of the preliminary
plans for the week, and also of the work of the society
in this connection up to the present. It was recognized
that the electrical industry had embarked upon the
greatest campaign in trade history, and one which
would be of untold benefit, both from the point of actual
sales and in publicity. It is reported that to cover all
costs fully half a million dollars will be spent before
its close.
Watson on the Telephone
At a meeting of the New York Electrical Society held
at the Engineering Societies Building on April 14, Mr.
Thomas A. Watson delivered a popular lecture on "The
Birth and Babyhood of the Telephone." It was ladies'
night, and musical selections were rendered as a part
of the evening's entertainment. Previous to the lec-
ture of the evening Messrs. Alexander Graham Bell.
Thomas A. Watson, Michael I. Pupin and J. J. Carty,
the four men most closely associated with the develop-
ment of telephony, were elected honorary members to
the society. It was estimated that approximately 1000
people heard Mr. Watson's lecture.
Chicago's Mayor-Elect Favors Local Regulation
for Utilities
At a hearing held by the Illinois Legislature's house
committee on public utilities and transportation at Chi-
cago, April 9, Mr. William Hale Thompson, Mayor-elect
of Chicago, expressed himself in favor of "home rule"
of Chicago's utilities and declared that he would do all
in his power as Mayor to restore such local regulation.
Messrs. Samuel Insull, president of the Commonwealth
Edison Company, and B. E. Sunny, president of the
Chicago Telephone Company, testified in favor of con-
tinuing the present system of state regulation. Mr.
Insull pointed out that it would be less economical to
produce electricity to be used only within the city limits
of Chicago, and that regulation by the city authorities
would be a step backward. While declaring himself a
believer in regulation, he said that the multiplication of
regulatory bodies might impose expense burdens on the
utility corporations and BO tend actually to increase the
cost of service to customers.
Mr. Sunny explained that with the short two-year
term tot which city councilmen are elected a city council
lacks the experience of a permanent commission of ex-
perts. A recent council investigation of the telephone
. he cited, required three years to com-
plete. Mr. Sunny declared that the two-year experience
of councilmen does not qualify them to handle the tech-
nical questions Involved in modern utility cases. Prof.
E. W. Bemi-. the city's representative on the board of
supervising engineers, said that most of the questions
involved in regulation concern matters of policy rather
than engineering, and declared himself In favor of a
commission close to the community.
Mr. Byllesby on Commission Regulation
A commission or other regulatory body which has
the power to regulate public utilities should also regu-
late the taxation of such utility corporations on the
basis of a rational valuation, declared Mr. H. M. Byl-
lesby, president of H. M. Byllesby & Company, Chicago,
in speaking before the Chicago Electric Club, April 8,
on the topic "Practical Results of Utility Regulation by
Public Service Commissions." There are, however, no-
commissions which combine both the regulatory and
taxation functions. The legal body which has the power
to fix the rate of return which a utility may earn
should make its valuation on a fair basis, taking into
consideration the obsolescence of machinery which has
marked the rapid development of the electrical industry,
and the cost in "brains, money and heartaches" which
has been necessary to bring many utilities into earn-
ing condition.
But commissions are fair-minded and honest, de-
clared Mr. Byllesby, and such a small tribunal of honest
and fair-minded men is to be infinitely preferred to the
old-time city councils and state legislatures. Commis-
sions are often closely limited by the laws which create
them and which govern their action. The failure to
provide commission control over taxation Mr. Byllesby
characterized as lamentable. A commission may by
fair and wise rulings improve the earning condition of
a utility under its charge, only to have that utility
mulcted to a greater extent by an independent taxing
body. The speaker holds the view that utility commis.-
sioners should be appointed for life and good behavior
in order to remove them from local political considera-
tions and influence.
Report on Cleveland Municipal Plant
Bulletin No. 1 of a proposed series on the Cleveland
municipal plant has been issued by Mr. F. W. Ballard,
commissioner and chief engineer, who says in part:
"Our rating is only 24,000 kw, which is practically
one-fourth that of the Cleveland Electric Illuminating
Company, and we could not, and it is not our intention
to, take the entire lighting and power load of the city
of Cleveland. However, the rating is entirely adequate
to demonstrate the commercial possibilities of making
energy for lighting and motor service at a maximum
rate of not to exceed 3 cents per kw-hr. This should
result in the Cleveland Electric Illuminating Company
either reducing rates to meet ours or selling its plant
to the city of Cleveland.
"The territory covered by the municipal plant has
a greater area in proportion to the size of our station
than has the area covered by the Cleveland Electric
Illuminating Company, considering the capacity of the
company. Also the average size of the customers that
we are serving is less than is the average size of those
being supplied by the Cleveland Electric Illuminating
Company. In other words, the company has the large
and more profitable consumers, and we have the smaller
and less profitable customers, and we are making a
profit upon these, although our rates are less than one-
half the rates of the Cleveland Electric Illuminating
Company.
"We have now 10,000 customers, and our plant is
only one-fourth loaded. Evidently when we have loaded
up our plant to the total number of customers we can
carry, we shall have 40,000. The Cleveland Electric
Illuminating Company now has approximately 72,000
customers, and with a capacity of four times that of
the municipal lighting plant it should have approxi-
1 1 1 : 1 1 . ■ 1 \ 160,000 customers in order thai the average size
of its customers might lie as small as that of our cus-
April l ., 1916
B I K I 1 RIC A I. WORLD
turner- The average size of the Cleveland Electric
Illuminating Company'.- customers is, therefore, prac-
tically double the average size of the customers on the
municipal lighting plant."
1. K. S. Affairs
At a meeting of the council of the Illuminating Engi-
neering Society held in New York on April 8 the
committee on membership, of which Mr. I>. Mi Parian
Moore is -hairman. reported that 117 applications for
individual membership had been received since Oct. 1.
The committee on lighting legislation, Mr. L. B.
Marks chairman, reported that it had considered 1
a report containing material for formulating a code on
factory lighting, which had been received from the
committee on factory lighting, and < 2 1 a report sub-
mitted by the committee on school lighting containing
material upon which it is proposed to base a code on
school lighting. The committee on lighting legislation
will disseminate data and reports among legislative
bodies, school boards, public service commissions and
other bodies or individuals who may be or should be
interested in enactments, rules and regulations for
better lighting.
The committee on reciprocal relations with other
societies, Mr. W. J. Serrill chairman, reported that it
is continuing its efforts to popularize the work of the
society among those organizations which are believed
to be interested in the better illumination propaganda.
For this purpose the society has available for loan to
lecturers slides and printed lectures on school lighting
and on some fundamental principles of illumination.
The committee on glare, Dr. P. G. Nutting chairman,
submitted two of a series of ten reports being prepared
by the committee. One of these contained a discussion
of the nomenclature and the physical theory of dif-
fusion, while the other dealt with instruments and
methods for measuring diffusion and the theory of dif-
fusion photometry.
The 1915 convention of the society will be held at the
New Willard Hotel, Washington, D. C, from Sept. 20
to 23, inclusive. Mr. E. S. Marlow is chairman of the
convention committee.
Testimony on Telegraph Company Wages
At a hearing before the United States Commission
on Industrial Relations in Chicago on April 11, testi-
mony was given by Mr. Newcomb Carlton, president of
the Western Union Telegraph Company. Mr. Carlton
expressed his belief that telegraph operators are under-
paid. A first-class telegrapher should be able to earn
at least $5 a day for nine hours. He said that the
company has one of the best pension and relief organi-
zations in the country, and it is conducted without
expense to the employees. Since the company is sub-
ject to the Interstate Commerce Commission, which
regulates practices as well as rates, Mr. Carlton believes
that the commission should have sufficient power to see
that fair wages are paid and fair working conditions
are provided.
In reply to questions by Chairman Walsh of the com-
mission, Mr. Carlton expressed his belief in the organi-
zation of labor and in collective bargaining if the
organization with which dealings are conducted is a
responsible one. He said that in the five years during
which he has been with the company there has been no
union of telegraphers which he has considered qualified
to represent them.
Mr. Belvidere Brook-. \ .• -tern
Union Telegraph Con.: :ied before the commis-
sion on April 13. He said that thirty years ago the
company opposed the telegraphers' union, but just prior
obtained. An example was quoted in which the value
to 1907, when a strike was called which cost the com-
pany $5,000,000, the union was rejuvenated and the
company made no protest. Then reports of a strike
were heard and the < '■•red arbitration An
agreement was supposed to have been reached, but on
the day following a strike was called in San Francisco
which spread eventually all over the country. Since
then the company has not cared to employ men inter-
ested in the union.
Gearless Traction Elevators
Mr. David Linquist, chief engineer of the Otis Ele-
vator Company, presented a very instructive paper
entitled "Modern Electric Elevator and Elevator Prob-
lems" before the New York Section of the American
Society of Mechanical Engineers on April 13. The
one-to-one and the two-to-one gearless traction elevator,
he stated, is the type of elevator best adapted for high-
speed service in high buildings. The elevator motor,
which is preferably placed over the archway, generally
consists of a six-pole direct-current machine of the
shunt-field type, running at a speed of about 62 r.p.m.
for a car speed of about 600 ft. per minute. No gearing
is employed. The friction between the cables and a
sheave directly connected to the motor's armature spider
is relied upon for traction. Despite the low speed of
these motors, a typical curve of a 38-hp, 115-volt, 58
r.p.m. motor shows a maximum efficiency of 91.5 per
cent, an efficiency of 88.9 per cent at full load, 91.5 per
cent at half load and 84 per cent at quarter load. A car
speed of about 700 ft. per minute is the maximum ele-
vator speed employed at the present time.
The brake shoes acting on the brake drum are lined
with fabricated asbestos instead of leather. The advan-
tages of asbestos for this purpose are that its coeffi-
cient of friction is very nearly constant at low tem-
peratures and that it does not vary appreciably up to
460 deg. Fahr. Moreover, the coefficient of friction
does not vary with the speed, and no creeping action
of the elevator car in stopping due to a lower coefficient
of friction at low speed is noticeable. Ball bearings
the speaker considers to be superior to roller bearings
for elevator service in that a ball bearing can run par-
tially out of alignment without excessive construction
strains or friction, while a roller bearing cannot. The
ball bearing also has the property of resisting a certain
amount of end thrust, thus eliminating the need for
an end-thrust device necessary with roller bearings.
In the Equitable Life Building in New York City
some of the elevators are run as "expresses" at 650 ft.
per minute between certain floors and as "locals" at
550 ft. per minute between other floors. The change
in car speed is automatically obtained by a device which
can effect the change at any floor desired. The traction
principle can also be applied to high-speed motors where
reduction gearing is employed. However, with either
worm or herringbone gearing about 1.5 hp is lost
owing to the churning of the oil in the gearing at a
car speed of about 600 ft. per minute. When used with
geared traction elevators the high-speed motor is prac-
tically as efficient as the low-speed motor used with
gearless types at full load, but not so at part load.
The author described a method of determining the
kinetic energy of a complete elevator installation by a
summation of the kinetic energies of the numerous
moving parts reduced to kinetic energies at the same
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 16
speed. He then pointed out that a helical-geared trac-
tion elevator with a motor running at 505 r.p.m. and
with a car speed of 600 ft. per minute represents a
kinetic energy of 13,400 ft.-lb., while in the case of the
same car speed with a one-to-one gearless traction ele-
vator operating at 62 r.p.m. a value of 2450 ft.-lb. is
of 71 per cent was stated as the maximum efficiency of
a complete elevator installation of the gearless traction
type in New York City.
The author closed his paper with a discussion of a
new type of safety device. The force which must be
exerted to stop a falling car is often as high as 12,000
lb. It is hence best that the safety device be arranged
to apply a strong force in the case of a falling car and
a lesser force in case the ropes are intact. This is
necessary to prevent shock. In the device described,
when the car speed becomes excessive, a governor oper-
ates a circuit interrupter causing a magnet to release
a spring-operated safety device, pressing the safety
shoes against the running rails. In the case of a fall-
ing car the safety rope causes a sheave to be rotated
which operates right-hand and left-hand screws, forc-
ing the safety brake shoes against the rails and thus
exerting the maximum braking force. The paper con-
tained considerable data on the construction of elevator
motors and elevator parts as well as a discussion of
various auxiliary devices.
In discussing the paper Mr. Charles R. Pratt made
a very interesting suggestion in the case of replacing
high-speed plunger-type hydraulic elevators with high-
speed electric elevators. He pointed out that the coun-
terweight in a modern elevator installation represents
nearly one-half of the inertia of the moving parts.
Taking this as a basis, he believed it would be econom-
ical to equip a high-speed plunger-type hydraulic ele-
vator with an electric motor for the purpose of pro-
ducing an upward movement of the car, no counter-
weight being employed. He suggested that the plunger
arrangement be retained for the downward movement
of the car, the car being allowed to descend by gravity
under hydraulic control. The motor would be so ar-
ranged as to pump back energy to the line during the
descent of the elevator. In this way, he maintained, a
surprising efficiency can be obtained.
Wire and Cable Manufacturers Meet
A wire and cable section of the newly organized
Associated Manufacturers of Electrical Supplies was
formed at a meeting held at the Hotel Biltmore, New
York, on Wednesday of the present week. Mr. LeRoy
Clark, Safety Insulated Wire & Cable Company, New
York, acted as chairman of the organization meeting.
Mr. W. F. Field, Phillips Insulated Wire Company, was
temporary secretary. Mr. Robert K. Sheppard, presi-
dent of the Associated Manufacturers of Electrical Sup-
plies, was present and set forth the relations of the
proposed section to the central organization.
After preliminary discussions Mr. Sheppard read the
article of the by-laws of the main organization dealing
with sections. Tentative by-laws for a section were
then read by Mr. Field, and after some consideration
and slight changes were adopted. They will be sub-
mitted to the board of governors of the main associa-
tion for formal approval.
The following officers of the section were elected:
Secretary, Mr. Wallace S. Clark, General Electric Com-
pany; treasurer, Mr. Edward Sawyer, Atlantic Insu-
lated Wire & Cable Company; executive committee,
Messrs. F. J. Newberry of the John A. Roebling's Sons
Company, Everett Morns of the Simplex Wire & Cable
Company, W. F. Field of the Phillips Insulated Wire
Company, H. D. Cheever of the Okonite Company, and
R. E. Lucas of the Marion Insulated Wire & Rubber
Company. The chairman will be named by the board
of governors of the main association.
The meeting was attended by the following: Messrs.
G. B. North and J. C. Bridgman, Hazard Manufactur-
ing Company; G. A. Cragin, American Steel & Wire
Company; H. D. Cheever, Okonite Company; H. A.
Hammond, Rome Wire Company ; G. B. Hunter, Detroit
Insulated Wire Company; Mr. Hammond, American
Electrical Works ; R. S. Satterlee and F. J. Hall, Habir-
shaw Wire Company; R. W. Seiberling, Indiana Rubber
& Insulated Company; F. J. Newberry and Mr. Bellis,
John A. Roebling's Sons Company; W. A. Conner,
Standard Underground Cable Company; Edward Saw-
yer and Mr. Johnson, Atlantic Insulated Wire & Cable
Company; C. H. Bowen, Collyer Insulated Wire Com-
pany; R. K. Sheppard, B. F. Goodrich Company; J. H.
Mason, Simplex Wire & Cable Company; R. E. Lucas,
Marion Insulated Wire & Rubber Company; William C.
Hall, A. A. Wire Company; L. O. Brewster, New York
Insulated Wire Company; W. H. Barney and S. R.
Schwartz, Bourn Rubber Company; LeRoy Clark,
Safety Insulated Wire & Cable Company ; W. F. Field,
Phillips Insulated Wire Company; E. W. Moore and
J. Nelson Shreve, Electric Cable Company.
Southern Idaho Power Merger to Be Investigated
The Public Utilities Commission of Idaho has an-
nounced that it will investigate the reported hydroelec-
tric merger of southern Idaho. Negotiations are now in
progress between the commission and the Attorney-
General's department to bring about a preliminary
hearing, to be held on or about April 20 in Boise, and
representatives of the companies will be asked to appear.
New Rates of New York Edison Company
The new schedule of rates of the New York Edison
Company, filed with the New York Public Service Com-
mission, First District, on April 15 and effective on
May 1, follows:
General. — First 900 kw-hr. monthly, 8 cents per
kw-hr. ; next 100 kw-hr. monthly, 7 cents per kw-hr.;
next 200 kw-hr. monthly, 6 cents per kw-hr.; next 300
kw-hr. monthly, 5 cents per kw-hr.; next 400 kw-hr.
monthly, 4.5 cents per kw-hr.; excess over 1900 kw-hr.
monthly, 4.25 cents per kw-hr.
Motor Service. — First 450 kw-hr. monthly, 8 cents
per kw-hr.; next 100 kw-hr. monthly, 7 cents per kw-hr.;
next 1350 kw-hr. monthly, 6 cents per kw-hr.; excess
over 1900 kw-hr. monthly, 4.25 cents per kw-hr.
Wholesale. — First 75,000 kw-hr. yearly, 5 cents per
kw-hr.; next 100,000 kw-hr. yearly, 4 cents per kw-hr.;
next 150,000 kw-hr. yearly, 3 cents per kw-hr.; next
775,000 kw-hr. yearly, 2.5 cents per kw-hr.; excess over
1,100,000 kw-hr. yearly, 2 cents per kw-hr.; yearly min-
imum guarantee, 75,000 kw-hr.
Break-Down Service. — Minimum guarantee, $24
yearly per kilowatt of maximum demand.
Meter Service. — Except as may be deemed necessary
for purposes of efficient metering, only one meter per
service and per contract will be installed.
The above rates do not in any case include first in-
stallation or renewal of incandescent lamps or the care
of arc lamps. "Free renewal" incandescent lamps will,
if desired, be provided at 0.5 cent per kw-hr., or they
will lie sold to customers at cost.
April it, iyio
ELECTRICAL WORLD
1013
Miscellaneous News Notes
Artesian Well Hun* Electric Plant. — An enterprising
ranchman at Bismarck, N. !>., having on his ranch an artr-
aian well delivering water at a pressure of 70 lb. per sq. in.,
is utilizing the water therefrom to run an electric plant to
supply energy' for his own puri
Ohio Utilities to Secure Municipal I ranchises Only on
Authority of Commission. — On April 7 the public utilities
committee of the House of Representatives of Ohio reported
favorably on the Sprague bill, which provides that no rival
electric-light, artificial or natural gas, water-works or heat-
ing or cooling company may secure a municipal franchise
until it obtains from the Public Utilities Commission a cer-
tificate of public necessity.
K< -mnations Requested from Ohio Commissioners. —
Governor Frank B. Willis has requested the resignation of
fourteen members of state commissions, among them being
-. Charles C. Marshall and Oliver H. Hughes of the
Public Utilities Commission. These men are all appointees
of former Governor Cox. Several of those requested to re-
sign have taken the position that the Governor cannot force
the resignations on a purely political basis.
Bill to Examine Superintendents of Municipal Utilities. —
Senator J. A. Moore has introduced in the Ohio Legislature
a bill which provides for a board of examiners of superin-
tendents of municipal utilities to consist of three members
to be appointed by the Governor. Their duty will be to
examine all applicants for positions of superintendents of
municipal utilities. The board is to have power to revoke
licenses for incompetency or for anything making the holder
unfit for his position.
Dayton Company Makes Prize Offer. — To stimulate fur-
ther interest among employees in the company's business
and in its operation the Dayton (Ohio) Power & Light
Company has offered to pay to employees $5 each month
for the best adopted suggestion and 50 cents apiece for all
other adopted suggestions. Boxes have been installed in
the company's offices and plants to receive communications.
Suggestions may relate to any branch of the company's
business or practice.
Municipal Employees Must Pay for Back Service. — Al-
though the City Council of Cashmere, Cal., in March, 1911,
voted free water and electricity to the city officials, those
who have taken advantage of the act must now reimburse
the municipality to the amount of approximately $600.
An investigation showed that the Council had no right to
g^ant such service. Inasmuch as no meters are used in
Cashmere, only the minimum charge of $1 a month will be
made for the back service.
Commission to Decide Rates for Municipal Service. — The
question of determining light rates for the city of Princeton,
Ind., will be placed before the Indiana Public Commission.
Final action on the question by city authorities was taken
when the time given the Princeton Light & Power Company
to accept the city's lighting rates proposition expired. The
city and the lighting company have been making proposals
to each other for several months, but have been unable
to agree on the terms of a franchise.
Utilities in Kansas City Politics. — Mayor C. W. Green, of
Kansas City, Kan., has been re-elected on a platform includ-
ing demands for strict enforcement of franchise obliga-
tions by utilities, especially demanding that the Metro-
politan Street Railway Company must meet certain
requirements before he will support any steps toward a
franchise. Mr. L. H. Chapman, who is largely responsible
for the development of the municipal electric plant, was
returned as commissioner of water and lighting service.
Panama Concession Extended. — The concession of R. W.
Hehard & Company of the city of Panama for erecting poles
throughout that city for an electric distributing system has
been again extended. Under the concession the firm was
granted the right to transfer the concession, with the consent
of the Panama government, to others. The Panama-Ameri-
can Corporation, which has been in existence since 1903,
has a contract to furnish the city with electrical energy until
1923. It is thought that the new electric plant will be built
to furnish energy for the Panama Tramways Company,
which is at present purchasing energy from the Isthmian
Canal Commission, although its contract with the commis-
sion has expired.
Electrical Town Clock" lor < hicago. — An addition con-
sisting of a flashing clock sign and an inscription in lli-ft.
letters reading "Ye Town Clock" has been installed to oper-
ate in connection with the large motograph sign of the Com-
monwealth Edison Company, Chicago (see the Electrical
World, Oct. 17, 1914). The words "Ye Town Clock" and
the original message, "America's Leaders," flash alternately
at the top of the sign, and the number faces of the clock
sign are operated so that the time is flashed on the moto-
graph face during the intervals between the motograph
phrases which were formerly left blank. This sign is said
to be the largest motograph sign in the world. Its message
can be read at a distance of 2 miles.
Bonds for Construction of Ohio Municipal Plants. — The
Behne bill, altered somewhat by amendments, was passed
by the Ohio Senate on April 7 and sent to the House of
Representatives for concurrence. It now provides that
bonds issued at the instance of a municipal council for the
purpose of acquiring or constructing a public utility plant
shall be a lien on the property only. If the faith and credit
of the municipality is pledged for the bonds, the question
must be submitted to a vote of the electors and at least
two-thirds must be favorable. In the case of new plants
the bill shall not be operative for the first three years so
far as setting aside of a portion of the income to redeem
bonds and pay interest is concerned, but after that time
it is to be fully operative.
New York Franchise Tax Upheld.— The United States
Supreme Court, in a decision rendered on April 11, held
that the Interborough Rapid Transit Company of New York
must pay a franchise tax imposed by New York State for
the privilege of doing business. The case was in the
United States Supreme Court on appeal from the New York
Court of Appeals. Justice Holmes, who rendered the opin-
ion, held that there is no error in the decision of the Court
of Appeals and that the company is liable for the tax on
earnings from operation of the subway, which it acquired by
lease from Mr. John B. McDonald, and that the clause pro-
viding for exemption of taxes in the contract between New
York City and Mr. McDonald did not relieve the Interbor-
ough company of the tax imposed on it as a corporation for
doing business.
Examination for Electrical Expert Aid (Ship). — A com-
petitive examination will be held by the United States Civil
Service Commission on May 12 for a vacancy in the depart-
ment of construction and repair, Navy Yard, Washington.
D. C, at a salary of $4 a day. The duties of this position
require a theoretical knowledge of all kinds of electrical
apparatus used on board naval vessels, capability of pre-
paring specifications and requisitions for electrical material
for ships undergoing construction and repairs, making of
tests of electrical auxiliaries in use on shipboard, and esti-
mating the time, material and cost of making repairs
of electrical equipment on board ship. Applicants must have
had at least three years' practical experience in electrical
work and must be twenty-three years of age or more. Per-
sons desiring to take this examination should send for Form
1312, stating title of examination, to the United States Civil
Service Commission, Washington, D. C.
Pan-American Financial and Trade Conference. — All coun-
tries in the new world have indicated unofficially their desire
to accept the invitation of the United States to take part in
the Pan-American financial conference to be held in Wash-
ington on May 10. Formal acceptances have been received
from Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, Peru, Salvador, Ecuador,
Honduras and Nicaragua. Mr. Samuel Hale Pearson, of
Buenos Aires, a prominent banker and business man, will
head the delegation from that country. The capital of the
banks and business corporations with which Mr. Pearson is
connected or in which he is serving as a director is said to
aggregate $700,000,000. A former president of Salvador,
now vice-president, Mr. Alfonso Iquinones, will be the rank-
ing delegate from that country. President Wilson and all
members of the Cabinet, as well as the members of the Fed-
eral Reserve Board, will attend the meetings at one time or
another. According to present plans the sessions will be
held in the building of the Pan-American Union in Washing-
ton.
11)14
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 16
Associations and Societies
Joint Illumination Meeting. — The joins meeting of the
Now York Section of the Illuminating Engineering Society
with the National Electric Light Association and the
National Commercial Gas Association which was to have
been held on April 7 has been postponed to April 19. A pro-
gram of the meeting was printed on page 884 of the
Electrical World dated April 3.
A. I. E. E. Meetings. — Upon the recommendation of the
meetings and papers committee authority has been gTanted
by the board of directors of the American Institute of
Electrical Engineers to hold an Institute meeting at Phila-
delphia, Pa., on Oct. 11, 1915, under the auspices of the
Philadelphia Section, and also an Institute meeting at St
Louis, Mo., under the auspices of the St. Louis Section.
Electric Club of Chicago. — A combined lecture and mov-
ing-picture show was given by Mr. J. E. Latta of the Under-
writers' Laboratories before the Chicago Electric Club April
15. The speaker's subject was "Safety Engineering." The
moving pictures, now exhibited for the first time, show in ac-
tual performance numerous engineering tests and investiga-
tions carried on in the Underwriters' Laboratories in the in-
terest of safety.
Brooklyn Polytechnic Electrical Society. — A lecture on
"Lighting by Modern Incandescent Lamps with Special
Reference to Color" will be delivered before the Electrical
Engineering Society of the Polytechnic Institute of
Brooklyn, N. Y., by Dr. Clayton H. Sharp, of the Electrical
Testing Laboratories, New York, at 8.30 p.m. on Friday,
April 23. The lecture, which will be held in the institute
chapel, No. 99 Livingston Street, Brooklyn, will be followed
by an informal dance in the gymnasium.
Western Society of Engineers. — Papers presented before
the Western Society of Engineers at Chicago, 111., April 12,
by Messrs. W. L. Smith and W. W. Priest and by Mr.
Andrews Allen of Chicago described respectively an electri-
cally operated lift bridge on the lines of the Pennsylvania
Railroad over the Chicago River and a combined steam and
electrically operated coal mine at Bicknell, Ind. This mine,
which is owned by the American Coal Mining Company, is
said to be the only mine in the Indiana-Illinois coal field
at which an isolated alternating-current power plant is
operated. Mr. W. L. Emmet, of the General Electric Com-
pany, Schenectady, will read a paper on "Electric Ship
Propulsion" before the society on April 26. Turbo-genera-
tors now operating on the United States Collier Jupiter
and other government vessels were designed under the
direction of Mr. Emmet.
Program of Iowa Section, National Electric Light Associa-
jjon. — The program for the fifteenth annual convention of
the Iowa State Section of the National Electric Light
Association, which is to be held at Keokuk April 20, 21
and 22, has been arranged as follows: Address of wel-
come, by Dr. S. W. Moorehead, Mayor of Keokuk; address
of president, by Mr. Rufus E. Lee; "Gas-Filled Tungsten
Street-Lighting Lamps and Fixtures," by Messrs. E. M.
Walker of Dubuque Bhd T. Crawford of Clinton; '•Gas-Filled
Tungsten Lamps," by Mr. H. Schroeder, Harrison, N. J.;
pensation Insurance as It Affects Public
Utilities," by Messrs. A. L. Dodd of Charles City, Austin
Burt of Waterloo and Thomas Crawford of Clinton; "Possi-
bilities of Business from Rural Transmission Lines.'' by
\v II. Burtis of Decorah, F. S. Payne of Center-
ville and II. W. Garner of Des Moines; "Basic Principles
of Rate-Making for Central Stations." by Mr. F. A. Warfield
l!l.; "Controlled Flat Rates." by Mr. E. T. Hughes
of Dubuque; "Power Development Methods for Iowa Central
Stations," by Mr. Edward Soukup of Cedar Rapids; "Maari
arum-Demand Meters," by Mr. J. V. Montgomery of Keokuk;
"The Financial Side of Electric Power Transmission." by
Prof. Arthur II. Konl of Iowa City; "Revised Pad
d in' Burl of Waterloo and II.
w Wagnei of Amee; "Outdoor Substation Construction," by
M, Herbert W Young of Chicago; "The Diesel Engine in
'ion Service." by Mr. E. I'.. Pollister of Minn.-
i." a paper prepared by the National
ation. Among the entertainment
i itomobile t pi] ipa and
Public Service Commission News
Missouri Commission
The valuation of the physical property of the Kansas City
Electric Light Company under the direction of the Missouri
commission has been completed. Statistics have also been
compiled from the accounts of the company. A date will
be fixed soon for a hearing in the case.
Washington Commission
An amendment to the law has been adopted providing
that proposed utilities, both municipal and private, must
obtain certificates of public convenience and necessity from
the commission before the commencement of business. This
certificate may be granted only after public hearings.
New York Commissions
The Public Service Commission for the First District
has directed its secretary to notify all public service cor-
porations that failure upon their part to respond promptly
to letters from the secretary in regard to informal com-
plaints will be deemed sufficient reason for the institution
of formal proceedings requiring the attendance of the offi-
cers of the companies at the commission's offices.
The First District commission has directed the Edison
Electric Illuminating Company of Brooklyn to file on or
before May 8 data for April showing for each customer
the rate, class, amount of energy and amount of bill for the
month; also the number of meters and the maximum de-
mand. Engineers of the commission have completed an
appraisal of the property.
Idaho Commission
The Beaver River Power & Light Company has been de-
nied the right to enter the Pocatello (Idaho) field in com-
petition with the Southern Idaho Water Power Company.
which now controls it. In ruling that the alleged conven-
ience and necessity are not apparent the commission said in
part: "With all the surplus water-power we have in
southern Idaho that can be secured without cost, except
the cost of harnessing it up, it does seem somewhat in-
credible that crude oil can be purchased in Wyoming, Cali-
fornia or New Mexico, then transported to Pocatello,
Idaho, by rail or otherwise, and there converted into elec-
trical energy at a less cost of production per kilowatt-hour
than the cost of hydroelectric energy per kilowatt-hour.
The evidence in this case falls far short of proving any
such state of facts. It is therefore ordered that the appli-
cation be denied."
Illinois Commission
At the hearing of the complaint of Mr. J. B. Hogarth
against the Chicago Elevated Railways Collateral Trust on
April 1, Commissioner Owen P. Thompson ordered an inves-
tigation into the books and records of the trustees to discov-
er any evidence which might show that the trustees in fact
carry on the operation of the Chicago Elevated Railways.
Mr. Gilbert E. Porter, attorney for the trustees, opposed
publicity of the books, which he declared would show no
other relation than that the trustees hold about 98 per cent
of the stock of the railways, together with bonds and notes
of the railway companies. This relation, declared Mr. Por-
ter, does not constitute the trustees a utility, and he cited
the trust agreement for definition of the powers of the trus-
tees. Commissioner Thompson said that the fact that the
trustees deal only with securities of the elevated railways
and that the organization of the trustees' business had been
based on the credit of the elevated companies was sufficient
to show the commission that the trustees have a close and
Intimate business relationship with the elevated companies
which, it might develop, would bring them within the pur-
view of the statute as a public utility. Mr. Porter consented
pen the books to the commission accountant.
In the case of Mr. .1. B. Hogarth of Chicago versus the
Commonwealth Edison Company, the plaintiff Bought to
show that the company had paid average dividends amount-
ing to :;:',. !t per cent per annum for the last seven years.
During that period it was stated by Mr. Seymour Stedman,
attorney for Mr. Hogarth, $16,000,000 in cash and $1
ooii in stock dividends have been paid. Payment of these
it was alleged, indicated that the rates were un-
onable. Mr. G. E. Porter, attorney for the company.
April 17. 1!>1".
K i.K< T RIC A I. WO II I. 1 1
denied the allegations and argued that the rate of return
upon the valuation of the company's plant, and not itfl
dividend rate-, were, according to court and corns
rulings, the correct basis fur judging the fairness of rates.
that during the past fifteen year-, the OOmp
rate of return on its investment had not exceeded 7 per
cent per annum. Mr. Porter also cited the fact that a com-
mittee, of which Mr. Kay Palmer, city electriciai .
chairman, appointed by the City Council committee on oil,
•J electricity, had made an investigation covering a
i of eighteen months and had recommended a schedule
of rates to the Council committee. Upon this recommenda-
tion the Council, he said, had passed a five-year ordinance
in 1918 establishing a reduced rate schedule under which
the company i< operating. It would seem inadvisable there-
fore, continued Mr. Porter, in view of the recent and thor-
ough investigation to institute another rate investigation
proof of error in the Council report or general
tisfaction with existing rates could be shown. The
commission ruled that the burden of proof lay with the
plaintiff in view of the recent Council action, and that
although the commission under the law had a right to
institute another investigation such action seemed inad-
visable. Another hearing was granted to the plaintiff, how-
ever, to be held on May 24.
The balance sheets on which the commission authorized
the issuance of $10,921,000 of first-mortgage 5 per cent gold
bonds of the Commonwealth Edison Company, Chicago, are
to be re-audited by the commission to ascertain whether or
not they are correct. The re-auditing was ordered April 13
after a hearing on a complaint filed by Mr. J. B. Hogarth in
which it was alleged that the statements in the balance
sheets were incorrect.
Maryland Commission
According to an opinion rendered by the chief counsel of
the commission, gas and electric utilities in Maryland can-
not distribute stock dividends unless the amount of cash
represented by the issue of such stock has been actually
put into the property. The opinion was rendered on appli-
cation by gas and electric companies for permission to
capitalize earnings expended for capital account prior to
April 1, 1914. The counsel holds that, under the new law,
gas and electric light companies cannot pay dividends in
stocks equal to more than the amounts which would have
actually been disbursed in cash. It was held further that
any appreciation or depreciation at the time application to
capitalize is made should be taken into consideration. The
counsel says: "If, for any reason, the property of the
corporation has not been enhanced in value by the ex-
penditure of the earnings to the extent of the par value
of the stock proposed to be distributed as a dividend, the
issuance of such stock dividend would be irregular and
improper. Every dollar of stock issued as a dividend by
a corporation should be represented at the time of its issu-
ance by a dollar's worth of property added to the corporate
assets."
Indiana Commission
The commission has allowed the Farmers' Mutual Tele-
phone Company, which is being organized near Boswell, Ind.,
to continue to sell its stock and bonds, although permission
ter the town in competition with the Boswell Telephone
Company, which has surrendered its franchise to the com-
mission, has been refused. Attention has been attracted to
the case because of the precedents it has established in tele-
phone regulation. When the 1915 Legislature met it was
hoped that the Indiana law would be amended in some fash-
ion to prevent small farmers' exchanges from compelling
physical connection with the larger exchanges of city and
town telephone companies. There was so much fear, how-
ever, that enemies of the law would attempt to cut down its
effectiveness were it ever opened up for amendment that the
proposed amendment was not attempted. Therefore, al-
though it is known that some members of the commission
were against the scheme, the farmers who are organizing
the mutual company near Boswell were authorized to go
forward with the sale of their securities, though they were
denied a second franchise in the town of Boswell. The offi-
cers of the farmers' company say they will first ask the Bos-
well Telephone Company to give them physical connection
or they will petition the commission for an order.
Personal
\lr. i-;. \. Wilcoj ed ;i- commercial agent of the
Great Shoshone iV Twin Kails Water Power Company, Twin
Palls, Idaho, to accept a position in the commercial depart-
ment of the Great Western Power Company at San Fran-
cisco.
Mr. I \\ MeNamee has resigned as manager of thi
bash (Ind.) Water & Light Company, a position he has
held for the past fifteen years, to take up active duties as
secretary-treasurer of the Ford Meter Box Company, Wa-
bash, Ind. Prior to the organization of the Wabash Water &
Light Company Mr. McN'amee was manager of the Wabash
Electric Light Company. He still retains his position as
president of the lighting company, but will have no further
part in its active management.
Mr. George W. Hill has joined the staff of the Society for
Electrical Development, Inc. He will devote his time to the
work of the field co-operative section under Mr. George B.
Muldaur. Mr. Hill is a graduate electrical engineer of
Tufts College and has been in the electrical field continu-
ously since his graduation. He spent three years in the
employ of the Boston Elevated Railway, six years in the
storage-battery sales and engineering work including two
and a half years in charge of the Canadian territory of the
Canadian General Electric Company, and five years with
the Westinghouse interests, part of which time he was in
charge of the detail supply department at Boston and the
remainder with the Westinghouse Lamp Company.
Mr. Joseph A. Kucera, formerly business manager of the
Electrical World and more recently business manager of
the Electric Railway Journal, has resigned from the lat-
ter position. Mr. Kucera has had general charge of the
business department of the World or of the Journal since
1908, and his versatility and business ability are shown by
the fact that for some time he was business manager of
both papers. Previously to 1908 Mr. Kucera was business
manager of the Electric Railway Review of Chicago, which
was purchased by the McGraw Publishing Company in that
year. He originally studied law and is a member of the Chi-
cago bar. Mr. Kucera has not yet announced his plans for
the future, but has the best wishes of his former associates
in anything he may undertake.
Obituary
Alex M. Worthington, formerly general manager of the
Louisville (Ky.) Lighting Company, is dead. Mr. Worthing-
ton was born in St. Louis fifty-eight years ago, removed to
Covington, Ky., as a youth and became connected with the
electric-lighting business. He went to Louisville twenty
years ago to enter the service of the Louisville Lighting
Company, with which company he remained until he retired
three years ago oh account of ill health. A widow, a daugh-
ter and two sisters survive him.
W. A. Foote, president and general manager of the Com-
monwealth Power Company of Jackson, Mich., died at his
home in Jackson, April 14, at the age of sixty-five. With
his brother, Mr. J. B. Foote, Mr. W. A. Foote established the
electric-lighting plant at Jackson many years ago, and sub-
sequently organized the extensive interconnected transmis-
sion system which now links the towns and cities of central
Michigan. Among the achievements of the Foote interests
have been the construction successively of the first 72,000-
volt transmission line, the first 100,000-volt line and the first
140,000-volt line.
Maurice A. Viele, president of the consulting engineering
firm of Viele, Blackwell & Buck, New York, died April 10.
Mr. Viele was born at Geneva, N. Y., and was well known in
engineering circles. He was a veteran of the Spanish- Amer-
ican War and went to the front as adjutant of the corps of
engineers that was recruited and sent by the General Elec-
tric Company. Mr. Viele was associated with that company
for many years and at the age of twenty-eight was assistant
to the chief engineer. He was a graduate of Hobart College
and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Mr. Viele
was forty-nine years old at the time of his death. He was a
member of the St. Nicholas and Engineers' Clubs and of the
Holland Society, New York.
1016
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 16
Corporate and Financial
American Water Works & Electric Company, New York,
N. Y. — The company has sent to holders of collateral trust
notes of the United Water & Light Company word that
the plan for the exchange of the notes for bonds of the
American Water Works & Electric Company, Inc., is oper-
ative, more than 70 per cent of the notes having been de-
posited. Those who have not deposited their notes will be
given the privilege of doing so for a limited period.
British Westinghouse Electric Manufacturing Company,
Ltd., London, England. — Notwithstanding the war, the ac-
counts, according to the annual report for the year ended
Dec. 31, 1914, show continued improvement. The results of
operations were:
Gross profit £267,819
Interest 69,654
Expenses on surplus land and buildings 2,822
Depreciation 43,716
Balance £151,627
Dividends 75,000
General reserves 50,000
Written off patents, etc 25,000
Balance £1,627
Balance from 1913 6,494
Balance brought forward £8,121
Commonwealth Edison Company, Chicago, 111. — An-
nouncement is made by the company of the sale of $8,000,-
000 of first mortgage 5 per cent bonds. Approximately
$6,900,000 of the bonds were sold to reimburse the treasury
for net income used in making capital expenditures, the
remainder, $1,100,000, being to provide funds for extensions
and additions during 1915. The company has retired
$7,000,000 notes.
Diamond Light Company, Cincinnati, Ohio. — The com-
pany has been authorized by the Public Utilities Commis-
sion of Ohio to issue $30,000 common stock to subscribers
who have paid therefor. The proceeds have been expended
for the purchase of material and the installation of plant.
Edison Electric Illuminating Company of Boston, Mass. —
Having been granted authority by the Massachusetts Board
of Gas and Electric Light Commissioners, the company is
offering pro rata to stockholders of record April 1, 1915,
20,480 shares of its capital stock at $215 per share. The
right to subscribe expires April 23, 1915. After the sale of
this stock the company will have a capital stock of $22,-
528,000 par value.
Electric Properties Corporation and Westinghouse,
Church, Kerr & Company, New York, N. Y. — The annual
report of these companies for the year ended Dec. 31, 1914,
shows the following consolidated earnings account:
Income from operations, interest, dividends, commis-
sions, miscellaneous, etc $665,368
Operating expenses of Westinghouse, Church, Kerr &
Company, administrative and general expenses 363,594
Total ,3S1'77i
Bond interest 24.000
Balance $277,774
Surplus at Jan. 1, 1914 57,463
Total $335,237
Dividends paid on preferred stock of Electric Properties
Corporation from Nov. 30, 1913, to Sept. 30. 1914 196,010
Balance $139,227
Depreciation of securities and accounts held at Sept. 1,
1913. or acquired since in accordance with contracts
made prior to that date 69,073
nice carried to balance sheet $70,154
Klcctric Storage Battery Company, Philadelphia, Pa. —
The annual statement for the year ended Dec. 31, 1914, of
the company shows the following earnings:
Gross sales, less cost of manufacture and purchase and
all expenses Incident thereto $1,395,793
Operating expenses 547,165
NVt earnings from sales $848,628
Other Income 264,610
Total net Income $1,103,238
Dividends paid during year 649,964
Net surplus. 1914 $463,274
Surpl II, 1913 $3,312,523
I#ss sundry adjustments of accounts and nil
li to the current year 75,729
3,236.794
Tot»l surplus $3,690,068
Fort Worth (Tex.) Power & Light Company. — The number
of electric customers of the company, according to the an-
nual report for the year ended Dec. 31, 1914, was 9474 in
1913 and 10,291 in 1914. The output has increased from 29,-
477,600 kw-hr. in 1913 to 61,348,000 kw-hr. in 1914, or 108
per cent. The statement follows:
1914 1913
Gross earnings $898,090 $671,000
Operating expenses and taxes 414,248 273,579
Net earnings $483,842 $397,421
Interest charges 106.728 82,788
Net income after charges $377,114 $314,633
Dividends on preferred stock 66,733 49.020
Balance $310,381 $265,613
Greenville (Ohio) Electric Light & Power Company. —
The Ohio Public Service Commission has authorized the
company to issue at not less than par $8,000 par value of its
common capital stock for the erection of a transmission
system to connect with the lines of the Brookville & Lewis-
burg Lighting Company.
Hanford Irrigation & Power Company, Portland, Ore. —
The company's assets, of an estimated value of over $1,000,-
000, were sold recently by Receiver E. F. Benson to Mr.
Henry K. T. Lyons, of Denver, Col., for $386,000.
Holton Power Company, Holtville, Cal. — The California
Railroad Commission in a supplemental order has granted
the company an extension of time to March 24, 1916, within
which to issue $200,000 face value of its 6 per cent first and
refunding mortgage gold bonds.
Idaho-Oregon Light & Power Company, Boise, Idaho. —
Owners of the company's first and refunding mortgage
bonds who have deposited their bonds with the Priest pro-
tective committee have received from that committee a
circular stating that, in accordance with the reorganiza-
tion plan submitted to the bondholders on Nov. 7, the com-
mittee has purchased the property at a foreclosure sale and
is now working on the details of the plan. According to
the circular, it has been generally understood by those fa-
miliar with the conditions existing in the territory served
by the Idaho-Oregon company that the ultimate solution
of the problem would be found in the joint operations of
the various electric properties in that region. Since the
committee came into control of the property it has been
able to complete arrangements for joining in a consolida-
tion upon terms which it believes to be advantageous to
the depositors. The National Securities Corporation has
been organized for the purpose of acquiring properties in
southern Idaho and adjacent territory which may be ad-
vantageously operated together, and it has acquired the
interests of the Idaho Railway, Light & Power Company
and the Idaho Power & Light Company and is in the
process of acquiring other properties. Since the purchase
of the Idaho-Oregon property by the committee it has pro-
cured from the National Securities Corporation a proposal
to purchase the bonds deposited with the committee, paying
therefor in securities of the National Securities Corpora-
tion, and the committee has entered into an agreement with
respect thereto covering the details of the proposed pur-
chase, subject to the assent of the depositing bondholders.
The following plan is therefore submitted by the committee
for the disposal of the first mortgage bonds of the Idaho-
Oregon Light & Power Company deposited with the com-
mittee: Holders of Idaho-Oregon bonds of the par value
of $1,000 will receive in exchange the following securities
from the National Securities Corporation: $450 par value in
thirty-year 6 per cent gold debenture bonds, $450 par value
in thirty-year 6 per cent income bonds, and $400 par value
in common stock or voting-trust certificates. No preferred
stock is to be issued now; when issued, it will be used for
the conversion of the debentures and incomes, or for cash,
or for the equivalent thereof in property. The debentures
are the senior securities of the company excepting that,
for temporary purposes, it has authorized the issue of
ten-year 6 per cent collateral-trust notes which it is con-
templated will be ultimately retired with the proceeds from
the securities of the underlying companies. The ten-year
collateral notes have been subscribed for at 90 with a
bonus of common stock, and the right is granted to all de-
positors assenting to this plan to participate in this sub-
April 17, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
1017
-cription at the same price as the original subscribers, pro
rata. The total expense of the committee to date less
credits applicable thereto is $90,484, to be distributed upon
1869 bonds now on deposit with the committee, thus mak-
ing somewhat over $48 per bond which must be paid by a
•ing bondholder upon making his withdrawal.
Illinois Northern Utilities Company, Dixon. III. — The an-
nual report fur the year ended Dec. 31, 1914, shov
Electricity, gas. railway and other utilities . . . . 1746,894
Merchandise and miscellaneous Income 139,988
»-
■<e»:
rlclty, gas, railway and other utilities.. $437,510
Cost merchandise and miscellaneous Income. 110,065
547,575
ings for year $339,307
Interest on bonds $146,170
General Interest 29.984
176,154
Ntt [.roflts $163,153
Preferred stock dividends 108,480
Balance $54,673
Interstate Railway Company. Camden, N. J. — It has been
announced that a sufficient percentage of preferred stock
has been received to make the company's permanent financ-
ing plan operative, and a meeting will be held April 23 to
amend the charter in accordance with the preferred-stock
plan. An abstract of the plan was given in the Electrical
World of Feb. 6.
Mississippi River Power Company, Keokuk, la. — In the
annual report of the company, which is operated by the
Stone & Webster Management Association, it is stated that
the earnings are somewhat less than estimated owing to the
fact that some customers experienced unexpected delays in
the installation of their electrical equipment, while other
customers curtailed their use of energy during the latter
months of the year on account of the general unsatisfactory
business conditions. The company looks for future in-
creases in income chiefly from the development of business
and industries in the cities and towns now served by its
lines. It will encourage those who desire to purchase energy
for distribution in the country districts and will extend its
own lines into new sections when opportunities occur for
making contracts on a profitable basis. However, it is
stated that no considerable increase in income from new
sources is expected until general business conditions show
material improvement. For the year 1915 the managers
are expecting gross income of approximately $1,700,000.
The condensed results of operations for 1914 are as fol-
lows:
Income $1,576,469
Total operating expenses and taxes 321,947
Net Income $1,254,522
Interest charges $1,183,263
Amortization of debt discount and expenses 10.800
Less portion of above interest charges prop-
erly chargeable to capital account, being
interest on amount expended in preparing
for future development 151,125
Total 1,042,938
Balance $211,584
Net direct charges to reserve and surplus 6,769
Balance $204,815
Prior surplus 284,387
Current surplus $489,202
Ontario Power Company of Niagara Palls, Ontario.—
The annual report for the year ended Dec. 31, 1914, states
that under the provisions of the railway act of Canada
the declaration of dividends should be made by share-
holders at the regular annual shareholders' meeting. The
payment of dividends during the year 1915 will not there-
fore be made in quarterly instalments. The proceedings
with respect to all dividends heretofore declared and paid
by the company were submitted at the annual meeting,
Feb. 16, 1915, and payment thereof was confirmed by the
shareholders. The energy generated is sold as follows: By
contract with the Hydro-Electric Power Commission, through
which about seventy-five municipalities in Ontario are now-
served; (2) by contracts with distributing companies, manu-
facturers, electro-metallurgical and other industries at Ni-
agara Falls, Ontario, and the territory adjacent to the Wel-
land Canal, and (3) by contract with the Niagara, Lockport
uirio Power Company, which receives the energy at
the international boundary line and distributes it over a
wide area as far east as Syracuse and Oswego and south
from Lockport to West Seneca, and westerly to Dunkirk.
N. Y., and Erie, Pa. The output has grown from 9,133,200
kw-hr. for six months of 1906 to 743,630,000 kw-hr. for
the past calendar year. The income and expense account
of the company and the Ontario Transmission Company,
Ltd., intercompany payments eliminated, for 1914 is printed
below :
energy $1,719,835
Less purchased energy 97,586
' J
1 ii'vernment rental 96,678
Gross earnings $1,525,571
i '^rating expenses 232,534
Net earnings $1,293,037
Other receipts 105,485
Total net income $1,398,522
Interest 898,444
Earnings after paying interest $500,078
Pacific Power & Light Company, Portland, Ore. — The
annual report of the company for the year ended Dec. 31,
1914, shows that the number of electric customers in-
creased from 15,285 in 1913 to 16,572 in 1914. The output
in 1914 was 35,863,259 kw-hr. and in 1913 was 32,101,000
kw-hr. Approximately 68 per cent of the gross earnings
was derived from sales of electric energy. The statement
for 1913 and 1914 follows:
1914 1913
Gross earnings $1,376,490 $1,288,059
Operating expenses and taxes 659,835 663,674
Net earnings $716,655 $624,386
Interest charges 384,439 341,656
Net Income after charges $332,216 $282,729
First preferred dividend 140,000 140.000
Second preferred dividend 105,000 102.500
Balance $87,216 $40,229
Philadelphia Company, Pittsburgh, Pa. — The company
has declared a cash dividend of 1% per cent. The former
quarterly dividends were 1% per cent. The two previous
quarterly dividends were paid in scrip.
Queensboro Gas & Electric Company, New York, N. Y. —
The comparative statement of operations for 1914 and 1913,
filed with the New York Public Service Commission, First
Division, follows:
Electrical department: 1914 1913
Operating revenue $358,436 $334,853
Operating expenses . . 223.054 200, 2S3
Taxes 9,213 8,880
Uncollectible bills 411 140
Operating income $125,758 $125,650
Qas department :
Operating income 77,894 S3, 577
Total operating income gas and electric. .. $203,652 $309,227
Non-operating income 1,012 3,387
Gross income applicable to corporate and
leased properties $204,664 $212,614
Income deductions 131,507 126,107
Net corporate income $73,157 $86,507
Previous surplus 229,811 162,177
Surplus adjustments — net deduction 6,388 18,873
Surplus at close of year $296,580 $229,811
Southwestern Power & Light Company, New York, N. Y.
— The annual report of the company for the year ended Dec.
31, 1914, shows 38,875 electric customers as compared with
34,672 in 1913. The output increased from 55,849,599 kw-hr.
in 1913 to 79,567,158 in 1914, or 42.5 per cent. Approxi-
mately 81 per cent of the total income was derived from
electric energy sales. Comparative earnings follow:
1914 1913
Gross earnings of all subsidiaries $2,799,033 $2,267,091
Balance of subsidiary companies' earnings
applicable to Southwestern Power & Light
Company $713,888 $551,081
Expenses of Southwestern Power & Light
Company, less other income 54,508 28,005
Balance $659,380 $523,076
Interest charges on bonds 69,401 7,833
Balance $589,979 $515,243
All cither interest 63.168
Balance $526,811 $435,331
1018
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 16
Tampa (Fla.) Electric Company. — The annual report
of the company for the year ended Dec. 31, 1914, states
that it is hardly to be expected that with a continu-
ance of the prevailing depression the principal indus-
tries of Tampa, which as yet have been slightly affected,
will maintain their normal activity, nor that there will be
an increase in earnings in 1915 comparable with that shown
in 1914. The company, which is under the management of
the Stone & Webster Management Association, showed an
increase in net earnings in 1914 of $82,481. The compara-
tive statement for 1913 and 1914 follows:
1914 1913
Earnings :
■ partment $5S6,927 $501,281
Light and power department 394,073 343,659
Total earnings . . $981,000
Expenses:
i >!'• ration $395,811
Maintenance 82,781
Taxes 41,486
$352,991
76.379
37,129
Total expenses and taxes $520, 07S $466,499
Net earnings -
Interest charges 45,470
Balance sinking fund 9,018
Dividends paid 252,450
Direct charges to reserve and surplus
Prior surplus 363,104
Replacement reserve
$378,441
4 6.11-8
9,320
215,045
1.411
356,867
100,000
Current surplus
$617,090 $363,104
Texas Power & Light Company, Dallas, Tex. — The num-
ber of electric customers of the company, according to its
annual report for the year ended Dec. 31, 1914, increased
from 22,033 in 1913 to 24,941 in 1914. The output, which
was 21,549,244 kw-hr. in 1913, had increased to 52,931,244
kw-hr. in 1914, or approximately 146 per cent. Approxi-
mately 89 per cent of the gross earnings was derived from
sales of electric energy. A comparative report follows:-
Gross earnings ..$1,605,078
Expenses and taxes 1,033,388
Net earnings . . $571,690
Interest charges 234,297
Income after charges $337,393
Dividends on preferred stock 112,259
Dividends on second preferred stuck 44,050
United Light & Railways Company, Grand Rapids, Mich.
— The business, according to the annual report for the year
ended Dec. 31, 1914, showed a satisfactory increase in the
gas and electric departments, but owing to financial and
industrial conditions the railway department showed a
slight decrease. Following is the statement for 1914, in-
cluding inter-company business:
Gross earnings subsidiary corapanlea $6,166,959
Operating expenses subsldl 8,79
Net earnings om] es. $2,369.42
Interest on sub panies' bonds and notes:
To United l.i:
To the public •■: 1,583
Net profit ti
Net profit due others than United Light A H
Company
1
llways i lompanjl
i
nlngS $1,507,232
I I
10,780
- — — — i i i.i.i ..
L.0G '
12,912
idable for 'ii
63,272
1
1244,718
Manufacturing and Industrial
The Thompson-MacArthur Regulator Company has moved
from Buffalo, N. Y., to 121 Canal Street, New York.
The Foxboro Company, Foxboro, Mass., has succeeded the
Industrial Instrument Company, manufacturer of recording
instruments.
The Commercial Research Company has moved its labora-
tory, shop and offices from Tuckahoe, N. Y., to Jackson
Avenue and Honeywell Street, Long Island City, N. Y.
Ryan & Dippel, formerly associated with the L. K. Corn-
stock Company, have opened an office at 52 Vanderbilt
Avenue, New York, as electrical engineers and contractors.
The Reliance Electric & Engineering Company, Cleve-
land, Ohio, has placed Mr. A. M. MacCutcheon, formerly
with the Crocker- Wheeler Company, in charge of its de-
sign work.
Walter N. Albertson & Company, public-utility engineers,
Milwaukee, Wis., have moved their office from the Railway
Exchange Building to larger quarters at 527 First National
Bank Building, Milwaukee, Wis.
Denton Engineering & Construction Company. — The Den-
ton Engineering Company, 320 East Fifteenth Street, Kan-
sas City, Mo., has changed its name to the Denton Engi-
neering & Construction Company.
The A. F. Daum Company, Pittsburgh, Pa., manufacturer
of fuses, expects to move into a new factory about April
27. The new building will contain double the floor space
of the company's present quarters.
The Spray Engineering Company, 93 Federal Street,
Boston, Mass, has appointed Mr. L. H. Parker, for the
past ten years with the Stone & Webster Engineering
Corporation and previously with the General Electric Com-
pany, its president.
The Walpole Tire & Rubber Company, Walpole, Mass.,
has appointed Mr. J. M. Martin, who for the past five years
has been Atlanta manager for the Banner Electric division
of the National Lamp Works of the General Electric Com-
pany, a member of its sales force. Mr. Martin will repre-
sent the company in the South.
The Metropolitan Electric Manufacturing Company.
Boulevard and Fourteenth Street, Long Island City, has ap-
pointed Mr. William Taylor its Western sales agent, with
headquarters at the Rookery, Chicago. Mr. Taylor has had
offices at 203 Broadway, New York, since 1896, acting as
manufacturers' agent and specializing in switches and re-
ceptacles.
The Star Mica Mining Company, 61 Broadway, New
York, which was incorporated in December, 1914, under the
laws of New York State, with a capital of $25,000, is oper-
ating the old Sanborn Mine on Tug Mountain, 3 miles from
Canaan, N. H. The company purposes to manufacture
mica-plate washers and disks and to produce scrap mica for
the electrical industry.
The (oil Manufacturing & Repair Company, Cleveland.
Ohio, has taken over the electrical department of the Van
Dorn & Dutton Company and is making armature, field and
induction-motor coils, commutators, etc. The portable-tool
department of the company has also been abandoned and
the Van Dorn Electric Tool Company has been organized
to continue the manufacture of the various tools made
by this department. There are common interests in the
Van Dorn Electric Tool Company and the Van Dorn A
on Company. The latter company is now specializing
in the manufacture of ge
Flashlamp Trade with Belligerents In Deplorable Condi-
tion.— A prominent manufacturer of llashlamps declares
that on account of unscrupulous and meddlesome agents
ixporl trade of llashlamps to foreign countries a1 war
has suffered very much. There have been a multitude of in-
quiries, thi manufacturer asserts, i>ut the numbe
llashlamps sold in proportion |o the number of inquiries
received From abroad is ridiculously small. One cause for
this condition is the demand from foreign countries for
low priced goods. If it were not for the various agents
must lie added to the original price of
i he products, it might DO possible for manufacturers of
high-grade fla hlampi to do a better busini
ArklL IT, 1915
E I. E< T RII A I. WORLD
lDlP
The ( arbo Bteel Pant Pwhij. ■ Building,
Chicago, III., whi.-h has recently taken up the manufacture
of p<> -t lighting and steel poles for telephone
and transmissiun-line work, has just broken ground for a
new ! io. The company also ha- ■
plant at Chicago Heights, 111.
Befcweitaei \ Conrad, manufacturers of "S A <"'
and fuse products, have moved from 1771 Wilson Avenue,
Chicago, to the Deagon Building, at the corner of Beatrice
and Ravenswood Avenues, in the same city. At the new
location the company will occupy a larger floor space than
it formerly had and will enjoy the conveniences of a fire-
proof building en ially for manufacturing con-
Ihe Mclntoafa ft Seymoai I orporatien, Auburn, N. V.. has
appointed as its agent Mr. S. A. Haclley, 621 Delaware
Street, Kansas City, Mo., who will have charge of the terri-
tory comprising Kansas, Nebraska, the southern part of
Iowa and the western part of Missouri. Mr. Hadley is in-
terested in the machinery-supply business of the Hadley-
Hudson Company of Kansas City. He was also formerly
connected with the (Jriscom-Russell Company and the Atch-
ison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad.
Storage-Batter] Business Improving. — The United
Light A Heating Company, manufacturer of storage
batteries, Niagara Falls, N. Y., reports that the volume
of business transacted during the past month is larger
than for any similar period during the past year. The
company has been in the hands of receivers since July, but
a reorganization will be brought about, it is declared, in
the near future, and it is thought that the receivership
will be abandoned some time in June.
Business in Small Motor-Driven Devices Brisk. — Mr. Geof-
frey Shelton, president of the Shelton Electric Company,
New York, recently declared to a representative of the Elec-
trical World that business in electrically operated vibra-
tors, hair driers, drink mixers, dental motors, etc., is very
good. Considerable interest is being manifested, he stated,
in a new' dental motor which is directly connected to the
tool. This diminutive motor was described in the Electri-
cal World of Feb. 27. A demonstration of the little motor
was recently given before a large assembly of dentists in
Boston.
Good Year for Storage-Battery Company. — The Gould
Storage Battery Company, Forty-second Street Building,
New York, reports that the past year has been the best it
has had. At present the company finds business in battery
renewals for electric vehicles very good. The demand for
latteries for new vehicles, however, is not so great. Owing
to the dullness in railroad affairs, the call for storage bat-
teries for lighting railroad cars is said to be below par. The
Gould company has made a considerable number of storage
batteries for submarines. Submarines owned by the United
States, Russia, Austria-Hungary, Japan and England are
equipped with its batteries.
Demand for Heating Appliances in South America. — The
Pittsburgh Electric Specialties Company, Pittsburgh, Pa., is
receiving a number of orders for appliances such as electric
irons, water heaters, toasters, etc., from South American
countries. These devices are especially popular, it is de-
clared, in the torrid regions. The company is also shipping
many vacuum cleaners to the Argentine Republic. On ac-
count of the small usage of carpets in the northern part of
the continent, vacuum cleaners are not in such great demand
as in the southern part. The Pittsburgh Electric Specialty
Company is also sending vacuum cleaners to Europe, a large
order having been recently received from England.
Fiber-Conduit Business Normal. — Taken as a whole the
business of the Fibre Conduit Company, Orangeburg, N. Y.,
is reported to be holding its own and is on a par with that
of last year. Numerous orders are being received for fiber
conduit from central stations, municipalities and railways.
I or the smallei installations, such as Eor hospitals, •■
etc., the demand tor fiber conduit has not been bo greal as
usual, indicating thai the '.instruction of buildings of that
lias fallen off. liming the past few months the com-
pany's business in the South has increased. The Fibre Con-
duit Company is also shipping considerable quantities of it-
products to European and South American countries.
Renewed letivitj in Building Indicated bj Demand for
ri.it. Warmer-. The PTometheus Electric Company,
East Forty-third Street, New York, reports that its bu
in electrically operated food and plate warmers is picking up.
These devices are usually installed at the time a hoi.
acted; the demand for them at this time, therefore, in-
dicates that building operations are progressing. Mr. W. H.
Ripley, manager for the Prometheus Company, recently stat-
ed to a representative of the Electrical World that most of
the heating appliances manufactured by his company are of
special design. Mr. Ripley also asserted that there is a
growing demand for low-priced ranges. He thinks that the
popularity of the smaller cooking devices is waning.
NEW YORK METAL MARKET PRICES
, April 6 , — April 13 — ,
Selling Prices Selling Prices
Bid Asked Bid Asked
pper. £ s d £ s d
London, standard spot 69 176 71 176
Prime Lake 16.50 16.62VJ
Electrolytic 15.80 16.37i-j
Casting 15.50 15.87^
Copper wire base 17.00 17.37^4
Lead, trust price 4.20 4.20
Nickel 42.00 to 45.00 42.00 to 45.00
Sheet zinc, fob. smelter 13.50 13.50
Spelter lO.OOt
Straits tin 47.50t 57.00t
Aluminum, 98 to 99 per cent 18.75 18.75
•OLD METALS
Heavy copper and wire 13.S5 14.50
Brass", heavy 9.37 % 9.75
Brass, light 800 8.62 ^
Lead, heavy 3.95 3.95
Zinc scrap 7.25 7.25
•COPPER EXPORTS
Total tons to April 13 5.934
•From daily transactions on the New York Metal Exchange
tNominaL
New Industrial Companies
The Fox Electrical Corporation, of New York, N. Y., has
been incorporated by J. W. Crandall, 165 Broadway, New
York, N. Y.; G. Harding and I. W. Bonner. The company
is capitalized at $25,000 and proposes to do a general elec-
trical engineering and contracting business.
The Marquette Electric Engineering Company, of Chi-
cago, 111., has been chartered with a capital stock of $15,000
to manufacture and deal in electrical machinery and sup-
plies. The incorporators are Adolph C. G. Anderson, Edwin
A. Fritsch and Hugo Fritsch.
The New York Appliance Corporation, of New York,
N. Y., has been chartered with a capital stock of $10,000 to
manufacture and deal in electrical and mechanical appli-
ances, motors, dynamos, machinery, etc. The incorporators
are S. K. Rasp, D. Herman and S. L. Marcus, 322 East
Sixty-second Street, New York, N. Y.
The Globe Multiple Fuse & Electric Globe Manufacturing
Company, of New York, N. Y., has been chartered with a
capital stock of $25,000 by Louis H. Ferber, 182 Marion
Street, Brooklyn, N. Y., and Karvid Enlind, 17 East Thirty-
eighth Street, New York, N. Y. The company proposes to
manufacture electric fuses, fuse plugs and other electrical
devices.
The Dey Electric Corporation, of New York, N. Y., has
been incorporated with a capital stock of $20,000 by Harry
E. Dey, 303 Arlington Avenue, Jersey City, N. J.; H. W.
Hillman and Max E. Schmidt, of New York, N. Y. The
company proposes to do a general civil, electrical and
mechanical engineering and contracting business, and also
to deal in motor vehicles.
The Steam Electric Engineering Company, of Wheeling.
W. Va., has been incorporated by F. J. Balleston, H. E. New-
man, !•'. E. Pinnegan, E. E. Smith and H. M. Walmsley.
The company is capitalized at $25,000 and proposes to do a
general electric, gas and steam fitting business, and to sell
gas engines and electrical appliances. The company also
proposes to generate and distribute electricity for lamps,
heaters and motors.
1020
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 16
The Charleston Electrical Advertising Company, of Char-
leston, S. C, has been incorporated with a capital stock of
$3,000. The officers are: W. S. Lanneau, president, and W.
K. McDowell, secretary and treasurer.
The Bison Electrical Company, of Buffalo, N. Y., has been
incorporated with a capital stock of $25,000 to do a general
electrical contracting business. The incorporators are F.
M. Smith, B. H. Fisher and J. T. Arundell, of Buffalo, N. Y.
The Nonowatt Electric Import Company, of New York,
N. Y., has been incorporated with a capital stock of $5,000
by Nathan Schwartzer, 500 West 175th Street, New York.
N. Y.; David Davis and Paul F. Altschul, of New York.
N. Y.
The People's Service Electric Company, of Trenton, N. J.,
nas been incorporated by Claudius B. Lasell, Elmer W.
Bogart and Orris M. Driscoll. The company is capitalized
at $125,000 and proposes to manufacture and deal in elec-
trical machinery.
The Electric Automobile Delivery Corporation, of New
York, N. Y-, has been incorporated with a capital stock of
$10,000 by George Tierman, Frank H. Parcells and John B.
Purcell. Beardsley, Hemms & Taylor, 50 Wall Street, New
York, N. Y., are attorneys.
The Howes Electric Burglar Knob Company, of New
York, N. Y., has been chartered with a capital stock of
$10,000 by P. Gottlieb, C. M. Setlow and E. J. Fuller, 71
Third Avenue, New York, N. Y. The company proposes to
manufacture and deal in implements and tools.
The Electric Meter Corporation, of New York, N. Y.,
has been incorporated with a capital stock of $50,000 to
manufacture and deal in electrical apparatus, protective
devices, etc. The incorporators are R. S. Harvey, K. Fair-
banks and F. A. Sorgee, 55 Liberty Street, New York, N. Y.
Green, Green & Green, of Rochester, N. Y., have filed
articles of incorporation with a capital stock of $10,000 for
the purpose of manufacturing electrical devices, equipments
and mechanical specialties. The incorporators are: W. R.
Foster, A. L. and A. A. Green, 34 Livingston Street,
Rochester, N. Y.
New Incorporations
The Telleride Power Company, of Dallas, Tex., has been
incorporated with a capital stock of $40,000 by W. W. Clark
and others.
The Hazard Power Company, of Hazard, Ky., has been
incorporated with a capital stock of $25,000 by L. L. Stone
and others.
The Haskell Ice & Light Company, of Haskell, Tex., has
been incorporated with a capital stock of $20,000 by Mor-
gan T. Jones, George T. Scales and W. G. Swenson.
The East Randolph Light & Power Company, of East
Randolph, Vt., has been chartered with a capital stock of
$5,000. The incorporators are W. A. Robbins, G. G. Bos-
well, H. L. Newell, V. L. Allard. F. E. Smith and J. Holden
Camp, of East Randolph.
The Coldbrook Springs Electric Light Company has been
organized for the purpose of installing an electric-light plant
in Coldbrook Springs, Mass. The directors are: Harry B.
Barker, secretary and treasurer; Guy Allen, J. Edmund
Cody, Gilbert P. Butterfield, Herbert T. Needham and others.
Trade Publications
Reftllable Fuses.— The A. F. Daum Company, Pittsburgh.
Pa., is sending out a leaflet which describes and illustrates
several types of its refillablc fuses.
Wiling Iliviics. — Pass & Seymour, Inc., Solvay, N. Y..
have prepared a leaflet designated as 12-B which list
<r.il devices for nitrogen-filled lamps.
Lock Sockets. — The Arrow Electric Company, Hartford,
. has brought out an illustrated folder which eoni
Information on tta "Arrolock" socket.
F.lectrirnlly Operated Mowers. The American Mower
Company! Detroit, Mich., is lending on1 ■ booklet which de-
scribes its electrically operated "SiroCCO" blowers
Flashlamp Batteries. — The Bright Star Battery Company,
430 West Fourteenth Street, New York, has issued an illus-
trated bulletin describing its batteries for flashlamps.
Bulletin Index. — The Fort Wayne Electric Works of the
General Electric Company, Fort Wayne, Ind., have brought
out a bulletin which contains a list of their publications.
Small Lighting Outfit. — A self-contained gasoline-engine-
driven lighting outfit is described and illustrated in a cata-
log issued by the Matthews Boat Company, Port Clinton,
Ohio.
Electric Welder. — The Welding Materials Company, 114
Liberty Street, New York, has prepared an illustrated cata-
log designated as Bulletin 1915-A on its variable-voltage arc
welders.
Electric Signal Devices. — The Sireno Company, 18 Rose
Street, New York, has issued a catalog on its electric warn-
ing signals and accessories for automobiles, boats and mo-
tor cycles.
Safety Device for Elevators. — The Black-Woods Manufac-
turing Company, 350 Knoxville Avenue, Peoria, 111., has pub-
lished a folder which describes its electrically operated safe-
ty device for elevators.
Electric Washer. — The Grinnell Washing Machine Com-
pany, Grinnell, la., has published a folder entitled "Over the
Back Fence," which contains information on one of its elec-
trically operated washers.
Electrically Operated Tractor. — The Mercury Manufactur-
ing Company, 4110 South Halsted Street, Chicago, 111., has
prepared several illustrated bulletins which describe its elec-
tric industrial tractor.
Industrial Lighting. — The Cooper Hewitt Electric Com-
pany, Eighth Street and Grand Street, Hoboken, N. J., has
published a booklet entitled "Light as a Factor of Effi-
ciency," by W. A. D. Evans.
X-Ray Apparatus. — The Kelley-Koett Manufacturing
Company, Covington, Ky., has published Catalog No. 22,
which is illustrated and which contains information on vari-
ous types of X-ray apparatus.
Electric Heating Appliances, — The American Electrical
Heater Company, Detroit, Mich., has brought out a folder il-
lustrating a display card which it is sending out as well as
several of its heating appliances.
Electrically Operated Washers. — The Altorfer Brothers
Company, Roanoke, 111., has recently issued a booklet enti-
tled "Washing Secrets," which contains information on elec-
trically operated washing machines.
Electric Sign. — The Reynolds Electric Company, 422 South
Talman Avenue, Chicago, 111., is sending out an illustrated
card designated as Suggestion No. 12 which describes a
flashing electric sign suitable for theaters.
Inclosed Entrance Switches. — Bulletin No. 33 issued by the
Detroit Fuse & Manufacturing Company, Detroit, Mich.,
contains information and illustrations of its "square D" in-
closed entrance switches and distributing cabinets.
Spray and Air-Cooling Apparatus. — The Spray Engineer-
ing Company, 93 Federal Street, Boston, Mass., has pre-
pared an illustrated booklet on sprays for cooling condensing
water and also a bulletin on washing and cooling air for
steam-turbine generators.
Wire and Asbestos Insulation for Wire. — The Independent
Lamp & Wire Company, York, Pa., has issued a booklet de-
scribing its "Salamander" asbestos-covered magnet wire, a
leaflet on its asbestos-covered wire for air-compressor coils.
and several leaflets on methods of rewinding burnt-out field
roils.
Lighting Fixtures. — The National X-Ray Reflector Com-
pany, Chicago, 111., is sending out Plates No. 25, No. 26,
No. 36 and No. 38, which contain diagrams and illustrations
showing various types of fixtures and methods of using
them in stores, railroad stations, showcases and wall cases.
gymnasium and locker rooms.
Copper-Clad Wire. — Bulletin No. 201-1 recently issued by
the Standard Underground Cable Company, Pittsburgh, Pa.,
contain! information on its "Colonial" copper-clad wire. The
company hai ;>l BO Juel published a booklet, entitled "Thirty-
three yean Of ProgTeBS," which describes its exhibit at the
Panama-Pacific International Exposition.
Ahkii. 17, lyio
E LE< PRK A I. WO RLD
1021
Construction News
New I. n- l.i ml
BRISTOL. N. li. -Within the next few
munth.i the Bristol B3 l.t
■ ut 1 »«j miles of line l r i
with pr. Ion to the street-light-
ing ays
A Emerson is t r .usurer.
west caMpto.n. N li
lee. it is understood, - the ln-
tric-llghtlng plant In
Weat Campion.
MONTPELIER, \T -O. K Mi
■ I Waterbun . it is reported,
ured options "ii several w
era along the Wills River and are trying to
building power plants along tin- stream
BOSTON. MASS Til. Ma-
Gaa & Electric Commission has authorized
ion El. Illg. Co. of Boston
l.lltional shares of capital stock at
1-1 C. pel share.
SALEM, mass Work "ill soon I- be-
"i.- Salem EL i.tg. Co. on enlarging
it- plant .in. i lystern, Involving an expend!-
lur. of about 1250,000. New equipment,
including a 6250-kw generator, four 750-hp
Blgelow-Hornsby water-tube boilers, with
. sinkers, etc., will in
addition will also be built to the power
station. The company will also
overhead wires In th.. business district
ui'!. rground.
PAWTUCKET, R I Plane are being
considered by the school committee for
lighting the high school by electrii II
installing lamps In the schoolhouses on
Central and Lincoln Avenues.
.NORWICH, CONN. The Rex Pwr. Co.,
of Norwich, has applied to the State Legis-
lature for a charter permitting it to gen-
bute electricity In New-
London and Windham Counties, and to be-
gin business with a capital stock of $30,000,
with privilege of increasing to $500,000 as
may be round necessary. The incorporators
are C. R. Alexander, James J. DorK.hu. and
C. B Chapman
Middle Atlantic
BABYLON, N. Y -The Babylon Pwr.
CO-, recently Incorporated, has applied to
the Town Board for a franchise to install
and operate an electric-light plant in Baby-
lon. Daniel E. Hanlon, 2646 Morris Ave-
nue, New York, N. Y„ is interested in the
company.
IROQUOIS, N. Y.— Bids will be received
by William Hunt, president of board of
managers, Thomas Indian School, Iroquois,
N. Y.. until April 23 for construction work
for silo and addition to dairy barn and
construction, heating, plumbing, dl
and electric work for Ice house, dairy room
and cold-storage plant at the Thomas
Indian School, Iroquois. Drawings and
specifications may be consulted at the above
school : at the New York office of the De-
partment of Architecture, Room 1-24 Wool-
worth Building, and at the Department of
Architecture, Capitol, All.
LAKE PLACID. N. T.— Within the next
two months the village of Lake Placid ex-
pect to purchase some transformers, to cost
about $500, and electric meters, costing
about $200. O. Weaver is village clerk.
LESTER8HIRE, N V. — Preliminary
steps have been taken toward thi
llshment of an ornamental lighting system
on Main Street.
LOCKPORT, N. Y.— Bids will be received
by the Board of Education, Lockport. until
April 20, for equipment to be Installed In
the enlarged Union School Building as fol-
lows: (1) Time and program system; (2)
Ore-alarm system; (3) Intercommum. at Ing
telephone system; (4) vacuum cleaning
system; (5) construction of fire escapes.
General construction plans may i"
the olllce of the board.
MAYVILLE, N. Y.— The Senate has
passed the Sullivan bill legalizing the Mav-
vllle bond issue to defray the expense of
reconstructing and equipping the- n
electrlc-llght plant and water-works sys-
tem.
MTNETTQ, N V u.ui. v on be re-
sum. .1 on the construction of the new power
plant of the Columbia Pwr. Co. In Mlnctto.
The proposed plant will ho situated north
of the bulkheads of the new dam and will
have an output of 12,000 lip. The W.aih
erspoon & Elngley Co., of Chicago, III . Is
the contractor.
NEW BRIGHTON, N. Y.— Within the
next three months th. lllchmond l.t ti It. It.
Co., of Hew Brighton, expects to extend Its
6600-volt transmission lines from Concord
to Midland. South Ilea, h
worth, and Horn Concord to TottenvUle:
also to purchai Itva lurbo-gcner-
ator set, complete with auzillai
With stokers an. I an ash
handling lyati opany has Just
■ ..per. .ii. .a tl testation,
equipped with two 600-krw units, and has
also contracted for two 12,000-gal. per
minute centrifugal pumps, directly con-
•t and induction mo-
tors of 160 hp each The contract for
pumps was awarded to the Cameron steam
Pump Co., and that for motors to the West-
inghouse IM A: Mfg. Co. The system, which
covers all of Staten Island, has been
i from a two-phase to a tin-
system, and the new switchboard building,
which was start.. I two years ago, has been
. i. W ii. Kudisiii is chief engi-
neer.
NEW YORK, N. Y— Bids will be received
by Hobert Adamson, fire commissioner, elev-
enth lloor. Municipal Building, New York,
until April 26 for furnishing 12 motor-
driven city service hook-and-ladder trucks.
Blank forms and further information may
ined and plans and specifications
may be seen at the above office.
HARRI8BURO, PA— Application has
been tiled with the State Department for
lor the Cassandra Lt. Co. and the
Portage Township Lt. Co. by James Pearce,
i H. Troxell and Nellie Pearce. The
companies will supply electrical service in
the towns for which they are named.
IIAZLETON, PA. — The Harwood El. Co.,
It is reported, contemplates extending its
service to Sunbury, and also plans to sup-
ply electrical service to the summer resorts
in the Pocono Mountains around Strouds-
burg. Energy will be supplied from the
Hazleton plant.
HILLSDALE, PA. — Plans are being pre-
pared by the Pittsburgh Coal Co., it is re-
ported, for the construction of a power
house in Hillsdale.
HOLTWOOD, PA.— The Pennsylvania
w 1 1 & l'wr. Co., it is reported, is contem-
plating enlarging its plant at Holtwood. J.
E. Al.lie.l, 24 Exchange Place, New York,
N, Y., is president of the company.
NEW BRIGHTON, PA. — Preliminary
i ye been taken by the Borough Coun-
cil for the establishment of a municipal
electric-light plant. A committee has been
appointed to make an investigation of the
cost of a plant.
PHILADELPHIA, PA. — The contract tor-
tile electrical installation in the 12-story
apartment house at Seventeenth and Wal-
nut Streets, Philadelphia, has been awarded
nited El. Construction Co., of Phila-
delphia.
PHILADELPHIA, PA. — The installation
of 1008 additional arc lamps to be distrib-
uted throughout the city has been recom-
mended by a sub-committee of the Coun-
cils' electrical committee. The finance
committee of Councils has recommended
the appropriation of $50,000 for this pur-
pose.
PHILADELPHIA, PA. — Proposals are
being asked by the officials of the Pennsyl-
vania Village for Feeble-Minded Women,
Union County, on the proposed contract
for the installation of electricity through-
out the institution. Plans and specifica-
tions and form of proposal can be obtained
at the office of George S. Idell, 34 South
Sixteenth Street, Philadelphia, upon deposit
of $5.
PHILADELPHIA, PA. — Bids will be re-
ceived by M. L. Cooke, director of the de-
partment of public works. Room 332, City
Hall. Philadelphia, until April 23 for fur-
nishing lamps and maintaining same for
the illumination of streets, avenues, boule-
vards, sidewalks, bridges, etc., in the city
of Philadelphia. Specifications and blank
Forms can be obtained upon application at
the office of the Bureau of Lighting, Room
322, City Hall.
ROCHESTER MILLS, PA.— A move-
ment Is on foot to secure electric-lighting
m Rochester Mills and for farmers
along the proposed line between Marion
.nd this place The Clymer El. Co.,
of Dlxonvllle, which supplies electrical
service In Marion Center, has agreed to ex-
tend Its line, provided that sufficient pat-
ronage Is secured to justify the expendi-
ture.
SALEMVILLE, PA— The .power plant of
the Keystone Coal & Coke Co. at Salemvllle
Is reported to have been damaged bv fire
t, causing a loss of between $6,000
.,000.
\\ will M, PA. — The Borough Council
has decided to sell the municipal electric-
light system. The Pennsylvania Pwr. Co.,
Ellwood City, which has supplied energy to
operate the system, it Is reported, is con-
sfderlng purchasing the plant.
NEWARK, N. J The Board of Works
has decided to Install about Tt ai
of 600 cp on Orange Street In the Roee-
tlon. The Public Ser. El. Co will
make the Installation.
1 BOTH AMIioy. N. J— Bids will be re-
v the Hoard of Aldern.
Hall, Perth Amboy, N. J., until April 26
■tructlon of a municipal
lighting plant as follows; (1) Construc-
tion of power stata.u, m. ha!
finding, foundations, building and travel-
| oil engines, generators.
tit-current trs
mps, staiion beating and wiring ap-
paralus and electric lamps in building; (3)
1 work, including outside dis-
tributing system, both overhead and under-
ground construction li'.posals may be
rendered for any one or two of the items
or for the entire installation. Plans and
specifications may be seen at the office of
Hunyon . suiting engineers, 845
ltioad Street, Newark, N. J. Copies of
plans and specifications may be obtained
of the engineers upon deposit of $50, to be
refunded upon return of same. Wilbur A.
Roe Is city clerk.
TRENTON. N. J.— Bids will be received
by the committee on grounds and buildings
Of the Board of Education at the office of
the business manager, Administration
Building, 9 Stockton Street, Trenton, until
April 20, for construction of school building,
to be known as Ihe Junior High School No.
1, in accordance with plans and specifica-
tions, copies of which may be obtained at
the above office. Separate bids must be
submitted for plumbing, heating, ventilation
and electric wiring. William A. Poland is
business manager.
CUMBERLAND, MD. — The Edison El
Illg. Co.,- of Cumberland, has nearly com-
pleted its new 5000-kw generating plant
and is erecting about 14 miles of new
transmission line. Contracts for material
have been awarded. W. M. Roberts, Jr., la
general manager.
LAUREL, MD. — Bids will be received by
George W. Waters, Jr., Mayor, Laurel,
until May 1 for construction of complete
system of sanitary sewers, extensions to
water mains and other water-works im-
provements, including motor-driven pump-
ing machinery. Plans and specifications
may be seen at the office of the collector,
Laurel, or at the office of Harry Stevens,
consulting engineer, Union Trust Building,
Washington, D. C. Copies may be obtained
from the engineer for $5 per set.
HUNTINGTON, W. VA. — The Virginia
Pwr. & El. Co., of Charleston, it is reported,
is contemplating the construction of an
electric railway from Huntington to St.
Albans, where it will connect with the sys-
tem of the Charleston Interuroan Ry. Co.
SPRIGG, W. VA. — The Tugg River Pwr
Co., of Gary, W. Va., it is reported, has
awarded contract for construction of power
plant, to cost $30,000, to Carlin, Clark &
Walker, of Welch.
WASHINGTON. D. C. — Bids will be re-
ceived at the office of the supervising archi-
tect. Treasury Department, Washington.
D. C, until April 24 for lamp standards,
lamp brackets, lanterns, etc., under the
control af the Treasury Department, in ac-
cordance with drawings and specifications,
copies of which may be obtained at the
above office. O. Wenderoth is supervising
architect.
WASHINGTON, D. C. — Bids will be re-
ceived at the office of the chief clerk of the
Post Office Department, Washington, D. C,
until April 20, for rewiring the Post Office
Department Building, at the corner of
Twelfth Street and Pennsylvania Avenue,
Northwest, Washington. Specifications may
be obtained from the chief clerk of Post
Office Department. A. S. Burleson is post-
master-general.
WASHINGTON. D. C. — Foreign trade
opportunities are announced by the Bureau
of Foreign and Domestic Commerce in the
Commeree K. ports as follows: No. 16, .102
— One of the foreign legations in Washing-
i.,ii, 1 1 C, informs this bureau that an
automobile manufacturer is desirous of
forming commercial relations with firms In
ih. United States which are in a position
to supply "magnetos" to be used In the
manufacture of one, two and three-cylin-
der motor cars. No. 16,307 — An American
consular officer in Canada reports that a
large church building is to be erected in
his district in the near future, at a cost of
$75,000. The committee in charge desires
to receive catalogs, quotations, etc., for
structural steel, glass, heating and venti-
lating apparatus, lighting fixtures, general
church furniture and organs. No. 16,182 —
A firm in England, which Is engaged In
manufacturing incandescent lamps, has In-
formed an American consular officer that
it desires to purchase brass caps and glass
bulbs used In the manufacture of electric
lamps No. 16,369 — A safety-lamp com-
pany In England informs an American con-
1022
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 16
sular officer that it desires tu secure the
names and addresses of American manu-
facturers of miners' electric-lamp cases.
Further information may be obtained from
the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Com-
merce. Department of Commerce. Wash-
ington, D. C, or its branches.
WASHINGTON, D. C— Bids will be re-
celved at the Bureau of Supplies and Ac-
counts. Navy Department. Washington, D.
C, until May 4 for furnishing at the vari-
ous navy yards and naval stations sup-
plies as follows: Melville Station, R. I.,
Schedule 819S — miscellaneous plow-steel
cable Brooklyn, N. Y . Schedule M89 — 450
prismatic reflectors: Schedule 8185 — 7500
ft lighting and power wire; Schedule 8182
ineoua seamless drawn copper
pipe. Newport. H 1. Schedule 8179 — 10,-
ooo ft. double-conductor cable; Schedule
8200 — 200 lb. uncut sheet mica. 2000 lb.
self-fluxing solder, 500 lb. cold-rolled sheet
copper, miscellaneous ebonite tubing, mis-
cellaneous half-hard brass tubing. Phila-
delphia, Pa.. Schedule 8176 — miscellaneous
three-conductor cable; Schedule S198 — six
switchboard panels. Norfolk, Va.. Sched-
ule 8178 — miscellaneous three-conductor
cable; Schedule 8179 — miscellaneous tele-
phone cable, three 50-kw transformers
Schedule 8190— 5S.300 lb. admiralty metai
condenser tubes. 6000 lb. brass " tubing
Bids will also be received at the same
place until May Mure Island
( al . Schedule S194— 800 lb. medium rolled
bronze rod ; Schedule 8196 — 1500 lb
amorphous lubricating graphite; Schedule
*1S4 — miscellaneous telegraph steering in-
dicator. 6500 steel boiler tubes, 16 400 lb
condenser tubes: Schedule S173 — one 1-ton
ice machine. Applications for proposals
should give the schedule desired bv num-
ber.
North Central
'LAKE. MICH.— At an election held
April .. the proposal to issue $34,000 in
bonds for the installation of a municipal
electric-lighting plant was defeated.
CLIO. MICH. — The Commonwealth Pwr
Co., of Jackson, has entered into an agree-
ment with J. H. O'Rourke, owner of the
local electric-light plant, to purchase the
plant and system, provided that the com-
pany is granted a new franchise bv the
Council.
IJOWAGIAC, MICH.— The City Council
•l«d to call an election to submit
the voters the proposal to issue $10,000
in bonds for the purpose of rebuilding the
municipal electric-light plant and the water-
works system.
BLASTINGS, MICH— The Thornapple
ijas ft El. Co., of Hastings, expects to
erect a concrete block substation at Laki
Odessa, for which all material has been
purchased except wall bushing for 25,000
volts. The work will be done by the C
pany. The company expects to purchase
within the next 30 days one set 25,000-volt
pole-top, out-door-type, three-pole trans-
mission-line sectionallzing switches for volt-
age of Middleville. It will also rebuild the
overhead distribution system nt Lake
for which material has already been
purchased. L W. Heath is manager.
[RON RIVER. MICH. — The Iron Range
l.t a Pwr. Co., of Iron River, expects to
purchase lightning arresters for a 2300-volt
distribution system, M D. l'arks is super-
intendent.
LAPEER, mii if Within the next three
months the Lapeer Gas-El, Co. exi ts to
rebuild its distribution lines in the business
section of the city, r i> Hulbart is super-
intendent.
HATFIELD, MICH Within the next six
months Mrs .1 I. Oihbs. owner of the local
electric-lighting plant, expects to pur
■ i eet-Ughi Ing i h Scotl
Criclan.
BCHOOLCRAFT, MICE Bids will be
received lllage clerk,
s. hoolcraft, until April L'T for construction
■if water-works system u folic*
Changes in electrlc-llghl station, including
.nip and valve no and pump toun
dations. i ol piping and pump-
ing mu i .r pumps .ne
ting pumps and lor and furnish
rig all piping and valves ll
Hid pit
i valve tut itlon sys-
Hid I.
ludlng all piping, valves and hy-
i. innlel, I 7 i
connect!
lie seen .'.I. lined :,t Hi,
•he office
of the Si 120 Tie N'nsby
CINCINNATI. OHIO.— The Diamond Lt.
Co., of Cincinnati, has applied to the City
Council for a franchise to operate an elec-
tric-light plant in this city. The company
petiflcally for authority to lay and
maintain conduit under and through
Thorpe, Hatters and Fountain Alleys.
CLEVELAND, OHIO.— Bids for the elec-
tric-lighting fixtures for the new city hall,
lOrted, will soon be asked. The cost
Is estimated at about $65,000.
CLEVELAND, nHlO — Bids will be re-
ceived at the ifflce of tie- commiss
and supplies. Room ."ill. City
Hall, Cleveland, until April 23 for paper-
'i. lead-covered cable for the Mu-
nicipal Electric Light Department. Speci-
ini he obtained at the office of
the commissioner of light and heat division.
^t Third Street. A. R. Callow is
commissioner of purchases and supplies.
DEGRAFF, OHIO. — The Board of Public
Service expects to install within the next
two months three 50-hp International oil
engines, one 37% -leva and one 60-kva, three-
phase. 2250-voll induction Triumph motor.
.1 T. Scott is superintendent.
PINDLAT, OHIO.— The Toledo, Bowling
Southern Trac Co. will install a
new street-lighting system in Findlay. The
plans provide for incandescent lamps (type
C) to I" ' iih refractors: in the
residence district 221 lamps of 2.",(1 rp will
be installed. ISO of 100 cp and 52 of 600
op: 88 ornamental standards will be erected
in the business section. The cost of the svs-
tem is estimated at about $2fl.non The
lamps and fixtures will be furnished bv the
General Electric Co. Ornamental trollev
and lamp poles will be supplied bv the El
Ry. Equipment Co., of Cincinnati. Daniel
Riedel is superintendent of motive power.
OARRETTSVILLE, OHIO— Within the
next four months S. H. Bruce, owner of
the local electric-lighting plant, expects to
erect s miles of three-phase. 6600 voll
transmission line and to purchasi
0100-volt transformers; also some 2300
6600-volt transformers.
GREENFIELD, OHIO— The Board of
Public Service contemplates the purchase
of automatic engine stops for the munici-
pal electric-light plant within the next
Vw months ; also within the next two
months to purchase poles, meters and in-
candescent lamps (quantity not yet deckled
upon), and will also probably need within
a short time some electrical heating devices
mid wiring supplies.
HAMILTON. OHIO— Within the next
two months the Board of Public Service
expects to purchase ornamental lamp stand-
ards and material for lighting system for
three squares. James O'Toole is superin-
terdent.
JAMESTOWN, OHIO— Within the next
three months the Jamestown El. Lt. Co. ex-
pects to purchase one or two 60-cvcle,
Single-phase or three-phase. 2300-volt "gen-
erators (revolving field, 130 amp), some
poles, and probably some meters s. a
Brown is superintendent.
MASSILLON, i mio. —The City Council
has adopted a resolution asking for the re-
construction of the street-lighting system.
NORWALK, OHIO.— The Supreme Court
has overruled the appeal of the Cleveland,
Southwestern ,v i'..lumbus Rv. Co.. in its
suit against the city of Norwalk. question-
ing the legality of the $120,000 bond issue
by th. city of Norwalk for the erection of a
municipal electric-light plant.
ST CLAIRSVILLE. OHIO.— The Citv
Council has awarded tin ntracl for
energy for operating the local system to
the Sunnyside Electrical I'n Tlie city has
decided to abandon the municipal plan)
SHELBY, (HIH i The nhio Lt. .<■ Pwr
Co., of Tiffin, has submitted a propi
tlie Council offering to sunph ell
ill Shelby from its plant In Tiffin. The citv
of Shell,.. || |. , ,.,„,, t • . 1 . |t inn..
Improt is to the mu
electric-lighting plant, to cost about $40,000
VERONA, OHIO Tie Public Utilities
"in of Ohio has authorised the
Brookvill. ,v l,. wishing l.tg. Co i
capital st... i,. ll,. |,i,i. ,.,.,|s !,, i„.
distributing ««
ten, in the towns of Verons and l ;■
thl mm PC ,x i,.,. ni
both towns
HUSTONVHJ ii.. i '
light plai i to have been inn
chased bj \\ alter I rwslej it is undi i
Unit the equipment win i>,. removed from
the lliislonvillo Holler Mills, where it now
i,. |ng • i • ei, .i
bj Mi ' ". lej \ new " , I,,, engine, which
I Will lie ill
stalled \\"h. i mill.
lee Will be established
LOUISVILLE. KV Residents of \u
burndale, t suburb of Loul
miles ton ., ,i|, i|,,.
I
the service to that locality. The company
has given assurances that wires will be
extended south as far as the junction of
the Third Street Road and the New Cut
Road, but the Auburndale residents want
the lines to go still further and pass
through their community.
PEMBROKE, KY.— Within the next II
months the South Kentucky Pwr. Co., of
Pembroke, expects to erect 20 miles of
transmission line, and to purchase mate-
rial for same, including poles, transform-
ers, wire, insulators, etc. The company
purchases energy from the electric plant
in Hopkinsville. It also operates a svstem
In Trenton, Ky. S G. Ragsdale is man-
ager.
STITHTON, KT— The Greenup El. Co.,
recently incorporated with a capital stock
of $10,000, is contemplating establishing
electric plants at Sonora and West Point.
The company is now operating electric
plants in Stithton, Horse Cave. Munfordville
and Brandeburg, and it is also part owner
in plants at Edmonton and Burksville.
ALTON, ILL— The State Board of Ad-
ministration, it is reported, will soon award
contracts for the construction of a new
power house at the Alton Hospital.
STRONGHURST, ILL— Within the next
two months M. F. T. Schierbaum, owner
of the local electric-light plant, expects to
■ red in extension to the power station to
provide space for additional machinery;
also to purchase within the next three
or four months one 40-kw to 45-kw re-
volving-field, three-phase, 60-cycle. 11 no-
volt generator and possibly some new trans-
formers. It is proposed to replace the
present steam plant with a gas engine.
Contracts have been closed for one Muenzel
suction gas producer and engine of 60 hp.
KAUKAUNA, WIS— Within the next 30
lays the Municipal Electric and Water De-
partment expects to purchase one 240-kw,
25-62 i^-cycle frequency changer and switch-
board for the municipal electric-light plant.
W. B. Montgomery is manager.
MISHICOT, WIS.— Within the next six
months Ira Beyer, owner of the local elec-
tric-lighting plant, expects to purchase one
waterwheel governor, one 75-hp steam en-
gine and two boilers.
.MILAN, MINN. -Bids will be received
by C. R. C. Blom. clerk of School District
No. 45, Milan, until May 4 for construction
of brick high-school building in accordance
with plans and specifications prepared by
C. E. Edwins, architect, 911 Northwestern
Building. Minneapolis. Minn. Separate
bids to be submitted as follows : For gen-
eral contract work, for heating and plumb-
ing, and for electric wiring. Plans may be
seen at the office of the clerk at Milan, and
at the Builders' Exchange at Minneapolis
Topics may also be procured from the ar-
chitect.
STAPLES, MINN.— The Water and Light
Commission is contemplating the installa-
tion of a new street-lighting svstem, consist-
ing of about S5 lamps.
BONAPARTE. IA. — Plans are being con-
sidered for the installation of an electric-
lighting plant in the school at Bonaparte
Underfill! & Dean, 612 Brvant Building
Kansas City, Mo., are architects.
BRATTON, IA. — The Brayton El. Lt
Co. is Installing an electric plant, the
equipment to Include a 25-hp crude-oil en-
gine (now being Installed), one 50-hp en-
gine (to be installed next fall), two
alternating-current generators (one 18 ^
kva and one 37'-. kva), and Maloney trans'
formers. The distributing svstem will re-
quire from 14 to 16 miles of wire and from
poles per mile. George G. Heogh
is proprietor and manager.
HARLAN. IA— Within the next three
months the city of Hnrlan expects to pur
chase one carload of poles, with three-
conductor, lead-covered cables, for the
municipal electric-lighting system and will
also let contract for yearly supplv of inc.m
descent lamps. C. D. Linton Is superintend
ent of light and water plant
i.i IRIMi IR, I \ An electric llghl and
power planl Is being erect.. I in the town
.f Lorlmor. .1 F. Smith, recently granted
a franchise, is reported to he interested in
the project
M VSl IN CITS . l A The People's Gas .\
ki Co., of M. is. hi City, expects to complete
within the next two weeks ;i transmission
the city limits which will supply
electricity to the town of Norn springs
ipany has also purchased
kw turbine, togel h.r with neci
. qulpment, switchboard, etc H
Anderson is general m
Ml lORHEAD, n Preparations, ll Is re
ported, are being made for the installation
of in i eli plant In Moot head,
in eost about IK ' N P Sorcnson and
in owners
. ISI 'I'. il.A. IA t> of the ' >s-
Ht. ft Pwr. Ci n chased
Ana it, L9il
E LEI T RICAL WORLD
ion
bj tbC Union CO, ol Olllah.i,
npany win erect about 10
tranaraui
plant Willis Todd, of Omaha, la -
.ind manager of the Union Compat
IKP.ANA. IA 1
iwarded the. contrail for the Inatallatlon
on three blocks io the
Standard Electric <'". of Waterloo.
WATERLOO, IA Thi Citiaei
.-
illation of .. i
volt transmission line, this city
with i ion i. - City, M >i other
towns
CARUTHER8VILLE, HO.— The Public
Commission has authorised the sal<
..i the property of thi
nil.- .* Kennett LL a Pn I
ST l.' 'lis. Ui I - The question .
Ilahlng .1 municipal electric-lighting plant in
I] s. N I' Mi --!- Hixson A Leet,
een granted a franchise
ruct and operate an electric-light-
ing plant In Forbes.
GRAND PORKS, N. D Bids "ill be re-
F. k. Burcbard, Secretary of the
: Education of Independent School
District of the city of Grand Forks. CltJ
U:. 11. Grand Forks, until April 27 for the
construction of the first unit of a new high
school. Separate bids to be submitted on
< nil contract work, beating and
ventilating, plumbing work and the elec-
tric work, ui accordance with drawings
and specifications prepared by W. J. Ed-
wards, ai ml Forks. Copies of
plans and specifications may be seen at
the office of the architect. Grand Forks ;
and at the Builders' Exhange at Grand
Ferks, Duluth, St. Paul and Minneapolis,
Minn.
GOODWIN. S. D.— H. E. Rohwedei la
contemplating Installing an electric light
and power plant In < loodwin.
LEIGH, NEB. — Plans are being consid-
ered for the installation of an electric-
lighting plant In Leigh. For further infor-
mation address the city clerk.
RANDOLPH, NEB. — New equipment has
recently been Installed in the municipal
light and water-works plant, con-
sisting of one 50-hp Adams oil engine and
one 30-kw, 220-volt Western Electric fly-
wheel-type generator. G. D. Wiley is
superintendent.
STAMFORD, NEB. — Contracts have
been awarded by David Elder for the in-
stallation of an electric-light plant in Stam-
ford. The equipment will include one oil
engine (20 hp to 40 hp), one 16-kw, 125-
volt direct-current Western Electric gen-
erator, switchboard and other apparatus.
CONCORDIA, KAN.— The Cone
Lt. Co. is erecting a 23,000-volt transmis-
sion line to connect Clyde. Palmer, Lvnn,
Greenleaf and Washington, l. i: Green is
tsldent.
EUREKA, KAN.— The Eureka El. & Ice
Co. has Just completed a new power house
to consolidate the electric propertv with
the ice plant. The equipment includes
three 1 50-hp boilers, two Corliss engines,
aggregating 350 hp, two 225-kw, three-
phase, 60-cycle. 2300-volt generators and a
20-ton York ice plant. The distribution
system has been entirely rebuilt and a new
Street-lighting system installed, and also
30 ornamental lamp standards R. G
I. aflte is owner.
Southern States
PLYMOUTH. N. C— At an el-
be held May 4 the proposal to issue $12,000
for the installation of a municipal
electric-light plant will be submitted to
the voters.
swann QUARTER. N. C— Bonds to
the amount of 13.000 have been sold, the
to be used for street-lighting and
street Improvements.
ZEBULON, x 0.- An elect ■• 11 n
Im- called to submit to tic- voters the pro-
posal to issue $s,ooo in bonds, (if the pro-
ceeds, jr., mm is to be used for tn< li
■ an electric-lighting plant
ANDERSON, S. C— The Southern Pub
Utilities Co., of Anderson, expects to erect
within the next two months one 3000-kw
type t re nsfornier substal , iiso
"in three panel switchboard and switch-
house In lout ml i m ami to
install four 100-kw boosting transformers
it the I'orttnan power house: also within
t 30 days to install one 25-lamp
iiting circuit. aii material has
been purchased, ll \ On li local man
agei
SAVANNAH, GA I
..i Hi. otii. . of the
D C
until Ma) I, foi
valor n
covrt bo ■ ih For di I
PANAMA CITY. FLA -The Town Coun-
ell has granted J. B. 1 . Ala , .,
to install in
light plant in P. mania City.
SOI 'I'll JACKSONVILLE. PI. A
i- Ms will be made to
the municipal electric-lighting plant, water-
■I ving an
expendil . New machln
ery will be Installed, consisting of one
four-valve and untllow engine for direct con-
nect!.-n t.. either a 1 25-kva,
tor With exciter and switch-
on, 600-r.p.m. motor, one set
and feed pump, bids for which
A April 19. The .1
i. Third National Rank Building,
Atlanta, Ga., Is engineer.
MANCHESTER, TKNN Th. T.-nnessee
Valley Lt A Pwr. Co. cot
i-i a transmission line from Win-
chester I er to supply electricity
hen The company has recently acquired
the local electric plant H. W. Foote Is
local manager.
BESSEMER, ALA — Mayor Lewis, il is
I, will ask the City Council to au-
of $40,000 municipal bonds
voted m April. 1901, for the installation of
a municipal lighting plant for Bessemer.
i . ir been offered for
i
FLORENCE, ALA. — The federal govern-
ment has authorized Messrs. Sprague &
Kenwood, contractors, of Scranton. Pa., to
proceed with their contract to bore foun-
dations for two dams across the Tennessee
River at Muscle Shoals. One dam is to be
built within the city limits of Florence,
and the other dam about 20 miles up the
river. Congress has appropriated $150,000
for this and other preliminary work. The
plans contemplate the development of about
(180,000 hp for transmission by electricity.
GURLET, ALA. — Preparations are being
made by Henry Smith, owner of the local
el.ct ric-light plant, to rebuild the plant,
which was damaged by fire. The cost of
the work is estimated at about $2,500.
HUNTINGTON, ARK. — The capital stock
of the Coal & Gas Rclt El. Co. has been
increased from $50,000 to $75,000.
STUTTGART, ARK. — The City Council
has engaged F. L. Wilcox, Syndicate Trust
Building, St. Louis, Mo., consulting engi-
neer, to prepare plans for a municipal
electric-light plant and water-works sys-
tem for Stuttgart, to cost about $100,000.
HUGO, OKLA. — The Hugo Ice & Lt. Co.
expects to install within the next two
months one 500-kw Allis-Chalmers turbine-
driven generating unit with Wheeler con-
denser and all necessary auxiliaries and one
406-hp Heine water-tube boiler. Contracts
have been placed for equipment. J. W.
Dawley is manager.
BEAUMONT. TEX. — The Beaumont El.
Lt. & Pwr, Co. expects to install a complete
new street-lighting system, consisting of
4-amp alternating-current magnetic arc
lamps to replace the 6.6-amp series arc
lamps now in use. J. W. Thorne is com-
mercial agent.
FREEPORT, TEX. — The City Council is
contemplating extending the street-lighting
system to cos.i the residential section.
Ornamental lamps have been erected in the
business port ion
LAMPASAS. TEX— Within the next 50
days the Lampasas Lt. & Pwr. Co. expects
to install a 50-kw, three-phase generator
and also a complete set of new ceiling and
desk funs. Emil Haby is owner and man-
ager.
McKINNKV. TEX.— The city of McKln-
nej expects to purchase within the next
six months a ! kw, two-phase, 60-cycle,
2300-volt generating unit, directly con-
nected W, E. McKinnon is superintendent
MARFA, TEX.- Plans are being con-
sidered by li. Q. Musgraves. of Fort Worth,
and associates for the construction of an
in electric railway between Marfa
and I'oi't Davis, a distance of 18 miles.
Eventually the railway will be extended
mi I'avis to Ralmorhca, an ailili
tlonal 80 miles. The construction of an
i etrle plant is included In the project.
PALACIOS, TEX— Charles n Ci
owner of the local electric-light plant, is in-
'i Hi' B 80 lip oil engine of tl
1 type, and will also install a B5-kw
"' I" kw alternating current generator dur-
ing the summer when Improvements are
completed the l ntlre steam plant will be
i r carded
template .
lighting si sl.-m in I
Pacific Stalls
SEATTLE, WASH— Bids will
calved i
tie. until May 3 for furnishing and lnslall-
tbe new Kr.
I
Third Avenue and Jefferson Street, S.-attle
of the work la <
■
BEACH, CAL Plans are being
considered for the installation of an orna-
mental lighting system on Long Beach
Boulevard, extending along the frontage of
l.vnwood Acres and into the heart
of Long Beach. The Chamber of Com-
merce of Long Beach has appointed a com-
mittee to take charge of the plans
LOS ANGELES, CAL.— The Board of
Public S. : BSioners has author-
ized lv F. Scattergood, chief electt
gineer of the power bureau, to
with plans for the lighting of the city
streets with energy generated by the mu-
nicipal aqu plant.
RIVERSII >!•:. CAL. — The electric plant
of the Pacific Lt A Pwr. Corpn. In River-
side was recently destroyed by fire.
SAN BERNARDINO, CAL. — The instal-
lation of an ornamental street-lichting sys-
tem on Third Street, from Arrowhead Ave-
nue to the viaduct, is under consideration by
the local business men.
SAN FRANCISCO. CAL— The Sr.it-
Railroad Commission has granted the Coast
Valleys Gas & El. Co., of San Francisco.
permission to issue $10,000 in bonds for ex-
tension to its plant in the vicinity of Kings
City. The commission states that it will re-
consider a re-submission of the application
of the company for $100,000 in bonds as
soon as the question of its liability as guar-
antor of $300,000 of the bonds of the Mon-
terey & Pacific Grove railway has been de-
termined.
TEHACHAPI, CAL. — The Board of Trus-
tees has adopted a resolution declaring that
the installation of an electric light and
.power plant is a necessity. The cost of the
plant is estimated at $8,000.
PARK CITY, UTAH — Bids will be re-
ceived at the office of the supervising archi-
tect, Treasury Department, Washington,
D. C., until May 13. for construction com-
plete, including mechanical equipment, in-
terior lighting fixtures and approaches, of
the United States post office in Park City,
Utah. Drawings and specifications may be
obtained at the above office or from the
custodian of site at Park City, Utah.
CASA GRANDE, ARIZ. — Application
has been made to the Town Council by F.
B. Brackett for a franchise to construct and
operate an electric-lighting plant in Casa
Grande. An election will soon be called to
submit the franchise to the voters.
COKEVILLE, WTO, — Plans are being
considered by local business men for the
installation of an electric-lighting plant in
Cokeville.
DENVER, COL. — Plans have been com-
pleted by the Eight and Broadway Men's
Commerce Club for the installation of ad-
ditional ornamental standards on Broad-
way between Speer Boulevard and Eleventh
\ i ''"ii.
Miscellaneous
PANAMA— Bids will be received at the
office of the general purchasing officer, the
Panama Canal, Washington. D. C, until
April 27 for furnishing galvanized steel,
tool steel, steel boiler tubes, wire cable, elec-
tric cable, steel wire, chain, cable clips,
wire staples, etc. Blanks and general In-
formation relating to this circular (No.
915) may be obtained at the above office
or at the office of the assistant purchasing
agents, 24 State Street, New York, N. Y. ;
614 Whitney-Central Building. New Or-
leans, La., and 10SG North Point Street.
San Francisco, Cal.
PONTA DELGADA, ST. MICHAELS,
AZORES — Bids will be received by Luis
Gomes, civil engineer, St. Michael's, for
complete electrical equipment for an elec-
tric-lighting plant for the city of Ponta
Delgada, on the Island Of St. Michaels, in-
cluding 500 Incandescent street lamps of
16 cp, 2100 meters of wire and a crude-oil
engine of sufficient power to drive the
plant. When final decision is made steam
power may be substituted for the crude oil
engine. The cost of the proposed plant Is
estimated at $.".0,000.
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 66, No. 16
Weekly Record of Electrical Patents
PNITED STATES PATENTS ISSUED
APRIL 6. 1915.
[Prepared by Robert Starr Allyn. 16 Ex-
change Place, New York. N V J
1.134,093. Electric Battery; W. C. Bauer,
Evanston. 111. App. filed Oct. 31, 1910.
.Vitro compounds ; alkaline electrolytes.
1.134.105. Electrical Signal System for
Hospitals ; M. O. Burt, Colorado Springs,
Col. App. filed Feb. 3, 1912. Silent sig-
nal in hall and audible signal in attend-
ant's room.
1,134,107. Apparatus for the Treatment
of Sewage : T. Craney. Bay City, Mich.
App. filed Feb. 24, 1914. Separation of
solids and sterilization.
1.134.119. Cable Armor; H. R. Gilson,
Beaver, Pa. App. filed Aug. 14, 1911.
Interlocking coils with flat exposed sur-
faces.
1.134.120. Connector for Wood to Metal
Molding ; H. R. Gilson, Beaver. Pa. App.
filed Dec. 12, 1913. For joining metal
and wooden molding.
1.134.127. Crystalline Ferrosilicon and
Method of Making the Same; H. C.
Harrison, Loekport, N. T. App. tiled
July 30, 1909. Chemically proportions a
ferrosilicon furnace charge.
1.134.128. Ferrosilicon Product and
Method of Continuously Producing
the Same : H. C. Harrison, Lockport, N.
Y. App. filed Dec. 1, 1909. Gravitates
the melted iron to the molten bath be-
low the reduction zone.
1.134.133. Combined Junction Box and
Reflector Casing ; P. M. Hotchkin,
Chicago. 111. App. filed June 1, 1914.
For showcases and the like.
1,134,137. Device for Producing Electric
Pulsations ; J. F. Kellv. Pittsfleld, Mass.
App. filed Sept. 28, 1912. For vibrating
musical strings.
1,134,148. Arc-Light Electrode; W. R.
Mott, Lakewood, Ohio. App. filed June
6, 1913. Carbon, salt of calcium and
precipitated silica.
1.134.196. Electric-Motor Controller;
C. T. Henderson, Milwaukee, Wis. App.
filed Oct. 2, 1913. For rapidly and uni-
formly reducing the motor speed.
1.134.197. Dynamic Braking Controller;
C. T. Henderson, Milwaukee, Wis. App.
filed Oct. 14, 1913. For motors; alter-
nating current.
1.134,222. Portable Self-Contained Elec-
tric Plant; W. H. Palmer, Jr., Wvn-
cote, Pa. App. filed Feb. 9, 1914. Can
be shipped knocked down without break-
ing the electrical connections.
1,134,230. Automatic Switchino Mech-
anism ; J G. Roberts, Dobbs Ferrv, N.
T. App. filed March 10, 1906. For auto-
matic telephones.
1,134,236. Microphone; H. E. Shreeve,
MiUburn, N. J. App. filed May' 25. 1911
Packing of the comminuted material is
prevented.
1,134,244. Regulation of Dynamo-Elec-
tric Machines ; L. L. Tatum, Milwau-
kee. Wis. App. filed Feb. 11, 1910. Fly-
wheel motor-generator.
1,134,256. Signaling Device; C. B. Camp,
Chicago, 111. App. filed April 15, 1912.
Automobile horn.
1,134,268. Winding Machine; M Helm.
Berlin. Germany, App. filed Jan. 4,
1913. For winding alternate layers of
wire and Insulation.
1.134,2X2 Telephone Key- G. E. Mueller,
Aurora, 111. App. filed March 1, 1907.
For signaling one of a number of sub-
stations.
1.134,308 Telephone-Exchange System;
J. I. Wright, Washington, D. C. App.
filed Hay lx. I908. Automatic; avoids
use of ground connections.
apparatus for thb Attainment
BREATHING: V. Drew. Lon-
don, England. App. filed July 6. 1914.
Gives a signal upon each correct Inspira-
tion.
1.134,337 Electrical System of Distri-
bution; A. S llnl. hard, Belleville, N J
App. filed Feb. 10. 1909. Booster and
battery control.
Distri-
bution . .1 w Jepaon, Depew, N. T.
App. fil.-d I.,, Jl, 1.11 Train lighting.
>toh; C.
C Oberly, Chicago, 111 App Bled Uay
4. 19M por the rarhon-pn» resietanoe
of a train-lighting system.
CrftornT-CoNTROLUNa Dmia
W P Bang, Chicago, 111 Ipp filed
May 21, 1912. For operating horn with-
out removing hands from steering wheel.
1,134,356. Circuit Closer for Motor-
Vehicle Electric Horns ; W. P. Seng,
Chicago, 111. App. filed Sept. 7, 1912.
Has a switch to prevent tampering with
horn.
1,134,360. Signal Horn and Lamp; P.
Walker, Detroit, Mich. App. filed March
17, 1914. Mounted in a single casing
with the lamp in front of the horn.
1,134,371. Current-Supply System for
Electric Railways ; W. F. Bryan and
R. P. Phronebarger, Charlotte, N. C.
App. filed June 24, 1914. Shoe on car
engages with spaced contacts on the
track.
1,134,422. Electric Switch . H. F. strat-
ton, Cleveland, Ohio. App. filed July 27,
1911. Magnetically operated for con-
trolling alternating-current motors.
1,134.435. Telltale System for Electric
Circuits ; C. E. Beach, Binghamton, N.
Y. App. filed Nov. 13, 1914. To indicate
running down of electromechanical gongs,
etc.
1,134,440. Electro-Pneumatic Brake; J.
W. Cloud, London, England. App. filed
Dec. 20, 1913. Improved emergency ap-
plication.
1,134,448. Elevator Signal; R. H. Gay-
lord, Pasadena, and C. B. Capps, Los An-
geles Cal. App. filed July 25, 1914. Sig-
nal appears in car predetermined time
before car reaches floor
1,134.661 — Electric Heating Device
1,134.452. Thermo-Electric Battery for
Motor Vehicles: L. E. Hale, Stockton,
Cal. App. filed Nov. 20, 1913. Thermo-
pile attachable to exhaust conduit of
motor.
1,134,534. Automatic Electrical Switch;
W. H. Hill, Oakwood, Ohio. App. filed
Feb. 8, 1915. Magnet operates rotary
circuit controller.
1,134,547. Circuit Closer; W. C. Neahr,
Denver, Col. App. filed July 31, 1912.
For crossing signals ; operated by vibra-
tion of rail.
1,1.14.565. BOX Connector for Electric
Installation; W. H. Vibber. New Lon-
don, Conn. App. filed Jan. 15, 1914.
Clamp for armored cable end.
1,184,683. Process and Apparatus for
I'RonuciNo CHEMICAL Action in Gases;
C. S. Bradley. New York, N, Y. App.
filed May 1. 1909. Fixation of atmos-
pheric nitrogen.
1,134.593. Receiving System for Elec-
tromagnetic Radiations; T, de Forest,
New York, N. Y. App. filed May 5,
1910. Eliminates Interference.
1,184,1)94. Mfws for Incrbasynq the
Strenoth OF kkents J L. tie
Forest. Palo Alto. Cal App filed April
11, 1912. For telegraphic or telephonic
signals either with or without live wires.
1,184,840. Car-Signaling Dana B
Rowntree, Chicago, 111 App, filed May
22. 1911 For signaling safe starting
conditions to motorman
1.134.659. System ... 1 % E. C.
Wright. Newport, Kj \pp Bled Sept. 3.
1907. 1 !onn< I mllar dynamo-
alaotrlc machines In parallel
1.134.661. BLaCTRIC Heatino I >K\ 1. 1 MO
Ulmayer, Chicago, 111 App Bled
... 1 '.. I'M 1 Imm. 1 irrylng
1 coffee .>r the like.
1.134.673 CONNaOTOB; II A Douglas.
Thlcngo. Ill App filed Aug 9, 1912.
Special plug . '.instruction
1,134,732, Electric System; F. P. Gates.
Hartford, Conn. App. filed Sept. 23.
1913. Quick make-and-break key socket.
1,134,739. Electric-Motor Brake ; A. E.
Handy, Brooklyn, N. Y. App. filed July
23, 1912. Operated by magnetic flux of
the motor.
1,134,750. Overload Circuit- Breaker ; D.
Larson, Yonkers, N. Y. App. filed Oct
14, 1911. May be reset from distant
point.
1,134,752. Motor-Protecting Circuit-
Breaker ; J. T. Leonard, Wichita, Kan.
App. filed March 20, 1913. For multi-
phase motors.
1,134,758. Electromagnetic Signaling
Apparatus ; C. H. North, Cleveland,
Ohio. App. filed Feb. 9, 1907. Magnetic
and mechanical improvements in har-
monic bell ringer.
1,134,767. Metallurgy of Copper; E. A
C. Smith, New York. N. Y. App. filed
Feb. 10, 1913. Recovered as electrolytic
copper.
1,134,776. Induction Motor; E. Thomson.
Sjtampscott, Mass. App. filed Dec. 11.
r!n3. Secondary winding having high
and low resistance parallel circuits.
1,134,779. Electromagnets : A. R. Trezise,
Sr., Brooklyn, N. Y. App. filed Aug. 5.
1913. Has a Scotch-glass guide tube for
the core thereof.
1.134.784. Vapor-Electric Lamp or Recti-
fier; E. Weintraub, Schenectady, N. Y.
App. filed July 11, 1903. Improvements
in starting and in maintaining the
vacuum.
1.134.785. Vapor-Electric Apparatus; E
Weintraub, Schenectady, N. Y. App
filed March 23, 1903. Inductance to op-
pose excessive current flow between the
two supply mains.
1.134.786. Rectifying Alternating Cur-
rent; E. Weintraub, Schenectady, N. Y.
App. filed March 23. 1903. Consumption
circuit extending from the negative elec-
trode.
1.134.787. Rectifying Alternating Cur-
rent ; E. Weintraub, Lynn, Mass. App.
filed March 13, 1903. Condensing cham-
ber with elbows and an anode in each
elbow.
1, 134,78s. Electric Terminal; E. Wein-
traub, Lynn, Mass. App. filed Sept. 18.
1914. Aluminum and silicon terminal for
silicon conductor.
1.134.817. Electric Furnace ; J. W
Brown, Lakewood, Ohio. App. filed Jan.
8. 1912. Arc furnace of continuous type
for manufacture of graphite.
1.134.818. Electrical Heating Unit and
Resistance Coil ; L. W. Campbell, South
Yarra, Victoria, Australia. App. filed
June 17, 1913. Washers of waste mica
mounted on rod and compressed into
solid mass.
1,134,840. Tuning Transformer for Wire-
less Ststems ; R. R. Goldthorp, Hart-
ford, Conn. App. filed Dec. 15, 1913
Renders sharp tuning possible.
1,134,853. Electro-Pneumatic Brake; C.
N. Holcombe (deceased), New Rochelle,
N. Y. App. filed Jan. 22, 1914. Motor-
man's valve.
1,134,886. Electric Stovb ; W. F. Merrill.
New York, N. Y. App. filed July 10.
1914. Has Interchangeable Insulating
tablets with wire wound around.
1,134,909. Way Signal: J. M. Rosselot,
Cincinnati, Ohio. App. filed Jan. 20.
1914. For signaling intended direction
of automobiles.
1.134.933. Telephone Switching Appar-
atus : B. D. Willis, Chicago. 111. App
filed March 27, 1911. Semi-automatic
system,
1,184,984, ELBCTHIC Fixture; J. E. Keough.
Boston, Mass. App. filed April 19, 1913
Strain - relief construction for lamp
sockets
1,134,959. Liomt for Wells or Caissons;
W. J. Newman. Chicago, 111. App. filed
Aug 2S, 1913 Battery lamps con-
structed for hanging In excavation.
1.134.977. Poem Flashlight; H. H. and
H T. Etlpwell. Pittsburgh, Pa. App. filed
April 11. 1914 Construction for locking
the switch.
1.134.978. Si-mi \i tomatic Telephone
EXOHANOI TllI-NKINO STSTEM ■ B A
Meltlnger, Chicago, ill. App. fl'le.i l-vi.
B, 191 11 Supervisory arrangement
1,184,988. Absoluts permissive Block
Signal Ststbm : 8. N. wight. Rochester,
n. v. app Bled July s. 1911. Obviates
need for certain electrical adjustments.
1.134.9X3. System of Electrical Trans-
mission: R. A. Engler. Dubuque, la
App. filed July 13, 1911 Sound-produc-
lectiic lamp.
\,.l. 65
Electrical World
Publ Sraw 1'ubllBhlng Coin;
M w YORK, -UIKDAY. APRIL 24, 1915
So. 17
Indiscriminate Valuation
INDISl RIMINATE valuation has been demonstrated
in Ohio tn be a burden on both the physical limita-
tions of the Public Utilities Commission and the tax-
bearing docility at the public. The commission has been
unable to keep up with the tasks imposed on it by law
and the demands of communitifs that wanted instant
valuation of privately owned utilities for rate-making
purposes. Agitation over the complicated facts led to
the introduction of a legislative bill to amend the law so
that valuations shall not be mandatory upon the com-
mission. The plan to reduce the commission valuation
staff in the interest of economy answers those who think
that the State is spending too freely, but it does not
please communities that hold local problems paramount.
Unless there is specific need for valuations, the cost
should be saved. Great as is the direct cost to the
public, it is probably less than the indirect cost through
the expenses that companies must make when valuation
is enforced. The destruction of capital in Europe will
make economy more fashionable, and it is well to inform
the public about such unappreciated costs
Electrification for Increasing Terminal Capacity
ACCORDING to an official announcement, on May 30
the Pennsylvania Railroad will begin electrical
operation of suburban main-line trains from the Broad
Street station, Philadelphia, as far west as Paoli, Pa.
Other aspects of this project have somewhat obscured
the fact that one of the principal reasons why it was
undertaken — in fact, the decisive reason — was that
electrical operation would largely increase the service
capacity of the existing terminal, an increase that was
imperatively needed and which, without the substi-
tution of the electric for the steam locomotive, could
be obtained only at enormous expense. Having
reached the limit of existing terminal facilities, the
railroad was forced to consider the next step to
be taken. It could either increase its facilities at Broad
Street by the purchase of additional property and lay-
ing additional trackage or it could introduce electrical
operation for the suburban traffic. The latter plan was
adopted for the reason that it secured economies in
operation sufficient to pay the interest on the cost of
installation. In other words, as Mr. George Gibbs has
pointed out, the increase in capacity is to be obtained
by means of an equipment which practically pays for it-
self. The conditions at Philadelphia are not unusual as
affecting the congestion of city terminals, and this fact,
taken in connection with the enormous expense involved
in expanding terminal trackage in the heart of cities.
lends particular significance to the great possibilities in
the direction of increasing terminal capacities while
saving enough money on operation to pay interest
charges on the investment that may be made in electri-
fication.
Investigation of the New York Commissions
THE conclusion of the legislative committee in
regard to the New York Public Service commis-
sioners was complicated by eleventh-hour amendments
and by majority and minority reports. The Republican
majority members appear to believe profoundly in the
removal of Democratic commissioners, but instead of
making positive recommendations to this end, they
prefer to let Governor Whitman exercise his own judg-
ment. Thus they evade responsibility. The critical
conclusions concerning the commissioners are summed
up in "inefficient." It is difficult to believe that the
Second District commission would authorize capitali-
zation of any elements in as clear violation of the law
as the committee bluntly states ; some so-called intangi-
bles are properly capitalizable. There are constructive
features in the report that can be followed with much
more certain advantage than has accrued from the pur-
suit of individuals. One is the suggested rejief of the
First District commission from supervision of rapid
transit construction; another is the issue of stock with-
out par value. The committee evidently likes its task,
because it asks continuation, and this request, if
granted, will mean a long period in the course of which
something may "turn up."
Telephone Inquiry Stopped
EVIDENTLY little progress had been made in the
■L* investigation of telephone and telegraph companies
which the Interstate Commerce Commission has now
discontinued. It was started on Jan. 13, 1913, but one
year later, after the peaceful settlement of the govern-
ment anti-trust suit against the American Telephone &
Telegraph Company, the preliminary work was stopped.
The commission is to be commended for its public an-
nouncement, the effect of which is that further prose-
cution would waste money. Closer co-ordination of the
work of the commission and the Department of Justice,
it appears from the history of the case, would have
meant still greater saving. If the Department of Justice
was right in its contention that the act to regulate
commerce conferred ample powers upon the commission,
the doubt of the commission as to its jurisdiction was
not well founded. However, the settlement that was
1026
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 17
made finally with the Attorney-General was excellent,
not only because it definitely removed the basis of con-
troversy, but for the impressive reason that it proved
the willingness of "big business" to comply with the
government interpretation of the law.
Making the " Movies "
In many respects the production of moving-picture
films is an art by itself, calling for an entirely new line
of scenery, new methods in adjusting it to the require-
ments of the occasion, and a particular knack in acting
so as to obtain the best results. From a practical stand-
point one may add to these severe requirements a spe-
cial line of photographic art in making a good reproduc-
tion of the scene. Not the least of the difficulties to be
overcome is that of proper lighting of the stage so as to
obtain a suitably graded negative in the very brief time
allowable for a single exposure. Exposures on objects
involving rapid action will ordinarily run somewhere
from 0.01 second to 0.02 second as against from three
seconds to thirty seconds in ordinary indoor work con-
cerning objects other than a simple figure carefully
lighted as in portraiture. One may discount the dif-
ference for the two cases somewhat on account of the
enormous speed of the cinematograph lenses, but even
so there is an outstanding ratio of something like one
hundred to one between ordinary indoor photography
and that required on the production stage of a moving-
picture establishment.
In a brief article in this issue Mr. L. G. H. Smith
gives a somewhat detailed account of the methods of
lighting motion-picture studios which have actually
been found successful in practice. The usual small size
of the working stage is the salvation of the situation
when artificial lighting is needed. Speaking in gen-
eral terms, the stage may be from as small as 10 ft. by
12 ft. or 15 ft. up to about double these linear dimen-
sions, and the photographic requirements demand that
so far as moving figures are concerned the action shall
be confined to a somewhat narrow portion even of this
limited area. Anyone familiar with photography who
will watch carefully the presentation of a photo play
will quickly realize the limitations of space. An actor's
hand unwarily extended to arm's length toward the
camera almost always shows distortion.
Experience seems to have proved desirable an ar-
rangement by means of which powerful general illu-
mination is obtained from above supplemented by side
lighting which can be regulated in intensity and per-
haps also in direction. Either or both sets of lamps
may advantageously be provided with movable screens
for use when necessary, and sometimes opaque white
• ris for secondary diffusion ;ire found useful in the
wings. Inclosed carbon-arc and mercury-arc lamps
a to be the favorite sources of illumination for this
work, with incandescent lamps just beginning to come
use. Both the inclosed-arc and the mercury lamp
produce litfht having very hi^'h actinic value, and the
latter affords ;i Considerable amount of natural dif-
fusion. Concerning the lighting requirements, the
various installations described by Mr. Smith consume
from about 125 watts to 300 watts per sq. ft. of stage
area. As a light producer the inclosed arc is conspicu-
ously inefficient, but, photographically speaking, it is
not bad, so that the actual amount of photographically
effective illumination in all these instances is very high.
The mercury lamps, and especially the quartz-tube
lamps which have been effectively used in under-water
moving-picture photography, are also extremely efficient
photographic sources, an adequate amount of actinic
light being provided in all cases. It is worth noting
that we have no established conventional measure of
photographic activity, so that the working illumination
on the moving-picture stage cannot be stated in terms
of anything definite. Yet the approximations given by
the cases herein reported are sufficient to remove the
matter from the domain of sheer empiricism and to
enable lighting equipments to be designed with some
certainty of results.
Indexing of Electrical Engineering Subjects
One of the disadvantages attending the extension of
human knowledge is the correspondingly increased diffi-
culty in classifying it. Anyone who has ever tried to
classify information or data of any kind must have been
impressed with the difficulties which frequently arise
to perplex the innocent but well-intentioned classifier.
The condition reminds one of the historical index which
contained the item "Lord Brougham, his great mind,
page 553." On the page of text referred to appeared
the sentence, "Lord Brougham declared in council that
he had a great mind to withdraw the bill." Some thirty
years ago Mr. Melvil Dewey hit upon the felicitous plan
of dividing all human recorded knowledge into ten
classes, each identified by a numeral, namely, (0) gen-
eral works, (1) philosophy, (2) religion, (3) sociology,
(4) philology, (5) natural science, (6) useful arts, (7)
fine arts, (8) literature, and (9) history. Under these
heads came respective subdivisions likewise designated
by decimals, and these subdivisions in turn became sub-
divided decimally. The process was capable of being car-
ried on indefinitely, although human weariness usually
asserted its prerogative at the end of the fifth digit,
while some small library catalogs implied contentment
with a subdivision of human knowledge carried as far
as three digits only, where the decimal place is usually
set.
The Dewey decimal system was logically constructed,
and it has come into extensive use in general libraries.
It has not, however, proved so welcome a guest in engi-
neering libraries. At the date of its first introduction
engineering was classified as a useful art. with numbers
from G20 to 629 inclusive, as follows: engineering gen-
eral, mechanical, mining, military, bridge, road, canal,
river, sanitary, and other branches. Electrical engi-
neering was stowed away under the wing of mechanical
engineering. No. 621, and to it was allotted one decimal
place thereunder, namely, 621.8, Telephones, however,
came under 654 — that is, under "communication."
Aphil J4, 1916
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Th- how-
ever suitable it may hi Initially, ha
dered ill adapted to pi ■ . ■ • If all
ieal engineering has to star! from a base of 621.8,
how man] significant digits mu ed in order
to include such to]
especially for elevator and hoist d i(
It is to be hoped that in the int • mplicity, t<>
say nothing .1- to the bewildered public, the
decimal classification of engineering subjects may be
carefully and authoritatively reconsidered in the near
future. The need for readjustment does not imply any
disparagement of the Dewey decimal system of classi-
fication. It merely means that in a world where prog-
ress and development occur readjustment of ordinance
must inevitably take place. A world in which the rules
are never altered, like those of the Medes and Persians,
would be either a most distressful world or a stagnated
world. Nothing known to humanity can escape change
and the consequences of change.
Heterodyne Receiver Sensitiveness
In radiotelegraphy, and especially in transmission
asing sustained waves, attention is day by day becom-
ing more closely directed to the Fessenden heterodyne
receiver. This interesting fact is largely the result of
widespread appreciation of the inherent qualities of
the electrical-beats receiver, which the Navy Depart-
ment has now begun to use quite extensively. The
recent development of the oscillating audion, or "ul-
traudion," which has been described in our columns
and which combines with the heterodyne principle a
wonderfully sensitive amplifying action, has been in-
strumental in extending the knowledge of some of the
heterodyne's possibilities.
The United States Navy tests from Arlington early
in 1913, which were described in our issues for April 5
and June 21 of that year, first demonstrated to radio
engineers generally the increased signaling ranges ob-
tainable by use of the beats receiving method with the
usual rectifiers of "wireless" telegraphy. Since that
time there has been much speculation as to the actual
amplification involved in heterodyne as compared with
normal reception. General theoretical consideration of
the problem is not complicated, and in his Institute of
Radio Engineers paper, abstracted on page 1298 of our
issue dated June 14, 1913, Mr. John L. Hogan, Jr.,
derived an expression indicating that the amplifying
factor was equal to twice the ratio of locally generated
to received currents.
On page 1039 of the present issue we print a theoret-
ical paper by Mr. Marius Latour, in which the problem
is attacked from a new angle. Mr. Latour considers
the voltages impressed and shows that the ratio of
response in heterodyne reception to that of normal
operation may equal four times or 1.27 times the ratio
of locally generated to received voltages. The choice
of the numerical factor depends upon whether a com-
plete or a partial theory is developed. It would appear
that the conflict in coefficients between Mr. Latour's
ami the earlier 1 lused by a difference in as-
sumption as ti> what portion of the total interacting
power goes to produce the heterodyne signal. The two
theories are in agreement, however, as to the highly
significant indication that heterodyne amplification is
mainly dependent upon the ratio of applied to received
power. This conclusion is in accord with all observed
facts and shows that final response is probably limited
only by the rectifier's load-carrying ability.
Experiments with a Plunger Electromagnet
In the ordinary operation of a plunger electromagnet
it is customary to assume that the movement of the
plunger core takes place in such a leisurely and com-
fortable fashion that not only its mechanical inertia but
also the counter emf induced by the motion has no
appreciable influence upon the strength of the delivered
pull. Indeed, it often happens that the current strength
is not greatly influenced by such counter emf. On the
other hand, in the case of a reciprocating plunger elec-
tromagnet, such as an electromagnetic drill or electro-
magnetic hammer, the counter emf is relied upon to
reduce the working current and also to improve the effi-
ciency of the device. It may be shown that the maxi-
mum possible efficiency of such a reciprocating device
is 50 per cent or only half that which an ideal motor-
driven device could attain in the absence of friction.
The remaining 50 per cent of the input goes into the
magnetic circuit and must be dissipated when the
plunger is released.
In the article on page 1037 Mr. B. C. Batcheller de-
scribes some experiments which bring into salient con-
sideration the difference between the dynamic and the
static pull of the plunger in an electromagnet, for the
particular case in which the plunger is disconnected
from any mechanical load save that offered by a sensi-
tive recording device. An interesting element of the
structure described in the article is a polar chrono-
graph. This is not the first time that a polar chrono-
graph of any kind has been disclosed, but its use in this
case is evidently very appropriate and convenient. The
chronographic recording chart is a flat sheet carried on
a disk, driven at a substantially uniform measured speed
by an auxiliary motor. This motor made about twenty
revolutions per second, so that one revolution would
occupy about one-twentieth of a second. Equi-angular
distances on the chart thus correspond to equal intervals
of time, while radial distances correspond to the actual
distance traversed by the plunger. Any particular
flight of the plunger will cause the recording style to
trace out a certain corresponding polar spiral curve on
the sheet, which can subsequently be transferred to
rectilinear or Cartesian co-ordinates. The same type
of chronograph is capable of being applied advantage-
ously to many problems of rectilinear motion. The
author shows that in the case considered the magnitude
of the mean dynamic pull was only about half of that
of the mean static pull over the same stroke.
-
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 17
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Factors in Rate-Making
To the Editor of the Electrical World:
Sir: — In the article by Mr. Arthur S. Ives entitled
Factors in Rate-Making," in the March 27, 1915, is-
sue, use is made of terms likely to be rather confusing
to the novice. One of the factors enumerated by Mr.
Ives is called "interweave" and denned as the ratio of
station demand to sum of consumers' demands. This
a neither more nor less than our old friend "diversity
.'actor" under another name. Both the American In-
stitute of Electrical Engineers and the National Elec-
tric Light Association have standardized this defini-
tion of diversity factor. Mr. Ives also makes use of
what he calls "individual diversity factor," defined as
"he ratio of the consumer's maximum demand to his
total connected load. This is the "demand factor" as
jiven in the A. I. E. E. standardization rules. As both
diversity factor and demand factor have come into gen-
eral use in discussions of this character by central-
station men and engineers, some confusion is likely to
be created by the use of these factors under new names,
which, although excellent and expressive in themselves,
are not sufficiently well known to enable them to be
interpreted without study.
Chicago, III. J. R. Cravath.
Criteria of Commutation
To the Editor of the Electrical World:
Sir:— The article by Mr. J. F. H. Douglas on "The
Criteria for the Quality of Commutation," appearing
in your issue for March 6, is of particular interest to
me, inasmuch as I derived a similar result from slightly
different physical reasoning in the course of an article
which appeared in your issue for June 29, 1912. My
conclusion was that the condition that RT should be
greater than L expresses the physical condition that the
.-urrent density remains finite to the end of commuta-
tion, while the condition that 2RT should be greater
than L expresses the physical condition that the rate
at which energy is dissipated under the toe of the brush
remains finite until the end of commutation. It was
suggested that the latter is the more fitting criterion
for good commutation.
The physical basis of commutation is a matter of
such complexity that a contribution such as Mr. Doug-
las's, discussing it from a standpoint slightly different
from the usual, is very welcome.
Rugby. England. F. W. Carter.
An Electrical Paradox
To the Editor of the Electrical World:
Sir: — Electrical "paradoxes" usually result from
quite simple arrangements of apparatus, chosen with a
view to produce a rather unexpected result or peri
ance. However, when studied with a little care, the
explanation proves to be quite simple. Let some appa-
ratus be concealed in a box, and only two pairs of term-
inals be visible or accessible. When an emf of I Hi volts
at a frequency of si\t i . le [a impressed upon one
pair of terminals an emf of 220 volts is measured across
ther pair Of terminals. If in addition a load of,
say, 10 amp la drawn from the 220-VOll terminals, it
will be found that 20 amp Is drawn from thi
ame power-factor as the load and with
only a slight falling off in the voltage a! the load
If one were asked to tell how the apparatus was being
used, he would probably say as a transformer. He
would doubtless be much surprised to find, upon opening
the case, only some electrostatic condensers and choke
coils. The combination shown in the sketch will be
found to imitate a transformer in every way at a fre-
quency / such that 2 it/ = 1- \jLC. This fact can easily
be proved by means of complex quantities or by assum-
ing the combination reduced to an equivalent resistance
A L L E 2L U C
B0 1 1 1 %
arrangement of electrical circuits
and reactance. Use is made of nothing but two T-con-
nected resonating circuits, of different impedance ratios,
joined in series. The currents at the points E and F
will be found to vary only with the impressed voltage,
and not at all with the load current. The whole phenom-
enon is one of resonance, though resonance of a some-
what unusual and novel kind.
Ames, la. John F. H. Douglas.
Selecting Lighting Units on the Basis of Results
To the Editor of the Electrical World:
Sir: — Your editorial on the subject of "Incandescent
Versus Arc Lamps" in your issue of April 10 touches
on many points of practical value, and it is certainly
refreshing to note that you do not advocate the imme-
diate replacement of all arc lamps by the new nitrogen-
filled tungsten units. This course is too often thought
the proper one by persons who have made no careful
study of the subject or whose study has been based
upon the manifestly unfair comparison of the oldest
type of arc lamp with the latest developments in incan-
descent lighting.
The vital question, as you state, relates to the extent
to which the substitution of nitrogen units for arc lamps
is justified. Surely the reply can be only on the basis
of efficiency, rather than from considerations of what
may appeal to the imagination of the man on the street
as a new thing worthy of encouragement. The advance
made in arc-lamp construction and efficiency since Sir
Humphry Davy in 1808 with a very primitive device
demonstrated that an electric arc could be continuously
maintained in air has certainly been as great as, if
not greater than, the huge strides made in the incan-
descent-lamp industry. That the efficiency of the open-
type flaming-arc lamp is still two to three times as high
as the latest claims for the nitrogen-filled unit is
proof of this fact, and the latest form of arc should
therefore be equally worthy of encouragement.
The replacement of arc lamps by incandescent units
does not always mean better lighting. With the im-
perfect illumination midway between lamps often found
in American practice, the possibility of creating by
substitution (occasionally at a meager saving) a con
dition worse than that existing originally should be
carefully avoided, as clearly pointed out by you.
It Is at present impossible, if We are to have good illu-
mination, to make the radical improvement necessar\
tree! or industrial lighting, with tungsten lam]
Apkil 24, 1915
K I. i:< TRICAL WOK I. I»
400 cp spaced 150 it. apart, or of 600 cp spaced 300 ft.
apart. The basic "!' calculation, instead of being taken
as candle-power at various points '>r as flux of light
expressed in lumens per lighting unit i which may or
may not mean anything), should be taken on a foot-
candle basis — i. e., the result obtained upon a horizontal
surface, either street or working level. Or, in other
words, we should judge the efficiency of our lighting
units in the way that we judge most other things,
namely, on the results obtained. At the same time, the
psychological effect, steadiness and distinctive character
of the open-type flaming arc should not be overlooked.
C. H. Champion,
i ork. X )
General Manager
Kandem Blectric Company, tnc
Rates and By-prod in t-
To the Editor of the Electrical World:
Sir: — Some interesting questions are likely to come
before public utility commissions in rate-regulation
cases during the next few years in connection with by-
products. Commissions generally have the power of reg-
ulating both electric and steam-heating rates since these
services partake of the nature of a public utility. In the
numerous cases where electric-service companies oper-
ate ice plants in connection with electric plants the
situation is different. The manufacture of ice is not
subject to regulation. Although ice is a general public
necessity in many communities, it is manufactured and
sold under competitive conditions, as is food or merchan-
dise. The manufacture, not being a monopoly, is not
subject to price regulation like a public utility which is
virtually a monopoly.
In many cases the ice manufactured by a central-
station company is practically a by-product. As a re-
sult of such combination it frequently happens that the
profits on the whole undertaking are considerably more
than they would be on an electric plant of the same size
operated alone, plus an ice plant of the same size
operated alone. The interesting question for commis-
sions to decide will be as to the profits to be allowed on
the investment in such combination plants. Has the
public any right to reduced rates because the two plants
are operated together and therefore more economically?
Evidently much is to be said on both sides of this
question. From the side of the public it might be
argued that the manufacture of ice as a by-product is
simply one of the steps in the modern economy of pro-
duction of electric energy, and that the public is entitled
to part of the benefits of such economy in the shape of
a reduction of rates just as if this economy were brought
about by the introduction of modern steam generating
equipment to replace older and less economical types.
On the other hand, the companies could argue that since
they had the foresight to combine the manufacture of
ice as a by-product with the supply of electric energy
any unusual profits resulting from such a combination
should go to the company, and that the public should be
entitled to a rate for electric energy which would yield
a fair return upon the investment in an electric plant
of the same size operated alone. It could also be main-
tained that since the manufacture of ice is competitive
and not under control of the commission the public
should have nothing to say regarding the profits of this
side of the business.
There is evidently much justice in both arguments,
and it would not be strange if future commission de-
cisions were to steer a middle course between the two.
While the electric plant may be operated more cheaply
when part of its expenses are assumed by the ice plant,
yet it is true that the ice plant is operated at a greater
profit because of its connection with the electric plant,
and the ice department is thus deriving benefits from
a public utility property. The benefit is mutual.
Another interesting question in rate-making where
by-products are concerned is in connection with rates
for "off-peak" or limited contracts where the consumer
agrees to refrain from using energy during certain
peak-load hours and in consideration thereof is given a
lower rate. Now, if the rate is based on the cost of
service, a certain portion of such a consumer's bill will
consist of a demand charge which is intended to cover
interest on the investment needed to supply energy to
the consumer. Since part of this investment has already
been made in order to serve some other consumer dur-
ing the peak-load portion of the day, the question arises
whether the off-peak consumer should be charged with
the fixed charges on any of the equipment used for the
peak consumer.
One method would be to divide the fixed charges be-
tween the off-peak-period and the peak-period consum-
ers. Thus, if the off-peak consumer in question had a
maximum demand of 100 kw, he would be charged with
one-half the fixed charges on the investment necessary
for 100 kw of power station and feeder equipment,
leaving the other half of the fixed charges to be borne
by peak-load consumers at regular rates. Another
basis of making the rate would be to charge the off-
peak consumer none of the fixed charges on the invest-
ment in equipment used by other consumers during the
peak. Such a procedure can be defended on the ground
that the investment has to be made for the peak period
consumers in any event without regard to whether or
not the off-peak contract is made, and that the company
is entitled to sell its available output to the off-peak con-
sumer during off-peak periods without making him pay
any of the fixed charges. In other words, the electric-
service company could argue that the extra generating-
station equipment needed only during the peak-load
period is a by-product at other hours which it is priv-
ileged to sell at a price to meet competition.
If a company should take the above position, assuming
that the off-peak consumer rate is sufficient to yield a
profit on the kilowatt-hour output and upon any invest-
ment made specially for such a consumer, it would un-
doubtedly make more money than if the off-peak con-
sumer were not obtained. The question appears to in-
volve justice between the two classes of consumers. It
might be difficult to show the justice of charging the
peak-load consumer with the fixed charges upon the ap-
paratus which he has reserved for his use three hours
per day, and of omitting these charges against some
off-peak consumers with the same maximum demand
using the same station equipment and investment the
other twenty-one hours. If the central-station company
can get the off-peak business by dividing fixed charges
between the off-peak and the peak consumer, the equity
of such an arrangement cannot be questioned. The pos-
sible dispute arises when it becomes necessary to omit
the demand charge of the off-peak consumer covering
apparatus used also by other consumers in order to meet
competition and secure business. Suppose it is a case
of securing off-peak business at a purely by-product
rate or of not getting it at all, the company will make
money and the other consumers will not lose. That is
to say, the regular peak-period consumers will pay no
more than if this off-peak business were taken at the
by-product rate with the demand charges omitted on
the portion of the central-station investment used for
both consumers. In the long run such contracts would
be beneficial for all consumers because they would tend
to improve economy of production, which, in the end,
would result in reduced rates.
Chicago, III. J. R. Cravath.
1030
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 17
Electrical Standards
Mr. H. M. Hobart and Mr. C. E. Skinner, who were
sent to London as delegates from the American Institute
of Electrical Engineers to confer with the standards
committee of the Institution of Electrical Engineers of
Great Britain in February, completed their work on
March 2o and will make their formal report to the
standards committee of the A. I. E. E. on May 7. It is
understood that Mr. Hobart and Mr. Skinner will report
that their mission was successful and that substantial
agreement between the standards of the two countries
has been reached.
Sir John Snell, president of the Institution of Elec-
trical Engineers, formally welcomed the delegates, and
Dr. R. T. Glazebrook, director of the National Physical
Laboratory, acted as chairman of the conferences, which
were held at the home of the Institution of Civil Engi-
neers in London. Every possible courtesy was shown
to the American delegates, and there was ample evi-
dence of the earnest desire of the British standards
committee to arrive at a complete agreement.
It is expected that through their study of both sets
of rules with the British committee the delegates will
be able to make important suggestions for the clarifica-
tion of the American rules. It is also thought that they
will make certain recommendations for changes in the
American rules in order to arrive at closer agreement
than would otherwise have been possible.
While there probably will still be minor differences
to be settled, and while the wording of the two sets of
rules will be different in many respects, it is expected
that in all essential points the machinery built in ac-
cordance with either set of standards will fulfil the same
specifications.
New Grade of Members in I. E. S.
In accordance with certain proposed changes in the
constitution of the Illuminating Engineering Society,
upon which a vote is soon to be taken, a grade of asso-
ciate member is to be created into which members will
pass automatically, except general officers of the society
and members of the general board of examiners, who
will pass automatically into the new grade of member.
A member must be not less than twenty-three years
of age and shall have been engaged for at least three
years in work having a direct bearing on illuminating
engineering or shall have made some valuable contribu-
tion to the science or art of illumination. The annual
dues for associate members will be $5, and for mem-
bers $10.
The committee on constitutional revision, of which
Mr. W. I). Weaver is chairman and Dr. C. H. Sharp is
secretary, has sent a letter to the membership in which
it is stated that when the society was organized in
1906 illuminating engineering as such was practically
unknown. The principles and data of illumination had
not lie. mi assembled, and there was not only an entire
lack of co-operation between those engaged in the vari-
ous art- dealing with illumination but frequently their
relations were sharply antagonistic and even distinctly
unfriendly. The society brought together the elenn ml
that previouslj confined to then- own coteries the scien
title and technical knowledge thai they acquired, it
ha- secured worldwide recognition, and iis existence
has led to the organization of similar bodies in England
and Germany.
it of gradation in membership puts the
under ■■< handicap thai deprives it of the full recogni-
tion to which il ind achievements entitle it.
ition will also increase the present inadequate
ilKOl ;' situation
income was met by a constitutional provision for sus-
taining members, consisting of corporations, firms,
associations, etc. About 28 per cent of the income is
now derived from this source. While this aid has been
given and received without influencing the conduct of
the society in any manner, the society should be entirely
self-supporting.
In nearly all, if not all, societies having several meet-
ings a year and issuing transactions the dues are much
higher. The society is operated economically, but the
transactions, committee work, the large number of sec-
tional meetings and the annual convention make the
total expenses approximately $8 per member. Many
members want to meet their costs, and the proposed
plan will do this. A committee appointed to consider
membership gradation and increased income recom-
mended the changes.
In the letter, which has been approved by the council,
it is stated that without doubt the qualifications for the
grade of member will be subject in time to further
amendment applying closer discrimination, but they are
made light now in order to render eligible to transfer
as large a proportion of the membership as possible.
Iowa Central-Station Men Discuss Gas-Filled Lighting
and Small-Customer Business
Interest in the sessions of the fifteenth annual con-
vention of the Iowa Section of the National Electric
Light Association at Keokuk, la., April 20, 21 and 22,
centered chiefly on discussions of gas-filled tungsten
lamps, workmen's compensation insurance, rural electric
service, rate-making, central-station facts and factors,
and general commercial and financial topics. The dis-
cussions of authors' papers were very thorough, and
several times during the convention such discussions
were, at the suggestion of President Rufus E. Lee, of
Clarinda, turned into "experience meetings" which
brought out practical solutions for many utility opera-
tors' problems.
That the great majority of Iowa operators are ex-
periencing marked success with gas-filled tungsten
street-lighting lamps was evident from the discussions
and from the flood of questions poured in upon speakers
on this topic. Many managers now operating arc-light-
ing systems are contemplating changes to the newer
type of illuminant.
Opinions regarding the advisability of carrying work-
men's compensation insurance differed, but all agreed
that the Iowa compensation law is in general beneficial
to both the employees and the companies.
In the possibilities of securing business from rural
transmission lines everyone appeared interested, and
extended discussions on this subject showed that nearly
forty Iowa plants are now making efforts to get farm
customers.
Discussion of the "small-customer" problem showed
that while some Iowa companies favor the use of cur-
rent-limiting devices to secure the business of small-
residence consumers, others have had no success with
this system. The general sentiment, however, seemed
to favor conservative use of Hat-rate controller devices.
One enthusiastic manager stated that his company had
been able to increase its yrross earnings by $5,000 per
annum in a town of 10,000 inhabitants by the use of a
controlled flat-rate plan.
The revised "facts and factors" report containing data
on the operation of sixtj four [owa central stations was
enthusiastically received, and the committee on facts
and factors, consisting 01 Messrs. Austin Hurt of
Waterloo, F. A. Fish, and H. W. Wagner of Ames, was
reappointed.
Ai'Kii. 24, 1915
K !. K CTRICA I. WORLD
1031
General Electric ( onipanv Annual Report
The value J Electric
Companj In 1914 «u 183,748,521, ..- compared with
319,142 Is 19 billed aggregated 190,467,-
1918. I'rofits
from sales were $8,970,963, as compared wit!
605. Income from other .•. as $2,884,420,
agaii - I in the previous year. The total in-
come in 1914 of - with $14,065,789
in 1918. Alter payment of interest and dividends the
balance carried to surplus was $3,145,060 in 1914 and
$4,908,674 in 1913. Total surplus stood on Dec. 81,
1914, at $20,084,879. The condensed profit and loss
account is published in Table I.
TABLE I — CONDENSED PROFIT AND LOSS ACCOUNT
Sales billed $90,467,691
Leas: Cost of sales, including all operating, main-
SI, 496, 728
$8,970,963
j 1 .
. 1,313,989
Sundry . .
1,420
$11,287,827
8,142,767
N. i surplus for tlu- year $3,145,060
Surplus at Jan. I, 1914 16,939,819
Surplus at Dec. 31, 1914 $20,084,879
Mr. ('. A. Coffin, chairman of the board of directors,
observes that, in common with commercial interests gen-
erally, the business of the company experienced marked
contraction during 1914. Had not a large volume of
unfilled orders been carried over from 1913 the effect
of the general depression would have been still greater.
While there was a decrease of about 25 per cent in the
value of orders received, the total number of transac-
tions was practically equal to that of the previous year.
The unfavorable relation between the number of orders
and their value, characteristic of periods of depression,
operated to increase materially the cost of securing and
handling business.
As a result of business contraction the number of
employees engaged in the factories and offices and in
those of subsidiary companies at the end of 1914 was
about 15,000 less than in the previous year. The com-
pany followed its customary practice in writing off
against income account its total expenditures in 1914
for patents, applications, licenses under patents and
other outlays relating thereto, amounting to $408,537.
The patent account is, therefore, carried still at $1.
Stocks, bonds and other securities are carried at a
valuation of $29,667,213, of which $21,056,354 repre-
sents securities of subsidiary companies and $8,610,859
the securities of public utility and other companies.
< urrent accounts and notes receivable are carried at
$19,091,026. They have been appraised carefully by a
special committee, and the reserves for depreciation
thereon are regarded as adequate, the report adds.
The manufacturing floor space was increased by
940,000 s(|. ft. during the year, but most of this con-
struction was under way when the year began. Ex-
penditures during the year for additions and improve-
ments to manufacturing plants aggregated $6,006,955,
and the amount written oil' was $4,370,793. On Jan.
31, 1898, the book value of the Schenectady, Lynn and
Harrison plants was $3,958,528. During the twenty-
two i \penditures have been
made, including the cost of the Pittsfield, Erie, Fort
Wayne, Sprague and National Lamp plants, aggp
making a total of $79,280,114. There
has been written off during the twenty-two year-
216,788, leaving the book value of the plants at Dec.
81, I'M I. at $31,063,331. A summary of the changes in
manufacturing plants account since the last annual re-
port is given in Table II.
TABLE II CHANGES IN MANUFACTURING PLA'
ACCOUNT
Net Book Additions Net Book
Value During Written Value
Jan. 1.1914 Year Off Dec. 31, 1914
Real i-si,iif and
buildings I 53.317.357 $1.192,S32 $20.-
Machinen 10,(1 ,124 2,761.486 10.172.510
Patterns l 50,706 50.706 1
Furniture and fixtures l 365,769 365 1
Tutal
.$29,427,168 $6,006,956 $4,370,793 $31,063,331
The capital stock of the company outstanding on Jan.
1, 1914, amounted to $101,381,200. During the year
$14,800 additional stock was issued upon conversion of
debentures of 1892 and $89,700 upon conversion of de-
bentures of 1907, making the total capital stock issued
$101,485,700. Quarterly dividends at the rate of 8
per cent per annum were paid during the year. The
company has no note payable, nor is there any paper
outstanding bearing its indorsement.
Mr. Coffin makes special mention of the fact that
changing business conditions and methods placed upon
executive officers, engineers, factory and commercial
managers and their associates problems more perplex-
ing and burdens more difficult than usual, and they
have discharged their duties with such fidelity, intelli-
gence and courage as to entitle them to the sincere
thanks of the board of directors.
Value of the Service in Rate-Making
A letter discussing the value of the service theory in
rate-making has been received by Mr. R. S. Hale, chair-
man of the rate research committee of the National
Electric Light Association, from Mr. H. H. Holding,
general power representative of the Public Service
Electric Company of Newark, N. J. In the letter, ex-
pressing his personal views, Mr. Holding says:
"It is not surprising that the rates at which central-
station service is sold are so varied. When an exact
cost of service is sought there are as many solutions to
the problem as there are investigators. This statement
is not a reflection upon the ability of the students of
the rate problem, but merely a proof of the existence of
variables whose value under a certain set of conditions
is largely a matter of opinion.
"It is generally agreed that the elements of cost of
service can be grouped in two divisions, first, those
elements which have a fixed value, and, second, those
elements which have a varying value.
"The first group usually contains the investment
charges, such as interest, depreciation, amortization,
obsolescence, taxes, insurance, etc. The second group
includes labor, fuel, transmission losses, etc. In both
these are elements which vary in different localities and
also vary under different sets of conditions in the same
locality.
"It is true that after a certain method of accounting
is agreed upon a cost per unit can be obtained for a
given period of past performance, but output will in-
se or decrease, and the number of customers will
1032
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 17
change and the use of existing service connections will
vary; therefore, unless an exact prediction can be made
for a future period, the cost for such future period
cannot be determined exactly.
"Such uncertainty therefore makes impossible an ex-
act determination of cost per unit of central-station
service, and will undoubtedly make a uniform rate for
more than adjacent and restricted territories impos-
sible.
"The cost of production in the central-station indus-
try follows very closely the law governing the cost of
production of any manufactured product. There are
some limiting features, however, which restrict the cen-
tral station and make investment in it even more
hazardous than in the other industries.
"Some of these features are: (1) limited number of
customers; (2) inability on account of quasi-public
nature of the business to choose or reject undesirable
customers; (3) the product must be produced within a
limited distance from the customer; (4) periodic varia-
tions of rate cannot be made easily to suit changes of
cost conditions; (5) many individual customers must
be served at a loss; (6) product cannot be stored.
"It would seem that the selling price of central-
station energy should be based upon the same laws
which govern the selling price of any other manufac-
tured product, namely, value of the product to the
customer.
"The manufacturer of a given useful product knows
that the extent of his sales largely determines his cost,
and the value of his product to his customers as a whole
determines the demand and therefore the sales.
"The management of a central-station property should
be allowed to adjust the rate for the sale of service in
just the same way. Because of the restrictions under
which it operates it should be allowed to expand its
business by selling more energy and service and so
increasing the earning power of the investment by a
longer-hour use of the equipment.
"Before adopting a rate, however, a careful study of
the true value of service to the customer should be
made, and the rate when adopted should be chosen with
an understanding of its possible effect upon the earn-
ing power of the investment."
Annual Report of Southern California Edison
Company
Business conditions in California are discussed at
length in the annual report of the Southern California
Edison Company, Los Angeles, Cal., for 1914.
Mr. John B. Miller, the president, says that financial
conditions seemed to be fairly normal during the winter
and early spring and to be somewhat recovered from
the Balkan war disturbance, but a little later several
notable failures in England and the United States
seemed to point to such possible weakness that it was
decided to revise again plans for expansion originally
decided upon for 1914 and to curtail expenditures for
all purposes, including new business, to the lowest point
consistent with safety and a due regard for the public.
The company had commenced to receive the benefit of
the heavy expenditures during the last few years in in-
creased economies and efficiency of operation, so that,
notwithstanding the disturbed and depressed conditions,
it was able to show a gratifying increase in net earn-
ings.
The present disturbed financial conditions throughout
the world make it impracticable, Mr. Miller says, to
depend upon estimates of earnings for 1915, but he
llatoa upon at least as good a showing in comparison
with 1914 M 1914 made compared with 1918.
Mr. W. A. Brackenridge, vice-president and general
manager, says in his report that the transmission lines
damaged by the unprecedented storms of the year have
been entirely repaired at moderate cost and are now in
good operating condition. Line extensions for new
business have been greatly curtailed owing to the finan-
cial depression.
In speaking of the issue of $6,500,000 bonds voted by
the people of Los Angeles for the acquisition of a dis-
tributing system in the city, Mr. Brackenridge says:
"None of these bonds have been sold and consequently
no progress has been made on the construction of the
power plant. The city officials as a preliminary step
have asked the Railroad Commission to place a value on
the distributing system of this company, with a view
to purchase by the city or acquisition by eminent-domain
proceedings of that portion lying within the limits of
the city of Los Angeles; and, inasmuch as the law pro-
vides that just compensation shall be made for all
property taken, the assumption seems justified that this
compensation will include all values as a going concern
in addition to that found by inventory. The commission
is proceeding with the valuation of this company's prop-
erty within the city of Los Angeles and such other of
the company's property as may be affected."
The extension of jurisdiction of the Railroad Com-
mission to all territory within the State will result, Mr.
Brackenridge believes, in more satisfactory adjustment
of relations with the community. During the year the
United States Supreme Court rendered a decision with
reference to rights of holders of constitutional fran-
chises which secures to the company in perpetuity a
blanket franchise over all of the streets within the limits
of any incorporated cities in which it was operating
prior to Oct. 10, 1911.
In effecting economies it was necessary to reduce
forces very materially in both operating and construc-
tion departments, throwing an extra burden upon many
of those retained. This emergency was met by em-
ployees in a cheerful spirit and with characteristic loy-
alty, and this contributed very largely to the satisfac-
tory financial showing.
Mr. S. M. Kennedy, general agent, reports that ex-
tensions to the distribution systems have been made
along conservative lines, due consideration being given
to the disturbed financial conditions and the obligations
to take reasonable care of the requirements of com-
munities. The company put into effect on March 1,
1914, a general reduction in lighting and motor-service
rates. The reduction in lighting rates was followed
by added consumption of energy caused by increased
and freer use of electric household devices. Owing to
industrial conditions, there has been no corresponding
increase in consumption of energy for motor service. It
is expected that the same schedules will continue
through 1915.
Mr. Kennedy adds that notwithstanding the large ad-
ditions to consumers and the difficulties which restricted
expenditures necessarily develop, relations with cus-
tomers and the general public are very satisfactory.
At the end of December, 1914, the company and its
subsidiaries had 143,886 consumers, an increase of
14,553 for the year. In spite of business depression dur-
ing 1914, the company closed agreements for service to
1778 new motor-service customers, aggregating 26,258
hp. Additional lighting business during the same period
amounts to 285,355 50-watt equivalents. The company
sold to its customers 27,081 electrical appliances. The
combined additional connected load contracted during
1914 amounts t<> 47,007 kw. As financial conditions im-
prove and business becomes more normal, the additional
load contracted should become more active and be re-
flected in substantial increases in gross earnings.
Ai'itu 24, 1916
ELECTRICAL WuRLD
1033
Substation of Lancaster Edison Company
Compact Arrangement of TranaftHMMI and Switching Equipment for
Control <>f Transmitted Energj
THE electrical energj foi operating railways and
for industrial, commercial and domestic uses in
the city of Lancaster, Pa., and its vicinity has
heretofore been supplied from the Engleside steam sta-
tion of the Edison Electric Illuminating Company in
Lancaster. Additional energy from the Slackwater
hydroelectric station near the city has also been dis-
tributed from this steam station.
In order to reduce the cost of production and to pro-
vide for the increased demand, energy is transmitted
from the hydroelectric station of the Pennsylvania
Water & Power Company at Holtwood on the Susque-
hanna River, approximately 20 miles away. The line
voltage is stepped down from 66,000 to 2300 for dis-
tribution. An outdoor station near the steam station
and the new substation contain the step-down trans-
formers, high-tension oil switches, disconnecting
switches and protective apparatus for the incoming
lines. The present transformer equipment comprises
four 3000-kva units, including one spare unit. Pro-
vision has been made for a duplicate bank so that the
ultimate rating of the station will be 18.000 kw
The Engleside Plant
The original Engleside plant was built in 1893 by the
Citizens' Electric Company. The Edison Electric Illu-
minating Company was incorporated in the year 1886
and operated a plant on Arch Street near Lemon. In
1895 this latter company purchased the Engleside plant,
which was enlarged from time to time to keep pace with
the constantly growing demand for electrical energ>
In 1912 a complete new switching equipment was
installed in the new substation, with an outdoor sta-
tion and transmission line complete for purchasing
energy from the Pennsylvania Water & Power
Company.
The new substation is adjacent to the steam and out-
door stations and contains frequency-changer sets, the
step-up transformers, electrically operated switching
equipment, and the protective apparatus required for
the distribution of the electricity from those two sta-
tions. The steam station and the new substations are
connected by a tunnel through which all the cables are
carried. The connecting cables from the outdoor sta-
tion are lead-covered and are run in fiber ducts up to
the point where they enter the tunnel. All cables from
the steam station are braid-covered and flame-proof and
are run open on racks.
Installed in the steam station at present are four
1000-kva engine-driven units and one 3000-kva turbine
unit with provision for a future 5000-kva turbine unit.
An additional 1000 kva is available from the Slack-
water incoming line, making a total of 31,000 kva
which will ultimately be connected to the substation
busbars. This is all 2300-volt, three-phase, twenty-five-
cycle energy.
Distribution of Energy
The energy handled by the substation is distributed
as follows: Eight 2300-volt, three-phase, twenty-five-
FIG. 1 — CIRCUIT-BREAKER CELLS AND BUS STRUCTURE, ENGLESIDE SUBSTATION
1034
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 17
cycle feeders (.four future ones) direct from the main
busbars to the various rotary-converter substations in
the city. Two 6600-volt, three-phase, twenty-five-cycle
feeders for the linoleum works of the Armstrong Cork
Company, near Lancaster, supplied through two 1800-
kva step-up transformer banks; these feeders have no
breakers on the 6600-volt side, disconnecting switches
FIG. 2 — TRANSFORMER EQUIPMENT OF ENGLESIDE
SUBSTATION
only being used. Sixteen 11,000-volt, three-phase,
twenty-five-cycle feeders (.five future ones) supplying
rotary-converter substations in the outlying districts
fed from two step-up transformer banks, one rated at
900 kva and one at 2250 kva ; provision has also been
made for a future duplicate equipment. Twelve 11,000-
volt, three-phase, sixty-cycle feeders (eight future ones)
for supplying substations throughout the district, sup-
plied through two 1250-kva frequency-changer sets —
2300 volts, three-phase, twenty-five-cycle, to 2300 volts,
two-phase, sixty-cycle — and two banks of 800-kva T-
connected step-up transformers ; provision has been
made for two future duplicate frequency-changer sets
and one future duplicate transformer bank. Twelve
feeders (two future ones) from the two-phase fre-
quency-changer busbars, 2300 volts, single-phase, sixty-
cycle, for lighting circuits in the city; space has been
provided for the future installation of induction regula-
tors in these feeders. One 2300-volt, three-phase,
twenty-five-cycle feeder direct from the main busbars
supplies a motor-driven exciter set and various auxil-
iaries in the steam station.
The substation lighting and the control battery-
charging sets are supplied from two 10-kva, 2200 110-
volt, single-phase, twenty-five-cycle step-down trans-
formers fed from the auxiliary busbars for the fre-
quency-changer sets.
Station Equipment
The main floor of the substation is occupied by the
frequency-changer sets and step-up transformers. The
exciter and field switchboard, the motor-starting equip-
ment, the 2300 volt, three-phase, twenty-flve-cycle and
the 2300-volt, two-phase, sixty-cycle circuit-breaker
structures for the frequency-changer sets are on this
floor, the circuit-breakers and rheostats being electrically
operated from a fourteen section control desk on the
second floor.
A -parr transt'nrmn S is provided, ami tin'
usual double-throw disconnecting switch scheme for
readily cutting in this spare unit is employed. Tin'
i foi delta conned inns, spare I
former, etc., are oi hard-drawn copper rod insulated
with ubing and supported on I ' i-in. pipe
framework hung from the ceiling. Disconnecting
switches are provided on both low-tension and high-ten-
sion sides between transformer banks so that a bank
may be transferred to a feeder other than that on
which it normally operates.
All transformers are equipped with flanged wheels,
and rails are laid in the floor so that by means of a
transfer car any transformer may readily be removed
and brought under the crane for the purpose of inspec-
tion or repair.
A transformer oil-piping system with oil filter and
tanks for clean and dirty oil has been installed, the
tanks being in a pit outside of the station.
A storage battery which supplies energy for operat-
ing circuit-breakers, rheostats, graphic meters and
other devices is installed in a room on the main floor.
The sixty-cell battery has a rating of 160-amp-hr. and
is charged from a 5-kw, 150-volt motor-generator set
on the second floor. The battery has sufficient capacity
to carry the emergency lighting circuit for a time if
required, and an automatic throw-over switch is in-
stalled on the local service board to transfer that circuit
to the battery in case of interruption of the alternating-
current circuit.
When the steam station is in operation the control
circuit is normally taken from the exciter busbars. An
automatic change-over switch connects the control cir-
cuit to the battery when the exciters are shut down and
the transmitted energy alone is being used. The cable
connections between switch structures and the fre-
quency-changer sets are carried in fiber conduit laid in
the floor. The connections to the transformers are run
overhead.
There is a double set of 2300-volt, two-phase busbars,
each circuit having two breakers electrically interlocked
so that both cannot be closed at the same time, and with
disconnecting switches on both sides of each breaker.
The second floor carries four control desks, a local serv-
ice and recording meter board, the control board for
the outdoor station, the battery-charging set, and three
circuit-breaker and busbar structures.
A fourteen-section desk controls the frequency-
FIG. I! HUSIUR STRUCTURE AND 11,000-VOLT CIRCUITS
changer sets, sixty-cycle step-up transformers (2800-
vnlt Bide only), and the single-phase outgoing feeders,
the 1 1 in I lire for the circuit-breakers being On the main
floor,
The other three desks shewn in Fig. I control the
11,000-volt, sixty-cycle, the 11,000-volt, twenty-five-
cycle, and the 2300-volt, twentj flve-cycle circuits re-
Aran 24, 1915
E I. ECT RIC A 1. Wo RLD
1035
>• desks are of the open type with re-
lays mounted on the rea
The switching equipment in the 2800-volt, twenty-
de structure is mounted mi pipe framework
built in concrete cells, which inclose the breakers, dis-
connecting i nd instrument transforms]
longing to one circuit. The busbars are of bare cop-
FIG. 4-
-CONTROL BOARDS FOR SIXTY-CYCLE AND TWENTY-
FIVE-CYCLE SYSTEMS
per strap supported on a pipe framework above the
breaker cells and are separated and covered by asbestos
lumber. Fig. 3 shows a top view of a portion of the
structure.
The 11,000-volt structures have only the breakers
inclosed in concrete cells with the disconnecting switch-
es- ,m<l busbars in the open supported on pipe frame-
work above the breaker cells. The busbars are of hard-
drawn copper rod insulated with micarta tubing. The
series transformers are mounted in the switch cells.
Two shunt transformers are connected to each set of
busbars for operating feeder watt-hour meters and re-
verse-power relays. Pallet switches on the circuit-
breaker mechanisms automatically connect the meter
and relay voltage circuits to the transformers on the
busbars to which the feeder is connected. Fig. 1 shows
these structures.
The 11,000-volt feeders are carried from the switch
cells to the choke coils on the third floor by triple-con-
ductor cables in iron conduit running under the ceiling
of the first floor and up the station wall.
Electrolytic lightning arresters and choke coils are
provided for all outgoing feeders from the substation
and are mounted on the third floor. All feeders go out
overhead.
All automatic circuit-breakers, when opened auto-
matically, ring a bell, the circuit of which is closed
through a bell relay, which is in turn actuated by the
breaker-tripping energy that passes through the main
relay contacts. I'ush-buttons are provided to open the
holding-toil circuit of the bell relay and stop the bell
from ringing.
The station is compact, considering the capacity and
the amount of apparatus installed, with ample room
lict ween the various pieces of apparatus. As all the
requirements of the present installation and the con-
templated future extensions were known, it was pos-
to lay out the station to advantage.
The electrical equipment, the contract for which in-
cluded the design and supervision of erection of the
building, was supplied bj the Westinghouse Electric
& Manufacturing Company. The original plans were
drawn up under the direction of the late .Mr. ('. Kdgar
Titzel and were carried out by .Mr. R, B. Hull, who
:■ eeded him as manager.
ENERG1 I l.<>\\ \\l> MAGNETIZING PLOW
\ Sen Graphical Method »( Analysing Alternating-! urn-nt
Phenomena
A new graphical method of showing the functions
of alternating-current apparatus, generators, n
transformers, transmission lines, etc., by analyzing the
energy Mow through them into two ribbons of flow, one
representing energy proper and the other the magnetiz-
ing power, was described by Mr. Robert A. Philip, elec-
trical engineer for the Stone & Webster Engineering
Corporation, Boston, Mass., in a paper presented March
22 before a joint meeting of the Chicago Section of the
American Institute of Electrical Engineers and the elec-
trical section of the Western Society of Engineers.
In every alternating-current system the two kinds of
power described coexist and flow independently. They
may flow in the same or in opposite directions, and
either flow may vary without interfering with the other
flow.
Visualizing Energy and Magnetizing Flows
One may picture the variations in the two ribbons
of power from a generator as follows : The operator
can with his right hand increase, decrease, stop or
reverse the flow of the ribbon of energy by opening and
closing the engine throttle or governor controller, while
with his left hand he may similarly and independently
control the ribbon of magnetization by raising or lower-
ing the excitation by the field rheostat.
Fig. 1 shows the flow of power through a transformer.
The transformer diverts from the energy stream a small
branch which is consumed as transformer loss and from
the magnetizing stream another small branch which
magnetizes the core. Even at no load, the transformer
must receive these two small streams if it is active.
Ordinarily both streams come from the same direction
— that is, from the generator — but this is not essential,
for when an induction generator drives a synchronous
motor through the transformer the energy-loss stream
comes from the generator and the magnetization stream
from the motor.
While energy flow and magnetizing flow can be con-
sidered to exist in the same circuit practically inde-
FIG. 1 — FLOW OF ENERGY AND MAGNETIZATION THROUGH
A TRANSFORMER
pendently, there are not, of course, two distinguishable
currents of electricity in the same wire. Neither the
current nor the pressure alone shows any trace of the
two components of which either may be considered to
be built up. However, on comparing the composite cur-
rent with the composite pressure it is found that the
times of reversal are no longer either simultaneous or
1036
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 17
in quadrature. The effect on current and pressure of
combining energy and magnetizing flow is to shift the
relative time of reversal, or, as it is ordinarily expressed,
the phase is shifted.
Use in Computing Resultant Power-Factor
When the phase of current and pressure is the same
power, as with magnetizing power, the current and
potential are in quadrature. In fact, charging power is
the same as magnetizing power except that the direction
of flow is reversed. The single term "magnetizing
power" is then sufficient for both.
Sf-WWOU **o*or
FIG. 2 — POWER-FACTORS FOR BRANCHED CIRCUIT
the apparent power is the same as energy flow; when
phases are in quadrature it is the same as magnetizing
flow. For intermediate phases apparent power consists
of an energy-flow component and a magnetizing-flow
component. It is found that the square of the apparent
power is equal to the sum of the squares of the energy
flow and the magnetizing flow.
Where a circuit branches, say from one generator to
two motors operating at different power-factors, the
determination of the power-factor of the generator from
that of the motors looks rather complicated. The same
problem is extremely simple if viewed as the division
of two kinds of currents each into two branches.
For example, the generator in Fig. 2 supplies an in-
duction motor taking 80 kw at 80 per cent power-factor
lagging, and a synchronous motor taking 100 kw at 98
per cent power-factor leading. It is evident that the
generator supplies the sum of 80 kw and 100 kw, or 180
kw, but it is not very obvious that its power-factor is
97.6 per cent lagging.
Fig. 2 shows that this complicated relation of power-
factors is merely a roundabout way of saying that the
induction motor takes 60 kva of magnetizing power,
while the synchronous motor gives out 20 kva, therefore
the generator must give out the difference, or 40 kva.
Flow Conditions in a Transmission Line
A single flow of energy may have associated with it
two or more separate flows of magnetization, as shown
in Fig. 3. Here a synchronous condenser forms a local
source of magnetization for the induction motors at the
end of a transmission line, thus saving the losses of
transforming and transmitting this flow, as well as per-
forming other useful functions. The generator is .shown
FIG. 3— FLOW <>H ENERGY AND MAGNETIZATION THROUGH
TRANSMISSION LINE
as furnishing the magnetizing power for motors in its
vicinity. When the flow of magnetization is in the
ite direction to the flow of energy at full load, the
voltage drop due to the load is decreased and the regu-
lation is improved.
Charging power must flow to every part of a circuit
where there i- electrostatic capacity. With charging
Office and Stock-Room Methods
At a recent meeting of the New England Section of
the N. E. L. A. an interesting discussion on office and
stock-room practices took place. With a short work-
ing day of eight hours, one company requires its
storekeeper to bring the company's automobiles to
the delivery door before the regular working hours in
the morning and at noon, as well as to lay out the mate-
rial, such as lamps and meters, for the drivers so that
they may begin their outside duties at the earliest pos-
sible moment. It is also required that a slip be given
to the order man for any replenishments of lamp stock
required on the regular automobiles, for prompt replace-
ment. All the company's property on the customer's
premises is equipped with a metal label numbered serial-
ly and lettered, each piece of apparatus having a record
card in the office giving its location. Regular stock
boxes numbered according to the company vehicles facil-
itate the departure of wagons and trucks from the store-
room after these have been unloaded of supplies for
which the driver should be given credit. The delivery
of loads into the stock box enables reloading to be ac-
complished faster, credit being rendered each vehicle at
the convenience of the stock clerks after its departure.
In one large stockroom the clerks are provided with
roller skates to save time in handling supplies to and
from the windows.
One company installs prepayment meters in the serv-
ice of delinquent customers, the meters being set for
a rate of 25 cents per kw-hr. This assures prompt pay-
ment of monthly bills, and as the net rate is 15 cents,
the company is able to credit the consumer with 10 cents
of every quarter left in the meter and applied in this
way to back bills. The Westinghouse company is now
making a prepayment meter whose rate can be changed
in thirty seconds. In the foregoing scheme the added
first cost of the meter is in a way equalized in that all
bills for the current month are promptly paid, with a
slow but sure squaring up of all back bills without the
ordinary expense of collections.
The Waterbury (Conn.) company sends out all bills
on postal cards, without including meter readings.
Eighteen thousand bills have been prepared on the ad-
dressograph in five days. Another company stated that
many disconnection notices sent by telephone to the
main office by customers have been withdrawn as a re-
sult of the simple expedient of asking the customer to
put his request in writing.
To secure "pick-ups" promptly, the meter reader in
Cambridge, Mass., leaves a return addressed post card,
printed on the reverse side, so that it is only necessary
for the customer to fill in a convenient time and date
for the man to return for the reading. Every possible
effort is made to secure keys for such places as churches
and stables, the keys being numbered with a metal tag
so that in the event of their being lost they cannot be
used by the finder. In one office a card record is kept
for each arc lamp on the system, showing life, outages,
etc. This has saved the company six years' cost of keep-
ing the record in a single claim against the manufac-
turer for reduced life.
The Buzzards Bay Electric Company makes photo-
graphic enlargements of United States Geodetic Survey
maps in preparing exhibits oi proposed rights-of-way
for lines U) I"' submitted to local authorities.
APRIL J4, 1915
ELEi'TKHAL WORLD
10OT
Experiments with a Plunger Electromagnet
\ Simple Method of Determining the Pull on the Plunger When It Is in
Motion "Dynamic" and "Static" I'ull Compared
By B. C. Batcheller
IN this arti pie method for de-
termining the pull on the plunger of an electromag-
net when the plunger is in motion. This "dynamic"
pull is then compared with the "static" pull (.plunger
held stationary) for the same air-gap and final value
of the exciting current. The difference between the
dynamic pull and the static pull is due to the effect of
self-induction and the counter emf caused by the mo-
tion of the plunger. A method is also given for sep-
arating these two effects.
The static pull between coil and plunger was meas-
ured with a spring balance. A specially designed
chronograph was used to record the movement of the
plunger, and from the chronograph record the pull of
the freely moving plunger was computed. The appa-
ratus used is shown in Fig. 1. The coil a contains 7050
turns of No. 26 copper wire and is surrounded by an
iron yoke 6. An adjustable iron core c passes through
a hole in the top of the yoke and enters the coil as far
as desired, being held firmly in place by a set-screw in
the yoke. The core is ■"■* in. in diameter and 4'j in.
long. The plunger d is a solid iron cylinder % in. in
diameter and 41.. in. long, having a square brass rod
attached to its lower end. The upper end of the plunger
is faced with copper about 0.01 in. thick, to prevent it
from sticking to the core. In the experiments the thick-
ness of this copper is not included in the air-gap. The
plunger passes through a hole in the yoke, but is pre-
vented from touching the yoke by a thin brass tube,
about 1/64 in. thick, that forms a lining for the in-
terior of the coil and guide for the plunger. The hole in
the yoke through which the plunger slides is 11/16 in.
in diameter. The length of the coil is S% in., its out
side diameter 2 15 16 in., and its inside diameter 1 5/16
in. The yoke is 2 in. wide and % in. thick on each side
of the coil. The plunger and its dependent brass rod
weigh 0.57 lb. The total movement of the plunger was
1.019 in. This distance was divided into small inter-
vals, the first 0.019 in. and the others 0.1 in.
The movement of the plunger when drawn up by the
pull of the coil is recorded on the face of a rapidly
revolving smoked disk e by a sharp-pointed steel stylus i
attached to the plunger rod. The revolving disk is
driven by an electric motor g. The record on the disk is
a fine spiral line that can be accurately measured, and
from the measurements the mean velocity of the plunger
was determined over each 0.1 in. of its movement. From
these velocities the pull was computed by the formula:
p=Z,v v ' • w- (i)
in which P = the pull in pounds, W = the weight of the
plunger, g = gravity, V, and l successive velocities
of the plunger, and I = the distance the plunger moved
in changing from velocity V, to velocity V,.
Since the pull P depends directly upon the difference
nf the squares of the velocities, the utmost pains had to
be taken in measuring the length of the successive
spaces and the time intervals in crossing those spaces.
To secure the necessary accuracy the chronograph disk
was revolved at a speed of about 1290 r.p.m. The point
of the stylus was made sharp, in order that the record
might be a fine line that could be measured with a high
degree of precision. In measuring the spiral an effort
was made to read the scale to thousandths of an inch.
After repeated experiments and changes of method,
quite satisfactory results were obtained, which could
only be improved by more refined apparatus.
In Fig. 2 the curve A shows the static pull for any
length of air-gap for a current of 0.670 amp in the coil.
Curve B shows the pull between coil and plunger when
the electric circuit was closed and the plunger allowed
to move freely, starting from rest, the impressed emf,
and therefore the final steady value of the current, being
the same as for curve A. Curve B was plotted from the
data obtained by means of the chronograph. Unlike
curve A, it starts from zero at the beginning of the
stroke.
As might be expected, the pull when the plunger
moves freely is less than when it is fixed in position.
Except at the beginning, where the air-gap is longest,
the two curves, A and B, are somewhat similar in form.
FIG. 1 — APPARATUS USED IN EXPERIMENTS
The difference in the amount of pull in the two cases
is due to two principal causes, namely, the self-induction
of the coil and the counter emf caused by the rapid
reduction of the reluctance of the magnetic circuit. Be-
sides these two retarding effects, there are undoubtedly
eddy currents in the brass tube that surrounds the core
and plunger, which also retard the movement of the
plunger. The effect of the eddy currents in the dis-
cussion below is included with that of the counter emf.
The self-induction that occurs when the circuit is
closed prevents the current from reaching its maximum
value during the stroke of the plunger. Assuming the
coefficient of self-induction to remain constant, and dis-
regarding the effect of the counter emf due to the move-
ment of the plunger, the current strength at any given
instant after the circuit is closed can be computed by
the well-known formula :
(2)
i = i0(l-e *"),
1038
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 17
in which i„ = the final current strength, R = the re-
sistance of the circuit, L = the coefficient of self-induc-
tion, and t = the time interval from the closing of the
circuit. In the present case i0 = 0.670 amp, R = 161
ohms, and L = 1.85 henries. The value of L changes as
the plunger moves into the coil, but since in the present
case the current reaches nearly its final value while the
plunger moves over the first third of its stroke, and
since the change in the value of L is small for this part
of the stroke, the error in the use of formula (2) will
not be large.
Using the values of ia, R and L just given, the current
strengths were computed for periods of time covered by
the movement of the plunger, and are plotted as curve A
in Fig. 3. This curve approaches the 0.670 amp line,
which is an asymptote. In the same figure curve B
18
16
14
12
O
c
o
I
Q-
3
°- A
\ V'/VZ Flung
vraf Ren
I
4
\
"-^A
B^^»
X- I \v *
2
Pull,Plungerir
Mofion..
0
QZ
IjO
0.4 0.6 0.8
Air-Gap, Inches
FIG. 2 — RELATION BETWEEN AIR-GAP AND PULL
shows the position of the plunger at any instant, as de-
termined by the chronograph record. A preliminary
experiment showed that a steady current of 0.26 amp
was necessary to produce a static pull equal to the
weight of the plunger ( see Fig. 4 on this page I .
In plotting curve B it is assumed that the plunger,
when free, begins to move when the increasing current
equals this amount. Curve A shows that 0.057 second
had elapsed when the current reached this strength, and
therefore curve B is assumed to begin at this poinl Oil
the horizontal axis.
Neglecting the effect of the counter emf, the current
in the coil when the plunger is in any position can then
be read directly from Pig. 8. For example, when the
plunger has moved 0.119 in. from the beginning of the
stroke, corresponding to an elapsed time of 0.0221
ond (curve B), the current <> the coil is 0.575 amp
(curve A). The pull on the plunger, were there no
counter emf, would then be equal to the static pull cor-
responding to this current. Hence by first plotting a
family of curves (Fig. 4) giving the measured static
pull for various air-gaps and various exciting currents,
O05
DM
0 001 002 003 0.04
Time , Seconds
FIG. 3 — CURRENT STRENGTH FOR VARIOUS PLUNGER MOVE-
MENTS
the dynamic pull, neglecting the counter emf, may be
obtained directly from the measured static pull and the
curves given in Fig. 3. The dynamic pull, as thus cal-
16
it
/
12
ft
r.lO
3
: 8
j
<X
•*
.<p
6
4
2
J)*
:^%
"Air-Qap
Plunger *P^^^
r : 1 1
Current in Coils, Amperes
FIG. 4 — STATIC PULL BETWEEN COD \M> PLUNGER
ciliated, is given by curve (' in Fig. 2. This curve
begins at zero with the maximum air-gap, and during
the first third of the stroke rises nearly to the static
curve .1. which it follows closely for the rest of the
stroke. The difference of the ordinates of curves A and
Armi. 24. 1916
K LECTRICAL WORLD
of pull can
Since the freely moving plungi
pull from only tv nduc-
tion and counter emf, the differ.-:
curves C and /.' must represent loss of pull due t
counter emf. If the difference of the ordinates of curves
.1 and ( ' be added to tl "iirth
Curve, I>, will result, which shows the pull when counter
emf is present but .self-induction is absent. In other
words, it is a curve of pull between the coil end fl
moving plunger when the full current is on before the
plunger is allowed to move. To test the accural
curve I), the plunger was locked, the circuit closed, and
the plunger was then suddenly released and a chrono-
graph record taken, showing the movement of the
plunger. From this record the pull between coil and
plunger was computed by equation (1). These pulls
are plotted aa cr — ea in Fig. 2. Seven of these points
fall slightly above curve I), two below and one on the
curve. On the whole, the correctness of curve D is
well confirmed.
The amount of energy imparted to the plunger is the
product of the mean pull and the stroke. Fig. 2 shows
that the mean pull when the plunger moves freely is
only about half what it is when it moves very slowly.
This shows one of the limitations of this device when
applied as a hammer. Another limitation is the time
required to demagnetize the coil.
Considerations on the Sensitiveness of the Heterodyne
Receiver in Wireless Telegraphy
By Marius Latour
The following comprises a theoretical study of the
sensitiveness of the heterodyne system using "crystal"
rectifying detectors.
It is usually assumed that the current rectified by
crystal detectors is proportional to the square of the
alternating electromotive force which acts in the circuit
of the detector. If this voltage is designated by v, the
current in the receiving instrument (telephone or gal-
vanometer) is t = fa -.
Let it be imagined that into the receiving circuit an
emf V of the same periodicity as v, but displaced in
phase by the angle 9, is introduced. The resultant emf
while receiving will be
Vt = y/V + if + EVv cos _
When not receiving, the rectified current is kV;
while receiving, k(V-\- v' -\- 2Fvcos 9). Hence the
change in the value of the rectified current due to re-
ceiving is 1" /,-ir 21V cos 9). This is the change
in current which acts on the receiving apparatus and
measures, so to speak, the intensity with which signals
are received.
It is, therefore, possible to consider the ratio tj = i'/i
as the ratio of the sensibilities with and without the
auxiliary periodic emf V.
In this connection it is of no importance that i' and t
may occasionally be of opposite sign ; the receiving
apparatus operates no matter what the direction of i' or
»'. One has accordingly only to consider the absolute
values of these quantities.
From the above one derives
it V
i) = -j - = 1+2— -cos 9.
Let a few special cases be considered :
9 = 0. The two emfs are in phase. For this special
case
1 a-2V
-. The two emfs are in opposition. For this
special case
an • ■ I 2V). The resultant emf is equal to
mponent emf V. For this particular case t, = 0.
There are-, therefore, cases where the introduction of an
auxiliary emf diminishes the response and, in fact,
makes receiving impossible whenever the values are in
the neighborhood of arc cos ( — < _
Let it now be imagined that the voltage V is not of
quite the same periodicity as the voltage v, this case cor-
responding to the conception underlying the heterodyne
system.
One can assume in this case that 9 takes all the suc-
cessive values between 0 and 2t. and introduce the con-
ception of t\m as an average t,. Considering only the ab-
solute values of r„ one finds
arc cos ( — v/2V)
V
1 + 2— cos 9 Id9
n-
■ far
ft
2— cos 9
)
v/2V)
['--(-£)— HtV- -;,
In the case where 2V is very large as compared to v,
Tj„, reduces itself to
4 V
In the above there has been considered, so to speak,
the average current rectified between 0 and 2z. One
mjght, however, have approached the problem in a sim-
pler and more direct, although less exact, way.
The two extreme values between which the rectified
eurrent varies in the case of voltages v and V of nearly
the same periodicity are k(V + v)' and k(V — v)\ The
difference between these two values is AkVv. If one
considers this last value as a measure of sensitiveness
of receiving, one finds for t, the value
,-4*.
v
It is, however, more probable that the average value is
the better measure.
Stopping Air Leaks in Boiler Settings
Sometimes one-third to one-half the air passing
through the breeching enters the furnace through leaks
in the settings. Usually these leaks occur through
cracks in the setting or where the masonry joins the
metal parts of the boiler. The Bureau of Mines sug-
gests that the best materials for stopping leaks are
asbestos rope or packing and asbestos cement. The rope
should be pushed tightly into the cracks with a screw-
driver or some blunt-edged tool. If asbestos cement is
used, it should be made into a thick paste by mixing
with very little water and should then be pushed into
the cracks or openings like the rope. As it shrinks after
drying, it should be tamped in still further. Lime or
cement mortar should never be used as it lacks elas-
ticity and falls out after drying.
Horizontal water-tube boilers of the cross-flow type
frequently develop air leaks in the setting around the
soot-blowing holes in the side wall. Sometimes the baf-
fles burn out, allowing the gases to pass directly from
the grate to the breeching instead of across the tubes.
When this condition exists the flames are plainly visible
through the cleaning holes in the second pass. High
temperatures in the chimney indicate dirty flues as
well as broken baffles.
1040
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 17
Electric Lighting for Motion-Picture Studios
Kind and Arrangement of Lamps Suited for Attaining the Best
Results with High-Speed Photography
By L. G. Harkness Smith
THE use of artificial light for photographic pur-
poses has received constantly increasing atten-
tion during the past few years, mainly because
of progress in the motion-picture industry. In the
earlier days of the business all pictures were made in
direct sunlight and usually under ideal photographic
conditions, but as the pressure of increasing demand for
1
<
C
&
J
+ '
.
—
F
FIG. 1 — LIGHTING OF 12-FT. BY 10-FT. STAGE
film and the uncertainty of weather conditions became
more apparent to the producers they found it necessary
to experiment with electric lamps which would approxi-
mate as closely as possible the effects to be secured with
natural daylight.
One fact was evident from the beginning: To secure
sufficient light for making motion pictures would re-
quire larger and more powerful equipment than had
previously been employed for "still" photographic pur-
poses, as well as studios of a different type from the
average "still" picture studio. When photographing
objects in motion each unit of the film can be exposed
only about 0.02 second, whereas in stationary objects the
time of exposure for interiors may be from three sec-
onds to several minutes for each subject, according to
conditions. The first attempts at securing satisfactory
results were bad indeed, but fortunately of such a na-
ture as to encourage further study. Gradually the best
conditions for placing lamps and the information re-
garding the type of such lamps became known, so that
to-day entire films are made under artificial light with
excellent results in the finished picture.
In making any photograph the first principle to be
observed is that in nature the source of all light is the
sun. Therefore, where the picture is made "in the open"
there will be a strong light from one direction, accom-
panied by deep and well-defined shadows. This is ele-
mentary and must always be observed where it is de-
sired to reproduce exterior conditions under artificial
light. On the other hand, when pictures are made
"indoors" under natural conditions i in other words, in
daylight) it will be found that there are both direct and
reflected light, the former from the sunlight outdoors,
entering through doors, windows or skylights, thi
from the reflection of this light on surfaces within
om.
Where "interior" pictures are to be made to imitate
lamplight, candlelight or firelight, -till another condition
of one source of direct light.
with only a very small amount 01
rounding objects or from wall surfaces. It must
borne in mind in photographing very rapid motion that
unless the entire principal objects in motion be illumi-
nated very intensely only a portion of the picture will
come out in developing. For example, if the figure of
a man be placed in the concentrated light from arc
lamps and only a small amount of light be played on the
background, the result will be a sharply defined figure
against a background of black. On the other hand, if
the entire stage including the figure be equally illumi-
nated, the result will be a picture in which there is
little contrast and practically no sense of depth.
It may be laid down as a safe rule in studio practice
that there shall be, first, a primary source of light,
which may be obtained in different ways described later,
and in addition a secondary source, used to accentuate
portions of the scene or action which it is desired to
bring out in sharp relief. Unfortunately, a large num-
ber of studio directors and camera men, through a lack
of adequate knowledge of the character of the lamps at
their disposal, have apparently contented themselves
with the primary light alone, which accounts for the
very unsatisfactory films so often shown on screens.
Primary light may be obtained from a number of
styles of lamps, among which the more commonly used
are the open-arc, the multiple-arc, the inclosed-arc, and
the mercury-vapor lamps. The usual and most satis-
factory method of arranging lamps is to place them
above the scene and sufficiently far forward to pro-
ject the light backward and downward at an angle of
45 deg. upon the scene or the object which it is desired
to photograph. After lamps have been hung properly,
it may be found that they cast deep shadows which are
inconsistent with presumed natural conditions, in which
case movable screens of some opaque white substance
must be so placed as to distribute the light by reflection
and faintlv illuminate the shadow side. If it is still
4
-
FIG. - LIGHTING OF STAG! 20 FT. BQUARI
found that the persisting contrast is too strong, the
light must be farther modified by interposing diffusing
is of white cheesecloth or similar translucent mate-
rial. In practice screens are usually placed about 18 in.
from the light source, and. as their name indicates, they
to diffuse and modify the direct light, thereby
softening the resulting photograph. With these two
Ai'Kii. 24. L916
ELECTKIi A I. WORLD
nui
methods of light distribution and diffusion it will be
found that the faces of figures in the finished pii
are in perfect "modeling," permitting ready interpreta-
tion of every expression.
While this rule for light distribution applies either in
daylight or under electric light, fortunately the advan-
tage i- on the artificial conditions, for the
■ :: that the actinicity of artificial lights is unchang-
ing, while that of sunlight 'ling to weather,
n or time of day. It will be seen, therefore, that
with a Unite size, lamps of known chara
istus, and a color scheme of predetermined value, there
is only a small chance of variation in the quality of the
pictures obtained.
In home portraiture taken in daylight, for example,
the operator must select a point in the interior at which
to place his subject bo that he can control the illumina-
tion. If the room be poorly illuminated, he is forced to
experiment with reflecting screens until he has de-
termined the "light value," while under artificial light
it does not matter where the picture may be taken, as he
is fully informed in advance of the light-giving power
of his lamps and may safely anticipate good results
under all conditions.
In motion-picture work the placing of the lamps must
be adapted to the general character of the settings, and
since "flat" lighting or lighting which shows no direc-
tion of light in the finished picture is admittedly inar-
tistic, there must be concentrated light in addition to
that from the overhead source. Fig. 1 shows a relatively
small stage, which is 12 ft. deep from the "front line"
to the background. The illumination is secured by
using sixteen inclosed-arc lamps (A, B, C, D) placed
12 ft. above the floor, arranged in rows of four, and
projecting their light downward and backward at an
angle of 45 deg. In this instance no diffusing screen
has been used, as it was found that after a short time
carbon from the lamp electrodes deposited a semi-trans-
parent film on the inner surface of the inclosing glass,
which then served to diffuse the light sufficiently to
eliminate excessive glare. In addition to the overhead
lighting equipment there is one twin-arc lamp (E)
placed at the side and about 5 ft. in front of the "front
line" of the scene iF). The lamp is provided with a
^ ^
<
4 X*- X X-^
■» ^^ ; X X—
K
1
■ X X . -"*"
X »■' X X —
X N X «
«
»
«
D J
-
PIG. •"> LIGHTING OF STAGE 25 FT. SQUARE
diffusing screen of semi-opaque white cloth. The light
from the lamp E is directed upon the faces of the
actors, who work close to the front line in all of the
principal actions of the scene. The power required to
operate this equipment is 2200 watts for each of the
upper lamps and 1650 watts for the twin-arc lamp, or
a total demand of about 37 kw.
Fig. - i • somewhat larger stage, measur-
ing 2ii it. by 20 ft. The lamps are arranged in three
banks or rows, 12 ft. above the scene. There are six
lamps in the first row 1 . •• ven in the second row
B . and six in the third row (C). Inclosed-arc lamps
of the same type as in Fig. 1 are employed. No diffus-
ing screen is used on the overhead lamps.
J
FIG. 4
/* *i
-ARRANGEMENT OF MERCURY-VAPOR AND QUAD-
RUPLE-ARC LAMPS
For side lighting there are two multiple (quadruple)
arc lamps (D and E), each provided with a corrugated-
glass diffusing screen. The power required is 2200
watts for each of the top lamps and 11,000 watts for
both side lamps, making a total demand of about 53 kw.
Fig. 3 is a still larger stage, 25 ft. by 25 ft. This is
illuminated by seven rows of overhead lamps {A, B, C,
D, E, F, G) of the same type as in the two preceding in-
stances. They are arranged lengthwise of the stage
and are supplemented by two twin-arc lamps I H and K).
Both of the twin-arc lamps are provided with cloth dif-
fusing screens. For the thirty-five overhead units
77,000 watts is required, while 3300 watts is needed for
the twin arcs, making a total demand of about 80 kw.
Fig. 4 shows a combination of mercury-vapor and
quadruple-arc lamps. In this instance, in addition to
the overhead bank of mercury-vapor lamps, there are
tour side banks. The overhead equipment (A) consists
of ten white-backed mercury-vapor tubes, suspended at
a height of about 10 ft. and throwing light on the
stage at an angle of 45 deg. Each of the side banks
B, C, D has eight vertical white-backed tubes. The
side bank E has eight horizontally arranged tubes
backed alternately with white and red reflectors. The
quadruple arcs (F and G) were provided with white-
cloth diffusing screens. With this equipment, which
was used at a test conducted before the New York
Electrical Society, it is likely that excess light was
provided and that equally good results might have been
obtained with far less light. The film resulting from
this test is shown in Fig. 5. The power required was
16,170 watts for the mercury-vapor tubes and 14,520
watts for the arcs, making a total of about 31 kw.
Fig. 6 shows the arrangement for a "firelight" scene,
taken entirely with twin-arc portable lamps. The lamp
A is placed back of the opening in the fireplace E and
throws a direct undiffused light on the face of the actor
D, who sits in a chair in front of the fire. C is a bank
of four portable twin-arc lamps, arranged with cloth
diffusing screens, and B is another twin-arc lamp, also
equipped with a diffuser. The demand in this case is
very small, being 9900 watts. The result of this ar-
rangement will be to throw the face of the actor into
strong relief, leaving the rest of the scene in compara-
tive darkness.
Where opening a door is intended to admit outside
illumination a light should be so arranged as to illumi-
nate the area outside the door.
1042
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. i"
Nothing has been said so far about the use of re-
flecting screens above overhead lamps. They are seldom
employed in actual practice, probably because camera
men have not cared to take the trouble to arrange them,
but it will be found that when they are installed good
results can be obtained with a much lower power de-
mand. A white reflecting screen will tend to confine the
FIG. 5 — -FILM RESULTING FROM TEST OF SYSTEM INDI-
CATED IN FIG. 4
light within the desired area, and the effect is uniformly
good.
A very important phase of motion-picture photog-
raphy is the use of artificial light outside the studio
when conditions make it impossible to secure direct day-
light. Pictures have been made successfully at the sea
bottom, in mines, in factories, and even in the New
York subway. For this purpose the best form of lamp
is the portable multiple arc. For the subway pictures
the Vitagraph Company used twelve twin-arc lamps.
Two sets of six in series were connected across the 600-
volt feeder circuit. The lamps were arranged in pairs
on four posts 10 ft. apart, making a total depth of about
50 ft., and the camera was placed about 12 ft. above the
PIO. 6 ARRANGEMENT OF TWIN-ARC PORTABLE LAMPS
ubwaj platform, Hanked on either side by two lamps
placed aboul l ft. apart and perhaps S ft. m front "I
the lens OH ■ horizontal plane. The resulting pictures
were pert" raphically ami showed the traffic
during the rush hours. These pictures were made for
City Of New York and are to form a part of Ita
exhibit at the Panama Pacific Exposition.
Mining pictures have been made on several occasions,
the latest at Butte, Mont., showing the operation of a
copper mine several hundred feet underground. The
under-sea pictures were made by employing an adapta-
tion of the diving bell, in which the camera operator was
stationed, and by inclosing quartz-tube lamps in water-
proof reflectors which were lowered into position out-
side the bell. The intensity of illumination which was
obtained was sufficient to permit photographing objects
20 ft. from the camera. Diving natives, fish and a
submerged wreck were shown.
No mention has been made of the incandescent lamp
for photographic purposes, for the reason that at this
time it is seldom used in motion-picture work. Tests
have been made with this type of lamp, but as its light
is decidedly deficient in actinicity it has been found
more satisfactory to continue the use of the types al-
ready mentioned. For "still" photographs, where arc
lighting cannot be conveniently employed, the 1000-watt
gas-filled lamp has proved to be a boon. It enables any
studio to disregard weather conditions, and although
care must be used in the placing of the subject, in order
to obtain a proper illumination, yet it does enable the
photographer to turn out good pictures without worry-
ing about sunshine. Two 2000-watt lamps with color
correctors are ample in ordinary work. The consensus
of opinion in the trade seems to be that the best light
for "still" photography is that of the arc, with the
light of mercury-vapor lamps second and incandescent
lamps in third order of choice. For motion-picture work
there is a wide variety of opinion. Those who have used
mercury-vapor lamps exclusively seem to get fair re-
sults, as do also film manufacturers who cling to arc
lamps alone, but it is probable that a combination of
the two is best, mercury-vapor tubes being used for
"side-bank" lighting, arc lamps for "overhead-bank"
lighting, and portable twin-arc sets for outside use and
to bring out detail in the studio.
Growth of Output of Minneapolis System
The accompanying curves show the rapid rate of
growth which has been enjoyed by the Minneapolis
General Electric Company since 1907. The recent gen-
eral depression in business has been less severely felt
in the Twin City district than perhaps any other section
of the country, and as a result the rate of increase of
the local central-station company has been little affected
despite the conditions of the last few months. Besides
YEARS
OUTPUT, DEMAND AND LOAD-FACTOR CURVES
the rapid growth of the output and connected load of
the company's system, the load-factor has displayed a
marked upward trend, reaching 42.5 per cent for 1914.
The total output for the year was 110,000,000 kw-hr.
and the maximum demand 28,000 kw. Mr. R. F. Pack
is vice-president and general manager of the Minne-
apolis company.
April 24, i:<15
ELECTRICAL WORLD
DIGEST OF ELECTRICAL LITERATURE
Generator*, Haton and rrmaateemen
ROBHCl niOSI I
mathematical article on the theory of the single-phase
series motor in which the author derives the circular-
current diagram in a simple way from the ampere-turn
diagram and develops Beveral other diagrams. — Eh k .
u. Match. (Vienna), Feb. 28 and March 7, 1916.
Pi" An editorial expressing the opin-
ion that the problem of installing phase advancers is
mainly a financial one. L'nless rates are so adjusted
that a distinct financial advantage accrues to the user
after every factor has been properly weighed, it is ab-
surd to suppose that phase advancers will appeal to
him; indeed, the tendency will be just the reverse, and
the intelligent user will certainly sacrifice power-factor
for efficiency when buying his motors. With regard to
the power-factor of the system, the user argues that its
rectification logically belongs to the supply company. —
London Electrician, March 12. 1915.
Not Is mi Transformers. — M. Yipmak.
An investigation of the results of non-symmetric loads
on transformers supplying energy to three-wire single-
phase systems or three-phase systems, if the lamps are
placed on one-half or on one phase of the system. The
distribution of the loads and the voltage drops are cal-
culated for different transformer connections — delta-
-tar-zigzag, etc. Considerable attention is paid to
the stray fluxes, which are of great importance for this
problem. The investigation is carried out for both
three-phase and single-phase transformers and the anal-
ogies and differences between the two cases are pointed
out.— Elek. a. Match. (Vienna), Feb. 7, 14, and 21.
1915.
Lamps and Lighting
/ wngstt it Lamps. — Paul Eydam. — An article discuss-
ing "some defects in tungsten lamps" and comparing
sc|iiirted-tungsten filaments with drawn-tungsten fila-
ments. During the manufacturing stage there are more
breakages with squirted than with drawn filaments,
but after burning for 600 or 800 hours the squirted fila-
ment is the more flexible and has less tendency to a
crystalline structure. This crystallization tends to mag-
nify the size of the separate particles, exactly as in the
case of all metals exposed to high temperatures. The
mechanical treatment of the filament tends to decrease
the size of the larger crystals formed during the sinter-
ing process, but during the heating of the filament in
the lamp this tendency is reversed. Notes are given on
the methods used for soldering the filaments to the lead-
ing-in wires, on the composition and size of the wires
used for hooks, on the production of the vacuum, and
on methods of testing the lamps. — London Electrician,
March 26, 1915.
Compulsory lAcenst Refused. — Judgment has been
M in London against the Robin Electric Lamp Com-
pany, Ltd., on its application for a compulsory license
under certain patents relating to drawn-tungsten wire
held by the British Thomson-Houston Company and the
Siemens Brothers Dynamo Works, Ltd. The court held
that the patentees had fully met the needs of the public
and that no new industry has been prejudiced by the
conditions which they sought to impose upon the Robin
company. — London Elec. Eng'ing, March 18, 1915.
Unit of Candle-Power in White Light.- ('. C. Pater-
BON and B. P. Dudding— A brief note of a (British)
Physical Society paper in which the authors describe
the methods adopted at the (British) National Physical
Laboratory for minimizing the difficulty of photometric
comparison of white lights of different hut
lib-Standards are described vary-
ing in the tint of the light radiated from that of the
pentane lamp to that of a tungsten vacuum lamp oper-
ating at 1.5 watts per candle The absolute value of the
unit of candle-power has been re-determined, as have
also the corrections for humidity and barometric
changes, while the probable existence of a temperature
correction is discussed. An account of the disci
which followed is also given. — London Electrician
March 2d, 1915.
Leading-ln Wires. — A note on a recent British patent
No. 1235, 19] 1> of the British Thomson-Houston Com-
pany and the General Electric Company of this coun-
try for a method of covering wires with a coating of a
borate to facilitate sealing into glass and the use of
copper-plated iron-nickel wires so coated. — London
Elec. Eng'ing, March 18, 1915.
Generation. Transmission and Distribution
Electric Winding. — A profusely illustrated descrip-
tion of an 8-ton electric winding gear for the East
Rand proprietary mines. The length of wind is 4500 ft.,
the weight of the skip 8500 lb., and the weight of ore
per lift 16,000 lb. The maximum total suspended load,
including the rope, is 56,000 lb. The winding speed is
2300 ft. per minute. The gear is operated on the Ward-
Leonard system. There are two main motors, each of
750 brake-hp. These are supplied with direct-current
energy from a motor-generator set, consisting of two
generators and an exciter driven by a slip-ring induc-
tion motor rated at from 1800 to 5000 brake-hp. The
supply current which drives this motor is three-phase
at 3000 volts and twenty-five cycles. The whole of the
control of the main motors is carried out by varying
the excitation of the two generators. — London Eng'ing
March 19, 1915.
Wires, Wiring and Conduits
Wiring Rules. — R. Beron. — A summary of the wire
rules in force in Austria and a comparison with the
German regulations. — Elek. u. Masch. (Vienna), Feb
14. 1915.
Elect rophysics and Magnetism
Spontaneous Ionization of Air in a Closed Vessel. —
Leopold J. Lassalle. — An account of an experimental
investigation of the diurnal variation of the earth's pen-
etrating radiation at Manila, Philippine Islands. The
value of N, the number of ions per cubic centimeter per
second formed in a closed vessel in Manila, has a maxi-
mum of 8.96 at 4 p. m. and a minimum of 4.94 at 10 a. m
The mean for .V is found to be 7.43. It seems probable
that the main causes of the ionization are the radio-
active materials in the soil and the radioactive matter
in the atmosphere. Since there is no reason to suppose
that the former of these two causes might have a diurnal
variation, it must be that this variation is in the latter
cause. The air currents at Manila have a diurnal vari-
ation, sea breezes blowing at times and land breezes at
other times. While the exact nature of the relationship
cannot be established from the data available, it seems
probable that the minimum must occur at a time when
the air over the land has been blown from over the sea.
where it had previously remained long enough to lose
a considerable portion of its activity by decay. The
maximum, which is fairly steady from 3 p. m. to 6 a. m.,
must be due to the air which is over land during this
period having previously been mainly over land for some
considerable time. — Physical R< view, February, 1915.
11144
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 17
Ionization by Impact. — Bergen Davis. — While for-
mer methods of determining the ionization voltage were
indirect, a direct method has recently been devised by
Franck and Hertz, who have also added an interesting
idea to the conceptions of ionization by impact, namely,
that in certain gases the impacts are nearly or quite
elastic. In general the noble gases (neon, helium) ex-
hibit the phenomenon of elastic impact, while, on the
other hand, the gases that form chemical compounds
readily (hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen) behave as though
the impacts were non-elastic. The same experimenters
have investigated the ionization voltages for nitrogen
and oxygen with a specially designed apparatus which
gives no current until the ionization voltage is reached.
The current then increases rapidly with an increase of
the applied voltage. In the present paper the author
develops a theory of the current curves for this appara-
tus in the case of non-elastic impact and compares it
with the experimeatal results. As far as the experi-
ments go, there is good agreement. This supports the
assumptions made in the paper and indicates that the
impacts in nitrogen and oxygen are nearly or quite non-
elastic. The same issue contains a note, by H. W.
Farwell, giving an addition to Davis' theory. — Physical
Ri ait ic, February, 1915.
The Potential in a Dielectric Sphere in a Uniform
Field of Force. — George R. Dean. — The solution of this
problem as given in the textbooks on electrical theory
requires so much preliminary work in the general theory
of spherical harmonics that the student is likely to be-
come discouraged. The solution given in the present
article is more direct and simple than the general proc-
ess.— London Electrician, Feb. 19, 1915.
Magnetic Properties of Steels and Their Che muni
Composition. — W. E. Ruder. — An article illustrated by-
numerous diagrams in which the author di.scusses the
effects upon the magnetic properties of iron due to the
addition of silicon, aluminum, arsenic, tin, copper, co-
balt, nickel, chromium, tungsten, molybdenum, sulphur,
phosphorus and oxygen. He also discusses the non-
ferrous alloys and makes reference to several prominent
theories purporting to explain the phenomenon of mag-
netism.— Gen. Elec. Review, March, 1915.
Atoms and Ions. — J. J. Thomson. — An account of the
first three of a series of six lectures on recent research
on atoms and ions in gases. — London Electrician,
March 12, 1915.
Oscillations. — Fracque.— A new chapter of his lec-
tures on the mathematical theory of wireless telegraphy.
In the present instalment the author deals with the phe-
nomena which occur in a circuit when its terminals are
suddenly connected to the two poles of a source of emf.
—LaLumiert Elec, Feb. 13, 1915.
Damping Fin-tors. — A. Press. — A brief mathematical
paper on harmonic damping factors for alternating-cur-
rent fields. — London Electrician, March 19, 1915.
Secondary Effects from Roentgen Rays. I 'All. T.
WEEKS. — An explanation is given for a peculiar effect
from secondary Roentgen radiation, originally noted
by F. R. Gorton. The relative intensifying effect from
different metals placed behind a plate when exposed to
Roentgen rays of various penetrations is investigated.
Additional evidence ia Riven of the need for preventing
or screening off the general scattered radiation. -Pkys.
. March. 1916.
I nils. Measurements and Instruments
Determining tin Direction i,f Rotation of a Rutin u
A. Kihwimk. An illustrated translation in
abstract of his German article, noticed some time ago
in the Digest, on the use of a wattmeter for determin-
ing the direction of rotation of a polyphase field. —
London El* brioian, March i!>. 1916.
Switchboard Instruments. — G. Quaink. — An illus-
trated article on various forms of switchboard instru-
ments. The author first describes the round-face type
and shows how the consideration of saving space in
switchboard instruments has led to the development of
the edgewise instruments. These were first built with
a cylindrical dial covered by a cylindrical glass as
shown in section in Fig. 1. The end point of the
FIG. 1 — ARRANGEMENT OF SWITCHBOARD INSTRUMENTS
needle is turned around and the point about which the
needle rotates is the center point of the cylinder form-
ing the scale. This instrument has the great disadvan-
tage that it is liable to considerable error of readings.
For instance, an observer at point 0 observing the
point A of the needle sees point B of the scale, while
the reading should really be point C of the scale. The
greater the curvature of the scale and the greater the
angle BAC, the greater is the error of the reading. The
Siemens & Halske company has recently introduced
edgewise instruments with a straight perpendicular
face instead of the cylindrical face so that the error
just pointed out is avoided. Of course, a plane perpen-
dicular scale without any curvature is impossible if the
needle is rigidly fixed to the revolving axle of the in-
strument. The arrangement is as shown in Fig. 2 in
two vertical sections perpendicular to each other, a is
the revolving axle of the measuring instrument and the
arm / is rigidly connected to this axle. The end point
e of the arm / is rigidly connected to some point of the
needle d of the instrument. The one end point k of the
needle d is forced to travel along a straight vertical line
as indicated in the picture. If the dimensions of the
different arms are correctly chosen, the other end point
i of the needle d will travel along a straight line mm.
This is made the scale. The friction is said to be prac-
tically negligible. It is, of course, not necessary to con-
struct the instrument with a vertical scale since the
u
A
FlO. 2 — ARRANGEMENT OF SWITCHBOARD INSTRUMENTS
scale may also he arranged in -an inclined plane. —
Mitt. Sn mi ns a Halske, July, L914.
Dielectric Properties of Different Insulating Mate-
rials. Kaki, Wii.i.y WAGNER. — The first part of an
article in which the author gives a summary of ex-
tended measurements of the dielectric properties of dif-
ferent commercial insulating materials. The author
first gives a sketch of the theory of "dielectric hys-
Ai'Kii. 24, 1916
ELECTRICAL WORLD
rhich he prefers to call dielectric
("nachwirkung") Instead of dielectric hysteresis He
to what cause dielectric hysteresis lot
due. In Pig 8 is shown a plate condenser consisting
of two plates P and /'.. The intermediate dielectric is
insulating
material- the thicknesses a and o n
tively. The two insulating layers are in contact with
each other at the plane T. The author shows theoret-
ically that if this condenser is charged by means of a
constant emf there will he in general a gradual accumu-
lation 'tic electricity at the boundary surface
T of the two dielectrics. This will always take place if
the ratm of the two conductivities of the two dielectrics
differs from the ratio of their dielectric constants. If,
for instance, the ratio of the conductivity of the left-
hand dielectric to the conductivity of the right-hand
dielectric is greater than the ratio of the corresponding
dielectric constants, after a certain time there will be
an accumulation of positive charges at the boundary
surface T if P, is charged positively and /' is charged
negatively, as indicated in Fig. 3. This is the funda-
mental phenomenon of dielectric hysteresis. While
these considerations are based on two different dielec-
trics in series, they may be extended to any dielectric
which is not homogeneous. It is, therefore, the lack of
P,C
AR
PIGS. 3 AND 4 — PLATE-CONDENSER DIAGRAMS
homogeneity of an insulating material which causes the
dielectric hysteresis. The lines with arrows between the
two plates in Fig. 3 represent lines of dielectric dis-
placement. Fig. 3 represents the stationary conditions
after the condenser has been charged. If now the con-
denser is discharged — for instance, by connecting the
two plates P. and P, through the galvanometer G as
shown in Fig. 4— the positive charges which had ac-
cumulated at the boundary surface T have no time to
disappear at once, and shortly after the discharge the
condition of the condenser will be as indicated in Fig.
4. As there are still positive charges on the boundary
surface T, the two plates P, and P, will be negatively
charged, and as the equalization of charges in the two
parts TPt and TP, of the condenser occurs with differ-
ent velocities, there will be observed in the galvanome-
ter G a small discharge current for a long time after
the condenser has been discharged. If now the dis-
charge circuit is broken before the positive charges on
the boundary surface T have completely disappeared,
the two plates P, and P, will gradually assume charges
against each other. This is the reason for what has
been called the residual charge of a condenser. All
these considerations relate to the charge of a condenser
at constant pressure. If it is charged with varying
pressure, the phenomena may be considered as a series
of charges, each for an infinitesimal time at constant
pressure. If the analytical calculation is carried out
for the case of a sinusoidal alternating emf, the charg-
ing current will lead the emf not exactly by 1)0 deg. but
only by 90 — 5 deg. The energy loss in the dielectric
■_'-■' i tangent where is the "dielectric
angle," n the frequency, (' the capacity of the con-
• r and I' the effective emf. The power-factor of
the condense which is in most cases practically
identical with tangent a small angle. The
angle ■■ is a characteristic constant of the insulating
material, anil one of the chief objects of the author's
investigation was the determination of this constant for
numerous insulating materials. The article is to be con-
tinued. Elek. Zeit, March 11, 1915.
.V. ir Mi thud oj Obtaining a Hysteresis Loop. — W. N.
FBNNINGEB. — A brief abstract of an American Physical
Society paper. For students beginning the study of
motors there had been designed an electromagnet to
-how that the force on a conductor placed in a mag-
netic field is given by the well-known expression
F = I'H'L', 10, when the proper units are used. The
pole faces of the magnet were accordingly made long
and narrow (about 15 cm by 4 cm). Between the poles
was placed a wire, each end of which dipped into a
mercury cup. This wire was suspended by two dial
spring balances which could be raised or lowered easily
so as to keep the wire always at the same height. It
occurred to the author that this apparatus could be used
to obtain a hysteresis loop. Since A7, the number of
turns on the coils of the electromagnet, and L, the
length of coils, were known, the magnetizing force was
computed from the usual expression H = 4s XI, 10L.
From the expression given abo\e for the force on a
conductor the intensity of the field is found to be
H' = 10F PL'. A current of 100 amp in the conductor
gave a maximum pull of a little more than 20 ounces
on each balance. Tenths of an ounce were read on the
balances. The current in the field was varied by small
steps so as to have the iron pass through the hysteresis
cycle, and a hysteresis loop was plotted from the results.
The points fell on a smooth, closed curve, excepting
two which deviated less than 1 per cent. The points in
favor of this method are that there is no need of de-
magnetization to obtain the loop, that each determina-
tion of the flux is independent of every other determi-
nation, and that the deflections to be read are steady
ones and not momentary throws. One special advan-
tage is the facility with which the closing of the loop
may be checked. Aside from the simplicity of mechan-
ical manipulation, the method has certain pedagogical
advantages. — Phys. Review, March, 1915.
Telegraphy, Telephony and Signals
Mercury-Vapor Tube Oscillator. — B. Liebowitz. — A
brief abstract of an American Physical Society paper.
A method for obtaining electrical oscillations of fre-
quencies suitable for radiotelegraphy is described. A
mercury-vapor tube is provided with two mercury
cathodes and an iron or graphite anode. Each cathode
is connected through a large inductance and resistance
to the negative terminal of a high-voltage direct-cur-
rent generator, and the anode, likewise through an in-
ductance, to the positive terminal. An oscillatory cir-
cuit is connected between the cathodes. By this means
oscillatory currents as large as 10 amp (root-mean-
square value) at frequencies of the order of 500,000
have been obtained, but these oscillations were not
steady. Very steady oscillations have been obtained at
frequencies of about 35,000. This method seems to be
specially adapted for high powers. The experiments
are being continued. It is pointed out that in all os-
cillators supplied with energy from a constant poten-
tial source at least 50 per cent of the energy must be
wasted in the supply circuit. — Phys. Review, March,
1915.
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 17
Book Reviews
The Art of Estimating the Cost of Work. By Wil-
liam B. Ferguson. New York: The Engineering
Magazine Company. 100 pages. Price, $1.
This publication describes the application of cost-
keeping to estimating. The general principles of inten-
sive operation form the basis of the writing. As ex-
plained by the author, the data have been compiled ex-
clusively from naval work. The tables and forms are
numerous and are made up for definite items in this
class of work. Diagrammatic representation of data
is discussed and illustrated briefly. To quote from the
text, the author has "attempted, by examples, descrip-
tion and reference to the accepted methods of planning
and estimating in manufacturing work, the application
of the basic principles of logical planning and esti-
mating to the most complex, uncertain and unstandard-
ized kind of work in the world, namely, repairs and
alterations of vessels." The general reader in cost ac-
counting finds this monograph valuable in so far as it
adds another concrete example to this field of study.
To the naval architect and constructor the work should
prove very valuable and helpful.
A Textbook of Physics. Electricity and Magnetism.
Parts I and II. By J. H. Poynting and Sir J. J.
Thomson. Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott Com-
pany. 346 pages, 246 illus. Price, $3.
This volume contains Parts I and II of the subject
'Electricity and Magnetism" in the series forming the
complete "Textbook of Physics." It treats of static
electricity and magnetism, and will be followed by Part
III as a separate volume, in which electromagnetism
will be treated. The volume here considered deals with
phenomena of electric and magnetic systems when
charged or magnetized. The ground covered is gen-
erally the same as that covered in other textbooks, but
in the presentation and treatment the authors have
followed their own methods. In Part I, which treats of
static electricity, the subjects covered include: Quan-
tity of electrification, the "inverse square" law, the
electrostatic field and the electric strain produced in it,
the forces on a charged body in the field, the energy in
electrified systems, potential and capacity, stresses in
the dielectric, specific inductive capacity, pyroelectric-
ity and piezoelectricity. Part II, which deals with
magnetism, begins with the usual general account of
magnetic attraction and repulsion, methods of magne-
tization, electromagnets, etc. Then follow chapters on
the molecular hypothesis, a study of some practical
magnetic fields, induced magnetization, magnetic forces
Books Received
Telegraph Engineering. By Erich Hausmann. New
York: D. Van Nostrand Company. 406 pages, 192 illus.
Price, $3.
Constant-Voltage Transmission. By Herbert Bristol
Dwight. New York: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 116
pages, 14 illus. Price, $1.25.
Engineering Office Systems and Methods. By John
P. Davies, M. E. New York: McGraw-Hill Book Com-
pany, Inc. 544 pages, 244 illus. Price, $5.
Sanitary Refrigeration and Ice Making. By J. J.
Cosgrove. Pittsburgh: Standard Sanitary Manufac-
turing Company. 340 pages, 103 illus. Price, $3.50.
Advanced Theory of Electricity and Magnetism. By
William S. Franklin and Barry MacNutt. New York:
The Macmillan Company. 300 pages, 217 illus. Price,
$2.
RECENT TELEPHONE PATENTS
Common-Battery System
The essential feature of the system patented by
Messrs. J. W. Lattig, of Glenside, Pa., and C. L. Goodrum.
of Urbana, Ohio, is the use of a common battery in-
stalled at the exchange. The battery is grounded in
such a way that more calls pass through one portion
of it than through the other. Signals are sent by
grounding one or the other side of the line by means of
polarized double-wound relays, which are automatically
released by simultaneous ground connections. The pat-
ent has been assigned to the Western Electric Company.
Telephone Apparatus
Mr. N. Pedersen, of Genoa, 111., has patented a desk-
stand telephone set for use on systems where the cen-
tral-office signals are controlled by momentary contacts
at the subscribers' station. With this apparatus the
contact controlling the central-office signals is main-
tained practically throughout the stroke of the receiver
hook, thereby insuring the transmission of the signal.
The patent on this apparatus has been assigned to the
Cracraft-Leich Electric Company.
Messrs. F. L. Jensen and E. S. Pridham, of Napa,
Cal., have devised tubes for transmitting sound from
telephone receivers to the ear. The receiver proper is
contained in a boxlike base and one of the tubes from it
ends in a hand set carrying an ear piece and the trans-
mitter. Another tube is rigid and holds the ear cap in
a convenient permanent position.
A water-tight case for holding submarine loading
coils has been patented by Messrs. F. B. Jewett and
Thomas Shaw jointly, who have assigned their rights
WATER-TIGHT CASE FOR SUBMARINE LOADING COILS
and stresses, measurement of permeability and sus-
ceptibility, terrestrial magnetism, and magnetism and
light. No attempt is made to consider the subject from
the engineering viewpoint, but for the purpose of the
physicist and student it is well handled and clearly
explained.
to the Western Electric Company. The accompanying
Illustration shows how the coils are supported in a
cradle and how the cable sheath is sealed to the case. A
screw joint is employed between the head and the shell,
the edges of which are burned together with an oxy-
acetylene flame to prevent leakage.
April ji, 1915
E I- K< 1 R 1 « A I. \Y<> II I. I»
POWER AND OPERATING SECTION
Oil Engines Successful Standb) Equipment for
Hydroelectric Plant
At Thief River Palls, Minn., a city of WOO inhabi-
the municipal electric stal nergj
during a part of the year from generator! driven by
two 200 Hi' Leffel waterwheels. When the flow of Thief
■ duced t^i such an extent that the w
wheels will not carr} I o gen-
oIL-ENCINE PLANT USED AS CENTRAL-STATION RESERVE
erators connected to two 225-hp Busch-Sulzer Diesel
engines. Before the convention of the Minnesota Elec-
trical Association Mr. Leonard Peterson, superintend-
ent of the municipal station, spoke very highly of the
service rendered by these engines. Four or five min-
utes, said he, is the length of time generally required
to put these units into service, and in the three years
they have been installed not a single shut-down has
been experienced in the plant. During that time
the generators to which the Diesel engines are con-
nected have produced 800,000 kw-hr. Fuel oil of the
grade used (39 deg. Baume) costs 5.5 cents per gallon
delivered at the station supply tanks. Running on this
grade of fuel, the engines consume a gallon of oil for
each 10 kw-hr. generated, making the fuel cost 0.55
cent per kw-hr. Not a cent has been spent for repairs
in the three years the engines have been operated, con-
cluded Mr. Peterson. The regulation of the engines is
good, and they can be operated in parallel.
Burning Coal Without Smoke in Hand-Fired
Furnaces
In a paper entitled "Hand-Firing Soft Coal Under
Power-Plant Boilers," issued by the Bureau of Mines,
Mr. Henry Kreisinger says the conditions necessary for
a complete combustion arc sufficient air supply, intimate
mixing of the air with combustible gases, and maintain-
ing the temperature high enough to insure ignition of
the combustible gases while they are being mixed with
the air. When thick fuel beds are employed there is
difficulty in forcing sufficient air through the grata
support combustion, therefore some must be admitted
over the fuel bed. In general the best method of ad-
mitting additional air is the one that affords the besl
mixing of the air with the gases rising from the fuel
l»ed. If air be admitted through the furnace door and
also through tuyeres in the bridge wall, thorough mix-
ing will usually take place. Better results will, of
course, be obtained if the air is forced through the
bridge-wall openings under pressure. Another method
of mixing gases and air is by steam jets, which are us-
ually placed in the front wall above the firing i
The streams of a whirling motion over the
fuel beds which tends to mix the gases with the air
entering through the firing Still better results
obtained when air is admitted through small
openings around the steam jets instead of through the
fire door, because the steam jets then act like injectors.
Nozzles should have several small openings made so that
they will utilize the expansion of the steam in producing
high velocity. It should be remembered that steam does
not support combustion and is merely the mechanical
mixing agent.
In furnaces where a large part of the boiler heating
surfa* >'d to the fire, burning gases and par-
ticles of carbon may be chilled before they are com-
pletely burned and thus escape through the chimney as
visible smoke. This is especially liable to occur where
the gases move slowly, as they usually remain stratified.
Coal Truck Dumped Electrically
A 35-hp, 2-ton truck which is used to haul coal from
the cars or from storage to the uptown generating sta-
tion of the Dayton (Ohioi Power & Light Company is
equipped with a 1-hp, 110-volt motor which dumps the
truck's contents into a bunker beneath the sidewalk out-
side the plant. The driver of this truck can make about
thirty-five round trips a day. When he backs up the
truck to the curb, as it stands in the illustration here-
with, he trips a hand lever releasing the bottom of the
hinged end gate; then, taking a flexible cord which is
carried on the side of the truck and which terminates
in an attachment plug, he connects the motor to a 110-
volt circuit brought to the curb through the 3-in. pipe
standard shown at the edge of the coal pile. The opera-
tor next starts the small motor by closing a double-pole,
single-throw switch incased in the small sheet-iron box
attached to the truck frame. The forward end of the
truck body is then hoisted by the motor operating
through a set of gears and a pair of curved gear racks.
Unless it is blocked, the truck body descends by gravitj
when the switch is opened, and by the time it is down
the driver has withdrawn the attachment plug from its
COAL TKI (K [il'Ml'KD El I CTK1CALLY
socket in the curb standard, lias coiled up the flexible
copper-wire cord and is ready to start for another load
of coal. The unusual speed with which the truck can
be unloaded not only allows the driver to get the most
out of the car but also betters general traffic conditions,
because it reduces to a minimum the time that the truck
must necessarily stand backed up to the curb.
1048
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 17
Solving Feed-Water and Condensing Water into the quarry. Inside the station the three jet con-
Problems at Kokomo Ind. densers and one surface condenser are connected to an
intake well, this scheme being favored in preference to
For several years feed water for the Kokomo (Ind.) a common header as there is less tendencv under these
station of the Indiana Railways & Light Company was conditions for the machines to "rob" each' other, one of
obtained through pipe lines more than a mile long laid the jet condensers ultimately losing all its vacuum.
in the bed of a nearby creek and reaching to a point Another possibility considered was that of raising
the head of water in the quarry by pumping in water
from the creek and utilizing this potential head. On
account of the fact, however, that the creek water car-
Topof ried some impurities, and because a high head in the
quarry would result in seepage to nearby wells and
would probably reduce the flow of the spring, this plan
Tssott. was abandoned. Mr. P. H. Palmer, assistant general
manager of the company, superintended the work of
reconstruction.
FIG. 1 — SECTION THROUGH CIRCULATING WATER SYSTEM
above the gas scrubber of glass works, where the water
was unpolluted. Conditions in this creek have, however,
now been improved, the glass company and the central-
station company having shared the expense of laying a
sewer to conduct the polluting material from the scrub-
ber to an adjacent sand field which acts as a filter and
arrests all solid matter. In addition to benefiting the
power plant, this work will improve sanitary conditions
in the city through which the stream flows.
While the creek referred to supplies enough water for
the condensers in the electric-light plant during the
winter months, there are times in the summer when the
water supplied is very warm and the flow is small. To
remedy this condition a tunnel was driven from the
power house to an abandoned stone quarry 150 ft. away.
This quarry, measuring 280 ft. wide by 520 ft. long by
50 ft. deep, is fed by springs which, whenever the water
level is lowered 25 ft. below the top, deliver approxi-
mately 800 gal. of water a minute. Water is drawn
through the intake pipe by a De Laval pump driven by
a 40-hp motor and capable of delivering 3000 gal. of
water per minute.
The quarry pump discharges both into the intake well
Injection
Tunnel from
Creek
A. . I6'C. I Suction
FIG. 2 — ARRANGEMENT OF CONDENSER WATER LINES AT
KOKOMO PLANT
and the inlet of the surface condenser of a 3750-kva
turbine. This connection into the surface condenser
gives the latter two sources of water supply, since its
main 0000-gal. circulating pump draws water from the
intake well, which is fed by a tunnel from the creek.
After the water has been used it is returned and ipraj ed
Electric Drive in a Large Ice House
Nearly 100 hp in 440-volt, three-phase motors is in-
stalled in the new 40,000-ton ice house of the Michigan
Central Railroad at its West Detroit yards. The huge
frame building measures 87 ft. by 580 ft. in plan and
is divided into fifteen sections. All ice is loaded and
unloaded by electric power, and ice can be delivered
in cakes or crushed, as desired.
Four 15-hp motors operate the elevators. By the
^-i^^tfp^*
"*>
^^«:^j'!Bf^
*aiS"-£52^S
&
EXTERIOR OF ICE HOUSES
arrangement of cables employed each motor can be
connected to drive either one outside or one inside
elevator. This feature reduces the number of motors
to four instead of eight, as would be necessary were
each elevator individually equipped. The inside ele-
vators are not in use when the outside elevators are
being operated, and vice versa.
The conveyor in the monitor is driven by a 10-hp
motor, and a 7.5-hp motor operates the ice crusher.
For the platforms two 7.5-hp motors and a 5-hp con-
veyor unit are installed. At the east end of the ice
house is the salt room. Here a 3-hp motor is used to
drive a belt conveyor to elevate the salt into the stor-
age bins.
Steam Consumption Guarantees of Small Non-Con-
densing Turbines
By W. J. A. London
The introduction on a commercial basis of the small
turbine has been responsible for many surprising
changes in ideas and general practice in power-house
work. One of the most pronounced is the introduction
of that most remarkable and elusive term "steam con-
sumption," a factor heretofore unthought of and one
might almost say absolutely unknown when talking
about auxiliary machinery.
Not often in the past did the purchaser buy a recip-
rocating boiler-feed pump under a steam-consumption
guarantee, neither did he consider it the prime factor
Ann. 24, 1916
I : I . I : C T R I C A L WORLD
1049
in deciding the type of pump t" adopt . per-
aaking for alternative bids on turbine and rei
eating pumps insist on specific guarantee! based on
conducted at maker's works, and sometimes on the
The buyer haggles for days over the two guaran-
tees made by competing turbine builders because one
is a pound less than the other, and may then decide to
buy a reciprocating pump with a steam consumption
double that of the worst turbine built.
Before going any further the author wishes to point
out that he fully appreciates the absolute necessity for
low steam consumptions in certain installations such
olated lighting plants and industrial plants where
only a certain quantity of exhaust st< Miired,
but machines sold for these plants represent only a small
percentage of the total output of any small turbine
builder, the majority being supplied as auxiliaries to
the larger power houses where all the exhaust steam
can be used in the most economical manner known.
.Moreover, reference is made in this article exclusively
to non-condensing machines, although in many cases the
same arguments are applicable to condensing units.
When buying a reciprocating boiler-feed pump a per-
son does not look for one having the lowest steam con-
sumption, but one that will do the work with the least
amount of attention and at the smallest maintenance
cost. However, persons are now demanding all sorts
of steam consumption guarantees from the turbine
maker, having forgotten all the old ideas regarding re-
liability. Sight should not be lost of the fact that high
economy in steam consumption can be obtained only at
the sacrifice of simplicity and reliability. The elaborate
Corliss valve gear, necessary for efficiency purposes,
does not increase the reliability of the machine.
There can be no doubt that true economy is essential.
We can no longer afford to throw away the by-products
of manufacture as we did ten years ago. The building
of 30,000-kw machines in a single unit to reduce the
steam consumption is based on sound engineering prin-
ciples, but the arguments in favor of low consumption
are by no means applicable to the small auxiliary units.
The writer wishes to record his plea for a better un-
derstanding of the term "efficiency" when applied to
small turbines. Of paramount importance is not the
steam consumption but the commercial efficiency, which
takes into account not only the consumption but the
maintenance, the repairs and the wages paid to the at-
tendant. A simple turbine requires only unskilled help,
while a complicated machine necessitates an engineer.
A reduction of 1 lb. per hp-hr. in the steam consumption
of a large machine is a big factor, but in a 50-hp aux-
iliary equipment the cost is only about $85 per year.
One other point of inconsistency is that concerning
the relation between the actual service performance and
the guarantee. For example, a customer ordering a 50-
hp turbine to operate under 150-lb. pressure at the
throttle with a 2-lb. back pressure may ask for a guar-
anteed steam consumption of not over 40 lb. per hp-hr.
at full load and 41 lb. at half-load with the jet valves
closed. Under actual operating conditions the con-
sumption may reach 50 lb. per hp-hr. with the valves
left open, but the purchaser is unaware of this. He
seldom cares what the consumption is, although- he was
probably willing to pay an extra high price to obtain
a low guaranteed steam consumption.
This article, which was written from a turbine en-
gineer's standpoint, may read like an argument to
evade responsibility and to discourage the practice of
making any guarantees at all. Such an assumption
would not be true, however. The guarantees demanded
by the market are being met. The testing plant of tur-
bine works is considered just as important as the ma-
chine shop, anil BpparatUI is provided BO that the cus-
can make his own test any time. The da
"fake" guai over.
Installation of tables Leading to Switch
< ompart ments
In constructing its 187th Street substation the United
Electric Light & Power Company, New York City, in-
stalled fiber ducts in the walls, floors and ceilings so
that cables can be readily pulled in or removed there-
from. To avoid sharp bends where the cables pass up a
wall and then across a ceiling to switch compartments
the ducts were made to follow a large radius curve
through which the cables can be easily pulled without
DUCT OUTLETS AND CABLE-JOINT SUPPORTS
injury to the insulation. Openings were also made in
the ducts at intervals with provisions for installing
medium-length cables connected by easily accessible
joints. The accompanying illustration shows outlets in
a number of wall ducts with the potheads held in
brackets which support the weight of the vertical cable
sections. The walls are white and the cables, joints and
brackets black.
Lagging Furnace Walls to Stop Heat Loss
Tests conducted in the generating station of the
Springfield (Ohio) Light, Heat & Power Company
showed that there was 70 deg. Fahr. difference in tem-
perature between the air close to the brick wall of the
boiler settings and air in the same horizontal plane out
in the middle of the aisle space. Upon the discovery of
this condition, indicating considerable loss of heat by
radiation, Mr. Weare Parsons, treasurer and manager
of the Springfield company, was led to believe that a
coat of lagging on the exterior of the boiler setting walls
might quickly pay for itself.
It is known that a 2-in. coat of magnesia lagging on
1050
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. IT
a live-steam pipe under ordinary operating conditions
will reduce the surface temperature about 165 deg.
Fahr., and it was with this fact in mind that the boiler
lagging shown herewith was designed. Plans are being
made to use this type of lagging at Springfield. Di-
rectly against the brick, supports for vertical angle
irons are to be placed: the magnesia is to be supported
to Hold
Air Spa*
:i
LAGGING WALLS OF BOILER SETTING
against the angle irons and held in position by tie wires,
and over the magnesia a heavy layer of canvas will be
stretched. This canvas will be painted after it has been
fastened over the magnesia. With this sort of lagging
there will be two dead-air spaces and a layer of mag-
nesia, to prevent the escape of heat. The painted can-
vas, it is thought, will better draft conditions by
preventing any air from entering through the pores of
the magnesia and brick.
Voltage and Insulation-Resistance Tests for Wires
of Various Sizes
In testing large wires and cables for voltage and in-
sulation resistance a variety of incorrect assumptions
and methods have been employed in the effort to cal-
culate the proper values for large conductors in terms
of the values commonly accepted for wires of ordinary
size. Assuming 1500 volts as a fair test on a No. 14
rubber-covered wire, Mr. Henry A. Morss, vice-presi-
dent and electrical engineer of the Simplex Wire &
Cable Company, Boston, Mass., in an address before the
Chicago Jovian League, Feb. 15, showed the following
table I-
-COMPARATIVE VOLTAGE TESTS FOR WIRES OF
VARIOUS SIZES
uwted
280 0
500 |
DOOotre,
MHI «
1,000,01
Thicki,<
Rubber, 1 1
1626
1842
'...
2418
! i«
2544
1404
table of voltage tests for wires of other sizes. In mak-
ing the comparisons use was made of the formula
V K& log 3 .
a
where i i- the K is ■ coi
depending upon the dielectric, /> Is the outside diameter
of the insulation, and <l is the inside diameter of the
insulation. On very large and heavy cables it is advis-
able to reduce somewhat the actual voltage used in the
tests, owing to mechanical causes. The insulation thick-
nesses listed in the table are those required by the Na-
tional Board of Fire Underwriters.
A second table exhibited by Mr. Morss showed com-
parative insulation-resistance values, assuming an in-
TABLE II — COMPARATIVE INSULATION-RESISTANCE TESTS
FOR WIRES OF VARIOUS SIZES
Rubber, '
Stranded
S,.|i,|
.,.
1000
1000
846
7i:>
< .
R06
'i.
Ii33
'i..
578
'...
518
529
i:<7
•'.- 1
461
419
378
".II
-■.,.
310
sulation resistance of 1000 megohms per mile for No.
14 rubber-covered wire. The formula employed for com-
paring insulation resistances is:
R
A . D
7Tl0gT'
where R is the insulation resistance, A is a constant de-
pending on the dielectric, L is the length, D is the out-
side diameter of the insulation and d the inside diameter
of the insulation.
Results of a Time Study on Excavating and Han-
dling Material
By H. A. Woodworth
There are few hard-and-fast rules by which a man-
ager can be guided in handling men on construction
work, but the accompanying table may in some meas-
ure indicate what may be expected of a workman under
RESULTS OF A TIME STUDY ON STEAM-MAIN CONSTRUCTION
Removing asphalt! square yard
Removing brick pavement, square yard
tfa hard and son
yard.
■1*
pair.
Covering L2-in. pipe, fool
■
■ ard
Concreting, square \ ir-i
She. -tint. 1
tck, square yard.
Loading •
bb M u«-Hoi a
\|:i\i
Mini-
mum
mum
age
I 60
;; in)
1 L".l
1 -■:.
1 16
1 s7
1 28
ii 67
1 . T'.i
n III
,1 s
1 6
16 6
0 11
1.0
ii 16
I . 28
n 3
1 :.
1 n
I 18
ii :n
iderable wheelta is required in alii
average conditions. The data from which this table
w.-is prepared were compiled From a stud) made during
the construction of ;i steam-heating line for the Mer-
chants' Ural & Light Company at Indianapolis. Ind..
and while the results are chiefly applicable to construc-
tion work (ill pipe lines, some of them may also he of
value in estimating labor costs '>n laying electric con-
duit lines.
April 24, 1916
ELECTRICAL WORLD
1051
COMMERCIAL SECTION
The Store Wins Wiring Burinea
MANY electrical contra hesitated to enter
the field of retail merchandising by establishing
an electric shop for the Bale of household appliances and
fearing that the detail of store operation
would prove too great a burden and seriously interfere
with the proper conduct of the contracting business.
That this is not the case :n fact is demonstrated by
the experience of the George Weiderman Electric Com-
pany, as described in detail in this issue. The sale of
appliances has proved a steads and profitable source of
wiring business. It is a most important point.
Win the Architect
THE winning of the architect will be a prominent
feature of commercial activity within the elec-
trical industry in the next few years. The fact that the
interest of the architect at present is not given strongly
to the details of electrical equipment is a costly influ-
ence, for it results in inadequate installations where no
factor of cost has intervened, and the owner pays a
heavy price in loss of comfort and convenience. As the
architect becomes more interested in the opportunities
which modern electric service offers, he will strive to
raise the standard of his work, providing every possible
electrical convenience. Thus the problem solves itself.
Checking Overhead Percentages Periodically
AN annual or a semi-annual estimate of an electrical
contractor's overhead expense can hardly be said
to be sufficient in many cases. In estimating the cost of
any wiring installation the overhead expense is usually
applied in the form of a certain percentage of the esti-
mated cost of the work to the electrical contractor.
This percentage is often assumed to be the per cent the
total cost of doing business during the previous year
or half year bears to the total amount of business done
during that period. Strictly speaking, the percentage
overhead figured on this basis is the percentage over-
head that ought to have been charged during the earlier
period. Since a contractor's business varies in amount
from year to year and even from month to month, the
percentage overhead figured on this basis is seldom cor-
rect for the period in which it is applied. Trial balances
of all books can well be made, for example, monthly for
the purpose of determining how the amount of business
being done and the overhead expense compare with the
figures upon which the percentage overhead being em-
ployed was reckoned. In this way the electrical con-
tractor can adjust his percentage overhead expeni
often as the variations in the amount of business being
done seem to demand doing so. If such periodic ad-
justments of the percentage overhead are not made, it
is possible, and often probable, that by employing an
overhead figured on business conditions during a pre-
vious period the contractor may underestimate the cost
of the work performed during periods of depression in
his business.
Remove the Mystery
ELECTRICITY is a deep mystery to 90 per cent of
the domestic users of energy. Steam and gas,
being tangible, need no explanation, but the illumination
of a room or a whole house by merely pushing a small
button far exceeds the darkest magic of the East. There
is little doubt that many more uses would be made of
electrical energy if the housewives possessed a better
understanding of it. A certain number of cubic feet
of gas gives a definite impression of volume, but to
many housekeepers a kilowatt-hour is a weird term
of hidden meaning. Greater effort should be made to
impress on every man and woman the simple, lucid ex-
planations that convert electric service from a mystery
into a kindly household friend.
Friendship
THE central-station companies, particularly the
larger ones and their subsidiaries, have gradu-
ally discarded the "public be damned" policy and adopted
the "public be pleased" policy. It pays. The companies
have found out that they need friends. Service is not
the only thing. The complaining customer who receives
a polite and satisfactory explanation of his abnormally
large bill becomes the company's stanch friend. The
fussy housewife who notices that the meterman wipes
his shoes before he enters the house and greets her
politely becomes a valuable asset for the company.
Co-operation
WHEN the central-station company enters the con-
tracting and wiring field there is shown on the
part of the local contractors and the company a lack of
co-operation which only serves to widen the existing
breach and to cause both parties a substantial loss. The
lighting companies lose the new business that they
would otherwise receive through the creative activities
of the contractors, and the contractors lose by the
consequent curtailing of their opportunity. By co-
operating with the central station the contractor can
furnish lower estimates and thereby place a smaller
burden on the prospective lighting customer. The re-
sult will be a great increase in business for both.
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 17
Handicap for Salesmen
Commercial representatives of central-station com-
panies who have the title of "contract agent" labor un-
der a serious handicap, according to Mr. E. R. Kelsey,
of Toledo, Ohio. That appellation, said Mr. Kelsey
before a meeting of commercial men of the Ohio Elec-
tric Light Association, does not lend the dignity and
impressiveness which the title of a central-station com-
pany's commercial man should convey. The word
"agent" in the title may lower the sales manager's
standing with men who do not know the nature of the
central-station commercial man's work. To take down
the barrier which such a title sometimes interposes be-
tween the commercial man and his prospective cus-
tomer, Mr. Kelsey recommended that the word "sales-
man" should be always used in place of "solicitor" and
that the title "sales manager" be substituted for that
of "contract agent."
It will be well to go a step further and discard the
name "new-business department" in favor of the more
appropriate designation "sales department" or "com-
mercial department." Five years ago the idea prevalent
among central stations was that the sole function of the
salesman is to secure new business. But to-day it is
pretty generally recognized that the re-vitalization of
dead services and the development of greater consump-
tion from existing customers presents a far more allur-
ing opportunity. "New business" means a new service
extension and an additional investment. Re-connection
of a dead service or the increasing of a present cus-
tomer's consumption brings additional revenue without
a cent of extra cost. It restores dormant invested cap-
ital to active earning power, or increases its rate of in-
terest return.
The Haulage Problem and Loading Efficiency
The superiority of the electric truck for short hauls
in the congested portions of a city where service require-
ments are severe is well shown by operating data on
the electric trucks of the Curtis Publishing Company of
Philadelphia, presented in this issue. In considering
the savings effected by the use of electric trucks and
modern methods of handling materials at the plant
and warehouse, the reader should bear in mind that the
results cited were obtained under the most conservative
operating conditions, with liberal allowances for the
maintenance and care of the machines. The figures
therefore constitute no mere paper record of efficiency,
but report actual operating results under conditions of
care and attention which insure the longest life and tnosl
dependable operation of the trucks.
But one of the most interesting facts revealed by
the data given is that the efficiency of the truck service
is considerably reduced because of time wasted in load-
ing and unloading at the post office, the railroad station
and the numerous wharves along the Delaware River,
Conditions at the latter are particularly deplorable.
Generally speaking, little effort is put forth at the docks
to insure the efficient maneuvering of vehicle! 01 the
expeditious unloading and loading of the trucks. Here,
too, the cheapest and most inefficient classes of labor are
employed for the handling of the freight. While at the
publishing company's plant and warehouse the use of
demountable bodies and other electrically and manu-
ally operated labor-saving machinery has enabled the
company to reduce the time of unloading and loading to
a minimum, further increases in the efficiency of the
truck service are possible only through improvement in
freight-terminal conditions.
Negotiations begun by the publishing company with
the railroads and with the post office to have equipment
installed on their platforms similar to that employed at
the company's plant and warehouse for the handling
of mail and freight are, of course, steps in the right
direction. The installation of such equipment at rail-
road freight yards, post offices and even docks would
do much toward reducing the haulage costs of other
large companies as well. Many other shippers would
welcome having portions of the platforms at these places
equipped w7ith modern machinery for loading and un-
loading trucks. However, negotiations for the installa-
tion of such equipment seem to proceed slowly when
broached by a single shipper or individual interest.
Co-operative efforts of a number of shippers would be
more effective. Better still, were the efforts of a na-
tional society like the Electric Vehicle Association of
America enlisted, a broad and effective attack might be
begun on the general problem of handling materials at
freight terminals, post offices and docks which would
bring relief.
Wiring on the Percentage Basis
Much of the inferior wiring done to-day is the result
of the straight-contract method of doing business. Un-
foreseen difficulties such as obstructions, the rapid prog-
ress of building operations, etc., often increase the labor
item far beyond expectations. In order still to make a
profit or to reduce his loss, the contractor skimps on
materials or uses inferior grades, with the result that
the customer does not obtain the type of installation
which he desires, and the electrical contractor gains
nothing in the end.
Although much can be said against the percentage
system of doing electrical contracting, it possesses cer-
tain merits. One of the essential requirements for the
successful operation of the percentage system of con-
tracting is that the customer and the contractor have
confidence in each other. Where such is the case it is
well for the contractor to explain the merits of this
system and to attempt to obtain the business on the
percentage basis. In many cases the contractor doing
work on the percentage basis is not required to guar-
antee that the cost of the work shall not exceed a cer-
tain specified sum. Where such a guarantee is em-
ployed the contractor can generally specify a sum great
enough to cover all requirements, under which condi-
tion the customer obtains good work and the electrical
contractor is free to suggest any desirable changes in
the original plans or specifications with profit assured.
A i'u 1 1. 24, 1916
K I. EC T RIC A I. WO RLD
1053
Competing for Appliance Business
Analysis of the .Merchandising Methods and Policies in fill! 1 1 —fill
Electric St(»re Where Sen ice to the Customer Wins
iL
'y^vNLl a > i a > ." exclaimed the woman who had
I 1 brought her BatiroD to be repaired.
^^ Then the ironing can he done to-morrow — the
regular day. I took it to the department store, hut I
•.at it would have to he sent to th(
tory and would take a month. They advised me to buj
a new one. I'll never buy another electrical device from
the department store."
This is an instance that Mr. Weiderman quoted to
illustrate the character of the service that is rendered
at the store of the George Weiderman Electric Com-
pany, HH Flathush Avenue, Brooklyn, N. Y., in sup-
port of his assertion that in order to compete with de-
partment, drug and hardware stores in the sale of
household electric heating and cooking devices it is
sary for the electric shops to outstrip these stores
in the underlying principle of all successful husinesses
— service.
"A department store employs modern merchandising
methods." said Mr. Weiderman, "but so can the con-
tractor or electrical dealer in his store. The depart-
ment store can do extensive advertising in newspapers
and other mediums, but BO can the electrical
But the department store has no facilities for repairing
electrical appliances. Generally it cannot give a dem-
onstration of the appliances on sale or make intelligent
recommendations. And finally it has no means of ob-
taining as tine a 'prospect' list as the electrical Btore.
Its clerks are no more than clerks. They have no
knowledge of electrical appliances and cannot supply
the correct type of device from the mere knowledge of
the section of the city in which it will be used. More-
over, the central station usually offers no repair facil-
ities beyond the mere replacing of fuses. This gives
distinct advantage to the Electric Shop, and the George
Weiderman Electric Company is striving to conduct its
retail business along such lines as will render service
surpassing that of all the non-electrical competitors.
Merchandising Methods in the Store
The accompanying illustrations show the interior
of the Weiderman store and a view of the show win-
dow. It will be noticed that a very good assortment of
appliances are on exhibition, some of them in cases and
FIG. 1 — THE GEORC-E WEIDERMAN ELECTRIC COMPANY IS A BELIEVER IN ATTRACTIVE INTERIORS
1054
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 17
others displayed on the tops of the cases and on tables,
in order that customers may handle and examine the
devices just as they are accustomed to in the depart-
ment store. A dressing table is employed for the dis-
play of curling-iron heaters, electric vibrators, electric
hair driers, and other electrical toilet accessories, as
shown in Fig. 2. A good idea of the merchandising
methods employed was afforded by a sale effected one
day in the writer's hearing.
Upon entering the store, the prospective customer
was greeted by a courteous saleswoman, who invited
her to be seated at one of the two demonstration tables
provided in the store. The lady wished to look at cof-
fee percolators, and the saleswoman proved to be very
conversant with the fundamental principles of coffee
making — in fact, as Mr. Weiderman afterward stated,
she is an extensive user of household electric heating,
cooking and motor-operated appliances in her home.
She proceeded to place on the table various types of
coffee percolators and explained their merits. The cus-
tomer was not forced to inquire constantly the prices
of the appliances shown, for every appliance both in the
show window and in the store had attached to it a price
tag giving the information in plain figures.
When a demonstration of the device was requested,
the saleswoman attached it to a baseboard outlet, com-
menting at the same time upon its convenience in the
home. The prospective customer, with the usual lack
of knowledge of the names of electrical devices, in-
quired whether it would be possible to have some of
those "things" in the baseboard put into her home, so
that she wouldn't have to unscrew lamps. When told
that it would be a matter of small expense to install
baseboard outlets in her home, the customer stated that
she would see her landlord about it that very day. The
saleswoman casually requested the name of the landlord.
The sale of a coffee percolator was effected, and the
saleswoman called the attention of the purchaser to
"some of the more recent electrical appliances." This
led to a demonstration of a vacuum cleaner, but the
customer, upon noticing the, amount marked on the
price tag, remarked that she couldn't afford to buy one.
The saleswoman then proceeded to explain that the com-
PIO, 2— READY FOR A DEMONSTRATION TO THE CUSTOMER
pan] sold gucn devices upon tin- part-payment plan, re
quiring only small monthly payments. In this way an-
other sale was effected, careful note being made of the
section of the city in which the cleaner was to be used
so as to supply one suitable to the electric service in the
section. The customer left the store well pleased with
the service she had received, and immediately the con-
tracting department was instructed to follow up the
landlord and sell the extra outlet if possible.
Price tags are attached to all articles in the Weider-
man store and in the show window, for the reason that
this custom stimulates the public to familiarize itself
with the prices of electrical appliances. It is believed
that anyone is more likely to buy an appliance when he
-•»***
_^— -— — TTTTT^i
1
I, .Tj. . -fl
0 ,■ J?
• —
■ i
a
psaUJ
art u
-r^
■1 in « - -'''■**"'-• ,,, mBSL ssssitfil
FIG. 3-
-THIS FLATBUSH AVENUE STORE FRONT IS ONE OF
BROOKLYN'S BRIGHT SPOTS AT NIGHT
knows that it comes within his means, as is shown by
the price tags, than if he has no knowledge of prices
whatsoever. The saleswomen in the store are instructed
to recommend additional baseboard outlets, taps, etc.,
when selling devices, doing so in a way which will have
no bad effect upon the customer's opinion of the store
or its service. Where desired, the company also dem-
onstrates devices in the home, and always when a sale
is once made a record of it is maintained for use in
connection with the company's advertising and house-
to-house visits.
Interdependence of Store and Contracting Business
Mr. Weiderman stated that his store and his elec-
trical contracting business have proved exceedingly
interdependent. The store has attracted people desir-
ing electrical contracting work, while the wiring of
homes and stores has led to the sale of appliances. The
fact that the company loses a bid in no way prevents it
attempting to sell appliances, so even unsuccessful bid-
ding may result in sales being made. In fact, Mr.
Weiderman says that, combined, the two businesses act
as a splendid advertising medium for each other. Many
are the cases where the wiring of homes has enabled
the company to sell a number of appliances, and many
are the cases where the sale of appliances has enabled
the company to obtain contracta for the installation of
baseboard outlets and switches. The show window and
the store he considers to be about the best type of ad-
vertising possible for his electrical contracting business.
They impress themselves upon the minds of passers-by.
and when such persons are in the market for electric
wiring they are very apt to follow the path of least re-
sistance and call at his Btore
Pig, 5 shows a view of the Weiderman show win-
dow. The display is changed once a week, and extensive
use is made of Suggestions and material secured from
manufacturers and the Societj for Electrical Pevclop-
Ai'kii. 24, 1916
E IK' I RICAL W ORLD
1055
ment. All arti
-» as to familiarize the public with the cost of elec-
trical appliances. Both stationary and motion displays
are employed from time to time, Mr. Weiderman believ-
ing that the electrical contractor should advertise by
means of electric signs, and an electric window sign is
tnnection with manj of the displays. The
FIG. A THE BUSINESS OFFICE IS ACCESSIBLE TO CUSTOMERS
windows and the store are well illuminated at night,
and in front of the building an ornamental lamp-post
gives additional light and attracts further attention,
On top of the building is an electrically illuminated sign
'■'>) reading "Geo. Weiderman Electric Co. We
Electrify Your Home, Office and Factory."
To prove the importance of having a place of busi-
vhich attracts the attention of passers-by and fixes
itself upon their minds Mr. Weiderman cited the fact
that many persons living in Brooklyn and having offices
in Manhattan have stopped in at the Brooklyn store
and ordered electric fans to be delivered to their offices
in the larger borough. In some cases they even carry
the fans themselves to their Manhattan offices. This is
particularly interesting in view of the fact that ade-
quate facilities for obtaining electric fans are available
in the numerous stores in New York City proper, and
because the sales cannot be traced to any other source.
Upon being asked why he employed saleswomen in
preference to salesmen in his store, Mr. Weiderman
stated that he believed a woman is better able to hold
the customer's attention than a man. He illustrated
this statement by saying that he also employs a sales-
woman who travels about the city demonstrating and
selling electrical appliances in the home. A man, he
stated, in many cases would be shown the door, but a
woman commands more respect. A man will not be rude
to a woman, and a woman will hesitate less before ad-
mitting a saleswoman into her home than she would
in the case of a salesman.
The outdoor saleswoman has in many cases actually
been able to obtain electrical contracting work for the
company. When asked how he knew that this was so,
Mr. Weiderman replied that the records show that she
has been the direct means of securing more contracts
for house wiring in Brooklyn than any of the com-
pany's men employed for that purpose.
Bargain Sales
Mr. Weiderman believes in bargain sales, and for
three reasons — first, they are a direct application of de-
partment-store methi . ertise not
only his store but his electrical contracting busi
and, third, they create a desire on the part of the pub-
lic for the appliances being sold at bargain prices. In
this way not 01 ' the appliances advertised
but sales of other appliances have been effected. U
over, the company thus obtains the names of the pur-
chasera and adds them to its prospective list of cus-
tomers for other electrical appliances. The public also
[jets from these sales some idea of the type of service
which the store renders.
"Prospect" List and Follow -I \> of < nstomera
Numerous methods are employed for obtaining a
pect" list for electrical appliances. Records are
made of the names and addresses of all persons buying
electrical appliances from the company. Efforts are
made, with very good success, to sell devices when wir-
ing a home. Use is also made of the directory and of
real-estate journals. The saleswoman also goes from
door to door not only selling appliances but obtaining
information as to whether or not the houses visited are
wired for electricity. This information is, of course,
valuable in the contracting department, and when it is
learned that a house is not wired efforts are made to
induce the owner or occupants to have wires put in.
Card records are maintained giving the name of the
customer and the appliances sold as well as names of
prospective customers.
Extensive use is made of the daily newspapers and
theater programs as a means of advertising devices and
of obtaining new customers. Advertising literature is
sent out to customers and prospective customers once
a month, including advertising material furnished by
manufacturers and the Society for Electrical Develop-
ment. The booklets obtained from these sources are
conspicuously displayed in racks in the store, so that
customers desiring any literature can easily find what
they want.
A Follow-up Letter
In cases where the firm knows already that the home
1
lU.
PI
i
*• M- 1 • J. V W : J
Mi: •"» — ATTRACTIVE WINDOW DISPLAYS BRING BUSINESS
is wired a one day's notice of the call of the house-to-
house saleswoman is given. This is done by a per-
sonally addressed typewritten letter of the following
nature:
"Deai: Madam Our representative, Miss s E. EQlbourn, will
call <>ri you Monday with reference to showing you some of the
most recent electrl which are being Introduce
1066
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 17
even home, We should very much if you would
glw her your attention for a few minutes, as we feel sure that
what she has will interest you. Thanking you In advance for this
courtesy, we are, very truly yours,
"Qeoroi Wbiderman Ki.kctkic COMPANY,
- ^ued) "George Welderman, President."
The letter, Mr. Weiderman maintains, arouses a per-
curiosity and generally insures a cordial recep-
tion of the company's representative. One reason for
this is that the letter arouses interest by the use of the
expression "most recent electrical appliances which are
being introduced in every home." The recipient of the
letter wants to know what these "most recent electrical
appliances which are being introduced in every home"
are, and hence is willing to obtain the information from
the company's representative at a minimum expendi-
ture of time.
Another type of letter that is frequently sent out
makes a direct appeal, citing the investment value of
electric wiring and soliciting an opportunity to submit
an estimate. The value of this latter type of letter
can be estimated by the number of people who as a
direct result write or call in regard to wiring, and by
the number of people calling at the store to see devices
and mentioning the letter. Such returns have proved
to Mr. Weiderman that advertising of this kind pays.
The letters referred to are by no means "form let-
ters," and their wording, of course, varies from time
to time with the nature of the subject and according to
the person addressed. When following up the first let-
ter, the representative, in making her call, has an op-
portunity to learn of any defective appliances, any need
for additional outlets, taps, etc. She is therefore inval-
uable to the contracting department. As previously
stated, she is also able to furnish the company with
valuable information in regard to prospective customers
for house wiring. Hence her salary and expenses are
not entirely chargeable to the appliance-sales business,
but also to the electrical contracting business. In fact,
it is doubtful in which field she is the more valuable,
the returns often coming in a very indirect manner.
Credit Methods
Many devices, especially those of higher price, are
sold on the part-payment plan. In general, easy month-
ly payments are arranged for, a record being kept of
any inability or difficulty in collecting payments on
previous appliances from the same person. The loss
due to inability to collect is about 5 per cent. Such ma-
chines as washing machine's and vacuum cleaners are
often sold on this basis. These machines are actually
kept in stock and can be demonstrated in the store.
Demonstrations are also given in the home, and free
trials are allowed.
The overhead expense in conducting a store Mr.
Weiderman finds to be greater than in conducting an
electrical contracting business, but each class of busi-
ness affects the other to so great an extent that it is
difficult to say what portion of the effort put forth in
building up and maintaining an electrical store should
be charged to the contracting business. For this rea-
son, he believes, it is well for the contractor entering
upon the sale of electrical appliances to remember that,
even while he is waiting for the store to show a profit,
investigation may show that it has already done this
by increasing the volume of electrical contracting work.
The length of time required before a store shows returns
is largely dependent upon local conditions, such as the
percentage of the population of the city or town which
Ba the store each day, the extent to which the
in town are wired and the types of competition
existing.
nccessfull) with the department, drug
and hardware stores that may be selling electrical ap-
pliances, Mr. Weiderman thinks that the electrical con-
tractor should not only employ similar methods but
should take full advantage of all opportunities for di-
rect solicitation, employing his ability to demonstrate
devices and to offer expert advice, and, finally but not
least, rendering service in the form of repairs. In
short, successful competition is merely a question of
service, and the firm that can offer the better and more
expert services under inviting conditions gains the bulk
of the trade. The electrical contractor can render serv-
ice which other stores cannot, and the fundamental fea-
tures of department-store service are of a type which
the contractor can easily adopt. In these facts lies the
secret of successful competition with other classes of
stores in a type of business which after a reasonable
length of time is sure to yield direct and indirect prof-
its of no mean proportions.
Opportunity of the Electrical Store
When electrical contractors in general realize the
opportunity that an electrical store presents, Mr. Weid-
erman feels that the hardware, drug and department
stores will cease to sell electrical appliances, for when
the contractor is able to give service superior to that
offered by these stores the latter will have the choice
of either discontinuing the sale of such appliances or of
selling them at a great loss.
Mr. Weiderman feels that when the electrical con-
tractor actually takes advantage of the opportunities
offered him, the central stations also will discontinue
the sale of electrical appliances. They have been forced
to take up the sale of appliances, he claims, for the
simple reason that electrical contractors have not in
general been awake to their opportunities, and he feels
sure that when once the central station discovers that
the sale of devices can be efficiently and satisfactorily
cared for by electrical contractors it will be more than
willing to hand this business to them.
Testing Vehicle-Battery Jars Electrically
For testing vehicle-battery jars, after overhauling
the batteries, the transportation department of the
Commonwealth Edison Company. Chicago, 111., makes
use of a lead-lined tank to which one side of a 110-volt
circuit is connected. The tank is half filled with low-
gravity acid and the battery to be tested is immersed
in the tank, its plates being connected by a flexible
32 Candle power Lamps
TESTING BATTERS TARS FOR (HACKS OR FAULTS
jumper to the other side of the circuit through a bank
of twelve 82-cp lamps. Any leak or fault in the recep-
tacle is then quickly brought to notice by the existence
Of a current, which usually burns a hole in the jar.
Faulty jars thus discovered are broken up, and the
■ in ml sides and bottoms are used for the purpose of
covers.
Aran 24, 1911
E 1 K CTRICA 1- \V (> RL I)
1057
Service Rules of Twelve Central Stations
Similarity of Regulation- I- Noticed in Practice of Large Operating Companies
of East and Middle Weal
BEFORE equipment to be operated with central-
station energy is installed, contractors are usual-
ly required to apply to the electric-service com-
pany for information regarding service entrance and
basement. For a similar service in Washington, D. C,
the electric-service company charges the full cost of the
traction from the overhead line to the basement.
Some of the companies are allowed to serve several
houses from one bus line, twelve connections being al-
FIG. 1 — CONTRACTORS
REQUEST FOR SERVICE-ENTRANCE
LOCATION
meter location and rules governing the particular work
to be done. Service rules which have been adopted by-
twelve central-station companies in this country are
tabulated in the accompanying chart, which was incor-
porated in a paper presented recently before the Brook-
lyn company section of the National Electric Light
Association by Mr. Z. D. May hew. All of the com-
panies required balancing of circuits, as well as ap-
proval of the electrical work by the city department,
fire underwriters or other bodies having authority over
such matters.
Overhead Service
If a consumer desires to have the meter installed in
the basement, the contractor is required, with one ex-
ception, to run an iron pipe containing the entering
cables from a point 15 ft. above the street level to the
cellar and provide the lower outlet with meter loops.
The Edison Electric Illuminating Company of Brooklyn,
on the other hand, extends all overhead services to the
basement either by means of a standpipe down the front
or side of the building or by placing a service switch on
the first floor and running wires to the cellar where the
PIG. 2 CANOPY REQUIRED BY CHICAGO COMPANY TO PRO-
TECT SERVICE AND METERS WHEN UNDER SIDEWALK
meter is set. Whether the distribution circuit is over-
head or underground, the contractor is required to ter-
minate his lines within .'5 ft. of the front wall in the
basement except when service is supplied from the rear.
When underground service is required in Baltimore,
Md., or in Newark, N. J., the contractor is required
to extend the service from the lowest cross-arm to the
FIG. 3 — COMPANY'S REPLY TO REQUEST FOR SERVICE-
ENTRANCE LOCATION
lowed in Washington and five being permitted in
Brooklyn.
Underground Service
When the distributing circuit is underground, the
Potomac Electric Company installs the conduit from the
service mains to the curb line without cost to the con-
sumer, but from the curb line to the point where the
service enters the building the conduit is furnished and
installed by the company at the consumer's expense.
The Commonwealth Edison Company also bills the con-
sumer for extensions to the underground service inside
the property line. With very few exceptions, electric-
The PhiladelphiaElectricCo.
TENTW AND CHESTNUT STREETS
CONTRACTOR'S WIRING REPORT
Prdmlddi Occupied b>
Fl«turd Work by Addrddd
Chdrdctdrof WIHno
Rdmdrkd
Odtd
FIG. 4-
-WIRING REPORT TO BE FILLED OUT BY ELECTRIC
CONTRACTOR
service companies require the contractor to confer with
them before wiring is started so that the location of the
meter board may be designated. Failure to submit a
wiring report is penalized by the Philadelphia Electric
Company by removing the name of the non-complying
contractor from a registered list which is issued period-
ically by the company.
1058
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 17
Location of Meiers
Most companies prefer that the meters be installed at
a common point, but some allow the contractor to ter-
minate lines at the most convenient point. A rule has
been adopted recently by the Brooklyn company to the
effect that in apartment houses and in office buildings
all end-line cut-outs must be installed at one point in
the basement and as near as practicable to the service
entrance. When this is not possible two groups of end
lines will be allowed, provided that the resulting gap
is filled in by the contractor. The New York Edison
Company restricts the location of meters to within 7 ft.
from the floor and does not allow them to be set in bath-
rooms, bedrooms, closets or any rooms which are com-
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m;. ". 1 HABT BHOWING BBRVICE RULES KOK TWELVE DIfTERENT COMPANIES OPERATING IN THE EAST
AND MIDDLE WEST
Apkii. 24, 1916
ELECTRICAL WORLD
1059
monly locked or over any apparatus, such a- gas -■
which would prevent read] access to the meter.
The Edison Electric Illuminating Company of Boston
requires that in apartmi'iit houses and office buildings
meters must be grouped either in the basement or in
suitable cabinets OB each floor. No other location than
the basement will be considered by the United Electric
FIG. 6 ANGLE-IRON METKK RACK INSTALLED BY BROOK-
LYN COMPANY
Light & Power Company of New York City. The Com-
monwealth Edison Company of Chicago stipulates that
in office buildings meter loops should be installed at
central points in meter closets or public corridors, while
in apartment houses they should be in the basement.
Motors
To prevent line disturbances, all of the companies
limit the starting current of alternating-current and
direct-current motors, some stipulating that it be as
low as one and one-half times the full rated current,
while others allow three times the full-load current.
The Philadelphia and Brooklyn companies have ar-
ranged to operate two-phase, 220-volt motors from four-
wire systems, as it permits balancing of the phases and
has other advantages, including fusing of the primary
circuit. A number of companies require that both alter-
nating-current and direct-current motors above 1.5 hp
be wound for 230 volts. On the other hand, the Union
Electric Light & Power Company of St. Louis, Mo.,
allows direct-current motors up to 1.5 hp to be oper-
ated on 110-volt energy, while the Philadelphia Electric
Company allows alternating-current motors up to 1 hp
to be operated at the same pressure.
Efficient Co-operation with Local Company Offices
A large central-station syndicate with nearly a score
of local offices held a "get together" meeting at head-
quarters to devise means of improving co-operation
throughout the organization. Among the topics dis-
l iiased was local purchasing. The district office man-
agers brought out the point that the standing of the
organization in their territories had frequently been
aided by the policy of patronizing local merchants in
buying standard commodities, even though these might
be in some cases more cheaply furnished by the pur-
chasing department of the headquarters office. It was
vigorously argued that in offices where all supplies were
bought from the central bureau local business houses
felt that the company ought t" do something to support
trade in its immediate neighborhood. In the discussion
which followed the purchasing agent of the syndicate
agreed that a moderate amount of local purchasing was
no doubt a good thing, provided that the central depart-
ment was, as a general rule, given an opportunity to get
prices and forward these quotations to the local office.
In many cases where this had been done the district
office manager had secured a reduction in price from
the local concern closely corresponding to the minimum
quoted by the central purchasing bureau, with the re-
sult that the order was placed locally without loss of
money, satisfying the local business houses and ena-
bling the goods to be inspected before delivery.
Another point was the importance of sending rough
drafts or proofs of blank forms to the district office
coincidently with letters setting forth the details of
their proposed use. It was found that these blanks
were not only improved by criticism where this plan
was followed, but the headquarters office was in a better
position to purchase the required quantities from the
printers where the local offices had full opportunity to
pass judgment upon the forms before their make-up was
finally determined. It was also brought out in the con-
vention that the efficiency of the local offices all over the
field could be increased by the inauguration and main-
tenance of a policy of sending to the home office the
details of any labor-saving apparatus or methods locally
adopted as a result of district office activities. From
headquarters meritorious devices and methods are now
to be passed on to other district offices, and an inter-
change of efficiency practice thus secured.
Eastern Time at Cleveland and Its Effect on the
Central-Station Load
For a number of months the city of Cleveland has
been observing Eastern standard time, having set its
clocks forward one hour to gain the advantage of more
natural light toward the end of the working day. The
railroads entering Cleveland maintain the original sched-
ule of Central standard time, and the neighboring com-
munities in Ohio have not altered their clocks. As the
result, travelers leaving Cleveland experience consider-
able confusion in catching trains, but Clevelanders find
that on knocking off work in the evening an hour more
of daylight remains than formerly, and most of the
citizens appear well satisfied with the change.
At the time the clocks were set forward there was
considerable speculation on the effect the change might
have on the load curve of the local lighting system. It
was anticipated that while the evening peak load might
be diminished, a corresponding increase would be noted
in the consumption during the early-morning hours, and
that this, taken with the improved load-factor, would
offset the loss in the demand for lighting energy at
nightfall.
Any accurate comparison of the load conditions under
Eastern and Central time schedules is interfered with
by a number of factors, including the general depression
of business, the operation of factories on half time, the
inauguration of municipal competition, etc. Eliminat-
ing these influences so far as possible, it is the opinion
in the Cleveland Electric Illuminating Company's offices
that, owing to the time change alone, the kilowatt-hour
output of the company has been decreased by about 5
per Cent, the evening peak has been lowered, the use of
electricity in the morning hours has been increased,
although not to the extent anticipated, and the load-
factor of the system has been improved.
1060
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 17
Merchandising Methods
Applying the "Show-Me" Policy in Motor-Service
Sales
Several months ago the Arkansas Valley Railway,
Light & Power Company of Pueblo, Col., submitted data
to the Warner Fence Company of that city on the cost
"When engineering data fail because the prospective
customer is a manufacturer and not an engineer, I be-
lieve it good practice to treat him as a Missourian and
"show him.' In doing this, of course, the central sta-
tion must be very conservative in its estimate."
35-HP MOTOR AND THE ENGINE IT REPLACED
of operating its factory, which was formerly steam-oper-
ated, by electricity. Careful tests had been made on the
40-hp engine, cards taken, the coal weighed, water
measured, and the items of oil, waste and labor noted.
The report furnished by the central station showed the
possibility of a distinct saving in operating cost for the
fence company, besides outlining the convenience, clean-
liness and compactness of an electric-motor installation.
Mr. J. C. Bruce, operating manager of the fence com-
pany, examined the report with interest, but expressed
some doubt whether the installation proposed would
actually work out in practice, besides offering the ob-
jection that he did not care to make the investment at
that time.
To prove the confidence of the central-station com-
pany in its own case, however, Mr. E. F. Stone, super-
intendent of lighting and power for the Arkansas Val-
ley company, offered to furnish all the necessary wiring
and the motor complete ready to run, for a period of
three months, without any cost to the prospective cus-
tomer, except for the energy consumed as shown by
meter. It was further agreed that the work was to
be done after factory working hours so that the plant's
operation would not be interfered with. If at the end
of the three months' trial period the fence company
felt satisfied with electric drive, it agreed to purchase
the outfit, motor and wiring at a figure already named.
If the customer was not satisfied, the lighting company
offered to remove the motor and installation without
further cost to the manufacturer. As the installation
was a trial one and it was desired to minimize expense,
the permission of the manager was obtained to take
the connecting rod and guides off the engine and to in-
stall the motor on I up of the bedplate, as shown in the
accompanying illustration.
After three months' experience with this 35-hp motor,
Mr. Bruce found his doubts resolved and expressed
himself as thorOUghlj pleased with the character of
service and the cost of operation of his new electric
installation, and he h B I tei Foi electric
drive.
in commenl of this Installal ion. M r.
Stone, of the Arkansas Vallej company, remarks:
Taking Customers Into Your Confidence and Into
Your Home
During the spring and summer months Mr. W. A.
Smith, vice-president of the Light & Development Com-
pany of St. Louis, wrote a series of successful circular
letters to the company's electric-service customers rec-
ommending tried and proved household electrical ap-
pliances. The letters, with their paragraphs of human
interest, demonstrated the usefulness of this type of
central-station advertising and were reproduced in part
in the Electrical World of Aug. 15, 1914.
To follow these letters with more tangible proof of
his sincerity and friendship, Mr. Smith recently mailed
to each of the company's residence patrons a booklet
showing the interior of his home with his own electrical
appliances in use. The cover of the booklet depicts the
front of the house and the inscription above it reads :
"The Latch String Is Out." Beneath appears the sig-
nature which had been attached to each preceding
letter, "Your friend, Bill Smith." Except for the titles
under the photographs, the only printed matter in the
pamphlet appears on the first page. It says:
"IN EXPLANATION:
"My letters to you stated that each article recom-
mended had been first tried, found of real value, and
then purchased and installed in my home.
"The object of this little booklet is to throw the home
open to you that you may see the appliances in actual
use.
"Because you are my friend it gives a me pleasure
to do this.
"Losing sight of a natural objection to appear in
public, through a desire to help and as hostess to wel-
come you, Mrs. Smith appears in the pictures actually
pi
t^^^mar / ■, y^rff
PIO. 1 -THE smith FAMILY AT an ELECTRICAl
BREAKFAST
Operating the appliances shown, all Of which now form
a part of our home.
" 'Tis but fair to pay her the tribute of saving that I
attribute to her help and cheerful co-operation a large
part of such success as has come to me. Your friend.
"Bill smith."
April 24, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
L061
Following this page of explanatory comment
nine full-page pictures showing Mrs. Smith operating
an electric washer, an iron, a range, a toaster, a perco-
-USING AN ELECTRIC RANGE WITH ENERGY AT
6 CENTS PER KW-HR.
lator, a waffle iron, and a sewing machine. Then fol-
lowed views showing the elder "Bill Smith, Jr.," a boy
of twelve years, operating a vacuum cleaner; the
younger Bill Smith, Jr., a few months old, "cooled off
and put to sleep by an electric fan," and lastly "Bill
Smith" himself, the day's work over, enjoying a pipe in
the comfort of his den under the rays of a portable
reading lamp.
Advertising for Electrical Contracting Work
The average electric contractor does very little adver-
tising, or, if he does much, he is often at a loss as to
urally determined by the high cost of advertising in such
mediums. Pigs. 1 and :'» show reproductions of adver-
tisements printed on back of postal cards. By keeping a
¥
Electrical Work
OF EVERY DESCRIPTION
^gL
Motors
furnshed, wired and installed com-
plete for varioui uses, Mich as Print-
ers' Machinery. Wnulaung Facii.
P«mp», Sewing Machine* and all
other powei-dnvcn machinery
Electric Lighting
for Stores, Office*. Factories, Residences, etc.
Ma/da Lamp Agents
We can suggest the best lighting arrangement to
use, consistent with the least cost to install and
the most economical to operate.
a
Private Telephone
Systems
installed ; Irora two stations up.
Hundreds of our systems ate in
u*e in Philadelphia in residences
and all kinds of bus.ness estab-
lishments. Every telephone is
guaranteed perfect operation
for tiro yxars.
" Push a button, talk and
save a walk-
General Repairing
of all Kind,
M. E. ARNOLD & CO.
ELECTRICAL CONTRACTORS
114 NORTH IIth ST.. PHILADELPHIA
HELL ESTABLISHED KF1 STONE
I ILBERT 5281 1897 RACE 144
FIG. 2 — WALL-CARD TYPE OF ADVERTISEMENT
list of former customers and prospective customers such
advertising has been found to be very cheap and effec-
tive. Fig. 2 is a reproduction of a wall hanger which
A Good Formula
ELECTRIC WORK >< M. E. ARNOLD & CO. = SATISFACTION
A simple rule which if tried once, will be used again
Stores. (Hh r Mills, [-juoric* or Residences wired fol lighl
telephones, bells, etc
Estimate) on anything electrical, and repairing oi every :
m. E. ar:\old & co.
Electrical Contractors I established I
114 N. ELEVENTH STREET I — 1
Even If You're NOT "From Missouri"
We will "Show" you how Electrical work can
be done in the RIGHT way at the RIGHT price
M.E.ARNOLD & COMPANY
Electrical Contractors
Electric Lighting. Motors. Dynamos. Bells, Tele-
phones. Fans, and every kind of Repair Work
%?„,fm"-. 114 North Eleventh Street
FIG. 1 — POST-CARD ADVERTISKMENT
FIG. 3 — POST-CARD ADVERTISEMENT
the relative value of various mediums. The accompany-
ing illustrations show some of the advertisements used
with success by M. E. Arnold & Company, electrical
contractors, Philadelphia, Pa. Newspaper advertise-
ments are also employed, the size of which is nat-
the firm sent to stores, offices, factories, etc., where the
card would be seen by numerous persons. All the types
of advertising illustrated have been found to pay. The
firm does a general electrical repair and contracting
business.
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 17
"Winking" Exit Lamps in Motion-Picture Theater
Nearly all motion-picture houses are equipped with
red exit lamps which burn continuously during the
presentation of the films, but in most cases patrons be-
come so accustomed to the steady glow of these lamps,
or so interested in the performance, that the significance
of the red-lighted "Exit" signs is lost. To remind his
customers of the location of the carefully arranged exits
in his new theater, an enterprising "movie" proprietor
in Chicago has inserted thermostatic "winking" sockets
in the exit signs, these sockets being adjusted to inter-
rupt the lamp circuits, momentarily only, at intervals
of thirty seconds.
Making Use of Contractors' Windows at Cleveland
Combining excellent publicity with helpful co-opera-
tion for local contractors, the Cleveland Electric Illu-
minating Company operates illuminated-sign displays
^ p
M":-«lZ;mjh EUCLID AVE. ELECTRIC A»i: ^.
Xf V =
| — "iMgiM ^ Mil 1
FIG. 1 — CENTRAL-STATION SIGNS ON CLEVELAND DEALER S
STORE
in the store fronts and show windows of a number
of electrical dealers and contractors. Two typical
installations are illustrated herewith. Such locations
are particularly logical for central-station signs, for
■ "I ■ -
ft III
lh.. 2 ILLUMINATING COMPANY 8 ADVERTISEMENT IN
CONTRACTOR'S window
the prospective customer, once Impressed with the idea
of installing electricity in his home, looks about for a
contractor to do the work. On the other hand, the
rental received from the central station company enables
the dealer or contractor to maintain a higher standard
of illumination in his store than he might otherwise be
able to afford. In some instances the lamps installed to
light the electric company's sign serve also to illuminate
the dealer's window display.
Two-Wire Limit for Chicago Residence Installa-
tions Increased to 2640 Watts
In a circular letter just sent out to Chicago electrical
contractors the Commonwealth Edison Company an-
nounces that hereafter all residence and apartment
lighting installations which do not exceed 2640 watts
or four circuits must have the service mains and meter
loops wired two-wire, as such installations will be con-
nected to the company's system by two service wires
at 115 volts. The Commonwealth Edison Company
will not hereafter connect such an installation three-
wire, unless the connected load exceeds the above stated
limits.
Business-lighting installations will be connected as
heretofore; that is, all installations of over 1320 watts
must be wired for three-wire service and three-wire
meter loops. If such an installation totals less than
1320 watts, it should be wired with two-wire service
How a New York Church Financed the Installation
of Illuminated Crosses on the Steeple
On the steeple of a Presbyterian Church in the north-
ern section of New York City are four illuminated
crosses which have called forth much favorable com-
ment from people in the vicinity. The crosses are
illuminated each night at dusk and remain so the greater
part of the night. They can be seen for considerable
distances in every direction and call attention to the
place of worship. While they were intended primarily
to remind people of their religious duties, thereby in-
CHURCH WITH ILLUMINATED CROSSES
creasing the congregation and consequently the revenue
of the church, their installation has been financed by
persons wishing to pay a lasting tribute to the memory
of relatives. Knergy for lighting the lamps is supplied
by the United Electric Light A Power Company.
Apkii j-4. 1916
E I. K CTRIC A I. Wo RLD
1063
Substantial Saving with Electric Vehicles
Complete Equipment and Modern Methods Enable Publishing
Company to Effect Economies on short Hauls
BY replacing horse-drawn vehicles used for hauling
n>U< of paper, waste paper, coal, mail anil freight
by electric trucks with demountable bodies and
adopting efficient means of loading and unloading, the
Curtis Publishing Company, Philadelphia, publisher of
the Latliis' llm in Journal; the Saturday Evening Post
and t.' tleman, effected during the year
1914 a Baving of 112,648, "r 18.6 cents per ton, the total
tminage for the year being 93,000. The costs include
all overhead expenses, interest on investment at 6 per
cent, and depreciation at 10 per cent, and have been
compared with the rates previously obtained from team-
ing contractors.
Former Conditions
Prior to August. 1912, the hauling of paper to the
company's plant at Independence Square from its ware-
house at South Eleventh Street and Washington Ave-
nue, the hauling of its periodicals to the Broad Street
station of the Pennsylvania Railroad, to the post office
on Market Street, and to wharves along the Delaware
l> pea <ii I rucks Emplo] ed
The four-motor, four-wheel-driven type of electric
truck manufactured by the Commercial Truck Company
of America. Philadelphia, was selected as being best
adapted to the conditions. The tirst truck was
tons haulage rating and was purchased in August, 1912.
This purchase was followed tirst by a 0. 5-ton two-wheel-
driven truck for carrying money, and later by four-
wheel-driven trucks for various purposes, until at the
end of the summer of 1914 the final truck was purchased,
resulting in the equipment shown in Table I. During
the year 1914 the electric trucks handled the entire
haulage for the plant with the exception of the coal
hauling, which was performed by teams under an ex-
isting contract during the first part of the year.
Demountable Bodies
With the exception of the 0.5-ton and the 1-ton ma-
chine, all the trucks can be used with demountable bod-
ies when desired. These bodies are of two types, one
FIG. 1 -INTERIOR VIEW OF GARAGE
River, the removal of baled waste paper from the plant,
and the hauling of coal to the plant, were done under
contract by a local teamster. In order to place periodi-
cals on sale simultaneously at all points throughout the
country they must be shipped by certain trains and cer-
tain boats without failure. Although the horse-drawn
vehicles were always able to maintain the mailing sched-
ule, six horses sometimes being used on a two-horse
truck in blizzard weather, certain members of the Cur-
tis Publishing Company were of the opinion that the
haulage bills could be reduced by the use of motor
trucks operated by the company, and they were able to
induce the directors to make extensive tests with differ-
ent sizes and types of motor trucks in the hope of dem-
onstrating that an expenditure of about $90,000 for
trucks and a garage would prove a good investment. The
electric truck proved to be the most economical. The
maximum efficiency of the gasoline-driven types of truck
could not be obtained owing to short hauls averaging
about 1.1 miles in the most congested parts of the city.
for handling periodicals, paper, etc., and the other for
handling coal. The former type of demountable body
i Figs. 4, 5 and 6) has been designed primarily for the
3.5-ton trucks, but it is capable of carrying 5-ton loads
and can be used with the 5-ton trucks by dropping the
body in the center of the truck platform.
The demountable coal bodies (Fig. 3) were designed
for use with the 5-ton trucks, but can be employed on the
7-ton truck. The hauling of coal from the storage plant
forming part of the warehouse to the main plant is
done at night, thus keeping the trucks in almost con-
tinuous operation at times. The coal bodies, which were
supplied by the Edward G. Budd Manufacturing Com-
pany, Philadelphia, are of the side-discharge type, with
funnel-shaped bottoms. They are not entirely self-un-
loading because the height of side necessary to accom-
plish this is greater than the distance from the ground
to the overhanging portion of the coal pockets from
which the trucks are loaded. Four pins dropped through
holes in lugs attached to the body frame and through
1064
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 17
registering holes in the platform serve to keep the body
of a truck in place. The bodies are mounted on the
trucks at the garage, where two differential chain-falls
fitted with special arms for lifting the bodies are pro-
vided.
Warehouse Methods of Handling Materials
The warehouse of the company is a four-story build-
ing situated at Washington Avenue and South Eleventh
Street. The rear side and one end of the ground floor
are so built as to house spur tracks from the Pennsyl-
TABLE I — ELECTRIC VEHICLE EQUIPMENT
The crane removes the roll of paper and lowers it into
a small four-wheeled truck by means of which the rolls
are taken to storage spaces on the upper three floors of
the warehouse to await their turn to be transferred to
the plant.
A loading bay 20 ft. in depth is provided at the ware-
house, the rear of the bay being 20 ft. to the rear of
Number
of Trucks
Rating
in Tons
Load Carried from
Load Carried to riant Plant
1
7*
Paper Erom warehouse i 1 miles
distant.
Baled wash- paper
1
i
Money from bank. Furst-claaB
mail.
Money to bank. Firat-
clasa mail.
4
7
3*1
Paper from warehouse. Five-
ton trucks also haul coal at
night from warehouse
Periodicals to DOSt^offioi ,
wharves and railroad.
1
1
Picks up ink, paste, etc., also
empty freight bags from
freight yards.
Small freight, etc.
•The 3.5-ton trucks handle all paper until its amount exceeds
their rating, when the 5-ton and later the 7-ton trucks are also
employed. The periodical load is heaviest during the interval
from the tenth to the twentieth of any month. To balance the
truck service during the intervening periods more paper than is
required for immediate use is carried to the plant and stored for
use during periods of maximum periodical load
vania Railroad. The rolls of paper are removed from
the freight cars, the floors of which are level with the
warehouse platform, by means of a 1-ton differential
chain-fall mounted on a traveling I-beam running on I-
beam tracks hung from the second-floor girders. By
mounting the traveling beam on two small carriages
which are pivoted on two other carriages that run on
the lower flanges of the fixed beams, the traveling beam
can be moved parallel with or at any angle to the tracks,
thus permitting the beam to be inserted into the box cars
regardless of their position.
After the traveling beam has been inserted in a box
car, two men insert the ends of a U-shaped frame at-
tached to the chain-fall on a beam inserted into the end
of the hollow steel core around which the paper is rolled.
t^^k
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g§3r
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b 31 ™
y
FIG. 2 — UNLOADING ROLLS OF PAPER
the building line, thus causing the upper three floors of
the building to cover the bay and protect it from rain
and snow. The trucks are backed against a platform
and are loaded by means of a number of differential
chain-falls which run on I-beams attached to the under
sides of the second-floor girders.
Conditions at Plant
At the plant there is provided an inner court equipped
with a glass-canopied platform along two sides for the
reception of rolls of paper and the shipping of waste
paper. Some mail is handled from the court and the
remainder from a bay on the Sansom Street side of the
building. Here electric hoists mounted on carriages
operating on I-beams, placed at right angles to the
edge of the platform and projecting beyond it, are em-
ployed for handling paper (Fig. 2).
A'^h^^w^BH^^HSL -sis
7^ ... _
FIO. 3 — DEMOUNTABLE COAL BODIES INSTALLED ON TRUCKS
April 24, 1916
ELECTRICAL WORLD
1066
The rolls of paper are picked up by a balanced hori-
zontal arm with which the hoist is equipped, the end
the arm being bent downward BO ai to tit into the endt
of the hollow steel core around which the paper is rolled.
Upon being removed from th.' truck the rol.
DEMOUNTABLE BODY
)R LOADING
are not deposited on the unloading platform, but are low-
ered to the basement storeroom through a hatch directly
under the hoist's I-beam. The driver and one man can
unload or load the average paper truck in a minimum
time of ten minutes. As a result the combined loading
time at the warehouse and the unloading time at the
plant is only about 20 per cent of the total time of a
round trip, which averages about fifty minutes.
Baled waste paper is carried by the trucks on their
return trip. This paper is hoisted from the baling ma-
chine in the basement to the loading platform by means
of an electric elevator.
Application of Demountable Bodies
The accompanying illustrations show the construction
and methods of handling demountable bodies. These
bodies are lifted at the plant by means of triplex hoists,
which move parallel to the platform and also permit of
a vertical movement. The bodies are loaded while sus-
pended by means of hand trucks, which in turn receive
In this way the loading time of a 3.5-ton truck has been
reduced from eighteen minutes to about three minutes.
At present the demountable body offers no advantage
at the post office, wharves or railroad depots, as equip-
ment to handle it has not been installed. Effort
being made, however, to obtain the privilege of installing
the necessary apparatus at the depot and wharves, and
if the negotiations result in such an installation, the
time of a round trip of a truck will be considerably re-
duced. The greatest delays, of course, occur at whai
where the inefficient dock employees and the inefficient
methods of handling freight, drays, etc., are responsible.
The negotiations with the railroad company are for
the entire use of a portion of its platform sufficient for
the unloading of three trucks at the same time and for
the erection of two overhead cranes for the removal of
demountable truck bodies. In this way it would be pos-
sible for a truck to have its body lifted and, during the
unloading thereof, to proceed to another of the three
positions to receive an empty body.
TABLE II— EXPENSES FOR THE YEAR 1914*
.Maintenance of tires $2,803.58
Maintenance of batteryt 269.28
Repairs! 3.404,88
-• and oil 50.00
Energy at about 4 rents per kw 8,482.66
Depreciation (10 per cent for machinery) 5,820.12
Interest (6 per cent) 314.52
Drivers' wages \, |
Supervision 2,410.00
Garaging and washing 3,940.32
•In comparing all of these figures it must be remembered that
only two of the trucks have been in service longer than eighteen
months. Overhead expenses are not given here, but are taken
into account in computing the saving of 13.6 cents per ton.
tFive reserve batteries are included.
tA general overhauling is included.
Garage
The garage is a one-story building approximately 78
ft. by 125 ft., constructed of brick with a steel roof. The
entire front portion of the building to a depth of ap-
proximately 50 ft. from the front wall is utilized as
garaging space for the trucks. The rear of the building
is divided by brick and brick-and-wood partitions into
rooms as follows : battery room, stock room, pit and
FIG. 5 — DEMOUNTABLE BODY READY FOB TRUCK
PIG. 6 — TRUCK READY TO RECEIVE LOAD
their supply of periodicals from an elaborate system of
conveyors. A short steel plate is used to bridge the dis-
tance between the edge of the platform and the edge of
a body while loading. The bodies are placed on the
trucks by simply lowering them and detaching the hoist-
ing chains. They are removed in the reverse manner.
repair room, truck-washing room, locker and toilet
rooms, office, machinery' room and boiler room.
The repair room is 24 ft. wide and is provided with
two drained truck pits which when not in use are cov-
ered by plank tops.
The vehicle-washing room is of interest in that, in
1066
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 17
addition to ceiling lamps, it is equipped with four spe-
cial lighting units for illuminating the under portions
of the trucks. One of these units is placed in each cor-
ner of the room. Each consists of a triangular box con-
taining a 60-watt tungsten-filament lamp and a large re-
flector. The lamps and reflectors are protected from
damage due to splashing water by means of circular
pieces of glass forming part of the front faces of the
triangular boxes.
The machinery room is equipped with a 75-kw motor-
generator set and a four-panel switchboard with
eighteen charging circuits. Fig. 8 is a reproduction
from a photograph taken when only three panels were
installed. A reverse-power relay is provided for open-
ing the circuit-breakers in case the direct-current volt-
age should fall below that of the batteries being
charged. The motor of the motor-generator set is
wound for 125 volts, the voltage at the batteries being
varied from about 110 volts to 120 volts during charg-
ing by means of rheostats in each charging circuit and
by varying the generator voltage.
One panel of the switchboard is devoted to the control
apparatus for the motor-generator. Each of the other
three is made up of three horizontal sections, each of
which controls two battery-charging circuits, thus giv-
ing a total of eighteen charging circuits. This type of
board was adopted so that charging sections can easily
be added as the fleet of trucks is increased.
A watt-hour meter is provided on the charging pan-
els for each charging circuit. Each meter has two scales,
one showing the amount of electric energy supplied to
the truck during any desired period of time and the
other showing the amount of energy supplied during a
charge. In this way actual cost records of energy con-
sumption can be maintained and the comparative effi-
ciencies of the trucks determined. The vehicle operators
are also required to keep data such as shown in Fig. 7,
which is a record of the 7-ton truck during the period
it was in the hands of one operator.
The building is steam-heated from a small boiler in-
stalled in it, the heating coils being 5 ft. above the floor
level so as to prevent damage from the trucks. The
battery-charging circuits are run in conduit near the
tops of the walls, passing downward at outlets to a
THE CURTIS PUBLISHING CO. DAILY AUTO REPORT
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poinl about 6 It. above the floor, where long cables arc
attached. When not in use, these cables are kept off
the floor by throwing them over hooks fastened to ropes
suspended from the roof trusses and weighted at the
other ends BufHcientrj to overbalance the weight.- of the
cables. The suspended charging cables have been pro
tected from the danger of being struck by trucks by the
erection on the floor at each end of the garage of wood
bumpers approximately 2 ft. wide.
The trucks and batteries are examined daily, and
there has never been an interruption in the service. Fif-
teen sets of batteries are maintained for use with the
MOTOR-GENERATOR AND CONTROL BOARDS
ten larger trucks, thus affording opportunity for re-
pairs, etc., without putting a truck out of service and
permitting the substitution of another battery in case
of long continuous service by a truck. Boosting service
is also provided at the plant.
Industrial Truck Service in Hospital
A 1-ton industrial electric truck, moderate in price
and economical in operation, is being employed in the
new buildings of the Boston (Mass.) Children's Hos-
pital to do the work formerly performed by four men.
During its nine months of service not one dollar has
been spent for repairs on this useful vehicle. The truck
is used for the transportation of food from the kitchen
to the elevators, for collecting and distributing wash-
ing, and for other odd jobs, and is operated in all about
20 miles per day. It is geared to run at 6 miles per
hour and is equipped with a battery of forty-four
cells, which are charged every other day with energy
supplied from the central power plant of the Harvard
Medical School. An automatic pedal on the truck
ELECTRIC-SERVICE TRUCK FOR CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL
cuts off the energy supply and applies the brake should
the operator's foot be withdrawn from the machine.
To avoid collisions with low pipes in the passageways
traversed there is provided a horizontal screen above
the operator's head as shown in the accompanying
illustration. The platform of the machine, which is
of the General Vehicle type, measures :?'•_. ft. by r>' ft.
Ai-Rii. 24, 1916
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Interior Construction
ELECTRIC WIRING I
Pilatiplea Covering Ml Installations— Proriaiona i'>r Pro-
tection from Injurv ;nul Fire
!:■. I rl ORG! i SHAAD
The general Bubject of electric wiring includes the
r circuits in central stations, the design and con-
struction of electric transmission lines and the layout
of distribution systems, both overhead and underground,
hut in a more restricted Bense il is considered to apply
to the wiring of buildings, other than electrical power
plants, for the supply nt" lighting and motor service and
to include the distribution system from the service wires
of the central-station company or the switchboard of
the isolated plant to the lamps and motors. The design
and construction of the transmission lines and the gen-
eral distribution systems are beyond the scope of the
present articles.
Electric wiring may be considered under two separate
headings — the general principles covering all wiring in-
stallations, and the practice of wiring, which includes
the multitude of special electrical fittings and devices
which are on the market. The principles are few in
number and can be treated somewhat in detail, but the
variety of the devices in use is very extensive and no
attempt will be made to cover such details of equipment
— Ground 2300- Volt Foeder
■ ■ ■
Po tent 10/ to Ground about 2300 Volts
T
i Ground
2300 Volt Feeder
110 Volt Mains
Potential to Ground 110 Volts remanent
Ground
B
FIG. 1 — GROUND DIAGRAMS
very completely. In the wiring of any building for
lighting and motor service, several things are to be kept
in mind. The first and most important of these is the
provision for safety, that is, the protection against fire
or personal injury, after which may be considered such
items as permanency, convenience in the control of elec-
trical equipment, appearance, cost, etc. In some excep-
tional cases it would appear that the matter of a low
first cost had received the prime consideration, but hap-
pily such installations are not now the rule.
The introduction of live wires into the ordinary build-
ing may become a fire risk, and hence the fire-insurance
interests have paid especial attention to the details of
electrical wiring. The consideration of this question by
the insurance organizations and others interested pri-
marily in electrical matters has resulted in the National
Electrical Code, as prepared by the National Fire Pro-
tection Association,' published by the National Board of
Fire Underwriters5; the issuing of a "List of Electrical
Fittings," as approved by the Underwriters' Labora-
'The electrical committee of the National Fire Protection Asso-
1 i:iticri. Ml Milk Street, Boston, MaSS.
'The. National Board of Kir- underwriters, 187 William Street,
Now York City.
'The Underwrite™' laboratories, Inc., Chicago, 111
. Inc., and the panging f,f special laws or ordi-
nance.- by many of the cities covering the matter of
electrical construction and inspection. The committee
Having the revision of the National Electrical Code in
charge ha- represi station from the American Institute
of Electrical Engineers, the National Electric Light As-
sociation, the American Electric Railway Association.
the National Electrical Contractors' Association and the
National Electrical Inspect ation, as well as
from the various lire-insurance organizations. The list
of electrical fittings is published every six months, and
fittings not included in this list should be used only
after special permission has been secured from the
insurance authorities. New devices cannot secure any
extensive market unless they are included in the "ap-
proved" list. The Underwriters' Laboratories make a
nominal charge for the tests and inspection of new de-
vices prior to their approval. Electrical contractors,
then, must be thoroughly familiar with the National
Electrical Code and know what fittings are "approved,"
and they should be familiar with the local laws or ordi-
nances governing electrical work.
The National Electrical Code
The National Electrical Code is a set of rules or re-
quirements governing the installation of electrical wires
and appliances prepared from the point of view of min-
imum fire risk, and it is the standard authority in the
United States and Canada. In England similar rules
are issued by the Board of Trade. There are good books
written with a view to interpreting the code and making
its principles clearer to the contractor and electri-
cian, but the code itself is fairly brief. It does not
deal directly with the matter of protection from pos-
sible personal injury and it is not a manual of design.
The chief incentive in the enforcement of the code is
the desire on the part of all concerned to have wiring
and appliances installed in a safe manner, and the code
is universally accepted as the authority for what is safe.
Protection from Personal Injury
Low-potential systems installed in accordance with
the National Electrical Code are not of themselves a
source of danger to persons occupying the building and
using the electrical devices as the insulation of the wir-
ing and fittings is supposed to guard against electrical
shock, but in many such installations there is the pos-
sibility of the accidental contact of some section of the
low-tension system with a high-tension line, in which
case the building installation may become a considerable
risk. It is for this reason that the permanent ground-
ing of some part of the low-tension wiring is strongly
recommended, and such grounding, up to potentials of
250 volts, is allowed by the National Electrical Code,
provided no energy flows over the ground wire under
normal conditions. With one conductor grounded the
other conductor of the two-wire system is always at
full potential against the ground, and it is in all cases
desirable that fixtures be so installed that they will
not ordinarily be touched by persons in contact with
the ground or with grounded pipes. Fixtures which are
so placed should be especially insulated. Cellars and
bathrooms are locations where this matter should have
especial attention. Where the wiring installation is a
high-voltage one protection against personal injury is
secured by so installing the conductors as to make ac-
cidental contact with them impossible, and by the use
of special insulation.
The protection secured against accidental injury from
high voltage by the grounding of the low-tension wiring,
provided such grounding is properly done, is not clear
to everyone, and the diagrams of Fig. 1 are offered in
explanation. In Fig. 1 a 2300-volt single-phase feeder
1068
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 17
and a 110-volt set of mains are represented at A. There
is no ground upon the low-tension system, but there is
a ground upon one of the high-tension wires and a cross
between the other wire and the low-tension system. A
person in contact with the ground and either wire of the
low-tension system is subject to a potential in the neigh-
borhood of 2300 volts. In Fig. 1 one wire of the low-
tension system is shown permanently grounded in B,
and the maximum potential which can exist between any
part of the low-tension wiring and the ground is 110
volts. With a low-resistance ground upon the high-
tension feeder the accidental cross with the low-tension
wiring will result in an interruption to service. It is
not always necessary for the ground upon the high-ten-
sion line to exist to make a cross with the low-tension
wiring dangerous, as the high-tension lines may be ex-
tensive enough to possess considerable capacity against
the ground, and the current charging this condenser
might prove fatal if passed through a person's body.
The main objections to the grounding of low-tension
wiring systems are these: A single accidental ground
upon the conductor of opposite polarity interferes with
the service; conductors of the opposite polarity are al-
ways at full potential to the ground; permanent grounds
are inconvenient when testing, and they cause an addi-
tional expense in the installation.
Electricity in Boston "Tech" Building Construction
Central-station energy is playing an important part
in the construction of the great educational "plant" of
the Massachusetts Institute of Technology at Cam-
bridge, Mass., which is being built by the Stone &
Webster Engineering Corporation of Boston. Thir-
teen buildings are now being erected, and later the
total will be increased to seventeen, all fronting on
the Charles River Basin and occupying an incompar-
ably fine location from the civic standpoint. The
FIG. 1 — MOTOR-DRIVEN BENDING MACHINE
buildings extend 800 ft. along the basin and run back
about 1200 ft. from the parkway bordering the water.
In general, reinforced-concrete const nut ion is em-
ed, with limestone and brick facings. The total
floor area is 730,000 sq. ft.
On the construction job, which is as carefully organ-
ized as would be an undertaking a thousand miles from
the headquarters office, a 35-hp motor drives wood-
working machinery in a temporary sawmill structure,
including B buzz planer, four saw tables, two swing-
i band Jaw, an emery stone and a boring ma-
i bine. A local machine shop, containing two drill
Ml in. lathe, a double emery wheel, two hack
i I in "Little Giant" bolt machine and a 21 m
to 8-in. Curtis & Curtis pipe cutter, is equipped with a
L6-hp motor I'.- feeding 'be pipe cutter with an OVCT
head traveler consisting of block and falls running on a
4-in. by Vk-in. wrought-iron rail, three men's services
are saved in operating the machine.
A large amount of steel rod bending is necessary in
the reinforcement work. Fig. 1 shows a "Star" bend-
ing machine belt-driven by a 10-hp motor, the machine
being capable of bending seven small rods at once with
FIG. 2 — PORTABLE MOTOR-DRIVEN HACK-SAW
close accuracy. Five 5-hp and two 10-hp motors are
also in service driving pumps at various points on the
property. Fig. 2 illustrates a portable hack-saw of
home-made construction. It is belt-driven by a ^-hp,
110-volt motor and is provided with wheels 8 in. in
diameter and with a face of 4 in., the wheels consisting
of wooden blocks banded by strap iron. Stock 24 in.
wide can be sawed in the machine, of which the port-
ability and adaptability to service at any lamp socket
have proved of great labor-saving value. The main
frame is built of 3-in. by 3-in. by 5 16-in. angle irons,
and the saw can be hauled about by one or two men
with little difficulty.
In the forge shop on the field are two forges, each of
which is equipped with a 12-in. Buffalo blower, directly
FIG. 3 — CONDUIT BENDER
driven by a '--hp motor. A 3-in. air pipe cares for
the delivery in each case, and a slide valve placed below
the forge bed affords close control of the draft at a level
which does not interfere with the handling of stock
between the forge and the anvil. About 50 miles of
conduit are being installed in connection with the wir-
ing for lighting, power, telephone, watchman's clock and
Apkil 24, 1916
ELECTRICAL WORLD
ionized ti:: used at the institute.
A home-made conduit bender I Fig. 3) is effectively
lit-!' of tv d different
size between which the conduit is placed, the bending
being effected by rotating ■ sliding < t < > j^r about the center
of the larger sheave and along the outer portion of the
pipe aa shown. The dog is mounted on a lever "> ft.
long, the lever being :! in. bj Vt in. in eection.
The larger sheave is 16 in. in diameter, and the smaller
one 9 in. Both are mounted on a plate attached to the
working table shown in the halftone, and the larger
sheave is equipped with a groove of varying diameter
to fit l'j in.. 1'i-in. and 1-in. conduit. The speed of
bending is a notable feature of the equipment.
Electrical service during construction is supplied by
the Cambridge Electric Light Company, the motors
being of the 220-volt induction type and of General
ric and Western Electric manufacture. A trans-
former station is situated on the side of the grounds
for local service. When the buildings are completed
energy will be supplied from a plant to be erected by
the institute and forming a part of its instruction
equipment. The initial boiler installation will total
1800 hp. The estimated maximum load is 1000 lew.
distributed mainly in alternating-current lighting and
power circuits, with a small amount of direct current
for laboratory service. In addition to utilizing exist-
ing generating apparatus, a new 750-kw turbo-genera-
tor set will be installed. Gas-filled incandescent lamps
will be extensively employed, and in classrooms, study
rooms and laboratories semi-indirect illumination will
be widely applied. About 500 distribution panels will
he required in the electrical circuits.
Electric Sewing Machines in Public Schools
Although many municipalities have installed electri-
cal cooking devices in schools for the benefit of the
scholars taking domestic-science courses, they have been
loath to change from the old foot-driven sewing ma-
chines to the electric-motor-driven types. The move-
ment in this direction, however, has received greater
impetus by the recent decision of the Board of Edu-
cation of Cincinnati, Ohio, to install electric sewing ma-
chines in rooms occupied by girls taking the public-
school sewing course. Many girls who learned to
use foot-power machines had much difficulty in accus-
toming themselves to motor-driven machines when they
took positions in the factories. Manufacturers advised
that the girls be given in their school training the ex-
perience that they will meet in factories, thus enabling
them to become more efficient operators when they leave
school than has been the case heretofore.
Electric Bus as Garage Advertisement
Mr. Harry Salvat, who has been operating an electric-
bus service from his garage at 740 East Fifty-first
Street, Chicago, to the nearby elevated and suburban
railway stations, recently made the statement that no
possible profit could be made from this service at the
5-cent fare charged. The chief value of the bus, he de-
clared, has been its effect as an advertisement in direct-
ing attention to his garage and in showing the pjublic
that comparatively heavy loads can be carried on bat-
tery-propelled vehicles. Many persons expressed sur-
prise when they saw this reconstructed depot wagon
pass with eight or ten persons aboard. The bus service
is operated for the convenience of the customers of Mr.
Salvat's garage, but other passengers are carried when
there is room available.
Lighting Practice
Improved Street Lighting at Hot Sprinu>. Ark.
Remarkable improvements have been made in the ap-
pearance of the main street* at Hoi Springs, Ark., by
replacing the old wooden poles with ornamental
designed to support trolley span wires, distribution cir-
cuits, street lamps and circuits, railway feeders, and
telephone and telegraph wires. The poles, which are 36
ft. 6 in. high, consist of three sections of telescoping
rolled-steel tubing having diameters of 9 in., 8 in. and
FIG. 1 — PORTION OF HOT SPRINGS "WHITE WAY"
7 in. respectively. The lower section, which passes
through a square ornamental base bearing the mono-
gram "H. S.," extends into a concrete footing.
About 13 ft. above the street level, attached to the
top of the 9-in. section, is a four-arm ornamental bracket
supporting 6.6-amp, 60-cp series tungsten lamps inclosed
in 12-in. diffusing globes. At the extreme top of the
2 — ORNAMENTAL LAMP-POST
CIRCUITS
SUPPORTING SEVERAL
pole is a "sky-pin." Arranged below it in the following
order are a two-pin cross-arm, a four-pin cross-arm and
another two-pin cross-arm. The insulators on the "sky-
pin" and upper cross-arm support three-phase 2300-volt
distributing circuits. Railway feeders are supported on
the pole pins on the four-pin arm, the other insulators
being employed for street-lighting circuits. The lower
cross-arm is for telephone and telegraph circuits. The
poles are painted in two shades of green, the cross-arms
being finished with aluminum.
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 17
About 150 of these poles have been installed, at a cost
of approximately $22,000. Citizens owning property
fronting on the streets benefited by the improved illumi-
nation have paid $50 per pole set. The contracts for
this installation were let last September, and all work
was completed in time for a general celebration two days
before Christmas. A portion of the "white way" is
shown in the accompanying illustration.
Details of the pole are represented in the line drawing.
In the cross-arms near the insulators are slots through
which cables can be run from the aerial circuits down to
the lamp terminals. If city ordinances ever require the
wires to be placed underground, the upper part of the
pole can be removed without detracting from the ap-
pearance of the lamp-post. The equipment was installed
by the Citizens' Gas & Electric Company, of which Mr.
S. E. Dillon is general manager.
Status of Arc Lamp as Street IUuminant
As light for efficient street illumination should be
directed below the horizontal plane through the light
source, comparisons of street-lighting units could be
made more satisfactorily if they were all rated in watts
per candle-power measured at a certain angle below the
horizontal plane. In speaking of "The Arc — Its Status
as a Street IUuminant," before the Illuminating En-
gineering Society, New York Section, recently, Mr.
C. A. B. Halverson, Jr., pointed out that a gas-filled
lamp equipped for street-lighting is no simpler than an
arc lamp and that the unit energy consumptions differ
only slightly. If anything, the magnetite-arc lamp is
more efficient than the gas-filled lamp. Moreover, as the
inclosing globes of both types of lamps have to be
cleaned periodically anyway, the time required for re-
placing carbon electrodes in arc lamps does not increase
the unit expense considerably.
The speaker declared that records are available show-
ing that arc lamps have been operated 350 houi's per
trim, while electrodes can be designed to last 700 or
800 hours. It was also stated that the mean spherical
candle-power of magnetite-arc lamps does not decrease
with usage as does that of incandescent units. Char-
acteristics of inclosed, titanium and magnetite-arc lamps
were described, their advantages outlined, and units of
each type displayed. Some of these were equipped with
refractors which direct the light flux 10 deg. below the
horizontal plane. One of the refractors contained an
etched unit which assists in diffusing the light. It was
pointed out that by employing ' flattened electrodes
shorter arcs and consequently lower voltages can be
used without decreasing the dispersion of the flux. This
method can be used to increase the number of lamps on
a circuit without changing the station equipment or
size of the conductors.
A discussion ensued in which the following took pari :
is. C. F. Lacombe, A. H. Manwaring, C. H. Sharp.
Ward Harrison, S. G. Rhodes, W. H. Rolinson, G. H.
Stickney and J. B. Taylor. Mr. Lacombe expressed the
opinion that although gas-filled lamps are suitable for
some types of street lighting, arc lamps are required on
boulevards. Mr. Manwaring said that flat electrodes
arc desirable for reducing shadows. Dr. Sharp recom-
mended rating street fixtures on the watts per mean
spherical candle-power as measured when equipped for
the street.
Mr. Harrison believed that above •"'•in watts rating
magnet ili' lamps gain rapidly in advantages over ^as-
filled units. He said that arc-equipment expenses may
be els Follows: Enteral and depreciation, 18
percent; fixed charges mi central-station equipment, 80
per cent; maintenance, 'i pei cent, and energy, 28 per
cent. The advantage of incandescent-lamp equipment is
the lower first cost, but renewals and maintenance form
a large percentage of total operating expenses. The
speaker expressed the belief that arc lamps have under-
gone as great improvements as incandescent lamps. He
suggested placing series transformers on poles near
street lamps rather than in the lamp holders to insure
safety to maintenance men. Another member called
attention to the tendency of small towns to improve
their street lighting. As some electric-service companies
are prevented by state law from making long-term con-
tracts for street lighting, he suggested that they provide
in their contracts for obsolescence and for the expense
of replacing equipment.
Improved Lighting in a Hearing Room
The lighting of the hearing room of the Massachu-
setts Public Service Commission has recently been im-
proved by the equipment illustrated in the accompany-
ing halftone. The commission sits at a table 18 ft. long
and 30% in. wide, a 3-ft. by 12-ft. table for counsel
being placed immediately in front of and 6 in. below the
LIGHTING FOR PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION HEARING
ROOM
former. These tables were originally illuminated by
six 50-watt graphitized-filament lamps installed in two
fixtures, bringing the lamps 5 ft. above the board table,
which is about 6 in. above that used by counsel. The
lamps were equipped with small pear-shaped shades
and gave inadequate illumination for the scrutiny of
maps, drawings and documents. The room is 11 ft. high
and has a whitewashed ceiling, walls finished in light
green, and golden-oak furniture.
In place of the six 50-watt graphitized-filament lamps
two 1 50-watt tungstens were mounted in white fluted
parabolic inclosing bowls. 12 in. in diameter, 8 in. deep
and suspended with the lamp centers 10 ft. 4 in. above
the floor, the height above the table being 7 ft. Above
each bowl is a white-enameled metal ceiling plate 18 in.
in diameter, with a 2'_.-in. air space to carry away heat
from the lamp. The fixtures are 13 ft. apart, both being
controlled by a push switch mi an adjacent wall. The
improvement in illumination secured with the same en-
ergy expenditure cannot be estimated from the illus-
tration, which was exposed to show the lighting units
employed rather than their effect on the room itself.
The diffusion is much bettor than it was before the
change and the total flux of light has been increased
materially notwithstanding the absorption of the new
fixtures.
APRIL 24, 1916
K I. ECT RICAL WORLD
NEW APPARATUS AND APPLIANCES
Two-Was IMuk
A two-way plug for bayonet sockets which ha-
developed by the General Electric Company, Ltd.. »i7
Queen Victoria Street, London, E. ('.. England, is
ibown herewith. The device has been designed partic-
ularly for use with heating appliances, and by means
TWO-WAY PLUG FOR HF.ATIM'. APPLIANCE AND LAMP
of it a heating appliance and a lamp can be employed
at the same time. The interior is arranged so that the
heating circuit (at the side) is always alive, while the
lighting switch is closed ; but, by the turn switch pro-
vided, the lamp socket can be placed in the circuit or
not. The plug can be locked into the socket by means
of two small milled nuts.
Portable Electric Air Heater
An electric heater recently placed on the market by
the Lindstrom, Smith Company, Chicago. 111., is
equipped with a reflector which reflects the heat down-
ward and is provided with a cord and detachable plug
ELECTRIC HEATER
so that it can be suspended from a bracket as shown in
the accompanying illustration. The heater is 6 in. by 10
in. by 1.25 in. in size and weighs 2 lb. It is of pressed
steel and is nickel-plated. The element it is declared,
is non-corrosive and non-oxidizable. The heater is de-
signed for circuits having pressures varying from 100
volts to 220 volts.
Electric Oven for Baking Varnish on Steel Pro-
jectiles
One step in the manufacture of explosive steel pro-
jectiles consists of baking copal varnish on the interior
of the steel missile. The baked varnish forms an enamel
which prevents the guncotton or other explosive used
from coming in contact with the steel and eliminates
possibility of the explosive "sweating" through its con-
tainer. Electric ovens have proved most successful, it
is declared, for baking this varnish, and some of them
are now being used in the Eastern steel mills of this
country. One of the ovens made by the Despatch Man-
ufacturing Company of Minneapolis, Minn., for a Penn-
sylvania concern is shown in the accompanying illustra-
tion. The projectiles for which this oven has been made
are to be 5 in. in diameter, 15 in. long and weigh •". I lb,
without the explosive charge. When varnished and
1 pp@v
W" m
ELECTRIC OVEN USED FOB PREPARING EXPLOSIVE SHELLS
ready for baking ninety of the steel shells can be set in
the portable racks, shown in the open door, and then
placed in the oven. Electric heating elements rated at
3 kw are used to raise the temperature to 300 deg. Fahr.
and at this temperature a single bake van be finished in
six hours.
Motor-Driven Dishwasher with Stationary Tank
The electrically operated dishwasher shown herewith
consists of a large stationary tank in which wire racks
are so arranged that a separate compartment is pro-
vided for each dish, while a revolving cylinder with
spray nozzles forces hot soapy water against the dishes
with great force. The water drains over a screen to
the sump at the lower end of the revolving cylinder,
ELECTRIC DISHWASHER
where a centrifugal pump again forces it up the cylin-
der and out of the spray nozzles against the dishes.
This operation is continued from five to ten minutes,
after which the motor is stopped and the water drained
off. Hot rinsing water is passed through a different
set of tubes attached to the cylinder, is forced against
1072
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 17
the dishes, and is then drained (iff. The heat of the
rinsing water is sufficient to dry the dishes rapidly.
Water for this machine can be heated by either gas or
electricity. Four gallons of water are required, two
gallons for washing and two for rinsing. The "Never-
nick" dishwasher, as it is called, is driven by a Vs-hp
motor and is being made by the Domestic Utilities
Company, Newark, N. J.
Testing Contacts on Dry-Battery Carton
Brass testing contacts have been added to cartons
containing dry batteries manufactured by the Bright
Star Battery Company, 430 West Fourteenth Street,
DRY-BATTERY CARTON WITH TESTING CONTACTS
New York, as shown herewith. With these contacts it
is not necessary to open a package or break the seal,
and the testing operation is facilitated, it is declared.
Electric Washer with Vacuum Plungers
An improved electrically operated washing machine
equipped with plunging "vacuum" tubs which can be
tipped back out of the way after the washing is fin-
MOTOR-DRIVEN WASHER WITH PLUNGING CUPS
d, thus giving free access to the inside oi the tub,
lown in the accompanying illustration. The cover
of the tub is made in two parts, and Ihe plungers are
supported from a lever whi< h project over the tub from
side to center aa shown. To remove the plungi
wing nut i- loosened, I ire lifted <>it, and the
horizontal lever is turned back on its axis where it con-
nects with the vertical drive rod. The machine is made
entirely of metal. The tub is of solid copper and is
tin-lined. The cover, the operating lever and its con-
nections inside the tub are all galvanized. The plungers
are of solid copper and move up and down sixty-three
times a minute, revolving above the water on the up
stroke. The air contained in the plungers on the down
stroke forces the water through the meshes of the
clothing, while on the up stroke the resulting partial
vacuum causes the water to be drawn back through the
fabric. The machine is designed to wash six sheets
or the equivalent at one time. The inside diameter of
the tup at the top is 23 in. and 20.5 in. at the bottom;
the height is 12.75 in. The lever at the end of the
wringer starts, stops and reverses the wringer. The
washing machine is being made by Dodge & Zuill, Syra-
cuse, N. Y., and is operated by a %-hp motor built by
the Robbins & Myers Company, Springfield, Ohio. The
vertical bar which drives the wringer can be discon-
nected and dropped to a horizontal position for operat-
ing ice-cream freezers or other equipment of the kind.
Electric Cereal Sterilizer
Cereal manufacturers sterilize their products before
marketing them, in order to stop the growth of any live
organic material which may exist in the granular food.
In some cereal establishments the sterilizing is done in
electrically heated ovens, one type of which is being
ELECTRICALLY OPERATED CEREAL STERILIZER
made i>y the Despatch Manufacturing Compan> of
Minneapolis, Minn.
Inside of these ovens js a horizontal truncated cone-
shaped cylinder of planished steel. The cylinder is
driven by a small motor on the top of the oven through
a belt and worm gear. Cereal is fed from the hopper
on top of the oven into the cylinder while the latter
is revolving, thoroughly mixing the product and bring-
ing all particles into contact with the heated surface of
the cylinder. When heated to the desired temperature
tin cereal is discharged through a hopper and a pipe
at the lower end of the cylinder, and the product is
then read] for packing.
Armi. 24, 1916
ELECTRICAL WORLD
1073
With all heating units m operation a temperature of
500 deg. Fahr. can be attained in the oven, and by
manipulating the three control switches any one of a
wide range of lower temperatures can be secured. The
maximum demand of the oven i- 1 kw. liv varying
the temperatures the output of the sterilizer tan be
varied, the economical rates being 100 lb. per hour and
200 lb. per hour. In outside dimensions the oven ■
ures 64 in. long by 28 in. high by 22 in. deep. It
weighs approximately 600 lb.
Electric Starting and Lijjhtiny: System for Auto-
mobiles
An electric starting and lighting outfit designed for
model T Ford cars, of which over 600,000 are said to
lie in use, i- lieing manufactured by the General Elec-
tric Company, Schenectady, N". Y.. and is being marketed
FIGS. 1 AND 2 — COMBINED MOTOR AND GENERATOR, AND
METHOD OF INSTALLING UNIT
by A. J. Picard & Company, 1720 Broadway, N'ew York.
It consists of a combined generator and motor operat-
ing at 12 volts and a six-cell, 42-amp-hr. battery.
The combined motor and generating unit is fully
inclosed and is 10 in. long and 7 in. in diameter; it
weighs 52 lb. It is supported by a pressed-steel bracket
which can be attached without drilling or tapping
holes. Adjustment can be made for alignment of the
socket gears and for tension of the driving chain.
As a motor the unit is designed to develop a torque
of 45 ft. -lb. ; when the car attains a speed of 11 miles
FIG. 3 — DIAGRAM OF CONNECTIONS
an hour the unit acts as a generator and charges the
battery. When the engine stops, the reverse-current
relay automatically opens the battery circuit. The
main switch and relay are mounted in an inclosed
metal case on top of the unit and are readily accessible.
The switch which controls the motor is closed through
a cam actuated by a push-rod extending through the
dashboard of the car and terminating in a knob con-
veniently placed near the steering-wheel column. The
m automatically opens when the push rod is re-
leased. The conl the multiple-leaf type and
the switch is provided with a mechanism that assures
a quick break on opening.
Motor-Generator Set for Electrolytic Use
The motor-generator set shown herewith is designed
for use with electrolytic cells for generating gas used
in oxy-acetylene welding. Such a set of cells is oper-
ated most efficiently at 190 volts and 400 amp, whereas
230-volt direct-current energy is obtained from the
central-station circuit. The motor of the set is de-
MOTOR-GENERATOR OUTFIT WITH REGULATOR
signed to take 400 amp and is placed in series with the
gas-generating cells across the 230-volt mains. It oper-
ates therefore at 40 volts. The generator of the set
operates at 230 volts and the energy generated is re-
turned to the main. A regulator is employed which is
designed to keep the current in the motor and cells
constant at 400 amp. The set is rated at 13 kw. If an
outfit consisting of a 230-volt motor and a 190-volt,
400-amp generator had been used its rating would have
been 76 kw. The set was made by Roth Brothers &
Company, Adams Street and Loomis Street, Chicago,
111.
Subway-Type Oil-Fuse Cutouts
Oil-filled fuse cut-outs of the subway type designed
for potentials as high as 2500 volts have recently been
developed by the D & W Fuse Company, Providence,
R. I. The single-pole cut-outs are made with ratings
*
FIGS. 1 AND 2 — SINGLE-POLE AND THREE-POLE CUT-OUTS
of 50 amp, 100 amp and 200 amp, and the double-pole
and triple-pole types with ratings of 50 amp and 100
amp. A single-pole cut-out is shown in Fig. 1 and a
three-pole device in Fig. 2.
Use is made of a lead gasket which is compressed by
a swiveling yoke. Another lead gasket is placed be-
tween the oil container and the top of the container.
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 17
This gasket is compressed by clamping bolts. Provi-
sion is made for connecting the cut-outs to a common
vent pipe which is carried to the highest point within
the manhole and from that point is dropped to within
5 in. or 6 in. of the floor, the lower end being enlarged
a few inches. In case the manhole is flooded the air in
the pipes is compressed as the water rises so that no
water will reach the cut-out, it is declared, even if the
manhole is completely filled.
The two-pole and three-pole cut-outs are equipped
with a cable-connection compartment at each end for
the use of two-wire or three-wire cable. In making con-
nection with the cable in the manhole the individual
conductors are each equipped with a special terminal.
The cable is then passed through a bronze bushing and
secured in position by means of a wiped joint to this
bushing. Connection is made with the several con-
ductors within the cut-out by a clamping screw, the
individual conductors being separated by an insulating
partition ; the whole chamber is then filled with suitable
insulating compound, which is poured in in a melted
condition. The single-pole cut-outs are equipped with
2 ft. of lead cable to which wiped joints can be made in
installing the cut-out. The fusible element is in oil and
the cut-outs are so arranged that on the blowing of
the fuse the oil is interposed between them, thus pre-
venting the formation of an arc.
Lighting Fixture with Adjustable Clamp
An adjustable clamping device for use with incan-
descent lamps, by means of which the lamp can be
attached to a bed, the back of a chair, the edge of a
mirror, etc., is shown herewith. Use is made of a brass
LAMP WITH ADJUSTABLE SHADE AND CLAMP
shade equipped with spring clips which permit adjust-
ment of the shade at any angle. The shade has a frosted
aluminum finish on the inside and a brushed-braas
finish on the outside. The outfit is provided with a plug
and 8 ft. of cord and is being placed on the market by
the Peerless Lighting Company, Peerless Building,
Chicago, III.
Charging Receptacles and Plugs
me of thr charging plugs and receptacles devel-
oped by the Albert & J. M. Anderson Manufacturing
Company, 289 A Street, Boston, Mass., for use in charg-
ing batteries on railway cars, .'ire shown in the accom-
panying illustrations. The swivel charging receptacle
shown in Fig. 1 is designated as a type C device and
is rated at 1011 amp. The device is designed tor use on
steam COaches, and tin- contact parts arc molded into an
Insulating compound *>( greal dielectric and mechanical
<h BO that there is no possibility of loosening.
The cylindrical housing is provided with an iron guid-
ing ring which supports t'ie plug, thus taking all the
strain away from the contacl parts. The charging plug
shown in Fig. 2 is also designated as a type C device
and I net ■ ' d the receptacle shown in
Fig. 1. The lugs are removable, and (allies with diam-
eters up to 0.5 in. can be used with the device. The
lugs are attached with screws which permit of easy de-
tachment when making soldered connection. The handle
is equipped with a cable clamp for preventing abrasion
of the cable. An insulating member is placed inside
the handle both around the terminals and between them,
so as to prevent grounding or short-circuiting. The
weight of the device with iron handle and cable clamp
is SYe lb.
The receptacle shown in Fig. 3 is designed for switch-
board charging and is rated at 65 amp. The metal cas-
FIG. 1 — SWIVEL CHARGING PLUG
ing of this device is extended to form a support for the
charging plugs so as to prevent the bending of the
contact parts. The case is provided with two threaded
collars, one on the front and the other on the rear, so
that the receptacle may be installed on the panel either
from the front or the rear. It is adapted for use on
panels varying in thickness from 1 in. to 2 in. The hole
FIGS. 1 AND 2 — CHARGING PLUG AND SWITCHBOARD
RECEPTACLE
for mounting is 2 9-16 in. in diameter. The weight
complete is 2.5 lb.
The charging receptacle illustrated in Fig. 4 is de-
signed for mounting on an outlet box to which conduit
connections can be made. The outlet box used with this
device is 7 in. long, 7 in. wide and 6 in. deep and is
provided with bosses on the four sides for conduits.
The over-all height is 14.5 in. and the length is 10.25
in. The height of the receptacle without the outlet box
is 9 in. The weight of the receptacle is 23 lb.
Receptacles of the type shown in Fig. 5 are designed
for charging batteries on railway coaches when they
are stored in the yards for repairing or cleaning. The
M
FIGS. I ami .") YARD CHARGING RECEPTACLES
Conductors are run in conduit which is threaded into the
base of the receptacle case, thus making a watertight
joint. The case is tapped tor 1.5-in. iron conduit. The
contact parts are protected when not in use by a spring
lid which excludes dirt, moisture and snow. With the
lid closed the length is 10 in. and the height is 12 in.
The device is rated at 100 amp and weighs 23 lb.
Aran, -'i, LftlS
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Electric Hair Drici
The electric hair drier shown herewith is of alumi-
num and weighs only - lb. The motor operates on
either alternating cum I current at L10 volts.
The device is provided with a heating coil so that hot
.in be furnished if d< made of a
ELECTRIC HAIR DRIER WITH HEATING COIL
three-point key switch. On turning the switch to the
first point to the right only the motor is operated. A
second turn puts the heating coil in the circuit and the
machine provides a warm breeze. A third turn of the
switch opens the circuit. The hair drier is finished in
black enamel and is being placed on the market by the
Shelton Electric Company, 30 West Forty-second Street,
New York.
Small Direct-Current Motor
A direct-current motor which is designated as a type
C machine and which is being built in sizes with rat-
ings of 's hp to 3 hp has just been developed by the
Robbins & Myers Company, Springfield, Ohio. A squat
< ast-iron frame is employed, adapting the motor for in-
stallation where space is restricted. The bearing
bracket at the commutator end extends well out from
the frame and gives easy access to the commutator
and brushes. The bearings are lubricated with oil rings
and the oil reservoirs are equipped with overflow and
drain plugs. The motor is of open construction or is
fully inclosed and is horizontal or vertical as desired.
DIRECT-CURRENT MOTOR WITH LOW FRAME
It is also designed for either constant speed or variable
speed, and may be shunt, series or compound wound.
The motor is being made for 155-volt, 230-volt and 550-
volt circuits, and also for service on low-voltage storage-
battery circuits. The motor is provided with a sliding
base, no-voltage-release starter, and a cast-iron crown
pulley.
Vertical Automobile Charging Outfit
A charging unit of the vertical type for electric vehi-
cles, which has been developed by the Hertner Electric
A; .Manufacturing Company, Cleveland, Ohio, is shown
in the accompanying illustration. It is equipped with
ball bearings throughout and is designed to deliver at the
CHARGING OUTFIT FOR AUTOMOBILES
start energy to the battery at a high rate which grad-
ually decreases as the battery becomes charged. Ac-
cording to the manufacturer, no harm can be done to
the battery if the charging outfit is left on after the
battery is charged. In case the circuit is broken, the
unit will not stop but will continue to operate or float
on the battery; as soon as the supply service is re-
stored the outfit continues charging as before.
Small Portable Lighting Plant for the Contractor
A lighting plant said to be especially adapted to the
needs of the contractor who works at night time is
shown herewith and is being introduced to the con-
tracting field by the Moon Manufacturing Company,
Chicago, 111. The outfit consists of a small portable
SMALL PORTABLE TURBINE-DRIVEN LIGHTING SET
steam-driven, impulse-type turbine, operating a gen-
erator at a speed of 21 GO r.p.m. and at a steam pres-
sure of 85 lb. to 200 lb. The cost of installation is
said to be low, owing to the fact that no expensive
switchboard or foundation for the turbine-generating
set is required. Among the features claimed for the
plant are compactness, portability, low cost of main-
1076
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 17
tenance, few parts, friction reduced to a minimum, low
steam consumption, simplicity of voltage and speed
regulation, and small space requirements.
Ten-Inch Fan
A fan which is adjustable to any angle by means of a
swivel and trunion is being placed on the market by the
Knapp Electric & Novelty Company, 511 West Fifty-
first Street, New York. The fan may be used as a wall
ADJUSTABLE TEN-INCH FAN
fan or as a desk fan as desired. It is provided with
wick-feed oil cups and a two-speed starting switch.
The motor is finished in black enamel, and the fan and
guard are of polished brass. The motor operates at
speeds of 1400 r.p.m. to 1800 r.p.m. and takes 20 watts.
The shipping weight of the device is 18.5 lb.
Small Single-Phase Motors
Single-phase sixty-cycle motors with ratings of from
0.5 hp to 10 hp have recently been placed on the market
by the Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Com-
pany, East Pittsburgh, Pa. The motors are compact,
frames as shown in Fig. 2. Both types of motors can
be mounted on either the wall or ceiling, and may also
be easily reversed in direction of rotation. They oper-
ate either on 110 volts or 220 volts. The motors start
as repulsion machines, producing, it is declared, large
torque with small starting current. A mechanically
operated governor placed within the rotating element
FIG. 2 — SMALL SINGLE-PHASE MOTOR WITH CAST-IRON
BASE
automatically changes the motor from a repulsion ma-
chine to an induction motor as it comes up to speed.
Ordinarily, a double-pole line switch is the only start-
ing device required, although starters may be employed
to reduce the starting current further.
Three-Wheel Electric Tractor
The control handle of the electric tractor illustrated
herewith is automatically locked when the operator
leaves his seat. The tractor is equipped with a Westing-
house motor which is operated by a 250-amp-hr. battery
placed directly over the rear wheel, thus providing the
necessary weight for traction. The controller, also of
Westinghouse make, provides four forward speeds and
two reverse speeds. The front wheel is supported by a
steel fork, is mounted on cup-and-cone ball bearings,
and is turned by a hand lever. The frame of the ma-
chine is of channel iron which is riveted and welded.
The wheels are of heavy semi-steel castings, the front
SINGLE-PHASE motor for INDUSTRIAL SERVICE
substantially built and light in weight. The machines,
which are rated at 2 hp or over, are usually employed
in Industrial service and are of Bteel frameless con-
struction. One of these motors is shown in Fig. 1.
THREE-WHEE1 ELECTRICALLY DRIVEN TRACTOR
wheel being 1 "> in. in diameter and the rear wheel 21 in.
in diameter; they are equipped with 3.6-in. solid-rubber
tires. The wheelbase of the tractor is 88 in., the over-
all length t')7 in., and the over-all width 88 in. The ma-
The smaller motors are provided with strong cast-iron chine is provided with a turning radius of 33 in. and
Apkil 24, 1916
ELECTRICAL WORLD
1079
weighs approximately 1900 II). It operates at a speed
• niles per hour. The tractor i- being made by the
• ry Manufacturing Company, 4 1 1 o South Halsted
III.
Spark-Plug ( onnector
A spring connector for spark plugs recently devel-
oped by the Fahnestock Electric Company, 129 Patchen
;e. Brooklyn, N. V., is shown in the accompany-
CONNECTOR FOR SPARK PLUG
ing illustration. To install the device it is only neces-
sary to press down the spring, slip the threaded stud
of the plug through the hole of the connector and then
let go the spring. The connector is beveled at the edge
of the hole to fit the thread of the terminal.
Electric Washing Machine
The electric washer of the wooden-tub type described
in the Electrical World of Oct. 10, 1914, page 731, has
recently been improved. In its new form its mechanism
is chiefly underneath the tub. The reversing mechanism
is so designed that there is no quick jerk when th* dolly
reverses. The upright tube shown in the accompa
illustration contains the shaft which turns bad
forth. The chain-and-gear drive on the top of-j
is completely inclosed. Foot-pedal control is
WASHER WITH MECHANISM CHIEFLY UNDER TUB
for the operation of the wringer, and there are four
pedals, two for forward driving and two for reversing.
The dolly of the machine rests on the clothes instead of
floating in the water. The washer is being made by the
Meadows Manufacturing Company, Pontiac, 111.
Nitrogen-Filled Lamps for Automobile
Nitrogen-filled lamps of the globular, tipless type
have recently been developed by the Vosburgh Miniature
Lamp Company, 291 Valley Road, West Orange, N. .1.
With these lamps a specific consumption of approxi-
mately 0.5 watt per cp is obtained. For head lamps the
G-161:.. type is made with ratings varying from 12 cp
to 25 cp for circuits with pressures of from 6 volts to
21 volts, and in the G-12 type with ratings of 9 cp to
2~> cp for pressures <>( from 6 volts to 21 volts. For side
TIPLESS NITROGEN-FILLED AUTOMOBILE LAMP
lamps they are being made in the G-10 type with ratings
of 6 cp or 8 cp and for pressures of from 6 volts to
14 volts, and in the G-8 type with ratings of from 4 cp
to 10 cp and for pressures of from 6 volts to 21 volts.
Self-Contained Lighting Plant
Lighting outfits which consist of four-stroke-cycle
gasoline engines directly connected to generators, the
frames of which are combined in one casting, have re-
cently been placed on the market by the Matthews Boat
Company, Port Clinton, Ohio. The apparatus is built
with ratings of 1 kw and 2 kw. The 1-kw set is oper-
ated by a one-cylinder engine and the 2-kw set by a two-
cylinder engine. The 1-kw outfit is 3 ft. long, 23 in.
wide and 3 ft. high, and is equipped with a battery
1
■^■tnlH b^^S £T— r*f-" ~i,«-
SELF-CONTAINED LIGHTING SET
which occupies a space 4 ft. by 1.5 ft. Both outfits
operate at 32 volts. The sets are so designed that the
engines carry the load most of the time, and the bat-
teries discharge from full rating to 15 per cent full rat-
ing.
1078
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 17
Portable Current-Measuring Outfit
A portable current-measuring outfit designed for use
on alternating-current circuits carrying from 75 amp
to 250 amp is being made by the Westinghouse Electric
& Manufacturing Company, East Pittsburgh, Pa. The
outfit consists of a portable split-type series trans-
CURRENT-MEASURING APPARATUS
former, a portable ammeter, a set of leads 10 ft. long
and a leather carrying strap. The total weight of the
outfit is about 30 lb. The transformer is so constructed
that it can be clamped around a cable or feeder without
opening the circuit. The transformer is provided with
a clamp at one end and a hinge joint at the other so
that the two halves can be opened, slipped over a cable
and clamped together tightly.
Small Electric Range
An electric range of compact dimensions recently
developed by the Hughes Electric Heating Company,
211 West Schiller Street, Chicago, 111., shown herewith,
SMALL-SIZED ELECTRICALLY OPERATED RANGE
is designed particularly for teaching young people how
to cook The height of the range to the top of the shelf
is 15 in., and the cooking surface il 11.28 in. by 8 in.
The total weight is 7.5 lb. The oven is 4.5 in. wide,
2.25 in. high and 5 in. deep. It is provided with six
heating units and takes 500 watts. The range is fin-
ished with black enamel and has a nickel-plated top,
legs and oven-door front.
Electrically Operated Rotary Washing Machine
The rotary washer illustrated herewith stands high
enough to enable it to be used alongside an ordinary
stationary washtub, allowing the clothes to be passed
directly from the washer through the wringer and into
the rinsing water. The machine is provided with 6 ft.
of hose through which hot water can be passed to the
MOTOR-DRIVEN ROTARY WASHER
washer or dirty water can be drained from the ma-
chine. The outlet is in the center of the tub. The
machine is also provided with a gas burner and 10 ft.
of metal gas tubing for heating the water. The tub
is of galvanized steel. The motor is designed to oper-
ate both the washer and wringer at the same time, and
is so mounted that it can be easily disconnected and
used for other purposes. The washer is being placed
on the market by the Johnson Electric Washer Com-
pany, San Francisco, Cal., and is driven by a Westing-
house motor.
Automatic Lighting Switch for Automobiles
An automatic lighting Bwitch which ia said to give to
the automobile wiring system the same protection af-
forded by the automatic circuit-breaker on ordinary
lighting circuits has been brought out by the Hartman
Electrical Manufacturing Company, Mansfield, Ohio.
With this device fuses arc unnecessary. It is opened
and closed by means of a lever corresponding to the
usual pueh-button. Iii closing the switch the lever is
depressed and is retained in this position by means of
a toggle lock. Should a ground or short-circuit occur,
April 24, LM8
F I. F. C TRIfAL W ORLD
107S
an armature within the switch case acts on the lock and
instantly open the circuit.
A- the majority of grounds or short -circuits which
occur on the automobile are momentary, the manufac-
turers claim that a considerable saving in fuses can be
obtained by using the device; also there is no temptation
lit with a piece of wire after the fuse
has blown in case no other fuse Is available. With the
-SJ
SINGLE-UNIT AUTOMATA SWITCH WITH LEVKR IN OPEN
POSITION
automatic switch, whenever accidental troubles occur it
is only necessary to close the switch. Should the trouble
be due to a real ground, however, and an attempt be
made to close the switch, it will instantly open again and
the circuit cannot be re-established until the cause of
t.he ground is removed.
Gangs of two, three and four units are being made by
the above company with a single face plate, so that a
separate switch can be installed on each circuit, thus
enabling the operator of the car to identify the circuit
on which the ground has occurred. In case it is de-
sired to retain the usual lighting switch a single auto-
matic switch connected to the battery wire ahead of the
lighting switch or terminal block will give protection,
it is declared, to all circuits. In such a case the switch
is merely a protective device and comes into action only
when a ground occurs.
Box for Wire Covered by Flexible Tubing
In the accompanying illustration is shown a box
which is equipped with a fixture stud or collar and a
saw-tooth grip to hold wire covered by flexible tubing.
The box is so arranged that a plastered wall can be
BOX FOR TWO WIRES COVERED BY FLEXIBLE TUBING
finished flush with it. It is well adapted, the manu-
facturers claim, for wiring old houses, by cutting out
a circle of plaster down to the lath and inserting the
box. On the straight electric box a countersunk hole
extends through the threaded stud, adapting the box
for use with a toggle bolt or an ordinary wood screw.
The "Meleady" is called, is made with two
holes and four holes. The Sterling Foundry & Machine
Company, Newark, N. J., is manufacturing the box.
Protective Device for Electric Elevators
An automatic elevator-door switch which is placed on
the jamb of the cage at each door and which controls a
master switch has been developed by the Black-Woods
Manufacturing Company, 350 Knoxville Avenue, Peoria,
FIGS. 1 AND 2 — AUTOMATIC DOOR SWITCH WITH COVER
REMOVED, AND ELECTROMAGNETIC MASTER SWITCH
111. On each door there is an adjustable pusher which
forces the plunger forward as the door is closed. The
operation is so timed that the contact is made at the
instant that the latch or door fastener is closed. The
master switch is near the motor. Connections are so
made that when a door is open the circuit is open. The
automatic switches are placed on the ordinary 110-volt
or 220-volt lighting circuit, instead of the motor cir-
cuit, which usually has a higher potential.
Battery for Starting and Lighting Gasoline
Automobiles
The 6-volt battery shown herewith has recently been
developed by the Victor Storage Battery Company.
Rock Island, 111., for lighting and starting gasoline auto-
mobiles. It is being made in four different sizes, the
weight being 50 lb., 59 lb., 69 lb. and 80 lb. respectively.
AUTOMOBILE STARTING AND LIGHTING BATTERY
The smallest type has a rating of 70 amp-hr. to 105
amp-hr., and the largest type of 160 amp-hr. to 195
amp-hr. According to the manufacturers, one of the
features is the elimination of buckling and sulphation
of the plates.
1080 ELECTRICAL WORLD Vol. 65, No. 17
Hand Vibrator Stand for Portable Electric Drill
A recent development of the Shelton Electric Com- The drilling stand or "old man" shown herewith is
pany, 30 West Forty-second Street, New York, is a being placed on the market by the Standard Electric
massage vibrator which weighs only 18 ounces and can Tool Company, Cincinnati, Ohio, for use with its port-
SMALL ELECTRIC VIBRATOR
be slipped over one hand as shown in the accompany-
ing illustration. The motor is designed to operate on
either alternating current or direct current at from
100 volts to 120 volts. A rheostat regulates the speed.
Fan with Vertical and Horizontal Oscillating
Motions
By means of a worm gear engaging the circular
rising and falling guide track shown, the fan illus-
trated herewith is made to tip forward and backward
while rotating or oscillating about a vertical axis. Ad-
justment of a control screw enables the fan to be set
for oscillation through any desired angle. The tipping
motion can be disconnected if preferred, or the fan can
be locked in a stationary position. The double-fan
DOUBLE FAN WITH TWO OSCILLATING MOTIONS
hown herewith ia also arranged for mounting
on a floor pedestal or column. The tans illustrated are
manufactured under the name of "Storm Wave" by the
Allied Electric Company, LOIS North ("lark Street, Chi-
cago, and are available in 12-in. and lf>-in. sizes, with
three speed-control steps.
STAND FOR PORTABLE DRILL
able drill. The stand is made in two sizes, one being
used for the 0.5-in., the 0.625-in. and the 0.75-in. drills
and the other for the 0.875-in., 1-in. and 1.25-in. drills.
The weight of the small stand is 50 lb. and that of the
large stand 75 lb. The device is well adapted, the man-
ufacturers claim, for use by structural-iron workers and
for work requiring heavy drilling.
Workshop Lamp Standard
The lamp standard illustrated herewith is of substan-
tial construction and is about 5 ft. high. The stem is
of ash wood and fits securely into a cast-iron base. On
^r%
<p>
WOODEN LAMP STANDARD
the stem slides an adjustable collar of metal. A trans-
verse wooden rod is provided which is attached by a
metal clamp to the upright stem as shown. The lamp
is attached to the transverse rod by a wooden clamp.
The standard is being made by the General Electric
Company, Ltd., 67 Queen Victoria Street, London, Eng.
Ai-uii. 24, 1915
ELEi 1 l: I i A L WORLD
1081
Associated Manufacturers' Canvassing Committee
Mr. A. W. Merit's ford, general manager of the Cut-
ler-Hammer Manufacturing Company of Milwaukee,
Wis., has been appointed chairman of the canvassing
committee of the Associated Manufacturers of Elec-
trical Supplies. The members of this committee, as it
is constituted at present, are as follows: Messrs. A. I.
Appleton, Appleton Electric Company, Chicago; H. B.
Betts, Thomas & Betts, New York; Charles L. Eidlitz,
New York; William Handley, Tubular Woven Fabric
Company, Pawtucket, R. I. ; W. F. Hessel, Detroit Fuse
& Manufacturing Company, New York; F. C. Hodkin-
son, Safety Armorite Conduit Company, Pittsburgh,
Pa.; Harvey Hubbell, Harvey Hubbell, Inc., Bridgeport,
Conn.; J. H. Parker, General Porcelain Company, Par-
kersburg, W. Va.; H. T. Paiste, H. T. Paiste Company,
Philadelphia, Pa. ; B. E. Salisbury, Pass & Seymour,
Inc., Solvay, N. Y. ; Herbert Sinclair, Star Porcelain
Company, Trenton, N. J. ; W. D. Steele, Benjamin Elec-
trical Manufacturing Company, Chicago; Kurt R. Stern-
berg, Dickinson Manufacturing Company, Springfield,
Haas.; Frank E. Watts, Hart Manufacturing Company,
New York.
It is hoped to add members to the committee in the
near future.
"Electrical Prosperity Week" Campaign
Further action on the plans for "Electrical Prosperity
Week" was taken by the board of directors of the So-
ciety for Electrical Development on April 19. At a
meeting held at the headquarters in New York the
board approved unanimously the work of the general
campaign committee to date and formally passed the
special appropriation required. The sum of $50,000
was recommended by the general campaign committee
as necessary for extraordinary expenditures. The
budget for the coming year, to carry on the regular
work of the society as conducted at present, was also
approved.
It was announced that no effort would be made to
have a special fund subscribed to aid in carrying on
the campaign for "Electrical Prosperity Week." The
expenditure, which it is estimated will aggregate con-
siderably over $100,000, will be part of the subscription
contributed by members of the society.
The board formally approved the date, Monday, Nov.
29, to Saturday, Dec. 4, 1915, inclusive. It will be a
"shop early" campaign as well as a general sales and
publicity effort. The general approval of the title,
"Electrical Prosperity Week," led the board to accept
this designation. The directors who attended the meet-
ing were Messrs. Henry L. Doherty, Henry L. Doherty
& Company; W. H. Johnson, vice-president Philadel-
phia Electric Company ; A. W. Burchard, vice-president
General Electric Company; Fred Bissell, managing
director the Bissell Motor Company ; Gerard Swope
(represented by E. W. Rockafellow), Western Electric
Company; F. S. Price, president Pettingell- Andrews
Company, Boston ; J. R. Strong, president Tucker Elec-
tric Construction Company, and Hugh M. Wilson, vice-
president McGraw Publishing Company.
The names of those who will represent the campaign
committee in the different geographical centers will be
given out as soon as the lists are completed. Over
thirty cities will be represented.
The fact that the newspapers and public have shown
so much interest in the campaign received much com-
ment at the meeting. Peoria, 111., is the first city to
offer co-operation in the movement. Through Mr.
W. E. Wolgamott and the Peoria Electric Club this city
notified the society that it was "out to boost 'Electrical
Prosperity Week' " and asked for instructions. A
committee was appointed consisting of Messrs. Fred-
erick Simms, Avery Manufacturing Company ; H. M.
Bean, Peoria Railway Company, and W. E. Wolgamott,
city electrician, to work with the leaders of the cam-
paign in handling the affair in Peoria.
The staff of the society is being augmented by sales
and publicity experts. The field co-operation section
of the society has been enlarged by the engagement of
Mr. George W. Hill, formerly of the Westinghouse
Lamp Company. Mr. Hill's territory will include the
Atlantic Coast States and part of the Middle West.
He will handle the personal promotion work in this
section.
Motor Control in Foundries and Steel Mills
The meeting of the American Institute of Electrical
Engineers held at Pittsburgh, Pa., April 15 and 16, was
one of a series for the study of motor applications by
industries on which the industrial power committee of
the Institute has been working this year. The prin-
cipal divisions of the problem in each industry are
(1) the form of drive, (2) the motor, and (3) the con-
troller. At the Pittsburgh meeting the papers and dis-
cussions were confined to foundry and steel-mill sub-
jects, power problems in these industries being
considered with special reference to matters of control.
In his introductory address Mr. David B. Rushmore,
chairman of the industrial power committee, divided
the engineering work of the committee into four parts:
Electric motors, controllers and auxiliary devices, con-
ditions involved in motor application, and the applica-
tion of electric motors to manufacturing processes.
The committee desires its work to be of direct value to
the operating and commercial organizations which look
to the Institute for their engineering information. Mr.
Rushmore suggested that in the future the committee
present an annual report covering more thoroughly than
can be done by papers and discussions the art of motor
application, such reports to be of the nature of an
engineering handbook on the subject and to furnish
technical information which can be used as a foundation
for developments in practical lines by power companies,
manufacturers and engineers interested, besides its use
as a textbook for educational institutions.
Mr. R. H. McLain opened the technical program with
a paper entitled "Industrial Control in the Foundry,"
dealing briefly with types of control similar to those in
other industries and treating more fully the theoretical
side of crane control. For miscellaneous machines such
as blowers, grinders, mixers, drivers, conveyors, etc.,
good substantial hand or automatic starters capable of
starting the apparatus a few times a day are required.
Safety of workmen and protection of the motors against
1082
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 17
dirt necessitate inclosed types. For lifting magnets
controllers are provided with a spring-return reverse
point which gives, through preventive resistance, a par-
tial reverse exciting current, so as to hasten the release
of the load. Ordinary rheostatic controllers are nearly
always suitable for cranes without very special pre-
cautions being taken to adapt them for foundry service
for maximum hook speeds of 15 ft. per minute and less.
For hook speeds above 15 ft. per minute it is sometimes
necessary to adopt special arrangements. On direct
current a convenient method is to use a shunting resist-
ance across the armature for obtaining creeping speed.
For alternating current it is necessary to provide a
larger number of controller points and sufficient resist-
ance to reduce the torque at starting to about 25 per
cent of normal. The author expressed his belief that
alternating-current service is acceptable for this work
when used with a well-built crane, a good solenoid brake,
and a good mechanical load brake under either of the
following conditions: first, when not less than 25 per
cent of maximum geared speed is required for delicate
operations and when torque to break static friction does
not exceed running torque by more than 33 per cent,
and, second, when not less than 10 per cent of maximum
geared speed is required for delicate operations and
when the time used up in performing delicate operations
does not occupy more than 5 per cent of the total time
of the operator.
Discussion
In opening the discussion Mr. H. S. Newlin said that
the magnetic switch can be used to advantage on every
stationary unit of equipment. In his opinion, the lift-
ing magnet has proved to be one of the most useful
labor-saving devices about the foundry. Such installa-
tions will be of little value, however, if the proper con-
trolling elements are not correctly designed and of
liberal proportions to receive the "kick" of the induced
voltage resulting from breaking the current.
Mr. T. E. Tvnes said that experience has shown it
to be wise to equip cranes with automatic control, from
the standpoints of both safety and maintenance cost.
With automatic braking low, creeping and high speeds
can be secured with absolute protection from plugging
and from the severe strains caused by careless operation.
Mr. Max Hartenheim called attention to the value of
the Ward Leonard system of control in cases where
cranes have to run under varying loads with very wide
ranges of speeds, and where only alternating current is
available.
Mr. Brent Wiley thought that more attention should
be given to the control of the crane trolley, on which the
brunt of the service falls.
Mr. James Farrington stated that the weak feature
in automatic control lies in the possibility 01 the arma-
ture circuit opening up or the trolley line burning off,
in which case the load would be dropped should the
operator fail to act. This fault has been overcome,
however, by using a series switch which is operated in
with the field circuit.
Mr. S. ('. Coey said that his company has replaced
its mechanical brake equipment with a divided power
and dynamic braking hoist control, using two
brakes. In order to overcome the unsafe points of this
control, the company is installing a double control
circuit on the armature circuit of the hoist motor.
Mr. Francis .1. Burd recommended putting a mechani-
cal governor on the main hoist motor and arranging ■
contact OH the governor in series with the shunt switch
to break the line circuit, tliu cutting energy off when
Betting the brake.
Mr. c. M. Bartlett described i lectric resistance
furnace having a heating chamber with a reducing
atmosphere to reduce losses by oxidation and scaling.
Other papers presented at the meeting were as fol-
lows: "Mill Controllers," by Mr. H. F. Stratton; "Con-
trol Problems in the Steel Mill," by Mr. J. S. Riggs;
"Control of Direct-Current Hoists in Iron and Steel
Mills," by Messrs. G. E. Stoltz and W. O. Lunn ; "Direct-
Current Control for Hoisting Equipment in Industrial
Plants," by Mr. W. T. Snyder; "Alternating-Current
Controllers in Steel Mills," by Mr. Arthur Simon, and
"The Alternating-Current Coal Hoist," by Mr. Raymond
E. Brown. Owing to limitations of space in this issue,
abstracts of these papers, with reports of the discus-
sions, will be presented in a later number.
Effect of War on Berlin Railways
The effect of the European war was not felt on the
Berlin surface railways until the autumn of 1914, but
the annual report of the Grosse Berliner Strassenbahn
for last year shows that losses in traffic on account of
the war and of additional rapid transit and bus compe-
tition led to a reduction in dividends from 8 per cent
in 1913 to 6 per cent in 1914. During mobilization
there was a feverish increase in travel, but in August
the loss as compared with 1913 was 13 per cent, and by
December it had increased to 15 per cent. The mobili-
zation of 50 per cent of the operating staff made it
necessary to reduce service 25 per cent until the 5000
employees could be replaced. Service on certain parallel
lines was reduced or eliminated, while on the active
lines trailers were increased, headways were length-
ened and schedule speed was raised.
During the first seven months of the year 12,735
people were employed, but during the last five war
months the number fell to 9546.
At first the number of applicants for employment
to fill the places vacated by the enlisted men was
so large that the company thought there would be no
difficulty in getting new men. This expectation was
not fulfilled, however, because most of the unemployed
were engaged by manufacturers of war material. Al-
though about 600 female members of employees' fam-
ilies were trained for service as conductors, the diffi-
culties were great because most of the instructors had
been mobilized. On account of the increase in prices
of foodstuffs and other necessities, the company raised
wages pending settlement of the war. In the case of
employees at the front who left dependents it is paying
each wife $6.25 a month, with an additional $1.25 for
every child less than fifteen years of age. A donation
of 3-14 cents daily is made for what is termed "milk
money." Women conductors with children also receive
the $1.25 and 3?4 cents allowances. The positions of
all men called to the front are being kept open for
them.
Colorado Opposes Federal Control of Water-Power
The Legislature of Colorado has adopted a memo-
rial accepting a suggestion of the Legislature of Oregon
for a water-power conference. It calls attention to
provisions of the State constitution anil expresses the
belief that any attempt bj the federal government to
exact in exchange for such rights any right of regula-
tion or any compensation in excess of the fair market
value of the rights granted is in violation of the con-
stitutional right of the State and in impairment of the
State's power to develop and control its own internal
trees. The opinion is also expressed that the dan-
ger of monopolistic control of water-powers, asserted
as a reason for the e\erci-c by the federal government
April J4, 1916
ELECTRICAL WORLD
of th>
ate, by the exercise of
its fundamental rights t<i regulate ral
can prevent monopolistic control, in full protection of
ens.
The Legislature declares that it is not only the right
and duty but also the exclusive privilege of the -
•trol the development of its internal res. .
The Governor was requested to designate Ave members
of the General Assembly to serve aa a committee, with
the Governor as chairman, to repi rado in the
conference to he called pursuant to the resolution of the
mbly.
Electrical Export^
The summary of foreign commerce of the United
I . • ruary, 1915, issued by the Bureau of
Foreign and Domestic Commerce of the Department of
Commerce shows the following exports of electrical
machinery appliances and instruments:
Bight Months
- — - —Ended February ■
1914 I'M I
14 154,488
I
and
iclud-
18,954 418,07!
I
• nt —
□lament 9,862 ' 1.255 17,1
Metal Stamen) - 51.878 10,857 272,
$32,030 J344.577 fSl
and other
trlng Inatru-
22,801 220,740
825,224 241,488 1,96 1,356 3,
6,646 142,888 155,398 1,144,337
in Instru-
ments i Including
ratUJ I 6,87 1 .".1.069 89,845
Telephone* 101,957 157,851 905,133 1,147,899
All Other 700.804 848,956 5,088,478 7.274,092
Total all export 112,205,421 817,723.804
How the Jobber Serves the Manufacturer and
Small User
The usefulness of the electrical supply jobber in dis-
tributing the products of the manufacturer widespread
among thousands of users, and particularly in saving
both manufacturer and user the annoyance, delays and
expense of handling countless small orders which aver-
age only a few dollars each, was emphasized by Mr.
W. \Y. Low, president of the Electric Appliance Com-
pany, Chicago, in his address before the joint meeting
of manufacturers and jobbers held during the Electrical
Supply Jobbers' Association convention at Chicago,
March 18.
Electrical manufacturers do not realize that the elec-
trical jobbers handle thousands of small orders daily in
distributing the manufacturers' goods to users, said Mr.
Low. During 1914 the Klectric Appliance Company,
cited the speaker, shipped over 60,000 orders averaging
$3.26 each. Of the total number of orders handled, only
3.4 per cent were of such size as would be considered
reasonable orders if received by the manufacturer. The
real would be viewed as annoyances and nuisances, said
Mr. Low. Again, of 167 orders for conduit received
during January a poor month— ninety-six,
■ r charge.
"What would my friend the conduit manufacturer
think if he had to taki mble and take down to
the freight depot 57.6 per cent of his conduit bo-
on orders averaging $3.18?" asked Mr. Low. H.
would either be compelled to go out of business or his
business would be reduced to a minimum compared to
what he is doing now. And yet this is one of the lines
which, according to the ideas of many, goes out in large
quanti!
Convention Plans of Electrical Contractors
The convention of the National Electrical Con-
tractors' Association will be held in San Francisco, Cal.,
from July 20 to 24. The convention committee, of
which Mr. James R. Strong, New York, is chairman,
has issued a number of bulletins in relation to the con-
vention. These are supplemented by special bulletins
by Mr. V. C. Gilpin, master of transportation, describ-
ing scenic points.
Members from New York will leave via the New
York Central lines at 5:30 p.m. on July 10. From
Chicago a special train will be run to San Francisco
over the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway. A day
will be spent at the Grand Canyon and about two days
in Los Angeles. Several routes for the return trip are
described by the committee. Tour A is by way of Port-
land, Yellowstone National Park, Salt Lake City, Colo-
rado Springs, Denver and Chicago. Tour B covers
Portland, Salt Lake City. Colorado Springs, Denver and
Chicago. Tour C includes Portland. Seattle, Victoria,
Vancouver, the Canadian Rocky Mountains, St. Paul
and Chicago. Tour D is the direct route to Ogden and
Chicago. Applications for reservations should be made
on or before June 12 to Mr. V. C. Gilpin, master of
transportation.
The official train will reach Los Angeles at 2:40 p.m.
on July 15, and the travelers will be greeted by Mr.
John C. Rendler, former national director, who is in
charge of the entertainment features of that section.
The party will be met at the train by automobiles under
the guidance of the electrical people and driven through
Los Angeles and its suburbs and Pasadena. Mr. C. H.
Heilbron, of San Diego, is in charge of the entertain-
ment committee in that city, where July 16 will be
spent. Additional points in the Los Angeles district
will be visited on July 17.
The Clift Hotel has been selected by the committee
as the San Francisco headquarters. As the number of
rooms obtainable is limited, prompt applications for
reservations are suggested. The evening of July 22
has been designated officially as "National Electrical
Contractors' Night" at the Panama-Pacific Exposition.
July 24 has been designated officially as "National Elec-
trical Contractors' Day." The Oregon Electrical Con-
tractors' Association urges as many members as possi-
ble to stop in Portland on the return trip.
Increase in Rates in London
Rates for electrical energy have been increased by
the principal companies in London, England, effective
on April 1. The increases in rates follow large ad-
vances in the cost of coal. As explained by Mr. Haydn
Harrison in the article published in the Electrical
World of April 17, 1915, page 974, the shortage of labor
at collieries and the congestion of railways on account
of military movements have led to a large increase in
the cost of coal delivered at generating plants.
1084
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 17
Investigation of New York Commissions
Majority and minority reports were presented by the
legislative investigating committee which has been in-
vestigating the New York Public Service Commissions.
The majority believes the Democratic members should
be retired. The report, however, does not make a posi-
tive recommendation but expresses a desire to permit
Governor Whitman to exercise his own judgment in the
matter.
Majority Report
In the complaint as to rates in Westchester County, it
appears, the majority report says, that seven years
elapsed from the time the complaint was filed to the
final determination. The people were entitled to a much
more prompt determination. There is no provision in
the law for repayment to consumers of the excess price
charged over rates found reasonable. This fact should
have had influence with the commission and should
have resulted in a very much more prompt determina-
tion.
The report says that in the Canadian-American
Power Company case it appears that at least $1,000,000
of the allowance of stock was for rights obtained under
a contract or license, and a capitalization of such in-
tangible rights was permitted in violation of the law,
which specifically forbids the capitalization of intangi-
ble properties.
.Minority Report
The minority report criticises findings of inefficiency
against the commissioners of both districts and con-
demns the majority recommendations as reactionary
and destructive of public utility regulation. The
minority condemns three changes recommended by the
majority as follows:
"1. The destruction of the commissions' power to
supervise the issuance of stocks and bonds, with a re-
sultant flood of watered securities and a return to the
period of stock inflation, exhaustion of railroad prop-
erty, high rates and poor service to the public.
"2. An increased liability upon stockholders of utility
corporations similar to that in national and state banks.
"3. Taking away from the commissions their ac-
counting, supervising, and accident powers."
effect without harm, the commission will recommend
to Congress what revisions should be made in the
statutes.
Trade Commission and Export Combinations
Hearings will be held by the Federal Trade Commis-
sion in New York City during the first week in May on
questions pertaining to export-trade development. For-
eign-trade associations will be given an opportunity to
submit information and recommendations. In view of
the foreign-trade combinations of English and German
manufacturers and exporters, it is expected that testi-
mony bearing on the extension of similar principles to
manufacturers of this country will be presented.
The federal trade committee of the Chamber of Com-
merce of the United States has held a meeting with the
Federal Trade Commission in Washington. The two
agencies have taken up together a number of matters,
particularly the possibility of establishing co-operative
selling combinations among American manufacturers
for foreign trade.
Committees representing the Merchants' Association
of New York, the Illinois Manufacturers' Association
and other bodies are to make representations to the com-
mission on the subject It", after the commission com-
pletes its investigation, it finds that changes in the
anti-trust laws are necessary to allow the suggested COffl
binations, and if the commission comes to the conclu-
sion " ted combinations can be put Into
Competitive Plant Movement in Cincinnati
At a hearing before the light committee of the Cin-
cinnati City Council on April 19 on the application of
the Diamond Light Company for a franchise, President
W. W. Freeman of the Union Gas & Electric Company
stated that the day has passed when competition be-
tween public service corporations is effective. The gen-
eral policy now is to require good service at reasonable
rates from one company that is able to fill the require-
ments.
In reply to allegations of labor-union representatives
that the Union company is unfair, Mr. Freeman as-
serted that it has not one dissatisfied employee. He
said that if labor unions had dominated the property he
could name several instances when the company could
not have given the continued, uninterrupted service that
is needed for the safety of the city and its residents.
Mr. Joseph O'Hara said that the Diamond company
had no intention of defying the Council when it sought
to do business without a franchise, but that it had acted
in good faith. He argued that the Council had no right
to grant an exclusive franchise, and that cheaper rates
would result from favorable action upon this company's
application.
Central-Station Dividend from Appliance Sales
The Cambridge (Mass.) Electric Light Company de-
clared recently an extra dividend of 6 per cent, or
$54,000, from the proceeds of appliance merchandising
during the last six years. The company does not main-
tain a store for the sale of appliances and has only three
regular solicitors, but by a profit-sharing arrangement
with employees the management has been remarkably
successful in introducing electrical conveniences. For
about three years every employee who is the means of
selling an electric appliance, motor, washing machine,
etc., has received a commission of 10 per cent on the list
price of each article when sold, and these commissions
now amount to at least $100 a month, and sometimes
more.
Each of the eighty-eight employees is an appliance
solicitor, and both in and out of regular working hours
the task goes forward. Customers are solicited regu-
larly through the mails in connection with bills. Ap-
pliances are sold at about 33 1 3 per cent above net. In
declaring the extra dividend, which has no connection
with income from the sale of electrical energy, the
company's officials felt that the Massachusetts Gas and
Electric Light Commission would have no reason to
criticise the policy, since the funds disbursed came from
appliance merchandising, pole rentals, and business
wholly apart from the supply of energy
Pennsylvania Commission Nominations Recalled
Governor Brumbaugh notified the Pennsylvania Sen-
ate on April 15 that he had recalled the recess nomina-
tions of the seven members of the Public Service Com-
mission made by his predecessor. His letter was brief.
stating simply that his predecessor nominated on Jan.
•"), 1916, by the advice and consent of the Senate, the
members of the commission. After stating the names
of the members and the terms for which they were ap-
pointed. Governor Brumbaugh said that he recalled the
nominations.
April 24, 1915
K !.K< TRICAL WORLD
1086
.Miscellaneous News Notes
Hydroelectric System in Ontario. — The Council of Ridge-
town, Ontario, has decided to rabmH a by-law to the people
calling for the installation of a hydroelectric system.
\.» ^ ,.rk I, I. p hon, and Til. i;ra|ih Hill 1 I. feated.— The
New York Stat.- Senate defeated on April 20 the Foley I. ill
to place all telephone and telegraph companies in the State
under the jurisdiction of the New York Public Service Com-
. Second District,
Report on Ohio Hill. — The judiciary committee of the
Ohio House of Representatives has decided to report for
passage the Clark bill, placing gas, oil and electrical com-
panies which transport and sell their products to dis-
tributing companies under the supervision of the Public
Utilities Commission.
< .infractors and Municipal Plant Unite to Give Electric
Show. — Seizing the opportunity offered by the completion
of the rehabilitation of the municipal plant at Jamestown,
N. Y., the members of the water and lighting commission
and the electrical contractors of the city gave an electric
-how at the plant on April 8, 9 and 10. Visitors were shown
the new power station equipment and were invited to ex-
amine displays and electrical-appliance booths erected by
the contractors in the station building.
University of Illinois Electric Show. — Nearly (5000 persons
attended the fifth annual electrical show given by the
students of electrical engineering of the University of
Illinois at Urbana, 111., April 8 to 10. Features of the ex-
hibition were a huge Tesla coil giving 8-ft. sparks, the
control of an automobile by "wireless," a working model of
the Panama Canal, and an electric railway system with
operative signals. A number of commercial exhibits were
also shown by manufacturers and salesmen.
Fire in Horn & Brannan Fixture Factory, Philadelphia.
— Approximately $200,000 damage was done by a fire that
swept through the gas and electric fixture plant of Horn &
Brannan, 427-437 North Broad Street, Philadelphia. The
second, third and fourth floors of the building were almost
entirely destroyed. At the time the plant was temporarily
deserted because of a holiday. Mr. James Brannan, a mem-
ber of the firm, places the loss at about $200,000. The build-
ing was insured, although not to its full value.
Prohibition Increases Assessed Valuation of Public Utility
Properties. — According to advices from Des Moines, la., the
assessed valuation of the Des Moines Electric Company
was raised from $1,330,000 to $1,800,000 and that of the Des
Moines Water Company from $2,200,000 to $2,670,000. The
increase in the valuation of these two public utilities is the
first step by the city assessor to make up for the loss caused
by the closing of its saloons. Increases are expected in the
valuations of the Des Moines Gas Company and the Rail-
way Company.
N.h York Water-Storage Bill.— The New York State
Senate passed on April 20 the Wood water-storage bill by
a vote of 28 to 15. The bill is designed to permit the
creation of river-regulating districts under the direction of
a commission consisting of the conservation commissioner,
the Attorney-General and the State engineer. A board of
three to be named by the Governor would have direct con-
trol of each district. Reservoirs would be constructed in
each district for the storage of water, and the expense
would be apportioned between the State and the property
directly benefited.
Safety Lessons in Motion I'ictures. — Motion pictures pre-
pared recently for the Underwriters' Laboratories of Chi-
cago and shown for the first time before the Chicago Elec-
tric Club on April 15 present the methods used in the labor-
atories for testing the fire hazards of various products.
Fuses, wire, flatirons, insulating materials and sockets were
among the electrical goods shown under test. Mr. J. E.
I.atta, special agent for the laboratories, explained the pic-
tures and announced that the films would be used in many
places to teach safety and to show something of the fire-
prevention work at the laboratories.
Salary Increases at Cleveland Municipal Plant. — The city
board of control of Cleveland, Ohio, has increased the sal-
aries of a number of employees of the municipal lighting
division. The superintendent of electrical construction was
advanced from $1,800 to $2,100 per year, the superintendent
of the meter department from $1,500 to $1,800, and the chief
cost clerk from $1,500 to $1,650. The position of assistant
superintendent of construction was created with a salary of
per month. The office of statistician, another new
ion, will carry a salary of $1,080 per year. Time clerks
were changed from a wage scale based upon the number of
hours employed to a monthly salary.
Electric Show at Toronto. — The Ideal Home and Electric
Show at Toronto, Ont., was opened on April 12 by the
Premier of Ontario, who spoke for a few minutes on what
an ideal home means. Grouped in the hall were many
beautiful as well as useful articles that go to the making
of the ideal home. Electrical devices for housework were
displayed, a study of which showed housekeepers what a
labor-saving medium the "white coal" of Ontario is. After
a most successful week the show was closed on April 17.
The attendance during the week was approximately 60,000.
Exhibitors who were interviewed stated that the results
were much beyond their expectations. Mr. Wilcox, who
organized the show, said it will be an annual event.
Electrically Cooked Dinner in Brooklyn Polytechnic
Laboratory. — On the evening of April 25 the advisory coun-
cil of the Polytechnic Institute, Brooklyn, N. Y., held its
annual meeting and had dinner in the electrical laboratory.
All food was cooked by electricity, a portion of it being
prepared by the guests themselves with electric toasters
and percolators. Most of the cooking was done on two
Simplex ranges and a Hughes range. Use was also made of
electrically heated waffle irons for making waffles. After
the dinner various electrical experiments were carried out
for the entertainment of the guests. Dr. Samuel Sheldon,
professor of physics and electrical engineering, planned the
banquet, the electrical appliances being furnished by the
Edison Electric Illuminating Company of Brooklyn.
Municipal Plant Bills in Ohio. — Miss Rose Moriarity.
deputy city auditor of Elyria, appeared before the public
utilities committee of the Ohio House of Representatives on
April 19 and spoke against the Behne bill, which seeks to
place responsibility for financing municipal plants directly
upon the plants instead of upon the city credit as a whole.
She denounced it as an attempt to prevent cities from en-
gaging in public-service business. A plan is on foot to
establish a joint plant for Elyria and Lorain. Senator
Behne and Mr. J. C. Martin, of the Ohio Electric Light
Association, replied to her address. The Senate committee
on public utilities has reported the Stone bill for passage.
It would place municipal plants under the supervision of the
Public Utilities Commission like private corporations.
Tennessee State Assessors to Assess Hydroelectric Prop-
erties for State, County and Municipal Purposes. — A bill
enacted by the General Assembly of Tennessee at its 1915
session gives authority to the state tax assessors to assess
for valuation for state, county and municipal purposes the
properties of all hydroelectric power companies in the State
of Tennessee. In arriving at the valuation of the property
for taxation the assessor will consider the capital stock of
the company, the corporate property, franchises, gross re-
ceipts and the expenditure for betterments, improvements
and repairs. He will further consider the market value
of the stocks and bonds and all other facts that may throw
light upon and show the value of the property to be as-
sessed. It is enacted that the lines, poles, towers, trans-
formers, machinery and equipment in the power houses and
all other property of the company except lands, buildings
and personal property is to be known as distributable and
to be valued separately from the property. After ascer-
taining the total value of such distributable property where-
ever situated, and after having deducted from this value
$1,000, the assessors are to divide the remainder by the
number of miles of the entire length of the line, and the
result will be the value per mile of such distributable prop-
erty for the purpose of taxation. This value when multi-
plied by the number of miles in the State is to be the amount
assessed by the State; when multiplied by the number of
miles per county is to be the value assessed by the county,
and when multiplied by the number of miles per municipality
is to be the value assessed by the municipality. All lands
and buildings are to be valued separately and assessed as
localized property.
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 17
Associations and Societies
Electrical Supply Jobbers' Association. — The next quar-
terly meeting of the Electrical Supply Jobbers' Association
has been set for June 15, 16 and 17 at the Hotel Statler,
Detroit, Mich. Mr. Franklin Overbagh, 411 South Clinton
Street, Chicago, is secretary.
Dayton Company Section. N. E. L. A.— Mr. H. I. Fox,
illuminating engineer for the Dayton Power & Light Com-
pany, Dayton, Ohio, addressed the company N. E. L. A.
Section meeting April 8 on engineering, structural and il-
luminating features of the San Francisco exposition.
Connecticut Lighting Association at Hartford. — Sales
topics were discussed at the monthly meeting of the Con-
necticut Lighting Association held at the Hotel Bond, Hart-
ford, Conn., April 9. The twenty-four central-station ex-
ecutives present were entertained at luncheon by Capt.
1- . W. Prince, superintendent of the Hartford Electric Light
Company.
Jovians at Erie, Pa. — At the April meeting of local mem-
bers of the Jovian Order at the Reed House, Erie, Pa., a
discussion on organization matters was led by Mr. C. E.
Sutton, who is statesman-at-large of the order. Mr. C. E.
Corrigan, president of the National Metal Molding Com-
pany, who had been scheduled as the principal speaker of
the evening to talk on "Concentric Wiring," was unable to
be present on account of illness, and a later date was set for
his address.
New York Jovian Meeting. — At the lunch of the New
York Jovian Electrical League at the Hotel Martinique,
New York, on April 21, Mr. A. J. Marshall, secretary of
the Electric Vehicle Association, spoke on "The Electric
Vehicle in Taxi and Bus Service." He said that by the
autumn of this year several hundred electric vehicles will
be engaged in taxicab service in New York City. A report
on the "jitney bus" was made by the following committee:
Messrs. A. E. Clifford, Electrical World; Joseph Becker,
United Electric Light & Power Company, and Martin Ober-
lander, Western Electric Company. Mr. Roger Williams,
Simplex Electric Heating Company, was chairman of the
day.
Georgia Electrical Contractors' Association. — At the an-
nual meeting of the Georgia Electrical Contractors' Asso-
ciation held at the Hotel Ansley, Atlanta, Ga., April 15 and
16, the following officers were elected for 1915; President,
Mr. H. E. Lowe, Macon, Ga.; vice-president, Mr. J. M.
Clayton, Atlanta, Ga.; secretary, Mr. J. A. Wier, Athens,
Ga.; treasurer, Mr. W. L. Bailey, Atlanta, Ga., and member
board of directors National Electrical Contractors' Asso-
ciation, Mr. T. H. McKinney. During the administration
of the retiring president, Mr. R. M. Walker, Rome, Ga., the
association's membership has been increased to twenty-
eight. The next meeting will be held at Columbus, Ga.,
July 6.
Iowa Electrical Contractors Meet at Keokuk. — At the
fourth semi-annual convention of the Iowa Electrical Con-
tractors' Association held at Keokuk, 111., April 20, 21 and
22, officers for the year were elected as follows: President,
Mr. Floyd A. Wallace, Des Moines; vice-president, Mr. J. T.
Fowler, Cedar Rapids; secretary-treasurer, Mr. M. T.
Humphrey, Waterloo, and director of the National Electric
Contr elation, Mr. G. 0. May, Sioux City. More
than two-thirds of the members of this comparatively
young association attended the convention, and it was gen-
erally conceded that in bringing out helpful discussion and
in providing enjoyable entertainment the Keokuk conven-
tion wa the beat in the association's history.
Jovian Rejuvenation in Kansas city. — At the largt
juvenation of the Kansas City Jovian League yel held
two men took the obligation on April li. The occasion
marked the real ; the Jovian League with the
"i.i il aiflcatiot
The new members included Messrs. P. .1. Kealy and I;. T.
Wood-, the board of control of the Metropolitan Street
Railw d I number of officials Of the Kansas
utilities. Reigning Jupitei Homer EC. Niesz urged
co-op. leal development and thi
ment of the V About twenty-five visiting
Jovians wan an SI Joseph, St, Louis and Chi-
cago. Mr. A. C. Cornell, of St. Louis, took the part of
Avrenim.
Electric Club in Springfield, Mass. — An electric club was
formed in Springfield, Mass., on April 14 with the follow-
ing officers: President, Mr. Kurt R. Sternberg, Dickinson
Manufacturing Company; secretary, Mr. L. J. Kemper;
treasurer, Mr. Fred Rogers, Jr., General Electric Company;
chairman of publicity committee, Mr. C. M. French, Wagner
Electric Manufacturing Company; executive committee,
Messrs. W. P. Hodge, A. W. Hopkins and W. K. Tuohey.
The executive committee was directed to prepare a definite
plan of organization for report at the next meeting to be
held on April 26. At the organization meeting talks were
made by Messrs. W. L. Mulligan, United Electric Light
Company; Arthur J. Newell, and others. The new club's
membership includes manufacturers, inspectors, contractors
and central-station men, and it is planned to keep in close
touch with other organizations of similar character.
Joint Meeting on Illumination. — At the joint meeting of
the National Electric Light Association, the National Com-
mercial Gas Association and the Illuminating Engineering
Society in the auditorium of the Consolidated Gas Com-
pany's Building, New York City, on April 18, Mr. Norman
Macbeth, of the I. E. S., presented a paper entitled "Value
of the Illuminating Engineering Society to Commercial
Men." Mr. Macbeth performed a number of experiments
and showed a number of lantern slides demonstrating the
fact that the human eye is incapable of judging illumination
values and that the commercial man must have some idea
of illumination problems in order to lay out a satisfactory
installation. Mr. R. F. Pierce, of the N. C. G. A., read a
paper entitled "Illuminating Engineering as Applied to the
Business of the Gas Company." Mr. Holton H. Scott, pres-
ident of the N. E. L. A., told of the work being done by this
society, emphasizing the value of company sections.
Public Service Commission News
Minnesota Commission
The House of Representatives has passed a bill upon
which the House and Senate have agreed giving jurisdiction
of telegraph companies to the Railroad and Warehouse
Commission. The commission is to have authority to make
rates, to acquire physical connection between competing
lines and make other regulations.
Indiana Commission
The Winona Electric Light & Water Company has given
notice that it will surrender its franchise, and take an inde-
terminate permit.
It is understood that Governor Ralston will reappoint
Messrs. Charles J. Murphy, of Brookston, and Charles A.
Edwards, of Huntington, members of the commission when
their terms expire on May 1.
Wisconsin Commission
The commission has ordered the Wisconsin-Minnesota
Light & Power Company to extend electric service to two
applicants residing some distance beyond the present limits
of the company's distribution system in Chippewa Falls.
By applying the data contained in the company'.- report of
last year to the formula developed in the Electrical World
of Feb. T. 1914, and checking the result with the normal in-
vestment and operating costs properly chargeable to the
proposed extension of the distribution system, the commis-
sion determined that the additional investment would lie
ified by the probable total yearlj revenue to be derived
from the applicants. The order specifies a minimum yearly
revenue which must he guaranteed to the company.
In the case of the Beloii Water, Gas & Electric Company
Mi.' commission has issued a supplementary order modifying
the tentative rate schedule contained in its order of July 10,
1911. After several years of operation under the schedule
oi reduced rates it appears that the load-factor of the elec-
tric plant is not so high as was anticipated. The trouble
was attributed to the fact that the schedule of rat
formulated did not offer sufficient inducement to off-peak
■ option. In order to give the off peak appliance load
the benefit of lower rates, the supplementary order provides
Ann -4, mis
ELECTRICAL WORLD
1087
that the first 1000 watts of appliance load shall be excluded
in estimating the active load. The schedule of power rates
mu bIm adjusted with the view of increasing the load-factor
by offering inducements to long-hour a
Illinois Commission
1 I i petition brought by the Western United '
trie Company, Aurora, III., the commission baa ruled that the
company may charge a higher rate for gas where a prepay-
ment meter is in use than where ordinary meters are used.
ot permissible, however, to charge consumers who are
in arrears a higher rate than Other Consumer* of the .-ami-
[ lecember the commission decided that the com-
pany could not charge prepayment meter patrons $1 and
other patrons 90 cents per 1000 cu. ft. Now, however, the
commission reverses its ruling, as the company showed that
ire to take care of prepayment patrons and that
the prepayment meters are installed at the request of con-
sumers.
\.« x ork Commissions
On motion of Commissioner William Efajrward, the First
District Commission has appointed a special committee to
look into all service orders previously adopted and to report
whether any are obsolete or unworkable. Commissioner
I lay ward stated that in his opinion it would be better for
the commission to have ten good orders which could be en-
forced that a hundred about which there is any doubt. Chair-
man McCall appointed Commissioners Hayward and Wil-
liams as the committee.
The United Electric Light & Power Company has made
application to the New York Public Service Commission,
Second District, for a conference upon rates as a result of
the new schedule of the New York Edison Company. The
United company was not affected directly by the recent
agreement covering the rates charged by the New York
Edison Company.
Mr. Percival Robert Moses has written a complaint to the
commission regarding the principle on which the New York
Edison Company rate schedule was based. He objects to the
discount on account of quantity and asserts that it permits
the middleman to take profits which should be shared with
the actual consumer. Mr. Moses also questioned the regula-
tion that permitted the owner of two buildings not more
than laO ft. apart to combine the consumption of energy in
these structures and thus obtain lower rates. He declares
that this constitutes an unfair advantage to a property
owner. He says that the object of the regulation is to
prevent the erection of competing private generating plants.
The company, he says, does not care whether or not it makes
a profit on a particular building so long as it earns a profit
on the entire system and the effect of the principle under-
lying the schedule is to hold up rates for consumers of
moderate amounts.
The Second District commission has refused to allow the
Lima-Honeoye Electric Light & Railroad Company and the
Lima-Honeoye Light & Railroad Company to separate their
electric light from their railway business. The commission
holds that this would be a violation of a lease of the proper-
ties between the two companies, approved by the commis-
sion in 1910. At that time one of the two companies, both
of which are owned by the same interests, leased its prop-
erty to the other for five years. It has been found since
that the electric-light property is profitable but that the
railway is so unprofitable as to make joint operation un-
remunerative. Counsel for the company admitted at the
hearing that under the circumstances, if the abandonment
of the lease were sanctioned, the operation of the railroad
property would be abandoned ultimately. Chairman Van
SantVOOrd says:
"The proper question would be whether, having regard to
the public welfare and rights as well as to the rights and
interest of the owner and lessees of these two utilities, the
commission may properly approve that which, if granted,
will in effect constitute a default under a lease, the execu-
tion of which lease has been approved and authorized by the
commission upon the express understanding that an efficient
operation of both utilities would result therefrom and might
be expected during the life of the lease. In this view of the
approval by the commission of what is now proposed
would be an improper exercise of its discretionary power,
and thf application must therefore be denied."
Personal
\lr. George |i I'ratl bai I minuted by Governor
Whitman to be < i BT of New York.
Mr. Pratt is treasurer of the Pratt Institute of Brooklyn.
Mr. Kurt K. Sternberg, general manager of the Dickin-
• lanufacturing Company, Springfield, Mass., has been
elected president of the new electric club, organized in that
city.
Mr. John Hunter, chief engineer of power plants for the
Union Electric Light & Power Company, St. Louis, Mo.,
has been appointed a member of the International Jury on
Awards of the San Francisco Exposition.
Mr. (i. H. Jenkins, formerly contract agent at the main
office of the Greenfield (Mass.) Electric Light & Power
Company, will succeed Mr. John J. O'Connell as manager
of the Shelburne Falls branch of that company.
.Mr. John J. O'Connell, who for the last three years has
been manager of the Shelburne Falls branch of the Green-
field (Mass.) Electric Light & Power Company, has been
transferred to the company's property at Amherst.
Mr. C. R. Butler, auditor of the Rutland (Vt.) Railway,
Light & Power Company, has been appointed secretary-
treasurer of the Binghamton (N. Y.) Light, Heat & Power
Company and the Sayre Electric Company, Sayre, Pa.
Mr. Joseph D. Greenslete has resigned as electrical engi-
neer with the General Electric Company at Schenectady,
N. Y., to become chief operating engineer and assistant
manager of the Visayan Refining Company, Cebu, P. I.
Mr. W. L. Hemingway, vice-president of the Mercantile
Trust Company, Little Rock, Ark., has been elected vice-
president and treasurer of the Little Rock Railway & Elec-
tric Company to succeed Mr. D. H. Cantrell, promoted to
be president of the company.
Mr. James O. Carr, of Schenectady, N. Y., has been nomi-
nated by Governor Whitman of New York to succeed Mr.
Martin S. Decker as a member of the New York Public
Service Commission of the Second District. Mr. Carr has
been one of the attorneys for the General Electric Company,
stationed at Schenectady.
Mr. William O'Connell, county treasurer of Cook County,
111., has been appointed a member of the Illinois Public
Utilities Commission to succeed Mr. James E. Quan, re-
signed. Mr. Quan was appointed chairman of the com-
mission to serve temporarily, his resignation being volun-
tary after a service of little more than one year.
Mr. G. Wilbur Hubley, until lately superintendent of the
electrical department and of electrical construction of the
Louisville Gas & Electrical Company, has accepted the
position of chief engineer of the Sampson Engineering Com-
pany, which will establish a factory and manufacture an
electrical automobile starting device in Louisville.
Mr. C. A. Cable, for the last five years chief engineer of
the municipal water and electric lighting plant at Lansing,
Mich., has tendered his resignation, which has been ac-
cepted to take effect May 1. A committee has been ap-
pointed by the president of the local commission to draft
a resolution in appreciation of Mr. Cable's services.
Mr. J. E. Bigham has severed his connection with the
Tampa (Fla.) Electric Company to engage in business for
himself. Mr. Bigham has been president of the Southeast-
ern Section of the National Electric Light Association, but
has been succeeded in that capacity by Mr. C. M. Benedict,
of the Charleston (S. C.) Consolidated Railway & Power
Company.
Mr. D. H. Cantrell, formerly vice-president of the Little
Rock (Ark.) Railway & Electric Company, has been elected
president of that company to succeed the late Judge W. M.
Kavanaugh. Mr. Cantrell, who is a member of the law
firm of Rose, Hemingway, Cantrell, Loughborough & Miles,
will continue to look after the company's legal business per-
sonally, at the same time directing the plans and policies
of the organization.
Mr. Edward A. Deeds, vice-president and assistant general
manager of the National Cash Register Company, Dayton,
Ohio, and president of the Dayton Engineering Laboratories
Company, has tendered his resignation to the president of
108a
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 17
the former company, in order that he may devote all of
his energies to the Dayton Engineering Laboratories Com-
pany, of which he is the founder. Mr. Deeds has seen this
latter business grow from its experimental stage, started
in an outbuilding on his premises, to one of the largest
industries of its kind in the country. Mr. Deeds started
with the National Cash Register Company fifteen years
ago as electrical engineer.
Mr. Thomas Augustus Watson, who was associated with
Dr. Alexander Graham Bell in the pioneer work on the
telephone, and who during the recent ceremonies inaugu-
rating transcontinental telephonic conversation was at the
San Francisco end of the line
and conversed with Dr. Bell
3500 miles away much as in
their historic conversation
over crude instruments be-
tween adjacent rooms in 1876,
was himself a prolific in-
ventor of telephones and tele-
phone apparatus, and during
the period from 1878 to 1886
no less than thirty-eight
United States patents were
granted to him for his inven-
tions in telephone receiving
and sending apparatus, signal
systems, exchange systems,
etc. At the age of thirteen
young Watson entered the
electrical workshop of Mr.
Charles Williams in Boston,
where he displayed considerable initiative in work on call
bells, telegraph instruments, and other electrical devices of
the day, as well as in the construction of steam-engines,
the latter work leading to his activity in the shipbuilding
industry many years later. In 1874 Mr. Watson, who was
still working for Mr. Williams, constructed for Dr. Bell a
number of instruments for his "harmonic telegraph." On
June 2, 1875, the sticking of a transmitter spring caused the
experimenters to realize that what is now known as the
telephone would be practicable, and on March 10, 1876,
when Mr. Watson was only twenty-two years of age, he
had constructed the first telephone instruments and had
heard the human voice reproduced by a telephone trans-
mitter for the first time in history. From 1877 to 1881 Mr.
Watson worked steadily in his laboratory. At that time
the engineering department of the Bell Telephone Company
consisted of Mr. Watson and two others. In 1881 he ceased
his activity in telephone work and went abroad, returning
in 1884, when he entered the shipbuilding business as a
member of the firm of F. V. Wellington & Company. In
1900 he founded the Fore River Ship & Engine Company
at Quincy Point, Boston Bay, at which plant many Ameri-
can and foreign "dreadnaughts" have been constructed. In
1903 Mr. Watson retired from active business, and he is
now living at East Braintree, Mass.
THOMAS A. WATSON
Obituary
Charles F. Hills, president of the Franklin Electric Com-
pany, Hartford, Conn., died at his home in Elizabeth, N. J.,
on April 15, following a prolonged illness.
Kenjjo Makino. head of the department of electrical engi-
neering, Waseda University, Tokio, Japan, died in that city
Feb. 1. Mr. Makino was graduated from the Institute of
Technology of Tokio in 1900 and for years was identified
with the development of the electrical industry in Japan. In
1907 he was sent to the United States and entered Cornell
University, graduating in 1908 with the degree of M. E., and
the following year the degree of M. M. E. was granted to
him. Be tnu alio honored with membership in the Sigma
Xi society. After his graduation he went to Japan to organ-
ize the new department of electrical engineering of Waseda
University. Mr. Makino was a freqnent contributor to the
li ;il literature of his country. He was decorated by the
Mikado for service in the Russo-Japanese war. A wife and
four children survive him.
Corporate and Financial
Brookville (Ohio) and Lewisburg Lighting Company. —
The Ohio Public Service Commission has authorized the
company to issue at not less than par $5,000 par value of
its capital stock for the construction of a distribution sys-
tem.
Cedar Valley Power Company, Charles City, la. — The
company has sold its property in the cities of Hampton,
Clarksville, Parkersburg, Nashua and Charles City, and
its hydroelectric power site on the Cedar River 11 miles
above Charles City, to the American Gas Company of Phila-
delphia. The officers of the Cedar Valley Power Company
had completed plans to erect a 26-ft. dam on the power site
and to construct transmission lines. The Cedar Valley
Power Company was capitalized at $1,000,000. A new com-
pany known as the Cedar Valley Electric Company has now
been formed by the American Gas Company, and it is
rumored that the construction plans of the former owners
will be carried out substantially as they were originally
outlined. Mr. C. W. Taggart, who has been superintendent
of the St. Clair County Gas & Electric Company of Belle-
ville, 111., a property of the American Gas Company, will
be placed in charge of the work and will have headquar-
ters at Charles City.
Century Electric Company, St. Louis, Mo. — The company
states that it has increased its capital stock, full paid, to
$1,000,000 to enable it to take care of increasing business
requirements. The company manufactures single-phase
alternating-current motors and fans.
City Electric Company, San Francisco, Cal. — The Cali-
fornia Railroad Commission has issued an order provision-
ally authorizing the company to issue $426,000 of first
mortgage 5 per cent thirty-year sinking-fund gold bonds.
The company may issue $250,000 of the bonds at 84 and
interest at present. The proceeds are to be used to pay
$85,785 due the Great Western Power Company for ma-
terials and supplies, and to defray the cost of extensions,
additions and betterments, $124,215. The commission has
authorized the company to amend its mortgage and deed
of trust securing these bonds. As amended the trust deed
provides that after $3,000,000 bonds have been issued the
remaining $2,000,000 may be issued only up to 75 per cent
of the actual cash cost or reasonable value of extensions,
additions and betterments. After deduction of all operating
expenses the earnings for twelve months within the four-
teen months next preceding the issue must be at least
twice the aggregate interest charges accruing on all obli-
gations outstanding during the period of twelve months,
plus twelve months' interest on the bonds proposed to be
issued.
Coast Valleys Gas & Electric Company, San Francisco.
Cal. — The company has been authorized by the California
Railroad Commission to issue $10,000 of bonds.
Commonwealth Edison Company, Chicago, 111. — The com-
pany has been authorized by the Illinois Public Utilities
Commission to issue $10,921,000 of 5 per cent first mort-
gage gold bonds.
Consolidated Electric Company, Greenwich, N. Y. — The
company has increased its capital recently from $75,000 to
$150,000, the increase being issued from surplus account.
Great Shoshone & Twin Falls (Idaho) Water Power Com-
pany.— The collateral behind the 1910 and 1911 indentures
was purchased recently by the protective committee for
$487,500.
Illinois Northern Utilities Company. Dixon, III. — The com-
pany has been granted permission by the Illinois Public
Utilities Commission to issue $640,000 first and refunding
gold bonds.
Ithaca (N. Y.) Gas & Electric Company.— The New York
Public Service Commission, Second District, has authorized
(lie consolidation of the Ithaca Gas Light Company and
the Ithaca Electric Light & Power Company into the
[thaca Gas & Electric Company. The new corporation will
have |860,000 stock. The stock will be exchanged for that
of the old companies. In the consolidation $150,000 of stock
of the old companies will lie canceled. The new company
is also authorized to issue $434,000 of 5 per cent forty-year
nortgagc bonds, of which (819,000 shall be used in
Aran. 24, 1916
ELECTRICAL WORLD
exchange, par for par. Inr .vj.'.l.u ut-tunding bonds of the
gas company and $65,000 outstanding bonds of the electric
company. Also $115,000 may be sold at not less than 90
to net $103,600 to fund $74,800 bills and accounts payable
of the gas company and $28,556 of the electric company.
han*. i. < Itj Raihraj § Ugtrl « iwpany. — Solders of the
6 per cent collateral gold notei due on Sept. 1, 1912, and
of the first-lien refunding ^rold bonds have received letters
from the respective protective committees stating thai the
franchise granted to the Kansas City Railways Company,
the new company organized to acquire the street railway
properties, would be forfeited should the railways company
not acquire the railway properties by Jan. ~. 1915. The
city, however, extended the time to July 7, 1916. It is not
known whether another extension can be secured. The
financial conditions created by the European war made it
practically impossible to sell new securities to pay existing
indebtedness in cash. In view of the situation and at the
request of the committee representing a large majority of
the stockholders the protection committees co-operated with
the stockholders' committee in an endeavor to work out a
plan to refinance the existing indebtedness by exchange for
new securities. A plan was submitted to Judge Hook, but
was disapproved by him, one of the reasons being that it
provided for the continuance of the Kansas City Railway
& Light Company's stock ownership in both the street-
railway and the electric-light properties. An immediate
separation of the stock ownership in the properties under
existing conditions presents serious difficulties, and in view
of the entire situation it may become necessary to fore-
close very promptly the various mortgages.
Louisville (Ky.) Gas & Electric Company. — The company
has sold $300,000 of 6 per cent notes, dated Oct. 1, 1914,
and due on April 1, 1918. They are part of an authorized
issue of $2,000,000, of which $750,000 are outstanding,
including the present issue. The sale will remove all float-
ing indebtedness and provide funds for extensions and im-
provements.
Mexican Northern Power Company, Ltd., Toronto, Can-
ada.— President D. E. Thomson states that holders of the
first mortgage bonds, at a meeting held on May 27, 1914,
passed a resolution which deferred payment of interest due
prior to Jan. 1, 1916, and authorized an issue not exceeding
$3,000,000 bonds having priority in all respects to the first
mortgage bonds. Prior-lien bonds were accordingly offered
to bondholders and shareholders, but the response was dis-
appointing. The company applied the proceeds of bonds
sold and certain moneys borrowed on the security of bonds
to the best advantage possible and was able, after strenuous
efforts, to save the power house and equipment from serious
injury by the excessive floods of the year and to store a
large quantity of the flood waters. In consenting to the
prior-lien bond scheme bondholders stipulated that not more
than $1,000,000 should be issued without the consent of a
majority of the bondholders present or represented at a
meeting called for the purpose. It being impossible in the
present financial situation to secure the funds necessary to
complete the work without the removal of this restriction,
the concurrence of bondholders in the necessary modifica-
tion of the original resolution is sought.
Minneapolis (Minn.) General Electric Company. — An
issue of 6 per cent notes due on June 1, 1917, is offered at
100% and interest to net 5.75 per cent.
National Securities Corporation, New York, N. Y. — In
connection with this company, which was organized recently
to take over securities of the Idaho-Oregon Light & Power
Company, the Idaho Railway, Light & Power Company and
the Idaho Power & Light Company, Mr. W. J. Ferris, re-
ceiver for the Idaho-Oregon company, says: "The new
company will have adequate capital to repair and improve
all the plants whenever it is found necessary. It will also
be in a position to develop this territory as it should be
developed and to make whatever investments offer a fair
return. The organization will be formed with new men
interested, and practically all of the interests which waged
the war between the companies here eliminated. New
people have taken their places, and the company will be on
such a basis that it can derive an equitable revenue from
its investments. During the past two years none of the
companies has been able to make any money. Money that
being spent hitherto in absurd and useless competition
will be diverted now into channels that will mean the build-
ing up of the territory along broad lines."
\i« Orleans (La.) Railway & Light Company. — In dis-
cussing operations for the year ended Dec. 31, 1914, Presi-
dent D. D. Curran stated in his annual report that the
increase in net income was very gratifying, particularly be-
operating expenses in the gas department had in-
creased approximately $60,000, gas rates were reduced on
April 1, electric rates were reduced on Dec. 1, and there was
a fare reduction on the West End and Spanish Fort railway
line. The statement for 1918 and 1914 follows:
1 '.' 1 4 1913
Railway department $4,398, r>07 $4,401,161
Blecti leal department 1,4
Qas department 1,186,322 1,158,094
Total J7.012.124 $6,894,432
< Iper&ting expi
Railway department $2,341,420 $2,439,154
Kli ctrlc department ...
department r.26.224
Total $3,428,871 $3,419,569
Net operating revenue* $3,583,253 $3,474,863
Net revenue outside operations 8,012 n,79i
Total net revenue* $3,591,265 $3,486,654
Revenue deductions :
Taxis $761,223 $724,535
Uncollectible consumers' accounts 9,000 8,661
Total $770,223 $731,196
Net operating income* $2,821,042 $2,755,458
Miscellaneous income 45.551 34,763
Gross income* $2,866,593 $2,790,221
Income deductions :
(lilt-rest OD funded debt $1,709,451 $1,630,731
Other interest charges 15,627 52,181
Dividends on stocks of lessor company
owned by others 4, OS 4 4,107
Taxes on non-operating land and im-
provements 17,345 16,559
Amortization of funded debt discount and
expense 23,375
Other income deductions 7,341 4,926
Total $1,753,848 $1,731,878-
Net income before deducting charges for
renewals and replacements $1,112,745 $1,058,342
Charges for renewals and replacements 189, 61S 180.813
Net corporate income $923,127 $877,529
Less dividends on stocks of subsidiary com-
panies held by others 4,013 4,770
Balance of net income carried to surplus. . . $919,114 $872,759
•Not including charges for renewals and replacements shown
separately.
Pacific Gas & Electric Company, San Francisco, Cal. —
At the annual meeting of stockholders in San Francisco,
on April 14, President Frank G. Drum said that no an-
nouncement with regard to a common-stock dividend would
be made by the board until May 1. The outgoing directors
were re-elected with one exception, Mr. J. A. McCandless
taking the place vacated by the resignation of Mr. J. E.
Gladstone, of New York.
Philadelphia Electric Company, Philadelphia, Pa. — Not-
withstanding business depression, the company made sub-
stantial progress, according to the report of President J. B.
McCall for the year ended Dec. 31, 1914. The management
has under consideration a plan to unify further the com-
panies, having in mind future needs to meet the demands
for service, especially when the present depression is lifted
and new impetus is given to business. With this end in
view, a firm of Boston engineers was employed on July 1.
1914, to make a complete appraisal of the properties. This
work is being expedited so that the company will be able
to prepare for any improvement in business. The state-
ment for 1913 and 1914 follows:
1914_ 1913
Gross earnings $8,160,025 $7,816,615
Operating expenses and fixed .-Marges 8,181,046 5,88 7.3 7 2
N.-t income $1,978,979 $1,92S,243
Lees dividends 1.574,308 1,180.815
Surplus $404,671 $747,428
Previous surplus 1.067,076 1.818,913
Deduct stock dividend 1.499,265
Tot:, I surplus $1,471,747 $1,067,076
Richmond Light & Railroad Company, Now York. N. Y. —
A comparativi statement of the operations for 1914 and
1090
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 17
1913, filed with the New York Public Service Commission,
First District, follows:
department ; 19H 1918
Operating revenui $441,100 $446,471
2X1,291 297.9X1
Taxes 12,750 12,000
ollectlble bills 1.20s
Operating income $145,851 $136,490
Street railws 2,928 78,042
i rating income $142,923 $58,448
7.M 1 6,561
Gross corporate income $150,734 $65,009
129,805 116.549
Net corpoi $20,929 '$51,540
Previous deficit 412,583 265,284
Surplus adjustments, rge 42,838 95,760
Deft $434,492 $41L',."M
•Deficit
Santa Maria (Cal.) Gas & Power Company.— The Rail-
road Commission of California has authorized the company
to issue $25,000 of first mortgage 6 per cent bonds.
Southern Public Utilities Company, Charlotte, N. C. — An
issue of $3,250,000 of first and refunding 5 per cent gold
bonds due July 1, 1943, is offered at 94% and interest.
The bonds are secured by a direct first mortgage subject to
$1,749,000 divisional bonds for the retirement of which this
issue makes provision. The value of the property, exclusive
of franchises, good will, etc., is stated to be $10,581,000.
Escrow bonds can be issued up to only 70 per cent of the
cost of extensions, improvements, etc., or of property pur-
chased in fee, and then only when net earnings for the
twelve months preceding are at least twice the interest
charges on all bonds outstanding, including those to be
issued.
I'nited Railways Investment Company, Jersey City, N. J. —
Having changed the fiscal year so as to end on June 30, as
noted in the Electrical World of March 20, the company
has issued a general balance sheet and income account in
order that stockholders may be advised of the affairs for
the year ended Dec. 31, 1914, as usual. The income state-
ment follows:
Income
I'lw.l.n.ls i,n storks owned $1,808,6S8
interest on bonds owned 49,062
rest on bonds in sinking fund 33,463
Interest on notes and accounts receivable,
etc 60,105
Interest on Philadelphia t'ompanv dividend
:;. i
interest on bank balances 1,035
$1,949,198
lenses so,ni2
hit, rtst and discounts 1,147,977
Net Income tor the rear $721,209
Profit plus at beginning of year 5,222,528
redlt -discount on bonds purchased Tor
■inking fund 7:,.i It",
l'i iflt and loss surplus. Dee. 81, 1914 $6,01S,S83
Washington (I). C.) Railway & Electric Company. — The
annual report of the company for the year entice! Dec. 31,
1914, including that of the Potomac Electric Power Com-
pany, a subsidiary, shows that the business of the power
company has experienced a satisfactory growth during the
year. In the last twelve years the connected load of the
power company has increased from 270,080 to 1,175,510 16-
cp equipvalenta and the number of meters installed from
lit;:, to 24,818. The total electrical output for 1914 was
104,708,274 kw-hr. No additions were necessary to the
Benning plant during the past year, and none will be neces-
during I'M.".. The comparative income statement for
i - • i I and 1918 follows:
tlon $S,
83,891 10
$5,082,326 $4,953,537
I 68,786'
$2,218,590 $2,L !9
interest 1,147,684 1,104,678
$1,177,117 $1,126,915
Surplus I. nil. I.
•Int months endi d
i
:■■ ctlve Jul) I
Manufacturing and Industrial
The Lighting Studios Company, Madison Avenue and
Thirty-first Street, New York, will move into larger quarters
in the Candler Building, New York, May 1.
The Richardson-Phenix Company, Milwaukee, Wis., man-
ufacturer of lubricating appliances, has purchased the pat-
ents and manufacturing rights of the Osborne "NoKut"
valve.
The General Insulate Company, 1000 Atlantic Avenue,
Brooklyn, N. Y., has appointed Mr. A. F. Larrabee, 88 East
Congress Street, Detroit, Mich., agent for its Michigan ter-
ritory.
The Flaherty Manufacturing Company, Baltimore, Md.,
has obtained the right to manufacture an electrically oper-
ated vulcanizer formerly made by the Fearn Company, also
of Baltimore.
A. Edgar Goetz, 51 Barclay Street, New York, who is en-
gaged in a general electrical business, is about to move
into larger quarters at 55 Barclay Street, running through
to 56 Park Plaee.
The Hart Manufacturing Company, Hartford, Conn., will
move its offices in New York from 203 Broadway to 30
Church Street, May 1. Mr. F. E. Watts is district man-
ager in charge of these offices.
A. Mendelson, manufacturer of electrical fixtures and
specialties, has leased a portion of the building at East
Seventeenth Street and Emerald Court, Cleveland, Ohio, and
will equip the space for factory purposes at once.
The Main Electric Manufacturing Company, 215 South
Beatty Street, Pittsburgh, Pa., will move into new quarters
at 500 Aiken Avenue, Pittsburgh, May 1, where the company
will have three times as much space as it has in its present
quarters.
Shapiro & Aronson, 20 Warren Street, New York, have
appointed Mr. W. J. Justice, of Birmingham, Ala., as their
agent for the Southern and Southwestern territories. They
have also opened a showroom in connection with the build-
ing-material exhibit in the Insurance Exchange Building,
Chicago, 111., with Mr. J. J. Kidd in charge.
The Northwestern Electric Company, 611 West Adams
Street, Chicago, 111., manufacturer of the "Martin" rotary
converter for use in electric vehicle garages and motion-
picture theaters, will open an office in New York City in the
near future. The new branch will be in charge of Mr. E.
B. Forslund, who has been with the company in Chicago.
New Equipment for Central-Station Company. — The Mer-
chants' Heat & Light Company, Indianapolis, Ind., has pur-
chased a 6250-kva, 4000 2300-volt Westinghouse steam tur-
bine for its Washington Street power house and has also
bought a 1500-kva, 4000/250-volt, six-phase synchronous
booster. The latter machine, which is to supply energy to
the down-town direct-current network, will be placed in a
remodeled building near the Claypool Hotel.
Demand for Motor Equipment for Making Military Uni-
forms.— The Edison Electric Illuminating Company, Brook-
lyn, N. Y., reports that a number of clothing establish-
ments in the Brownsville district have ordered motors and
auxiliary equipment for use in the manufacture of army
clothing. Several companies have originated solely for the
purpose, it is asserted, of making uniforms for foreign
powers. There is especially a demand by these manufac-
turers for fractional-horse-power machines.
The Remy Electric Company, Anderson, Ind., manu-
facturer of starting, lighting and ignition devices for auto-
mobiles, is building a new plant on East Grand Boulevard,
Detroit, Mich., which will contain 18,000 sq. ft. of floor
pace. The building, it is expected, will be completed June
1 and will be ready for use by the company's engineering.
experimental and installation departments and ea
perimental machine shop and drafting room. The company
will maintain its factory at. Anderson, Ind. The new plant
has been built at Detroit because the bulk of the company'^
business is in the Detroit territory.
The Bureau of Safety. Chicago, which originated as a de-
partment of the Middle We I Utilities Company and later
took nver the safety work of the Commonwealth Ed
i ompan] and the Public Service Company of Northern Illi-
Ai-hii 24, 1916
ELECTRICAL WORLD
■ d incorporated and will henceforth be op-
crate:
of th. ization are: President, Mr. '
Spencer; vice-president, Mr. B<
i. Mr. Charles B. Scott The
company will have offices at 117 Ml Trust
Buildit .
Baaewed Business tctivitj la Internal-Combustion En-
gine Field. — The Lewit Electric Welding A Manufacturing
. manufacturer of material for inter-
nal-combustion engines, is anticipating a revival of bnsi-
ifter the next presidential election and is consequently
the size of its plant. The company has recently
noted considerable improvement in business, but orders
usually come in for very small quantities and quite often
for rush delivery, indicating that customers are building
only for immediate delivery and are not stocking their
products. The company reports that the business of its
gray-iron foundry is the same as it has been all winter and
that the foundry is operating from day to day on small
orders.
The Beardslee Chandelier & Manufacturing Compai -
Chicago, 111., and the D. J. Braun Manufacturing Company,
of Chicago, have been consolidated and will be operated un-
der the name of the former concern. Mr. 1). J. Braun and
Mr. 8. D. R. Braun, who have been respectively president
and vice-president of the D. J. Braun Manufacturing Com-
pany, will retire from business. Mr. Charles G. Ricklefs,
treasurer, and Mr. Daniel Hesly, secretary of the Braun
company, will join the staff of the Beardslee company. Mr.
Ricklefs taking charge of the sales department. The D. J.
Braun Manufacturing Company is well known throughout
the country and is one of the oldest fixture-manufacturing
concerns in Chicago. It was established in 1874 and was
first incorporated in 1888.
Electric Ranges and Ovens in Flour Company's Exhibit
at San Francisco. — A number of electric ranges and bake
ovens made by the Hughes Electric Heating Company, Chi-
cago, III., are being used in the exhibit of the Sperry Flour
Company at the San Francisco Exposition. The exhibit
covers a space of 6600 sq. ft. and includes a three-story
flour mill in operation, with a daily output of ninety bar-
rels of flour, a bakery, demonstrating booths, etc. Elec-
tric cooking is performed by girls. In a miniature labo-
ratory a Hughes oven is also used. In the flour booth, as it
is called, is a bake oven, and in the cereal booth there is an
electric range. In connection with the exhibit several dis-
plays are made in which the uses of flour in various coun-
tries are demonstrated. All the cooking is done elec-
trically.
The George Cutter Company, of South Bend, Ind., which
for the last two years has controlled the J. Lang Electric
Company of Cbicago, has decided to close the latter's fac-
tory and to concentrate its manufacturing processes at the
South Bend works. Mr. Warren Ripple and Mr. R. S. Ripple,
■who were formerly president and secretary-treasurer re-
spectively of the J. Lang Electric Company, are now holding
the offices of president and secretary-treasurer of the George
Cutter Company. Mr. Otis B. Duncan, who has been general
manager for the J. Lang Electric Company and Chicago
sales agent for the George Cutter Company, will continue to
represent the latter organization in Chicago and will have
offices at 1811 Steger Building. The J. Lang Electric Com-
pany was established about twenty-five years ago by Mr.
James Lang.
Future of Electric-Welding Industry Promising. — Mr.
W. B. Elliott, president of the Welding Materials Company,
114 Liberty Street, New York, manufacturer of variable-
voltage arc welders, recently stated to a representative of
the ELECTRICAL WORLD that a number of inquiries are being
received from railroad, street railway and automobile inter-
The railroads are becoming increasingly interested in
electric welders and are finding them especially well adapted,
Mr. Elliott declared, for use in repairing locomotive frames
and boilers. Similarly in the mam rid repair of
automobiles the increasing use of welding machines is evi-
dent. Mr. Elliott said that bis company has noted an im-
provement in the general business situation during the
few months and is, of course, expecting considerable im-
provements in the near future.
I -. - ni ( unduit in < hile. — According to Mr. Verne L.
commercial attache reporting from Sai I
electric lighting is general in the cities of Chile, par-
ticularly in Santiago and Valparaiso, steel conduit being
empl"\ and concrete buildings and brass conduit
in brick and adobe houses. Mr. Ha that an elec-
trical contractor has informed him that about 10 per cent
of the wiring is done with steel conduit, between 60 and
70 per cent with brass conduit, and the remainder with
porcelain insulators. Practically all the conduit comes
from Germany, the steel tubing being threaded. So-called
Bergmann tubing is generally used in Chile, especially by
the lighting companies of Valparaiso and Santiago. Mr.
Havens states that an inspector of electrical installation is
employed by the Chilean government, and he suggests that
manufacturers or contractors who are interested in the uses
of conduit in Chile write to this inspector.
Autumn Best Season for Vacuum Cleaners in New York. —
Mr. G. L. Lund, agent in New York for the Duntley Products
Company, Erie, Pa., recently stated to a representative of
the Electrical World that the greatest demand in his
territory for vacuum cleaners is in September and October.
At this time of the year large numbers of people are return-
ing to their city residences and general cleaning is then very
much in vogue — hence the big season for vacuum cleaners.
Mr. Lund declared that spring is also a good time for the
vacuum-cleaning industry. Many machines made by the
Duntley company are being used for cleaning motors and
generators. Among the users of machines for this purpose
is George Ehret, a New York brewer, who is employing
a machine which is operated by a 1-hp motor and is equipped
with special nozzles for cleaning, three generators rated at
100 kw, 300 kw and 400 kw respectively. The Autopiano
Company of New York is also using machines made by the
Duntley Company for cleaning pianos and the Estey Organ
Company of New York for cleaning church organs.
Utility Companies Order High-Grade Instruments. — Ex-
emplifying the earnest spirit of co-operation in which oper-
ating utility companies are working with the public service
commissions, recent orders for measuring instruments
placed by several companies operating in Illinois are of
interest. The companies, in complying with the mandates
of the Illinois State Utilities Commission, have ordered, for
use in regular portable service, it is reported, high-grade
meters such as are used in standard laboratory work. The
Illinois Traction System, Peoria, has placed an order with
the Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company, East
Pittsburgh, Pa., for nineteen graphic voltmeters, twenty
portable standard watt-hour meters and nineteen portable
voltmeters, together with a number of other miscellaneous
portable instruments of the laboratory type. The Southern
Illinois Light & Power Company, Hillsboro, 111., has also
ordered eight portable graphic voltmeters and two am-
meters of the same type, four portable wattmeters, two
portable voltmeters and ammeters, two portable current
transformers, and two switchboard-type graphic volt-
meters, together with a varied assortment of other types of
laboratory instruments.
NEW YORK METAL MARKET PRICES
, April 13 , , April 20 ,
S. Hi
Bid Asked Bid Asked
Copper £ s d £ s d
London, standard spot* 71 IT 6 :;, ir. o
Prime Lake 16.62% 17.50 to 17 7..
Electrolytic 16.87% 17.12% toll
Casting 16.87$ 16.76
17.::7 ' . 1S.50
Lead 4.20
Nickel 42.00 to 45.00 42.00 to 4!
Sheet zinc. fob. smelter
Speltei
Straits tin r>7.nut
Aluminum, 98 to 99 per cent. . . 18.75 18.76
•OLD METALS
upper n 11. t wire 14. no
Brass, heavy 10.50
Brass, light 8.61
7.26
•COPPER EXPORTS
tons to April -" 2,972
•Prom d;iii\ transactions on the v- i Exchange
-Nominal.
1092
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 11
New Incorporations
The Cache Valley Electric Company, of Logan, Utah, has
been incorporated with a capital stock of $25,000. A. F.
Laub is president and H. L. Payton secretary.
The Laurinburg Light & Power Company, of Laurinburg,
N. C, has been incorporated with a capital stock of $100,000
by John T. McNair, A. M. Fairly and James A. Jones.
The Central Telegraph & Electric Company, of Cleaton,
Ky., has been granted a charter with a capital stock of
$4,000. The incorporators are W. M. Jack, A. M. Creel and
L. J. Mohon.
The Hampton Light & Power Company, of Hampton,
N. J., has been incorporated with a capital stock of $50,000
to construct and operate electric light plants. The incor-
porators are John A. Power, P. L. E. Del Fungo Giera and
E. P. Baylor.
The Seymour & White Heat, Light & Power Company,
of Champaign, 111., has been incorporated by William
Murray, Nevada E. and Orlando S. Murray. The company
is capitalized at $2,500 and proposes to generate and dis-
tribute electricity for lamps, heaters and motors.
The Terra Alta Lighting Company, of Terra Alta, W. Va.,
has been incorporated by W. F. Patterson, H. C. Adamson,
A. J. Dye and others. The company is capitalized at $23,000,
and proposes to install and operate an electric-lighting plant
in Terra Alta. The main office of the company is in Waynes-
boro, Pa.
New Industrial Companies
The New York Electrc Lamp Company, of New York,
N. Y., has been incorporated by H. E. Hoyt, F. M. Ekstrom
and E. W. Boyce, 38 Park Row, New York, N. Y. The com-
pany proposes to manufacture and deal in lamps, appliances,
machinery, etc.
The Duzets Company, of New York, N. Y., has been in-
corporated with a capital stock of $5,000 by C. S. Ashley,
H. J. Neuschafer and R. A. Koontz, 295 Broadway, New
York. The company proposes to deal in machinery and
power plant appliances.
The Allentown Electrical Devices Company, of Allentown,
Pa., has been organized for the purpose of manufacturing
self-starters, magnetos, coils, vibrators, motors, etc. The
company is established at 524 Hamilton Street, Allentown.
A. T. Kleintop is manager.
The Sign Advertising Company, of Geneva, N. Y., has been
incorporated with a capital stock of $60,000 by H. A. Wheat,
M. B. Patch and W. S. Fallon, of Newark, N. Y. The com-
pany proposes to manufacture and deal in electrical signs
for advertising purposes, metal construction, etc.
The Raymond Construction Company, of New York, N. Y.,
has been granted a charter with a capital stock of $25,000
for the purpose of doing a general contracting business,
electrical work, etc. The incorporators are R. C. Birkman,
M. Raymond and B. Epstein, 79 Fifth Avenue, New
York, N. Y.
The Sibley-Pittman Electric Corporation, of New York,
N. Y., has been incorporated by E. E. Latham, of Dunellen,
N. J.j W. iM. Doming, of Schenectady, N. Y., and T. M.
Debevoise, of Summit, N. J. The company proposes to
manufacture and deal in electrical apparatus, machinery,
appliances, autos, engines, etc.
The William Gordon Corporation, of New York, N. Y..
has been incorporated by W. B. Hofstadter, D. Haar and
S. Michael Cohen, 507 West 112th Street, New York, N. Y.
Tin- company is capitalized at $30,000 and proposes to do a
general contracting business, electrical work, and deal in
chandeliers, electrical and plumbers' supplies.
The Christiana Machine Company, of New York, N. V.,
has been Incorporated with a capital stock of $."1,11110 fur the
purpose "f manufacturing and dealing in engines, ma-
chinery, electrical appliances, hardware and engineering sup-
The incorporator! an 1 EL UacLaughlan and II. M.
I B Behre, 127 Duane Street, New York, X. V.
Trade Publications
Oil Filters. — The Richardson-Phenix Company, Milwau-
kee, Wis., has issued Bulletin No. 10, which describes oil
niters and auxiliary apparatus for central oiling systems.
Refillable Fuses. — The A. F. Daum Company, Pittsburgh,
Pa., is sending out a leaflet which contains information on
its improved type D and type E refillable fuses.
Reactors. — The Metropolitan Engineering Company, 1250
Atlantic Avenue, Brooklyn, N. Y., has issued Bulletin Section
14- A on the use of reactors and their characteristics.
Lighting Fixtures. — Catalog No. 19, issued by the New
York Gas & Electric Appliance Company, 569 Broadway,
New York, lists a large number of lighting fixtures.
Spark-Plug Connector. — The Fahnestock Electric Com-
pany, 129 Patchen Avenue, Brooklyn, N. Y., has issued a
leaflet describing a recently developed spark-plug connector.
Electric Dishwasher. — The Domestic Utilities Company,
Newark, N. J., has prepared a booklet which describes an
electrically operated dishwashing machine for household use.
Small Electric Range. — The Hughes Electric Heating
Company, Chicago, 111., has prepared a leaflet which de-
scribes a small range designed for use in teaching the young
how to cook.
Incandescent-Lamp Fixtures. — The Peerless Light Com-
pany, Peerless Building, Chicago, 111., has prepared Bulletin
No. 520, which describes and illustrates an adjustable device
for incandescent lamps.
Transformers. — The Moloney Electric Company, St. Louis,
Mo., has recently brought out Catalog No. 150 on various
types of transformers. The catalog is illustrated and con-
tains forty-eight pages.
Electric Centrifuge. — A leaflet describing and illustrating
an electrically operated centrifuge for testing blood has been
issued by the Shelton Electric Company, 30 East Forty-
second Street, New York.
Vacuum-Cleaning Apparatus. — The Spencer Turbine
Cleaner Company, Hartford, Conn., has issued several at-
tractively illustrated catalogs and booklets which describe its
stationary vacuum cleaners.
Starting Device. — The Condit Electrical Manufacturing
Company, Boston, Mass., has recently published Bulletin No.
409, which contains information on its oil switch for use in
starting small induction motors.
Electric Welding Apparatus. — Bulletin No. 48,904, entitled
"Electric Arc Welding," and Bulletin No. 48,905, entitled
"Arc-Welding Apparatus," have just been published by the
General Electric Company, Schenectady, N. Y.
Electric Vibrator and Hair Drier. — The Shelton Electric
Company, 30 East Forty-second Street, New York, is send-
ing out a folder and booklet which describes several types
of electrically operated vibrators and hair driers.
Bedpost Incandescent-Lamp Fixtures. — The Pittsburgh
Lamp, Brass & Glass Company, Pittsburgh, Pa., has pre-
pared a leaflet which contains information on an adjustable
device for attaching incandescent lamps to bedposts.
Decorative Lighting Fixtures. — The Beardslee Chandelier
Manufacturing Company, Chicago, 111., has issued plates
C-5-1 to C-5-6 inclusive, which contain information on and
illustrations of various types of decorative lighting fixtures
Tungsten-Lamp Fixtures. — Various types of fixtures for
use with tungsten lamps are described and illustrated in
Catalog Nn. 187, issued by the Adams-Bagnall Electric Com-
pany. Cleveland, Ohio. Section 1 of Catalog 138, published
by the same company, is devoted to fixtures for series street
lighting and Section '_> to constant current transformers and
series panelboards.
Electrical Apparatus. — The Western Electric Company.
New York, has recently issued folders on adjustable tele-
phone brackets, construction tools and supplies for pole
lines, Hughes No. 17 electric range, Klaxon lire alarms.
rural telephones, cable terminals, and unit-type switchboard.
The company has also Just published a booklet entitled "The
Abandoned Bridge," which contains information on exchangi
switchboard
Apkii 24, 1916
ELECT I: I ' A I. WORLD
Construction News
New Knul.iml
V1NAL HAVEN, MAIM. 1 •.. Public
$30,000
f prop*
is for equipment 1.
placed and uuuMj uotlon of plant
way.
WARREN, N I! The Warren Wtr. &
■ purchased the J. H.
Merrill privilege, will erect a power hou.se
impany has completed the
transmission line between Warren
Warren.
WHITE RIVER JUNCTION, N 11
Within the next two months the .'■'
Ki. l.t & <;.i- Co., "f U'lnie River Junc-
rpecta to pur. load of
J <*- f t .i ■ it poles.
Frank: Collins Is manager.
st ALBANS, VT The Vermont Pwr.
A Mfg Co., nf st Albans, la contemplating
making one of its hydraulic
islng the capacity from 750
100 hp. which will probably be done
this summer. W. 11 Hirer and
general manager.
BOBTON, MASS -Bids will be received
house Commissioners of the
city of Boston. Koom 1009, City Hall. Bos-
ton, until April 27 for furnishing material
rlcal batteries for bells, telephone
and clocks. Pids will also be received
■me time and place for furnishing
circuit-battery material for fire-alarm svs-
tems.
LYNN. MASS.— The Lynn Gas & El. Co.
has applied to the State Gas and Electric
mmission for permission to issue
6000 additional shares of capital stock to
be sold to present holders at $240 per share.
the proceeds to be used for Improvements
and extensions to electric and gas sys-
tems.
WBW BRITAIN, CONN.— The City Coun-
cil has adopted a resolution to submit the
proposal to establish a municipal electric-
light plant to the voters.
Middle Atlantic
BROOKLYN, N. Y.— Bids will be received
at the Bureau of Supplies and Accounts,
Navy Department, Washington, D. C, un-
til May 4 for furnishing at the navy yard,
Brooklyn, the following supplies: Roller
bearings, furnishing and installing Indi-
cators, sounding machines, sterilizing out-
fit, copper pipe, prismatic reflectors, light-
ing and power wire, etc. Application for
proposals should be made to the Navy Pay
Dmoe, New York, or to the above bureau.
BUFFALO, N. Y— The Board of Alder-
men has adopted a resolution authorizing
the installation of magnetite lamps on
Main Street trom North Street to the city
line as soon as funds are available.
CHATJMONT, N, Y.— The Northern New
York Utilities Co., of Watertown, has se-
cured a 90-day option on the property of
the Chaumont El. Lt. Co. If taken over, It
Is expected that the company will close
down the local plant and supply electricity
here from Its plant on the Beaver River.
CONSTABLEVILLE. N. Y.— Plai
being considered for the Installation of an
electric-lighting system in Constableville.
1111. Tun. n. Y.— The Rochester Ry. &
of Rochester, expects to erect an
transmission line from Charlotte
to Hilton, a distance of about 10 miles, to
supply electricity to the Hilton El. Lt., Pwr.
■ lit Co., under a ten-year contract.
Within the next two months the Hilton EI,
tit, Pwr. A lit. Co. aspects to purchase
transformers, poles, lightning arresters, In-
sulators, wire and met Itchboard
equipment J. E. Cooper Is president and
manager,
HUDSON, N. Y.— The Albany Southern
EL Ft Co., of Hudson, lias applied to the
Public Service Commission to erect electric
transmission lines In the town of Poesten-
kin and for approval of the exercise of
franchise to supply electricity In thai town
Als" for .null— i a distributing
system In the town of North Greenbush to
supply electrical service there and
proval of a franchise.
NEW YORK, N. Y. — The contract for the
construct imi .,r Section I ol
36 (Seventh Avenue from Fifty-first to
Fifty-ninth Street) of the Bubwaj h
awarded to the Litchfield Construction Co.,
NEW YORK
buiidiiiL on. Park
until .May 3 for Installing electric equlp-
i alterations in
Public £ of Benson and
ter, borough of
v Blank foi ad specl-
may be obi at the
i he superintendent.
PORT JEFFERSON, N. Y.— The North
Shore i:i l.t a Pwr. Co., of Port Jefferson,
led to the Public Service Commis-
sion for approval of franchise from the vil
Bhoreham, town of Brookhaven,
and for authority to issue $38,000 in bonds
■ onstructlon under trust mortgage,
. approved.
HANOVER, PA -The controlling inter-
est in the Hanover ,Si McSherrystow n St
Ry. Co. has been sold to interests con-
with Brooks & Co., of Scranton.
is with it the property of the
■ Lt.. Ht. & Pwr. Co. James A
ir, of Scranton, Is president of the
i ipany.
HEW CASTLE, PA — Plans ha.
prepared for the construction of a large
On West Washington
for the Mahoning &
Valles Ry. Co., which will be
i combination freight and passen-
ger station and also for a large substation,
to cost about $65,000. When completed the
present electric plant near the Erie tracks
will be closed down.
PHILADELPHIA, PA.— Bids will be re-
ceived at the office of the supervising archi-
tect. Treasury Department. Washington,
D. C. until May 17 for installing a new
conduit and wiring system and lighting
fixtures at the United States custom house
.a Philadelphia, Pa. For details see pro-
posals columns.
READING, PA. — Work will soon be
started upon the proposed improvements
contemplated by the Reading Transit & Lt.
Co., involving an expenditure of about $165,-
000.
CLINTON, N. J.— Bids will be received
by the board of managers of the Reforma-
tory for Women, No. 1 Newark Street, Ho-
boken, until May 10 for construction of re-
ception cottage for the New Jersey State
Reformatory for Women at Clinton. Sep-
arate bids to be submitted on plumbing,
heating and electrical work. Plans and
specifications are on file in the office of
the Commission of Charities and Correc-
ts House, Trenton.
SNAKE HILL, N. J. (not a post office). —
The Assembly bill authorizing the Hudson
County freeholders to build a power house
Hill and t'i issue bonds to pay for
building and equipment has been signed
by Governor Fielder. It is proposed to in-
■ le. trie generating plant to provide
light and heat for the institutions at Snake
Hill
MOUNT AIRY, MD. — Contracts have
rarded by the Mount Airy Ice & El.
Co. for equipment for its electric-lighting
pll nt. which includes one 80-hp Nagle re-
turn boiler, one 75-hp Ames engine, one 35-
kw, three-phase, 60-cycle, alternating-cur-
rent Burke generator, switchboard equip-
Istrlbuting system will
of 6 miles of No. 6 and 8 miles of
Jo 8 B i S. copper wire and 150 chestnut
erli street lamps of 60 cp
will be Installed. C. C. Riddlemoser, of
Mount Airy, is general manager.
LOTTESVTLLE, VA— Within the
our months the Charlottesville &
r le Ry. Co. expects to erect an of-
flce building with substation in rear. It
pectB Lo purchase within the next
two months one 200-kw rotary converter
and material for 20 miles of 22,000-volt
transmission lines John I. Livers
presldi jer,
STAUNTON, v.v Within the next three
months m |,tg. Co. expects to
1250-kw turbine and condenser.
\v !■• Flcklen, Jr., is superintendent.
WASHINGTON, D. C— Bids will be re-
celved b] the I'epartment of Agriculture,
address,, I to the <'liief of the United states
Weather Bureau, Department of Agricul-
ture, Washington, D, C, until May is for
furnishing storm-warning lanterns as speci-
tied For details see proposal columns.
WASHINGTON. D. C. — Bids will be re-
i the office of the Comm
District of Columbia, District Build-
ing, Washington, D. C, until April 26 for
furnl ■ cast-iron posts for use In the
electrical department of the city. Specifl-
ii obtained from i he pui ch is
I ilstricl Building
North ( t-ntral
an ornamental
lighting system In Carroll Park by the
in. The plans
p clusters main-
■ ft of cable.
BURR o.\K, MICH.- Within "
the United EL Co., of Burr < >ak.
ire tubu-
lar boil, r, ISO lb pressure; also some poles,
transformers, insulators. Wire, etc., for a
on line, 9 miles long.
it K .-■ -urer.
DETROIT. MICH.— The Police Depart-
ment has asked the Board of Estimates for
;. nation to install a new signal sys-
tem of lights and wires. The cost of the
first unit of the new signaling system is
estimated at $30,000.
DETROIT. MICH. — A large tract of land
on Grand Avenue, Just beyond the city
limits, has been pun based by B. E. Taylor.
with offices in the Ford Building, who plans
to subdivide the farm into lots. A complete
g system. It is said, will be
installed at once.
GRAND RAPIDS. MICH. — The City
Council has adopted the resolution to in-
stall 120 additional street lamps through-
out the city.
ITHACA, MICH. — Within the next two
months the Village Board expects to re-
build part of the outside lines of the mu-
le' tin-light plant and to install
one 75-kva generating unit (directly con-
one 150-kva generating unit
and switchboard; generators to
:ii0 volts. The
contract for the generators and engine has
been awarded to the Ridgway Dynamo &
Engine Co., of Ridgway, Pa. Some ma-
terial will be required for distribution and
lighting systems. H. E. Churchill is su-
perintendent.
LOWELL, MICH. — The Board of Tublic
Works expects to rebuild the municipal
power house (making it fireproof) within
the next four months ; also to purchase some
washing machines, vacuum cleaners, etc. F.
J. M-Mahon is superintendent
BROOKLYN HEIGHTS (CLEVELAND) ,
OHIO. — Bids will be received by the clerk
of the Board of Education of Brooklyn
Heights School District, Cleveland, until
May 10 for construction of school building,
including heating, ventilating apparatus and
electric wiring. W. H. Nicklas, Cleveland,
is architect.
CLEVELAND, OHIO. — The Building De-
partment has issued a permit for the con-
struction of a power house (to cost $90,000)
and necessary tunnels to connect it with
the City Hospital group on the Scranton
Road.
CLEVELAND, OHIO.— Bonds to the
amount of $200,000 have been disposed of
which will provide funds for the installation
of an ornamental lighting system for the
entire central business district. Bids on
standards and other equipment, it is under-
stood, will soon be asked for. F. W. Bal-
lard is commissioner of lighting.
CLEVELAND, OHIO — Bids will be re-
ceived at the office of the commissioner of
purchases and supplies, Room 511, City
Hall. Cleveland, until April 30 for a 5-ton
automobile truck for correction farm, War-
reiisville. Specifications may be had at the
Office of the commissioner of charities and
correction, Room 209, City Hall.
CLEVELAND, OHIO — Bids will be re-
el ived at the office of the commissioner of
SS and supplies, Room 511, City
Hall, Cleveland, until April 28 for construc-
tion of pavilion in Rockefeller Park com-
plete, including electric wiring. Speciflca-
tj be obtained at the office of the
■ luted. Room 420. City Hall.
HAMILTON, OHIO. — Plans have been
prepared by the West Side Commercial As-
and the Retail Merchants' Associa-
tion for the extension of the cluster light-
ing system in that section of the city.
NORWALK, OHIO— The City Board of
Control has engaged the H. Whitford Jones
i'm.. consulting engineers, of Cleveland, to
plans i n.l supervise the construc-
ihe proposed municipal electric-
lant, for which bonds have been
issued
ST BERNARD, OHIO.— Within the next
six months the Board oi Public Service ex-
pects to purcha.1- ne aM)-kw, 60-cycle.
I3O0 roll electric generating unit (directly
connected), and a pump, capacity not yet
decided upon ; also general supplies for dis-
tribution and lighting systems. E. C. Heller
is superintendent.
SANDUSKY, OHIO— The Sandusky Gas
,v El. I'm, has applied to the Ohio Public
Utilities Commission for authority to issue
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 17
' N
to take up $400, in old securitli
t.i provide fluid!
WADSTvl ' >RTH, I 'IIH >. The City Council
is reported to be considering the purchase
of the property of the Wadsworth Lt. &
LOOO The proposition will
soon be submlted to the voters.
WEST MILTON, < 'Hio — Within the next
six months I.. A Pearson, owner of the
Stillwater Valley electric-light plant, ex-
erect a transmission line (3 miles
long) t" a nearb] town
HAZARD, KT.— The Hazard Pwr. Co.
i with the Kentuckj -
i., tn. ;ii power (2300
The Kentucl
has purchased a 76-kva Ridgwaj
generating unit (directly connected) to
supply the service for the present, bui latei
will install a motor-generator set. i. L.
Stone is manager of the Hazard companj
I.i UISVILLE, KT. — Speciti
for 25 motors, aggregating a total of 350
hp, have been issued bj the Louisville
Bridge & Iron Co., which is changing its
system from direi t current to alternating
current. The company purchases energy to
t( its plant.
Li 'FISVI1.LE. KY. — Arrangements are
being m the entire woodwork-
ing plant of Gamble Brothers at Highland
r.ark for electrical operation. The present
ed by a 250-kw Gen-
or and the number of
motors will be increased from 10 to 30.
BLUFFTON, tND. — The Hi. aid of Com-
era of wells County is contemplat-
ing the installation of an electric-lighting
system in the Wells County poorhouse.
BROOKSTi iWN. tND The installation
of an electric-lighting system in B
town is umler consideration, n is proposed
to fin chi to operate the sys-
tem.
FORT WAYNE, INI' The Boi
contemplating the purchase of a
new 700-hp high-pressure boiler for the
municipal electric-lighting plant. An ad-
dition will probablj be built t.> the boiler
j i onsldered to
lighting system in the Harrl oi
Hill addition
CHICAGO; 11. 1. .—Bids will be received
McGillen, clerk of the Sanitan
District of Chicago, 700-910 South Michi-
gan Avenue, Chicago, 111., until April 29
for furnishing 2.",0-kva and 200-kva, 12,000-
volt transformers. For details see pro-
olumns.
GALESBURG, ILL. — The contract for
the installation of an ornamental lighting
system in the business district bus been
awarded to H. H. Guenther, of Galesburg,
for $9,080.
ROCHESTER. IU. . — The Village Board
has grant..! the Springfield (las & El. Co..
of Springfield, a 20-year franchise to supply
electricity in Rochester for commercial pur-
poses and ;. contract for lighting the streets
of the village for a period of 1" years. The
company will furnish 2" nitrogen street
. p each. The transmission
line will be extended from Tuxhorn to
distance of 3 n
MADISON, WIS The Janesvllli
permit to
build an i ray i rom Madison to a
point ■•■■ Monona,
Town Hall Of Blooming
Cioy This will be s direct-current sys-
proposes to extend its
in. \.
rang. in. nts for equipment will b<
about Aim' 15. 'i Prickhan
1 1 iny.
CLARISSA MINN. — Bonds to thi
of $5. ' bav.' been voted foi the
I
CLOUD, MINN'. Bids will be re
Itrol, Slat.'
ng, St Paul, until
f... ti lectrli pow.-r
plant fOT the 31 Haul,
Metropolitan Budding. Minneapolis,
Minn.
M IDISl IN, i \ The Poi
s..ii El
dietrlbul lid of ih<-
old two ■
fOWA PALI
i .lis with
w \ \
of II R Van Del
construction of bulkhead and dam across
the liver at Waverly. Plaj
cations are on flle in the ofl
; I,,;,-., be obtained from < '. A. Cool,
r, Waverly, upon deposit of $5.
WEST UNION, IA. — The Turkey River
Pwr. Co., of West Union, is planning to
transmission line from West Union
to Payette, where the companj was re-
cently granted a franchise to supply elee-
BRUNSWTCK, MO. — The installain.n ol
■ m in the busi-
ness district is under consideration by the
I I,. E. Merrill is city clerk.
JOPLIN, MO.— The Empire District El.
Co., of Joplin, is contemplating extending
smission line to the Granby Mining
I ' imp
SPRINGER, .M< i -The City Council has
I. S. Bowman a frniichis.
.i operati ai elect] Ic-lighting plant
in Springer.
SPRINGFIELD, MO. — The St. Louis &
San Kin, H isco i: mi oad plans to equip three
of its railroad shops in Springfield with
ii- operated machinery and may
possibly install an electric generating plant.
The railroad officials are now negotiating
with the Federal Lt. & Trac. Co. and the
i izark Pwr. & Wtr. Co. for electrical service.
II. Ii II, MO. — At an election held April 7
the proposal to grant to the Urich El. Lt. &
, ., .,. a franchise to install and operate
,:i electric-lighting plant was carried H
Busse, of Urich, is interested In the com
pi ny.
BELFIELD, N D. — Bonds to the amount
have been voted for the instal-
lation of an electric-lighting plant and
u ater-woi ks 3j stem.
1 1 ITCHCl ii'lv, S. D. — A petition
,i to the i 'iti Council asking that
, i lection be .ailed to submit to the voters
the proposal to issue bonds I'm the purpose
the local electric-light plant.
,., 1,, ,.H in ,i and operated by the munn I
pality.
LEIGH NEB. — At an election held re-
i , ,,tiv bonds to the amount of $10,000 were
voted tor the installation of an electrii
lulu me plant in Leigh. Bruce & Stantlc-
.., . imaha, are consulting engineers
GAYLORD, KAN*. — Bonds to the amount
of $7,000 have been voted for the installa-
tion of a municipal electric-lighting plant
m Gaylord. Electricity for operating the
system, it is understood, will be obtained
from the transmission line to Portia and
I... was, Kan.
POMONA, KAN. — Bonds to the amount
of $13,000 have been voted for thi
I hi of ' municipal electric-lighting plant
ona, Energy for operating the sys-
tem will probably be obtained from Ottawa
Southern States
i:i VDENBORO, N C. At an election
w be held Maj I the proposal t.. issue
.■■-. nun ui bonds for the installation of an
electric lighting system will be submitted
to the I '
GREAT FALLS, s. c— The Southern
Hwr CO., Of Charlotte, N. C, 'las awarded
. ontracl for construction of dam and power
. . at i''i' hing ' 'i eek, on the Catav. ba
River miles above the Great Falls
plant, to the Hardawaj Contracting Co..
iii.ni a The plans call for a
:,,.i -hp .lex elopment und< i
Tl quipment will Include five 8000-hp
units.
W \ LTERBl >R< |. s C Bids will be n
, , ived bj n ommisslon of Publli
. ■ . until Ma-
ing material and ..-'
lighting plant, sewerage and Watl
is follows : Electi Ic pole line .bs
ti-ii.niioii system, pov ■ electric
pi mi and pumping station, two 100 hp boll
i. Feed rater heater with
ngine for ^f
Ing equipment with
i.i switchboard ami
pumps, on.- triplex aervlce pump.
I olli.r auxlll
i ll tower
and tank, one i iO.O II
voir with crel ...-....-
in in,- hydrants,
.ii.i a complete system ol
Including approximated 6 miles
ii in ,ii
lea, flush tanki . etc Plans
of H w Black, rr., chalrn
ii,
in, Ga,
I . I 'I. \ The Fell
n ,\: u. mplating improve-
ments and extensions to its electric-lighting
syst. m.
PORT RICHET, FLA — The installation
Of an electric-lighting plant, water-works,
sewer system, etc., is under c sideration.
S. Wessilius, of Grand Rapids, Mich., is re-
ported Interest* d
BRAEMER, TENN. (not a post office).—
sidered by the Pitts-
r. I',.., 1006 Columbia Bank Bldg.r
Pittsburgh, Pa., for the construction of a
hydroelectric plant on Chuckey River, near
Braemer.
MEMPHIS, TENN. — At an election held
ommission was given
authority to issue $1,!
huse or erection of a m
electric-light plant. A special committee
be appointed bj the Mayor to de-
termine whether the plant of the Memphis
Lt. & Hwr. Co., on which the city has an
option, shall be purchased, whether a new
plant shall be built, or if the plan shall be
temporarily or permanently abandoned.
NASHVILLE. TENN. — Pll
considered by merchants and propety own-
ers of upper Broadway and Eighth Avenue
for extension of the ornamental lighting
system to that district
NEWBERN, TENN. — Within the next
ll.r. .■ months tiie managers of the munici-
pal electric-lighting plant expect to pur-
chase some electrical appliances, including
heating and cooking apparatus, vacuum
, washing machines, etc, J. H. Pat-
dent,
BIRMINGHAM, ALA— The Birmingham
Wtr., Lt. & Pwr. Co. is contemplating the
construction of a power house at Lock 17
,. i Warrior River, 30 miles from Birming-
ham, to ' 32, hp, and the
of an > lectri. i line to
Birmingham. The company is also plan-
ning to erect transmission lines to
i-.r ui ii in secure a franchise In North
Birmingham. It also has a contract from
lectrlclty
to ..p. rate loci ock 17 and has
been granted permissio ict power
plant The company will purch. -
tricitj from the Alabama Hwr. Co. until
new plant is completed.
BENTONVILLE, ARK The City Coun-
cil lias . in Moore, consult-
ing engineer, of Joplin, Mo., t<. make in-
,,n and prep es of the
cost of extending and improving the mu-
nicipal electric-lighting plant and
.stem.
MOUNTAIN HOME, ARK. — Application
i made to the Cltj Council By K V.
Lobs and Dillon Underhlll for a franchise
to install and operate an electric-lighting
in Mountain Home.
PRAIRIE GROVE, ARK.— The Prairie
Grove El. Co., recently incorporated, is
planning to install an electric plant in
Prairie Grove. The present plans provide
lor I i . I, ill il i, -1 of tWO
kva, three-ph ill gene-
rator (belted), automatic oil switch and
throe T '-.-kva transformers. Th.
lighting system will consist of ten 100- watt
multiple lamps and thirt.
multiple tungsten lamps, IT.". 26-ft W. C
poles will be used and 75 "-amp alternat-
ing-current meters. lt is proposed to es-
tablish a - 1 hour si i \ Ice from the start
rs have yet for ma-
. hinery or equipment, it is expi
I iv.- the plant In operation by July 1,
1916 .1 ll. Zellner is president Mai k
Thompsoi Qrove, is engineer In
ON, I. V The Vint. ui Wtr . Lt A
Pwr, i ... recently organised with a capital
sio.-k of $36,000, has awardi
construction of elect ric- light plant and ice
I :i i'ii. of Beaumont.
ii,....
iLTUS, i'KI-A 11. uis
sldered for extensions and improvements
to the municipal electric-lighting plant.
M VRSHALL, i >K1.A Tl •
-lam Engineering Co.,
-i. suiting engi-
to make Investigations, pn par.- plans
and supervise the construction of the pro-
ud electric-light pi
nat.i works system. An .lection will soon
1)6 called to submit the proposal tO issue
ui bonds to provide funds for the
-.-. ork
\i:-\s\s PASS, tin Bonds to the
amount o 0 have been sold, the pro-
be used for the installat ...
plant and H ■
H.i r\ 111 ,E, TEX Within the next 10
.lavs the Texas Southern Hwr CO., of Bee-
\ 11. . cxp. . i- to pin cl ' b\ 72-
i. turn tubular boiler I I B0 lb pr.-s-
i-' c Green is mat
Ai-rii. 24, 1916
K I. ECT RICAL WORLD
plant »t
ilvln North,
BROWNSVILLE, TEX Within the
'lit- mu-
w 1 1 h i n U
• wire V II Will
t rodent
BURKBURNETT. 1
for th. lighting
In Hurkbun
rtl (N, TEX on Wit .
i.i II by July 1
n iili s\\ itchboard ' '
CHILDRESS. TEX Thi Chili i
hp Ball engine
■i point"
lectrlcal applt-
FLORESVILLE, TEX The I
■tailing ght plant h
ilpmenl will consist of two
.11 kw ami tin- other 7.'. kw
and two <>il engines (onls one purchased)
would like i" receive prices
hp to 100 hp.
have been purchased. W
M Plttn
HARROLD, TEX The Commi n
is promoting ir on of an electric-
light and power plant In liarrold.
.\i:v. TEX The Malum- l.t. & he
Co., of PlaJnvlew, which recently purchased
l.t. &
Pwr Co., it is undersl I. will enl
Improve tin- plant.
SVTEW, TEX. Th.- property ,,f the
I. • .\ i.' ' '.. h is been purchased
American Pub Ser. Corpn., of New
Vi.rk. n. v. Tin- new company, it la under-
bill niak.- Improvements to the sys-
tem.
■ M ■«. TEX tmprot
ing the instailaticn ..f new machinery are
contemplated to the plant of the Lubbock
■ i '.. . which was recentlj i
by the MaJone l.t A fee i to . of PI
LULINO, TEX The Citj Council, It la
• tinting with the Texas Pwr.
•v- l.t i , relative to supplying
ty In I.Uling
SEGUIN, TEX Extensions and Im-
ents, it is r.-ji. >rt. . mplated
to th. municipal electric-light plant at I
water-works system. Owen A. Go
SPRING/TOWN, TEX. The Fort Worth
Pwr. A.- it Worth, is contem-
plating the installation of an electric-light-
Ing system and Ice plant In Springti
THRALL, TEX The Texas Pv
i .alias, is planning t" erect a high-
M anslnlssa.li line 10 c
Thrall. I
tral station at Waco.
Pacific States
ALBION, WASH. The Washington Wtr
. ..i Spokane, is negotiating with
' touncll for a franchise In Albion
and a contract for street lighting. If
transmission lines from Pullman
an. i win also supplj eli Ctrl, il
ling along the line.
CHELAN, wash The Great Northern
It is reported, win build a tempo-
■ • ■!■ plant mar Chelan this spring
which will furnish power for pumping water
for Irrigation purposes and will also be
Th.- railroad c pany in connection
with il.. . powet
i ,ake Chelan,
Mi ICLIPS, W \sii
made to the i of I Ihehalis
County bj the U i: Smyth. -
Hocllps, for
transmission lin..s along certain roads and
nd this
city. Thi i iod, con
llatlon . . i" . .
ESANi I, w \sn The Northwi st
El. & Water w ka . of Monti
i erect its transmission
lin.-s from South Monteai t>. Montesano,
Th.- con
plant m South i tno
NORTH VAKI.MA. WASH 'II.. P
i ,1 i '.. . of North 5 il
mile near the
is t.. furnish .
■ I
i i.i:, vv \sn ' for the
■ .'anal at I ■ ton has
•.. I: D w i ,v Co., of
•
I !.K. WASH .1 I ■
ol lighting, has recommended to the
Council and Mayor Gill the constru
>1 ■ municipal
auxiliary steam plant. Increasing its rating
from 10.000 kw to 20,000 kw. Antici-
pating that it will r. , .hie time
.- the new masonrj anno
, liable for power purposi
a new means
i ike care of the
I demand for electricity. If the
ipprovea the proposed plan, a bond
... ,ii be submit oters.
BEND, ORE The City Council hat
in ordinance granting the Bend
Flour Mill Co. a franchise t.. install and
trie-lighting system
. ver tin veto of Mayor Miller.
LEBANON. ORE. — The Lebanon El. l.t
& wtr. Co. is contemplating the i
tlon of a new power house and
dam . als.. the installation of three 400-kva,
, of which only
one will be installed this year. S. I. Stew-
art is manager.
LOS ANGELES, CAT..— The proposal to
i.,l lamps in Culver City, a
BUburb of Los Angeles, will soon be sub-
Tlo- .listli
he
aire subdivision known as greater Culver
City, and about - miles along the Wash-
Boulevard, Including the settlement
Culver City. The project culls
\ similar move-
rted to be under way at The
I 'alms
MERCED FALLS, CAL. — The San Joa-
quin l.t. & Pwr. Corpn., of Fresno, is con-
templating the construction of a new 1000-
ku generating plant at Merced Falls, to
i,000. The company is also
planning the everal transmis-
i i which will be erected this
The transmission line extending
from Merced to Merced Falls will he re-
built and the voltage raised from 30,000
to 61 ,000. The company plans ultimately
I the line from Merced to Los
llanos and also to erect a line from Ray-
mond to Merced. Tin i already
ompleted and bids are now being
i I for plant.
SANTA CRUZ, CAL. — The Coast Coun-
fi El Co . "I Santa Cruz, has ap-
plied to the State Railroad Commission for
1000 shares of capital
at 90, the proceeds to be used for extension
tee.
DUCHESNE. t'TAH.— The City Council
John R. Glenn, Mai. ■.-tins Pope,
of Vernal, and R. W. Kroupa, of I niehesne.
a franchise to construct ami operate an elec-
tric-light plant in Duchesne. The cost of
Hi. plant is estimated at about $10,000. The
will also supply electricit] in the
Burrounding country.
PLEASANT GROVE, UTAH. The town
of Pleasant Grove has filed application on
l-ft. of water to be taken from
Grove Creek and utilized for power pur-
The water will be conveyed to the
pipe line SS60 ft. long.
plant will be owned and oper-
ated bj pality and will furnish
elei i rlcal Bet t la In I 'li asant i Irove and
BUFFALO, WTO Improvements and
ed io t in I'.ini.i I..
this spring to Its plant, involving
. niitine of about 125, \ dam
site has been purchased In Clear Creek
Canyon, where a dam will be constructed
.••or plant will be ved up the
w ater will be con-
dai to the waterwheel, a
■ ol about 8000 ft.
COKEVTLLE, WTO A Bite tor the pro-
power plant that is to be built in
on to furnish elei tricity In
bi i elected bj i lha rles
ii in i W ii i ilngl i Thi pla ni
will be located about ■'• miles from town.
GRANi IER u\m The I'm Coum II, U
ng plans and i
tafia tlon ..r a municipal
plant in ' ii anger.
Ml o IRCRI IFT, WTI I 1 hi Tom n C< un
oil has decided to sill. mil tile proposal to
bo the tnstiillal Ion ol an elec
trlc-llghtlng system to the voters at the
regular sin ln( eleel Ion
s LRATi » ;.\. WTt ■
■
■. rnatlng-cui n r. D. t.
j e. PI d J. O ll-i-
FORT SUMNER N. M A any has
:..i the purp.
ght and power plant in Fort
Sumner.
Canada
BLENHEIM, "NT -Estimates have been
submitted to the To >•> "'•;
Isslon englni
I illation Of hydroelectric pc
, placing the cost at a little over
with allowani i'"» "•
thi Old plant that might be H
at a li"
by-law authorizing $14,000 h. sub-
mitt. .1 to the ratepayers.
HAMILTON, ONT.— Tenders wll
1. rk. addressed
. , ■ s. Walter-. irman of
Board of control, Hamilton, Ont. until
April 27 for the following: One centrifugal
pump tor pumping raw sewage, capacity
imperial gal. per - 1 hours ; one
... ith switching
. i c lection to centrifugal pump.
mi appli-
cation to the office of the city •
i forms may be obtained.
OTTAWA ONT.— Bids will be
hairman and members of thi
works committee, Ottawa, until Maj 12
for furnishing and erecting one ell
pumping unit. Speclflcal
full particulars may be obtained o
cation to the citv engineer's office, City
Hall. Ottawa. R. L. Haycock, acting water-
gineer.
RIDGETOWN, ONT.— The Town Council
has decided to submit a by-law to the rate-
ailing for the installation of a
hydroelectric power to operate the munici-
pal electric system.
ST MARYS. ONT. — The Water. Light
ni Hi, i Commission has asked the Town
Council to pass a by-law appropriating
[2, lor thi nstallatli ••'■ street-
lighting
in the municipal power plant
HEMMINGFORD, QUE. The Heimiinig-
ford Lt, lit. .v- Pwr. Co. has awarded the
contract foi construction of electric plant
t , J, a. Freeman, of Plattsburgh, N. Y.
EnergJ lor operating the system will be
sei uied from Knopp .y- Son, of Mooers, N.
I 1 1 W. K.ddy is interested in the Hem-
mlngford company.
Miscellaneous
JUNEAU, ALASKA— John Rustgard,
l.ual attorney, represents a colnpall> which
proposes to install an electric-light and
power plant in Juneau to furnish electrical
service in this city and contiguous terri-
tory.
HONOLULU, HAWAII A resolution has
been pted bj the Supervisors providing
for the ap PI latiOH Of $3 I, for the in-
stallation of an .lectric-liglit plain and po
■ i n
PANAMA Bids will !»■ received at the
office of the purchasing officer, the Panama
Canal, Washlngl D. C, until Ma
furnishing Steel plates, angles, channel and
I beams, soft Bteel bars, bolts, rivets, steel
wire, brass win ble, bar copper,
bronze bars, plate sine, twist drills, bits,
tiles, engine lubricators, etc Blanks and
.11.1 malion relating to this circu-
lar (No. 917) may be obtained from the
above office or the office of the assistant
lis. 24 State Stt e. i, n. m
> ork, N. v. : i,i i while. . ' Building,
I It ' i. 1. mi , I... . and 1086 North Point
stict. San Francisco, Cal.
ST. .iiiiins. N. F Announcement has
the registration by Thomas
I p.. 1. 1 Wilson, an inventor and capitalist
of . mi., v ipltalised
i.-.e.l for the purpose
o) di i eloping i let I rli al I B j tor the
manufactun of fertilizers in this
Mr, Wilson has secured from thi
government a concessi I !
the project.
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 11
Weekly Record of Electrical Patents
UNITED STATES PATENTS ISSUED
APRIL 18, 1916.
[Prepared by Robert Starr Allyn, 16 Ex-
change Place, New York, N. T. ]
1.134.995. Electrical Heater; F. J. Cook,
and, Ohio. App. filed July 21,
1913. Automobile foot-rest foot warmer.
1.134.996. Annunciator Drop ; S. H.
Couch and W. W. Henry. Wollaston, and
A. E. Stevens, Atlantic, Mass. App. filed
July S. 1911. For selective ringing and
announcing systems.
1.135.010. Cartridge Fuse; W. T. Garlitz
and \V. R. Gardner, McKee's Rock, Pa.
App. filed March 27, 1914. Special quick
clamp for the fuse link.
1.135.011. Telephone System and Appa-
ratus ; C L. Goodrun, Rochester. X Y
App. filed April 1, 1905. Simplified auto-
matic system.
1,135,014. Position Indicator for Ele-
vators : G. Harding. Spokane, Wash.
App. filed Dec. 15, 1913. Indicates in one
elevator the position of the adjoining
elevator.
1,135,016. Magnetic Separator; J. L. Hil-
ler. Mattapoisett, Mass. App. filed Dec.
24, 1909. For separating magnetic ma-
terial from coal on its way to the crusher.
1,135,040. Electric Signaling Apparatus ;
E. G. Missbach, New York, N. Y. App.
filed June 2S, 1912. Embodying cipher
dials at the sending and receiving sta-
tions.
1,135,04S. Warning Signal ; A. N Pier-
man, Newark. X. J. App. filed Dec. 2,
1912. Bulb for operating reed horn ; has
switch for sounding electric horn.
1,135,049. Electric- Lantern Attachment ;
N. S. Richmond, Chicago. 111. App. filed
March 30, 1914. For mounting on a dry
cell.
1,136,103. Cooling System for Trans-
formers ; C. Le G. Fortescue, Wilkins-
burg, Pa. App. filed Nov. 6, 190S. Fluid-
circulating means.
1,135,121. Telephone Exchange ; F. A.
Lundquist, Chicago. 111. App. filed May
23, 1903. Automatic. (Seventy-two
claims.)
1.135.129. Arc Lamp: H. E. Moul, London,
Eng. App. filed Jan. 21, 1909. Has con-
verging carbon electrodes.
1.135.130. Protective Switch Box. T. E.
Murray. New York. N. Y. App. filed Jan.
13, 1914. Circuit broken by opening of
box.
1,135,138. Snap-Switch Base: W. H.
Piatt, Hartford, Conn. App. filed Oct.
28, 1911. Has special bearing for the
switch spindle.
1,135,164. Process of Removing Carbon
from Pressed Bodies or Tungsten ; F
Blau. Berlin. Germany App. filed Aug
3, 1906. Heats in an atmosphere of nitro-
gen and hydrogen.
1,135, 1S2. Method of Producing Heat-
Resisting Bodies ; P. R. Hershman, Chi-
cago, 111. App. filed Oct. 12, 1914. Fur-
nace lining manufactured from aluminum
waste products.
1,135,193. Cap for Lamp Sockets and the
Like: C. J. Klein, Milwaukee. Wis. App.
filed April s. 1912. Cap of solid Insulation
with metallic fastenings.
1,186,134. INSULATING Means for Lamp
Sockets and the Like . C. .1 Klein. Mil-
waukee. Wis. App. filed March 17. 1913
lining secured to the socket base.
1,135,195. Device for Preheating Hydro-
carbons in Carburetors ; R. E. Krause.
Detroit. Mich. App filed Jan. I, 1918
Heating plus screwed Into float chambei
of carl
Electric Switch \ E I
. Milwaukee, w Is, app 111
24. 1910 Pull-socket construction.
Switch .i k Mcffl-
Ubany, n y App. Bled Nov. 14.
1911. Thermostat controller foi
... n \|.|i Bled Vug
30, 1913. T I Plug.
1,186,236. li* B
Thompson. New York, N V App Died
Feb 7. 1912. Train-stopping sysi
ploying a third-rail (Fort] nil laimi 1
Circuit CoNTBOi
■ l-.lis. Ind \|,|, tiled
1910 Automobile lighting system (8I1
ty-two claims.)
1 0. J. La
Combe, Jr., Negaunee, Mich \pp Bled
placing It.
Illuminated Sign ; C. A Mc-
Neil, Columbus, Ohio. App. filed May 17.
1911. Has a pattern sheet which deter-
mines the lighting of the lamps in a pre-
determined design.
1,135,311. Automatic Switch for Control-
ling Lights ; L. A. Meyers, Sauk Center,
Minn. App. filed March 14, 1914. For
lighting a closet lamp when closet door is
opened.
1.13."., 321. Selective Electrical Signal-
ing; L. M. Potts. Baltimore, Md. App.
filed May 7, 1910. Uses synchronizing
impulses.
1,135,322. Transmitting Apparatus for
Electrical Signaling : L. M. Potts, Bal-
timore, Md. App. filed May 7, 1910. Has
a mechanically operated transmitting
contact.
1,135,327. Dynamo-Electric Machine; M.
A. Savage, Schenectady. N. Y. App. filed
June 24, 1913. Turbo-generator with
water-cooled armature.
1.13."., 344. Printing-Telegraph Alphabet;
C. G. Ashley, Chicago, 111. App. filed
June 20, 1911. Directly readable roman
alphabet.
1,135,358. Cut-Out Box; R. C. Cole. Hart-
ford. Conn. App. filed March 17, 1914.
Main-line type ; circuit broken when box
is opened.
1.135, 374. Mechanism for Train-Control
Systems; G. B. Gray. Pittsburgh, Pa.
App. filed May 16, 1912. Polarity re-
verser.
1,135,376. Union for Connecting Electric
Cables to Subway or Junction Boxes ;
D. C. Hooker. Farmington, Conn, App,
filed June 20, 1914. Cable union bell.
1,135,384. Circuit-Controlling Apparatus
for Train-Lighting Systems ; E. H. M.
Langley and E. W. Price, Aston. Bir-
mingham. England. App. filed May 6,
1911. Change-over switch.
1.135,389. Magnetic Flatiron . J. W.
Moore, Fort Edward, N. Y. App. filed
Sept. 23, 1913. The electromagnet coils
serve also to heat the iron.
1,135,393. Transmitter for Writing Tele-
grams and the Like ; A. Rappenecker,
Bremen, Germany. App. filed Oct 27,
1913. Pivotally mounted pencil-lever
construction.
1,135,412. Control Apparatus; N. W.
1. Pittsburgh, Pa, App. filed Sept.
I. 191.1. Liquid rheostat.
1,135,427. Signaling System ; C. E. Beach,
Binghamton, N. Y. App. filed May 16,
1914. Live wires maintained under con-
stanl tesl
1,185,436. Tei.ephonograph : E. Chabeault,
Marseilles, Prance App. filed Feb. 10,
1913. Amplifying microphonic listener.
1, 135.43S. Electrical Relay; A. W. Cop
ley. Wilkinsburg, Pa. App. filed July 24.
1912. For regulating voltage or other
quantity of alternating-current circuit
1,135.473. Cooking Apparatus; F A.
Vath, Chicago. 111. App. filed Aug. 4.
1913. Electric flreless-cooker principle.
1,185,487. Signaling System: K K.
Backus. Chicago. 111. App. filed April 28,
1913. Concentration type
1,135,494. End-Cell Regulator; W. L
Bliss, Brooklyn, N. Y. App filed May 9,
1907. For car-lighting system
1.1 35, 499. Storage-Battery Plate , A. L.
llOlneS, I:i App. filed
1 81, 1911. For nut ns ; special pro-
vision for retaining the active material In
the grid
Electric Sbam-Wkldino Appa-
ratus 1: Mack, Bi App
filed Sept 17. 1918. Brushes conduct
energy and a hardened non-conducting
steel pressure roller is enu
I :i ovv-i.A mp FUCTURI . T. K.
Murraj and G K Jessup, New fork, N.
Y \pp I'll. .1 March 28, 191 I Ke\ -
BOCket structure
1,186,648 Krst: I'kuo: ]■'.. 0. Bchweltaer
and N I, 111. App. tiled
April 1\ 1912 Pi un of In-
Ing liquid into arc paci
: [TOR] 1 !ONNBCTOR IND Rl
11 Harris, Keokuk, [a app
filed yprll 16, 1914. Takes any standard
t\ pa of dry cells.
, .
LND 11 V II LNO I IB! Pts
\r v DlBTANCB; V l.o. alio.
llano, It ab App tiled Keh 1 I.
1913 Ship Steering apparatus
Elyrla- Ohio App died ,lul\
1 Diaphragm vibrating wheal u
I on the motor shaft between arma-
ind commutator.
1.135.604. Process and Apparatus for
Determining the Position of Radio-
Telegraphic Receivers ; A. Meissner,
Berlin, Germany. App. filed Aug. 2, 1912.
Determines the directions from which the
signals arrive.
1.135.605. Means for Controlling the Il-
lumination of Vehicles; W. S. Menden,
Brooklyn, N. Y. App. filed Dec. 2, 1913.
Throws lights on and off as train enters
underground section or emerges there-
from.
1,135,608. Current-Controlling Device;
H. N. Ott, Buffalo, N. Y. App. filed May
24, 1913. Rheostat.
1.135.613. System of Operating Typewrit-
ers and the Like ; L. M. Potts, Balti-
more, Md. App. filed Jan. 16. 1911. Any
machine in the system can be operated
from the keyboard of any other machine
in the system.
1.135.614. Telegraphy; L. M. Potts, Balti-
more, Md. App. filed Aug. 6. 1912
Looped wire from central office to sub-
scriber.
1.135.624. Electrical Telescopy ; B. Ros-
ing, St. Petersburg, Russia App. filed
April 5, 1911. Embodies revolving sets
of mirrors.
1,135,643. Party-Line Telephone Sys-
tems ; B. D. Willis. Chicago, 111. App
filed Nov. 13, 1906. Prevents interference
in automatic system.
1,135,664. Intercommunicating Trunk-
Line Telephone System : R. M. Beard.
New York, N. Y. App. tiled March 1,
1907. Renders practicable the connection
of 100 or more intercommunicating tele-
phones in one system.
1,135,656. Dynamo-Electric Machine; B
A. Behrend. Norwood, Ohio. App. filed
June 25. 1906. High-speed turbo-alter-
nator.
1,135,663. Electric Lighting; W. W. Cob-
lentz, Poland, Ohio. App. filed July 7.
1908. Glower of aluminum oxide and
potassium aluminum silicate
1,135.670. Safety-Stop Apparatus for
Railways ; I. Czavra, Brooklyn. N. Y
App. filed Sept. 15. 1914. Contact-rail
system.
1.135.686. Thermo Telephone; B. Gwozdz,
Berlin, Germany. App. filed Aug. 15.
1911. Has Wollaston hot wire.
1.136.687. Thermic Telephone ; B. Gwozdz.
Berlin, Germany. App. filed Sept. 14.
1911. Hot-wire device which can be car-
ried within the auditory duct.
1,135,717. Ground Clamp; W. H. Price.
Moores, Pa. App. filed July IE, 1913
Simple clamp for securing a wire looped
about a water pipe.
1.135.79S. Electric Rain Alarm; H. J.
Hirschmann, St. Louis. Mo. App. filed
April 26, 1914. Sounds alarm as soon as
rain starts to fall.
1,135,801. Centrifugal Cut-Out, 1.. W
Horting, Lancaster, Pa. App. filed Jan
10. 1913. Reduces arcing and frictional
wear.
1. Motor Starter. (.:. H. Whltting-
ham. Pikesville, Md. App. filed Sept. 39,
1911. Electromagnets control each sec-
f the starting resistance.
1,186,88 • -11 om; Dm ice for
K. F.rran and F. P. Tweed-
.lale. San Francisco. Cal. App. filed
Match 16. 1914. Nickel telephone box.
BSANCB Pox. M Havens. Jr..
Albany. N. Y App. tiled May 20, 1911
Mis a double closui 1
1,185,898. Maonbto - Electrical Gener-
Andcrson. Ind. App
filed April 22. 19'i9 Has oscillatable pole
and oscillatable permanent mag-
nets.
1,136,916. Fire Alarm: J. H. Owe
burgh, N, V App tiled March 20. 19 14
Was holds plate out of contacting rela-
tion.
- :1:1c w. SlQNAl -
I M 1'otts. Baltimore. Md. App
tiled May 7. 19 le Has relays responsive
to modified impulses.
Push-button; g. e. and e. b
Mich App filed Feb.
6, 191 I For autos, may be used to con-
trol a plurality of accessories.
I 1 PNIl . P. .1
Juel, Council Bluffs. la App. filed April
large surface in proportion
to weight
1,185,971, Ti 1 1 in..- ; sdbB : I'
.1 Mclennan. 1 o-ral.lton. Western Aus-
tralia, Australia App. tiled Dec. 15. 1914
Registers only the affective calls.
13,901 \roMvTtc TKi.rin.iNi-:
01 iii. Jr . Chit
app Bled lug 84, 1911 (Original pat-
ent No 1,078,690, Nov iv. 1918.) Pre-
vents ringing current being projected over
line before its line relaj is disconnected
Electrical World
Published bj HcGraw PubUabinc Company, Inc
Vol 65
\1.\\ TORE, SMI BOAT, MAY 1. 1915
No. 18
Stuch the Safety Rules
SAFETY rules of the Bureau of Standards are now
being issued with an invitation for consideration
and criticism that no one who is affected has any right
to ignore. The motives of the bureau in drafting the
rules were set forth in the article by Dr. S. W.
Stratton, published in the Electrical World of Dec.
lit. 1D14. and in the articles by Dr. E. B. Rosa in the
issues of April 3 and April 10, 1915. Now that the
is out in tentative form, the very serious respon-
sibility rests upon the industry of subjecting the
details to the careful scrutiny which the bureau
plainly welcomes. Before the conference which has
been called for July 1 and 2 there is time for study,
not only by companies but also by representatives of
associations whose members are vitally interested.
Through conferences with representatives of the
bureau, an opportunity has been given to many officials
of electrical properties to follow the progress of the
work; but they should not delay submitting criticisms
in concrete form. The recommendation of the bureau
that the rules be adopted experimentally for one year
before final promulgation is wise and just, but it does
not remove the necessity for prompt action now.
Encouraging Export Trade
AX argument for definite government approval of
manufacturers' combinations on export trade is
suggested by the interview with Mr. Calvert Townley
published elsewhere in this issue. Since selling
expense is a heavier factor in total cost throughout
Smith America than in this easy-going country, it in-
creases the problem of the small manufacturer who
seeks export markets. The simple, obvious way in which
the government can promote foreign trade is by per-
mitting small manufacturers to enjoy the advantages of
co-operation that their European competitors receive
from more paternal, commercialized governments. By
directing its influence toward the removal of this diffi-
culty the Federal Trade Commission will do construc-
tive work of great benefit to export trade.
Company Service and Public Service
MR. CARR'S appointment to the New York Public
Service Commission of the Second District
gives that body a member who is thoroughly familiar
with the company point of view on public policy. His
practice as one of the attorneys for a large electrical
manufacturing company and his position as an official
of the Schenectady Illuminating Company have Riven
him first-hand information about utilities, which is
conspicuously rare among new commissioners. His
experience fits him better to regulate companies than
if he had put in the same time in serving the public
politically in various offices. The need of the times is not
partisan insistence for one side or the other, but
statesmanlike recognition by each interest of the clear
rights of the other and co-operation in a policy that
assures economy, development, reasonable profits at
fair rates, and good service. The opportunities in this
direction are greatly multiplied for a commissioner
who has had actual contact with daily utility problems.
Dielectric Properties of Insulators
' I VHE properties of dielectrics are being investi-
A gated at the present time more actively than
heretofore, on account of the general rise of electric
pressures in long-distance energy transmission, and
also on account of the great economic importance of
insulation in underground cables. An interesting
theory of dielectric fatigue is elaborated by Mr. Karl
Willy Wagner in a recent number of the Elektrotech-
nische Zeitschrift, as referred to in our Digest. It is
pointed out that when two dielectric layers are placed
in series, between parallel plates, and operated as in a
condenser, there can be no electric equilibrium in the
composite dielectric unless a certain arithmetic relation
exists between the conductivities and the inductivi-
ties of the two materials. In general this relation can-
not be expected to occur, so that dielectric fatigue
ensues. Although the reasoning is carried out for the
relatively simple case of two separate layers of different
dielectrics, yet it is pointed out that the same nature of
effect must occur in any single dielectric when non-
homogeneity presents itself, so that the phenomena of
fatigue and polarization in a dielectric are attributable
to either actual or virtual discontinuities and inhomo-
geneities in its substance.
Educational Publicity Work
TN time of peace prepare for war is an injunction
A that public utility companies may profitably keep
in mind. When all is going smoothly it is usually the
policy to defer or forget educational publicity work.
Then conies the expiration of a franchise, a municipal-
ownership movement, a demand for rate reduction, or
some other menace, possibly in the midst of a political
campaign. It is almost impossible for the company to
obtain a hearing under such circumstances, and yet
publicity experts tell us that it is only when a com-
1098
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 18
pany is in trouble that they are called in. Situations
that can be met by educational effort can usually be
anticipated, and a campaign can be begun before
public opinion has become set one way or the other.
Once a community has made up its mind or had it
made up for it, there is little hope of a change within
the short period of time that a verdict is rendered.
Comparison is often made between the "court of
public opinion" and courts of law. There is this im-
portant difference, that the court of public opinion is
swayed by prejudice and clamor. In such an atmos-
phere a protestant can scarcely make his voice heard,
much less regarded. To secure a fair hearing it is
necessary for utility companies to speak out before
the mob spirit comes into being and before the think-
ing minority has reached conclusions on a one-sided
or wholly misleading presentment of the case. The
fear of stirring things up is a frequently used but
nevertheless very poor reason for delaying educational
effort — provided always that the utility company has
a good case to lay before the public. If it has no case
that it dares to present, there is, of course, no right
time for saying the wrong thing. But the right time
to say the right thing on behalf of utility companies
is early — and often.
From results already attained there is every reason
to believe that the net efficiency of the propelling mech-
anism of the California will compare favorably with that
of any ship driven directly. In fact, the gain in econ-
omy is likely to be enough to make the electric drive
worth while had it no other marked advantages, partic-
ularly since it is cheaper than the direct steam equip-
ment. The saving in the cost of propelling mechanism
in the case of the California is said to be about $200,000
in addition to the saving in weight, which means more
available buoyancy for fuel, armor or battery. Apart
from all these advantages, there is still another one
which may ultimately become of considerable impor-
tance, namely, the ability to place the prime movers and
the boilers in the most convenient position for the com-
plicated organism of a warship. It is by no means cer-
tain that the locations now usual are the very best that
can be devised when one is freed from the mechanical
connection between the engine and the propeller shaft.
Be this as it may, a great step forward has been taken
in "trying out" the electric drive in the California, and
the evidence already in hand makes it clear that the
Navy Department may confidently look forward to suc-
cess in this important test.
Electric Drive for Battleships
Electrical and marine engineers will welcome the
news that the United States ship California is to be
equipped with a complete electric drive, the first on any
battleship in the world. This vessel will be one of the
most powerful battleships in existence, and the selec-
tion of the electrical method of propulsion for her will
tend to increase her formidable characteristics. It
seems at first thought a somewhat roundabout appli-
cation of power to install a boiler, steam turbine, gen-
erator and motor equipment in a ship instead of the
customary engines or turbines directly coupled to the
screws, but all the evidence at hand seems to indicate
that it is really a case of the longest way round being
the shortest way home.
In fact, the ship designer who attempts to take ad-
vantage of the superior economy and light weight of
the steam turbine finds himself caught between low
turbine efficiency at low rotative speeds and low pro-
peller efficiency at high speeds. Consequently, in spite
of the distinguished success that has already attended
the use of turbines, they never have been quite able to
appear at their very best when one reckons the plant
efficiency straight through from the boiler to the thrust
on the propeller shaft. With the electric drive the
turbine can be worked at its most efficient speed in
spite of the variation in speed of the ship, and the
propellers can lie so designed as to become highly ef-
ficient over any desired range of speed. By using high
turbine speed the equipment is lightened in spite (it Mi.
added weight of the generators and motors, and. what
chape almost equally Important, no special turbine
for reversing the propellers is necessary, since the mo-
tors themselves can tie very easily reversed.
Analysis of Unbalanced Systems
A perfectly balanced three-phase load, like a pure
sine wave, is a mathematical fiction which is never
completely realized in practice, though usually ap
proximated to a sufficient degree to warrant th
assumption of perfect balancing in practical calcu-
lations. Yet there are instances which frequentlj
arise in practice where the degree of unbalancing is
such that the actual conditions must be taken into
account, if one wishes to obtain even a rough idea of
the reactions involved. The reluctance of the electrical |
engineer to venture into such a mathematical analysis
is but natural, for not only must the circuit be treated
as a Kirchhoff network, but each voltage and current
must be resolved into two components. The number
of equations involved therefore quickly reaches the sat-
uration point, or, one might say, the "hopeless" point,
and the waste basket is likely to exert an irresistible
attraction for the papers of the calculator.
Those who have attempted such calculations will
therefore welcome the method developed by Dr. L. G.
St ok vis and described in detail in this issue, whereby
many of the complications are avoided. The method
is based upon the principle that any unbalanced load
may be resolved into two balanced loads, with the se-
quence of phases in one of these loads reversed. The
current corresponding to the balanced load which has
the same sequence of phases as the actual load is called
by the author the "synchronous" component, and the
current corresponding to the balanced load with the
Sequence Of phases reversed is called by the author the
"inverse" component. The determination of these two
components for any degree of unbalancing is readily
effected by means of two simple formulas. The author
May 1, 1915
KI.KCTRICA L WORLD
1099
shows that a perfectly balanced load is merely the lim-
iting case when there is no inverse component, and that
a single-phase load is another limiting case in which
nchronous and inverse components are equal and
each equal to the value of the single-phase current
divided by \ 3. The method, therefore, is applicable to
any degree of unbalancing.
The author applies the principle in question to the
calculation of the regulation of a three-phase alternator
delivering an unbalanced load and to the calculation of
the third harmonic produced in the terminal voltage
as a result of the unbalancing. One sees so often the
statement that a third harmonic cannot appear in the
terminal voltage of a three-phase alternator that it
may at first sight seem surprising that a third har-
monic of any practical importance could be produced
by any unbalancing of the load. However, the author
shows very clearly the origin of this third harmonic,
and makes clear that its existence is not only possible
but that when the unbalancing is excessive its value
may be of practical moment.
Associated with the production of this third harmonic
is the production of a double-frequency voltage in the
field coils and exciting circuit. The value of the cur-
rent produced by this double-frequency current may,
under excessive unbalancing, be sufficient to operate the
circuit-breaker in the exciting circuit, and w-hen the
breaker opens it is shown that the voltage induced in
the field coils may be sufficient to produce disastrous re-
sults. The principle of resolving an unbalanced load into
its synchronous and inverse currents can probably be ap-
plied with equal success to the analysis of any kind of
unbalanced conditions, as, for example, the analysis
of the performance of a single-phase induction motor
or of a polyphase induction motor when unequal re-
sistances are inserted in the secondary phases during
starting. The principle is well worthy of careful study
by any one who may be called upon to "look for trouble"
due to unbalanced conditions in a polyphase system.
Lumen Rating of Lamps
In the application of the physical sciences to the arts
and industries of life, there seems to be a fairly definite
order of intellectual growth and procedure relating to
measurements and units of measure. A beginning
seems usually to be made on polar notions, involving
action at a distance. Then, as facts and experience ac-
cumulate, these notions break down from insufficiency
and are replaced by notions of flux, or surface integrals
of action, the distance conception becoming relegated to
a subordinate place in the working theory.
Perhaps the clearest case of this progression of ideas
is presented in magnetics. Our fundamental units of
magnetism are based on the mechanical forces which
magnetic poles can mutually exert at intervening dis-
tances. Our first working theories of magnetic phenom-
ena were likewise based on the actions of poles falling
off as the inverse squares of distances. As engineers
I'ltame familiar with the phenomena of magnetism and
electromagnet ism. tin were found to be in-
adequate, and they broke down. The magnetic units re-
mained unchanged in magnitudes, although they carried
the scars of the old wounds in the shape of unseemly
•1- factors; but the conceptions of the magnetic phenom-
ena were changed almost out of all recognition by the
introduction of magnetic flux. This more modern and
certainly more complex notion has completely ousted the
earlier notion of poles acting at a distance.
In electrostatics there exists a sort of intermediate
stage of development in ideas. There is no longer a
complete reliance upon the attraction of electric charges
across intervening distances, such as once existed uni-
versally, and upon which the electrostatic units were
based. On the other hand, the notions of electrostatic
flux and flux density are in only partial use among engi-
neers. Electrostatic-circuit ideas have not yet been de-
veloped at large nearly to the same extent as magnetic-
circuit ideas, but the development is evidently going on.
In radiation the primitive ideology is beginning to
break down, but the stage of development is lower than
that which exists in electrostatics, and still lower than
that which exists in magnetics. Our units of light are
still based upon the polar action, at a distance, of point
sources, like that of magnetic poles or of electric
charges. Notions of candle-power are derived from
such polar points acting inversely as the square of the
distance. However, as illuminating engineering has ad-
vanced, it has come to recognize the inherent incapabil-
ity of these polar conceptions and to seek for a more
useful substitute in luminous flux. It is becoming more
customary for illuminating engineers to use lumens, or
units of light flux, rather than candles or lumens per
steradian. Certain advantages in simplification in cal-
culation result from substituting the lumen for the
candle-power conception in expressing not only the out-
put but also the appearance of a light source, just as is
true when the flux conception is substituted for the
magnetic-pole conception in expressing total magnetism
and magnetic concentration. Obviously, care must al-
ways be exercised in interpreting any analogy between
magnetic and luminous fluxes in view of the fact that
magnetic fluxes form closed curves while light travels
in straight lines.
In the Electrician of London there was recently pub-
lished an abstract of a paper by Mr. Francis W. Wilcox,
presented before the (British) Illuminating Engineer-
ing Society. In this paper the need for and the grow-
ing prevalence of the lumen and the lumen ratings is
clearly expressed. There is strong probability that, just
as the units of flux and flux density have become pri-
mordial in magnetics, so the units of flux and flux
density are destined to become primordial in photom-
etry. Ultimately, in the continued development of sci-
entific ideology, consolidation and simplification may be
effected of all the physical fluxes so that each science
will merely adopt its own particular aspect of the funda-
mental and universal unit, but at present that goal
seems remote and polemical.
1100
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. (>5, No. 18
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Clearing House for Electrical Associations
To the Editor of the Electrical World:
Sir: — In reply to your letter I advance for your con-
sideration a suggestion which came from our counsel,
.Mr. Thomas M. Debevoise.
If the several organizations now existing in the elec-
trical industry are willing to co-operate with one an-
other, some permanent body is desirable through which
that co-operative intent can become practically effec-
tive. If each of the organizations will appoint one or
two of its members to sit from time to time with like
representatives from all of the other associations in a
clearing house of the electrical industry, the desired
permanent body will be available for the interchange
of information and help between the memberships of
the several associations. Perhaps such a body can find
accommodations in New York City with one or another
of the organizations that already are well accommo-
dated— for instance, the American Institute of Elec-
trical Engineers.
As an illustration of the usefulness of such a clear-
ing house, I refer you to a problem now attracting the
attention of the electrical inspection authorities,
namely, the proper construction, and performance when
tested, of electric fixtures intended for use with gas-
filled lamps. Diversity of designs, some perhaps not
considered with reference to the fire hazard, are now
prompting the Underwriters' Laboratories, Inc., to con-
sider means for preventing those fire hazards. This
problem alone probably interests some of the members
of several of the different electrical associations, notably
the Associated Manufacturers of Electrical Supplies,
the Electrical Supply Jobbers' Association and the Na-
tional Electrical Contractors' Association. The prob-
lem may interest some members who are affiliated with
the American Institute of Electrical Engineers. It is
likely to interest the National Electric Light Associa-
tion.
If there were a suitably organized clearing house, the
Underwriters' Laboratories could refer the problem to
that body. Promptly thereafter the proper divisions
of the several interested associations would receive ad-
vance notice through the clearing house that the prob-
lem is in hand. Thus all the interested members of
each association will have the opportunity to co-operate
in solving the problem.
In innumerable ways such a clearing house will pro-
duce harmony, increase effectiveness and prevent
d or duplicated efforts. R. K. Sheppard,
Ah) on, Unto.
Reserve Funds for Central Stations
T>* tin Editor of the Electrical World:
Sir: — In the issue of the ELECTRICAL WORLD of April
17 appeared an editorial on ".Storm Losses," in the last
sentence of which was a suggestion concerning a "re-
serve fund." The writer has been urging on municipal
Hies, legislatures and public utility commissions the
• of public utilities laying aside a reserve fund
for extraordinary expense entailed by circumstance's
beyond their control and. as a corollary to this, he has
claimed thai in the making of rates the factor of "risk"
should be included, together with other similar fa.
This matter was brought home very strongly to the
writer at a state convention sop <, when he
brought up this point. Of nearl
of public utilities presenl at this convention, over fifty
had suffered losses from fortuitous circumstances for
which no provision had been made in either their ac-
counting or their rates. These consisted of destructive
fires from the outside, tornadoes, floods, hailstorms and
explosions from boilers and bombs. A further investi-
gation conducted by correspondence revealed the fact
that over half of the public utilities in the State had
been within ten years injured to a greater or lesser
extent by these and similar uncontrollable misfortunes,
and in nearly every case there had not been sufficient
surplus, or at least sufficient free surplus, to take care
of the losses occasioned.
Almost every day brings news of similar happenings
in every portion of the United States, and I believe that
an investigation of this matter from a national stand-
point would show that at least 50 per cent of the pub-
lic utility properties in the United States have been
subject to similar losses and were totally unprepared
with any "catastrophe reserve" to liquidate such losses.
Under these conditions it would seem that one of the
strong pleas to be considered by the public utility com-
missions of the various states is that the rates be so
arranged as to allow for the formation of such a reserve
fund, which should be allowed to accumulate until it
arrives at a value corresponding to that of a certain
proportion of the property destroyable by catastrophes
such as the above; this fund to be invested and the in-
terest from it to be applied, directly or indirectly, to the
diminution of the rates which created it.
There is nothing inequitable in the formation of a
fund in this manner, and the past and present experi-
ences of the public utility business all over the country
tend to show that such a fund will be heavily called on
within a period of from one to fifteen years.
H. S. Cooper,
n.ii.. Tor ■"" Electrical
LfUlias, 1 ex. „„,, gaa Association.
Mr. Cotton and Mr. Edwards on Gas-Filled Lamps
To the Editor of the Electrical World:
Sir: — Referring to the article on the subject of the
heating of the 200-watt nitrogen-filled lamp, appear-
ing on page 681 of your issue of March 13, 1915, and
to the letter on page 844 of the issue of April 3, 1915,
by Mr. Evan J. Edwards, of the National Lamp Works
of the General Electric Company, Cleveland, Ohio, in
which Mr. Edwards objects to the publication of such
an article and illustration in a journal having the
standing of the Electrical World in the electrical
field, it is my opinion that any paper that did not open
its pages to both sides of any subject would not be wor-
thy of any standing in the art it represents.
Criticism of any worthy device is, I thoroughly be-
lieve, of distinct benefit to the device, and any device
that cannot withstand criticism should be looked on
with suspicion. Electrical inspectors sometimes find
that devices that have passed through the Under-
writers' Laboratory and which carry the laboratory
label of approval prove defective in the field. In such
cases criticisms are welcomed, changes are often made,
and approval is sometimes even withdrawn — all based
on fads discovered outside of the laboratory.
I carried the blackened lamp and receptacle de-
scribed in your original article to Minneapolis to the
inspectors' convention to get facts concerning gas-
tilled lamp operation other than laboratory tests and
measurements.
I claim that the lamp in question was not an unusual
Mav 1. 1916
ELECTRICAL W O R L I)
1101
case, and beg to give the following statement of facts,
by which, I think, any one in doubt will be convinced.
This lamp, with its receptacle, was only one' of 407
installed in the factory, and each and every one showed
the same trouble — melting of the compound in the re-
ceptacle— and every one has since been changed. The
installation was in the John Rabb Chair Company of
Grand Rapids, a new factory, having 117,884 sq. ft. of
floor area. The work was done Is conduit, using B-in.
boxes and standard receptacles and gas-filled lamps.
The contractor was the Ackerman Electric Company,
of 549 Pine Avenue, Grand Rapids. The original re-
ceptacles were purchased through the C. J. Litscher
Bkctric Company, which later replaced them with
others filled with "nitrogen cement" and equipped with
slow-burning wire. The blackened lamps were after-
ward cleaned and, with the exception of one case, are
now in use. The only wrong impression that the
article as published could convey was that it was in
this installation, rather than in others, that we ex-
perienced the trouble of the soldering of the lamp bases
to the fittings. The installation referred to was an
alternating-current, thirty-cycle, 120-volt service.
While I do not know of a case on alternating-current
where lamp bases and fittings have been soldered to-
gether, I can give to any one interested a list of cases
where this trouble has happened on direct-current
circuits with lamps of ratings from 200 watts up to
1000 watts, the cause being the high starting current
taken by the lamps on direct current. In some recent
tests made with the oscillograph the results given in
the accompanying table were obtained on direct cur-
rent.
RESULTS OF OSCILLOGRAPH TESTS
Lamp Siie. W
■tts
Resistance Cold, Ohms
Initial Starting Current,
Amp
1500
0.72
160 i.
1000
1.08
Ill 1
700
1 44
83 3
50(1
2.16
55 5
300
:; SO
33 3
200
5 40
22 2
Owing to these excessive initial currents, which may
reach more than thirteen times normal current, arcs
are caused which will solder the bases to the fittings if
the lamp bases make imperfect contact with the fit-
tings, as may be caused by the fittings expanding with
the heat or by vibration. I would suggest to any one
interested that he try to remove a plug-type fuse on
a circuit supplying direct current to a 500-watt lamp.
The high initial starting current referred to consti-
tutes a serious objection to the use of the gas-filled
lamp. Unless entirely inclosed, the lamp is also very
hard on the eyes.
If the gas-filled lamp is perfect and above criticism,
the following questions seem pertinent: Why are the
manufacturers of these lamps changing the 300-watt
lamp from the standard base to the "Mogul" base?
Why are the Laboratories requesting that the sealing
compound for the heads of screws and nuts in fixtures
and fixture parts designed expressly for use with gas-
filled lamps shall use a compound which has a high
melting point? Why, at the recent meeting of the elec-
trical committee of the National Fire Protective Asso-
ciation, was a report adopted stipulating that gas-filled
lamps must not be used in show windows except in
approved fixtures, and, further, that fixtures within
buildings must be wired with conductors having ap-
proved slow-burning insulation or asbestos covering?
There is a furniture exposition building in this
city in which fifteen 500-watt lamps are controlled by
one switch. This switch breaks the mains and each
lamp is on a separate circuit. The mains are three-
wire and are fused at 60 amp. This building is now
on alternating-current service, but will be transferred
to a direct-current source of supply in July for the
summer sales. This switch will be operated several
times a day for thirty days. Will the main fuses stand
the initial starting current of this lamp load, which
will be over 800 amp, and is this to be recommended
as good construction? George Cotton,
Grand Rapids, Mich. Chief Electrical Inspector.
To the Editor of the Electrical World:
Sir: — I hesitate to ask for further space in your val-
ued columns for discussion on a subject which I have
already taken up somewhat at length, namely, the in-
stallation referred to in Mr. Cotton's letter.
In my letter to you on this subject, which appeared
in the April 3 issue of the Electrical World, there
were two principal points that I tried to make— first,
that the case cited was unusual ; second, that it offered
no cause for discrimination against the gas-filled lamp
as compared with the vacuum lamp.
I think that we still must conclude that the case re-
ferred to is exceptional, for if it were otherwise the
article in the March 13 issue would probably never have
appeared at all in your columns, now that gas-filled
lamps have been in general use throughout the country
for a whole year.
The citing of the oscillograph tests is an evidence
that my second general idea, mentioned above, was not
made clear, for the results shown apply alike to both
vacuum and gas-filled lamps. High initial current is
not peculiar to the gas-filled lamp. The current in
any tungsten-filament lamp is above the normal value
for a period of about one-tenth second. This over-
shooting at the first instant is very severe, but is so
brief that it will not blow a fuse or will not trip an
ordinary circuit-breaker having a small time element
of operation.
The 300-watt lamp was changed from the medium-
screw base to the "Mogul" base at the suggestion of
a committee of the National Fire Protection Associa-
tion, the purpose being to limit the wattage of lamps
which could be conveniently operated in the existing
medium-screw outlets. Evan J. Edwards,
/^;„„^,;„„j /-»!,,■„ Engineering Department National tamp
uievemnu, unio. \y„rks <>/ Gmrmi Kin-trie Company.
Sensitiveness of Heterodyne Receiver
To the Editor of the Electrical World:
Sir: — In an article which appeared in the Electrical
World April 24 I discussed the great sensitiveness of
the heterodyne radio receiver, comprising a detector
the indications of which are proportional to the square
of the received current — or, more generally, to a power
of the current greater than one. The reason for the
great sensitiveness of the heterodyne was there shown
to be entirely foreign to the principle of reception by
beats.
With regard to this principle itself, permit me to
point out that in a note written for the General Electric
Company as early as October, 1904, I described a de-
sign of a high-frequency machine for wireless teleg-
raphy comprising a number of machines mounted in
cascade, as well as the principle of reception of contin-
uous waves founded on the production of beats between
two sources slightly different in periodicity.
Villeurbanne, France. Marius Latour.
1102
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 18
ELECTRICAL SAFETY RULES ISSUED
Bureau of Standards Asks Study and Criticism of Its
Proposed National Code
The Bureau of Standards is issuing for criticism and
study three sections of the proposed national electrical
safety code and also a second edition of Circular No. 49,
which will constitute Part 4 of the proposed code. As
explained by Dr. Edward B. Rosa, chief physicist of
the bureau, in articles in the Electrical World of
April 3 and 10, 1915, the proposed code, after criticism,
is to be considered at a conference to be held on July
1 and 2 in Washington.
In his introduction to the first three sections Dr. S. W.
Stratton, director of the bureau, says in part:
"This electrical safety code runs parallel with the
National Electrical Code. More than a year ago the
bureau offered to co-operate with the electrical commit-
tee in framing safety rules to be incorporated in the
present electrical code. But at a conference last Novem-
ber with representatives of the electrical committee and
the safety to life committee of the National Fire Pro-
tection Association it appeared to be the general desire
to keep the safety rules and the fire prevention rules as
distinct as possible, and have these two parts of a com-
plete electrical code parallel and separate, instead of
interlaced in such a way that they could not be dis-
tinguished. This separation simplified their prepara-
tion, and to some extent also their administration, al-
though there may be some difference of opinion among
inspectors as to the latter.
"An understanding was reached between the repre-
sentatives of the bureau and the two committees repre-
senting the National Fire Protection Association that
the bureau should take the responsibility of preparing a
National Electrical Safety Code, with the co-operation
of the National Fire Protection Association and other
organizations, and that such changes as seemed neces-
sary and could properly be made in the fire code to
avoid conflicts with the new safety code would be made.
In return the bureau was to co-operate with the Na-
tional Fire Protection Association in the revision of the
fire code. In accordance with this understanding a
committee was appointed to confer with representatives
of the bureau, and together they went through the fire
code and made certain recommendations as to changes
(which were substantially all adopted at the recent
meeting of the electrical committee) and then went
through the preliminary draft of the safety code and
made many valuable suggestions for its improvement.
At a subsequent meeting this committee carefully criti-
cised a later draft of the code, and suggested further
improvements.
"The Workmen's Compensation Service Bureau has
also given valuable assistance by examining and criti-
cising the early drafts of the code.
"A large number of informal conferences have been
held by representatives of the bureau with representa-
tives of State commissions, engineers of operating and
manufacturing companies and others. It has been pos-
sible to secure approval of nearly all the rules by a
very large majority of those participating in the con-
ferences. It is hoped that further informal conferences
soon to be held and the final formal conference in Wash-
ington will bring about a still greater degree of unanim-
ity respecting the rules.
"Criticism is invited of the proposed rules and sug-
gestions for their improvement, either by way of
changes or additions. It is hoped that the statement
ining the plan and scope of the code will In' read
as well as the notes on the rules. The intent of the
rules will thus be better understood, and criticisms will
be correspondingly more valuable.
"The thanks of the bureau are extended to the very
large number of persons who have so willingly assisted
in the discussion and revision of the code. It is hoped
that this cordial co-operation may be continued and that
the code when finally completed will justify the large
amount of time given to it by our conferees."
In a statement outlining the plan and scope of the
work the bureau says in part:
"The numbering of the sections and of the rules is
on the decimal system. The definitions bear numbers
below 100. The rules on stations are divided into nine
sections, and ten numbers are reserved for each section,
although there are less than ten rules in most of the
sections. The rules on overhead and underground lines
are numbered from 200 up, the rules on utilization
equipment are numbered from 300 up, and the rules on
operation are numbered from 400 up. There are 65
rules in Part 1, 49 in Part 2, 63 in Part 3, 116 in Part 4,
293 in all. Each of the four parts is as nearly complete
in itself as possible, in order to make it more conve-
nient for use by different classes of users. This plan
has made it necessary to duplicate in Part 3 some of
the rules of Part 1.
Distinction Between Station and Utilization Equipment
"The rules for stations apply to the electrical supply
equipment of indoor and outdoor stations and substa-
tions, and also to similar equipment including genera-
tors, motors, storage batteries, transformers and light-
ning arresters when in factories, mercantile establish-
ments or elsewhere, provided they are in separate rooms
or inclosures, under the control of properly qualified
persons, when such rooms or inclosures are inaccessible
to others. Thus, the room or rooms in which the trans-
formers, high-tension switches and distributing switch-
board are installed in a factory are regarded as a sub-
station, if under the charge of a qualified person, and
subject to the rules for stations. On the other hand,
the electrical wiring, motors, switches and other equip-
ment distributed about a factory or other building where
employees generally have more or less access to them
are regarded as utilization equipment.
"The rules for utilization equipment apply to circuits
and apparatus at not over 750 volts. Anything of
higher voltage inclosed in rooms not accessible to em-
ployees generally will come under the rules for stations.
Anything of higher voltage than 750 not so inclosed and
accessible to others than properly qualified electrical
operators must, in addition to complying with the rules
tor stations and such of the utilization rules as apply,
have all live parts incased in permanently grounded
metal conduit or cases, or otherwise guarded, to prevent
unsafe approach by any person to the live parts.
Existing Installations
"The rules of Parts 1, 2 and 3 apply, of course, to
all new installations, unless modified for special reasons
by the proper administrative authority. The question
as to what extent they should apply to existing instal-
lations has been carefully considered. Obviously, if
they did not apply at all to existing installations, they
might have very little influence for many years to come.
The statement made in regard to this question is in the
introduction to the several sections of the rules.
"It is not expected that expensive changes will be
made in existing equipment in order to comply with
the rules, except in so far as it is necessary to do so
to remove a source of serious danger. But in most
cases grounding 0f machine frames, instrument cases
or conduits, or erecting of suitable guards (where ex-
posed live parts require it), can be done at substan-
tially the same expense as though it were new equip-
ment, and in all such cases it is expected that it will
be done within some reasonable time.
May l, 1915 ELECTRICAL WORLD
TITLES OF RULES IX PROPOSED ELECTRICAL SAFETY CODE
1103
PWtT 1
Illumination
Of Wall* and < 'film*"
Protective Arrmnfl ipment
General Racjvin
Irrevuj i
.in! inf.
I "-(mum* about Electrical i
Guarding Live Part*
laoUiituc lira Parts by Elevation
Rotating I
tnd Stopping I >•
rating Agencies.
-Pitches.
Ft Buck, Pulleys, Bobs and I >thet
Guard* (or Live Part*
Groun -
I»Ol !'
\ c nidation.
Insulating Bup|
Guarding Li\ • I
Illumination
Acid-Proofing
Traaaformcte, Ri at mooes. Induction R<
Balance CM- and Similar Equipment:
* *» I - 1 r . -itiere.
Current iTanatermer Secondary I
Grounding Low- Voltage Cirouita of Power and
Instrument Transform
Guarding or Isolating I.iv.- Parti
< *BM'S.
■\ fROL Lgi ie\u:\r
■ ion in ' ieoeraJ
:. h> Elevation
Guarding Conductors
Guarding in Hazardous Local
Pendants and Portables
Temporary Wiring
Taping Bare Enda and Joints
ttleni and
Other Co
alble and Indicating
■ ■ ■..
VYhare Switches Axe Required.
Character of Svut< li.-- •- ■
\\ bea \ re Required.
Arrange n.- ml of automatic < '■■■■ \
Suddenly Moving Parte.
ling Non-Current^Carrying Metal Parte
Guarding Livi Parte "t Switches and Automatic
S»lt'|ih
anient Ccntrol
Convenient and Bale Attendance
cation
^ l -iui|.iii.rii
Arrangement and Id-ntincation.
llluilUtKlll"n
9hort«Circui1
Protective Ground.
( i rounding Frames.
< luarding Ltvt I
Lightning Arresters
When Eteqnired
T\ (»■ and * ' 'i
keoten
Part*.
PAD
LINE*
Design and Capacity.
Minimum I;-
[na perin in-
Isolation, Guarding, and Aooaaaibihtj
ll.-.tn. i[ Pr-itfotion and Control of Circuit*
Orojonding Circuits and F.<iuipruent.
lil.-nti*.
01 kkhi.au link.-
tion lU-*|uired for Cro-
Linea and Lines on the Same .Supports:
• ii of Lines to Avoid Conflict,
ment oi Linae When in Conflict or Carried
on the 8ame Supports
Required Grades of Construction.
Requirements for Construction and Maintenance
of Linea Designated by Grades.
Clearance of Conductora at Crcssings:
Conductors Above Railways and Highways.
( 'onductors Crossing Others.
in ( Irarances Between Conductors for
Spans Exceeding 100 Ft.
in Clearances Between Conductors for
igea Above 40.000 Volte
Clearanoes of Conductora (Other than I rossing
ion "i Line Conductors of Each Voltage
Lateral Working Space Between Line Conductors
I Clearances between Line Conductors of
Different Circuits Operating at Different Volt-
ages
Clearances lor Suspension Insulators
\ t-rtical and Lateral Conductors
t Learancee from Buildings.
Guarding Live anil Arcing Part-;
Switches, Automatic Cut-outs and Lightning Ar-
reeten
[ amps
Ineulating or Mechanical Guards for Guy and Span
Trolley Contact Conductors.
Bupporting Struotuiea:
Pole* or Towers I tearanoes and Idem
md Anobore,
Cross-anna.
Protective Covering or Treatment.
Branch I
i ightning Arresters.
Lamp Similar Equip-
ment.
( rOnduCtOn and Insulator-:
Man-rial and Minimum Siz.-.
iv u ires oi i aateninga
Marking I n-':1
IMiKHOKCtlM* UXaj)
a< ■-, and Duota
Location
Grading.
H.ihty.
MeohanioaJ Detail*.
Manho!.- I
Mechanical Barriers and Guar
Mates i i mote,
[natailation of Ducta.
Conductora and Equipment:
Location and Edentifioation of Conductora
Msebanioal Protection and Support.
Sparing.
EUectricaJ Protection ol Building Bervices
Multiple Connectiona,
PAD
DBUB
.ding
Work in-
Guarding or Isolating Liva Part*.
In Hazardous Looanaoas
- and Lightning
Ami *
Identification.
i"ti in General
I- ■ 'lating or Inclosing.
Guarding Conductora Over ISO Volts
Guarding in Hazardous Looati
Portables and Pendants
Temporary Wiring
Taping Bare Enda and Joints.
Guarding Service Conduit.
Switches, Fuses and Other Cut-outs, Controllers and
Other Control 1 1
taeeserible and Indicating.
Hazardous Locations.
Where Bwitflhea are Required.
Character of Switches to 1 -<-
Disconnection of Fuaee Before Handling.
Arcing or Suddenly Moving Parts.
Grounding Non-Current-Carry ing Metal Parts.
Guarding Live Parts of Switehee and Automatic
Cut-outs.
Switchboards
anient Control.
Convenient and Safe attendance.
3afi i ocation.
Arrangement and Identification.
Illuminatii.u.
Spacinga and Barriers Against short-Circuit
Grounding Frames.
Guarding Live Parts.
M tors and Motor-Driven Devi* -
Control Devices.
Baaardous Local ions
Deteriorating \-
Guards fox Live Parts.
Grounding for Non-Current-Carrying Parts.
Protecting Moving Parts
Arc \n eldei - and Elecl rical I urn
Are Furnaces
Grounding.
Guarding Live Parts
Lighting Fixtures and Signs
Grounding.
Insulation
Exposed Conductors and Live Parts
accessibility and Guarding of Signs.
I ■ ntrol of Outdoor Signs.
i , mm otoi ■ ol Signs-
Isolating or Guarding Lamps in Series Circuits.
Safe kecess to arc l tamps.
Bridging Im-
portable Devices, Cables and Conn
Insulation.
Grounding
Cable Connectors,
Identified Conductora and Counectors.
i -. of Portables and Pendants.
Electrically Operated Cars, Cranes and Elevators:
Guarding Live and Moving Paris — General He-
qoirements.
Gl ling N'ou-Cuin-iit-Carryini: Parts
Control ot Energy Supply.
! ol Movement
Telephones and Otljej Signal kpparntus an Circuits
Exposed al knj Point by Supply Lines:
Grounding Non-Currenl Carrying Parts
I iuards.
Insulating B ti-
1104 ELECTRICAL WORLD Vol. 65, No. 18
TITLES OF RULES IN PROPOSED ELECTRICAL SAFETY CODE (Continued)
PART 4
OPERATIC-' [PUSNI AM> LINE
Rules for the Empl
Organization.
Copy of Rules.
< »r^:iniz:iti.n Diagram.
Address List and Emergency Rules.
Drilling Emplo
Posting Rules and Diagran
Qualification of EmpV?
1 Iperator,
Local Foremen
Protective Methods and Devices.
Attendance.
Two Workmen
Uninstruoted Workmen and Vis
Diagrams for Chief ( iperator.
[nstruotionfl for Foremen
Protective Devices.
Warning and Danger Signs
kooadent Reports.
General Rules for the Emp
General Precautions.
Rules air 1 Emergency Methods,
Heed Warnings, Warn Others
Inexperienced or Unfit Employe)
Supervision of Workmen.
Exercise Care.
Live and Arcing Parts.
t > Appliances and Suitable Clothing.
Safe Supports ami Safety Belts.
Repeat Messages.
General Operation.
"Duties of Chief Operator.
Duties of Foreman.
1 Authorization.
ing Service After Work.
Maintaining Service
Tagging Electrical Supply Circuit.
Protecting Traffic.
Protecting Workmen by Disconm
Handling Live Equipment and Lines
General Requirements,
Voltages Between 760 and 7
Voltages u>"
Working Alone.
When to Kill Parts
Opening Circuits and Working from Below.
Connecting Wires and Grounds.
Never Open S2ries Circuits.
Stringing v\ ires
Fire Extinguishers.
KillitiL' Supply Equipment and Lines.
Foramen's R* -quests.
ing Disconnectors and Tagging.
Station Protective Grounds.
Permission to Work.
Foreman*? Protective Grounds for Overhead
Lines.
Proceed with Work.
Other Gangs.
Reporting Clear.
Removal of Tags.
Restoring Servic and Filing Tags.
Killing Moving Parts.
Foreman's Requests.
Blocking and Tagging.
Permission to Work
Other Gangs.
Reporting Clear.
Removal of Tags.
Restoring Service and Filing Tags.
Making Protective Grounds
Procedure.
Ground Connections.
Test of Circuit
Completing Grounds.
Removing Grounds.
Special Rules for Employees
Supply Station anil Switchboard Operation.
Care About Machines.
Care About Live or Moving Parts.
Handling Fuses or Brushes
Battery Rooms.
Elevated Positions,
Handling Switchboard Equipment
Report Circuit Troubles to Chief Operator.
Report Defect 9.
Overhead-Line Operation.
Test Poles Before Climbing.
Use Pole Steps.
Care About Ln . i
When Touching Live Parts.
Protecting Traffic.
Sti inging Lines
Reporting 1 defects
Underground Operation.
GuardingManholes, Handholes and Street Open-
ings.
Teal for Gas.
Watchman at Surface of Manholes.
Avoid Flames.
Pulling I
Testing and Splicing Live Cable.
Report Defects.
Series Lamp Operation.
Treat as Alive
Handling Series Lamps.
Bridge Series Lamps.
Testing Series Lamp Circuits.
Periodically Disconnected Circuits.
Report Defects.
tfetei I m "-ration.
Taped Joints
l an Vboui Live Parts
« 'pen Circuits at Switches.
Special Tools.
Report Defects.
Testing Operations.
Authorization.
Check All Conditions.
Local Foremen.
Warnings and Barriers
Two Men
Report Defects.
Signal Line Operation.
Official in Charge of Operation.
Before Cnmbmg i
Approaching Supply 1
Touching Equipment.
"■ii ringing Wires.
Report Dangerous Conditions.
Tunnel and Subway Operation.
Live Electrical Parts
Standing on Ground.
Carrying Tools.
Repairing Live Parts.
Handling Portable Devices.
Fuses and Switches
Injuring Cables and Wires,
Temporal^ * in
< ieneral Precautions,
Report Dangerous Coii' I
"If the state commissions and city administrative of-
ficers can provide intelligent and thoroughly competent
inspectors, so that their inspections will have to some
extent an educational value, the administration of the
rules ought to be relatively simple. When force has to
be applied it can be done far more easily if the admin-
istration of the rules is intelligent and reasonable and
compliance is generally a willing one. It is hoped
that such intelligent and competent inspection may be
secured, and the bureau will do all it can to assist com-
missions and municipalities who wish to give this kind
of inspection.
"Another important question in the administration
of the rules is that of uniform interpretation by the
people who are expected to comply with the rules and
by the inspectors and others who administer them. It
has been suggested to the bureau that a textbook on
safe construction and operation is much more needed
than a set of rules. It is hoped that the notes to the
rules, as they will be expanded in the later publication,
will in connection with the rules fulfil to some extent
the function of such a textbook. We shall be greatly
pleased tc» receive suggestions as to what additional
material should be put into the W >
"Many of the rule* arc put in the mandatory form
by the use of 'shall'; others are intended as strong
recommend ould1 being used to indicate that
fact. 'Should' is often used where it would be proper
rtain thing of some companies but not
of all. It was thought far better to make the rules
reasonably complete, with some of them not mandatory,
than to cut out all that could not properly be made man-
datory generally.
"It is the hope of the bureau that when the code
has been revised once more, approved by the Washing-
ton conference and republished it may be adopted very
generally and with the minimum of changes by indi-
vidual states or cities. It is suggested, however, that
the first year may be made a trial year, during which
the companies, inspectors and commissions may become
thoroughly acquainted with its practical operation, and
that it be not enforced in any strict sense until after
the first year. We believe that if the utilities and other
companies coming under it are invited to 'try out' the
code, to comply as well as they can, to report wherein it
is not satisfactory and to assist in the effort to remedy
its defects by revision at the end of the first year, far
better results will be attained in the end than if it
is made compulsory at the start."
Operation and Maintenance of Equipment and lam-
In the introduction to the rules for the operation and
maintenance of electrical equipment and lines. Dr. Strat
ton says:
"The growth of compensation laws has emphasiz'
the urgent necessity for state commissions to adop
safety rules for the electrical industry as well as fo:
other industries, and the demand for an adequate stand
ard set of such rules has now become general.
"After extended comparisons and analyses of existing
nd
it-
►Pt
'or
May 1, 1916
ELECTRICAL \V URLD
1105
.1 aided by the suggestion of connnie-
sions, company officials and workmen, a code of safety
rules was drawn up and offered for criticism, discussion
and, in so far as was found desirable, for adoption.
This set of rules was published on Aug. 1, l'.U I. a~
Bureau Circular No. 49, and about 2000 copies were
distributed with a request for comment and criticism.
Several hundred letters were received in response to
this request, and the many careful criticisms received
were utilized in a thorough revision of the rules.
"In the meantime the accident committee of the
National Electric Light Association had the rules of
Circular No. 49 reprinted with some modifications of its
own and sent them out for criticism to a considerable
number of companies, receiving a large number of care-
ful letters in reply. The committee then met the repre-
sentatives of the bureau, and together they made a
final revision which is presented in the second edition
of Circular No. 49.
"The thanks of the bureau are presented to all those
who have assisted in the work of revision, and partic-
ularly to the N. E. L. A. and its accident committee
for its valuable co-operation."
The rules apply to the operation of, and work on or
about, power and signal lines, the electrical equipment
of central stations, substations, private plants, and on
electrical tests and tunnel, subway or similar under-
ground work. The plan and scope of these rules are
discussed by the bureau in part as follows:
"The rules for the employer are subdivided for con-
venience into two groups. The first covers matters re-
lating to the organization, such as the issuance of rules,
diagrams and emergency instructions to employees, de-
termination of the qualifications of employees by suit-
able examinations, and division of responsibility among
employees. The second treats of the portable safe-
guards which the employer should provide, the operat-
ing precautions which he should enforce, and the uni-
form reporting of accidents on which the ultimate analy-
sis and elimination of electrical accident causes must
depend, which latter is so inadequately handled by most
states and companies to-day. The employer is required
to enforce the observance of the safety rules issued to
the employees.
"The general rules for the employees are subdivided
into six groups. The first enumerates those general
precautions the necessity for which seems obvious but
the non-compliance with which is nevertheless responsi-
ble for many injuries. The second presents general
operating rules, defining the duties and relations of
those employees who direct others and the operating
methods by which safety is secured. The third group
prescribes the precautions for handling live parts under
varying conditions of voltage and locations. The fourth
and fifth deal with the procedures for assuring the con-
tinued safety of work about normally live or moving
parts, respectively, by avoiding all possible sources of
misunderstanding when killing such parts. The sixth
group covers in some detail the procedure for making
grounds on equipment or lines for the protection of
workmen.
"Special rules for employees are grouped into sepa-
rate headings, each covering those peculiar to some
special class of electrical work. Each class of worker
is directed to familiarize himself also with the general
rules which apply to all classes of electrical employment.
By this arrangement a more adequate treatment has
been realized without unnecessary repetition.
"While all the rules find application in the larger in-
dustrial or private plants and in moderate-sized utili-
ties, some do not apply (or apply less fully) to the
smaller. It has seemed unwise, however, to attempt to
restrict the scope of the rules to those which are ap-
plicable to all organizations '"' to all classes of electri-
cal work."
The full code of rules will constitute a complete code
of safety rules for electrical practice, except that the
rules for signal-line operation have not been brought
together as compactly as could be desired. This defect
will be remedied in the near future by a fuller treatment
in a separate section of operating rules for signal line-
men working on telephone and telegraph circuits for
public use.
Engineers on New York Constitutional Revision
A committee of engineers representing national and
local professional engineering societies has sent a letter
to the New York State Constitutional Convention, which
is now in session, suggesting that the technical develop-
ments of the period which has intervened since the
present constitution was adopted have introduced into
government large problems in connection with public
works and utilities requiring legislation which should
be based on constitutional provisions.
Among the specific recommendations of the commit-
tee is the following:
"A department of public utilities should be created
to be headed by five commissioners appointed by the
Governor, each to have a ten-year term of office so ar-
ranged that a vacancy will be created every two years.
Commissioners should be eligible for reappointment.
At least two commissioners should be professional en-
gineers in good standing in the profession. Each
appointee should have had experience in connection with
public utilities which would fit him for the duties of
the office. At least two and not more than three com-
missioners should be residents of New York City. This
department should regulate and supervise all common
carriers, all water-supply, irrigation, drainage, gas,
power, lighting, heating, intelligence-transmitting and
other public utility corporations operating within the
limits of New York State, including similar activities
on the part of any other State department or political
subdivision of the State. This department should be
divided into such bureaus as may be essential. Each
engineering bureau should be administered by a chief
engineer selected with sole regard to his peculiar fit-
ness for the office, and he should have power, subject to
the approval of the commissioners, to select and appoint
such division engineers as are essential to the proper
conduct of his office."
The members of the committee are: Messrs. Arthur
S. Tuttle, Henry W. Hodge and Alfred D. Flinn for the
American Society of Civil Engineers; Gano Dunn,
Ralph D. Mershon and William McClellan for the
American Institute of Electrical Engineers; Arthur M.
Greene, Jr., Charles Whiting Baker and E. Gybbon
Spilsbury for the American Society of Mechanical
Engineers; Ralph U. Mershon, Charles W. Leavitt, Jr.,
and Alten S. Miller for the American Institute of Con-
sulting Engineers; Alfred D. Flinn, George W. Tillson
and Ernest P. Goodrich for the Municipal Engineers
of the City of New York, and Nelson P. Lewis, William
W. Brush and Jacob S. Langthorn for the Brooklyn
Engineers' Club.
Mr. Arthur S. Tuttle is chairman of the committee,
Mr. Calvin W. Rice secretary and Mr. E. J. Mehren
assistant secretary. A committee of the American
Institute of Mining Engineers, consisting of Messrs.
W. L. Saunders, Benjamin B. Lawrence and J. Parke
Channing, collaborated in the preparation of the "prin-
ciples" and "recommendations." Individually the mem-
bers of this committee approved them. Pending con-
sideration by the governors of the institute, the com-
mittee is unable to subscribe to them officially.
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 18
Municipal- Utility Problem at Emporia, Kan.
A Central Station Built by Private Capital, Then Owned and Operated by the City,
and Now Leased to a Progressive Syndicate
WHEN municipal and private ownership are men-
tioned in the same sentence every public utility
man within earshot immediately becomes inter-
ested. He listens expectantly, confident that he will
soon hear one or the other plan, together with all its
adherents, roundly denounced. It is the exception
rather than the rule for a speaker or writer touching
on the subject to be anything but radical. It is gen-
erally conceded, therefore, that adherents of these op-
posing principles must be at swords' points, and the
idea of representatives of municipal ownership and
private operation working together in a common cause
may at first be surprising. But a combination of mu-
nicipal and private ownership has been effected in the
electric utility at Emporia, Kan., which, according to
the statements of all concerned after four years' trial,
seems to be proceeding on a satisfactory and profitable
basis. A history of the electric service in that Kansas
community discloses many things of interest.
History of the Emporia Plant
The first electric-light plant built in Emporia was
financed by local business men in 1886. The plant was
owned and operated as a commercial enterprise until
1903, at which time it was purchased by the city. Many
changes had been made in the mechanical plant equip-
ment during the seventeen-year period of private own-
ership, and still further additions and changes were
necessary during the period of municipal ownership
and operation which followed between the years 1903
and 1911. In April, 1911, the boiler room at the sta-
tion contained four hand-fired 150-hp fire-tube boilers
and some pumps of inadequate rating, while in the en-
gine room there were two engine-driven generators
rated at 360 kw and 150 kw respectively.
To the distribution system existing in 1911 about
750 customers were connected. Three hundred and
fifty of these received energy through meters, but the
remaining 400 paid a flat rate and wasted electricity
as they saw fit. The rates for electricity at that time
ranged downward on a sliding scale from a maximum
of 10 cents per kw-hr. The minimum bill was $1 a
month. As is the case with many another enterprise,
the need for extension had grown much more rapidly
than had the funds available for making extensions.
Without bonding the municipality beyond the point con-
sidered practicable the city found itself unable to make
the improvements which, to produce good service, were
demanded. There was at that time no street-railway
system in Emporia, but the people felt that such
transportation was necessary, so foreign capital had
to be solicited.
Leased at 5 per Cent of Appraised Value
In April, 1911, after a board of appraisers had es-
tablished the value of the plant and entire system at
$68,000, it was leased to the utility-operating syndicate
headed by Mr. Albert Emanuel, of Dayton, Ohio. Mr.
M. Dunsworth, superintendent for the municipal enter-
prise, was retained and made secretary and general
manager of the new company. According to the terms
of the contract between the city and the operating com-
pany the rates for electric service are to be the same
as those that prevailed under the municipal regime.
It is provided, however, that at the termination of each
five-year period during the twenty-year life of the lease
there shall be an opportunity of adjusting rates to
meet the wishes of both the city and the Emanuel syndi-
cate. During the life of the lease the operating com-
pany agrees to pay the city 5 per cent annually on the
PIG. 1 1NTKKIOK OK POWER STATION, EMPORIA, KAN.
May 1, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
HOT
appraised value of the original system, $68,000. The
operating company further agrees to make needed plant
improvements and to build a street-* a r system, At the
expiration of the lease, it is agreed, a board of arbitra-
tion shall determine what has lieen the increased value
of the system, or to what extent the city is indebted to
the operating company for capital expendittm
Approximately four years have elapsed since the
electrical contractors in the city, with the result that
the company now has 1550 customer- as against 750
four sears ago. The industrial-motor load connected to
the company's plant has grown from almost nothing to
about 700 hp. A part of this load, 200 hp, is obtained
from the city water-pumping station. Seven blocks of
white-way lighting has been placed in operation on the
main business street. About 800 electric irons have
Hi;. 2 — SPRAY SYSTEM for cooling condensing water
AT EMPORIA PLANT
agreement was signed, and in that time many changes
have been brought about. At the power house two 300-
hp Babcock & Wilcox water-tube boilers, together with
larger feed pumps and forced-draft apparatus, have
been installed. A 500-kw Allis-Chalmers condensing
steam turbine has been added to the generating equip-
ment and a spray-system cooling pond has been put
into service to conserve water. The power-station build-
ing itself has been overhauled and made fireproof by
FIG.
-INEXPENSIVE LIGHTING AND WIRING IN PARK
removing woodwork and adding steel. The walls have
been raised and all interior wiring inclosed in iron con-
duit. The switchboard has been enlarged and rebuilt.
In round figures $70,000 has been spent in rehabilitating
the station.
Meanwhile the new-business department of the com-
pany has been quite successful. Three house-wiring
campaigns have been conducted in co-operation with the
fig. 4-
-CARHOUSE BUILT BY EMPORIA RAILWAY
COMPANY
been sold and distributed as premiums in the house-
wiring campaigns, and the company moved its office to a
new and convenient location.
The street railway promised the city has been built,
5.125 miles of track being now in service. The single-
end pay-as-you-enter cars used are operated by one man.
Each car is equipped with two 40-hp motors taking
.energy from the company's buses through a rotary con-
verter. Four cars, which operate on regular schedule,
pull trailers during the rush season when the towns-
people are visiting the nightly entertainments at the
amusement park constructed and lighted by the utility-
operating company.
Building of the car line encouraged extensive rather
than intensive growth of the resident districts, and
consequently many fine homes have been built and are
being built in the outskirts of the city. Distribution
circuits of the electric-service company have had to
follow the trend of the community and many extensions
have been made. The sum expended in extending the
distribution system is about $18,000. Improvements
have also been made on the original system taken over
in 1911.
Besides making these improvements in the physical
plant equipment, the Emporia Railway & Light Com-
pany has given its patrons good electric service, accord-
ing to the opinions of citizens who have expressed them-
selves. Mr. William Allen White, the author, who is
the editor of the Emporia Gazette, declares that the
people of the city are well satisfied with the present
arrangement, and he, although an advocate of municipal
ownership, acknowledges the wisdom of this practical
solution of the utility problem at Emporia. "When the
first five-year period is finished," says Mr. White, who is
a leader of local public opinion, "it is assured that no
political demagogue will be elected to fill a city office
on false promises of electric-rate reductions. The ad-
justment of rates will be a business proposition handled
without prejudice."
Summing up, the history of the Emporia plant dur-
ing its first five-year period of leased operation — now
nearly completed — shows extensive rehabilitations to its
generating plant, the extension of electric service to
double the former number of customers, the inaugura-
tion of motor service to factories, and the construction
of a street-railwav system.
1108
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 18
American Electrochemical Society Meeting
Atlantic City-Philadelphia Convention Provides an Interesting Program,
and Animated Discussions Are Held
THE twenty-seventh general meeting of the Amer-
ican Electrochemical Society was held in At-
lantic City on April 22 and 23, and concluded
in Philadelphia on Saturday, April 24. The registered
attendance was 130. The meeting was very enjoyable,
the outstanding notable feature of the convention being
the liveliness and extension of the discussions. The
meetings were held in Atlantic City at the Hotel Chal-
fonte and in Philadelphia at the Harrison Laboratories
of Chemistry of the University of Pennsylvania. On
Saturday the society was entertained at lunch by the
university in Houston Hall.
At the annual business meeting on April 22 the elec-
tion of new officers was announced as follows : Mr. Law-
rence Addicks, of Douglas, Ariz., is the new president;
Messrs. L. E. Saunders, J. A. Mathews and L. Kahlen-
berg were elected vice-presidents, and Messrs. L. D.
Vorce, William Acheson Smith and W. H. Walker man-
agers; Mr. P. G. Salom was re-elected treasurer, and
Dr. Joseph W. Richards, of Lehigh University, was re-
elected secretary.
There were two special lectures, both exceedingly in-
teresting and enjoyable. On the evening of Thursday
Prof. W. S. Franklin lectured on mechanical analogies
with electromagnetic phenomena in alternating-current
engineering, pointing out especially the analogy be-
tween inductance in electromagnetic phenomena and
inertia in mechanics and the analogy between a con-
denser and an elastic medium. The explanations were
illustrated by a series of exceedingly clever experiments.
On Saturday afternoon Dr. Edgar F. Smith, provost
of the University of Pennsylvania, delivered an equally
enjoyable lecture on the connection between electro-
chemistry and the University of Pennsylvania. He
spoke of the early work of Robert Have and of his own
and his many co-workers' work on electro-analysis, de-
scribing at the conclusion a new separation of cobalt
and nickel.
Presidential Address
The retiring president, Mr. F. Austin Lidbury, of
Niagara Falls, N. Y., dealt in his presidential address
with "The American Electrochemical Society in Its Ex-
ternal Relations." He discussed the obligation of a
national engineering society to represent its member-
ship, and what it stands for in the larger affairs of
life. As to current tendencies in government the engi-
neer has been worrying for a long time. The intelli-
gence of government of a democracy depends upon the
co-operation of the intelligent elements, and to a large
extent the responsibility rests on those professions
which claim to embody the application of intelligence
to industrial operations. A well-defined portion of this
responsibility rests upon the unusually representative
American Electrochemical Society.
A sin of omission of this, in common with many tech-
nical bodies equally interested in the matter, has been
the inaction in regard to legislation concerning water-
power, and the electrochemical industry is already pay-
ing the penalty in the way of increasing scarcity of
power and rising prices in the Niagara district.
The country is now governed more and more by com-
missions and bureaus. The scientific bureaus of the
government are doing constructive work, and the na-
tional engineering societies should help them by sug-
ons but also by checking any tendency toward un-
necessary or positively objectionable work or publica-
tions.
Co-operation of the American Electrochemical Soci-
ety with other national engineering societies should be
not only willingly given but sought after. In this re-
spect the local sections can do so much that the en-
couragement of local sections is the readiest means of
fostering a healthy internal and external development.
Fibrox
The first formal paper of the convention presented
after the presidential address dealt with a new and very
interesting heat-insulating material called "fibrox," the
author being Dr. E. Weintraub, of the General Electric
Company of Lynn, Mass. This material has chemically
the constitution of silicon oxycarbide, and its most re-
markable feature is its fibrous structure. The diam-
eter of the fibers is of the order of 0.6 micron to 0.3
micron. That is much smaller than the diameter of
thin hair. Fibrox is a soft, resilient fibrous material
and can be cut into plates, sheets and rings which are
self-supporting.
The apparent density of the material, while varying
with the circumstances, is usually between 0.0025 and
0.0030. In other words, it weighs only from about 2.5
grams to 3 grams per liter. As it consists of from
99.5 to 99.9 per cent of air (in the pores) and only
from 0.5 to 0.1 per cent of solid material, it is the very
best heat insulator known, and in view of this it is
very peculiar that it is a relatively good electrical con-
ductor with a conductivity comparable to that of elec-
trolytic solutions.
Samples of fibrox were exhibited, and an extended
discussion followed in which Messrs. Tone, Arthur,
Hitchcock, Franklin, Northrup, Baekeland, Taylor,
Mott, Hering, Richards, Saunders, Frary and Wein-
traub participated.
Thermal Conductivity of Refractories
In a paper on thermal conductivity of refractories
Prof. Boyd Dudley, Jr., of the Pennsylvania State Col-
lege, described a new method for determining the heat
conductivity of refractory brick under furnace condi-
tions resembling those in practice. The measurement
is carried out with a special coke-fired furnace of which
the roof and three walls are permanent and the fourth
wall is built up of the brick to be tested. Temperature
measurements are made at various points in the brick
and by means of a special calorimeter. The rate' of
heat flowing through the wall is measured. The appa-
ratus was applied by the author to detailed tests of first
quality fire-clay brick, silica brick with clay bond, silica
brick with lime bond, and magnesite brick. The re-
sults were given in tables and diagrams.
The paper was discussed at considerable length by
rs. Hering. Richards. Schluederberg, Hitchcock,
Addicks. Chapin. Northrup and Frary.
Reaction Between Graphite and Magnesia
A paper by Profs. 0. I.. Kowalke and I>. S. Grenfell.
of the University of Wisconsin, dealt with the temper-
ature of reaction between Acheson graphite and mag-
nesia. The authors conclude that this reaction com-
mences slowly at about i960 deg. C. and becomes very
violent at temperatures above 2030 deg. C.
The paper was discussed by Messrs. Bennett. North-
May 1, 1916
ELECTRICAL WORLD
1109
rup, Hinckley, FitzGerald, Whitney. Richards, Mutt,
Hitchcock, Frary and Sauml-
Colloidal i In imistry
The first two papers of the Friday morning >•■
of a highly theoretical nature and dealt with sub-
tloidal chemistry, the author of both papers
being Prof, Wilder 1> "f Cornell University.
In the first paper wen the neutralization of
adsorbed ions, and in the second the coagulation of
albumin by electrolytes.
The papers elicited a very lively discussion on the
nature of adsorption and on colloidal chemistry in gen-
eral and its relation to biology and electrochemistry, in
which Messrs. Whitney, Frary, Cox, Lidbury, Franklin,
Mott, Williamson and Taylor participated.
Thermocouples
A paper bj Mr. T. S. Fuller, of the Research Labora-
tory of the General Electric Company, Schenectady,
dealt with the thermo-electromotive force of certain iron
alloys. The available literature on the thermo emf of
metal alloys is rather scarce. The author described
the method of his measurements and gave the results
obtained for iron-nickel, iron-chromium, iron-cobalt,
iron-nickel-chromium and iron-nickel-manganese alloys.
The results were given in tables and diagrams.
The paper was discussed by .Messrs. Fink, Mott, Gil-
lett, Jacob, Whitney, Richards, Hinckley, Ruder and
Fuller.
topper l.i ;uli in '4 and Electrolysis
The last subject on the program of the Friday morn-
ing session was the discussion of the problem of leach-
ing low-grade copper ores with subsequent electrolytic
precipitation of the copper. An extended discussion of
the subject had recently been held at a joint meeting of
the New York sections of the American Electrochemical
Society and the American Institute of Mining Engi-
neers, in which Messrs. L. D. Ricketts, Utley Wedge, E.
A. Cappelen Smith, George D. Van Arsdale, Raymond
F. Bacon, Frederick J. Pope, J. Park Channing and R. C.
Canby had participated, and a summary of this dis-
cussion was presented at Atlantic City by President-
elect Lawrence Addicks, who added some further com-
ments of his own to the subject. Mr. Van Arsdale, Mr.
J. V. X. Dorr and Dr. J. W. Richards also added inter-
esting notes to the discussion of the subject.
Electrolytic Preparation of Magnesium
A paper by Profs. Francis C. Frary and Harry ('.
Berman, of the University of Minnesota, dealt with one
difficulty met with in the electrolysis of molten mag-
nesium potassium chloride. This is the formation after
a time of numerous dark spots which are concluded by
the authors to be magnesium suboxide. The present
investigation shows that this suboxide forms only when
magnesium oxide is present and that high temperature
facilitates its formation. It is necessary to prevent the
formation of magnesium oxide during the preparation
of electrolyte and during the actual electrolysis.
The paper was discussed by Messrs. Lidbury, Rich-
ards, Taylor, Yorce and Bennett.
Calorizinj; Metals
A paper by Mr. W. E. Ruder, of the Research Labora-
tory of the General Electric Company, Schenectady,
N. Y.. described the process of 'Valorizing," which is
intended for the protection of metals at high tempera-
tures and which consists in producing a rich aluminum
alloy upon the surface of the metal to be protected.
The process as used at present consists briefly in pack-
ing the pieces to be protected in a mixture containing
powdered aluminum and heating to various tempera-
tures varying from 700 deg. to 900 deg. C. Perhaps
the most important application of the process is the
treatment of iron to withstand temperatures below
1000 deg. ('. indefinitely. The process is finding con-
siderable application in furnace parts, pyrometer tubes,
annealing boxes, combustion tubes, etc. The process is
also applied to the protection of copper and nickel.
The paper was discussed by Messrs. Addicks, Hinck-
ley, FitzGerald, Mott, Richards and Vorce.
Fixation of Atmospheric Nitrogen
The conclusion of the Friday afternoon session was a
general discussion of the possibilities of the fixation of
atmospheric nitrogen in this country. The subject
matter of two papers recently presented at a joint meet-
ing of the American Institute of Electrical Engineers
and of the New York Section of the American Electro-
chemical Society was first summarized, the first paper,
bj Mr. L. L. Summers, of Chicago, giving a very good
broad review of the whole subject, the second paper,
by Mr. F. S. Washburn, dealing in detail with the cal-
cium-cyanamide process. A "polemical note" was read
by Mr. S. Peacock, who maintained that a commercially
successful process must yield as the first product po-
tassium nitrate or ammonium nitrate or primary am-
monium phosphate, at a factory cost not materially ex-
ceeding 5 cents per pound of combined nitrogen figured
as ammonia.
A very extended discussion followed, in which Mr.
Summers defended the other processes against the
claims of the cyanamide process, and Dr. Baekeland
discussed the commercial situation in Europe and in
this country. Messrs. Bennett, Fink, J. E. Johnson, Jr.,
Franklin, Frary, Whitney, Richards, Hitchcock and
Lidbury participated in the further discussion, which
dealt to a large extent with the future of ammonia pro-
duction from by-product coke ovens and from other
sources. The question as to what determines the price
of ammonia was dealt with at some length.
Joint Meeting with the Illuminating Engineering Society
The Saturday morning session was held jointly with
the Illuminating Engineering Society at the University
of Pennsylvania.
A paper was first presented by Dr. Herbert E. Ives
on "Illuminating Engineering and Ideal Light." The
speaker emphasized that the illuminating engineer
ought to rewrite the specifications for the light-produc-
ing engineer. The ideal light, according to the view-
point of the illuminating engineer, is not a brilliant
point but a surface of low intrinsic brilliancy, perhaps
a surface of a window square.
Dr. Ives pointed out that the vacuum-type tungsten
lamp is 300 times as bright as the brightest object by
day, namely, a white surface in the sun. The nitrogen-
filled tungsten lamp is 1000 times as bright, and it
TOTAL LUMINOUS EFFICIENCY OF VARIOUS LIGHT SOURCES
Luminous Efficiency Total Lumin-
Lifjhi Smiriv of the Radiation, ous Efficiency,
per Cent in-r Cent
(-watt carbon lamp 0.46 0.42
Vacuum tungsten lamp at 1.25 watts
per candle 1.65 1.3
Nltrogen-fllled lamp al 0 70 Watt
candle 2.4
WVlslia.-h niantl.-. O.Tfi per cent
i - la" i ■-' 0.19
Open-flame gas burner 0.19 0.036
S • flow Ha me . . ■• ~-
becomes necessary to employ reflecting and diffusing
media. What is required is a surface source of an in-
trinsic brilliancy of not over 0.001 cp per sq. cm. A
true luminous paint which could be easily excited at
111(1
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 18
will would meet this idea. A low intrinsic brilliancy is
in great demand.
The efficiencies of modern illuminants are surpris-
ingly low. If we figure from coal, 1 per cent is the
best figure obtainable to-day. Light is actually only a
small by-product.
At the conclusion of his lecture Dr. Ives gave the
figures printed on page 1109 of recent measurements
made by him of total luminous efficiency based on 50 cp
per watt as the mechanical equivalent of light.
The paper was discussed by Dr. Hering, Mr. Addicks
and Dr. Ives.
A paper by Mr. \Y. C. Moore, of the National Carbon
Company, on "Chemistry in the Development and Oper-
ation of Flaming-Arc Carbons," which had already been
presented at the joint meeting of the New York sec-
tions of the American Electrochemical Society and the
Illuminating Engineering Society, was discussed by
Messrs. Mott, Barrows, Franklin, Hering, Darrah, Mil-
ler, Fink, Moon and Richards.
A paper was presented by Mr. R. E. Harrington, of the
Edison Lamp Works, Harrison, N. J., on the lighting of
electrolytic tank rooms by means of tungsten lamps.
The author concluded that correct lighting increases
safety and production, two factors of vital importance.
The correct lighting may be secured by the proper selec-
tion of lamps and reflectors, the porcelain enamel re-
flector being given the preference. Of the various
methods of lighting commonly employed, the system of
general illumination is most universally adaptable, al-
though localized general lighting should be used where
tanks are covered by hoods. Considering the question
from a cost standpoint, experience has shown that in
many cases the cost of proper lighting with the modern
lamps is often less than improper lighting with the
older types of lamps.
The paper was discussed by Messrs. Lidbury, Ad-
dicks, Stephens, Barrows, Franklin, Mott, Harrington
and Hogaboom. The question of lighting of plating
rooms brought out a discussion of the best methods of
producing artificial light for the correct matching of
colors.
Joint Meeting with American Electroplaters' Society
The concluding session of Saturday afternoon was
held jointly with the American Electroplaters' Society.
After Dr. E. F. Smith had concluded his interesting
address on electro-analysis, Prof. 0. P. Watts, of the
University of Wisconsin, presented a paper in which
he pointed out that for years the electric current has
been used in plating establishments, not only for the
plating proper but also for the preliminary cleaning.
The author discussed the question whether it was possi-
ble to carry out the cleaning and the plating in the
same bath.
The paper was discussed by Messrs. Frary, Schlueder-
berg, Addicks, Bennett, Hogaboom, Proctor, Benoliel
and Frary.
In a paper on the electrodeposition of lead, Messrs.
Frank C. Mathers and Asa McKinney, of Indiana Uni-
versity, stated that smooth solid lead deposits can be
obtained from lead nitrate solutions containing free
acetic acid, and as additional agent a residue from the
commercial extraction of Curacao aloes in the manu-
facture of aloin.
The paper was discussed by Messrs. Richards, Ban-
croft, Lidbury, Bennett and Miller.
in a paper dealing with electroplating with cobalt,
. Herbert T. Kalmus, C. H. Harper and \V. L.
SavelL, of Queen'i University, described a process for
plating with cobalt which was not only successful in the
laboratory but was equally successful on a commercial
scale.
The paper was discussed by Messrs. Miller, Bennett,
Fink, Watts, Hogaboom, Blum, Chapin, Lidbury,
Lukens, Richards and Fink. It was acknowledged that
cobalt plating has certain distinct advantages over
nickel plating. The color is better, and, above all, the
time of plating can be very much reduced. But the
electroplaters present insisted that before cobalt plating
can become general the price of cobalt must be reduced
materially.
The next meeting of the American Electrochemical
Society will be held in San Francisco on Sept. 16,
17 and 18, 1915, and joint sessions will be arranged
with the American Institute of Mining Engineers and
the American Institute of Electrical Engineers.
Changes in Details of Gas-Filled Lamps
Manufacturers of gas-filled tungsten-filament lamps
for multiple circuits have announced the adoption of a
new standard of construction expected to eliminate very
largely certain defects which developed in the earlier
types of these lamps.
Perhaps the most important change consists of the
adoption of a bulb which incorporates the good features
of both the round and straight-side types used hereto-
fore, together with long narrow necks inclosed by mica
disks, thereby keeping the upper and base portions of
the lamp relatively cool.
The multiple gas-filled lamps now on the market are
of the 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 750 and 1000-watt sizes
in the standard voltage range, 105 volts to 125 volts.
In each case the dimensions of the new standard line of
lamps are the same as, or slightly smaller than, those
used heretofore, and therefore all of the fixtures and
equipment now used with these lamps can be used with-
out change with the lamps of the new bulb designs.
The 300-watt lamp will hereafter be regularly made
with the "Mogul" screw base. The Underwriters have
recommended that the medium-screw socket should not
be used for lamps above 200 watts. This change of
lamp construction will assist in putting the new ruling
into effect. The light center length of the 300-watt
lamp has been made the same as that of the 400-watt
and 500-watt sizes, so that one type of fixtures can be
used with all three sizes. The 750-watt and 1000-watt
lamps also have the same physical dimensions, which
permits one style of fixture to accommodate either.
Perhaps the most important feature in connection
with the new lines of lamps is that lamps of 200 watts
or over are designed to operate only in a vertical posi-
tion, tip downward. This construction permits a mate-
rial improvement in the quality of the lamp over what
it would be possible to attain if a design were to be
attempted which would permit them to be operated in
any position.
One characteristic of the multiple gas-filled lamp of
200 watts and above, as at present constructed, is that
it will operate most satisfactorily in a vertical, tip-
downward position, but satisfactory operation can be
expected of these lamps when removed from the ver-
tical by not more than 26 deg. when used in a tip-down-
ward position. Lamps for tip-upward use are being
built of special design by the manufacturers.
Particular attention is being devoted to the photome-
tering and rating of these lamps by the manufacturers,
who are using as a basis of design data based on
specific luminous output and comparative filament tern
peratures. Whether or not the mean horizontal candl
]»>wer rating now used will prove sufficiently indieativ
of tin- luminous output of such lamps to warrant it:
continued use, or whether the mean spherical basis a
rating will be employed, is still doubtful.
M\i 1, 1916
E LECTRICAL WORLD
Analysis of Unbalanced Three-Phase Systems
Keaition- in < .cnrrator Carrying an I'nbalanced Load Treated M Kquixalent
to Two Balanced Loads
By L. G. Stokvi-
THREE-PHASE generators frequently carry un-
balanced loads. Conditions causing unbalancing
are unequally distributed lamps or other single-
phase apparatus, transformers connected for three-
phase two-phase transformation, short-circuits partial
or complete) on only one or two phases, etc.
Three important effects arise when the currents in
the three phases are unbalanced, namely, i 1 i the termi-
nal voltages of the three phases become unequal in
value and are not 120 deg. apart in phase, (2) a double-
frequency alternating current is induced in the field
circuit, and (3) a triple-frequency voltage is induced
in the armature circuits. This triple-frequency voltage
is due to a magnetic field which rotates at three times
synchronous speed with respect to the armature. The
voltages induced by this field in the three phases are
therefore 120 deg. apart in phase, and this triple-fre-
quency component consequently appears in the line volt-
age as well as in the phase voltage.
It is the purpose of this article to analyze these reac-
tions in detail, and to give a method of predetermining
their quantitative values under any condition of un-
balancing. A connection is also described by means of
which the double-frequency current induced in the field
circuit may be rendered harmless.
Synchronous and Inverse Currents. — The method of
treating an unbalanced three-phase generator herein
described is based upon the principle that the currents
in the three phases of such a generator are identical
both in magnitude and phase relation with the total
currents per phase delivered by two generators con-
nected in parallel and delivering balanced currents but
with the terminals of two phases of one of these gen-
erators reversed. That is, a generator delivering the
three unbalanced currents /,, I. and L (see Fig. 1) is
equivalent to the two generators in parallel in Fig. 2
delivering the same total currents, the currents /, de-
livered by the three phases of generator A being ex-
actly equal and differing in phase by 120 deg. and the
currents /, delivered by generator B likewise being
equal and differing in phase by 120 deg. but with the
sequence of phases in generator B opposite to the se-
quence of phases in generator .4.
The proof of this relation and the determination of
the values of the currents /< and /, and their phase re-
lations in terms of the three currents /,, /. and / is as
follows: Referring to Fig. 1, let /, be the larger and /
the smaller of the three unbalanced currents, and let v
be the angle between /, and /, (taken positive for /
leading /,, and negative when I, lags behind /,). Let
/,,, /„. and /„, be the three balanced components of /,,
/ and / , having the same sequence of phases as /,, /,
and /„ and let /*,, /,, and /, be the three balanced com-
ponents of /,, / and / , having the opposite sequence ol
phases. The currents /„,, /,, and /„ will be designated
as the synchronous components and the currents /,,, /,
and /(, as the inverse components of the three unbal-
anced currents /„ /. and /,. Let a be the angle by which
the synchronous component /„, lags behind /,, and let 0
be the angle by which the inverse component /,, leads /,.
The symbol /„ will be used for the numerical value of
each synchronous component and /, for the numerical
value of each inverse component.
Choosing /, as the reference vector, the symbolic (or
cos y =
(7)
vector i expressions for the several currents are then
/ / • to, (1)
I, = /.(cos y -f- j sin yi,
/ /, (cos a — /sin a i, (3)
/ /,[cos (120— i) |- ; sin (120- •■
7«J = 71(cosP + ;sinP),
/ /([cos (120 — 0) — ;sin (120— 0
The neutral is assumed to be not grounded ; therefore
the vectors representing the three currents /„ /. and /,
form a triangle, as shown in Fig. 3. This fixes the value
of v as
/.•—(/,' + /,')
2/,/=
It is desired to find the values of A, B, * and 0 which
will satisfy the conditions:
I = !« + /,„
/: = /„4 /. .
(,= h h ■
Only two of these conditions are independent, for if
the first two hold the third must also hold, since /, =
— (/,-f- /2). Substituting in the first two of these rela-
tions the values of the quantities given by equations (1)
to (6), and equating the real and j terms, there results
/, = /„ cos a + /j cos 0,
o = — /„ sin a + /,• sin 0,
7scoSf = /»cos (120 — a) -f /(cos (120 — 0),
/,sin y = /, sin (120 — a) — /,■ sin (120 — 0).
These four equations are sufficient to determine the
four unknowns /,, /,, % and 0. These equations are
most conveniently solved by expanding the last two and
substituting for /, cos 0 and h sin 0 their values in
terms of /, /., cos a, and /., sin a as given by the first
two of these equations. This gives
! — 2/,/= c6~s~Ty~+ 1 20 j
1.-^535
i-P
tan a =
2/1/;cos (T — 120)
3
/, + 2/, cos f
tan 0
V3/, 4- 21 sin •/
/, 4- 2/, cos y
(9)
(10)
(11)
12)
\ 3/, — 21 .sin y
An inspection of these four equations shows that the
synchronous component (/„,) of the current /, is equal to
1
== times the vector sum of a vector equal in length to
\ 3
/, but 30 deg. behind /, and a vector equal in length to
/a but 90 deg. ahead of /„ and that the inverse compo-
nent (/,,) of the current /, is equal to — = times the
\ S
vector sum of a vector equal in length to /, but 30 deg.
ahead of /, and a vector equal in length to /, but 90 deg.
behind /.. The synchronous component (/,,) of the
current /, is then 120 deg. ahead of /», and the inverse
component (/,,) of the current /. is 120 deg. behind /,-,.
The synchronous component (/„,) of the current /, is
120 deg. behind /„, and the inverse component (/<,) of
the current /, is 120 deg. ahead of /,,.
When the armature currents are balanced, /, = /. and
1112
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 18
t = 120. Equations (9) to (12) then give Is = /„
/t = o, <t — o, and (5 = o; that is, there is no inverse
current when the load is balanced. When the alternator
is operated single-phase, say with the load connected
across terminals 1 and 3, the current /, is zero, and
/, = /,. Equations (9) to (12) then give /, =
— i, /( = —L, a = 30 deg. and p = 30 deg. ; that is, the
V/3 \3
synchronous and inverse components of the armature
currents are equal and each equal to the single-phase
current divided by \ 3.
Armature Reactions Due to the Synchronous and
Inverse Currents. — The synchronous components /„,,
It, and /„, of the armature currents produce a magnetic
field which rotates at synchronous speed with respect
to the armature in the same direction as the rotating
field produced by the rotating-field structure (station-
ary armature assumed). This magnetic field is there-
fore stationary with respect to the rotor and the field
coils, and the effects produced by it are the same as
the effects of armature reaction were the alternator
delivering balanced currents equal to and in phase with
the synchronous components of the actual currents.
The inverse components /<„ /<„ and hz of the arma-
ture currents produce a magnetic field which rotates
at synchronous speed with respect to the armature, but
in the direction opposite to that of the rotor. There-
fore with reference to the rotor this field is rotating at
the exciting circuit the less will be the resultant mag-
netic field produced by these inverse components. A
condenser shunting the field coils therefore is not only
of advantage in keeping the double-frequency current
out of the external part of the exciting circuit but also
serves as a means of reducing the reactive voltage of
these inverse currents in the armature itself.
In general, any alternating field may be resolved into
two constant rotating fields revolving in opposite di-
rections, each with a speed to, where u> = 2tc times the
frequency of the alternating field. Therefore the alter-
nating field produced by the double-frequency current
in the field coils may be resolved into a constant field
rotating with respect to the rotor at a speed propor-
tional to 2/ (where / is the frequency of the armature
currents) and in the same direction as the rotor, and
an equal constant field rotating with respect to the rotor
at a speed proportional to 2/ in the opposite direction.
Since the rotor is rotating with a speed proportional to
/, it follows that the first field rotates with respect to the
armature at a speed proportional to / + 2/ = 3/, and
the second at a speed of / — 2/ = — / with respect to
the armature. The first field will therefore induce a
voltage of triple frequency in the armature, i.e., will
produce a third harmonic in the armature emf. The
second field being of the same frequency, and practically
in direct opposition to the field produced by the arma-
ture currents, will tend to neutralize the field of the
latter, as pointed out above.
^^
FIGS. 1, 2 AND 3 — EQUIVALENT CIRCUITS AND CURRENTS IN AN UNBALANCED THREE-PHASE SYSTEM
a speed equal to twice synchronous speed and conse-
quently induces in the field coils a voltage of twice the
frequency of the armature current. With respect to
this magnetic field the field coils act like the secondary
of a series transformer of which the primary is the
armature winding, but, owing to the relative motion of
the armature and field circuits, the frequency of the
induced voltage and current is double normal frequency.
As the ratio of field turns to armature turns is us-
ually very large, frequently being as high as fifty to
one, it is evident that the opening of the field circuit of
an alternator delivering an unbalanced load may be ac-
companied by the induction of a high, and possibly de-
structive, voltage in the field coils. Normally, however,
the field Circuit will be closed (through the exciter),
and, therefore, superimposed upon the direct current in
the field coils will be an alternating current of double
frequency. This alternating current in the field coils
may reach a value sufficient to operate the field circuit-
breaker should the unbalancing become great, and this
opening of the field circuit would be accompanied by the
rise in voltage just referred to. To prevent these con-
ditions arising, the field circuit may be shunted by a
condenser of sufficient capacity to give a path of low
impedance to this double- frequency alternating current.
Since the field coils act like the secondary of a cur-
rent r with respect to the magnetic field
produced by the inverse components of the armature
currents, 11 : that the lower the impedance of
Since shunting the field circuit with a condenser tends
to keep down the resultant double-frequency magnetic
field in the rotor, a condenser used in this manner will
also reduce the value of the triple-frequency component
in the armature voltage.
It should be particularly noted that this third har-
monic does not arise from the presence of a third har-
monic in the flux distribution in the air-gap, but from
the double-frequency current produced in the rotor
owing to the unbalancing of the armature currents. As
is well known, a third harmonic clue to the former cause
cannot appear in the line voltage of a three-phase alter-
nator, but a third harmonic due to the latter cause can
and does appear in the line voltage of such an alternator
when the currents are not balanced.
Vector Diagram of the Unbalanced Generator. — Let
E be the no-load voltage per phase (terminal to neutral
point of the Y) for a given field excitation and let £", be
the terminal voltage of phase No. 1 for the same exci-
tation when the alternator is delivering the unbalanced
currents / .. / and /,. The relation between Et and E
may then be written in vector notation:*
•The Indui ed trl| I oduced to I
ble frequencj current Induced In the Held in h i Its
on the root mean square value ol the terminal voltage will
iall, since the general expression for the root-me&n-square
Ing i Fundamental of root-mean-square
value i i and i triple frequency of root-mean-aquaxe value Vt is
V. = V~1 I
For 1 'i UCh I r cant Of 1\, the value of V* Is only OS
per cenl greater than v,.
May 1. 1915
ELECTRIC A I. WORLD
ma
El = E — E.i — E.c—Et—Ei — Er. <13i
The voltage E, which is due to the field current only,
is taken as the reference vector. The meaning and
values of the several reactions E.4, E,c, Et, E, and Er
are given below.
The armature ampere turns due to the synchronous
component of the armature currents may be conve-
"~ I* ~
FIG. 4 — CONSTRUCTION OF VECTOR DIAGRAM
niently resolved into two components, viz., a demag-
netizing component acting in phase with the field
ampere turns and a cross-magnetizing component act-
ing at right angles to the field ampere turns. The
axis of the rotating field due to the synchronous com-
ponents makes an angle (90 — 0»; with the axis of the
field produced by the exciting current in the field coils,
where 0, is the angle by which the synchronous com-
ponent in any phase lags behind the emf E induced by
the field current only. Hence the demagnetizing com-
ponent of the armature ampere turns due to the syn-
chronous components is equivalent to a demagnetizing
field current having the value
lt, = al, cos6,, (14)
where a is a factor of proportionality. The voltage Eti
in equation (13) is the back emf due to the field pro-
duced by these demagnetizing ampere turns. Instead
of determining this voltage directly, it is more conve-
nient to subtract the equivalent demagnetizing field
current //, from the actual field current //, and then
read on the open-circuit characteristics of the alternator
the voltage
E' = E — E,a (15)
corresponding to a field current of
/,' = /, — /,., (16)
The voltage E,c in equation (13) represents the back
emf induced in the phase under consideration by the
field produced by the cross-magnetizing component of
the armature ampere turns due to the synchronous com-
ponents of the armature currents. This back emf is 90
deg. ahead of the induced emf E, and therefore also 90
deg. ahead of the voltage E', equation (15). Its value
is proportional to the component of /, in phase with E,
viz.,
E,c = bl, cos 8„ (17)
where b is a factor of proportionality.
The voltage Ei in equation (13) represents the back
emf due to the leakage reactance of the armature, and
is 90 deg. ahead of the total current /, in the phase
under consideration. Its value may be expressed as
E,=x,It, (18)
where Xi is the leakage reactance per phase.
The voltage Et in equation (13) represents the back
emf induced in the phase under consideration by the
field produced by the inverse components of the arma-'
ture currents. This voltage may, as a first approxi-
mation, be taken as proportional to the inverse current
and 90 deg. ahead of the inverse current in the phase
under consideration. Its value may then be expressed as
El = XtItl (19 1
where xt is a factor of proportionality.
The voltage E, in equation (13) represents the loss
of voltage due to the armature resistance in the phase
under consideration. It is in phase with the total cur-
rent /, and is proportional thereto, viz.,
ET = rla (20)
where r is the armature resistance ( effective value; per
phase.
The vector diagram of equation ( 13) may then be
constructed as follows. Referring to Fig. 4, the curve
OPA is the open-circuit characteristic of the alternator,
plotted with volts to neutral as ordinates against field
current as abscissas. In Fig. 4o the line MV repre-
sents the direction of the emf E due to the field current
only ( i. e., the open-circuit terminal voltage). The cur-
rent in any phase, say phase No. 1, will lag behind this
voltage by an angle 0l( which may be called the "in-
ternal" power-factor angle. The vector MS represents
the current in this phase laid off at the angle 0, behind
the voltage E. The vectors MQ and QS represent the
synchronous and inverse components of /,, and the
angles x and 3 their phase angles, calculated from equa-
tions (9) to (12). The angle 68 is the angle by which
MQ lags behind E.
Lay off OG, in Fig. 4, equal to the given field current
It. Lay off BG equal to Ift, where //, is given by equa-
tion (14). Then BA represents £", equation (15). Lay
off BC equal to E,c, given by equation (17). Lay off
CD equal to Et and 90 deg. ahead of /„ calculating E\
from equation (18). Lay off BE equal to £\ and 90
deg. ahead of U, calculating Ex from equation (19).
Lay off EF in phase with /, and equal to £Y, given by
equation (20). Then FA is the terminal voltage E,
(terminal to neutral), and the angle 9,, between FA
and EF extended, is the power-factor angle of the ex-
ternal load, i. e., the angle by which /, lags behind the
terminal voltage £",.
The above construction is based upon the assumption
FIG. 5 — METHOD OF DETERMINING SHIFT IN PHASE
that the phase angle 0„ and therefore 8„, is known. The
premises usually given are the field current If, the
armature currents /„ I3 and /„ and the power-factor
angles <?„ 9, and 9, of the external load, and the desired
quantities are the three terminal voltages E„ E, and E,.
When the premises are as stated the following con-
struction may be used. Note first that if the line CH
in Fig. 4 is drawn perpendicular to /,, and HK per-
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 18
pendicular to CH, then the angle BCH is equal to 8,.
Therefore,
cos 0, cos 6»
(21)
See equation (17). Also
See equation (14). Whence CH and HK are fixed in
length and direction irrespective of the phase angle 8»,
their lengths depending only on the synchronous com-
ponent /„. Therefore when /,, /, and /, are given,
thereby fixing /„, /,, a and p by equations (9) to (12),
the broken line KHCDEF may be laid off, as well as the
direction of FA (the angle 9, being also given). To
find the length of FA draw this broken line on a piece
of transparent paper and place this diagram over the
open-circuit characteristic in such a position that the
point K lies on the ordinate (extended) corresponding
to the given field current and the line FA intersects the
open-circuit characteristic at such a point A that the
line through H and A is perpendicular to the horizontal
axis OG. The length of FA is then equal to the termi-
nal voltage £■,.
The construction above described for phase No. 1
may also be applied to the other two phases, laying off
the synchronous and inverse components of /, and /, in
their proper directions with respect to /, and /, as given
in Fig. 1.
To show the accuracy of the above-described method
of calculation the accompanying table is given of ob-
served and calculated quantities for a 5-kw, 120-volt,
which the load causes the terminal voltage to shift in
phase.
Ossanna has developed an ingenious method for de-
termining this shift in phase, which is as follows: To
the rotor of the generator for which the angle 6 is to be
determined is coupled a small test generator (Fig. 5),
the stator of which may be revolved through any angle
by means of a worm-wheel. The generator is first run
without load and two of its terminals (I-II) are con-
nected to the pressure coil of a wattmeter, the current
coil of which is connected across two terminals (1-2)
of the test generator. The stator of the test generator
is revolved until the hand of the wattmeter is on zero.
In this condition the emf of the test generator is in
quadrature with the terminal voltage of the main gen-
erator. A balanced non-inductive load is then connected
to the terminals of the latter, and in order to obtain
again zero indication of the wattmeter it will be neces-
sary to shift the stator of the test generator through
an angle equal to the angle through which the terminal
voltage of the generator has shifted, i. e., through the
angle 0. Having found this angle 8, the constant b may
then be found from the construction given in Fig. 4.
This same method may be used for finding 8, when 9,
has any value, for in general the angle FAB is equal
to 6, — 9, (see Fig. 4).
The constant Xi can be found by determining the
effective value of the triple-frequency voltage induced
in the armature when operated single-phase. This
triple-frequency voltage will be proportional to the in-
verse component /,, which in this case has the value
/, = -==. (23)
\3
v^O^s^^^O^^
Oenera ror J 3
FIGS. 6, 7 AND 8 — APPARATUS, CURVES AND ANALYSIS OF OSCILLOGRAPHIC INVESTIGATION
fifty-cycle, three-phase star-connected alternator. The
armature currents were /, = 15.4, /, = 7.4 and /., = 12.4.
DATA ON OBSERVED AND CALCULATED QUANTITIES FOR
STAR-CONNECTED ALTERNATOR
Phasr 1
Phase 2
Phase 3
Quantity
01*. ! Cal.
01*.
Cal.
Obs. Cal.
71 9
71 2
::; B
71 II
76.0
70S
123.0
131 7
133 a
126 7
127.5
Internal power-factor angles* ....
4I°27'
H*«C
48° 10'
48° 58'
in 18
9°50'
•The angles «>. St and h between ii" voltage B and the arma-
Phe I"' i hod ol measuring those
angles is given below.
Determination of the Constant* of the Alternator. —
To apply the above method to calculation it is necessary
to know the constants « , b, Xi, ' . and r of the machine.
The constants a, xt and r are determined in the usual
manner. When these three constants have been de-
termined, the constant ti may lie determined by putting
a balanced non-inductive load on the generator and
measuring the internal power factor angle 8. From
Fig. 4 this angle is equal to the angle FAB when 9, = o
(non-inductive load 1 ; that is '1 is equal to the angle by
This relation follows immediately from equation (10),
for when the alternator is operated single-phase /, = 0.
The triple-frequency voltage may then be written
V3
(24)
The voltage Et — see equation (19) — is developed by
a field of the same magnitude as that which produces
e„ but rotating in the opposite direction. The constant
xt should therefore be equal to k -5- 3, except for the
fact that the eddy currents due to the triple-frequency
flux in the armature are greater than the eddy currents
produced by the normal frequency flux which gives rise
to Et. As a first approximation, however, x, may be
taken to have the value
—4- i25)
The constant k may be determined by means of the
connections shown in Fig. 6. The inductance and ca-
pacity are adjusted to resonance with the triple-fre-
quency. Let i, be the triple-frequency current measured
by an ammeter or other device A in series with the in-
ductance, and let R be the effective resistance, at this
frequency, of the coil and condenser in series. Then
e, = Ri„ and therefore
fc-&4 (26)
Ma> 1, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
1115
In general the current through the device A used to
measure i will contain a small component of fundamen-
tal frequency. By using an oscillograph, however, the
effect of this latter component may be eliminated. Fig.
7 is an oscillogram obtained in this m
Limit Circle for the Third Harmonic. — Referring to
equation i 10 1 it is evident that \, .'!/, is the third side
of a triangle whose other two sides are /, and /., the
angle between these two sides being v — 120 < see Fig.
■••■ that •>, \- the angle by which the smallest of
the three armature currents leads the largest. Since
the triple-frequency voltage induced in the armature is
proportional to /,, it follows that any combination of
unbalanced currents which gives the same value of /,
will give the same triple-frequency voltage in the arma-
ture. Hence, if a circle is drawn with a radius equal to
•;mes that value of /, which gives the maximum
permissible triple-frequency voltage, the limiting values
of It and t for a given value of /, will be such that the
point .V in Fig. 8 lies on this circle. For a given value
of / . the current /. and the angle v may have any value
such that the point .V lies within the circle. When /.
and v are such that M lies without the circle the triple-
frequency voltage will exceed the permissible value.
Method of Calculation to Alter-
irith Grounded Neutral. — When the neutral is
grounded < i. e., when the neutral of the alternator is
connected to the neutral of the load), the three-phase
currents do not form a closed triangle, but instead these
three currents and the neutral current /., form a four-
sided polygon. In vector notation, then
/ / 11=0.
The current in phase No. 3 may, however, be considered
as made up of two components, viz., a component
(,' (/, + /,)
and a component
/," = — !o-
The alternator may then be considered as delivering
two unbalanced loads with ungrounded neutral, viz.,
/„ /: and /,'
and o, o and / ".
The reactions due to each of these loads may be cal-
culated as above described. The resultant reactions
will be the vector sum of these two sets of reactions.
Storage cells inside the case furnish energy to drive
the motor which propels the dog. Each of the selenium
cells behind the eye lenses controls a relay which actu-
ates the motor and one of the two steering magnets
at the rear of the device. Illuminating a cell on one
side starts tin- motor and turns the rear wheel to that
side; illuminating both cells equally causes the mechan-
ism to run straight forward. Thus the action of the
The " Electric Dog" and Possibilities of Torpedo
Control by Beams of Light
The possibility of equipping torpedoes with directive
mechanism which would automatically cause them to be
steered toward — and to follow and sink -battleships or
other hostile vessels from which searchlamps were being
operated has been suggested by the "electric dog" and
other applications of selenium cells sensitive to light
intensity demonstrated by Mr. B. F. Meissner, a stu-
dent of electrical engineering at Purdue University.
Lafayette, Ind., before several recent meetings of elec-
trical men in the West.
By means of a small hand flashlamp directed at the
"dog's" "eyes" i lenses behind which are mounted sele-
nium control cells), the speaker caused the curious box
on wheels to follow him about the stage, turning cor-
ners and avoiding chairs with no other control than
that of the beam of light. By reversing a switch on
the "dog" the mechanism was similarly made to back
away from the source of light. The "dog" in each case
started into motion quickly when the light was thrown
onto its lenses and stopped just as promptly when the
lamp was extinguished or turned away.
-•
^0
^ *m
FIG. 1 — MECHANISM OF THE "DOG," SHOWING SELENIUM
CELLS, BATTERIES. STEERING MAGNETS, ETC.
control mechanism is to keep the two lenses always
equally illuminated and pointed at the source of light —
in whatever direction that source moves. The idea of
the light-controlled "dog," it is explained, was sug-
gested by Mr. John Hays Hammond, Jr., and the mech-
anism shown was worked out by Mr. Meissner. It has
been proposed that torpedoes and submarines be
equipped with directive mechanism of this kind which
would cause them to follow and destroy any battleship
which was using her searchlamps to sweep the seas in
an effort to detect approaching craft. However she
might be maneuvering, such a vessel would have little
chance of escaping her unknown menace, except by ex-
tinguishing her searchlamps. Indeed, in a sea filled
with selenium-controlled torpedoes searchlamps of any
kind would be sources of hazard rather than protection.
Other experiments shown by Mr. Meissner included
the ringing of bells, extinguishing of lamps, firing of
a revolver, etc., by a beam of light from a distant arc.
In closing, the speaker showed the electric "thief
catcher," which is actuated by the light of the sup-
posed burglar's hand lantern. At the slightest illu-
mination of the sensitive cell by the rays from the
FIG. 2 — THE "ELECTRIC DOG" FOLLOWS THE FLASHLAMP IN
ITS MASTER'S HAND
marauder's flashlamp an alarm was sent in and a bell
set ringing, a revolver began firing, and a flashlight
powder was set off, taking the burglar's photograph.
Mr. Meissner has suggested that the directive mechan-
ism employed in the "dog" might be applied to the aim-
ing of the revolver, thus leaving the robber no chance
of escape.
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 18
DIGEST OF ELECTRICAL LITERATURE
Generators, Motors and Transformers
Standardization Rides. — L. Schueler. — The conclu-
sion of his long report on the new standardization rules
of the American Institute of Electrical Engineers, with
a comparison with German standardization rules. The
permissible temperature rise in machines is first dis-
cussed. The table gives a comparison between the per-
missible temperatures in the United States and in Ger-
many. Both the final permissible temperature and the
increase in temperature are given in degrees Centigrade.
PERMISSIBLE TEMPERATURE RISE
Gerhany I'mted States
Final Per-
missible
Tempera-
■ ture. Deg. C.
standard 220-ro/t direci-rurrent ma-
h\nt:
Field coils [impregnated cotton)..
Armature winding (impregnated
cotton)
Armature iron
Commutator (200 amp per brush-
bolder, mica insulation) .......
Bearings
Isirqt 5000-roft ttiTer-phasr motor:
^tator winding (impregnated cot-
ton)
Rotor winding (bar winding with
paper insulation)
^tip-rings (mica insulation)
Uroe 10,000-no/l. three-phasi turbo-
generator:
••later winding (cotton insulation
with wedges in the slots)
Kotor winding (paper insulation)
Air-cooled oil trane/ormer:
Oils
Oil....
Wiurr-tooiei oil trantformer:
'oib
.,1
Final Per-
Increase of missible
Tempera- Tempera-
ture, Deg. C. ture. Deg. C.
Increase of
Tempera-
ture, Deg. C.
As shown in the table, the differences between the per-
missible temperatures are in general small, with the
exception of the oil transformer, for which the German
regulations permit a rather high temperature. On the
other hand, for armature windings insulated with im-
pregnated cotton the American rules permit a tempera-
ture higher by 10 deg. than do the German rules, while
for the rotor windings of large three-phase motors the
American rules permit 90 deg. C. and the German rules
95 deg. C. The high commutator temperature permitted
in the United States would be objected to in Germany.
The rules on traction motors, overload tests, increased
speed, insulation tests, voltage measurement in the per-
foration test, and the determination of efficiency and
voltage drop, are also discussed. — Elek. Zeit., March
18, 1915.
Theory of Transformers. JOHANN LlSSNER, — A
highly mathematical paper developing the fundamental
formulas of the theory of the stationary transformer.
The theory Deg] currents, saturation phe-
nomena and hysteresis, but it is otherwise exact. A
simple circular diagram is developed.- -Elek. u. Maxell.
(Vienna), March 28, L916.
culation o) Transformers. Rogeh Chavanni
A long mathematical article on the calculation of single-
phase and three-phase transformers. The author re-
views the methods of R. I'<>hl and H. Bohle and the
method of Vidmar, compares tin- two methods, and
shows how fo combine then Dec. IK.
L914 published March 26, 1915)
Dimensions of Transformers. — A. R. Low. — Supple-
menting some earlier work in which he developed a
graphical method for determining approximately the
minimum volumes, costs and losses of transformers, the
author presents a more powerful method for determin-
ing directly the "best" dimensions, but one which loses
the advantages of graphical representation. In his for-
mer paper approximate formulas were given for the
dimensions, which involved only multiplication, division
and root extraction. Rigorous solutions are given in
the present paper for the same problems, requiring the
solution of a quintic and a cubic equation. Both meth-
ods offer interesting applications of the theory of maxi-
mum and minimum values of algebraic functions of
several variables. A bibliography is added. — Journ.
Inst, of Elec. Eng. (London), April 1, 1915.
Lamps and Lighting
Nitrogen-Filled Tungsten Lamp for Photo-
Purposes. — W. VOEGE. — The author advocates
of the nitrogen-filled tungsten lamp for photo-
purposes, but states that it must be used at
than normal voltage. Of course, this shortens
but this disadvantage is more than compensated
following advantages. Fig. 1 shows how a
The
graphic
the use
graphic
higher
the life,
by the
Volts
FIG. 1 — CHARACTERISTICS OF NITROGEN-FILLED LAMP AT
INCREASED VOLTAGE
normal 12-volt, 100-cp nitrogen-filled tungsten lamp be-
haves when the emf is varied between 11 volts and 16
volts. The abscissas are volts, and curves are given
for amperes, watts, hefner candle-power, and watts per
candle-power. When the voltage is raised from 12 to
15 — that is, by 25 per cent— the candle-power is raised
from 120 to 245 — that is, by 100 per cent. But, what
is more important for photographic purposes, the great-
est increase in the candle-power is in the blue and violet
parts of the spectrum. To get exact figures the 100-cp
lamp was compared by means of seven color filters in
seven different regions of the spectrum with a standard
comparison lamp of 25 cp and 1.2 watts per candle.
The results are given in Fig. 2. The abscissas are wave
lengths. Three sets of curves are given of 11, 12 and
L6 volts respectively. The straight dotted lines parallel
to the axis of abscissas relate to the comparison lamp,
and the curves are so plotted that the two lamps have
the same candle-power in the dark red. It will be seen
that if the nitrogen-filled lamp at 11 volts and the com-
parison lamp at 110 volts have the same candle-power
in the dark red, the candle-powers in the blue have the
ratio of 28.5 to 21 or 1.35. For L6 volts this ratio is
I l"> to 46.5, or 2.6. It would be unsuitable to use 50-cp
or 100-cp lamps, as they would have a short life if
May 1, 1916
ELECTRICAL WORLD
operated at such increased voltages, but a nitrogen-
filled lamp of 1500 cp with a normal voltage of 78 has
been operated for more than 100 hours at 102 volts,
although the lamp was often connected to and discon-
nected from the circuit. After 100 hours of operation
the globe was not yet too black, and the lamp could have
been used still further, but on account of vibration the
fig. 2-
-COMPARISON OF 100-CP LAMP OPERATED OVER-
VOLTAGE WITH STANDARD LIGHT SOURCE
filament broke, since it had become very brittle. In
practice a life of from forty to fifty hours of operation
may be relied on. This is sufficient since for a photo-
graphic picture an exposition of not more than ten sec-
onds is necessary. For copying blueprints the nitrogen-
filled tungsten lamp is not suitable, but for photographs
it is. If a photographer's studio is wired for 110 volts.
a lamp designed for 85 volts should be used and oper-
ated with a small series resistor. For a 3000-cp lamp
consuming 15 amp the resistance should be from 1.6
ohms to 1.7 ohms. When a photographic picture is to
be taken the series resistor is short-circuited so that
the full emf of 110 volts is now impressed on the lamp.
When the picture has been taken the short-circuit of
the series resistor is broken. — Zeit. f. Beleuckt., March,
1915.
Str(' I Lighting. — Ely. — An account of comparative
tests of different lamps for street lighting carried out
in N'urnberg. Four types of lamps were used — first,
COMPARATIVE TESTS OI LAMPS FOB IHEBI I K5H1 [NO
N i t rogen* ti I
lamps, two ol ■
amps
g so
10 2
17 I
Compressed-gai inoanden • d1
Irirnl.s „'.".
*18 lil
flame-arc lamps consuming 12 amp at 42 volts 10.550
kw, including transformer and induction coil) ; second,
"T. B." carbon arc lamps operated at the same current;
third, fittings containing two nitrogen-filled tungsten
lamps of 600 cp, consuming 620 watt.-; fourth, com-
Welabach lamps with two mantles rated at
750 cp, consuming 750 liters per hour. The measure-
ments of the first three types of lamps were made on
a free square of 960 sq. m area at a height of 1 m
above the ground. The height of the lamps above the
ground was 8 m, the distance between the lamps 40 m.
The results were as shown in the table. The arc lamps
show the lowest specific consumption, which would be
still less for thi For narrow streets
with heavy traffic nitrogen-filled incandescent lamps
are to be recommended because they are smaller units
and need no attendance. Compared with compressed
gas, they have the advantage of smaller cost of installa-
tion and operation — Mitt. Y< reing. Eleh: Werke, No.
158, 1914; abstracted in Elek. u. Match. (Vienna), Feb.
7. 1915.
Installations. Systems and Appliances
Avoiding the No-Load Losses in T rant farmers. — Br.
Thierbach. — Factories usually receive electrical energy
in form of high-tension current. The energy is meas-
ured by a meter in the high-tension line. All trans-
former losses are charged to the factory. It is, there-
fore, in the interest of the factory to have the trans-
former disconnected whenever possible. During the
night and on holidays energy is needed for emergency
cases and perhaps for lighting some rooms. • For this
purpose it is advantageous for the factory to install
small transformers of only 1 kw and 2 kw for use
in the night. The arrangement should be made as
shown in Fig. 3, where 1 is the large transformer which
supplies energy during the day and 2 is the small aux-
iliary night transformer; 3 are the high-tension lines,
4 the low-tension busbars which supply energy to the
factory 10; the meter 9 is installed in the high-tension
line; 5 is the high-tension oil-switch for the large trans-
former; 6 and 7 are switches in the low-tension line.
The switch 7 is necessary since otherwise, even if the
oil-switch 5 would be opened the small transformer 2
would send its current into the large transformer and
energy would be lost as no-load loss. The cost of in-
stallation of the small transformer is negligible com-
pared with the no-load loss of the large transformer
which can be saved. If we assume twelve night hours
each on 300 working days and sixty-five holidays or
Sundays, each of twenty-four hours, the large trans-
former is not needed for 5160 hours during the year.
If the rating of the connections is 600 kw and the
energy is paid for at the rate of 2 cents per kw-hr.,
and if the iron loss is figured as 2 per cent, the no-load
i hi
1
10
II 1
.Y
♦ 1
WMW
«[ttl
'H1
3
FIG. 3 — WIRING ARRANGEMENT FOR AVOIDING IKANS-
FORMER NO-LOAD LOSSES
loss which can be saved amounts to $1,240. Careful
attendance is, however, necessary, and this can be ob-
tained in the simplest way if at the point .4 of the
low-tension line an ordinary service-time meter 8 is
installed which registers or records the hours during
which current passes in the low-tension line from the
large transformer. If the factory does not buy the
1118
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 18
energy at high-tension, it is in the interest of the cen-
tral station to see that the large transformer is regu-
larly disconnected. The station should therefore install
the service-time meter 8 as described and charge to
the consumer for every hour which the service-time
meter records above the normal 3000 factory working
hours a certain sum, say 0.025 cent, for every kilowatt
of transformer rating. The same arrangement may be
used in agricultural plants. — Elek. Zeit., March 18,
1915.
Wires, Wiring and Conduits
Dielectric Properties of Insulating Materials. — Karl
Willy Wagner. — A continuation of his long paper on
his extended experimental investigation of the dielec-
tric properties of various insulating materials. In the
present instalment the author sums up the results ob-
tained with guttapercha, ballata and "guttagentzsch,"
which is an artificial substitute for guttapercha. The
author determines the charging current and discharge
current as functions of the time for various insulating
materials in cables. The cable was charged for 100
or 150 minutes and then short-circuited through a gal-
vanometer and the discharge current determined for
the same length of time. These investigations were
carried out at different temperatures. The results are
given in diagrams. The paper is to be continued. —
Elek. Zeit., March 18, 1915.
Electrophysics and Magnetism
The Relative Losses in Dielectrics in Equivalent Elec-
tric Fields, Steady and Alternating {Root Mean
Square). — G. L. Addenbrooke. — A note on a recent
'British) Physical Society paper. After references to
former work, especially on surface leakage, tables are
given showing an intimate connection between the
losses in steady and alternating fields. It is stated that
the one can be predicted from the other to a first ap-
proximation. Exceptions are mentioned, and it is
shown that there is heterogeneity in these cases.
Curves of the losses from one cycle to forty cycles per
second are given for specimen dielectrics. Above eight
to twelve cycles for both "good" and "poor" dielectrics
these become rising straight lines. The salient fea-
tures lie below about -sixteen cycles. The formula
a -jf bn applies to all dielectrics for frequencies above
about eight cycles, but not for those below. The a
constant is always larger than and bears only a very in-
definite relation to the steady voltage loss. Liquid di-
electrics behave similarly to solid ones, with certain
differences, particularly that for a given resistance the
ratio of the steady to the alternating loss is less than
with solids. There is a great difference in the com-
parative ranges of the losses. For the dielectrics tabu-
lated these vary in a steady field from 1 to 1,300,000,
bill the corresponding alternating losses vary only from
1 to 1100. The difference is principally in the "good"
dielectrics, the alternating losses in which at forty
cycles are vastly larger than these in a steady field,
though they still appear to be connected with them. —
London Electrician, March 26, 1915.
Flu j- mill Magnetizing Current. — A. L. Tackley.—
A mathematical paper giving the mathematical rela-
tionship between flux and magnetizing-current waves
at high flux densities. --Journ. Ixxt. Elec, Fug. I Lon-
don), April 1, 1915.
Electrochemistry and Batteries
Organic Electrochemistry. An account of a sym-
posium of papers before the New York Section of the
American Electrochemical Society on the electrochemical
production of organic compounds. It was introduced
by C. 6, Kink, who emphasized the importance and the
possibilities of the subject. F. A Lidbury discussed
the commercial aspects of organic electrochemistry.
He compared, on the basis of reductions and oxidations
equivalent to a gram molecular weight of hydrogen,
energy costs involved in electrolytic methods, with en-
ergy taken at various figures, with the cost of chemical
reducing and oxidizing materials. He showed that
under most conditions a fair margin apparently exists,
with the exception of the very cheapest reducing mate-
rials, such as iron, in favor of electrochemical methods.
The difference was particularly marked in the case of
oxidation, and the same remark would, of course, apply
to substitutions. He pointed out, however, some diffi-
culties in the industrial development of organic electro-
chemistry in this country. He stated that where there
appears to be a field for the application of electrolytic
methods electrochemists should be employed for inves-
tigation purposes, and that they should be given not
merely a specific problem to work out, but the run of
the whole particular field involved, since electrochemis-
try is not so much a collection of methods as a habit
of thought. H. Hibbert discussed the electrolytic
preparation of organic compounds. He expressed the
belief that a very considerable number of intermediate
products required in the synthetic-dye industry can be
manufactured in this country with satisfactory finan-
cial returns. He also suggested the electrolytic produc-
tion of iodoform and the use of waste dilute nitric acid
for the manufacture of nitro compounds. G. S. Forbes
discussed the electrolysis of aromatic compounds, and
also spoke on typical oxidations, substitutions and re-
ductions. The great number of variables in electroly-
sis, such as electrode material, overvoltage, current
density, catalysis by the electrode or by dissolved sub-
stance, the differing effects of temperature on primary
and secondary reactions, added to the variables signifi-
cant in ordinary organic work, make the situation very
complicated, but in these very complications lies the
possibility of preparing compounds from costly mate-
rials, with greater efficiency and profit than is possible
by the ordinary methods of organic chemistry. It
appears probable that in cases like this the difficulties
and disadvantages of the electrochemical method will
be outweighed, and that electrochemical methods will
prove of the greatest value. — Met. and Chem. Eng'ing,
April, 1915.
Units. Measurements and Instruments
The Variable Resistance to Motion Offered by the
Registering Trains of Electric Supply Meters. — S.
Evershed. — A report to the engineering standards
sub-committee on electrical plant accessories of the
(British) Institution of Electrical Engineers. The
thief conclusions as to pointer dials are that the only
variations to be reckoned with in meters with these
dials are the irregular changes which are common to
all meter trains, no matter what the registering mech-
anism may be. These irregular changes are small, but
at one-tenth load and with a worm drive they may
amount to as much as 1.2 per cent either way in the
case of a meter with a full-load torque as low as 1
grm cm, and perhaps as much as 0.4 per cent with a
spur drive. They are quite haphazard in their occur-
rence, and in those instances in which low-load testing
is affected by them nothing but a prolonged run will
secure a fair average. In this respect there can be no
short cut; time and patience are essential. When a
meter has a creep counter dial of the Harding type the
fall in speed at times when one or more nines are
changing to zero is apt to lead to considerable dis-
crepancies at a low load in the case of all meters which
have a torque-speed product i grm cm X r.p.m.) of
less than 100. The only way to avoid them is to carry
out all low-load tests at times when the first digit
M.w 1. L916
E I. ECT R I C A L Wo R LD
1119
wheel alone is in motion. This condition is fulfill)
long as the first digit wheel is indicating an\ digit
from 1 to 8. Although the decrease in speed which
results from the increase in resistance during the nine-
changing periods may be very large, the resulting
under-registration over a long period of use is unlikely
to amount to as much as 1 per cent. It might well be
allowed for in the initial adjustment of meters. As to
jump counter dials it is said that, provided the jump
device is not fitted on an axle nearer to the rotor than
the tens axle in a 1-kw meter, the units axle in a 10-kw
meter, or the tens axle in a 100-kw meter, the periodic
changes due to the rising and falling of the jumper
weight and counterweight are comparatively small.
They would certainly have to be reckoned with in low-
load tests on meters which have a torque speed of less
than 50, but in any meter of greater power the periodic
change would be masked, more or less, by the irregular
variations which are inherent in the friction of every
kind >f train. With a jump counter which has both
jumper weights and counterweights, the speed rises
above and falls below the normal value twice in each
revolution of the axle on which the jump device is
fitted, and hence there are four epochs in each revolu-
tion at which the variation passes through zero and
the speed is normal. But the moment of a weight
about a horizontal axis varies as the sine of the angle
made with the vertical, and since the mean value of the
sine is 2 - the four epochs of normal speed occur when
the weights make angles of 39.5 deg., 140.5 deg., 219.5
deg. and 320.5 deg. with the vertical. Now the angular
positions of the corresponding digit wheel at times
when the digits 1, 4, 6 and 9 are seen at the center of
the dial opening are respectively 360 deg., 144 deg.,
216 deg. and 324 deg., angles which do not differ mate-
rially from those of the four epochs of normal speed.
Hence if low-load tests are carried out at times when
any one of the digits 1, 4, 6 and 9 is passing by the
center of the dial opening the meter should be running
at the normal speed corresponding with the load. By
carrying out a low-load test in this way comparatively
large periodic variations should not give rise to any
difficulty. — Journ. Inst. Elec. Eng. (London), April 1,
1915.
Estimation of High Temperatures by the Method of
Color Identity. — C. C. PATERSON AND B. P. DUDDING. —
A brief note of a (British) Physical Society paper de-
scribing preliminary experiments in which the temper-
ature of incandescent substances is estimated with a
very fair accuracy by matching their color with that
of incandescent-filament lamps working at appropriate
efficiencies. These have previously been calibrated by
comparison with a "black body" over a large tempera-
ture range. The comparisons are made in the field of a
Lummer-Brodhun photometer, and the method has
given the correct result for the melting point of plati-
num. An account is given of the discussion which fol-
lowed the presentation of the paper. — London Electri-
cian, March 26, 1915.
Inductance Coils. — H. Chireix. — An article giving
formulas for the design of inductance coils in ring form.
The case of a single wound ring is first considered.
This is followed by the case of two or more concentric
rings, and a rule is given for so dimensioning them as
to obtain a very simple formula valid for any number of
concentric rings. This method permits the construc-
tion of simple variable inductance coils. — La Lumiere
Elec, Feb. 20, 1915.
Induction Meter. — A communication by the German
Keichsanstalt admitting a single-phase induction meter
by Ketterer for official calibration. The construction,
method of operation and calibration are described and
illustrated.— Elek. Zeit., Feb. 4, 1915.
Book Reviews
THE Hoy ElECTRN ian. By Alfred P. Morgan. Boston:
Lathrop, Lee & Shepard Companv. 394 pages, illus
Price, $2.
The author has written to instruct boys how to make
and use different types of simple electrical apparatus.
The book is practical and is based on actual experiences.
To the very young student for whom it is intended the
book will teach much of fundamental importance and
will also arouse in him an appreciation of the larger
problems to be encountered later.
Elkmentary Electricity and Magnetism. By Will-
iam S. Franklin and Barry MacNutt. New York :
The Macmillan Company. 174 pages, 153 illus
Price, $1.25.
The preface to this book leads one to expect a treat-
ment very different from that adopted by other writers
of elementary texts, but the reviewer does not find any
striking departures from the usual methods of presen-
tation. The matter is, however, well handled and put
before the reader in a clear and interesting manner.
Very little space is devoted to considerations of a pure-
ly theoretical nature, but the effects produced by elec-
tric currents and potentials are considered and ex-
plained. The illustrations and diagrams are good, and
these, together with the mechanical analogies used in
treating of capacity and inductance, add to the useful-
ness of the book. In each chapter the presentation of
the subject is followed by a collection of problems which
have been carefully selected to emphasize the features
of practical importance. The book should be of great
value as an introduction to more advanced works.
A School Electricity. By C. J. L. Wagstaff. New
York: G. P. Putnam's Sons. 250 pages, 136 illus.
Price, $1.50.
In view of the large number of books dealing with
elementary electricity and magnetism, it is refreshing
to note a somewhat original style and method of pres-
entation in this volume. The author has evidently had
much experience with boys, and he seems to be able to
arrange his matter and explain his points so that the
average boy will be interested in his subject, thus get-
ting hold of the fundamentals with little difficulty.
Practical ideas, such as those of the lines of flux in the
neighborhood of magnets, are emphasized, and the flux
line diagrams are rendered unusually instructive. The
admirable photographs of figures obtained with iron
filings are also of undoubted instructional value. The
ground covered is much the same as in most elementary
texts on electricity, but descriptions of historic experi-
ments involving kites, frogs and cats are omitted. Sub-
jects that are with difficulty illustrated by classroom ex-
periments are also omitted, and no reference will be
found to X-rays, telephones and electric waves. The
book is well worth the attention of all those commenc-
ing the study of electricity, and also of those teachers
who are looking for new ideas in regard to the best
methods of presentation.
Sanitary Refrigeration and Ice Making. By J. J.
Cosgrove. Pittsburgh: Standard Sanitary Manu-
facturing Company. 340 pages, 103 illus. Price,
$3.50.
Although prepared doubtless as a handbook on prac-
tical refrigeration topics, this volume will serve ad-
mirably to introduce to the technique of ice-making
any central-station man who has ambitions to install
1120
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 18
a by-product ice plant or who wishes to develop a re-
frigerating load among his customers. Beginning with
the elementary physics of the problem, the reader is
first shown how to make simple theoretical calculations
and is then led into practical discussions of the com-
pression and absorption systems, the properties of am-
monia and sulphur dioxide, the design of ammonia
piping, expansion coils, condensers, brine circulation
systems, etc. Useful chapters are those relating to
methods of insulating pipes and cold-storage chambers.
The work is brought up to date with a description of
the Audiffren portable machine. Practical advice to
the novice is embodied in the chapter on "erecting,
charging and testing" a refrigerating plant, and on
the care and operation of such a plant. The numerous
tables and well-drawn sketches add much to the value
of the volume.
Annuaire POUR l'An 1915. Publie par le Bureau des
Longitudes. Paris: Gauthier-Villars et Cie. 900
pages, illus. Price, 1.50f.
This annual publication of the French astronomical
bureau contains tables of physical constants, astronomi-
cal occurrences and documentary information relative to
metrology, geography and meteorology. Appended to
the technical section is a paper on a method of testing
mirrors and lenses from the pen of M. G. Bigourdan,
the well-known astronomer. This little treatise, for
such it is, covers 173 closely printed pages, with 78
diagrams and illustrations. Besides general informa-
tion on the testing of telescope objectives, the paper
contains brief discussions of many matters specially
interesting to workers in optical laboratories.
Books Received
Travaux du Laboratoire Central d'Electricite. Paris:
Gauthier-Villars et Cie. 424 pages, 55 illus. and 26
plates.
The Electron Theory of Matter. By 0. W. Richardson.
New York: G. P. Putnam's Sons. 612 pages, 58 illus.
Price, $4.50.
Die Elektrische Kraftiibertragung. By Paul Kohn.
Leipzig, Germany: B. G. Teubner. 122 pages, 137 illus.
Price, 1.25 marks.
The Law of Electricity. By Arthur F. Curtis. Al-
bany, New York: Matthew Bender & Company. 1034
pages. Price, $7.50.
Heat Engineering. By Arthur M. Greene, Jr., New
York: McGraw-Hill Book Company, Inc. 464 pages,
198 illus. Price, $4.
Jahrbuch der Elektrotechnik. Compiled by Dr. Karl
Strecker. Munich, Germany: R. Oldenbourg. 250
pages, 35 illus. Price, 10 marks.
Schopfungen der Ingenieurtechnik der Neuzeit. By
Max Geitel. Leipzig, Germany: B. G. Teubner. 106
pages, 32 illus. Price, 1.25 marks.
Public Utilities: Their Fair Present Value and
Return. By Hammond V. Hayes. New York: D. Van
Nostrand Company. 208 pages. Price, $2.
Handbuch der Elektrizitat und des Magnetismus. In
five volumes. Vol. II. Edited by Dr. L. Graetz. 135
pages, 33 illus. Price, 5.40 marks for the five volumes.
Deutscher Kalender fiir Elektrotechniker. In two
parts. Munich, Germany: R. Oldenbourg. Part I, 656
pages, 221 illus. Part II, B66 panes. 161 illus. Price,
4 marks.
Official Report of the Second National Foreign Trade
Convention. Held at the Planters' Hotel. St. Louis, Mo.,
Jan. 21 and 22, 1915. Issued by the secretary of the
National Foreign Trade Convention; headquarters. 64
street. New York. 284 pages Price, $1.50.
RECENT TELEPHONE PATENTS
Switching Apparatus
Most automatic connecting switches are operated by
magnets through the medium of ratchets and pawls. In
the system patented by Mr. F. R. McBerty and assigned
to the Western Electric Company the switches are
operated by a revolving shaft driven by a motor. The
advantage ascribed to this method of operation is the
saving in energy. An electromagnet closes the motor
circuit when the call is sent in and maintains it in opera-
tion until the connection is completed.
Another patent granted to the same inventor relates
to the detailed construction of the contact banks for
selector switches. The contact banks are made up of
cylindrical segments of molded insulation containing
end clips which engage with a frame when the curved
strips are laid on top of each other to form a cylindrical
wall or contact bank. Each insulating strip contains a
single row of perforations designed to receive the
contacts.
Two other patents granted to Mr. McBerty also re-
late to selector switches. In these there is a central
operating shaft having rotary motion only. Attached
to the shaft are brushes for each horizontal row of bank
contacts. The brushes which are normally withheld
from contact with the bank lips are made to engage
therewith by trips mounted spirally around an auxiliary
shaft. The position of the auxiliary shaft determines
which set of brushes will be tripped. The first elec-
trical impulse sent to the switch selects the proper trips,
thus determining the vertical co-ordinate of the contact,
and the second operation is to rotate the main shaft,
thereby bringing the brush in contact with the proper
bank lips. The switch is restored to its normal posi-
tion by rotating the main shaft until a roller strikes
the brushes and lifts them. The main and auxiliary
shafts are rotated from a main-drive shaft by electric
clutches. In a modification of this system the trips are
arranged as teeth upon a slanting bar instead of upon
a shaft.
Auxiliary Uses for the Telephone
Mr. J. H. Reineke, of Bochum, Germany, has patented
a system of communicating between mine cages and
telephone stations on the ground by inductive action.
A loop conductor is suspended between the cages, and
currents are induced therein by a coil associated with
the stationary instruments on the ground.
Mr. M. J. Carney, of Chicago, has patented a system
by means of which fire and burglar alarm and telephone
communications can be conducted over the same wire
simultaneously. Separate energy sources are used for
each class of signaling, however.
Mr. H. O. Rugh is the inventor of a step-by-step call
box for sending a definite number of impulses in any
order desired. The apparatus has been designed to pre-
vent false impulses being sent during the process of
setting.
Telephone Attachments
Mr. A. R. Langdon, of Hartford, Conn., has devised a
cut-out for transmitters which may be attached to the
neck of a desk stand by means of a spring clamp. The
cut-out consists of an insulating box containing a push-
button for opening the transmitter circuit when listen-
ing, thereby excluding disturbances caused by local
vibrations.
Messrs. R. B. Adams, L. Adams, Charles H. Wells
and H. ('<. Payne, of Westerville, Ohio, have jointly in-
vented a disinfecting device which may be attached to
any transmitter. A pneumatic bulb is employed to-
force the disinfecting liquid from the receptacle through
a nozzle into the mouthpiece.
Mai 1. 1916
ELECTRICAL WORLD
liui
POWER AND OPERATING SECTION
Magnetized .Metal Wall Cause of Meter Trouble
Magneti. a corrugated- inm wall on which
a 10-amp watt-hour meter had been mounted by the
St. Paul Gas Light Company caused an appreciable in-
accuracy in the registration of the meter. Having dis-
red that the registrations were incorrect, the meter
nun had considerable difficulty in locating the cause
of the trouble until Mr. A. G. Munson, of the company's
meter department, suggested exploring the iron wall
with a pocket compass. By this means the spots were
located, and to remedy the trouble the meter had to be
moved. Tests were also made to prove that the corru-
gated iron was not carrying currents to earth.
Since this case of magnetization trouble has been
cleared up, it has been found that the same difficulty is
sometimes encountered when meters are set in partly
closed steel boxes. .Meters set in closed steel boxes are
not affected by permanent magnetism which may exist
in the metal because the closed box offers a complete
iron magnetic circuit of less reluctance than the air
path so that th° lines of force pass around and not
through the meter.
Expansion Loops in 14-in. Steam Header
Temperature changes that occur in the 135-ft. main
steam header of the new Cleveland ( Ohio) municipal
lighting plant are provided for without the use of ex-
pansion joints by the multiple loop shown in Fig. 1,
which is installed midway of the header. The four 6-in.
FIG. 1 — EXPANSION LOOPS IN MAIN STEAM HEADER
expansion loops rise from corresponding manifolds at
the ends of the header pipe. Each half of the header
is firmly anchored at its midpoint (Fig. 2) so that the
greatest expansion movement is limited to one-quarter
of the header. The weight of the ends is borne by roller
mountings, one of which is shown at the left of the
illustration. All pipes are thoroughly lagged, and ad-
vantage has been taken of the inverted-U loops to
arrange a doorway in the basement wall.
The header can be cut into three sections by Hopkin-
son-Ferranti valves, which have total openings only
half the diameter of the pipe served. Conical approach
fig. 2-
-BRANCH STEAM HEADERS AND SPECIAL VALVES IN
MAIN HEADER
passages raise the steam velocity through the restricted
openings and reduce it again on the output side, so that
no appreciable drop in pressure occurs across the valves.
All branch headers drain into this main header, which
has pipe walls 0.625 in. thick. Fittings are avoided in
general by making long bends at turns, and the sections
have welded flanges.
Disposition of Refuse from a Motor-Driven Wood-
Working Plant
The Rood Box Company at Columbus, Ohio, makes
boxes of soft air-dried wood in a factory driven by
motors using central-station service. An idea of the
size of the plant can be gained from the fact that the
aggregate rating of the motors used is 200 hp and the
average monthly energy consumption is 8500 kw-hr.
To dispose of the by-products, sawdust, shavings and
wood trimmings, at a price which makes it uneconom-
ical to burn them under the boilers of an isolated plant,
several ingenious arrangements have been worked out.
Part of the shavings and all of the wood trimmings are
1 ai rued under a boiler which supplies steam to dry
kilns. This plant uses no kiln-dried lumber itself but
dries lumber for other concerns, charging $4 per 1000
ft. of lumber dried. About fifteen days are required
tor drying.
The excess shavings and sawdust are passed through
a conical screen placed directly under a "cyclone" sepa-
rator. The shavings and sawdust have a whirling mo-
tion imparted to them as they pass through this screen,
so that the sawdust is forced through the mesh and the
clean shavings drop down into a separate storage bin.
The shavings are made up into bales of 80 lb. each.
1122
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 18
and the sawdust is sold by the wagonload. The income
from this sale of refuse amounts to $200 per month.
About one-third of this amount comes from the sale of
sawdust and the remainder from the sale of shavings.
It costs about 3 cents per bale to bale shavings, and
they are sold at from 22.5 cents to 25 cents per bale.
Breweries use a large percentage of the shavings for
packing bottled beer in the winter time to prevent freez-
ing. The sawdust, which sells for $2.50 per wagonload,
is used by paint manufacturers for packing, by refrig-
erator makers for insulation, and by stablemen for
bedding horses. Information regarding the operation
of this plant was given before the Dayton meeting of
the commercial men of the Ohio Electric Light Associa-
tion by Mr. J. R. McCoy, of the sales department of the
Columbus (Ohio) Railway & Light Company.
X-Ray to Locate Cause of Brush Troubles
In electrical machines with cast frames blow-holes
may be present and may be large enough to increase
greatly the reluctance of a section of the magnetic cir-
BLOW-HOLES REDUCE CROSS-SECTION OF MAGNETIC
CIRCUIT
cuit. The reluctance being higher in one section of the
circuit than in others will cause a lower voltage to be
developed in a corresponding section of the armature,
and local circulating currents will result. The blow-
holes being concealed, it has often been found quite dif-
ficult to determine definitely whether or not they are
the real cause of the trouble. According to Mr. E. H.
Marti ndale, of the National Carbon Company, Cleve-
land, Ohio, steps are now being taken to use X-ray
machines to search for blow-holes in machine castings
whenever it is suspected that high reluctance in the
magnetic circuit is causing brush trouble.
Causes of Joint Failure Pointed Out to Splicers
All employees in the splicing division of the under-
ground department of the United Electric Light &
Power Company, New York City, are instructed period-
ically in the proper method of making joints in high-
voltage and low-voltage cables. A school for this pur-
pose has been established in the company's 187th Street
substation. The instructor in charge, an experienced
cable splicer, is particularly well acquainted with the
practical difficulties which are experienced in jointing
•cables in cramped quarters. Splicers with their helpers,
including even those who have been with the company
i long time, are required to report for periodic
instructions <>n methods of jointing and insulating con-
ductors as prescribed i>v the engineering department
of the company,
Before new employee! are assigned as helpers in
the splicing division they arc instructed in removing
lend sheathing and insulation, tinning bare conductors
and sweating copper connectors thereto, insulating
joints with tape and impregnating them with com-
pound, arranging the mica tubes, dressing down and
wiping lead sleeves, and filling the latter with insulat-
ing compound. Following this, the student is allowed
to make a joint with the instructor looking on. If any
errors are observed during the operations, the student
is advised of his mistake and shown how to correct it.
After the joint is completed it is cut open for examina-
tion. Many times the final inspections indicate methods
of improving joints.
It has been found that if conductors are not prop-
erly aligned insulating compound on one side of the
lead sleeve will be exceedingly thin, while on the oppo-
site side it will be unnecessarily thick. Joints con-
structed in this manner and subjected to a high-voltage
test will usually show a low break-down value owing to
the thin insulation. To prevent such construction lead
sleeves of larger diameter have to be employed usually,
and the conductors must be carefully aligned.
Students almost invariably fail to remove the small
needle points of solder which collect on copper conduc-
tors during sweating. As these projections offer excel-
lent points for static discharge, they may eventually
cause the insulation to break down. If all sharp edges
and points are removed from the joint, however, before
insulating with tape, this trouble will be prevented.
Entrapped air is one of the most frequent causes of
joints having low break-down values. In a number of
joints that failed it was found that the break-down oc-
curred at the ends of copper connectors where air was
pocketed by tape covering the space between the con-
nectors and the conductor insulation. If these gaps had
been properly filled with insulating compound, the fault
would probably not have occurred. Another fault which
has been observed is that energy leaked from the copper
INSTRUCTING MEN IN MAKING JOINTS
connector along the paper insulation of the conductors
following a zigzag path from layer to layer and te:
minating at the lead sheathing.
To remove air which may penetrate the paper insu
lation and collect between the layers of tape and alsi
in the compound poured inside the lead sleeve, the
I'nited Electric Light & Power Company is developing
»
May 1. 1916
E LECTRICAL WuRLD
apparatus for producing a vacuum around the joint
while compound is being poured. According to reports
from the company, the preliminary training given em-
ployeea of the splicing division b dera-
bly in the prevention of faults on the system d
defective joints.
ksbestos Lining for Industrial-Railway Coal and
Ash ( !ara
One-half of the wooden-bodied cars used in the in-
dustrial-railway coal and ash handling system of a
southern Indiana power-house are lined with asbestos
board and sheet iron. The lined cars are used prin-
cipally for hauling ashes, because sometimes ash
handlers do not carefully extinguish all of the live
coals and it was discovered that much of the wear of
the wooden car bodies was due to burning and char-
ring. Now, however, with the asbestos board between
the wood and the sheet-iron lining, the life of a < ar
body is found to be increased several-fold.
Preventing Recurrence of Accidents
Frequently it happens that the occurrence of an acci-
dent calls attention to the lack of protection which had
hitherto been considered unnecessary. Such was the
case in one of the stations of the Edison Electric Illu-
minating Company of Brooklyn, where a flywheel at-
tached to the shaft with a flush pin was allowed to ro-
tate without protection. One day the station operator
brushed past the end of the shaft and his coat was
caught by the slightly projecting pin, throwing him
forcibly to the floor. Although the man was not in-
KLYWHKKL INCLOSED IN CAGE
jured, the accident showed what might have happened,
so all flywheels have been completely inclosed with a
wire network, as shown in the accompanying illustra-
tion. All central-station operators might advantageous-
ly follow the example by inclosing the flywheels in their
stations before the occurrence of a serious accident com-
pels them to do so.
Dispensing with the Unsightly Copper Oil Can
Cylinder lubricators on the engine-driven auxil:
in the combination lighting and railway power plant
of the Terre Haute. Indianapolis & Eastern Traction
Company at Terre Haute, fad., are all fed from a cen-
tral oiling system. There are in the station seventeen
duplex pumps, three single-acting pumps, four dry-
vacuum pumps and four circulating pumps. On none
of these units does the visitor to the station see a
cylinder-oil can. Instead, however, he will observe
small neatly installed pipe lines leading from an oil
header to each cylinder lubricator or sight-feed oil
dropper. Tracing the oil header back to its origin,
there will be found a home-made 5-gal. steel tank
I Graphite intake
Steam L ine at Boiler Pressure
Pet Cock Vent
|: Steel Cap f Threads
Suction line of Boiler Feed Pump
APPARATUS FOR FEEDING GRAPHITE TO AUXILIARIES
which, at all times except when it is being filled, is
kept under 110 lb. pressure by live steam. The ar-
rangement of the piping at the tank is shown in the
accompanying sketch. Mr. H. E. Smith, chief engi-
neer at the plant, designed the oil system to reduce
the waste of oil and the inconvenience of filling such
a large number of lubricators. According to his state-
ment, the apparatus has not only proved entirely suc-
cessful from the standpoints of economy and conve-
nience, but has aided greatly in keeping the station
auxiliaries "looking spick and span."
Locating Overloaded Sections in a Central-Heating
System
By H. A. Woodworth
One of the perplexing difficulties which confront the
heating engineer of a hot-water central station is that
of determining just which sections of his heating mains
are most in need of renewal. To maintain uniformly
good service it is necessary for the engineer to dis-
cover the location of the "weak points" or the over-
loaded sections of his piping system, if such places
exist, and then to renew and increase the size of the
mains and laterals to relieve such inefficient operating
conditions.
Engineers of the Merchants' Heat & Light Company
at Indianapolis, Ind., have been, during the last heat-
ing season, engaged in making an extended series of
tests to determine whether or not any part of the
hot-water heating system in that city needed rehabili-
tation. The procedure of the tests was as follows:
While constant pressure was maintained on the sys-
tem observers equipped with stop-watches and ther-
1124
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 18
mometers were stationed at the plant, at the end of
the main trunk lines about 800 ft. from the plant, and
at the ends of laterals about 3000 ft. from the trunk
line. With these watchers in readiness fires under the
circulating boilers were all dropped simultaneously at
a prearranged time. Immediately afterward the fires
were replaced and forced skilfully to bring the water
temperature back to normal. The observers at various
points on the system, by taking simultaneous time and
temperature readings, noted the fall in temperature as
the cooler water passed their respective stations and
also noted the time interval that elapsed before the
temperature was restored to normal again. With the
distance between the stations known it required but a
few simple calculations to obtain the speed of the
water in the mains and the line losses in degrees
Fahrenheit occurring between the power plant and the
point of reading.
Curves to Indicate Line Losses
Plotting time as ordinates and temperature as
abscissas from the data obtained, a curve was produced
in which the passage of the cooler water was clearly
shown by a dip in an otherwise comparatively straight
line. Near the station the readings showed the dip to
be very pronounced, but further out on the system it
became more shallow. The difference in the depths of
these dips gave an indication of the line losses on the
mains and laterals, while the velocity of the water was
taken as the most definite indication of the loaded
condition of the piping, high velocity indicating heavy
loading and low velocity light loading. Considering
velocities of 4 ft. per second in mains and 3 ft. per
second in laterals as the maxima allowable, test data
which have just been compiled show conclusively that
almost the entire system is in good operating condi-
tion, although the lines were laid fourteen years ago
and, according to some theories of depreciation, should
now be ready for replacement.
In connection with these tests, readings were also
taken on all lines to determine the difference between
the flow pressure and the return pressure. In consid-
ering future loading of the lines this pressure data
will also be of value as it is considered inadvisable to
add customers to a line which has a differential pres-
sure of less than 1 lb. per square inch.
Direct-Current Hoist Equipment in Industrial
Plants
Control of direct-current hoists in industrial plants
and steel mills was one of the principal topics of dis-
cussion before the recent Pittsburgh industrial-power
meeting of the American Institute of Electrical Engi-
neers.
.Messrs. G. E. Stoltz and W. O. Lunn, in a paper on
"Control 01 Direct-Current Hoists in Iron and Steel
Mills." confined their discussion to a typical example
of a skip hoist. The load is divided into three parts.
namely: Friction, inertia of the moving parts, and
111 work in hoisting the net load. The normal
operation of the hoist described is hoisting first two
loads of coke, net weight 8000 lb, each; thru two loads
of limestone, :'>0(l(i lb each; two more loads of coke
and Anally four loads of ore, 6000 lb. each. The num-
■ accelerating points required will be determined
by the maximum current peaks possible, six switches
lly giving satisfactory results on hoists of this
character with motors of 100 lip to 200 b|>. Set
r all but the last ac-
celerating notch, which should be a shunt switch
or its equivalent. The operation of the hoist men-
tioned was described in detail in the paper, and a num-
ber of illustrations were printed.
Choice of a Controller
In his paper on "Direct-Current Control for Hoist-
ing Equipment in Industrial Plants," Mr. W. T. Snyder
pointed out that in making the selections of a con-
troller for a particular application all conditions must
be considered, such as the type of operator, con-
ditions under which motor will be installed, operated
and maintained, the relative importance of such fac-
tors as reliability, simplicity, cost of repairs and
maintenance, and initial cost, adding that the order
of importance of these items will be different for
different applications. For applications like blast-
furnace skip hoists reliability and continuity of oper-
ation are of first importance, while initial cost should
be a last consideration. Under conditions similar to
those in high-speed coal hoists where an ordinary
delay does not affect plant operation and where the
operator can also take care of all ordinary repairs
and maintenance of the electrical equipment the ques-
tion of simplicity, repairs and maintenance, and ini-
tial cost, should receive most consideration. Applica-
tions similar to the slow-speed ash hoist which is
operated by unskilled labor require that the controller
perform its functions positively and accurately and
have all protective features necessary to avoid dam-
age to the apparatus it controls. Where the con-
troller is designed for automatic acceleration, to pro-
vide against accelerating switches failing to close and
leaving part of resistance in circuit, and on manually
operated controllers where the accelerating period
represents 10 per cent or more of the complete oper-
ating cycle, the resistor should have a carrying capac-
ity equal to that of its motor with a maximum tem-
perature rise of 50 deg. C. Protective resistance in
series with magnetic switches is a possible source
of trouble which should, when practicable, be avoided.
Generally speaking, manually operated controllers
for service above 25-hp rating should not be used on
hoisting equipment.
Discussion
Mr. H. D. James stated that the theoretical calcu-
lations in connection with the arcing of electric
switches are difficult, owing to the many elements
which enter into the problem, yet this arcing is the
most important factor that has to do with the main-
tenance of the electric contactor. The objection to
an oil-break switch lies in the inaccessibility of the
parts submerged in oil.
Mr. W. C. Kennedy said that the most essential
thing in blast-furnace operation is continuity of
service.
Mr. E. H. Martindale stated that the manufacturers
have found cast iron to be the best available material
for grids, and mica to be the best substance for insu-
lation.
Mr. .1. W. Welsh suggested that the multiplicity of
automatic and protective devices now in use may make
it necessary to supplement these by something more
simple with the purpose of insuring their satisfactory
operation.
Mi-. <'. A. Hauler observed that a Belectivi
controller is no improvement on a two-point series
switch controller for bridge travel.
Mr. Francis J. Burd spoke of the limit switches
as being a very important part of the equipment. He
believed that the limit switches, which should be
positively connected mechanically to the winding
drum and contacts, ought to be made double-pole and
should be of the air-break type.
May i. 1816
ELECTRICAL WORLD
1125
COMMERCIAL SECTION
"HOME ELECTRICAL" AT SAN FRANCISCO
attractive Dwelling at Kxpusition Scr\«-s as SetlinR for
Ceeaplete Operative BxhiUl of Domestic Electrical
Devicea ami EquipsMal
One of the most carefully planned and attractive ex-
hibits at the Panama-Pacific International Exposition
at San Francisco is the "Home Electrical" in the Manu-
facturers' Building. In this model dwelling electricity
is made to cook, wash, launder, sweep, dust and per-
form countless other domestic duties, as well as heat,
light, and even cool the house.
In no sense a mere exhibition "stunt" for demon-
strating the possibilities of unrelated electrical equip-
ment, the "Home Electrical" is, on the contrary, in
FIG. 1 — THE MODEL HOME WHICH SHOWS EXPOSITION
VISITORS HOW ELECTRICITY CAN LIGHTEN THE HOUSE-
WIFE'S LABORS
every way a practical modern home ; hence, not a single
electrical convenience is shown which would not be
entirely suitable for the average family and well within
the means of a man of moderate income.
The structure is of simple Spanish-California mis-
sion-bungalow design, and inexpensive in cost. Its
exterior is of gray stucco, with a long columned por-
tico on two sides, and the roof is of red tile. The
interior includes a large living-room, a dining-room
with a breakfast alcove, a bedroom, nursery, sewing-
FIi;. li Mil "ELECTRIC LOGS" |\ the living ROOM, and
A GLIMPSE OK THE ELECTRICAL DINNER WAITING FOR
SOMEONE TO TURN THE SWITCH
room, bath, kitchen, refrigerator room and laundry. In
addition, there is also an electric garage, a workshop
and a small creamery.
An electric piano player is the attraction in the liv-
Ing room, where deep armchairs are comfortably placed
in front of the electrical "fireplace." The lighting here
is furnished by tungsten lamps in semi-indirect fix-
tures.
*3R1
a» , ^m
J
F
1
FIG. 3-
-N0 ELECTRICAL CONVENIENCE IS LACKING IN THIS
ATTRACTIVE BEDROOM
Adjoining is the dining-room with its dainty tinted
shades. The table is set, and on it are cooking devices
ready for the preparation of a light lunch, although,
if desired, a very substantial meal can be cooked on
the dining-room table. To the right, behind a wooden
screen and alongside the French windows which open
to a little vine-covered patio, is the "breakfast nook,"
also equipped for table cooking.
Leading to the kitchen is the butler's pantry, which
is equipped with a warming closet for keeping the food
jm
*
B
Pr**j "*?S
fls^BSar — nflPJ
r£.Ai
B^*~"a~"~i
FIG. 4 — AMID SURROUNDINGS LIKE THESE EVEN DYSPEP-
TICS YEARN FOR BREAKFAST
hot between courses, a dishwasher, a disk stove for
making dressing and sauces, and a small electrically
driven buffer for the silver.
In the kitchen electricity finds its greatest field of
usefulness. An electric range, equipped with hot-
plates, broiler and ovens, is ready to cook the largest
family dinner. A constant supply of hot water is as-
sured by an electric heater attached to the usual kitchen
water lank. Odors of cooking are removed by the com-
bination of an ozonator and an exhaust fan. The elec-
1126
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 18-
trically cooled refrigerator, the electrically driven ice-
cream freezer, and, finally, the inter-house telephone
service, are special features which combine to excite
the envy of the fair visitor.
The bedroom is equipped with all those small devices
so dear to a woman's heart. Most interesting to the
the bench-type drill press, chipping hammer, electric
riveter and grindstone. Completing the equipment,
there are a buffing outfit, saw tables, bench-type lathe,
metal melting pot, handy little electric soldering irons,
and an electric glue-pot for repairing leaky utensils or
broken woodwork.
-MONDAY BACKACHES AND TUESDAY DRUDGERY ARE
BANISHED FROM THIS SPOTLESS LAUNDRY
timid visitor, perhaps, is the burglar switch, which,
when touched, lights every lamp in the house. Near
the bedroom is the nursery with its electric toys and
an electrical device at the window to keep the room
supplied with fresh air without dangerous drafts. The
room is heated by electricity and contains an electric
nursery outfit for preparing medicine, food, etc.. in
case of sickness.
The sewing-room commands its share of feminine
attention, for here there is a sewing machine operated
by an electric motor controlled from the foot treadle.
A small portable vacuum cleaner near by picks up
threads and scraps of cloth without effort.
An important adjunct of the home is a complete
electrical laundry, containing a quiet-running washing
FIG. 7 — THE ICELESS REFRIGERATOR AND THE MOTOR-
DRIVEN DAIRY MACHINES
This exhibit, which is conducted by the General Elec-
tric Company, is co-operative to the extent that it in-
cludes a very comprehensive display of general do-
mestic devices, which, although operated by the com-
pany's motors, are themselves the products of other
manufacturers.
-
• 1
My
1 ll-i-^r''"*ll
FIG. f. TMK cook's WORKSHOP, WHERE CLEANLINESS,
CONVENIENCE. AND EFFICIENCY PREVAIL
machine, an electric mangle. Hat iron* and a double 8-in.
! ilc for boiling the clothes. An air heater and
exhaust fan provide comfortable working temperatures
ill weather conditions.
The workshop for the man of the house has numer-
ous small-motor conveniences, Chief among which are
The Importance of Having a Policy and Main-
taining It
"I believe there can be no satisfactory relations be-
tween a producer and a distributer unless each has a
definite policy," said Mr. H. B. Crouse, president of the
Crouse-Hinds Company, Syracuse, N. Y., in an ad-
dress before the Electrical Supply Jobbers' Association
at Chicago, March 18.
"A definite policy," continued Mr. Crouse, "is a pre-
arranged plan of action, carefully thought out and
rigidly maintained in the belief that at the end of any
definite period of time the best aggregate results will
have accrued.
Establishing a Policy, and Ultimate Success
"A man or a business house without some resources
cannot expect to have and to maintain a definite policy,
because usually a policy will not begin to 'cash in' for
you immediately, and if you must have your money Sat-
urday night you need not spend much time or thought
outlining, establishing and maintaining a policy.
"Some individuals and some concerns in the electrical
industry —as in all industries — never can and never
will have a policy, and therefore, I believe, never can
be really successful. Some individuals and some con-
cerns are not so good in outlining and establishing
policies as are other individuals anil concerns, but I
have hope for these If they continue in their efforts."
Arbitrary Limits and Their Enforcement
"Every policy must be bounded by arbitrary lines,"
said the speaker later in his address, "but such lines
appear arbitrary only as they are approached, and even
the maker of the policy must admit that such a line ap-
peals absolutely arbitrary when it is reached. But
Mw 1, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
1121
this must be M if the polity is to be maintained — and
no policy is of value unless it i> maintained.
"The arbitrary boundary lines of a policy should not
be made of rubber. If it be decided to make theM lines
■o that they will stretch, nothing u gained, becanae
though one makes the arbitrary lines flexible, it
will then be necessary to decide how flexible the;, are
to be, and the tinal result will be that again an arbitrary
line must be taken."
Diflicultiea and Temptations That Lie in the W.i*
"Some of the policies which have proved to be the
most successful really caused the most trouble while
they were being established," said Mr. Crouse. "If
there is any one common mistake that a business man
makes in connection with having a policy, it is that be
scared out before he has had the policy in effect
long enough to find whether it is good or bad."
"Having a policy and standing by it are not always
said the speaker in closing. "Temptations are
numerous and powerful; in fact, when it comes to the
matter of maintaining a policy, one is almost daily
tempted to break it, and if one has the nerve to resial
the temptations continually he may come to the conclu-
sion that he is a pretty good loser. Unless a man is
willing to be a good loser when necessary, he cannot
maintain a policy."
Too Large Motor Not Economical
Not agreeing with a representative of the Philadel-
phia Electric Company on the size of a motor required
to perform a definite duty, a consumer decided to in-
stall a machine rated at one and one-half times the one
recommended. On receiving his monthly bill, which was
based on the horse-power rating, however, he was
greatly disappointed to find the amount he owed largei
than expected. A test was made, and the fact was
brought out that the rating which had been recom-
mended by the representative was correct. The proper
motor was finally installed, and subsequent bills dropped
33 1 8 per cent below the first one.
Electric "Town Clock" on Chicago's Lake Front
"The largest motograph sign in the world," which
stands at the head of Michigan Avenue, Chicago, has
now been made more useful and more attractive than
ever by the addition of an electric numeral clock, the
Kl<;. 1 — MOTOGRAPH SIGN IN OPERATION
figures of which are visible for 2 miles along the lake-
front boulevard. Electrical and mechanical interconnec-
tions are so arranged that the time monograms are
flashed in the intervals between the motograph sen-
tences. The time, corrected to within one second by
Western Union telegraph, is thus given to the public
two or three times each minute. The motograph portion
of the sign, which carries advertising of the Common-
wealth Edison Company and other firms, is operated
only between dusk and midnight, but the clock portion
of the sign is operated from early afternoon until
morning.
FIG. 2 — FLASHING THF TIME TO CHICAGO
The inscription "Ye Town Clock" in 20-ft. letters, con-
taining 1000 15-watt lamps, was also added, and is
flashed alternately with the original legend at the top
of the sign reading "America's Leaders." The clock
inscription always appears, however, simultaneously
with the time monograms. This motograph sign is
operated by the Federal Sign System (Electric), and
the mechanism of the motograph part was described in
detail in the Electrical World of Oct. 17, 1914.
Data on Electric Service to Iowa Farms
Reports on rural electric-service business in Iowa
collected by Mr. W. H. Burtis, of Decorah, la., indi-
cate a consensus of opinion among Iowa central-sta-
tion men to the effect that a line to serve farmers
should be built when investigation shows that such
a line will be a paying investment almost from the
beginning. The cost of line construction should be
borne by the farmers, but the completed line should
be owned and maintained by the company. Trans-
formers and lightning arresters, according to Mr.
Burtis, should be furnished by the company. Separate
meters for light, motor service and cooking were fav-
ored, and although it is thought best to charge the
same energy rates in the country as in town it was
generally agreed that rural customers' minimum
charges should be higher than those for city cus-
tomers.
The answers to the following questions submitted
by Mr. Burtis show how widely rural practice differs
among Iowa companies:
"What is your minimum charge for rural service?"
Answers to this question showed minimum charges
ranging from 40 cents to $5 a month.
"Do you sell energy for lighting, cooking and motor
service on separate meters?" Nearly all answers to
this question favored separate meters.
"What voltage do you use for operating rural trans-
mission lines?" Answers showed that ten potentials,
ranging from 33,000 volts to 1100 volts, were used by
thirty-three companies.
"Do you advise groups of prospective farm cus-
tomers to incorporate and operate their lines, paying
the company for the energy as recorded by a single
primary meter?" About one-half of the operators
answering were in favor of dealing with incorporated
groups.
"Do you require farmers to pay bills once a month
1128
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 18
or once in three months?" A large majority — that is,
eighteen out of twenty-three — favored monthly settle-
ments.
"Give any data you may have on energy used per
customer per month." Fourteen answers showed that
the Iowa farmer averages 47 kw-hr. a month.
"What is the average transformer loss on your
rural lines as compared with the average energy con-
sumption?" The six answers given ranged from 5 per
cent to 75 per cent.
Electric Cooking as Off-Peak Load in Iowa
The interest with which central-station managers re-
gard electric cooking was strikingly shown several
times in papers and discussions before the Iowa Section
of the National Electric Light Association at Keokuk,
Iowa Central-Station Facts and Factors
Statistics on the operation of sixty-four Iowa central
stations during the year 1914 were presented before the
convention of the Iowa Section of the National Electric
Light Association, at Keokuk, April 21. Of this total
number fifty-one of the companies listed are privately
owned and thirteen are municipally owned. As is cus-
tomary in this annual report of the facts and factors
committee, the stations are grouped according to the
population served, and averages for each group were
presented for the year just past and for the four years
preceding it. Corresponding statistics for the years
1909 to 1914 will be found in the Electrical World of
May 9, 1914. In the table of grand averages herewith
it is interesting to note that, while in five years the
investment per capita has increased from $9.60 to
$18.52, the gross income per capita has not increased
proportionately, but has grown gradually from $3.93 to
TABLE I— CENTRAL-STATION" STATISTICS FOR THE STATE OF IOWA
MUNICIPAL STATIONS
Station
Number
--
ber Consumers per
oo Population
tation Rating,
Kw
Is
«<3
= -
- 0
r"3
r B
3 =
-- -
■7 f
|
•3'f
— •:
_ z.
1$
> a
<&
*o a
go
3
■1
s —
u a
as
1°
Q.
If
1°
>
il
a
11
-1
SO
a.
a ^
-6
S.-S
= s
8 ■*
- —
i§
°o
II
I
So
II
H
S- a
a
S
a
s -
1
z
r.
£
---J
>
<
Saa
■<
a
0
>
^w
o
0
O
•3~
19
Factor N'o 1
2 3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
n
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
20
52
600
16.7 22
37
22
45
10.2
45.3
17.8
56.6
356
13.33
80.00
18.00
3.00
22.50
6.4
61.2
8.75
2750
800
11.2 60
75
Ml
5.8
B.7
200
15.00
43.30
28 90
3.25
21.70
10.2
T.i.O
5.38
4340
34
900
19.1 70
78
35
221
17.22
60.00
24.40
4.67
27 10
93.6
1.74
7202
51
1100
14.5 95
86
32
127
8.2
8.6
15.9
19 5
189
16.36
53.40
31.70
4 60
28.10
8.7
65.7
9.67
7116
56.
1800
2000
2060
2500
15.3 210
20.2 135
29.6 160
12 0 300
117
67
78
1?0
52
22
40
7*
84
(50
25 3
14.6
6.9
12.0
9.1
2.3
31.2
13.7
7.7
31.6
14.0
7.7
95
237
156
73
11.10
16.00
12.13
8.80
58.40
108.00
78.10
34.50
44.60
36.00
20.50
34.50
6.82
7.30
6.07
4 14
61.40
45.60
50.00
47.10
5.6
10.0
17.1
88.3
70.7
62.4
92.8
7.21
13.38
18.80
3.42
-'
58
59
8760
so
2.500
3000
23.2 150
17.7 260
60
87
37
65
36.1
24 1
24.1
24 1
279
115
16.72
10.00
132.50
53.80
34.30
26.40
7.95
4 67
47.60
46.70
6.3
48.5
71.4
24.50
13.33
•w
8360
•..'
3900
20.2 350
HO
50
RH
41.8
11.9
24.3
25.0
100
9.00
52.90
23.50
4 74
52 SO
5.2
77.2
12.15
8500
63.
4500
21.1 500
111
83
90. S
18.1
26.0
26.0
150
16.67
71.40
37.60
7.93
47.60
4.5
55 2
21.30
8759
64
7000
17.0 500
71
55
20
84.5
16.9
39.3
39.3
173
12.36
72.00
30 20
5.14
41.60
4.9
39.4
25.20
8760
Average HIS
2513
18.3 216
83
18
ioa
32.4
15.8
22.2
27.1
180
13.44
69.10
30.05
5.40
41.50
7.9
69 3
12.68
7629
Average 1*14
2640
16.0 177
65
36
86
33 7
21.4
21.8
29.6
219
12.37
97.11 31.45
5.13
43.53
8.5
71.1
12.16
6590
April 20 to 22. Mr. Edward Soukup, new-business
manager of the Iowa Railway & Light Company, Cedar
Rapids, brought up the subject in his paper on "Power
Development Methods," stating that during the two
years in which his company had supplied energy to four
2300-watt stoves the customers' bills for cooking aver-
aged 75 kw-hr. per month at a 4.5-cent rate.
Mr. Kenneth Lindsay, manager of the Wapsie Power
& Light Company of Mount Vernon, installed a number
of ranges last year, and his records show that customer's
total energy consumption averages 140 kw-hr. a month.
This figure includes, however, energy used by washing
machines and irons, and it is estimated that for cooking
alone the average customer uses 130 kw-hr.
Discussion occasioned by queries on electric cooking
in the "Question Box" brought out the fact that nearly
every plant represented at the meeting is now experi-
menting to a greater or less extent with electric ranges.
Rills for conking service range from $3 to $16 a month.
Mr A. L. Dodd, of Charles City, expressed the opinion
that within the next four years electric cooking will he
a really formidable competitor of gas. Electric com-
panies ought to make a cooking rate of not more than 4
per kw-hr., because very little of the cooking load,
declared .Mr. Dodd, is at on-peak character.
$6.19. The increase in income per capita during the
last year, however, has been marked in spite of the pre-
vailing industrial depression and in spite of the fact
that the increase in investment per capita during that
time was only 7 cents, an amount quite negligible.
The committee on facts and factors consists of
TABLE III— ADDITIONAL AVERAGE FACTORS FOR PLANTS
APPEARING IN ICCOMPANYING TAB
Kilowmtt-houn Kilowatt-hours Expenses per
Made Annually Made Annually Kilowatt-Hour
per Capita per Consumer Made, Genii
Group 1. i'>l.-, >17 : i
II. IMS H 5.7
Group III, 1916 us ,,7..i j.i
Group IV I'M". 139 lilt)
Croup V, 19U 167 1542 1.7
Qrand arerage, 1918 933 4.8
Munloipel, 1915 537
Austin Hurt, of Waterloo; F. A. Fish, of Ame
and H. W. Wagner, of Ames. This year the facts _.
factors report was printed by the Iowa Engineering El
perimental Station as a supplement to Rulletin No.
E LE< 1 RICA 1- \\'i» R 1,1)
1129
1 Mil. I. II CEN llt\I.-.-l ITION STATISTICS FOR fHE STATI
coma n mi btattonb
1
■8
3
z
f
I-s
ij
1 F
a?" *9
1 fi
" 1
o
a
h
li y
-
i
o m
11
Ii
0
3
- s
I
•
=
a
z
a
g|
1
-
-
i
1
8
7
9 10
II
13 11
II
15
,6
17
is
19
20
1
12
11
17
60
28
:i7
22
10
90
26
33
18
in
33
IS
25
29
58
SB
$200
111
200
381
117
160
179
17.1
187
172
250
48
83
130
144
200
200
135
7ii _'ii mi
10.00 120 <mi 26 00
16.80 11"
11 mi 92
in OO 66 70 34 BO
16.00 3S 70 23 20
17 BS 7i
15.00 86.80 84.00
in 28 70
10.00 81 in 28 in
19 23 91
1 BS 25 on 26 30
7 17, mi imi 24 00
11.70 101.00 28.90
8.70 91.40 31.80
15.35 62.80 34.80
16.70 138.00 40.00
10.30 117.30 3.5 60
13.90 07.40 33.7(1
6.00
6.01
.5 71
3.87
7.45
6.92
5.88
5.26
7.00
2 01
I 28
9.07
5.48
4 82
10.66
8.43
6.95
133 .30
7.5 mi
60 00
31 30
in 60
7,7 1.5
24 10
11 7o
H. to
38 on
3o lo
60.00
77 10
31.40
oi OO
51.90
III .5
o 1
o 7
13 2
s 1
13 .5
111
7 o
10 .5
7 7
12 2
7 3
Ml I,
103.0
50.0
71 2
7.1 1
-
70 .'
20 1
7 s 7.
88.7
83.7
76.7
74 II
17. (Ill
16.00
-0.95*
11.00
28.57
6.25
17 00
11.63
15.85
10.91
26.80
11 .5.5
10.00
8.82
10.40
8.00
13 0.5
8.35
sooa
7s
60
ii
100
im
-
17, 1 17, 1 IS 1
2190
s7,.o
MO .
700
780 10 7 7'.
50
60
-■11
-
II 1 lo 2
111
III 1 17. 2
■
0 VI Ml
lis .711
9.0 11 2 17 3
1,000 20
1.20U I-
1.300 10 -' 100
90
62
77
101
86
00
60
77
S3
72
103
1,400 17 9
1.450 31 4
I3S
120
Mil
'.HI
17.
18
36
67
.7 |.'2
B 7 7 .
10.9
117,
Is 1 20 1 23 6 38 0
16.0 1
M n 11.3 13 3 13.7
23 (i 18 I 26 I 33.0
1,50017
1.500 1.1 'i US
1. 500 26.7
1.60023 7
126
118
177.
1.700 20.6
Averag
1,040 20.1
76
34
s2
10.0 15.0 16.3 24.3
189
13.00 85.40
30.40
6.03
48.74
9.4
78.4
10.46
tnni
1.290 15.9
67
34
711
17.0 20.3 19.8 32.6
219
13.15
93.70
:u 7u
5.35
42.80
10.3
75.8
11.06
-
-
2,200 ....
2,800 17.8
2,500 15.2
3.000 11.7
3,000;21 9
3.000 17.7
3,000 18.5
150 68
IMi 7s
no i,i
ISO 60
5
226 77,
ii hi 133
160 :,:(
160 90
37
60
21
:is
80
27
30
07
77.
38
B0
20.0 38.0 33.0
111 6 7. 9 11.2 li 5
-•III
25 7 17 1 _■>
14.9 r.t
13.8 6.0 i
100
222
178
400
225
209
90
105
300
6.82
17. 40
10.90
24.00
11.71
15.70
12.00
13.30
11.67
15.00
90.90
79.40
110.80
120.00
63 in
83.60
45.00
120.20
is 111
140.00
47.40
17 BO
47.40
26 no
7,1 HI
30 BO
30 1"
37.80
0.20
o 22
6.74
7.20
1.09
i. 26
6 00
7.00
90.90
35.70
02 llll
30 00
27.70
40.00
50.00
50 50
10.10
10 70
5.2
15.9
8 s
B 0
9.1
15.9
5.5
3.0
6.3
73.3
49.1
77.. 5
75.0
03.7
00.9
50.0
59.5
00.0
24.25
18.20
14.00
7.50
10.05
13.26
25.00
20 7.0
15.05
S.90
8760
- 27
s7i.ii
84
54
II 7 26 ii 27 s .'7 s
ol' 0 18.8 33.8 84 1
1" B .'7 _■ .'7 _' 28 o
S70O
8350
tnni
At«h
2,720 17.1
43
68
29.0 16 0 23 s 24 -'
208
14.15
90 64
37 43
6.18
47.96
8.6
66.2
15.73
8029
2.64016.9
154 58
32
84
28.2 19.6 26 7 27.0
238
13.77
101.90
5 67
44.00
0.8
72.6
12.40
8620
-
-
300 75
33
33
21
lo
40
24
7,11
76
Ol
70
11
83
58 0 19.3 18.2 19.0
150
260
52 1
167
372
4.52
200
1 1 2.5
IS 7.5
22 mi
12 20
3s no
19 jo
12 BO
1 in
101.00
153.80
64.60
Sl llll
1139 50
58 BO
120.00
3.5 20
39 30
n mi
50 no
.'7 on
i.OO
7.50
7 7,7
0 10
1 72
8 .57
o 22
3.99
7 7o
66 7o
40.40
29.40
38 70
-■n 7ii
t',.2
s :
8 1
8.7
4.4
5.3
2.7
8.3
62.5
BS o
40.0
58.1
7.0 -'
73.0
100 II
25.00
5.43
17.60
16.15
9.88
5.61
0.00
8400
4.000
5.000
5.000
5,000
6,450
7,700
19 ii
II 7
ii e
17 2
23 1
IX n
300
210
7,111
200
660
76
42
73
102
87
71
11.7
71 7 34 -•
30.8 8.5
mi ii 21 o
73.8 36.9
is 9 19 ii
B736
8760
-■I ii 24 ii
31.4 31.4
111 11 0
8760
s7l.ll
8670
128 ii 23 :< 25 0 28 0
i 23 1
8760
7.800 11 0
500 Ol
S70O
Averag
:. r.ii i:
33
ii.-.
74.5 21.8 20 1 26 o
302
19.17
106.09
39.77
0.1
00 5
11.38
8701
Avera«
5 189 87
47
17,
67.4 1 i
261
21.30
80.10
41.80
.5.94
34.10
7.2
66.1
11.59
8660
III
II
:- 12
—
= li
-■ IS
10,000 7 : 900 90
10,000 15 0
II . 100 II
18.200 7
112
o:t
71
29
inn
70
68
101
92.0 10.2 27.9 27.9
137 11 II 1 28
192 i> 1
i I H . 8 11. S
-"
183
180
IM
;i.-.7
1,1 IS
188
18.50
36.10
11 llll
63 lo
38 in
is S3
41.60
82 60
li 60
90 7ii
55 hi
52 -'o
1 1 80
42 50
7
7 84
7 23
7 21
. i ;
22.70
21 70
16.60
11.70
1 1 90
29.30
4.6
4.9
4.2
3.5
71.5
30.8
85.3
l'i 1
60.3
6.45
13.73
2.38
91
7 OO
11.07
8760
8760
8760
S70O
S70O
8760
Averai
68
o ■
187 9 14.3 31 1 31 1
362
30.89
64.42
51.20
6.19
19.47
4.7
59.4
7.86
8760
Aveiai
. I.'.'.'. 103
SI
171 o 15.0 32.9 32.9
423
44.10
68.20
45.18
5.96
15.62
4.6
54.6
7 32
8760
" 17
e 111
1 IIKHI in
36,000 i
10,000 10 i " OO '
33
160
li.
Id
102
li
I.
108 ."■ i
087 '■ 10 I -".i ii 29 o
ii 17 ii
i i .11 I
311
126
11-'
12.45
132 ik
12 n
7,o on
10.70
58 ..o
,.., 711
5.28
1 07
I, 10
7. '.II
.5 01
42.40
26 00
19.00
19.80
.'1 ..o
10 211
2.9
3.0
3.9
2 7
5.3
.; s
IS 9
HI 5
47.8
19 s
10 1
23 llll
1.5 7,0
11.89
12.30
10 . ■
8760
8700
8760
29 Hi 70 li
B760
B760
119,001 s
8760
Average ltli.. . .. 48,500
90
7 1
298
27.02 75.73
ii l
6.23
25.25
3.7
45.0
13.88
J760
Averai
0.5 4130
111
87
17
201
69.20
5.80
28.20
3.9
47.1
14.78
Srand Average lilt. ... 1 8.020
17 1 861
H2
10
71
■ 17.7
.'1 .. 28 9
is S3 so II
38.70
6.19
40.99
7.3
66.7
11.73
7998
Grand
Grand
Grand
Average 1*14 . .
1 1 6 811
77
IS
251
18.45' 87.30
41.00
5.78
37 2.
7.0
07 s
11.60
7610
Average 1*13 II. mo I
lil
71
.;.
168 '
255
14.23 93.50
10 01
5.74
,5(1 111
8.2
,. : 0
19.00
8950
Average 1*11 .. 14,030 In 6 S7I
01
61
72 117 i
22 0
252
13.85 82.10
47.60
1 81
36.80
7.8
07.5
9.82
6770
II
63
66
220
46.00
3.93
11 01
ol 0
1130
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 18
NEW APPARATUS AND APPLIANCES
Plug with Contact Strips Embedded in Narrow
Slots
A sectional view of a plug recently developed by Har-
vey Hubbell, Inc., Bridgeport, Conn., is shown herewith.
The contact strips are deeply embedded in narrow slots,
thus eliminating, it is declared, the possibility of short-
SECTIONAL VIEW, SHOWING METHOD OF MAKING
CONTACTS
circuits, accidental shocks, or arcing. Various types of
interchangeable attachment plugs, wall plugs and flush
receptacles made by the above manufacturer are being
equipped with narrow slots and contact strips similar
to those described above.
Centrifugal Coal Drier
In the accompanying illustration is shown a coal-dry-
ing machine which automatically retains the material
for a definite predetermined time for drying. The ma-
chine consists of three main parts — the frame, a pair
I <>\ I -DRYING MACHINE
of feed spouts, and the container. There are also a dis-
charge hopper for the ,h coal and a sluice for the
reclaimed water. The feed spouts are fastened to an
inner solid shaft ami are driven by suitable transmission
so that thej can revolve at any desired speed inde-
pendently of the retainer. The retainer is a conical-
shaped chamber, which is driven at a high rate of speed
by a hollow shaft independently of the feed spouts. The
outer inclined wall of the retainer is of perforated
metal and the bottom is provided with openings which
are closed by hinged doors. Outside the inclined wall
is a sluice for carrying away the water.
The hinged doors are automatically opened and closed
by a pair of cams attached to the shaft which carries
the feed spouts. As the retainer slowly gains upon the
cams, the difference in speed being very slight, the dried
material is automatically discharged through the door
openings, each door opening in its turn. As the door
closes, the spout which follows directly behind the cam
fills the empty place in the retainer. The coal drier is
being made by the Link-Belt Company, Chicago, 111.
Oil Filter
With an oil filter developed by the Richardson-Phenix
Company, Milwaukee, Wis., the oil is first heated to
lower its viscosity and reduce its ability to retain water,
OIL FILTER WITH CAPACITY OF 100 GAL. TO 200 GAL.
AN HOUR
then passed slowly over a series of shallow trays, and
finally conveyed through a filtering medium. The sepa-
rated water collects in the bottoms of the trays and is
by-passed to the bottom of the precipitation compart-
ment, where it is automatically ejected through an
overflow pipe. From the top tray the oil flows into '.lie
filtering compartment, which contains nine non-collapsi-
ble filtering units. No oil can pass to the clean-oil com-
partment until the level in the filtering compartment
reaches the outlet, and hence no filtering takes place
until every square inch of cloth is submerged in
Gages are provided for observing the head of oil and
the amount of water in the precipitation compartment
A thermometer indicates the temperature of the oil
before it enters the precipitation compartment, and an-
other shows the temperature of the oil in the clean-oil
storage compartment. The filter body is of galvanized
sheet steel and is reinforced with channel and angle
iron. Filters with capacities of 100 gal. an hour to
7500 gal. an hour are being built.
May 1, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
1131
Double-Throw Automatic Switch
A recent development in automatic switches, for use
when two sources of energy are available, is illustrated
herewith. The device consists of two magnet-operated
switch'-, \sith a mechanical interlock which prevents
both switches being closed at the same time. The mag-
netic feature includes an automatic device which causes
the "pening of one switch and the closing of the other
1 >
M
(• if . aft
1 Isl 1 'Jj
Li
jftiAf -
i * * i
mXm
AUTOMATIC DOUBLE-THROW SWITCH
on a potential drop of predetermined value. The switch
is normally connected with the preferred source of
energy; the auxiliary system is thrown in upon the
failure of the preferred source, and the normal connec-
tion is re-established when normal conditions again ex-
ist. When both circuits are de-energized, the switch is
automatically connected to the one first available. The
switch will operate on 600-volt circuits successfully, it is
claimed, and will transfer the lighting load from the
regular circuit to the auxiliary circuit so rapidly that
the momentary interruption is not noticeable. The
switch is being manufactured by the Palmer Electric &
Manufacturing Company, Boston, Mass.
Electrically Operated Centrifuge
The small motor-driven centrifuge for laboratory
work shown in Fig. 1 is compact and low-set, and is
equipped with a weighted flywheel which serves to
BIOS. 1 AND 2-
-MOTOR-DRIVEN CENTRIFUGE AND DALAND
HAEMATOKRIT
steady the action of the motor and to maintain a uni-
form but high speed. The inertia of the wheel causes
the machine to start slowly, increasing its speed stead-
ily without jerking. The wheel also causes the speed
of the motor to decrease gradually after the circuit is
opened. The centrifuge is provided with a two-arm
sedimentation attachment and a speed controller. In
Fig. 2 is shown a Daland haematokrit, which, when
used with the centrifuge, is designed to enable one to
count the number of red corpuscles in a certain amount
of blood. The machine described has been developed
by the Shelton Electric Company, 30 West Forty-second
Street, New York.
Metal-Covered (able for Automobile and Motor-
Boal i ae
Cable covered with a flexible metal sheath, which is
wound on in ribbon form, is being made by the Packard
■
•
f
gft n
m p^j«
|
I
I
■
3
-
r
5
a
9
E
I
a
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FLEXIBLE METAL-COVERED CABLE FOR AUTOMOBILES AND
MOTOR BOATS
Electric Company, Warren, Ohio, for use on automo-
biles and motor boats. The insulating material and
braids are impregnated with enamel. The metal cover-
ing for the cable may be of nickel, brass or rust-proof
steel. In the single-conductor type the cable is made in
sizes ranging from No. 18 to No. 00 inclusive, and in
the double-conductor type from No. 18 to 8 inclusive.
Converting Arc-Lamp Shells Into Containers for
Nitrogen-Filled Units
A method for transforming arc-lamp fixtures into
containers for nitrogen-filled lamps has been devised by
ARC LAMP CONVERTED INTO CONTAINER FOR NITROGEN-
FILLED LAMP
the Metropolitan Engineering Company, Brooklyn, N.
Y. Baffle plates are introduced in the housing to pre-
vent the entrance of rain without hindering ventila-
tion. Cold air enters from below, as shown in the ac-
companying diagram, becomes heated, and rises with
considerable velocity. This in turn causes a stream of
cold air to enter the inclosure from the side vent and
1132
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 18
to impinge on the lamp base where the temperature
tends to be highest. As a result, it is declared, the lamp
base is at an even lower temperature than would be the
case if the lamp were in the open atmosphere.
Motor-Driven Stationary Cleaner for Residences
A cleaner designed for use in dwelling houses and
small apartment houses which are piped for vacuum-
cleaning systems is being made by the Spencer Turbine
Cleaner Company, Hartford, Conn. The cleaner, which
MOTOR-DRIVEN VACUUM CLEANER OF THE STATIONARY
TYPE
is shown herewith, is usually placed in the basement
and is operated by a Westinghouse universal motor,
mounted on top of the machine. The separator is of
the centrifugal type and is placed above the dirt pan,
which is quite large. The machine is of steel, welded
and riveted. The total height of the apparatus is 39.25
in. and the diameter 21 in. The height of the machine
without the motor is 28 in.
Wiremen's Gasoline Torch
The gasoline torch illustrated herewith is provided
with a corrugated goose-neck by means of which in-
creased heating surface is provided and greater pres-
sure is created, it is claimed, than could otherwise be
produced. The tank is dome-shaped to avoid weakening
the metal by bending it at a sharp angle, as would be
the case were the top square. The bottom is concave
and provides room for a clip which holds a reel of clean-
ing wire. The neck is screwed in by means of a wing
nut, thus obviating the use of a wrench. The torch is
started by holding a flame of any sort under the cor-
rugated neck, thus vaporizing the gasoline in the wick.
Within a few seconds the hissing of the gas is heard
WIREMAN'S OASOLINE BLOW-TORCH
as it makes its escape through the gasoline outlet,
which is 0.009 in. in diameter, and the torch is then
lighted. A removable perforated brass tube is attached
to the goose-neck for concentrating the flame. Accord-
ing to the manufacturer, the Carleton Company, 170
Summer Street, Boston, Mass., the torch will burn two
hours on one filling.
Mechanically Operated Fire Extinguisher
The fire extinguisher shown herewith is operated with
one movement, the first turn of the crank automatically
opening the nozzle, and is well adapted, the manufac-
turers claim, to put out electrical fires. The crank can
be turned only in one direction. An indicator or gage
FIRE EXTINGUISHER
at the top of the device shows the fluid contents at all
times. The liquid is forced from the machine by a
plunger which is drawn forward by a cable wound
around a drum connected to a gear shaft attached to the
crank. The device holds one quart of fluid. Either a
wall bracket or metal case may be employed, which can
be fastened to the wall, or a bracket can be utilized for
use with automobiles. The fire extinguisher is being
placed on the market by the Justrite Manufacturing
Company, Van Buren Street and Clinton Street, Chicago,
111.
Storage Battery for Gasoline Automobiles
An improved battery for ignition, starting and light-
ing of gasoline automobiles has been developed by the
Gould Storage Battery Company, 30 East Forty-second
Street, New York. The active material in the positive
GASOLINE-AUTOMOBILE STORAGE BATTERM
plate is quite hard and is said to wear evenly; as a
suit, it is declared, a very uniform rating of the bai
tery throughout the life of the plate is obtained,
large settling chamber is provided at the bottom of eac
jar, permitting long service without cleaning. Shor
circuits between the plates are prevented by wide sepa-
ration and by the use of rugged separators. The jars
\Uv 1, 1916
I T R I C A L W O R L D
1133
are of heavy construction to \ • ikage from
vibration. Use ia mad.- of ■ baffled -plash plate as
shown hi the sectional view illustrated herewith. Where
the pillar posts come through the cover sleeves of cor-
rugated rubber surrounded with sealing compound un-
utilized. I are differently colored to enable
the user to distinguish between the positive and nega-
tive terminals. A large expansion chamber with a
threaded cap is employed for inspection and equaliza-
tion of acid. Leakage up around the outside of the
chamber is prevented by a rubber washer. Slopping
over from the inside is prevented by the cap, which is
in the form of an inverted cone. Inspection can be
made by removing the vent cap, which may be used also
as a funnel for pouring in water or acid without slop-
ping or overtli'W.
Terminal Block for Connecting Lamp-Post Circuits
to Underground Feeders
In the accompanying illustration is shown a terminal
block with cover removed, which has been developed by
the Colonial Sign & Insulator Company, Akron, Ohio,
from a distant location bj a push-button. The gener-
ator for the t> j ed without a battery oper-
al 115 volts, while that employed with the Ik.
opera'- I in- potential of the battery is
•".'-' volts. Tin for both outfits are com-
pound-wound. The batter> a H'.-cell Hyray
Bxide batter] and two counter cells. The sets are being
SMALL LIGHTING SET WITH ENGINE DIRECTLY CONNECTED
TO GENERATOR
placed on the market by the Okey Manufacturing Com-
pany, Columbus, Ohio, and the generators are being
made by the Robbins & Myers Company, Springfield,
Ohio.
Horse-Driven Generator
In the article describing a generator operated by a
horse which appeared in the Electrical World of
March 20, page 744, it was stated that the rating of the
battery utilized with the generator is 10 amp-hr., which
is an error. The rating of this battery is 60 amp-hr.,
and it operates at a pressure of 32 volts.
terminal block in lamp-post base
for which Verne W. Shear & Company of Akron are
selling agents. The block is designed for installation
in any standard-sized lamp-post base for connecting the
lamp circuit to underground feeders. The block meas-
ures 5.25 in. by 3.025 in. by 2.25 in.
Small Lighting Generating Sets
In the gasoline-engine-operated generator outfit
shown herewith the storage battery employed will alone
deliver about 200 watts; when more energy is required
the engine is automatically started (the generator act-
ing as a motor until the engine comes up to speed) and
continues to operate until the battery is completely re-
charged. In the event that more than 200 watts are
being taken when the battery has become fully charged
the controller opens the battery circuit and the engine
continues to operate until the load is reduced below 200
watts. Two push-buttons are provided for starting and
Btopping the engine. The controller is designed to
give the battery a so-called "overcharge" at every
twelfth charge, to increase its life.
The engine is of tin' jingle cylinder, two-stroke-cycle
type, regulation being obtained by a throttling gov-
ernor which holds the speed within 1.5 per cent above
or below normal. Magnetic control of a float-feed valve
is provided, by means of which the engine can be stopped
Improved Refillable Fuses
In the refillable fuses of the knife-blade type manu-
factured by the A. F. Daum Company, Pittsburgh, Pa.,
FIG. 1 — REFILLABLE FUSE OF KNIFE-BLADE TYPE
use is now made of hard-copper blades with rounded
edges which are cast into the brass cap. The fuse strip
is so arranged that by removing longitudinal strips the
FIG. 2 — REFILLABLE FUSE WITH WIRE FUSE ELEMENT
rating can be changed. Heretofore it has been neces-
sary to cut off the longitudinal pieces, but now the strips
are scored deeply enough to enable them to be broken
off. The fuse described above is shown in Fig. 1. The
fuse shown in Fig. 2 has been improved by slightly dish-
ing the metal bar threaded on the cutter, thereby pre-
venting the fuse wire from being cut. The wire can be
1134
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 18
crushed to the thickness of paper at the edge, it is de-
clared, while the cross-section of metal at the center
remains the same.
Attachment Plugs
Attachment plugs of the type shown in Fig. 1 are
being made by the Arrow Electric Company, Hartford,
Conn., with brass caps in the fuse and fuseless types.
The cap is provided with two bushings, one of which
fits into the other. The inner diameter of the smaller
FIGS. 1 AND 2 — ATTACHMENT PLUG, WITH BRASS CAP,
AND WATERPROOF ATTACHMENT PLUG
bushing is 9/32 in., admitting No. 16 lamp cord. The
inner bushing can be removed when larger cord is util-
ized. The inside diameter of the larger bushing is
13 32 in. and is for use with No. 16 portable cord. In
Fig. 2 is shown a weatherproof attachment plug of the
fuseless type, which is fitted with 6 in. leads of No. 14
B. & S. stranded rubber-covered wire.
Automatic Reclosing Circuit-Breakers
The reclosing circuit-breaker for direct-current cir-
cuits shown in Fig. 1 is of an improved type and is sim-
ilar in design to the circuit-breaker described in the
Electrical World of July 18, 1914, page 145. It dif-
fers from the latter in that an adjustment has been pro-
vided which permits the circuit to be set so that it will
open at any desired current value and reclose with any
desired load. This adjustment renders the breaker
capable of distinguishing between a short-circuit condi-
tion and that obtained with lamps or self-starting mo-
tors on the line. The device shown in Fig. 2 is of the
PIGS. 1 AND 2 — AUTOMATIC RECLOSING CIRCUIT-BREAKERS
magnetic-blowout type and is designed particularly for
branch-circuit work. It is shown in the open position
in the illustration and is rated at from 100 amp to 300
amp. The circuit-breaker shown in Fig. 1 is shown in
the do ed ] A is made with ratings of 300 amp
and above. The circuit-breakers are being made by the
Automatic Reclosing Circuit Breaker Company, 31 West
Mound Strept, Columbus. Ohio.
Return-Call Buzzer and Push-Button
A return-call signal device designed for use in hos-
pitals, college dormitories, Y. M. C. A. buildings, etc.,
has recently been developed by the Holtzer-Cabot Elec-
tric Company, Brookline, Mass. The buzzer is oper-
return-call buzzer
ated by a push-button or from buttons on a return-call
annunciator at a central station, which may be in the
office of the building. The mechanism is substantial,
being made up of heavy brass punchings. Use is made
of German-silver springs and silver contact points. The
frame of the buzzer is of cast iron and is finished in
black enamel. The binding posts and other exterior
fittings are of polished nickel. The distance between
centers of the mounting holes is 3.5 in., and the buzzer
measures 3.25 in. wide and 4 in. high.
Telescopic Flashlamp Case
The flashlamp case of vest-pocket size shown here-
with avoids the use of hinges. The case consists of two
parts, each drawn from a solid sheet of metal. One
part telescopes into the other, and when pushed to-
TWO-PART FLASHLAMP CASE
gether the two lock. With a slight pressure on the side
of the case the two pieces can be pulled apart. The case
can be finished in nickel, gun-metal, statuary bronze,
silver and gold. It is being placed on the market by
the Usona Manufacturing Company, 1 Hudson Street,
New York.
Storage-Battery Voltage Regulation
By C. S. Redding
It is often a matter of considerable importance, espe-
cially in photometric work, to secure a source of uni-
directional emf which will remain constant. Storage
batteries are generally used for this work, but the volt-
age of a storage battery is only approximately constant,
there being a decrease of 10 per cent or more between
the time of charge and discharge. Moreover, if two or
Mai i, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
mure circuits are being operated from the same battery
a change of load at any point will change the potential
difference at any other point because of a corresponding
change in the terminal voltage of the batl
Apparatus was recently di '. ructed for
controlling the voltage of a storage-battery circuit, and
has been in satis! ration for ■ sufficient length
of time to prove The battery which it was
i [a used on the standard lamp circuits
••ral photometers. The battery has a maximum
voltage of 119 volts, and it was required to maintain a
terminal emf of 116 volts to an accuracy of »>.»•"> volt.
The current from the battery varies from 5 amp to 12
amp.
The equipment provided for the purpose is shown in
Fig. 1, and consists of a sensitive detector or regulat-
ing element which actuates a double relay which in turn
controls a reversing motor, operating a series rheostat
in the main battery circuit. The principle of the opera-
tion of the equipment may be determined from the dia-
gram shown in Fig. 2. Directly across the battery and
control rheostat is connected the regulating element, in
which are two resistors AB and BC. the resistances of
FIG. 1 — APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING VOLTAGE OF
BATTERY
which are of such values that when there is an emf of
115 volts between E and F the current in the resistors
IS such that there is an emf between A and B exactly
equal to that of a Weston standard cell contained in the
instrument. The cell is so connected that its emf
opposes that across AB, and therefore when the bat-
tery emf between E and F is 115 volts there will be no
energy passing through the galvanometer G, the gal-
vanometer also being part of the regulating element.
When, however, the emf across EF changes, the
drop across AB also changes, with a resulting flow of
energy through the galvanometer, causing it to deflect.
This actuates the restoring mechanism, as will be later
explained, causing a circuit to be closed through the
relay, operating the motor and changing the position
of the contact on the control rheostat, which adds or
subtracts resistance from the circuit, depending upon
whether the emf has increased or decreased.
The relay-actuating portion of the restoring element
is a mechanism which has been used for other purposes
and which has proved its worth under the most difficult
circumstances. Briefly, its operation is as follows:
Once every two seconds the shaft 6 (Fig. 8 > makes a
complete revolution. It is operated by a small constant-
speed motor. Once in each revolution the cam 6C lifts
the lever 3 pivoted at 24B and 245. Attached to 3 is an
arm 2 pivoted on 3, which, when lifted, opens a contact
normally existing between 2 and the disk 1. If the
galvanometer it balanced, the pointer is raised between
the two bell-crank levers 1/. and \i;. If, however, the
galvanometer is unbalanced, the pointer is forced by
3 against the horizontal element of either AL or !/,'.
thus displacing 2 from its horizontal position through
one of the pins 2C. The earn SC n<>w allows :; to return
lL^wvwvwww-
SAL VANOME TER
OPERATING RELAYS THAT
OPERATE MOTOR Oli CON-
TROL Rheostat
FIG.
-DIAGRAM OF CONNECTIONS
to its normal position, 2 again makes contact with 1,
and the mechanism is as shown in Fig. 4. The cams 6£\
which are insulated from the shaft and connected one to
each relay circuit, now force 2 back into a horizontal
position, and while they are in contact with 2 complete
through 1 a circuit through one side or the other of the
relay. It can be seen that the length of time the relay
is closed will depend upon the amount that 2 is dis-
placed, and this will depend, as will be seen from Figs.
3 or 4, upon the amount of deflection of the galvan-
ometer.
The apparatus is not instantaneous in its adjustment,
but under the rather difficult conditions stated in the
early part of this article effects a balance under the
worst condition in twelve seconds. When the load is not
changed the instrument takes care of the natural de-
preciation of the battery voltage so well that there is
never a departure of as much as 0.05 volt from normal.
The regulation is accomplished in every case without
any hunting.
FIGS. .", AND 4 — MECHANISM BALANCED AND UNBALANCKD
Such an equipment as here described can be applied
to many regulation problems. This apparatus operates
(Hi a potentiometer circuit, but it can be made to oper-
ate upon a Wheatstone-bridge circuit if desirable. The
equipment was manufactured by the Leeds & Northrup
Company, of Philadelphia, for the Westinghouse Lamp
Company of Bloomfield, N. J.
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 18
CURRENT NEWS SECTION
MR. TOWNLEY ON SOUTH AMERICA
His Trip Shows that Careful and Intelligent Cultivation Is
Necessary for Extension of Our Commerce
Mr. Calvert Townley, assistant to the president of
the Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company,
returned to New York on April 19 after a tour through
South America on behalf of his company's affairs in
that part of the world. He sailed from New York on
Oct. 14, going to Liverpool and, after a few days in
London, re-embarked for Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. His
travels in South America took him successively through
Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina, Chile, Bolivia, Peru, the
Isthmus of Panama, Colombia and Venezuela, and in-
cluded therefore every country on that continent ex-
cept Paraguay, Ecuador and the Guianas. He returned
to the United States via the islands of Curasao and
Porto Rico. The entire trip lasted for six months
and five days.
Several of the ships on which Mr. Townley traveled
were under the British flag, and he enjoyed the excite-
ment of dodging the German cruisers. He was in Rio
de Janeiro at the time of the new presidential inaug-
uration and witnessed the university student riots in
which a number of men were shot and to quell which
the troops had to be called out. He missed the naval
battle off the Falkland Islands by a narrow margin of
time, saw the festival of flowers at Buenos Aires, and
crossed the continent over the trans-Andine Railroad
into Chile, passing over the Andes between snowdrifts
towering above the cars on the second train which
made the westward journey after the road had been
closed for several months. He saw a boycott against
a raise of fare by the German-owned electric railway
company at Valparaiso, witnessed a political demon-
stration at Iquique, and was in Lima, Peru, for the
carnival. He reached the Isthmus of Panama just in
time to see the effects of the big slide in Culebra cut,
which closed the canal to navigation for several days,
as well as to observe the methods employed to get rid
of the earth and start vessels through again.
At the request of the Electrical World, Mr. Town-
ley discussed his journey as follows:
"My trip was made on behalf of the Westinghouse
Electric & Manufacturing Company, which has been
engaged in business throughout South America for
many years and is by no means a stranger in that
field. In talking of the conditions existing on that
continent it is easy to fall into the error of considering
South America as a unit and attempting to make a gen-
eral statement which will apply to all parts of it, where-
as South America is composed of many very distinct
units where widely varying conditions prevail. The
various South American countries are as different from
One another as arc Canada, the United States and Mex-
ico. Indeed, thev differ vastly more than do Canada
and the United states. There are, however, som< tate
which can be applied generally to all South
American nations. For example, they have establl
lines of activity methods of doing business through
channels which to them and which
thev are not anxiou to change. Of course, a1 the present
tune normal conditions of South American trade with
variou- [European countries are interrupted seriously,
and there is a better opportunity for our people to
establish relations with them than would exist in
normal times. However, it would be a serious mistake
to think of South American markets, as many people
seem to do, as trees laden with ripe fruit waiting to
be picked ; rather, are they more like fertile fields ready
for the planting but from which crops can be reaped
only after a lapse of time and by careful and in-
telligent cultivation.
Purchasing Power Below Normal
"Also at the present time the purchasing power of
all the South American countries is considerably below
normal owing to the fact that their revenues come
largely from exports and the markets for these have
been curtailed tremendously. The carrying trade to
and from South America has been conducted very
largely by ships of the various nations which are now
at war. Of these a large percentage were German
and have ceased to operate entirely, many of them
being tied up in harbors, while the British boats, al-
though they continue to operate, do so with reduced
service and uncertain schedules.
"With many of the South American nations hereto-
fore importation and exportation with- Europe has
largely exceeded that with the United States, but this
seems to have been due to perfectly legitimate and
logical causes; that is, Europeans have cultivated the
South American trade, they have established banking
and shipping facilities, have invested their money in
South American enterprises and have organized with
varying degrees of thoroughness commercial campaigns
to get South American business. While there may
exist here and there more or less sentiment for or
against one nation or another, I do not believe that such
sentiment will play any material part in affecting the
development of trade relations between these various
countries and the United States. If our people will
devote to the development of South American trade the
same study and enterprise which they have devoted in
the past to business at home, they will get satisfactory
results, but they must expect to furnish what the South
Americans want and to do business in the South
American way.
"Those who believe that any of the European nations
now at war will be permanently out of business in
South America after peace is concluded are liable to
be very sadly mistaken. I think that in the future
we must expect to have to meet just as keen compe-
tition as we have in the past and that the interference
with trade between South America and Europe caused
by the war is only temporary and therefore while it
lasts gives us an opportunity to get started and make
much more rapid progress than would be possible under
normal conditions.
"In general, electrical development as well as all
other modern development is more backward in South
American countries than it is at home. Possibly the
average man visiting South America for the first time
would conclude thai there is less development there
than he would have expected to find, but conditions in
general are not so favorable for rapid development and
perhaps they never will be so. In a number of the
South American countries, particularly those on the
Mai i, 1916
ELECTRICAL WORLD
1137
west coast, there is little or do immigration \»
wages are low and immigrants are not attracted; con-
sequently, i very little differ* d the
birth rate and the death rate, the population Incn
very slowly, if at all, and one of the most important
elements heretofore responsible fur our own country's
'h and pro>/ not exist there. The lack
of a competent ami Bnfflcienl labor market is one great
handicap upon the development of many Smith Ameri-
can nations.
Financial Condition* Improved
"Before my departure from the United States 1
heard much of serious money stringency all over the
. American continent. This condition, however,
probably most acute just after the outbreak of
the war. Although in many places the commercial
situation was very had indeed and rates of exchange
were high and variable, I found American travelers
everywhere who were having no difficulty at the banks
with their drafts and letters of credit.
"Although the people in several of the nations are
economizing, are short of money and are buying less
of every commodity, the banks are meeting their obli-
gations and the various governmental authorities are
attempting, each in its own way, to deal with the
abnormal situation.
"The principal industries of Brazil, for example, are
the exploitation of coffee and rubber, and that nation
is contending with a demoralized rubber market and a
restricted coffee demand. Argentina is recovering
from a collapsed land boom, but its principal exports
are animal products and grain, for which there is an
excellent market at high prices in Europe. Chile
depends largely on the sale of nitrate for its revenue,
and the market for that article is greatly restricted.
Peru is still suffering from the combined ef-
fects of having defaulted on its foreign bonds some
time in the past and a very recent revolution which
repudiated its local currency.
"In most of the South American countries there is
surprisingly little information about electrical progress
in the United States, but everywhere much interest is
manifested, and the copies of the last issues of several
of our electrical publications which I carried with me
and distributed were sought eagerly. In fact, every
sort of American publication was welcomed and read
with avidity.
The Small Manufacturer
"You ask me what are the prospects for the develop-
ment of the South American business for the American
merchant or manufacturer having only a moderate
capital, and that is a difficult question to answer. The
of direct representation in the South American
countries is, of course, much greater than the corre-
sponding expense at home and in any individual case
might easily exceed the profit to be derived from the
business developed over a period of years. Further-
more, it is difficult to get satisfactory representation
for American products in many places, and the charac-
ter of such representation and of the men who conduct
business there is relatively of much greater importance
in South America as compared with the products offered
than it is at home. Combination of American concerns
in the same or in different lines of business has been
mentioned frequently as a means of dividing the ex-
pense of representation and making it possible for
those with moderate capital to enter the South Ameri-
can fields, but if that plan is to be feasible our federal
authorities must first make it very clear that it is
legal and is not, as many hold, in violation of the terms
of the Sherman anti-trust law."
N. E. L. A. Accounting Committee Meets
The accounting committee of the National Electric
Light . met in New York on April 22 to dis-
plans for the accounting sessions at the San Fran-
■ onvention.
The committee went over the proposed by-laws for the
new Accounting Section and plans for the future. The
by-laws are before the executive committee of the main
iation, but it is expected that they will receive the
»ry forma] approval before the convention. The
method of organizing the section and the selection of a
nominating committee and it was de-
cided that these questions should be left open for the
members of the accounting committee at the convention.
A number of protests have been received in regard
to the provision in the uniform system of accounts that
sinking-fund payments should be charged to income.
The committee considered these and directed the com-
mittee on uniform accounts to prepare a resolution for
submission at the San Francisco convention which might
also be presented to the executive committee of the main
association, as that committee has approved the classi-
fication as it stands.
"Electrical Prosperity Week" Meetings
"Electrical Prosperity Week" was discussed at four
meetings in Ohio last week. Organizations in Cleve-
land, Cincinnati and Toledo were addressed by mem-
bers of the staff of the Society for Electrical Develop-
ment of New Yrork, who told of some of the plans for
the campaign.
Two meetings were held in Cleveland, the first on
the evening of April 21, under the auspices of the
Electrical League of Cleveland, at the Hollenden Hotel.
Over 275 electrical men from northern Ohio cities were
present, including representatives of manufacturing
plants. Messrs. J. M. Wakeman, general manager, H.
\V. Alexander, director of publicity, and A. J. Edgell,
of the display service bureau of the society, were the
speakers. Mr. S. E. Doane, chief engineer of the Na-
tional Lamp Works, was chairman. The work of the
society was described, lantern slides were exhibited,
and a motion-picture play was presented.
General Manager Wakeman paid a tribute to the
enterprise of Mr. J. Robert Crouse, of Cleveland, the
originator of the society. The league promised hearty
support in promoting the "Electrical Prosperity Week"
campaign.
At a Jovian luncheon on April 22 Mr. H. W. Alexan-
der talked on "Sales Making" and the tentative plans
for "Electrical Prosperity Week." Mr. Paul B. Zim-
merman was chairman. Mr. G. B. Muldaur, manager
of the field co-operative bureau of the society, spoke of
the work of the section in harmonizing relations be-
tween electrical interests. Mr. Wakeman showed how
the Jovians with their slogan, "Altogether All the Time
for Everything Electrical," are linked with the society
slogan, "Do It Electrically." He praised the work of
the order and acknowledged the offer of support re-
ceived from Jupiter Homer E. Niesz.
Under the auspices of the Rotary Club, Toledo, Ohio,
on April 23, representative business-men at the Hotel
Secor heard Messrs. Wakeman, Alexander and Edgell
discuss "Electrical Prosperity Week."
Messrs. Alexander and Edgell made brief "sales"
talks to the new-business staff of the Toledo Railways
& Light Company on the same day.
Mr. Edgell spoke before the Cincinnati Association
of Display Men at the Chamber of Commerce on April
22. Mr. Edgell, who is president of the Greater New
1138
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 18
York Association of Display Men, discussed better
illumination.
At the invitation of the Kilowatt Club of Brooklyn
Messrs. Alexander and Edgell spoke at the meeting
on the evening of April 26 on "Electrical Prosperity
Week" and "Sales Making." Mr. Louis Kalischer,
president of the Kilowatt Club, presided. Mr. Alexan-
der described the tentative plans, and also discussed
sales methods. Mr. Edgell discussed the advantages
of utilizing show windows for displaying electrical
goods. The meeting was attended by about 100 Brook-
lyn contractors.
Jovians for "Electrical Prosperity Week"
At the recent meeting of the Jovian Congress and
Past-Jupiters' Association in Chicago the following
resolution was passed:
"Resolved, That in the event of an invitation being
extended to the Jovian Order to participate in promot-
ing a so-called 'National Electrical Week,' the Jovian
Order accept the invitation and request its various local
organizations to co-operate in the movement."
General Manager Wakeman of the Society for Elec-
trical Development sent the invitation directly to
Jupiter Homer E. Niesz, who replied in part as follows:
"I am very pleased to advise you that it. is the pur-
pose of the order to participate in the promotion of
'Electrical Prosperity Week,' and we will request the
various electrical organizations of the Jovian Order to
co-operate in the movement. Mention of this affair
will be made in the forthcoming issue of The Jovian,
and any assistance that can be rendered by the present
administration will be very gladly given with the view
to making this an extremely successful affair."
Plans are being formulated by a Jovian committee
at Toledo, consisting of Tribune Guy H. Oliver and
Mr. Walter S. Bissell, who are working with Mr. E. R.
Kelsey, secretary of the Rotary Club, and a committee
from the Commerce Club for a joint meeting at Toledo
on Mav fi.
Preliminary Program of N. E. L. A. Convention
Although still subject to addition and revision, the
accompanying program of the convention of the Na-
tional Electric Light Association to be held in San
Francisco, June 8 to 11, will probably be followed in
the main. There will be three parallel sessions during
the afternoon of Tuesday, June 8; three Wednesday
morning, two Wednesday afternoon, three Thursday
morning, and two Friday morning.
As will be noted from the program, a large amount of
business is presented for consideration, and most of it
is of an important character. At first it was proposed
to crowd the work into three days. Various reasons,
however, forbade limiting the sessions to Tuesday,
Wednesday and Thursday, but extra sessions were added
to allow the subject matter to be treated in a more
leisurely way, favorable to fuller discussion. Moreover,
as the special trains do not depart on their return trips
until Saturday and Sunday, good use is made of some of
the intervening time.
Another feature of interest is the proposed shifting
of the public-policy meeting from Wednesday to Thurs-
day evening, owing to difficulty in securing a suitable
hall for Wednesday night. Usually, at the N. E. L. A.
convention! for many years past there have been no ses-
' ■ day afternoon because of the objection
to holding the delegates together for sessions morning,
afternoon and evening, which would make a strenuous
and exhausting day. With the public-policy meeting on
Thursday evening, the afternoon recess will also fall on
that day, and as there will be no baseball match this
year, the afternoon will be devoted, by invitation of the
exhibition committee, to an official visit of the delegates
to the electrical exhibits at the Exposition.
General Executive and Public Policy Sessions
Tuesday, June 8, 10 a.m.
(1) Welcome to the city, by Mayor Rolph. (2)
Welcome to the Coast, by Mr. John A. Britton. (3)
Address of President Scott. (4) Announcements. (5)
Report of committee on organization of the industry,
by Mr. George Williams. (6) Report of the secretary,
by Mr. T. C. Martin. (7) Report of insurance expert,
by Mr. W. H. Blood, Jr. (8) Report of committee on
progress, by Mr. T. C. Martin. (9) Report on "Ques-
tion Box," by Mr. S. A. Sewall. (10) Report of com-
mittee on education, by Mr. J. F. Gilchrist. (11) Paper,
"Revivals," by Mr. Paul Lupke.
Wednesday, June 9, 12:30 p.m.
Brief executive session.
Thursday, June 10, 8:45 p.m.
(1) Reading report of the public-policy committee,
by Mr. W. W. Freeman. (2) Address, "Public Service
Commission Relationships," by Mr. John H. Roemer,
ex-member Wisconsin Railroad Commission.
Second General and Executive Sessions
Friday, June 11, 10 a.m.
(1) Report of committee on company sections, by Mr.
F. J. Arnold. (2) Paper, "Company Section Work," by
Mr. D. C. Bruce. (3) Paper, "The Electric Vehicle and
the Central Station," by Messrs. J. F. Gilchrist and A. J.
Marshall. (4) Address, "Electrical Prosperity Week,"
by Mr. J. M. Wakeman. (5) Report of committee on
Doherty and Billings prizes for company section papers,
by Mr. Paul Liipke. ( 6 ) Report of committee on
memorials, by Mr. T. C. Martin. (7) Report of com-
mittee on president's address. (8) Report of committee
on resolutions. (9) Report of nominating committee.
(10) Election of officers.
Technical and Hydroelectric Sessions
Tuesday, June 8, 2:30 p.m.
(1) Report of committee on meters, by Mr. C. G.
Durfee. (2) Report of committee on electrical appa-
ratus, by Mr. L. L. Elden. (3) Report of committee on
grounding secondaries, by Mr. Paul Spencer. (4)
Paper, "Application of the Diversity-Factor," by Mr.
H. B. Gear. (5) Address, "Features of the Lighting of
the Panama-Pacific Exposition," by Mr. W. D'A. Ryan.
Wednesday, June 9, 10 a.m.
(1) Address of chairman of hydroelectric committee,
by Mr. M. R. Bump. (2) Report of committee on hydro-
electric and transmission progress, by Mr. T. C. .Mar-
tin. (3) Report of committee on prime movers, by Mr.
I. E. Moultrop. (4) Paper, "Practice in High-Head
Hydraulic Plants," by Mr. J. P. Jollyman. (5) Paper,
"Governor Effort Analysis." by Mr. E. D. Searing.
(6) Paper, "Oil Burning." by Mr. J. P. Jollyman. (7)
Paper, "Analysis of Governor Effort," by Mr. E. D.
Searing. (8) Paper, "Oil Burning," by Mr. P. M.
Downing.
Wednesday, Jiuu 9. 2:80 p.m.
(1) Report of committee on overhead-line construc-
tion, by Mr. Thomas Sproule. (2) Paper, "Overhead-
Line Construction on the Coast," by Mr. J. ('. Martin.
I .''> i Report of hydroelectric sub-committee on high-
tension transmission and const met ion. by Mr. R. J.
McClelland. (4) Report of hydroelectric sub-committee
on high-tension apparatus, by Mr. W. N. Ryerson.
Report of hydroelectric sub-committee on main-line elec-
trification of railroads, by Mr. B. F. Wood.
Tliiirsilaii. J inn 10, 10 a.m.
(1) Report of committee on terminology, by Dr. A.
May 1, 1916
ELEiTIMCAI. WORLD
1139
S. McAllister. 2 ight-
ing, by Mr. J. W. Lfc i committee on
underground construction, by Mr. P. Torchio.
Timber preservation bj Mr. K. A. Griffin. •'■ ■ I:
•nmittee on accident prevention, by Mr. M. .1. In-
sulL ■ »'. Paper, "Opportunities of the Public S<
panics in General Accident Prevention," by Mr. C.
tt.
Friday, Jum 11, 10 a.m.
Report of committee on power -ales met!
demonstration of a power sale by Mr. C. 11 Stevens.
■ ompletioa of unfinished bus Report of
n nominating committee. (4) Election of Bection
officers.
Accounting Sessions
T instill ,i. .I,it,> 8, - :•'!•' /'.//(.
Chairman's address, by Mr. H. M. Edwards.
- Report of the library committee, by Mr. K. .1. Alle-
gaert. (3) Report of the "Question Box" comn
b Mr. E. C. Scobell. (4) Report of the committee on
N. E. L. A. uniform system of accounts, by Mr. .1. L.
Bailey. 5) Paper, "Some Opportunities of Public Util-
ity Accountants," by Mr. L. H. Reynolds (auditor
California Railroad Commission).
Wednesday, Juru !t. 10 a.m.
•It Paper, "Workmen's Compensation Insurance,"
by Mr. R. J. Sullivan, secretary Travelers' Insurance
Company. (2) Paper, "Electric- Vehicle Cost Account-
ing." by Mr. W. P. Kennedy. (3) Paper, "Standardiz-
ing the Accounts of the Pacific Gas & Electric Com-
pany," by Mr. M. H. Bridges. <4> Paper, "Record of
Property or Construction Expenditures," by Mr. 1'. R.
Ferguson.
Thursday, June 10, 10 a.m.
1 ) Report of committee on cost accounting, by Mr.
J. H. Gulick. (2) Paper, "Analysis of Costs by an
Electricity Supply Company for Rate-Making Pur-
poses," by Messrs. A. D. Spencer and R. W. Symes. (3)
Paper. "Analytical Accounting for Central-Station Pur-
poses," by Mr. 0. B. Coldwell. ( 4 ) Presentation and
adoption of new accounting section by-laws. (5) Re-
port of the nominating committee. <6i Installation of
section officers.
Commercial Sessions
Tuesday, June 8, 2:30 \i.m.
il) Chairman's address and (2) report of commit-
tee on foreign relations, by Mr. Douglass Burnett. (3)
Report of Commercial Section finance committee, by-
Mr. J. F. Becker. (4) Report of membership commit-
tee, by Mr. J. G. Learned. (5) Report of publications
committee, by Mr. E. A. Edkins, and (5a) report of
sub-committee on "Salesman's Handbook," by Mr. C. J.
Russell. (6) Report of committee on education of
salesmen, by Mr. F. R. Jenkins. i7) Report of com-
mittee on commercial department terminology, by Mr.
M. E. Turner.
Wednesday, June 9, 10 a.m.
Address, by Mr. C. C. Moore, president Panama-
Pacific Exposition. (2) Report of power sales com-
mittee on typical power sales development in the West,
b] Mr. I. II. McDougal. (3) Report of committee on
merchandising and recent development of electric appli-
ances, by Mr. R. R. Young.
Wednesday, June 9, 2:30 ji.m.
(1) Report of lamp committee, by Mr. F. W. Smith.
i " i Report of committee on wiring of existing build
ings, by Mr. R. S. Hale.
Thursday, June 10, 10 a.m.
I 1 ) Report of rate research committee, by Mr. R. S.
Hale. (2) Report of power sales bureau of the Com-
mercial Section, by Mr. C. J. Russell. (3) Paper, "The
: Application ol " by
Mr. c. \v. Bartlett i Paper, "A Staaaano Furnace
Installation at Redondi Mr. W. M. Mcknight.
". Paper, "Electric Furnace Power Loads." by Mr. F.
Paper. "( t ' • Iding
Mr. f. K. Nichols.
A. I. E. E. Tests for Porcelain Insulators
During the last three years the subject of the in-
• on and test of high-tension porcelain line insu-
lators has been under discussion by the American
Institute of Electrical Engineers. The need of more
uniformity in the commercial testing practice on such
insulators baa long been manifest, and the very erratic
behavior of insulators on several of our important
lines has indicated a need for more searching I
As a result of the consideration of these questions by-
various Institute committees specifications have been
drawn up by the transmission committee to serve as
a model. With the authorization of the board of
directors this specification has been approved and
recommended by the transmission committee, and
copies are now available on application to th>-
retary of the Institute.
A paper entitled "Provisional Specification Covering
Inspection and Test of High-Tension Line Insulators
of Porcelain for Over 25,000 Volts" is printed in the
May Proceedings of the society. This specification
does not include specific instructions covering the very
important subject of impact or high-frequency testing,
as this subject is not yet considered sufficiently well
standardized. It is expected, however, that the speci-
fication will be added to and amended from time to
time in order that it may conform with the best
practice.
New Battleship to Be Propelled Electrically
Although it has been a long and difficult task to
secure proper recognition for the advantages of electric
ship propulsion, the outlook at present is promising,
said Mr. W. L. R. Emmett, of Schenectady, before the
Western Society of Engineers at Chicago, 111., on April
26. Contracts for equipping the United States battle-
ship California with the General Electric Company's
turbo-electric drive were closed on April 24. The Cali-
fornia, a 30,000-ton vessel which the government is now
ready to construct, will be equipped with two 18,000-hp,
2200-r.p.m. turbo-generators and four induction-type
driving motors. All of the engine-room auxiliaries will
be motor-driven, direct current for operating these ma-
chines being taken from the same small non-condensing
steam turbo-generators which will supply excitation for
the main alternators.
The maximum speed of the ship will be 22 knots per
hour and the cruising speed 18 knots per hour. At 14
knots per hour the turbines will develop 7000 hp and
at 22 knots they will produce 36,000 hp, but on account
of the high efficiency of the electrical speed-adjustment
system used the water rate of these machines is ap-
proximately the same at both speeds. Seventy-five per
cent of the power generated theoretically by the ship's
turbines will be delivered to the generator, and there
will be an 8 per cent loss in the electrical equipment.
On the Lnsitaiiia, one of the most modern large passen-
ger ships afloat, the turbines operate at 220 r.p.m. and
deliver to the propellers 62 per cent of the power devel-
oped. Estimates of the Brooklyn Navy Yard showed
that the use of electric drive saved more than $160,000
in the construction of the California. The Lusitania
could be re-equipped for electric drive, said Mr. Em-
1140
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 18
mett, and a saving of $150,000 a year effected in its
coal bill.
The machinery of the United States collier Jupiter,
Mr. Enimett said, had been a complete success. The
main turbines of this vessel are operating on 11 lb. of
steam per hp-hr., and the ship's power plant as a whole
is 20 per cent more efficient than that of any other ship
afloat. It is 30 per cent more efficient than the plant of
any reciprocating steam-engine-driven vessel. Ever
since it was launched the Jupiter has operated with very
low specific steam consumption, and recent examinations
have shown that its power plant is still as good as new.
The successful operation of this collier was one of the
factors which induced the government to install electric
drive in the California.
Regarding future electric ship propulsion Mr. Em-
mett is optimistic. Except for the torpedo-boat de-
stroyers, the field of electric drive in the navy is almost
universal. In such light craft the necessity of reducing
weights decides in favor of geared-turbine drive.
Sometimes slow-speed, low-powered vessels of certain
classes also can be driven more economically through
gears, but the great majority of seagoing ships could
now rehabilitate their plants, install electrical machin-
ery, and save enough coal in a year or two to wipe
out the extra investment. The General Electric Com-
pany, said Mr. Emmett in closing, has been figuring
recently on equipment for two Russian battleships of
70,000-hp to 90,000-hp rating and on several large ves-
sels for the United States Navy.
In the discussion of Mr. Emmett's address it was
brought out that control systems will probably be in-
stalled on the California so that the movements of the
ship can be guided directly from the bridge and from
several other stations without the intervention of a
signal system.
In announcing the award of a contract to the General
Electric Company for electrical propelling equipment
for the California at $431,000, Secretary of the Navy
Daniels stated that the New York Navy Yard submitted
an estimate of $631,000 for the installation of steam
propelling equipment. Thus electric drive is not only
less expensive to install but it also offers superior
economy in operation, a reduction in weight and utiliza-
tion of full power in backing. The latter is an impor-
tant military feature which is not obtainable in an
all-turbine installation on account of the limitations
of space and weight imposed on the design of the ship.
There is a further advantage in that it will be unneces-
sary to provide a backing turbine, as reversal of the
shafts will be accomplished through motors instead of
by turbines. The design adopted contemplates the
greatest simplicity of operation, Mr. Daniels said.
Developments in Cleveland Municipal Situation
The Board of Control of Cleveland has been asked
to approve a minimum rate of 0.5 cent per kw-hr. for
energy for motor service from the municipal plant.
Heretofore the minimum has been 1 cent per kw-hr. It
is reported that the minimum rate made by the Cleve-
land Electric Illuminating Company is 0.75 cent, paid
by the Cleveland Railway Company "n a ten-year con-
tract. The earnings of the municipal plant with the
reduced rate, it is stated, will be $500 per month less
than in the past, but it is argued in Support of the re-
duction that this will be offset booh by the addition of
new business.
On April 24 Director of Public Service Sidlo received
a communication from Mr. s. c. D. Johns. Becretarj <>f
the Cleveland Electric Illuminating Company, declining
•nply with the request of the city for figures show-
ing the amount collected from patrons in excess of 3
cents per kw-hr. since the enactment of the ordinance
making this rate. This ordinance was passed on May
1, 1913, and when the company appealed to the Public
Utilities Commission a bond of $1,000,000 was required
to insure the return of the excess to patrons in case
the ordinance should be upheld. The city will ask the
commission to increase this bond on the ground that
the excess now amounts to more than $1,000,000. Mr.
Johns said that the assets of the company make the
people perfectly safe, but that if the commission decides
that additional security is necessary it will be given
cheerfully.
It is announced that Mr. A. B. du Pont, adviser and
associate of the late Tom L. Johnson in street railway
matters at Cleveland and consulting engineer in the
construction of the municipal electric plant in that city,
has been retained by several central-station companies
to engage in research work pertaining to valuation.
Municipal-Ownership Movements
Voters of Memphis, Tenn., have voted to authorize the
issue of $1,500,000 bonds for the erection of a municipal
electric -light plant or the purchase of an existing plant.
The result of an election in Grand Rapids, Mich., on
April 5 was the rejection by voters of a plan for the
construction of a municipal gas plant. The franchise
of the Grand Rapids Gas Light Company, a subsidiary
of the American Light & Traction Company, expires in
five years. Following agitation for a reduction in gas
rates the company offered a maximum rate of 75 cents
per 1000 cu. ft. if its franchise should be extended for
twenty years from the date of expiration. The city
authorities declined to accede to this rate, and they pre-
pared to submit the question of franchise extension to
the people on the primary ballot on March 16. The
plan was to vote at the same time upon the question of
construction of a city plant. A few days before the
election the municipal plant proposal was withdrawn,
and voters had before them only the proposition for
renewal of the franchise, which they rejected. The
construction of a municipal plant was then urged for
vote on April 5. The campaign against the proposal
was directed by the Bureau of Public Service Eco-
nomics, of New York, represented by Mr. F. C. Hender-
schott. An active campaign followed, with mass meet-
ings on behalf of both sides, public dinners, etc. Mr.
Henderschott and Mr. F. G. R. Gordon, of Haverhill,
Mass., made many addresses. The result was a vote
of 4471 for the municipal plant and 11,396 against it.
The announced plan of the municipal-ownership advo-
cates was to extend the policy of public ownership to
electric railways and electric-lighting plants if they
secured public approval for the proposed gas plant.
Indianapolis Street-Lighting Contract Upheld
The Indiana Supreme Court has rendered a decision
in the case in which Mr. Herbert H. Rice attempted to
prevent the city of Indianapolis from contracting with
the Merchants* Heat & Light Company for street light-
ing. The decision affirmed the finding of the Marion
Circuit Court, which held that there was no authority
for enjoining the city from fulfilment of its contract.
Mr. Rice took the position that the city, in entering into
the contract, had usurped the power and authority of
the Public Service Commission. The Supreme Court
said in pari !
"It is asserted by appellant TRice] that the contract
is void in its entirety, and that the other provisions
May 1. 1916
K I. KCTRIC A L WORLD
therein contained cannot be enf<
appellant hits no interest in the contract, except
far as its performance wil saury
of the city, and having failed to show by proper allega-
that any of the public funds are in danger of
being illegally dissipated, the first paragraph of the
complaint fa cause of action.
"The second paragraph Of the complaint fails to
facts sufficient to constitute a cause of action in favor
of appellant as a private consumer."
The Lighting of Small Interiors
"Knowns and Unknowns in the Lighting of Small
Interiors" was the subject of a re the Chi-
cago Section of the Illuminating Engineering Societv
on April 22, 1916, bj Mr. I. R. Cravath. The speaker
attempted to summarize briefly the established facts,
the matters in question and controversy, and unknown
or unexplored matters in connection with the lighting
of small rooms. The speaker treated the subject from
three standpoints, ocular comfort and health, efficiency
of light utilization, and artistic or esthetic effects. He
gave a practical demonstration with the aid of lamps
and diffusing globes of what different values of bright-
ness mean. The unshaded tungsten-lamp filament, the
carbon-lamp filament and the Welsbach gas mantle were
said to be too bright for use in locations where they
must be faced continuously for some time. When
frosted inclosing globes are used the brightness is
greatly reduced, but evidence is gradually accumulating,
as a result of eye-fatigue test work by Dr. C. E. Ferree
and others, that even frosted lamps are too bright to be
faced continuously without eye fatigue. The speaker
expressed the opinion that from the evidence at hand
a brightness of over 1 cp per sq. in. (452 apparent foot-
candles), emitted from a globe or bowl of sufficient
size to light a small room satisfactorily, would be likely
to cause unnecessary eye strain if faced for some time
by the average person.
The bowls actually used at the present time for semi-
direct lighting vary greatly in brightness, the most
common range for heavy pressed bowls being from 2
cp per sq. in. (904 apparent foot-candles) down to about
0.075 cp per sq. in. < 34 apparent foot-candles). There
is still room for investigation as to the limit of bright-
ness which should be placed for semi-direct lighting
bowls for small rooms, but it seemed probable to the
speaker that a brightness of about 0.5 cp per sq. in.
(226 apparent foot-candles) for such bowls should be
about the maximum. However, if the bright area ex-
posed is small, so that the total candle-power is low,
the limits just suggested may be comfortably exceeded.
The speaker considered it to be established that diffuse
or indirect light is best for working on paper and
polished surfaces, but for working on cloth direct light
is equally good if the source is so placed that shadows
are not annoying. Bright lamps or globes within the
range from 20 deg. to 25 deg. of the line of vision have
a blinding effect, aside from any strain or injury to
the eyes. The eyebrow of the average person shades
the eye from rays of light coming at an angle less than
25 deg. from the vertical. In semi-direct lighting if
more than 15 per cent of the light comes directl] from
the bowl the amount of shadow is annoyingly great : the
less the shadow the hotter the result.
In discussing esthetic effects, Mr. Cravath spoke of
the popular preference for artificial light in which yel-
low rays are prominent and greens and blues somewhat
suppressed. The latest types of tungsten lamps m.i\ or
may not need color correction for artistic effect accord-
ing to personal taste. Nevertheless, light in which yel-
low is prominent, as that from the electric incand.
lamps heretofore used, produces some very agreeable
effects on complexions and some kinds of room furnish-
ings. The color can easily be controlled either by the
: proper glassware or by painting the ceiling in
the proper color where indirect-lighting fixtures are
Light coming strongly from one direction produces
sharp shadow- which bring out wrinkles, and also I
the complexion appear hard. Hence in residences and
places where pleasing effects are desired the shadows
must he softened by the use of diffused light.
In the discussions .Mr. John A. Hoevler stated that
some experimental work with the Ferree test for eye
fatigue recently conducted at Ohio State University
checked very closely with the results obtained by Dr.
Ferree at Bryn Mawr. .Messrs. .M. <;. Lloyd, Albert
Scheible, R. F. Schuchardt, C. A. Luther, Dr. Harrv
Gradle, E. O. Dicker and H. D. Butler also discussed
the paper.
Civic Forum Medal for Edison
The gold medal of the Civic Forum is to be awarded
to Mr. Thomas A. Edison at' Carnegie Hall, New York.
at 8:15 p. m. on May 6. The speakers of the evening
will be Dr. Nicholas Murray Butler, Dr. William Mar-
coni, Dr. C. P. Steinmetz, Dr. R. C. Maclaurin, president
of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Mr.
Charles A. Coffin, chairman of the board of the General
Electric Company. A poem for the occasion will be
read by Mr. Percy Mackaye. This is the second award
of the medal, it having been given for the first time to
Colonel Goethals last vear.
Presentation of Edison Medal to Dr. Bell
The sixth Edison Medal, which on Dec. 29, 1914,
was awarded to Dr. Alexander Graham Bell, "for
meritorious achievement in the invention of the tele-
phone," will be presented to him at the annual meeting
of the American Institute of Electrical Engineers in
the Engineering Societies Building, New York, on
Tuesday evening, May 18, 1915. Mr. Thomas A. Wat-
son, of Boston, Mass., who was associated with Dr.
Bell in the early days of the telephone, will give a
historical review of the evolution and development of
the art of telephony.
The Edison Medal, which was established upon the
initiative of a group of friends and associates of Mr.
Thomas A. Edison for the purpose of recounting and
celebrating the achievements of a quarter of a century
in the art of electric lighting, with which the name of
Edison is identified, is awarded each year by a com-
mittee consisting of twenty-four members of the In-
stitute to a resident of the United States of America
and its dependencies or of the Dominion of Canada,
"tor meritorious achievement in electrical science or
electrical engineering or the electrical arts."
Electrical Contractors and Labor Officials Indicted
Forty-one electrical contractors and eighteen labor-
union officials in Chicago have been indicted by the
United States grand jury. The indictments were re-
turned in Judge Landis' court April 27. The defendants
are charged with maintaining a combination in restraint
of trade. Many electrical manufacturers outside Chi-
cago, it is alleged, have been prevented by the combine
from entering the switchboard and fixture markets in
the city.
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 18
Miscellaneous News Notes
Ice Utilities in Wisconsin. — A bill is to be introduced in
the Legislature of Wisconsin extending the jurisdiction of
the Railroad Commission to ice companies. Such properties
are to be classified, according to the bill, with other utilities
which are under the supervision of the commission. The
movement arises from the large increase in the price of ice
in recent years.
Water-Power Conservation in Vermont. — The Vermont
Legislature has passed a law establishing a water conserva-
tion commission authorized to investigate the storage possi-
bilities within the State with special reference to hydroelec-
tric development. The board has the right to expend a sum
not exceeding $2,500 for expert engineering advice, and is to
report its conclusions to the Legislature two years hence.
Granite Workers' Strike Affects Vermont Central Sta-
tions.— The strike of Vermont granite workers is proving
costly to the central stations of that State. Almost every
stone shed and quarry in the Bane belt, it is stated, uses
electricity. Since March 1, when the suspension of work
began, the demand on the central stations has greatly
fallen off. One lighting company, it is reported, has already
curtailed its staff and will be forced to make further reduc-
tions if the trouble continues.
Sanitary District Trustees Dismiss Consulting Engineer.
— Mr. Lyman E. Cooley, consulting engineer for the Sanitary
District of Chicago, has been dismissed by the board of trus-
tees, and the position which he held has been abolished, fol-
lowing Mr. Cooley's action in publishing for professional cir-
culation a report on the district's hydroelectric plant at Lock-
port, 111., prepared by himself and other engineers. The fact
that the Western Society of Engineers passed a resolution
censuring the trustees for not publishing this report for gen-
eral circulation is also declared to have had some bearing on
the case.
Valuation Made Optional in Ohio. — On April 22 the Ohio
Senate passed the Reighard bill, which provides that the
valuation of public utilities properties shall be optional with
the Public Utilities Commission instead of mandatory as at
present. The bill had already been passed by the House of
Representatives. The law will not affect the valuation of
the Cleveland Electric Illuminating Company, the Union Gas
& Electric Company of Cincinnati, or any other properties
where the work has been begun, but in other cases the com-
mission may use its judgment as to making valuations,
whether requested by municipal councils or not.
Properties Little Affected by Texas Storms. — Reports
from Texas say that heavy rains beginning on April 23
had very little effect on electrical properties or service. The
service of natural-gas properties at some points was en-
tirely interrupted by breaks which resulted from floods.
Mrs. A. S. Grenier, vice-president of the Texas Power &
Light Company, who is in Dallas, telegraphed to the New
Vork headquarters of the company that no loss or damage
to the physical properties of that company had been re-
ported. The service at Taylor, where there is a small plant,
was interrupted from midnight until noon on April 23 as
a result of the flood, which reached the power plant.
Although the rainfall in that section reached 9 in., the ma-
chinery was not damaged.
Honors for Illuminating Engineer of San Francisco Ex-
position.— The night of April 13 was set apart as "Ryan
Night" by officials of the Panama-Pacific International Ex-
position, San Francisco, as the occasion for recognizing the
work of Mr. W. D'A. Ryan, chief of the department of
illumination. Mr. Ryan was presented with a bronze plaque
by President < C. Moore of the Exposition company, who
of Mr. Ryan'.-, work in high terms an. I expressed the
appreciation of tin Exposition company. Mr. Ryan re-
led briefly, testifying to the aid afforded by Mr. G. L.
Bailey, electrical engineer of the Exposition, and Mr. i.
Dickerson, Mr. 1; . ne;t atulatorv ad
tnade by Mean ll D. H. Connick, director
of works, and Mr. John A. Britton, member of the board of
directors and vice-president of the Pacific Gas A Electric
the ceremonies, which ware bald in the
Court of the Uni\ • ■ tacular fireworks and lighting
display was witnessed by about .".o.iliio spectators within the
ground
Associations and Societies
Arkansas Electrical Men at Little Rock. — The Arkansas
Association of Public Utility Operators will hold its annual
convention at Little Rock, May 11 to 13. The Arkansas
Association of Electrical Contractors will meet at Little
Rock May 12 and 13.
Louisville Jovians Hear About Mr. Edison. — At a meeting
at the Preston Hotel Louisville Jovians heard from Mr.
Charles Smith, superintendent of the Western Union Tele-
graph Company in the Louisville district, on the subject
"Early Associations with Mr. Thomas A. Edison." Mr.
Smith was an operator with Mr. Edison years ago in the
Louisville offices of the Western Union company.
Joint Engineers' Meeting at Boston. — A joint meeting of
engineers under the auspices of the Boston Section of the
American Institute of Electrical Engineers was held at Bos-
ton, Mass., on April 23. Mr. Frank W. Hodgdon, chief engi-
neer of the directors of the port of Boston, addressed the
gathering on "The Electrical Equipment Used in the Com-
monwealth Pier Development for the Port of Boston."
Southwestern Electrical and Gas Association. — The elev-
enth annual convention of the Southwestern Electrical and
Gas Association will be held at the Hotel Galvez, Galveston,
Tex., May 19 to 22. Friday, May 21, has been designated as
Jovian Day, when the Galveston Jovian League will conduct
rejuvenation ceremonies. Mr. H. S. Cooper, Slaughter Build-
ing, Dallas, Tex., is secretary of the Southwestern associa-
tion.
Jovians at Salina, Kan. — A Jovian chapter with a mem-
bership of fourteen was established at Salina, Kan., last
week. The drill team of the Wichita Jovian Chapter initi-
ated the candidates. Twenty Jovians from the Wichita
chapter attended the meeting. Nearly 100 persons in Sa-
lina and adjacent territory are eligible to membership in the
new Salina chapter. Mr. L. O. Ripley, of Wichita, presided
at the meeting as Jupiter.
Iron and Steel Electrical Engineers. — The next annual
meeting of the Association of Iron and Steel Electrical En-
gineers will be held at the Hotel Statler, Detroit, Mich., Sept.
8 to 11. Mr. A. H. Swartz, Churchill Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio,
is chairman of the convention committee. The last meeting
of the present season, to be held on June 5, will be devoted
to a general discussion on various subjects of interest to the
members. Mr. W. T. Snyder, McKeesport, Pa., is secretary
of the association.
International Railway Fuel Association. — In the program
for the seventh annual convention of the International Rail-
way Fuel Association, which is to be held at the Hotel La
Salle, Chicago, on May 17 to 20, are listed the following pa-
pers which may be of interest to central-station operators:
"Preparation and Use of Powdered Coal in Locomotive and
Stationary Boilers," "Fuel Conditions in South America,"
and "Storage Coal." Mr. C. G. Hall, of the Chicago & East-
ern Illinois Railroad, Chicago, 111., is secretary of the associ-
ation.
Radio Society of Western Pennsylvania. — More than 150
amateur "wireless" operators and experimenters are mem-
bers of the newly organized Radio Society of Western Penn-
sylvania, which holds monthly meetings at the University
of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pa. Dr. Powers, of the school
of electrical engineering, will give a series of lectures on
recent advances in the technique of wireless operation. The
university is also arranging to have its own model wireless
station co-operate with amateurs in high schools of western
Pennsylvania.
Electrical Contractors' Association of Washington. D. C—
Electrical contractors of Washington, D. C, on April 23
formed a new association for the promotion of trade inter-
ests and irood fellowship. Mr. Robert Smith, of the Capitol
Electric Company, was elected president; Mr. Joseph Ran-
dall, of the II. P. Foley Company, was chosen vice-president,
and Mr. John J. Odenwald. 1204 11 Street, Northwest, was
named as secretary. The new association will meet on the
first and third Fridays of each month at the Builder-
change. 1220 New Vork Avenue. Northwest
Empire Slate Association and Eastern New York Section.
— The Empire State Gas .v Electrii Association and the
Mav 1, 1915
ELECT K I I' A 1. WORLD
tern New York Section of the National Electric Light
.ation will hold a Joint n \. V..
i .> 6, 7 ami B. The program comin nposed
H. M. Beogler, II u Peek end K. P. Ed*
The will be held on the evening of Thursday,
M ay 6, when en address on "Public Policy" will be made by
Mr. Ja.in •- ii. i aii. the newly appointed member of the Pub-
i District, of Mew York State.
At the mon •'. > 7 "Hydroelectric Powt
ation and Distribution," will be di In the
afternoon of the same day l>r. S. W. Stratton. director of
the I: LM.Iari Is. will discuss "Th- -'and
. a Factor in Industrial Development." At the dinner
held at the Mohawk Golf Club in the evening Mr. I C.
DeLong, president of the Empire State association, will be
tmaster. At the morning session on May s Mr. John C.
Parker. Rochester, N. Y., will lead the discussion on "The
Small Consumer — a Problem." The business meetings will
be held at the Edison Club.
FacilitatinK Klectric Passenger-Car Operation. — A paper
entitled "The Klectric Vehicle from a Gasoline Viewpoint"
was read at the monthly meeting of the New York Section
of the Electric Vehicle Association, April 28, by Mr. David
Beecroft, editor of The Commereia >li. Beecroft
urged that the central station interests co-operate with
dealers and manufacturers and, above all, provide suit-
able charging facilities for cars. In the discussion which
followed, Mr. D. F. Tobias, of the United Electric Light A
Power Company, and Mr. Harvey Robinson, of the New
York Edison Company, told of their respective companies'
efforts to co-operate with the dealers. Messrs. W. J. Miller,
D. C. I'enntr and K. M. Lloyd also spoke, dealing with some
of the problems of the electric vehicle.
Ne» Officer* of Iowa Section, N. E. L. A. — Election of
officers of the Iowa Section of the National Electric Light
uition resulted as follows: President, Mr. E. M.
Walker of Dubuque; vice-president, Mr. Thomas Ferris of
Osage; secretary-treasurer, Mr. W. H. Thompson, Jr., of Des
.Monies; executive committee, Messrs. Austin Burt of Water-
loo, C. W. Kellogg of Keokuk, Thomas Crawford of Clin-
ton and H. C. Blackwell of Davenport. As noted in last
week's issue of the Electrical World, papers and discus-
sions at the first two days' sessions were devoted particu-
larly to gas-filled tungsten lamps, rural electric service,
and general commercial and financial topics. At the morn-
ing sessions of the closing day of the convention motion-
picture films illustrating safety work occupied the greater
portion of the time. In the afternoon, aboard the steamer
(',. W. Hill, the convention party made the trip to Burling-
ton, la., holding a business session and question-box dis-
cussion en route.
National District Healing Association.— The program for
the seventh annual convention of the National District Heat-
ing Association, which is to be held at the Hotel Sherman,
Chicago, 111., June 1, 2 and 3, has been announced as follows:
lit, Mr. H. R. Wetherell, of Peoria,
111.; routine business; report of the station record commit-
Mr. A. P. Biggs, Detroit, Mich., chairman; "The Com-
mercial End of the Heating Business." by Mr. C. F. Oehl-
inan, of Denver. Col.; address by Mr. Walter A. Shaw, mem-
ber of the State Public Utilities Commission of Illinois;
report of the committee on underground construction, Mr. H.
odworth, Indianapolis, Ind., chairman; "Operating Ex-
perience with Bleeder-Type Turbines," by Mr. P. W. Laas,
Cedar Rapid.-, la.; paper by Mr. E. F. Tweedy, of New York
City; report of the public policy committee, Mr. D. L. Gas-
kill, of Greenville, Ohio, chairman; address by Mr. J. F. Gil-
christ, Chicago, III.; report of the educational committee, by
Mr. Ii. S. Boyden, of Boston, Mass.; "The Hot- Water-Heat-
ing System at the Grand Central Terminal." by Mr. W. G.
Carlton, New York < ily; report of station-operating com-
mittee. Mr. B. T. Gilford, Grand Rapids, Mich., chairman; "A
ure Study of a Steam Distribution System," by Mr. C.
' Wilcox, of Jackson, Mich.; "Exhaust Steam Versus Live
Steam for Heating," liy Mr. George W. Martin, of New York
City. Committees of Chicago men have been appointed to
barge of the elaborate entertainment features and ex-
cursions of inspection planned for the convention. Mr. D.
I Gaskill, of Greenville. Ohio, is secretary of the associa-
tion.
Public Service Commission News
Idaho tiimmioiiin
The commission will make its investigation into the re-
ported hydroelectric consolidation of southern Idaho as an
agent of the Vttorney-General. If the facts developed by
the commission are regarded as justifying action, the Attor-
ney-General will proceed against the alleged combination
under the Sherman anti-trust law, an act passed in 1911.
The commission has cited agents of the Idaho Power A
Light Company, the Idaho Railway Light & Power Com-
pany, the Idaho-Oregon Light & Power Company, the Great
Shoshone & Twin Falls Water Power Company, the South-
ern Idaho Water Power Company and the Utah Power &
Light Company to appear before it.
Indiana Commission
A petition filed by residents in Richmond, Ind., asks au-
thority to begin condemnatory proceedings against the
Richmond Light. Heat & Power Company plant, which com-
petes with the municipal plant. The City Council has voted
to buy the competing plant, and the commission is asked to
fix the terms of purchase. An immediate appraisal is
asked, but other pressing business probably will prevent
prompt action. City officials contend that the value of the
private plant is between $200,000 and $300,000, but the com-
pany declares that it is much higher. A hearing has been
set for June 15.
Massachusetts Commission
A bill has been enacted by which the commission, after
notice and a public hearing, may authorize a municipality
which has acquired a lighting plant to extend its mains or
lines into an adjoining city or town not at the time sup-
plying gas or electricity. The service may be rendered
upon such restrictions as the board may fix, and the
municipality supplying service is to have the same privi-
leges and obligations as within its own limits.
Missouri Commission
The property of the Kansas City (Mo.) Electric Light
Company has been appraised by the commission engineers
and accountants at $4,136,297. Working capital and vari-
ous other assets claimed by the company were not included
in the appraisal. The book value of the company as filed
with the commission, including the property appraised by
state authorities, working capital and other assets, is $6,-
129,605. Operating revenues last year were shown to be
$2,294,250 and operating expenses $1,787,488, leaving a net
profit from operation of $506,762.
New York Commissions
Following the announced reduction in rates of the New
York Edison Company, the United Electric Light & Power
Company will make substantially the same rates. Its public
announcement is to the effect that the maximum rate will
be reduced on and after May 1 from 10 cents to 8 cents per
kw-hr. Lamp installation and renewal will not be included
at this rate, but customers so desiring may obtain lamp
service at an additional charge of 0.5 cent per kw-hr. This
service includes delivery to premises of the standard re-
newal lamps of the country, including tungsten lamps of
60 watts and larger. Customers desiring to provide their
own lamp service may obtain lamps from the company.
The rates covering the different classes of service have also
been revised. With the new schedule bulk supply will be
furnished only through main meters. Except as may be
deemed necessary for efficient metering, only one meter
per service per contract will be installed on and after May
1. The new schedule has been filed with the Public Service
Commission of the First District.
Ohio Commission
Messrs. Oliver 11. Hughes ami C. C. Marshall, on the
in of their retirement from the commission on April
22, joined in a statement to the Legislature to the effect
that Ohio will stand indicted for plain theft if it does not
turn back to the corporations which paid it the $115,000
which lapsed into the State treasury and which is now
needed for physical valuations. They asked the Legislature
not to cripple the commission by failing to provide ade-
quate funds for its expense.
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 18
Personal
.Mr. B. S. 'Walters, of South Bend, Ind., has been appointed
vice-president of the Northern Indiana Gas & Electric Com-
pany, succeeding Mr. W. D. Ray, who recently resigned to
take up executive duties at Easton, Pa.
Dr. Alexander Chernyshoff, of the Petrograd Polytechnic
Institute, Petrograd, Russia, who has been a visitor to in-
dustrial plants in the United States, has returned home by
way of San Francisco and the Exposition.
Mr. Thomas \\ . Martin, who has been in charge of legal
work for the Alabama Power Company and associated com-
panies since 1912, has been appointed vice-president and
general counsel of the company, with headquarters at
Birmingham, Ala.
Mr. W. N". Matthews, of St. Louis, Mo., who on April 16
was struck by an automobile while alighting from a street
car, is suffering from a broken shoulder blade and from in-
juries to his head and face. Mr. Matthews is convalescing
at his home in St. Louis.
Mr. H. W. Harrison has been elected chairman of the Los
Angeles Section of the Electric Vehicle Association, follow-
ing the resignation of Mr. J. Harry Pieper, of the Southern
California Edison Company. Mr. Harrison is southern Cal-
ifornia representative for the General Vehicle Company.
Mr. Victor H. Tousley, chief electrical inspector for the
city of Chicago, has been appointed acting vice-president
of the Electric Club of Chicago to fill the vacancy left by
the resignation of Mr. W. D. Ray, formerly of Hammond,
Ind., who has been appointed general manager of the large
power-transmission system at Easton, Pa.
Mr. Harry Clark, who has been new-business manager of
the Worcester Suburban Electric Company, Uxbridge,
Mass., has been appointed manager of the Union Light
& Power Company and the Blackstone Electric Company,
which furnish electric service in Franklin, Millville, Black-
stone, Foxboro, Bellingham, Attleboro and Mansfield.
Mr. H. G. Fleischauer, general manager of the Washing-
ton-Oregon Corporation, Vancouver, Wash., has tendered
his resignation to the stockholders, effective May 1. Mr.
Fleischauer had been connected with the Washington-
Oregon Corporation for a number of years and for the last
year and a half has been general manager, having suc-
ceeded Mr. A. Welch.
Mr. K. Shofu, president of the Shofu Porcelain Manu-
facturing Company, Kyoto, and president of the Japan
Iron-Stone China Company, Ltd., of Kanazawa, Japan, is
visiting America for the purpose of studying the deteriora-
tion of high-tension line insulators in this country. He
arrived at San Francisco on March 23, and will depart
therefrom on May 22. In the meanwhile he is inspecting
the high-tension systems between the Pacific and Atlantic
Coasts.
Dr. William Marconi arrived in New York on the steam
ship Lueitania on April 24. He is here to testify in a suit
in which the Marconi Wireless Telegraph Company of
America charges the Atlantic Communication Company, a
subsidiary of the Telefunken Company, with infringement
of patents. While here Dr. Marconi also expects to inspect
new stations of his company in New Jersey and other
places. In the event that Italy enters the war he will
return to Europe at once. If he is not called back on ac-
count of hostilities, he wil\ remain in this country about
three weeks.
Mr. I'. M. Tail, president of the Dayton Power A Light
Company and past-president of the National Electric Light
Delation, who will shortly move to New York to become
associated with the properties owned by the late Anthony
V Brady, will be the guest of honor at a banquet at Day-
ton May 11. tendered him by the Dayton Jovian League and
by leading bneineae men of the city. Mr. D. L. Gaskill,
lent of the Greenville (Ohio) Electric Lighl A- Power
Company, will i" ter, Mr. Tait will re-
tain his po resident of the Dayton company, al-
though be will, " ■■■ unable to give as much per-
\|. --r-. K. Kinuira and Kinji I'rhimura. of
Japan, are making a tour of the United State- to study
central-station methods and the electric-lamp situation.
Mr. Kimura is engineering adviser of the Osaka Electric
Light Company and a director of the Osaka Electric Lamp
Company. Mr. Uchimura is manager of the Osaka Electric
Lamp Company. They had intended to leave Japan in
August of last year and to include Europe as well as this
country in their tour. Their plans were changed, however,
by the war, and they left Japan in February. They have
visited San Francisco, Los Angeles, New Orleans and Wash-
ington. From New York they plan to go to Boston and
Philadelphia, and then to various cities on their return
to San Francisco, from which they will sail for Japan two
or three months from now.
Mr. Lawrence Addicks, the recently elected president of
the American Electrochemical Society, was born on March
3, 1878, at Philadelphia, Pa. He was educated at the Uni-
versity of Pennsylvania and at the Massachusetts Institute
of Technology, graduating from the latter institution in
1899 in both mechanical and electrical courses. Soon after-
ward he went to Mexico to work in a copper mine. From
1900 to 1905 he was assistant to the superintendent of the
Raritan Copper Works at Raritan, N. J. From 1905 to 1914
he was associated with the United States Metals Refining
Company at Chrome, N. J., first as chief engineer and then
for a long period as superintendent. At the present time
he is with the Philips-Dodge Company, conducting large-
scale leaching experiments on low-grade copper ore at
Douglas, Ariz. He has contributed many papers, especially
on various phases of electrolytic copper refining, to the
American Electrochemical Society, the American Institute
of Electrical Engineers, the American Institute of Mining
Engineers and other societies.
Mr. E. M. Walker, of Dubuque, la., president-elect of the
Iowa Section of the National Electric Light Association, is
a native of the British Isles, having been born in Notting-
hamshire County, England. Coming to America at the age
of twelve, he settled with
his parents at Lockport, N.
Y., and there received his
early education. In 1897 he
was graduated from Williams
College with the degree of
bachelor of arts. Upon leav-
ing college Mr. Walker held
a position with the Lockport
Gas & Electric Company, for
vhich organization his father
had charge of the gas works
for twenty-five years. About
a year later the younger Mr.
Walker was made manager
of the Dedham & Hyde Park
Gas Company at Hyde Park,
Mass. He retained this posi-
tion until 1903, when he be-
came manager of the com-
bined utility property at Bristol, Tenn. and Va. In 1907 he
went to Columbus, Miss., serving as engineer for the Colum-
bus Railway, Light & Power Company for a period of a
little more than six months. Leaving- the South, he ac-
cepted a position in Iowa as manager of the Citizens' Rail-
way & Light Company at Muscatine, where he remained
until he removed to Dubuque, la., to assume managership
of the Union Electric Company.
WALKER
Obituary
J. A. ClllverwelL a well-known hydroelectric engineer of
Toronto, Canada, died in that city. April 21, at the age
of forty-nine. In recent years Mr. Culvcrwoll had been
closely identified with the development of the Trent Valley
Canal, and had helped in the development of water-powers
in centra] and eastern Ontario, having been connected with
the Northumberland >V I'm ham Power Company and the
Central Ontario Power Company. As manager of the latter
he purchased the Burleigh Falls power, Kuekhorn Falls
power and power on the Trent Canal. He founded the
Northumberland A Durham Power Company in 1906, and
was president at the time of his death.
May 1, 1916
K 1. Kl'TRIC A 1. WORLD
Corporate and Financial
Ari/iitia I'uw.r l iirii|i.in> . I'r.-.nii. \ri/. I ii. Arizona
Corporation Comn.. authorized the sale of $250,000
stock for thi- construe lioi :iumc.
\ 1 1 .i ri 1 1. (,.i- | ll.riri. ( urn | > : 1 1 1 \ . \i» York. N. Y. —
Holders of the Bret lien sinking-fund gold borm
and B, have received notiee thai a plan for the readjustment
of the bonded debt has been adopted by the bondhn
•ivc committee. The company had $l,ti(iti,000 Sci
iOO Series R I tanding. The col-
lateral deposited as security for these bonds was purchased
by the committee at foreclosure. An agreement has been
made whereby the General Gas A Electric Company will
acquire a large part of the assets of the company. The
committee, therefore, will offer to holders of certificates of
deposit for Atlantic A bonds new bonds of the General com-
pany of the same face amount and interest. The General
company will advance money to the Atlantic company sub-
sidiaries to meet liabilities which were caused by the bank-
ruptcy. Each Series B depositor will receive either cash 01
notes of the Binghamton (N. Y.i Light, Heat & Power
Company equal to 70 per cent of the face amount of his
deposited holdings. Those who do not participate in the
plan will be entitled to their respective pro rata share of
the proceeds of the foreclosure sale, which, it is estimated
by the committee, will not exceed $112 per bond of $1,000
face value.
Cleveland (Ohio) & Eastern Traction Company.— A meet-
ing of the stockholders has been called for May 3 for the
purpose of amending the charter to permit the sale of
energy. The company purchases energy from the Cleveland
Electric Illuminating Company and wishes to sell the excess
to private users.
Connecticut River Power Company. Brattlchoro, Yt. — The
$500,000 issue of five-year 7 per cent notes has been author-
ized by the Public Service Commissions of Vermont and
New Hampshire, in which the company operates. The Ver-
mont commission authorized the issue of the entire amount,
while the New Hampshire commission authorized the issue
of $236,000, representing the part of the company's prop-
erty which is situated in that State. The proceeds from the
part authorized by the New Hampshire commission are to
be used to pay or refund the portion of the note issue of
April 1, 1910, which represents $204,158 debt incurred in
acquisitions or improvements in the State and $20,042 float-
ing debt for construction and improvements.
Kansas City (Mo.) Railway & Light Company. — .The re-
ceivers have petitioned the United States District Court
for funds to meet $2,427,865 necessary maintenance and
construction costs of 1915.
Long Acre Electric Light & Power Company, New Y'ork,
N. Y. — A decision has been rendered by Justice Guy of the
State Supreme Court in the action brought by minority
stockholders of the Manhattan Transit Company against
the Inter-City Power Company, Harvey Fisk & Sons, A. B.
Leach & Company and certain directors of the Manhattan
Transit Company to set aside a contract by which the
transit company undertook to dispOBe of the stock of the
Long Acre Electric Light & Power Company. The court
holds that the contract was fair and made in good faith,
and that there was no ground on which the transaction or
the conduct of the defendants could be attacked properly.
This decision, it is announced, sustains the rights of the
Inter-City Power Company with respect to the stock of the
Long Acre Electric Light & Power Company and the rights
of the defendants as holders of l» lock of the
[nter-City Power Company. Unless reversed by a higher
court, it is stated, this decision will establish thi
the si in the way
of development and financing of the Long Acre Electric
Ught & Power Company.
Martinsburg (W. Va.) Power Company. — Acting upon
the petition of non-resident security holders, Messrs. II. II.
Emmet and C. E. Martin, of Martin burg, and Jams ii.
Harlow, of Darlington, Md., have been appointed receivers
for the company by Judge Dayton of the United States
lit Court. The receivers will proceed with the re-
organization and finam any in accordance
with an agreement entered into wit! Day A Zim-
I 'hiladelphia.
Pacific Gas \ Electrii Company, >.m Francisco, CaL —
The company has filed an application with the California
Railroad < ommissjon requesting authority to pay a divi-
dend on the common ^to.-k. I in. 1, l'.ill. and
April 1. 1915, the company retired $849,600 bonds through
payments into sinking funds. I luring the remainder of
1916 the company will be required to retire $1,461,000
additional bonds. All of the above payments have been
made, or will be made, out of net earnings or surplus
-. and the company wishes to capitalize these pay-
ments by the issuance of a common stock dividend. This
dividend, it is proposed, shall consist of as many shares
of its unissued common capital stock as shall be equal to
the amount of net earnings or surplus profits which the
board of directors shall determine to capitalize permanently,
but not exceeding 6 per cent of the common capital stock
now in the hands of the public.
Portland (Ore.) Railway, Light & Power Company.— Ar-
rangements have been made for the payment of the $5,-
000,000 of 5 per cent one-year gold coupon notes due on
May 1, 1915, by the sale of a like amount of 5 per cent gold
notes maturing on May 1, 1917, to Messrs. E. W. Clark &
Company of Philadelphia and their associates, who will pur-
chase at par such one-year notes as may be presented on or
before May 1, 1915. Of the new notes, $4,500,000 have al-
ready been sold or exchanged and the balance are offered
at 98 and interest. The notes are secured by deposit of the
entire issue of $5,000,000 first mortgage sinking-fund thirty-
year gold bonds of the Mount Hood Railway & Power Com-
pany, due in 1937, and of the entire capital stock, excepting
directors' shares, of the Mount Hood company. For the
twelve months ended Dec. 31, 1914, the following earnings
are reported:
Gross earnings $6,273 171
Operating expenses (including taxes) 3,263|883
Net earnings $3,009,2S8
Interest, rentals, amortization of bond discount, etc... 1,922,678
Balance $1,08(5, 610
6 per cent interest on $5,000,000 notes 250,000
Balance available for renewals, depreciation, divi-
dends, etc $S36.610
Sandusky River Power Company, Fremont, Ohio. — The
property of the company is to be sold to satisfy mortgages
securing bond issues aggregating $375,000, under which
the Cleveland Trust Company is trustee.
Santa Barbara (Cal.) Gas & Electric Company. — The
California Railroad Commission has issued a supplemental
order authorizing the company to issue $10,000 of first
mortgage 6 per cent thirty-year gold bonds. These bonds
are a portion of the $100,000 issue of bonds which the com-
pany was authorized by the Railroad Commission to issue on
Feb. 27, 1915.
Yinalhaven (Maine) Electric Company. — The Maine Pub-
lic Utilities Commission has granted permission for the is-
sue of $30,000 of capital stock at par and $30,000 of first
mortgage 6 per cent twenty-year gold bonds at not less than
90, to pay for construction and the acquisition of property
and franchises.
Western Canada Power Company, Ltd.. Montreal, Can-
ada.— At a meeting to be held on May 7, 1914, the share-
holders will be asked to approve an increase in the capital
stock from $5,000,000 to $10,000,000. A new issue of $5,-
000,000 of 7 per cent cumulative preferred stock will be
created. It will be convertible into common stock. The
company found it impracticable to sell the $1,000,000 addi-
tional first mortgage bonds authorized last December. The
erred stock issue will be created in the hope, it is stated,
that should the financial stringency be prolonged the holders
of certain of the mortgage securities now outstanding may
decide eventually to convert these securities into preferred
^ ork Railways Company. — The Pennsylvania Public Serv-
ice Commission has approved the application to purchase
' tin securities of the Merchants' Electric Light, Heat <Si
Power i lompany, of York, Pa.
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 18
Manufacturing and Industrial
The Capital Electric Company has moved from 231 Insur-
ance Exchange Building to 321 North Sheldon Street, Chi-
cago, 111.
Mr. C. \Y. Humphrey, consulting and designing engineer,
has moved his office from the Rookery Building to the Web-
ster Building, 327 South La Salle Street, Chicago. 111.
The Speer Carbon Company, St. Mary's Pa., has begun
the construction of a building, 60 ft. by 150 ft., which will
be devoted to the manufacture of motion-picture electrodes.
Mitchell & Allen.— Messrs. Robert C. Mitchell and Robert
Starr Allyn have formed a partnership for the soliciting of
patents for electrical and other inventions and the practice
of law. The headquarters of the firm will be at 41 Park
Row, N'ew York.
The Fearn Company. — Vulcanizers made by the Fearn
Company, 206 North Frederick Street, Baltimore, Md., are
being sold only by the Flaherty Manufacturing Company
of Baltimore, Md. It was erroneously stated in the
Electrical World of April 24 that the Flaherty Company
had obtained the right to manufacture these devices.
The Benjamin J. Glaser Realty & Engineering Company
is the new name adopted by the British-American Company,
1003 City Hall Square Building, Chicago, 111. The new com-
pany continues at the same address, where it is engaged
in the financing, building and construction of hydroelectric
plants and electric railways.
Mr. Ernest E. Lee, formerly principal assistant electrical
and mechanical engineer of the Panama Canal, announces
that he has opened offices at 638 Marquette Building, Chi-
cago, and has acquired exclusive rights to manufacture and
sell electric radiators employing the Apfel system of electric
heating in the Central Western States. The radiators will
probably be manufactured in Chicago.
Motors for French Company. — The Wagner Electric Man-
ufacturing Company, 6400 Plymouth Avenue, St. Louis,
Mo., recently completed the shipment of about 600 poly-
phase motors of various sizes for the L'Eclairage Elec-
trique, Paris, France. These motors are to be utilized, it is
reported, for driving American machine tools installed in an
ammunition manufacturing plant at Lyons, France.
The H. W. Johns-Manville Company, Madison Avenue and
Forty-first Street, New York, has made an arrangement,
which goes into effect May 1, to market the lighting equip-
ment manufactured by the Mitchell Vance Company. A
showroom will be established at 294 Madison Avenue, New
York, May 15, adjoining the H. W. Johns-Manville Building,
in which the various types of lighting fixtures made by the
Mitchell Vance Company will be placed on display.
The George Cutter Company, South Bend, Ind., has opened
a New York office at 30 Church Street, New York City, in
charge of Mr. Dean K. Chadbourne as district manager.
Mr. Chadbourne formerly had charge of sales work west
of Pittsburgh for the company, and while in that field was
responsible for equipping a number of Middle West towns
and cities with modern street-lighting apparatus. The New-
York office includes a sample room for the display of the
George Cutter Company's lines of street-lighting and wiring
special'
Edison I'lant Rebuilt and Busy Again. — Although it is
but eighteen weeks since the disastrous fire that swept
through the Kdison plant at West Orange, N. J., the dam-
age done has now been entirely repaired and additional
buildings have been erected. Practically all of the 7000 em-
ployees who were thrown out of work at the time of the
fire are back again at their respective tasks. Several rep-
tativei of European powers recently paid a visit bo
the I .-Lattery plant for the purpose of study-
ing the manufacture of batteriea Cor submarines.
Electric 1'umps for Dry Dock. — Six 10-in. Ilerril eentrif
ugal pumps operated bj 20 In. Weatinghonac vertical mo-
aceirtly added to th [uipmenl of the S. 0. Smith
Shipbuilding A Dry I lock Company for the operation of its
dry dock at Norfolk, \'a. Twelve units with similar ratings
had previously been Installed, making a total of eighteen
pumping units. With this equipment it i laid to be
ble to lift a vessel high and dry in seventeen minutes at an
energy cost of about $4.50. The dock is designed to take
vessels with a length of 260 feet or less and a total weight
of 3000 tons or less.
Scrubbing Machines Valuable to Jewelry Manufacturers.
—The Wilbur B. Allen Company, 34 West Thirty-third
Street, New York, reports that there is a demand from
jewelry manufacturers and copper workers for floor-scrub-
bing machines which pick up dirt and debris. With these
machines, it is claimed, the manufacturers recover a large
amount of valuable metal which drops to the floor. The
company named above is sole selling agent for the electric
scrubbers made by the Sanitary Scrubbing Company, also
of 34 West Thirty-third Street, New York. One of the
company's machines was described in the Electrical World
of Nov. 7, 1914.
Extensive Use of Yacuum Cleaners in Printing Establish-
ments.— Mr. L. W. Ferrell, of the Vacuna Company, 29
Broadway, New Y'ork, recently stated to a representative of
the Electrical World that a number of vacuum cleaners
are being used in printing plants for cleaning printing
presses, paper cutters, folders, type cases and printed stock
which has been bronzed. Mr. Ferrell said that May is the
best month of the year for the business of his company.
The demand for vacuum cleaners at this time of the year,
he asserted, is great because of the almost universal belief
of housewives that spring is the time for thorough house-
cleaning, although, as vacuum cleaners come to be more
generally used, people will realize that such periodic up-
heavals in the household are unnecessary.
Opportunities Good for Electrical Products of American
Manufacture in Scotland. — In a commercial report by Con-
sul John M. McCunn on Scotland it is stated that there was
never a better time for manufacturers of electrical goods
to establish permanent business connections in Scotland
than the present. Mr. McCunn warns manufacturers to con-
sider the local and individual requirements, however. Busi-
ness in the country is worth striving for, he declares,
because in the near future British makers cannot possibly
cope with the demand. With a view to establishing trade
he suggests that American manufacturers get in touch
with reliable firms that can buy on their own account.
There are a number of firms, Mr. McCunn asserts, which
can afford and are willing to pay for what they order.
Everything electrical is wanted, and the demand for do-
mestic appliances especially is increasing daily.
The Dey Electric Corporation, 45 Broadway, New York,
has recently been incorporated and has taken over the Dey
Electric Vehicle Syndicate, also of 45 Broadway, New York.
The corporation proposes to manufacture a light-weight,
low-priced electric vehicle. This car is to be operated by
a motor equipped with revolving field and revolving arma-
ture in the rear axle as described in the Electrical World
of April 3. The location of the company's factory for build-
ing these vehicles has not been decided upon. Mr. Max E.
Schmidt, the president of the corporation, is also president
of the Continuous Transit Securities Company. Mr. H. W.
Hillman, formerly of the sales department of the General
Electric Company and the General Vehicle Company, is
vice-president and treasurer. Mr. Henry E. Dey is engi-
neer, and Dr. C. P. Steinmetz is consulting engineer for
the company.
Exports of Material for Building. — A special compilation
which enumerates representative articles for use in build-
ing construction exported from the United States has just
been brought out by the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic
Commerce, Department of Commerce. For the fiscal year
1914 these products were valued at approximately $150,-
000,000. although since the outbreak of the European war
there has been a marked decrease in the exports of these
products. It is anticipated that after the conclusion of the
Wat then Will be a greatly increased demand for material
of this kind. The following list includes some of the
articles of electrical interest which were exported during
the fiscal year 1911 for use as building material or as
factory and house furnishings, and gives their value: Pipes
and fittings made of wrought iron, (1 1,337,978; chandeliers
etc., $2,806,036; dynamo . 34,366; transformer
18; telephones, $1,662,961; interior-wiring fixtures
i: batteriea) $686,640; electric fans, $482,666; electric
lamps. $468,269; Bre extinguisher-. $109,678.
May I, 1916
ELECT R I C A 1. WOK I. I)
Diapeafaag "i i sad Rkntrir I are, rhe New fori I
Vehti • on has a number of Deed electric pll
in it- garage at < ■
. which have been overhauled ami arc being -old under
a guaranty. The association I •. a«'|iiire a num-
trie trucks in the near future, ami will
dispOM "f them under assurances to purcl
like those now given with the ooed pleasure veh
C.imkJ Lamp- and (■nod Scr\icc. — Lamps sold to .on-umcrs
during- the last year by central station! showed bj test that
in average length of life they were well within the standard
■ the lamps distributed to tin- public by
others thar only I- per cent were up to
urd, said Mr. Preston S. Millar, gei ei al mat agei of the
Electrical Testing Laboratories of New York City, before
the Minnesota Electrical Association, in explaining to the
central-station men present that, although they might have
a good power house, a well-maintained distribution system
and a competent engineering force, their lighting service
cannot attain its highest efficiency until some attention is
given to the lamp situation. The central Btation which does
not to some extent interest itself in the lamps being distrib-
uted to its consumers, declared Mr. Millar, is courting trou-
ble. Lamps are a commodity in the sale of which there U
the possibility of many abuses, and therefore the centra]
station should see that the lamps are properly handled for
the ultimate good of both the consumer and the lighting
company.
Thrcc-CJuartcr Million Cas-Filled Tungsten Lamps Sold
lo Hate. — Since gas-filled tungsten lamps were first placed
on the market, only about a year ago, 375,000 of these
high-efficiency units have been sold. These lamps, accord-
ing to an estimate presented by Mr. Henry Schroeder, of
Harrison, X. J., in a paper read before the Iowa Section of
the National Electric Light Association, have been the
source of more than $15,000,000 of increased revenue to the
lighting companies during the past year. Other data given
NUMBER OF LAMPS SOLD IN THE UNITED STATES
Carbon
I i.-r.i
i.-nt
rot ■
1908 .
-.1.000. 000
1,000,000
1.000,000
80,000,000
It 10
17 lux), 000
8,000,000
u 000,000
75,000.000
h>u
28,000 """
81,000 mm
0,000
80,000,000
Iflll
S.OIKI 000
22,000,000
7ll.IHHI.IKhl
1 000
b> Mr. Schroeder on the total lamp sales for the United
States are presented in the accompanying table. These fig-
how in an interesting manner the healthy growth in
total lamp sales and the increasing popularity of the tung-
sten-filament lamp.
NEW YORK METAL MARKET PRICES
, April 20 \pril 27 ,
Belling Prices Selling Pi Ices
Bid 1 ked Bid \ ■■>.. d
Copper Bad t -
London, ' la 15 0 si
Laki 17 50 to 1 ? 75 18.8
17 i 2" . to I ; ::?' • is 50 to I". r.L'i .
Casting 17.76
Coppi - is 50 19.87%
Nickel 12 00 to I i 00
Itei I I 50
1 1.251
-
Aluminum. 98 to 9! r cent 18.73 18.75 toll
•OLD METALS
opper a nd win 1 5. BO I . DO
hi avj 10 50
light 9 i"'
Zinc, scrap ....
♦COPPER EXPORTS
Total tons to Iprll 27 14.41
• prom d '■•'«■ York Metal E*
r N
New Incorporations
I In- Hammond Light iV Power Company, of Hammond,
X. Y . i anted a charter with a capital stock of
rhe incorporator* are Milton Seper, W. S
end !■ II. Bertrand, all of Hammond, N. V.
I In Id II Gate Canyon A. i <«iuill, Pewer Company, of
Grant1 incorporated by George E.
. and
Wharton I'lumnier. of Chicago, 111. The company is capi-
talized at (1,000,000, and proposes to build a power plant
to supply electricity in the city of ' for irriga-
tion and other purpi
New Industrial Companies
I In- Universal Electric Company, of Detroit, Mich., has
been incorporated with a capital stuck of $15,000 to manu-
facture and deal in electric vacuum cleaners and washing
machines.
The Standard Electric & Manufacturing Company, of
Pittsburgh, Pa., has been incorporated with a capital stock
ut slO.000 by Benjamin Raphael, Max I. Amdursky and
Joseph Goldstein, all of Pittsburgh, Pa.
The Bijou Lighting Fixture Company, of New York. X. V..
has been incorporated by J. Snyder, Max and Leopold
Zelinka, 2605 Eighth Avenue, New York. X. Y. The com-
pany is capitalized at $5,000 and proposes to manufacture
gas and electric-light fixtures.
Trade Publications
Geared Turbines. — The Kerr Turbine Company, Wellsville,
N. Y., has recently issued Bulletin No. 51, which is entitled
"Economy Geared Turbines."
\\ iremen's Gasoline Blow-Torch. — The Carleton Company,
170 Summer Street, Boston, Mass., has issued a card which
contains information on a gasoline blow-torch for wiremen.
Low-Priced Electric Truck. — The Ward Motor Vehicle
Company, Mount Vernon, N. Y., has prepared an illustrated
folder which describes its light-weight, low-priced electric
truck.
Electric Lanterns. — Several types of electrically operated
lanterns are described and illustrated in a catalog just is-
sued by the Burchwell Manufacturing Company, St. Louis,
Mo.
Lock Attachment for Ignition System Switch. — The Con-
necticut Telephone & Electric Company, Meriden, Conn.,
has prepared a leaflet which contains information on a lock
for ignition-system switches.
One-Piece Steel Poles. — The Bates Expanded Steel Truss
Company, 208 South La Salle Street, Chicago, 111., has pub-
lished an illustrated catalog describing its one-piece pole and
transmission -line structures.
Electric Washing Machines. — The Automatic Electric
Washer Company, Newton, la., has issued an illustrated
catalog which contains information on several types of elec-
tric washers and on its selling helps for the dealer.
Stage-Lighting Apparatus.— The Universal Electric Stage
Lighting Company, 240 West Fiftieth Street, New York,
has prepared a catalog on electric stage lighting. The
company has also published a booklet on the lighting of
studios.
Testing Liquid-Flow Meters. — The Harrison Safety Boiler
Works, Philadelphia, Pa., have issued engineering Leaflet
No. 18, entitled "Laboratory for Investigating and Testing
Liquid-Flow Meters of Large Capacity." This is a reprint
of a paper read at the annual meeting of the American
Society of Mechanical Engineers in December by Mr. W. S.
Giele.
Heating Appliances.— The Hotpoint Electric Heating Com-
pany, Ontario, Cal., has issued a catalog, entitled "Home
Book of Electricity," which contains information on a num-
ber of different types of electrically operated heating
appliances. The company has also issued booklets entitled
"Pockel Reference Book for Lighting Companies' Appliance
Salesmen" and "Appliance Handbook for Central Stations."
1148
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 18
Construction News
New England
CARMEL. MAINE.— Plana are being con-
sidered bv the Black Stream El. Co., re-
centlv organized, to build an electric plant
to supply electricity in the towns of Carmei,
ii . Levant, and possibh Etna, The
cost of the proposed plant is estimated at
$25 000, and it will probably be located on
what is known as the Damon mill on the
Suwadabscook stream, about 1 mile weal
I mel station.
OSSOC, MAINE.— Steps have been
taken toward the organization of a com-
panv to be km.wn as the Oquossoc Lt. &
. for the purpose of supplying elec-
tricitj tor lamps and motors in Oquossoc.
The power is to be obtained from Kenne-
bago Falls about 10 miles from Oquossoc.
F B. Colby, H. C. Kiddle. John A. Russell
and others are interested.
BURLINGTON, VT. — The Burlington Lt.
& Pwr Co. expects to erect the power sta-
tion at Essex Junction for its new plant
within the next four months ; the dam ami
headgates were built last year. Material
has all been purchased. F. H. Parker is
manager.
HAVERHILL, MASS.— The Haverhill
El Co. has applied to the City Council for
permission to lay underground conduits in
Emerson Street from Washington to Wal-
nut Street.
LOWELL. MASS.— The City Council has
decided to grant the petition for extensions
of the ornamental lighting system in Merri-
mac and Middlesex Streets.
NANTUCKET, MASS. — The Citizens'
Gas, El & Pwr. Co., of Nantucket, has re-
centlv purchased a 100-kw General Electric
turbine, condenser and boiler and 31 No-
valux" type nitrogen street lamps. H. i .
Jlalvcrson is superintendent.
Middle Atlantic
BROOKLYN. N. Y.— Bid will be received
by L H Pounds, president of the borough
of Brooklyn, Room 2, Borough Hall, Brook-
lyn, until May 5, for making alterations and
repairs, including electric work, at the Lori-
mer Street comfort station, borough ot
Brooklyn. Blank forms and further in-
formation may be obtained and plans may
be seen at the office of the Bureau of Public
Buildings and Offices, 50 Court Street,
Brooklyn.
BUFFALO, N. Y. — The Buffalo General
Electric Co. expects to purchase within the
next six months rectifiers, etc., amounting to
$12 000; switches and regulators. $2:>,000 :
wire ami cable, $15,000: appliances. $9,000,
and lamps, $12,000. Roscoe McMillan is
statist i
CANANDAIGUA, N. Y.— The City Coun-
cil has entered into a contract with the
Ontario Lt A Trac. Co.. of Canandaigua.
to supplv electricity to operate the water-
works pumping plant. Under the terms of
the contract the company agrees to install
the electrical equipment at the pumping sta-
tion, at a cost of about $12,000.
FULTON, N. Y. — The Fulton Lt.. Ht. &
pwr Co., expects to purchase within the
next three months 100 irons, six washing
machines and 12 fans. J. J. Jordan is gen-
eral manager.
ITHACA, N. T. — The installation of an
ornamental lighting system in the busi-
ness district is under consideration.
LAKE PLACIIi, N. Y. — The Public Serv-
,. Mission has granted its approval of
the extension of the electric-lighting service
Of Lake Placid to Bl
jacent ' town Of North Elba,
which include the Whlti t u e inn dlsti li '. the
i gam nac A.venu. dlsl rict, I he
Placid Heights district, the Averyvtlle Ala-
nd the Newman di
NEW YORK, N. V The contract for
ga« and electric fixtures for the main
Hoi pital has been awn. id to the
Shipley Construction a Supplj Co
NEW YORK, N. T. — The Publli
!,, the Intercontinental I
tlon is in
i i. ling from
00 ft. east
\ '. . mil'
'i i IRK, N Y Bids w di bi
i . rig, New York, until M
electrli lighting
■■ '
".os 9, II.
■
further information may be obtained and
plans and drawings may be seen at the
office of the Fire Department, eleventh floor,
Municipal Building.
NEW YORK, N. Y. — The Board of Esti-
mate has adopted a resolution authorizing
the Mayor to execute a contract granting a
franchise to the New York Edison Co. and
subsidiary electric companies of the Consol.
Gas Co. to construct, maintain and operate
transmission lines over the Catskill Aque-
duct lands for the purpose of supplying elec-
tricity for a period of 25 years, in return for
which the lessees will supply to the city
without cost all electrical energy required
for working, lighting and pumping siphons
along the route of the new aqueduct.
EBENSBUEG, PA. — Within the next 30
days the Ebensburg Lt., Ht. & Pwr. Co.
expects to install one SOO-hp Blake &
Knowles open feed-water heater and one
Worthington duplex feed pump. Charles
S. Evans is president.
HARRISBURG, PA. — The installation of
electrical equipment to replace some of the
steam-driven machinery is under considera-
tion by the Harrisburg Pipe & Pipe Bending
Works in connection with the proposed ex-
tension to its plant. Negotiations have been
closed with the Harrisburg Lt. & Pwr. Co.
for the substitution of electrical power bv
Jan. 1, 1916. About 2500 hp will be re-
quired.
HARRISBURG, PA.— Bids will be re-
ceived by the Board of Commissioners of
Public Grounds and Buildings of the Com-
monwealth of Pennsylvania, Harrisburg.
until May 11 for furnishing supplies for
Executive Mansion, the Legislature, the
several departments, boards and commis-
sions of the State government, as follows :
Engineering instruments, laboratory and
engineering supplies, hardware supplies,
and for furnishing light, heat and power
supplies. Blank bonds and schedules con-
taining necessary information may be ob-
tained upon application to Samuel B.
Rambo, superintendent public grounds and
buildings.
LEHIGHTON. PA. — The Lehighton El. Lt.
& Pwr. Co. expects to purchase within the
next three months one Stirling water-tube
boiler. ISO boiler tubes, three sets arch
bricks and inside firebrick, one 250-kw. two-
phase. 60-cycle alternator, 35 5 amp. 12"-
volt Bot. Conn, glass-covered meters, two
2%-kw and four 5-kw transformers. L. B.
Home is manager.
MAHAFFEY, PA. — The Susquehanna El.
Co.. of Mahaffey. Pa., is contemplating re-
placing the carbon street lamps now in use
with "Mazda" lamps. F. J. Anderson is
manager.
MARTINSBURG, PA.— Steps will be
taken immediately by the receivers of the
Martinsburg Pwr. Co. for reorganizing and
financing the company in accordance with
the agreement made with Day & Zim-
merman, of Philadelphia, representing the
stockholders. The name of the company
will be changed to the Potomac Lt. & Pwr.
Co., and the capital stock will be increased
to $1,000,000. It is also proposed to enlarge
the two plants on the Potomac River and
the one in Martinsburg H. H. Emmert. C.
B. Martin, of Martinsburg. and .Tames H
Harlow, of Darlington. Bid., are receivers
MEDIA, PA. — The Borough Council is
considering calling a special election to
^ui t the proposal to authorise an appro-
priation of $711.111111 for tie
sedimentation basin and other improve-
ments to the nitration svsteni anil to the
I plant. New pumps.
new boilers ami other equipment is needed.
It is proposed to install electric motor-
driven i
PITTSBURGH, PA. The contract for
equipment for the labora-
tory building of the Bureau oi Mines at
Pittsburgh has I led to
dard En of Washington. 1>. C.
at $68,8 10
pi ittsv ii. i.e. P \ The Eastern Penn-
it. in. a Pwr Co . of i
templatlng Increasing the output of
SHIPPENSBURO, PA The Shlppens-
i g 1:1 Co is Installing a hydro-
.1,1, |c !»,» SI eh will have a
l.w The plant
out Julj 1 .
W Manual! is su pel i n I el elent .
\\ ATLLEi IRD, PA Within 11"
ii « itii an o
oil trans-
r,,i tin.-.. 50 k* w ■
■ n nil the ■
!: c Waltz is treasurer and supei i
WILKES-BARRE, PA.— Plans, it is re-
ported, have been completed by the Lehigh
■x- \\ ilkes-Barre Coal Co. for the erection of
a large power plant and shops near the Em-
pire Colliery, Georgetown, to cost about
$200,000. The plant will supply power for
several collieries near by.
HIGHTSTOWN. N. J. — Mayor Thomas
Is promoting a plan to install a municipal
electric-lighting plant in Hightstown.
VENTNOR CITY. N. J. (not a post of-
fice)— The City Council has authorized the
installation of lamps erected on new orna-
mental iron standards the entire length of
the Ventnor Boardwalk.
WOODSTOWN. N. J. — Within the next
30 days the Woodstown Ice & Cold Storage
Co. expects to purchase one 100-kw. Hi>-
cycle generator with switchboard and in-
struments; also to purchase within the next
six months 25 lightning arresters. 25 watt-
hour meters and 4000 lb. of wire : also a
few irons and vacuum cleaners. The com-
pany is changing its system from 133 cy-
cles, single-phase, to 60 cycles, three-phase.
The company will dispose of the 133-cycle
equipment. C. F. Moore is treasurer.
LAUREL, DEL. — A deal has been con-
summated for the consolidation of the
Sussex Lt. & Pwr. Co., of Laurel, the
Salisbury Lt., Ht. & Pwr. Co., of Salisbury,
the Cambridge Gas, El. Lt. & Pwr. Co., of
Cambridge, Md., the Georgetown Lt., Ht. &
Pwr. Co., of Georgetown, the Milton Lt,
Pwr. & Wtr. Co., of Milton, and several
smaller lighting and power companies. The
new company will be capitalized at $1,000,-
000. The various towns will receive elec-
trical service from a central plant, prob-
ably located at Laurel. Jesse E. D. Price
and William M. Cooper, both of Salisbury,
Md., are interested in the new company.
BALTIMORE, MD.— The Board of Esti-
mates has authorized the Water Board to
prepare specifications for the installation
of an electrically driven centrifugal pump
(with daily capacity of 25.000,000 gal.) at
the Eastern pumping station, to cost ap-
proximately $25,000.
MYERSVILLE. MD. — The Hagerstown &
Frederick Ry. Co., of Hagerstown, is con-
templating the installation of a substation
in Myersville.
PARKERSBURG, W. VA. — The site has
been decided upon for the proposed new
electric generating station of the Parkers-
burg. Marietta & Interurban Ry. Co., plans
for which have been prepared by Sanderson
& Porter. 52 William Street. New York.
N. Y. The building will be 135 ft. bv 150
ft. and will cost about $500,000. v
tracts have been let as yet for either the
construction or equipment.
WILLIAMSON. W. VA. — Preparations
are being made by the Norfolk * Western
Rv. Co. to equip the entire Pocahontas di-
vision for electrical operation. Electric
motors are already in service hauling trains
over Bluestone Mountain.
CLIFTON FORGE, VA. — Within the
next live months the Virginia Western El.
Co. of Clifton Forge, expects to build a
hydroelectric plant, five substations, and
erect 42 miles of 44.000-volt. three-phase
transmission line: also to purchase within
the next three months three waterwheel
governors and three 600-kva generators,
etc. A. H. Grimsby is chief engineer.
SHENANDOAH, VA. — Within the next
ths the managers of the municipal
electric-light plant expect to purchl
lightning arresters, J. A. Booton is su-
perintendent.
WASHINGTON, I' '" The sale of gen-
eral Improvement bonds to the amount of
has been authorized by tbi' Potomac
El Pwr. Co.. of Washington. P. C. to pro-
vide funds for the following worl
tension of underground conduits for street
and park lighting. $7,262; extension of
underground cables for same. $24,262: ad-
ditional street lamps. $5,715. an. I
tension to street-lighting system for 1915,
tlL'.iiini.
WASHINGTON, IV C- Bids will be re-
the Secretary of the Interior, iv-
partment of the interior. Washington, i> c
until May 11, for furnishing material and
labor required for rewiring the third floor
a id galleries of the Patent Office
Washington, and making all CO
ready for service in accordance with plans
of which may
It line, I upon application to the chief
clerk "f the department
w VSHINGTON, P. C. Pols will be
; of Supplies
counts, Nav\ Department. Washington,
until Mnv 11 for fnrnishin
mis and naval stations sun-
follows: Brooklyn, N Y. Schedule
i cut and ri
rent dynamotors. one telephone motor-gen-
erator, one ship's telephone switchboard.
mtrol and mai
telephones Newport News. Va . -
E I. E< TRICAL WORLD
1149
rol tele-
ile BJ14 — two
trade
- in the
■ H.il6
■ r in the I'nlted
which nit h.
with vulcani
■ T A IT.-. POI r
■
n rc-lamp
■ t lamps
No 14,421
I flrm In southern Europe
consul that it wishes
In touch with American manufac-
No 14,422 —
A firm in tin- United Kingdom Informs an
ilar officer that it is in the
lee of opal, glass and
Insulating materials.
Ive tape, hall
tape. Chatterton'a compound, shellac and
manlla paper, suitable for use in the man-
This firm is
also a buyer in large quantities of electri-
\ flrm in
Italy informs an American consular officer
Arms manufacturing
-1 electric motors, etc.
No 16,436— An American consular officer
porta that it is under-
stood that a concession for an electric
light and power plant fur a town of 7000
nts will be let to an Am. n
poratlon in the near future. The corpora-
ll stated, now controls a number
Of public utilities No 16,451 — This bureau
i "i|.t ..f a letter from -■> I
firm in the 1 transmitting a
communi , flrm in Switzerland
which -.- electric wires
and ribbons. Samples are requested. No.
■
communirat.- with American manul
an. I exporters of copper wire, ingots and
for the manufacture of d
n. I mat.-rial
the wire, etc .No 16,548 This bureau is
In receipt of a letter from a foreign consul
Iti N.w York City requesting nan
■ s of manufacturers of searchlights
ui in diameter. No. lo,
-ular officer in China trans-
mits a report relative to an opportunity
for the rical supplies, A pam-
Lative to this opportunity may he
<. .i He Bureau of Foreign and
Commerce or its branch offices.
N" 16,45! Al consular officer
eutral European countries
writes that a firm in his district desires to
offers from American manufac-
tiii.is who • lion to deliver
searchlights tor military pur-
A commeit
ganlzatinn in Russia informs an American
consular officer that It desires to represent
i! manufacturers of electric lamps,
motion-picture machines.
Ign lega-
tions In Washington informs this bureau
thai a manufacturer of electrical toot
irket for the -
wire I! Islor and
electrical re-
: n ii A pam-
phlet Illustrating the foot warmers may
at this bureau ami its branch
No 16,617- A manufacturer in
ind informs a consular
munlcate with
manufactun al heat-
ing and cooking apparatus ami electrical
soldering apparatus No. 16.146 — An
ilar otllcer in Spain reports
i in Africa .1.
impoil X re.
in I. -nee and catalogs should be u
Spanish. Further Information may be oh
immerce, \\ ashlngton, I >. < '.. or
its branch ofl
North Central
A.w ARBOR, MICH Tentatl
, I. Illllle.l lo til
Council : ■ i. .it
for the instill!,, i mi, ,,i i i, ,,,,,,, |pal eleel i Ic
light plant to Bupplj electricity for lighting
BtS and public buildings
i plant is placed at $55,585.
DETROIT. MICH
iddltlon
■
le.l
■IT. MICH Within the next
I
sfl-arms,
■
I " IWA( IIA( '. Mb 'II Pn
Public Woi ka
light pi - lor which will be
■iili. The plans
call f.u i 150-kw, thf.
ne-type i
■ - itor and switch-
regulator i 6.6 amp l
:..r "Mazda" lamp- ne with
stimates
il tnatinn from manufacturers of this
engine William K. Reynolds is
superintendent.
HANOVER, MICH Henrj Schlegelot
- reported, la contemplating
. lectric-ligbting plant
CINCINNATI, OHIO Messrs. Zettel ft
Rapp, architects. Johnston Bulldli
dnnatl, i gaged by P. a
plans for
relnforced-con-
ower bulldli | ocated al
Eighth B i to cost
about $ 1 i
CLEVELAND, OHIO. — Plans an
considered by thi Detroit Avenue Business
on for installing an orna-
mental lighting system on Detroit Avenue
N \v between Weal Forty-fifth Street and
West I02d Sti
CLEVELAND, < » J f I < • -The executive
committee of the Ohio state Tel. Co. has
additional expenditure of $136,516
for extensions and improvements, as fol-
lows: Improvements and extensions at
kron, $2,750: Canton.
i olumbus,
Dayton, $50,000 : Washington
C. H., long-distance lines, $35,000; long
-. $25,000, and two stations
m Cleveland, to J hundred thou-
sand dollars, one on the west side at West
sixty- fifth Stre< tin Avenue, and
CLEVELAND, OHIO— Bids will be re-
ceived by A R Callow, commissioner of
purchases and sup. plies, Room r.ll, Citv
Hall. Cleveland. Ohio, until May 7 for
nsformers and switch-
ing equipment for the municipal electric-
LOCOI da i with specifica-
tions which may be obtained at the office
of the commissioner of light and heat di-
vision. 1443 Easl Third Street, Cleveland.
Bids will also be r Ived al the same
time and place for constant-current trans-
am! switching equipment and for
lamps and glassware tor the municipal elec-
tric-light plant.
GALLFPOLIS, OHIO. The Gallipolis El.
& Pwr. Co. is rebuilding its station and
changing its system from 133 cycles. 1100
volts, to 60 cycles, three-phase. 2300 volts,
and is now installing a new 160-kw General
Electric alternator, 100-kw turbine, 100-kw
ter (a00 volts, General Elec-
tric), and .Mil. i\ new switchboards. The
- ' will be used to supply 600-
volt direct-current service to the Gallipolis
* Northern Traction Co., to begin ahout
Durii i, ■ onths the
company has rebuilt its overhead service
lid installed 70 a, l.li,
'i Gallipolis.
nil. 1. 1 'RDS, i 'HHi- The Milliards Lt.
,v Pwr. «'„, , ently incorporated with a
capital sto.l; of $10,000, is planning to in-
stall an
Hllllards, to supply electricity tor street-
llghtlng i . i ■.,
Bobyns. T C Latham and others are ln-
l.isit. IN. OHIO The ..I c.s A El
.... i, centlj organised, eonti mplate the
l linllt plant in
i , .mil others He
MASSTLLON, OHIO Clans are being
Clt3 ' 'ouncil for the In-
Btallal oi i' , lighting
on El. & G
hi street light
MOUNT BLANCHARD, OHIO.— Bonds
100 have I n issued
tor the in i.ilkil i. .ii oi BleCtrlC street -
lighting
NEVt BERLIN, OHIO Thi Council has
awarded the < lanton El Co., of i lanton, s
, -en ic( io iicht the streets of the village
tor a period of 10 years, which provide!
tor the Install n ol 1 1 ., i .
Ii pei year and nitrogen lncan-
..i.ii per annum.
OXFORD, OHIO 'rim trustees of Miami
- '
I be Hi-
ll Trust
Building,
Council
f the Cli
. R Co.. of Wll-
icity for the city
ss.d an ordinance
bonds to
npment
plant.
for the n
8PRINOFIELD. I IHII ■ 1
tal light-
South I^ago.,
rORKVILLE, "llbi -The power plant
Red Mud Mine of the Russell Coal
by tire.
FORT THOMAS. KY.— Application has
of Fort Thomas for
a franchise to install and operate an elec-
tric-lighting s
HARLAN. KY. — The Kentucky Utilities
Co., of Lexington, has begun work on the
erection of a new transmission line from
Harlan running over the mountains, through
Wilhoit and Terry's Fork to Varilla.
LOUISVILLE, KY. — Plans are being
nen. architects.
.Ming. Louisville, for the erection
of a four-story building for the Speed es-
tate on Fourth Street. Bids, it is stated,
, trie wiring, etc.. will
ed on June 1.
CHALMERS, IND.— The town of Chal-
iui is is considering the installation of a
municipal electric-lighting plant. Tt is
proposed to purchase energy to operate the
system.
CONNERSVTLLE, IND.— The City Coun-
cil is considering the installation of a new
street-lighting system,
ELKHART, IND. The City Council is
reported to have engaged an engineer to
prepare plans for an ornamental lighting
system tor Main and Second streets in the
business section of the town.
GRABILL. IND.— The Allen County Kl.
Lt & Pwr. Co., recently incorporated, with
a capital sick of $15,000, proposes to sup-
1>I\ electricity In six small towns in Allen
County. Among the directors are P. S.
Amstutz and George Krudop.
HUNTINGTON. IND. — The Board of
Works, it is reported, will petition the City
Council for an appropriation for the erec-
tion of additional distributing lines and
street lamps. The amount required is es-
timated from $3,000 to $12,000.
MARTINSVILLE, IX I '.—Contracts, it is
reported, have been awarded for the instal-
lation of two generating units in the elee-
tric plant of the Martinsville Gas & El.
Co., one 200-Uw and the other 250-kw.
The company is contemplating extending
its transmission lines about 19 miles. The
Reliance Engineering Co.. Cincinnati, Ohio,
has charge of the engineering work.
RICHMOND, IND. — The Liberty Lt. &
Pwi Co., of Richmond, is contemplating ex-
i, ruling its transmission lines to Economy,
Chester. Fountain City. Williamsburg and
ork, to furnish electrical service in
those town The o panj has recently se-
,ii,., I i contract to supply electricity to the
Rheinhein at New Paris, re-
lea m power.
ROCHESTER, IND. — The United Public
Service i'h, of Rochester, has taken over
the I uion Wtr.. Lt & Pwr.
Co., of Bourbon, and. it Is reported, will
i several northern Indiana plants
ami extend Its service lines. Action has
been taken li\ the company relative to au-
thorizing an issue of $1,000,000 in bonds.
ROYAL CENTER, IND. — The capital
the Royal Center El. Lt Co. has
i, , en Increased from $10,000 to $15,000.
CHICAGO, ll. I. The Chicago Tel. Co.
hi- purchased a Bite I 1 10 ft by iso ft.)
just outside of Chicago, on which, it is re-
ported, Hi. company contemplates the
ereel i a n.w seven-story exchange
building, ai a i ..si srr.o.ooo.
CHICAGO, ILL A new water-power
lect, to cosl approximately $7,000,000, is
to be submitted to the present Legislature.
ii to Governor Dunne's plans to de-
velop the power iii the Illinois River at
Starved Rock, at a cost of $4,000,000. The
site of the $7,000,000 proposition is at the
head of Patterson's Island in Desplalnes
River, a short distance below .Toliet. A bill
to i mpower the Sanitary District of Chi-
cago and the Stale jointly to proceed with
the undertaking is now being prepared in
i lie otliccs ol the Sanitary District of Chi-
, ,
MOLINE, ill The People's Pwr. Co..
controlled by the Tri-Clty Rj .v Lt. Co.,
ha decided to discard the switchboard In
the i&Oline plant and erect in its place a
board equipped with non-compartment
switches of high rating.
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 18
MONMOUTH, ILL.— The Public Utilities
Commission has granted the Monmouth Pub.
Ser. Co. permission to issue $42,000 in
bonds.
SHAWANO, WIS. — Options, it is report -
been taken by the Municipal Light
rod Water Commission on a dam site and
tiowage lands on Wolf I liver for a pro-
ydroelectric plant, to cost about
$.',0,000. " Plans and estimates are being
prepared by the Power Engineering Co., or
.Minn, i
ELMORE, MINX- The town ol
has entered into a contract with i
monwealtn Pwr. Co., of Mankato, to furnish
electricity tor lamps and motors in
.. , ni.i of -" years The i
will extend its transmission line from Am-
llmore.
HIBBINC MINN. — Construction work
on the power house to be built at Alice
In conjunction with the new water sys-
tem will be started some time next month,
it is r.-ported. R. J. Morehouse is engi-
t eei .
REDWOOD FALLS, MINN.— Bids will
ed by H. M. Aune. secretary of
icatlon, Redwood Falls, until
iditions and alterations in the
high-school building, separate bids to be
submitted as follows: (A) general con-
tract-. (Hi plumbing: (C) heating; (D)
I contract Plans and speciflca-
ly be obtained after May 13 upon
application to Tyrie & chapman archi-
tects 320 Auditorium Building, Minneap-
sit of $l.r, for general con-
mi $io for each set of plans tor
rid D.
STILLWATER, MINN.— The city light-
niit.-e has engaged Earl D. Jack-
onsulting engineer, of St. Paul, to
Drenare plans for an ornamental lighting
system - also plans for lighting system
without ornamental lamps and also for a
municipal lighting plant.
BRIGHTON, IA.— L. R. Sherrill. of Burl-
ington, it is reported, has been granted a
• to construct and operate an elec-
i i-i. -light plant in Brighton.
CENTERVTLLE. IA. — The Centerville
I i A Trac Co., it is reported, is contem-
nlating the erection of a transmission line
to Cim innati, a dista of 9 miles The
company proposes to furnish electricity in
Cincinnati for street-lighting and com-
mercial purposes and also to the mines
i be route. Harry Longnecker is su-
i i I. nt of the company.
CRESTON IA. — The Creston Mutual El.
I.t Ht & Pwr. Co. is contemplating extend-
ing' its transmission lines to Tingley, Shan-
non City, Irispe and Diagonal.
tNDEPENDENCE, IA.— Bids will be re-
ceived at the office of E. A. Bordner, audi-
tor of Buchanan County. Independence.
until May '-i for construction of a new
county home, in accordance with plans
dfications prepared by Henry h..
[sfetcott, architect. Independence. Sepa-
... WU1 be received as follows: (A)
construction of building: (B) for heating
and plumbing ' lectrlc work Plans
and specifications are on file in the above
copies may be obtained from
the architect upon deposit of $20, to be
refunded upon return of same.
IOWA CITY, IA. — Plans are being pre-
pared by the tows City Lt & Pwr. Co. for
rehabilitating its generating station, in-
cluding the EnstaUatli a L.nn-kw turl o-
eenerntoi waterwheel
...i'i, and :• 200-hp Babcock & Wilcox
boiler
, ,i ,| -in ii,t ia The citj of Odebolt has
II & Frye, of Corydon, a fran-
■ mi, t :,i perate an electric
plnnt in Odebolt for a period of 20
ost of the plant Is estimated at
. ii.i -ii mm >, l \ i iptlons, it is reported,
. ured on sites along the I ledat
for the purpose of building a hydro-
power planl at i »chard The com
ultimately to furali h elei
triritv In several counties in northern Iowa
outhern Minnesota.
itk l\ The Installation of an elec-
tric Hgi i about $10,000)
ii i i. Id< ' ii ton \ eompanj .
oi gantsed to con
struct ii"- proposed plant
WELLMAN, IA 1! N .lessen, it is re-
mtemplatlng the Install ition of
an electric-lighting system In connection
with ii m WeUnuro
CHILL1COTHE, MO Bids will be re-
ceived nt the office of the supervl
D lartment,
D •' , ,,,,tii June "
including mei ha nli ii • qulpn
:■ Pi.ro;,. hi i of the United Statei
.1 Chililcothi In -iw
ItiKS ;. ■
the above office oi from the custodian of
site.
SKIDMORE, MO.— The .Mound City El.
Lt. & Ice Co., of Mound City, has applied to
the Council for a franchise to construct and
operate an electric-lighting system in Skid-
mo, ... The company proposes to erect a
transmission line to Skidmore. via Graham.
BELFIELD, N. D. — The Chrysler Lt. &
Pwr. Co. is installing an electric power
plant in Belfield. Equipment and ma-
chinery for plant has been purchased. The
company has not yet purchased material
for distributing system, with exception of
poles. About 100 110-volt, no-cycU. amp
and 10-arnp meters will be required.
Chrysler, of Beach, is engineer in
charge of the work. Post office address for
the present is Beach, N. D.
BROKEN BOW, NEB.— At an election
held recently the proposal to issue $10,000
in bonds for the installation of a municipal
electric-light plant was carried.
DUNDEE, NEB. — At an election held
recently the proposal to issue $35,000 in
bonds for the installation of an ornamental
street-lighting system was carried.
OMAHA, NEB. — Governor Morehead has
vetoed the Saunders municipal light bill
passed bv the Legislature, on the ground
that the bill conferred no rights on the city
of i imaha not now possessed, and that the
need had been greatly exaggerated. The
Senate will be asked to pass the bill over
the Governor's veto.
SHELTON, NEB. — At an election held
recentl) the proposal to issue bonds to pur-
chase the plant of the Shelton electric light
., i„] powei plant was carried.
HAYES. KAN- The Council is consider-
ing the installation of an electric-lighting
plant, to cost about $27,000.
HUMBOLDT, TENN. — Within the next
two months the commissioners of the elec-
tric-light and water- works plant expect to
install an electrically driven centrifugal
pump and to rebuild the electric distribut-
ing system. AY. M. Case is manager and
superintendent.
GADSDEN. ALA — The City Council is
reported to be contemplating replacing
steam power in the pumping station with
Ii ally driven machinery.
LAUREL, MISS. — Bids will be n
at the otlice of the supervising architect.
Treasury Department, Washington, D. C,
until Mav Is. for construction complete,
including" mechanical equipment, lighting
fixtures and approaches, of the United
Stati post office at Laurel, Miss. Draw-
ings and specifications may be obtained
at the above office or from the custodian of
site at Laurel.
BLYTHEVTLLE, ARK. — The Southwest-
ern Utilities Co., which controls power
plants in Blytheville and several cities in
Missouri, has increased its capital stock
from (425,000 to $800,000.
HORATH i, ARK — An electric-light planl
is being installed in Horatio by Messrs.
Cowden & Edmonson.
MONROE, LA. — Bids will be received at
the office of the supervising architect.
Treasure Department, Washington. D. C.
until May 28 for installing a hot-water-
heating system, new boiler room and Cud
room in the United States court house, post
office, etc.. at Monroe. For details see
proposal columns.
Southern States
LAURINBURG, N. C. — Local capitalists,
it is reported, have organized a company to
furnish electricity for the cotton mill,
McNair Phosphate Co., Maxton, and for the
mills and the town of Lumberton. The pro-
posed plant will be situated in Launnburg.
BETHUNK, S. C. — Plans are being pre-
pared by the McBee El. Co., of McBee, for
tallation of an electric-lighting sys-
tem in Bethune. The company would like
t, ,-,., ,ivc pries and estimates on 8 miles
of No fi and 8 miles of No. 4 bare copper
wire 2 miles of No. 6 insulated copper
wire r.noo ft. of No. S and No. lo insulated
wire 1 0,000 ft. house wire, transformers,
Street hoods, cross-arms, hardware, insu-
lators, pins, etc
DENMARK, S. C— The Denmark Lt &
Pwr Co expects to complete within the
next two months its power house and to in-
stall an additional generating unit, which
,,!•. been ordered; also within the
next 30 days to erect a cooling tower and
outfit an,! within the next two months to
extend its distribution lines, material for
which has been purchased. F. M. Stan-
brough is manager.
JONESV1LLE, S. C. — At an election held
l-ceelllh the pn ml i franchise
to install an electric-lighting plant in Jones-
ville was carried,
UNION, S. C. — The Board of Public
Works ■ icpects to erect within the next
i .., ,, m - i Hi. it. three phase trims
mission line to supply electricity to operate
pumping station, located i miles from city:
also to install two feeder panels. All ma-
i, rial has been purchased. R A Easter-
ling is superintendent
DUBLDM, GA At an election to be held
inn,. 8 the proposal to issue $r,o,ooo in
I I- e. ill I., iil.niitted to the voters. The
uroi e, ,ls of $20,000 will be used for the con-
■ i in. i ! ice and cold-storage plant
msing exhaust steam of present light and
watt , planl i I i.OOO for an Incineratoi
jli i foi Improvements to light and water
plant and $10,000 for street improvements
m \< :i in, ' I \ The ' 'eiitrai ' leorgia Pwi
C-i , of Macon, it is reported, is eonteniplat
Ing Hi i is uctlon of a hydroelectric'
pi ml on Flint River. 12 miles from
Thomaston. Thi company, It is undersl I,
has contract secured to supplj electrlcitj
ton l lotton Mills.
which will eel an addition, costing $250.-
... .ii ,i, , ,,,i steam power for elec-
ii,. , -. ntiai Power i !o of Georgia,
It | i.iii.i planning to build
tior, and transmission line to transmit
. i, ,i, ,, ,i- from tie- i " mulgi e River di
velopment at Jackson via BarnasvlUe to
st PETERSBURG, FLA The General
, -,, , Muns, \ Building,
Baltimore. Md . is reported to h:,\o pu,
the propert] of the Bt Petersburg
El. Lt A- !■« i- i '" The new ,,\- |
, ments to
bout v.o.oon.
Pacific States
ELLENSBURG, WASH. —Within the
next two months the city of EUensburg ex-
pects to ask for bids on a 1000-kw steam
turbine and a 325-hp boiler. The city is
building an entire new plant, at a cost of
m;h nun. and will move all equipment from
old power station to new power house. E.
L. Butler is manager.
SPOKANE, WASH— The 22,500-hp units
,,i ii,. Long Lake power plant of the Wash-
ington Wtr. Pwr. Co. have been installed.
As soon as riveting on the penstock for the
second unit is completed concrete anchor-
ages will be poured, and then within a few
weeks the units will be tested and put in
service.
LA PINE, ORE. — The Pringle Falls El.
Pwr .V Wtr Co. is contemplating extending
its transmission lines to the towns of Cres-
cent Fremont and Fort Rock. The com-
pany is now installing machinery in its
power house at Pringle Falls.
BAKERSFIELD, CAL.— The Lakeview
Oil Co No. 1. it is reported, is contem-
plating the purchase of an electric gener-
ating plant, five To-hp lathes and other
equipment for power house and machine
shops. W. J. Burnhait is superintend, nt
OAKDALE, CAL.— Surveys are now he-
me: made for the proposed electric railway
into Hetch Hetchj Valley to be built b>
Of San Francisco. The |
railway will st.,rt from Oakdale.
PASADENA CAL. — Commissioners of
, olel, a have adopted a reso-
lution authorising the Inst
electric-lighting system, to be maint. .ad
05 underground wn.-s, on North Fair pan
\\. line Petitions are being circulated tor
Hi. Installation of ornamental lamps '
Southeast House Avenue.
SAN JOSE. CAL. The West Saul
Clara Street Improvement Association 1
considering the installation of ornamental
lamps on West Santa Clara Street, to form
,n of the ornamental lightim
Which Will extend the entire distance ft
sni .i,,se to sunt., Clara
TEHACHAPL CAL B
,,,,,,, ,,, t oi $8,000 have been voti
i :.,,, of a municipal electric-lightll
system Energy for operating tie
will be secured from the Pacific Lt .■. Pj»J
c,,,,,,,. ,,f Los Angeles, which is Inst ailing
the plant, at B cost of about -
„ hli ii Teh. i. hapl is to pa]
HUNTINGTON, UTAH The HuntlnftC
l,t pwr a Tel Co has filed applicable
w it'll the state engineer for 50 second!
,,r water In Huntington Creek, the watw
,,„- power purposes
, ii i.f.tte WTO Preparations
being made by Royal D. Salisbury, of tin.
Hi || is reported, for the installation
i i, light pi mi in ' llllette
I \ .ii \ta. COL At an election he
ntl; the proposal to issue 1
Install municipal electrlc-ll|
planl was OBJ i '• t
I , ,\ ELAND, COL Bonds to the amount
of $78,000 have been voted for the Installs
lecti ic-lightlng plnnt
for
ital
irm
em
.on,
ling
May 1. 1916
ELEC 1 RICAL W n R LI)
( anada
Council
illng an
tern.
i II x'lll \M. I INT
Miscellaneous
. galvanize.) |l
i. ilt*. n
ti
-oft- irt.n wire.
Building, New Orh
Directory of Electrical Associations
.11 1.1'. HT ANI
■
VKNT
0 Ho
-
••. Aug
N
-
W. Stern, 101
P I. Hutchinson. 33
>th St.. New Vork Board ni dire(
ilirough-
'"" il" g. Deer
Park, MA, .Inn. ."' to Jul
-
• niversity, Co-
lunitius. < iluii
• tar\ . William II I:
CAN 80CDCTT l"l: TESTING MaTERI-
Igar Marburg,
■ if Pennsylvania, Philadelphia.
-
tilativ; • tary, Edwin A.
9th St . Now York.
on of Public i'tim-
1ATOB8. Secretary, W. .1 Tharp,
Little Rock, Ark. Annual meeting, Little
Rock. May 11-13.
M AM 1 ACT I l.i
- 1 iii.i ks President, R K Shep-
K ■ loodrlch Co., Akron. I
iDISON ILLUMINATING
Odimm Waltei
Neumuller, Irving Place and l.'.th St, New
York
. AMI STEEL BLBCTBI-
cai. KsiiiNt:i:i:s. Secretary, W. T
IfcKeeeport, Pa. Annual meeting. Hotel
Stall. r. Detroit, Sept 8-11.
ition or Railway Elects
• , Jos A. An-
Breucettl, Chicago A Northwestern Railway,
Chicago
\PH SC-
PERintem.ent.s. Secretary. P. W. Drew,
11. w.i Ulan Si Annual
N. V.. June '_'L'-'.'.".
:NIA ELECTRICAL ■ '..NTI1A1TORS' AS-
Secretary, W S. llanbridge.
erchants' National Bank Building,
Canadian Elhctricaj on. Af-
■llated with N i: i. A
ii Sullivan, 10 Adelaide Street
Can.
Railway Association. Secretary-tn
T i- Kennedy, 18th St., Denver, Col.
Commercial Sbction, N. E. I. A. Secre-
15th St . New
■
Eastern New York Sbction, N i: i. A
. i ' s Van I lyck, 6
Elect ,tion of
II D. Temple,
3ii Foster St , Worcester, M
' ONTRACTORS' ASSOCIATION OF
New York Stati Secretary, Geo w Rue
s.i, ,lr . 26 Weal 1 2d St.. Ni
\TION OF
Statb in Missouri Secretary. A .1 Burns,
:;is West Tenth SI . Kant ,
Association of
Pbnn8tlvania. Secretary,
M <; Sellers, 1518 Sanson) SI . Philadelphia
Electrical Contractors' Association of
in. Secretat termann,
oyd SI . Mllwaul ei . w I
Blbctrical Salesmen's Absoi
mond M ichlgan
Ave., < 'hlcago, in.
Jobbers' association.
General secretary, Franklin Overbagh, 111
South Clinton st , Chicago, III. Next quar-
terly meeting, Detroit, June 15-17.
rsiCAL Trades association
.. Royal
'
Mti.-rt H. Kill
Meeting, Sal I
month.
•
go, I'hila-
.,im I LOS At .
K.\irii:K Statb Gas and i
■ , ,i i, - II B. Chapin.
29 Weal 89th St . N. ..
i Railway As-
sociatii "'ii Secretary-treas-
urer, rn r II V li.iz.il. Norman. Okla.
Annual meeting City, May 18-14.
I Ki bctrical Contractof
i rj . .1 A Wi.T, At'
- ye Electrical Association.
II i: ciiubbuck, Peoria, III.
. mi-... Engineering
\ Llttlefleld, 29 Wi SI
39th St . New fork Annual convention,
Sew Will. ml Hotel, Washington, D. C.
Sep) 80
Independent Telephone ■
America Secretary, W. s. Vivian, 19 South
LaSalle St. Chicago.
Indiana Electric Light Association.
Secretary, Thomas Donahue, Lafayette, tad.
Indiana Statb Electrical Contractors'
Associa'i - iy. George Skilman.
Indianapolis, tad.
Instii. ting ENGINEERS. Sec-
II. .tun ill. r. 29 West 39th St.. New
Vork.
INSTITUTE of Radio Engineers. Secre-
D vi.i Sariioff, .1 Broadway, New
Internal Combustion Engineers' asso-
ciation. President. Charles EEratsch, in;
West Indiana St., Chicago. Meeting second
Friday ..f each month at Lewis Institute.
International Association of Munici-
pal Electricians. Secretary, C. R. George,
Houston, Tex.
International Engineering Congress.
Secretary-treasurer, W. a. Cattell, Foxcroft
Building;, San Francisco, Cal. Congress,
San Francisco, September.
International Blbctbotbchnicai
■ international body representing
various national electrical engineering so-
cieties contributing to its support). General
. '' i. ualstre, 28 Victoria St.
i.r. London, s. W, England.
Meeting El San Francisco. Sept. 9-11.
Iowa Sbction, N. h. L. a. Secretary, w.
Iowa I untractors' Associa-
ry, M. T. Humphrey, Water-
... i
AND INTERURBAN RAILWAY
ION, Secretary, H. E. Weeks, Dav-
enport, D
Jotiam Order. Jupiter (president),
E Nlesz, Chicago, 111.: Mercury
- .1 E, C. Bennett, Syndicate Trust
Building, St. I. urns. Mo
Kansas Gas, Water, Electric light and
Street Railwai Abbociatton. Secretary-
treasurer, Ivor Thomas, :'::t South Main SI .
Wichita, Kan
Louisiana Electrical Contractoj
j J. Zlegler, :"J?
day, Au-
: . N. \S I '1 I.
Maim
Walter s Wyman, Waterville,
Mi. 'in ' Association. Afflll-
ated win. N E I. A Secretary, Herbert
Boulevard, De
i m Ii h knnuaJ meeting June
■ . ociation Sec
rer, 1 L ( Itto, St, I 'aul i las
• pan] .St i '..ni. Mum
Mississippi Electric Association. Affili-
ate.I with Hi. National BlOCtrlO Light Ass..
elation Secretary-treasurer, ii i Wheelei
burg, Miss.
\iiss. .ni public Utilities Association,
National Arm. I'i
C1ATION
National ASSOCXATIi
r.r. Wm I..
Smith, Co
National i>istihct Hbati
kill, Greenville, Ohio.
Annual n go, June 1-3.
National Electric Lioht association.
T < '. Mart
St., New York Annual meeting, San Fran-
Mi
. ited States. s. . r.--
. 1.1. tl Martin Buihl-
in«. rn..., N v. Annual meetu
0, July 18-24.
National Electrical <'.
1'. Vose, 1343
Building, Chicago.
National Eire Pbotbction association.
'I committee. Ralph
Sweetland, in Milk St.. Boston, Mass
National Independent Tblbphon
ciation. Permanent headquarters, Room
i.i LaSalle, Chicago, ill.
Nebraska Section, N. e. i. A
surer, s .1 Bell, David City. Neb.
New England Electrical Credit asso-
ciation. Secretary, Alton F. Tupper, 60
St., Boston, Mass.
.new England section, electric Vehi-
cle A880C1ATT 'A. Secretary.
I.. I.. Edgar, 89 Boylaton St.. Boston, Mass
New 1 - ON, N E. I.. A. Sec-
retary. Miss ii. i: Bursiel, 149 Tremont St.,
BOStOn, Miss,
New \ > TiiicAi. Association.
, I ■: A. Thiele, Roswell,
N. M.
New York ELECTRICAL Socnrrr.
w.-st 39th St.,
New York.
New York Klectric Railway \
TI...N. Secretary, Charles C. Diets, 365 East
. i -i SI . Brooklj a. N, Y
Northwest Section, n k. i. A
tary, N. W. Brockett, Pioneer Building,
Wash.
Northern White Cedar Asso<
. 1 1 \ I loui her, . la Lumber Ex-
change, Minneapolis, Minn.
Ohio Electric Light Association. Sec-
retary, lc l. Gaskill, Greenville, Ohio. An-
nual meeting, Cedar Point, July 20-23,
Ohio Societi of Mechanical, Electri-
cal and Steam ENGINEERS. Secretary,
i i: Sanborn, Ohio Stat.- University,
i '.illlliilnls
! i . , !::. CONTRACTi iRS' ASSO-
Secretary-treasurer, J. w
endei . Poi Hand, I ire.
Pennsltvania Electric association
(State Section N, E. L. A.). Secretary-
treasurer, ii n Mailer, Pittsburgh, Pa.
Railwai Sionaj association. Secre-
tsurer, C EL Rosenberg, Times
Building, Bethlehem, Ps
s.icietv fob Electrical Development,
I-,. General, Manager, J. M. Wakeman, ':9
1. St., Ni ■» York. Annual meeting;,
New rork, May tl, 1915.
for the Promotion of Enbi-
Education. Secretary, Dean K. l..
Bishop, iiMMiMM ..I Pittsburgh, Pitts-
burgh, Pa, Annual meeting, Ames, la.,
SOI I'm: \stij:n SECTION, N K. 1.. A.
irer, George II. Wygant,
. l-ia.
Southwestern Blbctrical and Gas as-
BOCIATION Secretary, 11 S, Cooper. 405
Slaughter Bultdins, Hallas. Tex. Annual
ting, Galveston, May 19-22.
■ [ONT Blbctrical association. Sec-
i ' II W .st. Kutlan.l. Vt.
5OCIATI0N o|- IOlectricai. 1n-
sci'i ni Seeiel.irv, W. S. Hoyil, Tli West
Monroe SI . Chicago in.
tBTl rn KMiINEERS. Elec-
iiii.Ai. Section. Secretary. J. H. Warder,
i?:i7 Monadnock Block, Chi
Wisconsin electrical association. Sec-
Qeorge UUaon, lllO First National
Hank Hull. ling. Milwani... . Wis
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 18
Weekly Record of Electrical Patents
UNITED STATES PATENTS ISSUED
APRIL 10,
[Prepared by Robert stair Allyn, 16 Ex-
change Place, New fork, N. v.]
L.IQB
i i, ; i. .1 i ; Egerton, Memphis
App. Bled March 16, L9I 1. Causes
tail-light to flicker when car runs back-
i red to green light
when running forward.
1,136,044. Oscillation-Receiving Device;
Q. W. Plckard, Amesbury, Mass. App.
tiled July 24, 1911. Members of silicon
and antimony.
Oscillation-Receiving Device;
'',. W. Plckard, Amesbury, Mass. App.
tiled July 24, 1911. One member of
and other member of arsenic and
antimony.
Oscillation-Receiving Device;
■ ;. W. Plckard, Amesbury. Mass. App.
11. Silicon and bis-
muth members having rough contacting
surfs
; OSCILLATION-RECEIVING Device;
G. W. Plckard, Amesbury, Mass. App.
Bled July 2). 1911. Silicon menil" i and
ruber having rough contacting
surface.
System oe POWER Transmis-
sion; K. A. Sperrv, Cleveland, Ohio.
App. filed March 9, 1903. More effective
rol of translating devices.
bctropnedmatic Brake; W.
V Turner, Edgwood, Pa. App. filed
A tic. 26, 1912. Pressure in an application
hamber controls the supply of fluid to
and from the brake cylinder.
STORAGE Battery; P. B. Whit-
ney, New York, N. Y. App. riled Jan.
21. 1916. For motor vehicles; can be
used in upright or horizontal position.
1.136,076. Process of Producing Electri-
cal Heating Devices; E. L. Wiegand,
i 'anal Dover. Ohio. App. filed Jan. 9,
1914. Plastic mass compressed about
coil and vitrified.
1,186,078. Electric-Current Generator;
J. M. Wilson. Newark. N. J. App. filed
Nov. 11, 1912. For motor vehicles.
1,136,111. Dowel Connection; R. W.
Erwin, Fremont, Ohio. App. filed Sept.
29, 1918. For dry cells; uses a corrugated
carbon.
1,136,127. Electrically Heated Tool: J.
S Hansen, Brockton, Mass. App. filed
Aug. 2 1, 1912. Treeing iron for smooth-
ing the uppers of boots and shoes.
1,136,139. Corner-Turning Indicator for
AuTO.MoniLEs ; S. Jackson, Denver, Col.
App Bled June 1, 1914. Sounds alarm
is well as indicating the intended direc-
tion.
i Device for Motion-Picture
Printing; A. Wolfsohn, New York, N.
Y App, Hied I »ec. 2i;, 1918. Autom itl
eally changes the light for different
System of Motor Control; E.
State College, I'a. App.
iin it. I'O I, Automatic, succes-
sively aeting contact devices.
Boiler Cut-off system; g. w.
Colllon, Bridgeport, Conn. App. filed
July 18, 1914. A opei ation.
1,136,215. Magnetic Separator; m. Dings
and it. a. Manegold, Milwaukee, wis.
App, filed Aug. T, 1911. Avoids zones
of little attraction in magnetic pulley.
1,186,227. Ozonator; L. Goldberg, Imfim
[nd \|ip tiled Aug. r., 191 I
i 'yiin.i! on opposite i Ides
>f a single 'la !• ' ii le
i i !•'. c iun-
dry, Flint. Mich App Hied Sept.
1912
tension.
w. -Working SWITCH; A. C,
a. Chicago, ill App Bled Jul]
1 Of lie'
opera) machine.
1,136,240 i Klein,
Milwaukee, Wis. App. illeii Aug, 36,
i nsh button
1,186,279 Power-Transmitting In. h i
M. L Hi hi . Mass
App Bled Man b •■• 1912 i
dUCUVS transmissii.
■ i or FOR
T Smith,
rk, N. .1 App. Bled Feb 6 1914
Mouthpiece cover operated from receiver
i i i i C T Smith,
. N i app Bled Jul'.
1,136,312. Thermostatic Control for
Electric Motors; D. P. Cartwright.
Fort Wayne, Ind. App. filed Sept. 2S,
1914. Current to motor is diverted at
predetermined intervals.
1,186,814. Circuit Closf.r for '
Signal Systems; It V. Cheatham. Si
Matthews, Ky. App. filed June I. 1912.
Closes circuit when trolley appi
from one direction.
1,136,324. Switch Box; C. A. Erichson,
Stamford, Conn. App. filed March 12,
1914. Locking ignition switch
1,1 36. 337. Selective Signaling .-
U. N. Hill, Bloomfleld, N. J. App Bled
Oct. 15, 1913. Train dispatching.
1. 136. 347. Telephone-Exchange SWITCH-
BOARD; C. O'D. Lee, Jr., Baltimore, Aid,
App. tiled Jan. 7. 11)14. Reduces number
of operators required during inactive
ll. llll S.
1,136,350. Electrically Driven Clock and
i ither Electrically Driven Running
Mechanism ; R. M. Lowne. Catford, Eng.
App. Bled Nov. 18, 1911. Special contact
mechanism.
1.136,355. Musical Device; E. S. Mayland,
New York, N. Y. App. filed March 6.
1913. Electromagnetically operated bells
or chimes.
Electric Water Heater ; C. H.
Quinlan, Amsterdam, N. Y. App. filed
July 1, 1914. Attachable to water faucet.
1,136,383. Case for Incandescent Elec-
tric Lamp Sockets ; A. Weber. Sr.,
Schenectady, N. Y. App. filed Aug. 4,
1 '.. Cap and shell lock.
1,186,8 15 — Electric Vaporizer
1,136,402. Signal; E. O. Branlngton, Ro-
chester, N. v. App. Bled July 11, 1913.
Agio rear signal : has differently colored
I. -uses
1.136.406. Water System; J. W. Butts.
Atlanta, Ha. App. tiled July 21. 1913.
Opening faucet closes switch for pump
motor
1.136.407. Thermal Circuit Closure; J.
Carrlgan, Seattle. Wash. App. Hied July
:: 1918 Adjustable thermostat construc-
tion.
Electrolytic Process i os the
Extraction of copper; n. V. Hyl
| "mi I ii. una, Norway. App. tiled M '
rial containing the cop-
pei ii ii is oxide and partly as sul-
phide.
133 Pi po irnoN i >e\ hi
N. Neel, 1 lublin, Tex.
App llleil .lnl> 6, 1911 '
able, maintains lines parallel and is in-
destl m utile
i i |6, i 19 Microphone : C W. Um
Crowley, La. App, Bled May 27. 1914.
lias parallel agitating blades project-
in conducting ma-
terial
G. E.
i. in to,,. \\ orcester, Ms e Vpp Bled Sept
80, t 9 i i Switch terminal clips secured
■ edges,
t.t 18,477. Ti< » n s m 1 1
\\ na i i SB 'I'M BOS tPHI
, i; Marconi, London, Eng. App.
Bled Dei I tnolud leasers
U allel.
Mr Mi Mrs FOE
Orbs; i . i . i 'oi tei . I id
Angeles, Cal Vpp Bled Aug
Raw oi. p is . ii .in.-. Oj Into eli
1,136,508. Call-Distributing System ; H.
P. Clausen, Mount Vernon. N. Y. App.
filed Feb. 10, 1914. For automatically
connecting calling lines to idle trunks.
1,136,593. ARC Lamp; R Fleming, Indiana-
polis, Ind., and A. B. Halvorson, Jr.,
SaugUS, Mass. App. filed March 6. 1905.
Compensator intermediate between the
line and the lamp mechanism.
1.136.601. Guard; T. B. Harris, Jackson-
ville, Fla. App. filed May 16. 1914. Sig-
nals attempt to operate fire-alarm box
and holds operator captive.
1.136.602. Program Clock ; C. O. Heon, *
Portage, Wis. App. filed Jan. 28, 1913.
i plurality of contact elements which
can be set to be engaged by hour hand.
1,136.621. Motor Controller; W. M.
Shallcross, Milwaukee, Wis. App. filed
Jan. 6, 1913. Provides series parallel
connections for motors and can be used
to cause them to act as dynamic brake.
1,136,639. Circuit Controller; P. H. dim-
mer. Milwaukee, Wis. App. filed March
1, 1913. Switching members and latch
mechanism.
1,136,657. Overload Protective Device;
W. E. Date. Westfield N. J. App. filed
Dec 18 1913. Arranged to allow more
current for starting.
1,136,668. Motor Controller; M. M.
Goldenstein, Milwaukee. Wis. App. filed
Oct 10. 1913. Particularly for printing
presses.
1,136,6S0. Electric Switch ; C. J. Klein.
.Milwaukee, Wis. App. tiled Sept. 25,
1911. Push-button lamp socket.
1,136,681. Switching Socket or Connec-
; C. KanutT, Chicago, 111. App.
filed Dec. 12, 1913. For auto lighting
permits breaking circuit withost
detaching plug.
1.136.6S3. Wireless Receiving Appara-
tus ; J. S. Leach, Brooklyn, N. Y. App.
filed Dec. 12, 1913. Telephone receiver
with means for adjusting distance be-
tween diaphragm and magnet poles.
1,136,684. Induction light system; j.
Ledwinka, Philadelphia, Pa. App. tiled
Feb. 2.".. 1913. Energy for producing in-
candescence of the filament is derived
through induction.
1.136.6S7. Muffler Attachment for
Telephones ; J. Litt. Philadelphia. Pa.
App Bled Match 2. 1914. Sprine clamp
attaches it to telephone mouthpiece.
1,1 36, CSS. Starting Device for Internal-
i 'n.Mia stion- Engines: W. D. Lutz, Al-
lendale Borough, N. J. App. Bled I Nil
s, 1913. Special clutching mechanism
between starting motor and the engine,
1.136.737. Electric Switch: G. B.
Thomas. Bridgeport, Conn. App. filed
July 10, 1914. Flush-type, push-button
switch.
1,136,760. Electric Train Signaling and
Controlling system: a. J. Ulard,
Richmond. Va. App. tiled June 2. 1913.
Contact-rail system.
1.136,751. electric-Train Signaling and
Controlling system: a. j. Allan*
Richmond, Va. App. filed July .
Contact rails energized upon failure of
the track or live circuits.
1,186,779. Suspension Device of MotobJ
on Tramway or Railroad Motor Cars!
C. Delmez, Antwerp. Belgium. App. tiled
July 17. 1913. Axle boxes are replaced
by ball hearings.
1,186,781. Bell-Ringing Device; h D. f.i-
liott, Skamokawa, Wash. App. tiled
July 23, 1914, Has a revoluble clad
i i rapidl] striking the bell.
: i: ; G. D. Hup-
pes, Springfield, Ohio, App Bled Nov is.
Spiral replacing wheels at opposite
side \ heel.
1 .1 36,8 10 01 THE i 'mil (
it Tension 'nd Power
rANCES; M. Kallmann (dfl
1 .. Bel tin. ' lei-many. App. tiled
Julj 12. 1909. For testing electrl
in. i.i
1.136. M I \i
tor. N v\ Kllehman, Brooklyn, N T.
App. filed April s. 1914. Has swinsing
Indicating arrows carrying lamps.
i.i 36,888 Si ; i D II O.
Rugh, Sandwich, in \"p Bled Vug 26
1912. Push-buttons at central statin
i t icall\ call <le
Sired stations
i.i 86,8 16 Electri Vapoi ses C G Taj
Chicago, m vpp tiled Feb. 15, 19U
Quick ictlng and attachable to standi
motor.
1,186,901
CHINES l: M W i "ill, Sunn
App. tiled Nov 22, 1913. Kami;
construct Ion,
1,186,912 Tklephoni svstkm;
t Q Martin. Chicago, ill App. fllea
April 16, 1910 Automatic- trunklng.
Vol. H
Electrical World
The o€ Elktbical World and Kngineer and American Electrician
Published by McGraw Publishing Company. Inc.
NEW YORK, BATUBDAT, MAY 8, 1915
No. 19
Low Costs In\ite Construction
TEE low costs of material and labor and the un-
usual efficiency of labor under economic influences
like the present invite construction by energy-trans-
■>n and central-station companies. While the Euro-
pean war lasts this opportunity will remain. It is the
most favorable combination of material and labor condi-
tions that has existed for years or that is likely to pre-
vail for a long time. The main reason why new con-
struction has not been stimulated is the money market.
Yet there has been a material change in the financial
position. Bank reserves are strong again, rates are
nominal or low for loans of short maturities, and the
public has been buying securities. If central-station
companies avoid heavy commitments, they can finance
construction requirements on a moderate scale. With
earnings affected only slightly by business unrest, com-
panies that have the courage to go ahead conservatively
will receive more than ample return for their enterprise.
Sinking-Fund Payments
PROTESTS against the provision in the accounting
system of the National Electric Light Association
that sinking-fund payments shall be charged to income
are likely to lead to a revision. The accounting commit-
tee has reconsidered the matter and is in favor of modi-
fication. There is no uniformity of ideas or practice on
this question, and substantial arguments support both
the present requirement and the desired modification.
Accounting systems prescribed by the various public
service commissions tend to show the charge as an in-
come deduction. The purposes of sinking funds for
retirement of bond issues differ so largely that it is
difficult to meet the question involved in each individual
case by a policy that is applicable to all. Yet, if un-
necessary complication is to be avoided, the problem can
be solved best by a standard disposition of all such pay-
ments. In some instances sinking-fund payments are
properly a part of fixed charges, but in others they may
be met in effect by refunding. Thorough discussion is
desirable, and the committee will undoubtedly try to
have this take place before action is taken at the San
Francisco convention.
The Government Hampers Foreign Trade
IN his address before the American Academy of Politi-
cal and Social Science on May 1, abstracted in this
issue. Mr. Maurice Coster gave a formidable array of
governmental policies which hamper foreign trade. He
suggested that the remedy is publicity. No time has
ever been more opportune for this than the immediate
present. Never before have the influential daily news-
papers been so eager to publish articles on foreign-trade
expansion. At no previous day has the country as a
whole been so alert for overseas commercial opportuni-
ties. Our manufacturers are heavily handicapped be-
cause their foreign competitors, instead of being hin-
dered by governmental acts, are substantially and pio-
gressively helped by direct governmental policies and
by supporting commercial policies. Where European
governments and business interests pull together, ours
think it more important to avoid the appearance of evil
co-operation than to build up trade. Political and party
leaders have a clear duty to perform in showing the
public that in this respect business interest is national
interest. The electrical industry should take its part in
the work.
Calculation of Induction-Motor Performance
IN his article commencing in this number, Mr. Waldo
V. Lyon introduces some simplifications into the
arithmetical theory of the polyphase induction machine,
and especially into the separation of the leakage-
impedance drop in the stator into a substantially con-
stant no-load component and a load component which
bears a simple relation to the load current. The
author favors the equivalent single-phase method of
presentation — that is, the retention of the terminal
three-phase voltage, with the reduction of the observed
line currents to their equivalent single-phase value,
whereby the motor becomes virtually treated as a
single-phase motor having a rotating magnetic field.
This is a favorite method of treatment among de-
signers, since it reduces the number of circuits to be
considered from two or more to one and keeps the total
power of those circuits in integral value before the
mind. Of course, the reduced current strengths em-
ployed are in a certain sense fictitious, being equal in
value to the actual line currents multiplied by a con-
stant which depends on the number of phase leads.
An alternative method of presentation is to work out
the voltage, current and power, etc., for only one of
the polyphase circuits. In the case of star-connected
machines, this procedure may involve less use of fic-
titious quantities, but the powers arrived at are only
fractions of the corresponding powers in the machine.
Moreover, in the ordinary three-phase machine star
voltages have to be substituted for delta voltages, which
virtually introduces another set of fictitious quantities.
Mr. Lyon's method of computation is well worthy of
study by those who desire to acquaint themselves with
the arithmetic of the polyphase motor and have not yet
1154
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 19
stereotyped their own methods of computation. After
a computer has become habituated to a certain beaten
track in the use of formulas, it is ordinarily inadvisa-
ble for him to modify the process unless a notable
simplification may thereby be secured, because the ad-
vantage of the improved process may be more than
offset by the uncertainties incident to the use of a new
and untried method.
Oil-Switch Explosions
The oil switch is a wonderfully effective piece of ap-
paratus for opening a moderately high-tension alter-
nating-current circuit quietly, as anyone will admit who
tries to open similar circuits with a simple air-break
switch. In the very early days of electric energy trans-
mission the opening of the high-tension air switches of
that time was avoided as far as possible. When, how-
ever, it was necessary to open a switch with a long air-
break, two men were sometimes assigned to the opera-
tion, one to throw open the switch and the other, armed
with a club, to bat out the long arc in the air between
the opening switch points. Oil has the valuable prop-
erty of smothering the arc between opening points at
the moment when the current is passing through zero.
Although oil switches perform their allotted func-
tions satisfactorily in the vast majority of cases, yet
occasionally an accident may occur from the explosion
of gases within either a defective or an overloaded oil-
switch case. This source of danger forms the subject
of an article by Mr. A. Weinberg in a recent issue of the
Elektrotechnische Zeitschrift. The author points out
that the cause of such explosions is the firing, within
the switch chamber, from the arc rupture, of an ex-
plosive mixture of oil gas and atmospheric .xygen. If
means are taken to prevent the formation of such a
gaseous explosive mixture, it is contended that, al-
though destructive arcs may form within the chamber,
yet no explosion can take place. In order to prevent
the possibility of forming an explosive mixture, it is
proposed to install a nitrogen generator, permanently
connected by pipes to the switch cases, in such a man-
ner that nitrogen will automatically enter any case in
which the gas pressure falls below, say, one atmosphere
above normal atmospheric pressure. Each switch case
is made air-tight, its working rods entering through
air-tight glands, and an indicating manometer, or pres-
sure gage, is mounted on its cover. A ventilating pipe
enables the original air content to be evacuated.
It is reasonable to suppose that no explosion can
occur in a chamber containing only oil gases and nitro-
gen. On the other hand, an arc of sufficient violence,
acting on a non-inflammable gaseous mixture, is able to
produce sudden rises of pressure so great as to simulate
the effects of an inflammatory explosion. It would seem,
therefore, that the expedient suggested by the author
might reduce the probability of bursting accidents
without, preventing them altogether. It would be Inter
eating to obtain experience with nitrogen-filled switch
box^s in sufficient numbers to enable a reliable con-
M on this question to be reached.
The Gas-Filled Lamp in Photography
In a late issue of Zeitschrift fiir Beleuchtungsivesen
Dr. W. Voege reported the results of his research cov-
ering the investigation of the effect of operating stand-
ard gas-filled lamps at overvoltage so as to obtain a
higher actinic output than is ordinarily available. At
present the usual sources of artificial light for photo-
graphic work are the arc, usually in the inclosed form,
and the mercury-vapor lamps, in both glass and quartz
tubes. From the standpoint of ordinary light produc-
tion the mercury-vapor quartz-tube lamp is the most
efficient of these illuminants, with the gas-filled incan-
descent in the second place, followed closely by the
mercury-vapor glass-tube lamp and at considerable dis-
tance by the various carbon-arc lamps. Dr. Voege's
experiments in improving the performance of the gas-
filled lamp by overrunning it are directed toward mak-
ing this light source, which is very attractive on ac-
count of its cheapness and convenience, more useful in
photography than has hitherto been the case.
A comparison of the artificial sources mentioned
above for their actinic value reveals enormous discrep-
ancies. Some special forms of carbon arc give enor-
mously powerful photographic effects comparable with
even the quartz-tube mercury-vapor lamp, and all are
notably more actinic than the ordinary gas-filled in-
candescent lamp. Starting with a lamp of the last-
mentioned type normally operated at 12 volts, Dr. Voege
operated it at 30 per cent overvoltage, with the re-
sult of forcing down the specific consumption to a shade
less than a third of a watt per hefner candle. The
candle-power under this treatment rose to 250 per cent,
and the actinic power a good deal more, the gain varying
according to the particular character of the photo-
graphic paper or plate employed in the test. With a
certain paper, for example, the actinic output of the
lamp overrun by 30 per cent increased about 3.75-fold,
on a fast dry plate about 2.75-fold. While these figures
still leave the incandescent lamp far behind the arc
lamp, they show so great an increase over the results
at ordinary voltage as to overcome in no small degree
the difficulty hitherto felt with respect to the use
of this lamp on account of the length of exposure.
Orthochromatic plates, now coming into common use
in artistic photography, differ enormously from the or-
dinary ones in point of the spectrum at which the maxi-
mum sensitiveness exists when the plates are used with
screens to give them their full orthochromatic value.
In fact, when one is dealing with a properly screened
orthochromatic plate it is the brightness of the light
in the visual sense which determines the exposure. It
would be exceedingly interesting to compare the in-
candescent with the carbon and the mercury-arc lamps
for this particular kind of work, such as is necessary,
for example, in portraiture. Similar idiosyncrasies
exist with ordinary photographic papers, some of which
are abnormally sensitive to the extreme ultra-violet and
hence would print with extraordinary speed under the
quartz-tube lamp, while the maximum for others lies
much nearer the visible spectrum in the particular re-
May 8, 1916
ELECTRICAL WORLD
1155
gion where some of the specialized carbon-arc lamps
-h"\\ gnat Intensity. To work out the relative useful-
m artificial Uluminanta require! an ex-
tensive rtudj of tin- performance of different photo-
graphic media. Although Dr. Voege's experimen'
BOt ineinde <>rth<H-hromatic plates, yet he has done quite
enough to show that by raising the voltage on a gas-
lilled lamp it is lifted into a new sphere of usefulness
and becomes a most useful auxiliary in photographic
working. The subject is worth further investigation
which ought to be extended into fields which even the
very valuable paper of Dr. Voege has not yet reached.
For instance, the effect of the particular quality of arti-
ficial light used on the corrections of lenses when em-
ployed for delicate copying work is worth investigating.
Ordinal*] photographic lenses are achromatized for the
lines I) and G of the solar spectrum or thereabout.
Some of the process lenses are achromatized in addition
for the partial abolition of the secondary spectrum, but
if the inclosed carbon arc is to be used for the source,
one theoretically should obtain better definition by a
different lens design. In this way the subject broadens
as one investigates it with ever-widening opportunities
for improvement.
The Baltimore Reserve Station
Experience has taught the desirability of installing
auxiliary steam equipment in connection with any large
system which depends in the main upon transmitted
hydroelectric energy. Reserve equipment is badly
needed in case of accidents to the transmission line, now
fortunately unusual but still possible, and in many in-
stances the variability of the water-power is such as to
make assistance from a steam station imperative in case
of a large regular demand for energy. Such is the sit-
uation with the supply of the Consolidated Gas, Electric
Light & Power Company at Baltimore. This system re-
ceives its energy regularly from the plant on the Sus-
quehanna River, some 40 miles from Baltimore. The
maximum output rating of this hydroelectric station is
82,000 kw, which can readily be reached in the periods
of plentiful water, but in summer the possible output
may drop as low as 9000 kw.
It is necessary, therefore, for the distributing com-
pany in so large and important a city as Baltimore to
provide a considerable amount of steam-reserve equip-
ment, running up to at least 20,000 kw even at the pres-
ent rate of demand. The Baltimore company must fur-
nish its own standby service under its arrangement with
the transmission company, and hence it has in operation
two steam stations. One of these is comparatively small,
while the other, at Westport, Md., on a branch of the
Patapsco River, had a full-load rated output of some
20,000 kw prior to the addition of the equipment de-
scribed in the current issue. With the exception of a
5000-kw vertical turbine, the original plant at this point
was composed of reciprocating-engine sets fed with
steam from fourteen 650-hp boilers, four of them hand-
fired, the others equipped with automatic stokers.
It having become evident about two years ago that the
requirementa of a low-water season would demand a
large increase of output of the reserve station, an addi-
tional plant mu designed to provide for an ultimate out-
put rating of 97,500 kw in turbo-generators. The plant
now completed means the addition of only one-sixth of
the tinal equipment, consisting of one 15,000-kw turbine
and six boilers. It was necessary to enlarge the turbine
room on account of the change from vertical to horizon-
tal units and to provide an entirely new boiler room and
stack. Incidentally a 500-kw horizontal turbo-generator
was installed to replace the 5000-kw machine, which had
been damaged by an accident.
Perhaps the chief point of interest resides in the boil-
ers. Each is rated at a little over 1000 hp, having a
total heating surface of approximately 10,000 sq. ft.
The boilers complete are hung from steel channel bars
in their settings. They are equipped with superheaters
and are designed to carry 300 per cent of their rating
when the fire is forced to the utmost. All are equipped
with automatic stokers operating under forced draft and
actuated by steam engines driving both the stokers and
the fans. Independent connection is furnished for elec-
tric motor drive if it becomes desirable. These boilers
are guaranteed for a combined boiler and furnace effi-
ciency of not less than 74 per cent at approximately-
normal rating, and an efficiency of not less than 72 per
cent is guaranteed when the boiler is worked at 2000 hp,
with a fall to only 68 per cent when operated at 2500
hp. Furthermore, the boilers are guaranteed to de-
velop three times the normal rating (3000 hp) for two
hours, and 2500 hp continuously. Moreover, there are
specific guarantees as to performance when the quick
raising of steam is required — guarantees of a character
extremely satisfactory, since the makers undertake,
when starting with the fire banked and burning only
320 lb. of coal per boiler per hour, to push the output of
steam to normal rating in three minutes and to double
the normal rating in nine minutes.
The above guarantees of boiler performance mark
well the difference between old and modern practice in
making steam. These are the days of large boiler units
and of provision for raising steam quickly to meet the
requirements of a failing supply of energy over trans-
mission lines or a sudden demand due to a rising storm.
In auxiliary plants like the one here considered there is
acute need of facilities for "getting up steam" rapidly.
Such facilities are provided in plants of recent design,
while up to within a very few years nothing of so ef-
fective a character was undertaken or would have
been likely to be guaranteed. That the steam thus eco-
nomically generated is not misused afterward may be
judged from the fact that the guarantee on the 15,000-
kw turbo-generator at full load is 13 lb. of steam per
kilowatt-hour, and even a quarter of a pound less than
this at 80 per cent of the full-load rating. With a plant
of this degree of efficiency, auxiliary service can be
brought into use at a very modest cost, and the operat-
ing company is well equipped to withstand the severest
conditions imposed by a variable water supply at the
source of its transmitted energy.
1166
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 19
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Concentric Wiring in Great Britain
To the Editor of the Electrical World :
Sir: — The opportunity for concentric wiring here
depends to a large extent on the distribution conditions
encountered. Most British central stations furnish di-
rect current, distribution being invariably by the three-
wire system with the neutral grounded at the generat-
ing station only. In one or two isolated cases the au-
thorities have permitted earthing of the neutral on
consumers' premises, but in large distribution systems
this method is considered inadvisable, as it makes the
detection and correction of faults in mains very diffi-
cult. If both poles of a concentric-wiring system have
to be insulated, the advantages of the system in cost,
and so on, largely disappear. The concentric system is
therefore practically barred from the great majority
of British electricity supply systems. By means of a
motor-generator or converter a concentric installation
could, of course, be isolated from the general distribut-
ing system, but the use of such a plant as this is obvi-
ously out of the question, except in very special cases.
Although not many British central stations furnish
alternating-current service, there is not much difficulty
in using concentric wiring with a grounded outer on
such systems since the tendency is now to ground the
secondaries of alternating-current systems. In the case
of private plants, which generally furnish a two-wire
supply, concentric wiring can also be used to an unlim-
ited extent.
As regards cost, a concentric installation with
grounded outer is less costly than any other system of
wiring, excluding, of course, shoddy work, such as
cheap wiring cleated to the wall or unprotected rubber
wire. It is also cheaper than slip-joint tubing or wood
casing. The lower grade lead-covered wiring systems
are probably as cheap as concentric, but they are not
so safe or durable.
One of the principal economies permitted by the use
na i
NTRIC WIRING IN BRITISH GOVERNMENT
OFFICES, CALCUTTA
of concentric wire is the saving in cutting plaster and
woodwork and in making repairs. Concentric wiring
is so unobtrusive that it can be run on moldings, and
in many cases even mounted directly on the surface
without being unsightly. This feature presents the
great advantage that houses already built but not wired
can be wired with concentric conductors at very low
cost, a good reliable job being insured at the same time.
One of the largest electrical contractors in London
reports that 70 per cent of his business is now installed
with concentric wiring, but it should be explained that
this particular firm does a very large business in pri-
vate-plant equipments. A contractor whose business
lies chiefly with municipal electric systems might re-
port very differently.
The attached photographs show that the concentric
:==:
Hp^^^oi 1 i^^i * n * n
••i
11 IrMagMflaSI^ wst Hill
FIG. 2-
-CONCENTRIC WIRING IN BRITISH GOVERNMENT
OFFICES, CALCUTTA
system is permitted in British government work, which
is generally of a high standard. The rooms illustrated
are the government offices at Calcutta, India.
It is now six years since the Stannos concentric sys-
tem was first brought out, and from the manufacturers'
returns this system must be rapidly gaining favor, as
the yearly increase in the output of Stannos material
is very great.
Special fittings are not required, apart, of course,
from the fixing plates for ceiling rosettes, etc. Even
these are not necessities, but they are useful and eco-
nomical.
One large contractor, who uses a considerable quan-
tity of concentric wiring, states that even if both wires
have to be insulated, as on three-wire direct-current dis-
tribution systems, the cost of concentric construction
is only about 10 per cent greater than wood molding
and is even 20 per cent cheaper than screwed tubing.
A company here, called the "Fixed Price Light Com-
pany," which contracts with central-station undertak-
ings for energy supply in bulk, and then wires small
cottages and workmen's dwellings and undertakes the
collection of bills, etc.. uses concentric wiring exclu-
sively, all of the work being run on the surface of walls
in the same way that cheap gas-pipe installations are
made in England. Such gas piping, by the way, is gen-
erally made of a composition lead pipe, and its liability
to damage and gas leakage is greater than the liability
of concentric wiring to injury or short-circuit.
In England, as elsewhere, there is a growing dispo-
sition to substitute alternating-current distribution for
direct current, especially where large cooking and heat-
ing loads have to be taken care of, and the increased
use of alternating current for this purpose will un-
doubtedly have the effect of increasing the use of con-
centric systems of wiring.
Although considerable opposition seems to exist
.
May 8, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
1167
the part of electrical contractors in the United States
to the use of cheaper forms of wiring, in Great Britain
.ime opposition does not exist, and some of the
most enthusiastic users of cheap wiring systems are
the wiring contractors. This is hardly surprising, be-
obviously the more cheaply an installation can be
put in for the consumer, the more wiring work the
contractor is going to get, and although the profit on
his individual job may not be so large, he will get many
more jobs and consequently a bigger total net profit.
In Great Britain central-station engineers are always
on the lookout for anything that will reduce the cost
of electricity for the consumer, while at the same time
maintaining a high standard of safety, for the disas-
trous results from cheap installations and apparatus
are only too well realized. A. HUGH SEABROOK,
London, Kn,,knul. . ^R"*—
American Verou Continental Wiring Standards
To tht Editor of the Electrical World:
Sir: — On opening the pages of your Dec. 5 number,
just received here at Chengtu, in West China, I was
much interested in the article comparing American and
European wiring rules. In confirmation of your
editorial on the subject, I am appending hereto an ac-
count of our experience.
At present there is in Chengtu no electric wiring
according to modern standards, if we except the lines
of the Chinese company furnishing lighting for the
city. This company appears to have a set of wiring
rules all its own, for it uses a No. 20 thin, braid-covered,
rubber-insulated wire attached by pony telephone glass
insulators to brackets on either side of a 6-in. pole for
the feeders of its 3000-volt, three-phase system. This
construction has been in service for a year in a climate
averaging about 90 per cent humidity, and so far the
lamps have not been out once nor has anyone had a
shock. These same wires were used as feeders on the
company's old 230-volt direct-current system, and al-
though the drop between the station and a point only
500 ft. away was only 45 volts, the officials are wonder-
ing why they cannot keep the lamps burning brightly.
When it came to installing the wiring for a small
isolated plant, the reader will see from the above that
we had few precedents to guide us. As all the wiring
must needs be open, only open cleat and conduit wiring
could be considered. As conduit wiring has a bad repu-
tation in these parts, owing to condensation of moisture
in the bends, causing short-circuits, it was used only
in the service runs for motors where there were no
bends. In all the open-cleat wiring the American rules
were followed. After the entire order had been placed
the article by Mr. S. E. Doane on "Kuhlo" wire came to
our notice. For an experimental try-out of this wire,
one of the dwellings and a hospital were changed to this
form of construction. The material was ordered from
the catalog of the German manufacturer, obtained here
from its representative, a non-technical man. We
specified sizes to correspond to our wiring rules, but at
the suggestion of the representative that we were speci-
fying much larger wire than his principals used for the
same conditions, we finally ordered wire having a cross-
section of 1.5 sq. mm where we were to use No. 14
B. & S. and of 2.5 sq. mm where we were to use No. 12
wire. Imagine my surprise when we were told by the
home engineering office that such large sizes were not
carried in stock and that it was sending us smaller sizes.
Accompanying this letter was the following comment
on the company's practice of wiring :
"Use duplex 1-sq. mm wire for wiring room interiors
where circuits carry a maximum load of 10 amp to one
circuit. It is a common rule that not more than ten
lamps should be ■ onected i it, and for this
purpose duplex l-sq. mm wire is quite sufficient. For
connecting are at some dis-
tance 1 1". it ion board or main distribution
wires foed< L.5-sq. mm should be used. For
main feeders duplex 4-sq. mm or duplex 0-sq. mm are
mmended. I should be insufficient,
two or more duj;- uld be taken."
Translating the foregoing into our B. & S. gage, this
means that the firm recommends a No. 17 wire inside
a single room, and a wire a little smaller than a No.
15 to connect several rooms to the distribution board.
That this is not a ruse to capture Oriental trade will
be seen by reading the manufacturer's own home rules,
for under these all his recommendations are well within
the limits.
To check the practice and to see whether the drop in
voltage was larger than the 1-volt drop we were allow-
ing in our circuits, we selected our longest and heaviest
loaded lighting circuit and made the following calcula-
tion:
Length of circuit =113 ft. total; to load center = 56 ft.
Total load connected = 260 watts; pressure = 105 volts;
current = 2.48 amp.
Then cross-section in circ. mils
= -2 I XL
V
22 X 2.48 X 56
1
= 3050, or between Nos. 15 and 16, B. & S.
The 1.5-sq. mm wire suggested by the Germans for
this service is about 2960 circ. mil, about equivalent to
No. 15 B. & S. As this was our longest circuit, we
naturally decided to keep the wire sent. In so doing
we saved $65 over what would have been required with
the larger wire. As this was some 30 per cent of the
cost, not including freight, it represented a saving not
to be ignored.
Comparing the cost had our own rules allowed us to use
No. 18 wire in rooms and No. 16 to connect up rooms,
we arrived at the following conclusions:
7,200 ft. of No. IS in rooms and 3,000 ft. of No. 16 in cir-
cuits, cost at 15-cent base $76.25
Freight on 134 lb., at 3.5 cents minimum 4.70
Total $80.95
10,200 ft. of No. 11 all told, cost more than $105.87
Freight on 204 lb 7.15
Total $113.02
Thus the extra cost of using No. 14 wire was $32,
or more than 30 per cent.
When to this $32 saving there is added 30 per cent
for expenses and 10 per cent for duty and insurance,
we have a sum which to the Chinese mind is well worth
saving and which in a way represents the margin that
the Continental exporter has within which to give
equal service. This comparison also shows why we here
are all inclined toward the use of the Continental rules
in our electrical work in the Orient.
Another practice we find here is the use of stranded
conductors for sizes even as low as No. 14, the English
equivalent of which is three No. 20 wires stranded.
This looks to us to be a waste of money, but it is cer-
tainly more convenient to handle such wires. The
smallest standard stranded conductor consists of three
No. 25 wires or the equivalent of a No. 19 B. & S. wire.
I do not know the use of this wire, but it is given in all
English catalogs and is evidently used in fixture work.
H. K. Richardson,
Chengtu, West China. Director Industrial Department,
Chinese T. M. C. A.
1168
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 19
Mr. Coster on Foreign Trade Obstacles
In discussing "Existing Obstacles to the Extension of
Our Trade with Central and South America," before the
American Academy of Political and Social Scien.ce at
Philadelphia, on May 1, Mr. Maurice Coster, export
manager of the Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing
Company, said that the country need not look for any
great improvement in trade with Central and South
America until the European war has been brought to
a close. English bankers have been forbidden by their
government to participate in financial undertakings
outside of Great Britain. Undoubtedly similar restric-
tions have been imposed by the governments of other
warring nations.
The Central and South American countries, with the
possible exceptions of the Argentine Republic and the
United States of Colombia, are not in a position to
finance new enterprises. Some of the American bankers
have taken commendable lead in establishing branches
in some South American countries. Mr. Coster doubts,
however, if these bankers, under existing conditions,
will be justified in extending their business in those
countries to any considerable extent or to finance enter-
prises as was done formerly by foreign banks.
In order to insure permanent success and an increase
in export trade, the statutes relating to this subject
must be revised. For instance, Mr. Coster added, there
should be a law admitting to American registry all
vessels, whether built in the United States or not, when
owned chiefly by American citizens or by American cor-
porations and, when engaged in foreign trade with the
United States, such vessels should be exempt from the
provisions of the American navigation laws. The spe-
cial regulations appertaining to the treatment of crews,
to safety appliances, etc., of such vessels should con-
form to those of the merchant marine of the great
maritime nations. In the past ships of certain foreign
nations have not only discriminated against merchants
of this country in rates, but they have deliberately de-
layed delivery of American cargoes in the interest of
their own nationals. Frequently demurrage charges
incident to such wilful delays have been paid by foreign
associations or governments.
Mr. Coster declared that the Seamen's bill should be
so amended as to apply only to coastwise trade and that
of the Great Lakes. It is necessary to have vessels run-
ning directly between ports of the United States and
those of Central and South America, providing the very
best of passenger accommodations in order to induce
Latin-Americans to visit here so that better acquaint-
ance may develop. Before the war they usually went to
Europe. Those who came here had to take additional
time to cross the Atlantic twice or endure inferior
accommodations.
Amend the Sherman Act
Railroads and steamship lines should be permitted at
all times to issue through bills of lading to foreign
countries and to make special rates to meet foreign
competition. Railroads should make preferential freight
rates on shipments of manufactured articles from in-
land points to the coast. This is the common practice
in foreign countries. The Sherman act, Mr. Coster
declared, should be amended in order to exclude from
its provisions foreign business. The amended law should
be so clear as to leave no doubt as to its interpretation.
laws relating to drawback, being a refund of duties on
materials used in the manufacture of articles exported,
hould in' amended so as to encourage foreign trade
and to conform to similar laws already in successful
operation in foreign countries for sonic years past.
Furthermore, Mr. Coster said, Congress should ap-
propriate sufficient funds to permit the United States
to be represented by able men in Central and South
America. Men are needed of the class employed by
foreign governments, who are able to make reliable re-
ports on the activities and methods of foreign com-
petitors and the conditions surrounding proposed indus-
trial undertakings, reports on which the banks can
place absolute reliance when they are requested to assist
in the financing of enterprises. Some of these foreign
representatives at present act in the capacity of "trade
spies" and furnish their governments with information
concerning the business done by subjects of competing
countries. They even go to the extent of supplying
their governments with detailed copies of invoices of
American manufacturers made collectible through for-
eign banks.
Definite Governmental Trade Policy
This government should adopt a definite policy favor-
ing foreign trade. All present laws and policies which
operate to the benefit of foreigners at the expense of
American enterprise should be repealed or amended.
The government should use its influence to induce all
Central and South American republics to make their
tariff laws dependent on specific duties, based on weights
or otherwise, and not on "ad valorem" values. The
American exporter suffers very much from the illegal
practice of some foreign manufacturers who swear to
undervaluations amounting to as much as from 40 to
60 per cent of the true invoice value, thus placing
American exporters who will not condescend to these
fraudulent practices at an unfair disadvantage.
For effective competition with foreign countries,
Mr. Coster continued, our banks should be prepared to
assist in financing Central and South American govern-
ments and deserving enterprises in those countries just
as foreign banks have done for years with scarcely any
losses. The banks cannot be expected to do this under
the present governmental policy. Foreign manufac-
turers have in the past investigated foreign enterprises
and, upon favorable report of the government agent or
other responsible party, have been able to secure the
assistance of their banks in financing.
Mr. Coster told his hearers that this country must not
deceive itself by expecting that the war will so cripple
European competitors as to make their competition
negligible in the future. It must not expect to take
away much of the trade formerly held by foreign com-
petitors, chiefly Germans and British, unless our manu-
facturers are put as nearly as possible on an equal
footing with them.
How Newspapers May Help
The American press, with praiseworthy activity, has
taken a great interest in foreign trade with practically
the only result of increasing applications for imaginary
positions in connection with export business, Mr. Coster
said.
One of the first things to be done in order to bring
about the somewhat seemingly radical changes of laws
and policies suggested is to educate the press. Show
it what is really required to increase foreign trade and
have it in turn post the masses, who, together with the
newspapers, should influence necessary legislation. The
press must make the American public realize that every
dollar exported in merchandise makes the American
nation so much richer and that the American laborer
will be benefited to a proportionate extent. The people
must also be made to understand that foreign trade
absolutely necessary as a "filler in" in times of depre
sion.
The press should be encouraged to write leading
tides on the proposed changes and to agitate the matt
before the public in such a vigorous way as to make th
laboring man understand that what is suggested is
May 8, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
1169
his interest. Voters should use their influence with
representatives in Congress and with the government
to tiring about W '1 policies. Representatives
of the press should interview leading exp' a
understand foreign business and obtain their views and
reasons for wishing to cause the new conditions. Mr.
Coster explained carefully that no special privileges and
no subsidies are asked, but, on the other hand, the
business should not be hampered by unjust and unneces-
regulations. In most instances the difference in
cost between American and European labor can be over-
come by our more extensive and ingenious methods of
manufacture, but manufacturers should not be required
to do more than is involved in these.
New Rates of New York Edison Company
The New York Edison Company has issued a letter
to customers regarding the changes in rates and serv-
ice which took effect on May 1. As stated previously,
the maximum rate is reduced from 10 cents to 8 cents
per kw-hr. in the territory served, with the exception
of a small section of the Bronx. An abstract of the
letter follows:
Besides the change in rates referred to, material re-
ductions are also to be made in the wholesale and the
so-called power schedules, contributing still further to
the economical supply of electric energy for large build-
ings and manufacturing purposes. The schedule for
break-down service will be reduced.
The new prices will not include the supply of incan-
nt lamps or the care or maintenance of arc lamps.
Where lamp service is desired, it will be provided for
the so-called "renewal" lamps, under a separate agree-
ment, for 0.5 cent per kw-hr. Where this service is
taken, other standard lamps will be provided at prices
which allow for the one-half-cent payment.
A further change is the discontinuance of all sub-
metering. As a matter of convenience, meter service
of the past has included an unlimited supply of meters,
through which possibly has grown the practice of sub-
metering. During a recent investigation by the Public
Service Commission this practice, so far as this com-
pany may have contributed to it through the free supply
ib-meters, has met with severe criticism by the
commission, and its abandonment seems the only proper
course.
The new schedules for general, "power" and whole-
rates are shown in the accompanying figures.
>ral rate:
This contract includes the supply of electricity only;
if the installation, supply of lamps or the trimming
of arc lamps are not included hereunder.
Monti. I I
umption. Kw-hr. gumption, Kw-hr. Cento
900 8
100 3.2S7 . . . 7
200 «
300 9 B6S
400
. 4.25
Power rate where general rate is not advantageous:
Monthly Con-
sumption, Kw-hr sumption, K* Cent!
14.794
100 7
1*50
The power rate is nol available for lighting service,
Wholesale rate:
This contract includes the supply of electricity only;
care of the installation, supply of lamps or the trimming
of arc lamps are not included hereunder.
» per
Kw-hr
Kor the first "5.000 consumed In each yearly period
■ r.i-i <
: ariod 3
Kor th. period
Break-down service:
The guarantee under the break-down service sched-
ule has been reduced from $30 to $24 yearly. The more
essential features of the new schedule follow: In con-
sideration of the maintenance of the service as a
reserve, auxiliary or breakdown to a private electric
generating plant, there will be a service charge of $24
annually for each kilowatt of maximum demand for
which the contract is made. The agreement is to con-
tinue for one year and thereafter until terminated on
thirty days' notice, and electricity may be consumed at
the most favorable rate of the class within which the
service falls, without additional cost.
The so-called power schedule is designed for small
consumers of energy for motor service. When the
monthly consumption reaches 1900 kw-hr. the power
and general schedules merge, and thereafter the rates
are identical. Should it be to the advantage of the
consumer to combine under the general rate the power
consumption in any monthly period, the company will
do this automatically. The company does not under-
take so to substitute the wholesale rate, or, vice versa,
the general rate for the wholesale. This action must
be taken by the consumer, who to obtain the rate as-
sumes certain guarantees which could not be assumed
on his behalf by the company.
The guaranteed use under the wholesale schedule is
75,000 kw-hr. annually in Manhattan and 60,000 kw-hr.
annually in the Bronx.
The new wholesale schedule cannot be made effective
until a new contract has been made. This also will
apply to other contracts under which guarantees must
be made by the consumer. The new general and power
schedules, however, will be applied automatically to
contracts of those classes, unless the consumer desires
that a new contract be executed. In this event the
company asks to be notified in writing and in the ab-
sence of such notice will assume that the consumer
desires continuance of the existing contract under the
modified schedule.
Owing to improvements in incandescent lamps of
larger sizes, arc lamps are rapidly disappearing from
service. For the present at least customers who desire
to continue the use of arc lamps for general illumina-
tion may have them trimmed as usual at 0.5 cent per
kw-hr., as with the incandescent lamps of the "renewal"
types. The substitution of incandescent lamps is sug-
gested, however, as they give more illumination with
materially lessened use of energy. Flaming, photo-
graphic and motion-picture arc lamps and arc-lamp
service for buildings in course of construction are not
included in the standard lamp service.
Many customers may not desire to continue sub
metering. Where this service is to be continued, how-
ever, the present meters may be purchased by the con-
sumer and a general meter will be installed at the
service for recording the entire supply of the premises.
All bills will be rendered upon the reading of this gen-
eral meter belonging to this company.
Owing to the practice of taking meter readings, there
can be ii" exact division of the energy consumption in
the general and power classes between the April ami
May portions of bills rendered during May. The com-
pany will divide these bills in proportion to the number
of days occurring in each month, charging the former
rate for the April period and the new rate for the May
period. The wholesale meters will be read on May 1
1160
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 66, No. 19
and an exact record will be available upon which to
divide bills for service of this class.
The agreement for the supply and renewal of incan-
descent lamps, addressed to the company, says in part:
"The amount is to be based upon the number of kilo-
watt-hours represented by your monthly bill for light-
ing purposes and is to be paid in connection with the
monthly bill. It is understood that standard arc lamps
may be cared for under this agreement. This agree-
ment is to continue in effect during the term of the con-
tract for the supply of electric light unless sooner
terminated by either party hereto by thirty days' notice
in writing. It is further understood and agreed that
the incandescent lamps or any other devices furnished
under this agreement shall remain your property and
may be removed by you upon the termination of this
agreement."
Effect of the War on Foreign Companies
At the fifteenth annual general meeting of the British
Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company, Ltd.,
of London, England, Mr. J. Annan Bryce, M.P., chair-
man of the company, spoke of the effect of the war on
the business. He said in part: "The net profit is about
£45,000 more than that of 1913. This excellent result
is caused mainly by increased efficiency. The profit of
the year is almost entirely derived from contracts en-
tered into before the war, most of it, indeed, on con-
tracts made in 1913. As a matter of fact, we have al-
ready suffered and are likely to suffer still more from
the war, though its injurious effects are not apparent
in the accounts of 1914. The amount of net profit
earned is just sufficient, if we had divided right up to
the hilt, to have allowed a distribution of 15 per cent
on the preference capital; but in the opinion of the
board it is much wiser, with the present uncertain out-
look, to continue the policy of strengthening our re-
sources by building up reserves. We have accordingly
added £50,000 to general reserve, written £25,000 off
good-will, and carried forward a rather larger sum than
last year.
"The sudden outburst of war in the beginning of
August perturbed our industry, as it did all others.
As the autumn went on the stoppage of business with
Germany began to make itself felt, and orders were
given to us in replacement of canceled German con-
tracts. At the same time, the War Office and Ad-
miralty, to which we had offered our services at the
outbreak of war, placed with us orders for various
goods, and we also took sub-contracts from other firms
to assist their deliveries. Owing to these causes the
volume of orders, which at the end of July had been
27 per cent behind, finished up at Dec. 31 only 17 per
cent behind that of 1913. So far, therefore, as mere
volume of business is concerned, the war has rather
improved our position. The mere volume of orders
taken in any year or their character does not affect in
any considerable degree the profits of that year but
has an important effect on subsequent periods.
"The annual report alludes to our acquisition of our
American friends' interests in the French and Italian
Westinghouse companies. We consider that the bar-
gain is a good one for us. We have of late years had
ample opportunity of seeing the working both of the
French and Italian companies, and formed the opinion
that their want of success hitherto lias been fine to
conditions which we and our American friends are con-
fident that we shall lie able to impi
The results of operations of the Grosskraft werk
Franken A. G., of Nuremberg. Germany, for the
ended Dec. 31. 1014. according to its annual report,
were satisfactory in spite of conditions caused by the
war. There was a decrease in demand for energy at
the beginning of the war, but this condition has grad-
ually improved. Expenses have been greatly increased
owing to the price of raw materials and to the support
granted to employees now at the front. Prior to the
outbreak of hostilities the company had increased the
rating of its plant to 30,400 kw. Its output in 1914
was 33,350,390 kw-hr., as compared with 17,200,000
kw-hr. in 1913. The surplus for the year, including
$6,183 from the previous year, was $134,950. The net
profits were $64,912. The company declared a 51/2 per
cent dividend.
I. E. S. Nominees
The board of nominations for the Illuminating Engi-
neering Society has selected the following as nominees
for officers for the 1915-16 term:
President, Dr. C. P. Steinmetz, Schenectady, N. Y. ;
vice-president from New York Section, Mr. Clarence L.
Law, New York; vice-president from Pittsburgh Sec-
tion, Mr. J. L. Minick, Altoona, Pa.; general secretary,
Mr. Alton S. Miller, New York; treasurer, Mr. L. B.
Marks, New York; directors, Messrs. W. A. Durgin,
Pittsburgh, M. Luckiesh, Cleveland, and J. Arnold Nor-
cross, New Haven, Conn.
The nominating committee for the New York Section
of the society has selected the following nominees:
Chairman, Mr. D. McFarlan Moore; secretary, Mr. Nor-
man D. Macdonald; managers, Messrs. Thomas M. Am-
bler, L. H. Graves, W. F. Little, E. R. Treverton and
Herbert Whiting.
The ballot for officers of the Philadelphia Section is
as follows: Chairman, Dr. George S. Crampton; secre-
tary, Mr. L. B. Eichengreen; managers, Messrs. George
S. Barrows, Douglass Burnett, Clarence E. Clewell, R.
B. Ely and C. E. Ferree.
The following selection of nominees has been made by
the nominating committee of the Chicago Section:
Chairman, Mr. E. W. Lloyd ; secretary, Mr. O. L. John-
son; managers, Messrs. A. O. Dicker, H. M. Frantz, C.
A. Luther, A. H. Meyer and F. A. Rogers.
The following slate has been issued by the New Eng-
land Section: Chairman, Dr. Louis Bell; secretary, Mr.
S. C. Rogers; managers, Messrs. J. W. Cowles, W. B.
Lancaster, George P. Smith, Jr., H. F. Wallace and R.
C. Ware.
The Pittsburgh Section has made the following selec-
tion of nominees: Chairman, Mr. Lewis J. Kiefer; sec-
retary, Mr. R. H. Skinner; managers, Messrs. Henry
Harris, H. S. Hower, Harold Kirschberg, H. H. Magd-
sick and G. W. Roosa.
Electricians' Licensing Bill in Massachusetts
As a result of conferences between the Massachusetts
Electric Lighting Association and representatives of
labor interests, a bill has been substituted in the Massa-
chusetts Senate providing for the licensing of master
and journeymen electricians. The bill orders the Board
of Gas and Electric Light Commissioners to appoint
three examiners of electricians by July 1, 1915, to have
general supervision of licenses. A master's certificate
and a journeyman's certificate are defined at length in
the bill (Senate No. 511), and public utility corpora
tions and municipal plants are exempt from its provi-
sions. A journeyman's license under the bill requires
that the applicant shall either pass an examination by
the licensing board or have gained his livelihood at the
occupation of an electrician for the five consecutive
yean next prior to his application, and the same time
requirement applies to master electricians.
M u B, 1916
ELECTRICAL WORLD
1161
Enlarging a Steam Reserve Station
Problems Imolvod in Rehabilitating the Consolidated (las, Electric
Light iV Power Compan.N '■ Westport Station
By Jay C. Lathrop
AMONG the problems now before the financiers
and engineers in charge of electric pr-
various parts Of the country is that of the standby
station, or steam auxiliary to a hydroelectric station.
From one point of view it is important that the in
ment in a station of this kind be kept as ion as possible,
for in many cases these stations will be operated but a
few weeks during the year. On the other hand, the
installation of labor-saving apparatus wherever pos-
sible is almost a necessity because of the difficulty ex-
perienced in securing even unskilled labor for the short
period during which the station is in operation, which
usually occurs at a time in the summer when con-
struction work is in full swing.
An addition to a plant of this kind was recently built
by the Consolidated Gas, Electric Light & Power Com-
pany of Baltimore on a property situated on an arm
of the Patapsco River at Westport, Md. This company
receives the greater portion of its electrical energy over
two transmission lines from the hydroelectric station
of the Pennsylvania Water & Power Company at Holt-
wood, which is about 40 miles from Baltimore, on the
Susquehanna River. This station has a maximum
rating of 82,000 kw, but during the summer months the
output may fall as low as 9000 kw on account of low
water. The deficiency which had to be supplied by
steam power in one year during low water amounted to
about 20,000 kw, and it is expected that this will in-
crease from year to year.
The contract between the two companies is such that
the Consolidated Gas, Electric Light & Power Company
supplies its own standby service, and it is probable that
arrangements will be made for it to supply the deficiency
for the Pennsylvania Water & Power Company when
the load supplied to other customers exceeds the mini-
mum output of the Holtwood plant.
Auxiliary Sleam Stations
The Consolidated Gas, Electric Light & Power Com-
pany has in operation two steam stations, one at
Gould Street with a maximum output of 6000 kw and
one at Westport, which prior to the present addition
had a maximum output of about 20,000 kw. The prime
movers at Westport were five reciprocating engines and
one vertical Curtis turbine rated at 6000 kw. The
latter machine has since been replaced by a 7600-kw
horizontal-type Curtis turbine using the original con-
densing equipment.
The old boiler house has ten 650-hp Babcock & Wilcox
hand-tired boilers, tour 650-hp Babcock & Wilcox boilers
and four 750-hp Edge Moor boilers equipped with
Taylor stokers.
Some very interesting tests were made with the Edge
Moor boilers in 1913. In these tests the boilers were
operated on 318 per cent of normal rating and were
also brought up from a banked fire to 100 per cent
rating in three minutes and to 200 per cent rating in
nine minutes.
Early in the summer of 1913 it was evident that addi-
tional generating equipment must be installed at West-
port ready for service during the low-water period of
1914. About the middle of August, 1913, a contract
was made with the General Electric Company to furnish
and install a turbo-generator with a rating of 15,000
kw, the machine to be ready for operation by June 1,
1914. This date was set early in the season to allow
for unforeseen delays and for testing and adjustment
before placing the unit in commercial operation.
As it was also necessary to install greater boiler
capacity, plans for a new boiler house were prepared,
and during the fall of 1913 contracts were awarded
for the building, boilers, condensers and auxiliary
apparatus.
A comprehensive layout was made providing for an
ultimate station equipment in turbo-generators of
97,500 kw and a new boiler house of 36,000 boiler-hp.
One-sixth of the latter was built in 1914, containing six
1000-hp Edge Moor boilers, pumps, heaters, etc.
Main Boiler-Koom Structure
About seven years ago a new reinforced-concrete tur-
bine room, about 48 ft. wide by 100 ft. long, was con-
structed. In connection with this construction a pro-
posed new boiler house had been built of similar ma-
terial to a point level with the main boiler-room floor,
14 ft. from the ground. As the boilers purchased were
FJG. J — W'KSTPORT STATION AND EXTENSION KKOM PATAPSCO RIVER
1162
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 19
much larger than this structure would accommodate,
and as it was also found necessary to raise the main
turbine-room floor to a point 18 ft. above the basement,
this old reinforced-concrete work was removed. Owing
to the narrow width of the turbine room, which had
been designed for the vertical-type Curtis turbine, it
was necessary to cut an opening in the south wall of
the room and set the 15,000-kw unit partly through this
opening. The bay between the first boiler and the tur-
bine room was then made 20 ft. wide, so that the future
extension of the turbine room could be widened 6 ft. or
8 ft. and this bay reduced the same amount.
The coal bunkers are of reinforced concrete supported
upon I-beams and steel girders and are of a size suffi-
feed pumps are installed on the main floor, while the
basement is divided into several rooms by tile parti-
tions. In the center bay below the stack is a pump
room containing two service and two heater pumps.
Adjacent to this are a locker room and a toilet room.
The rest of the basement is taken up by a storeroom,
ash tracks and fan rooms. The four fans and engines
that furnish air to the stokers are arranged in sets in
such a manner that each pair of engines can be inclosed
in a separate room.
Reinforced-concrete intake and discharge tunnels
with a section 10 ft. by 12 ft. inside were built for cool-
ing water. The intake tunnel is connected with a screen
well just outside the building. The rectangular section
of the discharge tunnel also stops at a point about even
with the outside wall of the screen well. From this
point on, each tunnel consists of two circular reinforced-
concrete pipes with an internal diameter of 9 ft. These
pipe tunnels are carried to the bulkhead line, about 250
ft. from the boiler house proper, and diverge so that the
openings are about 100 ft. apart.
The discharge tunnel will not be used until another
m , >> M'ffi!- mh^mkmM^
'Uu \\\'\'i\ii^' ' jn '*••*••«- wK
^^n
FIG. 2 — LONGITUDINAL SECTION OF BOILER HOUSE NO. 3
cient for two or three days' supply of coal. Numerous
walkways and stairways are provided in the boiler room
so that all valves, machines, coal scales, etc., above the
main floor are readily accessible. Monitors placed over
the coal bunkers are provided with windows for light
and ventilation. A portion of the main roof is 6 ft. or
8 ft. below the general roof level. Continuous sash is
used around this depression, so that the interior of the
boiler room will be well lighted even after the exten-
sions are made.
A Custodis radial brick chimney weighing about 1200
tons is supported upon steel girders at the roof level.
Ft is 215 ft. high above the girders by 25.5 ft. at the
base, has an internal diameter of 20 ft. 2 in. for the
full height, and is lined with firebrick for 36 ft. above
the base, Thia Chimney will care for the gases from
twelve 1000-hp boilers. One line of breeching, consist-
ing of ' i - i ri . steel plates, connects each set of three
boilers to the hue. The chimney was carried on the
i mc o that the pace below could be utilized
for pumps and other auxiliaries. The boilers and boiler-
unit is installed as the two condensers now in place are
connected to a discharge tunnel which was originally
built under the basement of the turbine room. This
tunnel was too small for the ultimate rating of the sta-
tion, and because of a mat of heavily reinforced con-
crete on piles, which formed the bottom of the tunnel as
well as supports for machine foundations, it was deemed
more difficult to enlarge this tunnel than to build a new
one under the new boiler room. Just outside the build-
ing this tunnel is connected with the discharge from the
engine room, and the two are connected to a single re-
inforced-concrete pipe of 9-ft. inside diameter.
The foundations for the two machines were built on
similar lines, consisting in each ease of three transverse
concrete walls and two longitudinal pairs of steel beams
arranged to carry the flanges of the base casting. The
concrete walls for the 7500-kw unit rest directly on the
foundation for the old vertical Curtis, which was taker
down to a point flush with the turbine-room basement
floor. The walls for the 15,000-kw unit rest on the con-
crete mat above mentioned. One end wall came directly
B, 1916
E I. ECT RICAL WORLD
1163
under two of thi and the building
wall. Tin- section mi removed, and the eolanui and
wall were supported on a steel girder sr the
steani end of tin- machine. Between the found
walls i- a pit 3 ft. deep, In which are placed the small
turbines, air pumps and removal pumps for the con-
Tnrbo-Generator No, ]
The L6,000-kw turbo-generator is a twelve-stage ma-
chine and covers a Boi • t, long by about
wide over all. The exact dimensions of the base plate
are 36 ft. 4] 2 in. long by 17 ft. 8 in. wale. The height
overall is |:: ft 1 - m. The total net weight is 61
lb., while the weight of the heaviest part is 147,000 lb.
The following are the calculated weights of the vari-
ous parts of the turbo-generator:
Lb
Bam, turblni 17,600
Base, middle taction
Turbli ■ ■ men! with diaphragm .hsks
Turtiin.- r.it..tniK element In shlpi .'.7. 000
Turblni hall 1 2,800
>;. upper hall :!0,000
Bxhauat casing, lower hall 33,000
Turbine head, without \niv.' chest 11,000
ile riny. each l.
■I diaphragm, each half
ing, each half. 1,750
■ t standard end cap S,
Bteam strainei 1,100
Throttle valve 3.800
Mih valves 5,000
Relief valve 900
tor rotating element
Generator H7.
Total welghl ..f shields 18,000
Total 51
The turbine is provided with a 14-in. steam inlet,
while the exhaust opening to the condenser is 10 ft.
9 in. by 7 ft. 6 in. with the corners rounded to a radius
of 2 ft. The base is anchored to the foundation by
twelve 2'j-in. bolts.
The steam consumption at 175-lb. steam pressure, 100
deg. of superheat and a vacuum of 1% in. absolute was
guaranteed by the builder, as follows: Under a load of
7500 kw., 13.6 lb. per kw-hr. ; under a load of 12,000 kw,
12.75 lb. per kw-hr.; under a load of 15,000 kw, 13 lb.
per kw-hr.; under a load of 18,000 kw, 13.75 lb. per
kw-hr.
This guarantee covers all leakage and losses in the
turbine and generator, including the energy required in
the field for excitation and for supplying air for ven-
tilation by means of the rotor fan. At 200-lb. steam
pressure these economies will be increased by 2 per
cent.
Oil for the bearings is circulated at the rate of 30
gal. per minute by means of a gear pump attached to
the turbine shaft, a reservoir in the turbine base hav-
ing a storage capacity of 375 gal. The bearings are
cooled by circulating water through pipes embedded in
the babbitt, 35 gal. per minute being passed through
these pipes from the general service lines. The oil is
further cooled in a tank through which additional water
lines are passed.
The generator, with a continuous output rating of
18,750 kva, 80 per cent power-factor, is a two-pole ma-
chine wound for twenty-five cycles, three-phase, 13,200
volts.
The temperature at an output of 18,750 kva is guar-
anteed not to exceed 75 deg. C. when the temperature
of the cooling air is not above 25 deg. C. Cooling air
is required at the rate of 45,000 cu. ft. per minute, and
a duct is provided for this purpose so that cool, clean
air is taken from a point above the roof level. The ex-
citation required -■"> k« at 1J."> volts. The insulation
-It-.
Three reactance coils were furnished with this ma-
chine, which were installed on a gallery between the
nt and main flin>r of the turbine room. The
rheostats were placed just below these coils. The leads
from this machine are connected directly to the 13,200-
volt busbar in the switchboard room for the old station.
additional oil switches and wiring for this purpose hav-
ing been installed. Energy for excitation is taken from
an existing 125-volt bus in the old station.
owing to the great weight of the armature, it was
found necessary to ship the coils separately and wind
this armature on the job. As the overhead crane in
the turbine room was limited to 40 tons, it was neces-
sary to place the armature by blocking up and raising
one side at a time.
('ondeiisinj; Equipment for l.'i.OOO-kw Turbine
The condensing equipment for the above turbine has
numerous interesting features, many of which have
never before been adopted in this country. Owing to
the limited space available in the turbine room, it was
necessary to secure apparatus of the utmost compact-
ness.
A complete outfit from the exhaust flange of the tur-
FIC. 3 — 7500-KW UNITS IN TURBINE ROOM OF WESTPORT
STATION
bine, including atmospheric relief valves and air piping,
was furnished by the C. H. Wheeler Manufacturing
Company. The condenser proper consists of a hori-
zontal combined parallel flow and counter current jet
condenser shell, 10 ft. in diameter and 20 ft. long over
the flanges. The shell contains two injection pipes
22 in. in diameter parallel to the center line of the
condenser, into which are fitted a series of spray noz-
zles and deflector plates arranged in such a manner as
to form interlocking sprays. One end of each pipe is
fitted with an inspection cover, and the other end is
connected with an injection line from the intake tunnel.
This shell also contains a series of trays which re-
ceive the cooling water from the sprays. These trays
are arranged to form cascades which will further con-
dense the steam and prevent any steam entering the
pipe leading to the air pumps. The air pipe is installed
directly under the injection water pipe, and the water
forms a curtain on either side further to prevent ac-
cess of steam to the air outlet. The shell is of cast
iron l'i in. thick, heavily ribbed to give the required
strength. The steani inlet from the turbine is con-
nected to this shell by means of a rectangular copper
expansion joint. Two 24-in. flanges are also cast on
1164
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 19
this shell, to which are connected two 24-in. multiplex
atmospheric relief valves.
The shell is mounted on two cylindrical cast-iron
pump casings. In each of these casings are mounted
two 18-in. submerged-type centrifugal removal pumps.
The impellers of these pumps are of brass and the
shafts are of steel entirely brass-covered. A suitable
Y-pipe is provided, connecting
the discharges of each pair of
pumps into one opening. Each
pair of pumps has a discharge
rating of 15,000 gal. per min-
ute at high water, which is
about 2 ft. below the base-
ment-floor level.
Air removal is accomplished
by mean s of two C. H.
Wheeler-Thyssen centrifugal
air-entrainment-type vacuum
pumps. This is the first in-
stallation in this country of
pumps of this size, although
such pumps have been in op-
eration in many of the larger
power stations of Europe for
several years. This pump is
practically a double-impeller,
single-stage, centrifugal pump
with a horizontally divided
case. The impellers discharge
into an annular nozzle, from
which the water emerges in
a thin film of high velocity,
entraining the air from the
condensers and discharging
the mixture against atmos-
pheric pressure. In order that
the impellers may retain their
central position under the
nozzle ring with varying po-
sitions of the adjustable ring,
a small lateral movement of
the nozzle ring is immediately followed by a move-
ment of the shaft endwise, bringing the pump instantly
into hydraulic balance.
The air pumps are directly connected by a flexible
coupling to the removal pumps, which in turn are di-
rectly connected by a length of shaft to two 300-hp
Terry turbines. Each turbine will consume under nor-
mal conditions 11,000 lb. of steam per hour, when sup-
plied with steam at 175-lb. gage with 100 deg. of super-
heat. Each turbine is mounted on a base plate carry-
ing an outboard bearing which holds one end of the
short filler piece of shafting between the turbine and
the removal pump.
The complete equipment was guaranteed by the man-
ufacturer to condense 200,000 lb. of exhaust steam per
hour and produce a vacuum of 1U in. absolute when
supplied with 25,000 gal. of cooling water per minute
at a temperature not exceeding 70 deg. Fahr., the vac-
uum to be measured at a point within 12 in. of the
exhaust inlet to the condenser.
The weight of the equipment is as follows: Condenser
with removal pumps and casings, 110,000 lb.; two 300-
hp Terry turbines, 15,000 lb.; two Thyssen air pumps,
15,000 lb.; water when outfit is in operation, 35,000 lb.
Turbo-Generator No. •>
The 7500-kw horizontal turbo-generator which re-
placed a 5000-kw vertical machine that was destroyed
by accident is an eight-stage machine guaranteed to
deliver 7500-kw, twenty five-cycle, three-phase energy
at 13,200 volts, B0 per ■ > M power-factor, when running
at 1500 r.p.m. The maximum temperature of the gen-
erator, as determined by thermometer, at 9375 kva and
80 per cent power-factor is guaranteed not to exceed
75 deg. C, provided that the temperature of air enter-
ing the generator does not exceed 25 deg. C. The arma-
ture was subjected to an insulation test of 30,000 volts.
Excitation of 55 kw at 125 volts is required. The gen-
FIG. 4 — CROSS-SECTION OF BOILER ROOM
erator requires 25,000 cu. ft. of cooling air per minute,
which is received through a duct from outside the
building.
With steam pressure at the throttle of 175 lb., super-
heat 100 deg., and an absolute back pressure in the
exhaust chamber of the turbine of not more than 1%
in., the following steam consumption was guaranteed
for the stated generator output: 3750 kw, 14.6 lb.;
6250 kw, 13.9 lb. ; 7500 kw, 13.45 lb. These guarantees
cover all leakages and losses in the turbine and gen-
erator, including the energy required for excitation
and for supplying air for ventilation by means of the
rotor fan. The variation in speed is guaranteed not
to exceed 2 per cent for a change of one-half of the
rated load.
This unit has the following approximate dimensions:
Length over all, 31 ft. 6 in.; width over all, 12 ft. 7 in.;
height, 12 ft. 9 in. The approximate net weight is
365,000 lb., and the generator armature, which is the
heaviest piece, weighs 110,000 lb.
The machine was shipped on eight cars, and the total
shipping weight was 395,350 lb. This was handled by
a rigging company at 14 cents per 100 lb. from the car
tn its final position, while the General Electric Con
puny had charge of the erection, final adjustment, et
From the time the first shipment was received it wa
only fifteen days until the machine was erected con
plete ready for steam. This unit had been erected and
balanced at the shop and was ready for commercil
service three days after steam was first admitted to the
turbine.
May 8, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
1165
The original vertical Curtis unit was served by two
Alberger low-level jet condensers, one being placed on
either side of the machine. The removal pump in each
of these condensers is driven by a Fleming-Harrisburg
horizontal engine. Air removal is accomplished by
Deans of two direct-acting reciprocating air pumps
made bj the Alberger company. The condensers re-
ceive their injection water from the old intake tunnel
which serves the engines in the old house and dis-
charges into the tunnel already mentioned, immediately
under the turbine-room basement. The openings into
these two condensers were connected by means of three
large castings, one of which had a flange arranged for
direct connection to nozzle on the turbine as well u
in. flange for connection to the atmospheric ex-
haust. Up to this time this arrangement seems to have
worked perfectly.
Piping
In designing the piping for this addition an attempt
was made to secure the utmost simplicity throughout
and to have a minimum number of joints and valves
in the entire system. All high-pressure superheated
steam lines were made with welded nozzles and in
lengths up to 34 ft. All valves for this system have
cast-steel bodies with ground joints, with disks, seats
and bushings of monel metal. All valves throughout
have rising stems.
Each boiler is connected by an 8-in. line to a 15-
in. ring header. In each of these lines is placed an 8-
in. gate valve and an 8-in. non-return valve. The 15-
in. ring header has additional openings at the end
near the stack with blank flanges for future extension
to the boilers, which will be placed on the other side
kw unit if the new boiler room was not completed when
this machine was ready to turn over. This precaution
was well taken, u it WSI found impossible to put the
new boilers on the line for more than a month after
the machines were ready.
An 8-in. auxiliary steam header i< placed just below
the main boiler-room floor and is connected by two
8-in. lines to the 15-in, header above mentioned. This
auxiliary header supplies steam to the three boiler-feed
pumps through 2' --in. connections, to the four blower
engines through 4-in. connections, and to the small
turbines which drive the condenser pumps for the
15,000-kw condenser through a 6-in. line. Numerous
drip connections have been provided on all headers,
leading to two drip tanks which in turn are emptied by
bucket traps. Schutte emergency valves are installed
in the leads to all machines except the fan engines, it
not being thought possible that these engines could run
away, since they are directly connected to the fans.
A 36-in. main atmospheric exhaust line leads from
each main unit to a point about 4 ft. above the roof of
the boiler room. The exhaust steam from all auxiliary
engines and turbines is carried to a 24-in. auxiliary
exhaust main which lies just under the main boiler-
room floor. This main is connected to a 24-in. uptake
which carries the steam to the feed-water heaters.
A multiport relief valve is installed in this line,
which will prevent excessive pressure in the heaters.
Valves are so arranged that the steam can be conducted
to either one or both of the heaters. Vents from the
heaters are carried above the roof level.
The feed water is delivered to the heater pumps
through a 12-in. lateral from the 16-in. line from the
reservoir. These pumps deliver water directly to either
FIG. 5 — COAL SCALES AND (III II-
FIG. 6 — FIRING AISLE OF NEW BOILER ROOM
of the stack. This ring header also has a blank flange
in the line near the turbine room so that it can be con-
nected directly with the second set of twelve boilers.
In addition to this 15-in. main header an 18-in. header
about 300 ft. long was run from what is known as the
wing boiler house to provide steam for the 7500-kw
unit and also to avoid any delay in starting the 15,000-
or both of the heaters through a low-pressure feed-
water line. A suction line also leads from this 12-in.
main to one of the boiler- feed pumps, so that cold water
may be pumped directly to the boilers in case of acci-
dent to the heaters or pumps. The heaters deliver
water through a regulating valve to the V-notch meter
box, which in turn is connected to the suction end of
1166
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 19
the boiler-feed pumps by means of a low-pressure feed
main. The hot water taken from this main is forced
through a 10-in. high-pressure main connected to an
8-in. ring header, which later will be extended to six
future boilers. An auxiliary 3-in. main was installed
which can be used in case of emergency or to test any
particular boiler while the others are in operation.
Each boiler is connected to both lines by 3-in. brass
pipe. A 4-in. fire line is also taken from the feed-water
main.
Two 5-in. blow-off mains, each serving three boilers,
have been installed just below the main boiler-room
floor. The discharge ends of these lines are carried
outside of the building and turn into the upper portion
of a funnel which will carry the blow-off water directly
to a 36-in. sewer, the discharge being visible to the
operator.
The circulating-water piping is very simple, consist-
ing of two 24-in. injection lines from the intake tunnel
to the condenser shell of the 15,000-kw condenser. The
7500-kw machine was connected to the old condensers,
and the old circulating-water piping was used.
The two service tanks on the roof of this building
are connected to the service pumps by a 6-in. main.
Numerous connections from this main are made for
various purposes, such as plumbing, wetting down
ashes, etc. The most important connection to this line
is that to the oil-cooling coils on the turbines.
Boilers
The six boilers are of the three-pass type and were
furnished and erected by the Edge Moor Iron Company,
being supported upon the steel columns carrying the
building structure. They are rated at 1047 hp, having
a total heating surface of 10,470 sq. ft., and each boiler
has 472 4-in. tubes 20 ft. long expanded into wrought-
steel headers at front and rear. These tubes are ar-
ranged sixteen rows high and thirty wide. Wrought-
steel hand-hole plates are placed opposite the end of
each tube. The headers are connected to four steel
drums 35% in. in diameter and 20 ft. long, of 7 16-in.
metal. The entire boiler is hung from the steel chan-
nel supports by four 3-in. round rods with ball joints.
Each of these boilers occupies a space 22 ft. 10 in.
wide by 22 ft. 10% in. long and 22 ft. 11% in. high.
The fire box is 19 ft. 6 in. wide to accommodate the
stokers, while the general dimension inside to inside
of wall is 19 ft. 2 in. The boilers are equipped with
Foster superheaters arranged to heat 31,410 lb. of
water to 487 deg. with a steam pressure of 200 lb.
These superheaters are so designed that the drop in
pressure through them shall not exceed 0.5 lb, at rated
load, 2 lb. at 200 per cent of rating, and 4 ' '2 lb. at 300
per cent of rating. Both boilers and superheaters are
guaranteed to give satisfactory service up to 300 per
cent of rating if sufficient heat is provided from the
furnace.
Stokers
The company has had four Taylor stokers in opera-
tion in the old boiler room with such satisfactory
results that machines of the same make were purchased
for this extension. These stokers are of unusual width
owing to the size (if the boilers, and each consists of
eleven standard retorts. The width of the stoker is
19 ft. 6 in. and the depth 8 It. 8% in. They are pro-
vided with extension grates <>t' the self-cleaning type
The forced draft for these stokers is furnished by
four American Blower Company's three-quarters-
ed paddlewheel fans, directl] connected to four
Fleming Eiarrisburg engines, which also furnish the
[H.wer for driving the stokers. An independent drive
for the stokers w.i considered, ami provision has been
made so that separate engines for this purpose can be
installed at a later date if desired. Additional pulleys
were also furnished on the fan shafts, so that a motor
may be used if an engine should break down.
The following efficiencies were guaranteed by the
contractor, provided the baffling in the boiler was so
arranged that the temperature of the flue gas could not
exceed 550 deg. Fahr. and that coal equivalent to or
better than the following was used: Bituminous Coal
— Moisture, 1.49 per cent ; volatile matter, 20.48 per
cent; fixed carbon, 69.47 per cent; ash, 8.56 per cent;
sulphur, 1.57 per cent; pound-Fahrenheit heat units
per pound as fired, 14,078.
When coal is burned at the rate of 4400 lb. per boiler
per hour, the combined boiler and furnace efficiency
shall be not less than 74 per cent. When the stokers
are burning sufficient coal as specified, the combined
boiler and furnace efficiency shall be not less than 72
per cent while developing 2000 hp and 68 per cent while
developing 2500 hp. The contractor further guaran-
teed that the stoker shall be capable of developing 300
per cent normal boiler rating for a period of two hours,
and 2500 hp continuously; also that the steam pressure
shall be held within 5 lb. of the desired working pres-
sure when the boilers are normally operated at not
over 245 per cent of rating.
As it is often necessary in case of a severe storm
to take on a heavy load in a short period of time, and
since from the nature of this plant banked fires prevail
a considerable portion of the time, the contractors were
required to make the following further guarantees re-
garding rapidity of steaming:
"When maintaining a banked fire burning 320 lb.
coal per boiler per hour, it will require three minutes
to bring the boiler up to a steaming capacity equiva-
lent to normal rating and nine minutes to a steaming
capacity equivalent to 200 per cent of rating. With
tight settings and thorough heat insulation it will re-
quire only 210 lb. coal per hour to maintain the banked
condition. It is understood that in making tests to
determine the above result the output of the boiler
shall be measured by means of a steam-flow meter. It
is understood that the company will furnish adequate
draft apparatus for the removal of the gases without
requiring positive pressure in the furnaces."
Feed-Waler Heaters
Two 10,000-hp Cochrane feed-water heaters of the
free-exhaust type are installed on what is known as
the heater floor in the same bay as the stack and imme-
diately over the boiler-feed pumps. Each of these
heaters is equipped with a valved separator. Eaofe
heater occupies a floor space 8 ft. 9 in. by 8 ft. 9 in.
and stands 8 ft. 3 in. "above the floor, while the total
weight empty is 25,000 lb. Each heater has a water
space of 325 cu. ft. and a steam space of 187 cu. ft.
The general arrangement of the heaters, together
with a Cochrane V-notch weir-measuring device and
meter box, is shown on one of the accompanying draw
ings. The feed water from the heater pumps in the
basement is delivered into a dividing box which is
situated at such an elevation above the heaters that the
water will pass by gravity to either or both as ma) I"
desired. With the number of boilers now installed one
heater has ample heating power, but provision was
made for the additional six boilers which will be in
stalled in the future.
From the heaters the water passes by gravity to
V-notch meter box, the discharge being recorded
means of a Cochrane recorder placed just above th
box. The flow of water to the dividing box and from
the heaters to the meter is controlled by regulating
valves in the line controlled by suitable floats which
in
t
Mai B, 1916
K I. ECTRIC A I. U'<> R I.D
1161
nd fall in unison with the water levels. The
meter box weight 21,000 lb. empty and GO, 000 lb. when
filled with water. This amount of water, with that in
6 1,000 11). of hot
r, or enough to run the six boilers at 200 per cent
of rating for ten mini.'
Belli r-l <<d I'umptt
Three centrifugal boiler-feed pumping units are in-
stalled on the main floor of the boiler room in the aisle
immediately below the stack. Bach unit consists of a
5-in. three-stage Alberger turbine centrifugal pump
mounted on a common base plate with, and directly con-
nected by means of a flexible coupling to, a Curtis
single-stage non-condensing steam turbine. The cas-
ing for both pump and turbine is split horizontally, the
pump suction and discharge being on the lower half
and the steam and exhaust openings on the turbine
also on the lower half. The pump is fitted with bronze
impellers, bronze diffusion rings and bronze protecting
sleeves on the shaft.
With a head on the suction side not less than 10 ft.,
each unit is guaranteed by the makers to have a
capacity of 500 gal. of 210-deg. water per minute,
against a discharge pressure of 240 lb. per sq. in. when
operating at a speed of approximately 2500 r.p.m., sup-
plied with steam at an effective gage pressure of 175
lb. and 100 deg. of superheat at the turbine throttle,
and exhausting against atmospheric pressure. Under
the above conditions a pump efficiency of 65 per cent
and a maximum steam consumption not to exceed 34.2
lb. per brake-hp is guaranteed. The maximum head
at no delivery will be 600 ft., equivalent to 260 lb.
pressure. These pumps will also lift cold water
through a total suction lift of 20 ft. The performance
of the combined unit at other capacities is given in the
accompanying table:
DATA ON PERFORMANCE OF COMBINED UNIT
Total
R.p.
Pump
Kfficiency.
per < tent
si. -mi pec
Brake-hp . H-rake-Hp
1 1.
500 2600 >;■'. 108 :il 2
j:\rn 82 - 36 0
2S0 54 12 6
Heater I'umps
Water is supplied to the heaters from the main sup-
ply pipe connected with the reservoir by means of two
pumps installed in the boiler-room basement almost
directly below the heaters. Each unit consists of one
8-in. Alberger horizontal turbo volute centrifugal pump
on a common base with and directly connected to a
20-hp Westinghouse induction motor. These pumps
have horizontally split casings and are provided with
bronze impellers, and the shaft is bronze-covered where
mes in contact with the water. They are guaran-
teed by the maker to deliver 1000 gal. each against a
total dynamic head of 50 ft. when running at a speed
of 1440 r.p.m., with a pump efficiency of 65 per cent.
requiring approximately 19.4 brake-hp.
Service Pumps
Two smaller pumps are also provided in the base-
ment which supply water for general service use around
the building and which discharge into the service tanks
on the roof of the boiler house.
Each unit consists of a 2'j-in. Alberger single-suc-
tion volute centrifugal pump on a common base with
and directly connected to a 7.5-hp Westinghouse induc-
tion motor. These pump- also have bronze impellers
and bl baft, They
are guaranteed by the maker to deliver 150 gal. per
minute against a total dynamic head of 90 ft. when
operating at a speed of 1 440 r.p.m. with a pump effi-
ciency of nt, requiring approximately 6.3
brake-hp at the pump shaft.
Recording and Regulstiai Instrument-
A full equipment of recording apparatus for the new-
boiler room was installed consisting of a steam-flow
meter of the recording type and two Richardson auto-
matic coal stales for each boiler, as well as a complete
equipment of recording thermometers, gages, etc.
This includes thermometers for steam, service water,
flue gas, and tor the incoming and outgoing circulating
water of both machines. A recording vacuum gage is
provided for each condenser, and an absolute pressure
gage has been installed in connection with each of these
vacuum gages for testing purposes.
FIG. 7 — END OF THE SHELL OF 15,000-KW UNIT
The draft on the boilers is controlled by Blaisdell-
Canady regulators. A single CO. recorder was in-
stalled for testing purposes and for adjusting and
determining the most efficient method of handling each
boiler.
Coal Handling
Coal is delivered to the new boiler house by the fol-
lowing method: The gantry crane which served the
old boiler house delivers coal in the end coal pocket of
this house. A chute from this coal pocket delivers coal
to a skip hoist, which in turn elevates coal to a hopper
some distance above the roof. The coal is taken from
this hopper into an electric car which transfers it to
a hopper over the other boiler room. From this hopper
it is dumped into a cable or hand car which passes over
the new coal bunkers. A complete new coal-handling
system, consisting of a rapid hoist tower and a bridge
leading to the track over the new boiler house, is in
contemplation. The apparatus above mentioned will
then be arranged so that the coal can be transferred
in case of emergency from one system to the other.
Ash Handling
Ashes from the automatic stokers are delivered into
ash hoppers immediately below the boiler. Perforated
1168
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 19
pipes have been arranged in each of these ash hoppers
so that the ashes may be cooled while they are being
dumped. These ash hoppers are built of expanded
metal and concrete and are lined on the inside with
firebrick. From these hoppers the ashes are dumped
into side dumping cars and pushed by hand over an
industrial railway to a point outside of the station.
where they are used for filling and making additional
ground on the company's property.
Patapsco Pipe Line and Pumping Station
The boiler-feed water supply for the old boiler house
was received directly from a reservoir which was filled
from a small stream about 1 mile from the station.
This stream was badly polluted, and it was found
necessary to filter the water. Also, as this was a very
small stream and the capacity of the existing 8-in. pipe
line was small, a new pumping station was built on
the Patapsco River about 3 miles from the Westport
power house, where exceptionally good boiler-feed
water was secured. This pumping station delivers
water through a 16-in. main to the reservoir. A by-
pass connection has been made to the filter house so
that the water may be filtered when necessary.
The general contractors on this work were Messrs.
Morrow Brothers, of Baltimore. The contractors for
the equipment have been mentioned in the body of the
article. Mr. E. D. Edmonston is general superintend-
ent for the Consolidated Gas, Electric Light & Power
Company and has general charge of the operation and
construction of this station. Mr. A. S. Loizeaux is
electrical engineer for the company, while the writer
had direct charge of the designs, construction and in-
stallation of the equipment.
Applications of Concentrated-Filament Lamps
The field of application for concentrated-filament
lamps covers an extensive variety of uses. In it are
included all sorts of headlamp service on land, sea and
in the air, in railroad signals, range lighting of water-
ways, heliograph signals, small moving-picture outfits
and stereopticons. Several thousand 6-volt headlamps
are now in railroad service. These are of 108 watts
rating, 150 cp, and in a 20-in. silver-plated parabolic
reflector produced nearly 1,000,000 beam cp. Objects
2000 ft. distant easily can be identified. The simplicity
and steadiness of the concentrated-filament lamp are
great advantages. Railroad signal lamps of this type
are now under test, and it is claimed that they can be
read more easily against the setting sun than is the
case with semaphores.
The chief commercial demand for concentrated-fila-
ment lamps will come from the stereopticon field and
other applications where 105-volt to 125-volt energy is
available. The operation of projector lanterns is greatly
simplified, noise is eliminated, and the 100-watt and
250-watt lamps used in lighter and larger service are
interchangeable. The needs of the larger lanterns are
met by the 500-watt and 1000-watt concentrated-fila-
ment, gas-filled lamps. These should always be used
with a spheric.il mirror, thereby increasing the intensity
on the screen at least 30 per cent and also giving a more
uniform field. No satisfactory lamp has yet been
developed for the larger moving-picture machines, but
lamps of very high candle-power are being tested, and
it is hoped that these when used with proper mirrors
and condensing lenses will be successful. Their adapta-
tion to moving-picture machines would largely reduce
the fire risk and eliminate synchronism difficulties in
theaters on alternating-current service.
Calculation of the Performance of an Induction
Motor — I
By Waldo V. Lyon
The following method of calculating the performance
of an induction motor or of an induction generator
has been based upon the regular equivalent circuit
diagram (or transformer diagram), and while it is
practically as accurate, the computation is much sim-
plified. This simplification results from dividing the
leakage impedance drop in the stator winding into two
components, viz., the drop due to the no-load component
of the stator current and that due to the load com-
ponent. The transformer diagram embodying this con-
struction is given in Fig. 1. All rotor constants and
quantities are reduced to their equivalent single-phase
values on the stator side. While this method does not
give the accuracy that a more complete analysis would
produce, it answers the needs of commercial testing suf-
ficiently well in the majority of cases.
In Fig. 1, which is drawn for the equivalent single-
phase motor:
/, = rotor current,
/„ = total no-load current (= \3 times no-load line
current for a three-phase motor),
/, = stator current (= y3 times line current for a
three-phase motor),
/,' = — /3 = load component of stator current,
V, = stator impressed voltage (between terminals),
9 = resultant air-gap flux,
E, = emf generated in stator and rotor winding by the
resultant air-gap flux.
Working Formulas
Induction Motor. — For the purpose of calculation it
is simpler to reduce the actual constants of the motor
to their equivalent single-phase values. In all that fol-
lows this will be done. These constants are computed
from test data, as will be presently shown by example,
and are:
r, = stator effective resistance,
r, = rotor ohmic resistance,
x, = stator leakage reactance at normal frequency,
x2 = rotor leakage reactance at normal frequency,
/„ = no-load stator current,
cos 8„ = no-load power-factor,
Pr = no-load rotation and core losses.
From the above constants an auxiliary set of con-
stants are computed as follows:
cos2 8„
sin 9„ = 1 — — — (or from tables),
R = rt+ r7,
X = xt -f x„
-Jr.
Et = V, — x,In {V, = line voltage),
In
d = {ex, -f- sin 8,,)'.
In order to calculate the performance of the motor at
some particular output, P„, it is first necessary to esti
mate the slip. This can be done very closelv as follows:
Let
"-(*—)-fjj=y
(i)
where Z is the short-circuit impedance of the motor
The slip is then
•'II.. derivation of these formula* will l*. given In the a >ini
iiiis article
Mi) -. 191G
KI.KCTRICAL WORLD
1169
« = - (2)
u
Having found the slip for, say, full load I nient
t'. calculate the performance curve- at different frac-
tions of the full-load slip rather than at different frac-
tions of full load. The latter can lie readily done, how-
ever, by applying formulas | 1 i and 2
The rotor current i-
,.-
( )
The stator current
I »
"^(f i
+ d.
(3)
(4)
The copper and stray loses in the stator are rj'.
The power transferre<l across the air-gap is
s
The power output is P„ = P,(l
The torque in pound-feet is
/550 _p_\
^746 4r.f ) "
(5)
(6;
(7)
PF
where p number of poles and / = frequency.
The power input is Pt = P, 4- rj' 4- Pr.
The power-factor is
Pi
The efficiency is
P.
' iv
Some of these formulas and those that immediately
follow are subject to small corrections which are usually
(8)
(9)
(10)
PIG. 1 — CURRENT, FLUX AND VOLTAGE DIAGRAM
of negligible effect but which it may be desirable to
apply in some cases. These corrections will be ex-
plained under "Derivation of Formulas."
Induction Generator. — The performance as an induc-
tion generator can be obtained just as readily. The slip
for a given electrical output, P„, is found as follows :
Let
E' Z'
(11)
P.+ P.
e:
Po + Pn
As before, Z is the short-circuit impedance of the motor,
and Pn is the no-load input when running as a motor.
The slip is then
(12)
The rotor current is
/. =
u -f- r,
' (*-)
The stator current is
/. = /
"(*-0
\\(c . — cosO„ J + d.
(13)
(14)
The input ia
P, / I «).
s
The output is
/' — /' — rl ' — Pr.
8
The power- fart 'i
PF
The efficiency is
V I '
- Pu
~~p7
(15)
17
(18)
Numerical Example
As an illustration of the application of the above
formulas, the following numerical example is given :
Full-load output, 1950 k\v.
Voltage between terminals, 6400 volts.
Frequency, twenty-five cycles per second.
Number of phases, three.
Number of poles, thirty-six.
Temperature on continuous load, 71 deg. C.
Ohmic resistance between terminals at 25 deg. C.,
stator, 0.561 ohm; rotor, 0.0766 ohm.
Ratio of transformation, 6400 2076.
No-load test, temperature, 25 deg. C: Line voltage,
6400 volts ; line current, 89.5 amp ; power input, 47,500
watts.
Blocked test, temperature, 25 deg. C. : Line voltage,
2200 volts; line current, 369 amp; power input, 375,000
watts.
Assume that the ratio of the effective to the ohmic
resistance for the blocked test is 20 per cent greater
for the rotor than for the stator, and that, at the rated
frequency at 25 deg. C, the ratio of the stator leakage
reactance to the rotor leakage reactance is the same as
the ratio of the stator ohmic resistance to the rotor
ohmic resistance. The proper assumptions to make in
regard to these ratios are a matter of experience. The
better the assumptions, the more exact will be the cal-
culations. The accuracy of the calculated performance
depends primarily upon the value of the rotor resistance,
and its determination should be as exact as possible.
The assumptions made regarding the other constants
are of much less importance. The resistance of a wound
rotor may be measured by direct current before the
winding is short-circuited, as is done in the present ex-
ample. Otherwise it may be difficult to obtain an exact
value of the rotor resistance.
Determination of r,. — For a three-phase motor the
equivalent single-phase resistance of the winding is one-
half of the resistance measured between terminals. The
equivalent single-phase resistances of the stator and
rotor windings are respectively 0.281 ohm and 0.0383
ohm at 25 deg. C. The resistance of the rotor winding
referred to the stator is its actual resistance multiplied
by the square of the ratio of transformation. In this
case it is 0.0383 X (6400/2076)' = 0.364 ohm at 25 deg.
C. At the running temperature of 71 deg. C. the rotor
resistance is therefore
r. = 0.S64A+ ?1-25
^ ^234.5 + 25,
Determination of ?-,. — The effective resistance of the
stator winding is not so easily found. The combined
effective resistance at normal frequency of the stator
and rotor windings at 25 deg. C. is found from the
short-circuit data to be 375,000/ (V3~X 369)' = 0.917.
remembering that the equivalent single-phase current
is V3 times the line current in the case of a three-
phase winding.
Let k represent the ratio of the effective to the ohmic
.)-
429 ohm.
1170
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 19
resistance of the stator winding at 25 deg. C. Then
1.2A- is the corresponding ratio for the rotor winding
at this temperature. Then k X 0.281 + 1.2fc X 0.364
= 0.917, from which k = 1.28. The effective resistance
of the stator winding at 25 deg. C. is then 1.28 X 0.281
= 0.359 ohm. The part of this resistance which is due
to the stray losses is 0.359 — 0.281 = 0.078 ohm. This
is assumed to be constant and independent of the tem-
perature. The ohmic resistance of the stator winding
at 71 deg. C. is
The effective resistance of the stator winding at 71
deg. C. is therefore
r, = 0.331 + 0.078 = 0.409 ohm.
Determination of #, and x.. — The combined leakage
reactance of the stator and rotor winding is found from
the short-circuit data, which give for the combined im-
pedance
Z = 2200 ( \'3 X 369) = 3.44 ohms.
cos 8„ = 0.0479,
r, = 0.409.
r, = 0.429,
x, = 1.45,
x, = 1.87,
Z = 3.44,
In = 155,
Pr = 38,900,
sin 0, = 0.999,
R = 0.838,
X = 3.32,
b = 5.52,
El = 6175,
c = 0.0251,
d = 1.094.
Calculation of Performance. — The following table
gives the calculated performance of the motor at full
load and at one-quarter, one-half, three-quarters and one
and one-quarter of full-load slip. In the last line of this
table is given the calculated performance when the motor
is operated as an induction generator at an output of
2000 kw at 6400 volts.
The full-load slip (as a motor) is found by equations
(1) and (2), viz.,
61752 . „„\ 3.44=
V
(r.
950,000
1.68
fc
6175;
950,000
= 17.24.
1.68
PERFORMANCE OF INDUCTION MOTOR
Slip
(«)
Rotor
Current
(ft)
Stator
Current
(/,)
Power Across
\it Gap
(ft)
Kw
1 Hit paT
(Po)
Torque
T (Ib-fl 1
Kw
Input
Power-
Pai toi
Efficiency
Equation
r:
n+~T
(3)
(o— - t-coa »„)!
1*
ri.'i (kw)
(5)
(6)
(71
s
(9)
10
807
70.7
71 1
86.8
3 29
181 8
13 53
533
529 6
45,000
586
0.503
0.906
0 0122
35.2
:i.-, 6
172.7
ii 867
241 9
23 m
1050
ll«7
88,700
1113
0 719
ii 932
0.0183
23 86
jr.r, l
0 106
314 ii
40.4
i:.4:i
1 5 1 5
130,300
1622
n 807
0,934
0.0243
17 67
IS IIS
33U 0
i) 252
389 8
62.2
1996
1947
168,600
2097
II sil
0.929
14 11
14 52
411 6
0, 170
466 ii
88 II
2427
2353
205 000
2555
0.867
II '.1_M
PERFORMANCE
OF INDUCTION GENERATOR
Equation
r\
(13)
n
114)
,',/r (kw)
— -/aUkw) (16)
(15)
(17)
(18)
0 0233 18.42
18.01
337.0
0.414
378.5
58.5
2094 ! 1997
2144
0 825
0.931
The combined reactance is
X = y 3-44^ — 0.91 r = 3.32 ohms,
from the assumption regarding the relation between
the ohmic resistances and the leakage reactances,
X, 0.281
.-• 6T364'
which gives z, — 1.45 ohms,
x2 = 1.87 ohms.
Determination of /„, 0„ and P,. — The equivalent
single-phase value of the no-load current is
/„ = \/3 X 89-5 = 155 amp.
The no-load power-factor is
47,500
6400 L55
The no-load rotation and core losses equal the no-load
power less the stator copper and stray losses. At 25
deg. C. these losses are 0.859 L56 8640watts. The
rotation and core losses are therefore
/' 47,500 — 8640 - 38,900 watts.
These losses vary with the load, but the variation is
not large and no account of it will be taken.
Determination o) Auxiliary Constanta. — The auxil-
may now be computed. They arc given
in the righl band "-1111111111 in the following tabulation.
At the Ii i man ol the fundamental constants.
= 0.0243.
cos 0„ =
0.0479.
0.429
S ~ 17.24 + 0.429
The slip when this motor is operated as an induction
generator with an output of 2000 kw at 6400 volts, as
found by equations (11) and (12), is given in the ac-
companying table. This tabulated performance is not
corrected for the effect of friction and windage. For this
particular motor the friction and windage loss was not
known. Observe that the calculated output at full load
is but 0.15 per cent lower than the rated full load. This
shows how close an approximation is obtained in equa-
tions ( 1 ) and (2). Similarly, in the case of the induc-
tion generator, the output calculated from the slip is
only 0.15 per cent lower than the assumed output of 2000
kw, which shows the degree of accuracy of equations
(11) and 1 12).
Time Required for Calculations. — It is of interest to
know the length of time required to make the computa-
tions hero given. A 20-in. slide rule was used and the
work was done steadily but without hurrying. Twenty
minutes were required to compute the table of constant
from the data, and forty minutes were required to cal-
culate the five points of the tabulated performance, or
about eight minutes to a point. It required about twenty
minutes to calculate the performance as an induction
generator.
Pari II of this article, dealing with the derivation of
formulas, will appear in a later issue of the Kl.KCTRICAL
World.
Mvi 8, 1915
E L B( T RICAL Wo RLD
Municipal Operation in Pasadena, CaL
taalyBM and Rei iew of Annual Reports h\ L<M rVngdcfl Experts,
Together with Reply of Superintendent koiner
A i OP) of the annual report for the year ended
June SO, 1914, of Mr. c. \\ . Koiner, general man-
• of the municipal lighting works department
of the iit> of Pasadena. CaL. kuu been received. An
analysis and review of the report by -Mr. EL H. Ballard.
consulting engineer, of Lee Angeles, CaL, baa also Ween
received. An abstract of the report and the analysis
4r. Ballard were sent by the ELECTRICAL World to
Mr. Koiner, who answered the criticisms. This article
t> the various statements.
Report of Mr. Koiner
Depreciation has been charged from the time the
plant was started. The book reserve is $130,871, which
has been invested in property used in the department.
The amount set aside to cover depreciation or deferred
maintenance last year was $27,408. The direct debt
wa- (827,000, although the cost to date is $697,505.
The department is not required to pay interest on the
total average investment, but only interest on outstand-
ing bonds, which amounted to $11,551 last year. On
money received above that obtained from bond IE
no interest has to be paid. The method of charging
all costs in connection with the department compre-
hends an interest charge on the total average invest-
ment. After allowing for interest on the total average
investment and for depreciation, a surplus remains of
$29,361. The total balance sheet surplus is $71,110,
which is invested in extensions and working capital.
The saving from Oct. 1, 1908, to June 30, 1913, by rea-
son of the difference in rates charged before the city
entered the business and rates in neighboring cities
since the city began is $731,084.
Certain intangible values have not been added to the
statement of property cost. Engineering and supervi-
sion were charged to operating expense. The cost of
building up the business, advertising and soliciting in
competition with a strong competitor has been charged
to operating expense. Reductions in rates have been
made from a maximum of 12 ' _• cents per kw-hr., less
10 per cent for prompt payment, to a maximum of 5
cents per kw-hr. for energy for lighting. Until Sept.
23, 1913. the competitor of the department made a max-
imum base rate of 4 cents per kw-hr. At that time the
company, complying with the unjust competition act of
the Legislature, had either to lower its rates in other
communities to the Pasadena scale or to raise its rates
in Pasadena to those charged by the department. The
company chose the latter. The average rate received
for street lighting for the year, including incandescent
lamps, arc lamps and ornamental systems, was 4.681
per kw-hr.. as compared with 4.954 cents per
kw-hr. for commercial service.
The report shows: Receipts, $176,431; operating ex-
16,642; interest, $23,021; depreciation. $27.-
rplus, $29 360
Analysis of Mr. Ballard
The total investment is reported $691 505. The
balance sheet shows that $278,986 is the net balance
received from bond sales; $209,252 was contributed to
the department from taxes and the balance was raised
by ' l i the use of funds which properly should have
been set aside from earnings for depreciation, and (2)
alleged earnings for seven years. Taxpayers authorized
the expenditure of funds from bond sales but not the
remaining $418,519 expenditures. The Pasadena light-
ing department is not required to pay interest on bonds
because this is paid out of the general fund, and thus
met by taxpayers. No reduction in street-lighting I
has been made in seven years, and therefore net earn-
ings from this service are naturally very large. The
net return from this source for the year was 16.02 per
cent on the capital investment in this part of the busi-
The report gives sufficient data to permit a division
between street lighting and commercial service. The
average rate for street lighting was 4.68 cents per
kw-hr. and for commercial service 3.46 cents per kw-hr.
Using the totals as reported, the division between street
SEGREGATION OF STREET LIGHTING AND COMMERCIAL
SERVICE MADE BY MR. BALLARD
Street Com-
l.iRhting mercial Total
Cross revenue %4 (1 76,431
i Iperating expenses
Manufacturing: Divided on h
oi peak load tor constant • ■
and kilowatt-hours output for
variable charges $9,770 $34,673 $41. 44:1
Distribution: Divided on basis of
character of individual accounts 6,580 23.748 30,32*
General: All but incidental super-
vision applying to commercial
light and power 1,200 20,671 21,871
Total operating expenses $17,550 $78
Balance $31.01-3 $4S,766 $79,789
Total property investment:
Generating plant divided on I'asis
ol peak load, all other divided
ling to character of Invest-
ment $198,701 1503,803 $697,505
Kate of return on property invest-
ment for interest and depreciation
— percent 16.02 9.68 1144
.1 and depreciation 1 Hvided
in proportion to property Invest-
ment $14,019 $36,409 (50,428
Surplus earnings $17,004 $12,357 $29,361
- from surplus (commer-
cial) wlii.h Mr. Ballard claimed
Bhould tx made 50,240
ii.ti.it on commercial business
resulting from the calculatl
Mr. Ballard $37,s>3
lighting and commercial service is as shown in the
accompanying table.
This analysis makes it evident that the municipal
department is charging for street lighting $17,004 more
than cost, such cost including interest and depreciation
on investment as shown by the report. The report
shows surplus earnings, including both street lighting
and commercial service, of $-2;>,.'i01 . Deduction of the
overcharge on street-lighting account, $17,004, leaves a
balance of $12,357. Examination shows that a number
of items properly chargeable in operating expense have
been omitted, as follows:
Provision for injuries and damages, notwithstanding
$9,000 paid in the previous year on this account; for
tin- $5,0(10 should be provided annually. Cost of con-
1172
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 19
nections is not included; there were 669 disconnections
in the year, costing approximately $5,000. Rent of
office is stated as $165, while the lighting department
occupies separate quarters provided by the city by an
expenditure of $25,000 from other funds; this should
be increased $735. Insurance is reported at $150;
proper insurance would cost an additional $1,500.
Legal expenses are not included, although a large part
of the time of the city legal department is used; a rea-
sonable charge would be $1,500. On the assumption
that the plant is not required to pay taxes this is not
included; under private ownership taxpayers would be
relieved of 4.6 per cent of the gross earnings of all
business done by the municipal plant, which would
amount to $8,116. The municipal plant does not pay
city fees for permits and inspections, while the private
company is charged 75 cents per meter; the municipal
department should be charged the same because the
city would have received the money if these connections
had been made by the private company, amounting to
$1,947. Depreciation is charged at less than 4 per cent
on cost of property; it should be at least 6 per cent,
increasing the charge $14,442. The expenditure for
repairs was $9,434, or 1.33 per cent on cost of property,
and nothing was included for maintenance; complete
repair and 100 per cent efficiency would require ap-
proximately $12,000 additional. The foregoing deduc-
tionse from surplus, $50,240, taken from the $12,357
surplus remaining after correction of the street-light-
ing charge, would indicate a deficit on commercial
business of $37,883.
Many omissions in operating expense are due un-
questionably to the imperfect accounting system.
Starting with July 1, 1914, however, the municipal
department adopted the system prescribed by the Rail-
road Commission of California, and this should tend to
correct some errors. While the operating ratio, ac-
cording to the report, was 54.77 per cent, the report
for July, 1914, compiled under the Railroad Commis-
sion system, increased the ratio to 61.81 per cent.
The claim of saving to consumers is based on the
untenable assumption that but for the existence of this
plant the rates would now be as they were in 1908. It
does not admit the influence of progress in the art.
The city plant's average rate now is 3.724 cents per
kw-hr. ; the Southern California Edison Company's for
all its territory, including Pasadena, is 2.06. Had the
city plant sold its 4,737,271 kw-hr. at an average rate as
low as the Edison company's, it would have shown a
deficit of about $77,000, approximately three times the
total profit claimed.
Mr. Koiner's Reply
"Mr. Ballard states that the taxpayers did not au-
thorize the expenditure of $418,519. These expendi-
tures have been made under the supervision and author-
ization of the Councilmen and Commissioners of the
city since the plant began operation. These gentlemen
are authorized by the charter to conduct the business
of this city.
"In replying to the statement that no reduction in
street-lighting rates has been made in seven years, I
refer to page 8 of the report. The department is sup-
plying 80-cp lamps in place of the 40-cp street series
lamps for the same price, namely $1 per month, or $12
per year, for 80-cp lamps. The rate charged for arc
lighting is $5 per month for 6.6 amp; for 600-cp street
ea lamps, $5 per month; for ornamental lighting
in the residence section, S'o cents per kw-hr.; for orna-
mental lighting in tin- business section, 8 cents per
kw-hr.; on one stretch of street where we have a rental
for underground conduits a charge of 4.3 cents per
kw-hr. has been made. These rates are no higher than.
and not as high in many cases as, neighboring cities
pay our competitor.
"Mr. Ballard did not include enough in his division
of expenses for generation and general expense. (I
am sure he would charge more than $1,200 to cover
general expense pertaining to street lighting in any
city the size of Pasadena.)
"Mr. Ballard refers to the average rate of 4.68 cents
per kw-hr. for street lighting and compares it with the
average rate for commercial service, including energy
sold for motor service, 3.46 cents per kw-hr. Let us be
fair and deduct energy sold for commercial service and
make the comparison on the proper basis, which would
give the correct figure, 4.954 cents per kw-hr., for all
energy for commercial lighting. This shows that we
received a higher average rate for all illumination other
than street lighting, while we received the low average
rate of 1.942 cents per kw-hr. for all energy for motor
service. This should not be used in comparison to
lower the average.
"We all have to acknowledge that street-lighting
equipment depreciates and becomes obsolete much more
rapidly than some of the other equipment used for
commercial lighting. Street-lighting fixtures change
so fast that it is difficult to keep up with them. All
this has to be written off, and I will say that, owing to
changes in fixtures and systems, this department has
some heavy depreciation charges to be made against
street-lighting equipment. As an illustration, we have
installed 12 miles to 14 miles of ornamental street light-
ing, with many more miles to be installed, replacing
street-lighting equipment which has been in use only
a few years. All labor formerly charged to capital in
the erection of this work, as well as obsolete fixtures,
etc., will have to be charged to depreciation. Therefore
depreciation for the next few years on our street-light-
ing equipment is going to be heavier, and we pro-
pose to charge off considerable obsolete equipment.
"Every expense pertaining to injuries and damages
for the year was included in 'emergencies,' $2,174. One
damage claim of $9,000 was paid directly from surplus.
All injuries and damages to date have been charged
directly to operating expense. We prefer to carry our
own insurance, and if we should have an exceedingly
heavy damage account for one year we would take it
from surplus. That is why we charge a rate that will
give us a surplus fund for unforeseen emergencies or
extraordinary expenses, etc.
"The operating expense, 'operating expenses pertain-
ing to commercial light and power,' which amounted to
$14,511 for the year, carried all costs of disconnections,
temporary connections, etc. The disconnections did not
cost $5,000.
"Rent of office: I admit that $165 for the year was
less than the department should have paid. The $25,000
property referred to is occupied jointly by the water
and light departments. We are paying rent this year to
cover the proper amount charged against this depart-
ment for quarters. Formerly we paid $75 per month
for the lower floor of the building.
"Insurance: The department carries its own insur-
ance, except boiler insurance, as we have found that it
pays.
"Legal expenses: The previous year we had legal
expenses of $508. This year we had none. I agree that
we should pay for legal expense that belongs properly
to our department or any expense incurred by reason
of our department.
"Taxes: It is true that the city plant does not have
to pay taxes. However, the taxes that would be levied
can he taken out of surplus each year, if desired.
"Fees: The municipal plant stands in a different
relation from that of a private corporation. Municipal
-. 1916
Kl.K< TRICAL WORLD
employees would not • if they did no!
all rules set for others. The fee ia charged for n
tion to show that the private company perforn
work properly. The commit not have direct
charge of employees of the company, and it is through
this citj imped mpany installa-
tions aii' kept safe. These liar;'.- WOllld DOl lie very
much, and they could be added to the amount charged
for taxes and deducted from the surplus, which is ample
to take care of such charges as any critic might
Wish t" see levied.
"Depreciation: Our depreciation account in our re-
port, page 20, shows that we have depreciated our prop-
erty according to its life i the authority for the schedule
used is shown on page 24 I, and the depreciation on the
items ranges from 2 per cent to 20 per cent. Our
expenditures for repairs included all maintenance. Most
of the item was for maintenance and some reconstruc-
tion which properly could have been charged to capital
account. The cost of engineering and supervision of all
construction work has been charged to operating ex-
penses.
".Mr. Ballard's statement concerning a deficit which
he has set up on commercial business is so arbitrary,
unreasonable and incorrect, in view of all the figures
and facts, that I must leave it to intelligent readers to
satisfy themselves whether his allegations are correct
or incorrect.
"All expenses which should be included in operation
have been included; all proper charges for depreciation
have been included. Much garage equipment has been
charged direct to operation, and also much office equip-
ment, typewriters, etc.
"Mr. Ballard refers to many omissions in operating
expenses as due to an imperfect accounting system.
The classification of accounts is on page 25 of the
report, and I submit this to those interested. This is a
modified form used throughout the country and for-
merly used for a number of central stations in charge
of the writer.
"Mr. Ballard picked out the report for July, 1914,
the first month we have followed the Railroad Commis-
sion classification, and he points to the operating ratio
of 61.81 per cent, while the ratio for the twelve months.
taking the fat months with the lean, was 54.77 per cent.
Mr. Ballard, I am sure, will be fair and concede me the
privilege of referring to January, 1915, one of the fat
months, in which the ratio was 40.81 per cent. The
average for the six months ended Dec. 31, 1914, was
54.83 per cent, while our report for July, 1913, shows
59.77 per cent.
"One very important point has been overlooked by-
Mr. Ballard. That is the saving effected from the time
the plant was started to June 30, 1914, by the difference
in rates charged before the city entered the business
and the rates charged neighboring cities since, which
amounts to approximately $731,084, as referred to on
page 5 of the report. This money is kept in the pockets
of consumers, and the sum saved is equal to the value
of the plant. I have not calculated this saving on the
basis that the rate of 12' v cents per kw-hr. would have
prevailed up to the present, but have assumed that
Pasadena would have had as good a rate as is charged
by our competitor in neighboring cities.
"As an illustration, except in Los Angeles, a large
city where the rates are regulated, the voluntary base
rate made by our competitor for lighting is 7 cents per
kw-hr. This rate prevailed for the last year; previously
higher rates were charged. In our city the rate is 5
cents. An average rate 2 cents higher for commercial
sales for light would have given us additional receipts
last year of $37,187.
"Practicallv all our consumers are small users.
Therefor.- rate per kilowatt-hour for illumi-
nation would be higher than in a city like Los Angeles.
The same thing is true concerning electrical energy sold
for motor service. Ours is not a manufacturing city,
and energy for motor service is sold to small users at
a higher average rate than would be received on the
entire system "i the Kdison company, where large users
help to lower the average rate.
"The average rates received by this department will
Stand comparison with other central stations operating
under similar conditions. The average rate from the
sale of energy for illumination was 4.964 cents per
kw-hr.; for motor-service, 1.942 cents per kw-hr.; for
street illumination. 4.681 cents per kw-hr. Our books
are open to all."
NITROGEN-FILLED LAMPS IN CHICAGO
Decreased First-Cast and Maintenance Charges, Improved
Flexibility of Circuits and Distribution of I.iuht.
and Reduction in Energy per Lamp
More than 8000 300-watt, 600-cp, 20-amp series ni-
trogen-filled lamps are now in street-lighting service
in Chicago in several sections of the city outside the
central business district. During 1915, according to
FIGS. 1, 2 AND 3 — NITROGEN-FILLED LAMP IN UNDER-
GROUND DISTRICT, STANDARD CONSTRUCTION IN OVER-
HEAD SECTIONS, AND TYPE OF POST USED
Mr. Ray Palmer, commissioner of gas and electricity,
the department expects to add from 5000 to 10,000
more gas-filled lamp installations to the present equip-
ment. During the year the city will purchase some
24,000 of the lamps, to be used for both renewals and
extensions.
Many of the new incandescent lamps have been in-
stalled to replace old direct-current and 7-amp alternat-
ing-current arc lamps. Compared with the arc units
the gas-filled lamps provide greater flexibility of opera-
tion, give more uniform distribution of light, cost less
to install and maintain under Chicago conditions, and
make possible the installation of about 30 per cent more
units than would be possible with flaming arcs for a
given quantity of power. The new 300-watt incandes-
cent lamps, producing 600 cp, are being used to replace
460-watt inclosed-arc lamps giving only about 250 cp.
Fixtures of Special Design
The fixture used is of a special design, originated by
the Chicago Department of Electricity, and consisting
of an enameled copper casing inclosing a compensator
and socket and equipped with reflector and globe holder
for the diffusing outer globe. This fixture is also pro-
1174
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 19
vided with a holder for an inner refracting globe, as it
is believed that such refracting glassware, when per-
fected, will be an economical and practical adjunct to
the gas-filled lamps. The only glassware in use at the
present time is a diffusing outer globe, but experiments
are being conducted on various kinds of glass, including
refracting media. Following are data on costs: Cost of
fixture without refractor, $10.20; cost of fixture with
FIG. 4 — TYPE OF FLAMING-ARC LAMP REPLACED
refractor, $13.60; 300-watt, 20-amp lamp (April 1),
$3.20; total, fixture and lamp, without refractor, $13.40;
total, fixture and lamp, with refractor, $16.80.
Although the lamps themselves are purchased under
a guarantee of 1000 hours' life, records kept by the de-
partment show that actual performances are being at-
tained averaging between 1600 hours and 1800 hours
MO. •> rvi'i OF INCLOSED-ABC LAMP REPLACED
per lamp, thus indicating thai the Dumber of lamp re-
newal- per year is now approaching a point between two
and three Instead of the four renewals which the man-
ufacturer! had guaranteed not I" exceed. This in-
ed life per lamp, taken with the reduced price of
the lamps effective April l. shows the present marked
tendency toward lower maintenance costs of nitrogen-
tilled itreel lighting systems.
Reduction in Labor Costs for Patrolling and Cleaning
As many as 1200 of the nitrogen-filled lamps can be
patrolled and defective lamps replaced by one man with
a Ford automobile. For the use of the machine, which
is supplied by himself, the patrolman is allowed $3.75
per day, in addition to his salary of $100 a month. The
patrolman averages 45 miles per day in his automobile.
Another man who has charge of the cleaning has a
route of 750 lamps, handling them at the rate of fifty
a day. Formerly a trimmer at $100 per month trimmed
330 arcs, and a patrolman at the same salary patrolled
500 arcs, thus requiring five men per 1000 arcs. Fig-
ured on the same basis, 1000 nitrogen-filled lamps now
require the services of only two and six-tenths men, in-
dicating a saving of 48 per cent in labor cost.
Electrical energy for Chicago's street lighting is pur-
chased from the Sanitary District of Chicago, which
has a water-power plant at Lockport, 111., and is con-
tracted for at the rate of $15 per hp-year delivered to
the substations. Under the operating conditions exist-
ing, this is equivalent to energy at 0.5 cent per kw-hr.
FIG. 6 — ORNAMENTAL POST USED FOR NEW EQUIPMENT
The table gives the estimated comparative operating
costs per unit lamp of the arc and gas-filled incandes-
cent systems. The figures are based upon an allowance
of three renewals a year for the gas-filled lamps, but,
as already noted, the actual number of renewals is now
less than three per year, with consequent reduction in
cash costs. The term "fixed charges" as used includes
COMPARATIVE COSTS FOR CHICAGO LAMPS
\n II,
IS • « ,i- -
( ":i-li coal per yoax
Fixed ch:iry<-H per \ OW
•
24.81
m is
18 j:
«.-,!, 1 1
J42.75
proper interest and depreciation On plant, transmission
line, substations and distribution investment.
in other sections of the citj the 8100 4-amp, 80-watt,
80-Cp vacuum-type tungsten lamps installed in 12-in.
balls on ornamental post standards which were rebuilt
from old gM lamp posts are being replaced with 75-watt
gas-tilled lamps. These new units furnish 100 cp. thus
attaining an increase of 20 per cent in candle-power
with a saving of about 7 per cent in energy.
M r, B, 1916
E LECTRICAL Wo R L 1)
117.".
DIGEST OF ELECTRICAL LITERATURE
Generators, Motors ;m<) Transformers
W. Linke. The conclusion
of his illustrated article in which the author difll
various method* of starting synchronous converters. —
EUk. ZeiL, April l. 1915.
■ rii ,,f Trin \\ E. I'.l ELM \\l>.
— In this illustrated article the author deals with the
! Obtaining efficiency when the size of a trans-
former is varied. Curve- are given to facilitate such
calculations. The author also describee a mechanical
efficiency calculator by which efficiency curves can be
drawn mechanically for given iron and copper losses. —
London Electrician, April ;t. 1915.
Transform, , oil. C. S. LAWSON. An illustrated
article on the care of transformer oil. The main points
to be considered in the selection of transformer oil are
dielectric strength, tlash point, viscosity and sludging.
The author describes testing devices for determining
dielectric strength and then deals at some length with
filter presses for removing moisture from oil. The best
engineering practice demands regular inspection of
transformers and the preservation of the records of
such inspections. — Elec. Journal, May. 1915.
Lamps and Lighting
Flicker Photometer. — H. E. Ives and E. F. Kings-
bury.— An account of flicker photometer measurements
by a large group of observers on a monochromatic
green solution. The results described emphasize an im-
portant point in colored-light photometry, namely, that
precision in reading and agreement between different
observers of a small group furnish no evidence what-
ever of accuracy. The emphasis placed upon this point
is prompted by the widely found belief that if one
observer reads with a small mean variation consistently
from time to time it is evidence that his readings are
"right," and the similar idea that if several observers
who happen to be associated together read alike, their
result must be "right." This conclusion is valid only
where there is no color difference. The correctness of
an individual observer's setting has nothing whatever
to do with his skill or training — it is dependent upon
the color sensibility of his retina. The agreement of
several observers is a matter of chance, except where,
using the equality-of-brightness or direct-comparison
method, observers have consciously or unconsciously
altered their criteria toward a common mean. The jus-
tice of this criticism is strikingly illustrated by the re-
sults obtained in these tests by five observers who con-
stitute the entire group of photometrists from a labora-
tory in which measurements involving a considerable
color difference were part of the regular routine. They
agree with each other to within about 3 per cent, but
their mean on this particular color difference is 8 per
cent above the average for all. These considerations
indicate the importance of a definite scheme of selecting
observers from a group of at least twenty-five where
lights of different color are to be evaluated. They also
emphasize the desirability of methods of colored-light
photometry by which individual observers may secure
the results of the average eye as established by meas-
urements on a large group. — Phys. Review, .March,
191:,.
It, ti rminiini Radiant Li* mi nuns Efficiency. — Enoch
Karrer. — A description of a method for determining
the radiant luminous efficiency of a light source by
means of a cell the transmission curve of which is iden-
tical with the luminosity curve of the average eye. The
author defines radiant luminous efficiency as the rat in
of the energj of the radiation emitted, weighted in ac-
cordance with it< effectiveness in producing the sen-
n of light, to the energy of the total radiation
emitted. The author explains the luminosity curve of
the average eye and sketches general methods for ob-
taining values for the radiant luminous efficiency of
any light source. The purpose of his investigation was
to construct a cell with suitable absorbing solutions to
be used in the direct determination of luminous effi-
ciency. The transmission of such a cell must be such
as to allow quantities of the radiation of any wave-
length to pass through proportional to the luminosity
of that wave-length; that is, the transmission curve
must be identical with the luminosity curve of the
average eye. The thermocouple screened with this cell
in series with the galvanometer will respond to the
radiation proportional to the true light value; that is,
as the eye responds to that radiation giving the sensa-
tion of light. The cell used in the investigation had
three compartments which contained solutions of cupric
chloride, potassium bichromate and ferric chloride re-
spectively. The values of the radiant luminous effi-
ciency found in this investigation are as follows: car-
bon filament, 0.45; nernst glower, 1.08; nitrogen-filled
tungsten lamp, 2.93; open burner, 0.19; standard
candle, 0.24; five different Welsbach mantles, 0.5, 0.7,
0.8, 1.2 and 1.26; three tungsten lamps, 1.99 il watt
per candle), 1.84 (1.1 watt per candle), 1.65 ( 1.25 watt
• per candle) ; mercury arc, 30.5. — Pints. Review, March,
1915.
Molecular Gage. — Saul Dushman. — A theoretical
consideration of the behavior of gases at very low pres-
sures shows that a rotating disk exerts a torque on a
disk suspended symmetrically above it that is propor-
tional to the quantity i. i p \ M RT ) , where p denotes
the partial pressure and M the molecular weight of each
constituent present in the gas and R and T have their
usual signification. The paper contains the descrip-
tion of a vacuum gage based upon this principle, and
also the results of a number of measurements carried
out with its aid. It was found that in order to obtain
the best possible results with a Gaede molecular pump,
it is necessary not only to heat the vessel to be ex-
hausted and connecting tubing to a temperature at
which most of the moisture adsorbed in the walls is
driven out but also to insert a liquid-air trap to prevent
the diffusion backward of condensible vapors. — Pints.
/.'' view, March, 1915.
Generation, Transmission and Distribution
Electricity in South African Mines. — J. H. Rider. —
A paper read before the (British) Institution of Elec-
trical Engineers on the power supply of the Central
Mining Rand mines group. The author deals in general
with the electrical energy that is used by this large
group of mines. Reference is made particularly to
the question of metering energy to electric hoists, hoist
control, overwinding devices, depth indicators, mill
drives, and switchgear for distribution of electrical en-
ergy to the mines. Lastly the author deals with the
troubles that have been experienced. The article is to
be concluded. — London Electrician, April 16, 1915.
Sim, Mining. — R. C. Berlin. — An illustrated article
on the use of electricity in slate mines. The author
discusses the use of pumps in slate-quarry installations,
the use of air compressors, the power required in the
plants for finishing and sawing the slate, the use of
electric hoists, and the general advantages of electrify-
ing a slate mine. — Elec. Journal, May, 1915.
1176
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 19
Traction
Rapid Transit in Cities. — W. Bethge. — German
rapid transit roads generally use a third-rail of soft
steel weighing 45 kg per meter (specific conductivity
8), with insulated supplementary conductors of copper,
while for the return circuit the ordinary rails are used,
weighing about 28 kg per meter (specific conductivity
5), with supplementary bare copper cables. The author
finds that first cost and cost of maintenance can be'con-
siderably reduced if soft steel is used instead of the
copper, while the weight of the third-rail is greatly in-
creased. He shows how to determine the thickness of
the third-rail and the distance between the substations
in order to get the most economical cost of operation
for the network and the substation. Third-rails weigh-
ing 45 kg per meter, as heretofore usually employed
in Germany, are no longer sufficient for rapid transit in
cities even for relatively small traffic. Much heavier
third-rails can be used. Below is a design of the
THIRD-RAIL DESIGN
Allgemeine Elektricitats Gesellschaft, whose engineers
have investigated this problem for several installations
and have developed several solutions. The illustration
shows a particularly simple solution with a contact shoe
b at the side of the third-rail a weighing 120 kg (264
lb. ) per meter, c represents porcelain and d cast iron.
-Elek. Zeit., April 1, 1915.
Aerial Ropeway. — An illustrated description of an
aerial wire ropeway for automatic disposal of ashes
from the boiler house of the Neppsend Station of the
Municipal Electric Works of Sheffield. — London Elec.
Rt i u a-, April 9, 1915.
Installations, Systems and Appliances
Handling the Small Consumer in Europe. — Hugo
Kisk.nmenger. — The author, with S. E. Doane, made a
trip through Europe last year and studied the different
methods employed by central stations to popularize the
use of electricity, especially with the small consumer.
Inquiries were made at 660 different stations. The
principal results were given in an extensive article by
Doane in the ELECTRICAL World, May 28, L93 l. page
1157. The present author sums up in this article the
results in the form of tables occupying four full pages.
Elek. Zeit, April 8, L916.
Temperature Measurements in the Modern Power
House. — Charles S. Jeffrey. — The author discusses
the measurement of boiler furnace temperature, boiler
flue-gas and economizer temperatures, steam tempera-
ture, and the temperature of generator windings, bear-
ings and oil supply, condensers and coal bunkers. The
types of instruments best adapted for power-house
work, in the author's opinion, are the mercurial glass
thermometer, the indicating or recording mercurial
thermometers of the Bourdon gage pattern, and the
electrical resistance thermometer. — London Elec. Re-
view, April 9, 1915.
Oil-Switch Explosions. — A. Weinberger. — Oil explo-
sions are possible only when air is mixed with gasified
oil. Gasified oil alone will not explode. The author
therefore suggests building oil switches air-tight, re-
moving the air and introducing an inert atmosphere of
nitrogen. An automatic valve would regulate the pres-
sure so that it would remain constant. Another
method suggested is to make the oil switches air-tight
and to connect them by means of vertical pipes to an
oil reservoir at a higher level. In this way it would be
impossible for air to get into the switch — Elek. Zeit.]
April 8, 1915.
Wires, Wiring and Conduits
Dielectric Properties of Insulating Materials. — Karl
Willy Wagner. — The conclusion of his illustrated arti-
cle on the dielectric properties of insulating materials.
In the present instalment the results of tests of rubber,
hard rubber, paraffine, ceresin, fiber and especially paper
( undried and dried, unimpregnated and impregnated)
are given. — Elek. Zeit., April 8, 1915.
Electrochemistry and Batteries
Fixation of Atmospheric Nitrogen. — W. S. Landis.
— The author first discusses briefly the synthetic pro-
duction of ammonia by the Haber process and the direct
combination of nitrogen and oxygen in the air by
arc processes, and then discusses at greater length the
cyanamide process. The raw materials for cyanamide
are cheap — coke, limestone, air. Only one-fifth the
electrical energy is used that the arc processes use per
unit of nitrogen fixed in the form of cyanamide, and
by the addition of a very small percentage more of
energy cyanamide can be converted into nitric acid.
About the same quantity of labor is required to fix a
unit of nitrogen in cyanamide as in the arc process
for nitric acid, and only a small fraction more labor is
required to transform cyanamide nitrogen into nitric
acid. This is not a great handicap in view of the
smaller energy consumption for cyanamide. On the
American continent, where water-power is expensive and
scarce, the difference readily offsets the additional labol
necessary to make nitric acid from cyanamide. More-
over, cyanamide is easily transported and can be
changed to ammonia or nitric acid at the end of its
journey at the expenditure of a very small amount of
steam and labor, so that there is the additional advan-
tage in transportability of stable raw material and
subsequent conversion at the point of direct use. There
is no comparison between the initial investment re
quired for a cyanamide plant and for an arc plant if
the power development is included. The cyanamide
plant requires an investment per unit of fixed nitrogen
of only about one-quarter that required by the ar
process, and for a cyanamide-ammonia plant about on«
half that required by the Haber process. Even the
combination of the cyanamide-ammonia-nitric-acid
process requires an investment of from only one-third
to one half that for the arc process. In each case ej
actly the same quantity of fixed nitrogen is assume
in the forms above designated. Where electrical en-
ergy is expensive, as in the United States, there is w
Mai -
ELECTRICAL WORLD
1177
on regarding the superiority of the cyanamide
r the fixing ipherk nitrogen, par-
ticularly for fertilizer purposes. A full illustrated de-
scription is added of the lime plant and t]
plant of the Niagara work . ana-
mide Company. — Met. and ( April, L916.
-An article on the regulation od
•lutiona, based on Circular 52 of the Bureau
Eng'tno, April, 1915.
I nit*, Mi .i-ur. no in- and Instruments
.!/■ 1' \i 1 E. KL0P8TBG. — A
brief abstract of an American Physical Society paper.
Differences in throws on the two sides of the null posi-
tion of a moving-coil galvanometer used ballistically re-
sult almost entirely from non-uniformity of the
so-called radial field and from slight displacements of
the coil from its position of symmetry with the field.
en quantity of electricity, discharged in op-
posite directions, a certain angular position with refer-
ence to the "geometric null" may be found for which
equal throws are obtained. This position is not fixed
for different quantities. The logarithmic decrement
usually increases with the amplitude, and the variation
is not the same on the two sides of the null position.
Consequently the ballistic constant may have a different
value for each value of the ballistic throw over the en-
tire scale. In a supposedly high-grade instrument dif-
ferences as high as 20 per cent in the constant have
been found. In a given deflection or ballistic instru-
ment the best condition for proportionality of deflec-
tions and throw with steady and instantaneous currents
respectively obtains when the axis of the coil is coinci-
dent with the axis of symmetry of the magnet. To keep
these axes coincident when the coil assumes different an-
gular positions it is necessary that the upper suspension
terminals be short — so as to avoid the possibility of
bent terminals — and parallel to the fiber, and that the
lower suspension be so constructed as to exert no lateral
force upon the coil. This last-named condition is
ly complied with if the torque is made small, and
if there is no deformation in the regular turns of the
spiral. The adjustment of the position of the coil in
the field when once carefully made should be easily re-
producible when disturbed. A very convenient method
is to provide the galvanometer with an adjustable
leveling device such as a spirit level, or a plumb-line
with a movable indicator. The level or indicator may
be set permanently when the desired adjustment of the
coil is accomplished. The bifilar action of a twisted-
strip upper suspension has been found negligible in its
effect upon galvanometer sensitivity. The effect of
difference in torques for twisting and untwisting of the
lower suspension I 1.5-mil strip, seven turns) has been
found comparable with experimental error. — Phys. Re-
vu to, March, 1915.
Measuring Higk-Frequency Currents. — Albert Camp-
bell and It. W. DYE. — The authors investigated the
measurement of high-frequency currents such as are
used in radiotelegraphic work by three methods, ther-
mal instruments immersed in oil, air-core transformers
and iron-core transformers. They conclude that prop-
erly designed air-core transformers, when used with
due care, in conjunction with thermal ammeters, afTord
a simple means of measuring currents of the order of
from 1 amp to 50 amp with good accuracy at frequen-
i from 50,000 cycles up to 2,000,000 cycles per
second. Iron-cored transformers, which have some ad-
vantages in ease of construction, can also be designed
to fulfil the same purpose and i" give very satisfactory
results. To a limited extent both types are useful for
measuring very small high-frequency currents. Lon-
don /■.'/. etridian, March lit. 1916.
Induction Meter*. — An official communication of the
Reici > ribing an induction meter for single-
phase alternating current of the Isaria Company and
admitting it for calibration. — E'kk. Z>it.. March 18,
M*: / Sheet Iron- .' The
author shows that the magnetic permeability can be
determined with the ordinary Epstein apparatus with
sufficient accuracy, if the maximum induction in the
iron sheets is measured and the real ampere-turns per
centimeter of thi used in the calculation. In
an appendix the author notes that he has devised a uni-
J galvanometer shunt for constant damping i which
may lie chosen at will) for variable sensitiveneat
may be used with any galvanometer. — EUk. 2
April 1, 1915.
Measuring Power-Factor. — R. D. Gifford. — The first
part of what promises to become a long illustrated serial
on the measurement of power-factor. The author pro-
poses to deal with the subject under the following
headings: Dynamometer and moving-iron types of
power-factor indicator; the induction-dynamometer
power-factor indicator; meaning of the power-factor of
a three-phase unbalanced circuit; theory of the six-unit
power-factor meter; results of tests substantiating the
theory; the four-unit power-factor meter on three-phase
unbalanced circuits; frequency tests on the induction-
dynamometer power-factor meter; power-factor meters
with artificial scales; the induction-dynamometer syn-
chroscope. The article is to be continued. — London
Electrician, April 16, 1915.
Telegraphy. Telephony and Signals
Telephone Engineering Economics. — Harvey A.
Smith. — In this article, illustrated by maps and dia-
grams, the author considers the problems involved in
the lay-out of a telephone area. The methods employed
in taking into account the future development of the
area, of determining the most economical situation of
the exchange, of making provision for new exchanges
and for extensions to old ones, of the alteration of the
boundaries of an exchange area, etc., are all explained
with the aid of diagrams illustrating an assumed area.
— London Electrician, April 9, 1915.
Miscellaneous
Electro-Percussivt Welding.— C. E. Skinner and L.
W. Chubb. — Their American Electrochemical Society
paper on electro-percussive welding is reprinted, and in
an editorial attention is called to the extremely small
amount of energy that is used in the process. The
power at the moment of fusion is considerable and is
placed by the authors at 23 kw in a certain case, but
the time taken for the flow of current is extremely small.
The current is akin to a flash of lightning, which pro-
vides an enormous flow, but for an infinitesimal time.
equently, the authors estimate that the cost, with
energy at 10 cents per kw-hr.. is only a few millionths
of a cent per weld. One of the important features of
the process is, of course, the fact that the heating is
extremely localized. It is on this account that the weld-
ing of aluminum is thereby rendered possible. The
method is not, however, limited to the welding of alumi-
num, but is destined to be useful for many other pur-
poses; in fact, for those conditions in which any
jive heating is out of the question. — London Elec-
trician, April '.», 1915.
British Patents in 1914. — An abstract of the thirty-
second report of the British Comptroller-General of
Patents. Designs and Trade-Marks, W. Temple-Franks.
The report deals with the war and British legislation,
trend of inventions in 1914, patents, designs and trade-
marks. London Electrician, April 9, 1916.
1178
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 19
Book Reviews
Welding. Theory, Practice, Apparatus and Tests. Elec-
tric. Thermit and Hot-Flame Processes. By Rich-
ard N. Hart. Second edition. New York: Mc-
Graw-Hill Book Company, Inc. 210 pages, 127
illus. Price, $2.50.
Since the first edition of this book appeared in 1910
great strides have been made in electric-arc and hot-
gas-flame welding. New processes have been developed
and numerous important improvements have been made
in apparatus and in welding practice. At the time of
the first edition the Thomson incandescent process had
been developed to a very high degree for the making of
repeat welds such as are encountered in manufacturing
processes. The chief limitation of this process lies in
the difficulty of maintaining an equal distribution of
temperature. Where large areas are involved or where
the heat-dissipating qualities of the two sides of the
weld are different spot welding has done much to re-
move these two limitations, and new developments along
this line are well covered in Hart's book. The hot-
flame processes, among which oxy-acetylene is the
leader, were developed to a thoroughly commercial de-
gree at the time of the first edition, and the plants de-
scribed were capable of doing many kinds of repair
work. Great improvements in the hot-flame processes
have been along the line of welding and cutting ma-
chines for use in manufacturing processes, thus per-
mitting the hot flame to compete with the Thomson
process in some instances; but the principal effect has
been the creation of an entirely new field of work. Of
all the processes, that of electric-arc welding has made
the greatest progress. The methods described origi-
nally were practically the same as had been in use for
nearly a quarter of a century. In the present edition
the latest advanced uses of the flux-coated metallic elec-
trode are covered, and many data regarding energy
control and consumption and the time required for
various classes of work are given. Mr. Hart's book
covers in a very complete and logical fashion the vari-
ous processes of welding and soldering. The subject
is introduced by a short consideration of forge weld-
ing, followed by a discussion of the various metals with
special reference to their welding properties. The weld-
nig processes covered include electric-incandescent, elec-
tric-resistance and electric-arc welding, oxy-acetylene,
oxy-hydrogen and blaugas processes, the thermit proc-
ess, the Lafitte welding plate, the Ferrofix brazing
process, and ordinary brazing and soldering.
complete. In addition, the use of bold-face headings
to indicate the topics discussed in the paragraphs makes
it easy to locate information without recourse to the
index. The book will undoubtedly be appreciated by all
who are interested in machine-shop management.
Handbook of Machine-Shop Management. By John
H. Van Deventer. New York: McGraw-Hill Book
Company, Inc. 374 pages, 244 illus. Price, $2.50.
This book will be welcomed not only by those who are
machine-shop managers but also by those in the work-
men's ranks who desire to qualify themselves for ad-
vancement. There has been a growing desire to study
the different methods of machine-shop administration,
and the technical journals have devoted much space to
this subject, which is of so much importance to all con-
nected with machine-shop practice. Mr. Van Deventer
has gathered from this great mass of literature those
things that are most closely related to present-day prac-
tice in the leading shops. The book is well written.
The language is clear and to the point and much is
expressed in a few words, yet the meaning is always
plain. The large number of diagrams and illustrations
also helps to make clear many things that would other-
need extended description. The various divisions
of the hook are well classified and . the index is very
Preventing Losses in Factory Power Plants. By
David Moffat Myers. New York: The Engineering
Magazine Company. 560 pages, 68 illus. Price, $3.
There are many books dealing with economies in
power-plant management, but they are almost invariably
written for the engineer and are therefore couched in
technical phraseology such as the engineer uses and
understands. Now, it is a lamentable fact that many
engineers who realize the wastefulness and inefficiency
of their plants and who know the methods to be pur-
sued to improve conditions meet with no encouragement
and even with opposition from owners or managers who
are unacquainted with the engineering phases of factory
management. It is primarily for such owners and man-
agers, then, that Mr. Myers has written this book, his
aim being to present the engineering and economic ar-
guments in such a clear and forceful manner as to in-
duce these officials to encourage and assist operating
engineers in their efforts for increased efficiency in the
power plant. The first ten chapters, written particu-
larly for executive officials, deal with the determination
of existing losses, attainable efficiency, the boiler plant
and the piping, the engine plant and its preventable
losses, the heating system, and the effect of the human
factor on the operation of the plant. The remaining
nine chapters are more technical in their nature and
are intended especially for the factory engineer or su-
perintendent. They cover such subjects as boiler tests,
combustion, burning of gas and waste fuels, modern
prime movers, boiler-feed pumps, steam-consumption
tests, and reports. The book cannot fail to open the
eyes of directing officials to methods of economy which
they have heretofore neglected, and it also will prove
of value to those whose duty it is to put into effect such
methods of saving as may be decided upon.
Books Received
Centrifugal Pumps. By R. L. Daugherty. New
York: McGraw-Hill Book Company, Inc. 192 pages,
111 illus. Price, $2.
Electricity for the Farm. By Frederick Irving An-
derson. New York: The Macmillan Company. 266
pages, illus. Price, $1.25.
Directions for Designing, Making and Operating
High-Pressure Transformers. By Prof. F. E. Austin.
Montpelier, Vt. : The Capital City Press. 46 pages. 21
illus. Price, 50 cents.
Recent Telephone Patents
Messrs. K. H. Atherton and M. N. Rodgers have
jointly patented a receiver support which is arranged
to raise or depress the hook switch. The switch is op-
erated as the receiver is turned to the position in which
it is used.
Mr. A. E. Case has patented a step-by-step selecting
mechanism for party lines. The apparatus locks out all
but the called party's instrument by sending out im-
pulses of different character to each party.
A combined intercommunicating and private ex-
change system has been invented by Mr. S. A. Kol-
tonski, of Boston. Mechanical means are provided for
maintaining a resistance across the trunk when an
incoming call must be extended to another station.
Mai B, litis
ELECTRICAL WORLD
1179
POWER AND OPERATING SECTION
Wiring Machine Took in Metal Conduit
A DEFECT in many machine-tool installation! elec-
trically driven b] individual motors is the
failure to protect properly the wiring at the tool from
injury which may lead to short-circuits or interrup-
tions of service. With the forms of flexible and rigid
conduit now on the market this state of affairs should
soon be a thing of the past. The use of metal clips
to attach rubber or weatherproof insulated wire to a
machine frame and the leaving of loose ends of circuits
at starting box, switch and motor terminals when a
tool is entirely self-contained electrically invite trouble
under hard service. Sometimes motor leads are carried
from the wall, ceiling or floor outlet in conduit to a
switch on the machine frame, then snugly drawn
through a flexible metal duct to a point within 6 in.
or 8 in. of the motor terminals, and thence fanned out
in open formation, to use a military term, to the bush-
ings in the motor frame itself. Abrasion of such leads
by dropped tools or by unwieldy metal stock undergoing
handling at or in the machine may lead to annoying
interruptions of service. With the increased atten-
tion now being paid to refinement of details in the
design of electrically driven tools, this source of pos-
sible trouble should soon give way to a uniform standard
of protected wiring in both new and old installations.
Foresight in Selecting Boiler-Room Instruments
WHEN' some form of boiler-room accessory such
as a damper controller, a flue-gas analyzer, a
water-level regulator, or the like, is installed, the im-
mediate object in view is a saving due to more uniform
and efficient operation ; but there are other points that
are sometimes overlooked, namely, the amount of care
required by the device to keep it in good working
order and the quality of the attention that it is likely
to receive. Some of the appliances classed broadly
under the name of steam specialties need to be watched
closely and well protected from dirt if they are to per-
form their work continuously and accurately. On the
other hand, the operating force in the boiler room is
too often of a low grade of intelligence, the main
qualification being the physical ability to fire a given
quantity of coal in a given time. If this were not true,
and firemen were thoroughly acquainted with the prin-
ciples underlying the economical management of boilers
and furnaces, there would probably be a smaller demand
for these devices that are designed to take the place of
human attendance and insure automatic or semi-auto-
matic regulation. If any such appliance is made a part
of the plant equipment, there should be some one suffi-
ciently familiar with its construction and action, and
likewise BufBcientl) careful, to see that it is maintained
in perfect operating condition. To turn over an ex-
pensive or intricate device to the supervision of an
untrained employee not only defeats the purpose of the
device but appears remarkably like a deliberate ignor-
ing of the biblical caution concerning the casting of
pearls.
Valve Leakage Versus Valve Setting
NUMEROUS types of valves have been invented to
replace the old-fashioned D slide valve so com-
mon on simple steam engines, and all sorts of compli-
cated valve gears have been devised to give certain
desired motions to the valves. The object in every case
has been to improve the steam distribution and to obtain
an increased amount of work from every pound of
steam admitted to the cylinder. It is not uncommon,
therefore, to hear engineers discuss, with eloquence and
understanding, the relative advantages of slide-valve,
Corliss and four-valve engines. But there are some
points that should not be overlooked. Steam must be
admitted into the cylinder in order to do work, and it
must be kept there and expanded to the limit set by the
particular valve gear used, in order to obtain the maxi-
mum effect possible. Leakage from the steam side
directly into the exhaust, without passing through the
cylinder, and leakage past the piston or valves into or
out of the cylinder constitute direct sources of loss
and inefficiency. The economy that should be obtained
by an improved valve or valve motion may easily be
more than offset by leaking of the valves. There seems
to be ample reason for the remark, made by a lecturer
on steam-engine performance, that it is possible to
effect a greater saving in the steam consumption of the
average engine by taking proper precautions to prevent
valve leakage than by altering the cut-off, release and
compression by tinkering with the valve setting.
The Theory of Boilers
IN a paper read before the Institution of Engineers
and Ship Builders of Scotland, Mr. R. Royds re-
counted the results of a recent series of experiments
on the transmission of heat from flue gases to the heat-
ing surface of the boiler, carried out with the intention
of obtaining experimental data on the Reynolds formula
for heat transmission, which is based largely upon the-
oretical considerations. The important features of this
formula are that the rate of heat transmission is pro-
portional to the difference of temperature between the
heating fluid and the surface in contact with it, and also
to the mere weight of the heated gas passing, so that the
heat transmission is practically independent of the pres-
1180
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 19
sure of the gas, a thing which a priori might be some-
what in question. Mr. Royds' test data confirm the
Reynolds formula and give an independent check on
the assumption that with a given weight of gas flow
the rate of heat transmission is constant irrespective
of the pressure. Mr. Royds also analyzed a number of
experimental trials bearing on the same general prob-
lem and called particular attention to some of the dif-
ficulties of working on a fairly large scale with actual
boilers, especially the great difficulty of determining
the true temperatures of the gases. In work of this
kind experiments on fairly constituted models are by
no means to be despised, provided that one understands
the nature of the variations to be expected in trans-
ferring to apparatus of commercial size. The difficul-
ties of the subject under study are steadily yielding be-
fore persistent investigation, so that the conditions
requisite for high efficiency in boilers are becoming bet-
ter understood, despite the fact that sacrifices have
sometimes to be made for reasons quite apart from the
theory of thermodynamics.
Combined Steam and Hydroelectric Service
In this issue appears a most instructive account of
the investigation made by the city of Calgary, in west-
ern Canada, to determine the minimum cost of obtaining
its electric-energy supply. Calgary has a chance for
rather unusual economies in that it can obtain cheap
transmitted energy from the Calgary Power Company,
and also can use either coal or natural gas in its steam
station. At present both sources of energy are utilized,
and the problem before .the city was to discover the
most economical way of combining them. The steam
plant contains a little over 13,000 kva in generating
equipment, including three modern turbines. Half of
the boiler equipment is fired by natural gas and the
other ha'f by coal. The latter fuel costing about $3.75
per short ton and the former 15 cents per 1000 cu. ft.,
the two fuels happen to be nearly equal in final cost, the
gas having a slight advantage. The city has a contract
to take for the next few years not less than 5000 hp
and not more than 8000 hp as primary power from the
Calgary Power Company. The cost situation is some-
what complicated by the fact that the power company
has different rates for summer and winter, the first
5000 hp in each case being sold at the uniform rate of
$26 per hp-year.
The available methods of operation in combining the
two energy were, first, to use transmitted
electric energy, holding the steam plant in reserve; sec-
ond, to carry the whole load by the steam plant; third,
to take up the contract minimum from the Calgary
company and supply the rest from the steam plant, and,
fourth, to carry the maximum contract load and utilize
team plant for the remainder. The first scheme
could be practicable only in summer, since nol more
than the minimum can he depended upon in winter. The
tvac for the time being barred by the contracl
with electric plant. The third was the ar
rangement necessary in winter and desirable in sum-
mer. The fourth involves less use of the steam plant,
while still demanding its aid at certain periods. At
times the Calgary company can supply more than the
maximum contract amount, 8000 hp, but it cannot spare
it with certainty. The conditions of operation in the
Calgary plant proved to be favorable for combined oper-
ation. The load-factor on a typical winter day would
be reckoned at approximately 0.7 and the power-factor
ran very high, above 0.9, since the street-railway sys-
tem, which absorbs a considerable amount of energy,
receives its direct-current supply through synchronous
motor-generator sets.
The problem which had to be solved is somewhat
analogous to that presented in the case of many hydro-
electric stations having auxiliary plants, except that in
this case the customer instead of the energy-supply
company operates the auxiliary station. As is always
true in such cases, the serious factor resides in the
standby charges of the steam plant. These fall heavily
upon the periods of no load or light load on the sta-
tion. The fuel costs in operating by steam proved to be
quite low, being about 0.5 cent per kw-hr. The curves of
costs found for operating the plant in the various ways
mentioned, including capital charges, ran rather sur-
prisingly close, indicating perhaps that the Calgary
company had made a shrewd guess in fixing its rates.
So long as the summer rates of the company should
prevail, it appeared to be most economical to carry the
whole load by means of transmitted energy, provided
that the demand did not rise in excess of that stipu-
lated in the contract entered into on the basis of
permanent service.
When operating at top efficiency and at fair load on
winter rates the steam plant could well hold its own.
The close run of the figures is in no wise better shown
than in noting that with natural gas at 10 cents per
1000 cu. ft. instead of 15 cents the steam plant is more
economical than the hydroelectric plant at the contract
price. In fact, at current prices the conditions are such
that considerable watching of the load situation is re-
quired to determine the condition of maximum econ-
omy. It seems that the use of the whole minimum of
transmitted energy and as much more as may he avail-
able, with the steam plant taking up the remainder of
the load when necessary, gives, on the whole, the best
combination. However, the high standby cost attached
to the steam power adds such an amount to the average
cost as to render the total figure considerably greater
than would seem probable from the low contracl price
of the transmitted energy. Investigations carefully
and conscientiously made, as in this case, on the cost
of combined service bring to the front the great fin
required in planning combination or auxiliary plants.
whether these are owned directly by the energy-supply
company or, as in this case, bj ;i large consumer. When
<me deals with a hydroelectric supply very variable in
amount instead Of with a fixed supply bj contract, much
is required to discover the conditions of mini-
mum cost even with a high constant load-factor.
MAI -
!■: LE( i RIC a L w o i: i.ii
1181
The Cost of Combination Electric Service
ln\c-.tigation ;il Calgary to Determine Ilt-st Way of Taking Kncrgy from a
Hydroelectric Transmission System and City'- Steam Station
ONE "t the most flourishing communities in
era Canada is the city of Calgary, Alberta. The
city has at present two sources of electrical
supply, one the Calg r Company's terminal
station In Easl Calgary and the other its own steam
plant at Victoria Park.
The municipality is bound by contract to take at
}
\
'Simmer Hal*, t
3
B'SamtosQKnrbuf CM ff
f'. p,n> t*to*ir -cmrr
P
1 w
■ our OMFF
5
H
10
r S8i(
§ M30
W
^
1
FIG. L— EFFECT OF POWER-FACTOR AND LOAD-FACTOR
o.\ BYSROELEI IKK RATES
least 5000 hp from the Calgary Power Company for
the next four years, and, in addition, the standby
charges of the present steam station, which must be
held in readiness in rase of failure of the transmission
system, must also be paid. There was therefore much
speculation as to the most economical way of taking
electricity from the two sources, the hydroelectric com-
pany having different summer and winter rates.
The accompanying curves and calculations are the re-
sult of an investigation made under the direction of
City Electrician Robert Brown for determining with a
PIG. 2 -STANDBY CHARGES ON GENERATING -
fair degree of accuracy the cost of electrical energy to
the city of Calgary up to the point of delivery to the
distribution system of the elect nr-liyht department
under different conditions of load and methods of
operation.
Fig. 4 is a typical load curve for a winter day, show-
ing that there is quite a demand for energy between
midnight and morning for the following reasons: The
I lighting demand is over 1000 kw and is on an all-
night schedule for the most of the year; water-pumping
machinery in the city is driven electrically and storage
tanks are filled at off-peak hours; several large mills and
ies operate all night, and the electric-vehicle-
FIG. 3 — COST OF GENERATING ELECTRICITY BY STEAM,
GAS AND WATER-POWER
charging load is an all-night load and is beginning to
become appreciable. The load-factor ( ratio of average
load to peak load) is therefore very high, being be-
tween 0.6 and 0.7. The load-factor for the particular
day the load curve of which is shown was 0.707. That
on the hydroelectric system was 0.89, and that on the
steam station was 0.40. The yearly load-factor was
probably a little less than this, and as the load increases
from year to year there is no doubt that the load-factor
will decrease.
The power-factor of the city's system is high, being
7000
n
^6000
1
L
per,
Fa
■tot
0.
07
1
\
0.
,
<
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■^y
' S
w
<s
V
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\
i
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■0
8-
r 3000
o
ydi
r
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<
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-l 2000
\
\
U
ad
oni
Iram Ff
040
trtf
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12 2 * 6 6 10 12 2 4 6 8 10 12
AM M
FIG. 4 — TOTAL LOAD CURVE FOR FEB. 14, 191 1
between 0.9 and unity, because the street-railway sys-
tem is supplied with direct current from synchronous
motor-generator sets.
iMning the times in which the peak load of the Cal-
gary system is reached there are three 1000-kw sets
and one 500-kw set in operation.
1182
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 19
By overexerting the synchronous motor the wattless
kva of the system can be entirely compensated for.
The contract with the Calgary Power Company will
be in force for the next four years. The following are
some abstracts from it:
Rates.— Winter Rates— First 5000 hp at $26 per hp-
year; next 1000 hp at $25; next 1000 hp at $24; next
a.
£ 2900
Q.
^ 2800
1>
8 27°°
£ 2600
8
f
0
9
3
100
POWER FACTOR. PER CENT
FIG. 5 — EFFECT OF POWER-FACTOR ON HYDROELECTRIC
RATES
1000 hp at $23; next 1000 hp at $22; next 1000 hp at
$21 ; all over 10,000 hp at $20.
Summer Rates (April-October) — First 5000 hp at
$26 per hp-year; all over this, $15 per hp-year.
The basis of charge per month is on the maximum
thirty-minute peak during the month. In the Calgary
Power Company's terminal station there is a curve-
drawing ammeter connected to one phase of the feeder
to the city's lines. The power supplied is figured as the
voltage multiplied by the maximum thirty-minute read-
ing of the ammeter multiplied by the square root of
three multiplied by the power-factor at this particular
load. As long as the power-factor does not go below 90
per cent, the actual power-factor is used in figuring the
power supplied. When the power-factor does drop be-
low 90 per cent the factor 0.9 is used, even though the
power-factor be only 80 per cent. Fig. 5 shows how
the rates vary with the power-factor of the city's lines.
The minimum load to be paid for is 5000 hp, and 8000
hp is the maximum load that the power company will
supply.
Steam Plant
At present the municipal steam plpant contains the
following : one 6250-kva steam generator turbo set,
one 2800-kva steam generator turbo set, one 3125-kva
steam generator turbo set, one 600-kw steam-driven
street-railway generator, one 500-kva vertical steam-
driven alternator.
Half of the boiler equipment is fired by natural gas
I 1100 lb.-Fahr. heat units) at 15 cents per 1000 cu. ft.,
and the other half by coal. In making up the curves
actual figures were obtained from the power department
0 labor, maintenance and the cost of supplies for
three winter months, and for the month of April when
the water-power company took the entire load and the
steam plant was kept in readiness.
The fuel costs for these months were also calculated
accurately. Some time ago an ideal fulUoad test was
made on the 3125-kva steam turbo set, and the fuel cost
17 cent per kw-hr. was obtained. This shows what
the plant can do under favorable conditions.
The possible methods of operating now are as follows:
1 i Allowing the Calgary Power Company to take
the entire load and keeping the steam plant in readiness.
This method is possible only in summer, as the water-
power ij not lufflcienl to supply more than the minimum
contract load in winter.
(2) Allowing the steam plant to carry the entire load.
If there were no contrad with the hydroelectric com-
pany, tins method would be possible.
(3) Allowing the water-power company to supply the
minimum contract amount of power of 5000 hp, the
rest being supplied by the steam plant. This is possible
in summer and necessary in winter.
(4) Allowing the water-power company to carry the
maximum contract amount of power (8000 hp) and
supplying the rest by steam plant. This is the method
which will have to be used when the summer power de-
mand exceeds 8000 hp, unless the Calgary Power Com-
pany raises its maximum.
The coal has a heat value of about 12,500 lb.-Fahr.
heat units per lb. and costs about $3.75 per ton of 2000
lb. With gas at 15 cents per 1000 cu. ft. the coal is
equal to about $3.40 worth of gas.
In the winter the Calgary Power Company carries
5000 hp and the rest is supplied by the steam plant.
At times of low load the total power demand drops be-
low 5000 hp. It is hard to keep the Calgary Power
Company's load at exactly 5000 hp so that the load-
factor on the supply from the Calgary Power Company
is about 0.9. The load on the Calgary Power Company
is regulated by adjusting the governor on the turbines
in the steam plant. During the summer the Calgary
Power Company is allowed to take the entire load and
the boilers in the steam plant are kept in readiness.
The cost of labor, maintenance and supplies is, of
course, reduced somewhat under these conditions.
The cost of energy from the steam plant is made up
of several items — capital charges, fuel costs, mainte-
nance, supplies and labor. In making up the curves the
capital charges, maintenance, supplies and labor were
averaged from the actual figures from the power depart-
ment. Fuel costs have to be assumed more or less, as
they cannot be determined so accurately as the other
costs. In the case where the Calgary Power Company
is allowed to take the entire load the cost of energy is
made up of charges to the water-power company and
the standby charges of the steam plant. In figuring
capital charges the capitalization of the power depart-
ment was reduced by $70,000, because it included the
cost of some street-railway motor-generator sets, which
are correctly classed as part of the distribution system.
A consulting engineer who was called in to report on
power estimated the fuel costs to be 0.45 cent for a
10,000-kw gas-fired steam plant, working on 30 per cent
FIG. 6-
-COST OF GENERATING ELECTRICITY BY STEAM
AND WATER-POWER
load-factor with gas at 15 cents per 1000 cu. ft. and 1100
lb.-Fahr. heat units per cu. ft. In an ideal test of the
3125-kva turbo-generator at full load, 0.455 cent per
kw-hr. and 0.47 cent per kw-hr. were obtained as fuel
costs. A fuel cost of 0.45 cent per kw-hr. gives a ther-
mal efficiency of 10 per cent with gas at 15 cents and
1100 lb.-Fahr. heat units per cu. ft.
Fig. 8 shows thermal efficiencies for different prime
-. 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
movers. The efficiency of the boiler (about 75 per cent)
and auxiliaries, such u exciters, vacuum pumps, hot-
well pumps, etc., must also be taken into account. It
can be seen from the above data that 10 per cent ther-
mal efficiency is not too high an estimate.
When the plant is operating at small load, however,
the fuel cost will naturally be higher, so in making
curve- a fad cost of 0.45 cent at an a\erage load of
7600 kw, 0.48 cent at an average load of 5000 lew and
0.51 cent at an average load of 2500 kw were used for
the case when the load-factor equals 0.7 and the power-
• 0.96. At 0.6 load-factor, costs of 0.46 cent. 0.49
cent and 0.52 cent were used. Some curves were drawn
up assuming 9 per cent thermal efficiency, with fuel
of 0.50 cent, 0.53 cent and 0.56 cent. These last
represent the maximum, because in the figures
supplied by the power department fuel costs of 0.53 cent
and 0.56 cent have already been obtained with average
loads of 1700 kw and 40 per cent load-factor. With gas
at 10 cents fuel costs of 30 cents, 32 cents and 34 cents
were used.
Fig. 5 shows how the water-power company's rate-
increase with decrease in power-factor. Fig. 3 shows
how the total costs vary with power-factor and load-
factor.
Calculations
As to the accuracy of the curves and calculations
certain assumptions of course had to be made. The
cost of energy is made up of the Calgary Power Com-
pany's power charge and the steam-plant charges, which
consist of capital charges, labor, maintenance and sup-
plies. The Calgary Power Company's charge amounted
to $303,250 in this case. The capital charges of the
steam plant were taken from the auditors' figures and
amounted to $98,000 of $153,200 assumed for the steam-
plant charges; $33,000 was for labor, and these charges
were taken from actual figure supplied by the power
department. The remaining $30,000 is for maintenance,
supplies and office charges. These charges were esti-
mated from the power-department figures.
The costs with the steam plant taking the entire load
are made up of the fuel costs plus the above steam-plant
charges. Fuel costs cannot be estimated exactly, so
FIG. 7— COST OF GENERATING ELECTRICITY BY STEAM
AND WATER-POWER
that the maximum and minimum charges for fuel were
assumed and curves drawn for the two figures.
The justification for the different fuel costs was given
above under the heading "Thermal Efficiencies." The
variation in maximum and minimum fuel costs is not
over 8 per cent of the total cost of power. The mini-
mum fuel costs assumed have already been proved by
tests on the plant under favorable conditions, eo that
the curves using the minimum fuel costs are not in
error more than 3 per cent or 1 per cent.
Summary and Conclusions
The curves show the necessity of keeping the power-
factor and load-factor high.
In the case of the power- factor, as \< a reet-
^J.
j (£££*■* ,
a
/ ,
t^-^^-
*2e
<f-
/
<&?
fj
■
t
jf^
I '«
5
1/
20
w
GO
60
00
120
PERCEMTOF FULL LOAD
FIG. 8 — THERMAL EFFICIENCY OF PRIME MOVERS NOT
INCLUDING AUXILIARIES
railway load keeps pace with the total load there will
always be enough synchronous motor load to give a
leading current to compensate for the wattless kva of
the system. If it does not keep pace, it might be possi-
ble during peak-load hours in the summer to run one of
the turbo sets without steam turned on and overexcite
the generator, or the connecting rods on the 700-kva
vertical-steam-engine-driven alternator might be taken
off and the alternator operated as a synchronous con-
denser.
Fig. 1 shows that in summer it is most economical to
let the Calgary Power Company take the entire load if
gas costs 15 cents. With gas at 10 cents it would be
cheaper to run the steam plant alone. This would be
possible if the hydroelectric contract did not exist. In
winter the curve shows the economy of allowing the
hydroelectric system to take 5000 hp at 0.9 load-factor
and supply the rest of the energy from the steam plant.
This is the only method that can be used on account of
the hydroelectric contract.
Fig. 7 shows the cost of energy from the steam plant
with 10-cent gas. This shows that in the summer 10-
cent gas would not improve matters much as long as the
load-factor is high.
Fig. 6 shows that at the usual summer peak loads
of 7500 hp the cost of the steam plant forms nearly half
the cost of energy and the total cost of energy up to the
point of delivery to the distribution system of the elec-
tric-light department is about 0.94 cent per kw-hr., or
$61 per hp per annum. Adding the capital charges of
the electric-light department brings the total cost up to
nearly 1.3 cents per kw-hr., or $83.30 per hp per annum.
Lnderground 2.'5.000-Volt Transmission at Toledo
The Toledo Railways & Light Company recently put
into successful operation a 23,000-volt, three-phase un-
derground transmission system for supplying 12,000
kw to the Willys-Overland automobile factory at Toledo.
Five thousand kilowatts of the total substation rating
is already installed and in operation, and an order has
been placed for three more 1000-kw transformers to be
installed at the Willys-Overland substation. It is
planned, furthermore, that within six months another
3000 kw shall be added, which will complete the 11,000-
kw station as planned six months ago.
1184
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 19
THE FORMATION OF CLINKER IN COAL
Reason* Why Ashes Fuse, Methods of Predetermining Fuel
Characteristics, and How to Prevent Clinkers
By S. U. Tuspin
Almost every fireman of experience knows what
clinker is, perhaps through intimate acquaintance with
it in the course of his daily labor. He knows that it
works down into the air space of the grate, collects
there, and throttles the air supply to the fuel, so that
he is forced to spend an unusual amount of energy in
cleaning the fires in the effort to maintain the ordinary
rate of combustion and keep up the required steam
pressure. Or else it adheres in chunks to the brick
lining of the furnace with such tenacity that the brick-
work is broken or endangered by efforts to loosen the
clinker.
But while he may be familiar with the general mani-
festations of clinker and the troubles that follow in its
train, he may not be so familiar with its inner nature
and the various factors that lead up to its formation.
Silica with Basic Oxides Causes Clinkers
To begin with, then, clinker is a solid that is produced
by the cooling of slag that is a result of a process of
fusion. To form it, the coal must contain slag-forming
materials and the temperature of combustion must be
high enough to cause fusion. The two substances ab-
solutely necessary for the production of any slag are
silica and a basic oxide, and the relative proportions
of these substances determine the temperature at which
fusion will occur.
The slag-making constituents of coal are found in
those incombustible portions that remain as ash. The
silica that must be present to produce slag is in the
form of sand, and the oxides exist as lime, clay, mag-
nesia, sulphur dioxide and iron oxide. The temperature
of the furnace of the ordinary steam boiler is in the
neighborhood of 2000 deg. or 2500 deg. Fahr., which is
not sufficient to cause the fusion of silica alone nor of
the oxides alone; but let two or three of the oxides be
brought in contact with sand under the conditions exist-
ing in a boiler furnace, and the fusing point is so
greatly reduced that they melt and form silicate, which
is the chemical term for slag.
The relative proportions of silica and oxides have a
marked influence on the temperature at which melting
occurs. If the amount of silica is greatly in excess of
the amount of oxides, the ash will be very difficult to
fuse; or if there is a large amount of the less fusible
oxides, such as lime, clay and magnesia, the result will
be the same. In fact, the temperature of the furnace
may not be great enough for fusion in either case. But
if oxide of iron predominates, the temperature of fusion
will be greatly lowered and the formation of slag will
be more probable. Another interesting fact in connec-
tion with this subject is that an increase in the number
of different oxides present with the silica will lower the
fusing point. Thus two oxides and silica will fuse at
a lower temperature than one oxide and the silica.
Predicting Tendency to Clinker
Much trouble could be avoided if it were possible to
predict the clinkering of any grade of coal before it
was art uallv tried in the boiler furnace. One method
proposed to accomplish this end involves the chemical
analysis of the ash from the coal, to determine the per-
centages of slag-forming constituents. If the silica and
the oxides are found to be present in such proportions
that they will unite chemically, without leaving any
considerable excess of either, the conclusion is drawn
that the coal will give trouble by the formation of
clinker. But if the results of the analysis show that
cither the silica or the oxides are largely in excess, then
the conclusion is that trouble from clinker need not be
feared.
Since there must be fusion to form clinker, a sug-
gested method of determining whether a coal will clinker
is to make a fusion test of the ash, that is, to find the
temperature at which the ash will fuse. If this tem-
perature is equal to or less than the temperature or-
dinarily developed in the furnace of the boiler, the coal
is deemed unsuitable for that particular service.
Of the two methods of determining the clinkering
properties of coal — the analysis of the ash and the
fusion test of the ash — each has its champions who can
point to instances in which the methods have proved
accurate by actual application. Yet neither method
seems to have secured general recognition by those who
draw up fuel specifications for power-plant work.
On the other hand, there is one way of determining,
without chance of failure, the clinkering properties of
a coal, and that is by actually burning it in the boiler
in which it is to be used. It is then subjected to all the
influences of draft, grate, temperature, and the like,
that exist during the normal working of the boiler, and
its suitability or unsuitability for the work can be
clearly established. This may appear to be an expen-
sive method, but it has the merit of being absolutely
convincing, and when compared with the cost of ac-
curate chemical analysis of the ash it may not be so
expensive, after all.
Temperature of Furnace Affects Fusion
There can be no doubt of the statement that the tem-
perature of fusion of the ash has an important bearing
on the question of clinkering. For it has been found
that a coal that was utterly unsuitable as a locomotive
fuel, because of the amount of clinker that it produced,
could be used to good advantage in a stationary boiler,
without forming clinker. The difference in the action
of the coal, of course, was due to the changed condi-
tions. In the locomotive the temperature produced dur-
ing combustion is greater than that ordinarily found
in power-plant boilers. At the higher temperature
clinker was formed, whereas at the lower temperature
the heat was not sufficient to fuse the ash.
Another fact that has come to light through the
results of experience is that the mixing of two coals
may cause clinkering, though neither coal by itself may
clinker. Apparently this is due to the fact that one coal
contains an excess of silica and the other an excess of
oxides, so that, when mixed, the proportions are just
right for the formation of a fusible slag.
Methods of Preventing Ash Fusion
In view of all these facts, then, it becomes possible
to consider methods of avoiding the formation of
clinker. If the coal is of such composition that the
silica and the oxides are about rightly balanced to pro-
duce an easily fusible slag, the mixing of another coal
having an excess of either silica or oxides might lie
sufficient to disturb the balance and reduce clinkering.
Again, the fact that a change of furnace temperature
may prevent clinkering offers a way out of the diffi-
culty. The furnace temperature depends on the rate
of combustion, and a reduction in the rate of combus-
tion may so reduce the temperature obtained as to
render usable a coal that could not be employed under
the unchanged conditions.
As the temperatures developed in furnaces fed by
mechanical stokers are probably higher than those in
hand-fired furnaces, clinker is apt to occur more fre-
quently in the former. In one such case salt was found
to be a preventive of clinkering. The clinker adhered
to the side walls of the furnace, and attempts to dis-
lodge it with the firing tools endangered the brickwork.
,\! v, B, 1916
E I. ECT RICAL WO RLD
1185
(Juite by accidei I grade salt formed as a by-
product in the works was thrown on Uu- COflJ pile. V
the coal was fed to the boiler the clinker gradually difl-
red,
The manner in which the fireman handlea his tire may
h;ne :i great influence on the f< rmation of clinker. The
> shaking of the grate or the too frequent use of
the slue bar may so disturb the fuel bed that the ash
will be brought to the surface and mixed with the
hottest coal. As a result, the ash will be subjected to a
much higher temperature than that existing at the sur-
face of the grate, and the likelihood of fusion will be
greatly increased.
The introduction of steam beneath the grate by i
or the formation of vapor from water kept in the ash-
pit, has long been in use to prevent the clinker from
adhering to the grate bars. Neither practice will pre-
vent the formation of clinker, though it may palliate
the troubles that result.
EXPERIENCES OF SMALL-PLANT OPERATOR
Economies Effected by High-Efficiency Engine Unit Made
Motor Load Profitable Despite Low Kates
As typical of the vicissitudes encountered in the oper-
ation of small central-station electric-lighting plants,
the experiences related by Mr. E. B. Pollister, of Min-
neapolis, Minn., before the convention of the Iowa Sec-
tion of the National Electric Light Association are
DIESEL-TYPE PLANT AT ROBINSON. ILL.
humanly interesting and at the same time contain sug-
gestions of value. In Mr. Pollister's own brisk Eng-
lish his story is given herewith:
Experience with a Diesel-Type Engine
"In I'JIO the writer as manager of the central-sta-
tion and water-pumping plant at Robinson, 111., operated
a 133-cycle, simple, non-condensing steam plant every
night, all night, and was a sustaining member of the
'if-you-want-to-avoid-trouble-stick-to-steam' club. Rob-
inson was in a farming community that was increasing
in population, following the discovery of oil and gas.
The population of the town reached a maximum of
5000 in 1912. But as early as 1910 a competing nat-
ural-gas company, offering Bat-rate contracts for cook-
ing and heating with 'lights thrown in,' forced a safety-
first policy upon the electric company and a sixty-cycle,
three-phase, KiO-kw Diesel-type generating unit was in-
stalled.
"Owing to the change in frequency and voltage the
steam equipment was scrapped. As an added attrac
tion to lighting customers we instituted day service,
operating the 225-hp Diesel engine on a twenty-four-
hour BChedule, with B Sunday shut-down inspection
period of five hours.
"Steam engineers who were operating the equip-
ment were skeptical and expected the Diesel engine
within a month to shut down, break down, blow up and
develop indigestion, hesitation-waltz tendencies or any
of the various other tantrums then accredited to such
equipment An unbroken run encouraged, however, the
development of a day load. We hooked up a few small
motors and then the Wilcox Glass Company began flirt-
ing with us to obtain motor service.
A Case Where a Kate Expert \\ a- Needed
"Mr. Wilcox, of this company, in stating his case
said: 'Our natural-gas engine is worn out; the manu-
facturers have gone out of business : we've practically
got to buy a new 40-hp engine, and we expect to close
out our interests here in two years. We've got $16,000
invested in gas wells and pipe lines to the factory, use
a couple of million feet of gas a day, worth possibly
1.5 cents per 1000 cu. ft., and figure trie gas used by the
engine costs us 15 cents per twenty-four hours. The
machine-shop foreman looks after the engine and makes
repairs. Now we'll give you 50 cents a day to pull us.'
"We needed the load badly and, having discussed load-
factor, shrewdly figured that the prospective customer
would be willing to pay about four times what he had
offered. We finally made him a rate on a sliding scale
ranging from 2.5 cents to 1 cent per kw-hr., which we
estimated would net us about $75 a month. He signed
the contract, which provided that his gas engine should
be held in reserve to operate during peaks if needed.
The Customer Receives His Eirst Monthly Statement
"Strained relations followed the first monthly billing
of $213. When Wilcox came to the office he said:
'There's your bill — there's your check! Come down and
get your motor or we'll pitch it out of the window!"
"Prior to this rather disappointing call from our
new customer we had investigated the effect of the new
load on our operating expenses. The station fuel bill
for the month had increased from $72 to $93. Addi-
tional fixed charges and upkeep on lines, transformers
and meter equipment — with hazard allowance — showed
the cost of carrying the new load, on the basis of oil
available at 2 cents per gal., to be less than $30.
"Furthermore, we needed that load and, as is usual
TABLE OF EARNINGS, ROBINSON ELECTRIC COMPANY
Year Ending
Gross Operalii.K
Income Exp< )
1
Earnings
July 31, 1909
July 31, 1910
July 31, 1911
$19,474.13 S18.212 -•:>
25,519.56 17,242 (2
30.190.13 , 12,895.65
S6.261.SS
B.277 11
"1 IS
in small cities, the total available motor load did not
exceed our peak rating. We compromised, therefore, on
a rate netting $0,007 per kw-hr. This rate resulted in
an average billing of $110 per month, including fac-
tory lighting at 6 cents per kw-hr.. which amounted to
approximately .$10 a month. Our total monthly fuel
bill for the plant was then between $90 and $100.
The Low Kate Finally Brings Profit
"With the engine producing 10 kw-hr. per gal. of oil
the profit at the 7-mill rate, above the fuel cost of 2
mills, was 6 mills per kw-hr. At such a profit this
twenty-four-hour, in dp load with its off-peak option
was, of course, unusually attractive. The bulk of our
1186
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 19
other energy output was bringing from 2 to 4 cents
per kw-hr.
"The unit operated on this schedule for two and one-
half years, with but one interruption of service caused
by engine trouble. A hot bearing stopped the unit for
two hours. At the end of a three-year period the gross
earnings had been increased to about $18,000, and the
plant was sold for $100,000 cash at a forced public sale.
"A glance at the accompanying table of earnings of
the Robinson company will show a decrease in operating
expenses, an increase in revenue, and an increase in
gross earnings, following the installation of the Diesel
engine in August, 1910.
of a sufficient supply of air to complete the combustion
of the first gas given off by the heated coal. In point
of life the ventilated arches are said to be far superior
to any other type that is in use.
Air-Cooled Furnace Arches Increase Efficiency
Under the direction of Mr. M. L. Addington, chief
engineer for the Merchants' Heat & Light Company, In-
dianapolis, Ind., changes have been made in furnace
design at the company's Washington Street plant which
have greatly increased the boiler-room efficiency. With
the original installation loads of 25 per cent over rating
represented the limit to which the boilers could be
forced. It was also impossible to burn economically
more than 30 lb. of coal per sq. ft. of grate surface per
hour. Air-cooled arches over the furnaces and grate
bars of more open design have now been substituted,
however, and since the change it is possible,
according to accurate records from steam-
flow meters, to operate the boilers at 250
per cent of their rating for continued
periods. The amount of coal burned per
square foot of grate surface can now be in-
creased economically to 45 lb. per hour.
Flue-gas records covering periods of
twenty-four hours show that even when
forcing the equipment the gases will aver-
age 13.5 per cent of C03.
The details of the design of the air-cooled
arch are reproduced herewith. As will be
seen from the plan section DD, the bricks
forming the arch were not all butted tightly
against each other as they were laid, but
Ready for Emergencies at Cleveland
On a large glass-covered map in the office of the chief
troubleman of the Cleveland Electric Illuminating Com-
pany are marked the locations of every hospital, ambu-
lance and substation of the company, while by means of
movable vacuum-cup markers record is kept of the
movements of the various trouble and line crews at
work in the city. Each foreman calls up hourly to re-
port his location and to get instructions. When a
report of an accident is received the man in the office
refers quickly to the map and finds the nearest hospital
or ambulance. A reference sheet gives him its name,
street location and telephone number. Within a min-
ute's time after the receipt of a call messages will have
been dispatched to the ambulance office, hospital, com-
pany physician and the nearest company representative,
without fuss or delay in looking through the telephone
directory for names and numbers. On the vacuum-cup
markers yellow cards represent company automobiles,
red cards horse-drawn vehicles, and yellow cards men
on foot or using street cars for transportation. In the
Plan Section D"D
Cross-Section B-B
Cross-Section A" A
in I ULS OF DESIGN OF UR-COOLED ARCHES AT INDIANAPOLIS
paces 0.6 In. by 2.5 in. were allowed to remain open
in alternate rows of bricks so that draft can be circu-
lated down through the arches. In the Indianapolis sta-
tion these arches have produced what the men call a
"smokeless furnace" because they permit the passage
event of widespread line trouble a bank of eight extra
telephone positions is kept in readiness, where clerks
taken from other routine duties can receive and record
trouble calls emanating from customers as last as these
come in.
:tra
rks
May 8, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
1187
Results of Accident-Prevention Work in Common-
wealth Edison Organization
For a number of years the Commonwealth Edison
Company, Chicago, has made a practice of installing
mechanical and physical safeguards for the protection
of employees, but about fifteen months ago accident-
prevention work in the organization was undertaken
along a new line — that of educating the employee him-
self to be more careful and thus to protect himself and
his fellow workers from avoidable accidents. It was
largely in recognition of the application of this inter-
esting principle of reaching the individual employee
that the award of the Travelers' Insurance Company's
gold medal was made to the Commonwealth Edison Com-
pany during the recent safety exposition at New York,
as noted in our issue of Dec. 26.
Every employee of the Commonwealth Edison Com-
pany is a member of its safety organization, which is
conducted under the direction of a central committee on
safety. The first year's committee comprised Messrs.
P. Junkersfeld, chairman, Mr. W. L. Abbott, Mr. J. H.
Goehst, Mr. George B. Foster, Mr. W. C. Berry, Mr.
H. L. Gannett, and the officers of the company N. E.
J I .
Jon F«y Kar April May. June Julu, Aug. Sep* Oct Nov. Dec
FIG. 1 — CURVE SHOWING PERCENTAGE OF DAY LOST PER
MONTH PER EMPLOYEE, 1914
L. A. Section, Messrs. F. J. Arnold, W. A. Fox, P. J.
Smith and T. J. Walsh.
The various employees' safety organizations meet at
intervals of a few weeks to hear lectures and to discuss
topics relating to greater safety in their particular lines
of work. Suggestions for relieving undesirable condi-
tions, effecting reductions in possible hazards, etc., are
also submitted. Suggestions which are considered
worth carrying out are approved, while those which are
questioned are next submitted to the intermediate safety
committees, which co-operate with groups of employees'
organizations on the one hand and with the central
safety committee on the other. In this way a sugges-
tion of any merit finds its way to the central com-
mittee before being finally turned down. These inter-
mediate committees are made up of foremen and others
of similar rank. Each employees' committee elects a
chairman, vice-chairman and secretary to serve six
months, while the intermediate committees elect officers
for terms of one year.
For convenience in conducting its work, the central
committee delegates much of its work to an executive
committee called the Commonwealth Edison Safety Bu-
reau. This committee is made up of the central com-
mittee chairman, the company's inspector of safety,
the head of the claim department, and the manager of
the bureau of safety. The last-named is a separate
but co-operating organization which has general charge
of safety work in all the Insull companies. It main-
tains separate offices and staff and is conducted bv Mr.
C. B. Scott.
The actual results of the safety effort* which have
been carried on during the last twelve months in the
Edison company are best shown by the accompanying
-\
\
\
y
"
\
\
•p
\y \
\
1 Si i
^
Jon
Mi
Mar
....
**
&UC
Sept
Bel
Nov
:-.
FIG. 2 CURVE SHOWING NUMBER OF DISABILITY CASES
PER HUNDRED EMPLOYEES, 1914
curves revealing the reduction in disability cases and
in time lost by employees since the inauguration of the
new plan. The number of injury cases, it will be
noted, has been reduced by more than half, while the
amount of time lost per employee per month has been
reduced from one-seventh of a day to one-fiftieth of a
day. an improvement of about 700 per cent.
Oon't Let Careless Excavators Cause You Under-
ground Trouble
Failure on the part of a building contractor to provide
properly against the earth caving into an excavation
for a tall building gave the central-station company in
a Western city a serious trouble on its underground-
cable system. When the upright wall of earth at the
front of the premises gave way, the slide took with it
CABLES SAGGING AND STRIPPED OF CONDUIT
material from the under-surface of the street beyond
the sidewalk line. Among the other things carried into
the foundation excavation were the conduit and cables.
The underground department of this company now
makes it a practice to watch building operations where
similar slides are apt to occur so that it can warn
careless contractors before damage is done.
1188
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 19
Motor Service in a Large Bolt Factory
Electrical Distribution System of the Reed & Prince Manufacturing Company,
Worcester, Mass. Motor-Maintenance Methods
ONE of the largest industrial plants on central-
station service in Worcester, Mass., is that of
the Reed & Prince Manufacturing Company,
maker of wood and machine screws, rivets, bolts, burrs,
plugs, taps and other similar products. This establish-
ment normally employs about 350 hands, has a total
floor area of about 200,000 sq. ft., and occupies an ex-
tended site about one-fourth mile from the Webster
Street generating station of the Worcester Electric
Light Company. Some sixteen buildings are now in
service, and the company operates 108 motors with an
aggregate rating of 1154.5 hp. In feneral, three-phase.
550-volt induction motors are used, and on account of
the simultaneous operation of similar machines in rows,
economy of motor investment and simplicity of arrange-
FIGS. 1 AND 2— -OUTDOOR TRANSFORMER INSTALLATION,
SHOWING PRIMARY CONNECTIONS
ment possible under the local conditions, group drive
was adopted when the plant was electrified.
The electric-light company's service enters an inter-
ior substation by a three-phase, 300,000-circ. mil under-
ground cable leading from the 2300-volt feeder buses of
the Webster Street plant to the factory. The incoming
leads are brought out in the substation at a pothead
forming the terminal of the conduit and are carried
thence to a three-pole disconnecting switch mounted on
the ceiling. Beyond the latter the incoming line is split
into two sections, one of which feeds the main trans-
formers of the factory through an automatic oil switch
controlling the primary leads, the other supplying the
local transformers for the lamp circuits in another
building on account of the previous supply of lighting
energy from a former isolated plant operated by the
factory. The main transformera for motor service are
mounted on a concrete floor in a caged-in area just
outside the substation.
Service Connections
The substation, exclu Ive of the transformer bay. is
If, ft. long. L2 ft. wide and 10 ft. high, having a COD
crete floor and roof with bricli walls. It is admit
illuminated by four 100 watt lamps mounted aboul 8
ft. above the floor, two being in front of the switch-
board and two at the rear. The substation contains a
four-panel switchboard with a single set of 550-volt,
three-phase buses at the rear and a feeder rack carry-
ing series transformers with connections to the local
power circuits, all of which are run in conduit. The in-
coming 2300-volt circuit is metered, one panel being de-
FIG. 3 — 5-HP MOTORS DRIVING COMBINED WOOD-SCREW
SHEARERS AND SLOTTERS
voted to the watt-hour meter and to time-limit relays
and oil switches controlling the motor and lamp feeders
respectively. All outgoing feeders are provided with
automatic oil switches controlled by time-limit relays,
and in general each circuit is equipped with a watt-
meter. The instruments are of the edgewise type, and
the board, which is about 7.5 ft. long, contains a busbar
voltmeter and was equipped by the General Electric
Company. It is attached to the wall at the rear by
;;4-in. pipe framing terminating in a 2-in. by 4-in. tim-
ber, and the feeder and series transformer rack at the
FIGS, 1 AND 5 — TYPICAL INSTALLATIONS OF OIL SWITCHES
rear is composed of 1 ' i -in. by s-in. strap iron. Con-
siderable space was saved by mounting the series trans-
formers on the rack, and the clearance at the rear of the
rack, •"■ it. 8 in., is ample. A ground detector is also
provided.
The transformer bay, 18 ft. 8 in. by 0 ft. 8 in., pro-
May 8, 1916
ELECTRICAL WORLD
1189
ample ventilating facilities, combined with pro-
tection from the elements and front interference by em-
ployees, accidental or otherwi-.- It contains three 250-
kva Wi'-tinghouse oil-cooled transformers with primary
and secondary leads from and to the substation interior,
and is inclosed by a wire fence ''>.•'> ft. high, the top being
3 Oil Switches
T^G ABTf-
T",~r
IEZI L_L
T' I
T".TI
jz:
FIG. 6-
-SCHEME OF WIRING MOTORS FROM GROUPED OIL
SWITCHES
roofed over by corrugated, galvanized-iron sheeting car-
ried on a light truss supported at the ends and middle
by 2'o-in. by 2%-in. by ^-in. posts. The roof height
varies from 7.5 ft. to 12 ft. above the ground, and the
fencing is so arranged that a section 4 ft. wide can be
removed at one end in case it becomes necessary to take
«P-r=
Iis5"i
Y
fe- -
Hrv
\
i
i
^n
each other by 28 in., and the secondary leads, which are
on the switchboard side, are carried through the wall in
porcelain bushings inclined about 30 deg. outward, and
thence are dropped down to the 550-volt buses, which
are horizontal and connected in solid with the trans-
formers.
Mulnr ( ircuit*
Five motor circuits leave the substation, ranging in
capacity from 85 k\v to 257 kw and in size from No. 2 B.
& S. to 300,000 circ. mils. In general a conduit is car-
ried upward along the outer wall of the building to an
outside junction box from which the interior connec-
tion is made. This avoids the difficulties of attempting
to pull large cables through sharp bends in the duct and
saves something in fittings, besides rendering the feeds
FIG. 7 — TYPICAL CEILING JUNCTION BOX
out a transformer. A padlocked gate at one end also
provides safe access to the inclosure. The transformers
are connected in delta on both sides, and the primary
leads are carried on a 2-in. by 10-in. plank from which
connection is made to the 2300-volt conduit line from
the switchboard. In general, the transformers clear
FIG. 8 — 5-HP MOTORS DRIVING AUTOMATIC SCREW
MACHINES
accessible from outside the buildings, which are of mill-
type construction. Interior risers are, of course, car-
ried wherever necessary, the outside junction box work
applying merely to the main feeders.
The largest motor is rated at 100 hp and the smallest
at 1 hp, General Electric motors being mainly used. All
motors larger than 10 hp are equipped with compensa-
tors, but these have been found unnecessary in most
cases where a 10-hp outfit or less is operated. All local
feeders are run in conduit, except in a few sections of
the plant which have not yet been changed over to the
conduit system, and automatic oil switches are being
generally used now in place of fuses and disconnecting
switches for individual motors. There are nearly
thirty departments in the plant, but about eighty motors
are in use in Departments 6 and 9, devoted to the
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 86, No. 19
production of wood screws, the principal operations in
these branches of the factory being shaving and
threading.
Arrangement of Motors
Idler pulleys are used on substantially all motors of
5-hp rating and less, and on some larger motors, to pro-
vide better belt tension. Improved lapping of the belt
around the pulley is thus secured with an actual de-
crease in friction compared with the ordinary loose
belt on medium drives. In the various departments
where motors are arranged in closely associated groups
the oil switches are mounted together behind a screen,
all taps being made by short connections from a set of
vertical phase wires, with conduit runs from the load
sides of the switches to the adjacent motors. In some
FIG. 9 — PORTABLE TABLE FOR RAPID TESTING OF FACTORY
MOTORS
other locations three or four oil switches are mounted
on a column near the group of motors controlled, no
exposed wires being used, and all connections are made
through condulets. Typical ceiling junction boxes are
composed of a fuse board of "*-in. soft pine, 10 in. by
12 in. in size, with junction box and condulet fittings,
all 10 ft. or 12 ft. above the floor. The standard cage
protecting motor oil switches mounted in a gang of
eight is (1 ft. high, 4 ft. 2 in. wide and 16 in. deep,
the switches being mounted on a wooden panel while
the ' ovided with an angle-iron frame. All
conduit in the plant is grounded, and the switch casings
are grounded by a check nut on each side of the switch-
box wall.
Throughout the plant all 550-volt conduit is painted a
bright red.
Mounting of Oil Switches
In a typical column mounting of oil switches the lat-
ter are spaced 15 in. apart on centers vertically and
include trip coils and condulets with conduit runs offset
slightly to provide a symmetrical layout. In this case
three switches control three 5-hp motors, each of which
c
Directions For-»4&.king Reports
o
» Shsrp 4H pencil. Subn
> to be made In duplicate
beinf sure tests ire nuir
rking Conditions, refer t
wrings hoi. etc
low m»ke note of condltl
lor, looie connections. b*i
ailed (or. Use
hock mark lor first three losd
DURING THE TEST. Re
Iglnel to Engineering Deptrt-
»nd load during t
FIG. 10 — FORM OF REPORT CARD USED
drives seven screw machines of the automatic type. To
serve groups of this kind at the end of a local feed, the
line is dead-ended, if of the open type, on strain insu-
lators attached by strap-irons to the ceiling beam, with
taps on the line side of the insulators to a standard
ceiling fuse block with porcelain barriers between
phases, and conduit leading from the fuse block to the
gang of switches. In another typical case where six
5-hp motors each drive a row of fourteen combination
shavers and slotters the oil switches are mounted on a
wall panel and are protected from accidental contact by
a U-shaped railing at shoulder height, composed of 1%-
in. pipe. Sixteen wood-screw threaders are frequently
driven by one 7. 5-hp motor, and this size of motor drives
eighteen shavers.
Record System
The company maintains a system of 3-in. by 5-in.
index cards showing the size of motor, department and
line-shaft location, with any test data which have been
amassed as to the existing and rated load, shaft and
motor speed data, pulley diameters, etc. This system
enables the company to ascertain at a moment whether
S HP. MOTOR
DEPT. 6
'0/,3/z,
LINE T
WATTS. NO LOAD = /err
" FULL LOAD -
- •%■ - - »7SC
AMPS FULL LOADG.eePF. -
6 0
MOTOR SPEED - *7'f
RATED AMPS. - X*
SHAH •• - "It
OVERLOAD - lf%
■ DIAM -
GONDITIONorMOTOR -
PULLET - - If
MOTOR PULLEY DIAM -
( ^ SERIAL NO S36/TS
TEST NOS '
\ f
R & P NO
FIG. 11 — TEST CARD OF 5-HP MOTOR
any particular motor is overloaded or not in case it is
proposed to add machines in a given department section.
In the typical card shown, the motor is overloaded by 15
per cent, and the friction load of the shafting is seen
to be 1 kw, assuming 80 per cent power-factor. An ef-
fort is being made to list on each card the number of
machines driven, so that the records will be complete
for every motor. Thus, in the case cited, the motor
May 8, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
1191
drives fourteen wood-screw shavers, although strict ad-
herence to rating would limit this to twelve. The motor
speed is 1745 r.p.m., by tachometer, and the shaft speed
is 460 r.p.m. In another case a test showed that a 5-hp
motor drove fifteen wood-screw shavers with a shaft
speed of 486 r.p.m. The input was 8 kw, giving an
overload of 92.5 per cent, and examination of the local
conditions led to the substitution of a 7. 5-hp motor,
giving on further test an overload of only 23 per cent
and a cool-running motor. Mechanical conditions in
the line shafting and driven machines result in vari-
able power demands.
Motor Amplications
A few other examples of motor service are included.
In Department 9 a 7. 5-hp motor running at 1697 r.p.m.
drives seventeen wood-screw threaders, the line-shaft
speed being 636 r.p.m. The pulley diameters are 5.5 in.
and 14 in. Here a 34 per cent overload is maintained,
the no-load or friction input being 1250 watts and the
full load 8750 watts, allowing for power-factor. In De-
partment 6 there are twenty-three motors of 5-hp and
7. 5-hp rating, driving wood-screw shavers, and in De-
partment 7, where slotting is done, four motors rated
at from 10 hp to 20 hp drive slotters, tumbling barrels,
grinders and a small elevator. In the header room,
Department 3, forty-six headers are driven by a 35-hp
."«".."" A. C. MOTOR. TEST REPORT
HO Of •Milti REED « PRIJCC HFC CO. WORCESTER. HAS
l)r»' pi nr. nnoa pfafyiMn
OAT
PULLET
RATING H. P. AMPS VOLTS TYPE SERIAL
R. APNO. CIRCUIT NO. LETTER - THIS MOTOR INST*
INST. RATIO — TRANSFR RATIO, SERIES - SHUNT
V M A. M. W M. Vo'li Amp, WArtf V) | £ %
w
;p-
u
*' " L°
1 1
II
\ Hi ■ ■ A P.,11., *r~A \ J
W41t* of B,n S«« Alio Teilt No,.
T,.„,
u
FIG. 12 — TEST-REPORT CARD FOR MOTORS
motor, the total number of motors in the department
being six and their combined rating 151 hp. In the
cold-rolling and wire-drawing room a 100-hp motor
drives three straightening machines, two wire blocks,
three cold-rolling machines, two pointing machines, one
emery wheel, one extractor, one washer, one drier, one
magnetic separator, two riddles and a cutting-off ma-
chine. In this room also a drawing machine is geared
to a 35-hp individual motor. In the annealing depart-
ment a 1-hp motor drives a riddle and a 5-hp motor
draws the pots out of the annealing furnace. Two elec-
tric furnaces are used in the forge shop, the all-day
requirements averaging 7.7 kw per furnace, and all
forges and furnaces are provided with electric pyrom-
eters ot Brown or Bristol type.
Motor test records are made in the field on cards like
the sample reproduced, which are only 4 in. by 6 in. in
dimensions, but which afford space for all essential en-
gineering data, instrument and speed readings, and
deductions as to the fitness of the motor for a given
service. To facilitate testing motors rapidly, the master
mechanic of the plant, Mr. L. H. Carter, has designed
a portable table, 26 in. long, 17 in. wide and 33 in.
high, which contains a top shelf for an indicating watt-
meter, a short-circuiting switch for the instrument,
permanent connections, and binding posts to which
flexible leads of No. 0 wire about 16 ft. long may be
attached when run to the motor fuse block or switch
terminals. Series transformers are carried on a lower
shelf, and the connections of the apparatus provide for
quickly taking the power consumption readings on any
motor within the range of the equipment. In normal
operation, when the apparatus is connected in circuit,
the wattmeter is cut into two phases of the motor
ice, either directly or through the series transformers,
and a connection is also made across either phase to the
potential coil of the wattmeter. When using the series
transformers the potential connection is made directly
across the motor fuses or switch terminals, in order to
avoid the drop in the transformers.
Costs of Extensions
The relation of costs of line extensions and trans-
formers to probable revenues from customers who
wanted service justified the Railroad Commission of
California in deciding in a recent case that it was un-
fair to expect the company to extend service entirely
at its own expense. The case affected the Pacific Gas
& Electric Company. The commission outlined an ap-
portionment of the expense and directed the company to
extend its portion of such service, provided that a share
of the cost was met by those who wanted service.
Messrs. Charles E. Warren and Herbert Pash com-
plained that the company refused to supply service un-
less they advanced respectively $900 and $629.10. The
payments were to be refunded in annual instalments on
the basis of 20 per cent of the payments made by the
consumers to the company during the year. Mr. War-
ren desired service for light and a small motor for
domestic pumping at his residence and for a 20-hp motor
for irrigation pumping. Mr. Pash, in addition to lights
in his residence and other buildings, desired service for
a 20-hp motor to be used for irrigation pumping pur-
poses in two locations at different times of the year.
Mr. L. S. Ready, assistant electrical engineer of the
commission, recommended that the consumers construct
at their expense lines situated entirely upon their prop-
erties, and that the company construct at its expense
lines on public highways in addition to furnishing and
installing necessary transformers and meters. This
suggestion was accepted by the company but the com-
plainants wanted a formal ruling by the commission.
The company estimate of cost was : Extension of 11,000-
volt line, 0.9 mile, $629.10; tap lines for Warren resi-
dence, 300 ft., $58.50; for Warren motor service, 2500
ft., $258.30; for Pash residence, 500 ft., $55.30; total,
$372.10. Transformers and meters were estimated as
follows: Warren residence, $17.25; Warren motor serv-
ice, $241.95; Pash residence, $6.50; Pash motor service,
$300.40; total, $566.10. This indicates a total estimated
cost of $1,567.30. Annual revenue was estimated by the
company as follows: Warren residence, $42, and motor
service, $120; a total of $162; Pash residence, $12, and
motor service, $120; a total of $132 and a grand total
of $294.
Mr. Ready estimated costs to the company as follows:
Main extension, $599.70; transformers and meters,
$562.90; transformer switches, $40; secondary exten-
sion along road, $105.70; labor of installing transform-
ers, transformer switches and meters, $78.50; total,
$1,386.80. The commission estimated costs of the ex-
tensions across private property thus : To Warren 20-hp
pump, $210.60; to Warren residence, $28.60; to Pash
residence, $52.00; total, $291.20. The estimate by Mr.
Ready of probable annual revenue was: Warren resi-
dence, $48; Warren motor service, $120; Pash resi-
dence, $15; Pash motor service, $180; total annual
revenue, $363.
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 19
Distribution of Energy in a Flour Mill
The power required to operate a flour mill is di-
vided among the various mill operations approximate-
ly as follows, according to the superintendent of a
large Minneapolis milling company: Wheat-cleaning
operations, 35 per cent; break-rolls and middling rolls,
15 per cent; smooth rolls, 25 per cent; bolting and
purifying operations, 25 per cent.
An average 1000-hp mill having an output of 3500
to 4000 barrels of flour per day will show an energy
consumption of from 6 kw-hr. to 10 kw-hr. per barrel.
Motor Drive in Marble Works
When a manufacturer who has been driving his ma-
chinery for years with waste steam costing practically
nothing can become enthusiastic over the results ob-
FIG. 1 — CARBORUNDUM STONE OPERATED BY 25-HP MOTOR
tained with motor drive, it shows that electric service
has many advantages even when other forms of energy
can be obtained at ridiculously low prices. Such was
the case with Alexander Pelli & Company, who operate
FIG. 2 RUBBING BED DRIVEN HY COMPENSATED MOTOR
marble works in New York City. Formerly this com-
pany's plant was situated next to a laundry from which
steam for operating the machinery was obtained tor a
Wishing to expand their business, the manufac-
turer.-, moved to more commodious quarters ami serious-
ly contemplated installing a producer plant for operat-
ing gas-engine-driven machinery. However, after being
shown how central-station service and motor drive
would economize space and afford more flexible and re-
liable operation they installed polyphase Wagner
motors. These machines had the advantage of not re-
quiring the attention which commutator motors would
DISTRIBUTION OF MOTORS
Motor Data
Transmission
Machine Driven
Hp
Type
R.P.M.
25
10
30
5
Slip-ring
Compensated
Slip-ring
Squirrel-cage
1140
850
1200
1140
Belt
Belt to shaft
Belt
Belt to countershaft
Carborundum stone
Patch 13-ft. rubbing bed
Hewes & Phillips carborun-
dum machine
Patch 7-ft. S-in. polishing ma-
chine
5
3
3
3
Squirrel-cage
Squirrel-cage
Squirrel-cage
Squirrel-cage
1140
1140
1140
1140
Belt
Belt
Belt to countershaft
Belt
12 ft. x 2.5 ft. planer
Whitcomb No. 2 planer
13.5-in. lathe. Small drill presi
Two-spindle emerv wheel.
6 in. x 1 in. and 10 in. i
0.375 in.
3
111
3
3
Squirrel-eage
Slip-ring
Squirrel-cage
Squirrel-cage
900
900
1140
1140
Belt to countershaft
Belt
Belt
Belt
150-ft. win- - ra
65-lb. air compressor
10-in. circular wood saw
Small centrifugal water pump
probably need where marble dust is present in the at-
mosphere. Twelve motors were installed having a total
rating of 103 hp. Their distribution is indicated in the
accompanying table. Records show that the average
monthly energy consumption has been 4388 kw-hr.,
making the average monthly consumption per connected
hp 42.5 kw-hr. Energy is used 192 hours a month at
an average cost of about 0.54 cent per kw-hr. Electric
service is furnished by the United Electric Light &
Power Company.
Life Record for Transformer Oil
One central station in the Mississippi Valley used
four arc-lamp tubs eighteen years, moved them from
one power house to another, and never changed or
cleaned the oil in them. At the end of that time the
engineer began, he said, "to mistrust the oil," so a
small filter press was purchased and the oil was taken
from the tanks. When the oil had been drawn off it
was discovered that there was approximately 3 in. of
"muck" in the bottom of each tank. This residue was
taken out, the tubs were given a thorough cleaning, the
oil was filtered and replaced in the tubs. Then the
transformers were again used on arc-lamp circuits
where they operated successfully for several months.
The same set of units is now supplying energy to a
gas-filled tungsten-lamp installation, and the same oil
that has been in the tanks for eighteen years is being
used.
Interpole Railway-Type Motors Operate Large Lift
Bridge
A lift bridge recently installed across the Chicago
River has a span of 272 ft. 10 in. between towers.
Bridging this gap is a lift span which weighs 2, 023.000
lb. and which can be raised the distance of 111 ft. from
its normal position to its maximum height in fortj five
seconds. The electric motor which moves this huge
tee! structure and its massive 196,000-lb. concrete and
steel counterweights is a 300-hp, 220-volt Westing-
house interpole, railway-type machine. To insure con-
tinuity of service duplicate motors are installed.
Energy is supplied from the lines of the Commonwealth
Edison Company.
May t, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
1193
Operating Kinks
Device for Bending Conduit and Pipe
The sketch herewith shows a simple and inexpensive
hut useful device for bending conduit and pipe 0.75
in. to 0.50 in. in diameter. The metal pieces are of
strap-iron 2 in. wide and 0.375 in. thick. The grooved
wheels are identical in shape, each measuring 4 in.
• ji tan
Bench
BENCH DEVICE FOR BENDING PIPE
in inner diameter and 5 in. over the flanges. At a
distance 8 in. from the center of the wheels a bridge
is mounted on the bench to hold the pipe which is
being bent. With the aid of the extended handle,
powerful leverage is brought to bear on the conduit
and smooth bends can be made of any radius larger
than that of the grooved wheels.
Independent Operation of Special Lamps from Main
Lighting Circuit
In shops and stations where "juice is cheap" the cost
of lamp renewals often becomes excessive because whole
circuits, or even all the lamps in the building, may be
turned on while using a single extension light.
This difficulty may be avoided, of course, by the use
of separate circuits and special outlets, but such an ar-
rangement is open to the objection of cost of wiring
and the fact that changing conditions may require fre-
quent alterations.
If, however, one side of the system is or may be
grounded, certain outlets may be left "alive" when the
main switch is open by means of the connections shown
in the accompanying diagram. Here A, B and C repre-
' 0 rounded
CONNECTIONS FOR OPERATING SPECIAL LAMPS
sent the principal lamps and a, b and c special outlets.
It will be noted that the "live" side of the switch is
"jumped" through a fuse, and that the special outlets
are connected from the resulting live leg of the circuit
to ground. If the special outlets are used for extension
lamps, it will be a great convenience to use a light fuse
in the jumper. This precaution centralizes any "fire-
works" caused by defective extension cords.
Certain lamps, on the other hand, may not be needed
when the principal lamps are in use. If the total wat-
tage of such lamps //, ./ and K is small as compared
with that of the "main" circuits, they will burn brightly
in series with the main lamp group, but will be ex-
tinguished automatically when the switch is closed to
light the main circuit. It will be noted that the group
.4, B, (' is in series with the group H, J. K when the
main switch is open.
The connections above described are used in the
power house of the Mohawk Hydro-Electric Company
at Ephratah. X. V. Outlets a, b, e, etc., are used for
extension cords, desk lamp, oil vault, etc. Lamps .4, B,
C, etc., are 400-watt main lamps suspended from the
roof. Lamps H, J , K, etc., are an equal number of 25-
watt gage lights which are needed only when the 400-
watt lamps are off.
The Evolution of an Old Hand-Power Fire Engine
The sturdy red running gear which used to carry
the hand-pumped, citizen-propelled fire engine of the
city of Crawfordsville, Ind., on its wild dashes at the
heels of an excited volunteer company has in its de-
clining years taken up a less heroic although probably
more profitable vocation. As may be seen from the
accompanying illustration, this ancient piece of fire-
fighting equipment, now dismantled and replaced by
CRAWFORDSVILLE'S OLD FIRE TRUCK NOW A PORTABLE
SUBSTATION
a modern outfit, is serving as a conveyance for a per-
manently rigged but portable transformer station.
Over the rear axle two 25-kw transformers have been
placed and the primary taps brought out are perma-
nently connected through fuse plugs to long insulated
leads which lie coiled in the wagon bed when the outfit
is not in use. The secondary leads, carefully insulated
and fastened to the upright frame, are run through
knife-blade switches and arranged for ready connec-
tion to incoming lines, which may be dead-ended on the
substantially mounted cross-arm above the trans-
former bank. Connections to the knife-blade switches
are arranged so that either one or both of the 25-kw
transformers may be used to give 110 220 volts on
the secondary winding. All connections are clearly
labeled to avoid possibility of mistake, and a row of
lamps along the lower cross-arm illuminates the porta-
ble station at night, both for the benefit of the line-
men who may need to work on the transformers and
for the safety of pedestrians who might collide with
the live wires in the night. At county-fair time, when
"chautauquas" are held at the fair grounds and at
1194
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 19
times when a transformer burn-out creates an imme-
diate need for service, this truck is hastily taken to
the scene and connected to a primary circuit to render
the emergency secondary service.
Drying Out Cable with Electricity
After pulling 360 ft. of two-conductor, lead-covered
cable through a cast-iron conduit under a ship canal, it
was found that the conductors had become grounded by
water which apparently had entered through the sealed
end. Sawing off sections at the end did not eliminate
the "ground," so electricity was resorted to to dry out
the insulation. One terminal of low-voltage winding
of a 30-kva, 2200/120-volt, single-phase transformer
was connected with two parallel-connected brine rheo-
stats, and the circuit completed through two of the
cable conductors joined at the opposite end. Connected
in the circuit were also an ammeter and a Thompson
"megger." A current of 205 amp was maintained for
210 hours at 120 volts, making the energy consumption
5166 kw-hr. Possibly a more uniform removal of
pqr-^1
METHOD OF DRYING CABLE INSULATION ELECTRICALLY
moisture could have been obtained with a smaller cur-
rent had all of the cable conductors been connected in
series, although this arrangement would have inter-
posed higher potential differences between conductors.
Rapid Service Restoration Made Possible by Sub-
station Design
Much of the credit for shortening the duration of
what might have been a serious service interruption on
one of the lines of the Commonwealth Edison Company,
Chicago, April 23, is due to the company's standard
practice in distribution-line construction. In this in-
stance an arc started by the switching of a compensator
in the Grove Street substation greatly damaged the
station switchboard. Outside the substation, however,
the circuits were equipped with G. & W. potheads in-
stalled on the poles and on the underground lines, so
that in emergencies the permanent connections could be
easily broken and connection completed to adjacent
circuits without the necessity of making any served
or bolted joints. For the trouble-man to restore serv-
ice after the arc had been extinguished was, therefore,
a short task. The pothead switches on leads going into
and coming from the station were simply disconnected
and pothead terminals were changed to bridge the gap
left by the disabled leads.
Home-Made Dust Collector for Buffing Wheel
Elimination of the dust nuisance which usually ac-
companies the buffing of meter casings and other light
apparatus has been accomplished in the laboratory of
the United Electric Light Company, Springfield, Mass.,
by the home-made equipment illustrated herewith. The
buffing wheel, which is belt-driven by a 0.5-hp motor, is
,*(_dl
4i
t
Ht\ '■
A
HOME-MADE DUST COLLECTOR FOR BUFFING WHEEL
partly inclosed in a galvanized-iron hood which dis-
charges into an inclined pipe of the same material meas-
uring 3 in. in diameter and 30 in. long. The lower end
of this pipe terminates in a gunny-sack attached by a
short piece of wire to the table supporting the motor
and polishing equipment. Although the motor runs at
1725 r.p.m. and the buffing wheel makes substantially
the same speed, the dust ground off the stock is auto-
matically delivered into the bag instead of being scat-
tered about the premises. The advantage derived both
in the matter of workshop tidiness and in the enhanced
comfort of the operator is obvious.
Mirror Helps in Engine Testing
An ingenious mechanic in the shops of the Buckeye
Engine Company at Salem, Ohio, has contrived to use
a mirror to aid him in his daily work. It enables him
to watch the scale beam which tells him whether or not
he is holding the brake load on the engine constant
while the unit is under test. Owing to the manner in
Srofre Control
<&
^
■ ■ ■
LOOKING GLASS USED BY ENGINE TESTER IN WATCHING
THE SCALE BEAM
which the prony-brake rigging is arranged on the test
floor, the man who controls the brake pressure has to
sit well up above the top of the flywheel and almost
directly over the scale. By setting the mirror on a
chair at the proper distance from the scale the reflected
im.ige of the scale beam is always within the brake
tender's vision.
May 8, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
1195
Extracts and Abstracts
Alternating and Direct-Current Control Problems
in Steel Mills
Under the auspices of the industrial power com-
mittee, the convention of the American Institute of
Electrical Engineers held at Pittsburgh in April de-
voted particular attention to the subject of direct-cur-
rent and alternating-current operation and control in
steel mills and iron works.
AlU-rnating-Current Control Features
In his paper on "Alternating-Current Controllers
for Steel Mills," Mr. Arthur Simon pointed out that
the squirrel-cage motor, on account of its simplicity
and stanchness and the absence of collectors, is the
most desirable machine for steel-mill service. The
slip-ring-type motor does not have the disadvantages
of the squirrel-cage type, but requires collectors,
which are the cause of frequent trouble. The ques-
tion of control must also take into consideration such
purely commercial points as the relative advantages
of low first cost, energy consumption, labor and at-
tendance, and renewals. The simplest and earliest
forms of controllers were of the face-plate type, a
modification of which is the multiple-lever type which
is particularly suitable for large ratings. The ad-
vantage of this type is that the starting resistance
cannot be cut out too suddenly.
There are two methods of operating automatic con-
trollers with current-limiting relays — one by putting
relays in the primary circuit, and the other by putting
relays in the secondary circuit. The primary relay
must be designed for continuous service, which makes
it rather bulky and sluggish. The secondary relay
need be arranged for very intermittent duty only,
making it correspondingly light and sensitive. A type
of controller which finds frequent application in steel-
mill practice is the reversible automatic controller.
This mechanism is used for intermittent service re-
quiring frequent starting and speed regulation at all
controller points.
Alternating-Current Hoisting Problems
Mr. Raymond E. Brown read a paper on "The Alter-
nating-Current Coal Hoist." The coal hoist presents a
different problem in several respects from those involved
in most other machines used for hoisting materials,
because (1) an accurate analysis of the cycle of opera-
tion must be had in order to obtain a motor of proper
speed, torque and heating capacity, (2) the electrical
equipment must be capable of continuous operation at
the maximum speed permitted by the weight lifted, the
motor characteristics and operator's movements, and
(3) heavy unbalanced loads are lowered at high speeds
and yet under very exact control. The friction brake
control, manually operated, must make a complete stop
before reaching the bottom in order to prevent the
rapidly moving heavy bucket from damaging barges or
steamers on landing. This causes an appreciable loss
of time which can be entirely avoided when dynamic
braking is used.
A further advantage that is inherent in dynamic
braking is that the heating capacity of the motors can
[ be more accurately determined than is possible with
the ordinary friction brake. Although the maximum
lowering speed is greater than the hoisting speed with
dynamic braking, the bucket reaches its destination
with a shock that is barely perceptible. Furthermore,
the handle may safely be thrown over to maximum
braking when the bucket is descending at maximum
speed.
Direct -( urrent Control in Stevl Mills
Mr. II. F. Stratton opened the afternoon session with
a paper on "Mill Controllers." In almost any type of
mill controller the main object is to start, stop or
reverse the machine and its load in the quickest feasible
time, the work done at constant speed being of minor
importance. Mr. Stratton's paper was, therefore,
devoted to an analysis of the acceleration of a motor-
driven machine. In the complete acceleration of a
machine driven by a series or compound-wound motor,
there are two stages through which motor and machine
must pass before they attain a situation of even instan-
taneous stability. The first stage begins when the
armature and the starting resistance are connected to
the supply lines and ends when the starting resistance
has been completely short-circuited and the armature
is receiving full line voltage. The second stage begins
when full line voltage is applied to the armature and
ends when the developed motor torque equals the torque
of the work load. The paper closed with an analysis
of the effect of the ratio of gearing between motor and
machine, and a determination of values of this ratio
to give the quickest starting and stopping.
For quickest starting from rest and making any
number of revolutions, the ratio of gearing, r, is deter-
mined by the formula :
-vrjj
+
where /, is the moment of inertia of machine and /.
is that of the armature, F is the load torque of the
machine, and T is the mean torque developed by the
motor in pound-feet. If quickest stopping from any
F
speed of rotation is desired, the last expression -=,
should be given a negative sign.
From the Operator's Viewpoint
Mr. J. S. Riggs followed with a paper describing elec-
trical control problems peculiar to steel-mill service
viewed from the standpoint of the operator. No provi-
sion for emergencies can be made, since any delay or
interruption in the cycle of operations means scrapping
of material and loss of time. Equipment must there-
fore be as nearly fool-proof as possible. The advan-
tages of the magnetic controller, which the author
enumerated, make it in his opinion the best for the
service. The control for the equipment of a loom mill
and a rolling mill can be standardized in four distinct
constructions, viz.: (1) full reverse, single-speed type,
(2) full reverse, multi-speed type, (3) full reverse,
multi-speed type, dynamic braking, and (4) non-reverse,
push-button type. The apparatus required with each
and the equipment with which each is used are enumer-
ated. The only way absolutely to protect the equipment
against short-circuits and overloads, the author stated,
is to install two relays, one in each side of the line, and
also a contactor in that side of the line which feeds
the motor field winding. It was recommended that as
few different sizes of motors be adopted throughout the
mill as possible.
Discussion
Mr. T. E. Tynes put in a plea for standardization.
There is a great expense attendant upon keeping the
repair parts for so many different types of motors as
are now in use. It means tying up of a considerable
amount of capital.
Mr. K. A. Pauly stated that in induction motors
alone, considering only sizes from 1 hp to 200 hp in-
clusive, there are frequently fifteen different ratings
which must be designed for five different voltages —
1196
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 19
110, 220, 440, 550 and 2200— making 75 in all; that
there are three frequencies — 25, 40 and 60 cycles —
further increasing the number to 225; that the num-
ber of principal speeds will average four, making
a total of 900, and that, finally, considering subdivi-
sions of types of apparatus, the total will be brought
up to about 1500.
Mr. Graham Bright stated that as fast as the manu-
facturers bring out a motor which will meet a certain
set of conditions the steel-mill operators bring out a
new set of conditions which are more severe in many
cases, thereby making it necessary for the manufac-
turers immediately to bring out a new motor. The
conditions of lack of standardization are caused by
the advance in the art on both sides, which will prob-
ablv continue for some time.
columns between the two sections to fire, in view of
the liability of roof destruction in case of a basement
blaze. Sketches of a station design submitted early to
the insurance authorities save time and trouble and
enable the best protective measures to be taken at the
lowest practicable outlay.
Fire Protection in Electric Plants
In a paper read before the Boston Society of Civil
Engineers Mr. Nathan H. Daniels, head of the statis-
tics department, Stone & Webster, Boston, emphasized
the wide range of hazards existing even in a single
group of stations, depending upon construction and
operating conditions. Under the latest schedule a fire-
proof station of standard construction and occupancy
takes a base rate of 7 cents per $100 of insurance for
building and non-electrical contents and 12 cents for
electrical contents. If the building should have un-
protected metal columns supporting roof or floors, 1
cent is added to the above figures; if wooden skylights,
2 cents for the first and 1 cent for each additional,
with a maximum charge of 7 cents; if joisted wood
floors, 10 cents; if combustible finish leaving concealed
space in walls, 3 cents; if oil transformers unless in
fireproof rooms, 3 cents; if lightning arresters are not
standard, 2 cents; if wooden lockers, 2 cents; if gaso-
line is stored in the building, 15 cents; and if a fire
hydrant is over 500 ft. distant, 5 cents, with an ex-
posure charge depending on the relation of the struc-
ture to other buildings. Although a standard building
takes the 7-cent rate, a frame shingle-roofed building
with unprotected openings to the basement, defective
switchboard and wiring, careless operation and no fire
protection might take a rate of from $2.50 to $3, or
forty times the rate on the standard station. From the
standpoint of the public utility company, on a million-
dollar station each additional 10 cents in the insur-
ance rate means $1,000 annually in insurance premium,
or 5 per cent interest on an investment of $20,000.
More serious yet is the hazard of interrupted service.
Mr. Daniels advocated the use of labeled protective
apparatus in the line of fire doors, extinguishers, fusi-
ble links, hose racks, fire-retardiiiR paint, etc., point-
ing out the difficulties and time required for even an
engineer to determine whether all details of manufac-
ture are standard. Discussing specific protective prob-
lems, he emphasized the importance of avoiding the
ptorage of wooden blocking on roof trusses and the
f irelesfl disposal of waste excelsior and packing cases
miring and after the construction period in generating
plants and substations. .Joints in temporary wiring
need special attention. Fireproof doors in stair towers
are sometimes omitted, and the storage of combustible
materials in power station basements is a common
oversight, A low insurance rate on a station addition
was secured by replacing the wooden Moor . ► t the orig-
inal plant bj concrete, the two sections being necessar-
ily interconnected with openings, for operatinc
sons. In generating plants divided Into two sections
with a fire wall between the boiler room and the tur-
bine room, and with a basement common to both in
part, great Care Should be taken to avoid exposing the
Boiler-Room Losses and Their Prevention
As the amount of coal sifting through the grates with
the ashes usually appears larger than it really is, many
engineers try to reduce the loss by making the air spaces
in the grates smaller. The advantage gained, however,
is usually offset by the increased chimney loss, especially
if the coal contains fusible ash which is liable to pro-
duce sticky clinkers, according to the Bureau of Mines.
If the ashes accumulate on the grate, the fires must be
cleaned more frequently, consequently more air enters
through the furnace doors and allows more heat to
escape through the chimney. Sifting of coal through
the grate can be prevented by not placing fine coal on
the bare grate, which means that no holes should be
allowed to form in the fuel bed. If thin spots do occur,
they should be covered either with burning coal or with
a shovelful of fresh coarse coal.
One of the greatest losses in the boiler room is
through the smokestack, but it is possible to reduce this
loss. Each pound of air absorbs approximately one-
fourth of a heat unit for each degree of temperature
rise. Therefore, if 31 lb. of air is used to burn 1 lb.
of carbon and the temperature of the gas leaving the
uptake is 500 deg., about 4000 lb.-Fahr. units will be
carried away instead of 2000 units when only 15 lb. of
air is used to burn the carbon. The temperature of the
flue gases can be kept low by frequently cleaning the
boiler tubes inside and out. Preventing leaks through
the boiler setting and holes in the fuel bed will also
reduce losses. Other leaks may be found around the
furnace-door frame and in the smoke uptake, the total
air leakage sometimes amounting to 25 per cent of the
gases passing through the uptake.
Moisture in the coal or in the air supporting com-
bustion also produces a loss by carrying away heat
through the chimney. The loss averages about 4 per
cent and increases at the rate of about 1 per cent for
every 10 per cent of free moisture present.
In a plant having large boilers operating at full
rating and where the boiler and piping are well insu-
lated the radiation loss may be as low as 2 or 3 per cent.
In a plant containing small units operating below rat-
ing, and where parts exposed to radiation are not well
insulated, the loss may be as large as 10 per cent.
Preventing Corrosion of Steel
As large amounts of steel are employed in electric-
service plants and in transmission lines, particular at-
tention should be paid to the prevention of rusting.
According to an article in a recent issue of the Valve
World, basic paints, or those containing a chromate
pigment, arc the best for protective purposes. How-
ever, many basic pigments, such as basic lead carbonate
or zinc oxide, do not withstand weather. Therefore to
obtain the most substantial covering a basic primin;
coat should be applied and then coated with a mixtu
of a bask pigment and a little lampblack. When this
dried it should be covered with a lampblack or graphite
finishing coat. The latter makes a very impervious and
highly resistant paint film. The common practice of
clean-wiping galvanized pieces should be discontinued
layer of zinc-iron alloy is formed, which is not so
durable as a uniform substantial coating of spelter.
i
8, iyi5
ELECTRICAL WORLD
1197
Questions and Answers
Specific Heat of Coal Ashes
J. P. L.
About 0.16, according to one authority.
What l-
Permancnt (Ja*
permanei
A permanent gas is a body that remains in a gaseous
state at ordinary temperatures. Atmospheric air is a
permanent gas ; other permanent gases are oxygen, hy-
drogen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide and ammonia.
I "n. pun urn of Plant Expenses Due to Fuel
What i ntagi of the total running ezpi nses ol a steam plant
does the cost of fuel repreei A. M. B.
It varies according to the size and nature of the plant
and the quality of fuel, but under ordinary conditions
the fuel bill represents from one-third to two-thirds of
the cost of operation.
Fatigue of Metals
Plea- at is meant by fatigue of metals. B. W.
If a piece of metal, such as a machine part, is sub-
jected to repeated stresses of like nature, the strength
of the piece decreases. This weakening of the metal,
which is usually accompanied by a crystallization of
the structure, is commonly termed fatigue.
Semi-Diesel Type of Engine
What is the principle of the semi-Diesel engine that I havi
referred to in various papers? J. A. F.
The semi-Diesel engine uses low compression as
compared with the Diesel type, the compression pres-
sure being in the neighborhood of 180 lb. per sq. in.
The charge is not ignited by the heat of compression,
therefore, as in the Diesel, but by a hot bulb into which
the oil is pumped.
Bags in Boiler Shells
What causes the formation of bags in boilers? L. P.
A bag in a steam boiler is due primarily to overheat-
ing of the shell at the point where the bag occurs.
Through the introduction of oil into the boiler, or the
lack of care in cleaning, sediment or scale accumulates
on the water side of the plate. The heat is thus pre-
vented from passing into the water and the plate be-
comes highly heated. In this condition the material is
softer and weaker than when cold, and the internal
steam pressure forces it outward, forming a bulge. It
is called a bag because it commonly occurs on the bot-
tom sheets of return-tubular boilers.
Burning Mixed Anlhracite and Bituminous Coal
In the pi. mi where I am employed as fireman shaking grates
bave been Installed to burn unwashed culm, better known here as
hard-coal screenings, The results so far have been unsatis-
factory. Wi havi i" • n ii-n.: 01 al
mixed with the screenings, but the mixture lias a tendency to
coke and prevent t! on of an- through the fuel bed.
Using the slice Par under such conditions only adds to the trouble.
Can you suggest s remedy? R. C.
The tendency to coke is doubtless due to the high per-
centage of bituminous coal used. In comparison with
other plants burning mixed coals of these kinds, you
appear to be using two or three times the usual propor-
tion of soft coal. From 10 to 15 per cent of bituminous
coal is the usual practice.
I'roli clint; Lamps on I hn-c-W in Byateaaa
\\ . employ ball neutral point on a
three ^ overloads occur on either side
of the neutral, however, tin- voltage on the opposite side increases
enough to burn out the What simple
apparatus cat 'his? \ s.
The protection desired can be obtained by connecting
a differentially wound relay across the two sides of the
system and wiring the relay contacts in series with the
trip coils of the main circuit-breaker. The relay may
be set so that when the voltages are unbalanced by a
predetermined amount the circuit-breaker will be
opened, thereby preventing injury to lamps from over-
voltage.
Proximate and I It i mate Analyses of Coal
What is the exact difference between tin- proximate analysis
and Uie ultima te analyst A. J. B.
The proximate analysis of coal is made to determine
merely the percentages of moisture, ash, volatile matter
and fixed carbon. In the ultimate analysis, on the other
hand, the coal is resolved into the chemical elements
that compose it and the percentages of those elements,
such as carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen and sulphur,
are stated. For example, the proximate and ultimate
analyses of a certain coal are, in percentages, as follows :
Proximate analysis — Moisture, 5.26; volatile matter,
14.71 ; fixed carbon, 55.22 ; ash, 24.81. Ultimate analysis
— Carbon, 59.87; hydrogen, 3.91; oxygen, 9.18; sulphur,
1.00; nitrogen, 1.23; ash, 24.81.
Suspending Zinc Slabs in Boilers to Prevent Scale
Is it possible to prevent the formation of scale in steam boilers
by suspending zinc slabs in the water space? M. V. McB.
It is extremely doubtful whether the suspension of
zinc slabs in a boiler will prevent scale. Scale is due
to the presence in the feed water of substances like the
sulphates and carbonates of lime and magnesia. When
the water is heated, these substances are precipitated
and are baked on the plates and tubes. The action of
zinc in a boiler is galvanic and is intended primarily to
prevent corrosion of the metal parts of the boiler. To
prevent scale formation it would have to change the
nature of the sulphates and carbonates or else keep them
from coming in contact with the boiler, neither of which
it is able to do. It is true that in the course of the
galvanic action set up by the use of zinc hydrogen is
set free at the water surface of the plates and tubes,
and the liberation of hydrogen in this way, if rapid
enough, might prevent scale from adhering; but it is
scarcely to be believed that the feeble galvanic action
set up by the use of zinc slabs could produce hydrogen
at a sufficient rate to keep all sediment and precipitates
from collecting on the surfaces of the metal.
Steadying the Voltage on Automobile Lamps
The rapidly changing engine speed on our Ford trouble car
causes the light from the headlamps operating from the magneto
io fluctuate badlj ''an this trouble be remedied? a [•'. D.
The trouble can be remedied by inserting an ex-
ternal reactance in the magneto circuit. The inserted
reactance will reduce the available potential somewhat
and necessitate the use of lamps of a lower voltage
rating, but the light from them will be of sufficient in-
tensity and will be steady. One lamp manufacturer has
taken the trouble to test carefully a Ford motor and has
calculated the correct amount of reactance to insert in
the magneto circuit to produce stable voltage conditions.
Engineers of the lamp company after checking the cal-
culations, building a reactor and demonstrating the
1198
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 19
feasibility of their scheme offered the results of the test
to the engineers of the motor-car factory, pointing out
at the same time slight changes in magneto design
which would improve it as a car-lighting unit. The
suggestions proposed the addition of a few turns to the
magneto coils to increase the voltage and the insertion
of external reactance to steady the voltage.
Total Cost per Kilowatt and Unit Cost of Energy Production
How do total costs and unit costs of producing energy vary
with different load-factors in stations equipped with reciprocating
engines, gas engines, waterwheels, steam turbines and combina-
tions thereof? S. H. H.
The average annual cost per kilowatt installed depends
on the annual load-factor and the fixed charges, which
in turn depend upon the size of the plant. In a hydro-
electric transmission system the total cost per kilowatt
increases only slightly with increase in load-factor, as
the fixed charge is a large proportion of the total pro-
duction cost. In plants equipped with other prime
movers and not involving long transmission distances
the cost increases more with increase in load-factor,
being most rapid with reciprocating engines and grad-
ually less so with steam turbines, reciprocating engines
and turbines, gas engines, and gas engines and turbines.
If the equipments named were idle throughout the en-
tire year, the annual costs per kilowatt installed for a
fair-sized plant might be assumed to be about $15 with
reciprocating engines, $12 with turbines, $13 with re-
ciprocating engines and turbines, $17 with gas engines,
$15 with gas engines and turbines, and $14 with hy-
draulic equipment. The annual costs per kilowatt when
operating at 100 per cent load-factor would be respec-
tively $52, $38, $38, $37, $32 and $16. Between zero
load-factor and 100 per cent load-factor the total cost
per kilowatt installed increases at a uniform rate, and
hence straight lines can be plotted for each equipment
and the average costs per kilowatt-hour can be computed
therefrom by dividing the ordinates by 8760 times the
corresponding load-factor. The above figures have been
based on coal containing 11,000 lb.-Fahr. heat units per
lb. and costing $1.50 per ton.
Relative Characteristics of Sixty-Cycle and Twenty-five-
Cycle Apparatus
How do twenty-ftve-cycle and sixty-cycle generators, transform-
ers and rotary converters compare as to reliability, efficiency and
price? T. T.
Not considering long-distance hydroelectric transmis-
sion installations, sixty-cycle apparatus in general is re-
liable, in some cases slightly more efficient than twenty-
five-cycle apparatus, and sometimes less expensive. With
high-speed sixty-cycle generators operating in conjunc-
tion with inadequate transmission systems the regula-
tion is not quite so reliable under extreme load fluctu-
ations as with twenty-five-cycle units. Twenty-five-oycle
generators are from 15 to 35 per cent more expensive
than sixty-cycle machines of the same rating. Trans-
formers designed for the lower frequency are from 25 to
50 per cent more expensive than either air-cooled or oil-
cooled sixty-cycle units of the same rating. Rotary con-
verters designed for sixty cycles are more liable to hunt
and flash than twenty-five-cycle machines and are there-
fore not quite so reliable. Considering combined rotarj
converter and transformer equipment, the sixty-cycle
apparatus is slightly more efficient than twenty-five-
cycle apparatus at overloads and about 1 per cent less
efficient at 75 per cent rated load. Moderate and small
si7.es of equipment designed for sixty cycles are from
10 to 15 per cent cheaper than that operating on the
lower frequency.
Care of Transformers
What attention should be given to a transformer to insure long
and continuous service? H. A. S.
To keep transformers in perfect operating condition
care should be taken to allow no moisture to come in
contact with the insulation, to prevent overheating, and
to guard against current or voltage surges. Assuming
that protection against the latter has been provided by
auxiliary equipment, only methods of attending to the
transformer itself will be considered. Moisture may
get into the insulating material during transportation
to the place of installation or may be absorbed during
operation through leaks in the case or from the cooling
medium. As now shipped, transformers should arrive
at their destination without absorbing moisture. If a
slight amount of moisture has been absorbed, it can
usually be removed by passing a low-voltage direct cur-
rent through the windings for several hours to heat
them, meanwhile maintaining a vacuum to draw off the
water vapor. If there is danger of breaking down the
insulation, the windings may be immersed in a bath of
oil heated by some external means and subjected to a
vacuum. If the transformer is oil-cooled, samples of
the oil should be drawn from the bottom of the case
and tested before the unit is placed in operation. Good
oil should not break down at any emf below 30,000
volts, which corresponds to the pressure required to
cause a spark across a gap between ball-tipped rods 150
mils apart. If the oil is drawn off, the transformer
should be carefully protected from moisture and for-
eign particles by covering and maintaining a low humid-
ity. Oil for filling transformers should be forced
through a filter press to remove moisture and suspended
particles. When a filter is not available, dirt may be
removed by passing the oil through several thicknesses
of bolting cloth. Moisture may be removed in a fairly
satisfactory way by passing hot air through the oil,
heating it in a vacuum, or by placing bags of dry lime
in the oil before filtering. A simple method of drying
and cleaning oil without de-energizing the transformer
is to connect a filter press with the bottom and top of
the tank so that as fast as oil is removed from the bot-
tom an equal amount is added at the top. Unless the
oil is kept clean, sediment may form on the radiating
surfaces and the transformer will overheat owing to the
poor conduction of the deposit. Dust and dirt can be
prevented from entering the case if every opening is
carefully sealed and all joints are fitted with gaskets.
After a transformer has been put in operation it should
be inspected about every six months by testing oil
drawn from the bottom of the tank and examining the
condition of the radiating surfaces. As good trans-
former oil is fairly transparent, it need not be drawn off
for this examination. Instead, a lamp bulb can be low-
ered into the tank and the surfaces inspected from
above. If slime or dirt has accumulated on the coils,
the interior of the case or the water coils (if the unit
is water-cooled), the oil should be drawn off, the deposit
removed, and the surfaces wiped with dry, clean waste.
Ventilating ducts can be cleaned by squirting dry oil
through them and scale-lined water tubes can be cleared
with a solution of hydrochloric acid. Most insulation
will not withstand prolonged heating much above 100
deg. C. without permanent injury, but it is practically
impossible to determine the temperature of the hottest
parts of a transformer. In general, the temperature
drops from windings to oil and from oil to cooling me-
dium are 10 deg. and 30 deg. C. respectively at full load
and 15.5 deg. and 38.5 deg. respectively at 125 per cent
load. By observing the temperature of the cooling me-
dium the approximate temperature of the winding car
therefore be estimated.
May *, 1915
K I. K< T RICAL WORLD
1199
COMMERCIAL SECTION
MAPPING THE MOTOR OPPORTUNITY
H<»» a Cam of Pmpectira Motor l wn Baa Been Applied
in Brooklyn and Ni» J. r-i >
Two of the large Eastern central stations, the Edison
Electric Illuminating Company of Brooklyn and the
Public Service Electric Company of New Jersey, have
• •• •
•4»
• ;
•.." ••
.•*•
f
';<•
.>
./.*:
>
MAP OF SECTION OF BROOKLYN SHOWING LOCATION OF INDUSTRIAL
MOTOR USERS
recently compiled, in the form of a complete census of
prospective users of motor service, an exceedingly in-
teresting demonstration of their energy markets. Both
companies followed the same general plan and system.
This embraces a map on which are marked all motor
users not already connected to the company's lines and
a card file of complete information on the conditions ob-
taining in each case. The plan as carried out is a strik-
ing illustration of the stimulative influence that the
graphic presentation of any opportunity exerts.
The basis of each census was a thorough plant-to-
plant canvass, which produced the essential information.
In New Jersey the census was made not by the com-
pany's motor-service salesmen but by special census
takers. The cities were covered street by street. Each
city was divided into sections, each section having a dis-
tinguishing number and the files for the different di-
visions being kept at the respective division offices. The
data include the name, location and industry of the
prospective customer and full information as to boiler
size, rating of prime mover, style and make. If electric
drive is employed, the rating and type of generator are
recorded, together with the number of motors and the
kind of service used, whether alternating-current or
direct-current. If steam is used in the process, it is so
indicated, and any peculiar condition is noted. The in-
formation is tabulated on plant-record cards bearing a
serial number and indexed by the industry and also by
the prospective customer's name. In other words, both
a "Prospective Customer Card" and an "Industry Card"
are on file. Copies of engineering reports, tests and
letters pertaining to such plants are kept in letter fold-
ers, in a vertical fiie, each folder bearing the serial num-
ber of the prospective customer as given on the census
card.
Preparation of Map by Districts
From this file of carded information a map was de-
vised— a map that cut the territory into districts and on
which was marked with pasted stars the position of
every prospective motor installation.
The color and marking of the star
paster indicate the size of the plant,
the amount of competitive power
now in use on the premises, the
kind of power now installed, whether
isolated electric plant, or what not,
and also the serial number of the
plant. Similar stickers are pasted
on the plant-record cards to give the
same information. The approximate
horse-power of the plant is indicated
by the color of the sticker.
In the Brooklyn Edison company's
index a green star indicates an in-
stallation smaller than 25 hp, a red
star means that the equipment is
rated between 25 hp and 50 hp, a
blue star indicates that the rating is
between 50 hp and 200 hp, and a gold
sticker shows that the installation is
over 200 hp. If central-station
energy is used exclusively in the
plant, two parallel lines are drawn
across the star. If both isolated-
plant equipment and central-station
service are employed, only one mark
is made across the star. The result
is, therefore, a clear picture of the
position, character and extent of the unsold motor-
service market which is particularly impressive.
Other Departments Find the Census Useful
This map and file have many uses. The industrial
engineering department is able to tell the proportion of
any industries not yet served with central-station energy
and to direct intelligently campaigns for new business.
i
" - I
.«.
•
PLANT RECORD 8>«'«^ *_1U
ADDRESS
p^nh.mv Piaoo,
NO BOILERS
TOTAL It P 11S0 TVPt IfttW T\lb» OAGIFVKSOM 150 Lbo .
M EW m
TOT*V n t 900 TVPeOorlioo M» 12 jra. s > ^i- Xon-Cood.
v DYHAK
T.'TAL V w £00 *' C D.O. VOLTS Ifltr) PMA".f
v. HOI kl
rm-». H p ion EKT> 600 («CI 10
HO BtKVATO
HAL apparatus BO Stao.ni Pu2M (f» tr««lnr nirpHBM)
rutim system Ll«*-Dlr«ot Of n« vm or aruai Ruteurlsla*. fJaaklnf:. »ta
...
A-lttOXIUATI COST OP POWER PC* YEAR Uft.OOO. T*r J*W
DAT*.
AUruat Ktb, 1918. urturioii G.O.T.
FIG. 2 — BROOKLYN COMPANY'S PLANT-RECORD CARD
The salesman by consulting the census file can prime
himself for every call on a prospective motor-service
customer by referring to kindred installations in other
industries. The distribution department can utilize the
map as an index to the future growth of motor-service
business and as a guide in selecting routes for feeder
extensions. The map is thus a factor, in short, in every
1200
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 19
situation where the probable growth of power business
must be forecast.
In conjunction with this census file there has also been
instituted a special salesman's card file, each card rep-
resenting a prospective motor case on which some sales-
man is working. On these cards appear the names, ad-
dresses and classifications of the "prospects," the names
FIG. 3-
-REVERSE SIDE OF BROOKLYN EDISON COMPANY'S
PLANT-RECORD CARD
of the men to be interviewed, and the names of the
architects, consulting engineers and builders, with their
addresses and telephone numbers. In addition, the
cards bear index numbers corresponding to the plant-
record cards referring to the same installation. Each
day as a salesman turns in his report it is summarized
and entered on the back of the salesman's card. When
the business is finally secured or lost a record thereof
INDUSTRY FILE ■Ste.i
-304-
N,m*
IHS S„»l!
itec. L
PROSPECTIVE POWER CUSTOMER
v3o4
■ma
Udr.fl
B„,i„.„ Prob.bl. H. P.
■ S*<-b
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P»tS5u«.r "
typi
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URRENT
MAKP -
MAKE -
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MAM
o o
FAL c*«ACTY
AMP,
Pin «. .-.
C~^j
tions for practically any prospective motor user, and the
map presents a clear and comprehensive survey of the
entire immediate market. It is a stimulative influence
of the highest value.
FIC. 1 SYSTEM OP CARDS USED BY PUBLIC SERVICE
111- TBIC COMPANY OF NEW JERSEY
is made on both the salesman's and the plant-record
cards.
This combined equipment makes a working s
that baa proved most loth in Brooklyn and In
New Jersey and can well be adopted by any central sta-
tion, targe or small. The census tile provides adequate
data for the proper preparation of preliminary proposi-
Neglect Not the Humble Testimonial
Fortunes have been made from testimonial advertis-
ing because people readily believe the statements of
their neighbors concerning almost anything upon which
they themselves have not formed definite opinions.
Sometimes a sincere testimonial will change a well-
established conviction.
Realizing the value of putting before the public
friendly letters received from their own number, the
Dayton (Ohio) Power & Light Company has framed a
few typical ones and hangs them along the wall where
patrons waiting to pay bills cannot fail to see them.
The contents of two letters which are representative
of those used are reproduced herewith :
"S41 Arbor Avenue, Dayton, Ohio, Sept. 30, 1913.
"The Dayton Power & Light Company, Dayton, Ohio:
"Gentlemen : — It gives me great pleasure to write this little
note of thanks for the promptness shown by you in furnishing
me light. On Wednesday of last week the inspector 'O.K'd' the
wiring and fixtures at my house and said he would report to you
at once. On last Friday morning I called at your office to inquire
when I might expect to use the electricity, and your man said the
linemen had my name and would probably be able to reach me
by Saturday. I explained that I was very anxious to have the
light turned on then, but he could not promise this for sure.
Imagine my very great surprise when reaching home Friday even-
ing I found that your linemen had connected my house up, set
the meter, and the house was lighted. 1 am highly gratified at
such prompt service, and assure you that 1 will always use my
influence with my neighbors to put in electric lights, for it is a
pleasure to deal with a concern which gives such prompt and
efficient service. My first impression of your company is a most
agreeable one, and I trust I may always remain a steady (even
though small) user of your service. Again thanking you for the
courtesy thus shown me, I am, yours very truly,
"A. L. Murlin."
"Binghamton, N. Y., March 13. 1915,
"The Dayton Power & Light Company, Dayton, Ohio :
"Gentlemen : — I wish to say that I was surprised to learn that
an electric-light company would refund overcharges paid, especi-
ally after the payer had left the city. Although 1 was honorable in
sending you the mono order after I had left Dayton, many peo-
iil. would not have returned to me the 34 cents as you did.
May more of your lights shine in Dayton — although Day-
ton is now ;< well-lighted city. Yours truly. JNO. E. Gable."
Iowa Electrical Contractors Discuss House Wiring
and Accounting
At the convention of the Iowa Electrical Contrac-
tors' Association held at Keokuk, la., April 20, 21 and
22, several of the delegates urged that the soliciting
and sales expense incurred in house-wiring campaigns
should be borne by electrical contractors instead of by
the central stations as is the usual practice. Central
stations could then, it was said, devote their efforts to
educating the public to the new uses of electrical
energy.
In a talk on estimating one contractor told of an
e innate sheet developed by him which has a column
for entering the exacl costs of detailed parts of a job
as these parte are completed. This column has been
placed beside the column provided for estimated costs,
and when a job has been completed the estimated and
actual costs can easily be compared. Future esti-
ian then be made to approximate more closely
to actual costs.
At a business session the association indorsed for
use by its members the Modern Mechanical Contrac-
\ nting System, which is being published by
the H A W A<e, muting Rureau of Rock Island, 111.
-. 1*16
ELECTRICAL WORLD
The system mi designed by .Mr. G. W. Hill, former
special agent for the National Electrical Contra
Association.
Five Milts of Gas-Filled Tungsten Boulevard Light-
ing at Indianapolis
Meridian Street, the main north and south thorough-
fare of the Hoosier capital, is now illuminated for a dis-
tance of 5 miles by gas-filled tungsten lamps carried on
ornamental cast-iron single-lamp standards. Lamps of
the 10-amp, 150-cp and 250-cp types are used, inclosed
in 8-in. by 16-in. round Alba globes. The spacing of
these units is somewhat unusual, four 250-cp lamps
being placed on the corners of each street intersection
and 150-cp lamps being staggered at regular intervals
on both sides of the street within each block. This ar-
rangement of the units gives, of course, much greater
light intensity at the street intersections than elsewhere
along the thoroughfare.
The steel-taped cable, inclosing a No. 8 solid-copper
cambric-insulated conductor which supplies energy to
these lamps, was laid just at the outer edge of the side-
walk in the narrow strip of lawn between the sidewalk
and the curb. This position for the conductor was
selected in preference to the usual place beneath the
street gutter, so that the possible future widening of
fig. 2-
-A STREET INTERSECTION AND AN OLD ARC LAMP
WHICH WILL HE REMOVED
Meridian Street will not necessitate removal of the cir-
cuit. One of the photographs herewith, taken when the
lamps were first placed in service, shows a general view
of Meridian Street looking north from Monument Place
at the center of the city. The others give more detailed
views of the new lighting and also show the types of
illuminant being replaced by the tungsten lighting. The
lamps for this installation were supplied by the West-
inghouse Lamp Company and the Bryan-Marsh Division
of the National Lamp Works of the General Electric
FIG. 1 — MERIDIAN STREET, INDIANAPOLIS, LOOKING NORTH FIG- 3~
-OLD GAS LAMP AND NEW GAS-FILLED TUNGSTEN
STANDARD
Company. The cast-iron standards are of the "Park-
view" type made by the George Cutter Company.
Heralding the Advance of the Conqueror
When summer pole-line construction was at its height
at Independence, Kan., last season, the local new-busi-
ness department of the Kansas Gas & Electric Company
capitalized the efforts of the sturdy construction crew
to secure publicity for its service. Wherever a new pole
STENCILED SIGN ON NEW POLE
was erected, whether it replaced an old pole or was set
in an entirely new location, a cardboard stenciled sign
was tacked to the bright new cedar.
The new poles themselves attracted attention, and
the sign in its bright oil colors heralded the arrival of
electric service. The signs read: "Electric lights are
coming. Let us wire your house now. Kansas Gas &
1202
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 19
Electric Company, 'Phone 60." Months later these signs
were still bright and the colored letters had not "run."
The men of the new-business department who prepared
this timely advertising believe that it pays to use oil
paints in making stenciled signs. Although these
posters cost 22 cents each, they have been long-lived and
have helped the house-wiring business immensely.
to 11.7 cents. Since this economical record has been
made Mr. Brown has told many of his customers of the
outcome, and he expects to sell a number of these ma-
OPERATING DATA ON A MOTOR-DRIVEN REFRIGERATOR
Date, Tempera- Tempera- Pressure in
Julv, tare of ture of Lb. per
1914 Room Coils Sq. In.
Operation ter Day
Selling Off Shopworn Appliances at Jackson, Miss.
Department stores and other general merchandise
shops hold periodic sales in which they rid their shelves
of goods which have been handled more or less by the
buying public and have come to show shop wear. Fol-
lowing this example, the Jackson (Miss.) Light & Trac-
OFFICE AT JACKSON DURING SALE
tion Company recently advertised and carried out a
successful shopworn electric-appliance sale. Devices
which had been used for demonstrating were placed in
the company's show window, and the columns of the
daily newspapers were used to call attention to the sale
and to the prices offered on goods practically new.
Electrical Refrigeration at 11.7 Cents a Day
In the month of July last year Mr. R. W. Brown,
manager of the Spring Valley (111.) Utilities Company,
conducted tests on an electrical refrigerator to obtain
authoritative data for the company's patrons on the
average daily energy consumption of the device. The
refrigerator used for the tests was of the type made by
the Mechanical Refrigerator Company of Chicago I see
Electrical World, Aug. 22, 1914). it was 16 in. by
■°>f> in. by 50 in. inside. During the tests the automatic-
thermostat was disconnected and the control was effected
by hand so that accurate observations of time and
temperatures could lie made. The temperature of the
kitchen in which the machine was operating was read
five times a day, and the coil temperature was read each
time the room temperature was taken and again each
time the motor was started or stopped. The tempera-
ture maintained throughout the test in the warmest pari
of the refrigerator ranged between 40 deg. and 45 deg.
Fahr., and in the compartment containing the cooling
coils the temperature was considerably lower. One day
during the test ice for table use was made in the
refrigerator.
At a 10-cent rate for electrical energy, such as is in
force at Spring Valley, its average daily cost amounted
i . .-,.->
ii BO
1.25
26
SO
93
62
27
80
90
60
28
80
84
58
29
78
st
45
30
76
94
4ii
31
83
94
58
Daily
*Making ice.
chines during the coming season. The lines of the
Spring Valley Utilities Company extend over several
HOUSEHOLD ELECTRIC REFRIGERATOR USED IN lis is
counties, and among rural customers especially thii
device is expected to be popular. The data observed by
Mr. Brown are given in the accompanying table.
.May 8, 1916
E LECT R I (A L WORLD
1203
NEW APPARATUS AND APPLIANCES
\ crtical Two-Stroke-Cycle Diesel Bi^rtn—
Vertical two-stroke-cycle multi-cylinder engines oper-
ating on the Diesel principle have recently been devel-
oped for marine and stationary service by the South-
wark Foundry & .Machine Company, Washington Avenue
and Fifth Street, Philadelphia, Pa. In the accompany-
ing illustration is shown a four-cylinder 150-hp engine
directly connected to a 100-kw generator.
The scavenging pump or low-pressure compressor is
of the step-piston type? — that is, the piston of the scav-
enging pump is an enlarged extension of the main piston
working in its own cylinder below the working cylinder.
The function of this pump or compressor is to draw a
charge of air from the atmosphere and blow it through
the working cylinder, thereby blowing out into the ex-
haust pipe the previously burned charge and leaving the
cylinder full of pure air which will afterward be com-
pressed by the working piston on its inward stroke. The
compressor is also utilized in starting and reversing the
engine. Compressed air for starting and reversing the
engine and scavenging the cylinders is furnished by a
multi-stage air compressor directly connected to the en-
gine shaft. Tanks are employed for storing the com-
pressed air. When the air in the working cylinder is
compressed to a pressure of about 500 lb. per sq. in. oil
is passed through an atomizer and is injected into the
cylinder. As the compressed air is at a temperature of
about 1000 deg. ignition immediately takes place.
On pushing the starting lever forward or backward,
the suction and delivery valves are automatically cut
out, and the air-starting valves automatically come into
play with the cam shaft; the compressed air acts on the
pistons in the scavenging cylinders, and the engine is
started or reversed as desired. By the continual mov-
ing of the so-called handling lever, the atomizers begin
to open and the fuel is supplied to the working cylinders.
FIG. 1 — FOUR-CYLINDER VERTICAL ENGINE DIRECTLY
CONNECTED TO GENERATOR
The area of the pistons in the scavenging cylinders is
greater than that of those in the working cylinder, and
as a result the engine can be started with air at a pres-
sure as low as 110 lb. per sq. in. It is possible to start
the engine under load.
Cards No. 1 and No. 2. shown in Fig. 2, were taken
from the scavenging cylinder while starting the engine
Card Ho. 1
Spring SO lb per sqm
T <
A First outward stroke
:§
§
^£ " Second and consecutive
^~~~-~^____^ outward strokes
. 71b
*r- "V,
8- Alt return strokes
Card No 2
Spring SO lb per sq in.
7/0
a
i.
Card Mo. 3
Spring 100 lb per sq. in.
FIG. 2 — CARDS TAKEN WHILE STARTING ENGINE WITH
COMPRESSED AIR
on compressed air, no oil being admitted to the working
cylinders. Card 3, also shown in Fig. 2, was taken from
the working cylinder at the same time. Line A shown
on Card 1 represents the first outward stroke or initial
inlet of air, showing that it required 110 lb. per sq. in.
to act on the piston in the scavenging cylinder to force
inward the adjacent main piston against its compression
(about 500 lb. per sq. in.). Line B represents the re-
turn stroke of the scavenging-cylinder piston and shows
that it performed its normal function of compressing a
charge of scavenging air to 7 lb. per sq. in. Line C
represents the second and all consecutive outward
strokes until the starting air is shut off by the operator,
line D representing each return stroke.
There are no valves in the cylinder heads of the en-
gine. The scavenging air is admitted to the working
cylinder through ports in its circumference. The ex-
haust gases pass out through ports opposite the scaveng-
ing ports. The governor is of the centrifugal type and
acts directly on the fuel pump by varying the strokes
of all the pumps at one time.
Starters for Induction Motors
Starters of the transformer or compensator type and
of the resistance-coil type for use with squirrel-cage
induction motors have been developed by Fairbanks,
Morse & Company, Chicago, 111. The former are em-
ployed with motors rated at 20 hp or above, and the
latter with machines with ratings of 7.5 hp to 20 hp.
In Fig. 1 is shown a compensator starter with cover
and oil tank removed. It consists of two auto-trans-
formers mounted on a cast-iron frame and a drum-type
switching mechanism which are immersed in oil con-
tained in a tank suspended from the frame of the
starter. The connecting leads are sealed in the starter
frame to exclude moisture and dirt and to relieve the
terminals within the starter of all strain. The oil tanks
can be removed without removing the compensator from
its mounting or disturbing any of the connections. The
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. l!*
switching mechanism consists of a series of fixed con-
tact fingers and a set of contact plates mounted upon a
drum which is turned in one direction for starting and
in the opposite direction for running. It is impossible
to reach the running position without first passing
through the starting position.
The contact fingers are provided with removable tips
which are reversible, thus giving double the wear of
ordinary contact tips. Each coil has three taps, giving
55 per cent, 70 per cent or 80 per cent of full voltage
under load, so that the starting torque and current may
be varied according to the motor service required.
The starter shown in Fig. 2 consists of a starting
switch and a set of resistance coils, all immersed in a
tank of oil. In operation the starting handle is moved
from the off position to the first stop, thereby connect-
ing the motor to the line through the resistance coil.
By pressing down a thumb-piece in the handle, it is
then moved to the second stop, and all resistance is cut
out, the motor, however, being still connected back of
'M
fa
' " M> iii
FIGS. 1 AND 2 — COMPENSATOR STARTER AND RESISTANCE-
TYPE STARTER WITH OIL TANKS REMOVED
the overload protective devices. Again pressing down
the thumb-piece, the handle is moved to the running
position, and the motor is then connected directly to
the line through the running fuses or circuit-breaker.
It is not possible for the operator to hold down the
thumb-piece and pass the stops without pausing, and if
the handle is released before reaching the running po-
sition it will be automatically returned to the off posi-
tion. No-voltage-release mechanisms are provided for
both types of starters.
Large Electrically Operated Refrigerating Machine
What is said to be the largest motor-driven refrig-
erating machine in operation in this country has re-
cently been installed in the plant of the Jacob Dold
Packing Company, Buffalo, N. Y. The machine is em
■ 1 primarily as a reserve unit and t<> supplement
steam-driven machines. It is operated only at night.
when energy can be purchased ai a low price.
The ammonia compressor is a horizontal 1(H) toii
single-acting unit and is driven by an Allis-Chalmera
n motor which open peed of 890 r.p.m.
on 2200-voit. i Hi-amp, three-phase, fcwenty-flve-cycle
energy. The motor is of wound-rotor const nut ion ami
is provided with three bearittgS. 1'se is made of a
drum controller designed to give 50 per cent speed re-
duction.
Ammonia gas enters the cylinder at the center of the
compressor through grated ports. The suction valves
Ibl III _ -jjj ll
*
A.-.
^jj^^^^^^H
FIG. 1 — VIEW SHOWING BOTH SIDES OF COMPRESSOR
are in the piston heads and are without springs. The
discharge valves are in the bottom of the cylinder and
are of the poppet type. A portion of the cylinder
where the cold gas enters is cork-insulated, while the
ends, which are subject to the heat of compression,
II;;. 2 VIEW SHOWING ONE SIDE OF COMPRESSOR AND
MOTOR
the heads and a part of the stuffing box are water-
jacketed.
The ammonia condenser is of the under-shot atmos-
pheric type and is made of 2-in. wrought-iron pipe ar-
ranged in thirty-six coils, each coil having twenty
M.o 3, L916
K I. K(T RIC A I. \V() R L I)
1205
pipes and being 21 ft. long. Tun ice tanks are pro-
vided on the second tloor of the building about 150 ft.
away from the compressor. These are 03 ft. 4 in. long,
17 ft. 7.5 in. wide and GO in. deep. At one end of the
tank are two Arctic-1'ou nail shell brine C".
through which brine is circulated by means of two
arctic horizontal agitator.-, which are equipped with
blades and are operated by 5-hp motors. Blocks
of ice weighing 400 lb. are produced. The refrigerat-
ing machine was made by the Arctic Ice Machine
pany, Canton, Ohio, and was installed under the
direction of Mr. George Schautz, consulting engineer
of the Dold company.
Electric Generating Outfit with (> de-Car Engine
A small generating set developed by the Rochester
Motors Company, Rochester. N. Y., for use with cycle-
car engines which it is manufacturing, is particularly
SMALL GASOLINE-ENGINE-DRIVEN GENERATING SET
well adapted, the manufacturers declare, for use with
"wireless" apparatus on ships. It can also be utilized
to supply motion-picture equipment. The complete out-
fit, including engine, generator and base, weighs ap-
proximately 400 lb. The unit gives a continuous output
of 2 kw and an output of from 2.5 kw to 3 kw for in-
termittent service. The generator is of the interpole
type and is equipped with a cast-steel frame and pressed-
steel ventilating fan. Use is made of ball bearings
which are packed in non-fluid oil. According to the
manufacturer, very good regulation is obtained, and
it is possible to throw the entire load off and on with
only a momentary fluctuation in voltage. The outfit is
designed to operate a motion-picture arc lamp in addi-
tion to from ten to twenty-five incandescent lamps.
Shade Holder
A 2.5-in. shade holder recently developed is shown
herewith. The holder is fitted with a contractile collar
which is said to give rigidity and central suspension. A
SHADE HOLDER WITH CONTRACTILE COLLAR
deeply curved skirt is provided which, as claimed by the
manufacturer, Harvey Hubbell, Inc., Bridgeport, Conn.,
allows ample neck room for any type of shade.
( onnectm -
Several devices for making rapid and frequent elec-
trical connections have recently been developed by the
Universal Electric Stage Lighting Company, 240 West
Fiftieth Street, New York. They are rated at from
"i amp to 200 amp for 1 10- volt, two-wire systems, and
FIG. 1 — STAGE CONNECTOR
at from 5 amp to 60 amp for 125-volt to 250-volt, three-
wire systems. The bases of the receptacles and plugs
of these connectors consist of hard black-fiber blocks
varying in thickness from 11 16 in. in the 5-amp con-
nectors to 1 3 16 in. in the 100-amp devices. The con-
tacts are of brass and are fastened securely in the fiber
bases. The extending ends of the male part of the con-
nectors are sawed lengthwise through the center to form
spring contacts with the sleeves. The brass parts in
the fiber bases are provided with binding screws and
lugs. Each part of each connector is provided with a
cable clamping device for holding the cable firmly by
FIGS. 2 AND 3 — CONNECTORS FOR CHARGING BATTERIES
IN GARAGES
its outer insulation and for relieving the strain on the
terminals as shown in Fig. 1. The covers of these con-
nectors forming part of the cable clamp are provided
with ribs on the underside over the wire opening, which
are driven into the surface of the insulation on the
cable. The connector shown in Fig. 1 is designed par-
ticularly for use with stage-lighting apparatus. The
devices shown in Figs. 2 and 3 are adapted for use with
FIGS. 4 AND 5 — MULTIPLE STAGE CONNECTOR AND
BRANCH-OFF CONNECTOR
storage batteries in garages and are not reversible. A
multiple stage connector is shown in Fig. 4 and a
branch-off connector is illustrated in Fig. 5.
1206
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 19-
Electrically Operated Hoist
The electric hoist shown herewith is especially de-
signed for service where there is small head room. All
parts of the machine are fully inclosed. By removing
one of the sheet-steel covers the hoist motor is exposed
and may be removed as a unit for repairs without dis-
turbing any of the other parts. Use is made of cut-
steel gears which run in oil and automatically splash-
lubricate all bearings. A dynamic braking system is
used whereby the descending loads cause the hoisting
motor to be driven as a generator and to operate as a
brake. It is well adapted, the manufacturers declare,
for careful handling of a load and may be used for lift-
ing and lowering flasks, patterns and ladles in foundries.
A powerful solenoid brake automatically holds the load
when the supply of energy is shut off. Adjustable upper
and lower limit "stops" automatically break the circuit
ELECTRIC HOIST
and apply the brake when the load reaches its pre-
determined limits of travel. The hoist may be equipped
with a plain trolley, a geared trolley, a motor-driven
trolley or a motor-driven trolley with operator's cage
suspended from the machine. It may be also employed
with shackle or hook suspension (in place of trolley),
making it a stationary hoist. The hoist is being manu-
factured by the Link-Belt Company, Chicago, 111.
Motor-Driven Double-Acting Triplex Pump
To demonstrate to visitors the balanced adjustment
of its double-acting triplex pump, the apparatus shown
herewith has been assembled and placed on display by
the maker, the Luitwieler Pumping Engine Company,
at its factor.' at Rochester, N. Y. The pump rests on
a pair of 2-in. polished-steel rollers which are laid on
the top of a table. There is no air chamber on the
pump, and the manufacturer reports that when the ma-
chine is operating the gage needle stands still, showing
that the water pressure is constant. To show that no
vibration exists, a wire nail is placed on end on the hous-
ing of the pump as shown. On both sides of the rollers
other nails stand on end and touch the rollers. If any
movement of the roller! occurred, the nails would topple
over. However, it is reported, that, the pump operates
at speeds from 100 r.p.m. to 300 r.p.m. day after day
with the nails standing in the same positions. These
results are obtained, it is asserted, because the pump
is balanced in both its rotating and its reciprocating
parts and the water is kept moving in constant vol-
DOUBLE-ACTING TRIPLEX PUMP MOUNTED FOR DISPLAY
ume and pressure without variation. The driving mech-
anism of the pump consists of three symmetrical cams
placed on a shaft 120 deg. apart, the cams being so de-
signed that the water is moved at constant speed and
pressure throughout the cycle.
Electric Speed Indicator
The apparatus for determining machine speeds shown
herewith consists of a generator of the magneto type and
an electrical indicating instrument. The generator is so
designed that the voltage developed is directly propor-
tional to the speed at which the armature is driven. A
El ECTRIC SPEED INDICATOR
voltmeter connected to the terminals of the generator will
indicate, therefore, the speed of the device to which the
machine is coupled. With such a tachometer the indi-
cating instrument can be at a distance from the genera-
May 8, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
1207
tor, and can be placed where it is not affected by vibra-
tion, heat, etc. The armature of the generator has a
large number of slots and commutator segments, and
the coils embedded in the slots are held in place with
fiber wedges. A compartment wall on the commutator
prevents oil and worn particles of the commutator and
brushes from getting into the ball bearings. The indi-
cating instrument is of the D'Arsonval type, and the
manufacturer claims that it is absolutely dead-beat.
The instrument is provided with a zero-adjusting device
and can be calibrated in terms of revolutions per min-
ute, miles per hour, etc. The manufacturer, the Es-
terline Company, Indianapolis, Ind., recommends the
device for use in measuring speeds of steam locomo-
tives, street-railway cars, steamships, printing presses,
etc.
of contact by pei ng under the trolley wire are
averted when the locomotive is not on the section. The
circuit is opened and closed by a switch blade mounted
on a rocker which is operated by the contact wheel. A
brass plunger pressing against a steel roller prevents
the rocker from remaining in an intermediate position.
No arcing can occur at the switch contacts, because the
rocker is always energized and the switch connection
is always opened or closed while the trolley wheel is on
the rocker. Stress is taken by side bars of impreg-
nated hickory. All metal parts are either sherardized or
are of bronze. The wedges utilized to hold the trolley wire
are supplemented by an internally threaded chuck. A
flexible woven-copper bond carries energy to the switch
blade on the rocker.
Indicating Heater Receptacle
A bull's-eye indicating heater receptacle rated at 10
amp and 125 volts has recently been developed by Har-
vey Hubbell, Inc., Bridgeport, Conn. The plug designed
BULL'S-EYE INDICATING RECEPTACLE
for use with the receptacle is provided with T-slot con-
tacts which permit the interchanging of seventeen dif-
ferent types of caps. The four supporting screw holes
are spaced vertically on 3 9/32-in. centers and horizon-
tally on 3 %-in. centers. The device is designed for use
with three-gang wall boxes.
Automatic Section Insulators for Mine Trolley
Wires
Insulators designed for use with trolley wires in
mines for energizing a section when the trolley passes
onto it, and de-energizing it when the trolley passes
Malleable
Iron cap
Impregnated {§) | • , {&
Sherordited , ***<*/ bar - * -4 ■>' ^
Malleable iron
clamping nut Contact
and wedge jawi
hole
Woven copper bond
SECTION A-A
DIAGRAM OF SECTION INSULATOR FOR TROLLEY WIRES
IN MINES
off, have recently been developed by the Westinghouse
Electric & Manufacturing Company, East Pittsburgh,
Pa. By means of this device leakage losses and danger
Portable High-Frequency Oscillators
A portable high-frequency 125,000-volt oscillator for
testing porcelain high-tension line insulators and bush-
ings, recently developed by the General Electric Com-
pany, Schenectady, N. Y., is designed for operation on
twenty-five-cycle, forty-cycle and sixty-cycle circuits at
a pressure of 110 volts or 220 volts. It takes 1.5 kva at
twenty-five cycles, 2 kva at forty cycles and 2.5 kva at
sixty cycles, and will deliver energy at frequencies of
approximately 300,000 cycles and at pressures up to
about 165,000 volts.
The equipment consists essentially of a 13,000-110,
220-volt step-up transformer, a condenser placed across
FIG. 1 — 125,000-VOLT HIGH-FREQUENCY OSCILLATOR
the terminals of the high-voltage coils of the trans-
former, an adjustable control gap, an oscillation trans-
former, a properly proportioned sphere gap and suitable
reactance to protect the step-up transformer against
the damaging effect of short-circuit when a spark takes
place at the control gap.
As the voltage across the control gap increases the
condenser becomes charged ; when there is sufficient
voltage to spark across the control gap the charged
condenser becomes short-circuited, and energy surges
back and forth to the circuit containing the condenser,
the control gap and the low-tension side of the oscillating
transformer, each surge being less in value than the
preceding surge until the surges cease.
Five suspension-type insulators can be tested in mul-
tiple, it is declared, at a pressure of 80,000 volts and a
frequency of 300,000 cycles per second. Where trans-
portation conditions permit, the oscillator can also be
used to test suspension insulators in place on the line.
Under the same conditions the oscillator can be used to
test a pin insulator, provided that it is mounted on a
dry wooden cross-arm or on a metal cross-arm carried on
a dry wooden pole and is not connected to a ground wire.
1208
ELECTRICAL WORLD
vol. bo, wo. ia
Fastener for Flexible Tubing
A flexible-tubing fastener made of a single piece of
1 lG-in. sheet steel and bent to shape as shown in the
accompanying illustration is being made by Thomas E.
Hopson, 134 Bank Street, Ottawa, Ont. The clamping
action is obtained by tightening a flat-headed wooden
Small Gasoline-Engine-Driven Lighting Outfit
Lighting sets with ratings of 0.25 kw to 1.5 kw are
being made by the Lauson-Lawton Company, De Pere,
Wis., and are operated by gasoline engines with ratings
of 1.5 hp to 6 hp. An 0.6-kw plant is shown in the
accompanying illustration. The generator operates at
n*
FASTENER FOR FLEXIBLE TUBING
screw which passes through the fastener and which
draws down the hinge-like piece on top. Two spurs are
punched out of the bottom to prevent the device from
turning. The fastener occupies a space about 1 7/16 in.
square.
Motor Drive for Drill Press
In the accompanying illustration is shown a heavy-
duty Colburn drill press operated by an adjustable-
speed motor, which is designed to drill holes as large as
2 in. in diameter in solid steel, using high-speed drills.
The motor is a 5-hp machine of the armature-shifting
type, operating at speeds of from 450 r.p.m. to 1800
r.p.m. Changes in motor speed are obtained by turning
a hand wheel. The starting and stopping of the motor
is controlled by an automatic starter through a drum
switch. This switch is provided with "forward," "re-
verse," "drift" and "brake" points. When the switch is
thrown to the "brake" position the motor and drill are
MOTOR-DRIVEN HEAVY-DUTY PRIM.
brought to a quick stop. The drum switch is provided
with a special extension so that it can be easily operated
in the front of the machine. The motor for operating
this machine was made by the Reliance Electric & Engi-
neering Company, Cleveland, Ohio, and the control ap-
paratus by the Electric Controller & Manufacturing
Company, also of Cleveland.
SMALL LIGHTING PLANT
15 amp and 40 volts, at a speed of 1800 r.p.m. The
switchboard is of black-enameled slate and measures 18
in. by 24 in. On this board are mounted a voltmeter,
an ammeter, switches and a circuit-breaker. In case
the engine should stop, the circuit-breaker automat-
ically connects the lighting circuit to the battery, which
is of the sealed type.
Large Blower for Cooling Air-Blast Transformers
In the accompanying illustration is shown a large fan
installation for cooling air-blast transformers at the
Blue Island power station of the Public Service Com-
pany of Northern Illinois, Chicago, 111. The fan was
installed by Sargent & Lundy and consists of a directly
connected blower which handles continuously 40,000
LARGE MOTOR-DRIVEN BLOW IK
CU. ft. of air per minute at 70 deg. Fahr. and at 29.92
in. barometric pressure with a static increase in pres-
sure of 2.6 in. of water gage. The blower is directly
connected to a 30-hp, twenty-five-cycle, three-phase, 470-
r.p.m. General Electric motor. The blower is of the
"turbo-conodiar" high-speed type and was made by the
Buffalo (N. Y.) Forge Company.
M a B, 1916
ELECTRICAL WORLD
1209
International Jur> of Awards, San Francisco
Exposition
Following are the members of the International Jury
of Awards of the Panama-Pacific International Exposi-
tion appointed to pass on all electrical exhibits: Nomi-
nated by the chief of the department of machinery —
Dr. Carl Hering, consulting engineer, Philadelphia;
Prof. C. M. Jansky, University of Wisconsin, Madison:
.Mr. William H. Onken, Jr., ELECTRICAL WORLD, New
York; Mr. Cecil P. Poole, consulting engineer, Atlanta.
Ga. Nominated by the chief of the department of
transportation — Dean George A. Damon, Throop Col-
lege of Technology, Pasadena. Cal.; Mr. A. H. Babcock,
electrical engineer Southern Pacific Railroad Company,
San Francisco. Nominated by the chief of the depart-
ment of manufactures — Prof. V. Karapetoff, Cornell
University, Ithaca, N. Y. ; Prof. H. J. Ryan, Stanford
University, Palo Alto, Cal.; Mr. Guy Bayley, chief of
electricity Panama-Pacific International Exposition.
Nominated by the chief of the department of liberal
arts— Mr. A. J. Halloran, Journal of Electricity, Power
and Gas, San Francisco; Mr. Charles A. Rolfe, president
Southwest Home Telephone Company, Redlands, Cal.;
Dr. Frank Wolff, Bureau of Standards, Washington.
Electrical groups of all departments — Italy, Mr. Vite
Capastini.
The composite jury met and organized on Monday,
May 3, and chose Professor Ryan as chairman of the
group, Mr. Vite Capastini as vice-chairman and Mr.
A. J. Halloran as secretary. The group jury has been
given twenty days to pass on exhibits and will report
to a department jury composed of the chairmen and
vice-chairmen of each group jury of the respective de-
partments. Each department jury must begin work
within five days after notice by the chief of the de-
partment. It will consider and review reports of group
juries and will, through the chiefs of the respective
departments, submit findings to the director of exhibits,
who will certify these to the superior jury. The latter
will determine finally and fully the awards to be made.
This superior jury will convene on June 3, and will
report within fifteen days, and as soon as practicable
thereafter formal public announcement of the awards
will be made. The merits of exhibits will be manifested
by the issuance of six classes of diplomas — the grand
prize, medal of honor, gold medal, silver medal, bronze
medal and honorable mention without medal.
Associated Electrical Manufacturers' Committees
Mr. I). ('. Ihirland, general manager of the Sprague
Electric Works of the General Electric Company, New
York, has been named as chairman of a committee to
consider and recommend to the board of governors a
general secretary for the Associated Manufacturers of
Electrical Supplies. The other members of the commit-
tee are Messrs. J. E. Way, the R. Thomas & Sons Com-
pany, New York, and W. A. Connor, vice-president
Standard Underground Cable Company, Perth Ambov,
N. J.
Two members have been added to the canvassing
committee, of which Mr. A. W. Berresford, general man-
ager of the Cutler-Hammer Manufacturing Company,
Milwaukee, Wis., is chairman. They are Messrs. Walter
Robbins, vice-president of the Wagner Electric Manu-
facturing Company, St. Louis, Mo., and Joseph H. Hun-
ter, president of the Detroit Insulated Wire Company,
Detroit, Mich. The names of the other members of the
committee were given in the Electrical World of April
24, 1915, page 1081.
Bureau of Standards on Electric Service
The Bureau of Standards has announced that it is
preparing a circular on the subject of the standards for
electric service which can be required by public service
commissions or city officials from electric light and
power companies serving the public. This includes the
subject of the quality and safety of service and the
accuracy of measurement by the instruments employed.
It also deals with certain other public relations ques-
tions.
One of the clauses of the proposed set of rules being
drawn up by the bureau is the following: "Lamps fur-
nished by utilities to customers without charge ( free
renewals) or at prices less than open market prices
should be of such efficiency in watts per candle when
used on the utilities circuits of standard voltage that
the cost of light per candle-power to customers will not
exceed the cost per candle-power when incandescent
lamps are bought in the open market."
While some companies heartily approve of this pro-
posal, it is possible, the bureau says, that objection will
be made by others, but it is believed by the bureau that
when the facts with regard to the efficiency and dura-
bility of tungsten lamps at the present time are fully
appreciated by commissions and companies there will
be a general disposition to act in accordance with this
suggestion.
"Electrical Prosperity Week" Meetings
Plans are being made for a series of "Electrical
Prosperity Week" meetings in several Middle Western
cities. Requests have been received by the Society for
Electrical Development for such meetings to promote
the celebration, and, so far as is possible, every request
will be met.
Several hundred representative business men at-
tended a meeting in Toledo on May 6, under the auspices
of the Jovians, the Commerce Club and Rotary Club, to
promote the movement. Messrs. J. M. Wakeman, gen-
eral manager of the society, and H. W. Alexander,
director of publicity, spoke of the plans for the cam-
paign.
The annual meeting of the society will be held at the
headquarters in the United Engineering Societies
Building, New York, on May 11. The annual reports
of the general manager and the treasurer will be pre-
sented, and an outline of the work of the society will
be given by members of the staff. Stereopticon slides
and motion pictures will be used to illustrate these
talks. Following this meeting the directors will elect
officers for the coming year.
The staff of the society is being increased to care for
the increased work of the "Electrical Prosperity Week"
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 19
campaign. Two additional advertising and publicity
men have been engaged.
The difference between the work of the Society for
Electrical Development and the Jovian Order, as typi-
fied by the respective slogans, "All Together, All the
Time, for Everything Electrical" and "Do It Elec-
trically," was explained by Mr. J. M. Wakeman, general
manager of the society, at the Jovian League luncheon
held at the Martinique Hotel, New York, on May 5.
Mr. Wakeman was the guest of honor and principal
speaker. He spoke of the electrical prosperity move-
ment and what it means to the electrical industry, to
the country and to the Jovians. He asked the close
co-operation of the Jovians in the campaign. Mr.
Wakeman expressed his appreciation of the splendid
co-operation of the Jovian leagues in aiding the move-
ment up to this time, and stated that he felt assured,
as did the other executives of the society, that the
success of the campaign would be due largely to the
Jovian order. The chairman of the day was Mr. H. G.
McConnaughy, who was introduced by Mr. Frank E.
Watts, tribune.
Status of Chicago's Home-Rule Controversy
Representatives of the electric-service, gas and trac-
tion interests of Chicago appeared before a sub-com-
mittee of the Illinois Legislature committee on public
utilities, May 1, and opposed the home-rule proposal
which Chicago's new Mayor, Mr. William Hale Thomp-
son, had previously made before the legislative com-
mittee at Springfield, 111.
Mr. Gilbert E. Porter, representing the electric and
gas properties with which Mr. Samuel Insull is con-
nected, complimented the work of the State Public
Utilities Commission of Illinois and strenuously ob-
jected to the passage of any law vesting regulative
power in the Chicago City Council. Mr. George W.
Miller, representing the Chicago Surface Lines, said
that he did not object to home rule, but that he did
oppose the establishment of a local regulative body ap-
pointed for a short term and too responsive to public
clamor.
Following the hearing, the sub-committee voted to
report a bill providing for a municipal utilities com-
mission to be appointed by the Mayor.
War Orders for Electrical Manufacturers
Large orders have been received by various companies
for the manufacture of munitions of war. The prin-
cipal contract which has been given publicity is one
received by the Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing
Company. Although the details are not confirmed offi-
cially, Chairman Guy E. Tripp of the Westinghouse
company stated on April 30 that the company had re-
ceived a large order for a foreign government. Reports
are that the orders taken by the company, in part at
least, are for rifles and that the value is more than
$50,000,000. It is reported that the Westinghouse Ma-
chine Company plant and the Westinghouse Air Brake
Company are interested in the orders. Large orders arc
also said to have been taken by the American Locomo-
tive Company and the Allis-Chalmers Company, al-
though no official statement regarding them has been
made.
The Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Com-
pany is said to have secured an option for the purchase
of the property of the J. E. Stevens Arms & Tool Com-
pany of Massachusetts and the Stevens-Duryea plant,
which is controlled by that company. On the strength
of the reports of war orders, Westinghouse Electric &
Manufacturing Company common stock has advanced
to 108. General Electric Company stock has also ad-
vanced. Reports are that the profits of the Westing-
house company on the orders received will be sufficient
to retire the funded debt and to assure a large earning
capacity for the common stock.
A bill filed in Milwaukee courts by Mr. Samuel
Pearson, who was a general in the Boer war, charges
that the Allis-Chalmers Company has entered into a
conspiracy with the Bethlehem Steel Company or others
to ship shrapnel shells to Europe. Officials of the gov-
ernment are quoted as saying they do not see how the
case involves a violation of federal laws or concerns the
federal government unless there is something disclosed
embracing some other question than the right of Amer-
ican manufacturers to make munitions of war and to
ship them to belligerents.
Convention Plans of N. E. L. A. Commercial Section
Power Sales Bureau
The first active participation of the bureau of the
N. E. L. A. Commercial Section devoted to the sale of
energy for motor service in a National Electric Light
Association convention will take place at San Francisco
on June 7 to 11. Special efforts have been made to pre-
pare a comprehensive program in keeping with the
broad scope of the work of this new division of the
Commercial Section, which was formed at the Philadel-
phia convention in 1914.
Writing to the Electrical World in regard to the
plans, Mr. Charles J. Russell, of the Philadelphia Elec-
tric Company, chairman of the bureau, says:
"This work constitutes one of the most important
constructive efforts of the Commercial Section of the
N. E. L. A. The primary objects of the organization
were to establish an acquaintance and close relationship
between the motor-service men in the country, to estab-
lish a clearing house for the collection and dissemina-
tion of information and data relating to the work of
selling energy for motor service, and to advance sales.
A comprehensive outline for this work has been adopted
and subdivided among seventeen main and twenty-nine
sub-committees.
"Important work has been done toward co-operation
between the bureau and other bodies engaged in similar
work in order to prevent duplication of effort. From
the very beginning the bureau has had the complete
co-operation of the Society for Electrical Development.
The committee charged with the 'education of power
salesmen' is working with the Commercial Section com-
mittee. The Electric Power Club has furnished its
standard specification sheets, etc., and promised its fur-
ther co-operation. Steps have been taken toward secur-
ing the complete co-operation of the industrial power
committee of the American Institute of Electrical Engi-
neers. This is a matter of great importance. It seems
particularly desirable, as the results would be of mutual
advantage to both organizations.
"An attractive program has been arranged for the
convention meetings of the bureau, and Mr. Stanley V.
Walton, of San Francisco, is chairman of the commit-
tee to arrange for a 'get-together' dinner followed by a
round-table discussion on appropriate topics during
convention week."
Organization of the Work
In order that the bureau may cover effectively the
entire subject of sales of energy for motor service the
following subdivision of work has been made:
Sub-committee No. 1 — Its organization and methods:
(a) Constitution of bureau: (b) qualifications of men.
May 8, 1U15
ELECTRICAL WORLD
1211
Sub-committee No. 2 — The education of salesmen.
Sub-committee No. 3 — Statistics sod data. This
committee will constitute the clearing house for the
collection of data and information from all the sub-
divisions, and material bo collected will be deposited
at the headquarters of the Commercial Section in New
York. It is expected that all inquiries for information
relating to motor service will be referred to this com-
mittee for attention and reply. The first duties of this
committee will be: (a) The standardization of the col-
lection of statistics and data by members of the bureau;
(b) the standardization of forms upon which such in-
formation shall be collected and preserved; (c) recom-
mendation as to the definition of load-factors and
demand measurements to be used in the collection of
such standard data. Having done this, a general func-
tion will be the collection of general and specific infor-
mation relating to all branches of electric motor service.
This covers also the collection of monographs upon
classified motor applications.
Sub-committee No. 4 — Industrial motor applications
under the following subdivisions: (a) General infor-
mation; ib) mining, quarrying, mineral and stone
products; <c) metal working; (d) woodworking; (e)
textile, clothing, fibers, etc.; (f) food products; (g)
leather workers, tanneries, etc.; (h) glass manufactur-
ing; (i) ventilating, heating, water supply, sanitation,
etc.; (j) ice-making and refrigeration; (k) laundries,
dry cleaning, etc.; CI) hoisting, elevating, conveying,
etc.; (m) public institutions, amusements, etc.; (n)
office buildings, hospitals, etc.; (o) printing, publish-
ing, bookbinding, etc.; (p) department stores; (q)
chemical products; (r) paper and pulp manufacture;
(s) electricity on the farm.
Sub-committee No. 5 — The supply of energy for
operating electric railroads and railways.
Sub-committee No. 6 — Sub-surface and municipal
construction.
Sub-committee No. 7 — Electric vehicles.
Sub-committee No. 8 — Special motor applications.
Sub-committee No. 9 — -Electric-heating applications
other than furnaces and welding.
Sub-committee No. 10 — Electric furnaces and weld-
ing.
Sub-committee No. 11 — Electrochemical supply.
Sub-committee No. 12 — Electrotherapeutic supply.
Sub-committee No. 13— Steam heating.
Sub-committee No. 14 — Competitive sources of ener-
gy: (a) Isolated steam plants; (b) gas, oil and pro-
ducer plants; (c) energy purchased with space; (d)
cost of energy; (e) disposal of displaced apparatus.
Sub-committee No. 15 — Relation of lighting to motor
service sales.
Sub-committee No. 16 — Increase of load-factor, with
special reference to obtaining high load-factor and off-
peak business.
Electricity in the Navy
At a regular meeting of the National Electric Light
Association Section of the Edison Electric Illuminating
Company of Boston on April 20, Lieut. W. K. Kilpat-
rick, of the United States Navy, gave an illustrated
lecture on "Electricity in the Navy." In addition to a
full description of familiar applications of electrical
energy in lighting, power and heating service on war
craft of various types, the speaker touched upon the
extension of motor service to auxiliary duties on sub-
marines, the tendencies toward multiplication of radio
sending and receiving circuits on battleships, and the
advantages of turbo-electric propulsion. Submarine
periscopes are now turned by 0.25-hp motors.
The installation aboard a modern submarine consists
of the driving motors, two shunt motors for operating
circulating pumps, an electric-lighting system, small
searchlight, electric heaters, telephone and call-bell sys-
tems, electric rudder indicator system, submarine sig-
nals, gyro-compass, radio outfit, signal and running
lights, periscope, capstan and steering motors. Four
compartments are used in the latest work, and cooking
is done by electric ranges. An auxiliary lighting sys-
tem equipped with 6-volt portable lamps is a feature
of recent boats.
On battleships recent progress includes elaborate pro-
vision for electrical control, with general service and
fire-control telephone systems, remote indication of pro-
peller speeds, boiler temperatures, motor operation of
whistle valves, electric gun firing, and multiplied radio
stations and circuits. The ease of control obtainable
with turbo-electric propulsion constitutes one of the
strongest features of this method, which will be used
on the battleship California as the result of experience
with electric propulsion on the collier Jupiter.
Cleveland Municipal-Plant Developments]
According to Commissioner of Light and Heat F. W.
Ballard, of Cleveland, the revenue from the municipal
light plant in March was $36,633. This, according to
his report, is $8,024 above all expenses for that period,
including interest, depreciation, deferred upkeep and
administration. The total gross revenue for the first
three months of the year was $111,609.
Mr. Ballard announced that the plant is prepared to
sell energy to the water department for the operation
of the pumps at the Fairmont station at the rate of
0.5 cent per kw-hr. The water department, however,
will have to purchase motors and pumps. The energy
would be used at the pumping station from 12 o'clock
midnight to 6 a.m. Such a contract would amount to
about $20,000 a year and would enable the light section
to pay the water department the $112,000 which it owes
for the land on which the light plant is situated.
Effects of War on Wireless Company
In the annual report of the Marconi Wireless Tele-
graph Company of America, covering the calendar year
1914, it was stated that the arrangements made for
direct service between New York and London had been
practically completed when the outbreak of the war
forced the company's officers to set aside the vigorous
campaign through which it had planned to secure
a share of the transatlantic cable business. The duplex
stations at Belmar, N. J., and New Brunswick, N. J.,
were completed and were being tested late in July when
word came that the corresponding English stations at
Carnarvon and Towyn, in Wales, had been comman-
deered by Great Britain for the use of the Admiralty.
This came as a very serious blow to the company's
hopes. A strong transoceanic department had been or-
ganized, and twenty-four-hour service was to have been
provided through a new commercial office opened in the
heart of New York's financial district.
There is small likelihood that the company will be
able to continue tests or open the stations to public
service until the end of the war, but when that time
arrives the company expects to be reimbursed in full,
claims for indemnity on losses sustained being included
with those which the affiliated English Marconi com-
pany will ask from the British government.
The direct service between Boston and Norway
through the transoceanic stations which were being
built at Marion, Mass., and Chatham, Mass , has also
1212
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 19
been blocked by the war. The construction work on
both the stations of the company and those in Norway
is almost finished, and the installation of the apparatus
could have been completed before now had it not been
that the equipment is being made in England. It is
doubtful whether it can be delivered here or in Norway
until the war is over.
While in the year ended there has been created a new
source of revenue from transpacific stations, the mes-
sage traffic between shore and ship has been greatly
affected by the war. The revenue from ships flying the
American flag has been considerably increased, but the
gain thus made has not been sufficient to offset losses
due to the withdrawal of so many foreign ships from
American waters.
Water- Power Conference of Western States
A good deal of preliminary work has been done in
connection with the proposed water-power conference
of representatives of Western States. Delegates are
being appointed from approximately ten Western
States, and it is believed by the officials of the State of
Oregon who have the plans in hand that at least this
number will be represented officially. Governor Withy-
combe of Oregon will announce the date for the confer-
ence in a short time. Presumably it will be early in
September.
Water-Power Legislation
Secretary Lane of the Interior Department has an-
nounced in Washington that the water-power leasing
bill which was passed by the House of Representatives
but which failed in the Senate at the last session of
Congress would be introduced immediately upon the
reconvening of Congress. The necessity for such leg-
islation, Secretary Lane said, is shown by the rumor of
consolidation of water-power companies in Colorado,
Utah, Montana and Washington. If this consolidation
is fully consummated, he said, it would place under cor-
porate control about 50 per cent of the developed water-
power of the Western States.
Mr. Brandeis Consulted by Federal Trade
Commission
Mr. Louis D. Brandeis, of Boston, who brought about
the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad in-
vestigation and contested the application of the rail-
roads for permission to increase freight rates, is being
consulted by the Federal Trade Commission. He was
invited to appear before the commission and suggest
rules of procedure.
The commission is also consulting Mr. Arthur J.
Eddy, an attorney and student of the subject of unfair
competition, who requested an opportunity to express
his views and learn the views of the commission.
A number of reports are to be issued soon from the
office of the Federal Trade Commission, based in large
part on information compiled under the old Bureau of
Corporations and on data gathered by Mr. Joseph E.
Davies personally when he was assisting committees
of Congress in preparing material on which the new
anti-trusl legislation was based,
Of these reports one on the farm machinery trade
was the first. There are ftve others. One report is
expected to be of particular value in connection with
the discussion as to whether American Arms and cor-
porations engaged in exporl trade shall be permitted
to have common Belling agencies as do manufacturers
and pi i European countries.
The reports are the results of investigations of oil
fields, the tobacco industry, state corporation taxation
laws, as well as a compilation and digest of corpora-
tion laws of all the states and a compilation and digest
of trust laws and legislation in various countries.
For instance, Australia has a trade commission sim-
ilar in some ways to the Federal Trade Commission.
The report will analyze that commission's powers and
duties. In addition, there will be an explanation of the
laws on monopoly in New Zealand, South Africa and
European countries, such as England, France, Germany
and the Balkan States. When Mr. Davies was working
with the House and Senate committees which prepared
the anti-trust legislation he wrote a number of briefs
and compiled data on trust laws of foreign countries
which the commission believes will be useful. This
report will contain English and American decisions on
unfair practices and price competition.
A large number of complaints have reached the com-
mission as to price discrimination and unfair practices
in the United States. The commission believes that
fully one-half of these can be adjusted informally with-
out hearings.
Mr. Dahl on the Idaho Merger
The consolidation of the Idaho-Oregon Light & Power
Company, the Idaho Railway, Light & Power Company
and the Idaho Power & Light Company has been con-
summated. Negotiations are pending to include in the
merger the Great Shoshone & Twin Falls Water Power
Company and the Southern Idaho Water Power Com-
pany. The new company, known temporarily as the
National Securities Corporation, was organized under
the laws of Virginia. This company will hold only the
securities, and a new company of a more local nature
will be organized with local directors. This program
was laid before the Public Utilities Commission of
Idaho, at its hearing to investigate the merger, by Mr.
G. M. Dahl, of New York, president of the National
Securities Corporation and vice-president of the Elec-
tric Bond & Share Company.
The merger of the large southern Idaho hydroelectric
companies, Mr. Dahl testified, would result in better
service and a more rapid development of new electrical
fields. It does not include the Utah Power & Light Com-
pany or any other hydroelectric companies in Utah,
Montana or Colorado. Mr. Dahl said that the Electric
Bond & Share Company does not control the National
Securities Corporation but is a very small minority
stockholder. The corporation has between 600 and 700
stockholders and has $21,000,000 stock, $10,000,000
debentures and $10,000,000 income bonds.
It was in December, 1913, Mr. Dahl said, that his
people first became interested, and in the following
April the National Securities Corporation was organ-
ized. The witness then said that the Idaho railway
company was the owner of bonds in both of the other
two competing companies, and that a deal had been
agreed upon by which holdings of the Idaho Power &
Light Company were to be acquired. Part of the pur-
chase price was paid, and the National Securities Cor-
poration now stands as having fulfilled this contract.
Mr. Dahl said that it was realized that if the fight con-
tinued among the operating companies it would result
Only in further demoralization. Alter coming into con-
trol of the Idaho Power iv. Light Company, the new in-
terests, the witness testified, inherited the fights which
that company had been carrying on with the Great
Shoshone & Twin Falls Company, particularly the one
over the Alalad River site. The Utah Power & Light
Company is not to be included in the new consolidation,
Mr. Paid said.
May 8, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
1213
Miscellaneous News Notes
I ir. in ( . nlral-Slatii.n Office Building. — The office build-
ing in which the Ottumwa (la.) Railway A Light Company
had it- offices «as destroyed by fire early in the morning of
April J2. The company's property was fully insured and all
important records were saved. Temporary offices were se-
cured immediately, and the business of the company has
proceeded with very little interruption.
New Submarine to Be Christened by Mr. Edison's
Daughter. — Mrs. Madeline Edison Sloans, only daught
Mr Thomas A Edison, has accepted the invitation of the
Hon. Josephoa Daniels, Secretary of the Navy, to act as
sponsor for the new submarine boat "L-8," now in course of
construction at Portsmouth, N". II. This vessel will be the
first submarine to be equipped with the new Edison battery.
Net Navj Wireless Stations for Pacific Coast. — The
Navy Department is planning to construct a new high-power
radio station on Puget Sound, probably at Keyport, near
Bremerton, Wash. The plant will be one of the most
modern stations ever built, and will have towers 400 ft.
high. It is also reported that another wireless station will
be erected on the Copper River Flats at Cordova, Alaska.
Electric Vehicles in Chicago Prosperity Parade. — Two
hundred electric pleasure cars and seventy-five electric
trucks formed a part of the "prosperity parade" which wel-
comed Mayor William Hale Thompson of Chicago to office.
Through a co-operative arrangement among local pleasure-
car dealers and manufacturers 50 cents was paid by them
to a charitable organization for each electric pleasure car
in the parade.
Philadelphia Suburban Electrification in Operation June
1. — Following the successful tests that have been made on
the newly electrified line of the Pennsylvania Railroad be-
tween Philadelphia and Bryn Mawr, similar trials will be
conducted over the division from Overbrook to Devon.
During the latter tests an effort will be made to perfect
a running schedule for trains. The entire electrified sys-
tem is to be in operation by June 1.
Robins Again Make Nest in Choke Coil. — Robins have
again made their nest in a 60,000-volt choke coil at one
of the stations of the Rochester (N. Y.) Railway & Light
Company. The employees of the station declare that the
female is the same that has nested in the dangerous hollow
of the coil for many seasons. The male bird was killed last
year by coming into contact with the wires, but was soon
succeeded by another who assisted the female in building
a second nest in which a family of young robins was safely
reared.
Utility Bureau Urged for Philadelphia. — Mr. Judson C.
Dickerman, chief of the Bureau of Gas of the city of Phila-
delphia, has issued a report urging the organization of a
public utility bureau. He declares that the Philadelphia
Electric Company is selling electrical energy to the Penn-
sylvania Railroad and the Philadelphia Rapid Transit Com-
pany cheaper than similar concerns anywhere else, and
that either the company is selling its products foolishly and
illegally to railways at low cost or it is greatly overcharging
the rest of its customers.
Columbus Cannot Issue Bonds for Light -Plant Deficit. —
City Solicitor Scarlett, of Columbus, Ohio, has rendered an
opinion to Director of Public Service Borden to the effect
that the City Council has no authority to issue bonds to
meet a deficiency in the operating expenses of the municipal
light plant. A request had been made for legislation to
obtain $10,000 to overcome a shortage in the light-plant
funds. Director Borden said that the Council had cut the
appropriation for the light plant $fl,000, and this, he says,
is the cause of the anticipated deficit.
Catskill Aqueduct Franchise. — Mayor Mitchel of New
York has been authorized by the Board of Estimate and
Apportionment to sign a contract granting a franchise to
the New York Edison Company and other subsidiaries of
the Consolidated Gas Company to construct and maintain
transmission towers and poles over the Catskill aqueduct
for the purpose of supplying electrical energy. The con-
tract is for twenty-five years. In payment therefor the
lessees will give the city without cost electrical energy for
working, lighting and pumping siphons along the aqueduct
route. President Strauss of the Board of Water Supply
-aid that the city must have electrical energy. It would
either have to build a plant at a cost of not less than
$520,000 for construction and not less than $73,000 per year
for operation and maintenance, buy energy at a CO
$66,600 a year for twenty-five years, or grant the franchise.
New Home of Safety Museum.— The new home of the
American Museum of Safety at 16 and 18 West Twenty-
fourth Street. New York, was opened on May 1. An exhibit
of safety devices used in an electrical central station is in
one of the windows facing the street. President Arthur
Williams, in an address welcoming visitors, said that it is
the intention to come into closer contact with industrial
workers. For such a plan the new location is more suitable
than the old one because it establishes the museum literally
on the ground floor. This, it is hoped, will lead passers-by
who are attracted by the window displays to step inside.
It will also be more convenient to give lectures illustrated
with stereopticon and moving pictures. A series of such
lectures is being prepared.
Farewell Dinner to Mr. Tail at Dayton. — Following is
the list of speakers at the dinner to be tendered Mr. Frank
M. Tait, president of the Dayton Power & Light Company,
May 11, under the auspices of the Dayton Jovian League,
on the occasion of Mr. Tait's departure for New York City
to engage in executive work there, as already noted in these
columns: Mr. H. H. Scott, president National Electric
Light Association; Mr. Paul M. Lincoln, president American
Institute of Electrical Engineers; Mr. C. V. Hard, president
Ohio Electric Light Association; Mr. Homer E. Niesz.
Jupiter of the Jovian Order; Mr. Henry M. Waite, general
manager of the city of Dayton; Mr. Fred H. Rike, president
Greater Dayton Association; Mr. Edward A. Deeds, presi-
dent Engineers' Club of Dayton; Hon. James M. Cox, ex-
Governor of Ohio, and Mr. Charles Wuichet, director Day-
ton Power & Light Company. Mr. D. L. Gaskill, president
of the Greenville Electric Light & Power Company, Green-
ville, Ohio, will act as toastmaster.
Overhead Power Crossing Specifications. — The national
joint committee on overhead and underground line construc-
tion has appointed the following sub-committees to handle
the work of revision of the specifications: Structural —
Messrs. F. L. Rhodes (chairman), G. A. Harwood, R. J. Mc-
Clelland, R. D. Coombs and J. H. Davis; insulation — Messrs.
W. J. Eck (chairman), Percy Thomas, F. B. H. Paine, R. E.
Chetwood, E. B. Katte and A. S. Richey; conductors —
Messrs. Paul Spencer (chairman), Thomas Sproule, George
Cellar, W. I. Capen, R. J. McClelland and H. T. Wreaks;
clearances — Messrs. C. L. Cadle (chairman). G. F. Sever,
W. J. Canada, L. S. Wells, H. S. Warren and E. B. Katte.
Circular letters have been issued to operating companies,
tower manufacturers, consulting engineers and others re-
questing data and replies to a series of questions. The com-
mittee particularly invites suggestions for specific clauses
or paragraphs to be added to or changed in the existing
specifications. Mr. R. D. Coombs, 30 Church Street, New
York City, is secretary of the national joint committee on
overhead and underground construction.
Pending Legislation in Ohio. — Senator Horn's bill repeal-
ing the law which requires that municipalities purchase pri-
vate light plants before they can erect and operate munici-
pal plants was defeated in the Ohio Senate by a vote of
nine to twenty on April 29. After having defeated the
Stone bill in the forenoon on April 27, the Senate recon-
sidered and passed the measure later in the day. This bill
places municipally owned public utilities under the jurisdic-
tion of the Public Utilities Commission on the same basis as
private properties, including service and rates. The Myers
bill, defining what shall enter into the cost of service by
municipal plants, was recommended for passage by the pub-
lic utilities committee of the Senate. The Behne bill, regu-
lating the issue of bonds for the purchase or construction
of public utility plants by municipalities, was recommended
for passage by the House committee on public utilities on
April 27. It will be placed upon the calendar when the
time appears to be favorable for consideration. When the
Reighard bill came up in the House for concurrence on
amendments, a contest was made against it. It provides
that the valuation of public utilities shall be optional with
the commission instead of mandatory.
ELECTRICAL WOULD
VOL. 65, NO. 19
Associations and Societies
Meeting of Electrical Manufacturers' Club.— The Elec-
trical Manufacturers' Club met at The Homestead, Hot
Springs, Va., from May 4 to 8. Matters affecting internal
policies of the club were considered.
A. S. C. E. Meeting. — At a meeting of the American So-
ciety of Civil Engineers to be held May 15 at the society's
rooms, 220 West Fifty-seventh Street, New York, Mr. J. D.
Galloway will present a paper on "The Design of Hydro-
electric Power Plants."
Cincinnati Display Men Hear Lecture on Store Lighting. —
At a meeting of the Cincinnati Association of Display Men,
April 22, Mr. A. J. Edgell, of the Society for Electrical
Development, gave an illustrated lecture on store lighting,
presenting a study of illumination as an adjunct of mer-
chandising.
Los Angeles Jovians Hear Talk on Efficiency. — At the
April meeting of the Los Angeles (Cal.) Jovian League
Mr. S. M. Kennedy, general agent for the Southern Cali-
fornia Edison Company, delivered an address on personal
efficiency. The speaker emphasized the necessity of com-
bining confidence, capacity and courtesy.
Utah Society of Engineers. — Mr. S. C. Arentz was elected
president of the Utah Society of Engineers at the society's
annual meeting, held at Salt Lake City in April. Mr. C. J.
Ulrich was chosen secretary. The society now has 152 mem-
bers, according to the report of Mr. Frank W. Moore, re-
tiring secretary. Mr. C. P. Overfield acted as toastmaster
at the annual dinner.
St. Louis Electrical League Holds Ladies' Day. — The St.
Louis Jovian League of Electrical Interests' second ladies'
luncheon, held on April 27, was attended by 76 ladies and
145 members. Mrs. William H. Utter, president of the
St. Louis Women's Council, spoke on "The Proposed Park-
way." Other speakers of the afternoon were Messrs. Her-
man Spoehrer and Ell C. Bennett.
Adams (Mass.) Service Club. — At the April 27 meeting
of the Service Club, which is composed of employees of the
Williamstown, Adams and North Adams public-service com-
panies, Mr. John J. Quinn, secretary of the employees'
association of the Pittsfield Coal Gas Company, gave a talk
on public service associations. The May meeting of the
club will be a question-box session.
Fulton County (N. Y.) Gas & Electric Employees.— The
final meeting for the season of the employees of the Fulton
County Gas & Electric Company was held April 20 at the
company's offices at Gloversville, N. Y. Mr. Adrian Tobias,
of the Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company,
addressed the meeting on "Electric Meters." The organiza-
tion will not meet again until October.
Pittsburgh Section, E. V. A. — At the April meeting of the
Pittsburgh Section of the Electric Vehicle Association of
America, held April 29, in the Dutch room of the Fort Pitt
Hotel, the usual dinner was followed by the motion-picture
film "Selling Electrical Vehicles." Mr. F. B. Fink, of
Philadelphia, was the principal speaker of the evening and
addressed the section on "Transportation Problems,"
emphasizing the advantages of the electric vehicle.
Erie (Pa.) Jovians Inaugurate Saturday Half Holiday. —
Members of the Jovian Order at Erie, Pa., have agreed
to institute Saturday afternoon closing in all stores and
offices controlled by local Jovians. The new closing sched-
ule will be enforced from June 1 to Oct. 1. At the Erie
Jovians' meeting of April 26, held at the Reed House, Mr.
E. C. Corrigan, vice-president of the National Metal Mold-
ing Company, spoke on "Concentric Wiring." A big re-
juvenation is planned for Erie Jovians in June.
i iminnati Electrical League. — On April 26 more than
seventy-five members of the Cincinnati Electrical League
were present at a dinner at the Gibson House. Mr. W. W.
Freeman, president »f the Cincinnati Gas & Electric Com-
ided. Mr. W. C. Culkins, of the Chamber of
was the principal speaker. lie urged that the
organization affiliate with the activities of the chamber.
on, of the University of Cincinnati, and Mr.
J. S. Rickard, of New York, made brief addresses. The
league members promised to promote the organization and
increase its membership.
Indianapolis Jovians Encourage Boy Scout Movement. —
The Indianapolis (Ind.) Jovian League has pledged its
assistance to the local campaign for the benefit of the Boy
Scout movement. Mr. E. Laurence Eddy, of Baltimore, Md.,
who has been in Indianapolis organizing the movement,
spoke at an April meeting of the league The suggestion has
been made that the Indianapolis Jovians pay the expenses
of ten boys to a convention of the Boy Scouts in Indiana.
West Virginia Utilities Organize. — A temporary organiza-
tion of representatives of public utility companies of West
Virginia was effected at a meeting at Huntington on April
26, when the following officers were chosen: President, Mr.
Herbert Markle, Appalachian Power Company, Bluefield;
vice-president, Mr. G. O. Nagle, Wheeling Traction Com-
pany, Wheeling; secretary-treasurer, Mr. W. C. Davison,
Charleston. The first annual meeting will be held at
Charleston on June 8 and 9, when permanent officers will be
elected.
Springfield (Mass.) Electric Club Hears Mr. Gibbs. —
"Co-operation and Its Value" was the subject of an address
delivered April 26 by Mr. Louis D. Gibbs, president of the
New England Section of the National Electric Light Asso-
ciation, before the members of the newly organized Spring-
field (Mass.) Electric Club. Mr. Kurt R. Sternberg, presi-
dent of the club, acted as toastmaster. Short talks were also
given by Messrs. Fred W. Lumis, building commissioner,
and A. J. Newell, of the R. T. Oakes Company, Holyoke.
The new electric club will meet for dinner on the third Mon-
day of each month.
Western Society of Engineers. — Although the State Pub-
lic Utilities Commission of Illinois actually earns more
money for the State than it spends, it has had to practice
most rigid economy to carry out its work, said Mr. Walter
A. Shaw, a member of the commission, before the Western
Society of Engineers at Chicago on May 3. Since the com-
mission has been in operation the commission has collected
and paid to the State's Treasurer fees amounting to about
$670,000. The total expense of the commission has been
$270,000 and about 3000 docket cases have been handled.
Much of the time of the commission and its engineering
staff is taken up in attending to complaints of individual
citizens. As soon as more funds are made available by the
Legislature, said Mr. Shaw, the engineering staff of the
commission will be enlarged and the scope of its work
increased.
Michigan Section, N. E. L. A., Convention Cruise. — The
1915 convention of the Michigan Electric Light Association,
which is now a state section of the National Electric Light
Association, will be held on board the steamship Rochester
during a cruise on Lakes Huron, Superior and Michigan,
June 26 to 30. The vessel wifl leave Detroit at 1 p. m.
Saturday, June 26, and proceed up Lake Huron to Sault Ste.
Marie, passing through the locks into Lake Superior about
midnight Sunday. Monday morning will be spent in
cruising along the north shore of the lake, returning to the
"Soo" at noon and reaching Mackinac Island Monday night.
Tuesday will be occupied with the passage down Green Bay,
entering Lake Michigan at noon through the Sturgeon Bay
ship canal. The party will disembark in Lake Kalamazoo
next day, making a total trip of 1000 miles. The fare for
the cruise will be $27.50. Mr. Herbert Silvester, Detroit
Edison Company, Detroit, Mich., is secretary of the section.
Electric Association of Oklahoma. — In the program for
the fourth annual convention of the Gas, Electric & Street
Railway Association of Oklahoma, which is to be held at
Oklahoma City May 12, 13 and 14, there are announced the
following papers of interest to operators of electric-service
properties: Address of the president, Mr. George W. Knox,
of Oklahoma City; "The Modern Generating Station," by
Mr. A. L. Mullergren, of Oklahoma City; "Utility Ap-
praisal Under Order No. 774," by Mr. George B. Saunders,
of Oklahoma City; "Analysis of Rates of Gas and Electric
Utilities in Oklahoma," by Messrs. R. W. Stinson and
Homer Livergood, of Norman; "Relative Values of Coal, Oil
and Gas as Fuels for the Production of Electricity," by
Messrs. E. E. Hunter and L. G. Purtee, of Oklahoma City;
"Care and Sale of Supplies and Energy-Consuming De-
vices by Public Service Companies," by Mr. Galen Crow,
of Oklahoma City, and "Public Utilities and Their Custom-
er,." by Mr. N. R. Gascho, of Alva.
t L t I 1 K H A L \\ U K 1. 1 )
National Kin- I'ruU i i imi Nl.-« I invt- — The nineteenth annual
meeting of the National Fire Protection Association will be
held at the Hotel Astor, New York, on May 11, 12 ami 18.
The report of the electrical committee will bfl presented at
the morning session on May 11. At the afternoon session
of the same day Mr. James E. Latta will speak on the
writers" Laboratories, Inc., and its work. The associa-
tion has issued a circular outlining the measures which it
advocates in its warfare against needless loss by fire.
Program of Ohio E. I.. A. Contention. — The annual con-
vention of the Ohio Electric Light Association will be held
■ lar Point, Ohio, July 20 to 24 inclusive. Following
lenl C. V Hard's address and other official reports,
Mr, S. E. Doane, Cleveland, will present the report of the
illumination committee, Mr. M. H. Wagner, Dayton, the
report of the distribution and transmission committee; Mr.
A. II. Bryant, Cleveland, the report of the meter committee;
Mr. C W. Chappelle, Cleveland, the report of the electric-
vehicle committee, and Mr. T. F. Kelly, Dayton, the report
of the committee on new-business co-operation. Among
the papers to be presented are those on "Everyday Problems
Confronting the Central-Station Manager," by Mr. E. J.
Bechtel, New York City, and on "Publicity for Central Sta-
tions," by Mr. E. B. Fenton, Sandusky. Mr. R. H. Grant,
sales manager of the National Cash Register Company,
Dayton, will also deliver an address. Mr. D. L. Gaskill,
Greenville, Ohio, is secretary of the association.
Motor-Truck Convention at Detroit. — A large attendance
of motor-truck manufacturers, engineers and sales man-
agers opened the motor-truck convention held at the Statler
Hotel, Detroit, Mich., May 5 and 6, under the auspices of
the National Automobile Chamber of Commerce. The pro-
gram was arranged under the direction of the commercial
vehicle committee, consisting of Mr. W. T. White, chairman,
and Messrs. Alvan Macauley, P. D. Wagoner, H. Kerr
Thomas and M. L. Pulcher. Among the papers of particu-
lar interest to electric-vehicle men was one on "Why Service
Conditions Should Be Investigated and Recommendations
Made Before Selling a Customer," by Mr. Vernon Munroe,
president International Motor Company. Discussion on this
paper was to be led by Mr. W. P. Kennedy, consulting engi-
neer, New Y'ork City; Mr. F. C. Lindoefer, Atterbury Motor
Car Company, and Mr. H. H. Rice, vice-president Waverley
Motor Car Company. At the Thursday afternoon session
Mr. P. D. Wagoner, president of the General Vehicle Com-
pany, Long Island City, N. Y\, presented a paper on "The
Future of the Electric Truck." Mr. A. C. Downing, sales
manager of the Anderson Electric Car Company, Detroit,
was to lead the discussion, followed by Mr. E. J. Bartlett,
manager of the truck department of the Baker Motor
Vehicle Company, Cleveland, Ohio.
Mr. Gilchrist on Popularizing the Electric Vehicle. — Mr.
John F. Gilchrist, vice-president of the Commonwealth Edi-
son Company and president of the Electric Vehicle Associa-
tion of America, addressed a joint meeting of the Electric
Club of Chicago, the Chicago Section of the Electric Vehicle
Association and the Chicago Jovian League on April 22, on
the subject of "The Electric Vehicle." The main argument
at present used against electric cars, said Mr. Gilchrist, is
that they will not go fast enough or far enough. The public
hearkens to this argument because automobiles at present
are used mainly for pleasure. They are the playthings of
"joy riders." Within the next ten years, predicted the
speaker, horses will have entirely disappeared from the city
streets, and then the electric car, which can go far enough
and fast enough for all commercial purposes, will come into
its own. The present income to central stations from elec-
tric-vehicle business is not larger, declared Mr. Gilchrist,
only because central stations have not elected to assume
their share of the expense of introducing the vehicles. Sta-
tions in smaller cities, although perhaps the most vitally
interested, have neglected the vehicle business even more
than the larger plants. In consequence vehicle manufac-
turers have made no money and probably will make none
until selling costs are reduced. As a method of popularizing
the "electric" Mr. Gilchrist suggested that snappy stories,
such as are told about Ford cars, be circulated regarding
electric vehicles. To give this story campaign a start he
told of a friend who had dubbed his electric car a "deaf and
dumb wagon," to convey the idea of its silent operation.
Public Service Commission News
Pennsylvania Commission
investigation into the efficiency of various types of
electric lamps used for street lighting has been ordered by
the commission for the information of municipalities. In-
formation will be secured on the cost of installation, opera-
tion and renewals. Details as to illumination at various
distances will also be obtained.
Nim Fork Commissions
The New York Edison Company and the United Electric
Light & Power Company have been authorized by the First
District commission to postpone for thirty days from May
1 the sub-meter provisions of the new tariff, which went
into effect on that date. These provisions require the main-
tenance of only one meter for large buildings. In case
the landlord desires to install sub-meters for different apart-
ments such meters shall be put in at his expense. The
stay is granted to allow the companies sufficient time for
changing meters, etc. This action does not affect the rest of
the new tariff.
California Commission
The Supreme Court of California has rendered a decision
denying the application of Mr. L. Ghriest, proprietor of the
Newport Beach Electric Light & Power Company, for a
writ of review in the matter of a decision rendered by the
commission in which the Pacific Light & Power Corporation
was authorized to operate in the city of Newport Beach.
The Supreme Court refers to the case of the Pacific Tele-
phone & Telegraph Company versus Eshleman et al., and
holds that, in accordance with the views therein expressed,
the application should be denied.
The commission has issued an order at the request of the
Pacific Gas & Electric Company dismissing its application
for authority to establish new tariffs for motor service in
all territory in which the commission now has the power
to make rates.
Governor Johnson has signed the bill giving authority to
the commission to regulate rates of all public utilities
except municipally owned properties. The bill goes into
effect ninety days after the adjournment of the Legis-
lature.
Massachusetts Commission
The Gas and Electric Light Commission has authorized
the municipal light board of the town of Rowley to sell
electrical energy at a net rate of 12.5 cents per kw-hr. .
alleged to be less than cost as defined by statute. The town
owns a public distributing plant which has been operated
since 1910, energy being sold at a net rate of 15 cents.
The energy has been purchased from the municipal plant
at Ipswich at an average rate of 6 cents per kw-hr. More
favorable terms are expected in the early renewal of the
contract, in view of the possibility of increasing the motor-
service load. The 12.5-cent rate is admittedly below cost
(which includes all operating expenses, interest on the
plant investment, sinking-fund requirements, depreciation
at not less than 3 per cent, and losses), but was estab-
lished by the municipal light board after consideration by
the town meeting and a favorable vote.
The commission points out that the foregoing method
of determining cost is somewhat arbitrary and artificial
and gives little consideration to the assumption of such
risks as may be reasonably necessary to develop the busi-
ness. It calls attention to the fact that an increase in
output which involves no corresponding increase in invest-
ment may result in a lower average unit cost and be closely-
related to the rate for energy. While it is convinced that
it would be unsound for the town to adopt a policy of sell-
ing energy permanently at a loss, the board "is not disposed
to withhold its consent from the taking by the management
of what seems no more than a reasonable business risk.
The new price must, of course, be regarded as experi-
mental, to be abandoned later if a reasonable experience
under it demonstrates that energy will thereby be sold at
a loss." The commission emphasized the importance of a
definite charge by the lighting department for service ren-
dered to municipal buildings.
VjlUZjKjLIil^AL, W \J t\, Li U
VOL. DO, 1NO. 1»
Personal
Mr. I. W. .Morris has been elected treasurer of the United
Gas Improvement Company of Philadelphia.
Mr. W. M. Case has been appointed manager of the mu-
nicipal water and lighting plant at Humboldt, Tenn.
Mr. Elmer Lingard has resigned as superintendent of the
East Norwalk (Conn.) municipal electric-lighting plant.
Mr. T. J. Condon has been appointed superintendent of
works for the Champaign (111.) Railway, Gas & Electric
Company.
Mr. J. A. Shaw has been appointed general electrical
engineer of the Canadian Pacific Railroad with offices at
Montreal, Quebec.
Mr. A. M. Plummer, formerly a member of the staff of the
Atlantic City (N. J.) Electric Company, has been appointed
local manager of the Ocean City (N. J.) Electric Light
Company.
Mr. H. S. Collette, secretary of J. G. White & Company,
Inc., and the J. G. White Engineering Coi-poration, has re-
signed from these companies. Mr. Collette expects to reside
permanently in California.
Mr. Paul Leake, who was formerly publicity manager for
the American Utilities Company, Grand Rapids, Mich., has
resigned and accepted a position as advertising manager
of the Michigan Trust Company, Grand Rapids.
Mr. Edward F. Strong, for the last twelve years superin-
tendent of the city electric-lighting plant at Chaska, Minn.,
has become manager of the newly organized Waconia Light
& Power Company, of Waconia, Wis., for which a fran-
chise has been granted himself and Mr. R. F. Strong.
Mr. Charles G. M. Thomas, president of the New York &
Queens Electric Light & Power Company, has been elected
president of the Chamber of Commerce of the borough of
Queens. The chamber has appointed a constitutional con-
vention committee, of which Mr. Thomas is a member.
Dr. Alexander Graham Bell, of Washington, D. C, has
accepted an appointment as one of the hundred electors of
the Hall of Fame, New York City, who will this year select
the names of thirty-four distinguished Americans whose
memory is to be perpetuated by bronze tablets in the colon-
nades of the Hall of Fame.
Mr. H. R. Wilbur has resigned as manager of the Union
Electric Light & Power Company, Franklin, Mass., effective
June 30. Mr. Wilbur was formerly connected with the
Plymouth Electric Light Company, and was appointed man-
ager of the Franklin company in January, 1912. He is a
graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Mr. R. E. Breed, president of the American Gas & Elec-
tric Company, is reported to be well on the road to recovery,
following his recent accident. While visiting some gold-
mining properties at Phenix, Ariz., Mr. Breed fell, striking
his chin in such a way as to cause a concussion of the brain.
Soon after the accident he was taken to Chicago, and recent
bulletins from his bedside pronounce him now well out of
danger.
Mr. 0. L. Remington, general manager of William Mc-
Lean & Company, Melbourne, Australia, engineers, manu-
facturers and importers, is visiting the United States in
company with the firm's engineer, Mr. H. P. McColl, to
study electrical methods and machinery in this country.
Their headquarters will be at the Hotel LaSalle, Chicago,
for a week or two, after which Eastern industrial centers
will be visited, before returning home by way of England.
Lieut. Bryaon K. Bruce, a graduate of Annapolis, who last
year completed a post-graduate course in the graduate en-
gineering school of Columbia University, has been ap-
pointed chief engineer in charge of the collier Jupiter, the
first electrically propelled ship used by the navy. The suc-
cess of recent tests on the Jupiter has Induced the govern-
ment to inst:ill similar electrical propulsion apparatus in the
new battleship California, aa already noted in these col-
umns.
Mr Clinton White, of the Massachusetts Public Service
Commission, will retire from the board on May 1*. when
he will reach the age of seventy. Mr. White was appointed
a member of the Mas << Railroad Commission in
1901 and has borne an important part in the work of the
board and its successor, the Public Service Commission,
particularly in the consideration of financial matters. He
is the senior member of the board and is widely known in
the public utility field.
Mr. W. S. Hays has joined the staff of the McGraw Pub-
lishing Company to undertake special sales-promotion work
for the Electrical World and the Electric Railway
Journal. Mr. Hays comes directly from the commercial
department of the Union Gas & Electric Company of Cin-
cinnati, with which he has been associated since the merging
with the Ohio Service Company of the New Midland Power
& Traction Company of Cambridge, Ohio, where he was
formerly superintendent and local manager.
Mr. O. S. More, who for the last five years has been chief
engineer of the Fairbanks-Morse Electric Manufacturing
Company, Indianapolis, Ind., in charge of electrical and
mechanical design, has resigned from that position to estab-
lish the More Electric Company, with offices in the Gas and
Electric Building, Denver, Col. For five years prior to his
connection with the Fairbanks-Morse company Mr. More
served the Western Electric Company at Hawthorne, 111., in
the capacity of designing engineer, specializing on alternat-
ing-current machinery.
Mr. Halford Erickson, who is now chairman of the Rail-
road Commission of Wisconsin, is the only member of the
commission who has served continuously since it was estab-
lished in 1905, and the enviable reputation which this com-
mission enjoys is due in no
<af]^kw_ small measure to the efficient
^^^^^^*V and untiring efforts of its
/ \ present chairman. Mr. Erick-
| /& flflH son was Dorn ar>d received
his early education in Sweden
and came to the United
| '«t$j, States in 1884. After taking
jA ^^K his academic training in Min-
Bk ^^^^ neapolis, Minn., he entered
Bkr )y^^^_ the service of the Chicago.
H^ " St. Paul, Minneapolis &
Bl I Omaha Railroad in 1890. He
served the company in
various capacities until he
was appointed Labor Com-
missioner of Wisconsin in
1896. He held this position
halford erickson until 1905, when he was ap-
pointed a member of the first
Railroad Commission of Wisconsin by Governor La
Follette. Mr. Erickson has been an earnest student of
economic and financial problems, and his analyses of costs
of properties and of service have done much to make the
work of the commission notable among the regulating
authorities of the country.
Obituary
George L. Bauldry, for the last ten years chief engineer
of the plant of Walter Baker & Company, Dorchester, Mass.,
and active in local engineering and civic affairs, died May 4
at his home in Milton, Mass.
Gerrit Smith, inventor of quadruplex telegraphy, died at
Amityville, Long Island, N. Y., May 4, following a month's
illness. Mr. Smith was for fifty-four years in the employ
of the Western Union Telegraph Company and retired on a
pension ten years ago.
William H. Bancroft, who had been until February of this
year president of the Utah Light & Railway Company,
died on April 2,3, death resulting from a stroke of apoplexy.
About a year ago Mr. Bancroft retired as vice president and
general manager of the Oregon Short Line Railroad Com-
pany, B position which he had held for twenty-three years.
When the late K. II. Harriman acquired control of the Utah
Light A Railway Company about eight years ago Mr. Ban-
croft was assigned to the responsible position of president
of the company, and upon him devolved the important work
of rehabilitating the street-railway and lighting and power
system of Salt Lake City.
M v. -. 1818
ELECTRICAL WORLD
1217
( orporate and Financial
\lli«-( luilnur- Manufacturing CwpillJ. Mil" auktc.
\s i~. Holders <d" voting-trust certificates for preferred
stock and common .stuck h .\<- received a circular from the
voting trustees recommending approval of the contract
entered into l.etween the reorganization committee of the
company anil Mr. Otto H. Falk, the president, Oct. 1, 1913,
whereby there was given to Mr. Falk and his associate
members of the executive committee an option to purchase
on oi 1, 1916, 6605 shares of preferred stock
and 22:>2 shares of common stock of the company for the
aggregate sum of $406,136 plus interest thereon at the rate
of 5 per cent per annum from Oct 1. 1913, until date of
payment. Under the tei ontract approval thereof
by a majority of the holders of the voting-trust certificates
for both classes of stock is necessary before the stock can
be delivered, if the option is exercised. In his annual
report for the year ended Dec. 31, 1914, Mr. Falk stated that
the decline in volume of business which was noted in the
report of last year began in August, 1913, continued during
the early part of 1914, and became more pronounced upon
the breaking out of the European war. This contraction
of business particularly affected the larger products of the
company and rendered necessary reductions in the operat-
ing force. Most rigid economy has been exercised in all
departments, and great savings have been effected until the
company's manufacturing costs are now lower than ever
before; but the decreased amount of business and the lower
prices, due to very keen competition, more than offset all
gains realized by these efforts. Notwithstanding the
decreased operations during the year, the full charges for
reserves and depreciation have been maintained and included
in operating expenses. The expenditure of $477,495 for
maintenance, repairs and upkeep has kept all the plants
and equipment in good condition. In addition, the sum of
$381,381 for general depreciation of the property has been
charged to the operating expenses of the year. The
expenditure of $222,597 for standard development, charged
to cost of manufacture, was partly to improve and enlarge
the present lines of manufacture and partly to complete
the development of new lines which are now about ready
to be put upon the market. During the year $1,745,263
was invested in marketable securities, making the total
investment in marketable securities on Dec. 31, 1914,
$3,607,301. The unfilled orders on hand Dec. 31, 1914,
amounted to $2,503,937. The profit loss account for the
year is as follows:
Sales billed $10,323,150
Cost, Including depreciation and development expend-
itures 9,221.174
tory profit $1,101,976
Selling publicity, administrative and general expenses.. 1,379,685
Manufacturing loss $277,709
Other income:
Int. rest on investments and bank balances, discounts,
net) 2 r.2. nil
N.t loss for the year $25,068
Athens (Ohio) Electric Company. — The company has been
authorized by the Ohio Public Utilities Commission to issue
$75,000 common stock and $75,000 in three-year 7 per cent
notes. The stock is to be sold at par. One-third of the
proceeds will be used to make an initial payment on the
telephone plant in Athens, which the corporation is pur-
chasing, while the balance will be expended on improve-
ments and betterments.
Cily Electric Company, San Francisco, Cal. — The Cali-
fornia Railroad Commission has issued an order approving
a supplemental indenture between the company and the
Anglo-California Trust Company under date of April 15,
1916. This supplemental indenture, which secures the City
Electric Company's first mortgage 5 per cent thirty-year
sinking fund gold bonds, includes, among other things, the
guarantee of bonds as to principal and interest by the Great
Western Power Company.
Commonwealth Edison Company, Chicago, 111. — The issue
of $8,000,000 of first mortgage 5 per cent gold bonds of the
company which was sold recently was offered to investors
at par.
Consolidated Gas Company, New York, N. Y. — In addi-
tion to the regular quarterly dividend of 1% per cent the
company has declared an extra dividend of one-quarter of 1
t, payable on June 15, thereby placing the stock on a
7 per • • Mr. George B. Cortelyou, the president,
-aid: "If, as maty recent decisions indicate, the rate of
cent per annum on capital invested in public utilities
is deemed fair and reasonable, then the stockholders of the
idated company are entitled to recover the difference
between that rate and the rate actually paid since June,
1906, inclusive, which amounts in the aggregate t.i 27 per
lent, against which would be credited the extra dividend of
one-fourth of 1 per cent about to be paid. The value placed
upon the assets of the company by the United States court
in the 80-cent gas case exceeded the value at which they
were carried on the company's books to the extent of over
$15,000,000. Obviously, therefore, the company is under-
capitalized, and therefore a 7 per cent dividend on its out-
standing capital stock amounts to a much lower rate of
return than 7 per cent upon the actual value of its proper-
It will probably be a surprise to many to know that
more than three-quarters of the dividend of the Consoli-
dated company is derived from its investments in otht
companies and in electric companies, and that less than a
quarter of it is derived from its own gas business."
Dayton (Ohio) Power & Light Company. — Reports are
current in Dayton that a holding company is being organized
to acquire the public utility interests of that city, including
the Dayton Power & Light Company, a majority of the
stock of which is owned by the A. N. Brady estate. A
meeting of the railway men took place on April 30 to discuss
the proposition. It is said that officers of the American
Railways Company of Philadelphia are promoting the con-
solidation, and that all of the companies are reported favor-
able to the plan, with the exception of the Oakwood Street
Railway Company. A proposition made some time ago
failed to materialize because of the opposition of this
company.
Idaho Railway, Light & Power Company, Boise, Idaho. —
Judge Dietrich, of the Federal District Court, has ordered
that the property be sold at a date in June to be announced
later. Mr. O. G. F. Markhus, receiver of the company, was
appointed special master in chancery to sell the property.
Interest was defaulted on the first and refunding mortgage
bonds in 1914. After the Guaranty Trust Company, trustee
under the bond issue, started a suit for foreclosure Mr.
E. J. Jennings brought in a cross complaint on a claim of
$180,000 against the property formerly owned by the Boise
Railroad Company. This claim was recognized by the
court, and the property to be sold will be held subject to it.
Kansas City (Mo.) Railway & Light Company. — In the
suit of the company against the Metropolitan Street Rail-
way Company and others, Judge William C. Hook, of the
United States District Court, stated that he would be
inclined to allow the payment of interest if within two
weeks there was a strong likelihood of reorganization of
the electric railway properties along lines he had clearly
defined. Among other things, the Kansas City Electric
Light Company must take care of a fair and equitable
portion of the indebtedness, and the railway company must
be so bonded as to leave a margin of safety and not
endanger ability to raise capital in the future. The adjust-
ments of the interrelations of the various companies, par-
ticularly the imperative separation of the electric-light
company and the electric-railway properties, was left to
the security holders. After making inquiries, Judge Hook
concluded that there would not be money enough to take
care of both interest and improvements, but said that he
was willing that the payment of cash for interest should
make necessary receivers' certificates for improvements if
reorganization was in prospect. Authorization was given
to proceed with extensions and improvements recognized as
necessary under the franchises whether reorganization is
effected or not. It was generally understood at the time
of the trial that bankers and others holding securities
would seek to effect a method of separating the light and
railway companies, adjusting the debts and effecting
reorganization. Mr. Frank Hagerman, attorney for the
receivers, called attention to the fact that about $200,000 of
interest was due on May 1 and May 15, and that if money
was taken from funds to pay this interest not enough would
be left to make the improvements necessary under the con-
tract with the city. About $600,000 should be spent in
improvements at once to comply with contract obligations
1218
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 19
to the city as to extensions and maintenance of quality of
tracks and service. Mayor Jost declared that, even if
reorganization were effected, the contract obligations as to
betterments would have to be met. He put them at
$6,000,000, before the bondholders should receive anything.
He declared that there would be no extension of time for
reorganization and acceptance of the franchise after July 7
unless there was a very strong presumption that reorgani-
zation was assured. A schedule of betterments shows that
$2,427,865 must be spent in 1915 for maintenance and
reconstruction and extensions under franchises; that the
estimated earnings for 1915 should be $6,447,000; that the
estimated expenditures, including interest and the
$2,427,865 item above mentioned, would be $7,306,965. The
expenditures therefore would be $859,965 in excess of
income. The interest paid in 1914 was $1,459,000. The
showing of the figures was to the effect that if the required
betterments were paid for from income there would be only
$707,935 left toward the interest. The court instructed the
receivers to proceed with the improvements.
Portland (Ore.) Railway, Light & Power Company. — A
meeting of stockholders has been called for May 14 to vote
on the following propositions: (1) Stockholders shall sur-
render 20 per cent of their stock, which is 75 per cent paid,
$25,000,000 now being outstanding, paying $25 in cash for
each share surrendered. In exchange for the surrendered
stock they shall receive full-paid preferred stock, share for
share, one-half to be 6 per cent cumulative first preferred,
the other one-half to be 6 per cent non-cumulative second
preferred. (2) The authorized stock shall be increased
$10,000,000, to consist of $5,000,000 of 6 per cent first pre-
ferred stock cumulative from Jan. 1, 1916, and $5,000,000
of 6 per cent non-cumulative second preferred. (3) Should
stockholders approve the foregoing, $5,000,000 of the out-
standing stock shall be retired. The annual report for the
year ended Dec. 31, 1914, states that the unsatisfactory
showing was due to a continuation of the depressed business
conditions prevailing in 1913, and to the competition of the
Northwestern Electric Company. The number of customers
was reduced from 42,062 to 37,938, and the earnings from
$2,430,927 to $2,241,834, or 7.8 per cent. Mr. Franklin T.
Griffith, the president, states that the prospects for the fu-
ture are not so unfavorable as might be indicated by these
statements. Considering all the factors involved in a com-
petitive fight, further material losses of existing business due
to the company's electric competitor are not anticipated,
and the company believes that it is fully able to secure the
major portion of any new business developed. Taxes and
operating expenses will be greatly reduced in 1915. The
capital expenditures required during this year will be the
smallest in ten years. The company is spending money
only where absolutely necessary and to complete work al-
ready begun. Comparative earnings for 1913 and 1914 fol-
low:
1914 1913
Gross earnings $6,273,171 $8,723,742
Operating expenses 2,695,356 2,856,981
Net earnings $3,577,815 $3,866,761
$568,527 $441.3L>9
• rentals 45,198 16,936
Interest 2,127,480 1,961,666
Total Oxed charges $2,741,205 $2,449,931
Surplus $836,610 $1,416,830
•Additional bridge rentals amounting to in;, -'>'.: in 1914 and
Included in opera! Ing e tpenaes
Southern Canada Power Company, Montreal, P. Q.,
Canada. — A meeting of holders of the 6 per cent first
mortgage bonds will be held on May 17 for the purpose of
mollifying the deed of trust and mortgage so that the
company shall be at liberty, after issuing $3,000,000 of
bonds, to issue $2,000,000 additional bonds, but only for an
amount equal to 80 per cent of the actual cost of improve-
ments, betterments, etc., and then only provided that net
earnings tat twelve months ending not more than sixty
prior i" application for such additional issues shall
Mian one and one half times the interest charged
on all bonds outstanding including those to be issued.
WeatlnghonM Electric & Manufacturing Company, Pitls-
burgh. Pa. — The directors vote*! at a special meeting May ."i
to alter (lie prevailing provisions for the conversion of
convertible bonds into stock. The conversion price of 200
will, under the plan, be reduced to par for the rest of the
year, and thereafter will be 110. Bondholders will be asked
to consent to a change in the trust indenture under which
the bonds were issued in return for the more favorable
terms of conversion proposed. The clause in the indenture
reads: "The Electric company will not issue additional
stock entitled to preference or priority over its 'assenting
stock,' nor distribute any capital stock by way of stock
dividends, nor issue any capital stock at a price more than
10 per cent below the market price of the stock of the same
class at the time the new stock is offered for subscription
or sale." In case the plan becomes operative, either com-
mon stock of the company to the amount required for
conversion under the plan or new bonds convertible into
common stock at the reduced price will be offered to share-
holders for pro rata subscription at 105. To the extent
that stock or bonds are sold upon this basis the proceeds
will be used to retire the present bonds at the redemption
price. There are $19,476,000 5 per cent convertibles out-
standing. The plan provides that new bonds may be ex-
changed for the old at par. Also, bonds presented for pay-
ment in cash will be paid off at 105, while the exchange
may be made part for cash and part for new bonds. The
company will not require additional capital, according to
a statement by the directors, for its present volume of busi-
ness or for any increase expected in the near future. It has
made adequate provision without borrowing for the execu-
tion of the large orders recently received from foreign
governments. On the other hand, in case of the radical
increase of business which may come with good times,
the company would be handicapped in securing additional
capital by the restriction in the trust indenture.
Manufacturing and Industrial
The Standard Paint Company has moved its New York
offices from 100 William Street to the Woolworth Build-
ing.
The Peerless Rubber Manufacturing Company has moved
from 16 Warren Street, New York, to larger quarters at
31 Warren Street.
The General Lead Batteries Company. Newark, N. J.,
has moved its Chicago office from 2332 Michigan Avenue
to 219 East Twenty-fourth Street.
The Phoenix Glass Company has moved its showrooms
from 15 Murray Street, New York, to the Victoria Build-
ing, 230 Fifth Avenue, New York.
The National Conduit & Cable Company, 41 Park Row,
New York, has moved its Chicago office from 736 Rookery
Building to 72 West Adams Street.
The Habirshaw Wire Company. Yonkers, N. Y., has
moved its New York office from the Metropolitan Tower to
10 East Forty-third Street, New York City.
The Bell Electric Motor Company, Garwood, N. J., has
opened an office in the Monadnock Block, Chicago, 111.,
which will be in charge of Mr. Herman Dreyer.
The Wagner Electric Manufacturing Company, St. Louis.
Mo., has moved its office in Minneapolis, Minn., from 1040
Security Bank Building, to 307 Security Building.
The Bodine Electric Company has moved its factory,
offices and salesrooms from 564 West Randolph Street. Chi-
cago, to Oakley Boulevard and Ohio Street, Chicago.
The Wyckoff Pipe & Creosoting Company has moved its
offices from 50 Church Street, New York, to the Forty-
second Street Building at 30 Fast Forty-second Street, New
York City.
The American K>cr Read* Works of the National Car-
bon Company have moved from 308 Hudson Street, New
York, to Thompson Avenue and Barton Street, Long Island
City, N. Y.
The G. & W. Electric Specialty Company has moved its
factory and offices from 6808 Blackstone Avenue to 7440-52
South Chicago Avenue, Chicago. 111. More floor space and
better manufacturing facilities are available at the com-
pany's new location. Among central stations the com-
pany's well-known products include its combination pothead
and switch.
Mai B, l.'i:.
ELEC'I'KliAI. WORLD
1219
The \(1;itii- H.mnall Electric < ompaay, Cleveland, Ohio,
I
( hurch Street, ami its Chicago office from 417 South Dear-
born Street to the Fisher Building.
The Nordherg Manufacturing Company, Milwaukee, \\ i
maker of Corliss engines, uniflow engines, oil engines,
has moved it> New fork <'ity office from 42 Broadway to
the New Equitable Building, 120 Broadway, New York City.
The Electric Boraepower Company, 906 Elm Street, Cin-
cinnati, Ohio, has filed a deed of assignment for the benefit
of its creditors in favor of Mr. M. (i. Oven-mi, its secretary
and treasurer. Liabilities of about $5,000 are listed, with
assets of half that amount.
Oxygen and Hydrogen Electrolytic Apparatus for Japan.
— EL L. Barnitz. sales agent for the International Oxygen
Company, 115 Broadway, New York, has closed a contract
with the Tokio Electric Company, Tokio, Japan, for a large
installation of cells for the electrolytic production of oxygen
and hydrogen gas.
The Chicago Chandelier & Bronze Company of Chicago,
111., will succeed to the business of the retail department of
the D. L. Braun Manufacturing Company, the wholesale
department of which was recently taken over by the Beards-
lee Manufacturing Company of Chicago. The new fixture
firm will be established at the corner of Wabash Avenue
and Washington Boulevard and will be under the direction
of Mr. John Ricklefs and Mr. George Kaiser.
Westinghouse Sales School. — The close of the term of the
sales school of the Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing
Company, East Pittsburgh, Pa., April 30, was made the occa-
sion of a dinner in the Seventh Avenue Hotel, Pittsburgh.
Mr. T. H. Whipple, manager of sales, acted as the toastmas-
ter, and a number of informal speeches were delivered.
Members of the class voted to organize a club to meet
monthly for the discussion of salesmanship and the promo-
tion of good fellowship.
Wm. McLean & Company. — Mr. O. L. Remington, general
manager for Wm. McLean & Company, 127 Elizabeth
Street, Melbourne, Australia, recently arrived in the United
States to investigate electrical products of American
manufacture. Mr. Remington's temporary address is 3219
North Capital Avenue, Indianapolis, Ind. Mr. Remington
will shortly join Mr. H. P. McColl, engineer for Wm. McLean
& Company, who is now at the Hotel LaSalle, Chicago,
after which both will visit industrial centers in the East
and finally proceed to England.
The Bison Electrical Company, 259 Pearl Street, Buffalo,
N. Y., has recently been incorporated and is the successor
of the J. C. Sterns Electrical Company, of the same ad-
dress. Mr. J. T. Arundell, for seven years vice-president of
the J. C. Sterns Electrical Company, is president and treas-
urer; Mr. B. H. Fisher, superintendent of the J. C. Sterns
Electrical Company for three years, is vice-president, and
Mr. F. M. Smith, bookkeeper for the J. C. Sterns Electrical
Company for eight years, is secretary. The company is
engaged in a general electrical contracting and supply
business.
The More Electric Company, Denver, Col., has been estab-
lished by Mr. O. S. More, who for the last five years has
been chief engineer of the Fairbanks Morse Electric Manu-
facturing Company, Indianapolis, Ind. The More Electric
Company will have its offices in the Gas and Electric Build-
ing, Denver, and besides handling engineering work will
act as district representative for a number of well-known
manufacturers of electrical apparatus. A specialty will
also be made of engineering designs and investigations.
Prior to Mr. More's connection with the Fairbanks Morse
company, he was a designing engineer with the Western
Electric Company at Hawthorne, 111.
Mr. Robert C. Kenner, who for the last nine years has
been connected with the Cutler-Hammer Manufacturing
Company, of Milwaukee, Wis., has resigned as manager
of the Chicago office of that company and has opened an
office of his own in the People's Gas Building, Chicago,
where he is acting as manager of sales for a number of
mechanical and electrical specialties. Mr. Fenner was for
three years manager of the Boston office of the Cutler-
Hamm i prior thereto was instructor in
physics at Cornell, where he graduated in 1903. Mr.
Fenner is a member of the American Institute of Electrical
Engineers and has taken an active part in the work of the
Chicago Association of Commerce, being chairman of the
electrical subdivision of that association and a member of
its ways and means council.
Orders for Turbine Equipment. — The Kerr Turbine Com-
pany, Wellsvill.', X. Y., reports that it has recently re-
ceived the following orders: City of Atlantic City, X. J.,
an 18,000,000-gal. turbo-pump; city of Baltimore, a 500-
kw turbo-generator; city of Williamsport, Pa., a 425-hp
turbine for driving a pump; city of Youngstown, Ohio, two
250-kw turbo-alternators; the dredge Columbia, port of
Portland, Ore., two 100-hp geared turbines; Swift & Com-
pany, Chicago, three turbines; the Christian Moerlein Brew-
ing Company, Cincinnati, a 300-kw turbo-generator; the
Carnegie Steel Company, Farrell, Pa., a 125-hp turbine;
the Jones & Laughlin Steel Company, Woodlawn, Pa., a
325-hp turbine; the National Tube Company, for the Christy
Park Works, McKeesport, Pa., a 350-hp turbine. The com-
pany has also recently received orders for equipment from
the East Hull Gas Company, Groves, England; the Cor-
poration Gas Works, Birkenhead, England, and Armour
de la Plata, Argentina.
More Factory Space for Duncan Company. — The Duncan
Electric Manufacturing Company of Lafayette, Ind., has
purchased an adjoining factory which for many years was
occupied by the Sterling Telephone Company. This addi-
tion, 51,000 sq. ft. in area, now gives the Duncan Electric
Manufacturing Company approximately 100,000 sq. ft. of
factory floor space. The newly acquired buildings are being
brought up to date by the installation of large windows and
a sprinkler system. To supply the additional power and
steam heating required, a new generating station is being
built, in which a 500-hp steam turbine is to be installed.
The testing, assembling and shipping departments and
portions of the company's transformer factory are being
moved into the new quarters. This expansion has been
made necessary, said Mr. Thomas Duncan, president of the
company, by the healthy growth of business in the com-
pany's present products and to accommodate several new
lines that the company hopes to take up during the sum-
mer.
Builders Equipping Houses with Stationary Cleaners to
Increase Their Yalue. — Mr. A. C. Smucker, 30 Church
Street, New Yrork, ventilating engineer and agent for the
Thurman Vacuum Cleaner Company, St. Louis, Mo., reports
that many contractors and builders who erect dwelling
houses purely for investment purposes are equipping such
buildings with stationary vacuum-cleaning apparatus to en-
hance their value. Prospective buyers, he asserts, are al-
ways favorably impressed by such equipment, which he
considers to be among the highly desirable "improvements."
Mr. Smucker states that business in stationary cleaners is
not so good now as it might be, as there has been no activ-
ity in the building industry for some time. There are indi-
cations, however, of an improvement in the near future.
Mr. Smucker has also developed a ball-shooting target
which is operated by means of an electrically operated
blower. Two of these devices have recently been installed
at the Panama-Pacific Exposition and another at Atlantic
City. The device was described in the Electrical World
of June 13, 1914.
A 20,000-kw Turbine Set for Toledo.— The Toledo Rail-
ways & Light Company, Toledo, Ohio, has contracted with
the Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company for
the installation of a 20,000-kw turbo-generator set and a
25,000-sq. ft. surface condenser for its Water Street gener-
ating plant. In connection with this installation the com-
pany will establish a complete new generator-bus system and
install new switching equipment. This contract was also
awarded to the Westinghouse company. An extension is
now being added to the Detroit Avenue generating station,
where will be installed within the next three months a 1500-
kw frequency-changer set, a 1500-kw rotary converter, and
sixteen mercury-arc street-lighting sets, besides three 1000-
kw, 23,000-volt transformers, which will be supplied from the
23,000-volt underground transmission. The demand for
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 19
electric power in Toledo has made remarkable strides in the
last two years, and the local company, according to Mr. F. J.
Derge, manager of light, heat and power, has found it neces-
sary practically to triple its main-station rating since Henry
L. Doherty & Company took over the operation of the prop-
erty.
Orders for Electrical Equipment. — As an indication of
the revival of business activity the following orders re-
ceived by the Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Com-
pany, East Pittsburgh, Pa., from central stations, indus-
trial companies, Cuban sugar mills, etc., are of interest:
The Merchants' Heat & Light Company, Indianapolis, Ind.,
one 1500-kw, 250-volt synchronous booster rotary converter
arranged for 15 per cent buck or boost, three 550-kva.
single-phase, oil-insulated, self-cooled transformers and one
three-panel switchboard; the Scranton & Binghamton Rail-
road Company, Scranton, Pa., one 400-kw, fiOO-volt rotary
converter, three 150-kva, oil-insulated, self-cooled trans-
formers and one. two-panel switchboard; the Home Lawn
Mineral Springs Company, Martinsville, Ind., two 25-kw,
125-volt direct-current generators; the Woman's Hospital,
New York, one 100-kw, 250-volt direct-current generator;
city of Yonkers, New York, one 25-kw, 125-volt direct cur-
rent generator; the Harrisburg Foundry & Machine Works,
Harrisburg, Pa., one 35-kw, 125-volt direct-current genera-
tor; the Queens Borough Gas & Electric Company, Far
Rockaway, one 75-kw, 125-volt direct-current generator and
one turbine and gearing for driving generator; city of
Seattle, Wash., one 75-kw, 125-250-volt, three-wire direct-
current generator; the Laclede Gas Light Company, St.
Louis, Mo., one 30-kw, 125-volt turbo-generator, one 30-kw,
125-volt motor-generator exciter set, one 75-kw, 250-volt
direct-current motor-generator exciter set, one eleven-panel
switchboard and a 5000-kva turbo-generator; the Hatefield
Electric Company for the Indianapolis (Ind.) City Hos-
pital, one 150-kw, 125-volt direct-current generator; the
Duquesne Light Company, Pittsburgh, Pa., one 500-kw, 125-
250 volt, three-wire direct-current and 11,300-volt alternat-
ing-current three-phase synchronous motor-generator set,
and one switchboard starting panel for controlling the al-
ternating-current end of the set; the Pacific Electric Rail-
way Company, Los Angeles, Cal., one 1000-kw, 600-volt
direct-current and 15,000-volt alternating-current synchro-
nous motor-generator set; the Edison Electric Illuminating
Company, Brooklyn, N. Y., one 1000-kw, 270-volt direct-
current and 6300-volt alternating-current synchronous
motor-generator set; the Dibert Van Croft & Ross Com-
pany, for use in its sugar mills in the provinces of Oriente
and Camaguey, Cuba, one 300-hp alternating-current motor
for driving a crusher and two sets of rolls, one 250-hp al-
ternating-current motor for driving two sets of rolls, one
250-hp alternating-current motor for driving a crusher and
two sets of rolls, one 200-hp motor for driving two sets of
rolls, switchboard equipment for controlling the motors,
and two 2800-ton storage-battery locomotives.
NEW YORK METAL MARKET PRICES
, April 27 » , May 4 ,
SflliriK I 'rices SYMiii I i
Bid Asked Bid Asked
( \.|.|.. r l s A i s (1
London, standard spot* 81 E 0 76 n 0
Prin . . 18.62 W to 18 87% 18.62J* to IS. 87%
Electrolytic 18. so to 18.62 V.. 18.87 J$ to 18.60
17.76 to is. no 17.87% to 17.60
19 iV4 :
1.20 4.20
12 00 ' "'i I" t'i.00
si i sine, t.o.b. smelter. ... i 1.60 17.60
Bneltei 14.00 I
tin «!
Aluminum, 98 to 99 l toll 19.86 to I B 0
•OLD METALS
17.00 1 7.00
H 00
ItKht
!
•COPPER EXPORTS
i
>n the N.w Y..ik M.tai Bxi I
New Incorporations
The Hilliards Light & Power Company, of Hilliards, Ohio,
has been incorporated by Le Roy Bobyns, T. C. Latham and
others. The company is capitalized at $10,000 and proposes
to construct and operate an electric-light plant in Hilliards.
The Allen County Electric Light & Power Company, of
Grabill, Ind., has been incorporated with a capital stock
of $15,000 by Alfred A. Pointer, Peter S. Amstutz, George
H. Krudop, Julius Hehrig and Albert Egly. The company
proposes to supply electricity in Shirley, Grabill, Harlan and
other towns.
New Industrial Companies
The Hammerle Lighting Fixture Company, of Syracuse,
N. Y., has been incorporated with a capital stock of $10,000
by Henrietta S. Hammerle, C. H. Hammerle and Clarence
Hammerle, of Syracuse, N. Y.
The Simon Venti-Lighter Company, of New York, N. Y.,
has been chartered with a capital stock of $50,000 by Leo-
pold Simon, 38 Union Square, New York, N. Y.; Sidney H.
Weinberg and Simon C. Weinberg, of Brooklyn, N. Y. The
company proposes to manufacture and deal in lighting
appliances.
Trade Publications
Steel Poles. — R. D. Coombs & Company, Hudson Terminal,
New York, are sending out postal cards which illustrate
installations of poles and transmission towers.
Lighting Fixtures. — The Alter Light Company, 827 South
Loomis Street, Chicago, 111., has issued a folder describing
and illustrating a number of lighting fixtures.
Molding Fittings. — Jordan Brothers, Inc., 80 Beekman
Street, New York, have issued a folder which describes their
cross-overs and connectors for use with wooden moldings.
Watt-Hour Meters. — The Sangamo Electric Company,
Springfield, 111., has issued folders describing its type D-5
and type H watt-hour meters and its type M-S ampere-hour
meter.
Demand Indicators.— Bulletins No. 46,100 and No. 46,101,
recently issued by the Fort Wayne (Ind.) Electric Works
of the General Electric Company, describe type M and
type P demand indicators.
Small Dental Motor.— The Shelton Electric Company, 30
West Forty-second Street, New York, has issued a folder
which describes and illustrates a small motor for direct
connection to dental tools.
Railway Dispatching Equipment. — The Kellogg Switch-
board & Supply Company of Chicago has issued Bulletin
No. 82, describing and illustrating telephone apparatus for
railway signaling and dispatching.
Resuscitating Apparatus. — The Life Saving Devices Com-
pany, 565 Washington Boulevard, Chicago, 111., is dis-
tributing a folder which contains information on a resusci-
tating device called a "lungmotor."
Sign Lighting. — Bulletin No. 43,550, recently issued by
the Edison Lamp Works of the General Electric Company,
Harrison, N. J., contains information on and illustrations of
a large number of sign-lamp installations.
Storage Batteries. — The Electric Storage Battery Com-
I any. Philadelphia, Pa., has issued a catalog, designated as
Section X. which contains information on several types of
batteries for electric vehicles, and Bulletin 148, describing
its standby batteries.
Salesmen's Handbook on Lamps. — "The Story of Artificial
Illumination" is the subject of a booklet designated as
"Salesmen's Lamp Handbook, Series No. 1." which has re-
cently been published by the Westinghouse Lamp Company,
126] Broadway, New fork.
Incandescent -Lamp Fixtures. — Pass & Seymour, Inc.,
Solvay, N. v., have recently issued four folders on conduit-
box straps for outlet boxes without lugs or ears, electric-
candle-lamp sockets, sockets and receptacles for nitrogen-
filled lamps, and decorative devices for temporary and per-
manent illumination.
H \i S. 1916
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Construction News
New England
HJERMON. Maine. Th- Black stream
of Hermon, has applied to the Pub-
n capital Block and
to be used to
rights, l.mi.i
plant, erect transm
distributing -
Its pro
Leathers \t prealdi
BTANDISH. MAINE The Cumberland
< ountj, l.i 6 pwr Co . ol Portland, has
applied foi ..
in it" idlah.
BOSTON, MASS Bids will b.
••' "" ;;""■ ,": John Grady. Br mis-
>n, until Hay u
g work in connection with the un-
ilarm systei the Fire ].!.
'■"""•""t,"' " ton. consisting of
L;>'"s aboul , .,>,/
about . lamp-posts and
and building two manholes. PI
lUons may be obtained at the above
KT:,Ni; «ASS.-The Edison El.
Illg. Co. of Brockton has applied for a
permit to erect a substation on Am,
to cost about J3.500. l'
SWANSEA, MASS.— The town of Swan-
ky1 &u "i the Pall River El
vii'ip T»«2 ;'"""-"' for lighting the Horton-
\ille Road, from Swazey's Coiner to the
Rehoboth town line. The contract is for a
ol five years and caUs for the in-
stallation of 190 electric lamps
NEWPORT, I: [.- The contract for in-
stalling electric lamps ,„ the Coggeshall
' ', n'i r?.nston '""' Townsend Industrial
School buildings
* Hazard. Tungsten lamps will be ulfd
aiai wires ari to be placed in armored tub-
NEW BRITAIN, CONN.— Mayor George
A. Qulglev has vetoed the res,,luti..i
bj the City < ouncil to submit to the voters
at the naxl city election the proposal to
establish a municipal electric-lighting plant
Middle Atlantic
I-ANSVII I.E. N. Y.— The Dansville Gas
IL ,. '• Co- nas closed a contract with
the village of Dansville for lighting the
streets of the village for a period of five
years, which provides for the installation
or 22 ornamental single lamp-posts, carrv-
mg lamps of 600 cp, 38 lamps of l\,ii ,-,,
with Holophane reflectors, and i:,:, lamps of
?.?...cp Wlth radial-wave reflectors, all type
c lamps, replacing 42 arc lamps and 94
Incandescent lamps. Charles G
ucAvoy is superintendent.
EAST ROCHESTER, N. T.— The instal-
' an ornamental street-lighting sys-
tem on i ommereial Street between Wash-
ington and Madison Streets is reported to
be under consideration.
EI.mira. N. Y The Elmira Wtr., Lt
* '■ '■- Co. cxp.cts to purchase one 600-
"" vol! Iran- ,.
irons and 500 fans. p. H. Hill is general
manager.
NEW FORK, N. Y. — Kids will be received
at the ..Hire ,,r the supervising architect
rrea ur; Department, Washington 1 1 C
until June 8 for Installing
fixtures in the United States Sub-treasury
■■", New Fork For details see pi
columns.
SOLVAY, x. y. -—The Water and Light
n< r,i expects t.. purchase within the
n.xt three months several transformers and
lightning arresters for tin- municipal light-
ing system. Charles H. cross is superin-
tendent of the water and light department
COUDERSPORT, PA \\ ;h, the next
few months the Home EL i to . oi I louden
port, expects to change Its system fr 13a
well to SO i les, 1800 voll . and i I ib
Man a daj set vice al m chase « Ithln
tile next three Inoiitbs Olle I '_' .". - 1 1 1 > ga s en-
gine, two 90-kw to li:.-kw alternators, and
"' I « alternator. As soon as thi
is changed the company expects to put in a
"i'i" 01 electi leal labor Baving devices
1 '" Ni" 'i i the old open Brush an lamp
street-lighting system was replaced with a
i l i egul Itor and Ix p. "(
amp lamps 1 1, b. Belknap Is manager
EASTON, PA Tin- contract for the con
struction of the raw chapi I al Cafayetti
College has been awarded to !•' I, Hoover
& Son, of Philadelphia, I'a. The electrical
equipment will be verj elaborate Carreri
fi Hastings. 226 Fifth Avenue, N.xy York
N. ^ ., are architects.
HAMBURG, I'A -Within thi next ::u
days th.- Hamburg <',.,s A 1:1 1 •.
to purchase from 10 to i" lightning arrest-
.1 Althouse is superintendent and
purchasing agi
McDI INALDTON. I'A. 1 no)
TI..- Brothers Valley Coal Co., of McDon
al.lt. .11. Is installing a substation BJ
1 1..- machinery in Its
mines wiiii electricity. Energy wUl be se-
cured from Johnstown.
.MII.IAAI.K, I'A- Within the ni
the Electric Light Comml
one ' -bp tui
tor and tWO 2'in-hp H
IMld) is superintendent.
SADSBURYVILLE, PA.— The -
valley EL Co Is contemplating supplying
01 way lor the transmission line,
ported, have been secured.
SCRANTON, I'A — The Scranton El. Co
mplatlng Improvements to II
1. at a cost of about ■
which will inctudi the erection of a substa-
tion at the Junction of Archibald and Peck-
ville and at Moosie to replace present
buddings. Extensions will
the electric lines north and south of the
city.
< DSBURG, PA.— The Citizens' Gas
£ El. Co., ol Stroudsburg. is building a sub-
■ an ultimate output of 1800
1 v.i. and 3 miles of transmission line. John
K Harbaugh is superintendent 1
il partment.
MII.I.HI/RN. N. J —The Morris County
■ , of M.11 ristown, has signed a con-
trad with the Millburn EL Co.. whereby
the latter will furnish electricity to operate
the cars on the western end of its lines.
The Millburn company will rebuild and en-
large its plant to meet the requirements of
the additional service.
SUSSEX, X. J.— The Woodbourne El. Lt.,
lit A Pwr. Co., of Sussex, expects to re-
build a portion of its lines. Irvin D. Shorter
ecri tary and treasurer.
UNION BRIDGE, MR— The Union
Bridge El. Mfg. Co.. recently incorporated,
it is reported, will take over the local elec-
tric-light plant, owned by Ezra A. C. Buckv.
and will also install an ice factory The
company has been granted a 25-year
Franchise for street lighting. Clarence E
I .isi.r.lay is [.resident, and Orville E. Shif-
tier treasurer, both of Hagerstown.
WALKERSVILLE, MR— The Council has
awarded the Hagerstown & Frederick Rv
Co., ..' Hagerstown, contract to furnish
electridtj in Walkersville. A transmis-
sion line will be erected from Frederick
to Walkersville, a distance of 5 miles to
cost about * !
HUNTINGTON, W. VA.— The Lincoln
coal Mining Corp. is planning to install a
generating plant at Big Creek. Contracts
for machinery, it is understood, have been
awarded.
PARKERSBURG. W VA.— Bids will be
received at the office of the supervising
architect, Washington, D. C, until May 25
" ch iim.s iii plumbing, conduit and wiring
n.l lighting fixtures in the United
States post office and court house at Par-
kersburg, W. Va. For details see proposal
columns.
FRONT ROYAL, VA.— Bids will be re-
ceived by the constructing quartermaster.
Rei Di Front Royal, Va., until
foi construction, including steam
heat, electric lighting and plumbing, of
aoubl - C. O. quarters, civilian employees'
quarl isolated quarters for enlisted
men. veterinary ward, colt stable, quarter-
ma tei stable, granary and haj -lie. Is,
granarj office, farm implement shed coal
Bhed and oil house. Further Information
max be obtained upon application to the
construct mg quartermaster.
LYNCHBURG, VA.— The Lynchburg
a 1.1 Co.. it is reported, has author-
: 1 it expenditure of $85,000 for rebuild-
ing its electric distributing systems. The
Panj has also made other a ppropria -
1 ion to pi o\ Idi 1. n enlarging the Blacl
' 1 povi 1 ;. and gas plant.
MONTEREY, VA.— Within the next six
"ihs the Monten Garage & i,t Co ex-
i' el to put 1 hai 1 and Install 1 50 hn
boiler, ni-iip engine ami a 25-kw gener-
ator. 1 !. M. Lunsford Is mans 1
R U3HINGTON, D, C— Bids will be re-
ceived at the Bureau of Yards and I locks.
•••■ Department, Washington. D. C, until
May 11 for furnishing at the various navv
yards and naval stations supplies as fol-
lows Newport, R. I., Schedule 8219—15,-
600 It. double-conductor cable; Schedule
-" niiseellaneous brass tubing and
l.r.ni/.e lulling Bids will also be received
al the same place until Max- Is as follows
Brooklyn. X V. Schedule *224 — miscel-
\ limiting bells. W T
W. T. push-button, miscel-
thermoetat frames, contact makers.
.- N. W. T. junction and
miscellaneous elect t ■
Ing fixtures, anchor lights, etc., cargo re-
plies, switches.
. Schedule 8248 5000 ft.
• ry Jars ;
Schedule XL'tl — 2000 ft interior-communi-
cation cable, 24.600 ft. single-conductor
wire, 2000 ft. twin-conductor wire ; Sched-
ule 8235 — 50,000 ft. lighting and power wire.
6200 ft. single rubber-covered wire: Sched-
29,150 lb condenser tubes. .New-
port. R. I., Schedule 8246 — miscellaneous
sheet and copper tubing ; Schedule
miscellaneous sheet copper. Xorfolk, Va.,
S238 — miscellaneous sheet brass.
Philadelphia, Pa., Schedule 8244 — 2940 lb.
sheet copper. Portsmouth, X. H., Schedule
-. • II uieous composition unions.
Applications for proposals should designate
the schedule desired by number.
North Central
BATTLE CREEK, MICH —Plans are
being prepared for the proposed power
building to be erected on South McCamley
Street. Ralph Holmes, of the Hygienic
Food Co.. is interested in the project.
CAMDEN. MICH. — Arrangements have
I..-, n made b> Walter Griggs, of Camden,
recently granted a franchise to supply elec-
trlclty here, to install an electric plant.
The equipment will include a Loomis fuel-
oil engine. General Electric generator,
switchboard, etc.
CHARLEVOIX, MICH.— Within the next
six months the Board of Public Works ex-
pects to purchase for the municipal ele. trie-
lighting system three transformers (two of
5 kva and one of T1^ kva). about 200 incan-
descent lamps and 1000 ft. of wire for pole
line.
SAGIXAW. MICH —Application has been
made to the City Council by the West
Side Business Association for the installa-
tion of 100 ornamental lamps to be placed
on the principal streets in the West Side
business district. The association offers to
pay for the lamps and the installation, pro-
vided that the city will furnish the energy
and maintain them.
TEKOXSHA, MICH— The Tekonsha El.
Co., recently incorporated, it is reported,
will take over the local plant and will en-
large and improve it.
CANAL DOVER, OHIO. — The City Coun-
cil, it is reported, is contemplating changing
the motive power of the municipal electric-
light plant from gas to steam.
CINCINNATI, OHIO. — Bids will be re-
ceived at the office of the clerk of the board
of education, third floor. City Hall. Cin-
cinnati, until May 24 for furnishing materi-
als and installing an electric-lighting svs-
tem in the College Hill School, located on
Maple Avenue. College Hill, and the Mount
Airy School, located at Colerain Pike and
Mount Airy Road, in accordance with plans
and specifications on file in the office of
C. W, Handman, business manager. 511
West Court Street, Cincinnati.
CLEVELAND, OHIO.— Bids will be re-
1 ■ i\ -I at the office of the commissioner of
purchases and supplies. Room 511, City
Hall, Cleveland, until .Mav 14 for electric
meters for the electric-light plant. Plans
and specifications may be obtained at the
Office Of the light and heat division, 1143
East Third Street, Cli veland.
DAYTON, OHIO Arrangements are
being made by the Atlas Portland Cement
Co., which recently acquired over 1000
acres of land between this city and Tippe-
canoe City, to secure electrical service from
the Dayton Pwr. & Lt. Co.
EAST YOPN'CSTOWX, OHIO.— Investi-
ng being made by the city author-
ities with a view of installing a new street-
lighting system.
HAMILTON, OH li '.-Plans have been
completed bj the Wesl Side Commercial
Association for the installation of an or-
n. mi. "ill lighting system, which provides
1.. 1 30 ornamental standards carrying five-
lamp clusters, maintained by underground
>x lies. 1.1 cost about (3,250, to be paid bv
merchants and property holders. The
Electric Department oi the citj is to install
the system and maintain same for a period
ot live years for the amount named.
KENT, OHIO Bids will be received
bx the board of trustees of the Kent
Normal School, Kent, Ohio, until Max- 15
for the construction of power house,' coal
bin and tunnel connection of the heating
plant and equipment for the Normal School
John A. McDowell Is secretary board of
1 1 ustees.
1222
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 19
K 1 NGSTON, OHIO. — Preparations are
being made by Mr. Newmyer, of CircleviUe.
for the installation of an electric-lighting
system in Kingston. Electricity for operat-
ing the plant will be obtained from the
transmission lines of the Scioto Valley Trac.
Co.
LORAIN. OHIO — The City Council has
decided to submit the proposal to issue
(550,000 in bonds for the construction of
a municipal electric-lighting plant to the
voters
NEW PHILADELPHIA, OHIO — The
Ohio Ser. Co. is planning to replace the 300-
cp lamps now in use with lamps of 600 cp.
C. H. Howell is manager.
POMEROT, OHIO. — The capital stock of
the Ohio River El. Ry. & Pwr. Co., of
Pomeroy, has been increased to $500,000,
the proceeds to be used to complete the con-
struction of its power plant and other im-
provements.
SHANDON, OHIO — The Shandon Illg.
Co., recently organized, will soon install an
electric-light plant to furnish electricity
for lighting the streets and residences of
the village. Equipment, it is understood,
has already been purchased.
TRENTON, OHIO. — The Council has re-
jected all bids submitted for street lighting
and will ask for new bids. The town is
now lighted by gasoline lamps, ant] it is
proposed to discard the gasoline lamps and
inst;i 11 an electric-lighting system.
Y< 'IWGSTOWN, OHIO. — The Youngs-
town & Sharon St. Ry. Co., successor to the
Youngstown Consol. Gas & El. Co., expects
to purchase within the next two months
conduit, cable, junction boxes, subway
transformers, etc., for an underground dis-
tribution system in the business district. E.
H. Beil is manager of the light and power
department.
EVANSVILLE, IND. — The Evansville
Pub. Ser. Co. is contemplating the erection
of a transmission line from Patoka to Win-
slow to supply electrical service in the latter
place.
RICHMOND, IND.— The City Council
has voted to take over the plant of the
Richmond Lt.t Ht. & Pwr. Co., to be oper-
ated in connection with the municipal elec-
tric-light plant.
CANTON, ILL. — The City Council is
considering improving the lighting system
on East Elm and East Chestnut Streets from
the Public Square to Fourth Avenue and
the Burlington passenger station.
CHICAGO, ILL. — Bids will be received
by John McGillen, clerk of the Sanitary
Eiistrict of Chicago, Room 700, 910 South
Michigan Avenue, Chicago, until May 20
for furnishing compensators with glassware
and fixtures complete. Specifications and
proposal forms may be obtained at the
above office.
ELIZABETH. ILL— The installation of
an electric-light plant in Elizabeth is
under consideration. The sum of $8,000, it
Is reported, has been subscribed for this
purpose.
LA SALLE. ILL. — Bids will be received
at the office of the supervising architect,
Treasury Department, Washington, D. C,
until May 26 for construction complete, in-
cluding mechanical equipment, lighting fix-
tures and approaches, of the United States
post office at La Salle. Drawings and speci-
fications may be obtained at the above
office or from the custodian of site at La
Salle.
URBANA, ill. — Kids will be received ai
!li> uIIm . uf James B. Dibelka, state archi-
tect, 130 North Fifth Avenue, Chicago,
until June 1 for furnishing ami Installing
general electrical, heating and ventilating
and plumbing apparatus tor the School <>f
Education, Vivarium and Ceramics Build-
ings of the University of Illinois. Plans
and specifications may lie obtained at the
above address.
ASHLAND, wis The [ronwood ,>i Bes-
semer Rj ,v I.I CO., 'if Ashland, which eon
trots th electric llghi and power
ind street railway, is reported to be
plating the construction of a new
planl 'i 0,000 kw i. the
for which has not yet b ■
upon also the const! ui tlon of
steam turbine-driven plant to i
on the lake front at Ashland Arthur E
trd, of Ashland. Is vice president
and manager,
MANITOWOC, wis The Board of Pain
cat Ion I Earl F Mlllei
tect, to prepare plans ami in advertise for
bids for the construction of i central heat-
ing. I',
Manitowoc High School
mated at »i.'.,oon.
MOUN1 KOREB, wis Prei
hk being madi !■ the Mount !!•" at Ht,
Lt. * Pwr CO, for the installation of an
ornamental lighting ring four
t .in placed
for the cable. From 20 to 24 ornamental
standards, to carry five-lamp clusters, are
still to be purchased.
OSLO (R. F. D. CATO), WIS. — The capi-
tal stock of the Oslo Lt. & Pwr. Co. has been
increased from $5,000 to $30,000, the pro-
ceeds to be used to reconstruct the hydro-
electric power plant, which was damaged by
floods.
EDEN VALLEY, MINN. — The village of
Eden Valley has contracted with the Pub.
Ser. Co. of" St. Cloud to furnish electricity
for lighting the village. A. G. Whitney, of
St. Cloud, is president of the company.
FOUNTAIN, MINN. — The Village Coun-
cil has entered into a contract with the
Root River Co. to furnish electrical service
in Fountain.
WACONIA, MINN. — The village of Wa-
conia has granted a franchise to E. F.
Strong and R. F. Strong to furnish elec-
tricitv for lamps and motors in Waconia.
A company will be organized under the
name of the Waconia Lt. & Pwr. Co. to
operate the system. Ornamental lamps and
a series street-lighting system will be in-
stalled. E. F. Strong is manager.
CAPLINGER MILLS (R. F. D. STOCK-
TON), MO. — W. A. Whinery, it is reported,
is contemplating the installation of an elec-
tric-lighting plant in Caplinger Mills to
supply electricity for several surrounding
towns.
CORDER, MO. — Bonds to the amount of
$6,000 have been voted for the installation
of a municipal electric-light plant.
HIGGINSVILLE, MO. — The city of Hig-
ginsville has entered into a contract with
the village of Corder to supply electricity
for lamps and motors in that village. The
city of Higginsville will probably purchase
and install a generating unit with rating of
250 kva, switchboard and constant-current
transformer. D. Riepe is superintendent.
SEDALIA, MO. — The construction of a
dam across the Niangua River and power
plant in Camden County for the develop-
ment of electrical power is reported to be
under consideration by J. B. Quigley, of
Ava, Mo.
WELLSVILLE, MO. — The property of
the Wellsville Lt., Pwr. & Wtr. Co. is re-
ported to have been purchased by C. H.
Lawrence, of St. Louis. The new owner
will make improvements to the service.
FESSENDEN. N. D. — The Council has
granted B. W. Baldwin a franchise to erect
an electric transmission line in Fessenden.
RAYMOND, S. D. — The installation of an
electric-lighting plant in Raymond is re-
ported to be under consideration.
CRESCO, NEB. — Bids will be received
by the village of Cresco for the construc-
tion of an electric-light plant, to cost about
$5,000. G. Johnson is village clerk. Grant
& Fulton, of Lincoln, are engineers.
GREAT BEND, KAN. — The question of
replacing the arc lamps on the street lead-
ing to the depot with ornamental lamps is
under consideration.
KINSLEY, KAN. — Plans are being con-
sidered, it is reported, by the Kinsley El
Ltg. & Pwr. Co. for the erection ofa trans-
mission line along the Santa Fe cutoff from
Kinslev to Macksville, Distributing svstems
will he installed at hoth places
Southern States
CAPE FEAR, N. C. — Bids will be re-
ceived at the office of the supervising archi-
tect. Treasury Department, Washington,
D. C.. until June 7 for an electric-lighting
plant at the United states quarantine sta-
tion at Cape Fear. N. C. For details s. e
proposal columns.
LAURINBURG, N. C. — The Yadkin
River Pwr. Co., controlled by the Caroline
pwr. & Lt Co., of Raleigh, Is contemplat-
ing tl nstmction of a substation in
I.aurlnhurg and furnishing electricity for
lamps and motors In Laurlnburg, Maxtor
and Lumberton.
STATESVTLLE, N C The Southern
Pwr. CO., Of Charlotte. It is reported. Is
contemplating the construction of a sub-
which will distribute
electricity from the four generating sta-
ompany, including thi
out Shoa m under construction
mi the Catawba River, to the sub
in the various towns In which the
furnishes electrical service.
ATHENS, OA Negotlatlc
, losed when bj the Miens Ry ,v i.t Co
« mi supp in Jackson for lamps
,,i,i i, ,,,i. ,i : \\ ,,, i >\ in begin at once on
the erection of the transmission line
HOQAN8VILLE, OA.- Bonds to the
amount of 16,000 have i n voted for ths
Installation of an electric-light plant
Tl ICCOA, OA \t •', • I-, tlon to be held
May 12 the proposal to issue $35,000 in
bonds for the construction of a municipal
electric-lighting plant will be submitted to
the voters.
LAKE WORTH, FLA. — The Council is
considering the question of issuing $75,000
in bonds for the installation of an electric-
lighting plant and water-works system.
OCALA. FLA. — The City Council is re-
ported to have engaged Twombly & Henney,
consulting engineers, 55 Liberty Street, New
York, N. Y., to take charge of the engi-
neering work of the proposed improvements
to municipal lighting plant and water-
works system. The cost of the work is
estimated at $75,000.
WALDO, FLA. — The Williams Realty
Co., it is reported, is contemplating the in-
stallation of an electric-light plant with
sufficient output to maintain 2500 to 3000
lamps. It is proposed to install a steam-
driven plant, using wood for fuel. Equip-
ment, it is understood, has not yet been
purchased.
BRAEMER, TENN. — The Pittsburg Pwr.
Co , of Braemer, we are informed, does not
contemplate the installation of a hydroelec-
tric power plant on the Chuckey River
this summer, as reported in the issue of
April 24.
MHJjINGTON, TENN. — Within the next
four months the Millington Lt. & Wtr. Co.
expects to purchase some meters (possibly
25) and some wiring supplies. W. C. Hill
is president.
JACKSON, ALA. — The City Council is
reported to have granted Mr. Vincent, of
Olnev. III., a franchise to construct and
operate an electric-light plant in Jackson.
An ice plant will also be installed.
BOONEVILLE, ARK. — Preliminary plans,
it is reported, are being prepared by the
Booneville El. Co. for the erection of trans-
mission lines to supply electricity in the
towns of Charleston and Branch.
NEW ORLEANS. LA. — The New Orleans
Ry. & Lt. Co., it is reported, contemplates
extensive improvements to its power plant
at Market and South Peters Streets.
ASTON, OKLA. — Within the next three
months the town of Afton expects to pur-
chase one heater for a 250-hp boiler (S-in.
exhaust line), deep-well pump (electrically
driven I. a small quantity of line material,
meters and station equipment. W. E. Black-
well is superintendent.
CUSHING, OKLA. — The Cushing Pub.
Ser. Co., recently organized for the pur-
pose of taking over the property of the
Cushing El. Lt. & Pwr. Co., will make im-
provements to the property immediately.
at a cost of about $20,000. H. Askin is
manager.
MANNSVILL.E, OKLA. — The town of
Mannsville is contemplating the purchase
of the local electric-light plant, to be owned
and opera ted by the municipality. Im-
provements will be made to the plant If
taken over by the town.
TONKAWHA. OKLA. — Within the next
six months the managers of the municipal
electric-light plant expect to replace the
arc lamps now in use with incandescent
lamps, and to purchase sil
amp) series street lamps,
is manager.
HEREFORD, TEX. — Within the next
three months the Hereford El. Lt. & Pwr.
Co . xpects In purchase one horizontal re-
turn-tubular boiler, one steam engine and
generator; also within the next two months
to purchase one carload of Western red-
cedar poles. F. H. Oberthier is proprietor.
HICO, TEX -Within the next three
months the Central Pwr. .* Trans. Co., Of
III,,,, experts t,, elect tWO sllbsta tiOn.S, Of
200-kw rating and 25 miles of transmission
lines ils, i to purchase material for 25 miles
Of lines carrying 160 kw In transformers
(rating from 1 kva to 10 kva I II. Cleason
is seen tary and manager,
LAREDO, TEX. Bids will be received
at the office of tin- supervising architect.
Tie, sin \ Department, Washington. !> c,
unltl Mas 18 i"i remodeling an electric pas-
senger elevator In the United states post
Office an, I CUStOm hOUBe at Laredo. For de-
proposal columns.
MINERAL WELLS, TEX The Mineral
Wells El C" has r mtlj purchased a
160-kw, two phase, 60 volt gen-
, , ,,,,, ,,,,1 ., IS . i,|, Ball Corliss engine.
direct!} connected W, T. Tucker is general
ma nager.
NOCOMA, TEX The Nocoma fcc •
Lt Co. expect- I,, purchase within the next
inths a 60 hp to HI" hp oil engine
and material lor ftbOUt ' ., mile extension to
transmission line. also some electrical
ppai atua .1 W. Lehman is man-
ager.
winimiM, TEX The Texas Pwi .\ i.t
i',,. ,,r Pallas, has purchased the local
electric light and power plant and will make
nenta f o the s\ stem
-Mai B, 1915
K LEC T R I CA L WORLD
1228
Pacific States
anaccKTKS. wash Ti,. Anacortes
L,i. & wtr. Co. Is erecting a three-phase
wlpn Una, :■ m,i.* long, to the
and The Alaska
Association's salmon i
taking on a load oi 10- watt
lamps at each place and about t;o hp of
motors at the former cannen and 40 hp at
ting the pur-
Ol transform-™, wires, pol
- AUmond us president and manager
< HEWELAH, WASH— The proposal to
FEl i new-hydroelectric power ph., a ,„
ChaweUh will be submitted to th.
i. m Williams la operating engineer of the
municipal electric-light plant
Col, VII. 1. 1:. WASH— The City Council Is
considering a proposal submitted by H K
Williams manager of the Stevens County
Iwr. ft IA.CO., of Colvillo. to furnish the
city with e ectricity for lamps and motors
tf£?i.P/Ti'°<Lof 5JLyeaT"l '" ''•• delivered at
the city limits. The minimm
kw. with an agreement to hold in r.
150 kw during the term of the contract
ELLENSBLRG. WASH.— Bids will be re-
£ ed11by/r1eu5e" Crimp, city clerk, until
May 14 (re-advertisement i for Improve-
ments to power plant, to cost about $60 000
as follows: Construction of power
Incuding excavation, foundations an.l ap-
purtenances; modifications of existing fore-
bay, spillway .,,„i tallrace, Including en-
largement of spillway, construction of new
forebay. with wing wall and special inlet
chambers, excavation of tallrace and basin
"™h lne and delivering and installing one
12,1?$? "J" 120°-kw «eam turbine and
switchboard, exciter, con i .imps
feed-water heater, boiler, new oil-pressure
governor, necessary boiler brick work
breeching, stack, pipe covering and power-
plant appurtenances : moving old plant to
the new station of three water-power units
together with boiler, breeching an.l stack
penstocks and draft tubes; furnishing and
installing necessary additions to penstocks
and draft tubes, moving and re-erection of
switchboard and wiring of building, includ-
ing connection to machines and outgoing
lines. Bids are to be submitted for the en-
tire contract. Former bids for the work
have been rejected.
MILAN. WASH— Application has been
made to the County Commissioners of
Spokane County by the Little Spokane Lt.
& Pwr. Co.. of Milan, for permission to ex-
tend its transmission lines from Deer Park
to the tract of the Arcadia Orchards Co., to
furnish electricity for pumping and other
purposes in that region.
MOSSY ROCK, WASH.— W. E. Arnold,
local representative of the D. J H Oil De-
velopment Co., of Seattle. Wash' is re-
ported to have secured options on land
about 1 mile north of town, to be used
as a power site.
OKANOGAN. WASH.— The Board of
Commissioners has granted the Okanogan
y„,'ie>H P.Wr; Co- °,f Six*™*-, a franchise to
Rlversid transmisslon line f""om Omak to
,.„n°RT TOWNSBND. WASH.— Applica-
tion has been made to the Commissioners
of Jefferson County by James P. Holman
for franchises for the erection of electric-
transmission lines over roads and highways
in Jefferson County. *
SEATTLE, WASH.— Proposals and com-
petitive designs will be received by the
Board of County Commissioners of King
County. Court House. Seattle, until June 7
for furnishing and installing electric fixtures
in the new King Countv Court Hcis,-'
Seattle. Schedule and specifications may be
obtained at the above office or from A
Warren Gould, architect, American Bank
Building, Seattle, for which a deposit of 15
will be required, to be refunded upon return
of plans. The cost of the fixtures is esti-
1 $26, I U ,i Carrlgan is chair-
man of commission.
TACOMA WASH— L. H. Bean, local
manager of the Taenia p.v , [,t & Pwr
Co. and the Puget Sound Trad ion. Lt. &
.\.Wrv£a 'Tacoma branch), has offered to
the City Council the local plant of the
I ug.-t Sound Ti an auxiliary to
'2° niunic I electric- plant, provided "that
the city of Taenia will .In.,, all litigation
in connection with the power fram I
the Tacoma Ry., Lt. .v Pwr Co and allow
the company to sell cl.-ctricit\ to customers
using Ian than LT, hp or more The Coun-
cil Is also considering an offer of the Ta-
coma Central Htg. Co. for malntenai of
an auxiliary plant Commissioner Woods.
it la stated, has expressed an opinion that
the city will accept both offers
TOPPENISH, wash Preparations are
being mad.- by the Pacific Pwr. & Lt. Co
tL^.rnl""d- {,or ,the Installation of three
transformers in Its local plan! replacing
the ones now in use, which are too small
ASTORIA, ORE.— The Pacific Pwr. & Lt
Co., of Astoria, has been granted n fran-
' ounty Court of Clatsop
County to erect transmission lines along the
public highways In Clatsop County.
BARLOW, ORB Plans have been pre-
pared by i: P. Preble, owner of a large
ran.h near Harlow, for the installation of
nt, to be operated by water-
power, to furnish electricity to operate ma-
chines on his farm It is proposed to supply
electrical service to other ranchers In this
vicinity.
BEND, ORB.— The City Council has
I resolution granting John Steidel
and Thomas Tu.-.-t a franchise to install .,
plstrlbul und supply . 1.
on with the Rend Wtr!,
i.t a p«
BURNI . thin the next three
1 the the El. Lt. & Pwr. Co., of Burns
expo ts ti o kva or a 75-kva gen-
Burna flour mill: also to pur-
chase one 35-ln. waterwheel, poles, wire in-
sulators and hardware for L' miles of line
Roy C. Dwyer is secretary and manager.
LOS ANGELES. CAL— The contract for
electric wiring the sheds on the Municipal
Dock No. 1 has been awarded to the
"oodill-Hulse El. Co.. of Los Angeles, at
TEHACHAPI, cal— Work will soon be-
gin on the installation of an electric-light-
ing system in Tehachapl, for which $8,000
In bonds were recently voted. Frank A
Lathrop. engineer, ior.4 West Street, Los"
Angeles, has charge of the work.
i- TAIL. IDAHO (not a post
office) —The Keystone Mining Co., of Black
Tail, contemplates the construction of a con-
centrator plant and installation of an elec-
tric-light plant, water-power, mining ma-
chinery and erection of telephone line, to
.ost from Jino.oon to Jl.in.nnn. Volnev B
Williamson, of Spokane. Wash., is Inter-
ested In the project.
CALDWELL, IDAHO. — Through the
Commercial club the city of Caldwell has
taken the initiative in a move to have the
cities and towns in this region unite in
arranging with the Black Canyon irriga-
tion district for municipal lighting plants
It Is estimated that one-third of the 15 non
hp to 1„. generated by the proposed plant
will be on sale the year around and two-
thirds during the winter months.
MOSCOW. IDAHO.— The Citv Council
has recently closed a contract with the
Washington Wtr. Pwr. Co.. of Spokane.
wash, for street-lighting, under the terms
or which the company is to replace the
present arc lamps with tungsten lamps,
which will be installed as soon as possible
SODA SPRINGS, IDAHO.— At a special
.let lot. to he held May 15 the proposal to
issue lb,, 000 m bonds for the purpose of
Installing a municipal electric-light plant
will be submitted to the voters.
CASA GRANDE, ARIZ.— The citv of
< asa Grande has voted to grant E R
Brackett a franchise to construct and oper-
ate an electric light and power plant here
1 he cost of the proposed plant, including
<i-''.,,,,;;;:';io%20Mono. is estimated at from
MONTROSE, COL— Bids will be re-
ceived by the city of Montrose until May
J4 for the construction of an electric-light
plant to cost about $6,000 E y Archer
« Co., New England Ruilding. Kansas City-
Mo, are engineers in charge.
r„Y!.MA- C.C\\' ~ r,a1s are hein« considered
for the Installation of a municipal electric-
lighting plant in Yuma, for which bonds
have been voted.
BULLION, NEV.— Plans have been com-
pleted, it is reported, by Leon M Hall of
Virginia City. Nev.. and San Francisco Cal
for the construction of a 1500-hp power
plant, with a maximum possibility of 4000
hp, to be installed on the South Fork of the
FTumboldl River. Energy developed at the
plant, it is understood, will be utilized at
tin- mining camp of Bullion. Permission to
take wat.t from the South Fork for power
purposes has been granted, with provision
that It be returned to the stream above the
farm lands.
\i. AMOGORDO. N. M.— The Alamogordo
i'. I Lt. g pw,-_ Co. expects to purchase
within the next three months various
■ " el I leal supplies.
N. IQ ALIOS N M— Arrangements are
b.-ing made by the Nogales Gas & El. Co
to extend its transmission lines to cover
a large territory in this portion of Arizona
and in New Mexico. The company is erect-
mtr a large plant at a cost of about $150,-
to ask for pi
developed and undeveloped
■ and have requested the city en-
gineer to report on the development of the
water-power on Capilano and Seymour
- owned by the city.
MULGRAVB. N. S— The Mulgrave Pwr
Co. has applied to the Nova Scotia i
lature for a charter. The capital st
Placed at $a0000. and the company pro-
■ to supply electricity for lamps, heat-
""' moJ.L""" '" Mulgrave and adjacent
districts. The Incorporators are: Wesley
B ei'. ■ "-'» MuJ<?™ve ; D. McCarthy, of
Allen Kennedy and James Clark
EXBTBR, ont.— Plans are being pre-
on of a new nydro-
"ic system to cost about $30,0"
', "' !"" By2em.t0 su,'"ly electricity to
neighboring towns
tion. T. B. Carling is town clerk.
FORMOSA. ONT— The Formosa El. Lt.
i pUy organized, proposes to erect
a transmission line to connect with the lines
Mil.n'i, ":'Feri°n„^" V- & Pwr- C° at
company emz 1S Pres'dent of the
HARRISTON. ONT— J. H. Castor, engi-
neer f,,r ,he Hydro-Electric Power cdmmfs-
52? >, '"Ontario, has outlined a plan bv
r-.b, w"i mSion and otner towns ™av ob"-
mbL™ dr?;Electnc power from the com-
mission It is proposed to tap the Strat-
fhrn;;i"lxr,'Vh hne near Mitchell, running
through Milverton. Atwood. Listowel Pal-
H,7, rv,'l" H,arris'on„?nd Clifford, provided
that these towns will take power. Harris-
ton would be required to take 200 hp at an
approximate cost of $46 per vear
bJ5^1^1-4, ©NT— Tenders will be received
!V >>" ,YOVw; sec-etary and treasurer of
the Orillia T\ ater, Light and Power Com-
mission, until May 17 for equipment for
pumping station as follows: (A) Centrifu-
gal pumps; (B) electric motors' (C) elec-
trical equipment; CD) cast-iron flanged
Piping: (E) Venturi meter. Plans and
specifications may be seen at the office of
the commission. W. K. Greenwood is engi-
neer.
RODNEY ONT— Plans are being con-
sidered by the Town Council, it is reported,
for the installation of a hydroelectric power
plant, to cost about $25,000.
TARA, ONT— The Village Council is con-
templating the installation of an electric
Plant Electricity to operate the system
will be obtained from the Toronto Hvdro-
1-lectnc Power Commission
FJe?H°NcTa ONT— The Toronto Hydro-
Electric t ommission has purchased a re-
served strip of land in connection with the
new two-story substation to be erected at
the corner of Gerrard Street and Carlow
Avenue to cost about $65,000. A branch
Hydro-Electric shop will be established in
this substation.
Miscellaneous
Canada
VANCOUVER B C. The city Council
'■'* I'lHtruc the tire and police commit-
tees of the Council to make Investigations
relative to the installation of a municipal
electric- power plant. Three water-power
sites arc- under consideration. The eom-
PEARL HARBOR, HAWAII— Bids will
be received at the Bureau of Yards and
nocks, Navy Department, Washington,
DC until June 5 for electric-light fixtures
hJT-t. navaJ hospital building. Naval Sta-
tion. Pearl Harbor. Hawaii. Plans and
specifications may be obtained on applica-
tion to the bureau or to the commandant of
the Naval Station. Honolulu.
PANAMA.— Bids will be received at the
ottice of the general purchasing officer the
lanama Canal. Washington, D. C, until
May zo. for furnishing dynamite, safety
fuse, blasting caps, detonators, motor-
rT..- and sewer pumps, cast-iron pipe
and fittings, steel cable, boat spikes, track
spikes nails and screws, Babbitt metal
sheet brass, bronze bars, copper bars, brass
tubing, copper tubing, sheet lead, lead pipe
solder, valves, cocks, water gages, amme-
teis, voltmeters, etc. Blanks and general
,n>f,°vrmatlont "•elating to this circular (No
or .\,ma$* obtained at the above office
or the offices of the assistant purchasing
fiffUrV,,,24 Slate St,reet" New T<>rk, N, Y
614 Whitney-Central Building, New Orleans
La., and ins,; No,-,), Point Street. San Fran-'
v£&S& officer" F" C" B°ggS iS ~aI
MELBOURNE. VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA
Ihc Railway Commissioners invite firms
Which manufacture or sell meters, coasting
recorders or other devices for keeping a
check on the expenditure of electrical en-
ergy in train operation to submit particu-
lars of appliances which are designed and
applicable to railway trains operated on
the multiple-unit system by means of direct
current at 1500 volts. The particulars
submitted, which should Include a technical
description of the apparatus, details of Its
operation and the approximate cost of equip-
ment Pfr car, must be submitted at the
office of the Agent General for Victoria.
Melbourne Place. Strand. W. C, London
Lng. not later than May 19, For details
see proposal columns.
1224 ELECTRICAL WORLD
Weekly Record of Electrical Patents
UNITED STATICS PATENTS ISSUED
APRIL 27, 1915.
[Prepared by Mitchell ft Allyn, 41 Park
Row, New York.]
UNIVERSAL Floor Box; W. A.
11, Brooklyn, N. Y. App. Bled May
Two adjustable box sections,
proof.
Laminated Core for Electrical
Apparatus; i: B Cutten, Erie. Pa. App.
Bled Sept. 23. 1913. Laminations slitted
to break up eddy currents.
1 136.943. DYNAMO-ELECTRIC MACHINE; E.
i: Cu Erie, Pa. App. Bled Sept. 27,
1913. Special structure for either alter-
nating current or direct current.
i 137,019 Voltage Regulator; a. Pollak,
Paris, Prance. App. Bled July is, L912.
i".. i automobile lighting systems.
1,137,027. ELECTRICITY Meter; G. A.
Scheeffer, Indianapolis, Ind. App. filed
Sept 2s, 1910. Armature has plurality
of windings and independent magnetic
cores.
Dm Cell,; E. C. Smith. Toronto,
Canada. App. Bled Oct 18, 1912. Pro-
vlslon for securely holding the compressed
mixture in pi i
1,137. m I. Keyboard for Printing-Tele-
oraph Apparatus; W. Zabel, Edgewood
Borough, Pa. App. filed April 2S, 1914.
Prevents repetition of a signal in case a
ke> is held in depressed position.
I,i:i7,n4i;. Sectioning: Means for Electric
Stations PROVIDED with ACCUMULATORS;
1;. Brandenburg, Brussels, Belgium. App.
filed Oct. 2. 1911. Minimizes disturbances.
Electrical Cooking Device; F.
E. Carlson, New Britain, Conn. App. filed
Aug. 7, 1913. Mechanical structure of
oven and structure of heater.
1,137,084. Mechanism for Controlling
Railroad Signals; a. H. Renshaw, Noro-
ton. Conn. App. filed Oct. 6, 1913. In-
ed fi ctor of safety
1,137,116. Automatic vehicle-Tire Sig-
nal ; ,T. H. Brown, Midvale, Utah. App.
Bled Dec. 11, 1913, Gives signal when
pressure is either too high or too low.
1.137,121. Electric Regulation; J. L.
Creveling, New York, N". Y. App. filed
Dec 29, 1910 Particularly for charging
storage batteries.
1,137,116. Printing-Telegraph Apparatus;
C I. k'llim, Chicago, 111. App. filed Feb.
4, 1909. ''an be employed either as a
transmitter or a receiver.
1,187,160. Composite Electric System; a.
I>. T. Llbby, Elyria, Ohio. App. filed Aug.
28, 1909. Combined telephone, police and
fire system
1.137.151. Composite Electric System;
a D T Llbby, Elyria, Ohio. App. Bled
18, 1910 Operates lamp signals at
the substations over the conductors which
ed for telephone purposes.
1.187.152. Composite Electric system ; a.
D. T. Llbby, Elyria. Ohio. App. Bled Jan.
1 " Tv 0 conductors for telephoning,
signaling the main station, and for con-
trolling operation of Bpecial signals at
itionfl or patrolmen's boxes.
1,1 37.1 . CAL 1 II8TRIBUTI0N Sys-
tem ; P 11 Thomes, East Orange, N, .1
App. Bled July 6, 1904. Mercury-vapor
eon\ .
1.137.177, 1.01 kim; Device for Electric
Lamp.. II. T Worrall, Chelmsford, Eng-
land, app Bled 1 iei Se 1918 P01 lock-
ing bayonet-type lamps In their sockets,
1,187,186. Telephone Receiver; .1. .1
go, 111 \p|i Bled Ocl !4,
tern for I rs ns
mil ■ etc,
1 ,1 37.1 38. E 1 icrophone Rb-
ll II ,,. Ill \pp
nil .1 ]■', b 13, 1911 i-'oi loud i"' iking
[ulatlon of spring tension,
1,137,189 Transmi n pparati 1
igo, 111 App Bled .loii 16,
hi agm are
both
1,187.199 I 1 ■
1 . 1 ■ 1;
Delaney, South Orange, N .1 Npp Bled
March 17, 19 ■ ■ Sol and
u I. Campbell, La
Bled Julj 9, 1901
' through 11 hi mal
\pp Bled
Nov. 10, 1914. Fitted to ordinary dry
cell.
1 137,223 Machine Telephone Switching
1 F. R. McBerty, Antwerp, and
. Pollnkowsky, Brussels, Belgium. App.
filed March 2, 1914. Improved registering
and controlling equipment.
1 137,226 Electrolyte for Primary Bat-
teries; A. I'. Manchester. I'rovidenee,
K I. App. tiled Dec. 26, 1912. Alkaline
characteristics, gelatinous nature and
minimum causticity.
1 137 231. Machine TELEPHONE-SWITCH-
ING System . L. Polinkowsky, Brussels,
Belgium. App. filed March 2. 1914.
Power-driven registering and controlling
devices.
1137.23a Telephone Receiver; H. H.
Schneider, Seattle, Wash. App. Bled
March 13, 1914. Permanent magnet se-
emed to the diaphragm, with its poles
i.i] cent to poles of an electromagnet.
1 L37.239 Combined Electric and Pneu-
matic HORN ; W. Sparks, Jackson, Mich.
App. filed Oct. 20, 1910. Bulb controls
operation of pneumatic or electric horn.
1,137,275. Filament for AUDIONS ; A. McL.
Nicholson, Tarrytown, N. Y. App. filed
June 6, 1914. Twisted platinum ribbon
with oxide coating.
1,137,295 Electrical connector or
'Socket; .1. I'. Stearns. Worcester. Mass.
App filed March 23, 1912. External
cylindrical form so as to be insertable
into a bored hole.
J 137:ii>9 Oil Switch; L. Fleischmann
and A. Elfes, Berlin, Germany. App.
filed Oct. 11. 1912. Prevents glowing par-
ticles coming into contact with combusti-
ble gases at the surface of the oil.
1,137,315. System for the Transmission
ok Intelligence; R. A. Heising, East
1 1, ange, N. .1 App. tiled Nov. 1 I. 1914.
Two thermionic repeaters in series.
1 .i :;7. :::::: Flexible Clamp Joint; C I'.
Klorer, East Conemaugh, Pa. App. tiled
March 9, 1914. For portable lamps.
1 1 17,331 Mining Machine and Truck;
n ie Levin, Columbus, Ohio. App Bled
\ii: 81, 1910. Milling mechanism can be
separated from the truck.
1 ,1 .'.7,:; In Circuit Interrupter; C. Lich-
tenberg, Schenectady, N. Y. App. filed
I, 1912 lias means just below the
ol 11 d for cooling the pi oducts
oi iii arc
1 1 37,352 Km:" 1 1 a 1 , 1 ; 1; Reisbach, Mil-
. ,,l , . . u |e App tiled Ma\ 6, 1914.
( :iami 1 10. 1 ns for 11 >nti ol levers.
1 187,360 Telephone system; C. Smith,
1 1, ... land, ' ihio App, Bled April 1. 1911.
Si mi automatic,
1 1 1 no. -.1: EXCH INGE Si stem ;
1 1 « , 1. 1,1 u ishlngton, D, C, App
Hied '•'■ 112 Improved means
mtrolling tie aul 1 Ic sw Itching
1
i 1 11 1 Trans m ission
OF I ■■ I 'i I H ' 'OlplttS, Fast
I irange, N .1 \pp died May 18, 191 I,
I I , repcatei ■ n n ■ - as generatoi
of hlgh-fre osclllal Ions and also
1 ■ 1 1 , i , , . 11 11
1,137,893. Ml
Sanford, Mam.- App Bled Feb 6, 1916
I--,,, throwii inllghl Into the
1 1 37. 1 1 3 m L C
McWIIIIams, Chicago, 111 App Hied
\i.i ii ' 1910 1 ■■
1 of short circuit,
1 Mid Cll
' Scliiifl. I.i.iiihx ill. . ki App filed Dec,
|, 1914 1 IDel itSS Signal upon arrival of
Vol. 65, No. 19
the appointment ; bearing strip at prede-
termined point.
1 137 474. Selective Signaling Appar-
atus ; E. R. Gill. Yonkers, N. T. App.
filed Oct. 21, 1910. High-speed selector
for telephones.
1 137 17.". Selective Signaling Appar-
' ATUS ; E. R. Gill, Yonkers, N. Y. App.
filed March 28, 1912. For returning the
selectors to normal.
1137 478. Device for DETECTING Mechani-
cal Vibration ; F. Gottschalk, Stirling,
N. J. App. filed Jan. 15, 1914. Varies
the current flow by the direct action of
mechanical vibrations.
1 137 479 Resistance Cell for Transmit-
ters; F. Gottschalk, Stirling, N. J. App.
filed Feb. 13, 1914. Has diaphragm with
the large area free to vibrate.
1 137, 4S9. Molding: C. Jellinek, New York,
N Y. App. filed April 1. 1914. Ordinary
wooden molding with a metallic facing.
1 137,492. Magnetic Separator; A. H.
Kidney, Orange, N*. J. App. filed Aug.
is, 1914. For testing magnetic sands,
carrying platinum and gold.
1137,510 Dynamo - Electric Machine;
' 10. Mattman, Milwaukee, Wis. App. filed
Oct. 6, 1909. Fan arrangement for cool-
ing the windings and structure.
1,137,513. Electric Heater: W. A. Miller,
New York, N. Y. App. filed Jan. 31, 1914.
For heating contents of a coffee-pot, etc.
1 137 :>24. Process of Producing Carbon-
' itrides ; S. Peacock, Chicago, 111. App.
filed Feb. 14, 11U2. For chemically fixing
nitrogen.
1137,544. Tone-Producing Means; M. L.
' Severe, Arlington Heights, and G. B. Sin-
clair, Medford, Mass. App. filed Feb. 25,
1910. Improved means employing cur-
rent interruptions or alternations.
1 137,557. X-Ray Apparatus : H. F. Waite,
New York. N. Y. App. Hied Feb. Is, 1913.
For controlling alternating current of
given frequency to have the effect In an
X-ray tube of one or more currents of
less frequency.
1,137,559. Metallurgical Furnace : P.
Wedge, Ardmore, Pa. App. filed Feb.
25. l'.ii:;. Provides for effective heating
of the hearth.
1.137.567. Manufacture of Calcium Car-
hihe: F. M. Beeket, Niagara Falls, N. Y.
App. Bled Jan. 20, 1915. Charge is ag-
glomerated into mechanically strong
. gates
1.137.568, Lamp Carrier; T. Birath. Jersey
City, N. -I APP. tiled Oct. 1. 191 I. At-
tached to dr\ Cell.
1 137 57.: PYROORAPHIC NEEDLE ; M. R
Carr, Corte Madera, Cal App. filed Sept
23, 1914. Electricallj heated and has
guard to prevent burning of fingers.
I 137,609 Initial Sparker for ilvs En-
gine Magnetos; l. Haggblom, Los
>.,,_■, 1 a, 1 !al. App Hied Dec. 26, 1913.
\\ hen engine is cranked magneto produces
initial spark to start engine without use
of battery.
1 137,610. Circuit Controller; C i. Hall,
Chicago, in \i>!> Bled Sepl 26, 1911
For use with printing attachments of
power wait n
1 137,614 Amplifier for Tblbpho
1; 1 > Hatch, Memphis, Tenn. App. Bled
Dec. 7. 1914. Has means for attachment
to ordinarj receiver.
1 1 37,68 1 El 111' 1
TACLEi W. R KeltillR, New York. \ Y
\i,p Bled Mo ' h 5, 1911 Floor box, with
means foi excluding dirt,
1 187,660. Automatic ELECTRICALLY ACTO-
m'kh Ti 11 ' ing System I
, 1,, uii 1 deceased 1, Somerville, Mass
App. Hied July 9. 1909. BmplOJ
carryini 1 ll
1 I37.ii7 1 Rain Inoii I smith.
burg, Ind App Bled April 16,
1914 Alfa. 'liable tO outsell
1 I 37. «77 Si TTING I >B\ i' 1 W F
'. 1911.
P01 -I'ttii :: si condai ) cli
1,137,705 i pomatii 1 Sign u ing
' *•. stem ' "i i ' Railways ; S M
, 1 Rochestei . N v Vpp Bled I id B,
1908 Applicable to steam or electric
rallwa) a.
1,137,714 S ' 1 ■ Feeble
.; \\ Plckard,
Amesbury, Mass \pp Bled March 9,
ii holdei lot oseiilation-
• ting ans
1137717 Cali Box i ' 9 Rhoads, Jf .
.,. 111 App Bled April 28, 1911
' foi • ndlm U"
Impulse
1 M klNTAININO
\" m-,.r 1 'ONVERTERS in 1 IPEH ITION P H
Thorn is 1 Ippei Montcl ilr, N .1 \.W>
til,., 1 Aug T. 191 I (Original appl
i\l,.,l 1 , 1 186,488.)
For -
Vol. 63
Electrical World
Tli ■NM..ii,!ation of Electrical World and Engineer and Americas Electrician.
Published by McGraw Publishing Company, Inc.
MU YORK, SATURDAY, MAY 15, 1915
No, 20
Service Alwaj B First
THE new commissioner of the New York Public
Service Commission, Second District, Mr. J. 0.
<'arr. spoke with understanding last week to the mem-
bers of the Empire State Gas & Electric Association and
the Eastern New York Section of the National Electric
Light Association. An account of the joint meeting is
published in this issue. One of the things which Mr.
Carr, just stepping from a utility company to public
office, took occasion to emphasize is that the public
should receive the service to which it is entitled regard-
less of the rate of return earned on the company invest-
ment. Another way of stating this very general truth
is that the company shall give service first and look for
a return only as a secondary consideration. This spirit
animates the electric central-station industry in an ex-
traordinary degree. Service is the definite aim of those
in charge of the operation of the equipment. Without
service there is no revenue for the owners. Service is
the tangible result of the physical structure and organi-
zation of employees, while return is the slowly accumu-
lating residue far in the background, and even lost to
the sight of most of the workers. To justify the com-
pany in continuing in business the return exists, other-
wise capital could not be hired to take the risk of
investment and, because of these economic conditions,
the service desired would not be available.
altered positions. The Missouri commission prevented
adverse conditions from running to extreme length by
permitting a change after so short a test as six months.
Increase in Maximum Rate in Missouri
AFTER consideration of the effect of reduced rates
at Kirksville for six months the Missouri Public
Service Commission has allowed a readjustment of the
schedule in order to overcome increased operating ex-
penses. The "readjustment" involves an increase in
maximum rate for residence lighting. That the com-
mission appears to have some doubt as to the economy
of the management of the property is not so important
as is the fact that, in spite of its impression, it author-
izes an increase in the maximum unit of revenue. That
is to say, the commission evidently does not regard the
possibilities for economy as controlling but it does hold
that more revenue is essential. For a commission to
admit publicly that the facts did not develop in complete
accordance with its forecast requires political courage.
If a commission cannot accept the truth of changing
conditions, its functions might better be abolished. In
the more conspicuous cases of steam railroad rates and
the Milwaukee electric railway fare case the Inter-
state Commerce Commission and the Railroad Commis-
sion of Wisconsin, both older bodies than the Missouri
regulating authority, recognized frankly the justice of
Central Stations Show Gains
CENTRAL stations reporting to the Electrical
WORLD for February, 1915, showed gains of 2 per
cent in income, as compared with the income for Febru-
ary, 1914, and 2.2 per cent in the output of electrical
energy in kilowatt-hours. The percentage of gain in
income is only one-half of the gain in January, but the
increase in the output of energy in February is a little
larger than the increase in January. While the changes
are so slight and the totals so great that experiences of
individual properties are obscured, the plain inference
of the statistics is that the market for lower-priced
energy for industrial uses has improved. The statistics
published elsewhere in this issue will repay careful
study in detail. Although the returns by groups of
states indicate varying conditions, the combined opera-
tions for the whole United States, so far as it is cov-
ered by the reporting companies, show that in Febru-
ary we were still on substantially the level that had pre-
vailed since last October, and still a little above the cor-
responding periods twelve months earlier.
Women Stockholders
IN their movement to protect the Cincinnati Gas &
Electric Company against oppressive rates the
stockholders give .statistics showing the distribution of
stock ownership. Of the 8166 shareholders, 4370, or
53.5 per cent, are women. Women hold 39.7 per cent of
the total stock. Cincinnati holders have 74.4 per cent
of the total stock, 15 per cent is estimated to be owned
by residents of small communities within the Cincin-
nati "metropolitan area," and 10 per cent is held by
more distant non-residents. This disclosure shows the
city that policies detrimental to the company will be
detrimental to the welfare of many residents. Over
one-half of the stock held in the city is owned by women,
and the extent to which their rights are entitled to seri-
ous consideration is a problem that the officials cannot
fairly ignore. It is not necessary for the community
to constitute itself guardian for women investors, but
when it takes rate-making powers from the companies
it deprives them of a means of protection without giv-
ing a compensatory substitute. If it does not legally
guarantee security holders against loss, its representa-
tives should at least give all reasonable protection and
consideration under ordinary circumstances to jeopard-
ized interests.
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 20
Electricity in Mining Service
A very complete and interesting account of the work-
ing of an important transmission system on the South
African Mining Rand was given in a paper by Mr.
J. H. Rider read before the (British) Institution of
Electrical Engineers. As our readers doubtless know,
in the Transvaal there are several important transmis-
sion systems, including one from Victoria Falls, but the
one here concerned is probably the largest steam-driven
transmission plant in the world. The source of energy
in this case is cheap coal utilized in great turbo-gen-
erators. Somewhat more than $15,000,000 has been in-
vested in the enterprise, and the annual amount of
energy supplied by it is 310,000,000 kw-hr., on a maxi-
mum demand of 47,300 kw, at a load-factor of 0.75.
Electrical energy has been adopted for most of the me-
chanical operations in the Rand mines except rock drill-
ing, which is done by compressed air supplied in the
main from central stations, many of which are electric-
ally driven. The total rating of the 1500 motors sup-
plied with energy by the transmission system under con-
sideration amounts to 142,300 hp, so that the average
motor is a fairly large one.
In addition to the important details of the plant, Mr.
Rider's paper contains a valuable account of the pecu-
liar problems encountered and the difficulties faced and
overcome in the operation of mining machinery on a
large scale under conditions unfamiliar to most engi-
neers. Most of the hoisting is now done electrically and
to a considerable extent by induction motors, the Ward
Leonard system of control, however, being used in some
of the largest and most important installations. Most
of the three-phase motors used were employed in chang-
ing over the hoisting gear from steam to electric drive,
although a number of entirely new three-phase hoists
are now in service. As a rule the motors are controlled
by liquid rheostats in which there is a certain amount
of automatic regulation of the height of the liquid in
the tanks, in order suitably to regulate the speed of the
hoist without depending wholly upon the operator.
Some remarkably instructive details are given by Mr.
Rider concerning troubles in design found in various
apparatus supplied to the mines. It must be borne in
mind in the first place that mine work is carried on for
the most part twenty-four hours per day and all the
year round, so that all machines must be designed with
due regard to the probability of extreme wear and tear
and, in the electrical equipment, to the fact that the air
cooling of the machines is limited because the Rand
is at an elevation of about 6000 ft. and hence is about
5.5 in. subnormal in barometric pressure. Among the
common troubles noted by Mr. Rider are faults in the
induction motors, lack of stiffness in the statu? frame
being the most, troublesome item. Moreover, it has been
found that for the sake of gaining a little extra in
power-factor many of the motors have been made with
too small air-gaps considering '"<• stiffness of the frame.
■ rotors 6 ft. in diameter were operated
with a radial air-gap of only 1 mm, a condition quite
sufficient )■ trouble.
Mr. Rider called particular attention to the fact that
in working a large distribution system of motors where
the supply voltage is permitted to vary either way by
10 per cent from the normal it is absolutely necessary
to rate the motors for continuous operation at the lower
voltage limit. Failure to realize the necessity for lib-
eral rating has caused no inconsiderable amount of
trouble in the supply of energy on the Rand both for
the motors and, during the earlier stages of operation,
for the generators, of which there was an insufficient
reserve considering the heavy loads that had to be
carried at times. A good many valuable lessons in
motor driving of mining machinery may be learned from
Mr. Rider's paper, which has the rare merit of being
based directly on the author's long personal experience
on the Rand.
The Havana Generating Station
In the new Havana generating station described in
this issue is found another instance of intelligent con-
solidation work in electrical supply. Three old stations
have been replaced by a single new and efficient one, de-
signed with reference to the future needs of the sys-
tem. The new station, which has to carry practically
the entire electrical load of Havana, has been in full
operation since the end of last year. It now contains
three 12,500-kw turbo-generators with all the auxiliary
apparatus necessary for the complete electric service
of the city. These generating units are supplied with
steam from a battery of twenty-four horizontal water-
tube boilers with superheaters. Both the boiler and the
generator units seem of comparatively modest individ-
ual rating, but in considering the station the fact had
to be faced that any single piece weighing more than
20 tons could be transported only with extreme difficulty
and at very great added expense.
The turbo-generators deliver energy at 2350 volts,
the pressure being raised by transformers to 13,200
volts for distribution. This somewhat unusual practice
is easily explicable by reference to local conditions. It
was desired to distribute energy from the new station
at 13,200 volts in order economically to cover the dis-
tances which might be necessary. The compromise
pressure of 6000 volts which was considered seemed to
possess no particular advantages for the generators and
to involve disadvantages in the distribution because of
the higher cost. In selecting between 2300 volts and
13,000 volts for the generators, ordinary practice would
indicate the latter, but on account of the climate of
Havana, with its normally high humidity, the distance
from the base of supplies and the trouble in obtaining
engineers familiar with high-tension generators, the
lower voltage was selected on the principle of "safety
first." A break-down in the higher voltage winding
might mean serious delays in placing the machine back
into operation. At 2300 volts there is less likelihood of
break-down, and repairs are easy to execute.
Large fuel storage supply is necessary because all
coal must be imported, and it is convenient to be able
to purchase the coal in considerable quantities. The
May 16, L916
ELECTRICAL WORLD
1227
ordinary bunkers hold about 3000 tons, and there is
storage space in the yard for 6000 tons more, or, if
necessary, even double this amount. Use is made of
New River coal since it has been found that the trans-
portation cost make.- low-grade coal dear at any price.
Water for condensing purposes is obtained by a double
canal reaching the harbor and provided with elaborate
inlet screens to keep inconvenient foreign matter, large-
ly jellyfish, out of the circulating water. The detailed
description is worth careful reading, relating as it does
to a very good example of the adaptation of means to
ends under somewhat unusual conditions.
Annual Dues of Engineering Societies
The development of a technical society is a process
which normally pursues a fairly well-defined course, as
has been manifested by the histories of many such so-
cieties formed during the last half century. Ordinarily
the first step is for a small number of men, associated
in a certain field of engineering work and within easy
traveling distance of some town, to meet voluntarily
for the discussion of technical matters in mutual in-
terest. These reunions foster the sense of intellectual
class feeling. They also stimulate the desire to solve
shared problems and overcome technical difficulties en-
countered in common. The next step is to incorporate
a society with an advertised office, permanent staff,
meeting hall and program. This procedure involves
very considerable expense, so that means must be found
for financing the undertaking. In some cases a few
altruistic individuals or institutions come forward and
offer to assume a certain share of the expense. This is
more frequently and markedly the case when the work
to which the society is devoted enrols a comparatively
small number of workers who could not be expected to
afford a proportionate share of the annual operating
expense if this devolved entirely on the membership.
Thus societies engaged in pure or unapplied science are
frequently aided by endowment. They may have their
secretarial work voluntarily done below normal cost by
college teachers, or their meeting halls may be provided
below cost by endowed scientific institutions, or their
publication costs may be assumed in whole or in part
by existing scientific bodies having money to spare.
As the development of an engineering society pro-
ceeds its membership list increases, and the desire in-
creases for the full publication and distribution of the
papers read. At the same time, the members and their
board of directors seek to avoid becoming regularly
under financial obligations to industrial corporations.
They feel, as they grow up, that they ought to acquire
independence of industrial aid. The expense of pub-
lishing and distributing papers steadily increases also,
while the publishing expenses per member tend to rise,
in spite of the increasing number of members. Under
these conditions the managers have to decide upon the
society's financial policy. If the annual membership fee
is fixed at $5, experience has shown that, without con-
siderable external support, the publication must be
greatly curtailed. For example, it is shown to be pos-
sible to keep a scientific society in existence on a mem-
bership-dues basis of $3 annually. In that case, how-
ever, only very few of the papers presented can be
printed and circulated. Ordinarily, the printed list of
papers read at conventions before a three-dollar society
is equivalent to a list of "hie jacet" burial notices. Only
those who are able to attend the convention and witness
the funeral ceremonies of the papers can learn what
they contain.
In order to print, circulate and publish, in regular
volume form, the papers of an active engineering so-
ciety, the annual budget must apparently amount to
about $8 per member, in the absence of external sup-
port. The next step, therefore, in the regular develop-
ment of such a society, is to increase the average an-
nual dues. It is usually impracticable to obtain a vote
of the membership in favor of doubling the dues, so
it is customary to add a new and advanced class of
membership, say, at $10 per annum, with certain ex-
clusive rights and privileges pertaining thereto, in order
that a sufficient number of the members may be induced
to apply for the advanced membership; while no ex-
isting privileges are withdrawn from those members
who may desire to remain in their original five-dollar
classification.
The Illuminating Engineering Society seems now to
have arrived at the stage of development where a new
class of advanced and more expensive membership be-
comes necessary in order to meet the costs of publi-
cation. This society was founded in 1906, with five-
dollar annual dues. It holds an annual convention and
sustains half a dozen local sections in various parts of
the country. It not only prints and distributes annual
proceedings of great technical value, but it also prints
many of the papers for circulation in advance of the
meetings. It has hitherto succeeded in meeting its ex-
penses with the aid of external support from the indus-
tries. It now seeks to rely financially upon its mem-
bership dues, and for that purpose to create a new
class of "members" with ten-dollar dues, the existing
class being called for distinction "associate members."
Privileges to be enjoyed by the proposed new members-
are, first, that officers of the society can be drawn only
from their class, and, second, that only those who may
be either professionally or notably connected with
illuminating engineering are eligible for the advanced
membership, so that a certain amount of professional
prestige pertains thereto.
The question of introducing these amendments into
the constitution is being submitted to the existing mem-
bers of the Illuminating Engineering Society for a
vote. If it is voted to adopt the new plan, the excellent
work of the society, as it is at present being conducted,
will probably be continued on a self-supporting basis.
If, on the other hand, the new plan is not adopted in
the ballot, the society must either continue to be partly
dependent upon external industrial support or it must
limit its publications to those of a five-dollar society,
with correspondingly numerous burials of papers.
1228
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 20
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
"Catastrophe" Reserve for Central Stations
To the Editor of the Electrical World:
Sir: — Discussing further the editorial on "Storm
Losses" in the issue of the Electrical World of April
17, the writer would add that in urging this matter of
a "reserve" he has been met continually by the rejoinder
that all, or very nearly all, "catastrophes" of the charac-
ter mentioned in his letter in your issue of May 1, 1915,
were insurable through the various types and kinds of
insurance companies in America or abroad. It was also
argued that therefore, from a protective standpoint,
such a "catastrophe reserve" was not needful for the
insured, and also that the premiums on such insurance
would be so much less per annum than any reasonable
amount that should be laid by annually for such reserve
that it would be unnecessary to make the public pay
the additional amount needed to form the reserve.
This is only partly true. In the end these losses have
to be paid by someone, or by some collection of people,
and while, as in the case of general fire losses, it might
be deemed best for certain reasons to make these dis-
tributive over a large area instead of being limited to
the particular area damaged, there seem to the writer
to be more favoring reasons for the reserve than for
the insurance.
The first reason in favor of the reserve is that it can
be made a certainty. This is not true of insurance,
which is a contract between two parties of opposing
interests, a contract having many complex conditions
and limitations, the infraction of any one or any few
of which may vitiate the terms in whole or in part to
the great detriment of the amount insured.
The second reason is that the amount of the reserve
accumulated at the time of need can be made available
for use instantly, and very often instant availability is
an important factor in the prompt rehabilitation of the
property and the cost thereof. Even in case of no dis-
pute under the insurance plan, there is always more or
less delay in obtaining the funds, and where there is
any dispute it tends, together with the negotiations
or legal proceedings, to delay further the receipt of
the agreed or adjudicated amount.
The third reason is that the reserve method con-
duces to more economical results for both public and
utility. The insurance method means expenses — "over-
head expenses," if nothing else — from which the reserve
method is free, and it also means, as a rule, a profit to
someone or some class, whereas the reserve method can
be operated at absolute net cost.
It is also well to consider that should the formation
of such a reserve finally become universal practice, as
events seem to indicate that it will, the distributive
factor of the insurance plan becomes of less and lessen-
ing importance as the reserve practice becomes general.
I he above three points of certainty, instant avail-
ability and economy are very strong reasons for the
adoption of the "reserve method" as against the "insur-
method" of taking care of all uncontrollable,
fortuitous and specifically unforeseeable risks in public
utility business.
It is true that, within the above limitations, the in-
available Immediately for the full
amount estimated as needed in each case, while the
M have to be built up gradually and may take
8 it reaches the desired amount and that
within tho • years the catastrophe may happen. But
there i no ir to prevent the use of both methods in
the beginnii . vith the insured amount lessening year
by year as the reserve amount grows. The "reserve"
is simply individual insurance without commercial
profit to anyone and, surrounded by the proper legal
restrictions and protections similar to those of insur-
ance funds in many states, it has peculiar financial,
commercial and social advantages over the insurance
method. H. S. COOPER,
Dallas, Tex.
Complexion and Lighting Effects
To the Editor of the Electrical World:
Sir: — In the report of my lecture before the Chicago
Section of the Illuminating Engineering Society which
appeared on page 1141 of your issue of May 1, 1915, a
slight typographical error rendered ambiguous or ques-
tionable one of the statements with which I was cred-
ited. The sentence was as follows : "Light coming
strongly from one direction produces sharp shadows
which bring out wrinkles and also makes the complexion
appear hard." If the word "harsh" be substituted for
"hard," the meaning which I intended to convey in my
lecture will be expressed.
While on the subject the writer wishes to take ad-
vantage of the opportunity to disclaim before the read-
ers of the Electrical World some of the absurd state-
ments with which he has been credited at various times
during the past few years by certain sensation-loving
editors of Sunday newspaper supplements concerning
the effects of light on the beauty and sanity of unfor-
tunate mortals who may be subjected to light of the
wrong color. Joking aside, however, and relegating to
the scrap heap all of the erroneous and amusing mis-
quotations referred to, there are a few points along the
line of color of light, shadows and diffused character of
lighting which every one must bear in mind to design
intelligently the lighting for interiors where the pleas-
ing appearance of faces under the illumination pro-
vided is of importance. It may provoke laughter to
talk of specular reflection from human skin, but the
phenomenon is very real nevertheless. Where light is
largely unidirectional — that is, where it comes from a
small bright source of light with insufficient diffused
lighting to modify it — minute patches of skin reflect
light by specular reflection to such, an extent that the
appearance is decidedly less pleasing than when the
lighting is so well diffused as to suppress specular re-
flection. Added to this effect with strongly unidirec-
tional lighting there is another, even more disquieting
to the fair sex. The shadows will cause any incipient
wrinkles to be brought out prominently. For the fore-
going reasons both direction and diffusion are important
if the lighting effects are to be pleasant. These effects
were forcibly impressed on the writer a number of
years ago in a room so equipped that different systems
of lighting could be alternately switched on and off in
order that the instantaneous changes could be noted.
The effect of one of these systems ( and a common one at
that) was immediately to create a harsh appearance of
the skin as compared with the effect of a more diffuse
system.
Another problem to be reckoned with in this connec-
tion is that of color. This problem very largely solves
itself in electrically lighted rooms where use is made of
incandescent lamps in any of the forms yet devised,
because the light from such lamps is sufficiently yel-
low to bring out in a pleasing way the rosy tints in com-
plexions. The same cannot be said of many rooms
May 15, l'Jlo
ELECTRICAL WORLD
1229
lighted with gas mantle burners. In the opinion of
some, it will be necessary to exercise care in the future
in the use of gas-filled tungsten lamps where the most
pleasing color effects are desired, and in some cases to
modify the light of such lamps to give a more yellow
hue. The writer is not one of those who believe this
will be necessary in man\ cases, but the condition must
not be forgotten because of the occasional installations
where it must be considered. Of course, if the gas-
filled tungsten lamp is to be used indiscriminately and
unshaded, in total disregard of the eyesight, some un-
pleasant complexion effects will probably be produced,
with the general aggregate of bad results with such a
combination; but where proper attention is given to
the shading of the lamps and diffusion of the light the
methods used to secure diffusion make it easy to give
the necessary yellow tint to the light if thought
necessary. J. R. CBAVATH,
Chicago, III. Consulting Engineer.
Indexing of Electrical Engineering Subjects
To the Editor of the Electrical World:
Sir: — In your editorial on "Indexing of Electrical
Engineering Subjects," in your issue of April 24, you
refer to the inadequateness of the Dewey decimal sys-
tem of classification. It is true that the actual Dewey
classification with its many decimal digits would be un-
suitable for an engineering data collection, yet the
Dewey system itself is admirably adapted for such a
classification.
I have in use quite a respectable array of data sheets,
the result of many years' collection. With many thou-
sands of data sheets comprised in my collection, I have
not found it necessary to go beyond four figures. Thus,
data on "dynamo-electric machinery" include numbers
8000 to 8099, being classed as the first subdivision, 80,
of the main division 8, "Electrical Engineering." The
subject 80 is divided into ten divisions, 800 to 809, ac-
cording to the various classes of dynamo-electric ma-
chines, and under each class ten more subdivisions, such
as 8000 to 8009 or 8090 to 8099, go into the detailed
information about that class.
All my data are either written or pasted on specially
printed sheets, 4 in. by 6 in., or they are folded to this
size and, after numbering, are filed in card-index boxes
11 in. long, each holding from 1000 to 1500 data sheets.
On the printed sheets spaces are provided for the num-
ber, title and reference to source.
I have also prepared an "Alphabetical Index to Sub-
jects," in which all imaginable subjects are entered with
their classification number, thus serving as a time-saver
in numbering data sheets for filing.
New York City. Alfred E. Wiener.
To the Editor of the Electrical World:
Sir: — It is doubtless a fact that the Dewey decimal
system of classification as it is commonly used is not
so well adapted as it might be for electrical-engineering
data classification. At the same time, if properly ex-
tended, it can be made to satisfy admirably all practical
requirements for indexing in this profession. The
great advantage accruing through the use of the Dewey
system is that an electrical-engineering library or a
collection of engineering data indexed in accordance
with it will automatically form a unit of any library,
which may cover the entire range of human knowledge,
provided that library is indexed by the Dewey system.
In other words, if one uses the Dewey system he can
classify all his data and literature — engineering or
otherwise — in accordance with one logical, comprehen-
sive system.
Some time ago the writer had occasion to classify his
own library and collection of engineering data, which,
while not large relati. • a wide range of elec-
trical and other subjects. In seeking a system of clas-
sification, he was referred to the booklet "An Extension
of the Dewey Decimal System of Classification Applied
to the Engineering Industries," issued by the University
of Illinois Engineering Experiment Station. The exten-
sion of the Dewey decimal system as given in this
booklet for engineering data was found to be well
fitted for all requirements. The writer's library has
been indexed in accordance with the University of Illi-
nois system, and all of his notes and data will be ulti-
mately. The booklet referred to is certainly invaluable
to any engineer who desires a systematic scheme of
classification for his notes, data and books.
St. Louis. Mo. Terrell Croft.
Proposed National Electrical Safety Code
To the Editor of the Electrical World:
Sir: — As I have just received the advance copy of
the proposed national electrical code, it is impossible
for me to discuss it intelligently in detail at this time.
Let it be stated, however, that we have been in close
touch with the Bureau of Standards in Washington
during the compilation of the code. In fact, the Work-
men's Compensation Service Bureau had commenced
compiling such a safety code on its own initiative, but
in view of the desirability of uniformity we deferred
to the wishes of the Bureau of Standards in delaying
the publication of our data until that bureau should be
ready to report. Our engineers have co-operated with
the Bureau of Standards for the last six or eight
months.
The necessity of a uniform national safety code, tak-
ing into consideration the factor of safety to life as
well as to property, has been apparent to us for years
past. The fact that workmen's compensation laws are
rapidly displacing employers' liability laws made the
need imperative. Rating schedules for workmen's com-
pensation in electric central stations and distributing
plants had to be compiled, and such schedules cannot
possibly be made scientific unless a common standard
of safety in construction and operation is agreed upon.
As a matter of self-protection, the electric-light com-
panies should insist upon this also. Their rate for
compensation insurance is predicated on the accident
frequency over the entire classification. Prevention
work is not carried on with equal persistency by all
electric-light companies, and the result is that under
the present system of rating some of them are paying
too much where others are paying too little. With a
uniform national safety code and with proper charges
for deviations in equipment from that code, each plant
will be made to carry its proportionate share of the
average in relation to the whole, and the plant coming
nearest to the standard or having exerted the greatest
effort for the prevention of accidents will receive the
lowest rate of insurance.
It is my feeling that the Bureau of Standards is
to be congratulated on its efforts, and it is earnestly
to be hoped that it may receive the hearty co-operation
of the operators as it has received such co-operation
from the National Fire Protection Association and the
Workmen's Compensation Service Bureau. With the
fire underwriters and casualty underwriters in accord
as to what shall constitute standard equipment, I be-
lieve that it is in the ultimate interest of the central-
station companies that they adopt the same standards
for their guidance. Carl M. Hansen,
1230
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 20
Franklin Medal to Edison
At a meeting to be held at the Franklin Institute in
Philadelphia on the evening of May 19 the Franklin
Medal will be presented to Mr. Thomas A. Edison. The
Franklin Medal will also be presented to Chevalier van
Rappard, on behalf of the Netherlands government, for
Prof. Heike Kamerlingh Onnes. The sculptor's model
of the Franklin Medal will be presented to Mr. Samuel
Insull. On this occasion Mr. Insull will make an address
on "Electricity and Modern Industrial Growth."
The Franklin Medal is awarded annually from the
Franklin Medal Fund, founded Jan. 1, 1914, by Mr.
Samuel Insull, to those workers in physical science or
technology, without regard to country, whose efforts,
in the opinion of the Institute, acting through its com-
mittee on science and the arts, have done most to ad-
vance the knowledge of physical science or its applica-
tions.
Edison Medal to Bell
At a meeting of the American Institute of Electrical
Engineers to be held in the Engineering Societies Build-
ing, New York, on May 18 at 8:15 p.m., the Edison
Medal will be presented to Dr. Alexander Graham Bell
for the invention of the telephone. The presentation
address will be made by Mr. John J. Carty, chief engi-
neer of the American Telephone & Telegraph Company.
An address on "How Bell Invented the Telephone" will
then be delivered by Mr. Thomas A. Watson, who was
associated with Dr. Bell in the early development of
the telephone.
Preceding the presentation exercises, the report of
the board of directors of the Institute for the fiscal
year ended April 30, 1915, will be read, and the com-
mittee of tellers will present the report on the result
of the election of officers for the coming administrative
year.
Edison Honored as World Benefactor
An audience which completely filled Carnegie Hall,
New York, attended the formal presentation of the Civic
Forum medal of honor for distinguished public service
to Mr. Thomas A. Edison on May 6.
In his introductory remarks Chairman Nicholas
Murray Butler, president of Columbia University, stated
that the medal is awarded for distinguished services
and great scientific achievement and in recognition of
a great career, which has a place among the highest in
the roll of human history.
Following the reading of a poem on Edison by its
author, Mr. Percy Mackaye, Hon. John Franklin Fort,
former Governor of New Jersey, discussed Edison the
man. He remarked that while Edison lives in New Jer-
sey and is a citizen of the United States, he belongs to
the world.
Dr. William Marconi expressed the opinion that Edi-
son is even more highly thought of in Europe than in
America.
To Edison were attributed by Hon. George McAneny,
acting Mayor of New York City, those inventions which
rendered possible the building of our great cities.
President Richard C. Maclaurin of the Massachusetts
iite of Technology held that the educational world,
particularly the technology, is under Bpecial
obligations to Kdison, who more than an.\ oi
this country has taught men to see something of what
science can do. His Influence must remain a permanent
• of Inspiration both within the schools and
without.
Dr. Chai mmetz characterized Edison as
"the genius, the man of peace." Mr. Charles A. Cof-
fin referred to his "charming human qualities." Dr.
John A. Brashear told of his early association with
Edison, and paid a high tribute to Mrs. Edison, declar-
ing that the achievements of many great men of the
country are due largely to the encouragement of their
wives.
Letters and telegrams which were read to the audi-
ence and then presented to Mr. Edison were received
from President Wilson, ex-President Taft, ex-President
Roosevelt, Dr. Alexander Graham Bell, Dr. Charles W.
Eliot, Dr. Arthur T. Hadley, Governor Frank B. Willis
of Ohio, Cardinal Gibbons, Prof. Elihu Thomson and
Mr. Andrew Carnegie.
Meeting of the N. E. L. A. Executive Committee
The meeting of the executive committee of the Na-
tional Electric Light Association held at the headquar-
ters in New York on May 7 was attended by many.
The following were present: Messrs. Holton H. Scott,
president; Douglass Burnett, W. C. L. Eglin, A. C.
Einstein, L. D. Gibbs, W. E. Long, J. B. McCall, H. A.
Holdrege, Walter Neumuller, R. S. Orr, E. W. Lloyd,
Paul Spencer, H. A. Wagner, W. F. Wells, T. C. Martin,
secretary; S. A. Sewall, assistant to the secretary, and
also, by invitation, Messrs. G. W. Elliott, H. M. Edwards
and W. H. Blood, Jr.
Mr. Burnett, as chairman of the Commercial Section,
informed the committee that the Central Station Insti-
tute of Chicago has offered the section the use of lec-
tures prepared for the Institute to be incorporated in
the correspondence course for salesmen which the sec-
tion expects to issue. The terms offered by the Institute
were acceptable to the Commercial Section executive
committee, and Mr. Burnett asked the executive com-
mittee of the main body for permission to make an
agreement. The committee approved the arrangement
suggested.
Secretary Martin read the membership report as of
April 30, 1915, showing the following: Class A mem-
bers, 1113; class B, 10,805; class C, 90; class D, 251;
class E, 791; foreign, 39; total, 13,089. Applications
were read and approved for the following new mem-
bers: Class A, 31; class B, 1156; class D, 6; class E,
34 ; foreign, 4. The following class C memberships were
approved: Prof. Arthur L. Cook, Pratt Institute,
Brooklyn, N. Y. ; Prof. W. D. Peaslee, Oregon Agricul-
tural College, Corvallis, Ore.; Mr. A. Jackson Marshall,
secretary of the Electric Vehicle Association of Amer-
ica; Mr. J. E. Latta, Underwriters' Laboratories, Inc.,
Chicago, 111.
Permission to form company sections was granted to
the Rumford Falls Light & Water Company of Rum-
ford. Maine, and the Erie (Pa.) Lighting Company.
A letter was read by Mr. Martin, addressed to Presi-
dent Scott, from Mr. I. Fujioka, of Tokio, Japan, an-
nouncing the death of Mr. S. Yashima, who was elected
to honorary membership at the fifth convention of the
association. The secretary was directed to send reso-
lutions to the family of Mr. Yashima expressing the
regret of the association.
President Scott told the committee that the ques-
tion of the relations of the association with the Bureau
of Standards had been referred to the public policy
committee, and that a special sub-committee has been
appointed, of which Mr. Wagner is chairman. Mr.
Wagner discussed the plan of the Bureau of Standards
to prepare rules relating to practically all branches of
the electrical industry covering safety of operation for
apparatus and lines, and also installation and construc-
tion. Mr. Wagner added that the association, together
May IB, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
ij:;i
with other interested associations, has been invited to
participate in a conference with the bureau in Wash-
ington on July 1 and 2. Each association Is to have
three representatives, and Mr. W. H. Blood, Jr., has
been appointed chairman of the N. K. I.. A. committee
of three for this purpose. The members of the execu-
tive committee approved the proposal that the associa-
tion be represented at the conference and assist in
formulating the rules.
Mr. Edwards, as chairman of the accounting com-
mittee, spoke of letters from member companies refer-
ring to the provision in the standard system of accounts
that sinking-fund payments be charged against income.
The letters asked that these payments be deducted as
appropriations rather than as charges against income.
The accounting committee agreed to this change, and
an amendment to the standard system of accounts pro-
viding therefor will be offered at the convention.
Secretary Martin made an extended statement con-
cerning preparations for the convention. Forty papers
and reports are already in the hands of the printers.
They aggregate over 1200 pages of printed material,
and probably another 150 pages will be added to this
total, making it perhaps the largest amount of conven-
tion material prepared in advance in any year. As a
proper hall could not be secured for the public policy
meeting, scheduled for the evening of June 9 at San
Francisco, that meeting has been postponed to the
evening of Thursday, June 10, when it will be held in
the Native Sons' Hall.
Mr. Martin said further that Mr. John A. Britton,
chairman of the local convention committee, has ar-
ranged with President Moore of the Panama-Pacific
Exposition to make Thursday, June 10, N. E. L. A. day
at the Exposition, with special exercises in the after-
noon. These will probably include a guard of honor and
a band to meet the visiting delegates at one of the main
gates and a march to the Festival Hall, where there will
be a reception by the Exposition officials, an organ reci-
tal, and possibly some remarks. The chief intention,
however, is that the delegates shall disperse after the
exercises and, at the invitation of the N. E. L. A. exhibi-
tion committee, visit the various electrical exhibits. It is
also proposed to supplement these features by special
illumination and fireworks in honor of the association
on the evening of Friday, June 11. The local California
companies and the committees are planning to erect in
honor of the association a decorative arch in Union
Square opposite the Hotel St. Francis.
Mr. Martin added that the Jovian Order will co-
operate as usual with the N. E. L. A. during the week,
especially on Thursday, June 10. There will be a Jovian
night on June 8. The details of the various special
features of this character will be worked out during the
present month.
Passengers on the "Lusitania"
A number of persons known in the electrical industry
were on the steamship LusiUmia, which was torpedoed
and sunk by a German submarine off the coast of Ireland
on May 7. Dr. F. S. Pearson, president of the Pearson
Engineering Corporation, had been in this country for
two months and was returning to England with Mrs.
Pearson. The body of Dr. Pearson was found after the
sinking of the ship, and Mrs. Pearson is reported as
missing.
Mr. Isaac B. Trumbull, secretary and treasurer of the
Connecticut Electric Manufacturing Company of Plain-
ville, Conn., lost his life on the Lusitania. Mr. John
B. Trumbull, president of the company, announced that
the death of his brother had led him and his other
brothers to decide to go into the business of manufac-
turing munitions of war. In the past the company has
refused to take orders for rifle parts and shrapnel. Mr.
A. J. Byington, of Sao Paulo, Brazil, representative of
the Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company
in southern Brazil, who was on his way to England after
a trip to this country, was on the Lusitania, but is re-
ported among those saved. Mr. E. B. Tootal, a partner
in the banking house of Ellis & Company of London,
who had been in this country with some of his associates
to go over the properties of Henry L. Doherty & Com-
pany, in which they are largely interested, was also on
the steamer, but escaped with his life. Mr. Edwin M.
Collis, an employee in the treasury department of the
Commonwealth Edison Company of Chicago, was on his
way to England to collect a legacy; after clinging to a
piece of wreckage in the water for two hours he was
rescued and cabled his family in Chicago that he was
safe. Mr. Elbert Hubbard, editor of the Philistine, who
has addressed meetings of the Jovians and other elec-
trical gatherings many times, and Mrs. Hubbard lost
their lives.
Manufacturers and Central-Station Service
Increase in popularity of central-station service among
manufacturers was discussed by Mr. H. H. Holding,
general power representative of the Public Service Elec-
tric Company of Newark, N. J., before the National
Electric Light Association Company Section recently.
The subject of Mr. Holding's paper was "Why the
Manufacturer Prefers to Use Central-Station Power."
The increased popularity of central-station service, Mr.
Holding said, has been a surprise to promoters of pri-
vate-plant apparatus and engineers of generating plants.
Unfortunately central-station new-business departments
have not fully appreciated the situation themselves. The
probable underlying reason for decisions favorable to
the central station on the part of the manufacturer has
often been overlooked, and it has not been used as a sell-
ing argument by the central-station salesman as often
as occasion would warrant. The accompanying table
gives figures taken from the United States Census re-
ports on the status of manufacturing industries.
In ten years the total value in dollars of manufactures
increased 80 per cent, Mr. Holding showed. The cap-
ital invested in manufacturing industries, however, in-
creased 105 per cent. As a result earnings upon capital
invested decreased 30 per cent. Had it been found
possible to increase the capital required in direct pro-
portion to the increase in value of product, the decrease
in the return for capital invested would have been less
than 10 per cent. In ten years the manufacturer de-
creased greatly the number of laborers or wage-earners,
but the wages of such employees increased so as prac-
tically to balance the effect of the reduced number. Much
of the increase in capital undoubtedly has been for the
purpose of increasing the efficiency of manufacture by
the introduction of modern tools and methods of han-
dling material.
Analyzing the energy requirements, it is discovered
that electric drive in 1899 was only 5% per cent of the
total, in 1904 12.6 per cent, and in 1909 25 per cent. The
part, therefore, which electric transmission of energy
within the factory has played in this shifting condition
in the industrial arts is quite obvious. If it were pos-
sible to give authentic figures up to the present time,
the ascending curve of the application of the electric
motor, Mr. Holding said, would undoubtedly show a high
percentage. A recent census by the Public Service
Electric Company indicates that electric drive is util-
ized to the extent of 46 per cent of the entire energy
used in the territory.
As in many instances cost of energy is only a small
1232
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 20
proportion of the total cost of product manufactured, a
great amount of capital should not be invested perma-
nently for energy purposes. As the manufacturer in-
vests his money for the returns from such investment,
Mr. Holding continued, his reasoning, promoted and
supported by the financial interests involved, would be
along the line indicated as follows:
/
•
t
?-
>
•
/
/-
> 30
S
V
c
o io
0. 5
0
38?
B
01
K
KB
19
05
a
M
iy
09
19
1
1913
Yea rs
FIG. 1 — RATE OF ADOPTION OF ELECTRIC DRIVE
Generally speaking, return for invested capital is in
proportion to the risk involved. Investment in a gold
mine may promise tremendous return, but the security
CENSUS STATISTICS OF MANUFACTURERS, AUL INDUS-
TRIES—UNITED STATES
1899 1909
Number of establishments 207,514 268,491
Employees :
Salaried employees 364,120 790,267
Wage earners (average number) . 4,712,763 6,615,046
Total employees 5,076,883 7,405,313
Rating (in horse-power) of engines
owned :
Steam 8,139,579 14,199,339
Gas 134,742 751,186
Water 1,454,112 1,822,888
Electric 310,374 '3.068, 109
Other 49,985 29,293
Total 9,778,418 16.802,706
Rating (In horse-power) of motors
using purchased energy :
Electric 182,562 1,749,031
Other 136,913 123,639
Total 319,475 1,872,670
Total engine rating 10,097,893 18,675,376
Capital $8,975,256,000 $18,428,270,000
Expenses :
Services — Salaries $380,771,000 $938,575,000
Wages 2,008,361,000 3,427,038,000
Cost of materlalst 6,575,851,000 12,142,791,000
Miscellaneous 905,442,000 1,945,686,000
Total expenses 9,870,425,000 18,454,090,000
Value of products 11,406.927,000 20,672,052,000
Value added by manufacture 4,831,076.000 8,529.261,000
1889 1904 1909
Rating of engines owned :
Electric horse-power •310,374 «1, 150,886 •3,068,109
Rating of motors using purchased
energy :
Electric horse-power 182,562 441.589 1,749,031
T-.tal using purchased energy.. 319,475 632,902 1,872,670
Total engine rating 10,097,893 13,487,707 18,675,376
•Electric motors using energy gener." innents
lion are excluded from tho total,
tlncluding cost of I D
of the principal so invested is indeterminate because the
lead may end at any moment. Investment in govern-
ment bonds has national credit as a basis and is there-
fore very secure but gives a very low rate of return.
Between these two limits there la a broad field for in-
vestment, and within this field lies investment in in-
dustrial art.
Having in mind that part of the investment necessary
for a private electric generating plant, the risk of such
investment depends upon the condition of business, cost
of operation, changes in manufacturing processes,
change in national policy and money supply.
The history of the country indicates that business,
especially along manufacturing lines, is variable; there
are some years of plenty and some lean years. This
fact is illustrated, said Mr. Holding, by the kilowatt-
hour curve of the company for 1914 showing by months
the kilowatt-hours used for industrial energy. The
average condition, then, should not be judged by the
study of a prosperous period.
Cost of operation is increasing gradually because of
the increased cost of fuel, labor, repairs and incidentals.
There seems to be no indication of decrease in the near
future.
Scientific study is changing manufacturing. The
change of operation may have a decided effect on the
energy required and therefore upon the source thereof.
This is illustrated by the experience of the rubber indus-
try during the last two years.
Greater or less success of an industrial venture de-
pends to some extent upon its relation to the world's
competition. The tendency is for this country to enter
more and more into competition with the world at large.
Periods when it is difficult to obtain money for indus-
trial investment come very frequently. Borrowing de-
pends upon security. Investment in "fixed plant" is
regarded by bankers as a poor basis of credit as it is
not quickly negotiable. Therefore all money spent for
generating plant impairs credit. Many a manufacturing
business has been sacrificed because of inability to raise
needed funds quickly.
As a single instance, it is estimated that if ready
capital should be used to obtain an average saving of
2 per cent per month for cash buying, discounting of
bills, stocking of material, etc., at the end of a year a
net earning of 26.8 per cent will be shown.
With such a process of reasoning, Mr. Holding con-
tended, it is not to be wondered that the manufacturer
should decide to save investment in a private generating
plant, even though the kilowatt-hour cost, as determined
by his consulting engineer, should be much higher for
purchased energy. Where the manufacturer has to
solve the problem of providing energy he will call for
B0 6
» I
r r
p
o«°*p*Y^
r~
r
-
-
FIG. 2 COMPARISON OF HORSE-POWER AND KII.OWATT-
IIOUR PRODUCTION
expert advice, and if he is a wise investor, he will un-
doubtedly also give very careful consideration before
he decides upon the expenditure of any great amount
of money. In making an estimate of the probable cost
per kilowatt-hour in a factory plant the engineer must
assume a set of conditions. The conditions assumed are
obtained from the data furnished by the manufacturer.
New Power Station for City of Havana
Description of Installation That Replaces Three Former Plants
of Electric Company Serving the Cuban Capital
By C. W. Ricker*
THE consolidation of the Havana Electric Com-
pany and the Havana Gas & Electric Company
some two years ago made it evident that a new
electric generating plant should be built to take the
place of the three old and inadequate power stations
then in operation. The new station was needed not
only to reduce the cost of producing energy, which alone
would have fully warranted the investment, but, what
is more important, to meet the constantly increasing
need for electrical energy in the company's many and
varied activities.
In consequence a contract for equipment was made
early in February, 1913, with the Westinghouse Elec-
tric & Manufacturing Company. This covered three
12,500-kw turbo-generators, together with condensers,
boiler-feed pumps, automatic stokers, exciters, trans-
formers, electrical switch gear and control apparatus,
the limited capacity of each generating unit being due
to the fact that no single piece exceeding 100,000 lb. in
shipping weight could be transported without excessive
difficulty and expense. Shortly after placing this order
a contract was made with the Babcock & Wilcox Com-
pany to furnish and install twenty-four 6000-sq. ft.,
horizontal water-tube boilers with internal Foster
superheaters, and with the selection of the principal
features of apparatus the plans for the power-house
building were rapidly developed, work being begun on
the foundations on March 17, 1913.
The first of the generating units was started on Oct.
1, 1914, and began to carry load regularly on Oct. 3.
On Dec. 1, 1914, two main units were in regular oper-
ation, and the old plant, which had supplied the larger
portion of the lighting and commercial motor loads, was
finally shut down. On Dec. 11 the third generating
unit was put into regular operation, and on Dec. 31 all
of the railway load was transferred to the new station,
with the exception of that which was to be carried by a
new substation then under construction.
In general the new station is divided into three sec-
Railway, Light
tions or panels, each consisting of one generating unit
complete with its condenser, condenser pumps, boilers
and connecting piping. The general auxiliaries for the
station, consisting of exciters, boiler-feed pumps, plant-
service and heater-supply pumps, feed-water heaters
and meters, constitute a fourth group. This is installed
between the second and third of the main units. The
steam piping of the three sections is connected by an
equalizer or tie-line header, to which the auxiliary group
is connected so that the general auxiliaries may be sup-
plied with steam directly from any section or sections
of the boiler plant in operation. All condenser pumps
and general auxiliaries are steam-driven and they ex-
haust into a bank of open feed-water heaters.
As the only water available for boiler feed must be
purchased from the city water supply system at a very
high price and is heavily charged with scale-forming
matter, it is important to save all the condensate possi-
ble and to keep it free from oil. Consequently, all
auxiliaries are turbine-driven except the three house-
service pumps, the stoker engines and a few small
pumps. These exhaust through oil separators, and in
this way only a very small part of the steam condensed
in the main feed-water heaters or the condensers ever
comes in contact with cylinder oil. The only known
losses of water evaporated in the boilers are due to
leakage from pipe and boiler joints and the steam blown
into the stoker grates.
The steam piping was laid out in accordance with the
general plan of three main sections and an auxiliary
section all tied together by an equalizer or tie-line
header with sectionalizing valves. This general scheme
is followed also in the exhaust piping of the auxiliaries,
the drain piping and the circulating-water system of the
main condensers. The drainage of the high-pressure
steam piping flows through groups of traps which dis-
charge to the main heaters, and the low-pressure drains
flow to the outside water service.
Owing to a city ordinance which forbids the connec-
tion of pumps which draw water directly from the city
main, a storage tank has been provided outside the
1234
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 20
building into which water flows under normal pressure.
For this the pit of an old gas holder formerly used by
the gas department was repaired and covered and an-
other similar pit is under construction. The combined
capacity of the two pits will be about fifteen days'
supply of water for the make-up and for general plant
service with the present equipment fully loaded. If the
plant is operated non-condensing, however, the supply
would last for only a few hours. All rain water from
The determination of the generator voltage was based
upon the fact that 6000 volts offers no advantages as
compared with 13,200 volts and has the disadvantage of
much higher copper cost. This left the choice between
2200 volts and 13,200 volts, both being entirely prac-
ticable for the generators purchased, but mainly on ac-
count of the constant high humidity and also the dis-
tance in both space and time from the base of supplies
and the difficulty in getting station attendants in Cuba
FIG. 1 — CROSS-SECTION SHOWING ARRANGEMENT OF BOILERS AND TURBINES
roofs and other clean surfaces will flow into the storage
tanks.
This large fresh-water supply is of great importance,
as the city water is subject to variation of pressure and
even to occasional interruptions which in the past have
threatened the constancy of service very seriously. In
addition, if the plant had to run non-condensing under
heavy load for even a few minutes, the flow from the
city pipes would be quite inadequate to supply water to
the boilers.
Electrical Equipment
The electrical characteristics of main generators were
selected on the basis of the various systems of distribu-
tion already in use, such matters as climate, character
of available station labor and distance from the base
Of BUpplie being also considered. Energy is distributed
to the railway substations at 18,200 volts by aerial lead-
red cable. About three-fifths of the energy for the
lamps and motor loads is transmitted at 2200 volts by
overhead single-wire lines, while two-fifths is trans-
mitted at 6000 volts by underground lead covered cables.
All of the three systems are three phase-operated at a
frequency of sixty cycles. While both the lighting and
the motor COVflr the whole city, the
■ r part of the load in the vicinity of the plants is
transmitted at 220 volts.
who were used to such high-tension winding, the lower
of the two voltages was selected. This involved some
serious difficulty due to the great size of the generator
leads and generator circuit-breakers, but these objec-
tions were considered easier to overcome, under the cir-
cumstances, than the local difficulties with high tension.
Three sets of single-phase raising transformers for
13,200 volts with a rating of 6000 kva per bank were
purchased as an initial equipment. These are provided
with divided secondary coils and sub-voltage taps so
that one bank may be used to supply energy to the 6000-
volt distribution as long as that continues in service.
The main generators are provided with automatic oil
circuit-breakers having positive time-element and re-
\ rise-power trips, designed especially for the protection
of the lead busbars and station wires, because the large
current in case of a short-circuit could do very serious
damage.
A fourth generating unit of the same rating as the
first three can be installed in the present building with
only relatively slight expense for modifications in the
piping system and additions of corresponding sections
to the busbar and switch structure and the control
switchboard. Further extensions with similar or larger
generating units can be made at either end of the
present building, and these can be completed ready for
Mai 15, 1916
ELECTRICAL WORLD
1235
use before removing the present end walla without
interfering with regular operation in any way.
Steam Generating Equipment
The tract of land on which the generating plant is sit-
uated has <>oo ft. of waterfront on an arm of the harbor
of Havana, and a rein forced-concrete wharf designed
for 'in ft. of water has been built across the whole front-
age. A track is laid along the face of this wharf, and
this connects with the yard system in the plant track
and with the double-track freight line of the Havana
Terminal Railway, which crosses the property in the
public streets between the wharf and the power plant.
The principal object of the wharf is the receipt of coal,
and for this purpose a complete unloading and conveying
apparatus has been installed. This can take coal from
barges or ships and deliver it to the storage bunkers
of the plant, which hold about 3000 tons, or to the
railroad cars for transport either to the present coal-
storage yards near by or to any other point reached by
the connecting tracks. Coal can also be received in
cars from the storage yard or elsewhere and delivered
to the plant bunkers. This extra precaution was taken
because all coal must be imported, and it may be neces-
sary or convenient to receive and store larger quan-
tities of coal than the plant bunkers can hold. The
yard has a normal storage capacity of 6000 tons and,
in emergency, double that amount.
The 6000-sq. ft. boilers are equipped with improved
Roney stokers, which provide for the evaporation of at
least 40,000 lb. of steam per hour per boiler with the
best efficiency at rates between 23,000 lb. and 28,000
lb. of steam per hour. At the customary rating of
boilers this is equivalent to a maximum of 200 per cent
of nominal rating with best economy between 130 per
cent and 150 per cent. As each main unit with its
all-wrought-steeJ type set in brick with the front head-
• 1- 12 ft above the floor.
The stokers have flat suspended tile arches 6 ft. long
projecting out in front of the boiler setting in a half
Dutch oven. In consequence the stokers do not extend
inside the combustion chamber or obstruct the gas
passages.
Because of the high transportation cost it has been
found most economical to use only the best grade of
coal produced in the eastern part of the United States.
At present New River semi-bituminous coal averaging
about 14,800 thermal units per pound is being pur-
chased.
All of the boilers are placed upon one level and are
arranged in two lines of twelve units, each extending
parallel to the long dimensions of the turbine room.
They are set in batteries and face each other across a
wide aisle. This arrangement was selected as offering
the maximum free space and coolness with a minimum
of ground occupied, the consideration of climate involv-
ing the need for ample ventilation. The length of the
building was determined by that of the two rows of
twelve boilers with two chimneys for each row. This
length corresponds with that required for the generat-
ing and electrical equipment, leaving room for a fourth
main unit to be added when the load reaches the per-
missible output of the original installation.
The four chimneys are 268 ft. high above the base-
ment floor and 250 ft. above the grate. They are built
of reinforced concrete with walls 19 in. thick at the
bottom and 6 in. at the top, and they taper from 20.5
ft. in external diameter at the bottom to 15 ft. at the
top. A separate self-sustaining concrete lining extends
to a height of 104 ft. above the ground. The smoke
flues are built of sheet steel stiffened with angles. They
are 7 ft. wide by 12 ft. high and are placed over the
F'G. 2 — INTERIOR OF TURBINK ROOM, SHOWING MAIN UNITS AND EXCITERS
auxiliaries requires about 180,000 lb. of steam per hour
at the most economical load and 225,000 lb. at the maxi-
mum continuance load, eight boilers are allotted to each
main group, this being enough to support the maximum
load at best economy and still supply full-load safely
with two boiler units out of service for cleaning or
repairs.
The boilers are of the Babcock & Wilcox standard
aisles behind the boilers. Space has been left over each
row of boilers for the installation of economizers in the
future.
Above the level of the boiler and over the wide aisle
between them is a parabolic reinforced-concrete bunker
to hold 3000 tons. Beneath this is a traveling larry
with a 10-ton weighing hopper which can receive coal
from gates placed at intervals of 10 ft. along the bot-
1236
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 20
i^JILH
h^hf ^ *'^B
l^^-»aSi
^v flP A 10^
HI i£ J ■ St •■ *
w^ ^i # .r"'^1
i-
FIG. 3 — BATTERY OF STEAM-TURBINE-DRIVEN EXCITERS
torn of the bunker. After the coal is weighed on the
larry it is discharged into 4-ton steel receiving hoppers,
which are set just over the usual feeding hoppers of the
stokers. By this scheme coal can be drawn from any
desired portion of the bunker, thus preventing bunker
fires from becoming serious.
General Arrangement of Equipment
As the turbine room is placed alongside the boiler
room with the turbines in a line parallel to the two rows
of boilers, the three turbine units are so placed that
each is approximately opposite to a corresponding group
of eight boilers, four on each side of the center aisle in
the boiler room. At the same time room is left at one
end for an additional generating unit as well as a clear
area about 40 ft. wide in the center of the turbine room,
along one side of which are placed the four 100-kw
exciter units.
A brick wall extending from the boiler-room floor to
the roof divides the boiler house from the turbine room,
but the basement is open and continuous to the further
side of the turbine foundations. The main generating
units are set on longitudinal steel beams supported on
concrete piers transverse with this wall, thus leaving
spaces under the unit and between the piers open for
auxiliary apparatus and ventilation. In order to avoid
having pumps below ground level, the main units and
the turbine-room floor were set 24 ft. above the ground,
thus affording ample head room from the condensers
and auxiliaries. Directly below each main turbine is
placed a 30,000-sq. ft. surface condenser with the cir-
culating pump at the boiler-room end and the air and
hot-well pumps at the side, all set on the ground floor.
The other turbine auxiliaries are set along the wide
aisle runnfng the length of the basement on the side
that is nearest to the boilers, the boiler-feed, service
and heater pumps being in the central space between the
second and third turbine foundations under the exciters
on the floor above.
Large openings are left in the turbine-room floor so
that all the auxiliaries in the basement are in plain
view from above, and all except the condenser circu-
lating pumps and the feed-water heaters can be reached
directly by a 50-ton crane, which runs the length of the
turbine room.
At the side of the turbine foundations opposite to the
boilers a brick wall divides the basement from end to
end but leaves full-size openings into the spaces under
the generator ends of the main units. Each of these
spaces is closed off at the boiler-room end of the piers
FIG. 1
OPERATING SW1TI IIHOAKDS AND HKNCHBOARD IN
GALLERY
FIG. 5-
SURFAC1 CONDENSES SEPARATED IN HALVES TO
I \' 1I.ITATE CLEANING
May 15, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
1237
ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT OF CONSOLIDATED POWER PLANT OF HAVANA ELECTRIC-
RAILWAY, LIGHT & POWER COMPANY
x
Kquipoant Type -oe U«
Operating Coodiuoot Manufacturer
1
Turbo-feoeralon HoraoDUl 12.500 kva
1800 r.pjn.. 2350 volt*. tiiree- W. E. 4M.I o.
phase, 60 cycles
1
Do Do. 100 kw
2400r.p.m., 125 volt- | Do,
1
Transformer, 0.LW.I 2.000 kra Mill transformation
1
2200/13.200 volts, single- Do.
phase, 60 cycles delta to Y '
I
Do. O. I. S. C NOkro Station power cringle-phase. Do
| 60 cycles, delta to delta
2
Do. Do. Mkn
phase, 60 cycles
3
Do. Do. 5kva With S.K.W. motor-generator 2200 110 volta, ringle-phase,
seta 60 cycles
Do.
.
Do.
control motor 125 volts, d. c
1
£7 load and glass jars
60 amp-hr.
Inst, and circ.-breaker control 110 volts, d. c
E. S. B. Co.
1
150 leva
High-tension testing 2200 2200 volta.
W. E. h M. Co.
I
Do. Do.
150 leva
Do.
1
Do. For above 150 kva transf mer
Do.
»
Oil circuit-breakers Three-pole E4 cell type .
4000 amp, 2500 volta
2350 volts, 3200 amp, 60 cy-
cles. Automatic with over-
load and reverse current
relays
«
Do. Three-pole E2 cell type
2000 amp, 2500 volts
Automatic with overload in-
i:iie-luuit rel ays,
2350 volts, 1575 amp, «
cycles. Full load
16
Do. Do.
For main 2200-volt feeders. .
2350 volts, 600 amp
Do.
«
Do. Do.
For high-tension side of trans-
former
265 amp, 1320 volts, full-load
automatic with overload
I.T.L.rtlays
Do.
IS
Do. Do.
For 13,200-volt feeders
300 amp, 13.200 volts.futl load
Do.
6
Three conductor 7/64-in. lead
and 3/32-in. bj
paper, 2500 volts
Each conductor No. 1000
stranded. Each approxi-
mately 160 in. long
For feeding 2300-volt light
and power distribution sys-
tem
Suitable for a normal continu-
ous capacity of 750 kw,
three-phase, at 2300 volta
J. A. Roebling's Sons Co
5
Do. Do.
Do. Approximately 2*0 in.
long
For feeding substation No. 1
at 2300 volU, thm-phase
Do.
Do.
2
Do. Do.
Do. Approximately 30 in.
long
For feeding station light and
power
Do.
Do.
1
Do. Three-conductor.:
-■-in. paper
and steel arm., 15.000 volts
Each conductor 75 sq. mm
(approx. 148,000 circ. mil*.
approx. 5000 ft. long
For feeding 6600-volt light
and power distribution sys-
tem
Suitable for a normal continu-
ous capacity of 20O0 kw,
three-phase, at 6600 volts
Standard Underground Cable
Co.
1
Do. Made up of two lengths Thre^conductor.7* 64-in.lead,
of cable of different charac- and S/32-io. by B/82-ilL
tcristica r, 15.000 volts
Three-conductor, 7 64-in.lead
and 6,32-in. by 6 32-io.
varn. cambric, US
Each conductor No. 1 strand-
ed, approx. 2500 ft. long.
Each conductor No. 4 strand-
ed, approx. 4000 ft. long
For feeding substation No. 2
at 13,200 volts, three-phase
Suitable for a normal continu-
ous capacity of 1500 kw,
three-phase, at 13,200 volts
J. A. Roebling's Sons 1 '...
Standard Underground Cable
Co.
1
Do. Three-conductor. 1
and 6/32-in. by i, 32-ii
paper. 15.000 volts
Three-conductor, 7/64-in. lead
and 6/32-in. b]
varn. cambric, 15,000 volts
Each conductor No. 1 strand-
ed, approx. 2500 ft long
Each conductor No. 4 strand-
ed, aj'prox. 7000 ft. long
For feeding substation No. 3
at 13,200 volts, three-phase
Do.
J. A. Roebling's Sons Co.
Standard Underground Cable
Co.
1
Feeder cables of two lengths. Three-conductor, 7 64-in.lead,
6/32-in. by 6 --'-in. papa
and i
varn. cambric, 1 5,1
Each conductor No. 1 strand-
'■■1, ;i|i[in_.\. noo ft. long
Each conductor No. 1 strand-
i '1. npiirox. 5500 ft. long
For feeding substation No. 2
at 13.200 volts, three-phase
Suitable for a normal continu-
ous capacity of 2500 kw,
three-phase, at 13,200 volta
J. A. Roebling's Sons Co.
1
Do. Do.
Each conductor No. 1 strand-
ed, approx, (J00 ft. long
Each conductor No. 1 strand-
ed, approx. 6500 ft. long
ling substation No. 3
at 13,200 volts, three-phase
Do.
Do.
1
Do. Thn e-conductor, 7, 64-in.lead
and 6/32-io. bj
varn. cambric, 15,000 volts
Each conductor No
ed, approx. 17,500 ft. long
Tor feeding substation No. 4
from substation No. 2 at
Suitable for a normal continu-
ous capacity of 1500 kw,
three-phase, at 13,200 volts
Standard Underground Cable
Co.
So. 1 solid, approx. 22,500 ft.lFor feeding substation No. 5
long from substation No. 3 at
13,200 volte
Suitable for a normal conttnu-U. S. Steel Products Co.
ous capacity of 2000 kw,
three-phase, at 13.200 volts,
1
ii- line of three
lengths as given
Do.
Three-conductor, steel armor,
7/64-in. lead, 6/32-in. by
6/32-in. varnished cambric
Thrcc-cond uctor.7/ 64-i n . lead ,
6/32-in. by 6/32-in. var-
nished cambric
No. 1 solid, approx. 14,600 ft.
long
So. 4 stranded, approx. 900
ft. long
so. 4 stranded, approx. 900
ft. long
•*or feeding substation No. 5
from substation No. 4 at
13,200 volts
Suitable for a normal continu-
ous capacity of 1500 kw,
three-phase, at 13,200 volts
Do.
Standard Underground Cable
Co.
Do.
1238
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 20
FIG. (5 — SUCTION TANK FOR ASH-HANDLING SYSTEM
so that one side of the basement serves as a ventilating
duct or aisle and is completely separated from any part
of the building containing steam machinery or piping.
In this space the raising transformers are set and the
main generator and exciter leads are run in the open
between their respective generators and the bus and
switch structures. Over the large transformers are re-
movable hatches in the turbine-room floor, through
which the crane can lift the transformers complete.
The entire side of the building opposite the boiler
room is divided by four galleries about 26 ft. wide in
which are placed all the station busbars, switch gear
and electrical-control apparatus. This arrangement
separates the electrical switching and control apparatus
and the steam equipment almost as completely as if
they were in separate buildings. At the same time it
preserves the unity of the plant and the accessibility
of each part of the equipment.
The first electrical gallery is open to the ventilating
aisle but is shut off from the turbine room, while those
above are separated from the turbine room only by
the building columns and railings, except the operating
room which is fully inclosed.
Circulating-Water Supply
Extending for the length of the building directly
under the turbine foundations is a double canal for
condenser circulating water which is drawn from and
returned to the harbor. The top of the canal is cov-
ered with a 9-in. reinforced-concrete slab, upon which
the circulating pumps are set-, directly over the center
wall which divides the entering water from the dis-
charge. The turbine foundation piers are carried on
the walls of the canal, across which they extend over
steel girders.
Outside of the building the canal divides into t\vi>
lines of cylindrical reinforced-concrete pipes. One of
these connects the discharge canal to the harbor at the
down-stream end of the wall, and the other runs paral-
lel to the end of the building to a screen basin buill for
one of the old plants of the company at this point. The
screen basin is connected to the harbor by a tunnel 6
ft. Bquare. In this basin arc four baskets made of cop
per frames covered with heavy wire screen. These are
arranged so that flat screens may be dropped in front
of them and the baskets be then removed one at a time,
carrying the material they had strained out of the
water. Any matter that lodges against the flat screens
is washed into the basket when it is replaced and the
flat screen removed. The screens are now lifted with
a chain block which will later be replaced by compressed
air hoists. The material removed consists largely of
jellyfish, which clog the screens of the condenser tube
if admitted, but when exposed on land soon vanish in
an odor which is anything but sanctified.
Over the water level in the discharge canal and just
below the cover is placed a 30-in. cast-iron water line
which connects the inlet chambers of the three con-
densers so that, if necessary, any circulating pump can
supply a limited amount of cooling water to any other
condenser.
The water boxes, covers and circulating piping of
each condenser are so divided that the circulating water
can be cut off from one half, leaving the other half of
the condenser in service. By means of this arrange-
ment half of the tubes may be cleaned at a time with
a loss of only 1 in. or 2 in. of vacuum during the
process. This rather unusual arrangement was made
because at times the harbor water adds in suspension
a great amount of very sticky matter which coats the
condenser tubes and reduces their heat-transmitting
capacity very seriously. It is, however, easily washed
out with a brush and a small stream of water. The
condensers slope about 8 in. from the horizontal so that
the tubes may drain empty when not in use. This
diminishes the corrosion which is unusually severe be-
cause of the high temperature and impurity of the salt
water used for cooling.
Steam-Driven Auxiliaries
To supply steam to the various engine-driven auxil-
iaries there are two loop headers, one for the exciters
and one for the pumps. Both headers are connected into
the 10-in. equalizer main on both sides of the middle
boiler header and both -are provided with valves so that
exciters, boiler-feed pumps and house-service pumps
FIG. 7 — CKNTRAL AISLE IN BOILER ROOM
MAY lu, 1910
ELEILK1UAL WUKLD
can be fed with steam from whichever section of the
boiler plant is in service, leaving the remaining boiler
group headers and the other two sections of the equal-
izer header entirely cold. The auxiliaries of each gen-
erating unit, comprising the condenser pumps, oil pump
and gland pump, are connected directly to the equalizer
or the line just opposite the main turbine.
With this turbine arrangement it is possible to oper-
iy main generating unit, with a full complement
of auxiliaries, from any of the boilers, although of
course there would be considerable drop in pressure
under extreme conditions. Full loads can be carried
on one turbine when equipped with the maximum length
of steam piping, and a large saving in cost of piping is
effected by the use of a small tie line instead of a con-
nected header system.
The exhaust steam from all the turbine-driven auxil-
iaries passes into a header running the length of the
turbine and installed about 11 ft. above the floor. At
the center connections are made with two open 300,000-
lb.-per-hr. boiler-feed-water heaters. At suitable points
connections are made to inlet valves on the low-pressure
stage of each of the main turbines to admit steam to
the turbines at constant pressure, so that when more
FIG. 8 — OIL SWITCHES IN GALLERY
steam flows into the exhaust header than can be con-
densed in the feed-water heater these valves admit the
surplus steam into the main turbines, where it does
useful work. It is estimated that under normal con-
ditions 1 lb. of this exhaust steam saves from 0.3 lb.
to 0.4 lb. of high-pressure boiler steam, and then, as
it is condensed, it becomes available for boiler feed in-
stead of being wasted to the open air, as is usual. The
exhaust header is, of course, provided with outlets to
atmosphere through automatic back-pressure valves
which are set to open at a slightly higher pressure than
is needed to lift the constant-pressure valves into the
low-pressure stages of the main turbine.
In order to allow the escape of air and other gases
which are always present in steam the feed-water
heaters are provided with vent pipes to a small surface
condenser, through which the cold water passes on its
way to the main heaters. Each heater, then, discharges
through the vent a mixture of air and steam, the steam
being condensed and the air escaping through a suitable
opening. Owing to the arrangement of outlet valves
of the exhaust system the heaters are always under a
slight pressure, and therefore no pumps are needed to
draw the mixture of air and steam to the vent.
The operating room for the plant is in the middle of
the third gallery just opposite the exciters in the space
between the second and third generators. The front
of the room projects about 4 ft. beyond the gallery and
is inclosed with wire glass set in steel casement sash.
The lower panes are clear, giving a full view of the tur-
bine room. One end of the operating room is closed by
a concrete wall. Beyond this are the station-auxiliary
transformers, but the other end is covered by a wood
and glass partition which is movable to provide more
space when it is required. From the projecting front
of the room two flights of stairs run to the turbine-
room floor. These are set close against the gallery and
one leads toward each end of the building.
The control and instrument switches and indicator
lamps are mounted on an inclined desk which is divided
into sections, one for each generator, exciter, trans-
former bank and group of six feeders. These are ar-
ranged in the same order as the apparatus. On the
desk is mounted a copper strip diagram of the station
buses and connections. In this the control handles, sig-
nal lamps and model disconnector switches are placed
to correspond with the real circuit-breakers and
switches so that the operator has a plan of the station
connections always before him with indications of the
actual condition of all switches. The circuit-breaker
controllers, ammeter switches and synchronizing
switches are of the rotary drum type. The latter have
detachable non-interchangeable handles of different
colors to show the generator in operation and the in-
coming generator, together with interlocking circuit
contacts which make it impossible to close the incom-
ing generating circuit-breaker unless the right switch
and handle are used in synchronizing. Each generator
desk panel has also control switches for the correspond-
ing field switch, motor-operated fieid rheostat and gov-
ernor-adjusting motor of the steam turbines.
The indicating and recording instruments are
mounted on a vertical board 3 ft. 6 in. behind the desk,
the panels of the board being placed opposite the cor-
responding panels in the desk. The Tirrill voltage
regulators are on the same vertical board.
Standing back to back with the instrument board
and about 4 ft. behind it is a similar board containing
the relays, circuit-breaker contactors and other small
auxiliary devices. The exciters are controlled from a
switchboard of seven panels standing in line with the
instrument board. The exciter-control apparatus, con-
sisting of knife switches for the positive, negative and
equalizing leads, with a carbon circuit-breaker in each
negative lead, is hand-operated, and the cables come
direct from the exciter and generator field circuits to
the switchboard. The exciter bus is in duplicate.
In connection with maintenance of the electrical
equipment it should be remarked that an outfit for
dielectric stress trials has been installed. This consists
of a 150-kva, single-phase testing transformer, 2200
to 40,000 volts, with a separate regulating transformer
which, when operated in conjunction with a small in-
duction regulator, produces a smooth voltage curve from
the zero to the maximum. This outfit is to be used to
test the insulation of new apparatus, cables and repair
work before putting it in service. All electrical ap-
paratus is to be tried out from time to time to find
the weak places without needless damage and so fore-
stall and prevent breakdown when in actual service.
Ample locker and toilet rooms are provided for the
different divisions of the operating force. These are
situated in the basement of the boiler house, in the tur-
bine room, and in each of the four electrical galleries.
This portion of the equipment has seldom received
adequate attention in Cuba, and it is intended to make
this a model installation.
In conclusion, it should be said that all machinery
and apparatus except the boilers and the turbines, the
contract for which included erection, were received by
liLaij i KHjAJj WUftLLI
VOL,. DO, iNU. CM
the railway company at the port of export and, after
being landed in Havana by the steamship company,
were taken to the plant and installed by a force em-
ployed directly by the Havana Electric Railway, Light
& Power Company. The installation was subject in
some cases to the advice and supervision of erecting
engineers sent from a native plant, but all special
foundations, structures for electric busbars and
switches and the like were designed and carried out
directly by the regular force in the employment of the
electric company.
Officers and Engineers
A list of some of the officers and engineers of the
company most closely related to the power development
follows: President and general manager, Mr. Frank
Steinhart; assistant general manager and chief engi-
neer railway division, Mr. C. W. Ricker; chief engineer
lighting division, Mr. D. Lombillo-Clark ; superintend-
ent of power, Mr. W. B. Flanders; electrical engineer,
Mr. C. S. Sanderson; commercial engineer, Mr. E. W.
Barron ; engineer of power plant, Mr. R. L. Nelson.
Card System for Obtaining Life Records of Gas-
Filled Lamps
Many purchasers of gas-filled tungsten lamps are
employing original methods for determining the aver-
age life of their units so that they may confirm the
terms of the guarantees. Some users have adopted the
practice of selecting a definite percentage of all lamps
in each lot, keeping data on these few lamps and con-
sidering this performance as being applicable to all.
The Lincoln Park Commissioners of Chicago, on the
POST No TYPE "C" RECORD
■an
U
m.««T
acmm
,«.T.Ll,0
l„..T OUT
»OU.« TO.
— ~~J~— "
I no i_
CARD FOR RECORDING LAMP-PERFORMANCE DATA
other hand, have made arrangements to secure con-
tinuous and complete data on each individual lamp of
their own large installation of these new units. In this
way they expect to learn exactly the average life of each
group of lamps purchased.
A card record is made out when a lamp is put into
service. As first filled in the card gives only the make
of the lamp, its rating, type of filament, location and
the date installed. These cards are filed according to
the post number on which the lamp is operated. When
a lamp fails the trimmer replaces it with a new one and
puts the old lamp in the box which held the new lamp,
marking the post number, location and date on the out-
side of the box. Lamp and box are taken back to the chief
operator of the system, and he transfers the data to the
proper card. At the same time he consults a "pro-
gressive-total sheet" telling how many hours each cir-
cuit has been in operation since a certain date. By
selecting data for the circuit from which this lamp was
taken and subtracting the number of hours opposite the
day indicated under "date installed" from the number
of hours opposite the "date burnt out," the operator
computes the hours' life of that particular lamp. Then
the column "hours' run" can be filled in and a record
for the new lamp on the same pole can be started on the
card. In this way a complete record of the life of lamps
in any location can be kept on a single card for a year
or more.
Calculation of the Performance of an Induction
Motor — II. Derivation of Formulas
By Waldo V. Lyon
Induction Motor. — In an induction motor the loss by
friction and windage is supplied from the electric cir-
cuit. In order to simplify the computation it is as-
sumed that the friction and windage is replaced by a
core loss, so that the resulting core loss is equal to the
actual core loss plus the friction and windage expressed
in watts. It will be shown presently how the error that
this substitution entails can be corrected.
At no load the vector diagram reduces to Fig. 2. In
both Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 the component Je of the no-load
current is equal to the power input at no load less the
FIG. 1 — CURRENT, FLUX AND VOLTAGE DIAGRAM
copper loss in the stator divided by the emf generated
by the air-gap flux, i. e.,
P» — h\
h =
E,
Observation of these two vector diagrams shows that
the drop in the stator due to the no-load component of
the current is nearly in phase with the impressed volt-
age, so that the numerical difference of V, and zjn is
practically equal to their vector difference. The great-
est error made in taking the numerical rather than the
vector difference is not over 1 per cent in practice and
is usually below 0.25 per cent. The equation which
shows the exact relation between V, and E, is (see
Fig. 1) :
V,= y/E* + (zJny + 2E\{zJ„) cos (86 — 8„ — t).
84 is the angle between the primary impedance and
the primary resistance drop, and thus cos 8& is approx-
imately equal to the power-factor with the rotor blocked.
The limiting values of cos 80 are approximately 0.8 and
0.1, and it most frequently lies between about 0.4 and
0.15.
8„ is the angle between the no-load current and its
energy component with respect to the voltage generated
by the air-gap flux. Since the angle between E, and V,
is very small at no load, cos 8„ is practically equal to the
power-factor at no load. The limiting values of cos 8fl
le1
FIG. 2 — NO-LOAD RELATIONS
are approximately 0.35 and 0.05, and it most frequen
lies between 0.25 and 0.10.
1 is the angle between the vectors E, and Et and
approximately equal to one-half the angle between
and Et. The sine of this latter angle is closely equal to
the percentage leakage reactance drop in both windings.
The percentage of total leakage reactance volts at full
ntly
i is
1 /.
MAY l.i, I'.U.i
h I.KCTRICAL WORLD
1241
load varies from about 40 per cent to 10 per cent, and y
thus varies from about 12 deg. to 3 deg. It would most
frequently lie in the neighborhood of 7 deg. at full load.
The drop in the stator winding due to the no-load
component of the current, viz., z I„, will be taken as
at'.. The coefficient a is rarely aa great as 10 per cent
and is usually not more than 5 or G per cent. In prac-
FIG. 3 — RELATIONS UNDER LOAD CONDITIONS
tice a will be taken as the ratio of the impedance drop
to the impressed voltage V, rather than to the
internal voltage E,. The error thus introduced is negli-
gible.
The value of E, in terms of V may be written in a
more convenient form, thus
V
E = — ^ (19)
\/l -(- a--t- 2acos (8(, — 6„ — y)
If a is not greater than 5 per cent and if the angle
(8& — 8„ — y) is not over 16 deg., the error in assuming
that the numerical and vector subtractions of V, and
zjn are equal is not greater than 0.2 per cent. In such
a case it is sufficiently accurate to take the numerical
difference, but if the motor is abnormal — i. e., if the
values of a and of the angle (8& — 6„ — y) are greater
than specified — it may be desirable to calculate Ex by
equation (19). Another approximation which reduces
the computation slightly and which is still closer in the
majority of cases is to assume that
E1 = Vl — xj„
This is the assumption used in the formulas given above.
The value of Et would be constant at all loads but for
two reasons. The no-load component of the stator cur-
rent is nearly proportional to the air-gap flux, and so to
the voltage E, which this produces. Therefore, as the
load increases the no-load current will decrease and E,
will increase. Also, as the load increases the angle y
will increase. This may cause Et to increase or to de-
crease, depending upon whether the power-factor with
the rotor Hocked is greater or less than the power-factor
at no load. Both of these effects are small and may
usually be neglected with all propriety.
From Fig. 1 or Fig. 3 it follows that
V(W
+ (*, + *,)•
When the total reactance drop at full load is less than
about 25 per cent of the terminal voltage, this equation
may be written, with an error of less than 0.1 per cent,
as follows :
E,
I, =
(*+-)
-\
0-.)
(x I x )'
where 6 = '- ' . This is equation (3) above.
When the reactance drop is as great as 40 per cent
the error in this expression for /, is but 0.2 per cent.
The primary current is found simply by revolving /„
through an angle (r. — 8„) from its real position until
it lies along E., and by treating ( — /,) in a similar
way so that it occupies the position /,'. Noting that
COflP and ^
sin ji, this gives
■ -'•>'("'•" . ) ( '" x)*
'■(*)
is the no-load component of the stator cur-
rent corrected for the change in the voltage generated
by the air-gap flux. Putting c equal the constant
ratio and <l equal to the constant term
E
this equation for /, becomes
I 1 \[ - + cos8„
becomes
^';--+cos8„y
+ d,
which is equation (4) above.
The power output, torque, power input, power-factor
and efficiency may then be expressed in terms of /, and
/, in the usual manner.
Equations (1) and (2) for the relation between slip
and output are derived as follows:
The vector diagram Fig. 3 reduces to Fig. 4 when X
is put equal to x, -+- x, and R equal to r, -f- r2. From this
figure the output is
Po = yi, -viy + Ry + x>
An approximate solution of this equation, in which
the error is less than about 0.5 per cent, is
'ST1 __\ Z*
V
where Z = \/R* + X* and is the equivalent single-phase
short-circuit impedance. This is equation (1) above.
The value of — which is used in solving for the rotor
s
current in equation (3) is
r,
— = V+ '■-
s
This is equation (2) above.
In the preceding deductions it was assumed that the
friction and windage loss was replaced by an equal core
loss. For a given value of the stator current the rotor
current would be a little larger than calculated if the
friction and windage loss is transferred to the rotor,
where it belongs. The true value of the rotor current
is approximately equal to the value as calculated mul-
(F + W\
1 H — I . Since the rotor
current is
"~RI?-
FIG. 4 — SIMPLIFIED DIAGRAM
very nearly proportional to the slip, the true value of
the slip should be taken as the assumed value multi-
plied by I 1 +
('+^r>
For a given stator current the
output would, of course, be unchanged, but the copper
loss in the rotor would be slightly greater because of the
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 20
increase in the rotor current. The corrected copper loss
(F + W\
1 -f 2 — - — - I I:>\_, where I2 is the value of
the rotor current as calculated by equation (3).
The core loss also varies with the load, but it is dif-
ficult to say in what way. It is probably less as the
load is increased and is sometimes, for example, as-
sumed to vary as the square of the air-gap flux. The
air-gap flux is proportional to E,, which is very nearly
t
equal to — / . Thus a corrected value of the core loss
might be taken as
M
e:
Pc, where Pc is the core
loss at no load.
Since the correction for the effect of the friction and
windage increases the rotor copper loss and the correc-
tion for the effect of the air-gap flux decreases the core
loss, these two tend to offset one another, and except in
unusual cases it is doubtful whether they should be con-
sidered at all. The attempted accuracy is quite likely
beyond the scope of this method of calculation. It is,
however, well enough to correct the slip for the effect
of the friction and windage when this loss is known.
Induction Generator.- — The above method of calcula-
tion applies even better in the case of an induction gen-
erator. The vector diagram is given in Fig. 5.
FIG. 5 — RELATIONS UNDER NEGATIVE LOAD
The exact relation between V, and E, is
V, = E'.Vl + a2-)- 2a cos (86 — 6„ + y) .
Because of the reversal of the sign before the angle
f , assumption that E, equals V, — xjn is generally bet-
ter than in the case of the induction motor. Equations
(13) to (18) for the induction generator are similar to
those which apply to the induction motor except that
the sign of s is changed. If, as in the case of the motor,
it is desirable to make computations for some particu-
lar output, the relation between the output and slip can
also be found in a similar way. From the vector dia-
gram, Fig. 5, it is seen that the rotor current and the
no-load component of the stator current are nearly in
quadrature. Thus i\I* equals rj* + rj,' quite closely.
Making this substitution in equation (16) gives
Po = i; :
<*-o-
p«
where P„ is the input at no load when running as a
motor.
Substituting for /,' its value in terms of E, and the
circuit constants gives
Po =
Putting
in*(]-r') = U'
/'„
and P„ + P„ = P, this gives
u' — ^ u + X1 = 0.
An approximate solution of this equation, in which
the error is small, is
e; Z'
U = 7-El
P
where Z = ^R' + X'. This is equation (11) above.
The slip is then
u + rl
which is equation (12) above.
If the friction and windage loss is known it can be
corrected for in a manner similar to that used in the
case of the motor, except that now the corrected slip is
equal to that used in the computation of the rotor cur-
/ F +W^
rent multiplied by
o-^>
The corrected rotor
copper loss is the loss as calculated multiplied by
| 1 — 2 — — — J. Owing to the phase relations of the
vectors, it will be seen that El and E3 are nearly equal,
and so the core loss will vary less than it does in the
case of the induction motor. It may be assumed to re-
main constant without much error.
INDUSTRIAL IMPROVEMENT REFLECTED
Central-Station Gains in Output of Electrical Energy for
January and February Keep Pace with Gradual
Revival of Business
For the first month since October, 1914, the percen-
tage gain in the output of electrical energy by central
stations was greater in February than the percentage
gain in income, according to statistical returns received
by the Electrical World covering 63 per cent of the
industry. This is the condition that usually prevails
during periods of normal business activity. The same
condition — that is to say, greater rate of gain in out-
put of electrical energy than in financial income — was
reported in May, June and July, 1914, when operations
were proceeding normally.
During the first three months of the European war
the percentage gains in output of electrical energy were
approximately the same as the percentage gains in in-
come. Although November, 1914, showed an increase
in output of electrical energy over November, 1913, the
percentage of gain was not so great as that in income.
This relation continued in December, 1914, and Janu-
ary, 1915. In February the percentage increase in out-
put was again greater than that in income. The differ-
ence in the rates of gain is slight. It is about the same
as the difference between the percentage rates of change
is
M
% 15
' : : : : i
UNITED STML3
Ot
tl
JLL
1 1
TF
1 — t — ' — '
—
-,/•/* rrt0
TTTTT
1
1
S 5
°" 0
-5
'l0 May June Julu, Aug Sept. Oct Nov Dec Jar feb.
FIG. 1 — CENTRAL-STATION INCOME AND OUTPUT GAIN BY
MONTHS IN PER CENT FOR UNITED STATES
in income and output during the first three months of
the war.
The gradual industrial improvement which made its
start with the beginning of 1915 is thus reflected in
the results of central-station operation. Renewed activ-
ity in mining districts led to increases in the output of
companies in the West. The effect of the increased
May 15, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
1243
motor load was apparent. New and increased installa-
tions, some of which were not in full use during the
last few months of 1914, are taking a share of the cen-
tral-station energy.
The statistics indicate an increasing market for low-
priced energy sold in quantities or at times to make a
desirable load. The demand for high-priced energy in
TABLK I CK.NTKAL-STATIOS • .NTH rERIOD
In the large cities of the Atlantic group progress was
retarded because the reaction in business was felt. Rate
reductions also held back the growth in gross income.
In the southern Atlantic States the cotton situation has
been less clouded, and this improvement greatly bene-
fited other industries.
Companies in the Central States still experienced a
of
Industry
Repre-
sented
1 scorn n.iu THI SiLl or
Knercit
Kw-HR. OcTPCT
1914
1913
Per
Cent
In-
1914
1913
Per
Cost
In-
crease
crease
1914
June.
July.
If
114. 295. 321 $13. 00D.no:
14.073.840 12.986.198
14. 086. 822 12.970.325
9 1
8 3
8.5
674,877,591
682,791.096
735,937,850
602,832.337 12 0
603,122,008 13 3
649,720,026 13.3
Aw
Sept .
Oct
51
51
■
15.298.226 14.200,849
15,708.695 14.694.205
17,667,912 17,174.567
7.8
7.0
2.8
m.uv.Mi
782,440,267
969,817,024
718,274.456
733,754,420
935,249,519
8.2
6 8
3.0
Not..
Dee
Ju
86
65
85
S3
19.777,650 19,260,451
20.978,430 20.281.812
1915 1914
11,582,647 20,697.423
• 19.023,107
2 7
3 3
1 1
2 0
986.456,324
1,074,088.643
1915
980,085,0(1
978,934,946
1,043,457,795
1914
968,200,828
835.288,039
0.8
8.0
1 4
2 2
A'-"*^
MEW ENGLAND
STATES
__
- July Aug Sept. Oct Nov Dec. Jan Feb
small amounts, mostly for domestic consumption, was
lessened. Table I indicates that the increases in sales
of energy for domestic consumption over the corre-
sponding periods of the previous year were the smallest
since May, 1914. Severe weather conditions in Febru-
ary, 1914, served to increase the lighting and thus the
load. Household economy a year later, however, helped
to reduce the demand. These statements are qualified
to some extent by the large number of maximum rate
reductions which went into effect at the beginning of
1915, but this was overcome in part by the incidental
increase in the number of customers.
In the New England States, as will be seen from
Table II, the increase in output again reached normal.
The large cities reported decreasing numbers of un-
employed, as well as successful efforts of new-business
solicitors in the motor-service field.
The Atlantic States also reflect conditions in the coun-
try at large, but not so prominently as New England.
May June July Aug Sept. Oct Nov Dec. Jan Feb
FIGS. 2 TO 5 — CENTRAL-STATION INCOME AND OUTPUT
GAIN BY MONTHS IN PER CENT SECTIONALLY
growth as compared with a year earlier, but this growth
has decreased month by month. The larger cities were
affected most. Better reports came from the northern
part of this group of States than from the southern
TABLE II— CENTRAL-STATION RETURNS BY SECTIONS OVER A TEN-MONTH PERIOD
Month
h
u
I*
New England States
h
* %
le-
aps
1*
Atlantic States
ll
I*
Central States
(Illinois Excluded)
~ 1
ll
gl?
s.
Pacific and Mountain States
1914
1913
a.—
1914
1913
1914
1913
5 %
i£>3
1914
1913
'May
June
July.
55
58
60
11,745,160
1,560,872
1,670,819
$1,609,234
1,442,178
1.530,410
8.4
8.3
9.2
58
54
54
16,492,767
6,067,780
6,152.169
$5,628,718
5,578,311
5,583,309
14.5
6.0
10.2
43
52
52
$3,200,553
3,91l,sHf,
3,802,126
$2,841,685
3,459,497
3, 3117, 7 19
12.7
13.2
15.0
57
67
72
$1,525,729
1,894,887
2.212,827
$1,426,886
1,791.918
2,083,249
7.0
5.8
6.8
w
O-
r >
August . .
Sept
Oct
61
61
64
1,734.583
1,766.587
1,963,579
1,607,649
1.647. 945
1,889,266
7.5
7 3
4 0
55
56
67
6,224,896
„ 508 221
7,451,220
5,755,515
6,221,000
7,232,063
8.2
6 1
3 1
57
57
57
4,389,696
4.704,780
5,105,810
4,051,078
1, litis ,251
4,783,847
8.4
7 9
6.8
75
75
85
2.386,677
2.487,513
3,146,160
2,282,061
2,398,176
3,157,689
4 6
3.7
0 3'
Z
Nov
Dec
1,1,
67
67
117
67
2,220,742
2,385.711
1915
2.246.794
2,115,957
2,218,387
11H4
2,271,881
134 n
5 6
7.5
6.8
5 4
69
tin
69
09
8,878,772
8,766.276
1915
- in, -..-
8,157,966
8,594,773
1914
- 895,59a
. 808,025
2.7
2 2
4 4
0 9
57
57
57
55
5,408,672
5,992,542
1915
5.S27 11(17
;, 298 780
5,158,981
5.654,740
1914
5,148,489
4.8
5 9
54
3 0
88
88
88
85
3,503,499
3.834.902
1(115
1. (Hill. (VIS
3,576.432
3,574,086
3,813,912
1(114
3,917,371
3,534.864
2 0*
0.3
1 0
1 2
O
&
May
July.
55
58
tin
52,752,247
53,463,013
54,074,533
10,779, 108
48,049,756
49,255,893
3.9
11 1
9.8
58
:,l
54
269,098,542
144,980,886
263.580.290
238,733,320
221,315 ii.i
286,008,939
8.4
10.8
11 8
43
52
52
202.611,026
217,920, 1S3
217.928,950
162,363,929
182,406,207
INS,. W.I .-.SI
24.8
19.4
15.6
57
67
72
144,839,552
155,326.455
1S3, 160,015
129,357,915
141,836,377
169,718,387
11.9
9.6
7.9
P
D
o.
Auk
Sept
Oct
i,i
61
84
55,801,224
55,525,272
67,520,070
52,913,483
58,207,877
55,008,988
:, 1
4 :t
3.8
56
57
204,717,319
270,974,688
,.-is, i.-,s, -,:'.'.)
2117.9X4,895
262,048,650
351,362,247
ii a
7.3
2.1
57
57
57
267,501,400
260,705,339
295,490,712
226,276.638
237,832,934
266,827,567
9.4
9.7
10 5
75
75
85
193,216,699
1(111.97(1,7(15
245,966.868
185,330,705
1S5,090,65S
252.047.828
4 2
3 2
2 4*
X
Nov
Dec
Jan
Fab
67
67
117
67
ii!i,.|sn.li,:i
78,510,793
I'll.-,
72,550,008
M 500 1 : '
00,988,455
71,990,132
1914
BQ I ii
61.515,979
3.8
7 8
4 7
s i
69
69
69
69
llll 1,11111. in:,
401,623,514
1915
74,972 131
384,155,759
396,251,867
1914
. ... ioi
305,307,200
0 7*
1.2
ii ;
2.4
57
57
57
55
290,681.750
316,027,282
1915
272,623,700
269,220,528
291,511.670
Kill
158,572,903
232,620,470
8 0
8 0
6 5
a 7
88
88
S.N
85
255,661,047
27- 922.004
1915
252,531,483
269,467,354
283,704,078
1914
256.198,272
229.IN5,<lli;
5.1*
1.6*
1.4*
0 a
1244
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 20
part. Jitneys affect railway operations in the South,
but this influence has been reduced by regulatory ordi-
nances. The lead and zinc mine districts reported re-
newed activity. Increasing export trade along the Gulf
TABLE in— PERCENTAGE RATE OF INCREASE IN INCOME AND KILOWATT -
HOUR OUTPUT FOR UNITED STATES— CITIES GROUPED ACCORDING
TO SIZE
September October
INCOME:
Group 1.
Group 2
Group 3.
Group 4.
Group 5
OUTFIT:
Group 1-
Group 2.
Group 3.
Group 4.
Group 5
November
December
January
2.6
2.6
2.7
4.7
4.9
8.8
0.6
3 3
2.4
4.8
4.8
5.8
15
3.2
4.5
05
3 1
3.9
4.2
3.0
4.3
7.2*
6.8
1.2
5.7
9.2
9.0
2.6*
18
7.5
TABLE IV— PERCENTAGE RATE OF INCREASE IN INCOME AND KILOWATT-
HOUR OUTPUT FOR NEW ENGLAND STATES— CITIES GROUPED ACCORD-
ING TO SIZE
September1 October November December January February
INCOME:
Group 1 5.8
Group 2.. 6.3
Group 3 7 0
Group 4 . 9 9
Group 5 17 8
OUTPUT:
Group 1 2 0
Group 2 12.0
Orotma 7.4*
Group 4 15.0
GroupS 9.7*
'Decrease.
TABLE V— PERCENTAGE RATE OF INCREASE IN INCOME AND KILOWATT-
HOUR OUTPUT FOR ATLANTIC STATES— CITIES GROUPED ACCORDING
TO SIZE
7.9
7.1
5.5
6.2
11.4
7.5
8.2
8.9 ,
5.5
2.1*
12.5
6.3
5.9
5.4
11.0
1.2
12.5
10.9*
4 1
9.0*
September Optober November December January February
INCOME:
Group 1.
Group 2.
Group 3
Group 4.
Group 5
OUTPUT:
Group 1
Group 2
Group 3
Group 4
Group 5
"Decree**.
tKosulta omitted owing to insufficient returns.
TABLE VI— PERCENTAGE RATE OF INCREASE IN INCOME AND KILOWATT-
HOUR OUTPUT FOR CENTRAL STATKS -CITIKS GROUPED ACCORDING
TO SIZE
September
"
II
.'1
IP
iv-romi-fT January
t B
1 7
1 1
1 J
'. 1
III ii
;i 7
is ::
Of Mexico was noticeable. Many large industrial con-
nave become effective.
In the Pat \\'e it there has bean a slight but gradual
improvement. For the fust month since September
an increase ,,, output Ifl reported. A large amount of
new motor-service business was gained, especially in the
irrigation field.
The returns from May, 1914, to February, 1915, in-
clusive, as shown in Table I, show total gross income of
TABLE VII— PERCENTAGE RATE OF INCREASE IN INCOME AND KILOWATT
HOUR OUTPUT FOR PACIFIC AND MOUNTAIN STATES-CITIES GROUPED
ACCORDING TO SIZE
i i i i i i
September October November December January February
INCOME:
Group 1 7.5
Group 2 I 13.1
Group 3 3.8
Group 4 17.7
Group 5 4.4
OUTPUT:
Group 1 2.3
Group 2 4.5*
Group3 2.7
Group 4 12.11
Group 5 t.V
$308,600,000 in comparison with $292,580,000 for the
similar period of twelve months previous, or an increase
of 5.5 per cent. The same rate of growth, 5.5 per cent,
was shown in output, 15,227,000,000 kw-hr. in the later
period, as compared with 14,334,000,000 kw-hr. in the
earlier period.
The accompanying curves show graphically the per-
centage of growth given in Tables I and II. Tables I
and II show the gross returns received by the Elec-
trical World. The remaining tables show the percent-
ages of increase for companies grouped according to
the size of the communities in which they operate.
Group 1 includes cities whose population is over 100,000;
group 2, cities between 50,000 and 100,000; group 3,
between 25,000 and 50,000 ; group 4, between 10,000 and
25,000, and group 5, between 5000 and 10,000.
Cost of Constructing a Short Transmission Line
With the extension of central-station service into
rural territory the construction expense of moderate
voltage transmission lines becomes of interest. The
accompanying cost data are taken from the construc-
tion sheets of a Massachusetts central station which
recently built an 11,000-volt single-phase transmission
line across a portion of Cape Cod 8.1 miles long, pole
location rights being secured from real-estate owners
en route:
i ft. poles, at $'j $3,1
1204 Victor Insulators, at 20 cents 240.80
539 pairs braces, at 26 cents each 140.14
11,848 Hi. bare copper wire, No. 4, :it 16 76 cents 1,8
Carting polos 660.00
ISO guys, al $1.1 l 148.20
124 lb No 6 bare wire, at 18 cents 76.32
1096 t wo-pin cross-army, :it 10 cuts 4 38.00
!190 i',. -in by 12 in locust pins, al i cents 87.60
2 transformer towers 348.00
. ll,( \.iii lightning arresters, at 843.50 217.60
ii, voll air-break switches, at $100 20 1
10 volt oil switch 89.20
ht-ol
in Ighl • • i
t,i
Total J13.1M 18
Pi i mile ol line $1,620 00
The company obtained the permits for running the
wires and also for the pole locations, the erection work
being by contract. The contractor trimmed all poles,
which averaged 125 ft. in spacing. Poles were head-
lined every half-mile, all guys being provided with
porcelain insulators, and every twelfth pole was
double-armed. Tree trimming was done by the con-
t ractor.
May 16, 1916
ELECTRICAL WORLD
DIGEST OF ELECTRICAL LITERATURE
Generators, Motors and Transfornur-
American Standard i . ee. — An account of the
discussion which followed the reading of the recent
paper by L. Schueler before the Berlin Electrical So-
ciety on the new standardization rules of the American
Institute of Electrical Engineers. Rudenberg acknowl-
edged the very great care which the American Institute
has taken in working out the rules, but thought that it
had gone somewhat too far since the strict rules, espe-
cially on temperature measurements, were not justified
by the present knowledge of the rise of temperature at
different points of a machine nor by the technique of
commercial temperature measurements. He feared that
strict adherence to the rules would lead the designer to
unnecessary precautions and waste. L. Adler agreed
with Rudenberg that the American rules are too strict.
but thought that the German rules, according to which
the temperature of the armature is measured by ther-
mometers, are not strict enough. They are liable to
lead to insulation faults. — Elek. Zeit., March 25, 1915.
British Standardizatio?i Rules.- — The rules supple-
mentary to the standardization rules for electrical ma-
chinery, issued by the British Electrical & Allied
Manufacturers' Association, are here published. The
supplementary rules deal with short-circuit tests, com-
mutation, pressure regulation, parallel operation, effi-
ciency and "tolerances." A tolerance is the amount of
permissible difference between the observed results and
the guaranteed results. The following tolerances are
recommended : For observations of temperature rise, 2
deg. C. Efficiency (a) by steam consumption, 2.5 per
cent on the guaranteed efficiency; (b) for the full-
load efficiency of transformers (by summation of
losses), for an efficiency of 98 per cent or higher
tolerance, 0.25 per cent; for an efficiency below
98 per cent tolerance, 0.4 per cent. Tolerances for
the efficiency of generators, motors and converters,
and for the power-factor, the speed and the inherent
pressure regulation rise, are also given. As to the ter-
minal markings of three-phase transformers it is said
that the different phase windings are to be distin-
guished by the letters A, B, C, indelibly marked on
their respective terminals. The same letters are to be
used on the high-pressure and low-pressure terminals
of similar phases. The distinction between "high-pres-
sure" and "low-pressure" terminals in any phase shall
be made preferably by using small letters for the low-
pressure markings and capitals for the high-pressure
markings. It is, however, permissible to indicate the
low-pressure winding by the use of capital letters with
a circle around each letter. The relative polarity of the
two ends of every winding will be shown by the addi-
tion of the markings 0 to I after the phase letters. The
terminal marked I will be referred to as the positive end
of the winding. The polarity of the corresponding
high-pressure and low-pressure windings must be so
marked that the progression of the emf at any moment
from A„ toward A, is in the same direction as from
a„ toward a, (and similarly for phases B and C). That
is to say, if the negative terminal of the high-pressure
winding is connected to the positive terminal of the low-
pressure winding, the emf across the two remaining
terminals will be more than that across the high-pres-
sure winding alone. It is recommended that a diagram
of internal connections showing the position of all leads
and tappings shall be permanently attached to each
transformer. In the rules on switch-gear symbols it is
said that the arrangement of busbars should be such
that the red and blue phases are outside, and the bars
should be indicated in the order of the national colors —
red, white (or yellow; and blue (R, Y, B). When ar-
ranged horizontally the red phase should be the top, or
the bar farthest away as viewed by the operator from
the main control position in any direction. When ar-
ranged vertically the red phase should be the left, or
the bar farthest away as viewed by the operator from
the main control position in any direction. The symbol
letters for instruments are as follows: Ammeter, A;
voltmeter, V; wattmeter (indicating), W; ampere-hour
meter, AH; recording (graphic) wattmeter, GW; re-
cording ammeter, GA; recording voltmeter, GV; watt-
hour meter, WH ; overload relay, OR ; overload constant-
time-limit relay, OTR; overload inverse-time-limit
relay, OIR; reverse relay, RR; reverse power relay,
RPR; reverse current relay, RCR; power-factor indica-
tor, PFI; synchroscope, S; frequency indicator, F;
earth plate, E; neutral (direct current), I. — London
Electrician, April 23, 1915.
Slot Insulation Design. — H. M. Hobart. — The phases
of slot-insulation design which are treated in this arti-
cle are the voltage gradient through the insulation from
an alternator armature conductor to the sides of the
slot, the necessity for using an insulation capable of
withstanding a high temperature, and the importance
of obtaining complete information on the useful life of
insulation. The major share of the article is devoted
to a comparison between the unit dielectric stresses in
the slot insulation of a low-voltage alternator and those
in a high-voltage machine. A specific example is as-
sumed, and an analysis which is made of several varia-
tions in the slot insulation design demonstrates the
magnitude of the influence which insulation thickness
and specific inductive capacity have on the design of
slow insulation. — Gen. Elec. Review, May, 1915.
Turbo-Alternators. — 0. Billieux. — The first part of
a highly mathematical article on critical speeds of turbo-
alternator sets. — La Lumiere Elec, April 10, 1915.
Armature Reaction. — M. de Connick. — A mathe-
matical article illustrated by diagrams on the armature
reaction in alternators with projecting poles. — La
Lumiere Elec, March 6 and 13, 1915.
Lamps and Lighting
Cleaning -Up Reactions in Tungsten Lamps. — I.
Langmuir. — An account of an extended investigation
of the fact that a highly heated tungsten filament will
cause the disappearance or "clean-up" of nearly any
gas introduced into the bulb at low pressure, and that
this action in the great majority of cases is purely
chemical in nature. The author points out that the
study of chemical reactions at very low pressures is the
best means of getting a clear insight into the kinetics
of the reaction. There are four classes of cleaning-up
reactions in incandescent lamps. The filament is di-
rectly attached by the gas, or the gas reacts with the
vapor given off by the filament, or the filament acts
catalytically on the gas, producing a chemical change
in the gas without any permanent change in the fila-
ment, or the gas is chemically changed or made to
react with the filament by means of electric discharges
through the gas. — Met. and Chem. Eng'ing, April, 1915.
Electric Safety Lamp. — John George. — A paper read
before the Scottish branch of the British National As-
sociation of Colliery Managers. The author points out
the disadvantages and dangers of flame lamps and says
that almost all terrible explosions, involving loss of life,
have occurred in flame-safety-lamp pits. The relighting
1246
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 20
problem is the greatest drawback to flame safety lamps.
Electric safety lamps are a little more expensive in first
cost, but their greater safety counterbalances this dis-
advantage. As to their cost of maintenance, Walter
Hargreaves has estimated the cost at his colliery of
maintaining 4275 electric safety lamps for a period of
eighteen months, the total cost per lamp per shift being
stated at 0.6282 cent. Lead cells are usually employed
of the pasted type. The casing of the lamp is made
of steel plate and strengthened generally by corruga-
tions. The top part of the lamp is fitted to the bottom
part by a bayonet joint, which allows sufficient move-
ment for the lamp to be switched on and off, this being
done by holding one part and turning the other slightly.
One type of lamp is fitted with a fuse arrangement, so
that in the event of the outer glass getting smashed
this fuse immediately blows and thereby insures com-
plete safety from sparks, etc., which would otherwise
occur. This fuse arrangement is very simple and has
no tendency to go wrong in every-day use. This same
type of lamp is also fitted with springs, arranged to give
the bulb a spring-cushion seat and thus protecting it
from serious shock. The springs also act in conjunc-
tion with a fuse arrangement, thereby filling a double
role. With special charging racks the method of charg-
ing is simple. — Iron and Coal Trades Review (London),
March 19, 1915.
Fluctuation of the Light of Alternating-Current
Lamps. — M. Leblanc, Jr. — A review of Irving Lang-
muir's work on the fluctuation of the light of metallic-
filament incandescent lamps in an alternating-current
network. — La Lumiere Elec, Jan. 30, 1915.
Integrating Sphere Photometer. — A. Utzinger. — An
account of an investigation made by the illuminating
committee of the German Association of Electrical En-
gineers of a suitable paint for painting the interior of
the Ulbricht integrating sphere photometer. A pre-
scription is given of two paints to be used in succession.
— Elek. Zeit., March 25, 1915.
Generation, Transmission and Distribution
Electricity in Mines. — J. H. Rider. — The conclusion
of his paper read before the British Institution of Elec-
trical Engineers on the energy supply of the Central
Mining Rand group. The author discusses the use of
electric compressors, motor control gear and electric
distributions, and describes in some detail the troubles
which they had had in practice with the electric instal-
lation. An account of the discussion which followed
is given, and there is also an editorial on the subject.
— London Electrician, April 23, 1915.
Powdered Coal as Fuel. — An illustrated description
of the apparatus employed in the plant at Anaconda,
where powdered coal is employed for firing the rever-
beratories. The design of a new burner due to N. L.
Warford is described. — Met. and Chem. Eng'ing, May,
1915.
Traction
Three-Phase Traction. — Maurice d'Aste. — An arti-
cle on improvements in the three-phase locomotives of
the Italian state railways. — From La Lumiere Elec,
Jan. 16, 1915, translated in abstract in London Elec-
trician, April 16, 1915.
Installation^. Systems and Appliances
hiiliixt, ial Motor .\)>i>lirtitit>ns. H. B. Barnes.— An
irticle giving some considerations which affect the
choice of motor and auxiliary equipment in the metal-
lurgical and chemical industries. The author deals in
succession with the choice of the system, motor char
acteristics, character of service, variable speed, con-
verting apparatu . and itarting and protective appa
ratus. Met and Chem. Eng'ing, May. 1916.
French Electrical Industries. — E. Dieubonne. — A
statistical article on the import and export trade of
France in the electrical industry and on the present
condition of the French electrical industry and the
effects of the war. — La Lumiere Elec, March 30, 1915.
Oil Circuit-Breakers. — G. Roth. — An illustrated arti-
cle on high-tension oil circuit-breakers. The properties
required in the oil and various principal points in the
design of the circuit-breaker are discussed. — Bull, de
I' Ass. Suisse des Elec, No. 5, 1914; abstracted in La
Lumiere Elec, Jan. 30, 1915.
Electricity on Ship Board.— H. L. HlBBARD. — An
illustrated account of the various applications of elec-
tricity in naval warfare. — Sibley Journal, May, 1915.
Units, Measurements and Instruments
Self-induction Coils. — R. E. Shawcross and R. I.
Wells. — Maxwell states that if the section of an induc-
tion coil is square the maximum self-inductance is ob-
tained when the mean diameter of the coil is 3.7 times
the side of the square section. The authors investigated
the effect on the self-inductance of a departure from the
maximum conditions, and the effect of a variation of
the shape of the section. For a coil with a mean radius
a and a rectangular section of width b and depth c,
the results are given in the diagram Fig. 1. The
....—
-^2
^
fc-1
1 /
^
-Ratio
»/c-Z
"^
Ratio
fc»S
S*
^>
^=^s
;Rat.o
»*-K>
I I
FIG. 1 — SELF-INDUCTANCE OF WIRE COIL IN TERMS OF
RATIO OF DIAMETER TO LENGTH
curves refer to a wire of 1 mm diameter and 1570.8 ra
long, coiled up in different forms. The full lines repre-
sent the self-inductance obtained by Rosa's correction
method, the dotted lines are by Maxwell's approximate
formula. The curves show clearly the disadvantage of
making the diameter too small. The maximum point
indicated by Maxwell was not quite correct but erred on
the right side. With regard to the section of the coil
the square is the most economical, and the greater the
proportion of b to c the worse the result. Single layer
coils, though having many other advantages, are, from
the point of view of economy, the worst. The curve
for this case is similar in shape to those shown and
has a maximum at 2a/b = 2.5, but it is not given as
it would apply only to the particular length and diam-
eter chosen. — London Electrician, April 16, 1915. In
two communications by A. Russell and P. R. Coursey
the authors think that the statement is erroneous that
the inductance of a single layer coil of cylindrical shape
is a maximum when the ratio of its diameter to its
height is 2.6. The former author finds that the ratio
should be 2.4525 and the latter thai it should be 2.415.
— London Electrician, April 23, 1916.
Induction Meters. — An official communication of the
Reichsanstall describing an induction meter for single-
phase alternating current of the Isaria Company and
admitting it for calibration. — Elec. Ztit., March 18,
1915.
May 15, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
1247
1,1, -raphy, Telephony and Signal
"iphy
and Telephony. — Irving Langmuir.— The electron emis-
sion from heated metals at very low pressures has been
investigated by scientists for many years, and the ob-
servations have been generally explained to be the result
of chemical reactions with slight traces of gas. In the
first half of this article, which is arranged in the form
of a historical review, are related the experiments lead-
ing to the conclusion of the existence of pure electron
emission in even the highest attainable vacua. After
outlining the fundamental principles which govern this
phenomenon the author shows how, through the medium
of the kenotron (a hot-filament vacuum rectifier) and
the pliotron (a new type of amplifier), both of which
employ the pure electron emission from heated metals
in extremely high vacua, a very simple and successful
equipment has been produced to send and receive radio-
telegraphic and radiotelephonic messages. The keno-
tron was described and illustrated in the ELECTRICAL
World, March 13, 1915, page 659. The pliotron is a
kenotron in which a third electrode has been added for
the purpose of controlling the current flowing between
the anode and cathode. The three elements,
hot-filament cathode, grid and anode, are sim-
ilar to the elements of the De Forest audion,
but the operation of the audion is in many
ways quite different from that of the pure
the potential of the grid and the potential of the anode.
Fig. 4 shows the characteristics of a small pliotron such
as that shown in Fig. 2. Curve A shows the current
flowing to the anode for different grid potentials, while
the potential of the anode is maintained constant at 220
volts. Curve G shows the current flowing to the grid
under the same conditions. For different anode poten-
tials these curves are shifted vertically by amounts pro-
portional to the change in anode potential. A similar
characteristic is given for the larger type. By using
a fine grid the current to the anode can be stopped
entirely by even a very slight negative potential on the
grid. On the other hand, a rather low positive poten-
tial will then be sufficient to draw a large current to
the anode. The amount of current taken by the grid
would be only a very small fraction of that flowing to
the anode, in case the diameter of the grid wires is
small compared to the distance between them. On the
other hand, with a coarse grid — that is, a grid in which
the spacing is large — a rather large negative potential
may be necessary in order to stop the current flowing
tttn 1 1 1™
M\\ P
•~~~~^~~j~~
'z=z~z^zzz~ztt~~
•z^zizzzzzzzz}zzz~
FIG. 2 — PLIOTRON USED FOR AMPLI-
FYING RADIO SIGNALS
FIG. 3 — LARGE TYPE
OF PLIOTRON
6nd hitent'nl
FIG. 4 — CURVE SHOWING CHARACTERISTICS
OF SMALL TYPE OF PLIOTRON
electron device. In the construction of pliotrons it has
been found desirable to make the wires constituting the
grid of as small cross-section as possible. In this way,
even when a positive potential is applied to the grid, the
current that flows to the grid may be made extremely
small. The use of very fine wire is made possible by
using a frame of glass, metal or other suitable material
to support the grid. Thus, in Figs. 2 and 3, the fila-
ment is mounted in the center of a frame made of glass
rods, on which the fine grid wire is wound by means of
a lathe. The grid may thus consist of tungsten wires
of a diameter as small as 0.01 mm, and these may be
spaced as close as 100 turns per centimeter, or even
more. In Figs. 2 and 3 are shewn two types of plio-
tron. Fig. 2 shows a pliotron such as is used for
amplifying radio signals in a receiving station. Fig.
3 shows a large pliotron which may be used for con-
trolling as much as 1 kw of energy for radiotelephony.
The characteristics of the pliotron depend upon the
length of filament used, the distance between filament
and grid, the spacing between the grid wires, the diam-
eter of the grid wires, the distance between the grid
and the anode, and the size and shape of the anode.
The important elements in the characteristics of a
pliotron are, first, the relation between the current flow-
ing between the anode and the cathode as a function of
the potential on the anode and of that on the grid;
second, the current flowing to the grid as a function of
to the anode. It is evident from the characteristics of
the pliotron that any number of these devices may be
placed in parallel, and that in this way very large
amounts of power may be controlled. The author then
discusses the use of the pliotron as a detector, amplifier
and oscillator in the receiving station, and finally deals
with the use of the pliotron in wireless telephony. — Gen.
Elec. Review, May, 1915.
Transmission Speed in Wireless Telegraphy. — H.
Abraham, A. Dufour and G. Ferrie. — A paper pre-
sented before the French Academy of Sciences on the
speed of propagation of the waves used in wireless
telegraphy over the surface of the earth. The method
used is as follows: Station 1 emits a signal to which
Station 2 replies by a second signal. In Station 1 the
time T, is measured between the departure of the first
signal and the arrival of the second, and in Station 2
the time T2 is measured between the reception of the
first and the emission of the second signal. The time
T, — T2 is the time of transmission of the first signal
from 1 to 2 and of the return signal from 2 to 1. The
time Tl—T2 are measured by means of photographic
mierogalvanometers. By this method it is possible to
measure the interval of time with an absolute precision
which may become 0.00001 second. The wireless-tele-
graph waves are propagated over the surface of the
earth with a speed apparently slightly less than the
speed of light. — L' Industrie Elec. March 25, 1915.
1248
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 20
Book Reviews
Heat Engineering. By Arthur M. Greene, Jr. New
York: McGraw-Hill Book Company, Inc. 464
pages, 198 illus. Price, $4.
In the preface to this book the author makes it quite
clear that he has no intention of producing an elemen-
tary treatise on thermodynamics, since he assumes
that the reader is already well grounded in the princi-
ples of the subject. As a result, the book is advanced
in character and is intended for use as a textbook for
the instruction of students in technical schools. It
covers the entire field of application of heat in engineer-
ing. The first chapter, which is a resume of thermo-
dynamic theory, is followed by a short one on heat en-
gines and efficiencies. The third chapter is extremely
comprehensive and deals with the transmission of heat
in boilers, condensers, feed-water heaters, evaporators,
radiators, and through walls and partitions. There is a
fourth chapter on air compressors and the transmis-
sion of air. The next two chapters cover the steam en-
gine in its simple and multiple-expansion forms. The
heat problems involved in the action of steam nozzles,
injectors and steam turbines are explained in the suc-
ceeding chapter, and the next one treats of condensers,
cooling towers and evaporators. In the concluding
chapters are taken up the subjects of internal-combus-
tion engines and refrigeration. The text throughout
is liberally interspersed with problems completely
solved to show the application of the various formulas
in engineering work, and at the end of each chapter are
several unsolved problems, the object of which is to
test the ability of the student to apply the principles
and formulas in that chapter. All of these problems
possess the admirable quality of practicality, inasmuch
as they involve concrete examples of engineering cal-
culations instead of abstract theory.
whole, the effort to keep the physical conception always
before the reader has been in a large degree successful.
Mechanical analogies are freely used, and even such
difficult subjects as electric oscillations and electric
waves have been presented in a manner which should
appeal to both teacher and student. Part I deals with
magnetism and concludes with an interesting chapter
on ship's magnetism and the compensation on the com-
pass; Part II deals with electric charges, condensers,
potential gradients and electric oscillations, while Part
III, consisting of one chapter only, is devoted to the elec-
tron theory. By making use of mechanical analogies
and avoiding the mathematical treatment this chapter
appeals to those unable to read more advanced works.
The Electron Theory of Matter. By 0. W. Richard-
son. New York: G. P. Putnam's Sons. 612 pages,
58 illus. Price, $4.50.
A mathematical treatise on the modern electron
theory. The work is scholarly and thorough. Heaviside
units, as distinguished from B.A. units, are extensively
used. The book is divided into twenty-two chapters re-
lating respectively to the following topics: Origin of
the electron theory, electric intensity, dielectric media,
electron theory of dielectrics, magnetism, electromag-
netism, electromagnetic waves, dispersion, fundamental
equations, activity of the forces, charged system in uni-
form motion, charge moving with variable velocity, the
ether, the principle of relativity, radiation and tempera-
ture, theory of magnetism, kinetic theory of electronic
conduction, equilibrium theory, types of radiation,
spectroscopic phenomena, structure of the atom, and
gravitation. The treatment of the subjects is essen-
tially mathematical and is likely to appeal only to ad-
vanced students of mathematical physics. The result
of the textbook as a whole is virtually a demonstration
of the existence of electrons and a classification of the
physical consequences which ensue from their actions.
Advanced Theory of Electricity and Magnetism.
By William S. Franklin and Barry MacNutt. New
York: The Macmillan Company. 300 pages, 217
illus. Price, $2.
From the point of view of the teacher who realizes
the value of arousing the student's interest and of per-
mitting him to form a physical conception of the thing
discussed, the aim of the authors is commendable. "The
character of the treatment in this book has been de-
termined throughout by the desire to keep the stu-
dent's mind jammed up tight against physical things."
These words, which are printed in italics, occur in the
preface and account to some extent for the appearance
of yet another textbook treating of electricity and mag-
netism. Although the mind may be trained and the
imagination stimulated by much that has not and can-
not have any physical significance, it is probably true
that the average student will benefit by having his mind
"jammed tight against physical things." The desire to
explain the fundamentals of theoretical physics by
means of mental pictures based on our common knowl-
edge of natural phenomena is not alone sufficient to
insure success, and abstract mathematical conceptions
are with difficult} avoided. Thus, however willing the
reader may be to have his mind glued against physical
things, he need go no farther than page 2 before he is
invited to forget what he may chance to know about
real magnets and devote all his attention to "ideally
concentrated poles at the ends of ideally slim bar mag-
nets." This conception relieves the authors of much
arduous work because it enables them to treat the re-
mainder of the chapter in the conventional manner.
The unit, magnetic pole is defined, and the work pro-
ceeds in the ordinary way. Considering the book M B
Handbuch der Elektrizitat und des Magnetismus.
In five volumes. Vol II. Edited by Dr. L. Graetz.
135 pages, 33 illus. Price, 5.4 marks for the five
volumes.
This represents the second part of Volume II of a so-
called "handbook" — a lengthy theoretical treatise on
electricity and magnetism. The treatment is scholarly
and thorough, and from the physical rather than the
mathematical standpoint. Some of the phenomena dis-
cussed in this part are recondite and have but little
literature. The treatise has, therefore, a distinctly
useful field in presenting the knowledge thus far avail-
able in all the known directions concerning electromag-
netics. The part is divided into three sections, relat-
ing respectively to electric convection, electric osmose
and the electric generation of heat. Taking the first
section on electric convection or the production of mag-
netic effects by the rotation of electric charges, there
is perhaps no publication in which the phenomena thus
far recorded are more fully collected and presented than
in this volume. When completely issued the book will
have considerable value as a work of reference for
advanced students of electromagnetics.
Books Received
How to Make a Transformer for Low Pressures. By
I'n.f. F. E. Austin. Northfield, Vt. : Northfield Pub-
lishing Company. 11 pages, illustrated. Price. 25 cents.
Electric Railway Handbook. By Albert S. Richey,
assisted by William ('. Greenough. New York: McGraw-
Hill Book Company, Inc. 832 pages, illustrated.
Price, $4.
May 15, 1916
I : L E C T R I C A L WORLD
1249
POWER AND OPERATING SECTION
Steam-Heated Boilers as Aid to Quick Firing
Two generating stations of tin- Dayton (Ohio) Power
& Light Company situated not far from each other are
operated in parallel. Occasions arise when it is neces-
sary to shift the majority of the load quickly to one
plant or the other. At such times batteries of boilers
must be brought into action quickly. To get high
BtoxofT Line
STEAM PIPING OF BOILERS ARRANGED FOR QUICK FIRING
speed in boiler firing and at the same time to operate
the station economically, a scheme for quick firing has
been worked out, which provides principally for a steam-
piping system arranged to keep the boilers hot when
there is no fire on the grates. Steam for this purpose
is taken from a header which feeds the company's high-
pressure heating system. Ordinarily the pressure on
this line is about 125 lb. gage.
With a boiler connected to the system of piping, as
shown in the accompanying sketch, the water is main-
tained at its normal level and the temperature kept at
about 210 deg. Fahr. The furnace grates are covered
with a fuel bed of oily rags, kindling and coal, and it
is generally possible to get the boiler fired and onto
the line in from three minutes to five minutes. In fif-
teen minutes from the time the fire is lighted such a
boiler will be receiving its full supply of coal through
the Taylor stokers and delivering its full-load rating.
Without some sort of quick-firing arrangement a boiler,
it is said, can hardly be made to deliver its full load in
less than forty-five minutes from the time it is fired.
Triple-Frequency Currents in Delta-Connected
Generator
After the windings of a 750-kw star-connected gen-
erator, the property of the Merchants' Heat & Light
Company at Indianapolis, Ind., had been changed to
delta connection it was discovered that the machine
would overheat even though operating on open circuit.
Voltmeter
FIG. 1 — MEASURING CIRCULATING CURRENTS IN DELTA
WINDING
Further investigation disclosed the fact that when the
machine was developing full normal voltage on open cir-
cuit there was being circulated in the delta-connected
windings a current equal to 125 per cent of full-load
current. Mr. R. J. Wensley, assistant engineer of the
American Public Utilities Company, then opened the
delta circuit and inserted an ammeter and a fixed induc-
tance, as shown in the sketch herewith, connecting a
voltmeter around the inductance. After taking simul-
taneous readings of the current through the inductance
and the voltage drop around it, the engineers making
the test placed the same inductance and the same instru-
ments in a sixty-cycle circuit, passing the same value
of current through the inductance that had flowed
through it when it was connected in the delta winding.
FIG. 2 — CIRCUIT FOR MEASURING FREQUENCY OF
HARMONICS
Reading the voltage drop around the inductance as it
carried this current value in the sixty-cycle circuit, the
investigators found the drop to be just one-third that
which had been registered with the inductance in series
with the delta. From this it was deduced that the fre-
quency of the harmonics in the delta must have been
three times the frequency of the sixty-cycle circuit.
Gravity-Telpherage Coal-Handling System in
Cleveland Plant
An elaborate system of telpher monorail overhead
tracks supplies coal to the five 1000-hp Stirling boilers
in the municipal plant of the city of Cleveland, Ohio.
The plant is situated at the water line 60 ft. below the
shore level, and two coal-car spurs extend out over the
roof of the bunker compartments. These bunkers hold
3500 tons and deliver their fuel contents to the telpher
cars through forty spouts, each of which has an air-
controlled gate valve. Having taken on its load, the
telpher car moves over parallel to the boiler aisles until
the transfer bridge is reached. Entering upon this, the
bridge and car can be operated transverse to the aisles
=
CD CD CD
CD CD CD
MfHhSoiklS
Railroad Tracks
Coal Bunkers
Telpher,
rfonorail
Telpher Car Telpher
with Hopper I Bridge
GRAVITY TELPHERAGE COAL-HANDLING EQUIPMENT AT
CLEVELAND
to reach the proper firing aisle. Each boiler hopper
holds 5 tons, so that the telpher cars need make only
occasional trips. The coal hoppers on the telpher cars
are mounted on scale beams, enabling a record of the
amount of coal fired to be obtained while making de-
livery. The telpher equipment was furnished by the
Brown Hoisting Machinery Company, Cleveland.
1250
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 20
Emergency Cabinet for Electric Power Stations
In all its stations and substations the Edison Elec-
tric Illuminating Company of Brooklyn, N. Y., has in-
stalled emergency cabinets similar to the one shown
herewith. In the lower compartment is a collapsible
EMERGENCY CABINET
canvas cot and oxygen tank. In a smaller compartment
at the top of the cabinet are a rubber pillow and a
blanket. The door of the cabinet contains a glass panel
which allows any one searching for first-aid equipment
to see the contents of the cabinet. This door is kept
sealed, and if the seal is broken it must be reported im-
mediately. Attached to the case in a conspicuous position
is a card requesting everyone giving aid to an injured
person to telephone to the central office for a pulmotor
in case one is needed. Near each cabinet is a bulletin
describing methods of resuscitation from electric
shocks, etc.
Portable Steam-Main Tunnel Ventilator
When it becomes necessary for workmen to enter the
6.5-ft. by 5-ft. tunnel in which the 30-in. riveted-steel
steam-heating main of the Merchants' Heat & Light
■•■ EQUIPMENT P0B VENTILATING HEATING-MAIM
TUNNEL
Company la laid at Indianapolis, tnd., use is made of an
.linn' Miitlit td reduce the torrid tem-
perature of the underground duct. The ventilator eon
• i a 8-hp water-cooled gasoline engine, belted to
a blower with an 8-in. exhaust and to a small electric-
lighting generator. This entire apparatus is mounted
on a light wagon truck, which in emergencies is hitched
behind a wagon or a truck and hurried to the manhole
nearest the scene of activities. After opening two
manholes a blast of air is forced in one of them and out
the other, passing en route the position at which work
is to be done. A pair of flexible insulated wires, to
which are attached several ready-rigged incandescent
lamps, is run into the tunnel from the small generator,
and in a short time after the emergency wagon has
arrived on the scene this section of the tunnel is trans-
formed into a fairly comfortable place to work.
A Permanent Water Gage to Show Forebay Levels
Existing water levels are quickly shown by the home-
made gage illustrated in the accompanying halftone and
used at the hydroelectric station of the Rumford Falls
(Me.) Power Company. The gage indicates the height
of water in the forebay, just outside the racks, meas-
1
*
**">v»^^ _
JgiMm.M
WATER GAGE USED BY RUMFORD FALLS (ME.) POWER
COMPANY
ured with respect to elevation above sea level. The
standard is secured to the concrete retaining wall of
the forebay by an iron rod. Readings may be made
in much less time than was formerly required to in-
sert a portable sounding rod, and the size of the figures
and scale make it needless for the operating man to
lean over the rail or rack in order to take a satisfactory
observation. Night readings are also facilitated when
these are required.
Guards on Overhead Cranes for Protection of
Operators
Most overhead cranes are constructed so that it is
actually dangerous to cross over them to inspect any of
the operating mechanism. Moreover, if the crane stops
at other than a boarding point, the operator is usually
compelled to walk back to the exit along the rail without
any guard to prevent his falling to the floor below.
These points have been considered by the United Elec-
tric Light & Power Company, New York City, which
has provided very satisfactory guards to protect the
crane operator iii practically all of his maneuvers. First
of all, a pat form has been attached to the cage end of
May 16, 1916
K LKCTRIC A L WORLD
1261
the crane so that a person attempting to get on the
crane will not have to step across the space over the
running rail. Closing the opening below the hanil-ruil
at the side of the footboard runn. the crane is
■ wire network which prevents anyone slipping off the
WIRE-NET GUABD ALONG CRANE RAIL
footboard. Woven-wire netting has also been placed
around the operator's cage as the railing initially pro-
vided was very low. Attached to the station wall about
4 ft. above the running rail on the cage end of the crane
is a hand-rail which the crane operator can grip when
it becomes necessary to walk along the rail.
Large Synchroscopes Facilitate Station Operation
at Springfield, Mass.
The operation of switching turbo-generators into
service is greatly facilitated at the Springfield (Mass.)
steam plant of the United Electric Light Company by
the use of two large synchroscopes with dials about 3 ft.
in diameter, mounted in the station wall about 15 ft.
above the floor, as shown in the accompanying illustra-
tion. In this station three generators of about 11,000-
kw rating are installed in one engine room, while three
LARGE DOUBLE-FACED SYNCHROSCOPE AND SIGNAL HORN
1000-kw units had to be installed in an adjoining por-
tion of the plant, as a result of increases in the load
during the last few years. The two synchroscopes are
mounted back to back in a former window space, so
that the operating staff on duty in each turbine room
tan co-operate in phasing in machines. The next wall
opening contains an illuminated signal board, also
double-faced. Two air horns mounted above the syn-
chroscopes and controlled from the switchboard on a
nearby gallery complete the equipment. Push-buttons
in each turbine room enable the engineers to communi-
cate with the switchboard operator, who can flash the
load to the nearest hundred kilowatts on the indicator
by a signal system installed by the Q-P Signal Company,
Needham, Mass. The synchroscopes were built by the
General Electric Company. Schenectady, X. Y.
Eliminating Swinging-Conductor Trouble
Instead of using two separate swinging conductors to
supply energy to the arc lamps on its series circuits,
the Crawfordsville (Ind.) Light & Power Company has
adopted as standard a twin-conductor cable made espe-
cially for its arc-lamp service. A circular porcelain
insulator hung from the messenger cable, as shown in
the illustration, prevents the conductor from rubbing
against the pole or cross-arm and damaging its insula-
TWIN-CONDUCTOR ARC-LAMP FEEDER
tion. Mr. F. H. Miller, manager of the Crawfordsville
company, reports that local arc-lamp trouble has been
much reduced since the installation of the new cables.
Compact Service Board in Boston Telephone
Building
In taking over the service of the New England Tele-
phone & Telegraph Company's Milk Street exchange
building, the Edison Electric Illuminating Company of
Boston, Mass., arranged to supply energy through an
unusually compact meter board, as shown in the accom-
panying illustration. Prior to the adoption of central-
station service an isolated plant of three 75-kw Western
Electric engine-driven generators furnished electricity
for lighting, battery charging and small power pur-
poses. Two of these units have been retained by the
telephone company for use in extreme emergency only.
Continuity of service has been provided for by the Edi-
son company by the arrangement of three wholly inde-
pendent three-wire feeder circuits which approach the
building by three different routes.
The first and second services are tied together as
they enter the basement of the telephone building, while
the third set enters from the Oliver Street side. All
three are brought to a switch panel shown at the left
of the illustration, where a horizontal, triple-pole,
double-throw switch enables the building to be con-
nected with either of the incoming feeds. From the
service switch solid copper rods, 1.75 in. in diameter
and of something over 2,000,000-circ. mil section, are
1252
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 20
run to the watt-hour meters. Two meters are provided
in each of the outer legs, paralleling being effected by
flat connecting bars as shown, while the neutral lead is
run directly from the central contact of the service
switch to the main lighting control switch shown at the
extreme right-hand end of the picture. The two-pole
switch shown beside the latter controls all the 220-volt
ELECTRIC SERVICE BOARD IN MILK STREET BUILDING,
BOSTON
power service of the building. Each switch has a rating
of 1500 amp. By the use of copper rods space was
saved in making up the connections on the board, al-
though a little more copper was needed than would have
been called for had straight runs been employed. A
demand indicator is installed between the watt-hour
meters and the motor-service and lighting switches.
Service is purchased by the telephone company on a
demand basis, an additional rate being paid for energy
used above 120 kw. Care is taken by the telephone com-
pany not to exceed this demand in charging batteries,
etc., and such charging is usually done when the light-
ing demands are low. The service board was designed
by Densmore & Le Clear, Boston.
Soften Mica Before Turning Commutator Surface
To insure the production of a commutator surface on
which there is no "high mica," said Mr. E. H. Martin-
dale, of Cleveland, Ohio, before a recent meeting of the
industrial power section of the American Institute of
Electrical Engineers, the operator should first soak the
commutator in oil over night before trying to machine
its surface. It is also advisable, continued the speaker,
to play a stream of oil on the point of the cutting tool
while the commutator is being turned. Oil softens the
mica and makes it cut more nearly like copper so that
the work of the cutting tool is more nearly uniform.
Improving Motor Drive in a Corset Factory
On a recommendation of the motor-service engineer-
ing department of the Worcester (Mass.) Electric Light
Company, the Corset H Company, of Worcester, has re
cently remodeled its motor installation. Before motors
wore installed the plant was operated by Beveral di
current motors suspended from the ceiling and driving
the machinery by belts running upward through Boor
openings. This motor arrangement was trouble
to operators working underneath, and \va<, in addition,
uneconomical of space, the distance between the center
of the motor shaft and the driven shaft being only 4 ft.
In the rearranged layout ninety-six Singer factory-
type sewing machines are driven in groups of twenty-
four by four 3-hp, 550-volt, three-phase General Elec-
Si
mm
1 .-...., • . ±
-J
FIG. 1 — THREE-PHASE 3-HP MOTORS DRIVING GROUP OF
SEWING MACHINES
trie induction motors, bolted through floor pans and
driving the machine line shafting as shown in Fig. 1.
Each motor drives the shaft through a "Link-Belt" silent
chain 1.5 in. wide, the motor speed being 1700 r.p.m.
and the shaft speed 440 r.p.m. The motor pinion and
gear on the shaft are of steel and are mounted only 14
in. between centers. To guard against the gear be-
coming loose, a keyway was cut on the shaft and the
FIG. 2 — PROTECTIVE HOUSING FOR CHAIN DRIVE TO SHAFT
gear bored for a set screw. When in operation the
compactness of the drive is of great convenience, as the
motors require practically no clearance space outside
the working tables. As shown in Fig. 2, each chain
drive is provided with a safety housing lined with gal-
vanized iron, the guard being diagonally split to facili-
tate inspection of the chain.
May 16, 1916
ELECTRICAL WORLD
1253
COMMERCIAL SECTION
KANSAS CITY UNION STATION LIGHTING
Beautiful Effect! Gained Thnini;h simplicity i>f Deatgn the
Ulij.it of Which [| I tility and Klliciciu y
One of the principal problems which confronted the
engineers of the recently completed Union Terminal
Station, Kansas City, Mo., was the illumination of
the structure and approaches. In the solution beauty,
in places where beauty w-as required, was not sacrificed
for utility, and the effects gained through the simplicity
of the arrangements in all departments are all that could
be desired.
The most attractive arrangement is to be found in
the grand lobby and in the main waiting-room; still,
some of the lighting effects of the rooms surrounding
the grand lobby are pleasing. This is especially true
of the inverted bowls in the main dining-room and the
electroliers in the men's and women's rooms.
In illuminating the grand lobby the engineers kept
to the plan employed in the main waiting-room of plac-
ing the lamps in decorative torch brackets. There are
eight of these dull bronze torches surmounted with
bright trimmings holding fifty frosted tungsten lamps
together with three huge drops with their lowest point
38 ft. above the floor. These latter are 55 ft. in length
and contain 150 lamps each, furnishing the illumination
for this room with its 93-ft. ceiling. The torches used
are 6 ft. in height and are secured to the side walls
37 ft. 6 in. above the floor. Four on either side of the
room shed their light in such a manner as to reduce the
shadows to a minimum.
In the main waiting-room the same plan and type of
bracket is employed — twenty of the torches alone fur-
nishing the illumination. These are fastened 25 ft.
6 in. above the floor. Throughout the corridors leading
to and from the steps to the track level below tungsten
lamps in reflectors are used, the reflectors being con-
nected directly to the ceiling fixture outlet. This plan
FIG. 2 — GENERAL VIEW OF CORRIDOR,
SCHEME
■SHOWING LIGHTING
is employed in all departments where it has not been
found necessary to bring the lamps closer to the floor
in order to secure a more direct source of illumination.
In the train sheds all lamps — 250-watt tungstens —
are set in metal reflectors attached to the overhead
structural ironwork. The lamps are spaced in such a
manner as to bring them in line with the entrances and
FIG. 1 — MAIN WAITING-ROOM OF KANSAS CITY UNION TERMINAL STATION
1254
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No- 20
FIG. 3 — A CORNER IN THE DINING-ROOM
FIG. 4 — MEN'S SMOKING-ROOM
exits of the coaches of trains standing along the plat-
form. In the mail, baggage and express rooms the
250-watt lamps are brought closer to the work by means
of metal extensions.
A few nitrogen-filled lamps are being used in the
power plant in the coach yards and for illuminating the
approaches to the station from the outside. In most
cases these are of the 1000-watt type, although a few
750-watt lamps are in use in the machine shops and
workrooms of the Terminal company.
FIG. 5 — DECORATIVK, LAMP-POST AT FOOT OF STAIRWAY
In a few of the offices of the officials and main busi-
ness departments of the station metal inverted hangers
are used. These are of dead black suspended from the
ceilings by metal chains of the same material. In the
dining-room a pretty effect has been obtained by invert-
ing the light by means of hanging bowls of cream color
which are made to represent basket design. The in-
terior of this room is finished in light colors, cream,
light green and pink forming the color scheme; the
draperies are of old rose, the floor of marble and the
furniture of mahogany, so that the whole works out in
a very attractive arrangement.
Throughout the entire station it has been the idea
to obtain a standard of light, and this has worked out
very successfully through the employment of large
lamps in rooms of dull finish and by the use of frosted
bulbs or deflectors in rooms of light, bright design.
In the men's and women's rooms where the color
schemes are all light and the trimmings of white marble
the result obtained is a very highly developed combina-
tion of light. In order to subdue this at times when
artificial illumination is required frosted bulbs set in
electroliers of the drop pattern are used.
In the lunch room pedestals surmounted by rings of
frosted lamps, augmented with clusters of four lamps
set in bright bronze fixtures connected directly to the
ceiling, furnish the illumination. The same type of
ceiling fixture is employed in all of the shops about the
grand lobby, including the drug store, news stand, curio
shop and cigar store.
Very little ornamental lighting has been used about
the exterior of the station proper or along the ap-
proaches to it. On the coping surrounding the area-
ways between the station wall and the sidewalk several
bronze pillars surmounted with antique lanterns have
boon installed, and at the terminus of the Main Street
viaduct at Twenty-fourth Street, the station front, a
granite column at either side supports five high-power
lamps in bronze fixtures. As for the station park, a
plot of several acres directly in front of the main build-
ing between Main Street and Broadway, extending
three blocka, columns conforming to those in use on the
May 16, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
exterior at present will in all probability be employed.
The lighting engineers have Boughl pleasing effects
without leaning to the gaudy in the least, the whole
design being worked out on lines offering the best illu-
mination at a maximum distance at a minimum cost.
Flood Lighting of an Automobile Exhibit
At one of the recent Boston automobile shows an
artistic installation of special lighting was made by the
Buick Motor Company, as shown in the accompanying
halftone, for the purpose of emphasizing the lines and
finish of a new model roadster which was finished in
white. The car was placed diagonally across the corner
of a railed-in area about 18 ft. square, leaving about 60
per cent of the floor clear. About 9 ft. in front of the
car were two ornamental troughs hung by chains about
8 ft. above the floor. Each trough contained six 150-
watt tungsten lamps and was lined with a corru-
gated metal reflector. When the lamps were switched
into circuit the car and the surrounding booth were
beautifully illuminated by this flood lighting. The
darker areas of adjacent booths proved the effect-
SPECIAL FLOOD-LIGHTING MADE THIS THE DISTINCTIVE
EXHIBIT OF THE SHOW
iveness of the arrangement, which was remarkably free
from glare and was without question the most distinc-
tive lighting in the entire show.
Restrictive Ordinances Need Not Limit Effective-
ness of Sign Displays
In spite of the fact that the electric-sign displays
shown in the accompanying illustration are by city ordi-
nance prohibited from extending out over the sidewalk,
this corner of Madison and Clark Streets, Chicago, nev-
ertheless presents a collection of large motion electric
signs quite as spectacular as can be found in any sim-
ilar wall space in the country. Some 8000 lamps are
shown in the displays illustrated, the circuits being con-
trolled by twelve flashers.
The proprietor of the billiard hall and bowling alleys
on the upper floor has supplemented his motion sign de-
picting a man playing pool (which has been displayed
on this corner for several years) with the energetic
electric-lighted figure of a man bowling. The swing
of the bowler's arm, the travel of the ball and the scat-
tering of the pins are all reproduced with fidelity,
A striking effect is achieved by the restaurant owner
through a 140-ft. line of tungsten lamps stretching
tin- Madison Street side of the building. The
rapid "run" of the line of light along this border, ending
in an arrow head pointing to the entrance way, never
fails to attract the attention of the Madison Street
crowds. The signs described were built by the Federal
ELABORATE ELECTRIC-LIGHTING DISPLAY WITHIN LIMITS
SET BY LOCAL ORDINANCE
Sign System (Electric), the J. D. Ahem Company and
the Haller Consolidated Company, all of Chicago, the
flashers being furnished by the Reynolds Electric Com-
pany, Chicago.
The Absolute Dependability of Central-Station
Power
Along the lake front near an exclusive residential
district in Milwaukee, Wis., there is a smokeless, at-
tendantless and silent power house upon the unfailing
operation of which depend the lives of workmen in a
tunnel under the waters of Lake Michigan more than
half a mile from the shore. The power house contains
motor-driven compressors supplying air to the tunnel
diggers. Ultimately the tunnel, which lies about 90 ft.
deep, will extend 4000 ft. out under the lake to a crib
or intake for unpolluted water, but so far the work has
1
a
FIG. 1 — ATTENDANTLESS MOTORS AND CONTROL PANELS
progressed only to about the 3000-ft. stage. During the
operations the door of the power house has been pad-
locked and the operation of the machines has been en-
tirely automatic. From this plant the air is delivered
at two pressures, one for caisson work, and the other
for driving pneumatic tools. Electrical energy is sup-
plied from the lines of the Milwaukee Electric Railway
1256
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 20
& Light Company through one 60-kw and three 75-kw,
three-phase transformers.
Originally it was the intention of the contractor, Mr.
Joseph Hanreddy, of Chicago, to use a steam-driven out-
fit to supply the compressed air for the tunnel workers,
and, in fact, he had shipped a steam plant to the site
and was ready to unload it from the cars when the
possibilities of central-station electric service were
MOTORS AND MACHINES USED IN TUNNEL CONSTRUCTION
Number
Rating in Hp
Application
One
Two
One.
130
100
35
High-pressure air compressor
Low-pressure air compressors
Centrifugal pump
One
One
One.
25
37
15
Fan
Hoist
Concrete mixer
One
One
One
5 1
25 \
7.5]
Various applications
pointed out to him by the Milwaukee company's new-
business manager, Mr. R. B. Snyder. Considering the
advantages of electric service and appreciating the sav-
ing it would effect, the contractor installed the machines
listed in the table herewith. The outfit has been in
operation about eighteen months, and at the beginning
of the work the bills averaged about 15,000 kw-hr. a
month. With work in the tunnel pushed to the 2500-
FIG. 2 — COMPRESSORS BELT-DRIVEN BY ELECTRIC MOTORS
3000-ft. stage, however, 60,000 kw-hr. a month was re-
quired to operate the machines.
In the lighting of the tunnel use was made of 240-volt
tungsten and graphitized-filament incandescent lamps in
order to reduce the sizes of wire on the long lines and
avoid the necessity of handling 2300-volt lines under the
lake.
Utilizing Grain Waste from Breweries
Among the novel applications of electric motor drive
in Philadelphia is the 50-hp installation of the Penn
Grain & Seed Company, 3136 West Thompson Street,
where the wet grain waste of breweries is converted
into feed for animals. Electric power is used to pump
the wet waste into tanks, from which it is dumped
into a pit which supplies the presses where most of the
liquid is extracted. From this press the grain passes
into large cylindrical driers and after circulating
through them is carried by a belt conveyor to a bagging
room, where it is packed for shipment.
Brew <n experienced much difficulty in
disposing of their grain waste, especially during the
summer season. When pastures were good and farm-
ers could find other feed, large quantities of the waste
grain accumulated in the breweries and the owners
were compelled to sell this material at a low price for
fertilizer. The Penn company's plant is now being
equipped with individual motor drive, replacing the
steam plant formerly used.
The Electric Versus the Old-Fashioned Way
One of the oldest and most forceful selling arguments
is that of comparison and contrast. The prospective
customer's attention can almost always be gained and
fig. 1-
-TWENTIETH-CENTURY HOUSEKEEPING AT THE
TOUCH OF A SWITCH
held most effectively by showing him "the better way."
This elementary principle of salesmanship has been ap-
plied to advantage in preparing one of the recent win-
dow displays of the New York Edison Company, in
PIG. - RELICS OF HOUSEKEEPING OF A BYGONE PERIED
which two show windows, side by side, contrast old-
fashioned back-breaking domestic methods with modern
labor-saving electrical apparatus. This exhibit was first
displayed in the Forty-second Street salesroom of the
New York Edison Company, and will be shown in other
districts of the city later.
May 15, 1916
ELECTRICAL WORLD
1257
NEW APPARATUS AND APPLIANCES
Sign Receptacle
A receptacle for metal signs and outlet boxes has re-
cently been developed by the Arrow Electric Company,
Hartford, Conn. The screw shell is of a copper alloy
designed to withstand corrosion, and when the recep-
tacle is in place it can be removed from the front with-
out disturbing the sign. A washer is placed under the
Socket with a Plug Attachment
A type of socket designed for use wherever it is de-
sired to operate an electric appliance from a socket out-
let without removing the lamp is now being offered for
Bale by the Benjamin Electric Company, of 120 South
RECEPTACLE FOR METAL SIGNS AND OUTLET BOXES
SOCKET WITH PLUG ATTACHMENT FOR HEATING
APPLIANCES
head of the retaining screw to reinforce the shell. The
binding screws are spun over, to prevent them from
falling out. The distance from gasket to binding screws
is 1 in. The receptacle is slotted and requires a hole
1.5 in. in diameter. It is rated at 660 watts and 250
volts.
Small Mercury-Vapor Charging Outfits
Small compact mercury-vapor outfits rated at 5 amp
and 10 amp for charging gasoline-automobile starting
and lighting batteries have recently been placed on the
market by the Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing
Company, East Pittsburgh, Pa. The apparatus consists
of a cast-iron wall bracket on the front of which is
fastened a small slate panel having mounted on it the
various switches and connections, a mercury bulb which
is fastened to the rear of the panel, and a transformer
and reactance coil which are the back of the bulb.
The bulb is tilted for starting by means of «. knob on the
front of the panel. Adjustments to suit the different
FRONT OF PANEL FOR MERCURY-VAPOR CHARGING SET
numbers of cells to be charged are made by means of
dials, for each adjustment the transformer connections
being changed. The 5-amp set is designed to charge
from one cell to eighteen cells, and the 10-amp outfit
from one cell to thirty-six cells. Link connections are
provided for adjusting the apparatus to either 110 volts
or 220 volts.
Sangamon Street, Chicago, 111. Primarily the device
is a fixture socket. The rating of the plug attachment
is declared to be sufficient to allow safe operation of
any portable electric appliance. Control of the socket
is effected through a switch lever made of insulating
material. The sockets may be wired with the recep-
tacle either in series or in multiple with the attachment
plug-
Direct-Current Commutating-Pole Motors
Direct-current motors of the commutating-pole type
with ratings of 1.25 hp to 39 hp, for operation at pres-
sures from 100 volts to 530 volts, have recently been
developed by the British Thomson-Houston Company,
Ltd., Rugby, England.
The machines are made in four types, viz.: (1) A
protected pattern in which the armature, field coils and
other electrified parts are protected mechanically from
accidental or careless contact ; (2) an inclosed ventilated
type which is provided with a perforated metal cover
for the ventilating openings in the commutator end
shield; (3) a "drip-proof" type in which the ventilating
openings are protected so as to exclude falling or drip-
ping water, and (4) a pipe-ventilated type which has
four openings on the periphery of the armature end
shields. In the latter type three of the openings men-
PROTECTED MOTOR (COMMUTATOR END)
tioned are closed with solid cast covers, and the fourth
opening is fitted with a flange-pipe intake.
The pulley ends of all the motors excepting the to-
tally inclosed are protected by hooded end-shields with
openings in the tops and bottoms of the shields. The
totally inclosed type is provided with a solid pulley end-
shield and has all four commutator-end-shield openings
1258
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 20
inclosed with either sheet-metal or solid-cast-metal cov-
ers. The motors can be readily converted into the
protected, inclosed, ventilated or drip-proof types by the
substitution or removal of covers, while to convert them
into the pipe-ventilated or totally inclosed types it is
FIG. 2 — PROTECTED MOTOR (PULLEY END)
only necessary to substitute one or both end-shields
respectively.
Ventilation is provided by a fan mounted at the back
of the armature. The air is drawn through radial
ducts in the armature core, the armature windings being
protected from break-down caused by possible accumu-
lation of dirt by slot armoring. The air then passes
over the whole outside surface of the armature. The
commutator is also provided with ventilating ducts.
According to the manufacturers, the motors are able
to withstand momentary overloads of 100 per cent with-
out injurious sparking or heating. All protected, in-
closed-ventilated, drip-proof and pipe-ventilated motors
are designed to operate for six hours with a maximum
temperature rise of 72 deg. Fahr.
Table Lamp with Interchangeable Shades
The Rockford (111.) Light Furniture Company is
marketing an ornamental reading lamp which is so con-
structed that the appearance of the lamp can be changed
as often as desired by changing the silk shades. This
attractive lighting unit, which is called the "Flood-o-
lite" stands 22 in. high and rests upon an 8-in. base.
The 2-in. shaft can be made of either mahogany or
quarter-sawed oak. Beneath the Holophane reflector
which is fastened securely to the upright shaft are ar-
ORNAMENTAL READING LAMP WITH REMOVABLE SHADE
ranged three pull-chain sockets with their lamps in an
approximately horizontal position, The silk shade,
which lies on top of the reflector, is no! fastened to the
lamp proper bui can be lifted >>(T at will. Patterns are
furnished b the manufacturer with each lamp so thai
the purchaser can make or have made at a nominal cost
as many shades as an
Vest-Pocket Flashlamp
A flashlamp which is small enough to be carried in
a vest pocket or in a handbag has recently been devel-
oped by the Lindstrom, Smith Company, 1100 South
Wabash Avenue, Chicago, 111. The device is 5 in. long
and \s in. in diameter. The switch of the flashlamp is
used as a clamp to prevent it from slipping out of the
pocket. The flashlamp is provided with a tongue de-
lErt.
PHYSICIAN'S FLASHLAMP WITH TONGUE DEPRESSOR
pressor for use by physicians. This tongue depressor
is removable and is nickel-plated. The case of the
device is also nickel-plated.
Charging Sets for Ignition and Lighting Batteries
A small motor-generator set consisting of a single-
phase motor and a shunt-wound generator, together with
switchboard for charging ignition and lighting batteries
on gasoline automobiles, is shown in the accompanying
illustration. The set is started from the direct-current
side, energy being taken from the battery. Use is
made of a four-pole switch, the two middle clips of
which are higher than the outside ones. The middle
clips are connected to the battery, and at starting only
these clips are engaged. When the set comes up to
speed, the switch is thrown all the way in; the alter-
nating-current motor then operates, and the outfit
charges the battery. The batteries are charged in
series, the charging current being varied by raising or
lowering the field voltage. On the switchboard are
mounted a starting switch, a volt-ammeter, a pilot lamp
and a switching device arranged to switch from one
CHARGING OUTFIT FOR BATTERIES ON GASOLINE
AUTOMOBILES
cell to the full number of cells fur which the set is
designed to charge, in series for charging. The outfit
is being made in two sizes, the smaller being designed
iii charge from one cell to eight cells, and the larger
from niie cell I" fifteen cells. The set was recently de-
veloped by the Lincoln Electric Company, Cleveland.
Olno.
May 1
ELECTRICAL WORLD
1259
Vacuum (leaner with Vertical Motor
The electric vacuum cleaner shown herewith weighs
9 lb. and is equipped with a 1 (i-hp vertical motor of the
universal type which drives a six-blade steel fan. Use
is made of a wooden pistol grip, and the handle is de-
VACUUM CLEANER CONNECTED TO VERTICAL 1 6-HP
MOTOR
signed to stand upright when not in use. Control is
obtained by a concealed push-button switch. Clips are
provided on the handle for holding the cable when the
machine is not being used. The nozzle is 12 in. long
and is provided with slots to allow air to pass to the
fan under any condition of cleaning. A rotary bristle
brush is employed for the purpose of picking up lint,
threads and litter.
Various attachments are utilized for different clean-
ing operations. The height of the machine to the top
of the motor is 7 in. The cleaner has recently been
placed on the market by the Thurman Vacuum Cleaner
Company, St. Louis, Mo.
manner that the resultant turning torque between the
two coils is uniform, it is declared, throughout the
movement of the coil through an angle of 90 deg., and
gives a uniform scale in the wattmeter and a uniformly
increasing scale in the voltmeters and ammeters. The
framework is cast in one piece and is of insulating ma-
terial; it contains a semi-circular chamber in which
there is a light aluminum vane attached to the moving
coil which answers the purpose of giving the instru-
ment a dead-beat action.
Extension Swing Brackets
The swing bracket shown in Fig. 1 is of the panto-
graph type and the horizontal arm can be extended
from a length of 24 in. to one of 42 in. By means of
the wing-nut connection for the lampholder and re-
flector the angle of reflection is adjustable. The hori-
Horizontal Edgewise Instrument
Instruments of the horizontal edgewise type for al-
ternating current and direct current have been devel-
oped by the Hickok Electrical Instrument Company,
Cleveland, Ohio, to meet the demand for meters which
occupy small space upon the switchboard. As shown in
the accompanying illustration, a comparatively large
scale is provided. The length of the case is 8.5 in., the
HORIZONTAL EDGEWISE TYPE OF DIRECT-CURRENT
VOLTMETER
height 3.75 in., the depth 7.75 in., and the scale length
7.5 in. The weight of the device is 9.5 lb. The direct-
current instrument is of the D'Arsonval type. The
movement of the alternating-current instrument is of
the dynamometer type. The dynamometer contains two
coils, one coil being a fixed field coil and the other a
moving coil which surrounds the field coil in such a
FIG. 1 — EXTENSIBLE ARM OF PANTOGRAPH TYPE
zontal arm terminates .in a T-piece, the lower half of
which is cut away so that the weight of the arm causes
the T-piece to grip firmly the upright on which it slides.
No binding screws are required, and the arm can be
moved up or down or swung around in a vertical plane.
. i h
PHJ. 9 — EXTENSIBLE ARM WHICH SWINGS THROUGH
ANGLE OF 180 DEG.
The arm of the bracket shown in Fig. 2 can be ex-
tended from a length of 8 in. to one of 32 in. and can
be swung through an angle of 180 deg.
The extension-swing brackets described in this article
are being placed on the market by the General Electric
Company, Ltd., 67 Queen Victoria Street, London, E. C,
England.
1260
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 20
Oil-Filled Starting Switches for Induction Motors
To meet the demand for a fused oil switch for use in
starting small induction motors, the Condit Electrical
Manufacturing Company, Boston, Mass., has developed
the oil starter shown herewith. The starter is designed
INDUCTION-MOTOR OIL-FILLED STARTER
for motors which take currents up to 30 amp at pres-
sures of 600 volts or less. With this starter, the manu-
facturer claims, it is not necessary to have fuses with
high ratings for the protection of the apparatus when
the motor is started; proper overload protection can,
therefore, be provided, it is declared, for running con-
ditions. The device is totally inclosed and all contact
parts are of heavy construction. A 250-volt oil starter
is shown in the illustration.
Cylinder-Type Electric Washer
The electric washing machine shown herewith is pro-
vided with a perforated zinc cylinder which revolves
back and forth. The hot water and suds are forced
through the meshes of the clothes, and dirt is removed,
UK ikk WASHER WITH PERFORATED CYLINDER
it is declared, without rubbing or wear. The tub is of
copper and is tinned inside. The wringer can be re-
I and can be swim/ an>un<i to three different posi-
It is equipped with a sliding drip board and a
safeu ice to prevent accidents, Both wringer
and washer can be operated at the same time. Two levers
are provided for starting, stopping or reversing either the
washer or the wringer. Two machines of the type shown
in the illustration are being made, one machine being
designed to wash eight sheets or the equivalent and the
other fourteen sheets or the equivalent at one time. The
machines are being made by the Pittsburgh Gage & Sup-
ply Company, Pittsburgh, Pa.
Table Fan
The electric fan shown herewith is provided with a
glass bowl which can be removed if desired or may be
employed as a centerpiece for a table. The fan oper-
ates on either direct current or alternating current. It
FAN WITH GLASS BOWL AS TABLE CENTERPIECE
is 10.5 in. high and 9.5 in. wide over all, and is finished
in nickel and brass. A three-speed regulating device is
provided for the control of the fan. The base is pro-
vided with rubber feet. The fan is being made by the
Lindstrom, Smith Company, 1100 South Wabash Ave-
nue, Chicago, 111.
Electric Stoneware Instrument Sterilizers
Electric sterilizers of low-fired stoneware for physi-
cians' instruments and similar articles are being placed
on the market by the Santiseptic Manufacturing Com-
l'n;. 1 STERILIZER WITH METAL CASE
pany, 64 Central Avenue, Tompkinsville, Staten Island,
N. Y. The instruments are sterilized by means of radi-
ated heat and superheated steam. The heating element
is designed to raise the temperature of the sterilizing
ehamber to about 400 deg. Pahr. Water is introduced
May io, 1916
ELECTRICAL WORLD
1261
ii small quantities into the heating chamber, and on
account of the high temperature the water is instantly
converted into superheated steam. This steam acts as
the principal heat-carrying medium. The steam con-
denses on the cold steel instruments, and in a few
liters are generally designed for use with the particular
generator to which they are to be attached, the details
of the construction are similar to those of steam-engine-
driven direct-current generators made by the Westing-
house company. When utilized with a vertical genera-
fig. 2-
-8TONEWARE STERILIZER WITH WHITE-GLAZE
OUTSIDE FINISH
seconds, it is declared, destroys all germs and spores
without injuring the temper. A perforated tray is pro-
vided in which the articles to be sterilized are put
before placing them in the heating chamber. Stone-
ware is an insulating and refractory material, and, the
manufacturers claim, is capable of storing up great
quantities of heat. In Fig. 1 is shown a sterilizer with
a metal outside case. The inner tube containing the
instrument tray is oval and is % in. wide and 2.25 in.
high. The sterilizer shown in Fig. 2 is of a special
stoneware which is provided with a white-glazed out-
side finish. The tray for this sterilizer is 3.25 in. in
diameter and approximately 10 in. long. The Santi-
septic company is also making a 450-watt sterilizer for
the use of dentists and chiropodists.
Directly Connected Exciters
Instead of grouping a number of generators with a
single bus and exciting them from a central direct-cur-
rent exciter system, there is now a tendency to arrange
the units in a station independently, so that trouble in
part of the system will not cause a shut-down of feeders
and apparatus other than those directly affected. Es-
pecially is this trend noticeable, it is claimed, in the
case of hydroelectric plants where the energy is used
PIG. 1 — EXCITER DIRECTLY CONNECTED TO HORIZONTAL
GENERATOR
over a wide territory and must be delivered over long
transmission lines. The Westinghouse Electric & Man-
ufacturing Company, East Pittsburgh, Pa., has recently
developed several exciters adapted for such service.
These units are of rugged construction. While the ex-
FIG.
-EXCITER CONNECTED TO VERTICAL MACHINE
tor the exciter is carried by the thrust-bearing bracket.
With a horizontal generator, the exciter frame may be
mounted on an extension of the generator bedplate, on
a bracket attached to the bearing pedestal,. or on a sep-
arate base. The following advantages are claimed for
the directly connected exciter: Each generator is de-
pendent only upon its individual exciter; the number of
auxiliaries is made a minimum; rheostat losses are re-
duced ; belts and belting troubles are eliminated, and a
neat and compact arrangement is secured.
Self-Contained Gasoline-Engine-Driven Generating
Outfit
In the accompanying illustration is shown a four-
cylinder, four-stroke-cycle engine directly connected to
a ten-pole direct-current generator. The set is rated
at 3 kw and operates at either 60 volts or 110 volts. The
armature of the generator is utilized as a flywheel for
the engine, which operates at a speed of 1100 r.p.m.
The governor runs in oil and regulates the engine, it
GENERATING OUTFIT WITH ENGINE DIRECTLY CONNECTED
TO GENERATOR
is declared, within 3 per cent from no load to full load.
The fuel consumption is .", pints per hour at no load and
6 pints per hour at full load. The lubrication is auto-
matic and is provided by means of an oil pump oper-
ated from the cam shaft. The outfit is 34 in. long, 19.5
1262
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 20
in. wide and 21.375 in. high. The manufacturer, the
Universal Motor Company, Oshkosh, Wis., claims that
the outfit is well adapted for motion-picture work, store
and house lighting and automobile-battery charging,
and for operating launches, wireless outfits and search-
lamps, etc. The weight of the generator set com-
plete is 450 lb.
Searchlamp Mounted on Truck for British Navy
Among the interesting developments which have
come about as a result of the European war is the spe-
cial searchlamp shown herewith, which was designed
for the use of the British navy in its land operation.
The searchlamp is mounted on a special truck, as illus-
trated in Fig. 1. The electrical plant was constructed
by the Austin Motor Company, Ltd., Northfield, Birm-
ingham, England. The truck on which the apparatus
is mounted is equipped with a standard 3-ton chassis
and a special body.
The generating set, which was also designed and con-
structed by the Austin company, is at the forward end
of the body behind the driver's seat and is entirely dis-
tinct from the engine employed to move the vehicle.
It comprises an Austin 12-hp two-cylinder gasoline en-
gine directly connected to a generator operating at 120
FIG. 1 — THIRTY-INCH PROJECTOR MOUNTED ON SPECIAL
TROLLEY
amp and 80 volts, at a speed of 1000 r.p.m. The engine
is equipped with a special cooling system and exhaust-
silencing chamber. In order to permit the searchlamp
to be employed at any convenient spot some distance
away from the motor truck on which it is transported,
the special truck on which the projector is mounted is
provided with pneumatic-tired wheels, and connection
between the generator and the projector is maintained
by cables wound on a drum carried on the truck. The
drum is also equipped with ramps and tackle to permit
the searchlamp with its trolley to be readily unloaded
from and remounted on the motor truck. The trolley on
which the searchlamp [a carried is provided with brakes
on its rear wheels. The projector, which was made by
Crompton & Company, Ltd., Chelmsford, England, is
mounted on a awiveling base, and also swings in hori-
zontal trunnions. A seat which rotates with the pro-
jector is also provided for the operator. Both the hori-
movementa are actuated by worm
gearing wl thrown ou1 of gear to allow the
projector to be quickly swung into the desired position.
Although the projector shown in Fig. 1 is only 24 in.
in diameter, the generating set provided is designed to
operate a 30-in. outfit. When not in use in conjunction
with the searchlamp, the generating set can be em-
FIG. 2-
-REAR VIEW OF TRUCK WHICH CARRIES GENERAT-
ING SET AND SPECIAL TROLLEY
ployed for generating electricity for temporary officers'
quarters, field hospitals, etc. The outfit includes a
switchboard as shown in Fig. 2.
Gas- Filled Tungsten Lighting Unit
For a new semi-indirect lighting unit for gas-filled
tungsten lamps, known as the "equalite," which has
been placed on the market, the claim is made that it
overcomes many of the objections to that form of
lighting. The unit shown in the accompanying illustra-
tion consists of two members of "equalite" glass. The
lower member, or dish, is 12 in. in diameter, is made
of etched glass, and will give sufficient diffusion for
units as high as 500 watts. The upper member, made
of polished glass, is 16 in. in diameter. It acts as a
SEMI-INMRKiT LIGHTING UNIT FOR GAS-FILLED TUNGSTEN
LAMPS
reflector, protects the dish from accumulations of dust
and diffuses the light thrown upward so that the ceil-
ing illumination will be uniform. The unit is manu-
factured bv Messrs. Bavley & Sons, Inc., Brooklyn,
N. V.
May 15 1915
ELECTRICAL \Y ORLD
1263
Meeting of Electrical Manufacturers' Club
The spring meeting of the Electrical .Manufacturers'
Club was held at The Homestead, Hot Springs, Va., on
May 5 to 8. About sixty-five members were present,
making the meeting the largest spring gathering in the
history of the organization. Mr. Walter Cary, West-
inghouse Lamp Company, New York, the president, pre-
sided.
Among the subjects discussed was that of co-opera-
tion between the different organizations of manufac-
turers. A committee of five was appointed to confer
with similar committees of the Associated Manufactur-
ers of Electrical Supplies and the Electric Power Club.
Consultations will be held between the three committees
of these organizations to determine what lines of co-
operation can be developed between the two older clubs
and the newly formed association. The chairman of
the committee is Mr. George A. Cragin, American Steel
& Wire Company.
Mr. H. B. Crouse, Crouse-Hinds Company, Syracuse,
N. Y., delivered an address on the general subject of
"The Relation Between the Manufacturer and the Dis-
tributer." His talk was along somewhat the same lines
as his similar address before the Electrical Supply Job-
bers' Association in Chicago on March 25.
Mr. Walter Gordon Merritt, of New York, general
counsel of the Anti-Boycott Association, discussed the
situation arising from the indictment of forty-one elec-
trical contractors and eighteen officials of labor unions
in Chicago. This case was noted in the Electrical
World of May 1, 1915, page 1141. Mr. Merritt, as gen-
eral counsel of the Anti-Boycott Association, is in charge
of the case.
Deep regret was expressed at the recent death of
Mr. C. F. Hills, formerly commissary of the club. The
following committee, composed of five ex-presidents of
the club, was appointed to draft a resolution and present
it to the family of Mr. Hills: Messrs. S. 0. Richardson,
Jr., chairman; W. G Bryant, D. R. Bullen, George A.
Cragin and B. M. Downs.
As the annual meeting to be held in the fall of 1915
will celebrate the decennial of the club, a special pro-
gram will be prepared for the occasion.
manifested in the flotilla of submarines, which includes
several of the "K" class of vessels, the largest and fast-
est now in the service of the I'nited States Navy. Like
all submarines, these vessels are operated by electric
storage batteries when running underwater. The "K"
boats have a maximum submerged radius of 100 nautical
miles and a maximum underwater speed of from 10.5
knots to 11 knots, the twin-propeller motors meanwhile
developing a total of 650 hp at this full-speed rating.
Lead storage batteries are used. When cruising on the
ONE OF THE U. S. NAVY'S BATTERY-DRIVEN SUBMERSIBLES
NOW IN THE HUDSON
surface, the 900-hp Diesel oil engine with which each
"K" boat is equipped makes possible a speed of 14 knots.
Sufficient oil fuel can be carried for a cruise of 5500
miles. Several of the submarines now in New York
made the 1500-mile run up the coast from Florida with-
out incident under their own power. The present sub-
marine flotilla of the United States totals about thirty-
five submersibles in actual commission, while others
building and undergoing overhauling bring the entire
number up to fifty-five.
Electricity on Battleships and Submarines at
New York Review
Outline-lighting displays of unusual beauty have
marked the presence of sixteen first-class battleships and
numerous cruisers, destroyers and submarines of the
Atlantic fleet in the Hudson River, opposite New York
City, during the present week. After nightfall the
great dreadnaughts appear outlined in thousands of in-
candescent lamps which faithfully reproduce the lines
of hulls, masts, turrets, guns and stacks. Adding to the
brilliancy of the picture on gala occasions, the hundreds
of searchlamps of the fleet are employed to weave de-
signs against the night sky for the benefit of the tre-
mendous crowds who throng Riverside Drive for a
glimpse of the vessels.
Despite the presence of the larger ships-of-war at
anchor near by, principal interest has been everywhere
Patent Suit on Tuning in Radiotelegraphy
On May 5 Judge Van Vechten Veeder, of the United
States District Court, Eastern District of New York,
at Brooklyn, began the trial of an equity case brought
by the Marconi Wireless Telegraph Company of Amer-
ica against the Atlantic Communication Company. The
defendant corporation is generally known as the Amer-
ican representative of the Gesellschaft fur Drahtlose
Telegraphie, of Berlin, manufacturers of the German
"Telefunken" wireless-telegraph apparatus. The Mar-
coni company contends that the defendant's powerful
stations at Sayville, L. I., and aboard certain United
States vessels (including the Herman Fraseh) are in-
fringements of United States patents No. 609,154, is-
sued to Sir Oliver Lodge in 1899, and No. 763,772, of
Guglielmo Marconi, dated June 28, 1904. A great
1264
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 20
deal of interest is being shown in the case, since the
two patents, as sustained by Judge Veeder in his opin-
ion of March 17, 1914, cover valuable and, in fact, al-
most essential elements of modern radiotelegraph sys-
tems. Dr. Marconi has come from England to testify
as to his early work, and Professors Braun and Zen-
neck have been brought from Germany to assist the de-
fendant company.
In the opening of the case the Marconi company pre-
sented evidence of infringement, in the testimony of
two engineers employed by the plaintiff and of Mr.
Frank N. Waterman, who explained in detail the pat-
ents in suit.
On Friday, May 7, the defense opened its case by
putting on the stand its expert, Mr. Greenleaf W. Pick-
ard. Mr. Pickard took up the prior art, going to great
length in explaining publications of della Riccia, Tesla,
Lodge, Braun, Pupin and Stone. It is understood that
early work of these several investigators forms the
basis for a defense of invalidity of the patents by antici-
pation, and that the defendant also claims non-infringe-
ment under the construction given to the patents in the
previous suit before Judge Veeder.
Complete wireless-telegraph apparatus has been set
up in court in order to illustrate various points of the
case, and on Monday, May 10, radiograms were trans-
mitted from the courtroom to the government station
at the Brooklyn Navy Yard. Cross-examination of Mr.
Pickard was commenced on Tuesday, May 11.
The attorneys for the Marconi company are Mr. Liv-
ingston Gifford, of Gifford & Bull, and Messrs. L. F. H.
Betts, H. G. Ogden and J. W. Peters, of Sheffield &
Betts. Those for the defendant are Messrs. Frederick
P. Fish, Harry E. Knight, Philip Farnsworth and Walter
Pumphrey. The case is expected to continue at least
through the present month.
N. E. L. A. Staff Leaves for Convention
Secretary T. C. Martin of the National Electric Light
Association and members of the association staff left
New York on May 14 for San Francisco in order to
prepare for the convention to be held on June 7 to 11.
They will stop at San Diego in order to see the lighting
features of the Exposition and will then go on to San
Francisco. The headquarters office in the Native Sons'
Hall will be opened on May 24. Arrangements for the
convention are in a very advanced state. The head-
quarters of Mr. Martin will be at the Hotel St. Francis.
President Holton H. Scott will leave New York on
the "red special" oil May 24. He will leave the party,
however, at San Diego so as to get to San Francisco a
week before the convention opens. Of the officials of
the association there will also be in attendance at the
convention three of the vice-presidents, Messrs. E. W.
Lloyd, H. A. Wagner and I.. I). Gibbs, and a large dele-
gation of members of the executive committee and past
presidents.
Cleveland Municipal Plant Developments
Director of Public Service Sidle of Cleveland has sent
a communication to the Ohio Public Utifities Commis-
sion asking that the Cleveland Electric Illuminating
Company be ordered to furnish (1,000,000 additional
securic to protecl pat ion-; who are charged more than
the maximum rate of 3 cents per kw-hr. named in an
ordinance passed by the City Council a year ago, from
which the company appealed to the commission. Mr.
Sidlo thai the company has collected at least
16,646 in excess of this rnte, or $106,546 more than
the bond 'bat it gave when it appealed to the commis-
sion. The commission announced that a bill has been
introduced in the Legislature which, if passed, will
provide sufficient money to make the valuations of this
and other utility properties.
A debate took place between Mayor Newton D. Baker
and Councilman W. S. FitzGerald at a committee meet-
ing last week over a resolution demanding that the
Public Utilities Commission order the company to make
a statement of its earnings above the 3-cent rate named
in the ordinance. Mayor Baker asserted that the con-
duct of the company in refusing to make a statement to
the Council has been "scandalous to the highest de-
gree." His argument was that people have a right to
know just what its earnings have been. Councilman
FitzGerald said that the resolution had a political tinge,
and that the city had set a bad example by refusing to
open the municipal light-plant books to public inspection.
Investigation of Underwriters' Laboratories, Inc.
Reports from Chicago say that the Department of
Justice has under consideration charges that the Un-
derwriters' Laboratories, Inc., is conducting operations
in infringement of the Sherman anti-trust law.
In a case decided several weeks ago by the Appellate
Division of the Supreme Court of New York, the prac-
tices of the Underwriters' Laboratories, Inc., were under
consideration. The judgment of the lower court, dis-
missing the suit, was upheld. The case was that of the
Gutta Percha & Rubber Manufacturing Company
against Mr. Charles J. Holman, as treasurer of the
National Board of Fire Underwriters.
Convention of Fire Protection Association at
New York
The nineteenth annual convention of the National
Fire Protection Association, held at the Hotel Astor,
New York City, May 11, 12 and 13, opened with an
attendance of approximately 250. The report of the
secretary showed a total membership of 2725, a net gain
of 90. In his opening address President Robert D. Kohn
reviewed rapidly the work of the association during
the year, making special reference to the furthering of
a bill, drafted by the association, to place the responsi-
bility for damage by fire upon the owner of the prem-
ises in cases where a fire is the result of his negligence.
The bill in a modified form has already become a law in
Pennsylvania and has passed the lower house of the
Minnesota Legislature. The first two days of the con-
vention were devoted mainly to committee reports of-
fering recommendations for blower systems for heating,
ventilating and stock conveying, for fire-resistive con-
struction, for proper use of wood in building construc-
tion, for automatic sprinklers, for the standardization
of pipe and pipe fittings, for the storing and handling
of explosives and combustibles, etc.
In the electrical committee's report, presented by Mr.
F. E. Cabot, Boston, reference was made to the commit-
tee's recent work on the National Electrical Code, the
fact being mentioned that in formulating the revisions
particular effort was made to reduce life hazards.
Electric-Railway Construction Matters
In the report of the committee on electric-railway
light and power plants, presented by Mr. C. H. Patton,
Cleveland, chairman, the general status of railway con-
struction was considered. The recommendations of the
American Electric Railway Association for the con-
struction of carhouses and other railway properties
were indorsed by the committee. It was also recom-
May 15. 1916
ELECTRICAL WORLD
lz<$5
mended that the labeling service of the Underwriters
Laboratories be extended to car-wiring installations.
Signaling and Fire-Alarm Systems
in the report of the committee on signaling systems,
presented by Mr. Ralph Sweetland, Boston, chairman,
signal systems were considered in detail, and the recom-
mendation was made that signal wires have an approved
rubber insulation at least 1 .'32 in. thick and an ap-
proved substantial braid, except in the case of open
work in dry places and in the case of tubing or wooden-
molding installations. This part of the report was ac-
cepted without debate.
The second part of the report recommended regula-
tions for fire-alarm systems for use in factories, work-
shops and institutions where the occupants are under
discipline and control. In addition to the general prin-
ciples of operation and installation of such systems,
the duration of signals, alarm-box, signaling-device and
relay construction, sources of energy, wiring, etc., were
discussed. One rule proposed provides that not more
than one class of fire-alarm boxes be installed in a fac-
tory building. Automatically operated circuit-breakers
and engine stops for shutting down noisy machinery in
certain types of premises are recommended. The re-
port also limits the current for the transmission of an
alarm to a minimum of 100 milliamperes in the case of
an all-closed-circuit system and to 50 milliamperes in
the case of circuits containing boxes only. Non-interfer-
ence types of alarm-box handles are specified. In the
case of storage-battery-operated systems the potential
is limited to 50 volts with a current of 1 amp in any
part of the system. As 1-amp fuses are specified for
normally closed circuits, the current for such systems is
limited to this amount. Another recommendation states
that dry cells shall not be used to supply actuating
energy in any closed-circuit system excepting super-
vised systems.
The reading of this report brought forth consider-
able discussion, the feeling being expressed that the
recommended rules were too drastic in numerous cases
and would not permit approval of some desirable sys-
tems manufactured and in use at the present time.
Most of this discussion centered around the limitation
of the voltage and current in storage-battery systems
and the proposed rules covering the use of dry cells.
The report was, therefore, referred back to the com-
mittee with instructions to invite and consider sugges-
tions for improvement, and after revision to submit
the report to the executive committee, which was given
full power to adopt the report or merely to accept it as
a progress report.
Voting Privilege at Code Revisions Withdrawn
The executive committee's report, which was adopted,
stated that the privilege accorded interested persons of
voting at the meetings of the electrical committee held
for the purpose of revising the National Electrical Code
had been abused and would therefore be withdrawn.
Luncheon with New York City Officials
At the luncheon on Wednesday Hon. George Mc-
Aneny, acting Mayor of New York City, welcomed the
association to the city and laid emphasis on the value of
its work. Fire Commissioner Adamson stated that he
had received assurances that the rates for insurance
would be substantially decreased when the new fire-
alarm system is installed, the total saving due to the
reduction in insurance rates being greater in amount
than the interest on the investment necessary for the
new system. Mr. J. E. Latta, Underwriters' Labora-
tories, Chicago, exhibited several reels of motion pic-
tures illustrating the methods employed in testing ma-
terials, devices, etc., at the laboratories.
ELECTRICAL DEVELOPMENT MEETING
Members Are Told at Annual Gathering About Work of
the Society and "Electrical Prosperity Week" Campaign
The annual meeting of the Society for Electrical De-
velopment, Inc., was held at the United Engineering
Societies Building, New York, on May 11. General
Manager J. M. Wakeman read his report and Messrs.
H. W. Alexander, director of publicity, and A. J. Edgell,
of the display service bureau, gave illustrated addresses
on the work of the socie.y. One of the society's motion
pictures, "This Is the Life," was shown. Mr. Henry
L. Doherty, president of the society, presided. He
commented on what it had done and what is to be
accomplished by the "Electrical Prosperity Week"
movement.
The report of Mr. Wakeman said in part :
Report of Mr. Wakeman
"Section No. 1, which is devoted to field co-operation
work under the direction of Mr. George B. Muldaur,
has been particularly active. Mr. Muldaur or his as-
sistant has visited every city of 100,000 population or
over in the United States, besides a great number of
smaller cities and towns; local committees have been
appointed in most of them, and a good deal has been
accomplished in harmonizing local interests where they
have been in conflict.
"Section No. 2, in charge of Mr. J. P. Mallett, has
been investigating the uses of electricity in its latest
applications and most improved methods. He has been
collecting information as to the uses of electricity in
the various industries, and a great mass of valuable
information of this character is now in our files, where
it is available for our members.
"Section No. 3, in charge of Mr. Theodore Dwight,
has the task of collating, filing and indexing the sta-
tistics and other information gathered for the use of
our members, and as a part of the necessary work this
section scrutinizes carefully the electrical and other
technical papers from which much of the information
in our files is collected.
"Section No. 4 is a large section with a number of
varied activities. It is now in charge of Mr. H. W.
Alexander, who became connected with the society the
first of this year. Co-operative advertisements have
been prepared and sent out to our members. Electric-
railway cards, poster stamps, books containing selling
suggestions, booklets describing all the electrical appli-
ances available for use in the home, etc., have been
issued to our members, and large quantities have been
sold to members, at cost, for distribution as aids in
their selling campaigns. This section provides the daily
newspapers, trade papers, popular magazines, etc., with
news, special articles and interesting stories pertaining
to the uses of electrical energy. It has been particu-
larly active in supplying stories to the various trade
papers outside of the electrical press, in each case sup-
plying special articles pertaining to the uses of elec-
trical energy in the industry covered by the trade paper
to which they are supplied.
"Another part of the work of Section No. 4 is the
display service bureau, which is managed by Mr. A. J.
Edgell, the president of the Greater New York Display
Managers' Association. Every month a window is
trimmed, suitable for the season, and covering, as far
as possible, all the electrical devices available for use
in the home. Halftone reproductions of the window
setting and of the completed window are sent to our
members with instructions how to obtain the results
shown, always aiming at making the result effective but
inexpensive to obtain.
"In this connection it should be borne in mind that
1266
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 20
the Society for Electrical Development is the only or-
ganization in the electrical field in which the men
engaged in all the different branches are represented
on the board of directors and executive committee with
a view to bringing about a closer co-operation of all
the interests, and this feature in itself justifies the
existence of the society. The only other electrical
body to which all classes are eligible is the Jovian
Order. This is closely allied, and should be even more
closely allied, with the Society for Electrical Develop-
ment.
"It has been suggested, and the suggestion has been
approved by the board of directors, that the society
should maintain a representative on the Pacific Coast.
"Electrical Prosperity Week"
" 'Electrical Prosperity Week' will be held from Nov.
29 to Dec. 4 inclusive this year, the underlying idea
being to arouse the interest of the public in the uses
of electrical energy and at the same time, through the
campaign connected with it, to bring about a more
optimistic feeling throughout the country and to give
the men connected with the electrical industry the honor
of leading in a movement which is intended to dispel
the hard-times bogey.
"We need optimism; business needs boosting; people
not only need their attention called to the possibilities
of our own industry and what it means to them, but,
judging from the expressions of opinion from manufac-
turers and merchants in other lines, the country needs
arousing, and we have the promise of the hearty sup-
port and co-operation of other industries in our efforts
in this direction.
"It is confidently expected that with the co-operation
of the boards of trade, chambers of commerce and the
members of our society throughout the country we shall
have all the towns and cities brilliantly lighted during
that week, special white-way lighting in the principal
business streets, special lighting in the store windows,
etc., with special displays, not only of electrical, but of
all merchandise, so that we will blaze the road to pros-
perity from coast to coast.
"When I have presented this matter to clubs and or-
ganizations outside of the electrical industry I have
dwelt upon the fact that the electrical men of this
country have undertaken to do this great work, not in
an entirely selfish spirit, but for the benefit of every
manufacturer and merchant in every line of work
throughout the country, and the electrical men have
been thanked and commended for their enterprise.
"It is interesting to note that the men engaged in
the electrical industry in Great Britain have been
watching the work of this society with so much interest
and satisfaction that they have incorporated a similar
society in London, and we are now negotiating with
them to carry on an 'Electrical Prosperity Week'
throughout the United Kingdom at the same time that
we are holding it in this country.
"We have been devoting our time to performing the
work for which this society was organized, rather than
trying to keep the society before the industry.
Ni« Members
"The time is ripe now for us again to take up the
work of securing new members. 1 should like to call
attention to the fact that we are in a position to do very
much more efficient work from now on than has been
ble during the pa I few months because we have
had to determine what we could do, how we could do it,
to find the men to perform the work, and, inasmuch as
thi.« sort of thing had never Keen attempted before, it
all had to be constructed mil of the imagination and
bran, of the men who have devoted their time and
attention to it in your interests. We have a well-
organized staff, composed of good, sound, practical men,
endowed with good common sense, deeply interested in
their work and full of enthusiasm. We know more
about the situation than we did when we began ; we are
better equipped to handle the various problems which
present themselves from day to day.
"It is in order, I believe, to refer here to the fact that
the board of directors and executive committee have
expressed their satisfaction with the efficiency of the
work of this society and their gratification at the econ-
omy with which it has been carried on.
Electrical men and retail merchants of Toledo and
other northern Ohio cities met at the Commerce Club,
Toledo, on the evening of May 6 to hear about the
"Electrical Prosperity Week" campaign. About 275
were present. The meeting was held under the auspices
of the Toledo Jovian League. Mr. E. R. Kelsey, pub-
licity manager of the Toledo Railways & Light Com-
pany, acted as chairman. Mr. Guy H. Oliver, tribune
of the Toledo Jovian League, called the meeting to' order
and introduced Mr. Kelsey, who is also secretary of
the Toledo Rotary Club.
Mr. J. M. Wakeman, general manager, and Mr. Harry
W. Alexander, director of publicity of the society for
Electrical Development, were the principal speakers.
Mr. Frank R. Coates, president of the Toledo Railways
& Light Company, indorsed the work of the society and
the plans for the sales campaign.
Staff for "Electrical Prosperity Week" Campaign
The Society for Electrical Development has added to
its staff Messrs. John T. Kelly and C. Ridderhof.
Mr. Kelly has resigned as Eastern publicity manager
of the Panama-Pacific International Exposition to become
editor of the "Electrical Prosperity Week" campaign news
bureau. He will handle the general news service, besides
assisting in the co-operative work with chambers of
commerce. Mr. Kelly was formerly a political writer
on the New York Evening World, and also served in an
editorial capacity on the Buffalo Courier, St. Louis
Republic and Washington Post. Under the pen name
of "Gilbert K. Harrison," Mr. Kelly has written stories
of the West and its attractions.
Mr. Ridderhof, who resigned recently his position as
advertising manager of the Hotpoint Electric Heating
Company, will handle the advertising work for "Elec-
trical Prosperity Week."
The campaign executive committee will have the as-
sistance of advisory committees comprising commercial
men in the industry, who will serve without compen-
sation.
Mr. J. A. Randolph, industrial power engineer for the
New York Edison Company, is to prepare technical and
trade press articles on the industrial power applications
of electricity. Miss Grace T. Hadley, formerly associate
editor of Popular Electricity, will write of the applica-
tion of electricity to the home. Miss Hadley is to be
household editor of the society's department on home
economics. Mr. A. J. Edgell, vice-president of the In-
ternational Association of Display Men. will handle the
details of the illumination end of the campaign and the
co-operative work among merchants anil civic associa-
tions, lie now has charge of the display service bureau
<>f the society. Mr. Harry W. Alexander, director of
publicity for the society, will have charge of all publicity
and sales work. Mr. Alexander was formerly publicity
ami merchandise sales manager of the Federal Light
& Traction Company.
Mr. J. M. Wakeman, general manager of the society,
will have entire charge of all the details of the campaign
under the direction of the directors and the "Electrical
Prosperity Week" executive committee.
May 15, 1818
ELECTRICAL W ORLD
1261
NEW YORK STATE CONVENTION
( i ni rsl-Stal ion Min of Empire State Ukum Public I'olicy,
Bydroclettri* Developments and Small-Customer
Scr\ n.
Features of the joint meeting of the Empire State
Gafl & Electric Association and the Eastern New York
Section of the National Electric Light Association, held
at Schenectady, May 6, 7 and 8, were the addresses of
.Mr. Janus < ). CaiT, newly appointed member of the
Public Service Commission for the Second District of
New York, on "Public Policy," and of Dr. \V. S. Strat-
ton, director of the Bureau of Standards, Washington,
D. C.f on the work of the bureau and its connection with
industrial development. There were also interesting
general discussions relating to the financial, engineering
and commercial aspects of hydroelectric development and
plant operation and to the economics of small-consumer
business. .Mr. Henry Flood, Jr., electrical engineer of
the Central Hudson Gas & Electric Company, Pough-
keepsie, N. Y., opened the discussion on hydroelectric de-
velopment by reading a paper entitled "Hydroelectric
Power — Its Generation and Distribution." At the com-
mercial session Mr. A. D. Dudley, commercial manager
of the Syracuse Lighting Company, presented a paper
which he had prepared on the subject of "The Small
Consumer — A Problem."
FIG. 1 — COMPARISON OF TOTAL COSTS — STEAM AND
HYDROELECTRIC
A well-attended banquet was held at the Mohawk Golf
Club on Friday evening. Mr. J. C. De Long, Syracuse,
acted as toastmaster, calling for impromptu speeches
from Messrs. J. R. Lovejoy, Edward F. Peck, W. J. Clark
and Frank H. Gale, of the General Electric Company;
Mr. J. O. Carr, public service commissioner; Mr. Hugh
M. Wilson, of the McGraw Publishing Company, and
Mr. T. R. Beal, of the Central Hudson Gas & Electric
Company, Newburgh, N. Y.
Commissioner Carr on Relations with Public and Employees
Harmonious relations with the public constitute a
public-service company's greatest asset, declared Mr.
James 0. Carr in his address on "Public Policy." The
entire life of the industry indeed depends on such rela-
tion. Since the early development period relations with
the public have been improved chiefly through the seri-
ous efforts of central-station companies to co-operate
with regulating bodies. The public must be educated
by the public service companies, and it should further-
more be given what it is justly entitled to receive. For
the company which has to struggle to exist, a serious
problem is involved in determining how far to extend
its service and what the character of that service should
be. While he had not made up his mind definitely on
this subject, Mr. Carr expressed the opinion that —
since central-station companies exist through the
patronage of the public — the public should primarily
be given the service it is entitled to receive, regardless
of the rate of return earned by the company on it"
investment. In this connection the speaker said that
rates often depend on local conditions, therefore public
service companies should not be asked to give certain
just because they prevail in other towns of the
same size.
Next to inspiring the confidence of the public, one of
the greatest things a public service company can do is
to cultivate, in a manly way, the regulating bodies with
which it has to deal. Mr. Carr declared that it has
always been his plea that men be appointed on these
regulating bodies who are fully acquainted with the
work they are required to handle.
Profit-Sharing with Employees
Reverting to the organization of public-service com-
panies, Mr. Carr said: "Employees are entitled to the
best you can give them. The time is coming when the
man who works for you will share your profits." Quali-
fying this statement, the speaker said that the em-
ployee will participate in the profits left after the
stockholders have received a fair return on their in-
vestment. Of course, the amount which can be dis-
tributed in this way will be limited by the revenue which
the companies will be allowed to earn; but Mr. Carr
expressed the belief that it is possible, when the prin-
ciple of profit-sharing is recognized, that commissions
will allow larger rates of income than are now per-
mitted. In support of profit-sharing the speaker also
prophesied that labor disputes would be minimized when
such a practice is established. In closing, Mr. Carr
called attention to other methods of securing the good
will of employees, and emphasized the importance of
recognizing their worth and of promoting them when
opportunity offered.
Following the address, subjects relating to public
policy were discussed by Messrs. E. H. Palmer of
Geneva, J. C. De Long of Syracuse, Leon H. Scherck of
Poughkeepsie, H. W. Peck of Schenectady, J. T. Hutch-
ings of Rochester, and J. Edward Kearns of Schenec-
tady.
Hydroelectric Development
Some of the subjects which should be considered in
developing water-power were pointed out in a paper pre-
sented by Mr. Henry Flood, Jr., of Poughkeepsie. Where
the fluctuation in stream flow is large, it is very' impor-
tant that a reservoir be provided to store the water so
that it can be used as desired. Care must be taken not
to develop storage beyond the point where it can be
replaced at less expense by auxiliary plants. Where
possible, forebays should be designed to compensate for
daily fluctuations in stream flow, otherwise canals,
flumes and pipe lines will have to carry the peak flow
of water instead of the average. Waterwheels and gen-
erators should be selected to operate efficiently through-
out the range of head which will be obtained, as this
will be found even more important than the maximum
efficiency. Daily records of head and water rate are
of extreme value.
Possibilities of service interruption on transmission
lines can be minimized by installing duplicate lines,
loop systems and simple switching equipment. Atten-
tion was called to the fact that outdoor-type substations
rated as high as 20,000 kw have been operated satis-
factorily. Such substations cost from 15 to 20 per
cent less than the indoor type. Reverse-power relays
with definite time limit furnish fairly reliable means for
selective operation between generating plants and sub-
stations, while synchronous motors will provide means
for improving voltage regulation.
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 20
When to Sacrifice Economy for Low First Cost
When auxiliary steam stations are employed to com-
pensate for water deficiency, they are usually required
to operate only a short time each year. Therefore it is
advisable to construct them at a low first cost, even at
a sacrifice in economy. On the other hand, when auxil-
iary stations are operated as peak-load stations or to
prevent interruptions to service the operating expenses
bear a large ratio to the fixed charges, so that first cost
and economy of operation must be balanced.
To cut down the cost of banking fires and maintaining
boilers continuously under steam, oil and powdered fuel
have been employed in furnaces in conjunction with
heat-storage systems. Plants of this type have been
placed in operation in less than three minutes. This is
not difficult in turbine-driven generator stations where
the machines are allowed to run as synchronous motors
when not delivering energy to the line.
Another scheme of reducing the standby expense is
to employ heat storage in conjunction with chain grates
on which the fuel is laid with oil-soaked rags so fires
may be started readily. The saving in fuel with this
arrangement as compared with using long-banked fur-
naces may be as much as 117.5 lb. per boiler-hour. If
the water is maintained at 200 deg. Fahr., full pressure
may be raised in fifteen minutes.
Proximity and Size of Market Determine Value of Plant
The value of a hydroelectric plant depends on the size
of the market available for selling energy, the proximity
of this market, and the initial cost of constructing the
plant. To market the output of a water-power plant
rates must be offered which will interest two classes of
possible consumers — those who contemplate installing
their own generating equipment and those operating
isolated plants. The first type can usually be attracted
by offering a rate slightly below that at which electric-
ity can be produced with coal. In selling to owners of
isolated plants, however, sufficient inducements must be
offered for scrapping their old equipment.
The cost of erecting and operating steam plants has
been reduced considerably in the past decade owing to
the advent of steam turbines, labor-saving devices and
methods of operating boilers efficiently, but not so with
hydroelectric equipment. Thus the costs of producing
energy by steam and water-power have been converg-
ing. Furthermore, steam stations are usually near the
load center, while hydroelectric stations are farther
away, so that expensive transmission lines and substa-
tions must be employed. Still another factor has to be
considered in marketing hydroelectric power, and that
is that central stations must be displaced, or must be
sold to, or must be competed with, or else an entirely
new market must be developed. As it has been quite
generally conceded that the central-station industry is a
regulated monopoly, hydroelectric plants must of neces-
sity sell to the central stations, which in turn derive
their profit from retailing the product.
As the principal expense of producing hydroelectric
energy is the fixed charge on the plant, it is essential
for conducting a profitable business to have a high load-
factor. To show the costs of furnishing power to the
same locality from a steam station and a hydroelectric
station of equivalent rating and at different load-factor,
hypothetical cases have been assumed and the results
plotted in the accompanying curves. These have been
based on each plant having a firm rating of 6000 kw.
The first costs are estimated at $140 per kw for the
hydroelectric station and necessary transmission lines
and $71.50 for the steam station; fixed charges are
taken u 11 per cent and 12 per cent respectively; oper-
ating expenses, including repairs, are based on $5 per
kw and $5.65 per kw for the hydroelectric and steam
plants respectively, and fuel is assumed to cost $2.30 a
ton delivered.
When Hydroelectric Development Is Profitable
The curves show that at load-factors less than 20 per
cent the steam-plant costs are less than the hydroelec-
tric. If the product is sold to central stations, there
must be added to its cost, in making the selling price,
the profit that a central station would demand to be-
come interested enough to shut down its plant or oper-
ate it as a relay station. When these factors are con-
sidered, hydroelectric and steam-generated power costs
are equivalent at about 30 per cent load-factor. This
means that a hydroelectric plant in order to develop its
market profitably must have a load-factor greater than
30 per cent. From investigations of actual conditions
it was found that the average load-factor was 21.8 per
cent.
In concluding, Mr. Flood said that many reports made
on hydroelectric developments have been based on out-
puts which could be obtained only with very high load-
factors. As these are not often obtained, erroneous
24
Y5
i->
v^?
-J
\^_
\vC^\
^ \ \
^
f\^\
\3r
"A
r
20
40 W
Load
50 100
20
80 100
40 60
Factors
FIGS. 2 AND 3 — RELATION OF PLANT COSTS— STEAM AND
HYDROELECTRIC
conclusions may be drawn in arriving at the value of a
project unless local conditions are closely studied.
Discussion
Mr. F. J. Howes, Rochester, emphasized the value of
having a high over-all plant-operating efficiency rather
than a high maximum efficiency. He also cited a case
where hydraulic head caused by pipe friction and
amounting to a considerable portion of the available
head had been lost by allowing whirls in the forebay to
be conveyed through the penstocks. The speaker showed
that pipe friction is extremely important in low-head
plants, and could have been prevented in this case by
so arranging the entrance to the pipes that the water
would enter correctly.
Mr. J. C. Hemingway, Glens Falls, pointed out that
conditions in New York State, with the exception of
those at Niagara Falls, are such that reserve stations
must be used in conjunction with hydroelectric plants.
He suggested designing forebays to store one day's run
of water so that the hydroelectric equipment can be
employed to carry peak loads while a steam reserve plant
is allowed to carry the base load running at 80 per
cent load-factor all of the time. It was also suggested
that operating costs should not be estimated from the
May 15, 1916
ELECTRICAL WORLD
1269
performances of old hydroelectric plants as these are
usually improperly equipped and in many cases not de-
signed for the market available. The speaker expressed
the belief that it does not matter so much whether
interconnected hydroelectric and steam plants are owned
by the same or by separate companies, but there should
be the closest co-operation.
Mr. J. C. De Long was of the opinion that a steam
plant can generate energy cheaper than it can purchase
it from a hydroelectric plant. When both types of sta-
tion are owned by the same company, however, hydro-
electric power may be valuable if developed rationally.
Mr. II. M. Beugler, Poughkeepsie, expressed the be-
lief that the best results can be obtained with hydro-
electric plants when used as secondary power producers.
Water available during spring freshets cannot be util-
ized except at an expense which will cover the cost of
maintaining reliable steam generating reserve.
Dr. David B. Rushmore, Schenectady, declared that a
large proportion of available water-power cannot be
developed because it will not pay. As the demands for
power are seasonal, just as is the amount of power
available for hydroelectric development, reserve firm
generating equipment or water storage must be pro-
vided since the peaks of demand and water flow usually
occur at different seasons of the year. The speaker
pointed out that the chance for improving generating
equipment is growing less, therefore improvement in
service should be made by preventing service interrup-
tions, which means properly applying protective equip-
ment to the system.
Mr. E. H. Palmer said that commercially and finan-
cially every hydroelectric plant must be considered inde-
pendently, therefore general statements cannot be made
on hydroelectric development.
Mr. T. R. Beal, Newburgh, pointed out that some
water-powers which were valuable years ago are no
longer so, for the reason that conditions have changed.
Where peak loads are extreme and do not occur in the
dry season, hydroelectric stations may be valuable for
carrying the peak loads. Scientific rate making and the
increased efficiency of lamps have reduced peaks in
lighting loads. The value of water-power plants oper-
ating intermittently varies with the change in yearly
load curves. The value of stable hydroelectric water-
power has also a shifting value owing to the decreasing
cost of steam generation.
Mr. E. J. Cheney, Albany, spoke on the public mis-
conception regarding water-powers and the misdirected
efforts spent in overdeveloping water-power where no
market is available and where the flow drops greatly
in the summer. He also called attention to the difficulty
of predicting the flow of rivers accurately.
Mr. J. T. Hutchings recommended selling steam for
heating and industrial power purposes as a means of
minimizing the standby expense of reserve plants. The
amount of steam sold should be about 25 per cent of
that required for generating the maximum output of
electrical energy. The speaker expressed the belief that
hydroelectric power cannot be developed profitably un-
less five months' stable service can be provided each
year, and unless water storage sufficient to carry two-
hour peak loads is available during the remaining
months. Even if the latter is physically possible, it may
not be permitted by present laws, which entitle all users
on a river to the natural flow of water. He also de-
clared that hydraulic power is worth less now because
steam-generated energy can be developed so inexpen-
sively. With hydraulic heads of 40 ft. or more, and
provided that a hydraulic site is already owned, a com-
pany can now afford to overdevelop a hydroelectric
plant more than formerly as the corresponding increase
in steam-generating reserve equipment which would be
required is less expensive. The speaker advised com-
panies contemplating operating in small communities
to investigate the possibility of hydroelectric develop-
ment, as small steam stations are expensive
Mr. ,J. C. I '<• Long emphasized the uncertainty of
predicting stream Bon even when long-period records
are available. He also referred to a case where hydro-
electric equipment was installed and not even the mini-
mum power developed could be sold. Another instance
was cited where power could be generated with steam
more cheaply than it could be purchased from the
Niagara Falls company. The speaker said that too
many persons are over-enthusiastic regarding hydro-
electric development, and that it is too expensive when
supplemented by a reserve station. When a hydroelec-
tric and a steam station are owned by the same com-
pany, however, hydroelectric generation may be valuable
as a peak-load carrier.
.Mr. Beugler emphasized the importance of investi-
gating conditions thoroughly before developing any
plant. He expressed the belief that companies are not
restricted to selling steam to reduce standby expenses,
as this can be done by securing a contract for supplying
a small amount of electrical energy.
Mr. I. Lundgaard, Rochester, called attention to the
high tax placed on water sources, and said this impost
limits conservation of energy.
Mr. R. E. Argersinger, Schenectady, declared that
preliminary investigations are the secret of successful
hydroelectric development. He called attention to the
high value of hydroelectric power where coal is ab-
normally expensive. Induction generators driven by
waterwheels, the speaker declared, are not so simple
to operate as many persons believe, and should not be
left attendantless under any condition. These machines
may even reduce the rating of other equipment con-
nected therewith because of their power-factor. In
closing, he said that frequencies ought to be standard-
ized so that hydroelectric systems can be interconnected
to take advantage of diversified loads and stream flows.
Value of Bureau of Standards to Industrial Concerns
In preparing specifications for government purchases
the division of engineering research of the Bureau of
Standards, Washington, D. C, is collecting considera-
ble data on the components which should be included in
different products to give the most desirable qualities.
This information is open to any persons or companies
who may apply for it, according to remarks made by
Dr. W. S. Stratton, director of the Bureau of Standards.
As most scientific standards are unusable in their orig-
inal form, one of the largest tasks is to make them
available for public use. Dr. Stratton declared that the
greatest fault which has existed in making government
purchases in the past has been the lack of knowledge
regarding the constituents of materials desired. Con-
ditions have been bettered recently, however, by mak-
ing use of data which the bureau has collected by
manufacturing articles in a small way and testing them
to find the effect of different constituents. The speaker
declared the bureau feels well repaid for its investiga-
tions, because manufacturers and purchasers who have
applied for the information so obtained have realized,
probably for the first time, the value of research work
to all industries. Satisfaction has also been obtained
by finding that many materials which are at present
imported can be made equally well in this country if
advantage be taken of the bureau's research work.
Especially is this true in the porcelain industry. Pur-
chasing by specifications has also taught manufacturers
to be more careful in their operations.
An account of the discussion on commercial subjects
will appear in a later issue of the ELECTRICAL WORLD.
1270
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 20
Miscellaneous News Notes
Panama Canal Applies for N. E. L. A. Membership.— Col.
George W. Goethals, Governor of the Panama Canal, has
applied to the National Electric Light Association for mem-
bership. The Panama Canal electrical development is an im-
portant feature of the canal operations.
Purdue Electrical Students on Inspection Trip. — Approxi-
mately fifty students from Purdue University, Lafayette,
Ind., in charge of Profs. C. Francis Harding, A. N. Topping
and D. D. Ewing, visited points of electrical interest at
St. Louis and Keokuk on a three-day inspection trip which
ended May 1.
Gas-Filled Tungsten Lamps Withstand Explosion. — An ex-
plosion in a Middleport (N. Y.) factory not long ago broke
every window in the building, blew the doors completely off
their hinges, raised the roof 18 in., broke the anchor bolts,
and bent the truss rods, yet the 200-watt gas-filled tungsten
lamps with which the factory was equipped were apparently
in no way injured.
Sanitary District Consulting Engineer to Remain. — Mr.
Lyman E. Cooley, consulting engineer for the Sanitary Dis-
trict of Chicago, whose dismissal by the board was an-
nounced in the Electrical World of May 1, is now to re-
tain his office. The action of the board in dismissing Mr.
Cooley was taken in the absence of the board's president,
Mr. f. A. Smyth. On his return Mr. Smyth vetoed the
board ruling, and the members of the board were unable to
obtain a majority to override the president's veto.
Change to Gas-Filled Lamps Will Pay Own Construction
Costs. — By equipping its street-lighting system with thirty-
three nitrogen-filled lamps the Town Board of Ripley, Ky.,
has so reduced the load on its generating-plant equipment
that it now offers for sale, without increasing its equip-
ment rating, power enough to serve 400 incandescent
lamps. The change was made to the nitrogen-filled lamps
after careful experiments, and the board hopes to realize
from the sale of energy enough to meet the cost of the
change.
A Rain Alarm for Open Windows. — Fresh-air sleepers
whose slumbers by wide-open windows have hitherto been
marred by fears of rain pelting into the room during the
night and damaging furniture and wallpaper can now pro-
cure an automatic alarm which will arouse them in case of
a sudden shower. A rain-collector disk is placed on the sill
of the window to be guarded, and if during the night rain is
blown into the room, the first drops to fall close a circuit
setting off an alarm and lighting a miniature lamp which
indicates at once the window needing attention.
Berlin Electric Works Purchased. — The city of Berlin,
any, is reported to have purchased the private electric
light and power plants for $32,000,000. The system has
developed from a very small beginning, inaugurated by
the German General Electric Company. The service began
in 1885 with 3000 incandescent lamps on the company's
lines, and increased until in June, 1914, 2,107,000 incan-
descent lamps, 44,200 arc lamps, 43,000 electric motors and
7850 other electric appliances were connected. The output
of the plants in 1885 was 37,000 kw-hr.; in 1914 it was 267,-
600,000 kw-hr.
New Office Building for Pacific Gas & Electric— Work has
been commenced by the Pacific Gas & Electric Company on
a modern eight-story office building at the corner of Sutter
and Powell Streets, San Francisco. The new structure,
whirti I about $150,000, will be connected to the
building on adjoining property, which is now occupied by
the power company, and will be used by the Pacific com-
pany'.^ organization exclusively. Expansion of business and
a desire to concentrate the staff of the company are the
by Mr. John A. Britton, vice-president and
l- rural manager, for erecting the new structure.
VUay Saves Thousands for Tobacco Industry. — A small
■ commonly known as the "tobacco bug" annually de-
stroys thousands of dollars' worth of tobacco. Large sums
been expended in lighting the pest. Elec-
trical sterilization of the eggs of the bettle with a high-
d ineffectual because the cur-
rent follows the lines of moisture and leaves the eggs in
the dry places practically unscathed and in a condition to
become destructive later. A special X-ray machine, con-
structed by Mr. Franklin Smith, of Philadelphia, is said to
have shown itself to be thoroughly effectual in sterilizing
the beetles' eggs. At the Cuesta Rey Company's factory at
Tampa, Fla., about 800 cigars are treated by X-rays every
minute.
Legislation in Ohio. — The Myers bill, containing provisions
that would place municipal public utilities upon the same
operating basis as privately owned plants, was defeated
in the Ohio Senate on April 4 by a vote of 20 to 9. It
would have required plants to earn 5 per cent in addition
to interest and sinking funds, after deducting the cost of
operation, before they could sell their output outside of the
municipal boundaries. On the same day the Senate recon-
sidered the Horn bill, passed previously, and it will be
called for a vote later. The bill sought to repeal the law
which provides that villages and towns must condemn and
acquire privately owned plants before municipal plants may
be built. It had particular relation to the new municipal
plant at Orrville, which can not be put into operation, as it
is involved in litigation on this point.
Associations and Societies
American Association of Refrigeration. — At the fifth an-
nual convention of the American Association of Refrigera-
tion, held in the Hotel Astor, New York, May 11 and 12,
the sessions were largely taken up with committee reports
on the technical, business and financial aspects of refrigera-
tion and ice-making. All of the officers, headed by Mr. Frank
A. Home, New York, president, were re-elected for the en-
suing year.
Philadelphia N. E. L. A. Section. — Mr. A. A. Boyle spoke
on the subject "The Work of the Commercial Inspection
Department of the Philadelphia Electric Company" before
the April 27 meeting of the commercial branch of the Phila-
delphia Electric Company Section, National Electric Light
Association. The speaker particularly emphasized the value
of such inspection in rendering proper service to customers
and in the adjustment of complaints.
Institute of Radio Engineers. — At the May meeting of
the Institute of Radio Engineers, held at Columbia Uni-
versity, Mr. Benjamin Liebowitz presented a paper on
"The Pupin Theory of Asymmetrical Rotors in Unidirec-
tional Fields." The paper dealt first with a simple circuit
having no resistance and with a periodically varied induc-
tance, showing in a simple manner that an infinite number
of harmonies are generated therein. Leading on to the
Pupin theory of two circuits, one of which is radiated
in the field of the other and upon which a constant voltage
is impressed, it was shown that the general theory may be
simplified to an extent where it becomes analogous to the
first case. The explanation of Dr. Pupin's theory to the
case, including condensers, was then taken up and a general
application to the theory of the Goldschmidt radio-frequency
alternator was made.
Ohio Central-Station Salesmen to Meet at Columbus. —
The program for the convention of the committee on new-
business co-operation of the Ohio Electric Light Associa-
tion, which is to be held at the Virginia Hotel, Columbus,
Ohio, May 19, has been announced as follows: Address of
welcome by Mr. S. G. McMeen, president of the Columbus
(Ohio) Railway, Power & Light Company; "Value of Show-
YVindow Advertising," by Mr. L. T. Milnor, district mana-
ger of the Western Electric Company at Cincinnati: "Serv-
ice First," by Mr. A. C. Seymour, president of the Colum-
bus Chamber of Commerce; "Possibilities of Industrial
Electric Heating from a Central-Station Viewpoint," by
Mr. H. O. Loebelle, industrial heating expert for Henry I..
Doherty <& Company, New York City, and "Electrical Ad-
vertising," by Mr. V. I.. Blanchard, of the Toledo Railways
A Light Company. This meeting, the fifth to be held since
the I '.Ml annual convention of the Ohio Electric Light Asso-
ciation at Cedar Point, is the last of a series of successful
sales-committee meetings. In issuing the program Mr.
Thomas F. Kelly, of Dayton, chairman, has cordially invited
central-Station men of Ohio and neighboring states to be
present.
May 15, I91G
E I . K C T R I C A L \Y ORLD
1271
l-ill -hurirh >. .ii.Mi. \ I K. K.— The Pittsburgh (P«u)
n of the American Institute of Electrical Engineers on
ion trip to the Brunois Island power
plant of the Duquesne Light Company, Pittsburgh, Pa. Mr.
K. S. Orr, general manager of the company, was in charge
of the trip.
I. K. s. Chicago Director. Among the list of nominees
for officers of the Illuminating Engineering Society pub-
lished on page lloO of the Km run vl WOBID, dated May
8, appeared the name of Mr. \V. A. Durgin, Pittsburgh.
The address given is incorrect. Mr. Dorgin is testing
engineer with the Commonwealth Edison Company, Chicago.
the Watt-Hour (hi I). Long Island City, N. Y.— Employees
of the New York & Queens Electric Light & Power Com-
pany have formed the Watt-Hour Club. Mr. Frank E.
Andrews, of Flushing, N. Y.. is president, and Mr. E. J.
Murphy is secretary-treasurer. The executive committee
consists of Messrs. William Banger, Walter Des Rault, H.
J. Hoffman, M. J. Roth, C. B. Stecker and C. E. Hickey. At
the organization meeting of the club Mr. C. A. Barton, gen-
eral sales agent, addressed the members on the subject of
co-operation between contractors and company.
Commonwealth Edison Section. N. E. I.. A. — At a meet-
ing of the Commonwealth Edison Company's section of the
National Electric Light Association at Chicago, May 4, the
following delegates and alternates were chosen to attend
the National Electric Light Association convention at San
Francisco: Delegates, Messrs. Guy W. Lunn, J. T. Moun-
tain, J. L. Holman, William Barenz and John N. Walton;
alternates, Messrs. George B. Johnson and Harry Strom.
Mr. George B. Foster, assistant to the president of the
Commonwealth Edison Company, will also attend the con-
vention in his official capacity as president of the local
section.
New x ork Electrics] Society. — On Wednesday evening,
May 19, the New York Electrical Society will hold a smoker
meeting in the Engineering Societies Building. Mr. J. M.
Wakeman, general manager of the Society of Electrical
Development, will deliver an address on "Electrical Pros-
perity Week." Mr. H. W. Alexander, director of publicity
for that society, will supplement Mr. Wakeman's address
with a brief illustrated lecture, showing in picture form the
tentative plans for the week and what is expected to be
accomplished. Motion pictures relating to the advantages
of utilizing electricity in the home and on the farm will
also be shown.
Annual Dinner of Century Engineering Club. — More than
150 were present at the annual dinner and smoker of the
Century Engineering Club, an organization of employees
of the Century Electric Company, St. Louis, Mo., which
was held in the banquet room of the American Annex
Jovian Hotel on May 4. The officers and directors of the
company were guests of honor. Mr. E. S. Pillsbury, presi-
dent of the company, addressed the club on "Employees as
Stockholders." One-third of the employees are stockholders.
Mr. R. J. Russell, secretary and sales manager, spoke on
the sale of the products of the company in the United
States and foreign fields. Toasts were given by the other
officers and directors. An elaborate vaudeville and musical
program was furnished by the members of the club. Dur-
ing the last year the organization has directed its efforts
along educational and co-operative lines. The officers of the
club are: Mr. J. M. Chandlee, president; Mr. E. A. Ross,
secretary; Mr. J. L. Woodress, chairman of the program
committee, and Mr. A. J. Kramer, chairman of the entertain-
ment committee.
Lehigh Valley Light & Power Company Section April
Meeting. — Mr. W. K. Buckingham, electrical inspector of
the Underwriters' Association for the Lehigh Valley district
of Pennsylvania, made the principal address at the April
meeting of the Lehigh Valley Light & Power Company
Section of the National Electric Light Association, held in
the Fairview Auditorium at Allentown, Pa. Chairman
Irving Samuels introduced Mr. Buckingham as a post-gradu-
ate of the school of experience. The speaker gave a concise
exposition of the principles and objects of the work of
the Underwriters' Association. The various systems and
methods adopted for the efficient handling of the large
number of inspections was explained and conclusions were
drawn showing the justification of the work from the
widely divergent viewpoints of the consumer, the central
station and the insurance company. Mr. R. C. Dornblaser,
chairman of the question-box committee, presented a report
on many queries relating to the subject of the Underwriters'
rules and inspections. A discussion followed by Messrs.
Buckingham, T. T. Fogel, A. P. Schneider and others.
Industrial Electric Seating Association Organized. — The
Industrial Electric Heating Association, plans for the for-
mation of which were noted in our issue of April 3, was
finally organized at a meeting of central-station heating
men and manufacturers' representatives held at Toledo,
Ohio, May 1. Most of the time of the inaugural session was
taken up in perfecting an organization for the exchange of
data on electric industrial heating. In the afternoon the
delegates visited the factory of the Willys-Overland Com-
pany and inspected the electric furnaces and electric en-
ameling ovens used there in automobile manufacture. The
officers of the new association are: President, Mr. A. K.
Young, Toledo Railways & Light Company; secretary, Mr.
Homer Kunz, Toledo Railways & Light Company; executive
committee — Mr. H. O. Loebell, of Henry L. Doherty & Com-
pany, New York; Prof. C. F. Hirschfeld, of the Edison
Illuminating Company of Detroit; Mr. J. A. Seede, of the
General Electric Company; Mr. F. K. Thornton, of the
Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company, and Mr.
M. Turner, of the Cleveland Electric Illuminating Company.
Program of Galveston Convention. — The annual conven-
tion of the Southwestern Electrical & Gas Association will
be held at the Hotel Galvez, Galveston, Tex., May 19 to 22.
In addition to the general sessions, special parallel meetings
will be held by the electric railway men, central-station
operators, gas members, and accountants. Among the
papers to be presented are the following: "Important
Factors in Accident Prevention," Mr. Charles B. Scott,
Bureau of Safety, Chicago; "Interesting Points in Track
Work and Paving," Mr. B. R. Brown; "Economies in Repair-
Shop Work and Maintenance," Mr. V. W. Berry; "The
Present Gas Situation in Texas," Mr. F. M. Lege, Jr.; "A
New Type of Street Car for City Operation," Mr. C. O.
Birney; "A Study of the 'Jitney'," Mr. R. T. Sullivan; "The
Commercialization of Central-Station Organizations," Mr.
Hartwell Jalonick; "What the Southwestern Electrical and
Gas Association Can Do for Me," Mr. A. V. Wainwright;
"The Advertising Influence of the Employee," Mr. F. R.
Slater; "Welfare Work and Education of the Employee,"
Mr. Richard Merriwether; "Modern Electrical Commercial
Distribution," Mr. Martin J. Wolf; "Positive and Negative
Elements in Trade," Mr. Fred Johnson. Friday, May 21,
has been designated as Jovian Day and will be brought to a
close with a big rejuvenation in the evening. Mr. H. S.
Cooper, Slaughter Building, Dallas, Tex., is secretary of the
Southwestern association.
Arkansas Utility Operators at Little Rock. — The conven-
tion of the Arkansas Association of Public Utility Operators
at Little Rock, Ark., May 11 to 13, was to open on Tuesday
afternoon with an address of welcome by Mayor Charles
E. Taylor of Little Rock, to which President C. J. Griffith
was to respond for the association. "Financing, Constructing
and Operating Public Utilities in Small Towns" was to be the
subject of a paper by Mr. H. C. Couch, president Arkansas
Power Company. On Wednesday the following were to
be read: "Why Central-Station Operators Are Interested
in and Must Control Types of Motors and Their Accesso-
ries, Starters, Controllers, Etc.," by Mr. Fred Johnson,
Wagner Electric Company, St. Louis, Mo.; "Installation,
Maintenance and Operation of a Modern White Way," Mr.
S. E. Dillon, Citizens' Electric Company, Hot Springs;
"Depreciation and Obsolescence of Public Utility Proper-
ties," Mr. J. F. Christy, Jonesboro Water & Light Company,
Jonesboro, and "Application of Motors," Mr. J. J. Dorney,
Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company, St.
Louis. Thursday's papers included "Voltage Regulation," by
Mr. H. F. McRell, General Electric Company, St. Louis,
Mo.; "Switchboard Cost per Kilowatt-Hour in the Small
Modern Plant," Mr. Andrew Patterson, general superin-
tendent Southwestern Gas & Electric Company, Texarkana,
Ark., and "Water-Power Development and Transmission,"
Mr. A. E. Main, electrical engineer Mammoth Spring Elec-
tric Light & Power Company, Mammoth Spring, Ark. The
convention banquet was held on Wednesday evening.
1272
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 20
Public Service Commission News
Indiana Commission
Governor Ralston has failed so far to announce the re-
appointment of Messrs. Charles J. Murphy, of Brookston,
and Charles A. Edwards, of Huntington, as members of
the commission, although their terms expired on May 1.
The Governor said, following the expiration of the terms,
that he was "not ready to take up that matter yet."
District of Columbia Commission
The commission on its own initiative investigated the
practices adopted by utilities for protection against loss
due to non-payment of bills by customers. It was found
that all utilities requiring deposits did not pay the same
rate of interest thereon, in one case 5 per cent being paid,
in another case 4 per cent, and in still another no interest
being paid. The commission is of the opinion that, since
these deposits are available by utilities for use in the
transaction of their affairs, the customers are entitled to a
reasonable rate of return thereon and the commission orders
that 5 per cent be paid.
Missouri Commission
The decision of the commission in the case affecting the
Kirksville Light, Power & Ice Company holds:
"Although a six months' test discloses that rates for-
merly prescribed by this commission are reasonable under
economical management, yet on account of increased oper-
ating expenses the rate schedule is readjusted to allow
a somewhat larger margin and rates in substance as fol-
lows are prescribed: For residence lighting: First 20
kw-hr. used per month, 11 cents per kw-hr.; next 20 kw-hr..
7 cen+s per kw-hr.; all in excess of 40-kw-hr., 4 cents per
kw-hr. Other than residence lighting: 10 cents per kw-hr.
for first 30 hours' use per month of maximum demand, 7
cents per kw-hr. for next 30 hours, and 4 cents per kw-hr.
for all in excess of 60 hours."
The economical management of a public service cor-
poration, especially as regards the possible saving to be
effected by the use of the cheapest grade of coal consistent
with efficient service, is also discussed. The commission
says that electrical energy furnished to interrelated cor-
porations by public service corporations should be metered
and charges exacted therefor at the regular schedule of
rates.
Ohio Commission
The appraisal of the electrical property of the Union Gas
& Electric Company of Cincinnati was filed with the com-
mission on May 4 by President W. W. Freeman. The com-
pany says that the figures represent the reasonable, just
and lawful value of the property for rate-making purposes.
The valuation was made by the engineers and experts of
the company at the instance of the commission for the pur-
pose of fixing new rates for service, which the Cincinnati
Council desires. The work on the appraisal has been in
progress almost a year and has been checked by repre-
sentatives of the commission. The summary of the appraisal
is shown in the accompanying table:
Reproduction cost, inside city .. .110.562.419
notion cost, outside city.. 124.525
Reproduction cost, total $10,686,944
Accrued depreciation, Inside city J703.169
Accrued depreciation, outside city 9,574
Accrued depreciation, total 712.743
v.tIup of company's physical property used and
useful In • U,9
: Ml
eloping the business 2.:
Of financing 2,
■ mchlses
: v.ilne for r;it.--iniikinK |I1,M9.«S1
The field sheets representing the detailed inventory num-
ber 10,000 and are 8'/2 in. by 11 in. in size. The appraisal
records consist of four volumes, three of which cover the
unit cost data on all items of physical property. These
three volumes contain 840 pages 8' \ in. by 11 in. in size.
The fourth volume, containing a summary of the inventory,
contains 170 pages lO'/j in. by 14' ? in. in size.
Personal
Mr. Harvey Shields is the new electrical superintendent
of the Fresno (Cal.) district of the San Joaquin Light &
Power Corporation, succeeding Mr. S. W. Dietrich, who re-
signed.
Mr. N'eilson Edwards has withdrawn from the Butler-
Edwards Electric Company, of Easton, Pa., to become vice-
president of the Nitrogenous Chemical Company of Phila-
delphia.
Mr. Charles S. Evans has succeeded Mr. J. W. Kephart as
president of the Ebensburg Light, Heat & Power Company,
of Ebensburg, Pa. Mr. Evans was formerly vice-president
of the company.
Mr. A. L. Kenyon has been appointed manager of the
Anniston Electric & Gas Company, Anniston, Ala. Mr.
Kenyon succeeds Mr. W. R. Hall, who was formerly man-
ager and contract agent at Anniston.
Mr. James E. Logan, city electrician of Bangor, Maine,
has been presented with a handsome gold badge as a token
of regard by members of the city electrical department,
with which he has been associated for the last six years.
Mr. Horace E. Andrews, president of the Rochester (N. Y.)
Railway & Light Company and the Mohawk Valley Com-
pany, has been elected a director of the Michigan Central
Railroad and also of. the New York, Chicago & St. Louis
Railroad.
Mr. Arthur Wright, of London, consulting engineer and
originator of the Wright demand system, has been retained
by the Edison Electric Illuminating Company of Boston,
Mass.. in an advisory capacity. He arrived in Boston last
month to assume his new duties.
Mr. Edward N. Hurley, who was recently appointed vice-
chairman of the Federal Trade Commission, has resigned as
president of the Illinois Manufacturers' Association, Chi-
cago, and Mr. Samuel M. Hastings has been chosen as his
successor. Mr. Hastings is president of the Computing
Scale Company of America.
Mr. O. H. Hutchings has been appointed associate gen-
eral manager and engineer of the Dayton Power & Light
Company by the latter's board of directors, following the
departure for New York of Mr. F. M. Tait, who will retain
the title of president and general manager. Mr. Hutchings
has for a number of years been general superintendent and
engineer of the Dayton company.
Gen. George H. Harries, who, in addition to being presi-
dent of both the Louisville Gas & Electric Company and
the Omaha (Neb.) Electric Light & Power Company, has
been brigadier-general of the National Guard of the Dis-
trict of Columbia, has resigned his commission in the
latter organization because of enforced absence from Wash-
ington in connection with his duties at Louisville. Chicago
and Omaha.
Mr. Edwin M. Collis. of the treasury department of the
Commonwealth Edison Company, Chicago, was one of the
survivors of the Lusitania catastrophe, he having been on
his way to London to collect a legacy of appreciable size
left to him and his sister by his brother. Mr. Collis has
been in the employ of the Commonwealth Edison Company
for sixteen years. Cable dispatches from Queenstown state
that Mr. Collis was saved by clinging for two hours to a
piece of wreckage after jumping from the sinking liner with
a life belt about him.
Mr. Charles F. Wallace, of the Stone A: Webster Man-
agement Association, Boston, Mass.. is to represent the
Stone & Webster interests in the Southwest in an executive
capacity, with headquarters at Dallas. Tex. Mr. Wallace
is a native of California, and was graduated from the
tchusetts Institute of Technology in the electrical engi-
neering course about twenty-three years ago. He imme-
diately became associated with Stone & Webster, and was
appointed head of the enginering department within a few
years. Mr. Wallace has also had important managerial
work in connection with the firm's properties, with broad
executive duties in connection with various Southern utili-
ties and hydroelectric developments, including the Missis-
sippi River Power Company.
May 15, 1916
ELECTRICAL WORLD
1273
F. S. PEARS' >N
Obituary
Woodbury E. Corson, city electrician of Haverhill, Ma.-.-.,
died at his home in Haverhill on May •'.. Mr. Corson was
chief engineer of the Haverhill Electric Company before his
appointment as city electrician ten years ago.
Walter I.. Saw telle, manager of the lighting depart-
ment of the Bangor (Maine) Railway & Electric Company,
died at his home at Bangor, May 4, at the age of thirty-
eight. Mr. Sawtelle was a native of Boston and was for-
merly in the employ of the Old Colony Railroad Company,
later joining the staff of the Lewiston, Augusta & Water-
ville Street Railway. Mrs. Sawtelle is the daughter of Mr.
John R. Graham, president of the Bangor company.
Itr. Fred Stark I'earson. who lost his life when the steam-
ship Lutttonta was sunk by a German submarine on May 7.
was born and educated in this country and developed from
here the beginnings of his large engineering business, which
came to be international in
scope. Although he still kept
a home at Great Barrington,
Mass., where he had an es-
tate of 12,000 acres, much of
his time for the last few-
years had been spent in Eng-
land, where he had homes in
Surrey and in London. It
was necessary for him to be
in England a great deal be-
cause of the large English
interest in properties with
which he was connected in
Mexico, South America and
Spain. Until Dr. Pearson ar-
rived here in April he had not
been in this country for two
years. One of the objects of
his trip was to consider plans
for the Denver & Salt Lake Railroad, of which he was
chairman of the board of directors. The improvements con-
templated for that property include electrification, or the
construction of an extensive tunnel or a combination of
inclined railroads and tunnels for use during the next few-
years until easier money conditions permit the electrifica-
tion which is desired eventually. Dr. Pearson was return-
ing to Europe to meet security holders of the Barcelona
Traction Light & Power Company, Ltd., and make final
arrangements to continue construction. This company has
completed one of its large power plants and the transmis-
sion lines which are in partial operation. It has constructed
canals, dams and other hydraulic works, and the future
developments outlined are to reach as large a total as the
combined output of the plants at Niagara. Dr. Pearson
was born at Lowell, Mass., on July 3, 1861. He was gradu-
ated from Tufts College. In 1879 and 1880 he was in-
structor of chemistry at the Massachusetts Institute of
Technology. From 1883 to 1886 he was instructor in mathe-
matics and applied mechanics at Tufts. For the following
two years he was a mining engineer, operating in the
United States and Brazil. In 1888 he was manager of the
Somerville (Mass.) Electric Light Company and later served
successively as chief engineer of the West End Street Rail-
way of Boston, the Dominion Coal Company and the Metro-
politan Street Railway of New York. During his service
with the last-named company he constructed the under-
ground conduit system. The wide extent of Dr. Pearson's
later enterprises is shown by the fact that he was president
and a director of the Mexico Tramways Company, the
Mexican Light & Power Company, Ltd., the Mexico North-
western Railway Company, the Rio de Janeiro Tramway.
Light & Power Company, and the Barcelona Traction, Light
& Power Company, Ltd. He was also a director of the
Sao Paulo Tramway, Light & Power Company. Dr. Pear-
son was a member of the Institution of Civil Engineers of
London, the American Society of Civil Engineers, the Amer-
ican Institute of Electrical Engineers, the American Insti-
tute of Mining Engineers, the American Society of Me-
chanical Engineers, the American Association for the Ad-
vancement of Science, and the Society of Naval Engineers.
He was a member of the following clubs in New York: Uni-
versity, Engineers', New York Yacht, and Railroad.
Corporate and Financial
American Public Utilities Company, Grand Rapids, Mich.
—In a booklet describing the property, Kelsey, Brewer &
Company, under whose management the company is, state
that the general financial depression has served to reduce
the volume of business which otherwise would have been
done by public service companies, particularly those serv-
ing industrial communities. Notwithstanding this, all but
two of the subsidiary companies showed substantial in-
creases in the sale of gas and electricity in 1914 as com-
pared with 1913, and the two decreases amounted only to
1 per cent and 7 per cent respectively. During the last
six months the companies have followed a very conserva-
tive course in their efforts to obtain new business, con-
fining sales of appliances almost exclusively to cash trans-
actions. Results have been satisfactory. Earnings for the
eight months ended March 1, 1915, follow:
Gross earnings from operations of subsidiary com-
„ Panies $1,980,960
Operating expenses 1,079,992
Net earnings from operations $900,968
Miscellaneous income 23,169
Gross income $924 137
Less expense " ' 27^172
Net income $896,965
Fixed charges for eight months :
Interest on underlying securities $552,734
Interest on collateral trust bonds 23,167
Miscellaneous interest 34,805
Total fixed charges 610,706
Remainder applicable to renewals and dividends $286 259
Dividend on $3,914,000 preferred stock 156|560
Balance $129,699
Baton Rouge (La.) Electric Company. — The company has
sold $150,000 three-year 6 per cent gold coupon notes due
on April 1, 1918. The proceeds will be applied to the pur-
chase of land and to build a 2000-hp steam station.
Birmingham (Ala.) Railway, Light & Power Company. —
An issue of $1,150,000 of 6 per cent notes is offered at 99%
and interest. The notes are dated May 1, 1915, and are due
on May 1, 1917. Earnings for the telve months ended Dec.
31, 1914, follow:
Gross earnings $3,217,826
Operating expenses and taxes 1,922,605
Net earnings $1,295,221
•Interest on bonds outstanding 700^290
Income applicable to interest on bonds $594,931
Annual interest on $1,150,000 notes 69,000
Surplus $.".25. 931
•Interest for twelve months on bonds outstanding as of date of
notes.
Dayton (Ohio) Power & Light Company. — The recent re-
port that the company would be included with the other
utilities operating in Dayton in one large merger is without
foundation, according to a statement of Mr. Frank M. Tait,
president of the company. The company will continue, he
says, to be strictly an operating company and not a holding
company for securities of the other Dayton utilities.
Edison Light & Power Company, York, Pa. — The York
City Council has given the company permission to absorb
the Merchants' Electric Light, Heat & Power Company.
Elmira (N. Y.) Water, Light & Railroad Company.— The
company has been authorized by the New York Public Serv-
ice Commission, Second District, to issue $232,000 of 5 per
cent fifty-year first consolidated mortgage bonds at not less
than 90. The proceeds, together with $1,500,000 received
from the sale to the city of the company's waterworks,
will be used to retire on July 1 at 105 the $1,661,000 pur-
chase money 5 per cent bonds due on Jan. 1, 1949.
Federal Electric Sign System, Chicago, 111. — The com-
pany has passed its regular quarterly preferred-stock divi-
dend of 1% per cent due on May 1.
Interstate Electric Company, Edinburg, Ind. — Mr. F. A.
Goodin, of Edinburg, has been appointed receiver for the
company, which bought the Thompson mill site, near Edin-
burg, in 1913, for the purpose of supplying energy to sev-
eral Indiana cities and electric railways. Mr. Goodin was
ordered by the Johnson County Circuit Court to sell the
assets to satisfy a judgment of $6,054.
1274
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 20
Mahoning County Light Company, Youngstown, Ohio. —
The Supreme Court has sustained the company's motion to
dismiss the suit of the Youngstown & Sharon Street Rail-
way Company to enjoin the light company from issuing
$400,000 stock and $530,000 bonds. The railway company
contended that if the light company went ahead with the
sale of its securities a duplication of service would ensue
in Youngstown, thereby depreciating the railway company's
holdings.
Manchester (N. H.) Traction, Light & Power Company. —
The New Hampshire Public Service Commission is hearing
an application for authority to issue $1,000,000 in 5 per cent
three-year notes to pay for new construction.
Massachusetts Lighting Companies, Boston, Mass. —
Shareholders have received notice that the Light, Heat &
Power Corporation will discontinue its engineering and con-
struction departments. This change in policy, it is stated,
will have little or no effect on the net earnings and no effect
on the intrinsic value of the stock, all of which is owned by
the Massachusetts Lighting Companies. Since July, 1904,
the Light, Heat & Power Corporation has done the engineer-
ing and construction work made necessary by the important
additions and improvements to the plants and distribution
systems of the gas and electric light companies whose
shares are owned by the Massachusetts Lighting Com-
panies. These larger improvements have put the plants in
excellent physical condition, and they are now in a posi-
tion to do their own construction work economically and
furnish a greatly increased number of customers. The
operating companies have made several price reductions in
the last year, which, together with general business con-
ditions, caused a decrease of less than 1 per cent in gross
earnings for the eight months ended March 1, 1914. Some
of the companies have already gained enough new business
to make up for the reductions and the others are making
rapid progress.
Minnesota Electric Light & Power Company, Duluth,
Minn. — An issue of $300,000 of first mortgage 6 per cent
sinking-fund gold bonds dated May 1, 1915, and due on
May 1, 1935, is offered at par and interest.
Pacific Gas & Electric Company, San Francisco, Cal. —
The California Railroad Commission has authorized the
issue of $367,000 general and refunding mortgage gold
bonds. The bonds are a portion of the $4,586,661 authorized
by the commission on June 30, 1914.
Penn Central Light & Power Company, Altoona, Pa. —
Dividends on the 6 per cent non-cumulative preferred stock
have been resumed, the directors having declared a dividend
of 1 per cent payable on April 30.
Plymouth (Mass.) Electric Light Company. — The Board
of Gas and Electric Commissioners of Massachusetts has
authorized the issue of $90,000 additional stock at 100 to
capitalize the cost of transmission-line construction to
Kingston, Marshfield, Chiltonville and to the lines of the
Marion Gas Company at Carver.
San Joaquin Light & Power Corporation, Fresno, Cal. —
The California Railroad Commission has made an order
authorizing the corporation to issue $1,582,000 of series
"C" 6 per cent forty-year first and refunding mortgage
gold bonds. The company is also authorized to issue in-
terest coupons calling for 1 per cent additional interest
per annum to any holders of the $2,924,000 of series "B"
bonds now outstanding who will pay a premium of $100
upon each $1,000 bond held by them. Of the new series
bonds which the company is authorized to issue,
$1,582,000 are to be issued in lieu of a like amount of
"I:" bonds now held in the company's treasury or
pledged as collateral. The commission's order provides
that the sen' "<" bondf hall be sold at such a price that
the fir-t 1800,000 of bonds shall yield not less than 96 and
interest. The proceed! derived by the company from the
sale of tbi vill be used in retiring $951,000 of
two-year collateral-trust notes due Aug. 1, 1915, and in
paying $83K,::iin outstanding notes representing funds bor-
rowed for capital expenditures. The order is made de-
pendent upon submission by the company within ninety
days of a financial plan by means of which it may secure
funds to defray the cost of necessary extensions, additions
and betterments by other means than the sale of bonds.
Southeastern Ohio Railway, Light & Power Company,
Zanesville, Ohio. — Upon application of a creditor, Mr. W. A.
Wilson, president of the company, was appointed receiver.
Texas Power & Light Company, Dallas, Tex. — An addi-
tional issue of $140,000 of the company's first mortgage 5
per cent gold bonds is offered at 93 Ms and interest.
Utica (N. Y.) Gas & Electric Company.— The New York
Public Service Commission, Second District, has authorized
an issue of $350,000 5 per cent fifty-year refunding and ex-
tension mortgage gold bonds to be sold at not less than 95
for the payment of current obligations incurred for capital
purposes and in part to take up $351,481 short-term notes.
The commission does not act at this time on the petition for
an issue of $2,500,000 capital stock for the reimbursement
of the treasury for capital expenditures. From verified bal-
ance sheets, however, the commission is satisfied that the
fixed assets have increased during the period covered in an
amount in excess of what is required for the present bond
issue.
Washington (D. C.) Railway & Electric Company. —
The company has been authorized by the Public Utilities
Commission of the District of Columbia to issue $13,500
general improvement 6 per cent debenture bonds.
Washington-Oregon Corporation, Vancouver, Wash. —
The reorganization committee's plan of reorganization pro-
poses that the property covered by the first and consol-
idated mortgage be purchased subject to the mortgage
previously executed by the Twin City Light & Traction
Company. A new company shall be formed with $1,750,000
capital stock, consisting of $1,200,000 6 per cent cumulative
preferred stock and $550,000 common stock. The pre-
ferred stock should be subject to retirement by the vote of
a majority of the common stock upon payment at 110
and accrued dividends. The new company shall execute a
prior-lien mortgage which shall provide for a twenty-year
6 per cent bond issue not to exceed $350,000, of which
$200,000 shall be issued immediately. Additional bonds
may be issued to the extent of 75 per cent of the cost
of betterments and extensions, provided that net earnings
for the twelve months preceding shall have amounted to at
least twice the interest charges on the outstanding bonds,
including those to be issued. The company shall also
authorize an issue of $2,500,000 of 6 per cent twenty-five-
year general-lien mortgage bonds, of which $675,000 shall
be issued immediately. Not exceeding $700,000 shall be
used for the retirement at par of the Twin City Light &
Traction Company bonds and the bonds which shall have
been issued under the prior-lien mortgage. Further bonds
may be issued up to 85 per cent of the cost of betterments
and extensions, provided that net earnings for the twelve
months preceding shall have been at least one and one-half
times the interest charges on all bonds outstanding, in-
cluding those to be issued. The general-lien mortgage
shall further provide for the authorization of not to ex-
ceed $600,000 bonds for the reconstruction or enlargement
of the hydroelectric plant near Kalama, Wash. Bonds
shall not be issued for new construction or reconstruction
unless there remain uncertified sufficient bonds to retire
the outstanding Twin City Light & Traction Company
bonds and outstanding prior bonds. Holders of the old
company's first and consolidated mortgage bonds shall
receive 40 per cent of the face value in the new general-
lien bonds and 60 per cent in preferred stock. The com-
mon stock shall be delivered to trustees who shall appor-
tion stock-purchase certificates among holders of the old
corporation's second mortgage bonds and other junior
claimants. These junior claimants holding stock purchase
certificates may purchase at any time prior to April 15,
1920, the outstanding preferred stock.
Western Light & Power Company, Boulder, Col. —
Holders of certificates of deposit representing preferred and
common stock and first, mortgage 5 per cent redeemable
sinking-fund gold bonds of the Northern Colorado Power
Company, the former name of the Western Light & Power
Company, have been notified that on surrender of their
certificates of deposit they will receive the new stock, or
the certificates of interest in new bonds and the cash repre-
senting coupons due Nov. 1, 1913, on deposited bonds, to
which they may be entitled.
M w 15, 1916
ELECTRICAL WORLD
1275
Manufacturing and Industrial
Walker Brother* & Haviland. genera] sales representa-
Ithrea in Chicago for the Industrial Controller Company of
Milwaukee, Wis., and also Belling agent for the Monarch
synchronized time system, have moved their offices from
966 Mmiadnock Block to 1K21 People's Gas Building, Chi-
cago.
l In \nnrn.iii Brer Bead] Works of the National Car-
bofl Company, Long Island City, New York, have appointed
the Union Electric Company, Pittsburgh, Pa., as their
agent to handle their non-sulphating storage batteries in
the Pittsburgh district. A service station will be opened
at 118 West Street, Pittsburgh.
Mr. K. I.. Keratetter, who was recently made manager
of the pole department of the Carbo Steel Post Company,
I McNally Building, Chicago, III., has hail fifteen years'
experience in the electrical and manufacturing business. He
was formerly connected with the Chicago Telephone
pany and the Elkhart (Ind.) Manufacturing Company.
I In- Life-Saving Devices Company of Chicago has moved
its factory and its offices from 5b"5 Washington Boulevard
to 180 North Market Street. In its new location the firm
will occupy floor space about three times as large as that
formerly used. Mr. Frank T. Fowler, president of the
company, has stated that the change was made so that
the concern might handle the large volume of government
business which it is to receive.
Electrical Equipment for United States Training Ship
"Dorothea." — Among the contracts recently secured by the
F. M. Grant Electric Company, Cleveland, Ohio, is one
for a complete galvanized-iron conduit system together with
several hundred galvanized "condulet" fittings for the light-
ing and motor circuits on the United States training ship
Dorothea. The ship is now equipped with wooden molding,
every foot of which is to be removed.
\\ . M. Sheehan & Company, 114 Liberty Street, New
Yoik. electrical contractors and dealers in electrical sup-
plies, have been reorganized. Mr. J. M. Sheehan, presi-
dent and general manager of the Upper Hudson Electric
& Bailroad Company, will act as president, and Mr. N. W.
Dalton, formerly of the Bath Electric & Gas Light Com-
pany and recently in charge of electric work for the Hart-
ford Carpet Corporation, will act as general manager.
Magneto Manufacturer to Award Prizes for Automobile
Races. — The Bosch Magneto Company, 22:} West Forty-
sixth Street, New York, will distribute prizes as follows
for the 500-mile international sweepstakes race which will
take place May 30: For cars using the Bosch magneto,
winning driver $500, driver of second car $300, driver of
third car $200; for cars using Bosch plugs in addition to
Bosch magneto, winner $100, second $100, third $100.
Mr. H. J. Solon has been appointed district manager of the
Franklin Electric Manufacturing Company for New York
City, with offices at 47 West Street. For the last two years
Mr. Solon has been sales manager of the Pittsburgh office of
the Westinghouse Lamp Company, and prior to that time he
was associated with the Macomber-Whyte Rope Company.
Mr. Solon succeeds Mr. George F. Marriott as manager of
the New York office of the Franklin company, the home
office and factory of which are at Hartford, Conn.
Business of Boiler-Cleaner Company on Upward Trend. —
The Roto Company, Hartford, Conn., manufacturer of
boiler-tool cleaners, reports that its business has grown
steadily through the entire period of the recent industrial
depression. The company made a new high record for sales
for the month of March, and there was an increase in the
number of sales during April over that of March. A con-
tract was recently closed for extensions which will more
than double the floor space of the Roto Company's plant.
The Butler-Edwards Electric Company of Easton, Pa.,
which last year purchased the business and plant of the Ed-
wards & Smith Company of Easton and the business and
equipment of the Butler Electric Company of Chicago, has
been receiving orders which tend to show gratifying general
business improvement. An electric-fan concern of Newark,
Ohio, has given the company an order for $12,000 worth of
goods, and a dental sales company of Madison, Wis., has
placed an order for $15,000 worth of dental engines. Mr. W.
E. Harvey, sales manager, reports that conditions in the field
in which the company does business have improved more
than 100 per cent ber.
Westinghouse Cwnpanj Boys Btevens Irma Plant.— Mr.
I.. A. Osborne, senior vice-president of the Westinghouse
Electric & Manufacturing Company, East Pittsburgh, Pa-
has just announced, it is reported, that negotiations have
practically been completed for the purchase of the plants
of the J. Stevens Arm & Tool Company at Chicopee Falls,
Mass., and East Springfield, Mass. Work will be rushed, it
is said, on a large order for arms from one of the belliger-
ent countries. After the war is over the factories will be
used for the manufacture of electrical products. It is an-
nounced that Mr. W. L. Clark, formerly vice-president of
the Niles-Bement-Pond Company, will be made manager of
the two plants.
Koreign-Trade Envoy from Illinois to Russia. — Plans for
an organized campaign to obtain Russian foreign trade were
completed in Chicago 'in May 4, at a meeting of the Illinois
Manufacturers' Association, at which thirteen members
agreed to send Mr. Marcus S. Hill, a foreign-trade expert,
to Petrograd, to open display rooms for Illinois products
and to pave the way for selling campaigns. He will leave
Chicago about June 1. Nearly thirty other manufacturing
concerns are expected to join the movement. Among the
ual firms interested in this work are the National
Stamping Electric Works, the Kellogg Switchboard & Sup-
ply Company and the Victor Electric Company, all of
Chicago, and the Schroeder Headlight Company, Evansville,
Ind.
Orders for Air Washers and Spray-Cooling Equipment. —
The Spray Engineering Company, 93 Federal Street, Boston,
Mass., has recently received orders for air washers from the
Cambridge (Mass.) Electric Light Company, the Lynn
(Mass.) Gas & Electric Company, the Public Service Elec-
tric Corporation of New Jersey, the North American Chem-
■ ical Company, Bay City, Mich., and the Evansville (Ind.)
Public Service Company. The company has also received
contracts for spray-cooling equipment from the Stone &
Webster Engineering Corporation for the Remington Arms
& Ammunition Company's plant at Bridgeport, Conn., the
Southern Power Company at Greenville, N. C, and the Ford
Motor Company, Detroit, Mich. Although during the win-
ter the business of the Spray Engineering Company was
quiet, since March 1 it is reported to have improved greatly,
and at present is very good.
Orders for Gas-Engine Equipment. — The Bruce-Macbeth
Engine Company, Cleveland, Ohio, has recently received
the following orders: The Fedders Manufacturing Com-
pany, Buffalo, N. Y'., one 100-hp natural-gas engine; the
Knickerbocker Amusement Company, Detroit, Mich., one
60-hp artificial-gas engine; the Mansfield Milling Company,
Mansfield, Ohio, one 350-hp natural-gas engine with auxil-
iary equipment for generating steam; the Galion Iron
Works & Manufacturing Company, Galion, Ohio, one 150-hp
natural-gas engine; the Setter Brothers Company, Cat-
taraugus, N. Y\, one 125-hp natural-gas engine; the Brook-
ville Glass & Tile Company, Brookville, Pa., two 90-hp
natural-gas engines; the Dunn-Taft Company, Columbus,
Ohio, one 15-hp natural-gas engine; the Fostoria Glass Com-
pany, Moundsville, W. Va., one 150-hp natural-gas engine,
which is the fourth unit ordered by the company.
Business in Second-Hand Machinery Improving. — Edgar
M. Moore & Company, Pittsburgh, Pa., dealers in new and
second-hand electrical and steam machinery, report that the
business of their concern in second-hand machinery during
the latter part of 1914 and the first two months of this year
was only fair. In November, 1914, the company disposed
of one of two 750-hp gas engines which it had had on hand
for a year. The other engine was sold April 1 of this year.
Subsequently two 110-hp gas engines, one 1000-hp gas en-
gine, one 85-hp gas engine, one 55-hp gas engine directly
connected to a generator, two 400-hp Babcock & Wilcox
boilers, one 19-in. by 14-in. air compressor, one 150-hp
direct-current motor and one 100-hp direct-current motor,
together with a number of small motors, gas engines, air
compressors and machine tools, were sold. The large gas
engines were fitted with compressors for natural-gas pump-
ing stations.
1276
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 20
Electric Pumps for Dry Dock in Panama Canal Zone. —
The contract for a complete pumping plant for Dry Dock
No. 1, Balboa Terminals, Balboa, Canal Zone, Isthmus of
Panama, was recently awarded by the Panama Canal Com-
mission to Henry R. Worthington, New York. The pumping
plant comprises four main pumps, two drainage pumps and
one bilge pump. Each main pumping unit consists of a
54-in. vertical-shaft, single-bottom-suction, single-impeller,
volute centrifugal pump which is directly connected to a
1000-hp constant-speed alternating-current vertical motor
of the squirrel-cage induction type. The drainage pumps
are of the volute centrifugal type and are equipped with
20-in. vertical shafts. Each drainage pump is directly con-
nected to a 200-hp vertical alternating-current motor. The
bilge pump is of the vertical self-contained centrifugal type
having a 4-in. suction and a 3-in. discharge and is directly
connected to a 10-hp vertical alternating-current motor.
The motor for the bilge pump is provided with both hand
and automatic control. The contract also includes all the
hand and electrically operated gate valves as well as the
automatic check valves. For operating the gate and sluice
valves by electricity, a hydraulic pressure system is pro-
vided, consisting of a weighted accumulator and the neces-
sary pressure pumps in duplicate. The control of all elec-
trically operated valves is from a control board to which
are brought all necessary pipes and on which are placed
the necessary operating valves. Three-phase, twenty-five-
cycle, 2200-volt energy is utilized to operate the motors.
NEW YORK METAL MARKET PRICES
, May 4 , , May 11 ,
Sflline Prices Selling; Prices
Bid Asked Bid Asked
Coppel £ s d £ s d
l.ondon standard spot* 76 0 0 77 12 6
Prime l\ke . 1 S.62 »A to 18.87% 18.75 to 19.00
Flectohtic IS. 37% to 18.50 18.50 to 18.75
cistlng _ l«S?*ttl7SC looter-
Copper wire base 20.00 24.00
t pnf] 4.20 4.20
Nickel ".'.'.'.'.' 42.00 to 45.00 42.00 to 45.00
Sheet zinc, f.o.b. smelter 17.50 17.50
s, ...iter "pot 13.50 to 13.75t 14.00 to 14.25t
Bbraits tin 39.50t 40.37%
\ num. 98 to 99 per cent. . . 19.25 to 19.50 1 9.50 to 19.75
•OLD METAL
Heavy copper and wire 17-2° 17.00
Brass, heavy 11-?5 11.25
Brass! light 9.25 9-25
Lead, heavy 3.95 3 .9.)
Zinc, scrap 10.50 10.50
♦COPPER EXPORTS
Total tons to May 11 10,274
•From dally transactions on the New York Metal Exchange.
tNominal.
New Industrial Companies
The Detroit Electric Car Company, of Buffalo, N. Y., has
been incorporated with a capital stock of $10,000 by Charles
K. Sager, Helen Sager, of Rochester, N. Y., and George B.
Pratt, of Gowanda, N. Y.
The International Battery Company, of New York, N. Y.,
has been incorporated by S. Fassy, S. J. and E. Grazi, 783
Prospect Avenue, the Bronx. The company proposes to
manufacture and deal in electrical devices and machinery.
George K. Webster, Inc., of New York, N. Y., has been
incorporated with a capital stock of $10,000 to manufacture
and deal in electric-lighting supplies, fixtures, etc. The in-
corporators are M. Vladimir, W. and G. K. Webster, 1 State
Street, New York, N. Y.
The Eugene T. Turney Company, of the Bronx, N. Y.,
(•en chartered with a capital stock of $10,000 to manu-
facture and deal in I ihanical and electrical devices, novel-
et r. The incorporators are M. R. Musser, L. M. and
E, T. Turney, 2595 Third Avenue, New York, N. Y.
111. Mac Manufacturing Company, of Syracuse, N. Y.,
■ en Incorporated bj n. Wiles. E. E. Tilton and F. F.
aan, L811 M at, Syracuse, N. Y. The com-
pany i capitalized at $50,000 and proposes tn do a general
acting, electrical and mechanical engineering business
and to deal in autos, lamps, etc.
New Incorporations
The Parkersburg Electric Company, of Parkersburg, W.
Va., has been incorporated with a capital stock of $100,000
by F. O'Connor, G. T. Partridge, John Marshall, and others.
The Shandon Lighting Company, of Shandon, Ohio, has
been incorporated with a capital stock of $5,000 by J. D.
Schradin and others. The company proposes to supply elec-
tricity for lamps and motors in Shandon.
The Medicine Bow Electric Company, of Medicine Bow,
Wyo., has been incorporated with a capital stock of $10,000
to supply electricity for lamps and motors in Medicine Bow.
The incorporators are E. Anderson, S. H. Scofield, F. W.
Shields and H. W. Richards.
Trade Publications
Glass Insulators. — The Brookfield Glass Company, 2 Rec-
tor Street, New York, has just issued Catalog A-56, which
describes various types of glass insulators.
Reflectors. — Several types of reflectors are described and
illustrated in a folder recently issued by the Holophane
Works of the General Electric Company, Cleveland, Ohio.
Electric Washers. — The Pittsburgh Gage & Supply Com-
pany, Thirtieth Street and Liberty Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pa.,
has recently issued a bulletin which describes its electrically
operated washing machine.
Lighting Glassware. — The Gleason-Tiebout Glass Com-
pany, 71 West Twenty-third Street, New York, is sending
out a card which describes its "polycase" and "camia" glass-
ware for nitrogen-filled lamps.
Battery-Charging Equipment. — The Cutler-Hammer
Manufacturing Company, Milwaukee, Wis., is sending out
an illustrated folder which contains information on several
• types of control equipment for charging batteries.
Safety.— The Bureau of Safety, 112 West Adams Street,
Chicago, 111., has issued a bulletin concerning treatment
for gas poisoning. It has excellent illustrations showing
methods of "chaining" or grounding transmission lines.
Electric-Vehicle Batteries. — The United States Light &
Heating Company, Niagara Falls, N. Y., has just issued
the fifth edition of its Bulletin No. 102, which contains in-
formation on various types of storage batteries for electric
vehicles.
Electric Accessories for Automobiles. — The Benjamin
Electric Manufacturing Company, 120 South Sangamon
Street, Chicago, has prepared a booklet which describes and
illustrates a number of different types of electrically oper-
ated devices for automobiles.
Speed-Reducing Gear-Transmission Mechanisms for Elec-
trical Machinery. — Various kinds of gear mechanism, for
reducing the speed of apparatus connected to electric ma-
chines are described in Bulletin No. 5, issued by the D. O.
James Manufacturing Company, Chicago, 111.
Lightning Protection for Railways. — The Westinghouse
Electric & Manufacturing Company, East Pittsburgh, Pa.,
has issued a booklet entitled "Railway Lightning Protec-
tion," which describes several lightning arresters designed
particularly for use with railway equipment.
Steam-Turbine-Driven Pumps. — The Kerr Turbine Com-
pany, Wellsville, N. Y., has just issued Bulletin No. 52,
which contains information on its steam-turbine-driven
pumps for water supply, boiler feeding, circulating con-
denser water, circulating water and heating systems, etc.
Electrical Slate. — A booklet designated as Price List No.
2, recently issued by the Davis Slate & Manufacturing Com-
pany, COS East Fortieth Street, Chicago. 111., describes sev-
eral kinds of electrical slate, gives directions for repairing
broken corners of slate slabs, and contains a price list of
various types of slate.
Electric Ranges. — "Hughes 1915 Improvements" is the
title of an illustrated folder recently issued by the Hughes
Electric Healing Company, 211 West Schiller Street, Chi-
cago. III., which contains information on several types of
electrically operated ranges and on an installation of electric
.....king apparatus at the San Francisco Fair.
May 15, 1916
ELECTRICAL WORLD
1277
Construction News
New England
MANCHESTER, N H -Th. \: ■
Trac . I.t. A; Pwr. Co Is contemplating ex-
tensions and Improvements to Iti
Involving an expenditure of $1,000,000, ln-
cludlng the iust of the merger with the
Nashua power service and increasing the
output of the power plants In Urn
ipany b ul.so building underground
conduits.
SWANTON. VT. — The voltage of the
transmission line between Bwanton and the
power plant at Hlghgate has been changed
"0 volts to 6600 volts and I Say
service established for tors Arrange-
ments have also been completed with the
Mlsstsquoi l.t. Co., of Hlghgate Spi
energy to be taken at the BV,
station The Mlsstsquoi company will be-
gin work at once on the erection of its
transmission line, which will he about I
miles long. The town of Swanton is con-
sidering the construction of a new d
Hume at the municipal plant, C J
Is superintendent.
CAMBRIDGE, MASS.— The Cambridge
El. Lt. Co. has applied to the Board of
Gas and Electric Light Commissi",
permission to issue $100,000 in additional
capital stock, the proceeds to be used to
pay outstanding indebtedness of the com-
pany and the cost of further additions to
the plant.
READING, .mass ,\t a town meeting
held recently an appropriation of $12,000
was voted to make further extensions to
the municipal electric-lighting service Into
Wilmington, North Heading and I ,y nnlit-ld.
STERLING, MASS.— At a special town
meeting held May 3 the citizens voted to
appropriate $5,900 for extensions to the
municipal electric-lighting system as fol-
lows: To the camp grounds at Sterling
Junction, $2,600; extension to the Rowley
Hill district, $2,000, and to the Chocksett
District, $1,300.
Middle Atlantic
BATAVIA, N. Y. — The Genesee Lt. &
Pwr. Co., of Batavia, has recently pur-
chased equipment for an outdoor substation
kt Elba. The company will tap the trans-
mission line of the Niagara, Lockport &
Ontario Co. at Elba and install a commer-
cial lighting and power service and also
furnish street-lighting service, consisting
Of 81 street series lamps of 60 cp. H. K.
Stein is superintendent.
EAST AURORA, X. Y— The Board of
Village Trustees is considering the installa-
tion of a new electric street-lighting sys-
tem. The East Aurora El. Lt. Co. supplies
the street-lighting service.
MORAVIA, N. Y.— The Moravia El. Lt.,
Ht. & Pwr. Co. expects to purchase im-
mediately an oil engine of approximately
75 hp for the purpose of operating its
plant during peak load and periods of low
water. The company obtains its power
from a hydroelectric plant. Lewis C. Rey-
nolds is superintendent.
NEW YORK, N. T. — Bids will be re-
celved by C. B. J. Snyder, superintendent
of school buildings, Department of Educa
1 Pari \ te and Fifty-ninth street.
New York, until May 17 for additions, al
teratlons and repairs to the electric equip-
ment In Public Schools 30, 32, 49, 53, 74,
I'll' -Hid lr.l. borough or Manhattan. 1:1 ml,
forms, plana and specifications may be ob-
i the above office.
NEW rORK, N. V.— Bids will be re-
ceived by tie- hoard of trustees of Bellevue
and Allied ii.. pttal . 1 1 5 Bast Twentj
sixth Street, New York, until May 17 for
completing the abandoned contract of the
Tower Construction Co. for providing ma-
terials necessary for the masonry, car-
pentry, ornamental ironwork, structural
steel and ironwork, metal work, electric
. fitting, etc., for the alterations to
the power house and ambulance station of
'I" N .i 1 o pital, 186th and KiTtb
treets and Lenox Avenue Blank forms
and further Information may bo obtained
at the office of the contract clerk, 100 East
Twenty-ninth Street, New York
SYRACUSE, N, Y. Bids will be received
by the Hoard of Commissioners, 305 City
Hail, Syracuse, until June I. for construct-
ing and equipping a vocational hull school
building for which separate proposals will
I" red iced as follows : ( 1 ) « ieiieral con
structlon, Including masonry, steel, car-
and painting; ("i plumbing, gasflt
ting and vacuum cleaning equipment; (8)
heating and ventilating; i -I ) electrical wil-
ing and equipment (E) - levators ; (6)
lockers; (7) lighting fixtures; is) clocks
and bells Plana and specifications may be
il the board and at the
M. nick A: Randall, architects, 705
Sedgwick, Andrews .v Kennedy Building,
WATERTOWN, N. Y.— The City Coun-
cil has authorized the Board of Public
Works to accpt the proposal of the North-
ern .New Voi k Utilities, Inc., for lighting
the streets of the city for a period of five
yeara al $82,499 per year. Under the terms
of the contract the company is to install
BROOKVTLLB, PA. — The Solar El. Co..
\ ill,-, is now installing Bit!
Beth gas engines, General Electric generat-
in its electric plant.
mpany Is changing its system from
current. George
W ll- i -v and general manager
II \HltlSBURG, PA.— The State Water
Supply Commission has granted the Har-
risburg Lt. ft Pwr. Co. permission to con-
.-. harf on Hargest Island in
the Susquehanna River, opposite the city.
LEWISTON, PA. — The Borough Council
is considering the proposal submitted by
il.- I viiii Central Lt. ft Pwr. Co., of Al-
or the installation of a new street-
lightlng
I ATT' IN, I A. —The Town Council is con-
sidering the question of establishing a mu-
nicipal electric-light plant. The Penn Cen-
tral Co. now furnishes electrical service
here.
PHILADELPHIA, PA.— The Philadel-
phia El. Co. has agreed to begin the in-
stallation of high-candle-power nitrogen
lamps to replace the old arc lamps now in
use. The first step will be the erection of
650 lamps on ornamental posts on South
Broad Street Boulevard, the Northeast
Boulevard, the Parkway and a number of
streets in the residential sections.
SCRANTON, PA. —The Susquehanna
County Lt. & Pwr. Co., of Scranton, is now
operating the electric systems in the towns
of Montrose and New Milford, having pur-
chased the properties of the New Milford
l.t. .t Pwr. Co. and the Montrose Lt. & Pwr.
Co. The Susquehanna company has erected
a 17.000-volt transmission line from Susque-
hanna to Montrose, via New Milford. The
steam plants in New Milford and Montrose
have been closed down. F. J. Piatt is treas-
urer and manager.
TITUSVTJiTiE, PA. — Specifications are
being prepared for improvements to the
municipal electric-light plant, including the
Installation of two new 100-kva generators
and the erection of 200 street-lamp fixtures
for 100-cp and 800-cp type "C" lamps and
all necessary appurtenances, except wire,
cables and till overhead equipment.
WII.KKS-BARRE, PA. — Preparations
are being made by the Duplan Silk Co. for
the construction of a factory, 161 ft. by 420
ft., two stories high, including air-washing,
heating, cooling and humidifying and
sprinkler systems, electrical and power
equipment. Bids will be received until
May 20 at the New York office of the com-
pany. Fourth Avenue and Seventeenth
Balllnger & Perrot, 132S Broadway,
New York, are architects.
CAMDEN, N. J.— The Pub. Ser El. Co.
has submitted a proposal to the Citv Conn-
ed providing tor an extension of the work
of placing its wires underground, the new
work to extend from Cooper River to Tenth
i i Market streets, and thence to Broad-
waj .and Kaighn Avenue. Under an agree-
iii- "I adopted some time ago the corpora
lion planned to spend $250,000 a vear for
i his work.
Mini.VIT.LE. N. J.— The Council has en-
gaged W. s Temple, of Philadelphia, Pa .
consulting electrical engineer, to prepare
plans for the installation of an electric
lighting system in Millville.
PERTH AMBOY, N. J.— Bids will be re-
ceived by the Hoard of Aldermen, Terth
Amboy, until Mav Hi for construction of a
""I al electric-lighting plant as follows:
in Construction of power station complete.
Including traveling crane; (2) oil engine,
generators, switchboard, constant-current
transformers, pumps, wiring of apparatus,
electric I imps In building; (3) eli ctrical
work, Including outside distributing sys-
tem, both overhead and underground con-
struction, Proposals mav be submitted
separately for each item, or a Beparati bid
may be submitted for Item No. 1 and a
combined pi sal [or items Nos. 2 and 8.
I 'inns and ■ peel flea I Ions ma s be seen al
the office of Runyon ft Carey, engineers, 845
Broad Street, Newark, where copies mav be
obta Ined upon deposit of $r.n.
WILMINGTON, DEL.— Plana are being
prepared for the erection of an addition to
the High School, to cost about $150,000.
Provision is made for lighting the building
throughout with electricity.
ST. MICHAELS, MD— The Talbot Mfg.
Co., of St Michaels, has been granted a
franchise to supply electricity for
lamps and motors in the town. The com-
pany, it is reported, will enlarge the elec-
trical plant In its packing factory to pro-
vide the additional service. New boilers
aerators will be installed.
WHEELING, W VA Bids will be re-
ceived at tie- United States Engineering
Office, Wheeling, W. Va., until June 2 for
furnishing water turbines, air compressors,
valve jacks, gate winches, etc., for dams
a.i 18, l ihlo River.
WASHINGTON, D C— Bids will be re-
ceived at the office of the electrical engi-
neer, Tri rtment, Washington,
1>. C, until June I, lor furnishing and In-
complete, automatic weighing and
recording scales in accordance with specifi-
cations, coines of which may be obtained at
the above office.
WASHINGTON, D. C. — Foreign trade op-
portunities are announced by the Bureau
of Foreign and Domestic Commerce in the
Commerce Reports as follows; No. 16,617
An American consular officer in Spain re-
ports that a business man in his district de-
sires to represent American manufacturers
of ■ 1. .trical goods. Correspondence and
literature should be in Spanish. No. 16,619
This department is in receipt of a letter
from a foreign commission merchant, who
is now in the United States, stating that
lie desires to secure agencies for the sale
of mining, mechanical and electrical ma-
chinen and instruments. He states that
he desires exclusive agencies for the Neth-
erlands and its colonies. No. 16,639 — An
American consular officer in Portugal trans-
mits a report relative to an opportunity for
the sale of electrical supplies. Electrical
cartridge fuses may be examined at the
above bureau and its branch offices. No.
16,642 — This bureau is in receipt of a let-
ter from a business man in the West
Indies who desires to receive names and
addresses of American manufacturers of
machinery for sugar mills, railway ma-
terials, electrical machinery, etc. No. 16,-
646 — An American consular officer in the
Far East reports that an import and ex-
port firm has been organized in his dis-
trict. The manager of the firm desires to
communicate with American manufacturers
and exporters of machinery, hardware, elec-
trical goods and apparatus. No. 16.654 —
An American consular officer in Italy re-
ports that a business man in his district
is desirous of communicating with Ameri-
can manufacturers of electrical wire,
switches, bulbs, etc. No. 16,693 — A firm in
Russia which has already placed orders in
the United States for electric lamps in-
forms an American consular officer that it
desires to receive catalogs and price lists
from American manufacturers of electric
chandeliers, brackets, wall fixtures and
table lamps ; electric appliances, including
heaters, sadirons, chafing dishes, boilers,
hair curlers, cigarette lighters and novel-
ties ; electric wire ; petroleum stoves for
heating, petroleum ranges and small pe-
troleum and alcohol stoves. Correspondence
should be in Russian or French. No. 16.72S
— An American consular officer in Spain re-
ports that a business man in his district de-
sires to represent American manufacturers
and exporters of kitchen utensils, dry bat-
teries and toys. No. 16,741 — A business
man in Spain informs an American con-
sular officer that he wishes to represent
American firms which may care to sell elec-
trical goods in that country. He states
that he will also buy direct. Catalogs and
correspondence should be in Spanish. No.
16,744 — An American consular officer in
Spain reports that a business man in his
.list net desires to represent American manu-
facturers and exporers of electrical goods,
hardware, etc. Correspondence should be
in Spanish. Further information mav be
obtained from the Bureau of Foreign and
Domestic Commerce, Department of Com-
merce, Washington, D. C, or its branches
North Central
CADILLAC, MICH.— A committee has
ben appointed to make Investigations and
s. cm-,- estimates of cost of thi installation
of an ornamental lighting system In the
business district,
ATHENS, OHIO.— The Public Utilities
Commission has granted the Athens El. Co..
i tlj organised to take over the tele-
phone plant in Athens, permission to issue
-.""" in capital stock and 875, I In
threi (rear notes. Of the proceeds $2."., 000
will be used to make the initial cash pay-
ment on the telephone plant in Athens and
JaO.OOO to be used for betterments and im-
in ovement to the bj
CLEVELAND, OHIO. -Bids will be re-
ceived at the Office Of the commissioner of
1278
purchases ami supplies, 511 City Hall.
Cleveland, until May 20 for furnishing two
steam-turbine-driven centifrugal feed pumps
for the Division Avenue pumping station,
Department of Public Utilities, division of
water. Specifications may be obtained 01
the commissioner of water, 413 Superior
Avenue, Cleveland.
CLEVELAND, OHIO.— Bids will be re-
ceived at the office of the commissioner ot
purchases and supplies. Room 511, City
Hall until May 21 for construction of a
pavilion, complete, including electric wir-
ing and lighting fixtures, in Washington
lark Specifications may be obtained at
the office of the city architect, Room 420.
City Hall, upon deposit of $5.
DAYTON, OHIO. — Negotiations have
been concluded between the Oakwood St.
Ry Co. and the Dayton Pwr. & Lt. Co..
whereby the latter will supply energy to
oiierate' the svstem of the Oakwood com-
panv The power plant of the railway
company on Brown Street will be aban-
doned.
MANTUA, OHIO. — The plant of the Man-
tua Ht . Lt. & Pwr. Co. has been closed per-
manently, leaving the village without elec-
trical service. The installation of a mu-
nicipal electric plant is under consideration.
MOUNT VERNON, OHIO. — The Ohio Lt.
& Pwr Co. has been awarded the con-
tract for installing and maintaining cluster
lamps on the public square.
OXFORD, OHIO. — Bids will be received
by the board of trustees of Miami Umver-
Bi'tv, Oxford, until May 29. for alterations
and additions to power plant of the uni-
versitv, including boiler and engine room
extensions to power building, boiler, feed-
water heater. vacuum-heating pumps,
boiler-feed pumps, power equipment,
changes and additions. W. L. Tobey. of
Hamilton, is chairman of building commit-
tee : Walter G. Franz, of Cincinnati, is
consulting engineer.
RITTMAN, OHIO. — Bids will be received
by Vance Hiekin, clerk of Council, until
Mav 2". for construction of a sewage-treat-
ment plant. The work includes construc-
tion of pumping station, with electrically
driven centrifugal pumps, concrete sedimen-
tation and dosing tanks, 1.26 acres of in-
termittent sand filters and earth dike.
Bids to be submitted on the entire work.
Plans and specifications, etc., are on file at
the office of the clerk, or may be obtained
from W. F. Peters, of Medina, engineer,
or R. Winthrop Pratt, consulting engineer,
Cleveland, upon deposit of $10.
TWINSBURG, OHIO. — The town of
Twinsburg is negotiating with the North-
ern Ohio Trac £ Lt. Co., of Akron, for
lighting the town.
XBN1A, OHIO. — Experiments are being
made by the Ohio Pwr. & Lt. Co. with new-
street lamps with a view of installing a
new lighting system in Xenia. O. M. Hutch-
ings. of Dayton, is general superintendent
TOUNGSTOWN, OHIO. — In :i decision
handed down Mav 1 the Supreme Court
lined the Mahoning Count] U. Co.'s
motion to dismiss the suit of the Xoungs-
tOWn & Sharon St. My. Co. to , 1 n the
light 1 : from issuing $400,000 in
tockS and $",.10,000 in bonds.
CLAY KY. The Franklin Furniture
Co., of Clay, is In the market for an elec-
• levator (about 2 tons capacity) for
furniture warehouse.
RUSSELL, ky The Council is consid
eiing the proposal submitted by the Ohio
1:1 Rj Co . of Huntington, w. Va.,
lectricity in Russell. If grant! a
. in companj . it is unden I I,
will extend its transmission to Russell to
furnish the >
BTiTHTON, KY. — The Greenup 11 Co.,
of Btlthl it Is reported, Is piannl
build a large pipe line to conduct w
oi 8 miles to its pc
with sufficient fall lo provide power to
ate it"' gen ■ lectnc
ASHLEY, INI 1 'ii 1 lectrlc
. ati si "" M" ii
CHALMERS, IND At an ele< '
Apt
lighting w. ' • led The plan! will
l„ ■• , ,.■■ \\ hen
.1 will probabl; be put • h
T. C Smith, ol I lhalmers, is
BAST OART, rND The contract for fit
ting UP the miin
in 1 n ted to in. ve 1 n
awarded to the t <: Hamilton 1
opt 1
st.-m. it is understood,
, .1 from the I Jalumet Pv
ftirt > 11 of ti"' out 1 .' Intel urban 1: 1: ' »
ELKHART, IND
{• 1
I • and seven I
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Second Street. The plan provides for the
erection of 80 single-unit standards (22%
ft high), mounted with 400-cp lamps with
refractors, and 30 posts (15 ft. high) carry-
ing 100-cp lamps with refractors, main-
tained bv underground wires. Contract for
the work will be awarded about June lo.
Vaughn, Mever & Sweet, of Majestic Build-
ing. Milwaukee. Wis., are consulting en-
gineers ; L. M. Russell is city engineer.
CHICAGO. ILL— Bids will be received
by the clerk of the Sanitary District of Chi-
cago Room 700, 000 South Michigan Ave-
nue, Chicago, until May 20 as follows: (A)
For construction of concrete and brick
building, to be known as the Mohawk Street
electrical substation: (B) for electrical
equipment for the Mohawk Street substa-
tion. For details see proposal columns.
LANARK, ILL.— The City Council is con-
sidering the question of establishing a mu-
nicipal electric-lighting plant in Lanark.
HIGHLAND, WIS— The Village Board
has granted the Mineral Point Pub. Ser
Co. of Mineral Point, a franchise to install
an' electric-lighting system in Highland.
The transmission line will be extended from
Montfort.
COHASSET. MINN. — Arrangements are
being made to install an electric-lighting
svstem in Cohasset. Electricity for oper-
ating the svstem wall be supplied from the
electric plant in the Cohasset woodenware
factory. L. F. Stewart, of Hastings, is
in., oager.
MARIETTA. MINN.— At an election to
be held May 20 the proposal to establish a
municipal electric-light plant will be sub-
mitted to the voters.
RUSSELL, MINN— Bonds to the amount
of J7.000 have been voted for the installa-
tion of a municipal electric-lighting plant.
ST CLOUD, MINN.— All bids submitted
for construction of an electric power plant
in the State Reformatory. St. Cloud, have
been rejected, and the plant will be con-
structed bv day labor. Charles L. Pills-
burv, of Minneapolis, is consulting engineer.
ALTA VISTA. I A. — Bids will be received
by the town of Alta Vista until June 1 for
. lion of an electric transmission line
and distribution system in Alta A ista. For
details see proposal columns.
BRITT IA — The Electric Light and
Water Commission has engaged the Power
& Engineering Co., of Minneapolis, Minn., to
inc. pare plans and specifications for con-
struction of dam on Wolk River.
CENTERVILLE. TA. — Preparations are
being made bv the Centerville Lt. & Trac.
Co for the erection of a transmission line
to Cincinnati to furnish electricity for light-
ing in that town and to coal mines along
the route The equipment will include four
40-kw and one 20-kw and some smaller
transformers, three outdoor substations. 600
eedar poles. 3" miles of No. fi wire and 100
meters. N. R. Longnecker is engineer in
charge,
ELDORA, IA — Plans are being consid-
ered by the Iowa Lt. & Pwr. Co., of El-
01 1 1 for improvements to its electric plant.
at a COS! of about $60,000. The output of
the st.im plant will be doubled and a new
power station erected.
EMMETSBURG, IA. — The proposal to
grant a franchise to Mortimer Silverman,
of Boston, Mass.. to construct and operate
an electric-light plant In Emmetsburg will
i„. submitted to the voters at a special
election to be held Max- 24
ODEBOLT ia The proposal to grant
Messrs, Russell ft Fry, of Cory. ion. a fran-
chise to install and operate an electric-light-
ing piani 1 lebolt win be submitted to
tin- voters on Max" 25,
PI VCPTi IN, I \ TI ItJ "' Rl
contemplating the Installatl f a munlc-
!,,, I eleetli lo'lll plllllt. ' St al.ollt
$7 000 Electricity for operating tie Bys
,, ,,, ,1 ... b ill I'cii' iblj be se-
cured from thi Shi nandoah El Ltfi ' !o . of
Shena ndi
SHELLSBURG, IA The Installation of
, 1 ilcipal elei 1 - Ic lighting pi mt, to cost
11 1 , 1 under consideratio
Co., it Is reported, has also
,| :, ;,, ,,,„,■ ,1 tO I 111
fl iicii I 1 ' tO III 111 H ItJ
SIBLEY, 1 \ \i an election held re-
, .nth tl tall an electric-
lighting system in Sihh \
Tib iRNTt IN, 1 \ The Ini tallatla
plant in Thornton is un-
ion.
vinti IN, 1 v Bldi « in be received by
Vinton, until M
lot which
ii be received as follow: ■ \ 1 Oen
f building (B) heating
and plumbing (C) wlrlr foi 1 impi
Plans am obtained
, ■ , 1 1 1 1 , , 1
' n1.
Vol. 65, No. 20
at the office of the supervisors and the
architect.
WrATERLOO, IA. — Improvements are
contemplated to the power plant of the
Waterloo, Cedar Falls & Northern Ry. Co.,
involving an expenditure of about $300,000.
The plans provide for doubling the output of
the plant and include the installation of a
4000-kw AUis-Chalmers turbine and three
500-hp Stirling boilers. C. D. Cass is gen-
eral manager.
WELLMAN, IA — The Wellman Lt. &
Pwr. Co. has awarded contract for con-
struction of power plant to the El. Const. &
Mach. Co., of Rock Island, 111. The equip-
ment will consist of one SO-hp boiler, one
50-hp steam engine, one three-phase, 60-
cycle, 2400-volt generator, switchboard
equipment, four 7Vi-I*va Kuhlman Electric
transformers; 132 poles and about 5 miles
of wire and General Electric meters. B. N.
Jessen is interested in the company.
GALLATIN, MO. — Bonds to the amount
of $17,000 have been voted, the proceeds to
be used for extensions and improvements
to the electric-lighting plant and water-
works system.
GRANBY, MO. — Improvements, it is re-
ported, are contemplated by the Empire El.
Co., of Joplin, to provide the Granby min-
ing district with electrical service. The
company proposes to enlarge the plant of
the Neosho El. Lt. Co. and extend the
transmission line from Diamon, a distance
of 17 miles.
MONTROSE, MO. — Bids will be received
bv the city of Montrose until May 24 for
furnishing material and construction of an
electric-lighting plant and distribution sys-
tem. Bids are to be submitted on the en-
tire plant and distribution system or under
four sections, as follows: Furnishing and
installing oil-engine equipment in power
house-: furnishing and installing electrical
equipment in power house; construction of
power house; erection of pole-line distribu-
tion svstem. Plans and specifications are -on
file at the offices of the city clerk and
Ma\.ir of Montrose, and the office of E. I.
Archer & Co., consulting engineers. New
England Building, Kansas City, Mo., upon
payment of $2 per set.
POPLAR BLUFFS. MO.— Bonds to the
amount of $75,000 have been voted for the
installation of a municipal electric-light
plant, plans for which are nearly completed.
SPRINGFIELD, MO.— Plans are being
considered, it is reported, by the Board of
Regents of the Normal School at Spring-
field for installation of an isolated electric
light and power plant at the Normal School.
GARDEN CITY. S. D.— The Trustees of
the village of Garden City have granted G
F von Egeler a franchise to construct and
operate an electric-light plant here.
WESSINOTON, s. D— Plans are being
considered by R W. Stoner and C. J.
Stoner, of Iroquois, it is reported, for the
installation of an electric-lighting plant in
Wessington.
BROCK NEB.— The citizens oi Brock
have voted to issu,- bonds for the purpose
of erecting an electric transmission line
i,,„n mourn to Brock, a dlstano
miles. Electricity will be secured from the
Auburn plant and will be distributed by the
municipalitj tor sti eet-lighting and com-
mercial purposes.
JANSEN NEB.— The State Ratlwaj
Commission has granted the Jansen Lt , *
Pwr Co permission to issue Ss.-iltl m cap-
Ital Btock, the pr eds to be used
, work. Electricity for opera nig
the system will be obtained from the plant
in Kairbury.
KIKWIN. KAN Bonds to the amount
of $12.01111 hav. been voted for the installa-
tion of a municipal electric --lighting plant,
PR \tt KAN The City Commis
awarded the contract for the construction
of the municipal electric-lighting plant to
-I CO . Of Kansas City, for
$ I 7.202.
Southern States
CONCORD, N c The Board of Water
and Light Commissioners expects to pur-
chase a carload of poles l. A Fisher is
m, i superintendent
WTNNSBORO, S, C The Board of Pub-
lic u ,., | erect within the next
I, prlmai-} line
plant of the Parr shoals Pwr. ( o.
on the Broad Rlvei to Winnsboro; also to
iihslation and establish a
service. T, p. Ellison is superintendent
\i ,i i , , ; \ -rue cite of Ad. i is contem-
plating lighting i1- miles of the proposed
"Dixie Highway." T R Sutton is superin-
tendent of the municipal electric-light
pi mi
ROME, ' ; \ The cits Commissioners an
ng ih. question of installing ■
May 16, 1916
ELECTRICAL WORLD
I hi plant to supply
i for llghtli - ud pub-
lic bull
BOPERTON, QA II..:.- are being con-
sidered for the Installation of an
lighting plant in Bo]
MERIDIAN, lOSS a Lt A:
> ■ furnish
■
in mills, completing equipment of
the nulls for • They
p of electrical •
BATON ROUQB, LA Hie Baton Rouse
itea the
- power plant
t, at the Loulslan
ii, to coat about S-'"".-
inald Stewai •
< • n l : l : I . I N" . LA Tl on of a
municipal electric-lighting plant in OberUn
Is under immittee, with
Mayor W D StockweU as chairman, has
been api ited t,. engage an engineer,
ABILENE, TEX Thi Ah
■ trolled by the American Pub.
Corpn . of New York, N. Y . it is reported,
is contemplating erecting transmission lines
from Abilene to Cisco, Clyde, Putnam,
i ilbly other cities, to furnisli
i service In those places. The
line will be 41- miles long.
CORPUS CHRISTI. TEX.— The construc-
tion of a system of interurban electric rail-
ways in this section and a local railway
system in Corpus Christi is under consider-
ation by J. H. Caswell, of San Diego, and
associates. The interurban lines will run
from Corpus Christi to Elngsville, via
Bishop, and from Corpus Christi to Port-
land ; also from Corpus Christi to Oso. The
■ ■f a large power plant is contem-
plated in connection with the project.
GONZALES, ti:x. Within the next two
months the Citizens' El. Lt ft Pwr. Co., of
Gonzales, expects to complete its dam on
tdalupe River, which will develop
about 800 hp. T. H. Spooner is secretary
and manager.
HOUSTON, TEX— The Houston. Rich-
mond & Western Trac. Co., recently or-
ganized with a capital stock of $50,000,
proposes to construct an interurban electric
railway between Houston and Richmond, a
distance of about 3". miles. The plans pro-
vide for the construction of an electric gen-
erating plant K. Kenneday, W. W. Thomas
and J. C. Eganhouse are among the incor-
porators.
HUBBARD CITY. TEX.— Within the
next 30 days the Union Central Lt ft Ice
Co., of Hubbard City, expects to erect 5000
ft. of transmission line and to purchase
several electric meters, poles, wire. etc. ; also
wiring supplies and material. W. A. Bass
is president and manager.
KERRYII.I.K. TEX.— Within the next 30
days the Kerrville El- Lt, lit ft Pwr. Co.
0 purchase one boiler of from 80-
hp to 100-hp rating. The property has re-
cently been purchased by Messrs. Peterson
& Holdsworth, T. Holdsworth Is manger.
LONGVIEW, TEX— Bids will be re-
ceive, i ,t the office of the Bupervlsini
tect. Treasury Department. Wai I
i ii til June 2 for construct!'
plete (Including mechanical equlpm
terior lighting fixtures and approach
the United States post office at I i
Drawings and specifications ma]
i rom the above office or i
custodian of site at LongVleW.
II PLEASANTON, TEX. (not a
The installation of an electric
id power plant and Ice factory In
North Pleasanton, at a cost of about $40,-
000, is under consideration. I. B. .Myers, of
El Reno. Okla., and associates are inter-
ested In the i"
SEQUIN, TEX. — Extensions and im-
provements, it is reported, are content
plated bj the Seguln El Lt c
eluding the installation of a lS7-k\.
Phase. go cycle, 2300-volt i « ti
iterator, exciter and switchboards,
< heels, transmis-
sion machinery, building and pen ti
TEMPLE, TEX. — At an election to be
held June l the proposal to issue $40, for
I inn sys-
tem and the ere, lion ,,f two (Ire stations
will be submitted to the voters.
VII "I'' IRIA, 1 to the amount
voted tor the installa-
tion of a municipal electrlc-llghtli
Pacific States
ENUMCLAW, WASH— The Enumclaw
Wtr. .v Lt Co. has been granted a fran-
chise to install an i tribution
system to furnish electrical service her...
MORTON, WASH— The property of the
has been put
O Smith. Of l'e Ell. Wash Tin- new owner,
atemplati mprove-
menti ns to the s\s'
SEATTLE WASH. — The Commissioners
Of King County have granted i ; A. Collins
a francs electricity to Vaahon
and Maury Islands. A company !
I by Mr. Collins for the put
building plant to furnish the
The cost of the propo.-.d plant is
i at $1*0,000, work on which will be-
gin immediately.
SEATTLE, wash. — George E. Tilden, of
ttle Bond *i Brokerage Co
Building, Seattle, is reported to be Inter-
ested m a project to furnish electricity for
lamps and motors in cities and towns in
I'hehalis and Pacific Counties. It Is pro-
posed to erect a plant at or near Lake
Cushman and erect transmission lines form-
ing a loop running through Shelton and the
.-lies of Chehalis and I'aciftc Counties,
back through Centralia and Olympia and to
Shelton and the power plant.
TACO.MA. WASH— The city attorney has
been instructed by the CltJ Council and
Mayor Fawcett to draft an ordinance au-
thorizing the Mayor and controller
eliminate the pending deal between the city
Of Tacoma and the Central Heating Co. for
~e,i steam auxiliary to the munici-
pal hydroelectric power plant. The Central
Htg. Co, tea an expenditure of
the first year. By terms of the
:t the city will have the privilege
of installing generators in the steam-heat-
ing plant. The cost of installing the gen-
erators in the proposed plant is estimated
at about $75,000. The offer of the Puget
Sound Trac, Lt & Pwr. Co. i for details
s.,. issue of May is) will not be affected by
the above action.
PORTLAND, ORE. — Improvements and
betterments are contemplated by the Port-
land Ry., Lt ,*i Pwr. Co. to its system, in-
volving an expenditure of about $1,250,000.
ALAMEDA, CAL. — The Electric Light
-on is contemplating extending the
municipal electrical service to Bay Farm
[eland.
ESCONDIDO, CAL— The City Council
has decided to call a special election to
submit to the voters the proposal to Issue
bonds to purchase the property of the Es-
condido Utilities Co.
LAEEPORT, CAL— The Mount Konocti
Lt ft Pwr, Co., of Lakeport. has petitioned
Commission for author-
■ie |2S,000 In capital stock, part of
ds to be used to pay outstanding
Indebtedness of $15,500 and the remainder
for extensions to its plant and system.
LOTALTON, CAL.— The Loyalton El.
Lt I'n has been granted permission to
close down its plant May 2.".. The com-
pany has agreed to sell any part of the
equipment at prices set by the engineer of
the commission.
SAN FRANCISCO, CAL.— Bids will be
received at the office of the supervising ar-
Chltect, Treasury Department, Washington.
D. C, until June 10 for a conduit and wir-
ing system in the United States mint at
San Francisco, Cal. For details see pro-
■! umns.
SAN FRANCISCO, CAL— Plans are
bi ing considered by an organization of busi-
ness men for equipping the Ocean Shore
I for complete electrical operation
and the construction of new stations. M.
11. .Johnson has been chosen jiresident of
the organization.
BOISE, IDAHO.— If the Black Canyon
rid In southwestern Idaho,
c, mprislng I >0,l .ores of land, can dis-
10 hp of electrical . I
cities and towns in that section of the
siate. the project will be financed. It is
to erect a 15,1 -hp electric gen-
erating plant on the Payette River at the
i" id ol myon. The cost of the
■ -inn.ii.il at $5,1 i. C. L.
Tallmadge, 37 Wall Street. New York, N. Y..
is interested in i Ii ■ |n ojeel
MOSCOW. IDAHO.— The state Board of
reported, is contemplating
of a small electric light and
power plant to supply electricity for the
purpose of lighting the buildings and
is of the Agricultural College.
OGDEN, UTAH. — Extension of the inter-
of the Ogden, Logan .v Boise
to connect Brigham City, Of the
■ i « nil Wellsville, of the Lo-
gan division, has been authorized, work on
winch will begin at once. Ultimately the
railway will connect Ogden and Preston,
Idaho.
FORT HUACHUCA, ARIZ. -Bids will be
received >i the office of the constructing
master. Fort Huachuca, until June
:i for furnishing materials and machinery
and for construction complete of an electric-
lighting and refrigerating plant and install-
ing interim and exterior wiring system. For
detail see proposal columns.
MIAMI, ARIZ— Th. ■ has de-
cided tO < tO sub-
mit the ; ue $130,000 in bonds
for municipal Improvements, of which the
of $30,000 will be used for the
Installation
PHOENTX, ARIZ -The Arizon
I: R C. it contemplating
equipping its .: i n Phoenix and
ir electrical operation. If this is
done, a spur track will probably be con-
structed through the portion of M-
ANACONDA, MONT.— A resolution has
been adopt.. I h\ the City Council for the
installation of an ornamental ligln
tern on Main Street, to cost about $6,000.
Bids, it is understood, will soon be asked
tor sa me,
RENO, NEW -The City Council is con-
sidering the question of issuing $750,000 in
I nnds for the installation of a municipal
light plant and water-works system.
LORDSBURG, N. M Within the next
SO days the Lordsburg Pwr. Co. • ■
a 7r,-hp fuel-oil engine and a
three-phase, 60-cycle, 2200-volt generator,
directly connected. W. Y. Ritter is man-
ager.
ROSWELL, N. M. — The Roswell c,;,s &
El. Co. is installing about 150 ornamental
lamp standards (three and five lamps),
using safety steel-taped cable, in the busi-
itrlct Material has all been pur-
chased. C. M. Einhart is superintendent.
ROSWELL, N. M. — Bids will h. ri
at the office of the supervising architect.
Treasury Department. Washington, D. C
until June 2 for an oil-burning plant for
heating boilers in the United States post
i Roswell, N. M. For details see
proposal columns
SANTA FE, X. M. — Application has been
made to the state engineer of New Mexico
by the Rio Grande Dam. Lt. & Pwr. Co..
of Philadelphia, Pa., for permission to con-
struct a dam 100 ft. high in White Rock
Canyon, between Cochiti and Buckman.
and to use part of the flow of the Rio
Grande River for the purpose of develop-
ing electrical energy for industrial pur-
poses. Electricity generated at the proposed
plant will be transmitted to Albuquerque,
Santa Fe. Las Vegas and other towns.
Energy will also be supplied to irrigating
plants in the Estancia Valley.
Canada
KELOWNA, B. C. — The City Council is
considering the question of establishing a
municipal electric-light plant, to cost about
$120,000. The proposal will probably be
submitted to the voters in the near future.
NIAGARA FALLS. ONT. — The Canadian
Niagara Pwr. Co.. of Niagara Falls, it is
reported, is contemplating improvements to
its plant in Niagara Falls, costing about
$3.1100,0(111, which will include a new forebay
to combat ice during the -winter. It is pro-
posed to take water from the river through
large intake tubes. A dam will be built in
the river to raise the water sufficiently to
submerge the intake tuh
Miscellaneous
HAVANA. CUBA. — Announcement has
been made that permission has been granted
for the installation of electric light and
power plants in Cuba as follows: Francisco
Arrendondo y Bentancourt, at Jobabo, in
the municipal district of Victoria de las
Tunas ; 1 'oriit do Vazquez in the town of
Florida. Province of Camaguey : also Per-
fecto Rodriguez in the town of Florida.
In each case the concession will he re-
scinded if the plant is not in op
within a year from the date of concession.
PANAMA — Bids will I..- received at the
purchasing office, the
Panama Canal, Washington. D. C, until
May '-' i md refrigerating plant,
motor-driven lathes, drill presses, shapers
and sensitive drills, etc. Blanks and gen-
eral information relating to this Clrculaj
(No. 921) mav be obtained at the above
office or the offices of the assistant purchas-
ing agents. 24 State Street. New York.
N. T*. : mi Whitnej Central Building, New
inleans. La,, and 1086 North Point Street,
Frs ncisco, Cal,
SANTO DOMINGO. WEST INDIES.—
The Municipal C il has decided to con-
tract for a loan for the installation of a
new electric-light plant a committee of
three baa been appointed to look aft
tails of the proposed plant The contract
entered into with S. Michela for furnishing
electricity for lamps and motors in June,
pill, has been rescinded.
1280
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 20
Weekly Record of Electrical Patents
UNITED STATES PATENTS ISSUED
MAT 4, 1915.
[Prepared by Mitchell & Allyn, 41 Park
Row, New York.]
1.137,729. Electric Motor; Homer E.
Adams, Fort Worth. Tex. App. filed Jan.
19, 1914. Strong starting torque on alter-
nating current or direct current.
1,137,806. Process of Producing Acid
Monocalcium Phosphate ; R. Stewart,
Logan, Utah. App. filed June 17, 1914.
Subjects phosphate rock to smelter smoke
in prisms of steam and then subjects so-
lution so obtained to an oxidizing electric
current.
1,137,831. Electric-Liohting Ststem for
Automobiles ; J. Bijur, New York, N. Y.
App. tiled Aug. 26, 1911. Efflicient and
practical current supply.
1,137,834. Apparatus for Cutting, Weld-
ing and Brazing Metals; F. M. Bowers,
Chester, Pa. App. filed Aug. 26, 1914.
Combined action of electric arc and a
blast of oxygen.
1,137,840. Overload and Reverse-Current
Relay ; F. Conrad, Swissvale, Pa. App.
filed May 22, 1909. Movable member is
caused to move at substantially uniform
rate when initial actuating force exceeds
a predetermined value.
1,137,848. Electric Locomotive; G. M.
Eaton, Pittsburgh, Pa. App. filed Aug.
11. 1913. Running-gear frame constructed
to prevent "skewing."
1.137.865. Telephone System ; E. E.
Kleinschmidt, New York, N. Y. App.
filed Feb. 25, 1910. Selective signaling of
local stations.
1.137.866. Method of Regulatino the
Speed of Alternating-Current Motors;
O. Kndpfli, Zurich, Switzerland. App.
filed April 10, 1911. For single-phase
commutator motors provided with work-
ing and exciting brushes.
1.137.873. Metering System ; P. M Lin-
coln, Pittsburgh. Pa. App. filed Jan. 7,
1911. Opens circuit when the integrated
amount of power exceeds predetermined
amount in a given time.
1.137.874. Process of Leaching Ores ; J
A. McCaskell, Salt Lake City, Utah. App
filed June 2, 1914. Producing chlorine
gas electrolytically.
1.137.875. Switch; O. E. McCov. Balti-
more, Md. App. filed April 13, 1912. For
connecting sending and receiving instru-
ments of wireless system to aerial at will.
1,137,894. Printing-Telegraph Sending
Apparatus : F. D. Pearne, Chicago, 111
App. filed March 22, 1909. Second key
may be depressed before first depressed
key returns to normal raised position.
1.137.908. Centrifugal Circuit-Breaker;
C F Rumold, Berea, Ky. App. filed
12, 1918. Includes a rotating mer-
cury container.
l-1<?7'&?.2: Telautographic Apparatus; Q.
S. Tiffany. Summit. N. J. App. filed
April 2, 1912. Uses magnets of the
solenoid
1,137,931. Carle Armor Joint; W P.
Tr.-iv.-r and L. F. Theis, San Francisco,
*"!' Med Dec L'.l. 1913. Strain-
carrying joint for submarine cables.
1.137,954 Lighting Fixture; J. R. Cra-
ySjS' Chicago, III. App. filed Nov. 14.
1913 Combined direct and Indirect light.
1,134,964, Method of and Means for Pro-
ducing Electrically Charged Par-
TICLM; R. H Ooddnr.l. Wor.-.-ster, Mass
App Bled April L'6. 1913. Electrified par-
move continuously within confined
space until they strike molecules or par-
ticles of gas or vapor.
park-Plug Attachment; R.
I\ McDougal, Lincoln, Neb. App. filed
01 short -circuiting the
plug
H T Warner
in',"' Y',""k' N. ,' A',n ,M*'', a,|k M,
Automobile direction Indi.
\ Bonnell
Brooklyn, N V App ni.-.l Sept
For junction boxes.
.'. \v SlOMAL
Kdgewood Borough, Pa App dl
■ D i HaUM and
A. pom
v apparatus . B T Button,
■■ m App 7. 1911.
iwitoh
• rice, Co-
lumbus, eb Ipp riled July 22. 1910 •
pay sta-
1,138,147. Method of Tuning Telephone
Receivers ; H. J. Power, Everett, Mass.
App. filed Feb. 5, 1914. Varies the de-
gree of saturation of the cores of the re-
ceiver magnet and maintains reluctance
of the magnetic circuit approximately
constant.
1,138,154. Electric Resistance Welding;
A. M. Stanley, Lynn, Mass. App. filed
Jan 23, 1915. Has supplementary elec-
trodes for preparing the welded elements
for the welding electrodes.
1.138.162. Vapor-Electric Device; E.
Weintraub, Lynn, Mass. App. filed
March 13, 1913. High-pressure arc lamp.
1.138.163. Vapor-Electric Device; E.
Weintraub, Lynn, Mass. App. filed
March 13, 1913. High-pressure lamp of
increased efficiency and range of opera-
tion.
1,138,170. Transformer Protector; O. B.
Allgood, Blocton, Ala. App. filed March
11, 1913. Prevents a three-phase motor
from running single-phase.
1,138,174. Telephone-Exchange System ;
G. Babcock, Rochester, N. Y. App. filed
Jan. 22, 1910. Service metering system.
1,13s, 175. Telephone System; G. Bab-
cock, Rochester. N. Y. App. filed March
6, 1911. Party-line message meters.
1,138,184. Suspension Device for Trolley
Wires; G. H. Bolus, Mansfield, Ohio.
App. filed Feb. 20, 1914. Flexible sup-
port.
1,138,186. Grounding Device; L. S. Brach,
New York, N. Y. App. filed Dec. 6. 1912.
Intercepts and retains moisture soaking
down through the earth.
1,138,154 — Electric Resistance Welding
1.138,212. Electric Switch; J. H. Hall,
Cleveland, Ohio. App. filed Sept. 26,
1910. Magnetically operated motor-
starting switch.
1.138.220. Storage Battery- R. Hurlev,
Hoboken, N. J. App. filed Dec. 28, 1912.
High-voltage efficient lead-zinc battery.
1.138.221. Electrolyte; R. Hurley, Ho-
boken, N. J. App. filed Dec. 28, 1912.
Sulphate of lead, sulphate of zinc, sul-
phuric acid and water.
1.138.222. Individual or Group Cut-Outs
FOR Electrical Devices : C. Johnston and
C Johnston, Memphis, Tenn. App. filed
March 31, It'll, renewed Sept. 29. 1913.
Distant control means for lamps, etc.
1,138,221. 1 i.-M. Switch Key; W.
Kalsling, Chicago, III. App. filed June
19, 1913 Compact multiple push-button
structure.
1.138.254. Dynamo-Electric Machine; O.
F. Sire, Tarls. France. App. filed Jan,
31, 1911. Utilizes tr.-mslatory movement
of a coll movable In a magnetic Bald,
1.138.255. iNTEBCOMMIlNli-ATIN-ll TbI.E-
1 , 11 T. si.-.-, Warwick,
u. 1. App. died Deo, 1. 1918, Wiring
and sn ii'ii, 1 "' 1 test board
in- .11 Tension Elbotbio Termi-
hlcago, 111. App Bled
March 18, 1910 Pol ■ oil bo» .
1,138,279. TROU ST tACT; 1 H
Foungw 1. 1 -.< app, in- d
current from trolley to
I.- a signal.
1 ; 1 lodge and C. H. J
App Bled M Ei spa visual
, . . ... iadt
1,188,28(1 D M M'lllNF.RT ;
1. V 0
I
lighting, b 1 i" itun
to change 1 Ircutl connections.
1,138,287. Safety Switch for Electric
Train Controls ; R. Hamlen, Oakland,
Cal. App. filed March 31, 1914. Pre-
vents starting of train until proper air-
brake valve is operated.
1.138.292. Locking Lamp; H. Hubbell,
Bridgeport, Conn. App. filed Feb. 1,
1913. Lamp base cannot be unscrewed
from socket without destroying useful-
ness of lamp.
1.138.293. Locking Lamp; H. Hubbell,
Bridgeport, Conn. App. filed April 9,
1913. Special lamp-base structure.
1,138,299. Electrical Driving System ; H.
C. Leake, Altrincham, Eng. App. filed
June 6, 1910. For warship turrets.
1,138,334. Police Signal Station; K. J.
Wallace, Brockton, Mass. App. filed May
22, 1914. Post carrying telephone, hand-
cuffs, etc.
1,138,341. System of Distribution; R B.
Williamson, Milwaukee, Wis. App. filed
Sept. 30, 1909. For maintaining loads on
generator constant.
1.138.362. Heating Device; C. E. Egan
and W. E. Mayer, Cincinnati, Ohio. App.
filed Nov. 26, 1913. Burner and auto-
matic igniting means.
1.138.363. Primary Battery; D. Elmes,
Orange, N. J. App. filed Oct. 3, 1914.
Electrode plate which indicates approxi-
mate amount of energy expended and
amount still available.
1,138,366. Safety Limit Switch; H. A.
Everett, Haddon Heights, N. J. App.
filed Aug. 27, 1910. Special latch con-
struction.
1,138,3S9. Attachment for Telephone
Transmitters ; T. Luby, Philadelphia,
Pa. App. filed Aug. 15, 1914. Closure
which can be locked over mouthpiece of
transmitter.
1.13S, 400. Apparatus for Electrolysis of
Alkaline Chlorides ; K. Ochs, Berlin-
Charlottenburg, Germany. App. filed
Nov. 13, 1914. Uses horizontal diaphragm
and prevents formation of hypochlorite.
1,138,406. Electrically Operated Time
Switch ; J. W. Pennewill and M. R.
Buchanan, Silver City, N. M. App. filed
July 23, 1913. For turning out lights
in refrigerating plant, etc.
1,138,441. Trouble Detector for Spark
Plugs ; G. M. Beard, Pleasant Lake, Ind.
App. filed April 3, 1914. Readily attach-
able and shows whether each plug is
operating properly.
1,138,445. Terminal Connection for
Spark Plugs ; J. P. Blauvelt, Nyack,
N. Y. App. filed Oct. 21, 1914. Prevents
loss of nut which holds the terminal clip
to the spark plug.
1.13S, 471. Advertising Device and thb
Like ; H. K. Harris, Runwell, Wickford,
Eng. App. filed March 17, 1911. Means
controllable from a distance for display-
ing a number of intelligible signs.
1,138,612, Sparking Device for Engines;
W. M Stempel, Fort Madison, la. App.
filed May 16, 1912. An electrode maKe-
and-break.
1.13S, 513. Electric Meter; W. M. Stem-
pel, State College, Pa. App. filed Feb.
27, 1913. For serving customers with
-i;v ;ii 1 -.lured rates during certain
hours and at full rates during other
hours.
Process of Manufacturing
l'KKoxiuE of Hydrogen; W. Weber, Dus-
seldorf, Germany. App. filed Feb. 26,
1914. Reduces oxygenous gases dissolved
in electrolyte to hydrogen peroxide at a
copper amalgam cathode by electrolysis.
1,188,620, Process of Manufacturing
Peroxide of Hydrogen ; W. Weber, Dus-
seldorf, Germany. App. filed Feb. 26,
1914. Amalgamated silver cathode.
1.13S, 522. Electrical Ignition Appara-
ti-s ; E. 1 *. Wil len, Conn. App.
Bled June 18, 1914. Improved interrupter
construction,
1,188,648, signaling Apparatus; h. C.
DaViS, New York, and K. D. I 'liadwi.-k,
Winchester, Mass. App Bled June 15,
1909, For checking night watchmen
CONI 101 FOR
Vehicles; a. O. Heifer, New fork, N. y.
App. filed Sept. 12, 1913. Sp lo ti-r
mi. rrupti ms - « hen vehicle's
lirnil
Ignition System: i> B Hughes,
Cleveland, Ohio. App. Bled April 27,
1910; renewed Sepl 26, 1914, Condenser
for each siKirk plug.
1,188,677. CONTROLLI! Use in
\ 1 ..in. 1.1. Turin, Italy,
App Bled .lid* 31. 1913. Lights, etc . :ire
oiled 1 1 .'in steering
D H '
0, in Ipp Bled May I, 1914.
water quickly or to
produce steam.
Electrical World
Tin- consolidation
Published t>\ atcGraw Publishing Company, Inc.
It*l
VoL 65
NEW YORK. SATURDAY. MAI 22, 1915
No. 21
The Right of Appeal
ONE effect of the decisions of the Mew Hampshire
Supreme Court in the Grafton County Electric
Light & Power Company case appears to be to confirm
and strengthen clear rights of appeal from orders of
the Public Service Commission. It is desirable in every
way that the right of appeal to the courts from findings
of the commissions shall be plain and unequivocal. This
is in the interest of the companies as well as of the
public. If the policies of the commissions are not in
accord with their legal powers but are otherwise just
and they feel that the public interest requires that they
have greater authority, they must seek the remedy in
new laws; but the commissions may easily do injustice
without infraction of law. Temporarily commissions
may be strengthened by the exercise of sweeping powers
when the right of appeal is limited narrowly; but if
the enhancement of commission authority is at the ex-
pense of a fair public attitude and policy, it will not
continue. The right of appeal should not be so limited
as to harass a company or, on the other hand, to per-
mit the nullification of fair orders or cause regulation
to become a farce.
Determination of Coil Losses
FOR measuring the apparent resistance and reactance
of windings at different frequencies various meth-
ods are available, according to the range of frequency
and power to be covered in the tests. When the power
used in the testing circuit is large wattmeter methods
are commonly resorted to. On the other hand, when
the power employed is small a balancing or null method
may advantageously be employed. Among the null
methods available are the Rayleigh-bridge and the dif-
ferential-indicator methods. In his article on page
1300, Dr. August Hund describes a particular form of
differential null method, utilizing a differential induc-
tion coil having two opposing primary coils and a
secondary coil connected to the alternating-current de-
tector. Among such detectors, the telephone has the ad-
vantage of convenience and sensibility, although an ab-
solute zero of sound in it is often very difficult to secure.
If the winding under test has an iron core, hyteresis and
eddy currents in the core give rise in the telephone cir-
cuit to upper harmonics that are hard either to com-
pensate or to ignore. The expedient is suggested of
employing a condenser in series with the indicating
telephone in such a case, tuning the telephone circuit
by adjusting the condenser until resonance is obtained
to the primary fundamental frequency. Under these
conditions the receptiveness of the telephone to that fre-
quency is increased, while to higher harmonic fre-
quencies it is diminished. Although such an expedient
may not be new, it is well worth remembering. With
a vibration galvanometer this precaution is hardly
necessary since its indicating system is already mechan-
ically tuned to the fundamental frequency; but the ne-
cessity of retuning such a galvanometer to each new
impressed frequency constitutes a great drawback to
the use of that instrument.
Informal N. E. L. A. Discussions
BECAUSE of the conditions in the electrical indus-
try during the last ten months the convention of
the National Electric Light Association to be held in
San Francisco on June 7 to 11 has a particular interest
for those who will attend. Probably no central-station
company has been entirely unaffected by the war.
Either financial arrangements or business conditions
have been altered in substantially every locality. That
the main result is merely a reduction in the rate of in-
crease in business is a gratifying fact, of which the
central-station industry cannot fail to take notice in
the convention. While, as usual, the regular problems
of construction, operation and management comprise
the formal part of the program, much informal discus-
sion of means employed to maintain stability in earnings
will take place. This will be one of the most valuable
features of the convention, yet it will be largely in the
unwritten history. Those who make the journey will
be doubly repaid by the closer contact which they will
get with the uncommon problems that have been before
executives almost continually since the 1914 convention.
Selling Securities to Consumers
THE suggestion at a meeting of officials of the
Northern States Power Company that means be
considered for placing securities of the company with
consumers follows the successful development of a
market of this character by the Pacific Gas & Electric
Company last year. The strong banking position in the
territory served by the Northern States company en-
courages efforts of this kind, which have two advan-
tages for central-station properties. First, they mean
closer relations with consumers and a co-operative in-
terest in the welfare and integrity of the company ;
second, if successful, they assure a saving in the cost
of selling securities. If a company develops a market
for its securities among its own consumers, its financing
costs are likely to be substantially lower than if it pays
the banker's cost of organization and selling and a
profit which compensates him for acting as interme-
1282
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 21
diary. However, the central-station company which
sells its obligations or stock directly to consumers ac-
cepts a new responsibility in that relationship which it
cannot wisely regard as a light one.
Problems of a Large Steam Station
In the consolidation of the electrical properties
around Pittsburgh the ultimate result was, as it nearly
always is, the building of a generating station capable
of dealing with the whole electric supply of the district,
which in this instance includes a population of prac-
tically 1.000,000 people. The main station is not wholly
a new one, but represents the reconstruction and en-
largement of the generating station on Brunots Island
originally established by the Pittsburgh Railways Com-
pany. This site, 3 miles below the junction of the Al-
legheny and Monongahela Rivers, is particularly adapted
for generation of energy at low cost, while the existing
station was of a character which permitted effective
enlargement. Results have proved that good judgment
was exercised in the choice of the site since the in-
crease in output rating has been secured for about 60
per cent of the cost of a complete new station.
In a great steam station such as this one of the
fundamental requisites is ease of fuel supply. In this
case the coal is usually brought in on barges and dis-
charged at a crusher house, whence it is distributed to
the different coal bins, from which it passes to the au-
tomatic stokers. The railway tracks and sidings being
about 50 ft. above the level of the yard, fuel brought
by rail can easily be dumped directly from the cars into
the plant. The fuel dock is equipped with an electric
coal hoist capable of handling 200 tons an hour and with
a 4-ton grab bucket for unloading the barges as they
come in. Whether brought by water or rail, the coal
is automatically weighed and recorded before going to
the crusher house, and by a very complete automatic
equipment the fuel can be discharged at any point in
the bunkers which may be necessary.
In the design of the energy-distributing system some
considerable problems demanded solution. Wherever
large generators are operated in parallel the dangers of
short-circuits in the cables are grave and a very heavy
responsibility is put upon the switching devices. In
fact, to save the apparatus in case of a short-circuit it
is apparently necessary to provide for each generator
-witches or circuit-breakers big enough to take care of
the entire station capacity. This implies almost im-
practicably large and expensive apparatus. The danger
points are in the generator bus system and the gener-
ator cable leads to the switchboard. In this instance
the requirements were bo severe thai it was decided to
ample reactance coils between each of the bus
section- to prevent the whole system feeding energy
back into an injured section. The coils were so propor-
tioned that the drop in voltage produced by a short-
circuit in one section will be insufficient to throw out of
nov iratUi on the other sections. To
Inconveniently lar^e difference of voltage on ad-
jacent sections in case of accidents the reactance coils
are shunted by circuit-breakers set for instantaneous
operation so that the shunt will open before any syn-
chronous apparatus would have time to drop out of
step. The protective system has been found to work
successfully when put to test through accident. This
contribution to the solution of a very difficult problem
in switchboard design deserves careful attention, since
the larger the station the worse, under ordinary cir-
cumstances, is the situation as respects short-circuits.
Cost of Operating Electric Vehicles
In this issue of the Electrical World are presented
the results of our undertaking to determine the cost at
which electric vehicles are being operated. Many
months of persistent effort have been required to secure
from those who were in possession of the information
desired the co-operation essential for obtaining the data.
It was necessary to proceed in such a manner that the
co-operation desired was reduced to the comparison of
an expert analysis of what the operating cost should be
with the actual bookkeeping records of the owner. A
set of base-line figures, so to speak, were established
for the daily operating cost of each size of machine,
and upon comparison with the actual records of cost a
statement of the record's deviation from these base fig-
ures was received whenever such deviation existed. The
base figures were purposely made 5 per cent high, and
hence most of the verifications received indicate that
the equipments investigated are being operated at a
small percentage below the base figures. The costs re-
corded in the table may therefore be regarded as the
maximum for normal service.
The investigation, which has been carried further
than any other in this field of research, should prove
beneficial to all who are in any way interested in the use
of electric vehicles. By comparing his costs with those
of other users of similar equipment the vehicle owner
will be able to ascertain whether he is operating for the
least cost, or whether there is room for improvement in
this direction. The compilation supplies the manufac-
turer with evidence which it would be difficult to secure
in any other way. Much information has long been
available concerning the cost of vehicle operation in
certain services, but we believe that this is the first
time the matter has been developed upon so broad a
scale and upon such a uniform basis as to make the data
readily available for general employment.
It is particularly fortunate that the information
shown by the compilation can be presented at this time
for the benefit of those large central-station organiza-
tions which have been giving consideration to ways and
means for exploiting the electric vehicle to produce an
"off peak" load of some magnitude. One of the essen-
tials to any consideration of this kind is reliable infor-
mation relative to the cost at which electric vehicles can
1 perated or what the present owners are paying for
the use of such equipment. In this connection it may
be pointed out that a glance at the list of the users of
Mn 22, l«16
ELECTRICAL WORLD
1283
the vehicle equipments investigated will show the con-
servative and substantial character of the organizations
now using electric vehicles. The large amounts of
money they have been willing to invest are also made
evident, as are their annual outlay for operation and the
relation of this outlay to the investment. Another
significant piece of evidence will be found in contrast-
ing the relative costs of operating the various sizes of
machines, in order to determine which size shall be used
or offered for service under any given set of conditions.
These are merely a few of the many obvious lessons
which a central-station executive may draw from the
results of the investigation herein recorded.
Instructions in Illuminating Engineering
In most branches of engineering the practice of the
art is the work of a specialized few. In military or in
civil engineering, for instance, the execution of designs
is ordinarily in charge of engineers and their assist-
ants. Illuminating engineering, however, constitutes
an exception to this rule, in the sense that the lighting
of the homes is ordinarily left to the care of the house-
holders. Large buildings and extensive illuminations
should indeed be intrusted to illuminating engineers, as
specialists in effectiveness, decorativeness and economy
of lighting, but the vast majority of the artificial light-
ing of the world must needs be accomplished by the
non-expert hands of the multitudinous public. It is
therefore more important, as regards illumination, than
in perhaps any other branch of engineering that a
knowledge of the salient features of good lighting, in
regard to health and hygiene, should be disseminated
among the people.
It is in this respect that the educational work of the
Illuminating Engineering Society is more directly in
touch with the average man and woman than is the
corresponding work of the other national engineering
societies. The latter help train men for ministering to
public needs. The former can help the public to min-
ister in some degree to its own needs. It is not too
much to expect that the public should be able to recog-
nize good lighting in halls and theaters, or should be
able to avoid injurious home lighting. The primer
issued by the Illuminating Engineering Society serves
to give general information on these points.
In a paper on "Illuminating Engineering as a Branch
of Technical Instruction" recently read before the New
York Section of the I. E. S., Prof. C. E. Clewell empha-
sized the importance of promoting a knowledge of
illuminating engineering principles, both generally and
specifically. In the general field a better appreciation
of good lighting can be fostered in the public not only
by attention to detail on the part of illuminating engi-
neers but also by organizing lecture tours and exhibi-
tions to bring to public notice and attention illustrations
of good and bad illumination. In the specific field of
illuminating engineering college courses can be organ-
ized for giving special instruction in the scientific and
esthetic principles of illumination.
There can be little doubt that the history of the past
will be extended into the future in regard to the devel-
opment of engineering specialization. That is to say,
not only must the fundamental mechanics, mathematics,
physics and chemistry underlying all engineering con-
tinue to be taught to all college students of engineering,
but also the more detailed applications of those sciences
to particular branches will have to be taught, so that
engineering specialties will have to be maintained.
Only a few decades ago only one type of engineering
was taught in the non-military colleges, namely, civil
engineering. To-day civil, mechanical, electrical and
mining engineering are taught as specialties. Before
long we shall probably have to maintain as many more,
including illuminating engineering. It will not be prac-
ticable for each and all of the engineering colleges to
maintain each and all of the increasing number of
specialties. It seems likely that particular engineering
colleges will develop particular specialties, a tendency
already visible, and possessing distinct advantages, if
not carried too far.
A High-Head Plant in New England
In a brief article in the current issue is described the
plant of the Pittsford Power Company— a 6000-hp hy-
droelectric plant operating under a head of 480 ft.
among the New England hills — the existence of which
bears striking evidence to a topographical fact not par-
ticularly well known. Along the southern part of the
Green Mountains the peaks themselves spring in gen-
eral out of a high plateau well raised above the Lake
Champlain basin on the west and the slopes toward the
Connecticut valley on the east. The western face of the
plateau is somewhat abrupt. Moreover, the rainfall
over the Green Mountain plateau, is exceptionally large;
in fact, it is among the largest to be found in the
United States, although materially less than that which
characterizes a small region in the Southern Appala-
chian Mountains and another in the Northern Coast
range. In connection with the storage reservoir of
about 1,000,000 cu. ft. previously used for holding back
the water for a plant below, the new plant puts to good
service the 480-ft. head between the upper and lower
reservoirs.
An exceptional feature of the plant resides in the
use of regular turbines of the Francis type instead of
impulse wheels. The head is such as would ordinarily
be utilized through Pelton wheels on the Pacific Coast,
where such heads are common, but impulse wheels at
such heads are not so simple as at higher heads, requir-
ing as they do multiple wheels and multiple nozzles for
developing the 2000 hp demanded for each of the units
in this plant. It would be interesting to determine, as
could easily be done by means of the recording water
meter installed in the plant for showing continuously
the amount of water used in the turbines, the efficiency
of the wheels as compared with those of the impulse
type. The head utilized is somewhere near the dividing
line between impulse wheels and turbines, where com-
parative data will prove highly valuable.
1284
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 21
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Criteria of Commutation
To the Editor of the Electrical World:
Sir : — I am glad to be set straight by Mr. F. W. Car-
ter's letter in your issue dated April 24 on the subject
of commutation, and acknowledge his priority in pro-
posing the formula 2RT > L and in showing that a
finite current density is a poor criterion. However, he
does not point out, as was done in my article, that this
formula agrees with Hobart's formula. It was farthest
from my intention (not being a professional designer)
to set up a new formula for commutation.
It was my purpose to call attention to the fact that
Arnold's theoretical formula and Hobart's empiri-
cal formula were at odds, and that this disagreement
was overcome by improvement in the physical cri-
terion. In my article I attributed Mr. Carter's physi-
cal criterion (finite watts at edge of brush) to Arnold
and LaCour on the authority of Hawkins and Wallis,
and admitted it to be superior to finite current density.
I may be pardoned, I hope, for still preferring finite
temperature as a criterion. It is indeed curious to
learn that two criteria so different should lead to the
same result.
I regret to have to call attention to an error in
equation 12 of my article in your issue of March 6,
1915. The last two inequalities should read (m-1) /m
in place of m.
Ames, la. John F. H. Douglas.
What Does the User of a Small Motor Require ?
To the Editor of the Electrical World:
Sir: — The average man who buys a small motor ex-
pects that it will be easy to put in place and that he
will never have to give it attention afterward except to
throw the switch. So far as the latter requirement is
concerned, his wish is complied with, though there is
always the possibility of better service if some atten-
tion be paid to cleanliness. Once in place an induction
motor is as immune from accidents as is any piece of
machinery. Motors having a commutator will always
be shunned by those who are not familiar with electrical
machinery, even though their advantages may seem to
the electrical engineer to outweigh their drawbacks.
That this is true can be seen from the very considerable
expense to which builders and users of individually
driven machines will go to provide mechanical means
for speed changing rather than use motors with com-
mutators. In this respect the manufacturers are meet-
ing the demands of the public, but as regards ease of
installation they are not.
The prevailing type of motor, as nearly spherical as
possible, is good so far as looks and probably so far as
electrical efficiency go, but it is about as hard to handle
as any motor that could be invented. To be sure, every
manufacturer provides the time-honored eye-bolt with
which to hoist it, and this would be all-sufficient if mo-
tors were always installed right side up and with an
abundance of head room over them. The manufacturers
make the bearings in such a way that they can be
ited with any one of four sides up. The user very
r ■■ of this opportunity, and installs
the motor on the wall or on the ceiling, in which case
there is nothing to gel Hold of.
parlance with motors mounted in
this way, it has become the usual practice to place the
machines on bracket* or on platforms low enough from
the celling to permit a hoist to be hung from above to
swing them into place. A platform built low enough for
that purpose is in the way ; it cuts off the light and has
a very objectionable appearance. It also causes the
belts to be lower than the line shaft in many cases. The
same is true of a wall bracket.
Manufacturers who wish to be more considerate of
their customers should furnish a motor the outer sur-
face of which forms practically the sides of a cube.
Such a motor could be mounted on skids any side up
and jacked into place within a few inches of the ceiling,
thereby doing away with the necessity of using either a
platform or a bracket. In the rare cases when it is
necessary to remove the armature it is easier to erect
some "horses" and a temporary staging than it is to
use the platform, and hence no disadvantage will be
found even when repairs are necessary. Such a cubical
motor might not appeal to the esthetic soul of the de-
signer, but the platform which it would do away with
is not especially artistic, nor does it serve any useful
purpose except to reduce the amount of profanity neces-
sary in installing the round type which alone we can
buy now.
Boston, Mass. E. F. Henry.
The Western Union Multiplex Printing Telegraph
To the Editor of the Electrical World:
Sir: — In an editorial in your issue dated April 3,
1915, you were good enough to mention the fact that
the Murray multiplex printing telegraph had been in-
corporated in the Western Union multiplex page-print-
ing system. In the description of the Western Union
system in the same issue the statement is made that
that system is the result of "the combined effort and
experience of the engineers" of the Western Union and
Western Electric companies, not a word being said
about my very considerable share in the matter.
I believe that the Western Union multiplex system
and its European twin brother, the Murray multiplex,
are so important from a telegraphic point of view that
their origin and development will in time have some
historical interest for telegraph men. I must therefore
ask you to be good enough to mention the following
facts :
At the beginning of 1912 I sold my United States
patent rights in the Murray multiplex printing tele-
graph to the Western Union Telegraph Company for a
substantial sum. As soon as the purchase was decided
upon by the officers of that company, the Western Union
and Western Electric engineers started collaborating
on the work of development along the lines recom-
mended by me. With the single exception of the
printer, the Western Union multiplex system has been
based substantially on the lines I recommended, and it
embodies numerous inventive features due to me. The
printer alone is due solely to the Western Electric Com-
pany, and that is the only important feature of the
Western Union multiplex in which I did not have any
share.
The bedrock foundation of any printing telegraph
system consists of two things — (1) the code or alpha-
bet employed, and (2} the method of synchronism.
Forty years ago Baudot had applied the five-unit code
with success to his multiplex printing telegraph, but
the importance of the five-unit alphabet was not gen-
erally recognized until I gave prominence to it and ex-
plained its advantages in my paper on "Setting Type by
Telegraph." read before the (British) Institution of
Mo J2, 1916
ELECTRICAL WORLD
1285
Electrical Engineer! in London in 1905. Following the
example of Baudot, I had adopted the five-unit alphabet
with success in the Murray automatic printing tele-
graph, and 1 also, of course, used it with the Murray
multiplex system. Since then the Siemens & Halske
company has had to change over to the five-unit alpha-
bet for the Siemens automatic printing telegraph. The
Morkrum company adopted the five-unit alphabet, so
Mr. Krum informed me, as the direct result of reading
my paper of 1905. The Wright system was compelled
to adopt it, and the Western Union, in taking over my
United States multiplex rights, not only adopted the
five-unit alphabet but also adopted my arrangement of
the letters and numerals and operation signals. My ar-
rangement is quite different from the Baudot arrange-
ment. 1 allocated the letters so that the most fre-
quently used were represented by the fewest holes in
the paper tape. That means stronger tape and less
wear on the punching mechanism. Baudot used the
five positive unit combination (ooooo in the tape) to
represent "P." I allotted "P" to the combination .oo.o
so as to leave ooooo available for invisible correction of
errors in the tape. The Western Union adopted my ar-
rangement, with the one exception of the punctuation
marks, which have been altered to suit American re-
quirements; and yet anyone reading Mr. Rainey's de-
scription in your issue of April 3, 1915, would believe
that the code used by the Western Union was the Baudot
arrangement, whereas it is mine.
The second fundamental feature, the method of syn-
chronism, is also due to me, although various changes
in the mechanical design have been made in it by the
Western Union and Western Electric engineers. On
my recommendation the WTestern Union started the de-
velopment work by purchasing two Baudot distributers.
I had recommended the application of the phonic motor
and vibrator drive to the Baudot distributers with the
Baudot method of "shift-the-hands" correction, and it
was specifically mentioned in the Western Union agree-
ment with me that I was to patent this combination for
the Western Union in the United States. Distributers
are clocks, and the new combination I recommended
embodied the vitally important principles of "shift-the-
hands" correction of phase and resonant control (pen-
dulum or vibrator control") of speed. The Western
Union engineers apparently did not recognize its im-
portance, and they struggled along at thirty words a
minute with the Baudot distributers for more than a
year. A day or two after my return visit to New York
in 1914 the Western Union engineers applied to their
Baudot distributers two phonic motors and vibrators
that they had purchased from me in 1912, and forth-
with all synchronism troubles disappeared and they had
no difficulty in raising the speed to from forty to forty-
five words a minute. The Western Union engineers
have since added to this arrangement mechanism for
correction of synchronism from the signals themselves
on lines practically identical with those employed for
some years past on the Baudot multiplex system between
Marseilles and Algiers, a description of which is given
in Caminade's book on the Baudot system. My clock
method of synchronism, however, remains the funda-
mental feature.
In 1912, when the Western Union Telegraph Com-
pany bought my American patent rights, I recommended
the adoption of cross-perforated tape with my arrange-
ment of the five-unit alphabet, and I explained the gen-
eral design of a suitable keyboard perforator and trans-
mitter. The Western Union engineers adopted my
recommendations, and the Western Union keyboard per-
forator and transmitter made by the Western Electric
Company follow substantially the general lines that I
recommended. They include also the back-spacing key
feature of the Murray multiplex, with its provision for
instant and invisible correction of errors in the tape.
The engineers adopted my manual start and stop for
the transmitter, and after I had repeatedly pointed out
the importance of the automatic start and stop for the
transmitter they adopted that feature also.
I mentioned in 1912 the advantage in certain cases
of using locking local relays for the printer, and I gave
the Western Union engineers a blueprint of the ar-
rangement. It was an old device, but I do not remem-
ber having seen it applied to a multiplex printing tele-
graph before. That recommendation is also embodied
in the Western Union multiplex, and when I was in
New York in 1914 I was informed that it was an im-
portant element in the success of the system.
Among other apparatus that I sold to the Western
Union in 1912 was a receiving tape perforator for per-
forating tape at the receiving end of the telegraph line
simultaneously with the printing of the message in
page form directly from the line signals, and with it I
explained how to provide for switching this reperfo-
rator into or out of action by signals from the distant
sending station. Briefly, the machine was a keyboard
perforator with five small magnets substituted for the
keyboard. The Western Union receiving perforator is
of substantially the same design modified to produce
cross-perforated tape.
I have recommended several other features to the
Western Union Telegraph Company which may or may
not be adopted, among them being an automatic cut
page feed making use of the ordinary cut printed tele-
graph blanks.
In setting forth these facts I do not in any way wish
to belittle the work of the Western Union and Western
Electric engineers. They have done a great deal of ex-
cellent detail development work on the multiplex and
have put it into excellent shape for Western Union re-
quirements. I have done the same with the Murray
multiplex in Europe, my line of development having
been chiefly in the direction of meeting the require-
ments of administrations using the Baudot multiplex,
of which there are more than 400 circuits in use in
various parts of the world. All I am asking is that my
very considerable share in the development of the West-
ern Union multiplex shall receive due acknowledgment.
London, England. Donald Murray.
Initial Current Rush of Tungsten-Lamp Loads
To the Editor of the Electrical World:
Sir: — In the letter written by Mr. Evan J. Edwards,
appearing on page 1001 of your issue of May 1, the
statement is made that the initial rush of current to cold
tungsten lamps, while very severe, is so brief that it
will not blow a fuse or trip a time-controlled circuit-
breaker.
Quite a number of times in the memory of the writer
a transformer supplying a load composed entirely of
tungsten lamps, upon being transferred from one cir-
cuit to another, has blown its primary fuses. In each
case the circuit was perfectly clear, had been operating
without trouble for weeks, and continued to operate,
when service was finally resumed, without any trouble
developing. It is reasonable to suppose that the initial
rush of current caused the blowing of these fuses; in
fact, this seems to be the only satisfactory explana-
tion.
If anyone has information on this subject or is able
to offer any more satisfactory explanation for the blow-
ing of these fuses, I shall be glad to hear from him.
D. C. Black,
Pittsburgh, Pa. Diiqvesne Light Company.
1286
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 21
Presentations of Franklin Medal
At a stated meeting of the Franklin Institute of
Philadelphia on the evening of May 19 the Franklin
Medal was awarded to Mr. Thomas A. Edison and to
Dr. Heike Kamerlingh Onnes, director of the physical
laboratory of the University of Leiden, Holland. Mr.
Edison was present in person to receive the medal.
Chevalier van Rappard, Minister from the Netherlands
government, received the medal on behalf of Professor
Onnes. Mr. Walton Clark, president of the institute,
presided and many men eminent in the electrical indus-
try went from different parts of the country to attend
the proceedings. Dr. Harry F. Keller of the institute
made the introductory address.
The Franklin Medal is the highest recognition in the
gift of the Franklin Institute. The awards were made
on the recommendation of the committee on science and
the arts of the institute, that to Onnes being in recog-
ex
liTuTE
(
fe[
NT,
REVERSE OF FRANKLIN MEDAL
nition of his "long-continued and indefatigable labors
in low-temperature research, which have enriched
physical science not only with a great number of new
methods and ingenious devices but also with achieve-
ments and discoveries of the first magnitude," and that
to Edison in recognition of "the value of numerous basic
inventions and discoveries forming the foundation of
world-wide industries, signally contributing to the well-
being, comfort and pleasure of the human race."
The sculptor's model of the Franklin Medal was pre-
sented at the meeting to Mr. Samuel Insull, president
of the Commonwealth Edison Company of Chicago, by
whom the Franklin Medal fund was founded on Jan. 1,
1914. The awards to Mr. Edison and Professor Onnes
are the first to be made.
After the presentations an address was made by Mr.
Insull on "Electricity and Modern Industrial Growth."
Mr. Insull discussed the amazing development of the elec-
trical industry and its profound influence on all activ-
ities of the world.
The Edison Medal to Dr. Bell
The Edison Medal "for meritorious achievement in
electrical science" was conferred upon Dr. Alexander
Graham Bell, inventor of the telephone, at the annual
meeting of the American Institute of Electrical Engi-
neers, New York City, May 18. The presentation ad-
dress was made by Mr. J. J. Carty, president-elect of
the Institute and chief engineer of the American Tele-
phone & Telegraph Company. Dr. Schuyler Skaats
Wheeler, chairman of the Edison Medal committee,
presided at the ceremony and recounted how the Edison
Medal was founded by old associates and friends of
.Mr. Thomas A. Edison, the award being made annually
by a committee of twenty-four members of the A. I. E.
E. Mr. Thomas A. Watson, of East Braintree, Mass.,
Dr. Hell's associate in the early work on the telephone,
and later founder and president of the Fore River
Ship Building Company, opened the program with an
address on "How Bell Invented the Telephone."
In responding to Mr. Carty's presentation address
and to the ovation which punctuated it, Dr. Bell hinted
that electrical transmission may not stop at the con-
veyance of speech, but that some future inventor may
yet discover means for seeing by wire, or for even the
telegraphic transmission of thought between persons
widely separated but having their heads inclosed in
connected coils of wire. Dr. Bell also called attention
to the existence of great gaps in the range of vibration
between frequencies which the human senses recognize
as sound and those appreciable as heat, and declared
that in these gaps lie tremendous opportunities for
investigation and for electrical experimentation which
may lead to still greater achievements in the transmis-
sion of intelligence.
Annual Report of Westinghouse Electric & Manu-
facturing Company
Sales billed by the Westinghouse Electric & Manufac-
turing Company during the fiscal year ended March 31,
1915, amounted to $33,671,485, as compared with $43,-
733,646 in the previous year. The cost of sales was
$31,109,073, as compared with $39,016,424 in the pre-
ceding year. The net manufacturing profit was $2,562,-
412, against $4,717,222 in the fiscal year ended March
31, 1914. The value of unfilled orders on March 31,
1915, was $8,951,410, as compared with $7,951,385 at
the close of the previous year. The income account for
the last year is shown in the accompanying statement:
Gross earnings :
Sales billed $33,671,485
Cost of sales :
Factory cost, including all expenditures
for patterns, dies, new small tools and
other betterments and extensions ; also
depreciations of property and plant, in-
ventory adjustments and all selling, ad-
ministration, general and development
expenses 31,109,073
Net manufacturing profit $2,562,412
Other income :
Interest and discount $447,178
Dividends and interest on sundry stocks
and bonds owned 686,239
Miscellaneous — Royalties, etc 25,110 1.158,527
Gross income from all sources $3,720,939
Deductions from income :
Interest on bonds and debentures $1,023,801
Interest on collateral notes 200,866
Interest on long-term notes and mortgages. 4 4.LT.1
Proportion of expenses incident to note
ami bond issues s:,.L'ov
Miscellaneous and extraordinary expenses 357,069 1,711,196
Net income available for dividends and
other purposes $2,009,744
To the profit and loss surplus of $7,659,130 as of
March 31, 1914, $82,553 from miscellaneous sources was
added, making a total of $7,741,683. Added to the net
income of $2,009,744 from the operations of the year,
this made a total of $9,751,427. Dividends on the pre-
ferred stock aggregated $279,909 and on the common
stock $1,427,350; net charges for depreciations and ad-
justments were $444,499, and miscellaneous deductions
aggregated $126,258, or a total charge against the sur-
plus of $2,278,016. The balance sheet surplus as of
March 31, 1915, was $7,473,411. Cash on hand at the
close of the fiscal year was $8,980,390, against $6,343,-
733 one year earlier.
Mr. Guy E. Tripp, chairman of the board of directors,
in commenting on the business of the year, says that
the large reduction in sales billed as compared with the
previous year is due chiefly to the unfavorable business
conditions during the period, but partly to the fact that
May 82, 1916
ELECTRICAL WORLD
1287
from June ."> to Jul> 18, 1914, the main works at East
Pittsburgh, Pa., were practically closed by a strike of
operatives. The reduction in sales billed largely accounts
lor the reduction in the net income, but it was also
affected by conditions due to the strike. All of the
extraordinary expenses caused by the strike, as well as
the factory and general expenses during the strike,
were charged against the income for the year.
During the current year the expenditures for new
equipment and for extensions to buildings, resulting
in an increase of 65,500 sq. ft. in manufacturing floor
space, were exceeded by the depreciation charges, so
that the property and plant account again shows a
decrease from the figures of the preceding year. Prop-
erty and plant stood on .March 31, 1915, at $19,882,870,
as compared with the valuation of $20,054,595 one year
previous.
Another change in the asset accounts that receives
special comment from Mr. Tripp is that pertaining to
investments. Investments were $17,683,094, as com-
pared with $18,827,432 on March 31, 1914. Discussing
the changes, Mr. Tripp says:
"After a careful examination and appraisal of the
assets of the Westinghouse Machine Company, your
directors authorized an offer to stockholders of that
company to exchange their holdings for the common
stock of the Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing
Company, on the basis of one share of the latter for
three shares of the Machine company. More than 85
per cent of the issued capital stock of the Westinghouse
Machine Company was so exchanged. This transaction
almost wholly accounts for the increase in your invest-
ment in subsidiary and allied companies in the United
States.
"The main plant of the Machine company adjoins the
main plants of your company at East Pittsburgh, Pa.,
and it also owns a large foundry at Trafford City, near
East Pittsburgh, and a plant at Attica, N. Y. The
main products of the Machine company are sold chiefly
in conjunction with the products of your company.
Your directors believe that the ownership of this large
controlling interest in the capital stock of the Westing-
house Machine Company will prove of advantage to your
company.
"Your investments in the capital stocks of the Societe
Anonyme Westinghouse (French company) were sold
during the year to the British Westinghouse Electric &
Manufacturing Company, Ltd. Payment was received
in the form of other securities on a basis that your
directors believe will be beneficial to your company.
The British company now owns the controlling interest
in the French company, and through the latter the con-
trolling interest in the Italian company.
"The war in Europe has delayed the completion of
the liquidation of the Russian company, but much the
larger proportion of the amount estimated to be re-
ceived from the liquidation has already been remitted
to your company."
The increase in cash balances and decreases in ac-
counts and notes receivable and inventories reflect the
decrease in the volume of business. A further large
reduction in the indebtedness of the company was
effected during the year. Two issues of collateral notes
aggregating $4,500,000 were paid off from the proceeds
of the sale of securities, chiefly of the Scranton &
Wilkes-Barre Traction Corporation.
Mr. Tripp says that a number of unusual conditions
arising during the year called for the exercise of special
effort on the part of the officers and employees of the
company, and the board of directors acknowledges its
appreciation of their loyal co-operation and of the effi-
cient manner in which these conditions were met. Dur-
ing the year the company inaugurated a service-pension
system. The average number of employees during the
year was 15,145, as compared with an average of 18,635
in the previous year.
The Loss of Dr. Pearson
By Howard P. Quick, DESIGNING and Mechanical
Engineer, Pearson Engineering Corporation, Ltd.
With the sinking of the Lusitania there was lost a
man whose name has been known among engineers and
financiers the world over for twenty-five years as a
matchless technical and financial director of great en-
gineering enterprises. That man was F. S. Pearson,
D.Sc, slain in the prime of life by the cruel agency of
a German submarine. His loss is all the more strangely
fateful for the Germans, for many firms in that country
have had huge orders from his enterprises and more
would naturally follow.
Dr. Pearson was a man who shunned publicity, al-
though many times it was forced on him by well-mean-
ing friends and once or twice by ill-advised alliances.
Consequently he was not so well known as some less
successful men nor were his great benefactions to the
people of several foreign countries or his personal char-
acteristics so much talked about as some of his spec-
tacular projects. It is safe to say that his enterprises,
principally public utilities — electrical, gas, telephone
and railway — benefit immeasurably a combined total of
5,000,000 people, equal to the population of New York,
composed mostly of Spanish, Brazilians and Mexicans,
and have brought them the comforts of modern life.
Where lesser men failed to do more than scratch at
the surface, he stepped in, saw possibilities, predicted
the success of acquirement, consolidation, development
and operation under American management and by
American ways, won the confidence of the bankers of
several countries, raised the funds and, notwithstand-
ing the handicap of a foreign language and great dis-
tance from the source of supplies and engineering di-
rection, found the experts to do the things properly and
succeeded in establishing, at the cost of hundreds of
millions of dollars, business enterprises thoroughly
sound at the core and, except under war or revolution-
ary conditions, paying propositions. Such are the Sao
Paulo Tramway, Light & Power Company, the Rio de
Janeiro Tramway, Light & Power Company, the Sao
Paulo Electric Company, all now merged with various
gas and telephone companies into one great company,
the Brazilian Traction, Light & Power Company; the
companies in and around Mexico City and those in and
around Barcelona, Spain; the great electric companies
in Niagara Falls and Toronto, Ont. ; the Winnipeg
(Man.) companies, and the railroad, milling and mining
companies in northwestern Mexico. These companies
possess 2.000,000 acres of white-pine timber land, own
mines of steam coal and operate scenic railroads and
lumber-manufacturing plants, have the greatest com-
bination of public utilities and the largest cities in the
world wholly electrified from waterfalls.
Dr. Pearson was an American, but lately, owing to
the necessity of being near the financial centers of Lon-
don, Paris and Brussels, had lived largely abroad. He
was a self-made man, but had such a thorough ground-
ing in chemistry and electricity and such courage, in-
ventiveness and foresightedness that early in his career
he inspired confidence in great financiers and owners
of street-railway properties, when the art was in
its infancy, in the belief that electric railways could
be made to pay. He was ahead of the manufac-
turers in all his demands, and many of the great en-
gine, generator and motor companies owe their early
development and expansion to him. In the electrifies-
1288
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 21
tion of the Boston, Brooklyn and New York street rail-
ways he was the great dynamic force that overcame ob-
stacles, built great generating plants and electric sys-
tems of transit, and set the pace and standards for the
world.
Dr. Pearson was so full of energy, so rapid in his
thoughts and calculations, so masterful in combination
and in the development of the natural resources of the
earth that he early sought the field of foreign countries
where a freer hand was given to him to do anything he
pleased, which was always for the immediate and last-
ing benefit of the people and ultimately for the stock-
holders. He inspired confidence in foreigners of many
nations, got wonderful concessions, and cheapened the
cost of fuel, light and energy greatly wherever he went.
The coming of his companies into great foreign cities
brightened the dark spots, induced cleanliness and san-
itation, and resulted in better water supply and sewer-
age systems. To him nothing was formidable. The
highest waterfalls in the most inaccessible regions were
his by the magic of his organization, push and "get
there" qualities. Mountains were eaten away, tunnels
bored, precipices scaled with ease wherever he chose to
go. Canadian capital was the first to invest in his en-
terprises, but later English, French and Belgian men
furnished much of the money, and Dr. Pearson himself
became a millionaire and large owner in all the com-
panies. At the time of his death he was president or
chairman of the board of directors as well as consult-
ing engineer of a dozen large companies and many small
companies.
Dr. Pearson became a thorough master of every sub-
ject he attacked, whether engineering, financing, music,
art or farming. He was only fifty-four years old, yet
had compressed a whole lifetime of achievement into
the last twenty-five years. Evidently his work was done
and was to be passed on to others. The effect on Dr.
Pearson's companies of the revolution in Mexico and
the great war in Europe, cutting off as they did all
sources of funds for new development, was very great.
His resourcefulness may best be illustrated by the fact
that he overcame the difficulties of exchange with Brazil
and meeting of liabilities for purchases and payment of
dividends by buying shiploads of coffee in Brazilian
money and selling them to New York or Europe for
dollars and sterling, and used the same ships to trans-
port back to Brazil coal, machinery and merchandise for
the various companies which needed them.
Dr. Pearson gathered around him a great number of
strong, competent, dependable men, engineers, man-
agers, superintendents and experts in various lines,
who are using foreign tongues in operating his proper-
tics and doing it successfully under great difficulties,
and they and their families will miss his guiding and
helping hand.
He was a continuous reader in all lines of thought
and practice. His travels by sea and land, day and
night, were so extensive that few could keep his pace,
yet he was constantly in touch by telegraph with the
staffs of all his offices and companies and settled great
financial and technical questions with the data which
he always kept at his fingers' ends.
Dr. Pearson's alma mater, Tufts College, is greatly
indebted to him, as are many societies and individuals.
and his place can never be filled. His enterprises will
live, however, and benefit unnumbered generations to
come, and will extend along the lines already shown to
be so correct in principle and practice. It is to be re
jjretted that many groat communities which lOUght his
advice will never gee the fruition of plans which he had
for their development. Many of these were postponed
by the great war. which has now taken the great
engineer.
Litigation Over Radiotelegraphy Patents
Judges Lacombe, Ward and Rogers, of the United
States Circuit Court of Appeals for the Second District,
affirmed pro curiam on May 13 the preliminary injunc-
tion order issued last November by Judge Hough, of
the United States District Court for the Southern Dis-
trict of New York, restraining the De Forest Radio
Telephone & Telegraph Company, the Standard Oil
Company of New York, and Dr. Lee de Forest from
further infringing patents of Marconi and Lodge owned
by the Marconi Wireless Telegraph Company of Amer-
ica. The Court of Appeals decision held that the in-
junction had been issued properly in view of the results
in the prior litigation under the same patents.
The patents in question, which were sustained by
Judge Veeder last year and are now in litigation against
the Atlantic Communication Company, cover broadly
the use of inductance coils for tuning and increasing
persistence of oscillations in a wireless-telegraph an-
tenna (Lodge, No. 609,154) and the tuning together of
closed and open oscillation circuits at the sender and
receiver (Marconi, No. 763,772).
The de Forest company contested the claim of in-
fringement, urging that special "condenser coupled"
circuits which had been developed by their experts,
Messrs. John Stone Stone and Lee de Forest, were not
in fact like those of the patents in suit. The defendants
also contended that the Marconi company charged ex-
cessively high rental rates for wireless-telegraph instru-
ments. Judge Hough found infringement, however, and
stated in his opinion that the rental charges were not
exorbitant since the Marconi company was entitled to
receive a fair return from the inventions involved,
which were "of the greatest value and worthy both of
praise and reward." The injunction was therefore
issued, but an immediate appeal was taken by the
defendants.
It is possible that there will be no hearing on the
merits of the case against the de Forest company until
the termination of the parallel action against the Tele-
funken (Atlantic Communication) Company, and that
the preliminary injunction which now stands will either
be made permanent or removed according to the out-
come of this litigation in the Eastern District Court.
Northern States Power Company Managers Meet
Mr. Otto E. Osthoff, vice-president of H. M. Byllesby
& Company, called recently a meeting of division man-
agers of the Northern States Power Company, control-
ling operating properties in forty cities in Minnesota,
the Dakotas, Wisconsin and Illinois. Bond men from the
Chicago and New York offices of the Byllesby organiza-
tion were also present. It was Mr. Osthoff's idea to
bring the men together to devise ways and means of
placing securities of the Northern States Power Com-
pany not only with banks and investors in the districts
served but also with consumers. The suggestion was
received with enthusiasm, and many managers told of
inquiries concerning the company's securities.
Mr. Osthoff also discussed a number of central-
station problems, such as maintenance and depre-
ciation. He quoted statistics showing the increase of
the company's connected load during the year ended
Jan. 31, some of these being as follows: Electric cus-
tomers. 18.1 per cent; motor load, 14.7 per cent; light-
ing load, 21.7 per cent; total kilowatts connected for all
purposes, L8.9 per cent.
The delegates made an inspection trip to the
Cooil Rapids hydroelectric plant on the Mississippi
River near Minneapolis.
May 22, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
1289
The Brunots Island Generating Station
Main Power House of the Duquesne Light Company of Pittsburgh,
Pa., Serving a Population of 1,000.000
By f. Uhlenhaut, Jr., Chief Engineer Duquesni Lighi Company
THE principal generating station of the Duquesne
Light Company of Pittsburgh is situated on
Brunots Island, in the Ohio River, '■'> miles below
the junction of the Allegheny and the Monongahela
Rivers at what is known as "The Point" — the site of the
famous old Block House, still standing, which was es-
tablished in 1758 by the English as Fort Pitt and from
which the city derived its name. This station also
furnishes energy to the Pittsburgh Railways Company
for the operation of its city and suburban lines.
The Duquesne Light Company supplies electric energy
to the Pittsburgh district, embracing the entire portion
of Allegheny County adjacent to the rivers above men-
tioned. The territory covered includes a population of
nearly 1,000,000, concentrated principally in the valleys
along the rivers forming the heart of the coal and iron
industry.
When the company was reorganized a few years ago,
it took over all the generating stations previously oper-
ated by the Allegheny County Light Company, the Pitts-
burgh Railways Company and the old Duquesne Light
Company. Some of these stations were small and rela-
tively inefficient, and it was seen that if the new scheme
was to effect the economies which were part of the re-
organization plan, more up-to-date and efficient gener-
ating apparatus must be installed. One plan involved
the construction and equipment of an entirely new
power house. This was abandoned, however, in favor
of one involving the reconstruction and enlargement of
the station on Brunots Island formerly operated by the
Pittsburgh Railways Company.
This scheme offered many advantages. The site waa
already available, with plenty of room for extension if
necessary, and careful investigation indicated that by
using the existing station building and boiler room a
very material saving in cost could be effected over that
of a new station. This has been so far borne out by the
actual cost figures, which show that the increase in
equipment rating has been secured for less than 40 per
cent of the original installation cost and for about 60
per cent of the cost of a complete new station. The site
includes the entire island between the two channels of
the Ohio and above the Ohio River Connecting Railroad
bridge, about 60 acres of ground.
The present station is equipped with the latest up-to-
date steam and electric generating apparatus and aux-
iliaries in units of large output, thus making it possible
to reap all the advantages in efficiencies and low pro-
duction cost.
Railroad and siding tracks are situated 50 ft. above
the yard level, and machinery and other materials for
the station are lowered to the ground by means of a
50-ton steel derrick. Fuel is brought to the plant nor-
mally by barges and is discharged by way of a coal dock
and larry car to the crusher house, from which place it
is distributed to the different coal bins over the boilers.
When the coal receipts exceed the coal consumption the
excess is put into storage. Ample facilities are also
FIG. 1 — GENERAL VIEW OF GENERATING ROOM, 18,000-KVA TURBINE UNIT IN FOREGROUND
1290
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 21
available, when needed, for bringing in coal by rail, in
which case it is dumped from the cars brought in to the
private railroad siding alongside of the Ohio River Con-
necting Railroad Bridge.
Water for steam and condenser supply is obtained
from the main channel of the Ohio River through two
brick wells of 30-ft. diameter, each provided with six
5-ft. -square openings and sluicegates at three different
levels. This arrangement was selected on account of
the great variation of water level between low water
and flood stage of the river in order to permit the water
to be taken into the wells through the openings nearest
the water surface, so that the amount of silt taken into
the wells will be a minimum. The water passes through
a double set of vertical screens in the center of the wells
to an intake tunnel of 8-ft. diameter to the power sta-
tion, which runs the full length of the station under the
basement floor. The condenser suction pipes for the
different units are connected to this tunnel. After pass-
ing through the condensers the water is discharged into
hopper under the coal track in the crusher house, and
provided with a weightometer, which automatically
weighs and records the coal passing over it. All-rail
coal is used in the boilers, none of it being put into
stock. The river coal taken from the barges is auto-
matically weighed on track scales at the coal hoist when
the larry car is loaded, and that part of the coal going
to the boiler room is weighed again automatically on
a track scale in the crusher house. The difference be-
tween the weights at the coal dock and crusher house
is the weight* of coal put into storage. All coal going to
the boiler house is dumped into a hopper under the coal
track in the crusher house, going from there through
the crusher, if it is run-of-mine coal, to elevators which
lift it to a belt conveyor running the length of the old
boiler room. Slack coal by-passes the crusher, going
directly from the track hoppers to the elevators. Auto-
matic dumping apparatus is provided which can be set
to discharge into any point of the boiler-room coal
bunkers or into the cross-conveyor leading into the new
Flfi. 2 — VIEW OF 18.000-KVA WESTINGHOUSF.-PARSONS TURBO-ALTERNATOR FROM GOVERNOR SIDE
a 5-ft. overflow tunnel running parallel to and over the
intake tunnel and discharging into the river at a point
142 ft. below the intake wells. At a point above the
wells a 30-in. pipe, provided with a gate valve, is taken
off the overflow tunnel to allow of the discharge of
warm condenser water above the wells and thus prevent
ice from forming in front of the wells and closing up
the openings to the river.
Steam is generated at 200 lb. pressure, superheated
125 deg. Fahr. All boilers are equipped with auto-
matic stokers, and forced draught is available in the
new boiler room.
I nil and \sh Dandling
The fuel dock is provided with an electrically operated
coal hoist of 200 tons hourly capacity and a 4-ton grab
bucket for removing coal from the barges to the tarry
car, which is of I I ton capacity and is used for dis-
tributing coal to the crusher house or storage pile.
The crusher house, which is conveniently situated
at the west end of the original boiler room, is connected
■ huts with the railroad siding. All-rail coal is
unloaded through the chute passing over a horizontal-
or running from the fool Of Hie chute to the
boiler room. Each of the coal bunkers contains coal
sufficient for sixty hours' normal running.
In the storage yard is provided an electric locomotive
crane of 200 tons hourly capacity for stocking and re-
claiming the coal from the trench which the crane
spans and into which the coal is dumped from the larry
car. In this yard can be stored, if necessary, sufficient
coal to run the plant for a period of nine months, thus
amply insuring an adequate supply and providing op-
portunity to take advantage of low market prices of
fuel and to tide over periods of possible coal strikes.
Ashes collect underneath the grates in hoppers, from
which they are removed by means of ash car and skip
to the ash bins outside the boiler room. Thence they
are taken to the dump in larry cars.
Boiler Room
The boiler room is divided into the old plant and the
new plant, the old plant being retained in order to facil-
itate the maintaining of service from the station
through the reconstruction period and to be used as a
standby or spare iii the future, and also because it was
cheaper to leave it in its present condition than to
remove it and build a new boiler house in its place.
May 22, 1916
ELECTRICAL WORLD
1291
1292
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 21
The old plant contains twenty 500-hp Babcock & Wil-
cox water-tube boilers equipped with Murphy stokers
and ten 600-hp Babcock & Wilcox water-tube boilers
equipped with Roney stokers.
The new boiler plant, which it is intended to extend
The stacks in the new plant are built of radial brick,
the middle one being supported on a steel structure
above the boilers. It is interesting to note that these
stacks, the larger one 208 ft. high and 18 ft. inside
diameter at the top, 19.5 ft. inside diameter at the bot-
KIG. 4 — CROSS-SECTION THROUGH BOILER-ROOM EXTENSION
to take care of the ultimate generating equipment of
the station, at present contains twenty 822-hp Stirling
water-tube boilers equipped with Green chain-grate
torn, and the smaller one 208 ft. high and 14 ft. inside
diameter at the top and 15.5 ft. inside diameter at the
bottom, were purchased erected for considerably less
than the equivalent steel stack with which the old boiler
house was equipped could have been purchased. These
FIG. 5 — SECTION OF BWIT( II HOUSE AND CONTROL BALCONY
stoker.s. The boilers are arranged in rows of five, back
to back, each ten boilers served by one st.uk except the
single row of five on the east end of the station, which
is served by om- mailer diameter. The stack
on the west end !" erve five future bo
stacks, under ordinary conditions, provide sufficient
draft to take care of the normal load without the oper-
ation of the blowers.
The stokers for each row of five boilers are operated
from one line shaft provided with engine and motor
May 22, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
drives at opposite ends of the shaft, engine and motor
being set on platform above the floor in the aisles be-
tween the boilers. Any number of stokers can be dis-
connected from the driving shaft at any time, as when
the boiler is out of service for repairs, or for any other
FIG- 7 — AISLE IN NEW BOILER ROOM
reason A speed variation of 30 r.p.m. to 60 r.p m is
obtainable on the line shaft. '
Over each stoker is arranged a spreader pipe from
maV^innT J*' 3tthe UPrr end °f which is an aut0"
matic 100-lb. dumping and recording coal scale
The forced draft is obtained from a pressure cham-
ber into which the blowers discharge and from which
trap doors provide entrance for the air into a chamber
underneath the stokers. The chamber underneath the
stoker is also used as a collector for the unburned coal
which drops through the stokers and is thus recovered
for use instead of falling into the ashes. The boiler
structure is also so arranged that the soot from the
cleaning of the boiler falls into the ash pit and is re-
moved in the same manner as the ashes, instead of hav-
ing to be shoveled out from a more or less inaccessible
soot door.
The Steam and Water Circulating Systems
The make-up water is taken from the overflow tunnel
and ls pumped across the engine and boiler rooms to
the water-conditioning apparatus. After the water ha«
HSnn J*1! thG fi'nerS and reaction tanks " eoes to
a 90,000-gal. clear well under the tanks, from which it
is pumped by either of two 500-gal. turbine-driven cen-
trifugal pumps to the stand tank. The water then
passes through a Lea "V-notch" recording meter to the
heaters. The condensate from the hot wells of the con-
densers of each 15,300-kw unit is pumped through the
T »
FIG. 8— SWITCHBOARDS IN OPERATING GALLERY
boiler room and passes through Lea "V-notch" meters
placed above the heaters, one meter for each unit, into
the heaters. The boiler-feed pump equipment consists
of two new 2000-gal. turbine-driven pumps and three
700-gal. plunger pumps.
1294
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 21
Two 12-in. feed lines equipped with Venturi meters
extend to the new boiler room and two 14-in. lines with
Venturi meters pass to the old boiler room. The outlet
of each boiler is provided with a General Electric flow
meter. Thus there is provided, in connection with the
automatic weighers which will also be checked by the
weigher at the crusher, means for making records of
boiler-room operation in such a way as to render read-
ily available at any time complete information on its
performance.
The arrangement of the connections to the steam
headers is such as to make possible the operation of
boilers and one turbo-generator on the unit plan, that
is, with each turbo-generator and its set of boilers cut
off from the remaining set.
In designing the piping system, particular pains
were taken to make all lines as flexible as possible by
the use of bends. Fittings, such as T's, elbows and
Y's, were eliminated, pipe bends and welded necks being
used instead.
Steam lines were made of steel pipe, low-pressure and
water lines of wrought-iron pipe, and boiler-feed and
blow-off lines of cast-iron pipe.
Generating Equipment
The generating station is laid out to contain ulti-
mately ten 15,300-kw turbo-generator units with the
necessary auxiliaries. Four of these, Nos. 1, 2, 6 and 7,
are now installed. The remainder of the generating
equipment now in use is old engine-type units and
small turbo-generators originally used when operated as
the Pittsburgh Railways Company power house, and
will be removed to give place to the larger machines as
fast as the increase in load on the station demands it.
The turbo-generator units are Westinghouse 15,300-
kw, 85 per cent power-factor, maximum-rated, 12,000-
volt, three-phase, sixty-cycle machines of 1800 r.p.m.
The turbines are of the Westinghouse-Parsons double-
flow combination impulse and reaction type, designed
for operation on 185 lb. steam pressure, 100 deg. Fahr.
superheat, 28.5-in. vacuum. A special hand-operated
m; '.l AIK WASHER IN GENERATOR INTAKJ
valve has been furnished on these turbines to allow of
ihort-period emergency operation up to 18,000 kw.
The conden ■ tin- Worthington duplex, Bur-
face type, served by two circulating pumps, each of
icnt size to operate the entire condenser — that is,
irbine — if necessary, though with slightly Impaired
vacuum.
The generators are cooled by forced air brought in
at the bottom of the machine and discharged into the
generating room out of the top of the machine.
To take care of the proper conditioning of the air,
a washer has been provided, through which all the cool-
ing air is drawn into a blower room alongside of the
operating gallery on the generator-room floor level. At
present one blower is provided for each generator,
though it is probable that in the ultimate development
FIG. 10 — MAP OF THE PITTSBURGH DISTRICT, WITH
LOCATION OF PLANT
larger ones sufficient to cool three or four machines will
be installed. Each blower is a No. 7 American Sirocco
unit and is driven by a 100-hp Westinghouse motor,
operating from the 440-volt, three-phase service.
The blowers discharge into a common compression
chamber, which extends along the north side of the
generating room between it and the switchhouse, leads
to the individual generators being brought out from this
common chamber, which is maintained under about a
2.3-OUnce pressure. The flow to the individual gener-
ators is controlled by a damper in the inlet ducts. By
means of this damper and a temperature indicator only
sufficient cooling air will be used to keep the machine
well within sate working temperature, the amount of
air required being determined by the temperature of
the cooling air and the lead on the machine.
IIm air washer, with an output of 240 CU. ft. of air
per minute, furnished by the Spray Engineering Com-
pany, consists of a row of vertical pipes, to which are
attached s)na\ nozzles directed horizontally in the di-
rection of flow of the air against fine-mesh circular
i reens, one for each nozzle, which serve to break up
the water into line particles and insure an even distri-
bution over the opening. The latter is about 15 ft. by
19 ft. Between the spray nozzles and the fan room the
air passes through a labyrinth of eliminator plates
et vertically across one end of the blower room. These
jerve to remove the free moisture from the air. The
water drams into a tank, from which it is again drawn
by a motor-driven circulating pump, which supplies the
spray nozzles.
The washing of the air has a cooling effect that is of
M.n 22, 191(
ELECTRICAL WORLD
considerable value in the warm summer months. In
cold weather warn air from the generating room is
mixed with the outside air to prevent freezing in the
washers. It is also necessary to make use of steam
in the water tanks to keep the temperature of the water
above the freezing point.
The present washing equipment, which is sufficient
for four machines, occupies a space, including the blow-
er room, 16 ft. wide, 80 ft. long and 18.5 ft. high. When
the remainder of the generators are installed a duplicate
equipment will lie similarly placed along the other half
of the north wall of the station, so that both will take
air from the common areaway between the generator
room and the BWitchhoUBe, which latter will be extended
west as the station grows.
The washing equipment is simple and inexpensive to
operate, attention being required only in order to insure
that there is sufficient water and that the pump motor
is running.
Excitation
The main excitation for the plant is obtained from
a 250-kw motor-driven and two 150-kw steam-turbine-
driven Westinghouse exciters and one 150-kw steam-
turbine-driven General Electric exciter. In order to
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PIG. 1 1- -LOAD-FACTOR AND LOAD OK BRUNOTS ISLAND
PLANT
insure constant excitation, electric storage battery cells,
ten of which are end cells, having a rating of 1750 amp
for thirty minutes, were installed. This battery floats
on the bus with the exciter generators. The voltage of
the main generators is maintained by means of a Tirrill
regulator connected to the field circuit of the small
motor-driven exciter, which furnishes excitation to a
motor-driven booster in series with the exciter bus,
which booster, by bucking or boosting the exciter volt-
age automatically by the action of the Tirrill regulator,
provides the varying voltages required on the generator-
field circuit. The regulated bus pressure is maintained
at approximately 170 volts, which is only about 10 volts
above the emf required by the generator-field circuits,
thereby eliminating a great part of the ordinary losses
of the field rheostat. To charge the batteries the volt-
age of the exciter unit is raised and the field current
taken care of by the series booster.
The equipment provided to take care of this consists
of two 1750-amp motor-driven separately excited boost-
ers and two 16.5-kw motor-driven booster exciters.
These machines were furnished by the General Electric
Company.
Control Room
The control room is situated about the center of the
north side of the station, half of it projecting out into
the generating room. The generators and the bus tie
switches are controlled from a benchboard set along the
side of the control gallery next to the generating room.
The board is BO laid out that the control switches and
miniature bus are in the same physical relation to each
other as the apparatus controlled. The attendant when
operating the desk faces the generating room. A minia-
ture bus is laid out on the board in such a way that the
order of panels from left to right is the same as the
circuit-breakers in the switch house behind the control
room.
The feeder switches are controlled from a thirty-one-
panel board, which forms an arc of a circle on the
opposite side of the control room from the generator
control desk and exciter control desk. At the left I fac-
ing the board) of the feeder switchboard are small
panels carrying the control switches for the station
power service.
The dominating idea in laying out the control room,
it will be noticed, was to simplify the arrangement and
make it conform as nearly as possible to that of the ap-
paratus it controlled, thus reducing to a minimum the
details of location of apparatus which the switchboard
operator has to remember.
Station Signaling
The operator's desk is provided with a "Q P" sig-
naling system, which enables him to indicate on an
illuminated sign in the generating room information he
wishes to convey to the operator in charge, such as in-
structions to start or stop a machine at a given time,
that he is wanted at the telephone, etc. This sign is
wired so that it duplicates in front of the switchboard
operator the instructions on the sign in the generating
room.
A similarly operated load bulletin is placed in the
boiler room to indicate the load in thousands of kilo-
watts being carried, thus giving the operator in charge
of the boiler room knowledge at all times of the proper
load to take care of.
By- the use of these illuminated signs all attendants
are familiar with the instructions given, thus eliminat-
ing the possibility of a misunderstanding of the tele-
phone instructions. This system of signaling is utilized
in addition to the standard signals between individual
machines and the switchboard operator.
The switching equipment, where not otherwise men-
tioned, was furnished by the Westinghouse Electric &
Manufacturing Company.
Switch House
In arranging the switch house it was advisable to use
the old building as far as possible, and this has been
done with the necessary additions to take care of the
new equipment.
Before the larger generators were installed some
trouble was experienced from short-circuits in the cables
leading to the numerous substations. The short-cir-
cuits, coming directly into the station without any
transformers to act as a buffer, made serious disturb-
ance. Such being the case, it was realized that some
means must be provided for reducing the disturbance
to a minimum and at the same time put the minimum
strain on the switching equipment, which will ultimately
have from 100,000 kw to 150,000 kw in generating
output behind it. Under short-circuit conditions, such
an enormous current could be sent into the injured
cables that no circuit-breaker could be manufactured
at a reasonable cost which would take care of it. Even
if it were possible to use a circuit-breaker capable of
1296
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 21
handling such a short-circuit, the disturbance resulting
from sudden interruption would be undesirable, to say
the least.
With the large increase in the output rating of the
plant, and consequent increase in the number and equip-
ment of the consumers served by the
plant, it became necessary to consider u I [""i i M
very carefully a scheme of protection
to the generated voltage which would h h h h n h ri ri nhnahnn Minn
insure, as far as possible, against in-
sections there would be sufficient drop through them for
the normal current which might circulate through dif-
ferent sections of the bus to cause a difference of voltage
on such adjacent sections undesirable from an operating
standpoint. To meet this objection the reactance coils are
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terruptions from short-circuits in the i —
cables leading to the various substa- \§\
tions and against loss of voltage on
the generator busbars, involving the
falling out of step of the synchronous
apparatus on the system.
It was apparent that the use of re-
actance coils in the feeder circuits
would limit the minimum voltage on
the busbars to an amount equal to the
drop in voltage of the feeder reactance
coils, at the same time limiting the
current rush to a value which would
put materially Jess stress on the
switching equipment and generator
windings. However, such an arrange-
ment of reactance coils would give no protection against
short-circuits on the generator bus system or generator
cable leads between generator terminals and bus struc-
ture.
After an exhaustive study of the conditions involved,
reactance coils were placed between bus sections for
limiting the flow of current into an affected section.
The voltage of the unaffected sections is maintained at
a value which will guarantee the successful operation
of synchronous apparatus. When the fault occurs out-
side the feeder reactance, there is a strong possibility
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lie 12— 2000-AMP TYPE C BUS-TIE SWITCH AND STATION
PROTECTOR
that even the Bjmchronout apparatus on , the remaining
feeders connected to the same bus sections will not drop
out of step.
It was found that if the reactance coils for the bus
sectionalizing were sufficiently large to give adequate
tion to the sections adjacent to the short-circuited
LAYOUT OF EQUIPMENT IN BRUNOTS ISLAND STATION
shunted by a circuit-breaker set for instantaneous oper-
ation, this breaker being guaranteed to open in a time
less than that in which the synchronous apparatus would
drop out of step. The additional non-automatic circuit-
breaker permits cutting off the affected section, in case
the short-circuit persists, with a minimum amount of
disturbance to the adjacent sections of the busbars.
The above arrangement does not, of course, eliminate
disturbance of the feeders attached to the sections of
the bus affected, but by dividing the load as nearly as
possible equally between the different bus sections, and
connecting parallel feeders to the different sections, the
effect of the trouble is limited to a small proportion of
the system.
In order to isolate the bus section from a possible
fault in the cables between the generators and busbars,
the generator breaker is made automatic for a difference
in current through series transformers at each end of
the cable differentially connected through the trip coils
of the breaker.
It is appreciated that in case of short-circuit on the
busbars the above scheme offers no protection to the
generators connected to that particular section of the
bus, but on account of the generators being constructed
with a view to withstanding such short-circuits without
injury to the windings, and because of the remote possi-
bility of bus trouble, reactance coils in the generator
leads were not thought necessary.
It will be noted that a double bus is provided, gen-
erators and feeders being furnished with circuit-
breakers for connection either to the through bus or
to the individual sectionalized bus. Under normal oper-
ating conditions the generators and feeders are con-
nected to the sectionalized busbars, which, with the
through bus, form a ring. In case of trouble to any
section the circuits are thrown to the through bus and
the ring opens, the through bus then becoming a section,
replacing the one in trouble.
Inasmuch as the feeders from the station leave en-
i Irely by submarine cable, no lightning protective appa-
ratus is required, but an 11,000-volt, three-phase elec-
trolytic lightning arrester is connected to each section
of the bus as protection against voltage surges.
As installed at present, the switching equipment
handles six generators and twenty-seven feeders. It is
installed north of the generating station in the same
section of the switch house and bus structure as was
May 22, lyif.
ELECTRICAL WORLD
1297
used in the old installatn.ii. tin- reactance coils being
added in the basement and the btu-eeetionalizing
switches, bus reactance and bus tie on the second floor.
The generator and feeder breakers are installed on the
main floor in a double row of reinforced-concrete struc-
tures, and the double busbar is installed on the second
floor immediately over this structure with the bus-sec-
tionalizing breakers above the main busbars so that the
connections to them are as short as possible.
In order to reduce the fire hazard to a minimum
amount, the switch house was divided into four sec-
tions by fireproof walls from the basement to the roof,
thus preventing the possibility of the spreading of fire.
The busbars and connecting straps are inclosed by fire-
proof doors constructed of asbestos lumber.
Since the installation of the feeder reactance coils
their effectiveness has been demonstrated in two in-
stances of severe short-circuits in feeder cables close to
the power house. In one instance no synchronous appa-
ratus dropped out of step, and in the other only one
machine dropped out. Considering the fact that the
feeders were connected to the through bus at the time,
thus eliminating any chance of effect from the bus tie
reactance, the results so far bear out expectations well.
In spite of the reconstruction work going on during
1914, the Island plant carried its share of the system
load and even took care of a fair increase, the average
daily output amounting to 340,000 kw-hr. in 1914, as
compared with 296,000 kw-hr. in 1913, or a total in-
crease for the year of 16,000,000 kw-hr. During the
year the East End plant, with an annual output of
1,700,000 kw-hr., was shut down. Other plants to be
shut down and the additional demand put on Brunots
Island as a result will be: Manchester, 15,000,000
kw-hr.; Glenwood, 20,000,000 kw-hr.; Southside, 1,200,-
000 kw-hr.
In connection with the maximum hourly peak, which
shows no very marked variation from month to month,
it is interesting to note that the swings in load are
10 per cent in excess of the integrated hourly readings.
This fact illustrates the necessity for automatic voltage
regulation, which is not required in some other large
systems having a more even load.
The load curves in Fig. 11 show by their gradual in-
crease the use to which the new apparatus is being put.
A 480-FT.-HEAI) VERMONT WATER-POWER
Features of 6000-Hp Hydroelectric Station at Chittenden.
Which I mi-, rv, . EnergJ of I low Between
Two Reservoir!
WATER that had been allowed to run from one
reservoir to another 480 ft. below without doing
any useful work is now being utilized by the
Pittsford Power Company at Chittenden, Vt., for devel-
oping electrical energy. While the head available is not
large in comparison with those obtained in the West,
it is the highest which has been utilized in the older
states of the East. Moreover, since the water in the
lower reservoir was and is still being used to operate
1200 kw in generating equipment, the supply from the
FIG. 1 — SECTION OF WOOD-PIPE LINE SUPPLYING 6000-HP
WATER-POWER PLANT AT CHITTENDEN, VT.
upper reservoir could not be diverted during construc-
tion, and hence the new station was erected near the
lower basin, where the maximum head can be obtained
and the water discharged into that reservoir.
Reservoir and Pipe Line
Although the higher reservoir affords a 480-ft. head,
its capacity is comparatively small, the quantity of water
impounded being about 1,000,000,000 cu. ft. The area of
the watershed is about 16 sq. miles. From the reser-
voir to the generating station the water is conveyed
through wood-stave and steel pipes. As the first 13,400
FIG. 14 — BRUNOTS ISLAND POWER HOUSE SEEN FROM BACK CHANNEL OF OHIO RIVER
1298
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 21
ft. of the route was practically level, or in such condi-
tion that it could be graded to 0.3 per cent incline, 5-ft.
spruce and Douglas fir stave pipes were employed, with
few exceptions. For the remaining 2700 ft. leading to
the station, however, there was a considerable incline,
^V"" Morn Oop.
Layout of Station
The station is a single-story structure 38 ft. wide by
71 ft. long. It is arranged so that the steel penstock
enters one end of the building and then continues longi-
tudinally, branching into three 24-in. nozzles leading to
FIG. 2— LIGHTNING-ARRESTER STRUCTURE ON STATION ROOF
hence steel pipe ranging in size from 54 in. to 52 in.
had to be employed.
Relief valves and a surge tower were installed at
several points. A vent was installed between the outlet
valve of the reservoir and the penstock to prevent the
pipe collapsing should water be drawn out too fast. It
consists of a 24-in. steel standpipe 55 ft. high. The pipe
is protected by a double casing of wood staves and in
winter is heated electrically. At the junction of the
wood and steel pipe is the surge tower, which stands 90
ft. high, the top being 19 ft. higher than the flash-
boards on the dam above. The tower is 14 ft. in diam-
eter and is protected from freezing by a casing of 2-in.
planks covered with wire lath and cement.
the turbines. Space is provided for installing one row
of three prime movers, but only two are in place at
present. Each unit is rated at 2000 hp and 720 r.p.m.
The turbines are of the Francis type and are directly
connected with the generators. The gate-operating
mechanisms are controlled by Lombard governors of the
directly connected type, these being arranged for elec-
trical control.
To protect the pipe line against undue rise of pres-
sure when a governor throttles the water passing to its
respective turbine, a relief valve has been installed
capable of discharging 30 cu. ft. of water per second.
A 52-in. recording Venturi meter is employed to measure
the total amount of water supplied to the turbines. As
WO. S INTERIOR OF GENERATING STATION AT CHITTENDEN. VT.
May 22, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
1299
the tailrace extends under each prime mover, long draft
tubes are not required.
Electrical Equipment
The three-phase, sixty-cycle, 2300-volt, 1250-kva Gen-
eral Electric generators operate at 720 r.p.m. Their
exciters are directly connected to the main shafts and
are controlled by Tirrill regulators. From the gen-
tJtorn Caps
Cyos «.N /
FIG. 4 — ONE SET OF LIGHTNING ARRESTERS SERVING TWO
LINES
erators energy is conveyed through lead-covered, var-
nished-cambric insulated cables, disconnecting and re-
mote-control oil switches to a sectionalized 2300-volt
bus made of copper tubing and supported in a vertical
plane along one wall and above the transformers. At
present there are installed six single-phase, 2300/44,000-
volt, 400-kva water-cooled transformers. These are ar-
ranged in a single row, three units being mounted op-
posite each turbo-generator set. Water for cooling the
transformers is taken from the penstocks through pres-
sure-reducing valves. It will be possible in the ultimate
installation to divide the 2300-volt bus into three dis-
tinct sections which may be connected in any combina-
tion by means of a transfer bus.
All of the 44,000-volt busbar and switching equip-
FIG. 5 — SINGLE TANK AND HEATER HOUSE OF PITTSFORD
POWER COMPANY
ment, with the exception of the electrolytic lightning
arresters, is installed on the roof of the station, con-
nection being made therewith by copper tubing pass-
ing through insulated roof bushings. In this circuit
are inserted three-pole air-break switches which can be
operated from the station floor. The air-break switches,
lightning-arrester horn-gaps and copper-tube high-ten-
sion busbars are mounted on pipe framework supported
on the roof. Conductors lead from the horn-gaps
FIG. 6 — GOVERNING MECHANISM OF ONE PRIME MOVER
through roof bushings, choke coils and disconnecting
switches to single-phase electrolytic lightning arresters
installed inside the station.
Only one transmission line has been erected so far,
this being operated at a pressure of 44,000 volts and
controlled by means of indoor-type, remote-controlled
oil switches.
Interior Illumination
General interior illumination is afforded by six250-\vatt
tungsten lamps set in deep-bowl reflectors supported close
to the ceiling. The outlet boxes and connecting conduit
are molded in the concrete roof. Additional illumina-
tion can be obtained by connecting portable lamps to the
plug receptacles distributed around the walls of the
building. A number of lamps supported on goose-necks
and equipped with enameled reflectors are installed on
the roof to provide illumination in case the high-voltage
equipment has to be inspected at night. The lamp cir-
cuits can be energized from either the exciter busbars
or from a 3-kw transformer connected with the 2300-
volt busbar.
FIG. 7 — STATION WITH HIGH-VOLTAGE EQUIPMENT
INSTALLED ON ROOF
The Pittsford Power Company's development was de-
signed and constructed under the supervision of W. S.
Barstow & Company, engineers and managers, 50 Pine
Street, New York City.
1800
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 21
Differential Method for the Determination of
Losses in Coils
By August Hund, San Francisco, Cal.
Some time ago the writer published' a paper in which
a differential method for measuring the dielectric losses
in condensers was described. A differential arrange-
ment of the same kind is also applicable to the measure-
Differential
Transformer
Test Sample
t! R'
are formed by a short length of non-magnetic high-
resistance wire, and the contact B is a sliding one. By
adjusting the self-induction of the reference coil and
removing the contact B, the condition of no current
in the secondary coil may be established. For this
adjustment
R + w1 = R' + w2
or R = R' + w, — wt. (1)
Similarly for the inductances,
L + AL, = U + AL,
Ammeter
-o-\o
Source
i
L'{1 +
AL,— AL,'
U
(2)
FIG. 1 — TEST CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENT
ment of losses in coils, not only at low frequencies', but
also at very high frequencies. The object of this article
is to point out the application of this method to such
measurements.
The self-induction and effective resistance at high fre-
quency are usually determined by the ordinary Wheat-
stone-bridge method, or the power loss is determined
directly by tuning the circuit for resonance and measur-
ing the current and voltage by means of a hot-wire
ammeter and voltmeter respectively. At frequencies as
low as 500 cycles per second such methods are to be
recommended for commercial use, but at higher fre-
quencies, particularly when the voltage is over 100, the
reading of the hot-wire voltmeter may be very inac-
curate. For instance, at frequencies of from 50,000 to
100,000 cycles per second it sometimes happens that the
readings are inaccurate to such an extent that the
power-factor calculated from these readings is greater
than the unity. For high-frequency measurements,
when the voltage is over 100, it is usually more advisa-
ble to calculate the voltage from the impedance and
current than to use a hot-wire voltmeter. The differen-
tial method here described overcomes these difficulties
and gives a simple as well as an accurate means of
measuring both the effective resistance and the effective
inductance.
F'rinciple of the Differential Method
The principle of the method may be readily under-
stood from the diagram shown in Fig. 1. The differen-
tial transformer consists of two equal primary coils,
P, and P,, wound in opposite directions and sym-
metrically placed with reference to the secondary coil
S. When the currents in the two coils are equal in
effective value and are in phase, their inductive effects
on the secondary coil will exactly neutralize each other,
and no voltage will be induced in the secondary. Any
kind of alternating-current detector connected across
the terminals of the secondary will then give a no-cur-
rent indication when the currents in P, and P. are equal
and in phase.
With the connections as shown and the currents in P,
and P, equal and in phase, the total resistance of P,,
the test sample, and the resistance w;, must be equal to
the total resistance of P„ the reference coil, and the
resistance w„ and the self-inductions of these two
branches must also be equal. The resistances iox and w,
>A. Hund. London ElrrtriiHan, Jan. 8, 191B, abstracted In
F,i r'-niicAi. World, Jan. 80, 191B.
M H.'iiinrnrh, "I'nttTH\].h\inK elektr. Systeme." atC . pane fil.
Berlin. •'. '.i.t.nlir D<M., Karlsruhe, 1907.
The self-induction of the short high-resistance wire will
usually be small compared with that of the test sample,
and therefore to a first approximation AL, — AL, may
be neglected, in comparison with U, in which case
L = L'.
It is to be noted that the difference of the resistances
is not affected by inductive effects of the resistances wl
and w2. This is a decided advantage of the differential
method, in comparison with the usual bridge arrange-
ments, where inductive effects of the resistances intro-
duce considerable errors.
The skin effect in an ordinary variable inductance
coil is appreciable at high frequencies, and consequently
the resistance R' will depend on the frequency, unless
a specially designed variable inductance is used. This
difficulty may be avoided by using the arrangement
of Fig. 2. The currents in the two branches of the
parallel circuit can then be brought into phase by
adjusting this capacity to such a value C that
ojXC = 1, (.3)
where cd is 2tc times the impressed frequency. To make
the currents equal in effective value, the relation be-
tween R and R' will then be the same as before, viz.,
R = R' + w, — w,. (4)
Equation (3) gives the value of L in terms of C
when the frequency is known, but when the frequency
cannot be measured accurately L may be determined
by using the connections shown in Fig. 2. The non-
inductive resistance in series with condenser is made
equal to the resistance R of the test sample, previously
determined by the method just described, and the ca-
pacity C is kept at the same value as before, so that
equation (3) still holds. Under these conditions the
Differential
Transformer
-^wwwfo/T
mmmmj
Test 5ample
FIG. 2-
0^-0
Ammeter Source
-MODIFIED CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENT
parallel circuit from / to K is in resonance with the
impressed frequency, and therefore this circuit as a
whole is non-inductive, having an equivalent resistance
R, such that
1 R R 2R
«;= fl.-f (»£), + # , _J_
R, + (u>LV
May 22, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
1301
Hence
*-T
R
"]
R +
R( ■
(6)
For no current in the secondary the resistance in series
with the primary P, must then be made equal to this
value, and the value of L is then, from equation (5),
L = RC{2Rl — R). (6)
After having determined L from equation (6) the fre-
quency / may then be calculated from equation (3),
viz.,
f =
2tc\/LC
No-Current Detector
(7)
For frequencies between 500 and 2000 cycles per sec-
ond a telephone receiver is the simplest and most de-
pendable indicator. When the test sample has an iron
core, the wave form of the currents in the two primaries
will not be the same, and consequently absolute silence
in the telephone cannot be obtained. Under such con-
ditions it is advantageous to insert a condenser in series
with the receiver and the secondary and tune this cir-
cuit for resonance with the fundamental frequency.
When a vibration galvanometer is available it may be
rv
FIG. 3 — TRANSFORMER CONE
used as a current detector and the condenser may be dis-
pensed with. When large currents can be used in the
test sample and parallel circuit an ordinary thermocou-
ple connected to a galvanometer may be used, although
a thermo-cross-bridge1 will be found preferable.
It is of interest to note that maximum sensitiveness
is obtained when the secondary of the differential trans-
former is so designed that its total reactance toL,
(measured with the primary coils open) is equal to the
impedance \/ (R-\- '"J" + co'L", where R is the resistance
of the no-current indicator, L the inductance of the no-
current indicator, and r, the resistance of the secondary
coil. This may be proved as follows: The two primary
coils may be treated as a single coil carrying the differ-
ential current i = \ — i\, where i, and i\ are the cur-
rents in the two primary coils. This current will induce
di
M -j-, where
in the secondary coil an emf equal to
di
M is the coefficient of mutual induction between one
primary coil and the secondary coil. The effective value
of the induced secondary emf is then E2 = uMI, where
/ is the effective value of the differential current /, and
u) is It. times the frequency. The secondary current is
then
...Ml
,_V(* i '• ' u>*(i + !/,)•'
If there is no magnetic leakage, the mutual induction,
•A. Hund, Diss., Karlsruhe ; Qeneral Klcctrir Rrvirw. October.
1915: London Electrician, Jan. 8, 1916: Electrical World, Jan.
30, 1915 ; ArbHten au.i item t'lrktr. [n.ititut Karlsruhe, Vol. Til.
M. is directly proportional to the secondary turns, and
the self-induction of the secondary coil, L„ is propor-
tional to the square of the secondary turns. Hence M
= k \'L„ where k is a constant. Hence the expression
for /. may be written
/, =
(8)
kmy/LJ
The value of L. which will make this a maximum is
found by equating to zero the derivative of /. with re-
spect to L„ for k, w and / constant. This gives
di, _ A-o)/[2orL,(L + LJ— (R + r,y— «o'(L + L,)'] _
dL,
(R + rJ'+v'lL + L,)1
= 0.
or u)L: = y/TR + r,)'+ uTL". (9)
When the no-current indicator is non-inductive this be-
comes u>L, = R + rr When a condenser of capacity C
is inserted in series with the detector the expression for
the secondary current is
kwy/LJ
J(R + r2y + L(L
+ L2)
u>cj
U0)
When the capacity of the condenser is adjusted for res-
onance with (L + L,) the second term under the radical
in the denominator becomes zero, and the maximum
value of /, is then obtained when L, is made as large as
possible.
Construction of the Differential Transformer
Three differential transformers for measurements
with frequencies of from 50 cycles to 2500 cycles per
second have been constructed by the writer. In one the
iron core was built up with fine soft iron wire in the
form of a toroid. The dimensions are shown in Fig. 3.
Before winding the coils the iron core was thoroughly
insulated. Three layers of enameled copper wire (0.15-
mm diameter) were then wound on it, each layer being
insulated from the next by paraffined paper. Each layer
had 1293 turns. The total length of the wire in this
secondary coil was 147 meters, giving an ohmic resist-
ance of approximately 90 ohms. The last layer was in-
sulated with tape, and upon it were wound 151 turns of
enameled wire strand (four wires per strand, each 0.35-
mm diameter), this strand forming the two primary
coils. The total length of the strand was 7.775 m, each
wire having a resistance of 1.2 ohms. The other two
differential transformers were of similar design but with
ratios of 1 :4 and 1 :8 respectively.
For measurements at high frequencies, such as are
used in wireless work, an air transformer was used. In
order to keep down the losses of the transformer only
six turns, wound on a wooden core, were used for each
primary coil, the diameter of the wire being approxi-
mately 0.15 mm. For the secondary coil nine turns were
chosen, although it is usually advisable to use the num-
ber required for maximum sensitiveness, according to
formula (9).
Applications
The differential method above described has been used
by the writer to measure the variation with frequency
of the resistance and inductance of a choke coil, for fre-
quencies ranging from 588 cycles to 1845 cycles per sec-
ond and for currents ranging from 0.205 amp to 0.737
amp. For this purpose the iron-core differential trans-
former was used.
The differential method was also used to compare the
high-frequency resistance of a woven copper strand, a
copper strap built up of thin ribbons and a solid copper
strap. These tests were made for wave-lengths rang-
ing from 320 m to 1825 m and at a current of 0.5 amp.
1302
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 21
DIGEST OF ELECTRICAL LITERATURE
Generators, Motors and Transformers
Transformer Theory. — Johann LlSSNER. — The au-
thor develops the fundamental differential equations of
the theory of stationary transformers. The theory is
based directly on the laws of induction and is exact as
far as it goes, but it neglects eddy currents, saturation
phenomena, and hysteresis. — Elek. it. Masch. (Vienna),
March 28, 1915.
Lamps and Lighting
Mechanical Equivalent of Light. — Herbert E. Ives,
W. W. Coblentz and E. F. Kingsbury. — A long paper
in which rational definitions are given for light quanti-
ties. In accordance with these the mechanical equivalent
of light is defined as the value of the lumen in watts.
An experimental determination by two different methods
gives for the mechanical equivalent of light a mean value
of 0.00162 watt per lumen. Luminous flux, on the basis
of the accepted definition, can be measured in c.g.s.
units, for example, in watts, and consequently the watt
is a rational standard of luminous flux ("primary
standard of light"). The measurement of luminous
flux in watts and the establishment of the watt as the
standard are dependent on the evaluation of the present
standard and units in terms of the watt. The mechan-
ical equivalent of light is, therefore, the most funda-
mental quantity in the establishment of light measure-
ment on a physical basis. — Phys. Review, April, 1915.
Rating of Metallic-Filament Lamps. — S. M. Powell.
— The author emphasizes the fact that the rating of
incandescent lamps by watts is convenient for the manu-
facturer but neither desirable nor convenient for the
user. He urges that the rating should be in terms of
candle-power. The peculiar polar curve of many mod-
.
../
C°L;;
m£"«-/'
■ATlNti
A3 EFn / '
z
"-E:
fE
HP'
//
/ ' / /
j*V^
/ V /
,0*J^^
VM
f^ its"
\ >l / ,
/X^
-WATT* -
j^j
CANDLE-POWERS AVAILABLE WITH DIFFERENT SPECIFIC
CONSUMPTIONS
em lamps and reflectors has been made an objection to
rating by candle-power. The objection does not apply
at all if lamps be rated, as they should be rated, in
mean spherical candle-power. Both watts and mean
spherical candle-power should be marked on the lamp-.
but candle-power should be the basis of sizing- The
present practice has been to use the watts as the basis
of sizing, so that when a consumer used 30-watt lamps
and the specific consumption fell from 1 .2 watt pel cp
to 1 watt and 0.8 watt, the consumer got formerh
lamps, later 80-Cp lamps, and now 37'j-cp lamps. Con
tinuously increasing the candle-power of an Installation
it only unne I time, objection-
able and harmful, and reference to the cut shows that
the gaps in the candle-powers available become rapidly
greater as efficiency rises, the watt series remaining
constant. "The fact that the consumer has to make
fresh compromises with every increase in lamp efficiency
— using a lamp either more or less powerful than the
one he wants (except for accidental coincidences) —
leads inevitably to a certain amount of dissatisfaction,
whereas on a constant candle-power system of rating
there would be nothing but satisfaction caused by the
higher efficiency, every consumer getting the same light
as before at less cost." — London Elec. Review, April 30,
1915.
Generation, Transmission and Distribution
Bombay Water-Power Developments. — A. DICKINSON.
— A long abstract of a paper read before the (British)
Institution of Electrical Engineers on the Tata Hydro-
Electric Power Supply Company, Ltd., Bombay. The
company supplies electrical energy in Bombay, princi-
pally for motors in cotton mills. The hydraulic section
of the scheme is exceptional, inasmuch as lakes have
been created, and the whole of the water for the plant
is collected from the rain falling during the monsoon.
Three reservoirs are being formed by constructing dams
across valleys known as Lonawla, Walwhan and Shiraw-
ta. From the reservoirs the water is conveyed in an
open duct to the forebay, and thence through pipe lines
to the power house, a distance of 13,000 ft., in which
length there is a fall of 1725 ft. The power house is
situated at a place know as Phopoli, which, as the crow
Hies, is some 43 miles from the receiving station on the
island of Bombay. The present scheme is to install in
the power house eight units, each of 11,000 hp, and in
the receiving station the plant necessary to deal with the
power-house output. Five sets only are now installed in
the power house, and the remaining three sets will be
put down as water becomes available. Generation is at
5000 volts, three-phase and fifty cycles, the energy being
transformed up to a line pressure of 100,000 volts. The
receiving station is situated at Parel, on the island of
Bombay. It has been designed for an ultimate plant
rating of 74,880 kva in eight three-phase step-down
transformer banks of 9360 kva each, and four incoming
lines with the necessary switch gear and station auxil-
iary apparatus, of which five complete units and two
incoming lines are now being installed. Each step-down
transformer bank consists of three General Electric oil-
immersed, water-cooled, single-phase transformers,
connected delta-delta. These lower the pressure from
85,800 volts to 6600 volts. For improving the power-
factor and regulation of the system duplicate synchro-
nous condenser sets are provided, each consisting of a
6600-volt, fifty-cycle, 500-r.p.m., three-phase synchro-
nous motor with a 125-volt exciter on the overhung part
of the shaft. The motors are started up direct from the
6600-volt busbars through compensators, the starting
current not exceeding full-load current. The total
losses, including the power taken by the exciter, do not
exceed 153 kw at full load and 167 kw at 20 per cent
overload. The feeder distribution system from the re-
ceiving station to the mills is designed for a 6600-volt,
three-phase supply with an unearthed neutral. The
mills are arranged in groups, each group having a
feeder to each mill, with an emergency ring feeder con-
ne, ling up all the mills of the group. Group driving
with directly coupled motors was adopted as being best
suited to the requirements of the Bombay industry.
Standard speeds of 265, 290 and 365 r.p.m. were
adopted. The motors are of the three-phase, fifty-cycle,
slip-ring induction type, wound for 2000 volts. The
Mai
1916
ELECTRICAL WORLD
1303
present electrification contract coven thirty mills, with
199 motors, aggregating 37,526 tip. The power require-
ments of individual mills range from three motors.
aggregating 325 hp, to nineteen motors, totaling 2400
hp. — London Electrician, April 30, 1915.
Traction
Electric Trunin,, ,,,, Trunk Railways. W. s. Murray.
— A long paper discussing the conditions which affect
the success of main-line electrification, with numerous
diagrams and tables of cost from operation in practice.
— Journal Franklin Jnsl., May, 1915.
Installations, Systems and Appliances
Electrical Induetries o) Russia. — P. Gurewitsch. —
The author emphasizes the point that in Russia the elec-
trical industry has made more rapid progress than has
any other industry. The imports of electrical products
into Russia were $2,200,000 in 1904 and $12,600,000 in
1913. The total imports of finished metal products of
Russia were $48,000,000 in 1904 and $130,000,000 in
1913. In the last ten years the imports of electrical
products into Russia, therefore, increased about five and
one-half times, whereas the imports of other finished
goods of metal increased only two and one-half times in
the same period. At present 225 Russian towns have
central stations. Four Russian cities (Petrograd, Mos-
cow, Lodz and Baku), which have the largest electricity-
supply plants, consumed 379,000,000 kw-hr. in 1913,
while during 1905 all the Russian central stations sup-
plied only about 500,000,000 kw-hr. It is thought that
when the war is over the electrical industry in Russia
will make very rapid progress as there are only twenty
gas plants in the empire. In view of the large electrical
developments expected, the question is asked whether
Russia can produce the necessary electrical plant, ma-
chinery and apparatus. While this may be possible in
the case of cables, telephone and telegraph apparatus
and storage batteries, it is certain that Russia would
have to rely on imports from other countries for all
other requirements of the electrical industry. The chief
import, as well as value and weight, concerns heavy
machines of over 500 kg. In 1913 the exports of elec-
trical machines to Russia were $16,000,000 from Ger-
many, $11,000,000 from England, $7,000,000 from the
United States, and $4,000,000 from Switzerland.— Lon-
don Electrician, April 30, 1915.
Elect rophysics and Magnetism
Arc in Longitudinal Magnetic Field, — R. F. Earhart.
— An abstract of an American Physical Society paper.
Using both cored and solid carbons, some experiments
were made with a carbon arc in a uniform magnetic
field. The lines of magnetic force were parallel to the
axis of the carbon electrodes. The effect of establish-
ing fields varying up to 2000 c.g.s. units was to reduce
the current and to increase the potential difference be-
tween the terminals. The behavior was studied by
determining the characteristic curves for the arcs with
fields of different strength. The characteristic curve
produced when the field is established is similar to one
which would be obtained by lengthening the arc. It was
noticed that the heat developed at the positive carbon
was increased when the field was established. In such
case an increased length of carbon became red hot. This
indicated that the anode fall in potential had been in-
creased, and such was found to be the case when an
exploring electrode was introduced. The cathode drop
was increased, but the anode drop had a greater relative
increase than the cathode drop. The instability of the
arc is increased with the application of the magnetic
field. Unequal consumption of the carbon tips causes
considerable difficulty. — Phy8. Review, April, 1915.
Corona. — Donald Mackenzie. — An account of an ex-
perimental investigation of the corona in air at continu-
ous potentials and at pn ^er than atmospheric.
With respect to the positive effect the following results
were obtained. All of the wires, when positive to the
tube, formed coronas at the lowest pressures to which
the apparatus was evacuated. The discharge is a per-
fectly uniform and stable violet or bluish glow extending
the wrhole length of the wire. As the voltage is raised
above that necessary to start the corona, the luminous
sheath expands progressively, accompanied by an in-
crease in the current. With further increase in voltage
a point is reached where the corona is unstable. A slight
increase in voltage causes the corona, previously uniform
over the whole length of the wire, to collapse to a
vacuum-tube discharge confined to a few millimeters.
With respect to the negative effect the results were as
follows: For the larger wires used the negative corona
was not obtainable; the first detectable discharge was
the vacuum-tube discharge. For the smaller wires the
case was different. At the low est pressures the vacuum-
tube discharge is the only one obtainable. At higher
pressures the negative corona appears, expands with
increase of voltage above the critical value, and gives
place to the negative vacuum-tube discharge at a transi-
tion point determined, as in the positive effect, by the
pressure and the wire diameter. The negative corona
is never a uniform sheath like the positive. It is
grouped about bright blue points set at intervals along
the wire. These blue points are surrounded by reddish
streamers and increase in number as the voltage in-
creases. The ratio of the critical voltages for the posi-
tive and negative corona on a given wire varies with the
pressure. A pressure exists at which the two critical
voltages are equal; below this pressure the negative
critical voltage is lower than the positive, at higher
pressures the positive corona-forming is the lower. The
corona rectifies an alternating current, the direction of
the rectified current depending on the voltage and the
pressure. — Phys. Review, April, 1915.
Ultimate Magnetic Particle.— K. T. Compton and E.
A. Trousdale. — For many years the magnetic proper-
ties of bodies have been ascribed to the action of ex-
ceedingly small elementary magnets, but the nature of
these ultimate magnetic particles has remained an open
question. The author made some experiments to decide
whether these fundamental particles are molecules or
smaller. His results show conclusively that the ultimate
magnetic particles must be atoms or something within
the atoms, and are therefore consistent with the electron
theory of magnetism, but not with the molecular theory.
The ultimate magnetic particle cannot be a molecule or
other group of atoms.— Pfeys. Review. April, 1915.
Electrochemistry and Batteries
Cyanamide. — Frank S. Washburn. — A long paper
on the cyanamide process in comparison with other
processes for the fixation of atmospheric nitrogen. —
Met. and Chem. Eng'ing, May. 1915.
Units, Measurements and Instruments
Measurement of Air Velocity by Hot-Wire Anemome-
ter.— Louis Vessot King. — The author formerly de-
veloped the theory of the convection of heat from small
cylinders cooled by a stream of fluid and applied it to
the development of a precision anemometer intended
for the study of the complex problem of gas-flow. In
the present paper specifications relating to the construc-
tion of the linear hot-wire anemometer are given in
detail. By means of the Kelvin double-bridge connec-
tions it is possible to employ wires at high tempera-
tures, thus making velocity determinations practically
independent of ordinary fluctuations of room tempera-
tures. Applications of the hot-wire anemometer to
physical and technical problems are described. — Phil.
Ma<i., April, 1915.
1304
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 21
Coefficients of Self and Mutual Induction of Coaxial
Coils. — S. Butterworth. — A highly mathematical paper
in which the author gives formulas for the self-induc-
tion and mutual induction of coaxial circles and sole-
noids for which the ratio of the inner and outer diame-
ters differs considerably from unity. — Phil. Mag., April,
1915.
Telegraphy, Telephony and Signals
Wireless Telegraphy. — Fracque. — In continuations of
his long serial on the mathematical theory of wireless
telegraphy, the author takes up the mechanism of the
production of trains on oscillations in a condenser cir-
cuit and then discusses the use of additional apparatus
required in wireless telegraphy. — La Lumiere Elec,
March 13 and 20, 1915.
Battery-Bell Signaling Systems and Their Dangers. —
A British "white paper," issued by the Home Office,
embodying a report by R. V. Wheeler (of the Experi-
mental Station, Eskmeals) on the results of experi-
ments undertaken by him to establish a system of
bare-wire signaling free from the risk of igniting
firedamp-air mixtures in coal mines. The conclusions
are stated as follows: "All the bells examined were
capable of producing a highly dangerous break-flash
at the signal wires when used with a battery of ten wet
Leclanche cells, the voltage being 15. The break-flash
was still more dangerous when a battery of ten dry
cells was employed, since the current available from
them is considerably greater than that obtainable from
wet Leclanche cells. In general, the bells examined
were 'overpowered.' A single bobbin with a reduced
number of layers of wire was found in several cases,
when fitted to the original bell frame, to actuate the
bell as efficiently as is required in practice. The use
of only one bobbin (that is, a bar electromagnet) with
a small number of layers of winding reduced the self-
induction of the circuit and thereby decreased the
danger of the break-flash at the signal wires. Inas-
much as the voltage is relatively of little importance
compared with that of the current strength, so far as
the safety of the break-flash on the signal wires is
concerned, it is desirable that attention should be
directed toward not exceeding a certain maximum num-
ber of cells in the battery, rather than that care should
be taken not to exceed a certain voltage. Moreover,
it is desirable that a cell of comparatively high inter-
nal resistance, such as the wet Leclanche cell, should be
employed, so as to avoid the possibility of obtaining
large currents on short-circuiting the battery. Taking
as a standard battery ten wet Leclanche cells, quart
size, such as are commonly used for battery-bell signal-
ing systems, giving a voltage of 15 and a maximum
current on short-circuiting of about 1.5 amp, it is
possible so to modify the usual pattern of bell as to
render the break-flash at the signal wires safe in the
most sensitive methane-air mixture, without impairing
the ringing power of the bell. This can be done in
several ways, of which the simplest probably are: (1)
By the introduction of a non-inductively wound re-
sistance coil in series with the magnet coils such that
it will reduce the current available at the break-flash
below the minimum igniting current: (2) by increasing
the resistance of the magnet windings of the bell by
the use of wire of fairly high resistance, such as brass
wire, for the same purpose as in (1) ; (3) by the use
of parallel winding, and (4) by the use of tinfoil strips
between the layers of winding in the manner and for
the purpose already described. Of these four methods
the third may be open to the objection that should the
circuited winding be accidentally broken the bell
mijfht become unsafe." — Iron and Coal Trades Rtvii W
I I/.ndon). April 23, 1915.
Book Reviews
Export Trade Directory. New York: The American
Exporter. Compiled by B. Olney Hough. Price, $3.
This directory contains a complete list of the export
commission houses, foreign buyers, manufacturers' ex-
port agents, foreign exchange banks and bankers,
marine insurance companies, export truckmen, and for-
eign freight forwarders in all the principal United
States ports; also of foreign consulates in the United
States, American consulates abroad, and other valuable
information of interest to manufacturers who wish to
establish foreign trade relations.
Metal Statistics, 1915. New York: The American
Metal Market and Daily Iron and Steel Report.
Price, 50 cents.
These statistics show care in compilation and will be
found valuable for buyers and sellers as well as for
plant managers and engineers. In the present volume
some additional statistics have been included in the pro-
duction of coal, petroleum and cement. The tables on
United States copper production for 1914 showed the
production of copper to have been 1,129,000,000 lb., a
decrease of 7.8 per cent, and the consumption for 1914
was estimated at 570,000,000 lb., as compared with
767,351,760 lb. in 1913. The remarkable increase in the
production and consumption of aluminum may be noted
by the fact that, in spite of the unusual conditions pre-
vailing, the past year showed a consumption of approx-
imately 60,000,000 lb., as compared with 8,600,000 lb. in
1904.
Principles of Industrial Organization. By Dexter
S. Kimball. New York: McGraw-Hill Book Com-
pany, Inc. 272 pages. Price, $2.50.
The purpose of the author is to set before young men
entering industry the salient facts regarding the most
important movements with which they will come in con-
tact and to explain the origin and growth of industrial
organization. The text is based on lectures given by
Professor Kimball to the senior class in the Sibley Col-
lege of Mechanical Engineering, Cornell University.
Beginning with the early development of industry, the
author outlines inventions that effected industrial rev-
olution. Following these came various reform methods,
causing freer distribution of the increased wealth
created by economical production. The most important
of modern industrial tendencies are said to be increase
in size of enterprises, specialization of enterprises and
men, standardization, and extreme division of labor.
Included in the wide scope of ensuing chapters are such
important subjects as system, the planning of depart-
ment work, cost-keeping, depreciation, labor compensa-
tion, purchase and care of materials, and selection of
location, arrangement and construction of plants. The
resume of the concluding chapter, dealing, it is true,
with theories, is a warning to the novice. If the one
who embarks in an enterprise is to be successful, he
must be versed in financing, manufacturing and selling,
and his chances rest on monopoly, quality or price. The
author has done a needed service in setting forth these
t';u'ts plainly.
Book Received
Proceedings of the American Electric Railway Engi-
neering Association, 1914. Published by the American
Electric Railway Association, from the office of the sec-
retary, 2\) U'.st Thirty-ninth Street, New York. A
complete report ■ >!' the twelfth annual convention of the
American Electric Railway Engineering Association.
696 pages. Price, $3.50.
May 22, 1916
ELECTRICAL WORLD
1305
POWER AND OPERATING SECTION
Storage Battery Serving < ombined Alternating-
Current and Direct-Current System
Existing load and substation conditions on the sys-
tem of the Commonwealth Power Company, -Milwaukee,
Wis., have enabled that corporation to install a storage
battery capable of carrying both the alternating-current
and direct-current load of the system for twenty min-
162- Cell Storage Battery
Mill Mlllllllllllllll t -IIIIIIHU
the direct-current buses ready to take up the load at any
time. Under ordinary operating conditions direct cur-
rent is supplied to the system by two motor-generator
sets. The first of these sets consists of a 2200-volt,
three-phase, sixty-cycle, 89-amp synchronous motor di-
rectly connected to a 240-volt, 300-kw flat-compound,
two-wire, direct-current generator. The other motor
generator set consists of a 2200-volt, three-phase, sixty-
lllll
End-Cel, H t/l
~c>ffo-o<r7 +oc
End-Celt Switch
A B-C Boostei Set
One !40Hp. 240Ho/r Motor
Tm> 475 Amp, XX foil Generators
O - Motor Generator bet
2300 .
&. 7 Amp.
EF 2 Balancers
150- Up. Induction Motors,
4-435 Amp./2CHblt DC
Generators
8S0-R p m
FIG. 1 — DIAGRAM OF CONNECTIONS OF BATTERY ARRANGED TO SERVE BOTH ALTERNATING-CURRENT AND DIRECT-
CURRENT SYSTEMS
utes. All of the company's direct-current load, ap-
proximately 300 kw, is furnished from the Alhambra
substation. The total maximum alternating-current
load on each of the company's three substations is given
below :
Kw
Alhambra 200
Majestic 300
Auditorium and pole transformers 180
Total alternating-current load 680
Since the battery is situated in the Alhambra sub-
station, from which all of the direct-current load of the
system is supplied, the battery is floated directly on
cycle, 61.7-amp synchronous motor driving a 240-volt,
200-kw flat-compound, two-wire generator. Both sets
operate at 600 r.p.m. As will be seen from the simpli-
fied wiring diagram, the battery floating on the direct-
current buses stands ready upon failure of the alter-
nating-current source to motor the direct-current ma-
chine and thus supply alternating current from the
motor-generator sets. At the same time the battery
picks up the direct-current load which had formerly
been supplied from the direct-current generators.
The battery itself consists of 162 cells with lead-
lined wooden tanks resting on porcelain oil-filled insu-
lators and porcelain pedestals. The installation is
FIG. 2 — BATTERY BOOSTER AND END-CELL SWITCH
FIG. 3 — DIRECT-CURRENT SWITCHBOARD
1306
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 21
capable of delivering approximately 600 kw continu-
ously for one hour at 240 volts, or 1264 kw for twenty
minutes at 240 volts.
Arrangements have been made so that fifty-four cells
may be cut in or out of service, by means of end-cell
switches, as voltage conditions require. Each end-cell
switch has its points arranged for seven single-cell con-
FIG. 4 — AN AISLE IN THE BATTERY ROOM
nections, one two-cell connection and five three-cell con-
nections, providing for an addition of twenty-four cells
to each side of the system. This, it was estimated, will
allow the station operator to maintain full voltage on
both the alternating-current and the direct-current sys-
tem for the entire twenty minutes.
The battery is charged from the standard bus poten-
tial of 240 volts, energy being conducted through a
three-unit booster set consisting of one direct-current
motor driving two direct-current generators. In this
way the potential of each booster generator is added
to the normal bus voltage in order to obtain the proper
potential for charging the battery.
Atlantic City's Varying Load-Factor
The permanent population of Atlantic City, N. J.,
is 54,000, but for a period of about six weeks during
the summer the great influx of visitors increases the
number to a maximum of 300,000, making the average
population for the entire year about 96,000. In conse-
quence of this fluctuating population of "the city by
the sea" the 10,000-kva generating station of the
Atlantic City Electric Company carries its maximum
load of 6600 kw on only fifty or sixty nights of the
year, enjoying a day load of about 1000 kw during this
period. For the remaining ten months of the twelve
the maximum load on the station reaches only 2500
kw, with a day load of 650 kw.
As there are few manufacturing plants at Atlantic
on eni rgj is used almost entirely for
lighting and display purposes. The lighting load is,
however, unusually long-hour in character, the summer
peak beginning about 7:80 p.m. and continuing until
nearly midnight.
The Unaccounted-for Loss
By S. U. Tuspin
In every efficiency test of a steam boiler the percen-
tages of the heat value of the fuel used in evaporating
water and lost in various ways are tabulated. The
larger part of the heat developed by the combustion of
the fuel is absorbed by the boiler, and this percentage
represents the useful effect. The object of every owner
and power-plant manager is to raise this value, for the
simple reason that he wants to obtain the maximum of
return for his investment in fuel.
In the operation of a boiler plant, however, losses
are unavoidable. The escape of hot gases up the chim-
ney produces a loss of heat; for it is not feasible to ab-
sorb so much heat from the flue gases that they will
have only the temperature of the boiler room when they
escape. Moreover, if natural draft is used, the chimney
gases must have a temperature sufficiently higher than
that of the surrounding air to produce the required
pressure difference and maintain the draft. Heat must
therefore be lost through the hot gases in the chimney.
Some of the Assignable Losses
The hydrogen contained in the fuel burns to water;
but under the effect of the high temperature existing
in the furnace this moisture is converted into highly
superheated steam, which gives up only a part of its
heat in passing over the heating surfaces of the boiler.
The latent heat of vaporization of this steam and the
heat required to superheat it to the temperature of the
chimney gases are lost when it escapes to the at-
mosphere.
Another way in which loss may occur is through in-
complete combustion of carbon, by which is meant the
failure of the carbon content of the fuel to be thorough-
ly oxidized. If the carbon is not completely burned to
carbon dioxide, the escape of part of the combustible
material as carbon monoxide in the flue gases will rep-
resent a loss of some heat that should have been devel-
oped in the furnace or in the combustion chamber.
Again, radiation of heat from the boiler setting
forms another way in which some of the heat is lost,
although, in comparison with the other losses already
mentioned, this one is small. Besides, there is the loss
of potential heat in the particles of unburned coal that
fall through the grate into the ashpit and are removed
with the ashes. With fine coal and careless firing the
loss in this way may become large.
Definition of the Term
However, if the percentages of these various losses
are estimated from the observations and calculated re-
sults of the test, their sum will not be 100. In other
words, there will be a discrepancy between the total
heat value of one pound of the coal used and the sum
of the heat units lost and utilized in evaporating water.
The difference, expressed either in heat units or as a
percentage of the total heat value of the fuel, is called
the unaccounted-for loss, because there are no definite
and positive ways in which the loss can be explained.
Of course, the mere fact that all these other losses
are combined under the head of the unaccounted-for loss
does not mean that there has been no attempt to discover
how they are distributed and to what they are due. As
a usual thing, however, the observations taken during a
boiler trial are of such nature that only the following
items are readily calculable:
(1) Heat absorbed by the boiler.
(2) Heat lost due to moisture in the coal.
(3) Heat lost due to the moisture formed by the
combustion of hydrogen in the coal.
(4) Heat lost in the escape of dry flue gases.
Ma> 22, 1916
ELECTRICAL WORLD
1307
(5; Heat lost due to incomplete combustion of car-
bon.
It will be observed that this list does not include the
radiation loss. As a consequence, the radiation loss and
all other losses are grouped together in a sixth item,
which includes all the 1 1 > — . « - - nol otherwise mentioned.
Moisture of the Air a Factor
One of the factors in the unaccounted-for loss is the
moisture in the air supplied to the furnace. Atmos-
pheric air contains more or less moisture in the form
of water vapor. In cold, dry weather the amount of
vapor present in a cubic foot of air is much less than
in warm, rainy weather; therefore the amount of mois-
ture carried into the furnace by the air supply varies
not only according to the amount of air admitted but
also according to the humidity of the air. This moisture,
which exists as a vapor and is under atmospheric pres-
sure, is superheated in the furnace and passes out to
the atmosphere as a superheated vapor at the tempera-
ture of the chimney gases. The loss in this way is
equal to the amount of heat required to superheat the
water vapor from the temperature of the entering air
to the flue-gas temperature. The amount of heat thus
lost may, under particularly adverse conditions, be as
great as 1 per cent of the heat value of the fuel.
Another part of the unaccounted-for loss may be due
to the evaporation and superheating of moisture de-
liberately added to the fuel. When the fuel used is
finely divided, such as bituminous slack or the lowest
grades of anthracite, it is the usual practice to wet down
the coal before it is fired. The water causes the grains
to stick together and reduces the loss due to the drop-
ping of unburned particles through the grate. But
such moisture is added after the coal is weighed, and
when it is converted into steam in the furnace and
allowed to escape with the flue gases as superheated
steam it carries with it the heat that has been required
to change it from moisture at the temperature of the
fuel to superheated steam at the temperature of the
flue gases.
Wetting May Increase Efficiency
The efficiency of the combustion may be so increased
by wetting down the coal that the loss due to the heat
in the water may be more than compensated; but the
escape of that heat should undoubtedly be considered
among the factors composing the unaccounted-for loss.
The same is true of water that is sprayed over the ashes
in the ashpit and that is evaporated and carried up
through the furnace. Again, the practice of blowing
steam under the grate to prevent clinkering adds another
element to the unaccounted-for loss, by reason of the
sensible heat carried off by that steam.
The removal of hot ashes results in a loss of heat
that may properly be included in the unaccounted-for
loss. The amount of heat thus lost is the product of the
weight of ashes, in pounds, the specific heat of ashes,
0.16, and the temperature of the ashes above that of the
boiler room, in degrees Fahrenheit.
The carbon that is deposited on the heating surfaces
of the boiler as soot, or that collects in other parts of
the gas passages, forms a part of the unaccounted-for
loss; but the amount of heat thus lost is very small. The
same may be said of the carbon particles that escape up
the chimney and give color to the smoke.
A further part of the unaccounted-for loss may be
due to the escape of unconsumed hydrogen or hydro-
carbons in the flue gases; but the determination of the
percentages of these gases in the products of combus-
tion is not easy, and it is therefore a difficult matter to
calculate the losses due to them.
To indicate the relative importance of the various
losses, the subjoined table is given. The values, of
course, are not absolute but are intended to indicate
approximately the distribution of the heat in the fuel:
Per Cent
1. Heat absorb. .] i,y boiler. . 50 to 75
ration of moisture 4 to 6
15 to 35
1. Loss due to radiation 2 or more
5. Loss due to unburned carbon in ash 1 to 10
6. Loss due to CO in flue gases o to 5
7. Loss due to removal of hot ashes 0.3 or lees
■ due to carbon In soot 0.2 or less
S. Loss due to unburnrd hydrogen and hydro-carbons... Slight
However, if all the expenditures of heat are calcu-
lated as closely as possible and their sum is taken, it is
found that there still remains perhaps 10 per cent of
the heat value of the fuel for the disappearance of which
there seems to be no satisfactory explanation. It has
led to much conjecture and discussion, but without
definite result. The one point that has been established
is that a low unaccounted-for loss is always accom-
panied by a high boiler efficiency. Consequently, if the
known and approved methods of obtaining efficient
boiler performance are conscientiously followed, the un-
accounted-for loss will be reduced to a low figure with-
out the necessity of considering its items separately.
Guards and Grill Flooring for Generators and
Rotary Converters
Shown in the accompanying illustrations are rotary
converters equipped to prevent accidents either to the
machine attendant or to persons passing the machines.
A grill flooring has been laid in the central opening in
the frame bedplate to prevent anyone falling therein.
The grill also serves as an insulated platform on which
the operator can stand while cleaning the commutator.
The wire cage boxing in the slip-rings and commutator
i
t
■WH
i — ' -. .-^■fr.VAY
&
Hi vXaaAujf If r 0
Ha^aWcWtVl^ataW
Sjr-nr !&•'•'
J^Vri*" ■
'!!|
iw-ft
'<
(
r
-
W,- ■ *M
FIG. 1 — CAGE FOR COMMU- FIG. 2 — CAGE FOR SLIP-RING
TATOR END OF ROTARY END OF ROTARY CON-
CONVERTER VERTER
end of the machine is to prevent persons touching or
coming in contact with energized conductors. This
equipment has been adopted by the Edison Electric Il-
luminating Company of Brooklyn after carefully in-
vestigating a number of other schemes. The screen
and flooring can be adapted to motors, generators and
rotary converters.
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 21
Individual Circuit-Breaker Protection Used for
Motors
Having experienced considerable annoyance owing to
the fact that overloads on individual, fuse-protected,
direct-current motors connected in parallel to a pair of
mains protected by a circuit-breaker often opened the
circuit-breaker, and thus shut down the plant, the engi-
MAIN FUSES USED WITH INDIVIDUAL CIRCUIT-BREAKERS
neers of an industrial plant near New York City recent-
ly made the following changes in its layout:
The fuses protecting the individual motors were re-
moved and circuit-breakers substituted, while the cir-
cuit-breaker protecting the mains was removed and
fuses were installed. In this way a time element in
the operation of the protective device for the mains
was introduced, while the protection provided for the
motors was rendered instantaneous. Therefore, when
a motor is now subjected to a severe overload, only the
circuit-breaker opens and the remainder of the plant
is not affected.
Special Apparatus for Grounding Arc-Lamp
Circuits
Along the tops of the switchboard panels which serve
several recently installed constant-current arc-lighting
transformers at Indianapolis, Ind., Mr. A. J. Goedjen,
electrical engineer for the Merchants' Heat & Light
Company, has caused an unusual grounding arrange-
ment to be installed. Primarily, this special apparatus
is a ground bus, to which the switchboard frames,
switch inclosures, lightning arresters and transformers
are connected. At the rear and near the top of each
board connected to this bus there is, however, still an-
other device consisting of a pair of copper plugs pro-
truding horizontally from copper bases. These plugs
were placed in this position so that the outgoing leads
I liahimng
■
PROVISION TOR <;kouni>IN<; ARC-LAMP CIRCUITS AT
SUBSTATION
from the line switch might be grounded without diffi-
culty in case a lineman was sent on the line to work or to
clear line trouble. The plugs on the back of the board
are identical in size with those in the line switch so
that the ground connection can be made by pulling the
leads out of the switch and pushing the socket to which
they are soldered over the copper ground plugs.
Protecting Flashboards by Regulating Gates
To be able to carry flashboards on top of a dam with-
out losing them every time there is a small rise in the
Connecticut River, the Turners Falls Power & Electric
Company, Turners Falls, Mass., has installed regulating
gates as shown in the accompanying drawing. There
are six 8-ft. by 7-ft. 9-in. cast-iron sluicegates in the
half of the dam next the headgate. Each gate weighs
about 3.5 tons and admits water into a sluiceway in the
dam as illustrated. It is provided with a 4-in. Tobin
bronze stem carried up through a stuffing box to hoist-
ing mechanism in a tunnel in the dam. The gates are
raised by a 20-hp, 220-volt, three-phase, sixty-cycle
Allis-Chalmers induction motor running at 850 r.p.m.
and chain-connected to a countershaft, the latter being
belted to a second counter, which in turn is geared to
a horizontal line shaft running through the tunnel. The
line shaft is 121 ft. long, and the distance from the first
gate to the end of the shaft is 36 ft. Each gate can be
opened wide in twenty minutes.
The company found in trying to carry 5 ft. or 6 ft. of
dashboard on top of the dam that the structures were
frequently carried away in sudden rises in the river,
DAM AND HEADGATES
causing a loss in head and reduction in power output,
there being comparatively little storage above the plant.
By carrying the flashboards to a height of 5 ft. or 6 ft.
the company can hold back enough water to tide over
temporary disturbances in the flow which may be caused
by the operation of plants above Turners Falls or by
demands on the local station. One of the chief advan-
tages of the gate installation is the flexibility with which
extra level may be utilized in cases where the flash-
boards are carried away. Thus, if there were no gates
of this kind and the flashboards were stripped, it would
be necessary to wait until the amount of flow was so
small that the regular draft for power would pull it
down to the crest of the dam, when the boards could be
replaced. Now, however, as soon as the flow is reduced
somewhat, the gates can be opened, the pond lowered to
the crest of the dam, the flashboards put on, the gates
closed, Mild the pond allowed to fill.
Change in Draft Control Effects Economy
The automatic damper control apparatus in the plant
of the Middletown (Ohio) Gas & Electric Company has
been altered so that instead of acting upon dampers
at the breeching entrances it actuates dampers in the
ash doors. Thus, instead of stopping merely the rush
of gases up the flue, the dampers as they are now
operated stop the inrush of air to the fires. Mr. L. C.
Anderson, treasurer and manager of the Middletown
company, reports that the change has effected a saving
in coal and improved operation of the hand-fired boilers.
May 22, L916
ELECTRICAL WORLD
1309
COMMERCIAL SECTION
The Miners of To-morrow
THE children <>t to-daj will be the buyers of to-
morrow. The opinions they form while young
will cling to them for years. What impressed them
and appealed to them while in the educative period will
probably habitually appeal to them as men and women,
and it is important that we give more serious attention
to the opportunities for reaching the rising generation
through the schools. In many high-school domestic-
science classes electrical appliances are used for cooking.
It were well, it* it be possible, to carry the thought a
little further and make the electric suction sweeper, the
electric washing machine and electric kitchen motor out-
fits the medium for further instruction in the practical
mechanics and efficiencies which must continue to play
so large a part in the business of housekeeping. The
trend of the times is in this direction, and the industry
should take advantage of it.
Looking for the Obstacle
IT is said to be a rule among the salesmen of a certain
large manufacturing company which sells its product
to small retail merchants that in every case where a
prospective customer refuses to give his order the sales-
man shall delve deep until he finds the reason. Experi-
ence has shown that in the majority of cases the obstacle
will prove to be not unsurmountable if the salesman and
the merchant can put their heads together in a search
for the solution of the problem. In almost every case
the merchant wants to buy, and his reluctance can us-
ually be traced either to some past experience that has
bred prejudice or to financial complications of some kind
which the salesman can often promptly aid in relieving.
The electrical contractor and the central-station sales-
man in their dealings with the householder can apply
this policy to very good effect, for anything that makes
for frank discussion and thorough confidence will
strengthen the chances for the sale.
Co-operative Buying
WITHIN the last few months presidents of several
state electrical associations in their annual ad-
dresses have suggested co-operative buying for central-
station companies as a possible function of the associa-
tions. No case comes to mind, in this country at least,
where a scheme for carrying out such work has been
actually outlined. In all probability such a plan could
be worked out so that its operation in some respects
might be satisfactory. But from other standpoints it
seems that such an arrangement could bring hardly any-
thing but trouble to the association which fostered it.
It is the function of state electrical associations to bond
together men in the same business by ties of friendship
which are most readily formed in the "vacation atmos-
phere" which pervades convention assemblages. It is
the function of these associations to provide for and to
bring out discussions so that men may acquire ideas,
learn what others are doing, and hear how others are
solving their problems. But it is difficult to conceive of
a state electrical association acting successfully as the
purchasing department for its member companies.
Restoring Dead Services
IN connection with the attention which is now being
given by many electric-lighting companies to the res-
toration of dead services, it is interesting to note to what
a surprising extent it is possible to win back to active
production this expensive, idle investment. One can
hardly realize how rapidly conditions change and how
often customers who for one reason or another were
forced to discontinue service can be resold within a
comparatively short time. Yet, if left to return to
activity through the initiative of the customer himself,
the majority of these dead services will stand non-
productive for an indefinite period. The alluring pros-
pect of new business has too often diverted the attention
of the salesman away from the business that has been
lost. And this in spite of the fact that the re-connection
of dead services offers a far more profitable opportunity
than an equal or even greater load where every new
connection necessitates a further investment. The ex-
perience of these recent campaigns for the restoration
of dead services has proved that it is far easier to win
such business back than has generally been assumed.
Appliance Repairs
THE electrical supply dealer or central station
maintaining a liberal policy with respect to mak-
ing minor repairs on appliances quickly and, as far as
possible, at practically no cost to the consumer, builds
up popular good will at a surprising pace. No doubt
this policy is often imposed upon, but in most cases it
is worth all that it costs to keep the public contented
and the apparatus in steady service. No one can esti-
mate the amount of lost revenue from appliances stored
away on pantry or closet shelves for lack of some
trifling replacement or adjustment which would at once
turn them into income producers. The supply man who
is long-sighted knows that even if he spends an hour
or two some busy forenoon repairing an electric flatiron
which has been abused, let us say, in institutional serv-
ice, he is pretty likely to gain in the end.
1310
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 21
The Influence of the Individual
A natural habit of most men is to free their minds
from business and to try to get away from thoughts
of work in hours of recreation. It is an entirely proper
attitude, and every wise employer appreciates that all
work and no play makes for poor efficiency; but at the
same time there is a personal influence which every
central-station employee can contribute, without the
slightest tax upon his mind or his time, and which will
be of very far-reaching benefit for his company. The
sales manager of a Middle Western central station re-
cently made the statement that scarcely a day goes by
without several persons coming to the office of that com-
pany to look at household appliances, as a direct result
of the personal influence of the general manager of that
company. This general manager makes it his custom
to take advantage of every opportunity to interest his
friends and acquaintances in the many modern domestic
applications of electricity. Consider what the influence
would be if every one of the hundreds of employees of
that company were practising this policy in the same
degree. It is all a habit, the outgrowth of a mental
attitude that assumes responsibility at every point and
every hour, so that it becomes the most natural thing in
the world, as each convenient occasion presents itself,
to grasp the opportunity to make a new friend for the
company, to overcome a bit of thoughtless prejudice,
or to increase the popularity of the service. Probably
most central-station employees believe that they are do-
ing this to-day, but there is a difference between mere
loyalty that rises to defend the company from attack
and an eager, watchful ambition to strengthen the com-
pany commercially by the constant pressure of one's
personal influence. It is a habit, and when the habit
is once formed it operates quite automatically and to
great benefit and satisfaction.
The Jobber and the Price
One of the most urgent and important issues before
the industry to-day is the never settled question of
the jobber and his policy. Should the manufacturer sell
in competition with him and should the jobber handle
cheap substitutes for standard material made by manu-
facturers who refrain from entering his market? It
is hard indeed to lay down any ruling on the ethics of
the case that does not interfere unjustly with personal
liberties, but there is one basis of consideration that
sheds much purifying light and has been too little
thought of. It is the all-controlling factor of quality.
the fact that in every man's mind the weighing of the
cost comes second to the test for quality. No matter
what he buys, each time he, asks himself the question.
"Is it fully worth the price?" In other words, he is
more eagerly intent on securing the very best quality
for the price than on paring down the cost of the quality
which he is buying. There is a difference here in mental
attitude that is important as a market influence.
Price must ever govern quality just as quality governs
price, and the cheaper line that is sold direct to the
consumer, in competition with the standard goods the
jobber offers, is not worth more than it costs. This
the public understands in theory but forgets too often
in the dazzling presence of what seems to be a bargain.
It is here that the jobbers and the manufacturers who
do not sell directly to the ultimate consumer should
concentrate the pressure of their educational work. The
world is learning fast to make this test for quality, and
the answer to many of our market problems comes
with it.
The jobber offers a service that cannot be duplicated
by the manufacturers acting singly. Moreover, it costs
the manufacturer quite as much to market goods at
retail as it does the jobber, quality for quality. The
jobber's opportunity, therefore, lies in the line of educa-
tion, for when the buyer habitually appreciates that
quality determines price, no matter who the seller, the
situation will purge itself.
Eliminating Unwired Houses
In Schenectady, which contains about 75,000 inhab-
itants, only 417 of 18,000 houses are unwired. Credit
for introducing electric service in all of these houses,
however, is not claimed by the officers of the local cen-
tral-station company, who declare that the condition is
the result of an "electrical atmosphere," so to speak,
arising from the city's being a great electrical center.
Being brought in contact every day with persons con-
nected with the electrical organizations situated in that
city, or else reading of electrical subjects in the news-
papers, the people have instinctively grown to desire
electric service and have demanded it. As a result real-
estate owners have been compelled to supply the facili-
ties for making use of central-station service.
Similar conditions can be created by educational cam-
paigns. Billboard and electric-sign publicity, newspaper
articles, educational motion pictures shown in the com-
panies' buildings, advertising on anything that reaches
a large number of people and is preserved by them,
demonstrations of appliances in homes, window displays,
etc., all help to create a demand for electric service. If
this demand is met by conservative rates, good service
and courteous treatment of the public, any local com-
pany should be able to connect as great a proportion of
the houses in its territory as has the Schenectady
company.
Already the revenue per capita for residence service
alone in Schenectady is $6.63 per year, which is prob-
ably as high as for any other city in the country. Un-
der these conditions, after household appliance sales and
lighting campaigns have ceased to show appropriate
returns, probably electricity can be sold at an attractive
rate for heating water and cooking. By combining the
latter an ideal load can be secured when served on the
flat-rate basis. A relatively low rate will have to
be offered, but it need not necessarily be below the unit
cost of supplying similar service with coal, because the
consumers can easily he shown that electric energy is
more convenient and sanitary than coal fuel.
Mn 22, 1816
ELECTRICAL WORLD
13U
A Year of Sales at Providence, R. I.
Summary of the Commercial Achievements of the Narragansett Electric
Lighting Company, with Details of the Methods Employed
THE sales department of the Narragansett Elec-
tric Lighting Company, Providence, R. I., has
compiled data covering its operations in 1914,
the most successful year in the company's history. The
total new business secured during the year gives the
company an estimated increase in annual revenue of
$225,037. The net cost of securing this business, in-
cluding all expenses of the department, was $33,895, or
15 cents per dollar of additional revenue per year. New
business obtained in the lighting division totaled $109,-
942, at a cost of 10.8 cents per dollar; in the motor-
service division, $101,649, at 11.8 cents per dollar, and
in the appliance division, $13,446, at a cost of 71 cents
per dollar. Rent, postage, salaries, telephone, telegraph
and all costs were included in these figures.
The LichtinK Division
The net connections in the lighting division for the
year totaled 4097 kw, a gain of 779 kw, or 23 per cent,
over 1913. In the last four years the net gain has
increased 193 per cent, or 2701 kw. The new contract
business secured in this department covered 3651 con-
tracts, aggregating 3493.2 kw, with an average income
per contract secured of $28.63. Nine lighting installa-
tions varied from 12 kw to 30 kw in connected load.
among these being the State Pier No. 1, 28 kw; Y. M.
C. A., 30 kw; Emery Brothers' Theater, 25 kw, and the
Armory of Mounted Commands, 20 kw.
In October, 1913, the company placed a new lighting
rate in effect. This schedule, known as the "C" rate,
employs a graduated scale and begins with a service
charge of $120 per kw of maximum demand per year,
plus an energy charge of 1 cent per kw-hr. for demands
between 0.25 kw and 10 kw. The service charge grad-
ually decreases to a minimum of $24 per kw per year
for a demand of 200 kw and over, with an energy charge
of 8 mills per kw-hr. The result of putting this rate
into effect, on a yearly contract permitting the use of
energy for all purposes, has been a remarkable increase
in the use of electricity by establishments of the long-
hour type, as shown in the accompanying table. This
rate has proved a most successful means of attacking
the gas "arc" in Providence and has increased the esti-
mated annual income of the company by $15,710 since
its adoption. During the year 209 installations where
gas was used before have become exclusive users of
electricity.
In 1914 the company increased its billboard installa-
tions to a total of fifty-six, and it is stated that Provi-
dence has more illuminated billboards in proportion to
its population than any other city in the country. (Pop-
ulation, 1910 census, 224,326.) Auxiliary lighting con-
FIG. 1 — AN INTERIOR VIEW THAT SHOWS HOW THE GOODS ARE DISPLAYED IN THE PROVIDENCE ELECTRIC SHOP
1312
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 21
tracts were executed during the year with six manu-
facturing plants, the connected loads ranging from 0.9
kw to 19 kw.
Subsidence of Carbon Lamps
Last year was the first since the advent of the tung-
sten lamp in 1908 when the renewals of carbon lamps
have shown a decrease over those of the previous year.
The total number of carbon and miniature lamps re-
newed was 153,925, compared with 186,038 in 1913, and
EFFECT OF ADOPTION OF CONTRACT LIGHTING RATE
Total
Number
in City
Before Adoption
After Adoption
Kind of
Exclusive
Electricity
Percentage
of Users to
Total
Number
Exclusive
Electricitj
of i Bera to
Total
Number
Drugstores
151
16
10 5
74
49.0
330
11
3 3
164
46 7
Bowling Uli ya
18
2
11.0
3
16.7
Restaurants
165
16
9.7
44
26.7
Garages
32
24
75.0
27
84.4
it is believed that this marks the beginning of a decline
in the company's carbon-lamp business. The company
is selling tungsten lamps at retail list prices and is re-
newing carbon lamps free. The total number of tung-
sten lamps sold in 1914 was 136,315, compared with
102,156 in 1913. During the "Edison Day" campaign in
October 22,093 lamps were sold in one week. Prices
were reduced 25 per cent for the period on 25-watt to
100-watt lamps, and all but the latter size were sold in
cartons of five lamps each. Service was extended dur-
ing the year into six suburban communities.
Industrial Motor Service
The net motor connections for the year were 4230 hp,
or 76 per cent more than for the previous year and 41
per cent more than for the best previous year the com-
pany ever had. Included in the new business secured
are the following: City of Providence's Pettaconsett
pumping station, 1300 hp; Colored Worsted Mills, 360
hp; Davol Rubber Company, 800 hp; National Ring
Traveler Company, 225 hp; Crown Hotel Company, 100
hp; New England Butt Company, 175 hp; Universal
Winding Company, 120 hp; Household Cabinet Works,
128 hp; Interstate Stone Company, 173 hp; Manufac-
turers' Outlet Company, 100 hp additional, and others.
Fourteen concerns discontinued isolated-plant service.
The increasing motor load has improved the station load-
factor materially, as last fall the station peak was only
twice the day load, compared with nearly three times in
previous years. Two carloads of motors were sold to
customers by the company during the year, and the
policy has been continued of selling motors on a lease
and installing them free for trial service.
As a result of wide popularity of electric power, it is
now frequently possible to obtain new power business
without any formal report other than a one-page or
two-page letter. The motor-service division has also
been able to eliminate to a large extent the drawing of
plans and specifications for equipment, although the
form of report heretofore extensively used continues
to be a valuable method of securing new business where
the saving by central-station service is not large or
where conditions are complex. Six electric refrigerat-
ing plants of from 5-hp to 20-hp rating were installed
last year, the principal drawback to the installation of
this class of service being the high flrsl COSl of the
refrigerating machinery. The outlook for the year 1915
is very satisfactory. The growth of the connected motor
load from about 900 hp in 1894 to 26,600 hp in 1915 is
shown in the accompanying diagram.
Electric-Vehicle Development
During the year five new electric pleasure cars and
fourteen commercial vehicles were purchased in Provi-
dence. The company's income from private charging
plant energy supply was $843.49, the energy delivered
being 16,253 kw-hr. Thirteen such installations are in
service, and on the system as a whole there are now
thirty-five passenger electric vehicles in operation. Last
fall a local garage was induced by the company to ex-
hibit an electric brougham at the Providence automobile
show and to sign an agency agreement, and three elec-
tric vehicles have been sold as a result.
The largest purchase of electric commercial cars dur-
ing the year was by the Outlet company, covering five
1000-lb. delivery wagons, two 1500-lb. furniture wagons,
and a 2-ton freight truck. This fleet cost about $25,000,
of which nearly $10,000 is invested in batteries. These
are of the Edison type and are 50 per cent larger than
IT
X 7
I
t
_4
I
'
J~
—
"
1895 1900 1905 I9IO 1915
FIG. 2 — GROWTH IN MOTOR LOAD AT PROVIDENCE
are generally used on such vehicles. They are to oper-
ate at from 12 to 14 miles per hour, according to load,
and are of 65 miles estimated operating radius. These
machines were purchased from the Commercial Vehicle
Company, Philadelphia. The estimated annual consump-
tion of energy of this fleet is 125,000 kw-hr.
There are now thirty-six electric commercial vehicles
in the company's territory, besides seven owned by the
central station. The total sales of battery-charging
energy for pleasure and commercial vehicle service last
year were $1,928.95, the energy requirements being
60,385 kw-hr., or an average of 3.19 cents per kw-hr. for
all public and private garage service. The Narragan-
sett company's expenditures have been limited to $150
for an exhibition of the Outlet company's delivery sys-
tem at the Armory Show, together with a small amount
of advertising.
Electric \ pplinncos
The company's Electric Shop sold 3888 appliances in
1914. with a total connected load of L52.26 kw. The
May 22, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
1313
price of these articles totaled $21,785, and they were
handled at a gross profit of $6,958. The estimated ad-
dition to income from these appliances in energy billed
is $11,230. The year was the best in the history of the
appliance division in the Electric Shop.
In the first six months of 1914 the company made
L360 deliveries of appliances by one employee who used
PIG. S — IN THE VACUUM-CLEANER CAMPAIGN THE WINDOW
PROVED ITSELF A VALUABLE SELLING INFLUENCE
a horse and wagon and the local trolley system. This
arrangement was unsatisfactory, and the cost per pack-
age was from 35 to 50 cents. In addition, it was neces-
sary for this employee to call at customers' homes for
appliances to be repaired. By patronizing a local ex-
press company this delivery cost was reduced to 10 cents
per package within the city limits, except for larger ap-
pliances, such as portable lamps, for which 20 cents
was charged. Since engaging the package-delivery
company the services of the delivery man have been
eliminated, and 1468 deliveries were handled at an aver-
age cost of 13 cents compared with 26.6 cents previously.
The customers also receive better service. Out-of-town
deliveries are sent by parcel post or express. The serv-
ice has been improved by sending repaired appliances
directly from the maintenance station to the customer
without routing through the Electric Shop.
Selling Campaigns
The story of the year's activity in the Electric Shop is
an interesting one, embracing a large number of active
selling campaigns. Every effort has been made to con-
duct this merchandising enterprise in accordance with
the best practice of retail store management. The ar-
rangement of the store itself and the display of the
goods has been studied to strengthen the appeal. Spe-
cial compartments have been constructed along the wall
in which individual portable lamps are exhibited. Orien-
tal prayer rugs are used for covering the display tables.
Frequent changes are made in the arrangement of the
store to keep it continuously interesting to all the public.
In short, all the devices of the modern merchant have
been devoted to featuring electric household appliances
in keen competition with all the other diverting in-
fluences of the local market.
In commenting, in his animal report, on the specific
campaigns of the year, Mr. E. R. Davenport, sales man-
ager of the company, says :
"During the put year we have conducted several
campaigns, most of which have proved successful. On
Feb. 2 we conducted a campaign on the pot-style perco-
lators, during which we allowed $1 toward the purchase
price of an electric percolator to any customer who de-
livered to the Electric Shop any old peocolator other
than one electrically operated. Owing to the fact that
we advanced appliance prices to list shortly after the
first of the year, the results from this campaign were not
BO large as we anticipated, but nevertheless we disposed
of ten percolators.
Demonstrating Household Devices
"From Feb. 16 to Feb. 28 we exhibited a line of ap-
pliances in the food fair at Infantry Hall, but were not
very successful in selling many devices. Each day
during the show we demonstrated different appliances
and, in addition to heating devices, gave a demonstration
during the last week of the show of a vacuum cleaner,
this demonstration being handled by a demonstrator fur-
nished by the manufacturer of the machine. No sales
were made during the demonstration, but we received
the names of the many 'prospects' to whom we later sold
machines. As far as this particular demonstration was
concerned, I believe it was successful in that a very large
proportion of the 'prospects' bought cleaners.
"On March 9 a manufacturer of drilling tools mailed
200 invitations to visit the Electric Shop and to witness
a window demonstration on electric drills. A man
was provided to operate the different sizes of drills in
the window, and another man was detailed in the store
to supply any information which was desired by inter-
ested customers. Our company was not obliged to as-
sume any of the expense of this campaign, and nine
FIG. 4 — THIS DISPLAY EXEMPLIFIES THE HIGH STANDARD
OF WINDOW TRIMMING MAINTAINED
drills were sold during the week. Since that time we
have sold several more.
"During the week of May 11 a campaign was made
on a new-type stove which resulted in the sale of 1130
stoves. Although the sale was scheduled to run a week,
we commenced our campaign on the first of May and
took orders for delivery during a week when special
1314
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 21
prices obtained. Prizes to the amount of $80 were
awarded to the salespeople, both inside and out, for the
largest individual sales of this stove. At one of our
monthly meetings estimates were taken of the number
of stoves which the individuals believed they could sell.
The estimated total was 209, against the actual sales of
1130. The total sales of the Electric Shop alone were
757. In 1913 a sale on the toaster stove was conducted,
but resulted in the sale of only 235. In addition to sell-
ing 1130 stoves, we realized a profit on other stoves sold
to jobbers at our regular discount. This sale, therefore,
showed a profit of $776.88, deducting the $80 offered in
prizes to the salespeople. As nearly as we are able to
ascertain from other sources, our results for the sale —
1130 stoves — exceeded those of any other central station
in the East.
"During the year it was decided to sell vacuum clean-
ers in the Electric Shop for the first time since its open-
ing. The machines were sold on easy terms. On April
14 we started a newspaper campaign on cleaners, to-
gether with a window demonstration, and the results
were sixty-three sales.
"A fan campaign was started on June 1. The total
number of fans sold during this campaign was ninety.
Owing to the unseasonable weather, the fan campaign
was not particularly successful. Prizes amounting to
$100 were awarded to the salespeople selling the largest
number of fans, each individual receiving a certain
number of points and each sale depending upon the
possibilities of selling fans in his territory.
Selling Flatirons to Saturation
"On June 22 a campaign was started on flatirons, in
charge of a manufacturer's representative. This was
continued for about two weeks, at which time the repre-
sentative informed us that 75 per cent of our customers
already had flatirons, and hence it was impossible for
him or his men to secure any orders. The results of
this campaign were twenty-nine flatirons. Each sales-
man was allowed 50 cents on each flatiron sold, payable
the week after the order was taken, delivered and ac-
cepted by the customer. In this way we guarded against
other than bona-fide orders and a very small percentage
of the orders delivered were returned.
"On July 11a second flatiron campaign was started in
which we used men of our own selection. This resulted
in 230 flatirons being sold. In addition fourteen vacuum
cleaners, two grills, two toasters and four toaster stoves
were disposed of. Our system of paying the salesmen
was to allow them a drawing account of 50 cents each
day for one week. If their commission did not equal
their drawing account, their services were discontinued.
During the entire campaign we did not find it necessary
to dispense with the services of any of the salesmen.
and in the course of this campaign we canvassed our
entire territory. Throughout the year the sale of elec-
tric flatirons was authorized on the same terms as those
on which the local gas company was selling flatirons,
nothing down and $1 per month.
"A Christmas campaign, consisting of newspaper ad-
vertising, circular letters to all of our customers, bill-
back advertisements, special price reductions, special
window displays, bill posters, and the giving of tungsten
lamps with all portable lamps sold, was entered upon
about Dec. 10. The results are shown in the Electric
Shop report.
"The gross sales for this month amounted to $6,883.95,
representing the sale of 908 appliances, and as compared
with those of L918 for the same period, show an increase
of $610.87.
\\ Indon Displays
"The show windows in the Electric Shop have attract-
ed more than the usual amount of attention. During
Christmas week these windows were dressed anew every
three days, and the company is planning to change all
windows every three days throughout the coming year.
The accompanying schedule indicates the care which was
exercised to diversify the displays, and something of the
results clearly traceable to window influence.
Electric-Shop Demonstrations
"On Jan. 31 a popcorn party was held in the Electric
Shop, to which the public was invited. Many children
participated in the distribution of popcorn made on the
grill in the window of the store, and the party proved
quite a success. We secured the services of two or three
young men to pop the corn and distribute it to the chil-
dren in the store, and besides a cornucopia of popcorn,
each child was handed a little booklet describing the
grill. The expense for popcorn, etc., for this party
amounted to but $2.50.
"In the week of April 30 demonstrations of vacuum
cleaners occupied the windows, and on May 25 a similar
RESULTS OF WINDOW DISPLAYS
Date
Article
Sales
Jan.
7-13
14-16
Portables
Luminous radiators
14
H
Feb.
3- 9
10-16
Percolators
Tungsten lamps
5
956*
March
1- 9
12-17
New type aluminum
Tungsten lamps
lercolatt
■
Sflil
April
14-20
Vacuum cleaners
6
May
4-11
11-10
25
Stoves
Steve,
7112
June
1
8-15
Water heaters
Flatirons
6
35
July
15-20
Fans
11
Sept.
10-20
26
Luminous radiators
9
<>ot.
5
14-21
26
Luminous radiators
Tungsten lamps
11
22.093t
Nov.
10-16
Portable lamps
Portable lamps
24
22
Dec
8- 7 J
10-141
14-17:
17-21§
21-24 §
Combination sets of appliances
Table lamp,, desk lamps, piano lamps
Portable table lamps and boudoir lamps
Appliances. Featuring the new aluminum
ilator and 13.50 toaster
('hating dishes and miniature lighting
outfits
♦Increase over previous week 44.4 per cent. fEdiaon week tDuring this
display the lamps were changed each day. (During this display the entire
stock of chafing dishes vnu offered at b -'ti per cent reduction.
demonstration was made on another cleaner, which re-
sulted in seven sales. It is difficult, of course, to check
the actual results of a demonstration of this kind, as
orders are received for the appliances many weeks after
the demonstrations have been closed. The prospective
purchaser may be attracted by the window display but
not be prepared to buy at that time. He may purchase
at a later date. This has been found to be the case many
times where customers have called on the telephone or
visited the store, asking for an article which was on
display in our windows some weeks before. Other
demonstrations followed, however, from time to time,
such as the making of waffles during an electric-stove
exhibit. The waffles were distributed to persons enter-
ing the store, and were the means of creating consider-
able interest in the campaign. A motion-picture show-
was also held in the Electric Shop during the evenings
of April 30, May 1 and 2. and attracted many hundreds
of people." In this manner the public eye has had con-
tantly held before it the subject of electricity in the
home, and the Electric Shop has established for itself
May 22, l»16
a reputation for enterprise and interest that will surely
pay increasing dividends.
Th»- Lecture Buies.ii
In connection with this direct selling activity a wide-
spread indirect influence has bet through a
regularly organized lecture bureau composed of a num-
ber of the company's commercial and engineering stair
who have prepared thi or public lecture work.
The bureau had eighteen bookings during the year just
closed, and the lecturer addressed an audience averaging
seventy-five people on each occasion. These lectures
are considered to be a most important part of the com-
pany's publicity work and have unquestionably been of
E LEC T KI CA L \V 0 RLD
1315
FIG. 5 — A WORKING MODEL OF A TYPICAL FACTORY
much benefit. It has been found that such lectures
average no more than $10 in cost.
The year has been a busy and a profitable one for the
Providence central station. In all, 141,792 articles of
merchandise were sold by the Electric Shop, the branch
offices in Bristol, Arctic, Warren and East Greenwich,
and the salesmen throughout the territories. The esti-
mated annual income on this new business figures $225,-
037.58, with a net expense of only 15 cents per dollar
of estimated annual revenue.
Art-Glass Domes for Window Lighting
A unique and highly ornamental installation of win-
dow lighting has recently been installed in one of
Chicago's modern jewelry shops, unique in that art-
glass domes have been utilized for the illumination of
the window display. A single 300-watt round-globe,
frosted-tip, gas-filled tungsten lamp was installed in
each window under an art-glass dome, suspended about
3 ft. above the "plane of trim." the exact height rang-
ing with the width of the window. This commercial
use of art-glass fixtures of a type familiar only in
dining-room lighting creates a very distinctive and
pleasing effect.
Electridt] Saves lo Cento per 1000 Bricks
Before the Standard Brick Company of .Milwaukee,
Wis., discarded its steam-engine drive for electric motors
taking energy from the lines of the Milwaukee Electric
Railway & Light Company the power cost incurred in
making its bricks was .'58.7 cents per 1000. Since the
adoption of central-station service, however, the power
cost per 1000 bricks has been reduced to 28.6 cents. Not
only has the cost been reduced, but the output has been
enormously increased, for with the old prime movers the
annual output was only 19,600,000 bricks and now the
plant is turning out 120,000 bricks a day.
In the old installation the disintegrator, plug mill,
brick machine, dry pan, conveyors and hoists were all
driven by a 250-hp non-condensing Corliss engine, and
four small slide-valve steam engines were driving blow-
ers ranging in size from 5 ft. to 10 ft. Steam was
supplied by three 100-hp return-tubular boilers. Tests
conducted by the new-business department of the cen-
BRICK FACTORY IN WHICH ELECTRICITY EFFECTED SAVING
AND INCREASED OUTPUT
tral-station company under the direction of Mr. R. B.
Snyder showed that while the gross indicated load on
the large Corliss engine was 161.8 hp, the power con-
sumed in shafting and engine friction was 55.6 hp.
When these steam engines were removed one 200-hp
variable-speed motor was installed to replace the Corliss
engine and three 10-hp slip-ring motors replaced the
engines driving the blowers. Tests made since the elec-
trical drive has been placed jn operation show that it
requires 15.5 kw-hr. to make 1000 bricks. Coke fires
are used to heat the air blasts used for drying the
brick, as the fires have been found to heat the air more
economicallv than steam coils.
"Made in Youngstown" Window Displays Prove
Popular
Everything from leather halfsoles to boxes of choco-
late candy has in its turn been exhibited in the show
windows of the Youngstown (Ohio) Consolidated Gas
& Electric Company during the last year. The central-
station company gave each of its motor-service cus-
tomers, regardless of his connected load, the privilege
of using the company's large display windows for one
week. The displays have attracted much attention,
and Mr. C. E. Yacoll, of the company's commercial
department, says that the exhibits have awakened
Youngstown's people to a realization of the wide vari-
ety of products made in Youngstown with central-sta-
tion power. Local motor-service users have shown
themselves much pleased at the company's co-operation
with its customers. Some of the manufacturers, after
using the window, were able to trace orders to the ad-
vertising received from the central-station displays.
1316
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 21
Operating Cost of Commercial Electric Vehicles
Results of the Investigation Undertaken by the "Electrical World" to Produce
Authenticated Data Based on Testimony of Users
By William P. Kennedy*
IN the issues of the Electrical World dated Oct.
3, 10 and 17, 1914, announcement was made of an
undertaking to determine the cost at which electric
vehicles are being operated in the large installations
throughout the country, upon the testimony of the
owners of these equipments. This work has so far pro-
gressed that there has been accumulated sufficiently
conclusive evidence upon which to base the cost of
electric-vehicle service.
As previously stated, a selection was made of 150 of
the most representative installations, including nearly
all the lines of mercantile and industrial activity in
which electric-vehicle transportation equipment is em-
ployed. The collective value of these equipments aggre-
gates over $10,000,000, and the annual operating ex-
pense exceeds $7,800,000. They include 3090 machines
of all sizes, ranging from 700 lb. to 5 tons haulage
capacity, and constitute the most reliable basis upon
which the information sought could possibly be de-
veloped.
On account of the diversity of interests concerned,
but particularly by reason of the necessity of waiting
the convenience of those members of each organization
who alone were in a position to supply the required
information concerning the cost of operation, much
time has been consumed in completing the compilation.
In many instances it was difficult to evoke any inter-
est at all, notwithstanding the fact that the work of
preparing the documents which constituted an abstract
statement of the investment and operating expense of
their equipments was done in advance of any request
for the co-operation of the vehicle owners in comparing
these with their records for verification.
A few of the owners of vehicles frankly acknowledged
that they kept no records and therefore could supply no
information. Another small number advised that the
policy of their organizations prohibited them from giv-
ing out any data whatever concerning their operations.
The majority of the correspondents, however, freely
entered into the consideration of their cases, taking up
the peculiarity of their operating conditions and the
reasons, if any, why their records varied from the
figures we submitted to them. Many supplied copies of
their records as they existed upon their own books.
Actual verifications in writing over the signature of
the owner or operator cover 50 per cent of the cases
investigated. Of the remainder, the large majority
have either promised to send written verification or
have acknowledged their concurrence with the figures
submitted, but for various reasons are not at liberty
to verify the figures in writing, while personally giving
expressions of agreement.
It seems quite evident, as the cost of operation in all
the installations covered is so nearly uniform, that tin-
verifications received up to date practically confirm the
whole collection of data. Additional verifications will
simply Increase the volume of testimony without mate-
rially altering the quality.
In the table herewith are outlined the essential
futures of each installation covered. The boldface
those owners from whom we have received
communications in writing testifying that the state-
"iiiiiriK trmnaportation ™km
ments submitted by us are practically in agreement with
their records and experience. The names in small capi-
tals indicate the cases in which the verification has
been either promised or assented to; from many of
these we cannot hope to secure testimony in writing on
account of the policy of the companies or some such
reason. Those having a double asterisk before their
names possess no records that can be made available for
the desired purposes. For the names in ordinary type
the figures are as yet indefinite. At the end of the list
are shown some records of companies that have stated
ELECTRICAL WORLD sc...n,« a
Cost Analysis — Electric Vehicle Installation
INVESTMENT
1- 20004 M.ichin
4- 40009 "
6- 70001 "
15*10000$
2600
MOO
4000
4500
Office Equipment
2800.00
13600.00
20000.00
67600.00
2597.60
2500.00
250.00
TOTAL INVESTMENT
ANNUAL OPERATING EXPENSES
lerest on Investment
preciation :
Machine Equipment
Spare Parts Equipment
Garage Equipment
Office Equipment
Buildings
S 103900. a 10
f 25S7. <3 10
< 2600. « 5
f 250. 1a 5
10390.00
269.76
125.00
12.50
! Upkeep (Labor and Material) —
erv Upkeep (Labor and Material)
hamcal Upkeep <Lat>or and Material)
TOTAL FIXED CHARGES
.11761.00
9390.00
5195.00
GARAGING
Electric Pmtf 9 - c
Supplies. Lubticanlv Washing Materials,
Labor, lor cleaning and care
Rent, Light, Heat, Water and Telephone
Building Upkeep
TOTAL MAINTE
} 9170.00
1156.00
1540.00
2737.50
OrTRATlON
TOTAL GARAGING
er. A $1* (Average) I 32 week. »»S*00
BtJptn a > 52 <2S400.00
Demurrage Ferrv Charges, Claims, Damage. Accidents
Extra Horse and Wagon Hire, Expressage, etc,
1'tallorm ' «t™-
Miscellaneous Expense
TOTAL OPERATION COST
23400.00
< 2600.00
FIG. 1 — FAC-SIMILE OF SCHEDULE A, SENT TO VEHICLE
USERS FOR CONFIRMATION
that it might be detrimental to their business interests
to publish their costs as they are engaged mainly in
the transportation field.
Methods Employed
Inasmuch as the ultimate purpose of the Electrical
World was to compile cost data upon a uniform basis
from all the installations covered, it was necessary to
May 22, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
1317
devise blanks that would provide a comprehensive means
of reducing to standard terms all the various forms of
record keeping employed in the accounting departments
of the many companies involved. With this object in
view, it was also necessary to eliminate as far as pos-
sible unessential variations which might conflict with
the application or utility, as comparative data, of the
figures obtained. Hence the investment repre-
sented by each machine was taken at the market value
instead of the price actually paid for it, which might
be influenced by discount for quantity purchased at the
time it was ordered. Likewise, the quantity discount
consideration was omitted in the cost of tire and bat-
tery upkeep material, as this is incidental only to quan-
tity installations and not of immediate interest to the
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Statement of Proportionate Machine Operating Expense
CAFAOTY OF MACHINE tooo.
4000.
70004
10000«
PWMmHm
MM • * «
M.OO
la
M
110.00
133
00
i«wt~> a19 •
MO. 00
HC
N
uo.oo
430
00
..w-„
lit .00
at
.-.-
140.00
143
00
U_
t.00
i
00
7.00
t
00
Tm UpkMv
411.00
.*j*
X
340.00
373
00
■•lUry tpknp
100.00
281
00
341.00
413
00
ItahMM UfAvrp
wo.oo
170
00
100.00
ue
00
KtactiK Fvwtr
lto.oo
J»
a£
340.00
«£.
»
T«UI t« UtcbH
T«*l [** CrMp
mi. oo
l
1251. DO
iSri
00
o5
1932.00
»
2331
36230
_13
62737.00
DrtrrcculMMj on A<M>1
Kq.lt-»l 4 *
16.89
63.64
79.46
£-18.36
397.25
Cirtcmi ltn pov*r
217.80
669.20
1066.60
3269.60
5432.50
i
100.00
400.00
_6oo.oq
1600.00
2600.00
Annua) Fi|*'w ,-r
GfMp, l**« OiTTitot
B^ptaM pn MMbnw
pw Amm
1640.61
1640.61
7934.44
1983.41
11338.06
2*71.61
40374.15
2491.61
61227.17
pwD.,
5.0?
6.44
7.34
8.74
Operator* per Day
(Hbcr Op".'
1.60
T.67
2.60
6.94
3.00
10. 38
3.00
11.74
23400.00
Tula. r*« Math.n*
84627.17
FIG. 2 — FAOSIMILE OF SCHEDULE B, SHOWING ANALYSIS
OF COSTS
average prospective user for whom this whole informa-
tion is primarily intended.
For similar obvious reasons the cost of electrical
energy for battery charging was taken at a uniform
rate of 4 cents per kw-hr., and the operator's wages
at $2, $2.50 and $3 per day, for small, medium and
heavy machines respectively, only one operator being
charged in each case. The values selected being the
prevailing prices and practices, it will be apparent that
the discounts mentioned above and the possibly lower
cost of energy in large installations will make it prac-
ticable to operate at lower figures than those determined
as the daily cost. In other words, the figures which
have been determined by this project as the prevailing
daily cost for a machine of each size are those at or
below which electric vehicles may be operated. They
are the "bogey," so to speak, which the ordinary per-
former can accomplish. Those skilled in the art of the
care and application of machines may do better. Hence
a number of correspondents have stated that their
actual expense was from 5 to 10 per cent below the
values stated. Some few have estimated their costs
lower by 15 per cent or more, but in each of the latter
cases some good reason was given for the lower cost,
such as no charge having been made for energy, rent,
or some other cost factor equivalent to the difference.
The blanks used to secure the information desired in
each case are shown in P'igs. 1 and 2.
Schedule A (Fig. 1) shows the investment and annual
operating expense of the total equipment. In Schedule
B against each size of machine in the installation are
shown the charges appearing in the annual operating
expense statement, so that at the bottom of Schedule B
is determined the daily operating cost of a machine of
each size, with and without the driver.
In the investment account is included not only the
value of the vehicles, but also that of the equipment
necessary to their employment, such as spare parts,
charging apparatus and other garage devices, as well
as office equipment, books and record-keeping necessi-
ties. The investment in buildings was omitted, as were
also the charges for their depreciation and upkeep, as
the item of "rent" in the garaging expenses will ade-
quately take care of the charges against buildings in
every case, whether these are owned or leased.
The annual operating expense covers all the charges
which can be made against the equipment upon an an-
nual basis under the five subdivisions of fixed charges,
maintenance, garaging, operation, and administration.
The fixed charges include the interest and the depre-
ciation at generally accepted rates. While the interest
is shown at 3 per cent on the original investment, this
is intended as the equivalent of 6 per cent on the aver-
age investment spread over the life of the equipment.
In explanation of this statement it may be said that the
original or total investment is gradually refunded by
the charges made for depreciation. Hence the amount
of money represented in the investment is constantly
being reduced. The average investment per annum
throughout the life of the equipment will therefore be
equivalent to half the original investment. Instead of
stating the interest as 6 per cent on one-half the invest-
ment, use has been made of the method generally pre-
ferred by auditors, of stating the equivalent in interest
at 3 per cent on the total investment.
In view of the fact that when their equipments were
first secured many owners arbitrarily decided upon a
five-year life and charged their depreciation accordingly
at 20 per cent per annum, while those owners who have
actually used their equipments for ten years find them
still in as serviceable condition as ever, with prospective
life ahead of another ten years, and hence estimate the
rate of depreciation at 5 per cent per annum, the charge
for depreciation has been set herein at 10 per cent per
annum, which may be regarded as a reasonable com-
promise.
In "fixed charges" are included insurance and li-
censes, in order that maintenance (or the upkeep of
the equipment in working condition) and garaging may
be separated, for the reason that maintenance and
garaging are often separately contracted for outside of
the organization of the owner. Under "insurance"
there has been made in most cases a limited charge of
$100 per car for liability and 1 per cent of its value
for insurance against loss by fire in order to unify the
charge for insurance, which is subject to considerable
variation in different parts of the country, being usually
highest in the large cities. This limitation of insur-
ance charges and also the charge of 4 cents per kw-hr.
for energy, as well as the scale of drivers' wages cited
above, should be borne in mind in interpreting the final
daily cost figures.
The mechanical upkeep is intended to include every
charge relating to the maintenance in serviceable con-
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 21
DATA ON OPERATING COSTS OF ELECTRIC VEHICLES
Boldface type signifies firms which have confirmed in writing the figures stated; Small Capitals, those for which figures ars assented to or promised; two asterisks (*•). those for which no
records are available. In other cases the figures are indefinite.
Operating Cost per Day
Invest- Annual ; Number
ment in Operating , of
Equipment Expense Machines
Abraham t Straus. Brooklyn
Acker. Merrall & Condil. New York .
Adams Express Company. New York.
Adam* Eipreas Company. Buffalo
Adams Express Company, Philadelphia
Adams Express Company, Indianapolis
/Eolian Company, New York
B. Altman * Company, New York. . .
American Brewing Company
American Gas Company. Philadelphia
Department store
Groceries
Express
Anheuser-Busch Company, St. Louis
Arnold-Constable Company, New York
Ayers & Company. Indianapolis
Baltimore Bargain House. Baltimore
Best & Company. New York
Express
Musical instruments
Department store
Brewers
Gas supply
Brewers
Dry goods
Department store
Dry goods
Clothing
Bergdoll Brewing Company, Philadelphia iBrewers
••Berchoff Brewing Company, Fort Wayne. Ind 'Brewers
Bernheimer & Schwarti Brewing Company, New York . Brewers
Birmingham Ry.. Ll. 4 Pr. Company, Birmingham. Ala.. Energy supply
Wm. H. Blocs A- Company, Indianapolis. . Department store
Boowit, Teller & Company, New York Clothing
S. S. Brown 4 Company, New York Groceries
Blank Dry Goods & Furniture Ccmpany, New York Department store
Campbell Bread Company, Wichita. Kan . Bakers
"Capwell Company. Oakland, Cal ... . Depai tment store
Carson, Pirie, Scott & Co., Chicago Department store
Case 4 Martin. Chicago Bakers
Central Brewing Company, New York Brewers
Chapin Sacks Mancf acti ring Company, Washington Confectioners
"H. B. Claflin A Company, New York Dry goods
Clausen-Flanagan Brewing Company, New York Brewers
Connecticut Brrwerics Company, Bridgeport Brewers
Consolidated Gas Company. New York Gas supply
Consolidated Gas. Electric Light & Power Co., Baltimore Gas and energy supply
Commercial Truck 4 Mail Service Co., St. Louib.. Transportation
Commonwealth Edison Compant, Chicago Energy supply
Crowley-Milner Company, Detroit Department store
Cushmln Globe Company. New York Bakers
S. Cushman's Son, Inc.. New York Bakers
Ccktis Publishing Company, Philadelphia Publishers
Detroit Eyening News, Detroit Publishers
Denver Gas & Electric Company. Denver Energy supply
Duquesne Ligbl Company. Pillsburgh Energy supply
The Delivery Company. Cleveland Transportation
Peter Doelger Brewing Company, New York Brewers
Jacob Dold Packing Company. Buffalo Park. H
Filing Brewing Company. New York Brewer.
Edison Eleclfic Illuminating Company, Brooklyn Energy supply
Edison Electric Illuminating Company. Detroit Energy supply
••Electric Dispatch Company, Lob Angeles Transportation
Henn l.i ■ my. New York Brewen
niv. New York Brewers
b 4 Son, 1 real ford, Pi Brewers
i ompany, Brooklyn Brewers
The Fair. Chicago Department store
• Brewers
Imago Dcpaitmcnt store
Theo Finkenauer Brewing Company. Philadelphia Brewers
Fm-HM>vN Co., New York . Bakers
Gardiner Dairy Company. Baltimore Duly pioilm-l-
Bakes
I'.itiiio Bakers
Yoni Department stoie
GnlHrnbrrg Brolhe.a Company. New Yofk Dry goods
Gorham Mai JT. New York ,
J H G r--nhul (ompany. New York l>
Haffenreffer Company. Boston B
Hamms.h-, V hi-,,,,,,-, Comcany. New York llinhvan-
Hartford Electric I if hi Company. Harlford
A. B. Hastings * Sons. Campello. Mass
.las. A lb
Horn A Hardarl Baking Company. Philadelphia
kjffl Yori
f,erl Holl-nde, A Company. New York
Houghton A Dullon Company. Boston
hra
Kips Bay Brewing Company. New York
l.inroln Safe Deposit Company. Now Yovk
, , • A S<,ns. N'w York
V. Ue.ers Brewing Company, New York
luefa
Brewers
neat store
Brawn
Storage
Paper goods
llrrwers
167,200
25,055
151,250
54,050
584,400
3(1.545
38.687
49, BBS
57.035
22.610
206.912
36,895
16.145
78.130
18,920
65,617
20,332
47,225
10.997
28,475
9,625
18.290
11,305
13,825
16,590
148,505
82,900
217,975
39.355
51,690
35.857
14,175
97,354
107,682
22,200
32.185
13,018
23,767
47,247
3S.540
59,362 |
9,665
67,612
225.015
11,400
59,635
14.940
76,007
73.722
27,812
_'7,S1L>
36,766
43.9112
80,710
23,100
602,310
49,842
20,060
37,960
16,216
119 105
•i i
68,790
13 i i
18,890
17,780
23,100
$53,783
19,203
116.408
42,639
396,998
30.372
29.234
41,165
37.060
18,249
158.723
29,381
13,783
60.133
15,682
49,874
15.877
36.287
8.796
22,647
8,455
14,606
9,124
10,256
12,307
106,945
58.115
1B7.6S2
30.015
38.632
26.113
11.608
77.932
86.525
18,460
311.478
24.947
12,814
22,549
35,186
19,211
19,211
28,186
33.014
70.571
17.722
406.104
21,297
54.BS5
IB. 035
27. 161
11,911
182,228
7,904
30.913
i | .«,
18,148
iv. nn
29.029
9,044
17,722
17,722
22,922
IS. 14.1
1 1',, 2 3 3^ 5
in 39
10 24
10 25
in 06
9 51
8 98
10 37
10 25 10"37
$11 39
11 73
ll 61
10 44
10 37
111 36
10 36
lib 46
10 3*
10.14
v M
10 37
11 78
10.50
in 70
III"
11 14
10 40
11 74
10 37
1038 ii'74
May 22, 1916
ELECTRICAL WORLD
1319
DATA ON OPERATING COSTS OF ELECTRIC VEHICLES Continued)
Boldface type sssounea firms which han confirmed in writing the figurea stated: Siuu. Carnal* those for which figures are aaacntcd to or promised; two uwnb ("■), tone (or which l
record! are unliable, lo other case* the figures are indefinite
A uiual Number
roent in Opcritir
K'luipment Expense Machines
OnuuTiNO Corr ran Dir
8 32
1- K
8 92
8 93
B 41
6 06
8.03
s n
8.93
367
8:67
8.93
8.94
7.21
8 94
8.92
9^24
8.93
8.94
8.87
8.94
7.67
8.04
X 93
7.17
8.92
k'.ia
8.04
8.92
9.03
9.80
9.73
i'.H
9.07
8.92
7.89
8.93
8.96
8.93
8.93
3'» .
Louisville Cat k Electric f empany. Louiiviile i Dergy supply
R H Maey & Company. New York tmen! store
Ham " Confectioners
Manila 1 i any. Manila. IV 1. Energy supply
Department store
Msnhaltan Brewing Company. Chicago Brewets
; -• . i ■■ :
Milwaukee Electric Railway & Light Co.. Milwaukee Energy supply
Coo. Muehlbaih Brewing Company, Kanaaa Cily !;
National lec < 'ompany. f'ortlan-i. < >r.' Ire
Ntw Oilcans Hallway 4 Light Company. New Oilcans Energy supply
lev York i • :. ■. supply
No* York Tranifer Company. New York Transportation
N. Y. k Queeni Elee. Ll. k Power Co.. Long Island City. Kncrgy Supply
Pai in. Qi imirr, Sn h.iv
Pacific Slalea Electric Company, Los Angeles Bnerg)
Pnact Qmstjuctiko CoMraKT. Nmr YoRg Transportation
Philadelphia Electric Company, Philadelphia Bnagy supply
.ri;h Plate Glass Company, N-w York Class
F. A. Polh & Son. Philadelphia 1
Pufel Sound Traction, Light & Power Company, Seattle Rnefgy supply
Jamea Pyle k Son. Edgewater. N. J
Rochester RalLwaT 4 Light Company, RoutatJiRR
"•Rochester Carting Company, Rochester Transportation
Jacob Ruppert, Inc., New York !
Sibley. Lindaey & Curr, Rochester Departgoenl store
Adam Scheldt Brcwinc Company. NorrisUnrn, Pa Brewers
Schenectsdy llluminatinf Company. Schenectady Energy supply
C. Schmidt Brewing Company, Philadelphia BlCHHIil
atrairr, Chicago. 1
"\\ A J sloare. New York i
Stamford Gas k Electric Company, Stamford, Conn Energy supply
David Stevenson Bltrwing Company, New York Brewen
BAWTOM) CouPANV. NlW YoRS Dt-pal tlm-Iit Store
of America, New Yoik Silg liniahen
5ious City Brewing Company. Sioux City Bl
""Stern Bioth rs New York .
"Stroll Brewing Company. Detroit Biewen
"iihmer Company. Biooklyn Bakers
Taggart Bakiw; Company, Indianapoli.- Bakcn*
J. R. Thompson Company. Chicago rleetauiarietin
Union Electric Light & Power Company. St. Louis Energy supply
United Electric Light k Power Company. New York. Energy supply
lMTI.ni;*> ImPUoW HIM Cul'AVV. I'llll UO Ll'HH Gag -UI-J'1>
U. S. Government Printing Office. Washington Pnntiliir
"I 8, War Department, Manila, IV I < 'onmiis-ary service
A. A V*\tim, MEW Y«'KK I int-rit.-il fi:rnishini;>
\\ . W. Wai u tford, i 'onn I
Ward Brolhera Company, Rochester I
Ward Baaing Company. Brons. N. Y.
Ward Baking Company. Brooklyn, N. Y.
Waahinglon Water Power Company, Spokane Bnetg) suppll
Qeo. Wtedraio lfreiring Co* Newport, Kj B
Willow Brook Dairy Company. Ml. Vernon. N. Y Dairj I
Wilmington Steamboat Company, Wilmington Del. hr-:
Vrgos, Smith &* Company, Hartford, Conn Departmei
Wooaward £ [jothrop Waahington Department store
Worcester Electric Light Company Worcester
•'Yale Brewing ' "inpai.v , Niw Baven, Coni Brewer
A company . Transport)
> lYgdagpOrtaSjon
my I r:i'i.portation
1) compahv Trail portatioo
K ottrapanj TraiaTportation
111, lot)
14,220
84,370
113,780
118,181
79.002
11.203
59,701
78,347
31,522
9,555
17,818 U.U'i
41,41.' 35,166
58.530
15,580
88,117
310,295
42,100
74,768
45,527
16,745
22,880
11
14,995
143,550
11.124
17.250
117.912
35,012
531.000
16.950
32.655
16, 335
109,247
52.570
16.840
13.567
30,612
53,435 42,684
16,090
13,425 11,861
57,130 45.397
33,475 25,920
12,955
28,821
11,334
111,690
7.454
13,381
99.25S
26,883
375,264
13,249
25.623
12,659
- 325
15.990
44,812
91.518
47,775
84,390
19,080
27,627
52,957
312,922
318,882
I 173
32,545
1(1,1711
l'i,7iis
11,032
41.435
21,234
19,717
190,990
93,975
98.295
57,035
17.255
12 223
25,898
36.897
60,015
37,237
22,037
57.686
14,605
20,545
53,703
274,441
7,033
.'I -7
7,723
14,018
8,213
33,969
15,299
15,587
366,473
71,321
75,130
37,060
12,846
6 52
5.69
5 91
J7 II
b n
10 36
10 38
10 36
10 35
10 36
10 37
10 37
10 12
10 37
10.36
112 88
11.74
11 74
U 72
10 38 11.74
10 42 12.17
10 49
10.37 11.74
10 :is
10 37
10.37
10.36
10.36
10.50
11.38
10.38
11.74
10.37
s 77
10.37
11 74
9.66
10 IT.
10.29
10 37
10.37
10.37
11.74
iL75
ditioil of all of the physical equipment of the machine
except the batteries and the tires.
All of the charges under garaging and operation are
self-evident, and therefore require little explanation.
Under '"operation" are included a number of items inci-
dental to transportation service in many but not all
cases.
Under "administration" is prorated against the
electric-vehicle equipment a reasonable proportion of
the general executive supervision of the organization as
well as the accounting and office expense.
On Schedule B are set forth the annual charges
against each machine, depending upon its relative size
and haulage capacity. The total for each machine has
been multiplied by the number of machines of each size
in the installation. To the group figures resulting has
been prorated a proportionate share of the remaining
charges deduced from the statement of annual operat-
ing expense, such as administration, garaging, etc. The
totals for each group have then been divided by the
number of machines of each size to determine the an-
nual cost of each vehicle, without operators. When this
cost is divided by the number of working days in the
year (308 being taken in all the statements) there is
obtained the cost per machine per day, to which the cost
of driver and helpers may be added. As explained
above, the cost per vehicle per day includes that of only
one operator at $2 per day for 700-lb. to 1000-lb. ma-
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 21
chines, $2.50 per day for 2000-lb. to 4000-lb. machines,
and $3 per day for 6000-lb. to 10,000-lb. machines.
Summary of Results
Electric vehicles are now being operated for the fol-
lowing daily cost, with a possible reduction of from 5
per cent to 10 per cent in large installations or in
service where only a limited amount of the machine's
dailv normal working capacity can be taken advantage
of:
Haulage Cost per Day Haulage Cost per Day
Weight, Lb. to Operate Weight, Lb. to Operate
700 $5.68 4,000 $8.92
1,000 6.34 7,000 10.38
2,000 7.56 10,000 11.74
In the above table are shown the costs of operating
the regular standard sizes in which electric vehicles are
made, in so far as mechanical and motor equipments are
concerned. Each size may be modified or augmented by
change in the battery and the tire equipment.
Lessons from This Investigation
An interesting fact demonstrated by the successful
conduct of this research and the determination of the
operating cost is that it is possible to procure authenti-
cated records of cost, a project which was previously
very much in doubt, and which many had pronounced
hopeless. This fact indicates the possibility of doing a
number of other things for the promotion of electric-
vehicle use now also regarded as not feasible.
Another interesting fact demonstrated by the com-
pilation is the substantial value of the investments
represented in each installation. The readiness of many
conservative organizations to invest in this type of
equipment is the greatest proof that could be produced
of the possibility of exploiting electric vehicles to a very
much greater degree than has been accomplished in the
past.
Nearly all of the communications received from
owners contained gratifying expressions of satisfaction
with their machines and with the service rendered.
Only one discontinuance of them was recorded, the case
being that of a horse-vehicle contractor, who found them
"most unsatisfactory." In one other case, where the
machines were in operation during only a portion of
the year yet carried all the annual charges against the
service rendered in that period, the owner considered
them too expensive although he was satisfied with their
performance in all other respects.
It is very evident that the general employment of
some method of uniform accounting is desirable from
the point of view of all interested in promoting electric
vehicles — the user, the manufacturer and the central
station. The value of uniform records to the owner is
evident from the fact that unless he is aware of his
operating cost, including latent charges as well as active
charges, he may not secure from his customer or the
beneficiary of his transportation service a sufficient
amount to cover his expenses, including depreciation
and interest. If his vehicle costs to operate, say, $8 per
day, each package, case, ton or other unit function of
the daily performance should refund to his organization
its relative proportion of this cost. These analyses and
data bring home to the owner the relative value of his
equipment, and wherever they are thoroughly under-
Btood it is safe to state that there will be complete
satisfaction. Complaints that machines are "no good"
or "too expensive" cannot exist where this kind of in-
formation prevails and where there is any possibility
Od B rational utilization of the machine.
Another advantageous feature of uniform accounting
would be the possibility of comparison between owners
of equipment, and the beneficial interchange of infor-
m that would result would produce a tendency to
lower the cost of operation to its practicable minimum.
The manufacturer would obtain the indorsement of
electric vehicles by the present owners for use in con-
vincing prospective users, and could secure diverse cost
information, duly authenticated, which would be serv-
iceable in advertising and other sales campaign activity
to a greater degree than is true of any other material
now available.
The central-station organizations would also be as-
sured of concrete and specific argument for their solici-
tors, and would gain information of material aid in the
several plans now under active consideration for possi-
ble extensive exploitation to secure the much-desired
"off-peak" period load of the electric vehicle.
It must devolve principally upon manufacturers to
persuade users of their product to adopt some scheme
of uniform accounting. It has been found from the
examination of extracts from users' books that there is
necessarily great diversity in the methods of detail cost-
keeping employed in various lines of business, since
the specific information derived must serve many minor
purposes. However, in the conduct of the project here-
with outlined it has been proved that the form of state-
ment employed, as shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, would
serve satisfactorily in almost every case to summarize
the general review of the year's cost as the auditor or
executive officer would desire the presentation. Hence
manufacturers are earnestly requested to consider this
form of statement as an immediately available means
to offer to their clients for the general accomplishment
of the purpose indicated.
Pertinent questions before the principal central-
station organizations of the country at the present time
relate to the desirability and value of the electric-vehicle
load, the total volume of commercial-vehicle load possi-
ble within the range of their service lines, and the pro-
portion of this potential business that could be made
an actual reality by some extraordinary effort to secure
it on their part. Many methods of development are
under consideration. Some of these are sure to take
active form without much further delay, if the existing
temporary opportunity is taken advantage of in due
proportion to its importance. Transition from animal
to mechanical transportation of merchandise in city
streets is now taking place as surely as the history of
the street-railway business has proved the transition
to be an accomplished fact in city rail passenger trans-
portation. Within a period of ten years horse carriages
have almost totally disappeared from the streets of the
larger cities, and few can doubt that the coming ten
years will develop a similar truck and wagon transfor-
mation. A question of the moment is whether or not
the electric-utility organizations will be the beneficiaries
of the change. With the existing degree of activity in
promoting the use of electric vehicles the answer is
certainly in the negative, on account of the superior
enterprise and greater popularity which are forcing the
gasoline machine ahead at the rate of three to one. As
this progress increases, the obvious handicaps of the
non-popular electric vehicle will also materially increase,
and thus the present opportunity will have passed.
Many methods of securing this field of new business
are available to central-station companies without de-
parting very seriously from their present practices.
The situation seems to require only initiative on the
part of those empowered to do big things. Among the
first necessities are facts of the character developed by
this investigation. The Electrical World may there-
fore appropriately offer the results of its work in the
field of cost analysis (with its many interrelated facts
as to investment and expense ratios, proved in a most
reliable and authentic manner) for such use as the
industry may derive from it.
May 22, 1916
ELECTRICAL WORLD
1321
K\l rail-, from ( orretipondenci'
The following extracts Indicate the character of the
communications received from the owners of the instal-
■ ited:
A( KKK, MERRAI.L & CONDIT COMPANY, NEW YORK:
"The figures you have submitted are a fair representa-
tion of our records."
Adams Express Company, New York, Buffalo,
Philadelphia, Indianapolis: "The analysis of operat-
ing expense of the several electric-vehicle installations
submitted is liberal, and operation results would be
within these totals."
The .fEoLiAN Company, New York: "We find the
statement you submit to be not far from our experi-
ence."
Anheuser-Busch Brewing Association, St. Louis:
"With few exceptions your schedules have come pretty
close to our cost."
Ayers & Company, Indianapolis: "The cost sheets
shown are approximately correct; details figured a
little differently."
Baltimore Bargain House: "The statement of cost
as issued by you would seem to us to be very fair, it
costing us fully 20 per cent less than the figures you
give."
Bernheimer & Schwartz Brewing Company, New
York: "Our experience with electric vehicles (all 5-ton
machines) indicates that it cost us about $12 per day
to maintain and operate the same."
Best & Company, New York: Some few detail cor-
rections made by owner on our schedules and returned.
Birmingham Railway, Light & Power Company:
"Our costs are well under those outlined in your Sched-
ules A and B."
Bonwit, Teller & Company, New York: "These
figures are about correct."
Carson, Pirie, Scott & Company, Chicago: "While
some of the items of expense do not correspond exactly
with our method of calculation, the final deductions are
fairly close to our operating cost."
Central Brewing Company of New York: "Your
statement of the operating cost of our automobiles
is fair and liberal. Our expense is somewhat lower,
except for drivers and insurance."
Clausen-Flanagan Brewery, New York: "We
have made careful examination of your statement and
find the amount for each item varies less than 5 per
cent from actual expenses shown by our books."
Consolidated Gas Company of New York: "We
consider these figures very fair and can operate our
trucks at a cost not to exceed those set forth in your
statement."
Cushman Globe Company, New York: "We believe,
after examination, that your figures are, as you state,
rather high than low. We can safely state that electric
vehicles can be operated for or below the figures you
show."
The Delivery Company, Cleveland: "Your sched-
ule of operating cost checks very closely with our own
figures."
Duquesne Light Company, Pittsburgh: "Relative
to cost analysis for electric vehicles, we have checked
this over closely and have the opinion that it is fair and
equitable."
Edison Electric Illuminating Company of Brook-
lyn: "Glad to advise you that figures which you sub-
mitted are very close indeed to our actual operating
costs."
Edison Electric Illuminating Company of De-
troit: Copy of operating cost record furnished.
The Fair, Chicago: Statement submitted checked by
owner and returned. Very little alteration.
THEO. FlNXENAUER BREWING COMPANY, PHILADEL-
PHIA: Statement submitted corrected by owner and re-
turned with some modification.
Gardiner dairy Company, Baltimore: Copy of
operating cost records furnished.
GOLDENBERG BROTHERS & COMPANY, NEW YORK:
"We have made an examination of the cost of operating
our electric vehicles and find that you are practically
correct in your estimate
J. B. GREBNHDT COMPANY, New York: "In refer-
ence to data concerning cost of operating electric ve-
hicles, have carefully gone over same and find they are
pretty well in line with experience."
Haffenreffer Company, Boston: Statements sub-
mitted corrected by owner and returned.
Hammacher, Schlemmer & Company, New York:
Statement submitted checked with records and re-
turned.
Hartford Electric Light Company: "The total
daily operating cost on 700-lb. and 1000-lb. sizes is pos-
sibly a little low; on 2000-lb. and 2-ton vehicles we
believe your figures to be more than ample."
A. B. Hastings & Sons, Campello, Mass.: Data
furnished from operating records.
Fred. Hollender & Company, New Y'ork : "We are
operating the specified machines at about 4 per cent
less than the total you figure."
Horn & Hardhart Baking Company, Philadel-
phia: "From what information we have at hand we
believe your estimate is considerably in excess of our
cost."
Houghton & Dutton Company, Boston: Data fur-
nished from cost records in comparison with statement
submitted show^s our figures slightly in excess of
records.
Kips Bay Brewing Company, New York : "We have
looked into the figures submitted and consider them to
be fair and liberal, as proved by our experience."
Lincoln Safe Deposit Company, New York: "Our
operating expense is somewhat less than your figures
would indicate."
V. Loewer's Brewery Company, New York: "Your
figures may be considered to have liberal factors of
safety in them for the operation of such an installation
in our service requirements."
Louisville Gas & Electric Company: "Our cost of
operating electric vehicles is less than shown."
R. H. Macy & Company, New York: "Would say-
that our operating cost is within your figures, which
we consider fairly representative."
Manhattan Brewing Company, Chicago: Revision
of our statement furnished by owner.
Milwaukee Electric Railway & Light Company:
"Concerning electric automobile operating data, our
operating engineers came to the conclusion that the ex-
penses were representative."
Geo. Muehlbach Brewing Company, Kansas City:
"After carefully checking your Schedules A and B, we
can say these analyses come within a few dollars of our
actual cost."
New York & Queens Electric Light & Power
Company: Revision of our statement furnished from
company's records.
New Y'ork Transfer Company: "Have gone over
very carefully in detail the cost analysis and compared
same with our records and find the discrepancy between
the two is less than 5 per cent."
Pacific States Electric Company, Los Angeles:
"It is therefore (for stated reasons) generally correct
to say that our actual operating expenses exceed those
shown in your statement by about $100 per machine
per year."
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 21
Philadelphia Electric Company: Copy of operat-
ing cost record furnished.
F. A. Poth & Son, Inc., Philadelphia: "This com-
parison i furnished) shows you to be about 15 per cent
higher than our figures, owing to the fact that you in-
clude electric power."
Puget Sound Traction, Light & Power Company:
Revision of our statement furnished from company's
records.
James Pyle & Son, Edgewater, N. J.: "We are
pleased to state that in the aggregate your estimated
cost closely approximates our figures."
Public Service Electric Company, Newark, N. J.:
Copy of operating cost records furnished.
Schenectady Illuminating Company: Revision of
our statements furnished from company's records.
C Schmidt & Sons Brewing Company, Philadel-
phia: "We beg to state that the costs sheets on the
whole are nearly correct, as far as our experience of
over twelve years with electric trucks goes."
Sibley, Lindsay & Curr Company, Rochester, N.
Y. : "In looking over your Schedule B we think you are
nearly right."
Stamford (Conn.) Gas & Electric Company: "We
believe our cost to be considerably lower than those
shown by you."
Simpson-Crawford Company, New York: "We are
operating our machines slightly below the figures shown
in your statement."
Sioux City (Ia.) Brewing Company: Revision of
our statements furnished from company's records.
Union Electric Light & Power Company, St.
Louis: Copy of operating cost records furnished.
United Electric Light & Power Company, New
York : Revision of our statements furnished from com-
pany's records.
United States Government Printing Office: Copy
of operating cost records furnished.
Washington Water Power Company: Revision of
our statements furnished from company's records.
Ward Baking Company, Bronx, N. Y.: Revision of
our statements furnished from company's records.
Ward Baking Company, Brooklyn, N. Y.: Revision
of our statements furnished from company's records.
Ward Brothers Company, Rochester, N. Y.: "Our
chief accountant has been over these figures and states
that they are conservative and more than ample to cover
cost in our operation."
Willow Brook Dairy Company, Mount Vernon,
X. Y.: "Judging from our experience, the various
charges in schedules inclosed are very reasonable, and
in fact we have operated at much lower cost."
Wilmington (Del.) Steamboat Company: "Your
statement of proportionate machine operating expense
coincides very closely with what we have found."
Worcester (Mass.) Electric Light Company: Copy
of operating cost records furnished.
Selling Trucks on the Basis of Adaptability to the
Work
In a paper on "The Future of the Electric Truck,"
presented by Mr. P. D. Wagoner, president of the Gen-
ii pany, Long Island City, N. Y., before
the motor truck convention at Detroit, May 6, the author
made the suggestion that motor-truck manufacturers
■ acka on tin- basis of adaptability to the work, As
ed Consumer satisfied because his
bowed bigh efficiency through specific adapt
abilit] would thus save money and be able to buy still
1 1 ucks.
." ni'.ti Mr. Wagoner, "the man who buys
a 5-ton gasoline truck when a 2-ton electric truck is
what he should have, or vice versa, frequently disposes
of his truck and sticks to his horses with a set jaw.
More than that, he frequently kills the immediate pur-
chase of any motor trucks by his business friends "
It has taken courage to limit electric-truck sales to
the field of specific adaptability, declared the author,
but the more scientific motor trucking becomes the
more electric trucks will be used, at least in city work.
Specific adaptability combined with proper routing is
the cornerstone of scientific trucking.
Within the last two years the experienced user of
motor trucks has had a change of viewpoint. Formerly
the general attitude in some cities was never to use an
electric truck unless one had to, but to-day the merchant
or manufacturer who insists on knowing what motor
delivery costs him is figuring, and figuring to increase
his percentage of electric delivery as well as his radius
of electric delivery. He is proceeding on the basis of
"the electric truck for city work — if," and he proceeds
to eliminate the "if" as he meets it in his particular
problems.
This means that while the gasoline truck "has the
call," as heretofore, for long, non-stop suburban runs
and where speed is a great consideration, none the less
the electric truck, with economic law behind it, is be-
coming firmly intrenched in city service. The future
of the electric truck lies in displacing the horse in the
city and in working in co-operation with the gasoline
truck.
"The future of the electric truck," wrote Mr. Wag-
oner, in closing, "is the future of electricity. Economic
law will keep it in the thick of traffic near the centers
of our industrial life. The electrification of our rail-
roads takes place first, where? In and near great cities
where a dense traffic makes it a success financially."
Electric garages and charging stations follow the crowd,
so to speak. Like Napoleon's army, which traveled on
its belly, the commercial electric must stay near its
source of supply. In its field, however, declared Mr.
Wagoner, the electric truck is supreme, and its suprem-
acy is rapidly being recognized.
Battery Charging a Desirable Load
The accompanying curves represent a typical daily
load curve of the Duquesne Light Company, Pittsburgh.
Pa., and of a central battery-charging station (the
HOW THE VALLEYS ARE FILLED BY VEHICLE HI \KC1NG
solid line). It shows most plainly that electric-
vehicle charging is a load which all central stations
should eagerly seek. A combination of the two curves
makes a resultant curve having no deep valleys or high
peaks, consequently the generating equipment and oper-
ating fonc can lie worked at high efficiency. For ever]
horse-power of connected load in industrial motors 50
kw-hr. to 76 kw-hr. a month is considered good busi
ness. whereas vehicle motors should require 100 kw-hr.
to 200 kw hr. per hp in the same period.
May li, 1918
1 1 I.Ki'TRICAL WORLD
1323
Merchandising Methods
Advertising Appliances on the Face of Customers'
Hills
Electric-service bills which the Toledo i(Jhioi Rail-
A Light Company now deliver to its customers
■re :'. in. longer than those formerly used. On this
additional space advertisements are printed instead of
being placed on the backs of the statements as here-
tofore. With this new arrangement of the printed
matter a little more paper is required for billing, but
DONT f
LET YOUD, <
HOUSTON]
WEAR YOU?
OUT
ELECTRIC |
? ACUUM CLEANER*
<Jusf i
display Ram
THIS REMINDER APPEARS ON THE FACE OF THE CUSTOMERS
BILL
it is necessary to run the bills through only one print-
ing process, and hence the long bill forms cost little
more than would smaller ones printed on one side. The
new scheme has the advantage of enabling the com-
pany's advertising manager to place timely advertise-
ments where every customer of the company must see
them.
Talk Merits of Your Goods First — Price Last!
An executive of a large electrical manufacturing
company who some time ago devoted his entire personal
attention to the rebuilding of his company's plant, an
operation extending over two years, recently expressed
himself as having felt well repaid for the time and
effort expended, on account of the opportunity thus
afforded him to observe the methods adopted by
salesmen.
"Ninety-five per cent of the salesmen who called to
sell something for that plant," said he, "seemed to
know nothing about their business except the price of
their goods. Furthermore, they seemed to think that
the only way to get an order was to sell for less money
than we could buy for elsewhere. As a matter of fact.
in our case, we were building a plant as an investment,
we expected to do business in it as long as we lived
and we were not looking for the cheapest thing, but for
the best thing.
How I'rice-Cuttiiin Policies Lost Orders
"Salesman after salesman Inst an order because he
had no ability except to quote a price and immediately
to cut that price if he did not get the order at once.
On the other hand, a few salesmen — not more than one
in twenty — would not talk price at all until they had
exhausted the subject of the quality and merit of their
goods from an investment point of view.
"Although our buying policy may be different from
. at the same time the salesman who knew his
business and believed in his goods always got the order,
no matter if his price was high. In fact, the fellow
who did not cut his price at all — and thereby showed
the same confidence in his price that he did in his prod-
net pot the order 'hands down.'
the lie>t [a Cheapest in the End
"We have had experience enough to knowr that any-
thing we put into a permanent building may cost us
twice what we can save in price, provided that what
we buy is right and does not have to be replaced.
Every time we have bought anything on price there
was something the matter with it, and when we came
to replace it the cost was from two to three times as
much as we had expected to save in purchasing the
cheaper material.
"For these reasons the man who knew his business,
sold his goods on their merit, and believed in himself,
in his goods and in his prices, did business with us.
The fellow who did not know his goods and had no
confidence in his prices did not do business with us
simply because we had no confidence in him."
Hot-Plate Used to Dry Photographic Plates
A commercial photographer in Kansas City, Mo., who
makes rapid finishing work his specialty, uses an elec-
tric hot-plate to aid in drying photographic negatives
and prints. The hot-plate is placed beneath a rack de-
^
=)
r-
=)
c-
Hcrtplcrte \\\
A KANSAS CITY PHOTOGRAPHER S DRYING CABINET
signed to hold plates or films, or even prints, and with
three sides of the rack built with solid walls and the
fourth closed by a curtain the heated air circulates over
all of the shelves and escapes at the top of the cabinet.
Encouraging Non-Commercial Employees to
Secure New Customers
A handy electric vacuum cleaner which is sold at re-
tail for $19.50 is to be given to the employee of the
Louisville Gas & Electric Company who during May
turns in the greatest number of names of prospective
customers with whom service contracts are closed before
June 1. Other domestic devices will be awarded as
prizes to employees who turn in lesser numbers of new
customers' names.
Employees who succeed in interesting friends or ac-
quaintances in the house-wiring offer on which partic-
ular sales effort is now being concentrated are required
only to telephone the names of such prospective
customers in to the commercial department of the com-
pany. The names of both the employee and the pros-
pective customer are there recorded, and the "pros-
1324
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 21
pect's" name, with his address, is turned over to the
company's regular solicitors. During the present month
an especially low price has been made for the wiring of
four-room cottages, and free electric service is also
given for one month on all contracts signed before June.
Leasing Motors a Successful Policy
In the Electrical World of March 27, page 805,
was outlined a plan of leasing motor installations on
a trial basis as practised by C. D. Parker & Company,
Boston, Mass. Figures are now available covering
eighteen months' experience with this plan in one of
the central stations managed by this house. On this
property twenty-four installations of motor equip-
ment were made, the total rating being 1002 hp. The
investment complete was $21,233, including motors,
starting apparatus, wiring, and such bhafting and
belting as were required to make the drives in each
case properly adapted to the work involved. The total
yearly revenue from energy sold to these motor instal-
lations is $19,146. All of the apparatus was furnished
by the central station, the customers paying 15 per
cent of the first cost, with the motors at list price, as
rental. Seven of the customers have now paid back
$5,997, leaving a balance of $15,236, on which the
company is receiving 15 per cent interest, subject to
reductions in the principal as the customers decide to
purchase their installations. The consumers also pay
the insurance charges on the installations. In case a
customer buys his motors during the first year, he is
credited with 9 per cent of his installation cost, so
that a small factory with a motor drive costing $1,500
would have to pay only $1,365 in buying the equipment
inside the first twelve months of service. The annual
rental charge of 15 per cent is made up of 6 per cent
interest and 9 per cent depreciation. It has been found
desirable to stencil the name of the central station on
motors leased in this way and also to obtain a release
from the mortgagor in case the equipment goes into a
mortgaged building.
Advertising a 4-Cent Electric Cooking Rate
Under a new rate schedule which recently went into
effect at McPherson, Kan., a rate of 4 cents per kw-hr.
has been established for energy used for electric heat-
ing and cooking. The consumer using energy for cook-
ing also has the privilege of operating any other
consuming apparatus, except lamps, at the 4-cent rate.
At the time the new rate was inaugurated a three-
day demonstration of Hughes ranges was held; free
shows were given in the local motion-picture theaters,
using reels demonstrating the conveniences of elec-
tricity about the house, and advertising space was pur-
chased extensively in the local daily papers. As the
result a dozen contracts for stoves were signed.
Since the community has no gas or domestic coal,
Mr. Arthur Groesbeck, superintendent of the lighting
plant, expects to connect a large percentage of the
plant customers for electric cooking within the year.
Simplifying the Refunding of Customers' Deposits
The accounting department of the Philadelphia Blec
■ ompany has Inaugurated an improved method for
handling consumers' guaranty deposits. At the time
the deposit is made with the company's representative
the duplicate copy of the guaranty deposit certificate is
given to the consumer. Later, when a refund is desired,
this certificate, properly signed, may be cashed in any
of the company's district ofl
THE SMALL-CUSTOMER PROBLEM
Developing Revenue-Producing Business from Present Un-
profitable Users
Small consumers may be divided into two classes —
those who cannot afford to use more energy, even if
shown opportunities of applying it, and those who can
be developed into larger users when shown how they
can employ electricity to their advantage. The first
class, according to the paper presented by Mr. A. D.
Dudley, of the Syracuse Lighting Company, Syracuse.
N. Y., May 8, before a joint meeting of the Empire State
Gas & Electric Association and the Eastern New York
Section of the National Electric Light Association, at
Schenectady, is unprofitable because it costs more to
serve these customers than is received from them in
revenue.
At Syracuse, where the minimum charge is only
50 cents, about 10 per cent of the consumers use less
than the minimum amount. This indicates the necessity
of companies analyzing their ledgers to see which con-
sumers should be induced to use more energy. Such
development is less expensive than interesting persons
who own or live in unwired houses, because in the
former case no meters or service lines have to be in-
stalled. Among methods of increasing consumers' loads
were suggested conducting extensive appliance cam-
paigns, keeping energy-consuming devices in operating
condition by maintaining a repair department, and dem-
onstrating appliances in homes. The speaker suggested
that central stations maintain electric signs to insure
their being used continually. Before appliance-sales
campaigns can be effective a company must be sure that
it is handling the products which will satisfy the con-
sumers, that it is offering an attractive price, and that
it is paying its employees well enough to cause them to
put spirit into the campaign. In handling small con-
sumers, like occupants of small offices, Mr. Dudley
recommended renting the meter or at least limiting the
minimum bill.
Discussion
The paper provoked an interesting discussion in
which the following took part: Messrs. G. T. Macbeth
of Mount Vernon, H. W. Peck, L. H. Scherck, C. G. M.
Thomas of Long Island City, T. I. Jones of Brooklyn.
A. T. Throop of Utica, E. H. Palmer, E. M. Ellsworth
of Schenectady, W. D. Hodgson of Glens Falls, C. F.
Brunt of Geneva, W. L. Secord of Mount Vernon, C. A.
Greenidge of Ithaca, and F. G. Vaughn of Schenectady.
Mr. Macbeth pointed out that poor people cannot
afford to become large consumers, but they should never-
theless be offered rates which will induce them to use
electricity.
Mr. Peck declared that there are only 417 unwired
houses in Schenectady, which has a population of nearly
75,000. Most of these are tenement houses, which
would not be desirable on the lines as the tenants are
changed so frequently. The revenue per capita is very
high, being about $6.63 per inhabitant per year. Con-
ditions make Schenectady a desirable city for selling
energy, but education will have the same effect. The
minimum charge is 50 cents per month, and the general
rule for line extensions is one pole-span per customer.
If more spans are installed, the customer is required to
pay at the rate of $17 per pole-span, but is reimbursed
as new customers are added. Extension of mains might
be based on estimated yearly revenue as is being done
by the gas department. Considered pro rata, it costs
about $12 a year to maintain a single service connection
in addition to the readiness-to-serve charge. While
about 8200 of the Schenectady consumers pay less than
$12 a year, Mr. Peck recommends giving the small con-
May 22, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
1325
sumer the advantage on rates, feeling that what is good
for the individual is good for the community.
Mr. Scherck expressed the belief that companies are
not required to extend their mains unless a return on
their investment is guaranteed to them.
I'nprofitahlt- Ontral-Station Custonu-rs
-Mr. Jones declared that every company has its un-
profitable consumers, there being about 7000 in Brook-
lyn, 30,000 in New York City and 50,000 in Chicago.
He divided them into three classes: Those able to pay
more money if shown how to utilize more energy, those
who want a reduction in rates before they will increase
their consumption, and those who cannot afford more
than they are now spending. He pointed out that many
of these can be attracted by making a meter rental
charge — a method sustained by ex-Public Service Com-
missioner Maltbie — and charging for the energy used
at an extremely low rate. The fixed cost of serving a
customer, not including the charge on generating equip-
ment, is about $7.25 in Boston and $8 in Buffalo. In
estimating the readiness-to-serve charge, residence
service peaks can be safely assumed to be 89 per cent
of the total peaks. Mr. Jones advocated meter rental,
minimum guarantees and minimum charges, rentals
to be based on the meter rating.
To induce owners of bungalows at Coney Island, L. I.,
to use electricity during the summer months the Brook-
lyn company is contemplating installing relatively inex-
pensive load-limiting devices and making a flat-rate
charge which will be required in advance for the entire
season. With this arrangement the consumers will not
have to be "carried on the books" and no billing will be
required. A charge of $1.25 a month will be made for
energy supplied through a 100-watt load limiter. This
rate is sufficient to protect the company in case lamps
are left burning and make it undesirable for meter
users to change to load-limit service.
Mr. Throop expressed the belief that consumers once
secured should not be limited in the amount of energy
they may use, but should be encouraged by suitable
rates to become large consumers.
Mr. Palmer suggested that a fixed charge plus an
energy charge is the best form of rate for causing a
small consumer to become a large one.
Mr. Ellsworth pointed out that 609 of Schenectady's
12,000 electrical consumers pay only the minimum
charge of 50 cents a month, while 2504 pay $1 or less,
6523 pay $3 or less, and 3600 pay over $3.
Mr. Peck pointed out that the cost of the energy that
may be wasted under flat-rate conditions may be less
than the expense of reading meters and handling bills.
Mr. Scherck suggested that all companies analyze
their rates to see if they can be reduced.
Mr. Brunt expressed dissatisfaction with the plan of
using load limiters and flat rates to attract small con-
sumers, saying that so many meter users in Geneva
demanded to be charged on the load-limit-rate basis
that the use of limiters had to be discontinued. The
charge per 100-watt load limiter was $1.25 a month
and the maximum lighting rate was 14 cents per kw-hr.
To explain the condition which arose, Mr. Jones said
that the meter rate probably was too high in compari-
son with the flat rate. He advised making the flat rate
higher than the meter rate.
Mr. Palmer expressed the belief that load limiters
also limit the possibilities of a consumer growing. In
Hartford, Conn., he declared all of the load limiters
formerly employed have been removed.
Mr. Greenidge spoke of using 400 to 500 load lim-
iters in humble homes and charging 1 cent per rated
watt per month, the rating of the limiter being selected
by predetermining the demand. He declared that the
field for excess-load indicators is with consumers who
cannot afford to spend much. Consumers who can afford
to pay more should be developed.
.Mr. Vaughn declared that the load limiter is a method
of enticing business, but it is conducive to waste unless
consumers are required to purchase their own lamps
and are instructed that long-hour burning shortens
their useful life. No comparison can be made between
European practices and those in this country because
conditions differ.
Mr. Peck suggested placing load limiters on lighting
circuits, but not on flatirons or other devices consuming
a large amount of energy and which will furnish a
diversified load.
An Exhibition "Kink" for Demonstrating
Small Motors
At a recent state electrical convention a motor manu-
facturer's agent mounted two 1 6-hp motors on top of
a 2-hp motor and aligned pulleys on the shafts of each
machine so that an endless belt ran over all three in
triangular fashion. One of the 1/6-hp motors was of
the ordinary split-phase type, and the other was a
A THREE-MOTOR COMBINATION THAT ATTRACTED
ATTENTION
repulsion-type machine which had been on the market
but a short time. To demonstrate the lower starting
current taken by the repulsion-type motor the agent
connected the service wires to the machines through a
double-throw switch and an ammeter. When one of
the small motors was started the other small motor
and the larger motor became the load. By starting first
one small motor and then the other, and observing the
wide difference in the swing of the ammeter needle,
the demonstrator was able to show operating men visit-
ing the exhibit the comparative values of the starting
currents taken bv each of the small machines.
For an "Electrical Building" at Kentucky State Fair
A permanent ten-thousand-dollar electrical exhibi-
tion building for the Kentucky State Fair Grounds at
Louisville is being promoted by Louisville Jovians. A
similar project was discussed last year, but, owing to a
late start, the plan was not completed before the fair
opened in September. Now, however, local electrical
men are working on plans for the erection and equip-
ment of a structure to constitute part of the regular
housing equipment of the fair association. According
to Mr. Robert Montgomery, who is at the head of the
movement, it is proposed to show in the building various
modern uses of electricity for light, heat and power.
1326
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 21
Interior Construction
ELECTRIC WIRING— II
Selection of Conductor Sizes — Proper Allowance for Drop
in Lines
By George C. Shaad
Of the two materials which are used to any great ex-
tent for electrical conductors, copper and aluminum,
the former is used almost exclusively where the con-
ductor is to be insulated. For a given current capacity
the cross-section of the aluminum conductor must be
greater than that of the copper wire, and the lesser
expense for insulation makes the copper conductor pref-
erable. The flow of electricity through a conductor
produces two effects of interest when considering a wir-
ing installation, namely, the heating of the conductor
and the drop in voltage along the conductor. If the tem-
perature of the wire becomes too high, the insulation
is liable to become deteriorated. The allowable safe
current-carrying capacity of wires for permanent in-
stallations is set forth in the National Electrical Code.
In ordinary installations, not including long alternating-
current feeders, the drop in voltage along the wire may
be calculated directly from Ohm's law; that is, the cur-
rent equals the voltage divided by the resistance, or the
voltage drop equals the resistance multiplied by the
current. The conductor system, then, must conform to
the National Electrical Code as regards the current car-
ried by a given size of wire if it is to be a safe and
permanent installation, and the resistance must be so
i Ohm 4 Amp.
WW
i Ohm 4 Amp.
A
i Ohm 2 Amp.
12
t Ohm 2 Amp. 9 V
B
2 Amp.
OAmp. 99
2 Amp. 9 9
C
2 Amp.
1 Amp.
M
1 A mp. 9
D
2 Amp.
1 Amp.
OAmp.
§1A. OA IA.9
2 Amp
<>M.9
FIG. 2-
-DEVELOPMENT OF PRINCIPLE OF THREE-WIRE
SYSTEM
low that the voltage drop will not be great enough to
interfere with the satisfactory service from the in-
candescent lamps.
\\ irinu S) stilus
The installation of an electrical wiring system in
such a manner as to avoid fire risk does not insure that
it will In' well adapted to the service it is to perform,
and the matter of general wiring design is largely in-
dependent of the National Electrical Code. Aside from
the polyphase systems for motor drive, there are only
two general systems to be considered in the United
68, namely, the two-wire system and the three-wire
system. The two-wire system is used for the final
branches of the three-wire installations, and the use of
the three conductors is reserved for the portions of the
system where the current is relatively large and where
the load can be fairly well balanced between the two
sides of the three-wire system. The two-wire system
requires no general explanation, but the three-wire sys-
tem and the object of its use are not so generally un-
derstood and they will be given some further consid-
eration.
Referring to Fig. 2, assume a 110-volt, two-wire,
direct-current system supplying a load of 4 amp over
a conductor having a total resistance of the two wires
Service Wires
Feeders
Mains
O
Service
Wires
O
o
FIG. 3 ARRANGEMENT OF FEEDERS AND MAINS
of 1 ohm as shown at A. The total drop in voltage be-
tween the feeding point and the load will' then be 4
volts. The same system using two 110-volt lamps in
series and 220 volts at the load is shown at B. For the
same number of lamps the current carried by the wires
will be only 2 amp and the voltage drop between the
feeding point and the load will be only 2 volts. Ex-
pressed in a percentage of the total voltage, the drop
in the second case will be one-fourth as great as in the
first case, or for the same percentage drop in voltage the
resistance can be four times as great or a wire of one-
fourth the size can be used. The use of 220-volt lamps
and devices is not always desirable and the use of two
110-volt units in series at all places where a load is
connected is not always convenient, but it is practicable,
by means of suitable apparatus at the generating sta-
tion or the proper connection of transformers, to ob-
tain a neutral point on the 220-volt system — that is, a
point where the potential to either of the wires is 110
volts. A third conductor being run from this point, the
110-volt lamps or other electrical devices can be con-
nected between either of the outside wires and this neu-
tral conductor. In Fig. 2 at C the lamps are shown
connected at the same points and the neutral conductor
carries no current and is not necessary. At D the num-
ber of lamps on the two sides is not equal and the neu-
tral conductor carries a current equal to the difference
between the currents in the two outside wires. At E
the number of lamps on the two sides of the system is
the same but they are not placed at the same points and
there is a current in the neutral conductor at some
points, but the major portion of the neutral wire car-
ries no current The introduction of the third wire pro-
vides an installation nearly as flexible as the two-wire
system, and where the neutral conductor is made of the
same size as the- outside wires and the load is fairly
well balanced there is a saving of five-eighths of the
amount of copper when the regulation of voltage is to
be the same as that of a two-wire system. In many
May 22, 1916
ELECTRICAL WORLD
the saving in copper more than counterbalances
the disadvantages of the three-wire installation.
Tilt- disadvantages may be summed up as follows:
The system is more complicated, requiring special ap-
paral al transformer connections fur securing
the neutral point; there is some additional expense for
cut-out boxes and fuses ; tare must be exercised in bal-
ancing the load, and some difficulties are encountered
in the testing of the installation. Where the low-ten-
sion system is of the three-wire type and a permanent
ground connection is installed, the connection is made
on the neutral conductor, thus limiting the possible po-
tential to ground to about 110 volts.
I eeders and Mains"
All modern wiring systems are laid out on what is
called the "feeder and main" plan. The term feeder is
applied to the relatively long conductors across which no
electrical devices are connected. The feeders are at-
tached to the mains, and from the mains the service
wires are run to lamps, motors or heating devices as
the case may be. Fig. 3 is a simple diagram showing
both the two-wire and the three-wire systems. In cases
where the conductors are kept the same size through-
out the system, which condition applies in practice to
only the very small installations, the system is said to
use cylindrical conductors. Where the size of wire is
changed occasionally so as make the current density —
the current per unit cross-section of the conductor —
approximately uniform, one speaks of the system as
using tapering conductors. The use of "tapering" con-
ductors allows a better voltage regulation for the same
amount of copper, or for the same voltage regulation
allows a saving in copper over the use of "cylindrical"
conductors, so that in all of the larger installations
there is a reduction in the size of the mains from the
feeders to the more remote loads on the system. Special
arrangements of the feeders and mains are sometimes
encountered, such arrangements being for the purpose
of saving in the amount of copper or improving the
voltage regulation. One of these, known as anti-parallel
feeding, consists in connecting the feeders to opposite
ends of the mains. According to a second plan, known
as the ring system, the mains are so connected as to
form a closed loop and the feeders are connected either
to the same point or to opposite points on these rings.
It is seldom convenient to install the special systems,
and in the majority of cases the ends of the mains are
open and the feeders are connected to the mains at the
same point. Care is taken, however, to see that, as far
as practicable, the feeders are connected to the mains
at such a point that the drop in voltage from the feed-
ing point to one end of the main is about the same as
the drop to the other end of the main.
Electric-Iron Load Determines Transformer Sizes
Surveys to determine the adequacy of residence cus-
tomers' transformer installations on the lines of the
Citizens' Light, Heat & Power Company of Canby,
Minn., are always made on Tuesday mornings. At that
time it has been observed that an average of eight of
each ten customers are using 500-watt electric irons.
Since 500 watts is considerably above the average light-
ing load imposed by individual residence customers in
Canby, the probable number of electric irons to be used
in a district — rather than the probable number of
lamps — is now taken as the correct guide to the proper
transformer size. According to Mr. E. W. Brick, presi-
dent and manager of the Canby company, this method
of estimating necessary transformer ratings has proved
to be verv successful.
Lighting Practice
Improving Lighting Conditions in .Municipal
Buildings
Inefficient lighting inherited from the time when the
n-filament incandescent lamp was the standard in-
terior illuminating equipment may be found in many
municipal buildings. The modernization of public-
building illumination offers in many cities an attractive
field for engineering enterprise. A campaign along this
line was begun at Boston, .Mass., not long ago, under the
direction of the department of public buildings, and the
resulting improvement in five structures owned by the
city saved the municipality $314 in the month of De-
cember, 1914, compared with the same month of 1913.
Among these buildings were three armories and a
branch of the public library, all of which are supplied
with electricity by the Edison Electric Illuminating
Company of Boston.
In general, the work has proceeded in the direction
of replacing numerous small and inefficient lamps by a
few larger units of the tungsten type, although in each
case the specific needs of each building have been gone
over in a preliminary way. It has been found helpful
in many instances to substitute two 60-watt tungsten
lamps for half a dozen or more carbon lamps in multiple
fixtures, insulating the sockets from which all but two
of the old lamps were withdrawn so that only two high-
powered units can be used, and this without imposing
any noticeable expense upon the city for making the
change. Sixty-watt lamps are renewed free of charge
by the Edison company, and it has been found in many
rooms that two of these give much better light than
from six to ten 16-cp carbon lamps, even though the
fixture outlets may be left unused in part. The socket
insulation is effected by a properly designed cardboard
washer painted brass color to avoid attracting the at-
tention of persons tempted to utilize sockets in the
blank, and thus to nullify the good work of the depart-
ment.
Effecting Economies by Care and Study
Other economies are being effected by a more care-
ful study of rates and demand conditions in different
buildings, by the re-arrangement of meters, and notifi-
cation of the company once a month of the intention in
armories and other public buildings to exceed the nor-
mal maximum demand. It has been found in many
cases that the installation of a 25-watt or a 40-watt lamp
in a swinging bracket fixture for desk or typewriter
stand service far exceeds in quality of service depend-
ence upon a general scheme of overhead illumination of
a sufficient intensity to permit reading and writing with-
out eye strain, and that it accomplishes this object at
reduced cost.
Officials of the Edison company have expressed them-
selves as heartily in favor of the efficiency work of the
department, contending that any steps which yield bet-
ter service at lower cost are sure in the long run to pop-
ularize central-station energy to a greater degree. The
department has not as yet had 'occasion to attempt to
study lighting improvements on the foot-candle basis,
in view of the large number of buildings in its care
and the importance of cutting down the excessive con-
sumption of energy before striving after more refined
economies. The work has been so successful that Mayor
Curley has requested that the electrical engineer of the
department, Mr. John F. A. Swift, devote his entire
outside time in the present year to improving the light-
ing of buildings in the school, police and fire depart-
ments.
1328
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 21
The Recent Trend in "White-Way" Lighting
Five-lamp "white-way" standards have fallen into
disfavor of late, said Mr. Ward Harrison, of Cleveland,
Ohio, in a recent address at St. Paul, Minn., because
in the daytime such posts assume too much prominence
in the streets. Preference to-day inclines toward a
single-lamp unit or a post having two lamps at most,
the illuminants used being comparatively high candle-
power lamps of either the incandescent or the magnetite-
arc types.
In small towns it has frequently been found desira-
ble to confine the light to angles below the horizontal
in order to concentrate the attention of the observer
upon only the first story of the building. In such towns
most of the stores are often made-over houses extended
out to the street. The general appearance of the lower
part of the buildings is good, but the choice of illumi-
nants which would draw attention to the upper and less
attractive parts of the buildings by lighting them
brightly would often make the effect less pleasing by
night than it is in the daytime. On the other hand,
in illuminating important business streets of large
cities where the buildings themselves are impressive a
considerable amount of the light should be directed up-
ward to reveal the facades of the structures.
Interior Decorative Lighting Adds to Demand of
Modern "Movie" Theaters
With its spectacular "front lighting," arc-projection
apparatus, long-hour auditorium lamps and ventilating
motors, the modern "movie palace" offers a most diver-
sified demand for central-station service. Electric
pianos, organs, violins, and even whole orchestras, are
now reducing operating expenses in many up-to-date
cinema houses.
There is a tendency nowadays toward more artistic
lighting and decoration of the interiors of the auditori-
ums of the recently constructed picture houses. The
eye is properly being accorded something more agree-
able to rest upon during changes of pictures than the
blank screen in front. An example of such an attractive
interior is that of the Harvard photo-play house at the
corner of Harvard Avenue and Sixty-third Street, Chi-
cago, illustrated herewith.
Framing the picture screen ahead is a great branch
of artificial roses, each flower being marked with a small
tinted lamp. Another novelty is seen in the combina-
tion indirect-lighting fixtures and flower baskets along
the walls near the ceiling. These concealed lighting
units project a low-intensity illumination on the ceil-
ing, from which the aisles and rows of seats are lighted
sufficiently for the late comer to find a vacant place, but
without distracting the attention of the audience. Such
"dark-house" illumination is required, it will be noted,
chiefly at the rear of the auditorium, as the front is
usually well lighted from the screen itself.
Illuminating the Playground
A playground is generally in use only from the early
hours until dusk, when the darkness prevents all from
playing. The Park Commissioners of Oakland, Cal.,
realizing that the usefulness of a playground would
be increased by adequate illumination at night, decided
to make a trial installation in Mooswood Park. Here,
among ravines and other natural beauty, is hidden a
playground consisting of baseball and football fields,
tennis courts, volley-ball and basket-ball courts, and
the usual horizontal bars, flying rings, trapezes, ladders,
toboggans, swings and sand boxes.
Mr. George R. Babcock, superintendent of the city's
Electrical Department, after a careful consideration of
the multiple-flame arc, the series magnetite arc, the
series carbon arc, the series tungsten lamp and the gas-
filled tungsten lamp, decided to use the latter to illumi-
nate the playground. The football field was equipped
with five 750-watt units, while 1000-watt units were
installed to illuminate the swings and gymnasium ap-
paratus. These units are placed on goose-neck boule-
vard posts 20 ft. above the ground, connected to the
mains of the Pacific Gas & Electric Company. A gen-
eral illumination of the paths and walks is obtained by
means of 150-watt multiple-type, gas-filled lamps
mounted on existing gasolier posts which were cleverly
re-designed for taking a single electrical unit.
The success of the undertaking was assured from the
opening night. The attendance of men, women and
children of all ages during the dark hours has been
greatly increased.
DKCOKATIVK LIGHTING IN \ I HICAGO "MitVIl" PALACI
Mai 22, 191G
ELECTRICAL WORLD
1829
NEW APPARATUS AND APPLIANCES
KU-ctrkaiu Heated Shoe-Treeing Iron
The electrically opei treeing iron or "Calo-
rel" re-laster, as it is called, which is shown herewith
is designed for use in retail shoe stores and can he op-
erated from an ordinary lighting socket. It consists
ELECTRK SHOE-TREEING IRON
of three parts rigidly fastened together — the highly
polished brass tip, the heating element, and the handle,
which is of nickeled-steel wire. The brass tip weighs
1 lb. and is able to store a comparatively large amount
of heat. The device is equipped with 10 ft. of flexible
cord and a detachable plug, and takes SO watts. It is
being made by the Fearn Company, Baltimore, Md.
Small Motor-Generator Set
Motor-generator Beta with ratings of To watts, 150
watts and 300 watts, consisting of a direct-current gen-
r and either a direct-current or an alternating-
current motor, are being made by the Electric Specialty
MOTOR-GKNERATOR SET FOR BATTERY-CHARGING AND
SIGNAL WORK
Company, Stamford, Conn. The sets are designed for
use in charging small storage batteries and for operat-
ing signals. The armatures of both the motor and the
generator are mounted on the same shaft, which is
supported by large oil-ring bearings. In the accom-
panying illustration is shown a direct-current generator
connected to a direct-current motor.
Ventilator for Mixing Outdoor and Indoor Air
A motor-driven ventilator which takes air from both
outdoors and indoors and which blows air to the ceil-
ing where the warm air tends to rise is shown herewith.
The device consists of a Westinghouse-Sirocco blower and
a combined duct and mixing chamber for bringing out-
door or indoor air or a mixture of the two to the blower.
When the slide in the duct is brought forward and the
duct is closed to the room, the blower draws only cold
outdoor air; when it is pushed back, the supply of cold
air is cut off and the air from the room is recirculated.
MOTOR-DRIVEN VENTILATOR FOR INTERMIXING AIR
When, however, the duct is partly opened, as shown in
the accompanying illustration, air is drawn both from
indoors and outdoors. The ventilator is being placed
on the market by Gerdes & Company, 30 Church Street,
New York.
Electrically Operated Machine for Sharpening
Razor Blades
A motor-driven machine designed for sharpening
twelve safety-razor blades at one time and ten dozen
blades an hour is shown in the accompanying illustra-
tion. The blades are held by steel-spring jaws which
are compressed by a toggle joint. Pressure of the
thumb lever forces the jaws together; to remove the
blades the lever is raised. The blades are sharpened
by a roller against which they are held by the spring
jaws. Four rollers are provided, and as they revolve
they also oscillate back and forth. There is no possi-
bility, it is declared, of their being worn unevenly. By
MACHINE FOR SHARPENING SAFETY-RAZOR BLADES
means of a set-screw adjustment the blade can be placed
at any angle, giving any bevel to the blade desired. Two
of the rollers are provided with an abrasive covering
for use in honing nicked blades. As the machine is fin-
ished attractively, it is well adapted for display in show
1330
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 21
windows. The sharpener is equipped with a 1/6-hp
motor manufactured by the Robbins & Myers Company,
Springfield, Ohio, and it is being placed on the market
by the Hyfield Manufacturing Company, 48 Franklin
Street, New York.
Extension Attachment for Pull Switches
In the accompanying illustrations is shown an ex-
tension attachment for pull sockets and rosette pull
switches, developed by the Arrow Electric Company,
EXTENSION ATTACHMENT
Hartford, Conn. The extension is provided with a spe-
cial brass finish. Six feet of black cord is provided for
the device when used with the pull socket, and 10 ft. of
black cord when used with the rosette pull switch.
Clamps for Stranded Wire
Various types of clamps for stranded wire, designated
as Marchand clamps, have been developed by the Steel
City Electric Company, 1207 Columbus Avenue, Pitts-
burgh, Pa. In Fig. 1 is shown a clamp of the clevis type
FIG. 1 — CLEVIS CLAMP ATTACHED TO STRAIN INSULATOR
AND CLAMPING END OF 1,000,000 CIRC. MIL STRANDED-
COPPER CONDUCTOR
for stranded copper and aluminum conductors. The
clamp proper consists of a conical-shaped socket and a
conical wedge. The conical wedge is slotted to allow
compression and has a hole through the center for the
PIG. 2 — CLEVIS CLAMP ATTACHED TO ANCHOR ROD
core or center wire. The strand is first inserted in the
socket and the tapered plug is forced over the core or
center wire so that the sheath wires are spread apart as
shown in Fig. 1. The cable is then drawn back into the
socket by the cable strain, the tapered plug compresses
spectively. These clamps are particularly adapted for
use, the manufacturers declare, with guy wires, mes-
senger wires and trolley span-wire construction. The
size of the conical wedge or tapered plug and hole
through the center varies according to the size of wire
to be used.
FIG. 4 — POLE CLAMP SHOWN FIG. 5 CLEVIS CLAMP AS A
WITH GUY WIRES IN- POLE FASTENING WITH
SERTED SADDLE THIMBLE
When the clevis clamp is used as a pole fastening, a
saddle thimble is provided as shown in Fig. 5. The
bolt passes through this thimble which prevents fric-
tion of the guy wire against the bolt. The saddle thim-
ble permits automatic adjustment of the clevis to the
proper angle of pull, thus equalizing the strain at each
side of the pole. The twin clamps are designed espe-
cially for fastening guy wire to strain insulators and
for splicing. They consist of a double-tapered socket
casting and two tapered plugs and are so constructed
that one side of the clamp pulls against the other. Twin
clamps can also be used effectively, it is declared, with
pole clamps, the wire being passed through instead of
around the pole. For this purpose the hole in the pole
is only 1 '16 in. larger in diameter than the size of the
guy wire to be used.
Submarine Photographic Apparatus
Apparatus has been developed by Mr. Charles Wil-
liamson and his two sons of Norfolk, Va., for taking
either stationary or moving pictures under water. For
this purpose a collapsible accordion-like submarine tube
of waterproof canvas and rubber, 3 ft. in diameter, is
FIG. •". TWIN (LAMP
and grips the core wire or wires, and the sheath wires
ripped or wedged between the tapered plug and
the wall of the soeket.
A clevis clamp, a twin clamp and a pole clamp tot
seven-wire strands are shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4 re-
PIG. 1— APPARATUS FOR TAKING PICTURES UNDER WATER
used, braced at regular intervals by iron rings. By
means of this construction a person can pass down the
tube, while its flexibility permits it to be dragged along
bj a vessel. The top of the tube remains open at the
deck, and the lower end extends down into the water and
May 22, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
1331
is expanded into a chamber about ■"> it. m diameter, one
side of which is provided with an observation window
of heavy glass through which the pictures are taken.
The space in the chamber is sufficiently large to hold
two men, one of whom operates the camera while the
other controls the movement of the tube, which is ef-
fected by chains operated from the deck of the boat.
For illuminating the objects to be photographed a
battery of nine 2400-cp Cooper Hewitt iuartz-tube
lamps is suspended from the boat, as shown in Fig. 1.
The essential parts of each lamp are the quartz burner
and the auxiliary. The former comprises the light-
giving tube, its support and the enameled reflector,
while the latter consists of the necessary tilting mech-
anism and coils for starting and maintaining the mer-
cury arc. In ordinary commercial use the burner is
FIG. 2 — ILLUSTRATION OF PHOTOGRAPH TAKEN OF DIVER
suspended from the lower part of the auxiliary and is
inclosed in a glass globe, but for submarine work the
auxiliary is kept on board the boat, and the burner with
its reflector holder is mounted in a casing which is
placed in a frame and lowered into the water. Photo-
graphs and moving pictures have been made through
the water by the method described for a distance of 100
ft. In Fig. 2 is shown an illustration taken from a
photograph of a diver exploring an old wreck of a ship
50 ft. distant from the camera.
Steel Lighting Standards for Outlying Districts
For use in outlying sections of cities and for villages,
where heavy and elaborately ornate iron lighting stand-
ards are not considered appropriate, a new type of
street-lighting post has been brought out by the Carbo
Steel Post Company, Inc., of 538 South Clark Street,
Chicago, 111. Two angle irons welded together to form
a square shaft compose the upper portion of the post.
The top of the standard is equipped with an ornamental
cap and a standard 8-in. fitter which will carry diffusing
globes of all regular sizes. From the ornamental cap
to the ground line the post measures 10 ft.
Beneath an ornamental base at the sidewalk line is a
patented anchor base which extends 30 in. into the
0
STEEL LIGHTING POST
ground. The triangular plate at the lower extremity of
this anchor base measures 12 in. on a side. To set the
post, therefore, an excavation 12 in. in diameter and 30
in. deep is sufficient. The manufacturers of this post
state that it need not be set in concrete and that the
use of special tools for setting it is unnecessary.
Twelve-Inch Fan
A 12-in. fan designed to operate on either alternating
current or direct current has been developed by the
Menominee Electric Manufacturing Company, Menomi-
nee, Mich. The bearings are of bronze and oiling is
TWELVE-INCH FAN OPERATING ON EITHER ALTERNATING
CURRENT OR DIRECT CURRENT
accomplished with wick feed. The fan can be furnished
in either the fixed or the oscillating style, and can be
used either on the desk or table, or it may be mounted
on the wall. The motor operates practically at the same
speed on alternating current as on direct current.
1332
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 21
Socket with One-Piece Shell
Two styles of sockets equipped with one-piece shells
are now being marketed by the Benjamin Electric Com-
pany of 120 South Sangamon Street, Chicago. One type
with the regular form of bead at the receptacle end of
the socket is intended to accommodate a standard shade
FIGS. 1 AND 2 — BEADED AND THREADED SOCKETS
holder, while the other is expanded at the receptacle
end and is threaded so that holders of a special type can
be fitted to it. The interior mechanism of the socket
is held in position by two screws which the wireman
in connecting the socket must remove from the recep-
tacle end of the device. The entire interior mechanism
of the socket need not, however, be removed completely
from the shell by the wireman, as the screws are ar-
ranged so that a few turns release them from their
permanent position and allow the interior porcelain
connector and switch base to drop down into an accessi-
ble position. The socket is rated at 660 watts and 250
volts, and has been approved by the Underwriters'
Laboratories.
Instrument for Finding Defects in Cable Circuits
An instrument has recently been developed by W. N.
Matthews & Brother, St. Louis, Mo., which is designed
for locating faults in telephone, telegraph, signal and
electric transmission circuits, and for locating pipes un-
made by the above concern. The device is equipped
with a set of resistors of known resistances, ranging in
value from 10 ohms to 500 ohms, by means of which the
operator is able to determine approximately the point
of trouble before going out and finding the exact loca-
tion with the exploring coil and receiver. Only one dry
cell is utilized with the instrument. The exploring coil
is very sensitive, it is declared, and is contained in a case
of bakelite. The exploring coil, receiver and battery are
housed inside a box, which is 10.5 in. by 9.625 in. by 5.5
in. in size.
Plate Adapter for All Fans
As the screw holes in the bases of some makes of
fans are not in the proper position for attaching to the
hanger cover made by the Frank Adam Electric Com-
FIG. 1 — PLATE ADAPTER TO WHICH FAN IS ATTACHED
pany, St. Louis, Mo., that company has developed the
adapter plate shown in Fig. 1, which is provided with
six holes so that nearly every make of fan can be at-
APPARATUS FOR LOCATING DEFECTS IN ENERGY-CARRYING
CIRCUITS
FIG. 2— FAN ATTACHED TO PLATE ADAPTER
derground, and concealed wires and metal pipes in ceil-
ings and walls or between rafter II Can also be util-
ized by telephone companies as a tone-test set. The
rument la railed a "woodpecker telefault" and com-
the features Of the "telefaults" and "telepipes"
tached to it in the proper position. The plate is of
heavy steel and is japanned on both sides. In one corner
is a 0.25-in. hole, where the plate is bolted to the hanger
cover. The other corners are fitted with rubber plugs
which project ' .. in. OH the under side, keeping the
May 22, 1916
ELECTRICAL WORLD
1333
plate in alignment with the hanger cover and holding it
firmly in position on the wall. In cue all the holes do
not engage properly, it is a simple matter to drill a hole
or two in the right place. In Fig. 2 i- shown a fan
attached to *he plate, which is bolted to the hanger
turer, every part of the device subjected to strain is of
malleable iron or phosphor bronze. In Fig. 1 is shown
a hanger of the deep-canopy type which is designed for
use outdoors. It is equipped with a cleat bail so that it
can be bolted or clamped to a girder, bracket arm or
Time Switch
The time switch shown herewith is designed for use
in the United States and has been approved by the
Underwriters' Laboratories. Copper-to-copper contacts
are made under mercury to provide larger contact sur-
face. According to the manufacturers, the mercury
cups are so formed that there can be no splashing or
spilling of mercury. Use is made of a hand-wound
forty-five-day or fourteen-day clock. The dial is marked
off in quarter hours, and the hands can be set to any
TIME SWITCH WITH DOOR OPENED
desired intermediate position. A test dial is provided
to enable the timekeeping to be readily checked. The
device has been developed by the Venner Time Switches,
Ltd., fiO Queen Street, Westminster, S. W.. England.
Cut-Out Hangers for Large Tungsten Lamps
The cut-out hangers shown herewith have been de-
veloped by the Thompson Electric Company, 5606
Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio, for use with large
tungsten lamps. The lamp is raised to the operating
position by a slow pull, thereby compressing the stiff
spring B in the base (Fig. 2) and forcing the con-
tacts together; on releasing the rope slowly the latch-
ing pawl A falls into place. To lower the lamp the rope
is given a slow, strong pull, and is then quickly released,
causing the latch stem C to be let out before the latch-
ing pawl falls into place. According to the manufac-
figs. 1, 2 and 3-
-CUT-OUT HANGERS FOR OUTDOOR AND
INDOOR USE
other rigid support. The hanger shown in Fig. 2 is de-
signed for use indoors, and is equipped with cable
clamps which afford a means of attaching the hanger to
a span wire. A hanger for indoor use is shown in Fig.
3 unlatched, ready for lowering the lamp.
Reflectors for Display Window Lighting
The reflectors illustrated herewith have recently been
developed by the Simplex Conduits, Ltd., Garrison Lane,
FIG. 1 — ORNAMENTAL REFLECTOR
Birmingham, England, for display-window lighting.
The device illustrated in Fig. 1 is ornamental in design
and is for use where the reflector is visible. It is fitted
with a slide clip to enable it to be attached to plate-
glass shelves.
The reflector may be also utilized as a piano-lamp or
desk-lamp reflector. It is 8 in. wide and is given a
brass finish. The reflector shown in Fig. 2 is designed
FIG. 2 — REFLECTOR OF SUSPENSION TYPE
for use in suspending near the top of the window. It
is particularly adapted for use with deep windows. The
inside is lined with a fluted mirror, which gives excellent
light distribution. The opening measures 5.5 in. by
24 in.
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 21
Adjustable Fixture for Attaching Lamp to Bedpost
A fixture which is adjustable and which can be at-
tached to a bedpost or similar object, as shown here-
with, is being made by the Pittsburgh Lamp, Brass &
ADJUSTABLE LIGHTING FIXTURE
Glass Company, Pittsburgh, Pa. The fixture, including
shade, is finished in dull English brass and is equipped
with a plug and 6 ft. of cord.
Polarized Motor Plug
The composition cap with knife-blade contacts em-
ployed with the plug illustrated herewith is designed
to be permanently attached to electrically operated ma-
chines. To facilitate the use of the plugs in connection
with portable machines, the base may be attached to a
leader and connections made with various machines
equipped with the polarized cap. The body of the port-
POLARIZED PLUG AND CAP
able base is of composition metal and the end is brass-
covered. The plug has been placed on the market by
Harvey Hubbell, Inc., Bridgeport, Conn.
Electrically Operated Gyroscopic Aeroplane
Stabilizer
In the accompanying illustration is shown the interior
of an aeroplane equipped with electrically operated sta-
bilizing apparatus. A double generator is used which
furnishes three-phase alternating current and 20-volt
INTERIOR OK ABOF1 AM EQ1 IITK.D WITH ELECTBICALL1
OPERATED STABILIZER
direct current. Four small gyroscopes are operated on
alternating current while direct-current energy is util-
ized to operate the magnetic clutches and to charge a
:»-in. "Exide" battery. The stabilizer is made by the
Sperry Gyroscope Company, Long [eland City, N. V.
Pencil Flashlamp
In the accompanying illustration is shown a handy
device which by means of a small flashlamp enables one
to use a pencil in the dark. The lamp circuit is closed
by pushing the pencil out from the case by a thumb
slide. The pencil may be removed or inserted at will.
TUBULAR FLASHLAMP WITH LEAD-PENCIL ATTACHMENT
and the lamp can be operated with or without the pen-
cil by the thumb slide in the pencil barrel. The device
measures 5.25 in. long, 1 1/16 in. wide, and 0.75 in.
deep. The length of the pencil is 5 in. The weight of
the device complete is 3 oz. It is being made by the
Hawthorne Manufacturing Company, 35 Spruce Street,
Bridgeport, Conn.
Electric Test Clip
A test clip with a rating of 20 amp has just been
developed by R. S. Mueller & Company, 423 High Ave-
nue, S. E., Cleveland, Ohio. The clip has a wider open-
ing of the jaws than the 15-amp and 100-amp clips made
by the company, thus permitting its use with larger
terminals, binding posts, etc. A screw connection for
20-AMP TEST CLIP
the cord is provided in place of a soldered connection.
The screw connection is of special value, it is declared,
to linemen and troublemen who use the clips in the
field, because if the connecting cord is broken repairs
ran be readily made on the spot. The clip is of a non-
May 22, 1'J15
ELECTRICAL WORLD
1335
corrosive material, the side members being of copper
and the springs being enameled. The copper parts of
the clip can be lead-plated, if desired, for protection
against acid fumes when the clip is used in charging
storage batteries.
Stand for Electric Iron
The electric-iron stand shown herewith consists of
two pieces of formed, nickel-plated steel, which are riv-
eted together but separated by two disks of asbestos,
each of which is reinforced by a fianged-steel ring.
The top piece of steel on which the iron rests is shaped
like the bottom of a pressing iron and is bent up on two
STAND FOR IRONS
sides in the form of a flange. A channel extends the
entire length of the stand through its middle for the
circulation of air. The lower piece of steel is half cyl-
indrical in shape, the forward end having a smaller
radius than the rear end, thus giving it a forward in-
clination. The stand is being placed on the market by
the Central Flatiron Manufacturing Company, Bing-
hamton, N. Y.
Photographic Lighting Unit
A fixture designed for use with nitrogen-filled lamps
for photographic purposes, such as studio work, home
portraiture, printing and enlarging, has been placed on
the market by the Benjamin Electric Manufacturing
Company, 120 South Sangamon Street, Chicago, 111.
Ample ventilation is provided, the manufacturer de-
clares, and one unit furnishes sufficient illumination
for taking pictures of groups of as many as twenty
FIXTURE FOR PHOTOGRAPHIC LIGHTING
people. The unit is portable and fits in a case 18 in.
by 22 in. by 8 in. It can also be utilized to make any
size of print up to 11 in. by 14 in. The fixture can be
mounted on a tripod as shown in the accompanying
illustration.
A 2500-Vott Lightning Arrester
A spark-gap and resistance arrester for alternating-
current circuits of any frequency with pressures up to
2500 volts has recently been developed by the Westing-
house Electric & Manufacturing Company, East Pitts-
burgh, Pa. The arrester is a single-pole device and may
be installed out of doors on poles or buildings, or indoors
on station walls. It consists of a series of spark-gaps
between non-arcing cylinders in series with a resistor.
FIGS. 1 AND 2 — LIGHTNING ARRESTER, SHOWING PARTS
AND ARRESTER ASSEMBLED
Four cylinders are employed for the spark points so that
in case of burning one cylinder it can be turned in order
to obtain a new arcing surface. The resistor is of com-
position material and is utilized to prevent the arcs that
might be produced with circuits of large rating. The
resistance is low enough, it is declared, to give good
protection, but high enough to insure reliable operation
and to enable the non-arcing metal gaps to quench the
arc at the end of the first half-cycle.
Electric Hand Lamp
The electric lamp shown herewith is equipped with
a bail and a hand grip so that it can be employed as
either a lantern or a hand lamp as desired. The bail
is removable. The diameter of the case is 3 in., the
height 10 in., and the complete weight of the device
with dry cell is 3 lb. The case is of steel and is fin-
ished in royal-blue enamel. Use is made of a seamless
'-♦'^pfci,
HAND LAMP OPERATED BY DRY CELL
top hood of highly polished nickel plate. The reflector
hood contains a 5-cp tungsten lamp. This hand lamp is
being placed on the market by the Federal Sign System
(Electric), Lake Street and Desplaines Street, Chicago,
111.
1336
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 21
Semi-Indirect Lighting Unit
A simply constructed lighting unit of the semi-indi-
rect type has just been put out by the Benjamin Elec-
tric Manufacturing Company, of 120 South Sangamon
Street, Chicago. The construction of this unit, with
SEMI-INDIRECT LIGHTING FIXTURE
its conventional canopy and brass chain, is shown here-
with. The ventilating hood and 6-in. holder are made
of brass and support a 16-in. opal glass reflecting dome.
Suspended beneath the dome and the lamp is an opal
glass bowl, 8 in. in diameter, which diffuses the direct
light from the lamp. Porcelain sockets with either
medium or mogul bases are furnished with the fixture.
Motor-Driven Grinder for Preparing Test Samples
of Rubber
The apparatus illustrated herewith has been developed
for preparing samples of rubber of uniform cross-sec-
tion for tests of tensile strength. It is designed espe-
cially for use in testing samples of hose lining. A sec-
tion of hose several inches long is slitted along its
length, and the interior lining with its rubber backing
is stripped from the fabric. This strip of rubber is cut
to a uniform width of 1 in. for a distance of 3 in. or
4 in. The strip is then strapped closely to the platen
of the grinder, smooth side down, and is held firmly in
position by the two eccentric rolls. By means of the
longitudinal, vertical and cross adjustment of the
OBINDEB FOR PREPARING TEST PIECES OF RUBBER
platen <>f the grinder the sample can be ground down to
a uniform thickness throughout the length of the test
section. The grinder is directly driven by a 1/6-hp
i made by the Robbins & Myers Company, Spring-
Ohio.
Portable Electric Vulcanizer
A vulcanizer which can be operated on a 6-volt auto-
mobile storage battery has been developed by the Cor-
bett & De Coursey Company, Pittsburgh, Pa. The de-
vice is equipped with a flexible cord and a bayonet-type
plug. It weighs complete with canvas bag 2 lb. and
may be carried in the tool box of the automobile. A
thermometer is used with the vulcanizer which is cali-
ELECTRIC VULCANIZER FOR AUTOMOBILE TIRES
brated so that a temperature of 275 deg. Fahr., at which
the vulcanizing operation is performed, can be main-
tained. With the vulcanizer described above, tires can
be repaired on the road when this becomes necessary
because of accident as well as in the garage.
Fixtures for Nitrogen-Filled Lamps
Fixtures for high-efficiency incandescent lamps are
being made by the T. C. White Company, 1122 Pine
Street, St. Louis, Mo. The top or socket housing of
the device is separated from the fitter by heat-resisting
bushings. According to the manufacturer, ample ven-
tilation is provided for disposing of the heat at the neck
of the lamp. For a 10-in. globe a 6-in. fitter and a small
socket are employed, and for a 12-in. globe an 8-in.
fitter and a large socket are utilized. The fixture shown
herewith is designed for use with lamps varying in
FIXTURE FOR NITROGEN-FILLED LAMP UP TO 1000 WATTS
rating from 100 watts to 1000 watts. Fixtures are also
being made with 16-in. and 18-in. flat reflectors for use
with 12-in. globes. The fixtures are designed for in-
door or outdoor use and are finished in porcelain enamel,
brass or black japan.
May 11, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
1337
CURRENT NEWS SECTION
New Officers of the American Institute
At the annual meeting of the American Institute of
Electrical Engineers, held at New York City, May 18,
preceding the award of the Kdison Medal to Dr. Alex-
ander Graham Bell, inventor of the telephone, the report
of the tellers' committee, read by Secretary F. L. Hutch-
inson, announced the election of officers as follows:
Preside it, Mr. J. J. Carty, chief engineer American
Telephone & Telegraph Company, New York; vice-
presidents, Messrs. William McClellan, consulting engi-
neer, New York; Comfort A. Adams, Harvard Univer-
sity, Cambridge, Mass., and J. F. Stevens, consulting
engineer, Philadelphia; treasurer, Mr. G. A. Hamilton,
Elizabeth, N. J.; managers, Messrs. C. E. Skinner,
Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company, East
Pittsburgh, Pa.; John Taylor, General Electric Com-
pany, Schenectady, N. Y.j F. B. Jewett, Western Elec-
tric Company, New York, and Harold Pender, Univer-
sity of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia.
The report of the board of directors, presented at the
meeting, showed that the Institute on April 30 had
8054 members, of whom 448 were fellows, 1079 were
menTbers and 6522 were associates. The Institute now
has thirty-one sections and fifty-two branches.
Ohio Commercial Men at Columbus
The fifth bi-monthly convention of commercial men of
the Ohio Electric Light Association, held at Columbus
May lit, was welcomed to the city by Mr. S. G. McMeen,
president of the Columbus Railway, Power & Light Com-
pany. Other addresses made and papers presented were as
follows: "Value of Show-Window Advertising," by Mr.
L. T. Milnor of Cincinnati ; "Service First," By Mr. A. C.
Seymour, president of the Columbus Chamber of Com-
merce; "Salesmanship," by Mr. Kenneth McKinley, ef-
ficiency engineer for the State of Ohio, and "Electrical
Advertising," by Mr. V. L. Blanchard of the Toledo
Railways & Light Company. The discussions at the
sessions, following the trend of principal interest, di-
verged widely at times from the subject of the papers,
but the subjects of window trimming, sign sales cam-
paigns, and methods of increasing the energy consump-
tion of small customers appeared to be the topics of
chief interest to the delegates. Mr. Thomas F. Kelly,
commercial manager of the Dayton Power & Light Com-
pany, was chairman of the meeting.
Hearings by Trade Commission on Export
Combinations
The interest of business men in the work of the
Federal Trade Commission this week centers in the
public hearings announced to be held in Boston and
New York on the general subject "Combinations of
Exporters." These are to be preliminary to an inves-
tigation of foreign trade conditions as they affect the
United States. After the date of these hearings was
announced it was advanced so that now the hearings in
Boston are to be on June 1 and 2 and those in New York
on June 3, 4 and 5.
The Federal Trade Commission is trying to get in
touch with leading exporters with a view to making
a list of those who may be heard at these sessions, but
so far not even tentative names have been given out.
All phases of combinations of exporters will be under
consideration, including those for the maintenance of
joint selling agencies, for co-operative advertising, etc.
Pan-American Delegates Welcomed in New York
At a Pan-American luncheon meeting of the mem-
bers' council of the Merchants' Association of New York
at the Hotel Astor on May 13, the delegates from Cen-
tral and South America to the foreign trade financial
congress which is to meet in Washington on May 24
were entertained.
Mr. Frank A. Vanderlip, president of the National
City Bank of New York, was among those who made
addresses welcoming the visitors. He said in part :
"If our national course in the trying circumstances
in which we find ourselves placed reveals to you and to
your peoples that our national ideals are in accordance
with your national ideals; if our action is such that
you are convinced that we are a nation without danger-
ous ambitions ; if you find that as a people we see clear-
eyed what is right and just and honorable in inter-
national relations and have calmly apprehended what
our course should be, and then find that we have the
firmness of purpose and the courage for sacrifice, if
necessary, to demand effectively that, in return, any
other nation with which we maintain relations shall
follow a course that is also right and just and honor-
able, I believe you will then have had such a revelation
of our national character that there will follow true and
permanent national friendships. If this revelation of
character is such as I believe it will be, it will give to
you an understanding of our ideals and an appreciation
of our moral fiber that will bring a unity of sentiment
in these two continents more important to civilization
than all the trade relationships that we may ever hope
to build."
Mr. Samuel Hale Pearson, director of the Banco de
la Nacion Argentina, made a response to the addresses
on behalf of the visitors.
Plans for Pan-American Conference
The Pan-American financial conference called by Sec-
retary of the Treasury McAdoo, which will be attended
by at least fifty-seven delegates representing eighteen
of the twenty Latin-American republics — Haiti and
Mexico alone having no delegations — will meet in the
Pan-American building, Washington, D. C, commencing
on May 24. The opening address of welcome will be
made by President Wilson.
Secretary McAdoo and Prof. L. S. Rowe, Univer-
sity of Pennsylvania, who has been appointed secretary-
general of the conference, have devised methods to
permit intimate and definite discussion of the problems
of Latin- American countries. The conference will ac-
complish its practical work in round-table talks where
the delegates will meet a select number of prominent
bankers and business men and discuss and explain the
1338
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 21
particular problems of their own particular country.
There will also be general meetings to discuss these
questions of common interest to all American republics:
1. Present financial needs in national, state and local
governments ; nature and character of public loans ; how
secured ; rates of interest thereon ; where such loans
have been placed, and the price; possibility of placing
such loans in the United States; effect of the European
war on public revenues and expenditures; relations of
decline of public revenues to guarantees of payment of
interest and principal.
2. Normal and financial needs of public service com-
panies; present needs; character and nature of bonds or
obligations they offer; how secured, etc.; possible con-
ditions of financing in the United States ; effect of the
European war on such companies.
3. Normal financial needs of commerce, such, for in-
stance, as credit facilities; direct or dollar exchange;
possibility of adapting commercial credits in the United
States to the needs of Central and South America ;
effect of war on financing of foreign commerce.
4. Transportation between the United States and the
countries concerned ; improved postal service, money
orders, parcel past, etc.
Loss of Mr. I. B. Trumbull and Policy of Trumbull
Company
In connection with an announcement in last week's
issue regarding those who were on the steamship Lusi-
tania, which was sunk by a German submarine on May
7, the Electrical World published a statement that
the death of Mr. Isaac B. Trumbull, of Plainville, Conn.,
who was one of the passengers, had led his brothers in
the Trumbull Electric Manufacturing Company to de-
cide to embark on the manufacture of munitions of
war. Regarding this report Mr. J. B. Trumbull, the
president of the company, writes to the Electrical
World as follows:
"Our well-equipped plant is not running up to its full
capacity at this time, and for this reason alone we de-
cided to look into the question of manufacturing such
parts of munitions of war as could be conveniently got
out without interfering in any way with the efficient
service we endeavor to maintain in handling the elec-
trical lines. It was our sole object to utilize such idle
machinery and labor as we could in making up mate-
rial for export that prompted us to consider the matter,
and this matter was under consideration some time
before the sinking of the Lusitania.
"A local reporter picked up some information to the
effect that we were considering the manufacture of war
material and, connecting it with the death of our brother
Isaac, placed this company in an embarrassing position
by spreading the news broadcast, for we have been the
recipient of numerous inquiries from all parts of the
country.
"You will readily understand from these actual facts
that we have been misrepresented in this respect, and
we are anxious to have the statement corrected so that
it may become known that our policy remains un-
changed. Should anything further develop along this
line, we would consider it from a commercial standpoint
only, and no feeling of sentiment would enter into our
business transactions.
"While we feel that the sinking of the Luntania was
downright murder on a wholesale plan, still we do not
consider it a basil sufficiently strong to warrant jeop-
ardizing the lives of the citizena "t the United States
by entering into war with foreign countries, and I
thoroughly realize that this is the time when we have
•k to the executives of our national government to
give the matter serious thought, weighing well the loss
and gain of a nation rather than that of any one indi-
vidual.
"This is the policy which we have endeavored to carry
out through our own business, and while we cannot help
entertaining the feeling of resentment which exists at
the present time, still we have not for a moment per-
mitted this feeling to have any bearing on our business
policies or our desire to see fair play at every stage of
the game."
Electrical Exports in March
Electrical exports in March, 1915, are reported by
the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce as
follows :
Eight Months Ended
March March
1915 1914 ' ' 1915 1914
Batteries $166,041 $47,304 $685,206 $504,807
Dynamos or generators 236,305 376,985 1,610,442 1,980,676
Fans 20,533 54,718 119,439 343,108
Insulated wire and
cables 236,849 154,696 1,002,230 1,739,489
Interior wiring sup-
plies, etc., including
fixtures 65.159 50,182 4S3.231 553,841
Lamps :
Arc 2,409 2,686 27,404 68,997
Incandescent :
Carbon filament. 8,133 14,697 55,233 158,337
Metal filament... 42,963 14,188 315,445 170.868
Meters and other
measuring instru-
ments 41,305 262,054
.Motors 166,648 292,991 2,131,004 3,555,955
Static transformers.. 27,562 92,903 4S2.960 1,237,240
Telegraph instruments
( including wireless
apparatus) 7,335 6,062 58,404 95,907
Telephones 53,066 59,295 958,199 1,207,194
All other 587,363 937,625 5,675,841 8,211.717
Total electrical ex-
ports $1,661,671 $2,104,332 $13,867,092 $19,828,136
Brown & Sharpe Contract for Central-Station Service
One of the most important contracts for central-sta-
tion service ever concluded in New England has just
been signed by the Brown & Sharpe Manufacturing
Company of Providence, R. I., with the Narragansett
Electric Lighting Company. This manufacturer of pre-
cision tools, milling machines and apparatus of mechan-
ical interest has previously generated electrical energy
for lighting and power in its works in a high-grade pri-
vate plant, and the motor installation is one of the most
carefully planned in the country. In January the Nar-
ragansett company began work upon the problem of in-
troducing central-station service. A thorough engineer-
ing investigation and report led to the contract, which
involves about 4000 hp in connected load. The Narra-
gansett company will install two 11,000-volt, three-phase
underground cable lines from its waterside generating
plant in Providence to an outdoor substation on the fac-
tory premises, about a mile distant. Either line will
carry the load satisfactorily. It is expected that six
400-kw transformers will be required, and that these
will lie mounted on a concrete platform with convenient
switching and metering arrangements. The local motor
service is largely three-phase at 250-volt pressure, the
factory lighting being by direct current at 110 volts.
The Brown & Sharpe company also requires direct cur-
rent for magnetic chuck service and for variable-speed
motor operation in machine-tool drives. This service
will be handled by motor-generator sets installed at the
factory. About 800 motors varying in size from frac-
tional outputs to 50 hp are in use. Service will be begun
in about twelve weeks. The Brown & Sharpe company
will handle the heating service of the factory from the
present steam plant. An electric truck service is a fea-
ture of the load.
hai 11, jyii
K I. El l RICA L \V<> RLD
1339
Two < IMBmtMJOM \p|)iai>t' Washington Water
Power Company
Valuation of th.- property of the Washington Water
Power Company of Spokane, Wash., which was begun
recently by officials of the commissions of Washington
and Idaho, is expected to take about two months. The
work of collecting the necessary data is estimated to
cost $8,000. It ia expected that the commissions will
establish a valuation on which rates for all service will
be based. Idaho, though joining in the work, will pay
only about one-fifth of the cost, because the electric
railways, the larger electric-generating plants and the
more extensive distribution systems are in Washing-
ton. Because of the fact that the company operates
in two states some unusual difficulties are presented.
Progress of Electrification of Milwaukee Road
At a meeting of the Chicago Section of the American
Society of Mechanical Engineers, May 14, Mr. A. F.
Batchelder, chief engineer of the locomotive department
of the General Electric Company, Mr. A. H. Armstrong,
assistant engineer of the railway and traction depart-
ment of the same company, and Dr. W. F. M. Goss,
chief engineer for the committee investigating smoke
abatement and electrification of Chicago railway termi-
nals, were the principal speakers in an informal dis-
cussion of American steam-railway electrification.
Regarding progress on the Chicago, Milwaukee & St.
Paul Railroad electrification, Mr. Armstrong stated that
the overhead-line construction on the first engine di-
vision between Three Forks and Deer Lodge, a distance
of 113 miles, is completed and that the overhead work
on the second engine division is already well under way.
He added that twin trolley wires suspended from stag-
gered hangers would be used on this road to aid in
eliminating arcing at the hangers.
Convention of Fire Protection Association
Several important committee reports were presented
on the closing day of the nineteenth annual convention
of the National Fire Protection Association, held at the
Hotel Astor, New York City, May 11, 12 and 13, the
opening sessions of which were reported in these col-
umns last week. The committee reports were followed
by an interesting round-table discussion on the subject
of private fire-protection water connections to public
mains, with special reference to automatic sprinkler
connections to high-pressure systems.
The report of the committee on fire pumps, presented
by Mr. H. 0. Lacount, Boston, chairman, which was
accepted, contains eight pages of requirements for the
electrical operation and control of fire pumps. These
requirements cover power stations, transmission lines,
transformers, motors, and controlling and operating
equipment. The requirements are such as to render the
electrical equipment for fire pumps reliable, simple,
strong, durable and easy of operation. One rule states
that circuit-breakers protecting motors driving fire
pumps should be set at 400 per cent of normal motor
current, and that time-element relays must be provided
with squirrel-cage induction-motor drive.
The report of the committee on manufacturing risks
and special hazards was made by Mr. Benjamin Rich-
ards, Boston, chairman, and was confined to the subject
of cold-storage warehouses. In the case of fur storage
it was recommended that electric wiring in the cold-
storage rooms be so arranged that each section would
be controlled from outside the storeroom, the control
being installed in the main tower or passageway so that
all wiring inside the storage rooms will be disconnected
whin not in use. Portable lamps are not to be con-
nected inside rooms used for fur storage. Portable
lamps with wire guards and approved reinforced cord
may be used if connected and kept outside the doors of
the cold-storage rooms.
Election of Officers
The following officers were elected: President, Mr.
Charles E. Meek, New York City; first vice-president,
Mr. Louis Wiederhold, Jr., Philadelphia; second vice-
president, Mr. D. Everett Waid, New York City; secre-
tary-treasurer, Mr. Franklin H. Wentworth, Boston (re-
elected).
Mr. F. J. T. Stewart, New York City, was re-elected
chairman of the executive committee, and the following
were appointed members of the committee for a term of
three years: Messrs. H. W. Forster, Philadelphia; E. B.
Hatch, Chicago; H. O. Lacount, Boston; A. M. Schoen,
Atlanta, and Mason R. Strong, New York.
Hearing on Proposed Municipal Electrical Inspection
and Code for New York City
A hearing on a proposed ordinance outlining a mu-
nicipal electrical code and requiring property owners in
New York City to obtain city permits and to pay the
city for inspection of electric wiring was held at the
City Hall, New York City, May 14. Considerable ob-
jection to the proposed ordinance was evident on the
part of representatives of electrical, railway, real-
estate, insurance and other interests present. Under
existing conditions in New York City, inspections are
made by representatives of the Fire Underwriters, who
charge for this service, and the city and the electricity-
supply companies accept certificates.
Another conference of parties interested in and af-
fected by the proposed ordinance has been called by
Commissioner Williams of the Department of Water
Supply, Gas and Electricity for May 24.
The proposed New York City electrical code follows
closely the rules laid down in the 1913 edition of the
National Electrical Code, and as far as possible the
numbering of rules has been kept identical with those
of the National code. The proposed code differs, how-
ever, from the National code in a number of respects.
Wooden molding and concealed knob-and-tube work
are forbidden for interior wiring. Additional rules are
offered for the placing of wires of different systems on
the same poles, the revisions being on the side of in-
creased safety and more definite specifications. Sub-
services are permitted with both overhead and under-
ground construction, but the number of premises to be
supplied from one service cable is limited to five, except
in case of special permission.
The proposed rules for theater wiring differ mate-
rially from those of the National Electrical Code. One
proposed requirement is that all stage switchboards
must be of the dead-front type. The leads to an arc
lamp used as a part of the motion-picture machine and
its rheostat or equivalent device must be protected by a
plug cut-out or open-link fuses, the latter to be inclosed
in an improved conduit with self-closing door. Car-
tridge fuses for motion-picture machine work, which
are permissible according to the rules of the National
Electrical Code, would not be allowed by the proposed
New York code. With respect to miniature motion-
picture machines for home and lecture use the proposed
code is more drastic than the National Electrical Code.
Extensive rules are also laid down for garages, sub-
ways and other classes of installation not covered by
the National code.
1340
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 21
ELECTRIC ASSOCIATION OF OKLAHOMA
Public Relations, Commission Regulations, Customers' De-
posits and Plant Fuels Topics of Discussion
Nearly 150 delegates attended the fourth annual
convention of the Gas, Electric & Street Railway Asso-
ciation of Oklahoma, held at the Lee-Huckins Hotel,
Oklahoma City, May 12 and 13. Mayor Edward Over-
holser welcomed the delegates at the opening session,
and was followed by President George W. Knox, general
manager of the Oklahoma Railway Company, who de-
livered his official address.
In this Mr. Knox analyzed the living expenses of the
average family and showed that the lowest average
expenditures are made for the items of light, heat and
car fare. Still, it is upon the industries which furnish
these that almost the whole cost of regulation is placed.
Furthermore, while the prices of other things have
risen, the cost of light, heat and car fare have all
decreased.
The Public Is Reasonable in Its Demands
Most of the troubles of the utility corporations, de-
clared Mr. Knox, could have been averted by a unified,
honestly conducted campaign of public education by the
companies, throwing open all records and giving unre-
strictedly all information asked by the public. "In my
twenty-five years' experience in handling public proper-
ties," he continued, "I have yet to find a single instance
where the utility companies have not been given fair
consideration by the public and its servants after the
true situation had been explained and understood.
"If, with the rates you have and the amount of busi-
ness being done, you are not coming out on the right
side of the ledger and making fair returns, take the
public into your confidence," advised Mr. Knox. "Show
it how and why you are not making ends meet. Although
it may be a little difficult to demonstrate to it that you
should have an increase in your rates, you will get it.
The public is amenable in such matters."
Mr. A. L. Mullergren followed with a paper on "The
Modern Generating Station," and Messrs. E. H. Hunter
and L. G. Purtee read papers on "The Comparative Fuel
Values of Oil, Gas and Coal." Abstracts of these, with
the resulting discussions, will be presented in a later
issue.
Sale of Supplies by Central Stations
The first paper of the afternoon session was read by
Mr. Galen Crow, Guthrie, on "The Purchase, Care
and Sale of Supplies and Energy-Consuming Devices by
Public Utility Companies," and occasioned a very lively
discussion on the subject of the relation of the utility
to the local contractor. The difference was pointed out
between large and small communities, in the latter of
which it is often impossible for a good or capable con-
tractor to support himself. There are not more than
three or four cities in Oklahoma which will support a
responsible electrical contractor and dealer continu-
ously. The question of the cut prices made by depart-
ment stores and hardware stores was taken up, and the
difficulty of control of that side of the industry was
made evident.
Mr. M. J. Wolf. St. Louis, Mo., took the lead against
the arguments urged by Mr. Crow, and endeavored to
show the close relation between utility company, con-
tractor, jobber and manufacturer.
A compilation of valuable data was presented to the
convention by Messrs. R, W. Stinson and H. I.ivergood
in their analysis of electrk ervice rates in Oklahoma.
Relation! Between Company and Customer
At the Friday morning session the first paper was
Mr. N. R. Gascho, manager of the Alva Light A
Power Company, and the first president of the associa-
tion. Mr. Gascho's subject was "Public Utilities, Their
Customers and the Public." Mr. Gascho enjoys ex-
tremely happy relations with his consumers. A large
part of the discussion was devoted to the meter-deposit
system, the guarantee deposit system, and the per-
sonal guarantee system, as related to the no-charge or
credit system to insure collection of bills. Mr. Crow,
of the Public Service Company, in charge of the Guth-
rie plant, declared that a public service company is as
much entitled to a credit department as is a business
institution, and that the deposit or guarantee or its
absence should be at the discretion of a credit man.
The different customs of the companies with respect
to meter testing were also brought out. Some com-
panies do testing upon the basis that the consumer pays
for the test if he is in the wrong. Mr. Gascho opposed
this idea, because he said it only tends to breed dis-
content and does more damage than the dollar collected
could possibly repay.
Utility Appraisals and Physical Equipment
The closing paper of the convention was on "Utility
Appraisals Under Order No. 774 of the Corporation
Commission of Oklahoma," presented by Mr. George B
Saunders, Oklahoma City. Mr. Harold Bozell, consult-
ing engineer, who has been doing appraisal work under
this and similar orders, led the discussion and brought
up the point that the commission does not call for a full
appraisal bringing the plant to "present value," as
claimed by Mr. Saunders, but that the meaning of the
commission is that the report should be only the "orig-
inal cost," which includes the real overhead charges
such as engineering, franchise cost, organization, legal,
accident or liability insurance, taxes, interest and mis-
cellaneous general expenses. The commission has not
asked for the intangibles, and there is no place for them
in the accounts provided for the commission. The com-
mission, however, does not expect to omit these items
in a valuation for rate purposes, but they are matters
of doubt, whereas the original cost is theoretically a
matter of record. It is for a complete list and cost
sheet of all property now in use for the public service
that the commission asks. In event of a rate case in-
volving any property, there would have to be settled
the questions of depreciation, working capital, bond dis-
count, going-concern value, etc. Mr. Mussen, engineer
for the commission, confirmed the interpretation by Mr
Bozell. He stated, however, that it was perfectly proper
for an owner to make claim, in an attached exhibit, for
the inclusion of such intangibles as he considered be-
longed to the property, in the event of a rate case
coming up later, adding that the percentages might be
added which it was thought should be added in such a
case. The position of the commission is that it feels
that the history of the plant has considerable weight
in its present value for rate purposes, and that this is
the reason the commission is calling for this original-
cost report and asking for the actual figures expended
whenever they can be produced. In general, the paper
was conceded to present a good analysis of the difficul-
ties of valuation, although it emphasized some points
not included under Order No. 771.
Election of Officers
The following officers were elected: President. Mr
\V. .1. Dibbens, Guthrie: first vice-president, Mr. Hugh
J. Cooper, Weatherford ; second vice-president, Mr. C.
II. Kretz. Okmulgee; directors, Mr. C. S. Dawley. Ok-
mulgee; Mr. Lincoln Beerbower, Enid; Mr. Fred W
Insull. Oklahoma City, and Mr. .1. .1. Johnson. Oklahoma
City; secretary-treasurer, Mr. H. V. Bozell, Norman.
Okia.
May 22, 1916
ELECTRICAL WORLD
1341
Miscellaneous News Notes
Detroit Adopts Eastern Time — Detroit has adopted East-
rn standard time, the change having gone into effect on
May 16. I'nder the new "daylight-saving" schedule, local
factories and retail stores will open an hour earlier in the
morning and close an hour earlier in the afternoon.
Pacific I ".i-i Hearing! on Bureau of Standards Safety
' ode.— Dr. E. B. Rosa and Mr. \V. .1. Canada, of the Bureau
of Standards, recently held a two days' bearing and spent
part of a day inspecting outside and inside plant condi-
tions at Los Angeles, Cal., in connection with the bureau's
contemplated safety code. Further hearings on the Pacific
Coast are to be held at San Francisco, Portland and Seattle.
Electric Pumping Results in Increased Profit for Oil
1 oaipsiiy. — The directors of the Kern River Oilfields of
California, Ltd., in their last annual report state that the
increased profit earned by the company was obtained by
the more extensive use of electric pumping and by rigid
economy in other respects. According to latest reports, the
company was pumping 230 wells electrically, and eleven by
steam.
W ireless Station as Courtroom. — Judge Van Vechten
Veeder ordered that his court convene at the Sayville (Long
Island) wireless-telegraph station on May 20, in order to
obtain further direct knowledge of the differences between
the Marconi and Telefunken systems of radiotelegraphy
disputed in the suit brought against the Atlantic Communi-
cation Company by the Marconi Wireless Telegraph Com-
pany. Previous hearings, as noted in these columns, have
been held in the United States District Court in Brooklyn.
St. Louis' New Charter Contains Radical Clause. — The
newly elected Board of Aldermen of St. Louis, Mo., accord-
ing to a clause in the city's new charter, "shall have the
power to condemn private property, real or personal, or any
easement of use therein, for public use within or without
the city or State, or to acquire, construct, own, operate and
maintain or sell, lease, mortgage, pledge or otherwise dis-
pose of public utilities or any estate or interest therein, or
any other utility of service to the city, its inhabitants, or
any part thereof."
Electric Light the Best Policeman. — To stop the nightly
depredations of persons who had formed the habit of carry-
ing off the inmates of his hencoops, a farmer near Chicago
installed in his barnyard six 1000-watt nitrogen-filled lamps
equipped with reflectors and controlled from a switch in his
bedroom. When the customary commotion took place, the
owner closed the switch lighting the lamps and "took a
pot shot" at the intruders with a shotgun. Since their
first experience, the trespassers are declared to have let
that electrically protected chicken coop severely alone.
Plan to Reduce Number of Poles by Joint Use. — Mr. Clay-
ton W. Pike, chief of the Philadelphia Electrical Bureau,
hopes to reduce the number of poles in the city by encourag-
ing their use jointly by local utility companies. There are
at present approximately 87,000 poles in the city, the annual
increase being about 2000. At a conference with represent-
atives of the Philadelphia utility companies a committee con-
sisting of Messrs. A. H. Manwaring of the Philadelphia
Electric Company, J. E. Stockwell of the Keystone Tele-
phone Company and J. P. Hayward of the Bell Telephone
Company was appointed to consider the problem and to sug-
gest means for carrying out the project.
Restrictive Electric-Sign Ordinance Vetoed at Columbus.
— The ordinance recently passed by the Columbus (Ohio)
City Council restricting the installation of electric signs
has been vetoed by the Mayor, following appeals by local
merchants. The ordinance thus nullified limited signs from
projecting more than 12 in. beyond the building line, but
a new compromise act now agreed upon will permit the
erection of overhanging electric signs having at least two
4-cp bulbs per square foot of surface. Where such signs
are 9 ft. to 29 ft. above the street, they may extend 5 ft.
6 in. beyond the building line. Above 29 ft. they may ex-
tend 9 ft. beyond the building line, or if hinged so as to
be swung in during the daytime, 14 ft. beyond the line.
When erected on roofs not less than 39 ft. above the
street signs are permitted to extend 14 ft. beyond the build-
ing line.
I i.ih to Intervene in Water-Right Suit. — It is reported
that the State- of Utah will intervene in the cases of the
United States versus the Beaver River Power Company and
the I'nited States versus the Beaver River Power Company
and L. L. Munn. A decree in favor of the federal govern-
ment has been entered in the federal District Court and the
cases are now to go before the Supreme Court of the United
States on a direct appeal. The State authorities will take
the stand that the water-power rights involved are bene-
ficial to the citizens of Utah and that the State and not the
d government should have power to control it. Should
the holdings of the lower court be sustained, the State de-
clares that its rights and those of its citizens will be
jeopardized. It is further asserted that the use of water on
government land in Utah will interfere with future develop-
ments and the acquiring of capital to develop the State's
resources.
Welfare Work of the Detroit Edison Company. — In an ad-
dress before 350 University of Michigan graduates at the
Hotel Statler, Detroit, Mich., on May 12, Mr. Alex Dow,
president of the Edison Illuminating Company of Detroit,
told of the company's welfare work for its employees, enu-
merating the recreation field, the boat club on the river, the
rest homes in the vicinity of Ann Arbor where sick em-
ployees may recuperate on full pay, the educational classes,
the loan fund to keep employees from the grasp of "loan
sharks," and the compensation schedule, which he said rec-
ompenses the heirs of an employee killed on duty to a great-
er extent than the Michigan State law requires. "The aver-
age rate of our wages has increased 13 per cent in the last
few years," said Mr. Dow. "We had to do something to at
least try to keep up with the increased cost of living."
Speaking of old-age pensions, Mr. Dow mentioned the com-
pany's system based on a 3 or 4 per cent contribution from
the salaries of employees, added to the fund set aside by
the company.
Library Service Bureau. — The United Engineering Li-
brary (Engineering Societies Building, New York City) is
installing a Library Bureau Service similar to the former
Library Service Bureau of the Chemists' Club. For the
purpose of inaugurating this service, the three founder
societies of the mining, mechanical and electrical engineers
will provide the necessary funds, but the bureau is expected
to become self-supporting. The object of the bureau will
be to place the facilities of the United Engineering Library
at the disposal of anybody anywhere. Its work will con-
sist in supplying reference cards on articles published any-
where on any special technical subject desired, in supplying
copies of articles or of parts of books, translating articles
from foreign languages, making searches on any technical
subject, etc. This work will be done at cost. Mr. E. Gybbon
Spilsbury is the chairman of the library service committee,
which will act in advisory co-operation with the executive
committee of the library board of the United Engineering
Society, of which Dr. Samuel Sheldon is the chairman.
Licensing Ordinance Creates Deadlock at Evansville, Ind.
— Electrical contractors of Evansville, Ind., are at present
handicapped by an unusual condition which has resulted
from the enactment of a city ordinance requiring all electric-
al workers to pass examinations as to their competency to
do electrical work. The ordinance is in dispute, and a hear-
ing on a suit to test its validity is set for June 9. In the
meantime the city officials are declining to inspect work or
to permit turning on service for work not inspected where
the work has been performed by wiremen not qualified by
examination, while, on the other hand, the electrical work-
ers' union has instructed its members not to take the exami-
nations under penalty of a ten-dollar fine, besides ordering
those who have done so off their jobs. This is, of course, the
contractors' busy season, and all the Evansville contractors
are short-handed. Few have been successful in getting
wiremen from other cities who are capable of passing the
examinations. No arrests have been made by the city au-
thorities for violation of the measure, since it is believed
that the courts would hardly pass on such cases while the
law under which the arrests were made remains in doubt.
The contractors favor the measure, but want some means
provided by which they can get their work done. The mo-
tion-picture operators have indorsed the ordinance and have
all passed their examinations.
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 21
Associations and Societies
Faraday Club of Worcester, Mass. — The Faraday Club,
an organization of the employees of the Worcester (Mass.)
Electric Light Company, at its annual meeting on May 11
elected Mr. Harry D. Learnard president, Mr. A. B. Sprague
secretary, and Mr. F. L. Vaughn treasurer.
Isolated Plant Service Discussed. — During the annual
convention of the National Association of Hosiery and Un-
derwear Manufacturers, held in Philadelphia in the first
week of May, an address was delivered by Mr. C. M. Ripley,
a consulting electrical engineer of New York, on isolated
plant service.
New York Section, E. V. A. — "Electric Vehicle Charging
Apparatus" will be discussed by representatives of manu-
facturers of charging equipment at a meeting of the New
York Section of the Electric Vehicle Association of America
to be held in the Consolidated Gas Company Building, 130
East Fifteenth Street, May 25, at 8:15 p.m.
National Gas Engine Association. — The annual conven-
tion of the National Gas Engine Association will be held
at the Hotel La Salle, Chicago, June 23 and 24. Among
the papers to be presented is one by Mr. Charles H. Roth,
Chicago, on farm lighting plants. Mr. H. R. Brate, Lake-
mont, N. Y., is secretary of the association.
Officers of Chicago Section, A. S. M. E. — By unanimous
vote of the members, officers for the Chicago Section of the
American Society of Mechanical Engineers were elected for
1915 as follows: Chairman, Mr. H. M. Montgomery; vice-
chairman, Mr. Joseph Harrington, and secretary, Mr. R. E.
Thayer. Mr. S. G. Neiler is retiring chairman of the section.
New York Electrical Society. — At an informal smoker
held by the New York Electrical Society, May 19, Messrs. J.
M. Wakeman and H. W. Alexander of the Society for Elec-
trical Development told of the latter society's work and its
plans for "Electrical Prosperity Week." The evening was
concluded with a presentation of the society's motion-picture
film, "This Is the Life."
New York Jovian League. — At the luncheon of the New
York Jovian Electrical League at the Hotel Martinique on
May 19, Mr. George Weiderman, of the George Weiderman
Electric Company, Inc., was chairman of the day. Mr. A. C.
Kingman, of the Western Electric Company, gave a talk,
illustrated with stereopticon slides, on the Pacific Coast ex-
positions at San Francisco and San Diego. Mr. J. S. Rick-
ard talked on the Jovian Order,
Chicago Electric Club Hears Mayor Thompson. — Mr. Wil-
liam Hale Thompson, the newly elected Mayor of Chicago,
was the speaker at the meeting of the Electric Club of Chi-
cago, May 13. A resolution highly commending the work of
Mr. Ray Palmer, commissioner of electricity, in reconstruct-
ing the city's street-lighting system was passed by the club.
The Electric Club also unanimously voted to change its name
to "The Electric Club — Jovian League" as the first step to-
ward a consolidation with the Chicago Jovian League.
"Button Fines" Fill Jovian Treasury at Louisville. — A sys-
tem of fines has been inaugurated at the weekly luncheon
meetings of the Louisville Jovians, which is expected to con-
tribute to the growth of the local league's treasury. Each
member has been furnished with a big red button bearing
his name and that of his company, in order to expedite in-
troductions. Each man who attends is asked to wear his
button at all luncheons. If he fails, he is fined 10 cents,
which goes into the treasury. Louisville Jovians will hold a
moonlight river excursion on the steamer Corona on the eve-
ning of May 25.
I. E. S. Popular Lectures. — At a meeting of the council of
the Illuminating Engineering Society held on May 13, Prof.
C. E. Clewell, chairman of the committee on popular lec-
tures, stated that the committee has in preparation five pop-
ular lectures on industrial, store, office and residence light-
ing, and on the fundamentals of light and illumination. It
is intended that these lectures shall present in simple and
attractive form the elementary principles involved. Copies
of each lecture, together with suitable lantern slides, will lie
'••(I available for loan tn those who desire to deliver
popular lertures on lighting. The manuscripts have been
prepared for the li lence lighting, and
these will ihortlj d for approval by the council.
Association of Municipal Electricians. — The International
Association of Municipal Electricians will hold its 1915 con-
vention at Cincinnati, Ohio, Aug. 24, 25 and 26, with head-
quarters at the Hotel Gibson. Mr. Clarence R. George.
Houston, Tex., is secretary.
Philadelphia Meter Division Meeting. — More than 200 at-
tended the annual banquet of the electric meter division of
the Philadelphia Section of the National Electric Light As-
sociation on May 6, at the Hotel Adelphia. Mr. William
C. L. Elgin, vice-president of the Philadelphia Electric Com-
pany, acted as toastmaster. The following made short ad-
dresses: Messrs. Joseph B. McCall and Walter H. Johnson,
president and vice-president respectively of the Philadel-
phia Electric Company; Washington Devereux, chief of the
Fire Underwriters' Association, and Clarence A. Stimpson.
Electric Club of Cincinnati — The Electric Club of Cincin-
nati, composed of officers and executives of electrical con-
cerns in the city, has been formally organized, with officer.-
as follows: President, Mr. Thomas J. Ryan; first vice-presi-
dent, Mr. L. T. Milnor; second vice-president, Mr. A. M. Wil-
son; secretary-treasurer, Mr. A. L. Reichmann, and execu-
tive committee, Messrs. W. W. Freeman, Walter Draper and
J. A. Brett. A dinner preceded the organization meeting, at
which Mr. J. W. Schrantz, head of the local branch of the
Jovian Order, presided as toastmaster. The club has fifty
members and will hold monthly meetings.
Ohio Electrical Contractors' Association. — The annual con-
vention of the Ohio Electrical Contractors' Association, held
at the Havlin Hotel, Cincinnati, May 12 and 13, was attend
ed by about twenty-five members of the organization, al-
though Cincinnati and outside jobbing representatives in-
creased the number present to forty or more. With Presi-
dent Charles Aull, of Cincinnati, presiding, the first day of
the convention was devoted exclusively to business and the
discussion of trade topics. The second day was given over
to entertainment in charge of a committee headed by Mr. A
C. Beattie, of the Beattie Electrical Company. After an au-
tomobile tour of the city, the guests were taken to the quar-
ters of the Ohio River Launch Club for dinner. After this
the party boarded the launch Margaret, owned by Mr. W. H
Hubbell, of the Cincinnati Fire Prevention Bureau, for a trip
to Fernbank Dam. The officers elected by the association
were: President, Mr. W. H. Bothwell, Youngstown, succeed-
ing Mr. Charles Aull; vice-president, Mr. W. H. Harrington.
Cleveland, succeeding Mr. Charles Hall, Dayton; secretary.
Mr. Buchan, Cleveland, succeeding Mr. Frank Grant, Cleve-
land, and treasurer, Mr. W. G. Reuter (re-elected).
Missouri Public Utilities Association. — At the conventior
of the Missouri Public Utilities Association to be held May
27 to 30 on board the steamer Quincy during a cruise on the
Mississippi, Ohio, Cumberland and Tennessee Rivers the fol-
lowing papers of interest to electrical men will be presented
"The Duty of the Modern Public Utility Toward the Public
It Serves," by Mr. H. C. Porter of St. Joseph, Mo.; "The
Ideal Lighting and Power Installation for a Small City," by
Mr. J. D. Bowles of Jefferson City; "Financing and Valua-
tion of Public Utilities," by Mr. C. F. Enright of St. Joseph;
"Power House Economies," by Mr. E. J. Billings of St. Jo-
seph; "The Relation Between the Missouri Association and
the Public Utilities Commission," by Mr. J. H. Van Brunt of
St. Joseph, and "Appraisal and Rate Regulation," by Mr. R
E. McDonnell of Kansas City, Mo. In addition to the writ-
ten papers a free and thorough discussion of "Customers'
Complaints" has been planned. Topics to be covered in this
discussion are: The attitude of employees toward the public;
separation of application and complaint departments where
the business is heavy enough to support the dual office; in
stilling as the motto of the application and complaint depart-
ments, "Get acquainted with the consumer"; course toward
a consumer who, owing the company money, applies for
service while delinquent; improvement of service from com-
plaints and questions received at the complaint desk; return-
ing consumers' deposits after they have established their
credit with the utility; handling securities for deposits; the
policy of allowing utilities to charge bad debts to operation
expense; preventing wrong readings of meters; grounded
electric circuits as cause for adjustment; basis of adjust-
ment if a meter is found creeping; prepayment meters as a
cause or a remedv *or complaints; handling the matter of
cash <"«" n dispute, etc.
M n 22, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
1343
Public Service Commission News
t olorado < ommiMian
The Colorado Electric Light, PoweT A Railway Association
oenl as 8 result of the failure to secure an
amendment to the public utilities law providing that certif-
of public convenience and necessity must be secured
from the Public Utilities Commission before plants are con-
structed. The association refers to the ait ion taken by so-
called "raiders" who have secured sometimes competitive
franchises, although the result is that in the end the competi-
tive plant is acquired ami merged with the existing utility.
The result of such a raid is to give a community sometimes
an ephemeral lowering of rates, followed, upon the cessation
of hostilities, by the restoration of something more than the
old rate scale, but such restoration frequently does not result
in sufficient increase in earnings to wipe out entirely the
losses of the fight, ami therefore investors suffer.
Missouri Commission
A summary of the recent valuation of the property of the
Kansas City Electric Light Company has been made, as
follows:
The work of the commission, in determining the value of
the property of the Kansas City I. Mo.) Electric Light Com-
pany, was in two parts, as was the report of the company
made in February, 1914. An appraisal was made by the
engineers of the commission, independent of any of the
company's records, as to the cost to reproduce the property,
on the basis of both cost new and depreciated value. The
values on these two bases, determined by the engineers of
the commission, were: Cost new, $7,054,499; present value,
$5,713,882. These two values represent not only the prop-
erty of the Kansas City Electric Light Company, but also
that of its subsidiaries — the Kansas City Heating Company,
Standard Electric Light Company and Electric Truck Com-
pany. The values are as of Nov. 30, 1914.
summary of yam Present
Cost New Value
Commission accountants
Kansas CM n.pany $5,306,1 44 (3,995,722
K..i ting i lompany •
Standard Electric Light Company *_•:::. lmii.ihmi
Stores and cash 36,906
$6,954,603 $5,573,547
Additions. — February to Movembei inclu
sive 302,000 140,000
$7,256,603 $5,713,547
Engineers' values 7,054,499 5,713,681'
Company's value
From books, eliminating bond discount.... 7,149,475 5,676,988
Appraised value, I ond discount 7,023,064 5,966,395
•BYom company's i •
-tKrom engineers' report — not givi tntant
The value returned by the company as of Feb. 1, 1914,
was: Cost new, $7,265,272; present value, $0,129,605. New
property was added to the plant account between the date
of the company's report (Feb. 1. 1914) and that of the
commission's report (Nov. 30, 1914), representing a cost
new or present value of $225,000. Thus the company's
appraised value, as of Nov. 30, 1914, would be $7,490,272
cost new, or $6,354,605 present value.
The commission did not consider bond discount as a
capital charge item. The company's report included as the
cost of bond discount $467,208 for cost new and $388,210 for
present value. Deducting bond discount, the company's
reported totals were: Cost new, $7,023,064; present value,
$5,966,395. Therefore, eliminating the item of bond dis-
count, the commission's estimate of the "cost to reproduce
new" is approximately $30,000 in excess of that claimed by
the company, and the present value of the property is ap-
proximately $250,000 less than thai claimed by the com-
pany. The decreased depreciated value is due to the fact
that ten months' additional depreciation was taken into ac-
count in the commission's figures, while depreciation was
applied on the items of underground conduit and meters;
these items were not depreciated in the company's report.
Although the commission made a thorough investigation
of both the Standard Electric Light Company and the
Kansas City Heating Company, the report of the commis-
sion's chief accountant deals solely with the Kansas City
Electric Light Company. The accountant's report does not
take cognizance of working capital. The commission's en-
gineers allowed for these items: Kansas City Electric Light
M 23,303, cash $376,800; Kansas City Heat-
ing Company, stores $13,603, cash $23,200; total all com-
panies, stor. ash $400,000; total, $536,906.
The books of the company show the investment (or cost
new) in the Kansas City Heating Company, as of Jan. 31,
1914, as 1888,568, and in the Standard Electric Light Com-
pany for the same date as $273,013, or, for the two prop-
. (1,111,666. With the working capital the total is
-.171'.
The commission's report shows that the value of the
Kansas City Electric Light Company alone, as disclosed by
its records, is $6,264,430. From this the accountant de-
ducted $958,286, giving a total value of the property alone
now in existence of $5,306,144.
Of the deductions made by the commission the company
has already deducted $605,610. Further deductions are
recommended by the commission and acquiesced in by the
company because of superseded property not yet written off,
aggregating $107,236, making for these two items $713,846.
The commission has further deducted bond discount of
$231,186 and $14,253, or $245,439. The aggregate of these
items is $958,285. The last item represents the cost to the
light company of a steam-heating system purchased from
the Edison company in 1900, and in the commission's report
this has been eliminated on the basis that it constitutes a
part of the steam-heating plant and is not a portion of the
light plant.
The commission, therefore, has deducted approximately
$340,000 from the company's total, of which $231,186 repre-
sents bond discount and $107,000 represents items the deduc-
tion of which the company recognizes as a fair procedure
and is willing to make. After these total deductions of the
commission there remains: The plant value of the Kansas-
City Electric Light Company (as per its books of Jan. 31),
$5,306,144. From which the depreciation reserve of $1,310,-
422 is deducted, leaving a depreciated plant value of the
Kansas City Electric Light Company alone of $3,995,722.
Between Jan. 31, 1914, and Nov. 30, 1914 (according to the
commission) there was added new property aggregating
$302,000. The depreciation reserve in the same period was
increased $162,000, making an addition to the depreciated
value of $140,000.
Pennsylvania Commission
Governor Brumbaugh sent to the Senate on May 19 his
nominations for members of the commission. He retained
only two of the old members, Messrs. Samuel W. Penny-
packer and M. J. Brecht. The new members of the commis-
sion are Messrs. John S. Rilling, Erie, nine-year term; Wil-
liam A. Magee, Pittsburgh, eight years; John Monoghan,
Philadelphia, six years; Edgar R. Kiess, Williamsport, five
years, and William D. B. Rainey, Montrose, four years.
Chairman Pennypacker is named for the ten-year term and
Mr. Brecht for seven years.
Wisconsin Commission
The commission has ordered the Wisconsin-Minnesota
Light & Power Company to enlarge the capacity of its dis-
tribution system and service installations for heating serv-
ice in La Crosse and to keep a systematic record of tem-
perature, differential pressure and flowage conditions in its
system. The order is the result of an alleged inadequacy
of service due to insufficient capacity of mains and to a
deteriorated temperature-regulating system. In order to
improve its service further the company is ordered to in-
stall at its own expense hydraulic thermostats in lieu of the
existing pneumatically operated thermostats; to control and
keep locked valves connecting mains with service installa-
tions; to specify the size and location of service installa-
tions, to install such equipment, and, if installed by others,
to require that the plans for such installation be submitted
to and approved by it prior to the granting of service. It is
the intention of the commission that the company alone shall
be responsible for the standard of service. The request of
the defendant that it be permitted to discontinue the fur-
nishing of heat to certain of its present consumers where
the service has been unsatisfactory was denied by the
commission. The company will be required to make further
improvements should those now ordered prove insufficient.
The commission will, however, entertain a petition for an
increase in rates if such increase is necessary to give ade-
quate service.
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 21
Personal
Mr. A. L. Sigler is contract agent for the Mobile Electric
Company of Mobile, Ala.
Mr. J. E. Cornell has succeeded Mr. C. M. Shaw as man-
ager of the Needles (Cal.) Gas & Electric Company.
Mr. John G. Barber has succceeded Mr. John Coffee Hays
as president of the Yosemite Power Company, La Grange,
Cal.
Mr. W. H. Francis, of the Edison Electric Illuminating
Company of Boston, Mass., has been elected president of
the Association of Edison Purchasing Agents.
Mr. Max Vestal, formerly electrical engineer of the
Yakima Valley Transportation Company, North Yakima,
Wash., has been appointed superintendent of way and equip-
ment.
Mr. Fred S. Wheeler, who has been in the employ of
the General Electric Company for four years, has resigned
to become chief electrical engineer for the Seward Dredg-
ing Company of New York. Mr. Wheeler is now on his
way to Alaska.
Mr. Thomas Milliard, of St. Catharines, Ont., who has
been appointed secretary of the Canadian government pur-
chasing commission which has charge of expenditures for
war material, is an electrical engineer and was for a num-
ber of years sales manager for the Canadian General Elec-
tric Company and later for the Canadian Crocker- Wheeler
Company. Mr. Hilliard's new headquarters will be in the
Booth Building, Ottawa.
Mr. William J. Barker, vice-president and general man-
ager of the Denver (Col.) Gas & Electric Company, has
returned to his office after having been confined to his room
for several months, following an injury to his hip by a fall
last December. The appearance of Mr. Barker at his office
was the signal for a general reception by the employees of
the company, who enthusiastically greeted the manager on
his return to active duties.
Mr. Thomas F. Kelly, formerly sales manager of the
Dayton Power & Light Company, Dayton, Ohio, has been
elected to the position of commercial manager by the com-
pany's board of directors, and with Mr. O. H. Hutchings,
associate general manager of the company, will have charge
of the activities of the company in the absence of Mr. Tait,
who has moved to New York City to become associated
with the Brady interests, which own the Dayton property.
Mr. Henry L. Doherty was given a dinner at Davidson's,
New York, on the evening of May 14, his forty-fifth birth-
day, by more than a hundred of his co-workers. In his
remarks Mr. Doherty asked every employee of the central
office to help in working out a plan that would increase
the contentment of the men, particularly in the smaller
plants. He paid a tribute to Elbert Hubbard, who lost his
life when the Lusitania was sunk by a German submarine.
An entertainment program was furnished by members of
the staff.
Mr. Alexander Mackenzie has been elected president of
the Brazilian Traction, Light & Power Company, Ltd., to
fill the vacancy created by the death of Dr. F. S. Pearson,
who perished on the Lusitajwi. Mr. MacKenzie was also
elected president of the Rio de Janeiro Tramway, Light &
Power Company, Ltd., the Sao Paulo Tramway, Light &
Power Company, Ltd., and the Sao Paulo Electric Com-
pany, Ltd., by the boards of these companies. Mr. Mac-
Kenzie has been prominently identified with the Brazilian
companies since their inception and was for many years
general counsel and resident vice-president in Brazil.
Prof. Heike Kamerlingh Onnes, to whom was awarded the
Franklin Medal at Franklin Institute on the evening of
May 19, was born on Sept. 21, 1853, at Groningen, Holland,
where his father was engaged in the manufacturing busi-
ness. In 1882 he and Prof. II. A. I.orent.z were appointed
professors of physics in the University of Leiden. Professor
Onnes devoted his energies to the creation of a laboratory
for experimental research. Professor Lorentz directed his
work mostly in the fields of theoretical and mntheniMtn.il
physics. The representative work of the laboratory has
baan in the field of molecular physics, and particularly in
research at low temperatures. In latei jreail the Nether
lands government had granted considerable appropriations
for the extension and equipment of the laboratory and thus
permitted a new era of constantly increasing low-tempera-
ture research. On July 10, 1908, the gas helium was re-
duced to the liquid state. In the last few years Professor
Onnes has made remarkable discoveries with reference to
the electrical resistance of certain metals at temperatures
only a few degrees above the absolute zero of temperature.
Mr. Douglass Burnett, who was elected chairman of the
Commercial Section of the National Electric Light Asso-
ciation to succeed Mr. E. L. Callahan at the time of Mr.
Callahan's resignation in February, was formerly vice-
chairman of the section and
for the last eleven years has
been manager of the electri-
cal commercial department
of the Consolidated Gas,
Electric Light & Power Com-
pany of Baltimore, Md. Mr.
Burnett was born in Brook-
lyn, N. Y., received his early
. schooling there, and was
graduated from the scientific
school of the Brooklyn Poly-
technic Institute in 1890.
Later he had charge of
classes in physics and chem-
istry in the local manual-
training high school, and for
five years served as instruc-
tor of chemistry at Pratt In-
stitute, Brooklyn. Entering
the employ of the New York Edison Company in 1894, he
was made inspector of isolated plants, and later was ap-
pointed superintendent of the "annual survey," in charge
of testing customers' installations and feeder mains. In
1897 he became assistant general agent of the company's
wholesale department, with direct charge of canvassing
for service to new buildings and to isolated plants. It was
on Feb. 1, 1904, that Mr. Burnett joined the staff of the
Baltimore company's electrical department, assuming his
duties less than a week before the great fire of 1904, so
that he was called upon to meet severe conditions under the
stress of that emergency. Mr. Burnett has been active in
the work of the Commercial Section since it was first
founded, and at the time of his election to chairmanship
of the body was one of its vice-chairmen as well as chair-
man of its finance committee.
DOUGLASS BURNETT
Obituary
Edwin W. Crocker, for the last fifteen years superin-
tendent of the East Haddam Electric Light Company's plant
at East Haddam, Conn., was killed by electric shock May 9.
when he accidentally came in contact with a wire on which
he was working.
Frank W. Balfour, a veteran district manager of the
Southern California Edison Company, died at Pomona, Cal.,
on April 25. He was the first district manager of the
Southern California Power Company and was retained in
the same capacity when the Southern California Edison
Company took over the properties.
George Maurice, manager of the heating and lighting de-
partment of the General Electric Company, Ltd., of London,
England, and one of the directors of the company, was a
passenger on the steamship LuBxtatlia, which was sunk by
a German submarine on May 7, and is reported lost. Mr.
Maurice had been in this country for several weeks. As he
had mnde numerous trips here he had many friends in the
country.
Walter S. Wllght, attorney of the Southern California
Edison Company, died at his home in Pasadena, Cal., May
1. after an Illness of m\ weeks. Mr. Wright, with William
K. Staats and (leorge S. Baker, was one of the organizers
of the West Side Electric Company of Los Angeles, which
finally became the Southern California Edison Company.
Mr. Wright had been a leader in the legal profession and
in important improvements of a semi-public nature in the
vicinity of Los Angeles for thirty years.
. I'M.",
K I. K< i 1: 1 ( A I. WO \l I.D
Corporate and Financial
Associated (ias & Electric Company. Ne» ^ c.rk. N. V.—
Daring the jreai ended Dee. 81, 1914, Uk accord-
ing to its annual report, disposed of its aecuritiea of the
Cam impany and the Bornell Gaa Liglr
pany, and acquired a further interest in the Kentucky Pub-
lic Service Company and the Norwich Gaa A Electric
pany, besides acquiring the remaining outstanding bonds of
the Ithaca Electric Light Ai Power Company. I
retired $19,000 bonds of underlying companies and canceled
$213,000 of its own first mortgage bonds and collateral-
trust 5 per cent gold bonds. The statement for the year
follow - :
Gross earnings from operation. 1631 548
39si760
Net earnings from operation $139 788
Other ir
Interest and dividends ^7,354
Gross income for year $260 142
Less deductions sube ales:
Interest on bonds not held liy Associated Gas &
Elect] 1, Company $49,531
Interest on floating debt not held by Associated
Gas A Eli ctrlc 1 lompany 1,058
Sinking fund 13,825
Amortization of debt, discount and expense and
Bzed capital 3,997
Dividend on stock not owned by Associated
Gas & Electric Company 1,141
Proportion surplus res< rved for minoritv stock-
holders 839 70.391
Balance available for Associated Gas & Electric Com-
pany $189,751
Less interest 105,766
Balance available for dividends $83,985
Dividend on preferred stotk 54,419
Surplus $29,566
Profit on sale of securities of Canisteo Gas Company and
Hornell Gas Light Company 11.129
Total $40,695
Amortization of debt, discount and expense 10,310
Surplus for year $30,385
Great Western Power Company, San Francisco, Cal. — The
growth in business in the past four years, according to E.
H. Rollins & Sons, Chicago, 111., is shown by the fact that
income from the sale of electrical energy for the years
ended Dec. 31, 1911, 1912, 1913 and 1914, was, respectively,
$1,938,859, $2,306,553, $2,698,214 and $2,681,099. The out-
put for the same years was, respectively, 210,287,168 kw-hr.,
295,286,481 kw-hr., 333,305,125 kw-hr. and 315,103,250 kw-hr.
The average price of energy, therefore, in 1911 was 9.22
mills per kw-hr.; in 1912, 7.81 mills; in 1913, 8.09 mills, and
in 1914, 8.51 mills. The increase in average return per
kilowatt-hour after 1912 is attributed in part to a smaller
delivery of energy to the Pacific Gas & Electric Company at
the low price prevailing under a contract and in part to a
better average sale price for the business being connected
to the company's distributing lines. The high average re-
turn for 1911 resulted from the fact that a preponderance
of the business was in San Francisco, the return from
which, it was stated, was substantially above the average.
The number of customers has increased from 4228 in 1911
to 16,998 in 1914, and connected load increased from 110,000
hp in 1911 to 171,000 hp in 1914.
International Steam Pump Company, New York, N. Y. —
The stockholders' and bondholders' protective committees
have adopted a plan of reorganization. While no details
have been made public, it is understood that another start
will be made without funded debt, and that securities to be
issued will consist of first preferred, second preferred and
common stock.
Marconi Wireless Telegraph Company of America, New
York, N. Y. — In the annual report of the company for the
year ended Dec. 31, 1914, it is stated that the acquisition in
1912 of the tangible assets of the United States Wireless
Telegraph Company placed under the company's control
all of the coast stations of importance on both the Atlantic
and Pacific coasts, besides which practically the whole of
the American mercantile marine is at present fitted with
wireless apparatus. The number of ship and shore equip-
ments now operated by the company is approximately
twenty times that of three years ago. Through exhaustive
study of present requirements and future needs many vital
readjustments in administration policies have been effected.
arching investigation has been made to determine
manufacturing costs, and the operations of the company
have been placed on a basis which is fair and equable to
patrons but allows the company a greater margin of profit.
e from supplying apparatus for new installation con-
. the factory at Aldene. X. .!., 1- -tea. lily engaged in
producing improved equipments, with the object of gradu-
ally replacing all apparatus now in service which is out of
date. To secure a return commensurate with investment
and cost of operation it was found necessary to raise the
rental figure of the ship-equipment contracts which were
red with the purchase of the assets of the United
Wireless Telegraph Company. As fast as these contracts
expired the company has endeavored to make new ones on
a more equable basis and with the provision for the
increased cost of operation due to the necessity of main
taining the great number of shore stations required to give
the steamships the service they need and the public the
full margin of safety under the regulations of the United
States radio act. In the northern district on the Pacific
Coast — probably the largest in point of territory in the
Marconi organization — there has been completed a powerful
station at Ketchikan, Alaska, and a chain of wireless
stations to cover this territory has been planned. At
Juneau the company has another station under construe
tion, and the United States terminal at Astoria, Ore., is
nearing completion. This latter plant, which was to be ready
about May 1, will be the first link in the chain to be opened
to public service. Beginning with November, the curtail-
ment of the revenue from long-distance press service and
ship traffic caused distinct losses over previous years, yet
prior to that time, and notwithstanding the war, the com-
pany's message traffic between shore and ship every month
showed an increase over previous years. All expenditures
for new construction have been reduced by postponing such
work as was not immediately necessary. Economies have
been effected in all stations where it has been possible to
reduce the staff and hours of operation, and expenditures
of all kinds receive the most careful scrutiny before being
authorized. The directors have decided on a policy of
depreciation and depreciation-reserve and have set aside
from the operating revenues substantial amounts for the
purpose of creating and maintaining proper and adequate
depreciation reserve, first, to cover those losses defined by
the Interstate Commerce Commission as "suffered through
current lessening in value of tangible property and wear
and tear not covered by current repairs," and, second, to
meet depreciation of patents and patent rights.
Marion Light & Heat Company, Marion, Ind.— The com
pany has petitioned the Public Service Commission for
authority to issue $111,800 preferred stock to reimburse its
treasury for expenditures made for betterments and im-
provements.
Merchants' Heat & Light Company, Indianapolis, Ind.—
The company has received authority from the Public Serv-
ice Commission of Indiana to sell $523,000 bonds and to issue
stock of the par value of $144,000. The proceeds are to be
issued to reimburse the company for amounts borrowed and
expended for permanent additions and improvements. It
is represented in the petition filed that subsequent to June
30, 1914, and prior to April 1, 1915, the company made
permanent extensions amounting to $1,061,751. The ex-
tensions made have been largely those required in construct-
ing parts of the new lighting system for the city of Indian-
apolis, the contract for which the company has for a period
of ten years.
National Properties Company, New York, N. Y. The
company has taken over the management of the Jersey
Central Traction Company and the Middlesex & Monmouth
Electric Light, Heat & Power Company, which were pur-
chased recently by Laird & Company of Wilmington, Del.
The properties were formerly owned by Morris Brothers of
Philadelphia, Pa.
Pacific Gas & Electric Company, San Francisco, Cal.
The remaining $1,500,000 of the company's one-year 5 per
cent notes due Dec. 15, 1915, has been called for redemption
on May 27. The redemption will retire all floating debt.
Public Service Corporation of New Jersey. Newark, N. J.
—The New York Stock Exchange has listed $261,000 addi-
tional general mortgage 5 per cent sinking fund fifty-year
bonds, making the total amount listed $37,261,000.
1346
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 21
The Montana Power Company, Butte, Mont.— The New
York Stock Exchange has listed $6,000,000 additional first
and refunding mortgage 5 per cent sinking-fund bonds,
Series A, due 1943. making the total amount listed $16,-
000,000
United Gas Improvement Company, Philadelphia, Pa. —
In his annual report for the year ended Dec. 31, 1914, Mr.
Samuel T. Bodine, the president, states that the estimated
expenditures for 1915 for extensions and improvements by
the various leased works and the properties in which a ma-
jority of the stock is owned aggregate $4,467,406. Pro-
vision has been made for these requirements. The com-
parative statement for 1913 and 1914 follows:
Earnings: 1914 1913
From regular sources $6,911,731 {7,142,388
From special sources — extra dividend on
stock of one of the companies in which
this company is a shareholder 410,000
Profit from sale of securities 2,172,812 1,060,806
Total earnings $9,084,543 $8,613,194
Expenses and taxes 1,888,143 1,142,087
Net profits $7,896,400 $7,471,107
Dividends $4,440,236 $4,440,236
Sinking funds 801,300 790. 500
To undivided profit account 2,654,864 2,240,371
$7,896,400 $7,471,107
United Public Service Company, Rochester, Ind. — The
company recently filed a mortgage to secure an issue of
$1,000,000 bonds. Several other northern Indiana plants
will be acquired and service lines extended materially. The
corporation has already acquired the electric light and
water plant at Bourbon, Ind.
Utah Power & Light Company, Salt Lake City, Utah.—
The budget of the company carrying appropriations amount-
ing to approximately $1,000,000 for improvements during
the coming year has been approved. In speaking of the
subject, Mr. C. E. Groesbeck, general manager of the com-
pany, stated: "Although our budget for the rest of this
year does not carry any great amount for the development
of new territory, it does carry approximately $1,000,000,
which will be spent mostly in Utah for rebuilding present
lines and carrying out the work now in hand."
Washington (D. C.) Utilities Company. — The company
has sold $1,500,000 of one-year 5 per cent collateral notes,
the proceeds of which will be used to take up an equal
amount of one-year notes maturing on May 1, 1915.
Western Power Company, San Francisco, Cal. — An issue
of $1,000,000 of two-year 6 per cent collateral-trust gold
notes, due on March 1, 1917, is offered at 99 and interest.
It is estimated that the present market value of the col-
lateral security is about 30 per cent in excess of the pir
value of the notes.
Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company, Pitts-
burgh, Pa. — It has been announced that the new bonds to
be issued by this company in the place of those outstanding
will be convertible at par into common stock on and after
June 30, 1916, at the rate of $910 in par value of stock for
each $1,000 bond. In a statement issued to the holders of
the outstanding convertible bonds, Mr. Guy E. Tripp, chair-
man of the company, after pointing out that the company
wants to place itself in a position to sell stock at par, says:
"The company, therefore, offers to bondholders the oppor-
tunity to participate in a plan which provides for the retire-
ment of the existing bonds upon terms which, if said plan
be consummated, will result in each bondholder receiving
either: (a) an equal amount of new bonds differing from
the existing bonds in omission of the restrictive covenant
and in that, instead of being convertible into common stock
at the rate of $500 par value of stock for each $1,000 bond,
they shall be convertible into such stock at the rate of
$1,000 par value of stock for each $1,000 bond on or before
.liinc 80, 1916, and thereafter, at any time prior to maturity,
at the rate of $910 par value of stock for each $1,000 bond;
or (b) cash for depo tied bond al 105 per cent and accrued
interest, 0T <<'l pari Cash anil part now bonds at said rates;
or, in case said plans are not consummated, (d) the return
of deposited bonds without expense to the depo Itor." The
new bonds will not be redeemable prior to .Ian. 1, 1!I17. On
and after that dntc they will bo redeemable Upon the same
ind conditions as the existing bonds.
Manufacturing and Industrial
The E. W. Bliss Company, Brooklyn, N. Y., has opened
an office and wareroom at 622 West Washington Street,
Chicago, 111.
The Carr & Schultz Electric Company, Perry and Stock-
ton Streets, Trenton, N. J., is about to engage in the supply
and construction business.
Edwin C. Lewis, Inc. — Messrs. J. B. Ward and T. J.
O'Brien have become associated with Edwin C. Lewis, Inc.,
121 Federal Street, Boston, Mass.
Schweitzer & Conrad, manufacturers of high-tension
equipment, have moved from 1770 Wilson Avenue, Chicago,
to Berteau and Ravenswood Avenues, Chicago.
The Adams-Bagnall Electric Company, Cleveland, Ohio,
has opened an office at 1434 Syndicate Building, St. Louis,
Mo., which will be in charge of Mr. H. E. Merrithew.
The Electric Cable Company, 17 Battery Place, New York,
has appointed Mr. J. W. White, formerly with the Union
Switch & Signal Company, as a member of its sales force.
Mr. Frank Barrington, formerly of the St. Louis sales
office of the Westinghouse Lamp Company, has been ap-
pointed district sales manager of the company for Pitts-
burgh, succeeding Mr. H. J. Solon.
The Whiting Foundry Equipment Company, Harvey, Ill-
has acquired the foundry-equipment business of the Central
Iron Works, Springfield, 111., and will manufacture the dust
arresters and water cinder mills hitherto made by the lat-
ter concern.
The Electric Meter Corporation, 55 Liberty Street, New
York, has recently been formed "to render sub-meter and
expert engineering service." Mr. F. A. Forgee, for a num-
ber of years consulting electrical and mechanical engineer.
is president of the company.
W. F. Cummings, of Chicago, a firm of engineers and
contractors, has moved its main office from 1107 City Hall
Square Building to 330 South Paulina Street. This move-
ment consolidates the company's main office and construc-
tion office and concentrates its forces.
Electrical Shop at Tarentum, Pa. — Mr. Guy F. Bole, who
for twenty-seven years was chief engineer of the Pennsyl-
vania Salt Manufacturing Company, Tarentum, Pa., has
severed his connection with that company to open a com-
pletely equipped electrical salesroom at Tarentum.
Mr. F. D. Sweet, who during the last two years has been
manager of the Indiana territory for the Federal Sign Sys-
tem (Electric), has accepted a position as district manager
for the American Sign Company of Kalamazoo, Mich. Mr.
Sweet will make his headquarters at 305 North Michigan
Avenue, Chicago, 111.
The Hercules Instrument Company, Mount Vernon, N. Y..
has acquired the sole right to manufacture and sell the
tubular ammeters made by the Benford Manufacturing
Company, also of Mount Vernon. A tubular instrument
made by the Benford company was described in the Elec-
trical World of April 3.
The Monowatt Electric Import Company, 335 Broadway.
New York, has recently been incorporated and will act as a
jobber of electrical novelties and nitrogen-filled lamps. Mr.
P. F. Altschul, former proprietor of the Monowatt Electric
Import Company (not incorporated), is president and treas-
urer of the company, and Mr. N. Schwartzer is secretary.
The Drake-Clapp Electric Company, Los Angeles, Cal.,
has recently been incorporated and has opened an electric
store for heating and household appliances at 217 West
Fourth Street. Mr. A. G. Drake, formerly with the Woodill
& Hulse Electric Company, is president, and associated
with him are Mr. .1. G. Drake and Mr. R. B. Clapp, formerly
with the Westinghouse Electric * Manufacturing Company.
Order lor Electric Furnace. — The Dayton (Ohio) Steel
Foundry Company has placed an order for a one-ton electric
furnace with the Snyder Electric Furnace Company, 53
West Jackson Boulevard. Chicago, III. The furnace is de-
signed to melt and refine cold scrap on a basic lining, pro-
ducing refined steel castings. The Dayton Steel Foundry
Company is a manufacturer chiefly of high-grade steel
castings for the automobile and machinery trade
May 22, 1916
E I. ECT l; I C A I. WORLD
Encli-h li.|ir.-.ni.iiii, i.. Bnj Lighthis. Materials.— Mr.
E. H. Spicer, representing Spicer A Company, Ltd., of
London, has arrived in New York anil desires to pur
il types of insulat.
ware, and tungsten and molybdenum ore or metal for fila-
ments. Mr. Spicer is making his temporary headqu:.
at the branch office of the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic
Commerce, Room 409, Custom House, NV« York I
W. N Matthews \ Brother Bend « ike bj Mail.— In an
unusual advertising campaign which W. N. Matthi-
Brother, of St. Louis, Mo., are conducting, and which i<
called the "Matthews cake campaign," many favors have
been distributed to the firm's prospective customers as their
• l" of the Matthews profit-sharing cake. Slices of real
cake which were distributed through the mail inclosed in
tissue paper and a cardboard carton were among the un-
usual and most acceptable favors sent out.
Conduit Plant Damaged by Fire. — The plant of the Na-
tional Enameling & Manufacturing Company, of Youngs-
town, Ohio, where the company makes a large line of clay
and enameled conduits, insulators and similar goods, was al-
most destroyed by fire last week, with a loss estimated at
about $50,000. The company's officers have stated that un-
til matters are straightened out and the exact nature and
amount of the loss are ascertained it will be impossible to
announce rebuilding plans. Insurance to the amount of
about $31,500 on the plant and its contents will reduce the
net loss.
The Rutenber Electric Company of Logansport, Ind., has
moved its factory, offices and salesroom into a fireproof
three-story concrete building in the retail district of the
city. The several departments of the company now occupy
15,000 sq. ft. of floor space. In the 60-ft. by 30-ft. offices and
salesroom on the first floor of the building electric ranges
and other Rutenber products are attractively displayed. The
present location of the company enables it to reach the local
retail trade. Officers of the company are: Mr. E. A. Ruten-
ber, president; Mr. J. F. Digan, vice-president, and Mr. J. E.
De Long, secretary-treasurer.
Choice of Proper Sockets for Fixtures Going Abroad. —
Commercial Attache A. H. Baldwin in reporting from Lon-
don, England, states that American manufacturers of orna-
mental lighting fixtures who are endeavoring to place their
products in foreign countries should first obtain full par-
ticulars with respect to the type of socket employed in the
various countries before making shipments. He mentions
that his attention was recently directed to a shipment of
fixtures equipped with the form of sockets generally used
in the United States, but which differ from the British
form, making the American fittings almost useless.
Penn Electric Company Occupies New Factory. — The Penn
Electric Company has started work in its new factory in
West Irwin, Pa. The present building replaces the one which
was destroyed by fire on Christmas Eve. It is a fireproof
structure and represents an investment of $40,000. The
company will confine its efforts for the present to the manu-
facture of high-grade switchboards, panelboards and knife
switches for pressures of 125 volts to 300 volts. The officers
of the company are Mr. F. D. Hockensmith, president; Mr.
W. D. Hockensmith, vice-president; Mr. W. F. O'Neil, secre-
tary-treasurer, and Mr. A. N. Rogers, chief engineer.
Large Power Cable for Brooklyn Navy Yard. — A large
cable which has been specially made for the United States
government by the Hazard Manufacturing Company,
Wilkes-Barre, Pa., is designed for use between a substa-
tion and a dock at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, where war-
ships are tied. As soon as a ship is made fast to the dock,
energy is taken from the substation, being transmitted
through the cable while the electrical plant on the ship
is shut down. The cable has a copper section of 2,000,000
circ. mils and is provided with a 5/32-in. insulation wall
of 30 per cent Para rubber which is covered with tape, a
%-in. lead sheath, two layers of tarred jute and a layer
of No. 4 galvanized armor wire. The diameter of the
cable is .'! in. and the weight is 16 lb. per ft.
Equipment for 300-Kw Plant at Pratt, Kan.— The Western
Electric Company has received the contract, amounting to
about $14,000, for the electrical equipment for the municipal
light plant to be installed at Pratt, Kan., bj the Connor
•uction Company, of Kansas City, Kan. Incluii'
the order is one 187-kw alternator, one 125-kw alternator, a
five-panel switchboard, a street-lighting regulator, and
eighty "white-way" iion poles, one-half of which are three
lamp standards and the other half two-lamp units. The
engine! were furnished by the (". A. Burton Machinery Com-
pany. The new plant is designed to care for the lighting
business and perhaps some motor load. At present &
private plant, which also runs a mill, is the only source of
electric service in the town.
Selline. Socket Parts Separately. — The Hart & Hegeman
Manufacturing Company, Hartford, Conn., selling agents
for the H. T. Paiste Company, Philadelphia, Pa., announces
that the sockets made by the latter company are now being
sold unassembled. Each cap, base and shell, with interior,
is boxed separately and can be bought independently. From
a stock of a few parts, it is declared, four to five times
as many different types of sockets can be assembled, and
because of the small number of different pieces handling
of the product is facilitated. To make ordering easy, each
part is designated by a letter or number, and an illus-
trated sheet is provided showing the different parts with
descriptions and prices. The numbers and letters under
each illustration designate the standard package, schedule
and price list. In ordering assembled sockets the letter and
number of the desired cap and shell are combined.
Manufacturer's Display of Electric Lamps. — An exhibi-
tion of various types of electric lamps was inaugurated
May 15 by the New York Edison Company in its showrooms
at 124 West Forty-second Street and at Irving Place and
Fifteenth Street, New York City. The exhibition included
demonstrations of some of the newer methods in semi-direct
and indirect illumination. Fixtures were loaned by the
following designers and makers of New York City: Art
Metal Works, 347 Fifth Avenue; Bayley & Sons, 101 Park
Avenue; Cassidy & Son Manufacturing Company, 133 West
Twenty-third Street; S. W. Farber, 34 Union Square; the
Handel Company, 200 Fifth Avenue; the Homelight Com-
pany of America, 1955 Park Avenue; the Kathodian Bronze
Company, 501 Fifth Avenue; Mildred Richardson Kelly, 42
West Thirty-ninth Street; the Macbeth-Evans Glass Com-
pany, 145 Madison Avenue; Mastich & Graham, 8 East
Thirty-seventh Street; Edward Miller & Company, 68 Park
Place; the Mountain Community, Inc., 176 Madison Ave-
nue; Mrs. J. M. McDowell, 7 West Forty-second Street:
the National X-Ray Reflector Company, 21 West Forty-
sixth Street; the National Metalizing Company, 333 Fourth
Avenue; the Charles Parker Company, 32 Warien Street:
Sibley & Pittman, 19 West Thirty-sixth Street; the W. H.
Stavenhagen Company, 447 West Thirty-sixth Street:
Weidlich Brothers, 200 Fifth Avenue, and the Will &
Baumer Company, 141 Madison Avenue.
NEW YORK METAL MARKET PRICES
r— May 11 — , , — May 18 —
Selling Prices Selling Brlces
Bid Asked Bid Asked
£ s d £ s d
London, standard, spot* 77 12 6 77 10 0
Prime Lake is. 7r> to 19.00 18.75 to 19.00
IS. 50 to 18.75 18.50 to 18.75
Casting 17.50 to 17.75 17.25 to 17.50
i r wire base 24.00 20.00
Lead 4.20 4.20
Nickel 42.00 to 45.00 45.00 to 48.00
Sheet line, f.o.b, smelter 17.60 18.50
Sneltei 14.00 to 14. 25t 15.25 to 15. 50t
-,, iit! tin 10.37%
Aluminum. 98 to 99 per cent 19.2 21.60 to 22.50
•OLD METALS
Heavy copper and wire 17.26
i vv 11.26 11.25
: iit 9.25 9.25
3.95 3.95
10.50 10.50
•COPPER EXPORTS
Total tuns to May IS
•From daily transactions on the New Y,.rk Metal Exchange.
tNominal.
1348
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 21
New Incorporations
The Independent Light & Power Company, of New York,
N\ V., has been incorporated by Alex Werner, Helen White
and Meyer Klein, 817 West End Avenue, New York. The
company is capitalized at $100,000 and proposes to supply
electricity for lamps, heaters and motors.
The Cayuga Power Corporation, of Ithaca, N. Y., has been
incorporated with a capital stock of $75,000 by Frank S.
Conneti, 132 Remsen Street, Brooklyn; Harold Stanley, of
South Orange, N. J., and W. M. Rose, of Montclair, N. J.
The company proposes to generate and distribute elec-
tricity.
New Industrial Companies
The Sommer Lighting Fixture Company, of New York,
X. Y.. has been chartered with a capital stock of $10,000.
The incorporators are J. T. Booth, E. C. and C. R. Sommer,
386 Second Avenue, New York, N. Y.
The Electric Burglar Alarm Clock Company, of New
York, N. Y., has been granted a charter with a capital stock
of $15,000. The incorporators are W. Deutcher, 314 East
I92d Street, New York; C. Kurzwell and Benjamin Ammer-
man, of Brooklyn, N. Y.
The Vaporel Corporation, of New York, N. Y., has been
incorporated by W. J. Graham, F. C. Barrett and D. G.
Griffin, 233 Broadway, New York, N. Y. The company is
capitalized at $5,000 and proposes to manufacture electric
vaporizers, sterilizers, appliances, etc.
The Idaho Power Company has filed articles of incorpora-
tion under the laws of the State of Maine with a capital
stock of $10,000,000. The company proposes to deal in ma-
chinery, generators, motors, lamps or devices in connection
with the use and distribution of electricity.
The Niagara Electric Improvement Corporation, of Buf-
falo, N. Y., has been incorporated by S. Pick, L. C. Nichol-
son, Buffalo, and R. C. Downing, of Syracuse, N. Y. The
company is capitalized at $50,000 and proposes to manu-
facture electric meters, electrical apparatus and supplies.
The Kent Typewriter Company, of New York, N. Y., has
filed articles of incorporation with a capital stock of $2,000,-
000 under the laws of the State of Delaware to manufacture,
sell and deal in generators, dynamos and all equipment used
in connection with generating electricity and transmission
appliances. The incorporators are F. J. Leach, of Clyde,
M. Y.; C. H. Smith, of Youngstown, Ohio; W. S. Pyfrer, of
Kent, Ohio, and R. H. Nisbitt, of Akron, Ohio.
Trade Publications
Sign Receptacle. — A leaflet describing a receptacle for
metal signs and outlet boxes has recently been issued by
the Arrow Electric Company, Hartford, Conn.
Small Lighting Plant. — The Lauson-Lawton Company, De
Pere, Wis., has prepared an illustrated catalog which de-
scribes its gasoline-engine-driven lighting outfit.
Time Switches. — Several types of time switches are de-
scribed in a catalog issued by the Venner Time Switches,
Ltd., 60 Queen Street, Westminster, London, S. W., Eng-
land.
Electric Vacuum Cleaner. — A vacuum cleaner driven by a
vertical 1/6-hp motor is described in a folder recently
issued by the Thurman Vacuum Cleaner Company, St.
Louis, Mo.
Pumps. — Pumps of the centrifugal, double-suction and
multi-stage types are described in an illustrated catalog
issued by the Providence Engineering Works, Provi-
dence, R. I.
Il.ilric Sterilizers.— Electrically operated earthenware
t ••ri I i/i-i fur physicians' instruments and similar a>
ire described in several booklets recently issued by the
eptic Manufacturing Company, Tompkinsrille, Staten
Island. N. Y.
I l.itrnalU Operated Pumps. — Several types of elec-
trically operated pumps are described and illustrated in a
folder issued by the Luitwieler Pumping Engine Company,
Rochester, N. Y.
Boiler-Room Appliances. — The Lagonda Manufacturing
Company, Springfield, Ohio, has issued a booklet which con-
tains illustrations of and information on various devices for
use with boilers.
Motors for Band Saws. — Roth Brothers & Company,
Adams and Loomis Streets, Chicago, 111., have issued Bulle-
tin No. 199, which contains information on direct-current
motors for band saws.
Electric Flashlamps. — The Usona Manufacturing Com-
pany, 1 Hudson Street, New York, is sending out a folder
which contains information on a number of types of flash-
lamps and electric lanterns.
Oil Engines. — The Muncie (Ind.) Oil Engine Company
has issued its general Catalog No. 21, containing sixty-four
pages of illustrated descriptive matter on oil engines and
the company's factory methods.
Electric Bench Washer. — The Haag Brothers Company,
812 North Commercial Street, Peoria, 111., has issued a
folder which describes and illustrates its electrically
operated bench washing machine.
Lamps for Sign Illumination. — The Cooper Hewitt Elec-
tric Company, Eighth and Grand Streets, Hoboken, N. J.,
has just issued Bulletin No. 59, which describes several
sign installations illuminated by its lamps.
Motion-Picture-Lamp Controller. — A device for control-
ling the feed of electrodes for motion-picture apparatus is
described in a booklet recently issued by the Speed Con-
troller Company, 257 William Street, New York.
Self-Contained Generating Set. — The Universal Motor
Company, Oshkosh, Wis., is sending out a placard which
contains information on an outfit consisting of a 3-kw gen-
erator directly connected to a four-cylinder gasoline engine.
Battery for Motor-Cycle Service. — The Electric Storage
Battery Company, Philadelphia, Pa., has issued a bulletin
designated as Section Z, third edition, which contains in-
formation on its Type Z "Exide" battery for motor-cycles.
Induction-Motor Starters. — Starters of the compensator
and resistance-coil type for squirrel-cage induction motors
are described in an illustrated catalog, designated as Bulletin
203-B, issued by Fairbanks, Morse & Company, Chicago, 111.
Vertical Diesel Engines. — The Southwark Foundry &
Machine Company, Washington Avenue and Fifth Street,
Philadelphia, Pa., has prepared an attractively illustrated
catalog which describes several types of its large-sized
vertical engines operating on the Diesel principle.
Electric Ambulances and Delivery Wagons. — The Gen-
eral Vehicle Company, Long Island City, New York, has
prepared two illustrated bulletins which describe its elec-
trically operated ambulances and its electric delivery vehi-
cles for department stores and high-class retailers.
Radiator-Type Transformers. — The Westinghouse Elec-
tric & Manufacturing Company, East Pittsburgh, Pa., has
issued a bulletin, designated as Reprint No. 12, which con-
tains an article entitled "Radio-Type Transformers for the
New Haven System," reprinted from the Electrical World
of Feb. 20, 1915.
Instrument for Finding Defects in Cables. — W. N. Mat-
thews & Brother, Inc., St. Louis, Mo., have issued a booklet
entitled "Directions for Using Matthews Woodpecker Tele-
fault," which contains information about this instrument
for finding defects in various kinds of electric circuits and
for locating concealed wires, pipes, etc.
Direct-Current Generators. — Bulletin No. 8 issued by the
Hobart Brothers Company, Troy, Ohio, contains information
mi direct current dynamos for motion-picture apparatus.
Bulletin No. 6 issued by the same company describes and
illustrates a small generator for lighting, and Bulletin No.
7 relates to a generator for charging batteries.
Kail Hearings for Machine Tools and Shop Equipment. —
The S K P Ball Hearing Company, 60 Church Street, New
York, has issued Bulletin No. 25, entitled "S K F Ball
Hearings in Machine Tools and Shop Equipments." The
catalog is well illustrated and contains information on the
, , ,,!' ball bearings in lathes, drill presses, milling ma-
chines, grinding machines, etc.
May 22, 1916
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Construction News
Ntm England
K. MAIM: The Westbrook
■ffrw-Lf r\f I'lnd nm> t. i. v..,.,.,.
-Middle Atlantic
i iiH.tir*i wnn a capita
me prop
ok and Qorhani Thi
and u llltajn .s i.,,i:
LLBAN8, VT T:, CStl Council la
considering il„ ihanglnirthe
street-lighting system from arc c Incln-
dene.-!,! lamps. The street lighting Bervtr*
te furnished by the VermontPwr
Co. of St. Albans. *
■ ,<\'S'Ii'N- MASS Bids will be r.
?i ',' ■-" °f Boston,
in... i- "■ , H,:s,°"- u»"l June 1 for In-
InatalHna a 15-kw engine-driven electric
■nnected). at
Ralnsford Island Proposal form may be
obtained at Room 602. Citv Hall Annex
BOSTON, MASS state St Rv
cf« . J?oe,on' hils Petitioned the Public
fl -,',';,';„ ,<'n""'s!i""1,"" Permission to Issue
*'■•""• n capiuU stock, the proceeds to
be used as follows: For l|ne and track con-
■fik^iiiillV-'Y' : for cara "'"' ™inng
SSy"h"i77for power 8tation» and ma-
brBUi«Ti?h,n^ilhASS ~"^i<ls wil1 be received
Mf„ „? Scnoolhouse Commissioners of the
city of Boston, Room 1009, Citv Hall An-
'.. unt.l Ma] 25 for furnishing
the' H^n"'^hV'V ""'"':'— £ system"^
Kc^^yte^Uon bTa5k1
mfs>siobneer0sbta",e" " the °fflCe °f the c™
B08TON, 61ASS.— Bids will be received
by Richard A. Lynch, superintendent of pub-
l£.,'u,l''""J 11 Annex Building
for constructing and completing a police
station and school atainistraHon bunding
?£,,« V"e of„,he old Probate Building
Court Square, Boston, according to plans
ffiflffiS; f,*"' wnl<* » depositor
rV.ur^'of^n';:""'""- <" >~ ^"-ed upon
tr,!'Vn^,MrA,SnS-The s,,ate Gas and Elec-
LynnrfaV*^PMm^S8'°n.nas a"thorize,l the
~ 2 ... <ja!! * El. Co. tO ISSUe II'" shires of
fHo"°,nalKCapital,sto<-k :" « I«r value • of
$100. to be Issued at $240 per share the
da to be used for extensions and im
provements to its system. le"I"ons and lm"
I.VN.V. MASS.— Contracts, it is reported
follows: One mill building, 125 ftbvNon
ft., tour stories high, to cost about $40 000-
"T,- ' I b ,c story)'
liob'oob. '"'""' plant- to cost abo«t
MII.FOltl), MASS- The town of Milford
'Bed William Ittleboro
rations in'
dvisabllits of ih'.. town our
the plant of ,i,.. mIro,-,! EL T&
betaE^rSE!0* MASa-PreparaUona are
HeetricTJf.- for ^tending the m
lighting system to Sterling Junc-
■•<<■ Rowley Sill district and to Cnocfcsett
JO. i, copper wire, and single-wi,-,.
Weetinghouse lightning arreaUra H W
11^/" .miinaKf-' ipal elertr ":
light plant, has charge of the work
■,.'■"• "'" ;■"• Provld ,,,,i,i M;,v 27 for
the Installation ol a central rower-plant
■ .u , , "',""" i'l--.nt. laundry
equipment , Wat; , ,
, for the Rhode Island School tor
• ■!•■ Minded ... Exeter. William A. Scho-
nekt is chairman of board
H'>WAR|,. R, | Btda Uli] ,,. ,,,..,,.,.,, ,,,.
''"/•',',1"1 '" Control and s„ ,. Room IS\
Btate H,, use. Providence, until Maj 27, for a
cold storage plant, elevatoi machinery and
'•;|,U,"1"1""1 for i « baker] for the general
■torehouae and bakery a< Howard The
s, vi K"!ll,:'" Co., ■; Beacon Street,
Boston. Mass.. h;,.s charge ol i K ,
Ing work.
: KAI. [SLIP, N Y— Bids will be
amission.
28 for extension
nstruction, heating, plumbing
and drainage and laundry equipment for
additloi refrigerating
drainage
-'■'•• k -""I refrli lulpment
at the C< ntral [slip Si
Islip Drawings and Bpeclflcatlons and
blank form of proposals may be obtained at
irtment of Anhitecture. Capitol.
Albany, upon deposit of $10.
M.W rORK, N Y Bids will be re-
C B. J Snyder, ^ ,,,. nntendent
- i buildings, Department of Bduca-
nd Fifty-ninth Street
rk, until June 1. for additions al-
to the electric eouip-
, Is 25, 31 44 6' 177
iiu-h of Manhattan! Blank
torras, plans and Bpeclflcatlons may be ob-
tained or seen at the above office
rORK. N. Y— Bids will be re-
ceiv.d by \\ dliani Williams, commissioner
"•. ,w;"w'' ^"'''''J. sas and electricity, Room
-..4.. Municipal Building. New York, until
May -, lor furnishing 1500 cast-iron lamp-
th steel shaft.s. Blank forms, to-
Eether with copy of contract, including
■ obtained upon anpli-
'/•SV?",!' the °m°e of the department. Room
!. Uuniclpal Building, where plans and
specif,, .a,., ns may be obtained.
NEW Y. ,i:k. x. y.— Bids will be re-
ceived Bjr C. B. J. Snyder, superintendent
of school buildings, Department of Educa-
U°''- " and Fifty-ninth Street.
New Fork, until June 1 for furnishing and
?2l^"fi l!,:1"'l'ul\f?r use of mechanics
(electrical division, build ng bureau) in the
publi. schools of the citv of New York
boroughs of Manhattan, the Bronx. Brook-
lyn. Queens and Richmond. Blank forms
and speciflcatlons and further information
,na> at the above office
Co^oW'-IX':; X Y.-The Public Service
Commission has approve,! the exercise of
fran, loses granted to Ralph Griffing bv the
town Of Pawling for the installation 6f an
lighting plant here
RII'I.KY. x Y— The installation of a
municipal elecinc-lighting plant in Riplev
is under consideration. p ■
SII.vki: chkkk, X Y— The local elec-
tr|C-Ilghl plant has been purchased bv John
Kimnici. who will take over the property at
once. * ' l
ALLENTOWN, I'A— A large three-storv
line will i rected by the Board
"! ,' " Ulentown. The plans pro-
ving, ventilating and electrical
'■ M \NS\ M. I. K, RA _ Arrangements
Ing mad.- with the Palmerton El Lt
supply electricity to light the streets
of Bowmansville.
SRATA.PA TheKphrata ft Lebanon
St- Ry > ,,. oi Bphrata, has applied to the
Public Service Commission for permission
to furnish electricity for lamps and motors
in tin- towns of South Lebanon. Heidelberg
and Clay Townships. F. C. Hornstein is
manager.
HARRISBURG, PA.— The Ruhlic Service
i ommission has approved the following con-
tracts . The United i'i Co., ol Canton; Ohio,
with the 0, unship of Fall-view for furnish-
ing electricity for lamps and motors; the
Pennsylvania Lt. lit. & \^v,-. Co. and the
, ntsburgh for operating in the citv
of Pittsburgh
HARRISBURG, PA. The Harrisburg Lt
* ' WT \l ts to er.ct within the next
1|x months i" miles <>r 6900-voll transmis-
sion line, ais,, to purchase within the next
rrthe two SIC tap water-tube boilers.
ash-handling system, 54 single-
' ft No. 6 arc
',l1'1, , has recently pur-
cha«e( o el , ,- m Kaltwas-
, i manager.
' ' HIOHTON, PA The citizens have
10 for the
construction of ., new high-school building
V", Pla! for the installation of
electrical and healing systems
PHTLADELPHI \. i\ Bids will be re-
" lv"; :" ' Htee of the commanding offi-
cer Frankford. Arsenal Philadelphia, until
A1-'>. -y "" " tallal r underfeed
- a! si,,Ue,s |„ the boiler room ol th,
''.""•; Planl a, (he Frankford Arsenal
■ i: itlon maj be obtained upon
"on to th. n
referring to circular
advertlsemi nl No
. ,l:l.: U3ING, P \ The Reading Transit ft
'•' ' o . w, ire uiImi mi-il, s u. ,1 contem-
plate any work at this time Reported in
ssue of April 2 4 that improvements
costing $165,000 would be made.
I.AIR. PA.— Plans are being con
• idered by the Council for Improvements tc
the municipal electric-lighting plant.
WAYNESBORO, I'A. —Arrangements art
being made h\ th.- Waynesboro EL Lt. A
■ nding its system in order to
the needs of the communities through
which its itnes and those of the Chambers-
burg A, Gettysburg EL Rv. Co. pass. The
Elans proMde foi the organization of a num-
er of subsidiary companies to extend the
franchise ol the parent company to Wash-
ington, Antrim, Huilford and yuincv Town-
- for charters for the sub-
lines h.ve been made, signed
by j. a st in., solicitor.
HARRISON, x. J— The Crucible Steel
Co. ol America, of Harrison, it is reported,
is contemplating the construction of a new
power statu, i, in connection with extensions
to its plant. The company is also consider-
ing the erection of a new electric substation
TOMS RIVER, X. J— The Toms River
El. Co. expects to install within the next 30
days one 125-hp Coatesville boiler. C. A
Brant is secretary and manager.
BERLAND, Ml>.— The City Council
is considering the question of improvements
to the municipal electric-lighting plant, to
cost about $15,000. The plans provide for
the installation of high-speed steam turbine
(directly connected) and replacing the pres-
ent street-lighting system with modern
lamps.
CHATHAM. VA.— The Chatham Lt. A
Pwr. Co. will begin work on the development
of its White Falls property as soon as satis-
factory arrangements can be made for the
sale of its bond issue. The equipment of
the proposed plant will consist of two
500-hp waterwheels (operating under a
40-ft. head), two alternators, switchboards
transtormers and 14 miles of 20,000-volt
transmission line from the hvdroelectric
plant to the present power house, which
will be discarded on the completion of the
new plant. B. F. \V. Bryant is manager
WASHINGTON, D. C— Bids will be re-
ceived at the office of the supervising archi-
tect, Treasury Department, Washington, D
C, until June 24 for supplying to the vari-
ous public buildings under the control of
the Treasury Department hand, electric,
portable vacuum cleaners during the fiscal
ending June 30, 1916. For details see
proposal columns.
WASHINGTON, D. C— Bids will be re-
ceived at the Bureau of Supplies and Ac-
counts. Navy Department. Washington, D
C, until June 1 for furnishing at the vari-
ous navy yards and naval stations supplies
as follows: Brooklyn. X. Y, Schedule S312
— 22 side lamps. Newport, R. I.. Schedule
j-hp motors: Schedule S309 —
miscellaneous copper tubing and miscellane-
ous steel tubing; Schedule S278— two hand
and power feed milling machines and one
electric riveting machine. Washington, D.
' ■ s, h.dine -L's i ... sunn lb. annealed weld-
ing wire Bids will also be received at the
same place until June s as follows: Brook-
lyn. X v. Schedule 8300—10 electric port-
able drills, 30 after-range lamps. Ports-
mouth. N. H.. Schedule 8297 — miscellaneous
sheathing copper; Schedule S304 — 97,500 lb
condense! tubes. Brooklyn. X. Y., Schedule
scellaneous sheet copper Boston
hedule JS304— miscellaneous brass
voice tubing and miscellaneous composition
unions. Applications for proposals should
the schedule desired bv number
North Central
CHARLOTTE, MICH— The Installation
of an ornamental lighting system in the
business district is under consideration.
DETROIT, MICH Rids will be received
by the Department of Public Works. City
Hall, Detroit, until June 9 for construction
Ipa] court building in Detroit. Ex-
cept where otherwise noted in speciflca-
tions. each prop,, sal is to include the entire
hull, ling work and mechanical • quipment
Plans and speciflcatlons may be obtained
Iroin Smith, llin, 1, man ft Crvlls, architects
nei re, i letroit, upon deposit of $26
HOLLAND, Ml, II The lowest bid sub-
mitted for the construction of the municipal
electric light and power station was sub-
mitte.l by .1 II Sullivan, of Grand Rapids.
ATHENS, OHIO.— The City Council is
considering replacing the 25ll-cp "Masda"
lamps with mi wait nitrogen lamps for
street lighting. The Hocking Pwr. Co is
making arrangements to reconstruct the
municipal lighting system.
CLEVELAND, OHIO Rids will be re-
ceived at the olli, commissioner of
purchases and supplies, 611 Cltj Hall, Cleve-
land, until May 2s for cedar poles for
the Municipal Klectric Light Department
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 21
Specifications may be obtained at the office
of the commissioner of liKht -.aid heat divi-
sion, J443 East Third Street, Cleveland.
CLEVELAND. OHIO. — The Board of
Control has authorized an expenditure of
$29,700 to equip the substation of the
municipal electric-light plant on East Elev-
enth Street with converters to enable it to
supply direct current in the downtown
power field. Practically all the buildings
in this district are equipped for dire. I i in
rent.
CLEVELAND, OHIO. -Bids will be re-
ceived at the office of the commissioner of
purchase* ilies, 11 City Hall,
.'level. in. I. until May 27, for ornamental
glass globes for park and boulevard lamps
for the street-lighting division. Specifica-
tions may be obtained at the office of the
superintendent of lighting. 413 Superior
Avenue.
CLEVELAND. OHIO. — Bids will be re-
ceived at the office of the commissioner of
purchases and supplies. 511 City Hall.
Cleveland, until June S for lighting fixtures
for the new city hall building. Plana and
specifications are on tile in the office of the
director of public service and at the office
of J. Milton Dyer, architect, 825 Cuyahoga
Building, Cleveland. Duplicate copies may
be obtained from the architect upon deposit
of $15, of which $S will be refunded upon
return of plans.
CORTLAND, OHIO. — The Cortland Ltg.
& Pwr. Co.. recently organized with a capi-
tal stock of $5,000. is planning to supply-
electricity for lamps, heaters and motors in
Cortland. O. M. Richards and others are
interested in the company.
DOVER, OHIO. — Bids will be received by
Clifford Pease, village clerk, until June 1 for
lighting the streets of the village for a pe-
riod of 10 years.
FREMONT, OHIO. — Negotiations are un-
der way, it is reported, for the purchase of
the Ballville water-power plant by Chicago
capitalists. If purchased, it is understood
that the plant will be converted to a com-
bined water and steam plant in order to
maintain steady production, regardless of
the stage of the Sandusky River. The pro-
posed buyers are represented by W. G.
Souders and C. J. Davidson, of Chicago, 111.,
and A. B. Conant and S. Young, of Boston,
Mass.
GREENVILLE, OHIO. — The County Com-
missioners have granted the Greenville El.
Lt fi Pwr. Co. permission to erect electric
transmission lines in I'reble County for the
purpose of transmitting electricity to the
village of Verona.
Co . now under construction In Louisville.
The total motor connected load will be
10 hp and the lighting load from 70
lew to B0 kw.
LOUISVILLE. KY.— The plant of the Co-
lumbia Sanitary Mfg. Co.. which is now
being erected, will be equipped with elec-
trically driven machinery. The motors will
amount to 135 hp. Electricity for operating
the plant will be purchased. The company,
it is understood, is considering bids for
equipment.
MOUNT OLIVET. KY.— The Robertson
County Lt. & Pwr. Co.. recently organized,
contemplates the installation of an electric
plant to develop about 60 hp in Mount
Olivet.
I'ADl'CAH, KY— Plans are being con-
sidered bv the Kentucky-Southwestern El.
Rv., Lt. it Pwr. Co., of Paducah, for the
construction of a new power plant in con-
nection with its electric railway from Pa-
ducah to Murray. Fred M. Smith is gen-
eral manager.
TOMPK1NSVILLE, KY. — Improvements .
are contemplated to the local electric-light
plant by the new owners, L. W. Preston. E.
H. Smith and J. R. White, of Glasgow. The
installation of a water system is also under
consideration.
ANDERSON, IND. — The Public Service
Commission has authorized the city of An-
derson to issue $50,000 in bonds, the pro-
ceeds to be used for the installation of a
stoker, boiler, turbine, switchboard and
other apparatus in the municipal electric-
light plant.
INDIANAPOLIS, IND. — The Merchants'
Ht & Lt. Co., of Indianapolis, has been
authorized bv the Public Service Commis-
sion to issue $533,000 in bonds and $144,000
in capital stock, the proceeds of which are
to be used in part in paying for extensions
to its transmission lines and for lighting
equipment in connection with the 10-year
street-lighting contract with the city of
Indianapolis.
LEAVENWORTH. IND. — The Leaven-
worth El. Lt. Co., recently incorporated with
a capital stock of $2,000, proposes to fur-
nish electricity in Leavenworth and sur-
rounding territory.
CHICAGO, ILL. — By action taken by the
Trustees of the Sanitary District of Chi-
cago the town of Cicero will be allowed
to purchase the electric installations which
the Sanitary District has installed there.
This action is considered by a number of
the trustees as the first of a series affecting
outlving communities. In each of the out-
phase, 60-cycle, 2300-volt (vertical-type)
generators, switchboard equipment, etc.
ALBERT LEA, MINN. — Bids will be
received at the office of Fred Tavis, counts-
auditor of Freeborn County, Court House.
Albert Lea, until June 1, for construction.
including general contract work, jail cell
work, heating and plumbing and electrical
work, in accordance with plans and speci-
fications prepared bv Alden & Harris, archi-
tects, Commerce Building, St. Paul. Bids
to be submitted separately.
EVELETH, MINN. — The Home El. &
Htg. Co., of Eveleth, it is reported, has de-
cided to make extensive improvements to
its plant, including the installation of a
new 350-kw and a 150-kw generating unit
and a 300-hp water-tube boiler, a 600-hp
feed-water heater, automatic coal conveyor,
and construction of a new power station
and also extensions to steam mains.
HENDRUM, MINN. — The proposal to is-
sue $5,000 in bonds for the installation of
an electric lighting system will soon be sub-
mitted to the voters.
MANKATO, MINN.— The City Council on
April "s awarded a contract which provides
for the installation of 61 additional orna-
mental lamp standards. Gas-filled tungsten
lamps will be used and the energy will be
supplied by the Consumers' Pwr. Co.
NEW LONDON, MINN. — F. O. Hlllman.
it is reported, is planning to install an elec-
tric-light plant in the mill at Spring Lake to
supply electricity in the village of Spicer.
ST PAUL, MINN. — The Consumers' Pwr
Co , of St. Paul, a subsidiary of the North-
ern States Pwr. Co., has secured the con-
tract for furnishing electricity for lamps
and motors and steam heating for the new
Railroad Building, erected by James J. Hill
The contracts covers 850 hp in motors and
750 kw for lighting.
ST PAUL, MINN. — Bids will be received
bv the State Board of Control, State Capi-
tol. St. Paul, until June 1 ifor general con-
struction, mechanical equipment and deep
well of a tuberculosis sanatorium for the
counties of Beltrami, Hubbard and Koochi-
ching, in accordance with plans and specifi-
cations prepared bv Sund & Dunham, archi-
tects, 514 Essex Building, Minneapolis, and
Rose & Harris, engineers, Minneapolis.
TRACY". MINN. — Bids will be received
until June 22 bv Charles M. Campbell, city
recorder. Campbell, for sale of municipal
water and lighting plant. For details see
proposal columns.
CHARTER OAK, IA. — Preparations are
being made for the installation of an elec-
MIDDLEPORT, OHIO.— The Mutual El. .
Co.. of Middleport, has applied to the Public giving up only the private contracts
lying centers the Sanitary District will con- trie-lighting plant for which bonds hav»
tinue to provide the street-lighting service, been sold
Utilities Commission for authority to pur-
chase the electric generating plant and dis-
tributing system now held by Frank C.
Elliott aa trustee for $100,000. The corn-
pans- also asks for permission to issue
$75,000 in stock and $75,000 in notes, of
which $25,000 in stock and the $75,000 in
notes are to pay for the property, and
$50,000 in stock is to be sold at par. the
proceeds to be used for improvements and
betterments to plant.
MTDDLETOWN, OHIO.— The Ohio Has ft
El. Co. has applied to the Public Utilities
Commission for authority to purchase the
property of the Middletowr Has & El. Co. of
Mid< lb town; the Franklin El. Lt. Co., of
Franklin; the Leetonla El Co., of Leetonia,
and the New Lisbon Gas Company, of New
Lisbon. The Ohio Gas & El. Co. also asks
for permission to issue and sell $7'>o,ono in
bonds al 86, $200,000 In debentures at 80,
,000 in common stock at 70, to pro-
v i . i . ■ funds for the purchase of the proper-
rid to expend $42,500 on extensions
and additions to the Mlddletown plant.
OBERLIN, OHIO.— The City Council I*
ring the question of installing a
pal electric-lighting plant and water-
RUSSELL, OHIO I ouncll has
author!/. It i k to ask for bids fur
1 t] eel lighting and
Eoi private and comnierelaj purposes.
BANDU8KT, OHIO \> • I. .trie-light
oi ted, « ill be pro-
viiie.i for the new Mb. ...,!..:. Theatre The
nl will Include B 90 hp Brui
. ■• r. i.i atoi . •!" ectlj
T.-,|
WARREN, I 'III' ' \\ Ithli
months the Trumbull Pub Ser Co., ol Wai
i n Curtis
... ith condenser and switchboard for
above. E L Franklin is general manager.
TOUNQ8TOWN, OHIO Pli re being
■ A i... i. in n. i i - Intendenl
of parks, for lighting all of the • II
Ml wires will placed under
ground n Whltforo1 Jones, of Cleveland,
I ■
Louisville Qai
SPRINGFIELD, ILL. — The lower branch
of the Illinois General Assembly has passed
a bill appropriating $5,000 for new electric
elevators in the Capitol ; a fund of $9,000 is
already available for this purpose. Another
bill passed by the house carries an appro-
priation of $140,000 for the installation of
a new lighting and heating plant in the
State power plant in Springfield.
WHITE HALL. ILL. — At an election held
recently the proposal to establish a munic-
ipal electric-lighting plant was carried.
BURNETT, WIS. — An electric-lighting
system, it is reported, will be installed in
the village of Burnett. Energy to operate
the plant will be secured from Beaver Dam.
JANESVH.LE. WIS Steps have been
taken bv the Janesville Commercial club
for the installation of an ornamental light-
ing system In the business district, foi
which if is understood plans have been pre-
i.:i red.
KESHENA, WIS — The government saw-
ill, gristmill and electric-light plant on the
JEWELL, IA. — The Henderson Lt. 4
Pwr Co., of Jewell, expects to establish a
day service In about 60 days, operating
motors on 240 volts, single-phase, except
when conditions call for three-phase service
The erection of a transmission line to Ells-
worth, a distance of 3 miles, this summer
is under consideration. M. Henderson l»
proprietor.
LAKE CITY', IA. — A special election will
be held to vote on the proposal to grant
the Central Iowa Lt. & Pwr. Co., of Boone.
a franchise to supply electricity for lamps
and motors in Lake City for a period of 26
j ears.
SPENCER, IA. — Within the next six
months the Electric Light Commissioner!
expect to erect a three-phase, 13,200-VOll
transmission line to Ruthven and Dickens
la and substations for same; also to pur-
chase one 300-kva generating unit (directly
connected) As yet nothing definite has
. A. Kuleher is superintend
ent.
WILTON JUNCTION, IA.— The City
Till 1 1. KrlSinil II a ini rii'iu ii-iikiii jm.i m vii 1 1-< *»iu»'Lm u »•-• » ~ »w--» w™i»»*.*».
Menominee India, i; • . ■■ nn.n was recentlj Council has rejected the proposal submitted
by the Davenport ft Muscatine Ry. Co., or
Dave t, for the erection of a transmis-
sion line to Wilson The city will Install a
nev, municipal plant. When completed an
L8 hour service will be established.
CARUTHERSVILLE, MO.— Bids will be
,,., , ived I Byrd, Mayor of the citj
,, rsville, until June - for s<
and water works construction. The pewar
,K, WOrl consists ol approximately 7 miles
pipe, i ft. to 22 ft deep
holes, 26 flush tanks, sewagi
with motor driven centrifugal
pumps and .Mississippi River outfall Plans
ons maj be obtained from
engineer, Syndicate Trust
Building, St LOUlS, MO., UPOn deposit of
I plans and $15 for water
nn.led upon return Of
,;i;\\l;\ Ml' The ' '/.ark Pwr & Wti
.. ,. opi i ated bj the Dohertj
Organisation, So Wall strut, Now xprk,
• mcnlse
to BUPPl} eli'trnitN for lamps and motors
,,, oranb] The companj has ■ generating
n the W hiti
SERGEANT BLUFF, MO The proposal
destroyed by Eire, causing a loss of $30,000.
LA CROSSE, WIS The Wisconsin Com-
mission has instructed the Wisconsin & Mm
nesots i a 8 i •« - i !o, t" enlarge the ca-
pacity "f its distribution system and service
In l ill .lion for healing service in II
of l.a Crosse in order further to Impi ove
e the company is ordered to In-
tall at its own expense hydraulic thei
Istini
jiii opei ated o
< 'SHKi ISH, WIS The B ' ubUi
\i, ... i has been authi rlsi "" bids
for the installation of a generator and rot
connections tor an Independent electric
lighting system in the new high school
SHAWANO, WIS Plans are being pre
Bhiglneerlni -
nn , for the construi tlon ot
,, municipal electrli light plant w I
the proposal to install a municipal
plant "ill be submitted to the voters. The
ii ., ide i. ii the ei pi ml or
the Wolf River, i miles from Shawano, and
Ipmenl will Include two waterwheels
i ii. two waterwheel governors
pable "f exerting 17.1100 ft. -lb. of
ling effort), two 400-kva. three-
Ma» 22, 1916
ELECTRICAL WniM.Ii
to inaui- ts.iHjii in bonds tot I
of u mu rlc-ltghtlng i
soon be submitted to 11m
TROT. Ml I Th€ i'if. I tout I
■
Illinois l.t A Pwi I !o . of Hills-
boru. III. for ell distributed by
the city.
I IK \M.\H. NEB
log 115.0 . itlon »f
i rlc-llght plant is und
ATi 'HIS' IN, KAN i ■ • Illlno
'. is negotiating fur a
■'■hull Is
to funu- ■ i the proposed high-
tension transmission line to bi
AtcblHon to Topeka. 1 he plant
I $200,000. It F. Carley, of
u . is chief ■ -
MU8COTAH, KAN. Preliminary plans
are being prepared for the li
municipal electric-lighting system
Southern States
ashlvii.le, N. C. — The North I
auxiliary
steam-driven •
bout $150,000) at the n
Beaverdam Creek, 4 miles from AshevlUe.
The initial installation will provide for 4000
hp . the ultimate output of the plan will he
8000 hp. Contracts for equipment, it is
understood, have been awarded. Samuel a.
Johnson, of Asheville. superintendent, has
charge of the work
WAYNKSVII.i.K. N C. At an election
■ ntiv bonds to the amount of $25,-
000 were voted for the Installation of an
electric light and power plant.
TIP 'MASVI1.LL. GA The City Council
Is considering submitting to the voters the
f>roposal to issue $30,000 In bonds for the
nstallation of additional equipment in the
municipal electric-light plant and exten-
water works mams.
HOMESTEAD, FLA. — The installation of
an electric-lighting plant In Homestead is
under consideration.
NEW SMYRNA, FI.A. Bids will be re-
ceived h> the city of Smyrna until Hay 26
for furnishing all material and machinery
for water-works and sewerage systems.
The pumping plant will I" di
oil engines or electric motors, for which
bids are asked as follows: Steam plant —
Two 80-hp boilers, steel cased, one boiler-
feed pump and heater, two 500-gal. per
minute compound pumps, oil-burninf
ment for two boilers, one 10,000-gal. hori-
zontal-type steel fuel-oil tank. Oil engine
plant — Two 500-gal. per minute triplex or
duplex pumps driven by two 50-hp oil en-
pines, burning either crude or distillate fuel
oil: one 10,000 gal fuel-oil tank, horizontal
type. Electric-driven plant Two 500-gal.
per minute triplex pumps driven by two
50-hp, 2300-volt motors. Specifications may
application to the J. B.
Co., engineer. Third National
Bank Building, Atlanta
GLEASON, TENN.— Bonds to the amount
of $lo,o(i» 1 1 : i v . • been voted for the Installs
tion of a municipal electric-lighting plant.
MILAN. TENN.— Bondl to this ..mount of
$12,000 have been voted, the proceeds to be
used for improvements to the water and
light plant and to take up outstanding In-
debtedness The plans provide for changing
the municipal electric plant from direct-cur-
rent to alternating-current system.
I'LAINVIEW. ARK.— The City Council
nted W. \v Winters a franchise to
construct and operate an electric-lighting
plant in I'lainview. The Council has also
entered into a contract with Mr. Winters for
lighting the streets of the city.
LENZBURG, I. A. a post office).—
Walter Buell and .1. M. Doll, of Shreveport,
who arc Installing an electric-lighting
• planning to erect a
power station in Lenzburg, both in the Red
River oil field, cost of $20,000.
The ('aim El, Co.. of Shreveport, has been
awarded the contract.
adamsi IN, i iki.a Thi Warn on I >
& I'wr. Co., rei entl incorpoi ! i d by .r. R.
Williams ami nth. is. is contemplating the
installation ot an electrli light plant In
Adamson, to cost about $3,000
HAW \. ' iKI.A 'I'll. .,. I. ill. it I ar
electric light and power plant in M
under com Ideratlon. A. A. Sing is reported
Interested
MANGTJM, i'KI.a i:,m, is to the amount
Of $75,000 have been issued lor ll
latlon of a municipal electric light plant In
Mangum.
DEL RIO. TEX. The property of the
City A El. Co., of Del Rio, ii is re-
ported, has been purchased h> Ihe Southern
■ to the
HOI ST' IN H
ton L»tg I
within the next three months 26
■ i general ms n
McGREGOR. TEX. The Texas I'wr. A:
\\ tt ,v l.t t
via Eddy and Moo.i. the Me-
lt IS understood. will he
plant
MAIM. IN. TEX. -The install.. lion of a
municipal electric-light plant In connection
With the water-works system is undi
by the Marlin public improve-
ment and water-works comn
MARLIN, TEX — Bids will be received at
of the supervising architect, Treas-
ishlngton, D. C., until
June i i i ■ ■ i construction, Includl
chanicai equipment, lighting ii\t ui
approaches. ..f the United States post office
at Marlin Drawings and specifications
may be obtained at the above office or from
the custodian Of site at Marlin.
MERKEL, TEX — Negotiations are under
way between the Abilene Gas & El. Co., of
. kel El. Co., whereby
the former will take over the propi
the latter If ihe deal is consummated,
work will begin at once on the extension of
the transmission lines to Merkel.
SLATON. TEX- The Malone l.t. \- Pwr
Co.. of I'lainview, is contemplating the in-
stallation of an electric-lighting system In
Slaton.
Pacific States
FRIDAY HARBOR. WASH.— Application
has been made to the Town Council by R.
D. Berghardt, Of Seattle, for a franchise to
construct and operate an electric light and
power plant in Friday Harbor.
OLYMPIA, WASH— Three applications
for franchises to construct and operate an
electric lighting and power system In the
city of Olympla have been presented to the
f'ity Council as follows: William W. Manier
and associates, of Olympia ; Scott C. Cal-
houn. Alaska Building. Seattle, and George
H. Tilden, Hoge Building, Seattle.
PORT TOWNSEND, WASH.— Bids will
be received at the office of the supervising
Treasury Department, Washing-
ton, D. C, until June 24, for an oil-burning
plant for heating boilers in the United
states Marine Hospital at Port Townsend.
!■'. ir details see proposal columns.
SEATTLE, WASH— Bids will he re-
ceived at the office Of the Board of County
Commissioners of King County. Seattle,
until June 1 for furnishing and installing
. . r elevators of the "drum"
and "tract inn'' type. Bidders must submit
bids for furnishing four, six and eight ele-
vators, separately, all of said elevators to
be Installed In the new King County Court
House. Seattle. Plana and specifications
I at the office of A. Warren
Gould, architect, American Bank Building,
Seattle. Wash., upcin deposit of $10.
CliKSMAM, U1IK. — Preparations are be-
ing made by the city of Gresham to secure
water rights near Sandy, with a view of in-
stalling a municipal power plant. Applica-
tion will tie filed at once on water needed,
ort, a flume about l.ooo
will be built. Preliminary surveys
have been mad,, by H. J. Stocker, who esti-
mates the cost of the plant at about
>'l 00,000
ONTARIO, ORE.— The Dead Ox Flat
Irrigation Co. which owns power rights on
ti River, has applied to the City
For . franchise to supply electricity
In Ontario.
PORTLAND, ORE— A permit has been
by John H Lewis, stale engineer,
to the cttj of Portland, to appr
second-fi ol water of the Sandy l
Zigzag Ci or tl development of 20,000
hp. The water is to be diverted by means
1 I ■ ' miles long and is to
be used for electric lighting ana municipal
purposes.
HUGHSON CAL Thi Bo ird oi Trade is
question of establishing a
lighting district in Hughson.
1. 1 is ANGELES, CAL. The Public Sen
Ice ' 'ominissioiiei s have adopted a >
i equesl Ing thi Citj I touncll to appropriate
inn Hatch not less than ? I mi. nun to per
mil the beginning of the work on the Long
Vallej dam and the power plant at the
i 'wens River gorge,
LOTALTON, CAL.— The Town Council is
contemplating the Installation of a munici-
pal electric-fight plant (to be driven by
water-power i I. lake Ihe place of the
WESTVTLLE, - are being pre
BJ the Hern.
1 IIIK.
BOISE, IDAHO Definite plana have
i A. W i
plant for Boise
•he plant
at the .i, ted States
. 1 powei
I.' IGAN. 1 TAII ] neer has
-an Mu
tual Pwr. Co., of Logan, for 125 second-fl
. ;iom Logan River at the head of
on. The wat- ■ ned in a
Hume 15. sin ft long and a pipe 24.160 ft
long, ad Aboui
6800 hp will be developed C W. Hansen
is manager.
\ tl Application has been
Hied in th Bee oi \\ D Beers, state engi-
J II Manson, of Price, for appro-
priation of 250 seeond-ft. of the How of the
■ r. t.j be diverted through a canal
'.i.'.ls ft long and returned to the natural
course after use for power purposes. Energy
i at the proposed plant will be sup-
plied to towns and cities in Carbon and
Price Counties.
SALT LAKE city. I'TAH.— Appropria-
tions of approximately $1,000,000 have been
approved by the directors of the Utah i'wr
ft l.t. Co.. of Salt Lake City, for extensions
and improvements to its system. A liberal
amount, it is understood, is provided for the
new street-lighting system in Salt Lake
City. A large portion will be used for re-
building portions of the present system and
completing work already under way.
FLORENCE, ARIZ— J. W. McCann and
(.'. M. Shannon, of Florence, have submitted
a proposition to the state engineer advocat-
ing the erection at once of a transmission
line from Sacaton to Florence, a distance of
_'" miles, for the purpose of supplying elec-
tricity for lamps and motors in Florence
and for operating pumps for irrigating pur-
poses to farmers along the line and also to
supply energy to the prison farm.
POLSON. MONT— J H Cline, it is re-
ported, is contemplating the installation of
an electric-light plant in Poison.
CODY', WYO. — The City Council, it is re-
ported, has engaged the Billings Engineer-
ing Co., of Billings, Mont., to prepare plans
for a municipal electric-lighting plant and
water- works system. B. W. Bennett is city
clerk.
BATTLE MOUNTAIN, NEV.— Prepara-
tions, it is reported, are being made by the
Lander El. Lt. ft Pwr. Co., of Lander, for
the construction of a power station west of
Battle Mountain.
Canada
VANCOUVER, B. C. — The capital stock
of the Western Canada Pwr. Co.. of Van-
couver, has been increased from $5,000,000
to $10,000,000.
VANCOUVER, B. C. — Extensive improve-
ments and extensions will be made by the
British Columbia Tel. Co. to its lines in Van-
couver, North Vancouver and the Nanaimo
districts, Involving an expenditure of about
$70,
WINNIPEG, MAN'.— Tenders will be re-
ceived by the city of Winni]>eg until June
5 for furnishing and installing one 150-kw
motor-generating exciter set In the municl-
i rating station at Point du Bois.
Specifications may be obtained at the office
of the City Light and Power Department.
:. i King street. Winnipeg,
BLENHEIM, "NT -The bylaw- author-
izing the installation of hydroelectric power
has been passed by the ratepayers.
PETERBOROUGH, ONT. — Bids will be
received by S K. Armstrong, secretary
Peterborough Utilities Commission, Peter-
borough, until May SI for furnishing and In-
stalling a complete pumping unit. Specifica-
tions may he received from the secretary.
William Kennedy, Jr., 364 University
>! ll, Que . Is engineer.
Miscellaneous
JUNEAU, Alaska Extensive improve-
ments are contemplated by the Ebner Gold
Mining Co., of Juneau, for which an appro-
priation ol $1, i.iinil has been made. The
proposed wank will Include the construction
of an 8000-ton milling plant ; construction
of a large concrete dock; a hj droelectrlc
plant, to cost about $ I ,11 ; i 30. 000-
gal. oil-storage tank
1352
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 21
Weekly Record of Electrical Patents
UNITED STATES PATENTS ISSUED
MAY 11, 1915.
(Prepared bj Mitchell A Allyn, 41 Park
Row, New York]
Skiiif.s TRANSFORMER; G. A.
Burnham, Cliftondale, Mass, App. hied
Feb 8, 1911. Auxiliary closed .
winding on cores keeps ratio of transfor-
mation constant.
1.138,632. Electric Regulation : J. I...
Creveling, New York. N. Y. App Bled
April 18, 1911. Regulating means oper-
ated electromagnetically.
System of Electrical Distri-
BUTION H P. Davis, Pittsburgh, and F.
Conrad. Swissvale, Pa. App. filed Dec.
31, 1908. For supplying power to feeder
and trolley circuits of electric railways.
1,138,638. Locomotive; J. LeC. Davis,
Pittsburgh, Pa. App. filed Jan. 10, 190S.
Electric driving motors of compact de-
sign.
1.138,647. Safett SPEED-CONTROL Appa-
BATUS for Motors; S. H. Eckmann and
J Wagner. Manchester, England. App.
filed May 11, 1912. Mine hoists.
1,138,652. Wireless Telegraphy ; B Grave ,
Thorntown. Ind. App. filed Jan. 24, 1914.
Sensitive audion type of detector.
9 Resistance Device: S. E. Huen-
erfauth, Chicago, 111. App. filed June 18,
1914 For electroplating tanks
1.188.672. Dynamo-Electric machine: b.
G. Lamme, Pittsburgh, 1'a. App. filed
Sept. 10, 1909. Field-magnet structure.
1.138.673. Switching Device: B <;. Lamme
and J. L McK. Yar.llev, Pittsburgh, Pa.
App. filed Oct. 31, 1913. For synchron-
ous-booster rotary converters.
1. 135. 674. Process of PREPARING ARC-LAMP
Electrodes; G. m. Little, Pittsburgh,
and B. J. Gudge. Wilkinsburg. I 'a. App.
filed April 21, 1910. Simultaneously
1 1 ■ I . ' . i . 1 1 1 > rotates.
1,188,677. Electrically Operated Switch;
W. O. hum. Wilkinsburg, l'a. App. Bled
June 11. 1912. Operates only when en-
ergy supplied it falls within predetermined
limits
Self-Restoring Annunciator;
A. C. Reid, Genoa, 111. App. filed Aug.
18, 1913. For magneto multiple switch-
boards.
1.138.689. Synchronizing System : B. P.
Rowe, Wilkinsburg, l'a. App, Bled June
24. 1913. Automatically prevents con-
nection of generator to busbars until
proper electrical conditions are attained.
1.138.690. Meter ; A. P. Rypinski, New
N v App Bled March L8, 1913
Attachment by which integrating meter
may be transformed into indicating meter,
1.138,693. Trolley ; W. Schaake, Pittsburgh,
Pa App. filed Dec. 24, 1909. Pantograph
p. pe.
1,138,698. Telephone; E. s and C. n.
Stewart. Ottawa, 111. App, filed May 2«;,
1918. Combined transmitter and receiver
for lineman's test telephone.
1,188,701 Overhead Electric-Line Con-
struction; T. Varney, Pittsburgh, Pa.
App Bled April .".. 1907. Particularly for
catenary trolley line.
1,138,702. Blectric-Lins Support: t. Var-
irgh, Pa. App, libel Dec '-'.
1909 Skirt tight insulator.
HEATING I'M 1 I . ' ,
<'.. p. in. iii. Flint, Mich. App. filed Jan. 23,
191 I. For cooking,
IM ^TIC-TELEPHONE I
iNn Apparati E. J Cressey, Wichita,
Kan. App. Bled I >. i 11. I '■ i :: Phono
graph responds i" i
9 Composite Electric System;
ira Kails. M, y v.Pp
in.. i April i .. i ''"'i Telephone ami police
system
1,188,746 Brush "i
TBICAL Machines; E. Glndre, pair.
\pp filed July 2 i, 191 a Spe
cial yoke stria Mir.- rm attachment t"
hrusli
! ■ . M. SYS-
flb-d Sept 1, 1911 Compo
train-stopping s> |
i Switch .
M Guett, Hartford, Conn Ipp Bled Jan.
. p,-
F W
\pi. Bled Sept.
i \|,|, in, i
19, 19
ucture
Switch . «' J Kb in.
. pp. filed Auk. 3. 1912
ll li
1,138,785. Demand Indicator ; W. E. Por-
ter, Lynn, Mass. App. filed Aug. 1. 191 i-
improved mechanical features of con-
struction.
I,.;.: |, hand Indicator; W. E. Por-
ter Lynn, Mass. App. Bled July 1, 1914.
Simple and compact construction.
1.138,787. Demand Apparatus : W. E- Por-
ter Lynn, Mass. App. filed Aug. 4. 1914.
Has i,i. erupting gear connections.
1,13S,S00. Circuit-Breaker: W. M. Scott,
Bervt-yn Pa. App. filed Jan. 31, 1912.
Has means preventing immediate actua-
tion of the tripping action.
1 138 801 Horn-Blowing Attachment for
' \rTi.Momi.Ks; W. W. Scott, Plant City.
Fla App bled June 3. 1914. Operates
switch to sound horn when turning cor-
ner.
l 138,808. Circuit Controller: L. L. Ta-
tum. Milwaukee, Wis. App. filed June li.
1913 Has advantageous features of both
sliding and abutment contact controllers.
I 138 827. Third-Rail System: P. H. Zum
' Mall.' n. Chicago Heights, 111. App. filed
Aug. 15, 1914. Rail sections energized
only when car approaches.
1,138,830 Printing-Telegraph Receiver;
C. G. Ashlev, Chicago, 111. App. filed
Nov. 21, 1910. Printing pens operated
wholly by electromagnets.
Writing Machine; O. F. Bam-
berg and E Weinbol.l, Laibach. Austria-
Hungarv. App. filed May 29. 1913. Con-
nects together two typewriting machines
for transmitting in cipher.
1 138 S34 Direction Indicator for Ve-
' hici.f.s; w. w. Bell. Alameda, Cal. App.
filed March 16, 1914. Automatic and ren-
dered inoperative when car engine stops.
l 138 841 Electric sadiron; W. a. Braun.
' Canal Dover, Ohio. App. filed Oct. 12,
I'll" Special means for adjusting heat
and for automatically cutting off current.
1 138 853 Contactor: F. L. Eager. Water-
' bury, Conn. App. filed Oct 14, 1909. For
operating trolley-car signals.
1 138,857. Combined Switch and Fuse; R.
' Elsman, San Francisco, and C. Dallerup,
San Rafael, Cal. App. filed Aug. 20, 1918.
For polyphase lines.
1,188,874. Electric Switch: C. J. Klein,
' Milwaukee. Wis. App. filed April 18,
1914. Particularly for automobile motor
starter,
i 138,879. Trunking System for Tei.e-
he Exchanges; F. R. McBerty, New
Rochelle, N. y. App. filed Sept 8, 1909.
Automatic or semi-automatic
i 138,889 Magnetic Separator; d. L.
i: Ayr, N. D. App. filed Jan. 16. 1915.
For grain mills.
i 138,912 Dynamo-Electric Machine; m.
i: Thompson, Ridgway, Pa. App. filed
June 23, 1910. Alternator of rotating
li. Id type.
■i Process of EU cot i ri ug Metals
' by Electrolysis i. Addicks, Douglas.
Ariz. App filed Nov. :",. 1914 Electro
lytic reduction of copper in the presence
,,i an irnn salt.
i 133,945 Perforating Apparatus for
Making Register Bands; E. Ehrhardt,
Berlin, Germany. App. Bled Dec 10,
1912 Typewriter keyboard construction.
l 138,958. Printing Telegraph | O. L De-
hor, Pittsburgh, Pa. App, filed March 24.
1911, Mas rotary-type wheel. (Fifty-
nine i Is Imi '
1 l :: ■■ 959 Tc EPHONH TRANSMITTER; I1
Koenig, New fork, N Y. App. filed
March 21, 1911. Improved construction
for conducting away heat generated.
i 1 83 966 Troi lei Macs inism : i*.. B
Lynch, I !helsi a, Mass App. filed June 24.
1907. Trolley needs not !"■ reversed when
direct Ion of Era \.i is changed.
K : T
ton, i pper Ho
app Bled June 13, 1919 Rounded In-
tervals, b\ electromagnets,
i i ::v 983 \ , Stai [OK \ L
Si.bm. Los Angeles, Cal App filed May
it i9io Watchman's signal box,
| | 38,990 P. i I'lT-CllANUING
Mil m \ i ■ s. .inn. ' Ihicago, in
\pp filed tpi d i i, 1911 Step bj step
system for registering elapsed time
* ITS VXD ( 'ill
itit.a i. Sohm.Chlcago.nl. App filed
\|,l!i
, , - , l,„ |,
i i 89,
i „ p Varvel, Melboui ne, \ Ictorl
\,.,. filed Not 18, phi Heat
Ing wire located In annulai
. i i nil \ W Whit-
Mass App, filed Maj
1,139,047. Drawbridge Circuit Controller ;
F. Marsellis, Berkeley, Cal. App. filed
Nov. 12, 1912. Co-operating sets of con-
tact fingers on drawbridge and abutment.
1,139,076. Resistance for Electric Heat-
ers ; K. A. Rutenber, Logansport, Ind.
App. filed Jan. 31, 1914. Arrangement of
heating coils on mica disk.
1,139,087. Electric Door Latch ; T. S.
Torresson, New York, N. Y. App. filed
March 18, 1914 Rings alarm if attempt
to open door is made.
1,139,121. Electrical Ignition System for
I nteknai. -Combustion Engines; G. Hon-
old. Stuttgart. Germany. App. filed March
25, 1912. Has "service" ignition and
"starting" ignition.
1,139,127. Composite Electric System; A.
D. T. Libby, Elyria. Ohio. App. filed Jan.
28, 1910. Telephone and police system
with signal for patrolman.
1.139.141. Locking Clip; L. Steinberger,
Brooklyn, N. Y. App. filed Oct. 18, 1910.
For supporting overhead trolle>r wires.
1.139.142. Locking Clip; L. Steinberger,
Brooklyn. N. Y. App. filed Sept. 21, 1912.
Can be detached from the hanger without
detaching the hanger from the span wire.
1,139,152. Burglar-Alarm Lock; J. Baltes,
New York, N. Y. App. filed Feb. 12, 1914.
Forcing of bolt actuates alarm while
proper operation of bolt does not.
1,139,155. Mail-Box Signal; A. R. Ben-
nett, Knoxville, Tenn. App. filed Jan. 29,
1914. Mail in box rings alarm in house.
1.139,169. Demand Apparatus; J. T.
Dempster, Schenectady, N. Y. App. filed
Dec. 7. 1914. Records magnitude of max-
imum demand of an installation.
1,139,201. Direct-Current Dynamo Ma-
chine: W. Luvken, Essen-on-the-Ruhr,
Germany. App. filed Dec. 5, 1910. Has
alternating-current secondary winding on
magnet frame.
1,139,203. Direct-Current Machine; C. W.
Girvin. San Francisco, Cal. App. filed
May 14, 1913. Relatively high potential.
1,139,210. Electric Engine Starter; M. P.
Mitchell, Eaton, Ohio. App. filed March
14, 1914. Upon attaining speed motor is
automatically clutched to engine.
1.139.213. Negative Pole Plate for Alka-
line Storage Batteries; Des Moines, la.
App. filed Aug. 6, 1913. Zinc and tita-
nium.
1.139.214. Electrolyte for Secondary Bat-
teribs ; W, Morrison, lies Moines, la.
App Bled Sept. 11, 1914. Sulphuric-acid
solution of titanic acid.
6 Radiotelegraphy ; E. Raymond
Barker, Wimbledon. Eng. App. filed Jan.
9, 1908. Signals made up of approxi-
mately equal time-value elements.
1,139,251. Automatic Time Check for Oil
Presses and other Machines: T. Bell,
Tyler, Tex. App. filed Aug. 9, 1913.
Shows working and idle periods of ma-
chine.
1,139,255. I" u Ignition System: a. P.
Brush, Detroit, Mich. App filed March
21, 1912. Special starting arrangement.
1,189,258. Signal Box: T. H. S. Cone.
Bound Brook, N. J. App. filed Dec. 18,
1912, Wall-boa type Of fire alarm.
1,189,278. ELECTRIC Switch: g H. Hart,
West Hartford. Conn. App. filed Dec.
81, 1914. Push-button construction.
1 139,294. SYSTEM of Distribution: J. L
Wis App, filed June
27, 1910. Involves the storage of kinetic
energy.
PLUM BS A U. Jones,
Bangor, Maine. App. filed Aug. 16, L918
Contact slides liglit lamps for illuminat-
ing levels.
Electric Riveting Apparatus;
F. P. Knlieil. New Haven, Conn. App
filed Jan .'., 1914 Embodies principles.
construction ami operation of modified
power press
M, no id "i . N Kl.KC-
i: P Werner. In. Han-
apolls, ind. App filed Aug, 8, 1911. Un-
interrupted operation of electrolytic cells
at maxii
1,139,410 APPARATUS roi: DkTINNTNG Tin
Scrap, Boxes or the Like; ii Gold-
schmidt, Bssen-on-the-Ruhr, Germany
\,,,, in, ,i i ., , .' i. 1906 ' 'limn "f tin-
containing baskets passes through alka-
line bath
1,189,418 Apparatus roa Transmitting
Soi nds m Means of Hertzian Waves.
\\ it. 1 1 iv, .a. New Fork. H ~i Add filed
I lo Ihe
nf sound-controlled ulti
light
I.I 39, |66 \i-r\i! \ti-s ] 1,. T. Rob-
ins..u and J T I lempster, Schi
\ \ Vpp filed March 18, 1913
man. I and the abnnr-
mall] large demands made by an electric
in.n upon central stalion.
\i.l. 65
Electrical World
Put ■ Iraw Publishing < lompanj . in.
NEW YORK. BAT! RDAY, M U 29, 1915
No. 22
The Pacific Coast Welcome
THE welcome of the Pacific Coasl to the representa-
tives of the industry attending the National Elec-
tric Light Association convention will be Done the
cordial because it is an "off" year. The coast companies
would have wished an occasion when brighter condi-
tions prevailed, but they have much to show, and they
have so deep an interest in the welfare of the industry
that their preparations have been made with open-
handed enthusiasm. The Eastern visitors will gain
largely from the friendly spirit of the West, no less than
from the study of Western practices. Certainly the
readiness of the West to welcome the delegates will lead
to a desire that the association shall have another con-
vention on the ("oast in some future year.
The California Installations
IN this issue of the Electrical W'orld there is given
a complete survey of the remarkable California in-
stallations which delegates to the National Electric
Light Association convention may inspect at first hand.
Nature's lavish provision in waterfalls, the climatic con-
ditions, the progress of the electrical art and the highly
developed commercial utilization in a group of very pros-
perous communities combine to make the California
properties conspicuous and creditable examples of that
degree of efficiency which is the standing pride of the
industry. It is not size alone that makes these prop-
erties notable, but their size is not to be ignored. The
five companies for which statistical data are given have
roughly one-tenth of the capitalization of the central
stations of the whole country. The inevitable growth
of population in the inviting California climate and the
aggressive commercial policies and physical prepared-
ness of the companies will produce the continued rapid
development characteristic of such properties.
Public Policy
THE public policy of the National Electric Light
Association has been consistently broad-minded.
Year by year it has been based on the recognition of
the fact that central-station companies have certain
clearly defined obligations toward the public and that
their prosperity and their hold on public good-will de-
pend to a very large extent upon their attitude toward
these acknowledged obligations. The public policy com-
mittee has stated the principles of conduct by which
companies may develop the invaluable influences of pub-
lic co-operation and support. That the committee ex-
pects to depart this year from its regular practice so
as to discuss the other side of th> at the pub-
lic owes to the companies — gives unusual interest to its
forthcoming report. All companies have not reached
perfection in their public policy, and the necessity for
impressing sound doctrines upon them has not passed;
but the shortcomings are just as plain on one side as
on the other. There is do reason why the companies
should not state frankly where they see public mistakes.
Their greatest responsibility, however, lies in follow-
ing such a course that public mistakes shall be neither
popular nor successful and fair public policies shall
prevail.
The Central-Station Farmer
IT is stated in an article appearing elsewhere in this
issue that the engineers and selling men who have
been the creative factors in the development of the vast
and rapidly growing irrigation load of the Far West
have won this business very largely through their
knowledge of the problems of the farmer. It is no small
tribute to the measure of the men who represent the
industry in that part of the country. The natural trend
of any man's interest and ambition is to specialize and
excel in his own elected province, and it is all too com-
mon for the expert to ignore the dignity and importance
of the other man's profession. Apparently the applica-
tion of electric motors to the irrigation of Western
lands has been the product of the co-operation that has
had its basis and foundation in an eager study of the
practices and economics of the farmer. This has car-
ried the central-station men very far afield and put an
extra burden on their minds and time involving no
little sacrifice. It bespeaks a brilliant future for this
specialized electric service.
Illumination at the Exposition
EACH international exhibition in this country has
exceeded its predecessor in the power and
grandeur of its artificial lighting. The Panama-Pacific
International Exposition of to-day is no exception to
this rule, and already its scenic effects by artificial
lighting have brought it fame. In the daytime the sun
takes entire charge of all outdoor and nearly all indoor
illumination. We have to accept the tones, colors and
intensities of light that each day provides. In the night
time, however, the scene is changed. The scenery is
at the disposal and choice of the illuminating engineer.
Tones, colors and intensities are at his command over a
wide range of commercial availability. He is able not
only to simulate the effects of sunlight or moonlight,
but also to create new and pleasing effects that neither
1354
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 22
sun nor moon could by itself possibly produce. In
this sense, therefore, artificial lighting has a potential
range of esthetic effects far beyond natural lighting.
During the last twenty years the material for sup-
plying artificial light at the behest of the illuminating
engineer has been rapidly increasing. New and power-
ful arc and incandescent lamps have been produced.
Improved reflectors, lenses and color screens have mul-
tiplied. The idea of generating large fluxes of light
under scenic control has been greatly enhanced, so that
very much more strange, novel and powerful illuminat-
ing effects are possible to-day than in past decades.
The illustrated description published in this issue on
the lighting of the Panama-Pacific International Ex-
position at night shows what new and fine effects have
been obtained there. There is the range from a bat-
tery of forty-eight arc-lamp projectors to the "fireless
fireworks" produced by illuminated steam. With nearly
all Europe in the horrors of war and destruction, it is
indeed comforting to think of the great achievements
in decorative lighting and beautiful illumination at San
Francisco.
San Francisco Transmission Systems
The city of San Francisco is the center of the most
elaborate energy-transmission network in the world, cov-
ering almost the whole northern part of the State of
California and consisting of a group of eight intercon-
nected systems, of which that of the Pacific Gas &
Electric Company is the chief. This system is itself the
result of consolidation of a number of individual trans-
mission systems organized independently and eventually
merged. It serves an area of 37,775 square miles, half
as large as the whole of New England, and includes
fourteen generating stations, ten hydroelectric and four
steam. Two of the component plants, those at Fol-
som and Newcastle, date back to the earliest days of
energy transmission, and the others have been taken on
from time to time, winding up with the new plant at
Drum, with an initial equipment rating of 25,000 kw.
All the stations, whether driven by water or steam, op-
erate at sixty cycles and in general feed energy to a
60,000-volt network. The Drum plant feeds energy into
the center of distribution of the system at 110,000 volts.
From an engineering standpoint the most interesting
feature of this system resides in the fact that all equip-
ments are operated in multiple without the slightest dif-
ficulty. The plants are so widely separated, and the
flexibility conferred by the electro-dynamic constants of
the line is so great, that all of the plants have operated
in parallel without any trouble in regulation. Although
the system can easily be split into sections if necessary,
unified operation is the general rule of procedure. All
the stations are equipped with accurate governing ap-
paratus, but the burden of regulation — that is, of taking
up the fluctuations of load- is thrown systematically on
one or another of the large plants. Except in the single
plant for the time engaged in the chief work of taking
care of the load fluctuations, the governors are set to act
rather sluggishly and operate only <>n notable variations
of speed. A large part of the San Francisco load proper
is taken by the steam station, the transformers uniting
it with the hydroelectric line being of only 9000-kw
rating. In practice it is found that in the operation of
the system in multiple there is no surging between plant
and plant and no tendency to drop out of step.
In addition to the main system of the Pacific Gas &
Electric Company, six other transmission systems are
joined in a general network with reciprocal relations, so
that at times as many as nineteen stations are feeding
energy into the network. Several of these operate at
or above 100,000 volts, each delivering energy through-
out important territory as well as to the general system.
One of the component plants is specially interesting in
that it includes a 28,000-kw steam plant in San Fran-
cisco which is united with its transmission line, 154
miles at 100,000 volts, by a four-mile 11,000-volt sub-
marine cable across San Francisco Bay. Another of the
group has 138 miles of 104,000-volt line and a third 136
miles of 110,000-volt line. For a complete view of this
great group of interconnected plants reference must be
had to the descriptive article itself, which with the map
gives a very vivid idea of what is undoubtedly the most
impressive transmission network in the world.
Electrical Energy for Irrigation
From time to time we have referred to the progress
made by some of the Western transmission companies
in building up irrigation loads. In the present issue
there is summarized in a most instructive manner the
progress made upon the Pacific Coast in this develop-
ment. Through all that territory formerly known as the
"Great American Desert" the possibilities of irrigation
are limitless. Even the most unproductive-appearing
land generally becomes a garden spot the moment it is
supplied with water, and while over a large part of the
arid territory irrigation companies have done admirable
work in water supply, there are many tracts of valuable
land not yet within reach of such a remedial agent. In
many such cases the advent of transmission networks
has provided a cheap and easy remedy.
Beginning at the north, the Yakima and Columbia
River valleys, together with much of the Walla Walla
Valley, depend on irrigation for successful crops. An
adequate supply of water can frequently be obtained
from wells or lifted from the river. Throughout this
region the Pacific Power & Light Company has been ac-
tive in taking on pumping load. On the average, one
may reckon on about six acres irrigated to the horse-
power, at an average cost not far from $3 per acre.
Further south, in the San Joaquin Valley, a territory
about 200 miles by 50 miles in area has been successfully
exploited in a similar way. From the network serving
that territory 700 pumping plants are driven with a
connected load of nearly 900 hp. The gross income to
the transmission company from the pumping load is
about $250,000 per year, and, the territory actually ir-
rigated and successfully brought under cultivation from
this method of irrigation being over 100,000 acres, the
M \v 89, 1916
ELECTRICAL WORLD
average cost per acre irrigated is .somewhat less than $3.
Still further southward the Mount Whitney Power &
Electric Company now furnishes energy for about 50,000
. ordinarily at the flat annual rate of $50 per hp.
The Pacific <i;i< & Electric Company is carrying a load
..rly 85,000 hp in irrigation motors in the central
part of California. Electri ■ ! on meter rate
throughout this territory varying from 1.25 to 3.0 cents
per kw-hr., and the load has proved a good and profitable
one. The Great Western Power Company, with 8000 hp
in irrigation motors, takes care of another section of
central California, while in the southern country the
Southern Sierras Power Company has undertaken the
same work with good success. Within its territory in
the vicinity of Los Angeles the Pacific Light & Power
Corporation has undertaken irrigation with excellent
results.
Electrical pumping for irrigation has proved particu-
larly advantageous for the farmers. It enables land
under cultivation to be irrigated just when it is needed
without reference to the limitations of a ditch system.
In some cases it has proved advantageous for a group
of farmers to equip a pumping plant together and use
the water in turn as it may be required. More generally
a pumping plant is installed on a fairly large ranch
where it can be kept regularly in service. For this work
the motor has replaced the gasoline engine to a very
great extent as a cheaper and more convenient source of
energy. Electric pumping for irrigation may certainly
be regarded as long past the experimental stage, as hav-
ing proved its usefulness and economy, and as giving to
the electrical supply company in any region where a re-
liable water supply is needed an important and profitable
source of income.
Electrical Development on the Coast
The States of Washington and Oregon together with
California show the greatest use of electricity per cap-
ita obtaining in any part of the country, the cheapest
electrical supply, and the best utilization of the national
resources. They possess over 40 per cent of the aggre-
gate water-power of the country and have utilized it to
a very remarkable degree. In fact, it was on the Pa-
cific Coast that the first serious attempts at electric-
energy transmission in the country were made, more
than twenty years ago. Moreover, in this territory
many of the great experiments in transmission have
been carried out — the development of high voltage, the
working out of the problems of parallel running of large
numbers of plants, the simplification of protecting ap-
paratus, the working out in theory and in practice of
long lines, and in general the pioneer work of electrical-
energy transmission. This splendid development has
been attributable in part to the enterprise and initiative
of the people and in part to the situation, especially
favorable for transmission work on account of the rela-
tive cheapness of hydraulic developments and the com-
paratively high cost of fuel.
In most of the hydraulic work on the Pacific Coast
the heads available have been high, the streams being
fed from the mountain snows, and on the whole the
costs of development have been much lower than in the
eastern section of the United States, where the diffi-
culties of low-head developments continually confront
the engineer. One section of the Pacific country in the
States of Oregon and Washington experiences the high-
est rainfall known in the United States, the annual
average being between 80 in. and 100 in., while in parts
of the southern territory the rainfall reaches scarcely
more than a tenth of this amount. North or south the
hydraulic developments have been, on the whole, rela-
tively easy, and fortunately so to compensate for the
long distances between the source of energy and the
market, with the comparatively scant population still
further increasing the average investment charge in
transmission lines.
Speaking broadly, the northern territory in the States
of Oregon and Washington is the seat of transmission
systems of moderate length only in part interconnected.
They have been erected by various interests to serve
separate territory, sometimes in competition with still
other plants. While some consolidations have taken
place, there is no such unification of the transmission
interests as exists in the network which centers at San
Francisco. To the southward, on the other hand, lies a
territory in which consolidation, while not complete,
has been carried out to a very large extent. The oldest,
and for the time being the largest, of the Southern
California networks is that of the Southern California
Edison Company, covering the territory just below the
mountains from Redlands to the sea. There are seven
hydroelectric and three steam stations, distributing
energy at the rate of nearly 300,000,000 kw-hr. per year.
With the exception of the great installation of the Kern
River, its hydroelectric plants lie in the canyons where
the streams run southward from the mountains and,
with the exception just noted, involve no very long
transmission lines. Plans are now on foot for four new-
developments on the Kern River, still further adding to
the present supply of energy.
Two other southern systems are those of the Pacific
Light & Power Corporation, with its most interesting
240-mile transmission line from the Big Creek plant,
and the Southern Sierras Power Company, having a
main plant on Bishop Creek with a 240-mile transmission
line and extensions carrying it even beyond the Mexican
border and forming by far the longest energy-trans-
mission system in the world. Both of these plants,
which are of great interest, have recently been described
in our columns. The former with its auxiliary steam
and water plants has a yearly kilowatt-hour output
again nearing the 300,000,000 mark. Altogether these
three great systems are monuments to the magnificent
energy which the Pacific Coast has displayed in making
most of its natural resources. They are full of lessons
to the rest of the country. We advise every Eastern
engineer who is fortunate enough to reach the Pacific
Coast to spend every hour he can spare in studying these
developments and winning from them fresh inspiration
to do things in a big way and with big aims.
L356
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 22
KIC. 1— MAP SHOWING mi INTERCONNECTED TRANSMISSION SYSTEMS LEADING INTO SAN FRANCISCO
Mm 29
ELECTRICAL WORLD
HG. 2 PANORAMA OF THE SPAULDING HAM OF THE PACIFIC GAS ft ELECTRIC COMPANY
Interconnected Systems Serving San Francisco
Details of the Generating Equipments and Transmitting Circuits Tied in with the Larger System
of the Pacific Gas & Electric Company, Which Covers Half of California
MSURING continuity of service in
the fullest sense, all of the great
long-distance transmission systems
finding their way into San Fran-
cisco are, for mutual protection as
well as for other reasons, intercon-
nected in that city and in the ad-
jacent territory, while some of the
companies also receive energy from
still other companies at various
points on the line. The advantage
of such an arrangement from a
purely operating viewpoint has
been more than amply demonstrated
on numerous occasions, one com-
pany being able to carry the load of another company
which has suffered a mishap.
The system of the Pacific Gas & Electric Company is
the largest in the West, and possesses the most gener-
in bulk from some of the other hydroelectric systems
not so situated. The Northern California Power Com-
pany has a contract, expiring in December, 1925, to de-
liver 10,667 hp to the Pacific Gas & Electric Company at
Chico, where connection is made with the latter com-
pany's system. The Snow Mountain Water & Power
Company delivers 3750 kw into the system of the Pacific
Gas & Electric Company at Santa Rosa, and the Great
Western Power Company delivers as high as 15,000 kw
into the Pacific Gas & Electric Company's system at
Oakland. A reciprocal arrangement exists between the
Pacific Gas & Electric Company and the Sierra & San
Francisco Power Company, whereby power up to 25,000
kw may be transferred from one system to the other at
San Francisco. On the other hand, the Pacific Gas &
Electric Company delivers 4500 kw to the system of the
Western States Gas & Electric Company at Stockton,
Natomas and Richmond. It also delivers 3375 kw to
the Oro Electric Corporation at Stockton, Oroville, and
P1NANCIA] IND PHYSICAL DATA FOB CENTRAL CALIFORNIA CENTRALSTATION COMPANIES IS OF DEC. 31, 1914
Company
[■til Power
Company
Northern I
Power ' 'nin|':ih\
Const ill
i iru Electrii
Par vain' -
in haiifis of public
Stock issue ouu-taii'lint' i r . 'I.' Block
of public
Taiespaid in 1914
Annual inti I'M 1
1914
-, , -, . .„n n.i
1648
i :
Number ,,; I
atum-nat* rating
Rat* rating Poor station*, 109,517 hp
80 B
378,705
id ni bora >power
lr»taliY<l motor load in hone-power
Nurnt- T ,,t iiiiinii ipali I"
«'>^ »i
-1.000 00
IIXHI
i. 7 .". . I M H > I
Two plants, 13,000 I
BS
17,000
175,000
None
Three plants, 50, 100 hp
Two plants, 28,418 It
51 -•
:1717
(7,038,200 '»'
1393,929 '.is
None
1771,186 .-,:
Seven plant! i I p
None
J_'.,v;)v 15
;m»)kw
One plant, loookw
Includes ba ribed i"r bul notfullj paid
ating stations. However, in years gone by the company
was unable to generate sufficient energy to meet the
demands and found it expedient to contract for energy
at some of the dredges of the Oro Corporation. The
Sierra & San Francisco Power Company delivers energy
also to the Coast Valleys Gas & Electric Company at
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 22
Salinas, and to the Western States Gas & Electric Com-
pany at Manteca, and purchases energy from the City
Electric Company, a subsidiary of the Great Western
Power Company in San Francisco. It is connected with
the Tuolumne Transmission Company at Tuolumne, and
also with the West Side Lumber Company, both of these
companies doing a general public utility business.
Certain financial and statistical data of the principal
interconnected companies are given in the table printed
on page 1357.
Pacific Gas & Electric Company
The system of the Pacific Gas & Electric Company
represents the consolidation of a number of smaller
companies, each with a system peculiar to itself and
none of them originally designed with a view of being
tied in with any other system. The company at present
operates ten hydroelectric stations and four steam sta-
tions. The hydroelectric stations are located and rated
as follows:
Rating Generator
Power Housi in Kw Voltage
Drum 25,000 6,600
Electra 20,000 2,300
Colgate 14,200 2,300
De Sabla 13,000 2,300
Centerville 6,400 2,300
Deer Creek 5,500 2,300
Folsom 3,750 800
Alt:i 1,000 500
Newcastle son 500
Yuba 660 2.300
Steam stations are" located as follows :
Elating
i -,,\\ , i House in Kw
Bar Francisco 54,000
Oakland 21,000
Hi HI" ..inn
San Jose -.300
All of the stations operate at a common frequency of
sixty cycles and run in parallel on a 60,000-volt network,
which is also supplied with additional energy from
various other interconnected systems. The energy from
pany is 37,775 sq. miles, or equivalent to a territory
one-half the size of all the New England States com-
bined or three-fifths the size of the State of New York.
The circuits extend into thirty of the fifty-eight coun-
ties of the State of California, containing within their
borders the most thickly populated sections of the State
centering between San Francisco and San Francisco
Bay, the fertile Sacramento, Santa Clara, Sonoma and
Napa Valleys and a large portion of the San Joaquin
Valley. These counties have an area of approximately
37,000 sq. miles, and according to the 1910 census had
a population of 1,325,000, or about 55 per cent of that
of the entire State. Electricity is supplied directly or
indirectly through other companies to 214 cities and
towns, the cities served being the eleven largest in the
State. A complete description of the property of the
company was given in the Electrical World June 1,
1912, since which time the Drum development has been
built and additions have been made to the steam station
in San Francisco.
There are at times nineteen generating systems oper-
ating in parallel. At the beginning of 1914 the total
length of the company's transmission and distribution
lines was 5090 miles. Not only is the entire system
of the Pacific Gas & Electric Company welded together
in a single operating unit, and all of the various stations
so interconnected and controlled that in case of accident
or variation of load the burden may be thrown onto
other power houses and transmission lines, but through
its interconnections with the other large generating sys-
tems around San Francisco there can be a very wide in-
terchange of load between these systems and the system
of the Pacific Gas & Electric Company in case of acci-
dent to any one of them. This insures continuity of
service throughout the entire field of operations and is
an important element of strength, particularly in view
of the necessity of uninterrupted service to many large
industries depending upon the various companies for
electric supply.
The paralleling of the various stations regardless of
Scbotfopol
SINGLl iim DIAGRAM Of PACIFIC GAS & ELECTRIC COMPANY
SYSTEM
llii> latest and largest station of the company, known as
the Drum station, la transmitted at 110,000 volts to a
i it ion at Cordelia, where the load center of the
I ';i<ifi<- company's system is. From this point electricity
distributed radially at 60,000 volts to the cities and
alleys surrounding the bay.
The area served by the Pacific Gaa & Electric Com
the length of line between them or the loads car-
ried has not developed any difficulties, but on the
contrary it has been found that paralleling can
be done much more readily in such cases than
when the generators are paralleled in the same sta-
tion. The systems may be paralleled at the generating
stations or on the low-voltage side of substations. As
ELECTRICAL WORLD
1369
FIG. 4 — STEAM TURBINE SET IN RIVKR STATION, SACRAMENTO FIG. 5 INTERIOR OF ELECTRA PLANT
m w
FIG. 6 THE CENTESVILLE WATER-POWER PLANT — A 2300- FIG. 7 — THE 25,000-KW DRUM STATION IS THE LARGEST OF
VOLT STATION THE COMPANY'S WATER-POWER PLANTS
FIG. 8 — THE 20,000-HP COLGATE PLANT
Kit;. 9 — THE 54,000-KW SAN FRANCISCO STEAM STATION
ELECTRICAL WORLD Vol. 65, No. 22
GENERATING EQUIPMENTS OF THE PACIFIC GAS & ELECTRIC COMPANY
TERRITORY SERVED
MISCELLANEOUS
Area
Population of
Districl
No. of Electrical Con-
sumers Served
Gross Annual Earnings
Companies with Which Connected Electrically
37.750 sq. in.
1 125 008
148.957
$8,759,449 from sale of electricity alone for year ended Buys from Great Western Power Co., Northern Califor-
Deo. 31, 1914 nia Co. and holds exclusive contract for supplying energy
to Pa nam a -Pacific International Exposition
GENERATING STATIONS CONNECTED ELECTRICALLY
IxK-ation or Name
Ratios in Kva
Type (Steam or Hydraulic
Date Built or Rebuilt
1,000
13,000
6,400
14,200
5.500
20.000
3,750
800
25.000
660
54,000
21,000
5,000
2.200
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
S
s
s
s
1900
1903
1900
1899
1908
1899
1895
1896
Yuba
Station A, San Francisco
1913
1898
MAIN GENERATORS
Type
General Electric
2.000
5.000
4.000
Stanlc\
Stanley
Stanley
w Bstinfthouse
Stanley
Electra
5
2
2,300
2.300
3
3
240
400
2.000
5,000
Btanlej
FoUom
5
800
3
300
750
General Electric
Newcastle
2
500
3
400
400
l General Electric
2
6,60(1
3
360
12.500
WcstinRhouac
2
2.4O0
2
400
300
Stanley
500
500
[1,000
11,000
u. (ion
60
60
60
60
500
1,500
1J.IKII1
15.00(1
3,500
Westinghousc
WatttDghouB
General Electric
General Electric
Westinchouse
: ' iH'sml [steam]
4.150
1 ISO
3
3
60
60
720
9.000
12.000
General Electric
General Electric
B, Sacramento (steam)
4.150
3
. 60
1800
5.000
1 2,300
1 2,300
1 I
400
1.500
300
General Electric
ra] Electric
t] Electric
STEAM Gl M RATING luITPMENT
BOILKRS
II] or 1 I
No me Surface
in s.,. Ft.)
Steam Pressure
l.l. pa -i In
Facilities for Hu^un; Steam fypa
1 uel
No.
Area. So.. Ft
Station A. San Fran
18
1
Mm
200
200
200
Keep boileie operating: under H a \\
v be H A W.
II
Oil
is 600
li> Fahi
g Si-
01,426
4
•
7734
7550
200
dI boilsn m n>- Parker
Do.
I Worthington
1 \\ i.rtliuinlon
20.000
200 i iimn i,. keep ill lux MeNaull
Station B.Sacramento
6
823
200
1)., SUrlioi
Do.
1 ■ Wheeler
surface type
III.INNI
San Jos^ steam plant
4
1
1
1
llll,
1000
MOO
150
160
150
1 B. A W.
Do.
Ill llll
11. ,,.
Heine
May 29, 1916
ELECTRICAL WORLD
STEAM AND WATER-POWHk EQUIPMENTS OF THE PACIFIC GAS & ELECTRIC COMPANY
PRIME HOVERS
Station
.
It pm
Huruontal or Vertical
Type
Connection with (ienerator
Govern* (Type)
AlU
1
Victor Gerard waterwheel
Directly connected
DrSebla .
T
i
1 900 ka
1 000 kw
4.000 kw
240
400
400
llomonlal
Do.
Do.
■i. pulse
Dohlr impulse
P..O.AB. waterwh.'rl
Do.
I-
Do.
Defla tiri^ MBdlfl il«
Do.
CMrria
i
i
B 700 h)
1.500 hp
till
3*0
Do.
Do.
Francis- Allis Chalmers
Dnl.lc impulse
Do.
Wicket gate with relid valve
Cokmle
7
ii 100 kw
ioun
340
300
Do.
Do.
Riadon Iron Work*, twin tinpiilM
Do.
Do.
Do.
-
i.SOOki
< total i
300
Do.
Pelton
Do.
Elrrtra
s
a
1,000 kw
7.500 lew
240
WO
Do.
Do.
Pelton
Doble
Do.
Kolmn
4
i
1,100 '.:
1.900 hp
300
300
Do.
Mi' "..rtini k double discharge
Do.
Do.
Newcastle
2
600 hp
400
Do.
Pelton
Do.
Drum
4
360
Do.
Pelton Doble
t.sl with
each of two generators
Deflecting needle noule
Yub*
2
JOOkw
400
Do.
Pelton
DirectK
1
1
1
1
1
II 000 kw
12.000 kw
15.000 kw
SOOkw
l.SOOkw
8,500 kw
720
730
720
115
115
Do.
■teem)
1 ive-etage Curtis (steam)
uipound
Mi 1 nt.i-fi ,v Sevmour
1),..
: itiiion. Union Iron
Wurks
Do.
Do.
n.
Do.
Do.
a
Sen Francisco (steam)
Sution C. Oakland
(■tarn)
1
1
9.000 kw
12,000kw
720
720
Vertical
Do.
tfi Curtis
Do.
11...
Station B. Sacramento
1
5.000 kw
1800
Horizontal
r Curtis
Do.
San Josl steam plant .
1
1
1
100 kw
100
100
600
Do.
Do.
Do.
rnpound
Mcintosh tV Scvninur
Do
E. P. Allis
BYDRA1 1 I' DETAILS
CON DOTS FOR WATER
Average Plow of
H ater Ivailabk Available
! ii, i'u. Ft.)
Dam Details
TJrpe
Length
(in Ft.)
Head
Furnishe.1
tin Ft. i
Drum.
Area of drainage
basinis 120 sq. miles
4.000.000,000
(400 man.. 270
305 t' dam; lower 260 ft. has gra\ m
■ tli stepped face; upper 1". tt
is arched ami vertical; spillway 75 ft.
long
8 ft. 8 in. solid--granite concrete-lined
tunnel with relief verve
Diteli
Flume
Siphon with relief valve
1 \... riveteii-sleel fl] ■■ line- torn, l,,ir|,;,\
to station 72-irj. to 52-in. ilia., with re-
lief valves
4456
39,631
-'.i.il.'
3,600
' 6 . 282
1375
Aha
Cent. r\ die
15 ft. arched dam made of concrete and
boulders; 00 ft. long along crest
Two systems: one consists of canal and ) 43,800
flume. 7 ft. S in. by 4 ft. 8 in. I epprox.)
Three riveted-steel pipe lines [n,m fore- 1
ii.iv tn statu, n; nil.. i. i: in to :tti in. ' ., ...,-.
die.; two 24 in. dia. Six-inch air valves i *•*"
at critical points )
577
110,000.000
Flume 7 ft. by 6 ft. 40,000
tapprox.)
Five 30-in. riveted-eteel ami cast-iron ) -™
pipe lines from foiebaj to statiorj 1 '
701
i trete
Di Sabls
IMi ;v hiki.ikhi
Two systems one oonaista of canal and ) 66.000
Hume f (approx.)
Two 30-in. riveted-stivl and lap-welded 1 6 000
pipe lines from foreliay to station 1
1531
243
Takes m
four lakes
Three pipe lines from forebat i a
— two consist of wood-etave, cast-iron
ami lap-welded a cl i
sleel
::.irki
1466 I" 1266
Yuba
292
464
CHARACTERISTICS OF SERVICE
1 !haro tea <>f Load
Total Conkxcted Load
Maxihim Ciimium d Pi
lllSTKIKI thin
01
1 »st Vim in Kw-Hn.
In. in trial
Kw
Date
< lenerated
1'iir. hasisl Sold for Distribution
Hailwny, light and m
211.720 hp (equit
266,878 hp
124.040
Ocl -' '. IHI4
476,595 ■ ■
1362 ELECTRICAL WORLD Vol. 65, No. 22
TRANSMISSION EQUIPMENTS OF THE PACIFIC GAS & ELECTRIC COMPANY
PRIMARY SI BSTATIONS
TRANSMISSION, CIRCUIT
MILEAGE AT E.U'H
VOLTAGE
DISTRIBUTION
Location or Kims
Ratine in Kva
ClR( 1 IT MlLBAGR
Overhead
I'ndereround
118 primary
22 secondary
190,642 (total!
72.293 (Mall
110.000 volts, 109 mite
■'.n.iiiKi volts, 1299 miles
24,000 volts, 91 miles
17.000 volts, 102 miles
1685
SI
TRANSFORMERS
No.
Phases
Voltage
Type
Low
High
3
6
500
375
500
500
15,500 vVeatinghouse
DeSahla 9 840
3 1500
2300
2300
34,600 Stanley
38.100 Stanley
6
3
840
360
2300 34.000 Stanley
2300 34,000 Stanley
Coleate 3
3
6
3
1000
700
700
1500
!
1
2300 34,600 Stanley
2300 34,600 Stanley
2300 17.300 Stanley
2300 34,600 Stanley
3
2000
2300 34,60" Stanley
Electra
6
6
3
1100
1250
1100
2300 34,600 Stanley
2300 34.600 Stanley
2300 17,300 Stanley
Folsom
3
1250
800 34,600—10,000 General Electric
Newcastle
3
3
300
300
500 34.600 Stanley
546 6.900 Stanley
Drum
6
4250
6600 64. 0TO Allis Chalmers
Yuba
2300 34.600 Stanley
TRASSMISSMN SYSTFM
Route
Miles
Hkioht ra Ft.
Spacing in Ft.
Voltage
Type
No. of Circuits
per Tower
Arrangement of Spacing
Conductors in Ft.
Normal
Maximum
Normal,
c
Maximum,
d
Ground Wires
Drum to Cordelia-.
110
1299
91
102
B2
50 too
2200
110,000
60,000
24.000
17,000
Steel towers
1 and 2 Horiiontal and 162
vertical 120
None
Pons *ni> Towers
No. of Circuits
per Tower
Arranenii'-nt n{ Oonduoton
Sparine
in Ft.
Porition "f Ground Wii
Route
ra iv Ft.
Type
Normal
Max.
mum
Normal,
M i ■ imam,
:
BlfBandtoOiklud 71
300
■. 10
Milliken
Donbll ■ i rt m i f riKunlv lii twn nrtkt] phM normally,
but in one horizontal plain- across
to
i rtnl win o
tower
■pa
■V.T>
M udmmn Bhratitn Khan 3m Ltrd to Pi
■
Marshes ami
No Lightning, !,'*,^, (ir t«"l winds
CQHDl
msi i
Material tod Cm 'mml*
No. of 9
■ ■ .-. ! N 0. 000 copper on nsjn ttM 7
No 6 copper on lirsnch line*
Ordinary 5 Thomas Suspension
Locke A Thomas Suspension
May 29, l'Jlo
ELECTRICAL WORLD
1363
a matu-r of fact, the paralleling is done almost entirely
on the 60,000-volt side, transformers of relatively small
sizes being connected from line to ground for synchro-
nizing purposes.
The operation of the system is controlled from the
office of a load dispatcher in Oakland. This official is
at all times in direct telephonic communication with
the entire system, and in case of trouble which might
interrupt the service has control of all matters in con-
nection with the resumption of service. Water cannot
be taken out of a ditch or flume; a power-house super-
intendent or foreman cannot shut down a generator or
change the load carried on the station, and a line crew
cannot work on a line without first obtaining the con-
sent of the load dispatcher. In the load dispatcher's
office is a board upon which is a working model of the
ei.i.re system. Every generating station, switching
point, transmission line, substation, etc., is shown, and
the switches are made up in dummy form for hand
setting to correspond with the conditions in the field.
Whether the switch is an oil switch or an air-brake
standby, and in case of trouble pick up the load on very
short notice. As a rule, the hydroelectric station gener-
ators are connected directly to line without automatic
circuit-breaking equipment of any kind, and energy is
never shut off the lines entirely unless it is absolutely
ry to do so.
The governing of the division of load between the
different stations is not so great a problem as might
appear. Each station, excepting one, takes its allotted
portion of the load and makes no attempt whatsoever
to govern unless the frequency varies beyond certain
predetermined limits, the speed control being left en-
tirely to a single station. The governing is not limited
to any one particular station, but can be done at any
station having sufficient equipment to handle the fluc-
tuations of load. All important power houses are
equipped with governors which, except in the case of
the governing station, are set so as to be sluggish in
action and will not operate, therefore, except on wide
variations of speed.
It might be thought that with the large steam tur-
1&
■ >
5
OaICj Steam to*?- S3SXO ■■ -
irchostd fb~?r MHC6 ~ "'.
no
Tefal Pbmr iTbSill " -
|
"1
Total
39516 , A
90
as
/N
X
( \
/
\
1
/ "\ \
J
7
\
I-
f 65
|«
J 55
* 50
45
40
.55
30
25
20
IS
10
5
-as
» —
V
\
\
3
•
"a
far
\
.
^
•-.
-
!
^J
fC
•■
"
-,
Purc/imed
\
JL,
' Steam
/
f
L
s
0
-
*
>
<
'
) b?
FIG. 10 — CURVES SHOWING PROPORTION OF ENERGY GENERATED IN THE PACIFIC COMPANY'S STEAM AND WATER-POWER
PLANTS AND THAT PURCHASED FROM OTHER SYSTEMS
switch is indicated by the form of the dummy, the oil
switches being circular and the air switches rectangu-
lar. The lines of interconnected companies are shown
in different colors, as are also lines operating at various
voltages. The hydroelectric plants are shown in white,
and the line symbols and auxiliary plants are indicated
in yellow and white. Substations are shown in white
lines and transformer banks are colored according to
voltage ratings.
The system of switching in use enables different
power stations to be separated, leaving one or more
running together upon such lines and loads as can be
conveniently carried. A very complete log is kept of
every detail in connection with troubles of any kind,
loads carried by the different stations, and other mat-
ters pertaining to operation. Continuity of service is
guaranteed in the more important districts by the steam
stations, and since these are all turbine-driven they are
operated readily in parallel with the transmission line
and under normal conditions carry a good portion of the
wattless current. At the same time they serve as a
bine station in San Francisco the water-power plant
would be operated at constant load and that the fluctua-
tions would be taken by the steam plant. While this
would undoubtedly be the best arrangement for opera-
tion, the fact is that there is not at present enough
transformer equipment between the hydroelectric system
and the steam system to make it possible for the steam
system to govern the whole without overloading the
transformers. For instance, the rating of the steam
station in San Francisco is 54,000 kw, whereas the
transformer equipment between the hydroelectric and
the steam system is only of 9000-kw rating. No attempt
therefore is made to feed the whole of the San Francisco
load with transmitted energy. The units in the new
Drum station can be adjusted for speed from no load
to full load by the governors. With one unit governing
(and one of the Drum units is large enough to govern
alone) the governor is set to give the unit the same
speed at full load as it does at normal load.
The parallel operation of the system as a whole is
very satisfactory indeed, there being no reciprocating
1364
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 22
FIG. 11 — DRUM CANAL — SPAULDING DAM IN DISTANCE
FIG. 14 — RIVER STEAM STATION OF THE PACIFIC QAS & ELECTRIC COMPANY AT SACRAMENTO
I. 1916
K I.KCT IUCAL WO K I.D
FIG. 15 — TRANSFORMER EQUIPMENT IN SAN MATEO SUBSTATION
FIG. 16 — CORRIDOR TO BUS COMPARTMENTS
IN CORDELIA SUBSTATION
FIG. 17— DIGNIFIED ARCHITECTURE DISTINGUISHES THE FIG. 18— THE RIDGE SUBSTATION IN THE VICINITY OF
SAN MATEO SUBSTATION BERKELEY
FIG. 19 — CORDELIA SUBSTATION TERMINALS FIG. 20 — HIGH-TENSION STRUCTURE IN SUBSTATION YARD. CHICO
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 22
l -Go**' Px»* STee/ Cobies.
%'Oo rj strand*
Srcofrtng Strom £15000 t&sp*~ Jtf inch
Tamai M'ttlOOtbs at 7Smr l
FIG. 21 — THE CELEBRATED TWO-CIRCUIT SPAN ACROSS CARQUINEZ STRAIT — CLEAR LENGTH 4427 FT.
HMp4k
-.ate*. j{
FIG. 22 — SOUTH TOWER CARQUINEZ
STRAIT CROSSING
FIG. 23 — ARRANGEMENT OF STEEL CABLE ANCHOR AT THE CARQUINEZ
STRAIT CROSSING
FIG. 24 — SWITCHES AT SOUTH TOWER CARQI'INKZ STRAIT CROSSING
May 29, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
1367
units whatsoever. The steam torbioea and the water-
wheels are all of uniform rotating speed so that there
is no surging between one unit and another and no
tendency to drop out of step. The greater number of
the lines feeding into the system are supplied from
transformers delta-connected on the low-tension side
and star-connected on the high-tension side with the
neutral grounded.
Except in the mountain districts the Pacific Coast is
comparatively free from lightning, so that the company
makes no attempt to protect against lightning dis-
turbances other than to install horn-gaps, which are set
to arc on voltages approximately 25 per cent above
normal. Ordinarily these arresters consist of two gaps
in series with the ground side connected directly to
earth without resistance.
Reference has already been made elsewhere to trou-
bles due to fogs which prevail at certain seasons of the
year along the Pacific Coast. Broadly speaking, there
are two seasons on the Pacific Coast — one wet and one
dry — and insulator troubles are usually encountered
during dry seasons or just when the first rains start in.
The troubles are due chiefly to leakage from the sur-
face of the insulators on account of the dirt and the salt
which are deposited by the winds. As soon as the heavy
rains come this accumulation is washed off and the
number of insulator troubles is materially reduced. In-
sulators which operate without trouble on the 60,000-
volt lines in the mountain districts outside of the fog
belt give a great deal of trouble on the 11,000-volt lines
in the bay district, where they are exposed to more
severe conditions of dust, fog and smoke. The salt
finds its way to the insulators in the following manner:
The prevailing winds blow from the ocean and carry
salt in suspension from the ocean spray of the waves.
This, together with the dust, forms a coating on the
insulator, and it is evident that trouble ensues as soon
as the heavy fogs or rains set in. All of the companies
find it necessary to wash the insulators on the lines
along the ocean front once or twice a year.
The curves herewith i Fig. 10) show the proportion of
energy generated by water-power and steam-power, and
the proportion which is purchased by the Pacific Gas &
Electric Company. It will be noticed that during cer-
tain seasons of the year the company is obliged to use
more steam to generate its energy than at other seasons.
Prior to the operation of the Drum plant about half of
the total output of the Pacific Gas & Electric Company's
system was generated by steam and half by water-
power. Since the operation of the new Drum station,
however, this ratio has been changed, as shown by the
curves. California crude oil is used for boiler fuel in
all of the steam stations of the Pacific Gas & Electric-
Company, and in the largest station of the company an
average of 217.68 kw-hr. was generated per barrel of
fuel oil used throughout the year 1913.
The illustrations show various portions of the Pacific
Gas & Electric Company's system. The Cordelia sub-
station, which is situated at the load center of the sys-
tem, was erected for the purpose of stepping down the
potential of the Drum-Cordelia tower line from 110,000
volts to 60,000 volts. It is built in Spanish Renaissance
style, as are also many of the other substations and the
steam station at Sacramento. Seven 60,000-volt lines
radiate from the Cordelia substation as well as some
11,000-volt lines. All of the 110,000-volt and 60,000-
volt switches installed in that substation were designed
and built by the company. The main transformers are
of the auto-transformer type.
The celebrated crossing of the 60,000-volt lines over
Carquinez Strait, in the San Pablo arm of San Fran-
cisco Bay, has been increased in carrying capacity re-
cently and new anchors provided. Formerly four cables
Of imieteen-strand galvanized plow-steel wire :„ in. in
diameter and 6300 ft. long spanned the strait 216 ft.
above high tide and brought the electrical energy into
Oakland. During the fourteen years of continuous
operation this crossing never failed. Two more cables
have now been added to the original four, thus provid-
ing two independent three-phase lines across the strait,
the middle span over which is 4427 ft. long. The four
wooden cross-arms were replaced by three pairs of steel
I-beams which overhang both sides of the towers. The
planes of the two circuits are 20 ft. apart, and the ver-
tical distance between conductors is 10 ft. Details of
the cable saddles on top of the towers and of the new
cable anchors are shown herewith. The system operat-
ing diagram is given in Fig. 3. The Ridge substation
in Berkeley is where the 60,000-volt lines terminate.
Fig. 39 shows the general equipment of Station F in
the Exposition grounds in San Francisco. The appa-
7 1908 1909 1910 1911
Years
191? 1913 1914 1915
KIG. 25 RECORDS OF ENERGY GENERATED AND PURCHASED
DURING RECENT YEARS
ratus is situated in the west end of the North Beach
power house of the Sierra & San Francisco Power Com-
pany. The 1000-kw motor-generator sets shown are
used to supply direct current for operating the munici-
pal electric-railway system of San Francisco, the energy
being purchased from the Pacific Gas & Electric
Company.
Great Western Power Company
The completion of the hydroelectric station of the
Great Western Power Company on the Feather River
at Big Bend above Oroville, Cal., marked the beginning
of a new era in electric generation and transmission on
the Pacific Coast. Prior to that time the typical West-
ern plant received its water through a long wooden
flume, and the apparatus was invariably installed in a
corrugated-iron house down the canyon. The station
of the Great Western Power Company was the first in
which the generating equipment was housed in a sub-
stantial structure, and from its erection to the present
the station has had the distinction of being the largest
single power house on the coast. The initial installa-
tion at Big Bend consisted of four 10,000-kw units, and
1368
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 22
STEAM, WATER-POWER AND ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENTS OF THE GREAT WESTERN
POWER COMPANY
GENERATING ffl ITIONS CONNECTED ELECTRICALLY
SUBSTATIONS
SERVICE VOLTAGES
Location or Nam?
Feather River 50,000
Type
Ratine (Steam or
in Kva Hydraulic)
Oakland (steam reserve owned bv
ralifornia Electric Generating Co.). 10,500
location or Name of
Transmission,
t'irruit
Mileage
at Each
Voltage
Sacramento. Brighton, SOS miles at Sells to Half Moon Bay Light * Power 110-220 a. c. 110, 220, 440. and 220* at
Isleton, Antioch, (lav IIKI.IXIO volts Co.. Pacific Gas A Electric Co., Western one, two and three phases,
ton, Oakland I States Gas & Electric Co.; reserve steam
Santa Rosa. Napa and plant at Oakland owned by California
Petaluma Electric Generating Company, connect-
ed with City Electric Company, San
Francisco
PRIME MOVERS
Connection with Generator
I. P. Morris — Francis
Oakland steam i
Five-stage Curtis steam turbines
STEAM GENERATING EQUIPMENT AT OAKLAND STEAM RESERVE
Fuel
Source of Water
for Condensing
Boilers
Kind
Storage Available
No.
Hp or Effective
Heating Surface
Steam Pressure,
Lb. per Sq. In.
Superheat
(in Deg. Fahr.)
Type
Type of
Burners
Fuel oil
10,500 bbl. in main
Sea
6
6000 sq.ft.
225
125
B. A W.
Hamill
HYDRAULIC DETAILS
PROTECTION AGAINST EXCESSIVE HYDRAULIC PRESSURES AND VACUUM
Station
Area of
Drainage Basin
nphy of
Country
Total Wa''
Type of
Equipment
Size or
Rating Location
40 sq. mi.
Mountainous
65,000.000.000 cu. ft.
Stand pipe
9-ft. dia. ' Runs uphill from station about 302 ft. and discharges into spillway
MAIN C.KNr
RATORS
Station
No.
Voltage
Phases
Cycles
R.p.m.
Kva (Each)
Type
5
n.ooo
3
60
400
10.000
G.E.
Oakland steam reserve
3
1I.IKH1
3
60
3.500
G.E.
1 V [TING K>l ll-Ml M
Type of Drive
500-hp horizontal-impulse wheels
I >,i bad rtCHB raamm
'lltXNMnltMl US
hv. :
Phases
Voltage
"TIONS
Type
Huh
1 ... High
,
10,000
11,000
.1 A
0 I.W.C.
May 2'j. 1916
K LECTRICAL WO R LI)
I 69
^^ — ^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^
•n
■ ■■"
_ 1
jd
HP* .
pppp^^^*^""^
"K* * iV^^KfWh **^m
^ $rr
%j[ ' A. l
'<
w*
#y£ <**
£ePffli
% ^3 M
/^
, — i_i 1: 1
PIG. 26-
-THE 50,000-KW FEATHER RIVER STATION OF THE GREAT WESTERN POWER COMPANY-
PLANT ON THE COAST
-THE LARGEST SINGLE
during 1913 the foundation substructure was completed
for the installation of four additional units. The build-
ing was extended 95 ft. so as to house two units, one
of which has been installed and is now in operation,
making the present rating of the station 50,000 kw.
The waterwheels are of the I. P. Morris-Francis type
rated at 18,500 hp and operating under an effective head
of 435 ft. A complete description of the power plant
and of the transmission system was published in the
Electrical World Aug. 26, 1909, and Sept. 16, 1909.
The company has a 15,000-hp auxiliary steam station at
Oakland (see Electrical World, Sept. 23, 1909) and
a 28,000-hp steam station in San Francisco, so that the
company has generating equipment aggregating 105,000
hp.
Since the station was described the company has com-
pleted its Big Meadows reservoir, now known as Lake
Almanor. This lake contains 250,000 acre-ft. of water,
which is available for the generation of electricity at
five sites. The stored water, along with the natural flow
of the river, is sufficient to assure a continuous output
of 70,000 hp from the present station at Big Bend, even
through years of most severe drought. The same stored
water can be utilized at power sites known as Nos. 4
and 5 under a combined head of 2250 ft., where it will
generate 150,000 hp in the dryest season. Power sites
Nos. 2 and 3 on the same watercourse will afford 90,000
additional horse-power. Thus the company with its
present storage can generate 70,000 continuous horse-
power at the switchboard of the Big Bend station, and
FIG. 27 — LINE-SECTIONALIZING STATION AT BRIGHTON, NEAR SACRAMENTO
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 22
BBB
->,. ..-nan- J
FIG. 28 — 100,000-VOLT TRANSMISSION LINE OF THE GREAT WESTERN POWER COMPANY, BIG BEND PLANT TO OAKLAND
FIG. 29 — ANGLE CONSTRUCTION ON
100,000-VOLT LINE
FIG. 30 — FOURTH AVENUE TERMINAL SUBSTATION OF THE BIG BEND-
OAKLAND LINE
FIG. 31 — AUXILIARIES OF ONE OF THE THREE 3750-KW CURTIS Tl'RHO-GENF.RATORS IN THE OAKLAND STEAM STATION
May 29, 1916
E LECTRIG A I. World
1371
Dualize the river flow to the extent of making possi-
ble the generation of 240,000 additional hone-power at
the other sites. Tributary to the Rig Meadows reservoir
are .".nl square miles of watershed, and tributary to the
Big Bend station is a drainage area of 2100 square
miles. It is the intention to increase the height of the
at Big Meadows dam so that it will ultimately
impound 1,250,000 acre-ft. of water. The company has
thirteen substations, and the transmission system con-
■f 154 miles of steel-tower line, on which are two
three-phase circuits operating at 100,000 volts and ex-
tending from the Big Bend station to Oakland by way
of the Sacramento Valley. There are 4 miles of sub-
marine cable operating at 11,000 volts, connecting the
San Francisco steam station with the hydroelectric sta-
tion and the Oakland steam station. The Oakland steam
station is seldom operated. Views of various parts of
the system are reproduced herewith. Last year the
Great Western Power Company generated 315,000,000
of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. These watersheds
have an area of 1 ' ► -~» square miles, and the storage reser-
voirs now constructed will hold 851,000,000 cu. ft. of
water. In addition, the company has under construc-
tion a storage reservoir at Strawberry, which, when
completed, will impound 762,000,000 cu. ft. With the
completion of the Strawberry reservoir the company
will have available 1,613,000,000 cu. It. of stored water.
The main transmission line of the company consists
of two circuits carried on steel towers from the Stanis-
laus plant to the Bay Shore substation near the San
Francisco city limits, a distance of 136 miles. The
rating of these two circuits at 110,000 volts is approxi-
mately 40,000 kw. A branch transmission line extends
from Port Marion, at the south end of San Francisco
Bay, to Salinas, a distance of 73 miles. It is constructed
of wood and steel poles and its rating at 57,000 volts is
5000 kw. The main-line transmission substations of
the company, with ratings, are as follows: Bay Shore.
STA.riO.7
' HorthBrach}
? 9000 r-
\ o
KIH6
FIG. 32 — DIAGRAM OF SYSTEMS OF THE SIERRA & SAN FRANCISCO POWER COMPANY
kw-hr., and the yearly load-factor of the system was
64 per cent.
Sierra & San Francisco Power Company
The Sierra & San Francisco Power Company was in-
corporated May 29, 1909. Its principal hydroelectric
generating station is situated at Stanislaus, where there
is an installation of 34,000 kw, which, with forced ven-
tilation, is capable of developing 40,000 kw, although
the full development will necessitate an additional pen-
stock. The company owns also a 1875-kw generating
plant at Phoenix, near Sonora, and a 1500-kw generating
plant at Oakdale. In addition the company possesses a
steam generating plant at North Beach, San Francisco,
containing steam turbo-generators with an aggregate
rating of 18,000 kw.
Water for the Stanislaus hydroelectric plant is taken
from the middle fork of the Stanislaus River at a point
called Sandbar and carried through approximately
78,000 ft. of wooden flume to the Ion-bay. whence it is
dropped through steel penstocks approximately 1500 ft.
to the station. Under its water rights the company
collects in storage reservoirs the rainfall and melting
snows from watersheds, title to which rests generally
with the United States government, on the western slope
30,000 kw; Port Marion, 6000 kw; Salinas, 4000 kw;
Manteca, 4500 kw; Stanislaus, 2000 kw. At the Bay-
Shore substation the voltage is stepped down to 11,000
volts, and at Manteca is situated the main substation
for supplying the San Joaquin division, the main-line
voltage being stepped down to 30,000 volts and 17,000
volts. Energy at 17,000 volts is furnished from the
substation in the Stanislaus plant to the Tuolumne divi-
sion. Radiating from the Manteca substation the com-
pany has 140 miles of 15,000-volt pole lines, distributing
energy through numerous substations, principally in
San Joaquin and Stanislaus Counties. About 85 miles
of 17,000-volt pole lines radiate from the Phoenix power
house and distribute energy throughout the Tuolumne
territory.
Stanislaus Tower House
The main power house is situated on the Tuolumne
County side of the Stanislaus River, 2 miles below the
junction of the north and the middle forks. It is in the
middle of a great bend in a deep canyon 1500 ft. below
a rocky rim and 15 miles from Angels' Camp, the latter
being on the mother lode in the gold-mining district.
The building, a corrugated iron and steel-frame struc-
ture, was completed in 1908.
1372
ELECTRICAL WORLD Vol. 65, No. 22
STATIONS OF THE SIERRA & SAN FRANCISCO POWER COMPANY
GEXERATISr. STATIONS CONNECTED ELECTRICALLY
Stanislaus . . . .
Phopnh
Knights Ferry
San Francisco
North Beach
Bryant
Type (Steam. Hy-
draulic. Internal-* '..in
bustion Engine, Etc.i
34.000
1.875
1,600
Mantcca —
Port Marion.
Bay Shore. . .
PRIMARY SUBSTATIONS1
6.750
6.000
22.500
1.500
Date Built or Rebuilt Counties Served
1912
1912
1912
3m Joaquin
Santa Clara
San Mateo
Monterey
HYDRAI Lie DETAILS
Area of Drainage Basin
Topography
of Country
Fi-im <>f Water Available in Second**.
Total Water Storage
Aveiaee
Maximum
Minimum
338 sq. miles above divert-
ing dam
Menu tail -
932
3560
75
without storage
650.000,000 cu. ft. behind 140-ft. relief dam from winter run-off.
1 ,500,000 cu. ft. behind 20-ft. diverting dam.
Pbrenix
67 sq. miles
Mountainous
27
50
1
Strawberry will increase storage by 727.8S7.000 cu. ft.
Knights Ferry .
Mountainous
Has benefit of storage in forehay at Stanialau?.
D\M DETAILS
Station
Location
Height
Material
Type
Length Along
('rest in Ft,
Method of In-
creasing Head
Dimensions of
Spillway
45 mile5 above station on middle fork of
Stanislaus River
140 ft.
Rock fill with con-
crete apron
Loose fill derrick-
laid
525
5-ft. dashboards
Phcenbt
Restraining dams at Lower Strawberry,
Big Dam. Middle Dam. Hern;
and Lyons
45'
SO
sol
50
50
Log
None
Knights Ferry.
.50
Rock-fill concrete
Crib concrete
138
00
None
FOBEBA1
PROTECTION AGAINST EXCESSIVE HYDR.U LK' PRES8URES AND VACUUM
Head in
It.
Method uf In-
creasing Head
Spillway
Dimension?
Type of Bquipmenl
Sire or Rating
StanMaui
14.000.000
i"
None
25 1. 1,,
2.73 ft.
i v o ■ tandpipc
Six air valves
Eight air valves
40 ft.
6 in dia,
B in dia
Near junction of steel and wood
ptpei
On wood-stave section
i >n steel
N
1000
Five air valves
In pipe line
Knights Ferry...
134
Four iir valves
One Stand pipe
a in
PRIMI MOVERS
Sets
Up 1,1,
li pun
HorisontaJ
I '.'iiim tiuii Willi
I inierntor
4
12,000 D« fair
KM
11
i'elton « .
ible orerhnni
I'elton oil-pit ml and safely
ll.'l til,
3
1
500
1000
400
H
11
tterwhssl
■ tterwhtal
llir.vl
Dini i
Vine
rd eontrol
Knight* 1 >
2
2
387
400
•H.I
II
II
I'elton iraUrwhftt 1
\ lotoi ■• tl
Direct
Rope .ln\.-
Lombard
Lombard
2
l\l««ll« total
720
V
FivtMitageCiirli .(. lurl.ni.-
Dirnl
Mat 29, 1916 ELECTRICAL WORLD 1373
STEAM AND ELECTRIC EQUIPMENTS OF THE SIERRA & SAN FRANCISCO POWER COMPANY
STEAM 01 M RATING l.QI IIMKNT
BOUM
Gun
NotXLU
H|.
Smun Preasure. Supeiheal 'in
-■ « Fahr.)
Facilities for Rait-
ing Steam Quirkly
Area per
Boils
urn .■ •! • *
To*
North Brarh
no (total)
HAW 200
40
Station
Dad
Heatn.
Ash Content
Avrra«e Cost
at Plant
Storage Space Available
Method of Storing
Karilities for
Reeemag
North Beach
Crude oil
18.000 Ih.-Fahr. units per
II..
Now
10,000 bbl.. enough for twenty
days with plant operating full load
Covered steel tank
By water
\l\l\ .,1 M RATORS
No
Voltage
Phasn
R.p.rn.
Kva
(Each)
Type
MsTHOn 01
Are Air 1 i
Cooler-
Rating o'
Generator
Reactors
Grounding
\ entilating
Stanislaus
4
4.000
3
60
400
85O0
Genera IE!.
None
Two separate fans rated at
60.01 i. ft. each
No. as aip is taken
from over tailraces at
about 15
Phcrnix
1
3
2.400
.Mini
3
3
60
60
333
400
750
G.E.
Stanley
None
None
Knights Ferry
2
.WO
60
400
750
West. R. C.
None
None
None
N..rrt, Beach
-'
!_• IKKI
"
60
720
'
G.E.
SllCtior;
None
None
FJCC1TING EQI [PM1 N I
Station
1 .KNKRATORS
Diuvi
MlS'-KI 1
No
Voltage
K |. Ill
K«
Type
Type
Hp
Voltage Regulators
Stanislas
1
1
250
720
300
G.E.
Single .iirwheel
( ; B. watenrheel
600
400
Tirrill
Phirnu
\
60
GO
1000
7 Mi
15
15
Eddy
G. 1
Waterwheel
None
1
125
125
IJini
1200
11 25
VVestiiighnuM
Victor waterwheel
Sampson waterwheel
15
10
None
Nortll Heach
!
1
1
125
125
1.'.-,
150
720
.'■I'm
75
200
125
G.E.
- i
G. ¥..
Union Iron Works motor
1 , 1 rir'ln.
t'nrtis turbine
300
None
0RMER8
MISCEUANBODS
Stat.on
No.
Kva
i id
i ■ TI0N8
Pypt
Protection
Static Eftmua
Oil Filter
Low
High
[ . ,\
lle.l,
Stanislaus
12
■22X1 1
4(HKI 104.000
J
V
G E. (VI. W. C. indoor
l eed traasmiMion
Hiizh-voltago neutral
Broondoa direcl
General Klectric
portable filter?
Pbomfa
8
150 1
2300
15.000
^
A
Stanley (VI. W. C. indoor
Peed omi
s.-.' "Protective
Bquipment"
N
Knight* Ferry .
2
375 2 to 3
500
r, ikki
2 Ph.
T W'mtiiinhouaeO-I.S.C. indoor
: inissiuii
Do.
None
North Bench
1 M mi
roll mil deliver i"
system at same pressure
Do.
None
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 22
TRANSMITTING AND DISTRIBUTING CIRCUITS OF THE SIERRA & SAN FRANCISCO
POWER COMPANY
LOW-VOLTAGI
id BBARfi,
SWITCHES
ETC.
Bussabo
Switches
Rating o
Reactors.
Miscellaneous
Station
Arrangement
Type
Ratine (Each)
: ■
I eedere
Are Overload, Reverse-Power, Differential Relays, etc., Employed?
2
■ rtical 1 1
E. Form H3
1200 amp
None
None
Ground-indicating relays in grounded neutral of 104.000-ToH lines
Phoenix
2
Loop, vertical
None
\
None
None
Knights Fern- . .
2
Loop
None
None
None
None
North Bach. See Hicli-voltage Busbars, Switches, etc.
G. E. overload time-limit relays
HIGH-VOLTAGE BUSBARS. SWITCHES, ETC.
Station
Busbars
Switches
No. of Sets
Arrangement
Material
Method of Supporting
Type
Rating
Protective Equipment
Stanislaus.
Sectionalized with dis-
connecting switches
0.75-in. hollow copper tube 'From suspension insulators
TypeT
G. E. oi!-imraersed air-
operated electric control
114.000 rata
G. E. single-pole alumi-
num-cell lightning arrest-
ers on outgoing lines
Phcenix
i Sectionalized with dis-
! f-ounecting switches
No. 4 wire
In vertical plane
P. E. Mfg. Co. air-break
T. P. S. T.
300 amp
;;::,nii!i ■ „irs
Stanley lightning arresters
Knichts Fern-
Sectionalized with air-
break switches
No. 4 wire
On pin insulators
Air-break switches but no
oil switches
Choke coils
North Beach
' Sectionalized with discon-
1 . necting switches
0.375-in. by 2-in. copper
straps
i in Btuda
G. E. H3 oil switches | 300,500 and 800
amp
Overload time-limit relays
TRANSMISSION
DISTRIBUTION
Circuit Mileage at Earn Voltage
Circuit Mileagi
Overhead
Underground
104.000 volts. 274 miles
55.000 volts. 74 miles
*
17.000 volts. 268 miles
11.000 volts, 34 miles
Below 11,000 volts, 249 miles
9 miles
TRANSMISSION SYSTEM
Termini
Length
in Mites
Topography of
Route
Conditions
Subjected to
Maximum
Elevation
Above Sea
Level in Ft.
No. and Spacing of Sec-
ttonaliiing Stations
Provision for
Future Circuits
Width
of
Rig'il-
of-Way
.
Doubles rrcuil 104,000-
, roll Km fr"in Stanislaus |
i to Boj
56,000 roll tine from Pari
137
73
60 utiles mountainooJ
66 miles flat, dry
.'!2 miles marshland
PanUeh railroad
Muteoa to Bay Bbore
60 null
1 1 miles hilly
nearly entire dl !
1 1 i'li winds, t..cs,
snow and lightning
:t(HX)
M 63 inili-s
From SUuualaufl end kl
Poll Marion 63 mil. -
from Mtnfceco
te line from
tiOft.
n ille and
Jifksi.nvillt :.t 17,000
volts
26
Mounl ■■
and high
3000
loot Notion
None
For polos
onb'
■
with ii;
Kratl
11,000-Toll di ti
■
>IH)
All substation
■
Existing OT
underground
lows for ei
Practi-
cally al!
streets
May ■_"... 1916
ELECTRICAL WORLD
1875
CIRCUITS AND SERVICE OF THE SIERRA & SAN FRANCISCO POWER I o.MI'ANY
H'WI RS \M> POLES
■ Cix.i»-
Ft. wrm
Tower
Arrange-
ment of
ton
Ft.
Position
of
Wires
Normal Maximum
Normal
d
Muimun
c d
BkaaWssa
SumUr.l HM '"■•
74 l«S
900
1800
32
Four-aeetion crow- did
windmill
_■
Two
vertical
plana
9
SO
300
450
25 25
1
Vertical
6.5
None
Special
74
800
2400
32 25
Windmill and flexible
1
Vertical
9
None
Phcrnii
Standard
30 40
200
750
27 27
Knights Ferry
North Batch
Distribution poles
44 S3
100
32
Cedar poles
1 to 6 per
pole
Trianjm-
lar
26 in.
None
11 CTOHS
INSULATORS
Station
Routt
Material and Cross-section
No. of Strands
Material of Core
Service
Type
Stanislaus
Stanislaus to Bay Shore
No. 00 copper
6
Hemp
Standard
Victor 27:!
Locke 2335
Port Marion to Salinas
Aluminum (equivaJnl to No. 1 copper) and
N't 1
6
6
Steel
Hemp
Anchor
1 '
Victor 273
Pharaix to Jacksonville
Nob. • and 0 rapper
Solid
Btandaid
Special
Locke 408 A
North Beaeh '
Underground
i hrsnead
No. 0000 copper
37
Solid
1
Locke 4IK\ ii
CHARACTERISTICS Ml SERVICE
<"hararU*r of 1-oad
Tot\l ''-<\\».i rr.o Load
MaXIMOM CoMBtSED Peak
DiRRint'TiuN or En-krrt Last Yf.ir ty Kw-hr
Lighting Industrial
Kw
Date
Generate!
Purchased
Sold for Distribution
Hallway, industrial and lighting
2000 kw 65,000 hp
40.080
Jan. 16. 1914
144.892.960
34,552,000
14.121.SW
[1 1 VOLTAGES
TERRITORY SERVED
Residence Industrial
Raihrayi
Area
Population of District
No. Consumers Served
MOa.c. 2300 a. c.
440 a. c.
220 a. c.
110 a. c.
340 a. c.
2,300 a. c.
11,000 a. e.
1396 sq. mi.
371J
Mia 1 U.ANEOUS
Total Investment b
Gross Annual Income
a Operating Annually
Companies with Which Connected Electrically
S1I.3S5.6I3, including water S1.06S.066.88 from «ale of tleetrl
prtani aded Deo, SI, 1914
Pacific Gas & Electric Co., Western States Gas & Electric Co., United
Railroads of San Francisco, Coast Valleys Gas «fc Electric Co., and some
small companies rf|
1376
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 22
Three branch pipes from the power-house header fur-
ther branch so as to feed eight Pelton waterwheels, two
to a generator, overhung on the same shaft, one wheel
on each side of the generator. The static head is 1490
ft., and the penstocks were designed for a 5 per cent
loss. When delivering 20,000 kw actual test showed the
loss to be a little less than 5 per cent. The maximum
capacity of the penstocks by actual test is 33,000 kw.
Each of the eight supply pipes is equipped with a 20-in.
Pelton gate valve, gear and worm wheel for hand opera-
tion and reversible Pelton motor for automatic opera-
tion. Each of the Pelton impulse wheels is rated at
three-phase, sixty-cycle, 4000-volt machines. Twelve
transformers step up the potential to 104,000 volts for
delivery to two main transmission lines to Bay Shore
substation. The transformers are connected "Y," with
grounded neutral. Two 300-kw, 250-volt, 720-r.p.m. ex-
citers, one driven by a waterwheel and the other by an
induction motor, are provided. Aluminum-cell light-
ning arresters are connected on the outgoing 104-kv
lines, and also on the 4000-volt secondary leads to the
transformers. Multiple-gap lightning arresters are con-
nected on the outgoing 17,000-volt lines.
In the south end of the station there is one bank of
PIG. 33 — SAND-BAR DAM — HEADGATES, SPILLWAY AND FLUME AT THE RIGHT
mat ( ««"-.
j
ill*
,!^
|«j$
fjRikwIfc
-GENERATORS IN STANISLAUS PLANT, RAISED TO 10,000-KW RATING
I'.Y SPECIAL VENTILATING EQUIPMENT
PIG. 36 -STANISLAUS PLANT, SIERRA &
SAN FRANCISCO POWER COMPANY
6000-hp maximum overload and was tested to 12,000-hp
output.
Oil-pressure governors actuate the nozzle deflection,
and the movement of the needle for regulating the area
of the opening is controlled by a hand wheel. The gov-
ernors are of the PeltOH type and have individual oil
r > 1 1 r 1 1 1 » — and Beparate pressure and discharge tanks. Syn
chronizing motors and connections permit speed control
ivitchboard. There are Pelton safety levers
on the governors for automatically shutting down the
i n ease of accident In go\ cillors.
The electrical equipment consists of tour 8500-kw
which can be raised to 10,000 kw each by
forced ventilation Ph( e are eighteen -pole, 100-r.p.m.,
three 500-kw transformers that feed into the Tuolumne
division at 17.000 volts, and a bank of three 250-kw
transformers that feed a 17,000-volt line 30 miles long
to Strawberry Dam, where the energy is used for the
construction of a large storage dam on the headwaters
of the middle fork of the Stanislaus River.
Transmission Line
The 104,000-volt transmission line is 188 miles long.
It extends from the power house on the Stanislaus River
in tin' Sierra Nevada Mountains straight across the San
Joaquin Valley, around San Francisco Bay and up the
peninsula to Hay Shore substation. It crosses the
Stanislaus River near the power house and trave
Ma\ 29
E LECTRICAL WORLD
L377
San Joaquin, Alameda, Santa Clara and San
Mat' over mountains, plains, valleys and
marsh lands. The tint long
tangents and is supported on towers throughout, i
7,000-voll branch line from Port Marion to Salinas.
which consists of towers, A frames and ,
The tower -pans average B50 ft., the maximum span
approximating 1926 ft. The towers are of galvanized
iron, four columns, Bquare and diagonally braced. In
height they vary from 36 ft. to 60 ft. from ground
to the lower .-mss-arm. Valley towers are somewhat
higher than mountain towers, and the minimum clear-
• 2~> ft. One single-circuit tower line
and a double-circuit tower line with one circuit on at
present go as far as .Mission San Jose, where the two
circuits continue on one tower line to San Francisco.
The wire is of No. 00 copper cable, six-strand, hemp-
core, and is completely transposed ever] 10 miles. The
local street-car system and a small industrial load.
There is also a 400-kw, two-phase rotary converter in
the station feeding some street-car lines in the neigh-
borhood.
North Beach Steam kiuiliarj Station
The North Beach Bteam station is situated on the
northern side of San Francisco and formerly contained
reciprocating steam engines. The present generating
equipment comprises two 9000-kw, 12,000-volt Curtis
vertical steam turbo-generators. Steam is supplied bv
eighteen B. A \V. boilers, aggregating 10,300 boiler-hp
and fitted with complete fuel-oil-burning apparatus. A
W'orthington and a Wheeler condenser are used, water
being taken from the bay. The station has all other
accessary auxiliary apparatus.
At one end of the building is a substation of the
Pacific lias & Electric Company, from which energy is
36 — TRANSMISSION LINE
SIERRA COMPANY
PIG, 37 — HIGH-TENSION ENTRIES TO MANTECA SUBSTATION, SIERRA & SAN
FRANCISCO POWER COMPANY
minimum distance between wires is 96 in. Five-element
suspension insulators are used. Across the marshes at
the lower end of San Francisco Bay the towers were '
placed on piles with concrete-cap foundations, and the
spans approximate 800 ft. in length.
A telephone line of No. 12 N. B. S. copper wire on
separate poles parallels the transmission line 137 miles
as far as Mayfield, and a leased line is employed from
Mayfield to San Francisco. The length of the telephone
line is greater than the tower line, because it follows
a more irregular route. The 57,000-volt branch line
from Port Marion to Salinas has a private telephone
line on the same poles and towers, but owing to the close
proximity of this and other high-tension lines it has
never given very satisfactory service.
Bay Shore Substation
The Bay Shore substation is situated at the San Fran-
cisco end of the transmission line, just south of the city
limits. At present it contains seven 3750-kw standard
oil-filled, water-cooled, 104,000-volt, sixty-cycle trans-
formers connected grounded star on the high-tension
side and delta on the low-tension side. The transform-
ers are 17 ft. high and are placed in separate compart-
ments. Each unit weighs 28 tons, takes 3100 gal. of
oil, and requires 20 gal. water per minute.
The 12,000-volt secondary lines go to the North Beach
steam turbine plant and to Turk and Fillmore, Bryant
Street, Geneva Avenue, and Millbrae substations, where
the electricity is converted into direct current for the
delivered to the distribution circuits of the Panama-
Pacific International Exposition.
Distributing Systems
The four distributing systems are as follows: Tuo-
lumne Division, San Joaquin Division, San Francisco
Division, and Santa Clara Division.
The Tuolumne Division operates in the Sierra Nevada
Mountains, obtaining energy from three 500-kw trans-
formers installed in one end of the Stanislaus power
house. Energy is delivered to the towns of Tuolumne,
Sonora and Jamestown, and for operating all the mines
of that section of the mother lode. The company also
supplies water for mining, irrigation, domestic use, etc.,
in the above section.
The San Joaquin Division, with headquarters at Mo-
desto, comprises an area of 707 square miles in the fer-
tile San Joaquin Valley between Stockton and Modesto.
The division is fed by four 17,000-volt lines and two
4000-volt lines from Manteca substation, the latter serv-
ing the territory within a radius of 1 miles of the sub-
station. One of the 17,000-volt lines is connected at
Knight's Ferry with the Tuolumne Division, so that an
exchange of energy may be made if necessary. The
principal towns served are Stockton (through Western
States Gas & Electric Company i, Modesto, Tracy, La-
throp, Oakdale, Riverbank, Byron, Ripon, Escalon, etc.
Interchange of energy can also be made at Modesto
substation with the Yosemite Power Company.
The San Francisco Division is fed by six 12,000-volt
1378
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 22
lines going from the Bay Shore substation, supplying
energy in conjunction with the North Beach auxiliary
steam plant to four substations for conversion to direct
current for operating the United Railways of San Fran-
cisco and supplying a small industrial load.
The Santa Clara Division is fed by the 57,000-volt
line running from Port Marion southward 73.5 miles to
Salinas, where the energy is delivered to the Coast Val-
leys Gas & Electric Company at its Salinas substation.
From there a 57,000-volt line (now operated at 30,000
volts) continues through the towns of Chuler, Gonzales,
Soledad, Los Coches and King City. Another line of
22,000 volts goes from Salinas through Hilltown to
Monterey. There are substations in these various
towns, and the load comprises domestic, railway and
municipal service and a heavy irrigation load. This
service is entirely in Monterey County.
Creek (2500 hp) ; Snow Creek (1500 hp), and Coleman,
Shasta County, Cal. (20,000 hp). Gas is manufactured
and distributed in Redding, Red Bluff and Willows, and
water is distributed for municipal and domestic uses in
Redding and Willows. Franchises are without limita-
tion in point of time in the cities; county franchises for
the use of public highways for transmission lines extend
to from 1952 to 1956.
The Coleman plant, which is the largest and most im-
portant of the company's stations, was described in
the Electrical World Feb. 3, 1912.
Energy is transmitted at 22,000 volts and at 66,000
volts. The first type of transmission line follows closely
the practice of fifteen years ago, solid copper wire being
run on 30-ft. wooden poles and insulated by triple-
petticoat glass insulators. The higher voltage lines are
mounted on wooden poles with porcelain insulators.
FIG. 38 — NORTH BEACH STEAM PLANT ADJOINING SAN FRANCISCO EXPOSITION GROUNDS
Last year the Sierra & San Francisco Power Company
generated 179,444,960 kw-hr., and the load-factor of its
system was 51.2 per cent.
Northern California Power Company
The hydroelectric developments of the Northern Cali-
fornia Power Company are situated on Battle Creek and
Old Cow Creek. The principal source of water supply
is the western slope of Mount Lassen, for many year';
a snow-capped peak but at present an active volcano,
belching forth lava and gases.
The company operates seven hydroelectric plants with
a combined rating of 50,000 hp, water-works at Red-
ding and Willows, and gas works at Redding, Red Bluff
and Willows. The company on Dec. 31, 1914, also opei
ated forty-six substations. It supplies light to all im-
portant towns in Shasta, Tehama and Glenn Counties,
' al., and has a contract expiring December, 1925. to
deliver 10,667 hp to the Pacific Gas & Electric Company
at Chico, Cal., where connection is made with that com-
pany's lines. Location of plants: Volta, Shasta County.
Cal. (9H0O hp) ; Kilare, Shasta County, Cal. I 1000 hp) :
South Power House, Tehama County, Cal. (6000 hp) ;
Inskip. Tehama County, Cal. (8000 hp I ; South Cow
Except for a few places near towns roads are not fol-
lowed by the transmission lines.
The substations on the company's system are situated
chiefly in the upper Sacramento Valley. At Chico the
system of the Northern California Power Company is
tied in with the system of the Pacific Gas & Electric
Company, the substation containing merely the neces-
sary line switches and instruments for measuring the
energy. There are approximately 260 miles of 22,000-
volt lines and 126 miles of 66,000-volt lines. The com-
pany also sells a block of power to the Oro Electric
Corporation. Recently the action of the government in
shutting down a number of copper smelters because
the fumes destroyed vegetation has deprived the North-
ern California company of a considerable portion of
its mining load. This loss was further accentuated
when the European war broke out and copper producers
i in tailed production. Some of the companies connected
with the Northern California Power Company's circuits
suspended operations entirely.
In December, L914, the company was serving 6301
customers with electricity and had a load of 39,853 hp
connected to its system, In its last report the company
made the following comparison of its operating costs
M.u 28, 1916
ELECTRICAL WORLD
1379
WATER-POWER EQ1 IIWI1.NI OF IHK NORTHERN CALIFORNIA POWER COMPANY
HYDRAI I IC HI I >M
Ana of
Draicace
Basin.
Suuare
TppMraptu
of Country
Watex AruuiLr.
•■ D-Fur
" iMmum Minimum
iterate
n.
Mountainous
85
Flood
to
•f-crvoirs affecting VolU plant affect this plant
Volta
85
Mo iBtainoui
100
500 («t.)
n
33M.97 acrc-ft., sufficient for 85.000 hp-hr.
Kllarr
SO
Mountainous
50
nm
22
w Creek.
80
Mountainous
20
Flood
10
250
Mouutainous
300
1000 | 177
effecting Volta plant affect this plant
Coleman
Over 300
Foothills
350
Flood
250
Storage for three other plants used for this plant
DAM DI.I vl 1 -
Station
Location
Height
(in Ft.)
Alone, Crest
in Ft.
Increasing
Head
Itiiii. Doom
of
South
South B;,'
North B:.'
5
2-in. planks and heavy timbers
2-in. phi
TimbtT cnb
JO
60
None
None
North Battle Creek
Maromher
46
i lynlopean maaoDry
Hand-placed rock with water-tight cyclopean masonry fmnt
426
160
None
None
Can\
North 1
5
7
Masonry
Straight wall
i rrerflon
30
IS
None
South Battle Creek
North Battle Creek
45
IS
Masonry
2-in. planks supported by heavy tuiil»r-
Timber crib
100
711
None
None
If)
Masonry
Straight, gravity section
110
None
no
Station
FOREBAY
PROTECTION AGAINST EXCESSIVE HYDRAULIC PRESSURES
VNh \ IC1 i M
Storage Available
Bead in
Feet
Method of In-
creasing Head
Spillway Dimensions
Type of Equipment
Size or Rating Location
7500 cu. ft.
516
None
35 ft. wide
Volta
20 acre-ft.— 148 acrc-ft.
1250
None
3 ft.xo ft.— 6 ft.xS ft.
Vertical surge pipe
56acre-ft.
1192
None
16 ft.il ft.
10 acre-ft.
726
None
16 ft.18 ft.
Inakip
10,800 cu. ft.
None
Standpipe
Height 35 ft— Diam. 20 in.
1890 ft. from power house
487
None
Allis-Chalmers
36 in.
Standpipe
86 ft.x24 in.
Stand pipe on each pipe line
PRIME MOVER>
Hp I ush)
„
Horizontal ur Vertioal
Type
i annection with 1 renento!
Governor l\p.-
,.;ll
2
4000
_'.'.-.
Horizontal
Doble
i Ine wheel on each end of generator shaft
Lombard
Volta
3
1500
400
Horizontal
IVliHM
i lip etls eonaected, also arranged to opeiate adjacent unit
Thrif Lombard type F
1
4000
300
Horizon! .1
Pclton
I iinrtu connected
Lombard type N
1
4000
300
Horizontal
Doble
Directly c eoted
1 bard type ij
Kilure
4
2000
300
Horizontal
I'elUill
One wheel on each end of two generator ihafte
South Cm Creel
2
1500
lion
Horivontal
PeltoD 1 Eopul i
Direotly ©ted
Pelton
Iinlu|l
3
7000
Horizontal
Pel ton
I ombard t> pe ij
3
I'.IH!
225
Horizontal
IVIlon
Lombard type t„>
Coleman
3
7000
450
Horizontal
Directb connect d
Oitoperated
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 22
ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT OF THE NORTHERN CALIFORNIA POWER COMPANY
MAIN GENERATORS
Phases
Cycle
R.p.m.
Kva
(Each)
Type
Mkthod of
Windings
Ventilating
South
,
6600
3
60
225
4000
Westinghouse
3
!
500
2200
2200
3
3
3
60
60
60
400
300
300
750
2000
2000
West inghouse
\\ ' -tinchouse
General Electric
Vacuum from tailrace draws heated air from generators
Kilare
2
2200
3
60
300
1500
Westinghouse
Not grounded
South Cow Creek
2
2300
3
60
600
750
General Electric
Not grounded
1
6600
6600
3
3
60
60
225
225
4000
2000
Westinghouse
Not grounded
7000-cu. ft. belt-driven exhaust fan in 20-in. draft tube
Coleman
3
6600
3
60
450
5000
Allis-Chalmers
Not grounded
Fans on both ends of rotors
LOW-VOLTAGE BUSBARS, SWITCHES, ETC.
Number of Sets
Arrangement
Type
Rating (Each)
E Westinghouse oil
7500 volts, 400 amp
2
Parallel
D Westinghouse oil
3500 volts, 600 amp
D \Vestinghou=e oil
3500 volts, 400 amp
South Cow Creek
Parallel loop connected
F General Elertrir oil
Two 2500 volts, 300 amp. One 2500 volts, 600 amp
E Wcstmnhnuse nil
7500 volts. 400 amp
Transfer bus used
F General Electric oil
7500 volts. NOfl amp
HIGH-VOLTAGE BUSBARS, SWITCHES, ETC.
Station
Bcsb
KHS
Switches
Protective Equipment
Arrangement
Material
Method of Supporting
Type
Rating
Type
South
Kelman oil
75.1100 volts,
300 amp
choke coils
Busbars sectionalized by 20-kv Cal. El. air and
60-kv knife switches
Nos. 4 and 2
copper
! 20-kv and B0*V pin
insulators
Kelman oil
75,000 volts.
300 amp
N. C. P. Co. horn-gap. choke
coils
Kilare
Busbars sectionalized by knife switches on poet
insulators
Solid No. 4
copper
40-kv pin insulator
Pacific Elect. Baum
tub
40,000 volts,
150 amp
Westinghouse low equivalent
So. Cow Creek.
No. 2 copper
Pin insulators
Sectional ized by knife switches on Loci
■
No. 1 solid
copper
Pin insulators
Kelman oil
75,000 volts,
300 amp
N. C. P. Co. horn-cap with choke
coils on lines
Coleman
iliied by knife switches mi post insu-
lators
0.5 in. biass
tubes
Suspension insulators
G. E. oil type F
75.000 volta,
100 amp
No. 675 Locke for
TRANSFORMERS
MU3CE1 i INE01 8
N-
Kva Karh
Phases
.
,..
D ll 9tetk ^Ir.nn-
Low
II
Lou llitli
3
1500
1
6.600
S8.10DA
M.oorn
A ^
'. 1 O.J. W.-C. Indoor
\. itrtl grounded directly
Volt*
8
4
300
875
1
:
500
20,000
2,200
20,000
V
A
Y
Y
West. O.-I.
\\, I o 1 u .
O. E. O.-I. W.-C.
OpW rent buck
or boost
Kilare
625
i
2,200
22,000
*
A
W«t. O.-I. O.-C. Indoor
.-,-,ll
i
2,300
38,1004
56,0001
A
Y
G. E. O.-I. W.-C. Indoor
Irmkip . .
9
1500
■
e goo
its.iotu
58,0001
A
Y
K -C. Indoor
Neutral grounded directly
*
4000
a
6.600
A
Y
i ; 1 0.-1 W.-C. Indoor
May 29, 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
TRANSMISSION SYSTEM OF THE NORTHERN CALIFORNIA POWER COMPANY
TKr.
Width of
Provision for Future Right-
South To: VolU. Inskip
'
Inskip. Kilare
IIS mik* of rai-kv
lui... It niki -.f ."n-..v
Ifosjataial
Snow, high winds and
2200
One at Molinas 41 miles
from VolU
Kilare
, Krnn.tl
48 (total)
'.1 ,-'..■■
Do.
J700
3300
One at Bully Hill 20 miln
from Kilare
None
00
95 (total)
Mountains
1100
Seven, about 13 miles apart
M
Foothills and
valleys
High winds and lightning
1200
One 41 mites from Inskip
Chiro ria Inskip
lowlands and
High winds and lightning
1200
One 41 miles from Inskip
Eitra outlets carried to
air switches outside station
60
TOWERS AND It'll -
Btatm.
HriiiHT
m It
w Kt.
Ft with
Type
Sc.of
Circuits
per
Arrangement of
: n-tors
Spac-
ing in
Ft.
Position
of
< hound
Wir-
Normal
mum
Normal.
Magimun
d c
.1
South
Standard
40
4.i
250
1200
30
35
A frame
1
Triangular
6
None
VolU
Standard
40
50
250
350
30
40
A frame
1
72-in. triangle on 60-kv
triangle "n
22-kv lines
None
One circuit to Palo Cedro
35
140
1
None
South Line to Volta
30
180
60
Cedar poles
Triangular
3 5
None
Northwest line to Kennett
30
35
135
60
Cedar poles
Triangular
.4 5
None
So. Cow Creek.
Standard
40
60
250
1100
25
A frame on wide spans 1
Triangular
6
None
Iwkip , .
Standard
40
60
250
1800
30
50
A frame 1
Triangular
6
None
* 'ulnnmn
BpeeiaJ
Standard
40
40
250
250
1800
7!K! ft. on wood-
en A frame
30
A frame
Cedar poles
1
Triangular
Triangular
6
6
None
CONDUCTORS
INSULATORS
Station
Route
Material and ' Iroaj Section
\n ,.t
Mr I-
\n Ol
Type
To: Volta. Inikip
No. 1 copper
Bond
Standard
Angles
4
Locke 351 pin
Locke 351 pin
VolU
/-Palo Cedro
1 Palo Cedro
V. Inskip ria South
No. 4 copper
Three V
Nos. 0 and 00 aluminum
( No. 1 copper
t No. 1 copper
Solid
19
;
Solid
Standard
Special
4
1
Locke 351 pin
Hemingray Provo pin
Kilare
To: VolU.
Kennett
41.700 circ. mil copper
66.370 circ. mil copper
Solid
Solid
Standard
1
Hemingray Provo pin
Inskip
Chico
No. 0 aluminum
No. 00 aluminum
No. 1 copper
7
Solid
SUndard
4
4
:il pin
Locke 3tV4 pin suspension type used o
n long spans
South Cow Creek.
Chin
No. 4 oopps
No. 0 aluminum cable
No. 1 atiimmwrn cable
Solid
7
Standard
Special on aide spam
4
Locke 351 pin
Locke map
Inskip
No. DO .lui. nnmn cable
N.. ! OOPPK
7
Solid
Solid
1
Ixicke 351 pin
GENERATING STATIONS CONNECTED ELECTRICALLY
\ll-n 1 LAN1 '
location or Name
Rating (En)
a Each
NumU-r
Substations
Gross Annual Rarnmgii
Companies with Which Connected
Electrically
South
4,000
6,650
1,500
6,000
15,000
1 1 > . 1 r - 1 :
66.000 volts
46
$692,733 for sale of electrical energy
.11,1914
VolU
Co. and Oro Electric Corporation
I I'reek
Efrdroelactric
Hycir. » :
llviruclectric
1.1 lull.--
1382
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 22
with the similar costs of other companies based on sta-
tistics in Walker's Manual:
Per Cent of
Operating
Expenses, Per Cent of
Maintenance Interest
and Taxes to Charges to
Gross Income Gross Income
Sierra & San Francisco Power Companj 17.0 69.0
California-Oregon Powei 41-0 56.6
I las .^ Elei i' . . .58.3 21.5
3real Western Power Company 35.8
Mount Whitnej Power & Electric Company. .41.5 20.4
1 tompany 51.1 24.1
-lit & Power Corporation 55.2 18.3
San Joaquin Light & Power Corporation IT. 7 24.4
Western States Gas A EUectrii Company 56.2 25.1
Northern California Powei Company 35.7 43.1
Western States (Jas & Electric Company
The Western States Gas & Electric Company fur-
nishes gas and electric service in the city of Stockton,
and electric service in Richmond and Placerville, Cal.
The property is owned by H. M. Byllesby & Company,
of Chicago, but as properties go on the Pacific Coast
it is not very large. Electric service is furnished to
Stockton and the towns of Gault, Lodi, Floran and
Placerville, together with the contiguous territory, by
means of duplicate 60,000-volt transmission lines from
the company's hydroelectric station on the south fork
of the American River near Placerville, supplemented
by a steam station situated in Stockton. In the terri-
tory around Stockton gold-dredging operations are car-
ried on, and the rich agricultural districts are irrigated
by motor-driven pumps. The company also purchases
electrical energy from the Pacific Gas & Electric Com-
pany, the Great Western Power Company and the Sierra
& San Francisco Power Company. The hydroelectric
station on the American River contains two 1500-kw
units driven by two 3000-hp impulse wheels. The
Stockton steam plant is housed in a corrugated-iron
steel-frame building and contains a 1500-kw vertical
turbo-generator and three oil-burning water-tube
boilers.
Snow .Mountain Water & Power Company
The Snow Mountain Water & Power Company oper-
ates a high-head electrical plant in Potter Valley, 17
miles from Ukiah. The station contains three 2300-volt,
three-phase, sixty-cycle generators with an aggregate
rating of 6000 kw. The voltage is stepped up to 50,000
volts for transmission. The company sells most of its
energy in bulk to the Pacific Gas & Electric Company
at Santa Rosa, 75 miles from its generating station, and
to other utilities in that section of the State.
Oro Electric Corporation
The Oro Electric Corporation was incorporated
March 13, 1911, under the laws of California. The com-
pany commenced operations Nov. 1, 1911. It owns
undeveloped power properties on Deer Creek and Mill
Creek, in Tehama County, and on Yellow Creek and
adjacent streams in Plumas County, Cal., from which
streams approximately 130,000 hp may be developed. It
also owns two hydroelectric generating plants on the
west branch of the Feather River and the transmission
system and substations for the city of Oroville and vicin-
ity. It started but suspended work on a 50,000-hp
hydroelectric plant on Yellow Creek, Plumas County,
last year, and erected a steam relay plant at Stockton.
On Nov. 22, 1911, the company acquired the entire out-
standing capital stock of the Oro Water, Light & Power
Company, which owns the electric distributing system,
the gas and water plants and distributing systems in
Oroville and vicinity; also five gold dredges and exten-
sive dredging land in Oroville, Camanche and other
places in that vicinity.
Substation Serving Exposition Grounds
The Pacific Gas & Electric Company has the exclusive
contract for supplying all electrical energy for the
Panama-Pacific Exposition and has installed special
equipment capable of furnishing 20,000 hp to the Ex-
position grounds. The company's principal Exposition
substation, situated in the Sierra & San Francisco
Power Company's steam plant, near Machinery Hall, is
connected by duplicated 11,000-volt underground cables
with Substations A and D of the Pacific Gas & Electric
system. Groups of 1500-kw transformers step down to
the 4150-volt substation bus, from which fifteen under-
ground cables feed directly into the Exposition grounds.
The station bus is arranged in two sections, tied to-
gether through an oil switch. Each section feeds one-
half of the grounds, but the two systems can be tied
together so that, in case of trouble, the entire installa-
tion mav be fed from either bus section.
:::< . ikvk f station for Panama-pacific international exposition in oni end OF STEAM plant of
SIFRRA & SAN FRANCISCO POVVFR COMPANY
Mai 2
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Illumination at the Panama-Pacific Exposition
Klaborate Lighting Arrangements Which Enhance Architectural Features of the
Palace- at San Francisco I'se of Concealed Arc and Incandescent l'nits
ASIDE from the magnitude and splendor of the
lighting effects achieved at San Francisco, the
ntial difference between the illumination of
the Panama-Pacific International Exposition and that
<<f previous expositions lies in the fact that in the
earlier displays outline illumination was invariably em-
ployed, an arrangement which, although bringing out
the outlines of the buildings at night, generally sup-
ed their architectural and artistic features. The
illumination of the San Francisco fair, however, de-
light sources themselves, while bringing out
and enhancing the architectural and artistic details of
the Exposition palaces and towers.
The general methods employed to accomplish this re-
sult, the brilliant "scintillator" effects which span the
night skies, the illumination of the spectacular and
unique Tower of Jewels, on which are suspended more
than 100,000 cut-glass gems, the lighting of the Hor-
ticultural dome, and numerous other details of the elab-
orate illumination of buildings and towers, were de-
scribed in the Electrical World for Feb. 13, 1915.
There are. however, a number of instances where the
departure from the outline scheme of illumination, ac-
companied by careful studies of the problems presented.
has produced lighting effects worthy of more extended
consideration.
In designing the illumination of the Court of Abun-
dance, efforts were made to strengthen the impression
of mystery which the architect wished to convey. This
is accomplished by a harmonious blending of illumina-
tion from searchlamps, incandescent lamps, gas flam-
beaux and illuminated steam. Masked shell standards
illuminate the cornice lines of buildings and produce a
general twilight effect. Steam-electric caldrons are
used to give rise to "mysterious vapors" and to add
mystery to the simple fountain group symbolizing the
earth in formation. A warm amber glow is diffused
over the whole court and the organ tower by means of
cloister lanterns, snow-crystal standards and colored
searchlamps.
Two fountains in the Court of the Universe sym-
bolize respectively the rising and the setting sun, and
from their height of 95 ft. above the sunken gardens
serve as light sources to illuminate the area of nearly
half a million square feet. Each fountain consists of a
translucent shaft and ball, in the interior of which are
installed tungsten-filament lamps totaling 500.000 cp
but so distributed that the intrinsic brilliancv is rela-
F1C. 1 — FINE ARTS BUILDING AND LAGOON — ILLUMINATION BY SEARCHLAMPS AND CONCEALED INCANDESCENT SOURCES
iiLEUIKl^AL WUKL1J
FIG. 2— PANORAMA OF THE GROUNDS, SHOWING SCINTILLATOR PROJECTORS IN OPERATION
FIG. 3 — A TWILIGHT VIEW OF THE TOWER OF JEWELS, SHOWING THE BANNER STANDARDS FOR THE FACADE LIGHTING
May 29, 1916
ELECTRICAL WORLD
tively low and the fountains are free from glare. The
shafts and balls are made of heavy opal diffusing glass
so coated on the outside ae to give an imitation of traver-
tine stone by day.
Concealed red and pale-yellow colored lamps are used
to illuminate the great arches in such a way as to pre-
serve the sense of their curvature and the relief of their
surface decorations. Ninety seraphic figures with
jeweled heads, mounted on the balustrade of the court,
1385
effect, the building itself appearing to be illuminated
in "triple moonlight."
The entire aspect of the Exposition grounds can be
changed on short notice by coloring the light on the
flags, towers and buildings. For this purpose nearlv
400 arc searchlamps ranging from 13 in. to 36 in. in
size and 450 concentrated tungsten-filament searchlamps
can be employed, use being made of colored gelatine
screens, weatherproofed by coating with spar varnish
FIG. 4— THE COURT OF ABUNDANCE— ONE OF THE MOST EXQUISITE PIECES OF LIGHTING ON THE GROUNDS
are illuminated by 180 searchlamps, the beams of which
are blended with the rays of light from the fountains
of the sun.
The illumination of the Palace of Fine Arts was
designed to create a classical and sublime effect and to
produce beautiful reflections in the lagoon. Search-
lamps on the roof of the Palace of Food Products and
Vegetation and concealed lamps in the rear cornice
soffits of the colonnade are employed to produce this
mixed with turpentine. Special effects in green, orange
and red have been produced in this manner as occa-
sion has arisen.
In a number of cases special illumination is employed
for the interiors of the buildings. For large audi-
toriums and other large interior areas, where concealed
lighting is desired, but where the dome or ceiling con-
struction does not permit of its being employed, use
is made of batteries of searchlamps placed beneath the
1386
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 22
FIG. 5 — THE COURT OF THE UNIVERSE — SHOWING THE SUN-FOUNTAIN SHAFTS WHICH ARE LUMINOUS BY NIGHT
main floor and so arranged as to concentrate their beams
on a diffusing plate in a central opening for redistribu-
tion to the ceiling. The illumination of high bays is
accomplished by placing lamps, singly or in pairs, in
specially designed reflectors at the maximum height in
order to prevent waste of luminous energy on vertical
surfaces. The main buildings of the Exposition are
lighted in this way, only 0.1 watt per sq. ft. being re-
quired, although the lamps in some cases are placed more
than 100 ft. above the floor.
In the case of art galleries, lamps provided with
suitable angle reflectors and placed above and around
the perimeter of a skylight made of suitable glass are
employed to give a good general distribution of light
on the adjacent hanging surfaces. By employing this
arrangement it is possible to use shadow curtains on
the underside of the skylight around the perimeter of
the inner side of the rows of lamps, so as to prevent
cross reflection and thus eliminate glare on oil paintings.
The Exposition lighting was handled by the mechan-
ical and electrical department under Mr. G. L. Bayley
as chief; the plans for the lighting were produced by
Mr. W. D'A. Ryan, chief of the bureau of illumination,
and the work was installed under immediate direction
of Mr. L. F. Leury, assistant chief of the mechanical
and electrical department.
\\ EXP08I1 ion \ l- i \
u iiif LEFT THE MACHINES') BUILDING; AT THE RIGHT THE PALACI Of
\ \i;ii i> I \m .-TRIES
.May ."•
E I. ECT RICAL WORLD
1387
Electric Developments on the Pacific Coast
High Operating Heads, Huge Water-Power Units, and Lon^ Transmissions, at Pressures
Up to 1 .">(), 000 Volts, Characterize Great Coast Systems
DURING the past decade and up to the beginning
of the year 1913 electrical developments in the
three states on the Pacific Beaboard followed one
another very rapidly, and at one time during that period
the development was greater than in an] other section
of the country. In fact, up to the year p.uo the oper-
ating companies found great difficulty in meeting the
demands for electricity from their circuits. Approxi-
mately one-fourth of the entire generating capacity of
the United States is used by approximately one-seven-
teenth of the country's population in the West, and this
same population contributes one-seventh of the aggre-
gate income of the electric-lighting industry.
Notwithstanding that the combined population of the
States of Washington, Oregon and California is less than
the population of New York City, the use of electricity
per capita is greater on the Pacific Coast than in any
other section of the country. Electricity is also cheap-
est on the Pacific Coast. California is the second State
in the Cnion in kilowatt rating of stations, in water-
power and in kilowatt-hour output, and is the third
State in the Union in aggregate income. The three
States together generate more electricity than Virginia,
North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Ala-
bama, Mississippi, Tennessee, Kentucky, Wisconsin,
Minnesota, Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebras-
ka. Missouri, Kansas, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Louisiana
and Texas combined. Within the past decade there has
been an increase in the horse-power of motors on the
Pacific Coast of over 1000 per cent.
It has been estimated that approximately 43 per cent
of the total potential water-power in the United States
is available in the Pacific Coast States, which have
11,504,000 hp oul oi a total of 26,736,000 bp, the min-
imum potential water-power of the country. Only a
small percentage of the available water-power is, how-
undei development; bul the huge figures pre-
Bented by government officials are very misleading be-
only a part of thi Dtial water-power is cap-
able of commercial development.
With the rapid fall in all of the streams rising in
ascade and Sierra Nevada ranges, dropping from
elevations of 10,000 ft. to approximately 300 ft., very-
high heads prevail. The average annual rainfall varies
from over 100 in. in the northwestern section to con-
siderably less in the southern section. In the great
valleys lying between the mountain ranges in Cali-
fornia there is no rain for almost nine months of the
pear, which accounts for the extensive use of electric
motors for pumping purposes in that part of the coun-
try. The mountains abound with numerous glaciers
and snow fields, so that the run-off is not so rapid as
would be supposed, the glaciers and snow fields acting
as regulators of the stream flow. The climate along
the entire coast is mild, and except in the mountains
snow is never encountered, more difficulty being ex-
perienced by electric transmission companies with the
fogs that set in from the ocean than from any other
single trouble.
The area of the Coast States is immense, California
alone being larger than the New England States plus
New York, New Jersey, Delaware and Ohio. The pop-
ulation is centered in five cities, and without excep-
tion all of the electrical needs of these cities are sup-
plied by long-distance transmission from hydroelectric
developments. In each case the operating company also
fig. 1-
-THE LONG LAKE PLANT OF THE WASHINGTON WATER POWER COMPANY-
DAM EVER BUILT
-THE HIGHEST-HEAD SPILLWAY
1388
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 22
possesses large steam stations. In Washington and
Oregon these stations are used chiefly for reserve pur-
poses, while in California a large part of the yearly
output of the companies is generated by steam.
Electrical Zones
Electrically considered the Pacific Coast section may
be divided into several distinct zones centering around
the large cities. In the eastern portion of the State of
Washington is the city of Spokane, which dominates the
Inland Empire. Electricity in that section is supplied
chiefly by the Washington Water Power Company,
which possesses, all things considered, one of the finest
hydroelectric systems in the country. All of the four
water-power developments of that company are situ-
ated on the Spokane River, as is also a large steam
auxiliary station. Energy is transmitted by means of
600 miles of 60,000-volt lines into the various districts
within a radius of 100 miles from Spokane, the most im-
portant load center being in the Cceur d'Alene mining
district in Idaho, where electricity is extensively used
in lead mines.
Farther west is the Puget Sound country, extending
south from the Canadian border 175 miles and border-
ing on Puget Sound. The chief city is Seattle, and the
electrical needs of the entire district are met for the
most part by the Puget Sound Traction Light & Power
Company. This company has approximately 75,000 hp
in hydroelectric developments and 35,000 hp in steam
stations.
Bordering on the Willamette River in the northern
section of Oregon, and about 125 miles from the ocean,
is the city of Portland, with its rich agricultural dis-
trict. The Portland Railway, Light & Power Company
supplies the territory extending from Portland to
Salem, and its generating system is capable of devel-
oping over 85,000 hp, 54,000 hp being represented by
hydroelectric stations and 32,000 hp by steam stations.
Portland is also the headquarters for the Pacific Power
& Light Company, which operates a number of hydro-
electric properties in northeastern Oregon and south-
eastern Washington. This company, however, does not
come into competition with the Portland Railway, Light
on the coast and is 771 miles south of Portland. It is
the headquarters of the most important operating com-
panies in the West. These are the Pacific Gas & Electric
Company, the largest utility west of Chicago; the Great
Western Power Company, the Sierra & San Francisco
Power Company, and the Northern California Power
Company, together with numerous smaller companies.
FIG. 2-
3El riONAI ELEVATION SHOWING THE PENSTOCKS
L6 II. IN DIAMETER
A Power Company. However, the Northwestern Elec-
tric Company, with a hydroelectric development of
18,000 kw on the White Salmon River and with a steam
rve station in the city of Portland, competes with
the Portland Railway, Light & Power Compan
local busim
San Francisco is the largest and most important city
FIG. 3-
-THE 22,500-HP TURBINES IN THE LONG LAKE
STATION
All of the hydroelectric systems feeding into San Fran-
cisco are situated long distances away from the city,
and the steam stations are distinguished from the steam
stations of the other two States in that oil is used for
fuel and steam turbines are used exclusively. All of
the great transmission systems leading into San Fran-
cisco are interconnected for the interchange of elec-
tricity, as described elsewhere in this issue.
Los Angeles, the next large city on the coast, traveling
south, is located 482 miles from San Francisco and is
the headquarters for the Southern California Edison
Company and the Pacific Light & Power Corporation,
both of which possess large generating systems.
A surprising range of plant frequencies still exists
on the Pacific Coast. In Spokane and Seattle the
standard frequency is sixty cycles. In Portland thirty-
three cycles is still prevalent, although sixty-cycle equip-
ment now predominates. All of the systems centering
in San Francisco have sixty-cycle apparatus, while the
systems centering in Los Angeles employ fifty cycles.
Farther inland, between the cities of Portland and
San Francisco, is the Rogue River Valley, served with
electricity by the California-Oregon Power Company,
and the great Sacramento Valley, supplied in the upper
section by the Northern California Power Company and
in the center and lower sections by the Pacific Gas &
Electric Company. South of the Sacramento Valley is
the famous San Joaquin Valley, the electrical needs of
which arc supplied by the San Joaquin Light & Power
Corporation of Fresno. Shut off entirely from this
tion is the territory in and around Los Angeles, while
to the southeast of Los Angeles below sea level and ex-
tending to the Mexican line is the Imperial Valley, into
which are carried the circuits of the Southern Sierras
Power Company.
Washington Water Power Company
Of the four hydroelectric developments of this com-
pany the Post Kails development, the Little Falls devel-
opment and the Long Lake development are of compara-
tively recent installation. A complete description of the
Lost Kails development Q 1,260 kw i appeared in the
ElECTRICAI WORLD of May 28 and .".0. 1908. The aux-
iliary 16,000-kw steam station in Spokane was described
in detail in the ELECTRICAL World of June 29, 1912. and
May _
ELECTRICAL WORLD
1389
;i description of the hydroelectric Btation at Little Falls
(20,000 kw i was given in the June 22. 1912, is
The Long Lake development has just been partially
completed and constitutes the latest and one of the must
interesting stations on the Pacific Coast. It is situated
aboul 24 miles northwest of the city <>i" Spokane and 4.5
miles from the Little Falls station of the same company.
At the sit< 3pokane River makes a
complete horseshoe bend am rough a box can-
i ! granite formation rising to a height of about
.■ the water surface. There the Washington
Water Power Company has erected the highest spillway
dam in existence, with the power station around the
bend about 250 ft. from the dam, as is clearly shown in
Fig. 1. The installation will consist of four L3,900-kva
generators i two of which are at present installed i di-
rectly connected to four 22,5u0-hp turbines. The sta-
tion when completed will be the largest of the company.
The dam. which is thrown across the river, gives a fall
of 170 ft. at the power house and backs up the water for
23 miles. Containing only 1". ft. of storage, the water
thus held for reserve will be 2,695,000,000 cu. ft., all of
which will be available not only at the Long Lake plant,
but also at the Little Falls plant, 4 miles below the Long
Lake development on the same river. The dam not only
has the distinction of being the highest spillway dam
now in existence, but at times of flood carries about 19
ft. of water over its crest.
Roller Dams on Spillway Crest
Three roller dams mounted upon the crest of the spill-
way will be used to hold the low-water level of the lake
at the same level as at high water. Since it will not be
necessary to employ the total head at this station for
several years, the gates will not be installed until need-
ed. They have been designed, however, in detail and
itute one of the features of the development. Each
of the three rolling gates will give a clear opening 65 ft.
in length and 19 ft. in height. Each will consist of a
steel cylinder, 11.5 in. in diameter and 72 ft. long, hav-
ing a shield on the upstream side 19 ft. in height. The
gates will be separated by concrete piers 15 ft. wide, on
top of which will be placed the houses for the operating
mechanism. Each pier is recessed to receive the ends of
the roller, hoisting cables and racks.
Each gate will be raised by means of a pair of 1.75-in.
cables, which will pass around the end of the roller and
ttached to the drum on the operating mechanism.
The rack on which the toothed rim travels is placed on
an incline, the total travel being 25 ft. and requiring in
operation one hour. The total weight of the three gates
with their operating mechanisms will be about 740,000
lb., and it is expected the leakage per gate will not ex-
ceed 1 cu. ft. of water per second. This tightness will
be secured by means of water seals consisting of an oak
timber placed on the lower end of the shield, which rests
on an I-beam embedded in the concrete, and steel
diaphragms on the ends to which is attached an oak tim-
ber that is forced against the flange of the I-beams
placed on the side of the piers. This style of gate was
chosen because of simplicity of construction, ease of op-
eration and tightness of water seals, and also because it
gave a large unobstructed opening.
The 22.500-hp Turbines— Efficiency 91 per Cent
The penstocks which lead down the incline from the
side of the dam at right angles to the spillway are 236
ft. long and 16 ft. in diameter at the upper end and 14
ft. 10 in. at the lower end. The turbines, which are
among the largest ever built, are of the double-inflow
horizontal Francis type, manufactured by the I. P. Mor-
ris Company of Philadelphia. Each unit is made up of
83-in. twin runners inclosed in cast-iron volute casings
and operating at 200 r.p.m. under an effective head of
168 ft. Although these units are guaranteed to show
an efficiency of 85 per cent at three-fourths load, data
obtained from the test runner indicate an efficiency of
91 per cent. The turbines were purchased subject to a
bonus-and-penalty clause. The governors are of the
I. P. Morris double-floating, lever-arm, oil-pressure type,
and are guaranteed to maintain a speed that will not
vary beyond one-half of 1 per cent.
The generators are wound for 4000 volts and have a
normal rating of 13,900 kva when operating at 200 r.p.m.
FIG. 4 — STRAIN TOWER ON 55,000-
VOLT TRANSMISSION LINE
FIG. 5— WHITE RIVER PLANT (36,000 HP), SERVED BY WATER-STORAGE
SYSTEM SUFFICIENT FOR THIRTY DAYS' OPERATION AT FULL LOAD
1390
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. (35, No. 22
They have been tested at 100 per cent overload for five
minutes and are capable of operating continuously un-
der a 25 per cent overload at 90 per cent power-factor.
When supplied with 60,000 cu. ft. of air per minute they
can carry an additional load of 15 per cent, thus increas-
ing the normal rating 40 per cent. Provision has been
made for supplying the air through tunnels running di-
rectly into the generator pit. Temperature coils are
laid in the armature slots in each phase and connected
to indicators on the switchboard, which show the tem-
perature of the armature windings at all times. Fol-
lowing the usual practice of the Washington Water
Power Company, each generator shaft has at one end a
250-volt, 220-kw exciter, which will furnish sufficient
energy to excite two generators.
Provisions for Transmission al 110,000 Volts
Each generator is connected to a bank of three 6500-
kva. single-phase transformers. At present these trans-
formers are delta-connected and operate at 63,600 volts.
It is the intention, however, to connect them delta-star
later and operate them at 110,000 volts. Water for cool-
ing the transformers is supplied by a separate pipe run-
ning from the dam, the water passing through a Ven-
turi meter equipped with a manometer with electric low-
water alarm.
It should be pointed out that the Washington Water
Power Company maintains its own erecting force, and
its hydroelectric developments were carried on at such
a time that as soon as the Post Falls development was
completed this operating force began work on the Little
Falls development, and when this was finished the op-
erating force began the Long Lake development.
All of the stations were also designed by the com-
pany's engineering staff. It is for this reason that many
features of construction peculiar to the company are to
be found. Such changes as have been made have been
suggested by the experience of the company in building
its other stations, and also by its experience in operat-
ing the equipment. In its two recent stations the com-
pany has made a special effort to place the control of all
electrical apparatus within easy reach of the switch-
board operator. The attendant from his position at the
switchboard is able to read every switchboard instru-
ment and to control absolutely any electrical circuit in
the station without taking more than half a dozen steps.
Although the station is designed with clearances for
110,000 volts, the disconnecting switches and high-ten-
sion buses are the only parts of the equipment so in-
sulated at present. The low-tension oil switches are mo-
tor-operated and the high-tension switches are solenoid-
operated. Voltage regulation is accomplished by means
of Tirrill regulators in connection with high-voltage
high-current cut-out relays. Between sections of the
4000-volt buses 10 per cent current-limiting reactances
are connected, and these, with the inherent reactance in
the generator, will limit the current flow between sec-
tions in case of short-circuit to a safe amount. No addi-
tional reactance is used between the generators and
transformers, as their total reactance was considered
ample to protect against short circuits on the high-
tension side. The generator field rheostats, the exciter
field rheostats and the turbine governors are all motor-
operated, so that their control may be placed in the
hands of the switchboard operator. The electrical
equipment is of General Electric design.
The output of the Washington Water Power Company
last year was 169,691,800 kw-hr. and the yearly load-
factor of the system was 65.4 per cent.
Puget Sound Traction, Light & Power Company
The Puget Sound Traction, Light & Power Company
is under the management of the Stone & Webster Man-
agement Association. The company operates a hydro-
electric plant of 36,000 hp on the White River, 26 miles
from Seattle, hydroelectric plants of 25,000 hp at Sno-
qualmie Falls, a hydroelectric plant rated at 30,000 hp
at Electron, and steam stations in and about Seattle
with an aggregate rating of 25,000 hp. It also operates
a hydroelectric plant of 2000 hp in the mountains 35
miles from Bellingham and a 4000-hp steam station in
the city of Bellingham.
The White River development, which will have an ul-
timate rating of approximately 108,000 hp, is the latest
Jjg.
l^ffM it ~ • nji__j
if W%mff
WflmMuWr. 1 — ■-
PIG. 6 nil IS. linn iir rURBINES IN THI wilin RIVER PLANT OF TH1 PUGET SOUND COMPANY
M \-, 2
E L ECT EtICAL WORLD
1391
and largest of thi A notable fea-
ture of the development is an immense storage -
impounding water sufficient to enable the present in-
stallation of 36,000 hp to lie operated at full load for an
entire month. The company owns and operates sub-
stantially all of the street railway and the largest part
of the electric business in S iwning and
PIG. 7— THE BILL RL'N PLANT OK THE PORTLAND RAILWA1
& LIGHT COMPANY
operating the electric business in the larger cities and
towns near Seattle and Tacoma. The principal offices
of the company are at Seattle, Mr. Frederick S. Pratt, of
ton, being chairman of the board, and Mr. Alton
W. Leonard being president of the company. The divi-
sion manager at Seattle is Mr. A. L. Kempster, the di-
vision manager at Bellingham is Mr. L. R. Coffin, and
the division manager at Tacoma is Mr. L. H. Bean. The
Bellingham division purchases electrical energy from
the Western Canada Power Company, whose generating
ii is located at Stave Falls in British Columbia,
the Bellingham company taking as high as 5000 kw at
the international boundary.
A rather complete description of all of the properties
of this company located in Seattle was published in the
June 1. HH 2. issue of the Electrical World, and no im-
portant additions have been made to the generating sys-
tem since that time. The Bellingham system, compris-
ing a generating station at Nooksack Falls and a steam
auxiliary in the city of Bellingham, was described in the
ELECTRICAL World of July 20, 1912. In the city of
Seattle the company competes for lighting load with the
Seattle municipal plant (Electrical World, June 1,
1912, Jan. 9, 1915), and in the city of Tacoma there is
also a municipal plant < Electrical World, Aug. 2,
1913). With these exceptions the company has no com-
petition.
In point nl output the Puget Sound Traction, Light &
i Company is among the largest of the country and
is the third largest on the Pacific Coast. Last year its
output was approximately 300,000,000 kw-hr.
Portland Railway, Light & Power Company
The Portland Railway, Light & Power Company has
a generating system rated at approximately 100,000 hp.
It operates five hydroelectric plants — Oregon City, 9640
hp; Cazadero, lit, 000 hp; Silverton, 333 hp; Estacada,
18,000 hp; Bull Run, 19,000 hp. There are steam sta-
tions in Portland, Salem and Boring with an aggregate
rating of 33,000 hp, the Portland steam stations being
rated at over 30,000 hp. The development at Estacada
on the Clackamas River will ultimately house five 6000-
hp units, and the development at Bull Run on the Sandy
River will eventually deliver 60,000 hp to Portland. The
ada and Bull Run developments were completed
recently. A detailed description of the Estacada plant
was printed in the BlBCTRK al World. July 13. 1912, and
the hydroelectric development at Bull Run was described
in the ELECTRICAI World. March 22 and March 29, 1913.
With the completion of these two developments the corn-
pans has sufficient output to care for the demands for
ears to come. The only new construction work
undertaken since the completion of these stations has
been a new transmission line from the Estacada hydro-
electric development on the Clackamas River to a sub-
station at Beaver (reek, a distance of 10 miles, which
enables the company to supply energy for the operation
of the Willamette Valley Southern Railway Company
and to furnish electric service to Molalla.
Up to two years ago the company had no competition,
but a little over a year ago the Northwestern Electric
Company, with a development of 21,000 hp on the White
Salmon River, entered Portland, and it is competing for
business in that territory. A description of the White
Salmon River development was printed in the Ele<
trical World, Aug. 9, 1913, and the steam reserve
station of the company in Portland was described in the
ELECTRICAL World, Sept. 26, 1914. Notwithstanding
competition, however, the Portland Railway, Light &
Power Company is among the largest generating com-
panies in the country and is the sixth in size on the
Pacific Coast. Its output last year was approximately
185,000,000 kw-hr. Its generating stations now have
ample equipment to meet the needs of the company for
some years to come.
Pacific Power & Light Company
The Pacific Power & Light Company of Portland,
Ore., operates generating and transmission systems in
Oregon and Washington, its activities extending over
the south, central and southeastern parts of Washington
and along the northern part of Oregon in the territory
tributary to the Columbia River, extending from the
Pacific Coast to the western boundary of Idaho. The
company's properties are situated in sixteen different
counties in the States mentioned, and the total popula-
tion served is about 115,000, an appreciable percentage
of the total being found in rural and farming communi-
ties. The connected load is approximately 28,000 hp.
fig. 8 — interior of bull run station
19,000 hp
-TOTAL rating
The electrical properties of the company are divided
roughly into four sections, three of which are connected
by transmission lines. A standard transmission of 66,-
000 volts has been established, and practically all of the
distribution in the irrigated districts and in the smaller
towns is at 6600 volts. Practically all of the properties
in the Yakima, Upper Columbia and Walla Walla divis-
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 22
;;:: .:•■:»,*
.
isr i.-srjL-." j^jsy
IJ! JIM ™
FIG. 9-
-DOWNSTREAM SIDE OF RIVER MILL PLANT, SHOW-
ING FISH LADDER
ions are tied together on one transmission and distribu-
tion system, extending from the power house on the
Naches River, 10 miles northwest to North Yakima on
the west, to Dayton, Wash., on the east, to Beverly,
Wash., on the north, and to Pendleton, Ore., on the
south. A complete description of the properties of the
Pacific Power & Light Company was published in the
Electrical World, Sept. 14, 1912.
Recently an interesting addition has been made to the
system in the shape of an automatic water-power sta-
tion. In the year 1910 the Pacific Power & Light Com-
pany bought several hydroelectric and steam properties
in Oregon and Washington. Included in these proper-
ties was a canal approximately 8 miles long, taking
water from the Naches River, 20 miles from North Ya-
kima, and returning it at the Naches power house, 12
miles from North Yakima. The canal, which was
known as the Wapatox Canal, at that time carried ap-
proximately 300 cu. ft. of water per second.
Early in 1913 the company enlarged the canal and
lined it with concrete for the purpose of adding another
generator at the Naches power plant. The canal had
FIG. 10 — DOUBLE-RUNNER TURBINE GENERATORS IN RIVER
MILL PLANT — TOTAL RATING 18,000 HP
two unused water-power sites in its profile, and under
the reconstruction it was contemplated that part of the
canal would be relocated and all of the head brought to
one point. This was done in 1914, with the result that
the company then had about 3 miles from its Naches
power house a water-power site with a drop of a little
over 50 ft., over which passes about 550 cu. ft. of water
per second. This head has just been utilized for power
purposes by the construction of a small building con-
taining a single hydroelectric unit. The station is situ-
ated about one mile east of Naches River, Washington,
and was built by the engineering department of the
Pacific Power & Light Company.
The arrangement is such that the water may pass
from the higher to the lower level, either through the
power house or through a wasteway. Inasmuch as the
water is used at the Naches power house at the lower
end of the canal and is also used for domestic purposes
in North Yakima, its flow cannot be interrupted. The
generator installed is of the vertical induction type,
rated at 1400 kw and generating three-phase, sixty-
cycle, 2300-volt energy. The building is barely large
RIVER MILL PLANT, PORTLAND RAILWAY & LIGHT COMPANY, AT ESTACADA
Mai J'.', 1915
ELECTRICAL WORLD
1393
PIG. 12— NACHES 1 100-KW ai rOHATIC STATION, SHOWING
DERRICK
enough to contain the generator and is arranged with
a movable roof or hatchway. In the yard adjoining is
a steel stiff-legged derrick, which was used in placing
the machinery and in building the power house. If at
any time it is desired to lift out any of the machinery
for repair purposes, the hatchway can be taken off and
the apparatus lifted out by the derrick. Within reach
of the derrick are also the lightning arresters and the
66,000-volt transformers which connect the station with
the company's high-tension system. The lightning ar-
resters and transformers are of the outdoor type. The
generator, which floats on the company's system at all
times, is equipped with a new type of Kingsbury bear-
ing, and the oil supply is contained in a tank sufficient
to lubricate the unit for twenty-two hours. When the
supply in the tank gets low an electric connection causes
a gong to ring and draws the attention of the sole oper-
ator, who lives in a nearby cottage. The top of the
generator and the bearings are incased in a metal venti-
lated tube or shaft, which fits under the framework of
the hatchway. A fan is used to suck the cold air from
the outside through the hatchway, down through the
machine and out of the aperture into the generator room
below. The small switchboard necessary for controlling
the output of the station is installed on a little gallery
built on two sides of the power house.
FIG. 13 — SPILLWAY AND STILLING POOL OF NACHES DROP
AUTOMATIC STATION
Pacific Gas & Electric Company
For a number of years prior to the close of 1913 the
Pacific Gas & Electric Company was handicapped by
its inability to supply from its own stations the ever-
increasing demands of its markets for hydroelectric
energy and was compelled to meet the deficiency by pur-
chases of energy from other companies and by the more
costly method of steam generation. In order to render
itself independent of outside sources, as well as to pro-
vide for future growth and to enable it to obtain energy
at the minimum cost, the company undertook the devel-
opment of its water-powers on the South Yuba and Bear
Rivers, where an ultimate output of 190,000 hp is pos-
sible. The work was begun in the summer of 1912, and
by Jan. 1, 1914, approximately $7,000,000 was expended
on the hydraulic work, generating station and steel-
transmission line to the company's substation at Cor-
delia, and from Cordelia around the north arm of San
Francisco Bay to a point approximately opposite the
city of San Francisco, with the ultimate object of cross-
ing the south arm of the bay and increasing the present
supply of hydroelectric energy by this addition to the
present transmission facilities into San Francisco. The
Drum power house (see Electrical World Nov. 22,
1913), the first of six, was completed Nov. 25, 1913,
with an initial installation of 25,000 kw, and since the
FIG. 14 — PANORAMA OF THE NACHES DROP 1400-KW AUTOMATIC STATION OF THE PACIFIC POWER & LIGHT COMPANY
1394
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 22
-BOILER ROOM IN LONG BEACH STATION-
FIG. 16 — TRANSFORMERS AND HIGH-TENSION BUSES
first of last year this station has been steadily deliver-
ing energy throughout the system. Definite plans con-
template additions to this development by doubling the
present generating equipment of the Drum station and
by the construction of five additional power stations, all
of which will use the water storage of the main reser-
voir at Lake Spaulding, ditches, tunnels and pipe lines
already being provided for its conveyance. The aver-
age investment per horse-power as the work progresses
will therefore rapidly decrease. An incidental feature
of the project will be the utilization of the water after
it has gone through all of the power houses for irrigat-
ing about 45,000 acres of land.
Various other interesting features appertaining to the
system of the Pacific Gas & Electric Company and of
the other companies in San Francisco are described
elsewhere in this issue. The output of the Pacific Gas &
Electric Company's system last year was 658,298,000
kw-hr., and the yearly load-factor of the system was
60.6 per cent.
Southern California Edison Company
The Southern California Edison Company operates
extensively in the vicinity of Los Angeles from the ocean
to Redlands. Electricity is generated in seven hydro-
electric stations and three steam stations with ratings
as follows:
Power House Ratings in Kw
Hydroelectric stations :
Kern River No. 1 20.000
Santa Ana River No. 1 3.000
Santa Ana River No. 2 1,000
Mill Creek No. 1 750
Mill Creek Nos. 2 and 3 3.250
Lytle Creek 500
Steam stations :
Redlands 600
Los Angeles No. 3 10.000
Long Beach 47,000
Total 86,100
The company has also been granted permission by the
government to develop additional electrical energy in
Hi;. IT LONG BEACH BT1 \m STATION OF WE SOUTHERN CA1 [FORM A EDISON COMPANY \ i LOS INGE1 I S
May 29
ELECT R I CA I- Wo K I. I»
1395
the Kern National Forest, (if the seven hydroelectric
ns now in operation one is in the Kern and five
other- m the Angeles national forests. Six are capable
of developing 87,800 bp, although there is not sufficient
r t<> develop this amount of power continuously.
The Secretary of Agriculture has granted the com-
pany permits for lour new projects, which have been
Dated by the company as Kern River plant- Nos.
-. ■"•. 1 and 5. According to the i of the gov-
ernment'-; engineers, the tour new projects will be able
to supply about 33,000 bp excepl for a few days in a
period of five ..ears. Through the use of a steam aux-
iliary plant, however, the company will be able to sup-
ply considerably more than that amount, and it is
planned to install machinery having a total rating of
about 80,000 hp. This will be transmitted over a dis-
tance of about 155 mile- to Loe Angeles. It is expected
that plant No. 3 will be the first to be put into opera-
tion, with plants Nos. 1. 5 and '_' following in the order
given as the demand of the market increases. Ky its
agreement with the Department of Agriculture the com-
pany ha,s ten years left in which to place the plants in
complete operation.
The present hydroelectric plants, with the exception
of that on the Kern River, are relatively close to Red-
rating of 55,900 hp. One hydroelectric station was sit-
uated on the Kern River, one east of the city of San
Bernardino in San Bernardino County, two in Riverside
County, and the rest of the hydroelectric and all of the
-team generating stations were situated within the lim-
Los Angeles < lounty.
The Kern River station was connected to a substa-
tion in the city of Los Angeles by two parallel 50,000-
volt lines, each 117 miles long. The other generating
stations were interconnected by a network of 15,000-
volt lines, which furnished energy to substations in var-
ious cities and towns in Los Angeles, San Bernardino
and Riverside Counties, as well as to irrigation con-
sumers along the line. Soon after the reorganization
of the company under the corporate name of the Pacific
Light & Power Corporation the development of the
Big Creek hydroelectric project began. This project
will consist ultimately of four power houses on the San
Joaquin River and Big Creek in Fresno County, and
the energy will be transmitted over three parallel steel-
tower lines at a tension of 150,000 volts to the city of
Los Angeles, 241 miles distant. The power houses will
be so situated that the water will be used successively
through each one. Two reservoirs will eventually be
constructed, one having an ultimate capacity of 103,160
FIG. 18 — LONG BEACH-COLTON TRANSMISSION
LINE— 60,000 VOLTS
FIG. 19 — KERN RIVER PLANT NO. 1 OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
EDISON COMPANY
lands, and, with the Redlands steam plant, may be con-
sidered as one unit of the generating system, with the
principal receiving substation in the city of Colton.
The Colton group is widely separated from the other
generating stations, although there is a steel-tower line
connecting the Colton substation with the steam sta-
tions at Los Angeles and Long Beach and with the
Kern River hydroelectric station. A complete descrip-
tion of the 60,000-volt steel-tower line of the company
was printed in the Electrical World. Aug. 9. 1913, and
a description of the Long Beach steam station was pub-
lished in the issue for March 9, 1912. The hydro-
electric development in Kern River was described ir,
the Electrical World Aug. 10, 17, 24 and 31, 1907.
Last year the Southern California Edison system gen-
erated 288,549,552 kw-hr. and the yearly load-factor
was 61.1 per cent.
Pacific l.i- ht iV Power Corporation
The Pacific Light & Power Corporation was organ-
ized under the laws of the State of California, and
took over all the properties of the Pacific Light & Power
Company of Los Angeles in 1910. At that time the Pa-
cific Light & Power Company was operating six hydro-
electric generating stations, with a total rating of 19,233
hp, and three steam generating stations, with a total
acre-ft. and the other of 25,490 acre-ft. With the com-
pletion of this system the company will be enabled to
generate, through the operation of the Big Creek proj-
ect, 405,000 hp.
In November, 1911, work began on the Big Creek
development. This comprised, besides the necessary
road to reach the site, the construction of three con-
crete gravity-section dams, bringing the capacity of
the largest proposed reservoir up to 50,000 acre-ft. ; the
construction of tunnels through solid rock to their ulti-
mate capacity leading to power houses No. 1 and No. 2;
the construction of power houses No. 1 and No. 2 to
one-halt' their ultimate size, and installation of the nec-
essary generating equipment; the construction of two
of the three steel-tower transmission lines to Los An-
geles, and the erection of a large concrete substation
outside of the city limits of the city of Los Angeles.
This work was completed and the power houses were
placed in operation in December, 1913. By this means
80,000 hp was added to the system of the company,
enabling the corporation under average conditions to
dispense with the operation of its steam stations ex-
cept in cases of emergency. A complete description of
the Big Creek development was published in the Elec-
trical World .Jan. 3. 1911. and Jan. 10. 1914.
At present the corporation furnishes all the energy
1396
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 22
FIG. 20 — SYNCHRONOUS CONDENSERS IN SUB-
STATION AT END OF 150,000-VOLT LINE
FIG. 22 — REDONDO STEAM PLANT OF THE PACIFIC LIGHT & POWER
CORPORATION
used by the Los Angeles Street Railway Company and
most of the energy used by the Pacific Electric Railway
Company. These roads have trackages of 360 miles and
560 miles respectively. The company also distributes
energy for commercial and residential uses in Los An-
geles, San Bernardino, Riverside, Orange and Ventura
Counties, as well as in many of the cities and towns
therein. Next to the railway load the most important
motor load is irrigation.
Although a great deal has been written on the Big
Creek development, it still remains the center of elec-
trical interests on the Pacific Coast; 60,000 kw is gen-
erated in two stations under a combined head of 4000 ft.
and transmitted 240 miles at 150,000 volts to Los An-
geles. It is worthy of note that since its operation the
continuity and reliability of the service and the voltage
regulation have been better than when the source of
supply was the large modern steam station located at
Redondo and transmitting energy at 15,000 volts over
a 20-mile line to Los Angeles.
Each of the main generating units in the Big Creek
station is driven by two tangential waterwheels, and a
separate governor is provided for each, so that one or
both runners may be operated according to the demands
FIGS. 23 AND 24— THE WORLD'S HIGHEST-VOLTAGE TRANSMISSION LINE — THE BIG CREEK 150,000-VOLT SYSTEM OF
THE PACIFIC LIGHT & POWER CORPORATION
Mai -
ELECTRICAL WORLD
1397
of the load. The governors actuate needle nozzles which
change the he water jets. In order to avoid
- in the penstocks should the governors
shut otF the water suddenly, a water-balanced b
valve it provided which opens quickly and discli
into ;,ii ei ■ i "er. The bypass then gradually
i pressures.
tie field is properly adjusted, however,
there disturbance caused when the ma-
chine is switched
Th< of the main ge:.' very high,
being To and 85 per cent respectively. When to this is
added ■"> to g per cent for transformer impedance it is
apparent that short-circuit currents are limited. Thus
it-circuit on the line has caused the generators to
lose their load and the governors to shut off water. Such
have been experienced on the system
have occurred between one or more conductors and
ground. In order to be able to reduce the voltage to
suppress the arc and restore normal conditions rapidly,
auxiliary field rheostats have been connected in series
with the rheostats, which are acted upon by the voltage
regulators. When a short-circuit occurs the auxiliary
rheostats are used to lower the voltage until the arc
breaks, this latter condition being indicated on the neu-
tral ground ammeter. Most of the troubles thus tar ex-
POWER HOUSE NO. 1, BIG CREEK DEVELOPMENT
The regulation is such that with the Big Creek develop-
ment operating in parallel with the 40,000-kw steam
station in Redondo (see Electrical World, June 15,
1912) the waterwheel governors absorb the changes of
load faster than do the steam turbines. Although the
contract for the electrical equipment was divided im-
partially between the General Electric and Westinghouse
companies, operating experience has not brought out
any noticeable general superiority of the work of one
over the other.
The voltage regulation is perhaps the most interest-
ing part of the system and has been effected by the use
of two 15,000-kva synchronous condensers at the re-
ceiving station in such a way that any desired voltage is
maintained, irrespective of the power-house voltage. As
at present operated the generated voltage at the power
house is held constant at 150,000 volts from 6:30 a.m.
until 9 p.m., after which it is dropped automatically to
135,000 volts. Any change of voltage necessary at the
substation is taken care of locally by adjustment of the
voltage regulator.
In the operation of the system many points of interest
have been brought out. At first the synchronous con-
densers were started with a crane, the starting switch
H|J3f^^v/iTOr»fci!MH I'ii ftjH j*; 93
■A
PIG. 26 — 150,000-VOLT LINE LEAVING BIG CREEK STATION
NO. 1
being thrown in at the same time at a potential 50 per
cent of normal and requiring 10,000 kva. Oil under
high pressure is now used in the bearings under the
shaft, and in starting the switch is closed with no field
and the machine comes up to speed and drops into step.
The field circuit is then closed and adjusted to a pre-
determined point, after which the running switch is
FIG. 27 — CHARACTER OF COUNTRY TRAVERSED BY THE
150,000-VOLT LINE OF PACIFIC LIGHT & POWER COR-
PORATION
perienced are due to insulator flashovers, and the arcing
rods have been found generally to protect the insulators
and aluminum cables against damage.
Certain peculiarities have been noted on the line since
its operation. Snow collects faster on a dead line than
on a line energized, even though not under load. Owing
to the fact that a dead section of the duplicate line 100
miles in length has a potential of 4200 volts induced in
the nearest conductor, strict rules are enforced in regard
to grounding whenever any work is to be done.
The Pacific Light & Power Corporation's system is
the fourth in point of output on the Pacific Coast. It
generated last year 292, 545. 004 kw-hr., and the load-
factor of the system was 47.37 per cent.
Southern Sierras Power Company
The Southern Sierras Power Company operates in the
southern section of California, although the system now
reaches and serves, besides mines in southern Nevada.
a variety of interests in California, including an agri-
cultural load in Riverside, San Bernardino and Imperial
1398
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 2>
HIGH-VOLTAGE
INSTALLATION
FIG. 29
-CONTROL SWITCHING STATION AT NORTH END OF 240-MILE TOWER
LINE OF SOUTHERN SIERRAS POWER COMPANY
Counties, where energy developed on Bishop Creek is
used and some even transmitted across the Mexican
border. The company possesses the longest transmis-
sion line in the world, and besides its lighting loads
supplies energy to motors aggregating 35,000 hp as fol-
lows: Mines and mills, 18,800 hp ; industrial load, 7400
hp, and irrigation load, 9200 hp. The extension into
the Imperial Valley is the latest addition to the com-
pany's system.
The complete development of the Southern Sierras
Power Company was described in great detail in the
Electrical World of Oct. 17, 24, 31, Nov. 7, 14, 21,
28, and Dec. 5, 12 and 19, 1914. The substation equip-
ment for the most part is of the outdoor type, and al-
though the transmission system is designed for 140,000-
volt operation, the system at present operates at 55,000
volts.
Some Interesting Features
Fig. 28 shows a high-voltage meter installation in
the Imperial Valley. The Coachella Valley Ice & Elec-
tric Company purchases energy at 55,000 volts from
the Southern Sierras Power Company and transmits it
over a 130-mile line into the Coachella Valley and the
Imperial Valley. The energy is metered at the point of
delivery to the company's line, which is at the Southern
Sierras substation at Banning. The switch and meter
transformer house consists of a structure of galvanized
steel having a platform about 10 ft. above ground for
the support of the transformers. From this platform
the disconnecting and local switches are operated, and
the shunt transformer fuses are handled from the
smaller platform above. The series transformers are
provided with both shunt and disconnecting switches
so that they may be removed from the line without
q
h
\
f
ii»y
interruption to service. The base of the tower is used
as a frame for a meter room, the walls and roof being
of cement plaster on expanded metal.
Fig. 29 shows the control switching station at the
northern end of the 240-mile tower line extending from
Bishop to San Bernardino. Three separate systems are
tied together at this point with an aggregate of 1185
miles of 55,000-volt line. The structures shown com-
prise the first unit of the extensive bus and switching
plant that will ultimately be erected at this point. Fig.
30 shows the substation at the southern terminal of the
240-mile tower lines, the circuit entering the station
through three-pole disconnecting switches mounted on
towers in the foreground. The switches in the back-
ground are 33,000-volt and 55,000-volt automatic oil
circuit-breakers for the control of the outgoing lines.
To the left is the San Bernardino steam station, the
turbo-generators of which float on the line at all times.
Fig. 31 shows an installation of 33,000-volt outdoor
circuit-breakers. The latter, which are of the Kelman
type, are shown in the foreground, and a 55,000-volt
outdoor circuit-breaker of the same type is shown to
the right. These circuit-breakers are provided with
remote-control mechanism and with time-limiting de-
vices on the overload trip. An auxiliary transformer
bus is installed on the top of the frame, and by the use
of the single-pole disconnecting switches, shown between
the towers, it is possible to feed two adjoining circuits
through one of the oil switches and to disconnect the
other for inspection or repairs, thus eliminating the
necessity for any interruption and at the same time
maintaining protection to the main 33,000-volt bus
against possibility of disturbance by trouble on the cir-
cuit from which the switch is removed.
Hon at SOUTHERN TERMINAL OF 240-
VOLT I ink 01 BOl rHBRN MERRAS COMPANY
FIG. '.I
INS! ILLATION OF 88,000 VOl I OUTDOOR I 1RCUTT-
BREAKER
M^ 29, 1916
ELECTRICAL WORLD
L399
ELECTRIC IRRIGATION ON ORWOOD RECLAMATION TRACT \LONG SAN JOAQUIN RIVER
Irrigation Pumping in the Coast States
Thousands of Acres of Western Lands Made Intensely Productive by Central-
Station Service Which Has Desirable Seasonal Load Characteristics
PRINCIPAL in importance among the special motor
loads served by the power companies of the Pacific
Coast is electric pumping for irrigation purposes.
Lands which were formerly indifferently productive or
even hopelessly arid are, as the result of such artificial
watering, rendered highly fruitful and of great value
for orchards of citrus and other fruits, or for the grow-
ing of alfalfa and rice. To the central-station company
this irrigation load has useful off-peak characteristics
since the chief pumping demand comes during the
months of restricted energy consumption for lighting.
Pacific (ias & Electric Company
The Pacific Gas & Electric Company being the larg-
est utility west of Chicago and the greater part of its
lines traversing the fertile Sacramento and upper San
Joaquin valleys, the irrigation and reclamation loads
on its system are naturally the largest to be found on
the Pacific Coast. The development of the vast agricul-
tural area of California has been most effectively aided
by the use of electricity, and the gross earnings of the
Pacific Gas & Electric Company from this service alone
are practically $500,000 per annum.
The irrigation load, while large, does not represent
the major portion of the output of the Pacific Gas &
Electric Company, as does the irrigation load of the
Mount Whitney Power & Light Company, for instance,
which requires over 80 per cent of that company's out-
put. The possibilities of growth in the territory sup-
plied by the Pacific Gas & Electric Company, however,
are immense. At present the acreage served by the
company's system is estimated at 400,000 acres, where-
as the maximum amount of acreage subject to reclama-
tion and irrigation in the territory contiguous to the
company's lines is approximately 7,000,000 acres.
The greater part of the load is found in Solano, Yolo,
Sacramento, Sutter and Santa Clara Counties, the con-
nected irrigation load of these counties aggregating
20,000 hp. The density of this load is well shown in
Fig. 11, indicating the irrigation outfits in the San Jose
district. The load-factor of the pumping plants is also
shown in the curves reproduced herewith, showing the
substation output in the San Jose district.
Reclamation service in the lowlands along the Sac-
ramento and San Joaquin Rivers gives promise of elec-
trical applications in large units. At the present time
there are connected to the circuits of the company ap-
proximately 15,000 hp in motors. That these represent
large units is indicated by the fact that there are ap-
proximately eighty-eight installations.
The total irrigation load fed from the Pacific Gas &
Electric Company's circuits is approximately 35,000 hp.
The installations comprise, for the most part, centrif-
ugal pumps directly connected to three-phase induc-
tion motors.
One of the most notable examples of large irrigation
FIGS. 2 AND 3 — PUMP HOUSE ON PATTERSON RANCH IN STANISLAUS COUNTY — PACIFIC GAS & ELECTRIC SERVICE
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 22
FIG. 4 — HIGH-TENSION SUBSTATION AND MOTOR-DRIVEN PUMP HOUSE, PATTERSON RANCH
installations is that on the Patterson Ranch, in Stanis-
laus County, in the San Joaquin Valley. The total in-
stallation comprises five separate plants having a total
rating of approximately 1700 hp. The water is pumped
from the San Joaquin River to a total elevation of about
100 ft., the first plant, situated near the river, pumping
100 hp, each motor being directly connected to a cen-
trifugal pump. Views of the Patterson ranch, canals
and pump house are reproduced herewith.
Smaller installations, typical of those on orchards
and farms, range from 5 hp to 20 hp. During approxi-
mately six months of the year these pumping stations
* 1
If
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%£$
Hbi||:
£L" m
— INTERIOR OF VICTORIA ISLAND
NO. 7 PUMPING STATION
-ELECTRICALLY DRIVEN GOLD DREDGE OPERATED FROM LINES OF
PACIFIC GAS & ELECTRIC COMPANY
from the river into the main canal. A second plant
is installed at the end of the main canal and lifts the
water to the second canal, and this process is continued
until the total elevation is reached. Ditches are ex-
tended from each of the canals, north and south, cover-
ing the different zones. The energy is brought to one
central substation at 60,000 volts and from there dis-
tributed to the five pumping plants at 2300 volts, the
motors being operated at this lower voltage. The mo-
tors in the various plants vary in size from 300 hp to
are used intermittently, pumping according to the re-
quirements of the crop. The company's distributing
circuits are brought to the nearest pole where the trans-
formers are installed for stepping down to the low
voltage required by the motor, and are continued thence
to the service cut-out, which in a majority of cases is
installed within the pump house.
Electricity for irrigation purposes is sold on a meter
basis, the meters being installed on the low-tension side
of the transformers in the pump house. The rates in
FIG. 7- I'l I MI 01 I BS 1 MM)\ ENTRY
THE HEAD OF THE IRRIGATING CANAL
I, 1916
KI.ECTRICAL WORLD
1401
force on the company's system at this time vary from
3 cents per kw-hr. to 1 ' t centa per kw-hr., with a min-
imum charge of $6 per hp per year.
The development of the rice industry within th>
few years in the upper Sacramento Valley has provided
It. per season; for alfalfa, 2.5 acre-ft.,
and for orchards from 1.5 t" 2.5 acre-ft. The CO
pumping i" ' of water will vary from $1.50
per acre-it. up to $::, depending upon the height to
which the water must he lifted.
FIG. 9-
-CUBVES SHOWING TOTAL LOAD AND IRRIGATION
LOAD. SAN JOSK DISTRICT
10 Ha Motx
-•
-.-- -wfrr
ry'onrs
arm running
: - 6"
A. M.
FIG. 10 — SAN JOSE LOAD, SIMMER MONTHS
FIG. 11 — MAP OF SAN JOSE DISTRICT, SHOWING DENSITY
OF IRRIGATION LOAD
Pumping for reclamation purposes in fertile lands
along the Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers is made
necessary because the lands lie below the level of the
water in the river during a large portion of the year.
For this reason it is necessary to get rid of the rain
water and also the water that seeps through the levees
surrounding the tracts. It has been found that the crop
return in the reclaimed districts is very much increased
by irrigation in the summer time. This is accomplished
Jllalconnectcdltr-W _i^_
£6ifsj/lfem
■
Kw -J174
A/
peak occurred.
ottatsH
Loao 'facto- 'A
"''
\ Son Jose
\ocairred.
V
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<
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.
8 K> 12
FIG. 12 — DAILY LOAD, SOLANO
DISTRICT
FIG. 13 — DAILY-
JOSE
LOAD CURVE, SAN
DISTRICT
Jan FeS Mr Apr. Mau, June Julvj Hug Sept 0c* It*, dec
FIG. 14 — AVERAGE LOAD-FACTORS AND
RESULTING EQUIVALENT RATES
a very satisfactory irrigation load, the amount of water
required for rice being roughly twice that required for
alfalfa, the next best crop for irrigation. Rice, in ad-
dition, offers a better load-factor, because after the rice
is harvested the rice mills take up their work. In ordi-
nary practice the amount of water required for rice is
by gravity, and since the land is below the level of the
rivers, in order to drain it the surplus irrigation w:ater
must be pumped over the levees. These fertile delta
lands are particularly adapted to the growing of as-
paragus, potatoes, onions, beans and celery, all of which
crops are produced in great abundance. After reclama-
1
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i
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1
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N
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i
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kl
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n
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/JW^/'lj iV ¥l/V\/ \) 11 !\i\f|r\N.4 A
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FIG. 15— DAILY CIRCUIT PEAKS FOR ONE YEAR, SAN JOSE DISTRICT, PACIFIC GAS & ELECTRIC COMPANY
1402
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 22
^^^^^^™ Domestic
^■■i Indus trial
■ Miscellaneous
Railroad
Agricultu.
PFRCFSTA6F OF MOTOR!
USFD FOR
VARIOUS PURPOSFS
Vcv .9/4 Survey
—
Domestic
Railroad
m Kscellaneous
Agricultural
PFRCFHTAGFOF
RORSFPOtfFR OF MOTORS
USlD FOR VARIOUS
PURPOSFS
"ov. 19/4 Survey
l049£Aati,ndear,n9
Misc. field Crops
VARIOUS CROPS IRRIOATID
TOTAL ACRFA6F IRRI6ATFD 49ISSS
Nov. 19/4 Survey
it- 1 Meier ^"""^
— $■ 14 Meter
^™ Meter non-Contract
™ Combination
Poctlinq House PCKIHTAOF OF
k , . ,, „ . MOTORSUSFD
1 Lighting Meter VRCAChraTF
1 Special Contract *»<9»S*n*y
540
•= 14.5
^^^■i $ Z4 Contract
^^^" $ I Contract
■ Combination
< Meter non-contract
Special Contract
3 0*f PbcAing House
it 0.4 Lighting Meter
■ Standard
FIG. 16 — ANALYSIS OF LOAD SERVED BY MOUNT WHITNEY POWER & ELECTRIC COMPANY
VORSlfOKR
CSFP/V.f
VARIOUS PUIKStS
tion has been carried on for a few years alfalfa and
grain can be planted. Barley, in particular, returns a
very heavy vield on this kind of land.
Mount Whitney Power & Electric Company
The Mount Whitney Power & Electric Company owns
four high-head hydroelectric generating stations with a
combined rating of 13,000 hp and a
in Visalia rated at 10,000 hp.
Of the territory served Tulare County forms the larg-
est part. This is in the southern portion of the San
Joaquin Valley and extends to the east over the foothills
into the high Sierras. From a sparsely settled area of
large farms it has steadily developed into one of the im-
portant citrous and deciduous fruit-growing sections of
California. Intensive farming, brought about by an
abundant water supply with cheap energy for pumping
purposes, has resulted in a wide diversity of agricultural
products. Fully one-third of the farm homes in Tulare
County are using electricity supplied by the Mount
Whitney Power & Light Company and are on land that
in 1900 was regarded as hopelessly arid.
Energy is used largely for pumping water for
irrigation from ground water in the citrous fruit belt.
Many large orange, lemon and other orchards in the vi-
cinity depend upon the electricity generated by the com-
pany's present plants for their irrigation. The region
thus far has been developed from one of large farms to
one of small holdings devoted to fruit raising. In
December, 1914, the horse-power in motors connected to
the system of the company was divided as follows:
Agricultural, 81 per cent; domestic, 4 per cent; indus-
trial. 9 per cent; railroad, 3 per cent; all others, 3 per
cent. There were 49,153 acres irrigated by the motor-
driven pumping plants to which the company supplied
energy. The crops irrigated covered these acreages:
Citrus orchards (bearing) 10,522
Citrus orchards I non-bearing) 11,106
Olive orchards ( bearing) 211
Olive orchards (non-bearing) 1,463
Peach orchards 758
i ithi r orchards 792
Vineyards 814
team plant located Alfalfa 19,758
.Miscellaneous crops 3.729
The principal load consisting of motor-driven pumps,
certain peculiarities in construction prevail. Each
pumping plant consists of a small building in which is
placed either a centrifugal or a deep-well plunger pump
driven by an induction motor. The plants near the foot-
hills, where the water is some distance beneath the sur-
face, have deep-w-ell pumps, while in the valleys, where
the water is nearer the surface, centrifugal pumps are
employed. The motors in all cases are of the two-phase
induction type rated at from 1 hp to 75 hp. Local dis-
tribution in all of the towns is at 2200 volts, two-phase,
with the exception of the city of Visalia. where distribu-
tion is carried out on three-phase circuits. Two types
of distribution lines are used. The one covering the
greater part of the distribution system operates at 6600
volts, and the other, for towns and cities, at 2200 volts.
From the commencement of operations the company
established a rate for energy for motors of $50 per hp-
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\n 19 ANALYSIS Of CUSTOMERS, RATES, 01 ftf I <HV EARNINGS, M0UN1 WHITNE1 POWER COMPANY
Mai J
K LECT R I C A I. WOR LD
year, and while it is possible at this rate to use the en-
ergy day and night throughout the year, the pumping
plant seldom uses energ\ Bteadilj for more than eight
months of the year. This average use brings the rate
for pumping to approximately a little over l cent per
kw-hr.. while if the customer employs the electricity
for lighting when it is not otherwise used for pumping
■ which is allowable), the average rate is still lower.
The rate applies as well to a 1-hp motor as to the larger
The elements leading up to the adoption of the
rate of |60 per hp-year were many. The first Niagara
Falls plant sold its output upon a peak-load basis, there-
• uring a dependable income, and as the Mount
Whitnej company had no available resources except the
income derived from the system, it seemed desirable
that it should make the business as safe as possible. If
it had not been for plant diversity factor, a feature not
fully considered because not fully understood, the rate
would have been too low for profitable operation. As a
Btations therein were at first compelled to dispose of the
largest part of their output for lighting purposes,
thereby creating a very "peaky" load, which resulted in
the daily peak being on some o is much as
three times the minimum load of the day. Owing to
this fact, and also to the fact that in the San Joaquin
Valley there are 6,530,000 acres of valley agricultural
land, the San Joaquin Light i Power Company turned
its attention toward the development of an irrigation
load that would vastly improve the plant load-factor
and permit it to dispose of its surplus energy.
The territory served by the company's circuits is ap-
proximately 200 miles long and 54 miles wide, and
there are now being fed from the system 700 pumping
plants with a connected load of 8650 hp. The gross
earnings from this load are approximately $260,000 per
annum, and the pumping plants are irrigating slightly
over 100,000 acres.
It will be evident that the development of the agri-
FIG. 20- -PIMPING INSTALLATION ON SYSTEM OF SAN JOAQUIN LIGHT & POWER CORPORATION
further inducement to get the consumers to operate
their pumps by motors instead of by engines of various
types, it was agreed that when a motor was not being
used to pump water the house of the consumer could be
illuminated at no additional expense, provided that a
switch was installed which would make it impossible to
operate the motor and use the lamps at the same time,
and provided also that the energy used for lighting did
not exceed the amount required by the motor. For sev-
eral years contracts for energy for motors to be used
between sunrise and sunset were made, the charge being
$30 per hp-year. This contract was discontinued, how-
ever, in 1907, and a meter rate for commercial purposes
was introduced by the company. Flat rates for lighting
were abolished the year before. Later a meter rate for
pumping was made, while as early as 1903 a combina-
tion of a fiat rate and meter rate was put into effect for
motors used for pumping water. The flat rate of $50
per hp-year is used very generally, however, for pump-
ing purposes,
San Joaquin Light & Power Corporation
During the past ten years, and more especially dur-
ing the past five years, great strides have been made
in the development of an irrigation load in the terri-
tory of the San Joaquin Light & Power Corporation,
and this load has been especially beneficial to
the company because it could dispose of its energy
during a period of the year when it had a very
large surplus. Because the San Joaquin Valley has
comparatively few large industrial plants the central
cultural land in the San Joaquin Valley by means of
electrically operated pumping plants is very slight, but
it will require a vast amount of effort, together with
heavy expenditures of money, to develop all the irrigat-
ing load to be had.
The electrical energy is transmitted to the several
substations at 60,000 volts, although there are still
some 30,000-volt mains which will be gradually re-
placed. The tension is stepped down at each substa-
tion to 11,500 volts and distributed therefrom three-
phase, sixty-cycle, three-wire flat construction on 30-
I't. and 40-ft. poles, the main trunk lines being of 40-ft.
poles and No. 4 wire and the side lines of 30-ft. poles
and No. 6 wire. The cost of the former is approxi-
mately $900 per mile and that of the latter $800 per
mile.
It is the practice of the San Joaquin company to ex-
tend the line at its expense to within 20 ft. or 30 ft.
of the pumping plant to be served. The transformers
are furnished by the consumer (the rates are based
upon the consumer furnishing the step-down trans-
formers), and they are of the 6600-volt type, connected
"Y." The transformers are installed by the company
on the pole nearest the pumping plant, and the cost of
installing the service wires from the transformers to
the motor is borne by the consumer. However, the
work is usually performed by the company's workmen
at the time the line is constructed. A large majority
of the pumping plants installed are of the horizontal
type, with the pump directly connected to a motor
installed at the bottom of a pit and within some 2 ft. or
1404
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 22
3 it. of the water in the well. There are a number of
pumping plants, however, of the vertical type, wherein
a vertical motor is installed on a steel frame on the
surface of the ground and connected to a vertical pump
by means of a long shaft suspended from a steel- frame.
Some of the latter types of plant have motors rated at
from 75 hp to 100 hp.
The size of tract to be irrigated and the nature of the
soil, together with the kind of crops to be raised, de-
termine the amount of water to be pumped. It requires
from 3*2 gal. to 6 gal. of water per minute per acre,
the smaller tracts of sandy soil requiring the greatest
amount per acre. The pumping plant is operated
twenty-four hours a day, and the water is impounded
in a reservoir near the well. The actual irrigation of
the tract takes place during a period of ten hours be-
tween sunrise and sunset. By impounding the water
and operating the pumping plant twenty-four hours
per day and irrigating only ten hours, a head of water
is obtained from the reservoir that is approximately
two and one-half times the capacity of the pump. The
reservoir holds approximately a twenty-hour run of
his district. The pumping outfits, including motors,
are sold to the customers by agents of pump manufac-
turers, and the pump companies very often employ
electricians to connect the motors. Contracts for the
operation of the pumping plants by the company are
for a term of five years.
Fig. 20 shows a pump house, reservoir and trans-
formers of a customer having a six months' contract
for continuous pumping during that period. The de-
tailed costs pertaining to the plant are as given below:
This serves to show what land can be irrigated for and
what the costs of preparation are:
Size of plant, hp 20
Wells, number 3
Wells, diameter, in 10
Depth of wells, ft 39, 76, 95
Cost of wells 39-ft., $55; 76-ft., $107 95-ft, $135
Size of pump, in 7
( lallons per minute l 500
1 "limping head, ft 30
Input to motor, hp 19.9
Cost of wells, motor, pump, transformers, installed, ready
for use $1,350.00
Size of reservoir, ft -40 by 2S0 by 5
JPv^^H -
m***
FIG. 21 — PUMP HOUSE IN THE EASTERN WASHINGTON TERRITORY SERVED BY PACIFIC POWER & LIGHT COMPANY
the pump and is built cheaply by throwing up a levee
with scrapers.
The charges for service are entirely on a flat-rate
basis, except that a meter rate is quoted during the
planting period, not to exceed, however, two years, and
then follows the flat-rate charge. The most popular
rate quoted is $50 per hp per year for continuous serv-
ice throughout the year. In some parts of the San
Joaquin Valley and for some crops a flat rate for six
or seven months' continuous pumping is used, the six
months' rate being $37.50 per hp and the seven months'
rate $40.25 per hp. The horse-power to be charged
for is determined by taking the peak for a continuous
period of five minutes (luring the irrigating term.
Tests are made by the company from time to time while
the pumping plant is in operation, and the highest
amount ascertained at any of such times is the amount
to be charged for, the tests being taken over a period
of five minutes' duration.
The territorj served by the company is divided into
twelve districts, and each district is presided over by a
representative called the district agent. All of the
consumers' accounts are kept in the district offices, and
their la also a storeroom in each district. The solicit-
ing i the district agent, who also baa control
over the building of the lines, collection of the bills
and, in fact, over all of the affairs of the company in
Cost of reservoir (1
(Reservoir was enlarged this spring to 290 ft. by 280 ft by 5 ft.
ii .i cost of about $50.)
Cost of pit $2
(Too large; could have been built proper size for $150.)
Veres irrigated 240
Crop raised Alfalfa
Contract Six months continuously
Total cost in 1914 $746.40
l Vst per aire $3.11
Kw-hr. us.d iii 1914
Resulting pate per kw-hr., cents 1.27
(Open ditches used; one man irrigated 240 "St of
$2 65 pi r day.)
Pacific Power iV: Light Company
The Pacific Power & Light Company and its prede-
cessors were the first to develop the electric pumping
business in Washington and Oregon on an extensive
scale. The industry has been brought to its highest
development in the Yakima, Columbia and Walla Walla
River valleys. The installations vary from 0.6 hp to
800 hp, though the majority are of 10 hp and less. In
some cases special substations have been built for large
tners Who are served directly from 66,000-VOlt
transmission lines, but generally the installations are
connected to the 6600-volt lines that the company has
(•(instructed throughout its rural territory. In the sum-
mer of 1914 the company had a total of 1952 hp in irri-
gation motors connected to its system.
ELECTRICAL WOULD
1405
The Yakima and Columbia River \ alleys depend al-
entirely upon irrigation for tin- successful produc-
tion of crops. The Walla Walla River valley has suffi-
cient rainfall to produce BOme crops without irrigl
so that the development of irrigation pumping is i
extensive in the Walla Walla territory as in the other
FIG. 22— FARM ELECTRICAL APPARATUS AT A FAIR
districts. As a general rule, the Walla Walla farmers
use their pumping rigs about three months of the year,
whereas the other irrigators pump for a six months'
season.
In talking irrigation pumping to the average farmer
several arguments are of importance. One of these is
that individual pumping permits well water to be used.
Well water is highly desirable, for the reason that the
farmer has absolute control over his supply, provided,
of course, that the well has sufficient flow. Well water
that is seeped through the soil is clarified and does not
carry sand, grit, weed seeds or trash. Few Eastern
people realize to what great extent weeds are scattered
through cultivated areas by irrigation water. Each
seed is a potential nuisance, and water represents one
of its greatest means of transportation.
The well pumper is not a member of a ditch company.
He can use his pump and well whenever he wants to
and does not have to wait while his crops suffer for
moisture. Reliability of service favors the electric
motor as against the gasoline engine, particularly in
some parts of the Northwest where lack of transporta-
tion facilities causes gasoline to be very expensive. The
Pacific Power & Light Company has proved to its own
satisfaction that electrically driven pumping outfits for
passable heads are cheaper in the long run than the
average gravity system with its expensive outlay for
water rights. As a general rule, the irrigation in the
Yakima and Columbia River districts is from dug wells
which are of average cross-section. The company en-
gineers check over installations with prospective cus-
tomers, showing them how they can get the best effi-
ciency by sinking their wells near the center of distri-
bution. The Pacific Power & Light Company has al-
ways followed the policy of giving all the engineering
experience it can to its customers. In building up this
class of business attention should be called to the fact
that the farmers must be urged to order their appara-
tus in plenty of time for spring irrigating. Many
farmers fail to realize the time required to manufac-
ture, ship and install apparatus.
For practical purposes there are two types of pump-
ing outfits — directly connected and belted. The argu-
ments in favor of the belted type are that during winter
months the motor may be used for other purposes, al-
though it has the disadvantage of lower efficiency than
the directly connected pump. The experience of the
Pacific P( wet & Light ' i mpany has demonstrated that
but few farmers take advantage of the opportunity to
ad use them for other pur-
poses. .Most farmers seem to prefer a directly connected
outfit and purchase such other motors as they may need.
This is particularly true in eases where motors are
needed for other purposes during the summer when
they could not be spared from irrigation service.
The company has endeavored to work out a practical
application of the group system whereby a small num-
DATA ON MOTOH PI &FOBM \ ■
2-fap mi
irrigated
irrigated per hp
3-hp mi '
-
! per hp
( \.-t per acre-year
$9.38
5-hp mi il
irrigated.
• irrigated per hp.
i h r acre-year
'.5-hp motors:
rrigated
irrigated per hp.
r acre-year
10-hp Hi'
irrigated
irrigated per hp
per acre-year.
15-hp m
a i
<l per hp.
per acre-year
-
irrigated
irrigated per hp .
Cost p,-r aen -\
112
7
$5.76
150
$19.37
80
5
$3.21
100
103
5
$9.39
ber of farmers may band together and put in one in-
stallation the use of which can be rotated among them.
This has the advantage of permitting the farmer to
receive a large volume of water every third day in-
stead of receiving a small volume of water every day.
Persons who have had practical experience as irriga-
tors know that they must have a certain volume of water
which will provide them with what is known as an
"irrigation head" before they can accomplish anything.
FIG. 23 — A 3-HP MOTOR UNIT NEAR ZILLAH
A small stream of water may not even wet the furrow,
whereas if a farmer had three times as much water he
would need to apply only one-third of the time. There
have been a few instances of successful group systems,
and more of them may be developed. The only diffi-
culties in the way of the group system are the possi-
bility of the irrigators disagreeing as to the use of the
L406
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. '22
plant and also the fact that it is rather unusual for
three farmers in one neighborhood to require exactly
the same-sized installation, although the latter draw-
back is not a serious one.
The company has adopted a uniform system of ex-
tending its 6600-volt distribution wires and installing
transformers for a prospective load of 10 hp to the
mile. While 10 hp may not look particularly profitable
at first sight, yet at the end of two or three years more
business probably will be developed along the existing
lines. The company requires at least a ten-year con-
tract. Its irrigation experts make frequent inspections
and do their best to aid the irrigators.
In order to show some of the actual results obtained,
the company prepared some statistics a year ago, show-
ing the performances of various sized motors from
2 hp to 20 hp. These results are given in the table
printed herewith. Under "2-hp motors" it will be noted
that the maximum number of acres irrigated by any
2-hp motor was twenty-five and the minimum was nine,
the average being twelve. The maximum number of
aires irrigated per horse-power was twelve and one-half
and the minimum four and one-half, with an average
of six and one-fifth. The figures opposite "Cost per
acre-year" are self-explanatory. The reader is cau-
tioned, however, to take note of the fact that the figures
presented under the heading "2 hp" include a large
number of 2-hp motors, and the motor that irrigated
the maximum number of acres may or may not be the
one that cost the most per acre-year. In fact, it is very
apt to be quite the opposite. In other words, the 2-hp
motor that irrigated twenty-five acres probably did so
at the average cost of $3.02. This table has been pub-
lished before, and readers have been confused, thinking
that the set of figures under the heading "Maximum"
represented the operation of one particular motor. This
is not the case. In preparing the table the company
purposely eliminated the pumping customers in the
Walla Walla district for the reason that they are short-
season irrigators and do not represent general con-
ditions.
Great Western Power Company
The Great Western Power Company has an extensive
irrigation load on its system, especially in the Sacra-
mento district; but the average load-factor is very
low so that the company is not over-enthusiastic on the
subject. It has approximately 8000 hp of this business
connected to its circuits that returns an average yearly
minimum of less than $7 per hp per annum. In sharp
contrast to this, the company has a gold-dredging load
of 9000 hp with an annual load-factor of 70 per cent.
The rate for irrigation service varies from 3 cents per
kw-hr. for a monthly consumption of less than 31 kw-
hr. per hp to 1 cent for consumptions of 540 kw-hr. per
hp. The minimum is $6 per hp. per annum, and only
a few of the agricultural consumers exceed this mini-
IRRIGATION LOAD IX SACRAMENTO DISTRICT
ni:il Average
Kw-hr.
per Hp
Average Annual
Load-Factor,
per (.'•■lit
Grapevines
1S6
175. 1
265
iiu
11,.-.
11!
218
259
$11.49
5 26
7 '.>L'
l.; "^
i jii
i 95
3.38
1 1 22
i, in
v77
2.01
5.0
Trees 1
2 n
■J :l
1 >
Alfalfa
J 1
1.1
1 1
:.• 8
; 8
0.9
mum. The data on irrigation in the Sacramento dis-
trict are given in the accompanying table.
The Southern Sierras Power Company
A large percentage of the business of the Southern
Sierras Power Company, especially in southern Califor-
nia, is furnishing electrical energy for irrigation. En-
tering the field in the summer of 1912, gas engines were
displaced, and but few new gas engines installed, so
that to-day in that portion of Riverside and of San
Bernardino Counties served by and within reach of
the lines of the company the percentage of gas engines
operating, even with the abnormally low price of
"tops," is merely nominal.
The company has provided a variety of optional
rates. First are straight kilowatt-hour rates, similar
to those found in southern California at the time it
entered the field. These original rates decrease with
the size of the installation and encourage large instal-
lations. They have since been modified so as to en-
courage smaller plants. These rates range from 3
cents to 2 cents per kw-hr. Second are load-factor
schedules, varying in rates from 3 cents to 1 cent per
kw-hr., and, third, come flat rates per horse-power per
year, similar to those in vogue in the San Joaquin Val-
ley, ranging from $27 per hp of maximum demand for
four months per season, with a metered charge of 2'j
cents per kw-hr. for excess service, to $50 per hp of
maximum demand for twelve months' continuous serv-
ice per year.
The schedules, being optional, afford low rates for
a wide range of operating conditions. Gradually the
tendency is shifting to the flat rate per horse-power
per year. This provides the smallest possible installa
Hi;. '2 1 I'li'ii \l RESERVOIR CONSTRUCTION IN RAM him; DISTRICT, SOUTHERN SIERRAS SYSTEM
May 29, 1916
ELECTRICAL WORLD
1407
tion for the greatest aggregate volume of irrigal
rig the twofold purpose of reducing to a minimum
the consumer's first cost for installation, as well as his
operating cost per annum, and at the same time im-
proving the load-factor of the company, so that a maxi-
mum of service can be provided from a given generat-
ing transmission and distributing system.
Following are a few concrete example- of actual
operating conditions under different schedules:
\< « 1 :
Numbi 107
Niiinl ■
Alfalfa
HATA
depth from surface, fl
Suction lift, ft
Friction bead, ft
Lift . and, ft
Total head, ft 127
Number of wells . -
i tiameter of wells, In
i i.i.ih of wells, ft
Depth of pit, ft 93
Length of pit. ft 7
Width of pit, ft
(Pump and motor are installed In a pit, ;■ r,,i both wells are
served by the one pump i
PUMP ASH MOTOR HATA
pump :
Make Byron-Jackson
Kind Centrifugal
Style Horizontal two-stage
Amount pumped 600 g.p.m.
Motor :
Make Fairbanks-Morse
Type Induction
Style Horizontal
R p. in 1 200
Voltage 2200
I 'have Three
Prequeno 60
Hp 10
PLANT DATA
Number Of hours pumpeil during season
Number of acre-feet pumped during season "l .'•
Input to motor (40 hp). kw 29.8
Kw-hr. per season 14 9,000
Schedule rate (Hat rate, seven months' pumping period),
per hp $42.nn
Amount of bill for season $1,1
Coel per kw-hr., cents 1.12
Cost per acre-foot $3.26
Coal per acre $15.85
Remarks: This pumping plant is JotnU] owned by two persons
fine ranch conslstE oi 50 acres and thi i acres. One
taken dut for pumping plant.
CASE NO 2:
Number iii acres owned *o
Number ol acres under cultivation 80
Crop .. . ., Alfalfa
WELL DATA
Water depth from surface, ft rin
Suction lift, ft 27
lon head, fl 12
Lift above surface, ft 20
Total head, ft 109
Number of wells 1
I Hamster of wells, in 14
b "f wells, ft 300
Depth of pit, ft IE
Length of pit, ft B
Width of pit. ft 6
PUMP AMi MOTOR HATA
I'ump :
.Make Bj i (Hi-. lacks. in
Kind Centrifugal
Style Horizontal two-stage
Amount pumped 876 g.p.m.
Motor
Make Ceneral Electric
Type Induction
BtyU H-uzontal
K| .11. .1800
Voltage 2200
I ha.-. Three
Frequenc) .60
Hp
CI. A NT HATA
Iii 'jrs pumped during .5000
Numtx
Input to motor I 32 hp), k« .23.8
Kw-li;
i. rate (flat rate, eight months' period),
Amount of bill tor season 11,440.00
• r kw-hr , o nU • .1.02
i tost per inn -fool $2.02
n
CASE
Number ol acres owned 100
Number of acres under cultivation 10*
Crop Alfalfa
I'ATA
depth from surface, it 45
ii lift, ft ' 20
Friction head, ft 7
Lift above sm face of ground, ft
Total head, ft 78
Number of wells 1
l liameter of wells, in
Depth of wells, ft 210
1 lepth of pit, ft 42
Length oi pit, ft 8
Width of pit, ft 6
PUMP AND MOTOB LATA
Pump :
Make Krogh
Kind Centrifugal
Style Horizontal single-stage
Amount pumped 4.".0 g.p.m.
Motor :
Make Fairbanks-Morse
Type Induction
Style Horizontal
Phase Three
Frequency 60
Hp in
PLANT DATA
Number of hours pumped during season 5000
Number of acre-feet pumped during season 385
Input to motor (1S.S hp). kw 14.0
Kw-hr per season 70.000
Schedule rate (flat rate, seven months' period), per hp (42 00
Amount of bill for season $789.00
Cost per kw-hr., cents 1.12
| !ost per acre-foot $2.05
( lost per acre $7.89
Remarks: Use is made of a reservoir Kir. ft. by K.o ft. by 5 ft.
deep. The outfit pumps into this at night, and the water is dis-
charged in the daytime, The pumping plant is 4750 ft. distant
from the reservoir. An attendant visits the pumping plant once a
week to inspect it, the pump being oiled from a 5-gaI. can of oil.
Fig. 24 shows a typical reservoir constructed in the
large ranching area served by the Southern Sierras
Power Company in southern California. These reser-
voirs are constructed with a minimum of expense to
the rancher, and he is encouraged to make use of one
by the fact that exceptionally low rates are made on
the flat rate per horse-power-year basis.
Fig. 25 shows a complete installation tor serving
customers from the 33,000-volt distributing lines of the
company. In this particular instance three 50-kva.,
33,000-to-2200-volt transformers serve one ranch hav-
ing three pumping plants. The entire consumption is
metered at the transformers, a 2200-volt metering
equipment being installed in the meter box shown at
one end of transformer structure. This box is pad-
locked and provided with small windows through which
the meter dials can be read.
Fig. 28 shows two Gould triplex pumps that are used
as boosters. These pumps lift the water delivered to
1408
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 22
1
dpi Hi Mv\
FIG. 25 — CUSTOMER'S substation on 33,000-volt line
OF southern sierras system
them by a centrifugal pump to a height of 140 ft. in
connection with the extensive irrigating system of a
large ranch.
Fig. 26 shows the motor-control panels in the same
plant for two 50-hp motors and one 20-hp motor.
These motors, in line with the standard practice of the
Southern Sierras Power Company, are wound for 2200
volts. All such control equipment is protected by sub-
stantial gratings, as shown.
Fig. 29 shows plant No. 3 of the Newport Ranch,
with a Byron-Jackson centrifugal pump driven by a
50-hp, 2200-volt, 900 r.p.m. vertical-type induction
motor. The pump is 48 ft. below the motor in a pit.
Attention is called to substantial structural-steel frame
for supporting the motor and guides. It will be noticed
that the pump mechanic has fitted up an oiling system
of ample capacity to protect the pump during his ab-
sence from the plant. The motors are protected by
overload and no-voltage devices, and one man will ordi-
narily care for two or three plants.
FIG. 28 — triplex pumps used as boosters for centrif-
ugal PUMP LIFTING WATER 140 FT.
FIG. 26 — MOTOR-CONTROL PANELS, NUEVO LAND & WATER
COMPANY'S PUMPING STATION
Pacific Light & Power Corporation
The Pacific Light & Power Corporation operates in
the city of Los Angeles and contiguous territory. Its
chief load is obtained by the street and interurban rail-
ways in and radiating from Los Angeles. The largest
single class of business employing motors outside of
the railway field and connected to the company's cir-
cuits is irrigation. The crops are similar to those
rh
r
,
19«
1914
±
J H
Jan. Mar. toy July Sept. Nov.Dec.Jan Han Hay July Sept Nov. Dec.
FIG. 27 — MONTHLY ENERGY CONSUMPTION FOR YEARS OF
SUBNORMAL AND ABNORMAL RAINFALL
raised in orchards and farms supplied with electricity
from the circuits of the Southern California Edison
Company. The accompanying curve shows the monthly
average kilowatt-hours per horse-power of connected
load for irrigation services, and also shows how the use
of electricity for irrigation purposes is affected by the
rainfall in the region. During dry years more elec-
tricity is of necessity employed in irrigation work than
during years when the rainfall is normal or above nor-
mal.
in,. 29 VERTICAL-SHAFT 50-HP MOTOR IN NEWPORT
RANCH STATION — SOUTHERN SIERRAS COMPANY
FIG. 30 — EAGLE ROCK SUBSTATION, PACIFIC LIGHT & POWER
CORPORATION
M\\ 29, 1916
ELECTRICAL WORLD
1409
COMMERCIAL SECTION
COMMERCIAL PRACTICES IN CALIFORNIA
'I hi- Selling System lhai Operates rhrongbonl the \ sal
Pacific Electric Territor] and How It Warn Evolved
By H. B. I'm i-
The Pacific Gaa >t Electric Company furnishes gas
and electricity to customers in --'> cities and towns
in central California, among the largest communi-
ties being San Francisco, Oakland, Berkeley, San Jose
and Sacramento, the last-named being the capital of
the state. lt> ten hydroelectric plants are situated at
various points in the Sierra Nevada .Mountains, its
four steam plants are at San Francisco, Oakland, Sac-
ramento and San Jose. From these generating stations
its lines extend over an area one-half the size of all the
New England States combined, supplying 152,000 con-
sumers with electricity, and for business and adminis-
trative purposes the territory served is divided into
twenty-six districts. Each district is in charge of a dis-
trict manager who reports to the home office in San
Francisco.
Work of the Sales Department
The sales department is one of nineteen departments
constituting the home-office organization and has su-
pervision, through the several district managers, of
the salesmen who solicit new business and sell appli-
ances, both gas and electric, except in the San Francisco
and the Alameda County districts. In the places just
named the company does not engage actively in the sale
of appliances. It has, however, an independent force
of solicitors, who are directly in charge of the district
manager — and throughout both districts are well-stocked
stores that sell appliances, which makes it unnecessary
'Industrial engineer Pacific Gas ft Electric Company, San Fran-
cisco, Cal.
for the company to engage in the sale of such devices to
the extent that appliance sales are required in its other
distn
Appliance displays are maintained in all the district
offices and appliances are sold at a price which returns
the company a fair margin of profit, it being the aim
of the company to make its profits on appliance sales
absorb to a considerable extent the expense of maintain-
ing its sales organization. The policy of maintenance
of prices will, it is believed, result ultimately in dealers
engaging actively in the sale of appliances throughout
the entire territory served by the company, so that the
time will come when the company can, without injury to
itself, discontinue the appliance business.
Co-operation with Contractors
For some time the company sold lamps for much less
than the price at which the dealer could possibly com-
pete. The company's purpose was not to get the busi-
ness from the dealers, but to endeavor to control the
lamp situation to the end that the consumer might re-
ceive lamps which were best adapted to his require-
ments. This seemed a proper function of the central
station, nevertheless, it was found that the dealers would
not look at it in that light and consequently they re-
sented such activity.
About a year ago, therefore, after a conference with
jobbers, dealers and contractors, this policy was changed
and lamps are now sold at the regular retail selling
price, with the result that the company's lamp sales
have fallen off. However, the consumer is getting good
service, owing to the fact that, as the result of raising
the company's price, the dealer is able to compete on
the basis of a good lamp, in place of a lamp which
formerly he purchased solely on a dollar-and-cent basis.
Furthermore, this action by the company has con-
FIG. 1 — THE PACIFIC GAS & ELECTRIC OFFICE AT NAPA IS TYPICAL OF THE COMPANY'S DISTRICT HEADQUARTERS
1410
ELECTRICAL WORLD
Vol. 65, No. 22
verted the contractors and dealers into a great family
of friends, rather than a number of individuals work-
ing inharmoniously.
The dealers, on their part, in order to co-operate witr
the company, some time ago started a campaign of
wiring old houses, as a result of which one dealer alone
wired almost 400 houses in a period of approximately
four months. The revenue from this extension of serv-
ice has been very profitable for the central station.
Salaries and Commissions for Salesmen
In districts having more than 1500 consumers one or
more salesmen are employed on a straight salary basis
and become a permanent part of the district organiza-
tion, and these salesmen are required to canvass then-
territory thoroughly several times a year. Particular
attention is given to new buildings, with a view to hav-
ing special heating circuits installed, and suggestions
are also made as to the best arrangement of lighting fix-
tures in order to secure the most satisfactory results.
Districts having less than 1500 consumers receive at-
tention from salesmen sent out from the home office
from time to time.
The company does not engage directly in house wir-
ing but does co-operate actively with wiring firms in the
wiring of old houses, and this policy has resulted in the
wiring of approximately 90 per cent of the houses on
the company's lines. Special selling campaigns are held
occasionally, and on such occasions a special sales force
is assembled, the salesmen engaged working largely on
a commission basis. These campaigns usually extend
over a period of thirty days and have proved very sat-
isfactory, almost invariably resulting in putting out a
large number of appliances in a short time.
The sales policies are established by the home office,
but are carried out through district managers, with the
assistance of the sales department, as it is the com-
pany's policy to afford its managers' every opportunity
teen years ago — when it required no effort to sell electric
energy in California other than an assurance of con-
tinuity of service, and the sales department was merely
an order-taking department, for the development of
hydroelectric energy reduced tremendously the cost of
power heretofore produced by coal as fuel for manu-
FIQ. 2 l m "I'M ll I' SERVICE" SLOGAN ISA PEATUR1 01
EVERY BRANCH-OFFICE WINDOW
to prove their title to be managers in fact as well as in
name.
The Evolution of ComnuTcialism
The story of the evolution of business-getting meth-
ods in the territory of the Pacific Gas &